《Beast Taming: Starting From Zero》 Chapter 1: Not Her Fault Hanggang City, Zhehai Province.Wencheng Middle School, Class 3-7. ¡°This time, everyone¡¯s progress in the mock exam is evident. Especially Qin Shou, who scored second in the entire grade, missing full marks by just 2 points. Everyone should learn from him.¡± ¡°Most of the students performed well, but some didn¡¯t strive for improvement and ended up with a zero, dragging down the class average.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t name names here, but I hope this student reflects on themselves. With only 21 days until the high school entrance exam, such results won¡¯t get you into a beastmaster high school, let alone an ordinary vocational school.¡± The homeroom teacher, Mr. Yu, cast a glance at the third row from the back, by the window, where a girl with a ponytail sat upright and straight, looking like a model student. He couldn¡¯t help but twitch his mouth. Stop pretending! He was talking about you! Qiao Sang knew very well that Mr. Yu was referring to her, but she couldn¡¯t help it¡ªshe wasn¡¯t the Qiao Sang of this world. She had just arrived here a couple of days ago and was thrust into a mock exam without even getting used to her new life. But it was just a middle school mock exam. She wasn¡¯t afraid¡ªafter all, she had been a top student in a prestigious university in her previous life. However, when she got the test paper, she was stunned. [What is formed when the human brain region awakens?] [What extraordinary creatures are attracted to the Heart Scales, and what function do they serve?] [What is the final evolutionary form of the stinky loach?] [Which planets have humans already colonized?] What... are these questions?! In the end, she could only guess wildly: Choose the shorter option for multiple-choice questions when in doubt, and the longer option otherwise, fill in the blanks randomly, and leave the essay questions blank. In the past two days, Qiao Sang had adapted to her body, and the memories of the original owner had surfaced. She had a rough understanding of this world. This was a world centered around beast taming. From when humans first discovered their ability to tame beasts until now, 32.05 million years had passed, and a mature beast-taming societal system had developed. Even though it was called the Beast Taming Era, not everyone could tame beasts. By the age of 15, a human¡¯s brain region could awaken the Beast Taming Codex through magnetic stimulation. This codex was a contract and a space that perfectly connected humans with extraordinary creatures. If a person¡¯s brain region didn¡¯t awaken the codex by the age of 15, they would likely have no connection with beast taming for the rest of their life. Although the Beast Taming Era had developed for tens of millions of years, humans still couldn¡¯t guarantee 100% awakening of the Beast Taming Codex. Last year, only 73% of students nationwide awakened the codex in the unified high school entrance exam, leaving 27% without it. Even if some of them were academic prodigies, they were destined not to get into beast-taming high schools. Those who couldn¡¯t tame beasts would be relegated to mediocrity and remain at the lower levels of society for their entire lives. This was a harsh reality¡ªif you couldn¡¯t tame beasts, you might not even be able to do manual labor. Who would use human labor to move bricks when there are extraordinary creatures that can move hundreds or even thousands of kilograms with ease? It¡¯s time-consuming and labor-intensive. The same applies to serving plates. Even if the salary is several times higher than that of humans, restaurants prefer to hire extraordinary creatures for serving because it attracts more customers. In a world so different from the old social norms, Qiao Sang, a middle school student about to take the entrance exam, was feeling the pressure! In the past, knowledge changed destiny; now, beast taming changes lives. Even though she had the original owner¡¯s memories, the original owner was a poor student! Her grades had always been stable at the bottom third of the class. Last month¡¯s mock exam showed a slight improvement, placing her fourth from the bottom. This was because the previous fourth-from-bottom student had been sick on the exam day and missed two subjects. With the entrance exam just 21 days away, she didn¡¯t expect to get into a top high school. She would be grateful if she could get into any high school at all. Qiao Sang listened carefully to the teacher¡¯s lecture, took notes, and kept studying her textbook even after class, showing the same determination she had during her own college entrance exams. ¡°Qiao Sang, the zero you got on the exam is what Mr. Yu was talking about, right?¡± Her deskmate, Fang Sisi, leaned over and whispered. It wasn¡¯t really a question but a confirmation. Even though Mr. Yu didn¡¯t name anyone specifically, everyone knew that Qiao Sang, who had boldly displayed her zero-scored paper, was the one being talked about. Qiao Sang nodded. In Qiao Sang''s memory, her deskmate had a good relationship with her. They would go out to eat and play together. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One key reason for their good relationship was that her deskmate was also a poor student. Fang Sisi had replaced Qiao Sang as the fourth-from-bottom student in their class¡¯s ranking after falling ill during last month¡¯s mock exam. ¡°Wow, I see you filled in all the multiple-choice questions and still got a zero. That¡¯s as hard as getting a full score,¡± Fang Sisi said, giving a thumbs-up in admiration. Qiao Sang was at a loss for words. Could she really be blamed? If anything, blame that ''short option'' for the three-long-one-short questions! ¡°How many points did you get?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°263. I improved by 98 points from last time,¡± Fang Sisi said with a bit of pride. No wonder she¡¯s a poor student¡ªshe only gained 98 points despite answering two more questions. But Qiao Sang kept her thoughts to herself. After all, they were both poor students, and there was no need to add insult to injury. ¡°Not bad,¡± Qiao Sang said honestly. While her deskmate¡¯s score seemed a bit lacking to her, it was a significant improvement compared to her own previous 200-point level. ¡°That¡¯s true. My mom has been keeping an eye on me every day...¡± Before Fang Sisi could finish, a student in front of her turned around and asked nervously, ¡°Have you heard about Dai Shushu from Class 9? Is it true she¡¯s being admitted to Litan Beastmaster High School?¡± Fang Sisi sighed, ¡°If it¡¯s being talked about, it¡¯s probably true.¡± Qiao Sang continued flipping through her textbook. Dai Shushu was the top student in this mock exam. To Qiao Sang, it wasn¡¯t much of a scandal that the top student was being admitted to a high school¡ªwhat mattered most to her was studying the key points. ¡°I heard she was admitted because she awakened her own Beast Taming Codex,¡± Another student added to the discussion. Qiao Sang lifted her head at this. Beastmaster high schools recruit future beastmasters, so the ability to awaken the codex is crucial. Those who achieve self-awakening usually have higher future achievements compared to those who awaken through magnetic stimulation. The first batch of beastmasters awakened 30 million years ago was all self-awakened, representing a rare 0.01% of the population. It wasn¡¯t until 2,563 years ago that researcher Chen Leshen discovered that human brain regions could be awakened through magnetic stimulation, marking the true beginning of the Beast Taming Era. Yet, those who succeed in self-awakening remain exceptional. ¡°Self-awakening?¡± Fang Sisi pondered, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too late for me to latch onto her now?¡± The student in front shook their head, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Once someone¡¯s been admitted, they¡¯re not likely to stay at school. If you knew in advance you could get into high school, would you still come to school?¡± Fang Sisi agreed. ¡°If I self-awakened, could I still be admitted if my academic scores are failing?¡± Qiao Sang asked seriously. The question made all three turn their attention to her. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Even with a zero, a school would still want you,¡± The student in front teased. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. Self-awakened students are always top-notch; there¡¯s no place for poor students,¡± Fang Sisi patted Qiao Sang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I had a similar dream a few days ago.¡± Qiao Sang kept her head down and didn¡¯t speak. The three assumed she was disheartened and moved on from discussing self-awakening. Little did they know, Qiao Sang was struggling to suppress her impulse to burst into laughter. Self-awakening! She had successfully self-awakened as soon as she arrived! She didn¡¯t know what it was at first and thought it was some sort of lucky break. It wasn¡¯t until her memories merged that she realized it was the Beast Taming Codex, which awakens at 15. Since most people awaken at 15, she didn¡¯t think much of it. She didn¡¯t expect the gap between self-awakening and magnetic stimulation to be so significant! It¡¯s no wonder the original Qiao Sang was a poor student¡ªshe didn¡¯t even understand the difference between self-awakening and awakening through stimulation. Without the pressure of the upcoming high school entrance exam, Qiao Sang felt much more relaxed while reading. She no longer viewed some of the knowledge points as mere rote memorization. [The Deep-Moss Turtle belongs to the Earth type, often found in desert and tropical regions. Its eye rings are black, and it¡¯s not good at swimming.] A turtle that isn¡¯t good at swimming? If you can¡¯t swim, why are you a turtle? And why is a turtle an Earth type instead of a Water type? [The Steel-Yield Mouse should avoid the rain because its body rusts easily. It enjoys sunshine.] Why would a supernatural creature rust? If its attribute is Steel, just like real steel, it rusts when exposed to rain. So why does it like sunshine? Isn¡¯t it afraid of oxidation and rusting? Seeing so many pieces of common knowledge made her want to complain. But because of this, Qiao Sang found it interesting rather than painful, and she remembered the information without needing to cram. Soon, school was over. As Qiao Sang was tidying up her things and hadn¡¯t yet left her seat, a girl wearing black-rimmed glasses approached. ¡°Qiao Sang, the teacher wants you to go to the office.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily taken aback. ¡°I understand.¡± The girl with glasses was Ma Xiao, the class monitor. She was accustomed to teachers calling Qiao Sang to the office. Being the perennial third-from-bottom student was routine for Qiao Sang. The original Qiao Sang was used to it; the current Qiao Sang was not. Especially when the teacher¡¯s spittle was practically flying in her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you! With the entrance exam so close, how can you perform like this! How can you explain this to yourself and your parents!¡± Qiao Sang silently took a step back. ¡°Teacher, please calm down.¡± That was close. She almost called the teacher ¡°Old Classmate.¡± ¡°Calm down? How can I calm down? I¡¯ve taught so many classes and never seen such poor performance!¡± The teacher¡¯s verbal assault continued unabated. As a top student in her previous life, this was Qiao Sang¡¯s first experience with such treatment. She silently took another step back. ¡°There¡¯s a reason for my performance.¡± The teacher eyed her coldly. ¡°What reason?¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve self-awakened, but my brain hasn¡¯t adjusted yet.¡± At this moment, Qiao Sang felt somewhat impressed with her own cleverness. ¡°Hmph.¡± The teacher sneered. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been too lenient with you.¡± Qiao Sang was puzzled. What did that have to do with how the teacher treated her? The teacher took out a contact book from a drawer, opened it, and dialed a number. It wasn¡¯t long before the call was connected. ¡°Hello, is this Qiao Sang¡¯s guardian? I¡¯m Qiao Sang¡¯s homeroom teacher. Could you come to the school?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± ----- Next Chapter ----- Chapter 2: A Beating Qingcheng Jiayuan.Building C, Apartment 606. When Qiao Sang returned home with her mother, she was still a bit dazed. After all, she had endured nearly two hours of verbal abuse at school. If it hadn''t been for the old teacher''s stomach growling, he might have continued lecturing her. Qiao Sang washed her face twice in the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was delicate, exactly the same as in her past life. Only now she looked much younger, with a bit of baby fat still on her cheeks. "Come out for dinner." Her mother''s voice came from the living room. "Coming." Qiao Sang responded and washed her face one more time silently. When she entered the living room, her mother, Ye Xiangting, shot her a sharp look. "The food is cold. I just reheated it. Hurry up and eat." Actually, Qiao Sang''s family was quite similar to hers. Not only did her parents look alike, but they were also both from single-parent families. Qiao Sang''s father didn''t go missing or die young; they simply got divorced. They divorced when Qiao Sang was three years old. Her father, Qiao Wangyang, remarried that year and had another daughter, who is now fourteen. It¡¯s quite intriguing¡­ Perhaps feeling guilty towards her mother, he left the child and the house to her when they divorced. Her mother, Ye Xiangting, never remarried. She worked hard to earn money and raised Qiao Sang on her own. Fortunately, her mother was an E-level Beast Tamer with a Faithful Owl and a Fat Dove. She made a living by renting out her services for aerial tours, so her life was relatively comfortable and well-off. Life hadn¡¯t turned her into a worn-out old woman but had transformed her into a strong woman with a gentle exterior but a tough interior. Qiao Sang deeply felt this. Her mother had endured two hours of scolding from the teacher with her and still managed not to hit her when they got home. She was so strong! But it really wasn¡¯t her fault. Since she couldn¡¯t retrieve the Beast Taming codex from her mind and had never contracted with a supernatural creature, it was impossible to prove that she had already awakened on her own without going to the Beast Taming Center for a checkup. Qiao Sang ate her meal in silence. Although her mother was a strong woman, there was no guarantee she would always remain that way. "Take a day off tomorrow. I¡¯ll take you to the Beast Taming Center," Her mother said, looking at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. "Why are we going to the Beast Taming Center?" "You said you¡¯ve already awakened on your own, right? We need to get a checkup and a certification before we can go to the pet base to choose a pet." Her mother explained. Since she had awakened, it was best to choose a pet as early as possible. Qiao Sang was shocked. "You believe me?" Her mother¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement. "You¡¯re my child. How could I not know you? Although you¡¯re a bit slow-witted, you wouldn¡¯t lie about something like this at this critical moment." Qiao Sang felt a mix of emotions and couldn¡¯t express how she felt. In fact, her mother in this world was not only similar in appearance but also in personality. "Mom, since you believe me, why did you let me endure two hours of scolding without saying anything?" Her mother smiled, but this time the smile was quite eerie. "Awakening on your own is one thing, but scoring zero on an exam is another. I haven¡¯t even asked you why you got a zero." Qiao Sang: "¡­" --- The Next Morning. At the entrance of the Hanggang Beast Taming Center. A plump, three-meter-long, brown, extraordinary creature with red tail feathers descended from the sky. Qiao Sang excitedly dismounted from the Fat Dove. It was her first time experiencing such a close encounter with the sky, and it was incredibly thrilling. She decided that in the future, she must contract a flying-type pet! "Fat Dove, thank you for your hard work." Her mother patted it. "Dove-Bee~" The Fat Dove shook its wings, nudged its large head against her mother, and rubbed affectionately. Her mother waved her hand, and a beam of light shone on the Fat Dove. In the next moment, it disappeared from sight. No matter how many times she saw it, Qiao Sang found it magical. These things were beyond scientific explanation in her past life. They entered the Hanggang Beast Taming Center, and her mother led her straight to Service Counter 37. Before the staff could speak, her mother said, "Hello, we¡¯re here for a brain domain test." She indicated for Qiao Sang to take out her information card. Qiao Sang obediently produced the card. After scanning it, the staff member said, "Hello, 500 Alliance Coins." Humans, thanks to their beast-taming abilities, have left Blue Star and developed and colonized three other habitable planets. The universal currency across these four planets is the Alliance Coin. After her mother paid, the staff member completed the registration and returned the information card. "Just follow the Cialiguo inside." A small, green Cialiguo, less than a meter tall, appeared behind the staff member. Its head was round with a pair of green antennae tipped with yellow, and it wore a staff badge around its neck. As a plant-type pet, Cialiguo was gentle and well-loved, especially by women. "Cialiguo." It approached Qiao Sang and made a welcoming gesture with its three-fingered hand, displaying a professional demeanor. As the capital city of Zhehai Province, Hanggang City boasted the largest beast-taming center in the province. Qiao Sang followed Cialiguo for over ten minutes before reaching the brain domain testing area. Cialiguo scanned the staff badge on the door¡¯s identity reader. "Cialiguo." When the door opened, it called out to Qiao Sang. Mother Ye calmly said to Qiao Sang, "Go in." Though her mother¡¯s face was calm, her eyes betrayed a hint of anticipation. It was clear that while she believed in her daughter, she was still anxious until she received the results. Qiao Sang followed Cialiguo inside. The first thing she saw was a short-haired female researcher in a white lab coat and a floating Bubbles Bell. Qiao Sang had just read about Bubbles Bell the previous day, so it was a surprise to see one in person so soon. Bubbles Bell, an extraordinary creature with no gender differences and a psychic type, was relatively rare. In fact, psychic-type extraordinary creatures were quite uncommon. Pet bases usually had only five or six such creatures a year, starting at a few million Alliance Coins. Most ordinary families could not afford them. She must be a wealthy lady. Qiao Sang immediately labeled the short-haired researcher in the white coat as rich. The short-haired researcher was typing away at her computer, appearing very busy. She didn¡¯t seem surprised to see Cialiguo and Qiao Sang, indicating she had already received Qiao Sang¡¯s registration information in advance. "Sit over there." She directed, pointing to a single sofa nearby. Qiao Sang sat down in the indicated spot. It was just an ordinary sofa, nothing special. ¡°Bubbles Bell,¡± The short-haired researcher called out to her partner without looking up. ¡°Bell.¡± Bubbles Bell¡¯s body suddenly glowed blue. Before Qiao Sang could figure out what was happening, a silver helmet connected to numerous equipment cables floated from several meters away and settled on her head. The sight left Qiao Sang in awe. This capability was incredibly convenient, like a gadget for lazy people! ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The short-haired researcher still did not look up, but Qiao Sang knew this instruction was for her. The silver helmet did not obstruct Qiao Sang¡¯s vision, and she could clearly see the researcher¡¯s face frowning as she observed the data and images transmitted from the device. Qiao Sang tensed up instantly. There wouldn¡¯t be any problems, right? The short-haired researcher¡¯s face grew serious, resembling the sternness of a school discipline officer, especially with her current role and the situation. This made Qiao Sang¡¯s heart race even more. ¡°Did you awaken on your own?¡± The short-haired researcher suddenly asked. ¡°Um, Miss, is there a problem?¡± Qiao Sang asked nervously. ¡°No, don¡¯t worry.¡± The researcher, noticing Qiao Sang¡¯s anxiety, forced a somewhat unnatural smile to reassure her. It was quite frightening¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s anxiety increased. ¡°This year, there are only six children who have awakened on their own, including you. Your results must be very good, right?¡± The short-haired researcher asked. Being a top student doesn¡¯t necessarily mean one will awaken on their own, but those who do usually excel academically. Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± You could call her smart or talented, but why bring up her grades? Qiao Sang knew the researcher was trying to ease her nerves, but forced small talk wasn¡¯t really helping¡­ ¡°I¡¯m basically third in my class.¡± Qiao Sang said, without a change in expression. ¡°Third in the school is still impressive. Many who are first or second don¡¯t manage to awaken.¡± The researcher said, her smile stiff but her voice gentle. ¡°I ranked first in the mock exam this time.¡± Qiao Sang added, now less nervous. ¡°After awakening, the brain domain develops by 2%. Those who awaken on their own usually see about 5% development, so a sudden improvement is quite normal.¡± The researcher explained, praising Qiao Sang for her top rank. Qiao Sang: ¡­ About two minutes later, the short-haired researcher looked up and called, ¡°Bubbles Bell.¡± ¡°Bell.¡± Bubbles Bell used its telekinesis to return the equipment to its original place. ¡°Congratulations on a successful awakening. There are no other issues with your brain domain, but there are some fluctuations. You should rest well and eat more dried fruits.¡± The researcher said, handing Qiao Sang a certificate with her signature and stamp. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Sang took the certificate, feeling a weight lift off her chest. "How is it?" As soon as they stepped outside, her mother took a quick step forward, nervously asking. Qiao Sang sighed and handed her the results. Her mother¡¯s face turned ashen, and she hesitated to take the results. ¡°Mom, just take a look.¡± Qiao Sang said, pushing the certificate a bit closer. sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Xiangting felt a chill in her heart. Not only did her daughter fail to awaken on her own, but she also scored zero¡­ Even if she hadn¡¯t scored zero, her daughter¡¯s previous grades wouldn¡¯t have qualified her for a beast-taming high school. To attend a beast-taming high school, one must first contract a Beast Taming Manual through magnetic wave awakening and then meet the score threshold. The middle school exam had a full score of 650 points, with last year''s minimum passing score at 332 points. If she had tried hard in school and still didn¡¯t make it, at least she would have tried her best. But her daughter not only failed but also lied about it¡­ Ye Xiangting began to doubt her own methods of education. A beating is necessary. This child needs to be disciplined. Seeing her mother taking the certificate and looking down, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but straighten her back. *Smack.* Qiao Sang was stunned. Chapter 3: Moving Houses "Mom, why did you hit me on the back of the head?¡±Ye Xiangting gritted her teeth. ¡°You succeeded in awakening, so why are you sighing about it?¡± ¡°The examiner said my brain domain fluctuations are significant and that I need to rest. But there are only 20 days left until the exam. Isn¡¯t this delaying my studies?¡± Qiao Sang said innocently. Ye Xiangting: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing, Mom!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Where is the strong woman she used to be? Only Cialiguo, who had come out with Qiao Sang, was left standing in the wind, looking disheveled. ¡°Cialiguo!¡± No running or making a commotion is allowed in the Beast Taming Center! ¡­ Back at home, Qiao Sang locked herself in her room and turned on her computer. Her mother had planned for them to go to the Hanggang Pet Beast Base in the afternoon to select a pet beast, but Qiao Sang refused. As Beast Tamers are a mainstream profession in this world, choosing the right pet beast is crucial because it¡¯s highly likely that a person can only contract one beast in their lifetime. The ranks of Beast Tamers range from F to SSS. F-rank Beast Tamers are the simplest; as long as they awaken the Beast Taming Manual at age 15 and contract a pet beast, they can get certified at the Beast Taming Center. To become an E-rank Beast Tamer, one must first develop their brain domain by 10% so that the Beast Taming Manual can contract a second beast. Then, they must cultivate two mid-level pet beasts, which have undergone one evolution. Next, they must win a 1v1 battle judged by the Beast Tamer Alliance¡¯s notary. Only then can their information be updated to E-rank Beast Tamer. Some people choose insects with shorter evolution cycles to quickly cultivate mid-level beasts. However, mid-level insect beasts are still too weak; only those with exceptional combat skills can win battles with them. The original Qiao Sang, being a poor student with limited knowledge, only remembered extraordinary creatures that looked good. What use is appearance if it can¡¯t win battles? If she can¡¯t win, how will she become a higher-level Beast Tamer? Selecting a pet beast should focus on those with high potential and strong combat abilities. If they went to the Hanggang Pet Beast Base in the afternoon, she wouldn¡¯t recognize the names or attributes of those beasts, nor their first and second-stage evolutions. How could she choose? Qiao Sang felt that this was not something to rush. She needed to do her homework first. She opened the forum and logged into her account, ¡°GeniusAgainAgainAgain.¡± This ID clearly reflects that every poor student has a dream of turning their fortunes around. Instead of posting a new thread, Qiao Sang browsed the forum. In this world, the concept of pet beasts was already well-developed, with thousands of newly awakened Beast Tamers posting every year. Scrolling through, she saw various posts related to pet beasts: - [I was poisoned by a Little Scorpion!] - [Does anyone else think the new form of the Cottonbug is ugly?] - [B-rank Beast Tamer teaches you how to get into Nansheng Beast Taming University.] - [A newbie Beast Tamer wants to know if contracting a Little Dragon is okay?] Her gaze lingered on the last post. Unbelievable. Thinking about contracting a dragon-type beast as their first pet and asking others if it¡¯s okay? The power of dragon-type pet beasts is well-known. Aside from a few extremely rare beasts, dragon-type beasts are the most expensive among all pet beasts. Only those who are wealthy can afford them. Even if someone could just barely afford one, they might not be able to care for it. Dragon-type beasts have long evolution cycles, and it may take several years of feeding and care to evolve into a mid-level pet beast. If Qiao Sang were to answer, it would be an absolute no. Absolutely no! But if a dragon-type pet beast were presented to Qiao Sang for contract¡­ It might not be so absolute¡­ Qiao Sang moved on, no longer paying attention to that frustrating post. - [New Beast Tamers highly recommend Sand Diggers!] The comments section was filled with various opinions. ¡°The poster probably hasn¡¯t let Sand Diggers sleep at night. A friendly reminder: They grind their teeth!¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the poster also mention what they use to grind their teeth?¡± ¡°My White Sand Fox disagrees.¡± ¡°Deepfur Turtle requests to fight.¡± ¡­ Beast Tamer civilization has developed to the point where suitable pet beasts for newbie Beast Tamers have already been summarized. Little Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-tailed Snake, Sand Digger, Deepfur Turtle. These five pet beasts are reasonably priced, affordable for most families, and have mild temperaments. With proper training, evolving them to mid-level is absolutely achievable. Most newbie Beast Tamers¡¯ posts on the forum are about these five pet beasts. Qiao Sang¡¯s mother¡¯s first pet beast was a Little Fat Dove, with Fat Dove being its evolved form. As a flying-type beast, its larger body causes it to fly slower than other flying-type beasts. It is a popular choice among newbie Beast Tamers simply because it can evolve into a powerful Great Flying Owl. White Sand Fox has strong attack power but weak defense; it can¡¯t last long if hit. Sand Digger is naturally skilled at digging and prefers to avoid direct confrontations. Deepfur Turtle, while not water-based like normal turtles, has strong defensive abilities. White Sand Fox, Sand Digger, and Deepfur Turtle are all earth-type beasts, so they are often compared. However, White Sand Fox¡¯s appearance outshines the other two, making it a top choice for female newbie Beast Tamers. Short-tailed Snake is a poison-type beast, with venomous teeth and dangerous tail spikes, providing impressive combat power from the start. However, contracting it can be risky and might require a trip to the hospital. Only those with strong physical constitutions dare to contract it. Qiao Sang looked at the options for a long time and couldn¡¯t decide. Each of these five pet beasts has its drawbacks, but their affordable prices and safe evolution plans are undeniable advantages. Ultimately, it¡¯s still a matter of money. Qiao Sang got up and left the room. Her mother was sitting on the sofa, watching TV. Qiao Sang said, ¡°Mom, do we have 1 million? I want to buy a Bubble Bell.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Qiao Sang returned to her room and continued browsing the forum. - [Is it safe for D-rank Beast Tamers to go to Qipang Forest?] - [Second Beast Betting just got Green Cat Meow, everyone come and absorb the luck!] ¡­ In addition to buying pet beasts at the base, they can also be obtained through black markets, beast betting, or the wild. Pet beasts from the black market have unknown origins. As long as you have the money, they can get any kind of beast for you. Beast betting relies on luck; You might end up bankrupt, even losing your underwear. Finding pet beasts in the wild is something only D-rank Beast Tamers or higher would do. After all, the chances of encountering danger in the wild are high, and extraordinary creatures are difficult to tame. Even if contracted, they are not easy to train and obey. None of these three methods are feasible for her right now. Qiao Sang sighed. Although she had many ideas, her options were truly limited. 8:26 PM. Qiao Sang closed her computer and looked at the time with a bit of surprise. Her mother hadn¡¯t called her for dinner yet. Could she really be upset? She prepared to go to the living room to check, but feeling uneasy, she grabbed a copy of "Beast Taming History II" from the bookshelf. Opening the door, she found the living room dark and unlit. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. After a moment of contemplation, and confirming that her mother was not in the bedroom either, Qiao Sang turned on the living room light, tossed "Beast Taming History II" onto the sofa, and then took a box of matcha ice cream from the fridge. Just as she sat down with the ice cream and turned on the TV, the door creaked open. Qiao Sang turned her head and their eyes met. "¡­" A brief silence filled the air. ¡°Come and eat.¡± Her mother said, raising an eyebrow as she placed the takeout on the dining table. So she had just gone out to buy food... ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± Qiao Sang looked at the matcha ice cream she had just started eating and, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, took another bite. ¡°Mom, why did you go out to buy food today?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she approached the dining table. ¡°There was something I had to do, and I didn¡¯t have time to cook, so I bought some on the way back,¡± Her mother replied. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°What was it?¡± Her mother paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Sang Sang, let¡¯s move to a new house.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned, her eating motion coming to a halt. She asked in confusion, ¡°Why move?¡± Hanggang City, being the capital of Zhehai Province, has absurdly high housing prices. This house was originally bought when the prices weren¡¯t so high, as a wedding gift from her father¡¯s family. Although Qiao Sang¡¯s current residence, Qingcheng Jiayuan, is not in one of the more expensive areas of Hangang City, it is in a good location with nearby schools and the subway, making it worth over 50,000 per square meter. Her mother took a bite of food, swallowed, glanced at Qiao Sang, and then continued, ¡°I asked the real estate agent when I went out. Our house is 133 square meters. The current market price is about 53,000 per square meter, so it could sell for over 7 million Alliance Coins.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over. We can buy a smaller house, put down a down payment, and use the extra money to buy you a Bubble Bell. We¡¯ll even have some money left over.¡± ¡°And I can still earn money. Besides moving to a smaller house, nothing else will change.¡± Qiao Sang was speechless. In just a few hours, her mother had made such a big decision without any prior notice. ¡°Mom¡­¡± She murmured, trying to say something. Her mother interrupted, ¡°Although your grades aren¡¯t great, you awakened on your own. Your talent is evident.¡± ¡°Even though our family isn¡¯t very wealthy, whatever kind of pet beast you want, your mother can still get it for you.¡± ¡°As long as you promise me not to slack off like you do with your studies, and to properly nurture it.¡± Although Ye Xiangting hadn¡¯t considered this before, since her daughter expressed a desire for a superpower-type pet beast, and given that her daughter¡¯s academic performance was poor but she managed to awaken on her own, it showed real talent in beast taming. They had never had a child who awakened on their own before. Given this, buying an expensive but promising pet beast that her daughter liked seemed reasonable. Sea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it¡¯s her duty as a mother. Qiao Sang felt a mix of emotions. She only knew that she wanted to eat the unfinished matcha ice cream to calm her feelings. She looked into her mother¡¯s eyes and smiled, saying, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve said that I awakened on my own and have the talent. I can nurture any pet beast I get.¡± "I was just saying; I don¡¯t really want a Bubble Bell. Please don¡¯t sell the house." Her mother stood up to pour a glass of water and, after a while, said, "I know you want a Bubble Bell. You awakened on your own, so¡ª" Qiao Sang interrupted her, saying seriously, "I¡¯ve studied all afternoon and evening and think that a Fire Fang Dog is great. I want it." While Bubble Bell is indeed a powerful superpower-type pet, and dragons, fairy-type, and ghost-type pets are also excellent, Qiao Sang felt that these were rare and strong but not necessarily what she needed. It was like some people who, despite their starting conditions, want a divine beast from the get-go. What she truly wanted was a pet beast that was within her capabilities to own and nurture. Chapter 4: Requesting Leave Her mother paused, "Isn''t the Fire Fang Dog too aggressive?"When choosing a pet beast, Beast Masters undoubtedly consider attributes, talent, and potential. However, for a new Beast Master, the pet''s temperament is the most important factor. Pets like the Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-Tailed Snake, Sand-Diggers, and Deepfur Turtle are popular choices for beginners mainly due to their gentle nature. Not all pets bred at the pet centers have docile dispositions or are non-aggressive. If an inexperienced Beast Master contracts a pet with a volatile temperament as their first, not only will they struggle to command it in battle, but they will also have difficulty even training it. Last year, a boy from South City who had just finished his high school entrance exams contracted a Fire Sparrow. Within a few days, the Fire Sparrow preferred to suffer backlash rather than continue the contract. The boy''s brain domain was severely damaged, and by the time he could return to high school, he had fallen significantly behind his peers. Later, it was revealed that the problem started because the boy wanted the Fire Sparrow to strike a pose for his social media... This incident even briefly made headlines. Fire-type pets are typically crude and willful, and the Fire Fang Dog is no exception. However, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t share this view. She believed that not all Fire Fang Dogs of a species could be aggressive; There must be some with different temperaments. Otherwise, a species with identical personalities would be incredibly uninteresting. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve said that I have talent for Beast Mastery. I think the Fire Fang Dog suits me,¡± Qiao Sang said. The Fire Fang Dog is a fire-type pet with strong attack power, and it would definitely meet the criteria for her to become an E-grade Beast Master after one evolution. Although the Fire Fang Dog is not as expensive as a superpower-type pet like the Bubble Bell, it is still significantly more costly than pets like the Fat Dove. While a Fat Dove costs around 30,000, a Fire Fang Dog is priced around 100,000. Qiao Sang understood the family''s financial situation, and this amount was manageable. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll take you to the pet center tomorrow morning,¡± Her mother agreed without further discussion. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang was awakened by her mother at dawn. Under her mother¡¯s urging, she quickly got ready and had breakfast in just ten minutes, and they left the house by 7:06 a.m. Throughout the process, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelids drooped, giving her a look of not being fully awake. By the time they reached the Hanggang Pet Center, it was 8:31 a.m., just as the center opened. Since it was early, they were the only ones there to buy pets. No appointment was needed, and there was no line. They were greeted by a female staff member who looked to be in her thirties. ¡°May I assist you with anything?¡± She asked with a professional smile. ¡°We want to buy a Fire Fang Dog.¡± Her mother stated directly. ¡°Okay, please follow me.¡± The staff member led the way. She was evidently experienced, providing constant explanations throughout the walk, which helped avoid any awkwardness. ¡°At present, we have 27 Fire Fang Dogs in the center, all in excellent condition. Two are even on the brink of evolution. Among the remaining 25, 19 have learned Spark." ¡°Additionally, 7 have mastered Fireball. They are a few centimeters taller than their peers, and 5 more¡­¡± During the introduction, they arrived at the area specifically for raising Fire Fang Dogs. Before Qiao Sang could get close, a loud explosion suddenly rang out, and a burst of flame struck about five meters away from her. Qiao Sang jumped in surprise. She turned towards the source of the flame. Two Fire Fang Dogs, noticeably larger than the others, were facing each other with their teeth covered in flames. The fiery teeth, known as Fire Fang, is a skill that most Fire Fang Dogs inherit. The staff member remained calm and explained, ¡°These two are Fire Fang Dogs close to evolution. They constantly fight to prove they are the strongest, but their battles usually end in a draw.¡± As she spoke, another flame shot out and struck about four meters away from Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang felt a shiver run down her spine. The staff member pointed to some bushes not far to the left. ¡°The Spark you saw earlier was released by that Fire Fang Dog. Its power is quite impressive.¡± Qiao Sang looked over and saw that the Fire Fang Dog was standing in front of another Fire Fang Dog, and the atmosphere seemed tense. Sure enough, in the next moment, the two started to fight and bite each other. The staff member continued explaining, ¡°They are rivals fighting for the affection of a female Fire Fang Dog. However, it¡¯s unlikely to lead to anything, as the female Fire Fang Dog prefers another one.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± After a moment of thought, she asked, ¡°Where is the female Fire Fang Dog?¡± The female Fire Fang Dog is likely to have a better temperament than the males. The staff member smiled. ¡°The one cheering them on during the fight is the female Fire Tooth Fang.¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback. She looked again and saw a Fire Fang Dog with a cleaner and softer coat than the other two, excitedly barking from the bushes. ¡°Yah!¡± ¡°Yah!¡± The staff member translated, ¡°It seems to be encouraging the fight. Although it doesn¡¯t like the fighters, it enjoys watching them fight for its attention.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Sang was left confused, while the staff member noticed her mother hadn¡¯t said anything and asked, ¡°Do you have a preferred Fire Fang Dog? I can bring it over for a closer look.¡± Her mother shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m here with my daughter. She¡¯s the one looking to contract a Fire Fang Dog.¡± The staff member realized. ¡°No wonder. Your daughter must be a self-awakened Beast Master.¡± Her mother looked pleased. ¡°How did you know?¡± The staff member explained, ¡°Today is Friday, and your daughter is still wearing her Wen Cheng Junior High School uniform. She should be in her third year of junior high." "The time for the annual unified awakening by the Beast Master Alliance isn¡¯t here yet. If she wasn¡¯t self-awakened, she wouldn¡¯t be able to come here to contract a pet. And it¡¯s not easy to get school leave at such a crucial time.¡± These were just her guesses. She was making assumptions based on a recent case where a girl from Wen Cheng Junior High School, who was also self-awakened, came to contract a pet with her parents. It just so happened that she was the one who attended to them. However, what¡¯s with Wen Cheng Junior High? Two self-awakened kids from the same year? She would definitely discuss getting a loan for a school district house with her husband when she got home; her son was already in fourth grade. Her mother¡¯s smile gradually stiffened. Qiao Sang came back to her senses and asked, ¡°Mom, did you call my homeroom teacher to request leave for me today?¡± Her mother gave a forced laugh. ¡°Haha, how could I forget?¡± ¡°I remember you requested leave for yesterday, but today¡­¡± Qiao Sang questioned. ¡°I already requested two days off for you directly yesterday!¡± Her mother¡¯s voice unconsciously raised. Qiao Sang said, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± She sighed inwardly. She wondered if her mother had noticed that her voice always got louder when she was lying. ----- Previous Chapter_Next Chapter ------ S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 5: The Beast Mastery Codex A minute later. sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Her mother¡¯s voice was slightly louder than usual, but her expression remained calm: ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± The staff member replied, ¡°Turn left ahead, and then right at the end.¡± Her mother nodded, lifting her leg to walk towards the right. ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s actually to the left,¡± The staff member reminded. Her mother¡¯s back stiffened for a moment, then she turned left as if nothing had happened. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but be amused. She controlled her rising smile. Mom, your strong and independent image just crumbled. She turned her attention back to the Fire Fang Dogs. Qiao Sang noticed that the Fire Fang Dogs were highly active and full of energy; not a single one was quietly sitting still. It made sense that beginner Beast Masters often chose pets like the Fat Dove¡­ Unable to help herself, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Do you have any Fire Fang Dogs with a quieter temperament?¡± The staff member tactfully responded, ¡°Actually, we have many other pets in our facility.¡± Qiao Sang understood immediately. Though she lacked experience as a Beast Master, she was an adult at heart and didn¡¯t think she would be as overwhelmed by a temperamental pet as a 15-year-old might be. Since that was the case, she decided to focus on choosing a Fire Fang Dog that simply caught her eye. ¡°Can I see that one?¡± Qiao Sang noticed that the Fire Fang Dog was persistently ramming into a tree¡ªnot in a random, reckless manner but with purposeful force. She suspected its target was not the tree but itself. After all, who would foolishly slam into a tree without a purpose? ¡°Of course,¡± The staff member said. She blew a loud, piercing note on a metal whistle hanging from her neck. All the Fire Fang Dogs stopped their activities and turned their attention towards her, ceasing their destructive behavior. A few of them tilted their heads. ¡°Yah?¡± Is it time for a meal? With the flames no longer obstructing her view, the staff member entered the Fire Fang Dog area and picked up the chosen Fire Fang Dog. ¡°Yah?¡± The Fire Fang Dog blinked its confused eyes, its flame-like ears twitching. The Fire Fang Dog was placed in front of Qiao Sang. It was a small-sized canine pet with flame-red fur accented by black stripes and a tuft of orange fur on its head. The Fire Fang Dog before her stood about 60 cm tall and was noticeably smaller than the others. It had a fresh bruise from its recent tree ramming, and its black pupils looked at her with a moist gaze that made one want to reach out and pet it. Unlike the other fiery-tempered Fire Fang Dogs, this one seemed rather pitiable. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind automatically conjured an image of a weak Fire Fang Dog being shunned, its food taken, leading to malnutrition, and its struggle to improve through intense training. The tree ramming was probably an attempt to practice some special skill. Perhaps something like Flame Impact. The staff member explained, ¡°This Fire Fang Dog is the youngest at our facility, barely a month old.¡± So it wasn¡¯t weakness but youth¡­ Well, that¡¯s good. Many Beast Masters prefer to raise their pets from the egg stage to build a strong bond and understanding with them. Qiao Sang had considered buying a young pet egg before but quickly dismissed the idea. After all, she still had school, and taking an egg to class would be both conspicuous and unsafe. Leaving it at home while her mother was out working also made her uneasy. Qiao Sang crouched down and gently stroked the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s head. The Fire Fang Dog contentedly squinted its eyes, its red tail wagging involuntarily. It seemed quite well-behaved. Qiao Sang felt the soft fur in her hand, growing more satisfied. She looked into the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes and smiled, ¡°Are you willing to come with me?¡± The staff member''s expression was a bit odd. This Fire Fang Dog had a bad temper. It took advantage of its youth to cause trouble and often got into fights with other Fire Fang Dogs. Older Fire Fang Dogs saw that it had only recently been born, didn¡¯t yet have any flame skills, and its claws weren¡¯t fully developed. So, they let it have its way, sometimes playing along and pretending to be defeated. It thought it was unbeatable and became increasingly arrogant. As a professional receptionist, she had a good sense of what kind of pet the customer wanted and what their needs were. This girl clearly wanted a Fire Fang Dog with a quieter temperament. Should she say something? There were no well-tempered Fire Fang Dogs in this facility. She thought about the commission for this Fire Fang Dog and then about her son¡¯s school district. Ultimately, she decided to stay silent. The Fire Fang Dog understood what was meant by "come along." Of course, it wanted to leave. It had no rivals here, and this human¡¯s touch felt very comfortable¡­ It was time to find new opponents! ¡°Yah!¡± The Fire Fang Dog solemnly nodded and extended its chubby paw. Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised but then shook its paw. The process went more smoothly than she had expected¡­ Thus, an agreement was reached between the girl and the dog. ¡­ The contract between humans and extraordinary creatures is established through the Beast Mastery Codex. The Beast Mastery Codex acts as a medium that closely connects the two parties. Generally, for a contract to succeed, both sides must be willing. However, it is also possible to establish a contract after thoroughly defeating the extraordinary creature when it is defenseless. The latter method carries many risks; without enough intimacy, the pet may become disobedient, which only high-level Beast Masters can avoid. As long as the Beast Master¡¯s brain domain is well-developed and the Beast Mastery Codex is strong, even if the pet resists, the contract cannot be broken. At this moment, Qiao Sang was connecting to her brain domain. The Beast Mastery Codex in her brain domain remained quietly still, though it was called the Beast Mastery Codex, it was as thin as an envelope with only a blank page inside. From what Qiao Sang had read, the Beast Mastery Codex is white when it first awakens, containing only one page for contract space. Once the brain domain develops to 10%, the Beast Mastery Codex turns gray, and the contract space expands to two pages. With the hand gesture she remembered from the manual, Qiao Sang made a seal in front of her. Soon, the Beast Mastery Codex activated in her brain domain, slowly opening to the single page. A white light gradually gathered from all sides above the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s head, forming a small circular star array. There is actually a simple way to determine a Beast Master¡¯s level: Whether during a contract or summoning, the color of the light on the pet indicates the level. Just like the Beast Mastery Codex, the color of the star array that appears when summoning a pet reflects its level. However, this is just a reference, as even if the Beast Mastery Codex awakens further, without a pet of corresponding strength, passing the Beast Master Alliance¡¯s level examination is unlikely. The star array¡¯s light covered the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s head. It curiously looked up at the array and did not resist. Chapter 6: Fire Fang Dog Soon, the Fire Fang Dog vanished within the glowing star formation.In an instant, the blank pages of the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind suddenly lit up, and a lifelike image of the Fire Fang Dog appeared on them. At the same time, more information filled the previously empty section of the Codex: Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (63/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100)+, Charge (Intermediate 133/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 1/100)+ Points: 0 These simple and easy-to-understand lines appeared clearly before Qiao Sang. She was stunned. Did the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex ever introduce such things? She didn¡¯t think so. From what she remembered, the Codex was only supposed to serve as a contract and a space to store pet beasts. It was nothing like this kind of system. But Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t entirely sure of her memory because the original owner of her body was a poor student with many knowledge gaps. However¡­ maybe, just maybe, this really is my golden finger! Qiao Sang suppressed her excitement and formed the seal to summon the Fire Fang Dog. The next second, a white star formation appeared on the ground, and starlight gathered around it. The Fire Fang Dog appeared, looking excited. ¡°Yap!¡± The Fire Fang Dog barked at Qiao Sang. Because of the contract, Qiao Sang could easily understand her pet beast''s intentions. It wanted to try entering the Codex again. Qiao Sang smiled indulgently and formed the seal to return the Fire Fang Dog to the Codex. As soon as it went in, the Fire Fang Dog started barking to be let out again. Qiao Sang complied. The moment the Fire Fang Dog reappeared, it happily wagged its red tail. ¡°Yap!¡± Qiao Sang chuckled and sent it back into the Codex. Then, she let it out again. The Fire Fang Dog blinked its black eyes. ¡°Yap!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s smile stiffened slightly. She hesitated but still returned it to the Codex. When it reappeared, the Fire Fang Dog gazed at her with eyes full of anticipation. ¡°Yap!¡± It wanted to play more! Qiao Sang: ¡°...¡± When Ye Xiangting returned, she found her daughter repeatedly forming seals, one moment sending the Fire Fang Dog back into the Codex, the next moment letting it out again. Ye Xiangting asked in confusion, ¡°Sang Sang, what are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang replied expressionlessly, ¡°I¡¯m playing.¡± --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t go straight home after leaving the Hanggang Pet Beast Base; instead, she made a stop at the Hanggang Beastmaster Center. According to the Alliance''s regulations, every pet beast contracted by a Beastmaster must be registered at a Beastmaster Center within seven working days. In this era, you can¡¯t just contract a pet beast and bring it home to raise without any concerns. First, you have to register your pet beast; otherwise, it will be considered unregistered. Human cities prohibit wild extraordinary creatures from entering. If a pet beast is unregistered and gets caught, it will be treated as a wild extraordinary creature and taken away by the Inspection Department. It¡¯s not uncommon for wild extraordinary creatures to attack humans. In fact, the news frequently reports incidents of humans being attacked by these creatures. To ensure human safety, especially for those ordinary people whose brain domains haven''t awakened, the Alliance has strictly prohibited the presence of wild extraordinary creatures in cities. However, extraordinary creatures vary in type, each possessing mysterious powers. Beast-type extraordinary creatures are easier to detect, but creatures like spirits or ghosts can be very difficult to spot if they hide. Thus, the Alliance established the Inspection Department specifically to deal with these situations. From the Hanggang Pet Beast Base, a quick detour leads directly to the Hanggang Beastmaster Center, making it a convenient stop on the way home. At the turn where she made the detour, her mother, who was riding her Faithful Owl, went ahead, saying she had something to take care of, and left Qiao Sang with their family¡¯s Fat Dove for transportation. By the time Qiao Sang arrived at the Hanggang Beastmaster Center, it was already 11:32 AM, leaving only 28 minutes before the center closed. Unlike brain domain detection registration, where only one window is available, there were 16 windows open for information registration. Qiao Sang took a number and found a seat to wait. The Fat Dove stood quietly beside her, keeping watch, while the Fire Fang Dog lay in her arms, its eyes darting around, clearly curious about its surroundings. "Number 06556, please proceed to Window 12." "Number 06556, please proceed to Window 12." Qiao Sang glanced at the number in her hand: 06557. She then checked the time¡ª11:52 AM. It seemed she wouldn¡¯t be called this morning. "Number 06557, please proceed to Window 12." It appeared that 06556 hadn¡¯t shown up, so they called Qiao Sang¡¯s number instead. Qiao Sang quickly stood up, holding the Fire Fang Dog. It seemed her luck was good today. At Window 12, a young man with a buzz cut was handling registrations. "Hello, how can I help you?" Qiao Sang pulled out her information card and handed it over. "I¡¯m here to register my pet beast." The young man took the card and placed it on the scanner. After a moment, he said, "I¡¯m sorry, but it shows here that you¡¯re not a registered Beastmaster, so you can¡¯t register your pet beast." Qiao Sang was taken aback. "Then I¡¯ll register as a Beastmaster first." The young man replied, "Please provide your brain domain certification." It was Qiao Sang¡¯s first time registering as a Beastmaster, so she didn¡¯t know she needed that. "I didn¡¯t bring it," Qiao Sang said helplessly. She then lifted the Fire Fang Dog in her hands. "Doesn¡¯t this prove I¡¯m a Beastmaster?" The young man glanced at the time on his computer¡ª11:58 AM. "No, it doesn¡¯t." "Why not?" Qiao Sang asked, confused. A woman¡¯s impatient voice came from behind. "Are you done yet? If you don¡¯t have everything, move aside." Qiao Sang turned around and saw a girl wearing a Union Beastmaster High School uniform standing behind her. The girl gave Qiao Sang a dismissive glance. She had narrow, upward-slanting eyes that made others uncomfortable when she looked down at them. Seeing that Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t responded, the girl stepped around her and handed her number slip to the young man. "I¡¯m number 06556, ahead of her. Handle mine first; I need to update my pet beast¡¯s information." Qiao Sang frowned and started to step aside. Though the girl''s attitude was annoying, she indeed didn¡¯t have all her documents. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The young man with the buzz cut refused the girl¡¯s request, saying, "If you miss your number, you¡¯ll have to wait for a new one." He then handed Qiao Sang¡¯s information card back to her. "Beastmaster registration requires proof and a photo for documentation." At exactly 12:00 PM, the young man turned the sign at the window around and smiled, saying, "We¡¯re closed for lunch. You can come back in the afternoon." With that, he left his workstation. Neither of them got their tasks done, but Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind; it was just a convenient stop on her way home anyway. However, the girl in the high school uniform frowned. "This is all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, I would¡¯ve been done by now." Qiao Sang stood up to leave. A hand stopped her. "Hey, didn¡¯t you hear me talking to you?" Qiao Sang looked around, confused, and asked, "Are you talking to me?" "Is there anyone else here?" The girl¡¯s narrow, slanted eyes widened in anger. Just then, a couple of passersby walked by quietly. ----- Previous Chapter_Next Chapter ----- Chapter 7: Desert-Tailed Fox "Do you need something?" Qiao Sang had to stop and ask."If you hadn''t wasted so much time, I wouldn''t have made this trip for nothing," The girl complained. Qiao Sang frowned slightly and said, "I remember that when they called your number, you didn''t go up yourself." The girl became more agitated. "If you hadn''t gone up so quickly, I would¡¯ve been the last one served! Do you know that if you had just sat down for two seconds, I would¡¯ve made it?" Qiao Sang was speechless. Is something wrong with this kid? Qiao Sang walked around her, preparing to leave. Although she was 15 years old now, mentally, she was an adult. The girl in front of her was still a child in her eyes, wearing a high school uniform. What¡¯s the point of arguing with a brat like this? But before she could take more than a few steps, the girl quickly stepped in front of her again, blocking her path. "Why are you leaving?" Qiao Sang looked at her and calmly asked, "Are you trying to start a fight?" If something can be settled with a fight, why bother with words? Arguing with a brat doesn¡¯t make much sense, but giving her a good beating might. "What?" Now it was the girl¡¯s turn to be stunned. "If you want to fight, let¡¯s take it outside. If not, get out of my way." Qiao Sang had slightly upturned phoenix eyes, which usually looked pleasant when she was calm. But when she stared at someone without a hint of a smile, she could be quite intimidating. The girl hesitated for a few seconds, glanced at Qiao Sang¡¯s uniform, then looked at the Fire Fang Dog and the Fat Dove. Gritting her teeth, she agreed, "Fine, let¡¯s fight!" The two of them moved to a small open area behind the Hanggang Beastmaster Center. The space was neither too big nor too small, with a few people scattered around, training their pet beasts. Qiao Sang glanced around, surprised by the location, and asked, "Isn¡¯t this place too public? Shouldn¡¯t we find somewhere more secluded?" The girl smirked. "What? Are you scared?" Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. "I was just trying to save you some face. But if you insist on doing it here, that¡¯s fine." "Come on!" The girl took a step to the side, readying herself. Seeing the girl prepare, Qiao Sang placed the Fire Fang Dog off to the side. Noticing this, the girl raised her hands and was about to form a seal when she suddenly saw a leg sweeping toward her face. Instinctively, she ducked and covered her head, crouching to the ground. A gust of wind whooshed over her head. "What are you doing?!" Xu Linglan broke into a cold sweat. She quickly got up and took two steps back, looking at the younger girl in front of her in disbelief. Qiao Sang had just kicked at her face, and hard enough that if it had connected, Xu Linglan would have ended up with a concussion! That was brutal! Qiao Sang looked innocent. "Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to fight?" Who said anything about that kind of fight? Xu Linglan was speechless. She thought Qiao Sang was doing it on purpose, but she had no proof. "Beastmasters fight with their beasts! Who actually fights themselves?" Xu Linglan shouted at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang paused, then said, "I''m not officially a Beastmaster yet." Xu Linglan: "..." That''s right. She had heard that just a moment ago. But that¡¯s just a formal certification. You''ve already bonded with a pet beast, so you¡¯re practically a Beastmaster already! Without further argument, Xu Linglan quickly formed a seal. A white star array suddenly lit up on the ground, and a white figure appeared within it. Seeing her own pet beast, Xu Linglan felt more confident. "I¡¯m a Beastmaster, so of course, I¡¯ll fight like one. Or are you afraid to use your pet beast against mine?" The vicious girl in front of her was clearly a novice Beastmaster. There was no way the Fat Dove, a mid-level pet beast, could be hers. It had to be the not-yet-fully-grown Fire Fang Dog that she¡¯d just bonded with. Her White Sand Fox had just evolved into a Desert-Tailed Fox yesterday. What could this girl possibly use to beat her? The Desert-Tailed Fox, the evolved form of the White Sand Fox, is an extremely gentle creature. Unlike the White Sand Fox, which was known only for its beautiful tail, the Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s tail was over two meters long¡ªfive times its body length¡ªand was its main source of power. As Qiao Sang stared at the amber-eyed, white-colored extraordinary creature in front of her, information about it automatically flashed through her mind. After all, she had just studied it yesterday. The Desert-Tailed Fox was a mid-level pet beast, while the Fire Fang Dog was less than a month old and had no training. She couldn''t win. Qiao Sang had already come to a conclusion. Given the disparity in strength, she wouldn''t send the Fire Fang Dog in for a one-sided beating. sea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Fat Dove, you''re up." Qiao Sang turned to the Fat Dove, who had been quietly standing by. "Coo." The Fat Dove shook its wings and, without protest, moved to stand in front of the Desert-Tailed Fox. Xu Linglan sneered. "That¡¯s not even your pet beast, is it?" Qiao Sang nodded without refuting her. "Hah, whether it¡¯s your beast or not, I''ll still win." Xu Linglan didn¡¯t stop her. There¡¯s no way someone else¡¯s pet beast would obey her commands as well as her own. Even if they were both mid-level pet beasts, Xu Linglan didn¡¯t think she would lose. "Desert-Tailed Fox, Quicksand!" Xu Linglan decided to strike first and gave the command. "Desert." The Desert-Tailed Fox let out a cry, its two-meter-long tail flickering and gradually glowing with an earthen hue. "Fat Dove, fly up." Qiao Sang remained calm and composed. The Fat Dove spread its wings and was just about to take off when a red blur suddenly shot across the field, crashing into the Desert-Tailed Fox and interrupting its Quicksand move before it could even be unleashed. The Fat Dove forgot to take off, its chubby head full of confusion. Wasn''t it supposed to be my turn? It was the Fire Fang Dog. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise at the red figure in front of her. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" The Fire Fang Dog barked at Qiao Sang in frustration. Qiao Sang could clearly sense the dog¡¯s anger and frustration. The Fire Fang Dog was extremely unhappy! Wasn¡¯t it the one bonded to her? Why let someone else fight in its place? Qiao Sang felt the dog¡¯s emotions clearly, and her throat tightened slightly as she was about to speak. "How sneaky! You actually launched a sneak attack and want to fight two against one!" Xu Linglan shouted in fury. Although her White Sand Fox had evolved into a Desert-Tailed Fox, her mental capacity had only developed to 7%, far from the second awakening needed to bond with a second pet beast. The Desert-Tailed Fox was a mid-level pet beast, but so was the Fat Dove, and being a flying-type, it had an inherent advantage over the Desert-Tailed Fox. And then there was the Fire Fang Dog. Though it was only a low-level pet beast, it was fire-type, which had strong offensive power. If it was two against one, she would definitely be at a disadvantage! Xu Linglan gritted her teeth, glaring at the younger girl in front of her. Not only was this girl ruthless, but she was also sneaky! Qiao Sang stood still for a couple of seconds, suddenly feeling as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. Two against one? Why hadn¡¯t she thought of that earlier? This is a fight, not a competition. Winning is what matters; there are no rules against it. The Fire Fang Dog wanted to fight anyway, and this would be a good chance to gauge its abilities and test some of her theories. Qiao Sang looked at the sulking little dog in front of her and smiled, "Fire Fang Dog, come here." ----- Previous Chapter_Next Chapter ----- Chapter 8: Fire Fang Alhough the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s face was full of displeasure, it obediently walked over.Qiao Sang squatted down and patted its head. The Fire Fang Dog narrowed its eyes comfortably, completely different from its earlier bristling state. It was too easy to appease, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but think. ¡°Fire Fang Dog, team up with the Fat Dove,¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yip!¡± The Fire Fang Dog barked happily, turning around with a look of determination in its eyes. From now on, Qiao Sang would be the first to disagree if anyone said fire-type pet beasts had bad tempers! ¡°Use Charge!¡± Qiao Sang commanded directly. She didn¡¯t care whether the girl across from her was ready or not¡ªwho asks for permission before starting a fight? This was her first time working with the Fire Fang Dog, and she didn¡¯t want to lose. The Fire Fang Dog dug in with its four limbs and charged forward in an instant. Xu Linglan kept her eyes on the two beasts and their handler, holding back the urge to curse out loud. She quickly reacted, ¡°Desert-Tailed Fox, wrap it up with your tail!¡± Earlier, the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s Tackle had succeeded because Xu Linglan¡¯s attention was on the Fat Dove. Now that she noticed the Fire Fang Dog, she was prepared. The Fire Fang Dog was less than a month old, and to the Desert-Tailed Fox, its speed seemed sluggish. The Desert-Tailed Fox leisurely extended its over-two-meter-long tail, waiting for the Fire Fang Dog to approach. ¡°Fat Dove, grab the Fire Fang Dog and fly up,¡± Qiao Sang quickly ordered. The Fat Dove¡¯s flying speed might be slow compared to other flying-type pet beasts, but it was still much faster than the young Fire Fang Dog. Even in its charging state, the Fat Dove quickly caught up, grabbed the Fire Fang Dog, and flew up. Xu Linglan was stunned, not understanding what Qiao Sang was planning. ¡°Yip?¡± The Fire Fang Dog was also confused. It was the first time it had worked with Qiao Sang and the first time it had teamed up with the Fat Dove, so it was clearly unsure of what was happening. ¡°Fat Dove, drop the Fire Fang Dog on top of the target,¡± Qiao Sang said calmly. The Fat Dove hesitated. After all, it wasn¡¯t Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beast, so it didn¡¯t immediately drop the Fire Fang Dog on the Desert-Tailed Fox. Qiao Sang sighed, just about to issue another command when the Fat Dove suddenly followed through. This wasn¡¯t an ideal moment¡ªthree seconds had passed since Qiao Sang had given the order, giving the opponent ample time to react. The Fire Fang Dog flew toward the Desert-Tailed Fox, and Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She was about to tell the Fire Fang Dog to dodge, but there was no movement from the other side. Xu Linglan hadn¡¯t ordered the Desert-Tailed Fox to do anything. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t understand why, but it didn¡¯t stop her from giving the next command. ¡°Bite its neck with Fire Fang!¡± Qiao Sang had initially chosen not to fight the White Sand Fox because its defense was too weak; even in its evolved form as the Desert-Tailed Fox, this was still true. Unlike its powerful tail, the Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s body was incredibly fragile. Even a minor injury would cause it great pain, and its neck was its most vulnerable spot. ¡°Dodge!¡± Xu Linglan finally realized what was happening. But it was too late. The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s blazing teeth bit down hard on the Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s neck. ¡°Merrow!!¡± The Desert-Tailed Fox let out a piercing scream, its fur standing on end as it writhed in pain, trying desperately to shake off the Fire Fang Dog. The Fire Fang Dog clung on like a tenacious piece of glue, refusing to be shaken off. ¡°Jump away,¡± Qiao Sang ordered. The Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately leaping off the Desert-Tailed Fox and to the side. The next second, the Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s powerful tail mercilessly lashed at where the Fire Fang Dog had just been. Without the Fire Fang Dog clinging to it, the forceful tail landed squarely on the Desert-Tailed Fox itself. ¡°Merrow!!!¡± The Desert-Tailed Fox, already wounded at the neck, felt an intense surge of pain from the self-inflicted blow. ¡°Desert-Tailed Fox, calm down!¡± Xu Linglan was hopping mad on the sidelines, unable to comprehend how the situation had deteriorated so quickly. But the Desert-Tailed Fox was in too much pain to listen. ¡°Fat Dove, Wing Slash!¡± Qiao Sang pressed the attack. Wing Slash was a move unique to flying-type pet beasts, allowing them to turn their wings into sharp blades¡ªa technique most flying-type pet beasts would learn. ¡°Dove?¡± The Fat Dove looked at Qiao Sang with its gray eyes, clearly confused. It didn¡¯t know. ¡­ Although Qiao Sang didn¡¯t understand what the Fat Dove was saying, she could still read its confusion from its expression. ¡°Use Air Slash,¡± Qiao Sang commanded without hesitation. The Fat Dove flapped its wings forward, and six blades of condensed air appeared in the air. ¡°Desert-Tailed Fox! Dodge!¡± Xu Linglan was frantic. The Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s amber eyes narrowed as it watched the blades rushing toward it. Despite the intense pain, it managed to dodge to the side. However, four of the blades still hit it. ¡°Merrow!!¡± The Desert-Tailed Fox wobbled, feeling like it was about to collapse any second. ¡°Fire Fang Dog, Charge,¡± Qiao Sang instructed. The Fire Fang Dog, eager to act, charged toward the Desert-Tailed Fox with full force as soon as it received the order. It was like the final straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. The Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s eyes went blank as it collapsed under the impact, completely crushed¡­ Xu Linglan¡¯s legs went weak, and she fell to the ground. Throughout the fight, the Desert-Tailed Fox had been continuously attacked like a target. Xu Linglan, in a daze, realized that she was about to enter her final year of high school next semester, and she had just suffered a crushing defeat against an unqualified rookie beast tamer. Losing 1v2 was one thing, but she never expected to lose without even managing to use a single skill. Xu Linglan could see that this fierce girl didn¡¯t even know what skills the Fat Dove had, and the Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t seem particularly special either. She had been completely defeated by the girl¡¯s commanding skills¡­ Qiao Sang ignored the girl¡¯s reaction and hugged the Fire Fang Dog, which had charged into her arms, saying with a smile, ¡°You did great.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap-yap!¡± The Fire Fang Dog excitedly gestured toward Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression became strange. The Fire Fang Dog jumped to the ground, its mouth wide open as it showed its teeth, and moments later, flames enveloped its fangs. When the flames vanished, the Fire Fang Dog eagerly gestured at Qiao Sang again. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯ve never successfully used Fire Fang before?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The Fire Fang Dog nodded vigorously. But Qiao Sang had clearly seen in the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex that the Fire Fang Dog knew the Fire Fang skill. Qiao Sang was puzzled and connected to the Beast Tamer¡¯s Manual. Sea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (63/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 50 Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she saw the numbers change! The values for Charge, Fire Fang, and the points had all changed. In fact, seeing the values behind Fire Fang made Qiao Sang begin to form a guess. Chapter 9: Red Awl Fruit Inherited skills are techniques passed down from a beast''s parents and do not require later learning. Fire Fang is a signature move that most Fire Fang Dogs inherit.Although inherited skills are innate, don''t expect newborn beasts to be able to use them immediately; there is always a gradual process. Just as people are born able to eat, they must start with milk and gradually advance. Skills progress from being beginner-level to proficient. Beginner-level skills are less powerful and are typically newly mastered. Lower-tier skills can generally be used once they reach the beginner level, but higher-tier skills might not always work at the beginner level due to insufficient proficiency. Fire Fang is an intermediate-level skill. Ideally, the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s Fire Fang should only be at the beginner level (2/100) and shouldn¡¯t be used so easily. But it managed to do so. Qiao Sang speculated that perhaps as long as the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex displayed the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s skill, it would be able to use it. Of course, this was just a guess; She would need to see if the Fire Fang Dog could master higher-level skills in the future to confirm. Qiao Sang pulled her mind away from the codex. Although she wanted to further investigate the points issue, it clearly wasn¡¯t the right time. She noticed that the brat was still sitting on the ground, and the Desert-Tailed Fox was covered in injuries, with blood still on its neck. Qiao Sang took out her phone and dialed 661. ¡°Hello, is this the Beast Emergency Center? This is the Hanggang Beast Center. There¡¯s a wounded Desert-Tailed Fox here. Could you please come as soon as possible?¡± ¡°Someone already called? Oh, then it¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang hung up the phone and ignored the dazed girl on the other side. She picked up the Fire Fang Dog and prepared to leave, only to turn and find a crowd of people behind her. Humans are inherently curious. Within a short time, most of the spectators had gathered, with some even taking photos with their phones. Qiao Sang felt a bit overwhelmed. She quickly left with the Fire Fang Dog, followed by the Fat Dove. ¡°Little sister, I see you have great potential. Interested in becoming a streamer?¡± A young man with dyed red hair approached her. ¡°Thanks, but no,¡± Qiao Sang replied, avoiding him. ¡°Can I challenge you to a beast battle?¡± A hat-wearing teenager caught up with her. ¡°No,¡± Qiao Sang refused. ¡°Student, which school are you from?¡± An aunt nearby asked with concern. Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ When Qiao Sang got home, her mother wasn¡¯t there, but there was a bag of Red Awl Fruits on the dining table. These fruits, which can enhance the constitution of fire-type extraordinary creatures, cost 700 Alliance Coins each. Eating them occasionally is fine, but consuming them daily is excessive. Qiao Sang stared at the Red Awl Fruit for a while. She picked one up and held it to the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s mouth, smiling, ¡°Here, eat this.¡± The Fire Fang Dog sniffed it. It had only eaten standardized compressed blocks at the beast base and had never tried this fruit. It smelled good and looked similar to something from a tree near its old home, though it was a different color. Unfortunately, it hadn¡¯t been able to eat from that tree. Without hesitation, the Fire Fang Dog swallowed the Red Awl Fruit in one bite. ¡°Yip!¡± The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes widened in delight. This food is so delicious! Seeing it finish, Qiao Sang connected to the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex again. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (63/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 50 Nothing had changed. Qiao Sang frowned. The values had changed after today¡¯s battle, indicating that the Fire Fang Dog had made progress. The Red Awl Fruit, which should enhance the constitution of fire-type extraordinary creatures, should have had some effect. Was it still in the process of digesting? ¡°Yip!¡± The Fire Fang Dog tugged at Qiao Sang¡¯s hand with one paw. Qiao Sang smiled and took out another Red Awl Fruit, feeding it to the Fire Fang Dog. It swallowed it immediately. After it finished, Qiao Sang connected to the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex once more. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (64/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 50 It changed! The level section changed from Beginner (63/1000) + to Beginner (64/1000) +! Though it only increased by one, it proved her guess was correct! However... Qiao Sang hesitated as she looked at the remaining four Red Awl Fruits on the table. She picked one up and handed it to the Fire Fang Dog. The Fire Fang Dog grabbed the Red Awl Fruit with its front paws and began to nibble. Having already eaten two fruits before, it couldn''t swallow the third one all at once and had to eat it piece by piece. After finishing, it patted its belly contentedly. Qiao Sang connected to the Beast Tamer¡¯s Manual and fell into contemplation. The values did not change. Could it be that two Red Awl Fruits are needed to increase one point? Qiao Sang picked up another Red Awl Fruit and offered it again. ¡°Yip.¡± The Fire Fang Dog patted its belly to show that it was full. ¡°Be good, just one more.¡± Qiao Sang said, patting its head. The Fire Fang Dog looked at Qiao Sang, wagged its red tail, and then lowered its head to eat. In the Beast Tamer¡¯s Manual, Qiao Sang saw that the Fire Fang Dog''s level had changed to Beginner (65/1000) +. Her guess was correct; It indeed took two Red Awl Fruits to increase one point. Qiao Sang''s gaze moved to the bottom of the points section. With a thought, she allocated all points to the Beginner (65/1000) + level. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (115/1000) + Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 0 The values really did increase... Qiao Sang''s breathing quickened. One Red Awl Fruit costs 700 Alliance Coins, and two cost 1400 Alliance Coins. Adding one point requires 1400 Alliance Coins, and there are still 885 points needed, which equals 1770 Red Awl Fruits. That means... 1,239,000 Alliance Coins... Oh my! That¡¯s enough to buy an extraordinary pet! Qiao Sang nearly exclaimed with excitement. This point system directly boosts her strength, meaning she saves so much money! Plus, the Fire Fang Dog can increase its stats through both battles and strength-enhancing foods! With the point bonuses, she could potentially train the Fire Fang Dog to an intermediate-level pet three or even four times faster than others! Isn''t this a cheat code? After a few seconds, Qiao Sang took out her phone and searched for all topics related to the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex. Indeed, she found no mention of her situation. Even the self-awakened individuals only had a 3% to 6% higher brain domain development compared to those awakened later, allowing them to awaken the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex faster and have a better chance of reaching higher realms. There was nothing particularly special beyond that. Qiao Sang calmed down. She had already suspected this possibility, and now it was just confirming her thoughts. Besides, having a cheat code in her new world wasn¡¯t that unusual. Right. Nothing special... The Fire Fang Dog looked up at Qiao Sang with a puzzled expression. Why was its Beast Tamer grinning foolishly at the air? Chapter 10: Watching TV As Qiao Sang was grinning foolishly, her phone buzzed with a message from Fang Sisi.Qiao Sang composed herself and opened the message. She noticed that her deskmate had sent eight or nine messages since yesterday. ¡¾Why didn¡¯t you come to class today?¡¿ ¡¾I just heard that the old teacher called your mom yesterday. Is it true!!!¡¿ ¡¾Did your mom find out you got a zero on the exam?¡¿ ¡¾Why aren¡¯t you replying to me?¡¿ ¡¾Are you there?¡¿ ¡¾Why didn¡¯t you come to class today either?¡¿ ¡¾Why is your mom at school again? Did something happen to you?¡¿ The last message was sent just now. ¡¾Have you vanished from the face of the Earth?¡¿ Qiao Sang typed a response on her phone. ¡¾I¡¯m still alive.¡¿ She quickly received a reply. ¡¾Wow, so you¡¯re still alive?¡¿ ¡¾Why haven¡¯t you been to school these past few days? You don¡¯t know how angry the old teacher has been.¡¿ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment. ¡¾It¡¯s summer now. Are you sure he isn¡¯t just sunburned?¡¿ ¡­¡­ After some small talk, Qiao Sang explained why she was absent. Fang Sisi didn¡¯t believe her at all. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on Qiao Sang, but self-awakening only happened to those with exceptional talent. It was usually the top students in school, and even the few who didn¡¯t like studying were outstanding in other areas. As for Qiao Sang, her grades were worse than Fang Sisi¡¯s, so it was absolutely impossible. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t argue; She just took a photo of her self-awakening proof and sent it. There was no response from the other side. After about ten minutes, Fang Sisi finally replied. Qiao Sang looked down and twitched her mouth. ¡¾Forget not to remember your humble origins.¡¿ ¡­¡­ Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t forgotten about Fat Dove. After placing the food specifically for Fat Dove in front of it, she remembered herself. She quickly made a simple bowl of egg fried rice to solve her hunger, and it was already 2:07 PM. Perhaps due to the morning''s activities, Fire Fang Dog was curled up on the sofa, sleeping soundly. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t disturb it. She had originally planned to go to the Beast Tamer Center in the afternoon with the proof, but seeing how well Fire Fang Dog was sleeping, she changed her mind. Qiao Sang quietly went to her room, picked up the book "Analysis of Extraordinary Creatures, Ninth Grade, Part 2," and settled on the bed to read. She had just discovered, while checking the Beast Tamer Codex and information on self-awakened individuals, that the high school entrance exam (Zhongkao) was not as simple as her deskmate had said. The Zhongkao covers only paper-based content. Once awakened by magnetic waves, an additional brain domain development score is added, with 1% development adding 20 points, and 2% adding 40 points. In a total score of 650, this additional score is relatively minor. The Ministry of Education does value self-awakened individuals, and they release a series of policies for enrolling them each year. However, none of the policies allow for admission to the Beast Tamer High School with a zero on the exam. While vocational high schools might accept her, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t interested. Self-awakened individuals can enter Beast Tamer High School through recommendation or special admission. For recommendation, besides quotas, it also depends on the grades from the three years of middle school. The student''s information is sent by their school to the Beast Tamer High School they wish to be recommended to for qualification review. Given Qiao Sang¡¯s consistently poor grades, even if she were self-awakened, the school might be too embarrassed to recommend her. The remaining option was special admission. Each year, the 108 Beast Tamer High Schools in Hanggang City offer special admission policies. Each person can apply to two Beast Tamer High Schools for special admission. Once their materials are reviewed and approved, they can take the corresponding exam. Those who pass the special admission exam must also take the Zhongkao. Only with a Zhongkao score that meets the specified standard can they enter Beast Tamer High School. Although the required score varies among Beast Tamer High Schools, one thing is the same¡ª the Zhongkao. Qiao Sang felt a bit resigned. In the end, she still had to take the Zhongkao. --- As the sun set, Fire Fang Dog''s barking echoed in the living room. Qiao Sang put down her book and left her room. "Yap!" Fire Fang Dog leaped into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. Qiao Sang patted Fire Fang Dog¡¯s head, her heart melting. She had chosen Fire Fang Dog because it caught her eye, and she hadn¡¯t expected it to be so well-behaved. Perhaps this was fate. The two of them settled on the sofa and started watching TV. Fat Dove, with its large size, settled on the floor. Fire Fang Dog had never seen such a novel thing and looked on with excitement. If not for being in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, it might have already darted to the TV and pressed its nose against the screen. The TV was showing the weather forecast. A neatly dressed woman spoke in standard Mandarin, "According to the weather doll''s detection, tomorrow in Pantai City, the weather will be partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 30¡ãC to 36¡ãC. It is recommended to wear..." Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes widened. Why was there a person inside the screen? Qiao Sang changed the channel. In the Beast Tamer Society, high ratings are achieved with Beast Tamers and extraordinary creatures. Major TV stations clearly understood this, as every channel she flipped to featured reports related to Beast Tamers. ¡°Mr. Wang Dianao, is your relationship with Ms. Luo Tang real?¡± A reporter¡¯s microphone almost poked the young man¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± The young man admitted candidly. ¡°You both are going to participate in the major competition in the Yuhua region. If you face each other in the competition, will you go easy on her?¡± Another reporter asked. ¡°No, Luo Tang is an excellent Beast Tamer. If I face her, I don¡¯t have a hundred percent confidence,¡± The young man answered with a smile. ¡°May I ask about your Armor-Treaded Bear¡­¡± Qiao Sang changed the channel again. The screen shifted to a dark blue Thunder Horn Rhinoceros. It had a fierce gaze, and its sturdy hind legs plowed the ground. Purple electric arcs covered its body, crackling with a sizzling sound, as if it might leap out of the TV at any moment. Fire Fang Dog tensed up, its fur slowly bristling. ¡°The Thunder Horn Rhinoceros held its ground against the Black Wind Wolf¡¯s Tornado! It didn¡¯t retreat! It looks like it¡¯s about to launch a special move. I wonder what Player Xu Zhou will do next!¡± The commentator excitedly narrated. This was a replay. Various regions hold competitions every year, and the channel Qiao Sang was watching was dedicated to broadcasting Hanggang City¡¯s Beast Tamer competitions. The camera shifted to the Black Wind Wolf. The Black Wind Wolf¡¯s blue eyes held a murderous glint. It was covered in blood and panting heavily. Its dark fur made the wounds less noticeable, except for the few drops of blood on the ground showing its injuries. Fire Fang Dog relaxed. Sea?ch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Black Wind Wolf¡¯s stamina has clearly decreased after using the Tornado¡­¡± Before the commentator could finish, the screen switched back to the Thunder Horn Rhinoceros. Its purple arcs intensified until it erupted outward, stretching about two meters. ¡°Bang!¡± The TV emitted a loud explosion sound and shut off¡­ The air seemed to freeze. Qiao Sang stared at Fire Fang Dog with a dazed expression, opening her mouth to say something but unable to speak. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire Fang Dog turned and burrowed into Qiao Sang¡¯s embrace. The big fellow from just now had frightened it! Chapter 11: Shengshui Highschool Qiao Sang was filled with frustration and regret."So this is why you suddenly attacked the TV?" She lifted Fire Fang Dog''s head, ready to give him a proper scolding. Just then, there was a click as the door opened. Qiao Sang slowly turned her head and forced a stiff smile. "Mom, you''re back." "Coo!" The family''s fat dove immediately flew over to Qiao Sang''s mother, rubbing against her affectionately. Her mother looked at the mess in the living room, remaining silent for a few seconds before turning her gaze towards Qiao Sang with a gentle expression. sea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is there something you''d like to explain?" Qiao Sang quickly raised Fire Fang Dog to shield herself. "It was all his doing!" Fire Fang Dog blinked his innocent, wide eyes. Her mother locked eyes with Fire Fang Dog for a moment, then said, "I''ll deduct it from your allowance." Qiao Sang stared at her mother with a look of grievance. "Do you have any objections?" Her mother asked. "No," Qiao Sang answered, going against her conscience. She certainly had objections. Her monthly allowance was only 1,000 Alliance Coins, and the TV cost at least 4,000. Losing four months'' worth of allowance all at once¡ªof course she had objections. Her mother walked over and sat down on a single-seater sofa, with the fat dove following close behind. "Is something wrong?" Qiao Sang asked. Fang Sisi had mentioned something about this in her message. Her mother didn¡¯t answer that question directly, instead asking, "Do you have any high schools you''re interested in attending?" Qiao Sang paused, then thought for a moment before saying, "Hanggang Sixth Royal Beast Academy." The Sixth Royal Beast Academy wasn¡¯t actually ranked sixth among the high schools in Hanggang; it was just named that way. In terms of overall strength, it was considered a mid-tier school among all the Royal Beast high schools in Hanggang. Her choice was purely because it was close to home. Given her previous academic performance, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to get into a school like this, but now that she had awakened her powers independently, she could try for a special admission. Her mother pulled a brochure out of her bag and placed it in front of Qiao Sang. "I think you should consider applying to this school." Qiao Sang picked it up and glanced at it, her eye twitching. "Hanggang Shengshui High School?" Her mother remained calm. "Yes." "Mom, aren''t you overestimating me?" Qiao Sang said helplessly, placing the brochure back on the coffee table. Shengshui High School was the top-ranked Royal Beast high school in Hanggang, and second in the entire Zhejiang Sea Province, with an acceptance rate as high as 98.73%. It was one of the most prestigious schools around. Naturally, only the best students in Hanggang could get into this school. If there were still six months left before the entrance exams, Qiao Sang might have been willing to work hard, but with only 19 days left, there was no way she could get in. So why waste time trying to pass the special admission test? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand. Even though she had awakened her powers independently, wasn''t her mother¡¯s expectation of her a bit unrealistic? Her mother looked at Qiao Sang calmly and said, "You don¡¯t need to get in; just give it your best shot, and I won¡¯t deduct your allowance." Qiao Sang picked up the brochure again and said, "Who cares about the allowance? I just want to give it a try." Her mother¡¯s lips twitched. "Then go ahead and sign up online." "Sure thing," Qiao Sang said, picking up Fire Fang Dog as she headed out. As she watched her daughter¡¯s retreating figure, Ye Xiangting¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement, but when she recalled what had happened at the school that afternoon, her expression darkened. --- Qiao Sang went to her room, opened her computer, and signed up for both Hanggang Sixth Royal Beast Academy and Shengshui High School. The two schools had vastly different rankings, and their special admission requirements were equally different. Qiao Sang focused on the section for independent awakening. The conditions for Hanggang Sixth Royal Beast Academy were relatively simple. Once she submitted proof of her independent awakening online and it passed the review, her exam score could be adjusted based on the development level of her brain domain. With 5% brain domain development, she could have 100 points deducted from the minimum passing score for the Hanggang entrance exam; with 6% development, 200 points could be deducted. Last year, the minimum passing score in Hanggang was 332. If Qiao Sang could develop her brain domain to 6%, she would only need to score 132 points on the entrance exam to be specially admitted. Given Qiao Sang¡¯s current grades, this didn¡¯t seem like a big problem. As for Shengshui High School, it was more complicated. The special admission for independent awakeners only accepted five students. After passing the registration review, they would have to participate in a pet beast battle at a specified time and place. Students who ranked second to fifth would need to score 50 points higher than the minimum passing score to be admitted. The first-place winner had it a bit easier¡ªthey only needed to meet the minimum passing score for Hanggang. Although independent awakeners were extremely rare, when considering the entire Zhejiang Sea Province, there were still about 40 or 50 each year. After excluding those who were guaranteed admission or chose other schools'' special admissions, there were always about a dozen who applied to Shengshui High School each year. After all, it was the top-ranked school in Hanggang, with a reputation to match. Qiao Sang noted that the special admission exam for Shengshui School was scheduled for June 10th, a week before the entrance exam¡ªjust 12 days away. A pet beast battle, huh? Qiao Sang thought for a moment. The participants in the special admission would all be people who had just awakened this year, and their pet beasts would also be beginner-level. She had contracted a fire-type pet beast, so she wasn¡¯t entirely without an advantage. Thinking of Fire Fang Dog, Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment, then directed her consciousness into the Beast Tamer Codex. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (115/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100) +, Ember (Beginner 3/100) Points: 0 Qiao Sang exited the manual, looking at Fire Fang Dog with a strange expression. "Did watching TV scare you into learning the Ember skill?" 4,000 Alliance Coins in exchange for a skill¡ªwas it worth it? Actually, it was pretty worth it¡­ A pet beast''s potential was limited. Just by looking at its appearance, it was impossible to tell if it had good aptitude. A pet beast with good aptitude would learn skills and awaken new abilities much faster than ordinary ones. If someone were unlucky enough to contract a pet beast with mediocre aptitude, they might not even be able to learn a single skill in a year. Qiao Sang looked at Fire Fang Dog, lost in thought. Her Fire Fang Dog seemed to have decent aptitude. Should she take him to watch a horror movie next time? Fire Fang Dog shivered involuntarily. Why did it suddenly feel cold? --- 10:12 PM. The night was quiet and still. Qiao Sang lay in bed, her hands under her head, a look of anticipation gleaming in her eyes. After tossing and turning for a while, she finally sat up and looked at the still wide-awake Fire Fang Dog beside her. Fire Fang Dog, having been stared at for quite a while, looked puzzled. "Yap?" Qiao Sang whispered softly, "I don''t blame you for what happened this morning. Do you want to watch TV again?" Fire Fang Dog remembered the incident from the morning and knew he had done something wrong. The things on the screen wouldn''t come out, after all. "Yip." He nodded, indicating that he wanted to watch. Qiao Sang picked up her phone from the bedside and searched for the latest popular horror movie, placing it in front of Fire Fang Dog Fire Fang Dog watched intently. In a fog-shrouded forest, a young girl dressed in white was walking. From her perspective, a faint black shadow floated in the air¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t watch along with him. Instead, she placed her right hand on the phone, observing Fire Fang Dog¡¯s reaction and ready to intervene at any moment. Chapter 12: Everyone Knows A heavy silence and darkness covered the surroundings, creating an eerie stillness. The black figure suddenly drew closer, emitting a sinister laugh.It had no limbs, just a body the size of a human head floating in the air, with dark red eyes fixed on the girl in white like she was prey. In the next moment, the limbless body sprouted a hand with only two fingers, reaching for the girl''s heart. The hand passed through the girl''s body, but it came up empty. The black figure¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. The girl lifted her head, and a faceless visage slowly came into view on the screen... ¡°Yap!¡± The fire fang dog leaped into Qiao Sang''s arms. It didn''t want to watch anymore! Qiao Sang stroked its head, feeling a bit disappointed... --- The next two days were the weekend. Qiao Sang declined Fang Sisi¡¯s invitation to hang out and stayed home to study. Apart from taking some time to register herself as a beast master and register the fire fang dog at the Beast Master Center, she spent nearly all her time buried in books. Perhaps due to the awakening of her brain domain, her memory seemed much better than in her previous life. She only needed to read something once to mostly remember it. Soon, it was time to return to school. ¡°Fire Fang dog, be good. I''ll let you out as soon as school¡¯s over,¡± Qiao Sang coaxed. Since it got bored with the game of going in and out of the Beast Master Codex, the fire fang dog refused to go back inside. This time, when Qiao Sang tried to get it to return, it resisted. It much preferred being outside. ¡°Yap.¡± The fire fang dog shook its head, indicating it didn¡¯t want to go back in. Qiao Sang sighed in resignation. The school didn¡¯t have a strict rule against bringing contracted beasts, but with most students not yet contracted, the fire fang dog would attract too much attention. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to be the center of attention. ¡°If you go back in, I¡¯ll buy you some red awl fruit when I get home,¡± Qiao Sang tempted. The fire-toothed dog haughtily turned its head away. It didn¡¯t want them. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched. Her mother had bought six red awl fruits. Qiao Sang fed four to the fire fang dog on the first day, and then one each on the following two days. Could it already be tired of them? ¡°If you don¡¯t go back in, I¡¯ll have to leave without you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really leaving now.¡± Qiao Sang crouched by the front door, putting on her shoes as if she was about to walk out. ¡°Yap!¡± The fire fang dog pounced into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, looking up at her with sad, watery eyes. ¡°If you want to come with me, you¡¯ll have to go back in for now. I promise I¡¯ll let you out as soon as school¡¯s over.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yap.¡± The fire fang dog lowered its head and let out a weak response. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart melted into a puddle. It¡¯s still just a child. Qingcheng Garden was within the school district of Wencheng Middle School, just 9 kilometers away. You could get there directly by taking bus routes 23, 36, 57, or metro lines 5 or 7. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t take the metro as usual. On bus 36, the fire fang dog poked its head out of the window from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, happily letting the wind blow through its fur. It was thrilled to see the outside world. ¡°Remember, you have to behave and go back in when we get to school, okay?¡± Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°Yap!¡± The fire fang dog responded energetically. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but stroke its head. Once they arrived, the fire fang dog obediently let Qiao Sang store it back in the Beast Master Codex, even happily wagging its tail. --- Class 37, Wencheng Middle School. ¡°Have you finished your homework? Let me copy it.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m still copying?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Did you watch the match in the Lianbo District yesterday?¡± ¡°Of course. I was in front of the TV at 7 PM sharp. Lin Jinyang¡¯s Bloodscale Dragon was absolutely badass!¡± ¡°Totally! And that Scale-Eating Ant? It was gold-colored! I¡¯ve never seen a golden Scale-Eating Ant before! Almost blinded me!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I heard Dai Shushu from Class 9 got accepted into Shengshui High School.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the rumor say it was Litan Beast Master High School?¡± ¡°Looks like she didn¡¯t make the cut there.¡± ¡°No surprise, Shengshui High is the top school in our province. Even Dai Shushu couldn¡¯t get in.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see you get into Shengshui High School.¡± ¡°...¡± A slender figure appeared at the classroom door. As the figure walked in, the chatter suddenly quieted down. Qiao Sang sat in her seat, noticing some of her classmates sneaking glances at her. Sensing the strange atmosphere in the classroom, Qiao Sang rubbed her nose and whispered to Fang Sisi, ¡°Did you tell the class about my awakening?¡± Fang Sisi, still furiously scribbling down homework, only noticed Qiao Sang when she heard her speak. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Fang Sisi¡¯s eyes lit up as she scooted closer. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say anything without your permission. Do you need me to make an announcement?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Qiao Sang quickly shook her head, then asked, ¡°So why is everyone staring at me?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Your mom came to school twice, and then you took a day off and skipped another day. Everyone¡¯s wondering if something happened.¡± Fang Sisi explained. Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Skipped a day?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Sang had guessed that her mother might have forgotten to call in for her, but realizing she was right still left her feeling a bit deflated. The homeroom teacher would probably call her into the office for a scolding again... At that moment, Fang Sisi added, ¡°And also, everyone knows you¡¯re the one who scored a zero on the last mock exam.¡± The homeroom teacher hadn¡¯t called out Qiao Sang by name to spare her some dignity, but had asked the class monitor to summon her to the office and later called in her parents. If things had ended there, no one might have paid much attention¡ªQiao Sang¡¯s poor grades weren¡¯t a secret, and being called to the office wasn¡¯t new. But when parents are called in, it¡¯s serious. Normally, the homeroom teacher wouldn¡¯t involve parents unless there was a major issue, like fighting or serious misconduct. When Qiao Sang took a day off and then skipped the next day, the gossip spread quickly, and soon everyone knew what had happened. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, though she didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. In school, news spread like wildfire. Getting a zero on a test and having her parents called in wasn¡¯t exactly scandalous. At this age, some kids might feel ashamed, but Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°By the way, did you do your plant analysis homework? Let me copy it.¡± Fang Sisi nudged Qiao Sang with her elbow. ¡°I didn¡¯t even come to school, how would I know about any homework? And isn¡¯t it embarrassing for someone ranked fourth from the bottom to copy from someone third from the bottom?¡± Qiao Sang replied, exasperated. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t talk about yourself like that.¡± Fang Sisi scolded her, then pouted. ¡°I just thought your mom might have brought your homework when she came on Friday. I¡¯m so jealous of people who can skip homework.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡°...¡± Ignoring Fang Sisi¡¯s antics, Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. She still didn¡¯t know why her mother had come to school last time. Chapter 13: Someones Looking For You "By the way, Big Thighs¡­¡± Fang Sisi started to say something.¡°Can you stop calling me Big Thighs?¡± Qiao Sang interrupted her. ¡°Then how about I call you Beautiful Thighs?¡± Fang Sisi suggested. Qiao Sang: ¡°¡­¡± Under Qiao Sang''s deadly glare, Fang Sisi finally changed her tone, ¡°Qiao Sang, have you already contracted a pet beast?¡± No newly awakened Beast Master could resist the temptation to contract a pet beast as soon as possible. Qiao Sang nodded without denying it. ¡°So, you¡­¡± Just as Fang Sisi was about to continue asking, the noise in the classroom abruptly quieted, as if someone had pressed the mute button. Looking up, she saw that it was the homeroom teacher who had arrived¡­ In the next second, Fang Sisi¡¯s face turned pale. Oh no, oh no, she hadn¡¯t finished copying her homework! ¡°We¡¯ll gather on the playground in five minutes,¡± The homeroom teacher said, glancing in Qiao Sang''s direction after speaking. Wencheng Junior High School¡¯s over 4,000 students and 300 teachers were all gathered on the playground, forming a dense crowd. ¡°Why is the entire school here?¡± Fang Sisi, standing behind Qiao Sang, poked her with her finger. ¡°No idea.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Since the third years were in the middle of intense preparations for exams, they generally didn¡¯t participate in morning assemblies with the first and second years. Even when the school called for a gathering, there were always one or two classes that were exceptions. Qiao Sang glanced up at the stage and saw that all the top school officials were present, including the principal, vice principal, and head of teaching. This was a rare occurrence at the usual morning assemblies. Principal Chen Yongfeng was on stage, giving his usual old speech. Every time he spoke at an assembly, it was the same few lines, nothing new. Qiao Sang felt bored and didn¡¯t pay any attention to what was being said on stage. After ten minutes, the sound of thunderous applause filled the air, and Qiao Sang instinctively joined in. A petite figure from the third year walked onto the stage. ¡°Respected teachers, dear students, hello everyone, I¡¯m Dai Shushu from Class 9 of the third year. It¡¯s an honor¡­¡± What Qiao Sang thought would be an ordinary assembly turned out to be a personal commendation ceremony for Dai Shushu. Qiao Sang had never interacted with Dai Shushu, but she had heard plenty about her from others and knew a bit about her. Dai Shushu came from a poor family and was the only student in the school receiving financial aid. She had been the top student for three consecutive years and was later self-awakened and recommended to a Beast Master high school. She was the typical inspirational figure. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being recommended? With her family situation, can they even afford a pet beast?¡± A boy standing to Qiao Sang¡¯s right said sarcastically. ¡°Neither of her parents are Beast Masters, so how did they manage to have a self-awakened Beast Master as a child?¡± Someone else remarked. Sea?ch* The Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. With the development of the Beast Master society, people had long realized that the children of Beast Masters were more likely to become Beast Masters themselves. The higher the level of the Beast Masters, the more likely they were to have children with high innate abilities. Conversely, if both parents were ordinary people, the chances of their children becoming Beast Masters were only 2%. Even if ordinary people had a slight chance of producing a Beast Master, the odds of producing a self-awakened one were incredibly slim. Qiao Sang¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and she started paying closer attention to the speech. ¡°This opportunity to be recommended to Shengshui High School wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the help of my teachers¡­¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelashes twitched. Both she and Dai Shushu were self-awakened, and now, with Shengshui High School in the picture, it was hard for Qiao Sang not to compare herself to her. The comparison left her feeling a bit disheartened, and she quickly lost interest in listening. Back in the classroom, Qiao Sang focused solely on her studies. As a third-year student approaching the high school entrance exams, all the coursework had already been covered, and now it was all about reviewing and doing practice papers. [Over 3,000 years ago, disaster struck: earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and other cataclysmic events plunged the world into an apocalyptic state. Which Beast Master stopped this catastrophe?] [A. Chen Jiading] [B. Sen Xiaoman] [C. Wang Wenyu] [D. Wang Yao] Qiao Sang had seen many questions like this over the past few days. The chaos that occurred over 3,000 years ago wasn¡¯t a natural disaster but a man-made one. It was Wang Yao who had used his pet beast to create the disaster. As an SS-level Beast Master, he had the power to alter nature itself. With each awakening of the Beast Master¡¯s codex, Beast Masters would gain some life force feedback from their pet beasts when they reached D-level, which would affect their lifespan and physique. As their level increased, the feedback became stronger. Unless directly attacked, it was difficult for them to be harmed by mere aftershocks. Wang Yao, with his SS-level Beast Master physique, managed to break through the Alliance¡¯s encirclement and even killed 223 Beast Masters, including 11 S-level Beast Masters. Becoming an S-level Beast Master required at least a century of effort, and the Alliance suffered heavy losses. Later, the SS-level Beast Master Wang Wenyu returned from Yantian Star and finally subdued Wang Yao, but in that battle, five of his long-standing pet beasts were killed. After that, Wang Wenyu went into seclusion. This question was easy to get wrong if you didn¡¯t read it carefully. This question had appeared in the last mock exam, and Qiao Sang had chosen D, not because she hadn¡¯t read the question properly, but because she thought the pattern "three long, one short" was the answer. This time, she changed her answer from last time. ¡°Qiao Sang, someone¡¯s looking for you,¡± A girl sitting by the door called out. Qiao Sang looked up and saw a girl in a faded school uniform smiling at her from the doorway. ¡°It¡¯s Dai Shushu! Since when did you know her?¡± Fang Sisi asked in surprise. Dai Shushu was a popular figure in the school, naturally attracting the attention of her classmates, and many heads turned to look. ¡°I don¡¯t know her,¡± Qiao Sang said, equally puzzled. She walked out. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Qiao Sang asked, confused. She was sure that her previous self hadn¡¯t had any interactions with Dai Shushu. One was a top student, the other a low achiever, and they weren¡¯t even in the same class. With graduation approaching, she couldn¡¯t think of a reason why Dai Shushu would want to talk to her. ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize on behalf of my mother for what happened last time." Dai Shushu said. She had a delicate appearance, and due to malnutrition, she looked fragile, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. ¡°What happened?¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother tell you? Last Friday, my mom said some unpleasant things to your aunt. There were teachers around at the time, so I couldn¡¯t intervene. Did your mother go back home alright?¡± Dai Shushu asked in a soft voice. Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before asking, ¡°What did your mom say?¡± Dai Shushu showed an apologetic expression. ¡°Just some harsh words. My mom didn¡¯t mean it. Your mother also said some things.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°It¡¯s just that the teacher saw they were about to start fighting and asked your mother to leave. I felt a bit guilty about it.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°The teacher asked my mother to leave. What does that have to do with you?¡± Dai Shushu smoothed her hair. ¡°The teacher wouldn¡¯t have asked her to leave if it weren¡¯t for me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qiao Sang said, then asked again, ¡°What exactly did your mom say?¡± Dai Shushu lowered her head. She was already shorter than Qiao Sang, so with her head down, her expression was hidden. ¡°My mom said that your poor grades were because you lacked a father¡¯s discipline and that you only awakened by sheer luck. She also said that with your mother being so fierce, it¡¯s no wonder she got divorced.¡± She looked up, her expression innocent. ¡°So, did you really awaken on your own?¡± Chapter 14: I Need to Take a Leave Qiao Sang looked at Dai Shushu for two seconds, then smiled and said, "Yes, is there anything else?"Dai Shushu slightly lowered her gaze and shook her head. "No, that''s all." Qiao Sang turned and went back to the classroom. As soon as she sat down, Fang Sisi leaned over. "What did Dai Shushu say to you? Your face looks terrible." "Does it really look that bad?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yeah, you were frowning so much you almost scared me." Fang Sisi teased. Qiao Sang wished she had a mirror to check her expression. Fang Sisi continued to press, "What did Dai Shushu want?" "Nothing important." Qiao Sang replied, picking up her book again. Fang Sisi wanted to ask more but, seeing that Qiao Sang didn''t want to talk about it, she kept quiet. After the morning classes ended, Qiao Sang packed up her things and went to the office of the third-year teachers. "Teacher, I need to take a leave," Qiao Sang said, staring at the teacher¡¯s thick hair. Her homeroom teacher stood up abruptly. Another female teacher in the office immediately turned her gaze to Qiao Sang. The homeroom teacher tried to maintain composure. "Do you know what you''re saying? There are only a few days left until the high school entrance exams, and you want to take a leave? I haven''t even asked you to write a self-reflection for skipping class last time." Qiao Sang replied seriously, "Teacher, if you don''t grant me leave, I''ll just skip class again. I¡¯ll write the reflection later." The homeroom teacher felt his temple throbbing. "Does your family know you''re asking for leave?" Qiao Sang didn''t answer. The teacher took a deep breath, sat back down, and said earnestly, "If you don''t want your mother to come to school again, then go back to class. I admit I was wrong about accusing you last time, but even if you''ve awakened your beast-taming abilities, you can''t neglect your studies. The exams are just a few days away." Qiao Sang smiled. "Teacher, you were at school last Friday when my mom came, right?" The homeroom teacher paused and replied, "Yes, I asked your mom to come in to explain why you were skipping class." Qiao Sang tilted her head and asked, "Then why was she sent out of the office?" The homeroom teacher froze, his expression complex, assuming that Qiao Sang¡¯s mother had told her about the incident, and he didn¡¯t know how to respond. He shared an office with the homeroom teacher of Class Nine. Sea?ch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That day, Dai Shushu and her mother came to the school, coinciding with Qiao Sang''s mother¡¯s visit. Dai Shushu had just been recommended for admission to Shengshui High School, and even the Dean of Students came to congratulate her. Naturally, the office''s attention was focused on Class Nine. When Qiao Sang''s mother explained that her daughter had been so excited about contracting a pet beast after awakening her abilities that she forgot to ask for leave, the teachers were all quite interested. Everyone in the office turned their attention to her, and after a few questions, all of Qiao Sang''s background came out. Dai Shushu''s mother made a few snide remarks, and Qiao Sang''s mother started arguing with her. Dai Shushu cried. As the school''s star student, no one wanted her to feel mistreated, so the Dean asked Qiao Sang¡¯s mother to leave. The homeroom teacher considered himself a responsible teacher. He wasn¡¯t skilled at socializing, but he had worked diligently for over 20 years to finally become a homeroom teacher. However, over time, the initial enthusiasm he once had had faded away, and now he didn''t dare to stand up for a student''s parent when they were treated unfairly. Still, he felt he hadn''t done anything wrong. He had just been a bystander and saw no need to explain the situation to a child. The homeroom teacher paused and said, "She wasn¡¯t sent out; she was asked to step outside to cool down." Qiao Sang smiled. "I understand. But that little '' cooling down put my mom in bed sick. You know our family''s situation. I''m the only one who can take care of her." The teacher¡¯s attitude softened. "How long will you need?" "Until she recovers," Qiao Sang replied. The homeroom teacher hesitated and then said, "Make sure to come back as soon as possible. The exams are very close." Qiao Sang nodded, turned, and left. As he watched her walk away, the homeroom teacher, still concerned, added, "Study hard at home, too. The exams are coming up soon. Once your mom is a bit better, come back quickly." Qiao Sang glanced back at him and smiled. "Teacher, your wig is crooked." The homeroom teacher: "..." The female teacher: "..." --- Hanggong Xiangzhen Beast-Taming Battle Club. "How much does it cost to hire a beginner sparring partner for a day at your club?" "Hello! Our sparring partners are charged by the hour. A beginner costs 1,000 alliance credits per hour. If you book for a whole day, we can offer a 2% discount," The receptionist said with a smile. Beast-taming battle clubs can provide different sparring partners based on the client''s needs. As one of the more popular industries today, these clubs have spread to neighborhoods large and small. In some publicly listed beast-taming battle clubs, you can even hire an S-level beast tamer as a sparring partner, provided you can afford it. However, there aren''t many clubs of that caliber. Xiangzhen Beast-Taming Battle Club was already the fifth club Qiao Sang had visited. She had visited so many beast-taming clubs for one reason: She didn''t have enough money... Qiao Sang touched the small amount of money in her pocket, hugged her Fire Fang Dog, and quietly walked out. Feeling lost, she didn¡¯t know where to go next. Initially, she had a laid-back attitude toward Shengshui High School. If she could pass the special admission exam, great; if not, she still had Sixth Beast-Taming High School as a backup, so it didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. But now, she really wanted to get into Shengshui High School. In 10 days, Shengshui High School''s special admission exam would take place. Given her current level, she wasn¡¯t even sure if she could meet the minimum passing score. To be admitted, the second through fifth places had to score 50 points higher than the minimum score, and Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t confident. As such, she could only secure the minimum score advantage by placing first in the special admission exam. Having made this decision, she realized she needed to accelerate the training of her Fire Fang Dog. Although the Fire Fang Dog was a fire-type pet beast with strong attack power, it was still a young cub without much battle experience. The easy win last time was mainly due to the 2-on-1 advantage and the opponent''s slow reaction. If she went into the special admission exam like this, winning first place seemed unlikely. She only had 10 days left. Staying in school would be a waste of time, so she decided to study on her own while training the Fire Fang Dog. Thanks to her special ability, she could significantly improve the Fire Fang Dog''s combat skills through battles in a short time. Qiao Sang had a solid plan, but once she stepped out, she felt lost. There were many pet beast battle competitions and venues, but they all had requirements. Some competitions required a certain level of beast-taming proficiency. Beast-taming competitions are meant to generate revenue through viewership and ticket sales. Newbie beast tamers generally have only one low-level pet beast, so their battles are predictable and unexciting. If the audience isn¡¯t interested, the organizers won¡¯t bother holding the event. Qiao Sang checked and found that the next competition in Hanggang City, where F-level beast tamers could participate, was on June 30. The organizers had timed it perfectly. By then, all third-year students would have finished their entrance exams and contracted their pet beasts. There would be a large group of newly minted beast tamers eager to sign up, not to mention their parents, teachers, and various friends and family members as a built-in audience, ensuring decent viewership. ----- Previous Chapter_Next Chapter ----- Chapter 15: Seeking Defeat However, this competition takes place after the entrance exams, and the registration period hasn¡¯t even started yet, making it impossible to participate now.Other training grounds and arenas also have their own restrictions. While underground beast battles, which exist mainly for gambling and entertainment, don¡¯t require Beast Masters to reach a certain level, these matches are another matter entirely. These underground matches have low entry barriers¡ªan E-level Beast Master can participate¡ªbut those who do are often unsavory characters. Before participating, one must sign a waiver, agreeing that life and death during the battle are of no consequence. In legitimate competitions, when one side''s beast can no longer fight, a referee steps in to end the match, and a medical team is on standby to treat the beasts. In contrast, underground beast battles continue until one Beast Master concedes. Participants in these matches are ruthless and often gamblers. Some have beasts that are no longer of any use to them, so they don¡¯t care if they live or die. Others are there to make quick money, and some are simply seeking the thrill of violence. In any case, it¡¯s no place for someone like Qiao Sang, a middle school student. Fire fang dog is still too young, and Qiao Sang isn¡¯t about to expose it to such brutal fights just yet. Originally, Qiao Sang planned to train Fire fang dog¡¯s speed and stamina after the entrance exams. Once its basic training was complete, they would work on controlling special moves. Her golden finger could help Fire fang dog gain points quickly through battles, but if its physical condition couldn¡¯t keep up, it wouldn¡¯t be able to harness the power it should have for its level. Now, with limited time, they couldn¡¯t afford to take things slow. Only through battles could Fire fang dog rapidly increase its combat power. Qiao Sang was looking for friendly matches, not deadly duels. In addition to formal beast tournaments and underground battles, there are also training halls, clubs, and meetups in various regions where beast battles can take place. Training halls only recruit twice a year, specifically to help Beast Masters train designated moves for their beasts, but it¡¯s not the recruitment period now, so she can¡¯t enter. Clubs are all about money, but Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t have the funds. Meetups are attended by those who have made a name for themselves in official matches and have been invited to participate¡ªQiao Sang doesn¡¯t qualify. Most people usually practice beast battles with friends, but Qiao Sang¡¯s friends haven¡¯t even awakened their brain regions, let alone engaged in beast battles. After summarizing all this, Qiao Sang found that there was no place in Hangang City suitable for Fire fang dog to fight properly. What was she supposed to do, randomly challenge someone on the street to a beast battle? If she ran into a Beast Master of D-level or higher, she might not even know how she died. Qiao Sang paced back and forth on the street, deep in thought. Five minutes later, she hugged Fire fang dog and headed home. Back home, Qiao Sang changed out of her school uniform into regular clothes. She then went to her room, wrote a few words on a piece of paper, tore it off, and put a roll of tape in her pocket. After that, she grabbed her backpack and headed out. --- Near Hanggang City¡¯s Thirty-Seventh Beast High School, at Nanhe Park. ¡°Student, want some barbecue?¡± An auntie running a stall called out at the park entrance. Qiao Sang checked the time: 4:27 PM, about an hour before the Thirty-Seventh Beast High School let out. ¡°I¡¯ll take 10 lamb skewers.¡± Qiao Sang said as she approached the stall. ¡°Want them spicy?¡± The auntie smiled as she busied herself. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a shake of her head. ¡°Are you from that school? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before.¡± The auntie chatted as she worked. ¡°No, I¡¯m just waiting for someone." Qiao Sang answered. ¡°I thought so. If I¡¯d seen such a pretty girl before, I¡¯d surely remember,¡± The auntie laughed. Qiao Sang smiled politely. She¡¯d been complimented on her looks so often that she¡¯d become numb to it. Five minutes later, Qiao Sang took the lamb skewers and handed one to Fire fang dog, who was practically drooling. Sea?ch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yip!¡± Fire fang dog barked happily, grabbing the skewer with its paws and digging in. ¡°What¡¯s your beast called? I haven¡¯t seen one like it before.¡± The auntie asked, unable to resist the curiosity. There¡¯s a chasm between Beast Masters and ordinary people that separates them into two worlds. After nine years of compulsory education, their paths diverge entirely. Although Beast Masters hold a higher status in society, ordinary people are also divided into different classes. There are the powerful, the powerless, the wealthy, the poor, those who run small businesses, and those who work for others... These distinctions of power and wealth are mostly determined by birth. For those not born into privilege, it¡¯s difficult for ordinary people to access information about extraordinary creatures after nine years of compulsory education. Even though such information is widely broadcasted, ordinary people lack the time and energy to delve into it. Just making ends meet is hard enough. The auntie before Qiao Sang clearly belonged to the lowest tier of ordinary society. ¡°It¡¯s called Fire fang dog." Qiao Sang answered. ¡°Yip.¡± Fire fang dog barked, perfectly timed with its introduction. The auntie laughed. ¡°It¡¯s so well-behaved. My son¡¯s in middle school, and when he graduates, I¡¯ll get him one of these too.¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. Well, she wasn¡¯t entirely wrong¡ªapart from being a bit mischievous, Fire fang dog was indeed pretty well-behaved... ¡°Yap.¡± Fire fang dog looked up at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang handed over another skewer from her stash. Fire fang dog happily accepted it. In the end, Qiao Sang ate three skewers, and Fire fang dog got seven. Qiao Sang then moved to a nearby bench. From this spot, she had a clear view of the entrance to the Thirty-Seventh Beast High School. The location was perfect; students leaving through Nanhe Park would see her easily. Qiao Sang took out the piece of paper and taped it to her backpack. "Beast Battle¡ªSeeking a Defeat" There was also a small line in the lower right corner: "50 Alliance Coins per match." This was the best plan Qiao Sang could come up with after much thought. If you were looking for F-level Beast Masters, high schools with beast-training programs were the place to be. It takes at least 1-2 years to train a mid-level beast, so most first- and second-year students still have entry-level beasts. The 50 Alliance Coins were just for fun; Qiao Sang didn¡¯t actually expect people to pay to battle her. She just wanted to catch their attention. For newly minted high school Beast Masters, this would be entertainment, and surely some would be willing to take her on. As for why she chose the Thirty-Seventh Beast High School, it was the closest school outside her residential area. She changed out of her uniform and left her neighborhood to avoid running into anyone she knew. After all, standing outside a random school with a sign that says Seeking a Defeat was pretty embarrassing... Qiao Sang sat quietly on the bench with Fire fang dog in her arms. Although the Thirty-Seventh Beast High School hadn¡¯t let out yet, there were already other people in Nanhe Park. As they passed Qiao Sang, they couldn¡¯t help but glance her way. The content on her backpack didn¡¯t seem to match her image. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang dog bared its teeth and barked at the onlookers. Well, with Fire fang dog included, it kind of matched now... Chapter 16: Just a Feeling At 5:30 PM, the bell rang to signal the end of the school day at the Thirty-Seventh Beastmaster High School.By 5:33 PM, students began flooding out of the gates in groups of two and three. "Are we fighting here?" A slightly rough voice asked. After nearly an hour of reading, Qiao Sang finally looked up to see someone approaching. Standing before her was a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a thick, earth-colored snake coiled around his waist and up to his neck, where its triangular head poked out. It was a Longtail Snake, the evolved form of the Shorttail Snake. Qiao Sang glanced at him briefly before quietly adding a few words to the paper on her backpack: [Only for Beginner-Level Beasts] The tall boy clicked his tongue in mild annoyance before turning away without a word. But where there was one, there would soon be others. Before long, another student approached her. This time, it was a sunny-looking boy who nervously scratched his head before asking, "If I win, could I get your contact information instead of the money?" "Sure." Qiao Sang replied cheerfully. She was relieved that money wasn¡¯t at stake; she only had 532 Alliance Coins to her name, just enough to lose a few rounds and still have enough left for the trip home. Standing beside him was another boy with spiky hair, watching with an amused expression. Clearly, he was a friend of the first boy. "Let¡¯s fight over there." The spiky-haired boy suggested, pointing to a poplar tree in South River Park. They were currently near the park¡¯s entrance, where students were coming and going, making it a poor place for a battle. Qiao Sang nodded and followed them to the poplar tree, where they found a quiet spot with no one around for about 20 meters. "I''ll be the referee." The spiky-haired boy volunteered. Qiao Sang had no objections. The boy made a summoning gesture, and from a white star-shaped array on the ground appeared a chubby, brown bird about 80 centimeters tall. Typically, a Fat Dove would be around 60 centimeters, so this one had clearly been well-raised. "Jiang Liu, no problem with letting the lady go first, right?" The spiky-haired boy asked. Different battles have different rules; some determine who attacks first beforehand, while others allow either side to strike first. "Of course," Jiang Liu said, shrugging. With Qiao Sang chosen to go first, she didn¡¯t hesitate. "Fire Fang Dog, use Ember!" "Yip!" The Fire Fang Dog leaped from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, its gaze sharpening as it opened its mouth to release a baby-fist-sized flame. Jiang Liu didn¡¯t issue any command, and the Fat Dove casually dodged the Ember by hopping to the left. Fat Doves were notoriously slow, so this one wasn¡¯t particularly fast either. However, its reflexes were impressive¡ªit had likely undergone targeted training. Analyzing the situation, Qiao Sang issued another command, "Charge!" The Fire Fang Dog tensed and charged forward. "Fly up and use Growl," Jiang Liu ordered. The Fat Dove flapped its short wings and took to the air. The Fire Fang Dog, lacking proper training, was slow to attack, still running as the Fat Dove ascended. "Co-coo!" Growl was a basic move, incapable of causing direct harm, but it could momentarily disrupt the opponent. To Qiao Sang, it was merely an irritating noise, but the Fire Fang Dog hesitated, its speed faltering slightly. "Aerial Strike," Jiang Liu commanded. Aerial Strike, a move exclusive to flying-type beasts, was similar to a ground-based tackle, except it could harness the power of air currents to deliver a far more powerful blow. The Fat Dove folded its wings back, and as air swirled around it, it swooped straight toward the Fire Fang Dog. The Fire Fang Dog instinctively tried to dodge the incoming attack. "Don¡¯t move!" Qiao Sang commanded sharply. If it took the full force of the Aerial Strike, it would definitely get hurt. Yet, the Fire Fang Dog heard Qiao Sang¡¯s command and, against all instinct, chose to stand its ground. This is absurd! The spiky-haired boy¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Everything about this scene¡ªfrom Qiao Sang¡¯s command to the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s reaction¡ªseemed ridiculous to him. A fire-type beast that obediently stood still to take a hit? Preposterous! Fire-type beasts were notoriously hard to control, especially for rookie beastmasters like Qiao Sang. There were over 3,000 students at his school, and only two had the guts to make a fire-type beast their first contracted partner. He was in awe. How had she managed to make a fire-type beast this obedient? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Now, jump!" Qiao Sang¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts. She had been watching closely, and just before the Fat Dove could collide with the Fire Fang Dog, she gave the order. The Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t hesitate. The moment Qiao Sang¡¯s command rang out, it leaped into the air. Jiang Liu was stunned. The Fire Fang Dog had... jumped onto the Fat Dove¡¯s back! "Fire Fang, attack its wings!" Qiao Sang ordered, seizing the moment of surprise. The Fire Fang Dog bared its fiery fangs and bit down on the Fat Dove¡¯s right wing without hesitation. "Co-cooo!" The Fat Dove screeched in pain and plummeted to the ground. "Ah-Pang!" Jiang Liu cried out. The Fire Fang Dog jumped off the fallen bird and turned to Qiao Sang, its eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finish it, Ember," Qiao Sang said calmly. The Fire Fang Dog quickly turned back around. With a final, baby-fist-sized flame, the Fat Dove let out a whimper before losing consciousness. Silence fell over the area. After about five seconds, the spiky-haired boy awkwardly asked, "What¡¯s your name, uh¡­ ma¡¯am?" "I¡¯m Qiao Sang," She replied. "Qiao Sang wins," The spiky-haired boy announced. Jiang Liu silently recalled the Fat Dove into his beast codex. "How did you time that jump so perfectly?" Jiang Liu asked as he walked over, his expression complicated. This girl looked younger than him, yet her battle instincts were clearly superior. It wasn¡¯t easy to calculate the timing of the jump during an Aerial Strike. If the Fire Fang Dog had jumped even half a second too late, it would¡¯ve been too slow. And then there was the Fire Fang Dog itself. If it had hesitated for even a moment, it would never have landed on the Fat Dove¡¯s back. This level of coordination could only come from trust and seamless communication between a beast and its master. Qiao Sang simply said, "It was just a feeling." Jiang Liu was speechless. Chapter 17: You Didnt Know? For a long moment, neither of them spoke.Qiao Sang stood silently to the side. Chen Tongtong gave Jiang Liu a meaningful look. Curious, Jiang Liu asked, "What''s wrong with your eyes?" Chen Tongtong: "..." So clueless. Chen Tongtong resisted the urge to facepalm and whispered, "Money." Only then did Jiang Liu realize, and he hastily pulled out 50 Union coins from his pocket and handed them over. Chen Tongtong: "..." No wonder you''re single! Couldn''t you have just gotten her contact information and transferred the money? "Thank you, I''ll be on my way now," Qiao Sang said with a smile as she took the money. There was only a short window of time during the after-school rush, and she needed to make the most of it by finding more challengers. "Wait, why don''t you have a match with me too?" Chen Tongtong blocked Qiao Sang. "I won''t ask for money, just tell me the secret to training your Fire fang Dog." Qiao Sang shook her head and replied, "I don''t have any secrets." "That''s impossible. If there''s no secret, then why is your Fire fang Dog so obedient?" Chen Tongtong was full of disbelief. Training pet beasts wasn''t a mystery, there were even university majors dedicated to it. People who studied this were called Trainers, and like Beastmasters, they had to pass certification exams, ranging from F level all the way up to SSS level. Some people would seek out Trainers to create tailored training plans for their contracted pet beasts. But there were also those who had unique methods of taming beasts that they didn''t want to share with others. Take the Wei family from Jiang City, for example. By concocting a special food that attracted Fairy-type extraordinary creatures, they managed to make these elusive beings willingly become their pet beasts. Naturally, this food recipe became highly coveted. If they had applied for a patent or sold it, they could have made a fortune. But the Wei family only used it for themselves. Over the years, nearly every member of the Wei family managed to contract a Fairy-type pet beast, earning them the title of the Fairy Family after 300 years of development. Chen Tongtong assumed that Qiao Sang simply didn''t want to tell him her method. He still remembered how one of the only two seniors in their school who had contracted a Fire-type pet beast tried to show off his Flame Armor Mouse by letting a younger student pet it, only for the mouse to immediately breathe fire on him. The student wasn''t harmed, but his hair was singed, and he had to shave his head. To this day, he still wears a hat every day. But Qiao Sang''s Firefang Dog... How could it be so obedient, even in a situation like that, where it remained still? Qiao Sang was puzzled. "I''m its Beastmaster. Isn''t it normal for it to listen to me?" "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog nodded, agreeing with its Beastmaster. Chen Tongtong, seeing the Fire fang Dog''s behavior, wasn''t so sure anymore. Could it be that this particular Fire fang Dog was just naturally well-behaved? "Can I pet it?" Chen Tongtong asked. "Chen Tongtong, don''t be impulsive." Jiang Liu cautioned. Everyone in the school knew why their senior ended up bald. He was afraid that Chen Tongtong would become the second. "It''s fine, go ahead." Qiao Sang said nonchalantly. Back when they were at the pet beast base, the Fire fang Dog had been willing to let her pet it even before their contract. Chen Tongtong hesitated, but he crouched down and reached out to the Firefang Dog. "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog bared its sharp teeth in a friendly display. Chen Tongtong instantly withdrew his hand, fearing the dog might bite him in the next moment. "How about a battle? I don''t need any secrets, just tell me how you usually train your Firefang Dog," Chen Tongtong said as he stood up. "Alright," Qiao Sang agreed. Although the Fire fang Dog had only been with her for three or four days, she did have some training insights. Jiang Liu, seeing that the two had reached an agreement, stepped forward and said, "I''ll be the referee this time." Qiao Sang nodded. Chen Tongtong summoned his pet beast. Qiao Sang was silent as she looked at the extraordinary creature before her. A 10-centimeter-long brown worm-type pet beast, resembling a dog''s tail, was wriggling on the ground. It was a Cottonseed Worm... Cottonseed Worms are usually green, and it''s rare to find a brown one. This cheap and common pet beast is typically avoided by Beastmasters who have any standards. However, its evolution paths are diverse. So far, five different elemental evolutions have been discovered, and one of its forms, the Frostflap Butterfly, is a rare Ice-type pet beast, which significantly boosts the value of a Cottonseed Worm. But all of that potential lies in its evolved forms. Qiao Sang had read that Cottonseed Worms only know how to use Silk Thread and Charge¡ªthey can''t learn any other skills. Isn''t this just giving her free money? "You go first this time," Qiao Sang said. She was afraid that her Fire fang Dog would end the battle with just one Ember... Chen Tongtong knew exactly what Qiao Sang was thinking. Every time he brought out his Cottonseed Worm, the opponent always let him attack first. This kind of disdain, this feeling of not being taken seriously, had actually benefited him in battles. Normally, Cottonseed Worms evolve in three to five months, but he had delayed his pet''s evolution for nearly a year. All of this was to build a solid foundation for a perfect evolution. Thanks to this solid foundation, his Cottonseed Worm was no longer comparable to ordinary Cottonseed Worms! He had even achieved 39th place in the Freshman Beastmaster Battle with the superior durability of his Cottonseed Worm''s silk! "Cottonseed Worm! Show her your strength!" Chen Tongtong shouted as he raised his hand dramatically. "Ji!" The Cottonseed Worm opened its mouth and shot out a bright, snow-white silk thread straight at the Fire fang Dog with incredible speed. The Fire fang Dog hadn''t even moved before it was tightly bound by the thread. It struggled but couldn''t break free. Qiao Sang frowned. It seemed she needed to prioritize speed training for her Fire fang Dog. "Finish it off!" Chen Tongtong continued to shout. The Cottonseed Worm''s body began to emit a faint white glow, and instead of wriggling, it suddenly launched itself into the air! Its speed was noticeably faster than the Fire. fang Dog''s previous Charge. Qiao Sang gauged the distance, and three seconds later, she gave the command: "Fire Fang." In an instant, brilliant flames destroyed the snow-white silk and accurately bit into the charging Cottonseed Worm. "Ji!!!" The Cottonseed Worm screamed in agony. Two seconds later, its eyes rolled back, and it fainted. "Qiao Sang wins." Jiang Liu announced. "Cottonseed Worm!" Chen Tongtong rushed over and cradled his fallen pet. After confirming that the Cottonseed Worm was only unconscious, he returned it to his Beast Codex. "Why?" Chen Tongtong looked up, his eyes red as he asked Qiao Sang. "What?" Qiao Sang responded with a question of her own. She didn''t understand. Wasn''t it normal for the Fire fang Dog to win against the Cottonseed Worm? Why was he reacting so strongly? "Why was it so easy for you to break the Cottonseed Worm''s silk?" Chen Tongtong stared at Qiao Sang, unwilling to accept it. His Cottonseed Worm''s thread was incredibly strong¡ªonce it bound the opponent, they could rarely escape. Even stronger opponents had to struggle for a while. How could it be torn apart so easily, like a joke? Sea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Um." Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "You didn''t know that Fire-type beats Bug-type?" Chen Tongtong: "..." "Maybe you haven''t fought a Fire-type pet beast before?" Qiao Sang guessed, thinking she had figured it out. Chen Tongtong: "¡­!!" Chapter 18: Profiency Attribute restraint is common knowledge. Of course, Chen Tongtong knew that.However, it was true that he had never fought against a fire-type pet before. After all, in the entire school, only two brave souls dared to contract a fire-type pet as their first choice. Both of them were in the second year of high school; None were in his grade. "Is the suppression of attributes really that strong?" Chen Tongtong was feeling depressed. He absentmindedly handed over the money, not even noticing when the other party left until Jiang Liu patted him on the shoulder. "Why didn¡¯t you get her contact information before transferring the money? That way, you could have shared her contact with me." Chen Tongtong: "¡­Get lost!" --- After Qiao Sang finished her third battle, her mother called. "Why aren¡¯t you home yet?" Qiao Sang checked the time: 6:17 PM. Wencheng Middle School finishes at 5 PM. Her home is close to the school, only a ten-minute bus ride away. Even if she dawdled, she should have been home by 5:30 PM. "I took Fire fang Dog out for some training," Qiao Sang replied. There was a brief silence on the other end before her mother said, "Come home soon; the food¡¯s getting cold." "I understand." After hanging up, Qiao Sang tore off the paper stuck to her backpack. She was dissatisfied with today¡¯s results. The school¡¯s peak dismissal time was brief, and by the time she finished three battles, most of the students had already left. Too slow. Qiao Sang realized that waiting around at another school wasn¡¯t a good strategy. After some thought, she focused her consciousness into the Beast Codex. Name: Fire fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (115/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 138/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 5/100) +, Ember (Beginner 5/100) + Points: 55 All the skill values had increased slightly, but why was the point total not a multiple of three? Could it be that different opponents award different points? She had fought three times today: Against a Fat Dove, a Cottonseed Worm, and a White Sand Fox, all beginner-level pets. The only difference was that, unlike the Cottonseed Worm, which was knocked out in one hit, the other two put up a fight for a few rounds. Did the Cottonseed Worm lower the point total? Looking at the data, a thought suddenly occurred to Qiao Sang. "Fire fang Dog, use Fire Fang," Qiao Sang instructed. "Yap." Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t understand her purpose, but it obediently used Fire Fang. Since there was no target, the skill quickly dissipated. Qiao Sang checked the Beast Codex again. Name: Fire fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (115/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100) +, Charge (Intermediate 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Beginner 6/100) +, Ember (Beginner3/100) + Points: 55 The value behind Fire Fang had increased! That means the skill''s proficiency increases even without a target! She had misunderstood earlier. Skill proficiency comes from practice; it doesn¡¯t necessarily require a target to improve. But if using a skill just once increases proficiency, wouldn''t everyone''s pets master their skills quickly? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know how proficiency works for others, but for her, it seemed like using a skill once did increase proficiency. To test her theory, Qiao Sang had Fire fang Dog use Fire Fang again. After it was done, the value for Fire Fang increased from 6 to 7, just as she expected. Qiao Sang paused for a moment and then decided to have Fire fang Dog use Fire Fang a hundred times right then and there. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fire fang Dog nodded, determined to succeed. But reality hit hard. After using Fire Fang four times in a row, Fire fang Dog was exhausted and listless. The Fire Fang value stopped at 10. Using skills consumes energy and stamina, and it was clear that Fire fang Dog could only manage about four uses of Fire Fang in its current state. Fire fang Dog had already fought three battles today, depleting its energy and stamina. Qiao Sang assessed the situation. If fully rested, Fire fang Dog could likely use Fire Fang about ten times in a row without issue. If they practiced ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening, the Fire Fang skill could reach proficiency in five days! Can pet skills really improve from beginner to proficient that quickly? Qiao Sang recalled her limited knowledge of beast-taming. No. Even low-level skills take about a month of daily practice to progress from novice to proficient. The next stage, mastery, would take at least six months, with its power increasing several fold. Fire Fang is a mid-level skill, and progressing from beginner to proficient would usually take five to seven months. But Fire fang Dog could do it in five days. This is clearly the work of a cheat code! With this ability, how could she not aim to be the top recruit at Shengshui High School? By then, she¡¯d have all her skills at a proficient level¡ªhow could they possibly beat her? When the time comes... "Yap!" Fire fang Dog¡¯s bark snapped Qiao Sang out of her daydream. Qiao Sang came to her senses and noticed that some people around were giving her strange looks. She instinctively adjusted her expression. As she tried to relax her face, she realized her muscles were sore. She had been smiling too hard... "Ahem, let¡¯s go home," Qiao Sang said, picking up Fire fang Dog. "Fang!" Fire fang Dog pointed its little paw toward a barbecue stand in the distance. Qiao Sang glanced at it and suddenly felt hungry herself. No wonder she could smell the cumin from so far away. "No, there¡¯s food at home." Qiao Sang resisted the temptation and turned her head away. "Fang¡­" Fire fang Dog looked up at her with big, pleading eyes. This little guy knows how to act cute now¡­ "You can have two skewers." Qiao Sang relented. Fire fang Dog nodded happily. At the barbecue stand. "Hey, you¡¯re still here." The lady running the stand recognized Qiao Sang. "Yeah." Qiao Sang replied, inhaling the aroma of grilled meat. "Auntie, I¡¯ll take 20 lamb skewers." In the end, Qiao Sang ate five skewers, and Fire fang Dog ate fifteen. On the way home, Qiao Sang earnestly instructed, "When we have dinner later, you need to pretend you¡¯re still hungry and finish your food, got it?" "Yap." Fire fang Dog let out a satisfied belch in response. Qiao Sang: "..." She consoled herself, thinking that it would take over half an hour to get home from the bus stop near the Thirty-Seventh Beast-Taming High School. By then, the food should be digested¡­ Pets can eat human food, but for proper growth and nutrition, they need specially prepared meals with energy-rich ingredients. The pet food at home was prepared by her mother, who spent considerable time making it. If Fire fang Dog couldn¡¯t eat her mother¡¯s meal because it was too full from lamb skewers¡­ Qiao Sang shook her head, refusing to dwell on it. Taking the subway would get her home in just over ten minutes, but for Fire fang Dog¡¯s sake, she chose the bus instead. On bus number 66, likely due to exhaustion and a full stomach, Firefang Dog uncharacteristically rested quietly by the window, watching the scenery pass by. Chapter 19: Ghost-Type The bus cruised smoothly along the road while the sun descended, casting a golden hue on the surfaces of skyscrapers, now beginning to fade."The Jiyang Station has arrived. Passengers getting off, please gather your belongings and exit through the rear door," The automated announcement suddenly chimed in. At this stop, the number of passengers on the bus surged. Not only were all the seats taken, but five or six people were now standing as well. Three minutes after the bus resumed its journey, Fire fang dog unexpectedly turned its head and barked at the passenger beside it. The person sitting next to Qiao Sang was a female student dressed in the uniform of the Thirty-Seventh Beastmaster High School, who had boarded the bus at the same stop as Qiao Sang. The girl glanced at Fire fang dog but didn¡¯t say anything, merely shifting slightly to the side. Qiao Sang turned Fire fang dog around and asked, "What¡¯s wrong?" Fire fang dog looked at the girl. "Yip?" It tilted its head, appearing puzzled. "You know you can scare people by doing that, right?" Qiao Sang said as she patted Fire fang dog¡¯s head. "Yip." Fire fang dog responded promptly and turned back to gaze out the window at the scenery. Seeing this, the girl smiled at Qiao Sang and said, "It''s okay." Qiao Sang noticed the extra ten centimeters of distance between them and was about to say something when Fire fang dog turned back around, baring its teeth toward the girl in a menacing display. Startled, the girl instinctively began to rise from her seat. "Can¡¯t you put that Fire fang dog away? If it scares someone, are you going to take responsibility?" A disgruntled male voice suddenly interrupted. The speaker was a man with a square face, standing next to the girl, dressed in a gray tank top. "Yeah, that Fire fang dog clearly hasn¡¯t been trained properly." Added an auntie sitting nearby. ¡°There¡¯s a whole bus full of people here. Just put it away.¡± Someone else chimed in. The girl looked at Qiao Sang with pleading eyes, hoping she would put Fire fang dog away. Qiao Sang frowned but ignored them. It was common for beastmasters to carry their pet beasts with them, so there was no issue there. Pet beasts wandering freely wasn''t unusual either. These people were only making a fuss because she was young. They wouldn¡¯t dare say a word if it were someone older. However, this was the first time Fire fang dog had behaved this way on a bus¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Qiao Sang turned Fire fang dog to face her and asked. ¡°Yip.¡± Fire fang dog, now acting defiant, turned its head away, refusing to look at Qiao Sang. It had heard the surrounding comments and thought its beastmaster was about to scold it too. ¡°Fire fang dog.¡± Qiao Sang grabbed its head and held it still, forcing it to look at her. Firefang¡¯s moist eyes were both stubborn and full of grievance. Qiao Sang stared into its eyes and said seriously, ¡°I believe in you. You have to believe in me too. If something¡¯s wrong, you can tell me. You know I understand you.¡± Hearing its beastmaster¡¯s words, Fire fang dog immediately perked up. ¡°Yip yip yip!¡± ¡°Yip, yip.¡± ¡°Yip yip yip yip, yip!¡± Fire fang dog barked excitedly, gesturing with its small paws as it spoke. ¡°You¡¯re saying something suddenly appeared on her and then disappeared?¡± Qiao Sang confirmed. ¡°Yip!¡± Fire fang dog nodded vigorously. ¡°And it startled you when it appeared?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she stroked Fire fang dog¡¯s head. ¡°Yip.¡± Fire fang dog buried its head in Qiao Sang¡¯s chest and whimpered softly. The girl sitting next to them watched their interaction in a daze. Fire fang dog¡­ is this its true personality? It¡¯s kind of cute¡­ Maybe I should consider contracting a fire-type pet for my second contract position... ¡°It''s okay now, everything¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang comforted Fire fang dog before turning to the girl and saying, ¡°You heard what it said.¡± The girl snapped out of her thoughts and hesitantly asked, ¡°You mean something suddenly appeared on me?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°But¡­¡± The girl hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a voice interrupted her. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. She¡¯s just making up excuses to avoid putting the Fire fang dog away. I¡¯m warning you, you¡¯d better put it away right now, or if someone gets hurt, I¡¯ll make sure you pay for it!¡± The square-faced man standing next to the girl threatened harshly. ¡°Yeah, just put it away before someone gets hurt.¡± Echoed the auntie sitting nearby. ¡°Put it away. Everyone is worried.¡± Another voice added. ¡°I don¡¯t think this girl is lying. Maybe there¡¯s a wild ghost-type extraordinary creature on this bus.¡± A different voice suddenly suggested. The noisy bus instantly fell silent. Of all extraordinary creatures, ghost-types were the most eerie. Once a supernatural event involved a ghost-type extraordinary creature, it seemed to make sense. Mysterious disappearances, sudden power outages, or cold drafts in rooms were all minor incidents. Ghost-type extraordinary creatures were unpredictable and had strange personalities. For instance, the Attached Spirit. It liked to possess different people. The possessed person remained conscious but couldn¡¯t control their body, helplessly watching as they did bizarre things. Long jumps, dancing, and diving were mild enough, but encountering an Attached Spirit that enjoyed streaking was truly a stroke of bad luck. Among those who had a love-hate relationship with the Attached Spirit were the police. Not only did it possess the living, but it also loved to possess the dead. Two years ago, mysterious corpses would frequently appear out of nowhere at the police station in Guangshi. Upon examination, some had been dead for a day, others for a year, or even ten years. One of them was Lu Baiqian, a school beauty whose disappearance three years ago had made headlines. The police reviewed the surveillance footage and saw the Attached Spirit controlling the corpse to bring it to the station entrance. Initially, they didn¡¯t know what it was, but once the short-statured Attached Spirit emerged from the corpse, they realized it was behind the incidents. There was definitely love-love for the Attached Spirit, who could help the police locate bodies that they couldn''t find. But there was also hate-hate for those bodies that had only been dead for a day or two, because the Attached Spirit would drag them out, completely compromising the primary crime scene. Then there was the Soul Lantern, which would appear to guide lost people to safety, but in return, it would drain some of their life force. It seemed like a reasonable exchange, but it was not as simple as that. Recently, in Nankou City, a woman had left a bar late at night and called for a taxi, waiting on the roadside. Maybe because she was swaying or her gaze was unfocused after drinking, the Soul Lantern mistook her for being lost... Before the taxi could arrive, it forcefully led her home and drained her life force, leaving the woman shocked when she saw her haggard reflection in the mirror the next morning, thinking she had been utterly drained. Sea?ch* The N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The misdeeds of ghost-type extraordinary creatures were countless. Encountering one that merely played pranks was one thing, but stumbling upon a malevolent wild ghost-type extraordinary creature could be fatal. Suddenly, everyone on the No. 66 bus was on edge. Chapter 20: The Bus Door Opens The bus swerved slightly.The driver forced himself to remain calm as he drove, but the sweat trickling down his forehead betrayed him. "How long until the next stop?" A voice broke the silence. "About five more minutes." Someone replied. The bus fell silent again. "Can you let the Fire fang Dog sniff your scent? Maybe it can track down that thing." Qiao Sang suddenly suggested. Before the female student could respond, the man with a square face standing next to her sneered, "Even if there''s a wild ghost-type extraordinary creature on the bus, are you sure you want to look for it while we''re driving? What if it gets angry? Can you handle the consequences?" "Yeah, let''s wait until the bus stops at the next station." Someone else added. "This is something that needs to be addressed by the patrol department; we shouldn''t complicate things." Another voice chimed in. "What''s the number for the patrol department again? I can call." "I think it''s 669." "¡­That¡¯s the control department." The passengers on the bus were engaged in a back-and-forth discussion. "It¡¯s not a ghost-type." Qiao Sang said. "How do you know it¡¯s not?" Someone questioned. "You say you heard something, but then you say it¡¯s not. Are you messing with us?" The square-faced man shouted. Qiao Sang looked over at him and smiled. "Uncle, I think you''ve been targeting me since the beginning." The square-faced man widened his eyes and shouted. "I''m only 24!" "Uncle, you¡¯re a bit loud." Qiao Sang said as she rubbed her ears. The square-faced man glared at her fiercely, his expression menacing. If it weren''t for the Fire fang Dog in front of her, he might have lashed out by now. "Why is it not a ghost-type?" The female student asked. "That lady''s pet is a Magnet Mouse. If there were any ghost-type extraordinary creatures nearby, its tail would be raised like lightning, but it¡¯s currently hanging straight down." Qiao Sang explained, pointing to the lady''s pet on her shoulder. The female student paused, recalling that there was some truth to that. The Magnet Mouse can detect magnetic fields and sense unique magnetic fluctuations. Ghost-type extraordinary creatures have distinct magnetic fields that would trigger the Magnet Mouse''s temporal lobe, causing its tail to raise. However, it was hard for her to connect this obscure knowledge from textbooks to real life. "Right, my Magnet Mouse does indeed behave like that," The lady sitting nearby nodded. The female student, hearing this, no longer hesitated. "Go ahead and sniff." Qiao Sang nodded at the Fire fang Dog. The Fire fang Dog obediently approached the female student and began to sniff her. Qiao Sang noticed the square-faced man''s facial muscles tensed instantly. The Fire fang Dog sniffed around before barking at the square-faced man. "Shut up, you mutt!" The square-faced man growled. "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog''s fur bristled, its limbs tensed, and its sharp teeth were fully bared, clearly enraged by the man. The square-faced man was startled but held his ground, not backing down. He glanced at the girl holding the Fire fang Dog, hoping she would rein in her pet. Instead, he found her expressionless gaze fixed on him, her cold eyes more intimidating than the Fire fang Dog itself¡­ Qiao Sang felt a sense of calm wash over her. She slowly patted the Fire fang Dog''s back, trying to calm it down. She couldn''t strike first. The League explicitly prohibits beast tamers from using their pets to attack ordinary citizens. Even if they wanted to retaliate, they couldn''t be so blatant about it; there were too many witnesses on the bus. This man was clearly suspicious. When she mentioned that the Fire fang Dog sensed something, it was most reactive towards him, and the Fire fang Dog detected a similar scent on him and the female student. But there was no way he could have caused something to appear on someone else and then disappear so suddenly. In a public bus, people engaging in shady behavior typically had ulterior motives, whether financial or otherwise. That thing would have made the Fire fang Dog unable to sense it, and the female student also didn¡¯t notice anything. If it had made contact with their bodies, they would surely react. It wasn¡¯t for lust. It must be for money. "Did you lose anything?" Qiao Sang turned to the female student and asked. The female student paused, then began checking her bag and pockets. After a couple of seconds, she exclaimed, "Oh no, my phone is missing!" Just as Qiao Sang suspected. The other passengers on the bus started checking their belongings too. "My phone is gone too!" "My wallet is missing!" "And the necklace I bought for my girlfriend is gone!" "Where¡¯s my height-increasing insole??!!" "My pet''s Sandfruit is missing too!!!" After the checks, a third of the people on the bus realized their belongings were missing. Qiao Sang keenly noticed that those reporting missing items were mainly seated in the middle of the bus. Looking at the square-faced man, her suspicions solidified. Seeing her gaze, the square-faced man¡¯s face turned ashen. He grit his teeth and said, "My phone is missing too!" Qiao Sang: "¡­" "Ugh... I can¡¯t be separated from my pet for even a second..." At that moment, a loud ringtone suddenly erupted from the square-faced man¡¯s pocket. The man: "¡­" All eyes turned toward him. He awkwardly chuckled and said, "Oh, I found it; it was just on me the whole time." Qiao Sang asked, "Are you a beast tamer?" The square-faced man¡¯s expression darkened; he hadn¡¯t thought of how to respond. Sea?ch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He is! He¡¯s wearing a beast tamer badge!" The female student exclaimed, realizing the man¡¯s odd behavior. The League issues corresponding badges to registered beast tamers. For example, a level F beast tamer has a white badge with the League''s emblem and an "F" symbol. Some people like to wear them, while others do not, and those who don¡¯t typically have lower ranks. The square-faced man before her was prominently displaying a gray badge, indicating he was an E-level beast tamer. This meant he had at least two intermediate pets. "Would you mind showing us what your pets are?" Qiao Sang asked kindly. The square-faced man wanted to refuse, but all eyes on the bus were on him. "Show us your pets!" "Yeah, what are you afraid of?" "Weren''t you just being all tough? Speak up!" "Is there something wrong with your pets?" The square-faced man''s expression grew increasingly grim, his already contorted features tightening further as sweat soaked his gray tank top. Just as he was at a loss for how to respond¡­ "Yonglin Station is here. Please take your belongings and exit the bus from the rear door." The voice of the electronic announcement echoed. The bus doors opened. Chapter 21: The Eight-Tentacled Coral "Hmph, this is my stop. I can''t be bothered to argue with you." The square-faced man said as he turned to leave the bus. The young man standing to his right held a plastic bag.The square-faced man pushed the young man aside and hurried toward the bus''s rear door. Qiao Sang noticed that his hand brushed against the young man''s shoulder without touching anything else, yet the plastic bag made a rustling noise. "Fire fang Dog, use Ember on his waist." Qiao Sang ordered directly. Fire fang Dog was already in a state of high alert. It had been irritated by this human for a while now. If its master hadn''t been holding it back, it would have already unleashed its full arsenal on him. Now that it had the command, it gathered all its energy and shot it out with full force. The ember, usually the size of a baby''s fist, grew as large as an adult''s hand. A sharp, piercing scream echoed throughout the entire bus. The passengers were startled, and those just stepping onto the bus through the front door were so frightened that they backed away onto the platform. "Driver, close the door!" Qiao Sang shouted at the driver. The driver was stunned for a moment as he glanced at the situation in the rearview mirror. A two-meter-long, white hydra with eight tentacles had suddenly appeared inside the bus. As it emerged, its tentacles dropped a pile of various items onto the floor. "Driver, close the door!" Qiao Sang had to remind him again when she saw he hadn''t moved. "Oh, right!" The driver snapped out of it and hurriedly pressed the button to close the doors. Once the door was closed, Qiao Sang focused her attention on what was happening in front of her. What is this? Despite cramming a lot of knowledge into her head recently, Qiao Sang still couldn''t recognize the extraordinary creature in front of her. Turning to the female student next to her, Qiao Sang asked, "What is this?" "It''s my phone!" Qiao Sang: "..." "And mine!" "My Sand Fruit!" "The necklace I bought for my girlfriend!" "My height-increasing insoles!!!" One by one, the passengers excitedly identified their belongings. The square-faced man''s expression darkened as he watched everything unfold. It had all happened too suddenly. His Eight-Tentacled Coral had been injured, preventing him from getting off the bus in time. Now, the doors were closed, and all the stolen goods had spilled out. It''s all that girl''s fault! Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The square-faced man glared venomously at the girl with the Fire fang Dog. If it hadn''t been for that dog and this girl, how could he have failed this time? Now it was too late. The passengers were all staring at him. If he tried to escape, he''d have to destroy the bus, which would definitely injure the people on board. He knew the difference between the charges of theft and assault. The former might only result in a fine and a month or two in jail, while the latter could lead to several years or even decades in prison. All he could do now was sit quietly and wait for the police to arrest him. Seeing the square-faced man''s expression turn sullen, Qiao Sang put away her still-unnamed extraordinary creature, showing that she had no intention of resisting. "Everyone, hold him down! Don''t let him escape!" Qiao Sang shouted. She swung her fist at him. The square-faced man instinctively took two steps back, and the others, thinking he was trying to flee, swarmed him, pinning him to the ground. Someone shouted, "You still dare to fight back?!" The crowd, already furious, erupted. How dare he be so brazen after being caught stealing? Instantly, punches and kicks rained down on him. "I didn''t do anything!" The square-faced man roared in anger. But no one was listening to him. His voice was soon drowned out by the sound of blows landing on him. Qiao Sang contributed eighteen kicks before she grew tired and sat down. It wasn''t clear how long had passed before the crowd dispersed. The man lay on the ground like a dead pig, his face bruised and swollen, with claw marks of unknown origin. His square face was now puffed up like a steamed bun, making him unrecognizable. Fire fang Dog squeezed out of the crowd, blinking its moist eyes at Qiao Sang. One person and one beast exchanged a knowing glance and smiled. Someone had called the police, and the patrol cars arrived quickly. The three officers who arrived couldn''t recognize the man due to his disfigured face, but fortunately, he was still wearing his Beastmaster badge. The police scanned the badge to confirm the man''s identity. "Who was the first to notice the theft?" one of the officers asked. "It was her!" The female student raised Qiao Sang''s hand as she answered. The surrounding passengers nodded in agreement. The officer approached Qiao Sang and gently said, "We need you to come to the police station to make a statement." Qiao Sang hesitated, "My mom''s waiting for me to come home for dinner." The officer smiled, "It won''t take long. This is a good deed, something to be proud of. Just call your mom and explain, she won''t blame you." Qiao Sang shook her head and refused, "Everyone here on the bus is a witness. You can ask them. I really need to get home first." The officer persisted, "This man is Chen Jianhui, a repeat offender. We''ve had a reward out for his capture for some time. Since you caught him, you should claim the 50,000 Alliance Coins reward." Qiao Sang was taken aback. There''s a reward? Immediately, she responded, "Making a statement is my duty. When do we go?" The officer: "..." As Qiao Sang was about to board the police car, the female student grabbed her arm. "My name is Bai Yunmiao. Can I add you as a friend?" "Of course," Qiao Sang smiled and pulled out her phone to add her. --- By the time Qiao Sang got home, it was already 8:48 PM. Luckily, she had called the police to explain her situation to her mother, so when she returned, she was greeted with a warm welcome. "You''re home late; you must be tired. Come eat, I just reheated the food." Qiao Sang was starving; the five skewers of lamb she had eaten hours ago hadn''t been nearly enough. She sat down at the table and began eating ravenously. "Fire fang Dog must be hungry too. Here, I made you a special nutritious dinner." Her mother brought a specially prepared energy meal to Fire fang Dog with a smile. Qiao Sang suddenly found her meal less appetizing. She stopped eating and anxiously looked over. Fire fang Dog didn''t notice her gaze. It barked at the energy meal and then happily dug in. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her worst fears hadn''t come true... After she finished eating, she noticed that Fire fang Dog had long since finished its meal and was wagging its tail, waiting for her. Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. Is Fire fang Dog''s appetite bigger than usual? She didn''t dwell on it. She hugged Fire fang Dog and went to her room, opened her computer, and began searching for the unknown extraordinary creature from the bus. Since she didn''t know its name, she had to search by its appearance. [Anyone know what kind of extraordinary creature is white, has eight tentacles, and can turn invisible?] There are millions of extraordinary creatures in the world, and many share similar traits. Qiao Sang spent over ten minutes filtering through the results before finding the answer. [Eight-Tentacled Coral] Chapter 22: Training Plan The Eight-Tentacled Coral, a water-type beast, is the evolved form of the Hidden Coral Worm. Its invisibility is not a skill but a characteristic. By coming into contact with an object, it can adjust the nanocrystals on its skin to change its color accordingly, achieving the effect of invisibility. Qiao Sang stared at the description of the Eight-Tentacled Coral, speechless. Isn¡¯t this just a chameleon? But of course, the world of beast taming is truly extraordinary. No chameleon from her previous life could pull off such an exaggerated effect. The Eight-Tentacle Coral on that bus was clinging to the square-faced man''s upper body, while its other eight tentacles were suspended in mid-air. Despite the close proximity of the passengers on the bus, no one noticed. Thinking about this, Qiao Sang searched for more information on the Eight-Tentacled Coral. After browsing for five minutes, she was left puzzled. Nothing. The information available didn¡¯t explain why the Eight-Tentacled Coral¡¯s aura could disappear so suddenly. At first, when she was on the bus, she thought for a moment that the square-faced man had stored his beast in the Beast Taming Codex. However, when a beast is stored in the Codex, a faint light appears on the beast. If that had been the case, everyone on the bus would have noticed, so it was clear that the Eight-Tentacled Coral had not been stored. That¡¯s why when the square-faced man got off the bus, she paid special attention. If the aura hadn¡¯t disappeared, why did Fire fang dog suddenly smell it and then lose track of it? The square-faced man was only two people away from her; there¡¯s no way Fire fang dog could have failed to catch the scent at such close range. But Fire fang dog insisted that the aura suddenly appeared and then disappeared. The Eight-Tentacled Coral was always on the square-faced man, so its aura should have been constant. How could it have appeared out of nowhere? Could it be that Fire fang dog¡¯s nose isn¡¯t that sharp? So, was it only able to detect it after sniffing it up close? ¡°Yah¡­choo!¡± Fire fang dog suddenly sneezed. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t figure it out after thinking for a long time, so she simply went online to ask for help on a forum. This is when the value of the forum became apparent. It didn¡¯t take long before someone gave her an answer. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just aura suppression?¡± ¡°No way, how could it just disappear and reappear like that? It should take at least a minute.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just bad at suppressing its aura?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re onto something.¡± ¡°When I first trained my Extreme Iron Bull, its aura only disappeared for two seconds.¡± ¡°Online lessons on aura suppression, only 998 credits! Just 998!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fall for it! That guy¡¯s a scammer!¡± Qiao Sang suddenly realized that these strange phenomena had to be related to some skill. Aura suppression is a skill that, except in specific situations, is rarely used, so it¡¯s no wonder she didn¡¯t think of it sooner. Sea?ch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Fire fang dog could combine a sandstorm skill to obscure vision with aura suppression, it would be a deadly combination. But, unfortunately, Fire fang dog doesn¡¯t know how to do that. For now, there¡¯s no need for Fire fang dog to learn this skill. Qiao Sang closed her computer and looked at Fire fang dog She hadn¡¯t forgotten what needed to be done that evening. ¡°Fire fang dog, use Fire Fang as many times as you can.¡± ¡°Fang.¡± Although Fire fang dog didn¡¯t understand its Beast Tamer¡¯s intentions, it nodded obediently. Three minutes later, Fire fang dog was panting heavily on the ground. Qiao Sang counted¡ªit had used the skill 13 times. That¡¯s more than she expected. But that might be because it had just eaten an energy meal. Just as Qiao Sang was thinking of checking the Beast Taming Codex¡­ ¡°Yap¡­¡± Fire fang dog weakly called out to Qiao Sang. She immediately understood and got up, heading to the kitchen. She took two Red Awl Fruits from the fridge, juiced them, and poured the juice into a bowl. After finishing the last six Red Awl Fruits, her mother had bought another six. But this time, Qiao Sang had been rationing them, allowing Fire fang dog only one every two days. One Red Awl Fruit costs 700 Alliance Coins, and it¡¯s not sustainable to eat them every day. Since Fire fang dog had worked hard today, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t resist giving it two fruits. Now that she had 50,000 Alliance Coins, she could afford to be a bit indulgent. Fire fang dog held the bowl with its front paws and gulped down the juice. After finishing, it let out a satisfied bark. Seeing Fire fang dog¡¯s cheerful demeanor, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t resist patting its head. Even though Fire fang dog seemed lively, its body was exhausted and soon fell asleep on the floor. Qiao Sang carried it to the bed, tucked it in, and then sat down at her desk. Training without a plan is inefficient, so Qiao Sang decided to write up a training schedule. First, wake up at 6 AM for a morning run to train both stamina and speed. Fire fang dog¡¯s speed is lacking, so that needs to be a focus. Otherwise, it will be an easy target, and even if it attacks, it won¡¯t be able to land a hit. That won¡¯t do. Aside from speed training, the rest of the time will be spent practicing skills. Fire fang dog currently knows Bite, Charge, Fire Fang, and Ember. Except for Charge, the other skills are still at the beginner level. Qiao Sang decided not to have Fire fang dog continue practicing Bite. Now that it knows Fire Fang, a more powerful intermediate skill, Bite seems redundant. Charge is currently at the intermediate level, with over 300 points needed to reach the next stage of mastery. If they want to achieve mastery before the special admissions test for Shengshui Academy, Fire fang dog would need to use Charge about 40 times a day. But training speed, practicing Fire Fang and Ember, plus using Charge 40 times a day is impossible. Fire fang dog is less than a month old, and such intense training would be too much. Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then changed the 40 to 10. In the next nine days, besides speed training, the focus will be on improving Fire Fang and Ember to intermediate. Only by enduring hardships can one rise above the rest. Qiao Sang looked at the training plan in her hand and smiled with satisfaction. --- The next morning. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at school yet?¡± Her mother asked sternly. Qiao Sang checked the time. It was 7:54 AM. She had overslept. The 6 AM morning run plan died before it even began¡­ ¡°Mom, why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Qiao Sang retorted. She hadn¡¯t figured out how to tell her mother about taking time off from school. If she were a top student, she could just say she wanted to study and train Fire fang dog at home for the last few days. But the problem is that, in her mother¡¯s eyes, she¡¯s a slacker¡­ Who would expect a slacker to study well after leaving school? Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t planned on hiding this from her mother forever, just until after the special admissions test at Shengshui Academy. Her mother usually left earlier than she did, but today was an exception. A miscalculation¡­ ¡°I have a client who booked me for the whole day. I¡¯ll be leaving this afternoon. What about you? How could you sleep in on one of your last days of school? It¡¯s already 8:10, and class starts soon. What time is it now?¡± Her mother said, displeased. ¡°I¡¯ll head out right away!¡± Qiao Sang promised. She grabbed the bread on the table, put it in her mouth, put on her shoes, picked up Fire fang dog, and left the house in one swift motion. Outside the door, Qiao Sang sighed. She had planned to rest at home after training this morning, but now it seemed she would have to spend the day out. Chapter 23: See Which One You Like About 6 kilometers away from Qingcheng Jiayuan is Chagui Park. Under the lush plane trees, a slender figure sat cross-legged in the shade, reading a book. The Fire fang Dog had lost track of how many laps it had run around this park. Whenever it got tired and returned to its Beastmaster, it would see its master looking at it with trust-filled eyes, cheering it on. This always made the Fire fang Dog feel powerful enough to keep going. By the time it realized what was happening, it found itself running again... Qiao Sang closed her book and shook her head as she watched the Fire fang Dog slowly crawling along not far away. The Fire fang Dog was really struggling, after only ten laps, it was already exhausted. Morning runs wouldn''t improve the Fire fang Dog''s speed; at most, they''d help build its stamina, which also allowed Qiao Sang to roughly gauge its physical limits. When the Fire fang Dog finally managed to run back to Qiao Sang, the morning jog was officially over. Qiao Sang handed the Fire fang Dog a bottle of Qiyuan Milk that she had bought earlier. Qiyuan Milk was a beverage for pet beasts, considered one of the better brands on the market. It provided a slight boost to a pet beast¡¯s stamina and was something Qiao Sang had picked up from a roadside breakfast shop that catered specifically to pet beasts. Products related to pet beasts were always overpriced, but Qiyuan Milk had maintained the same price for decades¡ªjust 98 Union Coins per bottle. The Fire fang Dog weakly reached out its paw, took the bottle, and gulped it down in a few swigs until it was empty. "Yap." The Fire fang Dog looked at Qiao Sang with a pleading gaze. Qiao Sang hesitated, she had only bought one bottle... Unable to resist the Fire fang Dog¡¯s eyes, Qiao Sang handed over the tofu pudding she had bought for herself for just 3 Union Coins. The Fire fang Dog stared silently at the nearly empty tofu pudding for a moment. "Yap!" Its eyes were full of reproach. "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll buy you more later." Qiao Sang comforted. No matter what, the pet beast must not be deprived. If she couldn''t even satisfy her pet beast''s hunger, how could she expect it to train well? Besides, now that she had 50,000 Union Coins, buying some Qiyuan Milk was no big deal. She¡¯d buy more! Fifteen minutes later. Qiao Sang found herself lost in thought, holding a large bag of Qiyuan Milk. This 50,000 Union Coins should last her a while...right? After the Fire fang Dog downed three bottles, seven bottles remained in the bag. With four bottles of Qiyuan Milk in its belly, the Fire fang Dog finally perked up, though its limbs were still weak, and it trembled even when walking. Seeing this, Qiao Sang decided not to make it start skill training immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to buy something nice.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile. ¡°Yap.¡± The Fire fang Dog¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly interested in this nice thing. --- Vlie Square. The largest shopping center in Tangxin District, Vlie Square is a premium commercial complex that combines leisure, shopping, dining, and entertainment. As soon as Qiao Sang arrived, she was stopped by a handsome young man with a blue wolf-tail hairstyle. "Hey there, miss, interested in learning how to make your pet beast more attractive? Come visit our Dreamy Beast Styling Studio. We have a professional team of pet beast stylists, and our chief stylist even designed the look for Rohan¡¯s Purple Demon Vine." "No, thank you. I''m not interested." Qiao Sang declined. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t be so quick to say no. Take a look at my Qingyue Butterfly.¡± The young man stepped aside as he spoke. Behind him, a Qingyue Butterfly with blue-violet wings veined with green appeared in front of Qiao Sang. The butterfly gracefully twirled in the air, its scattered scales refracting dazzling light in the sunlight. It was quite beautiful... Qiao Sang was momentarily entranced by the sight of the Qingyue Butterfly. The young man with the wolf-tail hairstyle, satisfied to see the girl captivated by his pet beast, pressed on, "How about it? The blue-violet looks great, right? Our stylists adjusted it according to the Qingyue Butterfly¡¯s preferences. Your Fire fang Dog has a nice color, but it lacks personality. Why not come to Dreamy Beast Styling Studio and design a custom look?" ¡°Yap!¡± The Fire fang Dog barked discontentedly at the young man. How dare this guy say it lacked personality! As the Beastmaster society developed, numerous professions emerged, most of which served pet beasts. Pet beast stylist was one such profession. There were millions of pet beasts in the world, with all kinds of varieties, but those of the same species often looked quite similar, differing mainly in height, weight, and build. As information technology advanced, color-variant pet beasts became known to the public. Without information dissemination, one might go a lifetime without seeing a color-variant pet beast in real life. Scarcity leads to value. Although a color-variant pet beast wasn¡¯t as valuable as a Dragon-type beast, its selling price could rival that of a Fairy-type pet beast. If it belonged to a rare species, the price could skyrocket a hundredfold or more. This led to the rise of the pet beast stylist profession. No color-variant pet beast? No problem¡ªjust dye it! Although it sounded good, almost no professional competitive Beastmasters would choose to dye their pet beasts. The reason was simple. The dye would fade... A pet beast would likely get a bit injured during a match, shedding some fur or skin, which would ruin the entire look. sea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That said, some famous Beastmasters still couldn¡¯t resist the allure of color variants. Recently, contestant Lin Ruochu used a golden Frost Centipede in the nationally televised Super League for high school students. Unfortunately, her first opponent was a Water-type Impact Bubble Turtle. Normally, an Ice-type would have a significant advantage over a Water-type. But after a barrage of high-pressure water cannons, most of the gold had washed off the Frost Centipede, leaving it looking extremely bedraggled. This directly affected Lin Ruochu¡¯s mindset and performance, leading to her loss in the match. Qiao Sang might have been momentarily dazzled by the Qingyue Butterfly, but she wasn¡¯t about to let her Fire fang Dog get a dye job. The Fire fang Dog''s flaming red fur was beautiful just as it was! This guy had no taste. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Qiao Sang declined again. Seeing her firm attitude, the young man didn¡¯t waste any more time and instead approached a passing young woman. ¡°Hey there, miss, interested in learning how to make your pet beast more attractive? Come visit our Dreamy Beast Styling Studio¡­¡± --- Qiao Sang took the Fire fang Dog to a pet beast accessory shop on the third floor. Following the signs, they arrived at the section with the items she wanted to buy. ¡°Here, Fire fang Dog, see which one you like.¡± Qiao Sang smiled at the Firefang Dog. The Firefang Dog curiously examined the items in front of it. There were beaded strings and bracelets in different styles and colors. ¡°Yap.¡± The Fire fang Dog pointed to a string of blue beads with its paw. Qiao Sang picked up the beads, and her hand involuntarily dropped about 50 centimeters under their weight. ¡°A bracelet might be better; this isn¡¯t good for your neck.¡± Qiao Sang said, glancing at the Fire fang Dog¡¯s neck. Fire fang Dog: ??? Chapter 24: A Mutual Understanding Weight training was Qiao Sang''s idea to enhance Fire fang Dog''s speed.Speed improvement relies on both explosive power and frequency. If Fire fang Dog could maintain its regular speed while carrying a load, removing the weight later would definitely boost its speed to a higher level. However, appropriate weight is crucial for effective training; excessive weight would only burden Fire fang Dog''s body. Qiao Sang recalled reading in a fitness magazine in her previous life that the optimal weight range for beginners should be 8% to 20% of their body weight. Fire fang Dog weighed 19 kg, yet the weight bead it selected was around 25 kg. Qiao Sang put down the weight bead and was about to look at the weighted rings when a store clerk approached. "Is there something you''re looking to buy? I can help recommend something." The clerk offered. Qiao Sang didn''t refuse. "I want to buy some weight training tools for my Fire fang Dog." The clerk smiled. "Then you should consider a gravity necklace. The latest OM-8 model from Yongchuang Group can adjust its settings according to your pet''s endurance, suitable for pets from beginner to advanced levels. Your Fire fang Dog could use it for at least six years." Such advanced technology? Qiao Sang was intrigued. "How much does it cost?" Sensing a potential sale, the clerk responded, "350,000 Alliance Coins. If you sign up for our store membership, you can get a 5% discount." That''s enough to buy three Fire fang Dogs... Qiao Sang glanced at Fire fang Dog silently. Firfang Dog looked back at her, confused. "Forget it, I''ll stick with the gravity rings." Qiao Sang declined. The clerk maintained her enthusiasm. She picked up a black gravity ring from the shelf and smiled, "If your Fire fang Dog is just starting with gravity rings, I recommend this 10 kg one. The black color would look good with your Fire fang Dog." "Isn''t that too heavy?" Qiao Sang asked. Sea?ch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not at all. Fire fang Dog can easily handle half its body weight while moving around. For Fighting-type pets, they can carry weights several times their own weight without any issues." The clerk explained. Qiao Sang understood. This was the era of pet training; she shouldn''t apply scientific principles from her past life here. With the clerk''s recommendations, Qiao Sang ended up buying three gravity rings¡ª10 kg, 15 kg, and 20 kg¡ªspending a total of 3,500 Alliance Coins. Qiao Sang then took Fire fang Dog to a bench in the mall''s central area, where she fitted the 10 kg gravity ring onto its right forelimb. The gravity ring''s size ranged from 3 cm to 15 cm, with an adjustable clasp. The force would spread throughout the body, so there was no worry about it concentrating solely on the right forelimb. "How does it feel?" Qiao Sang asked. Fire fang Dog stared blankly at the virtual screen above the mall''s center, not responding. Qiao Sang followed Fire fang Dog''s gaze. When they first arrived, the screen was showing advertisements. Now, it was broadcasting the most prestigious competition in the Alliance. The Global Interstellar Beast Master Cup. Commonly known as the Interstellar Cup. The Interstellar Cup is a competition where the top Beast Masters from four planets compete, held every three years. Just on Blue Planet alone, the global population exceeds 7 billion, and with the other three planets combined, the total population reaches over 38 billion. Selecting the top Beast Masters from 38 billion people to participate in the Interstellar Cup is no easy feat. First, one must win two national-level championships within a year and then receive national support to compete in the World Asia Beast Master League. Those who rank in the top six in the World Asia Beast Master League will then participate in the Global World Alliance Beast Master Championship. Finally, the top six players from the Global World Alliance Championship will qualify for the Interstellar Cup. The screen was currently showing the Interstellar Cup. On the screen was a refined-looking man in a white trench coat, standing beside a Giant Sky Toad about 60 meters tall. The Giant Sky Toad was gray-black, its color deep and heavy, with a solemn expression as it gazed forward. A pair of custom black sunglasses perched on its face, giving it a cool and mysterious vibe. The 300,000-capacity audience roared with deafening cheers, chanting the names of Lin Ya and the Giant Sky Toad. The waves of sound rolled over the competition venue. Qiao Sang felt her blood boil as she watched the scene on the screen, her passion as a Beast Master ignited! As a Beast Master, wasn''t the biggest dream in life to compete in the Interstellar Cup? Qiao Sang turned to look at Fire fang Dog, still staring intently at the screen. She knew that at this moment, she and Fire fang Dog were in perfect sync! Qiao Sang grabbed Fire fang Dog''s face and solemnly declared, "Fire fang Dog, believe in me! One day, we''ll stand up there too!" Fire fang Dog: ??? It looked at its Beast Master in confusion. Up there? What up there? Snapped out of its trance by its Beast Master''s grip, Fire fang Dog tried to raise its paw to point at the screen, but something felt off. It realized its paw now had the newly purchased item on it. "Yap!" Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t mind and raised its paw slightly, pointing at the screen, then barked excitedly. Qiao Sang: "..." "You mean you want sunglasses?" Fire fang Dog nodded eagerly. "You were looking at the sunglasses, not the competition?" "Yap?" Firefang Dog tilted its head. What competition? Qiao Sang: "..." To hell with mutual understanding! --- At Chagui Park. "Yap!" A burst of fiery sparks shot out. Wearing a pair of black triangular sunglasses, Fire fang Dog energetically practiced its skill release training. Qiao Sang watched from the side. The triangular sunglasses seemed to act as some kind of strange switch. Since putting them on, Fire fang Dog had been in a state of high excitement. It had already released Ember 21 times, and its energy level was still incredibly high. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but think, why does it seem like it''s on some kind of drug... Twenty minutes later, the effect wore off. Fire fang Dog collapsed on the ground, unable to move. Fortunately, they still had plenty of the Qiyuan Milk purchased in the morning. As Fire fang Dog drank the milk, Qiao Sang''s consciousness entered the Beast Master Codex. Name: Fire fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (121/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100)+, Charge (Intermediate 138/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 41/100)+, Ember (Beginner 32/100)+ Points: 55 Fire fang Dog had just unleashed Fire Fang 18 times and Ember 26 times! Qiao Sang looked at Fire fang Dog, her eyes gleaming, and asked, "Do you like any other styles of sunglasses?" "Yap~" Fire fang Dog''s weak bark was tinged with excitement. In the end, with Fire fang Dog''s choice, Qiao Sang ordered six different styles of sunglasses online. Seven days a week, a different pair each day, never the same. At 3:32 PM, Fire fang Dog finally recovered. This time, Qiao Sang didn''t push it too hard. After Fire fang Dog released Fire Fang four times and Fire Sparks eight times, she had it stop. The data in the Beast Master Codex also changed. Name: Fire fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (121/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100)+, Charge (Intermediate 138/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 45/100)+, Ember (Beginner 40/100)+ Points: 55 "Fire fang Dog, next, we¡¯ll start the weight training." Qiao Sang said. Chapter 25: A Good Meal "Let''s run a couple of laps to warm up." Qiao Sang said.After putting on the weighted ring, Fire Fang Dog adapted fairly quickly. It walked without much trouble, but just walking with a weight wouldn¡¯t provide any noticeable training effect. "Yap " Fire Fang Dog nodded, agreeing to Qiao Sang''s plan without any objection. This time, Qiao Sang decided to run with Fire Fang Dog. Encouraged by Qiao Sang, Fire Fang Dog managed to complete two difficult laps, then looked at her with a face that said, "You call this a warm-up?" Qiao Sang was panting heavily. After two laps, even she felt like she was pushing her limits. It seems I need to work on my endurance too... Once she caught her breath, Qiao Sang checked the time on her phone. During their morning run, Fire Fang Dog had taken an average of about 18 minutes per lap. Now, with the weighted ring, the first lap took 29 minutes and 3 seconds, and the second lap took 38 minutes and 42 seconds. Qiao Sang noted the times in her phone¡¯s memo, intending to compare them later. "Warm-up''s over. Now, hit that tree with ten Headbutts." Qiao Sang instructed, leading Fire Fang Dog to the sycamore tree where she had been reading earlier. "Yap~" Fire Fang Dog sat down, exhausted, and let out a weak whine. "Don''t you want to get stronger?" Qiao Sang asked. After spending these past few days with Fire Fang Dog, Qiao Sang knew it had a strong personality and impressive willpower. Despite only having fought four battles, it always charged forward without fear of injury. Stronger? Fire Fang Dog slowly got up, its eyes showing renewed determination. S~ea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had made the contract in the first place to get stronger and find more opponents. Qiao Sang was pleased to see the change in Fire Fang Dog¡¯s expression. She remembered the first time she met it. Back then, Fire Fang Dog used its small body to relentlessly crash into the tree trunk, wearing the same determined look. Now that she thought about it, it felt like ages ago. "Maybe this time, you''ll finally master the skill you were trying to learn back then." Qiao Sang said with a smile. "Yap?" Fire Fang Dog looked at its trainer, confused. "The skill you were trying to master when I first met you at the pet base." Qiao Sang explained. "Yap?" Fire Fang Dog was even more puzzled. What skill was I trying to learn? "Why else would you have been crashing into that tree trunk? Were you just practicing Headbutt?" Qiao Sang was confused too. That couldn''t be it. To execute a proper Headbutt, it needed at least a five-meter running start. She distinctly remembered that Fire Fang Dog had been crashing into the tree from within a meter away. Fire Fang Dog thought back to its first meeting with Qiao Sang. What was I doing back then? Oh, right, I was trying to knock down some fruit from the tree. "Yap Yap Yap Yap Yap." "Yap Yap." Fire Fang Dog explained to Qiao Sang, using its paws to gesture. Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before she ended the topic with, "Let''s start the training." Thinking of getting stronger, Fire Fang Dog trained with renewed energy. Headbutt required the strength of all four limbs to burst forth in a powerful impact. But with the weighted ring on, Fire Fang Dog¡¯s speed was noticeably slower, and the resulting force wasn''t strong enough to qualify as a true Headbutt. After exerting itself for six hits, Fire Fang Dog finally executed its first real Headbutt on the seventh attempt. "Yap!" It excitedly looked at Qiao Sang, only to find her lost in thought. Qiao Sang was still dwelling on the earlier revelation. She thought her Fire Fang Dog was a bit silly¡ªcrashing into a tree repeatedly just to knock down some fruit. Was the food at the pet base not filling enough? With its small body, how could it possibly knock the fruit down by ramming the tree? Wouldn''t it be more effective to just use Headbutt? And after all that, the fruit didn''t fall, and it just ended up with a sore head... Why didn''t it just climb the tree...? "Yap!" "Yap!" Fire Fang Dog''s bark snapped Qiao Sang back to reality. "I''m fine." Qiao Sang reassured. "Yap." Fire Fang Dog nodded, forgetting why it had called out in the first place, and resumed its training. At 5:53 PM, training was over. Fire Fang Dog lay exhausted on the ground, and Qiao Sang gently picked it up, saying, "You''re the best Fire Fang Dog I''ve ever seen." Although she hadn¡¯t seen many Fire Fang Dogs, that didn¡¯t stop her from praising it. Even though it had no strength left, Fire Fang Dog gritted its teeth and completed the tenth and final Headbutt through sheer willpower. A hundred impacts in one afternoon¡ªit had done it. "Yap~" Fire Fang Dog blushed slightly, snuggling into Qiao Sang''s arms. "I''ll take you out for a good meal." Qiao Sang said with a smile. --- At the Fruit Pavilion. Fire Fang Dog stared in disbelief at the food on the table. Fruit platters, fruit salad, fruit noodles, fruit ice cream, fruit cake, fruit jelly, fruit pie, juice... A whole table filled with dishes made from various fruits. "Grrr..." Fire Fang Dog''s stomach growled as it gazed at the spread. "Go ahead and eat." Qiao Sang said gently. Without hesitation, Fire Fang Dog grabbed a piece of fruit cake with its paws and devoured it hungrily. To Qiao Sang, the scene was heart warmingly beautiful. But that beauty didn¡¯t come without a price¡­ The price was one-fifth of her assets and a scolding from her mother¡­ --- Three days later. Boom! A fist-sized flame exploded against a distant rock, leaving a noticeable crater. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (127/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100)+, Charge (Intermediate 138/500), Headbutt (Intermediate 168/500)+, Fire Fang (Intermediate 116/500)+, Ember (Intermediate 135/500)+ Points: 55 In just four days, Fire Fang Dog had brought both its Fire Fang and Ember skills to an intermediate level. If anyone else knew, it would surely cause a huge commotion. Ember alone wasn¡¯t shocking¡ªthere were rare beasts with extraordinary talent that could master low-tier skills in a short time. But Fire Fang was different; it was a genuine mid-tier skill! Normally, it would take at least six months to progress from novice to proficient in a mid-tier skill, but Fire Fang Dog did it in just four days! At this moment, Fire Fang Dog, wearing the dark green triangular sunglasses that had arrived the day before, was focused on its training. With its red-and-green combination, Fire Fang Dog was attracting plenty of attention. Many children playing in the park stopped to watch but didn¡¯t dare approach because of the flames surrounding it. After getting into the training rhythm these past few days, Fire Fang Dog no longer needed Qiao Sang¡¯s guidance. It knew exactly what to do. Under the sycamore tree, Qiao Sang sat reading a book. Now that Fire Fang Dog had mastered both Ember and Fire Fang, she wasn¡¯t worried at all about the upcoming Shengshui Academy''s special entrance exam. Everyone would be newly contracted beast trainers; no one could possibly have a pet beast like Fire Fang Dog, with a mid-tier skill already at a proficient level. Over these few days, Fire Fang Dog¡¯s speed had steadily improved too. Yesterday, it had completed a lap with the weighted ring in just 22 minutes and 7 seconds, nearly seven minutes faster than on the first day. The pet beast battle in five days was nothing to worry about, but Qiao Sang still wasn¡¯t completely confident about the entrance exams in twelve days. Chapter 26: Requesting Leave on your Behalf 3:23 PM.After finishing its weight training, the Fire Fang Dog came over to Qiao Sang. Over the past few days of training, the Fire Fang Dog had significantly increased its stamina. By the end of the training, it was still able to stand steadily. Qiao Sang took out a bottle of Qi Yuan milk she had brought with her and handed it to the Fire Fang Dog. With the current training intensity, it needed to drink eight or nine bottles of Qiyuan milk each day. Watching the Fire Fang Dog quickly gulp down three bottles, Qiao Sang began to feel financially anxious again. Money was slipping through her fingers too fast¡ªwithin a week, she was down to around 30,000 alliance coins. After today, her balance would probably start with a 2. She needed to find a way to earn more money. Qiao Sang had thought about asking her mother for money, but seeing how her mother left early and returned late every day, then had to cook and prepare the energy meals for their pet beasts, she couldn''t bring herself to do it. For now, she decided to focus on her upcoming high school entrance exams; the money issue could wait. After the Fire Fang Dog finished drinking the Qiyuan milk, Qiao Sang took it to catch the No. 28 bus. --- Xinhai Bookstore. Because today was a day off, the bookstore was quite crowded, mostly with students. Qiao Sang stood in the middle school section on the second floor, picking out the materials she needed. She planned to buy a set of practice tests for the high school entrance exams to work through at home. As she was heading downstairs after making her selection, a voice called out to her. "Hey, beautiful!" "Hero!" "Heroine!" "The girl with the Fire Fang Dog!" Only then did Qiao Sang turn around. It seemed she was the only one in the bookstore with a Fire Fang Dog nearby. A girl with her hair in a bun and airy bangs quickly walked over. "Why didn''t you respond to me?" The girl complained. She looked familiar... Qiao Sang couldn''t immediately recall where she had seen her before, but she was sure they had met. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog barked, clearly recognizing the girl. The Fire Fang Dog actually knew this person? "Oh, it''s you. I didn''t notice you just now." Qiao Sang replied calmly. "I recognized you right away, especially because of your Fire Fang Dog. It''s very noticeable." The girl said with a smile. Qiao Sang blinked, signaling for her to continue. "I still haven''t thanked you for what you did on the bus last time. I sent you a message, but you never replied." The girl continued. Now Qiao Sang remembered¡ªshe was Bai Yunmiao, the girl who had sat next to her on the bus the day she received 50,000 alliance coins. "I haven¡¯t checked my messages much recently." Qiao Sang explained. She had been busy training the Fire Fang Dog and studying, barely looking at her phone. "That''s so admirable, not even looking at your phone. I could never do that." Bai Yunmiao said, impressed. Then, noticing the materials in Qiao Sang''s hand, she asked curiously, "Why are you buying high school entrance exam practice tests?" "Aren''t the exams coming up in a few days?" Qiao Sang replied with a question of her own. "Yeah, but what does that have to do with you... Wait, what?!" Bai Yunmiao finally understood. Her voice, no longer restrained, echoed loudly in the quiet bookstore, drawing frowns from those around them. Bai Yunmiao quickly covered her mouth, then looked at Qiao Sang in disbelief, whispering, "You''re still a middle schooler?" "Don''t I look like one?" Qiao Sang was a bit annoyed. Did she really seem that mature? "No, no, it''s not that. I just didn''t expect it." Bai Yunmiao hurriedly shook her head. Now that she thought about it, the girl in front of her did look younger than her. She just hadn''t connected her with being a middle school student. Who would have thought that the person who had seen through the Eight-Tentacled Coral scam, caught a thief, and contracted with a Fire Fang Dog was still in middle school? A middle schooler who hadn''t even graduated yet, contracting a pet beast¡ªthat meant she was a self-awakened genius! No one at their school had talent like that. No wonder she had the confidence to contract a fire-type pet beast as her first, and even trained the Fire Fang Dog to be so obedient. Bai Yunmiao subtly glanced at the Fire Fang Dog standing beside them. Sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Why are you even taking the high school entrance exam? Someone as talented as you should be getting a direct admission." Bai Yunmiao asked. "Do you have some misunderstanding about what it means to be talented?" Qiao Sang replied helplessly. What kind of genius still had to worry about barely passing the minimum score for the high school entrance exams? Bai Yunmiao took her words as modesty and asked, "Which school are you aiming for?" "Shengshui High School." Qiao Sang answered. Bai Yunmiao looked at her with a knowing expression. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t bother explaining how poor her grades really were. Knowing time was precious, she said her goodbyes, "I need to get home and work on these papers. I¡¯ll be off now." As she turned to leave, Bai Yunmiao grabbed her hand, pleading, "Genius, you haven¡¯t even told me your name yet." Qiao Sang: "..." --- On the bus ride home, the Fire Fang Dog, as usual, was admiring the view outside the window. Qiao Sang took out her phone, intending to save Bai Yunmiao''s name in her contacts. It was only then that she noticed the conspicuous red "99+" in the top corner of her messaging app. Surprised, she opened it. Her classmates, who usually didn''t contact her much, had all sent messages asking if something was wrong. In their eyes, taking such a long leave just before the high school entrance exams must mean something serious had happened. Qiao Sang was touched and replied to each message, reassuring them she was fine. After responding to them all, she saw a message from her mother, sent two hours ago. [What time is the special admissions test for Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster High School? I''ll call your teacher and ask for leave on your behalf.] Qiao Sang panicked and quickly dialed her mother. The phone was picked up after a few rings. "Mom, did you call my teacher?" Qiao Sang asked, feeling a bit guilty. "I did." "Mom, actually I¡ª" "But I couldn¡¯t get through." Qiao Sang immediately gave up on what she was about to say. "What were you going to say?" Her mother asked. "Actually, I want to apply to Shengshui High School." Qiao Sang quickly changed the subject. There was a moment of silence on the other end. "Do the two schools'' special admissions tests overlap?" "No, Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster High School''s test is on June 9th, and Shengshui High School''s test is on June 10th. There''s a day in between." Qiao Sang explained. "Then there¡¯s no problem. Just take both tests." Her mother said. Ye Xiangting hadn''t asked about Shengshui High School¡¯s test date earlier because she hadn''t paid much attention. That day, she couldn¡¯t stand the attitude of the school¡¯s teachers and that woman anymore, so she impulsively suggested her daughter apply for Shengshui High School''s special admissions. After calming down for a couple of days, she realized that her daughter was 99.99% unlikely to pass, so she hadn''t mentioned Shengshui High School again. But it was clear her daughter still had Shengshui High School''s test on her mind, and since she had brought it up in the first place, there was no way around it. Ye Xiangting was now just relieved that Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster High School''s test was scheduled before Shengshui High School''s. Otherwise, if the Shengshui test had come first and affected her daughter''s mindset for the Hanggang test the next day, it would have been a problem. "Mom, there''s no need to call anymore. I already asked my homeroom teacher for leave." Qiao Sang said. "Alright, I understand." Ye Xiangting replied. Since she had already tried calling, she wouldn¡¯t make another attempt. If it weren''t for her daughter''s sake, she wouldn''t want to deal with those teachers at all. ----- ----- Chapter 27: Galactic Betting Network After hanging up the phone, Qiao Sang quickly found her homeroom teacher''s number and dialed.She really didn''t want the teacher to see her mother''s missed call and call back later. No one answered the phone. Qiao Sang kept calling, trying five times in a row, but eventually, the line changed from unanswered to The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. There was nothing she could do, so Qiao Sang sent a text message and gave up. The Fire fang Dog kept its head up, gazing out the window. Qiao Sang followed its gaze. High in the sky, over a hundred meters up, an advertising airship about 30 meters by 19 meters in size moved slowly with a TV screen on display. These kinds of airships were a common sight, and pedestrians could catch a glimpse of them now and then. They usually broadcast the latest news and events, always showing the current hottest topics. At this moment, the TV screen outside the airship was showing an interview related to the Galactic Cup. "What''s your opinion on your upcoming opponent?" One of the reporters asked. "Baudelaire is an outstanding beastmaster. His tactical combinations are varied and intricate. Especially in the last round, the match where he used the Earthcalamity Dog and the Twin-headed Serpent Dragon together to execute that combo, ''Calamity into Calamity,'' was truly breathtaking. I''m sure you all saw it too." Lin Ya responded. The person answering was the same man Qiao Sang had seen in the mall earlier, the one with the Giant Sky Toad. "This is your third time participating in the Galactic Cup. In the previous two, you stopped at the top ten. Do you think you''ll achieve better results this time?" The reporter continued. "We''re all top-tier beastmasters in the galaxy. I can''t say I have confidence." Lin Ya replied with a smile. The interviewing reporters exchanged glances, clearly surprised by his answer. "But I''ll give it my all." Lin Ya added. "The odds on the Galactic Betting Network for you and Baudelaire are 1.89 and 1.23, respectively. What do you think about having higher odds than Baudelaire?" Another reporter asked. "Everyone should bet cautiously." Lin Ya said with a friendly smile. Qiao Sang stared at the interview on the airship''s screen for a moment, then lowered her head and started searching for the Galactic Betting Network on her phone. The Galactic Betting Network is the official betting site of the alliance. While there are other websites, big and small, where you can bet on Galactic Cup matches, the Galactic Betting Network is the most reliable in terms of safety and credibility. Without hesitation, Qiao Sang placed a bet of 5,000 Alliance Coins on Baudelaire. Although Lin Ya was the representative of Blue Star and the only Dragon Nation participant in the Galactic Cup, Baudelaire''s odds were lower than Lin Ya''s. Such odds are meticulously calculated by betting companies, and barring any surprises, the difference in odds reflects their chances of winning. Qiao Sang chose to trust the data provided by the betting company. In addition to Lin Ya and Baudelaire''s match, Qiao Sang also bet 5,000 Alliance Coins on another nearby match, again based on the win probability. After placing the bets, Qiao Sang felt refreshed, convinced she''d make a bit of money. --- June 9th came in the blink of an eye. At 8:50 AM. Hanggang No. 6 Beastmaster High School. The Fire fang Dog, full of energy, looked around with eager eyes, moving with a light step. The 10kg weight ring on its right front leg no longer affected it at all. Qiao Sang, on the other hand, walked towards the designated location with unsteady steps, the dark circles under her eyes standing out starkly against her pale skin, making it clear she hadn''t slept well. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but yawn. Due to the time difference with the galactic matches, she had stayed up until 3 AM watching Lin Ya and Baudelaire''s match. When it comes to money, sacrificing a bit of sleep is a small price to pay. As she watched, the time flew by, and before she knew it, it was morning. Before 3 AM, she stayed up to watch the match, but after 3 AM, she was too angry to sleep. Lin Ya won. Her 5,000 Alliance Coins were gone¡­ What was up with those betting company odds? Completely unreliable! sea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gambling really is a harmful vice. Now, Qiao Sang could only hope that the other match would help her recoup some losses. Otherwise, she would have to cut back on a few bottles of Qiyuan Milk she buys daily. Fire fang Dog, I''m sorry! The Fire fang Dog was utterly fascinated by the new environment, curiously glancing around, blissfully unaware that its favorite Qiyuan Milk might be in jeopardy. Hanggang No. 6 Beastmastar High School, Admissions Office. The door was slightly ajar, and from outside, one could hear several people inside talking. Qiao Sang knocked on the door. "Come in." A deep voice called from within. Qiao Sang pushed the door open and walked in. The room instantly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Qiao Sang and the Fire fang Dog beside her. Inside the office sat four men and two women, all appearing to be in their 30s or older. Qiao Sang was a bit puzzled. Isn''t today supposed to be the special recruitment day? Why don''t I see anyone my age? And why are these people all staring at me? Weird¡­ "Hello, teachers. I''m here for the special recruitment." Qiao Sang said to the middle-aged man closest to her. Since everyone was seated and exuded that unique teacherly vibe, Qiao Sang decided to address the person closest to her. "You must be Qiao Sang. I''m the vice principal of this school." Chen Shengtang greeted warmly. He could barely contain his excitement, but he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, displaying a standard smile that showed eight teeth, striving to appear more approachable. After all, the student before him was the first self-awakened special recruit in the history of Hanggang No. 6 Beastmaster High School! Self-awakened beastmasters have a natural advantage in beast mastery, being able to unlock their brain regions more quickly. Such talents are rare, with only about 40 appearing in the entire Zhejiang Province each year. Usually, they are directly admitted or specially recruited into the top-ranked beastmaster high schools, so it was unexpected for their school to have such a candidate this year! Chen Shengtang was so thrilled that he had been waiting here since early morning, eagerly anticipating the arrival of this student, Qiao Sang. The more Chen Shengtang looked at Qiao Sang, the more satisfied he was. Not only was she attractive, but she also had the guts to contract a fire-type beast as her first pet! And she chose to apply to their school¡ªwhat great judgment! Vice principal¡­ "Hello, Vice Principal." Qiao Sang responded, a bit surprised that the vice principal of a school would recognize her. She didn''t have time to think too much about it, so she quickly took out her information card and the proof of self-awakening and handed them over. Although she had already registered online, the necessary procedures still had to be completed in person, including verifying the information and retesting the development level of her brain region to prevent any oversights. Qiao Sang felt pretty relaxed about this special recruitment at Hanggang No. 6 Beastmaster High School. She was confident she would pass, and since her heart was set on Shengshui High School, she was only here to give herself a backup option. "Have you had breakfast?" Chen Shengtang asked with a friendly smile, not rushing to verify the information. "If you haven''t, our school''s cafeteria has a hearty breakfast, and I can take you there." Said a female teacher wearing glasses, speaking kindly. Chen Shengtang gave her an approving glance. The female teacher by the window felt a bit jealous. Such keen observation¡ªno wonder she''s already a director at such a young age. "I''ve eaten." Qiao Sang replied. The teachers at this school seem really nice¡­ Chen Shengtang glanced casually at the self-awakening proof, primarily to check the brain region''s development level. At this, his heart tightened. [Brain Region: 5%¡ª9%, fluctuating significantly, cannot be confirmed, recheck needed after stabilization.] Chapter 28: The Baseball Training Hall It''s important to understand that the human brain''s potential is limitless, with nearly a billion neurons¡ªboth mysterious and fragile. Before the awakening of the Beast Master¡¯s Codex, the brain is in what¡¯s known as a dormant state. After awakening, it enters what¡¯s called the awakened state. Intelligence does not directly correlate with the brain''s development. The percentage of brain development is calculated starting from the moment one awakens the Beast Master¡¯s Codex. For an ordinary Beast Master, the brain''s development after using magnetic stimulation to awaken the Beast Master¡¯s Tome is about 2%. Meanwhile, a self-awakened Beast Master''s brain development is around 5%. The more developed the brain, the better, but only if it''s stable. Throughout history, many researchers have conducted experiments and studies related to brain development, and without exception, they have concluded that stability is crucial in brain development. If the brain isn¡¯t stable, it could collapse. Although Qiao Sang had previously sent a photo of her self-awakening proof to the admission office, everyone at that time was too excited about having a self-awakened special recruit applying to their school to scrutinize the details. However... Chen Shengtang glanced at the Firefang Dog. Since the child was able to successfully contract with a pet beast, the brain issue shouldn''t be too severe. Still concerned, he asked, "Did the person who tested your brain say anything?" Qiao Sang nodded. "She said my brain waves are fluctuating a lot and advised me to get more rest and eat more nuts." Then it should be fine. If the fluctuations were too severe, she would have been kept for observation. Chen Shengtang breathed a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t want any issues with the first self-awakened special recruit to ever apply to their school. At this moment, the male teacher sitting across from Chen Shengtang casually asked, "You have pretty dark circles under your eyes. Didn¡¯t sleep well?" Qiao Sang replied sheepishly, "I pulled an all-nighter last night." Chen Shengtang: "..." "Even though the high school entrance exams are approaching, you should still get good rest. Studying all night isn¡¯t worth it." Chen Shengtang seriously advised. Qiao Sang, who had stayed up because she was heartbroken over losing 5000 Alliance Coins, felt a little guilty and silently nodded. Seeing Qiao Sang being so obedient, Chen Shengtang¡¯s thoughts returned to her brain. If there were no problems, once stabilized, her brain development could potentially reach up to 9%! She would be just one step away from a second awakening of the Beast Master¡¯s Codex! Although it¡¯s unlikely... Normally, such brain fluctuations eventually stabilize at the lowest or slightly above the lowest value. Chen Shengtang stopped his wishful thinking, returned the information card and the self-awakening proof to Qiao Sang, and turned to introduce the only bald male teacher present. "This is Mr. Zhao, who will be responsible for your brain testing." "Hello, Mr. Zhao." Qiao Sang greeted. Mr. Zhao nodded at Qiao Sang as a greeting. "Don¡¯t be fooled by Mr. Zhao¡¯s appearance; he¡¯s a genuine expert in brain science." Chen Shengtang said with a smile. Indeed, it seems that experts in any field tend to have less hair... --- Inside the testing room. Having been through it once before, Qiao Sang was much more relaxed during the second test and no longer overthought Mr. Zhao¡¯s subtle expressions. With Qiao Sang''s cooperation, the test was quickly completed. Opening the door. "Yip!" The Fire fang Dog''s eyes lit up when it saw Qiao Sang, and it immediately jumped at her excitedly, nearly making her stumble. Since the Fire fang Dog started wearing the weighted bracelet, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t carried it much. The dog also knew it was a bit heavy for its Beast Master to hold for long, so after staying in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms for 10 seconds, it jumped down on its own. "You two seem to be very close," Chen Shengtang couldn¡¯t help but remark. It was the first time he had seen a fire-type pet beast so obedient and affectionate towards its master. "Mhm." Qiao Sang responded with a smile. All the teachers from the office had come out and were neatly waiting outside the testing room for Qiao Sang. Even if she hadn¡¯t been nervous before, Qiao Sang started feeling the pressure from all the attention. Mr. Zhao handed the test results to Chen Shengtang and said seriously, "There¡¯s no issue, but it hasn¡¯t stabilized yet." Chen Shengtang looked at the results, which were the same as those on the self-awakening proof. Self-awakened special recruits are given a score reduction on their entrance exam based on their brain development. Each school has different standards for special recruits. At their school, a brain development of 5% would result in a 100-point reduction from the minimum passing score, and 6% would result in a 200-point reduction. However, Qiao Sang¡¯s brain development was still fluctuating, with no stable percentage. S~ea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This made things a bit tricky. But it wasn¡¯t a big issue. Chen Shengtang made a decision and smiled at Qiao Sang. "Since your brain development hasn¡¯t stabilized yet, we¡¯ll take the median value for your score reduction." Typically, if the brain development fluctuates between 5% and 9%, it should stabilize at 5% or 6%. But Chen Shengtang decided to set her brain development at 7%. None of the teachers around him seemed surprised by this decision. This was the first self-awakened Beast Master to ever apply to their school. Whether her score was reduced by 100 points more or less wasn¡¯t important. What mattered was showing their school¡¯s attitude. As long as she chose to attend Hanggang Sixth Beast Master High School, the doors were wide open for her! Qiao Sang naturally understood the meaning behind this. Most ordinary Beast Master high schools only list score reductions for 5%-6% brain development in their special recruitment criteria. That¡¯s because, in five years, a province might not even produce a single candidate with a self-awakened brain development of 7% or above. And even if there were, they would definitely not apply to an ordinary Beast Master high school. It would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t touched. This meant she could now score 300 points below the minimum passing score on the entrance exam, which was essentially an admission offer. "Thank you." Qiao Sang said. --- After saying goodbye to Hanggang Sixth Beast Master High School, it was only 10:32 AM. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t take the Fire fang Dog to train in Chagui Park as she had the previous days. She headed to the third floor of the Vile Plaza. Baseball Training Hall. After paying for two hours, Qiao Sang took the Fire fang Dog to one of the mechanical training rooms inside. This baseball training hall was designed for people to practice baseball, but Qiao Sang thought it was perfect for training the Fire fang Dog¡¯s reflexes. The small, empty mechanical training room was only about a dozen square meters and had just two automatic baseball pitching machines. "Fire fang Dog, try to dodge the balls that will be coming at you. I¡¯ll be right here with you, and if you get tired, just let me know." Qiao Sang instructed. Although the Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t know where the balls would come from, it obediently nodded. The automatic pitching machines had six settings, with the pitching speed increasing from level one to level six. The weighted bracelet was still on the Fire fang Dog¡¯s right front leg as Qiao Sang walked over to the pitching machine and set it to level one. Both pitching machines activated, and with their slow speed, Qiao Sang easily dodged a ball and moved to a safe corner to sit down. Chapter 29: You Must Be S-Rank Fire fang Dog wasn¡¯t prepared for the sudden onslaught of balls; it only reacted when they were close. Luckily, the balls in the first gear weren''t too fast. Fire fang Dog lifted its left foreleg and hind leg, allowing the ball to slip smoothly beneath it. The two baseball pitching machines fired simultaneously, their barrels occasionally rotating to change direction. After dodging for about a minute, Fire fang Dog became more accustomed to the ball¡¯s trajectory, its expression becoming more relaxed. It even started to playfully dodge at the last second, using subtle movements. Qiao Sang observed this with satisfaction. Such dodging required a certain level of reflexes and evasion skills. However, Qiao Sang¡¯s intention today wasn¡¯t just to practice dodging techniques. Seeing that Fire fang Dog had no trouble with the first gear, she stood up and adjusted the two baseball pitching machines to the second gear. The speed of the balls in the first gear was about 3 m/s, while in the second gear, it increased to 5 m/s. Given the short distance of just a few meters in the room, Fire fang Dog had to dodge two balls from different directions every three seconds. At this speed, Fire fang Dog seemed less agile. Just after dodging one ball, another would be fired right at it. With the increased firing rate, it inevitably got hit a few times. Baseballs come in both hard and soft varieties. The ones used for indoor training like this were softballs, made of hollow rubber, so getting hit by them didn¡¯t hurt. In about a minute, Fire fang Dog was hit five times. At this point, Qiao Sang pressed the red button on the side, stopping the pitching machines. ¡°Yip?¡± Fire fang Dog tilted its head in confusion, looking at its trainer. Why stop? It wasn¡¯t done playing yet. Qiao Sang squatted down beside Firefang Dog, unfastened the weight ring from its right foreleg, and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re not here to play today. I want to see how much you¡¯ve improved over the past few days and what your speed limit is.¡± ¡°Yip!¡± Hearing this, Fire fang Dog used its hind legs to push itself up, then patted its chest with its newly freed right foreleg. It was ready to show off its skills to its trainer! Seeing Fire fang Dog so full of determination, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but pat its head. ¡°Go for it.¡± Fire fang Dog felt a surge of enthusiasm. It ran to Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack, pulled out seven pairs of sunglasses, hesitated for a moment, and chose a pair of triangular, dark green ones to wear. ¡°Yip!¡± Fire fang Dog returned to its spot, nodding seriously at Qiao Sang. Seeing this, Qiao Sang knew Fire fang Dog was about to get serious. ¡°Good luck.¡± She encouraged it again, then started the pitching machines at the second gear. With the weight ring removed, Firefang Dog¡¯s speed was on a whole new level. The balls fired in the second gear couldn¡¯t touch it at all; it dodged them effortlessly. After two minutes, Qiao Sang increased the pitching machines to the third gear. In the third gear, the speed of the balls doubled to 10 m/s. Even at this speed, Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t let a single ball hit it. Although Qiao Sang had a sense of how much Fire fang Dog had improved, seeing it firsthand filled her with pride. After another two minutes, Qiao Sang increased the speed to the fourth gear. The speed jumped from 10 m/s to 20 m/s. Caught off guard, Fire fang Dog was hit by the first ball in the fourth gear, then the second and third balls struck as well. It seemed Fire fang Dog¡¯s reflexes were maxed out at speeds around ten meters per second. Qiao Sang considered shutting off the pitching machines. ¡°Yip!¡± Fire fang Dog cried out urgently. Don¡¯t stop! I can still go on! Qiao Sang was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Fire fang Dog to notice her actions amidst the barrage of balls. Since it wanted to continue, she didn¡¯t stop it. If she did, Fire fang Dog would probably lose its appetite or sulk later. Fire fang Dog refocused on the balls. It had only been caught off guard by the sudden speed increase. After all the training it had done, how could it let these balls defeat it so easily? To Qiao Sang¡¯s amazement, Fire fang Dog, who had been getting hit by every ball, quickly found its rhythm. From getting hit every few balls, it progressed to dodging all but one out of three, then only one out of ten. The progress was astonishing! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Fire fang Dog¡¯s effort and potential. Thirty minutes later, Fire fang Dog had improved to the point where it was only hit once for every forty-five balls. Since Fire fang Dog hadn¡¯t shown any signs of fatigue, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t stop the pitching machines. Initially, she had just wanted to test its speed without pushing it too hard, to ensure it wouldn¡¯t be too sore tomorrow. Tomorrow, June 10th, was the special admission test for Shengshui High School, and she wanted Fire fang Dog to be in top form. But now, it was clearly more than just testing its speed¡ªit was training hard. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be in the best shape for tomorrow¡¯s exam. Qiao Sang hesitated, wondering if she should call it off. Just then, another Fire fang Dog identical to the first appeared out of thin air on its left side! Qiao Sang stood frozen in place. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn¡¯t hallucinating. This kind of unnatural occurrence could only mean one thing¡ªa new skill! She immediately checked the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex Name: Fire fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Basic (133/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100)+, Charge (Intermediate 198/500)+, Fire Fang (Intermediate 188/500)+, Ember (Intermediate 232/500)+, Shadow Clone (Beginner 2/100)+ Points: 55 In just a few days of training, all its skills had improved, except for Bite. Qiao Sang had checked the data every night before bed, and now, to her astonishment, there was a new skill listed¡ªShadow Clone. sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang was in awe. Shadow Clone was a mid-level skill, just like Fire Fang. It had only been about ten days since Firefang Dog learned Ember, and now it had already grasped another skill¡ªand a mid-level one at that! Normally, learning a skill took a long time and required specific guidance and training. Many novice Beast Tamers would send their beasts to training centers to learn desired moves. These training centers were incredibly popular in today¡¯s society, often thriving by teaching just one skill¡ªespecially mid-level and above. Qiao Sang pressed the stop button, her eyes glowing with admiration as she looked at Fire fang Dog. ¡°Yip?¡± Fire fang Dog glanced around in confusion as the balls stopped, then turned to look at its trainer. Why did it stop? Qiao Sang praised it, ¡°Fire fang Dog, if talent could be ranked, you¡¯d definitely be an S-rank.¡± ¡°Yip~¡± Fire fang Dog yipped shyly, a bit embarrassed. Why the sudden praise? It felt so unexpected. The next moment, Fire fang Dog realized something and glanced to its left. ¡°Yip!!!¡± Firefang Dog let out a startled cry, rushing to Qiao Sang¡¯s side faster than it had dodged the balls, and leaped into her arms. ----- ----- Chapter 30: Came too Early Curled up in the arms of its Beastmaster, the Fire fang Dog felt a sense of safety. It mustered the courage to turn and look back in the direction it had just been."Yap!" At that glance, the Fire fang Dog¡¯s fur stood on end. It was gone! Realizing what the Fire fang Dog was thinking, Qiao Sang was speechless. Is it really scared of its own shadow clone? But the Fire fang Dog probably hadn¡¯t realized yet that it was looking at its own shadow clone. Research shows that many beast pets can unconsciously learn skills without noticing. Some learn through accumulated experience over time, while others suddenly gain skills triggered by external stimuli that activate latent energy within them. Just a few days ago, a civil compensation case arose in Lianbo District during a competition, caused by a pet suddenly learning and releasing a skill. Mr. Wang from Yuecheng was watching the match in seat 16, row 21, of Zone B with his Raye Seed. The match must have been too exciting, and the Raye Seed, in its excitement, tapped into its internal energy and unconsciously learned the Sleep Powder skill, releasing it and causing several spectators in rows 20, 21, and 22 of Zone B to fall asleep, missing the entire match. Afterward, Mr. Wang was only willing to compensate them for their ticket costs, but some spectators had traveled from other areas specifically to attend the event and demanded additional compensation for emotional distress, travel expenses, and lodging. Mr. Wang naturally refused, and the dispute made the news. The Fire fang Dog also belongs to this category of pets that unconsciously learn new skills due to external influences. It learned the Ember skill in a similar way. Now, the Fire fang Dog, startled, experienced an imbalance of internal energy, causing the shadow clone it had just learned and was still unskilled at using to disappear. However, the Fire fang Dog misunderstood the situation, thinking it was a paranormal event. The horror movie it watched recently left a deep impression. "Yap! Yip Yip!" "Yap Yap, Yap Yap!" "Yip!" The Fire fang Dog pointed its paw in the direction where the shadow clone had just vanished, frantically signaling to Qiao Sang. "That was your own shadow clone." Qiao Sang explained helplessly. "Yap?" The Fire fang Dog¡¯s movements suddenly halted, its dark eyes filled with confusion. "Congratulations, you¡¯ve learned a new skill." Qiao Sang said with a smile. The Fire fang Dog understood. It was stunned for a moment, then began to sense and adjust its internal energy. In an instant, another Fire fang Dog, identical in every way, appeared at the feet of its Beastmaster. Even the fur that had been ruffled from dodging balls earlier looked exactly the same. "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog was thrilled. It leaped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and circled its shadow clone excitedly, examining it closely. Having learned a new skill, the Fire fang Dog forgot all about continuing its dodgeball practice, and Qiao Sang naturally didn¡¯t remind it. As they walked out of the baseball training center, Qiao Sang felt a twinge of regret as they passed by the pet rehabilitation center. If it weren¡¯t for losing 5,000 Alliance coins last night, she would have taken the Fire fang Dog in for a nice, relaxing session today. Back home, Qiao Sang opened her computer and searched for a livestreamer known for their pet massage techniques. After randomly clicking on a live stream, Qiao Sang called over the Fire fang Dog and began massaging it, mimicking the techniques demonstrated by the streamer. We may not have the money for a pet rehabilitation center, but we can do it ourselves! "Does that feel good?" Qiao Sang asked softly. "Yap." The Fire fang Dog reluctantly replied. It was lying on its side, its head facing the livestream. On the screen, a burly man was massaging a thick-skinned Boarspine. The Boarspine occasionally let out satisfied grunts. The Fire fang Dog looked at the screen, then felt the pressure of its Beastmaster¡¯s massage on its own body, and couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off... --- The next morning. 6:10 AM. Qiao Sang, with dark circles under her eyes, appeared in the living room. She glanced around and saw that her mother was still sleeping in her room. Well, it was still quite early... Last night was the day of the other Star Cup match she had bet on. Thinking about how she had lost sleep after losing the previous match, she decided not to watch it last night to avoid losing sleep again, which might affect her mood for today¡¯s Shengshui High School special recruitment exam. sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the more she tried to sleep, the harder it became... She kept wondering how the Star Cup match was going, then started thinking about the special recruitment exam the next day, and ended up staying awake until 2 AM. Because her mind was preoccupied, she woke up early even though the alarm hadn¡¯t gone off. Qiao Sang listlessly prepared breakfast, while the Fire fang Dog wagged its tail happily, waiting to eat. This little guy seemed full of energy... Not bad, all that massaging yesterday wasn¡¯t in vain. After breakfast, Qiao Sang left a portion for her mother in the pot and headed out to the subway station. Shengshui High School is located in the Beidian District of Hanggang City, quite far from Qiao Sang¡¯s area. If she took the bus, she¡¯d have to transfer four or five times, but taking the subway, Line 2 would take her straight there. --- Shengshui High School. By the outdoor field, a few scattered people sat on the row of benches. "Qin Wen, hasn¡¯t Luo Qian arrived yet?" Asked a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a large belly. It¡¯s said that middle-aged men with big bellies give off a greasy vibe, but this man, with his slicked-back hair revealing his facial features, exuded a calm demeanor that made one think he might have been quite handsome in his youth. "Not yet. I¡¯ve already called to urge him, and he said he¡¯s stuck in traffic." Replied a woman in a business suit next to him. "Nonsense, he was clearly out partying at some bar until late last night and couldn¡¯t get up. He even posted it on his social media¡ªdoesn¡¯t act like a teacher at all." Zheng Guoping sneered. "You¡¯re the one who hired him for this school." The man who was slowly flipping through a stack of papers said. "Sun Boyi, you shouldn¡¯t blame me. Didn¡¯t you also vote in favor?" Zheng Guoping retorted. "That¡¯s because you begged me with a Water Condensation Pearl." Sun Boyi replied flatly. "You¡ª!" Zheng Guoping was so angry he couldn¡¯t speak. "Alright, alright, let¡¯s stop arguing. We have important matters to attend to. Are there any promising students among the special recruits this time?" The middle-aged man with the slicked-back hair tried to mediate, changing the subject. "Any truly promising students would have been recommended already." Zheng Guoping said, still annoyed. "Actually, there is one." Sun Boyi¡¯s gaze lingered on a line in the papers. "You¡¯ve heard of Lu Liangye from Taidan Middle School, right? He was in the news over half a year ago." "The kid who awakened on his own just after starting the third year of middle school?" Qin Wen asked. "Yes, that¡¯s him." Sun Boyi replied. Most children who awaken on their own do so around age 15, but Lu Liangye awakened shortly after turning 14 and starting the third year of middle school. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the high school entrance exams had already ended and all the admission spots were allocated, Lu Liangye might have been allowed to skip grades and enter a Beastmaster High School. "Why wasn¡¯t he recommended?" Qin Wen asked. "Apparently, after he awakened, he rarely attended school, so his academic scores dropped." Sun Boyi explained. Qin Wen understood. He probably found studying dull after forming a contract with a pet. If that¡¯s the case, he really is promising. Lu Liangye has had his contracted pet for over half a year, so he¡¯s likely stronger than his peers. --- Outside Shengshui High School. Qiao Sang sat by a flower bed, daydreaming. She had arrived too early. The gates weren¡¯t even open yet... ----- ----- Chapter 31: He Outdid Them All Most of the students at Shengshui High School live on campus. Those who live off-campus usually enter through the South Gate, while outsiders like Qiao Sang have to use the North Gate.The North Gate was firmly shut, and the guard in the security room hadn¡¯t started his shift yet. Qiao Sang checked the time for the nth time. 8:52 AM. Only 28 minutes left until the special entrance exam at Shengshui High School begins at 9:20 AM. The vast entrance to the North Gate was deserted, except for Qiao Sang and her Fire fang Dog. She couldn''t help but yawn out of boredom. Had she known, she would¡¯ve stayed in bed a little longer instead of arriving so early... 8:58 AM. Eight black dots appeared on the horizon, growing larger as they approached, until they landed in front of the North Gate, stirring up the dust on the ground. Qiao Sang forced her sleepy eyes to stay open. They were eight Blackbeak Sparrows, each about two meters in size. Their beaks were as black as their feathers, and they had a distinctive pair of black curled tails, making them easy to identify. From the backs of the Blackbeak Sparrows, six men and two women dismounted, all around the same age as Qiao Sang. ¡°That¡¯ll be 8,000 Alliance Coins." Said the man who had ridden one of the Blackbeak Sparrows. ¡°We signed up for the group rate.¡± A girl with a bob haircut and a red headband hurriedly reminded him. The man glanced at his companion for confirmation with a questioning look. His companion nodded. ¡°Yes, they did book the group rate.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s 7,222 Alliance Coins.¡± The man said. ¡°Can¡¯t you give us a better discount? We might call you for a ride back later.¡± The tallest of the six boys asked. ¡°Pay for this trip first.¡± The man replied without addressing the question directly. The group had no choice but to hand over the money. After the payment was made, the tall boy asked again, ¡°So, how much of a discount will you give us if we call you again later?¡± ¡°None.¡± The man replied. ¡°What?¡± The tall boy was stunned. ¡°No discount.¡± The man repeated. Everyone else: ... --- While the group was busy chatting and making their transaction, Qiao Sang had already entered Shengshui High School with her Fire fang Dog. At exactly 9:00 AM, the guard uncle came out of the school and opened the gate. Talk about punctual... Following the route provided on Shengshui High School¡¯s official website, Qiao Sang made her way to Field 3. There were only four teachers on the field, and compared to the Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster High School, they didn¡¯t seem to take this special recruitment exam very seriously. ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m here for the exam." Qiao Sang said as she approached. ¡°ID card.¡± Sun Boyi replied curtly. Qiao Sang handed over her ID card. ¡°Qiao Sang, from Wencheng Middle School?¡± Sun Boyi confirmed the details on the card. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Sun Boyi checked off Qiao Sang¡¯s name on his list and handed back the ID card. ¡°Go sit over there. We¡¯ll start once everyone arrives.¡± After Qiao Sang had taken a seat, Qin Wen remarked with interest. ¡°That girl has contracted with a Fire fang Dog.¡± ¡°People who awaken their powers on their own often think they¡¯re invincible. It¡¯s not uncommon for their first contracted beast to be something difficult to handle. Didn¡¯t Lu You, who got a direct admission to our school, also contract a little Horned Dragon?¡± Zheng Guoping retorted dismissively. Qin Wen rolled her eyes inwardly. How could they be the same? The Horned Dragon has a much better temperament than a Fire fang Dog. It¡¯s just that as a dragon-type beast, it¡¯s too expensive for most people to afford a contract with. One contracted a Fire fang Dog out of bravery, while the other used money to contract a Horned Dragon. How are they the same? But Zheng Guoping was not the kind of person who took arguments well. He¡¯d explode at the slightest provocation, so Qin Wen didn¡¯t bother to argue with him. A few minutes later, the group that had arrived on the Blackbeak Sparrows entered the field and queued up to verify their identities. After verifying her ID, the girl with the red headband scanned the surroundings, then sat down next to Qiao Sang, saying in a familiar tone, ¡°You¡¯re here for the exam too? Why didn¡¯t you come with us?¡± She subtly glanced at the Fire fang Dog beside Qiao Sang. A strong competitor¡­ Qiao Sang was puzzled. ¡°Why would I come with you? Do I know you?¡± The girl with the red headband was surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the message in the group?¡± Qiao Sang was even more puzzled. ¡°What group? What message?¡± ¡°The group you¡¯re supposed to join through the special admissions page on Shengshui High School¡¯s website.¡± The girl explained. ¡°We agreed to meet at the Oujie Street intersection and come together.¡± Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before replying, ¡°I didn¡¯t join¡­¡± The girl with the red headband: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange. There are nine people in the group for special admissions. If you¡¯re not one of them, then who else could it be?¡± The girl wondered aloud. Earlier, someone in the group had joked that the experts always showed up last. Then everyone started claiming they would be the last to arrive. Li Yang, the tallest boy, had finally suggested that they all gather together and arrive just in time for the exam. Everyone in the group had awakened their powers on their own. There were only five spots available in this special recruitment. In the future, they could all end up at the same school, so it made sense to get to know each other and build good relationships early on. So, everyone agreed to Li Yang¡¯s proposal. Now there was only one minute left until 9:20 AM, and with the addition of this girl, they should have had all nine people. Could there be a tenth candidate in this special recruitment? Just as the girl was about to say something, a startling screech echoed from behind them. She turned around to see a four-legged, long-tailed creature with a mostly blue body, gray-black wings, and a thick shell covering most of its body hovering 3 or 4 meters above the ground. It was a Scaled Kite Eagle, a high-level beast. Zheng Guoping frowned at the sight of the Scaled Kite Eagle. Shengshui High School didn¡¯t allow outside beasts on the campus, and he was about to intervene when he saw a figure jump down from the eagle¡¯s back. ¡°Dad, you can go now.¡± The boy who had jumped down said, waving his hand. The man riding the Scaled Kite Eagle nodded and then flew off. ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m not late, am I?¡± The boy walked up to the teachers and asked. ¡°Lu Liangye, right? You¡¯re the last one. You cut it pretty close¡ªanother two seconds and you¡¯d be late.¡± Zheng Guoping mocked. Lu Liangye smiled without responding, his gaze casually sweeping over the other candidates. Everyone except Qiao Sang understood the look in his eyes. What do you think? Experts always show up last! Everyone else: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! He outdid us all! Sun Boyi clapped his hands to gather everyone around and said, ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, we¡¯ll start the exam.¡± ¡°You should all know the rules by now, but I¡¯ll go over them again.¡± ¡°There are ten of you, and you¡¯ll be paired off in five groups. The five winners will get to rest while the five losers will compete again. The winner of that round will join the five initial winners, making six people in total.¡± ¡°These six will then be divided into three groups. The winners of those matches will take the top three spots, while the three losers will compete once more to eliminate one person. The remaining five will earn a spot in our Shengshui High School¡¯s special recruitment.¡± Got it. In other words, it all comes down to luck. If you get matched against a strong opponent in the first round, you¡¯re out of luck. After all, four of the five losers will be eliminated. ¡°To keep things fair, we¡¯ll draw lots. There are two slips each for numbers 1 through 5. Those who draw the same number will automatically be paired up,¡± Qin Wen said as she took out a wooden box. sea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, everyone had drawn their lots. ¡°We¡¯ll start with Number 1. Who drew Number 1?¡± Qin Wen asked. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Lu Liangye said, raising an eyebrow as he revealed his slip of paper. ¡°And who else drew Number 1?¡± Qin Wen continued. A pale hand was raised from the side. ¡°Me.¡± It was Qiao Sang. Chapter 32: Sorry About That In the stands, the eight remaining candidates sat in a row, closest to the field.A delicate-looking boy asked, "Who do you think will win?" "The girl, probably. Her pet beast is a Fire fang Dog." Replied Zheng Yining. When she had approached to make small talk earlier, she had observed up close that the Fire fang Dog seemed to have a harmonious relationship with the girl. It didn''t resemble the online stories where novice Beast Masters who contract fire-type beasts are essentially asking for trouble. Commanding the Fire fang Dog in battle shouldn¡¯t be an issue. "That''s not certain. Do you know who that Lu Liangye is?" Li Yang, who was sitting nearby, joined the conversation. "The Master of Pretending." "The idiot from the group who said that experts are always the last to arrive." Li Yang: ... "He had an independent awakening last September. Hanggang City news even reported on him. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the high school entrance exams had just ended, he¡¯d probably be a first-year student at Litan Beastmaster High School by now," Li Yang explained. "Then how did he end up taking part in Shengshui High School''s special recruitment exam?" The delicate-looking boy was shocked. It''s not that he looked down on Shengshui High School, but Litan Beastmaster High School was the only school in Zhejiang Province that outshined Shengshui. With such a top choice, who would opt for the second-best? Besides, if he chose Shengshui, it should¡¯ve been through direct admission, right? Why was he even taking this special recruitment exam? Doesn¡¯t this imply that one of the five spots is definitely his? "No idea." Li Yang answered. Who knows what that pretentious Lu Liangye is thinking? Listening to the conversation, Zheng Yining felt a tinge of sympathy for the girl on the field. Despite having a Fire fang Dog, her opponent was the one most likely to win first place. Running into him in the first round, what terrible luck. On the field, Qiao Sang took a pair of dark green triangular sunglasses from her backpack and put them on the Fire fang Dog. It was the Firefang Dog¡¯s favorite color and style. After all the training over the past few days, it was all for today¡¯s exam. This duel was too important, and from the very start, they needed to go all out and use their secret weapon. "Yap!" With the dark green triangular sunglasses on, the Fire fang Dog raised its head and struck a cool pose, instantly radiating a different kind of energy. "The battle rules are 1V1. Release your respective pet beasts. Fight on my command. If one side falls or loses the ability to fight, they lose the match." Sun Boyi announced. This type of match, where there¡¯s no set rule on who attacks first, is quite popular these days. It emphasizes the element of surprise and tests whether the Beast Master chooses to wait and observe or strike first. "Running into me in the first round, sorry about that!" Lu Liangye said with a smug tone, though his expression and attitude conveyed the opposite of an apology. Qiao Sang: "..." This guy is so annoying. As he made his pre-battle remark, a pet beast with a predominantly light blue body appeared from a white star array. Its mouth was yellow, its neck encircled by a white collar. With a pair of fins instead of legs, it stood upright using its tail for balance. It was a water-type beast, a Water Ring Carp. ¡°A Water Ring Carp? That girl¡¯s done for. Even if we don¡¯t consider strength, the element disadvantage alone is tough.¡± "Do you think you can handle the Water Ring Carp if you face it next?" "...My beast is a ground-type, so I¡¯d be at a disadvantage too. Oh man, I really hope I don¡¯t face him in the next round!" The candidates on the stands discussed fervently. Zheng Yining sighed, feeling even more sorry for the girl on the field. What rotten luck... Just then, Sun Boyi gave the signal to begin. "Get close, confuse it, and finish it off." Qiao Sang commanded decisively. In the blink of an eye, the Fire fang Dog dashed forward. Good speed, Sun Boyi mentally noted. Finish it off? How? Lu Liangye felt like laughing, and he actually did... "Ha! Use Water Gun. Don¡¯t let it get close." For a beginner-level Water Gun, the range is usually around 2 meters. However, the Water Ring Carp''s Water Gun reached a full 5 meters, clearly indicating it was at the proficient level. The Fire fang Dog easily evaded the attack. In the blink of an eye, the Fire fang Dog seemed to split into two. The Water Ring Carp was bewildered, unsure which one to aim for. Both Fire fang Dogs quickly flanked the Water Ring Carp from either side, their fangs wrapped in flames. ¡°Surround yourself with Water Ring!¡± Lu Liangye commanded calmly. ¡°Is that fire too intense?¡± Li Yang, who had a bit of knowledge, questioned. ¡°Is it? I¡¯m nearsighted.¡± The delicate-looking boy squinted, focusing intently on the field. Li Yang: ... On the field, the Fire fang Dog''s fiery fangs bit into the water ring, but instead of canceling each other out as one might expect, the next moment the water ring shattered, and the fangs sank viciously into the Water Ring Carp''s head. "Ring!! Ring!!" The Water Ring Carp let out a cry of pain. "Impossible! Water Ring Carp!" Lu Liangye lost his composure, calling out frantically. Meanwhile¡­ "Those are intermediate-level Flame Fangs." Qin Wen observed. "That Fire fang Dog is impressive. It seems it was already trained before being contracted." Zheng Guoping commented. "This Fire fang Dog is less than two months old," Remarked the slicked-back man, who had been silent until now. "Impossible." Zheng Guoping replied incredulously. "You doubt the Vice Principal?" Qin Wen gave him a side glance. Zheng Guoping was at a loss for words. Vice Principal Liu Yao was someone Shengshui High School had begged to come. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was not only an A-rank Breeder but also a senior researcher who had won the prestigious Tongyu Award. He originally worked at the Princiss Advanced Research Institute, and it was only after the principal, his old elementary school friend, pestered him for a month that he finally agreed to join the Beastmaster High School. If he said the Fire fang Dog was under two months old, then it must be¡­ under two months old. Zheng Guoping looked at the Fire fang Dog on the field, which had just released the Water Ring Carp and was now proudly strutting around. Even though the dark green sunglasses covered its eyes, the way it held its head high, chest out, and its smug expression made it clear¡ªit wanted everyone to know it had won... Is this Fire fang Dog really less than two months old? On the field, the Water Ring Carp lay unconscious on the ground. After Sun Boyi announced the result, Qiao Sang walked up to Lu Liangye and said, "Sorry about that." Lu Liangye: ¡­!! Qiao Sang picked up the Fire fang Dog and walked to the stands. Even before training, she had dared to take the Fire fang Dog to challenge high school students at the gates of a Beastmaster High School, and won three out of three matches. Now, with the Fire fang Dog¡¯s strength vastly improved, and her opponent being a middle schooler who hadn¡¯t even taken the high school entrance exam, how could she lose? Winning was the norm. As soon as Qiao Sang sat down, she couldn¡¯t help but yawn again. The other candidates looked at her with a mix of shock and admiration. That was a clean and decisive win! Such an effortless victory against an elementally superior opponent wasn¡¯t something just anyone could pull off. Chapter 33: Next Time We Meet This one''s a real expert!The crowd wanted to approach her and strike up a conversation, but the fact that she was a girl made them hesitate. "Li Yang, are you sure that Lu Liangye really awakened his power more than half a year ago? You might be mistaken." The delicate-looking boy asked, doubtful. "Maybe it¡¯s just someone with the same name..." Li Yang replied, equally uncertain. He had first heard of Lu Liangye when his mom shoved a newspaper in his face, bragging about him. She¡¯d spent the next ten days sighing and wishing Lu Liangye were her son. Only after that did she finally calm down. If this really was that Lu Liangye, how could he have lost so miserably? Thinking back now, this Lu Liangye did seem taller, darker, and, well¡­ uglier than the one in the paper... At this moment, the suspected impostor, Lu Liangye, was anxiously looking at his Water Ring Carp and asked, "Teacher, will my Water Ring Carp be okay?" Sea?ch* The N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It¡¯ll be fine; it¡¯ll recover soon." Qin Wen reassured him. --- From Qiao Sang''s perspective, the only female teacher on the field walked over to the Water Ring Carp and formed a hand seal. An orange-yellow star array lit up on the ground. That''s the mark of a C-rank Beastmaster. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that her mastery of the Beast Taming Manual had reached the level of a C-rank Beastmaster, even if she hadn¡¯t yet passed the Alliance''s certification. A white pet beast about three meters tall appeared on the orange-yellow star array. Its head was teardrop-shaped, appearing quite small in proportion to its body. Its tiny, bean-sized eyes and mouth stretched to its ears, with a tongue as long as half its height hanging out. The beast walked over to the Water Ring Carp and used its thick, long tongue to lick the fish from head to tail. That wasn¡¯t enough. After licking it once, it used its tongue to flip the Water Ring Carp over and licked it from head to tail again. How disgusting¡­ Qiao Sang, still a bit groggy, shuddered and snapped fully awake. This white pet beast was called a Tonguetip Drip. The mucus secreted by its tongue could rapidly heal external wounds. If someone wanted to become a doctor in the future, contracting a Tonguetip Drip would definitely be a good choice. After two rounds of tongue therapy from the Tonguetip Drip, the Water Ring Carp was back on its feet, bouncing in place with its tail, clearly revitalized. If it didn¡¯t look like it had just been fished out of water, you wouldn¡¯t be able to tell anything had happened to it. Qiao Sang unconsciously hugged her Fire fang Dog a little tighter. "Yap?" The Fire fang Dog turned its head to look at her. "It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just glad you didn¡¯t get hurt." Qiao Sang said. "Yap~" The Firefang Dog''s eyes, moist and shimmering, showed its gratitude. "Make sure you don¡¯t get hurt in the upcoming battles." Qiao Sang cautioned seriously. "Yap!" The Firefang Dog nodded, promising. With his Beastmaster so concerned, there¡¯s no way it would let her down! Seeing how touched the Fire fang Dog was, Qiao Sang held back the last thing she wanted to say. If it gets hurt, maybe I¡¯ll stop cuddling it for a while... --- Ten people were divided into five groups for matches, leaving four more rounds to go. Qiao Sang looked toward the field. Anyone left could be her next opponent, so she had to pay close attention. Although she had confidence in her Fire fang Dog, underestimating an opponent was the biggest mistake one could make. That¡¯s why she had the Fire fang Dog wear its sunglasses right from the start. In the second group, two boys had already summoned their pet beasts. One had a Short-tail Snake, the other a Sand Burrow Mouse¡ªboth were common choices for rookie Beastmasters. "Who do you think will win, Big Shot?" A female voice asked from her left. Qiao Sang turned her head and saw the girl with the bobbed haircut from earlier, who had struck up a conversation with her before the match, sitting in the previously empty seat next to her. "Barring any surprises, it should be the Short-tail Snake." Qiao Sang replied. "By surprises, do you mean something like what you pulled off?" Zheng Yining teased. The Short-tail Snake naturally countered the Sand Burrow Mouse, just like the Water Ring Carp¡¯s element countered the Fire fang Dog, yet the Fire fang Dog won, and decisively so¡ªif that wasn¡¯t a surprise, what was? "My name¡¯s Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang introduced herself, hoping the girl would stop calling her that. "Got it, Big Shot Qiao," Zheng Yining nodded. Qiao Sang: ... "Big Shot Qiao, I¡¯m Zheng Yining," Zheng Yining continued. Qiao Sang: ¡­Okay. The match unfolded as expected, with no surprises. The moment the Sand Burrow Mouse emerged from its burrow, the Short-tail Snake¡¯s fangs sank into its body with precision, causing it to faint instantly. The third match was Zheng Yining against a boy. Zheng Yining''s pet beast was a Long-eared Cat. Its back and tail were pale pink, while its belly was cream-colored. Its ears were longer than those of an ordinary rabbit, standing upright like two antennae, and its emerald-green eyes were lazily half-closed, almost melting what little remained of Qiao Sang¡¯s girlish heart. The boy¡¯s pet beast, however, was a Sky-piercing Pig, a creature with a gray-white body and wings of the same color. It was a pet beast with both ground and flying attributes. "Fire fang Dog, who do you think will win?" Qiao Sang asked. The Fire fang Dog had been watching the match with casual interest. Upon hearing the question, its eyes sharpened, and it began studying the two battling pet beasts with serious intensity. After comparing them, it picked the Sky-piercing Pig, which looked stronger and could fly. Sixteen minutes later, the Sky-piercing Pig lay motionless on the ground. "Yap." the Fire fang Dog growled in frustration. It had made the wrong choice. "Although the Sky-piercing Pig seems stronger, it has a glaring weakness¡ªpoor stamina. It¡¯s also slow, so as long as you wear it down over time, it¡¯ll eventually run out of energy. See how the Long-eared Cat focused on dodging earlier? Then, when the Sky-piercing Pig was exhausted, it struck." Qiao Sang explained to the Fire fang Dog. "Yap." the Fire fang Dog¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. So that¡¯s how it works! The fourth and fifth rounds were won by two boys with pet beasts¡ªa Fat Dove and a Countertops Wasp, respectively. Qiao Sang recalled the previous matches and thought about the potential opponents she might face next. As expected¡­ none of them seemed like a threat... Realizing her line of thinking, she quickly shook her head. She had just vowed not to underestimate anyone... Among the five people who lost, one would have to be chosen for a rematch. The time for this match didn¡¯t last as long as Qiao Sang had anticipated. It was essentially a one-sided battle, quickly determining the winner of the five-against-one match. The winner was Lu Liangye. Now, Li Yang had no doubt that this Lu Liangye was indeed the one his mother had been going on about. His coordination, techniques¡ªeverything was leagues ahead of the other four. You wouldn¡¯t think he¡¯d been utterly crushed in his first match. Seems the issue was with that girl... Li Yang glanced at the girl casually walking over and silently prayed. Please don¡¯t let me face her first! He still wanted to make it into the top three! As soon as Qiao Sang stepped onto the field, Lu Liangye approached her and said with determination, "Next time we meet, I won¡¯t lose!" Qiao Sang obligingly replied, "Let¡¯s hope so." Lu Liangye: ... He felt like she was looking down on him, but he couldn¡¯t prove it. Just like before, they drew lots to form pairs, with those who drew the same number forming a team. Qiao Sang drew her lot and checked it¡ªit was number 1. Nice number. Lucky. "Who has number 1?" Qin Wen asked. "I do." Lu Liangye answered. "Me too." Qiao Sang added. Everyone turned to look. Lu Liangye: ¡­! He said next time, but he didn¡¯t mean this soon! Chapter 34: Cheering Up It was the same arena, on the same day, with the same topic of discussion, but the conversation had completely changed."How long do you think he can last?" There was no clear indication whether he referred to a male or female, but everyone understood who was being discussed. "Three minutes, maybe." "I think it''s two." "With the experience from the first time, it should be at least five minutes." "Is there really no chance of winning?" Asked one of the candidates who had been defeated by Lu Liangye. "You¡¯re still here?" The person who guessed five minutes turned his head in surprise. Defeated candidate: "¡­I¡¯m waiting to leave with a Blackbeak Sparrows after you''re all done." --- "Bubbles!" As soon as Sun Boyi announced the start of the match, Lu Liangye, with a serious expression, was the first to issue a command. Water Ring Carp lifted its front limbs slightly, and dozens of transparent water bubbles instantly appeared in the air, forming a dense barrier between itself and Fire Fang Dog. The bubbles reflected a mix of blue and red¡­ afterimages. "What¡¯s up with this Fire Fang Dog?!" An exclamation arose from the stands. In reality, Fire Fang Dog had initiated its attack first. Even before the bubbles formed in the air, it had already launched itself forward with all its strength at an incredibly fast speed. The bubbles then enveloped Fire Fang Dog. Fire is afraid of water. Some fire-type pets go their entire lives without bathing because they dislike water. But Fire Fang Dog''s steps didn''t falter; it charged right into the midst of the bubbles without hesitation. Sea?ch* The N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It kept moving forward at high speed, its maneuvers incredibly agile, avoiding all the bubbles without any of them touching its fur. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. Over the recent period, Fire Fang Dog¡¯s speed and explosive power had improved significantly. It had already reached a point where even a four-setting automatic baseball pitching machine could barely land a ball on it. These slow-moving bubbles were nothing in comparison. What was the point of having so many of them? At most, they were just stationary obstacles. Water Ring Carp continued to hold up its front limbs, controlling its energy output. The bubbles not only blocked Fire Fang Dog''s figure but also obscured some of Water Ring Carp¡¯s vision. "Dodge quickly!" At the sudden and urgent command of its Beast Master, Water Ring Carp tried to comply, but before it could lower its front limbs, a fierce impact sent it flying. ¡°Bubbles!!¡± As it was sent flying, Water Ring Carp was both in pain and bewildered. How did it end up flying? "Finish it." Qiao Sang spoke her first words of the match. A searing flame condensed into a fist-sized ball and mercilessly struck the still-wailing Water Ring Carp. After struggling for two seconds, Water Ring Carp lay motionless. "Water Ring Carp!" Lu Liangye dashed over to his pet, anxiously calling out, "Teacher! Teacher!" Qin Wen calmly approached the Water Ring Carp and said, "It''s okay, just needs a lick." With that, she summoned out the Tonguetip Drip¡­ --- "Holy crap, did you guys just see that?" "Yeah, Lu Liangye didn''t even last two minutes." "That Fire Fang Dog is impressive." "No, it¡¯s the Beast Master! She didn¡¯t even give a command at the start, and the Fire Fang Dog just attacked on its own!" Typically, in battles between novice Beast Masters like them, the pets would wait for their master¡¯s command before taking the next action. For example, if the command was Fire Fang, the pet would know whether to defend, dodge, or counter-attack. But that girl didn¡¯t issue any command, and the Fire Fang Dog executed a powerful charge on its own. The subsequent coordination and outcome clearly showed it wasn¡¯t acting independently but rather attacking with her implicit approval. Such a scenario is usually only seen in high-level matches. Experienced Beast Masters often study their opponent¡¯s pets beforehand and devise a series of combo moves to throw off their opponent during the match. This is one of the reasons why high-level matches typically don¡¯t require an order of attack to be predetermined. It¡¯s all for the thrill. There are also some advanced Beast Masters who, instead of studying their opponents, fully trust their pets to handle things on their own, only stepping in during critical moments. But such strategies are generally reserved for high-level Beast Masters. And yet, the girl in question was just a novice¡­ --- "What¡¯s her name?" Liu Yao asked. "Qiao Sang, from Wencheng Junior High." Sun Boyi replied after glancing at the candidate information in his hand. "I remember Wencheng Junior High had a student who was recommended to our school this year." Zheng Guoping said. "Yes, there is one. Her name is Dai Shushu. Her parents are ordinary people, so she stood out in my memory." Sun Boyi replied. "Ordinary people?! There are still kids born from ordinary people who can awaken their abilities on their own? What¡¯s her brain development level?" Zheng Guoping asked in shock. "5%." Sun Boyi said. "This kid is promising. If her high school entrance exam results are solid, she should be placed in the Elite Beastmaster class." Liu Yao suggested. "Is that really appropriate? Even if she''s an independently awakened Beast Master born to ordinary parents, her brain development is only at 5%. Our Elite Beastmaster class was established to compete with Litan High School. We need to consider all aspects, like the strength of her contracted pet, her combat skills, and her¡­¡± Zheng Guoping trailed off as he noticed Sun Boyi looking at him like he was an idiot. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Zheng Guoping asked, annoyed. Sun Boyi slowly replied, "The vice-principal was talking about her entrance exam scores. Do you think someone who¡¯s been recommended needs to take the exam?" Zheng Guoping: "..." Oh, so it was about Qiao Sang¡­ Given the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s and her own battle performance, it seems there¡¯s no issue with her joining the Elite Beastmaster class¡­ But I was just looked down on¡­ So annoying¡­ Meanwhile, the focus of the conversation, Qiao Sang, was busy pulling out a bottle of Qiyuan Milk from her backpack to give to Fire Fang Dog. After two battles, she had secured one of the five special recruitment spots at Shengshui High School. But her goal wasn¡¯t just one of the spots; it was the top spot. The second to fifth place candidates still had to score 50 points above the minimum requirement in the high school entrance exam, while the first place only needed to meet the minimum requirement. She understood the difference. Fifty points! How many practice problems would she need to solve to make up for that! Right now, she was just one step away from those 50 points! Fire Fang Dog, wearing its triangular sunglasses, lounged on the seat, sipping milk with its paws, looking quite content. The second match had just begun, featuring a Small Fat Dove and a Long-Eared Cat. "Ya!" "Ya ya!" "Ya ya!" Fire Fang Dog sat up, holding the milk with one paw, while waving the other in support. It would cheer, take a sip of milk, and then cheer some more. Its cheers were directed at the Small Fat Dove. Back home, the Family Fat Dove and it had a good relationship. Every time they ate, after finishing its own meal, Fire Fang Dog would push its energy meal towards Fat Family Dove. As a fellow member of the Fat Dove family, the Small Fat Dove naturally deserved its support. "Ya!" "Ya ya!" "Ya ya!" Ten minutes later. Despite Fire Fang Dog''s enthusiastic cheering, Small Fat Dove lost¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 35: Remember to be Gentle "Yaa..." Fire fang Dog let out a frustrated whine, slumping back into its seat and taking a big gulp of milk to soothe the sting of its defeat. When it finished, Qiao Sang, perceptive as ever, handed it another bottle and offered some comfort: "It''s okay, we''ll be up against the Long-Eared Cat soon. You can avenge Little Fat Dove then." Although the Long-Eared Cat looked so cute it almost melted her heart, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t soften. After all, she turned steely at the thought of those 50 points. "Yap!" Fire fang Dog perked up at her words, sitting up straight again and nodding vigorously. It would do just that! The third match was quick and decisive, though the outcome was a bit unexpected for Qiao Sang. The Stingtail Bee, a poison and flying type beast, had toxic stingers in both its mouth and tail. The mouth stinger required close contact to inject poison, while the tail stinger could be fired from a distance. In theory, the Stingtail Bee should have been able to wear down the Short-Tailed Snake by attacking from afar, slowly poisoning it. But instead, the Stingtail Bee used its mouth stinger up close. The Short-Tailed Snake''s venom was far more potent than that of the Stingtail Bee. As soon as the bee¡¯s stinger pierced the snake, the snake remained unharmed, while the Stingtail Bee passed out from its own venom. You could say the Stingtail Bee was stupid, but it was just following its Beastmaster¡¯s command. The Beastmaster had ordered it to use Poison Sting. Both the mouth and tail stingers were poison stings, but the Beastmaster didn¡¯t specify, proving their status as a novice. Qiao Sang was speechless. After the six-to-three match ended, the three losing contestants had to battle to eliminate one and leave two. Perhaps due to frustration from losing so quickly, Qiao Sang noticed that Lu Liangye seemed to let his emotions affect his judgment during his match. When his opponent was nearly exhausted, instead of using a powerful attack like Water Gun to finish the fight, he had his Water Ring Carp create a veil of bubbles to block vision and then ordered a Charge. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t understand. If the opponent was already down, what was the point of blocking their vision? Besides, Water Ring Carp had no legs, only a tail. How was it supposed to generate any real power on land? The attack was barely a charge, let alone a full-on charge... Aside from Lu Liangye, a boy named Hu Cheng also made it to the top five. The final round for the top spot would be decided among the winners of the six-to-three matches. --- "Qiao Sang, Zheng Yining, and Li Yang, the three of you will take turns battling. The first to win two matches will be the top recruit." Sun Boyi announced. Qin Wen brought out that familiar wooden box again, "Inside are slips of paper. Two have numbers, the one who draws a blank slip gets a bye for this round." Qiao Sang was fortunate not to get a bye, unfolding her slip to reveal the number 1 once again. Drawing three consecutive 1s¡ªit must be a sign that she was destined to be number one! Qiao Sang was brimming with fighting spirit, while Zheng Yining, who drew the other 1, was already resigned. Her scores usually hovered around 560 points. Without this special recruitment, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance at getting into Shengshui High purely on her academic performance. Now that she was guaranteed a spot, she didn¡¯t need to be first to secure her place. "Qiao Da, go easy on me, will you?" Zheng Yining said with a grin. She knew she couldn¡¯t win, so she might as well lighten the mood before she lost. Qiao Sang glanced at Fire fang Dog, who was warming up by stretching its limbs. "I''ll try." She replied. Lu Liangye, who overheard their conversation, wasn¡¯t happy. He approached Qiao Sang, his expression twisted like he was in pain. "I¡­ I believe you can win, but you shouldn¡¯t get complacent. You have to attack with everything you''ve got from the start, so nothing unexpected happens." He had lost so badly to Qiao Sang that he hadn¡¯t lasted even two rounds. If she went easy on Zheng Yining and they traded blows for several rounds, where would that leave him? Qiao Sang looked at his awkward, slightly arrogant face and smiled, "Thanks for the advice. I''ll keep that in mind." Zheng Yining: ¡­? The two took their designated positions. The Long-Eared Cat licked its paw gracefully. Fire fang Dog, on the other hand, fixed its eyes on the Long-Eared Cat, its hind legs pawing at the ground as if it were about to pounce. This posture seemed familiar¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly remembered. Wasn¡¯t this the same stance that Fire fang Dog had copied from the Thunderhorn Rhino it had seen on TV, the time it got so scared it learned to use Ember? Before she could think further, Sun Boyi gave the command to begin. Qiao Sang quickly refocused, commanding, "Charge." Fire fang Dog had been ready to charge from the start, so Qiao Sang simply followed its lead. It seemed that Zheng Yining¡¯s pre-match flattery had worked. Zheng Yining was pleased with Qiao Sang¡¯s command. Charge was a basic move that rarely succeeded right off the bat. Qiao Sang was clearly going easy on her. If she had started the way she did against Lu Liangye, what chance would she have? "Dodge." Zheng Yining ordered. Dodge was a versatile command. Unless the opponent used a locking or area-of-effect attack, it was always a safe bet, something Zheng Yining had picked up from TV. The Long-Eared Cat gracefully sidestepped, only to be knocked off its feet and sent flying. It couldn¡¯t dodge... "That Fire fang Dog seems faster than before." Zheng Guoping remarked in surprise. "It¡¯s likely holding back in the earlier rounds," Qin Wen replied. Liu Yao watched the match in silence, focused on the battle. "Long Ears!" Zheng Yining cried out to her pet. The Long-Eared Cat, a normal-type beast, was known for its agility and looks among entry-level pets. The area was wide open, and the Long-Eared Cat hadn¡¯t even taken a hit. Yet it was still struck by a simple Charge?! Though it was a bit shaken, the Long-Eared Cat managed to get up gracefully, only to be sent flying again. "Long Ears!" Qiao Sang felt a twinge of guilt. Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t let up. Each time the Long-Eared Cat tried to stand, it was knocked down again, over and over, like a bull charging a red cape... "I forfeit!" Zheng Yining shouted after the Long-Eared Cat was sent flying for the fifth time. "I declare the winner¡ªQiao Sang," Sun Boyi announced. Little Fat Dove and its Beastmaster hadn¡¯t left yet. Fire fang Dog happily ran over to Little Fat Dobe, hoping to celebrate together, but Little Fat Dove, startled, flapped its wings and flew onto its master¡¯s shoulder. That was terrifying! Fire fang Dog was heartbroken. Its budding friendship had shattered just like that. It approached Qiao Sang. "Yap..." Qiao Sang knelt down and picked it up. Fire fang Dog snuggled into her, feeling much better. "This Fire fang Dog has great potential. When you get back, bathe it daily in a mix of three sprigs of vitality grass, two pounds of heat-soothing powder, seven ounces of fiery crystal, and six ounces of red honey. Do this for half a month, and you might see some impressive results." A deep voice suddenly said nearby. sea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang turned to see one of the four teachers. "This is our vice principal at Shengshui High. He¡¯s an A-level Breeder, so you can trust his advice." Zheng Guoping explained. Chapter 36: Who Wouldnt Pass? Breeder.A mysterious profession where it''s said that one can tell how long a pet beast hasn''t defecated just by the frequency of its cries. As long as you become a certified Breeder, even at the lowest F-level, if you register with a local Breeder Association, a generous amount of training funds will be deposited into your personal account every year. It''s the ultimate way to earn money while lying down. If among a hundred Beast Tamers, there might be one Breeder, then among ten thousand Trainers, there might not even be one A-level Breeder. Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up. This was her first time encountering an A-level Breeder. "Hello, Vice Principal." After greeting him, Qiao Sang turned the Fire fang Dog''s head towards Liu Yao. "Fire fang Dog, come, greet the Vice Principal." "Yap." The Fire fang Dog barked politely. Liu Yao''s eyes twinkled with amusement, but before he could speak, Qiao Sang curiously asked, "Vice Principal, do you know how long it''s been since my Fire fang Dog last pooped?" Liu Yao: ... "Hahahahaha..." Zheng Guoping, standing to the side, couldn''t hold back his laughter, only stopping when he met Liu Yao''s stern gaze. The idea that Breeders could tell how long a pet beast hadn''t defecated by the frequency of its cries was a recent online joke. In a certain dating show, the third male contestant was a Breeder. Due to his dull personality and unremarkable appearance, as well as his ghost-type pet beast that wasn''t very popular, he had been sidelined for eight days without a single female contestant choosing him. However, on the ninth day, the second female contestant''s Speedhorn Deer suffered from severe abdominal pain after eating the first male contestant''s nutritional meal and kept crying out. While everyone was blaming the first male contestant, the low-profile third male contestant spoke up. "It''s because it hasn''t had a bowel movement for over 20 days, it''s blocked. Give it a Tongtong Fruit, and it will be fine." The second female contestant was stunned because her Speedhorn Deer indeed hadn''t relieved itself for 23 days. Sure enough, after the Speedhorn Deer ate the Tongtong Fruit, it was back to its lively self. When the second female contestant asked him how he knew the exact time, the third male contestant replied that he could tell by the frequency of its cries. This answer shocked everyone¡ªcould you really tell from that? The third male contestant instantly became the most sought-after guy, with female contestants surrounding him every day, asking him to listen to their pet beasts'' cries. As a typical researcher, Liu Yao had never watched any dating shows. He looked at the Fire fang Dog and helplessly said, "I don''t know." While Liu Yao, the old scholar, didn''t get the joke, Zheng Guoping, who had watched that dating show with his wife, did. It wasn''t about listening to the frequency of the cries at all. The third male contestant had his ghost-type pet beast sneak into the women''s rooms to eavesdrop on their conversations. Qiao Sang had only heard the joke and hadn''t watched the show, so she didn''t know the full story. She thought it was real and was a bit disappointed, though she didn''t show it. Instead, she asked another question, "If the Fire fang Dog takes those herbal baths for half a month, what would the effect be?" Liu Yao explained, "If I''m not mistaken, the Fire fang Dog is currently close to a critical point, somewhat like the precursor to a skill awakening, probably related to speed. The herbs like Vitality Grass and Heat Soothing Powder are all materials that can stimulate fire-type energy. Soaking for half a month could possibly help it break through this critical point early." Qiao Sang was stunned. In just a few days, the Fire fang Dog had already learned two skills: Ember and Shadow Clone. And now another one? Is this a genius Fire fang Dog or what? Excited, Qiao Sang looked at the Fire fang Dog and said, "Come on, Fire fang Dog, quickly thank the Vice Principal." Getting guidance from an A-level Trainer is not something just anyone can experience. "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog barked decisively. Though it didn''t understand anything about critical points, Vitality Grass, or precursors, it knew that when its Beast Tamer told it to be grateful, it should be. "Reee!!!" Liu Yao was about to say something else when suddenly, a heart-wrenching wail echoed from the Long-eared Cat nearby. Qiao Sang was startled. She turned around and saw the Long-eared Cat curled up, covering its face with its front paws, tears streaming down its cheeks, looking utterly devastated. The Fire fang Dog noticed the Long-eared Cat''s condition too. Did it make the cat cry?! At that moment, Qiao Sang and the Fire fang Dog had the same thought. Feeling a bit guilty, Qiao Sang approached Zheng Yining and timidly asked, "What''s wrong with the Long-eared Cat?" Zheng Yining turned to her and smiled bitterly, "It''s a bit of a clean freak. It woke up and realized it had been licked all over by Tonguetip Drip, and now it''s like this." Qiao Sang: ...She could understand! The Firefang Dog breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn''t its fault. "Teacher, with the Long-eared Cat in this condition, it might not be able to continue the battle." Zheng Yining said to Sun Boyi. "Are you forfeiting?" Sun Boyi asked. "Yes, I''m forfeiting," Zheng Yining replied. She was already one of the five special admissions, so there was no need to continue competing, especially since she knew she couldn''t beat Qiao Sang. "Alright." Sun Boyi nodded in agreement. "Then the final match will be between Qiao Sang and Li Yang." Originally, after Qiao Sang and Zheng Yining''s match, the loser¡ªZheng Yining¡ªwas supposed to face Li Yang. But with Zheng Yining forfeiting, it was now Qiao Sang versus Li Yang. Li Yang: ... He wanted to forfeit too. His goal of placing in the top three for special admissions had already been achieved. This girl Qiao Sang and her Fire fang Dog were too fierce, even Lu Liangye wasn''t her match. He didn''t think he could win, but forfeiting without even trying would look too cowardly... --- Li Yang''s pet beast was a Short-tailed Snake, with venomous fangs, a poisonous tail, and even poisonous blood. Qiao Sang assessed the situation and came up with a strategy. As the battle began... The Fire fang Dog split into two, circling the Short-tailed Snake at a distance of about five meters, quickly creating the illusion of only one shadow. As the shadow formed, sparks were constantly being fired. The Short-tailed Snake, its vision following the movement of the two Fire fang Dogs, grew dizzy. In that brief moment of disorientation, it was struck by several flames, taken down cleanly without even moving. Li Yang was filled with regret. If he''d known the outcome would be so disastrous, he would have found an excuse to forfeit! This was no rookie Beast Tamer¡ªher level was comparable to high school students at a Beast Taming Academy! Lu Liangye, watching from the side, was quite satisfied. Comparing himself to Li Yang, he didn''t seem as bad off. "Qiao Sang wins." After announcing the result, Sun Boyi gathered the top five together. "The results of this exam will be posted on Shengshui Middle School''s official website in a few days. When your high school entrance exam scores are released, bring your score report to our school to register. If your exam scores don''t meet the requirements, your spot will be filled by another special admission candidate." Those who were eliminated in the first round and hadn''t left yet were excited¡ªdid this mean they still had a chance? But the next moment, they were deflated. As long as the special admissions passed the test, not to mention the first place, the other four only needed to score 50 points above the minimum to qualify. With such a low score requirement, who wouldn''t pass? Sigh... Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 37: Medical Mishap Qiao Sang felt a sense of crisis; the joy of securing first place in the special admissions exam had somewhat diminished.Just then, Zheng Yining suggested, "Boss Qiao, do you want to join us for a celebration later? I know a new snack shop that just opened on Rongchang Street. Their signature dish, ''Cloud-baked Ham,'' is made by a Magne-cook." Qiao Sang was stunned. "They use a Magnemite to make Cloud-baked Ham? Is that even allowed?!" Using extraordinary creatures as ingredients wasn''t unheard of in this society, but it was usually done covertly. Who would be so brazen as to advertise it as a signature dish? And wasn''t Magnemite''s entire body made of magnets? Could that even be edible? Zheng Yining paused, "The Magne-cook is the chef at the snack shop... Did you misunderstand something?" Qiao Sang looked up at the sky, laughing awkwardly. "Haha, the weather seems nice today. Maybe we should head home early." Zheng Yining: ... She probably didn¡¯t misinterpret Boss Qiao¡¯s earlier thoughts... After declining the requests from Zheng Yining, Li Yang, and the others to compete in a Murkrow race, Qiao Sang immediately took out her phone once they parted ways. To focus on the exam, Qiao Sang had turned off her phone when she entered Shengshui High School. As soon as she powered it on, two missed calls from her mother appeared on the screen. Qiao Sang didn''t return the call right away. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she opened the Interstellar Betting Network. "We won!!" The next second, the Fire fang Dog heard its Beast Master¡¯s excited shout. "Yap!" The Fire fang Dog wagged its tail, sharing in the joy. Qiao Sang did some quick calculations. She had lost 5000 Alliance Coins betting on Baudelaire, but after subtracting the principal, she won 1200 Alliance Coins this time. Overall, she was still down by 38... Better not to dwell on it. Qiao Sang decided to ignore it and called her mother back. Her mother didn¡¯t ask about the exam, only when she would be coming home. Since her mother didn¡¯t ask, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mention it either. After all, the final results of the high school entrance exam were still pending¡ªbetter to avoid celebrating too early only to be disappointed later. --- That evening, at her desk. Qiao Sang held some freshly completed practice exams, checking the answers. These were last year''s entrance exam papers from Hanwen City. Hanwen City and Hanggang City both belonged to Zhejiang Province, so aside from a few different focal points, the papers were largely similar. After checking her answers, Qiao Sang sighed. Though she had made significant progress, she still made quite a few mistakes. With only a week left until the high school entrance exam, it seemed she would need to return to school tomorrow. After all, it¡¯s faster to ask others about the correct problem-solving approach. ¡°Yip-yip.¡± ¡°Coo, coo.¡± The sounds of the Fire fang Dog and the fat dove arguing in the living room reached Qiao Sang, bringing a smile to her face. Those two little ones were getting along quite well. Half an hour later, after correcting all her mistakes, Qiao Sang opened a shopping website. She remembered the vice principal''s instructions: three sprigs of vitality herbs, two pounds of Heat-soothing owder, seven ounces of Fiery nitrate, and six ounces of Red Honey. [Vitality Herb] Qiao Sang typed in the keyword. The shopping page for vitality herbs quickly popped up. Qiao Sang was stunned. 3,888 Alliance Coins. Unwilling to give up, she scrolled down a few pages, but the price was consistent. Not even a price variation?! Qiao Sang clicked on the option to sort by price from low to high. At the top of the page, the price was listed as 38 Alliance Coins. Could she dare to buy it with such a huge price difference?! After hesitating, Qiao Sang clicked on it, clinging to a sliver of hope. When she checked the reviews, they were all negative. [Has the seller lost their conscience? Is this even Vitality Herb?!] [I gave it to my Cotton Tail Rabbit, and it had diarrhea for a week, losing a ton of weight (photo).] [This isn''t Vitality Herb; it''s some random weed, isn''t it?!] [Fake, fake, fake!!! Negative review, negative review, negative review!!!] [I bought a real Vitality Herb for comparison. I must say, the imitation is pretty close (photo) (photo).] As expected, it was a knock-off... Qiao Sang searched for Heat-soothing Powder, Fiery Crystal, and Red Honey. Heat-soothing Powder: 2600 Alliance Coins, Fiery Crystal: 6889 Alliance Coins, and Red Honey: the cheapest was 1999 Alliance Coins per pound. This meant that just one bath for the Fire fang Dog would cost over 10,000 Alliance Coins! Qiao Sang quietly closed her computer. Actually, the high school entrance exam was more important right now. The Fire fang Dog¡¯s situation could wait. Besides, the Fire fang Dog hated water and didn¡¯t like baths... 10:32 PM. The Fire fang Dog had already fallen asleep, tired from playing. As usual, Qiao Sang entered the Beast Master Codex before going to bed. Name: Firefang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (136/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Adept 204/500) +, Fire Fang (Adept 188/500) +, Ember (Adept 256/500) +, Shadow Clone (Beginner 5/100) Points: 109 Last time, the Fire fang Dog gained 55 points from three battles at the Thirty-seventh Beast High School. This time, it only gained 54 points from four battles. The points gained from each battle vary, so the point increase is likely based on the strength of the opponent, right? Qiao Sang made a guess and then fell fast asleep. Today had been exhausting... --- The next day. Wencheng Middle School. When Qiao Sang walked into Class 37 with her backpack, the class erupted. "Whoa, Qiao Sang, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually come back!" "Where have you been all this time, skipping class?" "Hey, watch what you¡¯re saying! Couldn¡¯t it be family matters?" "What are you talking about? Couldn¡¯t it be a relative¡¯s issue?" "We all missed you. Without you, the teacher kept picking on me and Fang Sisi." This was from Guo Linze, the class''s perennial second-to-last student. The teacher had essentially given up on the last-place student. After the other students finished expressing their feelings and dispersed, Fang Sisi said earnestly, "Qiao Sang, you¡¯ve changed." Qiao Sang was taken aback. "How have I changed?" "In the past, whenever you found a good excuse to skip class, you¡¯d let me know. Now you¡¯re going solo, not even taking me with you." Fang Sisi said with a tone of grievance. Qiao Sang: ... "I¡¯ll bring you along next time." Fang Sisi shook her head. "There won¡¯t be a next time. There are only a few days left in school. If I skip, my mom would break my legs." "By the way," Fang Sisi leaned in closer and whispered, "I¡¯ve got something to tell you, but you can¡¯t tell anyone else." Seeing Fang Sisi¡¯s serious expression, Qiao Sang nodded. "Go ahead." "Last week, our homeroom teacher, for some reason, decided to get a hair transplant, but... haha." Fang Sisi couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "But the anesthetic was swapped with a hair removal agent." Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment before saying, "How could that happen? The two substances are different colors, aren¡¯t they?" "The one who applied the anesthetic was Gigi Eye, a newly contracted pet in the dermatology department, and it¡¯s not very familiar with these things yet." Fang Sisi explained. Qiao Sang asked, "How do you know about this?" "Did you forget? My mom is a nurse there. She¡¯s met our homeroom teacher before during parent-teacher meetings." Fang Sisi replied. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression grew strange. Could it be that the homeroom teacher went for the hair transplant because of what she said about his wig last time? No wonder he stopped answering calls and turned off his phone... This medical mishap was pretty severe. Sea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, for middle-aged men, hair is life¡ªespecially those who rely on wigs. "Tell me honestly, how many people have you told about this?" Qiao Sang asked Fang Sisi suspiciously. Fang Sisi was slightly taken aback and began counting on her fingers, "Lu Siya, Chen Jinjin, Wu Huanjun, Guo Linze, Xie Jiayi, Chen Yu..." Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 38: My Life is Over "Everyone in our group already knows about it." Qiao Sang remarked, feeling exasperated."Well, you know what they say, joy is better when shared." Fang Sisi responded with a mischievous smile. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. "Haha, you''re not wrong." "Hahahahaha..." Fang Sisi laughed along with her. Even though she had told this story to many people, it still cracked her up every time. After the two of them finished laughing, Qiao Sang asked, "Why didn''t our homeroom teacher just buy a bottle of Su-Root Gel?" Su-Root Gel is extracted from the Su-Egg Pot. Each time the Su-Egg Pot sleeps, it closes its shell, and in the morning, when the shell opens, a small amount of gel seeps out¡ªthis gel is known as Su-Root Gel. The gel has a miraculous effect on promoting hair growth, making it far more efficient than hair transplants. "A bottle of Su-Root Gel costs as much as our teacher''s half-year salary. Hair transplants are way cheaper." Fang Sisi explained. Indeed, anything related to extraordinary creatures is ridiculously expensive these days. Although hair is as precious as life to a middle-aged man, our teacher still has a family to support. He couldn''t possibly splurge on a bottle of Su-Root Gel for himself. Thinking about it this way, Qiao Sang started to feel sorry for their teacher. During the third period, the Beast and Nature class was taught by Mr. Ji, a teacher who loved to ask questions, especially to students with poor grades. Qiao Sang was frequently called on in the past. Since she had been absent recently, the pressure had been shared by those ranking near her. "Spotty Bud evolves into Poison Powder Jasmine in the Lianke region." Mr. Ji said as he revealed the answer to the second fill-in-the-blank question on the test. After finishing, he adjusted his glasses and asked, "Who knows what Spotty Bud evolves into in the Liaoxi region?" Some beast species have fixed evolutionary forms, while others evolve into different forms depending on the materials and environment. Spotty Bud falls into the latter category, with four known evolutionary forms depending on its environment. The students all stared intently at their test papers, desperately avoiding eye contact with Mr. Ji. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have the test paper since she missed last week¡¯s class, so she was sharing Fang Sisi¡¯s. Mr. Ji''s gaze shifted towards the area where Qiao Sang, Fang Sisi, and the other underachievers were seated. Guo Linze, seated nearby, grew nervous. He had been called on many times during Qiao Sang''s absence. His eyes darted around until they landed on Qiao Sang, who was seated in front of him. "Qiao Sang, you don¡¯t have a test paper, right? You can use mine." Guo Linze whispered, tapping her on the shoulder. You''ve had this paper for ten minutes, and you¡¯re offering it to me now? Just as Qiao Sang was about to refuse and turn her head, her eyes met Mr. Ji¡¯s. "Qiao Sang, why don¡¯t you answer?" Mr. Ji called out. Qiao Sang: ... Guo Linze, you sneaky little... "Ice Powder Jasmine." Qiao Sang stood up and answered. Seeing her answer correctly, Mr. Ji followed up, "What about in the Xilu region?" "Grass Powder Jasmine." Qiao Sang replied. "Very good. You may sit down." Mr. Ji nodded approvingly before asking, "Now, who can tell me in which region Water Powder Jasmine evolves?" As soon as Qiao Sang sat down, she grabbed Guo Linze¡¯s test paper and quipped, "Then I won''t hold back." Guo Linze, caught off guard, tried to stop her, but his hand only hit the desk, making a noticeable sound. "Guo Linze, you answer." Mr. Ji ordered. Guo Linze: ¡­! Soon it was recess. "Qiao Sang, the homeroom teacher wants to see you." The class representative, Ma Xiao, approached. The inevitable moment had arrived. Qiao Sang put down her book and, with a much different mindset than before, headed to the teacher''s office. "You¡¯ve been absent for quite a few days. Fill out a leave slip." The teacher said, opening his drawer and placing a slip on the desk. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but glance at the teacher¡¯s head. Still a wig. I wonder what it looks like underneath... "Qiao Sang." The teacher called her name, his tone slightly stern. Qiao Sang quickly picked up a pen and began filling out the slip. "Is your mom okay now?" The teacher asked. Qiao Sang paused before replying, "Yes, she''s fine." After finishing the slip, the teacher handed her a notebook. "You¡¯ve missed quite a bit of review material. This is a former student¡¯s notebook who scored 632 on the high school entrance exam. Take it home and study." The full score for the entrance exam is 650, so scoring 632 is impressive. Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before accepting it¡ªthis was precisely what she needed right now. sea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you, Teacher." The teacher waved her off, signaling that she could leave. Qiao Sang left with mixed feelings. The teacher might have his flaws, but who doesn¡¯t? At least he genuinely cared for his students. Even though it was her fault that he lost his precious hair, he didn¡¯t take it out on her. Feeling overwhelmed, Qiao Sang asked, "Teacher, is your hair okay?" The teacher¡¯s expression froze, and he stood still. After a moment, he took a deep breath and said, "Do you really think your mother would keep you out of school this long just because she was sick?" Qiao Sang: ... --- After school, Qiao Sang decided to come clean with her mother. Some things are better said by her than by the teacher. But when she got home, her mother wasn¡¯t there yet. "Fire fang Dog, you clean this side, and I¡¯ll clean that side," Qiao Sang handed a wet cloth to Fire fang Dog and pointed to the right side of the living room. She had already planned it out¡ªonce her mom saw the spotless room, the mopped floors, and dinner ready, whatever anger she had would dissipate. "Yap!" Fire fang Dog happily took the cloth and got to work. It placed its right paw on the cloth, pushed off with its left, and slid forward with the cloth underfoot. "Yap!" "Yap yap~" Fire fang Dog happily barked as it worked, making the chore look like a fun game. What a good kid. Qiao Sang felt a wave of satisfaction as she took the mop and started cleaning the left side of the living room. The golden hues of the sunset streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on the floor, illuminating the girl and her Fire fang Dog. Everything was peaceful and perfect. Fire fang Dog happily slid across the floor, moving faster and faster. Crash! A loud noise shattered the tranquility. Qiao Sang looked up to see shattered porcelain pieces all around Fire fang Dog. Her heart sank. She quickly dropped the mop, ran over, and picked up Fire fang Dog to check it over. "Are you okay?" "Yap!" Fire fang Dog barked loudly and wagged its tail, indicating it was fine. It pointed to the broken pieces on the floor. "Yap yap." "Yap yap." "Yip yap." After explaining, it felt a bit guilty, and its ears drooped. "The vase breaking doesn¡¯t matter as long as you¡¯re okay." After comforting Fire fang Dog, Qiao Sang finally looked at the shards on the floor. She remembered that this vase was something her mother brought back from a trip to the Lianbo region. It even had the signature of her mom''s favorite Beast Master on the bottom¡­ Click. Just then, the door opened. Qiao Sang turned to face her mother, and four words echoed in her mind. My life is over¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 39: The Last Day The soft orange glow of the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm light on the floor, and on the girl and her Fire Fang Dog.Everything seemed so peaceful and serene... "You really were too careless. Look at us now, both punished and standing here." Qiao Sang stood against the wall with her hands raised in a surrendering pose. Fire Fang Dog stood beside her in the same pose. "Yap, Yap." It barked. Its Beast Master changed her mind so quickly¡ªshe had just said that as long as it was okay, everything else didn''t matter. "Both of you, quiet!" Her mother scolded, then turned back to the shattered porcelain on the floor, her heart aching. "Mom, let me help you." Qiao Sang tried to show her obedient side. "Don''t move." Her mother said coldly. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. In this situation, how could she bring up the matter of her recent absence from school? Hopefully, her teacher wouldn''t call at this crucial moment... Her mother carefully picked up a piece of the shattered vase. Seeing the signature part broken into three pieces, her eyes reddened. Qiao Sang couldn''t bear to see her like this. "Mom, it''s just a signature, right? Next time I meet Wang Dian''ao, I''ll get you another one." She remembered her mother¡¯s favorite Beast Master was named Wang Dian''ao. Just a while ago, she had seen him on TV with a female Beast Master named Luo Tang. But her mother didn''t seem too affected, still enjoying her meals and drinks, and getting excited when Wang Dian''ao appeared on TV, releasing his signature beast, the Armor-Step Ursine. Qiao Sang guessed her mother must be a fan of his work, not just his looks. Her mother glared at her with reddened eyes and shouted, "Wang Dian''ao? This was signed by the Sharpclaw Ursine! It''s a limited edition! There won''t be any more! It has already evolved into the Armor-Step Ursine!" Qiao Sang: "..." She decided to keep quiet and stand still. --- Qiao Sang believed her mother was a strong woman. Even though she had lost the limited-edition Sharpclaw Ursine signature, she still called her and the Fire Fang Dog for dinner. Though her expression wasn''t exactly pleasant... That evening, Qiao Sang was working on her homework, while Fire Fang Dog was training downstairs in the company of the Fat Dove. This was Fire Fang Dog¡¯s own request. After the recent training sessions, Fire Fang Dog could clearly feel its improvement and didn''t want to stop. Qiao Sang was happy to see Fire Fang Dog so motivated. However, the evening wasn''t the best time for her to study downstairs, so she asked the Fat Dove to accompany it. With the Fat Dove, the head of the family, watching over Fire Fang Dog, she felt reassured. Before they left, Qiao Sang even had Fire Fang Dog wear a 15kg weighted collar. The 10kg collar no longer had any effect, so it was time to increase the challenge. Days passed in this routine, and before she knew it, it was June 15th¡ªthe last day of classes at Wencheng Middle School, just two days before the high school entrance exams. Class 3-7. The students were all using the last bit of time to bond with one another. After today, the next time they''d see each other would be when the results were announced. Once they left Wencheng Middle School, unless they got into the same high school, even close friends wouldn''t see each other as often. "Qiao Sang, have you decided which school you want to go to?" Fang Sisi asked. "Shengshui High School." Qiao Sang answered honestly. "Hahaha, you''re so funny." Fang Sisi burst out laughing. Qiao Sang: ... "How about we all aim for Haomu Beastmaster High School? That way, we can look out for each other." Suggested the girl sitting in front of Fang Sisi. Haomu Beastmaster High School was a private school. The entrance exam results weren''t the only thing that mattered¡ªif you had the money, you could get in. "How much is the tuition per semester?" Fang Sisi asked, intrigued. If everyone could go to the same high school, she''d love to join them. But she only knew that Haomu Beastmaster High School was expensive, not the exact amount. "500,000 yuan." The girl in front said, holding up five fingers. Fang Sisi looked at her hand, then quickly turned back to Qiao Sang. "So, what were we talking about?" "You said I was funny." Qiao Sang replied. The girl in front: ... Just as Fang Sisi was about to continue the conversation, a boy on the other side of the classroom suddenly shouted, "What? Your dad actually shipped you a L¨¡''os¨©!" Everyone in the class turned to look, filled with envy, including Qiao Sang. L¨¡''os¨©, a Psychic-type beast. That alone was impressive, but it wasn''t just that. L¨¡''os¨© wasn''t native to the Dragon Kingdom. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every region had its own exclusive beasts. For example, Fire Fang Dog, Fat Dove, and Desert Tail Fox were exclusive to Qiao Sang''s region¡ªYuhua. There were non-native beasts in the Yuhua region, but they were rare. Some Beast Masters would travel to different regions to contract beasts during their Beastmaster Awakening, but most stayed within the country. Getting a Psychic-type beast from another country, though? That was something rare. Qiao Sang guessed this would probably be the only one among this year''s examinees in Hanggang City. "My dad insisted on sending it to me. I told him not to, but he still did. What can I do?" The speaker was Qin Shou. What a show-off. How could he say that so casually? Qiao Sang clenched her fists, but she had to admit that having money did come with perks. With money, you could contract rare, powerful beasts and have a steady supply of resources. Without money, you had to make do with what you could find locally, and even then, you might not be able to afford to nurture them properly. So in today¡¯s world, most powerful Beast Masters had strong backgrounds, while grassroots Beast Masters struggled to rise. At least she had a golden finger! "We haven''t even started the Brain Awakening yet. What if you don''t awaken? Wouldn''t that be embarrassing?" Guo Linze, sitting at the back, muttered jealously. "Do you think that''s possible?" Fang Sisi retorted. Impossible. If the second-best student in the school couldn''t awaken, then he, being second-to-last in class, had no chance. Guo Linze chose not to respond. The last class of the day was with their homeroom teacher. Qiao Sang looked at her teacher, feeling a bit reluctant. He had been so considerate¡ªdespite her long absence, he hadn''t called her mother to report it. Where else could she find such a good teacher? The teacher gave a passionate farewell speech: "Class, in two days, on June 17th, we''ll have our high school entrance exam, and on June 20th, we''ll have our Brain Awakening." "You are about to experience the first major turning point in your lives, ending three years of middle school and moving on to higher learning." "Three years of hard work, three years of diligent study, three years of honing yourselves have brought you to this moment. I believe that right now, each of you..." "...is holding back a fierce determination." Qiao Sang quietly finished. "...is holding back a fierce determination." Fang Sisi stared at her in surprise. "How did you know what he was going to say?" Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment and then replied, "I guessed." Farewell speeches were pretty standard for teachers, Qiao Sang had probably seen it online. She decided to leave her teacher some dignity. "I believe that in a few days, you''ll use your outstanding results to bring a perfect end to your middle school years." "Finally, I wish you all smooth sailing! May you reach your dream high schools! May you fulfill your dreams this June!" The classroom erupted in thunderous applause, with Qiao Sang clapping vigorously. At that moment, Qiao Sang didn''t care about the clich¨¦s. The atmosphere was genuine, and so was the excitement she felt. ----- ----- Chapter 40: Watchful Eyes June 17th.Early in the morning, Qiao Sang arrived at Mingpei Junior High School, accompanied by her mother. The exam venues for the high school entrance exams were distributed by district, with students from each school randomly assigned to various test centers. Qiao Sang had been assigned to Class 17 at Mingpei Junior High. "Did you bring your admission ticket?" Her mother asked. "Yes, I did." "Do you have your pens and everything?" "Yes, I have everything." "During the exam, start with the questions you know how to answer. Leave the difficult ones for last, okay?" "I know, Mom." "Alright, you should go in. I''ll be here to pick you up after the exam." Her mother said gently. This was the first time her mother had spoken so tenderly since the incident with the broken signed figure of Sharpclaw Ursine. Qiao Sang felt a bit unaccustomed to it. "Mom..." "What is it, dear?" Her mother asked, her voice even softer. "It''s not time yet, I can''t go in." Qiao Sang replied helplessly. If she could, she¡¯d wish her mother would change her habit of always arriving so early to everything. Her mother fell silent. --- In the classroom, there were not just two teachers invigilating, but also two pet beasts. Qiao Sang sat quietly in seat six of the fifth row. A small purple-blue rodent-like pet beast was using its antenna to touch each student''s body. The blue antenna, about seven or eight centimeters long, grew from its forehead, resembling a little antenna. Qiao Sang, a recent but dedicated student, recognized the pet beast as a Zi Wa Mouse. Zi Wa Mouse was an electric-type pet beast. It could detect the presence of electronic devices around it through the antenna on its forehead. As the Zi Wa Mouse went around touching each student, its antenna suddenly emitted a purple electric spark when it reached the student in seat three of the third row. "Ah!" The student let out an uncontrollable cry, and the pen in his right hand rolled onto the desk as his grip loosened. The electric shock was mild, only causing a brief numbness in the student''s hand without any further effects. "Wa wa." The Zi Wa Mouse pointed at the student and squeaked. "Hand it over." Said the female teacher who had been sitting at the podium. She got up and walked over to the Zi Wa Mouse. The student''s face turned pale, lips pressed tightly together as he hesitated. "I''m telling you again, hand it over." The teacher repeated sternly. Under the pressure of the teacher¡¯s gaze and the stares from everyone around, the student reluctantly parted his hair to reveal a tiny electronic device the size of a button battery. These devices were not uncommon; they could transmit answers for multiple-choice questions over a considerable distance using mental signals. However, they were useless for fill-in-the-blank or essay questions. Only pet beasts with psychic abilities could enable this type of transmission, which meant that the student had an accomplice with a psychic-type pet beast who could see the test paper. Of course, this accomplice couldn''t be another student. Sea?ch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Your score for this subject is nullified." The teacher said coldly after confiscating the device, and she took away the student''s test paper as well. The student walked out in tears, devastated, as the teacher raised her voice, "If any of you still have electronic devices, now¡¯s the time to hand them over. Don¡¯t think you can get away with it. If the Zi Wa Mouse catches you, your score will be voided." No one moved. Fortunately, as the Zi Wa Mouse continued its checks, no other issues arose. Meanwhile, another pet beast, resembling a floating eyeball, split into five or six smaller eyes and hovered around the room in different directions. This pet beast was called Jianjian Eye, and the scenes observed by the split bodies were directly shared with the main body. It provided comprehensive, all-around surveillance of the exam hall, making it an essential pet beast for monitoring exams. Jianjian Eye was not only used for junior high exams but also appeared in high school exams, although the ones used in the latter could split into over ten smaller eyes. Qiao Sang focused on her test, but suddenly one of the Jianjian Eyes floated right up to her writing hand. Her hand shook involuntarily. The eyeball, with its spiraling pupil, rotated continuously, sometimes staring at her paper, sometimes at her face. After five seconds, it seemed satisfied that nothing was amiss and moved away. Qiao Sang thought to herself that these exams tested not just academic knowledge but also one¡¯s psychological resilience. Who wouldn''t be startled when a floating eyeball suddenly appeared out of nowhere, staring at them while they were answering questions? It completely threw off her train of thought! Fortunately, after two days in such an environment, Qiao Sang became desensitized. Even when two Jianjian Eyes hovered beside her simultaneously, she remained calm and finished her paper. June 19th. The last day of the written exams. After finishing her final test, Qiao Sang went home and collapsed into bed, pulling the covers over her head to sleep. She had been mentally tense for days, and now that the exams were over and she could finally relax, all she wanted was a good, long nap. She ended up sleeping until 7:02 PM. When Qiao Sang woke up, her mind felt clearer than ever. She had never felt this refreshed after a nap before. She sat up in bed and looked out the window. The sky was completely dark, but under the moonlight and city lights, there was still a faint glow. The room was dark, and from the crack under the door, she could tell the living room lights were off too. Everything was quiet, and Fire Fang Dog was nowhere to be seen. Feeling a bit lonely, Qiao Sang got up and looked out the window at the courtyard below. There were quite a few people outside, children playing, adults in pairs, and the elderly enjoying the cool evening. But even among the crowd, Qiao Sang immediately recognized three figures standing off to the side. It was her mother, Fire Fang Dog, and Fat Dove. She quietly watched them for three minutes before realizing she was starving... She remembered she had plans to meet up with Fang Sisi for dinner before she fell asleep. Downstairs in the courtyard. "Yap!" Fire Fang Dog spotted Qiao Sang immediately and barked happily, leaping into her arms. Fire Fang Dog still had its 15kg weight collar on, and Qiao Sang''s hands sank slightly as she caught it securely. "Mom, I''m heading out for a bit." Qiao Sang said. "Okay." Her mother nodded. Qiao Sang had already informed her mother before going to sleep that she had plans to go out for dinner with Fang Sisi, so her mother didn¡¯t ask any questions. --- Twenty minutes later. Qiao Sang arrived at the hot pot restaurant, holding Fire Fang Dog in her arms. "Holy crap!" "Fire Fang Dog!" Two exclamations rang out from table 27. Besides Fang Sisi, Lu Siya was also there. The agreed meeting time had been 7 PM, and even though Qiao Sang was over half an hour late, Fang Sisi and Lu Siya didn¡¯t question her about it¡ªthey were too focused on Fire Fang Dog. "You actually contracted a Fire Fang Dog!" Lu Siya said, astonished. "Qiao Sang, that¡¯s not fair! You got a Fire Fang Dog and didn¡¯t tell us until now." Fang Sisi added, staring at the seemingly docile Fire Fang Dog, wanting to pet it but too afraid to do so. It was her first time being so close to a fire-type pet beast... Qiao Sang, while eating her hotpot, asked, "Siya, did you already know that I awakened my powers?" Normally, when someone who hadn¡¯t awakened yet showed up with a Fire Fang Dog, the first question would be, ''How are you carrying a Fire Fang Dog?'' not ''You actually contracted a Fire Fang Dog!'' Fang Sisi instantly fell silent. Lu Siya glanced at Fang Sisi and immediately outed her, "Fang Sisi told me two weeks ago." Of course... Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. She should have seen this coming. Fang Sisi had already spread the news about the homeroom teacher¡¯s hair incident to everyone. Expecting her to keep a secret was like expecting Fire Fang Dog to climb a tree. Chapter 41: Becoming Super Strong? ¡°I only told Lu Siya!¡± Fang Sisi quickly added.Qiao Sang looked at her skeptically. ¡°¡­And my parents.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. It¡¯s not something that needs to be kept secret anyway.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Haha, I knew it! This is the kind of thing everyone should know. If Lu Siya hadn¡¯t stopped me, saying we should wait until you got back to school to ask if you wanted it public, I would¡¯ve already posted it in the class group.¡± Fang Sisi said, relaxing. Qiao Sang: ¡­Thank you, Lu Siya! Lu Siya was different from Fang Sisi. She wasn¡¯t a slacker¡ªher grades were consistently in the top 15 of the class. The reason she and Fang Sisi got along so well was their shared interest in Coordinators. Coordinators are professionals who use pet beasts'' skills to showcase their own charm. Unlike Trainers, whose goal is to participate in League battles, Coordinators focus more on the appeal and elegance of their pet beasts¡¯ skills rather than on practical combat. As a result, most Coordinators struggle to pass Trainer certification exams to advance to higher levels. For them, appearance is paramount, and they usually seek out good-looking pet beasts to contract with. ¡°Why¡¯d you put such an ugly bracelet on Fire Fang Dog?¡± Lu Siya¡¯s attention was still fixed on the dog. She was both surprised and not surprised that Qiao Sang had contracted with a Fire Fang Dog. Surprised because Qiao Sang had the nerve to bond with such a temperamental fire-type beast, but not surprised because, well, Fire Fang Dog is cute, with its flame-like fur being especially eye-catching. Its evolved form, Blaze Dog, is even more impressive. Like Fang Sisi, Lu Siya wanted to pet the Fire Fang Dog but was too scared. Before Qiao Sang could answer, Fire Fang Dog barked. ¡°Yap!¡± Its training equipment is not ugly! Lu Siya leaned back slightly and asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay with Fire Fang Dog? Look at it¡ªit seems pretty fierce.¡± Fang Sisi chimed in, ¡°But it¡¯s so good-looking! Just look at those eyes, that fur, don¡¯t you want to give it a pet?¡± ¡°I do!¡± Lu Siya¡¯s eyes lit up. The two of them looked at Qiao Sang with eager eyes. Qiao Sang glanced at Fire Fang Dog, silently asking for its opinion. Fire Fang Dog understood its Trainer¡¯s intent. ¡°Yap.¡± It turned around and barked at Fang Sisi, then lowered its head slightly. Seeing it bow its head, Fang Sisi knew the dog was agreeing to let her pet it, so she excitedly reached out her hand. ¡°Whoa, its fur feels amazing!¡± Lu Siya, envious, stretched out her hand, only for the dog to suddenly turn its head away, refusing her. ¡°Yap.¡± It hadn¡¯t forgotten that this person had just called its training equipment ugly and said it looked fierce. Lu Siya awkwardly retracted her hand and casually changed the subject. ¡°Sisi and I were just talking about what pet beast to contract with after our brain domain awakens tomorrow. I¡¯m thinking about getting a Desert Tail Fox, but Sisi hasn¡¯t decided yet. Do you have any suggestions, Qiao Sang?¡± Before Qiao Sang could respond, Fang Sisi exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve decided! Fire Fang Dog is perfect!¡± Lu Siya: ¡­ Qiao Sang: ¡­ Fire Fang Dog puffed out its chest. This person has good taste. Qiao Sang said, ¡°Don¡¯t rush it. Think it over carefully.¡± Fang Sisi replied seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not rushing. Just look at your Fire Fang Dog, it¡¯s so obedient and cute, and its fur feels great! I want one too!¡± Fire Fang Dog puffed out its chest even more proudly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ What could she say? Should she deny that Fire Fang Dog was obedient, cute, and had great fur? The dog would be mad at her! Besides, Fang Sisi wasn¡¯t wrong. It¡¯s just that¡­ When Qiao Sang thought about the other Fire Fang Dogs she had seen at the Hanggang Beast Base, she felt that once Fang Sisi visited there, she might change her mind. --- After finishing their hot pot and exchanging some good luck wishes for tomorrow¡¯s awakening, Qiao Sang bid farewell to Fang Sisi and Lu Siya. Tomorrow was the day the school would organize the students to undergo brain domain stimulation for awakening. Since Qiao Sang had already awakened on her own, she didn¡¯t need to go with them. It wasn¡¯t until she got home and put Fire Fang Dog down that Qiao Sang realized she had been carrying it the entire way! And it was still wearing a 15kg weighted ring on its right limb! When Fire Fang Dog had been wearing a 10kg ring, carrying it for a few minutes had felt heavy. Now, with a 15kg ring, she had been holding it for at least half an hour, and she hadn¡¯t even noticed! Could it be that her strength had suddenly increased? Impossible. She hadn¡¯t been working out recently. When she let Fire Fang Dog out after the high school entrance exams, it hadn¡¯t felt any different from before. Could she have become super strong in just a few hours? Qiao Sang went into the living room. Under the baffled gaze of the Fat Dove, she wrapped her arms around it. She tried to lift it but couldn¡¯t. She tried harder but still couldn¡¯t lift it. Finally, she used all her strength, turning red in the face, but the dove didn¡¯t budge. Qiao Sang came to a conclusion. It seemed she hadn¡¯t suddenly become super strong, but her strength had definitely increased. With the Fat Dove still looking bewildered, Qiao Sang returned to her room. She was also bewildered, unable to figure out why her strength had suddenly increased until she opened the Beast Codex that night before bed, as usual. Then, she was even more shocked. ¡°What the¡­!¡± The quiet room suddenly echoed with a startled exclamation. Qiao Sang was stunned. The Beast Codex had gained another page! Aside from the page with Fire Fang Dog, there was now an additional blank contract space! Qiao Sang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She quickly exited the Beast Codex and immediately recalled the already-sleeping Fire Fang Dog into it. The next second. A gray star array lit up on the bed, and Fire Fang Dog, still lying down with drool on its mouth, reappeared in the array. Gray¡­ Two pages¡­Had her Beast Codex awakened again?! Qiao Sang¡¯s emotions were in turmoil for a long time. Could she really be one of those legendary geniuses? The development of the brain domain had been a research topic from ancient times to the present. Aside from regular meditation, there was nothing that could safely stimulate brain development. Meditation was a course offered in Beast High School. Before the brain domain awakens, no matter how much one meditates, it has no effect. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Most students needed to use magnetic waves to stimulate their brain domain to awaken, requiring a period of recovery before they could start meditating. That¡¯s why meditation only began in high school, and Qiao Sang had never meditated before. Yet her brain domain had genuinely developed. Even though her brain wave test report indicated a maximum of 9% development, she had actually reached 10%! This kind of progress was nearly impossible under normal circumstances. Looking at the drooling Fire Fang Dog, Qiao Sang suddenly understood. It turns out that being a genius is a standard feature for someone who¡¯s transmigrated. However, even with the Beast Codex¡¯s second awakening, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t in a hurry to contract with a new pet beast. She hadn¡¯t been with Fire Fang Dog for very long, and she planned to spend the summer carefully raising it and making money. After all, she couldn¡¯t even afford to give Fire Fang Dog a bath right now. Contracting a second pet would just add to her financial burden. But¡­ Qiao Sang had an idea. The second pet could start from an egg. That way, by the time it hatched, Fire Fang Dog would have grown, and maybe she¡¯d have earned some money by then. Most importantly, if the second pet saw her as its first sight when it hatched, wouldn¡¯t that guarantee it would be obedient? Chapter 42: Exam Results For her second beast, Qiao Sang was inclined towards a plant-type or water-type beast, especially one capable of learning healing skills.Having a healer in a team would significantly boost its safety level. This would give them the confidence to venture deeper into areas inhabited by extraordinary creatures. However, beasts with healing abilities were usually pre-booked by medical institutions, making them difficult for ordinary beastmasters to acquire on the market. But Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t in a rush, this was just an initial idea. The matter of beast eggs could wait; the most urgent task now was to focus on the training of her Fire fang Dog. After coming to terms with the second awakening of her Beast Codex, Qiao Sang finally understood why her strength had suddenly increased. The enhancement of a beastmaster''s Beast Codex and the evolution of their beasts both provided a certain amount of feedback to the beastmaster''s own body. Judging by the timing, her brain domain must have changed during her sleep after the final exams. After analyzing everything, Qiao Sang felt calm again. She glanced at the sleeping Fire fang Dog and took a few tissues from the nightstand to wipe away its drool. --- In the beastmaster society, it only took five days for the final exam results to be released, twice as fast as the efficiency of the education department in her previous life. Students could check their scores by entering their exam registration number on the Hanggang Education Examination WeChat account. As soon as the news broke, every student who had just finished their exams quickly grabbed their registration number and phone. Qingcheng Jiayuan. Building C, Unit 606. Qiao Sang stared at the score displayed on her phone for three full seconds without saying a word. Her mother, unable to contain herself, asked anxiously, "How did you do?" Today was the day results were announced, and Ye Xiangting had specifically taken the day off from work to stay home. "Mom, I have something to tell you, but promise you won¡¯t get too excited." Qiao Sang said seriously. "I won¡¯t get excited, just tell me." Her mother responded loudly. "I got into Shengshui High School." Qiao Sang said with a smile. "Huh?" Ye Xiangting was stunned. "I said, I got into Shengshui High School." Qiao Sang repeated. "Shengshui High School..." Her mother murmured, still a bit dazed. "How many points did you score?" "Yapyap." The Fire fang Dog barked, looking at the phone in Qiao Sang''s hands. Qiao Sang patted the dog with a smile and said, "359 points. I have to thank Firefang Dog. I came in first place in Shengshui High School¡¯s special admissions exam, so I only needed to pass the minimum score line to get in." If she hadn¡¯t scored first in the special admissions test, she would have had to score 50 points above the minimum line to qualify. "Yap~" Fire fang Dog barked, embarrassed. The minimum score line for this year¡¯s exam had already been announced by the education department last night: 329 points, three points lower than the previous year. Qiao Sang¡¯s score exceeded the minimum by 30 points. Shengshui High School¡­ Special admissions first place¡­ 359 points¡­ Ye Xiangting was a bit dizzy from all the good news. She grabbed her daughter¡¯s phone and checked the score closely. Though it was just a few simple numbers, she kept checking four or five times to make sure. Indeed, it was 359 points¡­ Qiao Sang waited for a while, expecting her mother to praise her. Instead, she saw her mother suddenly thrust the phone back into her hands, pull out her own phone, and start dialing. "Mom, what are you doing?" Qiao Sang asked. "I¡¯m telling your grandparents the good news." Her mother replied excitedly. Qiao Sang: ... Indeed, this news should be shared with her grandparents to make them happy. Eighteen minutes later. "Mom, didn¡¯t you already tell Grandma and Grandpa? Who are you calling now?" "Your uncle." "..." Twenty-five minutes later. "Sis-in-law, how¡¯s Li Xuan doing recently? Oh, nothing, just wanted to chat¡­" Thirty-six minutes later. "Brother-in-law, is my sister there? No rush, just wanted to share that my daughter recently took her exams and did alright. Nothing special, just barely passed the minimum score line. High school? Oh, you wouldn¡¯t know, it¡¯s Shengshui High School in Hanggang." An hour later, her mother was still on the phone. "Mom, I¡¯m going to school." Qiao Sang said, holding her Fire fang Dog. "Yes, yes, no way is my daughter better than Jia Jia. I heard she¡¯s always in the top three of her class. My daughter¡¯s usually in the bottom three. She just managed to get into Shengshui High School." Her mother said, waving her hand without even looking up, signaling that Qiao Sang could leave. Qiao Sang: ... --- Wencheng Junior High, Class 3-7. The section where the struggling students sat. "How did you do?" "Are you my friend?" "What¡¯s wrong?" "In our circle, there are three things we never ask about: grades, birthplaces, and parents, especially grades," Guo Linze replied seriously. "...I¡¯m not your friend, I¡¯m your desk mate. So, how did you do?" Fang Sisi retorted. Guo Linze: ...He didn¡¯t want to answer that question. His eyes quickly shifted to Qiao Sang, who was walking in with her Fire fang Dog. "Damn, Fire fang Dog, you¡¯re really brave, Qiao Sang!" Guo Linze exclaimed. Since many students had already contracted their beasts after their brain domains awakened, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hesitate to bring her Fire fang Dog to school openly. She assumed that with everyone having their own beasts now, her Fire fang Dog wouldn¡¯t stand out too much. However, she underestimated the allure of a fire-type beast. From the moment she entered the school gate, nine out of ten people turned to look at the Fire fang Dog in her arms. The one who didn¡¯t was near-sighted and not wearing glasses. "You¡¯re not bad either, contracting a Short-tailed Snake." Qiao Sang said, glancing at the snake coiled around Guo Linze¡¯s head. Although the Short-tailed Snake was a popular choice for beginner beastmasters, its poison-type nature made it the least favored among the five recommended starter beasts. Usually, only the bravest newbie beastmasters dared to contract it. "But it¡¯s nothing compared to yours." Guo Linze said sincerely. While the Short-tailed Snake might be poison-type, it was docile. As long as the beastmaster was careful, it wasn¡¯t much trouble. The Fire fang Dog, on the other hand, could easily lash out at its own beastmaster if not handled properly. Qiao Sang just smiled without saying anything. As she sat down, she noticed Fang Sisi scooting her chair closer to the next desk. "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled. "Nothing." Fang Sisi replied, trembling slightly. "Yap." The Fire fang Dog barked, recognizing Fang Sisi and greeting her warmly. Fang Sisi froze for a moment, then slowly moved her chair back. Seeing the Fire fang Dog behave so obediently in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, Fang Sisi let out a deep sigh and said, "I¡¯ve figured it out¡ªthe obedient one isn¡¯t the Fire fang Dog, it¡¯s your Fire fang Dog." Qiao Sang looked at the Cottonbug in Fang Sisi¡¯s arms and could guess what had happened. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hiding a smile, she asked, "Didn¡¯t you say you were going to contract a Fire fang Dog? How come you ended up with a Cotton bug?" Fang Sisi gave Qiao Sang a resentful look and said, "I almost lost my hair the moment I walked into the Fire fang Dog base. I finally found a quiet one to contract, but as soon as I petted its head, it shot a spark at me. My new dress was ruined." Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before saying, "Maybe the Fire fang Dog you chose wasn¡¯t quiet enough." Fang Sisi replied gloomily, "It was quiet, out of all the Fire fang Dogs, it was the only one sleeping." Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 43: She Forgot About It "Then how did you think of the contract cotton bug?" Qiao Sang asked."I want to evolve it into a Snow Butterfly; it''s super beautiful." Fang Sisi said as she pulled out her phone, intending to show Qiao Sang a picture of the Snow Butterfly. "I know, but to evolve it into a Snow Butterfly, you have to take it to the Beilun region, right?" Qiao Sang responded. The Beilun region was far from their current location in the Yuhua region. The Cotton bug was known to have five evolutionary forms, one of which required a specific environment to evolve into a Snow Butterfly. The Beilun region was precisely the required environment. "No need, I consulted a breeder. As long as it stays in an environment of -40¡ãC for an hour, it''ll evolve. I''ll just hire an ice-type pet beast to create the environment." Fang Sisi explained. Seeing that Fang Sisi had it all planned out, Qiao Sang nodded and asked the inevitable post-exam question: "How did you do on the exam?" Fang Sisi shrugged helplessly, "304 points, I''ll have to go to vocational school." Before Qiao Sang could think of how to console her, Fang Sisi asked, "What about you?" "359 points." Qiao Sang replied. "Really?" Fang Sisi''s eyes widened. "I''ll show you the report card when it arrives." Qiao Sang said with a smile. Before Fang Sisi could say anything, a commotion erupted in the class. It turned out Qin Shou had brought in his Laosi. When Qiao Sang brought her Fire Fang Dog into the classroom, everyone chose to observe from a distance, knowing that fire-type pet beasts weren''t exactly known for their temper. But they were unfamiliar with Laosi''s temperament. Just knowing it was a rare foreign pet beast was enough to get everyone excited. Qiao Sang looked over and saw Qin Shou surrounded by a crowd so thick that neither he nor his Laosi could be seen. Even Guo Lin, who had previously spoken sourly, ran over, shouting, "Brother Shou! Let me see!" The excitement lasted for over ten minutes before the class settled down when the teacher entered. Only then did Qiao Sang get a clear look at Laosi. Standing around 80 centimeters tall, it had two bull-like horns on its head and light red eyes with fin-like markings around them, resembling eyeshadow. It trembled slightly as it huddled in Qin Shou''s arms, looking as though it had just been frightened by the crowd. The teacher began handing out the report cards. "Where''s Xie Jiayi?" Qiao Sang asked. Xie Jiayi was Fang Sisi''s desk mate, and she had previously suggested they all apply to Haomu Beast Taming School together. Fang Sisi glanced at the empty seat in front of her and whispered, "You weren''t here the day of the brain domain awakening, so you don''t know. Xie Jiayi failed to awaken." Qiao Sang was stunned and didn''t say anything. Every year, only 73% of students successfully awaken their mental domain during the high school entrance exam, leaving 27% unable to awaken. With this ratio spread across all schools, it wasn''t surprising that a few students in their class didn''t succeed. Xie Jiayi''s parents were both beast tamers, so she should''ve had a good chance of awakening. Failing to awaken must have been a big blow to her. But reality is often unpredictable. While Dai Shushu, a regular person, successfully awakened on her own, Xie Jiayi, the daughter of beast tamers, failed to awaken. Soon, the teacher called Qiao Sang''s name. When she went up to get her report card, she was surprised to find it wouldn''t budge. Qiao Sang looked up in confusion at the teacher. The teacher, grinning from ear to ear, his wig shaking with his laughter, adjusted her position to face the class and loudly announced, "I have good news to share! Our classmate Qiao Sang has studied hard and lived up to expectations by getting into Shengshui High School!" The entire class was shocked. Studied hard? The same Qiao Sang who slept in class, failed exams, and recently took time off from school? They had never expected anything from Qiao Sang. And Shengshui High School? Who? The one who was always third from last in class?! Qiao Sang: ??? --- Qingcheng Garden. Qiao Sang returned home, exhausted. Her mother was humming a tune in her own room. Qiao Sang pushed open her mother''s door to find the bed and floor covered with all sorts of clothes, bags, and shoes. "You''re back! Just in time, help me pick an outfit." Her mother said with a smile. "Mom, what''s the occasion?" Qiao Sang asked, momentarily forgetting why she had come in. "Oh, go on, it''s nothing serious. Didn''t you get into Shengshui High School? I invited some people to Yujing Hotel the day after tomorrow for a banquet. Help me choose an outfit." Her mother explained. Qiao Sang: ... "Mom, it''s not that big of a deal." "Of course, it is! It''s a day to be proud of, so we have to celebrate properly. I''m even going to hang a banner. What do you think I should write on it?" Her mother asked as she tried on outfits in front of the mirror. Qiao Sang was helpless. Seeing her mother so determined, she asked to confirm, "You told my teacher about me getting into Shengshui High School?" "Of course! I had to call and thank your teacher for helping improve your grades in the final stages. I even invited him to the banquet." Her mother admitted. What could Qiao Sang say? As long as her mother was happy. But the efficiency was impressive¡ªshe felt like her mother had already called everyone they knew. Qiao Sang spent the rest of the time helping her mother choose an outfit, finally settling on a dress that matched Fire Fang Dog''s fur color, thanks to its decisive paw. In the afternoon, her mother went for a beauty treatment, and Qiao Sang took the report card to Shengshui High School to confirm her enrollment. Her admission to Shengshui High School was now official. --- June 26. Yujing Hotel. "Qiao Sang, come here. This is Aunt Pingping. She held you when you were little." Her mother, dressed in a red gown with elegantly styled hair, called Qiao Sang over. "Hello, Auntie." Qiao Sang greeted politely. Qiao Sang was dressed as usual, but her Fire Fang Dog had been given a makeover. Its flame-like fur was meticulously groomed, a black bow tie was stylishly fastened around its neck, and a pair of matching black triangular sunglasses completed its dashing look. "You''ve grown so much, Qiao Sang." Aunt Pingping said to Qiao Sang, though her eyes couldn''t help but keep glancing at Fire Fang Dog. Before they could chat further, Qiao Sang''s mother pulled her over to another table, where she recognized some familiar faces. "Hello, Teacher." Qiao Sang greeted with a smile. "Qiao Sang, when I first saw you, I knew you had the potential to excel in your studies. I''ve taught so many students, but you''re the only one who awakened on your own. You didn''t let me down by getting into the best high school in Hanggang." Her teacher said, standing up with a beaming smile. Before Qiao Sang could respond, her mother chimed in, "Oh, it''s all thanks to you, Teacher. Just a while ago, she even scored zero on an exam. If it weren''t for your dedication, how could she have done so well on the entrance exam?" "Not at all, it''s because she worked hard and improved her grades." The teacher modestly replied. "Don''t be modest, Teacher. If you hadn''t kept a close eye on her, she wouldn''t have made it." Her mother insisted. "Really, it''s all her own effort. She even took almost two weeks off near the end. I couldn''t supervise her studies then." The teacher added. The room suddenly fell silent. After a few seconds, Qiao Sang''s mother looked at her and asked, "You... took two weeks off?" Qiao Sang: ...! S~ea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Oh no, she forgot about that! Chapter 44: A Delicious Treat ¡°Haha, haven¡¯t I been spending time training Fire Fang Dog? Otherwise, how could I have ranked first in the special admission exam? Isn¡¯t that right, Fire Fang Dog?¡± Qiao Sang forced a couple of awkward laughs, secretly giving Fire Fang Dog a gentle pat. Now that she¡¯s graduated, explaining things to her homeroom teacher no longer matters; explaining to her mother is what¡¯s truly important. ¡°Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog nodded earnestly, responding in perfect coordination. Before her mother could speak, the homeroom teacher said, ¡°Ranking first in the special admission exam is truly impressive.¡± He smiled at Qiao Sang, but his words were directed at her mother, ¡°Qiao Sang¡¯s mother, how¡¯s your health?¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat; the homeroom teacher was definitely doing this on purpose! Her mother shot Qiao Sang a knowing glance, then turned to smile, ¡°I¡¯m doing quite well.¡± ¡°Mom, Aunt¡¯s calling me. I¡¯ll go over.¡± Seizing the opportunity as someone at another table called her, Qiao Sang quickly excused herself. ¡°Third Aunt, did you call me?¡± Qiao Sang sighed in relief as she reached the nearby table. Most of the people at this table were her mother¡¯s relatives. Her mother had three older brothers and a younger sister. Apart from the third brother, Qiao Sang¡¯s Third Uncle, who stayed behind, the eldest and second uncles and her younger aunt had all moved to other provinces. Even though Third Uncle also didn¡¯t live in Hanggang City, he resided in Qitang Town, about 90 kilometers away. Qitang Town, Qiao Sang¡¯s hometown, was where her mother was born. Third Uncle had stayed in that small town his entire life, not for any other reason but to take good care of their grandparents. Third Aunt had accompanied him there all along as well. They had two children, and even though their eldest son was already in college, they still hadn¡¯t had a proper vacation. For Qiao Sang, among her mother¡¯s relatives, she was closest to Third Uncle¡¯s family. After all, they were still in the same province and would visit each other during holidays. ¡°Qiao Sang, how about coming over during the summer break? Your grandparents really miss you. If it weren¡¯t for their health issues, which I had to stop them for, they would have come to see you this time.¡± Third Aunt said with a smile. Third Aunt wasn¡¯t a Beast Tamer, and without a Beast Tamer¡¯s codex or the benefits from a pet beast, the traces of time were especially visible on her face. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come in mid-July.¡± Qiao Sang agreed, even offering a specific date. Actually, she had already planned to spend the summer break at her old home. Qiao Sang¡¯s current home was on the sixth floor, and training Fire Fang Dog downstairs was inconvenient. Since it was a fire-type pet beast, a casual flame could easily damage the greenery in the neighborhood. But Qitang Town was different. Her old home had a large courtyard in the back. A short bus ride would take her to a small forest in Tanan Township nearby, an ideal place for training. Qiao Sang had already calculated the timing. On June 30th, there would be a competition in Hanggang City for F-rank Beast Tamers, which she could participate in before returning to her hometown. For Qiao Sang, this competition wasn¡¯t about winning; it was about earning points! ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be waiting for you." Third Aunt said with a smile, her gaze shifting to the pet in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. ¡°Is this the pet beast you¡¯ve contracted? It¡¯s adorable.¡± She reached out to pet it. Fire Fang Dog squinted its eyes comfortably. Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt relieved. Sometimes, whether a pet liked someone or not could be a mystery. --- After the banquet, while her mother accompanied Third Aunt and the others for some shopping, Qiao Sang returned home first. Not daring to ask Fire Fang Dog for help, she cleaned the entire house inside and out by herself. Only when the house looked spotless did Qiao Sang¡¯s anxiety begin to ease. Now that the high school entrance exam was over and she had been accepted into Shenshui High school, the past was behind her. Even though she had secretly taken nearly two weeks off, seeing the house so clean should prevent her mother from saying too much... Qiao Sang took Fire Fang Dog downstairs, intending to continue their usual speed training. ¡°Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog shook its head, showing reluctance. It had gone through so much effort to look this handsome; one session of training, and all that sweat would ruin everything! ¡°Who knew you had such an image to maintain." Qiao Sang said, squatting down to pat Fire Fang Dog with a smile. Usually, Fire Fang Dog was the one insisting on training, but this time, it didn¡¯t want to train to preserve its appearance, so Qiao Sang didn¡¯t push it. ¡°Yap~¡± Fire Fang Dog fidgeted a little. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to eat something nice.¡± Qiao Sang said, picking up Fire Fang Dog. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire Fang Dog called out in confusion. Didn¡¯t we just eat? More food? It turned its head and thought for a moment. Well... maybe it¡¯s not a bad idea... Sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without resistance, Fire Fang Dog followed Qiao Sang to a specialty snack shop. ¡°Boss, three skewers of the Super Crazy Spicy Wings, please.¡± ¡°Coming right up!¡± Qiao Sang found an empty seat and sat down with Fire Fang Dog. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire Fang Dog blinked its big, watery eyes. Just three skewers? ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile, adding, ¡°After eating, try releasing Ember, focusing the energy into a single point, compressing it, and then releasing it.¡± Her real purpose for coming wasn¡¯t to eat but to experiment with her idea for skill development. Since she had a golden finger, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t worried about not mastering the skill. Lately, she had been thinking about how to teach Fire Fang Dog new skills. The vice principal of Shenshui High had mentioned herbal baths, but she couldn¡¯t afford them. Going to a special skill-learning institution was also out of her budget, and there were no elders with fire-type pet beasts around to teach her. So, she had to rely on herself to figure out how to develop new skills. There were plenty of skills that beginner fire-type pet beasts could learn, but Fire Fang Dog currently only knew Fire Fang and Ember. A few days ago, Qiao Sang had asked Fire Fang Dog to try compressing the energy while releasing Ember. However, aside from increasing the power a bit, there wasn¡¯t much difference. Ember was still just Ember. That¡¯s when Qiao Sang thought of the Super Crazy Spicy Wings. The spicy oil used wasn¡¯t ordinary but extracted from the seeds of a plant-type pet beast called Jiao Yao Vine. Even non-fire-type pet beasts might spit fire after eating it. If a real fire-type pet beast ate it, wouldn¡¯t it mobilize all the energy in its body? When the energy was then focused, compressed, and released, the effect should be different. Although Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t fully understand its Beast Tamer¡¯s plan, concentrating energy and releasing Ember was no difficult task for it, not even requiring a drop of sweat. Since it wouldn¡¯t affect its appearance, Fire Fang Dog nodded without hesitation. Soon, the Super Crazy Spicy Wings were served. The wings, coated in red oil, were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, emitting an irresistible aroma. Fire Fang Dog¡¯s mouth began to water instantly, and it reached out its paw to grab a skewer. Qiao Sang quickly snatched up all three skewers. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire Fang Dog looked confused. Weren¡¯t we supposed to eat? ¡°We¡¯ll eat outside.¡± Qiao Sang said. If they ate here, how would they practice compressing and releasing the energy? If things got out of control and it spewed fire, they¡¯d be stuck washing dishes to pay for the damage. Chapter 45: Meteor Shower Qiao Sang led Fire Fang Dog into a nearby alley.Fire Fang Dog had a nagging feeling that something wasn¡¯t right. But the aroma of the Super Crazy Spicy Wings numbed its senses. Without thinking much, Fire Fang Dog took the skewer of wings from its Beast Tamer and took a big bite. The meat was tender and delicious. Fire Fang Dog''s eyes lit up, just as it was about to take a second bite¡ª ¡°Yowwww!!!¡± A pitiful howl echoed through the empty alley. Pedestrians passing by the alley¡¯s entrance stopped and peered inside, thinking some sort of pet abuse was going on. They saw a young girl standing quietly to the side while Fire Fang Dog was frantically spewing fire at the wall. Turns out it was just a fire-type pet beast acting out of control. The pedestrians came to their conclusion and, not wanting to get noticed by the fire-type beast, continued on as if nothing had happened. ¡°Fire Fang Dog, hang in there, compress, compress it, then try releasing it.¡± Qiao Sang reminded from the side. ¡°Yowwww!!!¡± Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes were now truly wet with tears. Compress? What compress? All it knew was that it was burning up from the spiciness! A scorching sensation surged through its stomach, the heat rushing to its head, filling its nose and throat. ¡°Yowwww!!!¡± Fire Fang Dog began spewing fire unconsciously, just wanting to soothe its burning throat and stomach. Qiao Sang noticed that Fire Fang Dog''s flames were starting to evolve from a spherical shape into a columnar one. She quickly took out her phone to record the scene. After Fire Fang Dog was exhausted from all the fire spewing and collapsed on the ground, Qiao Sang took out a bottle of Qiyuan Milk from her backpack and handed it over. Fire Fang Dog immediately grabbed the milk with both paws and gulped it down in no time. It looked at Qiao Sang with tearful eyes, pitifully. Qiao Sang understood what it was asking. ¡°No way, I only brought four bottles of milk, and I have to save some for later." Qiao Sang refused. Recently, her funds had shrunk drastically. With expenses piling up and no income, she had to cut down the amount of Qiyuan Milk used after training by nearly half. Later? Why not now? Fire Fang Dog blinked its confused eyes, not understanding, until its Beast Tamer offered it another skewer of chicken wings. ¡°Yoww!¡± Fire Fang Dog immediately backed into the corner, shaking its head vigorously. This was the thing that got it into this mess! It swore never to eat it again! Qiao Sang squatted beside Fire Fang Dog and showed it the video she just recorded on her phone. ¡°Look, don¡¯t you think the flames you just spat out were different from your usual sparks?¡± Fire Fang Dog watched the video, seeing itself nearly crying from the spiciness. Its fur stood on end, tears and snot running down its face, looking nothing like the dashing figure it saw in the mirror that morning. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire Fang Dog covered its eyes with its paws, refusing to admit that the image in the video was really it. Sensing Fire Fang Dog¡¯s thoughts, Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She had forgotten how much Fire Fang Dog cared about its image... It seemed she had to use another trick... Qiao Sang picked up her phone and searched for other fire-type pet beast battle videos, making sure to add cool and stylish to the keywords. Without pre-screening the video, she clicked on the one with the highest recent views and placed it in front of Fire Fang Dog. ¡°Take a look.¡± Fire Fang Dog peeked through a gap in its paws and, seeing it wasn¡¯t the embarrassing video of itself, finally lowered its paws. The video showed a Blazing Mane Lion with fiery red curls. It roared towards the sky, stomped its right front paw forcefully, and a flame the size of a goose egg formed above its head. The flame, filled with terrifying energy, rose higher and higher before exploding like fireworks, with sparks gracefully falling, creating a beautiful scene. Fire Fang Dog was captivated by the sight. It hadn¡¯t enjoyed it for long before the sparks hit the ground, causing a series of earth-shattering explosions, destroying the beautiful image. The video showed dust rising everywhere. As the explosion ceased and the dust settled, only ruins remained on the ground. The ground was riddled with craters, and the opponent was charred beyond recognition. The beautiful scene had instantly turned into a terrifying sight. Fire Fang Dog stared at the video, unmoving. Qiao Sang was stunned after watching. Although she wanted Fire Fang Dog to see some cool fire-type skills, she didn¡¯t expect such a high-difficulty one! She had wanted to show it simple skills like Flame Jet, Fireball, or Flame Impact that beginner pet beasts could learn. The Meteor Shower displayed by the Blazing Mane Lion in the video was a high-level skill, far beyond what Fire Fang Dog could learn at its current stage. Qiao Sang wanted to switch to another video but noticed Fire Fang Dog was still engrossed in the scene. Her mind quickly came up with an idea, and she tempted it by saying, ¡°Do you want to learn this?¡± Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes immediately brightened, and it looked up at its Beast Tamer, full of longing. Got it! Qiao Sang secretly praised her own cleverness. ¡°I was trying to help you grasp a new skill earlier. Didn¡¯t you feel that the flames you spat out were different from before? The wings were just the key to unleashing your inner energy. As long as you keep practicing the way I said, you¡¯ll definitely be able to learn the Meteor Shower from the video.¡± Qiao Sang bluffed. Learning Meteor Shower might be impossible, but learning some other lower-level fire skills was still achievable. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire Fang Dog solemnly nodded after hearing its Beast Tamer¡¯s words. It had completely forgotten its embarrassing look in the video and the taste of the wings, focused only on mastering that awe-inspiring skill. ¡°Next time, after you finish eating the wings, don¡¯t just randomly shoot out flames. Gather the surging energy, compress it, and then release it.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire Fang Dog responded enthusiastically, reaching out with its paw to take the skewer it swore never to eat again. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It closed its eyes, held its breath, and took a bite of the wing as if it were its last meal. ¡°Yappppp!!!¡± The familiar sensation surged up again. ¡°Compress!¡± Qiao Sang reminded from the side. Fire Fang Dog resisted the urge to immediately spew flames, focusing on the energy within, compressing it as much as possible. Until it felt it had reached its limit, Fire Fang Dog could no longer hold back and released the accumulated flames. This time, it wasn¡¯t the usual sparks, nor the columnar flames from earlier. A scorching flame shot out in a spinning motion at high speed. Before Qiao Sang could even grasp what skill it was¡ª Boom, boom, boom! The sound of bricks and stones collapsing echoed in her ears. The wall had collapsed... Qiao Sang blacked out, stunned in place. Across from her, an elderly man, leaning on a cane, made eye contact with her. Fire Fang Dog was pleased with the power of its flames. It momentarily forgot about needing milk to ease the spiciness and turned to its Beast Tamer, waiting for praise. Before it could take a second look at its masterpiece, it found itself lifted into the air. Turns out its Beast Tamer had scooped it up and was running away. ¡°Yapp?¡± Fire Fang Dog was confused. Weren¡¯t we going to learn a new skill? Why are we running? Qiao Sang was panicking inside. Did that old man see her just now? He did, didn¡¯t he... He probably remembers her face too... After all, she¡¯s so good-looking... Chapter 46: Physically and Mentally Exhausted Qiao Sang carried the Fire Fang Dog, running two streets away before stopping. The Fire Fang Dog looked up at its beastmaster in confusion."We''re just changing locations for training." Qiao Sang said, catching her breath. --- Five kilometers away, at an open training ground for pet beasts. Qiao Sang opened the panel. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (152/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Adept 334/500) +, Fire Fang (Adept 539/2000) +, Ember (Adepth 659/2000) +, Shadow Clone (Beginner 42/100) +, Fire Whirl (Beginner 1/100) + Points: 109 The Fire Fang Dog''s stats had greatly improved since a few days ago. Both Fire Fang and Ember had already reached the adept stage. Normally, even low-level skills like Ember would take at least six months to advance from intermediate to adept, but Fire Fang Dog managed to reach that level in just about two weeks. And as for Fire Fang, a mid-level skill, it typically takes at least a year to achieve significant progress. However, Fire Fang Dog had reached an adept level in less than half a month¡ªa feat that would normally take others about a year. Qiao Sang''s gaze skimmed over the other stats, as she had been monitoring them every night before bed. She was already aware of the progress in Fire Fang and Ember. Fire Whirl (Beginner 1/100) + Her eyes locked on the newly appeared stat, this wasn''t there last night. Sure enough, there was a new skill! Qiao Sang was excited. The Fire Fang Dog was different from other beasts. While other beasts might not be able to consistently use new skills they¡¯ve just learned, Fire Fang Dog could release them accurately every time after just one successful attempt. The same had happened with Fire Fang and Shadow Clone. It seemed her idea of feeding it the super spicy wings had paid off! Qiao Sang mentally patted herself on the back and then exited the Beastmaster Codex. "Fire Fang Dog, release Fire Whirl five times." Qiao Sang instructed. "Yap?" The Fire Fang Dog tilted its head in confusion. "You know, the move you just learned from eating the wings." Qiao Sang explained. The Fire Fang Dog understood. It recalled the burning sensation it had felt earlier, opened its mouth, and a searing fire spun into the air. Soon, it had completed five Fire Whirl attempts. Sea?ch* The ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog wagged its tail, its eyes shining brightly as it looked at its beastmaster. "Great job." Qiao Sang praised it, pretending not to understand the dog''s eagerness. "You must be tired, let''s head home." She was thrilled with the success of her skill development experiment¡ªthe Fire Whirl had a 100% success rate, just as she''d hoped. Now she had to rush home to brainstorm ways to make money. As she turned to leave, her right foot suddenly felt heavy. Looking down, she saw that the Fire Fang Dog was biting her pant leg. "Yap! Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog let go as soon as she stopped and started gesturing with its paws. It didn¡¯t want to go home! It hadn''t mastered Meteor Shower yet! Qiao Sang was at a loss. What was she supposed to do with such a determined pet? She crouched down and explained, "You¡¯ve already learned a new skill today, which is amazing. We should take things slow and practice Meteor Shower next time." She needed to persuade the Fire Fang Dog to leave. Even if they practiced all night, they wouldn''t make any progress on a high-level skill like Meteor Shower. As a high-level skill, the difficulty and power of Meteor Shower go hand in hand. If it were easy to master, it wouldn¡¯t be classified as a high-level skill. But the Fire Fang Dog took a step back and shook its head. It wanted to practice Meteor Shower! Its beastmaster was too complacent. How could they call it a day after mastering just one small skill? It was determined to become the invincible Fire Fang Dog! Qiao Sang sighed and handed it a now-cold skewer of spicy wings. What else could she do? The Fire Fang Dog had made up its mind, so she had no choice but to keep going with it. The Fire Fang Dog stiffened, gritted its teeth, and took a bite of the wings. A second later¡ª "Yap!!!" --- At Qingcheng Jiayuan, 7:30 PM. The Fire Fang Dog lay weakly on the sofa, looking completely drained. "Coo~" The fat dove approached, nudging it with concern. "Is the Fire Fang Dog alright?" Her mother asked. "It''s fine, just physically and mentally exhausted." Qiao Sang replied. Mother: ... This is what you call fine?! Qiao Sang sat cross-legged, watching TV. To learn Meteor Shower, the Fire Fang Dog had eaten six super crazy spicy wings, but they only had three bottles of Qiyuan milk left. Even though the Fire Fang Dog tried to suppress the burning sensation, its constant flame attacks left it severely depleted. She couldn¡¯t afford more Qiyuan milk, so she had to make do with seven or eight bottles of water for it to drink. After a whole afternoon of this, its throat was hoarse from the heat and constant barking, yet it hadn''t made any progress with Meteor Shower. While it didn¡¯t learn Meteor Shower, its Fire Whirl skill level had increased by 45 points, leaving the Fire Fang Dog completely worn out. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t do anything but watch. The Fire Fang Dog was stubborn, and stopping it from practicing wasn¡¯t an option, it had to reach its own limits first. As its beastmaster, the best she could do was not to interfere. "You¡¯ve tidied up the room well. Now, how about explaining why you needed to take two weeks off?" Her mother asked. Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and cautiously replied, "I told you, it was for training Fire Fang Dog. How else could I win first place in Shengshui High''s special admissions? Right, Fire Fang Dog?" "Yap." The Fire Fang Dog rasped. Her mother glanced at Qiao Sang, then got up, went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and gently placed it in front of the Fire Fang Dog. "Here, have some water." Qiao Sang: ... Why did it feel like her mother was silently accusing her of mistreating the Fire Fang Dog? Fortunately, her mother didn¡¯t press the issue further, probably because she had tidied the room and got into Shengshui High School today. Qiao Sang sighed in relief. An advertisement was playing on TV, announcing the registration time and location for the F-level Beastmaster competition in Hanggang City on June 30th. As they showed the prizes for the top three finishers, Qiao Sang leaned forward. Third place, a BD-7800 model Moonlight Motorcycle and 50,000 Alliance Coins. Second place, a Water Evolution Stone and 100,000 Alliance Coins. First place, a random pet egg and 200,000 Alliance Coins. Qiao Sang¡¯s breath quickened. This first-place prize seemed tailor-made for her! Whether it was the pet egg or the Alliance Coins, she needed them both right now! Before she could memorize the registration website, her mother had already picked up the remote and changed the channel. ¡°Mom!¡± Qiao Sang called out. She wanted to ask her mother to switch back, but her voice trailed off. On the screen, a woman in a business suit was reporting the news. "At 1:23 PM today, a case of malicious destruction of a building''s wall occurred on Jiangyi Street..." Chapter 47: The Ghostly Sucker As the female news anchor continued her broadcast, a corresponding surveillance video appeared in the upper left corner of the screen. The camera was positioned far from the alley entrance, capturing only a distant, blurry figure. However, it was still possible to make out a girl and a red-colored pet beast. Mother Ye squinted at the screen and asked, "Why does that person look a bit like you?" Qiao Sang forced herself to stay calm and replied, "Good-looking people tend to resemble each other." Mother Ye: ... The Fire Fang Dog, having just finished drinking the water in its cup, lifted its head and caught sight of the broadcast. "Yap! Yaya!" The Fire Fang Dog pointed at the television with its paw, a look of surprise on its face. Why was it on TV?! The mother, noticing this, asked, "What is Fire Fang Dog saying?" Qiao Sang answered, "It says the person on TV is good-looking." "Yap! Yap!" "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog, its voice still hoarse, tried to explain frantically. That''s not what it meant! It and its master were on TV! Mother looked over at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang translated, "It says I¡¯m right." The Fire Fang Dog: ... --- Back in her room, Qiao Sang counted her remaining money. 4,663 Alliance Coins. Ever since winning her second bet on the Interstellar Betting Network, she had withdrawn all her winnings in cash, fearing she might not be able to resist the temptation of betting again. This amount should be enough to repair a wall¡­ Qiao Sang calculated in her head. Since the wall damaged by Fire Fang Dog was only in the middle, she''d only need to fix that part. With this in mind, she naturally separated 1,000 Alliance Coins from the 4,663 on her table. After estimating the repair costs, Qiao Sang took out pen and paper, spending over half an hour writing a 500-word apology letter. She placed the apology letter and 3,500 Alliance Coins into an envelope, then picked up her phone to request a Didi Express delivery. Didi Express is the fastest and most efficient way to deliver items within the city. Whether it''s food or other items, it can be delivered quickly. Sea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unlike the professional couriers from her previous life, those who can register with Didi Express are all Beast Tamers during their downtime. Some Beast Tamers take on orders during their free time to earn extra money. And if you''re lucky enough to get a Beast Tamer with a psychic-type pet, your items could be delivered in as little as 10 seconds. Two minutes later¡­ "Yap!" "What''s wrong? What''s wrong?" Qiao Sang was startled. The Fire Fang Dog trembled as it pointed toward the windowsill. Qiao Sang followed its gaze. Outside the window was a black pet beast about the size of a basketball, with a pair of dark red eyes staring directly at her. When it saw Qiao Sang looking at it, it grinned, revealing sharp white fangs. Then, its limbless body suddenly sprouted a hand with only two fingers, which it used to knock on the window. Qiao Sang steadied herself. It was just a Ghostly Sucker. As a ghost-type pet, its sudden appearance was indeed scary, but Fire Fang Dog seemed to be overreacting. Normally, Fire Fang Dog wasn¡¯t that timid. Qiao Sang opened the window. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog darted to the edge of the bed, exposing only its head as it peeked at the Ghostly Sucker. The Ghostly Sucker floated inside, grinning again to show its fangs. Then it extended its two-fingered hand into its own body and rummaged around. Soon, it pulled out a phone. After a few simple operations, Qiao Sang''s phone displayed a notification indicating that the Didi Express courier had arrived. Qiao Sang handed the envelope and 150 Alliance Coins to the Ghostly Sucker. For Didi Express, the user sets a service fee, and if the courier agrees, they accept the job. Qiao Sang had set the fee at 150 Alliance Coins. She needed to deliver the envelope to the Jiangyi Street Office, which wasn¡¯t far from her home. The Ghostly Sucker took the envelope and Alliance Coins, stuffing them into its body. After one last polite grin to show its fangs, it floated away. "Yap! Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog finally revealed itself after the Ghostly Sucker had left, frantically questioning its master. Why did that scary thing appear here? Qiao Sang listened to the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s concerns and began to think. She remembered that the Ghostly Sucker was the character from that horror movie she had shown the Fire Fang Dog¡­ Had it been scared all this time? It seemed like Fire Fang Dog might not be very brave¡­ How would it fight ghost-type pet beasts in the future? Maybe she should let it watch more horror movies to toughen up or take it to a haunted house¡­ The Fire Fang Dog suddenly felt a chill and shivered. --- The next morning. Qiao Sang was woken up by the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s barking. "Yap! Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog called out energetically, showing no signs of the weakness or fear from the night before. Qiao Sang turned over and said, "Let me sleep a little longer." After finally finishing her high school entrance exams and getting a break, if she couldn¡¯t sleep in, what was the point of life? "Yap!" Seeing that its master was still sleeping, the Fire Fang Dog grabbed the blanket with its mouth and yanked it off. After some tussling, Qiao Sang finally gave up on the idea of enjoying the pleasures of life. --- At the same open pet training ground as yesterday. The Fire Fang Dog, after eating a bite of the super spicy crazy grilled wing, was practicing its fire-breathing. Qiao Sang watched from the side, feeling a bit guilty. The annoyance from being woken up earlier was gone. Her pet beast had woken up early in the morning for training and had even gone through the agony of eating those super spicy wings to learn the Meteor Shower skill she had casually mentioned. As a Beast Tamer, Qiao Sang felt a little ashamed. She couldn¡¯t think of any other solutions. The Fire Fang Dog was clearly determined to master Meteor Shower, but it was almost impossible for a low-level pet beast to learn a high-level skill. Learning a new skill wasn¡¯t like increasing proficiency; she didn¡¯t have any special cheats for that. Everything had to rely on the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s own effort. The Fire Fang Dog, having nearly exhausted its energy, panted as it came over to its master. Qiao Sang promptly handed it a bottle of Qiyuan Milk. She had only bought three bottles of Qiyuan Milk today. After paying the 3,500 Alliance Coins in compensation, her total assets had dwindled to 1,013 Alliance Coins. After buying the super spicy crazy grilled wings and Qiyuan Milk, she had only 689 Alliance Coins left. This money would last at most two days. Qiao Sang could only pin her hopes on the upcoming Hundred New Competition. This was the F-rank Beast Tamer competition that was to take place on June 30th. Qiao Sang had already registered online last night. After reviewing the entry requirements and rules, she wasn¡¯t too optimistic about winning first place. The Hundred New Competition allowed any F-rank Beast Tamer to sign up. This meant that even if a Beast Tamer had undergone a second awakening and their two pet beasts had evolved into mid-level beasts, as long as they hadn¡¯t yet passed the Alliance¡¯s E-rank Beast Tamer exam, they were eligible to participate. With this in mind, it seemed that newly awakened Beast Tamers who had just finished their high school entrance exams would probably just be there to boost the competition¡¯s popularity. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t expect to win first place, but she was determined to at least make it into the top ten. After all, if she didn¡¯t place in the top ten, there would be no rewards like evolution stones or motorcycles¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t even get a single Alliance Coin¡­ Chapter 48: The Hundred New Competition ¡°Yap!¡±The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s bark pulled Qiao Sang back from her thoughts. She looked down to see that an entire bottle of Qiyuan Milk had been drained. The Fire Fang Dog gazed longingly at its Beast Tamer, clearly wanting another bottle. Qiao Sang handed it the water she had prepared in advance. Now that her entire savings had dwindled to three digits, she had to ration the water and milk. If she didn¡¯t, her assets might be depleted before the Hundred New Competition even started. The Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t mind. It gulped down the water, took two bites of the super spicy crazy grilled wings, and turned back to its training. Qiao Sang watched with mixed emotions. The Fire Fang Dog really seemed determined to learn Meteor Shower Qiao Sang stared at the Fire Fang Dog, which was constantly breathing fire, and then pulled out her phone to search for training centers in Hanggang City that offered Meteor Shower lessons. Soon, the web page displayed several institutions offering skill training. One of them was just three streets away. Qiao Sang clicked on it. [One-on-One Nanny-Style Guidance] [One of the Most Renowned Fire-Type Pet Beast Training Institutions in the Country] [A team of nearly 500 trainers, including 1 A-Rank Beast Tamer, 12 B-Rank Beast Tamers, and 122 C-Rank Beast Tamers] [Over 20,000 successful advanced skills training sessions each year] The description seemed exaggerated. If it were truly one of the most renowned institutions in the country, they¡¯d probably add another zero to the 20,000 successful sessions per year. However, if they really had an A-Rank Beast Tamer as a trainer, this institution''s strength couldn¡¯t be underestimated. Qiao Sang clicked to inquire about the cost of training Meteor Shower. The response came quickly. Qiao Sang felt a little dizzy. So many zeros...One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand... She couldn¡¯t bear to look any further. She quickly closed the page and put her phone away. It was better to just let the Fire Fang Dog continue practicing on its own. Hiring a trainer was out of the question¡­ --- June 30th. Qiao Sang took the No. 63 bus early in the morning to the Pet Beast Arena at Shouke Park. A long line had already formed at the entrance of the arena, mostly filled with people around Qiao Sang¡¯s age. There were also a few reporters with microphones randomly interviewing people. Qiao Sang, carrying the Fire Fang Dog, deliberately took a detour to Line 2, afraid that some sharp-eyed reporter might interview her. After all, the Fire Fang Dog was wearing sunglasses, making it stand out among the other new Beast Tamers of her age. The Fire Fang Dog wasn¡¯t wearing the sunglasses by choice; Qiao Sang had put them on it. After several days of training with no progress on Meteor Shower, the Fire Fang Dog seemed to have lost some confidence and had become much quieter. So, Qiao Sang decided to give it sunglasses. Though the Fire Fang Dog still wasn¡¯t talking much, at least its spirits seemed higher. After standing in line for over twenty minutes, Qiao Sang confirmed her name, received her contestant badge, and headed to the D section, Row 11, of the arena. ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± A voice called out, waving from Seat 5 in Row 11. Qiao Sang sat down next to Fang Sisi and asked, ¡°Besides you, how many of our classmates are here?¡± Last night, Fang Sisi had messaged Qiao Sang, and they found out they had both registered for the June 30th Hundred New Competition, leading to this meeting. ¡°Not many, maybe 4 or 5. The Hundred New Competition coincides with a few matches of the Interstellar Cup, so most people didn¡¯t want to miss the livestreams.¡± Fang Sisi replied, her eyes shining as she stared at the Fire Fang Dog. It was her first time seeing the Fire Fang Dog in sunglasses. It looked so cool! Fang Sisi thought the Fire Fang Dog was cool and said so out loud. Normally, if someone complimented it like that, the Fire Fang Dog would puff out its chest and let out a proud bark. But this time, it just puffed out its chest without making a sound. The Fire Fang Dog wanted to bark proudly. But it couldn¡¯t. It had eaten too many super spicy crazy grilled wings in the past few days. Its throat hurt... ¡°Your Cottonbug is growing well, it looks much bigger than last time.¡± Qiao Sang complimented. Though, honestly, she was thinking it looked chubbier... In just five days, the Cottonbug had grown much rounder. However, insect-type pet beasts like the Cottonbug have short evolution cycles, so if they eat and sleep well, they develop much faster than other pet beasts. These changes were noticeable to the naked eye. ¡°Cotton~¡± Hearing someone praise it, the Cottonbug shyly turned its back on Qiao Sang. ¡°Is it bigger? I didn¡¯t really notice.¡± Fang Sisi picked up the Cotton Caterpillar to weigh it. ¡°It does seem much heavier.¡± Cottonbug: ... It was all the same meaning, but why did it feel uncomfortable hearing it from its own Beast Tamer¡­ After chatting for about twenty minutes, the seats around them gradually filled up. With the loud bang of fireworks, the Hundred New Competition officially began. ¡°What¡¯s your number?¡± Fang Sisi asked. ¡°123. What about you?¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°11.¡± Fang Sisi answered. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you go to the waiting room? I think it¡¯ll be your turn soon." Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but remind her. The preliminary matches in the Hundred New Competition weren¡¯t random but directly followed the number order: 1 against 2, 3 against 4, and so on. sea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That can¡¯t be. There are still five matches ahead of me. I¡¯ll go backstage when the fifth match starts; I still want to watch more of the competition.¡± Fang Sisi said. Qiao Sang thought it was a bit risky but didn¡¯t say more. Fang Sisi had a point. By the time the host finished introducing the event and a few matches had been played, it would take some time. Sixteen minutes later. ¡°Damn! That was fast! Qiao Sang, I gotta go now!¡± Fang Sisi grabbed her Cottonbug and rushed out of her seat. She sprinted down the aisle towards the backstage area. In those sixteen minutes, the host had spent about ten minutes on introductions. The remaining time saw nearly one match per minute. The F-rank Beast Tamers in the arena only had beginner pet beasts, and with limited abilities, most matches ended within three moves if the opponent struck first. Qiao Sang had thought she wouldn¡¯t be called until the afternoon or even the next day. Now it seemed certain she would compete that morning¡­ ¡°Contestant No. 11, Fang Sisi.¡± ¡°Contestant No. 11, Fang Sisi.¡± The host called Fang Sisi¡¯s name twice, but she still hadn¡¯t appeared. ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate¡­¡± The host was about to declare Contestant No. 12 the winner by default when a voice suddenly came through his earpiece. ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Contestant No. 11, Fang Sisi, on her grand entrance!¡± Since the start of the Hundred New Competition, the host had been straightforward, simply announcing the contestants¡¯ numbers and names. This was the first time he added the words grand entrance to a contestant¡¯s introduction. For a moment, the audience was intrigued. Three seconds later. Fang Sisi appeared on the field, panting heavily. Beside her was her chubby Cottonbug, struggling to keep up... Chapter 49: The Scent of Money "Could they be related to one of the investors?"Everyone quickly dismissed the idea. If they were really related to the investors, they probably wouldn¡¯t have contracted with just a Cottonbug¡­ Qiao Sang relaxed a bit. It was hard to say if it was their first match, but it seemed to be Fang Sisi and her Cottonbug¡¯s first official competition. Just getting through it without any issues was already a good start. "Fire fang dog, who do you think will win?" Qiao Sang asked. The opponent, the No. 12 contestant¡¯s pet beast, was a Sand Rat, skilled in self-defense and evasion. On the other hand, the Cottonbug was synonymous with weakness, ranking at the bottom of the strength list among beginner pet beasts until its first evolution. Barring any surprises, Fang Sisi¡¯s chances of winning were slim. Qiao Sang was only asking Fire fang Dog to help it learn to observe and assess the situation on the field, hoping it could develop the ability to judge the levels of both sides. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang dog pointed its paw toward Fang Sisi¡¯s direction and barked. Qiao Sang: ... Does Fire fang dog have such poor judgment?! "Why?" Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Yap yap.¡± Firefang explained with its slightly hoarse voice. That person had just complimented how cool it looked. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. At least its eyesight wasn¡¯t the problem¡­ "Contestant No. 12, Zhang Shuo, is 16 years old and has a year of experience as a pet beast trainer. His opponent, Fang Sisi, only recently became a trainer. San Duo, how do you see this match going?" The middle-aged commentator with slicked-back hair asked the handsome young man beside him. In a normal pet beast competition, there¡¯s usually a main and a secondary commentator. The main commentator typically has sharp eyesight and a quick tongue, responsible for giving a blow-by-blow account of the match. The secondary commentator is often a guest invited by the organizers, usually someone with their own following. Their role is to offer professional insights on strategy and tactics, helping the audience understand the game. For this Hundred New Competition, the guest was San Duo, who recently gained popularity. He had won over the audience during the Yu Hua District tournament with his handsome looks and never-give-up spirit until the last moment. Although he only made it to the top 24, his popularity surpassed even some of the top 10 contestants. ¡°I think¡­¡± Before San Duo could share his opinion, the match had already ended. He continued, "Well, I guess I don¡¯t need to say anything." As soon as the match started, the Sand Rat burrowed into the ground, and the Cottonbug, standing there clueless, was knocked out cold when the Sand Rat emerged and attacked. Qiao Sang put away her phone, having just recorded the match, and checked the time. 21 seconds. Not surprising¡­ Fang Sisi returned to her seat with the Cottonbug, sighing deeply, ¡°I lost so badly.¡± Qiao Sang nodded, "It was a bit rough." Fire fang dog didn¡¯t say anything but nodded a few times in agreement. Fang Sisi: ¡­ Shouldn¡¯t her best friend be comforting her right now?! "But the Cottonbug doesn¡¯t have much of an advantage at this stage. Once you evolve it into a Basho Butterfly, your opponent probably won¡¯t stand a chance." Qiao Sang said. Fang Sisi looked at her now rounder Cottonbug and felt somewhat comforted. She hadn¡¯t come to the competition expecting to go far, she just wanted to join in the fun and gain some experience. Soon, Fang Sisi adjusted her mindset. She pointed at the seventh match and laughed, ¡°Haha, look at that Deepfur Turtle! It¡¯s just standing there foolishly, letting itself get hit.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Did she forget that her Cottonbug also got taken down just by standing still? The matches weren¡¯t particularly exciting. Most of the audience were friends and family of the contestants. As more people were eliminated, the audience thinned out. However, soon after, the spectators who had just left overheard some chatter and gradually returned to their seats. "Oh my god, it¡¯s a baby dragon!" ¡°Which young master brought this to play?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the announcer? His name is Lu You.¡± ¡°In Hanggang, there¡¯s only one Lu family with that much clout besides the Lu Group.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Lu Group one of the investors in this tournament? Could it be that they invested just for their young master?¡± The battles between F-rank trainers didn¡¯t draw them in, but an unevolved dragon-type pet beast was more than enough to lure them back. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes were fixed on the little dragon on the field. This was her first time seeing a dragon-type pet beast in real life. Those scales¡­Those claws¡­That horn¡­ Every part of it screamed the scent of money¡­ As expected, the match ended with the little dragon¡¯s overwhelming victory. Dragon-types were widely recognized as the strongest attribute, and for good reason. Their defense and attack power were leaps and bounds ahead of regular pet beasts. Fortunately, they were rare and developed slowly with long evolution cycles. Otherwise, they¡¯d leave no room for ordinary trainers to survive. ¡°Contestant No. 67, Lu You, just delivered a truly impressive victory. It looks like he¡¯s the seed player for this tournament.¡± Praised the commentator. Qiao Sang agreed with the latter half but found the former to be an exaggeration. Although the little dragon was a dragon-type pet beast, it was still a beginner-level creature. It was clear that it hadn¡¯t been trained for long. In just two rounds of exchanging special moves, it won with a powerful Dragon Claw attack. Compared to the earlier matches, it was indeed more exciting, but calling it truly impressive was a bit much. Qiao Sang put down her phone and started reviewing the footage she had just recorded. If they kept winning, there was a high probability they¡¯d face each other later. As a competent pet beast trainer, analyzing opponents and formulating strategies was part of the job. ¡°Qiao Sang, could you send me the video you just recorded? I was too focused on the match and forgot to record it myself.¡± Fang Sisi suddenly said. ¡°You like the little dragon too?¡± Qiao Sang asked. She had a reason for asking this. There had already been over 30 matches, yet Fang Sisi hadn¡¯t shown any interest in recording videos before. ¡°What? No way! The little dragon is so ugly, I don¡¯t like it at all. Didn¡¯t you notice the Apricot Mushroom just now? It¡¯s so cute, especially that little cry it made when it was defeated! So adorable! Hurry, send me the video¡ªI need to watch it again!¡± Fang Sisi said excitedly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She forgot that Fang Sisi was all about looks¡­ --- After a few more matches, the first F-rank trainer with an intermediate pet beast finally appeared: Contestant No. 99, Guo Yiqi. This was a truly one-sided match. Sea?ch* The N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With just a flap of its wings, Guo Yiqi¡¯s Venomous Butterfly scattered poisonous powder, knocking out the opponent¡¯s White Sand Fox. Qiao Sang watched the video she had just recorded and made some notes on her memo app. ¡°What do you think of the Venomous Butterfly?¡± Fang Sisi suddenly asked. Qiao Sang was slightly surprised that Fang Sisi would discuss this with her. She thought for a moment and seriously replied, ¡°Fire-type counters Bug-type but not Poison-type. Fortunately, the Venomous Butterfly¡¯s poison isn¡¯t too strong. Fire fang dog could use high heat to neutralize the poisonous powder. However, in this match, the Venomous Butterfly only used poison powder without any other skills. If we encounter it, we should strike first and control the tempo.¡± Fang Sisi: ¡­ ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking about that. I was asking what you think of the Venomous Butterfly¡¯s appearance.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Chapter 50: Interview "Not bad-looking, but Snow butterfly is still prettier." Qiao Sang replied again. Snow Butterfly and Venomous Butterfly both evolved from the cottonbug, making it easy for people to compare the two. Venomous Butterfly has bright colors and vividly patterned wings, making it obvious that it¡¯s a toxic species. In contrast, Snow Butterfly''s wings resemble transparent silk, giving off a feeling of purity and elegance. Fang Sisi glanced at the cottonbug, and the image of Venomous Butterfly floated into her mind. Indeed, Snow Butterfly is more attractive... Unbeknownst to the cottonbug, its Beast Master was captivated by the Venomous Butterfly in the arena, almost changing its evolution form. The competition continued efficiently. "Let¡¯s welcome contestant No. 105, Pan Jishu..." "I¡¯ll go wait backstage." Qiao Sang said. At this pace, it would be her turn in about ten minutes. "Okay, go ahead. I¡¯ll help you record the impressive performance of the Fire Fang Dog." Fang Sisi nodded. Hearing this, the Fire Fang Dog quickly adjusted its sunglasses with its paw. --- Qiao Sang arrived at the backstage waiting room and didn''t wait long before a staff member wearing a headset called her name to head to the competition area. "Let¡¯s welcome contestant No. 123, Qiao Sang." As Qiao Sang walked through the passage to the arena, she felt a moment of daze. Standing in the center of the arena felt very different from viewing it from the audience¡¯s perspective... The Fire Fang Dog also looked dazed. Why are so many people staring at it... Silently, it puffed out its chest, trying to stand taller. "Contestant Qiao Sang''s pet is actually a Fire Fang Dog! It¡¯s quite rare for a 15-year-old newcomer Beast Master to contract a fire-type beast as their first pet! San Duo, what do you think?" Asked the middle-aged commentator with slicked-back hair. "Indeed, Qiao Sang''s choice is quite bold. At 15, I wouldn¡¯t dare to deal with fire-type beasts." San Duo joked about himself. "It seems the situation isn¡¯t looking good for contestant Sun Jie. I wonder what his pet is?" The middle-aged commentator remarked, observing the scene. Most F-grade Beast Masters, who typically only have one low-level pet, carry their pets with them to showcase their identity as Beast Masters. However, some prefer to keep their pets in the Beast master Codex to maintain an air of mystery. Contestant No. 124, Sun Jie, was clearly one of them; he hadn¡¯t summoned his pet even after being there for a while, appearing very mysterious. "Please have both parties summon their respective pets." The referee reminded when contestant No. 124 didn¡¯t respond. Sun Jie struggled for a moment before finally summoning his pet. A familiar figure appeared in front of Qiao Sang. It was a cottonbug... Qiao Sang, a slender girl, had a Fire Fang Dog, while Sun Jie, who looked around 180 cm tall, had contracted a cottonbug. This combination created a striking visual effect for the audience. "It seems there¡¯s no suspense in this match for Qiao Sang." As the commentator''s words fell, the Fire Fang Dog unleashed a fire whirl, swiftly ending the match. "Sun Jie was simply unlucky; if he hadn¡¯t encountered Qiao Sang, he might have stood a chance." The commentator also tried to save a bit of face for Sun Jie. The Hundred New competition not only had live audiences but also viewers streaming on various platforms. ¡¾Isn¡¯t this just bullying?¡¿ S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾Why are there so many people contracting cotton pests?¡¿ ¡¾Because they¡¯re cheap.¡¿ ¡¾I want the link to those Huoya Dog sunglasses in one second!¡¿ ¡¾Link please +1¡¿ ¡¾Link please +10001¡¿ ¡¾Link please +10002¡¿ "Yap!" Returning to her seat, the Fire Fang Dog eagerly asked Fang Sisi for the video. It wanted to see its impressive performance just now! Though Fang Sisi didn¡¯t understand the Huoya Dog''s words, she could read its body language. Embarrassed, she laughed awkwardly: "Haha, I just happened to get a call." Actually, that wasn¡¯t the case. The truth was that when she started recording, she saw her favorite apricot mushroom pass by in the aisle and couldn¡¯t help but turn the camera. By the time the mushroom moved away and she returned the camera to the competition, the match had already ended... The wagging tail of the Fire Fang Dog stopped instantly. Its sunglasses concealed its disappointed eyes, but Qiao Sang still sensed something was off. "If you want to see it, we can watch it when we get home, the competition platform has replays." Qiao Sang comforted. The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s tail immediately wagged again. Fang Sisi watched with admiration. No wonder Qiao Sang was the first to dare to contract a fire-type pet; she had the Huoya Dog completely under control. --- Although the F-grade Beast Master competition was dull and unremarkable, Qiao Sang stayed in the arena to watch all day. She was used to being well-prepared for everything. At 7:20 PM, Qiao Sang looked at the notes she had saved on her phone. There were a total of 21 Beast Masters listed. Except for contestant No. 67, who had a Small Dragon, the rest all had intermediate-level pets. Most new Beast Masters around Qiao Sang¡¯s age were just there for a day of competition. Among the freshly graduated students from Class 3-7, all four other classmates who participated had been eliminated, leaving only Qiao Sang. ¡¾Qiao Sang, you have to keep it up!¡¿ ¡¾You''re the last one standing from our class!¡¿ ¡¾If you face someone named Zhao Hai, remember to take revenge for me!¡¿ Although they had graduated, the class group had not disbanded, and the eliminated classmates kept tagging Qiao Sang. But she hadn¡¯t shown up in the group. She was busy strategizing with the Fire Fang Dog against their opponents. After thoroughly researching the 21 Beast Masters in her notes and rewatching the recorded videos, Qiao Sang searched for the replays of today¡¯s competition and handed her phone to the Fire Fang Dog. The Hundred New competition wasn¡¯t a large-scale event, but during this period right after the high school entrance exams in Hanggang City, it still garnered significant attention. Each standout contestant had their match segments edited and highlighted; Qiao Sang showed the Fire Fang Dog its own short segment. The comments filled most of the screen. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog barked anxiously. Qiao Sang reached out to turn off the comments, and only then was the Fire Fang Dog satisfied to watch the video. After it finished watching, it barked once again, and Qiao Sang replayed it for it. After Qiao Sang replayed it three times, the Fire Famg Dog finally stopped barking. As the video ended again, the Fire Fang Dog tapped the screen with its paw. It realized that after watching its Beast Master operate so many times, it had learned how to replay the video itself. --- The next day. Shouke Garden. In front of the pet competition arena. As soon as Qiao Sang arrived, she was blocked. "Contestant Qiao Sang, I¡¯m a reporter from the Ruixin Times. Would you mind taking a few minutes for an interview?" Every time competitions were held in various places, there were always a few contestants that became hot topics. After yesterday¡¯s live broadcast, Qiao Sang had become one of those discussed contestants. It wasn¡¯t just because of her clean and decisive performance, but because she dared to contract a fire-type pet as a newcomer Beast Master. "Sorry, I need to go inside to compete." Qiao Sang declined. "Everyone was impressed by your courage in contracting a fire-type pet and the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s impressive entrance yesterday. They all want to know more about you and the Fire Fang Dog. Please don¡¯t refuse, contestant Qiao Sang." The Ruixin Times reporter said sincerely. "Is that so¡­" "Yap~" Both Qiao Sang and the Fire Fang Dog felt a bit shy. "Well, you all can¡ª" "It¡¯s contestant Lu You!" Someone shouted. The reporter, who had just been full of sincerity, vanished before Qiao Sang as he and his team rushed to the direction of Lu You. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Fire Fang Dog: ¡­ Chapter 51: Did We Win There are numerous qualified F-level Beastmasters participating in the competition, and the preliminary rounds from yesterday are still ongoing.However, only about 60 contestants remained, and the preliminaries can be completed in about an hour. Qiao Sang arrived at Zone C, Row 9. Bai Yunmiao also signed up for this Hundred New Competition and successfully passed the preliminaries. The two who had both advanced in the preliminaries arranged to meet. ¡°Genius Qiao, I found out that the contestants who passed the preliminaries will have their names randomly shuffled on the big screen, and those paired together will form a group.¡± Bai Yunmiao explained, pointing to the screen above the arena. Since learning Qiao Sang¡¯s name, Bai Yunmiao had taken to calling her Genius Qiao online. Qiao Sang nodded, this kind of random matchup is common in competitions. ¡°Why are you dressed so¡­ nicely today?¡± Qiao Sang asked. More accurately, she looked quite glamorous. Bai Yunmiao was sitting elegantly, fully made up, wearing a little black dress paired with bright-colored high heels, like she was ready for a formal event. ¡°I want to look good on camera. I watched the replay from yesterday online, and it was just a disaster; they made me look so ugly, it didn¡¯t capture even a third of my beauty.¡± Bai Yunmiao complained. Indeed, without filters, live broadcasts can sometimes feel like a mirror of truth. She continued, ¡°Besides, with half the contestants gone today, I feel like I have a good chance of being interviewed.¡± Interview¡­ Qiao Sang thought back to the earlier incident and felt a lump in her throat, not wanting to speak anymore... --- In the arena, Qiao Sang unexpectedly spotted someone she recognized among the contestants in the ninth group¡ªDai Shushu. If she hadn''t seen her here, Qiao Sang might have almost forgotten about her... Dai Shushu¡¯s beast wasn¡¯t one of the five popular choices for novice Beast Tamers but a Water Shrimp. Water-type beasts aren¡¯t all amphibious extraordinary creatures; even those that can move freely on land can rarely unleash their full potential due to space constraints. Thus, very few Beast Tamers are willing to choose a water-type beast as their first contract. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but watch carefully. She couldn''t deny that, deep down, she still considered Dai Shushu a rival. 56 seconds later. ¡°Chen Cheng wins.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. This was nothing like what she expected! She hadn¡¯t even started analyzing Dai Shushu and the Water Shrimp¡¯s combat level before the match was over! The opponent¡¯s beast, a fat dove, landed two hits on the Water Shrimp, knocking it out of combat. It was an utterly mundane preliminary match! Was Dai Shushu really that weak?! Qiao Sang felt a bit dazed. Why had she considered Dai Shushu a formidable opponent back then¡­? Qiao Sang tried to recall. At that time, they both had self-awakened; the difference was... Cultural scores... Cultural scores, indeed... Dai Shushu was still a formidable rival¡­ As efficient as yesterday, within an hour, the list of all the selected contestants was logged into the system. The large screen above the arena was filled with photos of contestants that rapidly jumbled together. Six seconds later. The photos froze. All the matchups were arranged, and Qiao Sang saw her opponent among them. The person in the photo had small, green bean-like eyes and a slightly receding hairline, with a face that looked older than their actual age. Xie Jianyin. Qiao Sang recognized him at a glance; he was one of the 21 Beast Tamers she had noted in her memo. Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Good luck! Her hard work studying wasn¡¯t wasted... The competition to advance to the top 64 soon commenced. Those who passed the preliminaries were slightly more skilled than those eliminated, so the match duration increased, going from a one-minute game to two or three minutes to determine the winner. ¡°Who do you think has the better chance of winning in the match between Qiao Sang and Xie Jianyin?¡± The middle-aged commentator with slicked-back hair asked San Duo. On the field, Qiao Sang and Xie Jianyin had both taken their positions. As a member of the third group, Qiao Sang had come to the backstage when the first group¡¯s match began. It was indeed her turn next... ¡°Xie Jianyin has been an F-level Beast Tamer for three years, so he has a clear advantage over Qiao Sang in both experience and strength.¡± San Duo offered his insights. ¡°What a pity that so many contestants had to face someone with an intermediate beast.¡± ¡°I remember Xie Jianyin¡¯s beast is a Long-tailed Snake.¡± ¡°Just thinking about such a pretty little girl losing to such an ugly man makes my heart ache.¡± ¡°He¡¯s only 18, he¡¯s still a boy.¡± The audience began to murmur, mostly voicing support for Qiao Sang. Although strength is paramount now, everyone still tends to support the more visually appealing contestants when all are F-level Beast Tamers. Moreover, everyone remembered Qiao Sang¡¯s fire-type beast, the Fire Fang Dog, as it was the only fire-type beast to appear in the Hundred New Competition. --- As the referee issued the command to summon beasts, a gray star array lit up in front of Xie Jianyin. The energy within the Fire Fang Dog was building up, and it quickly prepared itself. Last night, it had spent a long time strategizing with its Beastmaster deciding on tactics for various opponents. Now, it just needed to wait for that black creature to appear... Within the gray star array, a fully red beast with an oval-shaped head and a black stripe running from its head to its tail appeared. Huh? Why isn¡¯t it that black creature? The Fire Fang Dog was confused. This wasn¡¯t what its Beastmaster had described. Qiao Sang was speechless looking at the opponent¡¯s beast. A Fire Chain Snake, a beginner fire-type beast. She had spent a long time studying the intermediate Long-tailed Snake yesterday, and he had sent out a basic fire-type beast to face her? Knowing that she only had one Fire Fang Dog, he still sent out a beast of the same attribute. This was clearly looking down on the Fire Fang Dog... Xie Jianyin indeed didn¡¯t regard the Fire Fang Dog highly; to be precise, he didn¡¯t regard Qiao Sang highly. His second beast, the Fire Chain Snake, had been contracted for two months. As a Beast Tamer with two contracted beasts, he planned to rotate both in the match! For a middle school graduate who had just contracted their first beast, it was more than sufficient to summon any of his beasts to deal with her. As soon as the referee declared the start, Qiao Sang immediately issued the command to proceed according to the original plan. Simultaneously, Xie Jianyin also commanded his beast to unleash a flame jet. The Fire Fang Dog had already been gathering energy within its body. Thus, it released its skill faster than the Fire Chain Snake. Outside the arena. ¡°This is the minor success level of Ember!¡± The commentator exclaimed. Just as the flame jet from the Fire Chain Snake finished gathering and hadn¡¯t even launched ten centimeters, the Ember from the Fire Fang Dog charged straight toward the flame jet. The two forces collided, creating a violent explosion. At the center of the explosion, the Fire Chain Snake was violently tossed back. ¡°Chain!!!¡± The Fire Fang Dog ignored that the Fire Chain Snake had fallen to the ground and instantly created four shadow clones, preparing to surround the opponent. Following the tactic it had developed with its Beastmaster yesterday, it first used two clones to confuse the opponent while the real body and another clone... ¡°Qiao Sang wins!¡± The referee announced. ¡°Yap?¡± The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s clones, which had yet to complete the encirclement, all froze in place. Did we win? Chapter 52: No Makeup for Nothing ¡°One move! Just one move! What do you think of this match, San Duo?¡± The middle-aged commentator said.Winning in one move isn¡¯t particularly remarkable in matches at this level. The short duration and lack of atmosphere meant the audience couldn¡¯t grasp anything professional; that¡¯s when the role of the commentators and guests becomes crucial. ¡°The speed and power of Fire fang Dog''s attacks are a cut above Fire Chain Snake, especially its attack speed. It launched its skill almost as soon as the match began, while contestant Xie Jianyin was still giving commands.¡± San Duo analyzed. The middle-aged commentator, listening nearby, held a different opinion. While attack speed is undoubtedly important, he believed the key to victory lay in that Ember. That was an Ember of the Minor Success realm. If that spark had only been at the beginner level, it wouldn''t have had the power to generate enough explosive force to incapacitate Fire Chain Snake. He remembered reading that contestant Qiao Sang was a fresh middle school graduate¡­ The host continued with the program, introducing the names of the contestants in the fourth group while the audience was still discussing the previous match. Sea?ch* The N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xie Jianyin? Why did he use only Fire Chain Snake when he had Long-tailed Snake?¡± ¡°Maybe he thinks he can win even with Fire Chain Snake.¡± ¡°It feels like he¡¯s throwing the match, didn¡¯t they have some kind of deal behind the scenes?¡± ¡°Fire fang Dog isn¡¯t weak, there¡¯s nothing surprising about its victory. If they were throwing the match, it would¡¯ve at least taken a few rounds; how could it end so quickly? Besides, in a small competition like this, throwing matches is pointless.¡± These days, there are many viewers for competitions, especially large-scale events where various media outlets and online platforms compete to report on them. If it''s an A-grade Beast Master event, the viewership would reach hundreds of millions. Any Beast Master who appears in such competitions can gain a large following, and their market value can skyrocket. Not to mention, achieving a certain ranking in such high-level competitions can lead to even greater recognition. In these events, there are usually those who attempt to rig matches, whether it¡¯s the capitalists controlling things behind the scenes or Beast Masters wanting to make a name for themselves. However, for a competition like the Hundred New Competition, where even the ratings rely on the contestants'' friends and family to boost viewership, rigging matches is utterly pointless. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang had just sat down with Fire fang Dog. ¡°Genius Qiao, that was so cool! I couldn¡¯t even process it when you won.¡± Bai Yunmiao laughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t really process it either.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog nodded in agreement. ¡°Haha, Fire fang Dog¡¯s confused expression when it realized it won was hilarious. Too bad we didn¡¯t record it. You can check it out online later; it could become a meme.¡± Bai Yunmiao continued to chuckle. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog suddenly became restless. Aren¡¯t the recordings supposed to show its impressive side? What¡¯s wrong with its expression? How could it be funny? Qiao Sang was also curious; during the battle, Fire fang Dog was facing away from her, so she didn¡¯t see its expression at all. But since it was a live broadcast, she¡¯d have to wait until the morning¡¯s matches were over to watch the replay. The matches proceeded efficiently. By the time it was the 20th group¡¯s turn to compete, Bai Yunmiao took out a mirror from her crossbody bag to check her appearance. Then she pulled out a comb and fixed her bangs. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You brought a comb.¡± Bai Yunmiao replied seriously, ¡°As a refined Beast Master, I have to maintain my image in front of the camera at all times.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ This was the first time she¡¯d heard refined used to describe a Beast Master; it seemed more appropriate for a Coordinator. After all, Coordinators focus on both their pets'' appearance and their own. She thought Bai Yunmiao had potential to be a Coordinator¡­ Bai Yunmiao was the contestant in the 25th group, and her opponent wasn¡¯t on Qiao Sang¡¯s memo list. ¡°Fire fang Dog, who do you think will win?¡± Qiao Sang asked as usual. ¡°Yap.¡± Fire fang Dog pointed to the little fat dobe flying above, which it adored. Qiao Sang felt that since Bai Yunmiao hadn¡¯t complimented Fire fang Dog¡¯s looks, Fire fang Dog must have fairly assessed the situation and picked the pet it thought might win¡­ Bai Yunmiao''s pet was a Golden Vine. About 90 centimeters tall, it had a small, round, cyan-green body with golden eyes that were almost pupil-less, and it sported a five-centimeter-long tendril on its head, giving it a slightly cute and silly appearance. On the field, both sides had been sparring for two minutes, exhausting some energy. The little fat dove had slightly lowered its flying altitude. Golden Vine swung its large head, and several leaf-shaped blades shot towards the little fat dove in the air. The little fat dove flapped its wings in a panic, trying to dodge. Just when it thought it had escaped, two vines appeared from Golden Vine¡¯s fingers, binding it tightly. In the next second, the little fat dove¡¯s viewpoint flipped 180 degrees. ¡°Coo!!¡± Under the control of the vines, the little fat dove crashed down to the ground, headfirst. ¡°Bai Yunmiao win.¡± The referee announced. Fire fang Dog covered its eyes, unable to watch. Qiao Sang looked at Fire fang Dog, which was hiding its face. Could it be a case of bad luck? ¡°How was my hairstyle on the field? Did it get messy?¡± Bai Yunmiao asked eagerly as she returned to her seat. ¡°It looks fine.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Bai Yunmiao¡¯s hairstyle was a neat bun, all tied up meticulously; it wouldn¡¯t get messy unless there was vigorous movement. Bai Yunmiao was very pleased with the answer, then took out her mirror and comb to fix her bangs again. --- As the morning matches concluded, contestants and the audience began to exit the arena. At the entrance of the arena, Bai Yunmiao pointed nervously at a reporter holding a microphone not far away. ¡°What should I do? I¡¯m a bit nervous. If they interview me later, what should I say?¡± Qiao Sang said, ¡°It depends on what they ask, but they usually want to know why you¡¯re participating and what your thoughts are on the competition.¡± Bai Yunmiao nodded and asked, ¡°How do I look right now?¡± ¡°Beautiful.¡± Qiao Sang praised. ¡°Then I¡­ ah! They¡¯re looking over here! Ahhh! They¡¯re coming this way!¡± Bai Yunmiao exclaimed excitedly. ¡°Calm down, maintain your image.¡± Qiao Sang advised. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ it seems they are indeed walking toward us!¡± Bai Yunmiao whispered excitedly. Qiao Sang looked over and confirmed that the reporter with the microphone was indeed approaching them. It seemed Bai Yunmiao¡¯s foresight was correct. No makeup for nothing. Soon, the reporter and his team reached them. ¡°Contestant Qiao Sang, I¡¯m a reporter from Hanggang Aggregation Platform. I¡¯d like to interview you about Fire fang Dog and the competition. Do you have a moment?¡± Qiao Sang fell silent, staring at the microphone in front of her. Bai Yunmiao: ¡­! Chapter 53: Arxius White ¡°Contestant Qiao Sang?¡± The reporter asked again.¡°Go ahead and ask.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Beside her, Bai Yunmiao looked dejected. ¡°May I ask why you decided to participate in the Baixin Competition?¡± The reporter turned to signal the camera crew to get ready. ¡°Because of someone.¡± Qiao Sang answered. ¡°Oh? May I ask who that is?¡± The reporter''s eyes lit up. As a competent journalist, one must have a keen sense for news. From Qiao Sang''s response, the reporter had already formulated a potential headline. |Fire-type newcomer Qiao Sang participates in the Hundred New Competition for someone special!| ¡°It¡¯s Bai Yunmiao, my friend and also my opponent.¡± As she spoke, Qiao Sang reached out and pulled Bai Yunmiao beside her. The camera lens naturally adjusted to capture the moment. Bai Yunmiao: !!! Genius Qiao, I love you! --- The afternoon competition continued with the matches for the top 64. Qiao Sang arrived at the open beast training ground she had frequented recently instead of heading to the venue. Two days ago, she had run out of money, and training for Fire Fang Dog had come to a halt. Without the Qiyuan milk, no matter the speed training or skill release training, they could only practice for a couple of hours before her energy was depleted, and recovering took most of the day. Fortunately, today was July 1st, the day for her allowance distribution. Early in the morning, her mother transferred her 5,000 Alliance Coins. After contracting Fire Fang Dog, her monthly allowance had increased fivefold. Although 5,000 Alliance Coins was merely a drop in the bucket for nurturing beasts, for Qiao Sang, who had just run out of money, it was like a timely rain. After several days of eating super spicy crazy grilled wings with no progress, Fire Fang Dog finally heeded Qiao Sang¡¯s advice and resumed regular training. Four hours later. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (156/1000) + Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Adept 344/500) +, Fire Fang (Minor Adept 563/2000) +, Ember (Minor Adept 697/2000) +, Shadow Clone (Beginner 62/100) +, Fire Whirl (Beginner 92/100) + Points: 141 Fire Fang Dog had primarily trained its Fire Whirl after eating grilled wings, resulting in rapid growth in that skill. The bottom points had increased by 32 due to having participated in two battles. This time, it was indeed a perfect division... The levels of the beasts they battled were similar. After finishing her training and returning home, Qiao Sang immediately watched the replay of the afternoon Hundred New Competition on her phone. After watching for a while, she felt something was off. Five minutes later. Qiao Sang realized something. Why were there so few comments? Normally, although not many people watched, the screen was usually filled with comments, but today, there were only a handful. After a while, a comment popped up. ¡°Brothers, I¡¯m off first. The game of God Ya is starting.¡± God Ya. In Dragon Country, only one person was referred to this way: Lin Ya, who had represented the country in the Interstellar Cup three times. Qiao Sang quickly turned off her phone and headed to the living room to turn on the television. There was no need to change the channel; once the Interstellar Cup began, almost every channel was broadcasting it. On screen, a bird-like beast with orange feathers, a purple crown on its head, and a black, sharp beak, was panting in midair, surrounded by terrifying lightning forming a horrifying magnetic field. Even through the screen, one could feel the fearsome power. Qiao Sang immediately recognized it as the imperial-level beast, Purple Crown Electric Falcon. As God Ya¡¯s beast, its contract and evolution details had been thoroughly dissected, even its emotional experiences had not been spared. The day after it was dumped, it topped the news headlines. It had no privacy whatsoever. Floating several hundred meters away from the Purple Crown Electric Falcon was a human-shaped white beast. One must note that extraordinary beings usually grow larger as they evolve. For instance, the Purple Crown Electric Falcon was nearly a hundred meters in size. In contrast, the white beast stood roughly the same height as an adult male human. sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was quite rare. The difference between the two beast was apparent; the white beast was even smaller than a single claw of the Purple Crown Electric Falcon. In the footage, the humanoid beast raised its claw-like hand, causing the entire arena to darken instantly, making its white figure disappear. Qiao Sang was taken aback and quickly took out her phone to search. As a contestant in the Interstellar Cup, information about its beast was readily available online. Qiao Sang quickly found the information about the white beast. It was called Arxius White. Upon further inspection, she was shocked. This humanoid white beast was actually a Dark-type beast! Shouldn¡¯t Dark-types all be black? Why was it white?! However, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dare to dwell on this too long, considering she was not very knowledgeable¡­ ¡°Fire Fang Dog, come here!¡± Qiao Sang called out. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire Fang Dog strolled over leisurely after slurping down some milk in the kitchen. ¡°Who do you think will win between these two?¡± Qiao Sang pointed at the television and asked. The two beasts on screen were already engaging in battle. Arxius White was darting through the darkness, occasionally revealing its white silhouette. Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but complain. If only it were a normal black Dark-type beast, hiding in the dark, even its afterimages wouldn¡¯t be seen. Meanwhile, the Purple Crown Electric Falcon let out a cry, and terrifying bolts of lightning rained down from above, like a fiery thunder dragon, zigzagging wildly through the dark environment Arxius White had created. The thunder roared, incredibly intimidating. Fire Fang Dog watched intently for a while before making a judgment. ¡°Yap.¡± It pointed at the Purple Crown Electric Falcon with the purple crown and barked seriously. Qiao Sang suddenly felt a bad premonition. God Ya... wouldn''t lose, would he...? After three or four minutes of fierce clashes between the two beasts, the energy of the lightning began to dwindle, while the white figure still flickered in the shadows. ¡°Purple, dodge!¡± After watching for so long, Qiao Sang finally heard Lin Ya¡¯s command. Suddenly, a black hole appeared above the Purple Crown Electric Falcon, from which a white claw-like hand shot out, with a swirling ball of dark energy coalescing within. In the next moment, the energy struck mercilessly against the head of the Purple Crown Electric Falcon. ¡°Purple!!!¡± ¡°Oh my god! What did I just see?! Arxius White suddenly appeared above the Purple Crown Electric Falcon! Two Arxius Whites! Was the Arxius White in the dark mist a fake?!¡± The commentator exclaimed excitedly. As the Purple Crown Electric Falcon plummeted from the sky, the original dark mist dissipated, revealing no white silhouettes. A figure gradually emerged from the black hole. It was indeed Arxius White. ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Klika on winning this match and becoming the second contestant to enter the top ten of this year¡¯s Interstellar Cup!¡± As the commentator¡¯s voice faded, Qiao Sang turned to look at Fire Fang Dog, which appeared innocent. A sudden, immature thought crossed her mind. Perhaps she could use Fire Fang Dog to predict the outcomes of the Interstellar Cup and then place bets. Chapter 54: The Third One Once this thought emerged, it became increasingly uncontrollable.Qiao Sang immediately searched for the lineup of the next match in the Instellar Cup on her phone. Pasol vs. Chen Mo. Every match in the Instellar Cup follows a 6v6 format. 99% of Beast Masters participating in the Instellar Cup have seven beasts, so the lineup is always unknown before each match. Among the seven beasts, one will definitely be sidelined. This adds considerable difficulty for the audience who wants to analyze the lineup and attributes before placing bets. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have this concern. She quickly searched for posters of Pasol and Chen Mo with their respective beasts to show Fire Fang Dog. "Who do you think is stronger and will win?" Fire Fang Dog began to compare carefully. Earlier, it had predicted that the fat dive would win, but it lost; the large bird it had pointed out just now also lost. Rarely did its Beast Master trust it enough to ask this question. This time, it would not let its Beast Master down and prove itself to her! ¡°Yap!¡± After studying for a while, Fire Fang Dog pointed at the sturdier Pasol and barked. Qiao Sang nodded, then logged into the Star Cup betting site to place a bet of 1,000 Alliance Coins on Chen Mo. July 2nd. The screen above the arena was displaying the photos of the top 64 progressing to the top 32 in the Bai Xin Competition. (I''m resorting to the raw name of this one because it''s a hassle to type????) In the middle position of Row 9 in Zone C. "It¡¯s rare to see you release the Golden Vine." Qiao Sang remarked in surprise. She had encountered Bai Yunmiao a few times already. Each time, she was alone, and after yesterday''s match, she immediately recalled the Golden Vine. "I was interviewed yesterday, and when I got home, my little Jin saw the video and said I didn¡¯t bring it along. Today, it insisted on coming out for an interview." Bai Yunmiao said helplessly. Qiao Sang glanced at the Golden Vine. Its once lonely tendrils were now tied up with a pink bow, clearly prepared for the interview¡­ "Don''t talk about me. What¡¯s wrong with your Fire Fang Dog? It looks expressionless. Did you upset it?" Bai Yunmiao leaned in and whispered. The reputation of fire-type beasts among novice Beast Masters was still quite strong. Even though Fire Fang Dog had seemed obedient, as long as it showed any sign of displeasure, Bai Yunmiao would still feel apprehensive. "No, it¡¯s just that thing you said yesterday about its funny expressions." Qiao Sang explained. "After watching its match video, it realized the importance of managing its expressions. So, when it came today, it turned into a poker face, but it will be fine once the match is over." "Yap." Fire Fang Dog nodded coolly. "So cool!" Bai Yunmiao sighed. Fire Fang Dog suppressed a grin and tilted its head up at a 45-degree angle. Qiao Sang: ¡­ After the first match began, Qiao Sang looked around and asked, "Why are there so many fewer people today?" "Did you watch the match with God Ya yesterday?" Bai Yunmiao countered without directly answering. "I only saw the last match." Qiao Sang replied. "God Ya lost, didn¡¯t he? He made it to the top 10 in the last two Instellar Cups, but this time he¡¯s outside the top 10. I guess most people couldn¡¯t accept it right away and are not in the mood to come." Bai Yunmiao explained. Qiao Sang understood. Lin Ya, as the only participant from Dragon Country in Blue Star, had everyone placing their hopes on him. The disappointment of his loss felt a thousand times worse than the men''s football team not making it to the World Cup in the previous life. Not to mention, the emotional impact at that time had left people without much hope for the football team, feeling heartbroken and frustrated when they lost. Now, however, Dragon Country had high hopes for Lin Ya. --- "Player Guo Yiqi won easily in his last match, but this time he¡¯s in a predicament." The middle-aged commentator said in a slightly hoarse, emotionless voice. His demeanor was worlds apart from yesterday. In the audience, parents watching their children¡¯s matches chatted away. "How much did you lose yesterday?" "20,000. And you?" "100,000." "Do you still have the heart to watch the match today?" "My condition isn¡¯t great, I stayed at home because I was afraid my wife would find out." The person asking glanced at his bloodshot eyes and nodded in understanding. "20,000 isn¡¯t a small amount. Does your wife know?" "Haha, she lost 150,000 herself and cried all night at home." "¡­" "Let¡¯s not talk about that. Which match is your kid in?" "Son, what group are you in?" The bloodshot-eyed man turned to his child. "Dad, I already finished my match." "¡­" The atmosphere at today¡¯s matches felt a bit gloomy. Both the audience and the commentators lacked enthusiasm, but Qiao Sang continued to record as usual. Only 17 of the 21 Beast Masters she had noted down were left after yesterday''s matches. Sea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Qiao Sang deleted the eliminated contestants from her notes, another contestant was eliminated just as it was nearly her turn. The Bai Xin Tournament didn¡¯t treat these contestants with intermediate beasts as seeds to be saved for the end. Instead, they shuffled the order randomly, inevitably causing two contestants with intermediate beasts to meet each other early. In the eleventh match, Qiao Sang took the stage. Her opponent was Jin Chengxi, one of the remaining contestants on her list. "Your Fire Fang Dog is quite strong." "But you''re unlucky to face me. I won¡¯t be sending out my recently contracted beast like that idiot Xie Jianyin." "Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t let you lose too badly." Qiao Sang remained silent. "Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?" Jin Chengxi couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Then, thank you in advance." Qiao Sang said. It wasn¡¯t because he said he wouldn¡¯t let her lose too badly, it was for sending out his first contracted beast. The tactics she had studied for so long were finally coming into play! Jin Chengxi felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t expected that after saying so many provoking words, the other party would be so polite. He might as well let her have this one¡­ The next moment, Jin Chengxi summoned his beast, the Sand Fox. With the referee''s command, Fire Fang Dog split into two and charged forward. "Sand Throw!" Seeing that Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t given any commands for Fire Fang Dog, Jin Chengxi launched an attack, momentarily flustered. Qiao Sang smiled. This was exactly the move I was waiting for¡ªSand Throw. The two indistinguishable Fire Fang Dogs rushed into the sandstorm. Jin Chengxi was taken aback: Who would voluntarily enter someone else¡¯s skill? While Sand Throw couldn¡¯t cause decisive damage, the dust covering Fire Fang Dog would definitely impair its condition if it got into its nostrils and fur. This was the perfect moment to press the advantage! At that moment, Jin Chengxi also forgot his earlier intention to let the other side have this match. "Use Quicksand!" "Mo." The Sand Fox called out, and its tail gradually emanated a dusty glow. The dusty arena ahead suddenly spun, forming a quicksand pit that collapsed inward. Within the dust, two red figures struggled. Just then, the third Fire Fang Dog suddenly appeared behind the Sand Fox. Jin Chengxi: !!! What the hell! When did this show up! Chapter 55: As Long as It Hasnt Evolved "A major crisis for the Sand Fox!" As the commentator''s voice fell, the Fire Fang Dog bit down on the Sand Fox''s neck, enveloped in flames. The Fire Fang Dog had fought against the Sand Fox once before and knew its weak point well. In the previous encounter, the Fire Fang Dog had attacked the vital area, but due to the strength difference, it still needed the Fat Dove to finish the job. But this time... The commentator jumped up excitedly. "Am I seeing this right? That¡¯s the minor adept mastery of Fire Fang skill!" His commentary was now filled with emotion. While minor adept mastery mid-tier skills are not uncommon, having them on a newly contracted pet was impressive. "The Fire Fang Dog used the cover of the Sand Throw to create a second clone, while its true form quickly moved behind the Sand Fox. This is truly not the level one would expect from a rookie Beast Master." Added San Duo, who looked exhausted. The audience fell into a moment of silence as they watched the Sand Fox fall and the referee announce the result. Jin Chengxi stood at the front of the arena and couldn¡¯t see clearly. However, the spectators surrounding the arena had a clear view. Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the cover of dust, the Fire Fang Dog had emerged a third time, sneaking up to the Sand Fox from Jin Chengxi''s blind spot. Its timing and positioning were impeccable. "That¡¯s so cool!" "It feels like I''ve seen this match before." "Now that you mention it, I think I have, too." "Doesn¡¯t this remind you of that last match yesterday with God Ya?" "¡­" "No way! It really does!" Everyone suddenly recalled the heartbreaking match from yesterday. Though the battles were worlds apart, this tactic of feigning a frontal assault and then launching a surprise attack was quite similar to what the Arxius White had done! The audience collectively focused their gaze on the center of the arena. With her effort, Qiao Sang had heated up the atmosphere. "Next, let''s welcome..." The match continued. Qiao Sang sat down, holding her expressionless Fire Fang Dog. "Qiao Sang, you¡¯re a genius! The Fire Fang Dog is so cool! Also, how did you manage to figure out your opponent''s tactics?" Bai Yunmiao admired. The Fire Fang Dog worked hard to maintain a serious face. "I didn¡¯t figure it all out; I just did a bit of research beforehand." Qiao Sang replied. She had watched two of Jin Chengxi''s matches. He was an aggressive player who would exploit any openings he saw. She only needed to deliberately create a flaw for him to focus on. If it weren¡¯t for the inspiration she got from God Ya¡¯s match yesterday, she would have prepared a different strategy altogether. Of course, that strategy still depended on the Sand Fox using Sand Throw. However, mid-tier pets didn¡¯t have many skills. In the first two matches, Jin Chengxi had commanded the Sand Fox to use Sand Throw, so there was a good chance this new strategy would work. The outcome had been quite smooth. "Qiao Sang, was that Fire Fang really a minor adept skill?" Bai Yunmiao asked. "It was." Qiao Sang nodded. Bai Yunmiao looked at the Fire Fang Dog in shock. The Fire Fang Dog tilted its head 45 degrees with a stoic expression, ready to receive praise, but Bai Yunmiao changed the subject. "Wait, my opponent is Chen Qian. Do you have any good advice for me?" After three seconds of thought, Qiao Sang replied, "None." Chen Qian wasn''t on her list, so she didn¡¯t know what pets Chen Qian had¡­ Bai Yunmiao looked a bit disappointed. "The Golden Vine managed to win against the Fat Dove yesterday by exploiting its weaknesses. You should believe in your own strength." Qiao Sang encouraged. "I didn¡¯t study Chen Qian because she doesn¡¯t have a mid-tier pet. As long as her pet hasn¡¯t evolved into a mid-tier before the match, you have a good chance of winning." "You¡¯re right!" Bai Yunmiao instantly felt motivated. Twenty minutes later, Bai Yunmiao seriously styled her bangs in front of the mirror while the Golden Vine adjusted the position of its pink bow. Once everything was ready, Qiao Sang shouted words of encouragement to her. "Yap!" The Fire Tooth Dog also barked. Bai Yunmiao confidently made a fist gesture back at her before stepping into the arena. Both she and the Golden Vine were full of fighting spirit. "Please summon your respective pets." In the next moment, a white star formation lit up in front of Chen Qian. A pet about two meters tall, with a brown shell and two short tails, appeared on the ground. "Chen Qian''s pet was still the Deep-Fur Turtle yesterday, but today it has evolved into a Double-Tailed Tortoise. It seems the scales of victory are tipping in Chen Qian''s favor." The commentator reported in real time. Bai Yunmiao froze in place, recalling Qiao Sang¡¯s earlier words. "As long as her pet hasn''t evolved into a mid-tier before the match, you have a good chance of winning." Did she really jinx it? Qiao Sang gazed at her expressionless Fire Fang Dog, lost in thought. Could bad luck be contagious? To encounter something with such a low probability of happening right before the match¡­ While feeling sympathy for Bai Yunmiao, Qiao Sang took out her phone and turned on the recording function. If all went as planned, Chen Qian might also become her opponent... With a move called Earth Split, the Golden Vine predictably lost its fighting ability. Although the Deep-Fur Turtle was at a disadvantage against the Golden Vine, the gap between mid-tier and low-tier pets was evident. It was rare for someone like Qiao Sang to win against a mid-tier pet. Bai Yunmiao returned to her seat, dejected. The Golden Vine was no longer by her side, having been recalled into the Beast Codex Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but offer consolation. "Actually, you could let the Golden Vine out, reporters also interview the eliminated participants for their thoughts." Bai Yunmiao exclaimed, "¡­!" She didn¡¯t want that interview! --- That evening, the Fire Fang Dog contentedly watched videos of itself on the phone. It looked so handsome. Its expression was so cool. Everything was just how it wanted to be! The Fire Fang Dog happily rolled around on the bed. After admiring itself multiple times, it used its paw to grab the phone and brought it to the living room, placing it in front of its Beast Master to let her see. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog tugged at Qiao Sang''s pants and called out. Understanding the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s intent, Qiao Sang looked down. Due to God Ya''s loss, not many people were in the mood to watch the Bai Xin Matches, resulting in only a line or two of comments on the phone screen. The sparse comments didn¡¯t affect the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s enjoyment, so it didn¡¯t ask its Beast Master to turn off the comments. As Qiao Sang looked at the comments, she read them aloud. ¡¾The Fire Fang Dog is terrifying!¡¿ ¡¾It looks so fierce!¡¿ ¡¾The Fire Famg Dog is so cool! Winning against a higher tier with such finesse!¡¿ ¡¾Qiao Sang is truly brave!¡¿ ¡¾I was there, I was afraid to look too long as I passed by, just in case it suddenly attacked me.¡¿ "Yap?" Seeing that Qiao Sang was staring for a long time without speaking, the Fire Fang Dog called out again. Qiao Sang lifted her head and patted the Fire Fang Dog''s head, smiling. "You¡¯re amazing! Everyone is praising you for being handsome and winning beautifully." "Yap~" The Fire Fang Dog felt shy, then happily rolled on the sofa. Chapter 56: Mighty Pig Note: From now on, Beastmaster and beast trainer are the same. (Kinda the same meaning, anyway.) Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want the outside comments to affect Fire fang Dog¡¯s mood. As long as Fire fang Dog was happy, that was enough. Qiao Sang turned her gaze back to the television. On the screen, two massive battle pets were fiercely clashing. The score was already 5-4, it was match point. Tonight¡¯s Interstellar Cup match was tied to her financial situation, so Qiao Sang had been watching attentively, right up to this moment. Chen Mo was the one who had reached match point first. Seeing Pasol¡¯s pet, the Phantomfire Dragon, pressing down on Chen Mo¡¯s Double-Headed Gear Dragon, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. She quickly grabbed Fire fang Dog, who was busy rewatching its own performance on her phone. ¡°Quick, cheer for that Phantomfire Dragon.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Fire fang Dog tilted its head. ¡°The pet of that Beast Tamer you picked yesterday." Qiao Sang explained. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog understood and raised its paw. ¡°Yap! Yap! Yap!¡± Twenty minutes later, Qiao Sang was satisfied as she watched the Double-Headed Gear Dragon make a comeback and win the match. --- The next day. At the usual spot in Area C, Qiao Sang noticed Bai Yunmiao, who had returned to her usual attire. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you came all this way just to watch my match.¡± Qiao Sang teased as she walked over with Fire fang Dog in her arms and sat down next to Bai Yunmiao. ¡°Haha, I really did come just to watch you.¡± Bai Yunmiao replied with a smile. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. The Bai Xin Competition was being held at Shouke Park in the suburbs. Although it was close to the city, it still took a lot of time to travel there. Most people who lost their matches wouldn¡¯t bother coming back and wasting time here. That¡¯s what Fang Sisi did before. But she never expected that Bai Yunmiao, whom she hadn¡¯t known for long, would actually take the time to come and watch her match... Qiao Sang felt touched and was just about to say something. Bai Yunmiao said, ¡°Actually, my parents had a fight, and I didn¡¯t want to stay at home, so I came here.¡± Qiao Sang: ...The touching moment was gone... ¡°What happened with your parents?¡± Qiao Sang asked. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°They were chatting this morning, and the conversation shifted to my future." Bai Yunmiao explained. ¡°My mom wants me to pursue being a Coordinator, while my dad wants me to become a professional Beast Tamer. That¡¯s how the argument started.¡± ¡°That should depend on your own wishes, right?¡± Qiao Sang commented. Bai Yunmiao replied with a bitter expression, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. I¡¯m just about to start my third year of high school, there¡¯s still a year before university. I haven¡¯t even started thinking about it.¡± Feeling lost about future plans is something most high school students face. In her previous life, high school students only needed to focus on their grades and then choose their major based on their exam scores after the entrance exams. But in this Beast Taming society, planning had to be done in advance. ¡°Is your Golden Vine about to evolve?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Bai Yunmiao sighed. Qiao Sang understood. No wonder her parents were arguing over this. Golden Vine has two evolution paths. One is the Withered Vine, known for its strong combat power, and it might even learn an ability that deals damage to the target while also healing itself. However, its body is covered in warty, toad-like skin. If you wanted to use Withered Vine to become a Coordinator and participate in coordination competitions, it would almost certainly get eliminated in the first round. After all, Coordinators are judged primarily on their pet¡¯s appearance and the elegance of their abilities. The Withered Vine¡¯s appearance obviously doesn¡¯t make the cut. Its other evolution path, the Sweetbinding Vine, can emit a scent that bewilders others, with pink leaves that look like a grass skirt around it, making it quite endearing. But it¡¯s extremely weak in attack power, and expecting it to pass the Alliance¡¯s assessment to become a higher-level Beast Tamer is unrealistic. You would have to contract a second, more powerful battle pet and train it into a mid-tier pet to pass the assessment. That delay would put you far behind others in becoming an E-rank Beast Tamer. F-rank Beast Tamers generally spend most of their time and energy on their first contracted pet, there¡¯s no doubt about that. ¡°If you can¡¯t decide, maybe you could ask Golden Vine for its opinion.¡± Qiao Sang suggested. She had a feeling that Golden Vine might lean towards evolving into Sweetbinding Vine. After all, yesterday it was wearing a pink bow, clearly showing its love for beauty. Bai Yunmiao was taken aback for a moment, then realized, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± --- After several days of competition, only 32 contestants remained. The audience was thinning out. But to keep up the excitement, the organizers had invited more guests and media. In the guest seats: ¡°Are there any standout contestants in this competition?¡± One of the newly invited guests asked. ¡°There¡¯s a 17-year-old named Hou Xiangyu, with two mid-tier battle pets¡ªa Baboosh Butterfly and a Weight-Control Doll.¡± ¡°Seventeen years old, with ice-type and psychic-type pets, from Litan Beast Taming High School, right?¡± ¡°Besides Litan, which other school has a 17-year-old that strong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s also one named Lu You from Shengshui High School, contracted with a Small Dragon.¡± Another guest suddenly spoke up. The guest seats fell silent. None of them had ever contracted a dragon-type battle pet... --- Qiao Sang¡¯s opponent today wasn¡¯t on her watchlist. But any Beast Tamer who could make it this far with a low-tier battle pet had some level of skill. ¡°Could you¡­ maybe go a little easy on me?¡± The girl in a cap asked, blushing. Qiao Sang was slightly surprised. This was the first time she had encountered someone so shy during a match. ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Sang agreed. The girl smiled gratefully and then summoned her pet. A pure white pet with well-developed biceps and an upturned nose appeared on the ground. ¡°Oink!¡± The snow-white pet flexed its arms, showing off its impressive muscles on both sides. Qiao Sang: ... It¡¯s a Mighty Pig¡­ This doesn¡¯t match the image of its Beast Tamer at all! Qiao Sang didn¡¯t realize that Fire fang Dog, who was wearing sunglasses and baring its teeth in a provocative grin at the Mughty Pig, also didn¡¯t match its image. The two Beast Tamers stood quietly. Meanwhile, the two pets locked eyes, engaging in an intense stare-down. When the referee signaled the start of the match, the girl in the cap and Qiao Sang simultaneously gave the order to charge. Fire fang Dog and Mighty Pig had already exchanged countless mental blows, and they were on the verge of clashing. At their Beast Tamers¡¯ command, they simultaneously charged at each other. The momentum on both sides was strong. The two pets collided without holding back, neither side retreating. The next second, Mighty Pig was sent flying. Fire fang Dog stood firm, coldly adjusting its triangular sunglasses with its paw. ¡°Mighty Pig is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins.¡± The referee announced. ¡°Piggy!¡± The girl in the cap ran towards Mighty Pig, her voice quivering with tears. Qiao Sang suddenly felt a little guilty. She did promise to go easy... But who knew the Mughty Pig would be so fragile... Fire fang Dog¡¯s ramming experience was extensive. It wore weighted rings every day and practiced ramming into a tree. So knocking out a low-tier pet with one hit was normal. But the other side was supposed to be a fighting-type pet known for its strength. This felt a bit unusual... Chapter 57: No!!! In the guest seating area:¡°This Fire fang Dog has some extraordinary strength.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just strength. Whether it¡¯s speed, reaction time, or technique, it¡¯s on a completely different level compared to other pet beasts of rookie Beastmasters.¡± One of the guests who had watched the earlier matches added, ¡°And its Beastmaster, if it weren¡¯t for the information right in front of us, it would be hard to believe this is a rookie¡­¡± ¡°Yesterday, this Qiao Sang used the Fire fang Dog to defeat a Sand Fox despite the odds.¡± Another guest chimed in. ¡°Oh? A new student from Lintang High?¡± ¡°No idea, the information doesn¡¯t say.¡± The profiles of participants in the Bai Xin Competition are filled out by the contestants themselves online. Except for the Beastmaster¡¯s identity, which can¡¯t be faked, other experiences are filled in at will, and the data verifiers don¡¯t usually investigate further. Most people embellish their profiles a bit, some even adding things like being a class monitor back in elementary school. The purpose is simple: To give the commentators more to talk about during introductions. Someone like Qiao Sang, who left all the fields blank except for her Beastmaster identity, is rare indeed. --- After watching the morning matches, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t continue watching in the afternoon. After returning home and eating, she took Fire fang Dog and boarded bus No. 59. Fire fang Dog¡¯s strength had surpassed her expectations. As an excellent Beastmaster, one should always have a comprehensive understanding of their pet¡¯s condition to better harness and improve its power. Songchang Street. Pet Beast Gym. After declining the receptionist¡¯s suggestion to sign up for a membership, Qiao Sang paid for an hour and directly took Fire fang Dog to the second floor. As soon as she entered, she was hit by a wave of heat. Most of the machines had pet beasts working out on them. Most of the beasts here were of the Fighting type, with only a few other types mixed in. Not all pet beasts had their Beastmasters beside them. The higher the Beastmaster¡¯s rank, the more contracted beasts they have, and the less time they can dedicate to each one. It¡¯s impossible to supervise every workout session. In these cases, it¡¯s up to the pet beast¡¯s discipline. Like the three Power Claw Crabs chatting on the floor near the wall, they were clearly not very disciplined, as they hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat, indicating they hadn¡¯t started working out yet. Qiao Sang took Fire fang Dog to a force-testing machine. Ordinary force-testing machines at the gym can only measure a pet beast¡¯s strength in its regular state. For moves like Fire Punch or Ice Punch, you need a more advanced force-testing machine. A Gravity Ape was in front of the machine, throwing a heavy punch at the target. The virtual screen above the target instantly displayed a number. 369 kg. The Gravity Ape frowned at the number. As it was about to test again, it noticed someone watching from behind. The Gravity Ape immediately straightened its back, raising its left hand to block its face while flexing its right fist, making its muscles bulge. In the next instant, it threw a punch with a gust of wind at the force-testing machine. 433 kg. The new number, dozens of kilograms higher than before, appeared on the virtual screen. The Gravity Ape looked satisfied and then turned around, pulling a business card from its cloth belt and handing it to the human who had been watching it. ¡°Gravity, gravity.¡± Qiao Sang took the card and glanced at it. The Gravity Ape¡¯s selfie was printed in the upper left corner, with the words Intermediate Fitness Trainer written behind it. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Fire fang Dog, quickly explain to it that we were just lining up.¡± Fire fang Dog nodded and began communicating with the Gravity Ape. ¡°Yap yap.¡± ¡°Yap yap.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Gravity, gravity.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Gravity.¡± The Gravity Ape understood, smiled at Qiao Sang, and then reached out to take back the card from her hand. Qiao Sang: ... Although the Gravity Ape was a bit stingy, taking its card back, it kindly offered its place. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog responded, then stood in front of the force-testing machine, mimicking the Gravity Ape¡¯s stance, and swung its paw like a fist at the target. 13 kg. Qiao Sang stared at the number on the virtual screen in silence for a moment. Something seemed off¡­ The Fire fang Dog¡¯s usual training, aside from speed, mostly involved skills. Its raw strength hadn¡¯t been trained, so a force of only 13 kg was to be expected. Qiao Sang quickly figured it out. She found a muscular guy nearby who was clearly a fitness enthusiast and asked if Fire fang Dog could test its Charge move on the force-testing machine. The muscle-bound guy glanced at the roughly 60-centimeter-tall Fire fang Dog and said, ¡°Sure.¡± At this moment, a Rockfist that had been punching another force-testing machine next to the muscle guy overheard the conversation, and his eyes lit up. He immediately backed up several dozen steps, intending to charge at the machine. The muscle-bound guy¡¯s eye twitched as he shouted, ¡°You can¡¯t! It might survive, but you¡¯ll break it!¡± Qiao Sang agreed that he was probably right, but Fire fang Dog wasn¡¯t pleased. It walked up to the force-testing machine and backed up over ten meters. Because this was a pet beast gym, it was several times larger than a regular gym. Even with Fire fang Dog backing up ten meters, it didn¡¯t interfere with other pet beasts¡¯ workouts. Sea?ch* The novelF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fire fang Dog felt like it had been underestimated. Since it was born, no one had ever underestimated it! It was determined to prove it could break this thing! Four seconds later. Qiao Sang looked at the number on the virtual screen with satisfaction. 128 kg. Higher than she had imagined. Fire fang Dog¡¯s Charge move was only at the minor adept level, but its power was much stronger than that of other low-level pet beasts at the same level. Although she couldn¡¯t figure out why, she had achieved her goal of testing Fire fang Dog¡¯s strength. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qiao Sang said, crouching down to pick up Fire fang Dog. ¡°Yap!¡± Firefang Dog took two steps back, shaking its head. It hadn¡¯t broken this thing yet! How could they leave now? Qiao Sang thought Fire fang Dog hadn¡¯t had enough testing and wanted to try a few more times. Fire fang Dog was always diligent and had high standards for itself. Back when Qiao Sang was cramming for her high school entrance exams and didn¡¯t have time to supervise Fire fang Dog, it had still been very disciplined, training itself every day in the neighborhood. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang said warmly, ¡°Okay, you continue. Let me know when you¡¯re ready to go.¡± She was ready to extend the time. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog nodded solemnly. In its eyes, underestimating it meant underestimating its Beastmaster. For the sake of its Beastmaster, it would do its best! Fire fang Dog gathered all its strength, feeling the energy inside it surge with its determination. Its eyes filled with resolve, and it charged at the force-testing machine with all its might. Twenty minutes later. Qiao Sang was amazed to see that Fire fang Dog¡¯s strength numbers kept climbing. From the original 128 kg. Then to 146 kg. Later 159 kg, and it kept going up, now reaching 298 kg! But Fire fang Dog¡¯s proficiency with the Charge move was clearly still at the minor adept level, and the power of a skill shouldn¡¯t increase progressively like this. With energy and stamina being used up, Fire fang Dog should be getting more and more exhausted. Fire fang Dog was already gathering strength again. Qiao Sang suddenly recalled what the vice principal of Shengshui High had told her not long ago. ¡°Fire fang Dog is currently in a state that¡¯s nearing a critical point, somewhat similar to the precursor of skill awakening¡­¡± Qiao Sang suddenly realized. Could it be¡­ At the same time, Fire fang Dog felt the energy inside it growing more and more intense. A scorching flame suddenly ignited around Fire fang Dog¡¯s body, wrapping it tightly from head to tail. Fire fang Dog had a premonition. This time it could do it! In a daze, it seemed to hear its Beastmaster¡¯s heart-wrenching scream. ¡°No!!!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 58: First Battle Pairings Clang!!!The force meter shattered into pieces, the specially reinforced target burned through with a lingering scent of scorched material. Fire Fang Dog looked at the results with satisfaction. It turned around, eager to show off to its Beastmaster. But it found her standing there, frozen, her eyes vacant as if she had just been struck by lightning. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire Fang Dog ran over, worried. Could it be that its Beastmaster had suddenly gone dumb? Qiao Sang stood in a daze for a long time before she accepted reality. If heaven gave her another chance to do it all over again, she swore she would never set foot in this Pet Beast Gym with Fire Fang Dog. No! Not just this gym, but any Pet Beast Gym ever again! Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the gym, Qiao Sang trembled as she took out her phone and dialed a number. ¡°Hello, Mom¡­¡± An hour later, with her mother leading the way, Qiao Sang left the Pet Beast Gym. ¡°This is the third time in just a month.¡± Her mother said. Qiao Sang knew exactly what she meant. Once for the TV, once for the porcelain vase, and now the force-testing machine. What her mother didn¡¯t know was, there was also that wall in the alley¡­ ¡°It¡¯s all my fault." Qiao Sang admitted. She was the one who brought Fire Fang Dog to watch TV, made it clean the house (which led to the vase incident), and insisted on testing its strength on the force-testing machine. And that time in the alley¡­ ¡°Of course it¡¯s your fault.¡± Mother Ye said with a meaningful glance. ¡°The money will be deducted from your allowance, 2,000 alliance coins each month until it¡¯s all paid off.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s mind worked quickly. Her mother had just compensated the pet beast gym 34,000 alliance coins. At 2,000 per month, it would take over a year and five months to pay off¡­ What a human tragedy¡­ --- 7:30 PM. Qiao Sang studied the remaining competitors in the Bai Xin Competition with serious focus. Today¡¯s matches had narrowed the field to the top 16. If she could win tomorrow, she¡¯d be in the top 8. Even though the rewards for places 4 to 10 weren¡¯t as grand as those for the top three, the 30,000 alliance coins prize for finishing in the top 10 would be enough to cover her losses from today. Sea?ch* The N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang glanced at the list she had just organized. Of the top 16, including herself, only four Beastmasters had just one beginner-level beast. The other 12 competitors had mid-level beasts. Among those 12, three even had two mid-level beasts each. A total of 15 mid-level beasts, if she could just avoid facing any of them¡­ She studied the list for over an hour. ¡°Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog barked softly. Qiao Sang looked down. On the ground were three pairs of sunglasses in yellow, purple, and green. ¡°Yap Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog looked at her, then at the sunglasses, clearly struggling with the choice. ¡°This one.¡± Qiao Sang pointed at the purple pair. During the past few days of the competition, Fire Fang Dog had worn a different pair of sunglasses each day. It had developed a mild case of decision fatigue, leaving Qiao Sang to make the choice. Fire Fang Dog picked up the purple sunglasses and put them on, then turned to check itself out in the standing mirror nearby. Qiao Sang chuckled at its actions, then suddenly remembered something and accessed the Beast Codex. She had been so focused on the money she lost that she had forgotten to check what skill Fire Fang Dog had awakened. Name: Fire Fang Dog Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (160/1000)+ Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100)+ Charge (Proficient 466/500)+ Fire Fang (Basic Mastery 609/2000)+ Ember (Basic Mastery 745/2000)+ Shadow Clone (Beginner 72/100)+ Fire Whirl (Proficient 118/500)+ Flame Charge (Beginner 1/100)+ Points: 220 In the past couple of days, Fire Fang Dog hadn¡¯t stopped training, and all its stats had increased slightly. Fire Whirl had advanced from Beginner to Proficient. Since defeating Sand Fox, it had gained an additional 80 points, with another 14 points from defeating Mighty Pig. The points from the two Sand Fox battles weren¡¯t the same. Qiao Sang guessed it was because the first time, Fire Fang Dog had fought alongside the family''s Fat Dove, and although Fire Fang Dog landed the final blow, it only received a portion of the points. The points earned from defeating Mighty Pig were also slightly different from those from previous battles with beginner-level beasts. This must be due to the difference in strength. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze shifted to the final skill on the list. It turned out to be Flame Charge! This skill was considered one of the more difficult mid-level skills to learn. Enrolling in a specialized training program for Flame Charge could easily cost six figures. If she had the money to buy medicinal herbs for Fire Fang Dog¡¯s baths, each bath would cost over 10,000 alliance coins. Soaking for half a month would cost nearly 160,000 alliance coins¡­ Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. In that case, she might have actually made a profit! --- The Next Day. Shouke Garden. Beast Arena. Qiao Sang spotted Bai Yunmiao in their usual spot. ¡°What¡¯s up, did your parents argue again?¡± Qiao Sang asked, hugging Fire Fang Dog as she sat down beside her with a smile. ¡°Genius Qiao, you¡¯re so smart!¡± Bai Yunmiao said with admiration. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°What were they fighting about this time?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Same as yesterday. I asked Golden Vine if it wanted to evolve into Sweetbinding Vine, then I told my parents, and my dad said it was because of my mom that I made this decision. Then the two of them started arguing.¡± Bai Yunmiao explained. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Such a real married life¡­ She hadn¡¯t even figured out how to console her when Bai Yunmiao suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Genius Qiao you look different from a few days ago.¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback and asked, ¡°How am I different?¡± ¡°Your expression has changed. You had this calm, expert demeanor before, but today you look like you¡¯re in high spirits.¡± Bai Yunmiao said with a grin, leaning in closer. ¡°Did something good happen?¡± ¡°How could you tell?¡± Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°What is it?¡± Bai Yunmiao asked eagerly. ¡°Well, yesterday, Fire Fang Dog broke a force-testing machine¡­¡± Qiao Sang paused. Bai Yunmiao¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted to Fire Fang Dog, who was wearing sunglasses. As expected of a fire-type beast. Its temperament could only be tolerated by someone like Genius Qiao. If it were her, there¡¯s no way she could handle it. Even if she ever contracted a second beast after further brain development, she would definitely never choose a fire type¡­ ¡°Then, it learned Flame Charge.¡± Qiao Sang continued. ¡°Holy crap!¡± Bai Yunmiao¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Please give her ten thousand of these fire-type beasts! Because there were fewer competitors and more time available, the 16-to-8 matches didn¡¯t display all the pairing results on the big screen at once like previous days. Instead, the pairings appeared one group at a time after each match. The competitors didn¡¯t have to line up in the back in advance either. After each match, there would be a performance by a Beast Performer to entertain the audience. As fireworks lit up the arena, the Beast Performer began their warm-up act. Once the commentator and guest speaker finished their opening remarks, the photos on the big screen above the arena began to rotate. Five seconds later, a pair of photos appeared on the screen. ¡°The first battle pairings are up! On one side, we have Lu You, with his mighty and powerful symbol of strength, the Little Dragon! And on the other side, we have Qiao Sang, the daring Beastmaster who chose a fire-type Fire Fang Dog as her first contract beast!¡± The commentator introduced with enthusiasm. ----- ----- Chapter 59: Thick Skin One is Lu You, who has been the center of attention since his first appearance.Whether it¡¯s his background or his Little Dragon, both have been hot topics in the Bai Xin Competition. The other is Qiao Sang, the only contestant daring enough to contract with a Fire-type beast as her first pet. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her battle rhythm and the performance of her Fire fang Dog have consistently drawn everyone¡¯s attention. As soon as these two appeared on the field, the platform''s bullet comments surged instantly. [Exciting! Exciting!] [It¡¯s like this match-up was predetermined, this competition knows exactly what we want to see.] [Fire fang Dog changed its sunglasses again, someone share the link!] [Based on my observation, I think Lu You will win.] [Based on my observation, I think the person above is right.] Although both are highly anticipated, the support for Lu You and his Little Dragon easily overshadows that for Qiao Sang and her Fire fang Dog. The two of them stood in their respective positions. In the audience, the few cheering voices mostly called out Lu You and Little Dragon¡¯s names. Qiao Sang isn¡¯t one for trash talk before a match, and Lu You is also aloof, so neither of them spoke. Until the referee shouted, "Begin!" "Dig!" The first to give a command was Lu You. As a dual-type Ground and Dragon pet beast, Little Dragon naturally had no trouble with the basic skill of digging. Once Lu You spoke, Little Dragon began to claw at the ground, burrowing into the earth. Since its skill proficiency wasn¡¯t high enough yet, the process wasn¡¯t instantaneous. During this time, if Fire fang Dog¡¯s speed were quick enough, it could have interrupted Little Dragon¡¯s digging. But Qiao Sang didn¡¯t issue any command. "It seems Lu You intends to solve this in close combat. I wonder how Qiao Sang will respond." Only after Little Dragon completed its digging did Qiao Sang speak, "Shadow Clone." Fire fang Dog instantly split into five, forming a line. The ground remained still, and everyone held their breath, afraid to miss the moment of confrontation. Lu You frowned slightly. Five is a bit much... His plan was to dig, ambush the opponent, and then use a finishing move before they could recover. But now, his initial rhythm was disrupted. However, that¡¯s the charm of competition. If everything went according to plan, what would be the point? "Now!" As Lu You¡¯s voice fell, the Fire fang Dog in the center suddenly stepped back. Lu You¡¯s eyes lit up, and he shouted, "The one in the middle!" At this moment, Little Dragon suddenly burst out from the ground where Fire fang Dog had stepped back, sending it flying. "Who would have thought that Lu You''s initial command was a feint! The goal was to lure out the real Fire fang Dog! What a cunning... I mean, clever tactic!" Lu You couldn¡¯t help but smile. Although the process was slightly different from what he had imagined, the result was still perfect, as always. He raised his right hand, about to give the final command, "Dragon..." The last syllable got stuck in his throat. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. The Fire fang Dog that was sent flying in the center... had disappeared! It was a clone?! He had been tricked! Lu You realized it and was about to speak, but it was already too late. "Fire Whirl." Seizing the moment of distraction, Qiao Sang issued the attack command. All four remaining Fire fang Dogs simultaneously opened their mouths. Four swirling flames shot out, all hitting Little Dragon. "Qiii!!!" Little Dragon let out a cry of pain. "Unbelievable! Qiao Sang has completely misled Lu You! The Fire Whirl hit Little Dragon from all sides! Could Qiao Sang be the victor?" The commentator shouted excitedly. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Qiao Sang assessed Little Dragon¡¯s condition. Dragon-type beasts aren¡¯t praised for nothing. Whether it¡¯s in attack, speed, or defense, they¡¯re well-rounded. Moreover, Little Dragon has a Ground attribute that counters Fire-type. The combined power of the three illusory Fire Whirls and one real one wasn¡¯t enough to break Little Dragon¡¯s defense and achieve a one-hit knockout. "Fire Fang!" Qiao Sang immediately followed up. Fire Fang had already reached the intermediate stage, making it Fire fang Dog¡¯s strongest attack. Given Little Dragon¡¯s current state, it should be enough. "Dig!" Lu You shouted in panic. In its full state, Fire fang Dog could stop Little Dragon from digging, let alone now. Little Dragon, enduring the pain, reached its claws toward the ground. At the same time, four blazing fangs bit down on Little Dragon. One on its left limb, one on its right, one on its left shoulder, and the last on its head. "Qiii!!!" Little Dragon let out a heart-wrenching scream. As it screamed, a white Dragon Breath spewed uncontrollably in all directions. Everyone watched intently. Could the Dragon-type beast, known for being unbeatable among its peers, really lose like this? Ten seconds passed. Little Dragon still hadn¡¯t fallen. But the Fire fang Dog biting down on its left limb, right limb, and left shoulder had disappeared one after another due to Little Dragon¡¯s violent struggle. Only one Fire fang Dog with a fierce expression remained, biting down hard on its head. So this one is the real one! Lu You was overjoyed. No one had ever pushed his Little Dragon this far. He didn¡¯t even know Little Dragon could withstand so much damage. He thought he had lost the moment Fire Fang landed. "Use Iron Head!" Lu You shouted. Fire fang Dog bit down hard on Little Dragon¡¯s head, but the power of Fire Fang was waning. Yet, despite its trembling, Little Dragon showed no signs of collapsing. Firefang Dog couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. Usually, opponents would have been done for long before now. This guy has such thick skin... Just as it was starting to feel down, the sensation in its mouth became increasingly strange. It was then that it heard its master¡¯s command. "Jump back." Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately following the order. Bang! The audience gasped. Just as Little Dragon executed Iron Head, Fire fang Dog didn¡¯t release its bite. But the moment Litle Dragon¡¯s head hit the ground, Fire fang Dog leaped away! The timing was too perfect! Little Dragon raised its head, its vision spinning. Why are there so many people here all of a sudden... Its foot slipped. The sky is so blue... I want to sleep... "Little Dragon has lost the ability to fight! The winner is Qiao Sang!" The referee announced the result excitedly. Having been a referee for so long, he had grown numb to most match outcomes. But winning this match, despite the disadvantages in both attribute and species, was just too cool! "The opening of this match seemed to be in Lu You¡¯s favor, but in reality, it was Qiao Sang who controlled the rhythm throughout. It was truly a spectacular battle! San Duo, what do you think?" The commentator asked, being the first to react amid the stunned audience. "Qiao Sang has the potential to become a professional Beastmaster. I look forward to seeing her in future regional tournaments." San Duo replied. As soon as those words were spoken, the crowd both at the venue and watching the live stream erupted. Chapter 60: Scam Call The Regional Tournament. As the name suggests, it is the largest competition within a given region.Take the Yuhua region, where they are located, for instance. It comprises 11 provinces. The city they are currently in, Hanggang City, is just one of the 12 prefecture-level cities in Zhehai Province, one of those 11 provinces. There are two conditions for participating in the Regional Tournament. First, participants must be under the age of 40 and have been certified by the Alliance as having reached the level of a C-rank Beastmaster. This doesn¡¯t mean that all participants in the Regional Tournament are C-rank Beastmasters under 40. Rather, these are just the minimum age and rank requirements. While there is an age limit, the rank requirement is only a lower bound. Second, participants must obtain qualification from the Beastmaster Center in their provincial capital. Obtaining this qualification is quite tricky. You have to pass qualification exams in every prefecture-level city in your province within a year. Take Zhehai Province, for example. Each of the 12 prefecture-level cities has a specialized department within the local Beastmaster Center that conducts qualification exams. The content of these exams varies, and each examiner has their own standards for evaluation. If you¡¯re lucky and get a lenient examiner, they might just ask you to catch a thief to pass. If you¡¯re unlucky and face a strict examiner, they might ask you to steal an egg from a dragon-type extraordinary creature. Zhehai Province is relatively manageable with just 12 prefecture-level cities. On average, you have about a month to complete the exam in each city. However, neighboring Yongwu Province has 18 prefecture-level cities, leaving only about 20 days to complete the exam in each city, something a regular Beastmaster can hardly accomplish. In short, any Beastmaster who can pass all the provincial exams within a year is no ordinary person. San Duo, who participated in this year''s Yuhua Regional Tournament and achieved a respectable rank, publicly stated that he looks forward to encountering Qiao Sang in future Regional Tournaments. This was an extremely high endorsement of her. The livestream¡¯s chat exploded instantly. [Is San Duo serious?] [Am I about to witness the rise of a superstar?] [No doubt about it, she''s really strong.] [Even if she qualifies for the Regional Tournament, San Duo would be over 40 by then.] [The previous comment is savage, but I like it.] [Tomorrow¡¯s headlines are set.] --- In the guest area: ¡°This Qiao Sang may be young, but she seems very seasoned in battle.¡± ¡°That retreat after the decoy move was brilliant. She didn¡¯t even have to give a command, it was clearly a pre-planned strategy.¡± ¡°And that Fire Fang Dog, their coordination is so seamless that you¡¯d never guess they had only recently formed a contract.¡± ¡°What do you think about getting her to do a livestream?¡± The young female guest who had been silent until now spoke up. ¡°Livestream? What for? Sure, there¡¯s some buzz now, but after she loses the next match, people will forget.¡± ¡°What do you think of Fire Fang Dog wearing sunglasses?¡± The young female guest asked ¡°Pretty cool.¡± A guest beside her praised. ¡°I just opened an online shop selling sunglasses. If I invite her to do a livestream now, or more accurately, invite Fire Fang Dog to do a livestream, what do you think?¡± The young female guest continued. Everyone''s eyes turned to Fire Fang Dog, who was wearing a pair of purple triangular sunglasses in the arena. ¡°Feels¡­ like it could work." The guest beside her hesitated before answering. --- Qiao Sang had just returned to the stands with Fire Fang when Bai Yunmiao pulled out a pen and a pink, flower-bordered A4 paper from her shoulder bag, excitedly handing it to her. ¡°Genius Qiao, sign this for me!¡± ¡°How do you have everything in that bag?¡± Qiao Sang couldn''t help but complain. ¡°Hehe, the pen and paper were actually for San Duo, but I didn¡¯t get the chance to use them.¡± Bai Yunmiao admitted, a bit embarrassed. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Were your parents arguing really just an excuse to come here?¡± Qiao Sang asked suspiciously. ¡°Why else would they call you Genius Qiao? You guessed it so quickly.¡± Bai Yunmiao replied, her face turning red. ¡°I recently became a fan of San Duo, and when I heard he was a guest at the Bai Xin Tournament, I came.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ So she entered the competition just for someone else... ¡°Enough about that, Genius Qiao, sign this for me. Since San Duo said what he did, if you enter the Regional Tournament someday, this autograph could be worth something. I need to get it now while I can.¡± Bai Yunmiao said, shoving the pen and paper toward her. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hesitate, taking the pen and just about to sign when she suddenly paused and looked up. ¡°How many sheets of paper did you bring? If I sign now, will you have paper left if you meet San Duo?¡± Bai Yunmiao froze for a moment, then sheepishly withdrew the pen and paper, chuckling, ¡°Haha, I forgot. I only brought this one sheet.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- After watching a full day of matches, Qiao Sang went home to review. Dragon-type pets truly lived up to their reputation. If she hadn¡¯t secured an early advantage, the match would have been much tougher, given Little Dragon¡¯s attack and defense. She had underestimated Little Dragon¡¯s defense today, thinking that Fire Fang Dog¡¯s Fire Fang would be enough to end the match. If Little Dragon had used Iron Head to shake off Fire Fang Dog and then created distance instead of head-butting the ground, the match could have gone on much longer. In the end, Fire Fang Dog¡¯s attack power just wasn¡¯t enough. The remaining contestants all had intermediate-level pets, and she wouldn¡¯t have much of an advantage against any of them, meaning she would have to rely on tactics. The three Beastmasters who owned two intermediate-level pets each had all successfully advanced after yesterday¡¯s research. If she faced any of them, tactics alone might not be enough to win. Sometimes, sheer power can¡¯t be compensated for by strategy. If she got lucky tomorrow and didn¡¯t face one of those three, she might still have a chance at a higher rank. Otherwise¡­ The nudging on her leg pulled Qiao Sang out of her thoughts. She looked down to see Fire Fang Sog holding her phone in its mouth, nudging her with its paw. The phone, still clutched in Fire Fang Dog¡¯s mouth, was lit up and vibrating, causing the fur on its face to quiver with each buzz. It turned out someone was calling. Qiao Sang suppressed a laugh and took the phone to see an unknown number. She swiped right, ending the call. A second later, the phone buzzed again. It was the same number. Without hesitation, Qiao Sang ended the call once more. She didn¡¯t have a habit of answering calls from unknown numbers. But the screen lit up again the moment she hung up. Qiao Sang frowned slightly and answered. ¡°Is this Miss Qiao Sang?¡± A young woman¡¯s voice came from the other end. ¡°Yes, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m someone who sees great potential in you. Interested in a business deal worth tens of thousands? I¡¯m currently at¡ª¡± Qiao Sang quickly pulled the phone away from her ear, hung up, and blocked the number. Definitely a scam call. Trying to trick her¡ªwhat a joke. In her previous life, she had been hardened by society. There¡¯s no way she could be fooled so easily. Meanwhile, in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 37th floor of the Yijian Building. A young woman stared blankly at her phone, which had been hung up and now wouldn¡¯t connect. Where did things go wrong¡­? Chapter 61: Why Arent You Talking? July 5th.Qiao Sang sat in the same spot she had occupied two days ago at the Pet Beast Arena, not surprised to find Bai Yunmiao there as well. Since Bai Yunmiao came for San Duo, she would have found a reason to be there even if her parents hadn¡¯t argued. ¡°Did you bring the mirror?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she sat down. ¡°I did.¡± Bai Yunmiao took out a mirror from her bag and handed it over, watching as Qiao Sang carefully checked her reflection. Surprised, she asked, ¡°Genius Qiao, why are you suddenly so concerned about your appearance?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Sang didn¡¯t care about her appearance before. But usually, she just wore her hair in a ponytail, took the bus to Shouke Park, and liked sitting by the window to feel the breeze. As a result, even though her hair was tied up, the front part would often look a bit messy by the time she arrived at the Pet Beast Arena. This contrasted with others who were meticulously dressed, giving the impression that she didn¡¯t care much about her appearance. After confirming that she didn¡¯t look any different from usual, Qiao Sang hesitated and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m just being narcissistic, but I feel like a lot of people are staring at me today.¡± Her Fire Fang Dog, sitting beside her, noticed that she had put down the mirror and grabbed it with its paw to look at itself. ¡°Yap.¡± As it admired its reflection, it nodded in agreement. A lot of people were staring at it too. Bai Yunmiao understood and laughed, ¡°San Duo praised you so much yesterday, it¡¯s normal for people to pay attention to you. There have already been several news articles about you today.¡± ¡°Is the celebrity effect really that strong?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°You¡¯re lucky, people are only giving you a few extra glances. Last time, a new Beast Master praised by Wang Dian¡¯ao was tracked down by fans to his home and challenged to duels at his doorstep.¡± Bai Yunmiao sighed, ¡°And it wasn¡¯t just one-on-one; they took turns challenging him in a wheel battle for an entire week.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment and then said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m grateful that San Duo isn¡¯t as famous as Wang Dian¡¯ao.¡± Bai Yunmiao: ¡­ --- Only eight contestants remained in the Bai Xin Competition. For F-rank Beast Masters, the match times are short. Even with Pet Beast Performers extending the duration, it¡¯s impossible for only four matches to decide the final four in one day. The organizers had already announced the schedule in advance. On the morning of July 5th, they would determine the final four, and in the afternoon, the final three. Today was the last day of the Bai Xin Competition. As time passed, more and more people arrived. Looking at the packed audience surrounding the Pet Beast Arena, Qiao Sang sighed, ¡°I wonder where the organizers found so many people to watch.¡± Yesterday, a quarter of the seats were empty. Bai Yunmiao turned to her and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever keep up with the news?¡± She still remembered when she first added Genius Qiao, she didn¡¯t even get a reply to her messages. Later, she learned that there were indeed people in this world who could resist checking their phones. ¡°I do, but I didn¡¯t check yesterday.¡± Qiao Sang replied. She had spent her time training Fire Fang Dog and researching her opponents. ¡°Yesterday, the official platform announced that Gao Xulu and San Duo would be having an exhibition match today. After the match, five lucky audience members will be chosen to take photos and get autographs with them.¡± Bai Yunmiao explained. Qiao Sang immediately understood why there were so many people. Gao Xulu was also a participant in this year¡¯s Yuhua Regional Competition. Although she didn¡¯t make it into the top ten, her ranking was still respectable. The most important part was that Sana Duo had been defeated by Gao Xulu before. The organizers¡¯ marketing strategy was really something. Qiao Sang looked over at the commentary booth. She noticed that the two commentators were now joined by a third person. A woman with short chestnut-colored hair. It was Gao Xulu. --- As the opening ceremony ended, the large screen above the arena flickered with images. In no time, the first match-up appeared on the screen. Hou Xiangyu versus Yang Qi. Both were Beast Masters with two mid-level pet beasts each and strong contenders for the championship. Qiao Sang watched the match intently. When these two faced off, they were sure to pull out all the stops. In their previous matches, due to the disparity in strength, they had both won in overwhelming victories. The pet beasts hadn¡¯t shown much of their true abilities, making it hard to analyze their data effectively. This was one reason why Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t confident about facing them. However, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t stay focused for long. Because just a minute into the match, the referee announced the result. Yang Qi, who had dominated others, was in turn crushed by Hou Xiangyu¡­ Hou Xiangyu¡¯s Scale Control Doll used a single Illusion Ray to throw Yang Qi¡¯s Faithful Owl into confusion. Then, while the Faithful Owl was disoriented, the Controlled Puppet used telekinesis to slam it into the ground, ending the match. Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. Illusion Ray is a skill exclusive to Psychic-type pet beasts. It can damage the opponent and has a certain chance of causing confusion, but the probability isn¡¯t very high. To confuse a pet beast of the same rank so quickly, it either meant bad luck for the opponent or that the Illusion Ray was at least at a proficient level. Whether the move succeeds largely depends on luck. After all, Illusion Ray isn¡¯t a guaranteed confusion-inducing skill. But... Fire Fang Dog¡¯s luck... Qiao Sang recalled how Fire Fang Dog¡¯s opponents would lose whenever it pointed at them and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The saying the match lasts a minute, the performance half an hour fit perfectly here. Because the first match ended so quickly, the organizers had to extend the Pet Beast Performers¡¯ show time. Fortunately, the Pet Beast Performers were professionals and didn¡¯t let the atmosphere cool down. The second match was between Wei Wenya and Luo Xinlin. Wei Wenya was the last of the three Beast Masters with two mid-level pet beasts. Against Luo Xinlin¡¯s Fat Dove, Wei Wenya sent out her Electric-type pet beast, Electric Tough Cat, which was the perfect counter to the Flying-type. The advantage of having two mid-level pet beasts was evident at this moment. A Beast Master with only one pet beast has no choice, but a Beast Master with two can choose the pet beast with the upper hand against their opponent. The result was no surprise. Wei Wenya won the match. After the Pet Beast Performers finished their act, the third match-up appeared on the big screen. Chen Qian versus Qiao Sang. In the guest seats: ¡°Song Yuan, you have a good eye. This Fire Fang Dog looks pretty cool with those sunglasses. With so many media outlets here today, if it performs well, it could bring significant traffic to your new online store.¡± ¡°This Chen Qian¡¯s pet beast is a Two-Tailed Land Tortoise, but it¡¯s a bit under-leveled. This will be tough.¡± ¡°Qiao Sang has experience defeating mid-level pet beasts, and Chen Qian¡¯s Two-Tailed Land Tortoise only recently evolved. It should be a good match.¡± One of the guests, who had been watching since the early rounds, commented. ¡°By the way, Song Yuan, what did Qiao Sang say when you contacted her yesterday? Are the live streaming fees calculated per session, or do they depend on sales commission?¡± ¡°Song Yuan?¡± ¡°Song Yuan, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Song Yuan: ¡­ She really didn¡¯t feel like talking... Sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was she supposed to tell them she got hung up on several times and then blocked? She would definitely be ruthlessly mocked... On the field. Both sides had taken their positions. At the referee¡¯s command, a two-meter-tall Two-Tailed Land Tortoise with a brown shell appeared before Qiao Sang. ----- ----- Chapter 62: Too Obedient The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise, a ground-type beast, inherits the Deep Fur Turtle¡¯s aversion to water. If a water-type beast were present, the Land Tortoise would likely retreat into its shell and refuse to come out. ¡°One has the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise with its formidable defense, and the other is the Fire Fang Dog with its remarkable attack power. Who will emerge victorious in this match?¡± The audience, listening to the commentator''s enthusiastic opening, focused their attention on the arena. Half a minute later... ¡°What¡¯s going on with these two?¡± ¡°Are they even going to fight?¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Go for it!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the referee just blow the whistle to start?¡± ¡°If they¡¯re not going to fight, get off the stage! We want to see Gao Xulu and Sha Duo¡¯s exhibition match!¡± Among the voices, one stood out. ¡°Go, Fire Fang Dog!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Go for it!¡± Bai Yunmiao stood up and shouted excitedly. She hadn¡¯t forgotten that she had once lost to Chen Qian! On the battlefield... Chen Qian was the first to break the silence and issued a command. The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise stomped its left forelimb forcefully on the ground, causing a crack to form about a meter in front of it. The crack quickly expanded into dozens of fissures, spreading toward the Fire Fang Dog. At that moment, the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s form blurred, splitting into two. ¡°In response to the Land Tortoise¡¯s Earth Fissure, the Fire Fang Dog has used a clone. But what does this mean?¡± The middle-aged commentator was puzzled. He had been in this line of work for over ten years, commentating on about 20 matches annually. Among them were not a few large-scale competitions, but he had rarely seen something that left him so baffled. Chen Qian was also confused. She had a strategy in mind: Wait for the Fire Fang Dog to attack, then have the Land Tortoise retreat into its shell. Given the Fire Fang Dog''s attack power, it shouldn''t be able to break through the Land Tortoise¡¯s defense. After the Fire Fang Dog tired itself out, she would launch her counterattack. But the opponent wasn¡¯t following her script... The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s response to the Earth Fissure was not what she had anticipated... She focused intently on the opposing side, eager to see how they would handle this. ¡°Now.¡± Qiao Sang spoke her first word since stepping into the arena. As soon as she did, the Fire Fang Dog on the left jumped onto the back of the one on the right, using it as a springboard. The right Fire Fang Dog was immediately swallowed up by the collapsing ground beneath it and disappeared. The left Fire Fang Dog, leveraging the momentum, leaped into the air. ¡°The Fire Fang Dog avoided the Earth Fissure by using a clone! But what¡¯s next...¡± The commentator paused. The Fire Fang Dog, now airborne, used the remaining solid ground as stepping stones, quickly closing in on the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise. ¡°That¡¯s some impressive agility." A guest commentator remarked. ¡°But why not attack before the ground collapsed? What difference does it make now compared to earlier?¡± Another guest wondered. ¡°There is a difference. After using Earth Fissure, the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise can¡¯t use any skills for about ten seconds.¡± Song Yuan calmly explained, observing the battlefield. ¡°Song Yuan, so you do speak after all.¡± Song Yuan: ... ¡°That¡¯s a Flame Charge!¡± A guest suddenly exclaimed. On the battlefield, the Fire Fang Dog gained speed as it hopped across the scattered rocks. Mid-charge, flames erupted from its body, engulfing it entirely. Flame Charge. One of the more powerful mid-level skills, it combines both special and physical attacks and has a certain chance to inflict a burn on the opponent. ¡°Quick, retreat into your shell!¡± Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Qian quickly issued her command. She was well aware that after using Earth Fissure, the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise would have about ten seconds of no offensive capability. However, this didn¡¯t pose much of a problem. As long as the Land Tortoise¡¯s defense held strong, it could stay still and take the hit without issue. If the opponent was banking on those ten seconds, they would be disappointed. The flames around the Fire Fang Dog were not large, and their color was a pale orange, indicating only beginner-level proficiency. The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise obediently retracted its limbs and head into its shell. Chen Qian relaxed, already planning the next move for when the ten seconds were up. Bang! Chen Qian stared in disbelief. The Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t collide with the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise, instead, it slammed into the ground right in front of it! The ground, already cracked from the Earth Fissure, rapidly widened. The impact from the Flame Charge caused the area where the Land Tortoise stood to collapse. The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise wobbled as the ground beneath it shifted, its shell tilting against a stone, exposing its pale underbelly. Perfect! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. The Land Tortoise¡¯s defense was indeed formidable, but not uniformly so. Its underbelly was a weak spot. If the Fire Fang Dog attacked there, it could break through the Land Tortoise¡¯s defense and deal significant damage. Everything was unfolding according to her plan. Now, all she needed was for the Fire Fang Dog to relentlessly attack the exposed underbelly. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes shone with anticipation. But the Fire Fang Dog hesitated as it looked at the Land Tortoise¡¯s position against the stone. Its trainer had told it to flip the opponent over and attack its belly. But now that the Land Tortoise was stuck, its belly exposed but not fully flipped... The Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t hesitate for long. It unleashed a burst of Ember, targeting the stone behind the Land Tortoise as Qiao Sang watched in anticipation. Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts froze for a moment. The Fire Fang Dog looked satisfied, seeing the Land Turtle now fully flipped, its belly exposed just as its trainer had described. ¡°Get up!¡± Chen Qian shouted urgently. She finally understood what her opponent was trying to do! The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise extended its head and limbs from its shell, trying to flip over. It didn¡¯t budge. It tried again. Still no movement... The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise was desperate. Its shell was too heavy to flip back over! The Fire Fang Dog jumped onto the exposed belly, alternating between Ember and Fire Whirl attacks. ¡°Lu Pa!!!¡± The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise cried out in pain. ¡°Get up!¡± Chen Qian was sweating from anxiety. ¡°Lu Pa!!!¡± It couldn¡¯t get up! The Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise¡¯s high defense was well-deserved. Even when its weaker underbelly was targeted, the Fire Fang Dog took nearly two minutes of continuous attacks to knock it out. Fortunately, the Fire Fang Dog had trained to sustain long skill use, so it wasn¡¯t too exhausted after the two-minute onslaught. ¡°The winner is Qiao Sang!¡± The Fire Fang Dog excitedly ran towards its trainer, trying hard to suppress its grin in front of the crowd. Qiao Sang caught her Fire Fang Dog, her expression complex. The match had gone as she planned, but there were some unexpected elements. For instance... If she had known that the Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise couldn¡¯t flip itself over and would expose both its limbs and head, why bother attacking its belly? Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to target its head directly? Her pet beast was just too obedient... Chapter 63: The Semifinals ¡°Contestant Qiao Sang has once again secured an upset victory with her exceptional tactics! She¡¯s become the third contestant to advance to the semifinals in the Bai Xin Competition and the only one to do so with a beginner-level beast! What are your thoughts on this match?¡± The commentator turned to the two guest commentators beside him.¡°I¡¯ll say it again: I look forward to meeting her in future regional tournaments.¡± San Duo remarked with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the match to go this way. Qiao Sang is impressive, I couldn¡¯t have won an upset victory against a superior attribute like that when I was younger, and I certainly can¡¯t do it now.¡± Gao Xulu said seriously. ¡°Miss Xulu, you shouldn¡¯t say that. A beginner-level beast defeating an intermediate-level one is different from a general defeating a king-tier beast.¡± The commentator quickly added. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang returned to her seat. The voices from the commentator¡¯s table were clear as she walked through the backstage tunnel to the audience seating area. Before Bai Yunmiao could excitedly start talking, Qiao Sang asked first, ¡°Who¡¯s more famous, Gao Xulu or San Duo?¡± Bai Yunmiao was momentarily stunned. Although she didn¡¯t understand why Qiao Sang suddenly asked this, she thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Although Gao Xulu has beaten San Duo, their fanbases seem to be about the same size. Most people support Gao Xulu for her skills, while San Duo is popular for his charisma.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m relieved.¡± Qiao Sang sighed in relief. ¡°What were you worried about just now?¡± Bai Yunmiao asked, puzzled. ¡°Gao Xulu praised me so much just now that I was afraid her fans might gang up on me in a match. Since her popularity is about the same as San Duo¡¯s, I¡¯m not as worried.¡± Qiao Sang explained. Bai Yunmiao: ¡­ In the arena... During the break between matches for a beast performance, three or four staff members summoned their beasts to repair the battlefield. After every match, they had to ensure the battlefield was restored to its original state to avoid affecting the next match. Beastmasters in the F-rank category needed the least amount of battlefield repairs. The winner of the fourth match was someone named Li Langyi. Although he had two beasts, one of them was still a beginner. Unless something unexpected happened, he would definitely send out his intermediate-level Long-Tailed Snake in the afternoon match. Qiao Sang frowned as she looked at the remaining three contestants in her notes. Other than Li Langyi, she didn¡¯t feel confident facing any of them. Unlike the other contestants, Hou Xiangyu and Wei Wenya had won purely by overpowering their opponents with sheer strength, without relying on tactics. Each had two intermediate-level beasts of different attributes, and they had only revealed a few of their skills, making it difficult to assess and study them. Unlike her... Her tactics required a lot of mental effort, and her trump cards were all but used up. --- In the contestant lounge of the Beast Arena... ¡°What are you doing, Genius Qiao?¡± Bai Yunmiao walked in with takeout. Since the Bai Xin Competition finals were in the afternoon, most people hadn¡¯t left the nearby Shouke Garden for meals. As a semifinalist, Qiao Sang naturally didn¡¯t return home either. ¡°I¡¯m having Fire Fang Dog draw lots. Whichever one it picks will be my opponent this afternoon.¡± Qiao Sang said, staring intently at Fire Fang Dog¡¯s actions. ¡°This wasn¡¯t organized by the hosts, was it?¡± Bai Yunmiao couldn¡¯t help but ask. She had to be skeptical, given how crude the lot-drawing setup was. There were just three crumpled pieces of paper on the table, without even a cover or container. ¡°Of course not, I made this myself.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Bai Yunmiao: ¡­ As expected¡­ But was Genius Qiao really this childish... She didn¡¯t usually seem that way... Fire Fang Dog stared at the crumpled paper on the table, hesitant to make a move. It wasn¡¯t that it was indecisive, but every time it pointed to a paper, its Beastmaster would look at it and then put it back, making it choose again. It had no idea where it went wrong. After 30 seconds... ¡°Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog pushed one of the crumpled pieces of paper with its paw. Qiao Sang opened it and almost spat out blood. It was Hou Xiangyu again! The third time! They say things happen in threes. Fire Fang Dog had now drawn Hou Xiangyu three times in a row. Could it really be that he was destined to be her first opponent in the afternoon? Hou Xiangyu was clearly the strongest of the three. This was too unlucky... ¡°Why are you letting Fire Fang Dog draw? Why not do it yourself?¡± Bai Yunmiao suddenly asked. ¡°Because Fire Fang Dog has a unique kind of luck. He says the person who wins usually loses afterward, and it¡¯s been pretty accurate.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Go the opposite way, then. If it picks someone, doesn¡¯t that mean you won¡¯t face them?¡± Bai Yunmiao countered. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment, suddenly seeing the light. That does make sense! --- 2 PM. Beast Arena. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, and viewers watching our live stream of the Bai Xin Competition, we¡¯re about to reveal the matchups for the first semifinal round. Please turn your attention to the big screen!¡± The remaining four photos flashed in sequence on the screen, stopping after six seconds. Looking at the groupings on the screen, Qiao Sang stiffly turned to her Fire Fang Dog, who was trying hard to maintain its poker face. ¡°The first semifinal matchups are out! Contestants Wei Wenya and Li Langyi will face off in the first group! That leaves contestants Hou Xiangyu and Qiao Sang as the opponents in the second group!¡± Bai Yunmiao looked at Qiao Sang sympathetically. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Genius Qiao. Even if you lose, you can still aim for third place. At worst, you¡¯ll be fourth, and that¡¯s already very impressive.¡± It was clear to anyone with eyes that Hou Xiangyu, who controlled the Scale Controller Doll, was the strongest of the four. And Genius Qiao... Qiao Sang forced a smile. ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s comforting.¡± Having made it this far, who wouldn¡¯t want to rank higher? If her semifinal opponent had been Li Langyi, she would likely have won based on her knowledge of the Long-Tailed Snake, securing a spot in the finals. She never aimed to be first, but she had imagined being second... After all, the second-place prize was much better than third. Forget the Alliance coins, the motorcycle and water-type evolution stone were far more valuable. She had even planned to sell the water-type evolution stone on a certain website¡­ She¡¯d even priced it... --- In the arena, with the referee¡¯s whistle, the contestants summoned the Long-Tailed Snake and the Force-Headed Duck. The match didn¡¯t have any upsets. As Wei Wenya¡¯s primary beast, the Force-Headed Duck had an edge in both coordination and special moves. The Long-Tailed Snake¡¯s skills were all dodged by the Force-Headed Duck, which ended the match with a Water Cannon. So her next opponent would be Li Langyi. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised by the outcome... The second semifinal match quickly followed. sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Will Hou Xiangyu secure another overwhelming victory, or will Qiao Sang create another miracle by winning against a superior opponent? Who will claim the last spot in the finals!¡± The commentator said excitedly. He then asked the guest commentators for their opinions: ¡°What do you two think?¡± Most of the audience had come to see the guests, so naturally, they wanted them to speak more. ¡°Emotionally, I hope Qiao Sang wins, but logically, it should be Hou Xiangyu.¡± San Duo said with a smile. ¡°And what about you, Miss Xulu?¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Gao Xulu answered. Commentator: ¡­ ¡°Well, that¡¯s a straightforward answer. Now let¡¯s focus our attention on the arena.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 64: Just In Time On the Field.A gray star array lit up in front of Hou Xiangyu. A pale gray beast, shaped like a weight but with a body that appeared soft and squishy rather than hard, floated above the star array. Knowing that his opponent only had one Fire fang Dog, Hou Xiangyu didn''t summon his slightly weaker Snow Butterfly. Instead, he respectfully called forth his strongest beast, the Scale Controller Doll. Hou Xiangyu gazed at the Fire fang Dog across from him, fully charged and ready, with admiration. He had only watched the first day of the Bai Xin Competition to gauge the general level of the participants, and hadn''t paid much attention afterward, except for this morning¡¯s quarterfinal match. Although he hadn''t watched all of Qiao Sang''s previous matches, her name was one he recognized. After all, there were only a handful of standout competitors in the Bai Xin Competition, and the reports kept circling back to them. As the only contestant contracted with a fire-type beast, and with San Duo publicly recognizing her as a future rival, it was hard not to notice her. This morning¡¯s match certainly lived up to the media hype. Through strategy, she perfectly embodied the concept of the underdog triumphing over a stronger opponent. The strategy was brilliant, but many people overlooked the fact that the strategy also required a capable beast to execute it. In just that one match, the Fire fang Dog had already demonstrated four skills: Shadow Clone, Flame Charge, Fire Whirl, and Ember. And then there was that moment when it leapt towards the Two-tailed Land Tortoise by jumping across the crumbling ground. Without quick reflexes, that would have been impossible. It''s hard to believe this was a beast contracted by a middle school graduate. After watching that match, even he was tempted to contract a Fire fang Dog. The reason he summoned the Scale Controller Doll wasn''t because he thought the Snow Butterfly would lose, but rather because summoning his strongest beast was a recognition and respect for his opponent''s strength. Everything was set. As the referee¡¯s whistle blew, both sides immediately launched their attacks. The Scale Controller Doll¡¯s body began to emit a faint, translucent psychic energy. It pointed its small, clawed hands towards the Fire fang Dog. The Fire fang Dog, upon hearing the whistle, dashed towards the Scale Controller Doll, its form flickering as it split from one into two, then two into four. All four Fire fang Dogs simultaneously used Charge. The psychic energy surrounding the Scale Controller Doll¡¯s claws faltered, unsure of which target to focus on. In that brief moment of hesitation, one of the Fire fang Dogs appeared right in front of it. The Scale Controller Doll snapped back to its senses, shifted its energy, and instantly teleported to another location, leaving the Fire fang Dog striking empty air. This is tough¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. This Scale Controller Doll can teleport? It never showed that ability in the previous matches. She had thought of several strategies to defeat the Scale Controller Doll. With a psychic-type beast, one could either exhaust its energy or attack with faster reflexes. But this Scale Controller Doll could teleport. This makes it much harder to land a hit on it. Teleportation is a skill that can be activated as soon as the mind wills it, making it faster than the Fire fang Dog. Even if it managed to get within a meter of the Scale Controller Doll, it could still instantly teleport elsewhere. Long-range attacks would also be difficult to land. It seems she would have to drag this out... The two sides kept their distance, leading to a temporary standoff. "Illusion Ray." Hou Xiangyu commanded first. The Scale Controller Doll extended its short claws, releasing beams of mixed colors from them. The Illusion Ray struck one of the Fire fang Dogs, which quickly disappeared¡ªit was a clone. The Illusion Ray continued sweeping across the remaining three Fire fang Dogs, quickly taking out two more clones. Only the real Fire fang Dog was left, dodging the attacks. As the Scale Controller Doll focused its energy on attacking the last Fire fang Dog on the field, Qiao Sang issued her counter-command: "Shadow Clone." The Fire fang Dog flickered and split into four once more. The Scale Controller Doll: ¡­! Hou Xiangyu frowned, realizing her strategy. Illusion Ray required a lot of energy, especially to maintain a sweeping attack. Meanwhile, the Fire fang Dog only needed to dodge and use Shadow Clone, which didn''t require much energy. Even though the Scale Controller Doll was a mid-tier beast with much more energy than the Fire fang Dog, in this unequal energy consumption, it was likely the Scale Controller Doll¡¯s energy would be depleted first. "Stop." Hou Xiangyu ordered calmly. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Scale Controller Doll lowered its claws, and the two sides once again entered a standoff. This needed to end quickly. Hou Xiangyu analyzed the situation and made a decision. "Shadow Clone." With a slight shift in its energy, four Scale Controller Dolls appeared on the field. Qiao Sang was slightly stunned. How many hidden skills does it have? These were all skills that hadn''t shown up in previous matches! The four Scale Controller Dolls shimmered and each one appeared behind a Fire fang Dog. "Four Fire fang Dogs against four Scale Controller Dolls. The situation is getting intense. It¡¯s surprising that both sides have exchanged this many blows. Hou Xiangyu hasn''t ended the match as quickly as he did in previous rounds. What do you think the issue is?" The commentator asked as he observed the field. This time, before San Duo could speak, Gao Xulu responded first. "Obviously, it''s because Qiao Sang is strong." Commentator: ¡­ "Alright then, let¡¯s continue watching the match." "Ignite Beam." Hou Xiangyu commanded. Four beams of mixed colors simultaneously shot towards the four Fire fang Dogs. Just when everyone thought the match was about to end... "Shadow Clone!" Qiao Sang shouted. Shadow Clone? Everyone, whether present or watching the livestream, was taken aback. Wasn''t Shadow Clone already in use? The Fire fang Dog also paused in confusion. But it quickly felt a change in its internal energy. Its form flickered, and the four Fire fang Dogs suddenly multiplied into eight. "Yap?" The Firefang Dog tilted its head. How did its clones suddenly get stronger? The entire arena was stunned. Are all the rookies hiding their true capabilities these days? In the guest seats: "I didn¡¯t expect the Fire fang Dog had hidden its strength in previous matches." "Yes, I watched the earlier matches. This Fire fang Dog has already mastered Fire Fang and Ember to a significant degree, and its Fire Whirl is also at a proficient level. But I didn''t expect its Shadow Clone to be so advanced as well." "This Fire fang Dog looks small, so I thought it was young. But it seems it might be older than it appears." "That shouldn¡¯t be. Normally, when a Fire fang Dog turns one year old, the orange-red fur on its head would turn the same red color as its body fur. But the fur on this one¡¯s head is still orange-red." Commented a guest who had passed the Beast Breeder certification exam. "So, you''re saying that this Fire fang Dog, which knows so many advanced skills, isn¡¯t even a year old?" "Don''t listen to him. He couldn¡¯t even pass the F-level Breeder exam." The guest who had passed the certification exam: ¡­ Seeing the eight Fire fang Dogs on the field, Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief. Just in time. ----- ----- Chapter 65: Mastery Just as the Scale Controller Doll split into four, Qiao Sang quickly added points to the Beast Tamer Codex under the Shadow Clone skill.During regular training, the Fire Fang Dog focused on practicing offensive skills, so Shadow Clone wasn''t practiced often. As a result, its proficiency in the skill had not yet reached mastery. But that didn''t matter. If she didn''t use her cheat ability now, then when? Qiao Sang secretly praised herself for her quick thinking. On the other side, Hou Xiangyu didn''t lose his composure. He calmly assessed the situation on the field and quickly made a decision. "The one farthest from you." No one understood what he meant by this, but the Scale Controller Doll did. All four Scale Controller Doll simultaneously fired Phantom Rays at the farthest Fire Fang Dog. The targeted Fire Fang Dog started to move, dodging the incoming attacks. Four rays attacked from different directions, and while it dodged one, another was already at its feet. Thankfully, the Fire Fang Dog''s nimble movements allowed it to evade. However, under the relentless barrage of attacks, the Fire Fang Dog was clearly struggling more and more. Just as one Phantom Ray was about to hit the Fire Fang Dog, another Fire Fang Dog suddenly dashed over and intercepted the attack, dissipating as a result. Seeing this, the audience understood everything. This Fire Fang Dog was the real one! Amazing! How did he figure that out?! The audience was left wondering, but Qiao Sang had already guessed. Earlier, when the Fire Fang Dog had shown confusion about its suddenly strengthened Shadow Clone skill, it tilted its head. Among the eight Fire Fang Dogs, only the real one made this lifelike gesture, setting it apart from the others. Hou Xiangyu''s keen observation was truly exceptional. But this relentless skill-spamming was exactly what she wanted. As long as the Fire Fang Dog could keep dodging and exhaust the Scale Controller Doll''s energy... Before Qiao Sang could finish her optimistic thought, a Phantom Ray struck the Fire Fang Dog, sending it flying. "Fire Fang Dog!" Qiao Sang couldn''t help but cry out. She couldn''t deny the fear that crept into her heart. Since contracting with the Fire Fang Dog, their journey had been too smooth, and this was the first time it had been injured. Even though she knew this was a battle of unequal strength, Qiao Sang still had the desire to win. Backing down before the final moment was neither her style nor the Fire Fang Dog''s. Qiao Sang steadied herself. On the field, the Fire Fang Dog had already risen to its feet, trembling but determined. It looked at its Beast Tamer and nodded, its expression resolute. Qiao Sang understood that the Fire Fang Dog was telling her it was okay and could continue fighting. The Phantom Ray had caused damage, but it hadn''t confused the Fire Fang Dog. Now calm, Qiao Sang quickly formulated a new strategy. "Copy it." Since Hou Xiangyu was a long-standing note in her memo, Qiao Sang had naturally studied him. But the single Teleport had rendered her original strategy meaningless, forcing her to improvise. The Fire Fang Dog didn''t hesitate. All the remaining clones, including the real one, shot flames at the four floating Scale Controller Dolls. The Fire Fang Dog had more clones than the Scale Controller Dolls, so there were naturally more Fire Whirls than Phantom Rays. Faced with an unequal number of attacks, the four Scale Controller Dolls had to stop their Phantom Rays and switch directions, using Teleport to evade. The Fire Fang Dog continuously changed its position and kept up the fiery assault. Hou Xiangyu looked at the multiple Fire Fang Dogs darting across the field, and it became impossible to distinguish the real one. This was getting troublesome. He sighed. What he thought would be an easy victory had turned into a drawn-out battle, and he still hadn''t won. If this dragged on any longer, the Scale Controller Doll might run out of energy. The prolonged Phantom Ray assault had already consumed much of the Scale Controller Doll''s energy. Psychic-type beasts rely on their internal energy even for defense. If that energy is depleted, defeat is certain. He had hoped to save his trump card for the division match next semester, but it seemed he would have to use it now in the Bai Xin Competition. "Use all your psychic power!" Hou Xiangyu shouted to the Scale Controller Doll. Qiao Sang frowned, a bad feeling rising within her. The Scale Controller Doll, still teleporting to avoid the flames, heard the command. It spread its short arms, and three of the clones instantly disappeared, leaving only the original floating in the air. After teleporting to a safe distance to avoid the concentrated flames, the Scale Controller Doll no longer emitted the faint transparent psychic waves it had before. Instead, blue psychic waves radiated from it. "This is..." The commentator exclaimed in surprise. "This psychic power has reached the mastery level." San Duo finished for him. In the guest seating area: "As expected of someone accepted into Litan High School. To train a Scale Controller Doll to this level at such a young age..." "Normally, it would take four to five years to reach this level of psychic power." "When someone contracts a Psychic-type beast, it''s common to buy a bunch of Psychic Fruits to quickly enhance their strength. That''s the normal situation." "It seems this Scale Controller Doll is running low on energy. The books say that when a Scale Controller Doll''s energy is below half of its peak, it floats less than 5 meters off the ground. Look, it''s only about 3 meters up." Commented the guest who had passed the breeder qualification exam. Another guest glanced at him and asked, "If you know so much, why haven''t you passed the F-level breeder exam?" The guest who had passed the breeder qualification exam: ... On the battlefield: Under the Scale Controller Doll''s full-powered psychic control, all the Fire Fang Dogs were lifted into the air. This guy was hiding so much! Qiao Sang was frustrated by the scene before her. A psychic power at the mastery level could control a large area without needing to lock onto specific targets. How could they dodge this? Unless the controlled beast was stronger than the one controlling it, there was no escape. The Fire Fang Dog floated in the air, completely bewildered. How did it end up floating? This feeling... It''s kind of fun! However, before the Fire Fang Dog could fully enjoy the sensation, he was suddenly pressed downward, crashing hard to the ground. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog cried out in pain. With that crash, all the remaining clones disappeared one after another, leaving only one Fire Fang Dog lying on the ground. Should I admit defeat? Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. Facing a Psychic-type beast with mastery-level psychic power, winning was impossible. Continuing the battle would only worsen the Fire Fang Dog''s injuries. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Reaching this point was already an accomplishment. As long as she won her next match against Li Rangyi, she could still secure third place. Yes, she wanted to win. But if there was no hope after trying, she wouldn''t blindly persist. Just as Qiao Sang was about to give up, the Fire Fang Dog, injured and trembling, stood up again. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog turned its head to look at its Beast Tamer, impatient with her hesitation. Hurry and give a command! He wanted to beat this guy! He had never suffered such a loss before. (End of Chapter) Chapter 66: Blaze (Sorry for vanishing for like 3 days. Don''t worry, I''ll try speed up my updates.) Qiao Sang stared at Fire fang Dog in slight disbelief. After such a heavy fall, it''s still this energetic... Looks like she underestimated it¡­ Since Fire fang Dog had already expressed its opinion, she naturally gave it her full support. Seeing Fire fang Dog staggering yet still wearing a face full of confidence, as if it could defeat its opponent, Qiao Sang''s gaze firmed up. sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wanted to win. Perhaps influenced by Fire fang Dog¡¯s emotions, a surge of desire to win also reignited in her mind. It was no longer the mindset she had before the match, believing she couldn''t win. Nor was it the confident feeling from previous matches, where she''d thoroughly researched her opponents and had the assurance of victory. Instead, it was a youthful impulsiveness she hadn''t felt in a long time. A burning passion, something only the young possess, reignited deep in her heart. Isn''t it just a continuation of the fight?! At worst, Fire fang Dog might get a little hurt! Even the Fire fang Dog fighting in the arena isn''t afraid! What does she, the Beastmaster who only needs to command from the sidelines, have to fear?! "Flame Charge!" Qiao Sang resolutely ordered. Some of the audience members seated further away, watching the large screen, noticed that at this moment, the expressions of contestant Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog overlapped, looking almost identical. Fire fang Dog didn''t hesitate; it immediately sprang into action. This time, it was different from previous Flame Charges. There was no need to gather momentum for the energy to erupt from within. With just a quick push from its hind legs, flames burst from within, wrapping its entire body. From its demeanor, you couldn''t tell it had just been injured. The Scale Controller Doll, floating at a relatively low altitude, was still within Fire fang Dog¡¯s reach as it leaped powerfully mid-charge. Scale Controller Doll had just expended all its strength casting a wide-area Psychic attack. Its short arms drooped, and before it could even catch its breath, it saw Fire fang Dog, wreathed in flames, charging towards it ferociously. It froze for a moment, then felt the temperature around it rise dramatically. When it snapped out of it, the flame-cloaked Fire fang Dog was already right in front of it. Startled, Scale Controller Doll hastily teleported to another direction. "Psychic." Scale Controller Doll had barely steadied itself when it heard its Beastmaster¡¯s command. Hurriedly, it stretched out its short arms, summoning what little energy remained within. "Another failure. At this stage, Teleportation is virtually unbeatable among beasts of this level." The commentator remarked. Fire fang Dog missed its target. However, the flames surrounding it didn¡¯t dissipate. It turned sharply and charged at Scale Controller Doll once again. But midway through the charge, its body suddenly froze. Before it realized what had happened, it crashed heavily to the ground. "Flame Charge!" Qiao Sang issued the same command again. Fire fang Dog struggled to its feet, flames once again enveloping its body. The audience began discussing the scene. "This Fire fang Dog''s determination is something else. You have a Fire fang Dog as your third contracted beast, right? How does it compare to this one?" "Are you talking about my Fatty? Haha." "It''s pointless to keep attacking like this. The opponent can teleport, and their Psychic ability is fully developed. Isn''t this a waste of effort?" "Who cares what others think, as long as it¡¯s entertaining." "I¡¯m just worried for Fire fang Dog." "This is a match. If you''re going to worry over every little injury, you might as well go play house." "..." --- On the field. Before Fire fang Dog could even get close this time, Scale Controller Doll didn¡¯t bother teleporting, simply using Psychic to freeze Fire fang Dog in place. Bang! The sound of another hard crash onto the ground. Qiao Sang clenched her fists as she watched Fire fang Dog, battered and bruised, struggle to its feet once more. Suppressing the tremble in her heart, she called out forcefully, "Flame Charge!" At this point, no one could understand. "What¡¯s wrong with Qiao Sang?" "Wasn¡¯t she acting really smart in the previous rounds?" "Flame Charge is powerful, sure, but what¡¯s the point if it can¡¯t hit the opponent?" "Maybe she¡¯s just going for broke. If she¡¯s going to lose anyway, she might as well show off her own determination." At the commentator''s desk. "Fire fang Dog stands again! It hasn''t given up! Even if it loses this match, Fire fang Dog''s unyielding spirit will be forever remembered!" The commentator said, moved. Once again, flames wrapped around Fire fang Dog. Seeing it charge forward again purely on willpower, some of the softer-hearted audience members couldn¡¯t help but cover their eyes, unwilling to witness what came next. Bang! Another hard crash onto the ground. Hearing the sound, those who had covered their eyes opened them. And then froze in disbelief. "Holy crap! What happened? Why is Scale Controller Doll the one on the ground?!" No one around had an answer. They didn¡¯t know either! Qiao Sang was elated. Her strategy had been flawless! Although she wasn¡¯t entirely familiar with Psychic-type skills, she could make some judgments based on the situation on the field. At the start, Scale Controller Doll¡¯s Psychic ability hadn¡¯t been fully developed, and it was only when it was forced into a corner that it unleashed its full strength. She had suspected that Psychic power could be controlled. The stronger the Psychic force, the more energy it consumes. So, to conserve energy, Scale Controller Doll had likely been using a controlled level of power in its Psychic attacks. Fire fang Dog¡¯s first two Flame Charges were meant to deceive Scale Controller Doll into thinking it only needed a portion of its power to restrain Fire fang Dog. Of course, Fire fang Dog wasn¡¯t aware of her plan. It was simply following her orders and giving it its all. However, on the third Flame Charge, she had upgraded the move from beginner level to adept through the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex. Though it was just a leap from beginner to adept, Flame Charge is already a high-damage, mid-tier move. Scale Controller Doll, blinded by the previous two Flame Charges, expected the third to be of similar strength. And the result? Just as she had predicted. Scale Controller Doll''s Psychic attack couldn¡¯t withstand the suddenly enhanced Flame Charge. "Yap!" "Yap!" Fire fang Dog barked twice. The first was out of joy, the second out of pain. It had completely forgotten to maintain its aloof expression and leapt up in excitement before collapsing from exhaustion. Luckily, it quickly got back on its feet. On the other side, the Scale Controller Doll wasn¡¯t engulfed in flames, but it felt like it was burning alive. ¡°Scale!!¡± The Scale Controller Doll rolled on the ground, crying out in pain. Hou Xiangyu¡¯s heart sank. He knew the Scale Controller Doll had been afflicted with a burn status. Flame Charge was a skill with a certain chance of causing burns. Once burned, the damage would continue over time. The Scale Controller Doll didn¡¯t have much energy left, and its defense wasn¡¯t strong. At this rate, it would likely lose... But the opponent wasn¡¯t in much better shape either. ¡°Stand up! Illusion Ray!¡± Hou Xiangyu shouted. ¡°Fire Whirl!¡± Qiao Sang commanded at the same time. The Fire fang Dog was severely injured. If the opponent had enough energy to release a sweeping Illusion Ray, there would be no way to dodge. Since that was the case...It could only face it head-on! The Scale Controller Doll, enduring the constant burning pain, stood up and raised its short claws, gathering all the remaining energy within its body. Meanwhile, the Fire fang Dog also did its best to concentrate its remaining energy. Boom! The two forces collided, but neither canceled the other out. The Illusion Ray overpowered the Fire Whirl and shot straight toward the Fire fang Dog. We¡¯ve won! Hou Xiangyu thought to himself. He never expected to be so thrilled by defeating a Fire fang Dog that was still in its early stages. ¡°The winner is Hou...¡± The referee stopped mid-sentence. The Fire fang Dog, which had fallen, struggled to its feet once again! This time, its gaze was fierce, its eyes faintly bloodshot, and its body was surrounded by fiery orange-red flames. This wasn¡¯t Flame Charge¡ªthis was... ¡°This is Blaze!¡± The commentator exclaimed, standing up in excitement. Hou Xiangyu nearly spat blood. What was wrong with this Fire fang Dog? Would it ever go down? At that moment, the Scale Controller Doll, having exhausted all its energy, closed its eyes and collapsed, unable to stand any longer. The arena fell into silence. Chapter 67: The Fearless Eyewear Shop Moments later, the audience erupted in deafening cheers.¡°How did they win?!¡± ¡°Fire fang Dog, I love you!¡± ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, give me the Fire fang Dog!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re so cool!¡± ¡°What an upset! The Scale Controller Doll is down! The final contestant advancing to the championship is Qiao Sang!¡± The commentator excitedly exclaimed, ¡°This is definitely the most thrilling match of the Bai Xin Competition! At the last moment, the Fire fang Dog even triggered its Blaze ability! Too bad the Scale Controller Doll collapsed so quickly, we didn¡¯t get to see more of the Fire fang Dog in Blaze mode!¡± Hou Xiangyu: ... Did no one think that he could hear them too? Qiao Sang stared blankly at the Fire fang Dog in the arena, covered in injuries but still exuding more power than ever before. Sensing its beastmaster¡¯s gaze, the Fire fang Dog turned its head. The moment its fierce eyes met Qiao Sang¡¯s, they softened into crescent-shaped smiles. Then, the flames around it dissipated, and it closed its eyes, collapsing. ¡°Fire fang Dog!¡± Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and rushed over to pick it up. --- In the Beast Arena¡¯s medical room. A green pet beast with two antennae on its head, each ending in a glowing spherical tip, clenched its claws, focusing hard. The glowing tips of its antennae released a soft green light, scattering fine green powder over the Fire fang Dog lying on the bed. Two minutes later, the Fire fang Dog opened its misty eyes. ¡°The Fire fang Dog is fine now.¡± The female vet said after a quick check-up. ¡°But since it just triggered its Blaze ability, it¡¯s better to let it rest a bit longer. Skip the pre-battle warm-up.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± The Fire fang Dog perked up at the sound of the vet¡¯s voice and happily jumped over to her. Qiao Sang caught it in his arms and gratefully said, ¡°Thank you, doctor. I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job. I watched the match earlier, it was incredible. Good luck in the finals.¡± The vet encouraged. ¡°We will.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Yap!¡± The Fire fang Dog barked energetically. Seeing the Fire fang Dog fully recovered, Qiao Sang finally had the mental space to recall the final moments of the match. Blaze, a unique ability. Every pet beast had its own innate ability. Most of them were beneficial to the pet, but some could be disadvantageous or even useless. Take the Moonrush Grass, for example. As soon as it encountered rainy weather, it would fall asleep. If you faced one in a match, all you''d need to do is send out a pet that knew how to summon rain, and you¡¯d win without a fight. Then there was the Eight-Tentacled Coral they encountered recently. Its ability allowed it to become invisible by adjusting the nanocrystals on its skin when touching objects, though that was more of a supportive ability. As for the Fire fang Dog¡¯s Blaze ability, it was absolutely advantageous in terms of attack power. Once it was injured to a certain extent and its energy was severely depleted, Blaze would activate. It was like being powered up, with fire-type skills and attack speed increasing several times over. It was an ability every fire-type pet beast wished to have. However, this ability didn¡¯t always trigger. Unlike the Moonrush Grass¡¯s ability to fall asleep in the rain, which was a forced trait, the Fire fang Dog¡¯s Blaze had to be mastered to be triggered. In general, any fire-type pet beast that could reliably trigger Blaze and master it was a formidable opponent. That¡¯s because it had to be severely injured to even begin practicing how to trigger it. Though the Fire fang Dog had the Blaze ability, Qiao Sang figured it would take time for it to master it. There were still about 50 minutes until the finals. Qiao Sang, holding the Fire fang Dog, decided to head to the stands to watch the pet beast performances. On the way from the medical room to the stands, the Fire fang Dog caught sight of a reflective glass pane and paused. It jumped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and stood in front of the glass, staring at its reflection. Then it panicked. ¡°Yip?¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± Where were his sunglasses?! Qiao Sang pulled out a broken pair of red, triangular sunglasses from his bag and held them up. ¡°The match just now was too intense, they shattered.¡± The Fire fang Dog froze in place, as if struck by lightning. It reached out with its paws to take the broken sunglasses and let out a mournful cry, ¡°Yap!!!¡± This cry was even more tragic than when the Scale Controller Doll had used telekinesis to slam it to the ground. ¡°Out with the old, in with the new. I¡¯ll buy you several more pairs tonight, and you can pick whichever you like.¡± Qiao Sang comforted. The Fire fang Dog immediately calmed down and nodded tearfully. At that moment, a voice called out from nearby, ¡°I happen to have a spare pair of sunglasses. I can give them to your Fire fang Dog.¡± Qiao Sang turned around. A woman around 25 or 26, with long black hair and delicate, non-threatening features, was walking toward her. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Song Yuan.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Qiao Sang replied politely. ¡°I called you yesterday, but you seemed to think it was a spam call and hung up on me.¡± Song Yuan said with a light laugh, unfazed. Qiao Sang thought for a moment, ¡°Was that the number ending in 1772? The one I blocked after several calls?¡± Sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Song Yuan: ¡­ ¡°Yes, that was me.¡± ¡°Sorry, I thought it was a scam call.¡± Qiao Sang said, embarrassed. ¡°No worries. It¡¯s good to be cautious. I wouldn¡¯t pick up a call from an unknown number either. The reason I reached out is...¡± Song Yuan was interrupted by a sudden phone ring. ¡°Excuse me, I need to take this call.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Qiao Sang said. She noticed that Song Yuan¡¯s phone screen didn¡¯t have the caller labeled with a name. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Song Yuan answered. Qiao Sang: ... A minute later. ¡°Sorry about that. Where were we?¡± Song Yuan asked after hanging up. ¡°You were saying you wouldn¡¯t pick up a call from a stranger either.¡± Qiao Sang reminded. Song Yuan¡¯s face reddened with slight embarrassment. She cleared her throat and explained, ¡°Well, in my line of work, I have to answer all calls, just in case I miss something important.¡± Qiao Sang nodded in understanding. ¡°I reached out because I wanted to ask if Fire fang Dog would be willing to represent my online eyewear store,¡± Song Yuan finally revealed her intention. ¡°The way it looks with sunglasses is exactly what I¡¯ve been envisioning. The payment details are negotiable. If you¡¯re interested, we can exchange contact information and discuss further after the finals.¡± Initially, she just wanted Fire fang Dog to do a livestream. But after seeing how Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog performed today, she believed it had great potential. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the name of your online store?¡± Song Yuan quickly replied, ¡°Fearless Eyewear Shop.¡± Qiao Sang took out her phone and searched. The shop was real. The owner¡¯s name matched. The number matched the one she had blocked yesterday. It didn¡¯t seem like a scam... ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk more after the finals.¡± Qiao Sang agreed with a big smile. ¡°Great! I overheard you talking to the Fire fang Dog earlier. I happen to have a pair of sunglasses from my shop with me. If it¡¯s alright, could you have Fire fang Dog wear them during the finals?¡± Song Yuan happily pulled out a pair of sunglasses from her bag. Qiao Sang looked at the sunglasses and fell silent. Fire fang Dog glanced at them and shook its head like a rattle. It had standards too, okay! Chapter 68: Did She Go Easy? The sunglasses in front of them were trendy, with an eye-catching design and a cute, energetic vibe. It was indeed a striking pair of shades. However, they didn''t seem quite right for Fire fang Dog. That¡¯s because they were heart-shaped and pink. Qiao Sang remained silent for a while before tactfully declining, "It¡¯s better not. You saw how badly Fire fang Dog¡¯s last pair got damaged during the match. If your sunglasses get broken during the finals, it won¡¯t be good." "Yap!" Fire fang Dog nodded quickly, holding up the broken red sunglasses as evidence. Song Yuan smiled and said, "The frame of these sunglasses is made from the claws of a Nikken Lizard. I can''t speak for other competitions, but for something like the Bai Xin Tournament, they¡¯ll definitely hold up." Sea?ch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know what you¡¯re worried about, but you have to trust my business sense. It''s like a delicate girl riding a motorbike, or a stoic man going clubbing, that kind of contrast is what¡¯s really appealing." That reasoning made sense. As expected from a businesswoman, Qiao Sang almost felt persuaded. But seeing how resistant Fire fang Dog was, Qiao Sang felt it was important to respect its feelings. "I''m afraid Fire fang Dog may not¡ª" "If Fire fang Dog wears them during the finals, even if we can¡¯t agree on a collaboration afterward, I¡¯ll still pay you a fee, starting at five figures." Song Yuan spread out her hand, showing five fingers. "Well, then, it seems perfect." Qiao Sang said. "Yap?" --- Inside the contestants'' lounge. Wei Wenya was sitting on a sofa, while a blue, duck-shaped pet beast was doing one-handed push-ups on the floor. "Dad, are you serious about this?" "Of course. The prize is something your second uncle personally arranged. Why would I lie to you?" Replied the man sitting on the sofa beside her. He had slicked-back hair, wore a sharp black suit, and his polished leather shoes shone. With his legs crossed, he lounged on the sofa like a business tycoon. "But won¡¯t it be obvious if Auntie misidentifies an A-grade Water Evolution Stone as a D-grade one at the appraisal center?" Wei Wenya asked, concerned. "Your aunt is a veteran appraiser. No one would suspect her. Besides, she¡¯s in charge of the whole thing, with no outside interference." The man replied smoothly. "Could we ask the organizers to swap the prizes for first and second place? It¡¯s embarrassing to lose on purpose to a middle school kid in front of everyone." Wei Wenya whined. "You need to understand, the most important thing right now isn¡¯t ranking or face; it¡¯s the future growth of your Force-headed Duck. Once you have the Water Evolution Stone, I¡¯ll find a way to get you a high-purity bottle of Azure Vital Water." "With Force-headed Duck evolving into a higher-tier beast, you''ll have a shot at making it onto Yong University¡¯s team." "And besides, the kid you¡¯re about to face beat Hou Xiangyu. Even if you lose, it won¡¯t be that embarrassing." The man explained patiently. "I understand." Wei Wenya finally relented. Their conversation didn¡¯t distract Force-headed Duck from continuing its one-handed push-ups. --- ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! We¡¯ve finally reached the finals of the Bai Xin Competition! Let¡¯s welcome the two competitors who have fought their way to this stage: Wei Wenya and Qiao Sang!¡± The announcer called out passionately. As the background music blared, Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog stepped into the arena. The crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers. "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" "Fire fang Dog! Fire fang Dog!" "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" "Fire fang Dog! Fire¡­ huh?" The cheering crowd paused, noticing something odd about Fire fang Dog¡¯s appearance. On the big screen, Fire fang Dog appeared with a dead-serious face, wearing a pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses that clashed dramatically with its tough image. But there was no denying it, the visual impact was intense. No wonder it had managed to defeat Hou Xiangyu''s Scale Controller Doll. So unique! "Fire fang Dog! Fire fang Dog!" In the arena, Fire fang Dog struggled to keep from smiling. Its Beastmaster had been right after all. Wearing these sunglasses, it looked unbelievably cool. Usually, the crowd never cheered for it like this. Apparently, human aesthetics were different from its own. As the music stopped, Wei Wenya formed a hand seal, summoning her Electric Prankster Cat into the arena. Qiao Sang was a little surprised. Wei Wenya had caught her attention from the first day of the competition, and Qiao Sang had taken notes on her in her memo app. Naturally, she knew that Wei Wenya had a Water-type pet beast, Force-headed Duck. But surprisingly, Wei Wenya hadn¡¯t opted to use her pet with a type advantage. Perhaps she felt it wasn''t necessary¡­ After all, other than its defense, Electric Prankster Cat was superior to Fire fang Dog in almost every way. As the referee''s whistle blew, Electric Prankster Cat grinned, its tail stretching straight out. Suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, aimed at Fire fang Dog¡¯s position. But Fire fang Dog''s figure blurred, splitting into eight clones that attacked Electric Prankster Cat from all directions. The two clones charging head-on were immediately obliterated by the lightning, vanishing on the spot. The remaining six continued to surround Electric Prankster Cat. As they got close, all six Fire fang Dogs¡¯ fangs ignited with flames, preparing to bite down. "Quick, dodge!" Wei Wenya ordered urgently. If it got bitten, the match might be over. She had intended to lose, but in a way she could control, not by being truly defeated. Electric Prankster Cat''s speed was its greatest advantage. But with Fire fang Dog closing in from all sides, it hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to flee. Finally, it leapt into the air, trying to escape the encirclement. Its jumping power was strong, and it almost cleared the trap. But one of the Fire fang Dogs jumped onto another¡¯s back and propelled itself upward, its flaming fangs sinking into Electric Prankster Cat¡¯s tail and dragging it back down. The remaining Fire fang Dogs pounced, biting into Electric Prankster Cat from all sides. "Prank!!!" Electric Prankster Cat let out a pitiful scream. When the Fire fang Dogs pulled back, Electric Prankster Cat had fainted, its eyes closed. The referee stood in stunned silence for a moment. He couldn¡¯t believe the final had ended so quickly. Recovering, he stepped over to check Electric Prankster Cat, then confirmed the match was indeed over. "The winner is Qiao Sang!" The audience murmured in disbelief. "That was the final?" "Not as exciting as the semifinals." "It wasn''t even as good as the pet performance earlier." "Why didn¡¯t Electric Prankster Cat just break through with a Thunder attack instead of dodging?" Qiao Sang had the same question. Wei Wenya, who had crushed opponents just as decisively as Hou Xiangyu, shouldn¡¯t have performed this poorly. In her previous matches, Electric Prankster Cat had ended fights with a single Thunder or Electric Shock, leaving no opportunity to gauge her real strength. After her match with Hou Xiangyu, Qiao Sang had placed Wei Wenya on the same level of skill. But now¡­ Had she gone easy? --- In the hallway leading to the medical bay. ¡°Sweetheart, I told you to throw the match, but don¡¯t you think you lost a little too quickly?¡± The man in the suit said sternly. Wei Wenya: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 69: Exhibition Match The awards ceremony was scheduled to take place after the exhibition match between San Duo and Gao Xulu.Before leaving the field, a staff member approached Qiao Sang, asking for her seat number in the audience, explaining that they would invite her up to the stage for the award presentation later. Unlike the formal and simple award ceremonies of her past life, the current world of beast masters loved to add some flair and spectacle to these events. The awards ceremony in the beast master competition was a bit showy, though not as over-the-top as the entry process in coordination competitions. The difference was that in coordination competitions, participants had to come up with their own creative entrance ideas, whereas in beast master competitions, the organizers handled it. The award recipients just had to stay still and wait for instructions. Returning to her seat, before Bai Yunmiao could say anything, the man sitting next to Qiao Sang enthusiastically chimed in, ¡°Kid, which school are you from? You did amazing, way better than my good-for-nothing son!¡± Just as she was about to respond, a woman seated in front of them turned around and asked, "Are you here by yourself, dear? Did your parents not come?" Another young man sitting nearby added, ¡°Qiao Sang, do you have any plans for the summer? If not, come to our Longwu Basic Pet Beast Daycare. Fire fang can play to its heart''s content and unleash its wild nature. I''ll even give you a discount.¡± Suddenly, everyone around her started striking up conversations. Qiao Sang responded to each one in turn. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wasn''t quite used to interacting with so many strangers. In her past life, living in the fast-paced city, people maintained strong boundaries, and personal interactions were rather cold. It wasn¡¯t uncommon to live in the same neighborhood and not even greet the neighbor next door. But now, the strangers speaking to her were genuinely warm and friendly. Qiao Sang understood that her winning first place had something to do with it, but more importantly, the fact that pet beasts were a common interest now brought people closer together. As the background music played, signaling the start of San Duo and Gao Xulu¡¯s exhibition match, the crowd quieted down, shifting their attention back to the arena. ¡°Genius Qiao, you''re more talented than the recent graduates from our school! If they had competed, they wouldn''t have even made it to first place.¡± Bai Yunmiao said admiringly. ¡°Stop exaggerating! The truly strong competitors at this stage probably didn¡¯t even join this competition.¡± Qiao Sang said, removing the sunglasses from Fire fang''s face. She had felt awkward seeing those sunglasses on Fire fang Dog the whole time. ¡°Yap?¡± Fire fang dog, sensing the shift in attention, lowered its head and used its paw to take back the sunglasses, quickly putting them back on. Qiao Sang: ... Wasn''t it the one refusing to wear them earlier? ¡°Anyway, the timing clashed with the Interstellar Cup. But even so, you¡¯ve beaten top talents like Hou Xiangyu and Wei Wenya, one from Litan High and the other just admitted to Yong University. You¡¯re still so young, and yet¡­¡± Qiao Sang cut Bai Yunmiao off mid-sentence. ¡°Look, San Duo has summoned Si Tongyan.¡± Bai Yunmiao immediately quieted down and focused on the arena. A red star array had just disappeared in front of San Duo. Before a beast master displays their rank badge, the color of their star array is the most common indicator of their level. A white array represents an F-rank beast master, gray an E-rank, green for D-rank, and yellow-orange for C-rank. Red is the mark of a B-rank beast master, proof that San Duo could contract five pet beasts. Gao Xulu¡¯s star array was also red. Under her red array appeared a pet beast about three meters tall, with a red back, grayish-white belly, and pure white wing tips and tail feathers. Its feathers were adorned with intricate, almost eerie markings. They didn¡¯t seem natural but rather deliberately engraved. Qiao Sang vaguely recognized these patterns from her limited knowledge, they were expensive. There were many professions related to pet beasts, and beast engravers were one of them. They used special techniques to draw patterns on pet beasts, granting various effects. These patterns could accelerate energy gathering, enhance defense or attack, or even influence breeding abilities. These engravings had time and usage limits. Official competitions didn''t allow pet beasts to have such engravings, as they were considered external aid, similar to equipping items, which didn¡¯t reflect the beast¡¯s true power. But since this was just an exhibition match, no one would object to either engravings or equipped items. The purpose of an exhibition match was not to determine a winner but simply to put on a good show. However, some of San Duo''s supporters were unhappy, especially Bai Yunmiao. "Gao Xulu is already stronger than San Duo. Why send out a beast with engravings? That¡¯s just bullying!¡± ¡°Maybe the engravings aren''t meant to increase power.¡± Qiao Sang guessed. "You''re probably right." Bai Yunmiao quickly agreed. Both of them focused on the intense aerial battle between Fierce Arrow Fire Owl and Swift Swallow. Though Fierce Arrow Fire Owl was smaller than Swift Swallow, its fighting spirit was in no way inferior. The two pet beasts clashed rapidly, exchanging skills as if they didn¡¯t need energy to cast them. After each collision, they would pull apart and then dive toward each other again, launching attacks from new angles, thrilling the audience with each round. Neither San Duo nor Gao Xulu issued commands. After about ten minutes of intense battle, Swift Swallow dodged one of Fierce Arrow Fire Owl''s Flaming Air Blasts and suddenly veered toward the audience. Swift Swallow immediately chased after it, even releasing a Gale Blast during the pursuit. Fierce Arrow Fire Owl, sensing the danger from behind, effortlessly dodged the attack without even looking back. The chase was exhilarating, especially as the two flying beasts approached the audience, heightening the intensity. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°Good heavens!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Help!¡± They were headed toward Section A, and the audience instinctively ducked, fearing they¡¯d be caught in the crossfire. Fierce Arrow Fire Owl flew dangerously low, almost skimming over the audience. Luckily, Swift Swallow refrained from launching any more attacks. But the sight of two pet beasts zipping over the audience, playing a game of cat and mouse while dropping in altitude, was an experience more thrilling than any roller coaster. Qiao Sang was nervous, sensing the danger as Fierce Arrow Fire Owl approached Section C. She pulled Bai Yunmiao down beside her, clutching Fire fang Dog tightly. Within a few seconds, Fierce Arrow Fire Owl had flown into Section C. Qiao Sang could feel the rush of wind from its wings, whipping her ponytail wildly as the bird flew past. Relieved, she started to stand up, only to suddenly find herself lifted off her seat, now hovering several meters in the air. ¡°Ahhh!!¡± ¡°Yap!!!¡± Qiao Sang screamed in fear, while Fire fang Dog howled in excitement. Six seconds later, Qiao Sang landed on the award podium, her face pale. Beside her stood Wei Wenya, equally ashen-faced. ¡°Now, I officially announce the start of the Bai Xin Cup award ceremony!¡± Chapter 70: A Name? Qiao Sang was still shaken.The Fierce Arrow Fire Owl that had just picked her up turned and left in a dashing manner, as if it had completed its task and disappeared into the shadows, hiding its deeds and name. Hou Xiangyu, sitting in the B section of the audience, watched in bewilderment as Qiao Sang and Wei Wenya were carried up to the stage by the Fierce Arrow Fire Owl and the Swift Swallow. The awards ceremony started? What about him? He was still the third-place winner, after all! Why didn¡¯t they come for him? No recognition at all! Was he supposed to walk up there himself?! Before he could complain further in his head, his body suddenly lost balance and appeared in the air. "Ahhhhhhh!" Qiao Sang watched as Hou Xiangyu was carried onto the stage by a Robust Owl that flew in from outside, feeling dazed. So this is what it feels like to see someone else getting carried up¡­ How embarrassing¡­ Qiao Sang made a decision. If the organizers asked her to give a victory speech later, she was definitely going to curse a little in front of everyone. The prizes were handed out starting with the third-place winner, and soon it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. The first-place prize was 200,000 Alliance Coins and a pet beast egg. However, what was handed to Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t the pet beast egg, but a voucher for selecting any egg from the Pet Beast Base. The organizers were generous! Qiao Sang recalled that the prize listed for first place was a random pet beast egg. She had thought that the organizers didn''t reveal the egg type to add some suspense, but it turned out she could pick one herself from the Pet Beast Base. Although the voucher was limited to an egg worth no more than 500,000, this was much better than having an egg randomly handed to her. The bond a Beastmaster shares with their contracted beasts is precious, and each choice must be carefully considered. If she didn¡¯t have a choice, it would be one thing, but if given the chance, she¡¯d definitely choose something she truly wanted. Qiao Sang had her eye on a water-type, grass-type, or flying-type pet beast for her second contract. With this budget, her options had greatly expanded. "Qiao Sang, what would you like to say after winning first place?" The host asked. "First of all, I want to thank my mother. Without her support, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to contract Fire fang Dog. Secondly, I¡¯d like to thank Fire fang dog, who¡¯s been with me all along. Without it, I couldn¡¯t have won this competition. Lastly, I want to thank the organizers..." After the awards ceremony and photo session, Qiao Sang approached San Duo, who was also in the group photo. "Mr. San Duo, I have a friend who''s a fan of yours." --- Qiao Sang returned to the audience. The final part of the Bai Xin Competition was the drawing of five lucky winners. Unfortunately, Bai Yunmiao wasn¡¯t selected. "Genius Qiao! Are you going to check out the pet beast eggs right away or wait until your Beastmaster codex unlocks a second page?" Bai Yunmiao asked with a smile, showing no signs of disappointment. "I¡¯ll probably go to the Pet Beast Base tomorrow." Qiao Sang replied. Bai Yunmiao was about to continue chatting when Qiao Sang suddenly pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. "I just got this autograph from San Duo for you." Bai Yunmiao stared in disbelief at the paper for a moment. Then... ¡°Ah! Genius Qiao, I love you so much!¡± Bai Yunmiao threw herself at Qiao Sang. "Yap!" Fire fang dog, caught in the middle, yelped. Bai Yunmiao quickly let go, fearing Fire fang Dog might bite her. --- In a caf¨¦ near Shouke Park. Soft, warm lighting cast a cozy and peaceful atmosphere over the walls. A completely pink pet beast carefully carried a tray holding three cups of coffee to the table where two women sat by the window. ¡°Here you go.¡± It placed the coffee on the table one by one, its long, almond-shaped brown eyes narrowing into a smile. ¡°And who is this?¡± Song Yuan asked. ¡°This is my friend, Bai Yunmiao.¡± Qiao Sang introduced. "Nice to meet you." Bai Yunmiao responded, trying to act mature and composed. Qiao Sang felt a bit helpless. Ever since she had given Bai Yunmiao San Duo¡¯s autograph, it was as if Bai Yunmiao had elevated their friendship to a new level. Topics they¡¯d never discussed before suddenly came pouring out. Usually, after leaving the pet beast competition arena, they¡¯d go their separate ways, as they took different buses home. But this time, when Bai Yunmiao heard Qiao Sang mention she had a business meeting, she insisted on tagging along, citing that at 15 years old, Qiao Sang was too young and might get scammed. "Your friend is really pretty. As expected, a beauty¡¯s friends are also beauties." Song Yuan complimented. "No way." Bai Yunmiao¡¯s face flushed red as she lowered her head shyly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ A little praise, and she¡¯s already like this? Bai Yunmiao¡¯s the one who¡¯s likely to get scammed. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Song Yuan got down to business. ¡°This is the draft of the contract. Please have a look and let me know if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not happy with.¡± Qiao Sang took the contract and carefully read it. Three minutes later¡­ ¡°I can only sign for half a year.¡± Qiao Sang said, looking up. ¡°Why? Are the terms not to your satisfaction?¡± Song Yuan frowned. The terms she offered were already quite good, considering that Qiao Sang had only just won first place in the Bai Xin Cup. S~ea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the hype died down in a few days, she wouldn¡¯t have the same appeal to attract customers. The rest would rely on how well they could market her. A one-year endorsement fee of 600,000 was a price she offered to build a good relationship, believing in Qiao Sang¡¯s potential. ¡°It¡¯s because Fire fang Dog will evolve in six months, and the contract is specifically for Fire fang dog, not its evolved form, Blaze fang dog. Once that happens, I¡¯d be in breach of contract if Fire fang dog doesn¡¯t appear.¡± Qiao Sang explained. The glasses were designed to be a hot-selling product for a quarter, with a new product coming out every few months. By the time six months passed, Fire fang dog wouldn¡¯t be available to shoot for this product line. Song Yuan: ... Evolve in six months? Where does she get that confidence from? The Bai Xin Competition title, maybe¡­ It¡¯s not like she contracted something like a Cottonbug... For a moment, Song Yuan regretted discussing this endorsement deal with Qiao Sang. Many rookie Beastmasters, after winning a few matches, tended to get overconfident. Only after a while did reality hit them. It seemed Qiao Sang was one of them. "Fine, six months it is. If you have no other issues, I¡¯ll print the formal contract based on this draft." Song Yuan nodded. Although her opinion of Qiao Sang had soured slightly, she maintained her outward smile, as polite as ever. However, Qiao Sang keenly sensed the change in her tone. But she didn¡¯t think too much of it, assuming Song Yuan was simply unhappy with the shorter contract term. Once the contract was finalized and signed, the three of them casually chatted for a while before Song Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s Fire fang dog¡¯s name?¡± Qiao Sang froze for a moment, then hesitated, ¡°Name?¡± Song Yuan: ... Bai Yunmiao laughed and explained, ¡°She¡¯s asking if you¡¯ve given Fire fang dog a nickname. But I¡¯m guessing you haven¡¯t yet, right?¡± Song Yuan chimed in, ¡°That won¡¯t do. When we start promoting, we can¡¯t just call it ¡®Fire fang dog¡¯ all the time. It needs a unique name to distinguish it from other Firevfang dogs. What do you think of calling it Hanggang¡¯s Handsomest Fang?¡± Chapter 71: The Most Handsome Fugitive "Yap!"The Fire fang Dog barked happily, seemingly very pleased with the name. "That name is overused. My neighbor¡¯s daughter¡¯s boyfriend has a Fire fang Dog named the same thing." Bai Yunmiao commented. Qiao Sang fell into deep thought nearby. She hadn''t really thought much about naming. In this society, not all Beast Masters gave names to their beasts. Some would give their pets usernames, not proper names, just to stand out from the crowd and grab attention. Others would hire professionals to name their beasts, based on attributes, birth date, or birthplace. But most people just picked a name by repeating part of the species¡¯ name. However, these repeated names often became awkward as the beast evolved. Beasts evolved. Regardless of how the Beast Master felt, many beasts became dissatisfied with their old names after evolving. Take the Cottonbug, for example. Many Beast Masters call their Cottonbug Wormie, but once it evolves into a perfect transformation like a Snow Butterfly or Venomous Butterfly, continuing to call it Wormie doesn¡¯t sit well with them. By then, changing the name to Butterfly would feel awkward as well. Because of this, some Beast Masters just referred to their pets by their species name. After all, through their contract, the pets clearly understood who was calling them. This was fine most of the time, but when the beast became a spokesperson or representative, having a unique name became essential. "Let¡¯s call it Yabao." Qiao Sang suggested. If she was going to give a name, she might as well choose something that wouldn¡¯t sound weird even after the Fire fang Dog evolved. "Yap Yap!" The Fire fang Dog protested loudly. It still preferred to be called The Most Handsome Fire Fang Dog in Hanggang. Qiao Sang: ... "Yabao means you''re my precious. Don¡¯t you like it?" Qiao Sang pretended to look disappointed. The Fire fang Dog hesitated, then quickly tried to comfort its Beast Master. "Yap!" "Yap-Yap!" "Yap!" It liked it. Yabao was fine! "Good." Qiao Sang¡¯s disappointed expression vanished instantly. Bai Yunmiao watched the scene, unfazed. Song Yuan, on the other hand, was stunned. This was the same person who dared to contract a fire-type beast first, and now she was even getting the fire-type beast to comfort her... Genius. And so, the name was decided. --- At Qingcheng Garden. Ye Xiangting returned home to find the table filled with dishes, along with a fruit that flying-type beasts absolutely loved, Swifttempt Fruit. Each Swifttempt Fruit cost 1,500 Alliance Coins, and she normally couldn¡¯t bring herself to buy them. Ye Xiangting frowned. Her first thought was that her ex-husband somehow found out their daughter got accepted to Shengshui High School and contacted her. As her thoughts spiraled, Qiao Sang emerged from her room. "Mom, you¡¯re finally back. The food I made is cold." Ye Xiangting froze for a moment, hesitantly asking, "You made all of this?" "Yeah, to celebrate winning first place in the Bai Xin Competition." Qiao Sang sat down at the table, pulling out a chair. "Yap." The Fire fang Dog ran out of the room and jumped onto Qiao Sang''s lap. First place in the Bai Xin Competition... Ye Xiangting was stunned again. She knew her daughter had been participating in the Bai Xin Competition, but she thought she was just going for fun. She won first place?! Were all the participants as young as her daughter, just fresh out of middle school? Even so, winning first place was still impressive... "I won a prize of 200,000 coins, so I bought some Swifttempt Fruit. Go ahead, Fat Dove, eat up." Qiao Sang pushed the fruit towards Fat Dove. "Dove!" Fat Dove flapped its wings happily. It had been eyeing the Swifttempt Fruit since they arrived, but it hadn¡¯t touched it because it didn¡¯t know who bought it. Now that it knew its little master bought it, Fat Dove wasted no time and picked up a fruit to eat. Throughout dinner, Ye Xiangting listened to her daughter talk, feeling as if everything was surreal. 200,000 Alliance Coins... A beast egg worth less than 500,000... Should she tell someone about this? At 7:22 PM. Qiao Sang returned to her room, opened her computer, and prepared to research her second pet. As usual, she glanced at the trending topics first. The hot searches were all about the Interstellar Cup. [The Real Dark Horse: Felinus!] [Yuki Akane¡¯s Bitter Farewell to the Interstellar Cup] [Dreamphantasm Beast¡¯s Epic Three-in-a-Row Victory!] [All Blue Star Beast Masters Eliminated] [Eight People from Blue Star Arrested for Smuggling onto Tianyuan Star] Tianyuan Star was where this year''s Interstellar Cup was being held. Every year, a few people would try to smuggle themselves onto the competition planet, and this year was no exception. This time, though, the smugglers were from Blue Star. Without even clicking in, Qiao Sang knew the comments would be filled with curses, probably scolding the smugglers for embarrassing Blue Star. The Interstellar Cup was a sensitive time. There weren¡¯t enough Beast Masters competing to represent even a whole country. Honor was no longer just between nations; it had become a competition between planets. Qiao Sang kept scrolling, and soon, her eyes paused on one line. Among all the Interstellar Cup-related topics, one completely unrelated stood out. [A-Rank Warrant: The Most Handsome Fugitive] Qiao Sang clicked in. She swore, it wasn¡¯t the word handsome that made her curious. The man in the wanted poster had no beauty filters, but his skin was pale, his eyes deep-set, with a pair of sharp phoenix eyes that were cold as ice, like dead water. His thin red lips were tightly pressed, giving off a vibe of stay away from me. Undeniably, he had an extraordinarily handsome face. Among wanted criminals, he definitely lived up to the most handsome title. Qiao Sang read on. [Zhou Xian (Male, 28, from Zhehai Xianglin), along with accomplices, murdered Researcher Qin Yuxin and stole classified research data.] Sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Further down. Qiao Sang''s breath caught. 5 million Alliance Coins! This guy was worth a lot! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but scroll back up to look at the wanted poster again. Since this guy was from Zhehai Xianglin, there was a chance he might return home. They were from the same province, after all. What if she ran into him... Someone worth that much was surely dangerous, but if she encountered him, she could just call the police. There might even be a reward for useful information. Though the odds of that were as slim as winning the lottery, it didn¡¯t hurt to dream. After memorizing the man¡¯s face, Qiao Sang went back to researching water, grass, and flying-type beasts. Her preference order for her second pet was grass-type first, water-type second, and flying-type last. Grass-type beasts were excellent, aside from being a bit expensive. Water-type beasts, while not always able to perform their best on land, could learn healing moves, which was something Qiao Sang currently wanted. As for flying-type beasts, they were purely to satisfy her desire to fly. Chapter 72: Whats the Difference? There were quite a few beasts with these three attributes that cost under 500,000 alliance coins.However, finding one that already had a healing skill in its genetic abilities was a rare find. It wasn¡¯t that no beasts in this price range existed; it was just that any beasts fitting this criteria, especially those with healing skills, were usually pre-booked by insiders or official organizations. For ordinary beast tamers without connections, they could only settle for second-best options. After all, having a beast like that could significantly increase survival rates. Moreover, having such a beast would be a shortcut for those who wanted to become doctors or nurses in the future. Most of these beasts with healing abilities were grass-type beasts. In a situation where everyone wanted these beasts but couldn¡¯t get them, grass-type beasts¡¯ prices had skyrocketed, also raising the prices of other grass-type beasts that didn¡¯t even have inherited healing skills. Take Bai Yunmiao''s Golden Vine, for instance. She got it because her father had worked in a government position for over a decade and secured it for her. That''s why, even though grass-type beasts were usually gentle in temperament, they weren¡¯t often recommended as first-time beasts for rookie tamers. It was impossible for Qiao Sang to buy a beast that already had inherited healing skills, so she shifted her focus to beasts that could potentially learn healing skills later. There were plenty of beasts that could learn healing skills through training, but when narrowing it down to those with great potential and high evolutionary limits, the options became significantly fewer. After researching for two hours, Qiao Sang finally narrowed it down to three options: The Cherrywood Cotton, Water Lantern Crocodile, and the Mianmian Bird. As long as the Cherrywood Cotton and Water Lantern Crocodile were of decent quality and trained properly, they would likely learn one or two healing skills later on. As for the Mianmian Bird, it had a soft, cotton-like body. Its evolved form, the Swift White Bird, would retain this soft structure while gaining a notable increase in speed, ranking it among the fastest flying beasts in its tier. The ride would be incredibly comfortable. Most importantly, all three beasts were priced between 480,000 to 500,000 alliance coins. The beast egg voucher from the Bai Xin Competition was a one-time-use coupon. Whether the beast egg cost 100,000 or 500,000, it didn¡¯t matter. So, of course, she had to choose the most expensive one. Once Qiao Sang had made her decision, she shut off her computer, got ready for bed, and lay on her back with her hands behind her head. Staring at the ceiling light and listening to the playful sounds of Fire Fang Dog and Fat Dove from the living room, her thoughts began to drift towards her upcoming plans. Tomorrow, she''d buy the beast egg. The day after, she''d officially sign the endorsement contract. She had also agreed to visit her hometown with her aunt in mid-July. It was only July 5th today. Song Yuan had said they would shoot the ad on the same day as the contract signing, to quickly capitalize on the Bai Xin Competition''s buzz. That meant that, technically, by July 8th, she¡¯d be free. Maybe she could go to her hometown a bit earlier¡­ The noises from the living room soon quieted down. The door to her room, which was ajar, creaked as he was pushed open. Fire Fang Dog poked he''s head in. Seeing that his tamer was still awake, he happily bounded onto the bed with a couple of leaps. "Yap." He lay on its side in her arms, finding a comfortable spot to sleep. A few seconds later, he suddenly remembered something. Opening his eyes, he jumped off the bed, shut the door, and returned to find his place again. Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction. Her hard work training him for the past month hadn¡¯t been in vain. When she selected those three beasts, she had specifically chosen ones with gentle temperaments. Once they hatched, she was confident they would all get along harmoniously. The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more she felt optimistic about the future. Before going to sleep, she habitually checked her Beast Manual Codex One glance, and she froze. Name: Fire Fang Dog (Yabao) Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (192/1000) + [Primary Trait: Blaze Rank: D (1/500) S~ea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Status: (Rarely Used) Description: (When health drops below 1/4, this trait activates, doubling fire-type skill power and speed.)] Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) + Charge (Proficient 483/500) + Fire Fang (Intermediate 645/2000) + Ember (Intermediate 786/2000) + Shadow Clone (Proficient 3/500) + Fire Whirl (Proficient 164/500) + Flame Charge (Proficient 109/500) + Points: 454 Oh my god! Fire Fang Dog¡¯s level usually increased by 1 or 2 points per day, but how had it suddenly gained 30 more points overnight? And its trait had also appeared! This description was way more detailed than before¡­ And it seemed like it could be upgraded using points just like skills. Qiao Sang stared at the data, which looked completely different from yesterday¡¯s, her heart racing. She remembered that after defeating the young Scale Controller Doll yesterday, the points had shot up by 60, increasing from 220 to 280. This confirmed her suspicion that the system awarded points based on the opponent''s strength. There was no other explanation for why there were only 20 points of difference between the young Scale Controller Doll and the mid-tier Sand Fox. But today, during the semifinals, she had allocated 25 points to Shadow Clone and 91 points to Flame Charge. Logically, she should have had 164 points left. Considering that she usually gained 80 points from defeating a mid-tier beast, the total should have been 404 points. But now, she had 454 points. This meant that one of the mid-tier beasts she defeated today had given far more than 80 points. It was likely the Scale Controller Doll. However, that wasn¡¯t the most important part. The most significant thing was that today¡¯s data didn¡¯t follow the usual point progression! Normally, when Fire Fang Dog used a skill, the corresponding skill would increase by one point. After yesterday¡¯s battle against the young Scale Controller Doll, the points had increased as usual during training. But after today¡¯s three battles against mid-tier beasts, Fire Fang Dog hadn¡¯t trained at all. Still, the data had inexplicably increased. No, wait! The data for Ember, Flame Charge, and Shadow Clone had increased normally. The strange increases were in Charge, Fire Fang, and Fire Whirl. What was different about those skills? Qiao Sang tried to recall the battle scenes from today. Three minutes later. "Oh, shi¡ª" She quickly covered her mouth, almost waking up Fire Fang Dog, who was already sound asleep. But... Should she wake it up after all? It wasn¡¯t too late, she could still go downstairs and test her theory¡­ If her guess was correct, this could drastically increase training efficiency and save a lot of time. That would free up more time to do other things. Qiao Sang looked at Fire Fang Dog, drooling in his sleep under the dim light. In the end, she couldn¡¯t bear to wake him up. She habitually picked up a tissue from her nightstand and wiped away his drool. Forget it¡­ She¡¯d let him sleep for now. Tomorrow morning, she¡¯d wake him up early to test it out. No need to rush tonight... --- The next morning. "Yap." Fire Fang Dog stood by the bed, conflicted. Why was his tamer sleeping so late? Should he wake her up? He was hungry. ----- ----- Chapter 73: A Major Client An hour later, unable to bear his hunger any longer, Fire fang Dog jumped onto the bed and pulled back the blanket with his mouth. Sea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Yap!" He tried to wake up his beastmaster. "Let me sleep a bit longer." Qiao Sang mumbled groggily, turning over. Hearing this, Fire fang Dog hesitated but then carefully covered her back up with the blanket. Forty minutes later, Fire fang Dog jumped back onto the bed and pulled the blanket off again. "Yap!" "Yap Yap!" "Just a bit longer, just one more... Ah!" --- At the dining table, Fire fang Dog finished the last bite of his energy meal, contentedly patting his belly with his paw. Since she had some free time during the holidays, Qiao Sang had learned to make two different types of energy meals from her mother. Both were the simplest recipes, requiring only the right balance of ingredients to be chopped, mixed, and combined with a little energy gel to complete the dish, similar to making a salad. Every time Qiao Sang made one, Fire fang Dog would graciously eat at least half. But this time, he had finished the entire meal, a clear sign of just how hungry he had been. "Yabao, a girl''s face is important. Don''t jump on it so casually next time, okay?" Qiao Sang said earnestly. Fire fang Dog tilted his head and blinked his big, wet eyes at her. "Yap?" Qiao Sang understood his confusion and explained, "Yabao is your name. I just gave it to you yesterday. Did you forget?" "Yap." Fire fang Dog suddenly remembered and responded with a cheerful bark. Qiao Sang, still a bit shaken from the feeling of having her face squashed that morning, looked at her obedient pet and consoled herself. At least it was Fire fang Dog, with his soft body. If she had contracted a beast like Titanstone, she''d be disfigured by now. --- At 9:45 AM, in a shady spot below Qincheng Jiayuan Apartments: "You''ll use Shadow Clone first, then have all your clones use Fire Fang." Qiao Sang instructed. She had spent most of yesterday thinking about it and concluded that the issue likely lay with Shadow Clone. All the data pointed in this direction. First of all, Fire fang Dog gaining 30 points in one day wasn¡¯t unusual. From the previous experience of feeding him Red Awl Fruits, she knew that under normal conditions, Fire fang Dog could grow. Even after he stopped eating the fruits, its level would still increase by 1 or 2 points daily. Given this, it wasn¡¯t strange for Fire fang Dog to have grown after the intense battle with the Scale Controller Doll, especially since he had activated his trait for the first time. The battle had pushed him to grow stronger. However, the skill data for Charge, Fire Fang, and Fire Whirl were the only ones that deviated from the usual pattern. The key difference? Yesterday, Fire fang Dog''s shadow clones had used these skills. If her hypothesis was correct, this meant that once the shadow clones disappeared, the experience points from their skill use were returned to the main body, just as if the main body had used the skills itself. In past battles, Fire fang Dog had used skills with its shadow clones, but Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t checked the stats in the beast codex immediately after each match. Instead, she waited until after training at night, which made it seem like the changes were caused by the training alone. Fire fang Dog nodded and promptly followed her instructions. Seven shadow clones, along with the original, all simultaneously unleashed Fire Fang. Qiao Sang opened the beast codex. [Fire Fang (Progress: 653/2000)] Although she had anticipated this outcome, seeing the number change from 645 to 653 still made her excitedly shout. Nearby, a young boy of about four or five who had come specifically to see Fire fang Dog was startled by her yell and ran crying toward his mother. From a distance, the boy''s mother, sitting on a bench, thought he had been scared by Fire fang Dog. "I told you that fire-type beasts are scary! See if you''ll still run up to one next time." Fire fang Dog''s nose twitched; it suddenly felt a little itchy. --- At 2:45 PM, Qiao Sang took the subway with Fire fang Dog to the Hanggang Beast Base. Each district of Hanggang City had its own dedicated beast breeding base, with plenty of private sellers offering beast eggs. However, the most popular and successful business was the Hanggang Beast Base, where the Bai Xin Competition prize vouchers were redeemable. Last time, she had come early and coincidentally arrived just as the place opened, so there weren¡¯t many people. But this time, Qiao Sang immediately noticed the difference. While the reception hall wasn¡¯t overcrowded, small groups of people stood talking with one another. Qiao Sang glanced around and saw that each group had a staff member in business attire assisting them. Just as she was about to go to the service desk, a woman in her twenties, dressed in a professional suit, walked over. "Hello, do you have an appointment?" The staff member smiled, treating Qiao Sang with complete respect, not underestimating her because of her young age. To work at the largest beast base in Hanggang City, one¡¯s observational skills had to be sharp. It wasn¡¯t about judging people based on appearances but having a necessary skill for recognizing potential clients. The girl before her might be young and plainly dressed, but with a Fire fang Dog in her arms and that calm demeanor, she was clearly no ordinary child. Most people who came to visit the base didn¡¯t come alone. But if someone was here to buy a beast egg to contract, the girl already had a Fire fang Dog, so it wasn¡¯t likely she was here for a second contract. The staff member guessed that Qiao Sang was either meeting someone or already had a beast in mind and had come early to reserve it. "I don¡¯t have an appointment. I¡¯m here to buy a beast egg." Qiao Sang replied. The staff member''s energy spiked. She wasn¡¯t just here to browse, she was a potential buyer! "Have you decided on a specific beast egg?" The staff member asked eagerly. "Yes, I¡¯d like to see the Cherry wood Cotton." Qiao Sang answered. Not only a buyer but a major one! If this purchase went through, she would meet her sales target for the month early. Just as the staff member was about to lead Qiao Sang into the base, someone called her name from behind. She suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t finished helping her previous client. She had only come over while the client was in the restroom. However, she wasn¡¯t willing to hand over such a big opportunity. Thinking quickly, the staff member made a hand sign, summoning a Blue Delight Butterfly. "Miss, let it accompany you into the base for now. I¡¯ll come over as soon as I¡¯ve finished here." Beastmasters and their beasts shared a bond that allowed them to sense each other. As the brain develops, this bond becomes stronger, and the range over which they can sense each other increases. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind. She had no other plans for the day, and a tour of the base sounded nice. The Blue Delight Butterfly fluttered in place, spinning around once before leading Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog down the path into the beast base. ----- ----- Chapter 74: The Treasure-Seeking Ghost The pathways inside the pet beast base were numerous and intricate. Every time one reached the end of a path, it would split off into several more. It was a labyrinth, and without someone familiar with the layout leading the way, it was easy to get lost. Blue Delight Butterfly was leading the way ahead. It was clearly very familiar with the terrain here, as it flew directly down one of the paths without hesitation. Throughout the journey, Blue Delight Butterfly kept chattering, but unfortunately, Qiao Sang couldn''t understand a word. However, Fire fang Dog seemed to enjoy chatting with it immensely. From Fire fang Dog¡¯s responses, Qiao Sang could vaguely guess what Blue Delight Butterfly was saying. It was probably something like: "Did you come from here too?" "Yeah, yeah." "I did too." After three turns and passing through two areas, they finally reached Blue Delight Butterfly¡¯s intended destination¡ªthe Activity Hall. The inside was laid out like a courtyard. At a glance, apart from dragon-type and fairy-type pet beasts, nearly every other attribute of pet beast could be found here. Among them, ghost-type pet beasts were the fewest, with only a handful present. Next were fire-type pet beasts, also barely in the single digits. Overall, in terms of species, there were easily dozens, if not a hundred, different types of pet beasts in the Activity Hall. "Most of our base¡¯s pet beasts are housed here. If you haven¡¯t decided which one to contract with, you can get close to them here and see which one suits you best." Said a male staff member not far from Qiao Sang, addressing a group of three young people. "The beasts here are mostly gentle in nature, so you can feel at ease." Qiao Sang had sharp ears and overheard their conversation. She realized that Fire fang Dog probably hadn¡¯t been here before... Sure enough, the Fire fang Dog in her arms had eyes filled with excitement and curiosity. If his beast master weren¡¯t holding him, he would have already rushed inside. "But there are some precautions to keep in mind." The male staff member continued, "Don¡¯t take pictures of that Flamefinch over there without warning, and be cautious around the Fire fang Dog in the hall, it just went through a breakup, and it''s feeling down. We brought it here to lift its spirits, so just don¡¯t show off any affection in front of it, and you¡¯ll be fine." Qiao Sang froze for a moment. She glanced around and, sure enough, spotted a Fire fang Dog under a decorative stone, eyes closed in rest. Could this be one of the dogs that had fought over a female Fire fang Dog earlier? What happened to the other one then? Did it win the beauty? Just as Qiao Sang wanted to get closer and eavesdrop, Blue Delight Butterfly flew in front of her at the perfect moment. It never forgot its beast master¡¯s instructions. It had to make sure the customer felt well taken care of and never neglected. Blue Delight Butterfly enthusiastically introduced the area. "Yue." "Yue Yue, Yue." "Yue." Qiao Sang: ... Realizing that the male staff member¡¯s voice was getting fainter, Qiao Sang decided not to linger and instead walked into the pet beast activity area, still holding Fire fang Dog. Before she had taken two steps, a green-bodied pet beast blocked her path. Qiao Sang recognized it as a grass-type pet beast, a Budblossom. Its distinguishing feature was a yellow flower bud on top of its head, which hadn¡¯t bloomed yet. When that flower blooms, it means it''s time for it to evolve. The Budblossom held a similarly yellow flower in its hand, which it shyly presented to her. Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils widened. What the heck? Why does this scene feel so familiar? While Qiao Sang stood there, dumbfounded, Blue Delight Butterfly dutifully stepped in to explain what Budblossom meant to express. "Yue." "Yue Yue, Yue." "Yue." Qiao Sang: ... "Yaobao, translate for me." Qiao Sang said. Fire fang Dog faithfully translated. "Yap Yap." "Yap." "Yap." Qiao Sang finally relaxed. So it just wanted to be her contracted pet. For a moment, she had thought... After understanding Budblossom¡¯s intentions, Qiao Sang felt a bit of heartache. What a good pet beast. Sea?ch* The Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Good-looking, good taste, great attributes. But unfortunately, she had no money... The coupon from the Bai Xin Competition was only for pet beast eggs, not for already-hatched beasts. Even if her endorsement payment had arrived, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Budblossom was priced around 500,000 yuan. She couldn¡¯t possibly blow all her prize money and endorsement fees on it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Qiao Sang squatted down and apologetically declined. ¡°Bloss~¡± Budblossom shook its head with a smile, showing that it didn¡¯t mind at all. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart ached even more. What a great temperament... Maybe she should call Song Yuan and ask for the endorsement payment in advance... After all, Budblossom ticked all her boxes. Making a mutual selection when contracting a pet beast would undoubtedly be ideal. But the money¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was struggling internally and unable to make up her mind, Budblossom turned and walked up to another young man who had just entered. ¡°Bloss~¡± Same yellow flower, same shy expression. Qiao Sang: ... So, it turns out she had been wrong all along. Most of the pet beasts here were indeed gentle and friendly, and after a few more interactions, Qiao Sang¡¯s mood improved significantly. Just as she was about to check out a nearby little Ember Owl, Fire fang Dog suddenly stopped in its tracks. Its body tensed up as it stared at a tree. Qiao Sang followed its gaze. A pet beast, yellow and gray in color, was hanging upside down from a branch. It had no wings or legs, but its bottom was firmly stuck to the tree. A yellow ring encircled its head, and both its eyes were bright yellow, with pea-sized gray pupils. Sensing their intense stare, the beast looked over. Its mouth curled into a grin, and its eyes squinted mischievously, showing a sly smile. Qiao Sang quickly picked up Fire fang Dog and turned to leave. Oh my god! Why is there a Treasure-Seeking Ghost here? The Treasure-Seeking Ghost wasn¡¯t just a creepy ghost-type pet beast, it was one of the most troublesome ghost-type pet beasts. It liked to search for treasures, but not the gold and silver humans considered valuable. Instead, it sought out things it found interesting. If something caught its interest, it would find a way to take it for itself. The yellow ring on its head wasn¡¯t just for decoration; it was used to store things. The ring was like a separate dimension, and once something was placed inside, it could never be retrieved unless the Treasure-Seeking Ghost willingly took it out. While that might sound useful, people with malicious intent would often try to contract a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. However, the most troublesome thing about them was that their idea of ''treasure'' could be very odd. If the things they liked were normal, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. But if not, their owner might end up with a terrible reputation. There was once a man accused of stealing items from his neighbors. When the police came, the man, eager to clear his name, did not resist and allowed them to search his home. When they found out he had a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the police asked him to summon it. Confident in his innocence, the man didn¡¯t think twice and told the Treasure-Seeking Ghost to empty its ring. Out came several pieces of women¡¯s underwear. The man spent ages explaining himself, but even after being cleared, he could never show his face in the neighborhood again. Qiao Sang quickly turned and walked away, afraid that something on her person would catch the ghost¡¯s attention. But after only a few steps, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost floated right in front of her. Qiao Sang came to a screeching halt. Phew, that was close, almost a face-to-face encounter. With a mischievous grin, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost took off its ring and pulled out a gray egg with yellow rings on it. ----- ----- Chapter 75: The Setup Most pet beast eggs are easy to distinguish, except for a few that are extremely similar. The egg in the Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s hand had a gray base with a yellow ring, clearly indicating that the pet beast inside was of the same species as it. Qiao Sang''s heart sank. Could it be that, like the Budblossom earlier, this Treasure-Seeking Ghost wanted the one inside this egg to become her pet beast? But she had never considered contracting a Ghost-type pet beast at all. It''s not just beginner beast tamers, even some professional tamers avoid contracting Ghost-type beasts. Unlike the fiery-tempered Fire-type beasts, when Fire-type beasts are angry, at least it¡¯s obvious, and anyone can tell right away. But when Ghost-types are mad, it may not show on the surface. However, they are ruthless when it comes to getting revenge in secret. The way they retaliate depends on their abilities. For instance, with a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it stole your toilet paper while you were in the bathroom or your clothes while you were showering. Qiao Sang pretended not to see it and walked past. Seeing this, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost grinned even wider and nodded toward a shadow in the upper right corner. The shadow received the signal and relayed it to two other shadows, which then flew off in different directions. Before Qiao Sang had taken a few steps, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost appeared in front of her again. Before she could walk around it, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost transferred the egg to its left hand. Its limbs were short, with only three short fingers on each hand. Balancing the egg in its left hand, it waved a short finger in front of Qiao Sang with its right. Qiao Sang was puzzled. Is this... the price of the egg? 100,000? Or 1,000,000? Just as Qiao Sang was trying to figure out what it meant, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost forcefully poked the egg with its short finger. Qiao Sang: ¡­! A hole appeared in the egg, and from it, a short gray finger poked through. The crack quickly spread, and soon the egg broke in half. A miniature Treasure-Seeking Ghost, about 20 centimeters tall, blinked its eyes and made eye contact with Qiao Sang. Two seconds later. "Treasure~" The little one opened its arms and cooed. Qiao Sang stood frozen in place. Is it... treating me like its mother? Seeing that Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t holding it, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost pouted, and tears began to flow down its face. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s smile widened with satisfaction, but then it too began to wail. "Treasure!" "Treasure!" People nearby began to glance over. There stood a large and a small Treasure-Seeking Ghost, both crying their eyes out in front of a young girl. It was hard not to associate the two with her. Qiao Sang was caught in a dilemma. The small Treasure-Seeking Ghost was just born and hadn¡¯t absorbed any nourishment yet. Its cries were genuine, as if it had suffered a great injustice. In no time, its voice grew weaker, seemingly out of strength. In a moment of weakness, Qiao Sang put the Fire fang Dog down and picked up the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Yabao: ... The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost immediately stopped crying, though tears still welled in its eyes. Meanwhile, the larger Treasure-Seeking Ghost continued bawling. Before long, a blond male staff member walked over and asked, "What¡¯s going on here?" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost floated over to the staff, showing him the broken shell and glancing toward Qiao Sang, crying bitterly. "Treasure!" "Treasure-treasure!" "Treasure-treasure!" Qiao Sang: ... Well, there was no mistaking it now. This Treasure-Seeking Ghost was pulling a setup! Suddenly, the little one in her arms felt even more burdensome. The blond staff member watched the display calmly. He had been working here for three years. While he didn¡¯t know everything about the pet beasts in the base, he was quite familiar with most of them, especially those that remained unsold. Ghost-type pet beasts are expensive, and their personalities are quirky, making them hard to sell. As one of the least popular choices, they often resorted to all sorts of tricks to force their preferred beast tamers into a contract. Sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wasn¡¯t the first time this Treasure-Seeking Ghost had pulled this stunt, always using an egg on the verge of hatching to blame the beast tamer for breaking it. Most pet beasts form a bond at first sight, developing an attachment and affection for the first living being they see. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost was no exception. It specifically targeted female beast tamers because they were often more soft-hearted and couldn¡¯t bear to see a young pet cry. If the targeted woman had the means to buy it, the plan would likely succeed. The base didn¡¯t mind, as they were more than happy to help push the sale if it worked out. After all, if successful, it was a win-win. "Miss, can we discuss this outside?" The blond staff member asked. Seeing more and more people gathering around, Qiao Sang agreed. They went into an office where a middle-aged man in his 50s, dressed in a work uniform, was already sitting. Upon seeing the two Treasure-Seeking Ghosts, he instantly understood what had happened. Though the two staff members knew the situation, the blond staff member still formally reported what had transpired. The middle-aged man cleared his throat and said, "Miss, this pet beast egg had already been reserved by one of our customers. Now that this has happened, it will be hard for us to sell." Most beast tamers who buy eggs want to be the first thing the pet sees when it hatches. Since it had already seen someone else, the likelihood of a return was high. Qiao Sang understood, but that didn¡¯t mean she was responsible. "You can check the surveillance footage. I didn¡¯t break the egg. It was the Treasure-Seeking Ghost who poked it in front of me." She pointed to the ghost beside her. "Treasure!" "Treasure-treasure!" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost shook its head, looking as though it had been wronged. The middle-aged man replied, "Then let''s check the footage." He knew the Treasure-Seeking Ghost had already made all the necessary preparations. Sure enough, when they pulled up the footage, the cameras only showed the faces of three Ghost-type pet beasts. Qiao Sang turned and glared at the seemingly innocent Treasure-Seeking Ghost. It even had accomplices?! "Miss, were you here to buy a pet beast today?" The middle-aged man changed the topic without mentioning the footage. "I was looking to buy a pet beast egg." Qiao Sang replied. The middle-aged man smiled slightly but before he could say anything, Qiao Sang added, "A Cherry wood cotton." The man''s face froze. He continued earnestly, "Let me give you some heartfelt advice. Ghost-type pet beasts are easier to sell as eggs. Once they¡¯re born, they become much harder to sell. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost is stronger than the Sakura Cotton. Look how much the little one likes you. Why not consider taking it instead?" His words were half-true. The second part was genuine, but the first was a lie. In reality, Ghost-type pet beast eggs were hard to sell too¡­ Not just because of their personalities but also due to their high price. Ghost-type beasts are elusive and hard to come by, and their strength is formidable. They¡¯re only countered by Ghost-types and Dark-types, making them more expensive than most pet beasts. But even with price cuts, they remained hard to sell. Qiao Sang looked down. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost stared back at her with its wide, tear-filled eyes, as if afraid she would let go. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It''s all fake... It''s all just an act... Chapter 76: Racial Limit Thinking about the many trending incidents caused by ghost-type pet beasts in the past¡­ Not to mention anything else, just today¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Ghost trying to scam her, along with the three other ghost-type pet beasts helping it block the surveillance footage, was enough for Qiao Sang to be wary. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze grew resolute, and just as she was about to reject them, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost sensed her intentions. It stepped back, pinched its own cheeks, and drooped the corners of its mouth, then floated in front of Qiao Sang. Large tears silently fell from its eyes. This time, it didn¡¯t make a sound, letting the tears flow freely. Qiao Sang paused, instinctively feeling that it was up to some new trick. However, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost did nothing else. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It just reached out its hand as if to take the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost back. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost clung tightly to Qiao Sang''s clothes with its tiny hands, turning its head in refusal. "Seek-seek!" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost called out hoarsely, sounding truly sorrowful. The two staff members exchanged a knowing look. "This Treasure-Seeking Ghost is its mother. It''s doing this to make sure its child doesn¡¯t stay in the pet base forever like it did." The middle-aged man said with a hint of sadness. "But didn¡¯t you just say the pet beast egg was reserved by someone?" Qiao Sang asked. The middle-aged man: ... "The Beastmaster who reserved it also reserved two other pet eggs. We¡¯re not sure if they¡¯re for personal use or gifts. It¡¯s understandable that, as a mother, she wouldn¡¯t want to hand her child over to someone unknown." Explained the blonde staff member. Of course, that was a lie. He was just borrowing a story from another pet beast. While this Treasure-Seeking Ghost wasn¡¯t its mother, its goal was indeed to ensure that its kin wouldn¡¯t remain trapped in the pet base like it had. The male Treasure-Seeking Ghost, barely five years old, let its tears fall even faster, as if someone had hit the nail on the head. Qiao Sang: ... Why didn¡¯t she believe a word of it? Seeing the girl remain unmoved, the middle-aged man tried another approach. "It¡¯s been proven that Treasure-Seeking Ghosts can evolve to emperor level, while Cherry wood Cotton¡¯s evolution stops at king level. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider?" This was a critical point. An emperor-level pet beast corresponds to an A-rank Beastmaster¡¯s strength, while a king-level pet beast is necessary for a B-rank Beastmaster. Of course, even though Cherry wood Cotton¡¯s species limit was at the king level, not every Beastmaster could raise it to that level. Typically, a Beastmaster¡¯s resources and energy are limited, and not all contracted pet beasts have top-tier potential. Out of ten thousand Beastmasters who contract a Cherry wood Cotton, only one might be able to raise it to the king level. Most Beastmasters wouldn¡¯t focus on the species¡¯ growth limits when contracting a Cherry wood Cotton, but Qiao Sang had to think about it. Because she had a cheat. With this cheat, she could potentially raise a pet beast with average talent to its species limit. But whether the cheat could push a pet beast beyond its species limit, she didn¡¯t know. After all, surpassing a species limit and reaching a higher life stage was a topic that had been a research focus of the alliance for years. It wasn¡¯t something that could be easily resolved. Her original plan to contract a Cherry wood Cotton was to use its healing abilities to increase her chances of survival in the wild. At the end of the day, her goal was to strengthen herself. She had forgotten all about this when choosing her pet beast yesterday... "What about the Water Lantern Crocodile?" Qiao Sang asked. The middle-aged man: ... He sighed inwardly. This girl had a clear mind, and it was obvious she had already made her choice. It seemed the Treasure-Seeking Ghost had miscalculated this time. "It¡¯s also king level." The middle-aged man said earnestly. "And the Mianmian Bird?" Qiao Sang asked. "Also king level." The middle-aged man replied. Qiao Sang seemed to be deep in thought. It seemed her choices yesterday were a bit too hasty. Maybe she should go back and do more research¡­ Sensing it wasn¡¯t chosen, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost pursed its lips and started crying without warning. This shocked the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, who forgot to keep up its act. It thought its earlier performance had been too convincing. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze fell on the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Although the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was a ghost-type pet beast, at least it wasn¡¯t in the evil category. If ghost-type pet beasts didn¡¯t have such a mischievous nature or such quirky personalities, they would probably be a popular choice. This little Treasure-Seeking Ghost looked soft and cute, nothing like its odd and unpredictable kin. Just as this thought crossed her mind, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost suddenly stopped crying, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes before letting out a sweet cry. "Seek~" Qiao Sang''s expression turned strange. Why did it feel like this little Treasure-Seeking Ghost could read her mind...? After its sweet call, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost looked toward the door, as if watching something. Qiao Sang felt her heart tighten. There was something unsettling about the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s behavior. She looked in the same direction but saw nothing. "Miss, if you¡¯re looking for a pet beast with a high species limit, perhaps Xiao Liu here can recommend some to you." the middle-aged man said. The blonde staff member, Xiao Liu, nodded. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost, realizing it wasn¡¯t getting any help from the staff, pouted and tried to carry the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost away. This time, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost didn¡¯t resist since its attention was still focused on the door. Only after leaving Qiao Sang did it react, its lips trembling as it prepared to cry again. Just then, the door suddenly opened. "Miss, why are you here?" A female staff member asked as she entered, looking at Qiao Sang. "Yue!" The Blue Delight Butterfly, which had been quiet all this time, happily flew over to the female staff member. Qiao Sang stared blankly at the woman who had just entered, not answering. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost, holding the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, had already floated to the doorway. "Wait!" Qiao Sang suddenly called out. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost stopped and turned, pointing uncertainly at itself. "Treasure?" "Yes, don¡¯t leave just yet." Qiao Sang said. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s eyes lit up, and it zipped back immediately. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, eyes still shimmering with tears, looked at her. Qiao Sang could feel her heart racing. She was nervous and excited, but her face remained calm. "How much for this little Treasure-Seeking Ghost?" All three people in the room were surprised. "76,000." The middle-aged man said. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t speak but furrowed her brow slightly. "I can give you a 20% discount." The middle-aged man quickly added. "40%." Qiao Sang countered. The middle-aged man was both surprised and pleased. Though he didn¡¯t know what had changed her mind, her haggling showed she was serious about buying the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. But this price cut was quite harsh... Before he could respond, Qiao Sang pulled out a voucher from her pocket and placed it on the table. "This is a 500,000-value pet egg voucher. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost was still in its egg, but the Treasure-Seeking Ghost deliberately broke the egg in front of me to scam me. You invited me to this office because you wanted me to buy it." "My Fire fang Dog was also bought here, so I¡¯m a regular customer. This whole situation has been disappointing." "When we checked the surveillance, those three ghost-type pet beasts weren¡¯t blocking the cameras for the first time either. It wouldn¡¯t be good if word got out about this. If possible, I¡¯ll trade this voucher for the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, and I¡¯ll keep what happened here to myself." "Oh, and I forgot to mention, I earned this voucher for placing first in the Bai Xin Competition, which just ended yesterday. You¡¯ve heard of it, right? If I speak up about something now, quite a few people would pay attention." The Treasure-Seeking Ghost was stunned. The middle-aged man: ... Weren¡¯t they the ones trying to sell the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost? Why did it feel like they now had no choice but to sell it...? Twenty minutes later. Qiao Sang left the Hanggang Pet Beast Base, carrying her Fire fang Dog in her arms and with the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost resting on her head. Chapter 77: Dual Attributes A fire-type pet beast and a ghost-type pet beast accompanying a girl around the age of 15 were an absolute head-turner.People were both amazed and too scared to approach. No one could believe such a young girl could control two pet beasts with different attributes. As a result, no one dared to come within three meters of Qiao Sang. Qingcheng Jiayuan. Building C, Apartment 606. ¡°We¡¯re all family now. You two need to get along from now on, alright?¡± Qiao Sang said, looking at the two pet beasts who were staring at each other with wide eyes. Yabao warily eyed the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, unaware of why, looked back curiously. ¡°Yabao, there¡¯s no need to be so scared. It¡¯s barely a day old. Didn¡¯t you see it hatch from the egg?¡± Qiao Sang laughed. She understood why Yabao acted like this. Since watching a horror movie, Yabao had been sensitive to ghost-type pet beasts. Today, he was also the first one to spot the Treasure-Seeking Ghost hanging upside down in the trees at the pet beast base. If the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost could help Yabao get used to ghost-types and eliminate its grudge, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about taking him to haunted houses in the future. Otherwise, if he panicked at the sight of a ghost-type pet beast, how could he handle battling a beastmaster with one in competitions? ¡°Yap.¡± The Yabao responded obediently, though he remained on alert. Sensing Yabao''s wariness, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost slowly floated closer. Yabao immediately jumped onto the nearby sofa to increase the distance. The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost didn¡¯t give up. It shakily floated up but lost control and tumbled down after barely rising a meter. Luckily, Qiao Sang caught it just in time. ¡°Seek~¡± The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost called out sweetly, a faint blue light glowing from its body. This time, it steadily hovered about one and a half meters above the ground. Qiao Sang was nearly moved to tears. What a gifted little one! It had just been born and could already use psychic-type energy. If she hadn¡¯t been observant and quick-witted, she might have missed out on this extraordinarily talented Treasure-Seeking Ghost. At the pet beast base, she had clearly noticed the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s unusual behavior. It had responded to her thoughts as if it could sense them. When she realized that the three pet beasts she chose had a species limit of only King level and wanted to leave, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost suddenly started crying. Later, when she thought the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost was cute, it began to laugh. This ability to sense people''s thoughts, known as telepathy, was a hallmark of psychic-type pet beasts. At the time, she wasn¡¯t entirely sure. It wasn¡¯t until the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s attention mysteriously focused on the door that her theory solidified. A newly-born pet beast is usually sensitive to its surroundings, easily attracted by new things and phenomena. There were so many things happening around it. Several staff members were talking nearby, and other Treasure-Seeking Ghost were crying in front of it. Logically, its attention shouldn¡¯t have been drawn to the door. Unless something outside the door had caught its interest. If this little Treasure-Seeking Ghost had psychic-type abilities, everything it did would make sense. Its psychic powers would have allowed it to sense movement outside the door, and since it was the first time it was using such abilities, it was curious about the disturbances it detected. If her guess was correct, then this Treasure-Seeking Ghost was both a ghost-type and psychic-type pet beast. There are countless extraordinary creatures in the world, many possessing dual or multiple attributes. For instance, the Little Dragon she once encountered was both ground-type and dragon-type, and the Blazing Arrowhawk was a fire-type and flying-type pet beast. But these were common attribute combinations. However, psychic and ghost types were rare attributes. A combination of both would be nearly impossible to find. If the people at the Hanggang Pet Beast Base knew they had exchanged such a highly promising pet beast for a 500,000 pet egg voucher, they¡¯d probably be filled with regret. After leaving the pet beast base, Qiao Sang had reviewed the data on the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost on her beastmaster codex six times. Name: Treasure-Seeking Ghost Attributes: Ghost, Psychic Level: Beginner (3/1000) + [Traits: First Trait: Absorption (C, 2/1000, Usable, Can absorb objects up to 15 cubic meters using a ring) Second Trait: Phasing (B, 1/2000, Reliable, Can bypass barriers or decoys to attack the opponent) Third Trait: Extrasensory Perception (C, 1/1000, Usable, Can read allies'' attacks and evade damage during a dual battle) Hidden Trait: Cursed Body (B, 1/2000, Reliable, 30% chance to paralyze the opponent when attacked)] Skills: Lick (Beginner 1/100) +, Hypnosis (Beginner 1/100) +, Dream Eater (Beginner 1/100), Barrier (Beginner 1/100), Psychic (Beginner 1/100) Points: 0 Each time she looked, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. After the excitement, she began to worry that Yabao might get overtaken. Yabao was very competitive, and having such a powerful, younger partner might seriously rattle it. Meanwhile, the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost floated in front of Yabao, awkwardly removed the ring from its head, and pulled out a small bottle of milk, handing it over. The milk bottle was labeled For Baby Pets Only. This milk had been a gift from the base, specially formulated for newly-born pet beasts. Yabao had also used it when he was at the base. Looking at the milk, Yabao remembered his own time at the base and couldn¡¯t help but swallow. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually reached out its paw to accept it. When Qiao Sang returned from reviewing the beastmaster codex, she saw Yabao and the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost sitting side by side, happily drinking milk. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Had she spent an hour in the codex instead of just a minute? 6:10 p.m. Ye Xiangting returned home as usual and finished cooking dinner. When her daughter came out of her room, she immediately noticed the ghost-type extraordinary creature resting on her head. Ye Xiangting quickly covered her mouth, afraid she might scream. Forcing herself to stay calm, she pulled out her phone. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Calling the patrol department.¡± Ye Xiangting replied. ¡°Why are you calling them?¡± Qiao Sang asked, confused. ¡°I need to tell you something, but you have to stay calm and not act rashly." Ye Xiangting whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll send you a message. Look at your phone, don¡¯t speak, and reply with your phone.¡± Seeing her mother¡¯s serious expression, Qiao Sang nodded, feeling tense. Three seconds later. Qiao Sang looked at her phone. [There¡¯s a Treasure-Seeking Ghost on your head] Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Mom, this is the pet beast I just contracted today.¡± ¡°I told you¡­¡± Ye Xiangting paused, then her voice rose in disbelief. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± ¡°This is the pet beast I contracted today." Qiao Sang repeated. She took the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost down from her head and said to it, ¡°Treasure-Seeking Ghost, this is my mom.¡± ¡°Seek~¡± The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost called out sweetly to Ye Xiangting. After taking a moment to digest the news, Ye Xiangting calmly asked, ¡°Your beastmaster codex can contract a second pet beast already?¡± Knowing that seeing is believing, Qiao Sang directly summoned and retracted the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost in front of her mother using the beastmaster codex. Seeing the gray star array and the vanishing little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, Ye Xiangting had no reason to doubt. Sea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She immediately stood up from her chair and headed back to her room. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Making a call.¡± Her mother replied. Qiao Sang reminded her, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet!¡± Her mother¡¯s voice came from the room, ¡°I¡¯ll eat later!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Chapter 78: The Photoshoot 7:45 PM. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, planning how to spend the rest of her summer vacation. It was only July 6th, and high school typically started in early September. That meant she had more than a month and a half left. Yabao had already accumulated 456 points. If she added them all to its level and continued growing by the normal rate of 2 points per day, it would take only 176 more days to evolve. She could have Yabao increase his points through battles and complete an evolution by the end of the summer. As for its Blaze ability, she had tried to activate it earlier in the morning but found it couldn''t be used consistently like a skill. She had done some research on abilities. The league¡¯s grading system for abilities ranged from E to S, a total of six levels. This wasn¡¯t based on the ability¡¯s usefulness but rather on the mastery of its application, similar to how skill proficiency is measured. For innate, uncontrollable abilities like Rain Rest of Moonrush Grass, it''s automatically ranked E-grade since it can''t be self-activated. Many experienced beastmasters would consider what abilities a pet had before making a contract. Qiao Sang figured that the grading of abilities in her Beastmaster''s Handbook might be based on the league''s standards. If Yabao¡¯s Blaze ability could only be triggered under certain conditions, like poor health or exhaustion, she decided it could wait. Forcing it wouldn¡¯t make her a competent beastmaster. Regarding its skills, she had experimented earlier in the day. Since they were still in the neighborhood, Yabao could only practice Fire Fang with his clones. She didn¡¯t want to risk complaints from neighbors if they heard too much noise. He could create five clones, using Fire Fang 40 times in total. That was his current energy limit. This was a vast improvement from when he could only use Fire Fang around 20 times after replenishing its energy in the beginning. As for the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it had been an unexpected addition. Originally, her second pet should¡¯ve still been an egg by now. However, she didn¡¯t mind these deviations from her plans, in fact, she thought more surprises like this wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing... Since the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was still a newborn, it would be inhumane to train it right away. Letting it enjoy its childhood for another month before starting training wouldn¡¯t be too late. For now, the focus of her summer training would be on Yabao. Under the light, Qiao Sang leaned her chin on one hand while absentmindedly jotting down notes with the other. In the living room, her two pets were playing hide and seek. Treasure-Seeking Ghost was invisibly floating above the TV, gleefully watching Yabao and Fat Dove aimlessly searching for it in the kitchen. Its tiny claws clenched into fists by its mouth, filled with a strange sense of excitement. In another room, someone was still on the phone. "Hello, second sister-in-law? Just calling to chat¡­ My Sang Sang¡­ --- The next day. With Treasure-Seeking Ghost perched on her head and Yabao in her arms, Qiao Sang set out for the Jin Entertainment Building, where she had an appointment with Song Yuan. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost held a milk bottle and curiously observed its surroundings from atop Qiao Sang¡¯s head. Whenever its eyes met a passerby¡¯s, they would quickly avert their gaze, making it feel even more amused. It began deliberately staring people down until they looked away. In contrast, Yabao was acting much more composed and mature, unlike his usual self. He knew today was an important day. His beastmaster had promised that if today''s photoshoot went well, he could drink all the milk it wanted from now on! He might even earn enough to cover the new little one¡¯s formula. On the 18th floor of the Jin Entertainment Building: ¡°Ms. Song, your guest has arrived.¡± A young woman in professional attire knocked and reported. ¡°Send her in.¡± Song Yuan said, picking up the contract she had prepared. The young woman hesitated, standing at the door, seemingly at a loss for words. She remembered her boss had scheduled a meeting with the winner of the Bai Xin Competition. They had done a background check on Qiao Sang for the collaboration. A fresh graduate from middle school, specially admitted to Shengshui High School, she had won first place in the competition with her beginner pet, Fire fang Dog. But there was no mention of her having a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Could it be a wild extraordinary creature? Should she report this to her boss? However, there seemed to be no disturbance from the security downstairs... ¡°Is there something else?¡± Song Yuan asked. ¡°No, nothing.¡± After some hesitation, the young woman decided to trust security. Thirty seconds later. Song Yuan looked at Qiao Sang, who had just entered, and was stunned for a moment. She didn''t greet her immediately but picked up the phone and dialed a number. ¡°Hello, is this the patrol department? I have a wild Ghost-type extraordinary pet here. It¡¯s a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The address is¡­¡± Qiao Sang: ...! Qiao Sang quickly spoke up, ¡°This is my newly contracted pet!¡± Song Yuan: !!! After a brief but effective explanation, Song Yuan finally hung up the phone. ¡°I remember you just graduated from middle school.¡± Song Yuan said with a complicated expression. ¡°I guess I¡¯m a bit of a genius.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Song Yuan: ... She suddenly felt like she didn¡¯t want to talk anymore. After a while, though, she couldn''t help asking, ¡°Why did you contract a Ghost-type pet for your second one? You could¡¯ve chosen a more manageable pet and waited until you were stronger to consider a Ghost-type.¡± Song Yuan was puzzled. She wasn¡¯t usually the type to meddle, and she had family members with talented children, but none seemed as remarkable as this girl. It stirred a desire to nurture her. Given Qiao Sang¡¯s talent, she could easily pursue a career as a professional beastmaster. But contracting a Ghost-type pet so early, one that¡¯s hard to manage, would waste a lot of time dealing with problems and trying to outwit the pet. There was also the risk of rebellious pets dissolving the contract, resulting in a lose-lose situation. sea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It just didn¡¯t seem like the best choice. They say geniuses think differently from the average person, but her relatives¡¯ children seemed pretty normal compared to this girl. Qiao Sang sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t really have a choice, it¡¯s a genius.¡± Song Yuan: ... She knew she shouldn¡¯t have asked. The endorsement and photoshoot went smoothly. Yabao only had to model three pairs of new-season sunglasses, so he didn¡¯t take long. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost watched the entire process with wide-eyed wonder. It floated over to a pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses that had just been swapped out, clumsily removed its ring, and placed the sunglasses inside. Qiao Sang: ... She had been watching the Treasure-Seeking Ghost closely. She knew enough about its habits to not let it run wild. Each Treasure-Seeking Ghost had its own preferences, and she wanted to observe what her own Ghost was drawn to. She hadn''t expected it to take sunglasses. Could it have the same taste as Yabao? Just as Qiao Sang was about to ask the Ghost to return the glasses, it surprised her by taking them out again on its own. Qiao Sang was pleased. She thought the Ghost had sensed her intentions. But then it floated over to Yabao, who had just finished the shoot, and handed the glasses to it. ¡°Seek~¡± ¡°Yap~¡± Yabao let out a bashful bark. Qiao Sang: ... As their beastmaster, she fully understood their conversation. Her expression turned odd. Was that compliment for real? Why did it feel like there was some kind of bizarre social grace coming from such a young pet? Chapter 79: Returning to Hometown At that moment, Song Yuan, who had finished looking at the photos, walked over and said, "Yabao is great! Its sense for the camera and coordination is excellent."Yabao wore a smug expression, as if to say, Of course. Everything was done so that both his and his little brother could eat and drink their fill. Naturally, he had to take things seriously. Before Qiao Sang could modestly respond, Song Yuan continued, "Don''t forget to send me your account on Chaobo later. I''ll have the online store follow you. Once the photos are selected, make sure to post them." Chaobo was similar to Weibo from her past life, a platform where people checked trending topics and such. Qiao Sang nodded. This was already part of the contract. "Also, don''t forget to verify your account as the Champion of the Bai Xin Competition." Song Yuan reminded her. "Got it." Qiao Sang agreed. Song Yuan glanced at Yabao and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, then couldn''t help but ask out of concern, "Have you made plans to join any training institutes this summer?" Most diligent middle school graduates who had just contracted with their pet beasts would try to get a head start before high school by enrolling them in half-day or full-day programs at specialized training centers. However, this approach often weakened the bond between the beast and its master, which was a serious issue for new Beastmasters, especially when they had not long formed their contract. This was particularly concerning for those with fiery-tempered pets like Fire fang dog. Song Yuan figured that since Qiao Sang now had two pet beasts, she would likely leave Yabao with a training center. She wanted to offer some advice, out of goodwill. "A training institute? No, I''m planning to go back to my hometown for the summer." Qiao Sang replied. Song Yuan: ... She had clearly overthought it... After leaving Jin Tower, Qiao Sang stopped by the Beastmaster Center to register the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The process attracted a lot of attention from passersby, making her the center of attention in the hall. The last time she brought Yabao, she hadn¡¯t received this kind of treatment. Qiao Sang considered herself a low-key person, but Yabao liked being outside, and since the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was newly born, she couldn¡¯t bear to leave him inside the Beastmaster Codex for too long. Despite the stares, she managed to register the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. --- July 8th, 9:20 AM. Qiao Sang, carrying a bag, set off for her hometown with Yabao and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Qitang Town wasn¡¯t far from Hanggang City, just over 90 kilometers away. It only took about half an hour by high-speed train, which was faster than traveling across the city. Now that she had money, Qiao Sang boldly bought two seats. On the train, Yabao and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost sat by the window, their little heads close together, excitedly watching the passing scenery. From time to time, they pointed with their paws, energetically discussing what they saw. Watching them, Qiao Sang felt a peaceful contentment. The two beasts were getting along much better than she had expected. She had assumed that given Yabao¡¯s wariness of ghost-type beasts, it would take a long time for it to accept the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. But in just two nights, their relationship had improved significantly. As she took out her phone to capture a backview photo of her two pets, the phone buzzed in her hand. Glancing at the screen, Qiao Sang wasn''t surprised. She answered, "Hello, Mom." This was the third call from her mother since she had left for work that morning. "Where are you now?" "Just boarded the train, been on for about 7 or 8 minutes." Qiao Sang knew why her mother had been calling so frequently. Although she hadn¡¯t said it aloud, her mother was likely still worried about her contracting a second pet beast, especially a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. If work hadn¡¯t kept her tied down, she might have insisted on spending a few days with Qiao Sang back in their hometown. "Make sure to feed the Treasure-Seeking Ghost a bottle of milk every three hours, don¡¯t forget." Her mother reminded her. "Oh, and I put a bag of red rice cakes in your bag. If Yabao gets hungry on the way, give them to it." "Mom, you¡¯ve told me this several times already." Qiao Sang sighed. There was a moment of silence on the other end before her mother¡¯s voice came through again. "Hey, do you remember Aunt Wang from next door?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment and recalled who her mother was talking about. Aunt Wang had known her mother since childhood, practically growing up together. After they both got married, they had drifted apart a bit, only meeting up during New Year¡¯s. Their conversations were mostly about their kids. Sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were the same age, and their children were around the same age too. But every time they talked, her mother would be a bit unhappy because Qiao Sang was an underachiever, while Aunt Wang¡¯s son was a top student. "Yeah, I remember. Why?" Qiao Sang asked. "I called her and told her about your achievements, but she didn¡¯t believe me. When you have time, stop by her house with Yabao and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost." Qiao Sang: ... Before she could respond, her mother continued, "If you forget, that¡¯s fine. I put some local specialties from Hanggang in the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s ring. Don¡¯t forget to give some to Grandma and Aunt San." "Okay." Qiao Sang replied. She glanced at the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Apparently, her mother and the ghost had bonded quite well. She hadn¡¯t even noticed when her mother had put the gifts inside. "Oh, and I may have bought too much. Why don¡¯t you take some to Aunt Wang as well?" Her mother added. Qiao Sang: ... --- Qitang Town, located in Jiajin County, under the jurisdiction of Hanggang City, had far fewer Beastmasters. Living in a rural area meant that Beastmaster numbers were already lower than in the city. Plus, anyone who awakened as a Beastmaster would typically choose to move to a more developed place. Those who stayed fell into three categories: either they hadn¡¯t made much progress as a Beastmaster, they were older and looking for a quiet life, or they had become local civil servants. Qiao Sang¡¯s cousin, Ye Ranran, was in the third group. As soon as she got off the high-speed train and exited the station, Qiao Sang saw a tan-skinned, attractive woman walking toward her, accompanied by a Wind Eagle about two meters tall. The Wind Eagle¡¯s feathers were a mix of blue and white, and its fan-shaped tail gleamed brightly in the sunlight. Its wings were wide, and its eyes sharp, making it one of the fastest beasts of its tier. Standing upright, the Wind Eagle also had an ID badge hanging from its neck. Meanwhile, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was staring intently at the Wind Eagle¡¯s tail feathers. "I wouldn¡¯t have believed it if I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes. You¡¯ve really contracted two pet beasts, and they¡¯re Fire fang dog and a Treasure-Seeking Ghost." Ye Ranran remarked. No need to ask, Qiao Sang knew this news came from her mother. "Isn¡¯t today a workday? How do you have time to come pick me up?" Qiao Sang asked. "Don¡¯t even get me started. A coworker tried to set me up with her nephew. Everyone was teasing me about it, and when the boss overheard, they gave me time off to go on a blind date." Ye Ranran explained. "It¡¯s still early. You haven¡¯t seen his photo yet, right? What do you think?" Qiao Sang teased, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Her cousin worked at the local police station as a junior officer. The fact that her boss was so quick to give her time off suggested the local crime rate must be low... As they talked, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost floated in front of the Wind Eagle, expertly took out a bottle of milk from its ring, and handed it over. Yabao was the first to notice. Chapter 80: Spirit Plant Specialist "Yap?"Yabao tilted his head in confusion, not understanding what his little companion was up to. "Seek~" Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost sweetly called out to Wind Eagle. Wind Eagle didn''t recognize Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, but it knew Qiao Sang. As one of the creatures responsible for maintaining order in Qitang Town, Wind Eagle wasn''t unfamiliar with this kind of gesture. It had encountered people trying to bribe it with food and drinks many times before, but it always righteously refused. But this little creature was the pet of the master''s younger sister, basically family. Shouldn''t it at least accept the gesture out of politeness? Wind Eagle was conflicted. It looked at the small bottle of milk in front of it. As a bribe, this seemed a little too cheap. After all, it had stopped drinking milk by the time it was three years old. This was probably just a friendly gesture. A young thing still drinking milk couldn''t have any ill intentions. Wind Eagle quickly figured it out. It spread its large wings slightly, lowered its head, and used its beak to unscrew the milk bottle. Then, in one gulp, it downed the entire bottle of milk. After catching the empty bottle with its wing, Wind Eagle smiled kindly at Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. "Seek!" Seeing Wind Eagle finish the milk, Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost happily let out a chirp. Then it pointed at Wind Eagle''s tail and began gesturing. "Seek." "Seek Seek." "Seek." A gust of wind blew past, and Wind Eagle froze like a statue. So that¡¯s what this little one was after! It suddenly took a step back and shook its head vigorously, like a rattle. "Seek Seek!" "Seek!" Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost pointed at the empty bottle still held by Wind Eagle. Wind Eagle stood frozen, torn between two instincts. Its master had taught it that as a public servant, it shouldn''t accept things from others, or risk getting reported. If that happened, its master¡¯s job might be in danger... After a long internal struggle, Wind Eagle reluctantly extended its wing behind itself. Wooosh! Qiao Sang and Ye Ranran, who had been deep in conversation, were startled by the sudden noise. When they turned around, they saw Wind Eagle, teary-eyed, and Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost with an innocent expression. Yabao watched the entire scene unfold, dumbstruck. For the first time, he found himself deeply confused. So¡­ this was an option? --- Qiao Sang''s family home wasn¡¯t in the town center but located on Shuimao Road, near the Liugan River. The houses here weren''t tall buildings but old-style homes with courtyards. The mountains, water, and fresh air were all nice, but it made things like ordering food delivery or getting services a bit inconvenient. A few years ago, her eldest uncle had made some money from his business and renovated the old house, making it look grander than the other homes lined up beside it. After dropping Qiao Sang off at the family home, Ye Ranran suggested she come along to check out her blind date, to help her judge the guy. Qiao Sang flatly refused, wasn''t that just asking her to be the third wheel? Her third aunt had already tidied up the room Qiao Sang used to stay in. After putting her things away, Qiao Sang went to visit her grandparents. Both were in poor health and didn¡¯t get out much anymore. Her grandmother, who used to be quite strict, had mellowed with age. In the past, if she saw any of the younger generation unable to control their contracted pets, she¡¯d probably chase them around with a shoe. But now, she just smiled and made casual conversation. Her grandfather, once full of ambition in his youth, had participated in many competitions. But after entering a C-level danger zone assigned by the league, he lost his first contracted pet inside. After that, he never quite recovered and gave up his former ambitions, choosing instead to settle down in Qitang Town, get married, and raise a family. It was said that his pet, a Powerful Owl, could have escaped but stayed behind to save its master, holding off the enemy at the cost of its own life. After a long silence, her grandfather looked at Yabao and Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost gathered around Qiao Sang and said only, "Take good care of them." --- After lunch, Qiao Sang took Yabao and Little Treasure Ghost out to the courtyard for some unrestrained training. But when she saw the yard full of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, she was dumbfounded. Was the yard always like this¡­? Just then, her third aunt came over with a watering can. She smiled at Qiao Sang, who was still in a daze, and asked, "What do you think? Looks nice, right?" Snapping back to reality, Qiao Sang asked, "Aunt, when did you plant all of this?" Her aunt beamed with pride. "This is all for your cousin Jingwen, who''s preparing to apply to Southern Plant University to become a Spirit Plant Specialist. Your uncle brought these plants over for her to study." Qiao Sang: ... A Spirit Plant Specialist is someone who specializes in cultivating energy-rich plants. Sea?ch* The ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her third aunt had two children. Ye Jingwen, the younger daughter, hadn¡¯t awakened her brain domain when she turned fifteen. In a family of ordinary people, that would have meant she had no further connection to such things. But with so many Beast Tamers in the Ye family, Jingwen could still learn about pets and related knowledge. Typically, you needed to be a Beast Tamer to apply to universities offering pet-related majors. The Spirit Plant major was no exception. However, there was an alternative: independent admissions. This path was more focused on professional skills, giving hope to those who weren¡¯t Beast Tamers. Because of household registration issues, Ye Jingwen attended high school in Qitang Town. Now that she¡¯d just finished her second year and was starting her third, it was normal for her to be thinking about independent admissions in the coming year. "Where''s Jingwen? I didn¡¯t see her at lunch." Qiao Sang asked. "She went to a tutor''s house for extra lessons. The tutor lives in town, so it¡¯s easier to eat there." Her aunt replied. So dedicated¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. This courtyard was even less suitable for training than the area around her apartment. At least those plants were just regular ones, but these were all spirit plants... This must¡¯ve cost a fortune¡­ --- Liugan River. About a kilometer from the family home, this secluded spot was so quiet you could stand there for twenty minutes without seeing anyone. "Yabao, use Shadow Clone followed by Fire Whirl. Keep going until you¡¯re out of energy." Qiao Sang instructed. Yabao nodded and skillfully began his training. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost watched curiously from the side. Qiao Sang took out her phone, ready to jot down notes in her memo app. The purpose of today¡¯s training wasn¡¯t to improve Fire Whirl but to test how many times Yabao could use it at full strength before running out of energy. Once the Fire Whirl was recorded, she would also track how many times it could use moves like Ember and Flame Charge. This way, she could effectively gauge Yabao¡¯s energy capacity and know its limits in future battles. Before long, Yabao was completely drained. Seeing Yabao panting heavily, Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost deftly took out a bottle of milk from its ring and handed it over. Yabao froze, took a step back, and then hurried over to its Beast Tamer. "Yap." Yabao¡¯s eyes were filled with longing. Understanding instantly, Qiao Sang pulled a bottle of Qiyuan milk from her bag, opened it, and handed it to Yabao. Only then did Yabao relax and start drinking. "Seek?" Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost tilted his head in confusion. Why had things changed since this morning? Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t noticed the subtle tension building between her two pets. She was too focused on her notes. For Fire Whirl, Yabao could create seven duplicates and cast the move a total of fifty-six times. However, Fire Fang consumed more energy despite requiring less firepower than Fire Whirl. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t ponder this for long. Fire Fang had already reached a mastery level, whereas Fire Whirl was still at the proficient stage. The more skilled the move, the greater its power and energy consumption. There was nothing strange about that. Just as Qiao Sang figured it all out, her phone rang. She answered absentmindedly, "Hello, Mom." "Sweetheart, did you give the special gifts to your uncle and grandma?" "Yes, I did." "And what about Mrs. Wang?" Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 81: Energy Recovery Elixir Aunt Wang and my mother had been neighbors since childhood, both originally from Shuimao Road. However, Aunt Wang married someone who lived in the Chenchun District, right in the town center. Qiao Sang borrowed her aunt¡¯s bicycle, usually used for grocery shopping, and set off towards the town center. Yabao sat in the front basket while Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, as usual, sprawled lazily on Qiao Sang¡¯s head. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s habit of resting on her head. After all, who could say no to a pet that helped shield her from the sun on a hot summer day? When she arrived at Chenchun District, Qiao Sang parked the bicycle and went to Unit 501 of Building A. It was Aunt Wang who opened the door. Though they hadn¡¯t met many times and hardly talked, Qiao Sang remembered her mother¡¯s few friends and easily recognized Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang stood there, staring in stunned silence. She scanned Qiao Sang from head to toe, her gaze lingering on Yabao and Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost before she finally exclaimed in disbelief, "Qiao Sang?" ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s me. My mom asked me to bring something over.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Come in, come in! You¡¯ve grown into such a young lady. I almost didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Aunt Wang said, warmly inviting her inside. Qiao Sang recalled seeing her baby-faced, flat-chested reflection in the mirror that morning. A young lady? No. She was still just a little girl¡­ ¡°Auntie, this is what my mom asked me to bring you.¡± Qiao Sang said as she sat down on the sofa and gave Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost a knowing look. Understanding perfectly, Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost took out some local specialties from its ring. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Your mom, honestly... It¡¯s already nice of her to send you over. Why bring gifts? No need to be so polite!¡± Aunt Wang said with a laugh. She then stood up, poured two cups of tea, and set them on the coffee table, looking ready for a long chat. ¡°I heard from your mom that you got into Shengshui High School?¡± Aunt Wang asked. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°And she also mentioned that you just graduated and already won first place in a competition?¡± Aunt Wang probed. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised that her mom had shared these details. Turns out Xiangting wasn¡¯t lying after all... Yesterday, I questioned her on the phone, and today, she sent her daughter to prove me wrong... Suddenly, Aunt Wang didn¡¯t feel as proud of her own son anymore. ¡°What do you usually eat?¡± Aunt Wang asked suddenly. ¡°Huh? I eat whatever my mom cooks.¡± Qiao Sang answered, caught off guard. Looks like I¡¯ll have to get Xiangting¡¯s meal plan... And then listen to her brag for half the day¡­ ¡°How¡¯s your daily routine?¡± Aunt Wang continued with the questions. Qiao Sang blinked. Why did this feel like a doctor questioning a patient? Before she could respond, Aunt Wang asked a series of other questions in rapid succession: ¡°Did you take any tutoring during your third year of middle school?¡± ¡°What does Fire Fang Dog usually eat?¡± ¡°How do you and Fire Fang Dog get along?¡± ¡°My son wanted to bond with a fire-type pet as his first, but I said no. Do you think a fire-type would be good as his second?¡± Qiao Sang: ... She got it¡ªthis was an interview. Politely declining Aunt Wang¡¯s offer to stay for dinner, Qiao Sang headed out and immediately called her mother to report that her mission was complete. Her mother was quite pleased. --- Qiao Sang rode her bike back to her family¡¯s old home. Yabao was still leisurely sipping milk. Qiyuan Milk could restore a pet¡¯s stamina, but its effects weren¡¯t immediate. Yabao had downed several bottles but still hadn¡¯t returned to full strength. With too much free time, training on the old schedule from Hanggang would be a waste of the summer. Qiao Sang soon came up with a plan. As someone now flush with cash, she went back to her room and ordered 30 bottles of F-grade Energy Recovery Elixir online. F-grade elixirs were meant to restore energy in beginner-level pets. For city dwellers, energy recovery elixirs weren¡¯t necessary, as pets could recover naturally. In competitions, the organizers would provide all the necessary treatments, so Beastmasters rarely had to buy their own. The main buyers of energy recovery elixirs were Beastmasters headed to secret realms. However, since beginner-level pets were almost useless in these secret realms, F-grade elixirs weren¡¯t in high demand. As a result, both their sales and prices were much lower compared to higher-grade elixirs. Even so, each bottle of F-grade Energy Recovery Elixir still cost 2,000 Alliance Coins. For Beastmasters whose pets didn¡¯t have healing abilities, these elixirs could be lifesavers in secret realms. Like most girls who love online shopping, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t stop after buying the recovery elixirs. She began browsing other items. She had no money before, but now that she did, she intended to make full use of it. Lying on her bed, Qiao Sang scrolled through her phone, with Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost floating over, curiously peering at the screen. The phone displayed items related to fire-type pets. Qiao Sang wanted to buy Yabao a tool that would accelerate the absorption of fire-type energy. Such tools were always in high demand on the market. They sped up energy absorption, shortening the pet¡¯s growth cycle and helping it evolve more quickly. Although Yabao had a golden finger, it couldn¡¯t battle 24/7, nor win every fight. An extra energy-boosting tool would be very helpful. Additionally, these tools reduced the time needed for pets to release skills of the corresponding attribute. Though pets weren¡¯t allowed to wear such items during competitions, they could certainly use them outside of battle. After browsing for a while, Qiao Sang settled on an E-grade Fire Condensing Orb. The price of pet-related tools varied greatly, depending not only on their grade but also on who made them. If the tool was made by a renowned master, even an F-grade item could cost more than a D-grade item crafted by a lesser-known Beastsmith, despite both being Alliance-certified. Qiao Sang carefully chose a shop with excellent reviews and credibility. After a long chat with customer service, where she promised to leave glowing reviews and post beautiful photos, she finally purchased the orb for 120,000 Alliance Coins. Though the shop gave her a discount, she still felt it was too expensive. If an E-grade tool made by an unknown Beastsmith cost this much, who could afford the higher-level B-grade or A-grade items? No wonder the wealthiest Beastmasters were always the strongest. While the rich could buy tools as easily as toys, the less fortunate had to treat every purchase like a life-or-death decision. How could they possibly compete? Just as Qiao Sang was about to exit the online store and browse elsewhere, a tiny gray paw appeared on her phone screen. She turned her head to find Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost staring at her with big, watery eyes. ¡°Seeeek~¡± Little Treasure Seeker cooed, begging softly. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°You¡¯re still too young. I¡¯ll buy something for you in a month.¡± Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost blinked in confusion, then removed its ring and expertly handed Qiao Sang a bottle of milk. ¡°Seeeek~ Seeeek.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 82: Sis "This is for you to drink." Qiao Sang said softly, patting Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s head.Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost hesitated for a moment but still offered the milk again. "Seeek~" "If you give it to me, how will you grow?" Qiao Sang laughed. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost froze, staring at her blankly, not showing the same cleverness it had a couple of days ago. "It''s not impossible to buy it now, but only if you promise to behave, drink your milk on time, and tell me what you like instead of sneaking it into your ring. I¡¯ll find a way to get it for you." Qiao Sang took the opportunity to set some conditions. After all, she was going to buy it eventually, it was just a matter of time. Might as well go along with Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s request and make some demands of her own. Changing the habits of a species was hard. Rather than letting Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost secretly stash things, it was better to involve herself, teaching it that the things it liked could be obtained openly, not just in secret. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost stared at Qiao Sang blankly for a while, then suddenly threw itself into her arms, crying. "Seekkk!" "Seeeek!" "Why are you crying?" Qiao Sang was stunned. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost just kept crying. He didn¡¯t know why either, but he suddenly wanted to cry. Yabao, who was drinking milk while watching TV, jumped at the sound of Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s sobs. He looked at Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, then at the milk he was drinking, and after remembering how his master said they were all family, he hesitated, but finally walked over and offered the half-drunk milk. "Yap." "Yap yap." Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost turned to look at Yabao¡¯s gesture, and his sobs gradually quieted. "Seeek." "Yap." "Seeek." "Yap yap." The two pet beasts conversed harmoniously. Qiao Sang watched this scene with satisfaction. In the past, there was no way Yabao would have willingly shared something it was already eating. Once Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost calmed down, Qiao Sang let it choose an item similar to Yabao¡¯s. The design was the same, but the energy was different. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost had two attributes. After thinking it over, Qiao Sang decided on an item that would speed up the accumulation of psychic energy: a Psychic Orb. With the cheat-like ability to level up, whether it was ghost-type energy or psychic energy, the result would be the same. The real difference was in which skill¡¯s release time could be shortened. Everyone knew Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost was a ghost-type beast. If it suddenly unleashed a psychic-type move when everyone was expecting a ghost-type attack, it would definitely catch them off guard. The key to being unexpected was speed, precision, and decisiveness. Analyzing it this way, buying the Psychic Orb made more sense. After purchasing it, Qiao Sang quickly shut off her phone, afraid that if she didn¡¯t, she¡¯d keep shopping. Rare-attribute pet beasts were expensive. Likewise, rare-attribute items were also expensive. Fortunately, it was from the same online store, and the chat history was still there. The customer service rep, seeing that Qiao Sang had bought two items in one day, gave her a friendly price of 139,999 Alliance Coins. After one online shopping spree, half of her savings were gone. Even Qiao Sang felt a pang of anxiety. Money was just too easy to spend... --- 6 PM, dinner table. Qiao Sang¡¯s third aunt, a lover of small talk, glanced at Ye Ranran, who was quietly eating, and asked curiously, "How did the blind date go today? Was the guy in a government office or a public institution?" Ye Ranran shot a pleading look at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang, gnawing on a chicken leg, pretended not to see. She wanted to hear the gossip too... Ye Ranran glanced at Ye Jingwen, who was reading a book in one hand and eating with the other. "He works in a public institution. He''s a teacher." Ye Ranran replied honestly. "Teachers are good. Which school and what subject does he teach?" Third Aunt asked. Qiao Sang picked up on something from this. In today¡¯s society, the first priority when choosing a spouse was whether they were a Beastmaster, followed by their profession. Third Aunt was trying to subtly figure out if the man was a Beastmaster. Ye Ranran sipped some soup and said, "What he teaches isn¡¯t important. We''re not compatible." Third Aunt frowned. "How are you not compatible? You''ve only met once and haven''t even gotten to know each other. If your mom finds out, she¡¯s going to worry again." Ye Ranran was the eldest daughter of Qiao Sang¡¯s second uncle. Although Third Aunt was an ordinary person, she had a good personality and knew how to handle family relationships. She got along well with her in-laws. "He has a Snowbrow Rabbit, and my Wind Eagle is its natural enemy. We¡¯re not compatible." Ye Ranran explained. Third Aunt immediately fell silent. In today¡¯s world, when two Beastmasters date, how well their pet beasts get along is crucial. It''s one thing for them to just date, but if they were to marry, it would be a big problem if their pets fought every time they saw each other. After all, Beastmasters are always going to side with their own pets. Nowadays, girls no longer ask their boyfriends, Do you love me more or your mom? Instead, they ask, Do you love me more or your pet beast? --- After dinner, Qiao Sang headed to Liu Gan Creek. Yabao had fully recovered his energy. Quickly, after splitting himself into ten clones and releasing 80 bursts of flames, he was once again exhausted. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost handed over the prepared milk. This time, Yabao hesitated a bit but finally accepted it. Qiao Sang jotted down notes. Although Fire Fang and Ember were both at the proficient level, there was a significant difference in energy consumption between mid-tier and low-tier skills. Just as Qiao Sang finished recording her notes and was about to head back, she heard a ghostly voice behind her, "Siiis..." Startled, Qiao Sang almost jumped out of her skin. Turning around, she saw a figure in a flowing white dress with long hair hanging down¡ªclassic ghostly vibes. Fortunately, it was still summer, and the sky was barely dim. Although the girl wore a white dress and had long hair, she was also wearing black-rimmed glasses. Instead of looking like a terrifying ghost, she just looked like a bookworm. Sea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sis, you scared me half to death." Qiao Sang patted her chest. "How can you be scared when you¡¯ve contracted a fire-type and a ghost-type pet?" Ye Jingwen asked. Qiao Sang: ... Dealing with a milk-guzzling Yabao and Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost every day doesn¡¯t exactly build courage. "What are you doing here?" Qiao Sang countered. "I came looking for you." Ye Jingwen paused. "Sis, I need a favor." "Call me by my name." Qiao Sang said. She had been spooked earlier, but now that she¡¯d recovered, there was no way she could call her "Sis." They were close in age and usually called each other by name. Besides, Qiao Sang¡¯s mental age was way older than Ye Jingwen¡¯s. "Sang, I need a favor." Ye Jingwen corrected herself. "What¡¯s up?" Qiao Sang asked. She was genuinely curious. If it was something important, why hadn¡¯t she mentioned it at home and instead come all the way out here? Qiao Sang had a thought and suddenly grew cautious. She wasn¡¯t about to ask her for money, was she?! Chapter 83: It’s Not Stealing, It’s Release ¡°I need your help to steal something for me.¡± Ye Jingwen said.Oh, it¡¯s not borrowing money? Then I¡¯m fine with it. But stealing¡­ Qiao Sang gave Ye Jingwen a strange look, thinking, So, this is the kind of person you are¡­ Ye Jingwen clearly read Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts from her expression. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think! I just need you to help me steal a Magnemouse.¡± Ye Jingwen quickly explained. Qiao Sang was taken aback, then asked in surprise, ¡°Steal a pet? Did you find the nest of a wild Magnemouse?¡± In the rural areas, the management of wild extraordinary creatures isn¡¯t as strict as in the city. And since Qitang Town is near the mountains and water, wild extraordinary creatures frequently appear. Without resources or beastmasters, these wild extraordinary creatures mostly stay in their initial forms, making it hard for them to evolve further. Since they pose little threat, the local government doesn¡¯t intervene much. If someone reports it, they¡¯ll act, but otherwise, they won''t add extra work for themselves by patrolling. Sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This has led some people to smell a business opportunity. Normally, wild pet capture happens in secret realms. Beastmasters capture wild pets not just for contracts, but also for trade. If Ye Jingwen found the nest of a Magnemouse and wanted Qiao Sang to catch a few for sale, it made sense. The League allows only beastmasters to sell wild pets. And even if ordinary people find other ways to capture wild pets, those creatures could easily escape, posing safety risks. But Qiao Sang was still confused. If they were catching wild pets, why call it stealing? It also made sense why Ye Jingwen didn¡¯t ask Ye Ranran for help since government employees can¡¯t participate in pet trade. But what about her beastmaster father? Why not involve him? Before Qiao Sang could figure it out, Ye Jingwen explained, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m not asking you to steal from a Magnemouse nest. My friend caught a Magnemouse on the mountain, and I want you to steal it back to release it.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Ye Jingwen continued, ¡°A few days ago, I went up the mountain to look for Barbicorn Grass and ran into a web-wrapped spider. It was a Magnemouse that saved me. If it weren¡¯t for it, I¡¯d probably be in the hospital right now.¡± Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows, signaling her to go on. ¡°So I told my friend about it when I got back, and he suggested buying some food that Magnemouse like to go thank it. But when we went a couple of days ago, just two days ago, he brought his dad along.¡± At this, Ye Jingwen¡¯s tone turned angry. ¡°He lied to me! Said we were going to thank the Magnemouse, but they went to catch it instead.¡± Her tone didn¡¯t sound like just a complaint about a friend, but rather the way one would criticize a scumbag. Ye Jingwen shifted to a guilty tone. ¡°If that Magnemouse hadn¡¯t trusted me, it would never have been lured out so easily by some food.¡± She could still remember the look in the Magnemouse¡¯s eyes when it saw her. Qiao Sang was silent for a moment, then asked, ¡°This friend of yours¡­ he¡¯s not your boyfriend, is he?¡± Ye Jingwen: !!! Seeing Ye Jingwen¡¯s shocked expression, Qiao Sang instantly understood and advised earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s not good to date too early.¡± She had thought Ye Jingwen was fully focused on her studies, but it turned out she was balancing both studying and dating¡­ ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend anymore.¡± Ye Jingwen retorted. This indirectly confirmed their previous relationship. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, who had been listening all along, took out a bottle of milk from his storage ring just as Ye Jingwen finished speaking. ¡°Xun~¡± (Seek will now be replaced with Xun) Ye Jingwen was startled. She glanced at the bottle, which had the words for baby pets on it, and politely declined, ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± After refusing the milk, Ye Jingwen said seriously, ¡°Qiao Sang, can you help me steal the Magnemouse? I don¡¯t know anyone else who can help.¡± She shot a glance at Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, who was putting the milk back into his storage ring. ¡°Yayap!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, holding a bottle of milk in his left paw, patted his chest with his right, as if saying, Leave it to me. Qiao Sang responded sternly, ¡°We¡¯re not stealing anything.¡± Ye Jingwen looked instantly disappointed. There were some things she hadn¡¯t mentioned. If Zhang Huai could find a proper beastmaster to contract the Magnemouse, she could accept it. But he¡¯d told her that his father had already found a buyer¡ªa gourmet chef. The fate of the Magnemouse in the hands of a gourmet chef was obvious. That¡¯s the part she couldn¡¯t bear. She had already resigned herself to the situation, but then her cousin returned to town. If her cousin only had Fire Fang Dog, she wouldn¡¯t have brought it up. But since she also contracted a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it gave Ye Jingwen the idea of stealing the Magnemouse. ¡°This isn¡¯t stealing, it¡¯s releasing it.¡± Qiao Sang clarified. Ye Jingwen¡¯s eyes lit up, and she excitedly nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not stealing! It¡¯s setting it free!¡± Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t exactly overflowing with kindness, but since it involved her family, she naturally leaned toward helping. However, as easy as it sounded, executing it wouldn¡¯t be so simple. First of all, relying on Yabao was out of the question, as it only knows how to fight head-on. The task of releasing the Magnemouse would have to fall to Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. But the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was only three days old and hadn¡¯t used any skills yet. Letting it act independently felt a bit risky... --- 11:20 PM. Qiao Sang and Ye Jingwen rode their bikes to an apartment complex in the town center. Yabao was already asleep, safely stored in the Beastmaster Codex. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, being a ghost-type pet, was wide awake and more energetic at night. ¡°This is the place?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Ye Jingwen nodded. ¡°Xun~¡± The Treasure-Seeking Ghost let out a soft call, though there was no trace of it in sight. Only Qiao Sang, who had contracted it, knew exactly where it was and nodded in a certain direction. Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room, the sound of gnawing echoed, occasionally accompanied by crackles of electricity. Magnemouse looked at its unchanged cage with a sense of despair. It stared listlessly out the window, wondering if its mate would move on to someone else, now that it had disappeared... The fruit on the mountain would ripen in a few days. Would it ever get to taste it again¡­? Humans, it was all because of humans! The food they used to lure it out, Magnemouse hadn¡¯t even had the chance to taste it! What a loss! The more it thought about it, the hungrier it felt. Magnemouse furiously bit into the metal cage, channeling its frustration into sheer force. Suddenly, a bottle of milk appeared in front of it, floating in mid-air. Magnemouse froze, still biting the cage. It suddenly realized something and whipped around to look at its tail. Its tail had somehow turned into a lightning bolt. Oh no! A ghost-type creature! Chapter 84: Together "Ziiiing!!!"The Magnemouse suddenly dashed into the corner of its cage, squealing in terror. The person in the inner room merely rolled over in bed, continuing to sleep without reacting. The Magnemouse had been causing a racket for the past two days, and while it initially annoyed the people inside, they had grown used to it by now. These individuals had specifically purchased newly captured pet beasts to use as fresh ingredients, valuing the health and liveliness of the creatures. In fact, they welcomed the noise, if there was noise, it meant the Magnemouse was still energetic. If it were listless, it would be rejected by customers. Cowering in the corner, the Magnemouse trembled. It recalled its mother''s warning that ghost-type creatures were even more terrifying than the Thorn-Tail Lizard on the mountain. Its great-great-grandfather had been cursed by a ghost-type pet, transforming into a female Magnemouse, and it had spent its days in deep sorrow, eventually leaving its homeland. Would it change genders too? Even if it returned to the mountain, no one would recognize it anymore! As the Magnemouse descended into panic, the bottle of milk, previously blocked by the cage, suddenly vanished. The Magnemouse barely had time to feel relieved before the milk bottle reappeared inside the cage. "Ziiing!!!" "Xuun." The little Treasure-Seeking Ghost quickly revealed itself. The Magnemouse''s screams abruptly stopped as it stared, dumbfounded, at the small ghostly creature before it. It didn''t seem as terrifying as its mother had described... "Xuuun xuuun." "Xun." "Xun Xun, xuun." The Treasure-Seeking Ghost tried his best to explain his intentions. The Magnerat stared in confusion for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Ziii?" "Ziii ziii?!" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost nodded. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ziii!" The Magnemouse cried out in excitement, nodding earnestly to show its full cooperation. But in the next second, it deflated, looking despondent. It pointed to the cage, then at itself. "Ziii ziii." "Xuun." At that moment, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost removed its ring and placed the milk inside it. The Magnemouse froze in astonishment. It looked again at the little ghost, its eyes filled with admiration. "Xun xun." The Treasure-Seeking Ghost pointed at the ring, then at the Magnemouse. "Ziii!" Without hesitation, the Magnemouse jumped into the ring. Once the ring was back on the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s head, its figure vanished. The dark room fell silent once more. The people in the inner room, sensing nothing amiss, felt a calm satisfaction as the racket ceased. --- Outside the complex. "Why were you looking for Barbicon Grass on the mountain? Couldn¡¯t you just order it online?" "I wanted to save some money." With nothing else to do, the two girls began to chat idly. "What about you? Why did you come back to your hometown for the summer?" Ye Jingwen asked. "I wanted to help Fire Fang Dog evolve." Qiao Sang replied. Ye Jingwen was stunned, almost wanting to say something sarcastic. You remember you¡¯ve just graduated middle school, right? If pet beasts could evolve so easily, the mountains of Qitang Town would be considered a hazardous zone by now! But then she thought about everything Qiao Sang had accomplished recently and bit back her words. Who am I to judge others? She thought. I can¡¯t even go up a mountain without risking a trip to the hospital, and here I am asking my cousin to save a Magnemouse that once saved me. If she were a Beastmaster, would Zhang Huai have dared to bring his father along to catch the Magnemouse right in front of her? In the end, they just don¡¯t take me seriously. While Ye Jingwen was lost in thought, Qiao Sang suddenly asked, "I heard from Third Aunt that you want to become a Spirit Plant Master?" Ye Jingwen nodded shyly. "For independent admissions, 60% of the score is based on the Spirit Plant specialty, 20% on academic grades, and the remaining 20% on pet beasts. I want to give it a shot." "You¡¯re the biggest bookworm of our generation, other than me. I have high hopes for you." Qiao Sang said with a smile. You? A bookworm? Ye Jingwen was speechless. Still, Qiao Sang¡¯s words lightened her mood considerably. She was about to respond when Qiao Sang suddenly got on her bike. "It¡¯s done. Let¡¯s go." Qiao Sang said, pedaling off. Already?! Ye Jingwen was stunned for a moment, then quickly suppressed her excitement, hopping on her bike and racing after her cousin. They rode to a secluded spot, free of surveillance cameras, and finally stopped. Under the dim streetlight. "Xuuun~" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost appeared and removed the ring from his head. Reaching inside, it pulled out a small yellow figure that slowly appeared before Qiao Sang. The Magnemouse gasped for air. There wasn¡¯t much oxygen in that ring, and it felt like it was about to suffocate inside. After catching its breath, the Magnemouse looked around. There was moonlight, a cool breeze, and the ghostly creature that had rescued it. And... "Ziii!" The Magnemouse bristled in alarm, its body tensing up as its tail stood on end, weak sparks of electricity crackling around it. Humans! The Treasure-Seeking Ghost hurriedly stepped in front of Qiao Sang to explain. "Xun!" "Xun Xuuun!" "Xun!" Ye Jingwen: ...You didn¡¯t notice the Magnemouse was about to attack me? It really sucks not having a pet beast... After the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s explanation, the Magnemouse relaxed, but as soon as it did, it passed out from exhaustion. --- The next morning. Qiao Sang woke to find the Magnemouse and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost in her room, both drinking milk. It had been too late last night, so Ye Jingwen suggested letting the Magnemouse sleep at her house, with plans to return it to the mountains in the morning. Naturally, the Magnemouse ended up in Qiao Sang¡¯s room. If it had stayed at Ye Jingwen¡¯s place, it would¡¯ve likely electrocuted her at dawn without the Treasure-Seeking Ghost to translate. Qiao Sang glanced at the time. 9:12 AM. Still groggy from sleep, she was surprised. This late? Normally, Yabao would¡¯ve woken me by now... Yabao? Yabao! In an instant, Qiao Sang fully woke up and formed a hand seal. "Yap." The Fire Fang Dog appeared in the star array, glaring at his Beastmaster with a wounded look. Qiao Sang felt a bit guilty. She had put Yabao into the Beastmaster Record last night to keep him safe but had been too tired to let it out later. "Xun!" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost greeted Yabao happily. Yabao turned his head and saw the Magnemouse staring at it from beside the little ghost. In rural towns, wild fire-type creatures were heavily monitored, and even in their primary form, they could easily cause wildfires. Because of this, the Magnemouse had never seen a fire-type creature in the mountains. "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head. Has my master already gotten a new pet while I was in the Beastmaster Codex? --- 10:20 AM. At the foot of Huangming Mountain. Since Ye Jingwen had to attend tutoring, Qiao Sang went alone to return the Magnemouse. Huangming Mountain wasn¡¯t far from Shuimao Road, just an eight- or nine-minute bike ride away. "Ziii." The Magnemouse cried out gratefully. Though it had been dreaming of returning home for days, now that it was back, it all felt surreal. After expressing its thanks, the Magnemouse hurriedly began running up the mountain. But after a few steps, it turned around, noticing that the human who had sent the ghostly creature to rescue it was following behind. "Ziii?" "I need to go up the mountain anyway. Let¡¯s go together." Qiao Sang said. Chapter 85: The Adventure of Magnemouse This summer trip back to her hometown was ultimately to help Yabao train and evolve. Finding some wild extraordinary creatures to battle was meant to be part of the training process. Actually, Qiao Sang preferred the small forest in Tan¡¯an Township. Since you had to climb the mountain, it was a hassle, while the small forest was on flat ground, making it an easy round trip. But since she was already at the foot of Huangming Mountain, she figured she might as well go up and find some wild pet beasts for training. On Huangming Mountain. Qiao Sang cautiously observed her surroundings. Although this wasn¡¯t a mystical realm where high-level wild extraordinary creatures could appear, proper safety precautions were still necessary. The biggest mistake in areas with wild pet beasts was being careless. The mountain path was winding, and Qiao Sang walked along the narrow trail while Yabao and the Magnemouse scouted ahead. The surroundings were eerily quiet; after walking for dozens of minutes, they hadn''t encountered a single wild pet beast. Qiao Sang shifted her gaze to the Magnemouse leading the way. Technically, it wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t seen any wild pet beasts at all¡­ The Magnemouse shivered as it inexplicably felt a chill run down its spine. Ten minutes later. Qiao Sang finally spotted the first wild pet beast, a Saddle Wool Bug. Its body was brown with a yellow-green vest, making it look like a saddle, and its body was covered in fine, white fur. "Yabao!" Qiao Sang called out immediately. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao stopped in his tracks, assuming a battle stance, while the Magnemouse jumped in fright and stopped as well. Little treasure (Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s nickname) perched on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, curiously observing the scene. The Saddle Wool Bug, hearing the noise, turned its head to glance at them, then, unconcerned, slowly wriggled past them. Qiao Sang stood there, stunned. This was¡­awkward. Some low-level wild pet beasts are quite simple and non-aggressive. As long as you don¡¯t provoke them, they usually won¡¯t attack for no reason. The Saddle Wool Bug clearly belonged to this category. Faced with this type of wild pet beast, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have the heart to make a move. "Yap?" Yabao glanced back at his beast master in confusion. Qiao Sang cleared her throat, ¡°Nothing, just wanted you to watch your step.¡± "Yap." Yabao felt embarrassed. He had completely misunderstood his beast master''s intentions. After another ten minutes of walking, the Magnetic Rat stopped and pointed to a spot, making a welcoming gesture. ¡°Zi.¡± ¡°Ziii zi.¡± Without needing Yabao to translate, Qiao Sang understood what the Magnemouse was suggesting based on its actions. She was about to refuse when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something unusual. Compared to the other patches of grass, one particular spot was moving more noticeably. ¡°Yabao!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he assumed a combat-ready stance again. The next second, a slightly larger Magnemouse suddenly darted out from the bushes, launching an attack without any warning. Golden electricity crackled around its body, and an electric arc shot directly toward Qiao Sang. Without thinking, Yabao charged forward to block the arc with his body. But Qiao Sang quickly reacted, grabbing the dog and rolling them both out of the way. The electric arc struck the ground, sending sparks flying and leaving a small crater. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao looked back anxiously at Qiao Sang. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qiao Sang said as she quickly got to her feet, shaking her head. She needed to move fast to avoid another electric attack. Seeing that his beast master was unharmed, Yabao flared up in anger, and red flames surged around his body. He glared at the Magnemouse, ready to charge. But just as Yabao was about to leap forward, he noticed the Magnemouse was suddenly floating in mid-air. ¡°Zii!¡± The floating Magnemouse struggled desperately, glaring at Qiao Sang with fury, as if it wanted nothing more than to bite her. Sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang noticed the strange sight and turned to look at Little treasure. His curious gaze was now gone. Instead, his body glowed blue, and he was floating in the air, his yellow eyes turning an eerie blue. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Controlling objects with telekinesis was one thing, but controlling living creatures was on a completely different level. The energy required was vastly greater. And yet, Little Treasure had not only used telekinesis to restrain another being, but one that was actively struggling, and he had only been born for four days¡­ Yabao quickly snapped back to reality. It dug his hind legs into the ground, causing the flames around him to expand as it shot forward like a streak of red light. In the blink of an eye, as Yabao was about to crash into the larger Magnemouse, a smaller yellow figure suddenly jumped in front of it. The force of Yabao¡¯s flame charge sent both the small figure and the larger Magnemouse flying. ¡°Zii!¡± ¡°Zii¡± Two different voices cried out in unison, and moments later, both Magnemouse had passed out. Qiao Sang looked at the smaller Magnemouse that had suddenly rushed out and shielded the other. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what had happened. The larger Magnemouse had clearly known the one she brought back, and assuming she was the villain, it attacked. She glanced sympathetically at the smaller Magnemouse lying unconscious on the ground. This poor thing had had a rough few days. Just when it was about to make it home, this happened. This entire experience could probably be written into a book. Qiao Sang had already thought of a title¡ªThe Adventures of the Magnemouse. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, realizing hr had accidentally knocked out his new companion, anxiously ran over to Qiao Sang, barking. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not like you did it on purpose. Even if you had recognized it midway, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to stop your Flame Charge in time.¡± Qiao Sang patted Yabao¡¯s head. ¡°I brought some medicine; we can use it to treat them.¡± Since she hadn¡¯t contracted any pet beasts with healing abilities, Qiao Sang had bought some medicinal sprays as a precaution. She had picked them up when she contracted the Little Treasure at the pet beast base. Even though she wasn¡¯t planning on venturing into any mystical realms, it never hurt to be prepared. And sure enough, they had come in handy. ¡°Little Treasure, the medicine.¡± Qiao Sang called out. Since Yabao already had a name, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to play favorites, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything particularly fitting for the little ghost. So, she¡¯d just dropped the ghost part and started calling it Little Treasure. After two days of being called that, Little Treasure seemed to like it. At that moment, Little Treasure was floating beside the larger Magnemouse, just about to use his Dream Eater move to replenish some of his own energy. Hearing Qiao Sang call out, Little Treasure froze, feeling as if he had been caught doing something wrong. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure immediately gave up on its earlier plan. Floating back over, he took off his ring and pulled out a bottle of medicinal spray. ----- ----- Chapter 86: The Biggest Case This medical spray can only heal external wounds, just spray it on the injury.Qiao Sang decided to first treat the Magnemouse she brought back to the mountain. If the one that had struck her with lightning woke up first, she¡¯d probably get hit again. Since the medicine wasn¡¯t as fast-acting as a healing skill, it took 15 minutes for the Magnemouse to wake up. The moment it regained consciousness, it looked around, a bit dazed. Then, it quickly turned its head and saw its mother still lying unconscious on the ground. Noticing that its mother¡¯s wounds had been treated, the Magnemouse sighed in relief and finally paid attention to the human nearby. ¡°Zi.¡± ¡°Zi zi.¡± The Magnemouse anxiously tried to explain itself to Qiao Sang. With Yabao acting as a translator, Qiao Sang quickly understood their relationship, they were mother and child. Just as she was about to speak, the other Magnemouse woke up. Yabao immediately went on high alert. It turned out that his vigilance was justified. The magnemouse¡¯s mother immediately sought out Qiao Sang the moment it opened its eyes. As the electricity crackled around its body, ready to strike, flames started to swirl around Yabao in response. The battle was about to begin. At that moment, Qiao Sang quickly grabbed the Magnemouse beside her, which had reacted a split second slower, and held it up as a shield in front of her. ¡°Don¡¯t strike! Let¡¯s talk this out!¡± The mother and child exchanged glances, one looked confused, while the other appeared torn between worry and anger. In the next second, the lightning around the mother dissipated. Yabao was stunned¡ªthis worked? ¡°Hurry and explain to your mom.¡± Qiao Sang urged the Magnemouse in her arms. Five minutes later. The mother Magnemouse looked at Qiao Sang with guilt in its eyes. Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was clear that the misunderstanding had been cleared up. ¡°Well then, since you¡¯ve reunited with your family, we won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± Qiao Sang said to the Magnemouse. Next, she had to search for any more wild pet beasts. If she couldn¡¯t find any in half an hour, it was time to head back. The Magnemouse nodded gratefully, but its mother blocked Qiao Sang¡¯s path. ¡°Zi Zi!¡± ¡°Zi!¡± Once again, Yabao served as the translator. It turned out the mother magnetic fierce rat wanted to repay her with a tree fruit. Qiao Sang initially wanted to decline but reconsidered and accepted. After all, tree fruits that wild pet beasts liked surely contained various energies. Although she didn¡¯t expect any valuable tree fruits to be found on the mountains near the village, any spirit plant was useful. If the tree had been cultivated by someone, it wouldn¡¯t have been planted on a mountain inhabited by wild pet beasts. Not to mention the soil and temperature issues, the timing of fertilization, and maintaining the balance of the tree''s growth¡ªeverything would require human attention. Then there¡¯s the pruning for new growth. For tree fruits, the goal is to encourage branching and abundant foliage; only then will the fruit yield be high, and harvesting easier. Pruning for new growth is essential to prevent the tree from concentrating all its nutrients on the top. By curbing the top growth and encouraging budding elsewhere, the nutrients get distributed more evenly to other branches, resulting in ideal fruit development. Ordinary fruit trees already require so much care, so tree fruits containing energy would need even more careful cultivation. They wouldn¡¯t just be randomly planted in such easily accessible mountains. Since it was a wild tree fruit, Qiao Sang had no reservations about taking it. The mother Magnemouse led the way, and after six minutes, it burrowed into a thick patch of foliage. Qiao Sang paused for a moment before following. --- Qitang Town. Police Station. A young man in his twenties, looking puzzled, asked, ¡°Even if the person did enter Zhehai Province, they should¡¯ve gone to Xianglin. Why would they come to our Hanggang?¡± Across from him sat a round-faced middle-aged woman, who replied, ¡°We tracked the route. After ditching surveillance, he stayed near Ming Lane. He was noticed by the police when a female college student took a photo of him because he¡¯s handsome and shared it in a group chat.¡± The middle-aged woman chuckled and said, ¡°Sometimes, being handsome isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± The young man frowned slightly. ¡°He was even photographed, and Zhou Xian still hasn¡¯t been caught?¡± With surveillance everywhere these days, any activity should leave some kind of identity trail. Pet beasts are all registered at the Beastmaster Center. Even if a pet beast was involved, it should¡¯ve been flagged immediately. As a C-rank Beastmaster and someone who could rival him in skill, Zhou Xian¡¯s presence should¡¯ve drawn attention, even in a remote mountain village. Yet, there had been no trace of him for days. Plastic surgery? Gender change? Could he have contracted a mud beast to disguise himself? But according to the records, he had only become a C-rank Beastmaster a year ago. All his pet beasts were already registered, so there¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve contracted a fifth pet so soon. Unless he¡¯s hiding out in some secluded mountain no one frequents. But what about food? Beastmasters don¡¯t just have to feed themselves; they also need to take care of their pet beasts¡¯ diets. He remembered the man¡¯s file mentioned two advanced-rank pet beasts, one high-rank, and one mid-rank. Feeding these four wouldn¡¯t be easy anywhere. The middle-aged woman sipped her tea and said, ¡°He¡¯s severely injured, and his pet beasts are hurt too. He won¡¯t dare go to a hospital. It¡¯s only a matter of time before we catch him.¡± ¡°No need to worry. He won¡¯t make it to our town. Qitang¡¯s small, and news spreads fast. Last time Ranyan went on a blind date, the whole town knew about it in no time. If Zhou Xian shows up here, the veggie seller, Auntie Wang, will probably know before the police do.¡± Leaf Ranyan, sitting beside the middle-aged woman, froze. She hadn¡¯t said a word and still got dragged into the conversation? ¡°His capture is only a matter of time, but I¡¯m worried he might lash out at civilians in desperation.¡± The young man said, concerned. A C-rank Beastmaster was no small fry. If they didn¡¯t find his hideout in time to evacuate the public and set up defenses, innocent people could get hurt. ¡°Guangbei, how long have you been with the department? Two years, right? What¡¯s the biggest case you¡¯ve encountered so far?¡± The middle-aged woman asked. Zhang Guangbei paused and replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it this one?¡± The middle-aged woman shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ve only been told to keep an eye on this person; it¡¯s not even officially our case. Even if Zhou Xian comes to Qitang, we¡¯ll report it to higher-ups for them to send reinforcements. We don¡¯t have a C-rank Beastmaster to take him on.¡± ¡°The biggest case is always the one you¡¯re dealing with at the moment. Right now, your biggest case is this morning¡¯s theft, the wild pet beast that got stolen. Nothing was caught on surveillance. Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± The young man¡¯s attention was successfully diverted, and he argued, ¡°It¡¯s obvious that the Magnemouse escaped on its own. Honestly, it¡¯s a bit much for the owner to ask the police to help find a wild pet beast they caught in the mountains. Who knows if it¡¯ll attack people in town now that it¡¯s loose.¡± --- Huangming Mountain. Qiao Sang stared in amazement at the scene before her. If not for the Magnemouse leading the way, the dense foliage would have completely hidden this place from view. Chapter 87: This Is 5 Million! The narrow mountain path gave way to a wide, green open space in front of Qiao Sang. As she scanned the area, her eyes immediately spotted two wild pet beasts.On the grassy field, a Lijian Sparrow was chasing after a Saddle worm. Normally, a Lijian Sparrow would be around 14 centimeters, but the one before her was fat and much larger, clearly overfed. It looked about 25 centimeters, its body primarily a grape-grey-brown color with a chestnut-brown head. A black stripe ran from its head down to the tip of its tail. Its beak, compared to its body, appeared particularly sharp and long. Lijian Sparrows were flocking beasts. Even if there weren¡¯t many on the mountain, there must be others of its kind nearby. Qiao Sang had no intention of engaging in a battle with these two wild beasts. A flying-type pet beast that wasn¡¯t flying but instead chasing a slow-moving bug-type beast on the ground¡ªclearly, they were familiar and playing with each other. She didn¡¯t want to be the villain interrupting their fun. The sparrow, who was in the midst of a weight-loss campaign, noticed Qiao Sang¡¯s presence. Seeing that she was brought by the mother and child Magnemouse, it ignored her and continued its weight-loss journey. Halfway through this area, the mother Magnemouse stopped. ¡°Zi zi.¡± It called out, pointing to three trees in the middle of the clearing that still bore some green fruit. Qiao Sang was momentarily frozen by the sight before her. The fruits were called Fullness Fruit. Eating one didn¡¯t provide any special powers, but it could replace three meals. If you were strapped for cash and couldn¡¯t afford to feed your pet beast, you could buy Fullness Fruit. After one fruit, your pet wouldn¡¯t want to eat anything else for the rest of the day. Of course, this only worked for beasts below the advanced level. Research had shown that advanced-level beasts needed three Fullness Fruits per day, while commander-level beasts needed six. Despite this, many Beastmasters still opted for Fullness Fruits as a cost-saving measure for their pets. As someone who wasn¡¯t financially strapped, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t interested in the fruit. Her eyes were glued to the massive black and silver figure ahead. Someone, please explain why there was a General-level Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent on Huangming Mountain! Under one of the Fullness Trees, a giant snake-like pet beast, about four meters long, coiled itself. The first three-quarters of its body was black, while the remaining quarter of its tail was a cold silver color. As the third-stage evolution of the Short-Tailed Snake, Qiao Sang was no stranger to it. The first stage of its evolution was into the Long-Tailed Snake, the second into the Silver-Tailed Snake. However, the Silver-Tailed Snake had two possible third-stage evolutions: one was the Poison Mother Black Python, a purely poison-type beast, and the other was the Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent, a dual water-poison type. The Poison Mother Black Python was the standard evolution for the Silver-Tailed Snake. But evolving into the Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent required two conditions: It had to evolve in the ocean and have a Poison Pearl in its mouth during the process, both were essential. There was no way such a pet should be on Huangming Mountain! Before the Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent could wake up, Qiao Sang quickly scooped up the still-curious Yabao and stealthily backed away. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked confused. Aren¡¯t we supposed to go forward? On top of Qiao Sang¡¯s head, Little Treasure quietly sipped his milk, uninterested in the fruit. The mother and child Magnemouse paused, confused, as they watched Qiao Sang retreat. After a moment, they followed her. Once they were back near the playful Lijian Sparrow and Saddle worm, Qiao Sang finally felt safe. Encountering a General-level pet beast without its Beastmaster was highly unusual on Huangming Mountain. The Magnemouse didn¡¯t seem alarmed at the sight of the Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent, meaning they were aware of its existence. But there was no way the serpent was a wild pet. Even leaving aside the Poison Pearl, the fact that it required evolving in the ocean made no sense in this area. Huangming Mountain didn¡¯t even have a sea, nor did the entire Hanggang City. Recalling the serpent¡¯s appearance, Qiao Sang found it odd. While the black coloring on its face wasn¡¯t particularly telling, its silver tail had three deep, untreated, festering wounds. For someone with a General-level pet beast like this, how could they not afford treatment? Even if they were temporarily short on money, anyone would go to any lengths, even take out a loan, to heal a pet of this level. And yet, there was no Beastmaster in sight. Something was definitely off. These thoughts swirled in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. After a moment of contemplation, she took out her phone and tried to call the inspection department. Two seconds later, her face darkened. No signal... Huangming Mountain wasn¡¯t a desolate, uninhabited place. Occasionally, people would hike up to watch the sunrise and exercise. Even Ye Jingwen had posted on social media while climbing it before. She tried again, this time calling the police. Two seconds later, she panicked. Why wasn¡¯t she able to reach the police either?! Usually, even if there was no signal, emergency calls could still go through because they had higher priority transmission. The signal here had been deliberately blocked, Qiao Sang realized. The appearance of a wounded Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent without a Beastmaster and the blocked signal together created a growing sense of danger. She decided it was time to leave. ¡°Zi?¡± The mother Magnemouse called out curiously. Still intrigued, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Have you seen the Beastmaster of that Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent before?¡± ¡°Zi.¡± The mother Magnemouse shook its head. Qiao Sang had no more questions. As she turned to leave, the Magnemouse she had saved pointed in another direction. ¡°Zi zi.¡± ¡°You know?¡± Qiao Sang paused in surprise. ¡°Zi.¡± The Magnemouse nodded. It had seen the Beastmaster when sneaking off for a secret rendezvous. Despite her curiosity about the Beastmaster¡¯s identity and why they hadn¡¯t treated the serpent¡¯s wounds, there were too many unknowns. Qiao Sang decided it was best to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now. I don¡¯t need the fruit. Hopefully, we¡¯ll meet again.¡± Qiao Sang said to the Magnemouse. With that, she picked up Yabao and started to retrace her steps. But as soon as she emerged from the bushes, she found herself face-to-face with the Magnemouse again. Qiao Sang froze, then awkwardly laughed, quickly trying to clear another path through the bushes. Once more, she was met by the Magnemouse. ¡°Zi?¡± ¡°Zi?¡± The two Magnemouses tilted their heads in unison. It was like being trapped in an endless loop! Sea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Panic washed over Qiao Sang. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao jumped down from her arms, alert and scanning the surroundings. Qiao Sang forced herself to stay calm. Any bizarre event in this world was caused by extraordinary creatures. Whether it was illusion, mirror space, or a ghostly maze, such phenomena could all be the work of psychic or ghost-type pet beasts. There was another high-level psychic or ghost-type pet on this mountain. And it wasn¡¯t a wild one. ¡°Where is the Beastmaster of that Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent? Take me to them.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Zi.¡± Sensing Qiao Sang¡¯s seriousness, the Magnemouse¡¯s demeanor also became more serious. Seven minutes later. Qiao Sang hid behind a tree, shocked as she stared at the pale, unconscious man lying on a pile of grass. Holy crap! This is 5 million! Chapter 88: The Stone Helm Spirit At that moment, Qiao Sang understood.Everything was predestined. If she hadn¡¯t returned to her hometown, she wouldn¡¯t have saved the Magnemouse. If she hadn¡¯t saved the Magnemouse, she wouldn¡¯t have come to Huangming Mountain. If she hadn¡¯t come to Huangming Mountain, she wouldn¡¯t have met the mother of the Magnemouse. But most importantly! If she hadn¡¯t met the mother of the Magnemouse, how would she have had the chance to stumble upon this 5 million reward! As the saying goes: "When heaven bestows wealth upon a person, it first tests their will and exhausts their body!" Qiao Sang pulled back her head and, in passing, grabbed the curious Yabao who was still peeking out. ¡°Yap?¡± "Zi?¡± ¡°Zi?¡± The three little heads turned in unison to look at Qiao Sang. Meanwhile, Little Treasure remained unaffected, calmly sipping on his milk. He had used up a lot of energy earlier and only wanted to replenish it now. Qiao Sang cautiously retreated further, positioning herself behind a large wutong tree that still provided a clear view of the 5 million. She hid there, waiting in silence. It wasn¡¯t until some time later that the intense surge of adrenaline, the pounding heartbeat, and the thrill of excitement finally began to fade. Qiao Sang calmed down and tried to analyze the situation. This man was a fugitive murderer, so exposing herself was definitely not a wise choice. The wanted notice listed only his name, appearance, age, hometown, and bounty, along with the crimes he had committed. There was no mention of his level as a beastmaster or details about his beast companions. That was typical, though. The purpose of such a wanted notice was to alert the public to report sightings of him, not to expect civilians to capture him. The safest course of action now was to call the police. But there were two problems: No signal, and no way down the mountain. As for the first issue, either there was a signal jamming device on the mountain, or this 5 million guy had an Electric-type beast that was using electromagnetic interference. As for the second issue, she couldn''t tell whether it was a Psychic-type or Ghost-type beast that was causing the trouble. The Magnemouse had been in and out of this area, even after seeing the Silver-tailed Sea Serpent and the 5 million guy, so it was clear that whatever was trapping them, whether it was a mirage or ghost trick, couldn¡¯t be in effect all the time. Qiao Sang glanced around the man¡¯s surroundings. He lay there, eyes closed, appearing gravely injured, but there was no sign of any beasts nearby. That was suspicious. A wounded fugitive with no beast companions keeping guard? How was that possible? ¡°Little Treasure, check around that man. Is there anyone else aside from him?¡± Qiao Sang whispered. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure pointed toward the man¡¯s side. Of course, he had already spotted something. Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. So, there was a Ghost-type beast nearby, lurking and invisible. Typically, one wouldn¡¯t be able to see an invisible Ghost-type beast. However, Ghost-type creatures could see each other when they were invisible, though their forms wouldn¡¯t be as distinct as if they were fully materialized. ¡°Magnemouse, have there been any other strange beasts around the mountain lately besides the Silver-tailed Sea Serpent?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The Magnemouse and its offspring shook their heads. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced. If only things were really that simple. The 5 million guy was injured and either unconscious or asleep. If the only beast guarding him was a Ghost-type, then it might be possible to create a distraction and lead it away. A beastmaster¡¯s greatest strength lies in their beasts, but their biggest weakness is their own vulnerability. If she could take advantage of his current state and tie him up... Qiao Sang quickly dismissed the idea. It was easier said than done, and there were too many unknowns. First, how would she lure the Ghost-type beast away without causing too much commotion? If the noise woke up the 5 million guy, then what? Second, what if he managed to summon more beasts after waking up? Lastly, even if by some miracle she succeeded, how would she get down the mountain? No matter what, the Ghost-type beast or the Silver-tailed Sea Serpent would eventually notice their master was missing. While Qiao Sang was deep in thought, Little Treasure tilted his head, looking from his master to the miserable-looking Ghost-type creature nearby. It seemed like his master wanted the ghost to leave. Being a considerate Treasure-Seeking Ghost, he decided he should help his master solve this issue. Having finished his last sip of milk, Little Treasure leisurely floated over to where the Ghost-type creature was hiding. ¡°Yap.¡± The sound of Yabao pulled Qiao Sang out of her thoughts. Little Treasure had already floated over to the man. Qiao Sang was stunned. When had her little ghost moved over there?! And why?! Could he be trying to say hello to a fellow Ghost-type? She felt a wave of panic. Was she about to be exposed? Whatever happens, she couldn''t let them know she was aware of his bounty. Qiao Sang watched nervously. She saw Little Treasure make a sound toward the empty air. Suddenly, a creature appeared, a Ghost-type beast about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a stone helmet on its head, with only a single large purple eye visible through the visor. Qiao Sang recognized it as a high-level beast: a Stone Helm Spirit. In the world of Ghost-type beasts, the Stone Helm Spirit had a relatively benign reputation. At worst, they liked floating their helmet around at night to scare people. At that moment, Little Treasure pulled out a bottle of milk and offered it to the Stone Helm Spirit. Qiao Sang was genuinely worried about her little ghost. Why did he keep offering milk to everyone?! The Stone Helm Spirit looked fierce and menacing. Why would it ever accept the milk? To her utter disbelief, the next moment, the Stone Helm Spirit carefully took the milk and began to drink it. Tears of gratitude welled up in its purple eye. Qiao Sang: ¡­ What was happening in this world¡­ What Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know was that ever since the Stone Helm Spirit had been on the run with its beastmaster, it hadn¡¯t had a decent meal. After the Stone Helm Spirit finished the milk, Little Treasure gestured to a distant spot, then floated away, with the Stone Helm Spirit quickly following as if it were afraid of getting left behind. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Maybe this world isn¡¯t about beastmasters needing their beasts, but beasts needing their beastmasters¡­ Ahead, the man was still lying motionless in the grass. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart began to race. Should she go over and tie him up? This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance¡­ But what if he woke up and summoned more beasts? No, it was now or never! Fortune favors the bold. Steeling herself, Qiao Sang quickly untied her shoelaces, grabbed Yabao, and dashed toward the man. She knelt down and tied his hands together tightly, binding his fingers. A beastmaster needed their hands to make summoning seals. As long as his hands were bound, he wouldn¡¯t be able to summon any more beasts. As she was tying him up, the man¡¯s eyelids fluttered. Yabao immediately noticed and, without a second thought, headbutted the man right in the forehead. Yabao had trained his headbutt extensively, smashing into trees countless times. The man¡¯s eyes, which had barely opened, promptly shut again. ¡°Good job.¡± Qiao Sang praised. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao barked happily. Sea?ch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though it didn¡¯t understand what was happening, it sensed that this man wasn¡¯t supposed to wake up. Once the man¡¯s hands were securely tied, Qiao Sang finally let out a sigh of relief. --- T/N: (I''ve left the author''s note here because I think it''s real. And funny.) Author''s Note: "I¡¯ve realized most of you are superficial. Just because he¡¯s handsome doesn¡¯t mean he has any romantic connection with the female lead... He¡¯s not a hunk; he¡¯s a 5 million bounty!" Chapter 89: Was I Wrong? In the next moment, Qiao Sang found herself in a dilemma again.How could she take the 5 million bounty with her? She had impulsively tied him up earlier, but just as she had worried before, how was she supposed to get down the mountain? Even if she managed to drag him a short distance, what would happen when the Stone Helm Spirit or the Silver-tailed Sea Serpent realized their master was missing? It''s important to know that Beast Tamers and their beasts share a connection, and as the tamer''s mental development increases, so does the distance over which they can sense each other. This man had a general-level Silver-tailed Sea Serpent. His tamer level was definitely not below D-class, and he might even be a C-class tamer who passed the league¡¯s certification. If he really was a C-class tamer, no matter where his beast was on the mountain, as soon as he moved, he would be able to sense it. Even if they made it down the mountain, he could still detect it. Dragging him down the mountain was out of the question, and her Little Treasure hadn¡¯t returned yet. She wasn¡¯t a C-class tamer; if she moved too far, her Little Treasure might lose track of her. Qiao Sang¡¯s head hurt. She wasn¡¯t usually this impulsive. It felt like she¡¯d been acting rashly lately. Was it because of the company she kept? "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s bark pulled Qiao Sang out of her thoughts. "Yap yap." Yabao barked loudly at her, as if asking if he should set the man on fire. His eyes shone brightly, eager and ready for action. "No! Even though he¡¯s not a good guy, burning him to death isn¡¯t the right answer. We should leave this to the police." Qiao Sang quickly stopped him, worried that Yabao might act impulsively. Yabao tilted his head. Would it really kill him? He had thought it would just knock the man out like in a fight. "Zi?" At this moment, the Magnemousess approached, looking at the tied-up man with confusion. Qiao Sang thought for a while, but without a better plan, she took out her phone and tried calling the police again. "Hello, this is the 660 emergency service desk. Your call is being recorded." It went through! Qiao Sang was startled, and quickly said, "This is Qijiang, Huangmin Mountain. Zhou Xian, the A-class wanted criminal, is here. Hurry and..." Beep, beep, beep... Before she could finish, the call cut off. The sweltering summer heat, combined with her adrenalized state, had already soaked her back with sweat, but now the air suddenly turned cool, sending a shiver down her spine. A shadow loomed over Qiao Sang¡¯s head. She instinctively clenched the phone in her hand, slowly looking up. --- Qijiang Town. Police Station. "Hello, this is the Qijiang County Public Security Bureau, Qijiang Police Station." The operator answered. "......" The Qijiang police station had two teams, and one team was on duty every day. The on-duty officers were split into two groups: Office and street patrol officers, and incident officers. The first group handled cases and responded to calls during the day, while the second group was on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies. But since most people in Qijiang Town were ordinary citizens, and those who became police officers were generally beast tamers, one team was usually enough to handle most cases. It was rare for both teams to be called out at the same time. But now, both teams were fully mobilized. Four police cars, three flying-type beasts ¡ª a Fat Dove, a Wind Eagle, and a Flame Whistlebird, were all heading in the same direction. On the Wind Eagle: "Do you think Guangbei jinxed us? He mentioned Zhou Xian, and now here he is, right in our jurisdiction. Just our luck." A middle-aged woman sighed. "Are we really equipped to take down Zhou Xian? His file says he¡¯s a C-class beast tamer with two general-level beasts." Ye Ranran expressed her concern. "We''re not." The woman replied. "..." The middle-aged woman paused for a moment before continuing, "Ideally, we should just monitor Zhou Xian¡¯s location until higher-ups can deal with him, but the caller¡¯s phone can¡¯t be reached." sea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was a moment of silence. After a while, Ye Ranran said, "I know it¡¯s not the right thing to say, but my cousin was at Huangmin Mountain a few days ago. Luckily, she didn¡¯t run into him and came back safely." "Yeah, I heard the caller was a girl. I hope she¡¯s okay." --- Huangmin Mountain. Qiao Sang looked up and met the gaze of a pair of purple eyes staring intently at her. It was the Stone Helm Spirit! Where was her Little Treasure?! Qiao Sang glanced around, just in time to see her Little Treasure wobbling out from behind the Stone Helm Spirit. His gray face was flushed. He floated slowly over to Qiao Sang, found a comfortable spot on her head, and lay down, closing his eyes like he had had too much to drink. At least he''s safe... Qiao Sang sighed in relief, waving her right hand to send Little Treasure into the Beast Codex for the first time. The Stone Helm Spirit squinted its purple eyes, then looked at its master, lying on the ground. His head had a large bump, and his hands were bound. He looked even worse than before. "Helm! Helm!" The Stone Helm Spirit cried out angrily. Its purple pupils suddenly contracted, and its eyes lit up with a violet glow. The next moment, its figure disappeared. The ground beneath where it stood turned black, and the darkness quickly spread outward, stopping at a radius of about four meters. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. It was the skill Dark Night Feast. Unlike Dream Eater, which consumed a sleeping target¡¯s dreams to restore energy, Dark Night Feast dragged awake targets into the night and caused them harm, recovering energy for the caster. It was essentially an upgraded version of Dream Eater skill. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression grew serious. What should she do? Yabao was no match for the Stone Helm Spirit. Was she going to be defeated here? Maybe she could still trick the Stone Helm Spirit with a bottle of milk like before... But, all the milk was in her Little Treasure''s storage ring¡­ As Qiao Sang frantically tried to come up with a solution, Yabao suddenly jumped onto the man¡¯s body. His mouth opened, and his sharp teeth were covered in flames. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" Yabao lowered his head toward the man¡¯s neck, eyes scanning the surroundings, and growled threateningly. Qiao Sang stared in shock at Yabao¡¯s actions. What the hell! Since when did her pure and innocent Yabao become so... clever? Where did he learn this? It felt like she had seen this move somewhere before... The Magnemouse mother and child next to her were also struck by a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. "Helm!" "Helm!" The Stone Helm Spirit quickly reappeared, panicked that its master would be killed if it delayed any longer. "Yabao, just stay in that position!" Qiao Sang said excitedly. "Yap!" Yabao kept his head lowered and barked in response. He understood, this ghost beast had to surrender, just like the Magnemouse had. "Withdraw your skill." Qiao Sang demanded. "Helm." The Stone Helm Spirit nodded, and the blackness on the ground slowly faded. "Now, give me whatever you¡¯re using to block the signal." Qiao Sang said. She had been able to make a phone call earlier, but when the Stone Helm Spirit appeared, the signal suddenly disappeared. She strongly suspected it was responsible. "Helm?" The Stone Helm Spirit tilted its head, confused. Qiao Sang was stunned by its reaction. Had she guessed wrong? Just then, a yellow flying-type beast, missing half its feathers, hobbled into her field of vision. Chapter 90: Thunder Swiftbird The Thunder Swiftbird, a General-level beast.Its lightning-fast speed ranks among the top three flying beasts of the same tier in the Yuhua region. With well-developed thigh muscles, agility, and a sleek appearance, it¡¯s the dream of many beast tamers. Qiao Sang stared in shock at the Thunder Swiftbird before her, now in a pitiful state. If not for its recognizable form, she would never have believed that this was once the king of General-level flying beasts. Her body tensed up instinctively. Undoubtedly, such a beast, which should never have appeared on Huangming Mountain, was also worth 5 million. Qiao Sang silently watched the two beasts in front of her, her face expressionless. Only her clenched fists betrayed her tension. One Thunder Swiftbird, one Stone-Helm Spirit, and a Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent. If these weren¡¯t the beasts of a wanted criminal, but rather a regular beast tamer¡¯s companions, she might have even taken a photo for memory. But now, all she felt was an unprecedented sense of danger. This made her realize that the world was far more perilous than she had imagined. The Thunder Swiftbird, from a distance, immediately spotted the unfamiliar person. It paused for a moment as it looked at the posture of the Fire Fang Dog, then a strange excitement surged within. Was it an illusion, or did the Thunder Swiftbird seem to limp toward them even slower, as if its injuries had suddenly worsened? Dragging its battered body, the Thunder Swiftbird came to the side of the Stone Helm Spirit, casting a sharp, disapproving glance at the Fire Fang Dog. "Helm!" "Helm!" The Stone Helm Spirit quickly stepped forward to explain everything that had just happened. sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thunder Swift!" The Thunder Swiftbird feigned anger, flapping its wings, but halfway up, it winced in pain. Out of the corner of its eye, it saw its bare, featherless left wing, and the anger that had been just an act suddenly became genuine. "Thunder Swift!" The Thunder Swiftbird turned and screeched at the Fire Fang Dog, ready to charge. "Helm!" The Stone Helm Spirit, startled, quickly stepped in front of the Thunder Swiftbird. "Thunder Swift! Thunder Swift!" The Thunder Swiftbird was seething with rage, but its claws stayed firmly planted, not advancing a single step. Qiao Sang watched the tug-of-war between the two beasts with a strange expression. It was clear that the Stone Helm Spirit was genuinely worried, but the Thunder Swiftbird? It seemed fake. A General-level Thunder Swiftbird¡ªif it really wanted to attack the Yabao, even with its injured legs and wings, it should still be able to move faster than the Yabao¡¯s bite. But what about its lightning skills? Were they just for show? Was it worried about accidentally hitting its own tamer with the lightning? Qiao Sang''s thoughts raced, and suddenly she called out, "Yabao!" Their time together had undoubtedly built a strong bond between Yabai and Qiao Sang. Hearing his tamer¡¯s voice, Yabao opened his mouth slightly, preparing to bite the man¡¯s neck. "Helm!!!" The Stone-Helmed Spirit let out an earth-shattering cry of sorrow. The Thunder Swiftbird, however, stopped and excitedly watched the Fire Fang Dog. The flames on the Fire Fang Dog''s sharp teeth were just millimeters away from the man¡¯s neck when they abruptly stopped. The Stone Helm Spirit let out a sigh of relief. But the Thunder Swiftbird looked disappointed, then resumed screeching angrily at the Fire Fang Dog, while the Stone Helm Spirit quickly stepped in front of it again. Watching the contrasting reactions of the two beasts, Qiao Sang finally understood, the Thunder Swiftbird wasn¡¯t truly angry; it was trying to provoke the Yabao into actually biting down. Not every beast and tamer shared the bond of family or partnership. Some tamers merely treated their beasts as tools for making money, exploiting them mercilessly. If a low-level tamer didn''t have a strong enough bond with their beast, the beast might grow discontent. In such cases, temperamental beasts might even choose to suffer a backlash to break their contract. But high-level tamers, with more developed mental faculties and stronger Beast Codex, made it impossible for their beasts to break free of their contracts, even if they suffered a backlash. Once a tamer awakened their Beast Tome to three pages, reaching D-level¡ªthe beast they contracted could no longer break the bond on its own. Unless, of course, the beast¡¯s level was far higher than the tamer¡¯s, but that never happened. High-level beasts that hadn¡¯t been contracted almost exclusively lived in secret realms. Their minds were already highly developed, and without overwhelming force, no human could contract them. Only tamers stronger than these beasts could form a contract. But even if contracted through sheer strength, such beasts wouldn¡¯t necessarily obey. That¡¯s why most tamers, even at A-level, preferred to contract low-level beasts in their initial forms and raise them slowly. However, some people thought differently. They would risk contracting high-level beasts to quickly enhance their power. Qiao Sang suspected that the man worth 5 million was one of those people. The behavior of the Thunder Swiftbird and the Stone Helm Spirit was clearly different. If the Stone Helm Spirit had been contracted when it was still a low-level beast, and the Thunder Swiftbird had been contracted after it had already reached a high level, it would explain everything. The Thunder Swiftbird, even if it wanted to suffer backlash, couldn¡¯t break its contract. Under the influence of the contract, it couldn¡¯t harm its tamer either. So, it sought to have someone else do the job, hoping the contract would then dissolve on its own. Qiao Sang felt much more at ease after figuring it out. Looking up at the two beasts still tussling, she said, "You two better not fight. If you scare me, I¡¯ll have the Yabao bite your tamer¡¯s neck off." The Thunder Swiftbird froze at her words, then immediately put on an angry posture, ready to charge again. "Helm!" The Stone-Helmed Spirit once again blocked its path. This time, the Thunder Swiftbird made a different move. It tilted its head back and let out a long screech, and in an instant, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the spot where the Stone Helm Spirit stood. The Stone Helm Spirit was startled and quickly vanished from sight. The next second, the lightning struck the ground where the Stone Helm Spirit had been, leaving a deep crater. The Stone Helm Spirit reappeared behind the Thunder Swiftbird. "Helm!" "Helm!" It furiously scolded the Thunder Swiftbird. Their master had explicitly forbidden the Thunder Swiftbird from using its skills on the mountain. The sudden appearance of lightning would draw attention to their location. Besides, how could the Thunder Swiftbird attack so soon after that human had just spoken such words? It had to be deliberate! Despite its anger, the Stone Helm Spirit didn¡¯t retaliate. The Thunder Swiftbird¡¯s eyes darted toward Qiao Sang¡¯s position. It raised its one remaining feathered wing and swung it downward. Instantly, a lightning orb about 20 centimeters in diameter formed. Qiao Sang''s eyelid twitched. Without hesitation, she turned and dashed toward the man, using him as a human shield. The Thunder Swiftbird¡¯s mouth twitched, and it redirected the lightning orb toward the Stone Helm Spirit. "Helm!!" The sudden shift in direction caught the Stone Helm Spirit off guard, and it took the full force of the hit. Even though the Thunder Swiftbird was only a fraction of its former strength, the power of its lightning element was still formidable. The Stone Helm Spirit¡¯s helmet cracked. "Helm!!!" The Stone Helm Spirit touched the crack and let out a heart-wrenching scream. Furious, it glared at the Thunder Swiftbird, extending its right claw as a dark shadow orb formed in its grasp. "Helm!" "Thunder Swift!" Watching the two figures recklessly unleashing their powers, Qiao Sang sighed. Beasts without their tamers were truly a chaotic mess¡­ Chapter 91: Let Me Help You The Thunder Swiftbird''s strength should have easily overwhelmed the Stone Helm Spirit.But its old injuries were too severe. The energy within it had almost depleted, and its once-proud wings had been crippled during a fierce battle not long ago. It couldn''t even walk properly, let alone fly. The Stone Helm Spirit also had old wounds, but they were far less serious than the Thunder Swiftbird''s. More importantly, the Stone Helm Spirit could disappear to create distance, while the Thunder Swiftbird could only stay in place and rely on lightning for both offense and defense. In this confrontation, the advantage seemed to lean toward the Stone Helm Spirit. For the umpteenth time, the Stone Helm Spirit''s round eyes emitted a purple glow, and the black ground beneath it became a deep abyss, dragging the Thunder Swiftbird into it. The Dark Night Feast skill was inescapable for the Thunder Swiftbird in its current condition. For the third time, the Thunder Swiftbird was swallowed by the blackened ground. "Helm~" Every time the Thunder Swiftbird was hit by the Dark Nigh Feast skill, the Stone Helm Spirit would let out a strange, drugged-sounding cry. When the Thunder Swiftbird resurfaced, its feathers had become dull and lifeless, looking completely withered. "Thunder Swift." The Thunder Swiftbird growled, glaring hatefully at the Stone Helm Spirit. If it hadn''t fought so fiercely to hold the line and taken so much damage before, there was no way the Stone Helm Spirit would be dominating it now. All those so-called comrades had promised glory, saying it would reach the peak of bird kind. And what happened? Ever since it left the mountains, it had been fighting constantly, and whenever it lost, it was chased and hunted. It couldn¡¯t even enjoy a good meal or have a single peaceful night¡¯s sleep. Its once magnificent wings had gone bald, and its hardest claws had lost a segment. Because it came later, all the dirty and exhausting tasks were dumped on it. Here, the Silver-Tail Sea Serpent could rest under fruit trees and sleep as it pleased. But it? Every day it was stuck at the signal tower, releasing electromagnetic waves, under orders not to cause direct damage, only disrupt things. It couldn''t recklessly use its skills or even sleep whenever it wanted. It had to regularly release electromagnetic pulses. It had enough of this unfair treatment! The more the Thunder Swiftbird thought about it, the angrier it became. "Thunder Swift!" With a skyward roar, it gathered the last vestiges of energy from within. Just moments ago, the scorching sun had been high in the sky, but now, darkness descended overhead. Massive clouds formed, and jagged bolts of lightning branched out in all directions, booming through the heavens. In the next second, multiple bolts of lightning clawed the ground, striking near the Stone Helm Spirit. Electric arcs burst in the air. This display quickly caught the attention of the police who were still hurrying toward the scene. "It''s Zhou Xian''s Thunder Swiftbird." The middle-aged woman said, her face heavy with concern. What was going on? Why was there such a sudden commotion? Who was the Thunder Swiftbird fighting? Other than the child who made the call, was there someone else up there? "Ah-Feng, faster." Ye Ranran urged, patting the Wind Eagle on the back. Fwoosh! The Wind Eagle let out a call and accelerated. Qiao Sang, sitting nearby, watched with growing alarm. This was her first time being so close to lightning¡­ She had already forgotten how she had recently been attacked by the Magnemouse. The range of the lightning strikes was vast, but somehow, within two meters of the man, no bolts landed. The Stone Helm Spirit frantically tried to evade, but no matter where it moved, lightning was there to greet it. Soon, a bolt hit the Stone Helm Spirit directly, sending it crashing to the ground. "Helm!!!" The Stone Helm Spirit let out a heartbreaking scream. The lightning in the sky continued to strike without pause. Yabao was drawn toward the spectacle of lightning. He momentarily forgot to maintain the energy for his Fire Fang skill, mesmerized by the dazzling flashes before his eyes. In his gaze, there was admiration. When could he be that strong too¡­? At this moment, the man on the ground stirred from the loud noises, frowning slightly as he slowly opened his eyes. Just as the Yabao turned his head, his gaze met the man¡¯s. Both were startled. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the next instant, Yabao¡¯s eyes hardened, and he rammed his head into the man with all his might. Before he could react, the man was knocked out cold again. Yabao let out a sigh of relief. That was close¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t notice the little episode with Yabao. She was too focused on the two battle-worn beasts in front of her and suddenly had a bold idea. The lightning storm finally ended after nearly half a minute, the clouds dispersing. The Thunder Swiftbird, already low on energy, had barely any left after being devoured three times by the Dark Night Feast. Its last-ditch effort, the Thunderstorm Fury, had drained every drop of energy it had. The Thunder Swiftbird began to sway, barely holding itself up through sheer willpower. Looking at the charred Stone Helm Spirit struggling to rise from the ground, it felt a rush of satisfaction. You think you¡¯re tough? Your big brother is still your big brother. No matter how injured it was, as long as it had enough energy, it could still obliterate its foes with a single move! "Thunder Swift." "Thunder Swift." The Thunder Swiftbird crowed proudly at the Stone Helm Spirit. "Helm." The Stone Helm Spirit glared hatefully at the Thunder Swiftbird. It struggled to stand, but its limbs were powerless. Its vision began to blur, and suddenly, it thought of its master. Ignoring the Thunder Swiftbird''s taunts, it lay still on the ground, its eyes turning purple once again. This time, the black ground began to spread toward Qiao Sang, starting from the Stone Helm Spirit. Qiao Sang watched the black surface pass under the Thunder Swiftbird and continue toward her, an uneasy feeling rising in her heart. No more waiting! She didn¡¯t know the limits of high-level beasts or generals, but seeing them now, it seemed they were both at their breaking points. "Stone Helm Spirit, I¡¯ll help you!" Qiao Sang shouted. The Stone Helm Spirit paused, startled by her words, forgetting to continue its skill. Help it? Help it with what? "Yabao, use Flame Charge on the Thunder Swiftbird¡¯s bald wing!" Qiao Sang ordered. Even if this attack didn¡¯t take the Thunder Swiftbird down, it didn¡¯t matter. With her here, she could always recall Yabao to the Beastmaster Codex. This time, the Thunder Swiftbird was furious. Upon hearing Qiao Sang¡¯s command, the Dark Night Feast stopped just past the Thunder Swiftbird''s feet. "Thunder Swift!" Ignoring the commotion below, the Thunder Swiftbird turned to attack Qiao Sang, enraged. Bald? Who''s bald?! Who¡¯s missing feathers?! The Thunder Swiftbird tried to move, but its legs gave out, and it collapsed. Yabao''s eyes lit up upon hearing the command. He had just witnessed the Thunder Swiftbird¡¯s powerful lightning and knew it was a formidable opponent. For his master to order an attack on such a beast meant she truly trusted him! "Yap!" Yabao''s flames flared up, and with excitement, he summoned all his energy. In the next moment, a red flash shot forward, crashing into the immobilized Thunder Swiftbird. "Thunder Swift!!" The Thunder Swiftbird screamed in pain, feeling utterly humiliated as it looked at the Fire fang Dog, barely the size of its claw. The still-feathered wing tried to swat the Fire fang Dog, but it lacked the strength. "Yabao, use Fire Fang!" Qiao Sang called out at the perfect moment. Yabao opened its mouth, its fire-wrapped fangs sinking into the Thunder Swiftbird¡¯s limp wing. "Thunder Swift!" After one final cry, the Thunder Swiftbird fainted in unwillingness. When the Wind Eagle arrived, Ye Ranran and the others witnessed this scene. Chapter 92: A Gift From a Friend Ye Ranyan stood in disbelief, staring at everything before her. Someone, please explain¡ªwhy was Qiao Sang on Huangming Mountain?! And that Fire fang Dog, the one that just took down the Thunder Swiftbird, wasn¡¯t that Qiao Sang¡¯s? The scene was too much for Ye Ranyan to process. She stood there, frozen in shock. The middle-aged woman who had arrived with her dismounted from the Wind Eagle and quickly approached Qiao Sang, asking, "Child, were you the one who called the police?" Qiao Sang, who was still caught up in the thrill of Yabao snatching victory, was startled by the sudden question. Turning her head, she saw a medium-built, slightly plump female police officer in uniform. "Yes, that was me!" Qiao Sang replied. She hadn¡¯t expected anyone to arrive, especially after being cut off halfway through her emergency call. If this had been her previous life, such efficiency would have been unheard of. Seeing that the girl who called the police was unharmed, the middle-aged woman let out a sigh of relief. "Yap!" At this moment, Yabao ran to Qiao Sang¡¯s side, vigilantly eyeing the newcomers. "Where¡¯s Zhou Xian?" The middle-aged woman asked, glancing at the Fire fang Dog. Based on her years of experience, she quickly pieced the situation together. The Thunder Swiftbird was unconscious, there was another charred creature on the ground that looked like a pet beast, and an out-of-place Fire fang Dog that clearly didn¡¯t belong in this level of combat. There must be another beastmaster on the mountain who could go toe-to-toe with Zhou Xian, and they had to be at a high level. That charred pet beast on the ground likely belonged to them, but there was no sign of the person, probably because they were fighting Zhou Xian somewhere else on the mountain. They needed to go help immediately. Maybe they could apprehend Zhou Xian without waiting for backup. Qiao Sang pointed to a patch of grass behind them. "Over there." Yabao, seeing that his beastmaster was interacting peacefully with the stranger, relaxed his stance. The middle-aged woman was momentarily stunned and quickly turned her gaze behind her. When she saw a man lying unconscious with two lumps on his head, hands tied, and eyes closed, she froze for a good while. Was that Zhou Xian?! The woman took a deep breath and quickly moved closer to inspect him. Though the man lying there looked rather pitiful, she could still recognize his usually handsome face. It was indeed Zhou Xian! She was in shock. How could he be unconscious? How did he end up with two lumps on his head? And¡­ why did the thing tying his hands look suspiciously like shoelaces?! On the way here, she had imagined countless scenarios of what she might find, but never this! At that moment, Ye Ranyan walked over, looking at Qiao Sang with a strange expression. She asked, "A-Sang, why are you on this mountain? Did you run into anyone? And your Fire fang Dog, how did it end up fighting the Thunder Swiftbird?" Qiao Sang turned and was surprised to see her. "Yan-jie, you''re here too." There were too many questions, and Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know which one to answer first. But now wasn¡¯t the time to get into details. "I¡¯ll explain everything later." Qiao Sang said, before looking down at the Stone Helm Spirit on the ground. The most important thing now was that there was still one more target to take down! "Helm¡­" The Stone Helm Spirit let out a weak groan. Sea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It deeply regretted everything after seeing the Thunder Swiftbird fall. How did things turn out this way? Why did they even start fighting in the first place? Right¡ª It was all because of that human standing in front of it. That vile human! The Stone Helm Spirit glared at Qiao Sang before suddenly passing out from rage. Just before it lost consciousness, it vaguely heard someone sorrowfully calling its name. Its master... "Stone Helm Spirit!" Qiao Sang cried out in despair. Her points! Ye Ranyan stood there, confused. Stone Helm Spirit? Wasn¡¯t that Zhou Xian¡¯s pet, the one from the records? That charred creature? "Ah-Sang, what is going on?" Ye Ranyan asked, her face dazed. The middle-aged woman looked over upon hearing this. Though surprised that Ye Ranyan knew this girl, she knew now wasn¡¯t the time to worry about small details. She too stared at Qiao Sang, waiting for her explanation. Qiao Sang, snapping out of her sadness over the Stone Helm Spirit fainting before she could finish it off, began explaining everything that had happened. There was no reason to hide anything. By the time other police officers arrived, they were greeted with the sight of their team¡¯s best-looking officer and a senior veteran, both standing slack-jawed in shock. As for the Silver Tail Sea Serpent, its capture went unexpectedly smoothly. When they found it, it was sleeping soundly alongside its master. --- "Ah-Sang, you¡¯ll have to come to the police station to make a statement." Ye Ranyan said with a grin. "You¡¯ve got some insane luck! You¡¯ll have to tell Auntie and the others about this when you get home. You¡¯ll scare them to death." Qiao Sang nodded. It wasn¡¯t her first time giving a police statement. "I need to head home first, my bag is still there." Qiao Sang said. "What do you need your bag for? It¡¯s just a statement. I¡¯ll drive you home afterward." Ye Ranyan replied, patting her shoulder with a smile. Qiao Sang paused for a moment, then said seriously, "I don¡¯t remember my account number. My bank card is in that bag." "What do you need a bank card for?" Ye Ranyan asked, puzzled. Qiao Sang remained silent, simply looking at her. Her silence spoke volumes. A few moments passed. Ye Ranyan: !!! It finally hit her, and she stared at Qiao Sang in shock, speechless for a long time. Holy crap, her cousin, who had just graduated middle school, was about to become a millionaire?! As they prepared to leave Huangming Mountain, Qiao Sang suddenly asked the still-dazed Ye Ranyan, "Did you bring any food with you?" "Huh? What food? What kind of food?" Ye Ranyan muttered, still out of it. Qiao Sang: ... "Do you have any snacks on you?" Qiao Sang asked again. "I¡¯m on a diet, so I didn¡¯t bring anything. Mostly because I¡¯m broke." Ye Ranyan replied, pausing for a moment. Qiao Sang: ... She had wanted to give the Magnemouses something to eat as a farewell, but all her food was stored in Little Treasure¡¯s ring. Given Little Treasure¡¯s current state, it probably couldn¡¯t hear her. She¡¯d have to take Little Treasure to a Beast Center for a checkup after they got off the mountain. Qiao Sang glanced around but couldn¡¯t spot the Magnemouse mother and child that had been there earlier. "Yap!" At that moment, Yabao barked at a particular spot. Qiao Sang followed its gaze and saw two yellow heads, one big and one small, peeking out from a bush, staring back at her. When Qiao Sang noticed them, the two Magnemouses smiled warmly, and one of them pushed a green fruit out of the bush with its little yellow paw. It was a Fullness Fruit. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise and walked over to pick up the fruit. She parted the bushes, but the two Magnemouses had already disappeared. Qiao Sang stood there, holding the Fullness Fruit in a daze. Just then, Ye Ranyan came over and asked in amazement, "Did you just find that on the ground? I thought the Fullness Fruit trees were far from here." Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "No, it was a gift from a friend." Chapter 93: Dark Ghost Essence Qiao Sang exited the police station after finishing her statement.Unlike the time when she caught a thief and received the reward immediately, this time she was told she would need to wait for a notification and collect it within 30 working days. Qiao Sang had no objections to this. After leaving the police station, she silently took out her phone, switched it from silent mode to standard mode, and turned the volume to maximum. --- The Beast Center is an official institution of the Alliance, a government agency. As a key hub for the entire region, it exists not only in major cities but also in every town. In Qitang Town, the Beast Center is located in the town center. While it is not as grand as the one in Hanggang City, it is definitely one of the larger buildings in Qitang Town. At this moment, Qiao Sang was sitting quietly outside the medical ward in the Beast Center, holding Yabao in her arms. She wasn¡¯t particularly worried about Little Treasure¡¯s condition. There were no signs of internal or external injuries, it was just sleeping, looking as if it had drunk too much. In today¡¯s world, as long as you visit the Beast Center in time, even if your battle beast was knocked out in a morning competition, after some treatment, it could be back to fighting form by the afternoon. While waiting, Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness entered the Beast Codex. Name: Fire fang Dog (Yabao) Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (198/1000) + [First Trait: Blaze Level: D (1/500), Status: (Difficult to Use), Description: (When health falls below 1/4, potential is triggered, increasing fire-type skills and speed by 2x)] Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Proficient 483/500) +, Fire Fang (Moderate 694/2000) +, Ember (Moderate 866/2000) +, Shadow Clone (Proficient 125/500) +, Fire Whirl (Proficient 220/500) +, Flame Charge (Proficient 110/500) + Points: 1386 Qiao Sang stared at the data for a while, repeatedly confirming the points at the bottom. 1386. Last night it was 456, and now it¡¯s 1386? An increase of 930 points... Her heartbeat quickened. While she knew knocking out the Thunder Swiftbird would yield a lot of points, she hadn¡¯t expected it to be this much! This could directly evolve her Yabao! Wasn¡¯t her entire purpose in coming back to her hometown to train Yabao for evolution? Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts froze. She just arrived yesterday, and today her goal was already achieved?! ¡°Number 006, Number 006.¡± ¡°Beast Master of Treasure-Seeking Ghost!¡± Qiao Sang snapped back to reality. ¡°Here!¡± ¡°Your Treasure-Seeking Ghost is fine, it just drank some Dark Ghost Essence. Fortunately, it only seems to have had a few drops. While Dark Ghost Essence greatly enhances ghost-type beasts, this little Treasure-Seeking Ghost is too young and can¡¯t handle it.¡± ¡°As a Beast Master, you need to be more careful. Don¡¯t let it consume anything just because it¡¯s beneficial; consider whether it¡¯s suitable for its current stage. In this case, it will be fine once the Dark Ghost Essence is absorbed. It should be back to normal after a good sleep.¡± A middle-aged male doctor in a white coat stood in front of Qiao Sang, holding the sleeping Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The doctor looked to be in his 40s or 50s, with a receding hairline and a few sparse hairs, a sure sign of a senior professional. ¡°Thank you, doctor. I understand.¡± Qiao Sang said as she took the still-sleeping Little Treasure from his arms. Dark Ghost Essence, a premium supplement for ghost-type beasts, costs tens of thousands per drop. It must have belonged to the Stone Helm Spirit. Swapping baby milk for Dark Ghost Essence, and still ending up in such a sorry state... Qiao Sang suddenly felt a bit guilty. Her earlier regret about missing out on points was now easier to accept. --- Liu Ganxi. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabai tilted his head, puzzled as to why his Beast Master was staring at him silently. ¡°Yabao, let me take a few pictures of you.¡± Qiao Sang stroked Yabao¡¯s head, looking reluctant. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded. His Beast Master seemed odd lately, but he assumed she just wanted to take photos. Posing for photos was easy. Last time, so many people praised him for how well he did. Yabao immediately adjusted his posture, tilting his head up 45 degrees, baring his teeth in a slight smile to show off his fangs. Qiao Sang: ... Wasn''t that pose a bit too quick? It almost killed the emotional mood she had just built up¡­ She took out her phone, opened the camera, and aimed it at the cute, handsome Fire fang Dog. After evolution, a beast¡¯s size and appearance would change drastically. Although the form of a Blaze Dog is much more striking than that of a Fire fang Dog, the thought of Yabao transforming so suddenly still made Qiao Sang feel a little reluctant. But evolution is the inevitable path for all beasts, the ultimate goal of every Beast Master and their companion. No one would reject becoming stronger, especially not the competitive Yabao. It¡¯s just... she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to carry him after the evolution... As Qiao Sang was about to press the shutter to capture the moment, a call came in. Seeing the caller ID, Qiao Sang froze for a moment, then answered. ¡°Hello, Qiao Sang? The photos are ready. I¡¯ll send them to you shortly. Make sure to post them on Weibo, and I¡¯ve edited the text for the post. I¡¯ll send it to you, so you can just copy and paste it.¡± A female voice quickly rattled off from the other end of the phone. Qiao Sang listened to the voice on the phone and didn¡¯t speak for a while. Phew! That was close! She was so close to breaking the contract! She had completely forgotten about Yabao¡¯s endorsement deal! The contract stipulated a six-month endorsement, during which Yabao would model for two seasons of sunglasses. They had just finished shooting the summer collection, but the autumn collection hadn¡¯t even started yet. If Yabao evolved into Blaze Dog before the autumn photoshoot, she would definitely have to pay a breach of contract fee. After all, they hired her for the champion Fire fang Dog from the Bai Xin Competition. ¡°Hello, Qiao Sang? Are you still there?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here. Has the autumn collection been released? If it¡¯s ready, I can come over early to shoot.¡± Qiao Sang tried to salvage the situation. ¡°It¡¯s only July. It¡¯s not ready yet. Since you¡¯re in your hometown, by the time school starts and you return to Hanggang, we should be about ready to start shooting.¡± Song Yuan replied with a laugh. That would be in about a month and a half. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and accepted. There was no rush. After hanging up, Qiao Sang turned to Yabao and said, ¡°Let¡¯s practice Flame Charge now.¡± Yabao currently had four fire-type skills. The limits of the other three had already been tested, leaving only Flame Charge. Yabao, still holding his 45-degree-angled pose, was now confused. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Weren¡¯t they taking pictures? Ten minutes later. Qiao Sang was typing in her phone¡¯s notepad. Flame Charge, 48 times. Both Fire Fang and Flame Charge are intermediate-level skills, and although Fire Fang¡¯s proficiency was higher, the energy consumption between the two was not very different. Even skills of the same rank have varying degrees of difficulty. Clearly, Flame Charge consumed more energy and dealt more damage than Fire Fang at the same proficiency level. Yabao was drinking the milk that had been prepared earlier. Little Treasure was now curled up on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, clutching two strands of hair while napping. The milk had been packed in Qiao Sang¡¯s bag earlier in the day. As Yabao drank his milk, he looked up at the sky. Whatever he was thinking, his eyes grew determined, and he downed the remaining milk in one gulp. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s bark drew Qiao Sang¡¯s attention away from her phone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap yap!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao gestured with his little paws. He pointed at himself, then at the sky. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment and hesitantly asked, ¡°Are you saying you want to relearn Meteor Rain?¡± (Meteor Shower will now be replaced as Meteor Rain.) ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded firmly, his gaze resolute. Chapter 94: Energy Ball Learning new skills has always been a headache for Beastmasters.If you have money, it''s simple¡ªjust send your beast to specialized training institutions. These institutions will list the skills that can be learned there, along with professional learning methods. Since these methods are intellectual property and a way for them to make money, they won¡¯t share them easily. If you don¡¯t have money, you¡¯re left to figure it out on your own. Searching online and discussing with others to generate ideas is something most Beastmasters do, and no one judges them for it. So when this sudden message popped up, it was clear the person must know how to learn the Meteor Rain skill. Qiao Sang was excited and was just about to reply when the person quickly sent another message: [Just 19,998! Take the learning method home. DM me for details.] Qiao Sang: ... Ugh! A scammer. Clearly, they didn¡¯t even bother to check the market price for learning Meteor Rain, that price wouldn¡¯t be believable even if you added another zero to it. Ignoring the scammer, she continued waiting for more serious discussions. Soon, a few comments appeared. ¡¾Here early, also looking for the answer.¡¿ ¡¾First, you need a fire-type beast.¡¿ ¡¾The person above is wrong. First, you need a high-level fire-type beast.¡¿ ¡¾A high-level fire-type beast isn¡¯t enough. You need a General-tier beast at least.¡¿ Seeing this, Qiao Sang typed a response: ¡¾What if it¡¯s a low-level beast?¡¿ This question caused an uproar, and the number of replies surged. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾Forget it. The OP is an idiot.¡¿ ¡¾Before even discussing how to learn it, is a low-level fire-type beast even capable of releasing Meteor Rain? Draining it dry wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡¿ ¡¾Meteor Rain is like setting off fireworks. Maybe you should buy some fireworks to study first.¡¿ ¡¾The energy ball is round, and the fireball is also round. One condenses fire energy inward, the other expels it outward. You can start by working on the fireball.¡¿ ¡¾Instead of figuring out how to learn Meteor Rain, why not figure out how to earn the money needed to learn it?¡¿ ¡¾I once studied the issue of low-level beasts learning high-level skills. I¡¯m now doing well in a mental hospital.¡¿ While most comments were unhelpful, Qiao Sang still managed to pick up a few useful pieces of information. One main reason low and mid-tier beasts can¡¯t learn high-level skills is due to insufficient energy within their bodies. The energy required to perform a high-level skill is far beyond what Yabao can currently handle. The fastest solution would be to evolve Yabao, but right now, evolution is not an option for it. However, there¡¯s still a possibility of increasing its energy without evolving. After all, Yabao is still growing and hasn¡¯t reached its energy limit. Another insight is that the Energy Ball is a technique that involves condensing and containing energy. Mastering the Energy Ball likely requires precise control over fire energy. Thanks to her cheat ability, increasing proficiency wasn¡¯t a problem. Qiao Sang jotted down the training direction, creating a detailed training plan for Yabao¡¯s upcoming sessions. As she was writing, a knock came at the door. She put down her pen and opened the door. ¡°Mom? What are you doing here?¡± Qiao Sang asked in surprise. Her mother stood at the door, looking tired. The usually immaculate makeup she wore was worn off, and she hadn¡¯t bothered to fix it. Could something have happened? Just as Qiao Sang began to speculate, her mother¡¯s expression softened. She smiled gently, her eyes warm. ¡°I heard from your third aunt that you encountered a murderer today. I couldn¡¯t rest easy, so I came to check on you. Now that I see you''re fine, I can relax.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, feeling a pang of emotion. Everyone had been marveling at her luck and praising her skills, but no one had asked if she was okay. Feigning indifference, she said, ¡°You could¡¯ve just called. You didn¡¯t need to come all this way. Are you off tomorrow?¡± Her mother smiled. ¡°How did you know? I made plans to go shopping with Aunt Wang tomorrow.¡± Qiao Sang: ... --- Her mother¡¯s visit was a brief interlude. By noon the next day, she had ridden her fat dove to the train station. It seemed she had forgotten about her plans to shop with Aunt Wang. Little Treasure still hadn¡¯t woken up after a whole night, but at least the flush on his face had faded. In Liugan Creek, Yabao was running in circles excitedly, marveling at the changes in his body. In just a moment, his fur had grown longer, he had gotten taller, and his claws had become much sharper. ¡°Yabao, now release Ember until you¡¯ve exhausted all your energy.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. Yabao paused, nearly stumbling from dizziness, but when he tried to summon his energy, he froze. Why did it suddenly feel like he had more energy? ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head, looking at his Beastmaster with both excitement and confusion. ¡°This is the benefit of the contract.¡± Qiao Sang said, playfully misleading it. ¡°See how contracted beasts progress faster than those in the base?¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly a lie, but she had used her cheat ability. Just moments ago, she had added 600 points to Yabao¡¯s level. Now, in the Beastmaster¡¯s codex, Yabao¡¯s level was displayed as ¡¾Beginner (800/1000)+¡¿ The changes to Yabao¡¯s body were just as she had expected. The point total represented Yabao¡¯s energy accumulation at the beginner level. Evolution depends on two factors: Energy accumulation and a transformation trigger. The latter could be anything from evolution items, the environment, intimacy with the Beastmaster, or mastering certain skills to a high degree. The former was simpler, more points meant more energy within Yabao. Since Meteor Rain was a skill that consumed vast amounts of energy, her plan was to increase Yabao¡¯s energy without evolving him. She didn¡¯t dare to add the remaining 200 points right away, since they still had over a month to train. As for the cheat ability, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t intend to tell Yabao. She worried that he would start relying on the cheat and stop putting in the effort. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao suddenly understood and eagerly began channeling his energy. Thirty minutes later, after releasing Ember 320 times, Yabao collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Qiao Sang handed him a bottle of milk right away. Though things had gone as she expected, watching Yabao produce that many Ember still left Qiao Sang feeling a bit dazed. This cheat ability is way too powerful¡­ --- 3:12 PM. In the room. ¡°Take a look at this water balloon.¡± Qiao Sang held up a small, freshly filled water balloon, showing it to Yabao. ¡°To learn Meteor Rain, you first need to master condensing an energy ball. This energy ball is like this water balloon, all the energy is gathered together, just like the water inside the balloon.¡± ¡°It looks like nothing¡¯s happening on the outside, but inside, there¡¯s a lot of energy contained. You take it and see for yourself.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao solemnly nodded and extended his paw to take it. Pop! The balloon burst as soon as his claws touched it, water splashing everywhere. Yabao: ... Chapter 95: A Harmonious Scene "Did you feel it?" Qiao Sang asked.Yabao blinked in confusion, looking down at the water spilled all over the ground and the droplets still clinging to his paw. After staring at it for a long moment, his eyes widened in realization. So, the water balloon didn¡¯t break by accident, it was a deliberate move by its Beastmaster to help it understand the energy within! "Yap!" Yabao nodded earnestly. He understood! Qiao Sang felt a bit guilty. She had just wanted Yabao to hold the balloon, but hadn¡¯t expected that the extra points she¡¯d added had made its claws much sharper. Looks like she¡¯d need to trim those claws soon. After all, Yabao didn¡¯t have any claw-related skills yet. "As long as you get it. Energy balls work the same way. As long as you don¡¯t touch it, it¡¯s fine. But if you do, the energy inside will explode." Qiao Sang seized the opportunity to explain. "Our goal now is to form this energy ball." Yabao, full of excitement, started gathering energy within himself, eager to try. "Not inside the room! Have you forgotten about the TV incident?" Qiao Sang shouted, frightened, and quickly stopped it. After spending so much time together, she could tell right away from Yabao¡¯s expression and the way his paws twitched what he was about to do. "Yap." Yabao, feeling embarrassed, stopped what he was doing. He really had forgotten. "This isn¡¯t like the fire you generate by channeling your energy. You need to condense the fire-type energy. The key is to make sure it¡¯s stable. The structure inside the ball has to be solid." Qiao Sang continued. "Otherwise, the energy ball might explode before it even reaches the sky. And that kind of uncontrolled explosion won''t result in a Meteor Rain." In essence, an energy ball was simply a sphere of concentrated energy. Forming one wasn¡¯t too difficult. But to keep it stable and ensure it rose to a certain height in the sky required a stable internal structure, which was tricky. "Yap!" Yabao listened carefully and nodded vigorously. Qiao Sang was pleased. With that kind of learning attitude, she felt success was already halfway achieved. "Before we start training, there¡¯s one more thing to take care of." Qiao Sang said. "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head in confusion. What else was there? "Come here and let me trim your claws." "¡­" --- After dinner, Qiao Sang was getting ready to take Yabao to Liugan Creek. Just as they stepped out the door, a Sky Pig, carrying a green bag on its back, flew in, panting heavily with its gray-white wings flapping. It turned out that the F-grade energy recovery fluid, as well as the E-grade Flame Condensing Beads and Thought Gathering Beads, had arrived. Watching the Sky Pig deliver the package and turn to leave, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Beast pets definitely had an advantage when it came to employment. Who would''ve thought a pig could be a delivery courier... At Liugan Creek, Yabao, now wearing the Flame Condensing Bead, began practicing forming energy balls. Qiao Sang found an open space and sat cross-legged on the ground. She reached up and took down Little Treasure from her head. The process was a bit painful, as the little ghost¡¯s tiny claws had grabbed onto two tufts of her hair. She put the Thought Gathering Bead on the ghost, looking at its still-closed eyes with growing concern. Wasn''t it supposed to wake up after a nap? This nap seemed to be lasting a bit too long. It had been nearly two days. Qiao Sang poked the little ghost¡¯s cheek, but there was no response. She sighed and put him back on her head. Unseen by Qiao Sang, Little Treasure dutifully grabbed two more tufts of her hair. Meanwhile, Yabao was still trying to form the energy ball, but each attempt ended in nothing more than flames. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t play on her phone. She simply sat quietly and watched. Sometimes, watching her pet train was a joy in itself. After failing thirteen times, Yabao finally produced something different on its fourteenth try, rather than flames, a tiny energy ball the size of a fingernail appeared. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. No matter the size, successfully forming the energy ball was the first step. Now they just needed to stabilize the internal structure. Once the structure was stable, the more energy it held, the larger the ball would become. "Yap!" Yabao was overjoyed, looking at the energy ball in front of him. In his excitement, he lifted his head and barked at his Beastmaster. The next thing Qiao Sang knew, the energy ball flew out of Yabao¡¯s control and came straight at her. "Yap!!" Yabao was startled. He quickly thought of using a skill to stop it. But just as it opened his mouth, he realized, using a skill would only make things worse... "Oh crap!" Qiao Sang instinctively dodged the incoming energy ball. Thankfully, it was only the size of a fingernail. Qiao Sang leaned her head back 75 degrees, narrowly avoiding it. Although she had dodged the energy ball, her head suffered another kind of pain. Feeling the sharp tug on her scalp, Qiao Sang suddenly realized something was off. When had the Little Treasure grabbed onto her hair again? And could it really sleep this steadily? But before she could ponder it further, Yabao¡¯s anxious barking broke her train of thought. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" Yabao ran over, worried, to check on his Beastmaster. "I¡¯m fine." Qiao Sang reassured it. "Yap." Yabao relaxed. "But if this happens again, I¡¯m not so sure I¡¯ll be okay." Yabao: ... For the rest of the training session, Yabao focused a lot more on controlling the energy ball. Qiao Sang quietly moved to a new spot and resumed sitting cross-legged. This time, she split her attention between Yabao and Little Treasure. When she focused on her head, she quickly noticed something strange. Her head seemed to vibrate every now and then. If she hadn¡¯t been paying special attention, she might not have felt it at all, given how slight the movement was. Qiao Sang quickly figured it out. Little Treasure¡¯s stomach was growling... If she was right, the little one was already awake... And pretending to be asleep. Qiao Sang scooped the little ghost off her head and pried his eyelids open. No reaction. She tickled its sides. Still no response. Oh, so it was really committed to the act. "If you don¡¯t wake up soon, I¡¯ll have to take you to the hospital." Qiao Sang said. Little Treasure didn¡¯t move. "I¡¯ll only pick you up once you wake up in the hospital." She continued. At this, the little ghost¡¯s eyelids twitched. "Xun~" A second later, he opened his eyes and rubbed them with his tiny paws, pretending to have just woken up. Qiao Sang: ... The little ghost, sensing its Beastmaster¡¯s silence, nuzzled her apologetically. "Tell me, why were you pretending to sleep?" Qiao Sang asked. Hearing this, Yabao paused his training and turned to look. "Yap!" Yabao ran over excitedly. His little brother was finally awake! "Xun~" Little Teasure grew nervous under Qiao Sang¡¯s questioning gaze. Without hesitation, he blurted out everything in his heart. "Xun!" "Xun, Xun, Xun, xun." "Xun xun." Sea?ch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It turned out that Little Treasure had messed up. He was supposed to lure the enemy away, but because of his greed, he had no idea what had happened afterward. Afraid of being disliked, he didn¡¯t dare to wake up. Qiao Sang sighed. "You¡¯re still so young, how could you have such complex thoughts? As long as you¡¯re safe, that¡¯s all I care about. Besides, you did great back there. If it weren¡¯t for you distracting the Stone Helm Spirit, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to do what I did afterward." The little ghost¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Both Yabao and I have been really worried about you these past two days." Qiao Sang continued. "Yap!" Yabao nodded. "Xun~" Little Treasure sniffled. "Are you hungry? Hurry up and drink your milk¡ªI can hear your stomach growling." Qiao Sang said with a smile. As if to confirm her words, the little ghost¡¯s stomach let out a rumble at that very moment. "Xun~" Embarrassed, Little Treasure forgot about crying and buried his face in Qiao Sang¡¯s chest. Seeing this, both Qiao Sang and Yabao couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Under the setting sun, by the creek, the scene was one of perfect harmony. Chapter 96: Count Me In (Sorry for not updating yesterday. Our electricity got oof and only returned today.)Training days were monotonous, but only for Yabao. In the shade of a tree by the Liugan Creek, Qiao Sang and Little Treasure were leisurely enjoying popsicles. "You''re still young, don''t eat too much cold stuff." Qiao Sang said after taking a bite of her popsicle. "Xun~" Little Treasure cheerfully responded and promptly shoved the entire popsicle into his mouth, shivering as his eyes turned into crescents. Seeing this, Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. Little Treasure was getting cheekier by the day. Ever since the pretending-to-sleep incident, Little Treasure¡¯s true nature had become more and more apparent. In the past, if she had told him to eat less ice, he would have obediently put down the popsicle right away. But now, he would still agree verbally while his body behaved quite differently. Meanwhile, Yabao focused on sensing the energy inside his body, opening his mouth. In the next moment, an energy ball the size of a baby¡¯s fist floated in front of him. With his mouth still open, Yabao maintained the energy ball, trying to make it more solid. "Go, Yabao! Keep it up!" "Xun! Xun!" Qiao Sang and Little Treasure cheered from the side, like two enthusiastic members of a cheerleading squad. Yabao kept his attention on the energy ball. Once he felt the internal structure was stable, he raised his head, launching the energy ball into the sky. Qiao Sang kept her eyes on the energy ball''s trajectory. As expected, the energy ball soared to about four meters high before plummeting, headed straight for the creek. Boom! A loud splash followed, water spraying everywhere. Soon after, a fish flipped onto its side and floated to the surface. "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang called out. "Xun~" Munching on the popsicle, Little Treasure Ghost responded in a muffled voice. He stretched out his two stubby fingers, blue light emanating from its body, with the beads around his neck glowing faintly in response. The fish in the water was drawn over under his control. Qiao Sang placed the fish into a plastic bag she''d prepared in advance. This was the seventh fish to fall victim since Yabao started training with energy balls. Fortunately, the fish in Liugan Creek were wild, otherwise, they¡¯d have to change training grounds again. "Yap." Yabao had grown accustomed to failure. Undeterred, he continued sensing the energy inside his body. Ten days had passed since he started practicing energy balls. From initially forming a ball the size of a fingernail, it had now progressed to one the size of a baby¡¯s fist. For a beginner beast, this progress was quite fast. The only issue was that the internal structure of the energy ball wasn''t solid enough, causing it to lose control after reaching a certain height or even explode mid-air. Qiao Sang checked the time. 5:01 PM. Ever since using the F-grade energy recovery potion, Yabao had been training daily until dinner time. Qiao Sang considered herself relatively hardworking, but without pressure, she felt she couldn¡¯t be as diligent as Yabai. Having such a self-motivated beast was truly... satisfying! Most of the new beastmasters who graduated from junior high along with her were still figuring out how to bond with their beasts. Let alone training, sometimes they even had to coax and cajole their beasts into mastering skills they already knew. The five recommended beasts for new beastmasters might have good temperaments, but good temperament didn¡¯t always equal diligence. Just the other day, Fang Sisi texted her, frustrated that her Cottonbug refused to spin silk. Qiao Sang suggested she either search online or consult a beast nurturer. A day later, Fang Sisi sent her the nurturer¡¯s diagnosis. Although the report was long, it could be summarized in one word: Lazy. Qiao Sang contentedly watched as Yabao formed another energy ball, casually finishing her popsicle. --- 5:56 PM. At the dinner table. Third Aunt took a bite of the braised fish and sighed, "The fish Qiao Sang brings over is always so delicious." Qiao Sang, scooping some rice, said, "It¡¯s because you cook it well, Third Aunt." "You sweet child." Third Aunt smiled. "By the way, Ranran, how did your blind date go today?" In the ten or so days that Qiao Sang had been staying at home, Ye Ranran had already gone on three blind dates. Qiao Sang, having no stake in the matter, was all ears for the gossip. While Qiao Sang kept her head down, eating her meal, her ears were perked up, listening intently. Ye Ranran looked around the table before her gaze settled on Qiao Sang. ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯ve gotten darker?¡± Qiao Sang: ! Getting darker or gaining weight were sensitive topics for any girl, and Qiao Sang was no exception. She had been spending a lot of time outdoors lately. Even though she stayed in the shade, the blazing sun and her lack of sunscreen made it quite likely she had tanned. "I just bought some Ming Frost Coral powder. You should try soaking it in water and drinking some." Ye Ranran said. Ming Frost Coral powder could visibly improve skin tone, and its effects were immediate after consumption. It was highly regarded in the current beauty market. Qiao Sang nodded repeatedly. "Sure, but how did your blind date go today?" Ye Ranran: ¡­ "No good. The guy supported Klika during the Instellar Cup." Ye Ranran said, exasperated. The Instellar Cup had ended just a few days ago, but many people were still caught up in it. Klika was the one who had beaten Lin Ya. His strength was clearly superior to Lin Ya¡¯s, and he fought his way into the top three. Although Klika was strong, most people in Dragon Nation supported Lin Ya. Even those who weren''t beastmasters knew what Lin Ya represented to the country. Differences in support during the Instellar Cup could easily cause rifts in relationships. Statistics showed that during each Instellar Cup, divorce rates rose by 9%, and breakups due to arguments over the competition were commonplace. "That¡¯s definitely a deal breaker. What kind of people are they introducing to you?" Third Aunt complained. It was clear Third Aunt also supported Lin Ya. As dinner was wrapping up, Third Uncle, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, "Ah Sang, we¡¯re still short a person." Qiao Sang blinked, remembering the marathon relay Third Uncle had mentioned some time ago. Third Uncle had lived in town for a long time, yet he couldn¡¯t find enough people for a three-person marathon team? Could it be Third Uncle¡¯s social skills were lacking, or was he being ostracized by the beastmasters in town? For a moment, Qiao Sang''s imagination ran wild. "But Little Treasure was just born not long ago. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll hold you back." Qiao Sang said worriedly. Since Third Uncle wanted to compete, he must be aiming for a decent ranking. A marathon is a grueling event, and the beasts that participate are typically well-trained with good speed and endurance, both physically and mentally. It would be fine if it were just a three-person relay, each sending out one beast. But if they had to send out two beasts, Little Treasure clearly wasn¡¯t suited for this. "No worries, we just need you to make up the numbers. In addition to the overall team rankings, they also calculate individual rankings for each beast in the relay. I¡¯m mainly aiming for the individual scores." Third Uncle explained. Qiao Sang instantly felt relieved. If it wasn¡¯t about winning the team rankings, it didn¡¯t matter if Little Treasure could only run 100 meters before dropping out. "Alright, count me in. Who¡¯s the other person?" Qiao Sang asked. S~ea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Ranran paused, putting down her chopsticks. "That would be me." Qiao Sang: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 97: Energy Markings Back in the room, Yabao was watching the Hanggang competition channel as usual, while Qiao Sang was following an online course on pet beast energy engravings. At the same time, she was using a special engraving brush to draw patterns on Little Treasure''s cheeks. She wasn¡¯t just passing time by learning a new skill during her vacation, she wanted to help Yabao improve his energy ball condensation. After a period of training, she had begun to notice some issues when Yabao was practicing his Meteor Rain skill. Meteor Rain was a high-level ability. Even though she had boosted Yabao¡¯s points, his current energy wasn¡¯t enough to support its release. Despite the rapid progress with condensing energy balls, the internal structure of the balls wasn¡¯t stable enough. When they exploded in the air, it was more like a light drizzle than a proper Meteor Rain. And not much of a drizzle at that. There were three possible solutions. The first was evolution. Practicing Meteor Rain wasn¡¯t urgent, so even if Yabao continued training for over a month until he evolved into Blaze Fang Dog, it would be fine. But even after evolving, the energy might still be insufficient. According to the textbooks, mid-level pet beasts rarely mastered high-level skills. The second option was using items. She dismissed this quickly, it was simple: No money, at least for now. The third option was engraving energy patterns. This required technical skill, though some materials were expensive, they were still more affordable than high-tier items. The simpler patterns required materials and mixing ratios that could easily be purchased online. Given her current financial situation, Qiao Sang could manage. The challenge lay in technique. The strokes had to be continuous, and every stroke had to be infused with equal amounts of mental power. If the mental power was uneven, it could destabilize the energy structure and result in failure. Using mental power in this context meant activating the Beast Codex within her brain. Normally, when summoning a pet beast with the codex, she didn¡¯t feel anything unusual. However, continuously operating the codex to engrave patterns would definitely be taxing. Qiao Sang had been learning how to engrave energy patterns for three days and hadn¡¯t encountered any major struggles yet. The primary function of the energy markings was to allow the pet beast to absorb external energy when releasing a skill, rather than solely relying on its internal reserves. She had specifically bought a month-long online course on these engravings, and her test subject was Little Treasure. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to experiment directly on Yabao, but he hated water. Even getting him to take a bath was a struggle. With Yabao¡¯s dislike for water, experimenting with these engravings on him would take forever. Little Treasure, on the other hand, had no such complaints. In fact, he had been very enthusiastic over the past three days, even actively bringing out the materials needed for the engravings. ¡°All done. Give it a try.¡± Qiao Sang said as she set down her brush. "Xun~" Little Treasure stretched out his tiny claws and gestured that there was no rush. He picked up a small mirror that had been prepared in advance and held it up to his face, making various exaggerated and silly expressions. Qiao Sang watched helplessly. Anyone who saw this would think she was drawing a ghostly face, not an energy marking. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure put down the mirror and let out a happy sound, clearly satisfied with the work on his face. A second later, a faint purple glow appeared around his body but quickly faded. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure spread his hands and shook his head, indicating that it didn¡¯t work. Another failure. Although Qiao Sang was mentally prepared, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little disappointed. Just as she was about to wash the markings off Little Treasure''s face, there was a knock on the door. "Xun~" Little Treasure eagerly floated over to open it. ¡°Ah-Sang, why did you paint a ghost face on Treasure-Seeking Ghost?¡± Ye Ranran asked, momentarily taken aback upon seeing the patterns on Little Treasure. "Xun~" Hearing this, Little Treasure beamed, floating back to the table to pick up the mirror and admire his reflection again. Qiao Sang: ¡­! This was an energy marking! Qiao Sang opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but seeing Little Treasure proudly making funny faces, she felt like explaining would just be embarrassing¡­ ¡°Is that the Ming frost coral powder?¡± Qiao Sang asked, eyeing the bowl in Ye Ranran''s hand and changing the subject. ¡°Yes, I just mixed some up and brought you a bowl.¡± Ye Ranran said, stepping inside and placing the bowl on the table. Qiao Sang picked it up and took a sip. It tasted slightly sweet. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Uncle? Why can¡¯t he find two more people for the marathon relay?¡± Qiao Sang asked. She had wanted to ask earlier but held back at the dinner table in front of her uncle, not wanting to embarrass him. ¡°Who says he can¡¯t? Aren¡¯t you and I people?¡± Ye Ranran teased. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Just kidding. Uncle had originally found someone, but their prize preferences overlapped, and they also had conflicts with their pet beasts¡¯ roles in the race.¡± ¡°This marathon relay is divided into land, sea, and air segments, with two pet beasts per section. Of Uncle¡¯s friends, none had a flying-type beast, so your Treasure-Seeking Ghost can barely count for the air segment.¡± Ye Ranran explained. So it wasn¡¯t a matter of bad social skills or being ostracized¡­ ¡°By the way, take some time over the next few days to train with Fire Fang Dog. The land section is the first part of the relay, and Fire Fang Dog is supposed to run the second leg. Uncle is mainly counting on his Roaring Swamp Crocodile to take first place in the individual category.¡± ¡°But the water section is the second leg. If you fall too far behind, Roaring Swamp Crocodile might feel the pressure. Lately, it¡¯s been jumpy and its mental resilience seems a bit weak.¡± Ye Ranran added. The pressure was now on Yabao. Qiao Sang turned to look at the dog, engrossed in the competition channel, and figured it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Is Little Treasure the last leg?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Ye Ranran nodded. ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re not expecting to win the team event. Your Treasure-Seeking Ghost doesn¡¯t even have to run if it doesn¡¯t want to.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at Little Treasure, who was still making funny faces in the mirror. Well, as long as it doesn¡¯t have to run, that¡¯s a relief¡­ In the following days, Yabao¡¯s schedule became even more packed. He spent his mornings practicing skill releases, followed by half a bottle of F-level energy restoration potion to work on condensing energy balls. In the afternoon, he repeated the morning''s training. Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After drinking the restoration potion, he no longer practiced energy ball condensation to the point of exhaustion, leaving time to run a few laps around Liugan Creek. In the evening, after recovering with some Qiyuan milk, he would continue training in energy ball condensation. It was more intense than when Qiao Sang had been studying to get into Shengshui High School. With her pet beast working so hard, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but be influenced. A vacation that was supposed to be relaxing turned into a study session, with her absorbing new knowledge and practicing energy markings on Little Treasure¡¯s face. --- July 24th. Clear skies. The day of the Qitang Town marathon relay. ----- ----- Chapter 98: Hitching A Ride Early in the morning, Yabao started rummaging through his backpack, trying to find a particular pair of sunglasses. After searching for a while, he still couldn¡¯t locate the colorful pink ones he was looking for. His movements halted, and he tilted his head, full of confusion. He distinctly remembered that the flashy pink sunglasses were in his bag. Not dwelling on the problem for too long, Yabao turned to seek out Qiao Sang. When in doubt, ask your Beastmaster. Yabao clamped the backpack in his mouth and brought it over to Qiao Sang, who was tying her ponytail. ¡°Yap!¡± Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yap-yap!¡± Qiao Sang calmly tied the last loop of her hair tie and said, ¡°Oh, that pair? I forgot where I put it. Wear the red sunglasses instead, they match your fur color. They¡¯ll look great on you.¡± Little Treasure, who was about to take off his ring, paused for a moment. Wasn¡¯t the Beastmaster the one who put those pink sunglasses with him just last night? Little Treasure glanced at his Beastmaster and caught her winking at him. In an instant, he understood. The Beastmaster did it on purpose. ¡°Xun...¡± Little Treasure instinctively covered his mouth. So, it was a secret! Hearing Qiao Sang¡¯s words, Yabao immediately forgot about the sunglasses he was originally looking for. He excitedly dug out the red triangle-shaped sunglasses and put them on. ¡°Yap!¡± After putting them on, he wagged his tail and barked at Qiao Sang. ¡°You look fantastic!¡± Qiao Sang sincerely praised. Compared to those pink heart-shaped glasses, any pair would look better. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao¡¯s tail wagged even faster. Too bad there wasn¡¯t a full-length mirror like at home, or he would definitely go check himself out. --- Having participated in a formal competition once before, Qiao Sang was feeling quite relaxed about the upcoming marathon relay race. After all, she wasn¡¯t really expected to do much... But when she arrived at the venue, the sheer scale of the event startled her. Flat Oak Street. The starting point of the race. The streets were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people from one end of the street to the other. Looking up, Qiao Sang saw a race track made of floating clouds, stretching from the west to the east, disappearing into the horizon. On both sides of the cloud track, dozens of Beastmasters rode their flying-type beasts. She couldn¡¯t tell if they were staff or just spectators. Seeing the massive crowd, Qiao Sang began to suspect that nearly everyone in Qitang Town had come to watch. Perched on top of Qiao Sang¡¯s head, Little Treasure blinked his eyes in curiosity, looking around. It was the first time he had ever seen so many people. Quickly, he made eye contact with several onlookers. To its surprise, those people smiled at it. Little Treasure froze, confused. ¡°Xun?¡± Usually, when people made eye contact with it, they¡¯d nervously look away. Why was this time different? ¡°Sang, come over here to get your gear.¡± Ye Ranran called, waving from an area marked as the Contestant Check-In. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect so many people to show up.¡± Qiao Sang remarked as she walked over. ¡°The whole town probably came out. There¡¯s not much else to do around here, and everyone loves a good Beastmaster competition.¡± Ye Ranran explained. Qiao Sang nodded. In the city, there were many Beastmasters and frequent competitions. Unless there was heavy promotion, smaller competitions often went unnoticed. Bai Xin''s Competition was a perfect example. But here, with fewer Beastmasters and even fewer competitions, news of any Beastmaster contest spread quickly by word of mouth. ¡°Sang, don¡¯t get too nervous later, just stay calm.¡± Her third uncle suddenly said from the side. Qiao Sang: ... Although she was surprised by the large turnout, she wasn¡¯t nervous at all, she wasn¡¯t the one running, after all... ¡°Yabao, are you nervous?¡± Qiao Sang asked, glancing down. ¡°Yap.¡± Wearing his sunglasses, Yabao coolly shook the middle toe of his right paw. ¡°Uncle, we¡¯re not nervous. You don¡¯t need to be either.¡± Qiao Sang said, looking up. Third Uncle: ...Alright. After waiting in line to collect the two race numbers, Qiao Sang fastened them to Yabao and Little Treasure. Yabao was given number A071, and Little Treasure was C166. The numbers indicated which leg of the race they were in: A for the land stage, B for the water stage, and C for the sky stage. These race numbers not only marked the contestants but were also equipped with timing chips. As they passed each checkpoint, their times would be recorded and uploaded to calculate the results. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to the second stage now. Your aunt and Jingwen are waiting for me there. We¡¯ll meet up later." Her uncle said. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got things covered here.¡± Ye Ranran assured him. Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. Her uncle¡¯s participating beasts were Roaring Swamp Crocodile and Darkscale Fish, both for the second stage. After her uncle left, Ye Ranran said, ¡°I¡¯ve asked Aunt Lin to drive you to Jin Song Village. You remember Aunt Lin, right? She was with me on the trip to Huangming Mountain. She likes you a lot and keeps mentioning you.¡± Ye Ranran¡¯s Ink-tailed Fox was the first to run in the first leg of the race, while Qiao Sang¡¯s Yabao would take over for the second leg, 10 kilometers away in Jin Song Village. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go myself. It¡¯s too much trouble to ask for a ride, and with so many people around, driving would be difficult.¡± Qiao Sang declined. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll give you a call when Momo is close to Jin Song Village,¡± Ye Ranran said, not insisting further. --- Thirty minutes later, Qiao Sang regretted her decision. This was her first time participating in a race like this, and she had no experience. Why was the distance between the first and second legs so far? Qiao Sang frantically pedaled her bicycle down the street. Had the race already started? Probably... What if Ink-tailed Fox reached Jin Song Village and she wasn¡¯t there yet? ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao sat in the bike basket, cheering her on. Little Treasure clung tightly to Qiao Sang¡¯s hair with his short claws, his round eyes squinting against the wind. As she biked, Qiao Sang was filled with anxiety. How much easier it would¡¯ve been to get a ride! Why had she thought biking was a good idea... Now it seemed that even just passing through this stage might be a stretch... ¡°Miss, want to hitch a ride?¡± Qiao Sang looked up, her excitement rising. Above her, a Great Winged Sparrow was flying, carrying two men and a woman. The man in front looked to be in his forties, while the young man and woman behind seemed to be in their twenties. ¡°I''m headed to Jin Song Village! Are you going that way?¡± Qiao Sang shouted as she kept pedaling. The Great Winged Sparrow flew to her right and matched her speed. The middle-aged man at the front grinned, ¡°We are! They¡¯re headed there too. I¡¯ll charge you 800. How about it?¡± The two young passengers exchanged knowing glances, realizing the man was trying to overcharge the girl. They were each only paying 600 for the ride, but he was quoting 800 to her. Though Qiao Sang had never flown for money, her mother worked in the tourism industry. Even though it was for sightseeing flights, Qiao Sang knew the going rates. ¡°400, and I¡¯m in!¡± Qiao Sang called out. The man immediately responded, ¡°Deal!¡± The two young passengers stared in disbelief. Were they the ones being overcharged after all? ----- ----- Chapter 99: The Second to Arrive After parking her bike by the roadside and taking a picture to remember the location, Qiao Sang embarked on her shared flight journey. The Great Winged Sparrow, an evolved form of the Sharp Winged Sparrow, had a wingspan of about 2.5 meters. Beastmasters riding flying-type beasts wasn¡¯t an issue, but carrying passengers required a flying license. The Airborne Management Bureau had clear regulations regarding flying-type beasts carrying passengers. Beasts between 1.5 to 2 meters in size were two-person mounts. Beasts between 2 to 2.5 meters were three-person mounts. And those between 2.5 to 3 meters could carry four people. The Great Winged Sparrow was right on the borderline between a three-person and four-person mount. For flying beasts of this size that skirted the standard, they had to be inspected annually by the Airborne Management Bureau. However, some flying beasts would often carry more passengers than allowed. Although Qiao Sang didn¡¯t agree with such overloading practices, circumstances were different this time. She didn¡¯t dare to ask if the beast was overloaded, what if it was? On the way, the middle-aged man kept talking non-stop. Initially, the two young people with him seemed disinterested and reluctant to chat, but under the man¡¯s persistent chatter, they eventually joined in. From their conversation, Qiao Sang learned that the two young people were also heading to Jin Song Village for the second leg of the race, which put her mind at ease. ¡°I feel like the prize for first place in the individual competition is even better than the team prize. If I didn¡¯t have to make a living, I would¡¯ve given it a shot.¡± The middle-aged man said. Qiao Sang had been half-listening, but when she heard this, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s the prize for first place?¡± Her third uncle was gunning for the individual prize. He had given up on competing in a team after realizing the prizes overlapped with what he wanted, a testament to how appealing the individual prize must be. Her third uncle supported the whole family. He had two beasts to care for, a son studying at a Beastmaster university (an expensive endeavor), and her cousin Ye Jingwen was pursuing a career as a spirit plant especialist, another costly path. Looking at all the spirit plants in the backyard, it was clear they had spent a lot recently. For a moment, Qiao Sang let her imagination run wild about what the prize might be: Cash, spirit plants, or a few crates of pet energy food¡ªsomething practical, no doubt. ¡°A new photo book of God Ya and his pet, fresh from their recent photoshoot during the Instellar Cup. It¡¯s a first edition. Not sure how our little town got a hold of it.¡± Said the young man. Qiao Sang: ... She suddenly wanted to turn back. --- By the time they arrived at the second leg handoff point in Jin Song Village, quite a few people had already gathered. After registering at the check-in point, Qiao Sang and Yabao went to the designated spot¡ªthe village entrance. ¡°Just follow the main group. Do you remember the Roaring Swamp Crocodile? It¡¯s the big one with the tough yellow skin and huge mouth that greeted you earlier this morning.¡± Qiao Sang reminded her dog with some concern. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao thumped his chest with his paw, signaling that he was all set. ¡°There¡¯ll be water stations along the way if you get tired. Just grab some when you need it.¡± Qiao Sang added. ¡°Yap." Yabao nodded. Honestly, he preferred milk, but since his Beastmaster hadn¡¯t mentioned it, water it would be. After giving all her instructions, Qiao Sang exited the track. Since the competition was for beasts, the Beastmasters could only wait on the sidelines. A total of 233 teams, consisting of 699 Beastmasters and 1,398 beasts, were participating in this marathon relay. Around the village entrance, roughly 200 beasts stood ready, some of them advanced-level. Even among this crowd, Yabao stood out with his unique sunglasses and fiery red fur, catching the attention of many. Sea?ch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Whose Fire Fang Dog is that?¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, that red beast looks so cool!¡± ¡°Judging by the color and appearance, it seems like a fire-type beast.¡± ¡°It kind of reminds me of the champion beast from the recent Bai Xin Competition.¡± Qiao Sang glanced over, surprised to find some kids who had seen the Bai Xin Competition. Impressive. She secretly approved of their sharp eyes. Time passed. Thirteen minutes later, a thunderous sound approached from afar. ¡°Xuuuuun!¡± Little Treasure excitedly pointed in the direction of the sound. Following his gesture, Qiao Sang froze in place, rubbing her eyes in disbelief, almost thinking she was hallucinating. A brown, shelled beast was... rolling toward them. Yes, rolling. Just as Qiao Sang thought it was a stray beast that had wandered onto the track, a male voice nearby shouted, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived! Stop now!¡± At that moment, the brown-shelled beast came to a halt, slowly extending its head and limbs. Its right front paw bore the race number A112, and a yellow relay sash hung around its neck. Qiao Sang was a bit dazed. It was a Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise... Was it really a competitor? A marathon was supposed to be about running, right? How could it be... rolling? This Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise had clearly undergone professional training, as it showed no signs of dizziness despite rolling for so long. It steadily handed the yellow relay sash to a Six-Tentacle Snail. What happened next completely altered Qiao Sang¡¯s perception of a marathon relay. After putting on the yellow sash, the Six-Tentacle Snail used three of its tentacles to spray sticky liquid onto the ground. Then, it crawled onto the slippery surface. As soon as it touched the slick ground, the snail shot forward several meters. It continued to spray mucus and slid forward with such speed that it quickly disappeared from sight. Qiao Sang stood there, dumbfounded by the spectacle, realizing this marathon was unlike any she had ever imagined. Right... This was a beast marathon... It was only natural that it would differ from a human marathon... She had assumed this race was a straightforward competition: Running on land, swimming in water, and flying in the air. She hadn''t expected it to be so... creative. Glancing at her Yabao, confidently wearing its sunglasses, Qiao Sang suddenly regretted not understanding the rules better. If all the other beasts used such flashy tricks, her poor dog running on his own might end up in last place... Just then, the second team approached. It was a Ink-tailed Fox, panting as it trotted over without using any abilities. But as it neared the handoff point, its two-meter-long tail suddenly glowed with a sandy hue. Floating sand appeared beneath its paws, forming a narrow path ahead. The sand lifted the Ink-tailed Fox as it slid down the narrow path toward the handoff. It removed the yellow relay sash from its neck and passed it to Yabao, who was still proudly wearing his sunglasses. Qiao Sang was stunned. What the heck? The second team to arrive was Ye Ranran¡¯s Ink-tailed Fox! ----- ----- Chapter 100: Red Lightning Ye Ranyan''s Ink-tailed Fox being so impressive was something Qiao Sang never expected, and she immediately felt a sense of relief. With over two hundred pet beasts participating, Yabao running second, there was no way he could end up in last place. Once Yabao donned the yellow relay band, he shot out like an arrow. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure was shouting encouragement with all his might, even floating along after Yabao. Qiao Sang, with quick reflexes, pulled it back. "Xun?" Little treasure looked up innocently. "Don''t waste your energy. We still need you for the sixth leg. Let''s just head to the Liuyang River and wait for Yabao." Qiao Sang said. Her words were half-truths: The first half was false, and the second half true. She hadn¡¯t been relying on Little Treasure for the sixth leg at all. Running alongside was out of the question. The third leg alone was 10 kilometers away at the Liuyang River, and with his tiny arms and legs, he would be exhausted before making it halfway. Moreover, marathon rules forbid having anyone run alongside the competitors. They had a professional medical team and technical support throughout the race, with robust logistical security. Running alongside would just cause unnecessary complications and chaos, making it harder to maintain order. Qiao Sang watched as Yabao disappeared into the distance. "Yabao, all we can do is support you mentally! Go for it!" --- Yabao ran as fast as he could. He remembered his beastmaster¡¯s instructions to follow the leading pack, but there wasn¡¯t even a shadow of another competitor ahead, let alone a group. He then recalled the Six-Tentacled Snail, which had started before it. "Yap!" Yabao sped up. All he could do now was catch up with that snail! Who knew how long it had been running? Yabai was now dragging his legs, struggling just to move forward. At this point, he could barely walk, let alone run. Even though a pet beast marathon is different from a traditional human marathon, it¡¯s still a high-intensity endurance sport over long distances. Although pet beasts can use their abilities and skills to speed up the race and make it more exciting, it¡¯s not practical to rely solely on abilities for the entire competition. Excessive energy consumption might leave a pet beast too exhausted to finish. Those with marathon experience alternate between running normally and occasionally using skills to speed up. As they near the finish line, they use their abilities to sprint the final stretch, like Ye Ranyan''s Ink-tailed Fox. But Yabao didn¡¯t know this. He had been giving his all since the start. At first, it was fine, but once he slowed down, dozens of competing pet beasts passed him one after another. Yabao wasn¡¯t stupid, though. He had seen several of the others use their skills, so he tried to do the same to catch up. It used Flame Charge, Charge¡ªeverything it could think of. But he quickly ran out of steam. Yabao hadn¡¯t undergone any professional training, focusing recently more on skill-based practice. Running a few laps around Liu Gan Creek wasn¡¯t nearly enough to prepare him for a marathon. While his stamina was decent compared to other pet beasts at his level, it still wasn¡¯t up to marathon standards. The scorching sun beat down on the earth. Even the normally heat-resistant Yabao was beginning to suffer. He stuck his tongue out, panting heavily. He felt like he could barely catch his breath. His legs were so heavy that it was harder to move them than when he had been wearing the weighted bands. "Yap." Yabao let out a weak whine, his throat dry as if it were about to catch fire. He suddenly remembered his beastmaster¡¯s mention of water. Looking around, he saw no table or water anywhere nearby. Is it not here yet? Stars danced before Yabao¡¯s eyes as he gazed dazedly ahead. For the first time, he thought about giving up. So tired... So very tired... "Ball." A Bouncing Pig happened to hop by. Its tail, which resembled a spring, had a gray ball at the end, and its body bore the competition number A099. It bounced rapidly toward the third relay point, using its springy tail to hop forward, overtaking the Yabao with ease. "Ball." Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bouncing Pig didn¡¯t leave immediately; it turned back and sneered at Yabao, smugly raising its smallest toe in a mocking gesture. "Yap." Yabao was instantly enraged. He wanted to bark angrily at the Bouncing Pig, but the roar that came out was so weak that only he could hear it. As he watched the Bouncing Pig hop away, Yabao¡¯s heart blazed with frustration. He desperately wanted to give chase, but he didn¡¯t have the strength. His exhausted legs gave out after a couple of steps, and he collapsed to the ground. In a daze, he could almost hear his beastmaster calling his name. Yabao. He never really liked that name, it didn¡¯t sound imposing at all, but his beastmaster loved it, so he had no choice. Would his beastmaster be disappointed if he gave up here? And what about his little brother, still waiting for the relay band? A sense of failure swept through Yabao. His beastmaster had trusted him, told him they would be waiting at the Liuyang River. What would happen if he never arrived? He really wanted to get back up and keep going... The small ember inside Yabao gradually flared into a flame. In the next moment, the flame surged, and crimson fire engulfed his body, burning brightly from within. "There''s a Fire fang Dog here, it looks like it¡¯s exhausted! Send¡ªwait, what the heck!" The logistics staff jumped in surprise. "What happened? What¡¯s going on?" Came the concerned voice from the other end of the line. "No big deal, just that the Fire fang Dog collapsed, then suddenly burst into flames... It must¡¯ve triggered its Blaze ability and shot off like a rocket. I¡¯ve never seen a fire-type beast burn itself out running a marathon before." The staffer explained, still shaken. It was like seeing a collapsed patient suddenly leap up and perform a backflip, it was pretty startling... --- At the Liuyang River. Qiao Sang watched in awe as a Bouncing Pig, using its spring-like tail, quickly reached the third relay point. "That tail is perfect for this race!" She exclaimed. "I still think the Icesnow Lynx''s skill is more suited." Ye Ranyan commented. "It slid on ice balls attached to its paw pads. No idea how they thought of that." "In this heat, though, the ice won¡¯t last long. It¡¯s just to make it a bit easier in the middle. But you can tell they put in the effort. The balance is impeccable." Qiao Sang analyzed. "A well-planned strategy that conserves energy with occasional relief is key in a pet beast marathon. The main focus is still on stamina and endurance." Ye Ranyan added with a smile. Qiao Sang paused before asking, "What if there¡¯s no energy-saving plan?" Ye Ranyan thought for a moment. "Relying purely on stamina and endurance? That would be exhausting. I¡¯ve never seen anyone enter a pet beast marathon without some kind of strategy." Qiao Sang: ...Haha, that fool¡¯s right here. "Xun!" "Xun!" Suddenly, Little Treasure cried out excitedly. Qiao Sang looked toward the track. In the distance, a figure enveloped in blazing flames sped toward them like a bolt of red lightning, zooming past her in a flash and overtaking the Bouncing Pig just before reaching the relay point. ----- T/N: Next week is the start of my third-year college life. Because of that, after this chapter, I will begin to update two instead of five chapters to adjust. I hope you understand, guys ???? Chapter 101: Wheres the Relay Band?! Red flames danced wildly, unrestrained and blazing. A distinctive triangular pair of sunglasses and a familiar figure instantly made her recognize him as her own, Yabao.Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. Rather than feeling joy at Yabao''s quick arrival at the relay point, she was deeply worried. Isn''t this Blaze mode?! What''s going on? Why is the Blaze trait out?! Did it activate from exhaustion during the marathon? Thinking about it, Qiao Sang suddenly felt a bit guilty. It wasn''t entirely impossible... Yabao stopped at the third relay point, not looking for the figure of the Roaring Swamp Crocodile, but instead smirked disdainfully at Bouncing Pig, who had been half a step slower, raising his right paw and extending his pinky. Bouncing Ball Pig glanced at Yabao out of the corner of its eye, and the next second, passed by it, handing the yellow relay band to a small Rain Frog at the shore. Yabao maintained his cool pose, but his stiff smile made it clear that he had frozen on the spot. Less than half a year old, Yabao was experiencing the ups and downs of life for the first time. In an instant, he went from confident to crushed. Even the flames on his body, once fierce, now seemed dimmed. "Yabao, pass the relay band!" Qiao Sang shouted. "Yap! Yap!" Yabao snapped back to reality and turned to pass the baton to Roaring Swamp Crocodile, who had been waiting almost in tears. It lowered its head. "Yap?!" Where''s the relay band?! ... The pet marathon in Qitang Town had, for the first time in history, encountered a missing relay band mid-race. No other choice but to rush and issue a new one. No one had expected the band to be burned up by a Yabao who had activated his Blaze trait. Fire-type pets were already rare in the town, and those with the Blaze trait were even more uncommon. For the locals, seeing a pet trigger Blaze during a marathon was a first. In a way, Yabao had become famous in Qitang Town. For future pet marathons, the organizers would specially provide relay bands made from fire-resistant materials for fire-type pets. Of course, that was a story for another time. By the time the staff rushed over with a new relay band, three minutes had already passed. The pet marathon competitors were divided into four ranks based on their performance. First, those far ahead of the pack; second, those keeping up with the main group; third, those barely making it on time; and fourth, those who dropped out midway. Yabao''s performance this time was decent, placing him in the second tier. However, the pets in the second tier were quite close in strength, with only a few seconds separating the ranks. Due to the three-minute delay, Yabao''s original 51st place in the second leg dropped to 62nd. S~ea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No worries, I never expected us to get 62nd in the first place." Qiao Sang comforted. "Yap..." Yabao''s eyes were teary with sorrow. He had never lost before, and now he had not only lost but was beaten by 61 others. "Yap~" Little Treasure, ever timely, handed over a ring and some milk. Yabao took the milk and, still bitter, began drinking. Despite the sadness, the milk was still worth drinking. "Look at you, back when you activated Blaze, you fainted shortly after. Now, you''re staying conscious and still able to drink milk. That''s progress." Qiao Sang continued to comfort. Yabao paused mid-drink and stared blankly at his beastmaster. That... made sense... "Yap!" Yabao''s eyes brightened, and his mood instantly lifted. Ye Ranyan, watching Qiao Sang revive Yabao with just a few words, marveled, "I suddenly think Jingwen was right. You really do have a knack for being a breeder." A breeder not only needed to understand the care and health of different pets but also had to tailor different growth plans based on the pet''s current mental state and strength. One of the exams to become a breeder was Pet Psychology. Qiao Sang, having only recently contracted with Yabao, could already grasp his mental state clearly, definitely a talent. "It''s rare to see a fire-type pet so young triggering Blaze. Ah-Sang has talent, and so does her pet. She should become a professional beastmaster." Her Third Uncle commented while watching the Roaring Swamp Crocodile half-submerged in water, a smile on his face, clearly satisfied with Yabao''s timing. "Today, Ranyan and Ah-Sang, you¡¯ve worked hard. If we win first place this time, feel free to browse through the photo album." He added with a smile. That¡¯s really unnecessary! Ever since she learned what the personal prize was, Qiao Sang had been too embarrassed to even look at her Third Uncle. His prize choice did not match the diligent, mature, and stable image he usually portrayed. Who knew what her Aunt and Jingwen thought of his motivation for participating in the marathon? Qiao Sang instinctively looked around for her Aunt and Jingwen. They were engrossed, excitedly taking pictures of the competing pets, completely oblivious to the conversation happening over here. Qiao Sang watched and chose not to disturb them. For the ordinary residents of the town, this was a rare opportunity to see so many pets in person at once. --- Su Song Old Street. A public hall. As one of the few pet beastmaster events in town, the whole town was paying attention. Most people gathered at the starting line, but the rules didn¡¯t allow following the race. With the hot weather, standing outside wasn¡¯t pleasant. So the live broadcast at various locations was packed with people. Su Song Old Street, being near the third relay point for the fifth leg, had set up a venue to watch the live broadcast in its hall. Qiao Sang, a participant in the first lane, had to send Yabao to the second relay point and hurry to the third to wait, leaving no time to watch the live stream. But now she did. Qiao Sang stood on tiptoe, trying to see the big screen in the hall, but the crowd blocked her view. Yabao, copying his beastmaster, also stood on tiptoe, but of course, he couldn¡¯t see anything either. Only Little Treasure floated half a meter higher, taking in the live broadcast scene with ease. "Ah-Sang, stop struggling. I''m taller than you, and even I can''t see. How can you?" Ye Ranyan said beside her. Qiao Sang: ... She couldn''t argue with that... At that moment, a man standing in front suddenly turned around. He saw Qiao Sang and paused, then looked to the side. Sure enough, he spotted the memorable fire-type pet from the earlier broadcast. "Isn¡¯t that the little fire dog who fell, got up, overtook the pig, then got overtaken by the pig, and burned the relay band?!" The man exclaimed excitedly. In an instant, everyone in front turned to look. "Where?!" "Where is it? Let me see!" "Let them through! Don¡¯t block them outside!" "I know! It¡¯s the Fire fang Dog!" "Move aside and let them through!" Thanks to Yabao, Qiao Sang and Ye Ranyan found themselves with prime VIP seats at the front of the hall to watch the live broadcast. Chapter 102: Teleportation "Isn''t that Officer Ye?""Officer Ye, is this kid a relative of yours?" "Officer Ye, I just saw your white fox. It was in second place! There were several that looked similar, but yours stood out, I recognized it right away." "Officer Ye, have you found a partner yet?" "Officer Ye, what''s the name of that little red dog?" "Officer Ye..." Qitang Town was small, so small that you''d run into someone you knew with just a few steps. While Qiao Sang, who spent most of her time in Hanggang, wasn''t well-known, Ye Ranran was quickly recognized by the locals. It was like when adults brought kids along and bumped into acquaintances. The adults would exchange pleasantries, and the kids would just stand there, acting as background. Ye Ranran smiled and answered each person in turn, while Qiao Sang''s attention was focused on the live broadcast. On the big screen, an orange-red Lanturn was moving backward along the race track, using its water gun to propel itself several meters at a time. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but mentally comment that while this method did speed things up, moving backwards was risky, it could easily bump into other competing pets. Soon, the screen switched, showing an underwater scene instead of the river''s surface. A blue Water Salamander was rapidly rotating its two tails, much like a spinning propeller, propelling itself forward at an incredible speed. However, it soon tired, and its tail stopped spinning. The live feed then switched again, showing a dark blue Spiky Seahorse. Qiao Sang immediately understood. They were specifically showcasing pets with unique movement styles! It made sense, after all, a marathon was a long event. Watching pets simply run or swim for an extended period could get pretty boring. In the footage, the Spiky Seahorse would pause after moving a short distance and take a deep breath through its long, straw-like nose. Each time it inhaled, its coiled tail would uncurl, releasing a strong jet of gas that sent bubbles flying up from the water like it was boiling. The force was so strong that the Spiky Seahorse would shoot forward more than ten meters! Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What the heck? It was using flatulence to speed up! Whose brilliant idea was this? Ingenious! But she did feel bad for the pets behind it¡­ Though the method was a bit crude, it definitely required skill. After all, it wasn¡¯t like you could pass gas on command, it had to be trained! Qiao Sang couldn''t help but feel a newfound respect for the Spiky Seahorse and its trainer. The same bewilderment struck Little Treasure, who stared blankly at the screen, feeling like he had just been introduced to a whole new world. After witnessing the Spiky Seahorse¡¯s unique advancement technique, Qiao Sang found the rest of the broadcast rather dull. Feeling bored, Qiao Sang thought of her third uncle''s Roaring Swamp Crocodile. Where was it? Why hadn''t it appeared yet? Three minutes later, the footage shifted to a black Scalefish. Qiao Sang froze and squinted at the screen for a closer look. Why did this Scalefish look so much like her third uncle''s? "Ranran-jie, doesn¡¯t this Scalefish look just like third uncle¡¯s?" Qiao Sang asked Ye Ranran uncertainly. Ye Ranran, who had been chatting with an aunt nearby, turned her head at the question. She stared at the Scalefish on the screen, which was propelling itself forward by releasing water waves from its wing-like side fins, and her heart sank. She jumped up in alarm. "Ah-Sang, we¡¯re in trouble!" While her third uncle was gunning for an individual first-place win, this was still a team relay. If the competing pet wasn''t at the relay point to pass the band, the results wouldn¡¯t count. Qiao Sang had nothing to worry about since she was the last runner, but Ye Ranran scrambled frantically. --- Pingxiang Street The starting point of the first leg of the race was also the handoff point for the third leg of the course. After placing Little Treasure on the track, Qiao Sang held Yabao in her arms, waiting on the sidelines. Many people around them pointed and laughed at Little Treasure. Ordinary folks knew ghost-type pets existed, but they didn¡¯t fully understand what they signified in the world of beast trainers. Ignorance can bring fearlessness; not knowing, they didn¡¯t feel afraid. To them, Little Treasure was just a pet that could float a few meters above the ground but couldn''t reach the Cloud Path, which hovered tens of meters in the air. Little Treasure looked up at the pets racing high above on the Cloud Path, clenched his tiny fists, and his small grey face turned bright red. "Yap?" Yabao pointed at Little Treasure and let out a puzzled sound. "He¡¯s probably trying to figure out how to move faster." Qiao Sang said uncertainly. Though honestly, it looked more like he was straining to use the bathroom, she quickly dismissed that idea. Ghost-type pets didn¡¯t need to relieve themselves. Their bodies were like bottomless pits, some ghost-types could devour anything. Emotions, life force, dreams, everything could be absorbed and converted into energy. Experts had noted that the higher-level ghost-types were, the more sinister they became because their evolution was often based on devouring things, and not just energy. --- After what seemed like forever, a blue-and-white pet sped in like a gust of wind. The Wind Eagle, known for its incredible speed, was the sixth to reach the final handoff point. With a swift motion, it handed the relay band to Little Treasure Qiao Sang¡¯s mission was successfully completed. She pulled out her phone, ready to call Ye Ranran, when suddenly a commotion broke out among the crowd. "What was that?!" "Why did that ghost-type pet just teleport?" "Isn¡¯t that a flying-type move?" "Am I hallucinating from heat stroke?" "Whose pet is that?" "Maybe it went invisible and floated forward before reappearing?" "If you can float that fast, show me! I¡¯ll call you boss right now!" "What¡¯s wrong with you? If I could float like that, you¡¯d be calling for help!" "..." Hearing the noise, Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment. A ghost-type pet? As far as she knew, the only ghost-type pet in the entire marathon was her own Little Treasure. She put down her phone and looked toward the track. Little Treasure was no longer in his original spot. Now, he stood several meters ahead, fists clenched, face still bright red like he was straining. Then, in the next instant, Little Treasure suddenly vanished and reappeared three meters away. Qiao Sang: !!! Was that teleportation?! Qiao Sang was completely thrown. Could Little Treasure teleport? No way! She had checked the beast codex last night and nothing had changed. After absorbing the Dark Energy Essence, the only thing that increased was the stat points, with 40 added to his overall level and 60 points to his Cursed Body trait Qiao Sang watched Little Treasure teleporting as he clenched his fists, and her mind was in a daze. Had learning new skills become this easy? Chapter 103: It Seems to Have Worked... Having a pet beast learn a skill is crucial, both for competitions and in daily life, as it can make a significant difference.Learning just one more skill can open up many future opportunities. For instance, if a water-type pet beast learns Air Bubble, it can envelop a person in a bubble and dive underwater, allowing them to enjoy the underwater scenery up close without any equipment. Its beast master could then work as an underwater photographer, safety officer, or even an archaeologist. Take the Gumu region, known as the Water World, where the provincial capital, Youshi, is crisscrossed by waterways. Aside from boats, you¡¯d rarely see any other means of transportation. The reason Gumu is called the Water World is because the waterways beneath its nine cities are all interconnected. Beneath these waterways lies a world-famous underwater city, filled with ancient ruins. After extensive construction over the years, the underwater structures have spread throughout the region, becoming a must-visit spot for travel bloggers from around the world. There, water-type pet beasts capable of using Air Bubble are a mandatory requirement for jobs with the local underwater management bureau. Besides Air Bubble, the ability to summon rain is a necessary skill for the meteorological bureau, and water cannons are essential for firefighters. A beast master with an otherwise mediocre talent might live comfortably for the rest of their life if their pet beast manages to learn a rare skill. While everyone else was racking their brains trying to teach their pets new skills, Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts somehow learned new ones on their own. First, it was Yabao. Now, it¡¯s her Little Treasure. Qiao Sang was momentarily dazed, and a sudden thought flashed through her mind. Who started the rumor that skills were hard to learn? Little Treasure, holding in a deep breath, clenched his fists and tried to teleport. However, after six attempts, he was still on the same street. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure glanced behind himself, feeling that his sluggish speed might be due to not releasing the gas he was holding in. He straightened his head, clenched his fists tighter, and strained harder, his face turning even redder. ¡°Ah-Sang, is that... teleportation?¡± A shaky voice sounded beside her. Qiao Sang turned her head to see Ye Ranran standing there, frozen like a block of wood, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. She looks so silly¡­ S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts, completely forgetting she had the same expression just a moment ago. ¡°I think so.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost is a ghost-type pet, right?¡± Ye Ranran¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°You¡¯re not mistaken.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Then...¡± Ye Ranran began to mumble. Before she could finish, Qiao Sang cut in, ¡°It¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Ye Ranran was stunned. It took her a long time to find her voice. ¡°How much did you pay?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t pay anything. I used a pet beast exchange coupon I won from the Bai Xin Competition.¡± Qiao Sang said. Ye Ranran: !!! The shock this revelation brought Ye Ranran was even greater than when she learned Qiao Sang had won five million in prize money. ¡°Where¡¯s Uncle San and the others?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Ye Ranran didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, she stared at Qiao Sang with a look of resentment and said, ¡°I¡¯m officially depressed.¡± Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°You know me, I don¡¯t usually show off, but I really didn¡¯t expect the Treasure-Seeking Ghost to suddenly learn teleportation.¡± There was no need to hide a pet beast¡¯s talents. With the Beast Master Codex in place, there was no worry about someone stealing a contracted pet beast. Ye Ranran: ¡­! Was that intentional? That had to be intentional! Although Little Treasure had learned teleportation, he was still young. His internal energy wasn¡¯t enough to support multiple teleports, and his stamina was far from adequate. He didn¡¯t reach the finish line within the designated time. However, there were 23 other pet beasts in the same fourth-tier group that didn¡¯t make it either, so he wasn¡¯t too embarrassing. On the way back, Qiao Sang cheerfully carried Yabao, humming a few tunes. Little Treasure wasn¡¯t upset about losing either. He lay on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, leisurely sipping milk, clearly not as competitive as Yabao. As the family walked back, laughing and chatting, only Uncle San remained silent as usual. The reason was simple: His hope, the Roaring Swamp Crocodile, lost by just 9 seconds to a Lightning Otter, taking second place. ¡°Dad, second place is pretty good! You can get reimbursed for six months of expenses at the Beast Master Center in Qitang, and you can take both the Roaring Swamp Crocodile and the Scale Fish for a checkup.¡± Ye Jingwen comforted him. ¡°Yeah, Uncle San, I think the second-place prize is even more practical than first place.¡± Qiao Sang chimed in with a smile. Uncle San forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Getting second place isn¡¯t bad. You and Ranran did well.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard at all.¡± Qiao Sang grinned. She had thought they¡¯d just be there to make up the numbers, but with Little Treasure learning a new skill, the effort was totally worth it! Qiao Sang was in a great mood the entire way back, but the moment they arrived home, her smile vanished. ¡°Hmm? Where¡¯s the bike I rode out on this morning?¡± Aunt San asked, staring at the empty spot where it was usually parked. Qiao Sang: !!! Nighttime. 7:28 PM. Liugan Creek. Qiao Sang helplessly watched Yabao, which had already begun channeling his internal energy. Today, after a long marathon and then biking all the way back, he should have been resting. But Yabao was too determined, insisting on practicing his Energy Ball. Pet beasts needed to train, and as a beast master, she couldn¡¯t very well say anything discouraging. And so, here they were, at Liugan Creek, late at night. Qiao Sang found a spot to sit cross-legged on the ground, resting her chin in her hand as she watched her Yabao, which was already forming an Energy Ball. Was it just her imagination, or did the Energy Ball seem a bit bigger this time? Qiao Sang wondered as she watched the ball. Would they manage to blow up a fish tonight? The Energy Ball kept rising. 1, 2, 3... 6 meters, and still going. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise, sitting up straighter as she watched the Energy Ball ascend higher and higher. How come he wasn¡¯t losing control yet? At this height, it looked like it had already reached the level for the Meteor Rain standard. The red Energy Ball continued to rise until it reached a height of about 23 meters. This time, the Energy Ball didn¡¯t lose control or explode on its own. Instead, it hovered in the air for two seconds before shattering. Three bursts of red flames descended through the silent night sky, like crimson meteors falling and lighting up the darkness. Boom! Boom! Boom! Scarlet embers hit the ground one after another, erupting with loud bangs. Dust flew, and the fiery red sparks bloomed like eerie flowers. One of the flames landed not far in front of Qiao Sang, illuminating her wide-open mouth, dilated pupils, and almost-dropping jaw. Qiao Sang felt her mind go blank. The Meteor Rain... It seemed to have worked... ----- ----- Chapter 104: Ultimate Skill "Yap!"Yabao excitedly ran over, stopping in front of his Beastmaster, gesturing enthusiastically with his paw, pointing at the sky and the direction where the red flames had fallen. "Yap-yap!" "Yap!" Qiao Sang was still in a daze, while Little Treasure floated over to Yabao, full of admiration. "Xun!" "Xun-xun!" "Yap~" Yabao couldn''t control his grin. He raised his right front paw, gesturing modestly as if to say it''s nothing, but his bright black eyes were gleaming with anticipation as he looked at Little Treasure. Little Treasure clearly understood what Yabao really wanted and praised him even more. "Xun-xun!" "Xun!" After a while, Qiao Sang''s brain finally started functioning again, spinning rapidly. Why did it succeed? Logically, there¡¯s no way he should have learned it so quickly. The speed at which he picked up the skill seemed completely unscientific. Of course, successfully casting a skill once doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s mastered. It could have been triggered by some fleeting moment of luck, and it¡¯s very likely that it won¡¯t succeed again soon. But for Yabao, that¡¯s not the case. With the help of her golden finger, he can successfully cast any skill he executed once, 100% of the time. But what was the trigger for this time? Relying solely on innate talent doesn¡¯t seem to explain it, this is a high-level skill, after all. There must be another reason. Qiao Sang thought back on the day''s events. Other than running a marathon, Yabao hadn''t done much else. Could it be that physical training made it more attuned to its internal energy? Or did the activation of its Blaze trait unleash some hidden potential? It¡¯s not impossible, after all, a boost in one aspect of a pet beast''s abilities can affect other aspects too. For example, after gaining weight from eating well, a beast might find it easier to train for a skill like Mountain Press. But even if training physical strength triggered the Blaze trait, learning Meteor Rain still feels a bit implausible. Suddenly, Qiao Sang thought of something and opened the Beast Codex. Level: Beginner (935/1000) + [Primary Trait: Blaze Level: D (2/500), Status: (difficult to use), Description: (When health falls below 1/4, potential is triggered, fire skills increase by 2x, speed increases by 2x)] Skills: Bite (Entry-level 74/100) +, Charge (Mastery 498/500) +, Fire Fang (Proficient 694/2000) +, Ember (Ultimate 10786/20000) +, Shadow Clone (Proficient 1271/2000) +, Fire Whirl (Mastery 220/500) +, Flame Charge (Mastery 165/500) +, Meteor Rain (Beginner-level 1/100) Points: 786 Sometimes, things that don¡¯t make sense become clear when you look at the data. For the past two weeks, Yabao had been focusing on practicing the Ember skill. With the help of F-grade energy recovery liquid, Yabao could practice Ember 640 times a day. Just the day before yesterday, he had mastered Ember to the Ultimate level. Skill proficiency is divided into six stages: Beginner-level, Mastery, Proficient, Advanced, Perfect, and Ultimate. Ultimate is the highest level of skill proficiency. Looking at the data in the Beast Codex, Qiao Sang''s thoughts became clearer. Yabao had already mastered a fire skill to the Ultimate level, meaning it had reached a very high level of control over fire energy. Add to that the recent activation of Blaze, and it all made sense why Meteor Rain was successfully cast. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s no wonder there are no examples of low-level pet beasts learning high-level skills. After all, pet beasts have limited energy. At the beginner stage, no Beastmaster would think of training a pet to master a skill to the Ultimate level. That¡¯s the Ultimate level! Even for basic skills, it would take years to reach that level. It¡¯s much more practical to let the pet evolve early and focus on higher-level skills. The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more she felt her analysis was on point. She looked up at the status again. Level: Beginner (935/1000) + Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Yabao had been wearing an E-grade Fire Condensing Orb lately, which increased its points by 7 per day. It was at 905 points last night, so how had it gained 30 points in one day? Was it because of Blaze? But this wasn¡¯t the time to think about that! Qiao Sang exited the Beast Codex and quickly squatted down to remove the Fire Condensing Orb from Yabao''s neck. That scared her! She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the steady daily increase in points before, but now that it had jumped by 30 in a day, she realized there was a problem. At this rate, she wouldn¡¯t even need to use her golden finger to add points¡ªYabao would evolve on his own in about 10 days! When she became a Beastmaster, she never dreamed she¡¯d one day worry about her pet evolving too quickly. "Yap?" Yabao, still basking in the glow of compliments, snapped out of it and looked at his Beastmaster in confusion. "That string doesn''t suit you anymore. Let me find a nicer one to replace it." Qiao Sang said seriously. "Yap." Yabao looked at the black cord around his neck and nodded in agreement. Now that he had mastered Meteor Rain, he deserved better equipment. Little Treasure, standing to the side, glanced at his Beastmaster, then quietly stepped back, flipping his own Prayer Beads necklace to hide it behind his back, fearing he might be targeted next. --- Over the next few days, Yabao practiced his Ember skill by the river, occasionally running laps with his long-forgotten weight bands to train his stamina. Yabao had wanted to train after being provoked by Thunder Swiftbird, and now he was training his stamina after the marathon. As for Meteor Rain training, that was put on hold for now. The day after Meteor Rain was mastered, Qiao Sang ran a similar test. Unlike other skills, Yabao¡¯s clones couldn¡¯t cast Meteor Rain. After some trial and error, they discovered that for now, only Yabao¡¯s main body could cast Meteor Rain, and his current limit was three times. Moreover, the red flames produced by the exploding energy balls were still few in number, as Qiao Sang had guessed earlier, the current energy level wasn¡¯t enough to create a true storm yet. But that was just a matter of accumulating energy; it would happen eventually. Qiao Sang told Yabao not to rush, but she herself doubled the time spent practicing spirit patterns on Little Treasure each day. sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She couldn¡¯t help it, her two pet beasts were so talented, learning new skills as if it were child¡¯s play. If she didn¡¯t work harder, she¡¯d feel too embarrassed. By the evening of July 30th, after finishing training and returning to the room, Yabao, as usual, watched a battle match. Little Treasure blinked his eyes at the bedside. "You¡¯re teleporting, right? If you keep clenching your fists and holding your breath before every move, the fast opponents will reach you first." Qiao Sang lectured patiently. "Xun." "Xun-xun." Little Treasure pointed at his rear. Qiao Sang sighed, "How many times do I have to tell you? You can¡¯t pass gas." Chapter 105: Training Camp Little Treasure was different from Yabao. Yabai cared about getting stronger and unconditionally trusted her when it came to training.Little Treasure, on the other hand, had a stronger desire to explore new and strange things. His curiosity was intense, whenever he encountered an insect or bird back in Liuganxi, he would always follow closely to observe. Even when they first brought a fish to Third Aunt''s house, he insisted on following into the kitchen to see how it was cooked. Although Little Treasure hadn¡¯t officially started training yet, his unique approach to correcting his teleportation techniques showed he had his own ideas. He wouldn''t give up until he farted. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure pointed at his rear and then at the door outside. ¡°I know you want to teleport farther, but farting won¡¯t help you get there. You need to use your mind.¡± Qiao Sang emphasized the word mind as she spoke. Little Treasure seemed to understand, but then turned his head to glance at his rear. ¡°Xun?¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Since you¡¯re a ghost-type creature, your species doesn¡¯t fart. For example, Yabao was born able to breathe fire, but he can¡¯t float like you. You were born able to float, but you can¡¯t breathe fire like Yabao.¡± ¡°That prickly seahorse you saw in the water that can fart? It can¡¯t float in the air like you, and you can¡¯t live in water like it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all different¡ªthat¡¯s just how we¡¯re born.¡± Qiao Sang explained. She had gone over this several times before, even going so far as to research ghost-type pet anatomy online and read it aloud to Little Treasure. But since the little ghost was still young, he couldn¡¯t fully grasp complex explanations, so she had to simplify it. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure suddenly seemed enlightened. Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief¡ªfinally, he understood... ¡°Now, before teleporting, don¡¯t make those movements. You need to break that habit.¡± Qiao Sang advised while the opportunity was there. Teleportation relied on extrasensory perception, it happened in an instant. If you make those movements beforehand, it won¡¯t matter during regular practice, but in a competition, it would be a major flaw. Little Treasure blinked and said nothing. He simply disappeared from the side of the bed and reappeared on the ceiling. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure called from the ceiling, and the next second, he was back by the bed. ¡°Xun.¡± Qiao Sang: ...! So, you could do it all along! All those times you clenched your fists and held your breath¡ªit was just you wanting to fart, wasn¡¯t it? Qiao Sang was silent for a moment, resisting the urge to make a snarky comment. ¡°Very good, just like that.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure looked innocently at his Beastmaster. Seeing his expression, Qiao Sang suddenly had the urge to draw spirit patterns on his face. Even if it didn¡¯t work, she just wanted to practice. She was about to pull out the materials when her phone, which she had tossed aside, suddenly rang. Since she was still waiting for the 5 million prize notification, she had set the volume to max. The ringtone drowned out the TV in an instant. Qiao Sang glanced at the screen, answered the call, and before she could speak, her mother¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Pack your things and come back tomorrow. Your school just called me.¡± Qiao Sang paused and asked, ¡°Which school?¡± ¡°What other school? Shengshui High School. They said you were specially selected for the Advanced Beastmaster Class.¡± Her mother said, beaming with pride. ¡°It¡¯s the honors class, and you need to report tomorrow. All the students in that class have to attend training camp.¡± After finally finishing the high school entrance exams and enjoying two months of vacation, waking up naturally every day, now only halfway through the break, she received the dreadful news about training camp. Qiao Sang felt conflicted. On the one hand, she was happy to be chosen for the honors class, but on the other, memories of being ruled by alarm clocks resurfaced... ¡°Hey, did you hear me?¡± Her mother asked when the other end of the line went silent. ¡°I heard you. Does the training camp require staying at school?¡± Qiao Sang quickly accepted reality. ¡°It probably does. I didn¡¯t ask. Just head over tomorrow and report in. If you need to stay on campus, give me a call, and I¡¯ll bring anything you need.¡± her mother replied. ¡°Okay,¡± Qiao Sang agreed. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve already informed your Third Aunt, but make sure you explain it again in person to your Third Aunt and Grandma. Make sure you clearly state why you¡¯re leaving.¡± Her mother added. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Alright.¡± Her mother¡¯s intentions couldn¡¯t be more obvious. After hanging up, Qiao Sang lost all motivation to practice spirit patterns. She had plenty of time to practice later; right now, she should enjoy the last few hours of her vacation! ¡°Let¡¯s go watch TV!¡± Qiao Sang said, walking toward Yabao. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure chirped happily and followed behind. --- The next morning, the alarm rang, something Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t heard in a long time, and she reluctantly got up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and noticed that Yabai and Little Treasure were already drinking milk. Ah, to be young... and carefree. (Ah, yes, indeed.) After washing up and packing her things, it was only 7:52 AM. In the main house, where they usually had breakfast, Third Aunt was continuously bringing food from the kitchen. ¡°Why up so early today?¡± Third Aunt smiled at Qiao Sang. ¡°Just the other day, you were sleeping until after nine.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at the unusually lavish breakfast and said, ¡°Third Aunt, don¡¯t tease me. You clearly knew already and made all this delicious food early just for me.¡± ¡°Your mom already called me. Honors class, at Shengshui High, quite impressive.¡± Third Aunt marveled. ¡°I just found out too.¡± Qiao Sang replied, sitting down. ¡°Has Uncle gotten up yet?¡± ¡°No, still asleep. They¡¯re all lazy,¡± Third Aunt said. Qiao Sang: ... It seemed like she used to be the last one up... After breakfast, everyone else was still in their rooms, so Qiao Sang had Third Aunt say goodbye on her behalf as she headed to the train station. --- Hanggang City''s train station was close to Shengshui High, which was why Ye Xiangting suggested her daughter report in first. Since it was still summer vacation, there weren¡¯t many people around Shengshui High. Last time, as a visitor, Qiao Sang had entered through the north gate. This time, she could walk through the south gate. Standing at the south gate, she looked up at the towering doors, over a hundred meters wide and tens of meters tall, along with the imposing school plaque above. The school gate was a key symbol of any institution, and Shengshui High, as the top beastmaster school in Hanggang, certainly lived up to its reputation. The gate was tightly closed, but there was a guardhouse on one side, with a guard stationed inside. Qiao Sang walked over and spoke through the window, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m here to report. Could you let me in?¡± The security guard looked up, stunned for a moment when he saw a Fire Fang Dog in her arms and the little Treasure-Seeking ghost perched on her head. ¡°Report? Are you in your second or third year? I don¡¯t recall seeing you before.¡± the guard asked hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯m a new student this year. The school notified me yesterday to report today.¡± Qiao Sang answered. The security guard froze for a moment, his eyes widening. A new student?! Chapter 106: Spatial Movement A freshman who has contracted two pet beasts?! And one of them is a fire-type while the other is a ghost-type?!The security guard couldn''t help but doubt if he had heard wrong. However, today was indeed the day for the new recruits of the Elite/Honor Beastmaster Class to report for training. Feeling a bit dazed, the security guard, also a beastmaster, albeit a low-ranking one¡ªhad graduated from a proper beastmaster high school. Yet, in all his years, he had never seen a high school freshman with two contracted pet beasts. Though he had seen it on the news¡­ Steadying himself, the security guard reminded himself that as a guard at the top beastmaster school in the city, he should not act so surprised. "Please show me your information card." Qiao Sang handed over her card. The guard carefully examined the screen, double-checking the information. No delayed enrollment, no repeating grades, she was a current middle school graduate, having just turned fifteen. This girl was an absolute prodigy. If there were no unexpected circumstances, her future would undoubtedly be bright. The guard slowed down his registration process and enthusiastically said, "Qiao Sang, what a nice name you have." "Thank you." Qiao Sang scratched her head. "Really, it''s a great name. I register a lot of names every day, but yours really stands out." Qiao Sang felt a bit shy. She¡¯d been complimented on her looks, and lately, people had praised her talent, but no one had ever sincerely complimented her name before. "My grandmother also had the single name Sang, no wonder I felt a sense of closeness as soon as I saw you." Qiao Sang: ... Realizing that he might have said something inappropriate, the guard awkwardly chuckled. "You''re here for the training, right? Let me make a quick call and have Teacher Xian come and get you." Having a teacher personally pick her up? That was quite the treatment! Before Qiao Sang could even think to refuse, the guard had already made the call. "Hello, this is the South Gate security office. We have a freshman here named Qiao Sang, reporting for training. Could you please send someone to pick her up?" That was quick¡­ It seemed like the number was saved at the top of the contact list¡­ "Xun." Little Treasure on her head suddenly sensed something and looked toward a particular direction, confused. There, in the distance, the air seemed to warp slightly. In the next second, a pet beast with loose skin, wrinkles, grayish-pink fur, a white belly, and large, bat-like ears appeared out of nowhere. In its claws, it held several pieces of paper. Qiao Sang was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the beast. It looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn''t recall its name, though she was sure it was a psychic-type beast. Her heart skipped a beat. This beast seemed to have used spatial movement, not just teleportation. Teleportation is a skill that allows a beast to instantly move from one place to another. It can be countered by simply enclosing the space. Sea??h the novelF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In other words, if you lock a pet beast in a room, it can only teleport within that room. Spatial movement, however, bypasses three-dimensional space, allowing the user to move to entirely different coordinates. The difference between these two skills is significant. The beastmaster alliance categorized teleportation as a mid-tier skill, while spatial movement was classified as a high-tier skill. "Yap!" Yabao bared his sharp teeth in a defensive stance upon seeing the sudden arrival of the new beast. The large-eared pet beast paid no attention to Yabao. It briefly scanned Qiao Sang, then started flipping through the papers it was holding with its claws. After a few pages, it stopped, looked at the paper in its claw, and then back at Qiao Sang, seemingly confirming something. "Teacher Xian, this is Qiao Sang." The security guard reminded her. Qiao Sang was stunned. So, Teacher Xian was the pet beast? Come to think of it, having pet beasts serve as teachers wasn''t unheard of in the beastmaster society. However, such pet beasts typically only taught other pet beasts. These pet beasts usually served as teachers because their own beastmasters held positions in the school. "Xian." Teacher Xian nodded. Holding the paper in its left claw, it waved its right claw. Suddenly, Qiao Sang''s vision went black, and she felt dizzy. When her sight returned, she found herself in an office-like room. Qiao Sang was shocked. This Teacher Xian could not only perform spatial movement but could also take a person with it! The skill proficiency must be near perfection! Achieving this level of mastery for a high-tier skill without any special advantages was something that most ordinary pet beasts couldn''t accomplish. "Qiao Sang, long time no see." A deep male voice greeted her from the side. Qiao Sang turned her head to see a middle-aged man with meticulously groomed hair sitting behind a desk, with Teacher Xian standing beside him. In front of the man sat a boy whom she had once taken the special recruitment exam with. "Good day, Vice Principal." Qiao Sang quickly greeted him. She immediately recognized the man. Her memory had become much sharper since awakening her Beastmaster Codex, and she seldom forgot people or things she had seen. More importantly, this vice principal was the first A-rank breeder she had ever met and had once given her guidance. Liu Yao looked at Qiao Sang for a moment before his eyes suddenly lit up. He straightened his posture and leaned forward, squinting slightly. "Qiao Sang, is this Treasure-Seeking Ghost yours?" "Yes, it''s my second pet beast." "What the¡ª!" Before Liu Yao could process this information, the boy in front of him let out an exclamation. "Lu Liangye, mind your language." Liu Yao said with a glance. Immediately, Lu Liangye zipped his lips with a hand gesture, embarrassed at letting such words slip in front of the vice principal. The news was too shocking, it had caused him to blurt out in excitement. Liu Yao rose from his seat, his eyes scrutinizing the Treasure-Seeking Ghost for a moment before shifting his attention to the Fire Fang Dog. The Fire Fang Dog had been curiously looking around, surprised by the sudden change of scenery. But as soon as he felt someone staring at him, he lifted his chin and flashed his sharp teeth in a handsome display. The more Liu Yao looked, the more incredulous he felt. Just as he was about to say something, he remembered that another student was still in the room. He sat back down and said, "I was just discussing something with Lu Liangye. Since you''re here, you can listen as well." Qiao Sang nodded. "This training involves only twelve of you. Not all Elite Class students will be participating. The reason you were selected isn¡¯t because of your outstanding test scores. You should be aware that your entrance exam scores barely exceeded the cutoff." Qiao Sang and Lu Liangye exchanged a glance. So this girl¡¯s academic scores weren¡¯t that high either? Lu Liangye immediately felt better. "But that¡¯s not important. This training isn''t to make up for academic deficiencies. Our goal is to form a team capable of defeating the Litan Beastmaster High School team." Liu Yao continued. ----- ----- Chapter 107: Signs of Evolution (Additional updates cause tomorrow''s my first day of class.)????Litan Beastmaster High School is the top beastmaster high school in Zhehai Province, with a rich educational background and a school name that has been changed countless times. When talking about this school, it''s not just the graduation rate that stands out, but also the various competitions the students participate in during their time there. Whether it''s academic or martial, group or individual, they have won places in national and even international High school competitions. Sometimes, when they win provincial competitions, they don''t even bother to post a notice on the school website. However, while there are many competitions, they always announce the results of individual or team combat competitions at the provincial level. After all, combat competitions have always been the most popular. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t too surprised when she heard this. As the second-best high school in the province, Shengshui High School naturally sets Litan Beastmaster High School, the top high school, as its target. She figured they probably hold these types of freshman training sessions every year, likely saying the same things each time. The goal is simply to elevate the students'' attitudes toward learning and ignite their enthusiasm for training. The second-place school never accepts being second to the top. Those who make it into Shengshui High School often feel they could have made it into Litan Beastmaster High School as well. The scores for getting into both schools aren¡¯t that different, but since students are from different cities, they only have one option. However, once they enter high school, the gap starts to show. Litan Beastmaster High School is always slightly ahead of Shengshui High School. This has caused Shengshui students, especially the freshmen, to be very dissatisfied with Litan Beastmaster High School students. Qiao Sang glanced at Lu Liangye out of the corner of her eye, only to see him clenching his fists, his face full of excitement. As expected, another one fired up by the speech... Qiao Sang, however, didn¡¯t feel much about it. Given her mental age, school rankings didn¡¯t concern her much. High school is just a transitional stage, college is what really matters. As for competitions, she wasn¡¯t worried at all. Her Yabao was about to evolve, his Ember skill had reached mastery, and he had even learned the Meteor Rain skill. She had absolute confidence she could crush her peers. If it weren¡¯t for the school¡¯s arrangements, she¡¯d think she didn¡¯t even need this training to beat Litan. If the vice-principal thought a few words could ignite her passion for the training, he would only be disappointed. "You all know Litan Beastmaster High School is the top high school. Their school team even placed third in the national middle school beastmaster competition. But you were all chosen by the school based on various factors, and I believe that with training, you won¡¯t lose to Litan¡¯s team." Said Liu Yao calmly. "The reason you were chosen was not only because of your contracted beasts and your combat skills but, most importantly, your academic scores." Qiao Sang was taken aback. What did academic scores have to do with this? "If your academic scores are low, there¡¯s no chance of getting into a top university. But if, within the next three years, you defeat Litan and win first place in the provincial competition, and then pass the D-rank beastmaster qualification exam¡­¡± "At that time, for the college entrance exam, all you need is to reach the separate admission line for the beastmaster combat program, which is typically 160 points. This year¡¯s score was also 160." Liu Yao continued. "160 points?!" Qiao Sang and Lu Liangye''s eyes widened instantly. Although Qiao Sang didn¡¯t aim for second-tier schools, she was still shocked by the score. After all, the full score for the college entrance exam is 750 points! Liu Yao was pleased with their reactions. "Of course, we expect more from you than just second-tier schools. If you meet the two conditions I mentioned, first-tier schools and top universities also have special tests. Pass them, and you can skip the college entrance exam altogether." Qiao Sang: !!! For someone who had endured the hellish college entrance exam once, this sentence hit her right in the heart. "Vice-principal, when does the training start?" Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Don¡¯t rush, it starts tomorrow. You¡¯ll be taught by two teachers, and they¡¯ll group you based on your performance. The teachers will explain more tomorrow, and I¡¯ll also give you specific guidance on how to nurture your contracted beasts." sea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. A training plan personally created by an A-rank Breeder! Forget about the college entrance exam, just this training was worth it! "One thing to remember: You¡¯re not irreplaceable. If you don¡¯t perform well, other students may take your spot at any time. I hope you cherish this opportunity and train hard." Liu Yao added. "Don¡¯t worry, Vice-principal, we will work hard!" Qiao Sang had now fully embraced the enthusiasm for the training. Liu Yao nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Lu Liangye, you may leave now." Lu Liangye was baffled. Why was he being sent out? And what about Qiao Sang? "Vice-principal, I¡¯ll work hard too." "Yes, I know. I still have something to discuss with Qiao Sang. You may leave." What couldn¡¯t be said in front of him? "Alright." Lu Liangye stood up and politely closed the door behind him. As soon as Lu Liangye left, Liu Yao eagerly walked up to Qiao Sang and stared at her Fire Fang Dog with bright eyes. "Your Fire Fang Dog is vastly different from a month ago. Its jaws are short but strong, its teeth are sharp, and its fur is shinier. It looks like it¡¯s about to evolve." Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. As expected of an A-rank Breeder, he could even tell that. "Is he really about to evolve?" Qiao Sang asked, pretending to be excited. "Yes, and your Fire Fang Dog looks energetic, with clear eyes, showing no signs of being artificially enhanced by medication. You¡¯ve raised him well." Liu Yao praised. He paused, then added, "This Fire Fang Dog has extraordinary talent. When he¡¯s about to evolve, I suggest you use an A-rank Fire-type Evolution Stone, or if possible, an S-rank one." Fire Fang Dogs don¡¯t evolve naturally. To evolve into a Blaze Dog, it must use a Fire-type Evolution Stone. Qiao Sang had researched signs of evolution. Different contracted beasts exhibit various behaviors before evolving. For example, Cotton Bug''s cocoon themselves, while Sand Foxes experience sudden tail pain. As for Fire Fang Dogs, they have an inexplicable urge to bite things. At that time, you¡¯d have to get it something to chew on, or else who knows what it might destroy. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, "Is it possible for Yabao to evolve without using an Evolution Stone?" Liu Yao hadn¡¯t expected that question. After a brief pause, he answered, "It¡¯s not unheard of, but usually, other resources are used instead, which aren¡¯t any less valuable than an Evolution Stone." Before Qiao Sang could say anything, Liu Yao hastily added, "If you have any concerns, feel free to come to me. You and your Fire Fang Dog are very talented, and I wouldn¡¯t want you to be held back by resources or other issues." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes brightened, and she asked, "Really?" Liu Yao solemnly replied, "If there are difficulties, I will help you. You¡¯re a talented student, and your only focus should be on studying and training. Your talent shouldn¡¯t be wasted." Many talented novice beastmasters had faded into obscurity due to a lack of money and resources. Though he wasn¡¯t a philanthropist, this student¡¯s talent was remarkable. In just one month, she had contracted two beasts through the Beastmaster Codex, and the Fire Fang Dog she contracted also had rare talent, growing at an astonishing rate. This sparked a desire to nurture her. Most importantly, with her in the team, this year there might be a real chance of defeating Litan Beastmaster High School. If that happened, he could fulfill his old friend''s request and return to the research institute to focus on his work. Liu Yao gave Qiao Sang an encouraging look, signaling her to boldly express her needs. Excitedly, Qiao Sang said, "If the training requires us to stay at school, can I apply to live off-campus? Also, can I keep my phone during school?" Liu Yao: ¡­ --- The dormitories at Shengshui High School were all suites, consisting of two bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom, luxurious by high school standards. Exhausted, Qiao Sang arrived at the dormitory complex for female students, called Qin Xiu Garden. The name clearly reflected the school¡¯s high hopes for its students. After calling her mother to explain that she would be staying in the dorms, Qiao Sang found the dormitory supervisor and got the assigned dorm keycard for room 312. On the way to the dorm, Qiao Sang was full of resentment. The vice-principal wasn¡¯t trustworthy, he¡¯d made things sound so nice, but in the end, didn¡¯t agree to either of her requests. At least she didn¡¯t have to hand over her phone during training; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know what would happen to her 5 million yuan. She reached room 312 and swiped her keycard to enter. ¡°BALL!!!¡± A high-pitched scream rang out from inside. Qiao Sang and Little Treasure immediately covered their ears. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s fur instantly stood on end as he leapt out of his beast master¡¯s arms, vigilantly staring at the culprit while assuming a combat stance. The culprit was a girl, who was now crying and hiding in the arms of another student, her face full of fear. Seeing this, Yabao closed his bared fangs, and his fur relaxed. Phew, he had thought there was an enemy. Turned out, it was just a coward. ¡°E-excuse me, senior¡­ why do you have the keycard to our dorm room?¡± The girl asked, her long, naturally curly hair flowing behind her like seaweed. ¡°I¡¯m a new student, just arrived for registration. I¡¯m staying in this dorm too.¡± Qiao Sang explained. The girl forgot her fear and stood frozen in place. A new student?! She was both excited and confused. As expected of Shengshui High School, they actually had new students who had already contracted two beasts, and¡­ She cautiously glanced at the Fire Fang Dog and the Treasure-Seeking ghost. Oh my god! Both of her future roommate''s contracted beasts were the ones she was most afraid of¡­ ¡°M-my name is Jin Feifan. I just arrived for registration today as well.¡± Jin Feifan said, forcing a smile. Even though her new roommate seemed intimidating, for the sake of their future together, she had to establish a good relationship! ¡°I¡¯m Qiao Sang. Are you here for the training camp too?¡± Qiao Sang asked while inspecting the dorm¡¯s layout. ¡°Yeah, I think everyone on campus at this time is here for the training. This is great, we can stick together.¡± Jin Feifan said, her smile a bit strained. Qiao Sang glanced at her, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It looks like you¡¯re about to cry.¡± Jin Feifan: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 108: Little Ball Pofu Jin Feifan''s forced smile froze on her face, not knowing how to respond.She had been seen through¡­ Would her roommate think she wasn¡¯t being welcoming? Qiao Sang observed Jin Feifan for a moment and said seriously, "I get it. You have slightly downturned eyebrows, which naturally gives you a worried expression. If you shave off the droopy ends and draw them more arched, it''ll look better." ¡°Really?¡± Jin Feifan blinked in surprise, then asked in a small voice. ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°But since we''re just in the first year of high school, it might be a bit early to start drawing your eyebrows. You look fine as you are¡ªquite unique, actually.¡± This roommate was just like her contracted beast, so timid. While talking, Qiao Sang glanced at the two bedrooms. One of them already had a bed made. ¡°If you want to stay in this room, I can move my stuff out.¡± Jin Feifan said nervously when she noticed her roommate looking at the room she had claimed. ¡°No need, it doesn''t matter which room I take.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The two rooms were side by side, both furnished with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a window, nothing different. Yabao stayed close to his beast master, inspecting the place they would be living in. He stared at the empty room for a moment, then ran to the living room, looking around. Still not finding what he was looking for, he ran to the bathroom, searching every corner of the dorm. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap-yap!¡± Yabao rushed to his beast master, gesturing frantically with his paws. Seeing how anxious the Fire Fang Dog looked, Jin Feifan stepped back several paces in alarm. Oh no, what¡¯s going on? It¡¯s so scary¡­ Qiao Sang looked at Yabao and said calmly, ¡°We¡¯re here to get stronger. It¡¯s perfectly normal there¡¯s no TV.¡± Yabao froze. Get stronger? In that case, watching TV wasn¡¯t so important after all. Jin Feifan was still processing. That¡¯s it? Fire-type beasts are this easy to calm down? ¡°This is a Little Ball Pofu, right?¡± Qiao Sang asked, changing the topic. Little Ball Pofu, a grass-type beast, had inherited healing skills. Qiao Sang had once considered it as her second contracted beast, but the price was far beyond her expectations. And even if she had the money, it was almost impossible to reserve one without political connections or insider access. ¡°Pofu.¡± Little Ball Pofu, which had been hiding in its beast master¡¯s arms, timidly turned its head and let out a soft sound when it heard someone mention it. It was about 20 centimeters tall, green all over, with short limbs, resembling a large round ball. Its eyes were also green, but they looked a bit red from recent crying. On its head, a white dandelion puff was growing. Little Treasure stared intently at the dandelion on its head. ¡°Yes, I call it Little Ball.¡± Jin Feifan said, smiling genuinely for the first time when talking about her contracted beast. ¡°Xuuuuun~¡± At this point, Little Treasure floated over to Little Ball Pofu, skillfully taking out a bottle of milk from his ring and handing it over. Qiao Sang blinked, a bad feeling creeping into her heart. Her Little Treasure always followed her around, and she knew that the milk it gave out was never free¡ªexcept when given to Yabao¡­ ¡°Pofu!¡± Little Ball Pofu buried its head back into its beast master¡¯s arms. ¡°L-Little Ball, take it! The treasure-seeking ghost is greeting you.¡± Jin Feifan stammered, her voice trembling. Oh my god, a ghost-type beast! And it¡¯s so close to me! ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Yap-yap.¡± Yabao spoke up on behalf of his little companion. He didn¡¯t understand. His little buddy was so well-behaved, so why were so many people afraid of it? Yabao had completely forgotten his own reaction the first time he met Little Treasure. ¡°Little Ball, hurry¡­ just take it!¡± Jin Feifan urged, on the verge of tears. Oh no, the Fire Fang Dog is also getting too close! ¡°Pofu!¡± Little Ball Pofu wailed, refusing to turn its head. Seeing both Jin Feifan and Little Ball Pofu backed into a corner, Qiao Sang suppressed a smile and said, ¡°Little Treasure, come back. You¡¯re running low on milk. If you give it all away, there won¡¯t be any left for yourself.¡± Little Treasure paused, quickly comparing the two options in his mind. Milk or dandelion¡­ Something to eat or something to play with¡­ Hmm, milk was more important. He wouldn¡¯t do to have none to drink later. Little Treasure stopped offering the milk, opened the bottle, and floated back to Qiao Sang, drinking it by himself. Jin Feifan stood frozen, speechless, as if she had been stunned by what she just witnessed. Ghost-type beasts could be this obedient too¡­ --- Qiao Sang returned to her room and shut the door. All her belongings were inside Little Treasure¡¯s ring. Since there was no need for school supplies during the training, she hadn¡¯t asked her mother to send anything over. After tidying up the room a bit, Qiao Sang lay down on the bed. Little Treasure began glowing blue and stretched out his tiny paws, attempting to use telekinesis to lift the Yabao into the air. Little Treasure, just a few days short of a full month old, wasn¡¯t strong enough yet, but one out of every five attempts could lift the Yabao¡¯s paws slightly off the ground. Whenever he succeeded, the room would fill with his excited cries. This was the benefit of having two contracted beasts, they could entertain themselves. Otherwise, without a TV, the energetic Yabao might not be able to stay cooped up in such a small room. At least this way, Qiao Sang had time to focus on other things. Lying on the bed, Qiao Sang began thinking. She still had 10 bottles of F-rank energy recovery liquid, which would be enough for 10 more days of intense skill training. But now that the location had changed, some skills would be harder to practice, like Ember and Meteor Rain. The proficiency of Ember was already at (Mastery 14,626/20,000), and with nine more days of regular practice, it would reach its peak. When a beast¡¯s skill proficiency reached the top, the associated attribute would grow significantly stronger. She was eager to see how the fire attribute within Yabao would evolve once Ember reached its peak proficiency. Sea?ch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t continue the training for now. The current power of Ember, at near-master level, was much stronger than before. Without a body of water nearby, she didn¡¯t dare let the Yabao use it. This was a public school, and even if she trained in the empty sports field late at night, she worried the flames might damage the grounds. It was much more convenient to live off-campus. She wondered how she could manage to stay off-campus during the school year¡­ Qiao Sang spent the entire night thinking about this problem. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang emerged from her room with dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re up! I bought breakfast for you.¡± Jin Feifan nervously called out from the table in the living room. Qiao Sang paused for a moment and walked over to see what she had brought. Fried buns, soup dumplings, sticky rice rolls, crab roe soup buns, mini wontons, shaomai, spring rolls, congee, tea eggs, fried dough sticks, soy milk¡­ After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did you buy all this just for the two of us?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you liked, so I bought a little bit of everything.¡± Jin Feifan explained in a small voice. Qiao Sang pulled out a chair and sat down, sighing, ¡°Thank you. But next time, don¡¯t spend so much. I¡¯m good with just one bun and a bowl of soy milk.¡± With that, she picked up a shaomai and started eating. Seeing that Qiao Sang didn¡¯t reject the food, Jin Feifan smiled happily, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°What do you want for lunch? I¡¯ll treat you,¡± Qiao Sang said after taking a sip of soy milk. ¡°Lunch?¡± Jin Feifan blinked, then hesitated, ¡°You didn¡¯t know? The school has prepared a group lunch for us.¡± Qiao Sang was confused. ¡°A group lunch?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you check the messages in the group chat?¡± Jin Feifan asked. Qiao Sang was even more confused. ¡°What group chat?¡± ¡°The one on Shengshui High School¡¯s website, where all the training camp participants were asked to join.¡± Jin Feifan replied. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Why does this conversation feel so familiar? ----- ----- Chapter 109: The Four Groups "Pull me in." Qiao Sang said.They had already added each other as friends yesterday. "Sure." Jin Feifan responded. Before long, Qiao Sang¡¯s phone chimed with a notification. After quickly finishing her siomai, Qiao Sang took out her phone to check. The group name was simple and clear: Freshmen Training Group. Including her, there were 14 people in the group. Qiao Sang recalled the vice-principal mentioning two teachers yesterday, and counting them, the number seemed to match. The group announcement listed the meeting time, location, and some important instructions. 9 a.m., Training Field No. 2. Qiao Sang checked the time¡ª7:45 a.m. There was still plenty of time. Her phone kept buzzing with messages; The group was lively even this early in the morning. After hesitating for a moment, Qiao Sang switched her phone to silent mode. She definitely needed to keep her phone with her during training, but it couldn''t be constantly ringing. Inside the group chat: Fang Qi: Everyone, update your names in the group chat so we know who¡¯s who. Peng Xiaoyuan: Oh wow, everyone¡¯s here now! Jiang Nai: Judging by the profile pic, looks like a girl joined. Wang Jihang: Everyone''s up so early. Lu You: Since Jin Feifan added this person, it¡¯s probably a guy. Fang Qi: Isn¡¯t Jin Feifan a girl? I think I saw her during the special admissions exam coordination. Jiang Nai: What kind of girl would be named Jin Feifan? Lu Liangye: She¡¯s a girl. Jiang Nai: Oh, how do you know? Lu Liangye leaned against his bed, scrolling through the group messages. How did he know? After coming out of the vice-principal¡¯s office yesterday, he checked the group list and noticed this person wasn¡¯t in it yet. Now that everyone was here, it could only be her. Lu Liangye: The new person? I saw her with the vice-principal yesterday. Jiang Nai: Who asked about the new person? We were talking about Jin Feifan. Lu Liangye: ... After checking the messages for a bit, Qiao Sang changed her group name and set the phone aside to continue eating her breakfast. "Let me treat you to dinner." Qiao Sang offered. "Okay!" Jin Feifan agreed cheerfully. Her roommate seemed like a nice person, much less intimidating than her two pets. "Why don¡¯t the people in the group even know whether you¡¯re male or female? Have you never spoken in there?" Qiao Sang asked. Jin Feifan blushed. "I¡¯m kind of shy around new people." Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. Some introverts don¡¯t interact well in person but are quite active online. But Jin Feifan seemed the same both online and offline. --- 8:55 a.m. Training Field No. 2. "Who¡¯s still missing?" A tall man with skin paler than most women leaned against the wall and asked. A woman in business attire checked her list, comparing the names with the kids who had already arrived. "Two girls are still missing: Qiao Sang and Jin Feifan." Qin Wen replied. "Why do women, regardless of age, always have no sense of time?" The man complained. Qin Wen glanced at him and said calmly, "The meeting is at 9 a.m., and it¡¯s only 8:55. If anyone lacks time management, it¡¯s probably you, Luo Qian." "But I got here early today, didn¡¯t I?" Luo Qian retorted. "Heh." Qin Wen sneered. "Out of ten meetings, you¡¯re late to eight. You didn¡¯t even show up for the special admissions self-awakening exam, and for the coordination meeting, you were nearly 40 minutes late. Do I need to go on?" "Alright, alright, you''re the boss. I just made one comment, no need to roast me." Luo Qian conceded. Sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don¡¯t call me that. You¡¯re 31, and I¡¯m 32. I can¡¯t accept being called your boss." Qin Wen said sternly. Luo Qian: ... No wonder she¡¯s still unmarried¡ªwho could put up with this temper? Poor guy, whoever he is¡­ "How about I let you pick first when we form teams later?" Luo Qian said, giving in. "Do you have any sense of responsibility? We¡¯re picking the best team to compete against Litan, not playing house. Choose properly." Qin Wen scolded. Luo Qian: ... Just then, the doors to the training field opened, and two girls stepped in. The time was 8:59 a.m. --- Qiao Sang had been full after five siomai, but seeing the table full of food made her feel wasteful, so she had eaten a bit of everything. As a result, she ended up overeating and had to run to the bathroom, delaying her arrival. When the two girls rushed to Training Field No. 2, they barely made it in time. The field was indoors. As soon as they reached the entrance, Qiao Sang heard a group of people talking inside. When they stepped in, the ten boys and girls inside all turned to look at them, and the chatter stopped abruptly. The large training field fell into an awkward silence. Qiao Sang walked straight in, quickly spotting a few familiar faces. Three were people she had seen during the special admissions exam, and one was Lu You, whom she had met during the Bai Xin competition. "Alright, everyone¡¯s here. Gather around." Qin Wen clapped her hands and called out. She looked at the two girls who had just arrived with satisfaction. They hadn¡¯t been late, which proved Luo Qian wrong. Moreover¡­ Qin Wen discreetly observed the girl with a Fire Fang Dog in her arms and a Treasure-Seeking ghost on her head. Although the vice-principal had already told her about this, seeing it in person was still astonishing. Thankfully, the vice-principal had prepared her mentally. Otherwise, her authority as a teacher might have been shattered on the first day. "Whoa! How does this girl have two pets? And look at them, Fire Fang Dog and Treasure-Seeking Ghost!" Luo Qian whispered in shock. Qin Wen ignored him. This idiot was probably too busy flirting to check the work group chat. The 12 students quickly lined up, each with their own pets by their side. Qiao Sang observed the scene. A little ball pofu, short-tailed snake, bubble fish, baby dragon, electric bat, deep fur turtle, pointed-beak sparrow, mighty duck, bubble bell, long-eared cat, and snow lynx. Including her Fire Fang Dog and Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost, no one had the same type of pet. The girl next to Qiao Sang leaned over and whispered, "Big Boss Qiao, remember me?" Qiao Sang glanced at her and nodded. "I remember, Zheng Yining." Zheng Yining beamed. "I didn¡¯t expect to see you again so soon!" "Neither did I." Qiao Sang replied. She had initially thought the students attending this training would all be battle-hardened. But after seeing their pets, she realized she had been mistaken. The little ball pofu, pointed-beak sparrow, and long-eared cat were clearly not suited for battle. If this training was meant for individual beast battles, the school would have picked stronger candidates from the freshmen. After a moment¡¯s thought, Qiao Sang considered another possibility. Could it be that these 12 students were selected from those with poor academic performance? "This is our first time meeting, though some of you may have seen us during the special admissions exam." "You 12 were handpicked by us teachers. Some of you were recommended, others were special admissions students who self-awakened, and some were selected through the coordination exams." "This training will divide you into four groups: Three in individual battle, three in team battle, three in individual coordination, and three in team coordination." "Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Qin Wen, and I¡¯ll be handling the group assignments for individual and team battles." "I¡¯m Luo Qian. You can call me Teacher Luo or Teacher Qian. I¡¯ll be responsible for individual and team coordination groups." Luo Qian said with a smile. ----- ----- Chapter 110: Energy Testing Machine It turns out that the competition includes not only battles but also coordination contests, with both individual and team categories.Qiao Sang finally understood why there were pet beasts like Little Ball Pofu, which weren''t adept at solo combat. In team battles, Little Ball Pofu could act as a healer with its recovery skills. If it had vine-like abilities, it could control the battlefield, and if it could use Leaf Blade, it could even serve as a harasser. It was definitely the best choice for team fights. Even if it didn''t participate in battles, its appearance alone made it a good fit for the coordination group. ¡°There¡¯s an important reason why you¡¯ve been chosen. Your synchronization and cooperation with your pet beasts far exceed those of other freshmen. While they¡¯re still struggling with how to bond with their beasts, you can already command yours in battle. That¡¯s your talent.¡± Qin Wen praised them loudly. ¡°Some of you might not be the best in other areas, but when it comes to nurturing pet beasts, you¡¯re the top!¡± Her words ignited a spark in everyone, and even Jin Feifan, who had been trying to blend into the background, straightened up slightly. Only Qiao Sang was left puzzled. Commanding pet beasts in battle? Wasn¡¯t forming a contract enough? Is this what makes them the best? Qin Wen noticed their reactions and shifted her tone. ¡°Let me make this clear: While you¡¯re the school¡¯s initial selection, you¡¯re not the final choice. I hope that through this training, all of you make it into the final team, rather than being replaced halfway through.¡± Qiao Sang quietly mused. Praising them and then reminding them of the difficulty of this opportunity... Classic teacher tactics. Sure enough, everyone stood even straighter. ¡°Enough talk.¡± Qin Wen said, pointing to an energy testing machine beside her. ¡°Let¡¯s test your energy levels. Line up and have your pet beasts put on the testing helmets.¡± The energy tester was different from a force tester. The latter measured strength, while the energy tester gauged the energy levels within the pet beast¡¯s body. In short, it was a high-tech product far more expensive than a force tester. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel a little uneasy about the machine. However, since it only involved wearing a helmet instead of skill-testing, she thought it shouldn''t be too big of a deal. ¡°We''re not testing this for the battle group selection, are we?¡± Zheng Yining asked quietly. ¡°It¡¯s quite possible.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Energy levels indicate a pet beast¡¯s endurance and the power of its skills, which are crucial in battle. In coordination contests, they¡¯re less relevant. ¡°Oh no! If I¡¯d known we were doing this on the first day, I would¡¯ve fed Long-Eared Cat more energy food this morning.¡± Zheng Yining panicked. Energy food takes time to digest, so if it was just consumed, the test result could be slightly off, though not by much. Qiao Sang glanced at Long-Eared Cat, elegantly licking its paws, and said, ¡°I think Long-Eared Cat is more suited for coordination contests.¡± Zheng Yining sighed, ¡°I know, but Long-Ears isn¡¯t interested in coordination contests. It only likes battles.¡± Qiao Sang blinked, looking again at Long-Eared Cat licking its paws. Looks really can be deceiving¡­ Suddenly, she turned to Jin Feifan beside her and asked, ¡°Do you have a group in mind?¡± Jin Feifan shyly replied, ¡°Both Little Ball and I want to join the coordination group.¡± ¡°Ball.¡± Little Ball Pofu echoed weakly from beside her. Qiao Sang nodded; she wasn¡¯t surprised by that. As they chatted, the line moved quickly, and soon the first person¡¯s test was complete. ¡°Wang Jihang, 2602.¡± Qin Wen announced, reading from the screen connected to the helmet. For a beginner pet beast, with energy values ranging from 1 to 10,000, this was a decent result for a newly contracted beast. Luo Qian stood nearby, taking notes. ¡°Next.¡± Qin Wen said as she reached to remove the helmet from the Bubble Bell. But Bubble Bell dodged, tilting its head. Qin Wen, surprised, tried again, but this time Bubble Bell floated upward, still wearing the helmet. ¡°Bell.¡± Bubble Bell laughed, thinking it was playing a game. ¡°Wang Jihang.¡± Qin Wen called, exasperated. ¡°Ling King, behave and take off the helmet.¡± Wang Jihang rushed forward, pleading. ¡°Bell.¡± Bubble Bell called out to its trainer, then floated in the opposite direction. Qiao Sang: ... And they expect this to follow battle commands? Fortunately, the helmet was connected by a cord, so Bubble Bell didn¡¯t float too far. The tests continued smoothly. Out of the first ten people, the highest score was 5630 from Lu You''s Little Dragon, and the lowest was 911 from Peng Xiaoyuan''s Pointed-beak sparrow. Zheng Yining returned dejectedly, holding her freshly tested Long-Eared Cat. With an energy score of 1156, she knew she wouldn¡¯t make it into the top six if the groups were based on energy levels. Especially since there was still the formidable Qiao Sang. ¡°Next.¡± Qiao Sang stepped forward. The other 11 people all turned to watch her, giving her their full attention. Especially Lu You and Lu Liangye, who had both lost to her before, stared at her intently. Rivalry among peers is natural, and Lu You had never lost to anyone after contracting Little Dragon¡ªuntil he met Qiao Sang¡­ Lu You glared at her back. After losing to her, he¡¯d watched every one of her subsequent matches in the Bai Xin Competition. He had to admit, she was much stronger in battle than him. She even managed to defeat Kong Cheng''s Scale Controller Doll with her Fire Fang Dog. But still, a part of him believed that given more time, he could beat her. After all, he had contracted a dragon-type pet beast, Little Dragon, while Qiao Sang had a Fire Fang Dog. In terms of both elemental advantages and future growth potential, he was sure he had the upper hand. He hadn¡¯t expected to see her again, but there she was, a freshman at Shengshui High School, just like him. And now she even had a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Sea?ch* The N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But still, if her Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy level was lower than Little Dragon¡¯s, he could comfort himself. He just needed time¡­ ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure eagerly floated over. He had been itching to try out the machine after watching from the back. Meanwhile, Yabao remained lost in thought in his trainer¡¯s arms. Not training today felt a bit dull... Qin Wen snapped back to attention and placed the helmet on the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s head. ¡°Qiao Sang, Treasure-Seeking Ghost, 1388.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned when she heard the number. Others might not know, but she was well aware that Little Treasure wasn¡¯t even a month old yet. His score ranked seventh among all the pet beasts tested so far. Is that too high? After reporting the score, Qin Wen reached out to remove the helmet. But Little Treasure tilted his head, avoiding her, and stared at her with wide eyes. Qin Wen: ... ¡°Qiao Sang.¡± Qin Wen called, addressing her directly. Qin Wen silently shook her head. While this girl was undeniably talented, contracting both a fire-type and a ghost-type beast was a bit ambitious. Training them to work together would take a lot of time and effort. She knew the Fire Fang Dog wouldn¡¯t be a problem, but this Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡­ ¡°Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang called. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure responded obediently, lifting his own paws to remove the helmet. Qin Wen: ...! Everyone stared in disbelief at the Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s actions, then turned, almost in unison, to look at Wang Jihang. Wang Jihang, his face flushed with embarrassment, snapped, ¡°What are you looking at me for!¡± Chapter 111: Limit Energy Value (Additional updates because I suddenly found my productive mood switch on.????)Do you really not know the reason? And you still have the nerve to ask? Although everyone was thinking this, since it was their first day meeting and they weren¡¯t familiar with each other, no one felt comfortable being too blunt, so no one responded. Only Jiang Nai, who shared a dorm with him, reluctantly said, ¡°Because you¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Wang Jihang turned his head, begrudgingly accepting the explanation. His eyes unconsciously drifted toward the Treasure-Seeking ghost hovering above Qiao Sang¡¯s head, filled with envy. A Treasure-Seeking ghost! A ghost-type pet beast that''s even harder to deal with than his own Bubble Bell! How did she manage to do it?! ¡°It¡¯s Fire Fang Dog¡¯s turn.¡± Qin Wen said with a smile as she snapped back to reality. Over the years, she¡¯d met many talented students. But someone whose mental capacity, pet training skills, and battle instincts were all so well-rounded? This was a first. Given time, she feared this one would quickly reach the standards of the junior high school team. This child was clearly born to be a professional beastmaster. Yabao stepped forward and put on the helmet. Everyone¡¯s attention immediately shifted. This made Yabao instinctively raise his head and puff out his chest, keeping a stoic expression. ¡°Qiao Sang, your Fire Fang Dog looks much cooler than last time.¡± Zheng Yining commented. ¡°He¡¯s grown up.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. The first time she saw Yabao, he looked so pitiful, smaller than the other Fire Fang Dogs. She had even imagined a whole bullying scenario in her head. Who would have thought that in just two months, the transformation would be this drastic? There was no trace of that pitiful little creature anymore. The green light on the test helmet blinked twice before settling. ¡°1¡­¡± Qin Wen stared at the numbers on the test screen, completely dumbfounded. One, ten, hundred, thousand¡­ Wait, why is there another digit?! She stared hard at the screen, counting each digit one by one. It was a simple five-digit number, clear as day, but she kept rechecking it in disbelief. One, ten, hundred, thousand... ten thousand! Ten thousand?! How could it surpass ten thousand?! Everyone knew that a beginner-level pet beast¡¯s energy value ranges between 1 and 10,000¡ªthat¡¯s textbook knowledge. But the number on the screen completely overturned everything she knew. Once a beginner-level pet beast''s energy value reaches 8,000, it can start preparing for evolution. The 10,000 mark is the limit for beginner-level pets. Most beastmasters with resources and connections wait until their pets reach the 10,000 limit before evolving them. A pet that evolves at its energy limit will have a much higher growth potential than other pets of the same level. Logically, even if Fire Fang Dog had exceptionally high talent and reached the energy limit, it should still be 10,000. How could it be 13,966?! And there were no signs of evolution or even pre-evolution... This didn¡¯t make sense... ¡°Qin Wen?¡± Luo Qian, standing beside her, couldn¡¯t help but remind her when she hadn¡¯t spoken for a while. Qin Wen snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Qiao Sang, Fire Fang Dog, 13,966.¡± This is an era where the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker. The world is vast, and strange occurrences beyond common sense happen every day. There are countless beastmasters, and every year, a few prodigies beyond normal understanding emerge. If you hide your strength and don¡¯t receive the attention and training you deserve, you¡¯ll easily fade into the background. Hanggang is just a prefecture-level city. With Qiao Sang and Fire Fang Dog¡¯s talent, they could easily venture into the vast world. ¡°What?¡± Luo Qian was stunned, thinking he misheard. He turned to look at the number on the test screen and was instantly dumbfounded. ¡°Next.¡± Qin Wen said, trying to calm herself. All the trainees present were newly minted beastmasters, and they hadn¡¯t yet learned the specific energy value ranges at each stage. But that didn¡¯t stop them from being shocked. ¡°Damn, my Deep fur Turtle hasn¡¯t even reached a fraction of that.¡± ¡°My Electric Bat hasn¡¯t either¡­¡± ¡°Besides Lu You, none of us have hit a fraction.¡± ¡°Is this Fire Fang Dog even stronger than the Little Dragon?¡± ¡°Lu You, what do you think?¡± Lu You, expressionless, said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me right now.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao jumped into his beastmaster¡¯s arms. Finding a comfortable spot, he maintained its stoic expression. It didn¡¯t understand why everyone kept staring at him, but that didn¡¯t stop him from enjoying the attention. Yabao¡¯s head tilted slightly upward. Turns out, even without sunglasses, he''s still the coolest. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know much about the energy value range of beginner-level pets, but with all the comparisons, she knew Yabao was far beyond other pets of the same tier. She was secretly thrilled. Not bad, not bad. The month she spent training during the vacation was well worth it. ¡°Jin Feifan, 1,955.¡± Qin Wen announced, then said to the still-stunned Luo Qian, ¡°You take over. I need to step out and make a call.¡± With that, she gave Qiao Sang a deep look and quickly walked out of the training ground. A few seconds later, Luo Qian snapped back to reality and looked around in confusion. ¡°Where did Teacher Qin go?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ This teacher didn¡¯t seem very reliable¡­ ¡°Teacher Qin went out to make a phone call." Someone answered. Luo Qian nodded, looked down at his notes, and asked, ¡°What was Jin Feifan¡¯s test result again?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°1,955.¡± Jin Feifan whispered. Luo Qian jotted it down, then turned to the group of energetic students and said, ¡°Since Teacher Qin isn¡¯t here, let¡¯s test your coordination abilities.¡± ¡°You should all know that coordination contests focus on elegance. The pet beast must look good, the moves must look good, and you must look good.¡± ¡°In short, you need to stimulate the audience¡¯s visual senses, evoke a heightened sensory experience¡ªone that¡¯s beautiful, stunning, not ugly or terrifying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all seen coordination contests on TV, so I won¡¯t go into detail. Those of you who were admitted as coordination specialists, step forward.¡± Along with Jin Feifan, three students stepped forward. ¡°You¡¯ve taken the exam before and have experience practicing move combinations. Show the others a demonstration.¡± Luo Qian instructed. The three glanced at each other. The girl in the middle, with long black hair and delicate features, said, ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Everyone instinctively stepped back to give her space. ¡°Meimei, stun them.¡± The long-haired girl said to her Mighty duck. Qiao Sang watched with some anticipation. Coordination contests are more about performance. Even in the final battle segment, it¡¯s mostly about how gracefully you respond to your opponent''s moves. Coordinators might not excel in battle like professional beastmasters, but when it comes to energy control, they¡¯re definitely superior. Professional beastmasters prioritize the power of their moves, wanting their pets to unleash as much force as possible. Coordinators, on the other hand, focus on how to make the sparks from move collisions more dazzling. This requires precise energy control¡ªtoo much or too little won¡¯t do. One emphasizes release, the other emphasizes restraint. S~ea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ----- ----- Chapter 112: A Promising Talent Qiao Sang''s face was filled with anticipation.This was her first time watching someone demonstrate coordination abilities in real life. Mighty Duck had a blue body, muscular limbs, and webbed feet and hands. As a dual-type combat and water beast, these attributes were fully displayed in it. "Li." Mighty Duck stepped forward and showed off its well-developed biceps on both sides. Yabao, upon seeing this, forgot to keep his poker face. His eyes lit up, and he became alert. After flexing its muscles, Mighty Duck tilted its head back and released around twenty transparent bubbles the size of ping pong balls from its mouth. Yabao''s head rose as the bubbles ascended, and as the bubbles fell, his head gradually lowered. The bubbles slowly descended, and Mighty Duck¡¯s muscles tensed. It leaped into the air, and its fists, like arrows shot from a drawn bow, swiftly attacked the bubbles that were falling at a turtle''s pace. After breaking each bubble, Mighty Duck slid to its knees, raising its hands as if waiting for something. Immediately, the transparent bubbles turned into water, pouring down on Mighty Duck, drenching it completely... "......" "Li." Not hearing any applause or cheers, Mighty Duck stood up, wiped the water off its face, and bowed to the onlookers to signal the end of its performance. "......" The second training ground fell silent. Many people, including Qiao Sang, felt like they had watched for nothing. That was it? She had been ready to applaud, only to see this? Was this supposed to be a grand coordination showcase? "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head, clearly not understanding either. "Xun." Little Treasure covered his mouth and laughed. "Alright, next." Luo Qian said. The second performer was a chubby boy, and his pet beast was a Snow Lynx. After the first performance, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have any expectations for the second one. She realized she had misunderstood, thinking she¡¯d see the kind of stunning move combinations often shown on TV. The ones who appear on TV participating in coordination competitions are professional coordinators, far beyond what new beast taming students can match. "Qiao Sang, what should I do? I¡¯m so nervous." Jin Feifan approached Qiao Sang, looking uneasy. "It¡¯s okay, you were admitted as a special coordination recruit. Just do what you did during the exam." Qiao Sang reassured her. "But Fang Qi also showcased this exact move combination during the exam, and the result looked completely different from what we just saw." Jin Feifan whispered. Qiao Sang was taken aback by this. The same move combination, but a different outcome? How could something as simple as bubbles bursting and water falling on you have a different outcome? Recalling the scene of Mighty Duck¡¯s performance, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind froze on the moment when the bubbles were released, and suddenly she had a guess. Back when Yabao fought Water Ring Carp, Water Ring Carp had also used this skill. At that time, they were outdoors, and under the sunlight, the bubbles appeared colorful and much more transparent. Now, in the indoor training ground without any special lighting, the bubbles just looked like ordinary transparent ones. Likewise, the water from the burst bubbles just looked like regular water, at best resembling shower water with nothing special about it. "Did you have your exam outdoors?" Qiao Sang asked. Although confused as to why her roommate was asking this, Jin Feifan still answered honestly, "Yes." "That explains it. Under the light, the bubbles change color. This place has no lighting, so the effect is different from what you saw during your exam." Qiao Sang explained. This issue was actually simple to understand, but since everyone was treating it as a performance, no one thought about it that deeply. If Jin Feifan hadn¡¯t mentioned the difference in the two showcases, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t have thought about it either. But Jin Feifan, about to take her turn, was too nervous, only focused on how she would perform next. Jin Feifan paused, suddenly understanding, and her eyes lit up. That was a water-type move, it had nothing to do with her grass-type! At the same time, Luo Qian, who had been secretly listening with his ears perked, also had his eyes light up. Though he kept his usual calm, smiling expression, inside he was anything but calm. The initial energy reading had shocked him. Afterward, he couldn¡¯t help but observe Fire Fang Dog closely. And what a sight! Its fur, appearance, and aura, if it were in an official coordination contest, it would definitely score over 90 points in the first round for appearance alone! Then there was its beast tamer. This girl had delicate features, red lips, and white teeth, she looked like a natural-born coordinator. As long as she didn¡¯t lose her charm as she grew, she would definitely be someone who could amaze the crowd just by showing up. If it weren¡¯t for his poor reputation, with people often misjudging him for staring at women for over three seconds, he would have already openly admired her. When he first entered this school, he also had big ambitions, but they were quickly worn down by reality. Always second place, occasionally third¡ªthat was the status of Shengshui High School in provincial-level coordination contests. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they could never win first no matter how hard they tried, why force it? Better to enjoy life more. But today, seeing Qiao Sang reignited a spark of hope in him. This new student seemed born for coordination. Her quick analysis of the light affecting perception only confirmed his belief. As long as Fire Fang Dog made it through the first round, with its energy level and attack power, it could surely defeat its opponent in the time allotted during the coordination battle. If all the opponents were knocked out, what else could there be to compare? It would definitely win! The more Luo Qian thought about it, the more he felt they had a chance to win against Litan. He had to find a way to recruit this student into the coordination team! --- Outside the second training ground. "Vice Principal, everything I said is true." Qin Wen spoke into her phone. The other end of the line was quiet for a moment before a man''s steady voice came through the speaker: "Can we rule out the possibility that the energy testing machine was faulty?" "I can guarantee the machine wasn''t broken. We had it inspected yesterday in preparation for today''s tests." Qin Wen immediately replied. Liu Yao was silent for a few seconds, then gently asked, "What do you think?" Qin Wen wasted no time in sharing what she had already prepared: "An energy level of 13,966 is what we''d expect from a sophomore. Qiao Sang has already contracted two pet beasts, and her second, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, seems to follow her commands well. Training it shouldn''t be an issue." "Her talent is exceptional. She''s far ahead of her peers. If she continues training with freshmen, it won''t fully help her grow." "I suggest we tailor her training and have her join the sophomore school team¡¯s boot camp immediately. If we do this, I''m confident she can beat Litan in the individual competition by her junior year...no, by her sophomore year." Liu Yao''s smile widened, and his tone softened, "You''re right. Tailor her training. I approve, go ahead." Qin Wen let out a sigh of relief. Luckily, the vice principal was in charge of the boot camp¡ªif it had been someone else, it might not have been this easy to arrange. Then she remembered something and added worriedly, "There¡¯s one more thing. I''m a bit concerned that Fire Fang Dog hasn¡¯t evolved despite reaching such a high energy level. If possible, could you take a look at it?" ----- ----- Chapter 113: Teacher Xian (Thank you for the donation @Kyuben on Ko-fi! I''ll be updating two more chapters as an additional.????)Inside Training Field No. 2. Little Treasure stared curiously at the Snow Lynx, which was lying on its back, spinning and continuously releasing snowflakes. The 360-degree rotation created particularly beautiful snow blossoms. "So pretty." Jin Feifan, now free of psychological pressure, finally had the mood to appreciate others'' performances. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but take two steps closer. So refreshing... In summer, an ice-type pet beast is an absolute must for home and travel... "Yap." Yabao, a little disdainful, lifted his right front paw and swatted away a snowflake that had landed on his nose. The Snow Lynx spun for about 20 seconds before stopping, and then... nothing else happened... "Xue Xue!" A chubby boy ran up, picking up the Snow Lynx anxiously. The Snow Lynx''s eyes were swirling, and it had already fainted... Luo Qian shook his head quietly. He had been present during the special coordination admissions exam. Back then, this kid had performed well. After spinning for a long time, the Snow Lynx could still stand up steadily. But now, after a month had passed, the performance was even worse than when the contract was first signed. Clearly, there had been no training during this time, just play. "Next." Luo Qian said. Jin Feifan''s body tensed, and the dandelion stalk connected to the head of the little Ball Pofu in her arms instantly stiffened. "Good luck." Qiao Sang encouraged from the side. "Xun~" Little Treasure also cheered sweetly. Ball Pofu stared blankly at the little Treasure-Seeking ghost. It hadn¡¯t expected the ghost to cheer for it. Maybe ghost-types weren¡¯t so scary after all¡­ "Mm!" Jin Feifan nodded heavily toward Qiao Sang. --- Ball Pofu stood before the crowd, its tiny, nearly invisible legs trembling violently. If its round, ball-like body weren¡¯t quivering, no one would even notice its legs shaking. Qiao Sang looked at the trembling Ball Pofu, a little worried and puzzled. With such a timid nature, how did it pass the coordination exam? Coordinators work in the spotlight, so not being stage-shy is the minimum requirement. This should''ve been considered during the special admissions exam. Ball Pofu shaking like this was clearly not up to standard. Soon, Qiao Sang understood why. Ball Pofu used its trembling legs to make its entire body shake, which in turn caused the dandelion on its head to flutter. The dandelion seeds began to drift away. Ingenious! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but silently marvel. One had to know that the dandelion on Ball Pofu''s head wouldn''t disperse unless it chose to, not even with a Level 8 wind. Clearly, Ball Pofu was making the seeds scatter on its own. But to the audience, it seemed as though the trembling body was causing the seeds to float away. If it couldn¡¯t control its body, why not make use of it? In an instant, Qiao Sang saw Jin Feifan in a new light. Though her roommate was timid, she clearly had ideas. As the dandelion seeds floated around the training field, Ball Pofu¡¯s body emitted a faint green light, and another dandelion bloomed on the stalk atop its head. Then, the body trembled again, and the new dandelion scattered its seeds. It continued to grow and disperse, grow and disperse... After repeating this five times, the field was full of dandelion seeds. "Yap!" Yabao excitedly reached out his paw to catch the fluffy white orbs. It was clear that while he didn¡¯t like snowflakes, he was quite fond of dandelion seeds. --- After Ball Pofu''s performance, Jin Feifan, carrying it, walked over to Qiao Sang happily, saying, "That scared me to death! Luckily, nothing went wrong." Qiao Sang praised, "Ball Pofu hid its fear perfectly. Well done." "Ball." Ball Puff let out a shy little sound. "My Little Ball is reliable in critical moments." Jin Feifan said with a smile. "By the way, how did you come up with the idea of using its trembling legs to disperse the dandelions?" Qiao Sang asked casually. Jin Feifan was taken aback. "Using the trembling legs? No, I''ve been trying to fix that issue. If its legs don¡¯t tremble, the dandelions won¡¯t scatter." Qiao Sang: ??? "Ball Pofu''s method of scattering dandelions is different from others. Some have to shake their heads, others need to pinch the stalk. My Ball has to shake its legs, but with enough training, this problem can be corrected." Jin Feifan explained. Qiao Sang was speechless for a long time. So it wasn¡¯t trembling out of fear... What a revelation... "I''ll say a few words first." Luo Qian spoke, his usual smile gone. "I¡¯m very dissatisfied with the coordination displays just now. Compared to a month ago, none of you have made any progress. Some of you have even regressed." "The main reason you all became special coordination students is that during last month¡¯s exam, your beasts were freshly contracted, so it was hard to showcase their strengths. Those of you who managed to direct your beasts well scored high." "But now, a month has passed, and you¡¯re still like this, while others have bonded well with their beasts and can have them perform smoothly. What advantages do you have left?" "I could randomly call on a student, and they could do as well as you." After saying this, Luo Qian looked down at the roster, pretending to search. Sea?ch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let¡¯s have Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang was a bit stunned. Her middle school teachers loved to call on her, and now her high school teachers too. Was it because her name sounded so nice? "Just have your pet beast perform something simple." Luo Qian said. Qiao Sang: ... This was so sudden. She hadn¡¯t prepared at all¡­ But she was aiming for the battle group anyway, so it wouldn¡¯t matter much if her coordination performance wasn¡¯t great. Just as Qiao Sang lowered her head, about to call for Yabao, Little Treasure on her head suddenly floated in front of her. "Xun~" "Xun Xun." Little Treasure looked excited, eager to try something. "Alright, Little Treasure, you do it." Qiao Sang said. "Xun~" Little Treasure happily circled around his trainer. Qiao Sang lowered her head in thought, trying to figure out what kind of move combination would look good for Little Treasure. Even if it didn¡¯t go well, she couldn¡¯t embarrass herself too much¡­ But before she could come up with a plan, Little Treasure floated directly to the front. "Xun~" Little Treasure raised his tiny claws and pulled the corners of his mouth wide, making a funny face. Then, he pulled his eyelids down with his middle toes. Soon, he placed his toes at the corner of his eyes, pulling them upwards, and stuck out a long tongue from his open mouth. Qiao Sang: ... She had thought Little Treasure was interested in move combinations, but he was just showing off his funny faces... "Good!" Luo Qian led the applause. When the teacher clapped, how could the students not follow? Everyone joined in enthusiastically. "Xun~" The little treasure-hunting ghost beamed and continued to make even more exaggerated faces. "Qiao Sang performed excellently. Look at the Treasure-Seeking ghost¡ªplayful and mischievous, its series of actions fully showcased its personality." Luo Qian praised loudly. Everyone suddenly understood. The point of coordination displays was to highlight the pet beast¡¯s charm. Sometimes, even without using any skills, their charm could shine through. However... Were funny faces really better than the first three performances? Luo Qian continued to praise without missing a beat, his face unflustered. To get Qiao Sang into the coordination group, he could turn death into life if needed. He believed that if Qiao Sang saw how much her teacher believed in her, she¡¯d be touched and prioritize the coordination group. After all, Qiao Sang had entered through the battle exam, and with Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy level, Qin Wen would definitely try to recruit her too. Qin Wen was so strict, like a disciplinarian. Compared to her, Luo Qian, with his approachable nature, was obviously the better choice. Qiao Sang: ... This teacher was clearly unreliable. Good thing she wanted to join the battle group. "Xun~" After finishing his display, Little Treasure happily floated back to Qiao Sang¡¯s head. "Qiao Sang, you''re really impressive. Do you want to..." Before Luo Qian could finish, the training field door slammed open with a loud bang. Qiao Sang turned to look. Entering the room, alongside Teacher Qin Wen from the battle group, was... Teacher Xian. Chapter 114: Theres Always an Exception Luo Qian swallowed his words.Qin Wen was fierce and rigid. If she found out that he hadn¡¯t followed the proper procedures to invite a student to the coordination team early, she¡¯d probably give him a real scolding... Luo Qian glanced at the figure flying beside Qin Wen and froze. Why was Vice Principal¡¯s Sky Bat here too? ¡°What¡¯s the name of Teacher Xian¡¯s pet beast? It looks familiar, but I can¡¯t remember the name.¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°It¡¯s called the Sky Bat, a pet beast from the Lianke region. You probably recognize it because it was trending recently, the scandal about that actor, Gao Xuan, faking a rescue.¡± Jin Feifan explained. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment but quickly remembered. Gao Xuan was a B-list celebrity. In this world, movies and TV dramas didn¡¯t have the same massive following they did in her past life. Most celebrities rose to fame through their association with pet beasts, and Gao Xuan¡¯s fame largely came from his psychic-type pet, the Mind-Eye Eagle. Gao Xuan once used his Mind-Eye Eagle to save over 23 people during a landslide at a film set, and the incident was captured on behind-the-scenes footage, leading to his rise to fame. However, it was recently exposed that the real rescuer wasn¡¯t Gao Xuan¡¯s Mind-Eye Eagle, but a passing beast tamer who used a Sky Bat. The blue glow on the Mind-Eye Eagle in the footage was just preparation for the next scene, and it happened to coincide with the rescue. The beast tamer left immediately after saving the people, and those rescued, in their panic, didn¡¯t realize what had happened. The edited footage misled the public. The person who exposed this was the cameraman who filmed the behind-the-scenes footage. Qiao Sang had only skimmed the news back then and didn¡¯t pay much attention. No wonder it seemed familiar but hard to name... ¡°Xian.¡± Just as Qiao Sang finished recalling, Teacher Xian suddenly teleported in front of her. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Qiao Sang quickly changed her exclamation. Teacher Xian glanced at the paper clutched in his claws and then at Qiao Sang. ¡°Teacher Xian, this is Qiao Sang.¡± Qin Wen said with a smile, turning to Qiao Sang. ¡°The vice principal is looking for you.¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback and hadn¡¯t yet processed it when Teacher Xian waved his right claw, and in an instant, they both vanished. ¡°¡­¡± The group fell silent. A moment later, Zheng Yining approached Jin Feifan and asked, ¡°Do you think the vice principal calling Qiao over is a bad sign?¡± Friends of friends are still friends. The girl had just come over with Qiao Sang, and they were chatting together, so it was obvious they were close. Jin Feifan blinked, surprised someone had initiated a conversation with her. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s anything serious.¡± she replied quietly. But in her heart, she wasn¡¯t so sure. Being called to a teacher¡¯s office was rarely good news, let alone being called by the vice principal. Luo Qian, having snapped out of his daze, approached curiously, ¡°What does the vice principal want with Qiao Sang?¡± Qin Wen glanced at him and responded, ¡°Good news.¡± Luo Qian: ¡­ --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang stared resentfully at the man in a white lab coat with meticulously combed hair. Next time, could Teacher Xian at least give her a heads-up before teleporting her? A person with a weak heart might not survive such a scare! ¡°Vice Principal, you were looking for me?¡± Qiao Sang asked, forcing a smile. ¡°Yes, have a seat.¡± Liu Yao said while pouring a bottle of red liquid into a test tube. Qiao Sang took in her surroundings. Unlike the last time she was in his office, this room was filled with all kinds of precision instruments. The humidity and temperature were clearly controlled¡ªit was obviously a laboratory. She found a stool near the lab bench and sat down. Yabao, her pet dog, curiously sniffed at the potion Liu Yao was concocting, his nose twitching. ¡°Yap!¡± It smells so good! Liu Yao chuckled at Fire Fang Dog¡¯s behavior. ¡°Xian, bring out the fruit.¡± ¡°Xian.¡± The Sky Bat responded and disappeared in an instant. When it reappeared, there was a plate of cherry-sized red fruits, covered in spiral patterns, floating beside it. A second later, the fruit appeared in front of Qiao Sang on the lab bench. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s attention immediately shifted to the fruit. He leaned in and sniffed, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, her other pet, curiously floated over to take a whiff as well. Sea?ch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But soon, he floated back to his owner¡¯s head, focusing his gaze on the Sky Bat instead. Clearly, Little Treasure found the bat more interesting than the fruit. Qiao Sang eyed the fruit in front of her with a bit of embarrassment. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve lived this long and still can¡¯t recognize some types of fruit... What¡¯s this called again? But it¡¯s not really her fault. There were too many types of fruits in this world, each region, country, and even planet had its own specialties. She had mostly eaten the common fruits from the Yuhua region. The vice principal, being an A-level beast breeder, was wealthy, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for him to snack on exotic fruits from faraway places. Even though she didn¡¯t recognize it, she couldn¡¯t let that show. ¡°Thank you, Vice Principal.¡± Qiao Sang said as she picked up one of the red fruits, pretending to put it in her mouth. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao happily grabbed a fruit with his paw, ready to eat it as well. ¡°Wait!¡± Liu Yao¡¯s normally calm voice suddenly rose an octave. Qiao Sang flinched. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao blinked, the fruit frozen near his mouth. Liu Yao¡¯s eye twitched as he explained, ¡°That¡¯s the Flaming Fruit, only fire-type pet beasts can eat it.¡± To emphasize, he added, ¡°Humans can¡¯t eat it.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ This is social death... ¡°Haha, I knew that. Here, Yabao, eat up.¡± Qiao Sang forced a couple of awkward laughs and stuffed the fruit into Yabao¡¯s mouth. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s mouth was conveniently wide open, and he reflexively ate the fruit. ¡°Fang!¡± Delicious! He could feel energy surging inside, his body heating up, as if his power was increasing! After swallowing the red fruit, Yabao immediately gobbled up the one he was still holding. ¡°Haha, slow down, don¡¯t rush, there¡¯s more.¡± Qiao Sang awkwardly laughed, picking up another fruit to feed him. Liu Yao: ¡­ ¡°Teacher Qin contacted me earlier. She said your Firefang¡¯s energy value has reached 13,966.¡± Liu Yao said. Qiao Sang froze. Could the vice principal be looking for her because Yabao was so outstanding? ¡°Mm.¡± She nodded while continuing to feed Yabao. ¡°Do you know the energy value range for a basic pet beast?¡± Liu Yao asked. Could it be that Firefang¡¯s energy value had exceeded the normal range for basic pet beasts? Qiao Sang had a guess. But she didn¡¯t panic. Even if Yabao¡¯s energy was beyond the norm, what did that mean? It meant excellence! ¡°15,000?¡± Qiao Sang guessed a number. Liu Yao shook the test tube in his hand and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s 1 to 10,000. Normally, a basic pet beast would evolve when its energy value reaches 10,000.¡± ¡°For those that require assistance to evolve, it¡¯s because their energy has hit a ceiling and can no longer increase, so they need help to break through.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s always an exception.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 115: What Is This? "When the first aberrant-colored Pallado appeared before the world, that''s when everyone realized the existence of aberrant-colored pet beasts.""It¡¯s not unheard of for a pet beast to exceed its energy level, but such cases are extremely rare." At this point, Liu Yao suddenly remembered his conversation partner wasn¡¯t exactly a top student, so he kindly reminded her, "If you get a question about energy levels in an exam, just stick to the conventional answers." Qiao Sang: ... She had been listening intently when he suddenly dropped this buzzkill of a remark, ruining the mood. Liu Yao poured a red powder into a test tube and continued, "A pet beast that can exceed its energy level within its rank is absolutely a top-tier talent within its species." If he had previously thought Qiao Sang had a 60% chance of beating Litan, now, knowing the energy level of the Fire Fang Dog, he believed her chances had shot up to 90%. There was still that 10% of uncertainty, though. After all, those selected for Litan¡¯s school team were all backed by wealthy patrons, showering their pet beasts with resources like there was no tomorrow. But with his help, the odds could increase even further. Liu Yao shook the test tube and asked, "Do you know what the premise is for researching the evolution limits of pet beasts?" Perhaps realizing that this question was too advanced for a newly qualified beast master, he answered it himself before Qiao Sang could respond. "The first step is to cultivate a pet beast whose energy exceeds its current rank." "Of course, this is just the research premise. Even if the Fire Fang Dog surpasses the conventional energy level at the initial stage, there¡¯s no guarantee it will continue to do so when it evolves into a Blaze Dog." After saying all that, it still came down to talent. If a pet beast doesn¡¯t have the innate talent, no amount of money in the world will push it past its natural energy limit. Qiao Sang was stunned for a while, her heart starting to race uncontrollably. The Alliance currently listed the Fire Fang Dog''s species limit as the King-tier Flame Hound. If what the vice principal said was true, Yabao could absolutely meet the conditions. Most people had no idea how to cultivate a pet beast to surpass its energy limit, but she had a vague idea from all the data she¡¯d been studying in the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex. In addition to innate talent, you had to master advanced skills to the level of profound mastery, and then learn higher-tier skills. Essentially, you had to do things that a regular beginner-level pet beast couldn''t. With her special abilities, the Yabao had a real chance of breaking through his racial limit! The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more excited she became, and she even stopped feeding the dog. Yabao was already used to his beastmaster zoning out like this. He leaned his head forward and ate the red fruit directly from Qiao Sang''s hand. "Yap~" As soon as he took a bite, his eyes narrowed in satisfaction, letting out a contented sound. "With my help, I can ensure that the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s potential is fully realized." Liu Yao said seriously. This wasn¡¯t just about beating Litan anymore. There were so few pet beasts with energy levels exceeding the conventional range. If they could truly cultivate a Flame Hound that surpassed these limits, he could start researching whether the Fire Fang Dog''s species could break through to another life stage. Of course, he needed Qiao Sang¡¯s consent for that, but considering it might take years for the Fire Fang Dog to evolve into a Flame Hound, and whether it would meet the conditions was still uncertain, he decided not to bring it up for now. "Thank you, Vice Principal." Qiao Sang replied politely, snapping out of her thoughts. With her special ability and Yabao''s hard work, she felt confident that exceeding the conventional energy limit wouldn''t be difficult. Besides, the vice principal was unreliable. He never kept his promises. He had clearly said she could make any requests she wanted, but he still didn¡¯t agree to her living off-campus or carrying a phone. You couldn¡¯t rely on others for everything; sometimes, you had to take matters into your own hands. "Your Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy level is so high, but it hasn¡¯t evolved because its energy hasn¡¯t reached saturation yet. What do you usually feed it?" Liu Yao asked gently. The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s growth was impressive, so it must have been getting good nutrition. But now that he was involved, they could develop a more tailored nutrition plan for it. Qiao Sang answered honestly, "Milk, and occasionally a red Awl Fruit." Back in Hanggang, her mother had prepared energy meals at home, but after moving back to her hometown, she had no one to cook for her, so she relied mostly on milk for nutrition. Liu Yao was stunned. Milk? Red Awl Fruit? No specialized energy meals tailored by a breeder, just plain milk and the occasional fruit? And it had gotten this far? Red Awl Fruit was just a snack. Other than slightly improving the physique of fire-type pet beasts, it didn¡¯t have much value. After a few moments of silence, Liu Yao asked, "What brand of milk?" Some specialized milk brands were known to be quite beneficial for pet beasts. "Qiyuan Milk." Qiao Sang paused, "And sometimes the infant pet milk sent by the pet agencies." Liu Yao¡¯s mind went blank, and his hands stopped moving. The information was overwhelming. So, a three-month-old Fire Fang Dog had surpassed the conventional energy level on just regular milk and red Awl Fruit? What kind of genius pet beast is this¡­ Liu Yao suddenly felt heartache. What a waste of talent! How could such a talented pet beast be fed such basic food? ¡°Make sure it eats more.¡± Liu Yao said, watching the Fire Fang Dog happily munch on a Flaming Fruit with a pained expression. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After saying that, he glanced at Qiao Sang and sighed unconsciously. Luckily, he had met them early on, or else this talent would have been wasted. Qiao Sang was slightly taken aback. Did the vice principal just sigh at her? Five minutes later. "Yap~" Yabao rubbed his belly contentedly with his paws. That was delicious. He should remind his beastmaster to buy more next time. Suddenly, Yabao froze. He turned around, tapped his beastmaster with his paw, and then pointed to his teeth. "Yap yap." "Yap yap." "Are your teeth itchy?" Qiao Sang asked in confusion. "Yap." Yabao nodded. "Xun~" Little Treasure floated over to Yabao, calling out in concern. Qiao Sang began to think. Yabao wasn¡¯t supposed to lose his teeth. Itchy teeth could either mean tooth damage or the early signs of evolution. The latter seemed unlikely. She had just checked the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex last night, and its level was still at the beginner stage (949/1000). The signs of evolution only appeared when a pet beast was close to evolving. Based on its current level, Yabao shouldn¡¯t evolve for another 25 days or so. Could it be tooth damage? Impossible¡ªshe¡¯d been diligent about its dental care. If neither of these seemed likely, then what was the issue? Out of the corner of her eye, Qiao Sang spotted the now-empty dish on the lab bench and froze for a moment. She recalled something the vice principal had said. The Flaming Fruit¡­ Only fire-type pet beasts could eat it¡­ He had also mentioned that with his help, Yabao¡¯s talent could fully manifest¡­ Just as Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts were in a whirl, Liu Yao came over with a freshly prepared potion. ¡°Here, drink this, and you¡¯ll feel better.¡± Liu Yao said with a smile, offering it to Yabao. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao stared at the red potion for a moment. He remembered that the drink smelled really good. Yabao looked up at the smiling human. This person knew his beastmaster, and the food he gave earlier was delicious. Plus, the red drink smelled wonderful. With that in mind, Yabao didn¡¯t hesitate. He took the potion in his paws and gulped it down. Qiao Sang was still trying to reassure herself. It couldn¡¯t be. The vice principal had said Yabao needed a fire-type evolution stone to evolve. If she hadn¡¯t allocated extra points to the Yabao¡¯s level, it would indeed require a fire-type evolution stone to evolve under normal circumstances. She relaxed, but just as she came back to her senses, she saw Yabao down the entire potion. Wait, wasn¡¯t that the potion the vice principal had been preparing all this time...? At that moment, she suddenly remembered something the vice principal had mentioned about using other resources to replace evolution stones... A bad feeling crept over Qiao Sang. It couldn¡¯t be what she was thinking, could it? Taking a deep breath, her voice slightly unsteady, she pointed at the now-empty bottle and asked, ¡°Vice Principal, what is this?¡± Chapter 116: The Second Option ¡°It¡¯s a Pyroderivative Elixir. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s good for fire-type beasts.¡± Liu Yao said with a smile.Qiao Sang almost screamed. It was precisely because it was good for fire-type beasts that she was worried! ¡°Do you remember when I mentioned that your Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy value has exceeded the normal range, but it hasn¡¯t evolved yet?¡± Liu Yao asked. Qiao Sang felt a surge of panic but still answered, ¡°Its physical energy hasn¡¯t reached saturation.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Liu Yao nodded. ¡°A beast¡¯s energy value increases through combat, natural growth, and corresponding resources.¡± ¡°However, even with resources, it¡¯s not always possible to increase energy at will.¡± ¡°Beasts with high talent grow and absorb resources quickly, while those with low talent grow slowly and can¡¯t absorb energy-boosting fruits like the Flaming Fruit, even if you give it to them.¡± ¡°Some beastmasters, eager for their beasts to evolve quickly, inject them with all sorts of energy elixirs, disregarding whether the beast can handle it. That¡¯s inadvisable.¡± ¡°Your Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy value surpasses the norm, which means it has great talent. The reason it hasn¡¯t reached saturation might be that it¡¯s hit a bottleneck or lacks the necessary energy to absorb.¡± ¡°So, I gave it a bit of the Flaming Fruit to test it. If it was the former, it would feel full after eating just one. But it finished an entire plate.¡± Liu Yao looked at the Fire Fang Dog with a smile. ¡°This means your Fire Fang Dog has no problem absorbing energy.¡± ¡°Its itchy teeth earlier show that its energy is nearing saturation. The Pyroderivative Elixir works similarly to a Fire Evolution Stone, but it¡¯s gentler.¡± ¡°The Evolution Stone forces the beast to evolve, even if its energy isn¡¯t fully saturated. But the Pyroderivative Elixir only works when the beast¡¯s energy can no longer increase.¡± ¡°If all goes well, your Fire Fang Dog should perfectly absorb the Pyroderivative Elixir within half a day.¡± Upon hearing that, Qiao Sang felt faint and nearly lost her balance. Half a day? Evolution? The next shoot is in half a month, right? Does this mean... she¡¯s breaching her contract?! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as he listened to the conversation. Evolution! He could finally evolve! Doesn¡¯t that mean he''s about to get stronger? ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao immediately turned to Qiao Sang, eager to share his joy. But when he saw his beastmaster¡¯s expression, he paused. His once excited heart was now filled with confusion. Why did his beastmaster not seem happy about his evolution? Liu Yao noticed Qiao Sang¡¯s expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang forced a smile, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°I... I¡¯m just too excited.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This is what teachers are supposed to do. You just need to focus on learning and not waste your talent. If you have any problems, just let me know, and I¡¯ll help you solve them.¡± Liu Yao reassured her with a smile. Qiao Sang laughed awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯d like to live off-campus.¡± Liu Yao: ... ¡°I also want to bring my phone to school.¡± ¡°...¡± After Qiao Sang left, Liu Yao sat in his chair, feeling puzzled. ¡°Old Xian, I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s just me, but I feel like Qiao Sang didn¡¯t seem too happy earlier.¡± Xian, the Sky Bat, flapped its wings. It wasn¡¯t just a feeling. She clearly wasn¡¯t happy when she heard the Fire Fang Dog was about to evolve. But why? Who would refuse evolution? It didn¡¯t understand either. --- Back in her dorm, Qiao Sang closed the door and collapsed onto her bed. After hearing that her Yabao was going to evolve in half a day, she had no motivation to participate in today¡¯s training. Although the vice principal didn¡¯t agree to her request to live off-campus or bring her phone, he did allow her to skip today¡¯s afternoon training. Lying on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, Qiao Sang thought, Breach of contract... How much would she have to pay in compensation? When she signed the six-month contract, she thought she had planned well enough, but life always has a way of catching you off guard... ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao looked at his beastmaster and no longer felt the excitement of knowing he was about to evolve. With his head hung low, he sat by the bed, lost in thought. Little Treasure glanced between his beastmaster and Yabao before removing his ring and pulling out a carton of milk. He first floated the milk over to his beastmaster. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Qiao Sang, still lost in thoughts of the breach penalty, saw the milk and instinctively took it. Little Treasure¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as he floated to Yabao, offering him a bottle of milk as well. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Yabao looked up, his watery eyes shifting between the milk and his beastmaster, who was still in a daze. ¡°Yap.¡± He shook his head and lowered it again. ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure floated to the other side of Yabao and nudged the milk closer. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao rejected it again and retreated to a corner of the room, sitting down with his head still hung low. Little Treasure blinked, then followed him. He placed the milk on the floor, floated to where Yabao could see, and began making silly faces. Yabao didn¡¯t respond. Undeterred, Little Treasure continued changing faces, trying to cheer him up. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun...¡± Finally, Qiao Sang noticed the commotion. She snapped out of her thoughts and glanced toward the corner of the room. When she saw Yabao¡¯s dejected state, she paused. Quickly, she got off the bed and rushed over to pick up Yabao, her voice filled with concern. ¡°Yabao, are you okay?¡± It was Yabao¡¯s first evolution, and Qiao Sang had never experienced something like this before. Seeing his unusual behavior, she immediately worried something was wrong. Yabao was startled when he was suddenly picked up. He looked at his beastmaster¡¯s anxious expression, and his eyes welled up with tears as he buried his head in her arms. ¡°Yap.¡± He shook his head, holding back his tears. ¡°Xun!¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure floated in front of his beastmaster, gesturing wildly. Something was definitely wrong! Qiao Sang knew her Yabao very well. After watching Little Treasure¡¯s gestures and recalling the events that had just transpired, she quickly realized what the problem was. Yabao had always been proud and ambitious. He must have been ecstatic to learn that he could evolve. But seeing her looking all gloomy, he probably thought she didn¡¯t want him to evolve. Qiao Sang sighed and lifted Yabao above her head. She looked into his eyes and explained, ¡°I¡¯m actually really happy you can evolve. I was just thinking about the endorsement.¡± ¡°Do you remember the endorsement deal? The one for the sunglasses? You have to shoot another ad in two weeks in your current form, or we¡¯ll breach the contract and have to pay a penalty.¡± She hadn¡¯t planned on telling him this, just like when she tricked it last time about the Condensed Flame Pearl. In her view, her beast should just focus on doing what it loves¡ªtraining, eating, playing¡ªand not worry about anything else. Human affairs were too complicated for beasts. Plus, this was her responsibility. But now, Yabao clearly misunderstood, and she didn¡¯t want him to stay confused. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao stared at her, unsure of what to think. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Don¡¯t worry, just focus on your evolution,¡± Qiao Sang reassured it softly. ¡°Do you remember the guy we caught on the mountain last time? We made five million from that, which is more than enough to cover the breach penalty. There will even be plenty left over.¡± Yabao gazed at her intently. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m actually really excited to see you evolve into a Blaze Dog. Have you seen your evolved form? It¡¯s super cool!¡± Qiao Sang had meant to reassure Yabao, but she ended up convincing herself. That¡¯s right, she had five million. What¡¯s the big deal about evolution? It¡¯s not like they couldn¡¯t afford it! Qiao Sang put Yabao on the bed and pulled out her phone, searching for pictures of Blaze Dogs. Sea?ch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t it awesome?¡± She asked with a smile, showing Yabao her phone. Yabao didn¡¯t look at the phone. Instead, he stared at his beastmaster, remembering the moments they had shared since forming their bond. He remembered the TV, the wall, the strength tester, and the broken vase. Every time, his beastmaster had suffered for his sake. Now, because he had carelessly consumed something and was evolving early, his beastmaster was going to suffer again. Although his Beast Master was clearly unhappy, she forced herself to become cheerful for its sake. He could feel that now, she was truly happy. No one knew that at that moment, the page in Qiao Sang''s Beastmaster Codex corresponding to Fire Gang Dog began to glow faintly. A new evolution option had appeared next to its name. There were two options, but the second one was barely visible. Sometimes the first option shimmered with light, and at other times, the second option also flickered. However, it was clear that the first option shone more brightly. In the next second, Yabao''s body emitted a dazzling white light. ----- ----- Chapter 117: This Isnt a Blaze Dog! The blinding white light almost dazzled Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes.She froze. He evolved already? But didn''t they say it would take half a day? It hasn¡¯t even been an hour yet! The vice principal is so unreliable! But since she had already accepted that Yabao would evolve today, whether he took half a day or an hour made no difference to her. The thought of Yabao evolving into Blaze Dog made Qiao Sang''s heart race. Unlike Fire Fang Dog''s somewhat cute appearance, Blaze Dog was imposing, entirely covered in a flame-like red, with no more black stripes or that tuft of orange fur on its head. Its majestic form was perfect for practicing the skill Intimidation. With just one glare, timid opponents would lose their will to continue the fight. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure widened his eyes and let out two excited cries. Under the eager gazes of Qiao Sang and Little Treasure, the light finally faded. Yabao... was still a Fire Fang Dog. "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head. Qiao Sang felt her heart skip a beat. Did the evolution... fail? "Yap." Yabao weakly grinned at his beastmaster before collapsing onto the bed. "Yabao!" Qiao Sang¡¯s heart tightened as she quickly picked up Yabao. "Xun!" Little Treasure looked panicked. Yabao hadn¡¯t fainted; he was just in too much pain, suppressing the energy inside him. "Yap." Yabao weakly called out to his beastmaster. Qiao Sang froze. She had always been able to understand Yabao''s words, and although he was saying he was fine, this time, she had a sudden realization. She could feel the words Yabao hadn¡¯t yet spoken. "Why did you stop your evolution?" Qiao Sang asked in a low voice. Yabao didn¡¯t answer, but she sensed it. He had interrupted his own evolution. Qiao Sang had her suspicions but couldn''t help asking. "Yap." "Yap yap." Yabao, gritting his teeth through the pain, explained. He didn¡¯t want to evolve now; he could wait another half month. Qiao Sang was silent. After a few seconds, she said, "Didn''t I tell you? We have money, we can afford the penalty fee." "Yap." Yabao¡¯s expression was as determined as when he decided to learn Meteor Rain. "If you don¡¯t evolve now and something goes wrong with your body, you might not be as strong as other Blaze Dogs when you finally evolve in half a month. You might not be as tall or look as impressive." Qiao Sang said with a bit of bitterness in her voice. Yabao stiffened, almost forgetting the pain. His expression became conflicted, as if he were pondering a great dilemma. After what felt like an eternity, Yabao clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, turned his head, and covered his ears with his paws, signaling his decision. Qiao Sang was stunned by Yabao¡¯s actions. He had always wanted to become stronger... At that moment, the second option for Yabao''s evolution in her beastmaster codex became even clearer. Qiao Sang''s palms were damp with Yabao''s cold sweat from the pain. "Xun." Little Treasure called out in concern. "It¡¯s fine." Qiao Sang reassured. It¡¯s fine, the problem isn¡¯t too big; she had already thought of a solution. Qiao Sang took a deep look at Yabao, whose fur was matted with sweat from the pain. She didn¡¯t hesitate any longer. Picking up her phone, she dialed a number and put it on speaker. The call quickly connected. "Hello? Why are you calling me so suddenly?" A woman¡¯s voice asked with a laugh. "I want to cancel the contract." Qiao Sang said. Yabao wasn¡¯t evolving because of the endorsement deal. If that was the case, then canceling the contract was the solution. --- Song Yuan sat at her desk, pleased as she reviewed yesterday¡¯s sales figures. She knew she hadn¡¯t made a mistake. Ever since Yabao took on the endorsement, sales had been steadily climbing, and web traffic had skyrocketed. She just needed to wait for next season¡¯s new product line to rake in even more profit. A loud ringtone pulled her out of her daydream. When she saw who was calling, it was none other than the star who had been making her money. Smiling, Song Yuan answered the call. "I want to cancel the contract." Those four words left Song Yuan speechless. Before she could ask why, the next words left her dumbfounded. "Yabao is evolving today, so he can''t shoot the next season''s sunglasses commercial. I¡¯ll pay the penalty fee. Sorry." Song Yuan was speechless for a long moment. Evolving? Today? Is this a joke? It¡¯s only been a month since the Bai Xin Competition. She had nearly laughed when they said it would take six months for the evolution when they signed the contract. Now they were claiming it would happen in just one month? Though she was tempted to yell, her rational mind told her this might actually be true... After all, who would throw away money with such a flimsy excuse? "Can you bring Yabao to me today? I''ll have someone record its evolution and post it on the official website. That way, everyone will know Blaze Dog is Yabao, and it won¡¯t affect the next season¡¯s shoot. You won¡¯t need to pay the penalty fee." Song Yuan, after a moment of silence, proposed a solution. When they signed the contract, she had agreed to a six-month term in case of evolution, not because she believed it, but because she thought Qiao Sang was just an arrogant rookie beastmaster who had won a minor competition. But this call made her reconsider. The contract was signed; all she needed was one more shoot. Who would choose to pay a penalty instead? And if Yabao really was evolving today, this was the best opportunity to build a connection. Both Qiao Sang and Yabao froze. So, even if he evolved, they wouldn¡¯t need to pay the penalty? Excited, Yabai lost control of his energy, and the white light flickered again, though he quickly suppressed it, panting heavily. "Yap..." Yabao whimpered in pain. "Thank you! I¡¯ll be there right away!" Qiao Sang hung up and quickly dialed another number. After two rings, the call connected. "Vice principal, it¡¯s Qiao Sang!" "..." Sea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once Liu Yao understood the situation, he simply suggested that Teacher Xian escort her. For the first time, Qiao Sang felt that the vice principal was truly reliable! Not only had he left his phone number in advance, but he also arranged for Teacher Xian to save her time. What would normally take over half an hour to reach without traffic took Teacher Xian around ten minutes, as he skillfully guided them straight to the 18th floor of the Golden Entertainment Tower. --- Song Yuan stared in stunned silence at Qiao Sang and her three beasts as they were respectfully led in by the receptionist. When she glanced at the quietly sitting beast beside them, she was dumbfounded. Was that a King-tier beast? The Sky Bat? "Ms. Song, could we film right now?" Qiao Sang asked urgently. Song Yuan snapped back to reality, ready to ask a few questions, but seeing Yabao¡¯s drenched state, she immediately responded, "I''ll have the cameras set up right away." "Could we film with a phone?" Qiao Sang asked. Song Yuan paused, glanced at Yabao¡¯s condition, and felt her heart skip a beat. It really looked like it was about to evolve, probably suppressing the energy... But it would be better to use a clearer video for the website. After all, there were many Fire Fang Dogs, and a blurry video might lead to doubts. Resolving herself, Song Yuan said, "Alright!" A missed opportunity to connect with such a person might not come again. Opening her phone¡¯s camera, Song Yuan said, "I''m ready. You can begin." At the same time, outside the door, a crowd was gathering. "Are you sure this is true?" "Of course! Why would I lie? That girl appeared right in front of me, scared me to death." The receptionist said, still shaken. "Isn¡¯t she Yabao¡¯s beastmaster?" "Yes, yes, that¡¯s her! I remember. Last time she brought a ghost-type beast; it almost scared me to death." The receptionist whispered. "A ghost-type beast can only make itself invisible, not a person, right?" "She brought another beast today. Maybe it¡¯s the one that did it." "I heard she¡¯s here for Yabao¡¯s evolution. The boss asked if the camera crew was busy today." "Evolution? But she..." "Hey, stop pushing!" "Give me some space! I want to see the beast that can make people disappear." Inside the room. "Yabao, it''s time. You can evolve without worries now." Qiao Sang placed Yabao on the ground, speaking gently. "Yap!" Yabao looked seriously at his beastmaster and nodded. He relaxed, no longer suppressing the energy within, allowing it to surge through his body. At the same time, the second option for Yabao¡¯s evolution in Qiao Sang''s beastmaster codex solidified and stabilized. The two options alternated, emitting light. Qiao Sang''s heart raced in anticipation. It''s finally happening! The two options flickered with light, and finally settled on the second one. The white glow around the Fire Fang Dog slowly faded. "Stop pushing!" "I got here first!" "Everyone calm down, what if we get caught!" The door was pushed open, and a group of people rushed in. Some stumbled to the ground, some gave awkward smiles, while others were drawn to the fading glow. Qiao Sang paid no attention to the commotion by the door. She was both nervous and excited as she watched the gradually diminishing light. In front of her appeared a beast with fluffy white fur, fiery red eyes, and fur on its shoulders standing up like wings. Its body had red stripes like a tiger, and red fur encircled its paws. An eerie silence filled the room. No one spoke. Everyone was dumbfounded. This... this isn''t a Blaze Dog!!! Chapter 118: Flame Hound Most people in the Yuhua region know that the Fire Fang Dog has only one evolutionary path, leading to the Blaze Dog.However, apart from its size being similar to that of a Blaze Dog, the beast in front of them looked nothing alike. Qiao Sang stood there in a daze, staring at Yabao, who had completely transformed. She might still be a poor student, only able to score just above the passing line in exams. She didn¡¯t recognize the Sky Bat, almost ate the Flame Fruit as regular fruit, and wasn¡¯t even clear on the energy value ranges for each stage of a pet beast. But if you gave her a test about the Fire Fang Dog species, she could easily score 90, if not a perfect 100. Unlike the Cotton Bug, which has multiple evolutionary routes, the Fire Fang Dog has only one from its initial stage to its king level. If a pet beast evolves along a different path, all subsequent evolutions will follow that new path. For example, the Cotton Bug evolves into either the Snow Butterfly or the Venomous Butterfly. The Snow Butterfly further evolves into the Snow Wing Butterfly, while the Venomous Butterfly evolves into the Venom Wing Butterfly. This means Yabao¡¯s future evolutions will be completely unknown. As Qiao Sang''s mind raced, Yabao looked at her, his eyes curving into a smile, and the next second, he excitedly pounced on her. Thud! Qiao Sang was knocked to the ground in an instant. The newly evolved Yabao was now about 1.8 meters tall, completely different from his once small and cute form. "Yaaap!" Yabao excitedly pounced on her, trying to snuggle into his Beastmaster''s embrace as he always did. The next second, he tilted his head in confusion. "Yaap?" Why had his Beastmaster gotten smaller? Qiao Sang, completely pinned under Yabao, struggled to free her exposed right hand. ¡°Yabao... Get off! You¡¯re crushing me...¡± "Yap!" Startled, Yabao quickly jumped off. Qiao Sang gasped for air, thinking she had almost died just now! This level of enthusiasm was definitely too much for her to handle unless she became physically stronger or reached a D-rank Beastmaster level and received feedback from her pet beast. The others in the room finally snapped out of their daze and found their voices. ¡°This... this isn¡¯t a Blaze Dog!¡± ¡°Are we sure it just evolved from a Fire Fang Dog?¡± ¡°Am I dreaming? Xiao Liu, do you feel this?¡± ¡°Dude! Are you crazy? Pinch yourself!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Wow! Is this the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s second evolution? It looks so cool!¡± ¡°When did the league announce this form? How did I not know about it?¡± ¡°You idiot! Check online!¡± The group immediately took out their phones, but before they could search, a familiar voice interrupted. ¡°Everyone out! What are you doing during work hours?¡± The group froze and looked up at the speaker. Song Yuan stood there, expressionless. ¡°..." In the blink of an eye, the group dispersed faster than lightning. After everyone had left, Song Yuan¡¯s expression shifted, her eyes filled with excitement as she stared at the majestic pet beast in front of her. ¡°Qiao Sang, what¡¯s the name of Yabao¡¯s evolved form?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Song Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a new form?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a new form.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Song Yuan paused, confused. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you know its name?¡± Qiao Sang was equally puzzled. ¡°Why would I know its name?¡± The two stared at each other in bewilderment. Song Yuan suddenly realized something, her hand trembling as she held her phone. No way! Could it be that the league hasn¡¯t announced this form yet?! Ever since she entered the business world and focused on making money, she hadn¡¯t been as up-to-date with pet beast news, only following famous Beastmasters to select products and create bestsellers. It was normal for pet beasts to have different evolutionary paths. Some paths were easier to achieve, while others were more difficult. She had always assumed that Yabao¡¯s current form was a difficult one to achieve, which was why she had never seen it before. But what if this form hadn¡¯t been announced yet, and Yabao was the first to evolve into it? The more Song Yuan thought about it, the more excited she became, her smile turning wild. After confirming her theory on her phone, she could no longer contain her emotions. ¡°Boss Song¡­¡± Qiao Sang, noticing the look in Song Yuan¡¯s eyes, instinctively tried to pull Yabao behind her. She pulled, but it didn¡¯t budge... ¡°Don¡¯t call me Boss Song, it sounds too formal. Just call me Sister Song from now on,¡± Song Yuan said with a beaming smile. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Sister Song, thanks for filming the video, but I need to get back to school. I¡¯ll be in training for a while, so could you give me a heads-up two days before the next shoot? That way, I can ask for leave.¡± ¡°No problem! Training at school isn¡¯t easy, so don¡¯t take leave lightly. There¡¯s no rush for the shoot since the product is still in the design phase. When you¡¯re free, just give me a call, and I¡¯ll arrange the shoot.¡± Song Yuan smiled. Qiao Sang sincerely thanked her. She understood that while Song Yuan had seen Yabao¡¯s potential and was being nice because of it, she had genuinely considered her situation, including the breach of contract and the timing of the next shoot. ¡°I can give you a ride back to school.¡± Song Yuan said, ready to grab her bag. Everything couldn¡¯t be rushed. With the contract about to expire, she needed to build a good relationship before discussing renewal. ¡°No need. My teacher¡¯s here. It¡¯ll take me back.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Before Song Yuan could respond, the Sky Bat, upon hearing Qiao Sang, waved its claws and teleported her away. Song Yuan: !!! --- Back in the dormitory. Qiao Sang lay on the bed, her face pale. Her teacher¡¯s habit of teleporting without warning was really not a good one! "Yaap..." Yabao sat beside the bed, looking confused. He wanted to jump up and snuggle with his Beastmaster as usual, but why did the bed seem too small now? And why had his Beastmaster shrunk? Even his little brother was now smaller than his head. "Xun." The Little Treasure circled around Yabao. He had been circling Yabao back there too, but everyone¡¯s attention had been on Yabao, so no one had noticed him. Is this what evolution is like? How amazing. After spinning around Yabao for a while, the Little Treasure floated over to his Beastmaster and called out. "Xun~" "Xun xun~" He wanted to evolve too~ But Qiao Sang didn¡¯t respond because she was focused on reading the Beast Codex. Name: Flame Hound (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: Intermediate (1100/10000)+ [First Trait: Blaze Grade: D (2/500), Status: (Hard to Use), Description: (When HP drops below 1/4, potential is unleashed, doubling Fire-type attack power and speed.) Second Trait: Flame Body Grade: B (1/2000), Status: (Useful), Description: (When hit by contact-based moves, there is a 30% chance of burning the attacker.)] Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) +, Charge (Master 498/500) +, Fire Fang (Adept 694/2000) +, Ember (Ultimate 14626/20000) +, Shadow Clone (Adept 1751/2000) +, Fire Whirl (Master 220/500) +, Flame Charge (Master 165/500) +, Meteor Rain (Beginner 4/100), Phantom Flame (Beginner 1/100) +, Telekinesis (Beginner 1/100) +, Precognition (Beginner 1/100) + Points: 786 S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 119: Touch Perception Qiao Sang calmly watched the data analysis.It was normal for some pet beasts to experience changes or gain new attributes during evolution. Among them, the most dramatic were the Evergreen Worm, Bamboo Flower Snake, and Leaping Fish. These three pet beasts were extremely weak in the early stages, but they had the potential to evolve into dragons. However, the Evergreen Worm and Bamboo Flower Snake had to evolve to the emperor level for that to happen, and no beast tamer capable of raising a pet to the emperor level would contract these two creatures. Why go through so much trouble when you could just buy a dragon-type pet beast outright? Wouldn''t that be much more convenient? Compared to the first two, the Leaping Fish only needed to evolve into a high-level pet beast to gain dragon attributes. The alliance even gave it a cool name, Water Overlord Dragon. But if you thought that meant the Leaping Fish would make your dreams of a dragon come true, you were wrong. When the alliance first announced that the Leaping Fish could evolve into the Water Overlord Dragon, its market price skyrocketed from 6,000 league coins to 600,000 league coins. Even so, the Leaping Fish sold out immediately, with demand far exceeding supply. After all, compared to buying a dragon-type pet beast directly, the price was a steal. Who doesn¡¯t dream of contracting a dragon-type pet beast these days? The Leaping Fish gave people hope. Unfortunately, that dream didn¡¯t last long. According to statistics, out of a million beast tamers who bought Leaping Fish, only one successfully evolved it into a Water Overlord Dragon. The odds were as slim as winning the lottery. So, the price of the Leaping Fish soon dropped back down. As for Yabao evolving into an unknown new form and gaining a Psychic attribute, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected it, but she wasn¡¯t surprised either. She already had a golden finger. Yabao could learn high-level skills at the early stage, and she had even encountered a pet beast like Little Treasure with the rare combination of ghost and psychic attributes. What else was impossible? But... Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze fell on the top of the data, her expression tightening. Why did the name of Yabao''s evolved form appear here? Could it be that the Flame Hound had already been discovered by the alliance? That couldn''t be. If that were the case, the alliance would have made it public. Qiao Sang pondered for a while and considered a possibility. Could it be that the Flame Hound had appeared on another planet, and the alliance didn¡¯t know about it? If that were the case, then her golden finger was far more powerful than she had imagined. With that thought, Qiao Sang stopped thinking about it. For now, her priority was to improve her academic scores, win the privilege policy for the college entrance exam from Litan Beast Taming High School. Concerns about other planets were still too far off for her. Qiao Sang continued to scroll down. A new trait had appeared, but it required the opponent to attack first before his body temperature could rise, causing flames to emerge and burn the opponent. Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In short, the trait required getting hit first before his flames could touch the enemy, potentially inflicting a burn status. Why did fire-type pet beasts always have such pitiful traits... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but complain. She kept reading. There were three new skills. She recognized Telepathy. Phantom Flame, an invisible flame, didn¡¯t seem to be any more powerful than the original fire, but its invisibility was definitely an advantage in battle. However, experienced professional beast tamers would notice the distortion in the space around the Phantom Flame and take precautions. The alliance had ranked Phantom Flame as a high-level skill. If Yabao hadn¡¯t already learned Meteor Rain, Qiao Sang might have gotten excited. But Yabao had learned high-level skills during his early stages, so evolving to the intermediate stage and gaining another high-level skill didn¡¯t impress her much. Qiao Sang shifted her gaze to the last skill. Touch Perception. What was this¡­ Qiao Sang felt a bit embarrassed. She knew most common skills. Even if she hadn¡¯t learned them from textbooks, she¡¯d picked them up from watching competitions and listening to commentators. She had a rough understanding of the majority of skills. But she had never heard of Touch Perception... Qiao Sang quickly made a guess. This was probably not a combat skill. As for its exact function, she¡¯d have to look it up online. After another glance at the Beast Taming Codex, Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness returned to reality. She was quite satisfied with her performance this time. Calm and composed. She hadn¡¯t freaked out when Yabao gained a new evolution form, and she¡¯d stayed cool even after discovering the additional psychic attribute. Qiao Sang felt that her mental fortitude had significantly improved over the past month. No matter what situation she encountered in the future, she would probably be able to remain composed and steady. And then, in the next second, life slapped her in the face. ¡°Whoa!¡± Qiao Sang almost had a heart attack when she found Little Treasure inches from her face. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure was startled too and teleported to the top of his beast tamer¡¯s head, nervously pulling at two tufts of hair and scanning the surroundings. "Yap!¡± Yabao also looked around warily. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡± Qiao Sang quickly reassured them. Getting scared by her own pet beast was truly embarrassing, but it wasn¡¯t entirely her fault. She could guarantee that anyone who opened their eyes and found a face so close would also be frightened. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure averted his gaze, looking guilty. His beast tamer was just too timid¡ªhe couldn¡¯t be blamed for that. ¡°Little Treasure, you can let go of my hair now¡­¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure awkwardly released his grip. With the pain in her scalp gone, Qiao Sang finally began to think about her next move. Yabao was too big now. Although her dorm room wasn¡¯t small compared to other high schools, her actual room was only about eight square meters. With the bed and closet, there was barely any room to move. She needed to find a way to move outside... But for now, that was impossible... Suddenly, Qiao Sang had an idea and exclaimed, ¡°Yabao, you have Psychic now. Can you float like Little Treasure?¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head. Psychic? Float? You mean the thing I play with regularly with little brother? Can I float without my little brother? Since his beast tamer said so, she couldn¡¯t be wrong. Yabao focused on the energy within his body. The next second. Boom! The energy was too much, and Yabao slammed into the ceiling. ¡°Yabao, are you okay?¡± Qiao Sang winced. Yabao didn¡¯t fall as Qiao Sang had expected. Instead, he stayed on the ceiling, calling out excitedly. ¡°Yap!¡± "Yap, yap!¡± I¡¯m flying! I can fly too! Before long, Yabao began adjusting his energy, trying to control his altitude. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure watched in amazement. He floated around Yabao, spinning in circles. How incredible! His appearance had changed, and so had his abilities. Is this what evolution is? Yabao¡¯s natural talent was already high. After learning Meteor Rain, his control over his internal energy had reached a certain level. After a few tries, he could now use Psychic with ease. Qiao Sang watched as Yabao floated effortlessly around the room, nodding in approval. She really was a genius. She¡¯d thought of letting Yabao use Psychic to move around the upper part of the room. Now, although the space was still small, at least there was some room to maneuver, and he could even practice controlling Psychic while at it. Chapter 120: Damn You! 5:42 PM.Jin Feifan dragged her exhausted body back to the dorm, with the drooping dandelion-headed Little Ball Pofu following behind her. As soon as she opened the door, she saw her roommate, whom she hadn''t seen for a while, grinning stupidly at the ceiling. She no longer had the calm demeanor from when they first met. Curious, Jin Feifan looked up in the same direction. "Ahhhhhhh!!!" "Ball!!!" --- 20 minutes later. Qiao Sang was parched after talking so much. Jin Feifan sat blankly on the chair, still trying to process the news. "So, what kind of training did you do after I left?" Qiao Sang asked. Jin Feifan, still dazed, didn¡¯t respond. Seeing this, Qiao Sang seemed to think of something. She looked up and signaled to her floating Yabao, who was joyfully drifting around the room. Whether it was due to his evolution or his newly gained psychic abilities, the connection between her and Yabao had become stronger. They didn¡¯t need words; often just a look or a gesture was enough to understand each other. Just earlier in the room, with a single glance, Yabao had conveyed that he found the space too small and wanted to go out and play. While Yabao was floating and controlling both himself and his little brother with psychic energy, his attention remained focused on Little Treasure. But the moment Qiao Sang gave him a signal, he seemed to sense something and immediately turned his head. "Yap." Yabao instantly understood his trainer''s intention and floated over to Jin Feifan¡¯s side. "Shoo!" Without Yabao¡¯s psychic control, Little Treasure plummeted down until he was at his usual floating height. After steadying himself, he saw Yabao no longer playing and pouted, his body glowing blue as he tried to float back up to his previous height. Jin Feifan was still in a daze. Yabao floated behind her and gently tapped her with one of his claws. Jin Feifan instinctively turned her head. "Ahhhhhhh!!!" Yabao innocently retracted his paw. Qiao Sang: ... She hadn¡¯t meant to scare Jin Feifan, she just wanted to know what kind of training they had done that day. Rather than asking Jin Feifan directly, she had intended to use Yabao¡¯s new skill¡ªTouch Perception. The thought of this skill made Qiao Sang chuckle again. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had looked it up online. Touch Perception, classified as a high-tier skill by the Alliance, had no offensive capabilities. However, in certain contexts, its value far surpassed other skills of the same tier. It was a skill that, by touching people or objects, allowed the user to sense events that had previously occurred. This skill wasn¡¯t easy for even high-level psychic-type beasts to learn¡ªit required innate talent. If a pet beast mastered this skill, it would be highly sought after by any investigation or law enforcement agency within the Federation. After all, with sufficient proficiency, this skill could become a game-changer in solving cases. "Boss." Jin Feifan whispered, snapping out of her daze when she saw Qiao Sang smiling foolishly. Qiao Sang immediately composed herself and humbly waved her hand. "Don''t call me boss. I mean, all I did was have my Yabao evolve on the first day of intensive training, and maybe into an unknown form that even the Alliance hasn¡¯t studied. It¡¯s no big deal. Just call me by my name." Jin Feifan: ... Isn''t that the most classic humble brag ever? But since Qiao Sang said so, Jin Feifan decided to comply and not call her boss anymore. "Alright, so are you going to the training tomorrow?" "Of course! By the way, what kind of training did you do after I left?" Qiao Sang asked again. With a sigh, Jin Feifan explained, "We had all the pet beasts show off the skills they¡¯d already learned, tested their attack and defense capabilities, then ran ten laps around the track with them." "They said training with the pet beasts would improve our bond. After lunch, we had to each battle Teacher Qin¡¯s Licker Licker. It¡¯s a high-tier beast, and we were all completely outmatched. In the end..." Qiao Sang couldn''t help but interrupt, "Isn''t that just one-sided abuse?" It wasn''t just lower-tier beasts facing a higher-tier one¡ªQiao Sang wouldn¡¯t even dare guarantee that her recently evolved Yabao could stand up to a high-tier beast. Jin Feifan blinked and clarified, "Not exactly. We fought in turns, and Licker Licker didn¡¯t counterattack. It just dodged." Qiao Sang frowned. "Then how were you all beaten?" "None of our eleven pet beasts managed to land a single hit, even after they ran out of energy and stamina." Jin Feifan said, looking crestfallen. Qiao Sang: ... How weak... Jin Feifan continued, "Afterward, we spent an hour in the gravity chamber." The gravity chamber! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. She hadn¡¯t expected the school to have one. With Yabao evolving into a Flame Hound, she knew they¡¯d need to increase the weight of his training equipment to improve his speed. Now, there was no need to buy any! That would save a lot of money! Jin Feifan glanced at Yabao, now floating gracefully above the living room, and remarked enviously, "I didn¡¯t expect the Fire Fang Dog to evolve into such a beautiful beast. It looks so good now. It¡¯s definitely going to be selected for the Coordination Group, right?" Qiao Sang quickly retorted, "Don¡¯t jinx it! I¡¯m going for the Battle Group." Jin Feifan: ... Fair enough, the Battle Group definitely has a brighter future than the Coordination Group. --- The next morning. Training Ground No. 2. As Qiao Sang walked in with Little Treasure floating above her, the whole group was instantly mesmerized by the majestic and beautiful pet beast by her side. Everyone was shocked and immediately crowded around, blocking her in completely. "Your name is Qiao Sang, right? I remember you from yesterday!" "Qiao Sang, what¡¯s the name of this beast? Is it from your family?" "This pet beast isn¡¯t from our Yuhua Region, is it?" "Is it a fire-type beast?" "..." Everyone bombarded her with questions, but only Zheng Yining, Lu Liangye, and Lu You were perceptive enough to notice that the Fire Fang Dog from yesterday was missing. "This is Fire Fang Dog. He evolved yesterday, that¡¯s all." Qiao Sang explained. "Yap." Yabao let out a bark, confirming his identity. He proudly lifted his head, ensuring everyone could see his handsome appearance. Even though there were no mirrors in his current living space, he didn¡¯t need them to know he looked amazing, just listening to the compliments was enough. The training ground fell silent as everyone exchanged glances. Fire Fang Dog? Evolved? Into this? Do you believe that? Because I sure don¡¯t. Qin Wen, who had been watching, was stunned. She had been the one to contact the vice principal yesterday, so she knew that Qiao Sang had taken Fire Fang Dog out to evolve. But this creature in front of her... A chill ran down her spine. Without even stepping outside, she shakily pulled out her phone and dialed. "Hello, Vice Principal..." She didn¡¯t even notice Luo Qian standing nearby, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Fire Fang Dog¡¯s new form. Thirty seconds later. "Appear." Qiao Sang looked up, suddenly seeing the familiar figure she had been encountering quite frequently lately, and she felt a bad premonition. It can¡¯t be... "Teacher Xian, you..." Before she could finish her sentence, her vision went black. Sky Bat! Damn you! Chapter 121: Thank You, Vice Principal! In the Vice Principal''s office, Qiao Sang knelt on the ground, her pale face betraying her frustration. She steadied herself, fighting the overwhelming urge to lash out.Impulsiveness is dangerous. It¡¯s like a devil on your shoulder. So what if they hadn¡¯t warned her about teleporting without notice? It was the fifth time already. Well, excluding the third time when she had prepared in advance for the trip to the Golden Entertainment Tower, it was really only four times. No big deal. Qiao Sang stood up and put on a polite, gentle smile. ¡°Vice Principal, you wanted to see me?¡± Liu Yao remained silent, fixated on a strange pet beast he had never seen before. Its fur was smooth and luxurious, with red stripes typical of feline pets. In many ways, it resembled a tiger or lion-type beast. Its long, fluffy tail, red eyes, and distinct fangs were proportionally smaller than when it was still a Fire Fang Dog. The fangs of a Fire Fang Dog were a milky white, but in this new form, they had become a cool white. Although shorter, they looked even sharper. Why had it evolved into this new form? What were the conditions? ¡°Vice Principal, Vice Principal.¡± Qiao Sang called out twice. Liu Yao finally looked up, his gaze complex as he studied the youthful face before him. He thought this child, who had only been a Beast Master for a little over a month, contracting two pet beasts so soon was already extraordinary. One of the beasts even surpassed the conventional energy levels for its stage in just about three months, making her the second-most talented young Beast Master he knew of. But now, she had managed to evolve the Fire Fang Dog into a completely new form. This alone put her on a level beyond other geniuses of her time. ¡°When Teacher Qin told me, I didn¡¯t believe it at first. But it¡¯s true.¡± Liu Yao chuckled softly. Teacher Qin? sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang blinked, recalling that it was also Teacher Qin who had mentioned her energy levels before. It seemed this teacher¡¯s gossiping speed rivaled that of her mother¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and talk.¡± Liu Yao said, moving to the guest sofa instead of the Vice Principal¡¯s cushy chair. Qiao Sang sat across from him. ¡°Old Xian, brew some tea.¡± Liu Yao addressed the Sky Bat. ¡°Xian.¡± With a wave of its wings, the Sky Bat glowed blue as cups, a kettle, and tea leaves floated up and began preparing tea with practiced ease. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t its first time doing this. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up, her mind wandering as she imagined the future when Yabao and Little Treasure would master telekinesis as well. ¡°Do you know why your Fire Fang Dog evolved into this new form?¡± Liu Yao¡¯s voice pulled her back to reality. Qiao Sang shook her head. She had been completely baffled when Yabai had evolved into a Flame Hound. ¡°Then why do you think it happened?¡± Liu Yao pressed. ¡°Because of his energy levels?¡± Qiao Sang ventured after thinking for a moment. ¡°That could be part of the reason, but it¡¯s not the whole story. Our research institute in the Yuhua region has tried raising various pet beasts to exceed conventional energy levels to trigger evolution." ¡°While not every pet beast responded to the process, the Fire Fang Dog was one of those that did. However, when it evolves solely due to exceeding energy levels, it turns into a Blaze Dog.¡± Liu Yao explained patiently. Qiao Sang nodded. Sometimes, pet beast evolution required more than one condition. Like the Silver-tailed Sea Serpent she encountered before, which needed to both be in the ocean and have a poison dew pearl in its mouth to evolve. ¡°Xian.¡± The Sky Bat finished preparing the tea, placing five cups on the guest table. Clearly, two of the cups were meant for Yabao and Little Treasure, while the last one was for itself. Holding the cup like a scholar, the bat sipped its tea slowly. Qiao Sang marveled at the sight¡ªso, pet beasts could enjoy tea too? ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao sniffed the tea but quickly lost interest, returning to sit beside his Beast Master. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure floated over and sniffed the tea. Though it didn¡¯t smell like milk, he curiously stuck out his tongue for a taste. ¡°Xun.¡± His expression froze, and he immediately flew back to perch on Qiao Sang¡¯s head. So bitter. So awful¡­ Qiao Sang barely held back her laughter. As she suppressed her amusement, a thought struck her. ¡°Could it be related to our bond?¡± When the relationship between a pet beast and its Beast Master reaches a certain level of harmony and intimacy, it might trigger an evolution that¡¯s different from the usual one. Liu Yao paused¡ªbond? How long had she contracted the Fire Fang Dog for their bond to reach that level? Still¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s talent was beyond ordinary standards, so it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible¡­ ¡°The research institute has studied the bond between Beast Masters and their pets extensively, and the Fire Fang Dog doesn¡¯t evolve through bonding.¡± Liu Yao shook his head. ¡°Then what if both the energy levels and the bond were met?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Though few people have met those conditions, some have. You should think about what else sets your Fire Fang Dog apart from the others.¡± Liu Yao replied, sipping his tea. Qiao Sang also took a sip. ¡°Vice Principal, I¡¯m just a student. I haven¡¯t even started high school yet. Shouldn¡¯t this research on how my Fire Fang Dog evolved be left to professionals?¡± Liu Yao put down his cup and cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m a professional researcher¡ªan advanced one, at that.¡± Qiao Sang: ... The Vice Principal¡¯s identity was impressive. He was not only an A-level breeder but also a senior researcher. In comparison, being the Vice Principal of Shengshui High seemed almost unimpressive¡­ ¡°As the first Beast Master to evolve a Fire Fang Dog into a new form, I hope you can cooperate with the institute in our research.¡± Liu Yao continued. ¡°Of course, there will be benefits.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. Liu Yao spoke seriously, ¡°I can request for you to become a trainee researcher. If you ever want to pursue a career in research, this will be an excellent foundation.¡± Qiao Sang: ... She knew well what being a researcher meant. It was a prestigious role where, as long as you completed your research tasks and produced results, you didn¡¯t need to worry about much else. Once your project was approved, you¡¯d receive significant funding, access to resources, and even apply for protection when entering secret realms. But. It was a waste of time. She hadn¡¯t even started high school yet. Her missing theoretical knowledge hadn¡¯t been made up, and she had already skipped a day of intensive training yesterday. If she got involved in the Fire Fang Dog evolution project, she wouldn¡¯t have time for training. Besides, Little Treasure was about to be one month old and needed a training plan. Yabao had just evolved to the intermediate stage, leaving her with a lot to handle. Becoming a trainee researcher would be a huge opportunity for anyone looking to become a full-time researcher. But all Qiao Sang wanted was to earn money, raise her pet beasts, and get into a good university so she could become a professional Beast Master. Since she didn¡¯t plan on being a researcher, the title would be nothing more than a fancy status symbol with no real benefit to her. She was about to politely decline when Liu Yao spoke up, ¡°I recall you mentioned wanting to live off-campus. If you participate in the research, I¡¯ll approve it.¡± Qiao Sang: ! Liu Yao continued, ¡°I can also approve you having a phone, but you can¡¯t use it during class.¡± Qiao Sang: !! ¡°Oh, and I forgot to mention¡ªtrainee researchers receive a salary of 100,000 a month.¡± Qiao Sang shot to her feet. ¡°Thank you for this opportunity, Vice Principal!¡± ----- T/N: Same, Qiao Sang, same. Money can move my feelings.???? Chapter 122: Is This a Fireball? Under various temptations, Qiao Sang straightened her attitude and answered everything the vice principal asked."What do you think, besides energy levels and intimacy, could have caused your Fire Fang Dog to evolve into a new form?" "Could it be related to the Pyroderivative Elixir?" Qiao Sang guessed. Other Fire Fang Dogs evolved through fire-element evolution stones, but Yabao evolved using the Pyroderivative Elixir, so it was hard not to consider that as a factor. Liu Yao thought about it seriously. It was possible. Although both promote evolution, the components of the Pyroderivative Elixir are entirely different from those of the evolution stones. It''s known that some pet beasts can evolve into different forms depending on the time of day they evolve, let alone the influence of evolution materials. "What else?" Liu Yao asked expectantl "Could it have been affected by Vice Principal Xian''s spatial teleportation?" Qiao Sang said. Liu Yao was taken aback. "How so?" "Because my Fire Fang Dog¡¯s new evolution has gained a psychic attribute." Qiao Sang answered. "Hiss..." Liu Yao was silent for several seconds, digesting the information. A psychic attribute... it actually gained a psychic attribute... This would undoubtedly draw attention beyond the Yuhua region, and the research value of this case was far more significant than he initially thought. The selection of personnel for the research group would need to be made with extreme caution. This wild speculation, however, would eventually lead the research team to go down many wrong paths. But that''s a story for another time. --- Training Field No. 2. Qiao Sang, in high spirits, returned to the field. The moment she entered, she saw two teachers locked in a heated argument. "What¡¯s going on?" Qiao Sang curiously patted Jin Feifan on the shoulder. The tap caused the other students, who were initially focused on the arguing teachers, to shift their gaze to her. Qiao Sang was a bit puzzled. Why were they staring at her instead of enjoying the show? Noticing Qiao Sang¡¯s arrival, Jin Feifan¡¯s expression turned complicated. She whispered, "The group assignments were just announced. You¡¯ve been placed in the individual combat group." Qiao Sang was delighted. Nice, the teachers had good judgment after all. Even though she hadn¡¯t completed all the tests, they still recognized her strength. But what did that have to do with the current situation? A second later, Jin Feifan solved her confusion. "Ms. Qin assigned you to the individual combat group, but Mr. Luo wants you in the coordination group, so they¡¯re arguing." So, this whole mess was caused by her being too outstanding. Qiao Sang felt a mixture of emotions. Just two months ago, she had been called into the office for a scolding because her grades were so terrible. Now, two teachers were fighting over her. "And you? What group were you placed in?" Qiao Sang asked. Jin Feifan, looking dejected, answered, "I got placed in the team combat group." Although she felt for her roommate, who hadn¡¯t been placed in her preferred group, considering the capabilities of her pet, Ball Pofu, being in the team combat group was the best option. Qiao Sang was just about to comfort her when she suddenly felt two intense gazes on her. Looking up, she found both teachers staring directly at her. "Qiao Sang, you came back just in time. Do you want to join the combat group or the coordination group?" Luo Qian asked, suppressing his irritation and forcing a smile. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Wen to play so dirty, going straight to the vice principal to claim her for the combat group. But it didn¡¯t matter. If Qiao Sang was willing to join him, he¡¯d fight tooth and nail to get her. If it were any other student, they might have fumbled nervously under the pressure of two teachers staring at them. But not Qiao Sang. Without hesitation, she answered immediately. "Of course, the combat group." Luo Qian: ... Couldn¡¯t you at least pretend to think about it? --- After being assigned to their groups, the 12 students were split up for training. Both the individual combat group and the team combat group followed Qin Wen to the field. Qiao Sang recognized three of the six other students. Besides Jin Feifan, Lu Liangye was also placed in the team combat group, and Lu You was in the individual combat group. "Aside from one person, I¡¯ve tested everyone¡¯s abilities yesterday." Qin Wen said with a serious expression. "Qiao Sang, step forward." Qiao Sang obediently stepped forward. "Everyone had a battle with me yesterday. Since you weren¡¯t here, we¡¯ll make up for it today." Qin Wen said, forming a seal with her hands to summon her Tongue Drip. The sight of Tongue Drip made Qiao Sang shiver. The impression that tongue left on her was too deep. "Yap!" Yabao cried out excitedly. It had been too long since his last battle, and he was eager to test his strength. Feeling Yabao¡¯s excitement, Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. It had been a month since their last proper battle. During that time, Yabao had trained hard, exhausting his energy daily before replenishing it and continuing to train. Now, his Ember attack had reached mastery, he had learned the Meteor Rain skill, and he had even evolved into the Flame Hound. His progress was nothing short of remarkable. Qiao Sang also wanted to see how strong Yabao had become. After a brief glance at each other, Yabao leaped in front of Qiao Sang, staring fiercely at Tongue Drip. "Yap!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you think Qiao Sang can land a hit on Teacher Qin¡¯s Tongue Drip?" "She should be able to. Her pet is a mid-level beast, definitely stronger than ours. But landing a hit is one thing; She¡¯ll probably just lose with less embarrassment." "Maybe she could even win?" Everyone froze and turned to laugh. "Lu You, I thought you were the cold, aloof type. Didn¡¯t expect you to be this funny." Lu You: ... He was just stating his opinion. Even though the odds were slim, hadn¡¯t everyone underestimated Qiao Sang¡¯s Fire Fang Dog during the Bai Xin Competition, too, only for it to defeat Hou Xiangyu¡¯s Scale Controller Doll? "You can attack first." Qin Wen said. Qiao Sang nodded and didn¡¯t hesitate. At the same moment, Yabao opened his mouth, unleashing a blazing fireball, about the size of a basketball, that hurtled toward Tongue Drip. Tongue Drip had been lazily standing there, but upon seeing a fireball nearly the size of its own face coming at it, it quickly gathered energy, attempting to form a Water Wall to defend itself. But Yabao¡¯s attack was far too fast, launched almost immediately after Qiao Sang nodded. Just as a tiny bit of the Water Wall was starting to form, the fireball was already within two meters of Tongue Drip. Qin Wen¡¯s heart tightened. From her years of experience, she could tell that even a fully formed Water Wall wouldn¡¯t be able to completely block this fireball, which was packed with overwhelming energy. "Jump!" Qin Wen ordered quickly. Without hesitation, Tongue Drip followed her command, bending its legs and springing into the air. Its reaction was fast, and it jumped high, but the fireball¡¯s energy was terrifying. As the fireball struck the ground, it exploded, sending waves of fire rolling outward from the point of impact. The scorching flames licked upward, grazing Tongue Drip¡¯s feet. "Ton¡ª!!" Tongue Drip let out a pained scream, leaping even higher from the searing heat. Everyone was dumbfounded. No way! Did she really hit it on the first attack?! "Is that a fireball?" Someone gulped. "Nonsense! Does that look like a fireball to you? That¡¯s a Grand Fireball!" Lu Liangye shouted. Chapter 123: Wheres the School? The creature, Tongue Drip, was large in size and currently suspended in mid-air, unable to move in any direction except downward. As long as the attack speed was fast enough, it was practically a sitting duck. Unfortunately, given the distance between them, Yabao still wasn¡¯t fast enough to strike Tongue Drip before it landed. The best strategy would be to aim for where it was about to land¡ªprecisely where the fireball had just hit. Qiao Sang, analyzing the situation, was about to speak when, unexpectedly, Yabao seemed to sense her thoughts. His mouth opened, launching a fireball the size of a basketball toward the exact spot Qiao Sang had imagined. As Tongue Drip landed, its injured foot made contact with the still scorching ground, but it bit back a scream. In the next second, a flaming ball of energy came hurtling straight toward it. ¡°Drip!!!¡± This was the advantage of attacking first¡ªif done right, one could completely control the rhythm of the battle. Everyone was stunned. ¡°Is it just me, or does it look like Qiao Sang is winning¡­¡± Wang Jihang blurted out in disbelief. He was the last contestant in the one-on-one battle group. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± Lu Liangye nodded seriously. By now, he had completely given up any thoughts of comparison. If Qiao Sang were only slightly stronger than him, he might still be unwilling to accept it. But with such a huge gap in strength, all he could feel was admiration and respect. ¡°Lick.¡± Qin Wen said calmly. Lick? Sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang blinked, and instantly thought of Little Treasure. She remembered that Little Treasure also had a skill where it would lick an opponent, potentially causing paralysis. But for that, you¡¯d have to get up close. Logically, water-type beasts were better suited for long-range attacks. On land, their movement was limited and much slower than in water. Had Tongue Drip learned some secret technique to close the gap? ¡°Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang called out without further explanation. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao responded with a sharp alertness in his eyes. Tongue Drip stood still and extended its long tongue¡­ and then started licking its own wound¡­ Qiao Sang: ... Yabao: ... If not now, when would be the right time to attack? Just as Qiao Sang was thinking this, a blue light began to emanate from Yabao¡¯s body. Tongue Drip suddenly froze in place, unable to move. Qin Wen stood there, stunned. Is this... psychic power? How could it be psychic power?! Isn¡¯t it a fire-type beast? Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced. With Tongue Drip¡¯s strength, it would likely break free from the control soon, and Yabao¡¯s psychic ability wasn¡¯t strong enough to deal significant damage. She had to take advantage of this brief moment of control to land a high-damage attack. ¡°Meteor Rain!¡± Ya-Bao lifted his head, gathering energy within his body. However, just as the energy began to coalesce, the blue light around it faded, and Tongue Drip was free again. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. This isn¡¯t going as I expected! What she had planned was for the fire whirl to fall while Tongue Drip was still under control, leaving it with no way to dodge. After all, with Yabao¡¯s current energy level, the Meteor Rain wasn¡¯t enough to cover the entire battlefield, and without control, Tongue Drip could likely avoid it. But now the psychic control was gone. Could it be that Yabao can¡¯t use two abilities at once? She wondered. No, that¡¯s not right. When he uses Fire Fang, he can also charge at the same time. Is it a difference in attributes, or does this require additional training? As Qiao Sang pondered, Qin Wen¡¯s heart pounded wildly. She hurriedly called off the match. ¡°That¡¯s enough! The battle is over!¡± If she hadn¡¯t heard wrong just now, Qiao Sang had called out Meteor Rain, hadn¡¯t she? The Meteor Rain? Qin Wen tried to steady her emotions. This was just meant to be a test of combat ability. Whether or not that Meteor Rain was real, it didn¡¯t matter anymore¡­ Upon hearing her words, Yabao paused, and the energy ball he had been forming dissipated. ¡°Yap?¡± Not fighting anymore? ¡°Qiao Sang, you did very well. There¡¯s still more training to be done, so don¡¯t waste your beast¡¯s energy and strength." Qin Wen said, wiping the sweat from her brow as she stepped forward. Everyone else was still in shock over the fact that Qiao Sang¡¯s fire-type beast could release psychic-type abilities. But hearing Qin Wen¡¯s words brought them back to reality. Don¡¯t waste your beast¡¯s energy and strength? Who had drained all of their beasts¡¯ energy yesterday? --- 6:00 PM. Qiao Sang returned to the dormitory and took a shower. Lying on her bed, she pulled out her phone to buy a leash that could fit Yabao¡¯s current size so she could string the Fire Bead. She also checked out a few houses for rent near Shengshui Highschool. Her requirements weren¡¯t too high. Other than proximity to the school, the house needed to be fully furnished, have a pool, and no close neighbors¡ªotherwise, the noise from her beast¡¯s constant training might lead to frequent complaints. Unfortunately, with just these four conditions, she could only find two available rentals. After confirming viewing times with both, Qiao Sang closed her phone. She looked up at the ceiling where Yabao and Little Treasure were playing. Despite a full day of training, Yabao hadn¡¯t even reached his limits. He had finished ten laps while the other beasts had only managed two. The gravity room had been set to 10kg for fairness, but Yabao had mastered that level of gravity long ago. Qiao Sang felt a bit helpless. One day of training here didn¡¯t feel as productive as the time spent back home. After watching her two beasts for a while, a thought suddenly struck her, and her eyes lit up --- 6:56 PM. On the school field. A blue-glowing figure ran laps around the track. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the figure was hovering about five centimeters above the ground. ¡°Yabao, slow down a bit. We¡¯re aiming for endurance, not speed. The longer you run, the better the training effect.¡± Qiao Sang said lazily as she lay on Yabao¡¯s back, hands behind her head, staring at the sky. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao responded cheerfully and slowed down his pace. Qiao Sang, resting on his soft fur and feeling the evening breeze, marveled at her own cleverness. If I can¡¯t train fire-type abilities at school, I¡¯ll just work on psychic ones instead. Using psychic power to carry her while running not only trained Yabao¡¯s psychic abilities but also enhanced his stamina¡ªand she got to enjoy the night sky. A win-win-win situation! ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure lay on Qiao Sang¡¯s stomach in the same relaxed position, staring up at the night sky. He gazed at the twinkling stars, lost in thought. After a while, Little Treasure reached out with a paw and poked Qiao Sang¡¯s belly. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xun-Xun~¡± ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s something I can¡¯t do.¡± Qiao Sang laughed. Wanting the stars? How cute¡­ ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure withdrew his paw and let out a disappointed sound. Hearing their conversation, Yabao looked up at the sky. He could fly now. How hard could it be to grab a star for his little buddy? Piece of cake! Qiao Sang gazed at the stars, feeling both peaceful and content. It had been a while since she¡¯d felt this calm. The evening breeze was so gentle¡­ well, maybe not so gentle¡­ She tightened her grip on Little Treasure and turned her head, instantly dumbfounded. Where was the school? Where was the field?! Where was the ground?! Chapter 124: Sophomore School Team ¡°Ahhhhhhh!!!¡±A piercing scream echoed over Shengshui High School. Qiao Sang had once imagined that her contracted beast might help her fly someday, but she never thought that it would be Yabao. In society, flying-type beasts are usually the ones that can carry people into the sky. It¡¯s not that psychic-type beasts can¡¯t use telekinesis to move people through the air either. But on one hand, psychic-type beasts are extremely rare and expensive. On the other, controlling someone in the air for extended periods requires a tremendous amount of energy. The beast¡¯s level would need to be quite high. Even so, no one would use psychic-type beasts for such tasks, even if they could move people for several kilometers. Wouldn''t it be much safer and faster to ride a flying-type beast? There¡¯s no need to worry about either issue when it comes to Yabao. Because Yabao can be ridden. Just this alone¡ªwhen the news about the Flame Hound spreads¡ªwill cause an uproar. However, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t feeling any excitement at the moment. She cautiously glanced down from Yabao¡¯s back and instantly felt dizzy. ¡°Yabao, why are you running up into the sky?¡± Qiao Sang asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao replied loudly. Obviously, he was taking his little buddy to fetch stars! ¡°Xun!¡± ¡°Xun, Xun!¡± Little Treasure ghost cheered in excitement. Qiao Sang: ... Lately, Yabao had been so well-behaved that Qiao Sang almost forgot how he used to surprise her now and then. --- Of course, they didn¡¯t end up fetching any stars. However, Qiao Sang realized that she might have found a way to fly without contracting a flying-type beast. And she had to admit¡ªYabao¡¯s smooth fur made for a comfy ride, and without two giant wings obstructing her view, he was practically the perfect flying mount. Even though using psychic abilities to fly didn¡¯t consume much energy, Yabao had only just evolved and was carrying both her and Little Treasure. Experiencing such an intense flight for the first time made Qiao Sang anxious, and she kept urging Yabao to return quickly. Luckily, Yabao still listened to her. As for flying in the future, she¡¯d have to test Yabao¡¯s stamina and energy limits first. --- The next day. August 3rd. It wasn¡¯t until after 8 a.m. that Qiao Sang finally struggled out of bed. Little Treasure held a bottle of milk, gazing longingly at the sky from beside the bed. As usual, Yabao was hard at work, floating mid-air in the room practicing his telekinesis. Three bottles of milk hovered in front of him, crossing paths and feeding themselves to Yabao under the control of his telekinetic powers. ¡°Maybe I should replace the milk with energy meals.¡± Qiao Sang mused as she observed how mismatched the tiny milk bottles seemed with Yabao¡¯s current size. After washing up, she found her roommate sitting at the dining table, browsing her phone. ¡°You¡¯re up!¡± Jin Feifan looked up in surprise. sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Sang yawned. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well last night?¡± Jin Feifan asked, noticing how tired Qiao Sang looked. ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Although Yabao had listened to her and returned halfway through the night, they didn¡¯t land inside Shengshui High School. When they finally got back, they found the school gates locked. Thanks to Yabao, they flew over the wall, only to find that the dormitory entrance was also locked, so they had to fly onto the balcony to get inside. All the back-and-forth delayed things. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well either?¡± Qiao Sang picked up on the either in her roommate¡¯s question. ¡°Yeah, last night I heard this terrifying scream, like something straight out of a horror movie. It scared me to death! I spent the whole night wondering if something terrible had happened outside.¡± Jin Feifan said nervously. ¡°I knocked on your door, but you didn¡¯t answer. Did you hear that scream?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°Maybe I wasn¡¯t in the dorm at the time, so I didn¡¯t hear it.¡± Jin Feifan paused, her face turning pale again, her nerves returning. ¡°Could I have been the only one to hear it? It was pretty loud.¡± Her roommate really had such a small tolerance for fear. Seeing Jin Feifan so frightened, Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°What time did you hear it? I can try to remember.¡± Jin Feifan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Around 7:40 p.m.¡± Qiao Sang recalled that she was still on the field training Yabao at that time and hadn¡¯t heard anything... Wait... Qiao Sang¡¯s face stiffened. That terrifying scream from a horror movie wasn¡¯t her, was it? ¡°Did you remember something?¡± Jin Feifan asked expectantly. ¡°Hehe, no, I didn¡¯t.¡± --- After finishing a day of training that afternoon, Qiao Sang was about to leave when she was called out to. ¡°Ms. Qin, what¡¯s the matter?¡± She asked, approaching the wall. ¡°How do you feel after two days of training?¡± Qin Wen asked with a smile. ¡°I feel darker.¡± Qiao Sang replied seriously. Back when she trained at home, she always stayed in the shade. Since coming here, most of her time was spent under the sun on the field. After only two days, she already felt a shade darker. Qin Wen: ... Who asked you that?! She paused for a few seconds, then said, ¡°You can teach your Treasure-Seeking Ghost the move Black Curtain. It can cast shadows over things to block the sunlight. It won¡¯t hurt anyone if you use it on yourself.¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure blinked. ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. It wasn¡¯t urgent, though. She¡¯d wait until Little Treasure was a month old and ready to start training. ¡°You¡¯ve already contracted two beasts, and one of them is a mid-level beast, so it¡¯s not suitable for you to keep training with the freshmen. Tomorrow at 8 a.m., meet at Training Ground 5. From now on, you¡¯ll be training with the sophomore school team.¡± Qin Wen got straight to the point. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. So the teacher had it all planned out! ¡°You should have joined the sophomore team yesterday, but they were on a mission. They only returned this afternoon.¡± Qin Wen added. ¡°Mission?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. ¡°Yes, sophomores are different from freshmen. The students on the sophomore school team all have at least two mid-level beasts. Besides basic training, we also send them on missions through the Beastmaster Association to get real-world experience." ¡°Though we have six members on our battle team, the individual battle group is different from the team battle group. We require individual battle group members to take solo missions, while team battle group members take group missions.¡± ¡°When you join, it¡¯ll be the same. The sophomore school team¡¯s coach is Mr. Zheng Guoping¡ªyou should¡¯ve seen him during your special recruitment.¡± Qin Wen said with a smile. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Is he the one who was a referee?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qin Wen paused. ¡°He¡¯s the one with the loud voice and fiery temper.¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°But he¡¯s a really good person.¡± Qin Wen added. ----- ----- Chapter 125: Zheng Baolong Evening.After taking a shower, Qiao Sang brought Yabao to the field for training. As usual, they ran five centimeters off the ground. Just a few steps in, while lying on the soft fur, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She sat up, turned her head, and said cautiously, "This time, don¡¯t go flying into the sky without a word." "Yap!" Yabao responded cheerfully. He wasn¡¯t particularly obsessed with picking stars; he only did it because his little brother liked it. Since she said no, then no it is¡ªtraining is more important! Qiao Sang felt reassured and lay back down again. "Xun~" Little Treasure sat on his Beast Master''s belly, staring intently at the starry sky. After spending so much time together, Qiao Sang had somewhat figured out what the little ghost liked. He liked pretty things, and all of them were small objects. Qiao Sang felt it was necessary to teach Little Treasure some common knowledge. But Little Treasure hadn¡¯t even been born for a month, and explaining the universe, celestial bodies, and planets seemed way too complicated. After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang said, "Don¡¯t be fooled by how small they look. They¡¯re actually bigger than Yabao, but they¡¯re so far away that they seem tiny." "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked, turning to look at the giant Yabao next to him. "And another thing, many stars don¡¯t actually shine. If you ever get close to one, you¡¯ll realize it¡¯s not as bright as your own eyes." Qiao Sang continued. Little Treasure tried hard to remember what his eyes looked like. He looked up and down repeatedly, and after pouting his lips, hr glanced back up with a hint of disdain in his eyes. Little Treasure stared at the sky for a while before suddenly raising a paw and pointing upward. "Xun." "Xun Xun?" "We¡¯ll have a chance to see them up close someday." Qiao Sang answered. Given that humanity had already successfully migrated to other planets, not going on a space tour would be a disservice to herself. However, who knows how many years into the future that would be. For now, getting into a good university was the priority. Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness shifted to the Beast Tamer Codex. Yabao''s psychic power had already reached (Mastery: 431/500) and was increasing at a rate of 1 point every 30 seconds. Psychic power, unlike other skills, only required energy to keep flowing to maintain its active state. An increase of 1 point every 30 seconds¡ªthat¡¯s an incredible speed. If Yabao could maintain this for 24 hours, he could gain 2,880 proficiency points in a day. In seven days, his psychic power would reach the pinnacle of mastery. Of course, that¡¯s just a dream... It¡¯s impossible to sustain energy for 24 hours straight. Sea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subtracting the time for training, eating, and sleeping, Yabao could only practice his psychic power for 2 to 3 hours a day at most. After all, they were at school, and there was still daytime training. It wasn¡¯t like before when they could train to exhaustion every day. Back home, after exhausting its energy, Yabao could relax by drinking milk and watching TV. But there was no TV at school, and Yabao would just float around the dorm using his psychic power with nothing else to do. Managing 2 to 3 hours of practice was all thanks to his excitement over learning to fly. On the field, though, being able to move while using psychic power seemed to suit his active personality better. As Qiao Sang analyzed the data, considering how much running time Yabao should have each night, she faintly sensed a vibration from the outside world. She snapped back to reality and realized someone was calling her. It was the vice principal. Qiao Sang quickly answered. Before she could speak, Liu Yao began, "Qiao Sang, the members of our research project team are all here. Come meet everyone tomorrow." Qiao Sang froze for a second. The team¡¯s complete? So fast? Sensing her thoughts, Liu Yao chuckled. "Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re not starting the research immediately. From project application to approval takes at least three months. Some of the researchers are just really interested and want to take a look first." Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief. She had thought society¡¯s efficiency had reached a terrifying level. "But, I have training tomorrow." "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s in the evening, around 6 p.m. I¡¯ll have Old Xian pick you up." Pick me up? Qiao Sang recalled the few teleportation experiences and tactfully replied, "Vice Principal, there''s no need to trouble Teacher Xian. Just tell me the location, and I¡¯ll go there myself." "It¡¯s no trouble. Old Xian is fast." Qiao Sang: ... It¡¯s precisely because he¡¯s too fast and doesn¡¯t give her time to prepare that she found it troublesome. If Yabao or Little Treasure could learn teleportation one day, she could at least be fully prepared before being transported. --- The next morning at 7:43 a.m. With dark circles under her eyes, Qiao Sang set off for Training Ground No. 5. Yesterday¡¯s excitement about training with the second-year team had caused her to forget that their training started at 8 a.m.¡ªa full hour earlier than the first-year team. Realizing she¡¯d lose an hour of sleep every day from now on, her excitement had vanished. She sluggishly walked into Training Ground No. 5, and as soon as she stepped in, a water jet about ten centimeters thick shot straight at her. Qiao Sang froze, her still-groggy mind not reacting immediately. Fortunately, Yabao was quick, jumping in front of her and spewing out sparks three times thicker than the water jet. The water jet instantly retreated several meters and was dissipated. Boom! With a loud sound, white steam evaporated into the sky above the training ground. "Sorry, sorry! We were training and accidentally misfired. Are you alright?" A boy with glasses jogged over, accompanied by a Mighty Duck. "Yap!" Yabao tensed his limbs, ready to attack. His already red eyes turned even more scarlet as he locked onto the culprit behind the water jet. Seeing this, the boy with glasses immediately stopped three meters away, staring in surprise at the unfamiliar beast in front of him. "Mighty!" The Mighty Duck¡¯s eyes widened, stepping in front of its Beast Master. "Crown Head, it was our fault. Apologize quickly!" The boy snapped back to his senses, hurriedly pressed down the duck''s head, and bowed as well. "Mighty." The Mighty Duck hesitated for a moment before letting out a reluctant quack. "I¡¯m fine." Qiao Sang finally woke up completely. Since it wasn¡¯t intentional, and the apology was sincere, she had no reason to hold a grudge. "Yabao, I¡¯m fine. Come back." Qiao Sang called. "Yap." Yabao glanced at the culprit still bowing, then turned to confirm his Beast Master was unharmed before returning to her side. "Xu Yajie, you¡¯re done for! It¡¯s been a week, and you still haven¡¯t mastered this? You can''t control it! If Zheng Baolong finds out during today''s inspection, you¡¯re doomed..." A buzz-cut boy teased from the center of the field. Just then, a voice filled with suppressed anger sounded behind Qiao Sang: "Who are you calling Zheng Baolong?" ----- ----- Chapter 126: The Red Target The buzz-cut boy froze on the spot.Xu Yajie turned his head and looked at him with sympathy. Being caught red-handed while calling Zheng Baolong (Violent Dragon) by his nickname ¡ª bad luck! Today is bound to be a rough day. "Shi Gaofeng, repeat what you just said!" Zheng Guoping marched over angrily. He was so furious that he didn¡¯t even notice Qiao Sang''s presence at first. "Teacher, let me explain." Shi Gaofeng braced himself, "Yes, ''Zheng Baolong'' refers to you, but it¡¯s a term of respect." "The inspiration comes from the Volcanic Dragon. Don¡¯t you think its majestic appearance and powerful aura resemble yours?" "Look at you right now, your imposing manner is exactly like it." Qiao Sang: ... A talent for flattery, indeed. But the Volcanic Dragon has a fiery temper, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. It¡¯s clear that this nickname came from his temper. The teacher, who was infamous for his bad mood, must be aware of this. Just when she thought that Teacher Zheng would explode... Zheng Guoping snorted coldly and said, "What happened earlier? What do you mean by ''can''t control''?" Qiao Sang: ... Shi Gaofeng grinned and immediately replied, "It''s Xu Yajie. His Mighty Duck still can''t control the compressed double water gun." Xu Yajie: ¡­! "Is that true or not..." Zheng Guoping turned his head toward Xu Yajie, about to scold him, when he suddenly noticed Qiao Sang standing there. He paused, recalling the student the vice principal and Qin Wen had mentioned. Self-awakened, two beast companions, fire type and ghost type, exceptional energy values, a Fire Fang Dog that evolved into an unprecedented new form... Zheng Guoping unconsciously straightened up, wanting to leave a good impression on this genius girl. In a much gentler tone, quieter than usual, he asked, "You must be Qiao Sang, right?" Everyone present, including a girl who had remained silent the whole time, was stunned. After enduring Zheng Baolong''s torment for an entire year, when had they ever seen him this gentle? Could she be his long-lost daughter? The three of them glanced at Zheng Baolong, then at Qiao Sang. They quickly dismissed the idea ¡ª no way could Zheng Baolong¡¯s genes produce a daughter this good-looking. Qiao Sang calmly chatted wih Zheng Guoping for a few moments before the day''s training began. "From now on, Qiao Sang will be training with you all. She''s a freshman, so if she has any questions, you seniors can help her out when I''m not around." Zheng Guoping said. Xu Yajie and the others were taken aback. Freshman? Before they could think much of it, Zheng Guoping continued, "Peng Huan and the other three are still out on a mission. Never mind them for now. Let me explain your upcoming tasks." Xu Yajie and the others stiffened, unable to dwell on the new freshman issue any longer. Zheng Guoping glanced at his tablet and frowned, clearly displeased. "Shi Gaofeng, what were you thinking with this task? All you had to do was absorb fat, a simple task, yet you managed to get a complaint and a bad review?" Shi Gaofeng complained, "M¨¦i M¨¦i really tried to control the amount of fat she absorbed! That woman weighed in at exactly ten pounds lighter, just like she requested. But after she looked in the mirror and saw her chest had shrunk, she gave us a bad review." "M¨¦i M¨¦i." Next to him, the round, purple-red, and gray-limbed Chokeberry Plant kept nodding its head. Qiao Sang: ... So that¡¯s the kind of task they¡¯re doing¡­ Zheng Guoping sternly said, "That''s because you let your Chokeberry Plant absorb fat from the same area the entire time. Based on the task issuer''s requirements, you should have had its bristles simultaneously pierce different areas to absorb varying amounts." "That way, you would have completed the task while also training Chokeberry Plant¡¯s control abilities." Qiao Sang suddenly understood ¡ª that was the real purpose of the task! "And Xu Yajie, you were supposed to stay underwater and create a wave to give the task issuer a chance to hug the girl he likes. How could you mess that up so badly that you knocked him onto the shore?" Zheng Guoping scolded. Xu Yajie and his Mighty Leader hung their heads, saying nothing. "Wang Yao." Zheng Guoping glanced at the tablet and nearly burst a vein. "The task issuer said you completed the task, but then you went and beat up their Long-Tailed Snake during the final check. Why?" Wang Yao glanced guiltily at her Phoenix Ember Bird, gritted her teeth, and said, "The Long-Tailed Snake kept flicking its tongue, and Xiao Yan thought it was provoking us, so it attacked." Qiao Sang looked curiously at the Phoenix Ember Bird, yawning next to her. Is it really that fierce? Zheng Guoping took a deep breath, reminding himself not to get angry on the first day in front of Qiao Sang. Once he calmed down a little, Zheng Guoping coldly said, "After all this time, you still can¡¯t control your beasts'' behavior." "Although Phoenix Ember Bird is a fire-type, it¡¯s your first contracted beast. You''ve been together for a full year. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang¡¯s first beast is also a fire-type, and she¡¯s only been contracted for two months, but nothing like this ever happens with hers." Sea??h the novelF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That sentence revealed a lot of information. First, Qiao Sang had been contracted with her fire-type beast for two months, but the awakening ceremony for freshmen had only taken place a month ago. This meant that she had self-awakened. And in just two months... Wang Yao and the others turned to look at the unfamiliar beast beside her. This can''t possibly be a beginner-level beast... Yabao proudly lifted his head. Qiao Sang, feeling the eyes on her, grew uneasy. Isn¡¯t this just setting her up for resentment¡­? --- After a few minutes of scolding, Zheng Guoping finally felt better. He tapped a few buttons on his tablet, and the training ground¡¯s floor began to shift, revealing a rocky terrain that rose up from underneath. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Truly, this was the top beast academy in Hanggang City. A field like this cost a fortune to build, and most beast academies wouldn¡¯t waste their education budget on such luxuries. She looked at the new field, which was filled with rocks. In the front were six red targets, each only about 10 centimeters in diameter. From her position on the left side of the field, those red targets looked smaller than coins. "Xu Yajie, you go first." Zheng Guoping called out from the side of the red targets. Shi Gaofeng clapped him on the shoulder, gloating. Xu Yajie grimaced as he stepped forward. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t understand why he looked so dejected. To her, it seemed like they just had to attack the red targets with their skills. Though the distance was far ¡ª about 35 meters, with rocks in the way ¡ª the targets were stationary. As long as the skill was strong enough and had a large attack range, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard. But in the next moment, Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Xu Yajie¡¯s Mighty Duck stomped its feet, clenched its fists by its sides, and opened its mouth to shoot a water gun far narrower than usual. And then... it sprayed directly onto Zheng Baolong¡¯s face... The entire training ground fell into complete silence. Chapter 127: Skill Compression Xu Yajie¡¯s face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with panic and despair.Mighty Duck quietly retreated two steps. The large training ground was silent except for the sound of water dripping, and then... ¡°Xun! Xun! Xun!¡± The usually invisible Little Treasure appeared, rolling around on Qiao Sang¡¯s head with laughter. Qiao Sang¡¯s head wasn¡¯t big enough for him to complete a full roll, so he tumbled off, stabilizing himself mid-air. But that wasn¡¯t all. After steadying himself, Little Treasure pointed his tiny claw at Zheng Baolong¡¯s dripping face and continued laughing uproariously. ¡°Xun! Xun! Xun!¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to this, including Zheng Baolong... Qiao Sang¡¯s face betrayed nothing, but inside her mind, it was a wild storm of emotions. After a brief two-second consideration, she raised her hand, stowing Little Treasure into the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex, pretending as though nothing had happened. Shi Gaofeng and the others stared in disbelief at the now-vanished Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. No one had known that there was a ghost-type pet present in the training grounds, let alone that it belonged to a freshman who had just added it to their Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex. A freshman with two pet beasts?! The revelation was so shocking that they temporarily forgot about the still-furious Zheng Baolong. Zheng Guoping¡¯s temple pulsed with a throbbing vein. His face shifted from white to blue, then to black, as he glanced between Xu Yajie and Qiao Sang, before finally settling his gaze on the former. ¡°Xu Yajie, immediately go outside and run 20 laps!¡± In this weather, running 20 laps was borderline cruel. Xu Yajie¡¯s face was ashen, but he dared not protest, taking Mighty Duck with him as he left the training grounds. ¡°Next, Wang Yao.¡± Zheng Guoping resumed the training tests. During Mighty Duck¡¯s test, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual. She had simply assumed it was a test of skill to break through rock barriers and hit ultra-micro targets. However, the moment Flame Sparrow unleashed its flame vortex, she realized it wasn¡¯t that simple. Yabao, like Flame Sparrow, was a fire-type pet beast. When Yabao was still in his basic form as a Fire Fang Dog, he had undergone daily training in fire-type skill release. The flame whirl was one of Yabao¡¯s fire-type skills, so Qiao Sang naturally knew what it should look like. Beyond the increased rotation and temperature of the flames... An entry-level flame vortex would be about 20 cm wide, with an attack range of around 3 meters. A proficient-level flame whirl wouldn¡¯t change in width, but the attack range would extend to around 9 meters. Although Yabao had never released a flame vortex in his advanced form as a Flame Hound, Qiao Sang had thoroughly researched all of Yabao¡¯s skills online. When a fire-type pet evolves from basic to intermediate, a flame whirl released at the same proficiency level would maintain the same range but widen from 20 cm to 30 cm. Yet, the flame whirl Flame Sparrow had just released was neither at the proficient-level width of 30 cm with a 9-meter range, nor at the moderate-level range of 18 meters. Instead, it was about 8 cm wide and shot nearly 30 meters, almost reaching the red target. Because they were conducting a test for skill compression to extend attack range. No wonder Mighty Duck couldn¡¯t control its water gun and sprayed in random directions. Its limb strength wasn¡¯t sufficient to manage the compressed water gun, leading to a loss of control. Just like in her past life, when firefighters used high-pressure hoses and struggled with the recoil. You needed strength to handle the water pressure¡¯s force. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang began to feel a bit of sympathy for Zheng Baolong. Compressed water gun attacks... just how thick-skinned would someone have to be to withstand that? Once Wang Yao and Shi Gaofeng finished their tests, Zheng Guoping said, ¡°Qiao Sang, it¡¯s your turn.¡± Qiao Sang nodded and took her place directly across from the red target. ¡°What fire... what¡¯s the name of your pet?¡± Zheng Guoping asked. Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before deciding to use the official name from the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex: ¡°He¡¯s the Flame Hound.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked up in confusion at his Beast Tamer. Flame Hound? Wasn¡¯t he a Blaze Dog? Qiao Sang lowered her head, smiling warmly at Yabao. ¡°I¡¯ll show you a mirror tonight.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out an excited bark. Ever since evolving, he hadn¡¯t had a proper look at himself! Wang Yao watched their interaction with an odd expression. What¡¯s so exciting about looking in a mirror? Why was Yabao so happy? It didn¡¯t act like a typical fire-type pet at all... Shouldn¡¯t fire-type pets be smirking with disdain and proudly ignoring their tamers at moments like this? ¡°What long-range attack skills does your Flame Hound have?¡± Zheng Guoping continued. Because he knew so many, Qiao Sang took a moment to think before answering, ¡°Ember, fire whirl, flame charge¡­¡± Before she could finish, Zheng Guoping interrupted, ¡°Let¡¯s go with the fire whirl. Have your Flame Hound release one.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Sang agreed and exchanged a look with Yabao. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded and immediately launched a fire whirl at the rocky area. ¡°Proficient-level fire whirl.¡± Zheng Guoping noted as he wrote it down. A proficient-level fire whirl? That was expected of an intermediate-level pet beast like the Flame Hound... Zheng Guoping tried hard not to dwell on the fact that the person in front of him was just an incoming freshman. Wang Yao, though unaffected by the proficient-level fire whirl, was in disbelief at what she had just witnessed. A single look, no words spoken, and the flame whirl was released? How did the Flame Hound know to release a fire whirl? Wang Yao suddenly turned to stare intently at her own Flame Sparrow, hoping it could sense what she was thinking at that moment. Sea??h the n??el Fire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Flame Sparrow, feeling puzzled, stared back. After a moment, Flame Sparrow finally understood. ¡°Yan Yan.¡± It pointed its left wing at its Beast Tamer¡¯s left eye. Instinctively, Wang Yao touched her left eye. And felt a piece of eye gunk... Wang Yao: !!! Meanwhile... ¡°Can you try having your Flame Hound keep the energy output the same but reduce the width of the fire whirl?¡± Zheng Guoping asked. Qiao Sang nodded and communicated with Yabao. ¡°Use the same skill as before, but try to narrow the flames to about this width.¡± Qiao Sang gestured roughly 8 cm with her hands. This wasn¡¯t like the time they compressed energy to make super spicy roasted wings in that alley. Back then, it was about energy compression; Now the training focused on maintaining energy output while compressing the skill¡¯s width to extend its range. The 8 cm width she suggested was based on Flame Sparrow¡¯s. In her mind, if Flame Sparrow could do it, then Yabao should be able to as well. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao focused on his internal energy, rapidly circulating it. He remembered his Beast Tamer¡¯s instructions about the width... Zheng Guoping walked from the red target toward the center of the field. It was unlikely the first attempt at skill compression would succeed. If the Flame Hound¡¯s proficient-level fire whirl followed the width Qiao Sang had indicated, it should reach about 15 meters. When the Flame Hound failed, he¡¯d be ready to set a target distance for Qiao Sang. 15 meters would be decent enough. Zheng Guoping stopped about 15 meters from the Flame Hound. At that moment, Yabao flawlessly released a fire whirl with the exact width Qiao Sang had indicated. The high-speed rotating flames struck a rock 13 meters away. Boom! The rock exploded, sending fragments flying, one of which smacked Zheng Guoping square in the face. ----- ----- Chapter 128: The News However, no one noticed this scene, as everyone''s attention was focused on Yabao at that moment. Shi Gaofeng and Wang Yao stared in a daze at the unnaturally wide fire whirl in front of them. "This... did it succeed on the first try? That''s impossible..." One must understand that for their skills, compression and transformation only showed slight progress after a week of consistent training. Today''s test was a success after a full month of practice. Yet not only did Flame Hound succeed, but the width of the fire whirl looked almost the same as Wang Yao''s large flame sparrow... Shi Gaofeng turned to glance at Wang Yao, who was still in a daze. Wang Yao seemed to be lost in thought, staring blankly. "Yan Yan!" The large flame sparrow flapped its wings on the spot, full of fighting spirit, staring at Yabao, no longer the lazy creature it was moments ago. "Yap." Yabao, who had been basking in the success with his beast master, heard the call of the flame sparrow and turned to meet its gaze. In the flame sparrow''s eyes, he saw a strong will to fight. Yabao paused for a moment, then his expression changed, locking eyes without hesitation. "Yap!" "Yan Yan!" The two fire-type pets exchanged intense glances, sparks flying between them. If not for their beast masters nearby, they probably would have started a battle right then and there. Qiao Sang watched from the side but didn¡¯t intervene. To her, competition between pets was a good thing. It drove progress. If Wang Yao agreed, they could even arrange a private match. "Ahem." Zheng Guoping cleared his throat. Only then did everyone turn their attention to him. Qiao Sang stared at Zheng Baolong, pausing for a moment. "Teacher, what happened to your forehead?" Zheng Guoping looked at Qiao Sang, his gaze complex. Feeling the pain on his forehead, he took a deep breath and said, "I''m fine." Who could he blame? Only himself. He had no business doubting the abilities of a genius and walking straight into danger. --- After a full day of training, Qiao Sang dragged her exhausted body back to the dormitory. Yabao lay on the ground, too tired to float in the air practicing telekinesis like usual. The training in the second year was indeed on a different level compared to the first year. For example, the physical training had doubled from 10 laps to 20, but fortunately, the beast masters were not required to run with their pets. Otherwise, Qiao Sang would be completely done for. Plus, based on their pets'' endurance, they each had their own gravity chamber where they could adjust the gravity. It was quite humane, all things considered. Overall, the training was much more effective than in the first year. As her thoughts wandered, Qiao Sang suddenly felt that something was missing from the room. She blinked, then suddenly sat up, forming a hand seal. "Xun." "Xun Xun." A gray star formation appeared, and Little Treasure materialized, letting out two sad whimpers. Qiao Sang laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "You must be hungry, right? Go grab some milk and drink." Little Treasure paused, sensing his hunger. He was indeed hungry... He removed the ring, took out the milk, and drank a few sips, his eyes curving into crescent moons as he forgot his previous complaints. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the headboard, pulling out her phone to check. The vice principal hadn¡¯t contacted her yet, but the first-year school team group was full of people tagging her. Qiao Sang opened the group chat. The messages kept flooding in. Fang Qi: The pet beast in the news looks a lot like Qiao Sang¡¯s. Could it be the same one? Jiang Nai: It''s the same type of pet, but it shouldn¡¯t be the exact same one. Fang Qi: I think it is. The timing of the news and Qiao Sang¡¯s Fire Fang Dog''s evolution are too close. Peng Xiaoyuan: But the news says it''s the first appearance of a new Fire Fang Dog form. If that¡¯s true, doesn¡¯t that mean Qiao Sang is the first to evolve a Fire Gang Dog into this new form? Lu Liangye: She can already contract two pets and evolve her Fire Fang Dog. What¡¯s impossible about that? Jiang Nai: But wasn¡¯t she with all of us at school during that time? Fang Qi: Don¡¯t forget she was suddenly taken away by Teacher Xian. Cheng Xiaoyun: Just tag her and ask directly! Fang Qi: We¡¯ve been tagging her for ages. She probably hasn¡¯t checked her phone. Wang Jihang: Big boss is now training with the second-year school team, not as idle as we are. Jiang Nai: Wow, why do you sound so bitter? Cheng Xiaoyun: Just tag her again. Qiao Sang: No need to tag anymore. The news is indeed about my Fire Fang Dog. She had just scrolled up and seen the news. It was today¡¯s story about the new form of the Fire Fang Dog. The photo used was from the time at the Golden Entertainment Building, taken from the perspective of someone standing at the office door, likely one of the staff who had been watching. However, the news specifically stated that the information had been verified by a senior researcher, confirming its authenticity. This likely involved more than just Song Yuan¡¯s efforts. The vice principal was probably this senior researcher. This news would surely draw public attention. Combined with the vice principal¡¯s mention of gathering researchers, it was clear they wanted to expedite project approval. Otherwise, the staff could have leaked the information days earlier, rather than waiting for the news to break now. The group chat exploded after Qiao Sang¡¯s message, everyone too shocked to say anything but various forms of "OMG." Qiao Sang closed the app without continuing the conversation because Teacher Xian appeared right in front of her, almost ghost-like. That was fast. It wasn¡¯t even 6 PM yet... Sky Bat twitched its claw slightly. "Wait!" Qiao Sang shouted to stop it. ¡°Xian?¡± The Sly bat tilted its head in confusion. Little Treasure rolled his eyes and pulled some milk from his ring, offering it to the bat. "Xun~" "Xun Xun~" Sky Bat stared at the milk, surprised, before accepting it. Qiao Sang gave Little Treasure an approving look. ¡°Teacher Xian, Yabao is still all sweaty from training and hasn¡¯t bathed yet. Can we go after he¡¯s cleaned up?¡± She asked. Since they were visiting to see Yabao, he should at least look presentable. ¡°Xian.¡± Sky Bat, holding the milk, nodded agreeably. Yabao¡¯s closed eyes twitched at the conversation. A bath? A bath?! Maybe he could pretend to stay asleep... Qiao Sang could tell at once that Yabao was awake. Every time he had to bathe, he would either pretend to sleep or act busy, sometimes even pretending he couldn¡¯t understand. Qiao Sang thought for two seconds before coming up with an idea. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to look at yourself in the mirror? Wouldn¡¯t you want to clean up and look sharp before doing that?¡± Yabao¡¯s ears perked up at this. In the next second, his eyes snapped open, and he quickly got up to head toward the bathroom. "Yap." "Yap yap." He even turned around after a few steps to urge his beast master to follow. Qiao Sang: ... --- Yuehe Hotel. Jiqing Pavilion. Sea?ch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Qiao Sang was teleported to the private room, she found only the vice principal seated at the table. "The others ran into some issues on the way. They''ll arrive later. Don¡¯t worry about them, just sit and have a bite." Liu Yao said calmly, as though someone being teleported into the room was nothing out of the ordinary for him. After Qiao Sang sat down, Liu Yao smiled and asked, "So, how was training with the second-year school team today? Is there anything you didn¡¯t understand?" Qiao Sang blinked. Didn¡¯t understand? There actually was something. ¡°I heard that second-year school team members have all contracted two pet beasts, but today I only saw them training with one. Why is that?¡± She asked. ----- ----- Chapter 129: Renting A House "Because they all entrusted their other pet beasts to the pet beast training center." Liu Yao replied.Qiao Sang paused for a moment and asked, "Is it for a long time?" Liu Yao smiled. "Yes, after all, human energy is limited. Unless you''re a professional beast master, it''s hard to take care of multiple pet beasts at once." "As members of the school team, you need to spend most of your time training your pet beasts. If all your time is dedicated to the beasts, it would be fine, but you also have to study." "In this case, trying to make progress with two pet beasts in all aspects becomes difficult. However, if you keep one with you and leave the other at the training center, your efficiency will greatly improve." Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. Indeed, when you have too many pet beasts, it becomes hard to manage them all. If your pet beast is being trained by someone else while you''re in class, it would be easy to surpass classmates who aren''t receiving such training. Additionally, different pet beasts with various attributes have different training focuses. Some training methods are suitable for one type of pet beast but not for others. For example, Little Treasure is not suited for physical or speed training. As a ghost-type pet beast, his ability to teleport is already sufficient to make his movements unpredictable in battle. Plus, his movement and dodging rely more on energy than physical strength. "Do you have any other questions?" Liu Yao asked. It was a rare opportunity to have an expert answering her questions face-to-face, so Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to waste it. On the road to mastering beast taming, without guidance, it''s nearly impossible to go far by relying on yourself alone. Even if you have money and resources, someone still needs to show you how to use them. Otherwise, you''d end up like she did when she first came across the Flame Fruit, foolishly thinking it was edible for humans. Although Qiao Sang had a golden finger, if it weren¡¯t for Yabao¡¯s high talent and diligence, as well as the ability to learn skills and discuss strategies online, she wouldn¡¯t have come this far on her own. Qiao Sang voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind these past few days: "I noticed that Yabao can''t use fire-type skills when he¡¯s using psychic powers. Is that because it''s impossible to use two different types of skills simultaneously?" She had looked this up online before. However, the explanations varied, and everyone seemed to make sense, leaving her unsure which one was correct. Liu Yao was stunned for a moment. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Sang to ask this question¡­ After thinking for a bit, he replied, "What you¡¯re referring to is probably a combo technique. It''s possible, but it generally happens in double battles. If it''s a single pet beast using a combo technique, it''s much more difficult." "Take your Yabao for example. Without even considering the attributes, do you think it could release a Fireball and a Fire Whirl at the same time?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "Of course not. It only has one mouth." "Exactly. When a pet beast is maintaining one skill, it''s practically impossible for it to use another." Liu Yao explained with a smile. "But you can think about it differently. Why do skills have to be used simultaneously? As long as your pet beast can release its skills quickly enough, it can still create a combo effect." Qiao Sang asked, "But psychic-type pet beasts can use their telekinesis to float in the air while attacking. Why can¡¯t they use other skills while controlling someone with their psychic powers?" "Because maintaining their own levitation with telekinesis has become second nature to them." Liu Yao said. "Once using a skill becomes as effortless as breathing, they naturally have the energy to do other things." So that¡¯s how it is¡­ While Qiao Sang was chatting with Liu Yao, Yabao had already circled the private room three times. Where¡¯s the mirror? Where¡¯s the promised mirror?! --- There were nine researchers in the project team. For some reason, two were absent today. Since the vice principal didn¡¯t ask, neither did Qiao Sang. Hardly anyone was eating. Everyone was gathered around Yabao, their eyes glowing with curiosity as they peppered it with questions. After the dinner, they added her to the research group, and Qiao Sang left the Yuehe Hotel without heading back to school. She had an appointment. --- Xingtong Street. Near Shengshui High School. "You must be Miss Qiao?" A young man in his twenties, dressed in a white shirt, rode down on a plump pigeon. "That¡¯s me." Qiao Sang nodded. "Just call me Xiao Wang. Which of the two apartments would you like to see first?" He asked. He subtly glanced at the striking pet beast beside the girl, though he couldn¡¯t name it. "Let¡¯s check out the one on Shituo Road." Qiao Sang said. It was closer to Shengshui High School, her first choice. An hour later, Qiao Sang chose the apartment on Chang¡¯an Road. The reason was simple: One word, cheaper. The apartment on Shituo Road was 12,000 alliance coins per month, while the one on Chang¡¯an Road was only 5,000. Both apartments were similar in size, layout, and decor. Initially, both were listed online for around 10,000 alliance coins. However, two days ago, the landlord of the Chang¡¯an Road apartment, for some unknown reason, urgently slashed the rent. Thanks to Xiao Wang¡¯s smooth talk, Qiao Sang ended up renting it. By the time the lease was signed and the keys handed over, it was almost 10 PM. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t rush back to school. She brought Yabao to the courtyard, where there was a pool she particularly liked, and said with a smile, "You can use the water as a mirror for now. The mirror here isn¡¯t big enough. Tomorrow, when we move in, I¡¯ll buy you a full-length one." Yabao was nearly moved to tears. So you remembered! He had thought his beast master had forgotten! "Yap!" Eagerly, Yabao rushed to the edge of the pool and looked down. He froze. Who is that incredibly handsome pet beast?! "Xun~" Little Treasure , who had been perched invisibly on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, floated down and looked into the pool at his own reflection. After staring for a while, it started making funny faces at the water. "Yal?" "Yap yap?" Yabao turned to his beast master, his expression dead serious. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched as she replied, "That¡¯s right. That super ultra-cool handsome pet beast is you." That phrase was probably something he learned from the super ultra-spicy roasted chicken wings¡­ "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes sparkled as he turned back, excitedly admiring himself again. Three minutes later, Little Treasure, having tired of the fun, floated back onto Qiao Sang¡¯s head, but Yabao was still busy with his reflection. Ten minutes later, Yabao was still staring. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang: ... "Yabao, that¡¯s enough. The mirror we buy tomorrow will give you a clearer view. For now, let¡¯s try a new training idea I had." Qiao Sang said. The idea came to her during her conversation with the vice principal earlier. Though it was late, she just wanted to test it out. It wouldn¡¯t take too long. "Yap." At the mention of training, Yabao immediately snapped out of his vanity. "First, create a clone." Qiao Sang instructed. Yabao followed her order. Two identical Flame Hounds appeared by the pool, indistinguishable from each other. Qiao Sang picked up a stone from the ground and tossed it above the pool. "Have the clone use telekinesis to control the stone." No sooner had she spoken than the Flame Hound on the left glowed blue in the eyes, and the stone froze in mid-air. Watching the hovering stone, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart raced. She quickly added, "Now, try having the real one use Ember on it." ----- ----- Chapter 130: Did You Play with Water? If one mouth can''t simultaneously release a Fireball and a Fire Whirl, does that mean two mouths can?Following that logic, if there were two Flame Hounds, wouldn''t one be able to use psychic skills while the other uses fire-type skills? Qiao Sang looked at Yabao''s real body with anticipation. The Flame Hound on the right opened his mouth, and scorching flames began to gather in front of him. The crimson firelight was especially dazzling in the night. However, in the next second, the barely formed flame suddenly dissipated. Qiao Sang was stunned. It failed... But it wasn¡¯t a complete failure. At least the flames had appeared while the clone was controlling the object with telekinesis. So, what was the issue? Qiao Sang recalled the times when Yabao used his clone to release skills. At that time, all the clones could release skills, but they always used the same skill. After thinking for a while, Qiao Sang figured it out. The clones are not conscious; All their actions are controlled by the real body. It''s easy enough to control one behavior, but controlling multiple behaviors becomes difficult. Both the real body and the clones have their own energy to release skills, so it wasn¡¯t an energy issue but rather a mental strain issue. Maintaining the clone''s telekinesis while the real body attempted to use an entirely different skill made it hard for Yabao to manage both tasks efficiently. Simply put, he couldn¡¯t handle multitasking¡­ Qiao Sang gave Yabao, who was still dumbfounded, a complicated look. "Yap?" Yabao looked at the disappearing flame in front of him, both shocked and confused. He had practiced the Ember skill the most, yet he failed to release it this time! Due to his shock, Yabao forgot to maintain his clone. The stone that had been controlled by telekinesis fell into the pool, causing ripples. At the same time, beneath the water where no one could see, a pair of dark eyes slowly opened. Little Treasure sensed something and curiously looked toward the pool. The eyes at the bottom of the pool closed again. "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head and stared at the pool for three seconds before losing interest and turning his attention elsewhere. "It''s fine, this was your first try. It¡¯s normal for this to happen. We''ll focus more on this kind of training from now on. But for now, it''s late. Let''s go back and sleep." Qiao Sang said, patting Yabao''s head. "Yap." Yabao shook his head; he didn¡¯t feel tired and was ready to continue training. Qiao Sang felt a headache coming on. What should she do when her pet beast is too motivated? "Staying up late will make you less handsome." Qiao Sang threatened. Yabao froze, recalling his own handsome reflection. Less handsome? That won¡¯t do! "Yap!" "Yap yap!" Yabao crouched down, signaling his beast master to hop on so they could hurry back. Qiao Sang: ... So easy to manipulate¡­ After Qiao Sang left, the pair of dark eyes under the pool opened once more. --- The next day. After finishing training, Qiao Sang returned to her dorm room to pack her things. She opened the package that had just arrived today, which contained a new leash for Yabao. Standing at the door of the room, Jin Feifan looked heartbroken. "You''re really going to live off-campus?" "Yes." Qiao Sang reassured her. "But I¡¯ll still be at school every day, so we can see each other often." She didn¡¯t expect her roommate to be so reluctant to part with her after just a few days... Qiao Sang felt touched. "I applied to live off-campus too, but the school didn''t approve it." Jin Feifan said enviously. "When did you apply?" Qiao Sang asked casually. Jin Feifan replied instinctively, "Right after you moved in..." The words trailed off. Qiao Sang paused and looked up at Jin Feifan, whose eyes were filled with panic. Why didn¡¯t you finish your sentence? Now it sounds like you applied to live off-campus because I moved in, not before! Seeing Qiao Sang staring at her, Jin Feifan quickly panicked, "It¡¯s not what you think! At first, when you moved in, I did think about moving out. But after that, I never had that thought again!" Qiao Sang: ... So, it wasn¡¯t a misunderstanding... Thinking back, it was understandable. When she first moved in, her roommate was clearly seemed afraid of Yabao and Little Treasure. She was probably still scared, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be standing at the doorway, unwilling to come in. Just then, a small Ball Pofu poked its head out from behind Jin Feifan. It glanced around at the luggage being packed, then cautiously looked at the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. After hesitating for a few seconds, it gathered the courage to walk in. "Ball." "Ball ball." Qiao Sang, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Jin Feifan all looked at it in surprise. Under everyone''s gaze, Little Ball Pofu''s tiny legs started trembling. Blushing, it stretched out its paw, plucked the dandelion puff from its head, and timidly offered it forward. "Ball!" "Ball ball!" Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. "Is that for me?" Little Ball Pofu froze. Jin Feifan quickly jumped in to translate, "It''s for the Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost." Qiao Sang: ... Little Treasure stared blankly at Little Ball Pofu, not understanding why this normally shy creature was suddenly offering him a dandelion. Sea?ch* The N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it usually cried when Little Treasure tried to give it milk. "Ball." "Ball ball." Seeing that the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost wasn¡¯t coming over, Little Ball Pofu mustered its courage and called out again. "Xun~" Little Treasure snapped out of his daze, floated over to the Ball Pofu, and hesitantly accepted the dandelion. As he took the dandelion, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder: Could this little one want my milk in return? --- Chang¡¯an Road. Tianjing Garden, Apartment 1705. The apartment had two floors. For convenience, Qiao Sang decided to stay on the first floor. She began organizing her things in the downstairs bedroom. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" Yabao was running around the first-floor living room. Where¡¯s the mirror? Where¡¯s my mirror? Little Treasure perched on his beast master''s head, still holding the dandelion, wondering why the Ball Pofu hadn¡¯t asked for milk in return. Hearing the commotion in the living room, Qiao Sang felt uneasy. When she came out to check, she saw three Flame Hounds rummaging around the living room, as if searching for something. "What are you doing?" Qiao Sang asked, looking at the Flame Hound peeking under the sofa. Thanks to their contract, she could easily distinguish the real Yabao. "Yap." "Yap yap." Yabao turned his head and let out a pitiful whine. Where¡¯s my mirror? Qiao Sang: ... She cleared her throat. "I bought you a huge full-length mirror, but it won''t arrive for a few days. In the meantime, you can make do with the one in the bathroom." Yabao looked conflicted. The bathroom mirror was too small, and every time he went in there, he ended up getting a bath¡­ "Yap yap." Recalling the feeling of getting wet, Yabao quickly shook his head. It¡¯s just two days, I can wait! Seeing this, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. She had expected as much... "If you''re bored, you can watch TV." After turning on the TV, Qiao Sang returned to her room to continue organizing. When she finished unpacking, she came out to the living room to find Yabao fully engrossed in watching a battle match on TV. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve watched TV¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she headed toward the sofa to watch for a bit. But as she took a few steps, she felt something strange underfoot. Looking down, she froze. In disbelief, she asked, "Yabao, did you play with water?" ----- T/N: Sorry for the late update. This was supposed to be out by 1 or 2 pm but I fell asleep after I got home.???? Chapter 131: Advertisement Suddenly, a mysterious puddle of water appeared on the previously clean floor.There was only Yabao in the living room. But Yabao playing with water¡­ didn¡¯t seem realistic¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily puzzled. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao absentmindedly responded, his attention glued to the fight scene on the TV. Really? Qiao Sang had never thought Yabao would lie to her, so she immediately considered other possible reasons for the water appearing on the floor. It could be the indoor-outdoor temperature difference, the humid air, dripping water from the upstairs, or maybe a leak in the bathroom or another room¡¯s pipes, with water seeping through the walls onto the floor. If this happened often, it wasn¡¯t surprising that the rent was much cheaper, it might be one of the reasons. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t investigate further, cleaning up the water before settling on the sofa to watch TV. The match had just finished a round, and a commercial was playing. In the ad, a Green Claw Meowmeow was having a candlelight dinner with a fashionably dressed Long-Eared Cat. At that moment, the phone on the table rang. The scene cut to the phone screen, it was Green Claw Meowmeow''s wife, Black Paw Cat, calling. Since the voice acting was done in human language, Qiao Sang understood everything they said. Black Paw Cat: Are you at home? Green Claw Meowmeow: Yes, I¡¯m at home. Black Paw Cat: Then why do I hear other sounds nearby? Green Claw Meowmeow: I¡¯m watching TV. Black Paw Cat: Why didn¡¯t you answer the door when the package I sent arrived? Green Claw Meowmeow: Maybe the TV was too loud. I¡¯ll go check now. The scene switched to a wide shot of Black Paw Cat standing outside an apartment, spraying perfume on itself. It turned out Black Paw Cat had just returned from a trip and was planning to surprise Green Claw Meowmeow. Just when Qiao Sang thought Green Claw Meowmeow¡¯s lie was about to be exposed, the door opened. The one who opened the door was none other than Green Claw Meowmeow, who was supposed to be at the candlelight dinner! What¡¯s going on? Teleportation? Spatial movement? She recalled that Green Claw Meowmeow wasn¡¯t a psychic-type pet beast. The camera returned to the dinner table, where Green Claw Meowmeow smugly put down the phone. It turned out he had prepared in advance and left a clone at home. Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. Is this even allowed? The scene switched again to the apartment, where Black Paw Cat embraced Green Claw Meowmeow warmly. The clone, smelling the scent of Black Paw Cat, grew increasingly flustered, its face turning redder by the second. Then, it exploded on the spot and disappeared¡­ Green Claw Meowmeow¡¯s expression at the dinner table changed dramatically. The final shot of the ad was of a bottle of perfume filling the screen. "With just one drop, anything can happen. Mengran Perfume, you deserve it!" Qiao Sang: ¡­ This was actually a perfume ad¡­ But could a clone really be controlled from a distance? Even though the ad had some editing magic, it didn¡¯t stop Qiao Sang from pondering this idea. If a clone could be controlled remotely, then Yabao could leave a clone at home to train while his real body attended school for intensive training. Wouldn¡¯t that be perfect? Moreover, both the clone and the real body would be doing different things simultaneously. Over time, Yabao¡¯s mental power would increase, allowing him to control both, maybe even casting different skills from the clone and the real body at the same time. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. It¡¯s a good idea, but how to implement it was the question. First, how could Yabao maintain control over a clone from such a distance, from Qianjing Garden to Shengshui High School? Even though she had specifically found a house close to the school, the distance was still about a kilometer. It didn¡¯t seem far, but when considering a separation of the clone and real body, this distance became significant. However, since Yabao had gained psychic abilities, with increased mental power, remote control of a clone might become entirely possible. Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then turned and said, ¡°Yabao, release all your clones and have them go practice Ember by the courtyard pool while your real body stays here and watches TV.¡± Yabao¡¯s mouth opened wide, eyes bulging in surprise. Is this even allowed¡­? Yabao didn¡¯t respond, but Qiao Sang could read the question in his expression. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s allowed. Give it a try.¡± The school¡¯s intensive training was mostly focused on physical conditioning at the moment, so skill training hadn¡¯t consumed much of Yabao¡¯s energy. As for using skills, they could be practiced without the need to replenish energy. Hearing his master¡¯s command, Yabao hesitated no longer, mobilizing his energy at once. Fifteen Flame Hounds instantly appeared in the living room, forming a neat line as they marched toward the courtyard. Ever since Yabao had advanced from proficiency to mastery in shadow cloning, the number of clones had increased as well. Soon, the courtyard pool echoed with continuous explosions. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao absentmindedly watched the TV. Trying to control 15 clones in the courtyard made it nearly impossible to focus on the TV¡­ ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Yap yap.¡± Yabao''s expression turned conflicted as he pointed a paw toward the courtyard, suggesting that maybe he should join the training too. ¡°You don¡¯t need to train. I¡¯m trying to develop your ability to act independently with your clone and real body doing different things.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile. ¡°Yesterday, your clone couldn¡¯t use Ember after using Telekinesis. If you can control your clone while still focusing on your own task, maybe your skills will come out properly.¡± Yabao froze. So this wasn¡¯t just about practicing Ember! There was another layer of training involved! ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s face lit up with excitement. He turned back to the TV, eyes sharp with determination, as if staring down an opponent. He was going to watch TV seriously! Qiao Sang nodded approvingly from the side. When it came to training, Yabao never gave her any trouble. If only Little Treasure would train this seriously in the future¡­ Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure unconsciously scratched his nose, feeling an itch. Suddenly, Little Treasure¡¯s nose scratching stopped, and the dandelion he was holding in his right paw dropped to the ground. He straightened his body, sniffing the air. Something¡­ smells so good¡­ Little Treasure, tempted, began floating toward the scent. But before he could move more than a couple of steps, Qiao Sang noticed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. Normally, Little Treasure stuck to her all day, staying on her head 24/7 unless he was sleeping. Unless something really attracted him, he would never leave. But they weren¡¯t outside, so what could suddenly pull Little Treasure away from her head? Was it because she hadn¡¯t washed her hair in two days? Little Treasure pointed in the direction of the courtyard as he explained. ¡°Xun xun.¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Qiao Sang paused for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a nice smell?¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded. Qiao Sang frowned in thought. She remembered that the only things that could appeal to a ghost-type pet¡¯s sense of smell were ghost-type food, resentment, souls, life force, fear, and regretful energy... At that very moment, a pet beast, hidden in the corner of the courtyard, glared furiously at the 15 Flame Hounds shooting sparks into the pool. Its anger was so intense that bubbles of water puffed in and out of its nostrils. ----- ----- Chapter 132: Flame Body At that moment, Little Treasure floated out from the house towards the courtyard, following a scent.Qiao Sang got up and followed behind, curious about what kind of scent could smell so pleasant to the little ghost. In the corner, the pet''s water-like, rippling ears twitched, immediately sensing someone approaching. The next second, two bubbles hanging under its nostrils burst, and with a leap, it jumped into the water splashed out from the Ember attack, dissolving completely and disappearing. If one looked closely, they¡¯d notice the puddle of water had grown slightly larger. "Xun?" Little Treasure stopped. Huh? The scent¡¯s gone? Unwilling to give up, the little ghost sped up, floating outside the courtyard, sniffing around. "Xun..." He tilted his head, confused. The scent really was gone... Qiao Sang arrived beside Little Treasure and looked around. Aside from the 15 Flame Hound clones, there was nothing else. Could it have been a scent from beyond the wall that Little Treasure picked up? If that¡¯s the case, his sense of smell has become much sharper. Suddenly, Qiao Sang realized that tomorrow marked Little Treasure¡¯s full moon, meaning he could soon start training with Yabao alongside him. The little ghost, still lamenting the loss of the pleasant scent, had no idea his carefree days of relaxation were about to end... At 10:33 PM, Qiao Sang, having just finished her bath, lay in bed reviewing the data in the Beast Taming Tome. Ember (Mastery: 15532/20000) It was the first time Yabao had engaged in long duration skill training after evolving into a Flame Hound. Without using the F-rank energy recovery potion, each of the 15 clones could use Ember an average of 60 times, boosting the skill¡¯s mastery by 900 points. This wasn¡¯t even the limit, if Yabao hadn¡¯t been distracted by the TV, his focus split between the two activities, his mastery could have increased even more. With a thought, Qiao Sang flipped the Beast Taming Codex to the page on Little Treasure. Level: Beginner (255/1000) + Unlike Yabao, Little Treasure¡¯s points automatically increased by 3 every day, likely due to his high talent. Gathering Thought Beads increased by 5 points, the same as Condensing Fire Beads. After drinking the Dark Ghost Essence last time, his level jumped by 40 points, which meant that in just one month, without any training, his points had already exceeded 200. Even if left to play around for three more months, he would still evolve into a mid-level pet beast, the Treasure Demon. Such is the advantage of high talent and abundant resources. For a pet with lower talent and poor resources, even with a month of hard training, it might not reach Little Treasure¡¯s current level. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes moved down the page. Skills: Lick (Beginner: 1/100) +, Hypnosis (Beginner: 1/100) +, Dream Eater (Novice: 1/100) +, Barrier (Novice: 1/100) +, Telekinesis (Novice: 23/100) +, Teleportation (Novice: 11/100) + Little Treasure had six skills in total. Except for Dream Eater, the others could be practiced without a target. After some thought, Qiao Sang decided to focus on Hypnosis, Dream Eater, and Telekinesis. She preferred offensive strategies over defense. Hypnosis combined with Dream Eater was a nasty combo to disrupt opponents, and with Telekinesis for control, it would be hard to find a match among beasts of the same level. The only issue was that Dream Eater required a target. But who would be a suitable practice partner...? --- August 6th. The day Little Treasure turned a month old. Qiao Sang was abruptly awakened by a loud scream. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡± She sat up in bed with a start, her heart skipping a beat. Was there a fire or something?! ¡°Yap!!!¡± Qiao Sang looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yabao standing beside her bed, completely soaked, tears welling up in his eyes as he howled pitifully at the sky. Upon seeing her awake, Yabao¡¯s mouth quivered, and his cries abruptly stopped. The next second, even more tears welled up in his eyes, and he howled even more miserably. ¡°Yap!!!¡± ¡°Yappp!!!¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. She had never seen Yabao cry so pitifully before... She tried to piece together what had happened. sea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re saying you woke up and found yourself completely soaked?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded miserably. Qiao Sang pondered. Yabao didn¡¯t sleepwalk, so he couldn¡¯t have played with water in his sleep. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t play with water when awake either. Little Treasure might be mischievous, but he wouldn¡¯t pull a prank like this. And the idea that Yabao wetting the bed didn¡¯t seem right, who wets the bed so much they end up entirely soaked? If it wasn¡¯t any of those things, then where did the water come from? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t figure it out. She turned to Little Treasure and asked, ¡°Did you see anything?¡± Little Treasure didn¡¯t like to sleep, so maybe he had witnessed something. ¡°Xun.¡± Sipping on his milk, the little ghost shook his head. He hadn¡¯t seen anything. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s ears drooped, and he looked utterly despondent. Qiao Sang sympathized with Yabai¡¯s state of mind. Yabao hated water, and while he could handle it when prepared, waking up to find himself soaked in its least favorite thing was enough to make him lose it. It¡¯s like how some people are terrified of cockroaches. When awake, they¡¯ll avoid even one from a distance. If they woke up to find their body covered in cockroaches, they¡¯d probably have a meltdown too. Despite her understanding, Qiao Sang found Yabao¡¯s misery somewhat amusing. ¡°Yabao, you¡¯ve got a Flame Body now. You can dry yourself off.¡± She said helplessly. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s pitiful wails suddenly ceased. He looked dumbfounded at his Beast Master, then down at himself. The next second, fiery red stripes and fur on his paws flared up, enveloping his body in blazing flames. Moments later, the fire dissipated, revealing a completely dry, fluffy Flame Hound standing before Qiao Sang. Flame Body trait could be activated anytime, though in battle, it required being hit and an opponent getting close for a chance to inflict a burn. That didn¡¯t stop Yabao from using it normally, though. ¡°Yap!¡± Excited, Yabao spun around in circles, looking at himself. The water was gone! But soon, he became confused again. Why hadn¡¯t his Beast Master told him about the Flame Body after his bath a few days ago? Qiao Sang, seeing Yabao¡¯s expression, immediately knew what it was thinking. Feeling guilty, she thought, I forgot... To distract Yabao from thinking further, Qiao Sang coughed and said, ¡°Try using Touch Perception to see if you can recall how the water got on you.¡± Touch Perception allowed one to sense past events by touching people or objects. She had been wanting to test this out properly, but hadn¡¯t found the right opportunity at school. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded seriously, immediately forgetting whatever he had been thinking before. Chapter 133: Spit It Out and Give It Back!!! Yabao was just too easy to fool...After sighing about this, Qiao Sang saw Yaobao plop down on the floor, placing his paws on his chest with an indignant expression. His pout grew more pronounced, and his face darkened. Qiao Sang had read about the skill Touch Perception online. As the proficiency and level of the pet increased, it could observe events from further back in the past. If its mental strength was high enough, the pet could even sync the visions directly into the mind of the contracted beast master. Not only that, but once the skill was honed to a certain level, it could project the replayed scenes directly into the real world, like watching a virtual video. However, the specifics of the level required for this ability were not clearly detailed online. Psychic-type pets were already rare, and those capable of using Touch Perception were even fewer. Even if some powerful pet had reached that level, they probably wouldn¡¯t share it online so easily. Sea?ch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Touch Perception was a godlike skill for intelligence agencies, allowing them to perfectly replay crime scenes. If those with ill intentions knew the exact time limit of what could be traced, it would be easy for them to plan even more flawless crimes. With Yabao''s current beginner-level proficiency and mental strength, he couldn¡¯t sync the visions into her mind yet. But judging by Yabao''s expression, Qiao Sang guessed that he had probably seen why he ended up soaked. Otherwise, why else would he look so upset? Yabao, with his eyes closed, painfully reviewed the recent events in his mind. He hadn¡¯t noticed anything wrong while he was acting, but seeing things from a third person perspective made all the difference. Who was that embarrassing creature wailing like a banshee?! It couldn''t possibly be himself, could it?! No! He refused to admit it! The replay stopped just at the moment he started crying after realizing he was all wet. He hadn¡¯t seen anything useful, just his own miserable state. Yabao opened his eyes, looking utterly defeated. He felt like he would never be happy again... "Did you see anything?" Qiao Sang asked, sitting on the bed, observing Yabao as he opened his eyes. "Yap..." Yabao shook his head, his ears drooping, looking thoroughly demoralized. "So, what was the last thing you saw?" Qiao Sang asked curiously. If he hadn¡¯t seen anything, why was his expression so animated during the process? "Yap..." "Yap Yap..." Yabao raised his head, wearing an expression of unbearable shame. Qiao Sang: ... I see... It looks like Touch Perception at the beginner level can only go back about 10 minutes. Seeing Yabao¡¯s depressed look, Qiao Sang consoled it, ¡°It¡¯s okay. This will stay between us, you, me, and Little Treasure. No one else will know.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure lifted a paw and thumped his chest, swearing he would never tell a soul. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao let out a reluctant sound, seemingly a bit comforted. --- The mysterious reason why Yabao was suddenly soaked still didn¡¯t make sense, but Qiao Sang didn¡¯t continue investigating because it was already 7:27 AM, and she had to attend a training session at school. After a quick breakfast, Qiao Sang headed out. Little Treasure floated above her head, habitually making himself invisible. He now preferred remaining unseen while openly observing others. Yabao walked beside Qiao Sang. When they reached a fork in the road, he suddenly vanished. Qiao Sang paused, her expression unchanged. Because the Yabao that had been walking with her all this time was just a clone... If she calculated each step as half a meter, and she had walked 484 steps, then Yabao¡¯s clone control range was about 242 meters. After finishing her calculations, Qiao Sang took a step back and formed a hand seal. The real Yabao appeared in the gray star array before her. ¡°Yal...¡± Yabao let out a dejected cry. He had thought his clone could make it all the way to school. ¡°You did well.¡± Qiao Sang reassured him before asking, ¡°Did you leave a clone at home?¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded. ¡°Good. Now that you¡¯re wearing the Fire Condensing Pearl, you should be able to control it from farther away.¡± Qiao Sang knelt down and tied the red strung Fire Condensing Bead around Yabao¡¯s neck. After walking another 100 steps, about 50 meters, Yabao stopped in frustration and let out a soft cry. The clone at home had disappeared... Qiao Sang sighed. Only 290 meters¡­ still far from the 1-kilometer goal. Yabao wasn¡¯t quite there yet. If other beast masters knew about this, they¡¯d probably roll up their sleeves and start arguing with Qiao Sang. Controlling a clone nearly 300 meters away with a mid-level pet, and she thought that wasn¡¯t good enough?! Then what did they call their pets that could only control clones within their line of sight, trash, weaklings, failures?! Qiao Sang thought Yabao wasn¡¯t doing well simply because she had no reference point. If she had a mid-level pet for comparison, she¡¯d realize just how impressive Yabao was. This was largely due to the dual-type nature of Yabao, which included psychic abilities. Unfortunately, neither she nor her two pets knew what was considered normal at this stage. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared and handed Yabao some milk, signaling him not to feel down. --- Qiao Sang arrived at Training Ground No. 5. She quickly realized she was the last one to arrive again. Xu Yajie was still practicing the compression of his water gun. Shi Gaofeng was training his Berry Lance¡¯s accuracy, trying to make his Razor Leaf change direction mid-flight. In the face of the difficulty of learning new skills, the school team was focused on improving existing skills. Qiao Sang thought their training approach was good, but not suitable for her. Yabao had high talent and learned new skills quickly. He had mastered advanced skills when it was still a Fire Fang Dog at the beginner level. And once he learned a skill, his proficiency soared. With high-level skills and high proficiency, he could easily crush other pets at the same level, and even outclass higher-level opponents. Pure power made tactics unnecessary. But Qiao Sang only thought this in her mind. ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re here!¡± Wang Yao, who was squatting on the ground, called out. Among the sophomore battle group, she was the only girl, until now. With Qiao Sang joining in, both of their first contracted pets were fire-type, so they quickly grew close over the past few days. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she walked over. Wang Yao was holding a jar of bright red paste, applying it to her Flame Sparrow¡¯s tongue. ¡°You¡¯re feeding your Flame Sparrow ketchup?¡± Wang Yao paused her action, looking at Qiao Sang with a helpless expression. ¡°This is Original Fire Paste. If applied, it makes fire-type skills easier to perform within ten minutes and boosts proficiency.¡± Qiao Sang: ... No wonder Wang Yao¡¯s Flame Sparrow managed to reach the intermediate level of Flame Whirl in just a year without any special advantages. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao sniffed curiously from the side. ¡°Yan Yan.¡± The Flame Sparrow generously dipped its wing into the Original Fire Paste and offered it to Yabao. Its wing was large, so it scooped up a huge portion of the paste. Yabao hesitated for a moment, then licked some. ¡°How much is a bottle of that Original Fire Paste?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. Wang Yao took a deep breath and replied, ¡°Around 300,000.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! She lunged forward and pried open Yabao¡¯s mouth. ¡°Spit it out and give it back!¡± Chapter 134: Supernatural Phenomenon "Yap..." Yabao''s mouth was forced wide open.Qiao Sang leaned closer for a look and let out a sigh of relief. Luckily, she reacted quickly and nimbly, the tens of thousands of alliance coins were still on his tongue and hadn''t been swallowed. "Hurry, spit it out and give it back." Qiao Sang said, using one hand to hold Yabao''s mouth open and the other to pull the wings of the Flame Sparrow closer. "Yap..." Yabao patted Qiao Sang''s arm with his paw, signaling that he could keep his mouth open on his own. Qiao Sang understood Yabao¡¯s gesture and, feeling gratified, released her hand. Ya Bao obediently opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue. His own beast tamer was really too poor... "Yan yan!" The Flame Sparrow indignantly withdrew its wings. Just some original fire paste! There was no reason to take back what it had already given away! "Uh..." Wang Yao watched Qiao Sang''s series of actions with nothing but admiration in her heart. Even though it was a fire-type beast she had already contracted with, to have it voluntarily spit out something once in its mouth, if it were her Flame Sparrow, it would probably have slapped her with its wing by now. "What¡¯s up?" Qiao Sang turned to ask. "You just need to apply the original fire paste to the tongue for it to take effect, no need to swallow it." Wang Yao explained. Qiao Sang: ¡­! "Yap..." Yabao maintained his pose, tongue still extended, looking innocent. Wang Yao gave a tired smile, "It''s fine, I¡¯m used to it. Consider that original fire paste my gift..." "Yan yan!" The Flame Sparrow got anxious the moment it heard that. "It¡¯s from Xiao Yan to the Flame Hound!" Wang Yao quickly corrected herself. "Yan yan" Flame Sparrow nodded in satisfaction. Qiao Sang looked at Wang Yao with a complicated expression. Seeing her reminded Qiao Sang of her past self... "Thanks." Qiao Sang patted Wang Yao¡¯s shoulder in consolation. She fully understood the struggles of contracting with a fire-type beast. Back when Yabao was still a Fire Fang Dog, she had gone through the same hardships. "Don¡¯t mention it." Wang Yao replied with tears in her eyes. Since the original fire paste had already taken effect, it couldn¡¯t go to waste. Qiao Sang immediately had Yabao go to the training field, which hadn¡¯t been switched out yet, to release Ember in the rocky area. The Flame Sparrow followed close behind to practice Fire Whirl. Watching as the rocks in the field exploded one after another, Wang Yao hesitated, "Are you sure Flame Hound is using Ember? It feels stronger than Xiao Yan¡¯s Fire Whirl." "Maybe it''s just a high level of proficiency." Qiao Sang responded. Wang Yao didn¡¯t quite believe it. Fire Whirl was an intermediate-level skill, while Ember was a basic one. What level of mastery could make Ember outshine Fire Whirl? Moreover, her Flame Sparrow had already practiced Fire Whirl to a decent level. But it was Qiao Sang speaking, a super rookie who constantly broke her understanding of things, so she had no choice but to believe that what exceeded the power of Fire Whirl really might be Ember. The two fell into silence for a while. Qiao Sang suddenly asked, "Do you know how to increase a pet¡¯s mental power?" "Mental power?" Wang Yao thought for a moment and said, "You could buy some potions that enhance mental power or use soothing fruits." "Oh, and you could also make the pet experience something it¡¯s afraid of. Apparently, if it overcomes the fear, it can train its mental strength." "But I only saw that in a recently released movie, Teng Guo Guo¡¯s Drifting Journey, so I¡¯m not sure how true it is." "Generally, increasing mental power is something for psychic-type pets. I¡¯ve never tried it myself." Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. To control her clones over long distances, improving her mental power was essential. Since money was tight now, she might give that method a try. Overcoming fears, huh... What was Yabao afraid of again...? Yabao, still diligently using his skills, was completely unaware that he was about to enter the darkest moment of his life. A while later... Qiao Sang took out her phone, glanced at the time, and asked, "It''s already 8:13, why hasn''t Zheng Bao...Teacher arrived yet?" Before Wang Yao could answer, Shi Gaofeng, who had just finished training and came over to rest, spoke up loudly, "You mean Zheng Baolong? Gong Wei and the rest of the group battle team returned today. I saw them standing on the field getting scolded by Zheng Baolong when I came over. They¡¯re probably still getting it." "You¡¯ve only been here for two days, so you don¡¯t know yet, when Zheng Baolong starts scolding, it never ends. He won¡¯t stop for at least an hour." "Really?" A voice they absolutely didn¡¯t want to hear at that moment sounded from behind them. Shi Gaofeng stiffly turned his head. It was none other than Zheng Baolong. --- After finishing a day of training, Qiao Sang slumped onto the couch at home. She looked at the Beast Taming Codex. The page for Yabao''s skill, Ember, now showed (Secret 16162/20000). Yabao hadn¡¯t used any clones at school, and he had only spent about twenty minutes releasing Ember, but the skill points had increased by over 600. It really was true that a beast tamer''s future depended on their investments. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but recall her missing 5 million. It had been nearly a month. Why hadn''t the police contacted her yet? Had they forgotten about her case...? "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s cry snapped Qiao Sang back to reality. Seeing Yabao¡¯s serious expression, Qiao Sang remembered the morning¡¯s incident, she had promised to handle it after returning from school, but had almost forgotten. She hadn¡¯t had time to think about it this morning, but now that she recalled it, something felt off. Yabao slept in the same room as her, yet for no reason, he was completely soaked while the area around him was dry. That wasn¡¯t a natural phenomenon. Suddenly, Qiao Sang connected it with the mysterious puddle of water that had appeared in the living room last night, and the drastically reduced rent. There was something wrong with this house... And not the kind of problem she originally thought. Feeling a sense of dread, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and dialed the real estate agent, Xiao Wang. The call was picked up after just two rings. Sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before the person could speak, Qiao Sang got straight to the point, "Hello, I¡¯m the one who rented unit 1705 in Qianjing Garden two days ago. Do you remember?" "Yes, yes, I remember. Miss Qiao, is there something wrong?" Xiao Wang asked. As a real estate agent, he made dozens, if not hundreds, of calls daily. Remembering who was calling so quickly was because of the unforgettable pet he had seen that day. "You mentioned that the rent was lowered because the landlord had an urgent matter. Can you tell me what exactly happened?" Qiao Sang asked seriously. She hadn''t asked before, her mind clouded by the extremely low rent. Xiao Wang thought for a moment before responding, "The landlord just said there was an emergency at home, and they needed money urgently." Lies. Qiao Sang immediately came to that conclusion. Would someone who owned such a large house really be short on 15,000 in rent over three months? And if they were so desperate for money, how could they lower the rent by so much? "Did the landlord ever mention that water would randomly appear in the house?" Qiao Sang pressed. Hearing this, Xiao Wang, who was new to the job, panicked, "Miss Qiao, there¡¯s nothing wrong with the house! I showed it to you personally, and we¡¯ve already signed the contract." So the landlord hadn¡¯t said anything. Qiao Sang hung up without saying more. It would be too much trouble to go back and forth with the agent. She had too many things to deal with right now. Besides, she was satisfied with the house¡¯s price, environment, and location. She¡¯d just handle it herself. Qiao Sang began to contemplate. All supernatural phenomena were caused by extraordinary creatures. Could this house have one too? ----- ------ Chapter 135: Water-Type Pet Beast The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more likely it seemed that there was an extraordinary creature involved.Whenever she browsed the internet, she would often come across netizens sharing strange occurrences they encountered at home. For instance, someone''s house phone would ring for no reason, and when they answered, no one was on the other end. After this happened multiple times, they simply disconnected the phone line. Yet, the phone continued to ring occasionally. It wasn¡¯t until the inspection department came to check that they found an electric bell spirit had gotten inside the phone. There were also stories of people looking into mirrors and not seeing their own reflection. Or waking up to find all their hair gone. Without exception, these incidents were caused by extraordinary creatures. After a moment of contemplation, Qiao Sang headed to the courtyard by the pool with Yabao. Water is easily associated with water-type extraordinary creatures, so her first thought was a place with water. In the house, the most obvious place was the pool. As soon as she saw the pool, Qiao Sang felt confident her guess was almost right. Yesterday, when Yabao unleashed many of his clones, they crazily tossed sparks into the pool. The water had evaporated, leaving most of the pool empty. She hadn''t had the chance to refill it yet. But now, the pool was almost overflowing, with no signs that the water had decreased at all. Staring at the pool for a while, Qiao Sang turned and headed back to the bedroom. "Yap?" Yabao followed her into the room, looking confused. He didn¡¯t understand why his Beast Master was walking back and forth. Although their bond had grown stronger since Yabao evolved into a Flame Hound, making him more attuned to Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts, he still couldn¡¯t always know what she was thinking unless she said it out loud. "If my guess is right, there should be a water-type pet beast in our house, and the water on you is probably its doing." Qiao Sang explained as she sat on the edge of the bed. Yabao blinked in surprise, his eyes instantly blazing with fire. Little Treasure curiously looked around, as if searching for the water-type pet beast nearby. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll call the inspection department to come over." Qiao Sang said, reaching for her phone. Of course, the first thing to do when encountering a wild extraordinary creature in the city is to call the inspection department. She wasn¡¯t a professional Beast Master, so who would be foolish enough to handle it themselves? Qiao Sang had never considered keeping this wild pet beast for herself. Some Beast Masters without the funds to buy a pet beast might try to find a way to make a contract with one. But as someone about to come into a 5 million asset, with her first extraordinary Flame Hound and her second Treasure-Seeking ghost both being exceptionally gifted, there was no way she¡¯d casually contract a third one. Besides, her Beastmaster Codex didn¡¯t even have a third page yet. They didn¡¯t even know what kind of pet beast this one was or whether it was dangerous. The best course of action was to let the inspection department handle it. Just as she dialed the first two digits of the inspection department¡¯s number, a red-furred paw pressed down on her hand. ¡°Yap!¡± Qiao Sang looked up to see Yabao shaking his head, full of indignation. "Yap! Yap Yap!" Qiao Sang paused for a moment. "You¡¯re saying you want to find it yourself and teach it a lesson?" ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao''s eyes blazed with determination, vowing to find the culprit and fight it for three hundred rounds! ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Xun Bao raised his milk bottle, shouting his support, clearly eager to stir up more trouble. Qiao Sang was silent for a couple of seconds. Well, this might work. So far, the unknown pet beast had only soaked Yabao without causing any real harm, indicating that its temperament wasn¡¯t violent. Also, high-level pet beasts were typically large in size. But since they hadn¡¯t seen a trace of this pet beast, it was probably small in size and not particularly strong. With that in mind, Qiao Sang stood up decisively. "Alright, we¡¯ll handle it ourselves!" ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Xun!¡± One person and two beasts stormed towards the courtyard with fierce determination. --- At the pool. "This should be it." Qiao Sang nodded at Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao immediately summoned all his clones, surrounding the pool and firing Ember into the water. With the main body nearby boosting the power, the Embers were far more potent than they had been the previous day. In no time, half of the pool¡¯s water had evaporated. But aside from that, nothing happened. There was no water-type pet beast being blasted out of the water, as Qiao Sang had imagined. Could she have guessed wrong? That didn¡¯t seem right... Yanao didn¡¯t doubt that the culprit was in the pool. If his Beast Master said it was there, then it was definitely there. ¡°Yap!¡± Seeing that the Embers had no effect, Yabao''s gaze grew even sharper. All 15 clones disappeared simultaneously. The next second, an energy orb, brimming with immense power, began forming in front of it. Seeing this, Qiao Sang quickly retreated under the eaves with Little Treasure, her voice filled with concern. "Just be sure to control where the meteor rain lands." One of the best things about this house was the spacious, barren courtyard, with no plants to worry about. It was the perfect place to practice large-area attack skills like Meteor Rain. When they moved, they would just need to hire a Beast Master with a ground-type pet beast to refurbish the place. But this was Ya bao''s first time using Meteor Rain since evolving into a Flame Hound. While Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t too concerned about his power, she worried he might miss the mark¡­ If the energy orb hit the house, she wouldn¡¯t even have a place to cry. Yabao blinked to show he understood, unable to speak while concentrating on the energy orb. Meanwhile, a small ripple formed in a puddle a few meters from the pool. An eye quietly opened within the water. It stared intently at the energy orb rising into the sky. A sense of intense unease washed over it. Just as it contemplated moving, the fire rain burst open, with dozens of fireballs streaking across the sky, trailing red flames. One of them landed right in front of the creature. Qiao Sang gazed up at the meteor rain covering most of the courtyard. Both its quantity and the size of each flame had noticeably improved. The fire rained down, with searing energy scorching the ground. Boom! Boom! Boom! Several explosions rocked the ground, sending dirt and stones flying like arrows in every direction. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blazing flames spread out wildly, with tongues of fire licking the earth. Even from a distance, Qiao Sang could feel the scorching heat waves rushing towards her. She stared in awe at the large section of shattered ground. She was confident that even if she were to compete against Litan¡¯s Beast Master School right now, with this Meteor Rain, she would be invincible. The strongest students at Beast Master Academy mostly had mid-level pet beasts, and how many mid-level beasts could learn high-level skills? "Yap..." Ya Bao was equally stunned by the destruction. Was he really this powerful? When the meteor rain finally ceased, both Qiao Sang and Yabao were still overwhelmed by the Meteor Rain¡¯s power. "Xun! Xun Xun!" At that moment, Little Treasure pointed excitedly to a spot. Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and looked in the direction he was pointing. Lying there was a light blue pet beast, about 30 centimeters long. ----- ----- Chapter 136: Water Luriana Most blue-colored creatures are usually water-type beasts.She was right after all! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but admire her own cleverness. Little Treasure floated over and curiously poked the light blue beast¡¯s ear, which seemed to flow like water. Although the ear appeared to be flowing like water, the little ghost¡¯s paw didn¡¯t pass through it as expected. Instead, it was stopped by the surface. Where the ear was touched, it rippled like water, a magical sight. ¡°Xun!¡± Excited, Little Treasure poked it a few more times. Then, he started poking the tail, which also looked like water swirling in motion, just like the ears. Qiao Sang walked closer and stared at the light blue beast, frozen in surprise. From a distance, the small size of the beast and its curled up form after fainting had only made its color noticeable, not its appearance. Now, seeing it up close, Qiao Sang realized she had never seen a beast like this before. And it was¡­ ridiculously cute! The small creature lay on its side, with four legs resembling a fox, covered in light blue scales. Its large, pointed ears were a deeper blue inside than outside. At the center of its forehead was a sapphire-like, water droplet-shaped gem. Its back connected to a tail, which split at the end like a mermaid¡¯s tail. The most stunning part was its ears and tail, they actually looked like they were made of flowing water. Qiao Sang squatted down and couldn¡¯t resist touching its ear. It was cool and soft. A refreshing coolness spread from her fingertips, it was the perfect sensation for a hot summer day. The texture was so pleasant that Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but stroke it again. At that moment, Yabao approached. Unlike Qiao Sang and Little Treasur, he wasn¡¯t fooled by the cute appearance of the light blue beast. He stared angrily at the unconscious beast. So, this was the culprit that had soaked him from head to toe earlier. The more Yabao thought about it, the angrier he got. He stomped over and shook the little beast hard with his paw. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Why are you still unconscious? Wake up and fight me right now! ¡°Yabao, let¡¯s wait until it wakes up naturally. We can ask why it did that.¡± Qiao Sang said, feeling sorry for the small beast being shaken. People are always more lenient toward beautiful things. In today¡¯s society, beauty standards don¡¯t just apply to humans but to beasts as well. This is clearly shown in the Coordination Contests. As long as a beast is good-looking, it doesn¡¯t even need to perform to make it into the second round. But if a beast is unattractive, no matter how hard it tries, it¡¯ll still face harsh criticism. ¡°Yap.¡± Reluctantly, Yabao withdrew his paw. Though he desperately wanted to fight the culprit right now, he decided to wait since his Beastmaster had said so. Qiao Sang smiled and patted Yabao¡¯s head in appreciation. She then picked up the little blue beast and carried it into the living room. After placing it on the sofa, she took a picture with her phone and searched for information online. Soon, information about the light blue beast appeared. [Water Luriana, a near-extinct water-type beast from the Guwu region. Known for its gentle nature and dislike for fighting, it symbolizes peace and beauty.] [Its cellular structure is similar to water molecules, granting it the ability to merge its body with water by altering its cells.] [It must constantly replenish its water supply, which it absorbs through its ears or tail from moisture in the air.] [If its ears or tail double in size, it''s a sign that it will rain within a few hours.] [It is said that even if it loses limbs, as long as the gem on its forehead glows, it can heal and restore itself.] Qiao Sang¡¯s mind went blank as she read the information. An endangered water-type beast from the distant Guwu region?! The Guwu region was incredibly far from the Yuhua region¡­ It¡¯s an exaggeration to say it''s over ten thousand miles away. But how did a beast from there end up here in Yuhua? And it can regenerate lost limbs?! That would require at least a high-tier healing skill! Qiao Sang forced herself to stay calm and took a deep breath, searching for the reason behind Water Luriana¡¯s near extinction. Beasts that are near extinction are usually affected by ancient catastrophes, hunting, or reproductive issues. Sometimes, they were over hunted by humans. Thinking back to the gem on Water Luriana¡¯s head mentioned earlier, Qiao Sang strongly suspected it had been over hunted by humans. Soon, her search confirmed her suspicion. [Due to difficulties in reproduction and excessive hunting.] Qiao Sang was silent for a long time. As expected¡­ The value of such rare beasts is unimaginable. Though not as powerful as a divine beast, its rarity is on par with one. Dragon-type and fairy-type beasts, although rare, can still be bought if you have enough money. But for a near-extinct beast, it¡¯s not just a matter of money. Looking down at the unconscious Water Luriana, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help it¡­ She was tempted¡­ Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted by a rare beast with powerful healing abilities, one as precious as a divine beast? If someone weren¡¯t tempted, they¡¯d have to be a saint! As a Beastmaster, resisting the allure of such a beast is impossible. Qiao Sang admitted she was only human, after all. ¡°Little Treasure!¡± Qiao Sang turned her burning gaze toward the ghost. ¡°When it wakes up, it¡¯s all on you. Use your charm, offer it the best snacks and fun! I¡¯ll repay you tenfold!¡± ¡°Xun!¡± The little ghost became excited and quickly removed his ring, pulling out all sorts of things from it. Milk, candy, snacks, wind eagle feathers, dandelions, pink heart-shaped sunglasses¡­ Yabao was puzzled by his Beastmaster¡¯s words. Were these things really for the culprit? But when he saw the familiar sunglasses on the coffee table, he forgot his previous thoughts. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Excited, Yabao grabbed the pink heart shaped sunglasses. He had been searching for those for so long, only to find them in his little brother¡¯s ring! Yabao eagerly tried to put them on, but¡­ they wouldn¡¯t fit. The frames were pressing into his face¡­ Since evolving from a Fire Fang Dog into a Flame Hound, Yabao had grown several times larger. His head was also much bigger, so the sunglasses no longer fit. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao quickly realized the issue lay in his evolution. He lowered his head in disappointment, unable to accept this reality. ¡°No big deal, I¡¯ll buy you a few new pairs. You can pick whichever you like.¡± Qiao Sang said generously. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s tail began to wag, his spirits lifted once more. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that Ya Bao was in a good mood, Qiao Sang took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Do you know who this little beast is?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded. Of course, he knew. This was the evil creature that soaked him earlier! ¡°No, this is a poor creature, far from home, all alone, with no family or friends, lost and helpless.¡± Qiao Sang said, feigning a heavy tone. Chapter 137: Beauty and Peace Yabao froze for a moment and turned to look at the still unconscious Water Luriana lying on the sofa.Was the culprit really this pitiful? Seeing Yabao¡¯s expression, Qiao Sang knew that he had softened. She continued, ¡°Maybe it sprayed water on you because it was lonely and wanted to play.¡± Little Treasure stopped pulling things out of his ring and gave his Beastmaster a sidelong glance. No ghost would believe that, and he certainly didn¡¯t. Yabao seemed to be deep in thought. So, that¡¯s how it was? Seeing that the persuasion was almost working, Qiao Sang said sincerely, ¡°When it wakes up, we need to greet it kindly, make it feel love and warmth.¡± She sighed. ¡°This child is really pitiful.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s expression grew conflicted as he looked at the still closed eyes of Water Luriana. At first, he hadn¡¯t noticed, but now he realized just how small this creature was, he could squish it with a single sit. So, it probably wasn¡¯t provoking him by spraying water, but was just trying to play, as his Beastmaster said¡­ Thinking this, Yabao nodded. ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Yap Yaap.¡± Just a greeting, right? He could handle that. Qiao Sang wanted to laugh but held back. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess why Water Luriana had sprayed water at Yabao. Last night, during skill practice, he had blown fire at the pool, and so, soaking Yabao but sparing her and Little Treasure. Online, it said Water Luriana was gentle by nature, a symbol of beauty and peace. If that was true, as long as she showed friendliness, it shouldn¡¯t be hard to win its approval over time. Tomorrow, she¡¯d ask the teacher for the meditation technique to enhance her mind domain. Once she unlocked the third page of her Beastmaster Codex... Hehehe... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Seeing her goofy grin, Little Treasure recalled the earlier conversation and snickered too. Both his Beastmaster and Yabao were so silly. Just then, Water Luriana on the sofa opened its eyes. Every movement of this rare pet, comparable to a divine beast, tugged at Qiao Sang¡¯s heart, so she noticed immediately when it awoke. With its eyes closed, Water Luriana looked unbearably cute, but when it opened them, the feeling was completely different. Its eyes were dark like the depths of the ocean, transforming its aura from adorable to mysterious. Qiao Sang froze for a second, then put on her warmest smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re awake-¡± Before she could finish, a water jet hit her straight in the face. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± Seeing his Beastmaster get sprayed, Yabao instantly flared up, forgetting all about the earlier plan and charging forward, ready for a three hundred-round battle. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Sang raised her left hand to calm it down. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± She wiped the water off her face. It wasn¡¯t hard to understand Water Luriana¡¯s reaction. She¡¯d just knocked it out, so how could she expect a warm greeting in return? But it was okay, everything could be fixed. Water Luriana was gentle by nature, a symbol of beauty and peace! Qiao Sang forced a smile. ¡°Well, let¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Another water jet interrupted her. Qiao Sang: !!! Beauty and peace, my foot! At least let me finish a sentence! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s fur bristled, glaring angrily at Water Luriana. ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Water Luriana, though much smaller, wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated by the massive Flame Hound. It raised its head high, openly challenging Yabao. Its expression was proud, its attitude defiant, but the sudden appearance of two water bubbles under its nostrils instantly shattered its cool image. Qiao Sang¡¯s hands itched to capture this scene on camera¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Lu Lu!¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two pets locked eyes, sparks flying, on the verge of battle. Just then, Little Treasure floated between them holding two bottles of milk. ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun Xun.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten the task his Beastmaster had entrusted him with. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness for Little Treasure. If Water Luriana wouldn¡¯t listen to her, she could only rely on Little Treasure. Seeing his little companion step in, Yabao calmed his aggression. Water Luriana stared at the milk in front of it, the bubbles under its nose popping. It seemed to remember something, and with a flick of its tail, it swatted the milk out of Little Treasure¡¯s paws. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes darkened as he opened his mouth, revealing fangs wrapped in flames for the first time in a long while. Water Luriana lifted its head indifferently, blue light gathering at the tip of its tail, and the visible ripples of water started to accelerate rapidly. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Once again, Little Treasure, with two bottles of milk in his claws, took up the role of mediator. Water Luriana blinked at the milk that had somehow returned to Little Treasure¡¯s paws. Little Treasure¡¯s head tilted, quickly understanding Water Luriana¡¯s thoughts. He released the milk, letting it drop. But just before it hit the ground, the milk stopped mid-air and floated back up. So that¡¯s what it was, Little Treasure had used telekinesis to retrieve the milk. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± After his little show, Little Treasure once again offered the milk to Water Luriana. Water Luriana stared blankly at the milk. It hadn¡¯t expected that, after what it had done, the pet would still be offering it the milk. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Yabao, still baring his fiery fangs, gestured for his little brother to move aside so he could fight first. He had enough of this creature! ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure shook his head, having never forgotten his Beastmaster¡¯s orders. Qiao Sang, watching from the side, felt deeply moved. She never expected Little Treasure to handle this so well! Water Luriana, too, seemed touched by Little Treasure¡¯s actions for a couple of seconds. In the next moment, the blue light on its tail disappeared, and the water ripples returned to normal. It then jumped off the sofa and ran toward the courtyard. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure, panicked, wanted to chase after it. Yabao watched the culprit flee, the flames on his fangs fading, and sneered in the direction Water Luriana had run. Coward. Too scared to fight. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure anxiously tried to follow. But Qiao Sang called it back just in time. ¡°Forget it, don¡¯t chase it. It knows you mean well.¡± She had been observing the whole time. This Water Luriana didn¡¯t match its peaceful reputation online; it wasn¡¯t gentle or fond of humans. It had sprayed her twice without a second thought, but it had hesitated when facing off against Yabao. It was clear Water Luriana had been prepared to fight, but backed down under Little Treasure¡¯s persuasion, showing it had a softer side. Qiao Sang suspected Water Luriana hadn¡¯t left the house entirely. For a wild extraordinary pet, the city was dangerous, especially for one as rare as Water Luriana. It would probably get captured the moment it showed itself. Coming all the way from the ancient fog Guwu region to Yuhua, it had likely experienced such things. If it determined that staying here posed no danger, it wouldn¡¯t leave so easily. Although things hadn¡¯t gone as smoothly as she¡¯d hoped, with no friendly handshake to seal the deal, there was still time¡­ Qiao Sang began to imagine the future. Little Treasure floated over to her, pouting and looking pitiful. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± The milk hadn¡¯t been delivered. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart softened, and she gently said, ¡°You did really well.¡± ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure called out in a teary voice. He hadn¡¯t delivered anything. Did that mean no tenfold reward of resources? Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 138: May I Interview You? After solving the mystery of why he was wet, Yabao resumed his skill release as usual. If it weren''t for the training, Qiao Sang wouldn''t have gone through the trouble of moving out of the school in the first place. However, now that she knew there was a Water Luriana in the pool, Qiao Sang was in a bit of a dilemma. If she wanted to build a good relationship with Water Luriana, she couldn''t go around damaging its home. While water could be replenished, their relationship with Water Luriana wasn''t exactly good at the moment. After thinking for a long time, Qiao Sang could only tell Yabao to release his skills on an empty plot of land far from the pool. After all, most of the courtyard had already been ruined by the fire rain. When they moved out, they''d eventually need to hire someone to fix it, so a few more damages wouldn''t make much of a difference. In the courtyard, the explosive sounds of flames hitting the ground echoed non-stop. Dust rose, and debris scattered everywhere, inevitably landing in the pool. Underneath the water, Water Luriana opened its eyes, staring at the now murky pond, and bubbles instantly rose from its nostrils. That night, a puddle of water seeped through the crack under the bedroom door... --- The next morning, Qiao Sang was once again awakened by a piercing scream. Startled, she sat up in bed and saw the exact same scene as the previous day. Leaning against the headboard, Qiao Sang rubbed her forehead and said, "Your flame body." Yabao''s wails abruptly stopped, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment. Little Treasure silently sipped his milk nearby. After using his flaming body to evaporate the water on himself, Yabao immediately perked up. He spun around, ready to dash toward the courtyard. "Yap!" It must have been that guy again! He was going to fight it for three hundred rounds! "Wait, there''s not enough time. We need to head to school first." Qiao Sang quickly made up an excuse to stop him. She was feeling a headache coming on. Fire-type and water-type pet beasts naturally didn''t get along. After all these incidents, would she really be able to get along with Water Luriana? "Yap..." Reluctantly, Yabao stopped in his tracks. To keep up the lie, Qiao Sang had no choice but to leave 40 minutes early. Only those who had experienced this kind of ordeal could understand the struggle. Once it was certain the house was empty, Water Luriana finally closed its eyes in peace. Last night, it had nearly exhausted itself trying to replace the dirty water with clean water... Humans were truly cruel, dumping fire into the pond, forcing it to replenish half its water, and even polluting it so badly that it had to change all the water again from top to bottom. So cruel... If it weren''t for the ghostly pet that never slept following her around, it would have definitely made him taste the power of water. Drowsily, Water Luriana fell asleep. A red-and-white figure appeared by the pond... --- On the way to school. Sitting on Yabao¡¯s back, Qiao Sang was surprised to notice that when they reached the spot from the previous day, about 290 meters away, Yabao didn¡¯t pause but continued moving forward. "Is your clone still at home?" Qiao Sang asked. Since she wasn¡¯t walking herself today, she couldn¡¯t count her steps. Qiao Sang had to estimate the distance by comparing it to the previous day. They must have already covered 300 meters. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yap." As Yabao walked, he nodded. Qiao Sang found it unbelievable. What had happened? How did the range for controlling the clone increase overnight? Yabao walked on, his brain working at full speed, attention divided, mental energy draining, his expression more focused than during any of his usual training sessions. His master was rushing to school, so while he didn¡¯t have time to give that culprit a beating, his clone could! With this thought in mind, Yabao focused even more on controlling his clone. After advancing another 50 meters, Yabao finally stopped, looking a bit disappointed. Qiao Sang smiled brightly, patting Yabao on the head and praising, "Your progress is as fast as lightning." "Yap..." Yabao squinted his eyes in comfort. If Qiao Sang knew that Yabao had improved his focus and control just to fight Water Luriana, she probably wouldn¡¯t be smiling anymore. As they were about to arrive at school, her phone buzzed. It was an unfamiliar number. "Hello?" Normally, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t answer unfamiliar calls, but this was a special time, and she hadn¡¯t heard back about the 5 million reward yet. She¡¯d been carrying her phone 24/7, eagerly waiting for it to ring. She¡¯d answer any call that came through, no matter the number. "Hello, is this Miss Qiao Sang?" "Yes, it¡¯s me." "This is the Public Security Bureau of Hanggang City. Your bounty has been approved. Would you be able to come collect it today?" "I can!" Heaven knows how many sleepless nights she had spent, tossing and turning, waiting for this call! After hanging up, Qiao Sang immediately called the vice-principal to request leave. She didn¡¯t explain the exact reason, just said she had something to take care of. Liu Yao, the vice-principal, was left speechless. Who asks for leave from the vice-principal? "Don¡¯t you have your homeroom teacher¡¯s contact information?" Liu Yao asked tactfully. Still in her state of excitement, Qiao Sang completely missed the subtle hint: "Vice-principal, you¡¯re so clever! How did you know I didn¡¯t?" Liu Yao: ... Just as Qiao Sang thought the call had ended, Liu Yao spoke again: "If you finish your business today and have time, come to my office. I¡¯ve been so busy I forgot to help you plan your pet¡¯s training direction." "I¡¯ll have time!" Qiao Sang hung up happily. What a good person... She was starting to think the vice-principal was very reliable. --- The call had come from the Public Security Bureau of Hanggang City. Qitang Town was under the jurisdiction of Hanggang City, so for such a large bounty, she needed to go to the higher-level bureau to collect it. Knowing she could collect it today, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t in a rush anymore. After all, it was still early. She opened the navigation app and set off for the Public Security Bureau while sitting on Yabao¡¯s back. If one looked closely, they¡¯d notice Yabao was hovering a centimeter above the ground. Qiao Sang never forgot to train Yabao, even in moments like this... Forty minutes later, they arrived at the Public Security Bureau. As soon as Qiao Sang entered, a long-haired beauty holding a microphone approached, followed by a chubby bird with a camera around its neck. "Hello, I¡¯m a reporter from the Hanggang Focus Channel. May I interview you?" Qiao Sang was taken aback. The last time she was interviewed by a reporter was during the Bai Xin Competition. Could that still be generating buzz? "Sorry, I¡¯m busy right now." Qiao Sang declined. This was no time for jokes, this was the Public Security Bureau, and she was about to collect 5 million yuan. If the interview went public, and people found out she¡¯d collected a 5-million-yuan bounty, what if everyone started asking to borrow money from her? "I just thought your pet looked like the recently rumored new evolution of the Fire Fang Dog. I wanted to know its name." The reporter explained. So it wasn¡¯t about the Bai Xin Competition... "Sorry, not convenient right now." Qiao Sang still refused. Five minutes later, Qiao Sang, accompanied by an officer from the registration desk, entered a designated reception room. Inside, she saw a familiar face. "Hello, are you Miss Qiao Sang, the one who subdued the Class-A wanted criminal Zhou Xian? I¡¯m a reporter from Hanggang Focus Channel, here specifically to interview you. We just met earlier." The reporter smiled, microphone in hand. Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 139: Unusual Ears It turned out that the people were here specifically to interview her, which made things a little awkward¡­At that moment, a slightly chubby middle-aged man in a white police uniform walked in, followed by two young officers in blue uniforms. "You must be Qiao Sang. Truly impressive, so young and yet you managed to calmly apprehend an A-class fugitive." The middle-aged man in the white uniform smiled as he approached her. "This is Director Pan from the Hanggang City Public Security Bureau." The male officer in the blue uniform on the left introduced. Qiao Sang froze for a second, not even having time to respond before Director Pan chuckled, ¡°Several media outlets have come to report on this case. We¡¯ll make sure they spread the word about you, so everyone knows Hanggang has produced such a young heroine.¡± The female reporter chimed in perfectly, "I''ll make sure to report it well." Qiao Sang: ... At this point, what else could she say? By the time she left the police station, two hours had already passed. The reporters had been too enthusiastic, and Qiao Sang felt she couldn¡¯t handle it. One question after another. Not only did they ask how she subdued the A-class fugitive on Huangming Mountain, but they also asked about Yabao. It was understandable, though. Recently, the blurry photos of the Fire Fang Dog''s new form had gone viral, and the story was still trending. Any pet beast resembling the new form of the Fire Fang Dog would naturally draw attention. Qiao Sang didn''t try to hide anything. Since they¡¯d find out eventually, she just told the truth. Little did she know, the reporters went wild¡­ If she hadn¡¯t quickly put Yabao back into the Beast Codex, judging by the looks in their eyes, it felt like they might¡¯ve devoured him whole. She had to admit, news reporters are really¡­ dedicated. Not like ordinary people who would be scared of fire-type beasts¡­ Rounding a corner, Qiao Sang summoned Yabao from the Beast Codex. Yabao looked around, startled by the change in environment. Where are the people? The microphones? The cameras? "It''s okay now. We''re out." Qiao Sang said, watching Yabao glance around. "Yap." Yabao let out a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t even had time to look in the mirror or wear sunglasses. With so many cameras pointed at him, he was really worried they''d capture his bad side. Thankfully, it was all over now. Just then, the ground suddenly shifted. A 50-centimeter creature appeared in front of them. It had short brown-gray fur, round ears, and a black stripe on its forehead. "Yap!" Startled, Yabao instinctively prepared to shoot Ember. Recently, due to his focus on practicing this skill, Ember had become Yabao''s go-to move whenever he wanted to attack. "Wait, don¡¯t hit it!" Qiao Sang stopped him. The pet in front of them was a mid-tier Short-Eared Mouse, naturally gifted with burrowing abilities. But that wasn¡¯t the most important part. The important thing was that this Short-Eared Mouse had a work badge and a camera hanging from its chest, clearly, it was a working pet with an owner. "Sho." The Short-Eared Mouse politely greeted them, lifting its work badge with its right paw. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang bent down for a closer look. It was a press pass¡­ She gave the Short-Eared Mouse a complicated look. Indeed, its ability to dig underground and reach interviewees directly, without fear of crowds, made it quite suited for being a journalist. "Sho, sho." The Short-Eared Mouse, seeing that Qiao Sang had checked its work badge, raised the camera and snapped a couple of shots of Yabao. Yabao froze for a second when the camera was pointed at him, but quickly understood what was happening. He puffed up his chest and posed with a cool expression. Qiao Sang: ... Should she remind Yabao that the Short-Eared Mouse¡¯s low angle would result in some rather unflattering shots? She glanced at Yabao, who was trying hard to look tough. Oh well, Yabao was flawless from every angle! This was just a brief interruption. The Short-Eared Mouse waved goodbye and left, without bombarding them with annoying questions like the other reporters. Then again, even if it had asked questions, Qiao Sang probably wouldn¡¯t have understood¡­ With a hefty reward in hand, Qiao Sang felt ecstatic, as if she were walking on air on her way to school. --- At Shengshui High School. In the vice principal¡¯s office. Liu Yao crouched down, inspecting Yabao¡¯s paw, then opened his eyelid for a closer look. Watching from the side, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but think how much this resembled a doctor examining a patient¡­ "Have you given it a name?" Liu Yao lightly tugged on Yabao¡¯s ear, peeking inside. Qiao Sang hesitated for a second. "Yabao." Liu Yao: ... "No, I mean its species name. You''re the first to evolve a Fire Fang Dog into this new form, so you have the right to name it." Liu Yao explained. "Flame Hound." Qiao Sang suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t yet told the vice principal the name. ¡°Flame Hound¡­¡± Liu Yao paused, glancing at her in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s a fitting name.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Qiao Sang scratched her head sheepishly. Of course it was. She didn¡¯t come up with it, the Beast Codex had shown the name. It''s legit. "When did you first realize his ears were special?" Liu Yao asked. Special ears¡­? She had no idea¡­ "From the moment it evolved. His ears got noticeably bigger." Qiao Sang answered quickly. The Fire Fang Dog had prominent ears to begin with, and after evolving into the Flame Hound, his ears seemed even more pronounced. Not a complete lie. Liu Yao: ... "You''re only seeing the surface. I''m not entirely sure either, but I¡¯ll check its ears more thoroughly." Liu Yao said, nodding to the Sky Bat beside him. The bat vanished instantly. Five seconds later, it returned with an otoscope. The speed, the efficiency¡­ Qiao Sang was seriously impressed. Liu Yao placed the thin endoscope into Yabao''s ear. Yabao flinched, so itchy¡­ The viewing screen, just an ordinary tablet, displayed the results. After a few moments, Liu Yao had his answer. ¡°As expected, the Flame Hound has a structure in its ears that allows for ultrasonic detection. The specific frequency range isn¡¯t clear yet, but it¡¯s at least twenty times greater than a human¡¯s hearing.¡± Liu Yao said as he put the endoscope away. ¡°Unfortunately, it can¡¯t emit ultrasonic waves like the Echolocating Bat, or it could navigate perfectly in the dark.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly understood. She didn¡¯t feel too bad about the lack of ultrasonic emission, though. Normally, the Fire Fang Dog would have evolved into the Blaze Hound. Now that it had become a Flame Hound with enhanced hearing and powerful psychic abilities, she couldn¡¯t be more grateful. "I think he¡¯s perfect as he is." Qiao Sang said with a smile. "Yap!" Yabao sensed his master¡¯s gaze, smiled with his eyes, and wagged his tail in response. Liu Yao smiled as well, dropping the subject of the Flame Hound¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯ve finished examining the Flame Hound. I remember you have a Treasure-Seeking Ghost as well, summon it, and I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Liu Yao said as he stood up. Qiao Sang nodded, then called out into the air, "Little Treasure." "Xuuun~" In the next moment, the little ghost appeared on the screen. He even mimicked Liu Yao¡¯s actions, holding an endoscope and pretending to examine his own ear. Chapter 140: The Ghost Ring Phantom Due to their contract, Qiao Sang could sense where Little Treasure was. However, Liu Yao wasn¡¯t so fortunate. The monitor was right at his feet, and when he glanced down, a ghost-type beast with gray and yellow patterns appeared in his field of vision, making his heart skip a beat. Fortunately, Liu Yao had developed a strong heart from being startled by Sky Bat''s vanishing act during his younger years, so he managed to avoid losing his composure and yelling out loud. After steadying his nerves, Liu Yao crouched down to examine the Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost. "Xun~" Little Treasure handed over the endoscope with one paw and pointed to his own ear with the other. Although Liu Yao couldn¡¯t understand its language, as a breeder, he could often discern a pet beast¡¯s intentions through its behavior. ¡°You don¡¯t need to check your ears.¡± Liu Yao said. "Xun..." Little Treasure pouted, his golden eyes staring directly at Liu Yao, as if asking, ¡°Why?¡± At this point, Liu Yao¡¯s attention was completely drawn to his eyes. He exclaimed in surprise, ¡°This Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost has golden-yellow eyes!¡± Qiao Sang paused, feeling nervous. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± She knew normal Treasure-Seeking Ghosts had pale yellow eyes, but golden-yellow still fell within the range of yellows. Just like how the eye colors of people in Dragon Nation ranged from black to light brown, she thought it was merely a hereditary difference. Could it be more complicated than that? ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong. I just think the color looks nice.¡± Liu Yao replied. Qiao Sang: ... She could feel her patience waning! It was like going to the hospital for a check-up, only to have the doctor say that one of your organs looks different from other people''s. That¡¯s terrifying! After inspecting Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost for a while, Liu Yao asked, ¡°You¡¯ve raised it well. Have you thought about its future evolution path?¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback. Little Treasure had only one evolution form, Treasure-Seeker Demon, but after that, it could evolve into two different paths. Those were the Treasure-Seeker Spirit and the Ghost-Ring Phantom. To be honest, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t given much thought to this. Whether he evolved into a Treasure-Seeker Spirit or Ghost-Ring Phantom, both were advanced beasts, and right now, Little Treasure was still just a basic beast. It felt too early for her to consider this; She thought she¡¯d decide after it evolved into a Treasure-Seeker Demon and became a mid-tier beast. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it yet.¡± Qiao Sang answered truthfully. ¡°Well, you should start thinking now.¡± Liu Yao said, stopping his examination and looking up at her. ¡°If you want it to evolve into a Treasure-Seeker Spirit, there¡¯s nothing special you need to do, just raise it as you have been. But if you want it to become a Ghost-Ring Phantom, you¡¯ll need to start following a different cultivation plan while it¡¯s still a Treasure-Seeking Ghost.¡± Qiao Sang genuinely didn¡¯t know this. Most beasts¡¯ cultivation plans were meant to prepare them for their next evolutionary stage, but she¡¯d never heard of starting so early to prepare for a cross-stage evolution. After a few seconds of contemplation, she asked, ¡°What do I need to do if I want him to evolve into a Ghost-Ring Phantom?¡± After contracting Little Treasure , Qiao Sang had naturally researched the species extensively online. Even though she hadn¡¯t yet decided between the Treasure-Seeker Spirit or the Ghost-Ring Phantom, it didn¡¯t stop her from studying both evolutionary paths. The Treasure-Seeker Spirit was a ghost- and dark-type beast. It could evolve smoothly as long as it accumulated enough energy. The Ghost-Ring Phantom, a ghost-type beast, lacked a dark attribute, but compared to the Treasure-Seeker Spirit, it learned ghost-type skills more easily. There was also a chance it would awaken a curse-type skill when evolving into a Ghost-Ring Phantom. It was similar to how Yabao awakened his ability to sense through touch and spectral fire when he evolved into Flame Hound. However, to evolve into a Ghost-Ring Phantom, the Treasure-Seeker Demon¡¯s circular ring had to first split into two, but Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know the exact process. She only knew that the number of Treasure-Seeker Spirits far exceeded that of Ghost-Ring Phantoms because the evolution conditions and materials required for the latter were much more difficult to obtain. Between the two, Qiao Sang preferred the Ghost-Ring Phantom. Little Treasure already had a psychic attribute, and his skills didn¡¯t need to be numerous, the psychic and ghost-type skills alone would keep it busy. So, it seemed more advantageous to evolve into a Ghost-Ring Phantom, which could master ghost-type skills more easily. Liu Yao wasn¡¯t surprised by her choice, as Ghost-Ring Phantoms were far rarer than Treasure-Seeker Spirits. ¡°If you want it to evolve into a Ghost-Ring Phantom, you need to first teach it Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp. Then, for a week, use the flame to temper its ring. Once the ring splits into two, you can use Dark Soul Crystals at night to trigger its evolution.¡± Liu Yao explained. Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp? Isn¡¯t that a fire-type skill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to prepare while it¡¯s still a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Even though Treasure-Seeking Ghost is a ghost-type, its ring can absorb materials of different attributes. It can use the ring as a medium to release Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp.¡± ¡°As it evolves, the ring¡¯s capacity to absorb energy increases. If you wait until it becomes a Treasure-Seeker Demon to teach it Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp, the materials required would be more than ten times greater.¡± Liu Yao explained further. Qiao Sang felt overwhelmed by this sudden knowledge. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is the ring really that powerful? Does that mean as long as I have enough materials, it can learn other attribute skills too?¡± Was the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s ring really that amazing? How had she never heard of this before? Wouldn¡¯t that mean the Treasure-Seeking Ghost could use its ring as a medium to release all sorts of skills from other attributes? sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If she rounded up, wouldn¡¯t that make it an all-attribute beast?! That couldn¡¯t be right! If that were true, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost would be selling like crazy. Why would it still be out there struggling to get by? ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the imagination.¡± Liu Yao laughed. ¡°Of course not. The ring can absorb materials of different attributes but only extracts the energy needed to expand its internal space.¡± ¡°Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp is an exception because it contains a ghost element. The materials required to teach it that skill have been carefully studied over time.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just use random fire-type materials to get it to absorb and release Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp.¡± Ah, so that¡¯s how it works! Qiao Sang finally understood. She couldn¡¯t be blamed for her confusion, though, Liu Yao¡¯s explanation had touched on her knowledge blind spots. After the examination, Liu Yao went to his desk and quickly wrote up two cultivation plans by hand. Qiao Sang leaned in for a closer look. Thankfully, unlike doctors¡¯ handwriting, it wasn¡¯t completely illegible¡­ --- After leaving the school, Qiao Sang, holding the two cultivation plans prepared by an A-level breeder, headed to the nearest beast cultivation institute. Beast cultivation institutes didn¡¯t just help design a beast¡¯s growth trajectory; they could also create energy pellets based on specific material formulas. Energy pellets perfectly blended all necessary nutrients and were easy to carry. They could even be customized to match a beast¡¯s preferred flavor, making them the ideal choice for energy-based meals. Although Qiao Sang now had the formula, she had never made one before. If anything went wrong during the process, all the materials would be wasted. Figuring it was best to leave professional tasks to professionals, she decided to visit the institute. Chapter 141: Forget About It The beast cultivation institution was small, with a quiet and desolate atmosphere. Inside, there was only a man in a black short-sleeve shirt, sitting on a low stool, playing a card game called Dou Dizhu with two sand moles. "Pair of twos!" Qiao Sang walked in just in time to see the man excitedly throw down his cards. "Bo bo." One of the sand moles lazily played four cards, likely a bomb combination. The man instantly fell silent. "Uh, is anyone here?" Qiao Sang looked further inside, hoping to call someone else out. "Yes, yes, yes!" The man immediately put down his cards and got up to greet her. What luck! A customer at just the right moment, a perfect excuse to ditch the game. The man was overjoyed, and his face was all smiles as he said, "Are you here to look for a breeder, a caretaker, or do you want your pet to learn a new skill?" Qiao Sang was taken aback. Did this place really offer such a wide range of services? Pet breeding, pet boarding, and teaching pets new skills were all big tasks, and it was rare for one place to cover all of them. Qiao Sang''s opinion of the institution improved. She hadn''t expected such a small place to be so comprehensive. The man noticed Yabao beside her and his eyes lit up, not because he recognized Yabao as the newly evolved form of the Fire Fang Dog from the news, but because he was stunned by its appearance. Flame Hounds always gave off an impression of wealth. It seemed like this customer had money... Thinking this, the man¡¯s attitude grew even more enthusiastic. "We have professional breeders here. As for boarding, we offer monthly, quarterly, and yearly plans. We also provide skill training." He pointed to the two sand moles still holding cards. "Look at these two, they¡¯ve only been here about a week and already know how to play cards and roll dice." "Do you have any particular skills you¡¯d like your pet to learn? Whether it¡¯s Werewolf, Three Kingdoms Kill, or Scripted Murder, we can guarantee they¡¯ll master it." Qiao Sang: ... So, it turns out skills meant those kinds of skills... "I¡¯d like to have a month¡¯s supply of energy pills made according to this." Qiao Sang handed over two nurturing plans, explaining her intent. The man took them with a smile, casually glancing at the documents. But just that quick glance almost made him lose his composure. Oh boy, refined liquid, molten fire fruit, fire element crystals, warm powder... Even a quick glance revealed that these were all rare ingredients. What a big spender... Only an advanced energy pill maker would dare use these materials for pill production. If this order went through, they¡¯d have to hire external help to produce it. "Are you expecting us to provide the materials as well?" The man asked more seriously, impressed by such high-quality ingredients. "How much would it cost if you supplied them?" Qiao Sang asked. She hadn¡¯t bought the materials beforehand because she wanted to save time, planning to have the institution provide them. The cost might be higher than if she purchased them herself, but was money really an issue? No! She was now a person with five million in assets! "About 200,000 for a month¡¯s supply of two types of energy pills." the man estimated. Qiao Sang froze, her brain quickly doing the math. 200,000¡­ That¡¯s 2.4 million a year, she could buy 24 Fire Fang Dogs with that... Damn! This place was a rip-off! "Sorry for bothering you." Qiao Sang yanked the two papers from the man¡¯s hand and turned to leave. "Wait!" The man swiftly blocked her. "We can negotiate the price. Don¡¯t rush off." He admitted he had inflated the price a bit, but only by a little. Energy pill prices were never uniform in the market. Who hears the price and just walks away without haggling? Having a potential sale in hand, he didn¡¯t want to let it slip away. Qiao Sang paused. "50,000." "You can leave." This time, it was the man¡¯s turn to walk away. Qiao Sang: ... Fine, I¡¯ll go! Ten minutes later, Qiao Sang found herself back at the shop... After calling the vice principal, she confirmed that the materials and production fees indeed amounted to about 200,000. No wonder people often said it¡¯s easy to form a contract with a pet but hard to nurture it. Now, she understood deeply... After half an hour of friendly negotiation, they settled on a final price of over 180,000 per month. Payment would be made monthly, 2,000 upfront as a deposit, with the remainder paid upon receiving the energy pills each month. --- Qiao Sang returned home feeling heavy-hearted. She originally thought that five million would be enough to indulge herself for a long time, but now, just customizing a year¡¯s supply of energy pills would eat up nearly half of her savings. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not to mention the materials needed for her Little Treasure¡¯s ring and the Dark Nether Crystal required for his evolution later. She might burn through all her money... For the first time, Qiao Sang felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. And this was just for one intermediate-level pet and one beginner pet. What would she do when their levels got higher? Sitting on the sofa, Qiao Sang picked up her phone and started searching for the materials needed for Little Treasure¡¯s ring. There weren¡¯t that many, only ten. Seeing the search results, she let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, they weren¡¯t as expensive as she had imagined... She ordered eight of them online for only 32,000 alliance coins. However, she hesitated over the century-old Rootgrass and Ghostflame Fruit. There were too many counterfeits online, and these two were the most expensive, over 60,000 and 80,000 respectively. Buying materials wasn¡¯t like buying clothes, where you could easily spot fakes. If you bought the right ones, great, but if you got it wrong, you¡¯d have to fight the seller for a refund. What a hassle. For such expensive materials, it was better to either have them appraised after buying them or go directly to a reputable physical store. After some thought, Qiao Sang decided to visit a store for those two items later. Just as she was looking at her phone, a series of crackling sounds came from the courtyard. "What¡¯s happening?" Qiao Sang looked up, startled. "Xun!" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure excitedly floated to the left, mimicking Yabao¡¯s fire-breathing action. Then he floated to the right and, imitating Water Luriana¡¯s fainting from last time, closed his eyes and collapsed. Qiao Sang: ¡­! She had completely forgotten about this! In the morning, she had tricked Yabao into going to school early to avoid fighting with Water Luriana. Then, she got so caught up in researching materials when she came back that she forgot about Yabao. Could they be fighting already?! At that moment, a loud boom echoed from the courtyard. No doubt about it, that was the sound of a battle¡­ Qiao Sang leaped to her feet, her expression tense, and hurried toward the courtyard. She could only hope that Water Luriana was hiding underwater, just like yesterday when Yabao launched his fire spark... "Xun~" Little Treasure followed behind with a gleeful look, eager to watch the chaos. When Qiao Sang reached the courtyard and saw the scene before her, her vision went dark. Yabao stood proudly with his head held high, while Water Luriana lay on the ground, fainted. Chapter 142: The Task Qiao Sang took a deep breath and walked with heavy steps toward Water Luriana. Her mind was in disarray.In the wreckage of the courtyard, surrounded by a smug-looking Yabao eager for praise, and Little Treasure incessantly poking Water Luriana''s tail, Qiao Sang just wanted a moment of peace. If only the Beast Master Codex had a blank third page, she would definitely seize the opportunity while Water Luriana was unconscious to try forming a contract. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t. After two incidents like this, she had no confidence left in repairing her relationship with Water Luriana¡­ --- When Water Luriana woke up and saw the familiar sight of blue in front of her, she instinctively wagged her tail a few times. She was in the water¡­ She surfaced, revealing only half of her eyes above the water. There was no one. The new human and her two beasts were nowhere to be found. With a flick of her tail, Water Luriana was about to return to the pool when something familiar caught her eye near the edge. Swimming closer, Water Luriana was momentarily stunned. It was a bottle of milk. Meanwhile, inside the house¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang was busy installing a newly delivered oversized full-length mirror. The one most excited about having a full-length mirror was, without a doubt, Yabao. Once the mirror was installed, Yabao carefully levitated it with psychic power, placing it gently in the spot with the best light near the glass wall. The experience of looking at himself in the blurry reflection of the water versus seeing his image clearly in the mirror was completely different. Half-sitting in front of the mirror, Yabao was once again immersed in his own handsomeness. On the other side¡­ "Just keep levitating this coin, and when you get tired, let it drop." Qiao Sang handed a coin to Little Treasure, giving instructions. Little Treasure was now over a month old, and today marked the official start of his training. "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded, raising a small paw glowing with blue light. Soon, under the control of his psychic power, the coin was floating in midair. Qiao Sang was quite satisfied. Some beasts tend to resist training at first, unwilling to cooperate. Since Little Treasure had never been trained before, she was somewhat concerned. But now, it seemed her worries were unfounded. Relieved, Qiao Sang sat down, pulled out her phone, and began searching for local stores that sold Root Grass and Ghost Flame Fruit. Meanwhile, Little Treasure, having levitated the coin for a short time, started to get bored. He absentmindedly wiggled his paw, manipulating the coin. As his fingers moved, the coin began spinning and twirling in circles. "Xun~" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up, and he started moving his fingers more dramatically. The coin, following his gestures, shot up to the ceiling and then dropped sharply, nearly hitting the floor before stopping just in time. It then quickly darted toward Yabao. The sudden appearance of the coin snapped Yabao out of his admiration of his reflection. He turned to look at his little companion. "Xun!" Little Treasure issued a challenge. "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s expression shifted, indicating he accepted the challenge. Soon, his eyes began to glow blue. By the time Qiao Sang had finished finding a store and looked up, she was stunned. The television, remote control, cups, plants, cushions, everything in the room that could be seen was floating in midair. Qiao Sang¡¯s brain froze for two seconds. Little Treasure was only a low-level beast, and his psychic power was just in the beginning stages. There was no way he could control this many objects. Aside from Yabao, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone else capable of doing this. She stiffly turned her head and, as expected, saw Yabao''s eyes and body glowing blue, while Little Treasure, who had initially been using just one glowing finger, was now radiating blue light from his entire body. These two¡­ Qiao Sang took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. It wasn¡¯t their fault, they were both not even six months old yet. What could they possibly know? This was the time for a Beast Master to teach them properly. Thinking this, Qiao Sang felt a bit better and her expression softened. She was just about to speak calmly when she suddenly realized her feet were off the ground, and she was floating away from the couch. "¡­" "Both of you, stop it right now!!!" --- In the days that followed, training finally entered a regular routine. Every day, before going to school, Yabao would leave a clone at home. Once the clone disappeared after reaching a certain distance, he would use psychic power to levitate and head to school. On the way home, hr would also use psychic power. Occasionally, he would play with Little Treasure, floating objects around the house. His psychic ability points were steadily increasing, with his proficiency successfully reaching the Small Success stage, and rising by over 200 points daily, pushing it closer to Great Success. His Ember skill had also reached the peak of mastery by the fifth day after moving. Little Treasure¡¯s psychic power and Hypnosis had both reached proficiency levels. He practiced Hypnosis on Yabao, whose mental strength far exceeded that of Little Treasure, so he wasn¡¯t easily hypnotized. Even when he was, Yabao could break free using sheer willpower, which also helped train his mental strength. Everything seemed to be progressing in a good direction. Except for one thing¡­ his relationship with Water Luriana¡­ --- One week later. 7:22 AM. Qiao Sang opened her eyes and saw Yabai calmly using his Flame Body to evaporate the water off himself. Recently, Yabao had been soaking wet every morning. From his initial irritation to his current acceptance, hr had grown used to it. He no longer made any excuses to avoid baths. Water Luriana wasn¡¯t doing much better. Several times, whenever Qiao Sang was preoccupied, Yabao would dash into the courtyard and unleash a barrage of skills. Then Water Luriana would faint¡­ Not only that, but every time Water Luriana fainted, Yabao would run over to show off his victory to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang¡¯s emotional journey went from initial panic, to utter frustration, and finally, to numb acceptance. The emotional rollercoaster had been intense. But one thing puzzled Qiao Sang, despite being bullied by Yabao every day, Water Luriana still chose to stay at the house. Though the outside world might be dangerous, surely nothing was more dangerous than the relentless daily battles instigated by Yabao¡­ Pushing aside her jumbled thoughts, Qiao Sang headed to school. In the training field¡­ "Qiao Sang, how¡¯s the range training for your Fire Whirl going?" Wang Yao asked with a smile. "Not bad." Qiao Sang replied. The school team was still focusing on skill compression training. Aside from practicing at school, Qiao Sang hadn''t been doing much. "I''ll tell you, my Little Flame has already met the training target, it can now hit anything within a 30-meter range with 100% accuracy." Wang Yao said in a hushed tone. Last time, Flame Sparrow¡¯s range had almost reached the red target but hadn¡¯t quite gotten there. Skill compression was easy to start but hard to improve as you progressed. "That¡¯s impressive. You might be the first in our group to meet Zheng Baolong¡¯s requirements." Qiao Sang said. "If there¡¯s an inspection today, I bet you¡¯ll be the only one who doesn¡¯t get scolded." "Don¡¯t forget to count yourself in." Wang Yao laughed. "But there won¡¯t be any inspection today." "Why not?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled. "Every now and then, we have to go on a mission, and if I remember correctly, today¡¯s the day." Wang Yao answered. Chapter 143: Forgot to Update Information Qiao Sang paused for a moment, only then remembering there was still a task to be done."Is the task something we pick ourselves or is it assigned by Zheng Baolong?" Qiao Sang asked. "We''ll go to the Beast Taming Center, and the staff will screen tasks for us based on our beast''s attributes, level, and skills. Then, we choose the task ourselves. The task progress is synced with Zheng Baolong, but he usually doesn''t interfere, at most just scolds us after it''s done." Wang Yao replied. Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds. "Is there never any praise?" Wang Yao spread her hands helplessly. "You don''t know? Unless you complete the task perfectly, the client gives you a five-star rating and leaves a glowing review, leaving Zheng Baolong speechless. Otherwise, he''ll always find some bone to pick and lecture you." "Is five stars that hard to get?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled. "It''s incredibly hard." Wang Yao complained. "Some people who post tasks are a nightmare. Even if you solve their problem, they''ll nitpick and say you had a bad attitude while completing the task, then leave you a long review criticizing you." "Do you remember those three from the team battle group who got yelled at for half an hour on the field after finishing their task?" Qiao Sang nodded. "I remember." "They were doing a sparring rotation task. They spent several days training with the client, and when they left, the client was all smiles. But when they submitted the task, the review said they were too weak to provide effective training." Wang Yao shrugged. Qiao Sang felt alarm bells ringing in her mind. It seemed the tasks weren''t as simple as she''d thought. --- At the Beast Taming Center in Hanggang. On the third floor, in the task hall. The giant virtual screen in the hall continuously refreshed with tasks, displaying either newly posted tasks or those that had been unclaimed for a long time. Many people gathered around the virtual screen, searching for tasks suitable for themselves. Most of the tasks involved venturing into secret realms, which were not suitable for novice beast tamers. "Have you all registered?" Zheng Guoping asked the students before him. Shi Gaofeng, Xu Yajie, and the others nodded. "The main goal of taking on tasks is to improve yourselves. Don''t just pick any task to get it done. Think about what the task can bring you, understand?" Zheng Guoping said earnestly. "Understood." Everyone replied. Zheng Guoping nodded in satisfaction and found a seat. Wang Yao glanced at Zheng Baolong''s back, clicked her tongue, and whispered to Qiao Sang, "He hasn''t come with us to the Beast Taming Center since the beginning. This time, he''s obviously here for you. Those words just now were clearly meant for you." Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit of pressure. There were 23 task windows in total, and her number was 02899. Soon, it was her turn. Qiao Sang approached window number 06. The receptionist was a female staff member with shoulder-length hair. "Hello, please present your information card and Beast Tamer badge." Qiao Sang handed over her information card and badge. After scanning them, the receptionist stared at the computer screen, checking the displayed information several times, uncertain. What the heck? Fifteen years old? A Fire Fang Dog and a Treasure-Seeking Ghost? Seriously? Could there be a mistake? Despite her doubts, the receptionist maintained a calm expression, thanks to her years of professionalism. "It doesn''t show that you have any active tasks. Are you here to post a task or to receive one?" "To receive." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let me filter the tasks for you. One moment. You have a Fire Fang Dog... I''m not sure if it..." Before she could finish, Qiao Sang interrupted, "I don''t have a Fire Fang Dog." As expected. The receptionist let out a sigh of relief. She had thought it was impossible for someone so young to have contracted two beasts, one fire-type and one ghost-type. Whoever registered this must have been careless to make such a mistake. "Sorry, my Fire Fang Dog evolved, and I haven''t had time to update the information." Qiao Sang explained. Beast evolutions, unlike contracts, didn''t require registration within seven days. She had been at school, and by the time she finished training, the Beast Taming Center was always closed, so she hadn''t updated her beast''s information. The receptionist stood in stunned silence, mentally repeating the word evolved several times. Seeing that the receptionist wasn''t responding, Qiao Sang asked, "Should I go downstairs to update my information first?" The receptionist snapped back to reality, her professional smile returning. "No need. You can just summon your beast for me to see." "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded and began to form the summoning hand seals. Since a week ago, when Yabao had been interviewed by a large group of reporters, his handsome face had been featured on every major news outlet in the Yuhua region. Whenever they walked in crowded areas, they were surrounded by onlookers. Going to school in the morning wasn''t too bad, as there weren''t many people out early, but at night, they were always encircled when returning home. There was no other option but to take back roads. Qiao Sang wasn''t too concerned. Hot news was always fleeting, and once the buzz around Fire Fang Dog''s new evolution faded, things would go back to normal. In the past few days, far fewer people greeted her on the way home. Soon, life would return to peace. But for now, there was still some residual attention, and the Beast Taming Center was a crowded place. To avoid any hassle, Qiao Sang had stored Yabao in her Beast Taming Codex. Under the gray star array, a red-and-white figure appeared. The receptionist abruptly stood up from her chair. Wait... wasn''t this the same beast that had appeared on the news not long ago?! Her mind was reeling. Yes, this was Fire Fang Dog''s new evolved form, the same one registered under this child! "Yap!" Yabao barked excitedly. Finally, he was out! However, before he could revel in his excitement any further, Qiao Sang waved her hand, and Yabao was returned to the Beast Taming Codex. --- Qiao Sang sat at window number 06, browsing through the tasks displayed on the screen. Her fingers slid across the screen as she looked through them one by one. Most of the tasks were for fire-type and ghost-type beasts and were all located within the Zhehai Province. As an F-rank Beast Tamer, she wouldn''t be assigned any dangerous tasks involving secret realm adventures. Based on her current Beast Tamer rank, the tasks displayed were all low-risk, daily tasks. [Task: Haunted house urgently seeking ghost-type beast for three days. No level requirement. The scarier the appearance, the better. Preferably one with dream-related skills.] [Task Location: 231 Qin She Road, Hanggang City, Zhehai Province] [Task Reward: 1,000 Alliance Coins per day] Qiao Sang glanced at it briefly and immediately ruled it out. Little Treasure was far too cute and didn''t fit the requirements at all, plus it didn''t know any dream-related skills... She continued scrolling. [Task: Seeking fire-type beast capable of precise energy control. Outdoor camping for two days, with the beast required to perfectly manage the fire for cooking.] [Task Location: Nanxia Stone Ridge, Hanggang City, Zhehai Province] [Task Reward: 3,000 Alliance Coins] Wouldn''t it be easier to just bring fire-starting tools? Some people really have too much money and nowhere to spend it... Chapter 144: Searching for the Ghost Lamp The task seemed easy and well-paid. If it were any other time, Qiao Sang might have taken it, but remembering Zheng Baolong''s words, she decided not to consider it further. Yabao had mastered the Ember skill to perfection and was already highly skilled at controlling fire energy. A task involving controlling fire for cooking during a camping trip wouldn¡¯t offer much training value. Qiao Sang continued scrolling through several more tasks. [Task: Seeking fire-type pet beasts with good looks and charm. Beastmasters who are eloquent are preferred. Details to be discussed.] [Task Location: Baoshu Fire-Type Training Center, 91 Xinde Street, Fengwu City, Zhejiang Province.] S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though the details weren''t clear, experienced Beastmasters would know what this kind of task involved. This task was similar to hiring extras. When a new training center opened, they would hire some Beastmasters to pretend to sign up, making actual interested parties feel that they''d miss their chance if they didn''t act quickly. In short, it was a publicity stunt. It offered no training value, so she skipped it. [Task: Looking for grass-type pet beasts with the Sleep Powder skill or ghost-type pet beasts with Hypnosis for insomnia relief.] Too simple. Pass. [Task: Hiring a fire-type pet beast capable of using the Mimic skill to perform for three days. Each performance only lasts three hours.] The Mimic skill allows a fire-type beast to alter the shape of its flame, though the power remains unchanged. This skill is often used by performance pet beasts. Since Yabao didn¡¯t know this skill, she passed. After a long time browsing, Qiao Sang still couldn¡¯t decide. There were many tasks, but not many that fit her criteria of offering both challenge and growth. "Is there a particular requirement you have for a task?" The staff member asked enthusiastically. Qiao Sang looked up and replied, "I''m looking for something challenging that will help me improve." Hearing this, the staff member was filled with admiration. Look at her! Not only a genius but also hardworking, no wonder she¡¯s so impressive. "I think this task would suit you." The staff member suggested, looking at the computer screen. "Task 665: Searching for the Ghost Lamp." Qiao Sang was surprised and checked the task. Since the desk screen and the staff computer were synced, she didn¡¯t have to scroll down further. [Task Number: 665] [Task: Searching for the Ghost Lamp. Beastmasters with ghost-type pet beasts preferred. No set date. Details to be discussed.] [Task Location: 702, Unit 5, Xiying Residential Area, Hanggang City, Zhejiang Province.] [Reward: Negotiable] Qiao Sang paused for a moment as she read. She didn¡¯t expect someone to think so highly of her¡­ Where would a Ghost Lamp be in a town? If there was one, the patrol department would have captured it by now. You¡¯d need to venture into a secret realm to find one¡­ Qiao Sang looked up and said, "I think I¡¯m too inexperienced. It doesn¡¯t seem safe to head into a secret realm at my level." The staff member smiled and explained, "No need to enter a secret realm. The task isn¡¯t about finding a wild Ghost Lamp, it¡¯s about the task giver¡¯s contracted Ghost Lamp that has gone missing." That made sense. Losing a contracted pet beast wasn¡¯t unheard of, especially with novice Beastmasters. It usually happened when the Beastmaster¡¯s level was too low, resulting in a limited sensing range, and the pet beast accidentally wandered too far. Summoning the pet beast would be difficult as the range exceeded their capability. However, novice Beastmasters were typically very careful and kept a close eye on their pet beasts, rarely losing them. Even so, finding a ghost-type pet beast was difficult¡­ The task giver had probably reported it to the authorities but couldn¡¯t find the beast, leading them to issue this task. Little Treasure, her little Treasure-Seeking ghost, could see the invisible Ghost Lamp, and this task would test various skills. Plus, the task location was convenient in Hanggang City. It was indeed a suitable task for her. With that in mind, Qiao Sang made her decision. She clicked on the task¡¯s details, pressed Confirm, and signed her name. --- The others had already chosen their tasks and were gathered together, discussing them. "Shi Gaofeng, why did you choose the fat-suction task again?" Wang Yao teased with a smile. "Because I didn¡¯t succeed last time, I want to try again. If you fall, you have to stand back up! Plus, there aren¡¯t many pet beasts capable of fat suction. If I don¡¯t take this task now, it¡¯ll be gone for half a year." Shi Gaofeng said confidently. "Besides, your task is similar to your last one, you¡¯re just standing there as a model again." "I¡¯m doing it to train Xiaoyan¡¯s patience." Wang Yao shrugged. Shi Gaofeng scoffed and patted Xu Yajie on the shoulder. "At least you''re honest and didn¡¯t pick a similar task to last time." Xu Yajie was silent for a few seconds before replying, "I wanted to, but the task giver from last time gave me a one-star rating and a thousand-word negative review. I probably won¡¯t get a similar task again." Shi Gaofeng: ... Task givers and task takers are free to choose one another. If a Beastmaster has a poor task history, task givers can refuse to hire them. Shi Gaofeng awkwardly withdrew his hand, glancing aside to change the subject. "Why isn¡¯t Qiao Sang done yet?" --- When Qiao Sang found them, the atmosphere felt odd. "You¡¯re finally here. What task did you pick after all that time?" Shi Gaofeng sighed in relief. "I¡¯m looking for a missing Ghost Lamp." Qiao Sang replied. Wang Yao looked concerned. "That won¡¯t be easy to find. Is there a time limit?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "No." Shi Gaofeng raised his hand, wanting to pat Qiao Sang on the shoulder, but then awkwardly put his hand down, remembering she was a girl. "Smart choice. You found a task without a deadline. Even if it¡¯s incomplete by the next gathering, you¡¯ll have an excuse." Wang Yao gave him a side-eye. "Did you forget how you were scolded after taking a month long task and not completing it? Zheng Baolong won¡¯t care about deadlines as long as the task is unfinished." Shi Gaofeng froze, his body tensing up. The memory of that scolding was so distant, he¡¯d almost forgotten it... Wang Yao turned to look at Qiao Sang sympathetically. "You haven¡¯t experienced Zheng Baolong¡¯s temper yet. All I can say is, good luck." Zheng Baolong always set a five-day deadline for tasks. For a task like searching for a ghost-type pet beast with no fixed location, success truly depended on luck. "Enough about me. What tasks did you guys choose?" Qiao Sang asked. "Shi Gaofeng went for the fat-suction task again, I¡¯m sending Xiaoyan to model for three days at an art studio, and Xu Yajie will be on medical support at a competition for five days." Wang Yao replied. "Both of you picked tasks similar to last time. Won¡¯t Zheng Baolong have something to say about that?" Qiao Sang asked curiously. "I wouldn¡¯t say anything." A familiar voice answered from behind. Qiao Sang: ¡­! Chapter 145: The Old Lady Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Shi Gaofeng, Wang Yao, and Xu Yajie instinctively took two steps back in sync. Qiao Sang stiffly turned her head. Normally, it was Shi Gaofeng getting caught, but now it was her turn. Her feelings were truly indescribable... Just as Shi Gaofeng and the others were mentally lighting a candle for Qiao Sang, Zheng Guoping spoke up with a grim expression, "Shi Gaofeng, if I hear the name Zheng Baolong again, you''re going to clean all the school toilets." Shi Gaofeng froze, dumbfounded. "Teacher, I didn¡¯t say those three words just now." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Guoping snorted coldly, "If it weren''t for you constantly saying nonsense in front of Qiao Sang, how would she know to call me that?" Shi Gaofeng looked bewildered. How is this even possible??? Qiao Sang blinked, her eyes lighting up. Zheng Baolong is majestic! He was absolutely right! If it weren¡¯t for Shi Gaofeng constantly bringing it up, how would she even know that nickname? "Teacher, you''re so wise." Qiao Sang said sincerely. Zheng Guoping turned to Qiao Sang, his tone calm. "You¡¯ve taken the task, right? Post it in the group, let me take a look." All tasks taken from the Beastmaster Center could be viewed by logging into the official website with a Beastmaster''s credentials. As long as the Beastmaster agreed, they could also share a link for others to track their task progress in real time. Qiao Sang quickly took out her phone and posted the task details in the Invincible Shengshui group. This cringeworthy group name belonged to the second-year high school team, a group she joined on the first day of their training camp. Zheng Guoping looked down for a while. When he spoke again, his tone remained as calm as before: "If this task isn''t finished by the next gathering, you''ll be cleaning the girls'' restroom." Qiao Sang: ... Zheng Baolong was clearly still holding a grudge about her calling him by that nickname earlier... This was definitely revenge¡­ --- At the Liao City Pet Beast Training Center. As soon as Qiao Sang entered, she was greeted by a familiar sight: A man in a white short-sleeved shirt, sitting on a low stool, enthusiastically throwing cards. But this time, instead of sand moles on either side of him, there was a small scorpion and a white sand fox. Ruining beasts, huh... Hearing footsteps, the man turned around. The moment he saw Qiao Sang, his eyes lit up, and with a flick of his cards, he sprang to his feet, excitedly rushing over with a flushed face, "You¡¯re here!" If someone else had seen this scene, they might have thought it was a touching reunion after a long separation. Qiao Sang was puzzled by his enthusiasm. The last time they met, he didn¡¯t act this way, since the negotiation had been so tough that he couldn¡¯t even force a smile by the end. "Hello, are my energy pills ready?" Qiao Sang asked politely. "They''re ready, ready! Finished two days ago, I''ve been waiting for you to come pick them up." The man beamed. "Where¡¯s Flame Hound? Why didn¡¯t you summon him?" Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang realized what was going on. No wonder his attitude had changed so quickly. Last time she hadn¡¯t mentioned Yabao, but he must have seen the news, recognized Yabao from the police interview, and realized it was a Flame Hound. "He¡¯s too handsome. I¡¯m afraid someone might steal him." Qiao Sang joked. The man froze, then nodded earnestly, "You have a point." Qiao Sang: ... The man quickly brought out two large containers of energy pills. The packaging for both containers was identical, except for the labels: one for a Flame Hound, and the other for the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. After verifying them, Qiao Sang pulled out her bank card, ready to pay the remaining balance. The man stopped her, "Meeting is fate. Of all the pet training centers, you chose us, so it must be destiny. Therefore..." Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. She knew the value of Yabao¡¯s new form. As long as the research institute hadn¡¯t figured out how Fire Fang evolved into Flame Hound, Yabao was considered more precious than rare pet beasts in the eyes of many.q Could it be that this shop was willing to give her a 50% discount, or even waive the fee entirely, just to win her over?! Their goal was probably to get her to promote their center. If they were that business-savvy, maybe she could consider it¡­ "So, just forget about the small change. The total is 181,000. You already paid a 20,000 deposit, so just give the remaining 160,000." The man said sincerely. Qiao Sang: "¡­Thank you." --- After leaving the Liao City Pet Beast Training Center, Qiao Sang went to a nearby alley and summoned Yabao. "Yap." Yabao looked at his Beastmaster with a resentful gaze. "A few more days, okay? Do you remember how we were surrounded for almost an hour last time?" Qiao Sang comforted. "Xuuuun~" Little Treasure appeared, echoing her words. "Yap..." Yabao pouted. "There¡¯s nothing we can do. You''re just too handsome." Qiao Sang sighed. "Yap!" Yabao perked up instantly, ears standing straight and tail wagging energetically. Yeah, that¡¯s true. What can he do when he''s this handsome? Qiao Sang watched his reaction with amusement. What an easy one to please... After chatting a bit more, Yabao¡¯s eyes curved with joy, and he happily wagged his tail as he returned to the Beastmaster''s codex. "Nice job." Qiao Sang praised Little Treasure standing by. If it weren¡¯t for Little Treasure echoing her words, Yabao wouldn¡¯t have agreed to return so quickly. "Xun~" Little Treasure shyly hid away, embarrassed by the praise. Soon after, Qiao Sang felt a gentle tug on her hair from two small forces. She smiled and, without a word, turned and walked in the opposite direction from home. --- Xiying District. Unit 5, Apartment 702. In a large city, searching for a lost ghost-type pet beast was an incredibly difficult task. With only five days left before the next task report meeting, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to waste time, so she went straight to the task location instead of going home. Unlike most of the high-rise buildings in the city, this community had a nostalgic feel to it. Quiet, peaceful, and without elevators... Fortunately, after the running training she¡¯d been doing at school, Qiao Sang climbed to the seventh floor without breaking a sweat. The door was opened by a plainly dressed woman who appeared to be in her fifties. "Who are you?" "Hello, my name is Qiao. I¡¯m here for the task from the Beastmaster Center." Qiao Sang replied. The woman was stunned, glancing at Qiao Sang in surprise. "Wait a moment, I¡¯ll go check." She turned and walked into the house, returning shortly after. "Come in. You don¡¯t need to take off your shoes." The woman said from the doorway. Qiao Sang glanced inside. Though the decor was simple, the house was clean, with shiny, dust-free floors. After a moment''s hesitation, she decided to take off her shoes anyway before entering. The woman looked surprised, then smiled, her face creasing with crow''s feet. She glanced at the inner room, then turned back, hesitating before lowering her voice. "The person who posted the task is our old lady. She¡¯s eccentric, reclusive, and since her Ghost Lamp disappeared, her temper¡¯s only gotten worse." "Two other Beastmasters came before you, but the old lady gave them poor reviews. You''re still young, so I¡¯d advise you to drop the task." Qiao Sang stood stunned for a moment. It wasn¡¯t the fact that the task poster was an eccentric old lady that made her hesitate, but rather that she hadn¡¯t expected the poster to be an elderly woman! She had always assumed the Ghost Lamp belonged to a novice Beastmaster... Since it¡¯s an elderly person, she must have had the Ghost Lamp for a while. After such a long bond, the Ghost Lamp should know its way home by now. How could it have gotten lost. Chapter 147: Vital Energy and Death Energy Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- As soon as Qiao Sang asked the question, she realized how foolish it was. If the old lady¡¯s beastmaster rank had reached level D and she had been rejuvenated by her beast, it might have been possible. But the old lady¡¯s appearance perfectly matched her age, aging naturally. One must know that beastmasters who have benefited from their beasts¡¯ rejuvenation can¡¯t have their age easily judged by appearance alone. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. High-ranking beastmasters might look like young adults, even when they¡¯re in their seventies or eighties. This had also significantly reduced the number of people who would approach handsome men or beautiful women for casual chats along the way. After all, you could never be sure if the person you were hitting on might belong to your grandparents¡¯ generation. Of course, encountering such people wasn¡¯t something you could do on a whim. But there were plenty of cases where people mistakenly flirted with someone from their parents'' generation, often leading to laughter and serving as a reminder to the public not to judge based on looks, unless you wanted to be the next public embarrassment. Given the old lady¡¯s age and appearance, it was obvious that she had never experienced rejuvenation from her beast. It was also impossible for her to hear a conversation spoken so quietly from that far away. Qiao Sang put on her shoes, stood up, and asked the question weighing on her mind: "Is the old lady sick?" Apart from the scent of medicine in the room, she couldn¡¯t see any signs of illness. For someone close to death to suddenly become so lively, it could only be a case of terminal lucidity. However, research suggests that terminal lucidity usually lasts an hour or two, maybe three, but it rarely persists. The old lady didn¡¯t fit that pattern. The woman was startled at first but then, after some hesitation, replied, "It¡¯s just normal old age. Her organs are failing." She paused for a moment before continuing, "But there¡¯s something strange. On the 28th of last month, the old lady was delirious and couldn¡¯t eat anything. The doctors at the hospital said she wouldn¡¯t last until the next day." "I was so frightened that I called Mr. Jiang, the old lady¡¯s son, and later, their entire family rushed over that very day, all ready to make funeral arrangements." "But then¡­" The woman swallowed hard, "After they arrived, the old lady was fine. Her vitality seemed much better than before. The doctors checked her out and said her condition hadn¡¯t improved, so they assumed it was terminal lucidity. But it¡¯s been more than half a month, and she¡¯s still holding on." The woman gave an awkward laugh and added, "I¡¯m just saying this, don¡¯t let it scare you. After all, she is a beastmaster, so maybe her situation is different from regular people." "Still, when we went to the hospital the day before yesterday, the doctors said it would happen any day now. I figure she doesn¡¯t have much time left. And with the Ghost Lamp nowhere to be found, I just wanted to give you a heads-up." Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t scared, of course. A dying person suddenly getting better? She had already experienced traveling to a world filled with extraordinary creatures, so what bizarre occurrence couldn¡¯t she handle? Still, there was something abnormal about this... After a moment of thought, Qiao Sang asked, "Did Mr. Jiang¡¯s family arrive on the same day the Ghost Lamp went missing?" "Yes, that very night, the old lady¡¯s granddaughter took the Ghost Lamp out to play, and it went missing." The woman answered without hesitation, clearly having a vivid memory of the events. Qiao Sang felt a chill run through her. Something was definitely off¡­ way off... Who would go out to play when a family member was declared near death by the doctor? And when the Ghost Lamp went missing, instead of worsening, the old lady¡¯s condition inexplicably improved? With that in mind, Qiao Sang asked, "Do you have the old lady¡¯s granddaughter¡¯s number?" The woman hesitated before pulling out her phone. "I don¡¯t have it, but I do have Mr. Jiang¡¯s. Will that work? They should be together." Qiao Sang smiled. "Of course, but I don¡¯t have my phone with me. Could you write it down for me?" "Sure, give me a second while I find some paper." The woman turned and started to head inside. Qiao Sang quickly reminded her, "I think I saw some paper on the table in the old lady¡¯s room." --- After descending the stairs and arriving at a shaded spot under Building 5, Qiao Sang pulled out the slip of paper with the number on it. Saying she didn¡¯t have her phone was, of course, a lie. Who doesn¡¯t carry some kind of communication device these days? But instead of taking out her phone to call, she summoned her beast, Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao excitedly scanned his surroundings, thrilled to finally be outside again! Just as he was about to dash off for a good run, Qiao Sang called him back in time, "Quick! Use your Touch Perception to check this paper. There¡¯s an old lady lying on the bed next to it. Help me see what she¡¯s been up to." Yabao¡¯s Touch Perception could only replay events from about 10 minutes ago, so time was of the essence. "Yap..." Yabao, mid-step, withdrew his front paw. Although confused as to why he needed to do this, he obediently placed his paw on the paper. Closing his eyes, he soon began to see the events of the past ten minutes unfold in his mind from an observer¡¯s perspective. The room was dark. Yabao looked to the side and indeed saw an old lady lying on the bed. Beside her stood a familiar figure, none other than his beastmaster. "Yap!" Yabao let out an excited cry. Unfortunately, his beastmaster, focused on the old lady, ignored him. "Yap!" "Yap! Yap!" He ran in front of his beastmaster, trying to grab some attention. Still no response. Yabao stared blankly at his beastmaster, suddenly remembering that this scene was only a replay. Right, the old lady! Yabao refocused on his task, eyes wide, staring at the old lady as if trying to uncover something. But soon, his attention shifted to the familiar figure beside her. Huh, wasn¡¯t that Little Treasure? Why was he drooling at the old lady? Although Yabao¡¯s Touch Perception covered only a brief period, in reality, only a few seconds had passed. As soon as he opened his eyes, Qiao Sang eagerly asked, "What did you see?" ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao lay down on his back, imitating the old lady¡¯s posture on the bed. Then, he turned his head and mimicked what she had been saying. ¡°Yap, Yap.¡± ¡°Yap, Yap, Yap.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Qiao Sang patiently listened, realizing that he was repeating the things the old lady had said to her earlier in the room... Thankfully, Yabao soon began mimicking the events that happened after Qiao Sang had left the room. He performed an invisible action, pulling something over himself, most likely a blanket. ¡°Yap, Yap.¡± He continued, mimicking the old lady¡¯s words. Qiao Sang felt like she had been struck in the head, her mind reeling. What the hell! The old lady could hear! While she had suspected something strange about the old lady, she hadn¡¯t expected this! Being able to hear so clearly from such a distance and at such a low volume, wasn¡¯t that something a superhero could do? No, calm down! There were no superheroes in this world, only extraordinary creatures more powerful than any hero. It was possible for beastmasters who had been rejuvenated by their beasts to achieve such feats, but the old lady wasn¡¯t a high-level beastmaster¡­ Qiao Sang forced herself to calm down and sort through her thoughts. A dying person had suddenly recovered, and her senses had become unusually sharp, far beyond normal human capacity. On the same day, the Ghost Lamp had gone missing... ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao was still busy with his performance. He stuck a paw in his ear, only to quickly withdraw it, as if burned, before staring blankly at the paw. Honestly, if a director had seen this string of perfectly executed actions, they¡¯d probably be drawing up a contract on the spot. After finishing his reenactment, Yabao shook off the dust on his fur and looked over at Little Treasure, who had somehow appeared, watching him with amusement. The scene of him drooling at the old lady flashed in his mind. ¡°Yap, Yap?¡± Little Treasure blinked, then responded. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xun, xun~¡± Qiao Sang, who had been deep in thought, paused. What? Vital energy and death energy?! Chapter 148: The Wick Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. It¡¯s important to understand that vital energy is a characteristic of living beings. The more abundant a person¡¯s vital energy, the more vibrant and energetic they appear. As long as a person is alive, they have vital energy, it¡¯s just a matter of how much. However, attracting the attention of a ghost-type beast isn¡¯t simply about being alive. The entire body must be brimming with an enormous amount of vital energy. In horror movies, ghost-type beasts are often depicted as feeding on the vital energy of young people. They never seem to target the elderly. An elderly person¡¯s vital energy is naturally low, and since it''s contained within, ghost-type beasts can¡¯t sense it. For instance, creatures like the Ghost Lamp, which enjoys guiding lost travelers in exchange for vital energy, predominantly help young people, as large data sets indicate. Death energy, on the other hand, is a type of aura representing the absence of life. Places with the most death energy are funeral homes, morgues, and cemeteries. If a person starts exuding death energy, it signifies that their life is about to end. To attract a ghost-type beast with death energy, that energy must be incredibly dense. If you can sense death energy from a living person, it usually means they have less than three days to live. Logically, the vital and death energy that ghost-type beasts can detect should be beyond the normal energy range. But Little Treasure sensed both energies from the old lady. This doesn¡¯t make sense! Qiao Sang silently pondered. Every abnormal phenomenon must be caused by an extraordinary creature. Could this be related to the missing Ghost Lamp? For a moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced with ideas. She tried to connect all the events. The old lady was on the verge of death, but her family arrived on the same day, and then the Ghost Lamp went missing while the old lady¡¯s condition improved. When piecing together the order of events... Qiao Sang¡¯s right hand unconsciously supported her chin, and she began thinking of conspiracy theories. Could it be that the old lady¡¯s family discovered some of the Ghost Lamp¡¯s abilities and forced it to extend her life? But the cost of doing so might be death, which explains why the Ghost Lamp disappeared while the old lady, unaware of this, was still foolishly issuing a mission to find it. No... Qiao Sang quickly dismissed her own theory. If the Ghost Lamp had died, the old lady, as its beastmaster, would have been the first to know... Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But what if the Ghost Lamp had saved the old lady and didn¡¯t die? Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and started searching. [What abilities does the Ghost Lamp have to bring someone on the verge of death back to life?] The webpage quickly responded. [Sorry, no results for What abilities does the Ghost-Lamp Beast have to bring someone on the verge of death back to life.] Qiao Sang: ... It seems no one has asked this question before... Unwilling to give up, she logged into a forum and posted the question. Within seconds of posting, several replies popped up. [I don¡¯t know how the Ghost Lamp brings someone on the verge of death back to life, but I know how it can make them die faster. Want to know?] [Why did I even see this question?] [OP, your thinking is a bit off.] [Please! This is a ghost-type beast, not some divine pet with god-tier healing skills!] [Let me educate you: The Ghost Lamp absorbs vital energy; it doesn¡¯t give it.] Qiao Sang stared at the last reply, deep in thought. Right, the Ghost Lamp loves vital energy. It likely stores a fair amount within its body. If it could transfer that energy to someone nearing death... Qiao Sang exited the forum and quickly scanned her recent call records, finding the number she wanted to dial. For a question the general public wouldn¡¯t discuss, it was best to ask someone knowledgeable. The phone rang twice before being answered. "Hello, what¡¯s up?" A calm voice came from the speaker. "Vice Principal, I wanted to ask if the Ghost Lamp can give vital energy to people?" Qiao Sang got straight to the point. Liu Yao put down the documents in his hand. Qiao Sang had been contacting him more frequently lately, and he could recognize her voice without checking the caller ID. However, he hadn¡¯t expected her to call with such a strange question this time. Though Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have outstanding academic performance, the questions she was interested in exploring far exceeded the level of a high school student. After pondering for a few seconds, Liu Yao replied, "No, the Ghost Lamp absorbs vital energy through the wick in its body. Even if it releases the absorbed energy, it would just dissipate into the air. There¡¯s no way to transfer it to a human body." "The human body isn¡¯t built to absorb this kind of energy like a ghost-type beast." Qiao Sang frowned slightly. Had she guessed wrong? "Could the Ghost Lamp¡¯s wick be transferred to a human body?" Since the wick was the key to absorbing vital energy, would it work in a human body? Liu Yao¡¯s face darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Sang to ask such a question. Transferring the Ghost Lamp''s wick into a human body would mean removing the most important organ from the beast. Centuries ago, some researchers, in their pursuit of obtaining certain powers from extraordinary creatures, had conducted such heartless experiments. These were later strictly prohibited by the Alliance. He hadn¡¯t expected someone so young like Qiao Sang to think about such dark matters. Liu Yao felt it was necessary to correct her mindset. With her talent, she had a bright future ahead, but if her thinking strayed, it could lead to disaster. Liu Yao sternly replied, "Of course not. Removing the Ghost Lamp¡¯s wick is like removing a human¡¯s heart. The human body can¡¯t withstand that kind of energy. If this were attempted, both the Ghost Lamp and the human would die." Qiao Sang fell silent. If that were the case, then her earlier theory was entirely wrong. But what, then, was causing the old lady¡¯s condition to change? Liu Yao, not hearing a response, asked cautiously, "Where are you right now? Did you see something or hear someone say something that made you ask this question?" Qiao Sang sighed and replied, "I¡¯m out on a mission right now. Today we went to the Beastmaster Center..." She spent the next two minutes explaining the situation, but when she finished, the other end of the phone was silent. Qiao Sang checked her phone to see if the call had dropped. It was still connected. "Vice Principal?" Qiao Sang called hesitantly into the phone. "...I¡¯m here, just had a signal issue." Liu Yao felt a bit embarrassed. Here she was diligently working on a mission, and he had been suspecting her of having dangerous thoughts... "Actually, the Ghost Lamp¡¯s wick can remain in a human body for a short time." Liu Yao said after clearing his throat. "But it can¡¯t stay for too long, or the Ghost Lamp itself will die. Moreover, the wick can only be removed if the Ghost Lamp consents." "Some studies have shown that, whether scanned by instruments or dissected after death, no one has been able to find the Ghost Lamp¡¯s wick." ----- ----- Chapter 149: It Had a Beastmaster Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- "Although this wick might help sustain a person for a short while, once the energy inside is depleted or the wick is removed, the person will immediately die." "However, the wick can''t be removed recklessly. Once it''s taken out, it essentially dooms the Ghost Lamp''s evolution. The damage caused by removing the wick is permanent." Qiao Sang paused for a moment. "Didn''t you say earlier that without the wick, the Ghost Lamp is like a person without a heart and would die immediately? And you also said the human body couldn''t handle it." Liu Yao: ... S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It would die, and the body can''t handle it, but it''s just a matter of time." Liu Yao hastily tried to save face. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t doubt him and continued asking, "So, how long can the wick stay in a human body?" Seeing that Qiao Sang didn¡¯t press further on the earlier issue, Liu Yao sighed in relief, his tone becoming more relaxed. "Probably around three days." Three days¡­Something didn''t add up. Based on the time the Ghost Lamp had been missing, it had been more than half a month¡­ "What if the wick stayed in a human body for about half a month?" Qiao Sang asked after thinking for a moment. Liu Yao hesitated for a second before answering, "That¡¯s impossible. After three days, without replenishing the energy, the wick''s power would be depleted, and the person would die instantly." "Also, without the wick, the Ghost Lamp wouldn''t be able to sustain itself for long without a source of energy." Qiao Sang couldn''t deny that having someone knowledgeable nearby was a blessing. This phone call gave her a direct clue about the Ghost Lamp''s whereabouts. After hanging up, Qiao Sang ordered takeout. Since the wick¡¯s energy depletes and can¡¯t stay long in a human body, to ensure the old lady¡¯s safety, the Ghost Lamp must return every few days to recharge the wick. Without the wick, the Ghost Lamp would not only need to gather enough energy to replenish it but also maintain its own movement. It must be hiding in some ghost-type beast''s favorite energy gathering spot. The Ghost Lamp thrives on vital energy, and naturally, it''s drawn to places filled with young people, where hormones are high. Bars, schools, clubs, or places hosting competitions were likely spots. Searching all of Hanggang City would be too troublesome. Since the Ghost Lamp would return every few days to recharge the wick, it probably came back late at night when everyone was asleep. If her guess was right, then all she had to do was wait. If not, well, the wick''s energy would run out in three days, and the school team wouldn''t gather for another five days. That left her with a two day window to come up with another plan. With that in mind, Qiao Sang looked up and smiled. "Yabao, do you want to rest?" "Yap." Yabao obediently shook his head. Rest? No! He had boundless energy! "No, you want to rest." Qiao Sang said, smiling at Yabao. "Yap..." Yabao stared back blankly. He didn¡¯t want to... A minute later. Xiying Residential Complex. In the shadows by the entrance of Building 5. A magnificent red-and-white pet beast lay on the ground, with a slender girl resting on its back. Qiao Sang lay on Yabao, holding her phone and waiting for her takeout. Yabao didn¡¯t want to rest, but she sure did. --- 9 PM. Hanggang City. Under the Tianqiao Bridge by the Linhu Reservoir. Many people approached from all directions but never came out. A closer look revealed a hidden door under the bridge. The door automatically opened, revealing a bustling, lively interior, completely different from the quiet world outside. This was an underground black market beast battle arena. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, tobacco, and testosterone. "Poisonous Scorpion!" "Ghost Lamp!" "Ghost Lamp!" The crowd roared the names of two beasts, with most of the cheers for the Ghost Lamp. In the middle of the arena. A purple Poisonous Scorpion lay motionless on the ground. The referee approached it and began the countdown. "1." "2..." Just then, the Poisonous Scorpion, without moving its head, flicked its long tail, releasing a barrage of venomous needles. The silver tips gleamed ominously. The audience supporting the Ghost Lamp turned pale, no one had expected a sneak attack at this stage! The venomous needles moved too fast for the Ghost Lamp to dodge, and several pierced its body. "Ghost Lamp! Finish it off!" A scarred man in the command area roared. The Ghost Lamp''s vision blurred, and the voices around it felt distant. It gasped for breath, trying to activate its wick, only to realize it no longer had one. "Ghost Lamp, what are you waiting for? Finish it!" The scarred man shouted again. "Lamp..." The Ghost Lamp, enduring the intense pain, slowly raised its claw, gathering a Shadow Ball, and hurled it toward the blurry figure on the ground. --- "What was up with you at the end, so slow to react?" The scarred man complained backstage after the match. The Ghost Lamp stared at him expressionlessly. The man shivered, changing his tone. "At least we won in the end, or all our effort would''ve been for nothing." The Ghost Lamp remained silent. "Here¡¯s your reward." The man, used to the Ghost Lamp''s cold demeanor, tossed a box towards it. The box hit the ground in front of the Ghost Lamp . The man jumped in surprise. "Hey, I didn¡¯t mean it! You didn¡¯t catch it!" The Ghost Lamp''s ears buzzed. It couldn''t hear what the man was saying, only knowing it couldn¡¯t collapse right now. "We¡¯ve been working together for days. Without me, you wouldn¡¯t even be in the arena." The man grumbled as he picked up the box and handed it to the Ghost Lamp. The Ghost Lamp''s vision cleared for a brief moment as it focused on the box. It sighed in relief, the fight hadn¡¯t been for nothing. It tried to reach for the box but realized it had no strength left. "Lamp." The Ghost Lamp coldly called out. The man hesitated, then turned to the Longtail Snake beside him. "What did it say?" "Tail-tail." Longtail Snake translated. The man grimaced, opened the box, and shoved its contents into the Ghost Lamp''s mouth. "You really are a pain." He muttered as he fed it. After swallowing the item, the Ghost Lamp finally regained some strength, its senses beginning to return. It carefully wrapped its remaining energy around the object inside its body, preventing it from merging with its essence. "Are you coming tomorrow?" The man asked. The Ghost Lamp nodded. Seeing that it acknowledged him, the man grinned. "You know, we''ve known each other for a while now, but you¡¯ve never told me where you¡¯re from. Wild beasts like you are in real danger here. If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d have been caught ages ago." "I think we get along pretty well. Why not wait until I get the next page of my Beast Master Codex and form a contract with me?" The Ghost Lamp ignored him and floated toward the door. It wasn¡¯t a wild beast, it had a Beastmaster. ----- Previously Chapter_Next Chapter ----- Chapter 150: Little Treasure, It Has to Be You! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- 1:02 AM. The moonless night was accompanied by a strong wind. Qiao Sang shifted positions as she lay there. Despite the wind, lying on the Fire-type pet beast kept her completely warm. With no need to wake up early for school, she found herself increasingly absorbed in her phone. It wasn''t just her; Everyone in the Invincible Shengshui group was wide awake. [Wang Yao]: My task giver this time is an adorable, soft-spoken young lady. Her voice is sweet, and she''s also a great artist. You guys would be so jealous. [Shi Gaofeng]: No need to brag so much. Just say she''s going to give you a five-star review. [Wang Yao]: You''re just jealous. [Shi Gaofeng]: Ha! My task giver is a 6¡¯3¡± guy with an eight-pack and speaks very eloquently. Now who''s jealous? [Qiao Sang]: Didn''t you take on a task related to fat absorption? How could that guy have an eight-pack? [Wang Yao]: Hahaha, Qiao Sang, you totally exposed him. [Shi Gaofeng]: I¡¯m not lying. That¡¯s what he looks like in his social media photos! [Wang Yao]: So, you haven¡¯t seen him in person? [Xu Yajie]: You still trust photos these days? [Shi Gaofeng]: ¡­ [Shi Gaofeng]: Just wait till I meet him tomorrow and take a photo. Sure, you can photoshop abs onto a face, but not the real thing! [Qiao Sang]: You better watch out. What if his abs are a result of fat absorption, and he needs your help to maintain them? If things go wrong and he ends up with only seven abs, you might get a bad review. [Shi Gaofeng]: ¡­ [Wang Yao]: Hahahahaha, there''s a real possibility! Sculpting abs through fat absorption is way harder than just absorbing fat. [Xu Yajie]: Brother Shi, I can already foresee your tragic ending. [Shi Gaofeng]: ...I¡¯m out. Goodbye. Qiao Sang smiled as she read through the group chat. But her mood changed with the latest message. [Wang Yao]: By the way, Qiao Sang, did you meet your task giver today? What¡¯s their personality like? Qiao Sang pursed her lips and typed out a reply. [Qiao Sang]: It was an elderly lady. She seems kind, especially toward her granddaughter and pet. Her personality seems nice. After sending the message, Qiao Sang put down her phone, her thoughts drifting back to her current task. If she didn¡¯t encounter the Ghost Lamp tonight, she¡¯d have to call Mr. Jiang in the morning to speak with the old lady¡¯s granddaughter. Something just felt off about her taking the Ghost Lamp out at that hour. And how could the old lady not suspect that the Ghost Lamp¡¯s disappearance might be linked to her granddaughter? Qiao Sang found it hard to believe. Even she, an outsider, felt it was odd for the Ghost Lamp to be taken out at that hour. There¡¯s no way the old lady hadn¡¯t noticed something strange. ¡°Xun.¡± The small Little Treasure, who had been playing with a coin using telekinesis, suddenly dropped it. The coin rolled on the ground with a loud clang. In the dead of night, the sound echoed sharply. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Startled, Qiao Sang sat up halfway from the Yabao. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao muttered in his sleep, unaffected by the noise. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure tilted his head toward the courtyard lights of the neighborhood. It was late at night, and though the sky was dark, the courtyard lights remained on, casting their usual glow. But then, one light in the far distance flickered. Then, from the farthest point to the nearest, each courtyard light began flickering. The eerie scene appeared abruptly and vanished just as quickly. Once every light had flickered, everything returned to normal. Qiao Sang shivered at the sight. A cold breeze passed through, and though she had been perfectly warm in the soft fur, she now felt a chill run through her entire body. ¡°Yabao, Yabao.¡± She shook Yabao gently. Wake up, please¡­ Without him awake, she felt so vulnerable... ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao, drooling, shifted to a more comfortable position in his sleep. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Xun!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure positioned himself protectively in front of Qiao Sang, scanning their surroundings warily. Qiao Sang was deeply moved by the sight of his small figure standing guard. Little Treasure, it really has to be you! She got off Yabao and looked around the empty courtyard. The West Ying neighborhood was an old, rundown area with sparse greenery, neglected by property management, and manned by an idle security guard. The whole place felt dilapidated and desolate. Qiao Sang cautiously observed her surroundings. The cold wind, the flickering lights, and Little Treasure¡¯s behavior all hinted that something was wrong. Could the Ghost Lamp have returned? If that were the case, she might relax a little, since pets with owners typically wouldn¡¯t attack humans without reason. But what if this eerie atmosphere was caused by a wild pet beast? S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure tensed, his golden eyes scanning each courtyard light. His nose twitched slightly. The scent of death was strong... It quickly locked onto a direction, under the second courtyard light on the left. Little Treasure hesitated, turning to inform his Beast Master. But he was conflicted. Speaking in this quiet environment would surely alert the creature. What if it became prepared? ¡°Little Treasure, did you notice something?¡± Qiao Sang asked, seeing it fixated on one spot. Little Treasure blinked, and Qiao Sang immediately understood. In the next instant, Little Treasure vanished, reappearing under the second courtyard light on the left. He stuck out his tongue and licked the air about 10 centimeters outside the lampshade. Qiao Sang froze. She didn¡¯t expect Little Treasure to move so swiftly. Target acquired. Instant teleportation. Precise tongue strike. It was all executed flawlessly, like a seasoned pro, not a baby just over a month old. Suddenly, a pet beast resembling a glass lampshade appeared in midair where Little Treasure had licked. It had yellow eyes, long, swaying arms, and a broken right arm at the lamp¡¯s support. Its left arm, meant to be symmetrical, was almost entirely gone, leaving it even shorter than the right. The blue flame that once burned brightly within the lamp was now so faint it seemed ready to disappear at any moment. Holy crap! It¡¯s the Ghost Lamp! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. She had found it on the very first day! Though the Ghost Lamp''s left arm didn¡¯t match the old lady¡¯s description exactly, the broken right arm was undeniable. With ghost-type pet beasts being rare in the city, and it appearing here at this hour, it was almost certain this was the one that had gone missing. As for the red fingernail-sized mark on its head, it was too high up to see clearly. But in the next second, Qiao Sang became 100% certain this was the Ghost Lamp. Because it fell from the air, its head turning to reveal the unmistakable mark. Qiao Sang froze, unable to believe the Ghost Lamp had collapsed so easily. Even if Little Treasure¡¯s paralyzing lick had worked, it shouldn¡¯t have gone down so quickly. The Ghost Lamp was, after all, a mid-tier pet beast¡­ Looking at the dimming flame inside its lampshade, Qiao Sang suddenly understood. It was the wick core... A crystal emitting a faint, ghostly light fell from the Ghost Lamp¡¯s body. The Ghost Lamp¡¯s already weak body froze, losing interest in the Little Ghost that had attacked it, or the nearby human. It tried to rise but seemed weighed down by invisible stones, preventing it from moving. The Ghost Lamp¡¯s eyes locked onto the crystal lying on the ground ahead of it. Using its long arms, it began to crawl slowly toward it. So close, so close... But in the next second, a hand picked up the crystal. It was the human! The Ghost Lamp¡¯s body trembled, its internal flame flickering violently. It lifted its head. A hand opened before it, revealing the ghostly crystal in its palm. "Here." Chapter 151: Hypnosis Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang handed the crystal over. She didn¡¯t think much of it, simply feeling that it was too tiring for the Ghost Lamp to gather energy, so she decided to help. She recognized the crystal, it was called the Nether Yang Crystal, and the energy within it had a similar effect to absorbing life energy. It wasn¡¯t something she learned from school, but rather from a popular film she had watched before. In the movie, the ghost-type beast Absorb Ghost was the main villain, specialized in absorbing human life energy. The protagonist managed to survive three times thanks to the Nether Yang Crystal, which left a strong impression on her. Since the Ghost Lamp had lost its wick, it shouldn¡¯t be able to hold on for long outside, but seeing the Nether Yang Crystal, Qiao Sang had no doubts. Although she didn¡¯t know where the Ghost Lamp had obtained it, the Nether Yang Crystal was indeed a tonic for the Ghost Lamp, which had lost its wick. The Ghost Lamp stared at the Nether Yang Crystal in front of it, stunned. The violently flickering flame inside its lampshade dimmed, becoming even smaller than the weak flicker it had at first. It tried to lift its arms but found it had no strength. The Ghost Lamp wanted to lift its head but couldn¡¯t move it, so it could only look up at the human in front of it with its eyes. ¡°Lamp...¡± Qiao Sang was slightly startled and placed the Nether Yang Crystal into its mouth. She couldn¡¯t understand what the Ghost Lamp was saying, but she could keenly sense what it was trying to express. "Xun~" At this moment, Little Treasure floated over. Seeing that the Ghost Lamp wasn¡¯t attacking his Beastmaster, he floated beside it and curiously sniffed. The scent of death was strong, even heavier than the human lying upstairs... Little Treasure suddenly felt hungry, skillfully removing his ring and taking out some milk to drink. After swallowing the Nether Yang Crystal, the Ghost Lamp tried to move but found it still couldn¡¯t. It had no choice but to lie motionless on the ground. ¡°You must be the pet beast of the old lady in apartment 702 upstairs, right?¡± Qiao Sang, seeing the Ghost Lamp unable to move, started a conversation. Although she had found the Ghost Lamp, it was the middle of the night, and considering the old lady¡¯s age, barely hanging on with the wick, Qiao Sang decided to wait until morning, when the old lady woke up, to find her. Anyway, the Ghost Lamp was so weak right now, and with Yabao and Little Treasure around, she wasn¡¯t worried about it running away. If she could talk it into returning willingly, that would be even better. In its current state, she was afraid it might fall apart if they had to fight again. The Ghost Lamp¡¯s body stiffened at her words. ¡°The old lady misses you very much. You must miss her too, right?¡± Qiao Sang continued. The flame inside the Ghost Lamp wavered. ¡°Life, aging, illness, and death are normal. By using your wick to sustain her life, turning yourself into this state, she wouldn¡¯t be happy.¡± As Qiao Sang finished speaking, the Ghost Lamp suddenly lifted its head as if it had regained some strength. It couldn¡¯t understand how this human knew about the wick. ¡°Go see her. Spend the last moments together.¡± Qiao Sang sighed. She meant it. In her view, rather than dragging on for a few more days, it was better to spend the final moments with loved ones by your side. Little Treasure blinked as he drank his milk, glancing back and forth between his Beastmaster and the Ghost Lamp, confused. He didn¡¯t understand. The Ghost Lamp understood. They were here to capture it. Over the past few days, it had evaded several people, knowing its own Beastmaster had sent them to find it. Looking at the human in front of it, its vision began to blur again. When it refocused, the figure seemed to merge with the image of its Beastmaster from years ago. ¡°Ghost Lamp, from now on, I¡¯ll call you Spirit. Whenever I want something, I¡¯ll make a wish to you. How does that sound?¡± The Ghost Lamp snapped back to reality. It couldn¡¯t be captured yet. Seeing that the Ghost Lamp didn¡¯t respond, Qiao Sang thought it hadn¡¯t heard her and was about to speak again. But in the next second, she noticed it staring at her, its eyes slowly turning purple. Qiao Sang froze, and before she could react, a familiar figure blocked her view. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Little Treasure. --- Little Treasure felt dizzy. When he regained his clarity, he found his Beastmaster bending over and smiling at him. "Lamp!" Little Treasure excitedly pounced forward, his Beastmaster was okay! But then he froze. What had he just said? Lamp? ¡°Ghost Lamp, from now on, I¡¯ll call you Spirit. Whenever I want something, I¡¯ll make a wish to you. How does that sound?¡± His Beastmaster smiled as she spoke. Ghost Lamp? Little Treasure was confused. Wasn¡¯t he called the Little Treasure? Was his name about to change? He became even more confused because he realized he had just nodded and responded uncontrollably. "Absorb!" Qiao Sang laughed, closing her eyes and crossing her hands over her chest. ¡°I wish to become a professional Beastmaster and take Spirit to explore the world and compete in regional tournaments.¡± "Absorb." Little Treasure blinked. He had no objection to this wish, but could she stop calling him Spirit? He still liked the name Little Treasure better. ¡°Spirit, you agreed.¡± Qiao Sang opened her eyes and smiled. "Absorb." Little Treasure blinked again. Oh no, his Beastmaster couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying anymore. Qiao Sang happily lifted him over her head. Little Treasure¡¯s eyes widened because he saw a mirror behind his Beastmaster, reflecting his current appearance. This wasn¡¯t him! --- In West Ying Community. Qiao Sang picked up Little Treasure, relieved to see him only sleeping. She hadn¡¯t expected the Ghost Lamp to be too weak to stand but still strong enough to use skills. Qiao Sang felt a bit guilty, blaming herself for letting her guard down. Fortunately, the Ghost Lamp had only used hypnosis, and Little Treasure would wake up soon enough. Qiao Sang looked at the Ghost Lamp, which was lying motionless on the ground. ¡°You know, even if I were hypnotized, what good would it do? You can¡¯t even move.¡± The Ghost Lamp just stared at her, saying nothing. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelids twitched, suddenly feeling less safe. Little Treasure was under hypnosis, Yabao was asleep, and what if the Ghost Lamp tried something again? Holding Little Treasure, Qiao Sang took a step back and quickly moved to where Yabao was sleeping, frantically shaking him with one hand. ¡°Yabao! Wake up! If you don¡¯t wake up, Water Luiana will come and spray you with water!¡± "Yap..." Yabao smiled in his sleep, clearly having a pleasant dream. Qiao Sang: ... Sleeping like that, no wonder Water Luiana always won... --- "Spirit, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault you got hurt this badly.¡± Little Treasure, watching someone who looked just like his Beastmaster hugging him and crying, wanted to say he was fine, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t form words. His eyes closed involuntarily, and when they opened again, he found himself in a different place. This time, he seemed to be lying on a bed, with everything around him white. The person who looked like his Beastmaster sat nearby, visibly thinner. ¡°Let¡¯s not go to the Secret Realm anymore. I¡¯ve thought about it; There¡¯s nothing really interesting outside.¡± "Absorb..." ¡°Spirit, I don¡¯t want to take risks anymore. I want to settle down.¡± Chapter 152: Dont... Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- After experiencing so many scenes, Little Treasure clearly knew that none of this was real. He lay on the hospital bed, listening to a person who looked just like his Beast Master talk a lot, most of which he didn¡¯t understand. After a while, Little Treasure got hungry and, out of habit, reached up to take off the ring. But when he touched, the ring was gone. "Lamp..." Little Treasure pouted. "You''re hungry, aren¡¯t you?" The person, who looked just like Qiao Sang, took a black fruit from a nearby basket and handed it over. "Here, your favorite Shadow Candle Fruit." "Lamp." Little Treasure took it uncontrollably and started eating. He sighed inwardly. He wanted milk, not this pitch-black thing. "You''re so grown up, yet you''re still making a mess." The person, who looked like Qiao Sang, laughed, taking a tissue to wipe the juice from Little Treasure¡¯s mouth. Little Treasure froze for a moment. For the first time, he saw a glimpse of his Beast Master in this human. Time in the dream passed quickly. It seemed like no time had passed before this person had grown old. Little Treasure looked at the human in front of him, now with white hair and wrinkled skin, and couldn¡¯t believe this was the same person who had once looked like his Beast Master. She lay quietly in bed, her eyes half-closed, her face pale and bloodless, tubes inserted all over her body. Little Treasure felt an unfamiliar panic, a panic that was no longer manipulated by the dream but belonged entirely to himself. He didn¡¯t know how long had passed when the person in bed opened her eyes. She opened her mouth, her voice faint, "Spirit, take Nannan out for a walk. She rarely visits, accompany her for me." "Lamp..." "I''m fine, aren''t there so many people here with me?" The person in bed smiled, suddenly seeming full of energy. "Grandma, I won¡¯t go. I''ll stay here with you." A clear voice rang from behind. "It doesn¡¯t smell good here. I¡¯ll be up soon, and we¡¯ll go home. You can take a short walk, and when you get back, we¡¯ll be able to leave." The person in bed spoke. Little Treasure, without control, turned his head and saw several people standing behind, one of whom looked about the same age as his Beast Master. Just as Little Treasure was about to leave, the person in bed called out to it, "Wait." Little Treasure turned back. "Have fun." The person in bed smiled softly. But Little Treasure felt uneasy. Because he saw again the shadow of his Beast Master in her, but his Beast Master would never be like this, always looking as if she had no strength left. --- The scene shifted again. Little Treasure''s eyes lit up at the sight of the bustling night market. He wanted to explore, but his body wasn¡¯t under his control. "Spirit, will Grandma be okay?" The girl beside it murmured. "Lamp." The girl didn¡¯t understand his response and continued speaking to herself. "She''ll be fine. Grandma is a Beast Master. Everyone says Beast Masters are strong and live long lives. My classmate¡¯s grandpa is 133 years old and still in good health. He even came to the parent-teacher meeting not long ago." "My dad said that when Grandma was younger, she participated in competitions and went to mysterious realms. If she hadn¡¯t met Grandpa, she probably would have joined the regional tournament and become a great professional Beast Master." "Lamp." Suddenly, Little Treasure found he couldn¡¯t move. The girl didn¡¯t notice and kept walking ahead. "Grandma didn¡¯t seem like someone obsessed with love. Was Grandpa really that handsome when he was young? No way, my dad is so ugly and says he inherited that from Grandpa. Luckily, I got the good genes." "This is all Dad''s fault. He was crying when we arrived, making me think Grandma was in serious trouble." Her voice grew fainter. "But Grandma lying in that hospital bed is pretty scary, with all those tubes attached. But she said she¡¯ll be up soon and we¡¯ll go home, so she should be fine." "If something were really wrong, Spirit, as her contracted beast, you¡¯d definitely sense it, right..." Little Treasure remained in place. People passed by, but everyone seemed to avoid getting too close to him. Uncontrollably, he looked up, and a large screen on a distant building was showing a Beast Master competition. Why wouldn¡¯t she make it? Little Treasure thought. He felt like only a short time had passed, and she had already grown old. Even though he wasn¡¯t her contracted beast, he could feel it. As fellow ghost-type extraordinary creatures, he could probably sense the deathly aura from her body. It was so intense, it seemed as if she would disappear from this world at any moment. Little Treasure started trembling uncontrollably, his heart racing, limbs cold. These weren¡¯t his feelings. In the next moment, he uncontrollably turned back, the lights around him dimming as he passed, then returning to normal afterward. Little Treasure saw that person again. She lay in bed with her eyes closed, the man beside her with red-rimmed eyes. "Mom, let Nannan and Spirit come to see you one last time." The person in bed barely moved her eyelids, then, with great effort, opened them and glared at the man. She moved her lips but no sound came out. Little Treasure floated in front of her, but the people beside her didn¡¯t react, as if they couldn¡¯t see him. The person in bed froze, as if she sensed something. At that moment, Little Treasure, uncontrollably, reached into his own body... "Don¡¯t..." In a daze, Little Treasure seemed to hear someone speaking. --- Xiying Neighborhood. "Ghost Lamp, stop struggling. With me here, you won¡¯t escape. Once the sun rises, you¡¯ll be taken to see your Beast Master." Qiao Sang said as she picked up the Ghost Lamp, which had barely crawled any distance. Yabao was useless; She had to rely on herself. Qiao Sang placed the Ghost Lamp beside Yabao, positioning herself behind it, avoiding eye contact to prevent being affected. "Lamp..." The Ghost Lamp struggled forward with its arms. It had never encountered such an annoying human! Talking nonstop, from the beginning until now, her mouth hadn¡¯t stopped! Nothing like the people who avoided it. The Ghost Lamp paused, then resumed crawling forward. Qiao Sang mercilessly pulled it back. "It¡¯s only 2 a.m. If you keep misbehaving, I¡¯ll take you upstairs right now instead of waiting until dawn. You wouldn¡¯t want to disturb that elderly woman in the middle of the night, would you?" The Ghost Lamp froze. At that moment, Little Treasure slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the familiar person in front of him, his eyes reddened, and he rushed over. "Xun!" "Xunxun!" Qiao Sang was startled. "What''s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" "Xunxun..." Little Treasure¡¯s tears fell in large drops. Qiao Sang was shocked, not expecting the hypnotic spell to be so powerful. It seemed she would need Little Treasure to practice this skill more in the future... Seeing this, the Ghost Lamp took the chance to crawl forward. "I told you to stop struggling." Qiao Sang, quick as ever, grabbed it again. Ghost Lamp: ... "Xunxun..." Little Treasure sobbed twice, then stopped crying. He turned and floated in front of the Ghost Lamp, staring at it intently, before pulling out his friendship milk. The Ghost Lamp stared blankly at the milk in front of it. Qiao Sang took a sharp breath from the side, completely caught off guard by how terrifying the hypnotic spell¡¯s power was! "Xunxun." "Xun~" "Lamp!" "Xunxun..." "Lamp..." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure and the Ghost Lamp communicated intensely. After half an hour of this back-and-forth, the Ghost Lamp lay on the ground, eyes blank, utterly defeated. Little Treasure floated over to Qiao Sang and nodded. Qiao Sang was stunned. ----- ----- Chapter 153: Give a Five-Star Rating Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Everything happening right now felt surreal. Little Treasure had fallen under the hypnosis of the Ghost Lamp, suddenly burst into tears after waking up, and then, after making peace, gave the Ghost lamp some milk. Finally, he babbled a bunch of things that she couldn''t understand, and somehow, the Ghost Lamp just... gave in? Never mind the other stuff; Just the fact that the Ghost Lamp agreed to go back with her to see the old lady was absurd. Would a beast, willing to sacrifice its evolution or even its life to save its trainer, really compromise so easily? Qiao Sang''s expression changed slightly. Could it be that she had unknowingly fallen under the Ghost Lamp''s spell just now? Was everything happening now a dream or an illusion? "Xun~" Little Treasure floated in front of his trainer, seeing no response. Looking at the familiar face, he pouted, and his eyes began to redden again. However, before his tears could fall, Qiao Sang reached out and knocked him on the head. "Does it hurt?" Little Treasure : ??? --- After a long night, Qiao Sang finally confirmed that this wasn¡¯t an illusion. In the latter half of the night, the Ghost Lamp recovered but didn¡¯t leave. Instead, it started communicating with Little Treasure again. Although she didn¡¯t know what they were talking about, Qiao Sang had a vague sense that it was impressive. She knew Little Treasure was a social butterfly, but she didn¡¯t realize he could be this good. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, who was still sound asleep, and felt a bit conflicted. there¡¯s no harm without comparison... As the sky lightened, Qiao Sang returned Yabao to the Beast Taming Codex, still with dark circles under her eyes, and knocked on the door of room 702. The same aunt opened the door. She was surprised, "Why are you here?" Fighting the urge to doze off, Qiao Sang replied, "I¡¯m here to submit the task." Submit the task? The aunt suddenly realized, "Oh, you¡¯ve come to withdraw from the task, right? Actually, you didn¡¯t have to come in person; you could have done it on your phone." Half-squinting, Qiao Sang said, "No, I¡¯ve found the Ghost Lamp." With that, she finally couldn¡¯t help but yawn. Staying up all night was exhausting, especially since her phone had died later on... sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The aunt froze. The Ghost Lamp? She found it? Seeing no reaction from the aunt, Qiao Sang poked her own head. In the next second, Little Treasure appeared and gave a cry to the side. Then, a familiar figure appeared before the aunt. Her face instantly went blank. The Ghost Lamp that the inspection team had searched for so long and couldn¡¯t find was located by an underage girl in less than a day?! "Spirit?" The aunt, in disbelief, confirmed with the Ghost Lamp. What if this wasn¡¯t the one the old lady lost but another that looked similar? Ghost Lamp glanced at her coldly and walked straight inside. Aunt: ¡­! It was indeed it! Qiao Sang followed the Ghost Lamp inside. The lamp hesitated outside the room for a moment. "Xun." Little Treasure floated to its side and nodded at it. The Ghost Lamp glanced at him, then floated through the door, with Little Treasure following closely. Seeing this, Qiao Sang knocked on the door twice, but there was no response. She knocked again, still no response. This time, she was smart. Instead of knocking a third time, she just pushed the door open. The old lady was lying on the bed, still asleep, while the two beasts stood beside her, staring blankly at her. Qiao Sang could understand the Ghost Lamp being in a daze, but why was Little Treasure also staring? Shouldn¡¯t he be drooling instead? Was this a side effect of the hypnosis? Little Treasure slowly overlapped the wrinkled face in front of him with the one from his dream. Anxiety began creeping back into his heart. He turned to look at Qiao Sang, then disappeared and reappeared on her head, grabbing two tufts of hair to calm himself down. Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt relieved. She looked at the old lady, who was still sound asleep, and hesitated whether to wake her up. Just then, the fire inside the Ghost Lamp flickered, and a Nether Sun Crystal emerged from the lamp¡¯s shade, slowly moving towards the old lady. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Seeing that the crystal was about to enter the old lady¡¯s body, she acted faster than her brain, darting forward and grabbing the crystal. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" Qiao Sang scolded the Ghost Lamp harshly. She knew that without the Nether Sun Crystal, the Ghost Lamp wouldn¡¯t last long. The old lady still had the Ghost Lamp''s wick inside her, so she couldn¡¯t understand why it would try to transfer the crystal into her body. Besides, the old lady was human; She couldn¡¯t possibly withstand... wait... The wick, the old lady still had the wick inside her! Qiao Sang suddenly recalled the vice principal¡¯s words: The wick could only stay inside a human body for three days, but it had already been over half a month. If the wick had been sustained by the Nether Sun Crystal every once in a while, that might explain how it was still functioning. But if that were the case, then the Ghost Lamp... "Lamp!" The Ghost Lamp fiercely snatched the crystal back from Qiao Sang¡¯s hands. "Xun!" Little Treasure spread his arms and stood in front of Qiao Sang protectively. The Ghost Lamp paused for a moment, then reined in its ferocious expression. It turned around and once again placed the crystal near the old lady. At that moment, a realization struck Qiao Sang. Without the Nether Sun Crystal, the Ghost Lamp wasn¡¯t acting right. Had it stopped absorbing human essence? Just then, the old lady slowly opened her eyes. The Ghost Lamp froze, instinctively hiding the crystal and vanishing. "You¡¯ve come." The old lady said calmly, not at all surprised by the extra presence in the room. She propped herself up and leaned against the headboard, her expression peaceful. Her attitude was completely different from yesterday... Qiao Sang paused, about to speak, but Little Treasure floated up to the old lady and gestured. "Xun." "Xun Xun." The old lady watched him quietly, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Yes, it seems that child used hypnosis on you." "Dreams are the activity of the subconscious. While in a dream, the conscious mind shuts down, allowing the subconscious to take over. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be able to control your dreams, but it seems the child¡¯s hypnosis is so advanced that its subconscious seeped into yours." "So, what you saw were all its experiences." As the old lady spoke, she turned to look at the air to her left, her cloudy eyes glistening with tears. "I did say those words in the end. Maybe the child was in too much pain to hear them, so it didn¡¯t stop." Only then did Qiao Sang understand why Little Treasure had acted so strangely after waking up. She followed the old lady¡¯s gaze. The Ghost Lamp must be hiding in that direction. The old lady had likely noticed too... Sure enough, the old lady turned to Qiao Sang and said, "Thank you for finding this child for me. You never asked about the reward, so I didn¡¯t mention it." She opened the bedside table and pulled out a Beast Tamer Badge, tossing it over. "Take this to the Beast Taming Center, and they¡¯ll give you your reward." Qiao Sang was startled. "I¡¯ll return the badge to you afterward." The old lady smiled kindly, "There¡¯s no need. I won¡¯t have any use for it in the future." Qiao Sang fell silent. For a beast tamer, the badge was a symbol of identity. How could she not need it unless she never would again... "Alright, you may go now. I¡¯d like to be alone with the lamp for a while." The old lady said, her gaze soft as she looked at the empty space in front of her. Qiao Sang remained still. After several seconds, the old lady turned impatiently. "Why are you still here?" Now that¡¯s more like it... thought Qiao Sang. "By the way, could you leave me a five-star rating when it¡¯s over?" The old lady: ... Chapter 154: Energy Pills Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t immediately head to the Beast Center to collect her reward. Instead, she went straight home. As soon as she returned to her familiar room, she collapsed into bed. After staying up all night, her eyelids could no longer hold up. Barely a minute into her nap, Qiao Sang felt like she had forgotten something. After a moment of struggle, she got up and plugged in her phone to charge. Now she could finally sleep peacefully... 3:00 PM. When Qiao Sang woke up, there was no trace of drowsiness. She felt completely refreshed, and even the air seemed much cleaner. There wasn¡¯t a single hint of wanting to stay in bed. She got up and freshened up. After washing up, Qiao Sang suddenly noticed something strange: Little Treasure that usually stayed by her side for 23 out of 24 hours a day wasn¡¯t around. How odd¡­ Qiao Sang closed her eyes and focused. Now that her Beast Codex had two pages and her brain capacity was over 10%, as long as Little Treasure was inside the house, she could sense his presence. The page in the Beast Codex related to Little Treasure glowed blue. Her mind whirred, and various fragmented images flashed through her head. The next moment, the fragments pieced together into a complete picture. A familiar background. A grayish-yellow figure. He¡¯s in the courtyard¡­ Qiao Sang opened her eyes and went to the courtyard, where she saw Little Treasure staring intently at something on the ground. As she approached, she saw nine ants lined up neatly on the ground. Qiao Sang was taken aback. Didn¡¯t Little Treasure usually prefer shiny, interesting things? Had his tastes changed? ¡°You¡­¡± Qiao Sang turned her head to ask, but before she could finish, she noticed Little Treasure¡¯s eyes had turned purple, staring unblinkingly at the ants. Qiao Sang paused for a moment. Was he practicing hypnosis? Unlike Yabao, Little Treasure rarely trained his skills without supervision. At first, training was novel for him, but when he had to practice the same skill for an extended period, he quickly lost interest, just like a student who doesn¡¯t enjoy studying, daydreaming or dozing off when the teacher wasn¡¯t watching. Qiao Sang found this surprising. In the past, Little Treasure only trained under her supervision, but now he was practicing on his own, without her even noticing. Had something happened that she wasn¡¯t aware of? She thought back to the events of the day. Aside from the dream Little Treasure had while under hypnosis, he had been with her the entire time. It must be something from the dream, she concluded. ¡°Little Treasure, what did you dream about today while you were hypnotized?¡± Qiao Sang poked the focused little treasure-seeking ghost. She hadn¡¯t asked before because she wasn¡¯t that interested in the dream. Honestly, she was a rational person. She could already guess some of what had happened between the old lady and the ghost lamp without needing to overthink it. After finding the ghost lamp, she had a vague idea of what would happen. But aside from a moment of reflection, she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. However, the fact that Little Treasure had changed because of it made her curious about the dream. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure was so focused on practicing hypnosis that Qiao Sang¡¯s sudden poke startled him. The purple glow in his eyes faded. When he turned around and saw his Beast Master, he happily floated up to her head, habitually tugging at two locks of her hair. ¡°Xun!¡± Qiao Sang picked him up and asked, ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me what you dreamed about after being hypnotized today.¡± Little Treasure paused, then floated into the air and animatedly described the dream¡¯s scenes. After he finished, Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°So, you¡¯re practicing so diligently now because you want to evolve quickly and give me feedback?¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded seriously. Qiao Sang fell silent. To say she wasn¡¯t touched would be a lie. Who would¡¯ve thought that such a small ghost could have such deep thoughts? She reached out and patted the little treasure-seeking ghost on the head, pleased. ¡°Work hard then. Evolve seven or eight times, and that should be enough.¡± Little Treasure froze for a moment. Seven or eight times¡­ ¡°Xun!¡± He clenched his paw into a fist and raised it to the side of his face, determined. The next second, Little Treasure suddenly remembered something and teleported away. When he reappeared, he was holding a book. ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure handed the book to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. When she looked down, she was dumbfounded. The Overbearing Champion Fell in Love with Me. This was the book Jin Feifan had lent her when they were boarding at school. It wasn¡¯t that she had asked for it, Jin Feifan had brought it to her out of the blue in an effort to get on her good side. Back then, seeing how nervous Jin Feifan looked, she hadn¡¯t refused. She had read two pages, found it too clich¨¦, and set it aside. She had completely forgotten about the book, but now Little Treasure had found it and was solemnly handing it to her¡­ Qiao Sang stared at the book for two seconds, then looked up and asked, ¡°Is this for me to read?¡± ¡°Xun!¡± The little treasure-seeking ghost nodded seriously. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure explained. He had learned in the dream that for a Beast Master to receive feedback, it wasn¡¯t enough for the pet to evolve, she also had to read more books to develop her brain. Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°So, you¡¯re giving me this book to help me develop my brain?¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded. Qiao Sang: ... Maybe it was time to teach Little Treasure to read... ¡°By the way.¡± Qiao Sang set the book aside and changed the topic, ¡°what did the old lady say at the end?¡± If there was anything that intrigued her, it was the old lady¡¯s final words, because it was clear those words had changed the ghost lamp¡¯s mind. ¡°Xun Xun.¡± ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure hesitated, then repeated: ¡°Don¡¯t save me, Spirit. This is my final wish.¡± Qiao Sang fell silent. A wish, huh¡­ --- Little Treasure wanted to stay in the courtyard to continue practicing his skill releases. Although his motivation was different from Yabao¡¯s self-driven training, their goals were the same. Qiao Sang clasped her hands together and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± As soon Yabao appeared and saw the familiar surroundings, he became instantly excited. He didn¡¯t know why he had suddenly appeared at home, but home was great! Plenty of space to move around! Seeing Yabao¡¯s energetic demeanor, Qiao Sang was reminded of how impossible it had been to wake him up at dawn. She suddenly felt the urge to knock on his head¡­ But she held back. Instead, Qiao Sang had Little Treasure take out the two jars of energy pills. She had high hopes for these energy pills; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have spent so much money on them. Each pet had its own preferences. The energy pills not only catered to the pets¡¯ tastes, but they also refined and crystallized energy, using different formulas to help the pets improve in specific areas, building a perfect foundation. In the past, she had only fed Yabao and Little Treasure regular milk and easy-to-make energy meals. This was the first time they¡¯d be trying properly formulated energy pills. ¡°Give them a try.¡± Qiao Sang took one energy pill from each jar and placed them in front of Yabao and Little Treasure. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao didn¡¯t even take a close look. Since his Beast Master had offered it, he immediately lowered his head and swallowed the pill in one bite. As soon as the energy pill entered his mouth, Yabao¡¯s body trembled, and his eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± He wagged his tail at Qiao Sang excitedly. He wanted more! Little Treasure, on the other hand, was much more cautious. He looked at the pitch-black energy pill, then glanced at Yabao¡¯s reaction. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure sighed. Big Brother Yabao wasn¡¯t picky at all; he ate everything. But he wasn¡¯t the same. He only wanted milk right now¡­ Looking up at his Beast Master¡¯s expectant gaze, Little Treasure hesitated, sniffed the pill, and, after a moment of doubt, stuck out his tongue for a lick. ¡°Xun!¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 155: Mission Accomplished Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- The taste of the energy pills was greatly appreciated by both Yabao and Little Treasure. These energy pills, specially tailored for each beast, are usually a hit as long as the recipe is correct. However, the true value of these pills lies in their effects. Even with the same formula, pills crafted by energy pill makers of different levels yield different results. For example, the common energy pills on the market, designed to boost a beast¡¯s stamina, have publicly available formulas and methods. But while a low-level energy pill maker¡¯s pills might only allow a beast to work out for an additional minute, a high-level maker¡¯s pills could let the beast work out for an extra hour. The difference is staggering. Judging by the color and shape of these pills, they seemed to be of high quality. After Yabao and Little Treasure actively ate some pills, Qiao Sang asked, "How do you feel?" Yabao¡¯s pills were slightly different in color from Little Treasure¡¯s, so they wouldn¡¯t get mixed up. "Yap!" Yabao responded without hesitation, feeling that he just wanted to eat more! Qiao Sang: "..." Ever since Yabao evolved, they¡¯ve been almost telepathic, with little to no misunderstanding between them. Clearly, his brain was clouded by the delicious taste. "I wasn¡¯t asking about that. I meant, do you feel any changes inside your body?" Qiao Sang clarified. Inside? Yabao focused for a moment, and when he sensed changes inside, his eyes brightened. "Yap! Yap yap!" Listening to Yabao¡¯s feedback, Qiao Sang nodded. It seemed that the energy pill enhanced Yabao¡¯s internal energy and kept him active for a period of time, making this the perfect moment for training, where the effects would be maximized. In addition, the flow of energy had increased, with the energy spreading to every corner of his body, strengthening his limbs and helping Yabao grow stronger from the inside out. Money well spent! Qiao Sang secretly admired the work. No wonder this energy pill, designed by an A-class breeder, was top-notch, absolutely worth it! After analyzing the effects of the red energy pill on Yabao, Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure¡¯s black energy pill. "Xun~" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure described his feelings. Qiao Sang nodded along. The black pill had a similar effect to the red one, except that the red pill stimulated fire energy, while the black one activated ghost energy. There was one major difference, though, the black pill didn¡¯t allow Little Treasure¡¯s energy to spread throughout his body and refine his limbs. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t disappointed by this. After all, ghost-type beasts didn¡¯t rely on physical strength to fight; they excelled in special attacks for powerful offense. As a trade-off, though the black pill didn¡¯t enhance Little Treasure¡¯s physical form, it did allow him to absorb some life energy. It¡¯s important to note that ghost-type beasts absorbing life energy from humans is strictly prohibited by law. Any ghost-type beast found doing so would be classified as evil. However, ghost-type beasts can only grow faster by absorbing this energy. As a result, some breeders have developed pills containing life energy through carefully combined materials, enabling safe absorption. These energy pills are incredibly valuable and are not usually sold openly on the market. Although the price of these specialized pills is similar to others, the black pill consumed by Little Treasure is likely far more expensive than Yabao¡¯s red pill. Since the energy pills they¡¯d eaten were so valuable, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t waste time and immediately had Yabao and Little Treasure start training. The enhanced energy wouldn¡¯t last for 24 hours, so they had to make the most of it before the pill¡¯s effects wore off. Yabao was always eager to train, and after the recent mission, Little Treasure¡¯s attitude toward training had improved as well. The two of them quickly turned and immersed themselves in their exercises. Since Yabao had already mastered Ember to its peak, Qiao Sang now had him focus on training Fire Fang. Fire Fang, a mid-level skill and a genetic ability for the Fire Fang Dog species, had to be honed to its fullest potential. Meanwhile, Little Treasure practiced Hypnosis on his nine ant targets. Qiao Sang observed for a while before calling out to Yabao. ¡°Use your clone to train Fire Fang, and have your main body run a few laps around the yard.¡± She had always wanted Yabao to try having his clone and main body work separately. In essence, this was a kind of multitasking training. Eating while training was multitasking; bathing while training was multitasking too. However, while Yabao could normally eat and watch TV, now that he had consumed an energy pill, his energy was refining his limbs, so his main body needed to stay active. If this became a habit, Qiao Sang believed that Yabao¡¯s clone and main body would eventually be able to use different skills simultaneously. ¡°Yal.¡± Yabao nodded. He had been training with his clone and main body working separately for a while, so he understood its beastmaster¡¯s intention. After settling the two beasts, Qiao Sang returned to her room. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She picked up her phone, where there were already over 99+ messages, mostly from group chats. Qiao Sang resisted the urge to check the chats. Instead, she opened the Beast Center¡¯s official website, logged into her account, and checked the mission details. ¡°Please, let it be a five-star rating¡­¡± Even though the mission had gone smoothly, she was still nervous. Wang Yao¡¯s example had stuck with her¡­ The old lady they¡¯d helped certainly wasn¡¯t the friendly and gentle type¡­ With her heart racing, Qiao Sang opened the mission details. A less-than-five-star rating would be minor, but having to clean the bathroom would be major. [Rating: Five stars] [Review: More useful than the inspection department.] Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. While the review wasn¡¯t a lengthy one, the concise comment and the five stars were enough to ensure Zheng Baolong wouldn¡¯t find any faults with her work. Turns out the old lady wasn¡¯t so bad after all¡­ Rest in peace. --- The last message in the Invincible Shengshui group was from an hour ago. [Wang Yao: Anyone around? I¡¯m so bored, come chat with me.] Wang Yao was really bored. Her task was simply to make sure her Flame Sparrow posed as a model without getting restless, so all she had to do was watch over it. Now, she was left to idly play with her phone, hoping to chat with her groupmates about how their missions were going, but no one was responding. Bored out of her mind, Wang Yao scrolled through trending topics. Suddenly, her phone vibrated. [Qiao Sang: I¡¯m here.] As soon as Qiao Sang posted, another message appeared. [Wang Yao: Finally, someone¡¯s here!] [Wang Yao: Qiao Sang, what¡¯re you up to? Are you as bored as I am? You have no idea, I¡¯m about to die of boredom.] In her mind, Qiao Sang¡¯s mission was equally dull, aimlessly searching for a ghost-type beast, probably spending most of her time standing around not knowing what to do. [Qiao Sang: I¡¯m not bored, I just woke up.] [Wang Yao: ¡­ Only you would know how to slack off like that.] [Qiao Sang: Slacking? Not at all, I was up all night doing the mission and finally got some sleep.] [Wang Yao: ¡­] [Wang Yao: That sounds terrible. How¡¯d the mission go?] [Qiao Sang: Not bad, mission accomplished.] That single sentence immediately flushed out a bunch of lurkers. [Shi Gaofeng: ?] [Xu Yajie: ?] [Zheng Guoping: ?] [Wang Yao: ???] ----- T/N: Sorry for not updating yesterday. My phone crashed and formatted, I almost cried in despair, thankfully, one throw in the wall miraculously fixed it. ----- ----- Chapter 156: The Lost Town Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang followed closely and sent a [ ? ] in response to the formation. The next second, the chat displayed: [ Shi Gaofeng has retracted a message. ] Even though the high school battle team had six members, their usual training and activities for individual and group battles were mostly separate, leading to the creation of two separate group chats. The Invincible Shengshui chat that Qiao Sang was in had five members, including herself. Usually, it was only the others chatting, with Zheng Guoping staying silent. Now, Zheng Guoping¡¯s sudden appearance startled Shi Gaofeng into quickly retracting his message, terrified of being singled out. Wang Yao looked at the group, now suddenly bubbling with activity, and felt speechless. So, you guys have all been here this whole time? Suppressing the urge to complain, she scrolled up to see Qiao Sang''s message and felt a headache coming on. From accepting the mission until now, it had only been a full day, and they¡¯d already completed the seemingly limitless task of finding a Ghost-type pet beast? Even finding a person wouldn¡¯t have been this fast! She was just about to ask how they completed it, but after typing two words, the latest three messages in the chat made her heart skip a beat, and she quickly hit the delete key. All three were from Zheng Guoping. [ Zheng Guoping: Image ] Opening it revealed the final rating and evaluation page for the task to find the Ghost Lamp. [ Zheng Guoping: Voice Message ] [ Zheng Guoping: Voice Message ] Both were 60 seconds long. Out of impulse, Wang Yao converted the first voice message to text. [ Look at Qiao Sang, younger than all of you by a year. It''s her first time completing a task, and she¡¯s done so efficiently and excellently. Now, look at how many tasks you¡¯ve completed, how many have been five-star rated? And now look at her... ] She didn¡¯t even need to listen to the second voice message to know it would be more scolding. Wang Yao felt a chill run through her. Growing up, she had always been the model child others admired. Ever since contracting with the Flame Sparrow and being admitted to the best Shengshui High School in the city, who hadn¡¯t spoken of her with admiration? Even in Shengshui High School, full of geniuses, she¡¯d been selected for the individual battle team. To say she wasn¡¯t proud would be a lie. Before Qiao Sang came along, she was also the least criticized member of the team. Was she bad? No, she wasn¡¯t! It¡¯s just that Qiao Sang was too much of a freak. Zheng Guoping was being ridiculous, comparing them to this anomaly. Furious, Wang Yao was about to type a rebuttal. But then, Zheng Guoping sent another message. [ Zheng Guoping: By the way, how¡¯s your task going, you three? ] Wang Yao looked up at her Flame Sparrow, who wore an impatient expression, and immediately backed down. Forget it, I¡¯ll wait until I finish the task to argue¡­ The moment Zheng Guoping appeared, the group chat fell silent again. Seeing no one talking, Qiao Sang exited and opened other message threads. [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: Qiao Sang, Qiao Sang, what do you think of the Fire Wing Butterfly? ] The message was from half an hour ago. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelid twitched. I¡¯m a Rising Star was Fang Sisi''s ID, and over the summer, she¡¯d already asked about the five different evolutions of her Cotton Bug . [ I think it¡¯s good. ] Fang Sisi quickly replied. [ Right? I think so too! So I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯m going to evolve my Cotton Bug into a Fire Wing Butterfly! ] Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t even surprised at this point. Casually, she typed a response. [ How are you going to do that? ] [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: I asked a breeder. To evolve into an excellent Fire Wing Butterfly, the Cotton Bug must first become brave. Otherwise, even if it evolves with the Fire Stone, it won¡¯t be as fierce as other Fire-type beasts, and its fire energy will be greatly diminished. ] Qiao Sang suddenly had a bad feeling. The last few times Fang Sisi wanted to evolve her Cotton Bug into an Snow Butterfly, she¡¯d made it spend half an hour every day in the fridge to help it adapt to the cold. Then, when she wanted it to evolve into a Venomous Butterfly, she¡¯d scoured the internet for dark cuisine recipes and fed them to the poor thing. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After that, she changed her mind again and wanted it to evolve into a Water Wing Butterfly, so she took it swimming for an extended period, somehow managing to teach the non-swimming Cotton Bug how to swim. Honestly, Qiao Sang admired the Cotton Bug for surviving all that. Now, wondering what ordeal it would face this time, Qiao Sang felt a little sorry for it. She sent a message asking. [ What are you planning to do this time? ] [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: I asked around, and the best way to build courage is to visit a haunted house. Coincidentally, a horror escape room recently opened on Qinshe Road, so I¡¯m planning to take my Cotton Bug there to toughen it up. ] Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment and typed: [ Is it the one at 231 Qinshe Road? ] [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: I didn¡¯t notice. Hold on, let me check. ] Three seconds later, Fang Sisi replied. [ Yep, it is! How did you know? Have you been there? ] It was indeed the one she¡¯d seen on the mission list. Qiao Sang opened the chat, about to reply, when the window shook with a new message. [ Did you play the Lost Town room? The third challenge there features a Cotton Bug falling from the ceiling with bloodstains, that¡¯s actually my little Cotto ! ] She added a shy emoji at the end. Qiao Sang: ... [ So, you turned your Cotton Bug into an NPC? ] [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: I took it there once, but we didn¡¯t clear the room. I want to go again, but it¡¯s too expensive, 1000 Alliance Coins per try! So, I let my Cotton Bug work there to earn the money for another attempt. ] Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. The Cotton Bug¡¯s fate was indeed tragic¡­ After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang typed another message. [ How much does the Cotton Bug earn per day? ] [ I¡¯m a Rising Star: 100 Alliance Coins. ] Qiao Sang felt sympathy again, working hard for ten days, only to spend the money on scaring itself... what¡¯s the point? --- 8:22 PM. 231 Qinshe Road. A number of passersby looked up at the newly opened escape room, intrigued yet too scared to enter. The shop¡¯s d¨¦cor was mainly black, with flickering candle-like lights all around, making it clear this was a horror-themed escape room. Inside, a girl in a purple dress was flipping through the menu of escape rooms. ¡°Hello, would you like to try a single-player or multi-player room?¡± Asked a handsome staff member nearby. Qiao Sang looked at the menu and asked, ¡°Do you have rooms just for pet beasts?¡± After chatting with Fang Sisi, she recalled something Wang Yao had mentioned: To improve a pet beast¡¯s mental strength, it should experience fear and then overcome it. Her Yabao was fearless, except when it came to ghostly things, like Ghost-type pet beasts. Whenever they watched horror movies, or encountered Ghost Eaters or Treasure-Seeking Ghosts, Yabao¡¯s reactions were always intense. So, Qiao Sang brought him here to give it a try. To overcome fear, he had to do it himself for the best results. ¡°We do.¡± The staff member handed her a different menu. ¡°These rooms are designed for pet beasts. Would you like a single-pet or multi-pet room?¡± Realizing she was a beast trainer, the staff member shifted their tone from casual to polite. ¡°Single-pet.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Then I recommend Ghost City, The Confined Space, and The Lost Town. They¡¯re on pages 2, 8, and 9. Take a look.¡± The staff introduced. The Lost Town? Qiao Sang hesitated. Wasn¡¯t that the escape room where Fang Sisi¡¯s Cotton Bug was an NPC? ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Qiao Sang pointed to The Lost Town on page 9. Chapter 157: The Doppelg?nger Puppet Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang was led into the observation room, while Yabao was blindfolded and brought into the secret chamber leading to Lost Town. Before leaving the house, Qiao Sang had already told Yabao about coming to the secret chamber to play. Knowing that he might break through and become stronger, Yabao naturally had no objections and was even eager to give it a try. The observation room was somewhat like a cinema. However, the space was not as large, and the lights were not turned off. Instead of a custom special white screen, they used a virtual screen that was live-streaming Yabao''s movements in real-time. There were a few scattered people inside, all beast trainers playing NPC pets in the secret chamber. Some beast trainers, worried about their pets, would accompany them backstage in the secret chamber, but most preferred to watch from outside. As soon as Qiao Sang walked in, a girl in the back row stood up and waved, "Qiao Sang! Over here!" After choosing the Lost Town secret chamber, she had contacted Fang Sisi via her phone, and sure enough, she was here. Qiao Sang sat down next to Fang Sisi. "Wow, you only told me after arriving, were you planning to surprise me?" Fang Sisi asked with a smile. "Not at all, it was a spur of the moment decision." Qiao Sang replied honestly. If Lost Town hadn¡¯t been a single-pet secret chamber, she might not have even thought of bringing the cotton bug here. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Sisi didn¡¯t mind. She gazed at Yabao on the large virtual screen and sighed, "Had I known Fire Fang Dog could evolve into such a cool form, I wouldn¡¯t have minded it burning my hair, heck, I¡¯d let it burn anything and still contract with one. What do you think about me contracting a Fire Fang Dog if I manage to fill the second page of my Beast Codex?" When the news came out that Fire Fang Dogs could evolve into Flame Hounds, the ones most excited were naturally the beast trainers who owned Fire Fang Dogs, along with their friends and family. When Fang Sisi saw the news, she immediately contacted Qiao Sang, and was one of the first to know that Qiao Sang¡¯s Fire Fang Dog was the first to evolve into a Flame Hound. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang said, "You should really think it over. It''s not just burning hair, it''ll burn through your wallet too." Fang Sisi: ... On the screen, Yabao had just had his blindfold removed. The surroundings were dark, with only faint red lights barely illuminating the area, just enough to prevent total darkness. However, an eerie wind blew, and the shadows of objects swayed under the strange light, giving the place a spooky atmosphere. As a fire-type pet, Yabao had a natural warmth and didn¡¯t feel cold. He twitched his ears as he looked at the only passage ahead and walked forward without hesitation. Suddenly, something rolled over, making a loud noise in the otherwise silent space. Yabao didn¡¯t lower his head to investigate and continued moving forward. The staff in the control room paused for a moment and then spoke into the intercom, "Bite its leg." "This is the Doppelg?nger Puppet. Most pets that come here are scared out of their wits by it. My cotton bug normally won¡¯t even move if I tell it to exercise, but the moment it saw this puppet, it sprinted 100 meters like a pro." Fang Sisi said with a laugh while watching Yabao on the screen. "But the Flame Hound is a fire-type pet after all. Do you think it¡¯ll just burn the puppet down?" "Quite possible." Qiao Sang replied. Pet secret chambers are different from those for humans; pets can use various skills to deal with obstacles and NPCs. The chambers adjust the difficulty of the challenges based on the pet''s level. Though this shop wasn¡¯t large, it still had secret chambers designed to challenge intermediate-level pets, as most beast trainers could nurture them with some effort. To help Yabao overcome his fears, he needed to face them head-on, rather than being scared into running around. Inside the secret chamber, in the dim light, a head covered in fur and sporting sharp fangs opened its eyes and mouth in response to the command from the intercom. It lunged toward the red-and-white figure not far ahead. Just as it was about to bite down, the red-and-white figure¡¯s right hind leg suddenly kicked back, hitting the head dead center, sending it flying several meters away. "Magog!" Amidst a pitiful scream, the head rolled several times, stars spinning in its eyes. One fake tooth fell out, and a tuft of poor-quality fur came loose. The staff in the control room froze for a moment before snapping back and shouting into the intercom, "Number 2, get ready! Number 2, get ready! The player is advancing." In the observation room, Fang Sisi stared wide-eyed at the screen, unable to believe what she was seeing. "Damn, are all fire-type pets this brave? And how did it kick with such precision? Does it have some kind of omniscient view?" Qiao Sang was equally confused. This wasn¡¯t what she had expected¡­ Yabao walked forward with a conflicted expression, his footsteps echoing loudly in the dark, accompanied by... voices. "Number 2, get ready! The player is advancing." "Copy that." "I heard the pet playing today is the legendary Flame Hound. What do you think about asking its trainer for a photo after it''s done?" "Sure, let¡¯s go together." "Is the Doppelg?nger Puppet alright? It still has more scenes to act in later." "It¡¯s fine, its body and limbs are already set up for the next part." "Ghosty!" "Don¡¯t worry, Grudge Ball. Once we¡¯re done with this chamber, I¡¯ll take you out to eat." "..." The incessant chatter filled Yabao¡¯s ears, leaving him bewildered. Where was the promised eerie silence? And that Doppelg?nger Puppet from earlier, how could it scare anyone when its actions were announced beforehand with so much talking? How was he supposed to get scared and grow stronger like this? After mulling it over, Yabao remembered what his trainer had said, followed by scenes from horror movies he had watched. His expression grew resolute again. His trainer had mentioned that there were many ghost-type supernatural creatures here. Yabao couldn¡¯t let his guard down! "Yap!" Yabao pumped himself up and kept walking forward. At the end of the passage, the scene shifted dramatically. Before him lay a small town street, shrouded in purple mist. The surrounding buildings were dilapidated, and the occasional mournful cry of crows added to the eerie atmosphere. The door to the passage behind Yabao slowly and automatically closed. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as a distant house was violently shattered, and a woman covered in blood frantically rushed out. Upon seeing Yabao, her eyes lit up, and she ran toward him, only to stumble and fall just before reaching him. "Save me, save... me. Please! Take me away! I don¡¯t want to die! I beg you!" She pleaded, her voice trembling with sobs as if Yabao were her only salvation. She didn¡¯t get up but extended a blood-stained hand toward Yabao. "Yap..." Yabao stared at the human in front of him, momentarily dazed. Even though he had heard voices earlier, her performance seemed so real... The next second, a pool of sticky black liquid appeared beneath the woman, rising up to envelop her completely. "Save..." Before she could finish her words, the black liquid dragged her down into the ground, disappearing from sight. Yabao stood still, troubled. The acting was impressive, and the scene was frightening. If only there weren¡¯t so many voices, it would¡¯ve been perfect. "Wow, Number 2¡¯s getting better at this!" "If you had to repeat the same lines and actions over a dozen times every day, you¡¯d get good at it too... by the way, did Black Sludge not brush its teeth today? Feels like it¡¯s got bad breath." "Black Sludge! Black Sludge!" Chapter 158: Innocent! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- ¡°This small town is shrouded in mist year-round. The town''s residents have mysteriously disappeared one after another, and an indescribable foul stench lingers in every street and alley. Those who accidentally enter, along with their pet beasts, will lose their way and be trapped forever.¡± ¡°Despite this, many still come, lured by the legend that if someone can solve the mystery of the town and leave, they will gain the attention of the mythical pet beast, Mihei Ram, and be granted a wish.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at the introduction to the Lost Town escape room in her hand and couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just copying Xihan City from the Top Ten Ghost Cities?¡± She hadn''t paid much attention when she picked the room earlier. Fang Sisi took a sip of cola and casually remarked, ¡°Entertainment is inspired by life. As long as it¡¯s fun, that¡¯s all that matters. Look at Flame Hound; he looks too scared to move.¡± ¡°By the looks of it, my Cotton Bug seems to be doing alright. It still has the courage to run.¡± Qiao Sang shot her a glance and teased, ¡°Don¡¯t let it be that the NPC hasn¡¯t even said its lines, and it¡¯s already run off.¡± Fang Sisi praised her, ¡°You truly deserve to have gotten into Shengshui High School, so clever.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Just then, a man''s low voice came from behind, ¡°Is Flame Hound all show and no substance? How can it be so timid? It''s far inferior to the Blaze Hound, standing there for so long without moving. Could it be too scared to continue?¡± Though the voice was lowered, the small observation room made it easy for everyone to hear. The man realized this and awkwardly took a sip of his drink. Fang Sisi turned her head and gave the man a glare. Nudging Qiao Sang with her elbow, she asked, ¡°He just said that, and you have no reaction?¡± Qiao Sang brushed her hair with her hand, her fingers briefly touching the invisible Little Treasure. She said, ¡°Why should I react? Didn¡¯t you just say that Yabao is even less courageous than your Cotton Bug?¡± Fang Sisi blushed, flustered, ¡°That¡¯s different! I was joking, but he¡¯s clearly mocking-¡± ¡°Ah! Something touched me! Something touched me!¡± Before she could finish, the man who had been speaking earlier suddenly shrieked, followed by the clattering of objects as he rushed to his feet, likely bumping into the table nearby. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± The people in the room were startled by him. The man had backed up to the wall, his face pale with fright. ¡°Something touched my face just now!¡± Qiao Sang felt her hair being lifted by the invisible Little Treasure, glanced back, and calmly returned her gaze to the screen. The hidden Little Treasure shifted into a more comfortable position, quietly basking in his anonymity. --- ¡°Why isn¡¯t it moving yet?¡± ¡°Some pet beasts aren¡¯t that intelligent. Maybe Flame Hound is one of them. Should we have Number 3 appear before it?¡± ¡°But the first level¡¯s plot hasn¡¯t even progressed yet, and the room''s setup hasn¡¯t been fully revealed. Won¡¯t its Beast Master in the observation room think the experience was too rushed and not worth the money?¡± ¡°Then let Black Sludge scare it, make it run into the next room. How about that?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯ll work.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Black Sludge, Black Sludge.¡± Yabao¡¯s large ears twitched. He raised his head, looking toward the door Number 2 had just bumped open. Based on the sounds he heard, he was supposed to explore this house next, engage in a battle with Number 3 inside, and then proceed to the second level. So troublesome¡­ Yabao looked up at the mist at a 45-degree angle. Why couldn¡¯t they just come out and fight directly? As he continued to stare, the mist began to feel bothersome. ¡°Yap.¡± Maintaining his upward gaze, Yabao summoned his internal energy, quickly forming a bright red energy ball. ¡°Whoa!¡± In the observation room, Qiao Sang leaped to her feet, no longer able to remain calm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something touch your face too?!¡± Fang Sisi panicked, glancing around nervously. ¡°I told you there was something, but none of you believed me earlier!¡± The man exclaimed, his tone aggrieved. Everyone exchanged nervous glances, and those with weaker nerves grabbed their phones and hurriedly left. Only a few Beast Masters, worried about their pet beasts, stayed behind. Qiao Sang ignored the commotion around her. She stared at the screen in a daze before collapsing back into her seat. ¡°I remember it¡¯s allowed to use skills in the escape room, right?¡± Fang Sisi paused, looked at Qiao Sang, then followed her gaze to the screen and sighed in relief. ¡°I thought something serious happened. It¡¯s fine to use skills. They even allow fights inside the escape room. Don¡¯t let the large scene on the screen fool you; only a few parts are real. The rest are just illusions created by a pet beast with mirror skills.¡± ¡°Even if the real setup gets destroyed, it¡¯s no big deal. It¡¯s allowed. Have you ever seen a pet beast in an escape room that didn¡¯t wreck something?¡± ¡°Yesterday, a Flat-Beaked Fire Duck even-¡± Her voice abruptly stopped. Mouth agape, Fang Sisi stared at the screen in disbelief, where dozens of blood-red flames descended like fireworks. Everyone left in the observation room gasped. The previously conspicuous man gulped, while another girl, shocked, pulled out her phone to record the scene. On the screen, the purple mist had been completely dispersed, and scorching flames rained down, setting the entire scene ablaze. The illusion vanished, revealing that the endless streets of the town were nothing more than a walled room. With the mist gone, the entire room became visible. It was tall and spacious. The two rows of dilapidated houses disappeared one by one, leaving only two twisting in the flames. Fang Sisi couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing on the screen. Oh my god! That¡¯s¡­ Meteor Rain! A high-tier skill, Meteor Rain! Her emotions were in turmoil. Was Qiao Sang a monster? She hadn¡¯t even started high school, and her Fire Fang Dog had evolved into a brand-new form and learned Meteor Rain! That¡¯s Meteor Rain! A skill even high-level pet beasts might not master! Qiao Sang stared at the scene Yabao had created on the screen and suddenly felt something was off. ¡°Hey, how tall do you think this escape room is?¡± Qiao Sang asked after a moment of silence. What had startled her earlier wasn¡¯t Yabao unleashing Meteor Rain, but the possibility of him blowing off the escape room¡¯s roof¡­ You see, the energy balls from Meteor Rain rise to at least a dozen meters. While the room was tall, it didn¡¯t seem high enough for the skill. Fang Sisi didn¡¯t answer; she was still in shock from the sight of Flame Hound casting Meteor Rain. --- ¡°Activate the sprinklers, and get Number 5 in to put out the fire!¡± A staff member in the control room, wearing a cap, shouted. ¡°But won¡¯t that reveal everything is fake? It¡¯ll ruin the immersion. Shouldn¡¯t we guide it to the next room for the second level before putting out the fire?¡± A younger staff member suggested. ¡°Are you an idiot?! The mist is gone, the illusion is gone, and the entire room is exposed! What immersion is left?!¡± The man with the cap barked. ¡°But¡­¡± The younger staff member was about to say something when he noticed the monitor and exclaimed, ¡°Wait, how is the mist back?¡± The man in the cap, fuming, grabbed the radio and yelled, ¡°Who¡¯s in charge of props today?! Why are you generating mist again?!¡± A crackling sound came from the radio, and after a moment, someone replied, ¡°I¡¯m innocent! I only made the mist once. After that, I went to the bathroom. I never made a second batch.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 159: S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 160: The Sewer Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- The creature was covered in black mud. This ground-based pet''s entire body was coated in black soil, making its white sclera and teeth stand out even more. Its species could only evolve into a high-level beast, so theoretically, no beastmaster would want to form a contract with it. However, in reality, a considerable number of beastmasters contracted with it each year. This was because it was easy to care for, it could fill its belly by eating dirt. Therefore, many beastmasters with poor financial conditions chose to contract it. A small portion of other beastmasters contracted it because of its special abilities. Its two unique traits: Independent Space and Mudflow Form. The former meant that anything swallowed by this creature could be stored within it without damage unless it actively absorbed it. The latter allowed its body to transform into flowing mud, letting it seep through any cracks or crevices. These two traits made it a natural master in the art of thievery. "Wake up." After confirming that the black, slimy pet in her hand was indeed the mud creature, Qiao Sang held it up and shook it, trying to rouse it. Seeing no response, she pinched the flesh on its face. The mud creature still lay there, unresponsive like a pile of sludge. Looks like it¡¯s not going to be much help... Qiao Sang quickly decided not to waste any more time and turned to Fang Sisi. "There should be a female NPC down there, right? Can you check if she¡¯s in there?" Qiao Sang reminded her. Although she wanted to rush ahead and find Yabao, with such strange occurrences and only a newborn Treasure-Seeking Ghost by her side, it was better to proceed with caution. "Okay..." Fang Sisi snapped back to her senses, knocked twice on the ground, and called out, "Is anyone down there?" No response. "Hello, is anyone there?" Still no movement. Fang Sisi shook her head, "Looks like no one''s there. We should keep going." "Wait." Qiao Sang said. "What..." Fang Sisi¡¯s voice froze in her throat, her face filling with terror as she stumbled backward several meters, hands planted on the ground as she retreated. She watched in horror as Qiao Sang reached out and patted the air above her head, causing a gray-yellow, legless pet to materialize there. A ghost-type pet! Fang Sisi¡¯s heart pounded, her eyes wide with shock. She hadn¡¯t feared the secret room before because she was familiar with all its horror setups and knew some of the NPCs. But that didn¡¯t mean she was brave! The ghost pet that appeared on Qiao Sang¡¯s head was definitely not one of the secret room¡¯s NPCs! The unexpected ghost pet, combined with the unease from not being able to summon back her Cotton Bug and the eerie atmosphere around them, sent Fang Sisi¡¯s heart into her throat. Just then, Qiao Sang spoke. "Little Treasure, go take a look." "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded and floated down beneath the stone slabs. Fang Sisi was stunned, her mind blank. What? Little Treasure? A Treasure-Seeking Ghost?! Wait, why could Qiao Sang command it?! Fang Sisi swallowed nervously, her voice trembling as she looked at Qiao Sang. "That Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it¡¯s yours?" "Yeah." Qiao Sang replied, then paused, noticing Fang Sisi had moved far away. "Why did you run so far?" Fang Sisi: ¡­! You tell me why! "Your Treasure-Seeking Ghost?" Fang Sisi asked again in disbelief. "Yes." "You¡¯ve contracted two pets?!" Fang Sisi raised her voice in surprise. "Yeah. I know you want to praise me, but now''s not the time. Finding Yabao and the Cotton Bug is more important." Qiao Sang said calmly. Fang Sisi: ... She didn¡¯t want to talk anymore. Soon, Little Treasure floated back up from beneath the slabs. "Xun." "Xun xun." The little ghost gestured toward Qiao Sang. "You¡¯re saying she¡¯s lying down with her eyes closed?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun." The little ghost nodded. Qiao Sang paused for two seconds before asking, "Is she still alive?" Fang Sisi: !!! What the hell! Why ask such a scary question all of a sudden?! "Xun." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little ghost nodded. Fang Sisi breathed a sigh of relief, thank goodness¡­ The two of them headed toward the mostly-burned prop room, where the second NPC had fled. It was also the passageway to the next level. Although the house was mostly burned, the passage was still intact. Fang Sisi led the way with a flashlight, while Qiao Sang followed, carrying the mud creature. The mud creature wasn¡¯t heavy, and pets recovered much faster than humans. Thinking it might wake up soon, Qiao Sang decided to keep it with her. "We¡¯re here." Fang Sisi said, stopping by a wall. Qiao Sang watched as Fang Sisi fiddled with the wall for a moment before a stone slab on the ground began to move aside. Halfway through, something seemed to jam it. Seeing this, Qiao Sang set her phone down, holding the mud creature in her left hand while using her right hand to lift the obstruction and toss it aside. "Hiss..." Fang Sisi gasped at the sight. "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang picked up her phone and asked. "Nothing. Let¡¯s hurry." Fang Sisi replied, glancing at Qiao Sang in admiration before rushing down the passage. Qiao Sang noticed Fang Sisi¡¯s odd behavior but didn¡¯t ask further, following her down. Little Treasure was the last to descend. Instead of immediately entering the passage, he floated over to the obstruction his master had tossed aside, blinked curiously at it, then floated down into the passage. As the ghost disappeared into the passage, the stone slab slowly slid back into place. After climbing down, Qiao Sang shone her phone ahead, discovering they had entered a sewer system. Before she could take a closer look, Fang Sisi spoke up. "Do you know what that thing you threw just now was?" Though she wasn¡¯t interested, Qiao Sang humored her. "What was it?" "A Masked Spirit, the boss NPC of the first level. You have to beat it to get to the second level." Fang Sisi said, her eyes full of admiration. Her former desk mate was incredible! She had tossed a ghost pet aside like it was a rag! Such bravery! Such boldness! No wonder she dared to contract a fire-type and a ghost-type pet as her first two beasts. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. "You¡¯re saying that was the Masked Spirit?" "Yeah." Fang Sisi nodded. Qiao Sang was silent for a while. No wonder it had felt so strange... But why was it knocked out? Was it Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain or something else? As Qiao Sang pondered, a sound like a baby crying suddenly echoed from the sewer. Then, a pair of hands, stained with red liquid, emerged from the water. Since the hands appeared behind Qiao Sang and Fang Sisi, neither of them noticed immediately. But Little Treasure did. He floated over to the hands, tilted his head curiously, then grabbed one of the bloodstained hands and pulled it out of the water. After sniffing it, the little ghost wrinkled his nose in disgust and tossed the hand back into the sewer. The hand: ??? Chapter 162: ----- S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 161: The Dreamless Doll p>"Did you hear that sound?" Qiao Sang asked tensely.Fang Sisi paused, uncertain. "It sounded like a Baby Shell." Baby Shell, a water-type beast companion, typically makes soft whimpering sounds, but it can also produce cries similar to a human baby¡¯s. Only trained breeders can usually distinguish between the two sounds. Qiao Sang was surprised Fang Sisi guessed it right. Before she could ask more, Fang Sisi continued: "When a player enters the second stage, the Baby Shell in the water starts making that sound, and then the doppelg?nger puppet''s claw brings a fake human hand out of the water to scare the player." "But isn''t that supposed to be part of the escape room scenario? Could it be that the second-stage companion beasts weren''t affected?" Qiao Sang asked. Fang Sisi thought for a moment. "No, it''s still different. The doppelg?nger puppet''s claw didn¡¯t come out." "You''re right." Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. Behind them, Little Treasure blinked his innocent eyes. After walking a few steps, Qiao Sang stopped and closed her eyes, focusing again on the direction of Yabao. He was still the same dark background, and the distance was less than a hundred meters. How could they have walked so far, yet the distance remained unchanged? Qiao Sang opened her eyes, bewildered. At that moment, the baby-like cry echoed again. "Do you know the exact location of the Baby Shell?" Qiao Sang turned to ask. "If we''re following the escape room script, it should be in the waterway beside us, following along." Fang Sisi paused and asked, "What are you planning?" "It¡¯d be best if it''s willing to have a chat. If not, we¡¯ll have to fight first, then talk." Qiao Sang replied. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So far, the only NPC awake in the first and second stages was Baby Shell. With things going awry in the escape room, they had to find the Baby Shell to figure out what might have happened. --- In the Monitoring Room A man wearing a hat paced back and forth, anxious. "How did they get in there? What if something happens?!" The observation room¡¯s feed only covered the scene where the Flame Hound appeared, but now the hound was gone, and the first room¡¯s cameras were down. Staying there was useless. But the monitoring room was different. Multiple screens corresponded to various stages of the escape room in Lost Town. One screen had inexplicably filled with the image of red eyes, visible to everyone in the room. As the fog spread, all the cameras in the first room stopped working. The rest of the stages seemed unaffected, but the walkie-talkies were malfunctioning, and they couldn¡¯t get a phone signal. They tried to leave, but every time they reached the hallway corner outside the monitoring room, they found themselves back where they started. With no other choice, they retreated to the monitoring room. When the two girls entered the second-stage escape room, they immediately noticed. At first, they suspected them of causing the mess. But upon zooming in, they realized one was a Flame Hound trainer, and the other was a trainer for NPC No. 9. Neither the Flame Hound nor the Cotton bug could cause such a strange situation, so they ruled them out. But that wasn¡¯t the most important part. What mattered most was that the monitor showed two ghost-type companion beasts following the girls! One was a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the other a Dreamless Doll. The former was nothing to worry about, an entry-level companion beast, small in size and likely young. But the latter was a high-level beast! Dreamless Dolls have the trait of insomnia, never able to sleep for 24 hours. Some experts believe their eyes are bloodshot from staying awake for so long. They feed on others'' dreams. They are considered one of the less malevolent ghost-type extraordinary creatures. But there¡¯s one catch. Dreamless Dolls like to create dreams, and all of them are nightmares. They are naturally skilled at crafting nightmares so real that even after waking, people struggle to distinguish between dream and reality, leaving them deeply unsettled. Some people can¡¯t recover for days, leading to cases of severe mental exhaustion. How could such a beast appear in their escape room? "The phones still won¡¯t connect." A young man nearby shook his head. "Do you think this is intentional, or did they just wander in?" The man in the hat looked at the monitor, his face darkening. "It doesn¡¯t seem intentional, nor does it seem like they wandered in." The young man analyzed. "Look at the monitor. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost is staying close to the girls, wearing what looks like a bead necklace, a tool, likely indicating it¡¯s been contracted." "But the Dreamless Doll is following from a distance, almost hiding as if it doesn¡¯t want to be noticed. If it had wandered in, it would¡¯ve likely phased through a wall by now, as ghost-type beasts often do." "But look at our hallway, we can¡¯t leave. The signal problem, the black fog, these are all deliberate. It doesn¡¯t seem like a coincidence." "And those red eyes we saw on the monitor earlier, don¡¯t you think they belong to the Dreamless Doll?" "Dammit, I already thought that! What do we do now? And those two kids... wait, what are they doing?!" The man in the hat stared at the screen, his eyes wide as if he¡¯d seen a ghost. The young man turned to the screen. At that moment, a red eye once again filled the entire second-stage escape room monitor. The eye darted from side to side. The screen went black. --- "AAAAAAAHHHHH!" "Yabao, save me!!!" The piercing scream echoed through the underground waterway. "Xun, xun~" Little Treasure grinned, speeding up to follow behind Qiao Sang, looking pleased as if playing a game. Behind him were two dismembered hands dripping with red liquid, along with two legs in the same state, and a Baby Shell covered in spikes. "Holy crap! What is that thing?!" Qiao Sang shouted as she ran. "Baby Shell!" Fang Sisi shouted back. "I mean the severed limbs!" Qiao Sang sprinted faster than she ever had before. "Those are the doppelg?nger puppet''s limbs!" Fang Sisi, slightly slower, responded. What? The doppelg?nger puppet''s limbs? Qiao Sang froze for a moment, suddenly losing the will to run. She had thought this was a real horror movie scene come to life, but it was just ghost-type companion beasts messing around. Slowing down, Qiao Sang turned her head. She saw the four bloody severed limbs, along with the crazed Baby Shell, charging straight at her. Her slight pause allowed them to close in considerably. Startled, Qiao Sang instinctively sped up again. Holy crap! Watching scenes like this in horror movies and experiencing them firsthand are two completely different things! "Aren¡¯t they NPCs? Why are you running?!" Qiao Sang shouted. "Because of you!" Fang Sisi cried as she ran, tears streaming in the wind. "What did I do?!" Qiao Sang was baffled. "You made the Treasure-Seeking Ghost wiggle its butt and make faces at the waterway!" Fang Sisi yelled. "Not only that, you had it spit into the water!" "Wasn¡¯t that to lure out the Baby Shell?" Qiao Sang protested, feeling wronged. "How was I supposed to know the doppelg?nger puppet was in there too? Is this how the second-stage script goes? Don¡¯t they know we¡¯re not here for fun? Is it reasonable to scare us this much?" Fang Sisi shouted, "Of course this isn¡¯t how the script goes! Why do you think I¡¯m running?!" "Then why-" "Because of what you made the Treasure-Seeking Ghost do!" "..." "Xun~" Chapter 163: The Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada The Doppelganger Puppet being a rank higher than Little Treasure is a separate issue.At present, only its limbs are here, and each one is fitted with fake human prosthetics. The doppelganger hasn¡¯t even assembled its true form. Without sensory stimulation, three of Little Treasure¡¯s skills, Lick, Hypnosis, and Dream-Eater, are rendered useless. The remaining skills are Barrier, Telekinesis, and Teleportation. Of these, only Telekinesis has any offensive capability, and if it can¡¯t control all four limbs at once, the unrestrained limbs will likely take the chance to attack Little Treasure. After all, Teleportation and Telekinesis can¡¯t be used simultaneously. This is tricky... For the first time, Qiao Sang felt that Little Treasure¡¯s skill set was lacking. However, if the goal isn¡¯t to defeat the doppelganger but to shake it off, there might still be a way. Qiao Sang made a decisive choice. ¡°Toss them in different directions!¡± Little Treasure hesitated upon hearing the command, dodging the limbs as he disdainfully glanced at the bloodstained prosthetics. He pouted, but his resolve soon hardened. This was the Beastmaster¡¯s order, after all. Worst case, he could always clean himself off on the Beastmaster¡¯s head later. "Xun!" Little Treasure quickened his teleportation, constantly shifting positions. Seizing the right moment, he teleported behind one of the doppelganger¡¯s feet, caught it off guard, and carried it on his shoulder, disappearing from the doppelganger¡¯s sight with consecutive teleports. The remaining two hands and one foot were left dumbfounded. Or more accurately, the hidden head in the darkness couldn¡¯t process what had just happened. The Doppelganger Puppet¡¯s eyes widened in shock, watching as the Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost vanished with one of its legs. ¡°Doppel!¡± The doppelganger was furious. Usually, people would be terrified of it, their reactions amusing it endlessly. But today! First, it got kicked in the face, and now its own hands were being treated with disdain! Previously, the voice in its earpiece had barely kept it calm, but now, the voice was gone, and it had no reason to hold back. After all, its Beastmaster had told it to follow the earpiece instructions. ¡°Doppel!¡± The doppelganger glared at where Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost had disappeared, completely forgetting the others¡¯ presence. It quickly summoned its remaining hands and feet to chase after it. Qiao Sang watched the floating head and the remaining limbs follow Little Treasure but didn¡¯t rush; she remained calm. She had already suspected that the doppelganger¡¯s head was here, so she wasn¡¯t surprised. Its limbs couldn¡¯t have independent thought. They were like a doppelganger but not quite, after all, aside from moving, the limbs couldn¡¯t use any abilities. Plus, the limbs were being controlled by the doppelganger itself. If the limbs were doppelgangers, then the head was the true body, overseeing everything from the shadows. Otherwise, the limbs wouldn¡¯t have been able to perceive Little Treasure¡¯s teleportation. Sure enough, the head had now appeared. As for why the doppelganger hadn¡¯t assembled its head and limbs, that was easy to guess. It was missing the connecting torso. The Doppelganger Puppet had left different body parts at different checkpoints; the torso was probably elsewhere. ¡°Qiao... Qiao Sang, the Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost will be okay, right?¡± Fang Sisi came up beside Qiao Sang, dazed. She had always known Qiao Sang had become powerful after her brain domain awakened, not only contracting Fire Fang Dog but also winning the Bai Xin Competition with it. It wasn¡¯t that Fire Fang Dog wasn¡¯t strong, but winning against Beastmasters much older than them seemed impossible. After all, some of those Beastmasters had mid-tier evolved pets, while Fire Fang Dog was still in its basic form. Just when she thought they were cornered in the second chamber with no chance of summoning the Flame Hound, Qiao Sang¡¯s second contracted pet, Treasure-Seeking Ghost, swiftly dealt with Baby Shell and lured away the doppelganger... It felt surreal... Like they were supposed to be slacking off together, but Qiao Sang had somehow turned into an overpowered genius. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Qiao Sang said, watching where Little Treasure had vanished. ¡°That... that skill Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost was using to keep changing positions, what¡¯s it called?¡± Fang Sisi asked curiously. ¡°It looks just like teleportation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called teleportation.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Fang Sisi: ?! ¡°Say that again. What¡¯s the skill called?!¡± Fang Sisi¡¯s eyes widened, disbelief filling her voice. ¡°Teleportation.¡± Qiao Sang repeated. Fang Sisi stood frozen. Though she considered herself a bit of a slacker, she knew that teleportation was a skill exclusive to psychic-type pets. But wasn¡¯t Treasure-Seeking Ghost a ghost-type? Could it be... ¡°Just as you¡¯re thinking.¡± Qiao Sang answered before Fang Sisi could even ask. Fang Sisi fell silent. After a while, she said, ¡°Qiao Sang, do you remember the school exams, when I risked getting caught to write cheat sheets for you? Or that time when you were punished to run laps, and I stayed with you on the field? And every time you went to the bathroom, I was always there with you, remember?¡± Qiao Sang blinked, recalling, ¡°Yes, I remember. One time, you altered a few of the answers to avoid suspicion, and I ended up ranking fifth to last, while you dropped to third to last and got your allowance docked for a month.¡± Fang Sisi twitched. Qiao Sang continued, ¡°And that time on the field, I was running while you ate an ice pop. You saw your crush holding hands with another girl, and before you could finish the ice pop, you ran to the bathroom to cry.¡± Fang Sisi: ... ¡°As for the bathroom-¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Fang Sisi cut her off, worried she might suffer a heart attack if this went on. ¡°Are we friends?¡± Fang Sisi asked, switching tactics. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve been friends for years. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time our relationship grew even closer?¡± Fang Sisi cleared her throat, adopting a serious tone. ¡°What do you think about evolving my Cotton Bug into Phantom Butterfly and having it marry your Treasure-Seeking Ghost to produce a pet with extraordinary potential?¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Don¡¯t worry about whose pet it would belong to afterward. Whether it¡¯s a Cotton Bug or a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, I¡¯ll treat it well.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°...¡± In the world of Beastmasters, it wasn¡¯t just the Beastmasters who held an advantage in the matchmaking scene, pets with great potential were highly sought after, too. Many Beastmasters would arrange marriages for their pets with others of high potential, like a kind of arranged marriage. Pets didn¡¯t need to be of the same species to mate. As long as they were compatible, pets of different types or sizes could pair up. The resulting pet would hatch as one of the parent species. ¡°Treasure-Seeking Ghost and Cotton Bug have different growth cycles. He¡¯s only a month old. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Qiao Sang warned. A month old... Fang Sisi immediately abandoned the idea. Ghost-type pets at one month old were basically like newborns who still needed to be bottle-fed. They couldn¡¯t do much yet. By the time the Treasure-Seeking Ghost matured, her Cotton Bug would already be old... After the warning, Qiao Sang refocused on Little Treasure. She estimated he had gone far enough by now. Just as she was about to perform the hand signs to summon him back, she realized she was still holding Black Sludge. ¡°Hold this for me.¡± Qiao Sang said, handing Black Sludge to Fang Sisi before making the hand signs. Tossing the limbs had only been a diversion to lure the doppelganger away. Once Little Treasure was far enough, she could summon him back, and the doppelganger wouldn¡¯t be able to follow. If a pet was nearby, a simple thought or wave could bring it back to the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex. But if it was out of sight, summoning hand signs were required. After completing the hand signs, Qiao Sang quickly summoned Little Treasure back. ¡°Xun!¡± The little ghost happily floated back to his designated spot, rubbing his paws on her head before floating to a side, no longer resting on his Beastmaster¡¯s hair. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t notice anything strange, turning to praise, ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± The little ghost¡¯s eyes squinted in joy. To him, this was all just fun and games. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Qiao Sang said, ready to step forward. She had just lifted her left foot when Fang Sisi grabbed her excitedly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize you just summoned the Little Treasure-Seeker Ghost?!¡± Qiao Sang blinked, realizing the implication. Her heart raced as she quickly performed the hand signs to summon Yabao. It failed... "Give it a try." Qiao Sang turned her head and said. "Okay." Fang Sisi handed the black mud to Qiao Sang and then began to form seals. Three seconds later. A cotton bug covered in red liquid, its appearance indistinguishable except for its round, wide eyes, appeared in front of them. "Ji?" The cotton bug tilted its head, confused as to why it had suddenly changed locations. "Mi¨¤nmi¨¤n!" The moment Fang Sisi saw the cotton bug, she pounced on it, holding it tightly in her arms, her voice choking with emotion. "Wah... I... I thought I would never see you again..." "Ji-ji." The cotton bug blinked in confusion, not understanding what had just happened. Qiao Sang stood nearby, frowning as she fell into thought. Everyone had been unable to summon their pet beasts outside the chamber, but inside, it seemed to work. It must mean the issue was with the outer layer of the chamber, not inside. But why couldn¡¯t she summon Yabao? Qiao Sang grew anxious, unknowingly tightening her grip. At that moment, the black sludge slowly opened its eyes, awakened by the pain. "Hei!" The black sludge transformed into a stream and flowed down from Qiao Sang''s hands, reforming its original shape as it cautiously looked around. "Hei! Hei!" Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up. Finally awake! It wasn¡¯t for nothing that she carried it around for so long! "I''m the Beast Master of the Flames Hound. You¡¯ve seen it before, the pet beast with white and red fur." Qiao Sang asked urgently, "Do you know where it went? What happened just now? Why did you faint?" The black mud froze, as if it had remembered something. It opened its mouth, and its belly suddenly swelled. From inside, it spat out a pet beast covered in bits of black mud. "It''s the Flames Hound!" Fang Sisi exclaimed while holding her cotton bug and looking over in shock. Qiao Sang stared blankly for a while, dumbfounded at the pet beast that had just been spat out onto the ground. What the heck? Isn¡¯t this Yabao! She had imagined all kinds of scenarios, but never had she expected Yabao to be inside the black sludge¡¯s stomach! She had spent all that time searching, and it turned out Yabao had been with her the whole time in a roundabout way! Yabao lay on the ground with his eyes closed, drooling at the corner of his mouth. Qiao Sang: ... She had been frantically searching for him, and he had been napping the whole time? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t hold back. She crouched down, tugged Yabao''s ear, and shouted, "Wake up! Water Luriana is back!" "Yap!!!" Yabao''s eyes snapped open, and he immediately jumped up, his fur standing on end, ready for battle. "Yap!" "Yap!" Yabao frantically looked around. Where? Where? Where¡¯s Water Luriana? Qiao Sang: ... Not bad, at least he¡¯s not hurt, still in good spirits... --- Ten minutes later, Qiao Sang had pieced together the rough sequence of events. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao had caused a fire during the first stage, so the black sludge activated its emergency Plan B to use its special ability to carry Yabao to the next stage. But just after it absorbed Yabao, it inexplicably fainted. "Qiao Sang, I have a bad feeling about this place." Fang Sisi said as she held her still-confused cotton bug and looked to Qiao Sang for her opinion. In the world of Beast Masters, strength ultimately ruled. In the past, if Fang Sisi had found her cotton bug, she would have made her own decision about whether it should return to work in the third-stage chamber or leave with her. But now, she instinctively deferred to Qiao Sang''s judgment. "We should leave for now." Qiao Sang replied. There were too many strange things going on here. It made sense that Yabao couldn¡¯t be summoned back while inside the black sludge¡¯s stomach. But the other Beast Masters couldn¡¯t summon their pets from outside the chamber either, and their pets weren¡¯t inside the black mud. That was the first strange thing. The second was that Yabao had clearly fallen asleep before entering the black sludge¡¯s stomach. Otherwise, if he had been awake when swallowed, there was no way he could have slept. And not just Yabao, black sludge, the NPC under the stone slab, and the masked specter at the passage entrance were all asleep too. Thirdly, where were the chamber staff? Logically, there should have been surveillance inside. As soon as she and Fang Sisi broke in, they should have been seen, but no staff had shown up so far. Qiao Sang and Fang Sisi began walking in the direction they came from. At that moment, the ambient lighting in the waterway flickered, and a pet beast with purple skin, three sharp horns on its head, and blood-red eyes appeared before them. Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, the cameras covering the first and second rooms came back online. --- Hangang City. Police Station. Many people bustled around a desk, reporting their progress. "Captain Liu, Target No. 10 has appeared at No. 99, Tongshang Road." "Captain Liu, Target No. 6 has been captured under the Qianshan Bridge." "Captain Liu, there¡¯s a report from No. 27, Kuantun Road, someone¡¯s child suddenly ate ten bowls of rice in one night. We suspect Target No. 12 is there." "Captain Liu, No. 231, Qinsha Road has reported that a customer couldn¡¯t summon their pet beast, and the staff inside can¡¯t be contacted either. We suspect Target No. 2 has gone in." The man, who had been looking over files, raised his head and asked, "Is Target No. 2 the Dreamless Doll?" "Yes, Captain Liu." "Has the patrol team been notified?" The man asked. "We¡¯ve already contacted them." The man flipped through the files again and said, "Among the pet beasts that came out of the rift this time, the Dreamless Doll and the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada are the most dangerous. Send more people." "Understood, Captain Liu." "Wait." The man suddenly stopped, no longer flipping through the documents. He looked seriously at the person reporting, his expression grave. "When the Dreamless Doll appeared, Qian Song from the guard team fought it. He didn¡¯t notice it had the ability to prevent pet beasts from being summoned." "What if it¡¯s not the Dreamless Doll in there, but Target No. 1, the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada? I¡¯ll go with you." --- Inside the chamber. In the sewer. Fang Sisi swallowed nervously as she looked at the pet beast in front of them. She turned her head, nudging Qiao Sang''s arm and whispered, "That¡¯s not one of the NPCs from the chamber. It doesn¡¯t look friendly. What do you think? Can we beat it?" Qiao Sang glanced at her and said, "It¡¯s a Dreamless Doll, a high-level ghost-type pet beast. You want to give it a shot?" Fang Sisi chuckled awkwardly, "Well, maybe it¡¯s not here to cause trouble. It could have been sent in by someone outside to check the situation." Qiao Sang asked, "You¡¯ve been here for a few days. Do you know anyone who¡¯s contracted a Dreamless Doll?" Fang Sisi shook her head in despair. Qiao Sang sighed. What rotten luck. It seemed like the strange occurrences in the chamber were caused by this Dreamless Doll. "Hei!" At that moment, the black sludge stepped forward and called out to the Dreamless Doll. Just when Qiao Sang thought the Dreamless Doll might at least try to communicate, its red eyes glowed, and in the next second, the black sludge¡¯s eyes closed. It collapsed. Qiao Sang: !!! The Dreamless Doll attacked without warning or provocation, completely unlike any pet beast she¡¯d ever encountered! At least Yabao would strike a pose or give a threatening smile before a fight. This Dreamless Doll had acted without hesitation, launching an attack out of nowhere. "Little Treasure, ambush! Yabao, attack from the front!" Qiao Sang quickly gave her orders. Fang Sisi stood frozen, terrified. How had things escalated to a fight so suddenly? She had only ever seen small skirmishes or battles in arenas. She had never experienced such an unpredictable situation where they had no idea who or what they were up against. "Get behind me." Qiao Sang said, pulling Fang Sisi behind her. Fang Sisi, still holding her cotton bug, teared up as she stared at Qiao Sang¡¯s back. Such a strong sense of security! The first to follow Qiao Sang¡¯s command was Little Treasure. He immediately vanished from sight. The Dreamless Doll¡¯s red eyes darted around before it suddenly raised its right claw, forming a black shadow ball and hurling it toward the front-right corner. "Xun!" Little Treasure, startled to see the shadow ball only a fraction of an inch away, froze and forgot to dodge. Just as the shadow ball was about to hit Little Treasure, he suddenly disappeared from sight. "Dream." The Dreamless Doll paused, turning its gaze toward the pale human standing before it. Qiao Sang''s heart pounded. Of course, the ghost-type pet beast could see through its invisible counterpart. That was close, just a little closer, and the shadow ball would have struck the Little Treasure. If hit by a high-level pet¡¯s shadow ball, Little Treasure might have fainted on the spot. Fortunately, Qiao Sang was quick enough to summon Little Treasure back into her Beast Taming Codex After all, the Dreamless Doll''s reflexes far exceeded those of Little Treasure. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, who was bristling with anger and glaring at the Dreamless Doll. Even though the encounter had only lasted a few seconds, Yabao¡¯s usual attack speed should have had him striking by now. So it¡¯s true... Yabao has been affected by the ghost-type pet... Qiao Sang formed a hand seal and summoned Little Treasure once more. "Xun!" Little Treasure had lost his playful grin. "Dream." Just then, the Dreamless Doll''s eyes glowed red again, this time targeting Qiao Sang. "Damn! It¡¯s a wild ghost-type pet!" Fang Sisi screamed from behind. Whether a pet is wild is determined by whether it attacks humans without reason, if it does, it¡¯s most likely a wild pet. Qiao Sang instinctively locked eyes with the Dreamless Doll¡¯s red ones, but her vision was suddenly blocked by a red-and-white figure. Qiao Sang¡¯s face paled, and she shouted, "Yabao, close your eyes!" Three seconds later, Yabao was still standing. Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief. "Yap!" After the close call of nearly having his master attacked, Yabao opened his eyes again, with no trace of fear toward the ghost-type pet, only anger. He raised his head slightly, gathering a bright red energy ball. The Dreamless Doll paused, as if realizing something, and its eyes glowed red again. This time, a multicolored beam shot from its eyes, directly toward the still-charging Yabao. "Dodge quickly!" Qiao Sang shouted, her eyelid twitching. Yabao had no choice but to abandon his energy ball and dart to the side. The beam hit where Yabao had been, causing no damage to the ground. Qiao Sang''s expression grew serious. That was a strange light, a skill only ghost-type pets possess. It causes confusion in the opponent. If it hit Yabao, not only would the energy ball be interrupted, but Yabao would fall into a state of confusion as well. "Use your clones to surround it." Upon hearing his master''s command, Yabao summoned his energy, and together with his sixteen Flame Hounds, surrounded the Dreamless Doll. In the next moment, sixteen Flame Hounds fired red flames, each the size of a basketball, from their mouths. The fire sparks, mastered to the peak of their skill, seemed to burn with a life of their own. "Dream." The Dreamless Doll, surrounded by fire, felt a sense of crisis. Just as it was about to move, an invisible force halted it for a second. Boom!!! Sixteen massive fireballs collided in the same direction, creating an earth-shattering explosion that drowned out the Dreamless Doll''s screams. The fiery blast swept through the entire sewer. Qiao Sang squinted against the blinding firelight. "Did we succeed?" Fang Sisi¡¯s trembling voice came from behind. Qiao Sang pursed her lips without answering. "Xun." The blue light around Little Treasure dissipated. Although he had only controlled the Dreamless Doll for a moment with his psychic power, the energy difference between them was vast. Little Treasure was clearly exhausted. From the smoke caused by the collision of flames, a purple-black figure slowly emerged. The Dreamless Doll hadn¡¯t fallen. It was gasping for breath, but Yabao didn¡¯t give it a chance to rest. Several peak-level fire sparks once again shot toward it. "Xun!" At that moment, Little Treasure suddenly glanced behind his master, his eyes widening in shock. He instinctively teleported. Qiao Sang felt her mouth go dry, realizing something. She stiffly turned her head and looked up, only to see a cicada-like pet with transparent wings, gray all over, and three narrow, squinting eyes, along with Little Treasure. "Xun!" In the next second, Little Treasure let out a cry and fell from mid-air. Qiao Sang reached out to catch him and saw that he had already fainted. Looking up again, she noticed that the pet was staring at her too, a black energy ball forming in its mouth. She recognized this pet. The Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada, a high-level pet, was a ghost-type supernatural creature that loved absorbing life energy. ----- T/N: Only one chapter update today. I realize this chapter was double the word count of a normal chap. Since I''m still doing some school stuff, figure I''ll just do this one for now. Chapter 165: Simultaneous Release Qiao Sang was deep in thought, strategizing.The terrifying and eerie nature of ghost-type beasts was well-known. As long as they remained invisible, without proper countermeasures, they were almost invincible among lower-tier beasts. The counters to ghost-types were dark-types and other ghost-types. Dark-types dealt double damage to ghost-types, while ghost-types were a unique attribute that both countered and were countered by themselves. Unless a beast had overwhelming strength or specific countering skills, it was tough to defeat them. The fact that they could disappear and reappear at will was enough to make anyone''s head spin. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we take this chance to leave while it¡¯s not around?¡± Fang Sisi nervously glanced around, terrified that the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada might reappear at any moment. ¡°Do you really think a ghost-type beast that actively attacks humans and has the upper hand in battle would suddenly leave?¡± Qiao Sang replied with a serious expression. Fang Sisi hesitated. ¡°Well¡­ maybe it had something urgent come up at home?¡± Qiao Sang stared at her with clear eyes until Fang Sisi, growing more uneasy, finally averted her gaze and nervously scanned the surroundings again. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Fang Sisi asked in a low voice. ¡°We do need to leave, but we must move carefully.¡± Qiao Sang said seriously. ¡°You go in front, I¡¯ll stay behind. Let Yabao¡¯s clones surround us as we move forward. If the Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada suddenly appears, I¡¯ll hold it off while you run. Once you''re outside, call for help.¡± Fang Sisi was stunned at first, then tears welled up in her eyes. She said, touched, ¡°How could I leave you here alone? We should leave togeth¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Qiao Sang interrupted, ¡°Or do you want to stay behind, and I¡¯ll go get help for you?¡± Fang Sisi: ¡­ ¡°Then¡­ Jo-Jo-Jo-Qiao Sang¡­¡± Fang Sisi¡¯s voice suddenly turned stiff, her eyes darting toward something behind Qiao Sang as she tried to signal her with an awkward expression. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She was just about to turn around when her body was suddenly lifted by an unseen force, moving through the air. She turned her head and saw that Yabao had grabbed her by the mouth and was running toward the top of the waterway. He scared her half to death; she thought it was the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. Boom!! At that moment, a loud explosion erupted behind her. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, Yabao stopped mid-air in the sewer and swung Qiao Sang onto his back, placing her securely in position, just in time for her to see the source of the loud noise. Qiao Sang¡¯s face paled, her lips turning slightly white. A large crater had formed in the spot where she had been standing. If Yabao hadn¡¯t grabbed her in time, she might not have died on the spot, but she¡¯d definitely be spending the next couple of weeks in intensive care. Hovering above the crater was the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada, flapping its wings ominously. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart raced with fear. Were wild beasts always this brutal? No wonder the internet warned that entering secret realms was dangerous. Without a Beastmaster rank of at least D, one shouldn¡¯t even consider it. Wild beasts had no qualms about attacking humans... Qiao Sang glanced at Fang Sisi, who was staring at her in shock. She patted Yabao¡¯s back and said, ¡°Use telekinesis to bring her up.¡± She felt a little helpless. This idiot, on the one hand, she had the sense to scream and run when she saw a ghost-type beast. But on the other hand, she was standing less than a meter away from the Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada, staring blankly at it. ¡°Yap.¡± At his Beastmaster¡¯s command, Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue. In the next second, the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada was lifted by telekinesis to hover at the same height as Yabao in mid-air. Qiao Sang: ...! Where was their coordination? Hadn¡¯t they developed a near-telepathic bond after Yabao evolved into a Flame Hound? Qiao Sang quickly regained her composure. Even though the target wasn¡¯t who she had in mind, this was still an opportunity. ¡°Keep spinning it in circles!¡± Telekinesis controlling the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada was unexpected, but after much skill training, Yabao¡¯s proficiency in telekinesis had reached a high level. Even though the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada was a rank higher, once caught in the telekinetic hold, it couldn¡¯t easily break free. ¡°Cicicicici¡­¡± The Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada, trapped in the telekinesis, spun in circles, quickly becoming dizzy. It fought to suppress the disorientation, gathering energy to launch a Shadow Ball at Yabao. But due to the spinning, the Shadow Ball missed its mark, striking the cement above instead. Unlike the ceiling that had resisted earlier attacks, this time, the Shadow Ball caused debris to rain down. A large chunk of cement hurtled toward Qiao Sang¡¯s back, forcing Yabao to instinctively shift to the side. That small movement allowed the Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada to break free from the telekinesis. ¡°Ember!¡± Qiao Sang had been keeping a close eye on the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada and issued the command just in time. A ball of flame, over 20 centimeters in diameter, appeared in Yabao¡¯s mouth. In the next moment, the flame, as though it had a life of its own, accurately struck the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada. ¡°Cicada!!!¡± The Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada crashed to the ground. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised that the attack had hit. If the beast hadn¡¯t been spinning in circles from the telekinesis, the Ember probably wouldn¡¯t have landed on such a fast-reacting opponent. But now, the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada was dizzy and disoriented, making it an easy target. The Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada didn¡¯t get up right away after being struck by the flame. One reason was that the mastery of the Ember technique far exceeded the power of an ordinary mid-tier skill. The other reason was its small size. Though its attack power was strong, and it was faster than most high-tier beasts, its small size made its defense relatively weak. ¡°Ember¡­¡± Qiao Sang was about to call for a follow-up attack with an Ember Storm but stopped when she saw a chunk of debris fall from above. For some reason, the ceiling of the chamber seemed to have reverted to normal, breaking apart after being hit by the Shadow Ball. Qiao Sang hesitated, but Yabao didn¡¯t. The moment the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada fell, Yabao summoned his clones, surrounding the creature. Fifteen Yabao clones prepared to launch simultaneous Ember attacks. But just then, a Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada suddenly appeared behind Qiao Sang, gathering a Shadow Ball in its mouth. Yabao¡¯s sharp ears twitched, and he quickly turned, changing direction. Realizing what the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada intended, Yabao¡¯s mind raced. Fueled by a surge of determination, it emitted a brilliant blue light. The surrounding air currents swirled, and an invisible force crushed the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada still gathering the Shadow Ball, slamming it down into the water below. Thud!! The phantom cicada didn¡¯t even struggle as it hit the water and dissipated. It was a clone! Boom!!! At that exact moment, a loud explosion echoed through the chamber. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t even recovered from the shock of nearly being attacked again. Hearing the noise, she instinctively turned her head. A Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada lay unconscious on the ground, surrounded by Yabao¡¯s fifteen clones. Qiao Sang stared in disbelief, her heart racing. ¡°Did¡­ did we do it?!¡± Had Yabao really succeeded in simultaneously releasing different skills for both the original and the clones?! Chapter 166: The Secret Realm The two people in the monitoring room stared at the image of the girl riding the Flame Hound, suspended in mid-air, speechless for a long time.If they hadn''t confirmed that this was the real surveillance footage from their store, they would have suspected they were watching a Beast Master battle scene edited for a movie. Who has ever seen a mid-level pet beast take down two high-level pet beasts consecutively in real life? And those two high-level beasts were no ordinary ones. Not only were they ghost-type beasts, but they also actively attacked humans! But the most unbelievable part was the Flame Hound¡­ ¡°Did you see that?¡± After a while, the man wearing the hat was the first to speak. ¡°I did.¡± The younger man murmured. ¡°Did you see the same thing I saw?¡± The man with the hat couldn''t help but ask, wanting to confirm that his eyes hadn¡¯t deceived him. ¡°Probably.¡± The young man replied. ¡°So, the Flame Hound is not only a fire-type but also has psychic abilities?¡± The man in the hat was stunned. ¡°Seems so.¡± The young man nodded. The man in the hat was utterly speechless. Psychic abilities! That¡¯s something else entirely! If it were just a pure psychic-type pet, it wouldn¡¯t have shocked him so much. But this was a new evolutionary form of the fire-type pet, the Fire Fang Dog! It not only possessed powerful fire-type attacks but also had the high-class psychic ability, an extremely rare combination. Any pet with these dual attributes would fetch an astronomical price. And with its majestic appearance and the ability to serve as a mount, soaring through the air, what Beast Master wouldn¡¯t dream of owning one? Most importantly, a Fire Fang Dog only cost 100,000 Alliance Coins on the market! ¡°I don¡¯t remember the news ever mentioning that the Flame Hound also had psychic abilities, did it?¡± The man in the hat turned to the young man beside him. The younger man, deep in thought while staring at the surveillance footage, didn¡¯t respond immediately. Seeing the young man ignoring him, the man in the hat frowned, about to say something when his walkie-talkie crackled with static. After a moment, a somewhat urgent voice came through: ¡°Hello? Can you hear me?¡± The man in the hat, suddenly excited, grabbed the walkie-talkie and responded quickly: ¡°Yes! We hear you!¡± The person on the other end was initially taken aback but then exclaimed joyfully: ¡°That¡¯s great! Are you two okay in there? The police just arrived at the store, and they¡¯re heading inside now.¡± --- Hanggang City. Public Security Bureau. This was Qiao Sang¡¯s fourth time in a police station. Although one of those times was in Qitang Town, many people never set foot in a police station in their entire lives. Yet, in just a few months, she¡¯d been there four times. That was something. For Fang Sisi, however, it was her first time. She clutched her Cotton Bug nervously, looking quite uneasy. It wasn¡¯t until a police officer brought over two cups of tea with a smile and said, ¡°Qiao Sang, didn¡¯t expect to see you again so soon. Is this your friend? No wonder, beautiful women always hang out together.¡± Fang Sisi immediately straightened up and smoothed her hair by her ear. Several staff members from the store had also come to the station to give their statements. Qiao Sang was already somewhat famous in the Hanggang City police station, having become a familiar face. Most of the officers recognized her. Her first time here was to claim a reward for catching a thief on the bus. Not many people remembered that incident since she was young and stood out mostly because of her appearance and the Fire Fang Dog she was carrying. The second time, she claimed a reward of five million yuan, and even the police chief came out to greet her. The media went crazy interviewing her. It hadn¡¯t been that long since then, so it was hard for people to forget. The third time, she was involved in one of the city¡¯s most troublesome cases, helping to solve the notorious 1 and 2 target issue, saving countless resources and effort. She also spared the officers many late-night shifts. As a result, Qiao Sang was treated like a guest of honor by the entire department. Those who knew she was there for a statement came to greet her warmly, while those who didn¡¯t might have thought she was just visiting. ¡°When does your school start, Qiao Sang?¡± ¡°Is the tea to your liking? You¡¯re young; maybe you¡¯d prefer a soft drink? I can get you one.¡± ¡°Are you heading home after your statement? I¡¯m finishing up soon; I can give you a ride.¡± ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve gotten even prettier in just a few days.¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, what¡¯s up with your hair? It looks a bit off?¡± Every time an officer passed by, they would stop to chat with Qiao Sang. From these conversations, Qiao Sang learned a lot about the Dreamless Doll and the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada. It turned out that recently, a rift had opened in the secret realm near Hanggang City, allowing 18 wild pet beasts to escape. A secret realm is a space dimension different from the real world, similar to an alternate dimension. Various strange and mysterious worlds exist inside, inhabited by wild extraordinary creatures of different attributes. Throughout human history, since the discovery of secret realms, their exploration has never ceased. Though dangerous, secret realms hold abundant resources and rare pet beasts, making them a prime choice for many Beast Masters to enhance their skills. Secret realms are broadly classified into two categories. One is the fully explored realms, where humans have mapped out the terrain and species of extraordinary creatures. These are ranked by danger levels, from D to S, and most Beast Masters prefer them due to the availability of maps and strategy guides. The other category is unexplored secret realms, which contain many unknown dangers and are far less popular among Beast Masters. Most secret realm entrances remain open in fixed places at set times. However, there are rare instances where rifts appear in different locations for short periods. These are called secret realm rifts. In the past, humans feared invasions by wild extraordinary creatures, but with the development of Beast Master societies, such concerns have faded. Had the beasts emerging from this rift not been ghost-types, the government would have captured them within a day. ¡°You¡¯re just unlucky.¡± A female officer with a ponytail joked as she approached Qiao Sang. ¡°You happened to enter the ¡®Lost Town¡¯ room. If you¡¯d chosen a different one, you probably wouldn¡¯t have encountered the Dreamless Doll and the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Why is that?" ¡°I just found out. After escaping from the rift, the two of them wandered around and overheard someone talking about the ¡®Lost Town¡¯ room. They entered because they heard that clearing the room would grant a wish from the legendary pet beast, Mihera.¡± The female officer explained with a laugh. ¡°The Dreamless Doll initially planned to follow behind the Flame Hound to clear the room, but when you tried to leave with the Flame Hound, it revealed itself to stop you.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 167: Dragon Military Academy Qiao Sang was at a loss for words.Who would have thought that both the Dreamless Doll and the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada would believe the absurd idea that after making it through the Lost Town, they could make a wish by seeing a legendary pet beast? Was she really scared out of her wits by these two clueless creatures? Qiao Sang calmed herself down. Though these two wild beasts seemed a bit silly in some ways, she couldn''t deny their impressive combat capabilities. Especially the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada. Even without a Beast Tamer, it could continuously unleash skills, defending against Yabao''s attacks while also finding the perfect opportunity to sneak attack her. Its battle experience was evident. In the secret realm, wild beasts were abundant, and they probably fought every few days. Qiao Sang came to a conclusion: Indeed, pet beasts improve through actual combat. Simply practicing skill release only increases proficiency. To improve nerve reactions, spatial awareness, body balance, and adaptability to opponents'' attacks, real battles are essential. For example, when Yabao used the Meteor Rain skill earlier, despite it being a high-level skill, Dreamless Doll could interrupt it with a mid-level skill, Strange Light. No matter how high-level a skill is, if you can¡¯t release it, it¡¯s useless. Without today''s battle, just passing through the maze wouldn''t have allowed Yabao to rapidly improve his mental strength and simultaneously release different skills with his main body and clone. It seems that in the future, part of their training time must be devoted to real combat... --- Several familiar officers helped Qiao Sang with the report. It was a quick Q&A session, and they were done in no time. Just as Qiao Sang was about to leave, a well-groomed male officer beside her smiled and said, "You¡¯re from Shengshui High School, right? Have you thought about which university you want to attend?" Qiao Sang was a bit stunned. She recognized this officer, he had led the police team when they entered the maze earlier. He was the captain of the Hanggang City Public Security Bureau, surnamed Liu. "I haven¡¯t really thought about it. I haven¡¯t even started my first year of high school yet." Qiao Sang replied honestly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know, but some geniuses have already entered university in their first year of high school. I don¡¯t think you''re any less talented than they are." Liu Zhezhen said. "I was wondering if you might be interested in joining Dragon Military Academy." "If you''re willing, I can recommend you. As long as you pass the assessment, you can sign a sponsored training contract, and you won¡¯t need to take the college entrance exam. You¡¯ll go directly to Dragon Military Academy." Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Of course, she knew about Dragon Military Academy. Dragon Military Academy was the first military academy in the Dragon Kingdom. With a long history, it not only produced numerous military talents but also nurtured many politicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists for the Dragon Kingdom, gaining worldwide fame. If she could get in through the college entrance exam, she would pack her bags and go in a heartbeat. But this was sponsored training... Sponsored training meant that the academy would accept students on behalf of an organization, with the organization providing funding. After graduation, the students would work directly for that organization. In other words, after graduating from Dragon Military Academy, she would have to work at the Hanggang City Public Security Bureau. In her previous life, this would have been an incredible career path. But in this world of beast taming, she finally had a chance at a different life. How could she stay in Hanggang City forever, especially when her future career path would be so limited? No time for competitions, no time for secret realms, how could she become a professional beast tamer and participate in the Interstellar Cup? Sensing Qiao Sang''s hesitation, Liu Zhezhen continued: "You don¡¯t have to answer me right away. You can go home and think about it, or discuss it with your family. Let¡¯s exchange contact info. You can reach out whenever you''ve made up your mind." "Thank you, Captain Liu!" Qiao Sang said gratefully. Though a police captain might be a big deal in the city, he wouldn''t stand out at Dragon Military Academy. Securing a sponsored training slot wasn¡¯t easy for him. After exchanging contact information, Liu Zhezhen smiled and held his cup of tea. "You¡¯ve helped our city solve two major threats. When school starts, the bureau will send a banner to your school to honor you." "There¡¯s no need for that." Qiao Sang politely declined. "I was just doing what I should have. If I hadn¡¯t defeated them, I would¡¯ve been in danger myself." "Plus, there¡¯s a reward." He added. "Thank you, Captain Liu!" After thanking him, Qiao Sang paused for a moment and reminded him, "School starts on September 1st." Liu Zhezhen: ... After Qiao Sang left, a young officer who had been listening to the conversation couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Captain Liu, I admit she¡¯s a genius, but wasn¡¯t it a bit hasty to offer such a valuable slot like this?" Liu Zhezhen glanced at him and said in a low voice, "Go watch the surveillance footage from the maze, and you¡¯ll understand why." --- After leaving the police station, Qiao Sang headed to the Beast Taming Center. Although some areas had already closed for the day, the medical section was staffed 24/7. Little Treasure was injured and needed a check-up. Qiao Sang called a car using her phone. While waiting for the ride, Fang Sisi, holding her Cotton Bug, asked seriously, "What do you think of my Cotton Bug?" Qiao Sang turned her head. The Cotton Worm blinked its big round eyes back at her. Now that it had been cleaned, its original appearance was revealed. Though the evening light obscured its full color, its size had doubled compared to a month ago, showing it had been well-cared for. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. "I think it¡¯s great." Who would have thought that after everything, Fang Sisi¡¯s Cotton Bug would still be this plump... "See? My Cotton Bug is so beautiful. When it evolves into a Fire Wing Butterfly, it will definitely be the prettiest of them all." Fang Sisi said, blinking her eyes. "Ji~" The Cotton Bug nodded in agreement. Qiao Sang was used to Fang Sisi¡¯s random thoughts. Earlier, she wanted the Cotton Bug to evolve into a Ghost Fly Butterfly to pair with Little Treasure. Now, she¡¯d changed her mind to Fire Wing Butterfly. Wait... Qiao Sang suddenly had a thought and twitched at the corner of her mouth. "What are you trying to say?" Fang Sisi flicked her hair and giggled. "How about this, when my Cotton Bug evolves into a Fire Wing Butterfly, it can marry your Flame Hound." "¡­Get lost." She had guessed right... --- Tianjing Garden, Apartment 1705. By the time Qiao Sang got home, it was already the middle of the night. Fortunately, after sleeping all morning, she wasn¡¯t too tired. Yabao slept soundly, unaffected by the intense battle earlier. Little Treasure came out of the Beast Taming Center full of energy as usual. Except for one thing... He no longer stayed perched on her head. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t figure out why until she looked in the mirror in the bathroom. "Little Treasure!!" "Xun~" Little Treasure clutched the spot where he had been hit by the Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada¡¯s Shadow Ball, pretending to be in pain. Qiao Sang: ... Forget it. It¡¯s just dirty hair; a wash will fix it... It¡¯s not that big of a deal... Chapter 168: Im Here to Post a Task The night was still and quiet.After finishing her nighttime routine, Qiao Sang sat on her bed with damp hair, browsing the Beast Codex. Her eyes lingered on a few lines. Name: Flame Hound (Yabao) Level: Intermediate (1255/10000)+ Points: 1656 These past few days, Yabao had been battling Water Luriana every day, gaining a 50-point bonus daily. Today, he defeated two ghost-type pets, adding a total of 470 points. It seemed like the points for defeating a higher-level pet should be around 200. "Wait a minute, wasn¡¯t the level value just 1205 yesterday?" Qiao Sang paused for a moment. The last time Yabao''s level shot up suddenly was after it defeated the Scale Controller Doll. That battle had been brutal, and Yabao gained the Flame Body trait, increasing his stats by 30 points. This time, although Yabao faced two high-level pets, the battle wasn''t nearly as intense as with the Doll. The fact that Yabao was barely injured proved that. So why did the level value still increase by 50? Could it be because of the breakthrough in Yabao¡¯s mental strength? Qiao Sang pondered this for a while and then turned the page. Name: Treasure-Seeking Ghost (Little Treasure) Level: Beginner (329/1000)+ Points: 20 This... Qiao Sang was a bit confused. Even though the level increase for Little Treasure wasn¡¯t as high as Yabao¡¯s, it still grew by 10 points, more than usual. It didn¡¯t make sense. If Yabao¡¯s increase was due to a breakthrough in mental strength, what was the reason for Little Treasure¡¯s growth? Qiao Sang mentally replayed everything that had happened throughout the day, silently analyzing it. Her mind froze on the moment she fed Yabao and Little Treasure some Energy Pills earlier. Right, the Energy Pills! Qiao Sang suddenly realized it. Feeding pets Energy Pills was meant to improve their various abilities, and the increase in level values made sense now. It appeared that most of Yabao''s growth was indeed due to his mental breakthrough. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that an Energy Pill could increase their stats more than the daily bonuses from the items they wear. Being a beast master really does require money...¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but sigh. She had only bought E-rank items for her pets so far. If she had the money to buy S-rank items for Yabao and Little Treasure, with their potential, they¡¯d skyrocket. Just as Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness exited the Beast Codex, she noticed a small puddle of water on the floor. The puddle was slowly moving toward where Yabao lay. Just as it was about to reach Yabao, Qiao Sang spoke up, "Um, I don¡¯t recall Yabao attacking you today, Water Luriana." The puddle froze in place, stopping its movement, then slowly began to retreat toward the door as if nothing had happened. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Wait.¡± Qiao Sang called after it. In its watery form, Water Luriana surprisingly stopped, though for what reason was unclear. "Little Treasure, milk." Qiao Sang turned to the ghost. "Xuuuun~" Little Treasure, which had been practicing his telekinesis with a coin in the room, paused his glowing claws and opened his palms. He wasn¡¯t hungry. Qiao Sang twitched the corner of her mouth. "I didn¡¯t ask you to take it out for yourself." "Xuuun..." Little Treasure blinked, took off his ring, and floated a bottle of milk over to Qiao Sang. "Yesterday, I was out and forgot to leave some milk for you. Are you hungry?" Qiao Sang got out of bed and placed the milk in front of Water Luriana. The puddle of water hesitated for a few seconds, didn¡¯t take the milk, and quietly flowed out through the crack under the door. ¡°Wow, didn¡¯t expect you to be so prideful.¡± Qiao Sang sighed as she watched the water disappear. For the past few days, she had been leaving milk by the water fountain. At first, the milk was left untouched, but after a few days, she noticed signs that the bottle had been opened. Though the milk wasn¡¯t visibly reduced, Little Treasure later drank some and realized it had been watered down. --- The next day. In the living room, Qiao Sang and Yabao were staring at each other. After a moment, both human and pet exchanged serious looks and nodded. Another Flame Hound identical to Yabao appeared beside him. The next second, Yabao and his clone walked toward the courtyard. Qiao Sang followed behind, filled with both anticipation and excitement. Although Yabao had managed to cast different skills simultaneously between his real body and clone in the secret chamber yesterday, what if that had been a fluke? After all, some things could only be achieved under pressure. In normal situations, it might not be possible. Just like that girl from her previous life. She had never passed a running test, but to help her pass her physical exam, her dad trained her by having a wolfdog chase her from behind. The girl suddenly channeled the spirit of Liu Xiang, surpassed her limits, and ran a jaw-dropping time, even vowing to become a female version of Liu Xiang and bring glory to the country at the Olympics. She posted her victory on social media for all to see. But on the day of the school physical exam, with no wolfdog behind her, she still failed the test and quickly set her social media to visible for three days only. In the courtyard, the two Flame Hounds adopted serious expressions, posing in the same stance. Then the one on the left bared his fangs, while the one on the right glanced to the side with glowing blue eyes, fixing on the milk bottle held by Little Treasure. In the next second, the fangs of the left Flame Hound were engulfed in flames, while simultaneously, the milk bottle in the Little Treasure¡¯s hands started floating around the courtyard. "Success!" Qiao Sang was ecstatic. Even though she had expected Yabao to succeed, seeing it happen was still an entirely different feeling. "Yabao! You-" Qiao Sang turned to Yabao in excitement, only to find Yabao looking back at her with the same excitement. Her heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling creeping up. "Wait..." Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when Yabao excitedly pounced on her, knocking her to the ground. Her premonition came true... "Yaaap!" "Yap yap!" Yabao wagged his tail joyfully, licking his beast master¡¯s face, completely oblivious to the fact that she was struggling to breathe under his weight. Meanwhile, Little Treasure used his telekinesis to catch the milk just in time, glanced at it, saw that none had spilled, and calmly continued drinking it. In the water pool, Water Luriana peeked out, silently watching everything unfold. --- 2:12 PM. At the Beast Center, third floor, in the task hall. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang had just registered her task when she spotted a familiar face. Crew cut, thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and tanned skin, it was none other than Shi Gaofeng from the sophomore team. "What a coincidence! Have you finished your task?" Qiao Sang walked over and greeted him. To her surprise, Shi Gaofeng jumped back, looking around nervously. When he saw no one else around, he let out a breath of relief. "What a coincidence indeed. Why are you here? Haven¡¯t you finished your task?" Qiao Sang noticed his strange behavior but didn¡¯t expose it. "I¡¯m here to collect my reward. The task poster left it at the Beast Center. What about you?" Shi Gaofeng hesitated for a moment before replying, "I¡¯m here to post a task." Chapter 169: The Virtual Helmet Publish a mission? Although Qiao Sang was curious, she didn¡¯t intend to ask.After all, what mission someone posts is their private business. Some missions might not be entirely legal. Besides, even though she and Shi Gaofeng seemed familiar, they weren¡¯t that close. They would chat a bit in school, but outside of that, their relationship was mostly just saying hello when they saw each other. ¡°Guess what kind of mission I¡¯m here to post.¡± Shi Gaofeng lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously. ¡°What mission?¡± Qiao Sang instinctively followed up. In that moment, curiosity overtook rationality. Since he¡¯d already brought it up, there was no harm in hearing it out. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that fat-sucking mission. You were right, that guy¡¯s eight-pack abs were indeed the result of fat-sucking!¡± Shi Gaofeng, feeling deceived, was visibly indignant as he spoke. Qiao Sang blinked, then asked, ¡°What does that have to do with the mission you''re posting?¡± Shi Gaofeng scratched his head and awkwardly replied, ¡°I failed the mission and got a one-star bad review. The next time we meet, Zheng Baolong definitely won¡¯t let me off the hook. When that time comes, I¡¯ll be mentally and physically scarred for sure.¡± ¡°So, I came here to rent a Phantom Water Baby, to have it take my place for a day during the next gathering.¡± Qiao Sang froze at his words. Phantom Water Baby, a water-type pet beast, could change its shape to mimic others. It was extremely popular among office workers and students. The higher the level of the Phantom Water Baby, the more perfectly it could imitate others. But it had a fatal flaw. ¡°I remember Phantom Water Babies can¡¯t imitate speech, right?¡± Qiao Sang reminded him. ¡°If Zheng Baolong finds out, you¡¯ll probably end up cleaning the toilets for a month.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Shi Gaofeng looked at her earnestly, ¡°That¡¯s why I need your help.¡± She shouldn¡¯t have been curious about the mission in the first place... Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. ¡°How can I help you?¡± With Shi Gaofeng¡¯s tendency to get caught every time by Zheng Baolong, she could already picture the scene of the Phantom Water Baby being exposed, and Zheng Baolong turning into an actual raging dragon. Shi Gaofeng¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult task. All you need to do is not talk to me during the gathering and help cover for me. I¡¯ve already talked to Xu Yajie, and he¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°I was going to message you to ask for help, but since I ran into you, there¡¯s no need for that now.¡± So, even if she hadn¡¯t been curious about his mission, Shi Gaofeng would¡¯ve still asked her for help... Realizing this, Qiao Sang felt a bit more at ease. ¡°What about Wang Yao? Does she know?¡± ¡°She mustn¡¯t know!¡± Shi Gaofeng said seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve known her longer than you, and I know what she¡¯s like. If she found out, she¡¯d definitely laugh herself to death. Even if Zheng Baolong was right in front of her, she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep a straight face. At that point, Zheng Baolong would definitely sense something was off.¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but picture Wang Yao laughing uncontrollably upon finding out. The mental image was too strong, and she had to admit that Shi Gaofeng¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t without reason¡­ --- Twenty minutes later, Qiao Sang walked out of the Beast Center dragging a somewhat shabby-looking suitcase. The process of receiving the reward was much simpler than she had expected. She had thought the staff would call or send a message to the Beast Badge owner, the old lady, to verify with a code or something. But apparently, she had overthought it¡­ After verifying her information and the Beast Badge¡¯s details, the staff simply handed her the suitcase. However, it wasn¡¯t as though anyone with a Beast Badge could collect items. When verifying the Beast Badge, Qiao Sang discovered that the old lady had recorded a video inside it, specifying that the items should be handed over to the person who completed the mission for her. This was also the first time Qiao Sang learned that Beast Badges could be used as storage devices. --- Back home, the first thing Qiao Sang did was open the suitcase. Yabao and Little Treasure curiously gathered around. When the suitcase opened, inside was a silver-gray helmet and five discs, each labeled with different pictures and text. Could this be... the legendary virtual helmet?! Qiao Sang was stunned by the items in the suitcase. In her previous life, a virtual helmet was a futuristic tool conjured up by the imagination, built from the concepts of virtual reality, games, and helmets, every recluse¡¯s ultimate fantasy. But here, virtual helmets weren¡¯t just a fantasy; they were real. By wearing a virtual helmet, the brain¡¯s nerves would connect to it, allowing users to experience the virtual world more vividly. However, in this world, virtual helmets weren¡¯t created for gaming but to help pet beasts learn skills. Pet beasts could learn skills not only through their Beast Masters but also through self-learning by watching images. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Later, researchers realized that images alone weren¡¯t enough to engage pet beasts and help them learn effectively. Thus, the virtual helmet was born. The virtual helmet worked by magnifying the images from small, two-dimensional displays through an optical system. Each disc corresponded to a different skill, allowing pet beasts to immerse themselves in learning. But soon, it was discovered that whether pet beasts could learn skills still depended on their natural talent. While the virtual helmet increased the pet beasts'' enthusiasm for learning, the actual probability of mastering a new skill remained much lower compared to being taught directly by someone. Thus, after a brief surge in popularity, virtual helmets nearly became obsolete. After all, they were expensive, and pet beasts could easily become addicted to using them. If a pet beast could learn a new skill, that would be fine. But the problem was that most pet beasts still couldn¡¯t. Failing to learn but still wanting to play, when denied, the pets would throw tantrums, sometimes even refusing to eat. The original intention of buying a virtual helmet was to help the pet beasts improve by learning new skills. But with no improvement and a new addiction instead, who could tolerate that? Looking at the virtual helmet in the suitcase, Qiao Sang felt both excited and hesitant. With memories from her previous life, she had always yearned for a virtual helmet, but this one was designed for pet beasts to learn skills. Judging by the size of the helmet, it was clear that only Little Treasure could wear it. If Yabao could use it, that would be better. She believed that Yabao¡¯s desire to grow stronger would keep him from becoming addicted, even if he didn¡¯t learn any new skills. But Little Treasure? Not so much... He had a naturally playful personality. If he couldn¡¯t learn the skills and started throwing tantrums to play, it would be quite a headache. The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more she realized how likely this outcome was. Even though Little Treasure had a high level of talent, there was always the risk of failure. To be safe, she decided that Little Treasure must never touch the virtual helmet... After some analysis, Qiao Sang calmed down and made up her mind. She turned around, only to see Little Treasure holding one of the discs, curiously inspecting it. The disc bore two large characters: Shadow Control. Qiao Sang¡¯s face instantly froze. Chapter 170: Shadow Control Shadow Control, an advanced skill. It allows the user to control an opponent''s movements by manipulating their shadow. As skill proficiency increases, the shadow can break free from surface limitations and transform into a solid form, shifting from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. This makes it a powerful skill with both control and offensive capabilities. Qiao Sang fell silent. It felt like this: She knew this was a tempting game, and though she had resisted it through sheer willpower, someone suddenly told her that if she played, there was a chance to win a million-dollar prize. Yes, Shadow Control was that million-dollar prize. This was a high-level skill! In the real world, finding a professional beast-training institute to teach this skill would cost nothing less than seven figures. Moreover, Yabao likely learned Meteor Rain to exceed the energy limits of his level during the initial stages. Likewise, if Little Treasure could learn Shadow Control, would his energy level surpass expectations too? The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more tempted she became. What were the odds, really? Wasn''t there a chance that some beasts could learn skills through virtual helmets? So, why couldn''t that beast be Little Treasure? ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head, sensing something off about his master. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just thinking about the skill you''re going to learn next.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head again. What skill? "Shadow Control. Once you learn it, you''ll practically be invincible at your level." Qiao Sang replied. Before Little Treasure could react, Yabao''s eyes lit up. He eagerly bounced up to his master, trying to make his presence known. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" He wanted to learn too! Qiao Sang mercilessly replied, "That''s a ghost-type beast skill. You can¡¯t learn it." "Yap¡­" Yabao''s ears drooped instantly. Qiao Sang consoled him, "Haven''t you noticed that you''re already unbeatable among beasts at your level? The Meteor Rain you mastered is an exclusive fire-type advanced skill, which Little Treasure can¡¯t learn." "Yap!" Yabao thought for a moment, realizing his master was right. His ears perked up again, and he patted Little Treasure on the head with his paw, encouraging him to learn well. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure nodded helplessly. In reality, he was only interested in evolving. What good was being invincible at his level if he couldn¡¯t evolve? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know what was going on inside his head. Assuming that Little Treasure had agreed, she added, ¡°You can train for a maximum of two hours a day, no more.¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure pouted. Isn¡¯t two hours a bit too much? Qiao Sang paused, then smiled. ¡°Try it first. If you think two hours is too much, you can rest earlier.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Hearing this, Little Treasure immediately perked up. Yabao shook his head as he watched from the side. His little brother was hopeless, clearly, he would still have to rely on himself in future battles. Qiao Sang inserted the disk Little Treasure had been holding into the drive slot of the virtual helmet. The virtual helmet didn¡¯t need to be connected to a power source to function. As long as it was charged, it could be used on the go like a phone. Seeing the green light flash as it powered on, it was clear that the helmet had enough charge. Qiao Sang placed the virtual helmet on Little Treasure¡¯s head and instructed, "Don¡¯t panic when you''re inside. Just watch, and it will give you prompts when you need to do something." Little Treasure was still confused, wondering why he needed a helmet to learn skills. But as the cool metal touched his head, sending a slight tingle down his spine, his consciousness quickly faded. Boom! "Dear player, welcome to the training world of Shadow Control." --- ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao curiously circled Little Treasure, who was wearing the virtual helmet, occasionally tapping on the helmet with his paw. How could he learn a skill just by sitting still like that? Qiao Sang crouched down to examine the remaining four disks and explained, ¡°When they wear this helmet, someone inside teaches them.¡± Yabao blinked, then wagged his tail, eyes sparkling as he stared at his master. "Yap!" "Yap yap!" He wanted to wear the helmet to learn too! Qiao Sang: ¡­ Look at the size of your head compared to the virtual helmet¡­ Of course, she wouldn¡¯t say this out loud. She looked at Yabao seriously and said, ¡°Nine out of ten beasts who wear this helmet don¡¯t learn any skills, and the helmet is mostly used by lazy beasts. You¡¯re smart and diligent, so you don¡¯t need it.¡± Yabao paused, recalling how Little Treasure often lay on his master¡¯s head, barely moving. Indeed, his little brother was too lazy. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded, deeply agreeing with his master. Having successfully convinced Yabao, Qiao Sang turned her attention back to the remaining disks. Hypnosis, Shadow Ball, Substitute, Taunt. All were skills suitable for ghost-type beasts. This mission had been worth it¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel satisfied. Aside from Hypnosis, the other three were skills that Little Treasure¡¯s didn¡¯t yet know but could learn. Shadow Ball, an offensive skill, was a common attack method among ghost-type beasts. Substitute required using a quarter of the beast¡¯s maximum energy to create a decoy, capable of blocking some moves and effects. In some ways, Substitute was similar to Shadow Clone, but it was much more deceptive. A Shadow Clone could trip and disappear with a little damage. But a Substitute wouldn¡¯t. After all, this skill required using a quarter of the beast¡¯s total energy to make, so it was far more resilient. As for Taunt... Qiao Sang fell silent as she stared at the Taunt disk. The first thing that came to her mind was Little Treasure flipping off the Doppelganger Puppet in the sewer''s hidden room. If not for the fact that the Beast Codex didn¡¯t list Taunt as one of Little Treasure¡¯s abilities, she would¡¯ve suspected he had already learned the skill on its own. Qiao Sang quietly placed the Taunt disk at the bottom of the stack. It¡¯s a zero-damage, aggro-pulling skill. No need to learn it... --- Two hours later, Little Treasure removed the virtual helmet, looking satisfied. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Qiao Sang asked immediately. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure gave a thumbs-up, clearly impressed. It felt amazing! ¡°Good to hear.¡± Qiao Sang warned again, ¡°Remember, only two hours a day.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure patted his chest with his paw, making a promise. That night. Qiao Sang and Yabao went to bed on schedule. Little Treasure floated to Qiao Sang, watching her for five seconds. Not satisfied, he lifted one of her eyelids to check. Only when she didn¡¯t react did he feel reassured. Next, he floated over to Yabao and circled around him. After confirming both his master and Yabao were asleep, Little Treasure floated to the virtual helmet, quietly placed it on his head, and mimicked his master¡¯s actions by pressing the helmet twice. Boom! "Dear player, welcome back to the training world of Shadow Control." Little Treasure gazed excitedly at the virtual world before him. Amidst the excitement, he comforted himself. This wasn¡¯t for fun, it was all for the sake of learning skills and becoming invincible at his level! Chapter 171: Finding a Sparring Partner Friday, 7:00 AM.Qiao Sang opened her eyes in bed and picked up her phone to check the time. Too early. Without a second thought, she put the phone back down and went back to sleep. Lately, she didn¡¯t know what was going on, she could wake up naturally without an alarm, and her mind was always sharp with no drowsiness. If she had to go to school for training, that would be one thing. But on days when she could sleep until the afternoon, waking up this early seemed pointless. The school team had given them a five-day training period, and now three days had already passed. Thinking about how she only had two more days to sleep in, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but resent her internal clock. She lay there for more than ten minutes. Though her eyes were closed, her mind was racing with thoughts she couldn''t control. Right now, Yabao¡¯s skills were sufficient for the current stage. Her basic physical attributes were honed daily with plenty of training at school, so the focus should now be on improving skill proficiency and gaining more combat experience. When it came to real battles, it was still more reliable to go to a battle club and find a professional sparring partner. It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t considered her teammates from the school team, but if she wanted to make real progress in combat, she needed to find a beastmaster who was at least on par with her or even stronger. After these past few days of training at school, she had a good understanding of her teammates¡¯ capabilities. While they might be the cream of the crop among their peers, they really couldn¡¯t compare when standing against Yabao, who possessed fire, psychic powers, and gold-finger-enhanced skills like the Meteor Rain. As for Little Treasure, there was much more work to be done. First, he needed to train his Will-o''-the-Wisp and forge the ring into two parts. Secondly, both Hypnosis and Telekinesis required more practice. Little Treasure had been focusing on these two skills recently, and as long as one of them reached mastery, facing opponents of the same level would be no problem. Even surpassing opponents of higher levels would be common. As for physical training, it wasn¡¯t a priority. For beast pets, skills were the most important thing. Being a ghost-type pet with the traits of intangibility and teleportation, the key to gaining an edge in strength lay in improving the proficiency of current skills and learning new ones. A new skill had already been placed in front of her. Shadow Control. If Little Treasure could learn this skill at the beginner level, it would be ideal. But even if he couldn¡¯t, that would be fine, after all, except for Yabao, she hadn¡¯t seen any beginner-stage pet beasts master advanced skills. Qiao Sang thought for a long time and concluded that Little Treasure only needed to split the ring into two, and increase his proficiency in Hypnosis or Telekinesis to the mastery level before he could prepare for evolution. In the meantime, she planned to visit a battle club. Improving combat skills would also earn points, which could be stored. Once Little Treasure met these two goals, she could max out the points and evolve him right away. How satisfying would that be! The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more excited she became, and sleep became impossible. She shot up from bed. Then she noticed Little Treasure lying on the floor, sound asleep. Qiao Sang was momentarily puzzled. Ghost-type pets rarely slept, especially at night, and Little Treasure was no exception. But that didn¡¯t mean he never slept. Because he was still young, he would nap for a couple of hours late at night or at midday. But this was the first time she¡¯d seen him sleeping this early in the morning. ¡°Little Treasure?¡± Qiao Sang called softly. ¡°Xun...¡± Little Treasure, a light sleeper, recognized the familiar voice and groggily stirred, only to flop back down. Qiao Sang: ... Looks like he¡¯s really tired¡­ Qiao Sang got up and gently moved him to the bed. --- 9:45 AM. Hongying Beastmaster Battle Club. ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± The receptionist greeted her with a bright smile, showing eight perfectly aligned teeth. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a beginner-level sparring partner.¡± Qiao Sang said. The battle club categorized its sparring partners based mainly on the level of the beast pets. Beginner-level sparring partners typically had a beginner or intermediate pet beast. ¡°Do you have any specific requirements for the beginner sparring partner you¡¯re looking for?¡± The receptionist asked, still smiling. ¡°I want the best, most expensive one.¡± Qiao Sang said with confidence. Who would¡¯ve thought that just two months ago, she couldn¡¯t even afford the 1000 Alliance Coins hourly sparring fee? Now, she didn¡¯t even ask the price before requesting the most expensive option. Qiao Sang remained calm, showing a clear indifference toward money. ¡°All our beginner-level sparring partners are priced the same.¡± The receptionist explained. ¡°But if you¡¯re looking for someone better, you could consider an intermediate-level sparring partner. They have more experience in battles.¡± Intermediate-level sparring partners typically had at least two pet beasts, one of which would be at the advanced level, a significant difference from beginner-level partners. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, ¡°How much does an intermediate-level sparring partner cost?¡± ¡°Our intermediate-level sparring partners are also priced uniformly, at 3000 Alliance Coins per hour.¡± The receptionist answered with a smile. 3000 Alliance Coins, about three months of her allowance before she became a beastmaster¡­ Even though she had money now, it wasn¡¯t wise to burn through it like this¡­ Regaining her senses, Qiao Sang said, ¡°I¡¯ll just go with a beginner-level partner.¡± ¡°Alright. Do you have any specific requirements for the beginner sparring partner?¡± The receptionist asked again. ¡°I want someone with an intermediate-level pet beast.¡± Qiao Sang responded. --- The efficiency at Hongying Beastmaster Battle Club was impressive. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t been in the vast indoor battle arena for long before her sparring partner arrived. It was a tall, handsome young man, about 23 years old. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lin Yuanqi, your sparring partner for today.¡± The moment Lin Yuanqi saw Qiao Sang, he was slightly disappointed. He had hurried over, excited to spar with a girl, but didn¡¯t expect her to be such a young child. A kid this age wouldn¡¯t have financial freedom yet, nor could they appreciate his charm. No long-term customer potential here. ¡°Hello.¡± Qiao Sang, on the other hand, was satisfied with her sparring partner. Not bad. He¡¯s old enough, and his combat experience should be rich. ¡°You¡¯re quite rare, training your pet beast so diligently at such a young age. Most kids your age are still playing with their pets. When I was your age, all I did was play all day.¡± Lin Yuanqi said, trying to make conversation and build rapport, though he no longer saw Qiao Sang as a potential long-term client. ¡°How old are you? You look like a middle schooler. I heard you wanted to train with an intermediate-level pet beast. In my experience, it¡¯s better not to battle against a beast stronger than yours. I have a¡­¡± Qiao Sang cut him off, ¡°Has the timer started?¡± Lin Yuanqi: ... His usually foolproof social skills had failed. It seemed this young kid couldn¡¯t appreciate his good looks¡­ ¡°It starts now.¡± Lin Yuanqi summoned his pet beast. ¡°Come out, Double-Tailed Land Turtle.¡± A Double-Tailed Land Turtle, huh? Yabao had already studied it thoroughly back when he was still a Fire Fang Dog. No challenge here¡­ Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said: ¡°Little Treasure, it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Xun~" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 172: Im Not Trying to Stop You Little Treasure appeared, leisurely floating to the center of the arena.Treasure-Seeking Ghost?! Lin Yuanqi looked bewildered and stunned. A Beast Master who contracts with a Ghost-type pet beast as their first one... most of them aren''t good people... But Lin Yuanqi didn''t have that stereotype. The first thing he thought of was that Treasure-Seeking Ghost was expensive. It would cost at least tens of thousands of credits, and that string of concentration beads around its neck... A rich kid! Lin Yuanqi''s eyes lit up. It didn''t matter how young the girl in front of him was; her family was definitely wealthy. When it came to children training pet beasts, parents were rarely stingy with money. If charm didn¡¯t work, then he¡¯d rely on his strength to win her over! As long as he could help the Treasure-Seeking Ghost make significant progress during this hour of training, wouldn''t this rich kid become a regular client? As for Treasure-Seeking Ghost being a Ghost-type, which meant that his Ground-type Double-Tailed Land Turtle had no particular advantage except for certain moves, Lin Yuanqi wasn''t worried at all. One was clearly a beginner-level pet beast that hadn¡¯t even been weaned, while the other was a battle hardened intermediate-level pet beast. Winning this fight wasn¡¯t the hard part; it was about helping Treasure-Seeking Ghost learn something from it. Lin Yuanqi looked seriously at Qiao Sang and said, "The upcoming battle isn''t child''s play. Your Treasure-Seeking Ghost might get hurt during the fight, so I hope you''re prepared for that." Some rookie Beast Masters couldn¡¯t bear to see their pet beasts get even slightly injured during a fight. If a few strands of fur fell out, they''d start panicking. Some would even surrender or stop the fight, which was a big no-no in training pet beasts. Training wasn¡¯t just about winning, but about guiding the other side on how to battle. "I understand." Qiao Sang nodded. She knew this well. Once the battle began. Lin Yuanqi gave the first command: "Mud Bomb!" The Double-Tailed Land Turtle raised its head, pouting its mouth, and soon after, brown mud shot out of its mouth, aiming for the floating Little Treasure in midair. "In battles, hesitation is your enemy. Whoever makes the first move generally has the advantage. Especially when there''s a big gap in strength, the opponent has no choice but to¡­" Lin Yuanqi¡¯s instructional tone abruptly stopped. His usual poised smile froze on his face. His mouth gaped, and his eyes widened as he stared at the scene before him. What the heck! Could someone please explain to him why all of the mud bombs were frozen midair?! What... what kind of move is this?! Since when did Ghost-type pet beasts have a move like this?! Before he could figure it out, Qiao Sang spoke, "Send it back, and flip it over." Lin Yuanqi stood frozen, his brain momentarily short-circuited. Send it back? Flip it over? These were all words he understood, but when combined, they made no sense to him. "Xun~" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed blue, and the faint blue light on his short claws suddenly intensified, spreading quickly across his entire body. In the next second, the massive Double-Tailed Land Turtle''s front legs left the ground, and it began to tilt backward uncontrollably. "Lu..." The Double-Tailed Land Turtle looked bewildered at the ceiling of the training room. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It didn¡¯t understand why it suddenly fell¡­ Just as it tried to struggle and flip itself over, all the mud bombs that had been frozen in midair turned around and bombarded its exposed belly. "Lu!!" The Double-Tailed Land Turtle let out a cry of pain. "Hypnosis." Qiao Sang instructed, even before the mud bombs finished their attack. The Mud Bomb attack was powerful, but only when launched by the -Tailed Land Turtle itself. Little Treasure''s telekinetically controlled mud bombs were slower and less potent. Even though they hit the Double-Tailed Land Turtle''s vulnerable spot, they would only inflict some damage and wouldn¡¯t defeat it. "Calm down! Double-Tailed Land Turtle! Use Mud Bomb again!" Lin Yuanqi shouted. Seeing the distinctive blue glow of a Psychic-type pet beast''s powers, the flipped mud bombs, and the overturned Double-Tailed Land Turtle, it all clicked for him. Telekinesis! That was Telekinesis! This Treasure-Seeking Ghost was an ultra-rare pet beast that had both Ghost and Psychic abilities! But wasn¡¯t it a beginner-level pet beast? Even if it could use Telekinesis, it shouldn¡¯t be able to control so many mud bombs and the Twin-Tailed Tortoise at the same time¡­ Lin Yuanqi¡¯s heart raced, filled with uncertainty. Never mind the energy requirements, this level of control required a mastery-level proficiency in Telekinesis, didn¡¯t it? Treasure-Seeking Ghost, a beginner pet beast, and mastery-level Telekinesis? Are you kidding me! Lin Yuanqi, though dazed, still reacted quickly based on experience when he heard Qiao Sang¡¯s next command. If Treasure-Seeking Ghost were to use Hypnosis, it would need to lock eyes with the Double-Tailed Land Turtle, giving the turtle the perfect chance to hit it with Mud Bomb. The Double-Tailed Land Turtle, despite its pain, pursed its mouth and began gathering energy, but it was startled by the sudden appearance of Treasure-Seeking Ghost right in front of it, grinning from ear to ear. "Lu!" Its body shuddered, and the energy it had just gathered dissipated. "Xun~" Little Treasure smiled kindly, and his eyes glowed purple. Sleepiness overwhelmed the Double-Tailed Land Turtle , and its eyelids closed uncontrollably. Damn it! It knows Teleport too! Lin Yuanqi stood dumbfounded. If the Treasure-Seeking Ghost hadn¡¯t been able to teleport, its usual Ghost-type movement speed might have allowed the Double-Tailed Land Turtle to launch the Mud Bomb, as he had initially planned. But this Treasure-Seeking Ghost could teleport! "Dream Eater." Qiao Sang commanded, taking advantage of the successful Hypnosis. Little Treasure opened his mouth wide. A pale pink energy emerged from the Double-Tailed Land Turtle''s head and slowly floated into Little Treasure''s mouth. "Xun~" After absorbing the energy, Little Treasure felt his strength recover and let out a satisfied cry. Lin Yuanqi looked at his four-legged, unconscious Double-Tailed Land Turtle, then at the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, who was completely unharmed and had regained much of its energy through Dream Eater, and was left speechless. "I¡¯ve lost." After a moment of silence, Lin Yuanqi took a deep breath and admitted defeat. He waved his hand, recalling the Double-Tailed Land Turtle, and turned to leave in a daze. "Wait." Qiao Sang called after him. Lin Yuanqi turned back, forcing a smile as he said, "I''ll go outside and get a stronger sparring partner for you." Qiao Sang blinked, then nodded. "Alright." Lin Yuanqi turned to leave again, but Qiao Sang called out, "Wait." "I''m not trying to stop you," Qiao Sang said. "I just want to ask, those 4 minutes we just spent fighting... does the remaining 56 minutes continue counting now, or does it start over when the new sparring partner arrives?" Lin Yuanqi: ... Chapter 173: The Blaze Dog "Of course, the clock starts once the new sparring partner arrives." Lin Yuanqi said after taking a deep breath.Hearing this, Qiao Sang was quite satisfied. Ten minutes later, the gates of the training ground opened once again. "Isn''t this one too small? Feels like a kid who just became a beast tamer." "My daughter just graduated from junior high; this one looks about her age." "Lin Yuanqi, did you lose to a kid this small? Isn''t that embarrassing?" "Didn¡¯t you hear him? This kid has quite the background. The contract beast is a Treasure-Seeking ghost, practically invincible." "I¡¯ve never seen a ghost-type beast with psychic powers in real life." "Neither have I." Around a dozen people walked in, speaking in hushed tones. As they approached the edge of the training ground, the group moved toward the spectator seats on the right, leaving behind a square-faced man standing in the field. "Hello, I¡¯ll be your sparring partner this time. I¡¯m Wang Anqiang." As the man spoke, he formed a hand seal. Under a gray star array, a large, intimidating, crimson-red dog-like beast with two sharp tusks protruding from its upper jaw appeared before Qiao Sang. "Yap!" As soon as the beast appeared in the array, it let out a loud roar. Qiao Sang froze for a moment, staring at the beast before her. This powerful roar, this familiar figure, she had seen it countless times online. The Blaze Dog, the evolved form of the Fire Fang Dog. If Yabao had evolved back then, this is what it would have looked like... Qiao Sang spoke up, "Little Treasure, come back." In the spectator seats. "Why does this girl look familiar?" A bespectacled woman adjusted her glasses. "Pretty people tend to look alike." Someone beside her chimed in. "Could she be your daughter''s former classmate? She looks about the same age." Guessed a slightly overweight man. "Impossible. This girl just looks young. My daughter just graduated junior high. Are you saying Anqi lost to a recent junior high graduate?" The woman in glasses retorted. Hmph, you all wouldn¡¯t stand a chance either... Lin Yuanqi scoffed inwardly. He stared at Qiao Sang on the training ground, screaming in his mind. You have to win! My reputation depends on you! Lin Yuanqi still believed there was a high chance of regaining his dignity. After all, that stingy rich kid defeated him in just four minutes, while Wang Anqiang usually took about ten minutes to win. There¡¯s no way such a freakishly talented beast like the treasure-seeking ghost could lose to a brute-force Blaze Dog. Its teleportation skill alone is enough to take down the Blaze Dog. Lin Yuanqi had completely forgotten that the treasure-seeking ghost was one level lower than the Blaze Dog. As he was mentally cheering for Qiao Sang and the treasure-seeking ghost, the little ghost floated back to its beast tamer, landing on her head. Qiao Sang formed a hand seal, and a red-and-white figure emerged from the gray star array before everyone. The entire place fell silent. After a moment, someone whipped out their phone and started taking pictures frantically. Soon, everyone else followed suit, pulling out their phones and opening their cameras. "Holy crap! It¡¯s a Flame Hound! I¡¯m seeing one in real life!" "A battle between the two evolutions of the Fire Fang Dog? This video will blow up online! I even have the title: Blaze Dog vs. Flame Hound, Fire vs. Fire, Old Flame or New Crush?" "I remember now! This girl was the champion of the Bai Xin Competition over a month ago. Back then, her beast was still a Fire Fang Dog!" The bespectacled woman exclaimed. Everyone fell silent again, turning to look at the ponytailed girl on the field. Wait, so this girl¡¯s first contracted beast was a Fire Fang Dog, and not only did she evolve it into a Flame Hound, but her second contracted beast, the treasure-seeking ghost, even defeated Lin Yuanqi? The crowd simultaneously turned to look at Lin Yuanqi, who was now staring blankly. On the field. "Yap!" As soon as Yabao appeared, he excitedly let out a roar. No wonder they both evolved from Fire Fang Dogs; even their entrances were the same... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but smile and ask, "Shall we begin?" "¡­Of course." Wang Anqiang snapped back to reality. "Yabao, it¡¯s up to you." Qiao Sang spoke. "Yap!" Yabao, full of battle spirit, glared at the Blaze Dog. The Blaze Dog stared back, and when it saw Yabao looking at it so passionately, its face flushed, and it shyly lowered its head. "Yap~" Wang Anqiang was dumbfounded. What the heck! Why are you getting shy?! S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Batian! Pull yourself together! Use Flamethrower!" Wang Anqiang shouted, trying to snap the Blaze Dog out of it. "Yap~" The Blaze Dog ignored him, gathering the courage to steal another glance at the beast that had stolen its heart before shyly lowering its head again. "Yap!" Yabao cloaked himself in flames, becoming a fiery blur as he charged toward the Blaze Dog. "Batian! What are you standing around for? Flame Charge! Hit back!" Wang Anqiang¡¯s voice nearly cracked from shouting. The Blaze Dog looked at the merciless Yabao rushing at it, its eyes filled with hurt. It didn¡¯t follow its tamer¡¯s orders to fight back; instead, it dodged to the left. But Yabao was too fast. Although the Blaze Dog managed to avoid a direct hit, it still took damage to its side. Bang!! The Blaze Dog was sent flying several meters away. "Yap¡­" The Blaze Dog weakly whined, looking at Yabao, whose flames had now died down. Wang Anqiang covered his eyes, unable to bear the sight. "Uh, why isn¡¯t the Blaze Dog listening to you?" Qiao Sang asked, confused. "It seems¡­ it has a crush on your Flame Hound¡­" Wang Anqiang said awkwardly. Qiao Sang: ... She never expected her months-old Yabao to be... no, to be liked by another beast. He¡¯s still just a kid! Suddenly, Qiao Sang looked at the Blaze Dog and hesitated, "This Blaze Dog¡­ it¡¯s a male, right?" She had researched Blaze Dogs back when Yabao was still a Fire Fang Dog. She recalled that female Blaze Dogs had a tuft of fur on their heads that was a slightly lighter shade of red than the rest of their bodies. The Blaze Dog before her had a uniform coat of fur. "Yes." Wang Anqiang nodded. Qiao Sang was silent for a while before saying, "My Flame Hound is also male." Wang Anqiang: !!! "Batian! It¡¯s a guy! He¡¯s a guy!" Wang Anqiang yelled in shock. "¡­Yap?" The Blaze Dog froze, staring in disbelief at the beast he had fallen for. "Yap yap." Yabao shot him a disdainful glance. What are you looking at? I¡¯m obviously a handsome, dignified male. "Yap¡­" The Blaze Dog, unable to handle the blow, wobbled unsteadily. "Yap." Yabao glanced at him disdainfully again. Are we going to fight or not? "Yap yap!" The Blaze Dog¡¯s eyes suddenly changed, and the flames on his exposed fangs ignited, signaling his resolve. Chapter 174: Heat Do You Think? "Fire Fang!" Wang Anqiang''s face lit up with joy when he saw the scene and immediately gave the command.The Blaze Dog wore a fierce expression as his fangs, wrapped in flames, suddenly surged in power, and a scorching aura began to emanate wildly from his fangs. Without hesitation, he lunged in the direction where Yabao was, a hint of frustration and anger in his actions. "This Fire Fang is nearly at mastery, isn''t it?" Someone in the spectator stands commented enviously. For ordinary beast tamers like them, without background or resources, training a beast''s skill to mastery could only be achieved through long periods of practice or breakthroughs during a critical moment. Another factor was the beast''s innate talent. Without resources, if a beast had only average aptitude, it was almost guaranteed that they would never attain mastery in any skill in their lifetime. Everyone shared the same environment, and Wang Anqiang wasn''t even that old. Yet his Blaze Dog''s inherited skill was about to reach mastery, which truly made others envious. "Why hasn''t the Flame Hound moved yet?" Lin Yuanqi thought anxiously. If anyone wanted Qiao Sang to win, it would undoubtedly be him. "Fire Fang!" Just as the Blaze Dog was about to reach Yabao, Qiao Sang calmly gave her command. "The command was too slow." A woman with glasses shook her head. "She should have chosen to dodge." A slightly chubby man beside her frowned. "She should have used a skill like Fire Whirl to stop its advance." Another person offered a different opinion. Most of the people present were sparring partners by profession, habitually analyzing the battles for their clients. Without exception, they all felt that Qiao Sang''s recent command was suboptimal. In the next second, the crowd, still discussing her supposed mistake, fell silent. Just as the Blaze Dog was about to bite, the Flame Hound didn¡¯t respond with a violent bite using Fire Fang. Instead, it took to the air... "What the hell?!" Isn¡¯t the Flame Hound a fire-type beast? Why is it flying?! The crowd was dumbfounded. Wang Anqiang was just as bewildered. He was so shocked to see the Flame Hound behind his Blaze Dog that he forgot to issue a command. Crunch! The Blaze Dog¡¯s fangs bit into thin air, producing a screeching sound. As his flames dissipated, he looked up warily, only to feel a sharp pain in his back. "Yap!" The Blaze Dog howled in agony. "Oh my god, has this Fire Fang reached perfection?" The person who had earlier envied the Blaze Dog''s near-mastery Fire Fang stood up abruptly, staring at the center of the arena in disbelief. There, Yabao''s Fire Fang was no longer just about flames enveloping its fangs. Flames gathered in front of his teeth, extending nearly a meter in length. The air was filled with violent fire energy, and the crimson flames coalesced into two scythe-shaped fire blades in front of his fangs. Rolling heat surged around the fire scythes, resembling the weapons of a grim reaper, only these were red. Yabao¡¯s actual fangs never even touched the Blaze Dog, and yet, the scythe-shaped flames barely brushed his body. In the next moment, the Blaze Dog let out a gut-wrenching scream. Boom! Without warning, the scythe-shaped Fire Fang exploded violently. A wave of fire rolled out from the point where the flaming scythes had fallen, and tongues of flame quickly engulfed the Blaze Dog¡¯s entire body. The Blaze Dog held on for three seconds before collapsing. Everyone was stunned. This was no ordinary Fire Fang! Perfection! This was a Fire Fang that had reached perfection! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The audience had barely recovered from seeing the Flame Hound take flight when this display of Fire Fang further shook them to their core. Perfection, an achievement that many middle-aged beast tamers could only dream of attaining for their beasts! For a student who hadn¡¯t even reached adulthood to manage this¡­ It was hard to accept! Even Qiao Sang found it difficult to stay calm. Yabao had switched his focus from training Ember after reaching the pinnacle of proficiency and started practicing Fire Fang. It was only during this morning''s routine practice that it reached perfection. She had thought that even with the increased power, it wouldn¡¯t be too overwhelming. Little did she expect that a perfected Fire Fang could knock out the Blaze Dog in a single blow. Keep in mind that most beasts have some resistance to attacks of their own element, though ghost-type beasts are an exception. The Blaze Dog, a fire-type beast with some renown in the Yuhua region, had been knocked out by a mid-level skill of the same element... Could a perfected Fire Fang really be this powerful? Qiao Sang was a bit confused. At this point, she misunderstood the true meaning of skill mastery, thinking it was just about increasing the power. Little did she know that the very nature of a skill could change with mastery. But the one most shocked was Wang Anqiang. He had thought his Blaze Dog, now recovered, would put on a spectacular fight in front of his colleagues. Instead, he was completely overpowered, not even close to a proper spar. "I lost." Wang Anqiang croaked, his throat dry. "I''m just too weak." Qiao Sang was startled by his words and began to seriously reflect. Could it be that the perfected Fire Fang wasn''t too strong, but rather the Blaze Dog was just too weak? Good thing Wang Anqiang couldn¡¯t hear her thoughts, or he might have vomited blood on the spot. "Does the Flame Hound have psychic abilities?" Wang Anqiang asked next. Although his mind had briefly gone blank when he saw the Flame Hound fly, now that he thought about it, didn¡¯t it resemble the way psychic beasts levitated? "Yes." Qiao Sang nodded. As expected... Wang Anqiang felt a bit dazed. As the beast tamer of a Blaze Dog, which evolved from the same species as the Flame Hound, his emotions were incredibly mixed. Qiao Sang saw that he was zoning out and couldn¡¯t help but remind him, "Do you have any other beasts? Let¡¯s hurry up and start; time is money." Wang Anqiang snapped out of it and replied, "I do, but it would be a waste of time to fight. I suggest you look for a mid-level sparring partner. None of the beginner-level ones here are a match for you." A group of people who had just come over from the spectator stands: ... Hey, even if it¡¯s true, how can you say that in front of so many beginner-level sparring partners? The only one happy to hear that was Lin Yuanqi. If none of them were better than this tight-fisted rich kid, then how could they mock him? His pride was restored. A mid-level sparring partner costs 3,000 Alliance Coins per hour... Qiao Sang sighed, "Mid-level sparring partners are too expensive. I can¡¯t afford it." The crowd: ... You have a Flame Hound and a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, and you say you''re broke?! How could a Fore Fang reach perfection without extremely expensive resources?! Even if it had extraordinary talent, that would take years! Yet just over a month ago, your Flame Hound was still a Fire Fang Dog¡­ Several people froze in place as their thoughts came to a halt. So, in just over a month, this Fire Fang Dog not only evolved into a Flame Hound, but also trained its Fire Fang to perfection?! "I have an idea." A man wearing polished leather shoes and gold-rimmed glasses suddenly spoke up, "You could work for us as a sparring partner." "You¡¯d earn a salary, and if you become colleagues with the others, I¡¯m sure mid-level or even high-level sparring partners would be happy to train with you in their spare time. What do you think?" Chapter 175: Even Though Your Family is Wealthy Sparring partner?Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected to come looking for a sparring partner only to have someone suggest she become one herself. But then again, it¡¯s probably because she was just too good¡­ She began to think it over. She had to admit the offer was quite tempting, it would save her money, build battle experience, and increase her points. However, sparring partners were usually full-time. Even if they weren¡¯t in the Beast Battle Club, they had to be available to show up within a set time frame after a call. She simply didn¡¯t have that much free time to be on call like that. Not to mention, most of her time was spent in training right now. And once the new semester started in a few days, she¡¯d have even less free time. After all, she still had to come home every day and do the dreaded homework¡­ ¡°I still have to attend school.¡± Qiao Sang reluctantly declined. ¡°I figured. You look like you¡¯re still a student.¡± Said the man with the gold-rimmed glasses with a smile. ¡°You can do it part-time. There are no set work hours. If a client specifically requests you, we¡¯ll contact you. If you¡¯re available, you come. If not, we¡¯ll handle the rejection for you.¡± ¡°I wish I could work like that.¡± Lin Yuanqi said enviously. The man with the gold-rimmed glasses glanced at him and asked, ¡°Are you as skilled as she is?¡± Lin Yuanqi felt as if he¡¯d been struck in the heart. The man continued, ¡°Do you have a rare, newly-evolved beast that can attract clients?¡± And he wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°Are you better-looking than her?¡± The first two questions were tolerable, but the last one, unbearable! Comparing a teenage girl to a grown man in terms of looks? That¡¯s just ridiculous! Besides, plenty of people lose their looks after they grow up. His handsome face was already pretty much set in stone. If you weren¡¯t the boss, I¡¯d have told you off already... Lin Yuanqi raised his hands in surrender. ¡°Alright, I admit it. I¡¯m pretty happy with my current job.¡± The others were silently thankful they hadn¡¯t spoken up. Otherwise, they might¡¯ve been publicly compared to a kid, which would¡¯ve been far worse than just knowing deep down they didn¡¯t measure up. The man with the gold-rimmed glasses turned to Qiao Sang and asked gently, ¡°What do you think of my offer?¡± ¡°I think it sounds great.¡± Qiao Sang responded immediately. Whether or not he was using her Flame Hound to attract clients, the deal had no downsides for her. --- The two quickly reached an agreement, and the man with the gold-rimmed glasses led Qiao Sang to his office, where he had someone draft a contract. Qiao Sang skimmed it, but one clause caught her attention, so she gave it a closer look. It was about her salary. A base salary of 5,000 Alliance coins, with a 60% commission rate. How much she made each month would depend on how many clients she had. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pay was decent. Beastmaster jobs generally fell into the high-paying category. Sparring partners made what seemed like a lot of money, but for those aiming to progress far in the path of a Beastmaster, it was nothing. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t taking this job for the money. Qiao Sang signed her name. After she¡¯d signed, the man with the gold-rimmed glasses set aside his smile and introduced himself seriously. ¡°Let me formally introduce myself. I¡¯m Xie Yang, the manager of Hongying Beast Battle Club. Most people call me ¡®Second Boss¡¯ or ¡®Brother Yang.¡¯ You can call me whichever you prefer.¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously, ¡°Why do they call you ¡®Second Boss¡¯?¡± ¡°Because the big boss is my mother.¡± Xie Yang replied. ¡°People used to call me ¡®Little Boss,¡¯ but I thought it sounded terrible, so I had them call me ¡®Second Boss¡¯ instead.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°I read in the news that the Flame Hound doesn¡¯t have a psychic-type attribute. I¡¯m curious, is your Flame Hound unique, or do all Fire fang Dogs gain psychic powers when they evolve?¡± Xie Yang asked, his expression suddenly serious. Nobody knew that when Xie Yang signed Qiao Sang, it wasn¡¯t just to attract clients with the Flame Hound¡¯s popularity. He was aiming for a long-term partnership, one that could lead to a massive business deal. In his view, a relationship based on mutual benefits was the best foundation for such a venture. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned but then replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. There hasn¡¯t been a second Flame Hound to use for comparison yet.¡± Xie Yang nodded and asked, ¡°Do you know how much a Fire fang Dog is worth right now?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°120,000 Alliance coins.¡± After the news that Fire fang Dogs could evolve into Flame Hounds broke, their price skyrocketed. Many of her acquaintances had sent her the news. ¡°And do you know what would happen to the price if word got out that the Flame Hound also has a psychic-type attribute?¡± Xie Yang pressed. ¡°It¡¯d definitely reach seven figures.¡± Qiao Sang answered after thinking for a moment. Psychic-type beasts generally sold for at least a million coins. A Flame Hound, with both psychic and fire attributes, couldn¡¯t be priced lower than that. How can you say a million so casually? That¡¯s a million! A true fortune! She really must be from an incredibly wealthy family to be so indifferent about money... Xie Yang forced himself to remain calm before asking, ¡°Have you thought about buying as many Fire fang Dogs as possible right now and selling them after the news about the Flame Hound¡¯s psychic powers gets out?¡± --- Qiao Sang stayed silent for several seconds before replying, her voice trembling, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Oh my god! She hadn¡¯t even thought of this! She was always thinking about ways to make money, but the opportunity to get rich overnight had been right in front of her, and she¡¯d missed it! Heaven help her! How could she be so dumb? ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about. The Alliance has strict regulations on the sale of beasts. You¡¯re still young, so even if you had thought of this, you wouldn¡¯t have done it.¡± Xie Yang said understandingly. No, I didn¡¯t think of it! Qiao Sang screamed internally. ¡°Even though we can¡¯t buy Fire fang Dogs in bulk through normal channels, there are other ways. We could open a pet breeding shop specializing in Flame Hounds, or hire people to capture them in the wilderness.¡± Xie Yang said, sharing his idea. Qiao Sang was taken aback. ¡°We?¡± ¡°Yes, we.¡± Xie Yang confirmed. ¡°Every time a beast gets a new evolution, it¡¯s all over the news. The same goes for the Flame Hound." ¡°Its hype is already starting to die down. One reason is that none of the Fire fang Dogs that were purchased have evolved into another Flame Hound. The other is that the news didn¡¯t mention anything about the psychic-type attribute." ¡°If we stock up on Fire fang Dogs now, when the time is right, you could release a video of your Flame Hound using psychic powers. We could even provide exclusive information on how to evolve them to the people who buy from us.¡± ¡°With you as the face of the first Flame Hound, we¡¯d definitely make a fortune.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Sang began. ¡°Don¡¯t rush to turn me down.¡± Xie Yang interrupted. ¡°Even though your family is wealthy, raising beasts becomes more expensive the further you go. The stronger your beasts get, the more money you¡¯ll need to raise them well. I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t mind having more money." Chapter 176: Huan Huan Qiao Sang silently listened.Xie Yang continued, "You have to understand, the popularity of the Flame Hound is temporary. We need to prepare as soon as possible. There may be many Beast Tamers, but only a handful can afford a pet worth millions." "This is why I approached you for a partnership. We have many channels to buy Fire fang Dogs in Hanggang, and with you, these people will pay attention to the Fire fang Dogs we have." Although Qiao Sang didn''t have business experience, she understood a bit. Beast Tamers are unlikely to buy pets online. They prefer to see and select them in person. This means that beasts from one region rarely end up in the hands of Beast Tamers from other regions. One reason is the distance, and another is that most Beast Tamers focus only on the creatures available in their area. If a Tamer contracts with a beast from another region, there might be no guidance on how to nurture it, including its diet, skill training, and evolution, it would all have to be figured out on their own. When the news that Flame Hound also have psychic attributes is revealed, it will primarily be the Beast Tamers in Yunhua who will choose to buy them. Tamers in other regions might just discuss it online. If a Fire fang Dog breeding store were opened in Hanggang City, only the wealthy people in Hanggang would likely buy them. That¡¯s probably why Xie Yang didn¡¯t want to go solo but approached her instead. With her presence, wealthy Beast Tamers from Hangang and nearby cities would be attracted. Otherwise, established pet stores or regional beast bases would always seem more reliable than a newly opened shop. Businesspeople really do have sharp minds... Qiao Sang thought as she faced Xie Yang¡¯s confident gaze, which seemed certain she would agree. She carefully said, "Actually, I don¡¯t know the conditions required for the Fire fang Dog to evolve into a Flame Hounds. We still need the researchers to investigate, and once they figure it out, they¡¯ll probably publish the findings. I might not be able to help you." Xie Yang was stunned for a moment. "That¡¯s fine. Even without exclusive information, having you with us means we won¡¯t struggle to make money." Qiao Sang calmly replied, "I¡¯m still a student. Right now, I just want to focus on my studies." Xie Yang was dumbfounded. He hadn¡¯t expected her to turn him down after all he¡¯d said. "Do you know how much money we could make?" Xie Yang, still unwilling to give up, said, "If we partner up, you won¡¯t have to do anything. I¡¯ll handle all the finances. You just need to make videos and promote it, it won¡¯t affect your studies. We¡¯ll split the earnings 80-20, and if you think that¡¯s too low, we can negotiate." Qiao Sang immediately responded, "It¡¯s not about the money. I¡¯m still a student, I don¡¯t need that much." Xie Yang stared at her in silence, his expression like someone who had fallen in love at first sight with a perfect girl, only to realize there was something wrong with her mind. Taking a deep breath, Xie Yang said, "But you¡¯re a Beast Tamer! If you want to go far in this field, you¡¯ll need a lot of money!" Qiao Sang smiled shyly. "My mom has money." Xie Yang: ... --- When she got home, the first thing Qiao Sang did was summon Yabao. Looking at Yabao¡¯s million-dollar stature, she felt a surge of affection. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the energy pills today. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll make something for you.¡± Qiao Sang said softly. Yabao, just out of the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex, froze at her words. "Xun!" Little Treasure wasn¡¯t happy. He floated up in front of his Beast Tamer, puffing out his cheeks and pointing at himself with his short claws, indicating he wanted to eat too. "Alright, I¡¯ll cook for you as well." Qiao Sang laughed. "Xun~" Little Treasure happily floated around her in a circle. "Yap..." Yabao¡¯s expression twisted. This idiot didn¡¯t even know how bad his Beast Tamer¡¯s cooking was. "Yap yap." Shaking his head, Yabao decided to stick with his stomach¡¯s desires. Qiao Sang gave in. "Fine, I¡¯ll only cook for Little Treasure." "Xun~" Little Treasure gleefully floated in another circle. Half an hour later. After taking a bite of the food, Little Treasure¡¯s happiness disappeared completely... Meanwhile, Yabao happily munched on his energy pills as Qiao Sang picked up her phone to call her mother. As soon as the call connected, Qiao Sang got straight to the point. "Mom, stop working. Let¡¯s start a business together." Money is still important, just not with someone she didn¡¯t know well. After all, she was still young, and the other party was a shrewd businessman. Partnerships with unequal power never last. Besides, who needs an 80-20 split when you can keep all the profits yourself? But since she was still in school and had no time, her first thought was her mother. Ye Xiangting¡¯s temple throbbed. But, given her daughter¡¯s recent excellent behavior, she held back her initial response. "I like my current job. I don¡¯t want to start a business." "It¡¯s a guaranteed eight-figure, maybe even nine-figure business." Qiao Sang said. There was silence on the other end. After a long pause, Ye Xiangting asked, "What business?" Qiao Sang smiled, knowing she¡¯d hooked her. She repeated everything Xie Yang had told her. Ye Xiangting took several seconds to process the information while Qiao Sang continued, "With that kind of money, we can buy a standalone house. Great Owl would no longer have to worry about being scolded by the neighbors for making too much noise and could finally leave the Beast Codex. Plus, Fat Dove might have a chance to evolve twice more into the mighty Great Dove." After a long silence, Ye Xiangting asked, "When did your Fire fang Dog evolve into a Flame Hound? Why didn¡¯t I know about it?" Qiao Sang froze, her mind racing. "Mom, don¡¯t you watch the news?" Qiao Sang said in a hurt tone. "I thought you¡¯d see it and call me. I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t know." Ye Xiangting hesitated, awkwardly changing the topic. "Starting a breeding shop isn¡¯t something you can do overnight. Let¡¯s talk when I finish up here. I¡¯ll pick you up from school, and we¡¯ll discuss it at home." Qiao Sang, excited, said, "No need! Just come to Chang¡¯an Road, Tianjing Garden, apartment 1705. That¡¯s where I¡¯m staying now." Her mother¡¯s voice immediately rose. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Aren¡¯t you living on campus?!" Qiao Sang: ... "After Yabao evolved into a Flame Hound, he got too big. The dorm is too small, so it¡¯s inconvenient. The vice principal approved me living off-campus." Qiao Sang explained. With a legitimate reason and the vice principal¡¯s approval, Ye Xiangting didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. --- On the day of training, Qiao Sang arrived at school, but this time, Little Treasure wasn¡¯t invisibly perched on her head. For some reason, he had been asleep since early morning. Having no choice, Qiao Sang returned him to the Beast Codex. As she walked to the training grounds, she spotted Shi Gaofeng crouched down, talking to his Thornberry Beast. "Good morning." Qiao Sang greeted him. Shi Gaofeng turned and smiled. "Huan Huan." Qiao Sang: ... Chapter 177: National Campus Beast Mastery League Suddenly, memories of the past surged back.It was only then that Qiao Sang remembered, this Shi Gaofeng was not the real Shi Gaofeng, but rather the Phantom Water Baby in disguise¡­ To be honest, except for the voice, it really was hard to tell them apart just by their appearance. "Mei!" After hearing Shi Gaofeng speak, the Thornberry Beast''s round eyes widened, and the thorns on its body stood upright. Shi Gaofeng, frightened, immediately covered his mouth, looking pitifully at the Thornberry Beast and then at Qiao Sang. Although Qiao Sang couldn''t understand what the Thornberry Beast was saying, from their reactions, she vaguely grasped the meaning. "It''s fine. Your master already told me he brought an Phantom Water Baby. Don''t be mad at it." Qiao Sang comforted the Thornberry Beast. "Mei Mei." The Thornberry Beast''s thorns instantly softened. "Huan huan!" Beside them, Shi Gaofeng''s eyes lit up, and he happily shouted. Qiao Sang: ... She could bet that Shi Gaofeng was done for... "Mei!" The Thornberry Beast, paws on its hips, sternly started lecturing Shi Gaofeng. And Shi Gaofeng squatted in front of it like a three-year-old child, nodding occasionally. Qiao Sang couldn''t bear to watch. She could already imagine the scene where Zheng Baolong instantly saw through the fake Shi Gaofeng. Sighing for Shi Gaofeng in advance... Qiao Sang summoned Yabao to her side. "Yap!" As soon as Yabao appeared, he happily rubbed against his Beast Master. Qiao Sang smiled and patted his head. Yabao was usually by her side, but now, whenever she left home, he had to stay in the Beast Codex. Not only Yabao, even she wasn''t used to it. The heat was about to dissipate, but once word got out that the Flame Hound had psychic abilities, Yabao would probably have to stay in the Codex for even longer. Unless a second Flame Hound appeared, every time Yabao stepped outside, he would likely draw a crowd. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe she should dye his fur and disguise him... Qiao Sang looked at his luxurious fur and fell into deep thought. "Yap..." Yabao shivered inexplicably. "Qiao Sang, you''re early." At that moment, a voice broke Qiao Sang''s train of thought. "I only beat you by three minutes." Qiao Sang turned to the voice. "How did your task go?" "It was practically perfect. Xiaoyan''s performance this time was way better than last time. The task poster even wanted to book Xiaoyan as a model for next time, but I turned it down." Wang Yao strutted over, looking proud. "Yan Yan." The Flame Sparrow raised its head haughtily. "Why did you turn it down?" Qiao Sang asked. "I only took this task to train Xiaoyan''s patience." Wang Yao replied. "You don''t know, during battles, it''s fine if the opponent faces us directly. But if they like defending, Xiaoyan quickly gets impatient and sometimes stops following my commands, making it easy for others to exploit the opportunity. I lost to Lu Mai from Litan High School last year because of that." "Now that Xiaoyan''s patience is well-trained, there''s no need for such boring tasks anymore." "Yan Yan." The Flame Sparrow raised its head even higher. "This task must have earned you a five-star review then. Looks like Zheng Baolong won''t call you out." Qiao Sang laughed. "No, it was only a four-star review." Wang Yao''s face fell. "Why?" Qiao Sang asked curiously. Wang Yao grumbled, "Just because I refused to let Xiaoyan be a model again, the guy took off one star!" Qiao Sang: ... "But it''s fine. I''m sure, apart from you, I did the best in completing the task." Wang Yao glanced over at Shi Gaofeng, lowering her voice mischievously. "I bet Shi Gaofeng got a bad review this time. He always shows off his good reviews in the group chat whenever he gets one." "Five whole days, and except for the first, he hasn''t said a word in the chat. He hasn''t even posted that hot guy with six-pack abs photo he promised." Wang Yao was getting more excited as she spoke. "I''m going to ask him about it." Qiao Sang''s eyelid twitched. She quickly advised, "Let it go. Zheng Baolong will be here soon. Let''s start preparing for training." Wang Yao thought for a moment and decided it wasn''t urgent to tease Shi Gaofeng right now, so she agreed. Qiao Sang breathed a silent sigh of relief. Phantom Water Baby, this is as far as I can help you... --- Ten minutes later. Everyone had arrived. Zheng Guoping held his tablet and started giving feedback. "I won''t say much about Qiao Sang. She completed her task on the first day and even got a five-star review. Look at you guys, an entire year, and forget five stars, how many tasks have even met the minimum standard?" "I had ten." Wang Yao chimed in. "I had eight." Xu Yajie mumbled. Zheng Guoping''s temples throbbed. He was about to scold them harshly but remembered that their task performance this time wasn''t too bad, so he turned his gaze toward Shi Gaofeng. Shi Gaofeng blinked innocently in return. "What about you? How many tasks have you completed to standard?" Zheng Guoping asked coldly. Shi Gaofeng opened his mouth, about to speak. Just then, Xu Yajie interjected, "He can''t speak right now. He thought his task went so badly he cried himself hoarse at home." "Pfft..." Wang Yao couldn''t help but laugh. Who would believe such a ridiculous excuse? Only an idiot would... Qiao Sang mentally rolled her eyes. "Heh." Zheng Guoping sneered. "You think losing your voice will change the result of your task? One-star review. You were supposed to extract fat, and you ended up making someone''s abs disappear? I''ve never taught such a terrible student!" Shi Gaofeng blinked innocently. "You need to understand, the school team won''t fall apart without you. Do you know how many people are waiting to take your place? No sense of urgency whatsoever. The National Campus Beast Mastery League is in two months. If you keep performing like this, I''ll have to consider replacing you." Zheng Guoping said sternly. The National Campus Beast Mastery League... Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. After the vice principal mentioned the high school beast battles, she went online to research it. The National Campus Beast Mastery League is the oldest and most prestigious high school beast mastery competition in the country. The event is a centralized tournament spanning all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. The competition has three stages: Provincial competitions, regional competitions, and the national finals. Winning first place in the province, defeating Litan Middle School, was just the first stage of the provincial competition. Among the numerous beast mastery contests, this one garners the most attention and is the most prestigious. If you break through the provincial competition and place in the top three in the national finals, you won''t need to take the college entrance exam or any specialized admissions test. Top universities will be lining up to recruit you. It''s a highly esteemed competition. Zheng Guoping frowned. "For now, run twenty laps around the field. Next time, it won''t be this easy. Understood?" Shi Gaofeng blinked but said nothing. Zheng Guoping''s veins bulged, and he couldn''t suppress his anger anymore. "Even if your voice is gone, you can still nod or shake your head! I''m asking you again, do you understand?" Startled by the outburst, Shi Gaofeng nodded quickly. "Huan huan!" As expected... Qiao Sang wasn''t surprised at all. Chapter 178: Addicted After All The entire training field fell silent.The Thornberry Beast was frozen in place, standing stiffly without daring to move an inch. The culprit, Shi Gaofeng, turned around, ready to start running laps around the field, but Zheng Guoping was quick to grab him by the collar. "Huan huan?" Shi Gaofeng turned his head, looking confused. Zheng Guoping was silent for a while, then asked, "What does ''Huan huan'' mean?" Shi Gaofeng was about to explain when he suddenly remembered something, his face showing panic. He covered his mouth with both hands as sweat began to pour from his forehead, dripping continuously. Rather than sweat, it looked more like water. The flow increased, turning into what seemed like a small downpour. Zheng Guoping stared silently at this unscientific display of sweat. He didn''t immediately connect Shi Gaofeng to the phantom water baby. On one hand, there are so many pet beasts in the world, each with their own unique traits and abilities. It¡¯s hard to instantly associate strange occurrences with a specific pet beast. On the other hand, he never thought Shi Gaofeng would have the guts to pull something like this... Although he had his suspicions, Zheng Guoping still found it unlikely. He asked again, "Let me ask you again, what did you mean by what you just said?" Shi Gaofeng looked pitifully at the Thornberry Beast, seeking help. The Thornberry Beast froze even more under his gaze. "Yap..." Yabao couldn''t stand watching this and wanted to help translate. Qiao Sang quickly covered his mouth with lightning speed. "Yan." With Yabao silenced, the Flame Sparrow began translating instead. Upon understanding, Wang Yao wanted to laugh but didn¡¯t dare to, her expression slowly twisting. The pets understood, but the people didn¡¯t... Zheng Guoping''s face darkened as he clenched his teeth and called out Shi Gaofeng''s name. Shi Gaofeng and the Thornberry Beast both trembled. "You two, come with me!" Zheng Guoping said, then looked at Xu Yajie, who was trying hard to stay unnoticed. "You too, come with me!" Xu Yajie: ... The large training ground was left with only Qiao Sang and Wang Yao. From outside, Zheng Guoping¡¯s angry roars could occasionally be heard. Wang Yao finally couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter: "Hahaha! What on earth was Shi Gaofeng thinking when he came up with such a ridiculous idea? How did he even get into Shengshui High School?" "But Shi Gaofeng was a special admission. He only scored a bit over 400 on the entrance exam. Now that I think about it, it''s kind of understandable that he''d come up with something like this. Hahaha, I can''t take it anymore..." Qiao Sang: ... She felt a little insulted... --- That evening, back at home. Little Treasure couldn¡¯t wait to put on the virtual helmet and get started. Qiao Sang watched, feeling quite satisfied at how skilled Little Treasure had become in knowing where the power button was. Yabao, after finishing its energy pills, went to the courtyard as usual to practice his skills. Unlike before, the 16 Flame Hounds, including its main body, split into two groups, one practiced Fire Fang, the other practiced Psychic Powers. Qiao Sang, after several days, picked up her book again and started studying. She had to admit that Wang Yao¡¯s words this morning had given her a bit of a wake-up call... As someone who scored only 359 on the high school entrance exam, Qiao Sang felt it was time to put in some effort. What if she didn¡¯t need to win against Litan High School to qualify for the entrance test to the elite school, but could get in based on her academic scores? It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, the knowledge at Beastmaster High School was vastly different from middle school. There were still three years until the college entrance exams. Wasn¡¯t it just about memorizing books and doing practice questions? Qiao Sang felt confident. But after only half an hour, her mind began to drift away from the book. She remembered what Zheng Guolong had said that morning about the National Campus Beast Mastery League With her golden finger, plus the talents of Yabao and Little Treasure , winning the tournament wasn¡¯t an impossible dream. (Ahahaha, she gave up fast????) After all, the competition consisted of high school students around her age. Yabao¡¯s advanced skill, Meteor Rain, could probably wipe out a whole group. If she could win, why waste three years of hard study? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to get an early recommendation? In her previous life, there were students who got admitted to top universities as early as their first year of high school. Why couldn¡¯t she be one of them in this life? With that thought, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t focus on her book anymore. She stood in front of Little Treasure , who was wearing the virtual helmet, for five seconds. "Xun?" Little Treasure took off the helmet, looking confused. It hadn¡¯t been two hours yet... The virtual helmet could sense the outside world. If someone was within a meter, the interface would give a prompt. "I think you should put off practicing Shadow Manipulation for now. Let¡¯s learn Will-o''-the-Wisp first." Qiao Sang said. Learning Shadow Manipulation with the virtual helmet was a gamble in itself, and even if it wasn¡¯t mastered immediately, it wouldn¡¯t matter. But Will-o''-the-Wisp was a skill that had to be learned during the early stage. If she wasn¡¯t entering the National Campus Beast Mastery League, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but if she wanted to compete and achieve good results, Little Treasure''s strength had to be considered. After all, the students who made it to the finals were high schoolers with two intermediate-level pet beasts. Facing them with only Yabao would mean they could study him thoroughly. Even if Yabao was powerful, if he met an opponent with the right tactics and countering abilities, there was still a chance of losing. To be cautious, Little Treasure had to develop early. "Xun..." Little Treasure looked like he had been struck by lightning. "From now on, after absorbing the materials every day, when the ring can¡¯t absorb anymore, you can take a break." Qiao Sang added. The ring could only absorb a limited amount of energy each day before it became saturated. "Xun xun." Little Treasure pointed at the virtual helmet. "You have to absorb materials and practice hypnosis and psychic powers every day. That¡¯s tiring enough. Don¡¯t practice Shadow Manipulation for now. We need to balance work and rest." Qiao Sang replied. "Xun!" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure thumped his chest, insisting he wasn¡¯t tired. For a moment, Qiao Sang thought she saw Yabao¡¯s shadow in Little Treasure. But then again, Little Treasure wasn¡¯t usually like this... "Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve gotten addicted?" Qiao Sang asked suspiciously. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure quickly shook his head, denying it. How could it be? He just felt like there was still so much time to do other things! Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "Alright, after you¡¯ve finished absorbing materials and practicing your skills, if there¡¯s time left, you can teach Yabao teleportation." No matter how much a pet beast trained its stamina or speed, it couldn¡¯t beat having a good skill. Even if it became the fastest runner at school, so what? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In battles, moves like high-speed spinning, Quick Attack, or Flame Charge would always be faster than running. When it came to pure speed, teleportation was the best. Whether dodging or wearing down an opponent, it was an unbeatable move. If Yabao could learn it, it would be ideal. "Xun..." Little Treasure was dumbfounded. Unwilling to give up, he pointed at the helmet again. "Xun xun?" Qiao Sang replied, "You can continue learning Shadow Manipulation after you¡¯ve mastered Will-o''-the-Wisp." As soon as the words left her mouth, Little Treasure wasted no time pulling out the materials needed for Will-o''-the-Wisp from the ring and setting them up. Qiao Sang: ... Addicted after all... Chapter 179: Keep It a Secret All the materials were laid out in a row.Little Treasure put the ring back on his head, then pressed his sharp claws together, drawing energy from the materials and channeling it into the ring. Purple and red specks of light could be seen transferring from the materials to the ring, which was glowing faintly yellow. Looks like I''ll need to buy another batch... Qiao Sang looked at the few wilted materials with some pain. She used to think buying pet beasts was expensive, but later realized that compared to the money spent on raising them, that was hardly worth mentioning. At the end of the day, it still comes down to a lack of money. Even the seven-figure balance in her bank account no longer gave her a sense of security. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang returned to her room and picked up her phone, dialing her mother¡¯s number. "Hello, Mom? It''s been two days. When are you coming over?" As soon as the call connected, Qiao Sang eagerly asked. "I just got back to Hanggang this afternoon, and I''m already on my way to your place." Her mother replied. "Just got back to Hanggang?" Qiao Sang was startled. "Where were you these past two days?" "...I''ll explain later, the signal is bad up here. We''ll talk when I get there." "Coo~" Beep... beep... beep... Qiao Sang stared at the phone, a bit speechless. What kind of world are we living in where even the Fat Dove flies high and fast, but still has poor signal? Who would believe that? An hour later. In the living room. Ye Xiangting placed a few bags on the coffee table. "I bought some red crispy fruits, toru fruits, and memory fruits. They¡¯re all favorites of Yabao and Little Treasure. Call them over to eat." Qiao Sang glanced at the fruits on the table and asked, "Mom, what about mine?" Ye Xiangting was taken aback, then coughed lightly. "You''re a grown-up now, can''t you buy your own snacks?" Well, guess she didn¡¯t buy me anything... Qiao Sang went out to the yard and called to her two pet beasts, "Yabao, Little Treasure, come quickly, there''s something good to eat." "Xun!" Little Treasure chirped happily and instantly disappeared from the yard. After absorbing the materials and practicing skill release for half the day, he was starving. Yabao, meanwhile, retracted his clone, walked over to his beastmaster, and looked up with wide eyes. "Yap?" Qiao Sang blinked and replied, "I didn''t make the food." "Yap!" Yabao''s eyes brightened, and he excitedly ran toward the living room. Qiao Sang stood there, a bit confused. Was it her imagination, or did Yabao seem especially happy to hear she wasn¡¯t the one who made the food? When Qiao Sang returned to the living room, she saw her mother enthusiastically taking pictures of Yabao, who was eating a red awl fruit. Little Treasure floated nearby, munching on a Toru fruit while curiously looking at the pictures on the phone. Yabao, instead of eating the fruit, held it in his mouth, posing for the camera. "Yes, just like that, so cool!" Her mother praised the photo in admiration. "Let¡¯s do another shot. Lift your head slightly." Her mother crouched down to adjust the angle for the next photo. Yabao raised his head about 15 degrees, holding the fruit firmly in his mouth. "So handsome, absolutely perfect!" Her mother said with satisfaction. After three minutes of continuous photos, her mother finally put the phone down. Then, turning her head, she noticed Little Treasure nearby. "Do you want a picture too? I''ll take a few for you." She smiled. "Xun~" Without hesitation, Little Treasure struck a pose. Qiao Sang: ... Five minutes later. Her mother sat on the sofa, watching Yabao and Little Treasure happily munching on their fruits, and sighed, "You¡¯ve raised them so well. Yabao, of course, is amazing, but look at Little Treasure. When he first came to our house, he wasn''t nearly this lively." "He¡¯s grown up now." Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Mom, you never told me where you went these past two days." Her mother cleared her throat. "Since you weren''t home anyway, I went to Fuzhou to watch a beastmaster competition." Qiao Sang was surprised. "Fuzhou? That¡¯s on the border of Yuhua District. You went all that way to watch a competition?" "Well, after losing the autographed poster of Armor-chad Sharpclaw Bear, I heard that Wang Dian''ao would be at this event. I figured I''d try my luck and see if I could get another autograph of Armor-clad Sharpclaw Bear." Her mother said with a sigh. This conversation wasn¡¯t going anywhere good... Qiao Sang quickly shifted topics. "So, have you thought more about opening the breeding shop?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There¡¯s nothing much to consider, really, except that the shop won¡¯t be up and running quickly. By the time it¡¯s ready, will anyone still be buying Fire Fang dogs?" Her mother asked, concerned. "Don¡¯t worry about that." Qiao Sang reassured. "The method for evolving Fire fang dogs into Flame hounds hasn¡¯t been discovered yet. It¡¯ll likely take the research institute a few more months to figure it out. By then, there¡¯ll be plenty of demand." "Just go ahead and prepare for the store as planned. We¡¯ll focus on selling beast eggs. Even if the research takes longer, we¡¯ll still have measures in place to handle things." "Becoming a beastmaster has made you so sharp." Ye Xiangting said proudly. "Alright, I¡¯ll start working on it. You focus on your studies and leave the rest to me." "I still have some money. I''ll transfer it to you to help set up the shop." Qiao Sang said, picking up her phone. But her mother quickly snatched it away and frowned. "Your mother still has some savings. I don¡¯t need your money. You¡¯ve just become a beastmaster and have two pets to care for. Keep your money for yourself." Qiao Sang blinked, then smiled and said, "Mom, I knew you had money!" Ye Xiangting: ... --- That night. In the quiet of night. After making sure Qiao Sang and Yabao were both asleep, Little Treasure quietly removed the ring from his head and put a virtual helmet inside it. He then floated out of the room, into the living room, and put on the helmet, just about to start it up, when he noticed a puddle of water on the floor. Above the puddle, half a head poked out, with a pair of eerie eyes staring right at him. Little Treasure and the water creature, Luriana, stared at each other. After three seconds of silence, Little Treasure took out a bottle of milk from the ring and handed it to Water Luriana. "Xun... Xun..." Keep it a secret... Water Luriana hesitated, then reached out a paw to accept the milk, nodding solemnly. "Lu!" --- The next morning. When Qiao Sang woke up, she found Little Treasure asleep on her bed. Three days in a row now. Is this normal for a ghost-type pet? Not thinking too much of it, she quickly freshened up, had some bread and milk, and headed off to school. Just as she arrived at the school gate, she saw Shi Gaofeng pulling and arguing with a pale-looking girl. "I told you to stop following me!" Shi Gaofeng shouted. "I won¡¯t, not unless you change your mind!" The girl replied stubbornly. "I''m not going to change!" Shi Gaofeng yelled. "If you don''t change, I won''t leave!" The girl persisted. High school drama? Qiao Sang tried to avoid them and sneak into the school unnoticed. But Shi Gaofeng spotted her and waved excitedly, "Qiao Sang! Help me out here!" How does he have such sharp eyes... Qiao Sang reluctantly walked over and asked, "What''s going on?" Shi Gaofeng complained, "You tell me, isn''t it unfair? Just because Phantom Water Baby wasn¡¯t performing well, Zheng Baolong called my mom yesterday. Now I have no idea what I¡¯m walking into today, and this girl still has the nerve to ask me to change my rating." "When I got a one-star rating, I never went back to beg for more." Qiao Sang: ... So it''s not high school drama, after all... Chapter 180: How About You Take a Break Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t had the chance to intervene yet. The girl nearby couldn¡¯t help but argue after hearing Shi Gaofeng¡¯s words, ¡°Phantom Water Baby mainly relies on its transformation ability to take on tasks. Now that you¡¯ve given me a one-star review, how am I supposed to take on tasks in the future?¡± ¡°Besides, weren¡¯t you quite satisfied when you saw Phantom Water Baby¡¯s transformation back then?¡± Phantom Water Baby had always relied on its unique ability to accept specialized tasks in the mission market. If it received a bad review, its transformation ability would be questioned. If it had to take on tasks that any water-type pet beast could handle, the rewards and competition would be entirely different. Leaving a bad review for Phantom Water Baby¡¯s unique trait was indeed akin to cutting off someone¡¯s livelihood. It was no wonder she had confronted him at the school gate, trying to change her rating. Qiao Sang could somewhat understand her actions. After all, few could endure having their source of income cut off. ¡°You still have the nerve to talk! If it wasn¡¯t for Phantom Water Baby¡¯s transformation being halfway decent, and you assuring me that it wouldn¡¯t utter a word that day, would I have let you take the task?¡± Shi Gaofeng fumed. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t promised that, would I be in this mess now?¡± The girl¡¯s confidence faltered. ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t have given a one-star review! It makes people question Phantom Water Baby¡¯s transformation ability.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Shi Gaofeng let out a cold laugh. ¡°If I can get a one-star review, why can¡¯t you?¡± A one-star review against another one-star review... Just as Qiao Sang was quietly observing and internally sighing, Shi Gaofeng suddenly turned to her and asked, ¡°Qiao Sang, don¡¯t you think so?¡± The girl also looked at her with pitiful eyes. Qiao Sang remained silent for two seconds, pulled out her phone, checked the time, and suggested, ¡°In 16 minutes, we¡¯ll be gathering. How about you talk later?¡± --- At the training ground. Shi Gaofeng¡¯s heels were together, his body standing straight, eyes looking forward, posing in a perfect military stance. ¡°Did you hear what I just said?¡± Zheng Guoping asked with a blank expression. For someone who often flew into fits of rage, a blank expression could sometimes be the most terrifying. Shi Gaofeng knew this all too well. He corrected his posture and answered loudly, ¡°Yes, I heard! Cleaning toilets for a month, I promise to make them spotless so that when people use them, it feels like they¡¯re in their own home!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Zheng Guoping ignored him and turned to give today¡¯s instructions: ¡°You¡¯ve finished the first phase of training. Now, you¡¯ll train to simplify your pet beasts¡¯ skills.¡± Simplify? Qiao Sang blinked in confusion. Zheng Guoping continued, ¡°Sometimes, in pet beast battles, it¡¯s not about being as aggressive as possible. You have to focus on strategy. When competing against a similarly skilled beastmaster, the real competition is in tactics.¡± ¡°The goal of this training is to mislead your opponent, making it hard for them to discern your strengths and weaknesses.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving you all one week. Each of you needs to train your pet beast¡¯s strongest attack skill to the point where you can freely adjust its power level.¡± Qiao Sang immediately thought of her battle with the Scale Control Doll during the Bai Xin Competition. The Scale Control Doll had reduced its psychic power from the Grandmaster level to a lower level of mastery, which was why she had even bothered to resist at first. Situations like this were quite common in pet beast competitions. As long as it didn¡¯t violate the rules, competitors were allowed to do whatever they could. Some beastmasters would even use trash talk to break their opponent¡¯s concentration. There was even a published book called The Art of Trash Talk, and it sold pretty well. Others had their pet beasts feign severe injuries, only to deliver a deadly blow when the opponent let their guard down. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All of these were considered tactics. What Zheng Guoping was talking about now was also a form of strategy, hiding one¡¯s true power. When all pet beast levels were publicly known, the only information you could hide was related to their skills, which could be used to deceive opponents. To be honest, Qiao Sang felt she didn¡¯t need this kind of training. All the participants in the school competition were middle school students. She was confident she could crush them with pure strength, without needing tricks. But since they were all part of the same school team, she couldn¡¯t skip the training when everyone else was doing it. When free training time came, Qiao Sang pulled Yabao aside and said, ¡°Let¡¯s try reducing the power of Fire Fang by one level.¡± Yabao¡¯s most powerful attack skill was Meteor Rain, but it was still at the beginner level, leaving no room to lower it. They could only practice Fire Fang, which was currently Yabao¡¯s second-strongest attack. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded. In the next moment, two scythe-like flames, full of terrifying energy, appeared around Yabao¡¯s sharp fangs. Failed... Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. The difference between a Grandmaster-level Fire Fang and a Master-level Fire Fang was significant. The latter merely covered the fangs with flames, while the former even altered the skill¡¯s form. Upon closer consideration, it seemed she had never heard of a skill that, after undergoing a form change due to increased proficiency, could revert its form by lowering energy output. When in doubt, ask the teacher... Qiao Sang quickly gave up thinking and took Yabao over to Zheng Guoping to ask for clarification. Zheng Guoping was stunned for a long time. ¡°You¡¯re saying your Flame Hound¡¯s Fire Fang has changed form, and you don¡¯t know how to revert it?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Zheng Guoping took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the shock and urge to curse as he replied in a calm tone, ¡°Show me the Flame Hound¡¯s Fire Fang.¡± For Fire Fang to change form, it had to reach at least the Grandmaster level of proficiency. A 15-year-old¡¯s pet beast reaching that level? Ridiculous! ¡°Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at her pet. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao instantly understood his beastmaster¡¯s intent. He quickly gathered energy, forming two scythe-shaped flames. The ferocious crimson flames nearly blinded Zheng Guoping. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Teacher, what should I do now?¡± Zheng Guoping was completely dumbfounded. It really was a Grandmaster-level Fire Fang... The only time his pet beast had reached the Grandmaster level with a skill was when his son had just turned one year old... Zheng Guoping¡¯s mind drifted. How old was Qiao Sang again...? ¡°Teacher? Mr. Zheng?¡± Qiao Sang called out twice. Zheng Guoping snapped back to reality, finally regaining his voice after a long pause. ¡°You don¡¯t need to practice anymore. Once a skill¡¯s form changes, it generally can¡¯t revert.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. ¡°Then what should I do now?¡± Zheng Guoping remained silent for a few seconds before saying, ¡°How about you take a break?¡± Qiao Sang: ??? --- 6:16 PM. Tianjing Gardens, Room 1075. Qiao Sang looked at Yabao and said, ¡°From now on, take some time every day to practice teleportation with Little Treasure. I believe you¡¯ll learn it quickly.¡± Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t worried at all about whether Yabao could learn teleportation. If it could master the advanced skill Meteor Rain, there was no way it couldn¡¯t learn teleportation. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao was full of confidence too. In the next second, Yabao tilted his head. ¡°Yap?¡± Teleportation? What¡¯s that? Qiao Sang: ... You don¡¯t even know what teleportation is, where does all this confidence come from! Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure and said, ¡°Show him.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded mischievously, and then he disappeared from thin air, reappearing on the ceiling. After disappearing again, he showed up on the couch. ¡°That¡¯s teleportation.¡± Qiao Sang explained in simple terms. ¡°Remember when you battled the Scale Control Doll, and it kept disappearing and reappearing? That was because of teleportation.¡± ¡°If you learn it, you can do the same.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s expression instantly turned serious. In fact, Yabao already understood the function of teleportation the moment Little Treasure performed it. But his beastmaster¡¯s explanation only strengthened his resolve to master it. Qiao Sang felt very pleased. Yabao had never caused her any worries when it came to training. ¡°Little Treasure, I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± Qiao Sang said, turning to Little Treasure. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure puffed out his chest, signaling that the task was in capable hands. --- Qiao Sang returned to her room to read. Even though she wanted to gain entrance to an elite university by winning the National Campus Beast Mastery League, she still needed to study. After all, she was confident about winning, but... just in case... To be safe, she needed a backup plan. Academic scores couldn¡¯t be neglected. After half an hour of reading, Qiao Sang got up and went to the living room to check on Yabao¡¯s progress. As soon as she entered the living room, the sight that greeted her was Yabao gritting his teeth, his limbs straining, and his face twisted in concentration. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure was cheering on from the side. Qiao Sang¡¯s right eyelid twitched, she had a bad feeling. Little Treasure couldn¡¯t possibly be teaching Yabao how to release gas, could he? Qiao Sang took a deep breath and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°What are you two doing?¡± "Yap!" Yabao grunted with effort. He was almost there! "Xun xun~" Little Treasure floated over to his Beast Master, eager to take credit. ...Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but rub her forehead, exasperated. ¡°Yabao, stop for a moment.¡± "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s limbs trembled slightly. He was so close! Qiao Sang: ... That sounded suspiciously like he was saying, I¡¯m about to fart¡­ "Xun xun?" Little Treasure blinked his eyes, confusion all over his face. Weren¡¯t they practicing teleportation? He was almost there! Why stop? Don¡¯t get mad, don¡¯t get mad¡­ they¡¯re just kids, they don¡¯t know any better¡­ Qiao Sang silently repeated to herself. Raising her head, she spoke with heartfelt patience: ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before that you didn¡¯t learn teleportation by farting? And even after trying, it has nothing to do with that.¡± ¡°Just teach Yabao how to feel the energy in his body and use it for teleportation.¡± "Xun..." Little Treasure tilted his head. But that was exactly how he learned to teleport... She realized her mistake. She never should¡¯ve let Little Treasure teach Yabao teleportation. After all, it¡¯s only a month old, what could it possibly know? The whole teleportation idea might need to be shelved for now... Qiao Sang reflected deeply on her decision. ¡°We¡¯ll leave teleportation for later, for now, you guys-¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s voice abruptly cut off. She stared as Yabao suddenly disappeared from sight, reappearing next to the mirror. Her entire body went rigid, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time: ¡°Ya... Ya...¡± "Yap!" Yabao excitedly shouted. In the next second, he appeared right in front of Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang: !!! ------ ----- Chapter 181: Crowned Meow To be fair, even when Yabao first learned Meteor Rain, she wasn¡¯t this shocked. At least Yabao learned Meteor Rain through proper training, but farting and teleportation¡­ Qiao Sang was bewildered. Could farting really lead to teleportation? As much as she didn¡¯t want to believe it, the facts were right in front of her. Her knowledge was definitely too limited. After reaching this conclusion, Qiao Sang left Yabao and Little Treasure, who were playing tag with teleportation, and went back to her room. She opened her computer, ready to discuss this matter seriously with netizens. This time, she didn¡¯t start a thread but directly searched the keyword teleportation and clicked into a trending post. #I¡¯ve spent nearly 800,000 yuan on my Crowned Meow, but it still hasn¡¯t learned teleportation. The training center says my Crowned Meow has poor aptitude, so it¡¯s learning slowly. Does anyone have other suggestions?# The post was made by someone with the ID Clear Skies When School Collapses. This person seemed to be a regular on the forum, with a high level, and their post had attracted a lot of replies. [Fatty: That''s normal. Keep spending another 200,000, and it should be fine. My Bubbles Bell cost almost a million before it learned.] [Righteousness: As a successful beast trainer who taught teleportation, I must say choosing the right training center is crucial. I highly recommend Yuqi Beast Training Center. Mention my name for a 20% discount. Message me if you''re interested.] [One Cut: Mine learned it after just 300,000.] [Unique Beauty: For a beast to learn teleportation, it first needs to learn how to mark coordinates in its mind.] [Working Hard: I think you should focus on enhancing the beast''s energy. If a psychic-type beast has enough energy, it will have enough power to distort space, pulling two points in the three-dimensional space closer. If the energy is strong enough to make the points overlap, the beast can then teleport between them.] [Fatty: What you¡¯re describing sounds like spatial movement. How¡¯s that related to teleportation?] [Unique Beauty: If you can master spatial movement, won''t teleportation come naturally?] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Clear Skies When School Collapses: Can we focus on practical solutions rather than theory?] Seeing the poster¡¯s latest question, Qiao Sang started typing. [GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain: You can try farting.] She paused, realizing something was off, deleted it, and retyped. [GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain: You could have your Crowned Meow try farting.] After sending it, Qiao Sang felt it was too crude and deleted it again. [GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain: You could try having your Crowned Meow practice intestinal movements.] Someone quickly noticed her comment. [Fatty: Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see what you deleted. OP, someone on the 233rd floor suggested farting.] [Righteousness: This is a serious discussion thread. Can you refrain from making malicious suggestions?] [Working Hard: The person on the 233rd floor must not be a beast trainer; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t say something so ridiculous.] It seemed like everyone¡¯s knowledge was lacking too¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly felt like the only one awake among a crowd of fools. But the internet was a place for sharing and exchanging information, and participating in forum discussions was a way to broaden her knowledge. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind sharing her insights on how her own beast learned teleportation. The real reason, though, was that if she didn¡¯t talk about it, it would feel uncomfortable... Like how some people just can¡¯t keep gossip to themselves, no matter how hard they try. Qiao Sang always considered herself someone who could keep things under wraps. But this time, for some reason, she felt an urge to let others know. Qiao Sang started typing. [GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain: My beast learned teleportation through intestinal movement training. It¡¯s free, so the OP might as well give it a try.] --- Gubei Mansion. One of the top three most expensive estates in Hanggang City. The facilities and services, both hardware and software, were impeccable. By a private pool, a young man in just his swimming trunks lay on a recliner, staring at his laptop in deep thought. He glanced at the latest comments on the forum, then looked at his Crowned Meow, which was elegantly lying on the next recliner, wearing sunglasses and sipping a cold drink. After repeating this several times, the Crowned Meow finally took off its sunglasses and looked back at him with an elegant expression. ¡°Crown?¡± The young man pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°So, I saw a method online for learning teleportation. Want to give it a try?¡± ¡°Crown.¡± The Crowned Meow nodded gracefully, signaling him to continue. The young man, thrilled that the Crowned Meow agreed, explained, ¡°It¡¯s really simple just practice farting. You don¡¯t even have to put in extra effort. I¡¯ll just ask Aunt Zhou to add some food that promotes intestinal movement to your energy meals.¡± The Crowned Meow¡¯s expression stiffened, and it put the sunglasses back on. The young man didn¡¯t notice anything wrong and continued talking to himself: ¡°We¡¯ll work a little harder for now, go to the training center, practice farting. Once you master teleportation and qualify for the National Campus Beast Mastery League, my allowance will double.¡± ¡°Crown, my future depends on you!¡± ¡°Crown.¡± --- After reading a book for a while, Qiao Sang checked the forum again and suddenly noticed several new private messages. She opened them. They were all from the user Clear Skies When School Collapses. [This is all your fault! What kind of stupid advice was that? Now my Crowned Meow has run away from home!] [I never should¡¯ve trusted you!] [I¡¯ve asked around, and no one has learned teleportation through intestinal movements!] [You¡¯re getting reported for this!] What on earth? Who has a beast that runs away just from practicing farting? Her own Yabao and Little Treasure practiced enthusiastically¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t believe it at all. She promptly blacklisted Clear Skies When School Collapses, shut her laptop, and went back to her book. Forty minutes later, her phone buzzed. Qiao Sang picked it up and saw a new unread message. [Ms. Qiao Sang, a customer has specifically requested your Treasure-Seeking Ghost for a match. Would you like to accept?] Little Treasure? Qiao Sang paused. Ever since she signed the contract with the Beastmaster Battle Club, she¡¯d been getting requests for Yabao as a sparring partner, but they were all during school hours, so she¡¯d turned them down. This was the first time someone asked for her Little Treasure, and she happened to be free. Qiao Sang glanced at the time, 9:03 p.m. Still early. [Accept] After replying, Qiao Sang closed her book. --- At the Hongying Beastmaster Battle Club. The moment Qiao Sang walked in, the receptionist greeted her warmly, ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± This attitude was completely different from the professional smile she had last time. Do we know each other? Qiao Sang wondered. ¡°Yeah, you remember me?¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± The receptionist pointed at the tablet on the desk. ¡°It has all the sparring partners¡¯ profiles. I like to browse it in my free time.¡± Ah, that makes sense¡­ Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Which training ground is my customer at?¡± The receptionist looked around, confirmed no one was nearby, then leaned forward, lowered her voice, and whispered: ¡°Training Ground 2. But this customer is a bit different.¡± ¡°What¡¯s different?¡± Qiao Sang asked, curious. ¡°This time, the customer isn¡¯t human.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? ¡°The customer is a Crowned Meow. Its beastmaster didn¡¯t come with it.¡± The receptionist added. Qiao Sang was taken aback. A Crowned Meow, a psychic-type beast, a noble among cat-like creatures. And its beastmaster had the nerve to send it over alone. They must be quite confident. Chapter 182: Come Here If You Dare Although the world of beast tamers looks peaceful on the surface, wherever there are people, there are shadows. Before pet beasts became widespread, there were only human traffickers. But after the beast-taming society developed, a new profession emerged: Beast traffickers. Those in this line of work are usually ordinary people or low-level beast tamers. They don''t dare venture into secret realms to capture pet beasts, nor do they target evolved pet beasts. Even a pet beast that has evolved once is usually too large, and if a mid-level pet beast senses something amiss, any random skill they use could cause a huge commotion. More importantly, even if these traffickers succeed, if the beast tamer of the mid-level pet beast is above E-level, the danger factor skyrockets. Forcing a pet beast to break a contract is something they simply can''t accomplish. Thus, their targets are always small, easily deceived low-level pet beasts. Of course, cases of beast trafficking are rare, and every time one occurs, it makes the news. After all, there aren''t many people involved in this trade nowadays. The last reported case of beast trafficking was three months ago. According to the trafficker''s confession, he had staked out a training center for a month before finally targeting a lone fluffball pet beast that wasn¡¯t escorted by its tamer. He spent a fortune on fragrant fruits that are highly attractive to grass-type pet beasts, and, as expected, the fluffball grew close to him. Eventually, using the lure of more fragrant fruits, he managed to coax the fluffball onto an unregistered long-distance hacker vehicle. Due to the contract, a beast tamer would sense any unusual changes in their pet beast, so the trafficker had to keep the fluffball well-fed and content before the vehicle left the area. Then, that very evening, a flash of white light occurred, and the fluffball evolved into a sweet flower puff. But that wasn¡¯t the end of it. One minute later, as the sweet flower puff was eating the expensive fragrant fruit the trafficker had bought on loan, it suddenly vanished from the vehicle. The trafficker was left dumbfounded. He was only arrested later, learning that the fluffball''s owner was a B-level beast tamer, and the fluffball was the fifth pet beast in their contract. No matter where the fluffball wandered, as long as it remained in the area, the beast tamer could summon it back using their B-level beast tome. Additionally, the now-evolved sweet flower puff had reported the trafficker¡¯s existence in detail. Upon learning the truth, the trafficker broke down in tears and swore to turn over a new leaf, promising never to engage in such activities again. After this story made the news, many beast traffickers retired from the trade. Already a rare occurrence, pet trafficking cases stopped happening altogether for several months. But Qiao Sang remained cautious. After all, it wasn¡¯t that beast trafficking no longer existed, only that fewer people engaged in it. A small, valuable beginner pet beast like Crowned Cat, walking around the streets, exuding the aura of Alliance coins, could easily catch someone¡¯s eye. "The tamer of Crowned Cat must be quite bold..." Qiao Sang sighed internally before asking, "Why is it specifically seeking out my Treasure-Seeking Ghost?" "I recommended it." The receptionist answered. "It wanted a beginner pet beast that could teleport as a sparring partner. Currently, only your Treasure-Seeking Ghost meets that condition in our club." --- After gathering all the information about Crowned Cat, Qiao Sang entered Training Room 2. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, sitting in the front row of the spectator seats, wearing a sunhat and sunglasses, was a pet beast gracefully eating the club''s complimentary fruit. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. If she hadn''t known beforehand that this was Crowned Cat, she wouldn''t have recognized it with the hat and sunglasses. "Crown?" Crowned Cat turned its head at the sound, tilting it gracefully. After a brief silence, Qiao Sang said, "Little Treasure, translate for me." "Xun~" Little Treasure appeared, translating in real-time. It didn¡¯t say much, just introducing itself. After confirming that Little Treasure could teleport, Crowned Cat pulled a phone from the bag beside it with its paw, turned on the camera, and aimed it at the training grounds. Then, it removed the sunhat and sunglasses and gracefully walked to one side of the field. Wow, it''s even recording... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but feel a deep respect for Crowned Cat''s tamer. In a way, training a pet beast to this level wasn''t easy. Qiao Sang then focused on Crowned Cat, now fully revealed. A large head, short limbs, a body covered in white fur, and purple eyes. Its small paws and ears were also purple. Combined with its graceful curves, a purple hook-shaped tail, and the purple crown on its forehead, the overall impression was just two words: Elegance. "Crown." Crowned Cat called out gracefully, signaling the start. "Little Treasure, go ahead." Qiao Sang nodded at Little Treasure. "Xun~" Little Treasure floated into the training field, disappearing from sight. Qiao Sang watched Crowned Cat intently, not daring to be careless. This battle was different from usual; without a beast tamer on the side to give commands, she couldn''t react based on the opponent¡¯s orders. And as the sparring partner, she also had to provide advice during the fight. Crowned Cat didn''t panic when Little Treasure vanished. It stepped forward with its right paw, releasing a blue energy shield that expanded outwards, stopping at a radius of about 50 centimeters. Qiao Sang paused, recognizing the move as a Mystic Guard, a defensive skill that envelops the user in a magical shield, protecting them from abnormal statuses. It looked useful, but its fatal flaw was that it couldn''t block abnormal statuses caused by special traits. In short, for an opponent like Little Treasure, with its ability to phase through, this technique was useless. After completing the Mystic Guard, Crowned Cat raised its head elegantly, as if saying: Come here if you dare. "Xun..." Little Treasure reappeared, curiously approaching the blue energy shield. He extended a small claw, poking at the glowing shield. The spot he touched rippled, and his claw passed right through. "Xun?" Ghost Seeker tilted his head in confusion. The next second, his entire body phased through the shield. Little Treasure blinked innocently at Crowned Cat. "Crown!" Startled, Crowned Cat''s fur bristled, losing all its grace. It had clearly never encountered anything like this before. Now it was Qiao Sang''s turn to step in. She cleared her throat and explained: "Your Mystic Guard can block interference skills, but it''s ineffective against fast or specially-abled opponents." "If Little Treasure had teleported close to you and launched an attack, you wouldn¡¯t have even had time to release your shield before taking damage." "Crown..." Crowned Cat stared blankly at Qiao Sang. Seizing the moment, Little Treasure stuck out his tongue, ready to lick Crowned Cat. Just 0.05 centimeters away, Crowned Cat leaped back and raised its right paw, signaling for a time-out. "Crown!" Chapter 183: Somethings Not Right with This Plott! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Little Treasure stuck out his tongue, looking bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang asked, confused by the Crowned Meow¡¯s actions. ¡°Crown, Crown.¡± Crowned Meow pointed at Little Treasure¡¯s tongue with its paw and then turned its head away in disgust. Little Treasure was suddenly struck like a bolt from the blue, quietly retracting his tongue. Although Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand what Crowned Meow was saying, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess its meaning from its actions and Little Treasure¡¯s expression. It was clearly disapproving of the "Lick" skill... As a responsible sparring partner, Qiao Sang said, ¡°If you can¡¯t overcome this, no one will care what you think during a real battle. You might even encounter skills like Stomach Acid, Sludge Wave, and others.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what the Stomach Acid skill is, do you? It¡¯s when-¡± ¡°Crown!¡± Crown Meow suddenly interrupted Qiao Sang before she could continue. It raised its right front paw, signaling a pause, and then turned its head towards the bag on the spectator bench. Its eyes glowed blue, and the bag opened, causing a stack of alliance coins to float out and land in front of Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils dilated as she stared at the stack of coins in shock for a few moments. Could this be... bribery?! ¡°Is this for me?¡± Qiao Sang asked with a complex mix of emotions. ¡°Crown.¡± Crowned Meow nodded. Qiao Sang hesitated, ¡°Just so Little Treasure won¡¯t use Lick?¡± ¡°Crown.¡± Crowned Meow nodded again. Wow, this really is a bribe! My first time being bribed, and it¡¯s by a pet... Qiao Sang worked hard to look away from the coins, standing tall and righteous as she said: ¡°Take the money back. I¡¯m your sparring partner, and you¡¯ve already paid for this session. Your goal here should be self-improvement, not avoiding challenges.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than the bag opened again, and another stack of coins flew out in front of her. Qiao Sang: !!! What kind of divine pet is this... Qiao Sang said with difficulty, ¡°Just take the money away. I¡¯ll make sure Little Treasure doesn¡¯t use Lick.¡± She feared that if she didn¡¯t agree soon, Crowned Meow might throw even more money at her. If this money had been given by Crowned Meow¡¯s beast master, she would have agreed without hesitation, people eager to hand over money aren¡¯t common, after all. But this money came from Crowned Meow, and it clearly belonged to its beast master. If the beast master found out, there would undoubtedly be a heated discussion. It¡¯d be like a mischievous child spending their parents¡¯ money on a pile of game cards at a corner shop. Not only would the shopkeeper get scolded by the kid¡¯s parents, but the incident might even make the news. Besides, at least the corner shop gave the kid something, she had nothing to offer Crowned Meow. ¡°Crown.¡± Seeing Qiao Sang agree, Crowned Meow nodded, used its psychic power to return the money to the bag, and signaled the battle to continue. Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief and turned to Little Treasure. ¡°Let¡¯s skip using Lick for now.¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure pouted, still reeling from the blow. Was his tongue really that disgusting? If it wasn¡¯t disgusting, why use it as a skill in the first place¡­ Qiao Sang answered in her mind, but aloud she said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you play with the virtual helmet when we get back.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure''s spirits lifted instantly, and he looked at Crowned Meow with renewed determination. Qiao Sang: ... It seemed her previous suspicion was right. Not only was Little Treasure addicted, but he was still thinking about it... Crowned Meow, seeing Little Treasure¡¯s gaze fixed on it, wasted no time. Its eyes glowed blue. Little Treasure, who also possessed psychic abilities, was all too familiar with this move. He vanished from his spot. ¡°Crown.¡± Crowned Meow lost sight of its target and began scanning the surroundings cautiously. In the next second, Little Treasure¡¯s face appeared enlarged right in front of it. ¡°Crown!¡± Crowned Meow jumped in fright, its fur standing on end, elegance shattered. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure grinned, his eyes glowing purple. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t use Hypnosis!¡± ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure''s purple glow faded as he turned his head in confusion to look at his beast master. Qiao Sang suppressed the urge to tell the truth. She couldn¡¯t very well say that Crowned Meow was too weak and that his well-mastered Hypnosis skill would knock it out for the entire hour of sparring... Just as Qiao Sang was thinking of how to respond, Crowned Meow finally realized something. It couldn¡¯t beat Little Treasure... ¡°Crown.¡± Crowned Meow called for another pause. It walked over to the phone recording the session, used its paw to delete the footage, then picked up its bag and walked gracefully over to Qiao Sang, placing the bag on the ground and pushing it forward with its paw. ¡°Crown.¡± What is this supposed to mean... Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Before she could speak, Little Treasure floated over to provide a live translation. ¡°Xun, xun.¡± ¡°Crown, Crown.¡± ¡°Xun, xun xun.¡± ¡°Crown.¡± ¡°...¡± After three minutes of Little Treasure¡¯s translations, Qiao Sang finally understood. ¡°You want to shoot a video where you beat Little Treasure, even though he can use teleportation?¡± ¡°Crown.¡± Crown Meow nodded. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Crown, Crown.¡± ¡°Xun, xun.¡± Little Treasure started translating. Qiao Sang listened silently for a moment, then asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying your beast master wants you to learn teleportation and has devised some kind of cruel training regimen?¡± ¡°Crown!¡± Crowned Meow nodded emphatically. ¡°So, you want to make a video proving you can defeat a teleporting pet without learning teleportation?¡± Qiao Sang continued. ¡°Crown!¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sorry for Crowned Meow. Some beast masters don¡¯t consider their pets'' wishes during training, and it seemed Crowned Meow¡¯s master was one of them. Crowned Meow¡¯s graceful appearance and the fact that it had come alone at night for training made Qiao Sang believe its story. ¡°Even if you show this video to your beast master, they¡¯ll still make you learn teleportation.¡± Qiao Sang pointed out the harsh reality. For psychic-type pets, teleportation was almost a must-have skill, very few beast masters would let it go. Crowned Meow¡¯s expression stiffened briefly, and then it pushed the bag forward again with its paw. ¡°Crown.¡± This time, before Little Treasure Ghost could translate, Qiao Sang said, ¡°I have a way to help you learn teleportation without it being exhausting. Want to give it a try?¡± ¡°Crown.¡± Crowned Meow hesitated for a couple of seconds before nodding. ¡°It¡¯s like learning to teleport by thinking about passing gas.¡± Qiao Sang picked up Little Treasure and added, ¡°That¡¯s how he learned teleportation.¡± ¡°Not only that, but Little Treasure taught another one of my pets teleportation in less than an hour.¡± ¡°Treasure!¡± Little Treasure Ghost raised his head proudly. Just when Qiao Sang thought Crowned Meow would be thrilled. Without a word, Crowned Meow used its psychic power to loop its bag around its neck, turned, and headed for the door. Qiao Sang was stunned. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This plot didn¡¯t make sense! Shouldn¡¯t Crowned Meow be overjoyed to hear such an easy way to learn teleportation and immediately offer tuition? Then she could righteously accept the bag of money. Why was it leaving?! Just as Crowned Meow was about to exit, it suddenly stopped. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. See? Her plot wasn¡¯t wrong. Crowned Meow turned around, its eyes glowing blue. Its sun hat, sunglasses, and phone floated up from the spectator bench, returning to their rightful places on its body. Then, without looking back, it left Training Field No. 2. Qiao Sang: ... ----- ----- Chapter 184: Missing Pet Announcement Qiao Sang was quite baffled by her first experience as a sparring partner. Fortunately, after asking the receptionist, she found out that even if the sparring session ended early, her pay wouldn¡¯t be deducted. From this, it seemed that although the Hongying Beast Combat Club wasn''t large, its system was quite humane. --- Upon returning home, the first thing Qiao Sang did was summon Yabao. "Yap!" As soon as Yabao appeared, he joyfully nuzzled his head against Qiao Sang. By now, Yabao had become accustomed to spending time inside the Beast Codex, but every time he came out, he was as excited as the first time. Qiao Sang patted Yabao''s fluffy head and casually said, "How about I take you to get your fur dyed?" "Yap yap!" Yabao immediately stepped back and shook his head vigorously. How could she suggest touching his handsome fur? "But without a new look, it''s hard for you to accompany me when I go out." Qiao Sang explained. Back when Yabao was still a Fire fang Dog, people would instinctively keep their distance when they saw him on the bus. Now, as an evolved Flame Hound, still a fire-type beast, his psychic abilities hadn¡¯t spread widely yet, but people''s attitudes had shifted 180 degrees. His popularity lasted longer than that of most newly-evolved beasts. This was not only because the Flame Hound was the latest evolution of the Fire fang Dog but also because of his striking appearance. When the other evolution of the Glittervine, the Witherthorn, had just emerged, most photos shared by netizens were taken from afar. In contrast, people were eager to take close-up selfies with the Flame Hound. Sometimes, the world of appearance-based preferences can be quite realistic. "Yal..." Yabao looked helpless. Does he really need to dye his fur? "Xun~" Just then, Little Treasure spread his paws, indicating that this wasn¡¯t a big problem, even without dyeing Yabao¡¯s fur. "Yal." Yabao turned expectantly toward Little Treasure. What could a little guy just over a month old come up with... Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows and asked, "Do you have a solution?" "Jie jie jie..." Little Treasure didn¡¯t answer immediately but instead covered his mouth, letting out a wicked laugh like a villain. There was a certain mischief to it. Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected Little Treasure to make such a sound. After laughing for a while, Little Treasure called out to his Beastmaster. "Xun xun~" He wouldn''t reveal his plan just yet, but they¡¯d see it tomorrow morning. Well, he even knew how to keep secrets now... Qiao Sang chuckled and said, "But you haven''t been able to wake up early these days." "Yap." Yabao nodded in agreement. Little Treasure¡¯s expression stiffened. "Xun..." After a brief struggle, he called out, promising that he would wake up tomorrow morning for sure. "Alright, I¡¯ll see what you''ve got tomorrow." Qiao Sang responded, though she wasn¡¯t convinced Little Treasure would come up with anything good. But she still acknowledged it. After that, she prepared to go to the bathroom to wash up before heading to bed. "Xun xun!" She had barely taken two steps when Little Treasure teleported in front of her, calling out. Qiao Sang looked at it curiously and asked, "What''s wrong?" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure hesitated for a moment, then gestured toward his head. Does she remember the game helmet she promised to let him play with? Qiao Sang: ... --- The next morning, when Qiao Sang woke up, she found Little Treasure awake. Not only that, but a black tic-tac-toe mark had been drawn on his left cheek with a marker. Yabao was staring at him curiously. At first, Qiao Sang thought Little Treasure had drawn the scar on his face for fun, until they went outside. On the way to school. Yabao walked proudly down the street, while Qiao Sang sat on his back, nearly moved to tears. She never expected happiness to arrive so suddenly! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No need to dye his fur or change his look. Nor did she have to wait for the Flame Hound¡¯s popularity to fade. Yabao could now walk openly and freely down the street. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure didn¡¯t stay invisible today. He perched on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, occasionally making fierce faces at passersby who got too close. None of the passersby dared to make eye contact and quickly hurried away. Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but reflect. Why hadn¡¯t she thought of this earlier? Though Little Treasure didn¡¯t look scary at all, the fact that he was a ghost-type beast was enough to keep people away. Most people wouldn¡¯t want to catch the attention of a ghost-type beast. Wherever a ghost-type beast appears, except for professional Beastmasters, most people prefer to avoid them. Little Treasure was quite clever... With a pleasant mood, Qiao Sang began to enjoy the surrounding scenery. Before long, a passing advertisement blimp caught her attention. Qiao Sang looked up casually. Before, she was always rushing and didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to the blimp¡¯s TV screens. But now, she could afford to look. "We interrupt with a missing pet announcement. Last night at 20:12, a Crowned Meow went missing near Gubei Residence. Female, 35 cm tall, wearing a large, wavy straw hat and black cat-shaped sunglasses. The last surveillance footage shows it carrying a cheese-colored square bag." "Its whereabouts are currently unknown. A reward of 200,000 alliance coins will be offered for accurate information, and 1 million alliance coins for its safe return. Contact Wang Yiding. Phone number..." The blimp flew away gradually. Qiao Sang, sitting on Yabao''s back, was deep in thought. After a long silence, she asked, "Little Treasure, did you see that?" "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically. He saw it! Someone nearby had sneakily taken a picture! Qiao Sang muttered, "So, I wasn¡¯t mistaken. The Crowned Meow that sparred with us yesterday was the same one just shown on the blimp..." "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head. What was his Beastmaster talking about? He didn¡¯t understand. "So, I missed out on 1 million alliance coins yesterday..." Qiao Sang murmured to herself, dazed. 1 million... 1 million! Oh my god! What did she miss yesterday?! Qiao Sang was screaming inside. She knew it was strange for a Beastmaster to be so nonchalant, letting a Crowned Meow roam freely! Turns out, it had run away on its own! Qiao Sang felt her gut twisting in regret. Her previously cheerful mood had completely vanished. Wait! Accurate information was still worth 200,000! Qiao Sang snapped out of it. She could still get 200,000! Right, the contact was Wang Yiding. What was the phone number again... Her brain kicked into overdrive, blood boiling with excitement. She didn¡¯t realize that her brain cells were unusually active, with several light spots gathering in her Beast Codex. The scene in her mind began to rewind. "...The last surveillance footage shows it carrying a cheese-colored square bag. Its whereabouts are currently unknown. A reward of 200,000 alliance coins for accurate information, 1 million alliance coins for its safe return. Contact Wang Yiding at 1390000..." Just then, her phone vibrating broke her concentration. Who the hell is calling at a time like this?! Fuming, Qiao Sang angrily answered the phone. "Who is this?" "Hello, is this Miss Qiao Sang? I¡¯m Wang Yiding. I received a tip that you sparred with a Crowned Meow last night at Hongying Beast Combat Club. "That Crowned Meow is actually my pet. It ran away from home after we had a disagreement. During the sparring, did it tell you anything? Do you know where it went afterward?" "Could you tell me? I¡¯m really worried." "Hello, Miss Qiao Sang? Are you there?" "Hello? Hello?" Chapter 185: It Cant Be That Coincidental, Right? Qiao Sang listened to the hoarse voice on the other end of the phone, silent for a long time before speaking: "Can I ask who told you this news?" "She said she''s the receptionist at the Hongying Beast Battle Club, and I think her surname is Zhou." Wang Yiding replied. "She called me two minutes ago, and she''s the one who gave me your number." So, it was her... Qiao Sang suddenly felt a pang in her heart. Two minutes. In just two short minutes, she had lost 200,000 alliance coins... "Miss Qiao Sang, my Crowned Meow has never left me before. It doesn''t even know the way. I''m really worried." Wang Yiding, noticing her silence, anxiously repeated the purpose of his call. "Did it say anything to you last night?" "It said that its Beast Master wanted it to learn teleportation and was putting it through a particularly cruel training." Although Qiao Sang was heartbroken about suddenly losing 200,000 yuan, she still kindly reminded him, "I think that''s why it ran away. When you find it, you should probably try a different training method." "I didn''t!" Wang Yiding''s voice rose, sounding aggrieved. "I only wanted it to try some intestinal exercises. I never expected it to resist so much. If I had known, I wouldn''t have suggested it!" Intestinal exercises? Qiao Sang froze for a moment, then became excited. Isn''t this the same method that Yabao and Little Treasure used to learn teleportation?! So, it wasn¡¯t just her, other people knew about this method too! Indeed, teleportation can be learned through intestinal exercise training! Qiao Sang instantly felt like she''d found a kindred spirit. Just as she was about to ask where he had heard about this method, Wang Yiding''s hoarse voice suddenly came through the phone again: "It''s all because of some jerk online! If it weren''t for him saying that his two pet beasts both learned teleportation this way, I never would''ve had my Crowned Meow try it!" Qiao Sang blinked in surprise, suddenly recalling the private messages she''d received on the forum last night. Crowned Meow, ran away, intestinal exercises, could it really be that coincidental? Qiao Sang hesitated. "Do you remember that jerk''s username?" "Of course I do!" Wang Yiding gritted his teeth. "GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain. They say that the more someone lacks, the more they want to show off. I bet this guy isn''t too bright in real life, judging by his username-" Before he could finish, Qiao Sang hung up the phone, expressionless. --- Shengshui High School. Training Ground No. 5. As soon as Qiao Sang walked in, she noticed that the pet beside Wang Yao wasn¡¯t the usual Flame Sparrow Instead, it was another pet, primarily red, with three chain-like black stripes running from the top of its head and the sides of its head down to its tail. Qiao Sang recognized it as a Fire Chain Python, an intermediate fire-type pet. Judging by the way it quietly stood in front of Wang Yao, it was easy to guess that this was her second pet. But where was the Flame Sparrow? Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t the only one wondering, Yabao was also confused. Of all the pets in the group training, the Flame Sparrow was the one he was closest to. After all, the Flame Sparrow had once given him treats that hid own Beast Master couldn¡¯t afford. Yes, even now, Yabao thought his Beast Master was very poor. Curiosity piqued, Qiao Sang walked over. Just as she approached, Wang Yao, who had been speaking to the Fire Chain Python, turned her head and noticed Little Treasure, whom she had only seen once before. Although Little Treasure followed Qiao Sang everywhere, he was usually invisible, so Wang Yao had thought Qiao Sang, like the rest of the school team, only had one pet with her while the other was in the pet training center. "Where¡¯s the Flame Sparrow?" Qiao Sang asked first. "I took it to the pet training center last night." Wang Yao replied. "We¡¯re supposed to reduce the number of powerful attacks our pets use and train them to master certain skills, but Little Flame doesn¡¯t like practicing that move, so I brought Little Chain instead." So that¡¯s how it is... Qiao Sang glanced at the quiet Fire Chain Python beside her and curiously asked, "By the way, why did you contract two fire-type pets?" Apart from families specializing in a certain attribute, it was rare for a Beast Master to contract pets of the same type. After all, having pets of different attributes meant more options for future careers or team configurations during competitions. Of course, contracting pets of the same type also had clear benefits. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the experience of raising the first pet, the following ones would grow faster than those contracted by others around the same time. Wang Yao scratched her head in embarrassment. "When Little Flame was still a Flame Bird, I bought too many materials for beginner fire-type pets. Later, when it evolved into a Flame Sparrow, I still had a ton of materials left over, so I contracted another fire-type pet to avoid wasting them." Qiao Sang: ... When it was time for free training, Yabao practiced releasing his Fire Fang skill, while Little Treasure took out materials from his ring to absorb. Qiao Sang, meanwhile, sat against the wall, scrolling through the news on her phone. Now that Yabao and Little Treasure both had clear training goals, she didn¡¯t need to worry much. In the distance, Wang Yao, Shi Gaofeng, and Xu Yajie occasionally glanced her way, full of envy. Especially Shi Gaofeng, his eyes were practically red with jealousy. He had never seen anyone dare to play on their phone right under Zheng Baolong''s nose. Qiao Sang was the first! "Meimei, you¡¯ve got to step up. I want to play on my phone out in the open too." "Meimei..." Berrythorn beast turned its back on him, not wanting to respond. He hadn''t even finished cleaning the bathroom, yet he still wanted to play on his phone... --- While Qiao Sang continued to scroll through her phone, Zheng Guoping approached with a smile. "Isn''t it tiring to train both of your pets at the same time?" Hearing his voice, Qiao Sang glanced up at him, then turned to look at Yabao, who was diligently training, and Little Treasure, who was focused on absorbing energy. She turned back with sincere eyes and said, "Not at all." Zheng Guoping¡¯s eye twitched, realizing that his polite comment had sounded ridiculous. Who asks someone if they¡¯re tired when they¡¯re clearly playing on their phone? He coughed awkwardly, then sat down next to Qiao Sang, watching Yabao as he practiced his Fire Fang. "Your Flame Hound doesn¡¯t have any defensive skills yet, does it?" "No." Qiao Sang replied. Fire-type pet skills were almost all offensive, with very few focusing on transformations. Among the offensive skills, most were special attacks, with some being physical attacks. Many of these attacks also had a chance to inflict a troublesome burn on the opponent. In a way, this indirectly increased the pet¡¯s defensive capabilities. Fire-type pets were all about violence and offense, so they rarely learned pure defensive skills. ----- T/N: Sorry I wasn''t able to update chapters. A typhoon hit the country and my area was affected with heavy rain. I only managed to sneak an update today because I have data and my phone''s fully charged after being sent to charge in a neighbor''s house that had electricity. Chapter 186: Counter Shield Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Zheng Guoping asked, "Did you watch the match between Liu Qutong and Ning Yu on the Beast Taming Channel last night?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "No, but I saw the trending topic about them." With an understanding look, Zheng Guoping said, "Indeed, their match was quite exciting. It''s no surprise they were trending, especially because of the Counter Shield used by Ning Yu''s Explosive Battle Turtle. That''s also the move I want your Flame Hound to start training on next." Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. "Counter Shield? What''s that?" She didn''t recall any fire-type beast skills with that name. Zheng Guoping was also taken aback. "It was trending, didn¡¯t you know?" "Nope. They trended because some paparazzi snapped photos of Liu Qutong and Ning Yu having dinner after the match, and they even stayed in the same hotel room for two hours." Qiao Sang replied innocently. Liu Qutong and Ning Yu were star competitors in this year''s Yuhua Region Tournament. It had been uncovered that they attended the same elementary, middle, and high schools, and many people shipped them as a couple. Zheng Guoping was dumbfounded. He thought the trending topic was about an exciting match, only to find out it was relationship gossip! Aren''t netizens a little too idle? Zheng Guoping hesitated before finally blurting out, "Did they really stay in the same room for two hours?" "Seems so." Qiao Sang nodded. "At least, that''s what the paparazzi photos showed." Zheng Guoping fell silent for a moment, then returned to the topic. "The Counter Shield is a tactical move. The beast rotates in place, so the skill isn¡¯t focused in one direction but covers a broad area, turning an offensive skill into a dual attack-defense technique." "There''s an old saying online, The best defense is a good offense. Your Flame Hound knows Fire Whirl, so it could definitely train for this move." Rotating in place? Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Teacher, Yabao doesn¡¯t have a turtle shell like the Explosive Battle Turtle. If he spins on the ground, won¡¯t his fur get worn off?" Zheng Guoping¡¯s eyelid twitched as he tried to maintain his usual tone. "Don¡¯t worry about that. Extraordinary beasts aren¡¯t that fragile. If they were, they¡¯d spend every match in the intensive care unit after taking a few hits." "It¡¯s just that Flame Hound isn¡¯t a ground-type, so training for this move might be a bit tougher." Qiao Sang seriously considered the feasibility of this technique. The difficulty wasn¡¯t an issue; she had already planned out defensive strategies. Yabao wasn¡¯t only a fire-type beast; he also had psychic abilities. While telekinesis was one of the most basic skills for psychic beasts, if Yabao mastered it to the pinnacle, he could use it to control his surroundings. Redirecting an attack back would be no problem. However, there were ways to counter telekinesis. It could be dodged, and although avoiding a maxed-out telekinetic attack was unlikely, it wasn¡¯t impossible. Also, telekinesis could be interrupted during casting, and if the opponent were significantly larger or stronger, it wouldn¡¯t be effective. So, having another defensive option might actually be a good idea¡­ --- 6:22 p.m. In the living room, Yabao and Little Treasure were watching a video together on a phone. The video was yesterday¡¯s match between Liu Qutong and Ning Yu. In it, a large pink turtle-type beast retracted its limbs and spun like a top. Circles of fiery red flames expanded outward from the spinning turtle, colliding with dozens of crescent-shaped blue wind blades coming from above. The tremendous force exploded on impact. Amidst a blaze of red, a medium-sized bird-type beast shrieked and plummeted to the ground. Sitting on the couch, Qiao Sang took a bite of her apple and commented, "It¡¯s simple, really. Just spin while releasing fire, maintaining high-speed rotation without getting dizzy." "But you''re different." Qiao Sang looked at the confused Yabao with a smile. "I realized this kind of technique can''t defend from all directions. If the opponent can burrow, it¡¯s useless." "For full coverage, we¡¯ll have to spin in the air." "Yap?" Yabao looked even more confused. How does one spin in the air? "When you¡¯re airborne with telekinesis, just focus on releasing fire while staying clear-headed. Let your clone handle the spinning." Qiao Sang explained. Besides, Yabao didn¡¯t have the ground element, so spinning at high speed on the ground might cause some injury. In the air, it¡¯s different, without friction, he could spin endlessly as long as he didn¡¯t get dizzy. As for whether Yabao could master it, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t worried at all. He learned teleportation in under an hour last night. Could this technique really be harder than learning a new skill? If other beast tamers knew her plan, they¡¯d probably riot. Letting a beast spin in mid-air controlled by its clone while staying clear-headed enough to release fire? What kind of logic is that?! Isn¡¯t the clone a skill?! Does the clone control the main body to spin? No! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The main body controls the clone to spin itself! Is this even normal?! Of course, Qiao Sang only saw this as a clever idea, and Yabao agreed. "Yap!" Understanding, Yabao nodded eagerly. A clone appeared beside him, ready to start training. "Wait!" Qiao Sang put down her apple quickly. "This is the living room!" "Yap!" Yabao nodded, indicating he understood, and turned toward the courtyard with his clone. "Hold on!" Qiao Sang stopped him again. "Not yet." "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head, puzzled. Aren¡¯t we training? While enthusiasm was good, couldn¡¯t he wait for her instructions? Qiao Sang sighed. "We¡¯ll take it step-by-step. If you get dizzy and fall from the air, then what? First, let¡¯s work on anti-dizziness training." "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up with sudden understanding. Even if his beast tamer was a bit poor, at least she was smart! "Let¡¯s start here in the living room. Don¡¯t go airborne just yet. Let your clone spin you, no fire, just pure spinning." Qiao Sang instructed. "Yap yap." Yabao nodded, setting himself up, ready for spinning. The clone¡¯s eyes glowed blue. "Xun xun!" At that moment, Little Treasure ran up to Yabao and chirped, signaling him to stop. Then, Little Treasure turned and patted his chest, looking at Qiao Sang. "Xun xun!" "You want to help Yabao spin?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun~" ----- ----- Chapter 187: Freshening Potion Qiao Sang agreed without much thought. Training alone could be dull and unengaging for pet beasts. But with two pet beasts working together, training could become fun, providing great motivation for those that struggled to stay focused. While Yabao didn¡¯t lack enthusiasm for training, Little Treasure did¡­ Lately, every time Little Treasure returned home, he would float around the virtual helmet with longing eyes, almost as desperate as a newborn craving milk. By helping Yabao train his resistance to dizziness, Little Treasure could not only improve his psychic control but also get distracted from the virtual helmet, a win-win situation. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded at Little Treasure, encouraging him to spin as hard as he could. In his mind, he envisioned himself looking much cooler than that pink pet beast in the video, especially when he struck his final pose, which he had already decided on. ¡°To start, maybe keep the speed a bit slower.¡± Qiao Sang suggested as she watched. Yabao gave a look as if to say it was no big deal. ¡°Yap yap!¡± It¡¯s just spinning in circles, how hard could it be? ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded in agreement. Just spinning in circles, surely easy for Brother Yabao. ¡°Alright, you two go ahead. Take a break if you get tired.¡± Qiao Sang then picked up her phone from the coffee table, sat on the couch, and logged into her forum account. After some hesitation, she opened the private message screen with Clear Skies When School Collapses. If the person was right and Crowned Meow ran away because it didn¡¯t want to practice fart attacks, she supposed she was 0.05% responsible. It was best to ask if Crowned Meow had come home yet, just for peace of mind. She swore it wasn¡¯t because she wanted to know if there was still hope for the one million reward. As Qiao Sang scrolled through the forum, Little Treasure looked at Yabao with excitement in his eyes. ¡°Xun!¡± Let¡¯s begin! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded. Bring it on! Little Treasure extended two stubby fingers, channeling energy within. Yabao began to spin under his psychic control. At first, the pace was slow, with Yabao looking entirely at ease. ¡°Yap.¡± After only a couple of spins, Yabao called to Little Treasure to pick up the speed. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, nodding as if this was expected, suddenly increased the energy output. A bright blue glow surged around him, even lighting up his eyes and body. ¡°YAP!¡± Yabao¡¯s vision blurred, and his mind buzzed with a whom sound, prompting an instinctive wail. Qiao Sang, startled by the cry, looked up. She saw Yabao spinning at such speed that he was now just a blur of white and red. Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°Little Treasure, maybe slow down a bit? I think Yabao¡¯s reaching his limit.¡± Little Treasure, panting heavily with trembling fingers, pushed on. As a low-level pet beast, his energy reserves were limited despite his well-practiced psychic abilities. Pushing his abilities to the extreme like this quickly drained his energy. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glimmered with confidence and trust in Yabao. It¡¯s just spinning in circles, there¡¯s no way Brother Yabao can¡¯t handle it! Indeed, Yabao could likely endure the spinning with his sheer willpower, but the speed was insane. His head was now a blur... In the end, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Yabao, isn¡¯t this too fast?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ya¡­yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s voice stretched into an echo, resonating through the living room as he spun. I¡­can¡­do it¡­ Yabao wanted to cry. How could he admit defeat when his little brother believed in him so much? Reassured, Qiao Sang resumed typing. I just saw your message, did you find Crowned Meow? After making sure the message was okay, she hit send. A large red exclamation mark appeared. Sending failed. Qiao Sang remembered she had blocked the user. She was about to unblock them. ¡°Xun!!¡± Suddenly, Little Treasure¡¯s cry startled her, making her look up again. She saw Yabao swaying, his eyes filled with dizzy stars. Three seconds later. Thud. He collapsed. Qiao Sang: ¡­! --- At 7:02 PM. Qiao Sang, with Little Treasure on her head, set off on Yabao¡¯s back to the nearest mall. Yabao trudged along, looking utterly defeated. ¡°No worries, everyone feels like this when they start. We¡¯ll get some freshening potions, so when you get dizzy, you can take one and feel better.¡± Qiao Sang consoled. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, lying weakly on her head, agreed with a soft cry. Although he hadn¡¯t used his advanced psychic ability for long, he had drained a lot of energy. Hearing Qiao Sang and Little Treasure¡¯s comforting words, Yabao¡¯s spirits lifted once more. The closest mall to Chang¡¯an Road was five kilometers away on Huanle Street. Under the neon lights, the mall looked vibrant. In the square¡¯s center near the music fountain, five Lili Ducks wearing bow ties played violins. With the music¡¯s rhythm, Water Bubble Shrimp leaped out of the fountain, spraying streams of water in varying heights. It was a bustling scene. Honestly, since that pet beast marathon, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t seen this many people in one place... To keep a low profile, she stored Yabao in the Beast codex in a quiet spot outside the square. --- Half an hour later. Qiao Sang walked out of a branded potion store on the third floor with ten bottles of freshening potions, costing her 9,900 alliance coins. Nearly ten thousand, but she wasn¡¯t worried, with seven figures in her bank account, she could afford it. On the second floor, she decided to buy three cups of milk tea to enjoy with Yabao and Little Treasure on the way back. She had just gotten in line when someone tapped her shoulder. Turning, she saw a fair-skinned girl, excitedly saying, ¡°It¡¯s really you! I thought I had the wrong person!¡± Since it hadn¡¯t been long and her memory had improved, Qiao Sang recognized her instantly as the girl who¡¯d had an argument with Shi Gaofeng outside the school gate. Ah, a social butterfly¡­ Qiao Sang kept her composure, smiling. ¡°Are you here by yourself?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m here for work.¡± The girl replied shyly. ¡°I still have a one-star review on Phantom Water Baby, so I can¡¯t take high-paying, easy tasks. For now, I can only bring it here to work as a model in a clothing store.¡± Qiao Sang nodded knowingly. Phantom Water Baby¡¯s transformation trait was popular with students and office workers, as well as with clothing stores. Some people wanted to buy clothes for friends or family who weren¡¯t with them but weren¡¯t sure of the fit. Stores with Phantom Water Baby could use a photo and the person¡¯s height and weight to transform, letting customers see options. Others felt a disconnect between their mirror reflection and reality, so having a Phantom Water Baby in-store could be essential. However, working at a clothing store was exhausting and didn¡¯t pay well, far from easy work. Chapter 188: Borrowing Some Luck However, human joys and sorrows aren¡¯t connected. While faced with the somber look on the girl¡¯s face, Qiao Sang found herself thinking: I wonder which clothing Phantom Water Baby works at? It¡¯s nearly the end of the season; I could buy a few new autumn outfits... Though Phantom Water Baby wasn¡¯t considered a particularly rare pet, it was still uncommon to see one working in a clothing store. At least, from what she remembered, she¡¯d never encountered one while shopping for clothes in physical stores. Just as Qiao Sang was about to ask, the girl spoke up. "Have you finished your summer homework yet?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "I don¡¯t have any." The girl¡¯s face lit up. "Then I can help you with it!" Qiao Sang was stunned for a couple of seconds before replying, "I¡¯m a graduating senior. I don¡¯t have summer homework." The girl: ... She had accounted for everything, except that the other person didn¡¯t have summer homework... "Is there anything you don¡¯t want to do but have to? I can help you with it." The girl insisted, undeterred. When someone offers to help for no reason, it¡¯s either a con or they have ulterior motives. Qiao Sang realized she wasn¡¯t dealing with a social butterfly; this girl clearly had a goal. Qiao Sang asked, "Why are you helping me?" "I want you to get in touch with that friend of yours." The girl replied hesitantly. "I haven¡¯t been able to reach him lately, and waiting at the school gate hasn¡¯t worked." If Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know the context, she¡¯d assume from that one line that this was a lovers¡¯ quarrel, with the guy going off-grid. "He usually stays on campus." Qiao Sang answered. "Last time was an exception because he had things to do off-campus." "No wonder..." The girl murmured. Hearing her mention Shi Gaofeng, Qiao Sang realized she hadn¡¯t given up on getting her negative review changed. But Qiao Sang knew it was futile. Shi Gaofeng had been resentful of his recent punishment of cleaning toilets, and his negative energy was palpable from a dozen meters away. "You could just talk to him for me. If you convince him to change the review, I¡¯ll let Phantom Water Baby cover for you whenever you want to skip class this semester." The girl pleaded, looking at Qiao Sang with hopeful eyes. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Ha. Did she look like someone who¡¯d go for that? What¡¯s most important to a student? Studying! She had worked so hard to get into the best high school in the city. And for what? To study hard! The idea of having Phantom Water Baby cover for her in class was something she¡¯d never even considered. And yet¡­ she couldn¡¯t deny that the thought was¡­ kind of tempting. Finally, Qiao Sang said, expressionless, "Deal." --- After exchanging contact info, the two became friendlier. Qiao Sang learned that the girl¡¯s name was Xu Jia, a senior at the Sixth Pet Mastery High School in Hanggang. Lately, she¡¯d been saving up for Phantom Water Baby¡¯s evolution materials. While chatting, Qiao Sang picked up the three cups of freshly made milk tea from the server. Her Little Treasure eagerly emerged, floating beside the milk tea, sniffing it with curiosity. The sudden appearance of the ghost instantly cleared the space around Qiao Sang. "Xun~" Little Treasure pointed at the milk tea with his tiny fingers, looking up at his master in curiosity. "It¡¯s tasty. Try it." Qiao Sang said, inserting a straw into one of the cups and offering it to her little ghost. "Xun..." After a moment of hesitation, the ghost took a sip. "Xun!" Watching the ghost¡¯s delighted expression, Xu Jia finally felt brave enough to return to Qiao Sang¡¯s side. "Wow, students at Shengshui High are something else. No one in our school has a ghost-type pet." Xu Jia remarked in admiration. "Ghost-type pets are actually quite nice." Qiao Sang replied, watching her Little Treasure with a smile as he happily sipped his milk tea. "So, are you here today for the Green Red Fruit?" Xu Jia asked suddenly. Qiao Sang shook her head. "No. Why do you ask?" The Green Red Fruit is a highly valued item among ghost-type pets who possess the Will-o¡¯-Wisp skill. But it had nothing to do with her Little Treasure. Even if her ghost eventually learned Will-o¡¯-Wisp, he would still need a special ring to channel the energy. If the ring¡¯s energy ran out, the wisp would disappear. Since he didn¡¯t use his own energy, the Green Red Fruit held no appeal for her ghost. "I thought maybe you saw the news." Xu Jia explained. "There was a secret realm rift here not long ago, just outside the mall at the music fountain. A few ghost-type pets emerged from it." "There was even this passerby¡­ I don¡¯t know if he was running a cult or what, but he somehow traded a Green Red Fruit for a snack with one of the ghosts. The next day, he bought a new car." "Once the word got out, this place became a hotspot. Tons of people started coming here, hoping to get lucky and score a wild, gullible pet." Qiao Sang stood there, dumbfounded. A little ghost? Could it be the one she¡¯d encountered...? Then again, maybe it wasn¡¯t impossible. That little ghost didn¡¯t seem all that bright. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have believed that nonsense about clearing the labyrinth to meet Mihiram and make a wish. Still, if that were the case, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little bitter. Other people met the ghost and scored a car, while she almost ended up in the hospital? To comfort herself, Qiao Sang came to a conclusion. There was no way those two little ghosts were the same! --- After bidding Xu Jia farewell, Qiao Sang left the mall and headed toward the music fountain in the square. She hadn¡¯t noticed earlier, but now she saw that seven out of every ten vendors were selling hot dogs. After a couple of seconds¡¯ hesitation, Qiao Sang approached the nearest vendor. "Four hot dogs, please." "Got it! Twelve alliance coins total." The vendor handed her four hot dogs. "You here for the hotspot too? Just walk about ten meters up; you¡¯ll see the spot. I was there myself back then." Qiao Sang paused. "Thanks." Holding three hot dogs and two cups of milk tea, Qiao Sang went to the spot the vendor had pointed out. Her Little Treasure was by her side, clutching a milk tea in one claw and a hot dog in the other, blissfully alternating bites. As she watched the five Lili Ducks playing violins nearby, surrounded by tourists snapping photos, Qiao Sang suddenly felt a bit foolish. The secret realm rift was already gone; how was she supposed to run into a wild, not-so-bright pet? Maybe she¡¯d spent too much time with Yabao and caught some of his foolishness... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as she was about to turn and leave, something in her peripheral vision made her freeze. Big head, short limbs, a purple hook-shaped tail, and a purple crown on its forehead, was that a¡­ Crowned Meow? No, wait... Qiao Sang quickly calmed down. This Crowned Meow wasn¡¯t wearing a sunhat, sunglasses, or a bag. Plus, it had a person beside it, seemingly very close. It must be its pet master. Chapter 189: Jackpot Unexpectedly, she encountered two rare pet beasts within such a short time, ones that were usually hard to come by. She wondered if the lost Crowned Meow had been found yet... "Let''s head back." Qiao Sang decided, turning to Little Treasure. With his mouth full, the little ghost couldn''t speak and instead looked at his trainer with a pitiful expression. "Do you want to play a bit longer?" Qiao Sang asked. The little ghost nodded vigorously. "Alright, let''s stay a bit more." Qiao Sang checked her phone. It was only 8:34 PM, and for many, the night was just beginning. "Xun~" Little Treasure swallowed the hotdog he was eating and happily floated around his trainer in a circle. Then, sipping on milk tea, he started to sway his hips to the beat of the music. Watching the surprisingly rhythmic little ghost, Qiao Sang praised, "Nice moves!" "Xun~" The little ghost swayed even more enthusiastically. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Constant training could be monotonous; it felt nice to relax occasionally. But if anyone had the toughest training, it had to be Yabao. Maybe she should summon Yabao for a break too¡­ Just as she hesitated, a young father nearby crouched down, showing his phone to his daughter, and asked softly, "Do you think it looks like this Crowned Meow?" The little girl, around five or six with a short bob, looked at the saved photo on the phone, then at the Crowned Meow ahead, and exclaimed loudly, "It does!" The young father quickly covered her mouth in a panic. Once he confirmed no one was paying attention, he sighed in relief and then grinned with restrained excitement, "It''s a good thing you insisted on coming out tonight. Our family is about to strike it rich!" "Why?" The little girl asked. "I¡¯ll explain at home." He whispered, ruffling her hair. "Dad¡¯s got something big to do. Things might get a little chaotic, so stay put, okay? If you listen, I''ll buy you that Fire Fang Dog model you like." The little girl¡¯s big eyes blinked. "I want a Flame Hound." "Deal!" The father agreed without hesitation. Once he rescued the Crowned Meow, forget a model, he could buy her a real Fire Fang Dog and have it evolve into a Flame Hound! His gaze locked onto the Crowned Meow watching a violin performance up ahead, eyes determined. Providing information was worth 200,000; escorting it home, a million. Anyone could see the better option. He made hand signs, indulging his inner nerd even as a dad. "Desert Tail Fox, it¡¯s time to uphold justice!" Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, after some thought, summoned Yabao. From the gray star formation emerged a striking red-and-white figure that immediately drew the attention of most people around. "Mom, what kind of pet beast is that?" "I think it¡¯s called a Flame¡­" "Flame Hound." Someone nearby completed. "Right, a Flame Hound!" "It really is a Flame Hound! I think there¡¯s only one in Hanggang right now." "I saw it! The girl with the ponytail beside it must be its trainer. Should we go take a picture?" "Uh¡­wait! Isn¡¯t that a Treasure-Seeking ghost next to it?!" "Maybe we shouldn¡¯t¡­" "Yap!" Upon appearing, Yabao gave a lively bark. He quickly noticed the crowd watching him and raised his head proudly, adjusting his posture. "Yabao, I got milk tea and hotdog for you. Let¡¯s see if you like them." Qiao Sang said, inserting a straw into the milk tea. "Yap yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded, momentarily forgetting about his image as he half-sat on the ground in joy. "Xun~" Little Treasure treasure held up the bamboo stick from his finished hotdog, signaling his desire for more. "There¡¯s plenty for everyone." Qiao Sang said, handing treats to both of them with a smile. Just then, a young voice chimed in. "Big sister, is that Flame Hound yours?" Qiao Sang looked over to see a little girl, around five or six, staring up at her. "Yes." She replied. The little girl beamed. "Can I pet it?" Qiao Sang looked at Yabao, silently asking. "Yap." Yabao understood and nodded. "He says yes." Qiao Sang told the girl with a smile. The little girl gently extended her small, soft hand, patting Yabao with satisfaction. Noticing the girl had no adults with her, Qiao Sang asked, "Where are your parents?" "My mom¡¯s playing mahjong, and my dad¡¯s off doing something important." The little girl replied. Qiao Sang raised a brow. "Who brought you here, then?" "My dad." The girl said. Qiao Sang paused. "What important thing is your dad doing?" The little girl pointed to a tall man arguing with another person not far off, explaining everything she knew in one go: "That¡¯s my dad. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, but he said we¡¯re going to be rich and that he¡¯ll buy me a Flame Hound model when we get home." Qiao Sang stared at the direction the girl pointed, her mind racing as realization dawned. Impossible. Absolutely impossible! There¡¯s no way that Crowned Meow could be the lost one! She couldn''t be this unlucky, missing out on 200,000 first, then a million right after¡­ Unwilling to accept it, she listened carefully to the conversation. Thankfully, their argument was loud, and people around had gone quiet to watch, leaving only the violin music as background. "Are you crazy?!" "No, you¡¯re the crazy one!" "Why¡¯d you have Desert Tail Fox attack me for no reason?" "You¡¯re a beast trafficker! You kidnapped someone else¡¯s Crowned Meow and still act so arrogantly! I just called the police; you¡¯re going to jail!" "Are you insane?! Open your damn eyes! This is an Iron Paw Cat, not a Crowned Meow!" "Tie Tie¡­" The Iron Paw Cat beside him nodded in agreement. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The young father stood frozen in shock at the sound of the Crowned Meow¡¯s meow. After a long pause, he finally found his voice. "You-you¡¯re talking nonsense! An Iron Paw Cat doesn¡¯t look like this." "Ever heard of cosplay? You can¡¯t even tell an Iron Paw Cat from a Crowned Meow, yet you call yourself a hero. What a joke!" "¡­" So it wasn¡¯t a Crowned Meow after all. Qiao Sang¡¯s spirits lifted, and a smile spread across her face. Iron Paw Cats and Crowned Meow looked similar enough that, with the right costume, they could be easily confused. During the day, subtle differences might be apparent, but at night, if you didn¡¯t look closely, they¡¯d be hard to distinguish. "Big sister, there¡¯s a pet beast over there looking at us. Do you know it?" The little girl suddenly asked, pointing. Qiao Sang looked in the direction and reflexively shook her head. "Not¡­ wait, no way!" A huge head, short limbs, a hooked tail, it might look like an Iron Paw Cat, but the bag around its neck was the exact one from last night¡¯s Crowned Meow! The little girl, seeing Qiao Sang¡¯s stunned expression, called, "Big sister?" "Jackpot¡­" Qiao Sang murmured. Little girl: ??? Chapter 190: Black Satin Under the night sky, with the stirring sound of a violin playing in the background, Qiao Sang and Crowned Meow locked eyes, as if brought together by fate. The next second¡­ Crowned Meow flicked its tail and walked away. Qiao Sang: !!! "Yabao! After it!" Qiao Sang leapt forward in style, landing gracefully on Yabao¡¯s back. "Yap!" Yabao instinctively prepared to dash forward at his Beast Master''s command, but just as he lifted his front left paw, he seemed to reconsider and pulled back. "Yap?" Who were they chasing again? Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s that short-legged creature up ahead with the bag!¡± Qiao Sang pointed to the spot where Crowned Meow was almost out of sight, walking elegantly. "Yap!" Yabao barked, signaling he had locked onto the target. He crouched low, his right hind leg digging into the ground twice. Little Treasure, realizing what was happening, quickly floated to the top of Qiao Sang¡¯s head, holding an unfinished hotdog in one paw and clutching her hair tightly with the other. "Xun Xun!" The moment Little Treasure braced himself, Yabao vanished in a flash, leaving only a bewildered little girl standing alone in the wind. When her young father found her, she was standing still, staring off into the distance. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to wander? How did you end up here?¡± He asked in a raspy voice, ruffling her hair. The girl snapped back to reality and looked up, smiling. ¡°Dad, I just saw a Flame Hound!¡± Thinking of his recent encounter, the father twitched his mouth. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t mistake it for something else?¡± The girl protested, ¡°Of course not! I even touched it!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Her father took her little hand, saying, ¡°Then let¡¯s go home and tell Mom.¡± In the square, the figures of father and daughter, one big and one small, slowly faded into the distance. ¡°Dad, when I grow up, I want to be a Beast Master too!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make a pact with a Fire Fang Dog and evolve it into a Flame Hound!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Dad, are you done with your big project?¡± ¡°¡­" "Can we go buy a Flame Hound model now?" ¡°¡­" --- In the night breeze, Crowned Meow ran ahead while Yabao chased after it. In terms of speed, Yabao should have caught up quickly. But Crowned Meow was small, nimble, and kept darting into tight spaces with obstacles, making it difficult for the slightly larger Yabao to keep up, even after five minutes of chasing. Sitting on Yabao''s back, Qiao Sang felt a rush of adrenaline from the speed and a slight ache in her scalp. She''d thought about letting Yabao use a skill to catch up, maybe his telekinesis could hold the target in place. But once Yabao used telekinesis, his speed dropped, and his accuracy was off. Qiao Sang realized that using skills required focus and energy, which was hard to maintain while running. Physical attack skills were fine, as they involved the body directly, but special skills were a different story. This was why in battles, Beast Masters often had their pets stand still to unleash special attacks. Using teleportation was also out of the question. Yabao¡¯s teleportation was only beginner-level and couldn¡¯t carry someone along. If she tried, she¡¯d end up kissing the ground. Fortunately, she had more than one pet. Seeing Crowned Meow duck into an alley, Qiao Sang immediately commanded, ¡°Little Treasure, block it off!¡± "Xun!" Little Treasure vanished from Qiao Sang''s head, still clutching the half-eaten hotdog. Feeling the weight lift from her head, Qiao Sang¡¯s mood lightened. Arriving at the alley entrance, she saw Crowned Meow, dressed up as a Iron Paw Cat, blocked by Little Treasure. Her mood lifted even more. ¡°Go on, keep running.¡± Qiao Sang grinned, delivering a classic villain line. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Yabao grinned, mimicking Qiao Sang¡¯s expression. Meanwhile, Little Treasure took a bite of his hotdog.¡­ "Crown...¡± Crowned Meow, trapped, reluctantly took the bag hanging around its neck and held it out. Qiao Sang paused, unable to resist saying, ¡°If anyone saw this, they¡¯d think I was mugging you.¡± ¡°Crown?¡± Crowned Meow blinked. Isn¡¯t that the case? Qiao Sang ignored its confused look and continued, ¡°You were walking just fine earlier, why did you suddenly start running?¡± ¡°Crown¡­¡± Crowned Meow pouted. If she hadn¡¯t chased it, would it have run? ¡°Come with me. Your Beast Master is looking for you. I''ll take you back.¡± ¡°Crown¡­¡± Crowned Meow hesitated but eventually shook its head. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t understand its words but got the gist from its actions. ¡°Why? Just because we made you practice that fart trick?¡± Qiao Sang asked. At the mention, Crowned Meow looked aggrieved. ¡°Crown! Crown!¡± Crowned Meow protested. Qiao Sang was silent for a moment, then said, ¡°Yabao, translate.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± "Yap Yap." Yabao translated earnestly. Meanwhile, Crowned Meow noticed Little Treasure nearby, still focused on his hotdog. An idea flashed in its eyes. Crowned Meow tossed its bag to Qiao Sang, then turned to look at Little Treasure. With a flash of blue light in its eyes, it yanked the hotdog from Little Treasure''s grip. ¡°Xun!¡± Startled, Little Treasure quickly used his telekinesis, stopping the hotdog just a centimeter from the ground. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sighed in relief. Just then, Crowned Meow leapt up, using its impressive agility to jump onto Little Treasure¡¯s head, swiping his ring in the process. Then, with a strong push, it shot into the air. Feeling the lightness on his head, Little Treasure touched his head, only to realize what had happened. ¡°Xun!!!¡± A scream echoed through the alley. At the same time, the hotdog fell to the ground. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure turned around, glaring furiously at Crowned Meow. ¡°Crown." Crowned Meow, sensing Little Treasure''s anger, turned and smiled mischievously before tossing the ring five meters away. Catching the bag that Crowned Meow had thrown at her, Qiao Sang looked up and saw Crownned Meow escaping with Little Treasure''s ring. At first, she was confused. But Crowned Meow¡¯s next move made it clear: it had thrown the ring to distract Little Treasure, leaving it free to escape. Impressive¡­ Qiao Sang almost wanted to applaud. Unfortunately, Crowned Meow hadn¡¯t realized that Yabao had psychic abilities too. ¡°Yabao, use tele¡ª¡± Qiao Sang froze, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Under the moonlight, every shadow in the alley shifted, coming alive. Threads of darkness extended like black satin, shooting toward a shadow on the wall. With a sharp tug, the black satin pulled, dragging Crowned Meow from mid-air back to the ground. ¡°Crown?!!¡± ----- sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. T/N: Thanks for your worries.?? We''re safe and the electricity finally came back! Chapter 191: Ill Pay You Whatever You Want Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Crowned Meow was stunned, and Qiao Sang was just as taken aback. What the heck? What is this? Late at night, in an empty alley, suddenly seeing such a strange scene is terrifying! Qiao Sang felt a chill all over, her spine tingled, and she shivered involuntarily. Just as she envisioned all the horrifying scenarios that might unfold next, she saw another wisp of pitch-black shadow extend from the darkness, connecting to a ring-shaped shadow on the ground. Then, as the shadow pulled, the ring hovering mid-air changed direction and dropped right onto Little Treasure¡¯s head. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze fell onto Little Treasure as well. So, it was just Little Treasure¡­ Realizing that the eerie scene had been caused by Little Treasure, warmth quickly returned to Qiao Sang¡¯s body. But as she noticed the lingering purple glow in his eyes and the way he held the ring, she was momentarily dazed. Oh, right, he was probably using the skill she''d asked him to learn in the virtual helmet recently. If he managed to learn it, the display should look like this. She recalled that it was called Shadow Control, a high-level skill¡­ Qiao Sang fell into thought. First Yabao, and now Little Treasure, is learning high-level skills actually easier than she thought? Sensing his beastmaster¡¯s gaze, Little Treasure turned around, his mouth quivering as the purple light faded from his eyes, leaving them brimming with tears. ¡°Xun!¡± ¡°Xun, xun!¡± Little Treasure floated over with open arms and flung himself into his beastmaster¡¯s embrace. He pointed accusingly at Crowned Meow, who lay face-down on the ground, then at the half-eaten hotdog nearby, looking utterly aggrieved. When he saw his beastmaster was ignoring him, he whimpered and cried even harder. ¡°Xun... Xun¡­¡± Yabao, hearing his little brother¡¯s heart-wrenching sobs, finally couldn¡¯t hold back. He bared his fangs and glared menacingly at Crowned Meow on the ground. ¡°Yap!¡± Shall we teach this guy a lesson? ¡°Xun, xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically. Yes, definitely! ¡°Crown!¡± Crowned Meow froze, then struggled to get up, preparing for a showdown. Qiao Sang, who had just come to her senses: ¡­ After quickly defusing the situation, Qiao Sang had Little Treasure use Hypnosis on Crowned Meow. Under the effect of Hypnosis, Crowned Meow finally settled down. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t immediately call to claim the one-million-dollar reward but instead looked intently at Little Treasure and asked, ¡°Did you learn Shadow Control?¡± "Xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head, not reacting at first, then quickly shook his head in denial. "Xun, xun!¡± If his beastmaster found out he had mastered Shadow Control, he would lose his reason to play in the virtual helmet, no way he''d admit to it! Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. She hadn¡¯t expected Little Treasure to flat-out deny it despite clearly mastering the skill. She paused for a moment and said, ¡°So you didn¡¯t learn it? I thought you did and figured the virtual helmet¡¯s teaching must be pretty effective. I was thinking I¡¯d let you play with it more often.¡± ¡°Xun, xun!¡± At Qiao Sang¡¯s words, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously. Worried that his beastmaster might not believe him, his eyes glowed purple as he prepared to demonstrate Shadow Control once more. Qiao Sang smiled as she watched him perform. In the end, Little Treasure was still young; though smarter than Yabao, he clearly couldn¡¯t quite match wits with Qiao Sang. --- Exiting the alley. Riding on Yabao¡¯s back, Qiao Sang happily pulled out her phone, found the recent call log, and dialed again. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently on another call¡­¡± The cold mechanical voice came through from the other end. Qiao Sang hung up and tried again five minutes later. Still, the line was busy. It was just a little interruption last time; surely he wouldn¡¯t have blocked her, right? Qiao Sang thought with mixed feelings. After another five minutes, she tried again. This time, it connected. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± A familiar, now slightly hoarse voice answered through the speaker. ¡°Your Crowned Meow is with me.¡± Qiao Sang got straight to the point. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Wang Yiding sneered, ¡°You¡¯re the eighth person today to tell me that. Why should I believe you?¡± Qiao Sang paused, then immediately snapped a photo of the sleeping Crowned Meow. ¡°Check your messages.¡± She said after sending the picture. Though Wang Yiding thought she might be a scammer, he opened the message with a glimmer of hope. Seeing the photo, he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, placing the phone to his ear and yelling, ¡°You fraud! You can¡¯t even tell Crowned Meow from Iron Paw Cat, yet you dare to call me! Do you know I¡­¡± Qiao Sang interrupted him, ¡°Your Crowned Meow¡¯s just dressed up as Iron Paw Cat. Look at the bag beside it in the photo, recognize it?¡± Wang Yiding paused, then looked at the picture again. Sure enough, he saw his familiar bag in the shot. Realizing the call might be genuine, he zoomed in on the Iron Paw Cat with its eyes closed in the photo. He had to admit, the head size and ear shape matched his Crowned Meow perfectly! Plus, a bit of gray on its face was smudged off, revealing the white fur unique to Crowned Meow. Shaken, Wang Yiding put the phone back to his ear, his voice trembling as he croaked, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. I¡¯ll pay you whatever you want!¡± Qiao Sang felt something odd but still replied, ¡°One million.¡± ¡°Alright, one mill¡­ wait, what? Only one million?¡± Wang Yiding sounded incredulous. Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say in your lost pet announcement that you¡¯d pay one million for its return?¡± Silence from the other end. ¡°Hello? Hello?¡± ¡°Sorry, bad signal. Where are you? I¡¯ll come to you directly.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯m on Xiangqi Road, right near the intersection.¡± Qiao Sang said, looking at the intersection five meters ahead. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- In under ten minutes, a deep-blue medium-sized avian beast appeared above Xiangqi Road. At that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s phone rang. ¡°I¡¯m here. Where are you?¡± The voice came through the speaker. ¡°See the Flame Hound? I¡¯m on his back.¡± Qiao Sang replied. More silence from the other end. ¡°Hello? Hello?¡± ¡°I see, I see. I¡¯ll be right over.¡± The deep-blue avian beast swooped down, landing gracefully before Qiao Sang. Its right wing extended, tip touching the ground, as a youth around 15 slid down from it. Most people just jumped off flying-type beasts, so it was rare for Qiao Sang to see someone slide down using the beast¡¯s wing. ¡°Crowned Meow!¡± Wang Yiding spotted his sleeping Crowned Meow on the Flame Hound¡¯s back immediately. Though he¡¯d had some doubts seeing it in the photo, the closer proximity and the use of his beastmaster¡¯s sense confirmed that this was indeed his Crowned Meow. ----- ----- Chapter 192: Visual Sharing After confirming that Crowned Meow was only under hypnosis, the transaction of exchanging the pet for money went smoothly. Qiao Sang¡¯s spirits lifted as she looked at the payment confirmation, making her more talkative. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t your Crowned Meow want to practice... farting?¡± This question had puzzled Qiao Sang for a long time. If it practiced farting, it could potentially learn teleportation, a foolproof skill. She couldn¡¯t understand why any pet would refuse such a beneficial technique. Wang Yiding, holding Crowned Meow, paused. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°Remember, you called me this morning?¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Crowned Meow went to the Hongying Beast Battle Club yesterday as my sparring partner.¡± ¡°It was you!¡± Wang Yiding exclaimed. ¡°You look around my age. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d already be a sparring partner.¡± Qiao Sang smiled but said nothing. ¡°By the way, why did you hang up before I finished speaking this morning?¡± Wang Yiding asked. Qiao Sang paused, then replied, ¡°Bad signal.¡± Wang Yiding: ... That excuse sounded oddly familiar¡­ ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me why Crowned Meow doesn¡¯t want to practice farting.¡± To avoid further questioning, Qiao Sang smoothly shifted the topic back. After all, he¡¯d just handed her a million yuan. If he found out she might¡¯ve been the reason Crowned Meow ran away, he¡¯d probably want his money back... Wang Yiding started to feel embarrassed. If she had been a guy or a faceless internet friend, he would¡¯ve expressed his frustration about the whole farting practice thing. But in front of a girl, one who looked his age and was quite attractive, discussing farting just seemed too crude... ¡°Maybe Crowned Meow thinks that practicing bowel movement exercises to learn teleportation is too ridiculous. I was too quick to believe online advice.¡± Wang Yiding explained. Ridiculous... Yabao, who had just learned teleportation through this method, froze. Qiao Sang, trying to reason with him, said, ¡°But you¡¯ve never had it practice. How can you be sure it won¡¯t work?¡± Wang Yiding shook his head. ¡°Honestly, even if it could learn, it still wouldn¡¯t practice. When it ran away, I realized it would never do something so... undignified.¡± Undignified... Yabao stiffened even more. Noticing Yabao¡¯s discomfort, Qiao Sang remembered he was also quite image-conscious, though sometimes a bit airheaded and didn¡¯t connect everything to his image. Better change the subject¡­ ¡°What¡¯s this pet called? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen it before.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at a nearby dark blue, medium-sized bird pet and shifted the topic. Wang Yiding hesitated briefly before answering, ¡°It¡¯s a pet from the Linko region called Sight Bird. It has a visual-sharing ability.¡± Visual sharing? Qiao Sang blinked and looked closely at the bird¡¯s eyes. Little Treasure floated over, invisible, curiously leaning in to examine it. Sight Bird¡¯s body stiffened; it felt an odd gaze, leaving it too scared to move. Qiao Sang soon noticed that the bird¡¯s pupils emitted a faint blue glow, so weak that without a close look, it seemed like the natural color of its eyes. At the same time, 100 meters above Qiao Sang¡¯s head in the sky¡­ A man and a woman sat on a flying pet, each wearing listening devices. Their eyes glowed the same color as the Sight Bird¡¯s pupils. The man in casual attire closed his eyes, pinched his temples, and sighed, ¡°Look at the genius son you raised. Answering whatever¡¯s asked, and even what isn¡¯t. How could he be so dense?¡± All she¡¯d asked was the pet¡¯s name, yet he¡¯d revealed the visual-sharing ability too. The woman with her hair in a bun, unimpressed, retorted, ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s only my son now? When he got into Shengshui High School, were you as accomplished back in the day? If he¡¯s dense, what does that make you?¡± The man replied unhappily, ¡°Why bring up the past? I had to self-study back then with no resources. He, on the other hand, has 24/7 tutors and barely made it into Shengshui High School. And now, even with a contract with Crowned Meow, he didn¡¯t make the school team. Apparently, he didn¡¯t inherit any of my talent.¡± The woman rolled her eyes. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I already asked. The team¡¯s selections are mainly from special admissions and top-recommend students.¡± ¡°In the official tryouts later, if he wins against a team member, he¡¯ll get in.¡± The man sighed. ¡°If he¡¯s gullible enough to believe that online nonsense about farting to learn teleportation, he doesn¡¯t stand a chance against the team.¡± The woman quipped, ¡°He¡¯s like you. Remember when you believed that online girlfriend who said she had cancer, gave her all your savings, only to find out she was married... and a guy?¡± The man coughed, embarrassed. ¡°Why keep bringing up the past? That was innocence. His case is stupidity.¡± The woman shot back coldly, ¡°Wang Weiye, after all you¡¯ve said, you think he¡¯s stupid, right? Fine. He¡¯s my son. You can leave.¡± The man: ... Qiao Sang, unaware her casual question almost sparked a family feud. --- That night, Qiao Sang lay in bed, too excited to sleep. She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d earned a million and that Little Treasure had learned Shadow Control, all just by going out to buy a freshining potion. She¡¯d never dared to dream of this, at most just making it to the Instellar Cup... Qiao Sang turned, feeling satisfied as she watched Little Treasure, who was still wearing a virtual helmet and diligently learning skills late into the night. Though Shadow Control was mastered, there were still more skill disks to explore. Now, Little Treasure could learn whatever he wanted, and she had no intention of interfering. If anyone ever claimed virtual helmets were just for escapism, she¡¯d be the first to argue. Escapism? No, this was learning! Fortunately, Little Treasure was unaware of Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts; otherwise, he would likely spend the entire night glued to the virtual helmet. Qiao Sang watched Little Treasure for a while, then opened her phone and searched for more information on Sight Bird. She soon found what she wanted. > Sight Bird: Brown-eyed with a blue glow when using its visual-sharing ability. It can transmit its visual field to a desired recipient. The higher the level of this ability, the more people it can share visuals with simultaneously. Brown eyes, glowing blue when active¡­ Qiao Sang felt a sense of validation. No wonder she found the Sight Bird¡¯s eyes unsettling. It seemed someone had been monitoring the million-alliance coins transaction scene through its ability. This didn¡¯t bother Qiao Sang, though. In fact, she thought contracting a Sight Bird might be quite useful. This kind of support ability might not be particularly valuable in battles, but it could greatly enhance survival in a secret realm¡­ Chapter 193: Really? This Actually Happened?! The next day, Qiao Sang woke up and instinctively reached over to grab her phone to check the time. Instead, she felt Little Treasure''s paw. Qiao Sang perked up and sat up immediately. ¡°You¡¯re actually awake this morning?!¡± For several days in a row, she¡¯d woken up each morning to find Little Treasure still fast asleep. Today, however, he was fully awake, catching Qiao Sang by surprise. The books said some pet beasts tend to sleep more during certain developmental phases, returning to normal once the phase is complete. Could this be the case for Little Treasure? Come to think of it, he did look slightly taller than before¡­ ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked innocently, pretending he didn''t understand his beast master''s words. What Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know was that, afraid Little Treasure would lose track of time, she had set a three-hour limit on the virtual helmet before going to bed the night before. This forced Little Treasure to log off midway, leaving he wide awake early in the morning. --- What can you do with a million in the Beastmaster world? Buy ten Fire Fang Dogs, or one Bubble Bell, or even a small Horned Dragon¡¯s horn. If you¡¯re only buying, not maintaining, the choices are quite extensive. Apart from pet beasts, daily life could also see considerable improvements. With her sudden windfall, Qiao Sang decided it was time to treat herself. Bright and early, she ditched the buy-one-get-one bread from the supermarket and headed to the priciest breakfast shop nearby, lavishly ordering every popular item on the menu. The total cost? 567 alliance coins. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of that, Yabao and Little Treasure ate 552 alliance coins¡¯s worth, while she only ate 15 coins. As Qiao Sang munched on her 10-alliance coins sticky rice and sipped her 5-alliance coins soy milk, she couldn''t shake the feeling that even with a million in the bank, her lifestyle hadn¡¯t changed all that much. Where exactly was the issue¡­? ¡°Yap!¡± Just as Qiao Sang was deep in thought, Yabao nudged his empty bowl forward with a paw, signaling he wanted another serving. ¡°Boss, one more bowl of fire mushroom rice!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± The owner quickly brought over a fresh bowl of fire mushroom rice. ¡°Hello, that¡¯ll be 66 alliance coins.¡± Qiao Sang silently took out the money, finally realizing where the issue lay¡­ --- At school, Qiao Sang unexpectedly spotted Jin Feifan at the training ground entrance. ¡°What brings you here?¡± She asked as she walked over. The training grounds and schedules for the second-year and first-year teams were different, so at this time, the first-year team members should still be waking up. Jin Feifan¡¯s eyes brightened when he saw her. Shuffling her feet, she shyly said, ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± Qiao Sang was a bit taken aback. Jin Feifan was someone with serious social anxiety. She rarely interacted with others, even online, so she hadn¡¯t expected her to seek her out in person. ¡°Is something up?¡± She asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s five days until the school year starts, and I¡¯m a bit nervous, so I thought I¡¯d talk to you about it.¡± She said, hesitating slightly. Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you message me?¡± ¡°My phone¡¯s broken, and I haven¡¯t taken it to be repaired yet.¡± Jin Feifan said, a bit embarrassed. No wonder. She thought it was strange for someone with social anxiety to avoid using their phone and approach her in person. Comforting her, Qiao Sang said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Don¡¯t stress too much. Just chat casually with your classmates. If it gets tough, summon your Little Ball Pofu. That¡¯ll surely help build connections.¡± In the Beastmaster society, talking about pet beasts was the fastest way to bond with people. Hearing this, Jin Feifan stood in stunned silence for a moment. Her face then turned red, and she raised her voice slightly, ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m nervous about!¡± Qiao Sang was puzzled. ¡°Then what¡¯s making you nervous?¡± ¡°Have you even read the group messages?¡± Jin Feifan explained, ¡°On the first day of school, there will be a strength showcase for the team members. Any of the new students can challenge us. If we lose, we could end up as substitutes or even get kicked off the team.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Qiao Sang was thrilled. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao was equally excited. ¡°I get the feeling you¡¯re both¡­ a little too happy about this.¡± Jin Feifan said, hesitant. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao nodded enthusiastically. Showing off their skills was definitely something to be excited about. ¡°No, we¡¯re not.¡± Qiao Sang awkwardly tried to keep Yabao from nodding. Noticing Jin Feifan¡¯s strange look, she paused, then changed her tone, saying with a serious expression, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought such a thing would happen!¡± Jin Feifan: ¡­ ¡°Are there any restrictions?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°For example, if we win a match, can others keep challenging us?¡± Jin Feifan nodded, feeling discouraged. ¡°There aren¡¯t any restrictions like that. The group messages mentioned that after each win, the school medic will restore your pet beast¡¯s condition immediately, and you¡¯ll wait for the next challenger.¡± ¡°The school will decide if you get to stay on the team based on your performance and the number of wins.¡± That¡¯s perfect! So, as long as you don¡¯t lose, you can keep fighting, and the points just keep adding up¡­ Qiao Sang was overjoyed, but she kept a straight face for Jin Feifan¡¯s sake, sighing, ¡°That¡¯s really putting us in a tough spot.¡± ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Jin Feifan sighed. After ten minutes of talking about the topic, Jin Feifan hesitated for a while before finally revealing her real reason for being there. ¡°I can¡¯t leave the school grounds, so could you help me take my phone in for repairs?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Qiao Sang, in an excellent mood, agreed without hesitation. --- After Jin Feifan left, Qiao Sang strolled into the training ground humming a tune, a big smile on her face. Wang Yao turned her head and noticed Qiao Sang and Yabao, tail wagging, striding in with a spring in their step. Curious, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why so cheerful?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Just last night, while I was out buying something, I found a missing pet beast for someone, and in the process, the little treasure hunter learned a new skill.¡± Qiao Sang replied, scratching her head with a grin. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure popped out from atop his beast master¡¯s head and nodded. ¡°What skill?¡± Wang Yao asked. ¡°Shadow Control.¡± Qiao Sang replied honestly. To Qiao Sang, her pet beast¡¯s skills were no secret; she just rarely had a chance to show them off or be asked. For a Beastmaster, any skill evolution or growth in their pet beast was a reason to celebrate. It was common for people to show off on social media or even throw parties over their pets¡¯ progress. Qiao Sang was relatively low-key about it. Otherwise, she¡¯d be posting on social media every three days. ¡°Shadow Control?¡± Wang Yao was stunned, then burst out laughing, ¡°Haha, Qiao Sang, I didn¡¯t know you had such a sense of humor.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Qiao Sang looked at her. ¡°Of course not. Only a fool would believe that. Shadow Control, really? I don¡¯t even have a ghost-type pet beast, and I know that¡¯s an advanced skill. Have you ever seen a low-level pet beast learn a high-level skill?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment. ¡°Well, there¡¯s Yabao and Little Treasure.¡± Wang Yao: ¡­ Chapter 194: The Opportunity Presents Otself What do you do when a genius junior suddenly starts spouting nonsense with a serious face... Before Wang Yao could think of a response that wouldn¡¯t hurt Qiao Sang''s pride, Xu Yajie and Shi Gaofeng, both sporting dark circles under their eyes, walked in. Wang Yao immediately called out to them, "What''s up with your eyes? Did a ghost-type pet drain you?" "Xun..." Little Treasure sighed, feeling wrongfully accused. "Stop with the nonsense." Shi Gaofeng yawned as he walked closer. "School''s about to start, and I haven¡¯t finished my summer homework. I was up late rushing it. By the way, the workbook for Pet Beasts and Evolution was handed out to the whole grade, right? Have you finished yours? Lend it to me to copy." "Aren¡¯t the answers in the back?" Wang Yao asked, confused. "Our teacher took away all the answer keys." Xu Yajie replied, his face filled with despair. "Your teacher¡¯s doing it for your own good. After all, your class has the worst grades." Wang Yao said, shrugging. Qiao Sang casually asked, "You guys are in the same class?" "Yeah, both of us are in Class Nine." Shi Gaofeng said, throwing an arm around Xu Yajie¡¯s shoulder. "If you¡¯re placed by grade, you¡¯ll probably end up in Class Nine too." Before Qiao Sang could respond, Wang Yao shot Shi Gaofeng a glare and turned to explain, "Don¡¯t listen to him. He assumes you''re a special recruit. Each year, special recruits are typically placed in Class Nine, so he thinks you¡¯ll be there too." Shi Gaofeng froze, then looked at Qiao Sang. "Aren¡¯t you a special recruit?" She was... Qiao Sang was about to reply, but Wang Yao cut in with a serious look on her face: "Qiao Sang seems like a straight-A student; she¡¯s probably here on a guaranteed admission. How could she be a special recruit like you two?" Academic underachiever Qiao Sang: ... "Don¡¯t look down on special recruits." Shi Gaofeng protested. "Though our Class Nine might not excel academically, we never lag in terms of admission rates." "Still, it can¡¯t compare to the guaranteed admissions students." Wang Yao said. There exists a subtle hierarchy among high school students. Guaranteed admissions students look down on special recruits, special recruits look down on regular students, and regular students believe they could outperform special recruits if given the same training time and resources. After all, their scores are well above the special recruits¡¯, everyone awakened their brain domain at about the same time, and the only differences are in pets and resources. Most special recruits come from wealthy backgrounds, which magnifies the gap that wasn¡¯t as evident in junior high, leading some students to feel unbalanced. However, if a special recruit brings glory to the school by winning competitions or getting into a prestigious beast-tamer university, they gain respect. After all, only special recruits represent the school in competitions, so winning among fellow special recruits is no small feat. Despite any inner imbalance, everyone understands that talent can''t be bought; true ability is essential. A beast tamer might rely on resources to gain an edge initially, but later, it¡¯s about both aptitude and resources. Even with wealth, a beast tamer lacking talent can''t expand their brain domain, limiting them to only one contracted pet in their lifetime. A pet lacking talent consumes vast resources without mastering skills, let alone evolving. So, in the early stages of high school, when everyone is a new beast tamer, special recruits face some resistance. Of course, none of this applies to Shengshui High School... At Shengshui, only brain domain self-awakened geniuses qualify as special recruits. Each city has just a few per year, who would dare not be impressed? The guaranteed admission students at Shengshui dare to feel superior... After all, they¡¯re also self-awakened geniuses. Wang Yao is one of them. As a guaranteed admission student who later became a special recruit through her ability, Wang Yao is convinced that Qiao Sang, who¡¯s a year younger yet more talented, must be a guaranteed admission student. "So what if she¡¯s a guaranteed admission student? She¡¯s still at the same school as me." Shi Gaofeng rolled his eyes. Wang Yao opened her mouth to retort, but just then, Qiao Sang patted her shoulder. "What is it?" Wang Yao asked, turning around. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang, looking touched, said, "I know I''m smart, but I really am a special recruit." Wang Yao: !!! Shi Gaofeng nearly burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. Wang Yao looked incredulous. So, she was actually being outdone by a special recruit who¡¯s a year younger? No, wait¡­ Suddenly recalling that she and Qiao Sang had never actually fought, Wang Yao remembered that she had two intermediate-level pets, while Qiao Sang, though possessing a Flame Hound, only had Little Treasure as a beginner-level pet. If Qiao Sang were a special recruit, her academic scores probably wouldn¡¯t be as good as Wang Yao¡¯s... This thought restored Wang Yao¡¯s confidence. As she silently regained her self-assurance, Xu Yajie suddenly remarked, "Qiao Sang, you seem a bit different today." Qiao Sang paused, "Different how?" "You seem happier today; you haven¡¯t stopped smiling. Did something good happen?" Xu Yajie asked. "Now that you mention it, she does seem different than usual." Shi Gaofeng added, also looking over. Indeed, a good mood is noticeable¡­ Qiao Sang laughed, "Yesterday, while helping someone find their lost pet, Little Treasure learned Shadow Control." Wang Yao: ... Xu Yajie and Shi Gaofeng fell silent. After a moment, Xu Yajie spoke up, "Didn¡¯t know you had a sense of humor, Qiao Sang." That sounds familiar... Seeing that two people didn¡¯t believe her, Qiao Sang said helplessly, "I¡¯m telling the truth." "If that¡¯s true, I¡¯ll wash my hair while standing on my head." Shi Gaofeng chuckled. "Count me in; I¡¯ll do a handstand and¡­ well, you know." Xu Yajie joked. Shi Gaofeng, his competitive spirit ignited, added, "If that¡¯s true, I¡¯ll stand on my head and¡­ yeah, and wash my hair with it!" Wang Yao looked disgusted. "Are you serious?" "What¡¯s gross? Not like we¡¯d actually have to do it." Shi Gaofeng laughed. Normally, Qiao Sang might ignore them, but today¡­ "Are you both serious?" Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. Shi Gaofeng paused, "Of course. If it¡¯s true, we¡¯ll do it in front of the whole school!" He even nudged Xu Yajie. "Right?" "Yeah." Xu Yajie nodded. Well, then, they asked for it. She¡¯d been wondering how to get Shi Gaofeng to withdraw his negative review, now here was her chance¡­ Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure and smiled, "Little Treasure, they don¡¯t believe in you. Show them." "Xun~" Clearly intrigued by the oaths Shi Gaofeng and Xu Yajie made, Little Treasure cheerfully spun in place, his eyes turning purple. Then his shadow twisted, stretched, and quickly connected with the shadow of the quiet, watching Yabao nearby. Yabao blinked, looking down at the connected shadow beneath him. The next second, he began spinning like a top on the spot. Yabao: ??? Wang Yao, Xu Yajie, and Shi Gaofeng: !!! Chapter 195: Not A Big Problem Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Shadow Control, an advanced skill. What exactly is an advanced skill? It¡¯s a skill that¡¯s almost completely irrelevant to high school students. Most people have only just become Beast Tamers and are still working on developing harmony with their beasts. When it comes to skills, even learning a basic skill is something that ordinary high schoolers have to carefully consider, comparing training centers to see which one is suitable. Top students might put in extra effort to master basic or intermediate skills. And now you¡¯re telling us your beast has mastered an advanced skill?! If it were a highly-ranked professional Beast Tamer or a reputable Beast Breeder who managed to teach an advanced skill to a low-level beast, it wouldn¡¯t be so shocking. But you¡¯re telling me that a freshman who hasn¡¯t even started school yet has a second contracted beast at a beginner level, and it learned an advanced skill?!! Wang Yao and the others were floored. Is this girl even human?! "Not-human." Qiao Sang quickly signaled Little Treasure to stop. If he kept spinning, Yabao might just faint again. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure stopped, looking innocent. What¡¯s wrong with showing off a skill while also giving Big Bro Yabao some extra training? ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao''s eyes were spinning, and he swayed a bit before finally regaining balance. Hearing Little Treasure¡¯s words, Yabao couldn''t resist smacking him lightly on the head with a paw. ¡°Yap-yap!¡± At least give me a heads-up next time! ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure scratched his head sheepishly, then took off a small ring, pulled out a freshly bought potion, and held it out with both paws. ¡°Yap.¡± Ya Bao¡¯s expression softened to one of I see you¡¯re learning from your mistakes. Just as he was about to take the potion, Qiao Sang swooped in and took it instead. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked confused. ¡°This potion is for when you¡¯re feeling nauseous or faint. Are you feeling like that now?¡± Qiao Sang asked, very seriously. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao thought for a second, then shook his head. ¡°Exactly. We only have a few of these, so we need to use them sparingly; otherwise, we¡¯ll have to buy more soon.¡± Qiao Sang advised earnestly. Even though they had money now, there was still a need to be thrifty... ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded in understanding. Their Beast Tamer was indeed frugal. Just then, Xu Yajie snapped out of his shock, looking at Little Treasure with amazement. ¡°Shadow Control! It really is Shadow Control!¡± ¡°Whoa! If Zheng Baolong finds out, he¡¯ll probably worship you!¡± Shi Gaofeng was consumed with jealousy. Wang Yao still looked utterly dazed. ¡°See, I wasn¡¯t lying to you guys.¡± Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°No, no!¡± Xu Yajie and Shi Gaofeng shook their heads in unison. ¡°Then go ahead and get started.¡± Qiao Sang gestured. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure looked at them expectantly. Shi Gaofeng froze, not quite understanding. ¡°Start what?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying one of you would do a handstand while...uh, going diarrhea, and the other would use it to wash their hair?¡± Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ Xu Yajie: ¡­ After a brief silence, Shi Gaofeng chuckled awkwardly. ¡°We were just joking. You don¡¯t actually want us to do it, right?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°I want to see it.¡± Shi Gaofeng and Xu Yajie were terrified, instinctively covering their pants. They never thought Qiao Sang would take it seriously. Seeing their reaction, Qiao Sang shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do the handstand diarrhea thing, just agree to one other condition.¡± ¡°Xun-xun~¡± Little Treasure looked disappointed. He was actually looking forward to seeing it. ¡°Name it!¡± Shi Gaofeng and Xu Yajie shivered, seeing Little Treasure¡¯s expression, and spoke in unison. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought of one for you, Xu Yajie. But take down the bad review you left for Phantom Water Baby last time.¡± Qiao Sang said, revealing her true intention. Xu Yajie sighed in relief. Shi Gaofeng, however, stared for a moment. ¡°You got bribed?¡± Can¡¯t you phrase it more nicely¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched as she replied tactfully, ¡°It was just a mutual exchange.¡± Shi Gaofeng hesitated, then suddenly looked up and said earnestly, ¡°Or I¡¯ll still let you watch!¡± With that, he reached to pull down his pants. ¡°Dude! Calm down! Think this through!¡± Xu Yajie stopped him, horrified. Qiao Sang watched Shi Gaofeng¡¯s performance with a calm expression. ¡°Go ahead, take them off. If you¡¯re brave enough to strip, I¡¯m brave enough to watch.¡± She didn¡¯t believe he¡¯d actually do it. Qiao Sang had nerves of steel compared to a high schooler. Shi Gaofeng was stunned to see the cool exterior of Qiao Sang hide such a wild side. He was left frozen, neither able to go through with it nor back out. After an intense pause, Shi Gaofeng steeled himself. He¡¯d bet on it! He didn¡¯t believe Qiao Sang would really watch! Just as he began lowering his pants, a familiar voice came from behind. ¡°Shi Gaofeng, what are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Shi Gaofeng reluctantly agreed to take down the review. --- Today¡¯s training was much more effective than yesterday¡¯s. With Little Treasure¡¯s help, Yabao improved from barely lasting 5 seconds to spinning for around 15 seconds. Only two bottles of potion were used all day. As they were leaving the school that evening, Qiao Sang sat atop Yanao, saying earnestly, ¡°Yabao, let¡¯s aim to get a good grasp on the Counter Shield technique in the next four days. That way, we¡¯ll have better odds if we get challenged after school starts.¡± The real reason was that they only had enough potion for four more days... ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao was fully confident. He completely believed Qiao Sang was focused on preparing for the upcoming challenge. --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t forget her promise to Jin Feifan, stopping at a roadside phone repair shop. ¡°Boss, need a phone repair.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The shop owner eyed the beast with her, which looked too fancy for the usual crowd, and then at Qiao Sang, her simple attire and ponytail, contrasting with the posh vibe from her Flame Hound companion. Three words came to mind: Easy target. The shop owner examined the phone, feigning a troubled look before summoning a magnetic-type beast with a few hand signs. Having a beast assist in business always seemed to add a touch of class, which in turn allowed for a higher price. ¡°This phone has a big problem,¡± The shop owner said, glancing at the device. ¡°Xiao Han, see if it¡¯s a circuit issue.¡± He handed the phone to the magnetic beast. But the magnetic beast stiffened, looking fearfully in Qiao Sang¡¯s direction. The shop owner froze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mag-magnetic¡­¡± The magnetic beast seemed terrified. Qiao Sang saw the electric shape of its tail and guessed why. Scratching her head apologetically, she said, ¡°It¡¯s probably sensing my ghost-type beast.¡± The shop owner¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°A ghost-type¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°It¡¯s invisible right now.¡± The shop owner: !!! Five minutes later. The shop owner handed back the phone, beaming. ¡°Your phone¡¯s fine. The touch screen issue was just the screen protector. Changed it out for ten coins.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 196: What a Coincidence Qiao Sang walked out of the store with her newly repaired phone. Considering that people with social anxiety tend to have a slight fear of being without their phones, she didn¡¯t wait until tomorrow. Instead, she returned to school right away to give Jin Feifan her phone. This delay caused Qiao Sang to get home an hour later than usual. As she entered the neighborhood and rounded a corner, she saw two men in black suits lingering near her door, occasionally glancing inside. The two men stood straight, looking exactly like bodyguards. The first thought that popped into Qiao Sang¡¯s mind was: "In the middle of summer, aren¡¯t they hot dressed like that¡­" Despite seeing two strangers outside her door, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t think much of it. While Tianjing Garden wasn¡¯t the priciest neighborhood in Hanggang City, it was still a wealthy area with a robust security system. Security guards were on duty 24 hours a day, and outsiders couldn¡¯t enter without registration. At that moment, she saw a little fat dove fly out from her yard. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Sang immediately patted Yabao¡¯s back, signaling him to stop. "Yap." Yabao had also noticed the two humans up ahead. Qiao Sang paused on Yabao''s back, watching the little fat dove that had flown out of her yard land on one of the men¡¯s shoulders and shake its head. Oh, no! Illegal entry! Suddenly, countless headlines she¡¯d seen before flashed through her mind. "Single Woman Encounters Strange Man Sneaking into Her Room" "Woman in Liao City Discovers Stranger Hiding Under Her Bed, He Laughs Instead of Fleeing" "27-Year-Old Single Woman Found in Suitcase After Being Killed" "Reminder to Single Women: Don¡¯t Adopt Stray Pets, They Might Be¡­" The last headline was something she¡¯d seen recently. Some people used women¡¯s soft hearts to get their pets adopted by appearing pitiful, only to use those pets to confirm if their targets lived alone and if it was safe to make a move. Despicable. Qiao Sang thought about it: Female, living alone, not to brag, but she did have a pretty face! Could it be that someone had targeted her? Thinking this, Qiao Sang touched her face, the idea growing more plausible. ¡°Walk over there with fierce expressions.¡± Qiao Sang whispered to Yabao and Little Treasure. "Yap!" Yabao caught on, glaring at the two humans up ahead, baring his sharp fangs, and putting on a fierce face. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure''s ghostly eyes glowed as he took out a mirror and pen, adjusting the scar makeup on his face. Before Qiao Sang could get closer, the thinner man in the black suit seemed to sense something and turned to look in her direction. He paused, then said something to the man beside him, and both started walking toward her. Instantly, Qiao Sang tensed up. Are villains this bold now?! Should she strike first and have Yabao attack them? Thankfully, her rational side held her back from pouncing on them. Without concrete evidence, if nearby surveillance caught the fat dove flying into her house and they lied about it as an accident, what then? After all, it was a pet, not a person. The two men in black suits stopped two meters away, facing her and her two pets that were glaring back at them. ¡°Hello, are you the resident of Unit 1705?¡± The thinner man asked. Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No.¡± The two men were taken aback and exchanged glances. The thinner man finally said, ¡°But lately, I¡¯ve seen you going in and out of Unit 1705.¡± Before Qiao Sang could reply, the heavier man frowned, ¡°Could you have made a mistake?¡± ¡°No way, I remember the residents in our neighborhood. She does live in 1705.¡± The thinner man insisted. Our neighborhood¡­ Qiao Sang caught on to the phrase and realized a key detail. Could she have misunderstood¡­? ¡°And you are?¡± She asked. ¡°We¡¯re the neighborhood security. The resident of Unit 1707 reported that their white sticky fruit was stolen by a pet that seemed to run into Unit 1705. So we came to take a look.¡± The thinner guard explained. Impressive, even the security guards in this upscale neighborhood were dressed so formally¡­ Good thing she hadn¡¯t attacked them earlier. That would¡¯ve been embarrassing. Qiao Sang chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Oh, I just got back. Do you want to go in and take a look?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t a resident of Unit 1705?¡± The heavier guard frowned. Qiao Sang forced a smile, ¡°I¡¯m just renting. I thought you meant the owner.¡± The heavier guard¡¯s face darkened. He was about to say something but stopped when he met Yabao¡¯s intimidating gaze. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± The heavier guard said to his partner, looking excited to go inside. Watching his reaction, Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes. ¡°What are you staring at? She just got back.¡± The thinner guard scolded, turning to Qiao Sang apologetically, ¡°He¡¯s new and doesn¡¯t quite know his manners. We were only concerned that a wild pet may have entered. We sent the little fat dove to check inside.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not home, that¡¯s fine. If a wild pet appears, just let us know.¡± Internally, he thought, Come on, we¡¯re security, not the police. Searching a Beast Master¡¯s home over two fruits isn¡¯t worth the risk. The new guard¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°But-¡± Before he could finish, Qiao Sang interrupted, ¡°Do you have a picture of the pet that stole the white sticky fruit?¡± The thinner guard hesitated, ¡°We¡¯re not sure what type of pet it was, just that it was blue.¡± ¡°Was the surveillance unclear?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°It didn¡¯t catch it.¡± He admitted awkwardly. ¡°Oh?¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then how do you know the pet went into Unit 1705?¡± The heavier guard piped up, ¡°I saw it run in there myself.¡± Qiao Sang listened, then smiled and asked, ¡°Sir, where are you from? Your accent sounds a bit different from around here.¡± ¡°He¡¯s from Guwu District.¡± Ghe thinner guard cut in. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°He just joined us two days ago.¡± Guwu District¡­ Immediately, Qiao Sang thought of Water Luriana who was also from there. What a coincidence¡­ Chapter 197: Water Snail Traveling all the way from the ancient Guwu Region to become a security guard in Yuhua was no easy feat. Ending up at an estate with a creature like Water Luriana living there seemed almost too coincidental. It wasn''t that Qiao Sang didn¡¯t believe in coincidences, but combined with that guy¡¯s subtle facial expression, her gut told her that this security guard from the Guwu Region was anything but ordinary. Of course, gut feelings are a kind of metaphysical science. Without concrete evidence, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t outright judge if this person was suspicious, but she did make a mental note of it. Back home, Yabao immediately headed to the courtyard to train his Fire Fang skill. He was now nearly at mastery level; it wouldn''t be long before he reached the ultimate stage. Meanwhile, Little Treasure didn¡¯t stay idle either, drifting over to the virtual helmet and putting it on himself. This sight left Qiao Sang, who had just walked in and wanted to flop onto the bed, feeling a bit guilty. With her two pets working so hard, how could she just think about resting? Qiao Sang headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking for something to snack on while reading. But as soon as she opened it, looking at the fridge stuffed with various fruits, vegetables, and drinks, her thoughts began to drift. With so much food at home, and with her leaving a bottle of milk for Water Luriana every day before going out, would it really go out of its way to steal those white sticky fruits from next door? White sticky fruits could help pets recover from paralysis, but they didn¡¯t hold much appeal for water-type pets that weren¡¯t affected by any negative status. After pondering for a moment, Qiao Sang realized a critical point. People only mentioned seeing a blue pet that had stolen two white sticky fruits running to her place; they hadn¡¯t said it was Water Luriana¡­ With this in mind, Qiao Sang took a bottle of milk from the fridge and went to the courtyard. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao noticed Qiao Sang and immediately dissipated the Fire Fang he had just condensed, wagging his tail as he ran over. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up upon noticing the milk in her hand. Was it for him? Not quite... Qiao Sang chuckled as she handed over the milk. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold, so don¡¯t gulp it all at once.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded, sitting down and cradling the milk bottle with his paws. Watching him sip the milk with squinted eyes, Qiao Sang smiled, then turned back to the kitchen to get another bottle and head to the courtyard. Before she could even take two steps toward the pool, Yabao called out again. ¡°Yal!¡± Turning around, she saw him holding the empty milk bottle, looking at her with those wet, pleading eyes. After a slight hesitation, she opened the second bottle and handed it over. On her third trip with milk to the courtyard, Yabao, now holding his second empty bottle, simply sat there, wagging his tail and looking at her, full of trust, as if certain that the milk in her hand was for him. Alright, who could resist that? Qiao Sang struggled for two seconds but ultimately went over to him again with the bottle. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao took the milk and, remembering her earlier words, didn¡¯t gulp it all down in one go, finishing it in two sips instead. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Do you want more?¡± This time, Qiao Sang asked wisely. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao shook his head after a moment''s thought. He had to get back to training. Qiao Sang sighed in relief. But when she brought the fourth bottle to the courtyard, Yabao stopped training, looking over at her with an exasperated expression. ¡°Yap?¡± Didn¡¯t he say he didn¡¯t want more? Qiao Sang: ¡­ After clarifying things with Yabao, Qiao Sang approached the pool and placed the milk beside it. ¡°Did you go out today?¡± No response from the pool. Qiao Sang wasn''t surprised, continuing to speak to herself, ¡°When I got back, the security guard mentioned seeing a blue pet that had stolen two white sticky fruits from next door and ran here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it was you, but did you see any suspicious pets coming in?¡± ¡°Oh, and recently, a new security guard from the Guwu Region arrived. Do you think he¡¯s here for you?¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, Yabao peed in the milk I left this morning¡­¡± ¡°Lu Lu!!!¡± Water Luriana sprang out of the pool, glaring at Qiao Sang before turning toward Yabao, clearly ready for a showdown. ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing the commotion, Yabao turned, clueless but instantly assuming a fighting stance upon seeing Water Luriana¡¯s combative posture. Fight? Bring it on! Seeing the two about to clash, Qiao Sang hurriedly intervened, ¡°I was just kidding!¡± ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Water Luriana shot her a suspicious look. ¡°I swear, it was just a joke! Surely you¡¯d notice if the milk tasted different by now!¡± Qiao Sang nearly swore on it. Who would¡¯ve thought Shui Luyan would be so riled up over a casual remark¡­ ¡°Lulu! Lulu? Lulu! Lulu!!¡± Water Luriana angrily pointed at the milk with its paw. Watching it gesture, Qiao Sang explained again, ¡°I was only joking. Ask Yabao if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked blank. Ask about what? ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Water Luriana grew more furious, grabbing the milk and slamming it down in front of her. ¡°So, you never want to drink it again?¡± Qiao Sang guessed. ¡°Lu Lu!!!¡± Water Luriana¡¯s paw trembled with anger. The more they talked, the angrier Water Luriana became. In the end, it was only with Yabao¡¯s translation that Qiao Sang finally understood Water Luriana had never touched the milk she left. Exhausted, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but think, If that¡¯s the case, why did the milk always end up watered down every day? And if you didn¡¯t drink it, why get so worked up when I joked about Yabao peeing in it? Drinking it isn¡¯t a big deal; stop being so stubborn. After finishing her inner rant, Qiao Sang placed the milk in front of Water Luriana and, in a serious tone, said, ¡°Whether you drink it or not, I¡¯ll keep leaving a bottle for you every day.¡± Surely, that would move it enough to agree to a contract with her on the spot. Water Luriana glanced at the milk, then turned with a flick of its tail and leapt back into the pool, splashing water all over Qiao Sang¡¯s face. Qiao Sang: ... --- 10:56 p.m. Qiao Sang lay in bed, her consciousness retreating from the Beasts¡¯ Codex. At the same time, in the security dorm at her complex. The chubby security guard she¡¯d met earlier swayed over to the beer-can-covered table and kicked the man slumped over it. ¡°Old Xu, already passed out? Come on, let¡¯s have a bit more.¡± The man at the table, reeking of alcohol, didn¡¯t respond, eyes closed. The chubby guard''s eyes suddenly cleared, shedding all signs of inebriation. ¡°You lightweight, trying to outdrink me.¡± As he spoke, a soft-bodied, blue creature with no visible shell, red-faced, damp and sticky, emerged from his collar. ¡°Water Snail, let¡¯s head out once more. I refuse to believe we still can¡¯t find that guy.¡± Grabbing Water Snail and lifting it to eye level, he spoke determinedly. ¡°Drip¡­¡± Water Snail grinned, then promptly closed its eyes and tilted its head to the side. ¡°What the heck! How are you drunk, too?¡± Chapter 198: Is There Enough Time? Although the Water Snail is a low-level pet beast, it possesses radar-like characteristics. Its antennae function like a radio locator, capable of emitting around 100 electric pulses per minute into the surrounding underwater environment. The electromagnetic waves generated by these discharges bounce off nearby objects and return as radio echoes, allowing it to perceive its surroundings just like a radar. Even though the Water Luriana has the ability to blend into water, it is still an extraordinary creature. Unlike regular flowing water, any slight disturbance can be roughly detected. "Wake up!" The chubby security guard, desperate, pinched the Water Snail between his thumb and forefinger, giving it a firm shake. Finding the Water Luriana without causing a commotion is impossible without relying on this little guy¡¯s radar ability. But now it''s passed out drunk, what a mess! The guard had just confirmed that the Water Luriana was somewhere in this complex. If he didn¡¯t hurry to locate it, who knew when it would slip away again? After shaking it for a long time, the Water Snail remained unresponsive. Frustrated, the guard kicked the sleeping, skinny man next to him. Damn it, all because of this drunk fool! --- In the early morning, Qiao Sang set off for school, holding Little Treasure while riding on Yabao''s back. A figure watched from the shadows as Qiao Sang left the complex, then turned and headed toward Room 1705. It was none other than the chubby security guard, eyeing the Water Luriana. "After we get inside, start by checking near the pool, got it?" The guard whispered as he looked ahead, his lips barely moving. He seemed to be talking to himself, but a closer look would reveal the head of the Water Snail peeking out from his collar. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Drip." The Water Snail nodded in understanding. "If it¡¯s not by the pool, check the house for any other water sources." The guard instructed. The villas in the complex each had pools in their yards. The Water Snail had sneaked into a few homes before and knew the layout, but it would have to search thoroughly for any other water sources inside the house. "Drip." The Water Snail obediently nodded. "And no causing trouble this time. Stop eating everything in sight. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t feed you enough." The guard grumbled, recalling the events of the previous day. The Water Snail said nothing. The guard walked past Room 1705 without stopping, acting nonchalant. However, the Water Snail stealthily slipped down and crawled toward the house. The villa¡¯s wall wasn¡¯t high, so the Water Snail easily climbed over it. It remembered its trainer¡¯s instructions clearly: Start by checking the pool. Bang! Bang! BANG, BANG! A series of loud noises echoed from the courtyard. Startled, the Water Snail froze. Normally, its trainer would wait until the residents were gone before sending it in. But this time, someone was still there. Could this be... trust? The Water Snail was moved, and its gaze hardened with determination. If its trainer trusted it that much, it couldn¡¯t afford to get caught! As it carefully crawled into the courtyard and raised its head, its eyes widened, its body going stiff as if petrified. More than a dozen enormous pet beasts that looked identical were baring their teeth, flames forming in front of them. The entire courtyard was filled with heat. BANG! BANG! The explosions shook the ground beneath it. "Drip¡­" The Water Snail trembled uncontrollably. Terrifying¡­ "Drip¡­¡± It started to doubt its trainer¡¯s sanity. Why would they send it to such a terrifying place? The Water Drip slowly backed away, preparing to turn around, when it suddenly locked eyes with one of the huge, ferocious creatures. "DRIP!!" The Water Snail held its breath, shut its eyes, and fainted. --- On the way to school, Yabao suddenly stopped. Seeing this, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Is the home clone gone?¡± Yabao had recently resumed his practice of controlling his clone from a distance. Since he could now freely move around in the mornings, he was trying to balance training with staying close to Qiao Sang. With the new school term approaching, Qiao Sang was holding on to her dream of having Yabao''s main body with her at school while the clone trained at home. "Yap." Yabao shook his head. ¡°Then why did you stop?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head. He wasn¡¯t sure, he just felt like something might be wrong with his clone. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dwell on it and continued toward school. Once at the training field, she noticed that Wang Yao¡¯s face was swollen, as if she¡¯d been hit. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but approach her. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Wang Yao looked at her with a resentful expression. ¡°It¡¯s because of you.¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± Qiao Sang was baffled. How was this her fault? ¡°You told me that Little Treasur got emotional after someone threw a hot at it and took its ring, right?¡± Wang Yao sighed. ¡°So, I tried it at home with Fire Chain Python. I tossed its food while it was eating, and it smacked me with its tail.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily speechless. Only the brave would dare take food from a fire-type pet beast! If she were to throw out Yabao¡¯s food in front of him, Yabao would probably¡­ well, he probably wouldn¡¯t slap her with his tail. ¡°You and Fire Chain Python don¡¯t have that kind of bond.¡± Qiao Sang concluded. Wang Yao: ... --- During free training, watching Yabao spin in circles under Little Treasure¡¯s psychic control left Wang Yao and others speechless. A ghost-type pet beast with psychic powers... Ha¡­ Hahahahaha¡­ Little Treasure mastering high-level skills was one thing, but now it also had psychic powers? Right? It¡¯s a nightmare! This was a dual powerhouse of ghost and psychic types. When it came time to battle, what was the point? Might as well surrender! What kind of monster was this, evolving Fire Fang Dog into Flame Hound, not to mention contracting with a ridiculously overpowered Little Treasure¡­ Qiao Sang read her book, unaware of everyone¡¯s stares. Sitting beside her, Zheng Baolong watched Flame Hound and Little Treasure training, laughing as he said, ¡°Qiao Sang, I think I get your idea, but regardless of whether Flame Hound''s clone can use psychic power while its main body uses Fire Whirl...¡± ¡°Have you considered the timing?¡± Qiao Sang looked up from her book. Chapter 199: Upgraded Version "Releasing a clone takes time. If your opponent only has a few seconds to attack, you''ll have to first summon the clone, then simultaneously use the fire whirl and telekinesis. Even if it''s possible, realistically, the opponent''s attack might land before you can even launch this airborne counter-shield." Zheng Baolong said with a silly smile but serious words. Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. When she initially conceived the airborne version, she only considered defense and protecting Yabao¡¯s fur, without considering other factors. However, Zheng Baolong''s words did bring something to her attention. If it¡¯s merely a matter of using the airborne counter-shield, there¡¯s no problem. But in terms of practical use during a battle, the issues become significant. Firstly, as Zheng Baolong mentioned, there¡¯s the timing gap between offense and defense. While her opponent only needs to gather energy and release an attack, she has to ensure that Yabao is airborne and that a clone is nearby to use the shield within the opponent''s attacking window. Secondly, the energy consumption is massive. The opponent might only launch a simple water jet, but Yabao would need to summon a clone, create a fire whirl, and use telekinesis all at once, consuming several times more energy, a completely disproportionate trade-off. Then there''s the fact that the clone itself is a major vulnerability. If the clone isn''t next to the main body and protected by the counter-shield, the opponent might not have an immediate counter the first time, but any opponent who¡¯s seen this airborne counter-shield tactic would know to simply target the clone, making the move useless. In short, it¡¯s flashy but impractical, with numerous drawbacks and limited battle utility. Zheng Baolong¡¯s feedback was undeniably timely. If Yabao spent all that time learning the technique only to realize his flaws in the heat of a match, he would likely ruin her mood for the entire day. With this thought, Qiao Sang nodded earnestly. "Teacher, I know what to do now." "I''m just giving you some small pointers." Zheng Guoping chuckled. "Your idea is actually excellent; it¡¯s just that practicing it is too difficult. The ground-based version is already great; you don¡¯t need to complicate things at your age." These words were simply his attempt to dissuade Qiao Sang from practicing the airborne counter-shield. If someone other than Qiao Sang had come up with this idea, he¡¯d probably scold them directly. Combination moves that integrate two skills smoothly always require extensive training. You first have to consider whether the beast even has the ability to use both skills simultaneously, and then, whether their internal energy won¡¯t clash when activating both skills. And Qiao Sang''s airborne counter-shield idea isn''t just two skills in tandem. Clone, fire whirl, telekinesis. That¡¯s three! Even many professional beast tamers wouldn¡¯t be able to do that! But because it was Qiao Sang, Zheng Guoping¡¯s first thought was: Only a genius could think like this. At such a young age, already considering combo techniques. Her potential is limitless... "I understand, but I still feel it¡¯s better to use this move in the air." Qiao Sang said, looking in Yabao¡¯s direction. Zheng Guoping paused, surprised. "Didn¡¯t you just say you knew what to do?" Qiao Sang nodded, saying, "Thank you for reminding me, Teacher. Having the clone control the main body to spin has too many drawbacks. I¡¯ve decided to let Yabao spin on his own in the air." Zheng Guoping: ??? What on earth? Qiao Sang¡¯s words left him utterly dumbfounded! When did he ever say having the clone control the main body to spin was a disadvantage? He hadn¡¯t even mentioned it! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I was just saying that if your opponent initiates an attack, using the airborne version of the counter-shield might be too late." Zheng Guoping repeated his earlier persuasion. Of course, this was an excuse to make her give up, the real reason being he thought this move was impossible to master. "I understand." Qiao Sang said seriously. "So I¡¯ll skip the clone step. If I can get Yabao to spin on his own in the air while using the fire whirl, there¡¯ll be plenty of time for defense." Zheng Guoping paused, realizing she had a point... But that was just his excuse! Should he just come out and say, "Don¡¯t practice this move; it''s a waste of time and energy because it¡¯s impossible to master"? Even without the clone, coordinating telekinesis with the flame vortex is still a combo! "If you want to use two skills simultaneously, the skill proficiency needs to be very high." Zheng Guoping said tactfully. Coordinating two skills requires proficiency, no doubt about it. The higher the proficiency, the more effective the combo. This is a headache for most professional beast tamers. Improving proficiency takes time. Without that, no matter how good the concept is, it¡¯s just theory. "I understand, Teacher." Qiao Sang nodded. "I¡¯ll work on improving Yabao¡¯s telekinesis and fire whirl proficiency next." Zheng Guoping: ... He really couldn¡¯t keep up with a genius¡¯s thought process... --- 8:01 PM. Yabao and Little Treasure sat side by side, watching Qiao Sang sitting cross-legged on the sofa, munching on an apple. "I¡¯ve modified the counter-shield. Instead of having the clone control the main body to spin, Yabao, you¡¯ll spin yourself." Qiao Sang said, taking a bite of the apple. "Let¡¯s practice at about a centimeter off the ground so it won¡¯t hurt if you fall." "Once you can spin without getting dizzy, we¡¯ll start allocating some time to practice telekinesis and the fire whirl together." "Yap!" Yabao wagged his tail, signaling no problem. "Xun..." Little Treasure pouted, disappointed he wouldn¡¯t be helping with the spinning. He actually found that part fun. Qiao Sang smiled at Little Treasure. "You can spin by yourself if you want." "Xun." Little Treasure quickly shook his head. Spinning himself was nowhere near as fun as spinning others. "Yap?" Yabao blinked, looking over at his buddy. So, he was helping spin him just for fun? Little Treasure: ... Before bed, Qiao Sang went to the sink and picked up the milk bottle she¡¯d left there in the morning. Still full. She twisted the cap. It had been opened. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Tsk, drank it again¡­ --- Late at night, with everything quiet and still. Outside Room 1705, where Qiao Sang lived, crouched a figure under a palm tree. "I assure you, what you saw this morning was either a mirage or an accident." The chubby security guard said, looking down at his reluctant Water Snail. "You likely encountered the Water Luriana we¡¯re looking for. It might know the Mirage skill, and what you saw was probably just an illusion it created." "Drip?" Water Snail turned to him, its innocent eyes looking up at its beast tamer. Really? "Really, I swear." The chubby guard raised three fingers in an oath. "At this hour, you¡¯ll find everyone inside asleep. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll run into anyone. If I¡¯m lying, may I stay single forever." Chapter 200: Shadow Steps Under the binding oath of its Beast Master, the Water Snail once again set off for Room 1705. As it approached the courtyard, it carefully peeked its head around the corner of a wall. Sure enough, the massive creatures from the morning were nowhere to be seen. "Drip~" Relieved, the Water Snail turned its gaze toward the nearby pond. At the same time, Little Treasure removed his VR headset, looking rather glum. Forced offline again... "Xun..." Little Treasure pouted, glancing at the sleeping Qiao Sang and Yabao. Nothing to play with, no one to keep him company... so boring... Looks like he¡¯ll have to find some ants to practice hypnosis on. Being action-oriented, Little Treasure drifted right through the door, heading outside. Floating into the courtyard, he spotted an insect-type pet beast crawling toward the pond. His eyes lit up, suddenly feeling energized. This was the first time he had seen an awake pet beast in the house at night. "Xun!" Little Treasure disappeared on the spot. In the next second, he reappeared in front of the unfamiliar insect-type pet beast, grinning widely with a friendly smile. "Xun!" Hearing the voice and sensing the looming shadow above, the Water Snail¡¯s expression turned horrified. Its eyes widened, and cold sweat broke out across its body. After a moment, it mustered the courage to look up. "Drip!!!" Seeing the ghost-type pet beast in front of it, mouth open wide, the Water Snail shivered and let out an ear-piercing wail before it passed out completely. "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head in confusion. Before he could figure out why the other had fainted, he noticed a faint white glow surrounding the insect-type pet beast. Little Treasure was quite familiar with this light. It was the same glow Yabao emitted when his Beast Master placed him back in the Beast Codex. Almost instinctively, Little Treasure extended a short toe, connecting his shadow with the Water Snail''s shadow. The white light faded. The Water Snail remained on the spot. Outside Room 1705, the chubby security guard crouched under a palm tree, frozen in his summoning stance, every hair on his body standing on end. What the hell? What¡¯s going on?! Why can¡¯t he summon it back?! ¡­ Qiao Sang awoke from the feeling of suffocation. Opening her eyes, she found Little Treasure¡¯s big face staring right at her. Her drowsiness vanished instantly. "Why are you pinching my nose?" Qiao Sang sat up, rubbed her eyes, and muttered in frustration. If she kept getting scared like this, she¡¯d end up with a nervous breakdown. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure held up the still-fainting insect-type pet beast to show his Beast Master. Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment. Looking closer, she realized it was a pet beast she had never seen before. "Are you saying someone sent it into our home?" Qiao Sang asked with a slight frown. "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded vigorously. A sudden thought struck Qiao Sang. She quickly got out of bed, put on her shoes, turned on the light, and headed to her desk to check her bag in one swift motion. Seeing her wallet with all her cards and a small amount of cash intact, she let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness¡­ everything¡¯s still here¡­ If her cards were lost, replacing them would be a minor issue, but if someone used her ID card¡¯s photo to have a Phantom Water Baby shapeshift and impersonate her for facial recognition, that would be a real problem. Even though current identity verification systems are more rigorous, including iris recognition, the unique abilities and skills of pet beasts make it hard to predict what methods others might use for fraud. "Where did you find it?" Qiao Sang asked as she returned to the bed. "Xun." Little Treasure pointed toward the door. The courtyard? Qiao Sang blinked, wondering if there was anything valuable in the courtyard. Or maybe the intruder hadn''t acted yet and had been caught by Little Treasure as soon as they got inside? A sense of unease stirred in Qiao Sang¡¯s heart. Beast Masters generally hold themselves to a certain standard, and anyone sneaking into someone else''s home like this wouldn¡¯t be a decent person. Nowadays, it¡¯s not just bad people to be wary of, but bad people who also happen to be Beast Masters with unknown backgrounds. After a moment¡¯s thought, Qiao Sang took out her phone and snapped a photo of the unconscious insect-type pet beast, uploading it for a quick search. It didn¡¯t take long to get information on the pet beast. The Water Snail, a low-level water-type pet beast from the Ancient Guwu Region, has a maximum evolution level of high-grade. Among pet beasts, it¡¯s fairly unremarkable, though still sought after by some business-oriented individuals. The primary reason for this is its ability to help drink alcohol. Strictly speaking, it transfers alcohol from a human¡¯s body into its own through skin contact with its breathing pores. For those with low alcohol tolerance or allergies, it''s practically a lifesaver. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t particularly interested in this ability. Her attention was fixed on the phrase Ancient Guwu Region. To be honest, encountering someone from the Ancient Guwu Region in the neighborhood could be chalked up to coincidence, but a pet beast from that area sneaking into her house in the middle of the night? That was far more than coincidence. This must be aimed at Water Luriana¡­ Qiao Sang quickly came to a conclusion. Pet beasts from outside their native regions are rare sights. Encountering one is as uncommon as running into an ex on the street, something worth mentioning online. "Can your Shadow Control still hold?" Qiao Sang asked, looking at Little Treasure. "Xun... Xun!" Little Treasure glanced at his shadow link with the Water Snail, first tilting his head before nodding to indicate he could handle it. Shadow Control not only allows for controlling others through shadows, but it also grants abilities similar to the Shadow Step trait. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among all traits, Shadow Step is one of the most dreaded. It prevents any non-ghost pet beast from escaping if they lack the trait themselves. It¡¯s also a counter to teleportation. The Water Snail was restrained by the advanced Shadow Control, which possesses a similar but stronger ability than Shadow Step, making it impossible for it to be summoned back. Who¡¯d have thought Little Treasure could maintain a high-level skill like Shadow Control for so long? Qiao Sang mused. It seems that while some advanced skills can be used for extended periods by reducing energy output, others simply cannot. For instance, Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain, even with its current level, can¡¯t be cast more than a few times in a row due to energy limits. Should I report this¡­? Qiao Sang wondered, looking at the unconscious Water Snail. A Beast Master¡¯s pet beast trespassing into someone¡¯s home in the dead of night was more than enough reason to call the authorities. If she reported it, she¡¯d have the Water Snail as evidence to track down its Beast Master. But if the Beast Master exposed Water Luriana¡¯s existence, the patrol team would definitely take Water Luriana away. ----- T/N: Yay! 200 chapters in! By the way, I''m going back from updating 2 chaps tomorrow! Chapter 201: Its Coming Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- However, not calling the police left Qiao Sang uneasy. Having an unknown beast tamer always watching her house was unnerving. Qiao Sang wrestled with her thoughts. On one hand, she had a rare chance to form a contract with the water creature Water Luriana, whose rarity was on par with mythical beasts. On the other, her own safety was at stake. Before Water Luriana could be contracted, there was no doubt that any beast tamer who discovered it would stop at nothing to capture it by any means necessary. It would be manageable if the tamer of this water snail wasn¡¯t too high-ranking. But if they were, there was a real risk she could have a deadly accident. If only she could contract with Water Luriana right now¡­ Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t unlocked the third page of her beast taming codex. Otherwise, she could just go for a forceful contract. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze lingered on the unconscious water snail for a full minute before an idea struck her. Among the 36 stratagems, psychological warfare was often the best. First, there was a 99.99% chance that this water snail was contracted by a beast tamer from Guwu. Second, if the beast tamer was from Guwu, they likely tracked Water Luriana from there. After all, Water Luriana and they both hailed from Guwu. It didn¡¯t make sense for Water Luriana to be hiding in the backyard pond all this time, only for a beast tamer from Guwu, thousands of miles away, to find it here so precisely. Following this line of reasoning, she was nearly certain that this person was the very reason Water Luriana had fled from Guwu to Yuhua. Compared with someone who had forced it to escape across such a distance, it was obvious which side Water Luriana would pick. Ding-dong¡­ Just then, the doorbell rang. Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at her phone. 3:44 a.m. Someone ringing the doorbell at this hour? This was¡­ a bit intense! ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure heard the doorbell and, curious, wanted to float over to check. Qiao Sang called it back in time, ¡°Don¡¯t go. The person outside is probably this water snail¡¯s tamer. I don¡¯t think they have good intentions.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes went wide, and he hurriedly floated over to the still-sleeping Yabao, nudging him. Yabao didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s voice grew louder. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao seemed to be in a sweet dream, his mouth curling in a grin as drool trickled down. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure considered releasing the water snail and waking Yabao the same way he woke his own tamer by pinching their nose. At that moment, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Go to the pond and find a way to wake Water Luriana. Tell it not to come out. Bring the water snail along and let Water Luriana take a look, but make sure the water snail doesn¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head, confused. ¡°The water snail¡¯s tamer is probably after Water Luriana. Just go and warn it.¡± Qiao Sang explained. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded in understanding and grabbed the water snail, floating towards the courtyard. Ding-dong¡­ ding-dong¡­ The doorbell kept ringing. Qiao Sang put on her slippers and checked the monitor for the video doorbell. A man in a black suit appeared on the screen. He was slightly overweight, with narrow eyes and thick lips. It was the security guard she¡¯d felt uneasy about two days prior. Seems my instincts weren¡¯t wrong after all¡­ --- Li Songhai stood outside, growing anxious. His inability to recall the water snail troubled him greatly. He¡¯d already investigated the resident of Unit 1705 two days ago. It was just a young girl, a minor who had recently moved in. Apparently, she had contracted two pets, probably the ones he saw that day. He knew a fair bit about Yuhua¡¯s pet beasts, but he couldn¡¯t identify the species of those two he¡¯d seen. The dog-like beast with red and white fur looked fiery, with an intense keep away expression, an unmistakable fire-type trait. The other pet, gray with a yellow ring and a scarred face, was harder to classify. It could be psychic, dark, or ghost-type. Li Songhai ruled out ghost-type first. Though it looked ghostly, most beast tamers didn¡¯t form ghost-type contracts in their first three slots, especially not a girl this young. Next, he dismissed the dark type. Students rarely contracted dark-types. That left the psychic type, which was widely favored, especially by wealthy families. Their children often leaned toward psychic-type pets. Based on this analysis, he figured that gray beast with the ring was most likely psychic-type. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. He couldn¡¯t understand what in this apartment was blocking him from summoning the water slug. The unknown was the scariest thing of all. With his thoughts consumed by the water slug, he stopped worrying so much about Water Luriana. After all, if anything happened to a contracted pet, it could cause significant mental damage to the beast tamer. And no tamer could afford to neglect the brain. If something really was inside, he¡¯d have no choice but to summon his initial pet and risk exposure. Just as Li Songhai¡¯s mind raced with uneasy thoughts, the girl¡¯s voice sounded from the intercom. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Though Qiao Sang knew who it was, she deliberately spoke with a bit of irritation. No one liked being woken up by the doorbell at this hour. Li Songhai perked up and quickly answered, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the security guard. We met two days ago. My pet accidentally wandered into your apartment. Could I come in to look for it?¡± Qiao Sang replied pointedly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just recall it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the issue, I can¡¯t summon it back.¡± Li Songhai explained. ¡°You can¡¯t recall it?¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s voice rose in mock disbelief. ¡°Who are you kidding? Since when can¡¯t a pet be summoned back?¡± Li Songhai resisted the urge to barge in. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, I swear.¡± As she half-listened to him, Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze drifted and noticed a small puddle of water on the floor. Her eyes lit up. Finally, you showed up! At that moment, Little Treasure returned, holding the unconscious water snail. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure floated over, shaking his head helplessly. He had managed to wake Water Luriana, but it had stubbornly refused to stay in the pond and insisted on coming out. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang reassured him, patting Little Treasure on the head. ¡°You did well.¡± Water Luriana was naturally cautious and unlikely to trust easily. If she asked it to stay hidden, it would probably do the opposite. Sure enough, here it was. ----- ----- Chapter 202: The Ancient Dialect Inside the room, Li Songhai grew increasingly anxious as the girl ignored him. ¡°I¡¯m not lying, I swear!¡± He forced out a friendly smile, trying to appear more approachable. Who even believes in oaths these days... Qiao Sang thought with a silent sneer but replied, ¡°Go ahead, swear.¡± Li Songhai felt a glimmer of hope and immediately raised his index, middle, and ring fingers to swear, ¡°If I¡¯m lying, may I remain single forever!¡± This was his go-to oath since his youth, and it hadn¡¯t changed. Despite being a well-regarded beast master, he was still single. It was hard to tell if it was due to his personality or if he had taken too many such vows. Hearing his oath, Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. She paused, then deliberately remarked, ¡°No way, Uncle. You¡¯re still single at your age? I thought you¡¯d have kids my age by now.¡± A true stab to the heart. Li Songhai felt as though an arrow had pierced his chest. Already in a bad mood, his spirits sank further. After a struggle to suppress his frustration, Qiao Sang added, ¡°Uncle, I think you¡¯re lying. You¡¯re probably not even a beast master. Although you¡¯re... not exactly a sight to behold, beast masters don¡¯t typically have trouble finding partners.¡± Li Songhai froze, stunned, unable to move for a moment. After a long pause, he pulled out a cigarette and lighter, lit up, took a heavy drag, and exhaled slowly. Why, as a successful beast master, am I still single at this age? Could it really be because of his appearance...? Gazing at the smoke overhead, Li Songhai¡¯s emotions erupted as he kicked the door hard and bellowed, ¡°You little brat! You¡¯ve got rocks for brains! Open this door now, or I¡¯ll show you what happens when you tick me off!¡± Qiao Sang: ... Although she had intended to provoke him, his ancient dialect, which sounded just like Sichuanese, left her momentarily stunned. Nowadays, the Alliance had standardized language, and everyone spoke the common language. Even foreign countries had mandatory classes on it from elementary school. At school and with friends, Qiao Sang had always used the common language. Hearing him speak a dialect so similar to Sichuanese threw her off. ¡°Lu Lu.¡± A small head appeared from a tiny pool of water, Water Luriana glaring towards the door in disgust. Qiao Sang¡¯s face lit up, seeing Water Luriana openly appear in front of her. What did this mean? It meant Water Luriana had grown less guarded toward her! Having someone else to compare against truly helped... Clearing her throat, Qiao Sang spoke to the camera, ¡°Uncle, shouting won¡¯t help. Unless you summon your beast, I won¡¯t believe you¡¯re a beast master.¡± If Li Songhai hadn¡¯t been blinded by anger, he would have mentioned that he had only contracted with a single Water Snail But he was consumed by proving himself a beast master. ¡°Watch carefully!¡± Li Songhai tossed away his half-smoked cigarette and formed a seal with his hands. A beast appeared in a green star array, with an orange and brown body made of two rocks, a single eye, four arms, and two legs. The beast was lying down with its eye closed, resting. All of its hands were on the upper rock, each hand with five claw-like fingers. Qiao Sang watched, her eyes narrowing with various thoughts. It¡¯s sleeping at this hour, so it has a regular schedule. A green star array. Most likely a D-rank beast master. If he contracted beasts at each rank-up, he should have three beasts in his beast registry by now. The fact that he¡¯s chasing Water Luriana so intently suggests he has an empty slot reserved for her. ¡°See? Now open the door!¡± Li Songhai dropped all pretenses. ¡°Lu Lu¡­¡± Water Luriana seemed to think it was time to find a new place to live. It glanced at Qiao Sang, then at Little Treasure by her side, hesitating for a moment before steeling its resolve. Just as Water Luriana was about to melt back into the water, Qiao Sang turned and pointed at the monitor, smiling, ¡°Is it someone like that who forced you to flee to Yuhua District?¡± ¡°Lu Lu?¡± Water Luriana looked puzzled, not understanding why Qiao Sang would say such a thing when the man outside looked so fierce. Then, Li Songhai¡¯s voice came from the monitor, filled with gritted anger, ¡°Why are you holding me back? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong! My beast got lost in that house, and I just wanted to retrieve it!¡± Water Luriana froze, lifting its head to look at the monitor. But it was too short, and the monitor was too high for it to see anything. ¡°You want a closer look? I¡¯ll hold you up.¡± Understanding immediately, Qiao Sang offered her hand. ¡°Lu Lu¡­¡± Water Luriana hesitated briefly, but its curiosity won out, and it leapt into her arms. Even though she¡¯d been prepared, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help feeling a thrill. Wow, this was Water Luriana¡¯s first time letting her hold it so closely! What did this mean? It meant she was one step closer to contracting with Water Luriana! Suppressing a proud grin, Qiao Sang held Water Luriana up to the monitor, commenting, ¡°Not the sharpest guy. He got in as a security guard but decided to yell at tenants in the dead of night. That job¡¯s as good as gone.¡± When she¡¯d recognized the man as the security guard she¡¯d seen a couple of days ago, she¡¯d called the property management without a second thought. A little bit of goading, and he¡¯d already started spewing dialect. Basic protocol for security personnel requires putting tenant interests first, viewing themselves as service providers rather than authorities. But here he was, shouting and cursing late at night. Termination was almost certain. Qiao Sang thought he wasn¡¯t exactly bright. If she had tracked Water Luriana all the way here, why settle for being a restricted security guard instead of a tenant? Water Luriana, watching the restrained human on the monitor, was visibly shocked. How could someone be so weak?! --- ¡°Let go of me!¡± Li Songhai wasn¡¯t stupid. The fact that security arrived so quickly meant the girl in apartment 1705 had called them. The security office wasn¡¯t close by, so for them to arrive now, she must have called a while ago. Likely, she¡¯d dialed as soon as he started pressing the doorbell. Anger surged as Li Songhai realized he¡¯d been outwitted by the girl. After all, as a D-rank beast master, his beast¡¯s bond had strengthened him, and with a burst of effort, he broke free from the two guards holding him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 203: Steel-Clad Leg Monster "Hey, man, don¡¯t make this hard for us. If you keep this up, we¡¯ll call the police." Said one of the security guards, looking a bit uneasy, his hair a tousled mess. As soon as he arrived, he saw a beast lying asleep on the ground. He couldn¡¯t identify its species, but its sheer size suggested it could be a high-level pet beast. For a moment, the guard with messy hair wondered if he was still dreaming. Was it really this hard to find work these days? A beast tamer with a high-level pet coming here to be a security guard... Li Songhai''s expression grew increasingly grim. Initially, he planned to keep a low profile so as not to alert Water Luriana, who was hiding in the residential area, so he took up the security job. But not only had he failed to locate Water Luriana, but now this incident had blown up as well. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep his job as a guard after all. Given how loud things had gotten, it was likely Water Luriana would already be aware of his presence. Finding the Water Snail was more important. With this thought, Li Songhai decided not to hold back any longer. "This is too much! I told you I''m only here to find my pet. Since you won¡¯t let me in, I¡¯ll have to break in myself!" Li Songhai shouted through clenched teeth. "Steel-Clad Leg Monster! Wake up!" The two security guards were startled and quickly stepped back to a safer distance. The messy-haired guard formed a hand seal, summoning his own pet beast. --- Steel-Clad Leg Monster... Inside, watching through the monitor, Qiao Sang was intrigued. She picked up her phone, typing out the beast¡¯s name with one hand. Soon, she found the relevant information online. [Steel-Clad Leg Monster: With an unusual appearance, it is a dual-attribute high-level pet beast of Rock and Water types, commonly found near the coast in the Ancient Guwu Region.] A high-level pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang had suspected it upon seeing the green star formation, so she wasn¡¯t too surprised. She looked back up at the monitor. The security guard¡¯s Sand Rat was certainly no match for it. If things escalated, if the police got involved and traced back that this beast tamer from the Ancient Guwu Region had taken a job as a guard here... Then, there would be no chance of securing a contract with Water Luriana. With this thought, Qiao Sang placed Water Luriana down and said, "Stay inside and don¡¯t come out." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lu lu." Water Luriana, seeing that the human in front of her seemed about to leave, showed a worried expression. Qiao Sang grinned, guessing, "Are you worried about me?" "Lu lu..." Water Luriana stiffened, turning her head away. Seeing its awkward demeanor, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t press further and turned to open the door. Just as she reached for the doorknob, she noticed Little Treasure floating over with the Water Snail in his grasp, giving a heroic look toward the door. Startled, Qiao Sang quickly released the doorknob and said, "You don¡¯t need to follow me. I¡¯m just going out to reason with him, not to fight." "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head in confusion. Reason with him? Would that really work? Qiao Sang assured it, "Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s just looking for his lost pet. As soon as he summons the Water Snail back, it¡¯ll all be over." "Xun..." Little Treasure looked down at the Water Snail in his claw, eyes closed. So, this little creature was that important? Following his gaze downward, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something. "Once I go out, stop using Shadow Control to restrain the Water Snail." "Xun xun." Little Treasure nodded. Reassured, Qiao Sang opened the door and stepped out. --- As soon as she left, Water Luriana turned to Little Treasure, pointing toward the monitor. "Lu lu... Lu lu..." It wanted to see what was going on outside. Could it be lifted up? Having spent some time with Water Luriana, Little Treasure had formed a friendship with it. Remembering that he no longer needed to restrain the Water Snail, he flicked his claw, casually tossing the Water Snail aside, and floated over to Water Luriana. "Xun xun..." Little Treasure spread his short arms, intending to lift Water Luriana. He tried, but couldn¡¯t lift it. "Xun!" He tried again, this time with all his might, but Water Luriana still didn¡¯t budge. "Xun xun!" Unwilling to give up, he put all his strength into lifting, his whole face straining. But Water Luriana only lifted about 0.01 centimeters before settling back down. "Lu lu." Water Luriana looked on with a disdainful expression. That human had lifted it easily, so why was this creature struggling? "Xun xun..." Little Treasure huffed in frustration, wasn¡¯t it just because Water Luriana was too heavy? "Lu lu!" Water Luriana looked affronted and started arguing back. "Xun xun." Little Treasure raised a claw in a stop gesture. No need to worry; he had another solution. "Lu lu¡­" Water Luriana called out skeptically. "Xun." Little Treasure raised a short toe, which glowed blue. Using telekinesis, he easily lifted Water Luriana up, bringing it to face the monitor. --- Qiao Sang walked outside, expecting to see the Steel-Clad Leg Monster destroying the Sand Rat. But instead, she was greeted by the sight of the beast tamer from the Ancient Guwu Region with teary eyes, looking deeply aggrieved as he faced the two security guards. ¡°I really lost my pet beast and can¡¯t summon it back. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Li Songhai felt on the brink of madness. Just when he¡¯d finally mustered the resolve to storm in without caring about the consequences, his Steel-Clad Leg Monster refused to wake up! Ah! Heaven and earth, why do you treat me so? As Li Songhai screamed internally, he looked over at the door to unit 1705, which had finally opened. He turned instinctively and saw it was that girl who had refused to open the door. The girl smiled gently. "This might all be a misunderstanding. I thought a stranger knocking at my door in the middle of the night was a threat, so I called for security. Then this man said he was a guard here, so maybe he really just lost his pet by accident." Li Songhai froze, his expression stiffening. So¡­ it was all a misunderstanding on his part? Qiao Sang glanced at the Steel-Clad Leg Monster sleeping at the entrance and said, ¡°Sir, could you recall this pet beast?¡± Listening to her soft voice, Li Songhai suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Yes, she was just a kid; of course, she¡¯d be scared if a stranger knocked on her door at night! She¡¯d have every reason to call for security, or even the police. But he hadn¡¯t been patient at all and had said such harsh words to her. If he had been calm and communicated, there wouldn¡¯t have been this mess. "Of course!" Feeling guilty, Li Songhai immediately nodded and waved his hand, recalling the Steel-Clad Leg Monster to his beast tome. At this point, the messy-haired guard said, ¡°Regardless, knocking on your door at this hour was wrong. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll handle this properly.¡± As he spoke, he signaled his Sand Rat to be ready for action. "Ba ba¡­" The Sand Rat struggled to keep its eyes open. Li Songhai¡¯s face fell, and he was about to summon his beast again. ¡°I could tell from his face that he wasn¡¯t a bad person.¡± Qiao Sang interjected. ¡°Sir, why don¡¯t you try summoning your lost pet again? Sometimes I¡¯ve seen beast tamers on TV whose summoning skills are hit-or-miss.¡± TV shows are all fake¡­ Li Songhai wanted to tell her that, but seeing the girl¡¯s trusting expression, he held back. With a wave, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve tried so many times already, and, wait, what?¡± Chapter 204: Becoming Stronger ¡°What the heck?!¡± ¡°It''s been summoned back?!¡± Li Songhai stared blankly for a long moment before snapping out of it and forming a hand seal. A green star array appeared on the ground, and there, lying with its eyes closed, was the little Water Snail he had struggled to summon back! It was really back... Li Songhai finally felt a twinge of reality upon seeing it. He couldn''t help but feel bewildered. Could that TV drama have been based on true events? Is it really possible for a beast tamer¡¯s summon to be erratic? What was the show called again...? Oh, Beast Taming Rules. He had watched two episodes before losing interest, so he barely remembered the plot. The male lead was an underdog, so he couldn''t really relate. If he had this kind of summoning malfunction, maybe he should finish the show for clues... Qiao Sang, watching this beast tamer from the Guwu Region stare silently at his summoned Water Snail, couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Uncle, this is the pet you couldn¡¯t summon back, right?¡± Li Songhai looked up, his expression complicated, and nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the one.¡± At this moment, a security guard who had been in the background, having failed to summon his own pet, swallowed and said, ¡°Buddy, since your pet¡¯s back, why don¡¯t we head back and get some sleep?¡± The guard with the messy hair remained silent, seeming to agree. The change in attitude was instantaneous. Under normal circumstances, they¡¯d report this to the property manager, who¡¯d probably kick Li Songhai out overnight. But seeing the green star array, they silently agreed to turn a blind eye. If the property manager ever found out, they¡¯d say it was a misunderstanding. If not, they wouldn¡¯t bother stirring things up. What a joke, any beast tamer with a green star array and the ability to contract three pets was no one to mess with, no matter why he was here as a mere security guard. Since the resident vouched that it was a misunderstanding, then a misunderstanding it was. Ignoring them, Li Songhai turned to Qiao Sang and said, ¡°Sorry for the disturbance, but I must warn you, whether you believe it or not, something¡¯s off in this house. There may be a wild pet here.¡± Good grief, could he be talking about Water Luriana? Qiao Sang hesitated and asked, ¡°A wild pet?¡± Li Songhai nodded. ¡°You should know that a beast tamer can sense their pet¡¯s condition. My Water Snail was fine, but it fainted the moment it entered your house. So, I think there might be something strange here. It¡¯d be better if you stayed cautious.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure why the Water Snail fainted, but if it was Water Luriana''s doing, the girl might be in danger. Water Luriana had a history, after all. It wasn¡¯t something he should have said¡­ But, remembering how he had just misunderstood her, and how she wasn¡¯t angry and even spoke up for him, he couldn¡¯t resist giving her a warning. As soon as he finished speaking, Li Songhai¡¯s face showed a tinge of regret. He immediately regretted it. The girl, however, smiled gently. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Well, since he¡¯d already said it, no point dwelling on it¡­ Li Songhai sighed internally. Water Luriana isn¡¯t good at this. This beast tamer isn¡¯t high-level, and he doesn¡¯t seem that bright. How did she end up fleeing for her life? Qiao Sang thought to herself. --- Qiao Sang opened the door and didn¡¯t see Water Luriana who had been here earlier. ¡°Where¡¯s Water Luriana?¡± She asked her little ghost nearby. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure pointed toward the courtyard. This was her chance to build rapport, no way was she leaving Water Luriana alone! Qiao Sang rushed to the courtyard and cleared her throat by the still pond, calling, ¡°Come out. Let¡¯s have a chat.¡± Just as she was about to start talking to herself, thinking Water Luriana wouldn¡¯t show, the creature¡¯s head peeked out from the pond. Qiao Sang was surprised, having never expected Water Luriana to respond so readily. ¡°You saw that guy was here for you, right? Who knows if the Water Snail saw you.¡± Qiao Sang said earnestly, ¡°Even though he¡¯s probably getting fired, who knows if he¡¯ll find another way in? I think it¡¯s too dangerous for you to stay here.¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana called out flatly. With no expression or movement from Water Luriana, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t make out what it was trying to say. She took a deep breath and yelled, ¡°Little Treasure! Come and translate!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure teleported to the poolside. With his help, Qiao Sang finally understood Water Luriana. Goodness, that level of suspicion! It¡¯s actually wondering how she knew he was after it. ¡°Because I¡¯m smart.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Water Luriana froze, its tail in the pool flicking in surprise. It hadn¡¯t expected such a shameless response. ¡°Don¡¯t look so doubtful. Just listen.¡± Qiao Sang said seriously. ¡°My taming abilities awakened on their own, and only smart people can awaken them like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty simple. That guy, like you, is from the Guwu Region. Even though he¡¯s a low-level, D-ranked beast tamer, he¡¯d never work as a guard in a residential area. The Water Snail sneaking in here is proof enough.¡± Water Luriana¡¯s eyes widened, finding her words surprisingly convincing¡­ ¡°Also, I¡¯m not saying he¡¯s bad, but not everyone¡¯s a villain.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang said earnestly, ¡°Look at me, for instance. I¡¯m totally righteous. You¡¯ve been here all this time, and I¡¯ve never had any plans to do anything to you.¡± Shuiluiana¡¯s expression wavered. That seemed to be true¡­ Qiao Sang kept going, ¡°When I went outside just now, he told me there might be a wild pet in the house. I think he knows you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°If you trust me, I can help you.¡± ¡°Lu lu?¡± Water Luriana looked puzzled. How? ¡°Have you ever wondered why he¡¯s after you so relentlessly?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana raised its head proudly, as if the answer were obvious. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure translated on cue. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s because you¡¯re too weak. If you were stronger, would you still need to hide from him? Sure, you¡¯re rare, but if he ran into a mythical beast, guess who¡¯d be the one running?¡± ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Water Luriana paused, then looked enlightened. Yes, if it were strong enough, that guy wouldn¡¯t dare chase it! This human is so clever¡­ Seeing Water Luriana¡¯s expression, Qiao Sang silently congratulated herself. Great! The persuasion¡¯s working. Now for the final step¡­ ¡°I know how to make you stronger, but it¡¯s up to you if you¡¯re willing.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana looked up at her, nodding firmly. And so, under the moonlight, the human and beast forged an agreement to become stronger, without a formal contract. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure watched Water Luriana and his master, who was barely concealing a smirk, feeling like something was a little off. Chapter 205: Youre Already This Old After her conversation with Water Luriana, Qiao Sang returned to her room, too excited to fall asleep. Although she hadn¡¯t secured a contract yet, she was 60% closer to it, and at least Water Luriana was willing to accept her. As the saying goes, acceptance is the beginning of change. With plans to get closer to Water Luriana, Qiao Sang brought her laptop to bed, propping herself up to study Water Luriana¡¯s preferences, thinking of how to progress the remaining 40%. An hour later¡­ Sigh¡­ Qiao Sang rubbed her temples, her youthful face showing slight fatigue. It wasn¡¯t that she was tired from research, but more frustrated that after all that effort, she hadn¡¯t found any useful information. The sheer volume of information online was overwhelming. She¡¯d thought she¡¯d at least find a few helpful clues, but apparently, she¡¯d overestimated netizens¡¯ knowledge of endangered pet beasts. There weren¡¯t even many articles or posts discussing Water Luriana, let alone anyone from the media publishing anything on it. The most recent discussion thread was from half a year ago, posted by a user with a numeric ID. #How can I spot a Water Luriana camouflaged in water? There was only one reply, and it was from the original poster: [Begging for help, I''d be grateful if any experts could respond!] Even with such a humble plea, no one answered him. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and opened the forum, deciding to start her own post. To avoid the same fate as the previous user, she gave her post an eye-catching title: #I just saw a Shui Lu''ana with my own eyes, really, just at 5:46:32 AM on August 28 this year# There are plenty of night owls out there, and the title quickly piqued everyone¡¯s curiosity. ¡°August 28 at 5:46:32 AM? Isn¡¯t that a minute ago?¡± ¡°Water Luriana?! What does it look like?¡± ¡°Never heard of it; what kind of pet beast is this?¡± ¡°Same question.¡± ¡°Its name has ¡®water¡¯ in it. I¡¯d guess it¡¯s a water-type pet beast.¡± Nice, she¡¯d generated interest. To keep the post from getting buried, Qiao Sang started typing: [It¡¯s a near-extinct water-type pet beast from the Ancient Guwu region. It looks incredible; you all can look it up.] Immediately, people joined the discussion. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s the treasure of our Ancient Guwu region!¡± ¡°OP must¡¯ve used up all their good luck for this lifetime!¡± ¡°Ahhh! I looked it up! It¡¯s right on my aesthetic wavelength!¡± ¡°Did you get a photo? Show us!¡± ¡°With an opportunity like that, why didn¡¯t you catch it, OP?¡± Qiao Sang seized the moment and replied: [I¡¯d love to, but my pet-beast Codex doesn¡¯t have any spare contract pages. Does anyone know what Water Luriana likes? I feel I have a connection with it, and I want to be prepared if I run into it again.] ¡°OP is dreaming.¡± ¡°I seriously doubt OP¡¯s story here.¡± ¡°If you really saw it, wouldn¡¯t you have captured it, even without a blank contract page?¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous thinking, buddy.¡± ¡°Clearly you¡¯re not aware, Water Luriana has a merge with water ability, so even if you wanted to, you couldn¡¯t capture it.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she read the latest reply; someone knowledgeable about Water Luriana had appeared! She checked the user¡¯s ID: LetMeMergeWithWater. Several users were commenting as well. ¡°Whoa, merging with water, does that make it unbeatable in water battles?¡± ¡°What¡¯s ¡®merge with water¡¯? Does it mean exactly what it says?¡± LetMeMergeWithWater responded: [It¡¯s nothing special. Water Luriana can blend into water, but the species likes cleanliness. If you suspect it¡¯s in a water source, you don¡¯t even need to look hard; just pollute the water, and it¡¯ll definitely come out.] Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t known that! This user, LetMeMergeWithWater, seemed very knowledgeable about Water Luriana. LetMeMergeWithWater continued posting: [I wonder where OP spotted Water Luriana. Fewer than a hundred Water Lurianas are alive worldwide. It¡¯s everyone¡¯s duty to protect endangered pet beasts, so please, OP, let me know, and I¡¯ll do my part in protecting them too.] ¡°I can hear the schemes all the way over here in Lianke!¡± ¡°And from Yuhua!¡± ¡°Heck, I can even hear them from my bathroom!¡± Qiao Sang quickly searched for a street name in a city within the Ancient Guwu region and then returned to the forum to type: [Not to hide anything, I spotted it near the west gate of the Wetland Park on Shuwu Street in Gong City. Just walk 50 meters down the road from there.] ¡°OP is straightforward. Anyone up for a group trip?¡± ¡°Great, it¡¯s only 3089 km from me.¡± ¡°Awesome, only 910 km. I could get there in 13 hours and 46 minutes on my eagle.¡± ¡°Am I the only one wondering why OP was there at 5 AM?¡± Ignoring the other comments, Qiao Sang tagged LetMeMergeWithWater: [You seem to know quite a lot about Water Luriana, @LetMeMergeWithWater.] LetMeMergeWithWater replied: [I study endangered pet-beast protection; my focus is specifically on those at risk of extinction.] Qiao Sang was floored, she¡¯d actually encountered someone in such a niche field! Hurriedly, she typed: [Do you know what Water Luriana likes or the best way to nurture it?] Without a contract, all she could do was ask online. The allure of a near-extinct pet beast for a pet master was like the pull of a compass to the North Pole, not something to risk carelessly. Even though she had a knowledgeable vice-principal around in real life, Qiao Sang had never considered mentioning it to him. After all, she¡¯d seen plenty of posts about people turning against each other over rare pet beasts in hidden realms. After a minute, LetMeMergeWithWater posted again: [Water Luriana likes clean water. I¡¯m unsure of its nurturing needs, but its near-extinction is largely due to its difficulty evolving. It can¡¯t advance its life stage, so the species¡¯ lifespan tends to be short.] [Its personality affects its evolution into an Ice Qiya form. When it¡¯s stubborn, naive, lively, impatient, mischievous, brave, or straightforward, it evolves into a bold form. With personalities like lonely, slow, timid, gentle, calm, reserved, cautious, or serious, it evolves into a low-profile form.] [Besides personality, there¡¯s another crucial condition: It must experience a heart-wrenching breakup in the rain. Only the emotional energy from facing heartbreak can help it evolve.] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Water Luriana has high standards, it¡¯s hard for it to find a compatible mate. You need to monitor its mood constantly while raising it and keep a rain-summoning pet nearby. Otherwise, if you miss its one chance to evolve through heartbreak, waiting for another chance within its lifetime is nearly impossible.] Qiao Sang stared at the post in shock. She¡¯d never heard of such a bizarre evolution condition before. This was truly eye-opening¡­ Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she typed: [How long is Water Luriana¡¯s lifespan?] LetMeMergeWithWater: [Seven years.] Qiao Sang took a deep breath. No wonder Water Luriana was endangered. Even under protection, its population hadn¡¯t increased much, meeting such extreme evolution conditions within such a short lifespan was almost impossible. Yet the alliance was impressive, they had somehow even figured out these conditions¡­ --- She chatted online until sunrise, while Yabao was still asleep. Qiao Sang changed clothes, tied her hair into a ponytail, and yawned as she stepped into the courtyard. ¡°Water Luriana, are you awake?¡± Qiao Sang called by the pool. ¡°Lu Lu.¡± Water Luriana¡¯s head emerged from the water. Qiao Sang was startled. Recently, she¡¯d gotten used to Water Luriana ignoring her, so it felt strange to have it respond right away¡­ Looking at Water Luriana in the pool, Qiao Sang cleared her throat and said, ¡°To help you train better, I need to know how old you are.¡± ¡°Lu Lu.¡± Water Luriana didn¡¯t hesitate, answering her question. Qiao Sang: ¡­ The frustration of not having a contract, it was like hearing gibberish! Just as Qiao Sang was about to call Little Treasure for a translation, Water Luriana seemed to realize she didn¡¯t understand. It leaped out of the pool, sat down with its tail propping it up, and used its front paws to show seven short digits. Qiao Sang: !!! ¡°What?! You¡¯re already this old!¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. Who would¡¯ve thought Water Luriana was already seven years old? If it didn¡¯t evolve soon, it would¡­ be gone! ¡°Lu Lu?¡± Water Luriana looked confused. Seven months is old? Chapter 206: Meditation After finally getting a little closer to Water Luriana, Qiao Sang received the disheartening news that it was already advanced in age and had little time left. Her emotions were incredibly complex at that moment. No wonder Water Luriana acted so guarded and wary of humans, as if it had seen through people''s true natures. In its final year of life, it had been chased from the Ancient Guwu region all the way to Yuhua. Such a bleak end-of-life experience could easily lead to bitterness. With this realization, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but squat down and gently pat Water Luriana¡¯s head, saying sincerely, "You¡¯ve had a hard life." Water Luriana''s first reaction was to turn its head away, but when it noticed the human''s gaze, it paused. "Lu lu¡­" Feeling the touch on its head, Water Luriana¡¯s ears twitched involuntarily, letting out a reluctant call. Just thinking about the upcoming daily grind, training like Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost, felt exhausting. But hadn¡¯t training not even begun? And here was this human feeling sorry for it, even patting its head¡­ This all felt strange¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll bring you along with me whenever I go out from now on.¡± Qiao Sang said as she looked at Water Luriana. ¡°Lu lu?¡± Water Luriana looked back, puzzled. Though it was young, it knew that any uncontracted companion beasts found in human areas would be captured. ¡°Even if yesterday¡¯s intruder might be dismissed, there are still many ways people could get in. If I leave you here alone, it wouldn¡¯t be safe.¡± Qiao Sang replied, mistaking Water Luriana¡¯s puzzled look as a question. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Water Luriana nodded, thinking the human''s reasoning made sense. Seeing it agree, Qiao Sang patted its head with satisfaction and said, ¡°When we go out, you can hide in my bag. Our school has a fountain, so once we¡¯re there, you can stay by the water until I finish my training in the afternoon. Then, I¡¯ll bring you home.¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana nodded, finding this plan workable. It felt that this human had thought things through; this way, outsiders would have a hard time spotting it. Though their communication was somewhat muddled, in the end, Qiao Sang and Water Luriana managed to reach a consensus on daily outings. --- Half an hour later. ¡°Yap¡­¡± ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± In the living room, Yabao and Water Luriana were locked in a stare-down. Little Treasure sat nearby, sipping milk, looking between Yabao and Water Luriana. Qiao Sang rubbed her temples in frustration. She didn¡¯t know if it was an innate dislike or just a clash between water and fire-type companion beasts, but the two seemed perpetually on the verge of a fight, even though they no longer clashed as aggressively as they did in the beginning. ¡°Yabao, come here. I need to talk to you.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao instantly closed his bared teeth and obediently walked over. Bringing Yabao into her room, Qiao Sang shut the door and said solemnly, ¡°You need to treat Water Luriana a bit better from now on.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao frowned, confused. That creature had always sprayed him with water at night while he slept. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you this, but¡­¡± Qiao Sang sighed, her tone heavy. ¡°Water Luriana doesn¡¯t have much time left.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Qiao Sang continued, ¡°Water Luriana¡¯s species only lives for seven years, and it¡¯s exactly seven this year.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s mood sank as he whimpered, feeling guilty. He had been bullying an elderly companion beast all this time¡­ ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Qiao Sang patted Yabao¡¯s head to comfort it. ¡°Even though it¡¯s old, it¡¯s still going strong. If it hadn¡¯t told us, we wouldn¡¯t even know how old it was.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao felt deeply remorseful. Even though she said that, he felt terrible knowing that it had so little time left, and he had been picking on it for weeks. Looking at Yabao seriously, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find a way to help Water Luriana evolve, so it¡¯ll be okay.¡± "Yap yap?" Yabao blinked its teary eyes at his beast trainer. Really? "Really." Qiao Sang nodded firmly. Water Luriana evolving would indeed be difficult. Liking another companion beast in its last days only to experience heartbreak was like an elderly person finally finding love in their twilight years, only to lose it, an unimaginable heartbreak. But with her hidden talent, as long as she worked hard to awaken the third page of her Beast Training Codex, she wouldn''t need Water Luriana to endure heartbreak to make it evolve. Though developing her brain¡¯s potential wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved overnight, Qiao Sang still felt it was more reliable to focus on developing her mind quickly rather than letting Water Luriana experience heartbreak in its old age. Outside the room. Little Treasure peeked in, listening to his trainer¡¯s conversation with Yabao. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pulling his head back, he turned around and looked at Water Luriana with a complex expression. If looks could speak, his gaze would say, I didn¡¯t expect you to be an old-timer. "Lu lu?" Water Luriana looked back at Little Treasure in confusion, completely unaware that it was now seen as a pet nearing the end of its days. When Yabao came out of the room, Water Luriana¡¯s tail stiffened, and it instinctively gave Yabao a wary look. But this time, instead of returning the look, Yabao hesitated, then forced a smile at Water Luriana. Water Luriana: ??? --- At school, Qiao Sang brought Water Luriana to the fountain before heading to the training room. During free training time, instead of scrolling on her phone like usual, she approached Zheng Baolong and asked, ¡°Teacher, could you teach me the meditation technique now?¡± Zheng Guoping was momentarily stunned. She hadn¡¯t wanted to learn before, and now, with school about to start again, she suddenly wanted to learn meditation? If it had been any other student, Zheng Guoping would probably have ignored the request. Every teacher had their own subjects to teach. He taught competitive battling for the school team, not meditation. But since it was Qiao Sang asking, he didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Wait here a moment.¡± He quickly left the training room. Ten minutes later. Zheng Guoping returned holding a book. ¡°Take this book, Meditation Techniques. Go through it first, it has annotations and illustrations. Ask me if anything¡¯s unclear.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded as she took the book. Beast trainers were all familiar with Meditation Techniques. Even if Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t read it before, she knew that in both high school and college, beast trainers generally followed the methods in this book to meditate. There are countless ways to meditate, and numerous researchers have studied meditation in-depth, ultimately concluding that Meditation Techniques is the most suitable method for beast trainers'' mental training. Meditation, also known as mental exercise, has been studied using scientific technologies such as functional MRI and EEG, showing that regular meditation significantly enhances brain activity and promotes brain development. Using scientific technology, such as functional MRI and EEG, research shows that regular meditation can significantly enhance brain activity, leading to the development of new brain regions. However, meditation requires a certain aptitude. Many Beast Tamers, even after joining the field, struggle to enter a meditative state and can only rely on the brain''s gradual, natural development. Qiao Sang felt confident she could meditate without issue and immediately opened her book. Time was of the essence, if she could master meditation early to enhance her brain''s abilities, there was a higher chance that Water Luriana could evolve into Ice Qiya before reaching its life limit. With this mission in mind, Qiao Sang earnestly read Meditation Techniques and, following the illustrations, sat cross-legged, relaxed her mind, took deep breaths, and cleared her thoughts completely... "Look at you all. Here she is, already meditating before school even starts, and she''s achieved a meditative state so quickly. And what about you guys? All you''ve done is let your beasts control energy output freely, lowering skill proficiency. It''s been days, and there''s been no progress whatsoever." Zheng Guoping pointed at the cross-legged Qiao Sang, who had her eyes closed, and spoke in frustration to Wang Yao and the others. "Hey, I managed to meditate on my first class." Wang Yao muttered. Zheng Guoping shot her a sharp look, and Wang Yao immediately went silent. "The National Campus Beast Mastery League is coming up soon. If you don''t start putting in the effort now, how do you expect to get into a good college? Through regular exams?" Zheng Guoping scolded. Unable to hold back, Wang Yao raised her hand and said, "I ranked sixth in the entire grade for the finals." Zheng Guoping''s eye twitched, and he raised his voice, "Was I talking to you? I meant those two!" Shi Gaofeng: ... At that moment, Xu Yajie suddenly asked, "Do you drool when you meditate?" "Who drools while meditating?" Shi Gaofeng scoffed. Xu Yajun paused for two seconds, then pointed at Qiao Sang. "Her." Wang Yao and Shi Gaofeng quickly turned their heads, noticing that Qiao Sang indeed had a bit of drool hanging from her mouth. Unable to bear such a misunderstanding of this prodigy, Zheng Guoping frowned and clarified, "Some people do drool. When the body relaxes, and focus intensifies, saliva flows down from the palate continuously, it''s a natural physiological response." "Oh, I see¡­" Wang Yao and the others nodded in understanding. "But do people sway during meditation?" Xu Yajie asked, noticing Qiao Sang''s swaying upper body. "No wonder your grades aren''t great; you don''t even know this." Zheng Guoping replied dismissively, "Swaying is a natural reaction for some people during meditation. It varies based on individual physical conditions and vestibular balance sensitivity." "As long as it doesn¡¯t cause significant interference, don¡¯t worry about it. With consistent meditation, these symptoms will gradually diminish or stabilize." "I see..." Wang Yao, Shi Gaofeng, and Xu Yajie nodded, feeling as though they had learned something valuable. Half an hour later, Qiao Sang opened her eyes. Damn it, I actually fell asleep¡­ Chapter 208: The Start of the School Term Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment before she remembered that Yabao''s second photoshoot hadn¡¯t been completed. She had thought it would start in mid-August, but only now did they reach out. If Song Yuan hadn¡¯t called, she might have completely forgotten about it¡­ Qiao Sang quickly picked up her phone and answered, "Hello?" "Qiao Sang, how¡¯s the special training going?" Song Yuan¡¯s voice came through the speaker. "It¡¯s going well." Qiao Sang replied. "Good to hear. By the way, when do you have some free time soon? Our fall collection of sunglasses is ready, so let me know when you¡¯re available, and I''ll arrange the shoot." Song Yuan said, finally revealing the real reason for her call after some small talk. "How about 6:30 tonight?" Qiao Sang asked. "Perfect, I¡¯ll set it up." Song Yuan replied happily. --- 6:42 PM 18th Floor, Jin Entertainment Building In the studio, under the spotlight. "Perfect, absolutely perfect!" The photographer praised wildly, holding the camera as he snapped photos of Yabao, who was wearing rectangular red sunglasses. "Yap." Yabao tilted his head and struck another pose. "Great, just like that!" The photographer praised excitedly. "This cyberpunk-tech-inspired sunglasses design was custom-made based on Flame Hound¡¯s image. What do you think?" Song Yuan asked with a smile, looking at the Flames Hound wearing the futuristic shades. The designers at the shop had nearly worked themselves into exhaustion finalizing this design, all to harness the traffic Flame Hound could bring in. She was absolutely confident these sunglasses would be a hit! "Very impressive." Qiao Sang genuinely complimented. Compared to the pink heart-shaped sunglasses from last time, these matched Yabao much better. At this moment, everyone was watching the Flame Hound under the spotlight. No one noticed a small blue head peeking out from Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack, staring at Yabao intently. Aqua-blue eyes reflected Yabao¡¯s image. "Lu lu..." Who would¡¯ve thought he had a cool side too¡­ After the shoot ended, Song Yuan suggested, "To celebrate a successful shoot, why don¡¯t we go out for dinner?" Qiao Sang paused for two seconds, then replied, "I already ate before coming over." Song Yuan: ... "Alright." Song Yuan said after a pause, then casually asked, "Are you short on money?" How could she be, with a seven-figure balance in her bank account... Qiao Sang thought to herself, but honestly replied, "Yes." Truth be told, those seven figures were just an illusion, she really did need money. Though her balance looked large, two-thirds of it was earmarked for Yabao and Little Treasure¡¯s food, and now she had to add Water Luriana¡¯s expenses too. After subtracting various other costs, the money didn¡¯t stretch very far. Thankfully, she had a golden finger allowing her to evolve her beasts directly through attribute points without having to buy evolution materials. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be able to afford three pets. "So, what do you think about us continuing to work together?" Song Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up as she asked. "Sure." Qiao Sang nodded. Working with Song Yuan had been pleasant. When Yabao evolved early and breached their contract, she hadn¡¯t used it as leverage, leaving Qiao Sang with a good impression of her. Song Yuan took a deep breath, surprised by Qiao Sang''s straightforwardness. Many beastmasters, after gaining a bit of fame, would look down their noses at others and raise their rates. But Qiao Sang was still the same as before, unchanged. For a moment, Song Yuan felt sentimental, after all, a newly minted beastmaster was different from a seasoned adult in the workforce. While Song Yuan was deep in thought, Qiao Sang spoke up, "But I have two conditions." "Go ahead." Song Yuan said seriously. "First, I want to make sure Flame Hound''s evolution won¡¯t affect our contract terms during the contract period." Qiao Sang said. "Of course." Song Yuan smiled and assured her, "No need to worry. In fact, I''d be thrilled if he evolved during the contract period." As the latest evolution of Fire Fang Dog, Flame Hound¡¯s next stage would be highly anticipated. If he could evolve during the contract period, her store would be guaranteed to profit. "Second." Qiao Sang said seriously, "I want a pay increase." Song Yuan: "...Of course." Forty minutes later, Qiao Sang walked out of the building, satisfied, with a million-a-year contract in hand. --- Over the next two days, life continued as usual. Yabao''s resistance to dizziness showed significant improvement. After spinning for half a day, he could stop without feeling unsteady, although he still struggled with combining spinning and shooting a fire whirl at the same time, it kept sputtering out halfway. This was just because his skill with the fire whirl wasn¡¯t yet perfected. Once he reached mastery, the counter-shield would work seamlessly. As for Little Treasure, aside from spending three hours a day with the virtual helmet, he was mostly training his rings, and his routine had settled in. Water Luriana, on the other hand, was giving Qiao Sang a headache. After browsing countless online compilations of famous pet stars¡¯ videos from the past century, she still hadn¡¯t found one she liked. It was confirmed that Water Luriana had exceptionally high standards. --- September 1st, the first day of the school term for all high school students. Qiao Sang got up early, washed, ate a piece of bread, and headed to school with a backpack containing Water Luriana. Since there would be a lot of people on campus, Qiao Sang decided to keep a low profile by storing Yabao in the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex. Having spent all of August at Shengshui High School, she was quite familiar with the layout. She headed straight to the notice board for freshman class placements. She remembered Wang Yao mentioning that special admissions students were all assigned to Class Nine. Class Nine¡­ Qiao Sang scanned the Class Nine list from top to bottom and paused. Why wasn¡¯t she on it? Qiao Sang pondered for a moment, and then a memory surfaced. Oh, right. Her mom had mentioned during a call for training that she¡¯d been placed in the Elite Class... Qiao Sang checked the Elite Class list and, sure enough, spotted her name in the 39th spot. Grade 10, Class 1. The Elite Class, or the Honors Class. Students selected for this class had gone through a rigorous process. They were either guaranteed admissions, scored top marks on the entrance exam, or were exceptional talents among the special admissions. In short, the class was full of geniuses. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang had thought that the academic stars in Shengshui High¡¯s Elite Class would all be sitting quietly with books from home, waiting for the teacher¡¯s arrival. Instead, the classroom was a frenzy, with students chasing their pets around in utter chaos. "White Sand Fox, don¡¯t run away!" "Whose Sand Digger Rat is this?! Why is it biting my Little Sand?" "Green Claw Cat, give that guy his glasses back!" "Oh no! Twin-headed Raven! Why is there a dark-type pet in our class?" "Someone, please get this Fat Dove off my head!" "Who owns this Short-Tail Snake? It¡¯s crawling on me!" "My hat¡¯s floating! What on earth-¡± Qiao Sang looked over, feeling a hunch, and touched her head. As expected, it was Little Treasure''s¡­ Chapter 209: The Glasses Cracked Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- The classroom was filled with a cacophony of chatter and arguments. Just as Qiao Sang was about to call Little Treasure, a crisp voice rang out, ¡°Qiao Sang, over here!¡± She followed the voice and saw Jin Feifan sitting excitedly at the back corner of the classroom, the designated seats for underachievers, waving at her energetically. Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment. She went over and took the empty seat beside her. ¡°Did you get placed here too?¡± Only students with particular strengths made it into the Elite Class. Apparently, Jin Feifan and Little Ball Pofu¡¯s coordination skills were quite valued by the school. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jin Feifan said sheepishly, ¡°I scored 645 on the high school entrance exam.¡± Qiao Sang: ...! What on earth? The exam was out of 650 points, and you scored 645?! ¡°I thought you were a special admit?¡± Qiao Sang asked after a moment of silence. ¡°Mm.¡± Jin Feifan scratched her head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t too confident about the exam, so I tried out for special admission in case I needed a lower score.¡± You weren¡¯t confident, and you scored 645?! Qiao Sang felt exhausted. She didn¡¯t want to say anything for a while. ¡°It¡¯s not just me; Lu You and Wang Jihang from the school team are also in this class.¡± Jin Feifan continued. Before Qiao Sang could respond, she suddenly felt a weight on her head. Judging by the weight, it definitely wasn¡¯t Little Treasure. Before she could reach up to check, a bespectacled boy rushed over, shouting, ¡°Fat Dove, how many times do I have to tell you? Don¡¯t land on people¡¯s heads randomly!¡± So, it was Fat Dove¡­ Qiao Sang realized there was a plump little dove sitting on her head. Then she felt it flutter off. ¡°Coo coo~¡± The little fat dove flew past her eyes and landed on the head of the boy sitting in front. ¡°Why is this thing here again?!¡± The boy in the front row yelled. ¡°Sorry, sorry! Fat Dove, come back here!¡± The bespectacled boy frantically called. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Coo coo~¡± The little fat dove flapped its wings and chirped, then flew over to land on a girl¡¯s head. The girl jumped in fright, shouting, ¡°Aah! What is this?!¡± Watching the chaotic scene unfold, Qiao Sang said diplomatically, ¡°Everyone¡¯s beasts are so lively.¡± ¡°Probably because they¡¯ve met so many new friends.¡± Jin Feifan pointed towards the window. ¡°My Little Ball Pofu usually stays close to me, but today it met a vine-wrapped beast with similar traits, so it ran off to play.¡± Qiao Sang looked over and saw Little Ball Pofu, who was usually shy and hid behind Jin Feifan, grinning as it played with a vine-covered creature with only white eyes showing. It seemed like the personality of one¡¯s beast could indeed shift in different environments... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she should arrange a matchmaking event for Water Luriana if she couldn¡¯t find a compatible partner online¡­ No way! As soon as the thought surfaced, she shook her head. Matchmaking for beasts required a trainer¡¯s approval, and if Water Luriana attended, it would definitely attract attention. At that moment, a young man with black-framed glasses and teaching materials entered the classroom. The room fell silent instantly. Everyone sensed the aura of an intellectual. A grown-up appearing at this time could only mean one thing, a teacher. The young man walked up to the podium, scanned the students, and said, ¡°Everyone, please sit down.¡± The students instantly scrambled to find their preferred seats. The young man smiled kindly and said, ¡°Let me introduce myself. My last name is Li, first name Yi. I¡¯ll be your homeroom teacher through the most important three years of your life.¡± ¡°You should all know you¡¯re the cream of this year¡¯s freshman class. I hope¡­¡± Li Yi¡¯s words abruptly stopped. A fat little dove had flown onto his head and bounced a couple of times. To be entrusted with teaching the best class in the city¡¯s top high school, this was nothing new for Li Yi. He calmly adjusted his glasses and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re all new to beast training and want to spend time with your pets, but I ask that during class, you¡­¡± ¡°White Sand Fox! Don¡¯t go outside!¡± Suddenly, a student in the front row chased after a White Sand Fox that had started to trot out of the classroom. Even as he was interrupted, Li Yi remained unruffled. ¡°Let him be. He¡¯ll come back shortly. In these cases, please try to recall your beasts instead of running after them. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The students responded in unison. ¡°Coo coo!¡± Fat Dove, feeling the shift in the room¡¯s atmosphere, gave a couple of bounces. The bespectacled boy looked at his Fat Dove and trembled in his seat. Li Yi wasn¡¯t angry. He simply said, ¡°I ask that you keep your beasts summoned only in the Beast Codex during class. Is that clear?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The students replied together. Li Yi nodded in satisfaction. He smiled for a full 30 seconds before his smile froze. ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you all recalled your beasts yet?¡± The students came to their senses and quickly summoned their pets back. But just then, the teacher¡¯s glasses seemed to mysteriously lift off his face. Li Yi squinted, surveying the classroom, until his gaze settled on a floating Bubble Bell. ¡°Whose Bubble Bell is this?¡± Wang Jihang, sitting in the middle, jumped up. ¡°Teacher, it¡¯s mine.¡± Li Yi kindly advised, ¡°As trainers, we need to control our beasts¡¯ actions when they¡¯re out. Teachers may be used to this, but what if it happened with regular people?¡± Wang Jihang flushed, and hastily recalled the Bubble Bell into the Codex. However, the glasses didn¡¯t fall back but continued to hover in midair. Li Yi was taken aback. He squinted again and scanned the room. Seeing that all the beasts were now recalled, Qiao Sang glanced at the floating glasses, then at the ceiling, feeling a chill run down her spine. She had nearly forgotten about Little Treasure¡­ Leaving a deep impression on her homeroom teacher on the first day of school wasn¡¯t a good idea. Under her desk, Qiao Sang waved her hand, causing a flash of white light to cross the air. ¡°Crash!¡± The glasses hit the floor, and a crack appeared on one of the lenses. ----- ----- Chapter 210: School Teams Strength Showcase Li Yi stepped forward, bent down to pick up his glasses, and examined the crack on the lenses. After a few seconds of silence, he asked with a forced smile, ¡°Whose pet beast just touched my glasses?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ What had to come would eventually come. Qiao Sang took a deep breath, pushed herself up from the table, and admitted, ¡°Mine.¡± Li Yi squinted at the girl sitting in the corner, feeling that she looked somewhat familiar. To be sure, he put his glasses back on and took a closer look, his whole body suddenly freezing. Goodness, wasn¡¯t this the student that the Vice Principal, Qin Wen, Luo Qian, and Zheng Guoping had all been talking about? He remembered how, just before the school year started, the Vice Principal had contacted him, saying there was a student named Qiao Sang in his class. If he ever saw her on her phone, he should turn a blind eye. Then Qin Wen had called, saying that if this new student, Qiao Sang, couldn¡¯t keep up in academic subjects, not to pressure her, as she was likely focused on her beast-taming training. Luo Qian had advised him to subtly mention the benefits of coordination competitions in front of Qiao Sang. As for Zheng Guoping¡­ Li Yi remembered that moment clearly. Zheng Guoping had specifically come to his office early in the morning, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed, ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have Qiao Sang in your class.¡± Lucky? Lucky for what? To sacrifice a pair of glasses on the first day of school? After a long pause, Li Yi finally asked, ¡°Why did you choose to sit in the back of the classroom? Aren¡¯t you worried about not being able to see the front?¡± Qiao Sang: ??? --- September 1st was always a day the older students looked forward to, it was a day to watch the fun. Many of the new students who were already familiar with Shengshui High School¡¯s traditions eagerly awaited their chance to become the talk of the school. It was time for the school team¡¯s strength showcase. To put it nicely, it was a demonstration of abilities; in less polite terms, it was a chance to embarrass oneself. With the entire school watching, a single misstep could make you the subject of gossip until graduation, and might even directly disqualify you from the chance of dating early. After all, they had all just become beast tamers. Why were you chosen for the school team while I wasn¡¯t? Many freshmen harbored this thought. The Shengshui Hall, the school¡¯s largest arena, hosted major competitions and events. The circular, tiered seating area was packed with students and teachers from all grades. In each class, students discussed the upcoming opening ceremony. ¡°Did you hear? Apparently, anyone can go up and challenge the school team today. If you win, don¡¯t you get to replace the losing member on the team?¡± ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°My cousin has a friend who¡¯s a senior here, and that¡¯s what she said.¡± ¡°No way, how would that even work? If everyone goes up and challenges them in succession, the school team members are bound to lose.¡± ¡°Supposedly, the school¡¯s doctors are waiting backstage, ready to heal them after each match.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t stand a chance. I¡¯ve only got a Cotton Bug.¡± --- ¡°I got some insider info. Three of the school team members this year are especially powerful.¡± Said a boy with a mushroom-cut hairstyle, holding a sheet of paper as he shared the details with the curious students around him. ¡°First, there¡¯s Wang Jihang, who has a Bubble Bell. You know how powerful psychic beasts are.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s Lu You, whose family is loaded. He¡¯s got a Young Dragon. I don¡¯t need to tell you how terrifying dragon-type beasts are. If you want to win, avoid challenging him.¡± ¡°The last one¡¯s a girl named Qiao Sang. She¡¯s contracted with a Fire Fang Dog.¡± Lowering his voice, the mushroom-cut boy added, ¡°Reliable sources say the Flame Hound that caused a stir in our city recently is actually her beast.¡± ¡°No way!¡± The boy on his right gasped. ¡°She¡¯s our age, isn¡¯t she? She only became a beast tamer two months ago, right?¡± ¡°She¡¯s an awakener, so it might have been a bit longer than that.¡± The mushroom-cut boy replied. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡± The boy on the right marveled. ¡°Our school really is impressive, with talent like that here.¡± Just then, a boy who had been silent on the left spoke in a nasally voice, ¡°How many Flame Hounds are there in our city now?¡± The mushroom-cut boy rolled his eyes. ¡°How many do you think? In our entire city, no, globally, there¡¯s only one Flame Hound.¡± Wang Yiding was stunned, realizing that the girl who had once helped him find his lost Crowned Meow was indeed his age¡­ ¡°If you want to win, avoid challenging those three.¡± The mushroom-cut boy advised, then smirked. ¡°But if you want to make a name for yourself, wait until the students ahead of you exhaust their pet¡¯s stamina before you jump in. Besides Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound, you might just have a shot against the other two.¡± Long battles tested more than just energy and stamina; they tested endurance. Endurance meant a pet beast¡¯s ability to fight continuously over a long period, its resistance to fatigue. While energy and stamina could be restored with healing skills or potions, endurance couldn¡¯t. Once a pet beast¡¯s endurance was spent, those without strong willpower would become increasingly vulnerable in battle. --- ¡°Good morning, everyone. On behalf of the school leadership, I would like to warmly congratulate and extend a sincere welcome to all our new first-year students.¡± A man dressed in a white shirt, around six feet tall with a scholarly air and appearing about 24 years old, took the stage to speak. ¡°Welcome to the path of becoming a glorious beast tamer. But this is only the beginning! The world may be finite, but the pursuit of beast taming is boundless!¡± Behind the curtain, all the special recruits peeked through a small opening, watching the scene outside. Qiao Sang looked at the man speaking on stage and hesitated, ¡°Is our principal really that young?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not that young.¡± Lu You laughed. ¡°Guess how old he is?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment, ¡°Twenty-six?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Lu You replied. ¡°Thirty-six?¡± ¡°Think big. Really big.¡± ¡°Ninety-six?¡± Lu You: ¡­ ¡°I said think big, not think dead.¡± He sighed. ¡°He¡¯s 48. He became a D-level beast tamer at 20, and thanks to the rebounding effects of his beast, he¡¯s aged a bit slower.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. She had always lived in a small circle, either at school or at home. Although she¡¯d heard that the rejuvenating effects of beast companionship could keep tamers youthful, she¡¯d only ever seen it online. This was her first time witnessing it in person. Of course, maybe she had met others like him before, but if they didn¡¯t mention it, how would she know? ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Lu You asked as he glanced at the thousands of students seated outside. ¡°Nervous!¡± Wang Jihang said as he clutched his chest, ¡°I think my heart rate is at 180 right now.¡± ¡°Who asked you?¡± Lu You shot him a look. ¡°I was asking Qiao Sang.¡± Wang Jihang: ¡­ Qiao Sang paused before replying with excitement, ¡°Nervous? No way! I can¡¯t wait to get out there.¡± Not only was she looking forward to the battle, but also the points waiting for her! Chapter 211: Ill Go! "Of the 62,300 middle school graduates in Hanggang this year, only about 2% can make it into Shengshui High School, and those present here today are part of that top 2%!" "High school marks a turning point in our lives, and the college entrance exam is a rite of passage in this growth journey. The score you achieve will determine where you spend the next few years of your life." "I trust that everyone here, as top students from middle school, has come to Shengshui High School aiming for elite universities. However, each year, the college entrance exam is like a hellish challenge, where even a single point can mean a difference of hundreds of ranks." "According to statistics, the number of college entrance exam candidates exceeds 10 million each year, yet there are only a handful of top universities. You can imagine how intense the competition is." "However, today, at this opening ceremony, I present you with another opportunity to enter a top university, by defeating the new school team members!" Principal Wang Weidou declared passionately. As soon as he said this, the entire audience erupted. "Top universities? I think only about 26 people in our city got into them last year. "True, but our school alone produced 21 of those 26, so the principal isn¡¯t exaggerating." "Why are there already freshmen on the school team? How were they chosen?" "Who cares how they were chosen, those guys are in trouble now." "Hold on, I¡¯m going up first! Don¡¯t any of you try to stop me!" Once everyone had quieted down, Principal Wang Weidou continued, "We will replace the school team members based on your performance. Some of you might not yet realize what being on the team means." "Once you¡¯re on the team, if you achieve first place in a provincial campus competition held by the government during your three years in high school and pass the D-level Beastmaster exam, you qualify for an elite university¡¯s special admissions test, skipping the hellish college entrance exam." "If your goal is a first-tier university and a top-three provincial ranking, you also gain this opportunity for yourself." "Of course, this means you need a strong talent for beast-taming and will have to devote significant time to nurturing and training your beast, cutting down on study time compared to other students. I hope those who step up to challenge today can weigh these pros and cons." "But¡­" Wang Weidou paused, smiling, "If all you want is to test the school team members¡¯ strength, we welcome that too." "Those chosen for the school team are either special recruits with direct admissions or students with self-awakened abilities. Defeating them, even if you don¡¯t end up joining the team, will showcase your ability in front of the entire school, proving you¡¯re just as good!" "Enough talk. Now, let me introduce our current school team members." Wang Weidou turned and raised his hand. "They are Lu You, Qiao Sang, Wang Jihang, Lu Liangye, Jin Feifan, and Jiang Nai." The dark red curtain opened automatically, revealing the six members of the battle team to the crowd. Principal Wang Weidou, with his skillful oratory, had the entire Shengshui Hall buzzing. Not only the freshmen but even some upperclassmen felt a rush of excitement, recalling their early days. Provincial first place might be a stretch, but securing a top-three spot didn¡¯t seem entirely out of reach, especially since everyone knew Shengshui High had a legacy of being the second-best school in the province. While the odds of getting into a top university were slim, aiming for a first-tier school was still the goal for most students. Besides, beast battles were the kind of competition all Beastmasters found thrilling. Instead of cramming for exams, they could gain admission by competing in battles, a dream scenario for 90% of freshly minted Beastmasters. As for the remaining 10% who might lack interest in battles, even they were eager to try after the principal¡¯s final words. The students who made it into Shengshui High were all top-ranked in their respective middle schools. They weren¡¯t arrogant, but confidence was a given. Defeating those direct-admit and self-awakened students on the team would not only let them prove their worth in front of everyone but also make them stand out, possibly gaining them some social perks for the next three years. The entire hall¡¯s eyes sparkled, fixed on the six school team members on stage. Surrounded by thousands of gazes, Jin Feifan, who was socially anxious, had never experienced such a situation. Her legs trembled, forming a stark contrast with Qiao Sang, who was gleaming with excitement as she scanned the crowd. Amazing. The principal¡¯s pep talk had given everyone a rush. If everyone lined up to challenge them, how many points could she earn... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but grin. "Who¡¯s going first?" Principal Wang Weidou asked. Lu You, Lu Liangye, and Wang Jihang kept quiet. Like in movies, the real experts always appear last, with the first ones being cannon fodder. They were the experts, so they¡¯d definitely go last! Jin Feifan, frozen in place with cold, numb hands and feet, wasn¡¯t just unwilling to go first; she wanted to run away. At that moment, Qiao Sang took a step forward and said, "I¡¯ll go!" Lu You and the others: !!! They looked at Qiao Sang in shock. Are you kidding? She¡¯s our strongest member, and she wants to go first?! Isn¡¯t the rule that experts go last?! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Great! Do you have anything you¡¯d like to say to everyone?" Wang Weidou handed her the microphone. Everyone¡¯s attention focused on Qiao Sang. Completely unfazed, she took the microphone, turned to the principal, and asked, "If I don¡¯t lose, will this segment just keep going?" Principal Wang Weidou was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Of course, until no one challenges you." Relieved, Qiao Sang nodded. "I only have one thing to say." She announced, looking straight ahead with a serious expression. "I¡­ won¡¯t lose." Shengshui Hall fell silent. The next second, the entire audience erupted, their enthusiasm surpassing even the principal¡¯s rousing speech. "Whoa! Who is she, so cocky!" "I know! Have you heard of the recent Bai Xin Competition? She won several matches against intermediate beasts with her Fire Fang Dog and took the championship." "That¡¯s some backwater competition. Never heard of it, probably just against a bunch of weaklings." "Her beast¡¯s a Fire Fang Dog? My Power Claw Crab could beat that. Let me go first." "Hey, she¡¯s a girl, don¡¯t be too harsh. Maybe let my Power Duck go first." "¡­" Meanwhile, in a second-year classroom. "This freshman has no idea what the nightmare of a gauntlet match is like." One former school team member shook his head, recalling his own humiliating defeat in last year¡¯s opening ceremony. "I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s got the guts for it. Remember the freakish freshman I mentioned in the group? That¡¯s her." said Shi Gaofeng. "The one you said is even freakier than Wang Yao?" A nearby boy sucked in a breath, asking. "Not sure, haven¡¯t fought her, but that¡¯s my impression." Shi Gaofeng nodded. In the seating area for Class 1, Year 2, Wang Yao clenched her fists, watching the center of the stage. Undeniably, the past few weeks of training had put immense pressure on her, knowing that her younger peer, Qiao Sang, was already making waves. "Please don¡¯t embarrass us¡­" Wang Yao murmured. As a worthy opponent, she hoped Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t be defeated by the gauntlet match. Soon, the first challenger rose from their seat. "Hello, I¡¯m Zhang Jinchuan from Class 5, Year 1. Please guide me well." With that, he summoned a little fat dove. "Class 1, Year 1, Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang formed a hand sign, and from a gray star array emerged a figure striped in gray and yellow. "Xun xun~" Chapter 212: Just This? As soon as Little Treasure appeared, he noticed that he was surrounded by a dense crowd, all staring at him. "Xun..." The little ghost''s expression was exaggerated, his eyes wide, mouth forming an O shape. So many people... "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang called. "Xun..." Little Treasure turned back with a blank look, still with an O shaped mouth, gazing at his Beastmaster. Qiao Sang chuckled, "It''s time to show off your training results." Though this wasn''t an official competition, in a way, it was the little ghost''s first public performance in front of so many people. The previous spectator role in that pet marathon was already automatically erased from Qiao Sang''s memory. Little Treasur paused at his Beastmaster''s words, looked around at the people, then back at the pudgy bird in front of him, suddenly enlightened. Wasn''t this just like the scenes from those competitions Big Brother Yabao watched on TV? Was he going to be on TV?! "Xun!" Thinking of this, the little ghost nodded vigorously, his expression growing excited. As the pet appeared in the center of the arena, sounds of surprise and chatter filled the Shengshui Hall. "Is that a ghost-type pet?" "Signing a contract with a Treasure-Seeking Ghost as the first pet? Are the freshmen this daring nowadays?!" "Actually... I think I''ll sit this one out. I heard Beastmasters with ghost-type pets tend to have... a few screws loose. What if she retaliates if I win?" "Haha, with your Sand Hamster? You scared?" "Let¡¯s not make it obvious. We¡¯re still buddies." "..." "No wonder she was so bold before. So her pet is a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Gotta admit, ghost-types are a real hassle." "Wait, something¡¯s off. Isn¡¯t Qiao Sang¡¯s pet supposed to be a Flame Hound?" The mushroom-headed boy who¡¯d discussed school team members earlier looked bewildered at the Treasure-Seeking Ghost in the arena. "Didn¡¯t any of you notice the color of her star array just now?" Wang Yiding said in a serious tone. The mushroom-headed boy was momentarily stunned. Since they were all freshmen, he¡¯d assumed everyone¡¯s star array was white. Besides, the impact of seeing a Treasure-Seeking Ghost had been so overwhelming that he hadn¡¯t noticed the array¡¯s color. So, was the information not wrong, but Qiao Sang had contracted a Treasure-Seeking Ghost as well? "What color was it?" The mushroom-headed boy swallowed, asking nervously. "It was gray." Before Wang Yiding could respond, another boy muttered. Mushroom-headed boy: !!! ... In the arena. Zhang Jinchuan held his breath, watching Qiao Sang''s movements intently. "The battle''s started. Aren''t you going to attack?" Qiao Sang asked. Right... attack... Caught off guard, Zhang Jinchuan forgot his original plan to stay cautious and let the opponent move first. He steeled himself and was about to give a command, but suddenly, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost vanished from the arena, reappearing in front of the pudgy bird within a blink. "Fat Dove! Dodge!" Zhang Jinchuan shouted urgently. But it was too late. The little ghost''s eyes glowed with a purple hue. Under his mastered Hypnosis skill, the Fat Dove had no time to resist and closed its eyes, falling heavily to the ground. At that moment, the female teacher acting as referee blew her whistle, "Fat Dove has lost the ability to fight. The winner is Qiao Sang!" The Shengshui Hall was in an uproar. "Damn! That was so fast! Not even a minute!" "Zhang Jinchuan from Class 5 is pathetic! Even though it¡¯s a ghost-type opponent, losing this quickly is embarrassing." "Did none of you notice how Qiao Sang intentionally distracted him at the start? Otherwise, he would''ve noticed the Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s disappearance and had time for Fat Dove to respond." "That just means her strategy to divert his attention worked brilliantly." "But I feel like Qiao Sang was genuinely trying to remind him. Given her ghost-type pet''s natural advantage, she didn¡¯t even need that tactic." "Nonsense. Look at which rookie Beastmasters command without speaking and have their pets act on their own. Clearly, she planned her strategy for this fight in advance." "If you put it that way, she''s impressive. After all, it takes coordination for a pet to remember and execute a plan. Could your Deep-Fur Turtle manage that?" --- In the arena. "Need a break?" The female teacher asked as she approached. "No need." Qiao Sang shook her head. The battle just now didn''t even count as a warm-up for her little ghost, who practiced skill releases daily. "Anyone else wants to challenge?" Principal Wang Weidou asked at the right time. The hall fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, hesitant, and no one dared to step forward. For beginner pets with limited skills, ghost-type pets were almost a cheat code. With no counter skills or attributes, they couldn¡¯t even touch them, let alone fight. Everyone waited for someone else to go first so they could pick up the slack. Seeing no one step up, Qiao Sang turned to the referee and asked, "Teacher, may I borrow the microphone?" The teacher was slightly taken aback, then handed it over. Qiao Sang took the microphone, her mind running through every taunt scene she''d seen online, finally picking a less antagonistic one. After all, she¡¯d still be at the same school with them for three years, seeing them daily. Alienating everyone didn¡¯t seem wise. Clearing her throat, Qiao Sang raised the mic with a slight smirk and said mockingly, "Just this?" "Xun~" Mimicking his Beastmaster, Little Treasure struck the same expression, lifting a stubby claw to pick his nose. Not satisfied, he even flicked the imaginary speck off his claw, looking every bit the troublemaker. The hall went silent. Then, in an instant... "Damn! Don¡¯t stop me! Let me be the first to go next!" "No way, I¡¯m up next!" "I¡¯m going first!" "Let me go first!" "Stop shoving, I¡¯m going!" Soon, a long line formed at the edge of the arena. Nice. Provocation tactics, highly effective. Qiao Sang was pleased with the scene she¡¯d created with just one line. "Class 1, Jiang Wenhua." The next boy introduced himself and summoned his White Sand Fox. As the referee signaled the start, Little Treasure disappeared immediately, reappearing in front of White Sand Fox. Once again, it only took a Hypnosis, and the White Sand Fox was down. Only 5 seconds had passed, the match was over. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xun~" Little Treasure grinned, raising a claw to challenge the next in line. The boy: !!! As the following matches went on, the freshmen couldn¡¯t bear to watch, while the upperclassmen looked on, entertained. The approach was simple and repetitive, vanishing, reappearing, then a Hypnosis. Basic as it was, no one lasted more than 5 seconds, let alone blocked the Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s attacks. After winning 16 consecutive matches, a boy wearing blue glasses and sporting a buzz cut finally stepped forward. "Class 1, Chen Dongjun." He formed a hand sign, summoning a pet with a deep blue body, a neck covered in light blue fur, and two purple wings emerging from the fur on its head. Chapter 213: Next One "Echo Bat, close your eyes!" Just as the female teacher announced the start of the battle, Chen Dongjun immediately issued the command. Qiao Sang raised her eyebrow; it seemed her classmate had come up with a countermeasure for Little Treasure after watching a dozen battles. Echo Bat, a dual Poison and Flying-type beast, could release ultrasonic waves for echo-location, allowing it to act freely even in darkness. For Little Treasure, who needed eye contact to effectively cast Hypnosis, simply closing its eyes rendered not only an advanced Hypnosis ineffective but even an ultimate-level Hypnosis useless. However, Little Treasure wasn''t limited to just that trick¡­ Obediently, Echo Bat closed its eyes. "Keep releasing ultrasonic waves just like that!" Chen Dongjun shouted. Echo Bat flapped its wings and opened its mouth wide. A wave-like energy pulse surged forward, but just as it was about to touch Little Treasure, the ghostly figure vanished from the spot. In the audience, people began murmuring. "Not bad, looks like someone might finally last more than five seconds." "Does ultrasonic sound work on ghost-types that have turned invisible?" "Not sure. All I know is that ultrasonic waves can cause confusion." "According to the books, ultrasonic detection works by bouncing sound waves off solid objects and using the echoes to locate them. Ghost-types have a phasing trait, so ultrasonic waves shouldn¡¯t affect the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, right?" "It depends on the proficiency level of the ultrasonic wave. Didn¡¯t any of you watch the competition on the Lenke Channel recently? Mao Yin used her Sonic Moth¡¯s ultrasonic waves to detect the location of Black-Eyed Doll." "The beast''s traits come in levels too. It was likely that Sonic Moth''s ultrasound proficiency was high, while Black-Eyed Doll¡¯s phasing trait was low." "But aren''t you all curious why Qiao Sang hasn¡¯t issued a single command despite this situation?" This remark made those around him feel slightly uneasy. Wasn¡¯t it obvious? Clearly, her level of battle command was on an entirely different level than theirs. As novices who had only recently become beast tamers, they needed to guide each move of their beasts during battles. But experienced beast tamers with years of battle experience didn¡¯t. Clearly, Qiao Sang was aiming to become a professional beast tamer. In the tournament, professional beast tamers let their beasts respond based on their battle instincts, only giving commands at critical moments. And what did that mean? It meant Qiao Sang thought the current situation didn¡¯t even require her to step in! In the field, Chen Dongjun felt a twinge of panic when Little Treasure vanished. He quickly reassured himself: It¡¯s fine. Once the Treasure-Seeking Ghost attacked, he¡¯d be able to find its position! Ultrasound could detect all tangible objects via echoes, not just the beast itself but any tangible moves it used. As a low-level beast, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost ¡¯s skills were limited to Shadow Ball and Lick. With ultrasound, the starting point of Shadow Ball could be detected. Even if the Treasure-Seeking Ghost used Lick while cloaked, it would become corporeal the instant it extended its tongue. If he seized that moment to counter, his odds of winning were still high. Worst-case scenario, if the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s reaction speed was fast enough to dodge Echo Bat¡¯s attacks, it would just be a stamina showdown, and whoever exhausted their energy first would lose. As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Little Treasure reappeared eerily behind Echo Bat. ¡°Echo Bat, it¡¯s behind you!¡± Chen Dongjun shouted in a panic. "Eeek!" Echo Bat jumped in shock, turning sharply and flapping its wings hard, unleashing two air blade attacks toward Little Treasure. But the attack hit nothing. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure covered his mouth, chuckling at Echo Bat¡¯s terrified reaction, not even bothering to dodge the approaching air blades. Just as the blades were about to strike, Little Treasure vanished again. ¡°Quick, use ultrasound!¡± Chen Dongjun reminded. Before Echo Bat could release an ultrasonic wave, it suddenly felt something poke its wing. Then it heard its trainer shouting, ¡°Above you! Dodge!¡± ¡°Eeek!¡± Startled, Echo Bat flinched and hurriedly changed direction. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure giggled and vanished again. In the front row, Principal Wang Weidou muttered softly, ¡°This Treasure-Seeking Ghost seems unnaturally fast.¡± Vice-Principal Liu Yao, who had begrudgingly invited him to observe the school¡¯s dedication to the national campus tournament, rolled his eyes. Despite the training lasting a month, Wang hadn¡¯t even bothered to learn the basics about the team members. ¡°Isn¡¯t that reaction speed too high?¡± Wang continued, ignoring Liu. ¡°If the Echo Bat couldn¡¯t respond, it should¡¯ve taken advantage and attacked right then, but it just poked him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s playing.¡± Liu Yao muttered, exasperated. Wang Weidou: ... On the field, Qiao Sang watched as Little Treasure continued to toy with Echo Bat, finally unable to resist saying, ¡°Little Treasure, enough playing.¡± Time is points! Qiao Sang thought to herself. ¡°Xun~¡± The invisible Little Treasure responded. Then he suddenly appeared on the ground. He manifested right where Echo Bat¡¯s shadow was cast. While everyone else was still marveling at his unreal speed, Little Treasure extended a short toe, which cast a twisted shadow on the ground. Immediately, that shadow shot straight, linking to Echo Bat¡¯s shadow. ¡°Echo Bat, Air Blades!¡± Chen Dongjun shouted excitedly as soon as Little Treasure appeared, ¡°It¡¯s about three meters below you, in front!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eeek¡­¡± But just as Echo Bat opened its mouth, before it could even gather energy, a mysterious force yanked it downward, smashing it to the ground. ¡°Eeek¡­¡± Although stunned, Echo Bat managed to get up. ¡°Echo Bat, hang in there!¡± Chen Dongjun was momentarily dazed but quickly realized the battle wasn¡¯t over and encouraged his beast. ¡°Eeek¡­¡± Having fallen to the ground, Echo Bat opened its eyes. It glanced at Little Treasure, grinning at it not far ahead. Little Treasure twitched his short toe. ¡°Eeek!!!¡± In the next instant, Echo Bat screamed in terror. Everyone watched Echo Bat twirling wildly mid-air, instinctively swallowing. Shortly after, Echo Bat¡¯s cries fell silent. ¡°Xuun~¡± Seeing his opponent lose its voice, Little Treasure lowered his toe, and the connected shadows split apart. ¡°Thud!¡± Echo Bat crashed to the ground, no longer making a sound. It was well and truly out cold¡­ The entire arena fell silent. Seeing everyone frozen, Qiao Sang spoke up: ¡°Next one.¡± (t/n: Damn, arrogant!!!) Chapter 214: Arrogant! Way Too Arrogant! "You... you all saw... you saw it, right..." A student in the audience was the first to snap out of it, stammering as he spoke. With the first voice came a second. The grand hall of Shengshui High fell silent for over ten seconds, and then, like a dormant volcano erupting back to life, it suddenly exploded with deafening noise. "Holy crap! What the heck was that just now?!" "Why did it look so much like Shadow Control?!" "Do you think it¡¯s possible that it actually was Shadow Control..." "Nonsense! Shadow Control is a high-level skill! The Treasure-Seeking Ghost is a low-level beast. Are you seriously telling me a low-level pet learned a high-level skill?!" "Then what kind of skill do you think that was?" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The student next to him was stunned for a moment. Resting his elbow on his knee and holding his head in his hand, he muttered in a daze, "No way, that''s just impossible..." What kind of sick joke was this! Though, yes, the skill the Treasure-Seeking Ghost had just used did indeed look like Shadow Control, but this was a Treasure-Seeking Ghost! A low-level pet! How could it possibly learn a high-level skill?! He might believe it if it were an intermediate ghost-type pet. Either this was all just a dream, or he didn¡¯t know as much about ghost-type pet skills as he thought. Yes, that had to be it... He wasn¡¯t the only one refusing to accept reality. "Old Liu, did you see that?" Wang Weidou asked hesitantly. "I saw it." Liu Yao murmured. "What do you think that skill was?" Wang Weidou asked curiously. "It really looked a lot like Shadow Control." Liu Yao took a deep breath and replied, "Shadow Control." "Huh?" Wang Weidou was stunned, then laughed as he clapped Liu Yao on the shoulder. "Didn''t expect you to start cracking jokes now." Liu Yao shot him a look. "You''re the principal, for crying out loud. Don¡¯t tell me you genuinely didn¡¯t see it." Wang Weidou fell silent for a few seconds, his voice unconsciously lowering. "It''s not that I don¡¯t believe it, it''s just too far-fetched. Do you know what this means?" As he said this, Wang Weidou couldn''t stop himself from trembling inside. Teaching a low-level pet a high-level skill, forget students at Shengshui High, no beastmaster in the entire country had ever achieved that. How could he believe it? How could he dare believe someone like that was at their school? After a moment, Liu Yao murmured, "It means we might actually beat Litan Academy this year, with Qiao Sang¡¯s team taking first place." Wang Weidou: !!! Meanwhile, Qiao Sang waited for someone to step up, but no one did. The line that had been forming had completely disappeared, with everyone quietly returning to their seats. Was her threat earlier still not enough? Qiao Sang shifted her gaze toward the female teacher next to her. The teacher paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and handed her the microphone. Smart teacher, she didn¡¯t even need to be told to understand what Qiao Sang wanted... As Qiao Sang took the microphone, she said to the freshman section, "You all scared already?" The freshmen immediately fell silent, too afraid to make a sound and attract attention. Shadow Control! That was Shadow Control! They had only just become beastmasters, being able to command their pets in battle was achievement enough. Who in their right mind would challenge a ghost-type pet that could perform high-level skills? It would be sheer masochism! If anyone had thought Qiao Sang was arrogant before, no one felt that way now. She was strong enough to back it up! If their pets could pull off something like that, learning high-level skills at the low level, they¡¯d be ten times more arrogant than her! But still, with no one stepping up, Qiao Sang grew anxious, was it really going to end like this? She hadn¡¯t earned nearly enough points yet! At this point, Principal Wang Weidou stood up and picked up the microphone. "If no one is willing to challenge her, then Qiao Sang will be officially accepted as the first new member of this year¡¯s school team." After he finished, he turned to Qiao Sang with a friendly smile. Thinking of how Qiao Sang might lead them to finally defeat Litan Academy and bring glory to the school, Wang Weidou¡¯s smile grew even wider. Why was he smiling? She hadn¡¯t even fought enough yet! Seeing no other choice, and not knowing when she¡¯d have another chance to earn points like this, Qiao Sang took a deep breath, looked at the principal, and asked, "Is it open for everyone to challenge?" Wang Weidou paused. "Of course." "Good." Qiao Sang turned her gaze to the sophomore and junior sections, smiling as she said, "Since the freshmen don¡¯t dare, how about the sophomores and juniors?" Wang Weidou: !!! The entire hall was stunned. Arrogant! Way too arrogant! Even though the Treasure-Seeking Ghost had mastered a high-level skill, it was still a low-level pet, whereas many of the sophomores and juniors had two pets each, and some of those pets had even reached intermediate levels. The gap between low-level and intermediate-level pets went beyond just the number of skills. Strength, endurance, reflexes, internal energy, they were all on a different scale. Even if the Treasure-Seeking Ghost knew Shadow Control, they could deal with it by dodging, using an intermediate pet¡¯s durability, or deploying a pet with an elemental advantage over ghost-types to crush it. This junior was way too bold. "If we beat you, would you give up your spot on the school team to us?" A sophomore student shouted. "Naturally." Qiao Sang replied. Wang Weidou¡¯s face stiffened. This couldn¡¯t happen! He was counting on Qiao Sang to lead them to victory over Litan this year. "No-" Wang Weidou barely got the word out before Liu Yao took the microphone from him. "What are you doing?" Wang Weidou snapped. "Let her try." Liu Yao replied calmly. "Try? If they beat her and claim her place, how will I win against Litan!" Wang Weidou shouted. "It¡¯s one thing for her to act impulsively, but why are you encouraging her?!" Liu Yao answered steadily, "Qiao Sang has another pet." Wang Weidou frowned. "I''m not blind. I noticed the gray star pattern when she summoned it. But what good is another low-level pet? Are we seriously expecting her to win?" Liu Yao cast him a sideways glance. "Maybe if you paid more attention to the school team, you''d know. Qiao Sang¡¯s other pet is intermediate level." Wang Weidou stood there, stunned. "An... an intermediate pet?" Liu Yao nodded. "But one intermediate pet isn''t enough, it''s not a guaranteed win! We can¡¯t let her compete like this!" Wang Weidou replied anxiously. Are you kidding?! A treasure like that shouldn¡¯t be risking anything! Liu Yao remained calm. "This is a great chance for real combat. Training sessions won¡¯t bring as much progress as live battles. Our school team thrives on the principle of survival of the fittest, you¡¯re the principal. Who stays on the team is up to you." "Whoever beats her can be an alternate on their class team. I don¡¯t think anyone would refuse." Wang Weidou blinked, realizing, oh, right, he was the principal... At that moment, the student who had challenged Qiao Sang earlier shouted again, "You don¡¯t get to decide! This has never been the rule. Ask the principal if he agrees." Qiao Sang looked at the principal with eager eyes. Liu Yao promptly handed the microphone to Wang Weidou. Wang Weidou hesitated for two seconds, then took the microphone and announced, "If anyone beats Qiao Sang, they can join their year¡¯s school team." The older students: !!! Chapter 215: The Fluttering Bell Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- "The principal said we could join the school team." A senior murmured. "I heard that too..." A nearby student, looking dazed, replied. Another girl standing by, who seemed a bit more rational, added, "Let¡¯s be precise: The principal said we could join if we defeat Qiao Sang." "How is that different from just giving us a spot?!" The first student, face flushed with excitement, argued. They had thought they were only there to watch, but the principal dropped this bombshell at the opening ceremony! Senior year was the toughest stage of student life! Not only did they need to master every subject, but they also had to know things not even covered in textbooks. A good senior student is expected to know the basics of taming beasts, current events, and even trivial things. They go to bed later than dogs and wake up earlier than chickens, that¡¯s what being a senior means. After two years of high school, most students had a rough idea of their academic standing and how many points they could score on exams. In an environment surrounded by top students, it was unrealistic to feel no pressure. They all planned to work hard in their final year to achieve one last push, yet now, out of nowhere, the heavens dangled the chance to join the school team before them! As long as they made it onto the team and placed in competitions, if not a top-tier university, at least a stable entry into a bachelor¡¯s program was almost guaranteed. High school was different from middle school; the difficulty level of the knowledge had multiplied. Many students who entered prestigious high schools still ended up only attending vocational colleges. Though the juniors were equally excited, the seniors¡¯ level of eagerness bordered on madness. "First come, first served! Don¡¯t fight me for it! My grades are the worst." "To be on the team, you¡¯ll have to compete with other schools. You only have one mid-level pet beast, don¡¯t embarrass our school." "If we¡¯re being picky, I remember you only have a Double-Tailed Land Turtle, so I guess you¡¯re not joining either?" "No, I¡¯m joining!" "Heh." "Stop arguing! Someone already went up." "What?! Who got there so fast?!" "It¡¯s Feng Zongxin from Class 3, the guy whose family is really wealthy. That guy ranked seventh from the bottom in the whole school in the last exam of the semester, he¡¯ll struggle just to get into a third-tier college, so no wonder he ran up there." "That guy got lucky." In the arena, a boy around 1.76 meters tall with a buzz cut eagerly summoned a pet beast with a blue bell atop its head and two tails with yellow tips. A Fluttering Bell, the evolved form of a Bubble Bell, a mid-level pet beast whose tails always drifted with the wind... Information on Fluttering Bells surfaced instantly in Qiao Sang''s mind. "Senior Class 3, Feng Zongxin." The boy spoke seriously, "I¡¯m sorry, but I have to get this spot!" Qiao Sang nodded. "Good luck." Feng Zongxin: ... At the sound of the whistle, her Little Treasure vanished instantly. "Fluttering Bell, teleport!" Feng Zongxin commanded in time. "Floo~" Following the wind''s direction, the Fluttering Bell''s tail flicked as it teleported to another position. The audience fell silent; the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was nowhere to be seen. Feng Zongxin remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings. Three seconds later, he issued the command again: "Teleport." Facing an invisible ghost-type pet beast and needing to avoid its shadow attacks, using teleportation to change position constantly was indeed a good strategy. After all, ghost-type pet beasts are only invisible, not faster. Unfortunately, her Little Treasure wasn¡¯t purely ghost-type... Watching the Fluttering Bell reappear on the field after teleporting, Qiao Sang spoke up, "Now." Hearing Qiao Sang''s command, Feng Zongxin froze, his pupils narrowing as he shouted, "Don¡¯t look it in the eyes!" But it was too late. The Treasure-Seeking Ghost appeared at the moment Fluttering Bell teleported, facing it directly as if it had always been lurking there and Fluttering Bell had teleported right into its line of sight. "Xuuuun~" Little Treasure¡¯s purple-glowing eyes met Fluttering Bell¡¯s. The next second¡­ "Floo...ttering..." Fluttering Bell¡¯s eyes shut, and it dropped to the ground. "Fluttering Bell! Wake up!" Feng Zongxin shouted anxiously. In official matches, when a pet beast collapses, there''s a countdown. The referee must get close to the fainted pet beast to assess whether it''s fully unconscious or temporarily unresponsive. If it gets back up within the allotted time, the match can continue. Ten seconds is the standard countdown in most matches. Normally, a mid-level pet beast would quickly recover from a low-level pet beast''s Hypnosis due to its much higher mental strength. So the referee, a female teacher, didn¡¯t immediately announce Fluttering Bell¡¯s defeat but instead moved beside it and began the countdown. "One, two, three, four, five..." "Fluttering Bell! Wake up!" "Six, seven, eight, nine..." "Fluttering Bell!!" "Ten." The teacher looked at the still-sleeping Fluttering Bell with uncertainty before declaring, "Fluttering Bell is unable to fight. The winner is Qiao Sang!" Feng Zongxin dropped to the ground in defeat. Everyone stared at each other, dumbfounded. "What just happened in that battle? Is it already over?" "Don¡¯t you think he went up there just to throw the match? With such a big arena, how could a pet beast teleport right in front of its opponent?" "Exactly." "Also, psychic-type pet beasts typically have much stronger mental strength than other types. How could it not shake off a hypnosis spell cast by a lower-level pet? This is nonsense." "Could it be that the Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s Hypnosis is just too well-practiced?" "How skilled would it have to be to put a psychic-type like Fluttering Bell to sleep for that long... Look, someone else is going up!" "What?! Someone beat me to it again!" --- "Senior Class 10, Xia Chengqing." This time, it was a fair-skinned girl with shoulder-length hair. Just as she summoned a Short-Eared Mouse and prepared to fight, Qiao Sang raised her hand to signal a pause. "Wait." "Why did she call a stop?" "She¡¯s not going to withdraw, is she?!" "No! My spot on the school team!" "She didn''t have to compete against us in the first place. Now that she¡¯s beaten one senior, she probably feels confident and doesn¡¯t want to continue." "Don¡¯t go!" As everyone discussed anxiously, Qiao Sang looked toward the referee. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The teacher hesitated for a moment before understanding and passed the microphone to her. After a brief pause, Qiao Sang said, "I¡¯d like to request time to recharge my Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s energy." "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded in agreement after sensing himself. ----- ----- Chapter 216: The Recharge Bug The female teacher was stunned for a moment after hearing this, only then remembering the whole energy replenishment process. After all, the unbelievably strong freshman in front of her had already fought nearly 20 rounds without taking a single recharge break. She had almost forgotten that was even a thing... Soon, a school doctor in a white coat approached from outside the arena. Perched on his shoulder was an insect-like pet beast. Its body was mostly a rusty color, with an orange helmet-like structure on its head edged in yellow. Its mouth jutted outward in a serrated shape. Strangely enough, the bug also wore a white coat. When Qiao Sang saw the insect-type pet in a white coat, she was taken aback. She hadn''t expected the school doctor¡¯s pet to be a Recharge Bug... Most people who had either been to the Secret Realm or done extensive research on it would recognize this creature. The Recharge Bug was a bug-type pet beast, one of the unique kinds found in the Yuhua region. It wasn¡¯t rare, per se, but its characteristics were memorable. Added to the fact that it couldn¡¯t evolve, it had become a particularly distinctive species. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Recharge Bugs possessed a charging ability, allowing them to store a large amount of energy and transfer it to other pet beasts. Those who ventured into the Secret Realm often sought out trainers with healing-type pet beasts to team up with. A trainer with a Recharge Bug was a popular choice because the bug could serve as an automatic energy recovery source. Despite high demand for Recharge Bugs, trainers aspiring for notable achievements usually wouldn¡¯t contract with one, primarily because Recharge Bugs cannot evolve. ¡°Come here.¡± The school doctor gestured to Little Treasure. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure curiously floated over, staring intently at the Recharge Bug in the white coat. It was the first time he had seen a dressed-up pet beast outside of a TV screen¡­ ¡°Go on.¡± The school doctor nodded at the Recharge Bug. ¡°Chong Chong.¡± The Recharge Bug nodded and then leapt at Little Treasure with a sudden burst of energy. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Startled, Little Treasure instinctively dodged to the side. Thud! The Recharge Bug hit the ground. School doctor: ... ¡°Sorry, I should¡¯ve explained things to him first.¡± Qiao Sang scratched her head apologetically. ¡°No worries. Most pet beasts would dodge when something jumps at them unexpectedly.¡± The school doctor replied, understanding. Well, he had to understand, everyone at the school was watching! ¡°Little Treasure, don¡¯t dodge this time. He¡¯s the doctor, here to recharge your energy.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. Doctor?! The Recharge Bug, who had just pulled itself up, perked up and quickly dusted off its white coat, promptly forgetting the pain from its fall. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sheepishly scratched his head. So, it¡¯s a doctor... After understanding, Little Treasure took the Recharge Bug in his paws and placed it on his own head. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± You go ahead and charge! The Recharge Bug was momentarily stunned but quickly got to work. ¡°Chong Chong!¡± The Recharge Bug glowed with a strong blue light, wrapping Little Treasure in the same bluish aura. Watching the glow envelop the arena, the older students let out a collective sigh of relief. ¡°I knew it. She wouldn¡¯t stop after winning just one match.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what you were saying earlier.¡± ¡°What did I say before? I forget.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°For the record, she¡¯s already defeated 18 people. Don¡¯t underestimate the freshman.¡± ¡°...¡± After recharging, Little Treasure returned to the battle arena. As the fight resumed, Xia Chengqing snapped her fingers, and her Short-Eared Mouse immediately dug a hole in the ground and disappeared into it. It was clear snapping her fingers was the signal to dig. Qiao Sang watched her senior perform the move, noting how the Short-Eared Mouse synchronized perfectly with the finger snap. This gave her an idea. Just imagine, in a future tournament final¡­ Her opponent would shout, ¡°Dig a hole!¡± While she would just smile calmly, snap her fingers, and rain down sparks from the sky. The power! The scene! Just imagining it made her excited. Not bad, this move could definitely work for her. She¡¯d have to establish this signal with Yabao as soon as she got back¡­ ¡°Little Treasure, stay alert.¡± She reminded herself, keeping her focus on the battle. Digging was an intermediate ground-type skill, also known as Burrow. The pet beast would burrow underground before suddenly emerging to ambush its opponent. With high accuracy and power, Burrow was often used as a trump card for low to mid-level ground-type pet beasts. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded with a serious expression. Just as he did, the Short-Eared Mouse shot out from the ground, charging at him. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure was startled but quickly dodged with a teleport. His eyes then flashed blue as he focused on the Short-Eared Mouse, which hadn¡¯t fully landed yet. The Short-Eared Mouse froze in midair. In the next second, a 360-degree spin of the mouse played out before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Eaaaaaaar!!!¡± The Short-Eared Mouse¡¯s scream echoed throughout the hall. The entire venue fell silent. If in the previous rounds they had only suspected Little Treasure¡¯s ability to teleport invisibly, now, with it clearly performing a teleport and using telekinesis in full view, they had no choice but to accept it. Ghost-type and psychic-type combined in one pet beast? No one would¡¯ve dared to imagine! ¡°...I didn¡¯t know ghosts could do that. It sure looks like teleportation.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°And that shadow control, it seems it doesn¡¯t even need a shadow to activate¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, and its eyes turn blue.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Elsewhere, Principal Wang Weidou looked at Little Treasure in a daze, murmuring unconsciously, ¡°Psychic-type¡­ psychic¡­ psychic¡­¡± Liu Yao averted his gaze, not wanting to see his goofy expression. --- ¡°The Short-Eared Mouse is unable to fight. Qiao Sang wins!¡± Although the final scene had made most anticipate Xia Chengqing¡¯s defeat, hearing the official announcement still left them in disbelief. How could an intermediate-level Short-Eared Mouse be unable to escape a beginner-level Treasure-Seeking Ghost¡¯s control? It didn¡¯t make any sense! Considering both energy and stamina, it was unthinkable, unless¡­ The skill was highly mastered. ¡°How skilled do you think is that Treasure-Seeking Ghost is with that shadow¡­ or that shadow control?¡± ¡°It¡¯s insane that it even knows shadow control, and you¡¯re talking about its skill level?¡± ¡°No, not the shadow control before, but that recent one where its eyes glowed blue.¡± ¡°Oh, that one. Not sure, but if it¡¯s able to control a higher-level pet, it¡¯s probably mastered the technique.¡± Despite Little Treasure¡¯s shocking performance, the allure of making the school team was irresistible, so the senior students kept coming, one after another. Unlike with the freshmen, Little Treasure needed a recharge after every match with the upperclassmen. After all, controlling intermediate-level pet beasts required much more energy than controlling beginner-level ones. After 49 rounds, a boy about 1.85 meters tall, with a defined jawline and black hair covering half his forehead, walked up with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Senior Year 3, Class 9, Xue Chuhua.¡± Chapter 217: See Through ¡°Didn''t expect this guy to come up too. Looks like the spot is out of our reach now.¡± ¡°I''ve already given up. Whoever can win is fine by me.¡± The person next to him fell silent. Indeed, it was assumed that the school team spot would go to whoever stepped up first. Yet, after 49 rounds, nearly everyone from their senior year had tried, and not a single person won. The number of attempts could practically form a class of their own¡­ In the year to come, they probably wouldn''t be able to hold their heads up in front of the underclassmen. At this point, it didn¡¯t matter who went up, as long as they could win. ¡°Xu Chuhua should be able to handle this, right?¡± One student hesitated. ¡°Of course. Even though Xu Chuhua does have a bit of an arrogant air, his skill is undeniable. Don¡¯t forget, he was once part of the school team.¡± Xu Chuhua, a senior in Class 9, got into Shengshui High School through a special admission program. Before the school year even started, he was selected for the school team and impressed everyone with his skills at the opening ceremony. However, after competing in one national campus beast-taming competition, he chose to leave the school team. His reason was simple: He didn¡¯t think there was any realistic chance to beat Litan for the provincial championship. Since he couldn¡¯t qualify for a spot to test for the top academies, he figured he might as well focus on his studies to get in through college entrance exams. This kind of self-defeating reasoning earned him the scorn of nearly the whole school at the time. Still, some understood his decision. After all, cutting your losses early is the smart choice. High school only lasts three years, and every day counts. If the goal is to get into a top academy, failing to place first in the provincial competitions leaves you without even the chance to test. Better to make use of the time and pursue another path. He had chosen a different path, indeed, but a winding one. This guy had zero clue about his own academic ranking. To get into a top academy, he¡¯d need to be at least in the top 15 of the whole school. But he ranked beyond 400 every time. With scores like that, unless something drastic happened, he was almost guaranteed to miss out on a top academy. It was likely that now, going up there, he regretted quitting the team. --- The others weren¡¯t wrong; Xu Chuhua regretted it so much he could feel it in his bones. But he¡¯d been a big figure before, and with the entire school watching, there was no way he¡¯d show his regret openly! No one knew how he¡¯d managed to hold out until now. Xu Chuhua, looking intentionally nonchalant, took his hand out of his pocket and said arrogantly in a flat tone: ¡°I didn¡¯t really want to come up, but your Treasure-Seeking ghost has caught my interest. It¡¯s just a shame, your winning streak ends here.¡± As soon as he spoke, the arena erupted in cheers from the senior students. ¡°Xu Chuhua! Xu Chuhua!¡± ¡°Xu Chuhua! Xu Chuhua!¡± The freshmen weren¡¯t to be outdone. ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± Xu Chuhua raised his hand for silence, and the crowd respectfully quieted down. ¡°Ugh, this guy¡¯s so smug, it¡¯s unbearable.¡± Grumbled a student from Senior Class Three. ¡°Who cares? As long as he wins.¡± ¡°True enough.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite the showy attitude, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t careless. After seeing the Treasure-Seeking ghost¡¯s lengthy winning streak, she knew that Xu Chuhua was no ordinary opponent. The match began, and Xu Chuhua formed a seal with his hands. In the next instant, a gray star array lit up on the ground. The ground trembled slightly, and a strong wind swept outward from the center where his pet beast appeared. Seeing this beast, Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. The pet before her was massive, nearly three meters tall, with reddish-brown fur covering most of its body and a white belly. Its rounded eyes looked dazed, giving it an adorably foolish appearance. Good grief, it was a Hunshi Bear. Hunshi Bear, a mid-level beast of the general type. As its name suggested, it was both silly and gluttonous. Normally dopey, it grew even more sluggish after eating. Once it was full, it would lie down, barely moving a paw, and wouldn¡¯t care even if someone danced on its belly. Due to its sheer size, it had impressive destructive power, and its body, mainly made of fat, boasted remarkable defense, earning it a reputation among mid-level beasts. But despite its strength, few would think to contract it. The simple reason was that it was impossible to afford. Experts had warned repeatedly: unless you have a fortune, don¡¯t even think about contracting a Hunshi Bear. Known as a glutton, it consumed close to a hundred pounds of food daily. Even as a mid-level beast, its appetite was terrifying. Once it evolved to a higher level, its food demands would be enough to bankrupt an average family in no time. He must be loaded¡­ Qiao Sang looked at her theatrically edgy senior with newfound understanding. Little Treasure had fought so many matches in a row and was clearly worn out. Although his energy and stamina had been replenished, his enthusiasm for battle was all but gone. When the whistle blew, his eyes glowed blue, attempting to control the opponent with telekinesis to end the fight quickly. However, the Hunshi Bear didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure looked stunned. This was his first time encountering such a situation. As he stood there, unsure what to do, Qiao Sang spoke up, ¡°Focus on his feet.¡± The Hunshi Bear¡¯s size was overwhelming. Although Little Treasure''s telekinesis was highly trained, it was still just a low-level beast with limited energy. Trying to control the entire Hunshi Bear was too challenging; it was better to concentrate on one area. ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± The little ghost quickly fixed his gaze on the bear¡¯s left foot. ¡°Destroyer, Shadow Ball." Xu Chuhua commanded, unhurried. ¡°Hun Hun.¡± Though the Hunshi Bear looked a bit foolish, its movements were fast. It opened its mouth, launching a black Shadow Ball filled with intense energy, nearly as large as the treasure-hunting ghost itself. Due to the vast difference in size, the ghost¡¯s telekinesis failed to move the bear¡¯s foot in time, and the Shadow Ball shot toward it first. The little ghost had no choice but to abandon control and teleport to dodge. Boom!! The Shadow Ball exploded in midair, creating a loud noise. In the wake of the explosion, Little Treasure vanished from sight. Watching the scene unfold, the crowd began to discuss. ¡°It¡¯s hiding again. What now?¡± ¡°The Hunshi Bear¡¯s size makes it a slow target, facing the ghost that can appear anywhere, it¡¯s practically a sitting duck!¡± ¡°Yeah, but so what? The bear¡¯s defense is famous; the ghost¡¯s attacks probably won¡¯t even hurt it.¡± ¡°True enough.¡± Hiding, huh¡­ Xu Chuhua smirked and shouted, ¡°See through!¡± ¡°Hun Hun.¡± The Hunshi Bear¡¯s round eyes widened, glowing a strange red. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression grew serious. The See Through skill could reveal hidden targets, making ghost-type beasts visible and serving as a powerful countermeasure against them. Chapter 218: Barrier This was the first time she encountered a move specifically designed to counter ghost-types in battle. However¡­ it was no big deal. Even though See Through could reveal Little Treasure''s location, it required direct eye contact to be effective. And for Little Treasure, who needed to lock eyes to cast Hypnosis, this presented the perfect opportunity. ¡°Hypnosis.¡± Following Qiao Sang¡¯s command, the now-visible Little Treasure appeared, his purple-glowing eyes meeting those of the dazed Hunshi Bear. Four eyes locked, red against purple, and drowsiness overcame Hunshi Bear. Its body swayed from side to side, eyelids growing heavy. ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, that¡¯s it for him.¡± ¡°Another one taken down by Hypnosis.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotta say, this Treasure-Seeking Ghost has some impressive skills for just a basic beast.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t count Xue Chuhua out just yet! He was on the school team, after all; he¡¯s not that easy to beat.¡± ¡°True, that Mind¡­ Shadow Control skill barely did anything to Hunshi Bear.¡± As the crowd chattered, Xue Chuhua took a deep breath and shouted, ¡°Spicy Beef Burger!¡± Hunshi Bear¡¯s ears twitched, and its swaying stopped. ¡°Seven-layer Cheese Burger with Egg!¡± Xue Chuhua continued. Hunshi Bear¡¯s eyes popped open. ¡°And the Super Mega Burger within a Burger!¡± ¡°Grraaah!¡± Hunshi Bear snapped out of its drowsiness, eyes no longer glazed, its gaze now scanning the area excitedly. Where? Where¡¯s the food?! Seeing this, Xue Chuhua smirked and added one last temptation: ¡°Win this match, and I¡¯ll buy you a hundred of each!¡± ¡°HUUUUN!¡± Guzzly Bear let out an ecstatic roar, its gaze now fully focused on Little Treasure, brimming with fighting spirit. Qiao Sang: !!! Honestly, this was the first time in her career as a Beast Master that she¡¯d ever been so stunned in battle. A master-level Hypnosis, dispelled just like that. Could this be¡­ the power of a foodie?! Little Treasure wore a matching look of shock. His Hypnosis¡­ had failed on this guy? ¡°Rocket Headbutt!¡± Xue Chuhua, spotting Little Treasure¡¯s momentary shock, seized the opportunity and issued his command. ¡°Huuuun!¡± In the blink of an eye, the massive Hunshi Bear leapt, charging toward Little Treasure, white energy condensing above its head as the wind whipped around uts body from the speed. If this hit connected, Little Treasure¡¯s defenses would likely be obliterated in one blow. Everyone held their breath as they watched the scene unfold. ¡°Is he finally about to win?!" ¡°It¡¯s the 50th match; she should go down by now.¡± ¡°Xue Chuhua¡¯s got some tricks, using food to pull Hunshi Bear out of Hypnosis.¡± ¡°That Rocket Headbutt, forget Treasure-Seeking Ghost, even my Armor Beast couldn¡¯t withstand that!¡± Though Qiao Sang was surprised, she continued observing the field calmly. She had already thought of the most reliable way to win as soon as Hunshi Bear appeared. That was to rely purely on dodging, wearing him down until his energy was exhausted. Hunshi Bear had strong offense and defense, but its slow reaction speed was widely known. And with Little Treasure¡¯s Teleport, he could practically run circles around Hunshi Bear. As long as Hunshi Bear kept attacking and burning energy, it¡¯d be the first to wear out. But now Qiao Sang had a change of heart. Since Little Treasure was born, she had taken care of him. She might not know every thought of his, but she could guess accurately enough. From his expression and his reluctance to hide and use Hypnosis, instead controlling his opponent from a distance with Telekinesis, she could tell he was likely getting tired. In the previous dozens of matches, Little Treasure had fought solely on his instincts. Now, against Hunshi Bear, with his limited battle experience, he was clearly outmatched. They say beasts learn rapidly in the early stages, absorbing everything their Beast Masters teach them. If they won this match by relying on evasion alone, Little Treasure might instinctively resort to avoidance when encountering stronger opponents in future battles. Moreover, with him already appearing to have lost enthusiasm, it was best to end this quickly. Although Qiao Sang had considered her options thoroughly, only two seconds had passed in reality. With Hunshi Bear¡¯s rapid change in pace, Little Treasure was caught off guard by the sudden attack, freezing momentarily. Then, he heard his Beast Master¡¯s voice. ¡°Barrier.¡± Barrier? Little Treasure, though bewildered, instinctively raised his tiny toe, channeling his internal energy. A faintly transparent barrier, only about 20 centimeters wide, formed in front of him. Staring at the massive figure charging towards him, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes widened, his heart racing. ¡°Xun¡­¡± How terrifying¡­ This barrier wouldn¡¯t hold up, right? It¡¯s not even as big as the bear¡¯s head¡­ Then, he heard his Beast Master¡¯s next command: ¡°Use Shadow Control on the shadow on the barrier!¡± The shadow on the barrier? Little Treasure glanced at the barrier and indeed saw Hunshi Bear¡¯s shadow on it. ¡°Xun!¡± Excitedly, Little Treasure touched the barrier with his tiny toe. Just as Hunshi Bear was about to hit, he abruptly stopped in his tracks, barely a centimeter away. The audience, who thought the Treasure-Seeking Ghost couldn¡¯t withstand Rocket Headbutt, fell silent. The next second, a wave of noise exploded. ¡°What?! Is that even possible?!¡± ¡°I told you the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was using Shadow Control earlier, but you didn¡¯t believe me!¡± ¡°Telekinesis can¡¯t control Hunshi Bear, but Shadow Control can!¡± ¡°Well, duh. Telekinesis requires constantly increasing power to match the target¡¯s size and energy, but Shadow Control only needs to control the shadow. That¡¯s why it¡¯s a high-tier skill!¡± ¡°By the way, can a barrier cast shadows?¡± ¡°How¡¯d you even get accepted here?¡± ¡°I was recruited as a special case; why?¡± ¡°Oh, that explains it. Shadows are cast when an object blocks light. Look at the lighting here, the whole place is brightly lit. With Hunshi Bear charging directly at the barrier, his shadow would naturally appear on it. But for Qiao Sang to think of combining Barrier and Shadow Control this fast, that¡¯s something.¡± On the field: ¡°Now, keep making it spin in circles!¡± Qiao Sang issued her final command. ¡°Xun!¡± Without needing a reminder, Little Treasure began gleefully spinning Hunshi Bear around in circles, twirling his tiny toe on the barrier for fun. ¡°GRRRAAAAH!¡± Hunshi Bear cried out in frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t give up! Break free! Think about the Super Mega Burger within a Burger!¡± Xue Chuhua shouted. ¡°GRRRAAAAH!¡± Tears welled in Hunshi Bear¡¯s eyes. It wanted to, but it couldn¡¯t move! Ultimately, Xue Chuhua had underestimated the strength of a high-tier skill. After forty seconds of wailing, Hunshi Bear went silent. ¡°Xun~¡± Seeing Hunshi Bear fall, Little Treasure floated over to his Beast Master, eager to celebrate. But then he remembered something, his body suddenly swaying, a fatigued look in his eyes as he gazed up pitifully at her. ¡°Xun¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang: ¡­ What an act¡­ ¡°Hunshi Bear is unable to fight. Qiao Sang¡­¡± The referee, the female teacher, announced the outcome. Just then, Xue Chuhua interrupted, ¡°Teacher, I still have one more beast. She hasn¡¯t won just yet.¡± The teacher paused, correcting herself. ¡°Hunshi Bear is unable to fight. Qiao Sang wins the first round.¡± She then turned to Qiao Sang and asked, ¡°Would you like to replenish energy now?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No need. I also have another beast; it¡¯s time to bring him out.¡± Chapter 219: The Results Can Be Announced The female teacher''s pupils contracted suddenly. Another pet beast?! Yes, she remembered that in the initial battle, when Qiao Sang summoned her Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the summoning star array was indeed gray¡­ The female teacher remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering a single word: ¡°Alright.¡± Xue Chuhua, who overheard the conversation, felt his heart race involuntarily. Goodness, isn''t this obviously giving him the spot on the school team? This crazy freshman junior had just become a Beast Master not long ago, and having a Treasure-Seeking Ghost as powerful as hers was already extraordinary luck. There was no way her second pet beast could be as overpowered as the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Facing an ordinary beginner-level pet beast, he would surely win in no time! With that thought, Xue Chuhua couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. The seniors, who were already unhappy about losing dozens of matches in a row, immediately erupted in complaints when they saw Xue Chuhua, who had just lost, laughing like an idiot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xue Chuhua? Losing and still laughing there?¡± ¡°Is he out of his mind?¡± ¡°He must have been shocked into stupidity.¡± ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t even surprised when he lost. That Treasure-Seeking Ghost was just too insane. It not only mastered Shadow Control but also had psychic abilities. An over-level challenge must have been a piece of cake for it.¡± ¡°Well, not necessarily. During the battle, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was clearly on the back foot. It was its Beast Master¡¯s skilled command at the end that won the fight.¡± At that moment, someone muttered, ¡°Wait¡­why is the Treasure-Seeking Ghost floating out of the battle zone?¡± The crowd fell silent, their gazes turning to the field. They saw the Treasure-Seeking Ghost floating to Qiao Sang, removing its collar, and then using its little claws to fish out a bottle of milk, which it promptly started drinking. Was it hungry after the fight? Before everyone could express their surprise at why the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was still drinking milk, the whistle blew. ¡°What a pity. If you¡¯d sent out the Treasure-Seeking Ghost again, I believe this would¡¯ve been a fantastic battle. But now¡­¡± Xue Chuhua smirked, forming a hand sign and said, ¡°Come forth, Ice Block!¡± From the gray star array emerged a pet beast with a light blue body, yellow pupils, two diamond-shaped white antennae, and twenty pairs of hooked legs. Qiao Sang was taken aback. A Snow Centipede, a pet beast with both bug and ice attributes, perfectly countered by her Yabao... Of course, attributes don¡¯t determine victory. There are countless examples of winning against unfavorable attributes. With that thought, she knew she couldn¡¯t lose her momentum. Qiao Sang looked at the Snow Centipede covered in icy cold air in front of her and said, ¡°If it were your Hunshi Bear, we¡¯d have a fair fight, but now¡­¡± Xue Chuhua: ??? Qiao Sang formed a hand sign. In the next moment, the temperature on the field suddenly rose. With sleek, powerful lines, an imposing aura, intimidating fangs, and luxurious white fur adorned with fiery red stripes, Yabao emerged. Rooaaar! The powerful roar echoed through the hall. Everyone fell silent at the sight of the pet beast that had appeared on the field, as if silenced by a spell. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Chuhua stood there dumbfounded, his voice cracking: ¡°A¡­ Flame Hound?!¡± That voice seemed to trigger a switch, and the hall exploded with thunderous shouts. ¡°Holy crap! A Flame Hound! It really is a Flame Hound!¡± ¡°How does this maniac have another pet beast?!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my phone? I need to take a picture!¡± ¡°Oh my god! This is too strong! Is she really a freshman?!¡± ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be standing next to a Beast Master of a Flame Hound!¡± ¡°Wait, let me get in! I¡¯ve never fought a rare pet beast like this before. It¡¯s a shame we can¡¯t bring phones; if we could record this and post it on BeastTube, it¡¯d get at least a million likes.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ maybe this senior still has a chance to win?¡± ¡°Well, both the Flame Hound and Fire Fang Dog are fire types, right? The Snow Centipede is completely countered. How could it win?¡± Xue Chuhua was utterly baffled. Raising a Flame Hound from a Fire Fang Dog, plus a Treasure-Seeking Ghost with psychic abilities and high-level skills, are you calling this a freshman?! Rooaaar! Yabao looked around at the environment and his opponent, letting out an excited howl. Finally, a real fight! ¡°Ice Beam!¡± Hearing the Flame Hound¡¯s roar, Xue Chuhua¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly issued a command. Since his attribute was countered, he at least had to control the tempo of the battle! The Snow Centipede didn¡¯t hesitate, opening its mouth and forming two streams of freezing air in front of it, condensing into a line of ice that shot forward. At the same level, ice skills would have difficulty dealing fatal damage to a fire-type pet beast. But Xue Chuhua didn¡¯t expect one Ice Beam to defeat the Flame Hound; he hoped to slow it down a bit. Roar! Yabao¡¯s eyes burned with fighting spirit. He watched the white beam speeding towards him and chose not to evade. Instead, his hind paw scraped the ground, igniting flames that quickly enveloped his body as he charged forward fearlessly. As the white ice line collided with the flames around Yabao, it dissolved instantly, like thin threads burning up in a flash. ¡°Are all fire-type pet beasts this brave?¡± In the stands, a student exclaimed. ¡°Most of them are bold, but this level of courage is rare.¡± Another student remarked. ¡°Do you think the Snow Centipede will be one-shotted?¡± ¡°No way. Xue Chuhua did make it onto the school team after all.¡± Indeed, as a student selected for the school team in his first year, Xue Chuhua felt nervous but issued his commands without hesitation. ¡°Frost Breath on the ground!¡± The Snow Centipede opened its mouth, releasing waves of cold air, instantly covering the ground with a thick layer of frost. The frost spread quickly from the Snow Centipede''s position, rapidly reaching Yabao, who was charging forward with his Flame Charge. The only area Flame Charge hadn¡¯t fully covered with flames was Yabao¡¯s paw pads. If he continued running at this speed, he might not freeze his limbs but would surely slip and fall! Just as Xue Chuhua eagerly awaited the Inferno Canine¡¯s contact with the ice, Qiao Sang called out, ¡°Fire Fang.¡± Fire Fang? Xue Chuhua was caught off guard. Before he could react, the Flame Hound vanished. In the next instant, the flames around Yabao dissipated, and he appeared behind the Snow Centipede! Rooaaar! Yabao proudly raised his head, gathering a fierce concentration of fire energy in the air. Two blazing flames took shape, resembling scythe-like fangs of death, or magnified fangs. Xue Chuhua: !!! Xue Chuhua panicked completely: ¡°Ice Block! Dodge!¡± But it was too late. The Fire Fang attack struck the Snow Centipede hard. ¡°Ch-chiiirp!!¡± The Snow Centipede let out a heart-wrenching cry. Three seconds later, looking at the Snow Centipede lying motionless on the ground, Qiao Sang turned to the dazed female teacher beside her and said, ¡°Teacher, you can announce the results now.¡± Chapter 220: Heartfelt "Snow... Snow Centipede is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins!" The female teacher announced with a trembling voice. He lost¡­ Xue Chuhua withdrew his Snow Centipede into the Beast Codex, looking utterly devastated. At that moment, the entire Shengshui Hall erupted. Nearly every student was losing their mind. "Oh my gosh! How is Qiao Sang this strong?!" "Flame Hound is so cool!" "By the way, what was that just now? Was I seeing things? How did Flame Hound suddenly vanish?" "I saw it too! And that Fire Fang! Why did it seem a bit different from the usual Fire Fang?" "Don¡¯t you guys think Flame Hound¡¯s movement to Snow Centipede looked a lot like the teleportation move of the Treasure-Seeking Ghost?" "You¡­ you mean¡­" "Exactly what you''re thinking." "!!!" "Old Yao." Principal Wang Weidou asked, his eyes fixed on Qiao Sang on the field, "How do you think she compares to Litan''s Ding Yanjing?" After some thought, Liu Yao replied, "If they were the same age, then Qiao Sang would naturally be stronger. Give Qiao Sang another six months, and she might even surpass Ding Yanjing. But right now, Qiao Sang isn¡¯t at his level." Ding Yanjing, the pride of Litan Beast Taming High School, was a senior this year. Back in his freshman year, he ranked first in the province at the National Campus Beast Mastering League, and later achieved remarkable results in the regional competitions. Now, he was just waiting to pass the D-Class Beast Tamer certification before he could take the test for top-tier universities. With his strength, admission into one of these schools was almost certain. To Litan High School, he was a treasure, and to Shengshui High School, he was an exceptional presence. While Shengshui was often outmatched by Litan, the gap between them hadn¡¯t always been too vast. But ever since Ding Yanjing¡¯s year in the National Campus Beast Mastering League, the disparity had become painfully clear. Whenever someone faced him in a match, there was simply no hope of winning. And as if that weren¡¯t enough, Ding Yanjing had a quirk, he liked hearing his opponents admit defeat verbally. If they refused, he¡¯d repeatedly torment their pet beast during the match. It was because of a loss to him in freshman year that Xue Chuhua left the school team. This behavior had sparked disapproval from many school administrators at the time, including Wang Weidou. Not giving up, Wang Weidou continued, "What if I let Qiao Sang participate in the senior-level competition of this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League?" Typically, the National Campus Beast Mastering League was divided by grade levels. If there were no surprises, Qiao Sang would be competing in the freshman division. "Think carefully." Liu Yao warned with a sidelong glance. "Qiao Sang has a 99% chance of claiming first in the provincial freshman division. But if she joins the senior division, the odds of taking first place are slim." Wang Weidou fell silent. Although he was eager for his school to defeat Ding Yanjing, he wanted even more to beat Litan High School in front of the media and shed their eternal runner-up title. "Is anyone else stepping up?" Seeing no one volunteering, the female teacher asked into the microphone. Everyone exchanged looks, nudging each other. "Didn''t you say you wanted to go? Hurry up, then." "Didn¡¯t you say you were going? You go first." "I was just playing along for the atmosphere. I didn¡¯t actually mean it." "I was only kidding too. I¡¯m ranked in the top 100 in school, I can get into a first-rate college. Why bother with the school team?" Bah, just admit you don¡¯t have the courage. Heh, same goes for you... The two exchanged glances and then looked away in silent agreement. --- On the field. "Yap!" With a wagging tail, Yabao looked eagerly at his Beast Tamer. Where¡¯s the opponent? He remembered that as long as he didn¡¯t lose, he could keep fighting! Hold on, all she had to do was say something bold, and she was good at that... Qiao Sang gave Yabao a reassuring glance to be patient. But before she could do anything, the teacher beside her asked, "Would you like the microphone?" Qiao Sang paused. "Yes." The teacher''s expression seemed to say, I knew it. Qiao Sang: ... It wasn¡¯t like she wanted to say anything! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if she didn¡¯t, no one would step up, and without any challengers, how would she earn her points? With so many people here, she¡¯d better take the chance to collect as much as possible. Who knew when she¡¯d gather enough points to evolve Yabao into a high-level beast? She¡¯d already upset enough people anyway. One more wouldn¡¯t matter¡­ Qiao Sang took the microphone from the teacher, lifted her head, and asked, "Is there really no one left?" Silence. Why even bother? Fighting against a Treasure-Seeking Ghost was tough enough; now she had a fire-type and psychic-type Flame Hound? How were they supposed to win? It¡¯s just a spot on the school team! Can¡¯t they just let it go? Seeing the lack of reaction, Qiao Sang grew puzzled. Yabao hadn¡¯t even shown his ultimate move yet, so why was no one stepping up? After a moment of thought, Qiao Sang decided to raise the stakes. "Anyone who beats me gets a teleportation skill manual." A teleportation skill manual?! Everyone looked stunned. Nowadays, learning a skill often cost a fortune. Many beast tamers led frugal lives, spending every penny to teach their pets new skills. If this was a real teleportation skill manual, it would be worth at least six figures! Even if their own pet couldn¡¯t learn it, they could sell it and make a fortune! All the students, and even the teachers, seemed restless. This manual was worth more than a year¡¯s salary for some of them! No one doubted Qiao Sang¡¯s words. One pet knowing the move could be a coincidence, but two clearly pointed to the manual¡¯s legitimacy. Suddenly, it wasn¡¯t just seniors rushing forward; even freshmen and sophomores crowded around. Sure enough, people were driven by temptation... Qiao Sang felt quite proud of her cleverness as she watched the growing crowd. "Hey, stop pushing!" "I got here first, okay!" "Aren¡¯t you a freshman? Do you even have an intermediate-level pet? What are you doing here?" "I want to. Got a problem?" "Everyone, quiet down!" Qiao Sang waved her hand. Since the person who caused this commotion was speaking, everyone respectfully quieted down. "Ahem." Qiao Sang cleared her throat and continued, "I have an idea. As you just saw, beating me is quite difficult. So, here¡¯s the deal: If anyone manages to win in the end, I¡¯ll give every single person who stepped up a teleportation skill manual." All the teachers and students: !!! All 3,000 students in the school were tempted. Chapter 221: Do You Have A Plan? Audience Seating. A middle-aged man in his forties, seated behind Wang Weidou, suddenly leaned forward and whispered, "This student, feeling confident about her abilities, disregards her classmates and has caused such an uproar, disturbing the order. Are we just going to let her be?" Wang Weidou frowned, glancing at him. "This is the school team''s skill showcase. She''s only stirring up excitement to encourage more people to challenge her. How exactly is that disrupting order?" "True, but she¡¯s already fought dozens of matches. No one else seems interested in challenging her, yet she insists on continuing." The middle-aged man added, "There are still five school team members waiting. Isn''t this wasting everyone''s time?" What kind of teacher complains about a student competing too much¡­? Wang Weidou¡¯s face darkened, about to respond when Liu Yao, sitting nearby, suddenly spoke up, "So, what do you suggest?" "I believe that since the students can''t beat her, it''s time for one of us teachers to go up and knock her down a peg. That way, the remaining school team members can take their turns sooner." The man said seriously. Wang Weidou: ... Just say you want the teleportation manual and stop beating around the bush. He almost couldn''t hold back from snapping. --- On the Field. One challenger after another stepped up to compete. Yabao''s expression went from initial excitement to casual indifference, and finally, to exhaustion. Not only was the prolonged battling wearing on him, but the opponents were just too weak! One move was enough to take down each one, nothing like the intense, three-hundred-round fight he had envisioned. "Yabao, that''s the 101st challenger! Hang in there!" Qiao Sang shouted. "Yap!" Hearing his trainer¡¯s encouragement, Yabao perked up. He could still go on! With a single Fire Whirl, the just-entered White Sand Fox was knocked out. In the audience, among the second-year, Class 1 students, a freckled boy with glasses remarked, "This Flame Hound is not only powerful but also has incredible stamina. The students going up are too focused on academics and lack combat experience. At this rate, who knows how long it¡¯ll take to wear it down." "Zhou Ren, do you have a plan?" Asked a nearby classmate. Though Zhou Ren was usually quiet, he was known for getting straight to the point when he spoke and was full of clever ideas. His classmate had a hunch Zhou Ren had thought of something. "I do have an idea." Zhou Ren replied, pushing up his glasses, which gleamed with a flash of intelligence. "What is it? Tell us!" His classmate urged. The others leaned in to listen. "From the moment she said anyone who defeats her would get the teleportation manual, it stopped being a one-on-one match." Zhou Ren began. His classmate gestured for him to continue. "I''ve noticed that after every five matches, the school nurse comes up to replenish the Flame Hound''s energy and stamina." Zhou Ren explained. "She might not even realize it, but repeating something in a set pattern suggests it''s become a habit." "So, most likely, she''ll restore its condition after every fifth match." "As long as we can inflict cumulative negative effects on the Flame Hound over four consecutive rounds, then send our strongest contender in for a decisive blow on the fifth, there¡¯s a 95% chance we can take it down." At that, everyone instinctively looked at Wang Yao, the class''s top fighter. Wang Yao''s mouth twitched. "Don¡¯t look at me; I¡¯m not taking advantage of anyone¡¯s weakness." No way she¡¯d go for that. A one-on-one was one thing, but they wanted her to be part of a five-person ambush? A classmate blurted, "Don¡¯t you want that teleportation manual?" Wang Yao shrugged. "My family¡¯s rich." Showoff! Everyone turned their gaze back to Zhou Ren. Zhou Ren coughed and said, "No worries. We can collaborate with other classes. We¡¯re not the only ones who want to win." "But the Flame Hound has lightning-fast reflexes and can teleport. Even long-range attacks would miss, let alone close combat." Another student remarked, turning back hesitantly. "That¡¯s why the choice of summoned creatures is critical." Zhou Ren continued. "The first to go should be a poison-type creature with a Poison Mist ability. Its sole job is to release poison mist at the start, poisoning the Fire Spirit Dog." "The goal is to weaken its attack so the second creature doesn¡¯t get instantly knocked out." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The second should be a fighting-type with a Counter move, which doubles the damage from the last hit it received back onto the attacker. Survive the hit, and it''ll deal significant damage to the Flame Hound." "In this state, it shouldn¡¯t be able to one-shot the third creature, which should be a grass-type with a Photosynthesis move to restore its own health and drain the Flame Hound¡¯s stamina." "Under normal circumstances, these three rounds should wear it down. But we must plan for the worst. If the Flame Hound has the Blaze ability, we¡¯ll need to find a creature with the Flash Fire ability, which nullifies fire-type moves." "But the Flame Hound is also part psychic-type, so we can¡¯t get careless. The fifth creature should be water-type and powerful. With this lineup, barring any surprises, the Flame Hound won¡¯t stand a chance." Everyone around listened in awe. Wang Yao¡¯s mouth twitched. Wow, with a lineup like that, nothing could withstand it... "What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s start finding people who fit these criteria!" "Right! I''ll go check with the next class." "I''ll ask Class 9!" "I¡¯ll talk to the third-years!" The students sprang into action. Zhou Ren pushed up his glasses and fell silent, truly the unsung hero. --- "Second-year, Class 1. Kong Nanhai." The boy introduced himself politely, forming a seal with his hands. A snake-like creature with black scales and golden armor from its lower body to its tail tip appeared on the field. "Yabao, that¡¯s the 106th challenger! Keep it up!" Qiao Sang called out. "Yap!" Yabao nodded. The battle began. "Golden Armor Snake, Poison Mist!" Kong Nanhai commanded. The Golden Armor Snake opened its mouth, releasing a cloud of dark mist that slowly spread across the field. Before the poison mist could reach Yabao, a Fire Whirl pierced through it, striking the Golden Armor Snake directly. The central mist scattered, but the surrounding cloud lingered, creeping toward Yabao, who soon inhaled some of it. Nice work! Zhou Ren¡¯s heart surged with excitement. "Golden Armor Snake is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins." The female teacher announced flatly. Kong Nanhai showed no surprise, as though he had expected this outcome. Just as he prepared to step down, a voice rang out. "Teacher, I¡¯d like to request energy restoration for the Flame Hound." Kong Nanhai: ??? Chapter 222: He Wants to Keep Competing! Kong Nanhai almost spat blood upon hearing those words! Flame Hound had just finished a match and barely recovered, yet here he was, demanding a recovery after only using a flame whirl without even moving! Didn¡¯t they say it would only recover once every five matches? Why wasn¡¯t she following the rules?! ¡°Why?¡± Kong Nanhai stopped in his tracks, looking at Qiao Sang with an expression of disbelief. Qiao Sang blinked in confusion. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Flame Hound wasn¡¯t injured, nor did it use much energy. Why does it still need to recover?¡± Kong Nanhai asked, puzzled. Qiao Sang scratched her head. ¡°Your last poison mist trick made my Yabao inhale a bit of it. Although it wasn¡¯t much, poison is poison. I think it¡¯s not good to keep it in his system for too long.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head at his trainer¡¯s words. He was poisoned? Kong Nanhai: !!! You detected such a small amount of poison! Who knew you were so cautious?! --- Kong Nanhai returned to his seat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Ren pointed to the school nurse approaching Flame Hound on the field. ¡°What were you two talking about? Why did she call the nurse this match?¡± The surrounding classmates gathered around too. ¡°We misjudged this underclassman.¡± Kong Nanhai muttered. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Ren asked, confused. Kong Nanhai took a deep breath and said, ¡°I initially thought she was just arrogant. Arrogant people are usually overconfident, so I was convinced that even if she noticed Flame Hound¡¯s injuries from the previous four matches, she¡¯d still wait until the fifth match to let it recover.¡± ¡°But after that match, I realized she¡¯s actually cautious and rational, completely different from the arrogant impression she gave off.¡± ¡°Even such a tiny amount of poison mist absorbed by Flame Hound, with no visible symptoms of poisoning, she still detected it.¡± Cautious and rational? Is he really talking about that ruthless underclassman? Zhou Ren stared at Kong Nanhai thoughtfully for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, ¡°Where are your glasses?¡± Kong Nanhai paused. ¡°In the classroom.¡± ¡°Next time, make sure you wear them everywhere.¡± Zhou Ren advised earnestly. Kong Nanhai: ??? ¡°Back to the point.¡± Zhou Ren pushed up his glasses and said, ¡°Since Plan A didn¡¯t work, let¡¯s go with Plan B.¡± ¡°What¡¯s Plan B?¡± A classmate sitting behind leaned forward curiously. ¡°What do you think her biggest advantage is in challenging the whole school?¡± Zhou Ren didn¡¯t answer but asked a question instead. A classmate thought for a moment and said, ¡°She¡¯s strong, and we¡¯re weak.¡± While not wrong, that was a bit disheartening... Zhou Ren glanced at the surrounding classmates and said slowly: ¡°Her advantage lies in the nurse continuously restoring her beast¡¯s condition. But whether it¡¯s the energy stored in the Recharge bug, or the berries and energy fluids in the nurse¡¯s office, they¡¯re all limited resources.¡± ¡°Once all the recovery resources are used up, she won¡¯t be able to keep competing.¡± A classmate behind him suddenly realized, ¡°So we don¡¯t have to do anything; we can just wait for the nurse¡¯s resources to run out.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s too slow. Go tell the other classes that, no matter who¡¯s competing, they should ask the nurse to help their beasts recover after every match.¡± Zhou Ren said, pushing up his glasses again. ¡°Make sure to restore all aspects.¡± A classmate seemed to realize something, looking at Kong Nanhai. ¡°Didn¡¯t your Golden Armor Snake get injured? Why didn¡¯t you have the nurse take a look?¡± Kong Nanhai paused. ¡°I thought its injury wasn¡¯t serious, so I planned to let it rest in the Beast Codex for a while, then give it a special berry when I return to the classroom.¡± The Beast Codex not only allows bonding with beasts but also gradually restores their condition, although slowly. ¡°It¡¯s because so many people thought like you that this underclassman was able to keep competing for so many rounds.¡± Zhou Ren sighed. ¡°Go find the nurse to help restore your Golden Armor Snake.¡± Kong Nanhai said nothing, accepting the suggestion with a nod. --- On the field. Two withered, yellow vines lashed like whips, moving so fast they produced a whoosh-whoosh sound with each swing. Despite the barrage of attacks, Yabao stayed calm, instantly teleporting to a spot out of the vine¡¯s reach. His eyes glowed blue, and the vines froze mid-air. In the next second, under telekinetic control, the two vines reversed direction and shot toward the Withered Vine, binding it tightly. Then, a fiery red orb of concentrated energy struck the Withered Vine dead-on. ¡°Wretched screeeech!¡± The Withered Vine twisted and let out a pained cry. Before long, it collapsed. ¡°Withered Vine is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins.¡± The female teacher announced in a monotonous tone. Having to announce the same outcome every minute had worn her out. ¡°Yabao, that makes it 185 wins. Do you want to keep going?¡± Qiao Sang asked. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want more points, but the match was dragging on so long that her legs were numb... ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao nodded. Though the opponents were weak, he felt himself improving. In recent battles, his reactions had become almost instinctive. He wasn¡¯t fighting for nothing, he was getting stronger! Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d be worn out before Yabao? Truly not human! Uh, well, Yabao technically wasn¡¯t human either... After a moment of inner reflection, Qiao Sang turned to the female teacher to request a recovery for Yabao. The last five matches had all been against mid-level beasts, and Yabao had likely expended most of his energy. Soon, the nurse arrived, though this time without the Recharge bug on his shoulder. Approaching her, the nurse said helplessly, ¡°Qiao Sang, I might not be able to help the Flame Hound recover for the next match.¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We¡¯re completely out of resources for energy and stamina recovery, as well as for treating injuries.¡± The nurse sighed. ¡°Even the Recharge bug¡¯s stored energy has been depleted.¡± The energy in theRecharge bug isn¡¯t limitless; it expands as its ability levels up but needs time to replenish when exhausted. ¡°I see... In that case, I guess this ends my showcase...¡± Qiao Sang trailed off, turning to Yabao and asking, ¡°Yabao, you heard him. We can¡¯t recover anymore. Even so, do you still want to compete?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes held a determined gleam as he nodded. He wanted to keep going! Just as she thought... Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no stopping you, huh? But don¡¯t overdo it if it gets too hard, everyone¡¯s watching, after all.¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 223: Who Won? Half an hour later. Yabao stood in the arena, dirtied from head to toe, his body covered with numerous scratches. Despite his battered appearance, his fiery red eyes still burned with intense fighting spirit. "Sonic Punch!" At the command, Gravity Monkey clenched its fists and shot forward. "Now!" Qiao Sang observed the situation calmly, issuing her instructions. The shadows of Gravity Monkey''s fists rained down like a storm, smashing fiercely into Yabao. With the accumulated injuries from the previous matches, Yabao''s movements were noticeably slower and he couldn¡¯t immediately execute his master¡¯s command. He endured several attacks, gritting his teeth against the pain, before finally gathering the strength to unleash Fire Fang, biting into the Gravity Monkey, who had been relentlessly pounding him. Yabao¡¯s Fire Fang, honed to mastery, was incredibly powerful. Even though his energy was almost depleted, it was enough to knock Gravity Monkey out of the fight. "Yap!" Yabao raised his head and let out a triumphant cry to celebrate his victory. Seeing the result, Qiao Sang suddenly felt her heart racing. She might have looked calm, but inside, she was a bundle of nerves. Honestly, this kind of uncertain match, rather than a smooth victory, really got the adrenaline pumping. "Yabao, I think that¡¯s enough for now. Let¡¯s not push it any further." Qiao Sang said, heart aching as she looked at his battered state. "Yap yap!" Yabao shook his head, indicating he could still fight! Qiao Sang: ¡­ You¡¯re barely able to stand, and you¡¯re sure? In the audience. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the Grade 11, Class 1 section. "This is the twelfth consecutive match, and he still hasn¡¯t gone down?" "Yeah, while his strength isn¡¯t as terrifying as before, he seems to get more excited with each fight." "I knew Fire-type beasts were brave, but I didn¡¯t realize they could be this bold. If I¡¯d known, I would have contracted a Fire-type too." "Not all Fire-type beasts are like this one, though." "Sigh, I wonder how much longer this will go on." Then, Zhou Ren spoke up. "It¡¯s almost over. Haven''t you noticed each fight is taking longer? The last one took about ten minutes. With the way things are going, the Flame Hound should only last one more match." "Look! Someone else is going up, it¡¯s Chen Zhenming from Class 9!" "Didn¡¯t expect him to be the one to step in at the end." "I remember his beast defeated Wang Yao back in Grade 10. But his Beast Codex has stayed on the first page, so he couldn¡¯t contract a second beast. Otherwise, he¡¯d probably be on the school team by now." "Looks like this really might be the last round." As everyone¡¯s eyes were on the stage, one student suddenly asked, "Zhou Ren, come to think of it, haven¡¯t you not gone up to fight at all?" Everyone went silent, turning their heads toward Zhou Ren. Zhou Ren: !!! It was like a bolt from the blue. He clutched his head in shock, questioning everything. How could he have forgotten to fight? He¡¯d done all this for the teleportation technique, yet he didn¡¯t get his turn?! --- On the stage. "Grade 11, Class 9. Chen Zhenming." The boy finished speaking and formed a hand seal, summoning a muscular, blue duck-like beast. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. Force Headed Duck, a dual Water and Fighting type¡­ In Yabao''s current state, even a beginner Water-type beast would be a huge threat, let alone this one. But Qiao Sang''s gaze became resolute. Even so, Yabao might not lose! She hadn¡¯t realized how much her mindset had changed. Back during the Bai Xin Competition, in a situation like this, she¡¯d have accepted defeat long before the match started. The whistle blew. Yabao and Force Headed Duck launched their attacks at the same time. A whirl of flames clashed with a water jet mid-air. Boom!! The explosion reverberated, filling the stage with white steam. "Water Jet!" Chen Zhenming commanded. "Flaming Charge!" Qiao Sang followed up immediately. The water-cloaked Force Headed Duck and the flame-cloaked Yabao charged headfirst into the cloud of steam. Bang!!! The two clashed, stirring up the dense steam into a frenzy. Even though the mist obscured their view, the spectators could imagine the intensity of the collision. "Who won? Who won?" "It has to be Chen Zhenming. The Flame Hound¡¯s flames are visibly weaker than before." "The Flame Hound is covered in injuries and probably exhausted, whereas Force Headed Duck is fresh. Seems obvious who won." "Should''ve ended by now. If I hadn¡¯t gone up once to bide my time for the teleportation technique, I¡¯d be too embarrassed to stay." "Still, that girl¡¯s incredible. With her around, we might finally beat those guys from Litan at the national campus beast mastering competition." As everyone chatted, the steam began to dissipate. "Peak!" Force Headed Duck stood on one webbed foot, raised its head, and let out a loud cry. Opposite it, the Flame Hound lay unconscious with eyes closed. "Yes! Finally won!" "Took nearly 200 matches to bring down the Flame Hound. Glad she¡¯s not in our year, no way we could compete." "Yeah, the pressure of having her in the same grade¡­ Wait! What? The Flame Hound¡¯s getting back up?!" "Oh my god! Its the Blazing ability! It still has Blazing!" Everyone stared in astonishment at the Flame Hound as it struggled to its feet, surrounded by flames of fiery orange-red. "Yap!" Bloodshot eyes blazing, every hair on Yabao¡¯s body seemed to ignite. "Meteor Rain!" Qiao Sang commanded with a sweep of her hand. Time to bring this spectacle to a perfect close! "Yap yap!" Yabao lifted his head, launching a brilliant red energy orb into the sky with a sharp whistle. "Is this¡­?¡± Chen Zhenming¡¯s face shifted with uncertainty. The order Qiao Sang had just given left him in shock, so much so that he forgot he was still in a battle, his gaze glued to the energy orb above. The orb hovered for a moment above the arena, then burst open. Dozens of fireballs trailed fiery tails as they rained down from the sky, leaving Chen Zhenming paralyzed with disbelief. Meteor Rain! Actual Meteor Rain!!! Boom! Boom! Boom! The fireballs fell in torrents, scorching flames dancing wildly across the ground, licking at the earth. "Peak!!" Amidst the downpour, Force Headed Duck scrambled, dodging frantically. But the rain was so dense that even as it dodged one searing fireball, another struck it squarely on the head. "Peak!!!" When the firestorm ended, all that remained was the unconscious Force Headed Duck lying on the ground and the still-standing Flame Hound. "Yap!!" With his head held high, Yabao let out a victorious cry over Force Headed Duck¡¯s defeated form. But in the next moment, exhaustion washed over him, and he collapsed to the ground as his vision blurred. Chapter 224: Did Qiao Sang Break the Law? The entire hall was stunned. To be honest, the shock experienced during this opening ceremony was far more intense than any Top Ten Unbelievable Events they had read about online. It was like reading a forum post that said, "I saw a Dominator Catfish Dragon in the secret realm. Not only did it not attack me, but it also gave me food and kept clinging to me. It even kept calling out ba-ba, ba-ba. I think it wanted to recognize me as its parent, so I formed a contract with it." Shocking and amazing, but ultimately irrelevant to them. But the event that happened at today¡¯s opening ceremony was real, right before their eyes. A freshman. Two pet beasts. Over 200 consecutive battles. With the ability to replenish energy at any time, this was still barely within their range of comprehension. One was a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the other a Flame Hound. They could accept it, as anyone with money could theoretically acquire any pet beast, provided they were willing to spend. New species of pet beasts were hardly seen in recent years. But every few years, there would be a trending topic about some research institute developing a new evolutionary form of a pet beast, so they had some tolerance for it. At most, they were just surprised that a beast master with newly evolved pet beasts appeared among them. However, the fact that both pet beasts had mastered advanced skills was beyond their ability to endure! Everything the freshman displayed defied the common understanding of pet beasts! "A meteor rain! Another advanced skill!" "Are advanced skills that easy to learn?!" "That Flame Hound is so awesome! I¡¯ve decided that my next pet beast will definitely be a Fire Fang Dog!" "Wait, do you think if I skip the teleportation manual and ask Qiao Sang how to teach a pet beast advanced skills, she¡¯ll tell me?" "Keep dreaming!" "Are you kidding? The teleportation manual and the value of advanced skills aren¡¯t even in the same league." "Not necessarily. Think about it: Although this junior is incredible, I don¡¯t think anyone her age could teach both her pet beasts advanced skills. One of them is a low-level pet beast. She must have a powerful mentor backing her. If we trade the teleportation manual for the mentor¡¯s contact information, she might agree." "By the way, the Flame Hound is down. Does that mean we won?" "I¡¯m not sure. She didn¡¯t say she¡¯d battle everyone in the school, just that anyone who defeated her would get the teleportation manual. But we haven¡¯t won. The last person only ended in a draw with her, and she still has the Treasure-Seeking Ghost." As the crowd buzzed, the female teacher acting as referee snapped out of her daze, swallowed nervously, picked up the microphone, and announced, "Flame Hound and Force-Headed Duck are both out of combat. Qiao Sang wins!" Though it was a draw, Chen Zhenming¡¯s pet beast was only the Force-Headed Duck, while Qiao Sang still had the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The battle rules weren¡¯t one-on-one but allowed any contracted pet beasts to participate in combat. Since the strength exhibition was meant to showcase power, having multiple pet beasts was a form of strength. Naturally, no one objected. "Qiao Sang, will you continue with the Treasure-Seeking Ghost?" The female teacher turned and asked cautiously. Qiao Sang instinctively looked at the small Little Treasure. The little ghost froze, then wobbled and displayed a deeply exhausted expression. "Xun¡­" Qiao Sang: ... Qiao Sang shook her head, "No more." "Xun!" Little Treasure immediately perked up. Finally, it was over... The female teacher also let out a sigh of relief. Heaven knew she almost felt like a broken record at this point. Normally, by this time, not only would the strength exhibition be over, but the ceremony itself would have long ended. With a nod from the female teacher, a man in formal wear took the stage as the host and said, "That concludes Qiao Sang¡¯s strength exhibition. Now, let¡¯s welcome the next team member!" The students were not pleased. The Flame Hound was finally down, the school doctor couldn¡¯t continue treatments, and only the Treasure-Seeking Ghost remained. But they just called it quits, so what about their teleportation manuals? "Don¡¯t leave! Fight us again!" "Come on, keep going! Don¡¯t quit!" "Are you afraid?" The Shengshui Hall erupted in noise. Qiao Sang stopped and turned back toward the stage. The female teacher instinctively handed her the microphone. Qiao Sang took it without hesitation, gave a quick Hello to test the sound, and the entire hall fell silent. The host beside her marveled silently, students didn¡¯t even get this quiet for the principal. "You can challenge me anytime. As long as someone beats me within the next three years, everyone who fought me today and the 242 students who just stepped up will get the teleportation manual." Qiao Sang declared. Everyone was furious but dared not speak. If anyone protested now, it would suggest they believed no one in the entire school could beat her. Qiao Sang smirked, confident she wouldn¡¯t be short on points during her time at the school. Just as she was about to hand the microphone back to the female teacher, the Shengshui Hall doors opened, and a group of uniformed police officers entered. "Hello, everyone. We¡¯re officers from the Hangang City Police Department. Is Qiao Sang here?" The students froze, their first reaction being: Did Qiao Sang break the law? After all, when the police come looking for someone, it¡¯s rarely good news. But several people still pointed to where she stood on stage. The lead officer looked her way and grinned, "Sorry we¡¯re late." Teachers and students: ??? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- On September 1st, Qiao Sang became a phenomenon, instantly rocketing to fame in the school. Not only did she shock the crowd with her strength display, but the police even came to present her an award. Regardless of her future achievements, creating such a commotion on her first day was unparalleled in the school¡¯s history. 5:33 p.m., dismissal time. Qiao Sang was gathering her things. "A lot of people are watching you from outside the windows." Jin Feifan whispered, sounding amused. Thanks to Qiao Sang, the strength exhibition ended early, and each team member retained their spot. Qiao Sang glanced to either side of the classroom. Not only were the hallway windows packed, but even the windows on the outer wall were crowded, with students perched on flying-type pet beasts. Seeing her look over, they grew excited. Many held up notes against the window, hoping to catch her attention. Sitting near the outer window, she glanced over and could easily read the notes. [Don¡¯t leave after school; we¡¯ll settle this!] [7 p.m. on the field, we¡¯ll determine the winner!] [I¡¯m Zhou Yuwei from Class 2-3. Can I take a picture with the Flame Hound?] [If you¡¯re a true beast master, don¡¯t run. I¡¯ll wait downstairs for you.] [Hey, can I get the teleportation manual in advance? I promise to beat you while I¡¯m here!] Qiao Sang sighed. If she wasn¡¯t so exhausted, she would have picked a few from the crowd to rack up some points. At that moment, the homeroom teacher walked in and said, "Qiao Sang, just in time. The principal wants to see you." Chapter 225: Tail Grass After three months, things have changed drastically. Three months ago, she was being called to her middle school teacher¡¯s office, getting a face full of spit as she was scolded, and even had her parents summoned. But now, she was called to the principal¡¯s office, only this time, she was drinking tea with the principal of the top-ranked Beast Taming High School in Hanggang City. Qiao Sang sat in her chair, staring at the hot tea in front of her, momentarily lost in thought. "Qiao Sang, what do you think of my proposal?" Wang Weidou asked, holding his tea and leaning back in his chair with a smile. If it had been someone else asking, Qiao Sang would have answered without hesitation: Not interested. But this was the big boss of her current school, so Qiao Sang had to be a bit more careful in her response. To be honest, she didn¡¯t understand the principal¡¯s thinking. Why on earth would he suggest that she compete in the national campus beast mastering league¡¯s senior division? It was like playing a game where the final rewards were the same no matter which difficulty mode you chose. Why would she go for the hard mode instead of the easy one? She wasn¡¯t foolish. Qiao Sang carefully chose her words and replied, "I don¡¯t think I have the strength to compete with the seniors just yet." Hearing this, Wang Weidou nearly choked on the tea he had just sipped. That¡¯s not what you were like at the opening ceremony today! At first, he¡¯d dismissed the idea, but after seeing her Flame Hound not only had the Blaze trait but could also use the advanced skill Meteor Rain, his interest in having her defeat Ding Yanjing was rekindled. Ding Yanjing was a senior now. If they missed this national league, there would be no more chances to bring him down a peg. In his view, Qiao Sang had a real shot at beating Ding Yanjing. Even if she lost, she could still compete in the national league next year. With her skills, securing first in the province as a junior wouldn¡¯t be difficult; it would just be delayed by a year. He had assumed that Qiao Sang, given her high-profile, competitive attitude at the opening ceremony, would agree without a second thought. Yet she was willing to downplay her abilities just to turn him down¡­ Wang Weidou set down his cup and asked, "Do you know why I suggested you participate in the senior division?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "It¡¯s because I believe you have the skill." Wang Weidou said seriously. Even if you say that, I¡¯m still not going¡­ Qiao Sang replied modestly, "I¡¯m only a bit better than others my age." "Students your age don¡¯t evolve their Fire fang Dogs into entirely new forms, nor do they teach low- and mid-level beasts advanced skills." Wang Weidou remarked with a smile. "Just lucky, I guess." Qiao Sang responded with a smile of her own. So young, yet as difficult to handle as Liu Yao¡­ Wang Weidou sighed and added, "There is actually a very important reason I want you to join the senior division this year." Qiao Sang took on a look of focused attentiveness. "You know about Litan Beast Taming High School, right?" Wang Weidou asked. Qiao Sang nodded. "Among their senior students is Ding Yanjing. Whenever he wins a match, he doesn¡¯t stop at that, he makes sure his opponent surrenders of their own accord. Otherwise, he tortures their beast on the field until they do." Wang Weidou sipped his tea and continued, "One of our students faced him in a match, and his beast was tormented so badly that he ended up quitting the school team afterward." "I thought you might have a shot at beating him. If you could win against him in his last national league, that would be ideal. But even if you don¡¯t, with your skills, you can show him that our students aren¡¯t pushovers." Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Torturing beasts? That twisted? "But if the beast hasn¡¯t fallen, how could they surrender? And if the beast does faint, the referee declares a winner, right? How could he continue to torment it?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled. Was this Ding Yanjing guy knocking his opponents down and healing them over and over? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Wang Weidou didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone, opened a video, and pushed it across the table toward Qiao Sang. "Watch this." He said gravely. Qiao Sang looked down at the screen. It was footage of a match. In the video, a Hunshi Bear was entangled in green vines, swaying unsteadily, clearly in bad shape, then knocked out by a green energy ball. Just as the referee stepped forward to start the countdown, a small beast, green in color with a round, milky-white tuft on its head and holding a stalk of foxtail grass in its right paw, trotted up to the Hunshi Bear. The camera zoomed in. "Will you surrender?" A boy in the Litan High uniform asked. The video cut to the contestant from Shengshui High School. Thanks to her improved memory, Qiao Sang recognized him right away as one of the 200-plus competitors she¡¯d faced today. Of course, a big reason she remembered him was that his method of waking up the Hunshi Bear using food was unforgettable. Xue Chuhua stood there with a dark expression, saying nothing. Seeing this, the boy in the Litan High uniform commanded, "Tail Grass, wake it up!" The referee hadn¡¯t finished the countdown. The beast, Tail Grass, quickly placed the foxtail under the bear¡¯s armpits, tickling it. Then it moved to the bear¡¯s soles, scratching away. Soon, the Hunshi Bear awoke. The referee declared the match continued. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Wang Weidou spoke up at just the right moment. "The beast was already hurt, but he kept tickling it awake, forcing it to laugh despite the pain. For a beast, that¡¯s pure torment." Qiao Sang understood. Though it seemed comical, imagining a creature laughing helplessly, worsening its injuries from the effort, that was torment, both physically and mentally. Wang Weidou smiled kindly. "Now you know why I wanted you to compete in the senior division this year. Don¡¯t feel pressured. Whether or not you go is your choice, and I¡¯ll respect it either way." Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, "Principal, this is a big decision. I¡¯ll need to discuss it with my mom." "Good! Good!" Wang Weidou¡¯s face lit up. In his mind, once a parent heard that the principal himself was encouraging their child to participate, they would surely agree. After all, he was the principal! Just pacify the principal with her mom as an excuse, then say her family disapproves, and he won¡¯t press her¡­ Perfect! Qiao Sang¡¯s smile deepened. --- After leaving the principal¡¯s office, Qiao Sang managed to sneakily get Water Luriana out of the fountain and into her bag, only to be ambushed by a group. It took half an hour to shake them off and get out of the school. She¡¯d only walked a few steps outside when she heard the familiar sound of the class bell. Qiao Sang felt instantly elated. One perk of being on the school team was no evening self-study sessions! Her good mood was short-lived, however, as a familiar voice called out. "Lu lu." Startled, Qiao Sang quickly rotated her bag 180 degrees to the front. "Why did you poke your head out?" She asked in a hushed voice. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lu lu?" Water Luriana¡¯s ears twitched as she looked shy. Where was that annoying guy? Qiao Sang blinked, then said with realization, "Oh, you¡¯re asking why we¡¯re not home yet? Starting today, I have school. I might be a little later getting back." Water Luriana: ¡­ Chapter 227: Advanced Pet Beast When it came to the next skill to learn, Qiao Sang made her decision almost immediately after Water Luriana demonstrated the skills she already knew. That skill was Water Stream Jet. Water Stream Jet is a water-type physical attack skill. However, the skill¡¯s effect isn''t as literal as jetting out a stream of water. Instead, it involves wrapping the pet beast¡¯s entire body in water, allowing it to rush forward with the flow and slam into its opponent. Qiao Sang thought it through carefully. Given Water Luriana¡¯s average aptitude, learning high-level skills at this stage would be unrealistic. Although Water Stream Jet is considered an intermediate skill, it¡¯s also one of the harder-to-learn moves among all intermediate water-type skills. Based on Water Luriana¡¯s aptitude, learning this move could potentially take years. But Qiao Sang believed she wouldn¡¯t take nearly as long, because Water Luriana already knew Water Tail. There¡¯s a similarity between Water Tail and Water Stream Jet, both require wrapping part of the body in water. Learning skills can promote a pet beast¡¯s growth and also lead to understanding other skills. Most beastmasters start by building a strong foundation for their pet beasts, encouraging them to learn a corresponding lower- or mid-level skill before tackling high-level skills. For example, with the high-level water skill Hydro Cannon, having the pet beast master the intermediate skill Water Gun first significantly increases the success rate of learning Hydro Cannon. It¡¯s like a student needing to complete nine years of compulsory education before taking the high school entrance exam. Without a solid foundation, tackling high school-level problems would be impossible. In the living room, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone to search for videos of Water Stream Jet for Water Luriana to watch. Water Luriana blinked and watched the screen intently. In the video, a water-type pet beast wrapped itself in water and charged powerfully at a grass-type pet beast ten times its size. The grass-type pet beast stood firm as a rock, unmoved, even casually scratching its nose. Water Luriana¡¯s eyes widened. This was the move she was supposed to learn? "Oops." Qiao Sang quickly swiped up to skip the video. The video changed. This time, a water-type pet beast used Water Stream Jet to dodge consecutive fire attacks in mid-air before crashing into a fire-type pet beast it was battling. The fire-type pet beast sneered, a molten glow appearing as it burrowed underground. With its target gone, the water-type pet beast crashed into a mountain rock behind it. A crack sounded in the video as the rock shattered. Water Luriana¡¯s eyes grew even wider. Qiao Sang paused the video, waiting a few seconds before saying, "Look at the power of this move, see how that massive rock shattered into pieces upon impact." Water Luriana Yana looked at the shattered rock on screen, stunned, and nodded. It did look pretty impressive... "Right now, your only physical attack is Water Tail. But if you want to use Water Tail to get close enough to an opponent and attack, you¡¯ll either need perfect timing or be much faster than your opponent to catch them off guard." Qiao Sang explained. Water Luriana listened intently, showing a serious expression. "But perfect timing is hard to achieve, and your speed isn¡¯t there yet." Water Luriana: ... "But don¡¯t worry." Qiao Sang replayed the video, stopping at the moment the water-type pet beast used Water Stream Jet to dodge fire attacks. She continued, "See, Water Stream Jet not only increases speed but is also much stronger than Water Tail. Even if it doesn¡¯t hit the opponent, it¡¯s great for dodging attacks." "Lu lu!" Water Luriana gave a cry of agreement. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure next to them chimed in, as he often did, with a translation. "Alright, then it¡¯s decided! Let¡¯s start now." Qiao Sang said with a smile. Although the two videos had been rather lackluster, Water Luriana still seemed easy to persuade. Qiao Sang took Water Luriana to the courtyard, finding a spot with a watermelon-sized rock. "First, try to wrap your entire body in water, just like when you use Water Tail." "Lu lu." Water Luriana nodded. "Once you can break this rock like in the video, the move will be complete." Qiao Sang said, pointing at the rock. "Lu lu!" Water Luriana looked at the rock with a determined expression and began wrapping her tail in water, moving the flow upward. However, the water only covered half her body before she crashed head-first into the rock. Thud. A crack appeared on the rock. "Lu lu!" Water Luriana¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the crack, excitedly pointing to the rock and calling to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang: ... Watching Water Luriana¡¯s excitement, despite the bump on her head, Qiao Sang sighed internally. Not only was her aptitude poor, but she was also a bit¡­ dense. Perhaps finding a way for Water Luriana to evolve would be more practical. "Not bad, you made a crack." Qiao Sang said, crouching down and pointing to the bump on Water Luriana¡¯s head. "But, didn¡¯t it hurt?" Water Luriana froze, reaching up with a short toe. "Lu lu!" It hurt! "You only cracked the rock with brute force, not by using Water Stream Jet." Qiao Sang said with a laugh. "Lu lu..." Water Luriana pouted. "This was only the first try; it¡¯s normal to fail." Qiao Sang reassured, "Even Yabao spent a lot of time practicing¡­ Meteor Rain." Water Luriana perked up at the mention of Yabao. "Don¡¯t be in a rush to hit the rock. You have to fully envelop yourself in water first." Thinking of Yabao, Qiao Sang added, "If you don¡¯t understand, you can ask Yabao. He knows Flame Charge, which also involves wrapping himself in energy, except it¡¯s fire, and you¡¯re water." "Lu lu..." Water Luriana cast a reluctant look toward Yabao, who was focused on practicing Fire Fang, and begrudgingly nodded. No one noticed a little Water Snail silently turning back at the courtyard wall. --- Night. Lying in bed, Qiao Sang habitually opened the Beastmaster Codex before sleep. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Name: Flame Hound (Yabao) Level: Intermediate (1407/10000)+ Points: 10776 Seeing the number 10776, despite being prepared, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. Today¡¯s battle had been worthwhile! These points were enough for Yabao to evolve into an advanced pet beast! An advanced pet beast! That was no small feat. While low and intermediate-level pet beasts were common for beastmasters, only one in five hundred could boast of an advanced pet beast, regardless of age. Beyond aptitude, it¡¯s also due to the exorbitant resources needed for many pet beasts to reach advanced evolution. Even if the evolution requirements are simple, sustaining an advanced pet beast¡¯s upkeep is another matter entirely. A beastmaster with an advanced pet beast could easily rise beyond the rookie ranks. Being qualified to join a team exploring secret realms was proof enough. Qiao Sang kept a level head, resisting the impulse to evolve Yabao immediately. She knew that if a pet beast evolved after surpassing its energy limit, its future growth ceiling would be far higher than others in the same rank. When Yabao was still a Fire Fang Dog, his energy had already surpassed the primary pet beast range. She wanted Yabao to do the same as a Flame Hound. Tomorrow, she¡¯d take him for a check-up! Thinking of this, Qiao Sang eagerly turned the page. Chapter 228: It Has Nothing to Do with Her Name: Treasure-Seeking Ghost (Little Treasure) Level: Beginner (457/1000)+ Points: 2620 2620 points, enough for Little Treasure to evolve¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but grin widely. However, she quickly calmed down. Little Treasure had immense potential. With Yabao as an example, exceeding the maximum energy level even in the beginner stage, she naturally hoped the same for her Little Treasure. Another critical point was that the evolved form of the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the Treasure-Seeking Demon, had two evolutionary paths. She wanted her Little Treasure to evolve into a Ghost Ring Spirit, and he was still working hard to split his ring into two. If she blindly added points now, Little Treasure might evolve into a Treasure-Seeking Demon without two rings. Later, if she wanted it to evolve into a Ghost Ring Spirit, he would likely require a significant increase in resources. After repeatedly reviewing Yabao¡¯s and the Little Treasure¡¯s information, Qiao Sang returned to reality. In just one day, she had gathered the points to upgrade both Yabao and Little Treasure. If she said she could sleep as usual, it would be a lie. When people are excited, their brains become unusually active, which directly leads to insomnia. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t sleep¡­ --- September 2. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Morning. With dark circles under her eyes, Qiao Sang finished washing up, ate breakfast, shouldered her backpack containing Water Luriana, and set off for school. The anticipated scene of people surrounding her to challenge her didn¡¯t happen; Qiao Sang walked into Class One without any interruptions. Shengshui High School only required students on the school team to stay in dorms, not other students. However, most students still chose to live in school dorms for convenience in studying. As the only person in her class living off-campus, Qiao Sang was the last to arrive in class. If there were no unexpected events, this would likely be the pattern for the next three years of high school. Seeing her classmates all practicing meditation, Qiao Sang quietly went to her seat and joined in, setting aside her morning reading plan. Honestly, being in the same class with these academic geniuses put quite a bit of pressure on Qiao Sang. Especially during class, when they were all half-asleep, while she could only keep her head down, taking meticulous notes. Initially, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand. Finally, by the third period, she couldn¡¯t resist asking Jin Feifan, who was also nodding off beside her: ¡°Did something happen at school last night? You all look so tired.¡± Jin Feifan lowered her voice and said, ¡°Not really, it¡¯s just that we already self-studied this content over the summer, so it feels like the teacher isn¡¯t bringing anything new.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? ¡°You, the student who was just speaking, Jin Feifan, right? Answer this question.¡± The teacher suddenly called on her. ¡°Silver nitrate solution is a commonly used agent with slight corrosive and antiseptic properties. Which option below can substitute for its effects?¡± Without thinking, Jin Feifan answered, ¡°It¡¯s the powdered flower umbrella mushroom.¡± The teacher nodded. ¡°Correct, the answer is A. You may sit down, but don¡¯t speak again in class. Although you may know this material, your seatmate still needs to listen.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ At that moment, Qiao Sang understood. The gap created by nine years of compulsory education couldn¡¯t be bridged in just three months to match her classmates. If she couldn¡¯t excel in academics, she¡¯d get ahead in Beast Mastery instead! After taking notes all morning, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t leave right away after school; she stayed at her seat, waiting for someone to challenge her. However, after waiting for quite a while, not a single person showed up. When Wang Jihang returned to the classroom after lunch and saw Qiao Sang still sitting there, he asked curiously, ¡°Qiao Sang, why haven¡¯t you left yet? The cafeteria will be out of food soon.¡± Hearing this, Qiao Sang instinctively got up but hesitated and sat back down. ¡°I¡¯ll wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Wang Jihang asked, puzzled. ¡°Waiting for someone to challenge me.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Before Wang Jihang could respond, Chen Dongjun, who had lost to her at the opening ceremony yesterday, chimed in: ¡°You¡¯re so strong, who would dare to challenge you?¡± Qiao Sang said in surprise, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see yesterday? Our classroom was crowded with challengers after school.¡± ¡°That was yesterday; today is today, how could they be the same?¡± Chen Dongjun replied irritably. ¡°Yesterday, after the battle, your Flame Hound couldn¡¯t fight, and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was exhausted and tired from battle. That was the best chance to beat you, so of course, everyone wanted to challenge you then. Now, after a night, your two powerhouse beasts have regained their strength. Who would be foolish enough to pick a fight and get crushed?¡± Qiao Sang: ??? What? Chen Dongjun¡¯s words left Qiao Sang dumbfounded. So yesterday was the last chance to score points?! Opportunities like that won¡¯t come again? Sure enough, just as Chen Dongjun said, not a single person challenged her all day. The only two who came were one who wanted a picture with Yabao and another who wanted to borrow the teleportation manual in advance. Qiao Sang regretted it deeply. Why didn¡¯t she have Little Treasure hang on a bit longer yesterday? Where else would she find such an easy way to earn points¡­ ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, hidden in the shadows, scratched his nose, feeling a strange itch. --- After school. Training Ground No. 5. ¡°You want to test your pet¡¯s energy level with the energy testing machine?¡± Zheng Guoping asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Alright, wait here.¡± Zheng Guoping made a quick phone call, and ten minutes later, a machine was carried over by a powerful pig beast. ¡°Now that the energy testing machine is here, let¡¯s have everyone test their levels!¡± Zheng Guoping called out, clapping his hands. Wang Yao and the others stopped their training and came over. ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯ve put me through a lot.¡± Shi Gaofeng said, looking at her with a resentful expression. Qiao Sang was puzzled. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Ha ha, nothing, it¡¯s just that every time he tests his energy level, Teacher Zheng scolds him.¡± Wang Yao explained. Qiao Sang hesitated and looked at Shi Gaofeng. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be used to it by now?¡± Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ Since Qiao Sang had initiated the test, she went first. Little Treasure, familiar with the machine from previous tests, cooperatively put on the helmet. Since Yabao¡¯s head was too big for the helmet, he used an energy sensor instead. The results came quickly. Yabao: 42,239. Little Treasure: 12,366. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised that Little Treasure exceeded the beginner pet¡¯s energy limit. Yabao had initially surpassed his energy limit due to learning high-level skills and training his Ember skill to the essence level. Little Treasure had also learned high-level skills; although none had reached the essence level, his proficiency was exceptionally high compared to others of the same level. As for Yabao¡¯s current energy level, Qiao Sang now had a good understanding. After the first energy test, she researched online and found that the energy limit for an intermediate pet was 50,000. This meant that, once all points were added, Yabao¡¯s energy level would undoubtedly exceed the range of an intermediate pet¡¯s limit. ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯ve really made things difficult for us¡­¡± Wang Yao muttered, recalling the numbers she¡¯d just seen. ¡°If I said I had a stomachache right now, do you think Teacher Zheng would let me leave?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked, teary-eyed. Meanwhile, Xu Yajie trembled as he helped Lishou Duck put on the helmet. ¡°Xu Yajie! What are you doing?! 36,778 energy! That¡¯s only about 3,000 more than last time! Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound, which has only recently evolved, is already ahead of you!¡± Qiao Sang quietly took a step back, thinking, This has nothing to do with me. Chapter 229: Witnessing Evolution On the way home, Qiao Sang sat on Yabao¡¯s back, taking a big sip of her iced milk tea and letting out a satisfied sigh. School wasn¡¯t physically exhausting, but it sure took a toll on her mentally. Especially sitting among a group of top students, with every teacher giving her extra attention, it was truly a struggle. It felt less like she was in a class with one teacher and a group of students and more like one student surrounded by a group of teachers. Fortunately, the energy readings from Yabao and Little Treasure gave her a sense of comfort. As Qiao Sang enjoyed her milk tea, she was in quite a good mood. Given the current situation, beating all the major beast-taming high schools in Zhejiang Province, securing first place in the province, advancing to the regional tournament, and qualifying for the national finals, it might not be a certainty, but she was at least 80% confident. At that moment, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a call from Song Yuan. Qiao Sang swiped to answer and greeted, ¡°Hey, Sister Song.¡± Song Yuan sounded upbeat. ¡°The photos from Yabao¡¯s last shoot are out, and we¡¯ve written up a topic for them. I¡¯ll send everything over shortly, remember to post it on Superblog.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Oh, by the way, are you staying at the school now?¡± Song Yuan asked. Qiao Sang paused for a moment. ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t take the new sunglasses the other day, so I¡¯ll mail them to you.¡± Song Yuan laughed. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t live at the school, so I¡¯ll send you my address later.¡± Qiao Sang said. During collaborations, brands would often gift the products endorsed by the beast companions. Part of it was out of goodwill, but another reason was to have the companions use the products regularly, increasing visibility for the brand. As soon as the call ended and before Qiao Sang could take another sip of her milk tea, her phone buzzed again. Glancing at the caller ID, Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Bai Yunmiao. ¡°Why the sudden call?¡± She asked after picking up. The two would chat online occasionally, but this was the first time Bai Yunmiao had ever called her. On the other end, Bai Yunmiao¡¯s voice was so excited it nearly cracked. ¡°Qiao, the genius! Are you free right now? My Golden Vine is about to evolve! Wanna come and watch?¡± Qiao Sang instinctively held the phone a bit farther from her ear. After Bai Yunmiao finished talking, Qiao Sang put the phone back and said, ¡°Of course I want to see! Send me your address, and I¡¯ll head over now.¡± A beast¡¯s evolution was a big deal for a beast tamer. If a beast evolved spontaneously, that was one thing. But if it was through resources and a known timing, most tamers would prepare in advance. Notifying friends and family and recording the entire evolution process was standard practice. The more enthusiastic ones would even bathe and burn incense beforehand to show respect for the evolution. Even if it wasn¡¯t their own beast, no beast tamer would be uninterested in a beast¡¯s evolution. Beast evolution remained a hot topic throughout the entire league. If Yabao¡¯s situation hadn¡¯t been so unusual last time, Qiao Sang probably would have recorded the whole thing too. ¡°I¡¯ve sent you the location! Hurry over!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Hanging up, Qiao Sang opened her messaging app and clicked on the location Bai Yunmiao had sent. [341 Nanhe Street, Nanli Park] --- Meanwhile... ¡°Why hasn¡¯t that little trickster shown up yet¡­¡± Along a route from Shengshui High School to Tianjing Gardens, Li Songhai hid in a narrow alley, repeatedly glancing out. This area was in the suburbs, with few people around and not much in terms of entertainment. It was over an hour past the typical end of work hours, so those who needed to go home had done so, and those looking for fun had already left. Hardly anyone was passing by. Li Songhai had been waiting there for three hours just to catch Qiao Sang. He never thought that he, a dignified D-rank beast tamer, would be tricked by a young girl who hadn¡¯t even fully grown up. The thought of how he had kindly warned her about the ghost-type beast in her house made him want to slap himself. How foolish! Too foolish! He¡¯d actually believed whatever she said! That little trickster was probably laughing at him behind his back! No wonder she wasn¡¯t the least bit scared of the ghost-type beast, it was her own! They say the prettier a woman, the better she is at lying; he didn¡¯t expect even young girls to be like this! Li Songhai had initially thought about storming in and giving that girl a lesson, but ultimately, the allure of Water Luriana won out. Though he managed to hold back, the frustration kept him up all night, so at around 6 a.m., he sent his Water Snail to monitor the girl and see when she¡¯d leave, hoping to locate Water Luriana. To his surprise, the Water Snail reported back that Water Luriana was in the girl¡¯s backpack, accompanying her. This raised Li Songhai¡¯s suspicion. Water Luriana actually chose to stay close to a human¡­ He wasn¡¯t too worried about the girl contracting with Water Luriana; she already had two beasts, and considering her age, she definitely couldn¡¯t have unlocked the third page of the beast-taming codex. But Water Luriana being outside did provide an opportunity; after all, Tianjing Gardens was a residential area, and making a scene there would attract attention. Li Songhai had checked: The only nearby school was Shengshui High, so she would have to pass by here on her way back. So he¡¯d stationed himself there before school let out, and here he was still waiting. ¡°It¡¯s so late, and she¡¯s still not back.¡± As Li Songhai muttered, he slapped his face with a loud smack. Looking at the nth mosquito carcass on his hand, blood smearing the skin, he cursed under his breath, ¡°Damn it, if she doesn¡¯t come soon, I¡¯ll be anemic from all these bites!¡± --- Nanli Park. Bai Yunmiao set up the camera and gave a solemn nod to his Golden Vine. After exchanging a look with its master, Golden Vine placed the evolution stone on its forehead. The stone glowed green, and in the next second, a brilliant white light of evolution engulfed Golden Vine¡¯s body. When the light faded, a beast with green flowers on its head, matching green eyes, and pink leaves resembling a grass skirt appeared in the park. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. Though she had already seen Yabao evolve once, no matter how many times she witnessed a beast¡¯s evolution, it always felt magical! Yabao shared the same bright-eyed expression, though his mind was on something else. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao turned and let out an excited cry at his master. He wanted to challenge the newcomer to a match! Oh boy, after a long battle yesterday, it still wanted to go again today¡­ Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°Hang on; let me ask first.¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure watched from the side, full of envy. He wanted to evolve too¡­ Bai Yunmiao rushed over, happily hugging Golden Vine. ¡°I thought your Golden Vine would¡¯ve evolved a month ago. Didn¡¯t expect you to only use the evolution stone now.¡± Qiao Sang said as she walked over, smiling. The Golden Vine usually grew tendrils on its head, and generally, they reached six centimeters before evolving into Sweet Knot Vine with a grass-type evolution stone. Last time she saw Golden Vine at the Bai Xin Competition, its tendrils were already over five centimeters long. Chapter 230: Im Innocent "A month ago, actually, but I wanted to buy a better quality grass-type evolution stone, so I delayed until now." Bai Yunmiao said, scratching her head with an embarrassed smile. No wonder... Qiao Sang understood. The higher the quality of the evolution stone, the greater the energy level in the pet after evolution, giving it an advantage over other pets of the same level. Many beast tamers spend a lot of time selecting the perfect evolution stone. "By the way, want to have a match with me?" Qiao Sang asked, recalling Yabao¡¯s words. "Yap!" Yabao looked at the newly evolved Sweet Vine with a face full of fighting spirit. "Sweet¡­" Feeling Yabao¡¯s intense gaze, Sweet Vine silently took a step back and hid behind its beast tamer. "No way, no way! Your reputation has spread; everyone knows you''re the school¡¯s fearsome challenger. The forum on our province''s high school website still has your name up there." Bai Yunmiao quickly shook his head, terrified. Qiao Sang was stunned. "The Zhejiang Province high school forum?" "Yeah, it''s the main forum for all high schools in the province. Practically every student in the province goes there to chat. Yesterday, someone from your school even argued with Litan High School in Hanwen City." Bai Yunmiao said. "Why were they arguing?" Qiao Sang asked. "All because of you." Bai Yunmiao replied. "Yesterday, someone from your school posted that there¡¯s a super-genius freshman who could crush Litan High School, telling them to expect defeat in this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League." "Someone from Litan High School saw the post, and they started arguing. The post became really popular and is probably still on the front page." Qiao Sang felt a headache coming on. "Did they mention my name?" Bai Yunmiao chuckled. "Of course! Otherwise, how would I know you''re the fierce challenger taking on the entire school?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but explain, "I didn¡¯t challenge the whole school, just over 200 people." Bai Yunmiao: ... Only 200 people? Do you even hear yourself?! Keeping a polite smile, Bai Yunmiao said, "That''s still impressive." Since she learned that Qiao Sang not only contracted with a Treasure-Seeking Ghost but also evolved Fire Fang Dog into a brand-new form, she wasn¡¯t surprised by anything about this prodigy. Qiao Sang sighed. "Does this mean everyone from other schools knows my information too?" "Don''t worry too much about getting targeted in the league because of your fame." Bai Yunmiao comforted her. "People love to brag on the forum. Information is half-true, half-false. Yesterday, someone claimed their school has a student who contracted a high-level beast as their first pet." Qiao Sang actually thought that might be possible. If a high-level beast is willing, a novice beast tamer can contract it, even if there''s a risk of backlash. It¡¯s happened before, as reported on the news. Some aging beast tamers, before passing away, might consider passing their beasts on to the next generation. However, this also depends on the beast''s consent. Without the original tamer¡¯s contract, no one can force the beast to agree. In the end, it¡¯s usually beast tamers with little hope in the field who do this. Ambitious tamers tend to want their pets to grow alongside them, rather than inheriting one. After saying goodbye, Yabao watched Sweet Vine¡¯s retreating figure with a melancholy expression. Seeing this, Qiao Sang said, "You don¡¯t need to fight to get stronger. How about this? Let¡¯s challenge ourselves to fly home today!" The idea of training Yabao was secondary; her main thought was getting up into the sky. Now that she knew how much energy Yabao had, she actually thought about flying. Flying without a flying-type pet? Just the thought thrilled her! "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. He could do it! Holding Little Treasure, Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao¡¯s back and smoothly ascended. From the backpack, Water Luriana poked her head out, eyes widening at the view below. Once home, Qiao Sang hurried to her room to start her homework. It was already after 8 p.m., and she hadn¡¯t even begun! --- 11:34 p.m. In a small alley two blocks from Tianjing Garden, Li Songhai sat on the ground, his expression blank, his skin dotted with mosquito bites. Anyone with trypophobia would probably get chills just looking at him. Just then, footsteps approached, and Li Songhai quickly peeked out. Then he saw two white, bare legs. He froze, instinctively looking up. "Ah! Pervert!" The woman clutched her skirt and took several steps back in fright. Summoning her pet, she shouted, "Desert Tail Fox, get him!" Before Li Songhai could even defend himself, the fox¡¯s tail glowed white and lashed at him. "I''m innocent!!!" --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, freshly showered, leaned against her headboard with her laptop on her knees. As soon as she logged into Weibo, she was stunned by the follower count on her account. Over three million followers! She hadn¡¯t posted anything other than Yabao¡¯s photo modeling sunglasses. Checking the comments, she saw they were all discussing Yabao. [Is this the account of the tamer with the Flame Hound?] [Not much here. I just want to confirm if it¡¯s true that Flame Hound also has psychic abilities.] [Gotta admit, Flame Hound is really cool!] [I heard the tamer of Flame Hound is still in high school.] [Why hasn''t the Alliance published the evolution method for Flame Hound yet?] [I''ll pay one million if you can tell me how to evolve Fire Fang Dog into Flame Hound. If you agree, just ignore this comment.] No wonder her follower count shot up. Being the only tamer of a Flame Hound, the rise in followers wasn¡¯t surprising. After posting the photos Song Yuan gave her, she opened the forum Bai Yunmiao mentioned. #A fierce challenger among our school¡¯s freshmen who took on the entire school# Seeing the pinned post, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It wasn¡¯t just gossip; they¡¯d actually pinned it¡­ Clicking in, she saw the post was still being updated, with countless users replying in real time. [No photos, no videos, just empty words?] [Just because you don¡¯t have someone like that at Litan High, doesn¡¯t mean our Shengshui High doesn¡¯t. Laughable.] [Want me to pull up last year¡¯s video of your team competing with ours?] [The past is the past. This year¡¯s what counts.] [Shengshui always says this, but we all know the outcome.] [Don¡¯t kid yourselves; the provincial champion will be from Li De High this year.] But no one paid attention to Li De High. [For real, our school''s super-genius has two pets, both with advanced skills.] [Oh, I¡¯m shaking in my boots. All of our Litan High''s team members'' pets know superior skills.] [All of Shengshui¡¯s pets know divine skills.] [Ha.] [Ha ha.] Qiao Sang typed: [Ha ha ha.] After sending those words, she closed her laptop. Chapter 226: Diligence Can Make Up For Lack of Talent Little Treasure couldn''t hold back any longer and appeared to translate. ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun xun.¡± Only then did Qiao Sang realize that Water Luriana was asking about Yabao. ¡°When did you two become so close?¡± Qiao Sang asked. In her impression, Water Luriana had never liked Yabao. Even if they hadn¡¯t fought recently, Water Luriana would turn away as soon as she saw Yabao, seeming unwilling to even make eye contact. Now that Yabao was just absent for a while, Water Luriana actually noticed and cared about his whereabouts, this was unusual¡­ (t/n: Someone''s got a little crush~) ¡°Lu lu!¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Hearing Qiao Sang''s words, Water Luriana paused for a moment, and then her fur stood on end as her body half-burst out, gesturing excitedly, looking as if she had been seriously wronged. Qiao Sang hurriedly whispered to calm her down, ¡°I know, I know. Just go back in, the people around are looking over.¡± She had only asked casually, so why was the reaction so intense? Water Luriana''s body retreated, but her head remained outside, her deep eyes fixed on Qiao Sang. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure timely translated. Wow, she hadn¡¯t forgotten to continue asking about Yabao¡­ Qiao Sang began to recount what had happened at school today. One minute later. ¡°That¡¯s how it is, so we need to stop by the Beast Center first to get Yabao treated.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Lu lu!¡± After listening, Water Luriana called out seriously. Before Qiao Sang could guess what Water Luriana meant, Little Treasure quickly translated. Qiao Sang was taken aback and asked, ¡°Are you saying you can treat Yabao?¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana nodded vigorously. Qiao Sang recalled something she had seen online about Water Luriana. ¡°It¡¯s said that even if you¡¯re missing arms or legs, as long as the gem on its head lights up, nothing is beyond recovery.¡± There had been so much going on lately that she had almost forgotten that Water Luriana was a super healer¡­ ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you!¡± Qiao Sang said earnestly. ¡°Lu lu!¡± --- Upon returning home, Qiao Sang summoned Yabao. At that moment, Yabao had regained consciousness thanks to the effects of the Beast Codex, but he still bore injuries and was not in great condition. ¡°Yap!¡± As soon as Yabao appeared, he wagged his tail happily at his Beast Master. Before he could wag it too much, a blue light enveloped him. ¡°Yap yap¡­¡± Yabao showed a comfortable expression. Qiao Sang watched in astonishment as Yabao¡¯s wounds healed at a visibly fast pace, taking no more than five seconds. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What a miraculous skill! If she contracted Water Luriana, their survival rate in the Secret Realm would skyrocket. Once the treatment was finished, the blue light on the gem on Water Luriana¡¯s forehead faded. When Yabao looked at her, she blushed, her ears perked up, and with a whoosh, she dashed off to the courtyard. Qiao Sang paused for a moment, ¡°What did you do to offend her just now?¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao tilted his head, looking confused. He didn¡¯t know either. --- After dinner, Qiao Sang returned to her room to do her homework. As a student, she didn¡¯t have to worry about food or clothing, but she still often felt miserable, mainly because of the homework she had to write every day. Fortunately, Qiao Sang had experienced the transition from being a student to working, so she didn¡¯t harbor much resentment toward doing homework. Only those who have lived the life of a corporate worker know how blissful student life is. Qiao Sang focused intently on the problems in her hands. In the Beast Master society, high school subjects were generally related to pet beasts. For example, the math problem she was currently working on: ¡°A team battle competition between Team A and Team B will be conducted using a best-of-seven format. The home and away arrangements for Team A are as follows: ¡®home home away away home away home.¡¯ Let the probability of Team A winning at home be 0.6 and the probability of winning away be 0.5, with the outcomes of each match being independent. What is the probability of Team A winning 4:1?¡± Qiao Sang concentrated and quickly answered. By now, she had gained a sufficient understanding of the Beast Master world, no longer staring blankly at the questions like she had on her first day. Had it been back then, she probably would have spent ages pondering the phrase team battle competition. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been writing when a blue claw suddenly landed on her problem sheet. Startled, Qiao Sang turned and found it was Water Luriana. ¡°How come you¡¯re as sneaky as Little Treasure ?¡± Qiao Sang said, clutching her chest. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana called out seriously. Combining Water Luriana''s expression and her sudden appearance, Qiao Sang suddenly stood up, excitedly asking, ¡°Did you find a pet beast you like on your phone?!¡± Water Luriana¡¯s expression stiffened, and then a water gun as thick as a finger sprayed directly at Qiao Sang''s face. Qiao Sang: ¡­ If you didn¡¯t find one, then just say so! Can¡¯t we communicate properly? Why the water spray?¡­ Qiao Sang wiped her face, feeling exhausted, and called out, ¡°Little Treasure!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure instantly appeared in the room. ¡°You come to be the translator.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded. Only with Little Treasure¡¯s translation did Qiao Sang understand Water Luriana''s intention for coming over. ¡°You want to learn a new skill?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana nodded. Qiao Sang looked thoughtful. Indeed, in Water Luriana''s view, wanting to become stronger meant not only evolution but also learning new skills. She still didn¡¯t know that her time was running out¡­ Thinking of this, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but soften her heart and said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go to the courtyard now. First, show me the skills you know, and then I¡¯ll think about which skills would be better for you to learn.¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± --- In the courtyard. Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Little Treasure watched Water Luriana by the pool. Water Luriana opened her mouth, and dozens of transparent bubbles emerged. ¡°Bubble Beam¡­¡± Qiao Sang recorded the notes with paper and pen. Soon, another water gun was shot out. After the water gun was shot, Shui Luyana vigorously waved her tail, and a stream of water completely wrapped around it. Then she dispersed the water stream from her tail, stomped her forelimbs, and mist filled the air. ¡°Water Gun, Water Tail, Mist¡­¡± After recording the skills she had used, Qiao Sang noticed that Water Luriana hadn¡¯t moved for a while, so she looked up and said, ¡°Keep going.¡± Water Luriana blinked her eyes. Qiao Sang paused for a moment, a bad premonition bubbling up in her heart, hesitantly asking, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t only know these four moves, do you?¡± Water Luriana wasn¡¯t pleased to hear this; Was she being criticized for having too few skills?! She raised her head proudly and pointed her claw at the blue gem on her forehead. ¡°...Hmm, impressive, and you also have a healing skill.¡± Looking at Water Luriana''s proud expression, Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. She never expected Water Luriana¡¯s aptitude to be so poor. Seven years. To reach the end of her life only knowing five skills¡­ Little Treasure had known five skills since birth¡­ ¡°Lu lu?¡± Seeing the human in front of her staring at her in silence, Water Luriana tilted her head in confusion. Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds before speaking, ¡°It¡¯s okay, diligence can make up for lack of talent. I believe you can do it.¡± Water Luriana: ??? ----- T/N: Thanks to my Patreon babies reading this! Here''s another bundle of chapters as my appreciation! ?????? Chapter 232: In Love "Yap!" Before Qiao Sang could process her thoughts further, Yabao suddenly called out. Qiao Sang paused, confused. "Are you saying someone¡¯s following us?" "Yap yap!" Yabao nodded. "Isn¡¯t it usually people trailing you because you¡¯re so handsome? Could it be those people?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap..." Yabao, though finding that a strong possibility, remembered the odd noises from earlier and shook his head honestly. Not them...? Qiao Sang thought, then lowered her voice. "Pretend you don''t know. Don¡¯t turn your head; just keep walking." "Yap..." Hearing his trainer''s instructions, Yabao jerkily retracted his half-turned head and stiffly moved forward, looking anything but natural. Clearly, Yabao had no talent for acting. "Little Treasure, time to practice your skills." Qiao Sang whispered. "Xun~" Little Treasure understood instantly, showing a gleeful expression before vanishing. Qiao Sang continued to walk calmly while vigilantly scanning her surroundings. It turned out that it wasn''t a wild extraordinary creature stalking her, it was another trainer. The lingering cloud above her was likely caused by a high-level water-type skill, Rain Prayer, cast by the trainer¡¯s pet beast. Rain Prayer is an advanced skill, meaning at least one of the following trainer¡¯s beasts is a high-level water-type. Possibly, there could even be beasts of higher levels. She didn''t know why this person was following her, but given the tailing and the downpour, it was obvious they had an agenda. Since a direct confrontation wouldn¡¯t be wise, especially given their apparent caution in avoiding a head-on conflict, she could take advantage of the moment when they thought she was unaware. Let¡¯s see what they¡¯ll do¡­ Qiao Sang didn''t wait long. Barely half a minute later, a sharp, whistling sound pierced through the air from behind. "Yabao!" Qiao Sang shouted. Yabao sensed the attack and instantly teleported three meters to her front left. In the next moment, a moderately powerful wind blade slashed through the spot where Qiao Sang had just been standing. So their target was Water Luriana... Qiao Sang realized as the wind blade flashed past in her peripheral vision. Had she not dodged in time, that wind blade would¡¯ve sliced right through her backpack. Hidden nearby, Li Songhai¡¯s eyes widened at the sudden disappearance and reappearance of the pet beast. He¡¯d misjudged again! This was actually a psychic-type pet beast, not a fire-type! Realizing his mistake, Li Songhai quickly grew wary. The pet beast, which had looked like a fire-type, had only teleported at the last second to avoid the wind blade. There was no way that was a coincidence. It seems this girl realized she was being followed. Since that¡¯s the case, I might as well act directly and take what I want... Just as Li Songhai was about to strike, he heard the girl¡¯s slightly frantic voice: sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yabao! Teleport ahead! We¡¯re gonna be late!" Li Songhai looked confused. So she had her fire-like pet teleport not because she noticed someone following her, but because she was rushing to school? Dodging the wind blade was just a coincidence? "Kehehehe!" Suddenly, a strange laugh sounded in his ear. Already exhausted from two nights without sleep, Li Songhai was nearly scared out of his wits, reflexively turning his head to see the source. He was met with the sight of the ghostly Little Treasure, eyes now glowing purple... Purple¡­ Li Songhai felt a wave of drowsiness, his vision blurring before he closed his eyes with barely a struggle. Smack! Li Songhai collapsed face-first, making his already unattractive face even worse. Not far off, Rain Swallow, who had been on guard, turned just in time to see his trainer fall to the ground. "Chichi!" Rain Swallow glared at the Little Treasure, fury written across his face. He beat his wings, instantly conjuring two sharp wind blades, and launched them without hesitation. "Xun~" Little Treasure smirked, teleporting away as the wind blades slammed into the ground, leaving deep gashes. "Chi chi!" Rain Swallow shrieked, furiously beating his wings before swooping down, his body now enveloped in a vibrant blue glow. Just as he was about to strike the Little Treasure, a fiery figure charged forward, Yabao! Boom! The two collided. Yabao only staggered back a step, while Rain Swallow¡¯s right wing was scorched, sending him crashing into a nearby streetlight. "Chi chi¡­" Rain Swallow struggled to flap his injured wing, his head spinning. "Chi chi!" Despite the pain, Rain Swallow opened his wings, ready to continue fighting. "Enough. I¡¯ve got your trainer here." Qiao Sang called, squatting beside Li Songhai. She deftly unfastened his shoelaces. She¡¯d done this enough times to be skilled at it, quickly tying his hands tightly. "Chi chi!" Rain Swallow¡¯s eyes widened, his entire body trembling with anger. "Xun~" Little Treasure teleported back to Qiao Sang¡¯s side with a happy cry. "Well done." Qiao Sang praised, looking up with a smile. If it weren''t for Little Treasure, this would¡¯ve been much harder to resolve. She knew the man lying on the ground had a high-level steel clad beast. If he¡¯d summoned it, the fight would¡¯ve been far more challenging. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t surprised to see it was him following her. He was the only one who knew of Water Luriana. However¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze drifted toward the bird-like pet beast nearby, which was shaking with fury, its size not that large. It didn¡¯t seem like the kind of beast capable of using a high-level skill like Rain Prayer. Could it be yet another prodigy capable of mastering high-level skills at a lower level, just like Yabao and Little Treasure? Suddenly, a towering figure loomed over her from behind. Qiao Sang felt a shadow fall over her, making her freeze. "Xun!!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes turned purple, glaring fiercely at the figure. But the figure ignored him, lowering his gaze to look at the half-exposed Water Luriana peeking out of Qiao Sang¡¯s bag. "Armor." The towering figure was none other than the armored beast Qiao Sang thought had yet to be summoned. Realizing the situation had turned, Qiao Sang sprang forward, trying to escape. But the armored beast was swift, with a long reach. After just a few steps, it snatched Water Luriana from her bag, tossing it toward Rain Swallow. "Armor." "Chi chi." Receiving the armored beast¡¯s signal, Rain Swallow¡¯s eyes glinted as he flew toward Water Luriana, intending to grab it. "Lu lu!" Water Luriana cried out in fear, thinking she was about to be captured again, when suddenly she felt herself being lifted into the air. Then, she was flung upward before landing in a soft, familiar embrace. "Lu lu?" Water Luxana blinked, confused, then saw a familiar face above her. "Yap yap!" Hovering in mid-air, Yabao bared his fangs, fiercely glaring at the armored beast. "Lu lu..." In that moment, Water Luriana felt like she had fallen in love. Chapter 233: Late The rain had stopped. Seeing the Steel-Clad Leg Monster suddenly appear behind her, Qiao Sang instantly understood that the recent rain wasn¡¯t caused by that bird pet beast but by this creature instead. The appearance of the Steel-Clad Leg Monster did make her panic for a moment, but that was all! ¡°Little Treasure, Shadow Control!¡± Qiao Sang called out, standing beside Li Songhai. In a battle without established rules, staying beside the opposing Beast Master was naturally the safest spot, especially since this Beast Master was still in a deep sleep. Qiao Sang would never admit it was cowardice; she was just being cautious! ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure extended two short toes, and as sunlight shone down, his shadow twisted, stretching directly toward the Steel-Clad Leg Monster. The Steel-Clad Leg Monster, lacking any command from its Beast Master, instinctively jumped back, avoiding the encroaching shadow. With Little Treasure¡¯s small size, and considering the early morning sun casting long shadows due to his low angle, he should have been able to reach the creature. However, with the Steel-Clad Leg Monster¡¯s large frame and swift movements, the shadow extension couldn¡¯t keep up with the distance it was creating. ¡°Yabao, hold it down!¡± Qiao Sang quickly commanded. In mid-air, Yabao¡¯s eyes flashed blue. A wave of invisible force caused the armored-footed creature to momentarily freeze. In that brief instant, the shadow on the ground extended quickly, linking with the creature¡¯s shadow. Before it could break free, Little Treasure¡¯s toes twitched, and under the control of Shadow Control, the Steel-Clad Leg Monster started spinning in place. ¡°Armor!!!¡± The creature¡¯s wretched scream snapped Rain Swallow out of the chain of unexpected events. ¡°Chi chi!¡± Enduring the pain, Rain Swallow flapped its wings, flying upward. It then swooped down, accelerating as a cyan glow enveloped its body. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its target was Little Treasure. ¡°Dodge!¡± Qiao Sang calmly assessed the situation. Brave Bird Assault, a mid-tier flying-type skill, was known for being a challenging move to learn and for its powerful impact. Its speed and attack strength were formidable. But this move had a flaw: After hitting the target, the user would sustain a portion of the damage dealt to the opponent. However, if the pet beast using Brave Bird Assault had both the Hard Head and Magic Guard abilities, it wouldn¡¯t suffer any self-inflicted harm. With Little Treasure¡¯s defense, there was no way he could withstand this move. Yabao still had Water Luriana on his back, making a Flame Charge like before impractical. Rain Swallow¡¯s Brave Bird Assault came at an incredible speed, and Yabao¡¯s other attacks couldn¡¯t guarantee a precise hit. If he missed, Little Treasure would get hurt. Even if it hit, Little Treasure would still suffer residual damage, not worth the risk. ¡°Xun~¡± With a swift teleportation, Little Treasure appeared three meters away. Rain Swallow¡¯s attack missed its mark. But due to the teleportation, Shadow Control couldn¡¯t continue. The linked shadows broke apart. ¡°Armor¡­¡± The Steel-Clad Leg Monster staggered, seeing stars, but remained standing. Seeing it start to recover from its dizzy state, Qiao Sang shouted, ¡°Yabao, Fire Fang!¡± At her command, Yabao instantly teleported behind the Steel-Clad Leg Monster. ¡°Yal!¡± Yabao raised his head, and a fierce fiery aura filled the air. ¡°Chi chi!¡± Rain Swallow flapped its wings, trying to rush over and stop it. But as it began to move, it found itself immobilized. Not far away, Little Treasure was staring at it intently, his eyes glowing blue. Back to Yabao, red flames gathered around it. The energy, which should have condensed swiftly, delayed momentarily, then surged powerfully. A blazing fire formed into the shape of a massive Flame Hound¡¯s head and Fire Fang in front of Yabao. With a fierce motion, the fiery Flame Hound bit down viciously. ¡°Armor!!!¡± The Steel-Clad Leg Monster let out a heart-wrenching scream and collapsed with a loud thud, losing consciousness. Sitting on Yabao¡¯s back, Water Luriana watched the scene, feeling her heartbeat skip, then race faster and faster. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head, reflecting on what had just happened. Had his Fire Fang always looked like that? Qiao Sang looked at the altered Fire Fang with a calm expression, exuding an air of expertise. In truth, however, she was laughing wildly on the inside. The Steel-Clad Leg Monster was a water and rock-type beast, making it a deadly match-up for Yabao¡¯s fire abilities. Currently, Yabao¡¯s strongest skill was Meteor Rain, but they were on a road. If someone suddenly appeared from around the corner, she¡¯d have no idea how to explain it. Fire Fang was Yabao¡¯s second strongest attack skill. But, pitting a perfectly mastered Fire Fang against a high-level, attribute-restricted Steel-Clad Leg Monster left her with some doubt. So, as Yabao used Fire Fang, she activated her golden finger, raising his perfected proficiency level to mastery. Yabao¡¯s Fire Fang had already reached the peak of perfection, nearly reaching mastery by the day¡¯s end. In the past, Qiao Sang might have hesitated, but now she didn¡¯t even think twice before adding 80 points to it. Did she lack points? Nope! Besides, points were meant to be used! As expected, even a high-level pet beast with an elemental advantage stood no chance against a mastered Fire Fang. But Little Treasure¡¯s Shadow Control, which had spun it around endlessly, played a significant role in this victory. The Steel-Clad Leg Monster was down, but Rain Swallow wasn¡¯t. The Steel-Clad Leg Monster''s fall clearly impacted Rain Swallow, as it didn¡¯t even notice when it could move again. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure teleported beside Rain Swallow, poked it with one of his toes. Startled, Rain Swallow instinctively turned its head. Under the influence of an advanced Hypnosis, Rain Swallow fell helplessly to the ground. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana let out an excited cry at the sight of the humans and beasts lying unconscious on the ground. Qiao Sang reminded, ¡°Get back into the bag.¡± ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Water Luriana hesitated, glancing at Yabao with reluctance. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao didn¡¯t look back but, at Qiao Sang¡¯s word, teleported to her backpack, signaling Water Luriana to hurry inside. Water Luriana: ¡­ Qiao Sang looked at Li Songhai lying on the ground, still deep in sleep. Then a thought struck her, and she stiffly reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone. 8:02 AM. Looking at the time displayed on the screen, Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. Late on the third day of school, she¡¯d get lectured to death. However¡­ Qiao Sang shifted her gaze back to Li Songhai on the ground. Solving this nuisance seemed more important right now. Chapter 234: Why Are You Following Me? Calling the police was definitely not an option. If she went to the station and they checked the surveillance footage, people would find out about Water Luriana existence. Even if the cameras around here were conveniently broken or missed it, without any physical harm done, tailing someone typically doesn¡¯t qualify as a criminal offense. Even if the police deemed this tailing serious, at most, he¡¯d get a fine or a few days of detention, and then she¡¯d have to constantly watch her back for any of his petty schemes. Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then picked up her phone and sent Xu Jia her location, along with a message: [Need a favor.] Xu Jia replied instantly: [I¡¯m in class right now!] Qiao Sang quickly typed: [You¡¯re allowed to have your phone in class at your school?] Messages began coming in. Xu Jia: [Our school isn¡¯t as strict as yours; lots of students sneak their phones in.] Xu Jia: [Huh? Isn¡¯t it class time now? You¡¯re on your phone too!] Xu Jia: [I got it! You need Phantom Water Baby to take over for you, don¡¯t you?] Xu Jia: [Not to lecture you, but skipping on the third day of school isn¡¯t great.] Xu Jia: [Take it from someone who¡¯s been there: The worst thing is being noticed by a teacher. Once that happens, they¡¯ll keep an eye on you. Questions in class, death stares, surprise recitations¡­ you¡¯ll deal with that every day.] Qiao Sang felt a slight chest pain from the last message, but after thinking for a moment, she typed: [I¡¯m not skipping; I took leave. And the favor I need isn¡¯t for Phantom Water Baby to attend my class, it¡¯s something else. I can pay extra.] Xu Jia replied quickly: [Talking about money is unnecessary. Just wait; I¡¯ll send Phantom Water Baby over.] After contacting Xu Jia, Qiao Sang opened her contacts and called the vice-principal¡¯s number. ¡°What is it?¡± The vice-principal¡¯s voice came through the speaker. ¡°Vice-principal, I don¡¯t have my homeroom teacher¡¯s number. Could you request a day¡¯s leave for me?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Sure, but what¡¯s your reason for leave?¡± Liu Yao asked. ¡°I felt a bit unwell this morning, like I have a fever. I¡¯d like to stay home and rest.¡± Qiao Sang offered a plausible excuse. ¡°Fever? Where¡¯s your family? You should really get checked at a hospital.¡± Liu Yao frowned. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll rest at home for now; if I still feel unwell this afternoon, I¡¯ll go to the hospital.¡± Qiao Sang feigned a weak tone. Just then, a man carrying a briefcase happened to walk by. Seeing Li Songhai lying on the ground and his two unconscious pets, he walked over and asked kindly, ¡°Miss, need any help?¡± Qiao Sang quickly covered her phone¡¯s receiver, shook her head, and mouthed, ¡°No, thank you.¡± Once the passerby left, Qiao Sang continued in a weak tone, ¡°Please take care of the leave request.¡± Thanks to the pet beast¡¯s enhanced senses, Liu Yao, who overheard the whole exchange: ¡­ However, Liu Yao didn¡¯t expose her, maintaining his usual calm tone, ¡°Alright, rest up. And remember, if the principal asks you to join the national campus Beast Mastering League for the senior division, refuse. We need to stay steady. With your skills, securing first place in the freshman division is very achievable.¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°If you make it to the national finals through the qualifiers, cultural scores won¡¯t matter much.¡± With a sense of shared understanding, Qiao Sang replied earnestly, ¡°Understood.¡± After ending the call, under Yabao¡¯s psychic influence, Li Songhai and his two pets were moved to a nearby alley. Half an hour later, Xu Jia messaged: [Phantom Water Baby is at your location.] Qiao Sang went outside and saw the Phantom Water Baby, wearing a small navigation device around its neck, looking around in confusion on the roadside. ¡°Over here!¡± Qiao Sang waved. ¡°Phantom!¡± The Phantom Water Baby¡¯s eyes brightened at her voice, clearly recognizing her. --- Li Songhai opened his eyes and found a ghost-type pet beast sticking its tongue out just inches from his face. ¡°Ahhh!!¡± Just as the tongue was about to touch his face, Li Songhai screamed and tried to back away, only to find his hands bound. Helpless, he used his hips to shuffle backward. Seeing him awake, the Little Treasure floated leisurely back to his Beast Tamer. Only then did Li Songhai realize he was in an alley, the same one he¡¯d lurked in last night and nearly passed out from blood loss. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Ahh!!¡± Li Songhai jolted at the voice, screaming reflexively. After a rough night, his nerves were shot. Waking up to a ghost-type pet so close and realizing his hands were bound in the very alley that gave him nightmares¡­ now, every little sound startled him. Following the voice, he saw a young girl with a refined face, standing in the shadows and smiling kindly at him. Beside her stood the superpower-type pet beast he couldn¡¯t name and the ghost-type pet that had just frightened him. ¡°What do you want?¡± Li Songhai, now calmer, asked. Recognizing her as the occupant of Room 1075, he felt less afraid. What could an underage girl possibly do? Qiao Sang smiled, ignoring his question, and knelt to untie the shoelace binding his hands. ¡°Call your pets back first." Call his pets back? Li Songhai was momentarily puzzled. Had his Steel-Clad Leg Monster and Rain Swallow been found? Right, they were still out there. Why was he tied up, then, and taken here? ¡°If you don¡¯t call them back, I can¡¯t guarantee what¡¯ll happen.¡± Qiao Sang warned. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Xun Xun xun.¡± Ya Bao and Little Treasure played their parts well, posing threateningly, as if ready to act at any moment. ¡°I¡¯ll call them back right away!¡± Though he spoke, Li Songhai didn¡¯t actually move, instead attempting to sense his Steel-Clad Leg Monster and Rain Swallow''s location mentally. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and with a stiff neck, he turned to look at the far end of the alley, eyes widening, his expression frozen. ¡°One¡­ two¡­ three¡­¡± Before Qiao Sang could start counting, Li Songhai, now thoroughly scared, hastily recalled his pets. ¡°I¡¯ve called them back!¡± Li Songhai said, his voice trembling. He couldn¡¯t believe that upon waking, both his Steel-Clad Leg Monster and Rain Swallow were unconscious. In that instant, Qiao Sang¡¯s image became terrifying and mysterious in his mind. The gentle smile on her face? It looked anything but kind, it was downright chilling! Qiao Sang promptly re-tied his hands. Li Songhai didn¡¯t resist. All he had left was a weak Water Snail; with his Steel-Clad Leg Monster out cold, he didn¡¯t expect much help from it. ¡°Why were you following me?¡± Qiao Sang finally asked the real question. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 235: The Power of Love Li Songhai''s gaze wavered as he said, "I think you might have misunderstood something about me. I wasn¡¯t following you. I was just sitting there, and it was your ghost-type pet that suddenly knocked me out with Hypnosis for no reason." "Oh, really?" Qiao Sang replied. "Then, according to you, your flying-type pet ambushing me from behind was also a misunderstanding?" Hearing this, Li Songhai nodded fervently. "It was! It really was! I haven¡¯t had my Rain Swallow for long and haven''t fully trained it, so it just randomly used a skill on the road." Qiao Sang stared at Li Songhai, her dark eyes observing him like he was a clown putting on a show. After a moment, she spoke. "Then, what about later, when your Steel-Clad Leg Monster grabbed the pet in my backpack?" Li Songhai, meeting her gaze, felt immense pressure build up. He hadn¡¯t expected a high schooler to have such an intimidating presence. What he expected even less was that, even after he had fainted, his Steel-Clad Leg Monster hadn¡¯t forgotten to grab her Water Luriana. How could he make an excuse for that? "Have you heard of Memory Reading?" Qiao Sang asked suddenly. Li Songhai blinked. "Yes." Memory Reading was an advanced skill for ghost-type pets, allowing them to enter someone¡¯s mind and directly access their deepest memories. While this skill was highly effective for interrogating criminals, the Alliance had regulations that prohibited its use on humans until a pet¡¯s mastery of it was nearly flawless. One reason was to protect privacy and human rights. The other was that an unskilled Memory Reading could easily cause brain damage, even leading to symptoms as severe as dementia. Li Songhai was momentarily unsure why the girl before him had suddenly brought this up. It was rather unnerving. Qiao Sang resumed her friendly smile. "If you still won¡¯t tell the truth, I¡¯ll have Little Treasure use Memory Reading on you." "Xun!" Little Treasure grinned, baring his teeth. Li Songhai looked up, startled, at the small ghost. "Your pet¡­ it can do Memory Reading?!" He asked in disbelief. This pet looked like a beginner; how could it possibly have an advanced skill? Wait! Li Songhai¡¯s nerves suddenly tightened. If this ghost-type pet was really as simple as it looked, then why did his Steel-Clad Leg Monster and Rain Swallow collapse? Just as Li Songhai began to doubt, Qiao Sang delivered her final blow. "Little Treasure, Memory Reading." Qiao Sang commanded. "Xun~" Little Treasure floated in Li Songhai''s direction as if to enter his mind. "I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk!" Li Songhai shouted desperately, fearing that if he hesitated, this ghost-type pet might actually dive into his mind. Becoming brain-dead was minor, but having his secrets exposed would be catastrophic! Though he still didn¡¯t fully believe that this ghost-type pet with a beginner appearance could have such a high-level skill, he didn¡¯t dare to risk it. A person could die, but never suffer social death! Only he knew how many secrets he¡¯d hidden since childhood. "Little Treasure, stop." Qiao Sang called out in time. Little Treasure paused. Li Songhai took a deep breath, steadying himself, and finally said, "It was for the pet in your backpack." Qiao Sang stayed silent, her gaze fixed on him. Li Songhai felt his scalp prickling. "I came to the Yuhua region from the Ancient Guwu region¡­ for it." Qiao Sang continued watching him without speaking. Li Songhai swallowed, then continued, "The pet in your bag is called Water Luriana. In the Ancient Guwu region, it¡¯s an endangered species. Normally, endangered pets are protected by the Alliance, making them hard for ordinary people to access. But this one was an exception." "It emerged from a rift in the Mystic Realm a few months ago." At this, a change crossed Li Songhai''s face. After a brief hesitation, he continued, "I got this task from the dark web." Qiao Sang: !!! Qiao Sang kept a calm expression, but inside, her mind was screaming, What the hell?! So, it wasn¡¯t him personally wanting to contract Water Luriana? Doesn¡¯t that mean others know about Water Luriana too?! Afraid that she might not understand, Li Songhai explained, "The dark web is an encrypted network built on the current internet. Anything can be traded there. A few months ago, someone posted a job there to locate Water Luriana, giving the precise location where it last appeared. Besides me, several others also took the job." Qiao Sang tried to maintain a neutral expression. So there were others as well. Li Songhai noticed her silence and felt increasingly uneasy. He¡¯d said so much, yet she hadn¡¯t reacted at all? Stiffly, Li Songhai continued, "I had a stroke of luck and happened to track Water Luriana¡¯s movements, which led me here." "Don¡¯t worry; no one else knows that Water Luriana is here. I won¡¯t tell anyone." Qiao Sang, hearing this, relaxed a little and decided to proceed with her plan. "So, this Water Luriana you''re talking about¡­ is it this?" Qiao Sang opened her backpack and took out Water Luriana. Water Luriana stared at Li Songhai with round, innocent eyes. Why would she take it out? Wasn¡¯t she afraid he might snatch it? But then again, he was in no position to do that. Li Songhai looked disappointed. "Yes, that¡¯s it." As soon as he spoke, his eyes widened in shock. Before him, Water Luriana began to melt, slowly transforming into a large-headed pet with shiny black eyes, pale blue horns on either side of its head, a short tail, and smooth, slippery blue skin. Li Songhai was completely dumbfounded. This¡­ this wasn¡¯t Water Luriana at all! Qiao Sang explained, "This is Phantom Baby Water, a pet that can transform into the appearance of other pets. It¡¯s not the Water Luriana you¡¯re looking for." "Baby!" Phantom Water Baby cried out, then melted again, transforming into Little Treasure, before melting once more and reforming as a miniature Flame Hound. Li Songhai stared at this spectacle with his mouth agape, frozen for several seconds before murmuring, "Why did it take on Water Luriana''s appearance?" Qiao Sang replied calmly, "A while back, I saw people discussing Water Luriana on a forum. I looked it up, thought it was cute, and had Phantom Water Baby mimic it." "Oh, right." Qiao Sang added casually, "I remember that person saying he saw it on Shuwu Street in Gong City." Gong City? Shuwu Street? Ancient Guwu region?! Li Songhai: !!! Back at home, Qiao Sang returned to her room, sat cross-legged on her bed, and began meditating. The fact that more than one person knew about Water Luriana¡¯s existence filled her with a sense of urgency. Right now, her top priority was to unlock more of her brain¡¯s potential so that the Beast Taming Codex could reveal another page, allowing her to contract Water Luriana before anything unexpected happened. In the courtyard¡­ Yabao was showing Water Luriana his Flame Charge. With flames engulfing his entire body, Yabao charged at a stone about 50 centimeters tall. Boom! With a loud bang, the stone shattered into pieces. "Yap." Yabao stopped and nodded at Water Luriana. "Lu lu!" Watching Yabao nod at her, Water Luriana felt a surge of energy. She gathered her internal power, and water began to appear around her tail. The next second, the water wrapped around Water Luriana¡¯s body in a tight, swirling current. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 231: A Creep Nearby Shoutout to @Esther???????? for being my patron member! ?????? ----- The next morning, Qiao Sang woke up and went into the bathroom to freshen up. Just as she picked up her toothbrush, Little Treasure suddenly appeared beside the mirror. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure shook the yellow rings on his two short claws excitedly. Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment and instinctively looked at Little Treasure¡¯s head. It was gone¡­ Qiao Sang took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Did you use ghost fire to split the ring into two?" Qiao Sang asked, trembling. Although the truth was right in front of her, there were still some things she wanted to confirm. Just like when a child holds an acceptance letter from Tsinghua University, and the parents, having already looked it over, still ask, ¡°You got into Tsinghua?!¡± That was Qiao Sang¡¯s mindset right now. She couldn''t believe it. It hadn¡¯t even been a week since Little Treasure learned Will-o''-the-Wisp, and he already split the ring into two. Was this even scientifically possible?! "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure nodded happily, shaking the rings. As Little Treasure nodded, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped several beats. A genius! This was a true genius! She¡¯d never heard of a Treasure-Seeking ghost being able to forge two rings so quickly! If talent could be rated, this would definitely be top-tier! Suddenly, Qiao Sang thought of something and asked, "With your rings being so much smaller, does that mean you can¡¯t store as much anymore?" Judging by the size of the rings, it looked like they wouldn¡¯t even fit a bottle of milk. "Xun~" Little Treasure grinned, took off the ring from his claw, and tossed it into the air. In an instant, the ring expanded, quickly returning to its original size, large enough to fit over his head. "Awesome." Qiao Sang gave him a thumbs-up. Good thing; she was worried she''d have to carry everything herself from now on¡­ "Xun~" Just as Qiao Sang was about to continue brushing her teeth, Little Treasure let out a sound. "What¡¯s up?" Qiao Sang turned and asked. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure Ghost spun around, then stopped and looked expectantly at his beastmaster. Qiao Sang was startled. ¡°You want to evolve?¡± "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure nodded happily. Qiao Sang thought carefully. Now that Little Treasure¡¯s rings were split into two, his energy level had also surpassed his maximum energy threshold, so evolution was indeed possible. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang said, ¡°If you work hard and master Hypnosis, I think you¡¯ll be ready to evolve.¡± Since Little Treasure couldn¡¯t duplicate himself, even though he practiced skill release regularly, his proficiency progressed slower than Yabao¡¯s. Still, the skill proficiency was steadily increasing each day. At the current rate, Hypnosis would definitely reach mastery within a month. Qiao Sang felt that having Little Treasure evolve after mastering a skill to perfection would better unleash his potential. Letting Little Treasure evolve after achieving mastery would also give it a stronger sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, if Little Treasure knew he could use a cheat to evolve by adding points, with his personality, he would likely slack off in training afterward. "Xun!" Since his beastmaster said he could evolve, then he surely could! Little Treasure called out excitedly. Then, he teleported to the courtyard to practice Hypnosis on some ants. --- After breakfast, Qiao Sang, with a backpack containing Water Luriana, sat on Yabao''s back and set off for school. As soon as they stepped out of the neighborhood, she saw a slim figure waving at her from afar. "Little sister." As the figure approached, Qiao Sang recognized her as a nearby office worker, someone she often saw among the crowd taking photos of Yabao recently. She¡¯d only calmed down a bit after Little Treasure ¡¯s appearance. "Xun!" Little Treasure also recognized her, quickly taking off his ring and pulling out a mirror and pen to reapply the scars on his face. This time, the woman didn¡¯t avoid the ghost. Instead, she hesitated, stepped closer to Qiao Sang, and warned, ¡°You should head home quickly after school these days and don¡¯t wander around. There¡¯s a creep nearby.¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°A creep?¡± ¡°Yes, a creep. A chubby guy with pimples on his face, hiding in alleys and targeting women who are alone.¡± Yhe woman said, shuddering. ¡°I ran into him yesterday. Too bad he got away so fast; otherwise, I¡¯d have taken him to the police!¡± "Thank you, I¡¯ll be careful." Qiao Sang replied gratefully. The woman grinned. ¡°If you¡¯re really thankful, let me pet Flame Hound.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao sighed helplessly. Another human wanting to take advantage of him. Qiao Sang continued on her way to school, but just two blocks later, the sky suddenly darkened, and it started raining. People nearby covered their heads and ran. But after only a short distance, they stopped, surprised, and lowered their hands. Qiao Sang looked ahead, confused. The rain only spanned about six meters, the end of it clearly visible. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao, drenched, pouted and sped up. Yet somehow, despite the six-meter radius, they couldn¡¯t escape the rain. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang looked up in confusion, only to find the black cloud seemingly following her, in a very eerie way. Hidden in the shadows, Li Songhai watched Qiao Sang closely, his eyes bloodshot, a sign of poor sleep. "Chi chi~" Beside him, a blue bird with grayish-blue underbelly and black and blue wings chirped. "Wait a little longer." Li Songhai rasped. He hadn¡¯t slept for two days, his nerves on edge. He knew he should rest before acting, but his anger from being deceived and yesterday¡¯s failed stakeout drove him to get the Water Luriana as soon as possible and leave this wretched place. As soon as the little girl took out her umbrella or used her bag as cover, he¡¯d have his Rain Swallow snatch the bag. With Rain Swallow¡¯s speed, there was no way she could catch up. In the end, he felt he was being lenient, only letting her get wet in the rain¡­ Li Songhai stared at Qiao Sang with bloodshot eyes. In the next second, his eyes widened in shock. He saw the ghost-type pet he¡¯d initially mistaken for a psychic-type toss the ring in the air, and it expanded instantly. Then the ghost-type pet reached inside the ring and pulled out¡­ an umbrella. Li Songhai was stunned. ¡°What on earth?!¡± At that moment, Yabao¡¯s ears twitched. Qiao Sang opened the umbrella, looked up at the cloud that seemed to follow her, and felt something was off. It felt like this rain was targeted just at her¡­ She recalled a saying: All unnatural phenomena are caused by supernatural creatures. Could a supernatural creature be watching her? Chapter 236: The Master of Overthinking Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Water Luriana shot up into the sky like a water pillar, drawing a graceful arc in midair. However, since it was Water Luriana¡¯s first time attempting this, she lost control mid-flight, and the water stream veered sharply downwards. With a whoosh, she plummeted straight down, head-first into the ground, leaving most of her body and tail sticking out above. "Lu lu!" Water Luriana struggled desperately. "Yap yap!" Yabao ran over with a worried look. Are you okay? Yabao was a little concerned. This guy was an older pet beast; getting hurt like this might cause some lasting damage! Hearing Yabao¡¯s voice, Water Luriana froze. Her tail stopped moving, and her limbs went still, while her head buried underground turned ashen. To embarrass herself like this in front of her crush! Facing this would be worse than staying buried forever. Yet before Water Luriana could further sink into despair, Yabao reached out his paw and pulled her up from the ground, as if yanking a radish. "Yap yap!" Yabao leaned in, looking at Water Luriana, whose face was covered in dirt, with genuine concern. "Lu lu..." Seeing Yabao so close, Water Luriana¡¯s face flushed a deep red. Forgetting to think, she spun around and dived headfirst into the pool. "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head, full of confusion. Inside the room. Qiao Sang finished her meditation and slowly opened her eyes. The moment she did, she noticed Yabao crouching nearby with a worried expression. "Yap Yap!" Seeing his trainer awake, Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he quickly approached Qiao Sang, eagerly explaining what had just happened. Qiao Sang was taken aback. "Water Luriana is hiding in the water and won¡¯t come out?" "Yap!" Yabao nodded. "Did something happen?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap yap..." Yabao explained helplessly. Qiao Sang was stunned. "So, you¡¯re saying Water Luriana succeeded in her water jet training, but then fell mid-way and possibly knocked her head?" "Yap!" Yabao nodded seriously, believing it was a real possibility. This couldn¡¯t go on! Water Luriana, already advanced in years, fell and hit her head; it might speed up her decline! Qiao Sang, anxious, got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and headed for the courtyard. "Xun~" Just then, Little Treasure appeared, blocking her path. Qiao Sang moved left, and Little Treasure followed. Qiao Sang moved right, and Water Luriana did the same. "What¡¯s the matter?" Qiao Sang finally stopped and asked. "Xun!" Little Treasure proudly puffed up his chest, as if saying, "Trust me, I¡¯ve got this." "You know what¡¯s wrong with Water Luriana?" Qiao Sang was puzzled. "Yap?" Yabao also looked surprised. "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded proudly. He had watched everything unfold nearby, so it was sure of what he saw! Qiao Sang: ... It¡¯s just a hit to the head. Other than that, what else could be wrong? Before Qiao Sang could say anything, Little Treasure somehow pulled out a phone and skillfully operated it. In moments, he pulled up a video from his history and showed it to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang was amazed at this move. Wow, playing with phones and even knowing her lock code, accessing history? Incredible. Qiao Sang looked down at the phone, with Yabao curiously peering over. The video playing was a trailer of a recently released drama that Qiao Sang had watched while browsing online before the school term began. Little Treasure had been beside her at the time. Qiao Sang watched the video in silence. She remembered the drama was a romance and motivational story. Based on a novel, much of the plot had been spoiled in the comment section. The story followed two trainers who disliked each other since childhood. However, one of them had a pet beast, a green Kemeow, who fell in love with the other¡¯s Sakura Wood Cotton. For the sake of its trainer, the green Kemeow tried to avoid Sakura Wood Cotton but fell into depression. When its trainer discovered this, he sought to reconcile with his rival for the happiness of his pet beast. After many chaotic incidents, the two trainers became friends, even teaming up to compete in a regional double-beast tournament. The two beasts ended up together, achieving a classic happy ending. Qiao Sang struggled to connect this plot to Water Luriana¡¯s situation. The trailer had reached the part showing the two beasts. At this point in the story, the protagonists were still rivals, and every meeting led to a beast battle. In the video, Sakura Wood Cotton attacked with Leaf Blade, and the green Kemeow, deliberately missing its target, let itself be hit by Leaf Blade. After falling, the green Kemeow blushed and ran away, shaking off Sakura Wood Cotton¡¯s paw when it tried to help. Before the trailer continued, Xiao Xunbao paused it. Qiao Sang looked up, bewildered. Yabao looked equally puzzled. What does this have to do with Water Luriana? Qiao Sang felt her brain slow to a halt. "Xun!" "Xun!" "Xun..." Perhaps seeing Qiao Sang¡¯s confusion, Little Treasure began acting out the courtyard scene, switching between playing Yabao and Water Luriana, reenacting everything. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang said, "You¡¯re saying Water Luriana likes Yabao?" "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded firmly. Qiao Sang turned to look at Yabao, still utterly confused by the situation. Water Luriana likes Yabao? Impossible! These two were at each other¡¯s throats just recently. Besides, Yabao is barely six months old, while Water Luriana is practically a senior pet beast. Could she actually have a crush on a younger one? No way! Absolutely not! Even as a seasoned drama fan, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t bring herself to imagine that far. She stood up, heading for the door, muttering, "I¡¯d better go check Water Luriana¡¯s head." "Xun!" Little Treasure teleported in front, urging her to trust him. Qiao Sang twitched a smile, resigned. "Fine, let¡¯s have Yabao give it a try." "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head. Try what? Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Just go ask Water Luriana if she would like to stay here. If she agrees, you two can be together, but only if we make a contract, so we can travel together in the future." She turned to Little Treasure. "Little Treasure, since Yabao says Water Luriana won¡¯t come out, could you help out?" "Xun!" Little Treasure looked thrilled. "Yap..." Yabao seemed totally lost. As Yabao and Little Treasure walked off, Qiao Sang sat down with her book. Better to stay out of this; Water Luriana might just splash her with water again. Yabao was bound to fail, but at least this could let Water Luriana know she¡¯s open to contracting her and see how she feels. On another note, Water Luriana actually managed to master the water jet technique. When Yabao and the others return, she¡¯ll still check on her head, and ask her to show the move once more. "Lu lu..." Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by a voice. She looked over. Water Luriana stood by her bed, face bright red, looking shy. Next to her were a very puzzled Yabao and Little Treasure, who had a Praise me! look. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lu lu~" Qiao Sang: ??? ----- ----- Chapter 237: The Fighter Among Underachievers With the help of Little Treasure¡¯s translation, Qiao Sang learned two things. First, Water Luriana likes Yabao. Second, Water Luriana is willing to form a contract. Qiao Sang stood there in shock. These two revelations echoed in her mind, leaving her unsettled for a long time. Yabao is still just a child! And yet, Water Luriana¡­ She¡¯s actually willing to form a contract with Yabao! Thinking about this, Qiao Sang felt a pang of regret. Why hadn¡¯t she started practicing meditation earlier? If she had, maybe by now, she¡¯d have unlocked the third page of her Beast Master¡¯s Codex! It wouldn¡¯t be this awkward situation where a national treasure-level beast is willing to contract with her, but she has no way to make it happen. After a long silence, Qiao Sang solemnly said to Water Luriana, ¡°Please wait for me a little longer.¡± ¡°Lu~¡± Water Luriana glanced at Yabao, then, with a slightly embarrassed expression, nodded to show she was okay with it. Qiao Sang noticed this and looked away awkwardly. ¡°Yabao, make sure you two get along from now on.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao wagged his tail and let out a cheerful bark, his gaze pure and innocent. He understood that this elderly pet would be sticking around with his Beast Master from now on, just like Little Treasure. After spending time together, and with Water Luriana having healed him recently, plus considering Water Luriana¡¯s age, Yabao no longer held the same prejudice against her. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure chimed in, asserting his presence. ¡°Yes, and you too, Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang added. In the courtyard, Water Luriana was demonstrating the Water Stream Jet attack she had just learned. Qiao Sang¡¯s attention was split; she watched Water Luriana but also kept half her mind on another thought: Watching Water Luriana, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that maybe it had forgotten the conversation they¡¯d once had about needing heartbreak to trigger her evolution. Should she remind her? But then again, if Water Luriana was mentally prepared for heartbreak, would the experience still go smoothly? As Qiao Sang pondered this, Water Luriana, mid-air, lost control of her momentum and began to plummet downward. Seeing this, Yabao instantly teleported, catching Water Luriana on his back. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Water Luriana opened her eyes and, upon realizing she was on Yabao¡¯s back, blushed shyly. ¡°Yal!¡± Yabao barked, indicating he was simply doing what he should. He remembered his Beast Master¡¯s instructions well: He had to get along with Water Luriana from now on. Since they would be companions, there was no way he could watch Water Luriana bury her head in the dirt again. Qiao Sang witnessed the whole scene from the sidelines. She had initially suspected that Water Luriana had forgotten her own evolution condition; now, she was sure, she had definitely forgotten. Water Luriana hopped off Yabao¡¯s back. Qiao Sang stepped forward and commented, ¡°Not bad. Your Water Stream Jet is almost there. Just needs a little more control over the energy.¡± When Water Luriana suddenly learned a higher-difficulty intermediate skill, Qiao Sang was only momentarily surprised. After all, both Yabao and Little Treasure had learned advanced skills early on, even while they were still in the beginner stage. She had already developed a strong mental resilience against this kind of shock. Though her mind had wandered a bit just now, the other half of her attention was fully on Water Luriana¡¯s Water Stream Jet. Not being able to adjust the jet¡¯s direction properly was simply due to insufficient energy control. ¡°Lu?¡± Water Luriana asked, wondering what it should do next. ¡°One word, practice.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile. A pet¡¯s strength requires long-term training, though there is a shortcut: resources. Qiao Sang had something unique. Besides resources, she had another shortcut: Her golden finger. If she could contract with Water Luriana, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about mastering Water Stream Jet; once performed successfully, she¡¯d ensure Water Luriana had full control over it. ¡°Lu!¡± Water Luriana nodded, turning to resume training Water Stream Jet immediately. Her drive to become stronger wasn¡¯t as intense as before. After all, the person who had been relentlessly pursuing her was now gone, and she had found herself a Beast Master. Having a Beast Master meant she wouldn¡¯t be chased and forced into a contract anymore, which was part of why she was willing to contract. But with Yabao working so hard, training every day, surely he would like the best version of herself too! With this thought, Water Luriana¡¯s expression firmed up, and she dedicated herself fully to training. --- The next morning. Qiao Sang entered the classroom and immediately began meditating at her seat. This time, she wasn¡¯t being influenced by her surroundings; she genuinely wanted to meditate. Her top priority now was to unlock the third page of the Beast Master¡¯s Codex. Once she had the third page, many issues would be solved. First, with the third page, she could contract with Water Luriana, and even if others tried to interfere, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Second, she could plan for Water Luriana¡¯s evolution earlier. Since Water Luriana agreed to contract for Yabao¡¯s sake, if she experienced heartbreak before the contract, she might flood the place, swish her tail, and leave without a trace. With Water Luriana¡¯s previous personality, this was highly likely. Finally, the skill-learning process could be sped up. With her golden finger, Water Luriana could either learn new skills or master current ones to their highest potential, even if she had limited natural aptitude. When Qiao Sang finished meditating, Jin Feifan glanced at her watch. Five minutes remained before the first class. She turned and asked in a low voice, ¡°Is everything sorted out?¡± ¡°All sorted.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. After she¡¯d taken leave yesterday, Jin Feifan had messaged her to ask, though Qiao Sang had only mentioned she¡¯d had a minor issue, omitting the fever. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Jin Feifan said with a smile, then added, ¡°By the way, yesterday the class was supposed to select participants for the sports meet, but since you were absent, we all agreed to postpone it to today.¡± Qiao Sang: ... She understood. In every sports meet, it was typically the underachievers who represented the class. And she was the fighter among underachievers. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Isn¡¯t it early for a school sports meet? School just started.¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°I heard it¡¯s at the end of September, but they want to pick participants early. Knowing the events beforehand gives them more time to train.¡± Jin Feifan replied. Qiao Sang understood. The Beast Master high school¡¯s sports meet was different from ordinary schools. Most events involved pet beasts, while others required Beast Master and pet cooperation. For freshmen who had only recently become Beast Masters, these events required familiarization and extra practice. ¡°Is there an event you¡¯re interested in?¡± Jin Feifan asked. Chapter 238: Ill Participate ¡°I don''t have any specific event in mind; I''ll just see where there¡¯s a need and fill in.¡± Qiao Sang said casually. ¡°What about you? Which one are you interested in?¡± Jin Feifan, while not a poor student, was one of the few special admissions in the class, so it was almost certain she would be a candidate for the sports day. ¡°I¡¯d like to compete in the shuttlecock kicking event.¡± Jin Feifan said shyly. ¡°That¡¯s an easy event, and since your pet beast is the little Ball Pofu, you¡¯re all set.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. In the shuttlecock kicking event, pet beasts aren¡¯t allowed to use any skills, but they can use their heads, feet, and body parts, excluding their upper limbs, to kick the shuttlecock. For grass-type pet beasts, their vine whips are considered part of their bodies, so they¡¯re allowed to use them as well. Generally, grass-type pet beasts have a high chance of winning this event. The first class of the day was with their homeroom teacher. When class began, Li Yi walked in, followed by a Gravity Monkey carrying a box of uniforms. The uniforms were distributed one by one. As Qiao Sang looked at the uniform in her hands, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe. In the world of pet beast trainers, if nothing else, things definitely moved efficiently. In her previous life, when freshmen started school and reported their sizes, it usually took up to half a month before they¡¯d receive their uniforms. Here, it took less than five days. During class, Li Yi sped up the lecture, going at double speed, and everyone listened with ease. Everyone except Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang was scribbling notes furiously, wishing she had two extra hands. Even though her memory had improved significantly, in a class filled with top students, hard work was a must! After the lesson was over, there was still a lot of time left before the next class. Li Yi clapped his hands and said, ¡°For the remaining time, let¡¯s continue yesterday¡¯s topic. The school sports day will be held on September 29th, marking your first sports day here.¡± ¡°Although our class is recognized as the top in the entire grade academically, I hope our students will excel in all areas, academics, athletics, and arts. I¡¯m confident our class can achieve outstanding results in the sports day too!¡± As he spoke, the teacher seemed to be addressing the whole class, but it was clear to everyone that his speech, repeated from yesterday, was directed at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t react; she was still engrossed in reviewing her notes. Noticing this, Li Yi continued, ¡°Class, to show my support, I make this solemn promise: If we take first place, our PE teacher will absolutely never fall sick again!¡± The class burst into laughter. Jin Feifan muttered softly, ¡°Do all homeroom teachers say this? My middle school homeroom teacher said the same thing, but our PE teacher was always weak and frequently absent. I hardly ever saw him in my entire third year.¡± Qiao Sang looked up. ¡°Did your class take first place in the sports day back then?¡± Jin Feifan paused for a moment. ¡°We came in fourth.¡± ¡°Then you can¡¯t really blame your middle school teacher.¡± Qiao Sang joked. Jin Feifan: ... Soon, the selection of participants began. ¡°For the first event, the 400-meter hurdle sprint, does anyone want to participate?¡± Li Yi asked as he glanced around. The hurdle sprint is an event where pet beasts and trainers work together. Pet beasts wear a sensing device on their heads, while trainers at the starting line wear a visual device. There aren¡¯t actual hurdles on the track; they appear virtually through the trainer¡¯s visual device. When the pet beast approaches a virtual hurdle, the trainer has to jump in place, which the sensing device relays to the pet beast. At this point, the pet beast has to jump as well because the hurdle will suddenly appear from the ground. The event tests the pet beast¡¯s speed, reaction time, and the level of rapport and trust between the pet beast and trainer, which can be quite challenging for freshmen who have just become trainers. Despite the difficulty, many students eagerly volunteered. After all, these were the students of the prestigious Beast Training High School¡¯s elite class. The sign-ups went smoothly, and fifteen minutes later, Li Yi looked at the roster and coughed lightly. ¡°Everyone, quiet down. We still have three events with no volunteers: brick-breaking by hand, the swimming relay, and aerial rings. Anyone interested?¡± Almost everyone glanced at Qiao Sang. ¡°Qiao Sang, aren¡¯t you signing up?¡± A classmate in the front turned and asked her softly. Qiao Sang twitched the corner of her mouth. ¡°These events don¡¯t seem suitable for me.¡± She had planned to fill in wherever there was a need, but who would have thought that these three would be the ones left? Brick-breaking is basically a contest for combat-type pet beasts, with participants almost exclusively from the combat specialty; other types would just end up as cannon fodder. The swimming relay is an event completed by water-type pet beasts and their trainers. While she had already reserved a Water Luriana as her third pet beast, she hadn¡¯t formed a contract with it yet, and she couldn¡¯t guarantee she¡¯d open the third page of her Beast Codex before the sports day. As for aerial rings, it¡¯s tailored for flying-type pet beasts. It doesn¡¯t require a flying-type beast, but they certainly have an advantage. In this event, pet beasts try to grab floating rings in the air. The one who hooks the ring onto the target below first wins. Rings are continuously added, and remaining pet beasts keep competing in order of ranking. Wind machines generate interference, and while contestants can¡¯t use skills to attack opponents, they can use skills on the rings. Psychic powers and teleportation are not allowed. How is this even playable? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang felt like the rules were specifically set to hinder psychic-type pet beasts. All in all, it¡¯s a grueling event that tests a pet beast¡¯s ability to handle wind direction and strength. Both Yabao and Little Treasure could participate, but the restrictions on attacking opponents and using teleportation made it impossible to compete against the flying-type pet beasts with an aerial advantage. Just as Qiao Sang was shaking her head in frustration, Li Yi finally couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Qiao Sang, are you not going to participate in a single event?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°These events don¡¯t suit my pet beasts.¡± ¡°But I think your Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost are quite suitable for the aerial rings.¡± Li Yi said with a grin. That was just blatant nonsense. Qiao Sang replied, ¡°I think Yu Zhao is more suited than I am.¡± The Yu Zhao she mentioned was the boy who had been chasing the Fat Dove on the first day of school. Caught off guard, Yu Zhao jumped up and quickly refused, ¡°Not me! I¡¯m not cut out for this!¡± He had no intention of joining any sports event! Studying alone took up all his time, he didn¡¯t have the energy to spend on extra training! ¡°Qiao Sang, as a member of our class¡­¡± Li Yi started to make an emotional plea, but his words were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a pet beast. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure appeared, pointing excitedly at one of the events listed on the board. Everyone followed its gaze. Qiao Sang twitched her mouth. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded earnestly. After a few seconds of silence, Qiao Sang turned to the teacher. ¡°I¡¯ll participate.¡± Li Yi¡¯s face lit up with surprise. ¡°Excellent! The aerial rings may be dominated by flying-type beasts, but I believe in your abilities.¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not signing up for the aerial rings. I¡¯m signing up for brick-breaking by hand.¡± Li Yi: ??? ¡°Xun~¡± Chapter 239: Brick-Breaking By Hand Brick-Breaking By Hand might sound literal, but it isn¡¯t quite what the name suggests. Originally, tile breaking was a physical move exclusive to fighting-type pet beasts. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, in the second Instellat Cup, a powerhouse named Iril used a bug-type pet beast, Masked Dark Spider, to shatter the opponent¡¯s Aurora Shield, a move performed by a psychic-type pet beast, and won the match, catapulting him to fame. The key move that broke the Aurora Shield was tile breaking. Tile breaking can destroy wall-type skills like Light Screen and Reflect Wall, so it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising that it shattered the Aurora Shield. What was surprising was that a bug-type pet beast was the one to execute it. It¡¯s well-known that choosing the right type is crucial in battles, and bug-type pet beasts have always been considered the weakest type by beastmasters. Even if there are a few rare, powerful bug-types, it doesn¡¯t change the perception that bug-types are the weakest. After all, exceptions don¡¯t represent the whole group. Yet, the Masked Dark Spider, a non-rare bug-type without any fighting attribute, managed to execute tile breaking and defeat a psychic-type pet beast. This shocked everyone watching the Instellat Cup back then. In a post-game interview, Iril stated that any pet beast, even without the fighting type, could perform fighting moves as long as they put in the effort. This statement sparked a trend in fighting moves, with a portion of trainers successfully teaching their pet beasts fighting skills. Even those who didn¡¯t teach their pet beasts fighting moves started posting online about how much stronger their pets¡¯ resilience had become. Since then, Brick-Breaking By hand officially entered the public eye and became a common sport in schools. That said, a ghost-type pet beast participating in brick breaking by hand was a first in Shengshui High School¡¯s history. By the end of the school day, the news had spread throughout the entire school. Everyone knew that Qiao Sang from Class 1 (Grade 10) would be using her Treasure-Seeking Ghost in the brick-breaking by hand event at the sports meet. "Did you hear? That amazing new student from the opening ceremony is joining the sports meet." "Yeah, I heard she''s competing in tile breaking, using her Treasure-Seeking Ghost." As the news spread further: "Did you hear? Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure Ghost can use a fighting move." "No way! That¡¯s insane!" Finally, the rumors evolved to: "Did you hear? Qiao Sang from Class 1, the one who crushed everyone at the opening ceremony, her Treasure-Seeking Ghost can perform tile breaking with a pretty high proficiency level." "What? Qiao Sang''s Treasure-Seeking Ghost is going to crush all of our school¡¯s fighting-type pet beasts using tile breaking?!" At Tianjing Courtyard, Room 1075. Qiao Sang and her Little Treasure exchanged glances. "You wanted to participate in brick-breaking by hand because you saw this video?" Qiao Sang gritted her teeth. "Xun!" Little Treasure pushed the phone forward, pointing to the screen where a championship-winning pet beast was being awarded a golden glove. It looked so cool! He wanted one too! Qiao Sang took a deep breath, calming herself, and revealed the harsh truth, "The prize at our school¡¯s sports meet isn¡¯t that." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure froze on the spot, as if struck by a bolt from the blue. "Yap." Yabao chimed in from the side, suggesting he accept the bad news. Qiao Sang picked up her phone and browsed the watch history. [Today¡¯s Reveals: Just How Luxurious Are the Prizes for County Brick-Breaking By Hand?] [Magnetic Rat Vending Machine] [Top Ten Bug Plots in ¡®Water City Guardian¡¯, An Insult to Our Intelligence] [Controversy Surrounding the Year¡¯s Most Popular Young Beastmaster] [High-Energy Edits Ahead, The Power of Pet Beasts!] "When did you even watch all these on my phone?" Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, staring at the history list. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure answered sadly, still not fully recovered from the earlier blow. "You didn¡¯t stay up watching videos every night, did you?" Qiao Sang continued to scroll, not finding any of her own videos. "Xun." Little Treasure shook his head. He also played with the virtual helmet. "At least you remember to charge the phone afterward; it¡¯s been so long, and I didn¡¯t notice a thing." Qiao Sang put down her phone and said, "Anyway, since we signed up, we have to train properly. We don¡¯t need first place, but let¡¯s at least not come last." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure responded listlessly. Seeing this, Qiao Sang said generously, "Come on, it¡¯s just a golden glove. If you win, I¡¯ll buy one for you." "Xun!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes brightened as he floated over to nuzzle against Qiao Sang''s face in excitement. Qiao Sang chuckled. Sure, the real golden glove was pricey, but a replica wouldn¡¯t break the bank! Ghost-type pet beasts don¡¯t have physical forms, but they can condense bodies with energy. In the courtyard. Qiao Sang instructed, "To practice tile breaking, you need to press your hands together and straighten them, focus your energy and power into your hands, and raise them high to maximize strength." "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded seriously, listening intently. Qiao Sang continued, "When you strike, release your power in one explosive burst, chopping downward quickly. Your waist, palm, and arm strength must work together." "Xum¡­" Little Treasure looked down at himself. Did he even have a waist? Following his gaze downward, Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched, and she added, "I was just repeating what I saw online, this method¡¯s for fighting-type pets. For us, it¡¯s mostly the same; just focus all your power into your hand." "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded, signaling that he understood. Fixing his determined gaze on an egg-sized rock nearby, he instantly teleported, raising his hand in a chopping motion. "Xun!!" The next second, Little Treasure raised his now-red paw, teary-eyed. The rock remained untouched. Qiao Sang: ... Feeling a headache coming on, Qiao Sang admitted to herself that she didn¡¯t expect Little Treasure to actually learn tile breaking. Ghost-types weren¡¯t suited for physical attacks, but since they were signed up, some training was necessary. They couldn¡¯t very well go out there and fail to break even a single tile, that would be embarrassing. Besides, Qiao Sang had her reasons for entering Little Treasure in tile breaking. While the main reason was that Little Treasure wanted to participate, practicing tile breaking would be beneficial for him, too. Since he wanted to train, his focus would naturally be different. Even if it couldn¡¯t master tile breaking, practicing it would enhance its courage, resistance to blows, and explosive power. That was why beastmaster colleges included it as a sport. "You can¡¯t start with rocks. I¡¯ll order a box of tiles for you to practice with." Qiao Sang said. Rocks were much harder to break than tiles, and starting with rocks would hurt Little Treasure¡¯s confidence and enthusiasm. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure nodded tearfully. With 25 days left until the sports meet, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t in a rush to have Little Treasure start tile-breaking practice immediately. For now, his main focus was on honing his Hypnosis skill to the ultimate level, preparing him for evolution. Chapter 240: Tracking Mission For the next half a month, training went on in the same routine. It wasn¡¯t a long time, but the progress was significant. During this period, Yabao managed to bring Fire Fang to the peak of mastery. Although Shadow Clone wasn¡¯t specifically practiced, each training session required its use, resulting in Shadow Clone also reaching perfection. There were now a full 35 perfect clones of Yabao. This greatly improved the efficiency of Yabao¡¯s skill training. After Fire Fang training concluded, thanks to the 35 shadow clones and the energy pills, Yabao quickly brought Flaming Charge to full proficiency and is now rocketing towards mastery. Despite lacking a golden finger, Water Luriana¡¯s diligent training enabled her to smoothly perform Water Stream Jet. Now, she can precisely aim her attacks without losing control. The one who progressed the most, though, was Little Treasure. On the third day after signing up for the sports meet, he learned Substitute through the virtual helmet, and on the second day after switching disks, he mastered the skill Taunt. When Qiao Sang found out that Little Treasure had mastered Taunt in a single night, she was completely shaken. What did Little Treasure¡¯s quick mastery of Taunt indicate? It indicated that he had a natural talent for this move! Qiao Sang could only comfort herself by thinking, although Taunt, as a skill of mental attack, does attract hatred, it¡¯s highly effective for disrupting opponents. Final note: Use sparingly! With Substitute in hand, Little Treasure¡¯s progress in Hypnosis training accelerated drastically. Hypnosis, already close to full mastery, was now perfected, and it was estimated that reaching ultimate mastery would only take a week. As for Brick-Breaking training, he advanced from being unable to break a single tile to breaking three tiles simultaneously. Though he was still far from real Brick-Breaking standards, if other participants in this event weren¡¯t all Fighting-type pets, Qiao Sang felt that Little Treasure had a fair shot at achieving second-to-last place. Qiao Sang put down her pen, reflecting on the recent training achievements, realizing that she herself hadn¡¯t made much progress. She was keeping up with her coursework, but in comparison to her classmates with a foundation stronger than the building¡¯s foundation, her own progress felt minimal. Meditation had become a routine of early mornings and late nights; she could feel her brain capacity increasing bit by bit. However, without a device specifically for measuring brain capacity, she had no idea how far her mental development had advanced. Thanks to meditation, she felt her mind had become significantly clearer over this period, especially since discovering that Little Treasure had learned Taunt. From that day on, any slight disturbance in the middle of the night would wake her up. More than once, she had awoken to find Little Treasure clutching her phone and laughing hysterically. At those times, she felt a pang of envy for Yabao, who could sleep undisturbed and even drool. Not long after she put down her pen, her phone vibrated on the desk. She picked it up, leaned back on her bed, and opened it. Someone had tagged her in the chat group. [Wang Yao]: @Qiao Sang, how¡¯s your mission going? Qiao Sang pouted and replied: [Qiao Sang]: How would I have time for that? I¡¯m drowning in homework! This was Qiao Sang¡¯s second mission, and given her daily load of homework, she had picked a simple one. Even though the mission deadline had been extended from five to seven days due to classes, it was still difficult for a high school student with daily classes and homework to find the time. [Shi Gaofeng]: Why not take a leave? Every mission is a legitimate excuse to skip school! How could you pass up such an opportunity? [Wang Yao]: Shut up, Shi Gaofeng. Qiao Sang isn¡¯t like you. Qiao Sang was surprised as she read the messages. Such a good excuse existed?! She immediately typed to ask: [Qiao Sang]: Would the homeroom teacher really approve this kind of leave? [Shi Gaofeng]: Haha! The way you asked that, I knew you were my kindred spirit! [Shi Gaofeng]: Of course, the homeroom teacher would approve! We¡¯re on the school team, after all. [Wang Yao retracted a message] [Shi Gaofeng]: @Wang Yao, if you dared to send it, dare to leave it up! [Wang Yao]: I can retract what I sent if I want to! [Wang Yao]: By the way, Shi Gaofeng, you¡¯ve taken three days off in a row. Have you completed the mission yet? [Shi Gaofeng]: ¡­ Qiao Sang quietly exited the chat. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She began to consider the feasibility of taking a leave. Truthfully, she had quite a few things to do. Her brain capacity definitely needed to be assessed to check her current development level. Although it wasn¡¯t easy to customize an energy pill for Water Luriana, she needed to buy a jar of energy pills that could be used by any Water-type pet. And then, there was the mission. Thinking of the mission made Qiao Sang feel a bit of a headache. The day she accepted it had been a weekend. Since it was convenient, she¡¯d chosen one close to home. But when she called to contact the mission issuer, they¡¯d told her they¡¯d gone out for a few days. Two days later, it was Monday, and she had to attend classes, so the mission got delayed. If she waited until the weekend and the person went out again, she might get a poor rating. With this in mind, Qiao Sang decisively took out her phone and dialed the vice principal¡¯s number. --- The next day. Qiao Sang arrived at the mission location: 68 Jingquan Street. This was only three streets away from where she was currently staying, even closer than Shengshui High School. The man who opened the door had disheveled, messy hair and squinted his eyes, as though he wasn¡¯t used to the light after coming out of darkness. He looked at Qiao Sang, still carrying her backpack, and frowned, ¡°You¡¯re so young.¡± ¡°Is there an age restriction for this mission?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The man paused. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you invite me in?¡± Qiao Sang thought to herself, but said nothing. Realizing this, the man scratched his head and said, ¡°Come on in.¡± Qiao Sang removed her shoes and walked in, noticing that the curtains were drawn, leaving the room dimly lit. The man sat on the living room sofa and asked, ¡°You know the mission. How do you plan to handle it?¡± Without thinking, Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Either I give the guy a good beating so he doesn¡¯t dare follow you again, or we call the police.¡± The mission was simple yet complicated. The client claimed he was being followed and wanted a solution. He hadn¡¯t specified any requirements for the pet¡¯s level or abilities, and it was close to her home, so Qiao Sang took it on. The man crossed his legs and said, ¡°I¡¯m a public figure, so I can¡¯t involve the police.¡± Qiao Sang looked him over, surprised. ¡°Are you a celebrity?¡± The man¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Not exactly.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qiao Sang said, her interest waning. Seeing her reaction, the man couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°I¡¯m an internet influencer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I have over a million followers!¡± I have three times your followers, Qiao Sang thought, but outwardly, she replied, ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. Do you know who¡¯s following you?¡± ¡°...No.¡± The man admitted. ¡°How did you realize someone was following you?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Whenever I go out, I feel someone behind me, constantly watching.¡± He explained. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them, but I trust my instincts. The feeling is intense.¡± Bold of you, she thought. You went out for two days knowing someone was following you. ¡°How long has this been going on?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The man thought for a moment. ¡°About a week.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qiao Sang stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± The man was puzzled. ¡°Head out? For what?¡± Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°If you don¡¯t go out, how will they follow you? How else am I supposed to catch them?¡± Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door: ¡°Hello, anyone home? I¡¯m here for the mission.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 241: Whos the Extra Person A task could be taken on by multiple people or as a team, but it had to be specified in the agreement beforehand. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected that, by just being a little careless, she would end up with a task where competition was involved. For a team task, the participants were in collaboration. But when multiple people took on the same task individually, it was a competition. If someone completed it before you, not only could they leave a bad review, but the task would automatically be canceled by the Beast Control Center platform without requiring any handover. No wonder the task didn¡¯t specify requirements for the beast master or their pet. What a hassle. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. The knocking continued. The man got up and opened the door. Qiao Sang looked over and saw a man standing outside. He looked ordinary, wore black-rimmed glasses and a plaid shirt, a typical IT guy. ¡°Come in.¡± The man scrutinized the new arrival before stepping aside to let him in. The man in plaid took off his shoes and entered. He paused briefly when he saw Qiao Sang on the couch. ¡°She¡¯s also here for the task, just like you.¡± The man explained. ¡°Hello.¡± The man in plaid nodded in greeting. ¡°Hello.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The man in plaid sat down on the couch and asked, ¡°Mr. Gu, you said you were being followed. I¡¯d like to know if you¡¯ve offended anyone recently.¡± ¡°No.¡± The man replied, crossing his legs. Hearing the conversation, Qiao Sang looked at the man in plaid and asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°How did you know my last name was Gu?¡± The man squinted, scrutinizing him. The man in plaid didn¡¯t dodge the question and replied, ¡°I¡¯m online often and have seen you around. I¡¯d say I¡¯m a fan.¡± A fan?! The man froze, slowly uncrossing his legs. Seriously? Even staying at home, fans come to him. Meanwhile, she couldn¡¯t even bump into one while walking on the street. For a moment, Qiao Sang suspected her three million followers were probably all bots. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t offended anyone?¡± The man in plaid continued to press. Seeing that this was his fan, the man¡¯s attitude softened. After a moment¡¯s thought, he said, ¡°I get along well with people, and my social circle is clean. But online... yeah, I¡¯ve offended quite a few.¡± ¡°But as my fan, you probably know my videos are controversial. And let¡¯s face it, no one becomes an influencer without some critics. It¡¯s not like the haters would go to the trouble of tracking me down just to follow me.¡± ¡°Only a really idle, insane person would do something like that.¡± The man in plaid paused for two seconds, then chuckled, ¡°True.¡± ¡°Could it be a crazed fan?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The man stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s very possible.¡± Hearing this, the man in plaid¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I think Mr. Gu should stay home for now. I¡¯ll check for any suspicious people nearby.¡± Before the man could respond, Qiao Sang interjected, ¡°I disagree.¡± The man in plaid looked over. Qiao Sang met his gaze, saying firmly, ¡°We can¡¯t guard him around the clock. Since his address has already been discovered, I think it¡¯s better to lure the stalker out and resolve this quickly.¡± The man in plaid¡¯s mouth curled into a slight smile. ¡°How do you plan to lure them out?¡± ¡°Simple. Let him go out more often.¡± Qiao Sang answered. ¡°We still don¡¯t know if the stalker is a beast master or a regular person. If it¡¯s a beast master, going out casually could be dangerous.¡± The man in plaid replied, shifting his position. ¡°But we¡¯re also beast masters.¡± Qiao Sang pointed out, looking at him. The man in plaid narrowed his eyes. The room fell silent, the air in the living room thick like still water. Knock, knock, knock. Just then, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Hello? Anyone there?¡± The man didn¡¯t get up. Instead, he furrowed his brow and raised his voice, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°My last name is Pang. I came here for the task." Replied the person outside. Qiao Sang: ??? Another one?! The man looked shocked as he quickly stood up, glancing between Qiao Sang and the man in plaid, taking a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve only received notification of two people taking this task.¡± Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? Two people? But aren¡¯t there three here now? If there are only supposed to be two, then who¡¯s the extra one?! Qiao Sang¡¯s heart began to race as the atmosphere around her suddenly turned ominous. The man in plaid remained calm and suggested, ¡°If you don¡¯t trust us, you can check the platform for the task details. If our info matches, then the person outside is likely the target of this task.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡± The man anxiously grabbed his phone from the coffee table and began checking. Something felt off. How could he be so calm? Qiao Sang looked at the man in plaid, who was intently watching the man with the phone. The man in plaid noticed her gaze, turned his head, and chuckled quietly. ¡°You should be in school, not meddling in this mess.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Before she could process his words, the man checking his phone¡¯s expression changed. He bolted toward the door. ¡°Kid! Run! That guy¡¯s an impostor!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she leapt to distance herself from the man in plaid, hands already forming a seal. Just then, a purple creature with an oversized head, side hollows, and a robe-like lower half appeared before her. Before Qiao Sang could react, dizziness hit her, and she struggled to keep her eyes open. So sleepy... Though her consciousness was slipping, a deep instinct reminded her she had to stay awake. In her half-dazed state, she thought to herself, How unlucky. Last night, she adjusted her virtual helmet for uninterrupted sleep, so now her Little Treasure was snoozing from all that studying in the virtual space. She¡¯d had to stow him in the Beast Codex before leaving this morning. If her Little Treasure were here, she wouldn¡¯t have been caught off guard. Qiao Sang¡¯s awareness grew foggy. Just then, a voice echoed from far away: ¡°Look at this, you brought a kid with a backpack! Hilarious...wait, why is the backpack moving?¡± Backpack. Water Luriana. Right, Water Luriana was in her backpack! No! She had to wake up! The voice in her subconscious grew louder as she struggled. In her mind, the pages of her Beast Codex began glowing and flipping rapidly. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes snapped open. Her face was pale, and her forehead was drenched in sweat. ¡°How did you wake up so fast?!¡± The man in plaid stared, eyes wide with disbelief. Qiao Sang looked in his direction. She saw the task issuer lying on the floor, paralyzed but staring at her with relief. Beside him stood the mysterious man in plaid. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t speak; instead, she formed a seal with her hands. In the next moment, a green star formation flared up on the ground. Chapter 242: Contract Now! "Yap!" The luxurious fur, imposing aura, and terrifying cry, this summoned beast radiated a pressure that could make one¡¯s heart tremble. The pet beast that appeared within the star array gave off an overwhelming presence. The plaid-shirt man gasped sharply, almost letting out a scream. What the-! Can someone tell him why this kid managed to summon a Flame Hound?! Wasn''t it rumored online that there was only one in existence right now?! And more importantly... Why is the color of her star array green?! Is this the kind of star array a high schooler with a backpack should have?! Sweat broke out on the plaid-shirt man''s back. Before he could snap out of his shock, the Flame Hound in front of him opened its mouth and spewed out spiraling flames. "Nightmare Beast! Save me!" The plaid-shirt man screamed, squatting down with his hands over his head in terror. "Nightmare!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Nightmare Beast clearly wasn¡¯t skilled in combat, as it failed to react immediately and let out a frightened cry beside him. Just as the flames were about to reach the plaid-shirt man, Qiao Sang called out in time, "Psychic!" The flames, mere millimeters from the plaid-shirt man, were suddenly halted mid-air by an invisible force and then abruptly redirected, hurtling toward the unsuspecting Nightmare Beast nearby. The searing flames struck the unprepared Nightmare Beast with pinpoint accuracy. Bang! The Nightmare Beast¡¯s body was flung backward, crashing hard against the wall behind it. "Nightmare!!" A painful howl echoed through the room. Hearing the cry, the plaid-shirt man turned pale, trembling as he lowered his hands and looked over. To his horror, he found the Nightmare Beast lying unconscious on the ground with its eyes closed. It was over. The plaid-shirt man¡¯s face went blank as he slumped to the floor. Qiao Sang wiped the sweat from her forehead. Although the process didn¡¯t go exactly as she had imagined, she had managed to take down the Nightmare Beast without much damage. To be honest, she hadn¡¯t expected this plaid-shirt man to be so weak. From his initial villainous demeanor, she thought he might be a formidable opponent. But this was all he had? And to think she had been so cautious earlier. She¡¯d originally assumed that, while the Nightmare Beast was only a beginner, as a psychic-type pet, it would have skills like teleportation. Since they were inside and the client was right next to the plaid-shirt man, a direct attack on the Nightmare Beast could have caused significant damage to the room. The plaid-shirt man might even have tried to coerce the client to force her to submit. So, she planned to have Yabao feign an attack on the plaid-shirt man, hoping the Nightmare Beast would intercept the flames or the plaid-shirt man would be forced to leave the client¡¯s side. But now things had turned out like this. "Yap!" Yabao turned his head toward Qiao Sang, his beast master, looking concerned. "I''m fine." Qiao Sang said with a smile. It was a good thing she snapped out of the hypnosis in time; otherwise, the consequences- Qiao Sang suddenly realized something, freezing in place. Her focus had been entirely on the unidentified plaid-shirt man just now, but now that she thought about it, she remembered that the star array she¡¯d used to summon Yabao had been green. Did she... have a breakthrough?! With the Nightmare Beast¡¯s control broken, the man beside her promptly stood up and grabbed the plaid-shirt man by his collar, delivering a punch to his jaw. The plaid-shirt man crumpled to the ground. That punch seemed to bring the plaid-shirt man back to his senses. He looked at the man with resentment and sneered, ¡°Consider me unlucky. Go ahead and call the police. Once I get out, I¡¯ll come after you again.¡± "Screw you!" The man punched him again in frustration. ¡°You¡¯re still threatening me after all this?¡± Hearing the commotion, Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and approached, asking, ¡°Is he the one who¡¯s been following you?¡± The plaid-shirt man had an unyielding expression as he was beaten, but his pupils shrank when he saw Qiao Sang approaching. The spit he¡¯d been about to launch was swallowed back down. A Flame Hound. A high schooler Beast Master with a backpack. Not someone he could mess with. The man, oblivious to how narrowly he¡¯d avoided a spit attack, looked at Qiao Sang, his expression softening. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s the one who¡¯s been following me. He confessed to everything just now when you were unconscious.¡± ¡°Why was he following you?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. ¡°No idea. He hasn¡¯t said.¡± The man lifted the plaid-shirt man by his collar and said fiercely, ¡°Speak up! Why were you following me?¡± The plaid-shirt man scoffed, turning his head away disdainfully, only to lock eyes with Qiao Sang. His heart skipped a beat. He¡¯d intended to act tough, but then he saw the Flame Hound also staring at him. In an instant, the plaid-shirt man¡¯s heart raced. He took a deep breath, angrily shook off the man¡¯s grip, and shouted, ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know what you did?!¡± The man frowned. ¡°What did I do? Explain.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you constantly clinging to Yu Xinyan and flaunting your relationship online! That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t have time to train.¡± The plaid-shirt man¡¯s frustration grew as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! She¡¯s so focused on your relationship that she won¡¯t even participate in the regional tournament¡¯s preliminary trials!¡± The man froze. ¡°You¡¯re a fan of Xinyan?¡± The plaid-shirt man sneered, ¡°Who else would I be a fan of?¡± The man: ¡­ He gritted his teeth, ¡°Whether she takes the trials or not is her choice, and it has nothing to do with me!¡± ¡°Pah!¡± The plaid-shirt man spat angrily. ¡°Scumbag!¡± ¡°Heh, if you don¡¯t believe me, I can let you hear what she has to say.¡± The man picked up his fallen phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. The plaid-shirt man held his breath. Qiao Sang leaned in quietly, sensing some gossip in the air. ¡°Hello?¡± A clear voice answered on the other end of the line. ¡°What¡¯s up? Are we filming again?¡± ¡°No.¡± The man got straight to the point. ¡°I just want to ask, are you really not planning to join the regional tournament next year?¡± ¡°Hahaha, join the regional tournament? You know I¡¯m not at that level, I can¡¯t even qualify.¡± The voice on the other end prattled on: ¡°I used to keep that upbeat image just to have content for my videos and streams, but I¡¯ve been changing the focus of my livestreams this year.¡± Hearing this, the plaid-shirt man seemed like he¡¯d been struck by lightning, muttering, ¡°No, this can¡¯t be true¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that beside you?¡± ¡°Your delusional career-fan.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The man didn¡¯t continue the conversation and hung up. He looked at the dazed plaid-shirt man and said, ¡°You heard it all.¡± The plaid-shirt man remained silent, still reeling. The man continued, ¡°Now that you understand the situation, I hope you reflect on this, and after getting out of the police station, don¡¯t come looking for me again.¡± Then he turned to Qiao Sang, flashing a warm smile. ¡°Would you mind coming with me to the police station?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you not planning to report him?¡± The man scratched his head. ¡°I thought he was just a crazy fan or someone obsessed with me. I wanted to talk it out, but now that you intervened just in time, who knows what he would have done.¡± ¡°Since we caught him, it¡¯s only fair to give him a proper lesson.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Sang was about to reply. The man added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll give you a five-star review for sure!¡± Even if I don¡¯t go to the police station, you should still give me one! Qiao Sang thought with a wry smile, saying, ¡°Alright. Where¡¯s the restroom? I¡¯d like to use it first.¡± The man quickly pointed to the left. ¡°Just go straight down.¡± Following his directions, Qiao Sang found the restroom, locked the door, and opened her backpack. Looking at the little Water Luriana staring up at her with wide eyes, she struggled to contain her excitement as she whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s form the contract, right now.¡± ----- T/N: Yayyyy! Luriana''s now in the team! Chapter 243: No, Theres a Conflict When a pet of national treasure status is willing to let you contract it, and you just so happen to have an open contract slot, how could you hold back? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t wait a single moment longer. Heaven knew how much she agonized over contracting Water Luriana. She even sold out Yabao¡¯s good looks for her. Now that she had finally waited until her mind had broken through, she naturally didn¡¯t want to delay any longer. Had it not been for someone standing next to her just now, she would have completed the contract the moment she realized her star array had turned green. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze was intense as she looked at Water Luriana, her heart pounding. Even though she knew Water Luriana had agreed beforehand, the actual moment of contracting still sent her adrenaline skyrocketing. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana looked at the human in front of her, nodded solemnly. ¡°Great! Perfect!¡± Qiao Sang excitedly stood up and formed a seal with her hands. A green light gathered from all directions to Water Luriana¡¯s head, quickly forming a small green star array. Water Luriana allowed the light of the star array to cover her without resistance. Five minutes later, Qiao Sang walked out of the restroom, looking fresh and spirited, with a smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go!¡± She said, smiling at the man on the sofa. ¡°Alright.¡± The man stood up, grabbing the checkered guy as he headed toward the entrance. Qiao Sang followed closely behind. When the man had put on his shoes and opened the door, a nearly two-meter-tall, burly man stood there, glaring at him with a dark expression. ¡°And you are?¡± The man asked, frowning. ¡°My surname is Pang. I came for the job request.¡± The burly man replied expressionlessly. The man: !!! Good heavens, he was still here after all this time. He had practically forgotten about him. ¡°Was it you who posted the job?¡± The burly man asked. The man nodded. ¡°Yes, it was me.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you open the door when I knocked just now?¡± The burly man took a step forward, questioning him in a menacing tone. ¡°I¡ª¡± The man started to speak, barely getting out a word. The burly man glared at him and continued, ¡°And you didn¡¯t answer your phone either. Are you messing with me?¡± The man¡¯s brows knitted tighter. From his years of experience, he could tell this guy wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. The guy seemed pretty fired up too; things could get messy. Just as he was about to explain himself, the burly man¡¯s gaze shifted to Qiao Sang beside him. Instantly, his face brightened, flushing red with excitement as he exclaimed, ¡°Qiao Sang! You¡¯re Qiao Sang! I¡¯m a fan! Can I get a photo with Flame Hound?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang, in high spirits, readily agreed. The man: ??? A flashy red SUV sped toward the police station. The man drove absentmindedly, occasionally glancing at the girl gazing out the window beside him. After hesitating for a while, he couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°You¡¯re only a freshman in high school?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The checkered guy in the backseat shuddered upon hearing their conversation. He¡¯d assumed her outfit and backpack were an act to look young, at least a college student. Who would¡¯ve thought she was genuinely this young? A high school freshman with this level of mental development? Wow, what a prodigy, he thought, feeling his admiration grow. The checkered guy took out his phone and searched for Qiao Sang¡¯s profile, as the burly man had mentioned. Soon, he found her online account and scrolled down to see photos of her Flame Hound pet. He silently followed her. With such achievements at just fifteen, she would surely compete in regional tournaments someday! For a moment, the checkered guy felt that Yuxin Yan was now in the past, and Qiao Sang was the rising star he should be following! Unaware that she had gained a fervent admirer, Qiao Sang continued looking out the window. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the way to the police station, the checkered guy cooperated without causing any trouble. Qiao Sang found this surprising. Anyone who saw them would probably think the checkered guy was going to the police station to take care of business. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Qiao Sang.¡± ¡°Age?¡± ¡°Fifteen.¡± It was Qiao Sang¡¯s nth visit to the police station, so the female officer handling her statement was familiar with her. But they still had to follow procedure. After finishing, the officer joked, ¡°Why do you come here every few days?¡± Do you think I want to? Qiao Sang spread her hands and joked back, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just destined to be here.¡± ¡°Well said!¡± A hearty voice came from behind her. Qiao Sang turned and recognized the man, greeting him. ¡°Captain Liu.¡± ¡°Glad you still remember me.¡± Liu Zhezhen said as he walked over, sitting down with a smile. ¡°I wanted to get in touch with you, but I figured you¡¯re probably at school and without your phone, so I didn¡¯t reach out.¡± ¡°How are you thinking about what I asked last time?¡± Qiao Sang remembered exactly what he was referring to. It was an offer to train under the Longguo Military Academy. Before, she might have hesitated a bit. After all, Longguo Military Academy was a top-tier institution, the number one military school in the nation, a dream school for almost every high school student. But now... Qiao Sang paused for a few seconds. ¡°Thank you, Captain Liu, but I want to become a professional beast tamer in the future.¡± Liu Zhezhen smiled, ¡°Becoming a professional beast tamer doesn¡¯t conflict with attending Longguo Military Academy.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s a conflict.¡± Qiao Sang replied seriously, word by word. ¡°I want to become a beast tamer who competes in the Instellar Cup.¡± She hadn¡¯t said it before, as she didn¡¯t have enough confidence. She knew how hearing this must sound to others, like someone claiming they¡¯d lead the national football team to a World Cup victory, completely laughable. But now, she thought there was nothing wrong with saying it. At worst, she¡¯d get laughed at, but she would still work toward this goal. Qiao Sang felt her mindset had shifted slightly. ¡°Pfft!¡± The female officer beside them, sipping tea, couldn¡¯t hold back and sprayed a mouthful of water right onto Liu Zhezhen¡¯s face. Liu Zhezhen: !!! --- Back home, Qiao Sang immediately summoned her three pet beasts. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao glanced around the familiar surroundings, immediately heading toward the courtyard to begin training. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Sang called. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head. ¡°Let me formally introduce your new partner, Water Luriana.¡± Qiao Sang picked up Water Luriana and held her up. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana chirped happily. ¡°Yap. ¡°Xun.¡± Yabao and Xiao Xunbao exchanged glances. Wasn¡¯t she already their partner? ¡°It¡¯s different. Today, I made it official with a contract, so a little formality is in order.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana lifted her head, awaiting the welcome ceremony. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao, feeling it was pointless, turned and headed to the courtyard to train. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Seeing this, Water Luriana¡¯s expression fell. ¡°Yap yap?¡± Yabao paused, then turned to Water Luriana, barking an invitation. Would she like to train together? ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana¡¯s face lit up, and with a flick of her tail, she leaped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. Watching Water Luriana eagerly following Yabao to the courtyard, Qiao Sang felt both pleased and worried. She was glad the two got along well now, but worried that now that Water Luriana was contracted, heartbreak might be in her future. Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure beside her, encouraging him, ¡°Give it your best, I think Water Luriana might evolve before you do.¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure¡¯s expression was nonchalant. Given Water Luriana¡¯s age, her evolving first was only natural. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Nighttime. Lying in bed, Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness entered her mind space as she resumed browsing the Beast Tamer Codex. Chapter 244: Healing Light Name: Water Luriana Attributes: Water Level: Basic (956/1000)+ [Primary Trait: Melting Water Level: B (1099/2000)+, Status: Useful, Description: Allows cells to transform and merge into water. Secondary Trait: Swift Swimmer Level: C (67/1000)+, Status: Usable, Description: Doubles speed during rainy weather. Tertiary Trait: Rain Sense Level: C (809/1000)+, Status: Usable, Description: Enables early detection of rain by absorbing moisture through ears and tail.] Skills: Healing Light (Mastery 7889/10000)+, Water Gun (Advanced 455/500)+, Bubble Beam (Advanced 341/500), Water Tail (Advanced 392/500), Water Mist (Intermediate 1569/2000), Water Stream Jet (Beginner 36/100) Points: 0 --- "She actually has the Swift Swimmer trait!" Looking at Water Luriana''s page in the Beast Master Codex, Qiao Sang felt a surge of surprise and excitement. Among the numerous weather-related traits, none pair better with rain than Swift Swimmer, which doubles speed in rainy conditions. This trait is so renowned that it''s almost indispensable in rain-focused teams, a staple for Beast Masters in team and doubles competitions. Most professional Beast Masters involved in team matches form their rosters around carefully planned tactical frameworks, often contracting creatures with specific traits to match the strategy. Rain teams, for example, rely on rain effects as their main tactic and are a popular choice in team compositions. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze continued downward. "Aside from Healing Light, all other skills are only at the Intermediate level." After working with her two overpowered creatures, Yabao and Little Treasure, her expectations for her creatures had naturally risen. But Qiao Sang could understand. Though Water Luriana was already seven years old, she hadn¡¯t benefited from any enhancements before contracting, so she¡¯d known she didn¡¯t have high potential. Given the comparison with other skills, Healing Light reaching the Mastery level was a pleasant surprise. Every Beast Master knows that a healing skill at the Mastery level qualifies one to work in a hospital. Although healing skills are support-based, they''re among the most valuable of all skills. Whether in team battles or expeditions into secret realms, any Beast Master party recruits at least one healer. In fact, if assembling a team, most would prefer a D-rank Beast Master with a healing creature over a C-rank without one. But... what exactly does Healing Light do? Qiao Sang stared at the skill for a while, recalling only that Water Luriana¡¯s Healing Light had restored Yabao when he was injured. However, she wasn¡¯t sure about the exact percentage of recovery. Each healing skill has unique effects; the most common is simply Healing. As for Healing Light, she hadn¡¯t heard much about it. Resolving to find out, Qiao Sang quickly exited her mental space and grabbed her phone to search online. Soon, the webpage displayed her answer: "Healing Light, an Advanced skill, can heal all illnesses and negate skill-induced negative effects. With high proficiency, it can even restore lost limbs." "This move is a hereditary skill among specific species and cannot be learned later on. Beast Masters should take note." Qiao Sang''s pupils contracted sharply. What?! An Advanced skill?! She¡¯d vaguely suspected this might be the case when she read about Water Luriana¡¯s ability to restore lost limbs with gemstones, but to see it confirmed still left her deeply shaken. An Advanced skill! A true Advanced skill! Many Beast Masters go their entire lives without seeing their creatures learn even one Advanced skill. With this, she could drop out of school and apply for a head position at any hospital! Qiao Sang set down her phone and lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. An Advanced skill... With this, even if Water Luriana¡¯s potential is low and she''s getting old, she''s worth contracting, rare or not. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang woke an hour earlier than usual and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, abruptly pulled from his virtual reality helmet, rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at the busy Qiao Sang with a puzzled cry. Why up so early? Qiao Sang, her movements sluggish under dark eye circles, smiled and said, "You must be tired of milk and energy pellets. Today, I¡¯ll make something different for you." "Xun!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes brightened, but then quickly shook his head to signal he hadn¡¯t gotten tired of them. While Qiao Sang¡¯s cooking wasn¡¯t exactly intolerable, the comparison with milk and energy pellets made it hard to enjoy her food. After experiencing those, eating her cooking again felt like torture! Unaware of Little Treasure¡¯s true thoughts, Qiao Sang assumed it didn¡¯t want her to go through the trouble and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re not tired of it. I haven¡¯t cooked in a while, and Water Luriana hasn¡¯t tried my cooking yet.¡± With Water Luriana in mind, she sped up her movements. Seeing it was no use to dissuade her, Little Treasure glanced around, teleporting to wake up the sleeping Yabao to try persuading Qiao Sang. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure poked at Yabao with a tiny claw. Yabao, drooling in his sleep, didn¡¯t move an inch. "Xun xun." Little Treasure pouted, then suddenly giggled as he had an idea. --- Forty minutes later. At the table. Yabao stared at the food before him with a look of despair. "Lu!" Water Luriana, on the other hand, appeared intrigued, and without a word, took a bite. ¡°...Lu¡­¡± Her expression froze. She hesitantly glanced at Qiao Sang, who smiled and encouraged her to continue, then reluctantly took another bite. Watching Water Luriana, Qiao Sang felt a swell of pride. After school, she¡¯d find the vice principal to draft a training plan for Water Luriana, she would probably be switching to energy pellets soon. ¡°Yabao, why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Qiao Sang suddenly asked, turning to him. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao froze in place. ¡°Not to your taste? Just give it a try; look, Little Treasure is eating so¡­¡± She trailed off, narrowing her eyes at the ghost. ¡°Little Treasure, why are you using Substitute?¡± The real Little Treasure, who had been secretly sipping milk on the side, froze. Chapter 245: My Water Lurianas Age is a Little Advanced Five minutes later, watching the satisfied expressions of Yabao and Little Treasure munching on energy pellets, Qiao Sang gained a new perspective on her cooking skills. Class 1, Grade 10. In class, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t bury herself in her notes as she usually did. She found her mind unusually sharp; even without focusing on the lesson, everything the teacher said seemed to etch itself into her memory. It almost felt like she¡¯d transformed from a hardworking, struggling student into a high-IQ, yet still struggling, student. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the bell rang, Jin Feifan sighed while munching on a soybean bar. ¡°I wish I could take time off to do missions, but Teacher Qin won¡¯t let us go until we¡¯re in Grade 11.¡± Qiao Sang replied, ¡°You could go to the Beast Master Center alone during break.¡± Jin Feifan sighed again. ¡°I don¡¯t have time. During breaks, I¡¯m busy with homework, then I have to work on team coordination with Lu Liangye and the others, and before I know it, I¡¯m back in class.¡± Qiao Sang comforted her, ¡°If you¡¯re doing missions, you have to interact with people. You¡¯re so socially anxious, you probably wouldn¡¯t want to do it again after one try.¡± Jin Feifan swallowed her soybean bar, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°The missions are secondary. It¡¯s the rewards that matter. Someone posted on the forum yesterday that after completing a mission, the sponsor rewarded them with tickets to next year¡¯s regional competition.¡± Regional competition tickets?! Qiao Sang was filled with envy. Although the regional competition is held every year, it¡¯s such a grand event that everyone goes crazy for tickets, which sell out in seconds. Tickets are extremely hard to come by. Five minutes before tickets go on sale, millions disconnect from WiFi, switch to mobile data, clear all background apps, and wait on the official ticket app just for the countdown to hit zero on the red button. Some even have their pets cut the local power grid to boost their chances of getting a ticket. It¡¯s less like getting tickets and more like a battlefield. And now, this ticket everyone fights for is just handed out as a reward! Outrageous! Why hadn¡¯t she come across such a lucky break? Qiao Sang suddenly understood Jin Feifan¡¯s feelings, wishing she could start on a hundred missions immediately. ¡°Isn¡¯t bringing phones to school forbidden? How did you check the forum?¡± Qiao Sang asked suddenly. Jin Feifan looked around, then whispered, ¡°Fang Lu¡¯s contracted pet is a Black Sludge. Many of us keep our phones with her.¡± Recalling her summer encounter with Black Slime in the secret room, Qiao Sang understood instantly. Black Sludge¡¯s unique space could swallow even Yabao, let alone a phone. 5:54 PM In the spacious and minimalist Vice Principal¡¯s office, Liu Yao was busy typing away on his computer, writing a research paper. Now that the school team had someone who could potentially defeat Litan and win the championship, he could finally shift his focus to his own pursuits. Knock knock. The sound of someone knocking on the door interrupted him. Without looking up, Liu Yao continued typing and said, ¡°Come in.¡± Qiao Sang opened the door and greeted, ¡°Vice Principal.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± Liu Yao raised an eyebrow as if realizing something. ¡°If you¡¯re asking for extended leave, a phone call will suffice.¡± Hearing this, she almost felt tempted to request it, but she got straight to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve contracted a new pet, and I¡¯d like your help in creating a training plan.¡± What? What did she say? Another pet?! Liu Yao momentarily forgot about his research paper, pressing both hands on the keyboard, his voice unsteady, ¡°You¡¯ve unlocked the third page of your Beast Master Codex?!¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Liu Yao¡¯s breath quickened. A third page on the Beast Master Codex, at just 20% brain development, had been achieved by a 15-year-old high school student! Brain development gets harder the higher it goes. The difference between 19% and 20% may seem small, but around 50% of Beast Masters are stuck at this stage! Achieving top-tier academy eligibility through Beast Master battles requires either provincial first place in the National Campus Beast Mastering League or passing the D-level Beast Master exam. Many have won provincial first without getting into top academies. Even more extreme, someone held first place for three consecutive years but still couldn¡¯t enter a top academy. Why? They hadn¡¯t unlocked the third page of their Beast Master Codex. Reaching D-level allows one access to secret realms and to receive feedback from their pet. E-levels are strictly prohibited from approaching secret realms and have the same life expectancy as ordinary people. That¡¯s the difference! At 15, even a 10% brain development would be exceptional. But Qiao Sang had reached 20% so soon after the school year began! She was practically born for Beast Mastery! For a moment, Liu Yao looked at her as if she were an ultra-rare pet. Qiao Sang felt a chill from his intense gaze. Luckily, Liu Yao noticed his lapse and quickly composed himself. After a brief cough, he said, ¡°Summon your pet, and let me take a look.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Seeing the Vice Principal¡¯s approval, Qiao Sang quickly formed the seal. A green star array appeared, and Lubao, the Water Luriana, materialized in the office. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Seeing that Yabao wasn¡¯t around, Lubao half-sat on the floor, elegantly licking her paw. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Liu Yao squinted at the light blue pet before him. He thought it looked familiar but couldn¡¯t recall the name. ¡°It¡¯s a Water Luriana. You don¡¯t know it?¡± Qiao Sang said in surprise. In her impression, the Vice Principal knew everything, like a walking encyclopedia. Liu Yao quickly searched his mind for the name Water Luriana. When he remembered, he froze. For the first time, his usually calm face filled with shock, even more so than when he learned Qiao Sang had unlocked the third page. His mind felt overloaded. A Water Luriana, with less than a hundred of its kind left globally, and only found in the ancient Guwu region! Why was it here? And contracted by Qiao Sang?! This was like something out of a fantasy film! ¡°Water Luriana¡­¡± Liu Yao was deeply captivated by the rare pet, instinctively reaching out to touch it. No Beast Master could remain indifferent before such a precious endangered pet. Unless they didn¡¯t recognize it. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao gave a haughty expression and flicked her tail to swat away the approaching hand. Ehem. Qiao Sang quickly cleared her throat and said, ¡°This is the Breeder I mentioned this morning. He just wants to check your condition." ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s tail stiffened in tension. ¡°It¡¯s alright; having a sense of caution is natural.¡± Liu Yao smiled and reached out again to gently stroke Lubao. This time, Lubao didn¡¯t resist. After a while, seeing that the Vice Principal wasn¡¯t saying anything, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Is Lubao in poor health?¡± Having a trainer examine a pet is like taking it to the doctor; the worst part is waiting in silence after a long checkup. ¡°What makes you think that?¡± Liu Yao asked in response. Ah, so this was the famous Water Luriana¡¯s texture, cool and smooth, incredibly pleasant to touch. Qiao Sang hesitated, then said, ¡°My Lubao is a bit older, so I wondered if her age might affect her health.¡± Lubao: ??? Lubao gave an incredulous look. She was only seven months old? Liu Yao paused, ¡°Not at all. This Water Luriana looks less than a year old.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 247: What Are We Waiting For! "An interstellar exchange program?!"Qiao Sang froze in place, her expression going blank, as if she¡¯d turned into a statue. Research ships, space pirates, space construction, interstellar companion animals, all these elements she¡¯d only seen on the news raced through her mind. If she didn''t consider the entire interstellar domain, just the three habitable planets where humanity had settled, then Dragon Country was tiny. Dragon Country had 13 regions. The Yuhua region, where she lived, contained 11 provinces, and Hanggang City was only one of 12 prefecture-level cities in the Zhejiang Province. It sounded like Dragon Country was pretty big. But in reality, Dragon Country was just one of hundreds of countries on Blue Planet. Though interstellar tourism had become very mature, its high cost meant it was still only accessible to billionaires. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was one of the reasons Qiao Sang had wanted to compete in the Interstellar Cup in the first place. Once selected for the Interstellar Cup, she¡¯d have all travel, food, and accommodations covered to visit other planets. Having traveled to a world with an interstellar setting, who would be content to stay on one planet? To Qiao Sang¡¯s surprise, even though she hadn¡¯t left her province yet, she now had a chance to go to another planet! Not seizing this opportunity would be against all reason! Watching Qiao Sang¡¯s expression shift from surprise to excitement, Liu Yao couldn¡¯t help but smile. He¡¯d already said it. Even if Qiao Sang met the requirements to participate in the competition for the senior year and ended up losing, he¡¯d just wait another year. Next year, when Qiao Sang took first place in the entire province, he could still return to his own research. With this thought, Liu Yao¡¯s regret vanished completely. Smiling, he said, ¡°Every year, the country has a few spots for interstellar exchange students, but those spots are hard to get.¡± ¡°This year, our Interstellar Cup ranking wasn¡¯t high, so the number of exchange spots decreased from five to three.¡± Qiao Sang snapped out of her daze and asked in surprise, ¡°The Interstellar Cup ranking affects the number of exchange spots?¡± ¡°You think exchange student resources are easy to come by? The interstellar resources our country gets are earned through our own efforts.¡± Liu Yao said calmly. ¡°The strong get stronger, and the weak get weaker, that¡¯s the rule.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t think three spots is too few. Some countries don¡¯t even get one. The vast majority of interstellar exchange spots are actually selected from university students. For high school students, three is already pretty good.¡± ¡°So what do I need to do to get one of those spots?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Liu Yao smiled. ¡°Generally, interstellar exchange students are selected from top sophomores and juniors nationwide, focusing on students with excellent academic performance or outstanding companion pet skills. You¡¯re clearly in the latter category.¡± Qiao Sang: ... You didn¡¯t need to say that last part, Qiao Sang thought, wanting to retort but feeling she had no face to do so considering her current standing in class. Liu Yao continued, ¡°Among these students, the country mainly selects from the National Campus Beasts Mastering League. A provincial champion is impressive, but on a national scale, it doesn¡¯t count for much. Just in the Yuhua region, there are 11 provinces, let alone champions from every grade level.¡± ¡°Even if you make it to the national finals in the freshman division, with limited spots, the country will still prioritize sophomores and juniors.¡± As he spoke, Liu Yao straightened his back, staring intently at Qiao Sang with a serious look. ¡°But you¡¯re different. Your Beast Codex has reached the third page. In my memory, I¡¯ve never heard of a 15-year-old with brain development at this level.¡± Qiao Sang listened silently. Was she really that impressive? ¡°For a sophomore competition, if you don¡¯t take the national championship, it¡¯s likely no deal. But if you compete in the junior division, reach the regional finals on your own merit, and with your three-page Beast Codex, you¡¯ll absolutely catch the country¡¯s attention. At that point, you¡¯d have a solid chance to earn that exchange spot.¡± Liu Yao said. He wasn¡¯t entirely without confidence that Qiao Sang could eventually earn a spot as an interstellar exchange student. But now, there were only three spots, and the number of slots allocated to students with strong companion animal skills was unknown. If there was only one slot, it would likely go to a junior. Qiao Sang would have to wait until her junior year to have a chance. A 15-year-old with a three-page Beast Codex and a 17-year-old just reaching the third page were worlds apart. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t bear to see a talented student like her stagnate in such a small place like Hanggang. Although Hanggang City was a provincial capital, compared to the wider world, it was pitifully small. After listening for a while, Qiao Sang finally understood. She needed to compete in the junior division and reach the regional finals to have a chance at this spot. In other words, the spot wasn¡¯t guaranteed to be hers. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Liu Yao asked. ¡°I understand.¡± Qiao Sang said seriously. ¡°Just reaching the regional finals in the junior division isn¡¯t secure enough. I need to make it to the national finals and win the championship to ensure that spot is mine!¡± Liu Yao: ??? As soon as she left the school, Qiao Sang went straight to the companion animal training facility she¡¯d visited before. ¡°Boss, I¡¯d like you to make a month¡¯s supply of energy pills based on this recipe.¡± Qiao Sang placed the training plan in front of the man. Many bought energy pills, but it was rare to see someone custom-order them based on a recipe. As a wealthy regular, the young girl was immediately greeted with enthusiasm as the man abandoned his soon-to-win hand. The two sand rats sitting at the table exchanged a sly glance and secretly swapped cards with each other. By the time Qiao Sang got home, it was already 6:43 PM. In the living room. Looking at her three companion animals, Qiao Sang said seriously, ¡°Plans have changed. Over the next month, we¡¯ll be training hard because we¡¯re going to compete against opponents with two more years of experience than us!¡± Qiao Sang was completely confident in her ability to qualify for the junior division competition. Little Treasure¡¯s evolution was bound to happen within the next few days. As for Water Lubao, even without heartbreak, based on her current Beast Codex level, she would naturally evolve within the month under her golden finger¡¯s influence. ¡°Yal!¡± Yabao wagged his tail, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He loved competitions! ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao glanced at Yabao and quickly nodded in agreement. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, however, responded a bit absent-mindedly. A competition¡­ Would there be golden gloves involved? He still preferred the tile-breaking match coming up soon. Qiao Sang immediately noticed Little Treasure¡¯s distracted state. With a quick thought, she smiled. ¡°Weren¡¯t you always watching the stars at night? If we win, we might get a chance to see space up close.¡± ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s face went blank for a moment before quickly floating toward the training yard. What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s get to training! Chapter 248: Saved The Money Qiao Sang returned to her room, opened her computer, and began drafting the next month''s training plan.Setting the goal to become the national champion of the high school division in the National Campus Beast Mastering League, her current training schedule was far from enough. Her opponents would be the top high school team members from across the country, with much more practical experience than her. A pet beast¡¯s battle strength depends on its foundational qualities and skill proficiency. With her cheat ability, however, she didn¡¯t need to worry too much about skill proficiency. Frankly, the cheat ability significantly shortens the gap between her and experienced beast tamers. That was why Qiao Sang had the confidence to aim for the national championship. Still, the national stage is huge, and who knows if a genius might appear? To be cautious, she needed to revise her training plan. The first one that came to mind was Yabao. Yabao was undoubtedly the strongest attacker among her three pet beasts and had the best foundational qualities. At Shengshui High, he stood out, but Qiao Sang wasn''t so sure on a national level. After all, Shengshui High hadn¡¯t even won the regional tournament, let alone the provincial title. ¡°Yabao¡¯s skills will need selective training.¡± Qiao Sang typed away at the computer. With limited time and Yabao''s stamina, she would have to be selective with skill training. Meteor Rain, his highest-attack skill, was essential to master. Once Flaming Charge reached its ultimate form, they could start training it. Yabao had quickly mastered skills like Ember and Fire Fang, thanks to Shadow Clone, which played a crucial role. However, Meteor Rain was different from Ember and Fire Fang. Meteor Rain was an advanced skill that consumed energy like an old car guzzling gas. It could drain Yabao in no time. And adding Shadow Clone would make it even more exhausting, he¡¯d likely wear out within minutes. Lubao¡¯s Healing Light could only restore injuries, not energy levels, so it seemed they¡¯d need to stock up on energy recovery potions. Thinking this, Qiao Sang checked her balance on her phone. Good, she could still afford it. She put down her phone and continued drafting the training plan. She¡¯d also need a new training location. If Yabao only trained Meteor Rain in his original form, the yard would do, but using Shadow Clone would likely destroy the house. As for Little Treasure, his training focus would remain on evolution for now. With his current level of Hypnosis, he should be able to evolve before the sports festival. The specifics could wait until after evolution. And then there was Lubao. When Qiao Sang thought of her, one word came to mind, tragic. For a seven-month-old to have learned so many skills, her potential must be impressive. Impressive as she was, though, reaching perfection in an advanced skill like Healing Light without the cheat¡¯s help was exceptional. Seven months to perfect an advanced skill isn¡¯t the same as seven years. Anyone could guess she¡¯d been forced to use this skill daily since young, and Healing Light is typically only used when injured. Just thinking about it made Qiao Sang realize how rough her life had been. Yet despite all this hardship, she still had to train in the Path of Ruthlessness. With a sigh, Qiao Sang resumed typing. Tragic or not, training was still necessary. Since Lubao had already perfected Healing Light, she could work toward reaching the ultimate form before evolving. As for foundational training, she¡¯d need to work on stamina, body strength, speed, and explosive power. As for evolution, she had checked Lubao''s stat points earlier this morning; her level increased by 3 points daily. At that rate, even without manual upgrades, she¡¯d evolve in 13 days. She should make sure she experiences heartbreak before then. Qiao Sang bolded the number 13 on the screen. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Just as she was bolding the font, Lubao¡¯s voice startled her from nearby. Qiao Sang jumped, turning to find Lubao staring at the screen, which made her hands shake a bit. ¡°Can you¡­ read?¡± She asked, her voice trembling. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao shook her head. That¡¯s a relief, Qiao Sang thought with a sigh of relief. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Did you need something?¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao pointed toward the yard, an excited look on her face. Yabao¡¯s training looked cool, and she wanted to be just like him! Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°Yanak is practicing Flaming Charge. Didn¡¯t you already learn Water Stream Jet?¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao shook her head, then raised her head and sprayed a small burst of water, which scattered down like a sprinkler. Qiao Sang was stunned, her voice suddenly rising. ¡°You mean Yabao is practicing Mteoer Rain?!¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao nodded. Without a word, Qiao Sang leapt up and dashed toward the yard. When she arrived, she saw that Yabao was only practicing Meteor Rain in his original form. Qiao Sang let out a long sigh of relief. She suddenly felt as if she¡¯d narrowly avoided a catastrophe. Thank goodness, her money was safe. Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! In the yard, explosions and crashing sounds continued. Yabao was happily training Meteor Rain, firing energy balls one after another with ease. Meanwhile, Little Treasure struck tiles with determination, showing a faint air of a fighting-type beast. Qiao Sang looked on with satisfaction. ¡°Lu lu?¡± At some point, Lubao had followed her out and was standing there, looking puzzled. In high spirits, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Nothing, just watching Yabao practice Meteor Rain.¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao turned to Yabao, watching him use Meteor Rain with an excited expression as she pointed with her paw. She wanted to do the same thing! Ah, love is blind, thought Qiao Sang. When Yabao bombarded you with Meteor Rain back then, you didn¡¯t look like this. After a moment, she said, ¡°We¡¯ll practice Rain Prayer instead. One throws fire, the other brings rain, it¡¯ll be similar.¡± Lubao needed to focus on Healing Light and foundational training for now, and she could study Rain Prayer after she evolved into a mid-level pet beast. With her trait, Melting Water, her speed would double in the rain, so mastering Rain Prayer would make her even stronger. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao''s eyes sparkled. ¡°Yap!¡± Just then, Yabao, seeing that his tamer had stopped the training, trotted over, tail wagging. Lubao immediately grew shy. ¡°What made you start practicing Meteor Rain?¡± Qiao Sang asked Yabao with a smile. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao yipped happily, indicating that he¡¯d just mastered the ultimate form of Flaming Charge. ¡°So fast!¡± Qiao Sang was amazed and was about to ask Yabao to demonstrate when he wagged his tail and barked again. ¡°Yap!¡± Did they have any more energy drinks? He wanted to drink some and train even harder! Qiao Sang laughed, ¡°You¡¯re really a training fanatic. If your energy was high enough, you wouldn¡¯t have thought about using Shadow Clone with Meteor Rain just now, would you?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded excitedly. His tamer was so smart, she knew! Qiao Sang fell silent. Chapter 249: A Mere Six Tiles So, if you had enough energy, this house would be completely destroyed. Qiao Sang realized with a weary sigh. She was thankful she hadn¡¯t purchased any energy-restoration liquids recently, otherwise, she¡¯d be bankrupt by now. Qiao Sang advised earnestly, "Your Meteor Rain skill is way too powerful. If you practice it using Shadow Clone, the house will definitely be ruined. Wait until I find a suitable training ground, and then you can practice with your clones." "Yap!" Yabao nodded, wagging his tail with an eager look at his Beast Tamer. What about the energy-restoration drink? Yabao looked hopeful. Qiao Sang paused for two seconds and replied, ¡°Used up. I haven¡¯t bought any more.¡± ¡°Yal¡­¡± Yabao froze, and his tail stopped wagging. With a resigned expression, he turned around and slowly made his way back to the courtyard to resume training. My Beast Tamer really is too poor, Yabao thought as he glanced back at her. Qiao Sang, noticing Yabao¡¯s expression, felt slightly uneasy, like something was just a bit off. "Lu Lu!" Seeing Yabao walk away, Lubao turned to Qiao Sang with a hopeful look. Maybe because of their bond, Qiao Sang understood what Lubao was thinking, even without her speaking directly. After a moment, Qiao Sang said, "I¡¯ll need to study how to teach you the Rain Prayer skill. For now, practice Healing Light." "Lu Lu..." Lubao froze in place. Practice Healing Light? Lubao remembered past sessions of using Healing Light, then glanced at Yabao, who was busy practicing Meteor Rain in the courtyard. Her gaze grew determined. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wanted to stay here! "Lu Lu!" Gritting her teeth, Lubao dashed toward the direction of Meteor Rain¡¯s impact zone. Qiao Sang was startled. In the blink of an eye, she grabbed Lubao¡¯s tail and shouted, "What are you doing? Didn¡¯t you see the Meteor Rain over there?!" "Lu Lu?" Lubao looked confused. Weren¡¯t we supposed to practice Healing Light? Qiao Sang set her down and frowned. "What does practicing Healing Light have to do with running straight into Meteor Rain''s attack range?" "Lu Lu?" Lubao looked even more bewildered. How could she practice Healing Light without getting injured first? Qiao Sang paused, her throat suddenly dry. ¡°So... you practiced Healing Light on yourself every time?¡± "Lu Lu." Lubao nodded. Qiao Sang kept her face expressionless, but her clenched fists betrayed her turbulent emotions. She had once suspected this after learning that Lubao had perfected Healing Light in just seven months, but hearing it confirmed was unsettling. If Water Luriana had been domesticated, the Alliance would have treated it as a treasure, certainly not left it like this. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang looked atLubao and said seriously, "Healing Light doesn¡¯t have to be practiced on yourself. It''s more effective to use it on others. Have you ever seen a doctor who injures themselves just to practice their skills?" "In the past, you had no choice. But now, there¡¯s no need to keep doing it this way." "Lu Lu..." Lubao gazed at her newly acquired Beast Tamer, her eyes showing an innocence that matched her age for the first time. Qiao Sang suddenly called out, ¡°Little Treasure!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, who had been chopping tiles nearby, raised his head immediately and appeared before Qiao Sang in an instant. ¡°Hold out your paw.¡± Qiao Sang said. Little Treasure, unsure why, extended his short claw anyway. "All this time, I thought..." Qiao Sang started to speak but stopped mid-sentence, looking at Little Xunbao¡¯s chubby paw in surprise. ¡°How are you not hurt?¡± She¡¯d expected Little Treasure¡¯s claws to be swollen from all that tile-chopping, but they showed no sign of injury. She quickly realized the reason. It seemed that all this tile-chopping had thickened Little Treasure¡¯s skin. Nice, just like they say online, she thought. If you don¡¯t master tile-chopping, at least your resistance to injury will improve. "Xun Xun!" Excited, Little Treasure demonstrated his perfected tile-chopping form in the air with his short claws, eager to show its skills. Qiao Sang pointed out mercilessly, ¡°You¡¯re still practicing with just three tiles, right?¡± ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded. ¡°You¡¯re so strong now, time to increase the challenge.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°From now on, practice with six tiles each time.¡± ¡°Xun¡­" Little Treasure¡¯s mind conjured an image of six stacked tiles and his eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s okay; if you get hurt, Lubao can heal you.¡± Qiao Sang reassured it. "Lu Lu." Lubao looked at Qiao Sang with a I can¡¯t believe you expression. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure tried to protest. Just then, Qiao Sang added, ¡°The sports meet is coming up. If you keep practicing with only three tiles, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll get first place.¡± "Xun!" With newfound determination, Little Treasure flexed his tiny arms, imitating the fighting pose of a martial arts Beast he had seen in videos. A mere six tiles! Nothing he can¡¯t handle! "Lu Lu." Watching Qiao Sang and Little Treasure¡¯s exchange, Lubao couldn¡¯t help but grin. After organizing Lubao and Little Treasure¡¯s training, Qiao Sang returned to her room to start on her homework. Looking at the geography questions in front of her, for the first time, the answers didn¡¯t come from rote memory but instead appeared like a vivid 3D map in her mind, almost like she was viewing it from a godly perspective. Qiao Sang wrote down the answers in a flurry. After she finished, she sat back, stunned. Since when did she get so good? She¡¯d only attended one lecture without even reviewing it, yet her recall was this perfect. Was it the effect of using 20% of her brainpower or the benefits of bonding with her Beasts? Lost in thought, she remembered the dimwitted D-ranked Beast Tamer who had come as security to capture Lubao not long ago. Guess my memory boost has nothing to do with using 20% of my brain, she concluded. Just then, her phone vibrated with a new message. It was from the Beast Tamer Battle Club. Every night lately, the club had been sending her texts asking if she was available as a sparring partner. But with her packed schedule of classes, training, and homework, she¡¯d declined each time, too exhausted to consider it. Qiao Sang stared at the text for a moment, then started typing: [I¡¯ll be there in an hour.] At the Hong Ying Beast Tamer Battle Club, Qiao Sang noticed a woman with pale skin and long, curly blond hair. She was surprised. ¡°Where¡¯s the regular receptionist?¡± She asked. The woman smiled, ¡°She struck it rich recently and resigned.¡± Memories of that incident resurfaced. ¡°Was it two-hundred thousand alliance coins?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. The woman¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How did you know?¡± Qiao Sang was speechless. Of course she knew, she¡¯d almost claimed that two-hundred thousand herself, just two minutes short. It was something she¡¯d never forget. Qiao Sang stepped into the designated training room, pushing the door open. Inside, she saw familiar faces, both human and Beast. ¡°Hey, big boss! You made it!¡± ¡°Crown.¡± Chapter 250: Can It Be Done Another Way? Wang Yiding rushed forward excitedly.Ever since he saw Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost teleport during the opening ceremony, he and his whole family had been utterly shocked. Remembering that Qiao Sang had mentioned she was a sparring partner at the Hongying Beast Battle Club, he had dashed over as soon as school ended to book a session with her. That booking had led to this moment. "Master Qiao, do you remember me? The guy whose Crowned Meow ran away from home last time? You¡¯re the one who helped me find it!" Wang Yiding said, trying to butter her up. "I was so shocked when I saw you at the opening ceremony! I had no idea we¡¯d both end up at Shengshui High School." "I remember." Qiao Sang nodded. With someone who spent money as lavishly as he did, it was hard to forget. "Are we starting the sparring now?" She asked. Scratching his head, Wang Yiding said sheepishly, "I actually didn¡¯t come for sparring. I wanted you to teach my Crowned Meow how to teleport." Qiao Sang: ... She had already taught him online and even talked about it with Crowned Meow in person. Both times, it hadn¡¯t worked out. And now he wanted to learn in real life? Was this a joke? Qiao Sang glanced at Crowned Meow out of the corner of her eye, about to turn him down. But just then, Wang Yiding spoke up, "As long as it learns, money is no issue!" Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. "Then you¡¯ve come to the right person. Both my Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost can teleport. I¡¯m fully confident I can teach your Crowned Meow." "I knew it!" Wang Yiding exclaimed happily. He trusted Qiao Sang implicitly. These days, Master Qiao was a legendary figure at Shengshui High School. Even though she was a first-year student like him, her reputation spanned the entire campus, from freshmen to seniors. For example, right after the high school entrance exams, she had joined a beast battle competition and won first place. In junior high, she had slept through every exam but somehow managed to ace the entrance exams after only a few days of actual studying, securing a spot at Shengshu High School. Her Treasure-Seeking Ghost, a ghost-type beast, not only mastered Brick Breaking, a move usually reserved for fighting types, but could easily overpower any fighting beast in the school. She had even declared her intention to dominate the brick-breaking challenge in the upcoming sports meet. She also had some mysterious connection to the enigmatic vice principal, who always helped her out whenever she needed a leave of absence. In short, in Wang Yiding¡¯s eyes, Qiao Sang was a force to be reckoned with. Qiao Sang crouched down, looking at Crowned Meow with a smile. "We meet again." "Crown!" Crowned Meow looked at her for a moment, then jumped back a step, its usual lazy expression replaced by a wary look. Clearly, it remembered her. Seeing his Crowned Meow¡¯s reaction, Wang Yiding quickly reminded it, "Crownie, we agreed beforehand that you would try your best to learn!" "Crown¡­" Crowned Meow¡¯s body stiffened, and it reluctantly took a step forward. Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. She wondered what Wang Yiding had said to make Crowned Meow compromise. After all, the last time, it had run away from home rather than practice teleportation through¡­ that method. Qiao Sang considered asking and started, "Did you-" But Wang Yiding interrupted at the same moment, "Master Qiao, how did you get both of your beasts to learn teleportation?" Qiao Sang closed her mouth immediately. She suddenly realized that he still didn¡¯t know how she taught teleportation. And Crowned Meow, though it had heard her mention it once, had likely forgotten. Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Trade secret. I can¡¯t share it." "Crown." Crowned Meow eyed Qiao Sang warily. It hadn¡¯t forgotten that this human once explained teleportation to it in a very¡­ specific way. But its beastmaster had assured it that whoever was teaching it would not use that particular method. And it chose to believe its beastmaster. Wang Yiding chuckled, "You even said at the opening ceremony that if I beat you, you¡¯d give me the secret technique for teleportation. But I get it. No more questions. As long as Crowned Meow can learn, that¡¯s all that matters. I actually tried a training center before, but their teacher couldn¡¯t teach it after a long time. That¡¯s why I thought of asking you." "Oh, right, Master Qiao, what were you going to say just now?" Qiao Sang thought about it and replied, "I was going to say you have good taste, thinking of me to learn teleportation." Wang Yiding paused, momentarily unsure who Master Qiao was praising. "Wait here for a second." Qiao Sang walked off a few meters to create some distance. Making sure he couldn¡¯t overhear, she called, "Little Treasure." "Xun~" Her Little Treasure materialized. Lowering her voice, Qiao Sang asked, "Did you hear all of that just now?" She didn¡¯t actually know how to teach teleportation herself, she only knew that her Little Treasure had learned by following a¡­ certain method. The real teacher would have to be Little Treasure. But since Little Treasure would be teaching, it was practically the same as her teaching. No big difference. "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded. Lowering her voice even further, Qiao Sang continued, "You remember Crowned Meow, right? The one we trained with before?" "Xun." Little Treasure spread his paws in resignation. Of course he remembered. He had even lost his sausage because of that guy. "Good," Qiao Sang said sincerely. "Crowned Meow ran away from home just to avoid practicing teleportation through¡­ that method. When you¡¯re teaching, don¡¯t be too blunt. Use indirect terms." "For example, call it internal energy or pressure release instead." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure frowned in reluctance. That guy was such a hassle. "Work is like this." Qiao Sang sighed. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure sighed as well. Seeing this, Qiao Sang pretended to sigh as well. "If you don¡¯t work well and earn enough, there won¡¯t be money for energy pills. Then you¡¯ll have to eat my cooking again." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure yelped, panicked. He immediately reassured her he would teach well. Qiao Sang: ... Though her ultimate goal was achieved, seeing Little Treasure react so strongly to the idea of her cooking left her a bit deflated. Fifty minutes later¡­ In the front row of the training field, Wang Yiding watched Crowned Meow practicing teleportation with Little Treasure and suggested, "Master Qiao, I¡¯ll go straight to the front desk after this to sign up for a monthly package. Do you think you could spare a bit of time every evening for lessons? I¡¯ll pay for both the sparring and the teleportation training." Qiao Sang checked the time on her phone. "It¡¯s only been fifty minutes or so, but Crowned Meow¡¯s teleportation posture is already coming along well. I doubt it¡¯ll take a full month." Thinking about Crowned Meow¡¯s posture, Wang Yiding glanced at his own Crowned Meow. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the stance looked more like¡­ constipation. In the center of the training field¡­ Crowned Meow had its tail stiff, all four legs tense, its face red with strain. After about ten seconds, it let out a sigh and relaxed. "Crown." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure scolded it, exasperated. Keep going! How can you be this clueless? Big Brother Yabao learned this in no time! "Crown!" Crowned Meow looked up at Little Treasure, doubt evident in its expression. Could releasing all its energy and pressure from inside really lead to teleportation? "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded vigorously, promising he could. That¡¯s exactly how he had learned! "Crown?" Crowned Meow asked, curious. Why did the energy and pressure have to be released in such an undignified way? Couldn¡¯t it be directed somewhere else? "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure immediately channeled all his energy and pressure into his right paw, attempting to demonstrate why this wouldn¡¯t work. Unexpectedly, when all the energy gathered in his right paw, a thick white energy formed. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure stared at the energy in surprise, instinctively swinging his paw downward. Wham! A fine crack appeared on the ground. Watching from the sidelines, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened as she shot to her feet. Holy-! Brick Breaking!!! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 246: Exchange Student Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Shoutout to @Jackson Ragland for being a member of my Patreon! Thanks for the support! ??????? ----- "Lubao is less than a year old?" Qiao Sang felt her mind go blank. Wasn''t it already seven years old, almost old enough to be mounted on the wall? How could she suddenly regress to such a young cub? With a bewildered expression, Qiao Sang stammered, "But¡­ Lubao told me she was seven years old. How could that be?" It wasn¡¯t that she doubted the vice principal''s judgment, but who would know better about its age than the creature itself? Lubao wouldn''t lie about being older, unlike the Little Treasure. Before Liu Yao could answer, Lubao was already displeased. "Lu lu!" "Lu lu!" Lubao first looked at Qiao Sang in confusion, then indignantly protested. She never said she was seven years old! Not once! Qiao Sang hesitated. "Didn¡¯t you show me seven claws the last time?" "Lu lu!" "Lu lu!" Lubao angrily held up seven short claws and protested again. She meant seven months! Seven months! Qiao Sang: !!! Qiao Sang was speechless, almost uttering a specific plant''s name in shock. But standing in the vice principal''s office, she held back. So, the last time Lubao was indicating seven months, not seven years! What a ridiculous misunderstanding! There¡¯s a world of difference between seven months and seven years! One is still a budding flower, while the other is almost withering. As a keen observer and a skilled beast tamer, Liu Yao could easily guess what was happening from Qiao Sang¡¯s words, her stunned expression, and Lubao''s reaction. He chuckled. "So, you didn¡¯t even know your pet''s real age before." Qiao Sang snapped out of it, scratching her head in embarrassment. "I only contracted with Lubao yesterday. I couldn¡¯t understand what it was saying at first, so I had to guess." "Lu lu!" Lubao turned her head proudly, clearly showing her displeasure. At her prime age, how could she think she was that old? "My bad." Qiao Sang said quickly, trying to appease it. "How about I let Yabao take you for a flight later?" "Lu lu¡­" Lubao''s tail wagged slightly before she huffed and looked away again. Liu Yao gave Qiao Sang an admiring look. "I think you have real potential as a beast tamer." "Maybe." Qiao Sang replied, accepting the compliment shamelessly. After a while, Liu Yao reluctantly petted Lubao a few more times before saying, "You can put it away now." "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded, waving her right hand, and Lubao disappeared. Liu Yao sat back in his chair with a hint of envy. "I''ve lived so long without ever really seeing an endangered pet beast up close, let alone contracting one. These days, nearly all endangered beasts are under the protection of the Alliance. The last time I saw one was for a research project, which required a lot of paperwork. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so lucky as to contract with one." Qiao Sang felt the same. She''d certainly lucked out. In her past life, pandas were national treasures, yet there were still over 1,800 of them. Water Luriana, on the other hand, was even rarer, fewer than 100 in existence. If more people knew about Lubao''s whereabouts, she would never have had the chance to contract with her. Thankfully, the only person who knew about Lubao''s location wasn¡¯t stronger than she was. In truth, she owed that person a bit of thanks. If it hadn¡¯t been for his relentless pursuit, Lubao probably wouldn¡¯t have left the ancient Guwu region and ended up here in Yuhua. "Yeah, I do think I¡¯m pretty lucky." Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. Liu Yao looked at her. "By the way, you probably don¡¯t know how Water Luriana can evolve, do you?" "I looked it up online." Qiao Sang replied. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Water Luriana needs to experience heartbreak, then, during a rainy moment, it channels its emotional turmoil to evolve." Liu Yao was surprised. "I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d know that. I thought it¡¯d be hard to find online." Qiao Sang smiled. "Lucky again. I happened to meet someone online who knew about Water Lurianas." "Since you know Water Luriana¡¯s evolution conditions, you must realize how demanding they are. Water Luriana''s has a hard time getting attached to other beasts, which is part of why they¡¯re so rare." Liu Yao sighed. Qiao Sang gave a sheepish grin. "Actually¡­ my Lubao already has a crush." Liu Yao was stunned. "Are you sure?" "Positive." Qiao Sang nodded. "That¡¯s good." Liu Yao murmured, sounding a bit envious. An evolving Water Luriana was completely different from one that could only be kept as a cherished pet. He composed himself and added, "Since Water Luriana has a love interest, your next steps are simple. Make sure you have a rain-summoning pet on standby, and¡­ when Water Luriana experiences heartbreak, the more painful it is, the better." Qiao Sang was taken aback. "Why?" She understood having a rain-summoning pet on hand, but why should heartbreak be as painful as possible? Liu Yao explained, "Water Luriana¡¯s evolution is driven by intense emotional fluctuations. Normally, Water Luriana isn¡¯t highly competitive, but after evolving, there¡¯s a clear shift." "Research has shown that Water Lurianas who undergo harsher heartbreak evolve with significantly higher energy levels and attributes than those who experience mild heartbreak." "In other words, the stronger the emotional fluctuation during heartbreak, the stronger Water Luriana will be after evolving." That¡¯s just too tragic¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy. "If Lubao evolves through emotional fluctuations, could falling in love work instead?" Liu Yao shook his head. "People have tried that, but it doesn¡¯t work." Poor thing, Qiao Sang thought. She hesitated, then tentatively asked: "If Lubao could evolve through an energy material, like a Water Stone, would it be less powerful than if it evolved through emotional fluctuations?" Liu Yao considered this before replying, "First, that¡¯s purely hypothetical. But if it were possible, Water Luriana evolved through material would likely be weaker than one that evolved through emotions." "You¡¯ve probably heard the saying, ¡®The wise don¡¯t fall in love; the heartless always make it to shore.¡¯ For Water Luriana, it¡¯s ¡®The heartless will be strongest.¡¯" "After experiencing heartbreak, Water Luriana¡¯s desire to grow strengthens. I told you, there¡¯s a clear shift after evolution." Seems like I can¡¯t rely on chance; Yabao¡¯s my only hope. Qiao Sang nodded. "Got it." After chatting a bit more, Liu Yao wrote down the recipe for Lubao¡¯s energy pill and handed it over. Qiao Sang took it, said goodbye, and was about to leave when- "Wait." Liu Yao called out suddenly. Qiao Sang stopped and turned to look at him. Liu Yao let out a heavy sigh. Honestly, he regretted calling her back. But considering her potential and her pet, he couldn¡¯t let his personal reservations hold her back. After a long silence, he finally said, "If your Treasure-Seeking Ghost or Water Luriana can evolve into a mid-level pet within the next month, you should participate in the national campus beast mastering league for third-year students." Qiao Sang blinked. "Didn¡¯t you tell me not to participate in that level¡¯s competition before?" They say women are fickle, but men aren¡¯t any better. Liu Yao straightened his posture, his expression serious. "If your beast-taming codex didn¡¯t have a third page, I wouldn¡¯t have suggested it. But things are different now. You might have a shot at earning an exchange student spot." "Exchange student?" Qiao Sang repeated, surprised. Liu Yao looked her in the eye and enunciated clearly, "To be precise, an interstellar exchange student." Qiao Sang: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 251: Going to Register Weren''t we teaching Crowned Meow teleportation? How did Little Treasure suddenly learn Brick-Breaking on his own?!Qiao Sang stared blankly at the scene before her. She couldn¡¯t understand it. How had Little Treasure, who had just barely managed to break six bricks before she left the house, suddenly seemed to have a flash of enlightenment and mastered a fighting skill? A ghost-type pet beast learning a fighting-type move. Qiao Sang was at a loss. Even though Little Treasure had been practicing Brick-Breaking for over half a month, she¡¯d never thought he would actually succeed. "Master Qiao, are you okay? Did something happen?" Wang Yiding, standing beside her, noticed her staring in shock at the center of the arena and couldn''t help but ask, concerned. Qiao Sang snapped back to reality, puzzled. "Didn''t you see it?" Wang Yiding thought back to what he¡¯d just seen, a look of sudden realization crossing his face as he lifted his head to comfort her. "Treasure-Seeking Ghost is just trying to scare Crowned Meow. It deliberately missed with Brick-Breaking." To Wang Yiding, Little Treasure¡¯s teaching style was like that of a strict teacher, while Crowned Meow was a struggling student. It¡¯s not uncommon for teachers to scare students with a ruler without actually hitting them. Little Treasure just used Brick-Breaking as a scare tactic; no big deal. Rumor around school was that Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Ghost had mastered Brick-Breaking to the point where it could beat any fighting-type pet beast on campus, so it must have reached a high level of skill. But the Brick-Breaking it just used didn¡¯t look powerful, clearly just meant to intimidate Crown Meow. Qiao Sang hesitated. "So... you saw Little Treasure use Brick-Breakib?" "Of course I did." Wang Yiding shrugged casually. "It''s just Brick-Breaking. It didn¡¯t even hit Crowned Meow; nothing to worry about." Qiao Sang fell silent for a long while, feeling slightly confused. Judging by Wang Yiding¡¯s calm reaction, maybe ghost-type pet beasts learning fighting skills wasn¡¯t as strange as she¡¯d thought. Perhaps she was overreacting. With that in mind, Qiao Sang composed herself and sat back down quietly. It¡¯s just a ghost-type pet beast learning a fighting skill; no big deal. 10:33 PM. After wrapping up over an hour of training, Little Treasure floated back to Qiao Sang and perched on her head. Little Treasure wasn¡¯t as small as when he was first born; his whole body now cast her face in shadow as he sat on her head. "Master Qiao, are you free to meet again tomorrow?" Wang Yiding asked. "Sure." Qiao Sang glanced at the time on her phone, nodding. "Same time as today." Wang Yiding grinned. "Perfect!" He found Qiao Sang surprisingly easygoing. They chatted for a bit, exchanging contact information before Wang Yiding left. After he was gone, Qiao Sang went to the front desk. "There¡¯s a crack on the floor in Arena 3. Please take care of it." In a battle club like this, damaged areas were routine. All one had to do was report it, and staff would fix it promptly, ensuring a good experience for the next guest. "Understood." The woman replied, typing the report into the club¡¯s work group chat. When she looked up after typing, she noticed the young trainer hadn¡¯t left yet. "Is there a training area here for trainers? One where I could practice powerful moves without holding back?" Qiao Sang asked before the woman could say anything. This was Qiao Sang¡¯s main reason for visiting the club tonight. Finding a training area that could withstand Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain when combined with Shadow Clone was hard, and the well-rated venues in Hanggang City weren¡¯t nearby. A nearby training area would be ideal, and if the club had a suitable one, she could use it for free as a club trainer, a win-win. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We do." The woman replied after thinking it over, "But it¡¯s usually reserved for senior trainers." Qiao Sang blinked. "Only senior trainers can use it?" "Not necessarily." The woman explained. "It¡¯s just that only senior trainers generally need that kind of space." That¡¯s a relief. Qiao Sang felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "The training area is at the end of the hall to the right, where the Staff Only sign is" The woman warned. "If you go, pick an out-of-the-way spot to avoid any stray attacks from senior trainers¡¯ pet beasts." Qiao Sang returned home in high spirits. This trip not only secured a place for Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain practice but also earned her a side job. Most importantly, Little Treasure had mastered Brick-Breaking. In the kitchen, Qiao Sang opened the fridge and took out an apple. "Xun~" Little Treasure floated nearby, proudly raising his right claw, which had just performed Brick-Breaking, while joyfully floating around. "You¡¯ve been talking about it the whole way back. Aren¡¯t you tired?" Qiao Sang smiled, closing the fridge. "Xun~" Little Treasure stopped and wiggled a short claw in response. Of course not. "Xun!" With a gleeful expression, Little Treasure swung his right claw twice in the air, then focused on the apple in Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. Staring-- After two seconds, Qiao Sang placed the apple on the table and said, "Go ahead." "Xun!" Little Treasure looked at her, as if to say, Leave it to me. He turned his gaze to the apple, raised his right claw, and sliced it neatly into four pieces with his newfound skill. Once finished, Little Treasure looked up at her with wide, expectant eyes, blinking. Qiao Sang opened her mouth. "Impressive!" Later that night, after washing up, Qiao Sang lay in bed browsing shopping apps. Now that Little Treasure had learned Brick-Breaking, six bricks wouldn¡¯t be enough to cause injury anymore. She promptly ordered three large boxes of bricks. If she wanted Lubao to train Healing Light, Little Treasure¡¯s training volume would need to increase significantly. After placing the order, she thought for a moment and added two more boxes. She hadn¡¯t originally expected Little Treasure to place first in hand-breaking events because he couldn¡¯t break bricks. Now that he could, she couldn¡¯t help but feel hopeful. She¡¯d been aiming just to participate, but with her secret advantage, she could have Little Treasure¡¯s Brick-Breaking proficiency skyrocket, maybe even catch up to other fighting-type pet beasts before the sports festival. Once her teachers recognized her strength, she¡¯d have no trouble getting time off with confidence. She smiled at the thought. After purchasing the bricks, she looked up some recovery potions. The cost made her heart ache. Friday. As soon as her classes ended in the afternoon, Qiao Sang rushed to Training Ground 5. "Qiao Sang, how¡¯s the task going?" Shi Gaofeng asked, curious. "Pretty well, all things considered." She replied, smiling. "I thought so." Shi Gaofeng smirked knowingly. Looking around, Qiao Sang realized Wang Yao, who was usually there, was absent. "Where¡¯s Wang Yao?" "She¡¯s taken the day off." Shi Gaofeng whispered, "She said it¡¯s for a task, but really, she¡¯s helping her younger brother register his new pet beast." "Her younger brother, huh..." Qiao Sang barely registered Shi Gaofeng¡¯s words as her mind honed in on one thing. Register!!! Darn it! She hadn¡¯t registered her Little Lubao yet! She snapped out of it, bolted towards the door. "Qiao Sang! Where are you going?" Shi Gaofeng shouted after her. "To register!" Chapter 252: I Have Something to Tell You Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- "Register?" Shi Gaofeng was momentarily stunned. He turned to Xu Yajie, who was nearby training a Power Duck, and asked, "What did you say she went to register for?" Xu Yajie thought for a moment before replying, "I''m not sure, but it probably wasn''t for registering a pet beast." Shi Gaofeng couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. "No kidding. Thanks for the obvious." Qiao Sang already had two pet beasts. Registering another one would make it her third, anyone could figure that was unlikely. --- Hanggang Beast Registration Center Window No. 10 Qiao Sang handed over her number slip and information card, saying, "Hello, I¡¯d like to register a pet beast." The center had closed a minute ago, meaning staff were technically allowed to refuse service and head home. However, the female clerk at Window No. 10 cheerfully accepted Qiao Sang''s documents. Typically, such courteous and conscientious employees who don¡¯t mind staying a bit past working hours are newcomers to the workplace, still filled with excitement and passion for their jobs. "Of course." The clerk responded with a smile, taking the information card and placing it on the scanner. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a full day of smiling, her expression had grown slightly stiff. But soon, that professional smile she¡¯d built as muscle memory started to falter. She stared at the information displayed on her screen, momentarily dumbfounded. Fifteen years old? Two pet beasts already? What did she just say? She¡¯s here to register another one? Having registered pet beasts twice before, Qiao Sang knew the registration process. Without waiting for the clerk to say anything, she formed a hand seal and summoned her pet, Lubao, ready for inspection. A green star array illuminated outside the window, nearly blinding the clerk. A green star array isn¡¯t unusual, let alone green, even the red star arrays representing B-rank Beast Tamers are occasionally spotted here. But a Beast Tamer with a green star array who was only fifteen? Now that was shocking. Fifteen years old, and already has a green array? It took the clerk a while to find her voice. "Could you please place your pet in front of the window for scanning?" Part of this job involves being able to recognize every pet in the local Yuhua region. If an unfamiliar or non-local pet appears, it can be verified with a scanner. At a glance, the clerk knew this pet wasn¡¯t native to the Yuhua region. If there were such an adorable pet in Yuhua, word would have spread long ago. There¡¯s no way someone who memorized the Yuhua Region¡¯s Pet Beasts Encyclopedia wouldn¡¯t recognize it. Qiao Sang placed Lubao in front of the window. Lubao glanced at the person before her, then sat halfway down and lazily raised her right forepaw to lick it. The clerk aimed the scanner at the pale-blue pet and scanned her. A five-inch virtual screen soon appeared above the scanner, followed by a mechanical voice: "[Water Luriana, a rare, endangered water-type pet beast from the Ancient Guwu region. The gem on its forehead emits a magical healing light.]" The clerk was dumbfounded, the exhaustion from a long workday instantly replaced by a surge of adrenaline. Endangered? One of the last few left in the world? The clerk took a deep breath, trying to contain her excitement as she completed the registration. "All set. Please take your information card." She handed the card back with both hands. "Thank you." Qiao Sang replied, reaching for the card. But as she pulled, it didn¡¯t budge. She paused, pulling again, but it still wouldn¡¯t come free. "What¡¯s the matter?" Qiao Sang asked, looking up in confusion. "My apologies." The clerk quickly let go, offering an apologetic smile. "No problem." Qiao Sang pocketed her information card. Just as she turned to leave, the clerk, after hesitating for some time, finally couldn¡¯t hold back. "I¡¯ve never seen an endangered pet beast before. May I take a picture?" "Of course." Qiao Sang agreed readily. She was used to people asking for photos of her pet beasts. Yabao used to attract crowds all the time. Besides, this clerk had gone out of her way to help her after hours. A good first impression deserved to be returned, refusing a simple photo wouldn¡¯t make sense. The clerk excitedly picked up her phone, opened the camera, and snapped a photo of Lubao licking her paw. Then, remembering something, she subtly raised her phone to include Qiao Sang in the frame. A fifteen-year-old Beast Tamer with a green star array was as rare as an endangered pet beast. She¡¯d surely become a big name someday! --- Tianjing Garden, Apt. 1705 Sitting at her desk, Qiao Sang opened her computer and began browsing forums on how to train the Rain Prayer skill. Though she wasn¡¯t in a hurry, Lubao had already asked her three times within the first hour of being home. Since it was the weekend and she wasn¡¯t pressed with homework, she opened her computer. There were many posts on training the Rain Prayer skill. Since Rain Prayer has broad applications, anyone who masters it will have no shortage of opportunities. She casually clicked on a high-traffic thread and skimmed it. "Anyone with common sense knows that a high-level skill like Rain Prayer requires professional training. Discussing it online will only lead to the names of training centers." "You have no idea! I¡¯m broke! I¡¯m broke! Do I need to spell it out?" The words stung a bit, so Qiao Sang quickly switched to a more popular post with various replies. "Some genius suggested taking a pet beast to a place with constant rain to experience it. I tried, and after over three months, my beast didn¡¯t learn Rain Prayer, but I got arthritis." "Don¡¯t remind me. Another genius said to take it somewhere with constant drought to push it to the limit. I went, stayed for half a month, and now my beast went from whimpering to growling, it almost bit me." She chuckled at the stories and kept scrolling. "To communicate with the heavens, one must be devout, preferably with dance skills. Rain Prayer guaranteed!" "Someone¡¯s having fun here, huh?" "To make rain, there must be clouds. We should start by figuring out how to get the pet beast to form clouds." "I know this! Clouds are formed by condensed mist, which becomes darker as it thickens." "Everyone knows this. But how do you get a pet beast to condense mist?" As she read more about condensation, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind started racing. She wasn¡¯t sure about other pet beasts, but Lubao could already create water mist. The only difference between mist and cloud droplets is the degree of concentration, training could definitely bridge that gap! These online geniuses were full of ideas! Not even five minutes in, and she had found such a useful lead! Qiao Sang was about to call out to Lubao but remembered she was currently practicing her Healing Light beside Little Treasure. Better not disturb her for now. Lubao only had about ten days left before evolving with the support of point boosts. The priority now was to get her Healing Light skill to reach mastery during this period. After some thought, she went to call Yabao into her room. "Yal!" Yabao wagged his tail, looking up at Qiao Sang with eager, watery eyes. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang finally spoke: "I have something to tell you. It¡¯s about Lubao." ----- ----- Chapter 253: Ill Go Then "Yap?"Yabao tilted his head, asking what was going on. Qiao Sang stared seriously at Yabao and said sternly, "We need to make Lubao experience heartbreak within 11 days." "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head even more, looking confused. "You heard right." Qiao Sang said solemnly, "And only you can make this happen." Only he could do it? Yabao instantly straightened his head, wagging his tail, and stared at his Beastmaster with bright, curious eyes. Qiao Sang sighed. "You don''t know, but Lubao can only evolve through heartbreak." Thinking that the atmosphere wasn¡¯t dramatic enough, she let out a heavy sigh. "I''ve never seen such a tragic evolution condition." "Yap..." Yabao blinked, nodding in agreement. Even though he didn''t think heartbreak was that bad, since his Beastmaster said it was tragic, then it must be¡­ Qiao Sang continued, "Though the evolution requirement is a bit harsh, breaking the limits of life through evolution is what really matters." "Yal!" Yabao nodded enthusiastically but then showed a puzzled expression. What did Lubao¡¯s evolution have to do with him? Qiao Sang looked at Yabao with a complicated expression. "Lubao likes you. You¡¯re the key to her evolution." "Yap?!" Yabao¡¯s eyes widened. Lubao liked him? That kind of like?! "Yap yap!" Yabao quickly shook his head, questioning his Beastmaster¡¯s judgment for the first time. No way! Absolutely impossible! Lubao was practically an elderly pet! Qiao Sang laughed awkwardly, "I forgot to tell you; I misunderstood before. Lubao isn¡¯t seven years old; she¡¯s seven months old." Yabao: !!! Yabao¡¯s mind went blank, overwhelmed by this revelation. So, Lubao wasn¡¯t old? She really did like him?! Qiao Sang patted Yabao on the head, saying earnestly: "So, to help Lubao evolve smoothly, you¡¯ll need to act a bit more charming. After she likes you even more, you¡¯ll break her heart, and only then can she evolve." Qiao Sang had done some online research to figure out how to maximize the emotional impact of heartbreak. She concluded that the more someone likes another, the more intense the heartbreak. She thought this logic would apply to pets as well. Now, the plan was to make Lubao like Yabao even more. Once Lubao''s Healing Light reached its full potential, they could proceed with the heartbreak plan. "Yap¡­" Yabao showed a bewildered expression. This task seemed so daunting¡­ "I know it¡¯s tough, but Lubao likes you." Qiao Sang said seriously, "Yabao, only you can do this." Only he could do this¡­ "Yap!" Yabao''s expression shifted from confusion to determination. If only he could do this, then so be it! After communicating with his Beastmaster, Yabao walked out of the room with a sense of righteous resolve. Just as he was about to step into the courtyard, he spotted a full-length mirror. Yabao turned to face the mirror, glancing at his own handsome reflection and adjusting his angle a few times. "Yap¡­" After a moment, Yabao let out a helpless sigh. It was all because he was just too handsome¡­ --- 11:55 p.m. Qiao Sang lay in bed scrolling on her phone. Normally, she¡¯d be asleep by now, but the thought of no classes over the weekend kept her wide awake. She opened the chat app and checked the group messages. The Invincible Shengshui group was abuzz with activity. Unlike the freshman team, the sophomore team members could bring their phones during missions, as they needed to stay in touch with task issuers. The latest message in the group chat was from Shi Gaofeng, posted just a minute ago. Shi Gaofeng: Next week, I¡¯m planning to take the E-level Beastmaster exam again. Anyone free and want to join? Qiao Sang was surprised and replied: Qiao Sang: You haven¡¯t passed the E-level Beastmaster exam yet? Shi Gaofeng replied immediately: Nope¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang felt conflicted. The Beastmaster exam was mainly used to distinguish between professional and non-professional paths. Those who didn''t focus on combat wouldn''t usually aim for the test. There were various paths a Beastmaster could take, and no need to cling to one. There were exams for breeders, coordinators, and rune masters, too. Some Beastmasters might never pass the D-level Beastmaster exam but could still be top-notch A-level coordinators. Some Beastmasters could have a red star array representing a B-level Beastmaster, but their strongest contracted pet might still be intermediate. These types wouldn¡¯t even qualify to take the B-level Beastmaster exam. To Qiao Sang, though, it seemed odd. Shi Gaofeng was a sophomore team member in the combat group; his comment suggested he¡¯d failed the test once. That didn¡¯t make sense¡­ As Qiao Sang pondered, Shi Gaofeng seemed concerned about his image and sent a series of explanations: Shi Gaofeng: It¡¯s normal I haven¡¯t passed. I just started my sophomore year, and I¡¯ve only been a Beastmaster for about a year. Just look at the requirements for the E-level Beastmaster exam, you need two pets that have evolved once to qualify! [Not just one! Two!] [It¡¯s impressive I even have two intermediate pets ready to take the test; you actually expect me to pass?] [Only Wang Yao from our class passed so far, Xu Yajie didn¡¯t pass either; I¡¯m not alone.] [But I¡¯m confident I¡¯ll pass this time!] [Then Xu Yajie will be the only one in the sophomore combat group who hasn¡¯t passed. Hahaha, a moment of silence for Xu Yajie.] Xu Yajie suddenly joined the conversation: Xu Yajie: Why bring me into this for no reason! Qiao Sang was momentarily speechless. Shi Gaofeng had a point. Achieving a contract with two pets and evolving them into intermediate forms within a year, all while passing the combat assessment, wasn¡¯t easy. Why had she subconsciously thought this was simple? Without her special abilities, even if her mental faculties developed quickly, it¡¯d be unlikely for Yabao and Little Treasure to reach their current skill levels. Qiao Sang adjusted her mindset slightly. In the group chat, Shi Gaofeng and Xu Yajie were passionately debating whose combat skills were worse, and the discussion veered further off-topic. Shi Gaofeng: You¡¯re calling me weak, but don¡¯t forget you lost to me once! Xu Yajie: I had my Plishoya, and you had your Thunderberry Beast. You had the attribute advantage! Just then, a message appeared in the chat: Qiao Sang: @Shi Gaofeng, when are you going to register for the E-level Beastmaster exam next week? Lying in bed, Shi Gaofeng thought for a moment and replied: Shi Gaofeng: Next Friday. It¡¯s the sports festival, so we¡¯re allowed to leave campus. By next Friday, Little Treasure should have evolved¡­ Qiao Sang started typing: Qiao Sang: Alright, I¡¯ll go then. Shi Gaofeng: ??? Chapter 254: Worried About Exactly What Happens Shi Gaofeng, lying sideways on his bed, froze with his hand hovering over his phone. For a moment, his mind couldn¡¯t quite process it.Qiao Sang is going too? Why would she go? Though he¡¯d sent the message in the group chat, he never imagined that Qiao Sang would actually join him. Could it be... that Qiao Sang likes him? Shi Gaofeng¡¯s face turned red, thinking he might just be overthinking it. So he went online to search: [Would a girl accompany a guy somewhere for no reason?] The responses he found online only made Shi Gaofeng¡¯s face grow even redder. ¡°Generally speaking, if a girl¡¯s willing to go with you, it means she probably likes you.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s going out with you, there¡¯s likely a level of fondness there.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a chance, so don¡¯t waste it!¡± ¡°In most cases, no way!¡± ¡°Could it be she only sees you as a friend or bestie?¡± Shi Gaofeng conveniently ignored that last line. After concluding that Qiao Sang did, in fact, like him, he couldn¡¯t stay lying down any longer. He sat up against the bedhead, opened the group chat, typed, deleted, retyped, and deleted again, thoroughly conflicted. This was the first time a girl had ever shown interest in him, but he knew dating at his age wasn¡¯t right. Caught in a struggle, he finally managed to send out a message after hesitating for ages: [Don¡¯t you still have to participate in the sports meet?] [Qiao Sang: Just one event; it won¡¯t take much time.] Shi Gaofeng stared at her response, lost in thought. After another few seconds of struggle, he finally sent the real question he wanted to ask: [Why did you suddenly decide to come along for the assessment?] While Shi Gaofeng¡¯s mind was running wild, Qiao Sang¡¯s message doused all his excited, tangled emotions in an instant: [It¡¯s on the way, and I also want to see what the assessment is like.] That one simple sentence not only stopped Shi Gaofeng¡¯s wishful thinking but also roused everyone who¡¯d been quietly lurking in the chat. [Shi Gaofeng: ???] [Xu Yajie: ???] [Wang Yao: ???] [Zheng Guoping: ???] The next day. September 24, Saturday, clear skies. Though she¡¯d gone to bed three hours later than usual, Qiao Sang¡¯s internal clock still had her up early. While washing up, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She paused, feeling her face seemed a bit more refined and her skin, aside from the dark circles, didn¡¯t look like she¡¯d just had a late night. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could it be the beneficial effects of her pet beast¡¯s bond? Qiao Sang thought of the vice principal, a Beast Master with a significantly higher rank than hers. Remembering his large belly, she immediately dismissed this idea. It must just be her natural beauty, nothing to do with the pet beast bond. By noon, the five boxes of tiles and energy recovery potion she¡¯d bought a few days ago were carried in, one by one, by a Gravity Monkey. After storing part of the items in Little Treasure¡¯s ring, she set out with her backpack containing Lubao for the Hongying Beast Battle Club. Lubao didn¡¯t mind staying in the Beast Codex, but Qiao Sang felt that time was running short, and Lubao needed to interact with Yabao more. Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain combo with his shadow clone technique was bound to look amazing, and Lubao had to see it. So, Qiao Sang rode atop Yabao, Little Treasure perched on her head, and Lubao in her backpack as they traveled by air. Though many Beast Masters traveled on flying pet beasts, few were seen riding a non-flying type like hers. On the way to Hongying, a group of Beast Masters lagged behind or on the sides, sneaking photos with their phones to post on their social feeds. Lubao peeked out, noticing everyone¡¯s eyes on Yabao. After a while, she pulled out the little mirror she had borrowed from Little Treasure and began admiring herself. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Lubao murmured thoughtfully. She wasn¡¯t bad-looking, either, right? Once they arrived at Hongying Beast Battle Club, Qiao Sang headed straight for the door marked Authorized Personnel Only, as the receptionist had mentioned last time. As she stepped inside, the sudden chill in the air made her shiver. If this had been a month ago when it was still around 35 degrees every day, she might have appreciated the cool air. But now, though it wasn¡¯t yet frigid, she couldn¡¯t quite handle it. Thankfully, the chill quickly dissipated, and while it was still cold, it was bearable. ¡°Are you Qiao Sang?¡± A loud voice sounded beside her. Qiao Sang turned to see a towering man with a bare chest and a shaved head, built like a Fighting-type pet beast. His chin was covered with stubble that looked as sharp as steel needles. As the young girl looked over, a standard smile with eight white teeth appeared on his fierce face. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Haha, I knew it was you.¡± The man chuckled, lifting his hand as if to pat her on the shoulder, but, thinking of her small frame, redirected his hand to rub his bald head instead. ¡°And you are?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°I¡¯m the sparring partner here; call me Brother Li.¡± He said, glancing at Yabao. ¡°I heard we had a Beast Master with a Flame Hound at our club, still a student. Finally got to meet you today.¡± As he looked back at Qiao Sang, he noticed her backpack and flashed his eight white teeth again. ¡°Haha, didn¡¯t expect you to be younger than I thought.¡± Such a rugged man would have such a scholarly name felt mismatched! After her mental gripe, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t even started speaking before the chill hit her again, and she shivered once more. Brother Li noted her reaction and said, ¡°Maybe borrow a jacket from someone outside. There¡¯s someone training with Blizzard here today; it¡¯ll be chilly a few times over.¡± Blizzard? Qiao Sang looked over, spotting a tall bear-like pet beast with white fur and sharp claws about ten meters away. Finally, she took in the full view of the training grounds. The ground was full of craters, looking like a post-battle wasteland, with high-tech equipment oddly placed in the corners. Overall, it was nothing like the outside. But the area was spacious, at least three times the size of a standard training ground. Qiao Sang chuckled, ¡°No need; I¡¯ll just stay away from that Ice Shimmer Bear.¡± Brother Li laughed and didn¡¯t say more. His original intention had been to spar with the club¡¯s only Flame Hound Beast Master, but seeing how young she was, he gave up on that idea. The kid¡¯s still carrying a backpack, after all. Beast Masters with advanced sparring titles had their pride; bullying kids wasn¡¯t something he could bring himself to do. After scanning her surroundings, Qiao Sang spotted a good spot. She was just about to head over when she realized Yabao hadn¡¯t followed. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Qiao Sang turned in the direction Yabao was looking and saw him staring at the Ice Shimmer Bear in training. No way¡­ She suddenly had a bad feeling. And sure enough, what she feared came true. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao turned excitedly to look at her, letting out a bark. He wanted to fight that one! Qiao Sang: ¡­ Of course. Chapter 255: Stone Fragment Barrage Technique There''s a saying online: When two beast tamers lock eyes, it¡¯s highly likely a battle is about to ensue.To satisfy Yabao''s desire for a match, Qiao Sang deliberately followed the gaze of Ice Shimmer Bear''s tamer, trying to make eye contact with her. It wasn¡¯t difficult to locate Ice Shimmer Bear''s tamer. Although the arena was spacious, the number of tamers in it could be counted on one hand. Each person stood far apart, and within Ice Shimmer Bear''s ten-meter radius was only one person, a woman who looked to be in her early twenties, with long straight black hair and a slightly delicate appearance. It was clear she was Ice Shimmer Bear''s tamer. Generally, people can feel when they¡¯re being stared at. But after Qiao Sang had stared for nearly a full minute, the woman remained completely unaware. Left with no choice, Qiao Sang walked up and asked, "Hello, would you be interested in a match?" "Yap!" Yanao also let out a battle-ready cry toward Ice Shimmer Bear. Ice Shimmer Bear glanced at Yabao but ignored him, resuming its practice on its own. Yabao: ... The woman squinted at Qiao Sang, then pulled a pair of glasses from her shoulder bag and put them on. So she''s nearsighted, no wonder she didn¡¯t react despite being stared at for so long. Qiao Sang thought to herself. The woman looked at Qiao Sang, then at Yabao, before pulling out a business card from her bag and handing it over. She said, "Sure, but my sparring sessions are booked until next week. You can reserve a slot for the week after next." Qiao Sang took the card and read it. Hongying Beast Taming Battle Club, Senior Sparring Partner, Zhang Jie. Qiao Sang''s first thought was: She''s a sparring partner, how come I don¡¯t have a business card? Her second thought: Sounds like she thinks I''m a customer. Well, sparring partners usually charge a fee, so it makes sense. Qiao Sang asked, "Out of curiosity, what''s your hourly rate?" "Ten thousand alliance coins. Judging by the fact that you¡¯re here, you¡¯re probably a sparring partner, too." The woman said. "Since we''re colleagues, I¡¯ll give you a 10% discount." Qiao Sang thanked her. With her current bank balance, the discount wasn¡¯t really necessary, but who could resist the appeal of a discount? Qiao Sang then took Yabao to the spot she had initially scoped out. "Xun~" Little Treasure emerged, proactively pulling an energy recovery drink from the ring and offering it to Yabao. "Drink this first to recover a bit, you¡¯ve been flying for quite a while." Qiao Sang said to Yabao. "Yap." Yabao nodded and used his telekinesis to open the energy recovery drink, pouring it into his mouth. Although energy recovery drinks are expensive, they¡¯re worth it. YabAo instantly returned to peak condition. Qiao Sang set her backpack in front of her, and Lubao immediately leaped out, positioning herself next to Ya Bao. "Here¡¯s the plan." Qiao Sang told her three pet beasts. "Yabao, practice the Meteor Rain technique with your Shadow Clone, while the main body uses telekinesis to hurl gravel at Lubao." "Lubao, you¡¯ll try to dodge the gravel. I''ll place a pen on Yabao. Your task is to dodge the gravel, make your way to Yabao, and grab the pen." "Little Treasure, continue with the tile-breaking exercise, but increase the count to fifteen pieces. Once you¡¯re tired, use telekinesis to control gravel and launch it at Lunak, like Yabao." Yabao and Little Treasure¡¯s training routines had always been clear. For Lubao, Qiao Sang¡¯s training plan involved perfecting her Healing Light technique and building up her basic attributes. On land, water-type beasts generally can¡¯t move as quickly as they can in water. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t expect Lubao to become a jack-of-all-trades. But in large competitions, the battle field is chosen randomly, so luck alone can''t guarantee a water environment. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If beasts are summoned before the field is revealed, Lubao could end up at a disadvantage. After all, suitable environments for water-type beasts to fully demonstrate their strength are rare. The Stone Fragment Barrage Technique could enhance Lubao¡¯s reaction time, movement speed, and physical endurance. Moreover, it could sharpen her willpower. Most low-level beasts would instinctively move away from a barrage of flying gravel, rather than risk getting hit while moving and dodging. Even if Lubao struggled with speed initially, since the gravel was controlled by telekinesis, she could have Yabao pause or adjust the speed of the attack anytime. This also allowed Yabao to enhance his telekinesis proficiency. Most importantly, training together might strengthen their bond. A win-win, perfect. For recovery, they had the energy drinks, and the overpowered super-tier skill Healing Light allowed for endless training. Okay, maybe not endless, but close enough. Qiao Sang had high hopes, but reality proved merciless. Yabao was, after all, just an intermediate-level beast. In addition to practicing Meteor Rain, a high-energy move, his telekinetic control over the gravel was quickly draining his energy. Qiao Sang calculated that, on average, Yabao needed a third of an energy drink every five minutes. At this rate, forget about training endlessly; they¡¯d probably be heading home in two hours. Thankfully, her beasts were all dedicated to training, which offered some comfort. Having cooperative pets was truly heartwarming. Lubao¡¯s performance exceeded expectations, too. Qiao Sang kept an eye on her. Since most of Yabao''s energy went into practicing Meteor Rain with his clones, the gravel attacks weren¡¯t too intense. But for Lubao, who was small and still a low-level beast, they were challenging enough. Lubao faced the incoming gravel without hesitation, charging forward and increasing her speed. Some gravel inevitably hit her, but she didn¡¯t even flinch. Watching her for a while, Qiao Sang suddenly realized her mistake. Perhaps, given Lubak¡¯s repeated injuries and the perfection of her Healing Light, her body strength didn¡¯t require further training. "Xun~" Just then, Little Treasure floated over, showing his claws with a tired expression. But his eyes kept glancing at Yabao hurling gravel at Lubao. That looks fun! He wanted to try! Qiao Sang checked her phone, only 17 minutes had passed since training began. She put her phone back in her pocket and said, "If you¡¯re tired of breaking tiles, you can practice Hypnosis. There should be ants around here. I remember you telling me you want to evolve." "If you don¡¯t step it up, Lubao might evolve before you." Little Treasure had initially been unconcerned, thinking Lubao was an old-timer. But having stayed close to Qiao Sang, he¡¯d overheard her conversation with Liu Yao and realized Lubao was only seven months old, not much older than him. "Xun!" Little Treasure was anxious. No way! He couldn¡¯t let someone close to his age evolve before him! He immediately scoured the ground for targets to practice Hypnosis. Because they were positioned far from the other senior sparring partners, the continual Meteor Rain from Yabao¡¯s clones, with its heavy firestorm and booming impacts, created a sensory overload. As a result, Qiao Sang had no idea that every senior sparring partner in the arena had been staring in her direction for a good ten minutes. Chapter 256: My Sparring Fee Is Cheap Too The advanced trainers in the venue had already gathered and were discussing enthusiastically.Everyone present was a top-tier beast trainer, skilled in observing details and reading situations. A young person with three spirit beasts strolled in, wearing a student ponytail and carrying a backpack, perhaps to look younger. But the real question was: What exactly were these three spirit beasts?! "Did they post wrong information online? Could the Flame Hound actually be an advanced-level spirit beast, not an intermediate one?" "I think that¡¯s highly possible!" "Possible? That¡¯s nonsense! It¡¯s been verified by the Alliance." "But if the Flame Hound isn¡¯t advanced, this doesn¡¯t make sense! It¡¯s using a pack of shadow clones to practice Meteor Rain! A whole pack!" "I¡¯m not blind, I can see it." "Have you ever seen an intermediate-level spirit beast using shadow clones to practice advanced skills?" The trainer who insisted on the Flame Hound''s certification by the Alliance fell silent, no longer willing to debate. Any knowledgeable beast trainer knows shadow clones are mainly used for confusing opponents, as distractions or defenses, not for offensive purposes. Even if a spirit beast learns to use attack skills with shadow clones, it¡¯s usually just for show, the skill¡¯s effectiveness can¡¯t compare to one performed by the original. Yet, the destructive power of Meteor Rain cast by these shadow clones seemed fully on par. The strength was just as intense as when advanced-level fire-type spirit beasts release it! If the Flame Hound was merely an intermediate-level spirit beast, all of this would defy logic. Could the online news have been fake? As this advanced trainer began to doubt himself, the others continued their intense discussion. "This Flame Hound is extremely skilled in its abilities! It can cast Meteor Rain while using telekinesis to coordinate, which means it could create a combo move!" "Fire and psychic types together, wow, I¡¯d love to have one!" "Wait, is that Treasure-Seeking Ghost using Brick-Breaking? Did I see that right?" "I swear on my enhanced vision, better than the international standards chart, you did not see wrong!" "Honestly, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a ghost-type spirit beast using a fighting-type skill in person." "Not just in person, I haven¡¯t even seen it online! A while ago, I watched a Dummy clone use Karate Chop on BeastTube, and I gave it a like, only to find out the video was edited." "In that case, I¡¯ve got to recommend a creator. There¡¯s a blogger whose ghost-type spirit beast is an expert in fighting-type skills." "You must mean Steel Sauce. Her spirit beast, the Broken Doll, is from Lenbur Region and has ghost and fighting attributes, totally different from pure ghost-types like Treasure Ghost." Nearby, Zhang Jie, wearing glasses, had been watching for a while. She suddenly said, "That blue spirit beast isn¡¯t from our region, right? Does anyone know its name? It looks quite cute." "No idea." Someone beside her replied. "But the kid must be Qiao Sang, the one everyone¡¯s been talking about recently. We¡¯re all colleagues, we can just ask later." At that moment, Li Song cleared his throat and said, "I can go ask for you. I¡¯ve spoken to Qiao Sang a couple of times; she knows me." "No need." Zhang Jie smiled. "She just came over and asked to battle with me, so she probably hasn¡¯t forgotten me. I¡¯ll ask myself." The two shared a polite, forced smile, then turned their heads away with mutual understanding. Both of them knew perfectly well: Asking about that spirit beast¡¯s name was just an excuse. Taking this chance to build rapport was the real objective. Whether Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack was for show or not, she was definitely still a student. Even guessing high on her age, with that face full of collagen and a sprout-like figure, she didn¡¯t look like a college student. A high schooler with three spirit beasts, no one would believe she¡¯d have no future. An hour later, Qiao Sang looked at the empty bottles of energy recovery elixir scattered on the ground, feeling her heart break. What were these bottles if not money?! In the past, Yabao needed at most one bottle per day; now, in just two hours, he¡¯d gone through eight! As Qiao Sang fretted over the empty bottles, a clear voice called out beside her, ¡°Impressive. Training three spirit beasts at once, most beast trainers couldn¡¯t manage that.¡± Qiao Sang turned to find a renowned advanced trainer standing there, accompanied by her Ice Shimmer Bear. ¡°Really?¡± Qiao Sang replied, puzzled. ¡°But isn¡¯t this pretty simple?¡± From Qiao Sang¡¯s perspective, as long as her spirit beasts were disciplined, she¡¯d just need to tell them what to train on, and they¡¯d handle the rest. Was that difficult? Not at all! Zhang Jie: ¡­ To avoid getting too irritated, Zhang Jie promptly decided to change the topic. She pointed at the light-blue spirit beast and asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s this one¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Water Luriana.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°That¡¯s a nice name. It¡¯s not from our region, is it?¡± Zhang Jie continued. ¡°It¡¯s from the Ancient Guwu Region.¡± ¡°No wonder I don¡¯t recognize it¡­¡± Zhang Jie realized the topic had hit another dead end. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, she noticed the Flame Hound nearby, as if remembering something. She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve just finished my training. Any chance you¡¯d be interested in a quick match?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated and glanced over at Yabao. Yabao seemed to have lost interest in Ice Shimmer Bear and was instead playing a bottle-tossing game with Little Treasure. Little Treasure was floating around, moving the enlarged ring around with his claws to create a moving target. Yabao used telekinesis to try tossing an empty bottle into the ring. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Meanwhile, Lubak cheered enthusiastically, who she was cheering for was clear. Qiao Sang turned back to Zhang Jie and shook her head, ¡°No, I¡¯ll be heading home soon.¡± ¡°Well, anytime you have free time, feel free to let me know. I¡¯m usually at the club.¡± Zhang Jie said with a smile. After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Do you want to battle me too?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Zhang Jie replied without hesitation. ¡°Your abilities were clear from the training just now.¡± Scratching her head awkwardly, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Well, in that case, if you still want to battle before 9 p.m. tomorrow, feel free to book me. My sparring fee is quite affordable, 1,000 Alliance Coins per hour. For colleagues, I¡¯ll give you a 10% discount, so just 900.¡± Zhang Jie: ??? As Qiao Sang left the training area and reached the club¡¯s entrance, she suddenly remembered something and returned to the front desk. ¡°Do you have my business cards prepared?¡± The new receptionist looked momentarily confused and shook her head. ¡°Only advanced trainers have personalized business cards here.¡± The blatant favoritism was hard to miss. Feeling helpless, Qiao Sang turned to leave. Just then, the new receptionist kindly suggested, ¡°If you want business cards, you could have them made at an ad agency, though you¡¯d have to cover the cost yourself. Qiao Sang: Thanks¡­ 10:30 p.m. After her evening routine, Qiao Sang went to her room, closed the door, and lay down, opening her Beast Codex as usual. Meteor Rain (Minor Achievement 675/2000) + Although Yabao had been consuming energy recovery elixirs like water today, the results were significant, Meteor Rain had reached the level of minor achievement. Achieving minor proficiency in an advanced skill within half a day was unbelievable. Of course, besides her golden finger, it also required a hefty dose of financial support. Any regrets over the cost of the elixirs faded instantly. In good spirits, Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure¡¯s page. Her eyes stopped on one line. Hypnosis (Mastery 10009/20000) + Chapter 257: The Treasure-Seeking Demon Two days earlier than she''d expected, seems like Little Treasure caught quite a few ants today. Qiao Sang thought to herself as she added points to its level status: Beginner (992/1000)+ Little Treasure¡¯s hypnosis technique had now reached mastery, so it was time to prepare for his evolution. ¡°Xun!¡± At that very moment, Little Treasure in the courtyard, busy hunting for ants, felt a surge of energy well up inside him. Before he could think much about it, a slow-moving ant caught his eye not far away. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure squealed in excitement. Found you! --- The Next Day In the courtyard, Qiao Sang held up her phone to record Little Treasure. ¡°Xun.¡± In the video, Little Treasure¡¯s face suddenly filled the entire frame. ¡°Don¡¯t get so close, just keep doing what you were doing.¡± Qiao Sang said, gently moving its head away from the camera. ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure spirit tilted his head, curious. What¡¯s this all about? ¡°My intuition says you¡¯ll evolve today, so I wanted to record you as you are now, then we can watch it back later.¡± Qiao Sang explained. Evolve?! Today?! ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure froze in surprise, then broke into a wide grin, spinning excitedly in the air. The next second, he teleported in front of Yabao, who was preparing to summon a shower of Ember. ¡°Xun xun!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao jumped, startled, causing the energy he had just gathered to dissipate. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yaba looked at Little Treasure, ready to assume the big brother role and lecture him, when he suddenly remembered what Little Treasure had said. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes widened, showing a Really? expression. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded solemnly. Absolutely true! His Beast Tamer would never be wrong! ¡°Yap yap!¡± Using telekinesis, Yabao pulled Little Treasure over and patted his head, imitating Qiao Sang¡¯s usual affectionate gesture. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not bad, kid! You¡¯re actually about to evolve! ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure quickly teleported to the side and pouted. Big bro, do you even realize your paws are covered in dirt? Before Yabao could respond, Little Treasure teleported next to Lubao, who was floating in the pool, doing a backstroke. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Lubai opened one eye to glance at Little Treasure, then closed it again, unimpressed. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Unwilling to give up, Little Treasure repeated what he had said. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Without even opening her eyes, Lubao let out a perfunctory congratulatory sound. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure''s excitement faded. Why didn¡¯t she react at all to the news of my evolution? ¡°Xun¡­¡± He pouted, teleporting back to his Beast Tamer¡¯s side. Unbeknownst to him, after he left, Lubao opened one eye, sneaking a quick glance. --- ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang noticed Little Treasure''s downcast expression and asked. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, still young and unable to hide his emotions, eagerly recounted everything that had just happened. He couldn¡¯t understand why Lubao was so indifferent to his evolution news. Qiao Sang glanced over at Lubao¡¯s direction. Caught peeking, Lubao froze and quickly closed her eyes again. Qiao Sang smirked softly and said, ¡°I can guarantee that when you actually evolve, Lubao will be far from as calm as she¡¯s acting now.¡± ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure looked doubtful. Really? ¡°Really.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°When you evolve, I¡¯ll record her reaction so you can see it yourself.¡± Although she hadn¡¯t known Lubao as long as she had known Yabao and Little Treasure, Qiao Sang had come to understand her character pretty well over time. Lubao usually kept a cold facade, except when it came to Yabao. Beneath her indifferent exterior, she had a slightly prideful, soft-hearted side. ¡°Xun~¡± Hearing her words, Little Treasure chuckled, covering his mouth with one hand as he nodded. With one hand holding the phone, Qiao Sang used her other to gently pat Little Treasure''s head and said softly, ¡°In the end, whether Lubai is calm or not isn¡¯t that important. You wanted to evolve and grow stronger for me, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done it. That¡¯s enough, right?¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure stared at his Beast Tamer in amazement, recalling his original intentions and remembering why he had started training so earnestly. ¡°Xun!¡± He nodded enthusiastically. In the next instant, a bright white light enveloped his entire body. Whoa! Evolution light! Is he actually evolving right now?! It¡¯s still morning! Based on the progression rate, it shouldn¡¯t have evolved until tonight! Caught off guard by the sudden evolution, Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. She adjusted her emotions, stepped back, and found the perfect angle to keep recording. Yabao rushed over to watch, while Lubao swam to the edge of the pool, her eyes gleaming, never looking away from Little Treasure. Qiao Sang noticed Lubao¡¯s reaction and remembered her promise to Little Treasure. She quietly switched to wide-angle mode, zoomed in on Lubao¡¯s position, and captured a close-up of her expression. As the white light began to fade, Qiao Sang quickly refocused the camera on Little Treasure. The light dissipated. What appeared on screen was a small creature, mostly gray with striking golden-yellow eyes. His hairstyle resembled a flickering ghostly flame, trailing behind with tips matching his golden gaze. Each ear sported a gold hoop earring. The golden earrings and fiery hairstyle gave the newly evolved Little Treasure-Seeking Demon an air of nobility. But the noble aura didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure cheerfully floated over to Qiao Sang and began rubbing his face against hers. ¡°Hold on!" Qiao Sang finished the recording and slipped her phone into her pocket, grabbing Little Treasure to examine him closely. ¡°Xun?¡± He blinked, confused. ¡°Why do you look half a size smaller than before?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. Little Treasure''s evolution should have doubled his size, but now he looked even smaller than before. And also¡­ ¡°Your hair color doesn¡¯t look right either.¡± Qiao Sang looked puzzled. She¡¯d done her research on the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s appearance. Its overall look was as expected, but the hair tips were noticeably different. The typical Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s hair tips were bronze, but his were a brilliant gold that shone in the sunlight. This change was¡­ so cool! Chapter 258: Partial Color Variation "Xun?"Little Treasure looked confused when he heard his Beast Master''s call. After a moment, he hurriedly teleported to the full-length mirror in the living room to inspect himself. The next second, Little Treasure''s scream echoed throughout the house. "Xun!!!" Two minutes later, in the living room. "Yap Yap." Yabao patted the sobbing Xiao Xunbao with his paw, trying to comfort him. "So you''ve shrunk after evolving. It''s no big deal." "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure glanced at Yabao, who was now several times bigger than him, and burst into even louder sobs. How could the difference be this big, even though they both evolved? "Lu lu." Beside them, Lubao nodded in agreement. There was indeed a big difference. "Xun!" Qiao Sang, sitting on the sofa, felt a sense of relief watching her three pet beasts interacting. With Yabao and Lubao comforting Little Treasure, things should be fine. She took out her phone to search for answers. Though Little Treasure looked better now than a typical Treasure-Seeking Demon, this wasn¡¯t exactly normal. It was rare to find someone who had a contract with a Treasure-Seeking Demon in real life, but online, searching for Treasure-Seeking Demon would reveal countless discussions among Beast Masters. Qiao Sang entered a forum. She posted: #Why did my Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolve into a smaller-sized Treasure-Seeking Demon, and with a slightly different color?# In no time, her post received dozens of comments. [Is this some kind of humble brag?] [No pics, no proof. Post a photo if it''s real.] [Just from the OP¡¯s ID, you can tell they¡¯re a pro at humble-bragging.] Humble-bragging? Qiao Sang was a bit bewildered. What did this have to do with humble-bragging? As she pondered, the replies kept piling up. [Maybe the Treasure-Seeking Ghost had malnutrition, so it evolved into a smaller Treasure-Seeking Demon?] [That¡¯s an honest comment right there.] [Why are we all here listening to the OP¡¯s flexing session?] [Come on, don¡¯t you know that everyone online supposedly has a rare-colored pet?] Rare color? Qiao Sang froze at those words. She suddenly understood why everyone thought she was humble-bragging, they believed she was showing off Little Treasure¡¯s unique color. She looked at the sorrowful Little Treasure and quickly shook off that unrealistic idea. Little Treasure already had psychic powers, if he was also rare-colored, wouldn¡¯t that make him overpowered?! No way, that¡¯s absolutely impossible! Qiao Sang typed a response: [I¡¯m seriously asking. I can guarantee that my Treasure-Seeking Demon isn¡¯t rare-colored. His body is the usual gray for Treasure-Seeking Demon, except the tip of his tail is a different color. Let¡¯s put the color aside; the main issue is his size, I just don¡¯t get it.] Immediately, a user replied: [Doesn¡¯t the OP know about partial rare color variations?] [Whoa, I thought the OP was joking, but now it actually seems legit.] [If I¡¯m not mistaken, OP¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon might be partially rare-colored. Some rare-colored pets can experience energy anomalies, making their evolution outcomes different in size. For instance, Cui Tong¡¯s Gale Horse has only a rare-colored tail but is twice the size of other Gale Horses.] [Wow, someone actually believes that?] [User #47 has a good point, but have you considered that OP only noticed the color change after Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolved? This means the color was normal before, and rare-colored pets usually have their traits from birth. It¡¯s unlikely they¡¯d change color only after evolving.] [Good point, my bad.] [So the OP is just bragging. Saying their Treasure-Seeking Demon had a different color is one thing, but insisting it¡¯s changed after evolution is a stretch.] The replies continued, but Qiao Sang didn¡¯t scroll further. Instead, she fixated on User #47¡¯s response and fell into deep thought. Partial rare color variation... Previously, she hadn¡¯t considered this possibility. On the one hand, Little Treasure looked just like an ordinary Treasure-Seeking Ghost before evolving. On the other hand, rare-colored pets are incredibly rare. Little Treasure already has a psychic attribute. If he also has a rare color, it would be a combination so powerful that even the developers of beast games wouldn¡¯t design such a creature. But now that she thought about it, Little Treasure¡¯s eye color had always been different from normal Treasure-Seeking Ghosts. Little Treasure¡¯s eyes are golden, while normal Treasure-Seeking Ghosts have amber eyes. If this isn¡¯t due to genetics and he was naturally born with rare colors, then everything makes sense. Since he¡¯s a rare-colored pet, he had a lucky energy mutation, giving him both ghost and psychic attributes. And because he¡¯s rare-colored, his Treasure-Seeking Demon form evolved smaller than his counterparts. It all makes sense. At that moment, Qiao Sang could almost hear her heart racing. She looked at the still-crying Little Treasure, took a deep breath, pulled out two tissues from the coffee table, and walked over to hand them to him. "Xun." Little Treasure looked up at her with teary eyes. Qiao Sang gently said, ¡°Stop crying. Crying won¡¯t make you grow bigger.¡± Little Treasure: ...! After nearly ten minutes of explanation, Little Treasure finally stopped pouting and returned to his usual self. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure floated over to the full-length mirror and excitedly examined his tail. Turns out, he¡¯s rare-colored! No wonder he always felt cooler than other Treasure-Seeking Demon he saw online! 9:15 p.m. At the Hongying Beast Battle Club. Wang Yiding stared at the transformed Xiao Xunbao in shock and asked, ¡°Master Qiao, did your Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolve?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang smiled, ¡°Just today.¡± Wang Yiding was speechless for a moment before muttering, ¡°No wonder it¡¯s you.¡± Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t called a pro for nothing. Both of her pets had evolved to intermediate stages, and this Treasure-Seeking Demon was visibly different from regular ones, being noticeably smaller. If it were anyone else¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon, he would¡¯ve suspected stunted growth. But with Qiao Sang, he could only think of one phrase: Good things come in small packages. ¡°Let¡¯s start the trai-¡± Qiao Sang was halfway through her sentence when- ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure spun around, deliberately showing off his golden tail tip. Wang Yiding¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to it. He exclaimed, ¡°Master Qiao, did you dye your Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s tail?¡± Little Treasure: ... ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s get started with the training.¡± Qiao Sang quickly changed the subject. Little Treasure¡¯s rare color was only partial, not as obvious as other rare-colored pets, making it too complex to explain. Besides, rare-colored pets are hard to come by in real life. Several rare pet owners have even complained online that whenever they claim their pets are naturally rare-colored and not dyed, people insist they give their pets a bath to prove it. When the bath water shows no dye, people then ask which salon the pet visited to get a color job that won¡¯t wash out. In short, no matter how much they explained, there were still people who doubted whether their pets were truly rare-colored. Rather than getting into it, it was better to avoid the topic altogether from the start. Wang Yiding¡¯s goal was to teach Crowned Meow teleportation, so he didn¡¯t mind the change in topic. This time, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t go sit on the sidelines. Instead, she accompanied Little Treasure and Crowned Meow to the training area. Once in position, she looked at Little Treasure and said, ¡°Hypnosis.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Crown?¡± Chapter 259: Not Wanting to Expose the Truth Little Treasure''s eyes glowed with purple light, and Crowned Meow immediately felt drowsy. Without even struggling, it collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep sleep."Guan Guan!" Wang Yiding, who had just sat down on the first row of chairs on the sidelines, happened to witness Crowned Meow''s fall. He was startled and immediately stood up, rushing onto the field, urgently asking, "Master Qiao, what''s going on here?" Qiao Sang signaled him to calm down with a glance and explained, "I just used a bit of hypnosis on it. A nap, and it¡¯ll be fine." "A nap?!" He came here not to have Crowned Meow sleep! Just as Wang Yiding was about to ask more, Qiao Sang continued: "When hypnosis reaches a certain proficiency, it can control the target''s dreams. Fortunately, Little Treasure has evolved into Treasure-Seeking Demon. Both his hypnosis and energy have had breakthroughs, so now he can control dreams, letting Crowned Meow experience what it was like when he learned teleportation." "By experiencing teleportation in a dream, it might learn the skill faster." With enough proficiency, hypnosis can control the target''s dreams, something Qiao Sang realized after completing her first mission. Later, when Little Treasure had mastered hypnosis, she tested it on herself. She even had Little Treasure repeatedly watch the video of the Interstellar Cup competition. At first, there were no issues. However, when the host loudly announced the contestants'' entrance, Qiao Sang instinctively cheered along with the crowd. But when she looked around, she noticed that everyone cheering had no facial features. That scared her awake. But this also made Qiao Sang realize that while perfect hypnosis could create dreams, the energy of a low-level pet was insufficient to make the dream feel detailed and realistic. Now, it was different. Little Treasure¡¯s hypnosis had reached its peak, and with his evolution into Treasure-Seeking Demon, both his proficiency and energy had surpassed previous limits. As long as the target''s mental strength and energy weren¡¯t stronger than Little Treasure¡¯s, he could create a flawless dream. "Create dreams?" Wang Yiding was stunned, his eyes widening. "This level of proficiency must be perfect!" Qiao Sang smiled lightly, neither confirming nor denying. Wang Yiding stared at Qiao Sang, realizing that the composed and unruffled demeanor of a boss was fully on display. To be honest, Little Treasure learning to break tiles was even more shocking. But that news had already spread throughout the school back then. When something is said repeatedly, and everyone accepts it as fact, witnessing it firsthand doesn¡¯t have the same impact. Meanwhile, Crowned Meow found itself standing on a busy street. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before it could process what was happening, a fat pigeon flew in from the distance and placed a relay baton on the back of a high-ranking Zongtai Bee nearby. Cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd. Crowned Meow looked to the side and was shocked to see the area crowded with people. "Xun Xun!" Crowned Meow was startled and called out. Then it seemed to realize something and froze for a moment, looking confused for several seconds before cautiously calling again, its voice trembling: "Xun¡­" Crowned Meow: !!! Its voice! Why had it changed?! Just as Crowned Meow''s expression turned to utter confusion, a blue-and-white pet beast streaked by like a gust of wind, placing the relay baton on its body. The next moment, Crowned Meow''s paws instinctively clenched, holding its breath and gathering energy. Once all the power converged in a spot it couldn¡¯t even describe, the location shifted. "Xun?" Crowned Meow turned its confused face back to where it had been. Had it just teleported? Suddenly, everything went dark, and when it opened its eyes again, it found itself back in a familiar place. "Xun~" Little Treasure, hiding his achievements and name, floated back to Qiao Sang''s side. "How does it feel?" Wang Yiding eagerly asked. "Crown¡­" Crowned Meow called out to its beastmaster, and soon it realized its voice had returned to normal. It immediately looked delighted. "Crown!" At this moment, Qiao Sang smiled at Crowned Meow and said, "You should have realized in the dream that you successfully used teleportation." "Crown!" Crowned Meow recalled its experience with teleportation in the dream, nodding with excitement. "Good." Qiao Sang nodded with satisfaction. "You should remember what teleportation felt like. Let¡¯s try it again and see." "Crown!" Crowned Meow nodded eagerly. It had been learning teleportation for quite some time, and throughout the process, many had told its beastmaster that it lacked the talent, claiming that it was all just false hope. But after experiencing teleportation in the dream, Crowned Meow felt its confidence soar, completely forgetting about the need to be elegant. It exerted all its strength, its white face turning red with effort. The next second. Poof¡­ An extremely ungraceful sound echoed throughout the entire training ground. "Crown¡­" Crownned Meow froze, wishing it could vanish on the spot. But just then, a familiar figure rushed over and tightly hugged it. "Guan Guan! You did it! You did it!" Wang Yiding shouted excitedly. "Crown?" Crowned Meow looked around in confusion, realizing it had indeed teleported to a new position. "Crown!!" ... "Master Qiao! You¡¯re amazing! After just two days of teaching, you got Crowned Meow to master teleportation! Even the senior trainers couldn¡¯t do that!" Wang Yiding said, admiration written all over his face. "Not at all." Qiao Sang humbly replied. "It¡¯s mainly because Crowned Meow already had some basic training in teleportation, so it could learn it faster." "That¡¯s not how it works." Wang Yiding said seriously. "I¡¯ve watched Crowned Meow¡¯s training with real trainers before. It¡¯s nothing like your method, so the way you taught it has nothing to do with the way it learned before." "Crown!" Crowned Meow nodded in agreement. "But, Master Qiao, the way you taught it is a bit like... farting." Wang Yiding joked. "Crown!" Crowned Meow immediately bristled with anger. "It¡¯s not, it¡¯s not! I misspoke." Wang Yiding quickly corrected himself. You didn¡¯t misspeak, because that¡¯s actually how teleportation felt¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Crowned Meow, who was glaring at Wang Yiding. Crowned Meow felt the gaze and turned to look. Qiao Sang smiled broadly at it. "Crown." Crowned Meow nervously glanced away. Qiao Sang''s expression grew strange, and her sixth sense told her that Crowned Meow probably realized teleportation was learned the same way as farting. After all, the sound was the same... But it seemed Crowned Meow didn¡¯t want to expose the truth. Chapter 260: Posting A Task Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "Actually, Crowned Meow has only taken the first step. There¡¯s another important step that still needs a bit of hypnosis practice."Wang Yiding immediately stepped aside and gestured invitingly. "Crown!" Crowned Meow nodded firmly. It was clear that, before and after learning teleportation, its attitude had undergone a significant change. "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang nodded at Little Treasure. "Xun~" Little Treasure instantly understood, and his eyes blinked before turning purple. Crowned Meow involuntarily shut its eyes. When it opened them again, it realized that its voice had changed once more. "Xun..." At that moment, a somewhat familiar voice came from the front. "You''re teleporting, huh? If you were to first clench your fist and hold your breath before each move, someone quick enough could arrive at your side before you even do." "Xun..." Crowned Meow turned its head and blankly stared at the person who spoke. Five minutes later. Crowned Meow slowly opened its eyes. "Guan Guan, how do you feel about what you¡¯ve learned?" Wang Yiding asked as he stepped forward. "Crown!" Crowned Meow solemnly pointed at the diagonal bag behind Wang Yiding. Wang Yiding paused and handed the bag over. "Crown." Crowned Meow took the bag in its mouth and walked to Qiao Sang. In that moment, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but recall the first time she met Crowned Meow. Back then, it also placed a bag in front of her. And inside the bag... was money... Remembering this, Qiao Sang told herself to remain calm. She cleared her throat and asked, "Is this for me?" "Crown!" Crowned Meow nodded vigorously. Qiao Sang looked at Wang Yiding. Wang Yiding confidently said, "Crowned Meow wants to give it to you, just accept it." "Crowned Meow!" "Then I feel a bit embarrassed." Qiao Sang said as she hesitated, but her hands were already eagerly opening the bag and laughing as she said, "What¡¯s in this bag?" She opened it and looked inside. The bag was completely filled... with snacks. The corners of Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth immediately returned to their usual curve. At that moment, Wang Yiding scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Big Master Qiao, I have no problem with you taking the food, but could I get the bag back?" Qiao Sang: ... --- Crowned Meow had successfully used teleportation, but since it didn¡¯t have a golden finger, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed to successfully perform it every time just because it learned it. Before the success rate increased, Qiao Sang still had to teach it, since the tuition wasn¡¯t received yet. At 11:12 PM. After washing up, Qiao Sang returned to her bedroom, lay down on her bed, closed her eyes, and entered the Beast Master Codex with her consciousness. Although she had already checked the data when Little Treasure evolved earlier that day, it had become a habit to check the Beast Master Codex before sleeping. Name: Treasure-Seeking Demon (Little Treasure) Attributes: Ghost, Psychic Power Level: Intermediate (1002/10000) + [Traits: First Trait: Reception Level: C (817/1000), Status: Available, Description: (Can use a ring to absorb all tangible objects, currently can hold up to 15 cubic meters) Second Trait: Penetration Level: B (544/2000), Status: Usable, Description: (Can penetrate the opponent¡¯s barriers or substitutes to attack) Third Trait: Super Perception Level: C (6/1000), Status: Available, Description: (In double battles, can read ally¡¯s attacks and dodge their ultimate moves) Hidden Trait: Cursed Body Level: B (60/2000), Status: Usable, Description: (Has a 30% chance of paralyzing the opponent when attacked)] Skills: Lick (Entry 66/100) +, Hypnosis (Mastery 10091/20000) +, Dream Eater (Entry 4/100) +, Barrier (Entry 3/100) +, Telekinesis (Mastery 4887/5000) +, Teleportation (Beginner 1233/2000) +, Shadow Control (Entry 33/100) +, Will-o''-the-Wisp (Beginner 666/2000) +, Substitute (Entry 21/100) +, Taunt (Entry 2/100) +, Brick-Breaking (Expert 322/500) +, Shadow Ball (Entry 1/100) +, Illusion Beam (Entry 1/100), Light Wall (Entry 1/100) + Points: 2221 Like when Little Treasure and Yabao evolved, he gained three new skills. These were Shadow Ball, Illusion Beam, and Light Wall. Shadow Ball already had a teaching video, so Qiao Sang didn¡¯t feel much surprise. However, Illusion Beam and Light Wall, as psychic skills, one offensive and one defensive, helped balance Little Treasure¡¯s lack of ranged attacks and defense. Though Little Treasure knew Shadow Control and Barrier, Shadow Control, before reaching mastery, could basically only be used for crowd control. Barrier mainly defended against physical attacks, so Light Wall, which defended against special attacks, filled in the defensive gap, making it quite useful. Qiao Sang turned to the next page, reviewed the data for Lubao, and then returned to reality. Now that Little Treasure had evolved into a Treasure-Seeking Demon, the next important thing was dealing with Lubao¡¯s broken heart. Honestly, as a lifelong singleton, she didn¡¯t have much experience in this area. At night, people tend to overthink things, and Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ponder. If Lubao was starting to like Yabao more, and Yabao had rejected Lubao, but Lubao didn¡¯t give up, would that count as heartbreak? For a moment, Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. "Yap..." At that moment, Yabao¡¯s voice snapped Qiao Sang out of her thoughts. She turned to see Yabao grinning with his eyes closed, drooling as he dreamed sweetly. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed Lubao¡¯s heartbreak might be easier than she thought... After a little thought, Qiao Sang arrived at this conclusion. --- Monday. Qiao Sang waited until after school in the afternoon, took a leave from Zheng Guoping, and headed straight to the Beast Master Center. She first went to the lobby on the first floor to update Little Treasure¡¯s information, then went to the task hall on the third floor. "Hello, how can I help you?" The staff member asked with a smile. "I¡¯m looking for a pet beast that can control rain, one that can follow me for 24 hours, preferably one that can stay by my side for ten consecutive days." Qiao Sang said. "No problem." The staff member entered the task requirements and then asked, "What reward are you offering?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "One free treatment, covering any injuries or illnesses, as long as the person isn¡¯t dead." The staff member hesitated and then looked up to remind her, "If the information you provide is false, your credit rating will be affected, and it will be very hard to find someone to take on your task in the future." Qiao Sang responded seriously, "I¡¯m telling the truth." Though she spoke confidently, the staff member inwardly scoffed. What, did she think her pet could perform super-tier healing skills? The staff member didn¡¯t comment further and completed the task details. She was just an unfeeling worker, but she¡¯d warned her, it was the best she could do. --- 7:05 PM. Tianjing Garden, Room 1705. Crack! Little Treasure slammed his paw down, splitting 13 tiles in half. "Lu Lu." Lubao, standing by, used Healing Light on Little Treasure¡¯s unharmed paw. If any Beast Master familiar with Healing Light saw this, they might angrily chastise Qiao Sang for wasting such a precious skill. Although Healing Light wasn¡¯t a divine-tier skill, to some, it might as well have been. Qiao Sang shot Yabao a look. Her gaze said, You only have a few days left, hurry up and use your charm to boost your feelings. Having been bonded for so long, Qiao Sang was confident in her rapport with Yabao. No words were needed, just a look, and Yabao would understand. And so it was. "Yap!" After receiving the signal, Yabao stiffened for a moment, struggled a little, then walked toward Lubao. Qiao Sang watched with satisfaction as Yabao¡¯s back moved toward Lubao, about to follow when her phone rang. Chapter 261: Vanished "Hello?" Qiao Sang casually answered the call.A deep, mature male voice sounded. "My last name is Yang. I just accepted the task you posted. Is it convenient for me to come over now?" Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, who was standing by Lubao like a stiff statue, silent and unmoving. She decisively responded, "Yes, that''s fine!" After hanging up, she opened the task platform on her phone to check the personal information of the person who accepted the task. [Name: Yang Du, Gender: Male, Age: 53] [Beastmaster Level: B] [Task Ability Rating: B] [Task Completion Rate: 98%] [Positive Feedback Rate: 86%] [Negative Feedback: 9 (Viewable)] A B-level Beastmaster... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but be impressed by this information. Honestly, since it was her first time posting a task, she hadn¡¯t set specific requirements for the Beastmaster¡¯s level. Having a B-level Beastmaster take it up in such circumstances? If she didn¡¯t go buy a lottery ticket with this luck, it¡¯d be a waste. The ranks for Beastmasters become more selective at the higher levels. In a city, there might be a few hundred C-level Beastmasters, though most are older. But B-level Beastmasters, counting even retirees, number fewer than a hundred in the entire province. Not to mention that the B-level exam for Beastmasters is challenging. The 50% brain area development requirement alone filters out nearly 90% of candidates. The ranks are like a pyramid, with fewer people the higher you go. A 50% brain area development, paired with a B-level Beastmaster title, truly deserves the term elite. Should I prepare some fruit, brew a cup of tea, and wait for this elite? Although, I think I don¡¯t have any tea at home¡­ Qiao Sang found her mind drifting to such thoughts. Ding dong. The doorbell suddenly rang from the entrance. So fast?! Qiao Sang quickly went to open the door. "Yang Du?" "Yes, that''s me." The man speaking had a lean face with defined features, a bit of stubble, and messy hair that gave him a disheveled charm. He looked nothing like a 53-year-old middle-aged man, more like a 27-year-old young professional who had been working overtime without time to care for himself. If it weren''t for her earlier experience with the school principal, Qiao Sang might have struggled to associate this man with his age. "Come on in." Qiao Sang led him to sit on the couch in the living room. Yang Du stared intently at Qiao Sang and asked, "I¡¯d like to confirm first, is the payment you offered real?" "It¡¯s real." Qiao Sang poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him. Yang Du stared at her for a moment, sighed, and said, "Sorry, but this is very important to me. Are there any adults at home? I''d like to discuss the treatment plan with them." "No, I live here alone." Qiao Sang replied. "I posted the task myself, so you can just ask me anything." Yang Du immediately felt a headache coming on. He sensed that this task might be a wasted effort. "Never mind." Yang Du made a hand sign, and a red star array lit up on the floor. Suddenly, a large creature with four legs, a mostly blue body, black fins, a white belly, and a powerful build appeared in the living room. Its dorsal fin extended backward and connected with its tail fin. It was a general-level pet beast: The Abyssal Zegua. As expected of a B-level Beastmaster. He brought out a general-level beast right away... Qiao Sang quietly marveled. "Soybean, stay here. I¡¯ll come back in ten days." Yang Du instructed. "Ze," the Abyssal Zegua, called Soybean, nodded in response. "I''ll be going, then." Yang Du said, preparing to leave. "Wait!" Qiao Sang called out. Yang Du turned around. Qiao Sang looked helpless. "You¡¯re just leaving it here like that? What about food?" A general-level beast could easily eat a month¡¯s salary for a regular worker in a single meal. Yang Du replied calmly, "Every day, I¡¯ll send a beast over with food. Just open the door when it arrives." Qiao Sang glanced at the Abyssal Zegua, then sighed. "Another thing¡­ I¡¯m looking for a pet that can stay by my side 24/7 and summon rain whenever needed. The Abyssal Zegua is impressive, but I still have to go to school. With its size, it can¡¯t follow me there." Sometimes, the Beastmaster¡¯s strength isn¡¯t the main factor. Suitability is key. Yang Du seemed unconcerned. "Understood, I¡¯ll cancel the task." With that, he waved his hand and re-summoned the Abyssal Zegua back. "Yap." "Lu lu." At that moment, Yabao and Lubao walked over from the yard. Yang Du''s eyes widened, his breath quickening, his face filled with shock and joy. His gaze locked onto the light blue pet beast, unable to look away. Water Luriana?! This is Water Luriana?! In his search for cures, he had investigated every possible treatment and naturally knew about Water Luriana¡¯s divine healing skill, Healing Light. But while he might be a B-level Beastmaster, it didn¡¯t mean much within the entire league. Forget applying for Water Luriana¡¯s help, he couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse of it. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And yet, such a rare, precious creature had appeared right in front of him! The impact of that moment was beyond words. "Is something wrong?" In a daze, he heard the girl¡¯s voice beside him. "Lu lu." Lubao shyly called out. "Yap..." Yabao stood stiffly. Qiao Sang looked puzzled. Lubao didn¡¯t explain and simply moved two steps to the left. Yabao followed and moved to the left as well. Lubao took two steps forward, and Ya Bao followed. "Lu lu..." Lubao stopped and looked at Qiao Sang. Do you get it now? Qiao Sang: !!! She shot Yabao a look of exasperation. I wanted you to charm her, not play bodyguard! "Yap..." Yabao gave his Beastmaster an innocent look. Just as Qiao Sang was about to lecture Yabao about his impression on Lubao , Yang Du asked in a strained voice, "Are both of these your pet beasts?" "Yes." Qiao Sang turned to him. "Sorry for the trouble." In retrospect, she should have been clearer with her task requirements. "Trouble? Not at all!" Yang Du''s entire demeanor changed, his eyes gleaming. "I¡¯ll take this task!" Qiao Sang blinked, surprised. "But the Abyssal Zegua..." Yang Du interrupted her, "Don¡¯t worry about that. I may not know why you want a rain-summoning pet at your side 24/7, but I figure you just want it to rain whenever you need it." "The Abyssal Zegua may not be able to accompany you to school, but I can!" Qiao Sang looked at him, puzzled. "You¡¯ll follow me 24/7, even to school?" "Exactly!" Yang Du nodded. "I don¡¯t mind if you stay here, but how will you come to school? Outsiders aren¡¯t allowed." Qiao Sang pointed out. Yang Du chuckled, made a hand sign, and summoned a two-meter-tall pet beast, all white with a zipper down its front. "Edamame, let me inside." "Zip..." The pet beast, Edamame, unzipped itself from the top down, revealing a hollow space inside. Yang Du stepped inside. "..." Edamame zipped itself back up. Then, he disappeared. Chapter 262: Countdown The water glass on the coffee table suddenly rose in mid-air, tilted to a 75-degree angle. The water didn¡¯t spill onto the floor; instead, it vanished as soon as it left the cup''s rim.¡°Hey! How many times have I told you? Don¡¯t just stuff food and drinks into your mouth when I¡¯m inside you!¡± A voice grumbled from beside the coffee table as Yang Du, his hair still damp, pulled himself out of the zippered pouch of a pet beast named Edamame. ¡°Zip...¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Before the zipper was fully closed, Little Treasure suddenly popped up from somewhere, diving in excitedly and extending his paw to pull the zipper shut. ¡°Zip¡­¡± Endamame stopped Little Treasure, glancing down at its own belly. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure smiled warmly. ¡°Zip.¡± Edamame was unmoved, reaching into its own stomach to pull Little Treasure out. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure floated over to Qiao Sang, pouting in frustration. ¡°Is this Treasure-Seeking Demon also your pet?¡± Yang Du asked, eyes wide. Ever since discovering Water Luriana¡¯s existence, his entire outlook had changed significantly. ¡°Yep.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Edamame, that wasn¡¯t very nice of you.¡± Yang Du said, patting Edamame, who was adjusting its zipper. ¡°The little one just wanted to play inside for a bit. Why be so rough?¡± ¡°Zip¡­¡± Edamame, still looking clueless, zipped itself up again and called to Little Treasure. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure beamed and floated back in happily. Watching Edamame disappear again, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this pet beast from the Xilu region, a Edamame?¡± Beast tamers are usually only familiar with the pet beasts native to their region; they only have partial knowledge of creatures from other areas. They might recognize one on sight but be unable to name it, or perhaps only know its form at one stage of its evolution, not the entire evolutionary line. Some pet beasts, however, are exceptions, like each region¡¯s emblematic beasts or those most frequently contracted. For instance, people in other regions might not know Fire Fang Dog, but they would recognize creatures like Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-Tailed Snake, Sand Rat, and Deep-Fur Turtle, including their entire evolutionary lines. Nido is one of these. As one of the most commonly contracted pet beasts among beginner tamers in the Xilu region, Qiao Sang was somewhat familiar with it. Nido, the second-stage evolution of Lala Daze, has a dopey yet endearing look and a hiding ability that allows it to unzip itself and store items, or even living things, in its stomach. This feature is popular among housewives and househusbands for convenient shopping and grocery storage. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yang Du chuckled, ¡°Sharp eye, young one.¡± Young one¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s face twisted slightly. Given that the man in front of her was actually 53, being called young one didn¡¯t seem out of place¡­ They chatted for a while, becoming a bit more familiar with each other. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Uncle Yang, are you sick and in need of treatment?¡± Since the mission reward was medical care, it was natural to assume that anyone accepting it had an illness they wished to cure. ¡°You kiddo, I¡¯m too young to be called uncle!" Yang Du sipped his water. ¡°Just call me Yang.¡± Uncle? 53 years old¡­ not exactly young. Qiao Sang asked again, ¡°Uncle Yang, what illness do you have?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Yang Du said, setting his cup down. ¡°It¡¯s my wife.¡± Qiao Sang leaned in, listening intently. Recalling his wife¡¯s condition, Yang Du¡¯s expression darkened, his face clouded with sadness. He sighed. ¡°My wife¡¯s brain domain suffered severe collapse from attempting a forced breakthrough. She¡¯s currently in the hospital, where they keep her under deep hypnosis and on a nutrient drip.¡± ¡°When she wakes up, she can¡¯t understand anything anyone says because of the headaches. She even loses control of her actions, grabbing anything nearby to smash against her head. Even if we clear the room, she¡¯ll bash her head against the walls.¡± Qiao Sang was surprised. ¡°Why would she attempt a forced breakthrough in her brain domain?¡± The brain domain is the lifeline of beast tamers and cannot be tampered with lightly. Even if development in the domain seems to stall, forcing a breakthrough is dangerous. This has been the bloody lesson of countless beast tamers throughout history! Who would¡¯ve thought that even today, someone would make such a reckless choice. Yang Du rubbed his temples, voice low. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not being around enough. I came home once intending to surprise her. When I arrived, she wasn¡¯t there, but a friend of hers happened to visit. Since I knew her friend, I invited her in without much thought.¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­¡± Yang Du hesitated, realizing Qiao Sang was still a minor, and skipped some details. ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t do anything, but my wife happened to come back and misunderstood.¡± ¡°Later, she wanted a divorce. I refused, so she filed for it in court. We have a child, and she wanted custody. But I¡¯m a B-rank beast tamer and hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, so the court rejected her claim.¡± ¡°She thought the main reason the court sided with me was my B-rank status, so she pushed herself to develop her brain domain to surpass me. That¡¯s what led to this.¡± She went all out just to divorce you¡­ Qiao Sang thought, finding herself strangely sympathetic. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What she thought would be a tragic medical story had turned into unexpected gossip. In a way, Qiao Sang could understand Yang Du¡¯s wife¡¯s actions. She probably felt an immense sense of betrayal by both her friend and husband, fueling her anger and clouding her judgment. If the friend had been a stranger instead, she might not have done something so reckless as to force a brain domain breakthrough. Just as Qiao Sang was about to say something, she noticed Little Treasure going in and out of Nido¡¯s stomach in the corner of her eye. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao called to Little Treasure as he floated out. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, still in a playful mood, ignored her. Beside Lubao, Yabao was frozen in place, looking like a wooden stump. Seeing this, Qiao Sang paused, then seemed to have a thought. She looked from Lubao to Yabao to Little Treasure, back and forth a few times. Then suddenly, she exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± She stood up abruptly. Yang Du jumped, startled. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°An epic play.¡± She gave Yang Du a deep bow. ¡°Thank you for the inspiration.¡± Yang Du: ??? --- That evening, Yang Du settled in, finding a room on the second floor. Since there were enough household supplies, he didn¡¯t need to buy anything extra. Qiao Sang returned downstairs, quietly calling Yabao and Little Treasure into her room for a little chat. Ten minutes later, Little Treasure floated out, full of excitement. Behind him, Yabao followed with a Who am I? Where am I? expression. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang went to her desk and wrote in her notebook: ¡°Countdown to Lubao¡¯s evolution: 8 days.¡± Chapter 263: A Loving Smile On Tuesday, it began to rain lightly after a long dry spell.Since her umbrella wasn¡¯t big enough, Qiao Sang put Yabao into her Beast Codex and walked to school alone. The sky was gloomy, and pedestrians quickened their steps through the puddles, hurrying with their umbrellas up. But when they passed by a certain someone, they slowed down, turning their heads to glance curiously a few times. ¡°Uncle Yang, we¡¯re not at school yet. Do you want to come out for some fresh air?¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, feeling the stares of almost every passerby. Next to her, an umbrella hovered about two meters in the air, with no one underneath it, drawing attention from the onlookers. ¡°Zip...¡± Edamame, still holding the umbrella, appeared briefly with a call and then vanished again. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, showing great intuition, translated for his Beast Trainer. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched slightly at Little Treasure¡¯s words. Goodness, he actually fell asleep inside Edamame¡¯s belly... When they were about a hundred meters from Shengshui High School, Qiao Sang stopped Edamame and said, ¡°If you go in like this, you¡¯ll be exposed. Wait until the rain stops or the school gate staff leave, then come find me. Remember, I¡¯m in Class 1 of Year 1.¡± ¡°Zip...¡± Edamame appeared again and nodded. After giving her instructions, Qiao Sang walked on confidently under her umbrella. Edamame was a high-ranking beast, so she trusted him completely. Little did she know, Edamame watched her walk away, standing in place with a dazed look for nearly a full minute before a confused expression appeared on his face. ¡°Zip...¡± Class what...? At 9:30 a.m., the second class ended, and Qiao Sang glanced out the window, then back into the classroom. The rain had stopped over forty minutes ago. Edamame should have been in class by now, but there hadn¡¯t been any noise from him during the previous lesson. Qiao Sang mentally gave him a thumbs-up. As expected from a high-level beast, expert at hiding! ¡°Uncle Yang, are you there?¡± Qiao Sang asked softly, resting her head on her hand on the desk. There was no response. Qiao Sang understood. ¡°I get it, it¡¯s not convenient for you to talk right now. If you¡¯re here, just have Edamame move my pen on the desk.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jin Feifan suddenly asked beside her. Feigning nonchalance, Qiao Sang sat up and replied, ¡°I¡¯m reciting the material from the teacher¡¯s lecture to reinforce what I learned.¡± ¡°Reviewing past college entrance exams, there¡¯s a 93% chance that this topic won¡¯t be on the test.¡± Jin Feifan thought for a moment and added, ¡°But it might come up on the monthly exams, so memorizing it isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± Qiao Sang froze for a moment. ¡°We¡¯re only in our first year. Have you already studied the past college entrance exams?¡± Jin Feifan blushed slightly, embarrassed. ¡°I believe in being efficient. I don¡¯t want to waste time on things that don¡¯t matter. If I know what topics usually come up on the exams, I can focus more on those areas when I study.¡± Qiao Sang gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°Nice!¡± Just then, a crew-cut boy ran into the classroom from the hallway, excitedly exclaiming, ¡°Guess what just happened in the senior year!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°How would we know?¡± ¡°Stop teasing, just tell us!¡± ¡°Hurry up; class is about to start!¡± The classmates each chimed in, focusing their attention on him. Qiao Sang looked over as well. Almost every class had a news hound who could dig up school gossip at the drop of a hat, and their class was no exception. Zhang Shuzhou, their very own news hound, had already shared plenty of juicy stories within just the first month of school. Scanning the room with a grin, Zhang Shuzhou finally laughed and said, ¡°Someone¡¯s pet beast, while invisible, went through every senior class and ate up all the hidden snacks! The school leaders are investigating now; whoever did it is probably in big trouble.¡± Invisible? Qiao Sang instinctively reached up to check her head. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t Little Treasure... ¡°Qiao Sang, is your Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost here? He hasn¡¯t wandered off, has he?¡± Jin Feifan leaned in, whispering. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Xun¡­¡± --- 6:56 p.m. At Unit 1705 of Tianjing Garden. ¡°What?! You went to the senior section?!¡± Qiao Sang asked, stunned. Yang Du gave a wry smile. ¡°I overslept this morning. When I came out and didn¡¯t see you, I figured you were in class, so I didn¡¯t try contacting you by phone. I asked Edamame, but even he didn¡¯t know which class you were in. I assumed you were in senior year, so I wandered around that section for a bit.¡± He finished with a deeply conflicted look at Qiao Sang. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed anyone who told him that a first-year student, just starting high school, could have three pet beasts. And what¡¯s even more unbelievable, two of those three beasts had already evolved to intermediate levels. One of them was a Flame Hound, whose evolution path hasn¡¯t even been publicly revealed by the Alliance, while the remaining beginner-level pet was a near-extinct Water Luriana... Yang Du couldn¡¯t describe his feelings. He¡¯d lived his whole life being praised for his talents, always feeling like he had immense potential. But now, he felt like his talent was utterly lacking! Qiao Sang tried to speak in a calm voice, saying, ¡°I did tell Edamame I¡¯m in Class 1 of Year 1.¡± ¡°Ah, well, you may not know this, but La La¡¯s forgetfulness is famous across the Xilu region.¡± Yang Du replied. ¡°Even as Edamame, he¡¯s still like that.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? She couldn¡¯t comprehend it! How could something so forgetful still be so popular among rookie Beast Trainers? Suddenly, Qiao Sang remembered something, her lips twitching as she asked, ¡°I heard someone¡¯s invisible pet beast ate all the snacks in the senior year. That wasn¡¯t Edamame, was it?¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Yang Du frowned, defending himself. ¡°Edamame only snuck a few snacks from the first two classes while I wasn¡¯t paying attention. He didn¡¯t eat anything after that!¡± ¡°Zip...¡± Edamame slowly nodded in agreement. Qiao Sang: ... So it really was you two... After Yang Du promised it wouldn¡¯t happen again, Qiao Sang went out to the courtyard. Yabao and the others had already started their training. Yabao was practicing Meteor Rain. Little Treasure was working on Brick-Breaking. Lubao waited patiently for Little Treasure to finish smashing tiles. Qiao Sang watched with satisfaction. Crack! The tile shattered under the force. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao immediately cast Healing Light. As Little Treasure was being healed, he spotted his Beast Trainer in the courtyard and remembered his mission, flashing an I got this look and secretly giving an OK gesture where Lubao couldn¡¯t see. Qiao Sang blinked, momentarily confused by Little Treasure''s gesture. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure floated over to Yabao and began to massage him with his freshly healed paws. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao turned, looking at Little Treasure in confusion. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure flashed a loving smile, one he¡¯d just learned from playing on a phone last night. Qiao Sang: ... She didn¡¯t get it. Why was Little Treasure suddenly acting so... sycophantic? Chapter 264: Could it be you? ¡°Yap.¡±Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue as he used his telekinesis to send Little Treasure back, signaling for him to train properly and not slack off. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked confused for a moment. Weren''t we supposed to be acting? ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao pointed at the tiles she had just set up, calling out to Little Treasure. Get back to training! Little Treasure: ¡­ Not far away, Qiao Sang quietly observed. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but it felt strangely like watching parents urging their child to study. That evening, Little Treasure sneaked glances at the door, ensuring Lubao wasn¡¯t in the living room, before turning around and pouting, questioning Yabao on why he hadn¡¯t cooperated in the acting. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked puzzled. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure protested. Just now, in the courtyard! ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes widened. Oh, so it was all acting! Qiao Sang, half-reclining against the headboard with a book, spoke almost in sync with Yabao: ¡°So you were acting just now!¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure staggered, as if deeply wounded. At that moment, Little Treasure began to seriously doubt his acting skills. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no rush.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°We should wait until Lubao has mastered Healing Light to its peak before we put on a performance. It¡¯s still early; let¡¯s try again in a few days.¡± Seeing Little Treasure still looking dejected, she comforted it: ¡°At least nobody noticed you were acting just now. If Lubao¡¯s Healing Light evolved prematurely, it might not have been ideal.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded firmly in agreement. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure wobbled again, feeling even worse. What¡¯s with this growing sadness? S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- At 2:30 a.m., in the dead of night. Little Treasure, holding a phone, practiced various facial expressions in the darkened living room, copying the actors in the video. Just then, Yang Du, yawning, came out of his room to go to the restroom. He noticed the faint glow downstairs and instinctively walked over to the railing. As he looked down, a shiver ran through him, instantly dispelling any sleepiness. The light from the phone screen cast an eerie glow over Little Treasure''s face, already smaller and more unusual in shape, creating a creepy atmosphere. That alone wasn¡¯t too alarming, Yang Du had encountered many ghost-type pet beasts before. He wasn¡¯t easily frightened. The issue was that Little Treasure''s expression morphed in a split second from sadness to a silent, wide grin, creating a terrifying, horror-movie-like scene. Yang Du quickly returned to his room, suddenly no longer needing the restroom. Little Treasure, engrossed in practicing serious expressions from the video, was completely unaware that he had just extinguished someone¡¯s desire to go to the bathroom. The next morning. Qiao Sang entered the classroom, finding her fellow top students meditating as usual. After morning self-study, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Hey! Where¡¯s my breakfast?!¡± Everyone turned their gaze over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My breakfast I left in my desk drawer, gone!¡± The class didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No way. Maybe you just misplaced it.¡± ¡°Are you sure you brought it to class?¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯re remembering wrong?¡± Only Qiao Sang froze, a sense of foreboding creeping over her. She turned her head, covering half her face with her hand, and whispered, ¡°Could it have been you?¡± No one answered. After about half a minute, the same student who¡¯d lost their breakfast exclaimed again, ¡°This is creepy! My breakfast is back!¡± They eagerly retrieved the bag from the drawer and opened it, only to have their expression fall. A voice full of sorrow echoed through the classroom: ¡°Who ate half my breakfast?!¡± That day, word spread through the school: The snack-stealing pet beast from the third-year classes had likely set its sights on the first-year wing. 6:57 p.m. Qiao Sang was working on her homework in her room. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao flowed in through the door crack, re-forming and nudging Qiao Sang with a paw. Qiao Sang turned and blinked. ¡°You mean Rain Prayer?¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao nodded, then sat on the floor and started counting with her claws. It¡¯s been days! ¡°Well, I¡¯ve thought about how to learn Rain Prayer, but right now, we still need to spend most of our time on Healing Light.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao set down her half-counted claws and nodded in agreement. Qiao Sang put down her pen and led Lubao to a part of the courtyard unaffected by the meteor rain, saying, ¡°To do Rain Prayer, you must first transform clouds into dark clouds, which are formed by condensed mist droplets. Your first task is to figure out how to condense mist droplets.¡± ¡°Lu lu?¡± Lubao asked what mist droplets were. ¡°Mist droplets are the tiny drops that make up fog.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°You can already create water mist, which is another form of fog, just in a different state. Try gathering the water mist as tightly as possible to see if you can convert it into droplets.¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao nodded and started regulating her energy. Soon, a soft, veil-like mist blanketed the area, increasing the humidity noticeably. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao tried condensing the mist. Gradually, the mist darkened, and the air grew even more humid. But soon the mist dispersed. ¡°Not bad! It looks like this is the right direction. With more practice, you should be able to do it.¡± Qiao Sang encouraged. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Shuilu Yana nodded vigorously, feeling confident too! ¡°But for now, the focus is still on practicing Healing Light. If you want to practice Rain Prayer, maybe wait until Little Treasure isn¡¯t smashing tiles.¡± Qiao Sang reminded. Actually, once you evolve, you can practice whenever you want. She added this thought to herself, careful not to mention it aloud, afraid Lubao would remember her unfortunate evolution requirements. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao gave a no problem expression. Over the next six days, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Lubao all kept up their training, adding an extra task, sparring practice. Following the original schedule, they would normally have no time for sparring except on weekends. But to help Lubao¡¯s progress, Qiao Sang sped up her homework, finishing an hour earlier each night. Otherwise, at Lubao¡¯s current training pace, without any special advantages, it would be challenging to master Healing Light¡¯s final form before evolving. At the Hong Ying Beast Battle Club, in the sparring room. The training was wrapping up, and Qiao Sang checked the time, calling out, ¡°Water Stream Jet!¡± In an instant, a little Fat Dove lay defeated at Lubao¡¯s feet. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao swished her tail proudly and trotted over to Qiao Sang. ¡°Your little Fat Dove¡¯s speed is decent, but its flight path is too predictable. Anyone could read it instantly.¡± Qiao Sang pointed out. The sixteen-year-old girl blinked, then looked thrilled. ¡°My Fat Dove¡¯s speed is decent, really?!¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°In comparison to others of its species, yes.¡± Girl: ... That night, after her nighttime routine, Qiao Sang lay in bed, entered the Beast Taming Book in her mind, flipped to Lubao¡¯s page, and added more points to Healing Light. Soon, the data changed. Healing Light (Peak: 10,001/20,000) + Chapter 265: Annoying! Finally, the day had arrived...Qiao Sang returned to reality, immediately picking up her phone to rewatch a few breakup scenes from some melodramatic soap operas she¡¯d recently found online. Although she had high confidence in her primary plan, it never hurt to prepare backup options, just in case. "Yap..." Beside her, Yabao, who was sound asleep, suddenly shivered as if startled by something in his dreams. --- Making Lubao experience heartbreak was a big deal. To ensure her complete focus on this task for the next 24 hours, Qiao Sang decided to call her homeroom teacher the next day to request a leave of absence. Ever since the vice principal had covered for her a few times, the homeroom teacher made a point of sharing his contact information during class, stressing that she could reach out to him directly, for any reason, including taking leave. When he mentioned directly and taking leave, he¡¯d looked right at her with a smile, and Qiao Sang got the hint. After hanging up, Yang Du, who had just snuck back into Edamame''s belly, stepped out, yawning and saying, "Since you¡¯re not going to school, I¡¯ll head upstairs and catch up on sleep." "No." Qiao Sang glanced toward the courtyard, then lowered her voice and said to Yang Du mysteriously, "Today might just be the final day of your mission." Yang Du: !!! The final day? Qiao Sang¡¯s words had him wide awake. After breakfast, Qiao Sang called Yabao and Little Treasure into her room while Lubao was still sipping on her milk. "Do you know what today is?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap." "Xun." Yabao and Little Treasure shook their heads. Qiao Sang said solemnly, "Today is the perfect day for a heartbreak." "Yap..." Yabao had a bad feeling and tensed up immediately. "Xun!" Little Treasure''s eyes sparkled with excitement. Qiao Sang continued, "Whether Lubao can evolve successfully will depend on your performance. Remember what I told you last time, right?" "Yap..." "Xun!" --- Plan One: Double Betrayal. This plan was inspired by Yang Du. As long as Lubao believed that Yaao and Little Treasure had gotten close, she would be heartbroken, devastated, and likely evolve on the spot! After Lubao finished her milk, she looked up to see Little Treasure and Yabao coming out with their faces pressed close together. "Lu?" Lubao tilted her head in confusion. "Yap..." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xun~" Acting as if no one else was around, Yabao and Little Treasure stayed close as they headed toward the courtyard. Upon realizing that Lubao hadn¡¯t followed them, they exchanged glances and then returned to the living room. Watching their antics, Lubao appeared puzzled while drinking her fresh milk. "What''s up with your Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon?" Yang Du asked from the sofa. "I¡¯m not sure. Maybe they just get along well." Qiao Sang laughed, raising her voice slightly. With that, Lubao should understand... Qiao Sang shot a covert glance in Lubao¡¯s direction. To her surprise, Lubao was sipping her milk peacefully, with no indication of feeling betrayed. Qiao Sang blinked, then quickly signaled to Yabao and Little Treasure. Receiving the signal, Little Treasure''s eyes filled with determination, and he turned to give Yabao a playful kiss. "Yap..." Yabao stiffened but forced a rather awkward smile, remembering his mission. Lubao¡¯s eyes widened slightly, but she continued drinking her milk without a fuss. Something¡¯s off... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t figure out where the plan had gone wrong, so she decided to bring Lubao into the room after five minutes. "Did you notice anything strange about Yabao and Little Treasure?" She asked, hinting gently. "Lu." Lubao nodded. "And what seems strange?" Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up, pressing further. "Lulu... Lu..." Lubao answered earnestly. She thought it was odd that Yabao and Little Treasure had their heads together for so long, and that Yabao wasn¡¯t training like usual. Qiao Sang tried, "Could it be that Yabao and Little Treasure have had a breakthrough in their relationship and are now together? Maybe Yabao wants to spend more time with Little Treasure, which is why he¡¯s skipping training." "Lu..." Lubao paused, then burst into laughter as if she¡¯d just heard a joke. Qiao Sang was baffled. "What¡¯s so funny?" "Lu lu!" Lubao gave her a look that seemed to say, How silly can you be? Yabao and Little Treasure were the same gender, how could they be together? Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before saying, "Love knows no gender." "Lu lu." Lubao patted Qiao Sang, signaling her not to overthink it. Little Treasure wasn¡¯t as good-looking as she was, and she trusted Yabao¡¯s taste. "Xun!!" Little Treasure, who was eavesdropping in the shadows, burst into tears and drifted away. Qiao Sang: ... It¡¯s fine, she thought, since she had foreseen this. If Plan One didn¡¯t work, there was always Plan Two... Plan Two: Direct Rejection. Although less painful than the first plan, getting directly rejected by someone she liked would definitely hurt Lubao¡¯s sensitive and proud heart enough to trigger her evolution! Following Qiao Sang¡¯s instructions, Yabao invited Lubao to the courtyard. Four heads were pressed against the glass door connecting the living room to the courtyard. "What¡¯s going on? You and your pets are acting so weird today." Yang Du commented. "I¡¯ll explain later." Qiao Sang replied casually, her attention fixed on the courtyard. "Xun..." Little Treasure¡¯s sadness had already dissipated. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he watched Yabao and Lubao, eager to enjoy the show up close. Bang! Edamame, who was also watching, turned invisible and tried to follow, only to bump into the glass door. Yang Du rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Then, as if struck by an idea, he summoned his Abyssal Zegua to take Edamame¡¯s place. Qiao Sang remained oblivious, her entire focus on Lubao. In the courtyard. Yabao and Lubao stood face to face. As the silence stretched, Lubao¡¯s expression shifted from bashful to confused. "Lu lu?" Unable to wait any longer, Lubao called out curiously. Yabao tensed, scratching at the ground with his paws as he struggled to remember his trainer¡¯s words. Blushing, he finally managed to get them out. "Yap Yap!" He exhaled deeply afterward, relieved to have said it, it was way harder than battling... "Lu lu?!" Lubao¡¯s face registered shock. You don¡¯t like me?! "Yap!" Yabao nodded firmly. "Lulu?" Hurt, Lubao took a step back. But you said if I stayed and formed a bond with master, we could always be together. "Yap..." Yabao nodded, remembering that he did say that. "Lu lu?" Lubao''s ears drooped. Was that a lie? "Yap Yap!" Yabao shook his head quickly. He wasn¡¯t lying! Lubao froze, then gave Yabao a shy glare before running off... So we¡¯re supposed to be together, but you say you don¡¯t like me? Annoying! Chapter 266: The Rain T/N: Sorry for the late update, guys. Today is hell day for me since it''s a midterm examination day with our four hardest subjects being the one to take my soul away.----- Watching Lubao run away without a hint of sadness, Qiao Sang fell into deep confusion. Failed again? Where did it go wrong? After a long while of pondering, Qiao Sang suddenly realized that the problem wasn''t about making Lubao suffer heartbreak, it was about making her fall out of love. --- Time ticked by, second by second. Soon, night descended. In the evening, Lubao still hadn''t fallen out of love. With scissors in hand and a heavy heart, Qiao Sang looked at Yabao and said, "I''ve thought it over. The reason Lubao likes you is simply because you''re too handsome. If we change your appearance just a bit, she''ll definitely lose interest." "Xun..." Little Treasure, standing nearby, nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "Yap Yap!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao looked at the scissors, tears welling in his eyes as he shook his head desperately. "Don''t worry, the fur will grow back soon." Qiao Sang approached with the scissors, speaking gently. "Yap!" Yabao took one step back at a time. Until he was backed up against the wall, watching as the scissors approached, his eyes filled with despair. What did Lubao''s heartbreak have to do with his fur?! Would shaving him really make him any less handsome?! --- Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Lubao was concentrating hard, trying to condense the mist bit by bit. Before long, the mist dissipated. "Lu Lu..." Lubao showed a frustrated expression. "What are you practicing?" Yang Du walked up with a smile. "Maybe I can help." Most mission-takers followed an unspoken rule: During a mission, they wouldn''t involve themselves in the client''s personal affairs, only the mission itself. So lately, whenever Yang Du returned, he mostly stayed in his room. But since the client mentioned today might be the last day of the mission, he couldn''t stay put. Lunao glanced at the human in front of her, flicked her tail, and turned her head arrogantly, about to leave. "I''m guessing you''re trying to harness mist energy." Yang Du said. As a B-rank Beast Tamer, he did have a certain level of perception when it came to beast skills. "Lu Lu." Lubao paused, turning back with a wary look. Yang Du smiled. "There''s no need to be so cautious around me. I just want to help. After today, I''ll probably be leaving." "Ze Ze." The Abyssal Zegua at his side nodded, indicating that its tamer really was a good person. "If you don¡¯t trust me, I could let Dou Dou help you." Yang Du pointed to the Abyssal Zegua. "It also knows mist skills and is quite familiar with water techniques." "Ze Ze." The Abyssal Zegua nodded again. "Lu Lu?" Lubao looked at the Abyssal Zegua with deep, inquisitive eyes. Can it summon rain? "Ze Ze." The Abyssal Zegua nodded. Although Yang Du couldn''t understand Lubao''s language, he could understand his own beast''s response. He smiled confidently. "It learned to summon rain nine years ago." "Lu Lu¡­" Nine years ago?! Lubao¡¯s face filled with shock, the time it took to learn to summon rain was older than she was! Yang Du seemed to remember something and said, "The day¡¯s almost over, and I still don¡¯t know when your tamer plans to make it rain." "Lu Lu?" Lubao looked at the human in front of her with confusion. Yang Du could understand the question in Lubao¡¯s eyes without the Abyssal Zegua¡¯s translation, so he explained: "I¡¯m here for a rain-summoning task. They wanted the ability to make it rain anytime, but I''ve been here so long without being asked to make it rain once. Today¡¯s supposed to be the last day, yet it¡¯s already nightfall, and still no rain. I wonder what¡¯s going on." He paused, recalling today''s events. "Your tamer seemed a bit strange today, along with Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon." Realizing he was veering off topic, Yang Du smiled. "Never mind that. If you want to learn how to summon rain, Dou Dou can teach you. Then, if your tamer ever wants it to rain, they won¡¯t have to go out of their way to request it." "Lu Lu¡­" Lubao¡¯s face showed confusion. Wanting to summon rain at will, why? Shui Luoya wasn''t dull; on the contrary, she was very perceptive. Even the slightest disturbance wouldn''t escape her notice. This sensitivity had allowed Lubao to escape from the ancient Guwu region to Yuhua without being captured. To make it rain anytime¡­ Rain¡­ Rain! A memory suddenly surged forth, and Lubao¡¯s eyes widened. "If you want to become stronger, the most effective way is to evolve. I¡¯ve researched it, if you want to evolve, you need to feel the pang of heartbreak on a rainy day. The surge of emotions will fuel your evolution." "That''s why I''m showing you these videos, to see which kind of beast you might like." "How about this one?" "What about this one?" "Yap?" The memory faded as Yabao approached. Lubao wavered, her body trembling. Yabao! He was an actor! From the beginning, it was all a setup to deceive her! Everything had been a lie! "Lu Lu!!!" With a heart-wrenching cry, a white light engulfed Lubao. Yang Du froze, his mouth wide open in shock. "What the¡­ what''s going on?!" The light of evolution? Evolving in the middle of a conversation?! Is that even reasonable?! Scientific?! "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" Yang Du snapped back to reality, rushing inside and shouting. "What¡¯s going on?" Qiao Sang stopped what she was doing and opened the door. "Yap¡­" Yabao breathed a sigh of relief behind her. "Water Luriana¡¯s evolving! Go take a look!" Yang Du said, excited. "Evolving?!" Qiao Sang¡¯s face froze momentarily before her eyes widened, and she dashed toward the courtyard. As she ran, she shouted, "Rain! Make it rain! Right now, rain!" "Alright! Alright!" Yang Du, though clueless about why, knew his task was to make it rain. He didn¡¯t run to the courtyard but instead used his mind to connect with his Beast Taming Codex. "Ze¡­" The Deep Sea Ze Beast in the courtyard raised its head, sensing the signal, and let out a call. Dark clouds immediately filled the sky, and in an instant, heavy rain poured down, the drops hitting the ground with a loud plop plop. When Qiao Sang reached the courtyard, she was met with a downpour and the fading white light. She actually evolved... Watching Lubao enveloped in light, Qiao Sang felt a strong sense of disbelief. She couldn¡¯t figure it out. They¡¯d tried everything all day, using every method, yet nothing had made Lubao evolve. And now, without doing anything but waiting in her room, Lubao had evolved. Why? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dwell on the question long, for the white light was fading... Chapter 267: Outfoxing Yabao T/N: I''ve been reading this novel''s mtl for a long time, and I came to a realization (as I was editing) that Lubao only gained her name after this chapter! I''ve been using her name since the past chapters???? I totally forgot since it''s been long. Because of that, please don''t be puzzled at some of the dialogues in this chapter.----- Amidst a torrential downpour, a pet beast appeared in the courtyard, exuding a majestic and aloof aura. It was predominantly light blue with a fox-like appearance, a dark blue diamond-shaped gemstone embedded in the center of its forehead, ears resembling snowflakes, and translucent white fur on its tail fin, neck, and limbs. Her deep, dark eyes gazed coldly at the scene around her. Ice Qiya... Qiao Sang murmured the unfamiliar species name in her mind. "Yap..." Yabao had somehow followed her outside, staring in astonishment at the unfamiliar companion in front of him. But he hadn¡¯t even shaved his fur yet¡­ Noticing Yabao''s presence Ice Qiya flicked her tail and, with a regal air, began to stride past him without stopping. "Ice Qiya!" Qiao Sang called out. ¡°Lu.¡± Ice Qiya turned her head. ¡°How about we call you an Lubao from now on?¡± Qiao Sang suggested. Ice Qiya stared at Qiao Sang for a moment before flicking her tail and turning to walk inside. Just as Qiao Sang thought Ice Luxia had rejected the idea, she let out a cold response. ¡°Lu.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. Even though her personality had changed, her tsundere nature was still evident. "Yap yap?" Yabao looked up at Qiao Sang with wet eyes. Now that this one has evolved, does that mean he doesn¡¯t have to shave his fur? Qiao Sang rubbed Yabao''s head, laughing. ¡°Of course. Congratulations, you get to keep your fur.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Qiao Sang returned to the living room, sitting on the couch. Smiling brightly, she looked at Yang Du and asked, ¡°How did Lubao evolve so suddenly?¡± Yang Du blinked, surprised. ¡°How would I know? I was about to ask you! When it evolved, I was shocked; there wasn¡¯t even a hint of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Qiao Sang explained, ¡°For Lubao, she must experience heartbreak to evolve, using the emotions within to trigger the transformation. Something must have happened to make it heartbroken.¡± Yang Du chuckled helplessly. ¡°What a strange evolution requirement.¡± ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Qiao Sang replied, shaking her head. Yang Du recounted what had happened in the courtyard. ¡°That¡¯s all we talked about, and then it just evolved.¡± Qiao Sang, having been single her entire life, had no clue about Lubao¡¯s feelings at that time. After pondering for a while and failing to understand the reason for Lubao¡¯s heartbreak, Qiao Sang decided to drop it. She had evolved, and that was what mattered. Meanwhile¡­ Lubao stood in front of a full-length mirror, admiring her new appearance. After a moment, a satisfied smile spread across her face. Of course, this smile was so subtle that no one would have noticed it without a close-up. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure was watching intently from the side, inspecting Lubao with curiosity. ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao called out suddenly. Who looks better: Yabao or herself? Little Treasure froze for a second, looked around, then pointed a paw at himself. ¡°Xun?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are you asking me? ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded. Little Treasure looked around again and, seeing Yabao wasn¡¯t there, gave a decisive answer. ¡°Xun!¡± You, of course! ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao smiled, this time a bit wider. Qiao Sang and Yang Du continued their conversation. ¡°So, is the task complete?¡± Yang Du asked. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Yang Du¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Do you have any other plans tonight?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, ¡°I still have three assignments left to do.¡± Although she hadn¡¯t gone to school today, the assignments had been sent to her by her homeroom teacher. Yang Du¡¯s enthusiasm waned a bit. ¡°But.¡± Qiao Sang continued, ¡°Since there¡¯s a sports meet at school over the next two days, it¡¯s fine if I don¡¯t finish today. If you¡¯re eager to get to the hospital, I can accompany you now.¡± Yang Du looked at her with gratitude. ¡°Thank you!¡± Qiao Sang waved her hand dismissively. ¡°This is the reward for your task. No need to thank me.¡± The chance to cure an incurable disease with just summoning the rain was too precious¡­ Yang Du felt a bit emotional but held back his words. Without much preparation, Qiao Sang put on her shoes, and together they set off on a large flying-type pet beast Yang Du had summoned to take them to the hospital. After about five minutes in the air, Yang Du suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, why did you issue this task?¡± Normally, it would be inappropriate to ask such questions, but Yang Du¡¯s question seemed to bridge the gap between them. ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°For a Water Luriana to evolve, it needs to experience heartbreak, and it must be raining at the time.¡± ¡°But rain doesn¡¯t come every day, so I wanted a rain-summoning pet beast to stay by her side 24/7.¡± Yang Du froze, then smiled awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just remembered I left my Abyssal Zegua at your place.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ How could he forget something like that? Yang Du waved his hand, and in the courtyard, the Abyssal Zegua, silently summoning rain, vanished. --- Hanggang Neurological Hospital. At this hour, most doctors had left, leaving only those in the emergency or inpatient departments, along with patients and family members. Yang Du, familiar with the layout, headed straight to the sixth floor''s Neurology ICU. He opened the door. ¡°Lily.¡± A pink and white pet beast with wavy, ear-like features sat in a chair. It nodded at them in greeting. Qiao Sang recognized this pet beast, Tariq. She¡¯d seen it in hospital dramas before. Known for its exceptional hearing, Tariq could gather information from surrounding sounds like radar and, by touching others with its feelers, gauge their health and emotions. Its gentle nature made it a favorite among family members of patients. Families often hired Tariq to look after their loved ones, but the high cost made it rare in real hospitals. Yang Du walked to the bedside, his expression solemn. ¡°Please help her!¡± Qiao Sang stepped forward and saw a woman lying in bed, her face pale. Despite the lack of makeup, her beauty was apparent. If she hadn¡¯t known that this woman had suffered severe brain damage, she might not have seen anything unusual aside from her pale complexion. Without further inspection, Qiao Sang summoned Lubao. ¡°Lubao, use Healing Light on her.¡± Qiao Sang directed Lubao toward the woman in bed. Yang Du, standing beside her, clenched his fists nervously. Lubao didn¡¯t start immediately. Instead, she looked around, then flicked her tail and turned to Qiao Sang with a questioning look. ¡°Lu?¡± Who¡¯s stronger, Yabao or herself? Qiao Sang: ¡­ After a brief pause, she replied calmly, ¡°Of course, you are.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Satisfied, Lubao turned back. In the next moment, the blue gemstone on her forehead emitted a brilliant blue light. When the light faded, the woman in bed slowly opened her eyes. --- Later that night, Qiao Sang lay in bed, browsing the Beast Codex. Name: Ice Qiya (Lubao) Attributes: Water, Ice Level: Intermediate (1001/10,000)+ Traits: [First Trait: Melting Water (B level 1229/2000)+, Status: Useful, Allows cellular transformation to merge with water. Second Trait: Swift Swimmer (C level 67/1000)+, Status: Usable, Speed doubles in rainy weather. Third Trait: Rain Sense (C level 811/1000)+, Status: Usable, Detects rain by absorbing moisture through ears and tail.] Skills: Healing Light (Mystic 10002/20000)+, Water Gun (Mastery 455/500)+, Bubble Beam (Mastery 341/500)+, Water Tail (Mastery 392/500)+, Mist (Proficient 1677/2000)+, Water Stream Jet (Novice 36/100)+, Icy Wind (Novice 1/100)+, Gentle Snow (Novice 1/100)+, Ice Claw (Novice 1/100)+ Points: 0 Three new skills had appeared. Icy Wind, Powder Snow, and Ice Claw¡­ Qiao Sang calculated. Though not as powerful as the skills Yabao gained during his evolution, these ice-type skills were still impressive for an intermediate-level pet beast, allowing for both ranged and melee attacks. --- In the Courtyard. "Lu!" Lubao gritted her teeth, channeling nearly all her energy into her training. At this hour, she would usually be resting by the pool, but tonight she was training hard. For one reason only: To outshine Yabao! --- The next day. September 29, Sunny. The sports meet at Shengshui High School took place today. With Little Treasure perched on her head, Qiao Sang rode Yabao to school, brimming with enthusiasm. All along the way, Qiao Sang offered encouragement. "Little Treasure, what have we been preparing for? For this day to finally arrive! Now, it''s finally here!" "Xun!" "Do you have confidence?" "Xun!" "Tell me! What''s our goal?" "Xun! Xun!" "Exactly! To get the golden, no, I mean, to get first place!" "Xun!" Class 1, Grade 10. Even though it wasn¡¯t a regular class day, the students had all arrived early. Everyone was chatting about the events at the sports meet. Qiao Sang sat in her seat, giving Little Treasure a full-body massage. Little Treasure kept flexing his claws, eyes full of determination. Jin Feifan, watching this for a while, finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Qiao Sang, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m helping Little Treasure warm up, aren¡¯t we about to compete?¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t stop her movements. Jin Feifan was taken aback. ¡°You mean the Brick-breaking by hand event?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± Jin Feifan was silent for a moment. ¡°You didn¡¯t come yesterday, so you might not know¡­ the Brick-breaking by hand event is tomorrow.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Chapter 268: Not Training? If it were her past life, Qiao Sang would¡¯ve packed up and gone home the moment it wasn¡¯t her turn to compete.It wasn¡¯t that she lacked team spirit; it was just that as people grow older, school sports meets start to feel dull. The events are mostly running and high jumps, and after seeing them repeatedly, they lose their appeal. In her past life, the opening ceremony of the sports meet was the highlight, with the most people attending. Once the ceremony was over, most students dispersed, and only those waiting for their classmates to compete stayed on the field. But things were different in this Beast Tamer society. Most of the competitors were pet beasts, and even though the events remained the same each year, the different shapes and abilities of the pet beasts made them far more entertaining. Qiao Sang decided to stay and cheer for her classmates. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure, realizing he didn¡¯t have a match today, drooped a bit. Qiao Sang patted his head and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s actually good that your match is tomorrow. You get an extra day to practice. I¡¯ll go find out who your opponents are for tomorrow, so we can be fully prepared.¡± "Xun!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up; he thought this was a great idea. ¡°I know!¡± Zhang Shuzhou, who had been talking to others nearby, suddenly leaned over enthusiastically. ¡°I know who¡¯s competing in the Brick-breaking by hand event tomorrow!¡± Though he was chatting with others, Qiao Sang, being such a standout figure in school and with her unique pet Treasure-Seeking Demon, was hard to ignore. Zhang Shuzhou kept sneaking glances at Little Treasure. Treasure-Seeking Demon¡­ who would¡¯ve thought what Wang Yiding from the other class said was actually true¡­ Zhang Shuzhou looked at Qiao Sang with a complicated expression, thinking she should rename herself to Qiao the Outrageous. Unaware of Zhang Shuzhou¡¯s thoughts, Qiao Sang played along and asked, ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°There are thirteen competitors in total, one from each class.¡± Zhang Shuzhou replied. ¡°Aside from Li Jiang from Class 2 and Zhao Fangrui from Class 8, the other ten participants, all except you three, are sending Fighting-type pet beasts to compete.¡± ¡°Besides you, there¡¯s another strong contender: Liu Qijia from Class 9. His pet beast is a Power Monkey, and I hear his dad is a Beast Tamer specializing in breeding Fighting-type beasts. It¡¯s intense.¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m a strong contender?¡± Zhang Shuzhou chuckled, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know about your Treasure-Seeking Ghost, no, Treasure-Seeking Demon now. Everyone knows your Treasure-Seeking Demon not only breaks tiles but has perfected it. Forget competing with first-years; it could easily crush third-years too.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°That¡¯s just a rumor.¡± ¡°Rumor?!¡± Zhang Shuzhou exclaimed. ¡°Are you saying your Treasure-Seeking Demon can¡¯t break tiles?¡± The entire class instantly fell silent, looking over. Qiao Sang held back for a moment, ¡°¡­It can.¡± The class resumed their chatter. ¡°I knew it had to be true.¡± Zhang Shuzhou laughed. Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- At 8:10 a.m. Once the school leaders finished their usual speeches, almost all the students summoned their pet beasts. Usually, summoning pet beasts wasn¡¯t allowed, but the sports meet was an exception. In an instant, the field was filled with pet beasts. Qiao Sang summoned Yabao. As for Lubao, when she stored her in her Beast Tamer Codex this morning, she was still asleep. It hadn¡¯t been too long, so she decided to let her rest a while longer. "Yap!" Yabao, seeing the lively atmosphere around him, wagged his tail excitedly. ¡°Yabao, do you remember Little Ball Pofu?¡± Qiao Sang asked. "Yap¡­" Yabao tried hard to recall. ¡°The timid one with a dandelion on its head.¡± Qiao Sang reminded him. "Yap!" Yabao called out, indicating he remembered. ¡°We¡¯re going to watch it compete in the shuttlecock-kicking event now.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yah!¡± "Xun!" Jin Feifan¡¯s shuttlecock-kicking event was today, scheduled as one of the first events right after the opening ceremony. Though shuttlecock-kicking wasn¡¯t exactly thrilling, the short event time and the audience¡¯s high spirits right after the ceremony meant there was a large crowd. Seeing the crowd, Qiao Sang nimbly hopped onto Yabao¡¯s back. Yabao understood his Beast Tamer¡¯s intentions and used his telekinesis to levitate above the crowd. With her view unobstructed and a great vantage point, Qiao Sang had one word in mind, Awesome! Bang! With the starter pistol¡¯s sound, thirteen pet beasts lined up and began kicking the shuttlecock. Qiao Sang looked toward Little Ball Pofu. Although Little Ball Pofu¡¯s body was round and its legs were short, it was nimble, kicking the shuttlecock back and forth without needing to use its vine whip yet. Another stable contender was the Multi-Clawed Crab on the far side. It hadn¡¯t moved from its spot at all, using its ten claws to alternate and kick the shuttlecock in place. In theory, kicking the shuttlecock should involve some movement, but the Multi-Clawed Crab didn¡¯t shift even a bit. So that¡¯s what coordination ability looks like, Qiao Sang thought to herself. Yabao¡¯s mental strength and basic stats were solid, stamina, physical durability, speed, and burst strength all far surpassed pet beasts of his level. However, he didn¡¯t seem to have any standout skills in coordination. Coordination, simply put, is control ability. The higher the skill mastery, the stronger the control. Yabao could improve his control ability by enhancing his skill proficiency, but that only applied to specific move control, not overall bodily and energy control. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but think that while Yabao¡¯s mental and energy levels were both high enough, he still had a long way to go if he wanted to keep his main body in school while maintaining a clone at home. Recently, his progress had slowed. If he could improve his control ability to better manage internal energy and control his clone, perhaps he could further extend the distance¡­ How could she train Yabao¡¯s coordination ability? ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao cheered enthusiastically for Little Ball Pofu, completely unaware that his Beast Tamer was considering ways to train him. 7:02 p.m. Tianjing Garden, Apartment 1705. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to train?¡± Qiao Sang asked Lubao. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao gave a cold shake of her tail. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only a pet like Yabao needs to train; Lubao doesn¡¯t need it to be stronger. Didn¡¯t the vice principal say that when Water Luriana evolved, it would be driven to get stronger? This wasn¡¯t adding up. Qiao Sang was puzzled. She thought for a moment and asked, ¡°You were practicing Rain Prayer for a while; have you stopped?¡± Lubao looked at Qiao Sang, her lips curling into a slight smirk before quickly smoothing out. If Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t had sharp eyes, she might have thought she imagined it. ¡°Lu.¡± With a flick of her tail, Lubao walked toward the courtyard with an aloof gait. Qiao Sang paused, then hurried after her. In the courtyard, Lubao stopped close to where Yabao was. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Then, Lubao looked up and let out a cry. A chilly wind picked up, and a dark cloud appeared in the sky. A couple of seconds later, rain began to fall. It¡­ it started raining? Feeling the raindrops on her face, Qiao Sang was stunned. Something clicked in her mind, and she quickly accessed her Beast Tamer Codex to check Lubao¡¯s stats. Rain Prayer (Novice 2/100)+ Chapter 269: The Golden Gloves "How did you suddenly learn to summon rain¡­?" Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned.With Yabao and Little Treasure already learning high-level skills at the beginner level, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t exactly shocked or incredulous about Lubao mastering rain prayer. It¡¯s just that she didn¡¯t know the skill last night, nor did she train today, so how did she suddenly learn to summon rain? This left Qiao Sang a bit perplexed. Even if it was a sudden epiphany like in novels, there should be some process. But Lubao had spent the whole day inside the Beast Codex without doing anything. Right then, Qiao Sang noticed a string of data. Water Mist (Small Success: 1902/2000)+ Qiao Sang paused for a moment, recalling that last night the data for Water Mist was 1677¡­ The numbers don''t lie, and suddenly, the mystery was clear. Lubao must have snuck in some practice time overnight while she was asleep! Returning to reality, Qiao Sang looked at Lubao with a complicated expression. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao coldly flicked her tail. Rain Prayer? She didn¡¯t even need special training to master it. Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment. ¡°¡­Impressive.¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao looked nonchalant. Basic skills, that¡¯s all. Qiao Sang: ¡­ While Lubao had indeed worked hard through the night to learn rain summoning, it couldn¡¯t be denied that her innate talent was exceptional. For an average intermediate-tier beast, practicing even for a hundred nights might not be enough to learn such an advanced skill. It seemed that Lubao¡¯s evolution did bring about some changes, at least a noticeable improvement in talent¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t say much more. However, that night, she made sure to carefully memorize Lubao¡¯s stats in the Beast Codex. The next morning, as soon as she woke up, Qiao Sang checked the Codex and, sure enough, the data had changed. [Rain Prayer (Beginner: 43/100)+] Seeing the updated stats, Qiao Sang was rather moved. Rain Prayer, after all, is an advanced skill, and it consumes a lot of energy with each use. Without energy-replenishing potions, practicing it more than 40 times overnight was quite the feat¡­ --- 8:30 AM, Shengshui High School As a contestant, Qiao Sang led Little Treasure to the designated competition area. Many events were happening simultaneously, but nearly everyone on the field had gathered around the brick-breaking competition. ¡°Do you think the Treasure-Seeking Ghost can really use the Fighting-type skill Brick Breaking? Is that true?¡± Though rumors had spread throughout the school that Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Ghost knew a Fighting-type move, not everyone believed it. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially those with Ghost-type or Fighting-type contract beasts found it hard to accept. After all, the two types are notoriously incompatible. A Ghost-type beast knowing a Fighting-type skill? It sounded more absurd than a mage getting into hand-to-hand combat. ¡°What Treasure-Seeking Ghost? Open your eyes. That¡¯s a Treasure-Seeking Demon!¡± ¡°...Whoa, it¡¯s only been a month since the start of the school year, and it¡¯s already evolved?¡± ¡°An evolved Ghost-type beast using Brick Breaking? Evolution is nothing in comparison!¡± ¡°Honestly, I feel like this rumor is too wild. Treasure-Seeking Demon using Brick Breaking? Just think about it, it¡¯s practically impossible.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit unbelievable. But if I consider that Qiao Sang is its trainer¡­ then maybe it¡¯s not entirely impossible.¡± ¡°Let me tell you this: if Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon can use Brick Breaking, then my Punch Crab can use Shadow Ball.¡± The speaker was a junior about to compete in the brick-breaking contest. ¡°Your Punch Crab using a Ghost-type move? Dream on!¡± A nearby student teased. The junior shot back, ¡°You get that¡¯s a joke, right? So why believe that a Ghost-type beast can use Brick Breaking?¡± The nearby student replied earnestly, ¡°That¡¯s Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost-type beast. Are you really comparing yourself to them? Let¡¯s see if you can develop a new evolution form for your beast, go undefeated against over 200 opponents, and have the police station award you a banner. If that day ever comes, I¡¯d believe that your Punch Crab could even spit fire.¡± The junior: ¡­ There was no way to argue with that logic. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure took his designated spot, flexing his claws and warming up. ¡°Yungli!¡± From the left, a burly Power Monkey scoffed. Little Treasure glanced over, only to see a towering figure several times his size. ¡°Yungli.¡± Seeing the small creature looking at it, Power Monkey flexed its massive biceps with pride. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked at the other¡¯s stature and muscles, then down at his own short arms and legs, his mouth twisting in dismay as he drooped, looking dejected. ¡°Little Treasure! Go for it!¡± Qiao Sang noticed the change in his demeanor and quickly encouraged, ¡°Keep your spirits up! Remember your golden gloves!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao enthusiastically cheered. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure''s eyes immediately reignited with determination. ¡°Haha, Qiao Sang.¡± Aburly boy beside her laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you were thinking, letting a Ghost-type beast enter a brick-breaking contest. This isn¡¯t a battle, you know.¡± He chuckled. ¡°But I wonder if beating you here could win me some teleportation technique scrolls?¡± Before Qiao Sang could respond, her classmates, who had come to cheer her on, couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You wish!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, this guy is Liu Qijia from Class 9. His dad¡¯s a professional Beast Master specializing in Fighting-type beasts, don¡¯t agree to any of his nonsense!¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy if you think you¡¯ll get scrolls. If you¡¯re so strong, prove it in a real battle!¡± ¡°Even if Qiao Sang agrees, do you really think she¡¯d lose?¡± As everyone around added their comments, Qiao Sang calmly said, ¡°If you win, it¡¯s not impossible for me to give you the scrolls.¡± The crowd fell silent. Since Qiao Sang said so, she must be confident she¡¯ll win! Liu Qijia was dumbfounded. I was just joking¡­ you¡¯re actually agreeing? Isn¡¯t this just a free giveaway? ¡°Are you serious?¡± Liu Qijia asked, a bit unsure. ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Hearing her definitive answer, Liu Qijia was overjoyed. A teleportation technique scroll! He could sell it for resources to last his Power Monkey three years! The thought of losing didn¡¯t even cross his mind. ¡°But I have a condition too.¡± Qiao Sang added. ¡°Name it!¡± Liu Qijia replied seriously. Qiao Sang said, ¡°You know you have a high chance of winning. It wouldn¡¯t be fair if only I had to offer something. So, if I win, you¡¯ll give me something too.¡± Liu Qijia shrugged it off. ¡°What do you want?¡± Now this felt right; he had wondered how this was such a good deal. Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°How about those golden gloves?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Liu Qijia agreed without hesitation. Compared to the teleportation technique scroll, golden gloves were nothing. Watching things unfold, Jin Feifan, who had been quietly observing, approached Qiao Sang with concern. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear yesterday? My Little Treasure has a high chance of winning. Even against third-years, it¡¯d be a total knockout.¡± Jin Feifan: ¡­ The tiles had been set in front of the thirteen competing beasts. For the first round, each competitor had ten stacked tiles to break. The teacher referee blew the starting whistle. Almost everyone¡¯s gaze locked onto the third beast from the left, a seemingly undernourished, slightly dyed Treasure-Seeking Demon. ¡°Xun!" Chapter 270: I Want to Buy It for You Myself Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1----- Little Treasure''s eyes held a determined look as a dense, white energy gathered in his raised right paw. Bang! As the paw came down, the tiles shattered cleanly in half. "Xun!!" Watching the tiles break into pieces on the ground, Little Treasure imitated the victory pose of a martial arts champion he had seen in videos, raising both paws high and letting out a triumphant cry. The crowd fell into an eerie silence for a moment, then erupted in enthusiastic cheers, as if the champion had already been crowned. "Holy crap! It really broke the tiles!" "Did anyone record that just now? Send it to me!" "That was terrifying! How did a ghost-type pet learn a martial arts move? I thought it was just a rumor." "This Treasure-Seeking Demon may look a bit undernourished, but it¡¯s way stronger than a regular Treasure-Seeking demon." "It doesn''t make sense. Rumor has it that Qiao Sang''s Treasure-Seeking demon had already perfected Brick-breaking back when it was still a Treasure-Seeking ghost. It could even take on seniors in high school. But judging by its power just now, it doesn¡¯t seem that skilled." "You don¡¯t get it. No one shows their full strength right at the start. Qiao must have taught it how to control its strength." "That makes sense!" "Brick-breaking..." Liu Qijia could hardly believe his eyes. As a Beast Master with a contract with a martial arts pet, he had never believed that Qiao Sang''s Treasure-Seeking demon could actually perform the Brick-breaking skill. Brick-breaking requires specific force, with the body¡¯s strength in perfect harmony. Grip strength, wrist strength, and the explosive power from the limbs all need to be at a certain level to master it. Ghost-type pets don¡¯t even have muscles, and they rely on energy just to form a physical body. Given their physical makeup, it should be impossible for them to learn a martial arts skill. But this understanding shattered the moment the Treasure-Seeking demon broke the tiles. Liu Qijia, still in shock, stared blankly at the victorious Treasure-Seeking demon, unaware of the Power Monkey standing nearby, who had been watching him intently. "Yunling..." Seeing its Beast Master staring at the tiny creature instead of it, the Power Monkey showed a look of dissatisfaction. "Whistle!" The referee blew the whistle again. After the first round, Li Jiang¡¯s Sand Rat from Class Two and Zhao Fangrui¡¯s Water Ring Carp from Class Eight were eliminated, leaving eleven participating pets, all with muscular physiques, except for Little Treasure. "Go, Treasure-Seeking demon!" "I love you, Treasure-Seeking demon!" "Go, Class One! Go, Qiao Sang! Go, Treasure-Seeking demon!" "Yap yap! Yap yap!" "Yunling..." Listening to the crowd cheering for the little guy, the Power Monkey¡¯s nostrils flared with anger. It looked at the tiles in front of it as if they were its enemies and struck down with a powerful blow. Bang! The tiles shattered. "Yunling!" The Power Monkey raised its arm in celebration. Just as it prepared to bask in the applause, a stream of voices caught its ears. "Treasure-Seeking demon is amazing!" "Look at Treasure-Seeking demon, it broke them so easily." "That was, like, fifteen tiles, right? And Treasure-Seeking demon seemed completely unphased. Incredible!" "Treasure-Seeking demon is so powerful!" "Yap yap!" "Yunling!" Realizing that nobody was cheering for it, the Power Monkey turned angrily towards Little Treasure. "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked innocently as he celebrated. "Yunling!" The Power Monkey looked furious, as if to say Little Treasure shouldn¡¯t get too full of itself, the top prize was rightfully its. "Xun." Catching the hostile vibe, Little Treasure patted the Power Monkey¡¯s shoulder in a reassuring manner. Don¡¯t be upset. Next time, the first place can be yours. But this time, first place belongs to him. "Yunling!!" The Power Monkey was furious. In the following rounds, the Brick-breaking contest became a display of skills by Little Treasure and the Power Monkey. By the third round, with the number of tiles increased to twenty, several other pets had been eliminated. By the fifth round, only Little Treasure and the Power Monkey remained. Now it was the eighth round. The tiles had increased to thirty-five. "Vigorous!" The Power Monkey, thoroughly hyped up, was on an emotional high. "Xun..." Little Treasure looked at the stack of tiles piled higher than himself and hesitated. He had never broken this many tiles at once. Could he do it? "Xun." Unconsciously, Little Treasure looked toward his Beast Master. Qiao Sang noticed the look and immediately called out, "Go for it! You¡¯re just one step away from the golden gloves!" She paused, then corrected herself, shouting even louder, "Pure gold gloves, just one step away!" "Xun!" Hearing this, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes hardened, his fighting spirit rekindled. Liu Qijia: ... His heart ached as he realized what was happening. So the golden gloves were what motivated the Treasure-Seeking demon. If the Treasure-Seeking demon won because of those gloves, wouldn¡¯t he be the one suffering a huge loss? "Come on, Dali!" Liu Qijia shouted. "Yunling..." The Power Monkey, its spirit already high, was touched to tears upon hearing its Beast Master''s cheer. Finally, it was being noticed! Whistle! The whistle blew again. "Xun!" "Yunling!" Little Treasure and the Power Monkey gathered their energy, channeling all their power into their paws. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, Little Treasure used his left paw. Bang! Tiles shattered everywhere. The referee stepped forward to examine the remains, carefully clearing away the fragments and announcing, "Treasure-Seeking demon, 35 tiles; Power Monkey, 34 tiles." "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked, momentarily confused about who had won. Qiao Sang rushed over, scooping up Little Treasure in a tight hug. "Little Treasure! We won!" Normally, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t be this excited over a mere sports victory. In events like this, participation was key, and winning was merely a matter of honor. But with golden gloves on the line, it was different. Were they just gloves? No, they were cold, hard cash! "Xun!" Realizing he had won, Little Treasure gleefully nuzzled his Beast Master¡¯s cheek. The watching students erupted in cheers. This high school brick-breaking contest had been full of surprises. Regardless of the rumors, seeing a ghost-type pet use a martial arts skill was a sight to behold. Especially when Little Treasure, so tiny, stood among the muscular martial arts pets, everyone may have said it could win, but deep down, they had doubts. When it actually won, it was a thrilling, unexpected triumph. "Yunling.." The Power Monkey lowered its head in disappointment. Liu Qijia came over and patted its head in consolation, "You did great. Normally, you can only break thirty-two tiles in practice; this time, you improved by two." "Yunling..." Qiao Sang walked over, watching Liu Qijia comfort the Power Monkey without saying a word. Feeling her gaze, Liu Qijia scratched his head and asked, "What size golden gloves do you want?" Qiao Sang smiled, extending her hand. "About this size." "Xun?!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes widened. Weren¡¯t the golden gloves supposed to be for him?! Qiao Sang glanced at Little Treasure¡¯s paw, which was barely half the size of her palm, and said with a serious expression, "I don¡¯t want anyone else buying your gloves, I want to buy them for you myself." "Xun~" Little Treasure happily nuzzled his Beast Master¡¯s cheek. Liu Qijia: ... After Liu Qijia left, Qiao Sang made her way toward the 400-meter hurdles. She had barely taken a few steps when a familiar voice called out, "Qiao Sang, congratulations." Qiao Sang turned. It was Shi Gaofeng. ----- ----- Chapter 271: Fail, Next! Seeing Shi Gaofeng, Qiao Sang was reminded of their plan to go to the Beast Center. Assessing a beast master''s rank is something almost every beast master goes through. Even if one¡¯s future goals don¡¯t include becoming a professional beast master, as long as they meet the requirements to apply for the E-level beast master certification, nearly every F-level or rookie beast master will be tempted to give it a try. It¡¯s not that reaching E-level is particularly impressive, but the perks offered by the Alliance are just too enticing. The ranking system for beast masters isn¡¯t determined by any national policy; it¡¯s unified by the Alliance and recognized in every country and even on other planets. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once a beast master reaches E-level, they can enjoy a 10% discount on any paid service at any beast center across the galaxy. It¡¯s important to know that beast centers are spread throughout the galaxy, and beast masters inevitably have to interact with them. From pet treatments and check-ups to beast master brainwave tests, material level assessments, dining, and lodging services, these are all common expenses at beast centers. Calculating over a year, these expenses aren¡¯t insignificant. The money saved from the 10% discount could even cover a down payment on a house in a third-tier city. ¡°Are we heading to the Beast Center for the assessment now?¡± Qiao Sang asked immediately. Shi Gaofeng walked closer and chuckled. ¡°Smart guess. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for ages. You don¡¯t have anything else planned, right?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Compared to getting certified as an E-level beast master, the next competition event just didn¡¯t seem as appealing. ¡°Then let¡¯s head out now.¡± Shi Gaofeng suggested. Qiao Sang naturally nodded in agreement. During the school sports meet, the school was in an open state, allowing students to freely enter and exit. This was also why Shi Gaofeng chose this period to take the beast master assessment. Qiao Sang sat atop Yabao, while Shi Gaofeng used an electric skateboard as his mode of transport. Along the way, the two chatted casually. ¡°When did your Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolve into a Treasure-Seeking Demon?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked, his tone a little envious. Qiao Sang already had a Flame Hound, and now, barely a month into the school year, her Treasure-Seeking Ghost had already evolved into a Treasure-Seeking Demon. Unbelievable. ¡°That happened just last week.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Although she trained at the training grounds after school, she didn¡¯t stay for long each time. Little Treasure also liked to stay hidden, so it was mostly Yabao training there. After the last group chat, she had remained quiet. When the mission ended, Shi Gaofeng and the others couldn¡¯t bring their phones to school, so naturally, he hadn¡¯t known about the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s evolution. Looking around and seeing no one nearby, Shi Gaofeng leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°Be honest with me. Did your Treasure-Seeking Demon absorb some sort of strange energy?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Strange energy?¡± Shi Gaofeng lowered his voice even further. ¡°Like life energy or something.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°That¡¯s illegal.¡± She said, exasperated. Shi Gaofeng pursed his lips, still a bit skeptical. For ghost-type pets to evolve quickly, they typically needed to absorb energy. If it hadn¡¯t absorbed some restricted energy, how could it evolve so fast? Plus, it was odd for a ghost-type pet to learn combat skills. However, he¡¯d once read an article online about a ghost-type pet that absorbed life energy from a sleeping scorpion and ended up needing nine hours of sleep daily instead of the usual two. Shi Gaofeng suspected that Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon might have similarly absorbed some life energy from a combat-type pet, which influenced it to learn Brick Break. Glancing at Qiao Sang, he decided it was best to keep this theory to himself. Meanwhile, Little Treasure was relaxing on his master¡¯s head, enjoying the scenery, completely unaware of his reputation almost being ruined. --- At the Beast Center. The registration area for the beast master assessment was packed with people. These days, any beast master who met the requirements was likely to take the assessment, and F-level beast masters aiming for E-level made up the majority. Even so, Qiao Sang and Shi Gaofeng, in their Shengshui High uniforms, stood out. After all, their age was obvious; standing among a crowd mostly of adults, they drew attention. Especially Qiao Sang, not for any particular reason other than Yabao accompanying her. The Flame Hound¡¯s popularity might have waned, but it was still a rare sight in real life. A young man around eighteen years old behind her couldn¡¯t help snapping a few photos with his phone. Yabao¡¯s ears twitched, and he turned to look at him. Startled, the young man hurriedly put down his phone. Having been surrounded and photographed before, Yabao glanced at the human¡¯s phone knowingly, understanding what the sound was. Yabao turned back, proudly puffing out his chest. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Just another one captivated by his coolness, how troublesome¡­ One by one, the beast masters completed their registrations and headed to the assessment area. When Shi Gaofeng¡¯s turn was approaching, he suddenly turned to Qiao Sang and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With your skill, you should be fine.¡± You¡¯re the one who¡¯s nervous¡­ Qiao Sang looked at Shi Gaofeng¡¯s forehead, now visibly sweating, and decided not to call him out. She nodded. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be fine, too.¡± Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ The assessment wasn¡¯t free, it cost 500 Alliance coins per attempt, a measure to prevent people from registering without real intent and wasting resources. After paying, registering, and filling out the form, the process was straightforward. When Qiao Sang entered the assessment area, she saw dozens of people sitting around, including Shi Gaofeng, everyone who had just registered, waiting for their turn. At one end of the arena, two examiners were seated at a long table, looking at their screens. Another examiner was conducting a test in the center of the arena, with a Monitor Eye floating above, supervising the entire process. Qiao Sang took a seat beside Shi Gaofeng. Shi Gaofeng subconsciously glanced at her, only to find her calm and composed, showing no signs of nerves. Typically, first-time candidates are either excited or anxious, but Qiao Sang showed no emotion at all. Shi Gaofeng felt a bit in awe, thinking to himself, No wonder everyone at school calls her a prodigy¡­ Seeing her watching the examiner, Shi Gaofeng whispered, ¡°If that examiner ends up assessing us, we¡¯re in luck. ¡°I¡¯ve researched today¡¯s examiners; the one in the center is known to go easy. Nine out of ten candidates usually pass under him.¡± As he finished speaking, the Arena Duck on the field used a powerful Water Gun to knock down the Fat Dove. ¡°Failed. Next.¡± The examiner, whom Shi Gaofeng had just described as soft-hearted, announced. Chapter 272: This Round Is Mine Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang turned to look at Shi Gaofeng. Shi Gaofeng hadn¡¯t expected to get slapped in the face so quickly, and he hurried to save face: ¡°The remaining one percent who didn¡¯t pass probably just lack the qualifications to be a professional beast tamer.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t comment. From that brief battle just now, it didn¡¯t look like the examiner had been as lenient as Shi Gaofeng claimed. And that was indeed the case. ¡°That Wu Ding guy is really something.¡± Muttered a female examiner with tanned skin and a low ponytail, clearly dissatisfied. ¡°He just tests a couple of moves, then fails people if he sees their skill proficiency hasn¡¯t reached an intermediate level. But if it has, he lets them pass. Evaluating E-level beast tamers can¡¯t be based solely on skill proficiency.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely true.¡± Said another examiner, a young man who looked about twenty, wearing a black baseball cap. ¡°Skills are foundational for beasts. It¡¯s challenging for E-level tamers to combine different basic skills effectively, so the best indicator is individual skill proficiency.¡± ¡°An intermediate level of proficiency is a decent standard for E-level beast tamers, it¡¯s not too high or too low. As long as they meet it, it¡¯s clear the tamer has put in effort training their beast.¡± The woman frowned. ¡°So, are you going to assess people based only on proficiency?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± The male examiner said, rubbing his smooth chin. ¡°I mainly focus on the bond and coordination between the beast and the tamer. Skill proficiency can be achieved with resources and time, but the bond with the beast shows if someone truly has the potential to be a professional beast tamer.¡± The woman¡¯s expression relaxed, clearly agreeing with his standards. ¡°Maybe you should lower your standards a little, too.¡± The male examiner said, turning to her. ¡°You¡¯ve already tested all morning, and no one¡¯s passed under you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that my standards are high.¡± She retorted. ¡°I want more beast tamers to pass too, but none of the ones I¡¯ve tested have shown the talent for professional beast taming.¡± --- ¡°See the one on the left? They call her ¡®Don¡¯t Even Think About Passing.¡¯ If she¡¯s the examiner, almost no one gets through.¡± Shi Gaofeng said in a low voice to Qiao Sang. ¡°She was the one who tested me last time.¡± He sighed. ¡°As long as I don¡¯t run into her again, I¡¯m 90% sure I¡¯ll pass this time!¡± Qiao Sang glanced at him and slowly said, ¡°Given the universal rule that setting a flag guarantees failure, your chances of getting her are pretty high.¡± Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ ¡°The one on the right, the examiner in the black hat, is more reasonable. About 55% of people pass with him.¡± Shi Gaofeng continued, clearing his throat. ¡°With these three on rotation, at least half of us here should pass.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve certainly done your homework.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. Actually, she didn¡¯t think knowing this would help much, they should¡¯ve investigated the examiners¡¯ beast partners instead. That would better inform her choice of which beast to send out. Not that it mattered in her case¡­ Qiao Sang looked over at her companion, Yabao, who was eagerly watching the current match. Since bonding with Yabao, she¡¯d decided that no matter which opponent appeared, Yabao would be her partner for the exam. The assessment moved quickly, with a person finishing almost every two or three minutes. ¡°Next up, Shi Gaofeng.¡± Shi Gaofeng¡¯s examiner was the man in the black hat. The E-level beast tamer test is the lowest-level exam for professional beast tamers. Each examiner has different standards, but there¡¯s still a significant difference in skill between those who pass and those who don¡¯t. As a member of the Shengshui High School team, Shi Gaofeng naturally excelled among his peers. However, there¡¯s no age restriction for the tamer exam, and examiners don¡¯t lower standards for younger candidates. Shi Gaofeng had a rough start, but he and his beast, the Thunderberry Beast, had good synergy. With a combination of a wide-ranging Sleep Powder and a Leaf Blade that could curve around obstacles, Shi Gaofeng showed potential that caught the examiner¡¯s eye. Seeing his skills, the examiner relaxed his standards slightly and let him pass. Excited, Shi Gaofeng waved proudly to Qiao Sang. ¡°Move along after you finish, don¡¯t disrupt the next candidates.¡± The black-hatted examiner finally said, exasperated as Shi Gaofeng kept waving for over twenty seconds. Shi Gaofeng replied hastily, ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± He shot Qiao Sang a look that said, I¡¯ll wait for you, and left with an excited grin. ¡°Next, Qiao Sang.¡± Finally, her turn¡­ Qiao Sang shared a knowing glance with Yabao before stepping onto the field. As soon as she entered, all eyes were on her. A student taking the E-level beast tamer test wasn¡¯t particularly unusual. Although rare, a few could usually be seen. But a beast tamer with a Flame Hound? That was something else. Currently, no official evolution requirements for the Flame Hound had been released by the alliance, and there were no other confirmed sightings of a second Fire Fang Dog evolving into one. In other words, this student was the only person in the world known to have a Flame Hound! ¡°I heard the Flame Hound supposedly has psychic abilities, but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°No way. That¡¯d put a Fire Fang Dog¡¯s price at over a million. You see how the market price has risen, but it¡¯s still nowhere near that.¡± ¡°She looks even younger than the last one. Can she pass?¡± ¡°Hard to say. Testing for professional beast taming is more than just attributes. Flame Hounds may be rare, but that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re strong¡­¡± The murmurs were tinged with envy. While the candidates whispered among themselves, the examiners were bickering. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one. You¡¯ve already tested three people straight, a break would do you good.¡± Said Wu Ding. ¡°Oh please, what¡¯s so tiring about this?¡± The black-hatted examiner scoffed, preparing to step forward. ¡°We agreed: Five people each per rotation. This is only my fourth. If you want a turn, I¡¯ll give you the next one.¡± Yeah, like he¡¯d let him have this chance. It was obvious he wanted to test the Flame Hound himself. Wu Ding grabbed his arm. ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt, let me take this one.¡± The examiner in the hat sneered. ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner afterward. How about that new place on Xinghe Street?¡± The other examiner wasn¡¯t swayed; any beast tamer would jump at the chance to test such a rare creature. Just as the black-hatted examiner prepared to refuse, Wu Ding threw in another offer: ¡°Give me this test, and I¡¯ll introduce you to my sister.¡± The examiner paused, studying Wu Ding¡¯s face. Maybe¡­ this wasn¡¯t such a bad idea. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What the¡ª! When did Wen Lei get on the field?!¡± Wu Ding suddenly exclaimed. The black-hatted examiner: !!! He turned to see Wen Lei, who had been sitting with them on the examiners¡¯ bench, already standing on the field. ----- ----- Chapter 273: Youre Still Young, There Will Be More Chances The male examiner¡¯s expression shifted as he turned and asked, ¡°Can you still introduce me to your sister?¡± Wu Ding shot him a glare. ¡°Dream on!¡± Male Examiner: ... --- As soon as the female examiner with a low ponytail stepped into the arena, the waiting beast tamers around her began to stir. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Didn¡¯t expect it to be Examiner Wen. Looks like this kid has no chance¡­" Although the tone was sympathetic, the speaker¡¯s voice had an unmistakable trace of schadenfreude. ¡°Why is Wen Lei here all of a sudden? I¡¯m up right after the next candidate. What if she¡¯s the one assessing me?!¡± ¡°Since I came in, I haven¡¯t seen a single person pass under her watch. This girl¡¯s doomed.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad, can it? The Flame Hound is a fire-type pet beast, after all. This is just for an E-rank beast tamer qualification; it shouldn¡¯t be that hard.¡± Said a boy who had sneaked a picture of the FlameHound while waiting in line. ¡°This your first time taking the exam?¡± Asked the man in a white T-shirt sitting beside him. The boy paused. ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°Well, that explains it.¡± The man in the white T-shirt explained, ¡°Anyone who¡¯s taken this exam before knows about Examiner Wen. Pretty much nobody earns an E-rank qualification under her.¡± ¡°Examiners all have solid skills, and they adjust how much they hold back based on the applicant¡¯s level. But Wen Lei¡­ she never holds back.¡± The boy froze upon hearing this. Examiners are skilled; even with a mid-level pet beast, their experience and mastery are on a whole different level than the applicants. Without holding back, how could anyone pass? Understanding the situation, the boy looked at Qiao Sang with newfound sympathy. On the field: ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Once the two pet beasts were in position, Wen Lei spoke, waiting for Qiao Sang to make the first move. It wasn¡¯t that Wen Lei didn¡¯t want to attack first; she was just concerned that if she did, her opponent wouldn¡¯t be able to showcase the Flame Hound¡¯s full potential. It might even be over within two moves. ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang looked remarkably calm. Though Shi Gaofeng had told her about the examiner¡¯s nickname, Don¡¯t Even Think About Passing, she had complete confidence in Yabao given they were both mid-level pet beasts. ¡°Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang said coolly, ¡°Use speed to finish it.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao immediately understood, raising his head and letting out an excited cry, sending a wave of heat surging around them. A Swift Cat, an evolved form of the Long-eared Cat, ranks among the top five fastest mid-level pet beasts in the Yu Hua region. Information about the opponent¡¯s pet beast flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. A month ago, she might not have been completely certain, but now¡­ ¡°What skill is this?!¡± ¡°Looks like Flame Charge! But Flame Charge shouldn¡¯t be this intense!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the skill proficiency! That¡¯s why!¡± Exclamations filled the exam room. Several beast tamers waiting in the back row stood up in amazement. The Flame Hound on the field was engulfed in bright red flames. Its body was obscured within the blaze, creating a mirage-like distortion around it. At that moment, the fire seemed to be one with the Flame Hound. It didn¡¯t look like the Flame Hound was just using a fire skill; it looked as if fire was a natural part of its body, destined to burn on it. Before the crowd could even marvel at the skill''s brilliance, the Flame Hound vanished in a streak. ¡°Substitute!¡± Wen Lei¡¯s eyes narrowed as she saw the flaming shadow rush forward. She quickly issued her command. She took a deep breath, controlling her surging adrenaline. Ultimate Skill! This was an Ultimate-level Flame Charge! A proficiency of this level appearing on a mid-level pet beast stunned Wen Lei, but her extensive combat experience and strong composure allowed her to react immediately. Two identical Swift Cats appeared on the field. Seeing her Swift Cat use Substitute just before the Flame Hound¡¯s attack, Wen Lei relaxed slightly, until the next moment, when her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. Whoosh!! The blazing shadow rushed forward, splitting into two the instant the Swift Cat used Substitute! Bang!!! In the next second, the two identical Swift Cats were hit by the fiery blur and sent flying over ten meters, landing against the wall outside the field! "Swift..." One Swift Cat vanished, while the other fell to the ground, unconscious. A collective gasp echoed throughout the room. One-hit KO! If Wen Lei had defeated this teenage girl and her Flame Hound, no one would have been shocked. But the one getting defeated was Wen Lei! This was Wen Lei! The infamous Don¡¯t Even Think About Passing Wen Lei! ¡°Do you think Examiner Wen held back?¡± ¡°No way. Who could withstand that Flame Charge?¡± ¡°Forget how terrifying that Flame Charge was. How did it manage to use Substitute mid-charge? That¡¯s a combo move!¡± ¡°Incredible, truly incredible! This girl doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s here for an E-rank qualification¡­¡± People whispered amongst themselves, keeping their voices low for fear Wen Lei might overhear. This terrifying girl passed Wen Lei¡¯s assessment, but they certainly wouldn¡¯t. Wu Ding and the male examiner in the black baseball cap didn¡¯t have the same concerns. The male examiner swallowed hard and said, ¡°Did you see that? It was a combo move, and she doesn¡¯t even need to give specific commands to the Flame Hound.¡± ¡°I saw.¡± Wu Ding was dazed. ¡°An Ultimate-level Flame Charge¡­ Thank goodness I didn¡¯t go up there.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± The male examiner replied. Wanting to fight the Flame Hound was one thing, but only if they could effortlessly take control of the situation. Being utterly defeated in front of a crowd would be a whole different story¡­ For a moment, Wu Ding and the male examiner felt grateful to Wen Lei. At least their pride was intact. Wen Lei stood frozen, her expression blank. Did¡­ Did she really just lose? ¡°Did I pass?¡± Qiao Sang asked, breaking the silence as the Don¡¯t Even Think About Passing examiner remained quiet. Wen Lei looked over, as if snapping back to reality. She gave Qiao Sang a complicated look, then nodded reluctantly. ¡°You passed.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Qiao Sang and Yabao left the field. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s tail drooped, looking deflated. Shi Gaofeng greeted them excitedly, but paused when he saw the Flame Hound¡¯s expression. ¡°Qiao Sang, was your examiner the Don¡¯t Even Think About Passing?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Qiao Sang asked, curious. With a sigh, Shi Gaofeng patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you didn¡¯t pass. You¡¯re still young; there will be more chances.¡± Qiao Sang replied, exasperated, ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t pass?¡± Shi Gaofeng was stunned. ¡°You passed?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Then why does your Flame Hound look like that?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, who was hanging his head. With a shrug, shes aid, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. He was hoping for an intense battle, but it ended too quickly, so he¡¯s disappointed.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao nodded, looking sad. Shi Gaofeng: ... Chapter 274: She Wants to Train! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- The virtual screen in the Beast Tamer Center''s examination area displayed the names of those who had passed in real-time. Many family members waiting nearby kept glancing at the screen, anxiously watching for their loved ones'' names. Next to the screen was a desk where successful examinees could receive their Beast Tamer badge and certification. Upon passing, they could immediately obtain these documents, and their personal information would automatically be updated within seven business days. At that moment, Shi Gaofeng was standing in line, but his eyes were glued to the virtual screen. When he finally saw Qiao Sang¡¯s name appear, he couldn¡¯t help but ask again, ¡°Are you sure Wen Lei was your examiner?¡± It wasn¡¯t that he doubted Qiao Sang¡¯s ability, but Wen Lei was notorious. The idea that she had evaluated Qiao Sang, and that Qiao Sang had won, seemed unbelievable. After all, Shi Gaofeng¡¯s own experience with Wen Lei had been a one-sided beatdown, leaving him utterly powerless. According to Qiao Sang, her Flame Hound hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat. It was barely a warm-up. But how was that possible? Wen Lei had crushed him, yet Qiao Sang had overpowered her with ease. Didn¡¯t that mean that Qiao Sang could just as easily trounce him? Shi Gaofeng¡¯s confidence wavered. ¡°You¡¯ve already asked five times.¡± Qiao Sang said, exasperated. ¡°Yaaap¡­¡± Yabao echoed, equally unimpressed. This human was really annoying. What was so hard about winning? Finally sensing the irritation from both Qiao Sang and her Flame Hound, Shi Gaofeng quieted down. For about a minute, anyway. ¡°You¡¯re sure you didn¡¯t mix up the names? Wen Lei¡¯s the only female examiner out of the three.¡± Shi Gaofeng couldn¡¯t help himself and asked one more time. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Instead of answering, Qiao Sang took out her phone and started searching. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked. ¡°Hold on.¡± Qiao Sang replied, focused on her phone. ¡°I¡¯m looking up whether there¡¯s a beast skill that can make people stop talking.¡± ¡°Yal!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. That skill would be perfect, he wanted to learn it! Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ Fine, he¡¯d stop talking. The line moved quickly, and soon it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. After handing over her information card, undergoing a face and iris scan, and presenting her F-level Beast Tamer badge, the staff smiled and handed her an updated E-level badge with a gray background. ¡°Here¡¯s your new badge and certification. We¡¯ll transfer all your previous data to this new badge.¡± The staff member said. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Sang accepted the items. The badge represented a Beast Tamer¡¯s rank and was exchanged upon leveling up, with the original returned to the league. Instead of heading straight home, Qiao Sang took a number at a self-service kiosk in the first-floor lobby. Just as Shi Gaofeng was stepping out of the Beast Tamer Center, he noticed Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t followed and had actually taken a number. He quickly turned back and asked, ¡°Why did you take a number? Do you still need something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m updating my pet¡¯s information.¡± Qiao Sang replied, finding a seat close to the counter. Shi Gaofeng was a bit surprised. ¡°You haven¡¯t updated Treasure-Seeking Demon''s information yet? That¡¯s really late, it¡¯s been over a week already.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang clarified, sitting down. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Not for Treasure-Seeking Demon?¡± Shi Gaofeng was confused. If it wasn¡¯t for Treasure-Seeking Demon or Flame Hound, then what pet was it? Just as Shi Gaofeng was racking his brain, Qiao Sang explained, ¡°I contracted a third pet recently, and she evolved a few days ago, so I need to update the info.¡± Shi Gaofeng was completely stunned. A third pet? And it had evolved? What was Qiao Sang talking about? ¡°Number 05522, please proceed to window 6.¡± Before Shi Gaofeng could voice his confusion, Qiao Sang stood up and walked toward the counter with Yabao in tow. There was no way she had a third pet¡­ It couldn¡¯t be possible! Qiao Sang was only a first-year high schooler. Having two pets that evolved to the intermediate level already made her exceptional. How could there be a third pet? It had to be impossible, no way! Shi Gaofeng watched her walk away, his expression conflicted. In the next moment, however, his face froze, and his eyes widened in shock. ¡°What the¡­?!¡± A green star array lit up in front of Qiao Sang, and a pale-blue pet he had never seen before emerged from it. A third pet! She really had a third pet! Shi Gaofeng¡¯s eyes remained wide, his mind struggling to process the shock. After updating her information, Qiao Sang returned Lubao to the Codex and turned to see Shi Gaofeng staring at her, eyes about to pop out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked as she approached him. ¡°I was just¡­thinking about how to hold on to this big connection.¡± Shi Gaofeng replied earnestly. Qiao Sang: ??? Hongying Beast Tamer Battle Club. Due to school, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t been able to come here for training in a few days. But with the sports event this morning, she had finished her exams and now had the rest of the day free, so she decided to stop by. After all, Yabao could only train his Meteor Rain and practice his Shadow Clone moves here without any restrictions. A few meters away from the field of fire raining down, Qiao Sang turned to Lubao and asked, ¡°Are you still not interested in training?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao replied, watching Yabao practicing Meteor Rain with a look of mild frustration. This guy was too strong. If she only trained at night, would she fall behind? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t fully understand Lubao¡¯s insistence on training at night, but it was clear that Yabao¡¯s abilities had a big impact on her. She thought for a moment, then said to Lubao, ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t know, but Yabao is about to evolve soon.¡± Lubao: !!! It was like a bolt from the blue! Lubao¡¯s eyes went wide. She had just evolved and had finally caught up with Yabao¡¯s progress, only to find out that Yabao was about to evolve again?! ¡°Xun?!¡± Little Treasure, who had been practicing his telekinesis nearby, floated over with a shocked expression. Boss Yabao was evolving again?! Of course, that was a little white lie Qiao Sang had made up to motivate Lubao. She nodded, keeping a straight face. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure covered his mouth with his short claws in astonishment. Boss Yabao was amazing! ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Lubao couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and tugged on Qiao Sang¡¯s pant leg. She wanted to train! ----- ----- Chapter 275: Gentle Snow Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Training already? Qiao Sang''s face lit up with a smile. Although Lubao had evolved into a cold and aloof creature, she was still quite easy to trick. "Once Yabao finishes this round of Meteor Rain training, we¡¯ll continue with the previous routine." Qiao Sang said. The Stone Fragment Barrage had shown great results, so it was still effective to continue this training at the current stage. "Lu Lu!" Lubao shook her head. She would train on her own; she didn¡¯t need Yabao¡¯s help! Qiao Sang was taken aback. Although Little Treasure could also help with Stone Fragment Barrage training, if Lubao kept avoiding Yabao, it would definitely affect the team''s cohesion over time. That just won¡¯t do¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment, then crouched down and asked, "Do you want to become stronger than Yabao?" Nearby, Yabao, who was practicing Meteor Rain, perked up his ears. "Lu." Lubao flicked her tail and lifted her head, indicating that surpassing Yabao was only a matter of time. "Xun..." Little Treasure glanced at Lubao, who was roughly his own size, then at the mighty figure of Yabao and shook his head quietly. With that frame? Compete with Yabao¡­ "Yap." Yabao looked at Little Treasure with approval, who clearly had a good eye. Qiao Sang mercilessly pointed out the reality: "To be honest, surpassing Yabao will be very difficult." "Yap!" Yabao, hearing this, proudly puffed out his chest and released an energy ball larger than before. If Qiao Sang checked the Beast Codex now, she¡¯d find that Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain skill level had just increased by two points. "Lu!" Lubao suddenly felt a bit offended, feeling her own beast master was seriously lacking judgment! "But." Qiao Sang continued, "Your attribute does counter Yabao¡¯s, so if you work hard, it¡¯s not impossible to surpass him." "Lu!" Lubao¡¯s eyes brightened, her tail wagging as she reconsidered. Her beast master¡¯s judgment was actually pretty good! "But." Qiao Sang changed the tone, "As things stand now, that¡¯s still a bit difficult. You don¡¯t even fully understand Yabao¡¯s current strength, so how can you expect to surpass him? Don¡¯t forget how you lost every time you fought Yabao in the past." "Lu..." Lubao froze. "As the saying goes, Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will never be defeated." Qiao Sang explained. "Lu?" The unschooled Lubao looked confused. "It means you need to understand Yabao to defeat him." Qiao Sang clarified. "If you don¡¯t train with Yabao, you won¡¯t know his strength, nor will you know how much you need to improve to surpass him." "Lu..." Lubao seemed thoughtful. Seeing it was the right time, Qiao Sang finally stated her true purpose: "So, you need to spend more time with Yabao. Training together would be ideal." To her, Lubao viewing Yabao as a rival wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Firstly, Yabao was strong and disciplined. If Lubao aimed to match Yabao, her training motivation wouldn¡¯t be a concern. Of course, surpassing Yabao seemed nearly impossible right now. Attribute advantages only provided a chance for victory, not an assured one. Plus, Yabao wasn¡¯t just a fire type; he had psychic powers too. Most importantly, Yabao had perfected his Shadow Clone skill. In terms of skill proficiency, Lubao could never keep up. Once she understood Yabao''s capabilities, Lubao would likely decide to increase her training regimen. Secondly, while Yabao and Lubao were rivals, spending time together could deepen their bond. After all, Lubao had developed a fondness for Yabao not long ago. As for the heartbreak¡­ that was a bit of a mystery, as Yabao hadn¡¯t really done anything wrong. Over time, that would probably be forgotten, so it wasn¡¯t much of an issue. The more Qiao Sang thought, the more she felt her reasoning was sound. "Lu..." Lubao struggled internally, torn between not wanting to train with Yabao and feeling that her beast master''s words made sense. She looked over at Yaobao, only to find Yabao looking back with a determined gaze. "Yap!" Yabao''s eyes were full of defiance and fighting spirit. He had heard what his beast master said earlier, this guy might surpass him? That was impossible! Even with all-day training and full access to observe, she would never beat him! "Lu Lu!" Lubao recognized Yabao¡¯s unspoken message in his gaze and responded with her own fighting spirit. Under Yabao''s challenging stare, Lubao finally agreed to train with him. Her beast master was right; to beat Yabao, she had to fully understand its strength! Five minutes later, as a rain of stones flew down, Lubao began to fully realize Yabao¡¯s strength. In previous Stone Fragment Barrage, Yabao would train his Meteor Rain with his clones while controlling the stones with his main body. The energy split limited the number of stones he could control. But this time, Yabao didn¡¯t use clones for Meteor Rain. Instead, he concentrated all his energy on telekinesis. The number of stones instantly multiplied several times over. "Lu!" Lubao scrambled to dodge the stones. Barely dodging one, several more came flying, forcing her to grit her teeth and push past her usual limits. Potential often emerges under pressure. However, on land, Lubao couldn''t fully use her strengths. Even as she surpassed het usual speed, several stones still hit her. "Use Gentle Snow!" Qiao Sang called out. "Lu!" Lubao immediately puckered her lips and blew out white frost while dodging the stones. The surrounding stones instantly froze and dropped to the ground. Qiao Sang nodded in satisfaction. Gentle Snow was an entry-level ice skill, with minimal energy requirements. If Lubao could build endurance and refine Gentle Snow¡¯s proficiency at the same time, it would greatly improve her training efficiency. --- Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That night. At bedtime. Yabao would close his eyes, then open them, pout, close them again, and then reopen them. "Yap!" Finally, he couldn¡¯t hold back and turned to Qiao Sang, who was scrolling on her phone, and whined. Did she really think that Lubao could surpass him one day? She¡¯d forgotten how sensitive Yabao¡¯s hearing was, so he must have overheard everything from the afternoon. No wonder he had controlled even more stones in training today¡­ Qiao Sang put down her phone and looked at Yabao, speaking seriously: "I can¡¯t say for sure what will happen in the future, but the only reason I said that was to motivate Lubao. In my mind, no beast weaker than you could ever catch up to you." "Xun." Little Treasure, learning to use a computer, nodded in agreement. "Yap~" Yabao immediately perked up, satisfied, and closed his eyes. Within minutes, he was sound asleep, smiling blissfully as if dreaming a pleasant dream. ----- T/N: I was supposed to update this earlier but I found out that some of my old saved drafts for this novel seems to have vanished.???? I have to do it all over again. ----- ----- Chapter 276: Join the Senior Year School Team Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- At 6:50 in the morning, the first thing Qiao Sang did upon waking up was to direct her consciousness into the Beast Codex. Rain Prayer (Beginner 83/100)+ Seeing that her proficiency in Rain Prayer had increased by several points overnight, Qiao Sang returned her awareness to reality. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds and sighed. ¡°I guess Lubao didn¡¯t get much sleep last night. Training like this, I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯ll end up completely exhausted¡­¡± Half an hour later, Qiao Sang sat atop Yabao, munching on bread as they set off for school. The initial buzz around Yabao had mostly faded; those who wanted photos had already taken them. Even if Little Treasure''s face wasn¡¯t marked with a grid scar, he no longer attracted any onlookers. On the roadside, just one block away from Shengshui High, the smell of crispy pancake wraps wafted from a small stall, with only one person waiting in line. Meanwhile, a nearby stall selling the same pancakes gave off a faint burnt smell but had a long line of customers. The reason was simple: The popular stall¡¯s pancakes were made by a little fat dove. Even though this species of fat dove was one of the most common pet beasts and the food it made wasn¡¯t particularly tasty, it still drew in plenty of buyers. This was why so many Beast Masters aspired to have their pet beasts learn a skill or two. After all, pet beasts were all the rage these days. Class 1, Grade 10. As soon as Qiao Sang stepped into the classroom, she noticed that all the classmates who were usually meditating at this hour were staring at her with intense interest. She¡¯d only won first place in the tile-breaking event at the sports meet, so why were they looking at her like she was some rare pet beast? Feeling slightly unnerved under their gazes, she kept a calm expression. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared and enthusiastically waved to the crowd. He seemed to think that everyone was looking at him because he had won first place in brick-breaking. Just as Qiao Sang sat down, Jin Feifan couldn¡¯t help but whisper to her, ¡°Is it true what they¡¯re saying? Do you really have a third pet beast?¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback. ¡°Who said that?¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I knew that rumor was too far-fetched.¡± Relieved when Qiao Sang didn¡¯t confirm it, Jin Feifan continued, ¡°Zhang Shuzhou mentioned it early this morning. He heard it from someone in the senior grade.¡± Qiao Sang immediately understood the source of the rumor: Shi Gaofeng. Besides him, no one else in senior grade knew about her third pet beast. This news sure spread quickly¡­ Sighing inwardly, Qiao Sang said, ¡°I know who mentioned it.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Jin Feifan asked curiously. ¡°Shi Gaofeng, from the senior school team.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°He was with me at the Beast Center yesterday when I was updating my third pet beast¡¯s information.¡± Upon hearing the latter part of her explanation, Jin Feifan instantly fell silent. There was no way around it. That statement carried too much weight. Updating her third pet beast¡­Wait! Updating?! Jin Feifan looked at Qiao Sang, stunned for a moment. ¡°What do you mean by updating?¡± ¡°It just means updating the information.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Jin Feifan: !!! Pet beast information updates are usually only made when there¡¯s an evolution! So Qiao Sang not only contracted a third pet beast, but it also evolved?! As soon as she said this, a commotion arose among the nearby students. Although Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t spoken loudly, the classroom was too quiet, and everyone¡¯s attention was still focused on her. Students a row away might not have heard clearly, but those sitting directly around her had heard every word. Qiao Sang updated her third pet beast¡¯s information! Could that be true?! This was even crazier than the morning¡¯s rumor! Although it was hard to believe, the fact that Qiao Sang herself had said it lent it credibility. The usual top students suddenly felt a sense of disparity they¡¯d never experienced before. Born as fellow humans, why was there such a vast gap between them? Some things could be bridged with effort, but some were entirely dependent on talent! Qiao Sang glanced at Jin Feifan, who was now completely dumbfounded. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Ignored the whole time, Little Treasure quietly went invisible. So¡­ they weren¡¯t looking at him after all. Awkward¡­ Qiao Sang said nothing more, turning around and closing her eyes to begin meditating. With Yabao and the others training so diligently, she certainly couldn¡¯t slack off either. Seeing Qiao Sang close her eyes, the other students finally turned away and resumed their own meditation. Three minutes later, a paw prodded at Qiao Sang¡¯s cheek. Thinking it was Little Treasure, Qiao Sang ignored it. The paw persisted, poking twice more. ¡°Stop it.¡± Qiao Sang said softly, eyes still closed. As soon as she spoke, the poking intensified, this time pressing three times harder. Why was he so persistent¡­ ¡°What are you doing¡­¡± Qiao Sang opened her eyes, ready to reprimand Little Treasure, only to swallow her words in shock at the sight before her. ¡°Teacher Xian, you¡ªwhoa!¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the Sky Bat, seeing that she¡¯d opened her eyes, waved its right paw, and Qiao Sang vanished from sight. Her classmates, hearing the commotion, opened their eyes and saw Qiao Sang disappearing. Another commotion broke out. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that Teacher Xian?¡± Wang Jihang recognized the beast that had taken Qiao Sang. ¡°You mean the one from the Vice Principal¡¯s office?¡± A boy beside him asked. Some of the students hadn¡¯t seen the Sky Bat before, but they¡¯d heard of Teacher Xian. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one.¡± Wang Jihang confirmed. At that moment, a girl commented, ¡°It seems the rumors about Qiao God and the Vice Principal being related might actually be true.¡± --- Meanwhile, the two people in question, rumored to be related, were staring at each other. ¡°Vice Principal, can you please have Teacher Xian give me a heads-up next time it teleports me?¡± ¡°Did your Water Luriana evolve?!¡± They spoke at the same time. ¡°Old Xian, didn¡¯t you give her a heads-up?¡± Liu Yao turned to look at the Sky Bat. ¡°Xian.¡± The bat showed a hesitant expression, raising the very paw it had used to prod Qiao Sang¡¯s cheek. It had given her a heads-up, though. Qiao Sang: ??? She almost had a heart attack. You call that a heads-up?! ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you first.¡± Liu Yao¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°I heard this morning that you went to the Beast Center yesterday to register your pet beast¡¯s information. I know your third pet beast is Water Luriana, so considering how long you¡¯ve had it, I wondered why you¡¯d only register it yesterday.¡± ¡°So I investigated and found out that the source was Shi Gaofeng from Senior Grade. When I asked him, he said you were updating the information for a light blue pet beast.¡± Taking a deep breath, Liu Yao continued, ¡°So did your Water Luriana really evolve?¡± The speed of this rumor was unbelievable¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Yao fell silent for a few seconds before speaking. ¡°You should join the Senior year school team.¡± ------ ------ Chapter 277: Lick Her Awake! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Senior Year¡¯s School Team? Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment. "That doesn¡¯t seem appropriate." Honestly, the training on the senior team wouldn¡¯t benefit her much. Since it wouldn¡¯t help significantly, it made more sense to stay with the sophomore team. After all, she was already used to it, and there was no need to switch environments. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡± Liu Yao said, ¡°You¡¯re about to compete in the National Campus Beast Mastering League for the senior level. Staying with the sophomore team would be what¡¯s really inappropriate.¡± ¡°The training for sophomores and seniors is different. Sophomore teams focus on building harmony with their beasts and utilizing a variety of skills, while the senior team trains for real battles.¡± ¡°If you want to perform well in the senior-level National Campus Beast Mastering League, you need to train with the senior team. You¡¯ve met Coach Sun Boyi, the one in charge of the special admissions program. He¡¯s the coach of the senior team.¡± Qiao Sang felt a stir in her heart and replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Combat training. This is exactly what Yabao needs! Normally, battle experience and skill proficiency are honed through real combat, gradually improving over time. Her initial decision to become a sparring partner was to get more opportunities for real combat, but school took up too much time. Now, if she could engage in combat training at school, that would be perfect. Of course, most importantly, she could earn some extra points! --- In the school¡¯s office reserved for team coaches, Zheng Guoping was animatedly chatting away. ¡°This kid Qiao Sang, the moment I first saw her during the special admissions round, I knew she was something else. I mean, what ordinary kid would choose a Fire Fang Dog as their first beast?¡± That¡¯s not what you said back then... Qin Wen glanced sideways at him from a chair nearby. Oblivious, Zheng Guoping continued, ¡°Three beasts, a full three beasts! None of the freshmen at Litan Beast Taming High can match up to her.¡± Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he raised his voice, ¡°No, this won¡¯t do! I need to speak with the principal. Qiao Sang can absolutely represent the sophomore level in this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League!¡± With that, he bolted for the door. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Qin Wen quickly called out. What a joke! Qiao Sang was set to represent the freshmen! It¡¯s just that the other freshmen couldn¡¯t match her level, so she¡¯d been training with the sophomores. When the competition came around, she¡¯d return to represent the freshman team, as had been agreed from the beginning! ¡°What is it?¡± Zheng Guoping stopped and turned back. ¡°You¡¯re really asking me that?¡± Qin Wen frowned. ¡°What did we agree to? If Qiao Sang competes for the sophomore team, what about our freshmen?¡± Zheng Guoping chuckled, ¡°Qiao Sang is such a¡­ genius. Competing in the freshman level would be too easy for her. Besides, we have precedents in Hanggang City for younger students competing at higher levels. Qiao Sang has been training with the sophomore team all along, so competing for the sophomore level isn¡¯t too much of a stretch. The honor still goes to our school anyway.¡± ¡°I heard there are a few other decent freshmen. Why not pick a substitute to fill in? Qiao Sang competing at the sophomore level would better allow her to showcase her abilities. Pressure brings progress, isn¡¯t that what you always say?¡± ¡°Oh, you just want the Special Coach Honor Medal.¡± Qin Wen bluntly pointed out. ¡°We¡¯ve already discussed this: Qiao Sang would train under you, but ultimately, she¡¯s representing the freshman level.¡± What coach wouldn¡¯t want that honor? The Honor Medal signifies a coach¡¯s achievement and status. Higher status brings greater connections, more options, and, of course, a better salary. According to the Coach Rewards Act, any head coach whose student wins first place in a nationally hosted provincial competition receives both the Special Honor Medal and a grand prize of one million Alliance Coins. The Honor Medal is divided into special, first, second, and third levels, with the special level being the highest. These are awarded by the National Beast Combat Bureau and are prestigious enough for newspapers and TV, a level of honor no coach could resist. If Qiao Sang competes at the sophomore level, then the registered coach will be Zheng Guoping, who trains the sophomore team. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give up the head coach¡¯s bonus, okay?¡± Zheng Guoping realized he had no solid argument and softened his tone. ¡°No way!¡± Qin Wen snapped. Who¡¯s forcing who to take money here¡­ Zheng Guoping grumbled inwardly. For a moment, the two of them glared at each other in silence. Just then, a sharp ringtone cut through the tension in the office. Both turned to look, it was Sun Boyi¡¯s phone. Sun Boyi, who¡¯d been quietly eating breakfast and scrolling on his phone, glanced at the caller ID, answered, and said, ¡°Vice Principal, what can I do for you?¡± Whatever the vice principal said on the other end made Sun Boyi choke on his soybean milk. ¡°Cough¡­ What?! Qiao Sang is competing at the senior level?!¡± Qin Wen: !!! Zheng Guoping: !!! --- Meanwhile, on the other end, Liu Yao ended the call, put his phone down, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged it with Coach Sun. After school, just head straight to Training Field No. 1.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± Liu Yao suddenly said, ¡°Summon your Ice Qiya. I¡¯d like to take a look.¡± Without a word, Qiao Sang formed the summoning seal with both hands and called out her pet, Lubao. Even if the vice principal hadn¡¯t requested it, she¡¯d planned to have him examine Lubao. Sure enough, Lubao was still fast asleep. Qiao Sang bent down and scooped her up. Liu Yao¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the Ice Qiya, and he leaned in to inspect it closely. After a moment, he frowned, ¡°Your Ice Qiya doesn¡¯t look well-rested.¡± No wonder he¡¯s a breeder¡­ Qiao Sang thought, worried. ¡°Ever since she evolved, she''s been sneaking off to train at night instead of sleeping. I¡¯m not sure what to do about it. If this continues, it¡¯ll definitely affect her health.¡± Liu Yao paused, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ice Qiya supposed to have Healing Light?¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. Healing Light¡­ does that mean¡­? Liu Yao continued, ¡°Healing Light is an inherited skill of Water Luriana. It removes all negative statuses like fatigue, sleep deprivation, and physical exhaustion.¡± Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°If Lubai gets tired and uses Healing Light on herself, would she not need sleep?¡± Liu Yao thought for a moment, ¡°Theoretically, yes.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Well, if that¡¯s true, doesn¡¯t that mean she could stay alert 24/7 without any sleep? Qiao Sang immediately decided to test it. ¡°Little Treasure! Lick her awake!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure instantly appeared, sticking out his tongue and giving Lubao a lick. In the middle of her dream, Lubao¡¯s body twitched, showing a pained expression, but she only rolled over and kept sleeping. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure pouted, upset that Lubao hadn¡¯t woken up from his tongue attack. He stuck his tongue out again and gave a harder lick. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao¡¯s face twisted a bit as she slowly opened her eyes. Seeing this, Qiao Sang quickly called out before Lubao could fall back asleep, ¡°Lubao! Use Healing Light on yourself!¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Although still half-awake and drowsy, Lubao instinctively obeyed upon hearing Qiao Sang¡¯s command. A soft blue glow lit up. As the glow faded, an alert and refreshed Lubao blinked her bright eyes, looking lively. ¡°Lu lu!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 278: Welcome to the Senior Team Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- The Experiment Was a Success! Looking at Lubao, who was now full of energy, Qiao Sang felt as if she could hear her own heart pounding. A typical adult and most pet beasts spend about a third of the day asleep. Though a beastmaster¡¯s sleep duration shortens as their pet beasts channel energy back to them, allowing them to stay energized throughout the day, it doesn¡¯t mean that going without sleep is feasible. Even if a beastmaster¡¯s brain reaches 70% development and attains S-level mastery, they won¡¯t be able to stop sleeping, like some characters in novels who reach a certain level and achieve enlightenment, staying awake all year round. But now, a single cast of Healing Light has made it possible to pull all-nighters 365 days a year! The thrill of staying up all night, always having more hours in a day! With Healing Light, there¡¯s no need to worry about losing sleep, looking tired, getting headaches, or thinning hair. For those who stay up late working or can¡¯t fall asleep at night, it¡¯s like the ultimate godsend! ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced around the room, saw Qiao Sang, and immediately leapt into her arms. This pulled Qiao Sang back to reality. Why did you jump up? You¡¯re covered in drool! Qiao Sang silently pulled Lubao away from her a bit. ¡°Lu.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lubao looked at the human who had once checked her health with a lofty expression, completely unaware that her beastmaster was pulling away in mild disgust. At that moment, Liu Yao stood there, stunned, alternating his gaze between Ice Qiya and Treasure-Seeking Demon, completely losing his usual calm demeanor. ¡°Vice Principal?¡± Qiao Sang called to him. Liu Yao snapped out of it, looking at Qiao Sang with a complex expression, feeling envious and a little jealous for the first time. Others might not notice, but he could immediately tell that this Treasure-Seeking Demon was a rare color-variant beast. Although the distinctive features were subtle, it definitely fell within the rare color-variant category. Ice Qiya, a rare-color Treasure-Seeking Demon, and a Flames Hound as well¡­ Is this even human? No! This isn¡¯t human at all! What kind of normal kid has three pet beasts at fifteen?! And all of them are already at intermediate level! ¡°Vice Principal?¡± Qiao Sang called again. ¡°All three of your beasts are at intermediate level.¡± Liu Yao replied, his voice hoarse. Actually, most of the school already knew about Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s evolution into Treasure-Seeking Demon during yesterday¡¯s sports event. However, the students¡¯ discussions mostly centered on Treasure-Seeking Demon''s ability to break tiles barehanded. Plus, Liu Yao hadn¡¯t been at school during the event, so he hadn¡¯t heard the news right away. ¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Liu Yao hesitated, then couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How do you usually train your beasts?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, ¡°There¡¯s not much time for training; I¡¯m in class most of the time, and I have homework when I get home. It¡¯s mainly up to Yabao and the others to keep at it on their own. For food, they just eat the energy pills customized according to the recipe you provided.¡± Liu Yao looked as though he were questioning his whole existence. After a long moment, he waved his hand, clearly tired. ¡°Go back to class. Don¡¯t forget to go to Training Ground No. 1 after school. Old Xian, take her back.¡± Liu Yao didn¡¯t want to look at Qiao Sang anymore, for fear he might have a heart attack. --- When the bell rang for the last period in the afternoon, everyone packed up their things and started filing out of the classroom. A girl with glasses, a fair complexion, and a classic student haircut appeared at the door of Class 1-1. ¡°Is Qiao Sang here?¡± Since receiving her beasts¡¯ energy, Qiao Sang¡¯s hearing had become much sharper, allowing her to pick up on her name even amidst all the chatter. She looked toward the door and saw a girl she didn¡¯t recognize. But the girl at the door clearly knew Qiao Sang and waved at her with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re¡­?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she walked over to the doorway after packing up. ¡°I¡¯m Xu Yixuan from the Senior 3 school team. Teacher Sun sent me to get you.¡± The girl smiled. So, she¡¯s a senior¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± On the way, Qiao Sang¡¯s ears took quite a beating. Xu Yixuan looked quiet and well-mannered and spoke in a gentle voice, but she was a complete chatterbox. From Class 1-1 to Training Ground No. 1, she didn¡¯t close her mouth once. ¡°Qiao Sang, who named you? Your dad or your mom?¡± ¡°It was my¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer; let me guess.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Actually, at the beginning-of-year new student exhibition, I wanted to challenge you, but my sixth sense told me not to, so I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Did you really make a pact with a third pet beast?¡± ¡°How did your Treasure-Seeking Demon learn how to break tiles?¡± ¡°Is your Flame Hound male or female? My Blaze Dog is male. If yours is the right gender, we could match them up!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your third pet beast?¡± ¡°Is it true that you¡¯re related to the vice principal?¡± ¡°I heard from Teacher Sun that you¡¯re going to participate in the National Beastmaster Tournament for Senior League. That means we¡¯ll have one more competitor on the Senior 3 combat team. Do you think Teacher Sun might make us compete to decide who gets to stay on the team, with the loser acting as backup? Or maybe the backup for the group battles?¡± Qiao Sang thought this was worth addressing, so she said, ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Xu Yixuan interrupted, ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer; let me guess.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Finally, when she saw the building marked Training Ground No. 1, Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. Freedom at last¡­ This girl¡¯s like a real-life Tang Sanzang¡­ Qiao Sang opened the door and entered Training Ground No. 1. The room was dimly lit, and a huge virtual screen, over 20 meters wide, was displaying a popular, high-energy battle anime titled The Last Beastmaster Youth. The series was known for its stunning animation, lavish production, and thrilling fight scenes. It was the type of show that made people want to jump into a battle themselves. ¡°This is Teacher Sun¡¯s training method.¡± Xu Yixuan explained. ¡°Every few days, we watch some adrenaline-pumping battle anime to boost our enthusiasm for fighting. I mean, we¡¯re fighting constantly, and except during tasks where we can face different opponents, we¡¯re usually just fighting the same people. If it weren¡¯t for these battle anime to keep us pumped, we¡¯d just be emotionless combat machines by now.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need to mentally prepare yourself; this isn¡¯t like the Sophomore team. We fight every day.¡± Qiao Sang grinned, finally saying her first full sentence since leaving the classroom. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡± Xu Yixuan sighed, thinking that her junior was still too young. Her thoughts mirrored her words as she said, ¡°You¡¯re still too young.¡± At that moment, the virtual screen disappeared, and the training ground lights turned on. Sun Boyi stood where the screen had been, smiling as he looked at Qiao Sang. ¡°Welcome to the Senior team.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 279: Wrong Guess Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- The moment he finished speaking, five heads in the front row simultaneously turned around. Their gazes were curious but held a hint of hostility. After all, everyone here knew about Qiao Sang and that she was set to join the senior year team for the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Each school and grade is allotted a fixed number of participants. If someone joins, someone else has to go. Among the five, three were part of the group battle team, so Qiao Sang¡¯s arrival didn¡¯t affect them directly. However, as all of them were senior-year students who sometimes trained with the combat team, they felt a sense of camaraderie and, consequently, a bit of hostility. Xu Yixuan, on the other hand, was confident she wouldn¡¯t be the one to get eliminated, so she was quite relaxed. This was why Sun Boyi had asked her to pick up Qiao Sang. ¡°Hello, Coach Sun.¡± Qiao Sang greeted. Though she didn¡¯t personally know Sun Boyi, the vice-principal had mentioned that the coach of the senior team was the teacher in charge of special admissions, and she recognized him immediately. Sun Boyi walked over with long strides and said, ¡°The vice-principal has probably told you about our senior team¡¯s situation.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exceptional for your age, having three contracted beasts, two of which are already at the intermediate level. That alone puts you among the top new beast masters globally.¡± Sun Boyi said. Then he shifted his tone, ¡°However, here, we focus on fairness. Everything depends on skill.¡± ¡°This is already the third tournament for your seniors here, so they definitely have an advantage when it comes to battle experience and familiarity with opponents.¡± ¡°Soon, you¡¯ll face off against them one by one, following the rules of the National Campus Beast Mastering League.¡± ¡°If you can defeat any one of them, I¡¯ll gladly welcome you to represent the senior team. But if you lose, regardless of the vice-principal¡¯s request, I won¡¯t allow you to compete.¡± ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re only here to train without competing, I¡¯d have no objections.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s talent is undeniable, but tournaments are all about winning. Without considering the entire nation, just within Hanggang City, the senior-year participants each possess at least two intermediate-level beasts, and they¡¯ve trained together for quite some time. Sun Boyi tends to be quite rational. When the vice-principal suggested that Qiao Sang participate in the senior tournament, his initial reaction was to decline. She might perform well in the first- or even second-year competitions, but competing at the senior level? That would be tough. After all, in the senior division, real combat experience counts the most. And that kind of experience requires time to accumulate; simply having beasts that meet the level requirements isn¡¯t enough to compete. Furthermore, the senior competitors from Hanggang City¡¯s schools have faced each other since their first year, meaning they know each other¡¯s beasts well. But Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t have that advantage. Still, since this was the vice-principal¡¯s request, he couldn¡¯t outright reject it. But if Qiao Sang lost, he¡¯d have a valid reason to decline. Sun Boyi didn¡¯t think she would refuse. After all, talented individuals tend to have confidence, even pride, in their abilities, especially someone as gifted as Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t reject the offer, but she did pause, then corrected him, ¡°All three of my beasts are at the intermediate level.¡± At her words, the senior team members who had been watching were collectively stunned. Sun Boyi stared blankly and asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying all three of your beasts have evolved to intermediate level?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Sun Boyi stayed silent for several seconds, digesting this information. He raised his voice slightly and asked again: ¡°Are you sure all three of your beasts are at the intermediate level?¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes.¡± She confirmed. Sun Boyi fell silent again. After a few moments, he said seriously, ¡°With the league only a month away, let¡¯s start training right away.¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°I thought you said I had to prove my eligibility through a battle?¡± ¡°Two intermediate-level beasts need a test, but with three, that¡¯s no longer necessary.¡± Sun Boyi said resolutely. In the senior competition, if her third beast were still at the beginner level, it would be almost like having only two beasts. But with three intermediate-level beasts, it¡¯s a different story entirely! In the entire nation, senior students with three intermediate-level beasts are few and far between. With three intermediate beasts, opponents could study her endlessly and still struggle to find an effective counter-strategy. Xu Yixuan, who had been listening on the sidelines, was stunned. Just when she thought Qiao Sang¡¯s participation was officially confirmed, a voice interrupted. ¡°I think, to be fair, we should still have a battle.¡± Qiao Sang said confidently. What a joke! Those are all points she could earn! How could they skip the match? Besides, the motivation during regular training is completely different from when there¡¯s a spot on the line. It had been a while since Yabao had a proper match. She couldn¡¯t always treat matches like low-level battles in a game, just grinding experience points without any excitement. Sun Boyi looked at Qiao Sang for a moment and smiled, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll battle!¡± Then he turned to the group, who were still in shock, and asked, ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± The two combat team members exchanged glances, and a round-faced, chubby boy with squinty eyes raised his hand enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± He waddled to the center of the training area. Though he was briefly taken aback when he heard all three of Qiao Sang¡¯s beasts were intermediate level, the senior competition follows a 2v2 format. Qiao Sang is a well-known figure in the school; the information on her first two beasts is practically public knowledge. But she wouldn¡¯t know anything about his beasts. That, in itself, was an advantage. Once Qiao Sang took her position at the other side of the training area, Sun Boyi spoke: ¡°According to league rules, all beasts must be registered in advance. If a beast is knocked out of bounds or voluntarily leaves, it¡¯s disqualified.¡± ¡°No beast may be switched out unless it¡¯s lost consciousness.¡± ¡°All beasts must be summoned simultaneously, without any delay between them, and no assisting tools are allowed during the battle.¡± ¡°For the senior level, the number of beasts is two per side¡­¡± The senior team members could recite the rules backward, but Sun Boyi was clearly explaining them for Qiao Sang¡¯s sake. ¡°What do you think Qiao Sang and He Dadao will summon?¡± Xu Yixuan asked the others nearby. The four of them knew Xu Yixuan¡¯s character well, so they stayed silent. Sure enough, she continued: ¡°No need to answer. I¡¯ll guess.¡± ¡°I think Qiao Sang will send out her Flame Hound for security.¡± Xu Yixuan analyzed. ¡°The first contracted beast is generally the strongest. You remember how her Flame Hound performed in the freshman showcase, it dominated! Not only does it have the Blaze trait, but it also uses Meteor Rain. If she sends it out, her odds of winning are high.¡± ¡°He Dadao would expect that, so he¡¯d likely summon his Blaze Gorilla. With its Fire Absorb trait, it would counter the Flame Hound perfectly.¡± The others didn¡¯t say anything but silently agreed with her reasoning. ¡°Both sides, please summon your beasts simultaneously.¡± Sun Boyi said, following the tournament protocol. Green and gray summoning circles lit up simultaneously. A red beast and a pale blue beast appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Boom Boom!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Xu Yixuan froze momentarily, then, a bit embarrassed, said, ¡°I guessed wrong.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 280: Wheres the Opponent?! "What kind of pet beast is that? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it." Asked a boy standing nearby. He was about 1.77 meters tall, but his spiked hairstyle made him appear over 1.8 meters. "Me neither." To his left, a boy wearing a white jacket over his summer uniform studied the pale blue beast on the training field and speculated, "It doesn¡¯t look like a pet beast from our Yuhua region." ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The only girl in the high school senior team took a sharp breath. Aside from He Dazhao, who was about to enter the battle in the center, the other members of the senior team looked over at her. The girl was holding a beast identifier pointed at the pale blue pet beast, her expression one of complete shock as she looked at the information displayed on the virtual screen. There were many different models of pet beast identifiers available on the market, with variations in appearance and functionality depending on the region and the user¡¯s needs. The device in her hand was currently one of the most popular models in Yuhua, particularly in the past two years. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s this pet beast called?¡± Xu Yixuan, sensing something unusual about Chen Jia¡¯s expression, moved closer and asked curiously. ¡°Ice Qiya, from the ancient Guwu region¡­¡± The boy in the white jacket also leaned over, reading the information displayed on the screen, but quickly looked baffled and stopped speaking. What¡­? An endangered pet beast? Could Chen Jia¡¯s identifier be malfunctioning? He wasn¡¯t the only one wondering. The first thought that popped into everyone¡¯s mind as they looked at the screen was that the device must be giving inaccurate information. Including Chen Jia. What did it mean for a beast to be endangered? Those creatures were practically impossible to find, treated like treasures by the country and the alliance, with even a single fallen hair warranting an S-level researcher to investigate! How could a high school freshman possibly have bonded with a pet beast of such rarity? Chen Jia hesitated. ¡°Maybe I forgot to update the version; this older version must have a glitch.¡± ¡°No worries. If the identifier¡¯s acting up, we¡¯ll just use a phone search.¡± Xu Yixuan snapped a photo of the pale blue pet beast in the field and started an image search on her phone. Then she froze. [Ice Qiya, a water-ice type intermediate pet beast from the endangered species list of the ancient Guwu region¡­] The information was exactly the same! ¡°Damn!¡± Xu Yixuan¡¯s head shot up, staring at Ice Qiya in the field, and uttered a word totally out of character for her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The people around her jumped; Xu Yixuan was known for being chatty but never for using such language. ¡°The info online is the same.¡± Xu Yixuan swallowed, took a deep breath, and added, ¡°This really might be an endangered pet beast¡­¡± Everyone: !!! For a moment, all eyes were locked on Ice Qiya. The match had already started. Almost the moment Sun Boyi gave his command, both Lubao and Blaze Gorilla launched their attacks. This wasn¡¯t Lubao¡¯s first time teaming up with Qiao Sang. Previously, to master the Healing Light skill quickly, Qiao Sang had often taken Lubao to the beast battle club as a sparring partner. On top of that, Lubao had originally been a wild pet beast, so she didn¡¯t need much training to develop her own rhythm and judgment in battles. She wouldn¡¯t just stand around waiting for Qiao Sang¡¯s commands. Water Gun collided with Flaming Burst. The scarlet flame was nearly three times the size of the blue Water Gun. The two attacks clashed midair, with the flames overpowering the water stream and advancing toward Lubao. Lubao remained calm, quickly moving to the side to avoid the incoming flames. After training with the Scattering Stones technique, Lubao¡¯s speed had significantly increased, making it easy for her to dodge straightforward attacks with limited speed and range. Boom!! The flames missed their target, striking the ground and instantly cracking the surface of the training field. ¡°Water may counter fire types, but if the skill proficiency is so different, even a type advantage won¡¯t help.¡± Chen Jia commented. ¡°Ice Qiya doesn¡¯t have a big build, and it doesn¡¯t look like a high-defense type. If Blaze Gorilla lands a couple of hits, the match will likely end right there.¡± Analyzed the tall boy. Suddenly, Xu Yixuan asked with concern, ¡°Isn¡¯t it illegal to harm endangered pet beasts? Is it really okay for them to be fighting like this?¡± Everyone: ¡­ In the field. He Dazhao looked at the situation unfolding and felt confident in his victory. He had expected Qiao Sang to summon the Flame Hound, but instead, she¡¯d called out a water-type pet he didn¡¯t recognize. With water¡¯s natural advantage over fire, he¡¯d initially felt worried; after all, he¡¯d witnessed Qiao Sang¡¯s feat of defeating over 200 opponents at the opening ceremony. But this water-type pet beast seemed normal, lacking the overpowered traits of the Flame Hound or Treasure-Seeking Ghost from that ceremony. They say pet beasts¡¯ power rankings generally follow their summoning order. The experts weren¡¯t wrong! ¡°Keep up the pressure with Flaming Burst!¡± He Dazhao ordered, his chubby hand sweeping downward. ¡°Roar!¡± The Blaze Gorilla thumped its chest twice with excitement, opened its mouth, and prepared to launch another flame burst forward. But in the next instant, it froze, mouth open. Where was the opponent?! He Dazhao¡¯s pupils shrank. The pale blue pet beast had been right there a moment ago when he issued his command! But just now, it had jumped to the ground and disappeared! What kind of skill was that?! ¡°Stay alert to your surroundings!¡± He Dazhao called out. He was tense, his emotions in constant flux. Although water-types countered Blaze Gorilla, the current terrain wasn¡¯t favorable to water, and the pet beast couldn¡¯t reach its full potential. The recent Water Gun had reinforced his confidence in winning. Typically, intermediate pet beasts don¡¯t have many skills, and their training often focuses on enhancing proficiency with existing moves. Water Gun, one of the most common skills for water-types, was at least practiced to a moderate level among other schools¡¯ team members. Yet this pet beast¡¯s Water Gun didn¡¯t even reach that standard. But this burrowing vanish skill completely threw him off. The worst opponents are those with unknown skills, where you have no idea how to respond. Is there such a skill for water-type pet beasts? He Dazhao¡¯s mind raced through his water-type knowledge. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes were on a small puddle on the ground, and once the water trickled around to a blind spot behind Blaze Gorilla, she gave the command, ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s head shot out from the puddle, letting out a cry. The field instantly filled with a dense mist. ¡°Shoot Flaming Burst at the ground behind you!¡± Though he hadn¡¯t figured out the burrowing vanish skill, He Dazhao¡¯s instincts drove him to respond. ¡°Roar!¡± The Blaze Gorilla wildly shot flames at the ground, blindly firing through the mist. Suddenly, a stream of water rose from the ground behind Blaze Gorilla, shot into the air, and then dove down, heading into the mist. Upon closer inspection, Lubao was encased in the water stream. Bang!! A loud collision erupted, shaking the mist due to the energy impact. ¡°Roar!¡± The Blaze Gorilla¡¯s pained cries echoed through the field. Qiao Sang estimated the beast¡¯s endurance and gave the command, ¡°Continue.¡± The moment she finished, the water stream shot back into the air and dropped down once more. This repeated, with Lubao diving again and again. ¡°Roar!¡± The Blaze Gorilla¡¯s screams grew more desperate. ¡°Fire upward!¡± He Dazhao called out in panic. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the flames didn¡¯t ignite. He Dazhao sensed something through his bond with the beast and froze. As the mist cleared, they saw the Blaze Gorilla collapsed on the ground, eyes closed. Standing on top of it was the coolly composed Ice Qiya. ¡°Lu.¡± Chapter 281: Isnt This an Ice-Type Skill? Lubao leapt down from the Blaze Gorilla and, ignoring everyone¡¯s stares, walked over to Qiao Sang with a cool and aloof demeanor. Qiao Sang suddenly remembered how, during the Bai Xin Competition, Yabao had tried to maintain a stoic expression. She couldn¡¯t help but think: There''s definitely a difference between stoic and genuinely cool¡­ Lubao approached, looking like she wanted to jump into her beast tamer''s arms. She made a little preparatory jump, ready to leap. Seeing this, Qiao Sang quickly called out to her: ¡°Wait, don¡¯t jump! You still have another match to go!¡± Lubao¡¯s limbs had already left the ground, but upon hearing this, she abruptly twisted mid-air and changed direction as she landed. Even in such an awkward moment, she still managed to keep her cool. ¡°Lu.¡± This water-type pet with the Melting Water trait wasn¡¯t even from the Yhua region. The pets this girl contracts are all so impressive¡­ Sun Boyi took a deep breath to steady himself and continued the match proceedings: ¡°Will both sides now send out their next contestant pets?¡± For high-level competitions like the National Campus Beast Mastering League, to ensure fairness, the referee team upgrades as the competition advances, from regional to sectional matches, and finally, the national finals. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Referees progress from Level 2 to Level 1 and finally to national-level referees. Additionally, they bring in a specialized mechanical pet for data analysis as a secondary referee. The main tasks include overseeing match proceedings, recording match time and results, and checking the positioning of participants and their pets before each battle. Without a secondary referee today, Sun Boyi had to take on dual roles and do the work of both. At the edge of the field. Seeing the result of the first match, the senior team members began to chatter enthusiastically. ¡°He Daotao lost so badly¡­¡± Chen Jia remarked. ¡°It¡¯s just as well. I always felt attacking an endangered pet wasn¡¯t right.¡± Xu Yixuan said. Chen Jia: ¡­ Just then, a boy in a white jacket asked, ¡°What was that skill Ice Qiya used to disappear when it jumped to the ground?¡± A boy with a gloomy expression who hadn¡¯t spoken before replied, ¡°That wasn¡¯t a skill; it was the Melting Water trait.¡± The boy in the white jacket was startled, ¡°Melting Water trait?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trait allowing it to merge into water. It''s pretty rare among water-type pets.¡± The gloomy boy explained earnestly, ¡°Ice Qiya''s goal from the beginning wasn¡¯t to attack with the Water Gun but to create a water surface on the ground.¡± ¡°If it hadn¡¯t concealed itself, casting mist in front of Blaze Gorilla risked interruption. Plus, the mist wouldn¡¯t fully obscure the view right away, so He Daotao could still react.¡± ¡°From the start, Qiao Sang was controlling the entire pace of the battle.¡± He paused, summing up, ¡°This junior¡­ has a touch of craftiness.¡± The others nodded in agreement, feeling the same. When they first joined the school team as freshmen, they were all rookies. They never thought of using such sly tactics! ¡°He Daotao was really outmatched.¡± Chen Jia concluded. ¡°If we were in his place, we¡¯d be outmatched too.¡± Xu Yixuan said. ¡°You¡¯ve seen this junior¡¯s track record from the freshman exhibition round.¡± ¡°Not only has her Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolved into a Treasure-Seeking Demon within a month, but she¡¯s also contracted an endangered Ice Qiya. Let¡¯s not even talk about the attribute advantage.¡± ¡°Then there are the high-level skills like Meteor Rain and Shadow Control. Not only our school, but the whole Zhejiang province doesn¡¯t have anyone on a school team whose pet has learned skills at that level.¡± Chen Jia nodded, ¡°True.¡± ¡°Are we really going to be backups?¡± A tall boy, over 180 cm thanks to his hairstyle, asked dejectedly. ¡°No.¡± Xu Yixuan shook her head. The boy perked up, turning to her with a hopeful look. Xu Yixuan continued, ¡°Zhang Dezhou, have some confidence. Take out the word ¡®we¡¯. Only one of us will go as a backup. And obviously, it¡¯s going to be whoever is the weakest among us. Do you really think that¡¯s me?¡± Zhang Dezhou staggered back, looking like he¡¯d taken a hundred arrows to the heart. Oh, it hurts! Mom, it hurts so much! He Daotao was feeling the same pain. His Blaze Gorilla hadn¡¯t even had a chance to show its bravery! How could it have lost so quickly?! Painful as it was, the match had to go on. He Daotao took a deep breath and summoned his second pet, the Wind Eagle. According to the rules, after the first match ends, the winning side can choose to switch pets or keep its pet withdrawn until the referee starts the second match. But Qiao Sang didn¡¯t do that. Of course, in a 2v2 match, this was allowed. A Wind Eagle, huh¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the pet in front of her, her mind racing as she devised a counter-strategy. She was quite familiar with this pet, especially its speed. Back in the marathon, Ye Ranran¡¯s Wind Eagle had overtaken dozens of runners, finishing its relay leg in sixth place overall. Though Lubao¡¯s speed had improved considerably through training, she was clearly no match for the Wind Eagle, which was famous for its agility. The only way to keep up with Wind Eagle is by using Mist along with the Rain Sense trait to boost Lubao¡¯s speed. Sigh, if only the arena were a water-based field. I wonder what kind of field they¡¯ll use in the national campus beast mastering league¡­ While these thoughts flashed through her mind, Sun Boyi announced the start of the second match. ¡°Use Air Slash repeatedly!¡± He Daotao called out, waving his pudgy hand quickly. The Wind Eagle¡¯s advantage lay in its speed, so he had to capitalize on it! Whoosh! With a flap of its wings, the Wind Eagle soared swiftly into the air above the training field. Its speed was like watching a TV show at 5x speed. Then, it beat its wings, sending dozens of air-formed blades toward Lubao at a rapid pace. At the edge of the field. Xu Yixuan found herself reluctant to watch. Everyone with a bit of sense could see who held the upper hand between a water-type pet restricted by ground speed and a Wind Eagle known for its speed. This was an endangered pet. If it got injured, what if He Daotao got taken to the police station¡­? They¡¯d trained together for over two years, so Xu Yixuan couldn¡¯t help but worry a little about He Daotao. But then she remembered Qiao Sang was Lubao¡¯s tamer, and she doubted Lubao would suffer too much. So, she covered her eyes with her hand but left a small gap between her fingers to watch. ¡°Lu.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± ¡°Lu!¡± At first, Lubao dodged with ease, but as the speed of the air blades increased, her expression turned serious. Although the attack density wasn¡¯t as high as during Stone Barrage Training, the power and speed were on a whole other level. Bang! Bang! Bang! The air blades struck the ground, leaving cracks in their wake. Just then, Qiao Sang shouted, ¡°Run and use Gentle Snow on the ground!¡± Gentle Snow? He Daotao was briefly stunned. Isn¡¯t that an ice-type skill? Chapter 282: What Is This Now? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Just as He Daitao was hesitating in disbelief, Lubao pursed her lips, evading the wind blades while sprinkling white frost onto the ground. A thin layer of ice formed instantly wherever she touched. Before Qiao Sang could speak again, Lubao understood her intent and began gliding rapidly across the icy surface. Her speed in dodging had noticeably increased. "Lu." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling that the danger from the wind blades had lessened, Lubao regained her usual aloof expression. Not bad, Qiao Sang thought, showing a motherly smile of satisfaction. "Brave Bird Attack!" Seeing that things were going south, He Daitao didn''t dwell on the fact that this unfamiliar pet beast knew ice-type skills. He quickly issued a new command. When it comes to speed, his Wind Eagle had never lost! "Whoosh!" With a long cry, the Wind Eagle quickly folded its wings and dove straight down toward Lubao below. Its entire body was first wrapped in a light red energy, which turned bright yellow as it accelerated. Visually, it resembled a shooting star trailing yellow light. "Lu!" Seeing this, Lubao¡¯s expression became serious again as she pressed her limbs harder to increase her sliding speed. However, her speed was still no match for the Wind Eagle using Brave Bird Attack. Bang!! In just a couple of breaths, the Wind Eagle struck Lubao squarely. Though both were mid-level pet beasts, their sizes differed significantly, and this hit sent Lubao flying to the edge of the arena. "Lu¡­" Thanks to the slightly tougher hide Lubao had developed from an old injury, she didn¡¯t faint immediately. She staggered to her feet, shaking her head to regain focus. At that moment, He Daitao''s eyes lit up as he noticed where the light-blue pet beast had landed. He switched to a new plan and commanded, "Whirlwind!" Sometimes, victory didn¡¯t require defeating the opponent outright; forcing them out of the arena¡¯s boundaries also counted as a win. Feeling confident again, He Daitao thought this match was in the bag and squinted his eyes with a smug smile. Sure, he could defeat the opponent using other skills, but those attacks would consume more energy, and his Wind Eagle still had another round to face. Judging from Qiao Sang¡¯s tactics, she might send out her Treasure-Seeking Demon against his Wind Eagle in the next match. He needed to conserve some strength¡­ He silently praised his own foresight. He really did have some smarts! Whirlwind was a basic flying-type skill that whipped up wind with the wings. It wasn¡¯t powerful, just your average skill. "Whoosh!" The Wind Eagle spread its wings and began to flap. As soon as Ice Qiya had been struck, Xu Yixuan instinctively closed her fingers over her eyes, unable to bear watching any further. It¡¯s over! He Daitao¡¯s going to get reported to the police! A rare pet beast! This was an endangered pet beast! Just as everyone thought the match was over... "Whoosh..." The Wind Eagle''s wings suddenly faltered, and a pained expression appeared on its face. This was the moment she had been waiting for! Qiao Sang seized the chance and shouted, "Rain Prayer!" "Lu!" Lubao lifted her head and let out a call. The air suddenly grew damp, and dark clouds gathered above the Wind Eagle. In the next second, rain poured down like pine needles. "Whoosh..." The rain hitting the Wind Eagle made it even more uncomfortable, causing its altitude to drop by a centimeter. Although Brave Bird Attack was a powerful mid-level flying-type skill, it had a fatal flaw, it inflicted part of the damage back onto the user. Flying-type pet beasts without the confidence to take down the opponent in one hit or with softer heads usually avoided using this move lightly. For lower-level pet beasts, Brave Bird Attack was essentially a last-resort, finishing blow. Based on Qiao Sang¡¯s understanding of Lubao¡¯s defense, she was confident she could withstand at least one hit. Sure enough, she was right. Initially, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t found the right opportunity for Lubao to use Rain Prayer. Since Rain Prayer was a high-level skill, Lubao wasn¡¯t skilled enough to perform it instantly, and it would likely be interrupted by the Wind Eagle during its cast. This would put her in an even more passive position. But she hadn¡¯t expected her opponent to create such an ideal opportunity for her. The more she thought about it, the more pleased Qiao Sang became, until she realized her mouth had involuntarily curved into a smile and quickly suppressed it. It¡¯s just an ordinary match! No need to smile! "Healing Light!" She called out, bringing her expression back under control. "Lu!" The moment the command was given, Lubao responded immediately, and her body was engulfed in a strong blue light. On the edge of the arena, the spectators were abuzz. "My goodness! That¡¯s impressive! Rain Prayer! With this, all three of Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts have learned high-level skills!" Chen Jia exclaimed, eyes wide. Zhang Dezhou, forgetting his previous frustration, gasped, "Whoa! Are high-level skills that easy to learn? It¡¯s like she¡¯s got them on wholesale!" A guy in a white jacket chimed in sincerely, "What¡¯s the point in competing? I bet Teacher Sun¡¯s probably grinning from ear to ear right now. You three might as well start preparing for an internal elimination match to decide who¡¯ll be the substitute." Zhang Dezhou: ... What to do¡­ my heart hurts again¡­ That¡¯s a true endangered pet beast for you! Hearing the conversation, Xu Yixuan quickly lowered her hands, eager to see how the match was going. In the center of the field, a fine rain was falling, and the Ice Qiya that had summoned it was glowing with a brilliant blue light. Wow! What kind of skill was this? She hadn¡¯t seen it used by any other water or ice-type pet beasts! The thought crossed her mind, and she asked aloud, "What¡¯s this skill? Does anyone know?" Everyone sighed and shook their heads, including the boy who had previously identified the Melting Water trait. Not recognizing a skill¡­ Ouch! Of course, He Daitao was the one feeling it the most. At that moment, all he could think was: %*@#£¤! How could a match he thought was in the bag be this tough?! How could that small light-blue pet beast still have enough energy to cast a high-level skill like Rain Prayer after being hit by Brave Bird Attack?! It looked so tiny, not at all like a high-defense water-type pet beast, but it was as tough as nails! He Daitao fumed internally. Although he was raging inside, he kept his eyes on the battlefield. As he watched the blue light emanate from the little pet beast, he felt an ominous premonition, even though he couldn¡¯t identify the skill. He had to interrupt it! Relying on his rich battle experience, He Daitao quickly assessed the situation. "Air Slash!" "Whoosh!" By now, the Wind Eagle had somewhat adapted to the discomfort. With a powerful flap, it sent several air blades slicing through the rain toward Lubao, who was still glowing blue. Xu Yixuan covered her eyes again, unable to watch. This guy¡­ he¡¯s a menace! The rest of the crowd held their breath. But the Air Slash didn¡¯t break through the blue light because it had already dissipated before the attack landed. "Lu." A fully restored and energetic Ice Qiya appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. The crowd: ??? ----- ----- Chapter 283: Whoever Wants to Go, Go Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Everyone looked baffled. What was that? Where¡¯s the injury? Already healed? ¡°I remember now!¡± Chen Jia snapped out of it, exclaiming excitedly, ¡°I saw in the records that Ice Qiya has a healing-type inherited skill!¡± The others thought about it and vaguely remembered the same. However, the records contained even more eye-catching information, and all that had stuck in everyone¡¯s minds were the words critically endangered. A healing skill, that explained it. Everyone here was pretty experienced in battles, and they¡¯d encountered healing-ability beasts before. But the level of recovery in this Ice Qiya was something else entirely. The blue light flashed, and it was as if nothing had happened, no sign of a battle injury at all. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better might think it had just been summoned and hadn¡¯t started fighting yet! Everyone was suddenly full of envy and admiration. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An ability that instantly heals all wounds? Isn¡¯t that just like having a cheat code?! While others might feel envy, hate, and admiration, He Datou, who was in the middle of the battle, was practically ready to cough up blood. All that fighting, and you just heal it all with a single skill? How can anyone fight like this?! Who knows how many times this skill can be used! If they keep fighting and then healing, won¡¯t his Wind Eagle be ground down to nothing? Unless he could one-shot it, he stood no chance! ¡°Icy Wind!¡± Qiao Sang, the only one who knew the specifics of the Healing Light, just wanted to end this battle quickly. Healing Light was a status recovery skill with no effect on energy levels. In other words, Lubao¡¯s energy depletion was real. After the last fight, the recent Rain Prayer, and Healing Light, if she didn¡¯t end this quickly, who would end up collapsing first was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡°Lu!¡± Restored, Lubao, enhanced by her Swift Swimmer ability, moved like she was in fast-forward, effortlessly dodging the oncoming Air Blade. ¡°Whoosh!¡± When the initial Air Blade missed, Wind Eagle didn¡¯t stop; it began flapping again, creating more Air Blades. With her previous speed, Lubao had to keep running while casting Gentle Snow, without a moment to breathe or even check her opponent¡¯s position. But now, dodging the first wave, she had enough time to pause, look up, and cast Icy Wind toward Wind Eagle. Icy Wind, a mid-level ice-type skill. The wind it generated had a freezing effect, with a chance to slow down the target. The chilly air spread in the sky. ¡°Quick, dodge!¡± He Datou called out urgently. Wind Eagle¡¯s speed was nothing to scoff at. Even when feeling off and soaked with rain, it nimbly evaded the chilling mist. Before He Datou could give another command, Wind Eagle flared its wings again, intending to launch another Air Blade. This was the product of intensive training. It always remembered its handler¡¯s instruction: Keep attacking whenever possible, leaving no breathing room for the opponent! Wind Eagle¡¯s eyes glinted with resolve. Take my barrage of attacks! ¡°Whistle!¡± But the next second, Wind Eagle¡¯s expression turned pained as it suddenly plummeted from the sky. Although Wind Eagle had dodged the Icy Wind, it hadn¡¯t dodged the rain, which had turned into fine ice needles after being frozen by the chill! The countless ice needles rained down on Wind Eagle, dealing significant damage. ¡°Brilliant! Using Icy Wind to freeze the rain over a wide area, thinking of a combo like this, that¡¯s impressive!¡± Praised a guy in a white jacket. ¡°This combo has been seen in some online battle videos.¡± Noted a gloomy-looking guy. ¡°But a mid-level pet with both water and ice attributes that has learned Rain Prayer¡­in our circle, there¡¯s probably only this one here.¡± The white-jacketed guy nodded in agreement. At this moment, Zhang Dezhou suddenly asked: ¡°Did anyone else notice that this Ice Qiya seems a lot faster than before? Could the healing skill also add a speed buff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely that this Ice Qiya also has the Swift Swimmer ability.¡± The gloomy-looking guy replied. Zhang Dezhou immediately understood. He hadn¡¯t considered abilities, but as soon as someone mentioned Swift Swimmer, it all made sense. Healing, Swift Swimmer, Rain Prayer, it¡¯s practically the ideal candidate for a team battle! Zhang Dezhou thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Do you guys think Qiao Sang should join the team battle group?¡± The three members of the team battle group shot him dagger-like glares. Zhang Dezhou: ¡­. ¡°I was just asking¡­¡± He muttered weakly. As the icy needles stopped falling, Wind Eagle was not entirely unconscious. ¡°Get up, Eagle! Fly up!¡± He Datou called urgently. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Wind Eagle struggled, using its wings to prop itself up and wobble to its feet. Meanwhile, Lubao, now nearly out of energy, was breathing heavily. She looked serious. ¡°Lu¡­¡± If she couldn¡¯t even defeat this guy, how could she beat that jerk Yabao? Qiao Sang quickly estimated Lubao¡¯s remaining energy and called out, ¡°Water Tail.¡± This wasn¡¯t some turn-based online game where you wait for the opponent to get ready before attacking. Strike while it¡¯s down was the real principle. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s eyes filled with determination, her expression serious, as she gathered her remaining energy and charged forward. As she ran, a blue energy surrounded her tail. Then she leaped and swung her tail hard at the struggling-to-rise Wind Eagle. ¡°Ah, Eagle!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± With a sad cry, Wind Eagle collapsed completely. ¡°Lu.¡± Standing ahead of the fallen Wind Eagle, Lubao wore an aloof expression. At the training ground, Sun Boyi was momentarily stunned before announcing, ¡°Wind Eagle is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins.¡± The senior team members looked complicated. They were all on the same team and familiar with each other¡¯s strengths. Until now, they hadn¡¯t thought winning was impossible. After all, the new student presentation matches Qiao Sang had participated in had mostly been against bookish types who hadn¡¯t seriously trained their pets. When you¡¯re just watching from the sidelines, it¡¯s easy to think, I could do that, too. The Flame Hound was strong, but He Datou¡¯s Blaze Gorilla had the Flameproof ability. Meteor Rain was impressive, but its multi-second casting time left it vulnerable to interruption by anyone in their team. No matter how powerful a skill, it¡¯s useless if you can¡¯t cast it. As for the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it had only recently evolved from a Treasure-Seeking Demon during the team¡¯s last show of strength. Newly evolved pets usually struggle to adapt, limiting their combat ability. And when it came to energy, newly evolved mid-level pets and those that had evolved a year ago were worlds apart. Even though Treasure-Seeking Demon had Shadow Control, it would be hard to control a pet with much greater energy and mass. And then, there¡¯s the psychic-type¡­ Well, let¡¯s not go there. But none of them could have guessed that Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon wouldn¡¯t even need to be summoned; her third pet would be enough to deal with He Datou. Incredible! Only two matches in, and the senior team members were completely impressed. ¡°Who¡¯s up next?¡± Sun Boyi asked, turning around. Xu Yixuan and Zhang Dezhou shook their heads furiously. Next? Anyone who wants to, go right ahead! ----- ----- Chapter 284: Forgive Me! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Not fighting? How could that be! Qiao Sang gathered her thoughts, intending to say something to spark some resentment. At that moment, Sun Boyi spoke up, "Although Qiao Sang is still a freshman, her performance just now was enough to showcase her strength. I believe none of you have any objections to her joining our senior-year team, right?" Aside from He Daitao, who looked completely dejected, the other senior team members all shook their heads. No objections? Does that mean there won¡¯t be any more matches? No way! That¡¯s absolutely unacceptable! "Ahem." Qiao Sang cleared her throat, trying to draw everyone''s attention. Before she could say anything, Sun Boyi continued, "Since everyone has no issues, tomorrow, once He Daitao''s pet recovers, along with Xu Yixuan and Zhang Dezhou, the three of you will compete. The one who loses will become the substitute." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having trained He Daitao and the others for over two years, Sun Boyi couldn''t deny he had an attachment to them. Naturally, he wanted these seniors to participate in their final National Campus Beast Mastering League. But this is a national competition; it''s not just about personal glory but also the school''s reputation. Therefore, the strongest should take precedence. He Daitao perked up at these words and responded loudly, "Understood!" He felt alive again! When he usually competed with Zhang Dezhou, their win ratio was about sixty-forty. Sixty for him, forty for Zhang Dezhou, an auspicious number! If he couldn''t beat the monstrous junior, surely he could beat Zhang Dezhou! Zhang Dezhou thought, "Heh." He didn¡¯t need to look at He Daitao; just hearing the excitement in his voice, he knew what was running through his head. "Ahem." Taking advantage of a pause, Qiao Sang cleared her throat twice more. However, Sun Boyi continued, "There¡¯s no need for extra words. In about a month, it will be the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Let''s train hard, just like usual." Realizing that it was Qiao Sang''s first time here and she didn''t know the regular training routine, Sun Boyi added, "Pair up, two-on-two for battles. Once you finish, switch opponents, rotating until everyone has competed against the other five. Then, form teams of three for an hour of group competition training. Once that¡¯s done, you can go home." "As for He Daitao, you should go to the infirmary today to have your pet treated." After speaking, Sun Boyi looked at Qiao Sang with concern and asked, "Is your throat a bit uncomfortable?" Qiao Sang paused for a couple of seconds before replying, "Feels just fine." --- Knowing that the upcoming sessions would all be battles, Qiao Sang decided against stirring up any drama. After all, they¡¯d be training together from now on, so getting along would be best. She wasn¡¯t a battle maniac; it was just that her points were forcing her into it. "Why do you all look so tired? Keep going!" Qiao Sang looked at her seniors, whose faces seemed to scream, "I can''t go on," after only a few rounds. It had only been an hour of battles! How could they be wiped out so quickly? As soon as Teacher Sun left, they lost all their steam?! "Yap!" Yabao, meanwhile, looked at the pets sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath, and called out with boundless enthusiasm. Stop lying down! Get up and keep battling! Everyone: ¡­ All the pets: ¡­ "Xun¡­" Little Treasure looked worn out, wearing a Let¡¯s just call it a day expression. "Yap!" Yabao, always obliging, nodded. If you¡¯re tired, rest. I¡¯ll take over! "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded emphatically, liking this idea! Hearing their conversation, Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure and said firmly, "No way. You''ve only fought three rounds; you need to battle at least two more. If you get injured, we have Lubao. If you¡¯re drained, we have energy recovery potions." Saying this, Qiao Sang glanced at Lubao, who was holding an energy potion with her paws, and smiled, "Isn¡¯t that right, Lubao?" "Lu." Lubao gave a high-pitched call, maintaining her composed expression as if to agree. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure gave Yabao a pitiful look, hoping for help. But Yabao simply nodded, looking completely supportive. "Yap Yap." Our Beast Tamer¡¯s arrangements are pretty on point. Little Treasure: ¡­ Not far away, Zhang Dezhou sat on the ground, legs spread out in defeat, and muttered lifelessly, "Junior, how about we take a break? We¡¯ve been at it non-stop, and it¡¯s taking a toll." The others nodded in quick agreement. Qiao Sang paused, "Senior, aren¡¯t you a member of the battle team?" Zhang Dezhou blinked, "Yes." Everyone had introduced themselves before training began, so Zhang Dezhou wasn¡¯t sure why she¡¯d suddenly asked this. Did she not remember? Or was she so captivated by his good looks that she wanted to ask again to make a lasting impression? Or perhaps she wanted to challenge him, thinking he was too weak for someone on the battle team? While Zhang Dezhou¡¯s thoughts wandered, Qiao Sang continued, "Aren''t you going to compete in the elimination rounds tomorrow? I remember Teacher Sun saying the loser would become the substitute. Aren¡¯t you nervous?" In other words: What¡¯s this talk of resting? With an elimination coming up tomorrow, shouldn¡¯t you be using this last bit of time to train? Zhang Dezhou froze for a few seconds. His face shifted, and he pushed himself off the ground, shouting to his pet, "Floating Bell! No more resting! Let¡¯s keep going!" Floating Bell: ¡­ Everyone else: . Qiao Sang nodded in approval. Now that¡¯s the spirit! The senior-year team¡¯s training was much more intense than that of the junior-year team, and they trained for a longer duration. By the time they left the campus after training, it was already completely dark. "Yabao, do you want to rest in the Beast Taming Codex?" Qiao Sang asked, noticing Yabao¡¯s exhausted expression. Earlier, she¡¯d been so thrilled with the steady stream of points coming in that she almost forgot Yabao wouldn¡¯t receive treatment from Lubao due to their current relationship. "Yap." Yabao shook his head weakly. It¡¯s just walking; he can manage. Qiao Sang: . Even shaking your head takes effort, and you still say that? Classic you. Qiao Sang began to consider. If Yabao and Lubao¡¯s relationship didn¡¯t improve soon, training efficiency would suffer. At this rate, if Yabao came back from school training this exhausted every time, she¡¯d feel bad asking him to practice skill releases at home. After all, there was only about a month left until the National Campus Beast Mastering League. "Stop following me! I don¡¯t want to see you anymore!" "What did I do wrong?" At that moment, voices of a man and woman arguing drifted over from the side of the street, and Qiao Sang instinctively looked over. "We agreed on 6:00 p.m., but it''s already 7:33 by the time you showed up. Did you fall asleep again? All you do is sleep; you''re as bad as your family''s Sprinting Pig!" "What¡¯s your deal today?!" "What¡¯s mine?" "You¡¯re yapping endlessly. You told me to come a bit later because you¡¯d need time for makeup." "I said a bit later, not an hour and a half!" "It was just a short nap. Who knew I''d oversleep?" "Either way, don¡¯t follow me anymore. I¡¯m sick of seeing you!" "Hey, come on!" The woman ignored him and turned to leave. Just when Qiao Sang thought the drama was over, the man sighed, formed a seal with his hands, and summoned a pet with long, bunny-like ears and an almost entirely orange body. "Chubby Drummer." He gestured toward the woman''s retreating back. "Drum drum." The pet with long ears understood, patting its belly and letting out a sound directed toward the woman like a sonic wave. After the energy wave reached her, the man ran over and grabbed her hand, saying, "Please forgive me!" She shot him a glare and said coquettishly, "No more next time!" Qiao Sang: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 285: Healing Soundwave Whoa. Honestly, Qiao Sang was stunned by the scene in front of her. They had been arguing so intensely, like they were about to break up, and now, just like that, they made up? What kind of skill is this? Qiao Sang glanced at the long-eared pet beast beside her, thinking for a moment. She realized she didn''t even know what this creature was called, let alone what kind of skill it possessed. Before she could think further, the man had already led the woman away, holding her hand, walking far off in the blink of an eye. Maybe they were truly in love, and the pet beast was just a coincidence. The man seemed to have completely forgotten he¡¯d summoned this pet beast. He was strolling hand in hand with the woman up ahead, while the long-eared creature trotted along behind. Seeing them about to walk out of sight, Qiao Sang quickly took out her phone, zoomed in with the camera, and snapped a picture of the pet beast''s back. Then she uploaded the photo online to search for information. Even though it was just a rear view, there weren''t many creatures with similar size, color, and features. Soon enough, Qiao Sang found details on this pet beast. Chubby Drummer, a Normal-type pet beast native to the region of Lianbo. Known for drumming its belly to produce various rhythmic beats. This creature possesses a natural sense of musical rhythm. Unfortunately, its drumbeats emit calming waves that make listeners feel at peace. No matter how explosive the beat, it just can¡¯t hype people up. So, basically, even if it drums away to some intense beat like ''Come on, Reverse War, Reverse War, here it comes, the Ace wants to go wild, roving the universe and leveling the world'', others would hear it as mellow as ''Do you remember when you said home was the only castle, and to keep running along the river of rice paddies¡­'' Qiao Sang snarked to herself. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looks like that¡¯s what made the woman forgive the man just now. This ability does seem to be a kind of healing skill. As she thought about it, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and her energy surged. Right! Why hadn¡¯t she thought of this before? With so many strange pet beast abilities in the world, there¡¯s bound to be a skill that would make Lubao forgive Yabao! That way, there¡¯d be no more tension in the team! And Yabao''s training efficiency could even improve before the upcoming National Campus Beast Mastering League! --- Back home, Qiao Sang immediately opened her computer. She first looked up various mood-altering skills but found none that would be suitable for Lubao. So, she logged into a forum and made her own post. #I have a friend who just went through a breakup and wants to let go of the past, forgive her ex, and become friends again, just in a platonic way. Any skill suggestions?# After a few seconds, a user replied: ¡°Imaginary friend?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Ignoring the response, Qiao Sang worked on some assignments, and when she checked back, her post had gathered more replies. ¡°Another ¡®I have a friend¡¯ post¡­¡± ¡°Why cling so much, OP? If it¡¯s over, let it be. Why stay friends?¡± ¡°Human Language Comprehension 101: ¡®I have a friend¡¯ = ¡®myself¡¯. ¡®A fair statement¡¯ = I¡¯m taking their side. ¡®Not a matter of money¡¯ = it¡¯s all about money.¡± Full marks for reading comprehension¡­ While impressed by this person¡¯s understanding, Qiao Sang felt it necessary to clarify. Just as she placed her hands on the keyboard, she noticed a few more earnest responses below, so she kept scrolling. ¡°How about mental hypnosis? It can subtly alter one¡¯s thinking.¡± Mental hypnosis would only be temporary. Although it could briefly change Lubao''s mind, once the effects wore off, Lubao would probably blow up¡­ Qiao Sang felt it wasn¡¯t reliable. ¡°What about Causal Rewrite? All causality laws can be rewritten, definitely meets OP''s needs.¡± Causal Rewrite? Could there really be such an incredible skill? Qiao Sang paused, typing Causal Rewrite into the search engine. ¡°Causal Rewrite: A legendary divine skill that can rewrite the laws of physics and alter causality, changing any applicable causality laws.¡± Note: Only a legend, never been seen. After reading just a few lines, Qiao Sang nearly threw her keyboard! Nothing practical at all! Qiao Sang silently vented for several seconds before returning to her assignments. After finishing, she couldn¡¯t resist checking the forum again. Maybe she¡¯d find something useful this time¡­ There were many more replies now. Scrolling down several pages, Qiao Sang finally stopped at one. ¡°Healing Soundwave can help calm someone¡¯s mood, letting them think clearly. You can take advantage of this peaceful state to talk to your ex and develop a purely platonic relationship. > Just a heads up: Once the effect wears off, you might regret it and want to smack yourself. But by that time, you two might already have a friendly bond. If you¡¯re okay with that, it should be fine. > Friendly reminder: I messed up my college entrance exam, so I rented a pet beast with Healing Soundwave to calm my mom down. It worked, and she even made me dinner, telling me not to worry. > But the effect only lasted an hour, and then you know the rest... Her anger exploded. But don¡¯t worry too much; our situations are different.¡± Isn¡¯t this the skill Chubby Drummer used on the way back? At first, Qiao Sang had considered using this on Lubao, but after looking up the skill in more detail at home, she saw its limitations. Its short duration means it can¡¯t be a one-and-done solution. If she rented a pet beast with Healing Soundwave, it¡¯d probably need to stay with them until the National Campus Beast Mastering League, and that wouldn¡¯t be cheap. Just as Qiao Sang silently dismissed the idea, she noticed a couple of replies below. ¡°The suggestion is good, but there aren¡¯t many pet beasts with Healing Soundwave. Although it¡¯s a mid-level skill, it¡¯s mostly a rare innate talent for a few species. You¡¯d probably have to post a bounty for it. To become just friends with an ex, the cost might not be worth it.¡± ¡°True, but it¡¯s not as rare as you¡¯re making it sound. ¡®Pet Beast Weekly¡¯ once wrote that any pet beast with a gentle temperament, a love of peace, and a good voice has a chance of learning Healing Soundwave.¡± Gentle temperament, peace-loving¡­ Why does that sound so familiar? Qiao Sang thought for a moment and froze. Isn¡¯t this exactly the description of Water Luriana she¡¯d seen online before?! And Lubao meets the vocal requirement too! Doesn¡¯t that mean Lubao has a chance of learning Healing Soundwave and could use it on herself and Yabao for healing? The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more this idea made sense! Time to act! Qiao Sang sprang up and quickly went to the yard, calling to Lubao, who was training. "Let''s learn a new skill!" "Lu? Chapter 286: Song of Healing Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Lubao was initially taken aback, then looked intrigued. "Lu lu!" What does learning a new skill represent? It means getting stronger! It means being one step closer to defeating Yabao! She¡¯s in! "Very good!" Qiao Sang was pleased with Lubao''s eagerness to learn and said, "This skill is called Healing Soundwave. It can make the target feel calm." "Lu lu." Upon hearing this, Lubao¡¯s expression instantly returned to her usual cool demeanor. With a flick of her tail, she turned around, ready to continue training. So it¡¯s not an attack skill¡­ not interested. Qiao Sang: ... "This skill is really powerful!" Qiao Sang called out. "Lu lu." Without looking back, Lubao gave a nonchalant response. No matter how powerful the skill is, if it can¡¯t defeat Yabao, it¡¯s useless. Not learning it. I thought you were just a keen learner, but it turns out you''re only interested in learning to defeat Yabao... Qiao Sang''s lips twitched before she said, "Who said learning this skill can''t help you beat Yabao?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lu lu?" Lubao stopped in her tracks and turned her head, showing a Really? expression. "Of course." Qiao Sang replied with a serious face. "If you want to defeat Yabao, only learning attack skills won¡¯t cut it. Defense, speed, and support skills can all play crucial roles in a battle." "Take your Healing Light, for example. Use it mid-battle, and isn¡¯t it super handy? Others would think you''re down, but then you¡¯d get up again, perfectly unscathed. That alone could drive your opponent crazy." "Lu lu..." Lubao looked thoughtful. Qiao Sang continued, "This Healing Soundwave I want you to learn may not be as powerful as Healing Light, but it can make the target feel calm." "Think about it. If you''re at a disadvantage in battle, you''d likely feel anxious. That anxiety could lead to mistakes, but Healing Soundwave can help ease your nerves." The more Qiao Sang spoke, the more sense it made, and her confidence grew. "Besides, Yabao usually fights more fiercely as the battle goes on. The main reason is its strong fighting spirit. If you use this skill on it mid-battle, its enthusiasm will be weakened." "Without that fighting spirit, its combat effectiveness would drop by at least half." "Yap Yap!" Just as Qiao Sang finished speaking, Yabao¡¯s laughter echoed from the living room. Lubao turned and looked through the glass, spotting Yabao watching TV and laughing while rolling on the floor, completely ignoring her. Here she was training hard, yet Yabao had no sense of urgency at all, clearly not taking her seriously as a rival! "Lu lu!" Lubao flicked her tail, looked at Qiao Sang with a serious expression, and made up her mind. She¡¯ll learn! Now that¡¯s the spirit! Qiao Sang was overjoyed but maintained an encouraging expression. She crouched down, patting Lubao on the head. "That''s more like it." "Lu lu." Lubao¡¯s tail swayed lightly, and she suddenly felt that listening to instructions wasn¡¯t so bad. Qiao Sang knew only that Lubao met the conditions to learn Healing Soundwave, but she had no idea how to teach it. Nonetheless, her imagination quickly took over: "I¡¯ll find some calming songs for you to listen to. Try channeling your energy into the melody and singing along. Who knows, you might learn it that way." "If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll come up with something else." "Lu lu." Lubao nodded. Immediately, Qiao Sang took Lubao to her room, opened her computer, and played a popular soothing song. "Watch the beast fall into the silent secret realm, listen to the roars echoing from afar..." Qiao Sang paused the song at this point and said, "Give it a try." "Lu lu." Lubao nodded, closed her eyes to gather her emotions, and when she opened them again, her gaze was filled with determination. She opened her mouth confidently. "Lulu~ Lulu lulu~ Lulu~ Lulu~ Lulu..." As soon as he started, Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. What? What is she singing?! The melody echoed in the room. "Lu lu." After finishing, Lubao looked at Qiao Sang with a confident expression, waiting for her feedback. Qiao Sang was silent. "Lu lu?" Lubao called again. Qiao Sang still didn¡¯t respond. "Lu lu!" Lubao pouted and tugged at Qiao Sang''s pants with her paw. Hurry up! Tell me how I did! Qiao Sang: ... Qiao Sang was internally crumbling. Of all the things, she didn¡¯t expect Lubao to be tone-deaf! Not just the kind that charges for performances, but the kind that¡¯s so bad it¡¯s dangerous! How can a voice so pleasant be this off-key? After a momentary silence, Qiao Sang steadied herself and said, half-truthfully, "Not bad. I was just... stunned by your singing." "Lu lu." Lubao looked relieved, as if that explained everything. She bought it! She actually bought it! Don¡¯t you have any self-awareness about your own singing? Qiao Sang screamed inwardly, but kept a calm exterior. "Practice this song a bit more. I¡¯ll check if there are other ways to learn Healing Soundwave." "Lu lu." Lubao responded confidently, signaling that she was sure she could master the skill this way, without needing additional methods. Qiao Sang: ... Of course she¡¯d still search. But, Healing Soundwave is usually an innate skill for certain species, so information on it was scarce. After searching for a long time, Qiao Sang found nothing useful. With no other options, she decided to sleep. Although Lubao''s Healing Light allowed people to stay up all night without feeling exhausted, Qiao Sang still felt that sleep was necessary. Balancing work and rest is key; it''s not like in her previous life when she was a high school senior, splitting her time to the minute. --- The next morning. When Qiao Sang opened her eyes, she found Little Treasure looking exhausted, eyes red and tearful. As soon as Little Treasure saw Qiao Sang awake, he threw himself into her arms, sobbing. "Xun!" "Xun Xun!" "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang was startled. "Why are you crying?" "Xun Xun!" With teary eyes, Little Treasure pointed to the courtyard, then to his own ears. Qiao Sang paused. "Are you saying Lubao sang all night?" "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure looked up with an aggrieved expression. That wasn¡¯t singing! That was an auditory attack! Qiao Sang: ... At that moment, Yabao sleepily opened his eyes. "Yap..." Yabao looked in Little Treasure''s direction, still half asleep. What¡¯s his little buddy crying about...? "Xun!" "Xun Xun!" Seeing Yabao awake, Little Treasure quickly pointed toward the courtyard again. Yabao, with his sharp hearing, surely heard it too! "Yap..." Yabao looked puzzled. Heard what? He didn¡¯t hear anything¡­ Little Treasure: ... Qiao Sang: ... Qiao Sang comforted, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll talk to Lubao. She won¡¯t be doing that again tonight." "Xun!" Upon hearing this, Little Treasure''s eyes sparkled with tears as he hugged Qiao Sang again. I trust you! --- At Shengshui High School. After finishing her morning classes, Qiao Sang remembered something and, instead of heading for lunch, walked to the entrance of Class 1-9. "Is Liu Qijia here?" ----- ----- Chapter 287: The Door Helmet The moment the girl appeared at Class Nine''s doorway, the noisy and playful students fell silent instantly. In Shengshui High School, if there¡¯s anyone who currently holds the title of most famous, it¡¯s definitely Qiao Sang. Yesterday, Qiao Sang had just joined the senior team, and by that evening, the news had spread to every student living on campus. When a figure like that appeared at their classroom door, everyone was understandably stunned. ¡°You know Qiao the Great?¡± A boy sitting next to Liu Qijia asked nosily. ¡°How come you never mentioned it?¡± Liu Qijia gave him a glance. ¡°Not really. We just both joined the brick-breaking event during the last sports meet.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. If you didn¡¯t know her, why would she come looking for you?¡± The boy looked at him with an expression that screamed, ¡°Do I look stupid to you?¡± ¡°Like Dai Shushu, who keeps claiming she knows Qiao the Great, but we¡¯ve never seen her come to find her, have we?¡± ¡°Believe it or don¡¯t.¡± Liu Qijia tossed the words over his shoulder as he walked towards the door. Everyone in the class turned to watch. Liu Qijia walked with confidence. Though he appeared calm, he couldn¡¯t deny feeling a bit smug, though the feeling quickly faded. ¡°Is the gold glove ready?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Liu Qijia weakly replied, ¡°I asked, but the money¡¯s not enough.¡± Qiao Sang looked at him quietly. In the silence, Liu Qijia felt himself wilting under her gaze. Unable to bear it, he blurted out, ¡°I just bought several huge tubs of energy powder to prep for the sports meet. I¡¯m really low on funds.¡± Qiao Sang could somewhat understand. Though gold wasn¡¯t the main currency these days, it was still widely accepted as a precious metal, and the price wasn¡¯t much different from her previous life. Since becoming a Beast Master, her allowance had increased significantly, but most of it went towards her pet beast, leaving little left over. And here was a high school student, whom she expected to buy a gold glove as big as her hand, that was indeed a bit challenging. After thinking for a while, Qiao Sang decided to be a good person. She was about to summon Little Treasure to show his tiny paws so Liu Qijia could base the glove¡¯s size on that. Just then, Liu Qijia said, ¡°I even told my parents about it, but my dad didn¡¯t believe me at all. He thinks I¡¯m trying to scam him out of money.¡± As he spoke, he suddenly got excited. ¡°How about you come home with me and prove it to him!¡± ¡°Prove what?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Prove that the Treasure-Seeking Demon really can use Brick-Breaking!¡± Liu Qijia said. ¡°My dad promised that if I really lost to a brick-breaking Treasure-Seeking Demon, he¡¯d never punish me again in this life, the next, or the one after that.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°And he¡¯ll pay for your gold glove!¡± Liu Qijia added. It actually sounded like a good deal, going there in exchange for a larger gold glove¡­ Qiao Sang thought it over and said, ¡°You board at school, right? How about we go this weekend?¡± At Shengshui High School, boarders were allowed to leave on weekends, as long as they returned at the designated time. Liu Qijia chuckled. ¡°Why wait until the weekend? Let¡¯s go today.¡± Qiao Sang was surprised. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a boarder?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Liu Qijia said meaningfully, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t stop me from going out.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? ¡°Wait here.¡± Liu Qijia called across the classroom, ¡°Xiang Chengfei, come here!¡± A cheerful voice responded, ¡°On my way!¡± Following the voice, Qiao Sang saw a boy with skin paler than most girls¡¯. Sitting next to him was a familiar face. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised to see Dai Shushu in Class Nine. With her grades, Dai Shushu could¡¯ve stayed in the Elite Class. But ever since the vice principal took charge of the senior team, a few top students each year were assigned to the Elite Class, sparking opposition from the teachers in Class Nine. Although Class Nine wasn¡¯t the Elite Class, it boasted high university acceptance rates thanks to its talented students. Occasionally, a standout student would even make it to top universities. Now that some exceptional students were being placed in the Elite Class each year, the university acceptance rate was no longer secure, and the teachers naturally weren¡¯t pleased. As a result, in recent years, top-ranking students from entrance exams or those with recommendation letters often ended up in Class Nine. Having been at Shengshui High School for over a month, Qiao Sang was well aware of this situation. Dai Shushu was holding a book, appearing to read, but anyone watching closely would notice that she hadn¡¯t turned a page since Qiao Sang arrived at the classroom door. Qiao Sang had no idea that Dai Shushu was so distracted by her presence. She just glanced over, then looked away. Though her academic scores might not rival Dai Shushu¡¯s, she no longer felt any urge to see her as competition. With different perspectives, goals change. Qiao Sang¡¯s only ambition now was to win first place in the senior national campus Beast Mastering League and earn a spot as an interstellar exchange student. At that moment, the boy named Xiang Chengfei ran over and asked Liu Qijia, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Liu Qijia placed a hand on his shoulder and lowered his voice, ¡°I¡¯m going out tonight. Same price, alright?¡± Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows at the exchange. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apparently, he had a special way of getting out. ¡°You¡¯re going out with Qiao the Great?¡± Xiang Chengfei glanced at Qiao Sang, quickly looking away when he found her watching. ¡°Yep.¡± Liu Qijia replied. ¡°Are you in or not?¡± ¡°Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Xiang Chengfei responded immediately. --- 7:33 p.m. As soon as training for the senior team ended, Qiao Sang went to their agreed spot. Behind the school warehouse, near the wall. Liu Qijia and Xiang Chengfei had been waiting for about ten minutes. Seeing Qiao Sang approach, Liu Qijia eagerly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Hurry up and summon your gatekeeper!¡± Liu Qijia urged Xiang Chengfei, ¡°I need to be back before curfew!¡± ¡°Chill.¡± Though Xiang Chengfei¡¯s words sounded calm, his hands moved quickly. A white star pattern appeared, and a pet beast emerged, a 30-cm creature with a brown, dome-like shell and four small paws. Qiao Sang recognized this pet beast. It was a Door Helmet, a ground-type pet with the door-opening ability. When it stuck to a surface, it could transform it into a door, allowing free passage. Once it detached, the surface would return to normal, leaving no trace. This made it popular among locksmiths, and Qiao Sang had seen it a few times. ¡°Gatekeeper, stick yourself to the wall.¡± Xiang Chengfei directed the Door Helmet. ¡°Door door.¡± The Door Helmet nodded, scurrying over to the wall and adeptly placing its front paws on it. ¡°Hurry, I need to get back for evening self-study.¡± Xiang Chengfei said, pushing the Door Helmet against the wall. The solid wall transformed instantly into a door shaped like the outline of the Door Helmet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Liu Qijia crawled through the small, 30-cm opening with all the grace of someone climbing through a dog door. Once outside, he popped his head back through the tiny doorway, calling, ¡°Qiao Sang, come on!¡± Qiao Sang stood silent for a moment before saying, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll use the main gate.¡± Liu Qijia: ??? Chapter 289: Three Years Who¡¯s going to kick the bucket? Who? Say it clearly! Just as Spike Warrior was about to question it, he suddenly realized something and froze, his face blank. In the next moment, he snapped back to reality, propping himself up on his hands and doing a handstand once more. ¡°Spike! Spike!¡± Spike Warrior, sensing the changes in his body, looked thrilled. He alternated between supporting himself on his left hand and right hand, switching back and forth as he did a single-handed handstand. ¡°Feel like you¡¯re in top health now?¡± Qiao Sang asked with a smile. ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Warrior finished the handstand, landed on his feet, and gave Qiao Sang a deep bow to express his gratitude. He understood that his injury had healed, all thanks to this human. ¡°Lu.¡± At that moment, Lubao stepped forward, calling out to acknowledge her presence. ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Warrior understood and bowed to Lubao as well. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao showed a satisfied expression. ¡°Xuuun.¡± Little Treasure floated forward, trying to join in the excitement. Spike Warrior glanced at Little Treasure and ignored him. Little Treasure: ¡­ Why is there no bow for me? ¡°Spike!¡± After bowing, Spike Warrior looked thrilled, his eyes gleaming, and then he eagerly ran off deeper into the building. ¡°Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head as he watched Spike Warrior''s retreating figure. Where did the scent go? Seeing Little Treasure¡¯s expression lifted Qiao Sang¡¯s mood entirely. Although she wasn¡¯t familiar with Spike Warrior, using a Healing Light that only consumed energy to save a young life was a worthwhile trade! Qiao Sang bent down to pick up Lubao, just about to head back when she saw Liu Qijia running over. ¡°Where did you go? You disappeared all of a sudden!¡± Liu Qijia panted. ¡°I was just here.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Liu Qijia: ¡­ With that answer, it made his question seem silly¡­ Liu Qijia grumbled inwardly. ¡°Little Treasure ran off, so I chased him here.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked innocently. Liu Qijia glanced at the mischievous little ghost pet and decided it was best not to delve into why it ran off. If he got too curious and caught its attention, it might be a problem, this was a ghost-type pet, after all¡­ ¡°Forget it; let¡¯s hurry¡­¡± Liu Qijia started to say, but his eyes landed on the pet in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, and he paused. ¡°Is that your third contracted pet?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°It looks pretty¡­¡± Liu Qijia reached out to pet it. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s tail slapped his hand. ¡°¡­feisty.¡± Liu Qijia pulled back, choosing his words carefully. ¡°We should go find your dad. Don¡¯t you need to get back to school in time for bed check?¡± Qiao Sang reminded him. ¡°Right! Right!¡± Liu Qijia nodded, leading the way. ¡°I called my dad earlier; he¡¯s in the aerobic training area.¡± Liu Qijia said as they walked. ¡°Do you have a phone on you?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Nope.¡± Liu Qijia replied, ¡°I ran into a family friend, and he let me use his phone.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t say anything further. As they walked, Liu Qijia kept sneaking glances at the pet in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms before he finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s this pet¡¯s name? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen it before.¡± ¡°Ice Qiya, a pet from the Ancient Guwu Region.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°No wonder¡­¡± Liu Qijia said, a look of realization on his face. No wonder he hadn¡¯t seen it before, it was from the Ancient Guwu Region. If this cute creature were local, every girl around here would probably have one¡­ As they chatted, Liu Qijia stopped at a door. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± He opened the door and entered, with Qiao Sang following behind. As soon as she stepped in, she saw Spike Warrior. ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Warrior was glaring angrily at a middle-aged man. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to contact your beastmaster.¡± The man sighed, ¡°But your beastmaster already told me he¡¯s busy in another region for the next few months. He said I should only message if needed, not call.¡± ¡°I send him a message every day. He¡¯s probably too busy to notice, but once he does, he¡¯ll reach out, and I¡¯ll tell you as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Warrior looked anxious, doing a handstand and constantly switching between his left and right hands to show that he was perfectly fine now. ¡°I know you¡¯re better now.¡± The man¡¯s eyes softened with pity as he sighed. ¡°I tried contacting your beastmaster just now, but he didn¡¯t answer.¡± ¡°Spike¡­¡± Spike Warrior stopped his handstand, a devastated look on his face. He seemed lost and despondent as he slowly walked out of the room. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s nose twitched as he watched Spike Warrior¡¯s back, and his eyes lit up. That scent is back! Qiao Sang noticed Little Treasure¡¯s reaction and let her thoughts wander. Lubao had just used Healing Light on Spike Warrior, there was no way it would wear off in less than ten minutes. So the scent that had drawn Little Treasure earlier might not have been death energy after all¡­ At least no one else noticed, so it¡¯s not awkward¡­ Qiao Sang comforted herself. ¡°Lu.¡± No one noticed that Lubao, watching Spike Warrior leave, seemed thoughtful. ¡°Dad!¡± Liu Qijia called out. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± The middle-aged man, Liu¡¯s father, turned to Qiao Sang. ¡°Is this your top student friend?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Qijia nodded. ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Qiao Sang greeted politely. ¡°Hello.¡± Liu¡¯s dad smiled awkwardly. ¡°Feel free to sit.¡± If you want me to sit, there should at least be a chair! Qiao Sang glanced around the room, noticing the lack of any seating. ¡°I¡¯ll just stand.¡± Liu¡¯s dad noticed the problem and laughed awkwardly. ¡°Son, go grab a few chairs.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Liu Qijia replied, leaving the room. The atmosphere turned awkward as silence fell. The father tried to speak several times but seemed uncertain of what to say. To be honest, he was only used to rough, straightforward company aside from his wife, he rarely interacted with women, let alone delicate young girls like Qiao Sang. Finally, Qiao Sang broke the silence. ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s the story with that Spike Warrior?¡± ¡°Oh, him." Liu¡¯s dad replied. ¡°He¡¯s a pet that a beastmaster left in our care. He was just hoping I could contact his beastmaster to come pick him up.¡± So it was a pet in foster care¡­ Qiao Sang understood. If beastmasters couldn¡¯t keep up with the training demands for all their pets or had other real-life obligations, they often chose to leave their pets at specialized training centers for extended training. ¡°Has his beastmaster not picked him up in a long time?¡± Qiao Sang asked. After a pause, Liu¡¯s dad replied, ¡°Quite a while¡­ three years.¡± Chapter 290: The Song Is Useful? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Three years? Qiao Sang was shocked. Beastmasters typically entrusted their beasts to beast training centers for short periods, daycare, weekly care, maybe a month at most. She had never heard of long-term care spanning years! And this was a full three-year stint! Three years! How many three-year spans does one have in life? For young beasts, three years could mean half their lives. If Lubao hadn¡¯t evolved back then, she might have only had three more years before her time was up, a huge portion of her short life! No normal Beastmaster would ever make such a decision! ¡°Have they really not come to see it in all this time?¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Yeah.¡± Liu¡¯s father nodded. ¡°To be exact, it¡¯s almost three and a half years. They¡¯ve paid the boarding fees every year, but haven¡¯t shown up once.¡± Great, so it¡¯s been even longer than three years. ¡°Could it be that they¡¯re¡­gone?¡± Qiao Sang speculated. From her perspective, unless the Beastmaster had passed away, she couldn¡¯t imagine any reason why they wouldn¡¯t come to see their own beast in three years. Liu¡¯s father¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°He¡¯s still alive, actually. He lives just two kilometers away in Tianjing One. He comes back every New Year, but hasn¡¯t stopped by to see Jianzhan at all.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s initial question already had her realizing that her assumption was off. If a Beastmaster had died, no matter how far away, their bonded beast would immediately sense it. Jianzhan wouldn¡¯t be standing around foolishly waiting for a Beastmaster who was no longer alive. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang¡¯s second guess was that Jianzhan¡¯s Beastmaster might be stuck somewhere due to an emergency, but she hadn¡¯t expected he¡¯d come back every year and still not check on Jianzhan. This left her a bit baffled. Frowning, she asked, ¡°Why?¡± Perhaps because the young girl before him didn¡¯t come off as an immature high schooler, or maybe he just needed to get it off his chest, Liu¡¯s father shared his thoughts. After a brief silence, he said, ¡°Most Beastmasters who board their beasts here are nearby residents. I haven¡¯t had much interaction with Spike Warrior¡¯s Beastmaster, but I¡¯ve heard a bit from people who stop by.¡± ¡°Apparently, a few years back, that guy hit it big and formed a bond with a Fairy-type beast in a secret realm. Since then, he¡¯s poured all his attention into that beast, neglecting the ones he bonded with previously.¡± ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the Fairy-type beast didn¡¯t get along well with Spike Warrior. Later, Spike Warrior sustained an injury in a battle, which wasn¡¯t treated promptly, leading to lingering issues. Even if it heals, high-intensity training could trigger a relapse.¡± ¡°So, he sent Spike Warrior here. Seeing as he hasn¡¯t visited in over three years, I think it¡¯s fair to say he¡¯s abandoned it.¡± ¡°Some people are like that. Once they get a favorite beast, the others just feel like burdens.¡± ¡°But they¡¯ve already formed a bond, and while they can¡¯t break it, they don¡¯t want to invest in caring for the others. So they send them off somewhere.¡± ¡°Like here.¡± As Liu¡¯s father spoke, his tone grew heavier. ¡°As long as the beast stays alive, it¡¯s fine by them. If it evolves, even better, they¡¯re only paying a bit of money and don¡¯t consider what their bond means to the beast!¡± Qiao Sang stayed silent, tightening her hold on Lubao slightly. Lubao looked uncomfortable but didn¡¯t struggle or make a sound. She simply glanced up at Qiao Sang, seeming to sense her mood, and cleared her throat. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Next to them, Little Treasure had a look of panic and hurriedly tugged at a strand of Qiao Sang¡¯s hair. Stop daydreaming! Something¡¯s happening! Qiao Sang snapped back to attention and rubbed the spot on her head that was tugged, wincing. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure, trembling, pointed a paw at Lubao. The moment he did, Lubao opened her mouth: ¡°Lu lu~¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Qiao Sang: !!! What the heck! Why are you singing all of a sudden? And why does it sound worse than yesterday?! Qiao Sang instinctively covered Lubao¡¯s mouth. Please! Stop singing! ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stopped singing, gazing up at Qiao Sang with a questioning look. Feeling uncertain, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let go, but don¡¯t start singing again.¡± Lubao nodded. Relieved, Qiao Sang let go. ¡°Lu?¡± After being released, Lubao called out, maintaining her usual aloof look. But if one looked closely, they¡¯d notice a hint of seriousness in her gaze. Is that better? Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Better¡­how?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao responded. Your mood. Realizing what Lubao was getting at, Qiao Sang was surprised to find that her earlier discomfort had completely disappeared. She was stunned. What?! Could its song actually have an effect?! Did it just master a healing soundwave?! If Little Treasure knew what his Beastmaster was thinking, he might just have a heart attack on the spot. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sighed wearily beside them. He had no idea if his master was feeling better, but he definitely was not¡­ Just then, Liu¡¯s father looked at Lubao with a pale face and asked, ¡°What kind of beast is this? Why did it suddenly use a soundwave attack?¡± ¡°Yan!¡± On the sidelines, a beast that had been doing a stable one-handed handstand suddenly wobbled for the first time that day due to Lubao¡¯s song. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Lu!¡± Before Qiao Sang could answer, Lubao turned to glare at Liu¡¯s father. A soundwave attack? It was a healing soundwave! A healing skill! ¡°It¡¯s an Ice Qiya, a beast from the Ancient Guwu Region.¡± Qiao Sang introduced. As she finished speaking, Liu Qijia and his Power Monkey entered, carrying three chairs. ¡°Dad, Qiao Sang¡¯s the one who beat me with her Treasure-Seeking Demon in the bare-handed Brick-Breaking event I told you about.¡± Liu Qijia said as he placed a chair beside Qiao Sang. ¡°You didn¡¯t believe me, so now that she¡¯s here, let her Treasure-Seeking Demon demonstrate its Brick-Breaking move for you.¡± After saying this, he gave Qiao Sang a meaningful look that clearly said, It¡¯s all up to you now! Qiao Sang was taken aback, remembering her original reason for coming here. Oh wow, she had almost forgotten about the golden glove! ¡°Really?!¡± Liu¡¯s father looked astonished, as if his whole understanding of the world had been shaken. Qiao Sang, however, was calm. ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded serenely and said, ¡°Uncle, can my Treasure-Seeking Demon demonstrate now? I still need to get home and finish my homework.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure floated forward, flexing his paws with a ready to go expression. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced at Qiao Sang, then at Little Treasure, before turning toward the door. After looking at it for a few seconds, Lubao jumped down from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and headed outside. ----- ----- Chapter 288: Dont Worry, You Wont Die "Take the main entrance?" Liu Qijia froze, unable to wrap his mind around it for a moment. The first thought that popped into his head was: What kind of skill could possibly allow someone to boldly walk right under the security guard''s nose?! He knew that the school gates were equipped with motion sensors, and any movement would trigger an alert in the security office. Even if the guard was away, say, taking a bathroom break, anyone trying to leave through unconventional means would be spotted by the round-the-clock surveillance cameras. These were lessons learned from the blood, sweat, and tears of countless freshmen! Yet here was Qiao Da calmly suggesting just walk through the main entrance as if it were nothing! No wonder they called her the legend who taught the Treasure-Seeking Demon to Brick-Breaking! She was pulling off something that no other freshman could ever do, and with such ease! Liu Qijia lay on the ground, looking up at Qiao Sang. At that moment, her figure seemed larger than life. Just then, Xiang Chengfei asked Qiao Sang, "Are you sure it''s okay for you to take the main entrance?" "No problem. I''m a day student." Qiao Sang replied. Liu Qijia: ... --- Hongjiang District, at the Libo Training Gym. As a gym dedicated to training combat-type pets, it was full of combat-type creatures and their Beast Masters. Combat-type pets were unique in that their trainers could train right alongside them. In one room of the gym, a middle-aged man was doing a one-handed handstand, with a pet next to him mirroring the same move. "Switch." The man effortlessly shifted from his right hand to his left as he spoke. "Yan Yan." The pet beside him also switched to its left hand in sync. In a corner, a pet with a sandy-yellow body, a pointed spike on its head, and bandages around its wrists and ankles, attempted to mimic the middle-aged man¡¯s handstand. It first placed both hands on the ground, pressing its head down slowly, attempting to do a handstand. After it managed to get into the handstand position, it gingerly withdrew its left hand. Immediately, a pained expression crossed its face. A second later... Bang! It lost its balance and fell straight to the ground. "Spikey..." The pet, covered in bandages, looked dejected. The noise drew the attention of the middle-aged man. "Spike Warrior, why are you in here again? Didn''t I tell you not to train right now and to rest for a couple of days?" The man said, still in a handstand, addressing the bandaged pet. "Yan Yan." The pet doing the handstand nodded in agreement. "Spike..." Spike Warrior lowered its head, looking weighed down, with no spirit left. Seeing this, the man ended his handstand, grabbed a water bottle from the nearby table, took a few sips, and said to Spike Warrior: "Don''t worry. Injuries are something every combat-type pet has to go through. You''ll recover." "Spike..." Spike Warrior didn¡¯t seem comforted. It hung its head and trudged out of the room. "Yan Yan..." The pet still doing a handstand looked worried. "I know." The man sighed. "It''s not a physical issue. It¡¯s an emotional one. Only its Beast Master can help it through this." At that moment, a shrill phone ringtone broke the silence. The man picked up his phone from the table, noticing that the caller ID read Old Fang. He answered the call. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s me!¡± --- ¡°This is where my dad works.¡± Liu Qijia pointed to a building with a Libo Training Gym sign. ¡°My dad is usually here training pets. At this time, he probably hasn''t gone home yet.¡± With that, he walked inside. A Beast Master specializing in training combat-type pets¡­ Qiao Sang recalled Zhang Shuzhou¡¯s introduction of Liu Qijia¡¯s dad as she followed behind. Just then, Little Treasure perched on her head twitched his nose, as if smelling something enticing. He drifted off, looking enraptured. Liu Qijia had only taken a few steps into the gym when a burly man approached and greeted him: "Hey, isn¡¯t this Old Liu''s son? What brings you here? Don¡¯t you have school?" Liu Qijia replied without missing a beat, "No evening classes today. I''m just here with a friend to see my dad. Uncle Fang, where¡¯s my dad?" Instead of answering, Uncle Fang asked, "A friend? Where''s your friend?" Liu Qijia froze, glancing around, suddenly bewildered. Where did Qiao the Great go?! "Just call your dad." Uncle Fang finally answered. "He¡¯s around here somewhere, but I¡¯m not sure which room he¡¯s in." --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, following Little Treasure, called out, "Where are you going?" She was baffled. What was up with the Little Treasure? Why did he suddenly drift away? ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sniffed the air, drifting in a certain direction. After a while, he stopped in a corner. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure pointed excitedly at a pet practicing a handstand in the corner. This guy smells amazing! I want to absorb it! Qiao Sang was initially taken aback, then looked at the pet in the corner in shock. Could it be that the Spike Warrior was close to death?! Qiao Sang recognized the pet right away. The Spike Warrior, a combat-type, beginner-level pet that spins like a top in battles. When it spins at high speeds, its head spike can drill straight into the ground. It was incredibly resilient, able to survive in any environment. Logically, a Spike Warrior should at least be able to evolve into an intermediate-level pet; it shouldn¡¯t be on the verge of death so young, Qiao Sang thought. But after hearing the Little Treasure, she instantly recalled the old woman and her Ghost Lamp from her first mission. Back then, Little Treasure had also wanted to absorb. What attracted him then had been death energy. While Qiao Sang was lost in thought, the Spike Warrior attempted a one-handed handstand with its right hand but wobbled, failing to last two seconds. Bang! The Spike Warrior fell again. In that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s guess was confirmed. A combat-type pet like Spike Warrior, normally, a handstand should be no challenge. Failing to hold it for even two seconds was telling. Qiao Sang looked at the Spike Warrior with a complicated expression. This... it was still just a kid! "Spike..." The Spike Warrior slumped in defeat, looking heartbroken. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, it heard a human voice. "Lubao, hit it with a Healing Light." "Lu." Before the Spike Warrior could react, a bright blue light bathed it. "Spike?" The Spike Warrior froze, feeling a warm sensation flow through it. It felt... somehow different. When the blue light faded, the person who had spoken stood before it and said, "Don''t worry, you¡¯re not going to die." Spike Warrior: ??? Chapter 291: A Long-Awaited Peace Lubao searched outside for two minutes. Soon enough, at the exact spot where it had just been summoned, she saw the figure she was looking for. ¡°Lu.¡± Luobao stepped forward and called out. ¡°Spike¡­¡± Squatting in the corner with its knees held tight, Spike Warrior looked up with a dazed expression, its eyes unfocused, as if its mind was wandering. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Seeing this, Lubao didn¡¯t waste any time. She cleared her throat. ¡°Spike¡­¡± Spike Warrior was still in a daze. However, in the next second, Spike Warrior¡¯s eyes suddenly focused. It covered its ears, a look of agony on its face. What¡¯s up with this guy?! Why suddenly attack it like this?! ¡°Lu~ Lulululu~ Lulu~ Lululu~ Lu~¡± Lubao sang seriously. ¡°Spike!¡± Jianjian painfully covered its ears. It wanted to attack and stop this noise that was worse than any racket. But recognizing that the creature before it was the one who had just healed it, Spike Warrior hesitated and chose not to strike. After two minutes, once Lubao had finished singing the whole song, Jianjian leaned against the wall, looking utterly drained. Fi¡­ finally, it was over¡­ ¡°Lu lu?¡± Eyes closed, lost in her own singing, Lubao opened her eyes and saw the battle-worn Spike Warrior standing before her. Pausing for a moment, she stepped closer and asked if Jianjian felt any better. ¡°Spike!¡± Jianjian shrank back in horror. When it realized it was backed up against the wall with no way out, it clung tightly to the wall, nodding furiously. As long as she didn¡¯t sing! It felt perfectly fine! ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao glared at Spike Warrior, indignant. Did it really think her singing was bad? ¡°Spike!¡± Seeing the look that promised more singing if it admitted otherwise, Spike Warrior decided to ignore its conscience. Yet, clearly, lying wasn¡¯t Spike Warrior¡¯s strong suit. Though it was saying nice words, Spike Warrior¡¯s body was quite honestly shaking its head. ¡°Lu!¡± Sensitive to others¡¯ emotions, Lubao noticed Spike Warrior¡¯s insincerity. With an angry flick of her tail, she turned to leave but stopped, seemingly remembering something. She turned back and called out. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Your trainer isn¡¯t a good person; you should leave him. Usually calm, Spike Warrior¡¯s expression changed instantly, it was furious, even though it didn¡¯t have fur to bristle. ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Warrior glared at Lubao, clearly forbidding it to badmouth its trainer. Lubao, who wasn¡¯t the type to meddle, looked at Spike Warrior¡¯s reaction with a hint of disappointment and didn¡¯t say more. With a swish of her tail, she turned to leave once more. This time, she had no intention of looking back. ¡°Spike¡­¡± Watching Lubao¡¯s retreating figure, Spike Warrior was stunned for a moment, then ran after it, extolling the virtues of its trainer. ¡°Spike!¡± ¡°Spike!¡± He chose me out of a whole group of others! His smile is wonderful! He always gives me good food! He takes me out to play! He lifts me high in his arms! He¡¯s only busy right now! But he¡¯s a very good trainer! Although Lubao didn¡¯t stop, she was listening the whole time. Without reacting, she kept walking back toward the room she had just left. ¡°Spike¡­¡± Spike Warrior stayed outside the door, looking lost and uncertain as if it had no idea where to go. --- ¡°Lu¡­¡± The moment Lubao entered the room, she saw Little Treasure eagerly pounce into their trainer¡¯s arms. Apparently, when Little Treasure performed a move earlier, Dad Liu immediately agreed to fund the purchase of golden gloves. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Qiao Sang held Little Treasure, smiling as she turned toward Lubao. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao¡¯s expression showed surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected her trainer to know she had gone out. Qiao Sang gave Lubao a warm smile and then turned to Dad Liu, saying, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll be heading off now.¡± ¡°Why are you leaving so soon?¡± Liu Dad asked warmly. ¡°There¡¯s a great restaurant nearby. Let me treat you to a meal!¡± ¡°No, thanks." Qiao Sang declined. ¡°I still have homework to do.¡± Dad Liu was momentarily stunned before he remembered that Qiao Sang was the same age as his son. He shot a look of disappointment at Liu Qijia. They were both fifteen! Look at Qiao Sang! Not only had a Treasure-Seeking Demon evolved, but it had even learned fighting moves! If Liu Qijia could read his father¡¯s thoughts, he¡¯d probably roll his eyes. It¡¯s not the same. Qiao Sang already has three beasts. After declining Dad Liu¡¯s offer to be driven to the Libo training center, Qiao Sang stepped outside. Liu Qijia, looking thrilled, followed closely behind. Anyone would think he¡¯d been the one who got the golden gloves. Just as he was about to reach the door, Dad Liu suddenly asked, ¡°Qijia, how did you get here? Did you skip evening study?¡± Liu Qijia¡¯s face fell instantly. He frantically gestured to Qiao Sang for help. Qiao Sang gave him a look of helpless sympathy, and left without a word. Liu Qijia: !!! --- ¡°Were you just checking on Spike Warrior?¡± Qiao Sang asked with a smile, lifting Lubao. ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao raised her head with a blank look. How did her trainer know that? ¡°Because I¡¯m smart.¡± Qiao Sang shamelessly ruffled Lubao¡¯s head. Lubao stayed silent. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see it again?¡± Qiao Sang suggested. ¡°You seemed distracted after you came back; you must still be thinking about it.¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao tossed her head defiantly. She was not! Seeing the humor in her behavior, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Ever since Lubao evolved, it had been a while since she¡¯d seen so much expression on her face. ¡°I bet Spike Warrior isn¡¯t feeling great right now. You could use Healing Soundwaves on it.¡± Qiao Sang suggested. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Mentioning it only made Lubao angrier. That creature actually disliked her singing! Qiao Sang thought for a moment. ¡°I think you have talent in practicing Healing Soundwaves, at least it worked on me just now.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stared blankly at Qiao Sang. ¡°Maybe Spike Warrior is feeling very sad right now, so it¡¯s harder to heal. If you focus a bit more, it might actually work.¡± Qiao Sang continued. Little Treasure: ??? Seriously? Was his trainer for real?! No one with ears would believe that! Lubao believed it. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao nodded with determination. She was willing to try again! Little Treasure: ¡­ Let¡¯s just end this. It¡¯s hopeless. On the way to find Spike Warrior, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Healing Soundwaves work because they carry the beast¡¯s peaceful energy, helping the recipient feel the same peace, creating the healing effect.¡± ¡°When you find Spike Warrior, think of world peace, long-lasting harmony, and let those feelings flow into your song.¡± ¡°I believe that Spike Warrior will feel it.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao gazed at her trainer in a daze. At that moment, she thought her voice was very pleasant. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao snapped out of it and nodded seriously. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure silently mourned for Spike Warrior. Spike Warrior wasn¡¯t hard to find; it was still squatting in the corner. ¡°Spike¡­¡± Jianjian sat with its knees hugged close, its gaze distant. Its world felt cloaked in darkness. Honestly, it was starting to doubt its own words. They felt like memories from long, long ago. Scenes of time spent with its trainer flashed in its mind. Slowly, the images blurred, then fractured. Jianjian stayed curled up, motionless, with not a glimmer in its eyes. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, it heard a song drifting from a distance. ¡°Lu~ Lulululu~ Lulu~ Lululu~¡± ¡°Spike¡­¡± With a puzzled expression, Jianjian raised its head. The darkness around it shattered. Moonlight poured in, and the wind stirred the nearby flowers and grass. In that moment, it felt a long-lost peace. Chapter 292: You Dont Need to Understand Q: What¡¯s your opinion on Little Lubao¡¯s sudden mastery of healing sound waves? Little Treasure: Xun! Xun Xun! Xun Xun! --- ¡°Xun...¡± Little Treasure slowly lowered the paw that had been covering his ears, his expression of shock gradually turning serene with the song. It turned out Lubao could actually sing well... Seems like his ears won¡¯t have to suffer anymore. How nice... Qiao Sang also wore a peaceful expression. It worked¡­ Looks like Lubao will be able to heal Yabao in the future. How nice... Spike Spike... The Spike Warrior also had a calm expression Now that it thought about it, its trainer probably didn¡¯t need it anymore... How nice... like hell it was! Spike Spike! Spike Warrior shook its head, trying to rid itself of the thought that had just flashed through its mind. Terrifying! It was too terrifying! How could it think its trainer didn¡¯t need it anymore? Spike! The evening breeze blew, and a shiver ran through Spike Warrior. Unable to bear the thought any longer, it ran off. "Lu Lu..." Lubao looked on, showing a disappointed expression. ¡°Why that face? Didn¡¯t it work out?¡± Qiao Sang snapped out of her daze, rubbing Lubao¡¯s head. "Lu?" Lubao looked up, confused. Did it work? ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°From the way Spike Warrior acted, it¡¯s clear the healing soundwaves worked, even if only for a short time. He just recovered a little quickly, that¡¯s all.¡± "Lu..." Lubao looked disappointed again. So, the healing sound waves didn¡¯t make much difference after all... Qiao Sang glanced in the direction Spike Warrior had disappeared and said softly, ¡°It absolutely made a difference. Although the healing soundwave only lasted briefly, in that moment, he confronted a truth he hadn¡¯t dared admit before, and that¡¯s enough.¡± To be honest, as trainers develop their mental capacity and contract more beasts, even if they keep them all around, they¡¯ll have certain preferences. Whether based on appearance, talent, contract length, or the benefits they bring, trainers usually show varying degrees of favoritism. Qiao Sang had heard of this before. But it was her first time seeing a trainer like Spike Warrior¡¯s, who had ignored him for over three years. A trainer can have many beasts in their lifetime, but a beast usually only has one trainer. Though Spike Warrior¡¯s trainer had all but abandoned him, Qiao Sang never thought of canceling their contract. One reason was that Spike Warrior was still a basic-level beast. And his trainer, aside from anything else, definitely had another fairy-type beast in his care. To put it mildly, even if he had only contracted two beasts, his mental capacity must be at least 20%, meaning a basic-level beast like Spike Warrior wouldn¡¯t have the power to break the contract alone. Another reason was that beasts who actively or forcibly break a contract face harsh consequences. Forcibly breaking a contract would severely harm the beast¡¯s innate talents and strength. Finding another trainer afterward would be almost impossible. Online statistics show that it¡¯s about as likely as winning the lottery, a first place win, at that. Trainers assess beasts¡¯ potential based on staff descriptions and physical traits. For a beast that¡¯s broken a contract, no evaluation is needed; its future potential is understood to be bleak. Even if a trainer were willing to take on such a beast, it would usually be due to financial constraints. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such a trainer, there¡¯d be no hope of evolution, and even securing a full meal could be a challenge. Most contract-broken beasts end up in two scenarios. They either wander the streets, eventually taken in by patrol units and sent to beast shelters, where they¡¯d likely stay forever. Or they¡¯re released into a wilderness zone. Having grown up in human care, adjusting to a survival-of-the-fittest environment is nearly impossible, with even finding a safe place to sleep a luxury. Although Spike Warrior¡¯s trainer may have abandoned him, at least his training, food, and lodging are secure. All Qiao Sang can do is help Spike Warrior face reality sooner and let go of his trainer. The truth may be harsh, but once accepted, it becomes easier over time. Once Spike Warrior moves past his longing for his trainer and focuses on himself, he¡¯ll be able to live a freer life. "Xun?" At this point, Little Treasure made a noise, signaling confusion. Wouldn¡¯t that be really painful? Lubao looked up, echoing the question with a glance. Under the moonlight, Qiao Sang, with Little Treasure on her head, held Lubao as they walked out of the Libo Training Hall. Her gentle voice echoed under the warm streetlights: ¡°You don¡¯t need to understand; this is something you won¡¯t experience. For now, let¡¯s head home. Yabao is probably eager to come out.¡± "Xun~" "Lu..." --- Three days later. ¡°Lubao, use Healing Light on Yabao.¡± "Lu." Lubao turned away. Not a chance. ¡°How¡¯s your healing soundwave training going? Use it once, let me see.¡± "Lu¡« Lu Lu Lu Lu¡« Lu Lu Lu¡« Lu" ¡°Lubao, use Healing Light on Yabao.¡± "Lu Lu." Lubao nodded. "Yap..." Under the healing light, Yabao showed a content expression. ¡°Yabao, let¡¯s continue training.¡± "Yap!" "Lu..." Watching her trainer and Yabao walk away, Lubao¡¯s expression turned perplexed. How did she end up treating Yabao again?! Three days! Yabao trains at school, then at home; when will she ever surpass him? "Lu!" Determined, Lubao buried herself in training again. No way! Since Yabao was training, Lubao needed to step up too! Qiao Sang led Yabao to an open space in the courtyard and said, ¡°Yabao, when you train with Little Treasure, avoid using Teleport and Meteor Rain. Focus on dodging instead of countering with abilities.¡± Ever since seeing the ten-clawed crab kick a shuttle cock at the sports meet, Qiao Sang had wanted to train Yabao¡¯s coordination. But training fire abilities wouldn¡¯t help with long-distance control of his clone. To improve control, training coordination with the body and energy is essential. Training battles help with this, though unfortunately, Yabao tends to finish battles too quickly for it to be effective. So, they¡¯ll restrict his abilities, no Teleport or Meteor Rain. Coordination is the body¡¯s ability to respond correctly in any unexpected situation. Good coordination requires muscle and joint conditioning. If Yabao used Teleport, none of this would be trained. And with Meteor Rain well, let¡¯s just say they¡¯d need Lubao for healing immediately afterward. "Yap!" Hearing her instructions, Yabao nodded seriously. ¡°Little Treasure, you need to go on the offensive more. Stop just dodging.¡± Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure. "Xun!" Little Treasure patted his chest with a golden-gloved paw, signaling, No problem at all. Chapter 293: The Breeding Shop Once Qiao Sang moved to a safe location, the training battle began immediately. Boom! A massive fireball shot out, exploding mid-air, filling the dim courtyard with a bright, fierce light. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure instantly teleported to the other side, raised one short toe towards Yabao in a provocative gesture, then turned and shook his rear as if to taunt, Come on, keep going! Qiao Sang: ... Well, Little Treasure is getting more skilled at taunting. Who''s he been practicing with lately? At that moment, in the cracks along the courtyard wall, a dozen black ant heads peeked out, filled with both fear and hatred towards Little Treasure. Taunting attracts resentment and provokes anger, which can be useful in team battles to draw fire or put the target in a reckless state. Yabao, already quick-tempered, had somewhat mellowed after forming a bond with Qiao Sang, but only because he hadn''t met anyone who could get under his skin, until now. "Yap!" Yabao bared his sharp teeth. Seems like Little Treasure needs a lesson to remember who''s boss! Yabao summoned his duplicates, dozens of identical flame hounds opening their mouths in unison to launch brilliant, devastating fireballs straight toward Little Treasure. The courtyard lit up as if it were daytime. Boom, boom, boom!!! Fireballs fell from the sky, each leaving a massive crater on the ground. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure, thoroughly rattled, teleported repeatedly to dodge. He had just avoided one fireball larger than his own body, only to find another one barreling toward him the instant he appeared in a new location. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± When he reappeared, Little Treasure wore a helpless, almost tearful expression. Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a training exercise? Why is Big Brother Yabao being so intense?! Ding-dong~ Amid the continuous explosions, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t notice the doorbell ringing for almost a full minute. ¡°What¡¯s going on with this kid, not even answering the phone?¡± Ye Xiangting set her phone aside, frowning. ¡°Coo...¡± Her plump Fat Dove silently continued pressing the doorbell with its wing. "Stop pressing." Ye Xiangting looked up, "I remember there''s a courtyard at the back of this house. Fly around and check if they''re there." ¡°Coo.¡± Nodding, Fat Dove flapped its wings and flew around to the back. Before reaching the courtyard, it was startled by a deafening noise. ¡°Coo...¡± Scared, Fat Dove flew a little higher, carefully approaching. Just as it reached the courtyard, Little Treasure appeared right in front of it, barely a meter away. "Coo~¡± Fat Dove flapped its wings, chirping a friendly greeting. The next second, Little Treasure disappeared, and a blazing fireball came barreling toward Fat Dove. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Coo!¡± --- Five minutes later. In the living room. ¡°Mom, I was just training Yabao and Little Treasure. The noise was too loud for me to hear anything.¡± Qiao Sang explained. Ye Xiangting¡¯s gaze shifted from Little Treasure to Qiao Sang, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that Little Treasure had evolved?¡± Qiao Sang: ... Of course, it¡¯s because I hadn¡¯t thought about it at all. But can I say that? Definitely not! "The evolution happened recently." Qiao Sang replied casually, "I''ve been so busy lately. The vice principal recently moved me to the senior team, so by the time I get back from training, it¡¯s already 7 or 8 p.m., and then I still have homework. I just haven¡¯t had time to call." Ye Xiangting snorted, ¡°A phone call takes less than a minute. Are you saying you don¡¯t have even that?¡± Why is she still harping on this? Shouldn¡¯t she be more surprised I made it onto the senior team? Qiao Sang cursed inwardly, realizing her attempt to divert her attention had failed. Ye Xiangting pressed on, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you joined the senior team?¡± Qiao Sang: ... Just then, Little Lubao finished casting Healing Light, and Fat Dove slowly opened its eyes. ¡°Coo...¡± After glancing around, Fat Dove seemed to recall something and waddled over to Ye Xiangting, looking distressed. ¡°Coo!¡± Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief; finally, her mother¡¯s attention would be diverted. Ye Xiangting caught Fat Dove, carefully inspecting it from head to toe. Then, she looked at Lubao with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s this beast¡¯s name? Whose pet is it? Its healing skill is quite impressive.¡± Scratching her head, Qiao Sang answered sheepishly, ¡°Her name is Lubao. She''s an Ice Qiya, she¡¯s mine.¡± Ye Xiangting was taken aback, ¡°Yours?¡± Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my third contracted beast.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao responded with a dignified tone, greeting her owner''s mother. Ye Xiangting stayed silent for a long moment. Just as Qiao Sang thought she might remain silent forever, she broke the silence with a straight-faced question, ¡°When did your brain capacity improve? Why don¡¯t I know about it?¡± ¡°And why didn¡¯t you tell me you contracted a new beast?¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao gave her a sympathetic look. Can¡¯t blame anyone but yourself for keeping so many secrets. Instead of answering immediately, Qiao Sang turned to Lubao with a serious face, ¡°Emergency, Healing Soundwave, quick!¡± Seeing the urgent look on her master¡¯s face, Lubao didn¡¯t hesitate and started singing. ¡°Lu~ Lu lu lu lu~ Lu lu~ Lu~ Lu lu~¡± After the song ended, Qiao Sang finally responded to her mother¡¯s questions, ¡°It happened a while ago. I¡¯ve just been too busy. Recently, the vice principal moved me to the senior team, so I get back around 7 or 8 p.m. and still have homework. I haven¡¯t had a chance to call.¡± Ye Xiangting looked worried, ¡°Even if the vice principal values you, you¡¯re only a freshman. Isn¡¯t it too exhausting to join the senior team so soon?¡± The Healing Soundwave is a miracle! Qiao Sang was thrilled inside but kept a nonchalant appearance, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a little tough. It just means I have less free time, but I can handle it.¡± ¡°High school is the time to push yourself; otherwise, how can you get into a good college?¡± With a mix of pride and concern in her eyes, Ye Xiangting looked at Qiao Sang, ¡°I actually came today to tell you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Why not just call?¡± Ye Xiangting softened her voice, ¡°Well, you¡¯re so busy now, not even sparing a minute for a phone call.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Is she not being passive-aggressive? For a moment, Qiao Sang seriously wondered if the Healing Soundwaves¡¯s effect had worn off. Ye Xiangting continued, ¡°The breeding shop you mentioned before, I¡¯ve already opened it.¡± Chapter 294: Rational Leeks Qiao Sang froze for a second, then burst into delight. She thought she¡¯d have to wait another month, but her mother¡¯s efficiency far exceeded her expectations, opening the pet shop in just around a month. After all, a pet shop is not like other stores; because it involves pet beasts, even just getting a small business registration has stricter approval procedures than most physical businesses. Some people wait half a year for approval, so her mother¡¯s efficiency was impressive. That¡¯s what a career-driven woman is capable of! ¡°Where¡¯s the shop located?¡± Qiao Sang asked with an irrepressible smile. ¡°77 Yumin Road. Just 200 meters left from our complex. The previous owner was looking to transfer, so I took it over, including the equipment¡­¡± At this, Ye Xiangting paused, as if remembering something, and then frowned at Qiao Sang, saying nothing. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What about the equipment? Why did you stop?¡± Ye Xiangting was silent for two seconds. ¡°What exactly did you have Ice Qiya sing earlier?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Qiao Sang apologized instantly. Entry-level Healing Soundwave won¡¯t cut it! The effect duration is way too short! After another long pause, Ye Xiangting said, ¡°What was I asking you before?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°You asked about what Ice Qiya¡¯s song does.¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± Ye Xiangting glanced at Qiao Sang. ¡°I asked you earlier: When did you break through the brain domain, and why didn¡¯t you tell me about contracting a new pet beast?¡± Qiao Sang looked blank. ¡°Didn¡¯t I answer both of those already?¡± Ye Xiangting¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Look at what you said! It¡¯s the same response you gave when I asked why you didn¡¯t tell me about Little Treasure''s evolution! You didn¡¯t even change a punctuation mark! Did everything happen at the same time? Little Treasure''s evolution, your brain domain breakthrough, and contracting a new pet beast?¡± Qiao Sang: ... Speechless, Qiao Sang thought to herself: Healing Soundwave has risks; use with caution! --- Opening a pet shop was a big deal, and although Qiao Sang wanted to visit right away, she had told her mother she was too busy. So, she had to wait until the weekend. Saturday morning, Qiao Sang mounted Yabao and set off for the address her mother had sent. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao was unusually excited, walking faster than usual. For pet beasts raised by humans, finding an excellent beast master to bond with is life-changing. The more precious a pet beast is, the larger its designated area in the pet bases. Now that her beast master¡¯s family had opened a store specializing in raising his kind, it meant that all the areas were for his kind! Yabao felt that his species had gained significant status! But as soon as they arrived at the store, Yabao¡¯s wildly wagging tail drooped instantly. This is too small! What happened to the grand space? ¡°This is way too small!¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t hold back a complaint. The store was only about 70 square meters, with two glass display racks in the center and on either side holding around twenty Fire Fang Dog eggs. And that was it¡­ ¡°We¡¯re lucky just to have it open.¡± Ye Xiangting said. ¡°Family funds are tight. I even hired a breeder, which adds quite a bit to the monthly costs.¡± So, it¡¯s still a matter of money. Understanding dawned on Qiao Sang, and she sighed. To open a pet shop, it¡¯s essential to employ a qualified breeder, just like how restaurants need chefs and schools need teachers. The higher-ranked a breeder, the more customers the shop can attract. Many pet shops promote themselves by displaying the honors and qualifications of their in-house breeders. Since the research institute hadn¡¯t yet figured out the evolution requirements for Fire Fang Dogs to become Flame Hounds, attracting customers was left entirely up to the breeder. And breeders command very high salaries. Qiao Sang glanced around and, seeing no one, asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the breeder you hired?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not working hours yet.¡± Ye Xiangting took out her phone and gestured for Qiao Sang and Yabao to smile. ¡°Smile; I¡¯m making a promo poster.¡± Qiao Sang instinctively flashed a big grin. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao also grinned, giving a polite but uneasy smile. ¡°All done.¡± Satisfied, Ye Xiangting looked at the photo on her phone. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang suggested, ¡°Mom, make sure to touch it up a bit.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded in agreement. Ye Xiangting: ¡­ --- That evening, Qiao Sang lay on her bed, lost in thought. She remembered the Vice Principal had said that from project application to approval, research projects typically take three months at minimum. And that¡¯s just the beginning, who knows how long it will take for results to come out. Although her mother hadn¡¯t said anything about the family¡¯s finances, Qiao Sang guessed that with a hired breeder, they might not be able to hold out until the research results are published. Feeling a headache coming on, she pulled out her phone to scroll and unwind. After replying to a few messages from friends, she opened SuperBlog and logged into her account. Flame Hounds were pretty popular, and even after not posting for a long time, she still got new comments every day. Her latest post was a photo of Yabao wearing cyberpunk-style tech glasses. Qiao Sang opened the comments. [Totally stunned by the cool factor!] [I don¡¯t have the words, but wow, you¡¯re so cool.] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Why hasn¡¯t the evolution condition for Flame Hounds been published yet? My Fire Fang Dog can¡¯t hold back much longer!] [There are so many fake videos online, all showing Flame Hounds flying. They don¡¯t even hide the editing marks, have you seen them, blogger?] [Forget flying; I saw a video where a Flame Hound used telekinesis and teleportation. They¡¯re even saying online it has psychic abilities. I think those pet dealers are money-crazy, pulling stunts like this. Fire and psychic types together, who do they think we are, leeks ready to be harvested? Only fools would fall for it.] Qiao Sang suddenly realized that one big reason for Flame Hounds¡¯ dip in popularity was that people didn¡¯t know it genuinely had psychic abilities. If people knew and believed that Flame Hounds had psychic abilities, would that push it back into the spotlight without waiting for the research findings? After some thought, she replied to the comment doubting Flame Hounds¡¯ psychic attributes. [It¡¯s true. My Flame Hound genuinely have psychic abilities.] Within two minutes, the comment section exploded. [Unfollowing. I thought you were trustworthy, but you¡¯re treating me like a fool.] [Oh wow? How much did you get paid?] [You¡¯ve got to be kidding. If Flame Hounds had both fire and psychic attributes, they¡¯d be worth at least a million each by now.] [Wow! The blogger actually replied!] [Is the account hacked or something?] [I don¡¯t believe it. Show us a video if it¡¯s real!] [A video wouldn¡¯t mean anything either; there are too many fake videos around now.] [We¡¯re rational leeks.] A flood of comments made Qiao Sang rethink posting a video. Without official confirmation or witnessing it firsthand, most people would stick to their own judgments, even if she did post a video. After pondering for a moment, she closed SuperBlog and called the Vice Principal. After two rings, the call connected. ¡°Hello.¡± The Vice Principal¡¯s low voice came through the speaker. ¡°What¡¯s up? Trying to take leave again?¡± Is that the impression she gives people¡­? Qiao Sang was speechless, then cleared her throat and said, ¡°No, not asking for leave. Vice Principal, I just wanted to ask: When does the National Campus Beast-Mastering League officially begin?¡± ¡°October 27.¡± Liu Yao answered. ¡°Will there be media coverage?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Chapter 295: Gathering Intelligence If there was media coverage, it would be a free publicity channel. Qiao Sang estimated there was a 99.99% chance that the event would attract media attention. After all, every time there¡¯s news, the media flocks to it like flies to fresh manure. Without real stories, they publish trivial reports or sensationalized headlines, like Magnetic Rat Powers School After Power Outage, Mom Ventures into a Secret Realm for Formula Money 20 Days Postpartum, or One-Armed Gravity Monkey Delivers 3,000 Packages a Day, Buys House and Car, Supports a Family¡ªWhat¡¯s Your Excuse for Overlooking Injured Pets? With this kind of fluff making the news daily, surely a legitimate Campus Beast-Mastering League tournament would draw media interest. Sure enough, the vice principal¡¯s voice confirmed over the phone: ¡°Of course. There might be less media coverage during the provincial qualifiers, but the official platform will stream the entire tournament. By the time of the finals, the Zhejiang Province Satellite Channel will broadcast it on two major channels.¡± ¡°If you care about your image, fix your hair nicely, and keep your uniform on. We¡¯re going for uniformity.¡± Qiao Sang selectively ignored that last part. Satellite channels are accessible nationwide, meaning the Yuhua area matches could be seen in Guwu as well. Thinking it over, Qiao Sang admitted the vice principal¡¯s reminder about her image wasn¡¯t entirely unreasonable¡­ --- The next morning, Qiao Sang awoke and checked her phone. October 11, 6:45 a.m. Sixteen days left until the National Campus Beast-Mastering League. ¡°Yabao! Get up!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Qiao Sang wanted to request leave from school. But given that no one else in her class had taken any days off since the semester began, and she had already used her fair share, she felt reluctant to approach her homeroom teacher again. When the bell rang for a break, while other students rushed to the hallway or grouped up for the bathroom, her classmates sat glued to their desks, reading as though their seats were sticky traps. Unable to resist, Qiao Sang turned and asked, ¡°Do you know when the National Campus Beast-Mastering League starts?¡± ¡°October 27, I think.¡± Jin Feifan replied, putting her book down. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Exactly, October 27!¡± Jin Feifan picked her book back up. Qiao Sang pressed her hand onto the book. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jin Feifan looked up, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s October 11 now.¡± Qiao Sang said. Jin Feifan looked confused. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I know that.¡± Qiao Sang looked at her expectantly. ¡°There are only sixteen days left until the National Campus Beast-Taming League.¡± Jin Feifan felt a little on edge under Qiao Sang¡¯s intense gaze. After a pause, she asked, ¡°Are you¡­ nervous?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ You¡¯re not even worried; why would I be nervous¡­? Realizing her classmate wasn¡¯t catching on, Qiao Sang had to be direct. ¡°Do you want to request leave?¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Jin Feifan asked, looking confused. ¡°Well, with the league coming up, you¡¯d have more time for training if you took some days off.¡± Qiao Sang explained. Jin Feifan replied, ¡°No, thanks.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Qiao Sang pressed. ¡°Well, I think my chances of getting into a top school through academic scores are more reliable than winning first in the province.¡± Jin Feifan said frankly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She had expected her classmate to mention concerns about grades, so she could then share her own performance. Jin Feifan would reassure her, and Qiao Sang could segue into taking leave. But this answer threw her for a loop! Qiao Sang paused for two seconds and finally asked, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a good idea if I take leave?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± Jin Feifan replied after a thought. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Because your grades are too low. Taking leave wouldn¡¯t be good for you.¡± Jin Feifan replied. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Ouch¡­ In the end, Qiao Sang did apply for leave. She reasoned that, with her current level of beast-taming, she had a good shot at qualifying for a top school. Achieving that goal solely through academics would be nearly impossible with millions of students in the competition each year. Participating in this year¡¯s Campus Beast-Mastering League would grant her a chance to qualify; she¡¯d have enough time left to improve her academics. --- The school team training continued, as she couldn¡¯t pass up the free daily points. Over the next week, Qiao Sang spent her time between the third-year school team, the Hongying Beast-Taming Battle Club, and home. Yabao and the other beasts showed steady improvements in both points and skill proficiency through the consistent training. Effective training also meant burning through cash, and Qiao Sang felt the sting as her bank balance shrank day by day. Now, all she wanted was for the league to begin as soon as possible. At Hongying Beast-Taming Battle Club. Qiao Sang read the energy meter display: ¡°51,221¡­¡± Energy meters were a common feature at beast-taming clubs, letting customers see their beasts¡¯ progress at a glance. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao, having finished the test, used his psychic powers to remove the sensor from his head. Standard energy levels for intermediate beasts range around 50,000. Given Yabao¡¯s current energy, he could evolve anytime, but evolving at maxed-out levels would allow for greater future potential. As Yabao¡¯s energy continued to rise steadily with each test, showing no signs of leveling off, Qiao Sang decided to hold off on adding points to his stats. With the league drawing near, schools were busy studying rival teams¡¯ line-ups. While she didn¡¯t worry about the provincial match, her aim was the national senior-level finals. Keeping an ace in her hand seemed like a smart strategy. Leaving Hongying Beast-Taming Club, Qiao Sang rode on Yabao toward school. Her schedule was planned out, and she¡¯d make it in time for school team practice. --- At Shengshui High¡¯s front entrance. Two boys stood by, speaking in hushed voices, looking rather suspicious. ¡°You¡¯re sure it¡¯s legit?¡± Asked the boy in a black baseball cap. ¡°Relax.¡± The boy with spiky hair replied. ¡°We¡¯re all set. She¡¯s going to sneak out after school.¡± ¡°What if she can¡¯t get out?¡± The cap-wearing boy fretted. ¡°I heard Shengshui High is strict.¡± The boy with spiky hair shrugged. ¡°Then we¡¯ll just leave.¡± They both fell silent, staring at the entrance. The cap-wearing boy asked, ¡°Are you sure about this intel? They swapped their senior team member for a freshman? That sounds way too crazy. You sure she¡¯s not playing you?¡± ¡°No way.¡± The spiky-haired boy took a deep-blue crystal from his pocket, confidence brimming. ¡°She¡¯s not even on the team. A blue crystal for a piece of info, who wouldn¡¯t take that deal? If she¡¯s lying, I¡¯ll blast her on the Zhejiang High School forum!¡± Chapter 296: A Way to Make Money Zhang Junli, a member of the third-year individual battle team at Sansong High School, was easily recognizable by his spiky hair. Before every competition, he made it a habit to gather intel on other schools. Following the principle that money makes the mare go, the information he obtained had helped him achieve impressive results in the last two National Campus League Championships. "You¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t even know what she looks like? And her phone isn¡¯t usable for the next two days? What if you can¡¯t recognize her when she shows up?" Asked a boy wearing a baseball cap. "Don¡¯t worry." Zhang Junli chuckled. "I¡¯ve already agreed on a signal with her. Besides, Shengshui High doesn¡¯t normally let students leave campus. At this time of day, anyone coming out of there has to be her." "Alright then." The boy in the cap finally felt somewhat reassured after all his questions. At that moment, the sound of the school bell from Shengshui High echoed to the front gate. Zhang Junli checked his watch. "They¡¯re out of class now. She¡¯ll be out in a bit." --- Ten minutes passed. Nothing. "Let¡¯s wait a bit longer." Zhang Junli said confidently. The boy in the cap remained silent. --- Fifteen minutes passed. A gust of wind blew by, swirling up dust on the ground. Still nothing. Not a single person, or even an ant, emerged from the school gates. "She¡¯s definitely coming out soon!" Zhang Junli gritted his teeth. The boy in the cap looked at the sky and patted Zhang Junli¡¯s shoulder. "Are you sure it¡¯s not about to rain?" Zhang Junli glanced upward. "Impossible. The weather forecast said no rain today." "But is the forecast reliable?" The boy pointed at a medium-sized beast flying above them. "Look at that Hengheng Bird. It¡¯s not even flapping its wings." Basic high school knowledge: Hengheng Birds dislike flapping their wings when rain is imminent and prefer gliding on air currents instead. "Where?" Zhang Junli scanned the sky. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he looked away, Qiao Sang arrived at the Shengshui High gates, riding her beast, Yabao. Since forming a contract with Lubao, Qiao Sang had developed a sharper sense of weather changes. She looked up at the sky and said, "Yabao, it looks like it¡¯s going to rain. Want to head to the Beast Codex for now?" "Yap." Yabao nodded, signaling his agreement. Qiao Sang waved her hand, withdrawing Yabao into his designated space. Just as she was about to enter the school, a low voice called out from behind her: "Why are you only coming out now? We¡¯ve been waiting forever!" Turning around, Qiao Sang saw two unfamiliar boys. Before she could ask who they were, the spiky-haired boy hurried over, grinning. "Who is Lin Ya?" He asked excitedly. Qiao Sang froze for a moment before instinctively replying, "A god among men." "That¡¯s it! The signal matches! It¡¯s her!" Zhang Junli turned to the boy in the cap, visibly thrilled. The boy in the cap was just as excited, both of them looking at Qiao Sang with fiery determination. Secret signals? Really? And something this simple? Realizing they had mistaken her for someone else, Qiao Sang was about to clarify. However, Zhang Junli took out a deep-blue crystal from his pocket and asked, "I¡¯ve brought the item. Where¡¯s the intel?" Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes, pausing her words as a slew of information about the crystal flashed through her mind. Blue Dew Crystal: A material exclusive to water-element beasts. Although pet beasts were innumerable, even the most skilled beast forgers and trainers couldn¡¯t possibly recognize every material related to them. For someone like Qiao Sang, who wasn¡¯t academically inclined, it was even less likely. But there were always exceptions, materials that left a strong impression. Blue Dew Crystals were one such example. Not only were they a specialty of the Yuhua region, but their peculiar origin also added to their intrigue. Blue Dew Crystals weren¡¯t naturally occurring minerals. Instead, they were formed from the eyes of king-level Zao-ring Sea Snails after decades or even centuries of exposure to ultra-low temperatures and extreme pressure. What made them even stranger was the additional requirement: The Zao-ring Sea Snail had to be severely nearsighted, with a minimum prescription of 600 degrees. Ironically, despite being formed from a nearsighted creature''s eyes, the potions crafted from Blue Dew Crystals could significantly enhance a water-element beast¡¯s vision, making their far-sight as sharp as if they were equipped with an 8x scope. --- Qiao Sang quickly deduced the situation. These two likely didn¡¯t know the real person they were supposed to meet. If her guess was correct, their intended contact was a Shengshui High student. That they didn¡¯t question the person''s gender or age meant they either didn¡¯t know or had coincidentally crossed paths with her instead. Most Shengshui High students boarded at school and had limited chances to go out. Their intel likely pertained to something inside the school. --- "Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?" Zhang Junli asked. After a brief silence, Qiao Sang said, "What intel are you looking for?" "Details about the new member of the third-year team!" Zhang Junli replied. "I want every bit of information on them!" Qiao Sang: ??? So the person he wanted intel on was me? "You¡¯ve come to the right person." Qiao Sang smiled sincerely. "No one knows her better than I do." "See? I told you we found the right person!" Zhang Junli bragged to the boy in the cap, then turned to Qiao Sang. "Tell me everything. The more detailed, the better!" "Her name is Qiao Sang, 15 years old, a first-year student in Class 1." Qiao Sang said seriously. "She¡¯s exceptionally good-looking, hardworking, and ambitious. She has a Flame Hound and a Treasure-Seeking Demon. Recently, she contracted another beast, blue in color, likely water-element." "Flame Hound?! Treasure-Seeking Demon?! Plus another beast?! Three in total?! And she¡¯s only 15?! A first-year student?!" Zhang Junli gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "That¡¯s right." Qiao Sang leaned closer, lowering her voice. "The last piece of intel is still unconfirmed by most, but I guarantee it¡¯s true. This is exclusive information I haven¡¯t shared with anyone else." Zhang Junli, clearly impressed, handed over the Blue Dew Crystal with great respect. "If what you¡¯re saying is true, you¡¯ve done me a huge favor!" Taking the crystal, Qiao Sang smiled warmly. "It¡¯s nothing. Let me know if you need anything else next time." "Absolutely!" Zhang Junli promised, patting his chest. The boy in the cap, however, had a strange look on his face. He had seen people sell intel before, but never had he seen someone so gleeful while spilling secrets about their own school. --- Once the two boys left, Qiao Sang weighed the Blue Dew Crystal in her hand, deep in thought. She might have just discovered a lucrative new business... Chapter 297: Fake Goods? In Training Ground No. 1, Little Treasure and Floating Bell were engaged in a free battle in the center of the field. By the time students reached their senior year in high school, they had been beastmasters for over two years. Their contracted beasts had shown significant growth, with reaction speeds far surpassing what they had been during their initial contracts. At this stage, it was no longer feasible to micromanage every move during battles. If an opponent launched a flamethrower attack and the beast instinctively countered with its own skill while the beastmaster was still processing the situation and giving commands, problems would arise. For instance, if the command contradicted the beast¡¯s instincts, such as ordering it to dodge instead of counterattacking, there would be a momentary pause as the beast adjusted. This slight hesitation could easily determine the outcome of the battle. Therefore, reducing verbal commands was a critical step for new beastmasters to transition into professional ones. With fewer instructions, the beast''s ability to independently assess and react to combat scenarios became even more crucial. The senior high school team¡¯s current training focused on enhancing their beasts¡¯ judgment during combat, essentially letting them fight autonomously. As Little Treasure trained, Qiao Sang stood on the sidelines, mentally calculating her finances. She realized that while earning money could be quick, spending it was even faster. Though her bank account still had seven figures, the first digit had changed multiple times. The bulk of her expenses went toward energy pills, and lately, Yabao''s training with his Meteor Rain skill required a massive amount of energy recovery liquids, which were consumed at an alarming rate. Buying these recovery liquids felt like tossing money into a bottomless pit. Learning new skills cost money. Rapidly increasing proficiency in those skills also cost money. Sigh¡­ spending money is like pouring water into sand. Life is hard, Qiao Sang lamented inwardly as her gaze fell on the golden gloves on Little Treasure''s paws. It was probably time to sell those pure gold gloves that Liu Qijia¡¯s father had gifted her¡­ --- ¡°Senior¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Xu Yixuan, who was crouching nearby and massaging her own beast, looked up groggily. She was somewhat self-aware, knowing that most people found her chatter annoying and avoided engaging with her whenever possible. Even her teammates on the school team rarely responded to her. Having someone like Qiao Sang voluntarily start a conversation felt like a rarity. ¡°With the national campus beast mastering league coming up, have you gathered intelligence on the participants from other schools? If so, where did you find it?¡± Xu Yixuan was taken aback. She had assumed someone as formidable as Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t bother paying attention to opponents, let alone actively seek out information on them before a match. ¡°Most of the participants are returning competitors we¡¯ve faced before.¡± Xu Yixuan replied. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for information on someone specific, I¡¯ve got it all here. Or I could just send you the profiles of all participating schools from Zhejiang Province.¡± That¡¯s not what I¡¯m asking about! Qiao Sang cleared her throat. ¡°Since last year¡¯s tournament, everyone¡¯s strength must have improved significantly. Where can I find updates on those changes?¡± Xu Yixuan was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected someone as monstrously talented as Qiao Sang to be this cautious! Most people only skimmed opponent profiles to learn about their beasts and fighting styles, but Qiao Sang was going above and beyond. Who else deserved to win if not her? Her admiration for Qiao Sang soared to new heights. ¡°Well, if you know someone, you could directly contact people from other schools. If not, you can post on the Zhejiang Province high school forums or publish a request through the beastmaster center.¡± Xu Yixuan explained seriously. --- That evening, a new post appeared on the Zhejiang Province high school forums: ¡°Shengshui High School Replaces Senior Team Member Before National Campus League! Who Is the Mysterious Newcomer?¡± The post began with one line: Exclusive information available for purchase. PM with your price. No scams, guaranteed accurate. The thread exploded instantly. Shengshui High School was the top school in Hanggang City and the second-ranked beastmaster school in Zhejiang Province. A team replacement, especially so close to the national campus league? Unbelievable! Even non-participating high school students were intrigued, flooding the thread with clicks and comments. --- Inside Qiao Sang¡¯s room, her computer screen displayed the forum¡¯s notification panel, while her phone buzzed continuously with new private messages. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was in the living room explaining the effects of a potion to Lubao. The vice principal, an A-rank breeder, had efficiently processed the Blue Dew Crystal into a potion in under an hour. ¡°This stuff can make you see if someone has eye gunk from a kilometer away.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao, intrigued, grabbed the potion and prepared to drink it. Startled, Qiao Sang stopped her just in time. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao paused, her expression puzzled. ¡°This isn¡¯t for drinking; it¡¯s for your eyes.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°Lu.¡± Unfazed, Lubao nodded and tilted the potion, carefully applying drops to her eyes. Qiao Sang admired Lubao¡¯s composure. Such unshakable confidence¡­ truly impressive. After Lubao finished applying the potion, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°How do your eyes feel now?¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao blinked a few times, looked around, and then shook her head, no change. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡± Qiao Sang muttered, inspecting the remaining potion. ¡°If it¡¯s fake, wouldn¡¯t the vice principal have noticed during processing?¡± ¡°Lu." Lubao flicked her tail and walked toward the courtyard, clearly uninterested in wasting more training time. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang sighed. I¡¯ll need to verify materials before trading in the future¡­ She placed the leftover potion on the table and returned to her room. --- ¡°Xun~¡± As soon as the door closed, Little Treasure emerged, picked up the potion, and sniffed it curiously. Imitating Luobao, he applied two drops to his eyes. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Blink. Nothing. ¡°Xun.¡± Another blink. Still nothing. ¡°XUN!¡± One last blink, and Little Treasure huffed in disdain, setting the bottle back on the table. Fake! --- Back in her room, Qiao Sang noticed her forum inbox had reached 99+ messages. Her first thought was: Wow, so many people are online instead of doing homework! Chapter 298: Selling the Gold Gloves Qiao Sang tapped on the touchscreen of her computer, opening her private messages. [User A]: Are you from Shengshui High School? How do you know so much? [User B]: What''s your price? How about 10 GB of resources? [User C]: What do you want? [User D]: I just wish I had money! [User E]: I¡¯ll give you three free water shrimp spa sessions, deal? Qiao Sang scrolled for a while but didn¡¯t see anything that caught her interest. Turns out making money isn¡¯t that easy... Just as she was about to close the chat interface, a message on one of the open threads caught her attention: [User F]: 100 Alliance Coins, deal? Qiao Sang immediately replied: [Qiao Sang]: Deal! One hundred coins was still money! A no-cost transaction like this? No way she¡¯d say no. With a few clicks, Qiao Sang finalized the deal. Soon after, she received a notification confirming a transfer of 100 Alliance Coins. Encouraged by her first successful sale, Qiao Sang¡¯s patience was renewed, and she began combing through the rest of her private messages. Surprisingly, there were more offers than she expected. Though most weren¡¯t high bids, when added together, the earnings were enough to buy a bottle of E-grade energy recovery fluid. For the first time, Qiao Sang experienced the joy of milking the small fish. Her phone continued buzzing with notifications. Curious, she picked it up to check and was stunned. What¡¯s going on? Why is everyone tagging me?! Opening her messages, she was bombarded with concerns: [Bai Yunmiao]: Genius Qiao! Did you get selected for the senior high team? Someone¡¯s selling your information online! [Shi Gaofeng]: Your info got leaked! [Zheng Guoping]: Your spot on the senior team is out. Come back to the junior team! [Wang Yao]: Someone¡¯s selling your data. Don¡¯t worry, though. I¡¯m betting it¡¯s one of our own. I¡¯ll find them. Selling you equals selling out our school, I won¡¯t let them get away with it! Reading Wang Yao¡¯s message, Qiao Sang felt compelled to calm her down. She replied: [Qiao Sang]: It¡¯s just my information; no need to escalate this to a school-level betrayal. Wang Yao responded instantly: [Wang Yao]: You¡¯re our school¡¯s crown jewel! Selling you is like selling our pride! Whoever did this has no sense of school honor! Qiao Sang scratched her nose awkwardly. Just as she was about to confess she was the one who sold the info, she remembered the two boys who had mistaken her identity earlier that day. Maybe there is someone else leaking my info, she thought, typing back: [Qiao Sang]: Don¡¯t you have tasks today? Where¡¯d you even get a phone in school Wang Yao fell silent. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang navigated to a nearby gold recycling shop, riding on Yabao. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Xum~¡± On the way, Little Treasure held onto a small pair of golden gloves, his face filled with reluctance. These are great! Do we really have to sell them? At first, Qiao Sang laughed and explained how money was more important. However, Little Treasure kept complaining until she finally said: "If you¡¯re so reluctant, why not sell your gloves instead?" She was bluffing, of course. Her gloves were custom-made solid gold, while Little Treasure¡¯s were fake gold gloves bought online, they wouldn¡¯t fetch much. But Little Treasure immediately placed his gloves in front of her without hesitation. Reluctant? Not at all! Qiao Sang was speechless. --- The gold shop was tucked away in an alley. Prime locations were reserved for pet-related businesses these days; a gold shop in a prime spot would only lose money. Entering the shop, Qiao Sang asked, "Do you buy gold gloves?" The shop owner, a woman brushing her White Sand Fox¡¯s fur, glanced at her. ¡°Got proof of authenticity?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her ID card and placed it on the glass counter. The shop owner briefly scanned the card before pausing at the birthdate. Fifteen years old? I¡¯d be a fool not to squeeze a good deal out of this kid. The shop owner smiled slyly as she stroked her fox. ¡°Gold¡¯s at 345 per gram today. Want to sell?¡± Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t a legitimate gold shop, is it?¡± ¡°Kid, what nonsense are you spouting? I¡¯ve got a license!¡± The shop owner retorted. ¡°Legitimate shops adjust prices based on the international gold rate. Today¡¯s rate is 412 per gram.¡± Qiao Sang calmly replied. The shop owner froze, stunned. She looked up today¡¯s gold rate?! Trying to recover, she said, ¡°Well, I need to make a profit too, don¡¯t I?¡± Just then, the White Sand Fox glanced at Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao bared his sharp teeth. What now? You wanna fight? ¡°Shaa!¡± The White Sand Fox whimpered, retreating behind its owner. Panicking, the shop owner tried to placate Qiao Sang. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll pay today¡¯s rate!¡± --- Twenty minutes later, Qiao Sang left the shop with 206,000 Alliance Coins. Checking her account balance, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel: Liu Qijia¡¯s dad, what a generous man! ¡°Xun!¡± Invisible beside her, Little Treasure looked down at his fake gold gloves with renewed determination. I¡¯ll take good care of these, they¡¯re worth a lot! --- Over the next few days, as the National Campus Beast Mastering League approached, Qiao Sang¡¯s forum thread only grew in popularity. Particularly heated were the Shengshui High School students arguing in the comments. And when other schools confirmed the thread¡¯s claims, its credibility skyrocketed. This led to Qiao Sang making small fortunes daily from selling information. ¡°Yap!¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Buy!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Buy!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± ¡°Buy!¡± In just a few days, Yabao and Lubao maintained their figures due to training, but Little Treasure grew visibly rounder. ¡°You can¡¯t go on like this.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°The league¡¯s coming up, and your weight will slow you down.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure patted his round belly, teleported across the room, and wiggled a stubby finger. Not a chance, I can teleport! Qiao Sang sighed. Just then, her phone rang. It was the vice principal. ¡°Two days from now is the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡¯s preliminaries. Be at Training Field No. 1 tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. sharp.¡± Came his voice. Chapter 299: All 384 Beast-Taming High Schools in the Province The next day, at Shengshui High School. When Qiao Sang arrived at Training Field No. 1, all the members of the school teams from grades 10 to 12, including both individual and group combat teams, were already present. The coaches for each grade¡¯s teams were also there. Students from each grade stood in three separate lines, resembling three distinct factions. ¡°I thought it would just be us. Didn¡¯t expect the seniors to be here too.¡± ¡°The competition isn¡¯t until tomorrow. What¡¯s the point of gathering us today?¡± These murmurs came mostly from the first-year students, while second- and third-year students were busy discussing their beasts¡¯ conditions. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, my Spikeberry¡¯s physical stats are top-tier across all high schools in Hanggang City.¡± ¡°You sure it¡¯s not on steroids?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± While everyone was chatting, someone noticed Qiao Sang walking in and immediately waved enthusiastically, shouting: ¡°Qiao Sang! Over here!¡± Instantly, heads turned. ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Here, here!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Come over! We¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± Students from all three groups were calling for her. Qiao Sang, a person without indecisiveness, walked straight toward the third-year team without hesitation. Though she was a first-year, and had once been part of the second-year team, she was now officially a member of the third-year team! ¡°Alright, everyone¡¯s here. Let¡¯s talk about preparations and key points for today and tomorrow.¡± Coach Sun Boyi announced. The coach¡¯s voice immediately silenced the crowd. ¡°Tomorrow is the preliminary round of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. All 384 beast-taming high schools in the province will participate. Matchups for the first round have already been decided through a draw by the principals of each school.¡± Sun Boyi explained. He continued, ¡°Our principal drew Fuqi Beast-Taming High School as our opponent.¡± Fuqi Beast-Taming High School... Qiao Sang racked her brain but couldn¡¯t recall hearing about it. ¡°Fuqi Beast-Taming High School competed against us once in last year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League. First-years may not know them. It¡¯s a school from the neighboring Hanwen City, generally ranked below average locally." Sun Boyi elaborated. ¡°Oh, Fuqi High. That¡¯s lucky for us!¡± ¡°Nice draw, Principal!¡± ¡°I remember them, they¡¯re ridiculously weak. This is practically a free win.¡± The atmosphere lightened as students whispered among themselves. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Quiet!¡± Sun Boyi barked. ¡°This is just the first round! We¡¯ll have seven matches in total this week! Your job is to take every match seriously, not get cocky and assume victory after hearing the opponent¡¯s name!¡± The stern reprimand silenced everyone. ¡°Let me explain the rules for the first-years.¡± Sun Boyi continued. ¡°In the preliminaries, 384 high schools will be divided into 48 groups, each consisting of 8 schools. ¡°Within each group, every school competes against the others. The matches are scored using a point system: 3 points for a win, 0 points for a loss, and 1 point for a draw." ¡°At the end of the preliminaries, rankings will be determined by total points.¡± ¡°Only the top 48 schools from the province will advance to the next stage. Remember, getting into the top 48 is just the beginning. Our ultimate goal is to secure a top-three spot. Only those ranked in the top three will qualify for the divisional championships.¡± He raised his voice. ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The students chorused. Satisfied, Sun Boyi nodded, and Assistant Coach Qin Wen took over. ¡°Before the competition, there¡¯s one crucial task: Pet beast physical exams. We¡¯ll head to the Beast-Taming Center now.¡± --- On the school team¡¯s bus to the Beast-Taming Center. Xu Yixuan scrolled through her phone, eventually opening a document in her notes app. She turned to Qiao Sang and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve got detailed information on Fuqi High¡¯s third-year team from last year. Want me to send it to you?¡± Before Qiao Sang could reply, Xu Yixuan added, ¡°Actually, never mind. It¡¯s outdated. This year¡¯s data hasn¡¯t been updated yet.¡± ¡°Not that it matters. Their team isn¡¯t much of a challenge for you anyway. Some of their third-years probably still have one beast stuck at the beginner level.¡± Still at beginner level in their senior year? That¡¯s pretty weak. Qiao Sang silently commented. In truth, most third-years only had one pet beast. Having two, one at beginner and the other at intermediate, was already considered impressive. But being at Shengshu High School and part of the elite team, Qiao Sang¡¯s perception was skewed. To her, such stats were shockingly low. It was like how straight-A students, always surrounded by fellow overachievers, might be baffled to meet someone struggling with basic academics. --- At the Beast-Taming Center. Upon arrival, the students disembarked for their pets¡¯ physical exams. These checks ensured no one had used performance-enhancing substances or short-term power-boosting drugs, both banned in official competitions for their harmful effects on beasts. The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation as Shengshui High School¡¯s team prepared for their first steps toward the championship. ----- Chapter 300: The Day Before the National Campus Beast Mastery League T/N: Yay! We''re in chapter 300! ----- The beast mastery center had a massive area designated for physical examinations. Even with students from all the beast mastery high schools in Hanggang City gathered there, the place still felt spacious. At that moment, the examination hall buzzed with various voices. "We came so early, and there are still so many people here!" "I''m used to it. It was like this last year too." "Why can''t the schools coordinate better and spread out the examination schedules? Always at the same time!" "That''s not something schools can decide." "Look, the students from Shengshui High School are here." Looking around, everyone in the hall wore their respective school uniforms, each with distinct designs and colors. It was easy to tell which school people came from. At moments like this, students from schools with unattractive uniforms or lower rankings couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit self-conscious. Meanwhile, the students from Shengshui High School became the center of attention. Most high school students were still straightforward and wore their emotions on their faces. Being from the top-ranked beast mastery high school in Hanggang City, these students might seem ordinary on campus, but once outside, their pride was unmistakable. Even Jin Feifan straightened her back a little more. "I heard Shengshui High has a freshman on the senior team. Is that true?" "Yeah, I heard about it too. They¡¯re a beast master with a Flame Hound." "Right, right! I know about that! It''s a girl. She also has a Treasure-seeking Demon, and there¡¯s a rumor she might even have a third contracted beast!" "You¡¯ve heard about this too? Where did you find out?" "On the high school forum. I paid 68 alliance coins for the info." "What?! 68?! I paid 666!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the big spender who had paid 1,000 alliance coins glanced at their phone and turned to Qiao Sang. "Once the check-ups are done, it''ll probably be lunchtime. Let¡¯s grab a bite, my treat." Qiao Sang, feeling a little guilty, replied, "No need. You already spent 1,000 on info about me. Let me treat you instead." Xu Yixuan waved it off. "It¡¯s just 1,000. Nothing to worry about." If only you knew that 1,000 ended up in my pocket¡­ Qiao Sang thought, smiling wryly. She hesitated but said, "If you insist, then I want to eat at Wanhe Restaurant on Qiaopu Road." "Sure!" Xu Yixuan agreed without hesitation. --- The beast examinations required groups of five, with beast masters accompanying their contracted beasts. This rule ensured the beasts cooperated during examinations and prevented substitution fraud. In the past, some cunning individuals rented beasts that resembled their own to pass off as theirs. This led to stricter regulations, where beast masters had to summon their contracted beasts in front of the medical staff. The process went smoothly, with no instances of fraud or drug abuse detected. Finally, at 10:15 a.m., it was Qiao Sang''s turn. Inside the examination room... "You can summon now." The doctor instructed. The next moment, multiple star arrays lit up, with one green array shining particularly bright. All eyes locked onto the beast that appeared in the center. A male student couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, "Holy crap! A green array?!" Even among seniors, beasts with green arrays were rare nationwide. Another student gasped, "No way, it¡¯s a Flame Hound?!" "Yap!" Yabao, the Flame Hound, was already used to such attention. He glanced around before turning to Qiao Sang with a bark. Before she could respond, her Little Treasure, invisible until now, expertly pulled out a futuristic-looking pair of sunglasses from his ring and handed them to her. In everyone¡¯s eyes, the sunglasses appeared out of thin air. Qiao Sang passed them to Yabao, who didn¡¯t use his paws to grab them. Instead, he used his telekinesis to place them on his face with flair. The room fell silent. After a few seconds, the doctor broke the tension. "You¡¯ll need to remove the sunglasses for the eye examination." Qiao Sang: ... Yabao: ... The examination process was quick. Beyond a physical check, the beasts were scanned in a futuristic capsule-like device that analyzed everything, from bone structure to potential health issues. For most beasts, the entire process took only ten minutes. However, Qiao Sang''s session lasted over ten minutes before her beasts even entered the scanner. "Doctor, is there something wrong?" Qiao Sang asked worriedly, noticing the doctor staring at Yabao for a long time. Yabao tensed up, visibly nervous. The doctor reassured them, "No issues. I just couldn¡¯t help but admire it. This is my first time seeing a Flame Hound up close." Qiao Sang: ...! Compared to her exasperation, Yabao seemed much calmer, his thoughts evident in his demeanor. Another one awestruck by my stunning looks. --- By the time Qiao Sang left the examination room, nearly half an hour later, the other students from Shengshui High were already waiting for her. "Why were you so slow? We¡¯ve been waiting forever!" Xu Yixuan complained, surrounded by the entire school team. "You¡¯ve all finished?" Qiao Sang asked. "Of course. We¡¯ve been done for ages." "Nothing¡¯s wrong, right? The doctor didn¡¯t find any issues?" Everyone chimed in curiously. Qiao Sang felt a headache coming on as she recalled the scene in the examination room. "No issues. The doctor just got¡­ carried away." --- That evening, a post appeared on the Zhejiang Province High School Forum: "Shocking! The Rumors Are True! Shengshui High¡¯s New Senior Team Member Revealed!" The post featured a photo of a ponytailed girl¡¯s profile in the examination room. Qiao Sang, sitting in front of her computer, stared at the image. Not bad. They got my good side. After browsing for a while, she suddenly remembered something and picked up her phone to dial a number. Soon, the call connected. "Hello, Mom? My competition starts tomorrow." Chapter 317: The Preliminary Concludes This series of maneuvers left everyone present enlightened. It turned out that the peculiar habit of spinning opponents dizzy wasn¡¯t the doing of the Treasure-Seeking Demon at all, it was its Beast Tamer! Qiao Sang was completely unaware that she had been labeled as someone who took pleasure in spinning opponents dizzy. The match ended in an unsurprising victory. Although the Long-Tailed Snake was also a mid-level pet beast and had a considerable size, Yabao¡¯s mastery of psychic power was leagues ahead. Coupled with an energy level far surpassing others in his tier, the Long-Tailed Snake simply couldn¡¯t break free from the psychic control. After the match, Qiao Sang took Yabao back to the contestants¡¯ seating area at Shengshui High School to await the arrival of the reporters. Given that the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡¯s provincial preliminaries involved numerous simultaneous matches, and preliminaries generally didn¡¯t attract much attention, each venue only had at most one reporter and a cameraman. When the broadcast announced that all matches in Group A2 had concluded, the venue¡¯s sole reporter dashed toward Shengshui High¡¯s contestant area, with a cameraman lugging a camera hot on his heels. I knew they¡¯d come to interview me¡­ Qiao Sang patted Yabao¡¯s fur and gave him a look. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao followed her gaze and saw two humans approaching, one with a microphone, the other carrying a camera. Having been interviewed before, Yabao immediately understood his Beast Tamer¡¯s intent. Without a word, he tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, aiming to look dashing when he appeared on camera. Back during the Bai Xin Competition, Qiao Sang had been a gutsy rookie whose first contracted beast was a fire-type, with some raw talent in battles. Reporters back then maintained a professional distance during interviews. Now, though, this reporter practically shoved the microphone into her face. Qiao Sang silently took a step back to put some space between her and the microphone. Just as she prepared to answer questions about the Flame Hound''s psychic abilities, the reporter bombarded her with another set of questions: ¡°Why do you enjoy spinning your opponents dizzy so much? Does it hold a special meaning for you, or do you simply derive some kind of enjoyment from it?¡± Qiao Sang: ??? --- An hour after the match, a thread titled Shengshui¡¯s Super Seeded Player Qiao Sang Has a Habit of Spinning Opponents Dizzy exploded on the forums. Qiao Sang sat on the school bus back to Shengshui, silently scrolling through the thread. ¡°Three-dimensional shadow control like this is insane! Looks like Zhejiang Province is going to make a name for itself this year!¡± ¡°That skill¡¯s incredible, but the way the Treasure-Seeking Demon spins opponents around reminds me of a noodle chef. I don¡¯t get it, but I¡¯m amazed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s fault, it¡¯s Qiao Sang¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Why do these geniuses always have quirks? There was Ding Yanjing with his tickling tactics, and now Qiao Sang with her dizzying spins.¡± ¡°Ding Yanjing¡¯s tactics were borderline torture. Qiao Sang¡¯s just using it as part of her combat style. Flame Hound¡¯s attacks were normal before the Treasure-Seeking Demon showed up.¡± ¡°Speaking of Flame Hound, its fire and psychic abilities are so strong! Even when it just stares down an opponent to make them spin, you can feel its dominance!¡± ¡°Speaking of Flame Hound¡­ anyone up for a heist?¡± The replies went on and on. After reading for a while, Qiao Sang put her phone away and gazed quietly out the window. No big deal. In the end, that reporter still asked about Flame Hound''s psychic abilities. Once the interview aired, the gossip wouldn¡¯t matter. Sitting beside her, Xu Yixuan typed intently on her phone, a serious expression on her face: ¡°How to rapidly improve a pet beast¡¯s resistance to dizziness.¡± She never expected Qiao Sang to have such a bizarre quirk! Based on their respective strengths, both of them would almost certainly advance to the later stages of the provincial competition. The odds of facing each other were high. Losing was one thing, but losing while spinning? Absolutely unacceptable! Xu Yixuan wasn¡¯t the only one thinking this way. That evening, the Clear Breeze Potion sold out across Zhejiang Province, and Qiao Sang single-handedly boosted the sales of anti-dizziness remedies statewide. Of course, that¡¯s a story for another time. --- The bus pulled into Shengshui High just as the evening light began to fade. As Qiao Sang got off the bus, someone called her name. From the voice alone, Qiao Sang knew who it was. ¡°Mom? Why are you here?¡± She turned her head and, sure enough, saw her mother standing there. ¡°The store isn¡¯t too busy, so I thought I¡¯d come pick you up since you¡¯re back.¡± Ye Xiangting walked over with a smile. ¡°How¡¯d the match go today?¡± Qiao Sang grinned. ¡°I got all 18 points, of course.¡± Over the past week, she had been updating her mother daily after each match. Naturally, Ye Xiangting understood what 18 points meant. Hearing this, Ye Xiangting¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You little rascal! Who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d be so talented in battles? Competing against seniors for a whole week without losing a match, who do you take after?¡± ¡°You, of course!¡± Qiao Sang teased. ¡°If you¡¯d chosen to be a professional Beast Tamer, you might¡¯ve been a regional star by now.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Xiangting couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s possible! Let¡¯s go home! I¡¯ll make something delicious tonight.¡± The warm glow of dusk faded as their voices trailed off into the distance. ¡°I want sweet and sour ribs!¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll make them!¡± ¡°And cola chicken wings!¡± ¡°Done!¡± ¡°Oh, and--¡± ¡°Hold on! I want to ask, do you have the rankings for this week¡¯s matches?¡± ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°Send them to me later. I¡¯ll post them on my Moments.¡± ¡°...¡± --- Dinner was at the apartment in Tianjing Garden. Since they had to gather early at school the next day, staying there was more convenient. After finishing dinner and tidying up, Ye Xiangting headed home. Qiao Sang sat on the sofa, phone in hand, looking at the announcement in the group chat about the next stage of the competition. ¡°November 4th, Huicheng Beast Taming High School.¡± November 4th, that was the day after tomorrow. Where was Huicheng Beast Taming High School again? As Qiao Sang pondered, a jet of water thinner than her pinky sprayed her face. She wiped her face helplessly and looked at Lubao, whose nostrils were bubbling with water in frustration. ¡°Still mad? I told you, you¡¯re our secret weapon. You can¡¯t come out too soon.¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao wore an I don¡¯t believe you expression, though the water bubbles shrank slightly. Seeing this, Qiao Sang grinned. Just as she was about to say more, a thought struck her. She turned to Yabao, who was watching the competition channel. ¡°How¡¯s your ear training coming along? Block the sound for me.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s attention immediately shifted. He folded his ears down and blinked expectantly, waiting for praise. Qiao Sang smiled like a proud mother but quickly turned to Lubao before Yabao¡¯s ears popped back up. ¡°I didn¡¯t let you compete because those opponents were too weak. Yabao and Little Treasure could handle them. The tougher opponents are later on, that¡¯s when I¡¯ll need you.¡± ¡°Lu lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s tail swished lightly as the water bubbles vanished entirely. Qiao Sang exhaled in relief. Finally pacified. ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure, watching the whole scene, tilted his head in confusion. Why didn¡¯t our Beast Tamer think to ask me to block my ears? Chapter 319: Home Court Advantage Ten crates of A-grade energy recovery potions, an S-grade artifact, and a Greatmouth''s Dragon egg, what kind of insane luck was this? For a fleeting moment, Qiao Sang was tempted to try her hand at buying lottery tickets. Forget the dragon egg; even scoring ten crates of A-grade potions would be a blessing! Heaven knew how much she had spent recently on potions for Yabao. The little guy had been guzzling them like water while training for the Meteor Rain move, reducing her bank balance''s most significant digit yet again. Qiao Sang sighed. Raising beasts was truly a costly affair. And this was before Yabao and the others had evolved into high-grade beasts. Once that happened, how would she even afford it? Maybe she should try the lottery. What if she struck it big? Snapping out of her dangerous line of thought, Qiao Sang shook her head furiously. No way! That¡¯s just a tax on the gullible! This was nothing like betting on the Interstellar Cup, where analysis and insight could boost her chances. Lottery tickets were pure luck, a gamble with nearly zero odds of success. Stay rational, she told herself. Once the Flame Hound and the psychic-type beast news went public, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about affording Yabao and the others anymore. Clearing her mind, she asked, ¡°If that person won three lottery jackpots, they must be famous around here, right?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Yixuan thought for a moment. ¡°Not sure. News reports usually just use aliases and list the prizes. I only remember they called him Mr. Zhang.¡± --- In Hongrao Town, a middle-aged man with glasses, slightly curly hair, and a scholarly demeanor rode a bicycle. A basket at the front held fresh produce from the market. As he passed a small convenience store, an elderly man sitting outside called out warmly, ¡°Rongtang, off to cook for that Wu family kid again?¡± Slowing his bicycle, the man turned and smiled. ¡°Yep, almost mealtime.¡± The old man didn¡¯t press further as Rongtang pedaled away. Watching him disappear down the road, a woman emerged from the store and sighed. ¡°Zhang Rongtang really is a good man. He¡¯s been cooking for that Wu boy for over two years, hasn¡¯t he?¡± The old man nodded. ¡°Poor kid, though. At least someone¡¯s taking care of him now.¡± ¡°Poor? He¡¯s a beastmaster and attends a beastmaster high school. That¡¯s not too shabby.¡± The woman countered, before adding curiously, ¡°Still, it¡¯s odd. Why is Zhang Rongtang so dedicated to the boy? Even a biological father might not do so much.¡± ¡°Maybe he just feels a connection.¡± The old man mused. ¡°Though I have noticed something, every time Zhang Rongtang comes back from the Wu house, he buys several lottery tickets. I¡¯ve seen it more than once.¡± ¡°Lottery tickets? They¡¯re cheap. Let the man spend his money as he pleases.¡± The woman replied dismissively. The old man hesitated, then asked tentatively, ¡°Think I should buy some, too?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± She barked, her voice sharp. --- At 4:56 p.m., the Hongrao Beastmaster Center was packed. Cars clogged the roads near the entrance. For a small town, hosting a provincial beastmaster tournament with students from dozens of high schools was a tremendous honor. Out of all the possible venues, theirs had been chosen, a clear acknowledgment of the town¡¯s environment and orderliness. The students of Huicheng Beastmaster High were already a source of pride for the town. Now, with so many participants arriving, the townsfolk were eager to witness the event firsthand. Despite their best attempts to remain orderly, the crowd grew chaotic, forcing local traffic police to step in. ¡°Do you think the students from Shengshui High will come?¡± A girl in the crowd asked. ¡°Look! Isn¡¯t that their uniform?¡± A boy nearby exclaimed, pointing toward the Beastmaster Center¡¯s entrance. At the gate, staff verified the IDs of Sun Boyi, Qiao Sang, and the rest before allowing them inside. Accommodations in Hongrao Town were limited, so participants were housed in the Beastmaster Center. Though the center wasn¡¯t large, the government had reserved enough rooms for all contestants. As they walked to their assigned quarters, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°The competition isn¡¯t until tomorrow. Why is there already such a crowd outside?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± He Datang chuckled. ¡°People in small towns and counties are just more enthusiastic about these things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually calmer than usual.¡± Xu Yixuan added. ¡°During the matches, students and parents from Huicheng High will probably pack the place. You¡¯ll see how lively it gets then.¡± Qiao Sang paused, a realization dawning. ¡°Our group must include a Huicheng High student, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, just one.¡± Xu Yixuan confirmed, scrolling through her phone. ¡°A boy named Wu Chang.¡± ¡°Bet the entire crowd will be cheering for him.¡± He Datang remarked. ¡°Honestly, home court advantage is no joke. He¡¯ll probably advance without a hitch.¡± Qiao Sang nodded, understanding. This was the infamous home field advantage. --- The Beastmaster Center offered single, double, and quadruple rooms. Qiao Sang shared a double room with Xu Yixuan. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, who had just been summoned, wandered the room, looked out the window, then tugged at the blanket on Qiao Sang¡¯s bed. ¡°Yap! Yap!¡± Let¡¯s go play! Chapter 320: The Favored Child of Fortune Qiao Sang was casually scrolling through her phone when a thought crossed her mind. Without hesitation, she hopped off the bed, put on her shoes, and declared, "Alright, let¡¯s go!" "Yap!" Yabao lit up with excitement. His eyes gleamed blue as he glanced at the window, which promptly swung open under his control. Qiao Sang nimbly swung onto Yabao''s back. Turning to Xu Yixuan, she said, "I¡¯m just heading out for a quick stroll. I¡¯ll be back before dinner." "Yap!" The moment his Beastmaster gave the word, Yabao leaped out of the window without hesitation. A gust of wind blew through the room, causing the curtains to sway gently. Xu Yixuan stared in disbelief at the now-empty window. "Using the door was an option! Why jump out of the window?" Her friend¡¯s dramatic flair was almost too much to bear. Shaking her head, Xu Yixuan summoned her Blaze Dog with a few practiced hand gestures. "Want to go out and play?" She asked hopefully. "Yap." It responded with a sidelong glance before closing its eyes and lying down. Play? How childish. Xu Yixuan: ... --- Riding on her pet beast and soaring through the sky was an experience unlike any other. Airplanes couldn¡¯t compare to the thrill of such freedom. Qiao Sang sat comfortably on Yabao¡¯s back, enjoying the view below. "The wind is too strong." She said, adjusting her posture. "Slower." "Yap!" "Lower." "Yap!" This was the joy of flying with a pet beast, adjusting speed and altitude at will, indulging in the sheer romance of flight. Qiao Sang mused that even without pursuing a career as a professional Beastmaster, she could live a comfortable life offering joyrides with Yabao. Her thoughts were interrupted when something below caught her attention. A boy was walking with a medium-sized dark blue bird-like beast by his side. The sight of the bird intrigued her, as it wasn¡¯t a species she recognized. However, what truly piqued her interest was the boy¡¯s peculiar behavior. Every few steps, he bent down as if picking something up. Initially, Qiao Sang admired his apparent commitment to environmental protection. But as she focused, she realized he wasn¡¯t picking up trash, he was picking up money. "Yabao, slow down!" She said, patting his back. "Yap!" Yabao obeyed, reducing his speed. Qiao Sang squinted, zeroing in on the boy¡¯s hands. Sure enough, his palms were filled with coins. Her jaw dropped. What kind of insane luck is this? Just then, the boy bent down again, this time picking up a red, hundred-credit bill emblazoned with the Alliance emblem. Qiao Sang: !!! If she had been merely envious before, now she was outright stunned. Her gaze shifted to where the bill had lain moments ago. Was I blind? How did I miss that? It took a moment of self-doubt before Qiao Sang managed to compose herself. Some people are just luckier than others. She comforted herself with the thought, recalling her own fortunate encounters. With a shrug, she redirected her attention. A nearby high-rise caught her eye. On one of its balconies, a man and a woman appeared to be arguing. Qiao Sang¡¯s enhanced vision allowed her to discern their movements clearly. After a heated exchange, the man angrily removed his wig, pulling a 20-credit bill from underneath it and slamming it on the table. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The woman snatched the money with a cold sneer, tossing it into the air with a dramatic flick of her wrist. The bill floated down, landing on a tree branch, where it was promptly snatched by a passing bird. Moments later, a larger bird swooped in, startling the first into dropping the bill. The wind carried it further until it landed directly at the feet of a familiar boy. He bent down to pick it up, and Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze followed him upward. Her heart sank. It¡¯s him again! --- The next morning, Hui City Beastmaster High School was buzzing with activity. The chatter of students and parents filled the air as the competition day began. "Which schools are competing today?" "Apparently, there¡¯s a livestream. Do you think I¡¯ll get on camera?" "I can¡¯t believe it! I set my alarm for 7:30, and there¡¯s already no room in the stands!" "I heard that Shengshui High¡¯s Beastmaster with the Flame Hound is competing here today!" "Not just them. The Shengshui High team captain is here too!" "And don¡¯t forget Liu Zeru from Bear Peak High! He¡¯s also competing!" "Wow, with such strong contenders, how is Wu Chang from our school going to fare?" "Relax. Half the participants advance to the next round. With Wu Chang¡¯s luck, he¡¯s a shoo-in." In the front row of the stands, Xu Yixuan nudged Qiao Sang. "What¡¯s up with you? You¡¯ve been zoning out since yesterday." "Nothing." Qiao Sang replied after a pause. Then, after some hesitation, she asked, "Do you believe in favored children of fortune?" "Of course." Xu Yixuan said with a shrug. "Some people are just blessed. You¡¯re one of them, aren¡¯t you?" "Not exactly." Qiao Sang clarified. "I mean the kind who finds money every few steps, where bills practically fly into their hands." Xu Yixuan thought for a moment before replying seriously, "Actually, I do know someone like that." Qiao Sang perked up, taking a deep breath. "Who?" "The protagonist of The Fall of Calis." Qiao Sang: ... --- As the main competition began, the battle arenas were set to transform randomly for each match. Although Hui City Beastmaster High was a small-town school, a government grant last year allowed it to upgrade its facilities, making it one of the few schools in Hanggang City capable of hosting such high-profile events. This upgrade was the primary reason it was chosen as the venue. Chapter 321: Are Geniuses Always This Easygoing? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- The competitors in the main competition had all been selected from their school teams after over two years of professional training. The duration of each match was noticeably longer than during the preliminary rounds, with most matches lasting several minutes. At first, Little Treasure remained hidden, but he soon got caught up in the excitement of the crowd, revealing himself to cheer enthusiastically for his favorite contestant. Since he was blocking the view of the audience seated behind her, Qiao Sang had no choice but to hold Little Treasure in her arms. ¡°Have you gained weight again?¡± Qiao Sang asked, patting Little Treasure¡¯s belly. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Upon hearing this, Little Treasure puffed out his already round belly with pride, as if to say this was a sign of his growing strength. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°That¡¯s called gaining weight, not getting stronger.¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure pointed to the field, where a large bear-like beast was using his belly fat to bounce back an attack from a Flash Mouse. His gaze burned with admiration, clearly aspiring to one day grow as strong as that bear. This mindset is seriously concerning, thought Qiao Sang. On the field, the bear-like beast, boasting a thick layer of fat and a tough hide, stood firm, ignoring its opponent¡¯s relentless attacks. ¡°I think that Violent Bear might be one of the toughest in our group.¡± Xu Yixuan commented as she noticed Qiao Sang staring at it. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by how it¡¯s just standing there taking hits, it has the Rage Fist skill.¡± As if on cue, the Violent Bear let out a roar, pulling back its right arm and clenching its fist. Its chest puffed out like a drawn bow, energy swirling intensely around its fist. In a flash, it punched downward at the Flash Mouse, which had been enveloped in electric sparks and charging straight at it. The Flash Mouse flew across the field and collapsed, unconscious. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure flinched, clearly startled by the sudden outburst of violence. Qiao Sang instinctively began analyzing the situation in her mind. Rage Fist, a skill that converts accumulated anger into power, making the attack stronger with each hit received. The easiest way to win against it would be to break its defenses with a single decisive strike, preventing it from ever using the skill. Among her own team, the only one with the firepower to potentially one-hit the Violent Bear was Yabao. Watching as the Flash Mouse was carried off on a stretcher, Xu Yixuan sighed. ¡°That Violent Bear is faster than the last time I saw it. Honestly, I think the only ones who could beat Liu Zeru are the three of us.¡± Liu Zeru, the Violent Bear¡¯s beastmaster, was known for his strength. ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions.¡± He Dadao said cautiously. Ever since losing two matches to Pinghai High during the preliminaries, He Dadao had become noticeably more reserved. Xu Yixuan glanced at him but said nothing. As a fellow senior in her final year of high school, she understood his mindset. This was their last chance to participate in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. ¡°Senior He is right.¡± Qiao Sang agreed. ¡°I think there are probably others who can beat him too.¡± Xu Yixuan: ¡­ He Dadao: ¡­ S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That¡¯s not what I meant! The competition progressed smoothly. Half an hour later, a boy with bangs covering his eyes stepped onto the field. The announcer¡¯s voice rose with excitement: ¡°Let¡¯s welcome Wu Chang from Huicheng Beastmaster High School and Huang Xiaoting from Hanggang No. 9 Beastmaster High School!¡± The crowd erupted, cheering overwhelmingly for one name. ¡°Wu Chang! Wu Chang!¡± ¡°Wu Chang, you can do it!¡± ¡°Wu Chang, you¡¯re the best!¡± ¡°Wu Chang, you¡¯re the strongest!¡± Xu Yixuan glanced around and sighed enviously. ¡°Competing at your own school really is different. Why didn¡¯t I get this kind of luck? In two years, I¡¯ve never been assigned to compete at my school.¡± ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Qiao Sang muttered, staring at the boy in shock. ¡°His luck is absolutely unreal.¡± It was the first time Xu Yixuan had seen Qiao Sang this surprised. ¡°Come on, being assigned to your own school isn¡¯t that rare. Your reaction is a bit much.¡± Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang said seriously, ¡°Remember the Child of Fortune I told you about?¡± Xu Yixuan froze. ¡°The one who picks up money every few steps, finds cash flying to him, and does it four or five times in half a minute?¡± ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Xu Yixuan: !!! Her shock lingered for a long moment before she exclaimed, ¡°That kind of absurd person actually exists?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to believe it either, but I saw it with my own eyes yesterday.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Could his pet beast have a skill that brings good luck?¡± Xu Yixuan speculated. ¡°Not sure.¡± Qiao Sang said after a moment of thought. ¡°But it¡¯s a possibility.¡± The boy summoned a familiar pet beast, a Desert Tail Fox. Qiao Sang froze. A Desert Tail Fox? So his luck isn¡¯t from a pet beast after all. It¡¯s just¡­ him?! By the end of Wu Chang¡¯s match, the announcer called Qiao Sang¡¯s name. ¡°And now, let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School and Lei Lei from Chongzhou Beastmaster High School!¡± The crowd erupted again, this time with murmurs of curiosity. ¡°Shengshui High? I¡¯ve never seen anyone from Shengshui High before!¡± ¡°I heard she¡¯s only a first-year!¡± ¡°Flame Hound! I hope she uses her Flame Hound!¡± On the field, Lei Lei turned to Qiao Sang and said, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll use your Flame Hound.¡± Without hesitation, Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Lei Lei was stunned. Are geniuses always this easy to talk to? As the referee signaled the start of the match, Qiao Sang summoned her beast, and a green star array appeared. From it, Little Treasure emerged with a playful cry. ----- ----- Chapter 322: Falling into the Trap Lei Lei: ??? If you weren''t going to agree, why say yes earlier?! Are you messing with me?! Lei Lei''s forehead broke out in veins of frustration, his shoulders trembling, and his fists clenched tightly. He was prepared to give up, but now, an inexplicable battle spirit surged within him! Looking at Lei Lei''s expression, Qiao Sang scratched her nose sheepishly. High schoolers are so gullible... Once the pet beasts appeared, the ground shifted, revealing an artificial arena with a small water pond. Calling it a pond might be too generous, it was essentially a pit filled with water. The deep blue material at the bottom made it look deceptively deep. The pond occupied most of the arena, leaving limited maneuvering space on the ground. Normally, this terrain would severely hinder non-aquatic beasts. However, with one ghost-type pet and one flying-type pet in play, neither needed to touch the ground. --- In the audience, amidst the area where schools had gathered: "Doesn''t your school''s vice principal hold an A-rank Breeder certification? Why not fatten up this scrawny Treasure-Seeking Demon? Look how puny it is!" Joked the coach from Chongzhou Beast Taming High. Sun Boyi, long accustomed to the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s unique form, glanced up at its round belly mid-air with a blank expression. This... is scrawny? The coach assumed his silence was agreement and felt a bit smug. He had watched Qiao Sang''s match footage and analyzed their school''s chances. Knowing victory was unlikely, he took solace in small verbal jabs. Suddenly, a voice chimed in from behind: "Even if it''s this scrawny, it still beats your team. Imagine if it were normal-sized, you''d lose even worse!" The Chongzhou coach spun around angrily. Who dares say this?! But upon turning, he quickly plastered on a smile. "Ah, Principal! What a surprise to see you here!" Sun Boyi was equally shocked. "Principal Wang! Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were coming?" Wang Weidou, the principal of Shengshui High, adjusted his tone and replied smoothly: "The National Campus Beast Mastering League is an annual event. No matter how busy I am, I must come." To watch Qiao Sang, no doubt. Sun Boyi internally rolled his eyes but didn¡¯t expose him. Meanwhile, the Chongzhou coach, touched by Wang''s apparent dedication, thought: No wonder Shengshui High dominates Hanggang City. Their principal genuinely prioritizes his students! --- While they chatted, the match began. Lei Lei''s Wind Hawk initiated the attack, darting at an almost imperceptible speed toward the Little Treasure, feinting left and right. Just as it was about to strike, Little Treasure grinned and vanished. Normally, a ghost-type beast could still be hit even when invisible, as long as the attack landed in its position. But Wind Hawk missed entirely. This meant the Treasure-Seeking Demon not only turned invisible but also relocated instantly. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its reaction speed is insane. What a tricky opponent... Lei Lei''s heart sank. Before he could issue another command, ribbons of black shadows materialized mid-air, whipping toward Wind Hawk. "Attack where the shadows are!" Lei Lei''s battle instincts kicked in. Wind Hawk flared its wings, diving toward the incoming shadows instead of dodging. It weaved through the dark tendrils with astonishing agility, its body glowing faintly with green light as its speed soared even further. The audience gasped. "Wind Hawk lives up to its name, this speed is incredible!" "This must be Brave Bird Strike. If it hits, the match is over!" The crowd marveled as Wind Hawk hurtled toward the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s position. "Uncle, what are those creepy black things?" A curious spectator asked. "Shadow Control." A young man replied. "What does it do?" "Controls the opponent. Only advanced pets can typically learn this move." The uncle gasped. "That tiny thing is an advanced pet?!" "No, it¡¯s only mid-level." The young man¡¯s eyes gleamed. A mid-level pet with an advanced skill... There''s no way it loses! --- In the arena, Wind Hawk became a blur of green light, closing in on the Little Treasure. Qiao Sang calmly issued a command. "Form a net." "Xun~" Little Treasure reappeared, crossing hiss shadow-controlling claws. The dark ribbons converged, weaving into a dense, shadowy net that blocked Wind Hawk''s path. "Evade it!" Lei Lei shouted, his heart pounding. But it was too late. Wind Hawk slammed into the shadowy net, which stretched under the impact but held firm, forming a faint silhouette of the trapped bird. "Wind screech!" The crowd watched as the resilient net folded around Wind Hawk, containing its struggles. On the other side of the net, Little Treasure cackled mischievously. But then, his expression shifted. "Xun!¡± The trapped Wind Hawk was heavy! Below, the water of the pond loomed closer. Little Treasure released the net just as it touched the water¡¯s surface, letting it, and Wind Hawk, fall in. ¡°Xun...xun...¡± Breathing heavily, Little Treasure patted his chest in relief. So scary... I almost fell too! For a moment, the arena was silent. Then, someone in the audience muttered: "This... this is what you''d call falling into the trap, right?" Chapter 316: Experience It More Whether it was the school leaders in the audience, the competitors on the stage, or the cameramen live-streaming on the sidelines, everyone was silent at this moment. Their mouths hung open as they stared blankly at the scene above, the Ghost Lamp bound by several dark shadows mid-air. Shadow Control... has really become a tangible attack?! Those who had previously speculated that Little Treasure''s shadow control might have reached a three-dimensional level were utterly stunned. They had just been making wild guesses, but it turned out to be true?! The feeling was akin to watching a TV drama and casually gossiping with a friend: "The chemistry between the male and female leads feels so real; they must be dating." Only for the news to break the very next day: "Popular stars confirm off-screen romance!" It was unbelievable! "Did you see that?" "Yeah." "Shadow Control." "Yeah." "It¡¯s become a tangible attack now." "Yeah." "That¡¯s full mastery, right?" "Yeah." "Can you say something else?" "Yeah." "..." Some people were still in a daze, while others had already snapped back to reality, their eyes full of anticipation for the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s next move. There are differences between advanced skills, and Shadow Control is one of the rarer ones. It¡¯s not something you often see, even on TV. Usually, it¡¯s portrayed as shadows confined to the ground, purely for control. The idea of shadows turning into tangible, three-dimensional attacks is rarely depicted, and when it is, it¡¯s usually in villainous contexts, heartless attacks that are visually spectacular but leave the protagonist in a terrible state. Now, everyone eagerly looked up, expecting to see the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s launch a dramatic attack, like in those intense TV battles. Instead, the little beast raised another claw not currently using Shadow Control and extended a stubby digit. The shadow on the ground suddenly extended and connected to one of the dark tendrils binding the Ghost Lamp. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure grinned mischievously, as though he had just pulled off a prank. "Ghost!" The Ghost Lamp, also a ghost-type creature, sensed danger from the beast''s expression. Panic flashed across its face as it began to struggle violently. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure cooed sweetly, as if to say, Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll all be over soon. In the next second, he swung his two short claws, both controlling Shadow Control, in a crisscrossing motion. "Ghost!!!" The Ghost Lamp was sent spinning wildly, completely losing its sense of direction. Little Treasure continued to swing the shadows back and forth, crossing them repeatedly like poorly kneaded noodles. The Ghost Lamp, unable to endure it any longer, passed out with stars in its eyes. Before losing consciousness, one thought flashed through the ghostly lantern¡¯s mind: It¡¯s finally over. A whistle signaling the end of the match blew. "Xun." Little Treasure looked disappointed. While he had promised to end the battle quickly, he didn¡¯t expect it to end this quickly. He hadn¡¯t had enough fun yet. For a brief moment, the arena was silent. Then, an uproar broke out. "I¡¯m dying! That attack style is hilarious!" "Does this Treasure-Seeking Demon have some kind of fetish for spinning its opponents dizzy?" "Shadow Control is such a high-end skill, yet this beast uses it like it¡¯s playing with noodles. Genius!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Who knew ghost-type beasts could be so cute? I suddenly want to contract one myself!" "Qiao Sang is terrifying. How does she train her beasts to be so powerful? Forget being a first-year; if you told me she was a senior, I¡¯d think even that was an understatement." It¡¯s one thing to be strong, but to be this overwhelmingly strong at 15? Unbelievable. "By the way, what was up with that Ghost Lamp earlier? The Treasure-Seeking Demon was on the ground, so why was its will-o''-the-wisp aimed in the air? Even if the beast was invisible, they¡¯re both ghost-types, they should sense each other¡¯s locations, right?" "Maybe it¡¯s severely nearsighted?" Someone suggested, though even they found the idea absurd. After all, the Ghost Lamp belonged to Zhang Shiming, who had ranked in the top 24 in the previous national campus beast mastering league. If its eyesight were truly that bad, how could it have performed so well? "If the Ghost Lamp isn¡¯t the problem..." Someone else chimed in. "Then it must be the Treasure-Seeking Demon." "It probably has some skill that allows it to change its position." Zhang Shiming finally spoke up after a long silence. "During the match, the was definitely aimed correctly, but the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s position must have shifted suddenly." The next competitor, a girl preparing to go onstage, shrugged nonchalantly. "Does its position even matter? It¡¯s not like I can win anyway." Zhang Shiming: ... Why had she suddenly given up so thoroughly? The next three matches went exactly as expected, Qiao Sang won them all. Little Treasure either spun his opponents dizzy with Shadow Control or swung them around like a toy. He seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly. In the final match of the A2 group, Qiao Sang suddenly recalled something and waved her hand, recalling Little Treasure into her beast taming codex The boy from Yicheng Beast Taming High School, who was about to compete against her, froze for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief. With the Treasure-Seeking Demon gone, Qiao Sang probably wouldn¡¯t send it back out. Even though he was prepared to lose, there were better ways to lose than being spun around like a toy. Fortunately, that wouldn¡¯t happen in the next match. For the final match, Qiao Sang summoned Yabao. "Yap!" Yabao appeared on the stage, full of energy and determination. Qiao Sang cast a sly glance at the cameras. She remembered the vice principal mentioning that after the preliminary rounds, reporters would randomly interview participants from each school. If nothing went wrong, she was almost guaranteed to be interviewed. This would be the perfect opportunity to promote her Flame Hound and his psychic-type abilities! The match began. "Yabao, use Psychic Spin!" Qiao Sang commanded. There were many ways to win, but since this was her chance to highlight Yabao¡¯s psychic abilities, she would have to rely on them to secure victory. "Yap!" Hearing his master¡¯s command, Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue. "Tail!" Under his psychic control, the long-tailed snake was lifted into the air and began spinning rapidly. The boy: !!! ----- T/N: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I finally appeared!!!! It was earlier than the date I said because my order was faster than I thought! Thank you for those who supported me in Patreon???????? And I''m going to dedicate this return of mine to that one person who donated a $100 in Ko-fi! Thank you @Warren Hu! The following chapters are dedicated to you! Chapter 318: Group Stage Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- November 3rd. Shengshui High School. The moment Qiao Sang stepped into Training Ground No. 1, she saw a group gathered around Zhang Dezhou, Wang Yao, Shi Gaofeng, Xu Yixuan, He Datao, and others, engaged in a heated discussion. Zhang Dezhou, however, looked utterly aggrieved. "What are you all talking about?" Qiao Sang walked over and asked. The moment Zhang Dezhou saw her, his eyes turned red, resembling the aggrieved heroine in a melodramatic school drama, trying hard not to cry yet clearly feeling wronged. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me!¡± He shouted in despair. Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What wasn¡¯t you?¡± She asked in confusion. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who leaked your information online!¡± Zhang Dezhou declared indignantly. Recalling the events of last night and that morning, his frustration only grew. Being a substitute was already humiliating, but upon arriving at evening self-study, multiple classmates had bombarded him with the same question: ¡°Hey, is your online ID ¡®GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain¡¯?¡± Initially puzzled, he later discovered this ID was infamous for leaking Qiao Sang¡¯s information online, earning the title of Shengshui Traitor. When he realized people were accusing him of this, Zhang Dezhou was filled with disbelief. What the heck?! Who was spreading these baseless rumors? Did they really think he was the type to sell out his teammates? He spent half the night explaining himself, but some still gave him looks of I get it, as if they were in on some secret. It was maddening. That morning, he came to the training ground hoping for some peace, only to be interrogated by the school team members as well. Thankfully, Xu Yixuan and He Datao trusted him, but Zhang Dezhou still felt wronged. Seeing Qiao Sang now, he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. Despite being a substitute, he genuinely admired her skills and didn¡¯t want her to misunderstand. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t you.¡± Qiao Sang said. Her words left Zhang Dezhou frozen in disbelief. She trusts me? She really trusts me?! ¡°But Qiao Sang, after analyzing everything, the most likely person to leak your info is him.¡± Wang Yao argued, frowning. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know Zhang Dezhou well.¡± Xu Yixuan countered. ¡°His skills might not be great, but his character is solid. He¡¯s always been near the bottom of the class rankings, but he¡¯s never resorted to copying answers.¡± ¡°And besides.¡± He Datao added, ¡°Analyzing posts from other schools like that? That¡¯s not Zhang Dezhou¡¯s style. He usually just barges into their forums and starts cursing people out. No way he¡¯d be this strategic!¡± Zhang Dezhou¡¯s lip twitched. Any gratitude he felt toward the two vanished. Shi Gaofeng chimed in, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being at the bottom of the class? Anyone who got into Shengshui High isn¡¯t dumb.¡± Zhang Dezhou turned to him, surprised and moved. Their eyes met, and in that moment, they shared a silent understanding: Brother, didn¡¯t expect you to be a fellow underachiever! Before the conversation could continue, Qiao Sang cleared her throat. ¡°Actually, the person who leaked my info was me.¡± Silence. The group stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°You sold your own information?!¡± Wang Yao was the first to recover, looking utterly shocked. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yeah, it was me." Qiao Sang admitted sheepishly, scratching her head. ¡°Think about that ID. Doesn¡¯t GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain spell out my name?¡± (T/N: In the raws.) Everyone: !!! In hindsight, some forum users had pointed out that the ID ¡®GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain¡¯ could be interpreted as Sang, but they were quickly ridiculed. After all, who would leak their own information in a high-stakes national competition? Qiao Sang began explaining the whole story, recounting the events that led to her decision. After hearing her out, Wang Yao broke the silence. ¡°So there really was someone from our school selling your information, but you intercepted them?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Qiao Sang confirmed. ¡°Then why did you go and post about yourself afterward?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked, still baffled. Qiao Sang replied earnestly, ¡°Because I realized it was incredibly profitable.¡± The group was rendered speechless. Finally, Xu Yixuan spoke up. ¡°So... about the 1,000 credits I spent to buy your info, can I get a refund?¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Oh no! I completely forgot about that! With the air cleared, Zhang Dezhou was visibly relieved, chatting and laughing with the others. ¡°See? I told you he wasn¡¯t clever enough for something like this.¡± He Datao teased, clapping him on the shoulder. ¡°Shut up!¡± After about twenty minutes of free training, Sun Boyi and Zheng Guoping entered the arena. ¡°Everyone, stop for a moment.¡± Sun Boyi announced. ¡°We¡¯ll wrap up training in the morning, have lunch, and head to Hongrao Town in Shanglong County.¡± ¡°High school sophomores, follow me to Jiudu District¡¯s Beast Taming Base.¡± Zheng Guoping added. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. She¡¯d already looked up the location of Beast Taming High School in Hui City, it was in Hongrao Town, which was still within Hanggang City. With the preliminaries over, the official competition began, starting with the group stage and followed by elimination rounds. In the group stage, 576 competitors across all grades were divided into 16 groups, each with 36 participants. The top 18 from each group would advance. ¡°Hongrao Town, huh? I heard there¡¯s a local guy there who¡¯s won the lottery three times.¡± Xu Yixuan remarked, recalling a recent news story. ¡°What kind of prizes?¡± He Datao asked, intrigued. Qiao Sang paid little attention. Lottery news like this was usually just marketing to encourage gambling. ¡°Once, it was ten cases of Grade-A energy restoration potions. Another time, an S-grade artifact. And the last time... a Greatmouth Dragon¡¯s egg.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 323: Qiao Sang vs. Xu Yixuan The moment those words fell, the unconscious Wind Hawk floated to the surface of the water. ¡°Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School wins!¡± When the referee announced the match result, the audience exploded. ¡°What the heck?! Can someone explain what kind of skill that was?!¡± ¡°So Shadow Control can be used like this?!¡± ¡°Love it! This is way too cool!¡± ¡°Shengshui High¡¯s students are built differently! Just look at that performance, it¡¯s on another level entirely!¡± While students and parents unfamiliar with advanced skills were in a frenzy, those with more experience and the school leaders who had studied Qiao Sang remained relatively composed. ¡°This Treasure-Seeking Demon has already mastered the Shadow Control skill to such a versatile degree, not just for offense but also for defense and control. It¡¯s hard to believe a high schooler can get their pet to wield an advanced skill this well¡­¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t up against the Treasure-Seeking Demon, Wind Hawk¡¯s speed alone would have overwhelmed any opponent. What a shame it faced such a monster.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to pity? They¡¯re in the same group; they¡¯d have faced each other sooner or later.¡± ¡°You think this mastery of Shadow Control, developing it into a three-dimensional tactic might mean it¡¯s beyond just proficient?¡± There¡¯s a saying: No skill is useless, only beast trainers are. Any skill, if mastered and enhanced creatively, can break away from stereotypical usage. But such mastery requires an incredibly high level of skill. When people began to suspect the Treasure-Seeker¡¯s proficiency in Dark Shadow Control surpassed ordinary levels, their expressions became complicated. In the back row of the audience, a middle-aged man in black anxiously pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Principal! We¡¯ve got a serious problem!¡± This man was none other than Old Li, who had previously reported intelligence about Qiao Sang to Litan Beast Taming High during the preliminary rounds. --- Qiao Sang easily claimed victory in her second match against Lei Lei. As the competition progressed, many contestants had already faced their second match. ¡°This Wu Chang guy has ridiculous luck.¡± Xu Yixuan said enviously as she watched a Sensory Bird battling a Cyan Moon Butterfly in the arena. ¡°This is his fourth match today, and every time, his pet¡¯s attributes and the terrain have been advantageous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just luck. Skill is what truly matters.¡± He Ditao said dismissively. ¡°I checked the rankings. He was at the bottom of those who advanced from the preliminaries. If the group stage hadn¡¯t been held at his school, he¡¯d definitely have been eliminated.¡± ???? The group stage followed a round-robin format, meaning every contestant would eventually face one another. Preliminary scores were publicly transparent. Contestants in the top 15 of their group were almost guaranteed to advance, while those ranked 16¨C18 were at risk. Luck is part of strength, Qiao Sang mused. If possible, she wouldn¡¯t mind that kind of luck where money seemed to fall into her lap. As time ticked on, it was finally time for Qiao Sang¡¯s second appearance. ¡°Let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang and Xu Yixuan from Shengshui High!¡± Yes, Xu Yixuan. Being in the same group, facing each other was only a matter of time. Although they were from the same school, individual competition meant they were rivals. However, since 18 contestants from each group could advance, Qiao Sang had no qualms about going all out. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to compete against you for a while now.¡± Xu Yixuan said seriously as they walked toward the arena. Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Don¡¯t we spar during training?¡± ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± Xu Yixuan said, flashing a smile. ¡°I mean a serious match.¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ve been slacking off during training? Does Mr. Sun know about this?¡± Xu Yixuan: !!! You¡¯re a devil! Just as they were about to part ways and head to their respective sides of the arena, Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take this match seriously too.¡± Xu Yixuan stared blankly at her before breaking into a smile. As soon as the two stepped onto the stage, the audience roared. One was Xu Yixuan, a contestant who had consistently placed in the top three provincially over the past two years. The other was Qiao Sang, a superstar seed contestant. Both hailed from Shengshui High, the top-ranked beast-taming school in Hanggang City. The anticipation for their match was palpable. ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°Probably Qiao Sang. Her Flame Hound isn¡¯t just fire-type; it also has psychic abilities. Its attack power and speed are top-notch. Pair that with her Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Shadow Control, both of her pets are overpowered.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Xu Yixuan is undeniably strong, with two extra years of experience. Plus, since they¡¯re from the same school, she probably knows Qiao Sang¡¯s weaknesses well.¡± ¡°Well, Qiao Sang probably knows Xu Yixuan¡¯s weaknesses too.¡± As teammates who had trained together, they were certainly familiar with each other¡¯s vulnerabilities. If either failed to exploit that knowledge, it would be inexcusable. When the referee signaled them to summon their pets, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal. A green star array glimmered as a light blue figure appeared within. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao swished her tail, exuding an aloof demeanor. Xu Yixuan: !!! What the hell! This is still the group stage! Did you really have to summon Ice Qiya?! Is this necessary?! A rare species casually brought into a match? Xu Yixuan¡¯s chest tightened. This was a rare pet! If it got injured, wouldn¡¯t she end up in the police station? And this was a live broadcast, everyone was watching! Moreover¡ª Xu Yixuan glanced at her Flame Hound with despair. She had expected Qiao Sang to summon the Flame Hound for a fiery battle. Instead¡­ While Xu Yixuan was panicking, the audience was abuzz with excitement, confusion, and chatter. ¡°What kind of pet is that? Doesn¡¯t look local to Yuhua.¡± ¡°Damn! I almost forgot Qiao Sang had a third pet with her Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon stealing the spotlight!¡± ¡°Mom! I want that pet for my next one!¡± ¡°Yeah, and I want you to ace your exams, but do you see that happening?¡± ¡°Man, this genius title really doesn¡¯t lie. Look at this, definitely a water-type!¡± ¡°Quick, search it online! Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon are hard to beat, but this third one might be her weakest link.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Many people whipped out their phones to take pictures or scan the pet for information. Meanwhile, the terrain had morphed into a field scattered with large rock obstacles. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced at the Blaze Hound in front of her, determination flickering in her eyes. This match had to be a victory! ¡°Chirp!¡± The referee¡¯s whistle barely faded before Lubao opened her mouth, enveloping the battlefield in a thick, white fog. At the same time, a shocked, high-pitched voice echoed from the audience. ¡°A rare species?!¡± Chapter 325:Whats the Purpose of This Move? ¡°It smiled! It smiled!¡± ¡°Help! It¡¯s so cute!¡± ¡°Argh! Jealousy is consuming me! Why does Qiao Sang get to contract Ice Qiya?!¡± As Lubao''s smile faded, the crowd erupted into another frenzy. ¡°When it¡¯s not smiling, it looks so cool!¡± ¡°How can a pet beast¡¯s every expression tug at my heartstrings? Is this the charm of an endangered pet beast?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cold and aloof! I love it!¡± Thanks to Lubao, an otherwise ordinary high school match was elevated by the spectators to the level of a regional championship. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s ears twitched slightly. Though her expression remained icy, her wagging tail betrayed her good mood. The noise from the humans was too loud to ignore. The Blaze Dog struggled to its feet. Water-type moves had an overwhelming effect on fire-types, and it was clear that the last attack had taken a significant toll. As the Blaze Dog stood, the crowd quieted, their chatter ceasing. On the field, Lubao launched another attack. Taking advantage of the Blaze Dog¡¯s unsteady stance, she leaped high into the air, her tail wrapped in a stream of blue water, and swung it down fiercely. ¡°Fire Fang!¡± Almost the moment Lubao leaped, Xu Yixuan issued a command. The leaping motion was too familiar, it was clearly a precursor to the Water Tail attack. With the Firehound in its current state, dodging wasn¡¯t an option, leaving attack as the only choice. ¡°Yap!¡± Following its Beast Master¡¯s command, the Blaze Dog tilted its head upward, its fangs igniting in a blaze of searing flames. ¡°No!¡± Someone in the audience exclaimed reflexively, unable to bear the thought of seeing Ice Qiya injured. Lubao¡¯s water-wrapped tail collided directly with the Blaze Dog¡¯s flame-enveloped fangs. The impact sent the Blaze Dog stumbling backward several steps, yet its Fire Fang remained locked on Lubao¡¯s tail. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s expression turned serious as she stared at the Blaze Dog, which bore a striking resemblance to Yabao in its fighting style. In the next instant, the energy on her tail surged, causing the water flow to double in size. Boom! The energy shockwave forced the two beasts apart, sending them both skidding far across the battlefield. ¡°It got bitten! Ice Qiya¡¯s tail won¡¯t be okay, right?¡± ¡°How could it be fine? Look at that tail! It¡¯s singed!¡± ¡°Is it... cooked?!¡± ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t jinx it!¡± ¡°Why is the Blaze Dog biting so viciously?¡± ¡°That said, isn¡¯t Ice Qiya Qiao Sang¡¯s third pet beast? I didn¡¯t expect it to go toe-to-toe with Xu Yixuan¡¯s Blaze Dog like this.¡± ¡°Well, the type advantage is at play here.¡± ¡°Did you see Ice Qiya¡¯s Water Tail move? Its proficiency seems on par with the Blaze Dog¡¯s Fire Fang. How does Qiao Sang train her beasts to such a high level of skill?¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Her Flame Hound is truly impressive, its Fire Fang and Ember moves have both reached the level of mastery.¡± ¡°Whoa, hold on!¡± The speaker suddenly raised their voice in shock. ¡°What was that move? How did Ice Qiya¡¯s tail suddenly look fine again?!¡± On the field, the gem on Lubao¡¯s forehead emitted a bright light that enveloped her body. When the blue glow faded, her once-charred tail was fully restored, looking polished and flawless. Her satisfied expression left the crowd stunned. No wonder people were reacting as if they''d never seen such a skill before. Healing abilities were rare among pet beasts. Even when they existed, they were mostly seen in hospitals or on TV, rarely in small towns like Hongrao. In schools, even students with healing-capable beasts had low proficiency. At most, they could mend minor injuries, and the process often required several seconds of skill activation. But here was Ice Qiya, casting a flash of blue light to instantly heal its tail. ¡°I think I read in its information that the gem on Ice Qiya¡¯s forehead can even regenerate severed limbs.¡± Someone hesitated to say. ¡°Get real. Even high-level skills can¡¯t do that.¡± Another retorted. ¡°Well, why do you think it¡¯s an endangered pet beast?¡± This silenced the doubter. Could Ice Qiya really restore severed limbs? If so, this was no ordinary skill, it was godlike! In the contestants'' area, Wu Chang''s eyes burned as he stared at the fully-healed Ice Qiya. His hands clenched tightly, and his body trembled with excitement, his thoughts unreadable. On the field, the Blaze Dog emitted faint flames, its expression growing fiercer. ¡°That¡¯s it! I almost forgot Ice Qiya has Healing Light! Whatever happens, I can just heal it afterward, and I won¡¯t have to go to the police station!¡± Xu Yixuan thought excitedly before chiding herself for such a reckless thought. Focus, this is still a match! She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calmly analyze the situation. The Blaze Dog had taken two heavy hits and was running low on stamina. The battle needed to end quickly. While Bing Luqiya had the type advantage, it wasn¡¯t suited for this rocky terrain. Xu Yixuan scanned the battlefield layout and shouted, ¡°Blast the rocks!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± With a furious roar, the Blaze Dog began gathering terrifying energy at its maw. If the rocks were destroyed, the resulting debris would not only serve as a weapon but also restrict Ice Qiya¡¯s movements. For a ground-bound pet like Lubao, this could be a significant obstacle. Qiao Sang, however, immediately saw through Xu Yixuan¡¯s plan. As the fire was about to launch, she calmly commanded, ¡°Healing Soundwave.¡± Hearing her master¡¯s command, Lubao raised her tail and opened her mouth: ¡°Lu~ Lu lu lu~ Lu~ Lu lu lu~¡± An invisible wave of energy rippled outward. The audience¡¯s chatter quieted, and their expressions softened, particularly in the front rows. ¡°Wow, Ice Qiya¡¯s singing is... oddly soothing.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of this move, though?¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s for calming the mind.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But this is a battle! What¡¯s the point of using this here?¡± ¡°No idea... Wait, why isn¡¯t the Blaze Dog moving?¡± On the field, the Blaze Dog¡¯s previously fierce expression gradually relaxed. The fire in its maw dwindled, never launching. Got it, Qiao Sang thought serenely. ¡°Water Stream Jet.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s gaze sharpened as her body became engulfed in swirling water. In the next moment, she leaped forward, speeding toward the now-peaceful Blaze Dog. Chapter 324: Hoping Her Family Can Bail Her Out ¡°What is he even talking about?¡± Someone asked, confused. ¡°An endangered beast! Qiao Sang¡¯s third contracted beast is actually an endangered species!¡± Another contestant, having just looked up the information, was visibly trembling with excitement, his face red and his voice trembling. This exclamation was like a lit firecracker, it stunned the audience for a moment before completely igniting the excitement. From parents to students, from officials to contestants, and from casual onlookers to beastmasters, everyone was in an uproar. The entire venue of Huicheng Beastmaster High School erupted into deafening chaos. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Holy crap... Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!¡± ¡°An endangered beast?! Is it really the kind I think it is?!¡± ¡°Ahhhhh! Mom, I saw an endangered beast!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of this beast?!¡± ¡°Ice Qiya! It¡¯s called Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! Why does Qiao Sang get to contract an endangered beast? Why?!¡± ¡°This kid is insane! Even managing to contract an endangered beast, legendary stuff!¡± ¡°Is this real?! Is it really real?!¡± ¡°Check it yourself online if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡± Old Li, seated at the back of the audience, blurted out instinctively, his voice shaking. ¡°Whoa, dude, you scared me!¡± The person sitting next to him, startled, patted his chest before speaking in a more understanding tone. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to believe. I couldn¡¯t believe it either, but I just looked it up. It really is an endangered beast, and it¡¯s from the Ancient Guwu Region.¡± A high schooler contracting an endangered beast from another region, how was that even reasonable? Not even in his wildest dreams could Old Li have imagined such a thing. Yet, the incredulous whispers and murmurs around him told him it was the truth. Hands trembling, he took out his phone and searched for Ice Qiya. He found it! Opening an image, he shakily compared the picture to the pale blue beast on the field. But just then, the battlefield was suddenly shrouded in thick, white mist, and the pale blue creature vanished from sight. Panic erupted once again. ¡°Where¡¯s Ice Qiya?!¡± ¡°My Ice Qiya''s gone!¡± ¡°Help! The endangered beast disappeared!¡± ¡°Call the authorities, quickly!¡± ¡°Relax! The information says Ice Qiya has a water melting trait, it must have blended into the water!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no water on the battlefield!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a water-type beast; it can create water!¡± Sure enough, as the mist cleared, traces of water could be seen on the ground, where Ice Qiya had apparently melted in and hidden. Qiao Sang remained calm, observing the scene. To be brutally honest, Lubao was indeed the weakest of her three beasts. During the preliminaries, when she wasn¡¯t sure of her opponents¡¯ abilities, she relied on Yabao and Little Treasure for guaranteed wins. Now, having studied the top scorers from across the province, she knew Yabao and Little Treasure could handle most of them. But Lubao was another story, she still lacked the experience. ???? Lubao¡¯s Healing Light could restore her state, but it didn¡¯t replenish her energy. A beast with no energy could only take hits. Simply put, Healing Light wasn¡¯t some almighty restorative skill. It was like playing a game: Having a full health bar but no mana was no better than being a minion. Moreover, once the mana was depleted, even the health bar couldn¡¯t be refilled. As the National Campus Beast Mastering League progressed from provincial to regional to national levels over three months, the opponents would only grow stronger. Lubao desperately needed more battle experience to improve quickly. Xu Yixuan was the perfect opponent. Though she often slacked off during training, she could quickly adapt to an opponent¡¯s strength during matches. Now that it was an official group match, she would undoubtedly take it seriously, just as she had promised. Watching the battlefield, Qiao Sang suddenly called out, ¡°Now!¡± ¡°Lu!¡± From a small puddle behind the Blaze Dog, Lubao suddenly leaped out. Her water-clad tail lashed out fiercely. Without waiting for instructions, the Blaze Dog split into two, creating a shadow clone just in time to evade the attack. The Water Tail hit empty air. Xu Yixuan was visibly conflicted. On one hand, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to harm the endangered Ice Qiya, fearing she¡¯d end up at the police station if anything went wrong. On the other hand, this was her final chance to compete in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. She owed it to herself and her opponent to take it seriously. ¡°Yap!¡± The Blaze Dog barked resolutely, snapping her out of her hesitation. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. This was why she had trained so hard. Let¡¯s just hope my family can bail me out later! ¡°Flame Charge!¡± Both Blaze Dogs were suddenly engulfed in flames and charged furiously toward Ice Qiya. As they closed in, Lubao remained unfazed. With a graceful leap, she vanished once again. One of the Blaze Dogs crashed into a boulder, shattering it into fragments. The scattered water left by Ice Qiya caught Xu Yixuan¡¯s eye. She quickly issued a command: ¡°Fire at the ground!¡± Simultaneously, Qiao Sang shouted, ¡°The one on the left!¡± It was well-known that shadow clones were fragile and would disappear upon taking damage. The left Blaze Dog, however, had just shattered a boulder without vanishing. There were only two possibilities: It was either a substitute or the real body. Having trained together, Qiao Sang knew Xu Yixuan¡¯s Blaze Dog didn¡¯t know the substitute technique. The left one was undoubtedly the real body. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao suddenly emerged behind the left Blaze Dog, her water-clad tail striking decisively. The Blaze Dog, mid-attack, couldn¡¯t dodge in time and let out a pained yelp as the tail hit home. The other Blaze Dog vanished immediately, revealing the real one¡¯s defeat. Having struck the Blaze Dog, Lubao¡¯s expression subtly shifted into what could only be described as a smug grin. This smugness threw the entire audience into chaos once again. Chapter 325: Whats the Purpose of This Move? ¡°It smiled! It smiled!¡± ¡°Help! It¡¯s so cute!¡± ¡°Argh! Jealousy is consuming me! Why does Qiao Sang get to contract Ice Qiya?!¡± As Lubao''s smile faded, the crowd erupted into another frenzy. ¡°When it¡¯s not smiling, it looks so cool!¡± ¡°How can a pet beast¡¯s every expression tug at my heartstrings? Is this the charm of an endangered pet beast?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cold and aloof! I love it!¡± Thanks to Lubao, an otherwise ordinary high school match was elevated by the spectators to the level of a regional championship. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s ears twitched slightly. Though her expression remained icy, her wagging tail betrayed her good mood. The noise from the humans was too loud to ignore. The Blaze Dog struggled to its feet. Water-type moves had an overwhelming effect on fire-types, and it was clear that the last attack had taken a significant toll. As the Blaze Dog stood, the crowd quieted, their chatter ceasing. On the field, Lubao launched another attack. Taking advantage of the Blaze Dog¡¯s unsteady stance, she leaped high into the air, her tail wrapped in a stream of blue water, and swung it down fiercely. ¡°Fire Fang!¡± Almost the moment Lubao leaped, Xu Yixuan issued a command. The leaping motion was too familiar, it was clearly a precursor to the Water Tail attack. With the Firehound in its current state, dodging wasn¡¯t an option, leaving attack as the only choice. ¡°Yap!¡± Following its Beast Master¡¯s command, the Blaze Dog tilted its head upward, its fangs igniting in a blaze of searing flames. ¡°No!¡± Someone in the audience exclaimed reflexively, unable to bear the thought of seeing Ice Qiya injured. Lubao¡¯s water-wrapped tail collided directly with the Blaze Dog¡¯s flame-enveloped fangs. The impact sent the Blaze Dog stumbling backward several steps, yet its Fire Fang remained locked on Lubao¡¯s tail. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s expression turned serious as she stared at the Blaze Dog, which bore a striking resemblance to Yabao in its fighting style. In the next instant, the energy on her tail surged, causing the water flow to double in size. Boom! The energy shockwave forced the two beasts apart, sending them both skidding far across the battlefield. ¡°It got bitten! Ice Qiya¡¯s tail won¡¯t be okay, right?¡± ¡°How could it be fine? Look at that tail! It¡¯s singed!¡± ¡°Is it... cooked?!¡± ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t jinx it!¡± ¡°Why is the Blaze Dog biting so viciously?¡± ¡°That said, isn¡¯t Ice Qiya Qiao Sang¡¯s third pet beast? I didn¡¯t expect it to go toe-to-toe with Xu Yixuan¡¯s Blaze Dog like this.¡± ¡°Well, the type advantage is at play here.¡± ¡°Did you see Ice Qiya¡¯s Water Tail move? Its proficiency seems on par with the Blaze Dog¡¯s Fire Fang. How does Qiao Sang train her beasts to such a high level of skill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Her Flame Hound is truly impressive, its Fire Fang and Ember moves have both reached the level of mastery.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Whoa, hold on!¡± The speaker suddenly raised their voice in shock. ¡°What was that move? How did Ice Qiya¡¯s tail suddenly look fine again?!¡± On the field, the gem on Lubao¡¯s forehead emitted a bright light that enveloped her body. When the blue glow faded, her once-charred tail was fully restored, looking polished and flawless. Her satisfied expression left the crowd stunned. No wonder people were reacting as if they''d never seen such a skill before. Healing abilities were rare among pet beasts. Even when they existed, they were mostly seen in hospitals or on TV, rarely in small towns like Hongrao. In schools, even students with healing-capable beasts had low proficiency. At most, they could mend minor injuries, and the process often required several seconds of skill activation. But here was Ice Qiya, casting a flash of blue light to instantly heal its tail. ¡°I think I read in its information that the gem on Ice Qiya¡¯s forehead can even regenerate severed limbs.¡± Someone hesitated to say. ¡°Get real. Even high-level skills can¡¯t do that.¡± Another retorted. ¡°Well, why do you think it¡¯s an endangered pet beast?¡± This silenced the doubter. Could Ice Qiya really restore severed limbs? If so, this was no ordinary skill, it was godlike! In the contestants'' area, Wu Chang''s eyes burned as he stared at the fully-healed Ice Qiya. His hands clenched tightly, and his body trembled with excitement, his thoughts unreadable. On the field, the Blaze Dog emitted faint flames, its expression growing fiercer. ¡°That¡¯s it! I almost forgot Ice Qiya has Healing Light! Whatever happens, I can just heal it afterward, and I won¡¯t have to go to the police station!¡± Xu Yixuan thought excitedly before chiding herself for such a reckless thought. Focus, this is still a match! She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calmly analyze the situation. The Blaze Dog had taken two heavy hits and was running low on stamina. The battle needed to end quickly. While Bing Luqiya had the type advantage, it wasn¡¯t suited for this rocky terrain. Xu Yixuan scanned the battlefield layout and shouted, ¡°Blast the rocks!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± With a furious roar, the Blaze Dog began gathering terrifying energy at its maw. If the rocks were destroyed, the resulting debris would not only serve as a weapon but also restrict Ice Qiya¡¯s movements. For a ground-bound pet like Lubao, this could be a significant obstacle. Qiao Sang, however, immediately saw through Xu Yixuan¡¯s plan. As the fire was about to launch, she calmly commanded, ¡°Healing Soundwave.¡± Hearing her master¡¯s command, Lubao raised her tail and opened her mouth: ¡°Lu~ Lu lu lu~ Lu~ Lu lu lu~¡± An invisible wave of energy rippled outward. The audience¡¯s chatter quieted, and their expressions softened, particularly in the front rows. ¡°Wow, Ice Qiya¡¯s singing is... oddly soothing.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of this move, though?¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s for calming the mind.¡± ¡°But this is a battle! What¡¯s the point of using this here?¡± ¡°No idea... Wait, why isn¡¯t the Blaze Dog moving?¡± On the field, the Blaze Dog¡¯s previously fierce expression gradually relaxed. The fire in its maw dwindled, never launching. Got it, Qiao Sang thought serenely. ¡°Water Stream Jet.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s gaze sharpened as her body became engulfed in swirling water. In the next moment, she leaped forward, speeding toward the now-peaceful Blaze Dog. Chapter 326: The Platform Crashed Thank you @Rudy for the Ko-fi!!!???? ----- The healing soundwave''s effect was to restore a calm state of mind, not to make one foolish. Facing the sudden attack, the Blaze Dog knew how to respond. It raised its head calmly and opened its mouth, intending to unleash a jet of flames. However, due to its overly peaceful mindset, its movements slowed down by multiple times. Before the flames could be fired, Lubao''s attack had already landed. Boom!!! The Blaze Dog, hit squarely, flew back several meters, rolling over multiple times before coming to a stop. "Yap..." Before losing consciousness, the Blaze Dog drowsily thought: Oh, I''ve been hit... Ah, I lost... Watching the Blaze Dog fly backward and finally faint, Xu Yixuan thought calmly: It''s over. Tweet! At that moment, the whistle signaling the end of the match rang out. Xu Yixuan snapped back to reality, her face changing dramatically as she saw the peacefully unconscious Blaze Dog. She cried out in grief: ¡°Fire Lord!¡± In the stands, the audience seemed to awaken as well, gradually returning to their normal states, and the sound of chatter filled the air. ¡°What the heck just happened to me? Was I enchanted?!¡± ¡°Same here! I didn¡¯t even feel like screaming for Ice Qiya just now!¡± ¡°Yeah, me neither!¡± ¡°How did Xu Yixuan lose?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the healing soundwave.¡± A short-haired woman sitting among the front-row leaders explained. ¡°That endangered pet beast¡¯s healing soundwave is highly proficient. It even affected us over here.¡± ¡°The Blaze Dog didn¡¯t lose unjustly. Battles require constant vigilance and preparedness.¡± A man beside her added. ¡°Fire-type pet beasts are naturally spirited, but the healing soundwave dulled that spirit, relaxed its alertness, and slowed its reaction time.¡± ¡°It also influenced its Beast Tamer.¡± The short-haired woman remarked. ¡°What¡¯s your take on this?¡± The man asked seriously. This Qiao Sang¡¯s capabilities far exceeded that of a regular high schooler. Not only did she have more pet beasts than others, but each was extraordinary. Without surprises, she would definitely secure a spot in the divisional finals. The short-haired woman kept her gaze on Lubao. After a pause, she replied: ¡°I want to pet it.¡± The man: ??? --- The National Campus Beast Mastering League was being live-streamed on the official platform. Since it was still early in the competition, with numerous contestants and matches happening simultaneously across different grades, viewers had to search for their preferred school and grade to watch the streams. At this stage, most viewers were teachers, classmates, and family or friends of the participants. Hanggang City In a spacious 200-square-meter apartment, the group-stage match in Hongrao Town was playing on a three-meter-wide virtual screen in the living room. ¡°Dad! Mom! That contestant Qiao Sang is up!¡± A girl on the sofa shouted excitedly. ¡°The one with the Flame hound?¡± A woman holding a spatula walked out from the kitchen. ¡°Yes!¡± The girl nodded, then pondered, ¡°I wonder if my brother will face her today?¡± A tall, burly man resembling a bear emerged from the bedroom and said, ¡°If they meet, they meet. Your brother will handle it just fine!¡± After the preliminary round, anyone following the tournament knew that a new star had risen in the senior division, a contestant with a green star array who had contracted a Flame hound. The man wasn¡¯t overly confident in his son but believed in offering vocal support. After all, one couldn¡¯t concede defeat before even competing. ¡°You¡¯re all talk.¡± The woman teased with a smile as she sat on the sofa. ¡°How is it just talk? My brother is amazing!¡± The girl pouted in dissatisfaction. Her earnest defense made the woman chuckle. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze was drawn to the pet beast on the screen. After a moment of silence, she asked, ¡°What kind of pet beast is that? It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t the Flame hound being used...¡± The man muttered as he instinctively took out a scanner to identify the pale-blue pet beast on the screen. The mechanical voice announced: [Ice Qiya: A water- and ice-type mid-tier pet beast on the verge of extinction in the Ancient Guwu Region. The gem on its forehead can emit a magical healing light.] The living room fell silent. Seconds later, three distinct voices broke in unison: ¡°An endangered pet beast?!¡± Outside, a passing pigeon was startled mid-flight and nearly lost its balance. --- Similar scenes unfolded across Zhejiang Sea Province as people watching the stream spread the news like wildfire. ¡°Did you hear? A kid summoned an endangered pet beast in the National Campus Beast Mastering League!¡± ¡°Someone at Shengshui High contracted an endangered pet beast!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Guess what? A brat tamed an endangered pet beast!¡± ¡°Go watch now! An endangered pet beast is live in action!¡± ¡°Wait! Which platform? You didn¡¯t tell me!¡± The news spread exponentially, and the number of viewers on the official platform skyrocketed. It wasn¡¯t long before the inevitable happened. The platform crashed. --- At Huicheng Beast Taming High School, those watching the matches in person remained oblivious to the chaos online. At that moment, Qiao Sang and Xu Yixuan had already entered their second match. On the field: ¡°Yinyin.¡± Xu Yixuan called. The ghostly pet beast, with its dark green body, one large red eye, and a ring of white bones as decoration, made a sound and vanished. Dream Phantom: A ghost-type pet beast with a dream-inducing ability. Staring into its eye for more than two seconds would drag opponents into a dream realm. Qiao Sang recalled a forum post analyzing the top contenders in the senior division. Though it had malicious intentions, it saved her a lot of time. ¡°Lubao.¡± she said softly. Lubao scanned her surroundings warily. Her cold demeanor made it appear as if she were merely glancing casually. ¡°Will-o¡¯-the-wisp!¡± Xu Yixuan made the first move. Though Dream Phantom remained unseen, a dozen ghostly green flames appeared around Lubao, forming a ring before rapidly closing in. Chapter 327: A Preemptive Plan The ghostly green flames surged in from all directions, seemingly unavoidable. However, they left a deliberate gap. Qiao Sang focused on the opening above Lubao and shouted decisively, ¡°Jump!¡± Lubao swung her tail against the ground, launching herself into the air with a powerful leap. Boom!!! The ghostly flames collided midair, producing a deafening explosion. Seeing this, Xu Yixuan¡¯s heart leaped with joy. Gotcha! The purpose of releasing the ghost flames wasn¡¯t to strike Ice Qiya directly but to guide it into a specific spot she had intentionally left open! The match schedule for the group stage had been released the day before, so Xu Yixuan knew she would face Qiao Sang today. Over time, Xu Yixuan had realized how terrifyingly strong Qiao Sang was. Without careful preparation, Xu Yixuan knew she¡¯d be entirely at Qiao Sang¡¯s mercy during the fight. Though she thought the odds of Qiao Sang sending out Ice Qiya in the group stage were slim, Xu Yixuan still devised a strategy to counter it, just in case. Ice Qiya, being an endangered beast, couldn¡¯t be allowed to sustain visible injuries, or she''d risk a visit to the police station. Moreover, its healing light ability made it difficult to win without rendering it unconscious. Injuring it severely was too risky, but there was a gentler way to secure victory: Having Dream Phantom lead it into a dream state and then dragging or carrying it out of the battle area. Just as Lubao leaped into the air, Dream Phantom materialized in front of her, its eerie red eyes glowing ominously. The audience immediately began buzzing: ¡°Ah! That Dream Phantom was lying in wait for Ice Qiya to jump right into its trap!¡± ¡°That¡¯s its signature move, Phantom Glance. Once you¡¯re caught, it¡¯s almost game over.¡± ¡°To avoid the ghost flames¡¯ blast radius, Ice Qiya had to jump high, and Xu Yixuan clearly calculated this, positioning Dream Phantom perfectly. With Ice Qiya''s current altitude, it¡¯ll take at least two seconds to land, plenty of time to activate the move.¡± ¡°No! My Ice Qiya! If it falls into the dream state and crashes down, won¡¯t that hurt?!¡± ¡°Wait, look closely! Ice Qiya''s eyes are closed!¡± In the arena, Lubao soared with her eyes tightly shut, avoiding direct eye contact with Dream Phantom¡¯s red glow. ¡°Icy Wind.¡± Qiao Sang called calmly. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao responded, sneaking a peek to confirm Dream Phantom¡¯s location before snapping her eyes shut again. She opened her mouth, releasing a white crystal-like frost that instantly froze Dream Phantom, mere inches away. Normally, Icy Wind was a low-level ability, and Dream Phantom, a mid-level beast, could typically break free with minimal effort. However, the close range made escape nearly impossible. Combined with Lubao¡¯s increased mastery of the ability, Dream Phantom remained trapped. Xu Yixuan, unable to see Lubao¡¯s closed eyes from her angle, watched in shock as her carefully laid plan unraveled before her. How did Phantom Glance fail?! With no time to dwell on what went wrong, she shouted, ¡°Ghost Flames!¡± On the ground, the frozen Dream Phantom twitched its claws. At that moment, Lubao, now with eyes wide open, swirled a massive stream of water around her tail. In the blink of an eye, the water-encased tail struck Dream Phantom with tremendous force. Bang!!! The ice shattered into fragments, scattering in all directions. Dream Phantom was sent flying nearly ten meters away before coming to a shaky halt. ¡°King of Nightmares!¡± Xu Yixuan cried out in distress. ¡°Phan¡­¡± Dream Phantom groaned weakly, staggering to its feet. The audience fell silent, momentarily awed. ¡°You have to admit, this Dream Phantom is unusually durable for a Ghost-type beast.¡± ¡°Do you think Ice Qiya¡¯s tail hurts from hitting so hard?¡± ¡°By the way, doesn¡¯t anyone else wonder why Ice Qiya closed its eyes earlier?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to wonder? Qiao Sang must¡¯ve instructed it beforehand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a Ghost-type beast with this much endurance! The last one I saw was bawling because it hadn¡¯t eaten enough.¡± ¡°Xu Yixuan placed third in the province last year. With a reputation like that, it¡¯s no wonder her Dream Phantom is so resilient.¡± Before anyone could say more, the referee¡¯s whistle blew. ¡°The winner: Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School!¡± It turned out Dream Phantom had been flung out of bounds. The man with a bureaucratic face in the audience froze, his earlier confidence now shattered. Qiao Sang, too, was bewildered. Why did it have to fly out of bounds? Points! My points! She sighed, looking at the dazed Dream Phantom as if scolding it for letting her down. Sensing her disappointment, Dream Phantom turned its head, locking eyes with her. Why are you so useless? Why did you fly so far? Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze seemed to say. Dream Phantom, already holding on by a thread, took this as a personal insult and fainted on the spot. Qiao Sang blinked, then shrugged. At least this might still count toward Lubao¡¯s points. After the match, Qiao Sang returned to the stands with Lubao in her arms. The audience, however, was too distracted to focus on the next match. ¡°Did Ice Qiya really close its eyes during the jump?¡± Xu Yixuan finally asked, unable to hold back. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°You planned that beforehand?¡± ¡°Yes. Last night, I told Lubao that if she had to act under pressure and couldn¡¯t locate Dream Phantom, she should be ready to close her eyes. Lubao simply understood and executed perfectly.¡± ? S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao chimed in coolly, as if to say, Basic skills, really. Xu Yixuan sighed. Chessboard strategies, hers had been one move short. Then, recalling something, she glanced nervously at Lubao. ¡°I lost¡­ but I don¡¯t have to report to the police station, right?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Chapter 328: Ive Been Looking For You The competition continued into the afternoon. Aside from a two-hour lunch break, the matches had been non-stop. 4:33 PM. He Dadao withdrew his Blaze Gorilla and walked off the stage. ¡°Our matches for today should be done, right? How about we go out for dinner tonight?¡± He Dadao smiled. His undefeated streak today had put him in a great mood. Normally, when the school team competed, meals were provided uniformly, and going out required the coach''s approval. However, since these were just group-stage matches, Sun Boyi, the team¡¯s coach, was confident about the seniors¡¯ abilities. Knowing that with half of the participants advancing from the group, the three of them would have no trouble, he took a more hands-off approach. Unlike other schools'' coaches, who would motivate their students or give tactical advice before every match, he preferred to stay relaxed as long as they won and the competition wasn¡¯t affected. Going out for a meal was a minor issue. He Dadao knew the coach wouldn¡¯t object. ¡°No thanks, I still need to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s matches.¡± Xu Yixuan declined. Although advancing from the group stage wasn¡¯t a problem, losing two matches to Qiao Sang today had left her in no mood for dining out. ¡°Then how about just the two of us?¡± He Dadao turned to Qiao Sang. ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Sang was about to respond when Lubao swatted her with her paw. ¡°Lu.¡± Go out? No, you need to train. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched as she shifted her tone. ¡°I also need to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s matches.¡± He Dadao froze for a moment before reflecting on himself. If the two stronger players were working so hard, how could he justify relaxing after a momentary victory? ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t go either.¡± He Dadao said. Later at the Public Training Grounds The training area in the Beast Taming Center was bustling with people and their pets, mostly participants from other schools staying at the center during the competition. However, with only one available training space, Qiao Sang''s team could only practice non-destructive skills. Though the area was crowded, not many were actually training. ¡°Are you kidding? The only Flame Hound and the endangered Ice Qiya are here! Who can focus on training with that distraction?¡± ¡°Look at the Flame Hound! It¡¯s blindingly cool!¡± ¡°And Ice Qiya¡¯s tail and ears, so fluffy! I want to pet them so badly!¡± Nearby, a boy handed his phone to his Power Duck, excitedly asking, ¡°Quick! Take a picture of me with them in the background!¡± The duck nodded seriously, adjusting angles and snapping away like a professional photographer. Watching the scene, Qiao Sang poked the small Little Treasure perched on her head. ¡°You¡¯re not joining them?¡± ¡°Xunnnnn~¡± The little pet shook his head earnestly, offering an excuse he had clearly prepared: There are too many people. My skills are too powerful. It¡¯s dangerous to train here. Sure, keep making excuses. You¡¯re shameless enough to say that with a straight face¡­ Qiao Sang mentally rolled her eyes and began considering what skills it could work on. ¡°Why don¡¯t you find some ants to practice with?¡± She suggested. ¡°Xunnnn~¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little one floated down, smirking smugly as he pulled a plastic bottle from his spatial ring. Inside the bottle were live ants crawling about. Qiao Sang blinked, stunned. ¡°When did you put those ants in the ring?¡± Xunnnnn! The pet mimicked deep thought before calling out confidently, he had been the night Yabao used the whistle. Qiao Sang froze. That was at least a week ago. In an airtight space, ants shouldn¡¯t survive for more than a few minutes. Unless¡­ his ring could now store living creatures? Excitement welled up in her. The ability to store living things completely transformed the potential uses of such a space! She immediately wanted to check the Beast Taming Codex for updates on his attributes. BOOM! A sudden clap of thunder startled everyone. ¡°What the! That scared me! Why is it thundering all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t today supposed to be clear?¡± ¡°Is this some divine beast transcending tribulation?¡± Qiao Sang looked up at the sky, now blanketed in dark clouds. The ominous atmosphere felt like a storm was imminent. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Her other pets rushed to her side. Glancing at Lubao, she noticed her tail and ears hadn¡¯t enlarged,a sign that her rain-sensing ability hadn¡¯t activated. Something was off. She waved her hand to recall the pets into the Beast Taming Codex, leaving only Little Treasure on her head as she dashed toward the dorms. ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± A male voice called out from behind, filled with surprise and joy. Turning around, she saw a boy with bangs covering his eyes. It was Wu Chang, the supposed Child of Fortune. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you!¡± he said with a wide, friendly grin. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze shifted to the sky behind him. The dark clouds were dissipating rapidly, and the threat of a storm vanished as if it had never been there. Chapter 329: The Invisible Extraordinary Being This... Qiao Sang''s pupils contracted sharply. She couldn''t suppress the shock surging within her. The first thought that popped into her mind was: Was that thunderstorm and sudden darkening of the sky all just to help this guy find me?! Could his luck really be this terrifying?! She couldn¡¯t be blamed for such thoughts. It was simply too coincidental and bizarre. If this had happened to someone else, she might have dismissed it as a coincidence. But when it involved someone who could pick up money every few steps, sometimes four or five times within half a minute, and always had the advantage in randomly assigned match locations, it was hard not to make connections. For a moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze towards Wu Chang turned peculiar. Then, another thought crossed her mind: All supernatural phenomena are tied to extraordinary beings. This guy... something¡¯s off! If picking up money was pure dumb luck and favorable match venues could be attributed to good fortune, then a thunderstorm appearing out of nowhere just to let him bump into her was downright unnatural. Seeing Qiao Sang remain silent, Wu Chang seemed to realize something and turned red. His voice grew louder, almost defensive: "I¡¯m not here to hit on you!" "What do you need me for?" Qiao Sang asked. Hearing her response, Wu Chang''s face lit up with joy. He hurriedly explained, "I¡¯m Wu Chang, from the same group stage as you. I watched your matches earlier today. Can I ask if your Ice Qiya can heal any kind of illness?" Oh, so you¡¯re here to ask for a cure... Qiao Sang maintained a composed expression as she replied, "Not sure. I usually focus on studying and training, so I haven¡¯t really used Lubao for that." The subtext was clear: I¡¯m inexperienced. Don¡¯t count on me. In truth, Lubao¡¯s Healing Light had already reached the level of mastery, capable of curing anything short of death. But she wasn¡¯t about to promise anything. Moreover, she didn¡¯t feel like helping. Part of it was defiance. Even the heavens helped you find me, but I still won¡¯t do it. What can you do about it? Another reason was curiosity. If she refused the Child of Fortune, would something else bizarre happen to force her hand? Wu Chang, despite his extraordinary luck, still had the mindset of a regular high schooler. Completely missing the subtext, he nervously glanced around, lowered his voice, and said earnestly, "My friend doesn¡¯t want to go to the hospital. Could you at least try? If you help, I¡¯m willing to do anything in return." "Why don¡¯t they want to go to the hospital?" Qiao Sang asked. People usually avoided hospitals either due to financial constraints or because they didn¡¯t think their condition was serious enough. But then Wu Chang lowered his voice even more and said, "My friend¡¯s undocumented and can¡¯t go to a hospital." Qiao Sang: ... Well, she hadn¡¯t seen that one coming. The two fell into an awkward silence until Qiao Sang finally asked, "If your friend¡¯s undocumented, how would they even get into this place?" After all, entering the Beastmaster Center¡¯s accommodation area required either an ID card or a Beastmaster badge for scanning. "Don¡¯t worry about that. My friend doesn¡¯t have a physical body." Wu Chang whispered. Qiao Sang: ??? No physical body? What kind of nonsense is that? But then something clicked in her mind. Her expression froze for a moment before she blurted out, "Your friend¡¯s an extraordinary being?" "Yes." Wu Chang nodded. "Technically, it¡¯s not that it doesn¡¯t have a body, it¡¯s just invisible." So that¡¯s it! No wonder this guy¡¯s luck is off the charts! Qiao Sang felt like she had just uncovered the truth. If her guess was right, this Child of Fortune¡¯s supernatural luck was entirely due to the extraordinary being at his side. And if this extraordinary being could really enhance luck... Could she also get a piece of that action? The thought ignited a burning curiosity in her mind, one she couldn¡¯t shake off. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up and said with a sense of justice: "If your friend¡¯s unwell, it¡¯s better not to move around. I¡¯ll come with you." Wu Chang¡¯s face lit up with excitement. "Thank you so much!" Hearing his gratitude, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Hadn¡¯t she planned to refuse him just moments ago? --- S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the sky, Qiao Sang sat astride Yabao, while Wu Chang rode a Perception Bird beside her. "My parents divorced when I was very young." Wu Chang began. "I initially lived with my dad. But after he remarried, he sent me to live with my mom. "My mom was dating someone at the time, so after about a week, she brought me back to my dad. They kept pushing me back and forth, and eventually, I ended up living with my grandfather. "I was nine years old then." "Later, during my third year of middle school, my grandfather passed away. The night of his burial, I overheard my parents arguing on the phone about who would take me. "I missed my grandfather terribly that night. So, I walked to his grave in the middle of the night just to see him. And that¡¯s when I met it. "It¡¯s kind of funny now. Around 2 a.m., I brought some apples for my grandfather. Out of nowhere, one of them floated up and got bitten. It scared me half to death. "But over time, everything in my life started going smoothly. That year, I even awakened my Beastmaster Codex. My parents started fighting again over who I should live with, but this time, they both wanted me. "I refused. I wanted to stay here." "When I first awakened my Codex, I asked it if it would form a contract with me. It said no. Even after my Codex gained a second page, its answer didn¡¯t change." "That¡¯s fine, though. Things are good as they are now." "By the way, could you not tell anyone about it? It doesn¡¯t like being the center of attention. It won¡¯t even respond if others are around. "Once, an uncle who¡¯s very kind to me wanted to introduce us. But it disappeared for a long time after that, only returning much later. "That¡¯s also when I noticed it had been injured." Chapter 330: Is He a Beast Tamer? ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Wu Chang suddenly said, looking down below. Yabao, still in the air, was gleefully striding along. Ever since his energy levels had increased, and he realized it wouldn¡¯t exhaust his energy and fall from the sky, he had developed a liking for walking in midair. ¡°Stop, stop! We¡¯re here already!¡± Qiao Sang had to pat Yabao¡¯s back to get his attention. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao came to a screeching halt. ¡°This is a cemetery?¡± Qiao Sang turned her head and hesitated as she looked down. ¡°Yeah.¡± Wu Chang scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s been staying here all along. No matter what I say, it refuses to leave this place. I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°Understandable, probably social anxiety.¡± Qiao Sang commented casually. As they spoke, the two landed on the ground. It had to be said, the atmosphere in the cemetery was vastly different when viewed from above versus being inside it. By now, the sky had turned dark. Xenon lamps hung on both sides, emitting a white-yellowish glow. One couldn¡¯t help but question the logic of the cemetery management. A place already eerie in nature, and they had to use dim, yellow-tinted lights that only heightened the sense of unease. A cold breeze blew past, prompting Qiao Sang to wrap her arms around herself in her school uniform. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao tensed up completely, his expression vigilant as he glanced around. ¡°Relax, there are no ghosts here.¡± Sensing Yabao¡¯s anxiety, Qiao Sang stroked his fur to soothe him. Yabao, despite his previous experience in a haunted house, had only grown slightly braver. He was still far from being able to laugh in the face of such an eerie setting. ¡°Yap...¡± Under his trainer¡¯s gentle strokes, Yabao¡¯s body gradually relaxed. ¡°Xun!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure suddenly appeared, dangling upside down and making a ghostly face in front of Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Startled, Yabao reflexively slapped down with his paw. "Xun!¡± Little Treasure cried out pitifully as he tumbled to the ground, rolling several times. Qiao Sang: ... This must be what it feels like to have a mischievous child. Feeling exhausted, Qiao Sang stepped forward and picked up Little Treasure. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure whimpered tearfully in her arms, pointing an accusatory paw at Yabao. I was just playing! How could you hit me like that?! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao tilted his head back, snorting with displeasure. That¡¯s what you get for scaring me! "Xun! Xun!¡± Burying his head in Qiao Sang¡¯s chest, Little Treasure cried even louder. Watching the commotion, Wu Chang hesitated before commenting, ¡°Your Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon seem... very lively.¡± No need to force a compliment... Qiao Sang was about to reply when the lights flickered ominously. Little Treasure immediately stopped crying. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao¡¯s body, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. Amid the alternating light and shadow, a bespectacled, slightly curly-haired middle-aged man with a refined face suddenly appeared beside a tombstone. ¡°Holy crap!¡± ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Both Qiao Sang and Yabao jumped back in sync. ¡°Xun...¡± Little Treasure covered his face, looking mortified. How are my trainer and big bro so cowardly... ¡°Uncle Zhang!¡± Wu Chang exclaimed joyfully, addressing the man. At his words, the flickering lights steadied, their glow returning to normal. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao relaxed slightly, but when his eyes met Little Treasure¡¯s, his body stiffened again. Straightening his posture, he puffed out his chest, trying to maintain the dignity of an elder brother. That scared me to death. Relieved that the man wasn¡¯t a ghost, Qiao Sang forced herself to remain composed. Pretending nothing had happened, she curiously asked, ¡°Is that your uncle?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Uncle Zhang.¡± Wu Chang explained. ¡°He¡¯s the one I mentioned who¡¯s been really good to me and even wanted to introduce me to it.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at the middle-aged man approaching them and whispered, ¡°Why would your uncle be here so late at night?¡± People usually visited cemeteries in the morning or afternoon, not under the cover of darkness. Wu Chang was briefly stunned before shrugging. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± By then, the middle-aged man had reached them. ¡°Wu Chang, so you really were here.¡± Zhang Rongtang said with a smile. ¡°I made dinner and waited for you, but you didn¡¯t come home. I figured you might be here, so I came to check.¡± He then turned to Qiao Sang. When he noticed the ghost-type pet in her arms, his eyes flickered for a moment. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is Qiao Sang. She¡¯s here for the competition.¡± Wu Chang introduced. Zhang Rongtang nodded, unsurprised, as he was aware of the influx of students from other schools for the beast-taming contest. What he didn¡¯t expect was for Wu Chang to make a friend so quickly and even bring her to the cemetery. ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Qiao Sang greeted politely. ¡°Hello.¡± Zhang Rongtang replied with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re a lovely young lady. Would you like to join us for dinner? I¡¯ve made plenty.¡± ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Qiao Sang declined politely. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao, looking puzzled, walked over. Eaten? When did that happen? Zhang Rongtang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the red-and-white beast. He seemed about to say something but hesitated when his gaze fell on the ghost-type pet again. Smiling once more, he said, ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t intrude. Wu Chang, come home soon; the food won¡¯t stay warm forever.¡± ¡°Okay, Uncle Zhang.¡± Wu Chang nodded. As Zhang Rongtang¡¯s figure disappeared into the distance, Qiao Sang remarked, ¡°Your uncle really seems to care about you.¡± Given Wu Chang¡¯s earlier story, it was clear this man wasn¡¯t a blood relative. For someone unrelated to go out of their way to cook dinner and search for him in a cemetery, something didn¡¯t quite add up. ¡°Did you not bring your phone?¡± She asked suddenly. ¡°I have it.¡± Wu Chang pulled his phone out of his pocket. ¡°Did he call you?¡± Wu Chang checked his phone and shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Normally, wouldn¡¯t he call first?¡± ¡°Maybe he didn¡¯t have his phone on him.¡± Wu Chang speculated. ¡°He rarely carries it around. There are times I can¡¯t reach him at all.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t say more. Zhang Rongtang was just a side note. Her real purpose here was to meet the mysterious creature supposedly responsible for Wu Chang¡¯s unbelievable luck. If she had initially been skeptical, Wu Chang¡¯s stories had solidified her suspicions. The two approached a tombstone. Wu Chang called softly into the still air, ¡°Yun Yun! Yun Yun!¡± Silence. Qiao Sang stood before the tombstone, glancing back at the spot where Zhang Rongtang had appeared earlier. She suddenly realized he¡¯d been standing right where she was now. She asked a seemingly unrelated question: ¡°Is Uncle Zhang a Beast Tamer?¡± Chapter 331: The Enigmatic Luckbringer "Of course not." Wu Chang stopped calling out and turned to ask, puzzled, "Why are you asking all of a sudden?" "Just curious." Qiao Sang replied casually. She didn¡¯t elaborate on her growing sense of unease about Uncle Zhang. Would someone really be that kind to another person without reason? If someone lost their phone, wouldn¡¯t the first thing they do be to find a way to contact the other party? Yet he came straight to the cemetery late at night to look for them. Was that normal? And this place... The quietness of the night here was unnerving. No chirping of birds or buzzing of insects. Any sound would stand out sharply. From her vantage point, the area where she and Wu Chang had been standing earlier was clearly visible. Logically speaking, whether it was their footsteps or the noise from Yabao and Little Treasure, anyone nearby should have noticed immediately. But Uncle Zhang hadn¡¯t greeted them or shown any sign of acknowledgment. It was as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything at all. Was that normal? A series of questions bubbled up in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. If she indulged in a conspiracy theory¡­ What if Uncle Zhang was a Beast Master and had noticed the pet beast that could bring good luck? Then, approaching Wu Chang and coming to the cemetery late at night suddenly made sense. However, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t voice her suspicions. Firstly, it was just her gut feeling. Secondly, without evidence, if she said anything, Wu Chang would surely think she was imagining things. On one hand, there was an uncle who treated Wu Chang like his own son; on the other, there was someone she¡¯d known for less than a day. Anyone would know which side to trust. She decided it was better not to stir the pot. After all, she had only come here to see what kind of pet beast could bring good luck and whether she could catch some of that luck herself. ¡°Go on, keep calling it.¡± Qiao Sang said, masking her thoughts. Wu Chang didn¡¯t suspect anything and turned back to continue calling out in a hushed voice, ¡°Yun yun! Yun yun!¡± The sound echoed eerily through the silent cemetery, almost like a soul-calling chant. After a couple of calls, Little Treasure finally couldn¡¯t hold back and floated in front of his Beast Master, wearing a puzzled expression. "Xun xun?" If that human from earlier wasn¡¯t a Beast Master, then whose pet beast was that beside him? Damn it¡­ Qiao Sang felt her adrenaline surge. The night¡¯s wind was bone-chilling, yet a cold sweat broke out on her back. To be honest, she was frightened. A pet beast? There had been another pet beast beside that uncle earlier? And she hadn¡¯t noticed it at all? A ghost-type beast? ¡°How big was that pet beast?¡± Qiao Sang asked, swallowing hard. ¡°Xun~¡± Hearing his Beast Master¡¯s question, Little Treasure floated upward until he was about four meters above the ground. Then he circled in a large arc at that height. About this big. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A pet beast of that size had to be at least a General-level! She shuddered, feeling as though the surrounding temperature had dropped even further. ¡°Yun yun! Yun yun!¡± Wu Chang continued his eerie chant. Silently, Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao, who, after hearing Little Treasure¡¯s description, was now warily scanning the area. She wanted to leave¡­ A Beast Master of a high rank hiding their identity must have noticed Wu Chang¡¯s extraordinary luck. Staying in this small town for so long, how could they not have ulterior motives? It was best not to get involved. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s not here, let¡¯s try another time. I¡¯ll be at the Beast Center all week, so you can bring it to me then.¡± Qiao Sang said, feigning calm. ¡°It¡¯s definitely here! Maybe it just doesn¡¯t want to appear because there¡¯s someone else here besides me.¡± Wu Chang said anxiously. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Did you tell it I¡¯m here to help treat it?¡± Wu Chang fell silent for a moment before turning to shout softly, ¡°Yun yun! Yun yun! I¡¯ve brought someone to treat your injury!¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Yun yun~¡± At that moment, a voice that wasn¡¯t Wu Chang¡¯s rang out. Startled, Qiao Sang snapped her head toward the sound. She realized it was coming from right in front of Yabao¡¯s head! ¡°Yabao!¡± Yabao bristled instantly, raising a paw. Flames of energy surged, and a fiery blaze ignited around his lifted right paw. Whoosh! The flame-covered paw struck forward with a sharp sound, full of momentum. However, when the paw reached the space right in front of it, it was stopped by an invisible force. The flames exploded outward, their heat illuminating the cemetery and warming the chilly air. The fiery glow revealed a wall of energy blocking the attack. ¡°Stop! It¡¯s Yun yun!¡± Wu Chang cried out. ¡°Yun yun!¡± The unseen pet beast nodded furiously. It was it! ¡°Yabao¡­¡± The flames dissipated, and Yabao awkwardly withdrew his paw. That had scared him to death, he thought it was something else entirely¡­ At that moment, Qiao Sang blurted out, ¡°Yabao, you can use Flame Claw now?!¡± Flame Claw was a mid-tier fire skill, concentrating fire energy into the claws. Apart from its powerful attack, it also had a chance to inflict burns on the target. This skill... Yabao had never learned it. How had he suddenly mastered it? Could it have been out of fright? Qiao Sang recalled how Yabao had sparked an electric jolt the first time he was scared by a TV show. This wasn¡¯t the first time Yabao had learned a new skill from being scared. Could Yabao have a talent for acquiring skills under duress? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe they hadn¡¯t watched enough horror movies before. Should she test this theory next time? ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao, hearing this, first froze, then excitedly raised his paw to inspect it, completely unaware of his Beast Master¡¯s morally questionable thoughts. Meanwhile, Wu Chang asked, ¡°Yun yun, are you okay?¡± Yun yun, the transparent pet beast shook its head to indicate it was fine. ¡°Yun yun, where are you?¡± Wu Chang asked. ¡°Yun yun.¡± The transparent pet beast floated in front of him and waved its paw. ¡°Yun yun, where did you go earlier?¡± Wu Chang pressed on. Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to see Wu Chang seemingly talking to thin air. If not for the voice responding to him, anyone who didn¡¯t know better would¡¯ve thought he was crazy. ¡°Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang called softly. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure floated down. ¡°Can you see it?¡± Qiao Sang asked quietly. Little Treasure turned toward the source of the Yun yun voice but saw nothing. He rubbed his eyes with his paws and tried again, squinting hard. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure shook his head. He couldn¡¯t see anything. Not a ghost-type pet beast, but invisible. And it could bring good luck? Judging from the skill it displayed earlier, it was likely a psychic-type. In Yuhua, what pet beast fit those criteria? As Qiao Sang pondered, Wu Chang spoke again, ¡°Yun yun, I brought someone to heal you. Don¡¯t worry; this time, your injury will definitely be cured. Quickly, cover yourself and let her take a look.¡± He pulled out a crumpled piece of chiffon fabric from his pocket and shook it out. ¡°Yun yun.¡± With a soft sound, the unseen pet beast used an invisible force to move the fabric forward. As the white cloth draped over it, a silhouette began to take shape beneath,a small figure, about 30 centimeters tall, with two triangular ears. Luckbringer. Qiao Sang stared at the figure revealed under the cloth, her mind going blank as her expression froze. As if to confirm her suspicions, a low sigh echoed behind her: ¡°Luckbringer, I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± Chapter 332: Phantom Beast Qiao Sang''s body froze abruptly as she slowly turned her head. Zhang Rongtang''s eyes swept over and met hers. His lips curled into a smile, but unlike the kind and approachable image he had projected earlier, the smile felt unsettlingly sinister. A chill rose from her tailbone straight to the crown of her head, sending a shiver through her entire body. Like a startled cat, Qiao Sang instinctively leapt back a step, blurting out a curse. Her reaction wasn¡¯t just because of the sudden appearance of the man, it was the massive, four-meter-tall beast beside him that had terrified her. The beast itself wasn¡¯t inherently frightening, nor was its ghostly nature. But in this eerie environment, being faced with such a towering figure, its body blending seamlessly with the darkness, blood-red eyes fixated on her, and a twisted grin, complete with dripping saliva, that was horrifying. Just one look was enough to nearly scare her into cardiac arrest. What kind of entrance was that?! And for heaven¡¯s sake, if you¡¯re going to grin, fine, but why the drool? Perhaps her reaction was too dramatic because the beast seemed to notice, awkwardly slurping back the saliva trailing down its chin. Qiao Sang: !!! Wu Chang, being accustomed to the cemetery¡¯s creepy ambiance, didn¡¯t react as strongly as Qiao Sang or Yabao. He had built up a resistance to the eerie atmosphere over time. He stared at Zhang Rongtang and the towering ghostly beast beside him, piecing together fragments of thoughts. Recalling the phrase, ¡°Luckbringer, I¡¯ve finally found you,¡± his mind was a swirling mix of confusion, panic, and disbelief. Though Wu Chang wasn¡¯t stupid, he still clung to hope. ¡°Uncle Zhang, why are you back?¡± He asked, forcing a strained smile. ¡°And what¡¯s with that¡­ Phantom Fiend beside you?¡± Despite the growing suspicion in his heart, Wu Chang wanted Zhang Rongtang to confirm otherwise. He desperately needed to believe that the man he looked up to had no ulterior motives. For years, Wu Chang had felt like an unwanted child, shuffled between his parents like a burden. They had given him life, but they didn¡¯t seem to care for it. Living with his aging grandfather, Wu Chang was treated kindly but often felt more like a placeholder, a mere companion. Then Zhang Rongtang appeared, and for the first time, Wu Chang felt like he mattered. Zhang Rongtang took him fishing, noticed when he wasn¡¯t feeling well, and gave him advice on picking a companion beast. Every time Wu Chang came home, there was a warm meal waiting for him. He often thought to himself, Why can¡¯t I be Uncle Zhang¡¯s son? That same man now stood before him, confirming Wu Chang¡¯s worst fears. Before Zhang Rongtang could respond, a transparent, circular device suddenly dropped from above, encasing Luckbringer entirely. In seconds, the device sealed itself tightly. A sharp whoosh followed as a Stronghold Sky Owl dived like a missile, gripping the device in its talons. The bird didn¡¯t fly away, instead hovering beside Zhang Rongtang, its wings flapping noisily. ¡°Yun Yun!¡± Luckbringer, its body covered in sheer chiffon fabric, slammed against the transparent walls, its furious attacks failing to leave a single crack. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to resort to this in front of you.¡± Zhang Rongtang said softly. ¡°But you just had to bring someone with a ghostly beast.¡± His gaze fell on Little Treasure, whose innocent face showed nothing but confusion. ¡°Xun?¡± The tiny beast pointed to himself, bewildered. How was this his fault?! Zhang Rongtang¡¯s non-answer left no room for doubt. Wu Chang¡¯s eyes reddened instantly, tears welling up despite his efforts to hold them back. His voice trembled as he asked, ¡°Uncle Zhang, why are you capturing it?¡± Qiao Sang mentally shouted the answer: To contract it, obviously! This was Luckbringer! A phantom beast! Phantom beasts were even rarer than divine beasts. While divine beasts could sometimes be bred from ordinary ones that broke through their limits, phantom beasts were unique, each possessing exclusive skills and traits. Their rarity and power made them even more valuable than divine beasts. Luckbringer, the phantom beast of luck, was said to bestow incredible fortune upon its chosen human. Legend had it that anyone blessed by Luckbringer could accomplish their wildest dreams, with the universe itself aligning to help them succeed. There was even a famous movie about someone whose entire life turned around after meeting Luckbringer. From utter failure to ultimate success, the protagonist defied the odds, marrying a wealthy partner and achieving unimaginable heights. And now, standing before her was the mythical Luckbringer. Of course, Zhang Rongtang wasn¡¯t going to let it go. Qiao Sang knew her limits, contracting such a legendary beast was way out of her league. Besides, she barely managed to feed the beasts she already had. Contracting Luckbringer wasn¡¯t even a consideration. Zhang Rongtang glanced at the device holding Luckbringer. He sighed, his tone regretful. ¡°I didn¡¯t want it to come to this, but it kept hiding from me. This was my only choice.¡± ¡°Yun Yun!¡± Luckbringer pounded at the device again, but it remained unscathed. Zhang Rongtang looked at it like a parent addressing a misbehaving child. ¡°It¡¯s no use. This device-¡± Before he could finish, a blast of searing flames suddenly shot toward him. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 333: Impulse is the Devil Qiao Sang: !!! She stared in shock at her Yabao, who was baring his teeth and snarling at the uncle. What are you doing attacking him?! Can''t you see the hulking Phantom Fiend and the imposing Stronghold Sky Owl next to him? Do we look like we can handle this?! "Yap!" Feeling his Beastmaster¡¯s gaze, Yabao turned his head and gave her a serious nod. He was ready...ready to fight! Qiao Sang: "..." No, she wasn¡¯t ready to fight. The flames were intercepted by the Stronghold Sky Owl as it swooped forward. Zhang Rongtang remained unscathed, his expression unchanged, as if the attack hadn¡¯t fazed him at all. He glanced at the pet beast he''d seen recently on the news and then at the girl whose face was obscured by the dim night, and he turned to Wu Chang. "Your friend seems to have a bit of a temper." No, my temper is perfectly fine; it''s Yabao who¡¯s the problem¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief when she realized this villainous uncle didn¡¯t seem upset. Honestly, the most terrifying encounter would¡¯ve been the kind of over-the-top villain who kills anyone just for passing by. Thankfully, this uncle seemed somewhat reasonable. Wu Chang, startled and touched, hurriedly said, "Qiao Sang, this has nothing to do with you. You should leave now!" Great idea! Qiao Sang thought Wu Chang¡¯s suggestion was incredibly timely. She was afraid if they lingered any longer, Yabao¡¯s sense of justice would spiral out of control. "Yabao..." Qiao Sang called softly. She was about to suggest retreating. "Yap!" But before she could finish, Yabao responded loudly, taking her words as a command. His flames flared up as he charged forward like a fiery rocket. Qiao Sang: ?!! A fiery streak cut through the night. Zhang Rongtang frowned slightly and ordered, "Shadow Claw!" The Phantom Fiend stepped forward, and its cold claws gleamed with purple light. Boom! Red and purple lights collided. The Phantom Fiend¡¯s enormous claw pressed down on Yabao''s head, rendering him unable to advance even an inch. "Yap!" Yabao growled, his body crouched low. His paws dug into the earth as the flames surrounding it surged. But the Phantom Fiend intensified its power as well. Boom! The purple light overwhelmed the red. Yabao was sent flying several meters by the energy blast. Even though Yabao¡¯s Flame Charge had been honed to perfection, it was no match for a Phantom Fiend two levels stronger. The difference between pet beast ranks was vast. Advancing from basic to intermediate, then advanced, was relatively achievable with sufficient resources and time. However, advancing from advanced to general rank was exponentially harder, requiring not only resources and time but also immense natural talent. R? In short, the general rank was a significant threshold. While news occasionally reported intermediate beasts defeating advanced ones, advanced beasts overcoming generals was nearly unheard of. This was the very reason Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t wanted to get involved. She always considered herself rational. Even though she had enough points to promote Yabao to an advanced beast, would it really change the outcome? Her opponents weren¡¯t just one general-ranked pet but possibly others yet to be summoned. Why risk everything to save a pet that had nothing to do with her? Qiao Sang¡¯s decision was clear, she wouldn¡¯t intervene. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was reckless and irrational to act otherwise. This wasn¡¯t a regulated competition; there were no rules or mercy here. Yabao was still young and impulsive, unaware of the consequences. It was her duty as his Beastmaster to correct his actions. Qiao Sang thought this through carefully. Yet, as she watched Yabao struggle to stand, her resolve wavered. "Yap..." Yabao, battered but undeterred, slowly rose. His eyes burned with determination, his will unbroken. Once more, he transformed into a fiery streak and charged. "Qiao Sang, stop! You can¡¯t win!" Wu Chang shouted anxiously. He hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d dropped the formal classmate, a subtle sign of their growing closeness. I don¡¯t want to fight either¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. She took a deep breath and, just as Yabao clashed with the Phantom Fiend again, she shouted: "Take him down!" "Yap!" Hearing his Beastmaster¡¯s command, Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. The flames around him expanded wildly, the fiery tendrils whipping through the air. His white fur seemed to glow with a scorching red hue. The Phantom Fiend¡¯s cold claws lit with purple energy. As they clashed, Yabao¡¯s figure blurred, and suddenly, dozens of identical flaming Flame Hound clones appeared, lighting up the night. Wu Chang froze, his jaw dropping as his mind went blank. "So many clones?!" The Phantom Fiend¡¯s claws came crashing down, but they only struck one of the clones, which dissipated into embers. Seeing the swarm of fiery Yabao clones closing in, Zhang Rongtang¡¯s calm facade finally cracked. His pupils constricted, and shock replaced his composure. A perfected Flame Charge wasn¡¯t enough? Even the Shadow Clone Technique had been mastered to this degree... Zhang Rongtang quickly regained his focus and commanded: "Wind Blast!" The Stronghold Sky Owl soared upward. With a powerful beat of its wings, a fierce, unnatural gale swept through the area, erasing all the Flame hound clones. As the night returned to silence, Zhang Rongtang¡¯s instincts screamed at him. Where was the real Flame Hound?! Heat flared at his side, and a streak of red light flashed. Zhang Rongtang¡¯s hand suddenly felt empty. Looking down, his expression darkened, he was holding nothing. The containment device for Luckbringer had vanished! Turning, Zhang Rongtang spotted the Flame Hound standing beside Qiao Sang, holding the containment device in its mouth. In that instant, Zhang Rongtang realized the rumors about the Flame Hound¡¯s latent psychic abilities were true. "Take Luckbringer and leave. Call the authorities." Qiao Sang instructed, handing the device to Wu Chang. Wu Chang eagerly took it, his hands trembling. "But what about you?" He asked. Qiao Sang turned to face the villainous uncle and, steeling her nerves, replied, "I¡¯ll hold him off." A surprising sense of safety flooded Wu Chang¡¯s chest. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his Sensory Bird and prepared to escape. Though there were many things he wanted to say, he knew now wasn¡¯t the time. Zhang Rongtang watched calmly and spoke evenly, "Did I say you could leave?" As he finished, his hands formed seals, and an orange star formation lit up the ground. Chapter 334: Three General-Level Beasts A massive beast, primarily white, standing roughly three meters tall with sharp, elongated ears, four paws, and a silver pocket watch hanging from its neck, materialized in the glowing array. Upon seeing the creature, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. Only two words echoed in her mind: I¡¯m doomed. Tablema, a general-level psychic beast. Its pocket watch amplifies and projects mental power. With sufficient training, it can even predict an opponent''s moves in advance. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three general-level beasts... Qiao Sang suddenly felt a pang of regret. The orange star array indicated that the opponent could bond with four beasts. Assuming no surprises, one of the slots was likely reserved for Luckbringer. Although this villainous uncle and she both currently had three beasts, the disparity was clear: His trio was all general-level beasts! The gap between a C-rank Beastmaster with one general-level beast and one with three was immense. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. She couldn¡¯t back down now, not in front of Yabao and Little Treasure. Keeping her expression neutral, she decided to bluff her way through: ¡°Run!¡± Wu Chang¡¯s expression grew complex. Never had he imagined that someone he barely knew a few hours ago would go to such lengths for an unrelated beast. What a noble and selfless spirit! In that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s image in his mind became almost saintlike. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you!¡± Wu Chang shouted, mounting Sensory Bird. ¡°Yun Yun¡­¡± Luckbringer, nestled in the container, peeked out from beneath the cloth. Transparent claws grasped the device as it gazed at the unfamiliar humans and beasts before it, eyes brimming with tears of gratitude. Too bad Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t see it. Otherwise, her regret might have eased slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape.¡± Zhang Rongtang ordered, his gaze locking onto the ascending Wu Chang. ¡°Tablema.¡± The psychic beast fixed its glowing blue eyes on the fleeing figure. Slowly, it raised its paw and began swinging the pocket watch rhythmically. A burst of invisible energy surged toward Wu Chang mid-flight. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t ignore me!¡± Qiao Sang called out with forced bravado. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao responded with a fiery whirl from its jaws, aiming straight for Tablema¡¯s pocket watch. This forced the psychic beast to pause its motion and defend itself. Tablema remained unfazed as the flames approached. Its eyes gleamed a deeper blue. Abruptly, the raging fire froze mid-air and reversed course, hurtling toward Sensory Bird instead. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure appeared a few meters ahead of the flames, his eyes flashing blue as he intercepted the attack. The fire halted again, caught between two opposing forces of psychic energy. ? Zhang Rongtang¡¯s shock was palpable. ¡°This Treasure-Seeking Demon has psychic abilities too?¡± A Fire/Psychic Flame Hound was already rare enough. Now there was a Ghost/Psychic Treasure-Seeking Demon in the mix? Did this girl also have an invisible Luckbringer aiding her? Even more astonishing was the stalemate between Tablema and Treasure-Seeking Demon. Despite a two-level gap, the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s psychic force was holding its ground. ¡°Could its mastery of psychic energy have reached the ultimate level?¡± Zhang Rongtang nearly lost his composure at the thought. ¡°Tab!¡± The psychic beast¡¯s eyes deepened in color, its amplified mental energy overpowering Little Treasure¡¯s hold on the flames. The fire surged toward Sensory ry Bird once more, forcing Little Treasure to teleport away. By now, Wu Chang and Sensory Bird had gained some distance, moving out of Tablema¡¯s effective range. The flames dissipated into the night. Qiao Sang exhaled in relief. At least Wu Chang had managed to escape. As long as he got Luckbringer to safety, she reasoned, her own situation might not turn dire. After all, this villainous uncle didn¡¯t seem particularly ruthless. If he were, he could¡¯ve simply ordered his beasts to attack her outright. But just as she thought the worst was over, Sensory Bird, carrying Wu Chang, turned around and slowly glided back to the ground. Qiao Sang: !!! ¡°Why are you back?!¡± She exclaimed, utterly bewildered. Wu Chang looked equally confused. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know!¡± He genuinely had no idea. Sensory ry Bird had been flying fine, but then it suddenly reversed course and refused to respond to his commands. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. Her gaze dropped to Sensory ry Bird. Its eyes were dull and unfocused, as if in a trance. This seems eerily similar to those beasts that Little Treasure hypnotized earlier¡­ Hypnosis had three levels of proficiency: At its most basic, it put the target to sleep. Advanced users could manipulate dreams. The pinnacle of mastery allowed simultaneous dream manipulation and real-world behavioral control. For a hypnosis of this caliber, the skill must have reached perfection. A realization struck Qiao Sang like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes snapped to the Phantom Fiend standing beside Zhang Rongtang. ¡°Whisper¡­¡± The ghostly beast, sensing her gaze, rolled its crimson eyes, which flickered briefly with purple light before returning to red. It grinned, drooling menacingly. ¡°Sensor?¡± Sensory Bird¡¯s eyes cleared, and it shook its head in apparent disorientation before blinking at its surroundings in confusion. So it was Phantom Fiend all along¡­ But when did it manage to land such a perfect hypnosis? Qiao Sang felt a headache brewing. The odds were stacked against her. Just then, Zhang Rongtang spoke. ¡°This wasn¡¯t what I wanted.¡± Not what he wanted? What does that even mean? Before she could process his words, Stronghold Sky Owl ascended rapidly into the sky, its curved legs glowing with teal light. Meanwhile, Tablema vanished into thin air. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure felt a foreboding presence behind him. Turning stiffly, he found himself face-to-face with a gleaming silver pocket watch. Zhang Rongtang silently finished the thought he hadn¡¯t voiced aloud. I didn¡¯t want to do this, but those two beasts are too much trouble. He glanced at Qiao Sang, his resolve hardening. A mere child dares obstruct my path to Luckbringer? ¡°Whisper!¡± He commanded. The Tablema¡¯s eyes snapped open, glowing an ominous purple. Chapter 335: Total Defeat The Tablema, a General-level pet beast, had a hypnosis skill so potent that just locking eyes with it would cause its target to fall under its spell. And when something suddenly appears in front of you, it¡¯s only natural to instinctively look at it. The Tablema stepped forward unexpectedly, and Qiao Sang reflexively glanced in its direction. As soon as she caught sight of its glowing purple eyes, she realized something was wrong and tried to turn away quickly. But it was too late. ''This is it. It''s over. That villainous uncle is finally being serious¡­'' Qiao Sang''s eyelids grew heavy, her head spun, and an overwhelming drowsiness washed over her. Her vision blurred. Before she collapsed, she hazily looked toward the transparent containment device holding the Luckbringer. She thought bitterly, They say seeing the Luckbringer brings good luck, so why has my luck been so bad? What¡¯s going to happen next? Will I even make it to tomorrow¡¯s competition¡­? --- Simultaneously, the Stronghold Sky Owl dove from the sky with a thunderous sound, its speed tearing through the air. Although it used only a mid-tier skill, Brave Bird Strike, a General-level beast using the same skill as a mid-tier beast created a gap as vast as a chasm. Yabao had faced this skill from other pet beasts before, but this time, the intensity was entirely different. The Stronghold Sky Owl''s velocity made even the faint motion of the Tablema swinging its silver pocket watch appear agonizingly slow in comparison. In the blink of an eye, Yabao looked up and saw the incoming attack. The next moment, the Stronghold Sky Owl''s strike landed. Bang!!! Before he could react, Yabao was sent flying like a billiard ball, crashing into a tree ten meters away. The tree shook violently, its branches swaying as countless leaves rained down. --- "Xun..." In midair, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes were glued to the pocket watch, his lids growing heavier. During the time Yabao was sent crashing into the tree, Little Treasure tipped backward, snoring as he fell from the sky. Total defeat. --- ¡°Yun! Yun!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the transparent containment device, the Luckbringer furiously pounded its hooves against the walls, its cries sharp with anger. Yet no one seemed to notice its outburst. Its sharp voice echoed into emptiness, as though it didn¡¯t exist at all. Each time it cried out, an unseen wave of energy radiated from within the device, dispersing in three directions toward Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Little Treasure. The air trembled momentarily. When the sound waves settled, the stillness returned. Everyone knew the Luckbringer could bring good fortune, but no one truly understood how it worked. Not everyone who saw the Luckbringer automatically received luck. Zhang Rongtang, the villainous uncle, recalled vividly how much effort he¡¯d spent trying to channel its power toward himself. He had stayed in this small, rundown town for over two years, catering to a teenage boy¡¯s every whim... Zhang Rongtang glanced at Wu Chang, who was trembling with unease, his expression complicated. To be honest, after all that time together, it wasn¡¯t as though he felt nothing. But such feelings were trivial compared to the allure of contracting the Luckbringer. With a kind yet calculating smile, Zhang Rongtang said, "Wu Chang, hand over the Luckbringer." --- Wu Chang clutched the containment device tightly, understanding exactly what Zhang Rongtang wanted. Yet, he still clung to a sliver of hope as he pleaded: ¡°Uncle Zhang, can¡¯t you let it go? Luckbringer doesn¡¯t want to live in human society. It¡¯s only stayed here this long because it¡¯s trying to go home.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Zhang Rongtang replied calmly. ¡°Nine years ago, a rift to a secret realm opened here. It must have come through that rift. ¡°But Wu Chang, you have to understand. No one can resist the temptation of contracting a Luckbringer. Not you, and certainly not me. The only reason you haven¡¯t forced it is because you lack the ability to do so.¡± ¡°The rift hasn¡¯t reopened after nine years. It¡¯s time for it to give up.¡± --- ¡°Yun! Yun! Yun!" The Luckbringer bared its teeth in rage, its body trembling. Though its expressions were invisible and no pet beast was there to translate, its intent was clear to everyone. It was cursing viciously. Wu Chang stared at the man who had acted like a father figure for over two years, realizing now that nothing he said could change the outcome. This wasn¡¯t a spur-of-the-moment decision, it had been meticulously planned. Wu Chang stood motionless for a long time. Just as Zhang Rongtang thought he would stay silent, Wu Chang suddenly asked, ¡°Why were you so kind to me?¡± Zhang Rongtang answered honestly, ¡°Because I realized that¡¯s the only way to occasionally draw the Luckbringer¡¯s luck to me.¡± --- Wu Chang¡¯s mind reeled as he pieced together every moment of their time together. The happiness he once felt now twisted into sharp, searing pain. He stood like a statue, his body stiff, his trembling ceased. It was all a lie¡­ --- ¡°Old Owl.¡± Zhang Rongtang commanded. Understanding its master¡¯s intent, the Stronghold Sky Owl dove with its beak aimed at the containment device, ready to snatch it from Wu Chang. Wu Chang lowered his head, his hair covering his eyes, as if he had resigned himself to everything. --- ¡°Yun!¡± The Luckbringer shrieked furiously, declaring that even its body would not be taken. It would rather die than be contracted. Its eyes glowed blue, its energy surging as it prepared for one final act of defiance. Just as the Stronghold Sky Owl was about to snatch the device, a blinding red light flashed through the air, slamming into the bird and sending it flying. Chapter 336: Take out the Healer First ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao''s majestic form stood proudly amidst the flames. ¡°Yun!¡± Luckbringer stopped the flow of energy, staring in stunned silence at the fiery figure before him. His eyes filled with tears in an instant. A hero! Zhang Rongtang, however, frowned impatiently as he observed the transformed Flame Hound, whose aura and demeanor were entirely different from before. Blaze Trait. Is there no end to this nonsense? ¡°Stronghold Sky Owl, Dark-¡± Zhang Rongtang began to command Phantom Fiend¡¯s wraith to attack, but before he could finish, a girl¡¯s voice interrupted him: ¡°Wu Chang, give Luckbringer to me.¡± Startled, Zhang Rongtang instinctively turned to the side and was shocked to find the girl who had just fallen was already standing up! This turn of events left him dumbfounded. How did the hypnosis spell cast by Tablema wear off so quickly?! Breaking out of hypnosis in such a short time was near impossible without either intense external interference or immense mental fortitude. A school kid with strong mental fortitude? Highly unlikely! --- A minute earlier. Yabao was hurled into the base of a tree, while Little Treasure was still plummeting through the air. Luckbringer¡¯s repeated cries sent invisible soundwaves rippling toward Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Little Treasure. As the subtle vibrations in the air calmed, a two-headed black raven flapped its wings and coincidentally passed beneath the falling Little Treasure. Thud! Little Treasure landed squarely on the raven¡¯s back. ¡°Squawk!¡± The two-headed black raven shook its heads and glared at the pitch-black little troublemaker responsible for this indignity. Still falling, Little Treasure was oblivious. ¡°Squawk, squawk!¡± A Dark-type beast with a vengeful streak, the raven flapped its wings and accelerated toward Little Treasure. With a swift kick to Little Treasue¡¯s face, the raven exacted its revenge before flying away, satisfied. This kick altered Little Treasure¡¯s trajectory, sending him straight into Qiao Sang¡¯s face. Thunk! Qiao Sang woke up in pain. --- Wu Chang snapped out of his daze, staring blankly at Qiao Sang. He hadn¡¯t expected her to get back up and still prioritize protecting Luckbringer. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Qiao Sang urged again, irritated by Wu Chang¡¯s inaction. ¡°Yun Yun!¡± Luckbringer patted the device with its paw, urging Wu Chang to move faster. Though kindhearted, Wu Chang was far too weak. Staying close to a heroic beastmaster like Qiao Sang felt much safer. Realizing this, Wu Chang silently handed over the device containing Luckbringer. If there¡¯s anyone left worth trusting in this world, it¡¯s her, he thought. Qiao Sang swiftly took the device and shouted, ¡°Yabao!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao blinked into existence beside his beastmaster. Qiao Sang nimbly climbed onto Yabao¡¯s back. Almost as if anticipating her move, Yabao extinguished is flames the moment before she mounted. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Qiao Sang commanded. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao dashed skyward. Wu Chang: ??? ¡°After them!¡± Zhang Rongtang barked, his expression dark as he mounted Phamton Fiend. Wu Chang stared dumbly at the two figures in pursuit above. Just as confusion gripped him, a voice rang out from the sky: ¡°Stop spacing out! Call the police!¡± Call the police? Yes! The police! Suddenly understanding, Wu Chang scrambled to take out his phone, dialing while running toward an area with better reception. --- Yabao, empowered by his Blaze trait, initially outpaced Phantom Fiend. However, the energy gap between a mid-tier and a general-tier beast was astronomical. Despite Blaze''s boost, Phantom Fiend¡¯s speed soon surpassed Yabao¡¯s. £Ò Realizing they were about to be caught, Qiao Sang glanced down and said, ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± Without hesitation, Yabao descended. The barren clearing offered no cover. Qiao Sang dismounted and stood her ground. She knew she couldn¡¯t escape indefinitely; her best chance was to buy some time. The moment Qiao Sang landed, Zhang Rongtang arrived as well. ¡°Do you think sending Wu Chang to call the police will stop me?¡± Zhang Rongtang sneered as he dismounted, his face dark. The police? By the time they arrive, it¡¯ll all be over. The night was eerily quiet, the cold wind carrying a desolate chill. ¡°I never thought it would stop you.¡± Qiao Sang replied calmly, her voice breaking the silence as the moonlight pierced through the clouds. ¡°I just thought fighting in that graveyard would draw too much attention.¡± Graveyard vandalism could result in 5-10 days of detention, or up to 15 days in severe cases. How would she ever compete in her tournament if she got caught for that? Zhang Rongtang hesitated, remembering they had just been in a graveyard. His expression shifted. He hadn¡¯t expected such meticulousness from the girl. What a pity she was so meddlesome. Otherwise, they might have even gotten along. As Zhang Rongtang mused, Qiao Sang formed seals with her hands, and a green star array glowed brightly in the darkness. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao emerged from the array. Zhang Rongtang froze, his expression faltering. A green star array?! Three beasts?! A high school student?! This province has such a prodigy?! ¡°Lubao, heal Little Treasure first.¡± Qiao Sang instructed, placing the still-unconscious Little Treasure on the ground. ¡°Lu.¡± Sensing the tense atmosphere, Lubao nodded solemnly. The jewel on her forehead emitted a calming blue light. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Zhang Rongtang couldn¡¯t identify the beast, he knew it was using a healing skill. Flame Hound and the Treasure-Seeking Demon posed no threat, but this healer would be trouble. Taking out the healer first was a timeless strategy. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡± Zhang Rongtang growled, summoning Tablema and Phantom Fiend back into the fray. ¡°Tab.¡± Tablema¡¯s eyes glowed blue, and a one-meter-long blade of shimmering energy condensed in an instant. Illusion Slash, a high-level single-target Psychic attack with devastating power. ¡°.¡± Simultaneously, Phantom Fiend¡¯s wraith extended its claws, flicking each stubby digit. Several eerie, purple-glowing spheres, barely the size of bullet casings, floated before its claws. Doom Shadows, a high-level Ghost attack, was nearly impossible to dodge due to its blinding speed and immense penetrative power. Chapter 337: Blinding White Lights The Illusion Slash and several Shadow Blasts mercilessly hurtled toward Lubao, who was still casting Healing Light. A meter-long blue scythe and multiple purple spheres tore through the air, speeding toward their target with terrifying velocity. At that moment, Little Treasure slowly opened his eyes. The attacks, swift enough to rip through the air, caused Little Treasure to turn his head in confusion. With just one glance, he snapped to full alertness. "Xun!!!" Help!!! Startled, Little Treasure''s energy instinctively gathered and erupted in a flash, causing him to vanish on the spot. No one noticed that, during the brief moment of stillness, the air faintly trembled. When Little Treasure recovered from his fright, he found himself in a completely different place. "Xun xun?!" Hovering mid-air and surrounded by gravestones, Little Treasure placed his paws on his cheeks, his expression twisting in fear. How could a beast of stature like him end up like this?! --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang stood dumbfounded, staring at the spot where Little Treasure had vanished. The sudden disappearance disrupted the connection in her Beastmaster Codex, meaning Little Treasure was now beyond her sensing range. If she had looked at the Codex at that moment, she would have noticed a new skill listed under Little Treasure: Spatial Shift. Unfortunately, the chaos left her no time to spare for the Codex. In the blink of an eye, Illusion Slash and the Doom Shadows were nearly upon Lubao. "Lu-" Lubao turned her head, her deep blue eyes reflecting blurred shadows of blue, purple...and red. Red?! Lubao froze, her gaze fixated on a fiery figure engulfed in flames. Before she could angrily protest that she didn''t need saving-- BAM!!! With a loud crash, the red figure was sent flying, carving a long trail across the ground. "Lu..." Lubao was stunned yet again. "Lubao! Go save Yabao!" Qiao Sang shouted. "Lu!" Lubao didn¡¯t hesitate, bolting toward Yabao. "Illusion Slash." Zhang Rongtang commanded calmly, preparing for the finishing blow. He showed no interest in why Little Treasure had disappeared so suddenly. This girl might be talented, contracting three beasts at such a young age, but that was only impressive for a high schooler. Compared to a seasoned beastmaster like him, it wasn¡¯t worth mentioning. ???? Today, he¡¯d teach her a lesson: Humbling her arrogance so she wouldn¡¯t let her talent blind her to the vast world ahead. "Tablema." With a glint of blue in its eyes, Tablema instantly condensed a meter-long blue scythe. "Wait!" At this moment, Qiao Sang stepped forward, holding a transparent device containing Luckbringer. "Stop! I¡¯ll give it to you!" Where are the police?! And where on earth is Little Treasure?! Qiao Sang¡¯s inner turmoil was far from her composed exterior. The current situation was spiraling far beyond her expectations. If Little Treasure were still around, the plan would¡¯ve been simple: As long as Lubao remained unscathed, either Little Treasure or Yabao could take turns falling, with Lubao healing them in intervals. This strategy could have held out until the police arrived. But now, with Little Treasure gone, everything was in disarray. She could only rely on herself to buy time. Holding the device with Luckbringer, she feigned urgency. "Yun Yun?!" Inside the device, Luckbringer was utterly baffled. You¡¯re giving up on me just like that?! Just as Zhang Rongtang was about to demand the device, Qiao Sang withdrew it, muttering audibly, "Never mind, might as well go all the way and be a good person." "Yun Yun!" Lukbringer nodded frantically in agreement. Zhang Rongtang let out a sharp laugh, his expression darkening. Mocking me? Excellent. "Old Hu! Old Byo!" Zhang Rongtang growled. "Hu." Phantom Fiend replied, its glowing eyes signaling the Illusion Slash to shoot forward, aimed at Lubao and Yabao. "Tab..." The Tablema drifted closer. This time, Qiao Sang had learned her lesson, turning her head away. She¡¯d noticed Tablema always advanced slightly before using its hypnotic abilities, though not when deploying other skills. Lubao¡¯s situation didn¡¯t worry her much, she guessed Yabao should have recovered by now. Her guess was correct, though she underestimated Zhang Rongtang¡¯s persistence. ¡°Control yourself.¡± Zhang Rongtang ordered coldly. Hearing its master¡¯s command, Phantom Fiend¡¯s violet eyes reverted, forming a smaller-than-usual shadow orb that shot toward Qiao Sang. BAM!!! A loud impact echoed. Qiao Sang turned her head, only to see Yabao and Lubao standing before her. Yabao had indeed recovered. Before she could relax, her eyes widened in horror. Behind Yabao and Lubao, unseen to them, the Illusion Slash was hurtling toward them. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Teleport!¡± Qiao Sang shouted desperately, her pupils contracting. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s ears twitched as he instinctively grabbed Lubao, flinging her onto his back before vanishing, reappearing five meters above the ground. The blue scythe adjusted mid-air, chasing them relentlessly. Yabao could only teleport again. Each time Yabao reappeared, the Illusion Slash was right behind him, the time gap between them less than a second. Should they attack the caster directly? Qiao Sang glanced at Tablema, its glowing blue eyes brimming with control. The scythe¡¯s precision left no room for evasion, and Lubao, being a non-psychic beast, wouldn¡¯t endure much more teleporting. Leaving Lubao behind wasn¡¯t an option either; if the Illusion Slash kept chasing Yabao, Tablema or Stronghold Sky Owl could easily target Lubao, sealing their fate. The only way forward was to sever the Illusion Slash. As Qiao Sang pondered, Zhang Rongtang¡¯s patience wore thin. This high schooler had already cost him too much time. ¡°Change targets.¡± He ordered, his tone icy. Simultaneously, Qiao Sang called out, ¡°Gentle Snow!¡± Though weak, the wide range of Gentle Snow might disrupt Phantom Fiend¡¯s focus if Yabao could teleport close enough. When Yabao reappeared, he happened to be four meters above Phantom Fiend¡¯s left. Lubao seized the moment, puffing her cheeks and releasing a flurry of crystalline snowflakes. At that exact moment, Phantom Fiend¡¯s gaze shifted to Qiao Sang. The Illusion Slash paused briefly in mid-air before abruptly turning toward her. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, watching the scythe closely, growled furiously and teleported in front of his master. BAM!!! The Illusion Slash struck Yabao directly. This time, however, Yabao didn¡¯t falter, his lips curling into a fierce snarl as energy surged within him. At that moment, the air trembled faintly. In the next instant, moonlight spilled over Yabao, enveloping him in radiant white light. Blinding White Light. Chapter 338: Am I the Prophet Myself?! July 16, 2024 Suddenly, a burst of white light illuminated the desolate clearing. Combined with the moonlight and the gentle snow drifting on the breeze, the scene crated an unexpectedly beautiful sight. The Light of Evolution?! Qiao Sang froze, staring dumbfounded at the white light above her. She had witnessed several pet evolutions before and was well aware of what this light signified. But this couldn¡¯t be happening! She hadn¡¯t allocated any points to Yabao recently. According to the level progression detailed in the Beast Tamer Codex, Yabao shouldn¡¯t be evolving for quite a while! Why was this happening out of the blue? Qiao Sang felt an urge to dive into the Beast Tamer Codex right then and there to figure out what was going on. But she couldn¡¯t. Instead, she focused her wary gaze on the man before her and his three general-level pets. If he attacked now and something went wrong with Yabao¡¯s evolution, she¡¯d be devastated. ¡°Lubao!¡± She called out firmly. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao leapt down from Yabao, crouching low and assuming a battle-ready stance in the face of the three formidable beasts. Though small in size, Lubao exuded an intimidating aura, showing not a shred of fear. Yet, the expected attack never came. Qiao Sang kept her eyes locked on the man, noticing that he had yet to make a move. In reality, only a few seconds had passed, but her heightened nerves made every moment feel excruciatingly long. It really evolved... Zhang Rongtang¡¯s mouth gaped open as he stared blankly at the blinding white light. A mid-tier pet evolving into a high-tier one wasn¡¯t uncommon, it shouldn¡¯t have left him so visibly shaken. But considering the other factors, it was nothing short of astonishing. The only known Flame Hound in the world. The existence of a new evolutionary path for Fire Fang Dogs had only been reported a month ago! And its tamer? A mere high schooler! Underage, a green-star summoner with three pets, all of them extraordinary. Particularly this Flame Hound, now evolved to high-tier status. What kind of monster is this kid?! When he was her age, all he had was a low-tier and a mid-tier pet! To be honest, Zhang Rongtang now hesitated to act. Interrupting the evolution of the world¡¯s only Flame Hound would surely provoke a global outcry. And harming this prodigious teenager? The consequences would be unthinkable. How did Wu Chang even meet such an insane kid? Yet abandoning his goal of acquiring Luckbringer was simply not an option. Countless thoughts raced through Zhang Rongtang¡¯s mind. Steeling himself, he gave a discreet signal to his Phantom Fiend. Years of partnership had honed their understanding. Without hesitation, the Fiend vanished from sight. The disappearance immediately heightened Qiao Sang¡¯s tension. Just then, the white light overhead faded. Yabao¡¯s evolution is complete?! Qiao Sang¡¯s heart soared with joy. Instinctively, she looked up, only to lock eyes with a pair of eerie purple pupils. ¡°Hu.¡± The grinning Phantom Fiend, drooling as it activated Hypnosis, loomed before her. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Damn it! This trick again?! Qiao Sang struggled to turn her head, but even moving an inch seemed impossible. In her blurred vision, she noticed Tablema¡¯s glowing blue eyes fixed on her. Great, now two general-level pets are ganging up on me. How shameless... This was Qiao Sang¡¯s last muddled thought before she blacked out. The next second, a blast of water hit her face, snapping her back to consciousness. The familiar sensation was all too irritating. She glanced down at Lubao, ready to compliment her on her good aim, only to see her still spraying water directly at the Phantom Fiend. Qiao Sang: ?! The fiend didn¡¯t even flinch, merely looking amused. It extended a paw toward the diminutive pet, unfazed by Lubao¡¯s relentless Water Gun, Icy Wind, and Water Tail attacks. ????? ¡°Lu!¡± Frustration etched on her face, Lubao prepared another assault when suddenly, the fiend¡¯s paw froze mid-motion. Even the drool dripping from its maw seemed to suspend in midair. Then, it was hurled sideways with incredible force. Both Qiao Sang and Lubao turned their eyes upward. The dissipating white light revealed a magnificent creature: His blue-glowing eyes framed by crimson streaks, gleaming fangs, and a three-meter body predominantly white with a luxuriously long, fluffy tail. A fiery red stripe ran from his nose to the back of his head, and small flaming wings adorned his shoulders, lending an air of both grandeur and mystery. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes sparkled. What a stunning sight! Sensing his tamer¡¯s gaze, Yabao looked down, his eyes shifting back to their original crimson hue. Qiao Sang¡¯s face changed abruptly as the transparent container holding Luckbringer was suddenly wrenched away by an immense force. ¡°Yabao!¡± She shouted. ¡°Yap!¡± Leaping down, Yabao stomped the ground with tremendous force. Flames erupted violently from the fractured earth, creating waves of scorching heat. ¡°Yap?¡± The display left Yabao stunned. Am I really this strong? Tablema, who had been using telekinesis on the container, had to abandon its attempt and teleport into the air. The container plummeted toward the ground, only to be snatched midair by the Stronghold Sky Owl. ¡°No more wasting time. Goodbye!¡± Zhang Rongtang declared, clutching the container atop his pet. To his surprise, Yabao not only evolved but also unleashed a high-tier skill immediately a rare feat. Realizing further delay could lead to the police arriving, he looked back at the enraged girl below with mixed emotions. A high schooler who could stall me this long? There¡¯s only one like her. ¡°Yun Yun!¡± Luckbringer thrashed against its confines. ¡°Stop struggling. She won¡¯t catch up.¡± Zhang Rongtang said calmly. ¡°Chase!¡± Qiao Sang hoisted Lubao onto Yabao¡¯s back. With a powerful leap, Yabao took to the skies. ¡°Tablema.¡± The psychic pet materialized before them, blocking their path. Damn it! Qiao Sang instantly realized his plan: Stall her with Tablema while his owl flew away. Fury burned in her eyes as she watched Zhang Rongtang disappear into the distance. If only that owl would suddenly cramp up and fall... The thought barely crossed her mind when the Stronghold Sky Owl abruptly nosedived. Qiao Sang: ?! Am I really the prophet?! Wait! Wasn¡¯t something else falling? Squinting, she made out the tumbling figure. Her heart skipped a beat. No way! Is that Little Treasure?! ¡°Xun¡­¡± Chapter 339: Is the Sky on Fire? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ----- Little Treasure had a large bump on his head and wore a despondent expression as he gazed at the sky, watching something fall. He looked like he had given up on life. He felt that he had hit rock bottom. Not only was he attacked right after waking up, but his Beast Master was suddenly nowhere to be found. After searching for a long time and just moving to this spot, he got hit again. Suddenly, something caught Little Treasure¡¯s attention. "Xun--" Huh? What¡¯s that? It looks so familiar... "Yun yun!" --- How did Little Treasure end up there? Qiao Sang was utterly baffled. Looking at the situation, why did it seem like Little Treasure had collided mid-air with Stronghold Sky Owl? Normally, given the difference in size between Little Treasure and the Stronghold Sky Owl, along with i''s usual flight speed, such an incident would never occur. However, if Stronghold Sky Owl was in the middle of an acceleration and Little Treasure suddenly appeared, the collision could indeed cause both to lose balance temporarily. After all, according to the momentum theorem, when a 0.45 kg small flying-type pet beast collides with an 800 km/h large flying-type pet beast, the impact force would be 153 kg. On the other hand, if a 7 kg medium-sized flying-type pet beast collides with a 960 km/h large flying-type pet beast, the impact force could reach 144 tons. In short, the faster the speed, the greater the impact force. This also explains why flying-type pet beasts take some recoil damage when using Brave Bird Rush. Qiao Sang took a deep breath. Although she didn¡¯t know why Little Treasure had suddenly collided with the Stronghold Sky Owl, this was an opportunity! "Meteor Rain!" She commanded. "Yaap!" Yabao let out an excited cry and prepared to unleash his ultimate move. "Tab." Tablema picked up its pocket watch with its paw, intending to stop them. "If you don¡¯t go save your Beast Master now, he might not make it." Qiao Sang pointed behind Tablema. Tablema looked puzzled as it turned its head. The next second, it was so frightened that it disappeared on the spot, teleporting toward its Beast Master. "Tab!" "Yabao." Qiao Sang called again. "Yaap!" Yabao responded, understanding her intent, and rushed toward the spot where Stronghold Sky Owl and Little Treasure were falling. Because they were so high up, Zhang Rongtang and the others were still far from the ground despite falling for ages. Yabao reached the point where Stronghold Sky Owl and Little Treasure had collided, lifted his head, opened his mouth, and unleashed a terrifying red energy ball filled with destructive power. The ball soared majestically into the black night sky. ???? Meanwhile, Qiao Sang waved her hand, retrieving Little Treasure into her Beastmaster Codex. Before Stronghold Sky Owl could recover from the impact, now was the perfect moment to attack! The red energy ball rose to a sufficient height before exploding spectacularly, transforming into countless flames that cascaded down like a fiery rainstorm. Amid this brilliant display, Qiao Sang and Yabao stood motionless, exuding a sense of calm. Zhang Rongtang opened his eyes, only to witness this stunning scene. The visual impact was so overwhelming that he felt like he was about to be consumed by the fiery rainstorm. His pupils dilated in shock, and he was utterly stunned. Damn! Is this the end of the world?! It wasn¡¯t surprising that Zhang Rongtang didn¡¯t immediately recognize this move as Meteor Rain. First, he had only ever seen the move from an observer¡¯s perspective, never while being inside the storm of flames. Second, the range of this fiery rain was absurdly massive, giving the impression that the heavens were truly raining fire. Normal Meteor Rains could never achieve this effect! In truth, not just Zhang Rongtang, Qiao Sang was also a little stunned. Thanks to the insane training regimen of chugging energy recovery potions as if they were water, Yabao had mastered the ultimate form of Meteor Rain. Qiao Sang had witnessed the power of this move during training, but it was nowhere near as terrifying as it was now. Who would have thought that merely evolving into a high-level pet beast would exponentially amplify its strength?! At this rate, winning the senior high division championship in the National Campus Beast Mastering League was practically guaranteed. Qiao Sang barely resisted the urge to burst into triumphant laughter. Just then, she noticed their altitude steadily dropping. "Why are we descending? Let¡¯s wait for the Meteor Rain to end before going dow." She said, puzzled. "Yaaap..." Yabao looked embarrassed. He¡¯s almost out of energy... Qiao Sang: !!! Wait, so this insane Meteor Rain was you burning through all your energy?! No, calm down. Considering how long Yabao had been fighting, using multiple high-level skills earlier, it was already impressive that his energy lasted this long. However, Lubao could only restore his state, not replenish his energy. Even if he drank energy recovery potions now, he would only regain a small fraction of his energy, as the potions she bought weren¡¯t high-grade enough to work well for advanced pet beasts. Without energy, Yabao was out of combat power. Lubao couldn¡¯t afford to get injured either. It seemed she¡¯d have to rely on Little Treasure. Hopefully, he could pull through... As Qiao Sang pondered, Tablema was busy teleporting its Beast Master away from the falling fiery rain. Stronghold Sky Owl wasn¡¯t so lucky. Halfway through its descent, it regained consciousness, only to see the overwhelming fire. Terrified, it flapped its wings frantically, but the earlier collision had left it in a weakened state. Its massive size made it an easy target for the dense flames, which repeatedly struck its body. "Zhuang!" Its pained cries echoed through the night as it plummeted to the ground, unconscious. --- In a dimly lit area with scattered streetlights, factory buildings loomed in the shadows. "You kids these days are so bold, huh? Wandering near the cemetery at night!" A young policeman in uniform swung his flashlight around while walking, accompanied by a Magnemouse whose tail emitted a faint glow. Beside him were several other officers holding flashlights. "If someone wants to contract a wild pet beast, let them. Why do you kids have to meddle?" The young officer grumbled. "Enough. This isn¡¯t about contracting a wild pet beast." An older officer interjected. "A girl stayed behind to stop the contract and ended up alone with the guy. Who knows what he might do to her just to succeed?" "Come on, what kind of wild pet beast is worth breaking the law for?" The young officer retorted before turning to Wu Chang, who had remained silent. "And why didn¡¯t you report the wild beast to the patrol department? Don¡¯t you know how dangerous they are?" Wu Chang replied calmly, "My parents are divorced. I don¡¯t live with them." The young officer: !!! Feeling a pang of guilt, he opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could, a female officer flew over on a Fat Dove and excitedly pointed in a direction. "Look over there!" Everyone turned in unison. For a moment, silence enveloped them. It was as if they¡¯d forgotten to breathe. What... is that?! Is the sky on fire?! At that moment, Wu Chang suddenly broke his silence, exclaiming excitedly, "That¡¯s it! We need to hurry! They¡¯re still fighting!" All the officers: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 340: The True Blessing Everyone fell into silence. The previously talkative young officer was the first to break. His face pale, he muttered, "I think we should report this to our superiors and request reinforcements." Another officer of similar age blurted out, "Reinforcements to die alongside us?" Silence returned once again. Though harsh, his words struck a chord. Based on the sheer scale of that earlier fiery rain, their small town simply didn''t have the firepower to match. "Report it first." Said the oldest officer in the group. "You all stay here and wait. I''ll go check out the situation." "No way!" The young officer shouted. "Captain, it''s too dangerous for you to go alone. I''ll go with you!" The captain considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright." The young officer fell silent, his face tense. The captain summoned a wind eagle. The two straightened their backs and climbed aboard, their expressions somber, as though heading to certain doom. Everyone watched them depart, the atmosphere heavy with dread. Just as they were about to take off, Wu Chang spoke up, "I''ll go too!" "Don''t make trouble." The young officer retorted, glancing back from atop the wind eagle at the location where the fiery rain had occurred. The firestorm had ended, and the night sky had returned to tranquility, but his expression remained grave. "This isn¡¯t a simple civil dispute. Did you see that fiery rain just now? Whoever caused it clearly isn¡¯t ordinary. If you go, you¡¯ll only make things worse. Don¡¯t worry about your friend¡­ We¡¯ll bring her back." They would bring her back but didn¡¯t say safely All present were seasoned officers, well aware of what those words implied. A beast tamer who could create such destruction was undoubtedly powerful. The best-case scenario was that this person¡¯s goal was merely to contract a wild beast, and that they were rational enough to communicate. In that case, the girl might sustain some injuries but remain alive. The worst-case scenario, however, was that the beast tamer was ruthless. If that were true, the girl¡¯s life would be in danger, and their captain and colleague might not make it back unscathed either. A heavy sense of foreboding hung over everyone. Wu Chang hesitated before explaining, "But that meteor rain was caused by my friend." The officers: ??? The atmosphere shifted abruptly. "What did you just say?" "What do you mean caused by your friend? Isn¡¯t your friend the same age as you?" "You said your friend is a high school student!" "You said she¡¯s a girl!" All eyes turned to Wu Chang. After a brief moment of confusion, Wu Chang realized the misunderstanding and clarified, "That guy doesn¡¯t have a fire-type beast. He only has a Phantom Fiend, a Stronghold Sky Owl, and a Tablema. As for my friend, she¡¯s a high schooler from Shengshui High. She has a Flame Hound. That fiery rain was probably her Flame Hound¡¯s Meteor Rain." Given that Qiao Sang was currently the hottest topic in Hanggang City, Wu Chang had naturally looked up her details online. Among the numerous posts, some true, some false, was one claiming that Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound could use Meteor Rain. At the time, Wu Chang hadn¡¯t taken it seriously, assuming it was a fabrication. But after witnessing the earlier scene, that post suddenly seemed very plausible. His intuition screamed that it was true. The officers¡¯ faces went blank as they struggled to process the revelation. The captain was the first to recover. Taking a deep breath, he bellowed, "Report this immediately! Everyone, move out with me!" At such a young age, she had raised the only known Flame Hound and taught it Meteor Rain. Someone like that absolutely couldn¡¯t be allowed to meet an untimely end in their jurisdiction! Taking advantage of the opponent''s distraction, Qiao Sang summoned Little Treasure, allowing Lubao to heal him. The swelling on Little Treasure''s head visibly subsided, and he slowly opened his eyes to see a familiar face in front of him. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure snapped to full consciousness and leaped excitedly into his beast tamer''s arms. Although Qiao Sang wanted to ask where Little Treasure had wandered off to earlier, she knew now wasn¡¯t the time. She quickly instructed, "Yabao, head to the ground and use your sensory ability to see if you can locate Luckbringer." "Yap." Yabao responded, running toward the ground. While an evolved beast''s call might remain the same, his voice often changes in tone. Hearing the unfamiliar sound, Little Treasure turned his head in confusion, only to freeze in shock at what he saw. "Xun Xun!" Why did Big Brother Yabao look so different?! "It¡¯s just evolution." Qiao Sang explained. "Xun?" "Xun?!" Little Treasure was stunned before his jaw dropped in disbelief. Evolution? Evolution?! How could he evolve in such a short time while he wasn¡¯t around?! "Yap yap." Yabao grinned proudly, flashing a smug expression. "Lu Lu." Lubao interrupted, pointing at the ring on Little Treasure¡¯s head with her paw. Qiao Sang froze in surprise. Lubao claimed to have seen Little Treasure put Luckbringer into the ring. "Is that true?" Qiao Sang asked Little Treasure, her voice filled with excitement. "Xun Xun~" Upon hearing the question, Little Treasure momentarily forgot about Yabao''s evolution. With a showy call, he removed the ring and pulled out a transparent container, as if showing off. It was purely accidental, just something he had scooped up in passing. "Yun Yun!" Inside the container, Luckringer looked at the humans outside, its eyes brimming with relief. It felt saved at last! Lubao¡¯s vision was truly remarkable. Considering how far away Little Treasure had been and the fire obscuring the view, it seemed the potion made from Blue Dew Crystals was working after all. Qiao Sang decided it was necessary to test Lubao''s vision when they returned. Snapping back to the present, she quickly pushed the newly revealed Q back into the ring and ordered seriously, "Yabao, let¡¯s get moving!" "Yap..." Yabao responded listlessly, clearly drained of energy. "Xun Xun!" Before Qiao Sang could figure out how to proceed, Little Treasure was suddenly yanked upwards by an invisible force, dragged tens of meters into the air. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure struggled desperately but couldn¡¯t break free. Once he stopped ascending, he hesitantly turned his head, only to be confronted by a terrifyingly large face. "Xun!" His eyes rolled back, and he feigned unconsciousness on the spot. Qiao Sang looked up and saw Tablema holding Little Treasure in one claw and a man in the other. Narrowing her eyes, she was about to speak when the man¡¯s voice echoed down from above: "I saw everything. You have two choices: Either your Treasure-Seeking Demon opens the ring and hands over Luckbringer, or I¡¯ll take your Treasure-Seeing Demon with me." Zhang Rongtang didn¡¯t want to make an enemy of such an obviously extraordinary child, but he had no choice. Once something was stored inside a Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s ring, only the ghost itself could retrieve it. Having been granted this rare opportunity to capture Luckbringer, he wasn¡¯t about to let it slip through his fingers. Making an enemy? No problem. Once he contracted Luckbringer, no one could touch him! "Yap!" Yabao bared is teeth, glaring fiercely at the figures above. The flames on his shoulders flared slightly. Just as he was about to leap into action, Qiao Sang gently stroked his fur, signaling him to stay calm. "Yap..." Under his beast tamer¡¯s soothing touch, Yabao stayed put, though he continued to snarl threateningly at the figures above. Yabao¡¯s energy was nearly depleted. If he attacked now, he would only make things worse. Although Qiao Sang could recall Little Treasure into her Beast Codex, doing so would provoke an immediate attack from Zhang Rongtang. Weighing her options, she decided it was better to stall for time. She gazed up at Zhang Rongtang, feigning hesitation. "I¡¯m not wasting any more time." Zhang Rongtang declared, his voice cold. "I¡¯ll count to three." Without waiting, he began counting: "One." "One minute! Just give me one minute to think!" "Two." "Thirty seconds! Thirty seconds, okay?!" "Three." This time, Qiao Sang said nothing. Her mouth slowly opened as she stood frozen, staring dumbfounded at the sky above. More precisely, at the spot behind Tablema. Yabao mirrored her expression exactly. Suddenly, the pitch-black night sky cracked open, forming a tiny fissure. The rift grew larger and larger, as though being torn apart by an invisible, colossal hand. The crack revealed an abyss-like darkness beyond, vast and unfathomable. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind buzzed with chaotic thoughts, all jumbled together. Yet one clear realization emerged: Damn! A secret realm rift! The moment she identified it, Qiao Sang quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the sky. A freshly-formed secret realm rift! Her first time seeing one! This was definitely social media-worthy! "Hey, Uncle! Move aside a bit; I need a clear shot of the rift!" She called out mid-photo session. Secret realm rift? Zhang Rongtang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. He had already sensed something was off while counting to three. However, because he was confronting the child below, he hadn¡¯t turned around to look. Could it really be a secret realm rift? Just as he was about to turn, the child below suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs: "Run!" Run? Zhang Rongtang froze in confusion. Tablema didn¡¯t hesitate. Instinctively sensing danger, it vanished instantly, carrying its beast master away. The next second, a massive steel claw with only four toes emerged from the rift, swiping ferociously at where Tablema had just been. Qiao Sang shivered and quickly waved her hand, recalling Little Treasure into her Beast Tamer Codex. The enormous steel claw was overwhelmingly large. Even though Tablema had teleported quite a distance, it was still completely within the claw¡¯s range. Qiao Sang watched, wide-eyed, as the claw stretched, grabbed, and pulled both Tablema and Zhang Rongtang into the rift. She didn¡¯t notice a five-centimeter-long slip of paper falling out of Zhang Rongtang¡¯s pocket. Before Qiao Sang could process what had happened, a beast¡¯s head emerged from the rift. It resembled a full-body silver suit of armor, with a razor-sharp blade-like nose and piercing yellow, vertical pupils. One glance was enough to tell that the head and the claw belonged to the same pet beast. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang instinctively held her breath, not daring to move. The beast¡¯s yellow eyes scanned its surroundings as though dissatisfied with the environment. Moments later, it retracted its head back into the rift. If I don¡¯t run now, when will I? Qiao Sang thought. Just as she was about to flee, she remembered something. Forming a hand seal, she summoned Little Treasure and instructed, "Take Luckbringer out." "Xun Xun..." Little Treasure, who had been about to leap into her arms and cry about how terrifying things had been, froze mid-air. Obediently, he removed the ring and took out the device containing Luckbringer. "Yun Yun..." The moment Luckbringer emerged, it seemed to sense something. Its body stiffened, and it abruptly raised its head. The giant rift resembled a terrifying abyss, yet Qi Yunla¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably as it stared at it. It¡¯s finally here... "Do you want to go back?" Qiao Sang asked. She had overheard parts of the conversation between Zhang Rongtang and Wu Chang earlier and knew that Luckbringer had been waiting for this secret realm rift for nine years. "Yun Yun!" Luckbringer nodded firmly. Without further comment, Qiao Sang placed the device on the ground and signaled to Lubao with a nod. "Lu." Lubao understood instantly. Water swirled around her tail, which whipped fiercely at the device. The transparent device remained undamaged. "Lu!" Lubao froze for a moment, then focused her resolve. A moment later, she covered herself entirely in water, launched into the air, and descended in a powerful dive onto the device. The transparent container shook slightly but remained unscathed. "Lu..." Lubao looked bewildered, standing still in confusion. Seeing this, Qiao Sang turned to Yabao and said, "Your turn." "Yap!" Yabao nodded. He opened ihis mouth, energy gathering as flames engulfed his sharp teeth. Simultaneously, a massive fiery head materialized, his mouth wide open and teeth bared, biting down. CRACK! The transparent device shattered. "Yun Yun!" Luckbringer¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, it dashed toward the rift. "Wait!" Qiao Sang called out. "Yun?" Qi Yunla paused, turning back with a puzzled expression. Though she couldn¡¯t see Luckbringer¡¯s face, Qiao Sang knew it must be staring at her. "Lubao, Healing Light." She said. "Lu..." Lubao obeyed, casting a gentle blue glow over Luckbringer. "Yun..." As the light faded, Luckbringer seemed startled by the improvement in its condition. Qiao Sang spoke softly, "Wu Chang said you were injured and asked me to heal you. Consider this my way of fulfilling his request." "Yun Yun..." Luckbringer¡¯s overwhelming emotions subsided a little as it recalled Wu Chang. If only I could see him one last time before returning home... "Yun Yun! Qiao Sang!" Wu Chang¡¯s voice rang out from afar. "Yun..." Luckbringer¡¯s eyes reddened as it quickly floated upward. Spotting Wu Chang running toward them, it paused briefly in the air. After a long, firm look, Luckbringer turned decisively and flew toward the rift. Just before entering, it waved a paw toward Qiao Sang. Because of the white cloth still draped over Luckbringer, Qiao Sang could see the gesture clearly. "Qiao Sang! Are you okay? Where¡¯s Yun Yun?" Wu Chang arrived, flanked by a group of police officers. Qiao Sang pointed to the sky. "There." Everyone followed her gaze. The police saw the secret realm rift, while Wu Chang¡¯s eyes locked on the white figure hovering near it. "Yun Yun~" For a moment, Qiao Sang thought she heard Luckbringer¡¯s voice. "Did you hear that?" She asked. "I did." Wu Chang murmured. No one else heard anything. Though many knew Luckbringer could bring good fortune, few were aware that when it gave its true blessing, only those who could hear its voice would be bestowed with luck. "Yun Yun~" With one last call, Luckbringer vanished into the rift. Chapter 341: Its Not a Big Deal Luckbringer disappeared, leaving the rift in the secret realm still lingering. The team captain spoke in a grave tone, "Report this immediately!" "Yes!" The female officer nearby answered promptly and stepped aside to make the call. Although secret realm rifts weren''t unusual globally, their sudden appearance in a small town was still enough to make people uneasy. That said, unease didn''t mean fear. As long as the government dispatched personnel promptly to secure the area and confirm its safety, the rift would attract a crowd eager to witness it, potentially boosting the local economy. In a way, this could be seen as a good thing for the local government. Qiao Sang turned her head, intending to share what had just happened with Wu Chang, but before she could speak, a group of officers surrounded her. Each carried a powerful flashlight, their beams glaringly bright. "Are you okay? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re here now!" A young officer reassured her. What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ve already handled it, and you¡¯re only arriving now... Qiao Sang smiled and replied, "I¡¯m fine." "Where¡¯s the other person?" Another officer asked. Qiao Sang looked up toward the sky and said, "A pet beast from the secret realm dragged him inside." Her words stunned the group into silence. Dragged inside? Wasn''t he the one with a Stronghold Sky Owl, a Phantom Fiend, and a Tablema? How could a beast tamer with three General-tier pets be taken into the secret realm? Did this mean the pet beast on the other side of the rift was even stronger? "What kind of pet beast was it?" Wu Chang asked urgently. Even though everything had been a lie, and Zhang Rontang''s intentions were far from pure, Wu Chang couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned. Qiao Sang shook her head. "I don¡¯t know. I only saw that it was massive and made entirely of steel. It¡¯s likely a Steel-type pet." Wu Chang¡¯s face turned pale. Despite everything, he didn¡¯t want Zhang Rongtang to get hurt. Just then, an officer on the side asked, "What about the wild pet beast?" The officer¡¯s gaze darted between Flame Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon, admiration evident in his eyes. No wonder a beast tamer with three General-tier pets wanted to forcibly contract one of these. Regardless of which one he targeted, their appearance alone was worth a contract slot! But where was the Flame Hound? The officer glanced around curiously. Compared to the unfamiliar wild beasts, he was more intrigued by the recently reported evolved form of the Fire Fang Dog. "It also went into the rift." Qiao Sang replied. The officer froze in place. It also went in? Then what about these two? "Whose beasts are these?" The captain asked. Everyone else turned to Qiao Sang with puzzled expressions. Clearly, they had assumed one of the two beasts had to be wild. Qiao Sang, perplexed by the question, replied, "Of course, they¡¯re mine." The area fell silent. Seconds later, the officers erupted in disbelief. "You¡¯re a high schooler, aren¡¯t you?" "Where¡¯s your Flame Hound?" "And whose Treasure-Seeking Demon is this?" "Does anyone else think this pet looks a lot like the Flame Hound?" Someone remarked, silencing the crowd again. All eyes turned toward the imposing pet, which was clearly no ordinary mid-tier beast. Come to think of it, they did look alike: White and red fur, and both were canine beasts... A bold theory began forming in their minds, but it seemed too absurd to voice aloud. They looked back at Qiao Sang, waiting for her explanation. Faced with their scrutiny, Qiao Sang calmly suggested, "Shouldn¡¯t we head back to the station to file a report first?" The officers: ... The report was inevitable, but before heading to the station, Qiao Sang remembered something: Was the Stronghold Sky Owl recovered by the uncle? After informing the officers, they spent over twenty minutes searching. Once it was confirmed that the owl was gone, likely taken back by the uncle, Qiao Sang mounted Yabao, with Little Treasure perched on her head and Lubao cradled in her arms, following the officers to the station. As they were about to leave the area, a gust of cold wind blew through, carrying a small piece of paper about 5 cm in size onto Lubao¡¯s back. "Lu." Lubao disdainfully picked it up with her paw and tossed it aside. Another gust of wind carried the paper directly onto Little Treasure¡¯s face. "Xun..." Little Treasure plucked him off curiously, glanced at it, then tossed it into his ring without a second thought. --- Hongrao Town Police Station "Name?" "Qiao Sang." "Age?" "Fifteen." "What?! Fifteen?!" The officer doing the report practically shouted, lifting his head in disbelief. Qiao Sang flinched. "Is fifteen a problem?" "N-no!" The officer shook his head and asked, "Do you have your ID card or beast tamer badge?" The badge would also verify her real name and age. By the time Qiao Sang left the station, two hours had passed. Wu Chang walked out with her. Noticing his strange demeanor, Qiao Sang glanced at him. She could guess how he was feeling. Anyone would feel upset if their longtime companion, whether a person or a pet, disappeared so suddenly. "Are you okay?" Qiao Sang asked. Wu Chang lowered his eyes, replying in a flat tone, "I¡¯m fine." Qiao Sang studied him briefly, then told Lubao, "Sing something." "Lu lu lu~" Lubao sang immediately, sending out healing sound waves. "Are you okay now?" Qiao Sang asked again. Wu Chang turned to her, his clear eyes filled with na?vet¨¦. "Huh? Of course, I¡¯m fine!" Qiao Sang chuckled. "That¡¯s good to hear." The two chatted briefly before parting ways. Just before they separated, Wu Chang quietly said, "Thank you." "It¡¯s nothing." Qiao Sang replied, knowing Wu Chang wasn¡¯t thanking her for the healing. --- 10:12 PM Qiao Sang returned to her dorm room in a good mood, with Little Treasure on her head and Lubao in her arms. Because Yabao had grown too large after his evolution, he was stored in the Beast Taming Codex. As soon as she entered, Xu Yixuan shot up from bed, asking, "Why are you back so late? I called you so many times, and you didn¡¯t answer. You scared me!" "I didn¡¯t check my phone." Qiao Sang said, removing her uniform. She joked, "Why were you scared? Did you think I¡¯d gone missing?" Xu Yixuan nodded. "Exactly." Qiao Sang: ... Xu Yixuan added nervously, "You don¡¯t know how long the sirens blared outside. It looked like every officer was deployed. What happened?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment before replying, "Nothing major, just a secret realm rift." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Yixuan: !!! Her eyes widened. "You¡¯re calling that nothing major?!" Completely forgetting her own reaction to the rift earlier, Qiao Sang replied calmly, "It¡¯s just a rift. They¡¯re all over the internet. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never seen one." Xu Yixuan stared at her in awe, feeling that Qiao Sang¡¯s composure and strength were perfectly fitting for a future powerhouse. Glancing at the time, Qiao Sang decided to postpone her shower. She kicked off her shoes, half-lay on her bed, and entered the Beast Taming Codex. Chapter 342: Blazing Star Canine Name: Blazing Star Canine (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: Advanced (12,000/100,000) + [Primary Traits: 1. Blaze Level: D (5/500) Status: Inefficient Description: Activates when HP is below 1/4, doubling fire-type skill power and speed. 2. Flame Body Level: B (33/2000) Status: Effective Description: 30% chance to burn opponents when hit by contact-type moves. 3. Moonlight Power Level: A (1/10,000) Status: Extremely effective Description: While bathed in moonlight, energy becomes unusually active, doubling overall performance.] Skills: Bite (Beginner 74/100) + Charge (Proficient 498/500) + Fire Fang (Mastery 20,000/20,000) Max Ember (Mastery 20,000/20,000) Max Shadow Clone (Mastery 17,995/20,000) + Fire Whirl (Advanced 2016/5000) + Flame Charge (Mastery 12,905/20,000) + Meteor Rain (Mastery 10,038/20,000) + Illusion Flame (Beginner 23/100) + Psychic (Mastery 10,009/20,000) + Perception Sense (Beginner 23/100) + Teleport (Proficient 366/500) + Flame Claw (Beginner 2/100) + Hyper Beam (Beginner 1/100) + Meditation (Beginner 1/100) + Hellfire (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 16,573 --- "Blazing Star Canine." Looking at the name of her newly evolved advanced beast companion, Qiao Sang silently repeated it in her mind. Honestly, it sounded pretty good. Her eyes continued down the screen. The concrete data provided a clear overview of the beast''s overall condition. After weeks of training, Yabao¡¯s stats had significantly improved compared to last month. Of course, money played a vital role in these advancements. Without it, there was no way Yabao could have elevated skills like Meteor Rain, Shadow Clone, and Psychic to mastery within such a short period. However, since Qiao Sang reviewed these stats daily before bed, the incremental changes hadn¡¯t struck her as dramatic. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But today was different. One evolution had transformed Yabao¡¯s stats drastically overnight, leaving a completely new impression. --- Moonlight Power! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight of this new trait. Unlike Blaze, which required low HP to activate, this trait boosted performance effortlessly, making both battles and training twice as effective. The only downside? It only worked under moonlight. Besides, nighttime was typically reserved for sleep. Even in events like the National Campus Beast Mastering League, where high school students competed, matches held indoors would render this ability almost useless. Still, Qiao Sang felt satisfied. Traits associated with moonlight or sunlight were rare, typically exclusive to fairy-type beasts. --- Moving down, she noticed four new skills. Flame Claw, Hyper Beam, Meditation, and Hellfire. "Wow¡­" Qiao Sang scanned through them, nearly jumping with excitement. When beasts evolve, they often learn a few new skills, but the quality and quantity depend on their innate talent. For intermediate beasts evolving into advanced forms, the odds of learning a high-tier skill were slim, even for gifted ones. Yet Yabao not only gained the basic Flame Claw during evolution but also mastered Hyper Beam and Hellfire, two high-tier moves! --- Hyper Beam. A high-tier normal-type skill. This devastating attack releases a powerful energy blast, often seen as a finishing move in films. Although its power is immense, it has a critical drawback: After use, the user becomes immobile for a short period. Without certainty of a decisive hit, this skill could backfire spectacularly. Hellfire. A high-tier fire-type skill. This area-of-effect move cracks the ground, releasing searing flames. Qiao Sang had already witnessed this during Yabao¡¯s evolution, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to also acquire Hyper Beam. Two high-tier skills! In reality, learning either would cost a fortune, and even then, success wouldn¡¯t be guaranteed. "Yabao! You¡¯re incredible!" --- ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± In real life, Xu Yixuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight of Qiao Sang grinning foolishly with her eyes closed. She took out her phone and snapped a picture. Who would¡¯ve thought the future prodigy had such a goofy side? --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, unaware of this, calmed herself and looked at the penultimate skill listed. Meditation. A mid-tier psychic skill. This support move boosts both attack and defense by calming the mind. --- Calming the mind? Qiao Sang thought, That feels so unlike Yabao... As she flipped through more data, her attention shifted to Little Treasure¡¯s page. Earlier that day, Little Treasure had vanished without a trace but eventually returned, leaving her unsettled. Hoping to find answers, she scanned the records line by line. After a few seconds, her eyes widened in shock. Spatial Shift?! She wasn¡¯t this surprised when checking Yabao¡¯s data earlier, as she¡¯d anticipated improvements from evolution. But Little Treasure? Barely involved in battles, and now he had suddenly learned a high-tier skill, Spatial Shift! A wild thought crossed her mind: With Little Treasure¡¯s ability, does this mean I can wake up one minute before class starts and teleport there instantly¡­? ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± --- When Qiao Sang emerged from the Beast Codex, she found Xu Yixuan staring at her oddly. ¡°What?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Xu Yixuan quietly put away her phone and shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± Unbothered, Qiao Sang''s focus returned to Yabao and Little Treasure, eager to test their new skills. Still, rationality prevailed. Tonight had been overwhelming, and Yabao especially needed rest after his evolution. --- As she prepared to put Lubao back into the Codex, the little creature jumped aside, shaking her head vigorously. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go back?¡± Qiao Sang asked, surprised. Lubao nodded firmly. "Fine." As she got up to wash up, Lubao tugged at her pant leg and gestured outside. ¡°¡­You want me to train with you now?¡± Lubao nodded again, looking determined. Chapter 343: Just Letting You Know Qiao Sang''s lips twitched uncontrollably. Oh dear, so she hadn¡¯t misheard after all... After just surviving a life-and-death battle, and at this late hour, they were now planning to train? Seriously? While Qiao Sang was mulling over how to persuade Lubao that balancing work and rest was the key to success, Xu Yixuan, standing beside her, was frozen in shock, seriously questioning if her hearing had failed her. Although she couldn''t understand Ice Qiya''s words, she could understand Qiao Sang perfectly! Ice Qiya had volunteered to train?! For a moment, Xu Yixuan''s face contorted with envy. You see, back when she was in her first year of high school, she''d done everything possible to coax her pet beast into training: Soft methods, hard methods, even resorting to books like Rebellion Isn¡¯t Your Pet Beast¡¯s Fault, A Step-by-Step Guide to Training Your Pet Beast, and Understanding Your Pet Beast Through Daily Behaviors. It had taken her ages to get her Fire Fang Dog, now known as Fire God, to willingly train. But now, what was this? Ice Qiya was actively dragging Qiao Sang to train! It wasn¡¯t Qiao Sang dragging Ice Qiya- It was Ice Qiya dragging Qiao Sang! ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡± Xu Yixuan declared loudly. With such a monster around, she couldn¡¯t just lie down and do nothing! Hey, hey, hey. It¡¯s so late, what are you getting excited for? Qiao Sang looked at Xu Yixuan with a mild tone. ¡°You¡¯ve got a match tomorrow. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to get some rest?¡± Say you¡¯ll rest! Please! Xu Yixuan pondered for a moment before replying earnestly, ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. I¡¯ll just train for an hour then.¡± Qiao Sang: ... At that moment, Lubao tugged at her pants with her paw. Looking down, Qiao Sang met her gaze. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao called out seriously. With a sigh, Qiao Sang relented. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± --- Hongrao Beastmaster Training Center Since it was nearly midnight, the public training grounds were almost deserted. Xu Yixuan trained with her Dream Lure Spirit while Qiao Sang communicated with Lubao. ¡°Why did you slam your head into the ground while practicing Water Stream Jet today?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao gestured at the gem on her forehead, indicating that she could heal herself. ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± Qiao Sang said helplessly. ¡°Whether or not you hit the ground, using Water Stream Jet once increases its proficiency by the same amount.¡± The proficiency increase from each use of the skill was fixed. Why take unnecessary risks? ¡°Lu...¡± Hearing this, Lubao¡¯s expression drooped. She felt so weak. Even her strongest attack couldn¡¯t compare to a casual move from Yabao. Now that Yabao had evolved, no matter how much she trained, it felt like she could never catch up. Seeing Lubao¡¯s dejected state, Qiao Sang immediately noticed something was wrong. Normally, Lubao maintained a cool and aloof demeanor. She would never act like this. During today¡¯s match, she had seemed fine. What had changed? Reflecting on the day¡¯s events, Qiao Sang quickly had a guess. ¡°Are you feeling inadequate?¡± She asked. ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Lubao yelled angrily, denying it loudly and insisting she was fine. ¡°I think you¡¯re doing great.¡± Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. ¡°Think about it. You can use the super-tier skill Healing Light. Even Yabao¡¯s most powerful skill is just a high-tier one. And when you wanted to learn Rain Prayer, you picked it up instantly. Isn¡¯t that impressive?¡± ? ¡°Lu...¡± Lubao stared at her trainer for a moment before speaking earnestly. ¡°Lu Lu!¡± She wanted to become stronger, much stronger! You want to surpass Yabao, don¡¯t you? Qiao Sang thought to herself. In truth, Lubao wasn¡¯t weak. With Healing Light, Rain Prayer, and her innate trait of unmatched agility, plus her mastery of Water Stream Jet, she had a good chance of winning same-tier battles. All she lacked was experience. But her misfortune was being compared to Yabao and Little Treasure. Yabao had mastered Shadow Clone to the point of reaching its ultimate form, and his skill proficiency grew at an absurd pace. Most of his abilities were offensive. As for Little Treasure, his Dark Shadow Control was practically invincible against same-tier opponents. Meanwhile, Lubao¡¯s strongest abilities were healing and support-based, so she naturally fell short in offensive power. A support beast with the heart of an attacker... After lamenting silently, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Let¡¯s learn a new skill.¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Learning a new skill required careful selection. Qiao Sang¡¯s criteria were simple: A high-tier Water or Ice attack skill. But before choosing a skill, there was something more pressing, the competition. --- The Next Morning Qiao Sang and Xu Yixuan arrived early at Huicheng Beastmaster High School. Thanks to Healing Light, Qiao Sang, despite staying up as late as a dog the night before, showed no signs of fatigue. The stands were already packed with an enthusiastic crowd, buzzing with conversation. With Yabao¡¯s recent evolution, Qiao Sang¡¯s hearing had improved significantly. Even amidst the noisy chatter, she could clearly pick out conversations several rows away. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I just found out this morning!¡± ¡°Same here!¡± ¡°I heard last night. My wife woke me up in the middle of the night to show me a video.¡± ¡°This is big news! Our area¡¯s really improving, only nine years since the last rift, and we¡¯ve already got another one!¡± ¡°Shall we check it out after the match?¡± ¡°No way. The rift just appeared last night. It won¡¯t be safe until the alert is lifted.¡± ¡°I heard Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom evolved into a Guwei Sunflower. Is that true?¡± ¡°A rift, huh? I¡¯m worried about wild beasts disrupting the match.¡± Qiao Sang froze. Wait, what? Ding Yanjing? The one from Litan Beastmaster High School? His Guwei Blossom evolved? Turning her head, she tried to identify the speaker. But with so many people, she quickly gave up. Pulling out her phone, she searched online but found no posts about Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom evolving into a Guwei Sunflower. Could it be a coincidence? No way. Hearing this here meant it was likely referring to the same Ding Yanjing. ¡°Did Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom evolve?¡± Qiao Sang asked aloud. ¡°Impossible.¡± He Dadao scoffed. ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± Before Qiao Sang could reply, Xu Yixuan chimed in. ¡°If it had, Litan Beastmaster High would¡¯ve announced it by now.¡± ¡°Even if the school didn¡¯t, Ding Yanjing would¡¯ve paraded his Guwei Sunflower everywhere.¡± He Dadao added. ¡°At such a critical time, news of a beast¡¯s evolution would spread instantly.¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°But if it hasn¡¯t been summoned in a match, how would others know?¡± Xu Yixuan laughed. ¡°The teachers and teammates would know. It¡¯s huge news. Nobody would keep it a secret, it boosts team morale and prestige.¡± After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Then let me just say this: my Flame Hound has evolved.¡± Xu Yixuan: ??? He Dadao: ??? Chapter 344: Another Lucky Winner Xu Yixuan and He Datiao stared blankly, utterly confused for a moment. When they finally came to their senses, they both had the exact same thought: How does Qiao Sang manage to joke so seriously? To be fair, while rare, it wasn¡¯t entirely unheard of for high schoolers to raise a pet beast to an advanced level. However, such occurrences were typically limited to senior year, usually late in the second semester. Achieving eligibility to take the special entrance exams for top universities required one of two accomplishments during high school: 1. Winning first place in the government-hosted national campus tournaments. 2. Passing the D-rank Beastmaster certification. A crucial requirement for the latter? Owning an advanced pet beast. In other words, even if you claimed first place in the national tournaments, without an advanced pet beast, you wouldn¡¯t qualify for the D-rank certification or the entrance exam for elite universities. The importance of advanced pet beasts was self-evident. This was why anyone whose pet advanced during the tournament season didn¡¯t bother hiding it. Instead, they¡¯d loudly broadcast it to boost their school¡¯s reputation. No one thought it was over the top. When 99% of senior-year competitors had intermediate-level pets, owning an advanced one meant you were practically guaranteed a spot in the regional finals. In such cases, there was no need to play coy or act mysterious, your strength spoke for itself. Even if someone tried to analyze your weaknesses, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Advanced pet owners didn¡¯t need to fear counter-strategies; in battle, their power made those efforts irrelevant. This was why Xu Yixuan and He Datiao didn¡¯t believe the rumor about Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom evolving into Guwei Sunflower. If it had really evolved, Litan High School would have made a huge announcement. They were certain of that. Ding Yanjing¡¯s case was already hard to believe. But Qiao Sang? She was just a first-year student, barely two months into high school! Claiming her Flame Hound had advanced to an upper-level pet? Ridiculous! Even if someone made an announcement, no one would believe it. Xu Yixuan was at a loss for words but decided to humor Qiao Sang¡¯s rare attempt at a joke. "Wow, impressive. When did it happen? Have you picked a new name for it yet?" She asked, putting on a smile. ¡°Just last night.¡± Qiao Sang replied earnestly. ¡°I¡¯m calling it Blazing Star Canine.¡± You actually answered seriously?! Xu Yixuan almost broke character, struggling to maintain her composure. "Do you need to inform Mr. Sun and the others?" He Datiao chimed in, smirking. Clearly, he was in on the joke. After a moment¡¯s thought, Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until after today¡¯s match.¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to keep it a secret; she just preferred to stay low-key. After all, half the town already knew about Yabao¡¯s evolution. But listening to Xu Yixuan and He Datiao, Qiao Sang felt they had a point. Her teachers needed to know immediately. She¡¯d also need to call the vice principal to revise Yabao¡¯s training regimen. And they¡¯d need to develop a new energy pill formula. She¡¯s not done, is she? He Datiao thought, twitching slightly as he decided to drop the topic. Just as Xu Yixuan and He Datiao exchanged exasperated glances, Qiao Sang added, ¡°Just keep this between us, no need to announce it. But honestly, I think Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom really might have evolved. Let¡¯s stay low-key.¡± ? Xu Yixuan: ... He Datiao: ... Seriously, enough already! The tournament proceeded smoothly. Qiao Sang quietly observed the battles. After facing three general-rank beasts in practice matches, even if they had held back, her perspective had shifted. Watching the current competitors, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how slow their pets seemed or how weak their moves were. In short, they looked unimpressive. Realizing where her thoughts were heading, Qiao Sang quickly corrected herself. That¡¯s not right! I still have Lubao, after all. Considering Lubao¡¯s abilities, she couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate anyone! As time passed, it was finally Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. When she summoned Lubao, the platform¡¯s system, which had just been repaired, crashed again. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao stood coolly on the battlefield, completely oblivious to the chaos caused by her entrance. Her opponent was a Water Burst Shrimp. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The shrimp, known for its aggressive nature, clacked its claws provocatively as soon as it appeared. Lubao remained expressionless. ¡°Babo!¡± The shrimp clacked again. Lubao didn¡¯t react. ¡°Babo!¡± Still no response. ¡°Babo¡­¡± Defeated, the shrimp lowered its claws awkwardly. The referee¡¯s whistle blew, signaling the start of the match. To no one¡¯s surprise, the battle ended within a minute. With the field covered in puddles, Lubao vanished into the water and reappeared behind the shrimp, landing a decisive Water Tail attack to claim victory. The crowd buzzed with admiration: "Lubao is stunning!" "If this were a water terrain, the shrimp might¡¯ve stood a chance. But on land, Lubao¡¯s speed gave it a clear advantage." "And its skill synergy! That Melting Water trait turns opponents¡¯ attacks into its own weapon." "Honestly, I wanted to see Lubao get hit, just to witness its Healing Light in action." "Same! That¡¯s a super-tier skill, you know!" By the end of the day, Qiao Sang, Xu Yixuan, and He Datiao had all breezed through their matches. The three waited in the audience for the final battle to conclude. As Qiao Sang cradled Lubao, Xu Yixuan casually checked her phone. Suddenly, she let out a sharp tsk and remarked, ¡°Someone else in Hongrao Town hit the jackpot again.¡± Chapter 345: Not a Normal Evolution? "What kind of prize?" He Dazhao asked casually from the side. "Let me check." Xu Yixuan scrolled down her screen and stopped. "Wow, it''s an unlimited card with a one-year validity." As times changed, lotteries also underwent various reforms. To increase public interest in buying tickets, the prizes for the top three winners now rotate each period, ensuring at least one prize appeals to a segment of buyers. Though Beast Tamers remain the main target audience, ordinary people also make up a significant portion. Occasionally, prizes like a house in the capital or an interstellar cruise vacation become options. For ordinary people, beast-related prizes have no use beyond being sold for cash. However, prizes like houses, free interstellar travel, or unlimited cards are universally attractive. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whenever such prizes are offered, the prize pool''s total value often skyrockets. "People in this town are seriously lucky!" He Dazhao exclaimed with envy. "Do you think it¡¯s a feng shui thing? Since we¡¯re already here, how about we buy a ticket too?" Xu Yixuan thought for a moment. The town''s residents did seem unusually lucky, take Wu Chang, for example, so she agreed. "Alright." She turned to Qiao Sang and asked, "Want to join us?" Qiao Sang firmly declined, saying, "I''ll pass. Yabao just evolved, and I need to analyze his current abilities." The truth was, on the day they arrived, she''d impulsively checked the lottery shop''s location, it was in the opposite direction of the Beast Taming Center and quite far. She¡¯d resisted the urge to buy a ticket then, and now that Yabao had evolved, why bother? Who cares about a lottery? It¡¯s not like she¡¯d win anyway. Xu Yixuan grinned mischievously. "Then I won¡¯t go either. Let¡¯s head back so you can show me Flame Hound''s evolution form." He Dazhao chimed in with a smile, "Yeah, I¡¯ll skip too. Seeing Flame Hound¡¯s evolution is more important. I can¡¯t even imagine what it might look like without a reference." The two exchanged a knowing glance, their intentions clear. They couldn¡¯t joke anymore, right? Before Qiao Sang could respond, a familiar voice interjected. "What are you all talking about?" Xu Yixuan and He Dazhao immediately fell silent. Teacher Sun was notoriously stern, and neither wanted to share their jokes in front of him. Both chose to stay quiet. Qiao Sang, however, looked up at Sun Boyi and said, "Nothing much. They just want to check out Flame Hound''s evolution form when we get back." Xu Yixuan: !!! He Dazhao: !!! Sun Boyi: ??? Nearby, Wang Weidou, eavesdropping: ?!! "Lu." Lubao maintained a lofty expression while sitting in her Beast Tamer''s arms. Annoying. So what if Yabao evolved? She could too. --- 9:29 PM Hongrao Beast Taming Center, Room 1203. The small double room was crowded with six people, plus Yabao, whose body now spanned over three meters. "Lu.." Yabao yawned lazily, half-reclined on the floor. These people had been staring at him for ages. Weren¡¯t they tired? He was getting drowsy from all the attention. In the heavy silence, Liu Yao finally arrived, having rushed over after receiving a call. He examined Yabao for a long time with trembling hands before speaking hoarsely: ? "After evolving, its psychic attribute has significantly increased compared to before." He paused and explained to Qiao Sang, "I mean the proportion, not the energy level." Qiao Sang nodded. "I understand. I¡¯m not the clueless student I used to be." Wang Weidou glanced at her, his expression calm, though inwardly he was screaming: With grades like yours, you¡¯re not just a former bad student! Even if you were mediocre, our school would have worshipped you! He restrained himself from blurting this out. With so many people present, he had to maintain composure. "Did you mention it now has the Moonlight Power trait?" Liu Yao asked. Qiao Sang replied with a simple "Mm." Sun Boyi couldn¡¯t hold back his surprise. "Isn¡¯t Moonlight Power a fairy-type trait?" "Typically, yes." Liu Yao confirmed before hesitating. He looked at Qiao Sang and asked, "After Flame Hound evolved, did you notice any fairy-type abilities?" Xu Yixuan and He Dazhao, who had been stunned into silence, felt their hearts skip a beat. F-fairy type? No way! They both let out a synchronized sigh of relief when Qiao Sang shook her head. "No." But as their eyes fell once again on Yabao, his noble aura undeniable, they couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed. What kind of genius contracts three beasts by age fifteen, and one of them evolves into a high-tier beast? Xu Yixuan and He Dazhao were struck anew by their own inadequacies. Liu Yao mused, "If it doesn¡¯t have fairy-type abilities, then perhaps its evolution met certain special conditions, resulting in a trait not typically associated with it." Sun Boyi froze, his usually stern face filled with astonishment. "You mean to say that Flame Hound''s current form shouldn¡¯t have been its normal evolution?" What? Yabao¡¯s form isn¡¯t normal? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened. Liu Yao remained silent for a few seconds before answering, "It¡¯s just a hypothesis. There are no other examples of Flame Hounds evolving yet, so I can¡¯t be certain." Other examples? Even examples of Fire Fang Dogs evolving into Flame Hounds were nonexistent¡­ Wang Weidou silently griped. "What kind of environment and circumstances did Flame Hound evolve under?" Liu Yao asked, his gaze soft and almost unsettlingly gentle. Qiao Sang recalled, "At night, in a desolate area. It evolved during a battle." Liu Yao''s researcher instincts flared, but before he could delve deeper, Wang Weidou interjected: "It¡¯s pointless to ask more right now. We haven¡¯t even figured out how Fire Fang Dog evolves into Flame Hounds. If you¡¯ve finished examining it, save the rest for after the tournament." "We still need to prepare the energy pellets urgently and deliver them tonight. The kids have a competition tomorrow, and we¡¯ve been here for hours. Let¡¯s give them some rest." "Fair enough." Liu Yao turned to Qiao Sang, his tone gentle. "We¡¯ll discuss this in detail after you¡¯re back at school." Getting to discuss Yabao¡¯s evolution with an A-rank Breeder was something Qiao Sang eagerly looked forward to. However, she had a more pressing concern now. Taking a deep breath, she nodded to the vice principal and nervously asked the principal: "Principal, are the energy pellets being rushed? How much do they cost?" Wang Weidou paused before smiling. "Don¡¯t worry about the cost. The school will cover it." At that moment, he seemed to radiate the glow of wealth. Qiao Sang: !!! Chapter 346: Why Does This Look So Familiar? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Hanggang City. At one of the indoor training arenas at the Dongpan Pet Beast Training Base: "Principal, are we really going to keep Guwei Sunflower''s evolution a secret from the others?" Asked a slightly chubby man dressed in a black polo shirt, looking perplexed. "Are we really going to have Ding Yanjing keep using his Flash-Leaving Crow for battles?" Huang Renbiao, watching Ding Yanjing and his Flash-Leaving Crow train in the center of the arena, didn¡¯t answer directly. Instead, he asked slowly: "Do you know Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School?" "Of course." The man nodded. "An Flame Hound, a Treasure-Seeking Demon, and an Ice Qiya, which is a near-extinct pet beast. Right now, she¡¯s the most talked-about student in our province." Huang Renbiao added, "And she¡¯s only 15 years old." The man fell silent for two seconds. All those qualities concentrated in one person, no matter how many times he heard it, it was still shocking. "But what does that have to do with hiding Guwei Blossom¡¯s evolution?" The man asked. Huang Renbiao replied solemnly, "After the provincial competitions in the National Campus Beast Mastering League, rewards are always distributed. Someone told me that this time, one of the prizes for the Most Promising Award among the top three will be an A-grade Potential Enhancer." "I want Ding Yanjing to win that award and use it to further boost his strength before the regional competition." An A-grade Potential Enhancer? The man was taken aback. This wasn¡¯t something that increased a beast¡¯s level or advanced its life stage. Instead, it improved the beast¡¯s physique, allowing it to break through its natural limits and expand its energy threshold, thereby enhancing its potential. Items that boosted a beast¡¯s potential were always exorbitantly priced, let alone an A-grade one. The man hesitated before reluctantly saying, "With Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School around, I¡¯m afraid Ding Yanjing might not win that award." While Ding Yanjing¡¯s potential was undeniable, anyone with eyes could tell who had more potential between Qiao Sang and him. Even as a teacher at Litan Beast-Taming High School, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to claim the award belonged to Ding Yanjing without feeling guilty. "I know." Huang Renbiao said. "That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you to keep it under wraps. If no one knows about this beforehand, then when Ding Yanjing summons Guwei Sunflower for the first time, it will have a more powerful impact." "If his first battle with Qiao Sang includes summoning Guwei Sunflower and he beats her, the visual impact and the direct comparison of strength will likely sway the judges in his favor." ?? Of course, this alone wouldn¡¯t be enough. The key factor was having the right connections at higher levels. The debut of an advanced pet beast during this year¡¯s Zhejiang Province segment of the National Campus Beast-Mastering League would give them the leverage they needed. With Ding Yanjing¡¯s strength, representing Zhejiang Province at the regional competition was a given. Naturally, the provincial authorities wanted his strength to be at its peak at this critical juncture. Of course, Huang Renbiao wouldn¡¯t openly admit that. Why go through all this trouble? Isn¡¯t the award limited to the top three in the province? Instead of pulling strings, why not just ensure Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t make it into the top three? The man considered voicing his thoughts but stopped himself. Considering Qiao Sang¡¯s strength, it didn¡¯t seem plausible for her to fail to make it into the top three¡­ --- Qiao Sang, of course, had no idea that Litan Beast-Taming High School was keeping Guwei Sunflower¡¯s evolution a secret because of her. At this moment, she was in a great mood, humming a tune while scrolling through her phone for skills suitable for Lubao to learn. As she browsed, she came across posts about her school principal on the school forum and gave them all a thumbs-up. Thinking about the principal¡¯s words, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about money; the school will cover it,¡± made her see his image as practically radiant. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Advanced pet beast energy pills, custom-made on a rush order at that, she had been worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to afford Yabao¡¯s cultivation costs after his evolution. But now, it turned out she didn¡¯t need to spend a penny! She wondered if the principal would also cover the costs if Little Treasure and Lubao evolved. The thought made her grin foolishly. Ever since arriving in Hongrao Town, she felt her luck had been extraordinary. Though she had been caught up in a storm of events, at least she had witnessed the legendary phantom beast Luckbringer and the appearance of a secret realm rift. Plus, Little Treasuere had inexplicably learned spatial shift, and Yabao had evolved. Now, even Yabao¡¯s post-evolution energy pills weren¡¯t her problem anymore. If Lubao could also make a breakthrough here, it would be perfect¡­ As Qiao Sang thought this, she had no idea that the air around her had subtly trembled. --- The group matches lasted a week. Before she knew it, Qiao Sang had already been in Hongrao Town for five days. Hongrao Beast-Taming Center. Room 1203. "Qiao Sang, one of tomorrow¡¯s opponents is Liu Zeru from Xiongding High School. Are you still going to use Ice Qiya?" Xu Yixuan asked while lying on the bed, tilting her head. Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "We¡¯ll see." Over the past few matches, she had been sending out Lubao to quickly improve her combat ability. But that was only when she was confident of winning. Liu Zeru from Xiongding High School had two bear-type pet beasts, both known for high offense and defense. Given Lubao¡¯s current strength, there was no 100% guarantee of victory. Xu Yixuan smiled and suggested, "Why don¡¯t you use the Blazing Star Canine? That would be a guaranteed win!" "Lu." At the desk by the window, where Lubao was practicing energy condensation, her eyes turned icy cold. Feeling the chill radiating from Ice Qiya, Xu Yixuan quickly changed the subject. "Wasn¡¯t the lottery draw at 9:30? Let me see if I won!" She picked up her uniform, pulled a lottery ticket from the pocket, and lay back on the bed, opening her phone to check the lottery website. "You bought a lottery ticket?" Qiao Sang asked, surprised. "Yeah, last night after training, I went with He Daitao." Xu Yixuan replied, comparing her ticket to the numbers on the website. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to join, but the principal and Teacher Sun were with you, so I didn¡¯t dare." Honestly, even if you had asked, I wouldn¡¯t have gone. Ever since the principal covered Yaobao¡¯s energy pill costs, Qiao Sang felt her desire for money had significantly decreased. Lottery tickets? Nothing more than a tax on fools. "Did you win?" Qiao Sang asked. Xu Yixuan checked the numbers, pouted, and tossed the ticket onto the bedside table. "Nope." No surprise there, thought Qiao Sang. "Hey, remember I told you someone in Hongrao Town won an unlimited spending card for a year? Do you still remember that?" Xu Yixuan suddenly asked. "Yeah. Why?" Qiao Sang asked. Xu Yixuan sighed heavily. "I saw on the news today that no one has claimed the prize yet. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if the winner didn¡¯t want it and gave it to me instead?" "As if that¡¯s going to happen. They probably just forgot." Qiao Sang retorted. "It¡¯s more realistic to imagine finding something valuable on the ground." Xu Yixuan thought about it and agreed. She put on her uniform and shoes, smiling sheepishly. "I¡¯m going to grab something to eat and see if I can find anything on the way." With that, she opened the door and left. Qiao Sang:... Just then, a gust of wind blew in through the open door, sending the lottery ticket on the bedside table flying straight onto Little Treasure¡¯s face as he trained with a group of ants. "Xun?" Little Treasure removed the ticket from his face and examined it, his expression puzzled. "Xun?" Hmm, why does this thing look so familiar? ----- ----- Chapter 347: Perfect Match! It hadn¡¯t been long since the incident, and Little Treasure quickly remembered a similar piece of paper sticking to his face before he casually stored it in his ring. "Xun?" Little Treasure held up the item to his Beastmaster, shaking it curiously. In his mind, asking the Beastmaster questions was always the right thing to do. Qiao Sang glanced over and explained, ¡°That¡¯s a lottery ticket. If the numbers match the winning numbers, you can win a prize.¡± "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked, intrigued, and asked what kind of prizes. Used to his constant curiosity and chain of questions, Qiao Sang patiently replied, ¡°Depends on how many numbers match. The more you match, the better the prize. If all match, you could buy a house full of gold gloves.¡± "Xun!" His eyes lit up with excitement. Seeing his reaction, Qiao Sang knew he was hooked. That wouldn¡¯t do! Lottery tickets were just a tax on gullible minds! Qiao Sang cleared her throat, ready to explain the concept of intelligence tax, when she noticed Little Treasure remove his ring and rummage through it. Moments later, he pulled out a lottery ticket. A lottery ticket? A lottery ticket?! Qiao Sang froze for a second, then sat up straight and focused. No mistake, it was indeed a lottery ticket. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± She asked. "Xun~" Little Treasure tossed the ticket into the air, then used his psychic ability to float it before sticking it to his face. Qiao Sang laughed at his antics. ¡°You¡¯re saying the wind blew it onto your face a few days ago?¡± "Xun~" He happily nodded. This little one picks up everything, doesn¡¯t he? Qiao Sang thought, recalling the many random items Little Treasure had pulled from his ring. ¡°Xun~¡± He floated the two lottery tickets over to his Beastmaster, urging her to check if they¡¯d won. ¡°I¡¯ll only check one.¡± Qiao Sang said, inspecting the dates. She set aside the one bought yesterday, knowing it belonged to Xu Yixuan. ¡°These things expire, you know. Don¡¯t get your hopes up just yet.¡± "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked again. Had it expired? ¡°Let me check.¡± Qiao Sang searched for the lottery website and found the corresponding draw. Draw #90765. It hadn¡¯t expired. Qiao Sang relaxed against the bedhead, glancing at the winning numbers. 09, 06, 17¡­ Wait a second! Her eyes widened as her heart raced. She double-checked the ticket, then her phone. Back and forth, again and again. 09, 06, 17¡­ ¡°Holy crap!!!¡± Qiao Sang shot up from her bed. The numbers matched! All of them matched! The ticket had hit the jackpot!!! ¡°Lu!¡± On the desk by the window, Lubao startled at the sudden outburst, scattering the energy she had been carefully gathering. She wanted to retaliate, but seeing her overly excited Beastmaster, she held back. "Xun?" Little Treasure flinched, then looked on curiously. Did they win? Qiao Sang threw her phone aside, grabbing Little Treasure in an ecstatic hug. ¡°Ahhhhh! We hit the jackpot! The grand prize!¡± "Xun!" Though unsure of the specifics, Little Treasure caught on to his Beastmaster¡¯s joy and joined in her excitement. ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± "Xun!" ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± "Xun!" The pair shouted in unison, embracing in a frenzy. ¡°Lu¡­ Lu Lu Lu~¡± Lubao finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore, letting out a calming healing soundwave. The serene melody swept over Qiao Sang, instantly soothing her. She released Little Treasure and calmly said, ¡°The ticket you picked up won the grand prize.¡± ???? "Xun?" He called out softly, his expression serene. What was the grand prize? ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡± Qiao Sang picked up her phone and searched. Her tone was composed as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s a one-year unlimited spending card.¡± "Xun." Little Treasure nodded, still calm. Oh, so that¡¯s what it was. --- Ten minutes later. ¡°Ahhhhhh! Unlimited spending card! Unlimited spending card!¡± "Xun!" ¡°Anything we want! Anything we want!¡± "Xun!" The duo was once again jumping and yelling in excitement. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao, veins bulging on her forehead, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Just as she prepared to fire a water stream jet, the pair sensed the incoming killing intent and fell silent immediately. "Lu." Satisfied, LUbao dissipated the water ball forming at her mouth and resumed her training. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang calmed herself again. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine winning the jackpot just by lying in bed. And to think it was all thanks to a ticket Little Treasure had casually picked up. She shook her head in disbelief. Not even in her dreams could she conjure such luck. Now, where was the prize claimed again? Right, the provincial capital lottery center. Conveniently, she¡¯d be heading to Hanggang in a few days and could pick it up then. Her gaze shifted, landing on the cheap-looking gold gloves on Little Treasure¡¯s paws. No, this won¡¯t do. She pulled off the imitation gold gloves. "Xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head, confused. ¡°These gloves are too cheap. I¡¯m getting you diamond gloves.¡± Qiao Sang declared seriously. "Xun xun!" He joyfully nuzzled his Beastmaster in gratitude. Diamond gloves? That¡¯s nothing, I''ll even get you diamond bowls to eat from. Qiao Sang gazed lovingly at Little Treasure. --- The next morning. At Huicheng Beastmaster High School, the competition had been underway for over an hour. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seated in the audience, Qiao Sang was beaming, holding Little Treasure in her arms. ¡°What¡¯s up with Qiao Sang? She¡¯s been smiling non-stop since leaving the Beastmaster Center.¡± He Dadao whispered to Xu Yixuan beside him. ¡°She¡¯s been like this since last night.¡± Xu Yixuan replied softly. ¡°Even her roommate says she¡¯s been smiling in her sleep.¡± Before He Dadao could comment further, Qiao Sang turned toward them, still smiling. ¡°Stop gossiping about me. I believe you¡¯re up next.¡± As if on cue, the announcer¡¯s voice echoed through the speakers: ¡°Next up, He Dadao from Shengshui High School versus Liu Zeru from Xiongding High School!¡± Chapter 348: The Possibility of Winning In the group assigned to compete at Huicheng Royal Beast High School, the two standout schools were Shengshui High School, renowned for its reputation, and Xiongding High School. Xiongding High School, notorious for its unruly students, was one of the most chaotic schools in Zhejiang Province. Students often resolved conflicts through battles, and the school went through several principals in just a decade. In this strength-dominated environment, the school team members were frequently replaced after losing challenges. However, Liu Zeru was the sole exception. He was the only senior student who had retained his position on the school team since his freshman year, earning him a fearsome reputation. When He Dapeng and Liu Zeru entered the arena, the high anticipation for the match became evident as the crowd erupted in cheers, most of which were directed at Liu Zeru. On the battlefield, He Dapeng scoffed at the audience¡¯s bias. ¡°Bunch of blind fans. I ranked higher than you in last year¡¯s standings!¡± Liu Zeru shrugged and quipped, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s about looks?¡± ¡°???¡± The casual comment delivered a critical blow to He Dapeng¡¯s self-esteem. Due to his obesity, He Dapeng had always struggled with gaining attention from the opposite sex. Even after joining the prestigious Shengshui High School and its popular Royal Beast combat team, his lack of popularity remained unchanged. Just as He Dapeng was about to steady his wounded spirit, the whistle blew. ¡°Rock Blockade!¡± Liu Zeru commanded decisively. With a powerful punch to the ground, Violent Bear summoned jagged rocks from the sand-filled arena, forming a blockade aimed at Blaze Gorilla¡¯s position. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unexpected.¡± Xu Yixuan remarked from the spectator seats. Qiao Sang immediately understood what she meant. By this stage, most contestants¡¯ pets had already revealed the majority of their skillsets. From the records Qiao Sang had reviewed, Violent Bear had never used Rock Blockade before. Judging by its power and fluency, the skill had likely reached an intermediate level, meaning it wasn¡¯t newly learned. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. This unexpected skill wasn¡¯t part of her original battle plans. If possible, she still wanted to send Lubao into the fray. While Yabao didn¡¯t need another one-sided victory, Lubao could benefit greatly from a challenging match to refine her skills. In the meantime, Violent Bear¡¯s preemptive strike placed He Dapeng in a disadvantageous position. Blaze Gorilla had no choice but to attack the encroaching rocks with fiery punches, each strike unleashing bursts of flame and debris like miniature explosions. The barrage obscured its vision and left He Dapeng struggling to track his opponent¡¯s movements. Finally breaking through the rocky blockade, Blaze Gorilla suddenly saw a blinding flash before being sent flying backward. ¡°Take Down.¡± Xu Yixuan muttered, frowning. Take Down, a mid-tier Normal-type skill, inflicted damage on both the target and the user. However, pets with traits like Hard Head or Magic Guard could avoid the recoil damage. ? Using such a reckless move early in the match was unusual. Qiao Sang observed Violent Bear, whose body and head lacked any glowing effects that might indicate a damage-negating trait. A thought struck her: ¡°Could it be that this Baobao Bear is intentionally taking damage to build up rage?¡± Xu Yixuan paused, then asked, ¡°You¡¯re suggesting it¡¯s trying to stack its Rage ability?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Blaze Gorilla¡¯s high attack power would make it dangerous to confront directly. Liu Zeru must¡¯ve decided to wear it down first, taking calculated damage to build up Rage¡¯s power. Once Blaze Gorilla¡¯s attacks weaken, Violent Bear can withstand the hits and deliver a decisive counter.¡± Xu Yixuan sighed. ¡°Leave it to you to think of something so underhanded so quickly.¡± ¡°???¡± Just as Qiao Sang predicted, Blaze Gorilla, injured but undeterred, launched another fiery barrage at the now-close Violent Bear. Flames exploded across the bear¡¯s body, but the attacks lacked their initial impact. Unaffected, Violent Bear took a few steps back before Liu Zeru shouted, ¡°Now!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With its right paw glowing with violent energy, Violent Bear delivered a devastating punch to Blaze Gorilla¡¯s head, sending it flying across the arena. Blaze Gorilla landed with a thud and didn¡¯t get back up. The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting Liu Zeru¡¯s name. The scene was akin to a game where one player landed blow after blow with no visible effect, only to be knocked out by a single punch. Qiao Sang pondered Lubao¡¯s chances against such a formidable opponent. Blaze Gorilla¡¯s superior attack power had ultimately worked against it, serving only to fuel Violent Bear¡¯s Rage. As the unconscious Blaze Gorilla was carried off the field by four burly Machop assistants, Xu Yixuan leaned over and asked, ¡°Are you sure about sending Ice Qiya into this fight?¡± Having spent the past few days strategizing with Ice Qiya, Xu Yixuan knew Qiao Sang had tailored her plans specifically for her pet. After a brief pause, Qiao Sang replied, ¡°I¡¯ve just thought of a possibility I want to test.¡± Xu Yixuan glanced at her but said no more. He Dapeng managed to win the second round with his Wind Eagle, taking advantage of Violent Bear¡¯s exhaustion. However, he lost the third round to Liu Zeru¡¯s second pet, though not without putting up a decent fight. The day¡¯s matches flew by, and as evening approached, the final battle was announced. ¡°Now, let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang of Shengshui High School and Liu Zeru of Xiongding High School!¡± As Qiao Sang stood up, the crowd erupted once more. This time, they were chanting her name. Chapter 349: Qiao Sang VS. Liu Zeru Qiao Sang stood up and waved her hand to recall Little Treasure. Just as she was about to step into the arena, He Datiao stopped her. "What''s wrong?" Qiao Sang turned and asked. He Datiao gritted his teeth and said, "Take him down!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having sat in the front row with excellent hearing, Qiao Sang had naturally overheard what Liu Zeru had said to He Datiao before the match. The truth stung, and it had been a day already, he still hadn''t let it go. Qiao Sang nodded. "Don''t worry." With that, she strode toward the arena. He Datiao instantly felt elated. In his opinion, if Qiao Sang summoned Blazing Star Canine, defeating Liu Zeru would be as easy as squashing a bug. Xu Yixuan turned her head and couldn''t help commenting as she saw He Datiao grinning widely, "Don''t celebrate too soon. Winning is certain, but who''s going to beat whom in the first round is still up in the air." He Datiao: ??? Raising his voice, He Datiao declared, "Are you doubting the skill of our great Qiao Sang?!" Xu Yixuan''s mouth twitched. She decided it wasn''t worth continuing this conversation with the fool. As Qiao Sang took the stage, the camera operators immediately tensed up. It had been five days. Five whole days! Every time Qiao Sang appeared and summoned Bing Qiya, the live streaming platform would crash. Technicians had been replaced again and again. "Are we sure it''s fixed this time?" A cameraman, wearing headphones, anxiously asked as he monitored his camera. A voice came through his headset: "Relax, this time we brought in top-tier engineers from the central bureau. It''ll be fine." The cameraman''s mouth twitched. "That''s what you said yesterday." The voice chuckled awkwardly. "You don¡¯t understand. The issue isn''t entirely on our side. Somehow, the news from the Guwu region spread that we have a student with Bing Qiya. The massive influx of users from their region overwhelmed the system." "Our platform was upgraded to handle a million concurrent viewers, but when Bing Qiya appears, their numbers alone exceed that in an instant." "That said, we''ve upgraded the platform to handle ten million this time. No worries, it¡¯ll hold." The cameraman sighed in relief. "Good." He zoomed in on the girl in the arena for a close-up. The whistle blew. In the frame, the girl formed a hand seal. From the green star array, the pet beast responsible for their sleepless overtime hours slowly emerged. At the same time, the voice on the other end of the headset suddenly yelled, "What?! It crashed again?!" The cameraman blurted out, "Damn it!" --- On the field, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised to see her opponent¡¯s summoned pet beast. She had analyzed Liu Zeru''s match videos and calculated an 87% probability that his first pet beast would be Violent Bear. On the other side, Liu Zeru¡¯s expression was serious. Despite the tiny size of Qiao Sang¡¯s summoned beast, he didn¡¯t dare underestimate it. A nearly extinct pet beast, this was his first time facing such a rarity. "Match start!" The referee announced. Lubao immediately sprayed gentle snow across the field, instantly freezing the greenery. Her front limbs pushed off the ice, propelling her toward Violent Bear with increasing speed. "Rock Barrier!" Liu Zeru commanded calmly. Violent Bear gathered energy, slamming its fist into the ground. Sharp rocks erupted from the frozen surface, spreading forward as icy shards scattered everywhere. Instead of hindering Lubao¡¯s advance, the rocks became her stepping stones. She leapt skillfully across the ice and rocks, closing the distance to Violent Bear in a flash. The audience erupted. "What speed!" "Amazing agility!" "Ice Qiya! Mommy loves you!" "Daddy loves you too!" "Shut up! Don¡¯t steal my line!" "You''re the one stealing!" --- Despite the audience''s reactions, Liu Zeru remained composed, analyzing the situation. At that moment, Lubao leaped onto a large rock, launching herself above Violent Bear with incredible strength. Her tail swirled with water. Liu Zeru¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he issued no command. Violent Bear didn¡¯t move as the water-clad tail struck its head. Bang! Bang! Bang! The water-tail strikes continued, slamming against Violent Bear¡¯s body. The audience''s cheers turned to worry. "This scene feels familiar somehow..." "Violent Bear¡¯s defense is too strong. It¡¯s taking so many direct hits and hasn¡¯t fallen." "Poor thing, isn¡¯t Ice Qiya¡¯s tail hurting from all this?" "What now if it can¡¯t break through?" "It¡¯s going to use Rage Fist next, just watch." On the field, Qiao Sang focused on Violent Bear. While Lubao¡¯s attacks couldn¡¯t immediately break its defense, she knew Violent Bear could break herself. "Rage Fist!" "Now!" Both Qiao Sang and Liu Zeru gave commands simultaneously. Anticipating an opponent''s moves is the hallmark of a skilled beast tamer, and Qiao Sang excelled at it. Terrifying energy gathered in Violent Bear¡¯s fist. It swung fiercely toward Lubao. The punch¡¯s explosive force tore through the air, producing an audible shockwave. At the same time, Lubao leapt onto Violent Bear''s body. Boom!!! Lubao vanished into thin air as Violent Bear¡¯s powerful punch struck itself. "Roar!!!" Violent Bear howled in pain before collapsing. The moment it hit the ground, Lubao reappeared atop its body. The audience was momentarily silent before erupting into deafening cheers. "Holy crap! What just happened?!" "I get it! It¡¯s the Melting Water trait!" "Incredible! Making Violent Bear punch itself, who even thinks of that?!" "So the water-tail attacks were just a setup for this moment?!" "Exactly! The coordination between Qiao Sang and Ice Qiya was flawless!" "Epic! Absolutely epic!" "Wait! Look, Violent Bear¡¯s getting up again! Its eyes are redder, its rage meter¡¯s off the charts!" "Oh no..." "My Ice Qiya!" The audience groaned as the furious Violent Bear stood up. --- On the field, Liu Zeru took a deep breath. "Qiao Sang, I admit you''re strong, but this is the end of the line." "Full power!" He shouted. "Roar!!!" Violent Bear¡¯s energy surged, its rage condensed into a glowing red fist. You¡¯re getting cocky, Qiao Sang thought, rolling her eyes. She said calmly, "Sing." "Lu~ Lu-lu-lu~ Lu-lu~ Lu-lu-lu~ Lu~" At her command, Lubao began to sing. Invisible sound waves rippled through the air. Violent Bear¡¯s red eyes dimmed as its fury subsided, replaced by a dreamy expression. What a beautiful world... --- Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt at peace. "Water Stream Jet." She ordered softly. "Lu!" Encased in water, Lubao shot forward and slammed into Violent Bear with full force. As Violent Bear stumbled back, it raised its fist one last time... and then collapsed. "Roar..." So dizzy... better sleep for a while... Violent Bear peacefully closed its eyes. The referee¡¯s whistle signaled the match¡¯s end. "Victory to Qiao Sang of Shengshui High School!" Chapter 350: Stubborn as Steel! The audience was split into two distinct atmospheres due to the Healing soundwave: harmony in the front rows and chaos in the back. "Qiao Sang won..." "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" "Ice Qiya¡¯s singing was so beautiful just now..." "Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!" "This time, Liu Zeru really lost. His Violent Bear clearly put a lot of effort into training its fury energy, but it¡¯s unfortunate to run into Ice Qiya, who can calm emotions. I wonder how proficient Ice Qiya¡¯s Healing soundwave is, it could even suppress such intense fury energy..." "Whoa! The Healing soundwave is this powerful? It turned the raging bear into a lapdog!" The scene was somewhat chaotic, but the battle arena remained unaffected. The second round of the competition had already begun, with both sides summoning their battle pets. Qiao Sang continued with Lubao, while Liu Zeru summoned Snowguard Bear. Qiao Sang observed the 2-meter-tall white beast before her, its information flashing through her mind. Snowguard Bear: A mid-tier ice-type pet. It thrives in cold environments and prefers to freeze the ground with its icy breath before sleeping. Ice-type pets are known for their powerful attacks but are often considered glass cannons, high offense but fragile defense. However, Snowguard Bear is an exception among ice-types, boasting remarkable defense thanks to its thick fat and its unique Frozen Body trait. Pets with Frozen Body can gradually recover in hail or snowy weather. While theoretically a useful endurance trait, its limitations,requiring specific weather conditions and slow recovery, render it rather underwhelming. The terrain shifted, transforming into a water-based battlefield. This was Qiao Sang¡¯s first encounter with such a setting. Her heart remained calm despite the unexpected situation. Liu Zeru remarked gently, "You have great luck." Qiao Sang glanced at him, offering a faint smile. "I also have great skill." Liu Zeru nodded with a smile. "I agree." Seeing his gracious attitude, Qiao Sang responded warmly, "Your skill is impressive too." Liu Zeru¡¯s smile deepened. "Hearing you say that makes me happy." The back-row spectators were dumbfounded. "What¡¯s going on between these two? What are they talking about? Did anyone hear?" "How could we hear from this distance? But isn¡¯t it weird for them to keep smiling during a match?" "Liu Zeru is the strangest. Qiao Sang¡¯s win makes sense for her to smile, but why is he smiling after losing?" A sharp whistle signaled the start of the battle. Liu Zeru¡¯s expression shifted as if snapping awake. Damn! What was I just doing? Right, the match! Snapping back to reality, Liu Zeru waved his hand and commanded, "Ice Wind!" Snowguard Bear opened its mouth, releasing a gust of icy wind. The water surface instantly froze into a thick layer of frost, spreading forward in a fan shape toward Lubao. With water all around and only a few scattered floating stones for footing, staying still would undoubtedly lead to being frozen by the wide-range attack. Without hesitation, Lubao leaped into the water. This move disrupted Qiao Sang¡¯s original strategy. Great, I forgot about the water terrain! I didn¡¯t account for this during yesterday¡¯s planning... Despite her calm demeanor, Qiao Sang silently adjusted her tactics. Still, this terrain might actually play to Lubao¡¯s strengths. As Lubao plunged into the water, a massive virtual screen appeared over ten meters above the audience, displaying the underwater scene. Lubao swam through the water, her movements clearly visible even through the ice. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fixating on the white figure on the floating stone above, Lubao¡¯s body became encased in swirling currents. Moments later, enveloped in water, Lubao shot upward like a missile, charging at Snowguard Bear. On the floating stone, Snowguard Bear raised its paw and slammed it onto the icy surface. Instantly, dozens of solid ice pillars formed in midair and plummeted toward the water¡¯s surface with immense speed. The ice layer shattered under the impact, but the falling pillars showed no sign of slowing down. The audience buzzed with amazement. "How many tricks does Liu Zeru have up his sleeve? He even mastered Ice Pillar Strike!" "Ice Pillar Strike is a mid-tier ice skill and one of the strongest offensive moves at that level!" He Daotao nervously watched the screen without responding. Xu Yixuan mused, "By the way, why didn¡¯t he use this move when fighting you?" He Daotao froze. Before he could reply, Xu Yixuan answered her own question, "Oh, right. He didn¡¯t need it to beat you." He Daotao: ??? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Ignoring He Daotao¡¯s indignant glare, Xu Yixuan turned her attention back to the screen, concerned for Ice Qiya. For some reason, no matter how strong Ice Qiya was, it always seemed at a disadvantage when battling. On the field, Liu Zeru¡¯s strategy to seal Lubao underwater with Ice Wind and then bombard the water with Ice Pillar Strike was calculated to trap it. Breaking through the ice would take time, forcing Lubao to evade underwater. Yet, the audience suddenly erupted with exclamations. "Whoa! That¡¯s gutsy!" "No way, it¡¯s that bold?!" "Ice Qiya is insane!" "You see that? It¡¯s not even dodging!" Qiao Sang, puzzled by the noise, glanced at the screen. Could it be? Did Lubao not choose to melt into the water...? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Lubao bursting through the ice, a massive ice pillar, thicker than her body, balanced on her head. Qiao Sang: !!! "Lubao..." Lubao gritted iher teeth, memories of relying on Yabao for help flashing through her mind. "Lu!!" Her eyes grew resolute, the water currents around her surging dramatically. With a sharp crack, the ice pillar shattered. Still propelled by her water stream, Lubao didn¡¯t stop, slamming into the stunned Snowguard Bear and sending them both crashing into the water. The arena fell silent. A moment later, someone muttered, "That¡¯s badass." The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. Chapter 351: A Tie? "Impressive, absolutely impressive!" "That move just now, why does it feel like I''m watching an intense anime battle?" "Same here, buddy!" "Aren''t endangered spirit beasts supposed to be fragile? But look at it, fighting so hard, it¡¯s so touching!" "Ice Qiya! You have to win this!" On the battlefield. Lubao emerged from the water, a large bump on her head, and jumped onto a floating rock. Qiao Sang exhaled softly as she watched Lubao''s aloof figure. She had to admit, the unexpected twists in this battle were exhilarating¡­ "Healing¡­" Before Qiao Sang could finish the phrase Light, she noticed the water''s shattered surface freezing over again, quickly surging toward Lubao. The audience noticed it too. "How is this Snowguard Bear recovering so fast? It took such a direct hit but is already launching another attack¡­" "Speaking of which, I remember Liu Zeru''s matches from last year¡¯s national school league. He¡¯s fighting much harder this year." "He has no choice. This is his last national league." The speaker was another member of the Xiongding High School team. "I don''t think it''s necessary." Someone nearby chimed in. "This is just the group stage. With Liu Zeru''s strength, he can easily advance without giving it his all. Why not save his energy for the elimination rounds?" "You don¡¯t get it." The first boy replied calmly. "Sometimes, it¡¯s not about winning. It¡¯s about proving that all your hard work was real." Ah, youth¡­ The other person raised an eyebrow and stopped arguing, focusing on the match instead. On the battlefield, Liu Zeru''s face was intense. As the ice approached Ice Qiya, he shouted, "Frost Fang!" Frost Fang, an intermediate ice-type skill, can deal damage with a chance to freeze or flinch the opponent. Here it comes again¡­ Using ice to block movement. At this point, you either dive into the water or jump upwards. If the jump isn¡¯t high enough, the chill of the Icy Wind will slow Lubao down. Before she even lands, the Snowguard Bear, ready with Frost Fang, will break through the ice and pounce. Diving into the water would probably lead to an ambush there too¡­ As Qiao Sang quickly analyzed the situation, she shouted decisively, "Melting Water!" Hearing her trainer''s command, Lubao immediately dove into the water. At the same time, the chill spread, freezing the spot where Lubao had been moments ago. The audience''s gaze turned to the virtual screen. As Ice Qiya leaped into the water, the Snowguard Bear, already waiting below with Frost-encrusted fangs, lunged forward for a bite. "Snowguard?" The Snowguard Bear bit¡­ nothing, looking confused. At that moment, behind its head, water twisted and reformed into Lubao''s figure. Water surged as Lubao''s tail glowed with energy. In the water, her Water Tail grew twice its usual size, mercilessly slamming into the Snowguard Bear''s head. "Snowguard!!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Snowguard Bear howled as it tumbled to the bottom. Opening its eyes, it saw nothing but water and no opponent in sight. "Snow¡­ guard¡­" Smack! Just as confusion clouded its face, Lubao reappeared and delivered another Water Tail strike. "Snowguard!!" Smack, smack, smack¡­ Lubao vanished and reappeared repeatedly. Each time, she unleashed a ferocious attack, leaving the Snowguard Bear wailing helplessly. In the audience, chatter erupted. "Is a pet beast with the Melting Water trait really this overpowered?" "It¡¯s more about level differences. If the Snowguard Bear evolved a stage or two, freezing the water entirely would end this." "Ah, I wish I were the one with Ice Qiya¡­" "A Melting Water water-type pet beast must be unbeatable underwater, right?" "Actually, I read a strategy post recently. Someone suggested countering Ice Qiya¡¯s Meltng Water trait by using a poison-type beast to contaminate the water. That would at least force it out." Though the underwater scene was hidden, the screams from the virtual screen and the audience¡¯s reactions painted a clear picture of the situation. Liu Zeru clenched his fists. Was he satisfied? To be honest, no. Even though losing wouldn¡¯t stop his advancement, his opponent was only 15 years old. Beating him undefeated, it stung. If he had to lose, he wanted to first defeat Ice Qiya! "Ah-Hu!" Liu Zeru shouted. The cry echoed underwater. The battered Snowguard Bear¡¯s eyes snapped open. "Snowguard!!" A surge of unknown power filled its chest. The Snowguard Bear roared, breaking through the ice to emerge. "Lu!" Lubao followed closely, leaping out of the water. "Falling Ice Pillars!" Liu Zeru commanded sharply. Simultaneously, Qiao Sang shouted, "Water Stream Jet!" "Snowguard!" The Snowguard Bear howled. In the air, dozens of solid ice pillars formed and rained down. Meanwhile, a powerful water stream enveloped Lubao, propelling her into the icy chaos without hesitation. Left, right, left again. Enshrouded by water, Lubao weaved through the falling ice and, in the blink of an eye, closed in on the Snowguard Bear. Liu Zeru clenched his fists tighter. Time was running out. The Snowguard Bear was exhausted, its energy depleted. In this watery arena, against a Melting Water beast, it stood no chance in a prolonged fight. "Frost Fang!" Liu Zeru decided immediately. If he couldn¡¯t stall, he¡¯d go all in! Frost gathered instantly on the Snowguard Bear''s fangs. Lubao, propelled by Water Stream Jet, shot straight toward it. As the two collided, the Snowguard Bear mustered all its remaining strength for a powerful downward bite. Boom!! An explosion of energy sent both spirit beasts flying. The Snowguard Bear collapsed, unable to move. "Lu¡­" Lubao struggled to rise, but after a moment, she fell back down. A tie? The audience fell silent for a moment. "Actually¡­ I think a tie isn¡¯t so bad. The Snowguard Bear really gave it everything." "Yeah, after all those underwater attacks, it¡¯s impressive it lasted this long." "Ice Qiya did a one-versus-two. It¡¯s incredible!" "My poor Ice Qiya! Why haven¡¯t they blown the whistle yet? Let my Ice Qiya rest already!" On the battlefield. Qiao Sang gazed at the battered Lubao lying motionless. Remembering how hard she had trained for the competition, she fell silent before asking softly, "Can you still use Healing Light?" Lubao didn¡¯t reply but struggled to open her eyes, answering with action. A soft blue light enveloped it, silencing the crowd. When the glow faded, Lubao stood on the floating rock, unscathed, her head held high with a cold expression. "Lu!" "Victory goes to Qiao Sang of Shengshui High School!" Chapter 352: Iceflower Seal The crowd erupted in cheers. Having watched matches all day, most spectators were emotionally drained. Yet, Ice Qiya¡¯s final move stunned everyone into silence. Sure, Healing Light was known as a restorative skill, often labeled as a super-tier move. But theoretical knowledge was one thing; witnessing it firsthand was entirely different. When they saw Ice Qiya, who moments ago was lying gravely injured as though it needed emergency care, stand up completely rejuvenated, looking as if the battle hadn¡¯t even started, the audience was left with one thought: Is this even fair? The reaction was explosive. ¡°Holy crap! It¡¯s like a resurrection item in a game!¡± ¡°I knew Healing Light was strong, but I didn¡¯t know it was this overpowered!¡± ¡°Whoa¡­ so this is the power of a super-tier skill¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s even the point of fighting? That¡¯s a divine healer right there! After all that effort, a single Healing Light undid it all. This could break anyone¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°Wait, what if I ask Qiao Sang to use Ice Qiya to cure my friend¡¯s hemorrhoids¡­?¡± ¡°You want an endangered battle beast to use a super-tier skill for hemorrhoids? Dream on!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for me! It¡¯s for my friend!¡± Compared to the local audience of Hongrao Town, the atmosphere among the officials and competitors in the front rows was much more subdued, except for Wang Weidou and Sun Boyi. ¡°Congratulations, Principal Wang. Your school¡¯s produced such an outstanding talent.¡± The vice principal of Xiongding High School beamed, showing no sign of the crushing defeat they had just faced. Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound has already evolved into a Blazing Star Canine! How is this just talent? This is a fully grown tree! Wang Weidou maintained a polite smile. ¡°Your Liu Zeru performed admirably as well.¡± ¡°He¡¯s no match for your Qiao Sang.¡± The vice principal replied warmly. ¡°I wonder if I might have the chance to meet her later?¡± The tournament had been ongoing for six days, yet this suggestion conveniently came after Ice Qiya¡¯s Healing Light left everyone dumbfounded. Wang Weidou thought for a moment, quickly deducing the truth: This guy must be unwell. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Wang Weidou asked diplomatically. The vice principal remained unfazed. ¡°Your insight is impressive, Principal Wang.¡± So he is sick¡­ Wang Weidou mused. --- Qiao Sang finally broke free from the crowds and returned to Room 1203 at the Beastmaster Center. Normally, people would just whisper about her from a distance. But today, their enthusiasm bordered on overzealous. She understood the reason, it was all because of Lubao¡¯s Healing Light. If it were just one person, she might have considered helping. But faced with a horde, healing even one would open a floodgate of demands. She wasn¡¯t here to play the role of a saint; she was here to compete. Qiao Sang poured energy pills into plates for Little Treasure and Lubao before setting them down. After some thought, she summoned Yabao. As soon as Yabao appeared, the room felt cramped. ¡°Yap...¡± The massive beast hovered dejectedly in the air. Evolution wasn¡¯t all he was cracked up to be, apart from looking cooler and growing stronger, he felt there was no other upside. ???? He wasn¡¯t summoned as often anymore, and when he was, he barely fit in the room. Before evolving, at least he could move around a little. ¡°We¡¯ll head home after tomorrow¡¯s match. Once we¡¯re back, you can do whatever you want.¡± Qiao Sang reassured it. One look at Yabao¡¯s expression, and she could guess what he was thinking. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s ears perked up at her words, only to droop again as he remembered something. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Home wouldn¡¯t last long before another competition. Then he¡¯d end up back in the same situation as now... ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure floated over to pat Yabao¡¯s back with a sympathetic expression. If he had once envied Yabao¡¯s imposing size and majestic form, he no longer did. What good was a large body if he couldn¡¯t perch on their Beastmaster¡¯s shoulder? Meanwhile, Lubao glanced at Yabao while munching on her energy pills. She considered her own petite frame, then lowered her head to eat even faster. Qiao Sang smiled warmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Next time we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re in a house where you can run around freely.¡± In that moment, just imagining the scenario filled her with the joy of a lottery winner. After comforting Yabao and giving him energy pills, Qiao Sang leaned against the bed, pulled out her phone, and searched for posts about the skill Iceflower Seal. Iceflower Seal was an advanced-tier ice skill that caused snowflakes to descend from the sky. The moment the target came into contact with a flake, their body would be covered in blooming ice flowers, freezing them completely. It was the skill Qiao Sang wanted Lubao to learn next. However, advanced-tier skills weren¡¯t easy to master. Despite several days of experimentation, she¡¯d made no progress. Browsing for reliable advice, she finally opened a post she had written earlier: #Desperately Seeking Iceflower Seal Training Tips# There were a few new comments. [Leap Pet Training Center]: We offer a 10% discount and guarantee results. DM us if interested! [Anonymous]: Why bother with Iceflower Seal? It¡¯s hard to learn and useless at first, barely makes two or three flowers bloom initially. [Shepherd Training Academy]: We have certified B-level trainers. Message us! [User123]: Don¡¯t kneel just yet, let me teach you first. [Another User]: To learn Iceflower Seal, you need a weather-changing skill. Why not try learning Snowfall first? [Random Commenter]: The skill is flashy and strong, but early on, it¡¯s too weak to justify the effort. Maybe pick another advanced-tier move. Snowfall¡­ Qiao Sang pondered. Many posts had suggested starting with Snowfall, but she¡¯d initially dismissed the idea. Weather-changing skills were almost all advanced-tier moves. Snowfall was no exception. To be honest, a skill like Rain Prayer was much more practical and useful in real-world scenarios. Snowfall was limited to certain regions or romantic displays. Most trainers who learned Snowfall were Coordinators chasing aesthetic appeal. Advanced-tier skills required extensive time to master. Learning one advanced skill just to prepare for another felt like a massive time investment, which was why she¡¯d rejected the idea. However, with no progress on Iceflower Seal, the idea of starting with Snowfall resurfaced. Water and ice elements offered plenty of powerful advanced-tier attacks. She didn¡¯t have to pursue Iceflower Seal. Yet when Qiao Sang thought about Lubao¡¯s eagerness to grow stronger, she felt this skill was perfect for it. Iceflower Seal was a standout among advanced-tier ice attacks. Once it reached its full potential of a hundred blooms, it was said to be unbreakable by anything of the same tier. Chapter 353: Qiao Sang VS. Wu Chang Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang was always a doer. Once the thought crossed her mind, she immediately wanted to experiment with training the Snowfall skill. However, after participating in two matches earlier in the day, Lubao had nearly exhausted her energy. Resting seemed like the better choice. With this in mind, she opened the Zhejiang Province High Schools¡¯ General Forum to look for analytical posts. Upon entering the forum, she was surprised to see that the pinned red-marked post was no longer an analysis of the province¡¯s top-tier students across different grades. Instead, it had been replaced with: #What illnesses do you all have?# Qiao Sang paused in confusion. At this point in time, the forum should have been buzzing with discussions about the competition. Yet, this inexplicable post had overtaken the usual analysis threads. What illnesses do you all have? What nonsense is this? As her thoughts wandered, Qiao Sang clicked on the thread: "Today''s matches were an eye-opener! Shengshui High School''s Qiao Sang and her Ice Qiya used the Healing Light skill to bounce back to full health in an instant. They say Healing Light can cure all ailments. Why not share what illnesses you have in the comments? I''ll pick one lucky person to approach Qiao Sang for help. Not to brag, but I''m currently staying in the same Beast Tamer Center as her." The post had only been up for a short while, yet the comments had already exploded, numbering in the thousands: ¡°No wonder! I was wondering how the OP knew all this. The streaming platform crashed again today. If OP was competing in the same venue, it makes sense now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m constipated.¡± ¡°I have trouble waking up. I always tell myself I''ll nap for two more minutes, but every time I open my eyes, I''m already late for school.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been so anxious lately, especially after starting my third year. I think I might be sick.¡± ¡°Depression.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sick, but someone in my family is. Can they be cured?¡± ¡°I have a severe case of Monday blues.¡± ¡°I suffer from anorexia, terrified of empty promises.¡± So many sick people¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she scrolled. If Lubao¡¯s Healing Light truly worked like a miracle, their needs would never end. Even if she had unlimited resources, she wouldn¡¯t have the time or inclination, to deal with this. With a wry smile, she muttered inwardly, Why does this person assume I¡¯d help them in the first place? ¡°Lu!¡± At that moment, Lubao called out softly from the side. Qiao Sang turned and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve finished eating?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded, fixing a determined gaze on her. Having bonded for so long, Qiao Sang immediately understood what she meant. ¡°You want to train?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded again. Qiao Sang thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Tomorrow. You¡¯ve done enough for today. Besides, it seems the previous training method for Iceflower Seal isn¡¯t effective. I¡¯m thinking of trying a new approach.¡± ¡°Lu?¡± Luobao tilted her head, curiosity etched on her face. Qiao Sang pulled up some videos of Ice-type beast tamers performing the Snowfall skill and showed them to Lubao. ¡°Instead of going straight for Iceflower Seal, let¡¯s start with Snowfall. The first step of the seal is to make snow fall. Since you can already use Rain Prayer, we¡¯ll convert your energy into Ice-type energy and see if it works.¡± Lubao listened intently, her expression growing serious. --- Late Night The steady rhythm of soft breathing filled the quiet room. Lubao opened her eyes, glanced at the sleeping Qiao Sang, and tiptoed silently toward the bathroom. Three seconds later, a small puddle of water trickled out from under the door. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasue witnessed everything from his perch. He hesitated for a moment, then floated over to Qiao Sang¡¯s bed and decisively pinched her nose. Qiao Sang groggily opened her eyes, greeted by Little Treasure¡¯s oversized head hovering close. Strangely, she wasn¡¯t startled. Some things, after happening often enough, build an odd sort of resilience. Glancing at the clock, then at the peacefully sleeping Xu Yixuan beside her, Qiao Sang muttered sleepily, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure pointed toward the door. Qiao Sang blinked, then sat up, scanning the room. Sure enough, Lubao was nowhere to be seen. Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s gone off to train¡­ She sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± She said, slipping on her shoes. ¡°Xun~¡± --- Five minutes later, Qiao Sang stood in the hallway, gazing at the faint blue figure tirelessly casting Rain Prayer in the training grounds. She sighed. If it weren¡¯t for Healing Light, she¡¯d genuinely worry about Lubao overexerting herself to the point of collapse. --- Training Grounds ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao focused intently, channeling her energy and attempting to convert it into Ice-type power. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out above it. ¡°Drink some recovery potion first.¡± ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao looked up in surprise. Seeing her puzzled expression, Qiao Sang smiled and handed over the potion. ¡°I¡¯ll train with you.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± For a brief moment, Lubao hesitated, her expression unusually bashful. Then, she reached out with a paw to accept the potion. --- November 10: Final Day of the Group Stage At 7:13 a.m., Qiao Sang returned to her room with Lubao in her arms. She was still sipping on recovery serum. Xu Yixuan had just come out of the bathroom and froze when she saw Qiao Sang¡¯s dark circles. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been up early training?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang replied simply. Xu Yixuan sighed in relief. Thank goodness. She had almost thought Qiao Sang was pushing herself to inhumane levels. But before she could ask where Qiao Sang had been, Qiao Sang yawned and added, ¡°I¡¯ve been training since the middle of the night.¡± Xu Yixuan: !!! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- An Hour Later At Huicheng Beast Taming High School, Xu Yixuan absentmindedly munched on a sandwich. Qiao Sang¡¯s words from earlier had shaken her to the core. Talent aside, Qiao Sang¡¯s sheer effort made her deeply question her own life choices. Am I¡­ too lazy? Meanwhile, revitalized by Healing Light, Qiao Sang watched the ongoing matches with enthusiasm. Today was the final day of the group stage, and among her opponents was the so-called Child of Luck, Wu Chang. However, with Luckbringer no longer around, Wu Chang¡¯s fortune seemed to have normalized over the past few days. Match venues no longer tilted in his favor, either. As she thought about this, Qiao Sang suddenly froze. Oh no! I completely forgot to ask Luckbringer to boost my own luck! That was a mythical beast! How many chances does one have in a lifetime to encounter such a creature? She almost cried out in regret but quickly consoled herself. Then again, my luck¡¯s been unusually good these past few days¡­ Maybe Luckbringer already blessed me without me knowing? --- Afternoon ¡°And now, let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School and Wu Chang from Huicheng Beast Taming High School!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers. One was a groundbreaking contestant with a rare and endangered beast; the other was a local favorite. Both had their own charm, igniting excitement throughout the audience. ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°Wu Chang! Wu Chang!¡± ¡°Come on, Wu Chang!¡± Despite being in Wu Chang¡¯s hometown, the cheers for both contestants were evenly matched. ----- ----- Chapter 355: The Group Stage Concludes Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang stood frozen in place, utterly baffled. While everyone else¡¯s attention was drawn to the sudden snowfall, she only glanced at it briefly before her focus returned to Lubao. And then she was stunned. Snowfall? What Lubao just cast... was that snowfall?! In that moment, Qiao Sang began to seriously question the content of her textbooks. Could it be that advanced skills aren¡¯t actually that hard to learn? Thinking back carefully, of her three battle pets, the one that took the longest and struggled the most to learn an advanced skill was Yabao when learning Meteor Rain. But even that only took about a month. Were advanced skills truly difficult to master, or was that just what the textbook authors believed? A flurry of thoughts swirled through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind as she contemplated this. While Qiao Sang was lost in thought, Lubao tilted her head to admire the snow she had summoned. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but she quickly remembered something, reined in her expression, and opened her mouth. A dark, ominous cloud instantly appeared overhead. Thunder rumbled, and icy rain poured down in torrents. As the rain fell, the murmuring audience¡¯s attention was drawn back to the battlefield, their discussions of the snowy-furred creature quickly forgotten. Rain?! Most people froze in astonishment. Wang Weidou¡¯s eyes lit up abruptly. "Is it... really raining?!" Someone in the audience murmured in disbelief. It had only been a moment, and no one had forgotten the command Qiao Sang had just issued. So, Ice Qiya really could cast Rain Prayer?! ¡°It¡¯s already a rare species, and now it¡¯s this talented too? Why couldn¡¯t it have been mine¡­¡± Muttered a man nearby, his jealousy practically seeping through his pores. A woman standing to his right shot him a glance and asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t watched Qiao Sang¡¯s previous matches, have you?¡± The man paused, then nodded. He was a local. His daughter attended Huicheng Beast Taming High School, but she wasn¡¯t part of the school team. If this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League group stage hadn¡¯t been assigned to his daughter¡¯s school, he wouldn¡¯t have paid any attention to the competition. ???? It wasn¡¯t that the league wasn¡¯t prestigious enough, it just felt too far removed from him and his daughter¡¯s world to warrant concern. The woman on his right continued, ¡°A pet¡¯s talent is important, sure, but it also depends on the beast tamer. A skilled tamer can unlock a pet¡¯s full potential. Qiao Sang isn¡¯t just strong because of Ice Qiya. Her Treasure-Seeking Demon has also learned the advanced skill Shadow Control.¡± Shadow Control? The man was dumbfounded. The woman added, ¡°Even if Ice QIya were your pet, you wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to teach it Rain Prayer.¡± This left the man speechless. After a moment, he furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The woman, dressed in a white trench coat, smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m her mother.¡± The man: ??? On the battlefield, completely unaware that her mother was in the audience, Qiao Sang steadied herself as rain began to fall. Maintaining her composure, she issued another command, ¡°Water Stream Jet!¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao locked her gaze on the airborne opponent. In the next moment, a stream of blue water enveloped her body. Boom! In an instant, Lubao became a blue jet, shooting straight into the sky. ¡°Shi-shi!¡± The Sensory Bird glanced down, only to see a blue torrent rushing toward it. Startled, it flapped its wings frantically to dodge, its movements so abrupt that a feather fell loose. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luobao flipped mid-air and dove downward. Its already incredible speed surged again, making the surrounding raindrops seem to slow in comparison. The Sensory Bird had barely flapped its wings when the water-cloaked Lubao closed the eight or nine-meter gap and struck the bird squarely on its back. ¡°Shi shi!!!¡± The Sensory Bird plummeted to the ground, leaving a crater upon impact. The rain, interspersed with snowflakes, ceased at that moment. A referee¡¯s mechanical beast flew over from the sidelines to inspect the crater. ¡°Coo!¡± Three seconds later, the whistle signaling the end of the match blew. The audience erupted into a tidal wave of noise. ¡°How is Ice Qiya so fast?¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s used Water Stream Jet before, but its speed today is on a completely different level!¡± ¡°What was Wu Chang doing? After it started snowing, he just froze up and stopped giving commands.¡± ¡°Who knows? I blinked twice, and the match was over!¡± ¡°Ice Qiya was insane today!¡± ¡°Not just insane, it¡¯s utilizing the Swift Swimmer Trait.¡± A middle-aged man in the front row said in a low voice, seated among the leadership. ¡°Principal Wang, it seems your Shengshui High School has produced a prodigy who can overshadow Litan Beast Taming High School.¡± Joked the vice-principal of Xiongding High School. ¡°They say Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom excels in endurance and mid-match recovery, but I think Qiao Sang¡¯s Ice Qiya is the real powerhouse.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Another man added, his tone tinged with jealousy. ¡°With Healing Light, Rain Prayer, and Swift Swimmer, it has healing, speed, and offense all in one package. How could it not be strong?¡± Wang Weidou chuckled. ¡°Ah, Qiao Sang, that kid, every time I see her, her strength has grown by leaps and bounds.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention overshadowing Litan Beast Taming High. She¡¯s just a first-year. Competing in the senior bracket, against students two years older than her, and making it this far is already impressive.¡± He tilted his head slightly with a hint of pride. The vice-principal of Xiongding High School twitched at the corners of his mouth. This old man... He said overshadow? What he really meant was crush. That¡¯s a huge difference! ---- On the field, Wu Chang took a deep breath. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Ice Qiya had cast Snowfall before using Rain Prayer. A mid-tier pet beast, this terrifying? Wu Chang cast a deep, meaningful look at Qiao Sang. While others might not realize it yet, he was keenly aware that the girl in front of him was already strong enough to reach the National Finals of the Campus Beats Mastering League. Once the elimination rounds ended, the gap between their levels would likely ensure they never faced each other again. After a moment of silence, Wu Chang asked, ¡°Can we exchange contact information?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang replied cheerfully. --- An hour later, the week-long group stage finally came to an end. On the large virtual screen above the audience seats, the list of those advancing to the next round was promptly displayed. Qiao Sang saw her name at the very top of the first column. ¡°Well done. All three of you advanced.¡± Sun Boyi said with a smile. ¡°But the elimination rounds in three days are where things really count. Especially you, He Dadao. Don¡¯t slack off.¡± He Dadao muttered under his breath, ¡°Why not say that to Qiao-¡± He paused, remembering Qiao Sang¡¯s Flaming Hound evolution, and corrected himself: ¡°Xu Yixuan.¡± Xu Yixuan: ... Suddenly, a voice called out from behind them. ¡°Qiao Sang, come meet someone.¡± Qiao Sang turned to see her principal, practically radiating the aura of wealth, alongside a middle-aged man. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the vice-principal of Xiongding High School.¡± The man said with a friendly smile. ----- ----- Chapter 356: Going Home Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Vice Principal of Xiongding High School? Qiao Sang paused briefly before greeting politely, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, he wants you to treat him.¡± Wang Weidou said directly. That¡¯s diving into the topic too quickly! At least let me exchange a few pleasantries¡­ The vice principal of Xiongding High School couldn¡¯t help but complain inwardly. On the surface, though, he maintained a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I just have some shoulder pain recently.¡± Xu Yixuan and He Datong exchanged glances, their eyes conveying the same thought: Not even a critical illness, yet he dares to seek Qiao Sang¡¯s help? Qiao Sang, however, wasn¡¯t fazed. She simply instructed Lubao to use the Healing Light. The person was brought by the principal, after all. Sometimes, personal relationships are more important than profit. ¡°Lubao, use Healing Light on his shoulder.¡± Qiao Sang said to Lubao in her arms. Just the shoulder? The vice principal was momentarily stunned. ¡°Wait¡­¡± He began, but before he could finish, a beam of blue light shone on his shoulder. When the light faded, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Better now?¡± ¡°Hahaha, treated with an advanced skill, how could it not be better?¡± Wang Weidou laughed, patting the vice principal on the shoulder. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao said coolly. She seemed pleased that the humans had such high regard for her abilities. The vice principal remained silent for a long moment before awkwardly pointing to his lower back. ¡°Could you treat these spots too? Aside from shoulder pain, I also have a bit of lumbar strain.¡± He added, ¡°Probably from sitting too much.¡± Wang Weidou and Sun Boyi exchanged strange looks as they glanced at the indicated area. The vice principal felt their gazes were piercing but managed to keep a composed expression. I miscalculated. I thought Healing Light would cover the whole body, not just specific areas... That¡¯s... the kidneys. Qiao Sang immediately understood as she glanced at the spot he was pointing to. Ten seconds later, the vice principal, barely containing his excitement, expressed heartfelt gratitude, promised to help with any future requests, and left energetically. Wang Weidou and Sun Boyi also left, apparently to have a conversation. As soon as the principal and coach were gone, He Datong couldn¡¯t help muttering under his breath, ¡°Such a minor issue, yet he still came to you.¡± It¡¯s not that minor¡­ Qiao Sang chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± Xu Yixuan sighed softly. ¡°The principal brought him, it wouldn¡¯t be good to refuse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± He Datong conceded with a shrug. ¡°By the way.¡± Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Did I hear Mr. Sun mention the elimination matches are in three days?¡± Xu Yixuan nodded. ¡°They¡¯re usually held on the fourth day after the group stage ends, and this year is no exception.¡± After chatting briefly, the three were about to head for the school gates when someone called out, ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± Qiao Sang turned to see her mother approaching. --- Ten Minutes Later, High Above the Ground Qiao Sang sat on the Fat Dove¡¯s back, holding Lubao in her arms. ¡°Your principal, Mr. Sun, and those two teammates of yours all seem like good people.¡± Her mother said with a smile from the front. Recalling their enthusiasm toward her mother earlier, Qiao Sang replied with a grin, ¡°They are, but mostly because your daughter is so accomplished.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ye Xiangting couldn¡¯t help laughing, then said cheerfully, ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong.¡± Back in the day, even the teachers wouldn¡¯t greet her with a smile, let alone the principal. ¡°By the way, Mom, what brings you to pick me up today? Isn¡¯t the shop busy?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°It¡¯s been busier since your preliminary matches and that report about the Flame Hound and Psychic types went viral.¡± Ye Xiangting explained. ¡°But I hired someone else, and today isn¡¯t a weekend, so I could spare some time.¡± She added, ¡°Mainly, the live-streaming platform keeps crashing every time you appear, which made me worry. So I came to check on you.¡± Qiao Sang was touched. That¡¯s motherly love. Just then, a mechanical voice came from her mother¡¯s phone: ¡°Route calculated. The journey is 8.5 kilometers. Proceed straight ahead.¡± ¡°8.5 kilometers?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ye Xiangting replied, ¡°I saw a news report about a secret realm fissure in Hongrao Town. I missed the last one at the mall because I got the news too late. This time, I don¡¯t want to miss it.¡± So you¡¯re here for the secret realm and just decided to pick me up on the way¡­ --- 9:13 PM, Qingcheng Gardens, Hangang City, Block C, Unit 606 In the kitchen, her mother was busy cooking. In the living room, Qiao Sang tidied up scattered items, pushed the coffee table closer to the sofa, and created a large empty space. She then formed a hand seal and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao appeared, wagging his tail excitedly upon realizing he was back in the familiar home. He eagerly glanced around before locking eyes with the dazed Fat Dove near the sofa. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao stepped forward enthusiastically, calling out. ¡°Coo!?¡± Fat Dove shrieked in horror. Stay away! ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao froze, confused. ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure floated over, gesturing wildly with his claws. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao, lounging on the sofa, opened one eye at the commotion, figured out the situation, and went back to sleep. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ye Xiangting stepped out of the kitchen with a ladle in hand. She froze at the sight. Noticing her stunned expression, Qiao Sang suddenly realized what she¡¯d forgotten. ¡°Oh, uh, this is Yabao. He evolved in Hongrao Town.¡± Qiao Sang explained sheepishly. ¡°Coo?!¡± Fat Dove looked incredulous. This giant thing is Yabao?! ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao nodded dejectedly. Fat Dove: !!! After a long pause, Ye Xiangting snapped out of her daze, giving Qiao Sang a complex look. ¡°How did he evolve?¡± ¡°Well, after one match, someone approached me¡­¡± Qiao Sang quickly gave a vague explanation, omitting details like the opponent¡¯s three general-level beasts to avoid worrying her mother. ¡°I see.¡± Ye Xiangting murmured, dazed, as she returned to the kitchen. Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised. That¡¯s it? I thought she¡¯d ask why I didn¡¯t tell her immediately. ¡°Coo!¡± Nearby, Fat Dove patted Yabao¡¯s back with its wing, looking proud. You¡¯ve grown so much in such a short time! Amazing! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao bashfully patted Fat Dove back. The pat sent Fat Dove tumbling to the floor. ¡°Coo¡­¡± Qiao Sang glanced toward the kitchen, then sat on the sofa and pulled out her phone to search for the lottery center¡¯s address. ----- ----- Chapter 357: Ye Xiangting is Shocked Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- [99 Huachang Street] Roughly twelve kilometers from her home. Should she wear a mask tomorrow when she goes? Although Qiao Sang had never won a prize herself, she''d seen others claim their winnings online. Most wore masks or even used voice modulators. Some relied on their pet beasts to claim the prize for them. Few exposed their real identities. Part of this was about protecting privacy; another was avoiding unwanted attention from criminals. She recalled a story from Yanfu City, where a businessman won 2.8 million yuan. While this amount was insignificant to a company owner, he hadn''t bothered to conceal his identity. Unfortunately, his luck ran out soon after claiming the prize, just one street away, he was robbed. While he survived, he lost the money and ended up in the hospital for a month. Her unlimited-limit prize card was much more tempting than that 2.8 million yuan. If her face were revealed, she¡¯d surely attract attention. Better safe than sorry. Shifting her gaze to Little Treasure, she smiled. "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked curiously under her scrutiny. Qiao Sang grinned. "I have an important mission for you tomorrow." "Xun!" Little Treasure puffed up his chest, ready to rise to the occasion. Ah, being a beast tamer had its perks. Qiao Sang thought with a sense of satisfaction. Unlike ordinary people who had to disguise themselves, beast tamers could simply send their pets to claim prizes. With so many tamers contracting the same type of beast in a region, it was near impossible to trace the winner. While others worried about meeting their pets in a secure location to retrieve the prize, she didn¡¯t have that concern. Her eyes settled on the circular ring adorning Little Treasure. She silently praised her foresight when picking him at the pet beast base. As she mused, her mother emerged from the kitchen carrying a dish. "Dinner¡¯s ready." --- At the Dinner Table ¡°Mom, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Qiao Sang noticed her mother mechanically eating rice without touching the dishes, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Ye Xiangting, her head still lowered, smiled. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about how accomplished my daughter has become.¡± Caught off guard by the sincere praise, Qiao Sang felt awkward. She wasn¡¯t used to such earnest compliments. "You¡¯re just realizing this?" She teased with a grin. Ye Xiangting fell silent, resuming her meal with a mix of pride and worry. Yes, her daughter was extraordinary, so extraordinary it was almost frightening. At just 15, she had far surpassed her peers. She recalled those with privileged upbringings, abundant resources and optimal environments since childhood. By contrast, Qiao Sang had grown up with minimal resources. Even affording a basic Bubble Bell beast had been a challenge back then. ? S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, despite such constraints, her daughter was already ahead of most on the path of beast taming. Ye Xiangting had quit her stable job to open a pet beast nurturing shop, hoping to secure enough income for her daughter''s future needs. But now, she realized her efforts might still fall short. As beast tamers advanced, their resource requirements skyrocketed. Supporting a prodigy like Qiao Sang might demand unimaginable sums. Anxiety weighed heavily on her as she contemplated this. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s check out the shops on Wendan Street tomorrow.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly said, breaking her mother¡¯s train of thought. Wendan Street, Hanggang City¡¯s most bustling commercial hub, spanned 1,290 meters and housed numerous renowned brands. Renting a 30-square-meter shop there cost upwards of 500,000 yuan per year. ¡°Sure.¡± Ye Xiangting agreed. Worry about the distant future could wait; for now, her daughter¡¯s current needs took priority. ¡°What are you planning to buy?¡± She asked. Qiao Sang sipped her soup. ¡°A shop.¡± Ye Xiangting froze. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A shop.¡± Qiao Sang repeated calmly. ¡°Buy a shop?!¡± Ye Xiangting¡¯s voice shot up several octaves. Her previous anxieties vanished in an instant, replaced by the urge to keep reminding herself: She¡¯s still a kid. She¡¯s still a kid. After a deep breath, she forced herself to speak evenly. ¡°We don¡¯t have that kind of money.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I do.¡± Qiao Sang said, unfazed. Ye Xiangting: ??? ¡°Where did you get money?¡± She asked, deeply skeptical. ¡°Little TRreasure picked up a lottery ticket, and it hit the jackpot.¡± Qiao Sang said casually, taking another bite. Her mother¡¯s gaze darted toward Little Treasure, who was munching on an energy ball. ¡°Xun~¡± Feeling her stare, Little Treasure scratched his head sheepishly. ¡°¡­ Is this for real?¡± Ye Xiangting¡¯s voice trembled with doubt and tentative hope. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Qiao Sang confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s an unlimited-limit prize card valid for a year. With it, we won¡¯t need to rent a shop anymore, we¡¯ll buy one outright. Let¡¯s look at larger houses too. Faithful Owl shouldn¡¯t have to stay cooped up in the beast tome all the time. Oh, and it¡¯s about time for Fat Dove to evolve.¡± She had Little Treasure pull out the lottery ticket for her mother to inspect. As Ye Xiangting read the ticket and verified it online, her hands trembled. Thirty seconds later, she sat frozen, staring blankly. It was true. A whirlwind of emotions surged within her. On impulse, she opened her phone¡¯s contacts. Qiao Sang noticed and quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this.¡± After a moment of hesitation, Ye Xiangting put her phone down and replied solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your mom can keep a secret.¡± --- The Next Morning Qiao Sang woke earlier than usual, tidied up quickly, and headed for the subway. Half an hour later, she stood ten meters from 99 Huachang Street. ¡°Did you remember everything I told you?¡± She asked, her tone serious. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded earnestly. After their long talk last night, he knew the family¡¯s happiness for the next year rested on his tiny shoulders. ¡°Go!¡± Qiao Sang patted his head. Donning a pair of black sunglasses once belonging to Yabao, Little Treasure floated toward 99 Huachang Street, exuding a don¡¯t mess with me vibe. One minute later, after it had gone inside, Qiao Sang followed at a leisurely pace. --- Yang Yingfei, Male, 45 years old, Security Guard at the Hanggang City Lottery Center. That day, as usual, he was leisurely sipping tea and watching the news. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Suddenly, a voice called out in front of him. Yang Yingfei looked up and saw a Treasure-Seeking Demon... Hmm? Where''s its Beastmaster? He glanced around but didn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure crossed his arms and let out a commanding call, acting like a boss. He remembered his Beastmaster¡¯s words clearly: Register as soon as you enter! Another jackpot winner trying to stay anonymous¡­ Having worked as a security guard for over a decade, Yang Yingfei was no stranger to this kind of situation. He spoke up: ¡°Information card or Beastmaster emblem.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure instantly dropped his boss-like demeanor and handed over ihis Beastmaster emblem, which he had been clutching in his paws. Yang Yingfei tapped a specific part of the emblem, and a virtual screen about five inches wide popped up. Usually, verifying this kind of information didn¡¯t require much scrutiny. All he needed to do was match the photo of the spirit beast in the records. But as soon as he saw the first page of the records, he froze. The photo on the first page of the beast¡¯s profile was a Flame Hound! He continued scrolling up to check the Beastmaster¡¯s details more carefully. A moment later, he pressed the call button to summon the top-rated reception expert, Flash Mouse, to handle this situation. Once the Treasure-Seeking Demon and Flash Mouse left, Yang Yingfei sat in stunned silence, unable to calm his thoughts. A 15-year-old Beastmaster with three spirit beasts¡­ Their city, Hanggang, actually had someone like this! --- ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to register.¡± A crisp voice broke through his daze. Yang Yingfei looked up and stared blankly at the young girl standing before him. Seeing no response, Qiao Sang pushed her information card closer and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to register.¡± Startled back to his senses, Yang Yingfei waved his hand hurriedly. ¡°No need, no need. Your spirit beast already registered for you. Go right in.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! How did they know it was me? So what was the point of deliberately staggering the entry times with Little Treasure? --- Wendan Street. At 10 a.m., under the bright morning sun, the street was bustling despite being a weekday. In front of a pet spirit clothing store: ¡°Did you get it?¡± Ye Xiangting asked, her face filled with anticipation. ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out a black-and-gold card, grinning as she waved it. ¡°What bank is this?¡± Ye Xiangting¡¯s eyes lit up as she took the card to inspect it. ¡°It¡¯s from Federal Dingshi Bank.¡± Qiao Sang explained. After receiving the card, she had looked it up online. Very few banks issued unlimited credit cards, and Federal Dingshi Bank was one of them. The card itself was made of 23-karat gold and palladium, a rare and expensive precious metal. It was said that even melting down the card and selling the metal could fetch a hefty sum. Federal Dingshi Bank catered exclusively to the wealthy, offering services that extended beyond national borders to other planets. The exact eligibility requirements for this black card remained a mystery; Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t find any definitive information online. ¡°Federal Dingshi Bank?¡± Ye Xiangting gasped. ¡°When I first started working, I wanted to open a savings account there, but they required a minimum daily balance of one million yuan.¡± A daily balance of one million?! Qiao Sang took a deep breath and changed the subject. ¡°Mom, did you spot any shops you liked?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one,.¡± Ye Xiangting said, though her tone carried some hesitation. ¡°But it¡¯s not for sale. The shops that are for sale are all too small, even smaller than the one I currently run. They¡¯re not suitable for a pet spirit breeding store.¡± ¡°Which one do you have your eye on?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Ye Xiangting paused, then pointed to a store in the direction to her right. ¡°It¡¯s the one housing the Lisi Spirit Beast Supplies shop.¡± Lisi was a high-end brand of pet spirit supplies, known for carefully selecting premium locations for their stores. The moment Qiao Sang heard this, she knew the location was excellent. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Let¡¯s go.¡± She started walking toward the Lisi shop. ¡°But that shop isn¡¯t for sale!¡± Ye Xiangting called after her. Qiao Sang turned back and smiled. ¡°Then we¡¯ll convince them to sell.¡± Ye Xiangting froze. Where did her daughter¡¯s sudden CEO-like aura come from? --- Inside the Lisi shop, Qiao Sang glanced around, nodding in approval. The shop spanned two full floors with tall, curved bay windows that made the space inviting. It was at least 400 square meters in size, an excellent property! ¡°Hello, miss. May I help you?¡± A staff member approached with a polite smile. Ye Xiangting hesitated, unsure how to explain that they wanted to buy the shop. Surely, they¡¯d be thrown out... ¡°Is the manager here?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The staff member was momentarily taken aback. ¡°May I know what it¡¯s regarding?¡± ¡°I might be buying quite a lot.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°I¡¯d like to discuss it with them.¡± Hearing this, the staff member¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Of course! Please wait a moment; I¡¯ll fetch them right away.¡± Ye Xiangting glanced at her daughter, already preparing comforting words for when they inevitably got rejected. Within a minute, a man in his thirties, dressed in formal attire, appeared with a smile. ¡°Hello, miss. What can I assist you with?¡± He asked warmly. ¡°I need the landlord¡¯s contact information,¡± Qiao Sang said directly. The manager¡¯s smile froze. He shot a glance at the staff member, then replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have the landlord¡¯s contact details.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her black card and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take everything in the shop.¡± The staff member¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Is this straight out of a drama?! The manager stared at the card, his breathing growing heavy. Trembling, he reached out to take it, but Qiao Sang moved her hand away at the last second. ¡°I want the landlord¡¯s contact information.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± The manager quickly took out his phone, fearing she might change her mind. --- Ten minutes later, amidst cheers and farewells from the Lisi staff, Qiao Sang and Ye Xiangting left the shop. ¡°We¡¯ll deliver everything to your specified location as soon as possible!¡± The manager called out, waving excitedly. Qiao Sang smiled in acknowledgment, impressed by his service. Dialing the landlord¡¯s number, she said: ¡°Hello, are you the landlord for 123 and 124 Wendan Street?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase your property.¡± ¡°Yes, purchase. Not rent.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hang up yet, how about 30 million yuan?¡± ¡°Great. Contact me on this number, and we¡¯ll finalize the deal tomorrow.¡± After hanging up, Qiao Sang turned and grinned. ¡°Mom, the landlord agreed. We¡¯ll sign the contract tomorrow.¡± Ye Xiangting was utterly stunned. ----- ----- Chapter 358: Money Makes You Grow If someone were to ask now, "What is money?" Qiao Sang would respond, "Money? It''s just numbers." From her spirit to her wallet, Qiao Sang had never felt so liberated. This must be the difference between sudden wealth and painstakingly building riches, spending money without a trace of guilt. "Let''s buy some potions." Qiao Sang suggested. As the saying goes, spending money helps you grow. She hadn''t had the chance before, but now Qiao Sang decided to experience it to the fullest. "Sure..." Ye Xiangting still seemed to be in a daze. Potion shops were plentiful on Wendan Street. The demand for potions was high, which inevitably meant that low-quality or counterfeit potions often made their way into the market. At times like these, certification from reputable appraisers became especially important. Among brands with esteemed appraisers and potion masters, Original Learning consistently ranked in the global top five for both sales and reputation. If you''re going to buy, buy the best. When Qiao Sang entered the Original Learning potion store, the place was quiet and nearly empty. Although Original Learning ranked among the top five nationwide in sales, its prices were far higher than other potion brands. In essence, Original Learning was the luxury brand of potions. Their target customers were primarily members of their exclusive service program. Walk-ins often left within a minute of hearing the prices, realizing they couldn''t afford anything. As someone entered the store, a few employees who had been chatting glanced over briefly, quickly forming a judgment: A woman taking her daughter out for a casual stroll. She might buy something, but probably no more than a few thousand yuan, not worth cultivating as a long-term client. The seasoned employees remained still, while a newer hire took the initiative to approach. "Miss, what kind of potion are you looking for?" The staff member asked with a polite smile. Though she doubted these two would buy much, it was still necessary to ask symbolically. Casual browsers usually said, "Just looking," which meant she wouldn''t need to bother further. Ye Xiangting murmured, "Ask my daughter. She''s the one buying." The staff member maintained her professional smile and turned to the ponytailed girl beside her. Qiao Sang thought for a moment before saying, "Could you introduce all the potions suited for fire, psychic, ghost, water, ice, and flying-type companion beasts?" The staff member blinked in surprise. "Of course." High expectations were better than none. In her limited experience, about 70% of casual browsers who made specific requests ended up buying something. With renewed enthusiasm, she led them to the central glass display case and pointed to a red potion inside. "This is the Swift Flame Potion. It enhances a companion beast''s ability to absorb fire-elemental energy. This bottle is rated Grade B and has a mild effect, making it ideal for fire-type beasts below General rank." She then gestured to a nearby transparent potion. "And this is the Breakthrough Elixir. After consuming it, a companion beast enters a simulated breakthrough experience, aiding its evolution. It¡¯s highly effective for beasts below Royal rank. This bottle is also rated Grade B." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Continuing her introductions, she pointed to another potion: "The Nine-Ice Potion is a newly developed product perfect for ice-type beasts. With this potion, an ice-type companion beast can unleash significantly more powerful skills compared to others of the same level and skill proficiency." This time, the staff member tapped and swiped on the glass above the Nine-Ice Potion, bringing up a video display. The footage showed two ice-type companion beasts, both appearing nearly identical. A well-dressed woman in her thirties introduced them: "These two Ice Fenmoths were carefully selected for identical size, age, and skills. The only difference is that the one on the left has consumed our Nine-Ice Potion." The camera focused on the left Fenmoth. "Fenmoth!" It chirped, confirming the claim. "Let¡¯s demonstrate the difference between their ice-based skills, assuming equal proficiency." With a signal, both Fenmoths flapped their wings and released Frost Wind at each other. The left Fenmoth''s attack was noticeably stronger, freezing half of its opponent''s wing. "See the difference?" The woman returned to the camera, brimming with enthusiasm. "This is the power of the Nine-Ice Potion! Both Fenmoths had moderate skill proficiency, yet the difference in impact is staggering!" "With just nine bottles, your ice-type companion beast can become a king among its kind!" "This is the unparalleled effectiveness of the Nine-Ice Potion!" The video concluded, and the display case returned to its original state. Qiao Sang stared at it for a long time without saying anything. The staff member, assuming the part about needing nine bottles had given her pause, offered reassurance: "Although nine bottles are ideal, you can purchase them one at a time. They¡¯re meant to be taken weekly." After her lengthy explanation, the staff member noticed the girl still hadn¡¯t responded. She began to suspect this might be one of those 30% of browsers who made requests but didn¡¯t buy. Just as she was preparing to pivot to cheaper options, the girl asked, "Do all your potions have introductory videos like this?" The staff member blinked, then nodded. "Yes, every single one." Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Then pack up all the potions suitable for fire, psychic, ghost, water, ice, and flying-type companion beasts rated S-grade or higher. Also, include a copy of each potion''s introductory video." The store was quiet enough for every staff member to hear her words clearly. Everyone froze. The staff member assisting them was completely stunned, as though a wild dragon-type companion beast had suddenly appeared and offered to contract with her. In disbelief, she glanced at the silent woman accompanying the girl. Surely, the adult was in charge of such a decision? Ye Xiangting, remembering scenes from the over-the-top dramas of her youth, replied coolly, "Since my daughter says so, pack it all up." The staff: !!! Chapter 359: Lubao, Come Here Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the staff, a woman whose uniform was noticeably different from the regular employees immediately put on a radiant smile and approached enthusiastically. "Hello, I¡¯m the manager here. Please, come to the VIP room to rest for a moment. We¡¯ll need a little time to gather the potions that match your request." "Alright." Ye Xiangting replied numbly. Guided by the staff''s warm hospitality, they were seated in the VIP room. Qiao Sang thought they¡¯d have to wait at least a few dozen minutes, but to her surprise, just as she sipped her second cup of tea, the manager returned with several staff members carrying exquisite boxes. The manager, beaming, said, "According to your request, we have seven potions in total that meet the criteria. Would you like us to pack them up for you now or deliver them to your home directly?" "Seven?" Qiao Sang paused, surprised. "That¡¯s all?" The manager''s already bright eyes lit up even more. Seven potions, and she¡¯s still not satisfied? Such extravagance! I like her already! "Actually, there are quite a few potions suitable for fire, psychic, ghost, water, ice, and flying types. But since you specified S-grade or above, the selection is much more limited." the manager explained enthusiastically. "S-grade potions are scarce. Each month, our allocation is only a few bottles. If you¡¯d like more, I could try applying for additional stock from headquarters." Qiao Sang glanced at the boxes in the staff¡¯s hands and asked, "Are all seven S-grade?" "Yes." The manager confirmed with a nod. "And what about SS-grade or SSS-grade potions?" Here we go, another clueless nouveau riche. But money talks. The manager composed herself and answered, "Those two grades are extremely rare. We only stock a handful each year, and they¡¯re exclusively sold at our flagship store. "Most of the time, they¡¯re pre-ordered by loyal VIP clients. It¡¯s nearly impossible to purchase them outright, even if you have the money. This applies not just to our brand but to any other potion brands as well." Qiao Sang understood. Previously, her spending power was limited to middle-class living standards, and she was only exposed to items readily available for purchase. Now, with her dramatically increased wealth, she realized that some things couldn¡¯t simply be bought with money. Rare items were often reserved for internal dealings or influential figures. Still, she didn¡¯t need such high-end potions at the moment. To be fair, given her current situation, even D-grade potions would suffice. After some thought, Qiao Sang said, "In that case, package all the potions that are B-grade and above." The potions were quickly tallied, 212 bottles in total. Before leaving, Qiao Sang provided her contact information and arranged for monthly deliveries of at least B-grade energy recovery potions, much to the manager''s delight. She eagerly promised same-day delivery anywhere in the world, at a single phone call. Finally, Qiao Sang asked the staff member who first greeted her to handle the transaction. --- Qingcheng Garden, Building C, Apartment 606 Qiao Sang returned home alone. Ye Xiangting had refused her daughter''s company and went to a pet nurturing store on her own. According to Ye Xiangting, moving the store was a big deal. The renovations, advertisements, and all the preparations required her full attention. Additionally, she wanted to scout out suitable houses in Hanggang City for pet training and living. "You need to rest and prepare for the upcoming National Campus Beast Mastering League. Leave the trivial matters to me." Ye Xiangting had said. Unable to dissuade her mother, Qiao Sang returned home. Once back, she summoned Yabao and Lubao. Lubao behaved as usual, but Yabao''s large size forced him to hover mid-air. "Little Treasure, take out the potions we bought today." "Xun~" Little Treasure removed his circular ring and began pulling out boxes containing potions. Soon, the bed was filled with neatly arranged potion boxes. "Xun..." Little Treasure continued diligently. "That¡¯s enough for now." Qiao Sang interrupted. "Xun..." Little Treasure put the ring back on and dramatically wiped his nonexistent sweat. "Yap?" Yabao leaned down, curiously reaching out to grab a box. Startled, Qiao Sang quickly stopped him. "Don¡¯t touch! I¡¯ll open it for you!" Good grief. With Yabao¡¯s current strength, he could accidentally crush the potion with a casual squeeze. "Yap..." Yabao retracted his paw, sulking. Hiss recent evolution felt more like a curse than a blessing. Apart from becoming stronger and more handsome, everything else seemed so restrictive... "Once we move to a bigger house, everything will get better. Besides, this is proof of your strength. Look at Little Treasure, he doesn¡¯t even have paws to try something like this." Qiao Sang consoled Yabao while casually opening one of the boxes. "Xun..." Little Treasure pouted and floated onto Qiao Sang''s head. Fine. He could at least perch on his Beastmaster''s head... Qiao Sang spent the next half hour watching the accompanying videos for each potion, memorizing their names and effects: Breakthrough Potion, Energy Boost Elixir, Fusion Elixir, Potential Enhancer... To her surprise, most were potions she¡¯d never heard of before. For a high school student just starting their Beastmaster journey, knowledge about pet-related products was mostly limited to common or well-known items. Everything else opened up entirely new horizons. Potions were no exception. Most of the potions in front of her were unfamiliar, but the instructional videos provided clear and intuitive explanations of their uses. "This one¡¯s for Little Treasure." "This one¡¯s for Yabao." "This one¡¯s for Lubao..." As she was organizing the potions for her companions, her phone rang. Noticing the caller ID, she answered, "Hello, Principal." Ever since the principal agreed to cover the costs of Yabao''s energy pills, Qiao Sang had proactively asked for his number, just in case supplies ran low. On the other end, Principal Wang Weidou spoke excitedly: "I just got word that this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League will award a Most Promising Talent prize to one of the top three contestants in the province! The prize is an A-grade Potential Enhancer!" An A-grade Potential Enhancer? Qiao Sang glanced at the S-grade one in her hand. Principal Wang continued enthusiastically, "Without a doubt, that award is yours! With the A-grade Potential Enhancer, your Blazing Star Canine has a real shot at making it to the finals!" "Got it, Principal. I¡¯ll do my best." Qiao Sang replied calmly. "By the way, remember Vice Principal Xiong from Xiongding High School?" Wang Weidou asked. The one with kidney issues? "Yes, I remember. Why?" "He had lunch with me today and mentioned that Ding Yan from Litan Beastmaster High¡¯s Guwei Blossom has evolved into a Guwei Sunflower." Qiao Sang was surprised, so her sixth sense was right! "This info should be accurate. That guy has connections in Litan, and since you just helped him recently, he wouldn¡¯t lie about this." Wang Weidou added. "But don¡¯t feel pressured. Your Blazing Star Canine¡¯s attributes perfectly counter his Guwei Sunflower." "I understand, Principal." After a few more reminders, the call ended. Qiao Sang glanced at the S-grade Potential Enhancer in her hand, then turned to Lubao and gently called out, "Lubao, come here." "Lu." ----- ----- Chapter 360: The Housing Requirement Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Lying on the floor, Lubao opened her eyes and glanced up. "Come here and drink this." Qiao Sang said as she opened the bottle of the potion in her hand. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Potential Enhancement Potion was an easy choice for her to give to Lubao. What¡¯s that saying? Strengthen what¡¯s weak. It wasn¡¯t that she thought Lubao was lacking in potential, but rather that, compared to Yabao and Little Treasure, Lubao seemed like the better candidate. "Lu." Lubao responded, not asking any questions. She got up, walked over, and sniffed the potion with her nose. Finding the scent acceptable, she took the bottle with her paws, sat on the ground, and drank it all in one gulp. "How do you feel?" Qiao Sang asked expectantly. This was an S-rank potion! Without that unlimited card, she probably would¡¯ve had to scrimp and save her whole life to even think about buying something like this. "Lu." Lubao placed the empty bottle on the ground, flicked her tail, and returned to her original spot. Lying down, she closed her eyes, seemingly unaffected. No effect? How could that be? This was an S-rank Potential Enhancement Potion! Could it be expired? Qiao Sang picked up the empty bottle and checked the expiration date. No, it wasn¡¯t expired... "Lu..." Just then, Lubao¡¯s eyes snapped open, a bewildered expression on her face. She began to feel something changing within her body, a strange yet comfortable sensation spreading through her being. Qiao Sang looked over just in time to see a faint blue light enveloping Lubao. Her body began to grow larger within the glow. After an indeterminate amount of time, the light faded. Lubao, once only around 40 centimeters long, now measured closer to 60 centimeters. "Xun!" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the newly enlarged Lubao. Realization dawned, and he floated over to his trainer, staring alternately at the empty bottle and Qiao Sang. "Xun..." Even if it meant losing his place on her head, he really wanted to try this too... Qiao Sang, however, was deep in thought, not noticing Little Treasure¡¯s actions. The Potential Enhancement Potion was supposed to improve a pet¡¯s constitution, broadening its capacity to store energy. Increased physical size was often a byproduct of this improvement. But this growth? This was intense. Clearly, an S-rank potion packed quite a punch. If only they had an energy tester at home, it¡¯d be easier to measure Lubao¡¯s new limits. Out of curiosity, she decided to check her Beastmaster Codex. Closing her eyes, she quickly entered its interface. Name: Ice Qiya (Lubao) Attribute: Water, Ice Level: Intermediate (9755/10,000) + 9755?! Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. What the... Last night, it was only at 3013! How did it jump to 9755 overnight? Was the S-rank Potential Enhancement Potion this outrageous? Over 6,000 points in one go? When she¡¯d splurged on energy-boosting items like Flame Condensation Beads for Yabao and Little Treasure, their daily gain was a mere 5 points. This... this was just insane! With this much stored energy, Lubao could probably evolve immediately. But wait, wasn¡¯t this potion supposed to enhance potential? Why did the energy spike so dramatically? Exiting the Codex, Qiao Sang sat up abruptly, tempted to buy an energy tester right away. Then she remembered: She¡¯d handed her unlimited black card to her mother for house-hunting... With a sigh, she sat back down. She¡¯d have to wait for her mother to return. And maybe, while at school tomorrow, she¡¯d swing by the vice principal¡¯s office to figure this all out. "Xun..." Little Treasure¡¯s persistent gaze finally drew her attention. "You want some too?" She asked, realizing what he was after. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure nodded eagerly. "But there¡¯s only one bottle, and it¡¯s already gone." Qiao Sang said apologetically. "Xun..." Little Treasure''s head drooped, disappointment written all over his face. Seeing this, Qiao Sang glanced at the empty bottle and held it up. "There¡¯s one drop left. Want to mix it with water and try?" "Xun Xun!" In an instant, Little Treasure perked up, snatched the bottle, and floated off happily to the kitchen. Qiao Sang: ... "Lu." Meanwhile, Lubao, feeling her changes, got up and walked over to the full-length mirror. One glance was enough. Unimpressed, she turned and went back to her spot, lying down and closing her eyes. What a bore, still so much smaller than Yabao. --- 7:12 PM At the dinner table, Qiao Sang¡¯s mother glanced sideways and hesitated. "Why does Lu Bao look bigger?" "Bought a bunch of potions today. It drank an S-rank Potential Enhancement Potion, and this happened," Qiao Sang explained. "By the way, Mom, did you check out houses this afternoon?" "Yah!" From the living room, where Ya Bao was snacking on energy balls, its ears perked up. It paused mid-bite, eyes lighting up with anticipation as it looked over. After a moment¡¯s pause, Ye Xiangting replied, "I did, but we can¡¯t buy it." Qiao Sang was surprised. "Why not?" A house in Hanggang City they couldn¡¯t buy, even with an unlimited card? "Yah?" Ya Bao tilted its head in confusion, mirroring its trainer¡¯s expression. Ye Xiangting sighed. "The development I liked has a purchase requirement: you need to be at least a C-rank talent to buy there." "Yah?" C-rank talent? Wasn¡¯t its trainer one of those? Qiao Sang froze for a moment, then understood. Some developments required buyers to meet certain criteria, like having achieved C-rank in fields such as beastmastery, nurturing, coordination, alchemy, or craftsmanship. These rules were common in major cities like the imperial capital or Luojing. Not just anyone with money could buy a house there. Sometimes, these criteria were so strict they only sold to A-rank talents. Yet, despite the high bar, these homes often sold the fastest. The thought of a community filled entirely with A-rank talents was a little intimidating. She hadn¡¯t expected Hanggang City to have developments like that too. Seeing her daughter deep in thought, Ye Xiangting placed a piece of meat in her bowl and said lightly, "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll check out other developments tomorrow. With this card, finding a suitable house shouldn¡¯t be a problem." "That¡¯s true..." Qiao Sang chewed her meat and said, "Oh, Mom, could you also pick up an energy tester for me tomorrow?" "Sure." Ye Xiangting said with a smile. ----- ----- Chapter 361: Add Another Hour Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The next day. Shengshui High School. After advancing to the elimination round, the competition had reached its most critical stage. The school didn''t require Qiao Sang to attend classes during these three days of rest. However, the senior year school team chat group sent a message requesting everyone to gather this afternoon. Thinking she should also check in with the vice principal about Lubao''s situation, Qiao Sang arrived at the school early in the morning. As she reached the hallway, she noticed a crowd gathered outside her classroom door, eagerly peeking inside. She approached the nearest girl, who was standing on tiptoes to get a better view, and asked, "What are you all looking at?" Without turning her head, the girl replied, "We''re looking for Qiao Sang, of course. We¡¯re wondering if she came to school today." Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. "Why are you looking for me?" The hallway fell silent. Everyone turned their heads in unison, realizing that the speaker was none other than the legendary Qiao Sang herself! Who was Qiao Sang? A freshman. A freshman with a Green Star Array who had contracted three pet beasts. A freshman who had broken the norm by joining the senior school team and, with an undefeated record, defeated senior teams from other schools to advance to the national high school beast-taming competition¡¯s senior-level elimination round! What a legend! The news of her undefeated record spread across the school, and Qiao Sang instantly became a beacon of hope, the Light of Shengshui in the eyes of all the students. "Ah! Qiao Sang! You¡¯re finally at school!" "Qiao the Great! Can you summon your Ice Qiya for me to see?" "I heard you¡¯re going to the elimination round the day after tomorrow. Good luck!" "Qiao the Great, can I add you as a friend?" A group of enthusiastic students swarmed her, leaving Qiao Sang somewhat bewildered. Had she suddenly become a celebrity? At that moment, the classroom door opened, and the homeroom teacher, Li Yi, stepped out with a stern expression. "Don¡¯t you all have classes to attend?" Seeing the teacher, the crowd dispersed within seconds. Li Yi turned to Qiao Sang, his smile spreading uncontrollably. "Come on in." Qiao Sang quickly entered the classroom and sat in her seat. She soon noticed that the usually focused top students weren¡¯t meditating. Instead, they were all sneaking glances at her. Under their watchful eyes, Qiao Sang finally endured until morning self-study ended. The moment the teacher left, Jin Feifan couldn¡¯t hold back and turned to her excitedly. "Qiao Sang, you¡¯re incredible! You haven¡¯t lost a single match against the seniors." Qiao Sang modestly replied, "That¡¯s just the group stage. The difficulty isn¡¯t too high. The regional matches will definitely be tougher." Jin Feifan: ... For a moment, Jin Feifan felt there was nothing more to say. "How about you? How¡¯s your performance?" Qiao Sang asked. "You haven¡¯t checked the freshman team chat, have you?" Jin Feifan asked, already knowing the answer. "Nope." Qiao Sang admitted honestly. "Figured." Jin Feifan muttered. "Our school¡¯s freshman team all advanced to the elimination round." This didn¡¯t surprise Qiao Sang. Shengshui High had long been a top contender in Zhejiang Province, consistently ranking second. Their strength was undeniable. If anyone was eliminated in the group stage, Shengshui wouldn¡¯t be as feared by other schools as it was. --- News of Qiao Sang¡¯s return to school spread quickly. During every class break, clusters of students crowded outside the freshman Class 1 windows, their heads practically pressed against the glass. When the morning classes finally ended, Qiao Sang stood up, only to turn and see a crowd outside, their eyes shining as they stared at her. Seriously? All this just for advancing to the senior elimination round? Imagining the overwhelming attention she might face outside, Qiao Sang sat back down. "Want me to grab you something to eat?" Jin Feifan hesitated for a moment before deciding to brave the crowd. At the start of the semester, her social anxiety would¡¯ve made this unthinkable. But after weeks of competitions, Jin Feifan¡¯s confidence had grown. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, "No need." "You¡¯re not eating?" Jin Feifan asked, surprised. "I am." Qiao Sang said, suddenly smiling as an idea struck her. "I¡¯ll have Little Treasure take me out." Then she called out, "Little Treasure!" "Xun~" Little Treasure materialized, and Jin Feifan instantly understood. So that¡¯s her plan! Using the ghostly pet beast to clear the way! Under its intimidating presence, no one would dare approach. But then Qiao Sang said, "Use spatial shift." "Xun~" Little Treasure chirped and floated onto Qiao Sang¡¯s head. Spatial shift? Jin Feifan froze in shock. Before she could react, both Qiao Sang and Little Treasure vanished. Jin Feifan: !!! The classmates still in the room: !!! The students outside the window: !!! --- When Qiao Sang opened her eyes, she found herself in a small, cramped space. Looking down, she realized she was in the school restroom. Satisfied, she nodded approvingly. Ever since discovering that Little Treasure had learned spatial shift, she had it practice for an hour every night. After all, spatial shift was such a practical skill. The sooner he mastered precise coordinates, the sooner she could wake up just a minute before class. R? Judging by today¡¯s results, the training was paying off. The location was spot-on, not too far, not too close. Just as she was about to praise Little Treasure and step out, a boy¡¯s voice reached her ears from outside: "I heard Qiao Sang from freshman year is at school today. Aren¡¯t you going to see her?" The next second, the sound of water splashing filled the air. If this sound came from anywhere else, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t have given it a second thought. But here, she instantly recognized it as¡­ peeing. Qiao Sang¡¯s face froze. Another voice, distinctly different, replied, "See her for what? I¡¯ve got too many test papers to finish. Who has time for that?" The two chatted for a bit before their footsteps faded, leaving the restroom quiet once more. Expressionless, Qiao Sang lifted Little Treasure from her head. "Xun~" He blinked innocently. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang resisted the urge to curse and calmly assessed her situation. Using spatial shift again might land her somewhere even more awkward. It was better to take advantage of the momentary quiet and slip out. After listening carefully to confirm the coast was clear, she unlocked the restroom door with a soft click. Of course, it was the men¡¯s restroom¡­ With record-breaking speed, Qiao Sang bolted out, head down, like a sprinter at the starting line. Reaching the stairwell, she lifted Little Treasure to eye level, her expression deadly serious. "Starting tonight, you¡¯re practicing spatial shift for an extra hour every day." "Xun¡­" ----- ----- S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 362: Only One Chance Lunch Break. In his office, Liu Yao was typing furiously on his keyboard. These past few days, his emotions were a mix of excitement and frustration. He was thrilled because Flame Hound had evolved, likely into a rare and unique form, offering incredible research value. However, he was also exhausted because, despite this significant development, the project to study how Fire Fang Dogs evolve into Flame Hounds still hadn¡¯t been approved! Liu Yao knew it typically took at least three months to move from project submission to approval. But it had already been about three months since submission. Meanwhile, the only Flame Hound had already evolved into its advanced form, and the research project hadn¡¯t even officially started. Was this how things should be?! For the first time, Liu Yao felt the inefficiency of bureaucracy was infuriating beyond words. He vented his frustration in the chat software: "I understand that procedures must be followed, but the Flame Hound has already evolved. Without its original data, do you realize how much harder this research will be?" "And don¡¯t give me yesterday¡¯s excuse! Remember when Xie Jiageng was studying the mental energy extraction of Qibu? That got approved in less than a week!" As he prepared to type more, a knock came at his door. "Come in." Liu Yao said. "Vice Principal." Qiao Sang pushed open the door. "Ah, you¡¯re here." Liu Yao said, his lips curling into a smile. There were many geniuses in this world, but Qiao Sang¡¯s talent for beast taming was in a league of its own. Among her peers, no one could compare. She was even showing signs of surpassing every other high school student. But that wasn¡¯t what Liu Yao cared about most. The most critical point was that Qiao Sang had cultivated a Flame Hound and, within an incredibly short period, had also evolved it further. Typically, discovering a new evolution form for a beast was a long process. A few years back, when the advanced form of the Crimson Bat was first identified, the research team spent over four years determining its subsequent evolutionary stage. And those researchers were all highly decorated professionals in their field! Yet Qiao Sang had managed to achieve in a few months what took them years. ? What¡¯s more, this wasn¡¯t just a straightforward evolution using a special tool. There was also her Ice Qiya.. Suppressing his excitement, Liu Yao stopped typing, his eyes brightening as he eagerly asked, "You mentioned you wanted me to look at Ice Qiya?" Qiao Sang nodded. "My Lubao drank an S-grade Potential Enhancer yesterday, and then something unusual happened." As she spoke, she formed a seal with her hands, summoning Lubao. "Lu~" Upon materializing, Lubao glanced around, then leapt into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. Although Lubao had grown significantly, Qiao Sang, thanks to the feedback from Yabao¡¯s evolution, now had greater strength and caught her with ease. Liu Yao blinked in surprise, his expression visibly astonished. "It¡¯s grown this much!" He exclaimed, getting up and walking closer. Qiao Sang explained, "It might be because the Potential Enhancer was S-grade." "You gave it an S-grade Potential Enhancer?!" Liu Yao¡¯s disbelief was palpable. "Is that not okay?" Qiao Sang asked cautiously, startled by his intense reaction. "It¡¯s not that." Liu Yao said with a complex expression. "It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve rarely seen anyone give an S-grade Potential Enhancer to a mid-tier beast." After nearly having a heart attack, Qiao Sang sighed in relief. She followed up with a question: "Since I gave Lubao the booster yesterday, not only has her size increased, but her energy reserves have also grown significantly. Isn¡¯t the enhancer supposed to enhance potential? Why would her energy increase?" "That¡¯s because it¡¯s an S-grade booster." Liu Yao explained. "All S-grade potions contain immense energy. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The Potential Enhancer works by enhancing a beast¡¯s potential. It doesn¡¯t force the enhancement but instead unlocks latent potential based on the beast¡¯s capacity to handle the booster. "If the beast experiences pain upon taking the enhancer, it means the potion is too advanced for its current state. Even if it drinks it, most of the potion¡¯s effects will be wasted. "The higher the beast¡¯s level, the better it can absorb the enhancer¡¯s effects. "Normally, a mid-tier beast maxes out with an A-grade enhancer. The fact that your Ice Qiya could handle an S-grade enhancer means it has exceptional capacity and potential. Its size and energy growth are a normal result of such high-level effects." Liu Yao couldn¡¯t help but ponder. An S-grade enhancer is powerful enough for an emperor-tier beast. Qiao Sang comes from a modest background... Could she have some extraordinary connections? Otherwise, how did she contract an endangered beast like Ice Qiya? Meanwhile, Qiao Sang felt reassured. It was a relief to confirm that Lubao¡¯s changes were normal. "By the way." Liu Yao said, suddenly turning back to his computer, "I asked a friend from the Guwu region to send me detailed information on the Water Qiya''s species. I¡¯ll forward it to you. Take a look when you get the chance." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Vice Principal!" The timing couldn¡¯t have been better. With Lubao nearing her evolution, the material would help her prepare for her next stage. --- Afternoon: Training Grounds No. 1 As the school bell rang, He Dadao stood at attention, his large frame unusually stiff and serious. "Stop pretending." Xu Yixuan teased, nudging him with her elbow. "No one¡¯s here to watch you." He Dadao¡¯s expression fell for a moment before snapping back into seriousness. "I know, but with so many people watching, I have to look proper." Qiao Sang turned to glance at them, and as she did, the group of students outside the glass window waved excitedly. So I really am famous now¡­ She thought, her back unconsciously straightening a little. Soon, Sun Boyi brought up a large virtual screen, which displayed several student profiles. "The elimination rounds are next." Sun Boyi began, his tone solemn. "This isn¡¯t like the preliminaries or group stage. You only get one chance. Lose, and it¡¯s all over." He tapped his tablet, bringing up the profile of a young man. "Let¡¯s start by analyzing some of the stronger contenders you¡¯ll face in the elimination rounds. First up, Liao Chaonan..." Chapter 363: The Test "Liao Chaonan, representing Shengding Beastmaster High School. His beasts include a Snow Butterfly and a Poison-Tailed Moth. If you face him and he sends out the Poison-Tailed Moth, avoid close combat at all costs. Its venom is far stronger than an average moth''s. Even if you manage to land a hit, you risk succumbing to abnormal status effects." At this point, the virtual screen switched to display another boy''s photo and profile. Sun Boyi continued, "Huang Kaijun, from Lianyu Beastmaster Academy. His beasts are a Moonrush Grass and an Eight-Tube Coral." "This one is interesting. He wasn¡¯t notable a couple of years ago, but this year, he changed tactics. The commands he gives don''t match the moves his beasts execute." "For instance, he might command ''Root,'' but his beast uses ''Parasitic Seed'' instead." "It''s not that his beasts disobey him; he''s prearranged everything to confuse his opponents. When they hear his command, they''ll instinctively react incorrectly." Hearing this, Xu Yixuan patted Qiao Sang''s arm and mouthed silently, "This guy is sly." Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. She imagined what it would be like to face him. The opponent shouts "Root!" You assume he¡¯s preparing to recover, so you confidently direct your beast to attack the Moonrush Grass at its base. But instead of rooting itself, it unleashes Parasitic Seed from above. Just thinking about it felt like being toyed with. "If you face him, ignore what he says and focus on what his beasts are doing." Sun Boyi advised. With a tap on his tablet, the virtual screen switched to another person: "Ruan Yunwen, from Wucai High School. Her beasts are a Glide Owl and a Two-Tailed Land Turtle. He Daotao, you should remember her." Recalling a time when he had been utterly outclassed, He Daotao¡¯s expression stiffened. Qiao Sang studied the girl on the screen. The photo showed a pale-skinned girl with a classic oval face. Though her features were soft and graceful, her cold gaze made her seem unapproachable. Qiao Sang vaguely remembered her. In forum posts discussing the top contenders among seniors, Ruan Yunwen was a frequent topic, mostly about her relationship with her Glide Owl. The Glide Owl, an evolved form of the Fat Dove, was an advanced beast. Having one in a high school competition was like holding a trump card. Any high schooler with an advanced beast was almost guaranteed to take first place in the province. But Ruan Yunwen was the exception. Her Glide Owl wasn¡¯t originally hers; it had belonged to her father. He entrusted it to her on his deathbed, resulting in a lack of synergy between them. During last year''s national campus beast mastering league, the Glide Owl outright refused to cooperate. In one elimination match, it lay down and fell asleep as soon as it was summoned, ignoring her completely and costing her the match. However, this year¡¯s competitions showed significant improvement in their relationship. The Glide Owl was no longer disobedient. Qiao Sang glanced at He Daotao''s grim face and leaned over to gossip, "What happened between them?" "Nothing much." Xu Yixuan whispered back. "She just crushed him in last year¡¯s league." Qiao Sang had expected some dramatic love-hate backstory but found this rather boring. She maintained a polite listening posture while mentally dismissing it. Sun Boyi continued to highlight the strong contenders displayed on the screen. --- Meanwhile, universities across Zhehai Province were similarly briefing students on tough opponents. Dozens of virtual screens across campuses displayed a photo of the same person. The photo featured a girl with delicate features and a slight baby face. Her slightly upturned phoenix eyes carried a faint smirk, exuding an air of future dominance. At one university: "Qiao Sang, 15 years old. Three beasts: a Flame Hound, a Treasure-Seeking Demon, and an Ice Qiya. Don¡¯t stress too much if you face her. She''s a prodigy, the kind you see once in decades." "But she''s still young. If you prepare specifically for her, there¡¯s a chance to win." "During group matches, she only used Ice Qiya, but she won¡¯t rely on it exclusively in the eliminations." "You¡¯ve all studied her battles, right?" A buzz-cut man with sparse eyebrows gestured dramatically. Beside him, a large crate of potions was revealed. "Our school bought these Cleansing Potions specifically for your training!" Similar scenes played out at other schools, where Cleansing Potions were distributed to every student advancing to the elimination rounds. --- At Shengshui High School. Unintentionally boosting the province''s Cleansing Potion sales, Qiao Sang was attentively listening. After Sun Boyi spent over forty minutes reviewing the strongest contenders, he surveyed the group: "Got it all?" "Got it!" Qiao Sang and her two teammates responded in unison. Sun Boyi nodded. "Good. Pack up tonight. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., we¡¯ll meet at the school gate to head to Kainan City. The elimination rounds will take place at Kainan Beast Battle Arena." --- 6:32 PM. At Qingcheng Gardens, Building C, Unit 606. In her room, Qiao Sang was packing luggage into her Little Treasure¡¯s ring. Suddenly, she heard the front door slam and her mother¡¯s cheerful voice: "I¡¯m back!" Judging by her tone, her mother was in an excellent mood. Qiao Sang walked out of her room to see her mother beaming, followed by a Gravity Monkey in a delivery uniform carrying a large box. "Put it there." Her mother directed, pointing to the living room. "Heavy." The Gravity Monkey muttered, setting the box down. "Thank you." Her mother smiled. "Heavy-heavy." The Gravity Monkey replied, grinning before leaving. "What¡¯s this?" Qiao Sang crouched by the box to inspect it. Ye Xiangting set her bag on the sofa. "Forgot already? You asked me to buy an energy tester." Qiao Sang scratched her head sheepishly. "Oh, right. Didn¡¯t expect you to act so fast!" She began unpacking the box. "By the way, I have a match the day after tomorrow. We¡¯re leaving for Kainan City tomorrow morning." Ye Xiangting paused. "So soon?" "It¡¯s not that soon." Qiao Sang said, pulling out the tester. "We had a three-day break, after all." Ye Xiangting took out a black gold card and placed it on the coffee table. "I signed the shop contract today, so we don¡¯t need the money for now. Take the card, you¡¯ll need it in Kainan." Qiao Sang looked at her. "But you haven¡¯t bought a house yet." "Buying a house takes time." Ye Xiangting removed her jacket and sat on the sofa. "There aren¡¯t many places with both spacious layouts and good facilities for beast training. I¡¯m still deciding." "Take the card. By the time you¡¯re back, I should¡¯ve found a place. Then we can finalize it." "Fair enough." Qiao Sang agreed. The energy tester was more advanced than the school¡¯s. After setting it up, she called, "Lubao, come here." Her Lubao sauntered over, but before she could reach the tester, the Fat Dove curiously affixed the sensor to itself. The screen displayed: 41192. "Not bad." Ye Xiangting praised, stroking its feathers. "You¡¯ve got a high energy level. Once we move, we¡¯ll arrange your evolution." "Coo!" The Fat Dove spread its wings excitedly. As a mid-tier beast, a score above 40,000 was indeed impressive. Qiao Sang nodded in approval. Finally, Lubao arrived. "Coo coo!" The Fat Dove cheerfully handed the sensor over, gesturing for Lubao to try it. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lu." Respecting her elder, Lubao obliged. As soon as the sensor was attached, the screen flashed: 92127. Chapter 364: The A-Level Breeders Effort Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- 92127? As an experienced pet beast, Fat Dove could recognize the size of the number displayed. ¡°Coo?!¡± Fat Dove¡¯s eyes widened as it pointed its trembling wing at the testing device¡¯s screen, showing an utterly shocked expression. How was this energy value so much higher than its own?! Ye Xiangting frowned as she glanced at the number on the screen. ¡°Why is it broken right after I bought it? I even specifically chose the latest model.¡± ¡°Coo¡­¡± Fat Pigeon let out a sigh of relief from the side. Ah, so it was broken. Qiao Sang also thought the device must be faulty. After all, the maximum energy value for a mid-level pet beast was around 50,000. Even if Lubao was exceptionally talented, it was impossible for her to surpass this limit by so much. ¡°Mom, you should¡¯ve chosen the most expensive one.¡± Qiao Sang remarked. Although the priciest option isn¡¯t always the best, good things are rarely cheap. She realized she hadn¡¯t even asked about the price before paying. If it broke so quickly, it must not have been expensive enough. Ye Xiangting nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Meanwhile, outside the floor-to-ceiling window, a holographic neon advertisement lit up on a massive screen. A handsome man in a tailored suit placed his hand on a royal-tier pet beast, a Thornback Dragon, and calmly said: ¡°The culmination of energy endurance, the latest Dunsey Series, because expensive has its reasons.¡± ¡°Thorn.¡± The dragon nodded. The scene shifted, showing an energy detector displayed on the massive screen, the very same model in the living room of Qingcheng Jiayuan, Room C-606, suspected to be broken. --- Qiao Sang returned to her room and resumed packing her luggage into Little Treasure¡¯s spatial ring. Once everything was nearly sorted, she leaned against the bed and began searching for hotels near the Kai¡¯nan Pet Beast Battle Arena. The elimination rounds would last a week, and if they were still crammed into the same dormitory like during the qualifiers and group stages, Yabao wouldn¡¯t be able to come out. ? It¡¯d be better to find a place to stay alone. Pet beast battle arenas named after cities are typically iconic landmarks. Most major beast-taming competitions are held there. Although they aren¡¯t usually located in city centers, the surrounding hotel prices remain steep. Biggest, most expensive... Following these criteria, Qiao Sang quickly picked a hotel. At this moment, Little Treasure poked her cheek with his paw. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang turned her head. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure held out a black potion with his left paw, looking utterly disgusted. This doesn¡¯t taste good at all! Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. ¡°This is a Spectral Enhancement Potion. It helps you double your comprehension of ghost-type skills over the course of a month, allowing you to progress to the next stage faster.¡± ¡°Potions not tasting good is normal. The key is improving your strength. Look at Lubao, it¡¯s almost ready to evolve after drinking a Potential Enhancer Potion yesterday.¡± ¡°Xun?!¡± Little Treasure looked shocked. Lubao was already close to evolving?! Qiao Sang, full of righteous determination, declared, ¡°Have I ever lied to you?¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Seeing his master¡¯s serious expression, Little Treasure quickly gulped down the potion with a pained look. It didn¡¯t matter if Yabao was stronger, but there was no way he would let Lubao surpass him and steal his second-in-command spot! Watching Little Treasure¡¯s golden gloves, which he had put back on a few days ago, Qiao Sang felt a twinge of guilt and shifted her gaze. Once they reached Kai¡¯nan City, she¡¯d make time to visit a jewelry store and buy Little Treasure a pair of diamond gloves to ease her conscience. Speaking of which, it was also time to update Yabao¡¯s information at the Beast Center. She¡¯d handle it once they arrived in Kai¡¯nan City. Lowering her head, Qiao Sang opened her phone, accessed her email, and downloaded a file sent by the vice principal. The title read: The Evolution and Current Status of Water Lurianas. As she skimmed through, Qiao Sang¡¯s expression shifted from calm to exasperated. Wow. The evolution conditions for every stage of the Water Luriana species were unbelievably demanding. In summary, this species relied heavily on emotional energy for evolution. To evolve into an Ice Qiya, it required the emotional energy of heartbreak during rain. To become an advanced pet beast, Ice Kiru, it needed an unprecedented sense of joy during snowfall. Honestly, making Lubao happy wasn¡¯t difficult. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though she often maintained a high-cold demeanor, Qiao Sang had figured out her preferences after spending so much time together. But generating enough joy to sustain evolution? That was another story. The document mentioned researchers had once experimented by breaking the hearts of several Ice Lurianas during snowfall. No matter how pitiful or apologetic they acted, the Ice Lurianas remained completely unmoved, embodying the pinnacle of emotional detachment. Even when events brought them joy, the resulting emotional energy was insufficient for evolution. This was insane, just how happy did they have to be?! Feeling a headache creeping in, Qiao Sang quickly reassured herself. She¡¯d initially pushed for heartbreak evolution because it was a known motivator for Lubao to train harder and strive for strength. Now that Lubao was brimming with the desire to improve, emotional energy wasn¡¯t as critical anymore. She could just add stats directly if needed... --- The next day. After breakfast, Qiao Sang left the building with her mother, riding on Fat Dove¡¯s back toward Shengshui High School. At the school gates, Fat Dove stopped, and Qiao Sang waved goodbye to her mother before walking toward the school bus with Little Treasure perched on her head. Suddenly, a figure near the bus caught her attention. ¡°Vice Principal, what are you doing here?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she approached. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you this time.¡± Liu Yao replied with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s the elimination rounds, the most crucial stage. I¡¯ll prepare nutritional meals for your pet beasts after each match to ensure they¡¯re in peak condition throughout the tournament.¡± An A-level breeder as an escort, what prestige! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up before recalling something. ¡°Vice Principal, since my Blazing Star Canine evolved and grew too large, I was thinking of staying outside when we reach Kai¡¯nan City. Is that alright?¡± Liu Yao paused. ¡°Have you chosen a place to stay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°The Rui Lai Hotel next to the Kai¡¯nan Battle Arena.¡± Liu Yao considered this. Rui Lai Hotel? He remembered that even the cheapest rooms there cost over 10,000 per night. Given Flame hound¡¯s recent evolution, staying somewhere spacious to adapt and bond with its tamer sounded far better than cramming into a tiny dorm. ¡°Alright.¡± Liu Yao agreed with a nod. ----- ----- Chapter 365: The Eve of the Elimination Round Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Kainan City was about 160 kilometers from Hanggang City, roughly a two-hour drive on the highway. The accommodations had already been booked in advance at Shengcheng Hotel, located near the Kainan Pet Battle Arena. With its auspicious name, convenient proximity to the arena, and reasonable rates, the hotel had been fully reserved by the schools participating in the competition. The school bus stopped 100 meters away from the hotel entrance. Xu Yixuan, half-awake, squinted out the window and muttered groggily, ¡°Why are we stopping here?¡± Qiao Sang stood up and replied, ¡°I¡¯m getting off here.¡± Xu Yixuan, now fully awake, asked, ¡°Why are you getting off here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want Yabao to stay in the Pet Beast Codex the whole time, so I booked a hotel with a bigger room.¡± Qiao Sang explained as she stepped off the bus. Liu Yao also got off, following behind her. Xu Yixuan stared for a moment, then turned to He Dadao as realization dawned on her. ¡°So, you can switch accommodations if you¡¯re not happy with the ones provided? Why didn¡¯t anyone say so earlier? I¡¯ve always disliked the places the school arranged in previous years,small rooms, and sometimes the hotels didn¡¯t even have training areas for the pet beasts.¡± She paused before adding, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too late for me to ask Teacher Sun to switch hotels?¡± He Dadao glanced at her. ¡°If one of your pet beasts evolves now, I think Teacher Sun might agree.¡± Xu Yixuan: ¡­ --- Once off the bus, Qiao Sang was surprised to see the vice principal had followed her. ¡°Vice Principal, are you here to take me to the hotel?¡± She asked, puzzled. Liu Yao hesitated. ¡°What else would I be here for?¡± I¡¯m an adult. I don¡¯t need an escort, Qiao Sang thought, scratching her head awkwardly. ¡°I can go by myself. You don¡¯t need to come along.¡± Liu Yao paused before asking, ¡°If you go alone, who will pay?¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°Are you paying for me?¡± Liu Yao smiled. ¡°Technically, the school is paying.¡± During the competition, all expenses were typically covered by parents, but Shengshui High was well-funded, with substantial government grants, so it covered the costs without issue. ? Qiao Sang thought for a moment and didn¡¯t object. After all, there wasn¡¯t much difference whether the black gold card or the school paid. --- Ruilai Hotel ¡°What? 770,000?¡± Liu Yao froze. ¡°Yes, sir. The young lady has reserved our presidential suite.¡± The staff member replied with a professional smile. ¡°Presidential suite?¡± Liu Yao turned sharply to look at Qiao Sang, who grinned widely in response. Liu Yao: ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll pay myself.¡± Qiao Sang quickly offered when she noticed Liu Yao hesitating. She pulled out her card. Truthfully, if it weren¡¯t for her unlimited black gold card, she wouldn¡¯t dream of staying in a place this expensive. ¡°No need.¡± Liu Yao interjected. ¡°If the school is covering it, then the school is covering it.¡± While 770,000 wasn¡¯t a small amount, Liu Yao figured it wasn¡¯t his concern, it was Principal Wang Weidou¡¯s problem to deal with. At that very moment, Wang Weidou¡¯s right eye twitched. He dismissed the feeling and continued chatting with the man in front of him. ¡°Oh, so Litan is staying at Ruilai Hotel? What a pity, I was hoping to chat with their headmaster, Huang, about some exchange opportunities.¡± --- Ruilai Hotel, Presidential Suite Qiao Sang stood in the massive, 500-square-meter suite, marveling at its luxurious decor. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, she had a panoramic view of the Kainan Pet Battle Arena. After enjoying the view for a moment, Qiao Sang clasped her hands together and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± As soon as Yabao emerged, he excitedly darted around the room, thrilled by his surroundings. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure, influenced by Yabao¡¯s mood, happily appeared and floated alongside him. ¡°Yap yap!¡± After running a lap, Yabao stopped in front of Qiao Sang, wagging his tail furiously. ¡°Is this the house you bought for us?¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s attention was drawn to Yabao¡¯s tail. For the first time, she noticed that it hovered above the ground instead of dragging, thanks to his enormous size. Good. Otherwise, washing that tail every day would be a nightmare, she thought with satisfaction. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao called again, wagging his tail even harder. Snapping out of her thoughts, Qiao Sang replied, ¡°This isn¡¯t a house we bought. It¡¯s a hotel. We¡¯ll only stay here for a few days.¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s ears drooped, disappointment evident. Seeing this, Qiao Sang quickly comforted him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When we do buy a house, it¡¯ll be even bigger than this.¡± ¡°Yap yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head. Not buying now because you¡¯re not a Class C talent yet? Qiao Sang froze, surprised Yabao still remembered that. Not wanting to lose face in front of her pet, she coughed and said, ¡°Becoming a Class C talent requires an assessment. We¡¯re busy with the competition right now, so there¡¯s no time to take it.¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao, trusting her completely, barked in excitement. Then we¡¯ll take it after the competition! Qiao Sang: ¡­ She sighed inwardly. Taking the assessment wasn¡¯t on the agenda. At most, she¡¯d attempt the Class D Beastmaster certification. The Class C certification required owning at least one General-tier pet, and Yabao, having just evolved, was still far from that level. After a brief hesitation, she decided to come clean. ¡°The assessment has requirements. You¡¯ll need to evolve one more time first.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his fighting spirit, barking determinedly. Then I¡¯ll evolve again! Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- The tension of the elimination rounds was worlds apart from the preliminary and group stages. Nearly all participating schools had hired professional beast cultivators to accompany their teams. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Litan Beastmaster High School went a step further, employing specialized pet massage therapists. As night fell, Gu Weikui¡¯s pet beast, enjoying a massage in Room 2607 of Ruilai Hotel, closed its eyes in bliss. ¡°I just don¡¯t get it. How did your Guwei Blossom evolve so quickly?¡± Asked a pale-skinned boy. Despite receiving comparable training and resources, his pet beast had yet to evolve. Ding Yanjing, lounging on the sofa and playing on his phone, didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°What¡¯s there to get? Talent.¡± Unable to tolerate his smug tone, Wang Rui, who had been quiet, finally spoke. ¡°Speaking of talent, Qiao Sang from Shengshui High is the real deal. If she were in our grade, you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Ding Yanjing paused, then raised his head, smirking. ¡°True. But unfortunately, she decided to compete with us seniors.¡± Chapter 366: First Day? Exciting! Wang Rui let out a scoff but said nothing further.Though he occasionally found Ding Yanjing annoying, he had to admit the guy had the skills to back up his words. That prodigy from Shengshui High, Qiao Sang, was undeniably gifted to a daunting degree, but she was two grades younger. In beastmaster competitions, participants closer in age typically had the edge, as age often came with greater experience and training. Li Zonglin, unable to bear the silence, broke it: "In a couple of days, Fu Xiaodan and her team will be here in Kainan City for their competition. Want to go watch?" Fu Xiaodan was another member of the Senior Team from Litan Beastmaster High, though she participated in individual beast coordination competitions. Coordination matches, which focused on showcasing skill elegance, were usually held at night, so they didn¡¯t conflict with the individual combat matches. "Nope." Wang Rui declined outright. What a joke. This was the critical stage of the tournament. Every evening was reserved for resting and strategizing for the next day. Who had the luxury of spectating? "I¡¯m sure Ding-ge will go, though." Li Zonglin teased. It was common knowledge that while high school students were discouraged from dating, many secretly did so. Ding Yanjing was no exception. As a campus star, his relationship with Fu Xiaodan was an open secret, even among the teachers. But since both had achieved stellar academic and extracurricular results, the teachers turned a blind eye. Ding Yanjing, still staring at his phone, replied, "I¡¯m not going." Li Zonglin was surprised. "Wang Rui, the forever-single one, I understand. But why aren¡¯t you going?" Wang Rui: ??? Ding Yanjing didn¡¯t even look up: "A girlfriend isn¡¯t as important as the league. Kainan High¡¯s Ruan Yunwen is a totally different beast now. She¡¯s the main obstacle in this elimination stage. Until I¡¯m 100% confident I can beat her, I won¡¯t waste time." Li Zonglin¡¯s expression turned serious in an instant. Even Wang Rui found himself reevaluating Ding Yanjing. That¡¯s right. It was easy to forget that Ding Yanjing¡¯s current prowess wasn¡¯t just about talent. Back when he first joined the school team in his freshman year, he trained harder than anyone. Only when he no longer faced any real competition in his year did he start to ease up, which had almost made people forget how he got to where he was now. ? Just then, Ding Yanjing¡¯s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his tone immediately softened: "Hey, of course I was just thinking about you." "The day after tomorrow, right? What time is your match?" "Time? I¡¯ve got plenty of time for you." "I¡¯ll definitely be there cheering you on. I¡¯ve even prepared a cheer already." "I was just asking Li Zonglin and the others if they wanted to come too." "Yeah, Wang Rui isn¡¯t into coordination competitions, but Li Zonglin will definitely tag along." Li Zonglin: ... Wang Rui: ... --- The next day. Outside Kainan Beastmaster Arena. A cluster of reporters stood by, busy with their live coverage. "Another year, another National Campus Beast Mastering League! Behind me is the Kainan Beastmaster Arena, where today¡¯s elimination matches will take place. Many of you are probably familiar with this competition." A young, elegant female reporter said with a smile to the camera. "At this stage, the remaining participants are the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of this year¡¯s senior high students in Zhejiang Province." "This year¡¯s provincial tournament differs from previous years, where Litan Beastmaster High School dominated outright." "Kainan High¡¯s Ruan Yunwen, Shengshui High¡¯s Xu Yixuan, Shengding Beastmaster High¡¯s Liao Chaonan, and Shengshui High¡¯s Qiao Sang, only 15 years old and competing in the senior division, have all delivered stunning performances in the qualifiers and group stages." "Litan High remains consistent, with Ding Yanjing, Wang Rui, and Li Zonglin all advancing to the eliminations." "So, who will rise above the rest and represent Zhejiang Province in the regionals? Let¡¯s take a closer look inside the arena!" Inside Kainan Beastmaster Arena. Player¡¯s Area. Students in various school uniforms gathered, chatting and preparing. "Who¡¯s that in the brown uniforms? They even brought a cheer squad? Isn¡¯t it a Wednesday? Don¡¯t they have school?" A buzz-cut student asked, half enviously. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That¡¯s Su Chong Beastmaster High. They haven¡¯t had anyone reach the eliminations in the last two years, so they¡¯re probably just overexcited." Replied someone nearby, glancing at the brown-uniformed group. The buzz-cut student burst into laughter. "Hilarious. Imagine making this a big day out, only to get eliminated immediately." His companion didn¡¯t respond, instead staring at someone ahead. Following his gaze, the buzz-cut student¡¯s eyes widened. "It¡¯s Qiao Sang! Wow, she¡¯s even prettier in person. I wonder if she¡¯d let me take a picture with Ice Qiya." His friend hesitated before adding, "Let¡¯s go together. I¡¯d like a photo with Flame Hound." --- As one of the rising stars, Qiao Sang¡¯s presence attracted plenty of attention. Glancing around, she remarked, "This is quite the spectacle." The entire arena was packed, with multiple cameras hovering mid-air and stationed around the venue. Commentators perched in high booths, giving the whole scene the atmosphere of a major televised event. "It¡¯s the elimination round, what did you expect?" Xu Yixuan, having participated in two previous national tournaments, was unfazed. She explained: "By now, all the top schools in the province are here. The audience isn¡¯t just friends and family. A large portion are parents scouting the best schools for their middle schoolers." Qiao Sang nodded, now understanding the stakes. Parents who have the privilege of making choices in prestigious schools often have children with excellent academic performance and enjoy good financial standing. Even if their household registration is not in the desired school''s district, buying a house in another city to secure eligibility is not seen as a big deal for the sake of their children. No wonder the principal and Teacher Sun were dressed so sharply this time, part of the reason was likely this. At this moment, a man seated in the front row stood up and stepped into the center. Perched on his shoulder was a small, bat-like pet beast. The man announced: "The matchups for the first round of the elimination tournament are ready. Please look at the big screen." He didn¡¯t use a microphone, yet his voice was exceptionally loud, reaching every corner of the venue. Qiao Sang shifted her gaze to the bat-like pet beast on the man¡¯s shoulder, and information about the creature surfaced in her mind. The Echoing Flying Squirrel possesses an amplification trait, which allows it to increase the volume of surrounding sounds proportionate to its level. When coordinated well with its owner, it can adjust the volume as required without any distortion, making it a favorite among musicians. Meanwhile, four enormous virtual screens appeared in midair, facing both the audience and the contestants'' seating area. Names and photos of the participants were scrolling upward, showing the matchups for the elimination round. Qiao Sang focused on the screen, scanning the names one by one. [Kainan No. 3 Beast Taming High School: Li Lizhen vs. Jiangyang No. 1 High School: Liang Yuan] [Guangde High School: Chen Ying vs. Hanwen Beast Taming No. 9 High School: He Hao] [Litan Beast Taming High School: Ding Yanjing vs. Shengding Beast Taming High School: Wu Lu] [Shenshui High School: Xu Yixuan vs. Dual Innovation International School: Chen Libo] [Shidu Beast Taming High School: Wang Shiqian vs. Lianyu Beast Taming Affiliated School: Huang Kaijun] [...] [Shenshui High School: Qiao Sang vs. Wucai High School: Ruan Yunwen] Wucai High School¡­ Ruan Yunwen¡­ Hmm? Ruan Yunwen? Qiao Sang froze momentarily. Was it really this exciting? She had just been paired against one of the two contestants known to have advanced-level pet beasts in the first round! --- "Chen Libo¡­" Xu Yixuan mused over her opponent¡¯s name. "I know this person. His strength is considered in the second tier, and his combat style is more on the cautious side. My first match should be manageable." Turning to her companions, she asked, "Who are you up against?" He Dadao scowled. "Zhou Jing from Pinghai High School." Zhou Jing, the opponent who had defeated him in the qualifiers? Xu Yixuan looked at He Dadao in surprise. "How unlucky can you get?" "Tell me about it¡­" He Dadao was genuinely upset. At this point, Qiao Sang spoke up: "What¡¯s there to fear? Losing once doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll lose again." He Dadao paused, then declared with renewed determination: "You¡¯re right! This time, I won¡¯t lose again!" He then grinned at Qiao Sang and asked, "Who are you facing?" "Ruan Yunwen." Qiao Sang replied. "Who?!" "Wucai High School¡¯s Ruan Yunwen?!" Both He Dadao and Xu Yixuan exclaimed in shock. Qiao Sang looked nonchalant. "Why are you two overreacting?" He Dadao lowered his voice, "Ruan Yunwen is highly favored to take first place in the province this year. Her Glide Owl evolved years ago. It used to ignore her commands, but this year, things are different. Your Blazing Star Canine only recently evolved, so I¡¯m a bit concerned." "You should be worried about Ruan Yunwen instead!" Xu Yixuan said excitedly. "I didn¡¯t expect to see such an intense match on the first day! Honestly, Ruan Yunwen is pretty unlucky. She finally got her Glide Owl to obey her this year, only to face Qiao Sang in the first round. Looks like she won¡¯t make it to the top rankings after all." --- Time flew by as the matches progressed. During this time, Xu Yixuan won her match effortlessly, while He Dadao initially lost one round but then turned things around when his Blaze Gorilla secured a victory by taking down two opponents in a row. When the announcement came for Qiao Sang and Ruan Yunwen to enter the arena, the audience buzzed with excitement, while the contestants'' area erupted into a frenzy. --- As the two walked onto the stage, the crowd''s attention was drawn to the contrasting sight of their pet beasts, one large, one small, emerging in flashes of green and gray. "Let the match begin!" Chapter 367: As Long As He Didnt Get Hit Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1----- The majestic Glide Owl had descended, its arrival commanding attention. Qiao Sang studied the beast before her, a towering figure over three meters tall, crowned with two tufts of wavy brown feathers. This was a rare sight, considering the scarcity of advanced beast trainers capable of handling such a large pet beast. Most of the beasts seen on the streets were of beginner or intermediate levels. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Circumstances and niche aside, while the Fat Dove, a lesser form of the Glide Owl, was a popular choice among beast trainers, this marked Qiao Sang''s first time seeing its advanced form in reality since her transmigration. Meanwhile, the viewership on the live-streaming platform was skyrocketing. Barrage comments flooded the screen: "Finally! Family, I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re seeing Qiao Sang''s livestream!" "Where¡¯s Ice Qiya? Why hasn¡¯t she sent out Ice Qiya?" "Damn, the platform is finally working properly." "LOL, the size difference between these two pet beasts is hilarious." "Where are my comrades from the Ancient Guwu region?" "High schools across districts are full of talent. I was expecting Ice Qiya, but instead, I¡¯m seeing an advanced pet beast! Isn¡¯t this the evolved form of the Fat Dove?" "Oh no, if this ghost-type pet loses, does that mean Ice Qiya will face the advanced beast next?!" "I want to see Ice Qiya, but not Ice Qiya getting wrecked!" The elimination rounds had begun. The remaining contestants from within the province had gathered in one place, leaving just one livestream focusing on Zhejiang Sea Province. After the group stage concluded, the platform organizers had quickly assembled a dedicated management and repair team to address the server capacity issues. Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely the platform¡¯s fault, who could have predicted that a simple provincial high school competition would draw millions of viewers? In the Ancient Guwu region alone, millions were glued to their screens. --- At the Kainan Beast Battle Arena: The ground sank, transforming into a terrain filled with sand pits. ¡°Caw!¡± The whistle signaling the start of the match rang out. In an instant, both Little Treasure and the Glide Owl vanished from their spots. The Glide Owl shot into the sky, while Little Treasure faded into invisibility. ????? ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure gazed at the colossal beast in the sky, his expression contemplative. Why does it feel like this thing is on the same level as Big Brother Yabao? No way¡­ Does my beast trainer think I¡¯m this strong? ¡°Windstorm!¡± Ruan Yunwen scanned the field. Not spotting the Treasure-Seeking Demon, she immediately issued a countermeasure. ¡°Caw!¡± The Glide Owl flapped its wings downward with tremendous force, unleashing a gale that swept through the battlefield. Sand and dirt whipped into the air, transforming half the field into a dusty, yellow haze. The environment became unbearable. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure pinched his nose in disdain, teleporting to a cleaner patch of air. There you are. Ruan Yunwen¡¯s eyes narrowed as the Treasure-Seeking Demon reappeared high in the sky. A strange unease gnawed at her, but she dismissed it, shouting, ¡°Now, Wind Blades!¡± The Glide Owl flapped its wings again, sending dozens of razor-sharp wind blades toward the Treasure-Seeking Demon. The high-pitched whooshing pierced through the air, audible even to the audience, leaving them in awe of the attack¡¯s power. Many spectators braced for the match¡¯s conclusion, imagining the Treasure-Seeking Demon struck down. But the expected scene didn¡¯t materialize. The wind blades missed. They hit the ground with dull explosions, sending debris flying. The destructive force was evident, had they hit their target, the match would have been decided immediately. Ruan Yunwen stared, dumbfounded, as the Treasure-Seeking Demon suddenly appeared in her section of the arena. Her usually calm demeanor cracked, and she stood frozen. How?! How did it teleport from the sky to my side of the field in an instant? The audience, now more knowledgeable than those of the preliminary rounds, quickly caught on. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ teleportation!¡± ¡°No way! How does a Treasure-Seeking Demon know teleportation?!¡± ¡°Wait¡­ isn¡¯t it a ghost-type? They don¡¯t have skills like this!¡± ¡°Unless¡­ it also has psychic-type attributes?¡± The revelation sent ripples of disbelief through the crowd. --- High above the field: The Glide Owl eyed Little Treasure, its gaze sharp and its wings growing more restless. It longed to attack but hesitated, looking back at its trainer for orders. Seeing none, it restrained itself. Qiao Sang observed the subtle exchange with keen interest. This Glide Owl seems willing to cooperate with its trainer, but their synchronization isn¡¯t perfect¡­ She gestured subtly to Little Treasure, directing his attention to the ground. Instantly understanding, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glimmered with blue light as he manipulated a wave of dust toward the Glide Owl. ¡°Windstorm!¡± With a powerful flap, the Glide Owl obliterated the approaching sandstorm. Qiao Sang signaled again. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure vanished once more, leaving Ruan Yunwen scanning the battlefield anxiously. A screech of frustration from the Glide Owl drew her gaze upward. There, perched atop the massive bird¡¯s head, was Little Treasure. ¡°Caw!¡± The Glide Owl shook its head furiously, trying to dislodge the intruder. ¡°Flip maneuver!¡± Ruan Yunwen quickly commanded. The owl prepared to flip mid-air when it suddenly felt lighter. Turning its head, it saw the Treasure-Seeking Demon hovering nearby, mockingly holding one of its feathers. ¡°Xun~¡± The tiny creature even made a cheeky gesture, further infuriating the bird. ¡°Caw!!!¡± Enraged, the Glide Owl charged at the Little Treasure, a green aura enveloping its form. ¡°Calm down, Big Swift!¡± Ruan Yunwen shouted, trying to regain control. But the owl ignored her, driven by fury. There it is, thought Qiao Sang. The cracks between them are showing. As long as Glide Owl starts doubting its trainer¡¯s commands, it¡¯ll reveal more openings. Little Treasure has a real shot at winning this! As long as he doesn¡¯t get hit¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 368: Just Basic Moves The audience erupted into laughter as they witnessed the scene.¡°Hahaha! What¡¯s with this Treasure-Seeking Demon? It looks like it¡¯s just asking for a beating!¡± ¡°Unbelievable. Plucking feathers and flipping the bird, this thing is clearly trying to max out its aggro levels!¡± ¡°Wow, its taunting skills are already at the mastery level.¡± ¡°By the way, did anyone notice? That Treasure-Seeking Demon is actually wearing colored contacts!¡± ¡°Something seems off with the Glide Owl. Its beast tamer has been calling out for ages, and it¡¯s completely ignoring them.¡± On the Field. The Glide Owl unleashed an onslaught of moves. It used Brave Bird Strike, followed by Wind Blade, then Air Slash, and immediately transitioned into Steel Wing. The ferocity of its attacks made Qiao Sang¡¯s heart tremble. Thankfully, Little Treasure could teleport; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have lasted a second. "Xun!¡± Little Treasure teleported again and again, dodging frantically. The Glide Owl''s aggression was relentless, its speed astonishing. Each time Little Treasure narrowly avoided an attack and teleported to a new position, another strike would be upon it almost immediately, several times nearly hitting its mark. High-level pet beasts really are on a different level¡­ Qiao Sang thought, her heart pounding as she analyzed the situation. ¡°If this keeps up, the Glide Owl will deplete its energy and stamina soon. That¡¯s when we¡¯ll have a chance to counterattack.¡± At that moment, the Glide Owl abruptly stopped. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Finally, Little Treasure had a moment to catch his breath. He wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead with a paw. Finally¡­ a break. Was it tired? It seemed weaker than she had anticipated. Qiao Sang looked up at the Glide Owl hovering in midair, just about to order Little Treasure to attack. But then, the owl spread its wings wide, and instantly, over 20 identical copies of itself appeared in the sky. Qiao Sang stared at the countless clones, and a sentence she had once read online popped into her mind: Never let your pet beast taunt recklessly. If the aggro bar maxes out, the consequences will be catastrophic! Could the aggro bar really be maxed out? A bad feeling crept over her. And sure enough, whatever you fear most always comes to pass. ¡°Caw!¡± Fueled by rage, the Glide Owl''s combat strength skyrocketed. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The 20 or so clones simultaneously flapped their wings, unleashing hundreds of air blades that rained down like a storm toward Little Treasure. Ruan Yunwen watched with a complex expression and stopped calling out, silently approving of the owl¡¯s aggressive approach. Although this wasn¡¯t her usual fighting style, as long as it worked... ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure frantically teleported, narrowly dodging the dense barrage of air blades. Boom! Boom! Boom! Wherever the blades landed, the sandy arena was left riddled with holes. The audience held their breath, feeling a mix of excitement and worry for the Treasure-Seeking Demon. ¡°This level of attack is going all out, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Well, to be fair, the Treasure-Seeking Demon went too far with its taunts. Flipping the bird was one thing, but plucking feathers and showing them off? That¡¯s just asking for trouble.¡± ¡°I get what the Shengshui student is trying to do. She¡¯s aiming to wear down the Glide Owl before striking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad plan. What else could the Treasure-Seeking Demon do? Fight it head-on? That¡¯s a guaranteed loss.¡± ¡°Still, the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s teleportation is impressive. It hasn¡¯t been hit yet!¡± On the Field. Qiao Sang frowned as she watched the situation unfold. The relentless air blade assault showed no signs of stopping. If this continue, her Little Treasure might not hold out. The Glide Owl¡¯s altitude seemed to have dropped slightly, likely from the energy and stamina it had already expended. It¡¯s time to act. Qiao Sang made a swift decision and shouted: ¡°Teleport onto its back!¡± The deafening sound of air blades striking the ground drowned out her voice for most of the audience, but it was perfectly audible on the official livestream. Viewers immediately shared their thoughts in real time: ¡°The air blades are so dense; there¡¯s no way it can teleport there, right?¡± ¡°Even if it could, how would it know which one is the real body with all those clones?¡± ¡°Just asking: Why can¡¯t it teleport through the blades?¡± ¡°Let me explain. Teleportation allows a creature to instantly move to a new location, but it can¡¯t pass through obstacles. For the Treasure-Seeking Demon to reach the Glide Owl, it would have to go straight through all those air blades, impossible.¡± ¡°That explains it. I was wondering why it kept teleporting within the storm instead of moving to safer spots around the edges.¡± In the livestream, the Treasure-Seeking Demon was indeed struck by an air blade mid-teleportation and fell to the ground. Immediately, the relentless air blades rained down upon it. In midair, the Glide Owl finally seemed satisfied, retracting its clones and leaving only its true form hovering. Its expression clearly said, ¡°This is what happens when you mess with me.¡± Viewers flooded the chat with comments: ¡°Wow, it couldn¡¯t teleport past the blades? Basic knowledge, really.¡± ¡°Cut them some slack. She¡¯s only 15 and lasted this long against a high-level beast. That¡¯s impressive!¡± ¡°Was there even a fight? All I saw was dodging.¡± ¡°Hey, dragging the battle out this long against a high-level beast is no small feat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the outcome; I just want to see Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°This Glide Owl¡¯s fighting style is so brutal. What happens if Ice Qiya is up next?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ I¡¯m worried for Ice Qiya¡¯s fate!¡± ¡°Wait! Holy crap! What¡¯s going on with that ghost-type beast? It teleported successfully?! Then what was that one that fell earlier?!¡± In the broadcast, the supposedly injured Treasure-Seeking Demon appeared unscathed on the Glide Owl¡¯s back. Shadowy, ribbon-like tendrils emerged from its claws, tightly binding the owl. On the Battlefield. ¡°Caw!¡± The owl struggled desperately as its wings were bound by Dark Binding, leaving it unable to generate lift or thrust. It could only plummet straight down. My guess was right, its energy and stamina are nearly depleted. Otherwise, the Glide Owl¡¯s superior strength would have easily broken free of the binding. Qiao Sang smiled, satisfied with the outcome. Boom! The owl crashed heavily into the ground, sending dust flying. In the VIP Section Huang Renbiao took a deep breath and said gravely, ¡°Principal Wang, your student Qiao Sang has been hiding her skills well. Not only can her Treasure-Seeking Demon substitute, but it can also use teleportation!¡± Teleportation?! That¡¯s a high-level psychic skill! Add that to the ghost-type Dark Binding, and this mid-level beast is ridiculously overpowered¡­ Wang Weidou¡¯s mind raced as he struggled to keep his composure. Calmly, he replied: ¡°Just some basic moves. Didn¡¯t your student Ding Yanjing keep a few tricks up his sleeve too?¡± Chapter 369: Showcasing the Power of Bonds? Upon hearing this, Huang Renbiao narrowed his eyes.He thought that what the guy was referring to was likely the evolution of Ding Yanjing''s Guwei Blossom into Guwei Sunflower. He wasn''t particularly surprised by this. After all, this matter wasn¡¯t kept secret; the teachers at school had been gossiping about it. If someone like Wang Weidou wanted to dig into Ding Yanjing¡¯s information, with his capabilities, it would be easy for him to find out. But even if he knew, what difference would it make? Since the school hasn¡¯t made any official announcements, the rumors would just leave everyone half-believing. Once Ding Yanjing''s Guwei Sunflower showed up, the shock would still be there. As for developing a tactical plan specifically targeting Guwei Sunflower, he was even less concerned. Ding Yanjing''s Guwei Sunflower was unlike Ruan Yunwen¡¯s Glide owl. Its regeneration ability and the connection between it and Ding Yanjing made it unlikely to be toyed with as badly as Glide Owl by the Treasure-Seeking Demon. Huang Renbiao glanced at the Glide Own, still struggling desperately in the shadow control, and a clear thought flashed through his mind: With Qiao Sang around, Shengshui High might outshine Litan Beast Tamer High in the next few years of the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡­ Huang Renbiao steadied his mindset and said, ¡°We didn¡¯t intentionally hide it. It¡¯s just that the current opponent¡¯s strength isn¡¯t enough to force Ding Yanjing to use all his tricks.¡± Heh. We didn¡¯t intentionally hide it¡­ Wang Weidou repeated this sarcastically in his mind. During the group stage, Ding Yanjing had made Flash-Leaving Crow fight for a whole week. Was he blind? While the backstage area was filled with hidden tension, the audience in the stands was much more open with their emotions. ¡°Holy crap! Shadow Control?!¡± ¡°Damn, that¡¯s impressive! Using the substitution technique during the teleportation gap under such high-intensity attacks!¡± ¡°Are you sure this kid¡¯s a first-year? This doesn¡¯t look like a newbie Beast Tamer at all! She¡¯s not even giving commands, just communicating with the beast using her eyes! I couldn¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°What a clever tactic, first provoking Glide Owl with the Treasure-Seeking Demon to make it lose its mind and waste a lot of energy, then using the substitution technique to make the opponent think they¡¯ve won and relax their guard, and finally using the ultimate move to reverse the situation. Brilliant!¡± ¡°Shadow Control! It¡¯s definitely Shadow Control!¡± ¡°It is Shadow Control! And it¡¯s a 3D-mode Shadow Control!¡± ¡°Damn, have I been away from school for too long? How can the Treasure-Seeking Demon ignore so many wind blades and teleport directly to Glide Owl?¡± ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be teleportation, it¡¯s more like¡­ spatial shift¡­¡± ¡°Spatial shift?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Two advanced skills?!¡± Most of the people here were Beast Tamers. Although not all of them pursued professional Beast Taming, they understood what they were seeing. To learn advanced skills with a mid-level beast, both talent and time were essential. Without talent, no amount of time would help, and without enough time, even the greatest talent wouldn''t be enough. Learning advanced skills usually took years. So, what were they seeing now? A 15-year-old high school student¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon had learned two advanced skills? Is this even possible?! --- Regardless of how lively the atmosphere in the stands was, the scene on the field remained solemn. To become a professional Beast Tamer, one had to focus on the competition and not be swayed by the audience. ¡°Glide Owl!!!¡± After falling from mid-air, Glide Owl didn¡¯t immediately faint. Although it was injured, it was still struggling fiercely, attempting to break free from the shadow control. It was clear it hadn¡¯t lost all its strength. Take advantage of its weakness. Qiao Sang thought. ¡°Hypnosis!¡± Qiao Sang called out after thinking for a second. Unlike Yabao, Little Treasure couldn¡¯t use all his skills at the same time. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they wanted to launch an attack next, the shadow control would surely disappear, and if the attack didn¡¯t land well and allowed Glide Owl to retaliate, things could go awry. Given all of Little Treasure¡¯s attack skills, none of them could render Glide Owl completely incapacitated. After some thought, the best option was using the ultimate-level Hypnosis technique. As long as the two skills used at once were proficient enough, there was no concern about failing to cast one of them. ¡°Xun!¡± Upon hearing is Beast Tamer¡¯s command, Little Treasure floated in front of Glide Owl. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± As Qiao Sang called out "Hypnosis," Ruan Yunwen quickly steadied her mind and responded, ¡°Glide Owl!¡± Glide Owl was still in an enraged state. Its eyes were filled with anger, and it completely ignored its Beast Tamer''s command. Opening its mouth, a terrifying energy began to gather inside. Close its eyes? No. It was going to attack! Before it could act, the shadow control that had bound Glide Owl quickly extended, wrapping around its mouth, silencing it. Glide Owl¡¯s eyes widened, and it began to struggle even harder. ¡°Close your eyes quickly!¡± Ruan Yunwen¡¯s voice trembled, sounding like she was about to cry. Upon hearing her voice, Glide Owl hesitated, and its rationality returned slightly. It struggled internally before deciding to close its eyes. Just as it was about to do so, two more shadows extended from the dark shadow control, prying open its eyelids that weren¡¯t fully closed. ¡°Caw!¡± Glide Owl cursed angrily. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure chuckled softly as he looked at the large creature in front of him. He didn¡¯t forget its Beast Tamer¡¯s words. After a brief smile, his eyes turned violet, and his expression grew serious. Glide Owl was overwhelmed by drowsiness, his gaze began to blur. At the same time, the two shadows supporting his eyelids withdrew. Glide Owl¡¯s eyes closed, and its head tilted. It fell asleep. The audience in the stands erupted into noise, with discussions flying around. ¡°Glide Owl isn¡¯t in the best state, but it wasn¡¯t close to being done for. How could it fall asleep from the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s hypnosis?¡± ¡°It should wake up soon, it¡¯s an advanced beast after all¡­¡± ¡°This Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Shadow Control and Hypnosis are both very skilled¡­¡± ¡°I know! The kid from Shengshui High must have contracted an elderly Treasure-Seeking Demon! Otherwise, how could it use two advanced skills so proficiently?¡± ¡°Bullshit! This Treasure-Seeking Demon looks young, clearly still a child.¡± On the field, Ruan Yunwen stared at the sleeping Glide Owl, her eyes unfocused. Had she lost like this? This was her last National Campus Beast Mastering League. There was no way the two-tailed land turtle could defeat Qiao Sang. She had finally managed to make Glide Owl listen to her, but why¡­ No, she couldn¡¯t accept it! Ruan Yunwen suddenly cried out in frustration, ¡°Datuo! Wake up! You promised you would stay with me until the end! You promised!¡± Her voice seemed to cut through the fog, reaching Glide Owl¡¯s ears. Glide Owl¡¯s eyelids twitched slightly. The live stream camera clearly captured Tongsuoxiao¡¯s face. [Look, its eyelid moved! It¡¯s about to wake up.] [An advanced beast is an advanced beast. This Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Hypnosis and Shadow Control are so skilled that it can use them together. It¡¯s already so fast to wake up.] [Why isn¡¯t Qiao Sang attacking now? This is driving me crazy!] [Feels like it¡¯s not over yet. Even if Qiao Sang attacks now, Glide Owl would probably only get hurt, but it will wake up.] [The difference between a mid-level and an advanced beast isn¡¯t something you can just brush off. If it were a mid-level beast, it would have been played to death by the Treasure-Seeking Demon by now.] Both the live audience and the online viewers felt the match wasn¡¯t over yet. --- On the battlefield. Wow, is this supposed to showcase the power of bonds by waking up Glide Owl? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelids twitched as she recalled a post she saw analyzing Xu Yixuan summoning Dream Spirit. She spoke aloud: ¡°Throw it out of the arena.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure stretched out his small toe, and the shadow binding Glide Owl swiftly descended to the ground. The shadow remained connected to Glide Owl, but it shifted from a three-dimensional mode to a two-dimensional mode. Then, Little Treasure gently tugged his toe, pulling the shadow, dragging Glide Owl out of the designated area. Just as the Glide Owl was dragged out of the field, its eyes slowly opened. At the same time, the whistle sounded, marking the end of the game. There was silence in the audience, and the live broadcast on the platform was temporarily free of comments. Chapter 370: Updating Informaion ¡°Damn, that move was insane!¡±Someone shouted, shattering the silence. The audience erupted into a wave of uproarious chatter. ¡°We won? Just like that?!¡± ¡°Our province¡¯s only advanced-tier pet beast lost just like that?!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Ruan Yunwen expected to take first place in Zhejiang Province this year?¡± ¡°She put it to sleep and dragged it out of the arena. Unreal¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t feel much when a mid-tier beast dragged another mid-tier beast, but seeing a mid-tier beast dragging an advanced-tier one feels surreal, especially given their size difference¡­¡± ¡°Overall, the match¡¯s rhythm was completely controlled by that kid from Shengshui High¡­ By the way, what was Shengshui High¡¯s admission cutoff score last year?¡± Meanwhile, the official livestream was flooded with comments. [LOL, who knew this was even possible!] [66666, I never saw that coming!] [Damn?! This girl¡¯s got game!] [Legendary move!] [Give me all the details about that ghost-type pet in one minute!] [That ghost-type pet looks so happy, it¡¯s like it¡¯s ready for work.] [Ahhh! Will we get to see Ice Qiya in the next round?!] [Qiao Sang¡¯s inner monologue: You¡¯ve never seen the world, have you?] --- At the Kainan Pet Beast Battle Arena, in the first-row VIP section: Wang Weidou straightened his back and laughed heartily. ¡°Principal Huang, it looks like your school might still have a chance to experience the strength of our Qiao Sang.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huang Renbiao remained silent. Wang Weidou patted his shoulder with a brotherly grin. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope your students don¡¯t lose too early before they face Qiao Sang.¡± Huang Renbiao¡¯s mouth twitched. He suddenly understood the frustration of wanting to curse someone out. Having a Qiao Sang at his school really had this guy on cloud nine. Seeing Huang Renbiao¡¯s deflated look, Wang Weidou felt immensely satisfied. After so many years, he could finally bask in glory! Wang Weidou cheerfully added, ¡°What if your school¡¯s top three all get a taste of defeat from Qiao Sang?¡± What kind of tone was that? Was he implying that Ding Yanjing and the others would all lose to Qiao Sang? Huang Renbiao took a deep breath, barely holding back his emotions, and was about to retort when- ? The usually silent principal of Wucai High School softly remarked: ¡°Principal Wang, Qiao Sang¡¯s match against our Ruan Yunwen isn¡¯t over yet.¡± Wang Weidou: ... Damn, he¡¯d almost forgotten Wucai¡¯s principal was sitting there. Wang Weidou fell silent. Apart from dealing with those at Litan Beast Taming High, he prided himself on maintaining a wise and amiable image outside his circle. Why did he stop talking? Keep going¡­ Huang Renbiao glanced at Wang Weidou, his mood lifting. --- In the second round, Ruan Yunwen sent out her Twin-Tailed Land Turtle, while Qiao Sang stuck with Little Treasure. The livestream platform was instantly filled with groans and complaints. Most of the viewers were from the Guwu region, tuning in specifically to see Ice Qiya. After struggling with a laggy platform, they were disappointed not to see Ice Qiya in action. Despite the grumbles, viewer numbers didn¡¯t drop. Qiao Sang¡¯s flashy tactics with the ghost-type pet had captivated the audience. In this round, Ruan Yunwen¡¯s fighting spirit waned. She couldn¡¯t respond as swiftly to Little Treasure¡¯s attacks as she had in the first round. Whether or not her opponent was in top form wasn¡¯t Qiao Sang¡¯s concern. Battles are fair but brutal. Once you step onto the stage, no one cares about your condition or comfort. If anything, you can only blame yourself for lacking the mental resilience and preparation. Ruan Yunwen relied too heavily on her Glide Owl. After its loss, regardless of her opponent, she felt all her efforts would be futile. With such a mindset, Qiao Sang allowed Little Treasure to perform freely, effortlessly winning the second round. Despite the Twin-Tailed Land Turtle¡¯s impressive attack and defense, its sluggish speed made it an easy target for a nimble pet like Little Treasure. However, Little Treasure had his own flaws, his weak defense meant that a couple of hits from the Turtle could have taken him down. That is, if the attacks landed. As soon as the match began, Little Treasure teleported right in front of the Turtle. Caught off guard, the Turtle, already wide-eyed, looked even more alarmed. Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed purple, casting a powerful hypnotic spell. Despite being a mid-tier pet beast, the Turtle couldn¡¯t resist such a high-level hypnosis technique. The referee counted down, but the Turtle remained unconscious, prompting an official declaration of Qiao Sang¡¯s victory. Carrying Little Treasure, Qiao Sang returned to the stands. Almost everyone followed her movements with their eyes, giving her the brief illusion of being the center of attention. The moment she sat down, Xu Yixuan exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Qiao Sang! I knew you¡¯d win, but I never thought you¡¯d defeat Ruan Yunwen with just Treasure-Seeking Demon. You should¡¯ve seen Ding Yanjing¡¯s face, it turned completely black!¡± ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure turned to stare at Xu Yixuan. Did it seem so surprising for him to take down two opponents in a row? Xu Yixuan froze. She wasn¡¯t afraid of ghost-type beasts but realized her words had been heard loud and clear. ¡°She means she didn¡¯t know you could be this powerful.¡± Qiao Sang said, patting Little Treasure¡¯s head. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes curved into a joyful expression. Xu Yixuan sighed in relief. Beside her, He Dadao admired sincerely, ¡°Qiao Sang, if I had your way with words, I¡¯d have a girlfriend by now, even without good looks.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Whether or not I¡¯m good at talking, one thing¡¯s for sure, you¡¯re definitely bad at it. --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t stick around for the remaining matches. With some time left before the Beast Taming Center closed, she used her phone to navigate to the Kainan Beast Taming Center. Yesterday, the schools from Zhejiang Province had just arrived, and many students had taken their pets for full checkups. To avoid drawing attention, Qiao Sang opted to go today. --- At the Kainan Beast Taming Center, first-floor registration desk: A few staff members were chatting at their stations during a lull. A female worker with a bun sighed, ¡°Ugh, why do work hours have to overlap with the matches?¡± A male colleague with wavy hair replied lazily, ¡°It¡¯s just a national high school pet beast competition, not college-level. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± The bun-haired woman shot him a look. ¡°The only Flame Hound in the world belongs to a high schooler competing right now.¡± Flame Hound¡­ The wavy-haired man froze, then lit up. ¡°If you want to watch, just take leave. Wanna go together?¡± The woman sighed again and declined, ¡°No way. If I take leave, I¡¯ll lose this month¡¯s performance bonus.¡± She tilted her head back dramatically. ¡°Life as a corporate drone is so hard!¡± Fine, if you¡¯re not going, I am. The man pulled out his phone, ready to request leave. Just then, a crisp voice rang out at the counter: ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to update my pet information.¡± Chapter 371: Who Said Qiao Sang Was Bound to Lose? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1----- Thank you @Lemazing and @Absolute Zero for your donations in Ko-fi.???? The male staff member with wavy hair immediately put down his phone and greeted her with a professional smile. "Your information card, please." Qiao Sang handed over her card. He placed it on the scanner without looking up. "What updates do you need for your pet beast?" "My Flame Hound evolved. I need to update its information." Qiao Sang replied. Unlike before, she didn¡¯t summon her pet beast immediately. Advanced pet beasts were typically medium to large-sized. While it wasn¡¯t an issue during off-peak hours, summoning such a large creature in a crowded hall could disrupt order. To maintain order, the Beast Center had strict rules: Pet beasts over three meters tall could not be summoned in the main hall. If an update involved verifying advanced-level beasts, a designated room was required. The female staff member with a bun perked up, her ears catching the word Flame Hound. She snapped her head up, staring wide-eyed at the girl standing outside the window. What did she just say? Updating Flame Hound¡¯s information?! The wavy-haired staff member looked up simultaneously, their expressions perfectly synchronized in disbelief. Qiao Sang remained composed, she was used to this reaction by now. Flame Hound? Evolved? Impossible! The male staff member¡¯s pupils constricted, his mind racing with shock and confusion. He quickly glanced at the computer screen displaying the information. Whoa! It really is a Flame Hound! "Please follow me!" The male staff member''s eyes lit up as he stood abruptly, urgency evident in his tone. "Sure." Qiao Sang nodded, following him to the first room at the end of the left corridor on the ground floor. --- What luck! The Beastmaster of the Flame Hound came here! Thank goodness I didn¡¯t take the day off! The female staff member resisted the urge to cheer and followed them, her excitement bubbling over. But wait... the Flame Hound evolved?! Isn¡¯t she just a high school student? --- ¡°Yap!¡± Twenty minutes later, Yabao, her evolved Blaze Star Canine, finally let out an exasperated bark, protesting the two hands that had been prodding him incessantly. ? Only then did the two staff members reluctantly stop touching him. "What¡¯s the name of Flame Hound¡¯s evolved form?" The male staff member asked. According to the league¡¯s regulations, the first person to raise a new evolution had the right to name it. "Blazing Star Canine." Qiao Sang replied. "Blaze as in fire, and star as in the night sky." ¡°That¡¯s such a beautiful name!¡± The female staff member exclaimed with genuine admiration. "You have a real talent for naming!" ¡°Agreed. I could never come up with something that good.¡± The male staff member chimed in. Well, this name wasn¡¯t actually my idea, it¡¯s from the system, but I can see why people love hearing compliments, Qiao Sang thought, smiling bashfully. "You flatter me." Once they were done buttering her up, the female staff member hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, ¡°Could I get an autograph?¡± ¡°I want one too!¡± The male staff member quickly added. Wow, people already want my autograph? I¡¯m not used to this, Qiao Sang thought, scratching her head, a bit shy. "Alright." The two staff members were elated. ¡°Wait for me! I¡¯ll grab ink and paper!¡± The female staff member dashed off. ¡°Get me some paper too!¡± The male staff member called after her. Ink? Qiao Sang was momentarily confused. Something felt off. --- Three minutes later. The female staff member returned, carrying a huge tray of blue ink and a shirt. "I couldn¡¯t find paper big enough for Blazing Star Canine¡¯s pawprints, so I figured it could sign my shirt instead!" She placed the items on the floor, looking expectantly at Yabao. ¡°¡­¡± Oh. So the autograph is for Yabao¡­ Qiao Sang thought, utterly speechless. --- After leaving the Beast Center, Qiao Sang remembered the diamond gloves for her Littl Treasure and searched for the largest jewelry store in Kainan City on her phone. The store was about 11 kilometers away. Instead of taking a taxi, she enlarged the map on her phone and held it up to Little Treasure. ¡°Can you teleport us there?¡± Over the past two days, Qiao Sang had noticed a glaring flaw in her pet¡¯s spatial shift ability: It had terrible accuracy. If the destination was visible, he could teleport just fine. But if the coordinates required mental visualization, he always missed the mark. Last night, she had equipped her pet with a dual-direction tracker necklace from her stash of tools, ensuring she wouldn¡¯t have to report him as lost. Although spatial shift was a high-level skill, she was willing to keep training him occasionally. Not that I want to experience the thrill of waking up one minute before class and teleporting straight to school or anything¡­ ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure inspected the map confidently and nodded, indicating he could do it. Moments later, his paw touched Qiao Sang, and the world went dark. When her vision returned, she found herself beside an indoor swimming pool, surrounded by people in bikinis and swim trunks, all staring at her in surprise. As expected, wrong location again¡­ Maintaining her composure, Qiao Sang poked Little Treasure¡¯s cheek. ¡°Xun¡­¡± He looked embarrassed, squeaking an apology. --- S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Little Treasure prepared to try again, Qiao Sang¡¯s surroundings shifted once more. This time, she found herself standing in the middle of a busy street as cars zoomed toward her, horns blaring. ¡°!!¡± Heart pounding, Qiao Sang barely had time to gasp before her surroundings shifted again. When she opened her eyes, she was in a minimally decorated room. She let out a deep breath, leaning against the wall. I¡¯m alive¡­ ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure chirped, determined to get it right next time. Before he could act, Qiao Sang grabbed his paw. ¡°Give me a moment¡­¡± Who wouldn¡¯t need a moment to recover after almost getting run over? Suddenly, the sound of a door opening reached her ears, followed by approaching footsteps. Someone was back. Before she could command Little Treasure to teleport again, a man¡¯s irritated voice came from outside the door: ¡°Who said Qiao Sang was bound to lose? If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have arranged for her to face Ruan Yunwen! Now Shengshui High is stealing all the spotlight!¡± ----- Previous Chaper_Next Chapter ----- Chapter 372: Switching Opponents Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Had she just overheard something she wasn¡¯t supposed to? So, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence that she had been matched against Ruan Yunwen? It was deliberate! She steadied her breathing and shot a look at Little Treasure. Little Treasure instantly understood, covering his mouth with his paw and nodding. A younger man¡¯s voice, calm and indifferent, broke the silence. ¡°Your intel was inaccurate. Besides, you were the one who proposed putting them together. I only handled the logistics. The rest is none of my concern.¡± The middle-aged man who spoke earlier paused for a moment before softening his tone. ¡°That was my mistake. I hope you can pair Qiao Sang with Liang Yuan from Jiangyang No. 1 High tomorrow.¡± Liang Yuan from Jiangyang No. 1 High? Qiao Sang thought for a moment and quickly recalled who he was. Before coming to Kainan City, Teacher Sun had introduced Liang Yuan. His battle style was unremarkable, but his two pet beasts could pose a significant challenge: A Ghostshadow Vine, whose Shadow Trap trait could counter Little Seeker¡¯s teleportation, and a Purple Tile Rat, an electric-type beast that had a clear advantage over Dewdrop. ¡°Liang Yuan?¡± The younger man asked. The middle-aged man responded with a brief ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°His beasts can somewhat counter Qiao Sang¡¯s.¡± The younger man let out a derisive laugh. ¡°Counter? How exactly? Type advantage? Even Ruan Yunwen lost. You¡¯re counting on a student with basic type counters to win?¡± ¡°Even if he can¡¯t win, at least he can force her to reveal more of her trump cards.¡± The middle-aged man said in a grave tone. ¡°Take today, for example. Although the outcome wasn¡¯t what I expected, we did manage to see her Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Substitute and Spatial Shift abilities in action.¡± ? The sound of a chair being pushed back and a computer booting up reached Qiao Sang¡¯s ears. She remained perfectly still, not daring to make a sound. Anyone who could manipulate a national campus beast mastering leagues like this had to hold a significant position, probably even be a beastmaster themselves. And if they were a beastmaster, they likely benefited from beastmaster rebounding, an ability that enhanced a beastmaster¡¯s own senses and abilities. Since Qiao Sang had undergone beastmaster rebounding herself, her hearing had become almost superhuman. Seconds later, the younger man¡¯s voice came again, accompanied by the sound of rapid typing. ¡°Does Principal Huang know you¡¯re involving me in this?¡± Principal Huang? Qiao Sang¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°He?¡± The middle-aged man sneered. ¡°He¡¯s still dreaming of having Ding Yanjing pull out the Guwei Sunflower during his match against Qiao Sang to win the Potential Award.¡± ¡°So na?ve for someone his age. Sure, producing an advanced-level pet beast in the first semester of senior high is rare, but it happens every year across the country. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang is a freshman who has already developed three pages of the Beastmaster Codex and contracted three extremely rare beasts." ¡°Anyone with half a brain can see who deserves the award. Principal Huang should stop dreaming and focus on ensuring Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t make it to the top three.¡± So that¡¯s what this was all about, the Potential Award. But wasn¡¯t the prize just a bottle of A-tier Potential Enhancement Potion? Was it really worth all this? Qiao Sang frowned. The younger man¡¯s voice carried a hint of indifference. ¡°Looks like Principal Huang doesn¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to, then.¡± Silence filled the air once more. After a while, the middle-aged man spoke again. ¡°Whether he knows or not doesn¡¯t matter. If you want my recommendation for this year¡¯s election, I can help you.¡± The sound of typing ceased, and the younger man¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°I do think Qiao Sang is quite promising, but I¡¯ll only assist with this year¡¯s national campus beast mastering league.¡± He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s matchups are already set. I hope you¡¯ll provide updates soon.¡± Already set? That fast? Judging by the timing, he must have just done it on the computer... Qiao Sang kept her expression neutral as she analyzed the situation. Rumors of corruption in major competitions were nothing new, especially in highly publicized events. Some people would stop at nothing to secure victory. Recently, the internet had been abuzz with claims that Zhu Yongchang, last year¡¯s sixth-place finisher in the Lianbo District Tournament, had sabotaged his opponent¡¯s performance by organizing fireworks outside their hotel, sending drunk people to the wrong rooms, and even orchestrating fights in adjacent rooms, all to ensure his opponent couldn¡¯t sleep the night before the match. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected to face something like this so early in her academic career. Still, if all they were doing was assigning her a specific opponent... she wasn¡¯t worried. Having heard enough, she waited patiently until the sound of footsteps and a closing door indicated the house was empty. She stepped out of her hiding spot and into the spacious main room, where a high-end sofa set and coffee table occupied the center. By the window stood a large desk with a computer on it. Sitting at the desk, Qiao Sang powered up the computer. [What do I want most in life?] A password... of course. Summoning Yabao, she said, ¡°Can you sense what the previous user typed on this computer?¡± Yabao placed its paw on the computer, activating its Perception Sense ability. Within minutes, Qiao Sang had the password: [Overthrow the boss, become the boss.] Ambitious, she thought. Using Yabao¡¯s instructions, she navigated the system and eventually accessed the tool for manipulating match assignments. How despicable! Rigging matchups in a competition that¡¯s supposed to be fair and impartial? Good thing it¡¯s me they targeted. Anyone else might have been crushed... Qiao Sang thought as she typed, replacing Liang Yuan¡¯s name with Ding Yanjing¡¯s. Reporting this would be difficult without direct evidence or knowledge of their identities. Investigating further would take too much time and energy. Sometimes, the simplest form of retaliation was also the most effective: Switching their plans. --- The Next Day At Kainan¡¯s Beast Battle Arena, Qiao Sang took her seat under the watchful eyes of the crowd. She glanced toward the VIP section, trying to identify anyone matching the descriptions of the two men she had overheard. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Xu Yixuan asked curiously, following her gaze. ¡°Seeing who looks the most suspicious.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Why bother?¡± Xu Yixuan asked, puzzled. Before Qiao Sang could respond, Xu Yixuan leaned in and whispered, ¡°By the way, rumors are spreading online about your Flame Hound evolving. Did someone see your Blazing Star Canine yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang replied casually. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°True.¡± Xu Yixuan chuckled. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the comments, though. No one believes it¡¯s true.¡± Behind them, He Daitao chimed in, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who didn¡¯t believe it at first?¡± Xu Yixuan: ... Five minutes later, a man with an Extendowood Glider on his shoulder stepped into the arena. After a brief introduction, he pointed to the four massive virtual screens overhead, where the day¡¯s matchups were displayed. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because yesterday¡¯s round had halved the number of participants, all matchups were shown at once without scrolling. [Stone City No. 9 High, Xue Miao vs. Xiangshi Beastmaster High, Tang Xiangyu] [Compound International Beastmaster High, Xu Xing vs. Kai Nan No. 1 High, Yu Yang] [Jiangyang No. 1 High, Liang Yuan vs. Suochong Beastmaster High, Zhang Yifan] ... [Litan Beastmaster High, Ding Yanjing vs. Sacred Water High, Qiao Sang] ----- ----- Chapter 373: How Could This Be?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Time rewinds five minutes earlier. In the front row of the audience, the leadership section buzzed with cheerful conversation. ¡°Principal Wang, once the provincial tournament ends, would your school be open to a friendly match with ours?¡± Asked Fu Huaiyang, principal of Jiangyang No. 1 High School, with a broad smile. A friendly match refers to a competition held to foster camaraderie, exchange experiences, and improve combat standards. Schools are inherently competitive, especially those close in rank. Every year, they vie for outstanding students through various tactics. Although Jiangyang No. 1 High is a city-level key high school, it still falls a notch below Shengshui High. The two schools aren¡¯t in the same city, so there¡¯s no direct rivalry. With Qiao Sang''s recent rise at Shengshui High, particularly her victory yesterday over Ruan Yunwen, who owned the advanced-tier pet beast Glide Owl, using just her Treasure-Seeking Demon, Shengshui High had quickly become the talk of parents scouting for schools for their middle-school-aged children. Tying Jiangyang No. 1 High to Shengshui High through a friendly match, coupled with some media promotion, would boost their reputation significantly. The other principals present, experienced veterans, instantly saw through Fu Huaiyang¡¯s intentions. Before Wang Weidou could respond, Wu Zhipeng, principal of Hanwen Beast Taming No. 9 High, interjected casually: ¡°Principal Fu, isn¡¯t Jiangyang No. 1 High quite far from Hanggang City? Why not first consult Principal Huang from Litan Beast Taming High School, since you''re both in the same city?¡± Huang Renbiao stayed silent, unfazed. Friendly match with Litain? You mean letting my students get mentally crushed by Ding Yanjing? Fu Huaiyang glanced at Huang Renbiao and chuckled: ¡°Principal Huang is always so busy, but if the opportunity arises, I¡¯d certainly welcome it. Of course, it¡¯d only be for our first- and second-year students. After the final National Campus Beast Mastering league, we wouldn¡¯t want to distract the seniors from their academics.¡± Wu Zhipeng laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about distractions. With Litan¡¯s consistent top-tier performance in the national tournaments, I doubt any of their students will struggle to get into elite universities. I imagine many institutions are already offering them scholarships.¡± Then, turning to Huang Renbiao, he added: ¡°Principal Huang, are we scheduling our friendly match after the provincial tournament as usual?¡± What a sycophant... Fu Huaiyang shot Wu Zhipeng a side-eye glance. It¡¯s not flattery; it¡¯s networking. Wu Zhipeng¡¯s expression subtly challenged him back. Does this guy even get it? As a longtime ally of Litan Beast Taming High, Wu Zhipeng knew about Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom evolving into a Guwei Sunflower. Sure, the students may dislike competing against Ding Yanjing, but if they can¡¯t handle this, what real potential do they have? Facing adversity and overcoming it fosters growth. Only by confronting their challenges can they truly advance. Meanwhile, Huang Renbiao replied evenly: ¡°That¡¯s fine. However, if Jiangyang No. 1 High also wants a friendly match, it might need to be scheduled later. After the provincial tournament, our first- and second-year team members will be training with Ding Yanjing, leaving time for only one match.¡± ? Wu Zhipeng grinned. Fu Huaiyang¡¯s forced smile faltered slightly. Though he¡¯d anticipated rejection, it still stung, especially when Huang Renbiao accepted Hanwen Beast Taming No. 9 High before declining Jiangyang No. 1 High. For principals at their level, public face sometimes outweighs practical benefits. At that moment, Wang Weidou chimed in: ¡°Now, now, Principal Fu approached our school first for a friendly match. I¡¯m sure he has no time to spare after that.¡± Fu Huaiyang, startled, quickly brightened up. ¡°Exactly, Principal Wang, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡± Huang Renbiao glanced at Wang Weidou, who met his gaze head-on, a silent clash of wills erupting between them. Just then, an announcement echoed through the venue: ¡°The matchups have been finalized. Please check the large screens.¡± Almost immediately, a slightly chubby middle-aged man with a crew cut bolted upright in the leadership section, his expression incredulous as he stared at the virtual screen: ¡°How could this be?!¡± Wang Weidou and Huang Renbiao turned toward the screen. When their gazes landed on two specific names, their eyes widened in unison, their faces mirroring shock. Then, they locked eyes again, the tension between them now a hundredfold stronger. Around them, other leaders froze momentarily, confusion and astonishment spreading as they noticed the unexpected pairing: Ding Yanjing from Litan Beast Taming High School vs. Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School! --- In the competitors'' zone. ¡°Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Qiao Sang, your opponent is Ding Yanjing!¡± He Datou exclaimed in utter disbelief. Xu Yixuan¡¯s eyes were as wide as saucers. ¡°First Ruan Yunwen yesterday, now Ding Yanjing today... What kind of luck is this?¡± Luck? This was all orchestrated... Qiao Sang glanced at Ding Yanjing, wondering if he was aware of the path his school had paved for him. Ding Yanjing, however, merely raised an eyebrow at the matchup on the screen, his expression calm and unaffected. Li Zonglin clicked his tongue. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Qiao Sang to face you right after beating Ruan Yunwen. I thought Old Zhang-¡± He abruptly stopped mid-sentence. Wang Rui frowned. ¡°If Old Zhang arranged this, it¡¯s not exactly fair. Qiao Sang clearly has the skill to reach the top three. Forcing this matchup is low.¡± ¡°Maybe it really was a random draw.¡± Li Zonglin said. ¡°Qiao Sang¡¯s strong, sure, but she¡¯s no threat to Ding-ge. With Ruan Yunwen already eliminated, the first place is ours. There¡¯s no need for tricks.¡± Ding Yanjing spoke up: ¡°Whether Old Zhang set this up or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯d face her sooner or later. No point overthinking it.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, Li Zonglin nudged Ding Yanjing, lowering his voice conspiratorially: ¡°Looks like Qiao Sang¡¯s watching you.¡± Ding Yanjing turned his head and indeed saw Qiao Sang staring at him. He smiled at her, a friendly, almost charming gesture. When it came to pretty girls about to lose to him, Ding Yanjing always played the gentleman. ----- ----- Chapter 374: Qiao Sang VS. Ding Yanjing Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Old Zhang... so he knew all along... Qiao Sang retracted her gaze. At this moment, many people had noticed the battle lineup. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire Kainan Beast Battle Arena erupted into a buzz, the chatter growing increasingly lively and chaotic. "Whoa! Litan Royal Beast High School vs. Shengshui High School? How come these two major schools are facing off so soon this year?" "Qiao Sang seems so unlucky. It¡¯s only the second day of the competition, and she¡¯s already up against Ruan Yunwen once and now Ding Yanjing." "I know Ding Yanjing! He¡¯s won the provincial first place in the National Campus Beast Mastering League twice in a row. He¡¯s insanely strong." "I remember him. Yesterday, he defeated his opponent in just one minute using a Flash-Leaving Crow." "But Qiao Sang isn¡¯t bad either. She¡¯s won two matches in a row using her Treasure-Seeker Demon, and one of those victories was against a Glide Owl." "I can¡¯t believe these two are matched up. Today¡¯s battle is going to be epic." Today¡¯s match, or rather, this elimination round, had the biggest highlight yet: Ding Yanjing vs. Qiao Sang. --- Shengshui High School Class 9, Grade 12. It was break time. A boy sitting in the back corner raised a heavy textbook upright, pretending to read diligently. Suddenly, he stood up with a jolt, causing the book to fall over. Holding his now-revealed phone, the boy exclaimed, "Holy crap!" Everyone in the class turned to him. "What¡¯s wrong?" "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang is matched against Ding Yanjing!" tThe boy said excitedly. The mention of Ding Yanjing left no one in the class indifferent, especially since one of their classmates, Xue Chuhua, had quit the school team because of him. That incident had been the talk of Shengshui High for quite some time. The class fell into a mix of shock and worry. Among the Grade 12 students, no one had a clearer or more fearful impression of Ding Yanjing than his peers. Although they had heard of Qiao Sang defeating Ruan Yunwen yesterday, they also knew Ruan Yunwen¡¯s Command Glide Owl had suddenly lost control during the match, as it had in the previous two tournaments. ???? An out-of-control high-level beast would undoubtedly have its strength significantly diminished. Ding Yanjing might not have a high-level beast, but his strength was universally recognized as the best among high school students in the province. Was their school¡¯s Light of Shengshui going to end here? At this moment, a boy sitting by the second-to-last row by the window, with a sharp jawline and black hair covering half his forehead, suddenly got up and walked out of the classroom. His deskmate called out, "Xue Chuhua! Where are you going?" "To ask the teacher for leave." Xue Chuhua replied without turning back. "The teacher won¡¯t approve it!" The deskmate shouted. "Then I¡¯ll just skip class," Xue Chuhua said before leaving the room. The classmates exchanged complex looks. Everyone knew what he was going to do, he was definitely heading off to watch the live match. --- Twenty minutes later. In his dorm room, Xue Chuhua sat with his phone in hand, watching the provincial elimination match live. His eyes brimmed with hope. --- Kainan Beast Battle Arena The matches had been ongoing for over two hours, with most outcomes being fairly predictable. The spectators, seasoned in beast battles, could usually tell who would win as soon as the beasts were summoned and made their first moves. However, there were always one or two exceptions. "That kid, Liao Chaonan, is interesting. He had his Toxic-Tailed Moth play dead to lure the opponent closer, then landed a poison strike when they let their guard down." "I bet his coach taught him that trick. Kids this age wouldn¡¯t normally think that deviously." "Times have changed, brother. Kids these days are sharp." "If he ends up against Huang Kaijun from Lianyu Royal Beast Academy, that¡¯d be a match worth watching." "Haha, speaking of Huang Kaijun, his earlier match was hilarious. He had his Eight-Barrel Coral pretend to jump to dodge an attack. That Desert-Tail Fox actually tried a Sky Stone strike mid-air, only for the coral to fake the jump and land a direct attack instead." "Yeah, and he even yelled ¡®jump¡¯ so loudly, as if afraid no one would hear it." Watching from above, Qiao Sang had taken note of both competitors. Hearing about their tactics was one thing, but witnessing them firsthand was another. Oddly, she felt their strategies might suit her Little Treasure. As the matches continued, the massive virtual screen lit up with the next round''s lineup. At the same time, a standard announcer¡¯s voice echoed throughout the arena: "Ding Yanjing of Litan Royal Beast High School and Qiao Sang of Shengshui High School, please enter the arena." The crowd¡¯s energy surged. The commentator enthusiastically introduced the competitors: "Today, at the Kainan Beast Battle Arena, the most anticipated match in Zhejiang Province will soon begin! Ding Yanjing, who has claimed first place in the National Campus Royal Beast League for Zhejiang Province two years in a row, has represented our province on larger stages many times." "On the other hand, Qiao Sang, with her extraordinary talent, has consistently defeated opponents at higher levels, crushing her way to this point." "Will Ding Yanjing achieve his dream of becoming the provincial three-time champion, or will Qiao Sang perform another miracle to claim victory?" "Let¡¯s turn our attention to the arena!" Under everyone¡¯s eager gazes, Qiao Sang and Ding Yanjing stood at opposite ends of the battlefield. --- Players'' Area Xu Yixuan let out a long breath. "Why does this match feel more nerve-wracking than when I competed?" He Daotao glanced at her. "The match hasn¡¯t even started yet." "¡­I know." Xu Yixuan stared at the arena. "If the principal¡¯s information is correct, and Ding Yanjing¡¯s Guwei Blossom has really evolved into a Guwei Sunflower, what do you think Qiao Sang¡¯s chances of winning are?" He Daotao pondered. "Their beasts evolved around the same time. I haven¡¯t seen the Blazing Star Canine in action, nor have I seen how the Guwei Sunflower performs post-evolution. And Ding Yanjing¡¯s Flash-Leaing Crow is no pushover either... Let¡¯s just watch. If I were that insightful, I wouldn¡¯t have failed to make the top ten." Xu Yixuan: ... --- On the Field Qiao Sang and Ding Yanjing simultaneously formed hand seals. Gray and green star arrays lit up as Flash_Leaving Crow and the Treasure-Seeking Demon appeared. Flash-Leaving Crow, an intermediate beast of the Electric and Flying types, was widely recognized for its incredible speed and attack power in the Yuhua region¡¯s rankings. Qiao Sang studied the yellow-bodied beast with wings longer than its tail, recalling its details. Meanwhile, Ding Yanjing¡¯s expression grew more serious as he eyed the Treasure-Seeking Demon. The whistle signaling the start of the match sounded, and the Treasure-Seeking Demon vanished from its spot. Ding Yanjing stood still, issuing no commands, his expression unperturbed. Then- "Li!" The Flash-Leaving Crow let out a cry, and yellow lightning began crackling around its body. At that exact moment, Qiao Sang felt a strong sense of danger. She instinctively shouted, "Fall back!" Litle Treasure had used ihis invisibility and teleportation to approach stealthily, but as he reappeared, the lightning coiled and interwove into a massive net in front of the Flash-Leaving Crow. The instant Litle Treasure reappeared, the net surged toward him. Thankfully, Qiao Sang¡¯s timely command caused Little Treasure to flinch and teleport back to his original spot just before the lightning could touch him. After the brief exchange, Qiao Sang looked across the field at Ding Yanjing. This guy... he didn¡¯t just get here because of some school favoritism. ----- ----- Chapter 375: Playing It Safe Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The audience, mostly seasoned beastmasters, could immediately gauge the skill levels of the competitors. Despite only one brief exchange so far, it was clear this match was high-level for a high school competition. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Excitement and anticipation ran high among the crowd. "Wow, no wonder they''re star contestants, just their presence feels different!" "Did you notice? Ding Yanjing didn''t even need to command Flash-Leaving Crow to aim the lightning net. It¡¯s like he already knew Treasure-Seeking Demon would appear there. He must have thoroughly studied Qiao Sang¡¯s battle style and prepared in advance." "And Qiao Sang¡¯s battle instincts are impressive too. She noticed Flash-Leaving Crow¡¯s intent right away." "Not to mention how quick Treasure-Seeking Demon''s reactions are." "This match is going to be good." --- On the Field "Xun..." Litle Treasure stared at the imposing opponent in midair, his expression gradually growing serious. "Thunderbolt." Ding Yanjing commanded. "Fwee!" Flash-Leaving Crow flapped its wings forcefully, sending bolts of yellow lightning crackling through the air. The streaks of electricity converged and hurtled toward Little Treasure''s position with terrifying speed. "Xun!" Startled, Little Treasure teleported to dodge. But as soon as he landed elsewhere, another bolt of lightning streaked toward him from Flash-Leaving Crow. Lightning bolts rained down with relentless speed and ferocity, leaving Little Treasure scrambling to avoid them. Barely evading one attack, he found another descending from above, forcing him to teleport again in desperation. Boom! A deafening explosion rocked the field as a bolt struck the ground, shattering nearby stones into dust. The sheer destructive power kept Little Treasure on edge, unable to rest even for a moment. Flash-Leaving Crow¡¯s energy was evidently far beyond that of a typical mid-tier beast, capable of unleashing continuous Thunderbolt attacks without pause. Ding Yanjing¡¯s confidence suggested he wasn¡¯t even worried about it running out of energy. This wasn''t sustainable... Qiao Sang analyzed the situation rapidly. Seeing that Flash-Leaving Crow had remained stationary during its attacks, her eyes lit up as she shouted: "Go for the ground!" The meaning of this cryptic command eluded most spectators, but Little Treasure, who shared a certain synergy with Qiao Sang, immediately understood. "Xun!" He vanished from its spot, reappearing on the ground. A lightning bolt followed instantly, poised to strike from ten meters above. With a swift flick of his short claw, Little Treasure extended his shadow across the ground, connecting to Flash-Leaving Crow''s shadow overhead. Then, he twisted his claw to the left. Simultaneously, Flash-Leavinf Crow shifted uncontrollably to the left, causing the lightning bolt to miss its target entirely. Cheers erupted from the audience. "This is a thrilling speed showdown!" "Flash-Leavinf Crow¡¯s been hit with a Shadow Conrol. Looks like Qiao Sang is going to win this one." "Don¡¯t jump to conclusions just yet." "FlashLeaving Crow¡¯s relentless attack rhythm had me thinking Treasure-Seeking Demon was done for earlier." "The teamwork between Qiao Sang and Treasur-Seeking Demon is incredible. Just a single word, ground, and they knew exactly what to do." Meanwhile, live streams on official platforms were filled with comments: [6666! Loving the battle pacing!] [Still no Ice Qiya in sight, sigh.] [AAAAH! Qiao Sang, crush Ding Yanjing!] [She¡¯s amazing! Take him down!] [Destroy him! Totally obliterate him!] [Treasure-Seeking Demon can teleport, right? Why doesn¡¯t it just warp onto Flash-Leaving Crow and control it directly?] [Too risky. Ding Yanjing¡¯s Flash-Leaving Crow probably has Static. If Treasure-Seeking Demon gets paralyzed, it¡¯s over.] [Why does it feel like everyone¡¯s rooting for Qiao Sang today?] [Let me guess: It¡¯s all the high school seniors?] [Nailed it.] --- Beast Battle Arena, Front Row In the VIP section, Principal Wang Wei stiffened his posture and smiled smugly. "Principal Huang." He said, "your Ding Yanjing is still using the same old tricks, lightning nets and Thunderbolts. No innovation there." Principal Huang Renbiao, calm as ever, replied, "Your Qiao Sang isn¡¯t much different, teleporting to attack, then resorting to Shadow Control when that fails." "That¡¯s not the point." Wang Wei¡¯s smile widened. "The key is that the move works. See? Shadow Control has already made an impact." "Has it, though?" Huang Renbiao¡¯s neutral expression didn¡¯t waver. Wang Wei squinted. Logically, once a beast of the same tier was caught by Shadow Control, defeat was almost inevitable. So why was Huang so unfazed? Could he be banking on Ding Yanjing using Guwei Sunflower to turn the tables? --- On the Field "Xun!" Little Treasure gleefully called out as his Shadow Control succeeded, twisting his claw to execute a rare move. Spinning. "Fwee!" Flash-Leaving Crow twirled uncontrollably in midair. The audience, especially those unfamiliar with Qiao Sang¡¯s prior matches, were bewildered. "Wow, so Shadow Control, such a high-tier skill, can be used like this?" Ding Yanjing frowned at his spinning partner. This was a mistake, but not an insurmountable one. Flash-Leaving Crow had undergone extensive anti-dizziness training, and the cleansing potions provided by the school were no joke. For now, he¡¯d let it spin and wait for the right moment... Just as he formulated his plan, Qiao Sang shouted, "Don¡¯t stop!" "Xun~" Little Treasure raised his claw and spun Flash-Leaving Crow again. "Fwee!" Flash-Leaving Crow cried out in distress. Ding Yanjing: !!! What¡¯s going on? It shouldn¡¯t sound this distressed¡­ Qiao Sang frowned. Flash-Leaving Crow¡¯s cries seemed off. They weren¡¯t nearly as pitiful as what her Beast Companion had sounded like during his first spinning experience. Better spin it a bit more, just to be safe¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 376: Ruthless Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The contestants on the bench all had the same thought flash through their minds when they saw the scene unfold: The rumors were true, Qiao Sang really has a penchant for dizzying her opponents¡­ "No more waiting..." Ding Yanjing¡¯s heart tightened. He decisively switched his strategy and commanded: "Use the electric shock now!" "Fwe!" The Flash-Leaving Crow, Ya Ya, opened its eyes upon hearing the order. Its gaze was sharp and clear, a stark contrast to its earlier helpless state of wailing. It let out a cry as lightning spread across its body, yellow arcs of electricity surging along the rotation''s direction and descending from mid-air in an instant. The lightning formed a circular pattern, wildly crackling and dancing across the ground. Bang! Bang! Bang! Explosions echoed as shallow pits appeared on the ground, accompanied by flying debris. Some fragments inevitably flew in the direction of the Treasure-Seeking Demon. Ding Yanjing recalled Coach Zhang¡¯s teachings: "Using high-level skills requires focus. For skills like Shadow Control, energy flow must be sustained. No matter the skill, as long as it¡¯s still being executed, it can be interrupted." "Shadow Control is a high-level skill, but its efficacy depends on the user. Essentially, it''s a shadow-based technique. For a Treasure-Seeking Demon, a small, underdeveloped one at that, its shadow extension is significantly limited." "Even though this Treasure-Seeking Demon has mastered the three-dimensional mode of Shadow Control, the mode has its flaws when used for binding control." "First, it can only bind larger opponents after getting close, as its small size limits the shadow¡¯s range." "Second, sufficient strength is required. Look at its previous battle videos: Every time it tried to bind flying beasts in three-dimensional mode, it couldn''t pull them down. That¡¯s because it lacks the strength to drag its opponents." "It''s like using an unbreakable rope to tie someone up. To drag them, you need the strength to match." "In two-dimensional mode, Shadow Control doesn¡¯t require strength, but any disruption can break it." "If your pet gets its shadow controlled, don¡¯t panic. When the shadows connect, the ghost-type beast must stay stationary. Just find a way to force the Treasure-Seeking out of position." As Ding Yanjing watched debris continuously pelt the Treasure-Seeking Demon, his confidence surged, and his usual expression returned. So what if it knows a high-level skill? Once you understand it, breaking it is a piece of cake. Just then, Qiao Sang¡¯s voice rang out from across the battlefield: "Use the opponent as a shield." Ding Yanjing: ??? Before he could react, the Treasure-Seeking Demon abruptly stopped spinning and lunged downward, suddenly spinning again with even greater force. The controlled Flash-Leaving Crow ceased its rotation as well and dropped straight down. It came to an abrupt halt just one centimeter above the ground, then began circling the Treasure-Seeking Demon in a wide radius. ? Although the Flash-Leaving Crow didn¡¯t discharge electricity during its descent, its rapid fall caused debris from its earlier strikes to continue flying. These fragments now struck the Flash-Leaving Crow itself. Ding Yanjing¡¯s face froze as exclamation marks flooded his mind. What the hell?! This works?! Meanwhile, the audience erupted into cheers and applause. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Who would believe this was done by a high school student?" "Incredible! If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have thought to use the Flash-Leaving Crow to shield against attacks so quickly." "Please, don¡¯t compare yourself to them. You''re 36 and only have two pets." "That Flash-Leaving Crow is amazing too. It¡¯s been spinning like that and hasn¡¯t gotten dizzy. It can even attack while being controlled." "Right? I can¡¯t even keep my eyes open on a pendulum ride, let alone use my phone!" "And that Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s reaction speed is insane. It not only understands Qiao Sang¡¯s instructions but executes them instantly." Reaction speed is different from reflex. Reaction speed depends on the coordination between sensory and neuromuscular systems. If the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s actions were purely instinctive, the observer wouldn¡¯t be so impressed. Reflexes are unconscious and can be trained over time. But reaction speed is more hereditary, with limited room for improvement. In other words, it requires both intelligence and talent. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Treasure-Seeking Demon comprehended its master¡¯s commands, acted immediately, and timed the counter perfectly to block debris. Such capabilities aren¡¯t easily trainable. --- On the battlefield. If this goes on, I¡¯m going to lose. What should I do? Ding Yanjing¡¯s gaze swept across the field, landing on the ground. His eyes sharpened as he shouted: "Stab your beak into the ground!" The Flash-Leaving Crow was already dizzy, but the pain it felt kept it conscious. Hearing its trainer¡¯s command clearly, it opened its eyes and saw the ground just inches away. This is going to hurt... The thought flashed through its mind before it steeled itself. Without hesitation, it lowered its head forcefully, driving its sharp black beak into the ground. Meanwhile, Little Treasure continued spinning, dragging its shadow along. The ground was plowed into a ten-centimeter-wide trench before the Flash-Leaving Crow¡¯s motion finally stopped. Due to its size and angle, Little Treasure didn¡¯t notice the Flash-Leaving Crow stabbing its beak into the earth. Curious, he shifted his short claws in the same spinning direction. "Xun?" Little Treasure looked confused. Why can¡¯t I control it anymore? A gutsy move! Qiao Sang thought. For a high schooler, this decisiveness is rare indeed. "Pull it out." Qiao Sang commanded. Pull it out? Little Treasure paused in confusion. In that moment, Ding Yanjing seized the opportunity: "Use Thunderbolt on the ground!" Electric currents surged from the Flash-Leaving Crow, flooding into the trench beneath it. The battlefield quaked. The ground beneath the Treasure Seeker cracked and collapsed. "Xun!" Little Treasure had no choice but to sever his shadow control and teleport into the air. "Fwe!!!" Although the Flash-Leaving Crow had unleashed the attack, its beak remained in the ground. Unable to escape, debris from the collapse rained down, injuring it further. "Fwe¡­" When the dust settled, the Flash-Leaving Crow panted heavily, battered and bruised, struggling to rise. Now¡¯s my chance¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Shadow Ball." "Xun~" A dark orb about 20 centimeters wide formed in Little Treasure¡¯s left claw and shot toward the Flash-Leaving Crow, knocking it back down. "Fwee!" The Flash-Leaving Crow collapsed. Ding Yanjing¡¯s expression darkened. It had been so long since he last assessed the Flash-Leaving Crow¡¯s defensive capabilities that he underestimated the damage it would take. In contrast, the Treasure-Seeking Demon remained unharmed, having only spent some energy. This match was a miscalculation. But it didn¡¯t matter, he still had the Guwei Sunflower. "Fwe¡­" The Flash-Leaving Crow opened its eyes, wings trembling as it tried to get up. It didn¡¯t give up. But then it saw the look of disappointment on its trainer¡¯s face. "Fwe¡­" The strength keeping it going suddenly vanished. Its eyes dimmed, and it slowly closed them. Chapter 377: Blazing Star Canine VS. Guwei Sunflower Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Tweet!" The whistle sounded. Immediately after, a professional announcer''s voice echoed through the broadcast system, carrying across the Kainan Pet Beast Arena. "In the first match, Shengshui High School''s Qiao Sang wins!" "Wow!" Deafening cheers erupted as the audience burst into chaos. Especially in the contestants'' area, disbelief painted everyone''s faces. This was a shock only those in the current senior year could truly comprehend. Ding Yanjing, the once-invincible shadow over the entire senior grade team, lost just like that?! "What the heck?! Is Qiao Sang some kind of monster?!" "Is this a turning point?!" "What''s Ding Yanjing doing?! He crushed me completely, only to lose to a freshman?!" "Can¡¯t blame him entirely. Think about it: A Ghost-type plus a Psychic-type pet beast, paired with triple-dimensional shadow control? No matter how fast Flash-Leaving Crow is, it¡¯s not enough." "To be fair, Ding Yanjing fought well. If Flash-Leaving Crow had stronger defenses and escaped the shadow control, there was a chance he could¡¯ve turned it around. Treasure-Seeking Demon is just too fragile, it would¡¯ve been knocked out in one strike." "Yeah, he¡¯s still the first one to break free of shadow control." "Honestly, the way he made Flash-Leaving Crow bury its beak in the ground to break free? Genius. I¡¯d never think of that!" "Don''t forget, Guwei Sunflower is Ding Yanjing''s trump card." Most of the spectators in the contestants'' area had suffered defeats at Ding Yanjing''s hands before. Though they secretly relished his loss, outwardly, they scrambled to make excuses for him. After all, if Ding Yanjing wasn¡¯t good, what did that say about them, who he utterly dominated before? Unlike the hypocritical contestants, the live stream chat was far more honest. [A new provincial champion is born!] [Haha, Ding the Villain, today¡¯s your day!] [Qiao Sang is amazing!] [Can we see Ice Qiya now? Please?] [No way! I thought it was a joke, but Ding Yanjing actually lost?!] [From today on, I¡¯m a die-hard Qiao Sang fan!] [Holy! What even just happened?!] [Second match, come on, Monster Qiao!] [But Ding still has Guwei Sunflower...] [I hope Qiao Sang¡¯s beast isn¡¯t afraid of tickling!] [Serious moment: I just laughed so hard I pulled a muscle...] --- At the Kainan Pet Beast Arena, in the VIP section of the audience: Principal Wang Weidou couldn''t hold back his laughter any longer. "Ha! Principal Huang, Ding Yanjing is still impressive, but it¡¯s just bad luck he ran into our Qiao Sang so early. Otherwise, he¡¯d definitely make it into the top three this year!" ? He shot a meaningful glance at Fu Huaiyang sitting nearby, urging him to say something to provoke Principal Huang Renbiao. Fu Huaiyang: ??? Why are you looking at me?! Sure, we scheduled a friendly match, but I¡¯m still from the same city as Litan. If I help you out now and Huang makes trouble for me later, what then? Feigning ignorance, Fu Huaiyang pretended not to understand Wang¡¯s hint. Wang Weidou kept glancing at him so hard it nearly gave him a tic. Left with no choice, Fu Huaiyang cleared his throat and said emotionlessly: "Ah, I¡¯m looking forward to the next match." Wang Weidou: ... Oh, right. The next match was against Guwei Sunflower. No one noticed that the middle-aged man seated beside Huang Renbiao, whose face had been dark earlier, was now wearing an unreadable expression. Huang Renbiao remained silent, unsure how to respond to Wang Weidou¡¯s smugness. For now, he kept his face expressionless. Let¡¯s see how much you¡¯re gloating when Ding Yangjin summons Guwei Sunflower... Huang thought grimly. --- On the battlefield: "I admit you¡¯re strong, but do you really think this is enough to beat me?" Ding Yanjing stared at Qiao Sang intently. Qiao Sang blinked. "Yeah, I do." Ding Yanjing: ... He paused, then said, "That was just a mistake earlier." Qiao Sang nodded. "I know. Flash-Leaving Crow burned most of its energy early on and got injured. That last move was a bad call." Ding Yanjing was stunned speechless. "Tweet!" The whistle for summoning new pet beasts blew. Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded: [Ice Qiya! Please summon Ice Qiya!] [Flame Hound! I want to see Flame Hound!] [Forget it. Qiao Sang always sticks to one beast until it loses. No way she summons something else unless Treasure-Seeking Demon falls.] [In that case, I kind of hope she loses a round first.] [No! I need Ice Qiya!] [Treasure-Seeking Demon is cute, though. I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing more of it.] [From what I¡¯ve seen, there¡¯s a high chance she¡¯ll summon something new, she already recalled Treasure-Seeking Demon.] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ice Qiya, come on!] [Not happening. Ding Yangjin¡¯s next beast is Grass-type. Summoning a Water-type would be ridiculous.] [But Ice Qiya also has Ice attributes! Perfect against Grass!] [Enough arguing. The match is starting. Just watch to find out.] Millions of viewers leaned in front of their screens. The livestream showed a green and gray summoning circle. Then the chat flooded so thick it obscured the entire screen. Around 70% of viewers did the same thing at the same time: They turned off the chat. --- The arena fell into brief silence. Then, in an explosion of movement, nearly everyone in the audience and contestant sections leaped to their feet, staring wide-eyed and excited at the new beast on the field, a red and white creature radiating elegance and power. Chaos broke loose again. "What the?! What?!" "That¡¯s not just Flame Hound! It¡¯s evolved into a high-tier beast!" "Oh my god, this is incredible!" "Ahhhh! This trip was worth it!" "Wait! Look! There¡¯s Guwei Sunflower too!" "Just from appearances, you can tell that¡¯s Flame Hound¡¯s evolved form!" "I saw rumors online about this evolution and called it fake. Turns out, I was the fool..." The broadcast crackled with static before the announcer¡¯s trembling, excited voice cut through: "Quiet! Everyone, please quiet down!" The chaos barely subsided. "The match is about to begin! Please return to your seats and maintain silence!" Right. The match... Slowly, the audience settled back, phones out and recording. In the VIP section: Huang Renbiao snapped out of his daze, his expression complicated as he glanced at Wang Weidou, whose grin was nearly splitting his face. For the first time, he spoke first: "No wonder you¡¯re so confident in Qiao Sang¡¯s victory." When finally addressed, Wang Weidou surprisingly feigned modesty: "Haha, was I?" Huang Renbiao: ... --- On the battlefield: Ding Yanjing¡¯s mind went blank as he stared at Qiao Sang¡¯s newly summoned beast. Flame Hound had... evolved?! Yabao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he locked onto his opponent. If not for the crowd, he would¡¯ve taken a victory lap already. "Yap!" Finally, a real fight! Guwei Sunflower trembled under the intense gaze of the majestic beast. Wait... Didn¡¯t its trainer promise it would scare away any opponent? Why did this one look so excited?! "Tweet!" The mechanical referee¡¯s whistle signaled the start. Guwei Sunflower instantly released white spore-like balls into the air. The wind scattered them across the battlefield, creating a pervasive, ominous presence. Ding Yangjin took a deep breath, steadying himself. They¡¯d planned this, these spores would weaken any opponent they touched, even an evolved Flame Hound. But Qiao Sang calmly raised her hand. She had been waiting for this moment. Millions of viewers watched as Qiao Sang¡¯s ponytail swayed. The camera zoomed in as she snapped her fingers. The majestic beast lifted its head and unleashed a massive red energy ball into the sky. In the next instant, a fiery rainstorm descended, engulfing the entire battlefield in flames. Even through their screens, viewers could feel the terrifying, destructive power. The entire battlefield seemed transformed into a forbidden land of flames, one that would incinerate anything daring to set foot within. When the fiery onslaught finally ceased, the scene revealed a scorched and devastated ground, riddled with blackened craters tinged with glowing red, still emitting heat. And amidst the devastation lay a fainted beast, its original appearance unrecognizable, its body entirely charred black. Chapter 378: Number One in Trending List Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Everyone watching the livestream sat frozen in front of their computers. "Whoa!" After a few seconds, the whistle signifying the end of the match sounded in the video, snapping the audience back to reality. Instantly, millions of people erupted in excitement, their hands flying to their keyboards to flood the screen with comments. At that moment, it seemed like everyone¡¯s typing speed had leveled up. [What the heck did I just see?! What did I just witness?!] [AAAAHHHH! I thought this would be a three-hundred-round epic battle, but it turned into a complete stomp!] [This gave me goosebumps!] [Oh my god, that finger snap was way too cool!] [I seriously suspect she¡¯s showing off on purpose!] [Does Qiao Sang have a social media account? I need to follow her!] [Ugh, I can¡¯t believe I fell for her act, but I love it!] [Is Meteor Rain really this strong?! I¡¯ve seen a general-level fire-type beast use it, and it wasn¡¯t this insane!] [The proficiency here is absolutely at a master level!] [Someone tell me the name of this ridiculously cool beast!] [You¡¯re telling me this is from a high school student?!] [A one-shot KO?! It¡¯s actually a one-shot KO!] [What happened? I just went to grab a glass of water, and the match was over?!] [The evolved form of Flame Hound hits all my aesthetic buttons!] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Whoa! Is this beast from the Yuhua region? What¡¯s its name? It¡¯s ridiculously cool!] The Kainan Beast Battle Arena was in complete chaos. The adrenaline of the live audience surged collectively, their shock so overwhelming that nearly every sentence they uttered was punctuated by exclamations of "Whoa!" as they excitedly discussed the match. On the battlefield, Ding Yanjing stood frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded. He looked as if he had completely lost his senses. It wasn¡¯t until the referee called out to him several times that he finally reacted, albeit stiffly. As he exited the stage, his body was rigid, and his soul seemed absent. Normally, if the students from Litan Beastmaster High saw him like this, they would have rushed over to check on him. But now, everyone was still immersed in the awe of Qiao Sang¡¯s performance, too stunned to notice him at alll. In the VIP section of the audience: The school leaders sat in silence, their minds blank from the overwhelming visual impact and shock of what they had just witnessed. "The match... is over?" Huang Renbiao stared blankly at the red-and-white beast on the field, unable to take his eyes off it. After a long pause, his trembling hand reached into his suit pocket, intending to pull out a cigarette. But just as he touched the pack, he remembered the occasion and withdrew his hand. ???? Turning to Wang Weidou, Huang Renbiao fixed him with a deep gaze and said in a low voice: ¡°Principal Wang, congratulations.¡± Wang Weidou, still dazed, responded with a vague, ¡°Oh.¡± After a moment of silence, Huang Renbiao asked, ¡°How does Qiao Sang usually train?¡± You¡¯re asking me? I want to know too¡­ Wang Weidou replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Huang Renbiao frowned slightly. ¡°When did Qiao Sang¡¯s Flame Hound¡­ or rather, its evolved form, master Meteor Rain to this degree?¡± Wang Weidou shook his head again. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Huang Renbiao¡¯s brows furrowed further. ¡°When did she even learn Meteor Rain?¡± Wang Weidou continued shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Huang Renbiao¡¯s expression twisted briefly. Mentally cursing, he thought to himself, What a waste for a genius like Qiao Sang to stay in a school like Shengshui High¡­ Just then, the arena announcement came on, stating that the next match was postponed to the following morning due to the severe damage to the field. The audience, however, showed no intention of leaving. Instead, they continued snapping photos and recording videos of Qiao Sang and Yabao with their phones. Huang Renbiao couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. He got up and left his seat. After a few steps, he realized Old Zhang hadn¡¯t followed him. Turning back, he saw Old Zhang still seated, his face ashen as he muttered to himself. ¡°Old Zhang, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Huang Renbiao reminded him. ¡°No¡­ this isn¡¯t right¡­¡± Old Zhang looked utterly defeated. ¡°Old Zhang!¡± Huang Renbiao raised his voice. Old Zhang looked up at him, suddenly springing to his feet, his face contorted with emotion. ¡°This isn¡¯t right!¡± Huang Renbiao thought he was referring to Ding Yanjing¡¯s loss to Qiao Sang and fell silent. He knew how much effort Old Zhang had invested in Ding Yanjing, especially this year. Old Zhang had always believed that Ding Yanjing could secure a top-ten spot in the national regional beastmaster competition, giving him a chance to transfer to an imperial capital school. It was only natural for someone with ambition to aim for better opportunities. While he understood Old Zhang¡¯s disappointment, he also knew there was no point in dwelling on it. Just as Huang Renbiao was considering whether to say something comforting, Old Zhang walked up to him and exclaimed passionately: ¡°Qiao Sang shouldn¡¯t have been matched against Ding Yanjing today!¡± Huang Renbiao stared at Old Zhang, his dark eyes gradually sharpening. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this later.¡± --- At the top floor of the Ruilai Hotel, in the Presidential Suite: ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao lay on the floor, ears drooping, exuding an air of melancholy. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll definitely find you a worthy opponent!¡± Qiao Sang promised earnestly from the side. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao let out a dispirited whine. Last night, she had promised him a good fight today... Qiao Sang awkwardly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know the opponent would be this weak either.¡± Honestly, she really didn¡¯t. Everyone always talked about how formidable Ding Yanjing was. If she had known he was this mediocre, why would she have bothered hiding Yabao¡¯s evolution? ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao looked even more dejected. Was it really so hard to have a proper battle? After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang said seriously: ¡°I think the problem is that Meteor Rain is just too strong. How about this: In future battles, we¡¯ll use it less often. Didn¡¯t you just learn some new moves? We can focus on practicing those instead.¡± Yabao¡¯s ears perked up instantly. Seeing this, Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Hellfire and Meditation. We¡¯ll prioritize training those two. As for Meteor Rain, you¡¯ll keep practicing it, but only for thirty minutes a day.¡± Though Meteor Rain had reached mastery level, it hadn¡¯t peaked yet. Yabao was already a high-tier beast, so his future opponents would inevitably be of the same level, with frequent clashes of high-level skills. Now that Yabao had two new high-level skills, Hellfire was especially suitable for practice since it didn¡¯t leave him immobile like Hyper Beam did. Meditation could restore mental energy, making it practical for both battles and daily use. ¡°Yap!¡± With a plan in place, Yabao let out a spirited cry, his eyes shining. Then let¡¯s go train now! Qiao Sang chuckled and patted his head. ¡°Alright.¡± Most high-end hotels nowadays had pet training facilities, and the Ruilai Hotel was no exception. The fifth floor was exclusively for pet training. Now that Yabao had already been revealed to the public, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t see the point in hiding anymore. ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing this, Yabao wagged his tail eagerly, looking impatient. Just as Qiao Sang was about to head down for training, her phone rang. It was Xu Yixuan. As soon as she answered, Xu Yixuan¡¯s excited voice yelled through the line: ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re trending number one!¡± Chapter 380: The Last Day of the Elimination Round Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- After leaving the Kainan Beast Battle Arena, Qiao Sang headed to the largest jewelry store in Kainan City. Having experienced the thrilling feeling of suddenly appearing in the middle of a street last time, she obediently hailed a taxi this time to reach her destination. The jewelry store didn¡¯t have diamond-studded gloves in stock, but money solves everything. With enough cash, anything can be made. The staff measured Little Treasure¡¯s paws and told her to return in three days to collect the custom gloves. Because the competition ended early today, Qiao Sang, noticing the still-bright sky, decided to check off this errand from her to-do list. As she stepped out of the jewelry store, almost all the passersby turned to stare and chatter. It wasn¡¯t because people recognized her as the strongest high schooler in history who had recently topped the trending charts. Instead, it was the creature in her arms that drew their attention, a Treasure-Seeking Demon that was simply too eye-catching. The beast was smaller than average for its species, dyed its fur, and wore colored contact lenses. But the show-stopper was the pair of diamond-studded gloves on its paws! The entire ensemble sparkled so brightly it nearly blinded everyone. Feeling the weight of the gazes around her, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to turn invisible?¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure raised his paws high, admiring his gloves under the sunlight and letting out a satisfied chirp. If he went invisible, how would anyone see how well the gloves matched him? Qiao Sang: ... Great. That was a thought she hadn¡¯t expected from Little Treasure. A sudden worry crossed her mind. Would Little Treasure decide to keep these gloves on forever and stop going invisible altogether? --- The next morning. Ruilai Hotel After finishing breakfast, Qiao Sang brought Yabao and Little Treasure downstairs. At the front desk, she informed the staff, ¡°No need to clean my room today.¡± The Ruilai Hotel had only one presidential suite, and almost every staff member recognized the guest who had been staying there for several days now. The receptionist immediately agreed. As Qiao Sang walked towards the main door, the two receptionists quickly pulled out their phones and started snapping pictures of her and her two beasts from behind. ¡°Oh my gosh, Blazing Star Canine! No matter how many times I see it, it¡¯s just so cool!¡± The short-haired receptionist gushed. Since the trending topic about the ¡°strongest high schooler in history¡± went viral, the evolution of Flame Hound to Blazing Star Canine had also been publicly revealed. ¡°This shift was worth it!¡± Her colleague said, excitement barely masking the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°You just finished the night shift yesterday and are already on the morning shift. Are you okay?¡± The short-haired receptionist asked, concerned. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The other replied, yawning as she put away her phone. ¡°I specifically asked for this shift. The provincial elimination round of the National Campus Beast Mastering League ends today. If I didn¡¯t switch, I¡¯d miss my chance to see the Blazing Star Canine in person!¡± ¡°Why do you think she doesn¡¯t want her room cleaned today?¡± The short-haired receptionist wondered aloud. ¡°Beats me.¡± If anyone entered the presidential suite now, they would see dozens of Blazing Star Canines sitting quietly, glowing faintly blue as they practiced meditation. --- Kainan Beast Battle Arena ¡°Still in range?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded eagerly. Qiao Sang smiled. It seemed that after his evolution, Yabao could now control clones from a farther distance. At least the range between the arena and the Ruilai Hotel was no issue. It was decided, Yabao would use clones to practice meditation. While other skills were fine to train directly, meditation required staying still for long periods, which was tough for the restless Yabao. Using his clone would eliminate the problem of distraction. Ah, I¡¯m so clever, Qiao Sang thought to herself with a silent thumbs-up. Yabao, meanwhile, grew serious. Controlling a clone from such a distance required the main body to remain constantly focused. Beside her, Xu Yixuan leaned closer. ¡°Where did you get those gloves for the Treasure-Seeking Beast? They look amazing. I want to get a pair for my Dream Lure Spirit too.¡± ¡°Yuanhuang Jewelry on Changxing Street. A ten-minute taxi ride.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Xu Yixuan blinked. ¡°A jewelry store? Don¡¯t tell me the diamonds are real.¡± Qiao Sang raised a brow. ¡°Of course, they¡¯re real. Do I look like someone who buys fakes?¡± That left Xu Yixuan dumbfounded. She didn¡¯t seem like the type, but real diamonds? Wasn¡¯t that too extravagant? ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure, overhearing the conversation, casually raised a paw and slicked back his fur. The diamonds sparkled so brilliantly under the sunlight that Xu Yixuan froze for a moment, her mind filled with a single thought: Holy crap, that¡¯s blinding. It¡¯s real! --- By now, only five competitors remained. According to the rules, one person would directly advance, while the other four were paired off to compete, with the winners joining the advanced contestant to compete for the top three rankings. In situations like this, choosing the person to advance was tricky. If too many objections arose, a round-robin system would be used to determine rankings by points. Fortunately, there was always someone whose strength stood out so much that no one argued. In the previous two tournaments, that person was Ding Yanjing. This time, it was Qiao Sang. With her advancement decided, the matchups were generated: Li Zhonglin (Litan Beastmaster High) vs. Wang Rui (Litan Beastmaster High) Huang Kaijun (Lianyu Beastmaster Academy) vs. Xu Yixuan (Shenshui High School) The moment the names appeared, Huang Renbiao¡¯s face visibly darkened. Wang Weidou, meanwhile, grinned. ¡°Bad luck for your school this time, eh, Principal Huang?¡± He glanced around and asked, ¡°By the way, why hasn¡¯t Coach Zhang from your school been around these past two days?¡± Principal Huang¡¯s expression turned even darker. ¡°He had some personal matters and had to leave early.¡± Something doesn¡¯t add up, Wang Weidou thought. But before he could press further, a half-hearted cheer from the audience pulled his attention back to the two competitors entering the arena. The matches proceeded swiftly, and the winners were determined. The man with the Glide Glider on his shoulder announced loudly, ¡°Advancing to the next round are Wang Rui from Litan Beastmaster High, Xu Yixuan from Shenshui High School, and Qiao Sang from Shenshui High School!¡± ¡°The next round of matches will begin at 2 PM.¡± --- At 11:36 AM, at the top-floor restaurant of Shengcheng Hotel, Wang Weidou¡¯s smile couldn¡¯t have been brighter. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re all doing great! Eat well and give it your all to take the top two spots!¡± Though he directed this mainly at Xu Yixuan, he knew Qiao Sang had the championship in the bag. Xu Yixuan securing second place, however, was uncertain. Sun Boyi, aware of the principal¡¯s excitement, calmly advised, ¡°Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. Just perform at your normal level. Making the top three is good enough to enter the regional competition.¡± Xu Yixuan sipped her fresh coconut juice and nodded earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Qiao Sang, meanwhile, silently approved of the food. Good stuff. --- At exactly 2 PM, the virtual screen displayed three rotating photos before settling. The arena erupted into cheers. ¡°Qiao Sang from Shenshui High School and Wang Rui from Litan Beastmaster High, please come to the arena!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 381: Everyone is Improving Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As with previous provincial elimination tournaments, the number of spectators decreases as the competition progresses. It¡¯s not that the matches lack excitement, but the audience for high school tournaments typically falls into two groups: Either parents of the contestants or parents of middle schoolers seeking insights into high schools for their children. By the later stages of the elimination rounds, the number of contestants dwindles, and parents scouting schools often feel they¡¯ve gathered enough information in the earlier rounds. Naturally, they won¡¯t waste time attending further matches. But how could such an important competition go unnoticed? To demonstrate the government¡¯s attention and support, the final day of the elimination rounds, the provincial final, is broadcast live on two major satellite TV channels in Zhejiang. The crew from the two TV stations expected a sparse turnout, just like previous years. However, they were utterly stunned upon arrival. The audience stands at the Kainan Pet Battle Arena were packed, with the atmosphere rivaling that of a heavily promoted large-scale event. When the battle lineup was announced, the crowd erupted, nearly everyone chanting in unison: ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± Qiao Sang? The TV crew members, most of whom were older and spent their days shuttling between work and home with little time for entertainment or trending news, had no idea why this student was so popular. Yet, their professionalism prevailed. The cameraman zoomed in on Qiao Sang, capturing a close-up shot of the young girl. --- Meanwhile, in a high-rise apartment, an elderly woman with white hair sat on her sofa, staring at the TV screen in shock as Qiao Sang appeared. She sat frozen for a long time before suddenly getting up and walking into her room. When she emerged, a pair of reading glasses perched on her face. The elderly woman returned to the sofa, eyes glued to the TV, and called out excitedly to a fox basking in the sunlight by the window. ¡°Lao Mo, come here! Quick! My granddaughter, my granddaughter is on TV!¡± --- At the Kainan Pet Battle Arena. On the stage, Qiao Sang and Wang Rui stood on opposite sides, ready for battle. Although Qiao Sang was confident in herself, she still took the time to study Wang Rui¡¯s battle style. Researching her opponents before matches had become second nature to her. Wang Rui had two pets: A Thorned Dragon and a Scaled Control Puppet. Generally, Beast Masters use their first pet as their trump card, provided the pet itself has no issues. Wang Rui was no exception. His first pet, a Little Thorned Dragon, was only now showing signs of evolving into a Thorned Dragon due to the long evolutionary cycle of dragon-type pets. While other school team members¡¯ pets had been evolving for over half a year, his was only just catching up. This explained why his national rankings in the previous two Campus Beast Master Leagues weren¡¯t particularly impressive. ¡°Phew!¡± As Qiao Sang reviewed Wang Rui¡¯s details in her mind, the referee blew the whistle. Green and gray star arrays lit up, summoning Ice Qiya and the Thorned Dragon into the arena. The livestream¡¯s comment section went wild. [Chat Room Highlights] [User 1]: Everyone, I¡¯m so emotional! After waiting for so long, we finally see Ice Qiya! [User 2]: Ahhh! Ice Qiya! My baby!" [User 3]: No kidding, this kid from Yuhua really took good care of Ice Qiya. It¡¯s bigger than usual! Clearly well-loved! [User 4]: Seeing Ice Qiya in such good shape, I feel so relieved¡­ [User 5]: Wow, I just searched it up. Qiao Sang¡¯s pet is actually an endangered species from the Guwu Region. She¡¯s incredible! --- Back on stage, the battle had begun. Wang Rui analyzed the situation. He recalled that Ice Qiya often opened with a water-type skill. Though it appeared offensive, it was primarily used to create a water-conducive environment. Most water-type moves could be launched instantly, leaving little chance to interrupt. Wang Rui quickly issued a command: ¡°Dig!¡± The Thorned Dragon immediately burrowed into the ground. In the split second it disappeared, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes gleamed. She decisively shouted to her pet, Lubao: ¡°Rain Prayer!¡± Rain Prayer required time to activate and was risky to use at the start of a match when the opponent was at full strength. It could easily be interrupted. However, if the opponent wasn¡¯t on alert and opted for a move like Dig, the interval between burrowing and emerging provided the perfect opportunity for Rain Prayer. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao obeyed without hesitation, stopping her Water Gun attack and looking skyward. Dark clouds rapidly formed overhead. What precise timing¡­ Wang Rui¡¯s expression shifted. As rain began to fall, the Thorned Dragon burst out of the ground, ramming into Ice Qiya and sending it flying several meters away. --- The comment section exploded with anguish: [User 6]: No! My Ice Qiya! [User 7]: Damn, what¡¯s that dragon called? I won¡¯t forget you! [User 8]: Ouch! That hurt just watching! --- On stage, Qiao Sang frowned. Based on her research, the Thorned Dragon¡¯s digging speed should¡¯ve taken three more seconds to reach Lubao. It had clearly improved. But Lubao was also improving. ¡°Lu!¡± Determined, Lubao got back on her feet. Her gemstone glowed blue, enveloping her in a healing light. Wang Rui smirked. ¡°Using your healing ability already? Interrupt it!¡± The Thorned Dragon leaped into the air, aiming to strike. But by then, rain had fully enveloped the battlefield. Wrapped in a torrent of water, Lubao dodged gracefully, launching a powerful water pillar at the Thorned Dragon. ¡°Thorn!¡± The Thorned Dragon¡¯s eyes widened before the attack struck its head, leaving it dazed and unsteady. The audience erupted into cheers. ----- ----- S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 382: Why Did It Follow Into the Tunnel?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The saying goes: Amateurs watch the spectacle, while experts focus on the technique." To most onlookers, Lubao had simply dodged the Thorned Dragon¡¯s dive attack and countered with a Water Stream Jet. However, to those familiar with water-type beasts or professional Beast Tamers, something stood out. ¡°So that¡¯s why it expended so much energy to use Rain Prayer right off the bat! Turns out this water-type beast has the Swift Swimmer trait!¡± ¡°This water-type beast¡¯s energy levels seem far beyond the standard for mid-tier beasts.¡± commented a Beast Tamer specializing in water-type creatures. The size and force of a Water Stream Jet typically correlate with the beast''s physical build. Yet, the Water Stream Jet Lubao unleashed earlier was several times larger than her own body, suggesting extraordinary energy reserves. --- First Row of the Contestant Area Xu Yixuan glanced at the Blazing Star Canine, the pet beast tightly restraining his excitement, visibly holding back its urge to cheer. Unable to resist, she asked, ¡°Are you trying to cheer for your tamer? Why not just shout?¡± ¡°Yap... woof!¡± Yabao barked in explanation: Their tamer had told them him was more effective to channel cheering energy internally rather than shouting, so vocalizing support wasn¡¯t ideal. Xu Yixuan, clueless, guessed, ¡°Are you saying they don¡¯t need cheering to win?¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao hesitated for a moment, realizing that wasn¡¯t wrong, and nodded. See? I knew I had a talent for understanding beast languages. Should I just major in it at university? Xu Yixuan mused. --- On the Battlefield The rain continued to fall. ¡°Hisss¡­¡± The Thorned Dragon shook its dizzy head but didn¡¯t collapse. As expected of a dragon-type beast, its defenses are formidable, Qiao Sang thought in awe. The Thorned Dragon, with its dual attributes of dragon and ground, was naturally weak against water. Logically, Lubao¡¯s Water Stream Jet, enhanced by the Swift Swimmer trait, should have delivered a one-hit knockout. Yet, the Thorned Dragon merely appeared dazed rather than severely injured. ¡°Keep attacking!¡± Qiao Sang commanded decisively. ¡°Lu!¡± Seizing the moment, while the Thorned Dragon was still dizzy, Lubao unleashed another Water Stream Jet. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± This time, the Thorned Dragon took a direct hit to the head. But Lubao wasn¡¯t done. Bang! Bang! Bang! Under the rain, Lubao¡¯s speed doubled, chaining attacks one after another. Each time it landed, it transformed into a torrent of water, relentlessly striking the Thorned Dragon. ? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ferocity of Lubao¡¯s attacks left the Thorned Dragon no room to counter. To the audience, the scene was nothing short of a one-sided thrashing. Although everyone expected Qiao Sang to win, given her opponent was a dragon-type beast, the overwhelming display still stunned the crowd. ¡°Dig!¡± Wang Rui shouted, clenching his fists. Though his voice sounded determined, his heart churned with frustration and defeat. Lubao was undoubtedly the weakest of Qiao Sang¡¯s three beasts in terms of combat power, yet he was still utterly crushed. ¡°Hisss¡­¡± Sensing its tamer¡¯s emotions, the Thorned Dragon fought through the pain and dizziness, forcing its eyes open. Another Water Stream Jet hurtled toward it from behind. This time, the Thorned Dragon barely staggered but stayed upright. In the next moment, it swiftly dug a hole and disappeared underground. Wang Rui was briefly stunned, then a flicker of hope lit his face. His command to dig had been more theoretical than practical. Given the intensity of Lubao¡¯s attacks, there was barely any chance for the Thorned Dragon to execute it. On top of that, it had already suffered significant damage. To his surprise, the Thorned Dragon had managed to follow through. Meanwhile, Lubao¡¯s next Water Stream Jet was aimed directly at the spot where the Thorned Dragon had been. Though the dragon was now underground, Lubao didn¡¯t stop. The blue torrent surged straight into the freshly dug tunnel. Wang Rui¡¯s eyes widened. Seriously? It followed into the tunnel? That¡¯s insane! --- The audience erupted. ¡°Holy crap! Did Ice Qiya just follow it into the tunnel?!¡± ¡°What a move! But a water-type beast shouldn¡¯t be able to see underground, right? And what if the Thorned Dragon dug a maze of twists and turns? Wouldn¡¯t it get stuck?¡± ¡°Even one turn is enough to mess it up. With the speed of that Water Stream Jet, it could easily knock itself out by slamming into the walls.¡± ¡°I think it just couldn¡¯t stop its momentum in time. It won¡¯t get knocked out, though, at most, it¡¯ll take some damage. Plus, doesn¡¯t it know Healing Light?¡± ¡°Wait a second... Holy!¡± The audience collectively fell silent, their eyes glued to the battlefield. What they had expected didn¡¯t happen. Instead, the Thorned Dragon burst out of the ground with a pained roar, launching straight into the air. A massive torrent of water followed, and emerging triumphantly from the tunnel was none other than Ice Qiya. Boom!!! The Thorned Dragon crashed to the ground, this time completely unconscious. Lubao calmly dispelled the water surrounding her and stood coolly beside the fallen dragon. Wang Rui was dumbfounded. --- The crowd exploded into cheers. ¡°What the heck?! Can a water-type beast actually launch Water Stream Jet underground?!¡± ¡°How is this even possible? Even if it could see underground, how could it control its movements through a narrow tunnel at that speed?!¡± ¡°This is outrageous! If this were a regional championship, I¡¯d understand, but that kid is only 15! How do you even train a water-type beast to this level?!¡± ¡°This Qiao Sang is incredible! She¡¯s trained her water-type beast to perfection!¡± --- Unbeknownst to the cheering crowd, Qiao Sang herself was stunned. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect Lubao to follow the Spiked Dragon into the tunnel. What surprised her even more was Lubao successfully navigating the tunnel and striking the Thorned Dragon. Her vision might be enhanced by the Blue Dew Crystal elixir, but seeing the tunnel doesn¡¯t mean her reflexes and reaction time should match. I clearly underestimated Lubao¡¯s capabilities. After this match, I¡¯ll need to test her skills properly. --- The referee¡¯s whistle signaled the end of the match as Qiao Sang waved to recall Lubao. The livestream chat, which had been full of ¡°Whoa,¡± ¡°Amazing,¡± and ¡°OMG,¡± suddenly shifted to desperate pleas. [Don¡¯t! Why recall it?! I want more Ice Qiya action!] [Please don¡¯t do this! Just let Ice Qiya take on all of them!] [Summon it back! I¡¯m begging you!] [Cool it, folks. Wang Rui¡¯s next beast is psychic-type. Sending out Ice Qiya wouldn¡¯t be a great matchup.] [Relax. Ice Qiya¡¯s energy is probably low after all those Rain Prayer and Water Stream Jets. No way it can keep going.] [I don¡¯t care! I just want to see Ice Qiya again!] Ignoring the frenzy, Qiao Sang made a hand seal and summoned her next beast, Little Treasure. ----- ----- Chapter 383: Such a Keen Learner Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.----- Scaled Control Doll¡­ Qiao Sang scrutinized the beast that Wang Rui had summoned. Months ago, when she first battled it with Yabao, she had felt doomed. But now, her emotions remained calm and unshaken. A Psychic-type beast, just like Little Treasure, fragile but deadly. It all depends on who strikes first. The starting whistle blew, breaking her train of thought. ¡°Close in and use Hypnosis!¡± Qiao Sang shouted decisively. Her voice was so loud that even Wang Rui on the other side heard it clearly. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get close!¡± Wang Rui immediately countered with a command. The moment the words left his mouth, Little Treasure vanished from his spot and reappeared right in front of Scaled Control Doll. Even though Wang Rui knew his beast wouldn¡¯t be defeated so easily, a sense of unease crept up on him. After all, the shadow of Qiao Sang¡¯s victories loomed large in his mind. Scaled Control Doll didn¡¯t flinch. It instantly used Teleport to put several meters between itself and Little Treasure. The beast then raised its short claws, shooting multicolored rays toward its opponent. Little Treasure grinned and vanished again, becoming invisible. Bang! The illusionary rays hit the ground, scattering debris in all directions. ¡°Use Mental Sense!¡± Wang Rui shouted without hesitation. Mental Sense, a mid-level Psychic ability, allows a Psychic-type beast to detect the unique mental fluctuations of nearby life forms, even invisible Ghost-types. However, it only works on living beings. Of course he¡¯d use that move¡­ Qiao Sang smirked. She had studied Wang Rui¡¯s battle records thoroughly and knew that his Scaled Control Doll could use Mental Sense. ????? But even sensing requires time. Scaled Control Doll closed its eyes, sending out an invisible wave of energy in all directions. The moment the energy reached half a meter ahead, Scaled Conrol Doll¡¯s eyes snapped open. It had detected its opponent directly in front of it! For a brief second, the beast froze. It had never encountered a Ghost-type that could get so close without being detected. ¡°Counter!¡± The Scaled Control Doll¡¯s startled expression gave way to panic as it tried to Teleport again, only to find itself immobilized. Little Treasure reappeared, holding one glowing blue claw upright. An invisible force tightly restrained Scaled Control doll, preventing it from moving or using its abilities. How can Scaled Control Doll¡¯s psychic strength not break free from Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Mental Grip¡­ Wang Rui¡¯s heart sank. He suddenly remembered Qiao Sang¡¯s earlier command. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± He yelled, panic setting in. The Scaled Control Doll obeyed, shutting its eyes tight. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. Wang Rui froze, bewildered by her reaction. A sense of dread overcame him. Looking up, he saw Treasure-Seeking Demon high in the air, its blue glow dissipating. Scaled Control Demon, still obediently keeping its eyes shut, stood motionless. Meanwhile, Little Treasure¡¯s right claw gathered a fierce white energy. Wait¡­ is that¡­ Brick-Breaking?! Wang Rui was stunned. Isn¡¯t that a Fighting-type move?! ¡°Dodge!¡± He shouted desperately. But it was too late. Little Treasure mercilessly brought his claw down, slamming into the Scaled Control Doll. ¡°!!!¡± The doll crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact. Before it could recover, a 20-centimeter Shadow Ball followed, hitting it squarely. Boom! Dust and debris flew as the Scaled Control Doll landed heavily, lying motionless. The whistle blew, signaling the match¡¯s end. ¡°Winner: Qiao Sang from Shengshui High!¡± The announcer declared. Wang Rui looked across at Qiao Sang with a complex expression. ¡°You¡­ you shouted that command loudly on purpose to mislead me, didn¡¯t you? It was all a setup for Treasure-Seeking Demon to get close.¡± Qiao Sang nodded modestly. ¡°I was inspired by Huang Kaijun¡¯s tactics.¡± Ever since witnessing Huang Kaijun¡¯s strategies, she realized they could perfectly complement Little Treasure¡¯s abilities. She¡¯d tested the plan with Little Treasure just yesterday, and the results exceeded her expectations. Wang Rui finally admitted defeat. Facing an opponent so strong and eager to learn, he couldn¡¯t feel bitter. Meanwhile, in the audience: ¡°Ha! I knew Qiao Sang shouted her command on purpose! She¡¯s been silent in most of her matches, but this time she made sure her opponent heard every word.¡± ¡°Did you see that? Treasuere-Seeking Demon used Brick-Breaking! A Ghost-type using a Fighting move, what a beast!¡± ¡°Hold on¡­ Could Treasure-Seeking Demon have a secondary Fighting-type attribute?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it¡­ But wow, that was cunning. She¡¯s definitely pro-level material.¡± The day¡¯s matches concluded with Qiao Sang¡¯s victory. According to the tournament structure, the final round would decide the overall champion between her and the winner of the first round. --- Back in the resting area, Little Treasure eagerly retrieved a diamond-studded glove from his ring and slipped it on. Per tournament rules, beasts couldn¡¯t wear any accessories during matches. This rule had been introduced after incidents where disguised gear gave unfair advantages, such as glasses that could detect energy fluctuations. As Little Treasure gleefully showed off his glove, Qiao Sang smiled to herself. Chapter 384: Fire Fang Beasts Breeding Shop Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The second match was scheduled to take place 90 minutes later. Wang Rui''s contracted beast needed time to recover and adjust its state. While advanced medical techniques could quickly heal injuries and restore energy, rushing into another battle would inevitably leave it at a slight disadvantage compared to a fresh competitor. To ensure fairness, the 90-minute interval was necessary. In cases where a beast suffered severe injuries, the rest period would be extended accordingly. Time passed swiftly, and most of the audience remained in their seats. As the match approached, Xu Yixuan glanced at the crowd in the stands and asked curiously, "Why are so many people still here?" Though Qiao Sang had no intention of showing off, she had to respond since Xu Yixuan asked. "Probably because Yabao is still here." "Yap." Hearing his name, Yabao glanced at the stands and raised a paw in greeting. The crowd erupted in excitement. "Did you see that?! It waved its paw!" "Whoa! Such a big-shot aura!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ahhh! I just put my phone away! Dang it, I didn¡¯t catch this on camera!" Xu Yixuan: ¡­ After his evolution, Yabao''s charisma had undoubtedly doubled. He puffed out his chest proudly. Ninety minutes later, the second match began. Both Xu Yixuan and Wang Rui were familiar opponents to Qiao Sang. Wang Rui''s Scaled Control Doll could perform mental sensing, giving it an edge over ghost-type beasts that relied on invisibility. If not for Little Treasure¡¯s additional psychic-type abilities, it would¡¯ve been nearly impossible to land a move on Scaled Control Doll while relying solely on invisibility. Xu Yixuan¡¯s Dream Lure Spirit likely wouldn¡¯t fare much better against it. Then there were Xu Yixuan¡¯s Blaze Dog and Wang Rui¡¯s Thorned Dragon. From both a type advantage and overall capability, the Thorned Dragon held the upper hand. Additionally¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao. "Yabao!" Yabao couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and cheered loudly for the Blaze Dog on the field. Qiao Sang sighed, rubbing her forehead. She was about to tell Yabao to quiet down when the Thorned Dragon used its Nth Dig move to burrow underground. Xu Yixuan commanded the Blaze Dog to breathe fire into the hole. Because of earlier exchanges, the Thorned Dragon had dug its burrow right next to the Blaze Dog¡¯s feet. The Blaze Dog bent down, opened its mouth, and aimed fire directly at the hole. Just as the audience thought the Thorned Dragon would either get injured or be forced to surface prematurely, a violent burst of silvery energy shot out from the hole, striking the Blaze Dog head-on as it prepared to unleash its fire. The Blaze Dog was defeated. ¡°Clever move.¡± Someone commented. ¡°The Thorned Dragon intentionally dug the hole near the Blaze Dog¡¯s feet, baiting it into aiming directly. It was all a setup to unleash Dragon Breath at the perfect moment. This wasn¡¯t just strategy, it was a premeditated plan! Definitely not Blaze Dog¡¯s jinxing effect¡­¡± Qiao Sang nodded to herself. In future matches, she¡¯d make sure not to let her beasts linger near suspiciously placed burrows. The match grew increasingly intense. Though Wang Rui¡¯s Spiked Dragon won the first round, Xu Yixuan adjusted her approach and was noticeably more cautious in the second. Her Dream Lure Spirit, now at full strength, faced off against the energy-drained Thorned Dragon. After a five-minute clash, the Dream Lure Spirit used its signature move, Dream¡¯s End, to secure victory. The third round saw both Xu Yixuan and Wang Rui at their peak focus. They knew that the provincial finals of the National Campus Beast Mastering League would likely be their highest achievement this year. The battle was fierce. Dream Lure Spirit¡¯s forte was its dream manipulation abilities, but as an old rival, Wang Rui was well-acquainted with its tricks. Combined with the Scaled Control Doll¡¯s mental sensing, a perfect counter to ghost-types, the match lasted over ten minutes before the Doll Psychic Beast¡¯s Illusion Ray delivered the final blow. Xu Yixuan returned to the competitor¡¯s area, visibly disheartened. "I thought with Ding Yanjing out of the picture, I¡¯d move up a rank. But it seems I¡¯m destined for third place." Qiao Sang comforted her. "You still have a chance at second place, if you beat me in the next match." According to the rules, the winners of the first and second rounds would face each other to determine the champion. Since Wang Rui had already battled Qiao Sang in the first round, a single-round-robin system was implemented. Winners earned 3 points, losers 0, and ties 1 point. After the first two rounds, Qiao Sang and Wang Rui both had 6 points, while Xu Yixuan had 3. With Wang Rui having fought both opponents, the final match was between Qiao Sang and Xu Yixuan. If Xu Yixuan won both rounds, she¡¯d take first place. "Beat you?" Xu Yixuan¡¯s lips twitched. She couldn¡¯t even imagine a tie, let alone a win! --- Hanggang City, Wenduan Street. Inside the newly opened Fire Fang Beasts Breeding Shop, the space was packed with visitors, a promising start for the fledgling store. A massive virtual screen covered half of the left wall, broadcasting an advertisement with the Zhejiang Sea TV logo in the corner. Five staff members busily attended to customers. Ye Xiangting occasionally glanced at the screen. Eventually, the broadcast switched to a well-dressed man sitting in a holographic studio backdrop. Smiling, he said: ¡°Let¡¯s continue following the Zhejiang High School Division Finals of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Up next is the grand final.¡± The screen cut to the Kainan Beast Battle Arena. Ye Xiangting immediately pulled out her phone and tagged everyone in the family group chat: [The match is starting!] After two seconds of silence, she sent a red envelope. The envelope was claimed instantly. [Second Sister-in-law: I¡¯m already watching! I didn¡¯t even change the channel during the 90-minute break!] [Eldest Brother: When Qiao Sang wins, you¡¯d better host a banquet. Your sister-in-law and I will definitely come back for it.] [Third Uncle: Qiao Sang¡¯s really making us proud. Mom and Dad have been glued to the screen all morning.] [Brother-in-law: Ah, I wish I could watch, but I¡¯m stuck at work. I¡¯ll catch the replay tonight!] The group chat buzzed with activity, and Ye Xiangting scrolled through the messages, thoroughly satisfied. Chapter 385: Would She Intentionally Lose? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- At the Kainan Beast Battle Arena, the broadcast system blared: "Qiao Sang of Shengshui High School, Xu Yixuan of Shengshui High School, please take the stage!" Having two finalists from the same school¡­ this feeling is amazing! Wang Weidou straightened his back, his grin widening with each passing moment. Beside him, Sun Boyi was glued to his phone. Wang Weidou glanced at him and asked, "The match is starting, and you''re still on your phone?" Sun Boyi replied, "The awards ceremony is coming up soon, and I just realized I don¡¯t have anything proper to wear." Wang Weidou froze for a second, looking down at his own attire. Though he had specifically worn formal clothes for this event, the thought of standing on stage for the awards made him feel his outfit seemed¡­ inadequate. In past ceremonies, the spotlight had always been on the first-place winner, and interviews predominantly featured Huang Renbiao. Now, with Qiao Sang clinching the first spot and himself being the principal, it was likely that the two major television networks covering the event would give him the same attention. A few minutes of camera time was guaranteed¡­ Wang Weidou¡¯s expression slowly changed. He pondered for a moment and then asked, ¡°What does your phone have to do with clothes?¡± Sun Boyi replied, ¡°I¡¯m ordering online. With express delivery, they guarantee arrival within 10 minutes as long as you¡¯re in the same city.¡± Wang Weidou scrutinized him seriously. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Sun Boyi assured him. ¡°You¡¯ve probably only shopped in physical stores. Give online ordering a try sometime.¡± Exactly what I was waiting for¡­ Wang Weidou nodded slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s do it now. Once you¡¯ve finished your order, give me your phone so I can choose a suit too.¡± Sun Boyi paused and gave Wang Weidou a once-over. ¡°Principal, aren¡¯t you already dressed pretty sharply?¡± With a straight face, Wang Weidou replied, ¡°It¡¯s not about looking sharp; it¡¯s about experiencing this 10-minute delivery service.¡± Sun Boyi: ¡­ --- On the Field. Xu Yixuan took a deep breath. She remembered how her family used to gather every year during the live broadcasts of the finals, snacking on sunflower seeds as they watched her matches. This year should be no different¡­ Alright, even if I lose, I can¡¯t lose too miserably¡­ Xu Yixuan thought with a serious expression, summoning her Dream Lure Spirit. Qiao Sang summoned Little Treasure. The Treasure-Seeking Demon? Xu Yixuan breathed a sigh of relief. Among Qiao Sang¡¯s three beasts, the one she most wanted to face was the Treasure-Seeking Demon. It wasn¡¯t that she thought she could win, but against Blazing Star Canine, defeat was inevitable, and facing Ice Qiya was downright nerve-wracking, every match with it felt like navigating a minefield. At least Little Treasure-Seeking Demon felt manageable in comparison¡­ ¡°Dream¡­¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± The Dream Lure Spirit and Little Treasure exchanged gazes. ¡°Tweet!¡± The whistle blew. ¡°Sleeper¡¯s Curse!¡± ¡°Hypnosis!¡± Both Xu Yixuan and Qiao Sang issued commands simultaneously. Going straight for Hypnosis? Xu Yixuan blinked in surprise. She had expected Qiao Sang to command the Treasure-Seeking Demon to use teleportation to close the distance. Given the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s usual tactics, that was its first move in most matches. She¡¯d even prepared a counter-strategy for when it tried to approach. So, she went for Hypnosis instead¡­ Figures. Qiao the Unpredictable strikes again. Even though they were teammates, details like skill proficiency were rarely shared out of mutual respect for privacy. Xu Yixuan knew Little Treasure-Seeking Demon had a high proficiency in Hypnosis, but she wasn¡¯t sure to what degree. While Xu Yixuan was lost in thought, the Dream Lure Spirit and Little Treasure locked eyes from a distance. One¡¯s gaze glimmered red, while the other¡¯s gleamed purple. Hypnosis versus Dream Weaving¡­ On the same level, Dream Weaving should have the upper hand. Xu Yixuan was confident in her spirit¡¯s abilities. Once it activated its Dream Weaving ability, it was a guaranteed victory against same-tier opponents. But then she remembered something. Didn¡¯t Little Treasure-Seeking Demon manage to hypnotize Glide Owl before? Still, the owl was already exhausted at the time, so under those circumstances, Dream Weaving could have worked just as well¡­ ¡°Thud!¡± Before Xu Yixuan could finish processing her thoughts, the Dream Lure Spirit suddenly shut its eyes and fell to the ground with a loud thud. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure covered his mouth, laughing softly. Xu Yixuan: !!! ¡°Dream Weaver, no!¡± Xu Yixuan cried out in dismay. The audience fell into stunned silence. Three seconds. It only took three seconds¡­ Even if this was just a high school match, it was still the provincial finals. For such a scene to occur was utterly unthinkable. If word got out, their province would surely become a laughingstock¡­ ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think we can blame Xu Yixuan entirely. It was Hypnosis versus Dream Weaving. Maybe she just didn¡¯t expect to lose so quickly¡­¡± Someone in the audience offered, trying to save face. After all, Xu Yixuan was representing Zhejiang Province. Losing was one thing, but losing in such an embarrassing fashion was unacceptable. ¡°We can chalk it up to the age difference. Maybe the Treasure-Seeing Demon is much older than the Dream Lure Spirit. Plus, with its psychic abilities, its mental strength must be way higher¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, that makes sense¡­¡± --- Back on the field, Xu Yixuan was no longer mourning her loss. Instead, her face flushed bright red with embarrassment. She¡¯d battled Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon many times before, but she had never lost this badly. ¡°Tweet!¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The whistle signaled the start of the second round. Xu Yixuan composed herself, suppressing her shame as she summoned Blaze Dog. The Blaze Dog and Little Treasure were old rivals, having faced off many times before. As soon as the whistle blew, Blaze Dog opened its mouth, launching a fiery blast toward Little Treasure. Instead of dodging, Little Treasure raised a tiny paw, conjuring a small light barrier before him. The flames clashed with the barrier but couldn¡¯t break through immediately. To Xu Yixuan, the scene looked like the flames had completely engulfed the Treasure-Seeking Demon. Why isn¡¯t it teleporting to dodge? Something¡¯s wrong¡­ Xu Yixuan¡¯s instincts screamed. Then, the flames dissipated, and the charred ground revealed no sign of the Treasure-Seeking Demon. ¡°A decoy!¡± Xu Yixuan¡¯s expression shifted, and she shouted urgently, ¡°Be careful!¡± Tsk, her reflexes are improving¡­ Qiao Sang thought with a faint smile. Chapter 386: Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The final day of the knockout competition has one significant advantage: You can find out your opponent in advance. When it came to Xu Yixuan, Qiao Sang knew her all too well. During the group stage, the two of them had lived together, and there were even times when they brainstormed strategies for the next day''s match together. Controlling Blaze Dog wasn¡¯t difficult for Little Treasure, but Qiao Sang was well aware that Xu Yixuan would make Blaze Dog go on a destructive rampage, attacking its own shadow and the surrounding area the moment Little Treasure turned invisible. Although this tactic wasted some energy, it effectively kept Little Treasure at bay. And if by chance it managed to strike the invisible Little Treasure, that would be even better. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t think Little Treasure was incapable of getting close enough to control Blaze Dog. However, if Xu Yixuan stuck to her plan, the match would drag on longer than necessary. So, Qiao Sang came up with a new strategy. To teleport successfully, all it needed was a momentary gap. As long as Blaze Dog mistakenly believed it had hit Little Treasure and relaxed its guard, Little Treasure could teleport to the shadow without any interference. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes were fixed on Blaze Dog¡¯s shadow. At that moment, Little Treasure was already standing next to it. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Finder raised its short toes and connected its own shadow to the one on the ground. Seeing this, the audience erupted into cheers. ¡°Beautifully done!¡± ¡°I knew it! There¡¯s no way they¡¯d pull some shady tricks so openly!¡± ¡°Wow, for a second there, I really thought Little Finder was done for.¡± ¡°666! Tricking opponents like a pro!¡± ¡°This is a one-on-one battle; you can¡¯t really call them teammates, they¡¯re all rivals!¡± On the field. The moment Little Treasure controlled the shadow, Blaze Dog reacted immediately, opening its mouth to unleash scorching flames toward Little Treasure¡¯s position. Litt Treasure grinned, his short toes twitching slightly. Suddenly, Blaze Dog flipped over uncontrollably, lying belly up with its four legs in the air. The flames it was spewing followed suit, forming a smooth semicircular arc in the air. Stay calm. Treasure-Seeking Demon is about to start spinning it. Blaze Dog¡¯s anti-dizzy training these past few days wasn¡¯t for nothing¡­ Xu Yixuan comforted herself. Wait¡­ spinning? A thought struck her, and her gaze flickered rapidly between Blaze Dog and Treasure-Keeping Demon. Ding Yanjing¡¯s Flash-Leaving Crow couldn¡¯t be handled because it was airborne, but if Blaze Dog were spinning while unleashing its flames, Treasure-Seeking Demon would have no choice but to withdraw its shadow control to avoid the fire. After all, maintaining two-dimensional shadow control required staying in place. Hurry up and spin! Why isn¡¯t it spinning yet? No, I¡¯m getting too excited. If Qiao the Schemer catches on to my expression, she¡¯ll figure something¡¯s up¡­ Xu Yixuan suppressed the upward tug of her lips, striving to keep a neutral expression. Little Treasure¡¯s toes twitched. Just as he prepared to make his opponent spin, he heard his Beastmaster¡¯s voice: ¡°Hypnosis.¡± Xu Yixuan: ??? ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure hooked his toe, flipping Blaze Dog upright. ¡°Yap!¡± Blazehound, enraged, opened its mouth to spew flames again. But as it regained its footing and looked ahead, it locked eyes with a pair of violet eyes. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Sleepiness overtook it, and it collapsed to the ground, sound asleep. A mechanical beast floated over from the sidelines, inspecting Blazehound¡¯s face before blowing a whistle strung around its neck. ¡°Tweet!¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The referee announced, ¡°Victory goes to Qiao Sang of Shengshui High!¡± The audience erupted into noisy chatter. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s it? She won already?¡± ¡°This is the finals? That felt so anticlimactic, completely one-sided!¡± ¡°I checked the time. The two matches combined didn¡¯t even last five minutes¡­¡± ¡°Something¡¯s fishy. Is Hypnosis really that hard to resist? How did both of Xu Yixuan¡¯s beasts fall for it so easily?¡± ¡°Could it be that Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Hypnosis is just that advanced?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably it. But seriously, how skilled must you be for the judges to declare the match over immediately?¡± ¡°Perfected¡­ or maybe a secret technique¡­¡± --- In the contestants'' area. With the awards ceremony set to take place in ten minutes, Qiao Sang, Xu Yixuan, and Wang Rui sat together. Xu Yixuan held back for a while but couldn¡¯t resist asking: ¡°Qiao Sang, you usually have the Treasure-Seeking Demon spin the opponents. Why didn¡¯t you do that this time?¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been training Blaze Dog¡¯s anti-dizzy capabilities lately?¡± Xu Yixuan: !!! She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, frozen in place. Wang Rui glanced at her sympathetically. Now he understood why Xu Yixuan had lost so miserably. Training defenses while letting the opponent know? That was just wasted effort¡­ --- Qiao Sang looked toward the stage, where the school leaders were exchanging pleasantries. Beside them, four Baibai Blossom beasts stood in line, holding trays. Baibai Blossom, a Grass-type beast, emitted a soothing fragrance from the flowers on its head. Its high aesthetic appeal made it a popular ceremonial beast in the Yuhua region, often seen at award ceremonies. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes fell on the trays they carried, and her spirits lifted. The National Campus Beast Mastering League wasn¡¯t just about earning a spot at top-tier universities. From the provincial to regional levels, reaching certain rankings came with rewards. While her unlimited spending card for a year meant she could buy almost anything she wanted, earning prizes through her own efforts still held a special significance. --- Perhaps because it was a high school competition, the awards ceremony lacked the pomp and flair of larger tournaments. Qiao Sang received two awards: The Most Promising Award and the first-place prize. The prizes included an A-rank potential booster and a wearable bracelet for beasts. Staring at the black bracelet in her hand, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind wandered. It resembled a device she¡¯d seen on a villain¡¯s beast in a movie not long ago. Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet. It emitted waves that could shrink a beast¡¯s size. When this bracelet debuted, it caused a buying frenzy. After all, the increasing size of beasts as they evolved was a significant issue. Large beasts weren¡¯t necessarily bad, but for high-level beasts that loved to roam and play, their size could become a hindrance in non-battle or non-work scenarios. This bracelet solved that problem. However, its manufacturer leaned heavily into scarcity marketing. Each quarter, only a limited number were sold, and buyers had to prove they owned a beast over six meters tall to qualify. A six-meter beast was at least general-level. With such a specific target audience and no shortage of demand, the bracelet¡¯s high price and limited availability became its barriers to entry. Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. If this really was a Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet, it would be perfect for Yabao¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 387: Departure in Three Days Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The live broadcasts from the two major satellite channels were still ongoing. As Qiao Sang stepped down from the award stage with her prize, a swarm of media reporters surrounded her, cameras flashing incessantly. The reporters from Zhejiang''s two main satellite channels were invited by the government, while others had rushed over upon hearing the news. ¡°Qiao Sang, can you tell us under what circumstances Flame Hound evolved into Blazing Star Canine? It¡¯s been over three months since Flame Hound first appeared, but no second one has been reported yet. Is it because the conditions for evolution are particularly difficult?¡± A reporter asked. Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Flame Hound evolved into Blazing Star Canine during a battle. As for the specific conditions for the evolution, a dedicated research team has already been formed. I believe the details will be revealed soon.¡± Another reporter followed up, ¡°Hello, Qiao Sang. I¡¯m a reporter from the Ancient Guwu Region. Could you share how you encountered Ice Qiya?¡± A reporter from the Ancient Guwu Region? Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised but then smiled. ¡°Of course. I was renting a house off-campus at the time. It was in the backyard pool of that house. Back then, it was still Water Luriana.¡± The reporter was stunned. He had considered many possible answers but never expected this one. Encountering the rare and endangered Water Luriana in the backyard of a rental house? It sounded like a bizarre urban legend. Another reporter chimed in, ¡°Qiao Sang, do you have any special methods for identifying the potential of pet beasts?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± The reporter seemed skeptical. After all, Qiao Sang¡¯s three pet beasts all had extraordinary talents, mastering advanced skills with remarkable proficiency. It might be a coincidence if one pet had such talent, but for all three to be exceptional seemed almost impossible. Just as he was about to press further, another reporter seized the opportunity to ask, ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re only a first-year high school student. Why did you participate in the national campus beast mastering league for third-year students?¡± The other reporters fell silent, clearly curious about the answer as well. Qiao Sang smiled and responded, ¡°It was the principal¡¯s suggestion.¡± The principal? The reporters began looking around for the head of Shengshui Middle School. On the outskirts of the crowd, Wang Weidou, who had been standing quietly for some time in a new outfit, almost lost his composure. His heart raced as the reporters finally noticed him. --- That afternoon, a piece of news quickly trended online: #NationalCampusBeastMasteringLeagueChampionOnly15YearsOld# Although the topic was soon overshadowed by others, the news spread rapidly within Zhejiang Province. At the same time, on a bus traveling from Kainan City to Hanggang City, Yabao excitedly wagged his tail while looking out the window. It had been a long time since he enjoyed such a view! Beside him, Little Treasure curiously poked at the black bracelet on Yabao¡¯s paw from time to time. Qiao Sang laughed as she snapped photos of them. Xu Yixuan remarked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your prize to be that.¡± ¡°Neither did I.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. The moment she left the Kainan Beast Battle Arena, she had eagerly put the bracelet on Yabao. It turned out to be the lightweight miniaturization bracelet she had hoped for. With a simple switch, the light adjusted Yabao¡¯s size to match his former Fire Fang Dog form. From the front row, Sun Boyi turned and explained with a smile, ¡°The top three prizes in each competition are tailored to the participants¡¯ needs.¡± ¡°They probably noticed that you¡¯re a first-year student, and summoning a giant Blazing Star Canine during pet beast activity classes would be inconvenient. That¡¯s why they chose this prize for you. It¡¯s quite thoughtful.¡± It really was considerate, Qiao Sang thought. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In high school, pet beast activity classes were part of the curriculum. Besides giving pet beasts more exercise, these classes also encouraged interaction between beasts to foster better relationships and prevent conflicts. Such situations were particularly common for novice beastmasters. For example, at the start of the school year, a classmate in Class Three had caused quite a scene. His pet beast was a Shui Leizhu, which would start crying uncontrollably when exposed to wind. Because of this, it hated the wind. On the first day of school, a disciplinary committee member¡¯s pet beast happened to be a Wind Eagle, which generated a strong gust with its wings. Coincidentally, Shui Leizhu crossed paths with Wind Eagle at the school gate. Wind Eagle, still flapping its wings, smiled kindly at Shui Leizhu. Shui Leizhu mistook this as a challenge, and the two beasts ended up fighting. Such incidents highlighted the importance of pet beast activity classes. Leaders likely chose the bracelet for Yabao because, despite its young age, its large size and strength might intimidate other pet beasts during these classes. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao and Little Treasue, then continued taking pictures. --- Hanggang City, Long An Road, Tianjing Court, Apartment 1705. Upon arrival, Lubao immediately started practicing energy concentration in the snowy courtyard. From the outside, the courtyard appeared to be snowing. Meanwhile, Yabao, still thrilled with his smaller form, abandoned training for once and played hide-and-seek with Little Treasure. ¡°Lubao, don¡¯t you want to play?¡± Qiao Sang asked from the courtyard. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao responded coolly, declining the offer. Just then, the doorbell rang. Qiao Sang opened the door. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re here.¡± Ye Xiangting placed the groceries on the floor, removing her shoes. ¡°The store was busy; otherwise, I would¡¯ve been here two hours earlier. You must be hungry. I bought a lot of ingredients and will start cooking now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± Qiao Sang offered, picking up the groceries. Ye Xiangting paused, then smiled. ¡°Alright.¡± The two entered the kitchen, and Qiao Sang slid the glass door shut. Noticing Little Treasure sneaking in invisibly, she glanced through the glass at Yabao, who was searching the living room, and couldn¡¯t help but think: When it comes to hide-and-seek, Yabao is no match for Little Treasure. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Ye Xiangting asked while washing vegetables. ¡°Nothing.¡± Qiao Sang replied. After a pause, Ye Xiangting said, ¡°Your grandmother called me today.¡± ¡°Grandmother?¡± Qiao Sang was surprised. ¡°She saw you on TV and said she wanted to visit you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± Qiao Sang refused. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Actually, your grandmother cares about you.¡± Ye Xiangting said while cutting vegetables. ¡°When your father and I divorced, she was so upset she ended up hospitalized.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after my competitions are over.¡± Qiao Sang deflected. ¡°By the way, Mom, how¡¯s your house-hunting going?¡± ¡°I found one.¡± Ye Xiangting replied. ¡°But it¡¯s quite far from your school. On the plus side, it¡¯s spacious and soundproof, so training won¡¯t disturb the neighbors.¡± With Little Treasure¡¯s spatial abilities, distance wasn¡¯t really a concern. Before Qiao Sang could ask for the address, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Teacher Sun: ¡°The regional competition is confirmed to be held in the Ancient Guwu Region. We depart in three days.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 388: Stylish Looks Everywhere Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.----- Traveling that far? Qiao Sang looked at the message on her phone and murmured to herself. The Dragon Nation was divided into 13 regions: Yuhua, Lianbo, Lianke, Liaoxi, Guwu, Xil¨¹, Beilun, Zhongkong, Chongdao, Tuwei, Dongjia, Guri, and Zhidia. The vast territory meant most people in the Dragon Nation would never visit all the regions in their lifetime. The distances between regions varied. For instance, traveling from Yuhua to Guwu required passing through Lianke, Lianbo, and Chongdao regions. Even with a direct flight, the journey would take over ten hours. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ye Xiangting noticed her daughter staring at her phone for a while and asked. Qiao Sang put her phone away and replied, ¡°The teacher said the regional competition will be held in Guwu, and we¡¯ll be leaving in three days.¡± ¡°That far?¡± Ye Xiangting paused her task and looked over, surprised. Qiao Sang shrugged. ¡°No choice, I made it to the regionals.¡± The regional competition, as the name suggests, pits participants from multiple regions against one another. While there were 13 regions, some were stronger than others. Regions with advanced economies and technology tended to produce more skilled competitors. Sometimes, a tenth-place contestant from a strong region could be better than a first-place contestant from a weaker region. To address this imbalance, the competition adopted a mixed-regional format. The 13 regions were divided into four zones, with one zone comprising four regions. The number of advancing contestants from these zones was increased accordingly. Although Qiao Sang didn¡¯t yet know which regions Yuhua would be grouped with, Guwu was confirmed since the competition would only be held in participating regions. While Ye Xiangting found the distance concerning, she said nothing more. Her daughter had never left Zhejiang Province, let alone traveled to another region. The concern was natural, but making it to the regional competition was a lifelong bragging point. She wouldn¡¯t interfere. --- Late at night, with a gentle breeze wafting through the curtains, Qiao Sang lay in bed, scrolling through travel guides for Guwu. This rare opportunity to visit another region couldn¡¯t go to waste. She had to explore the local attractions. Suddenly, she remembered something and got out of bed, slipping on her slippers before heading to the courtyard. Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the courtyard in a light layer of snow. Lubao was still training, while Little Treasure enthusiastically built a snowman near the wall. The dedication here is terrifying¡­ Qiao Sang thought before calling out, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to rest?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced over and let out a low growl, indicating she didn¡¯t need to rest. ¡°We¡¯re heading to Guwu in a few days. You¡¯re from there, right? Is there anywhere you¡¯d like to visit?¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao paused her training, tilting her head in thought. Qiao Sang chuckled at her rare, confused expression. Normally, Lubao exuded an air of aloofness, even before she had experienced heartbreak. This was a rare sight. ? ¡°Is there?¡± Qiao Sang asked again. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded after some hesitation. So there is, Qiao Sang thought, smiling. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Lu, Lu.¡± Lubao gestured with her claws, describing a place with a tree and a house. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Lu, Lu.¡± She gestured further, mentioning a long, green beast. Qiao Sang nodded, signaling for her to continue. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao closed her eyes, lost in thought, before suddenly perking up. ¡°Lu Lu!¡± She barked excitedly, emphasizing that the beast was green. Qiao Sang stared at Lubao, her usually deep, mysterious eyes now shimmering with excitement. After a brief silence, she asked, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded earnestly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ How on earth am I supposed to find that place in an entire region with just these vague details? --- The next morning, after breakfast, Qiao Sang finished packing her schoolbag before realizing it was Saturday. Wow, these competitions have me forgetting what day it is¡­ At that moment, her phone buzzed. Seeing Mom on the caller ID, she answered. ¡°Had breakfast?¡± Her mother asked warmly. ¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy at the shop lately, so I don¡¯t have much time. Check out the house I mentioned yesterday. If you like it, go ahead and buy it. Put it in your name.¡± Ye Xiangting instructed. Remembering the location and neighborhood her mother had mentioned during dinner, Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± After hanging up, she searched for Qinglu Courtyard on the map. It was about 27 kilometers from her current rental. I wonder if Little Treasure¡¯s teleportation skill will ever be strong enough to cover that distance, Qiao Sang thought, glancing at her pet floating nearby. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked innocently. Qiao Sang changed into casual clothes and put on a baseball cap. Sensing an outing, Little Treasure eagerly perched on her head. ¡°Xun¡­¡± He wiggled around on the cap, trying to find the perfect spot. Once ready, Qiao Sang bent down to pick up Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± But Yabao stepped back, barking enthusiastically as if to say, Wait a moment! ¡°Yap yap!¡± He turned to Little Treasure and barked again. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure promptly retrieved a selection of sunglasses from his dimensional ring, floating them in front of Yabao. After careful consideration, Yabao chose his favorite red triangular shades. ¡°Yap!¡± Striking a pose in front of the mirror, Yabao inspected himself from every angle before wagging his tail and signaling he was ready. Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- On the taxi ride to Qinglu Courtyard, the driver occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror. Two trending topics in a row, and I still get recognized with a hat on¡­ Qiao Sang thought. Finally, the driver spoke up, ¡°Young lady, are you planning to become a Coordinator? Your two pets, one with cool shades and the other with flashy gloves, are both so stylish.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 389: Buying a House Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The taxi drove toward the outskirts of the city. After thirty minutes, it stopped at a lakeside location. Qiao Sang paid the fare and walked toward the crescent-shaped building on the right. Qinglu Courtyard, the name of the community sounded quaint and traditional, but inside, it was a futuristic villa district. The crescent-shaped sales center immediately conveyed the unique aesthetic of the neighborhood. The housing project had been open for six months, yet units remained unsold. It wasn¡¯t due to quality issues but competition. At the time of the launch, another similarly priced villa community opened in the city center. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When it comes to real estate, location is everything. While Qinglu Courtyard boasted larger villas, its suburban location deterred buyers compared to the city-center option. Those who prioritized resale value naturally chose the latter. In Hanggang City, the wealthy villa-buying demographic was limited, leaving Qinglu Courtyard with several unsold units. --- Inside the Sales Center Qiao Sang registered her information and was soon approached by a stylish staff member with a chestnut-colored haircut. ¡°Miss, did you have a specific consultant appointment?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The staff glanced toward the entrance and asked, ¡°Are you here alone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Then let me assist you. Please, follow me.¡± The staff member said enthusiastically. He didn¡¯t seem fazed by the young girl¡¯s age or the lack of an accompanying adult. Ordinary families wouldn¡¯t set foot in such a place. Though the girl¡¯s attire wasn¡¯t branded, it didn¡¯t matter. Clothes can deceive, but the contracted beasts she had couldn¡¯t. One of her beasts, a Treasure-Seeking Demon, had evolved from a Treasure- Seeking Ghost. Contracting such a creature cost tens of thousands, a sure sign of affluence. As for the other red-and-white beast, though unidentifiable, its luxurious fur and noble aura screamed expensive. --- The staff led her to an electronic model of the community. ¡°Qiaoli.¡± A Qiaoli Fruit, sporting a black bowtie, approached with a tray holding three glasses of water. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Sang said, then gestured to her beast. ¡°Yabao.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Understanding his master¡¯s intention, Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue behind his sunglasses, lifting the glasses off the tray with psychic power. The glasses floated to Qiao Sang, Little Treasure, and himself. --- The staff began the introduction, showcasing a 3D hologram of the community. ¡°Our villas feature 360-degree lake views, large terraces, and customizable designs. We have 62 unique, standalone units ranging from 350 to 1,000 square meters.¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes widened in amazement, while Little Treasure drifted closer, intrigued by the holographic display. ¡°We currently have four available units: 16, 17, 28, and 53.¡± The staff explained, pulling up specific villa models on the hologram. ¡°Villa 16 offers 566 square meters of living space, a garden over 1,100 square meters, a private pool, a garage, and a fully furnished interior. Its elevated location provides excellent privacy.¡± ¡°Villa 17 is larger, with 874 square meters of living space and a garden spanning nearly 2,000 square meters. It comes with premium furnishings valued at over 10 million yuan, dual pools, and extensive landscaping.¡± --- Qiao Sang interrupted, ¡°How far apart are Villas 16 and 17?¡± The staff reassured her, ¡°Each villa sits on roughly 4,000 square meters of land, ensuring complete privacy.¡± That much space would prevent her beasts from disturbing the neighbors during training. ¡°Can I see them in person?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yes, but we¡¯ll need to verify financial proof first. Would you like to see both units or focus on one?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Qiao Sang said, pulling out a black titanium card. ¡°Will this suffice as proof?¡± The staff nearly dropped his professional demeanor. Recognizing the prestigious Federal Dingshi Bank card, he quickly said, ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± --- After ten minutes, he returned, visibly more respectful. ¡°Which villa would you like to see first?¡± --- Qiao Sang toured both Villa 16 and Villa 17, finding them both to her liking. Villa 16¡¯s design featured a sleek stainless steel and glass rooftop that appeared to float. Villa 17 had a futuristic fa?ade with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that softened its minimalist aesthetic with natural light and greenery. The interiors of both were fully furnished and move-in ready. --- Seeing her hesitation, the staff quickly offered, ¡°Would you like to see Villas 28 and 53 for comparison?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°I¡¯ll take both Villas 16 and 17.¡± The staff froze for a moment before realizing what she said. ¡°Both?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang confirmed. With an unlimited credit card, she didn¡¯t have to choose. Why not live in one and keep the other as a backup? --- The purchase process went smoothly. Villa 16 cost 33.89 million yuan, while Villa 17 was 55.06 million yuan. Since Qiao Sang paid in full, there was no need for her mother to be present for loan-related paperwork. Thirty minutes later, the staff¡¯s smile was almost too wide. ¡°Our villas are ready for immediate occupancy. Once the property certificates are prepared, I¡¯ll personally deliver them to you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang replied. --- As she left, the Qiaoli Fruit brought over a celebratory drink for the staff member. The staff hugged the Qiaoli Fruit excitedly. ¡°We can finally afford that top-tier evolution stone!¡± ¡°Qiaoli!¡± The fruit trembled, steadying the cup in its hands, its excitement mirroring its master¡¯s. ----- ----- Chapter 390: Four Regions Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the way home, Qiao Sang hummed a cheerful tune, feeling exceptionally pleased. The relief of not having to worry about money was simply intoxicating. After a quick call to her mother to announce that the house purchase was finalized, Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure with great expectations. "You need to practice your spatial shift diligently." She was thoroughly satisfied with the house¡¯s size, privacy, and accompanying amenities. However, as her mother had pointed out, it was quite far from school. Fortunately, with Little Treasure''s spatial shift ability, once mastered, distance would no longer be a concern. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind brimmed with visions of a more convenient future. "Xun!" Hearing his trainer''s words, Little Treasure floated to the side, letting out a soft chirp to signal a pause. "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang stopped and asked. "Xun~" Little Treasure giggled mischievously before removing a ring from his small frame. Reaching into the ring, he pulled out an ant. Both Qiao Sang and Yabao stared at the ant in confusion. The tiny ant lay motionless on Little Treasure¡¯s paw, as if resigned to its fate. "Xun!" Little Treasure flashed a confident look that seemed to say, Watch this! Then, he extended a tiny claw, tapping the ant lightly. In an instant, the ant vanished. "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. Qiao Sang froze for a moment before understanding what had happened. She quickly opened the Beast Trainer Codex, her gaze locking onto a specific line: [Spatial Shift (Mastery: 288/500)] 288... Her heart skipped a beat. Since Little Treasure and Lubao usually trained at night, she had developed a habit of checking the Codex only before bed and again in the morning. She distinctly remembered that the Spatial Shift data was at 287 earlier that day. So, the ant¡­ Did Little Treasure just perform spatial shift on it? Realization dawned on Qiao Sang. Spatial Shift didn¡¯t necessarily have to transport the pet performing it, it could be used to move other creatures or objects independently. If this were true, then training efficiency could be exponentially increased! "Brilliant!" Qiao Sang exclaimed, looking at Little Treasure with genuine admiration. "Xun~" Little Treasure puffed up his chest, his expression saying, Piece of cake! "How did you come up with this?" She asked. "Xun~ Xun!" He chirped, explaining that he had discovered this trick while playing with ants out of boredom one night. "Yap!" Before Qiao Sang could respond, Yabao jumped up excitedly, expressing his eagerness to try. "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded and floated over, preparing to place his claw on Yabao. You¡¯re not playing, you¡¯re about to be played! Qiao Sang quickly pulled Yabao back, halting the attempt. ¡°No way. Little Treasure¡¯s spatial shift isn¡¯t precise enough yet. What if you get teleported to some random corner and can¡¯t return?¡± "Yap..." Yabao froze, then frantically shook his head. Getting stuck? Absolutely not! "Xun..." Little Treasure hesitated for a moment, then patted his chest as if to promise he would master the skill soon and properly include Yabao in the fun. "Yap." Yabao thought for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. --- Long An Road, Tianjing Garden, Unit 1705 Little Treasure immediately started training in spatial shift upon returning to the courtyard. Meanwhile, Yabao and Lubao continued their usual competitive training. Sitting on the living room sofa, Qiao Sang watched the three diligently training pets with a sense of pride. After a while, she picked up her phone, which displayed over 99+ unread messages. Opening the messages, she found most of them filled with congratulatory notes, which she patiently replied to one by one. Among the notifications, the topmost message was from the senior-year school team group chat. As a member of the senior-year team, Qiao Sang clicked in immediately. Xu Yixuan: This is so unlucky! Our Yuhua region got grouped with three other regions in the district competition! He Dadao: I didn¡¯t make it to the district competition, so I fear nothing. Zhang Dezhou: It¡¯s just a multi-region match. Why panic? I thought you kept bragging about making nationals. Xu Yixuan: You said it yourself, it was bragging. Zhang Dezhou: ¡­ He Dadao: You guys are competing in Guwu District, right? I¡¯ve always wanted to go there. Xu Yixuan: Originally, Guwu District wasn¡¯t included, but their residents strongly petitioned for it. Over a million signatures later, they joined the grouping. He Dadao: Let me guess: It¡¯s because of Great Qiao and her Ice Qiya? Xu Yixuan: Bingo! I checked the news. Their petition explicitly mentioned wanting to witness Ice Qiya in action. Zhang Dezhou: It¡¯s just Ice Qiya. No need for the fuss. He Dadao: Imagine Ice Qiya as our endangered beast, Galeem. Zhang Dezhou: Ah, now I get it¡­ So, the Guwu District grouping wasn¡¯t a coincidence¡­ Qiao Sang felt an immense pressure mounting. Scrolling up to review earlier messages, she quickly typed: Qiao Sang: Are we competing with four regions? Besides Guwu, what are the other two? He Dadao: Great Qiao speaks! Zhang Dezhou: Qiao the Beast, oh wait, I mean Qiao the Great! Xu Yixuan: The other two are Linke and Xilu regions. We¡¯ll get more details from Teacher Sun tomorrow. He Dadao: Xu Yixuan¡¯s family is half government officials, so her intel is reliable. Xu Yixuan is a second-gen government kid? Who knew¡­ Qiao Sang pondered this while searching for information about the Linke and Xilu regions¡¯ beasts. --- sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, it was time to return to school. Seven days remained until the district competition, but since the competition was in Guwu District, most contestants from other regions planned to arrive early to acclimate. Though she technically didn¡¯t need to attend school today, Qiao Sang considered her less-than-stellar academic scores and decided to go. To her surprise, no one swarmed her like before. In fact, people kept their distance, stealing glances but refraining from approaching her. Grade 1, Class 1. When Qiao Sang stepped into the classroom, the entire room fell silent, her presence commanding more attention than even the homeroom teacher. ----- ----- Chapter 391: Is This Really Happening? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang had grown accustomed to the classroom falling silent the moment she walked in. However, this time, the atmosphere felt noticeably different. As she took her seat, she immediately sensed the peculiar gazes from her classmates. To describe it, the looks resembled the conflicted expression of someone deciding whether to watch a horror movie, both eager and hesitant. Could it be that Little Treasure had shown up in some bizarre makeup? Qiao Sang glanced towards the corner where Little Treasure usually resided, only to find him still in his invisible state. At that moment, the student seated in front of her turned around and said, "Qiao Sang, congratulations on winning the championship!" After a pause, they added, "Especially the match with the Blazing Star Canine,so impressive!" Although this classmate appeared as nonchalant as ever, Qiao Sang could still detect a hint of nervousness. It seemed the match where she defeated Ding Yanjing with Yabao had really shaken them¡­ Of course, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t truly 15 years old, so she understood the fragile and sensitive mindset of teenagers. When faced with someone utterly out of their league, most would instinctively keep their distance. That said, there would always be a few who dared to approach, provided their signals were met with a response. Like her front-row classmate now. After some thought, Qiao Sang said, "I¡¯m not a champion; I just placed first in the province." The classmate: ??? Listen to her! Does that even sound like a normal person?! Qiao Sang continued, "By the way, could you lend me your recent notes? You know I¡¯ve been away a lot and don¡¯t want to fall behind." It wasn¡¯t difficult to dissolve the invisible barriers teenagers built. Simply demonstrating that you weren¡¯t so different from them could work wonders. The classmate froze for a moment before replying, "I don¡¯t take notes." Qiao Sang: ¡­ Ah, she almost forgot that top students didn¡¯t need notes¡­ News of Qiao Sang¡¯s achievements quickly spread across the school. During breaks, students from other classes no longer openly gathered at the windows to gawk. Instead, they¡¯d casually pass by the classroom, sneaking glances inside. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was chatting idly with Jin Feifan. "Sigh, the gap between us is massive. I didn¡¯t even make the top 30, and you ended up first, against senior-year students, no less," Jin Feifan lamented. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. "Put that perfect score test paper down before you talk to me." "It¡¯s just a mock exam." Jin Feifan muttered, shoving the paper into her desk. "These tests don¡¯t mean much nowadays." Did you forget you¡¯ve barely attended class recently and still aced the exam?! Qiao Sang gave them a sidelong glance. "My win wasn¡¯t a big deal either; it was just a provincial competition." Jin Feifan: ¡­ Qiao Sang then asked, "Who from the first-year school team made it to the regional finals?" Jin Feifan, unfazed by her deskmate¡¯s lack of interest in their group chat, responded softly, "Lu You made it. He placed second." Qiao Sang glanced at Lu You¡¯s empty seat. Jin Feifan added, "Oh, and there¡¯s Zheng Yining from the coordination group. She placed third." While Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t familiar with most of the first-year team, she did know Zheng Yining. Her choice of Long-Eared Cat as a companion was indeed spot on, it was perfect for coordination events. --- Class dragged on as usual, dull and seemingly endless. But since Qiao Sang only attended sporadically, she found learning about pet beasts quite engaging. Time passed quickly, and soon it was dismissal time. Outside the school gate, Qiao Sang summoned Yabao. "Yap." Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue as he glanced at the bracelet on his front left paw. With a flick of invisible power, the switch on the bracelet was pressed. In an instant, Yabao returned to his full size. Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao¡¯s back, smiling. "Let¡¯s go home." "Yap!" With a spirited cry, Yabao leaped into the sky. The spectacle left bystanders stunned. By the time they scrambled to pull out their phones, Yabao had already disappeared into the clouds. --- After dinner, Qiao Sang returned to her room, packed her things, and lounged on her bed, scrolling through information about pet beasts from other regions. The beasts from Guwu, Lianke, and Xil¨¹ regions were particularly fascinating. Though their attributes were the same handful of types, their unique traits set them apart from Yuhua¡¯s creatures. For instance, Lianke¡¯s Illusion-Reality Grass had a special ability to discern truth from lies. Simply place a hand on its leaf and speak. If the words were truthful, nothing happened. But if it was a lie, the leaves would slowly fold. Many people rented these plants for weddings to test their partner¡¯s sincerity. When the wedding vows reached the for better or worse, in sickness and in health part, the grass would almost always close its leaves. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, Lianke¡¯s marriage and birth rates ranked among the nation¡¯s lowest year after year. "Honestly, having all four regions compete together would be great. It¡¯d be a chance to see more of their beasts." As this thought crossed her mind, a new message notification popped up on her phone: [Xu Yixuan invites you to join a group chat.] Curious, Qiao Sang clicked in. The new group was named Yuhua All-In Squad and had 32 members. A moment later, another person joined, bringing the total to 33. [Cheng Jinhao sent a red envelope.] [Cheng Jinhao: New members, change your usernames!] Qiao Sang instinctively tried to grab the envelope but found it had already been claimed. What? Is everyone in this group that fast?! Silently, she changed her username. [Dan Huaiyang: When we get to Guwu, I want to explore the underwater ruins. Anyone want to join me?] [Xu Yixuan: @Qiao Sang, this is the group for Yuhua¡¯s regional competitors.] Eleven provinces, 33 participants, everyone seemed to be here. Qiao Sang sent a casual ''Hi, everyone'' sticker. Initially, the chat was quiet except for the occasional red envelope. But as soon as Qiao Sang spoke, the group erupted. [Jin Wei: Qiao Sang? As in the one from Zhehai Province?!] [Song Bowen: Obviously. Who else with that name would be in the regionals?] [Xu Yixuan: It¡¯s her, it¡¯s her, it¡¯s her!] [Jiang Xiaotian: Suddenly, this group feels important.] [Chen Yunru: OMG! Sister Qiao! Can I take a picture with your Blazing Star Canine when we¡¯re at Guwu? I¡¯ll give you all the intel I¡¯ve gathered on competitors from other regions in exchange!] Startled, Qiao Sang immediately sold out Yabao. [@Chen Yunru: Sure.] Her reply instantly made everyone else envious. [Dan Huaiyang: I¡¯ve got intel too! Let me take a picture with Ice Qiya!] [Li Yue: My data¡¯s 99% complete! I¡¯d like to try Ice Qiya¡¯s Healing Light, please?] [Jin Wei: I have data too! Just let me join in!] Watching the flood of new messages, Qiao Sang pondered for a moment. Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d stumble upon such a sweet deal¡­ Chapter 392: Departure Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- When the regional competitions begin, the qualified contestants from each area typically form group chats. The purpose is to exchange and share intelligence. Although it''s an individual beast-taming competition, contestants often treat participants from other regions as opponents first. However, information isn¡¯t shared freely. Most of it is exchanged under mutual agreement. If someone in the group appears to be a direct counter to another contestant, they are unlikely to share any valuable details about themselves. After all, in an individual competition, everyone in the group is a potential rival. In previous years, contestants would only start discussing intelligence after arriving at the competition venue. But this year, the moment Qiao Sang joined the group, everything changed. Her unique beasts: Blazing Star Canine and the near-extinct Ice Qiya, proved too enticing for everyone to ignore. Of course, this being her first regional competition, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t thought much about these intricacies. At the moment, she was busy accepting friend requests and sorting through dozens of shared files. --- In another group chat: [I can¡¯t bring myself to fight her!] Qin Shuoran quickly sent the message to the chat for the Ancient Guwu Region¡¯s qualified contestants. The group, formed just today, was already abuzz, every discussion centered on Qiao Sang from the Yuhua Region. [I feel the same! How could anyone go up against Ice Qiya?!] Others chimed in: [Damn it! Why does someone from Yuhua get to contract such a rare beast?!] [Honestly, I¡¯d love to battle Ice Qiya, at least I¡¯d get to see it up close.] [What if Qiao Sang deliberately uses Ice Qiya in all her matches, knowing we¡¯d hesitate?] The group went silent for a moment. [I watched her matches. Ice Qiya is actually her weakest beast¡­] [Wait, what?!] [Yeah, her strongest beast is the advanced Blazing Star Canine, a fire-psychic dual-type.] [Fire and psychic dual-type? That sounds expensive. At least knowing Ice Qiya is well cared for puts my mind at ease.] [Same here.] [+1.] [...It seems our region is doomed.] --- Early Morning. Hanggang Yian International Airport sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Call me when you arrive.¡± Ye Xiangting said softly. Though she knew her daughter was heading to the Ancient Guwu Region for a competition, accompanied by her teacher, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. ¡°I will.¡± Qiao Sang reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Ye.¡± Sun Boyi, the teacher, said with a solemn tone. ¡°I¡¯ll look after her and make sure not a single hair falls from her head.¡± ¡°Do you lose hair while brushing?¡± Xu Yixuan whispered to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Yeah, sometimes.¡± Hearing this, Sun Boyi¡¯s lip twitched. I heard that¡­ ¡°Thank you, teacher.¡± Ye Xiangting expressed her gratitude. ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Sun Boyi maintained his composure as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything. --- Gate 23 A two-meter-tall Lightseeker Beast, mostly white with a black tail, stood at the gate wearing a work badge. Its eyes glowed red as it scanned passengers one by one. ???? The Lightseeker Beast, with its x-ray-like Perception Trait, could conduct full-body scans without causing harm to humans. Before its discovery, airport staff relied on handheld detectors to find metal objects. However, concealed items, like capsule-sized contraband, often went unnoticed. With its ability to scan without violating privacy or causing harm, the Lightseeker Beast became indispensable at airports, significantly increasing its value. Qiao Sang stood still as the beast scanned her from head to toe. ¡°Light.¡± The red glow faded, and the Lightseeker Beast gestured for her to proceed. --- On the Plane Sitting in the plush seats of the first-class cabin, Qiao Sang stretched out comfortably. The direct flight to the Ancient Guwu Region would take over ten hours. Finally getting a taste of luxury, she wasn¡¯t about to skimp on herself. ¡°Is this upgrade really free?¡± Xu Yixuan asked excitedly from a seat nearby. ¡°Yeah, I had an upgrade voucher.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Since she felt bad about making her teacher and Xu Yixuan endure a long flight in economy class, she had used her voucher to upgrade them as well. ¡°I love you!¡± Xu Yixuan grinned widely. ¡°When we land, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner!¡± Sun Boyi, seated nearby, smiled. ¡°No need for that. When we land, just let me know what you¡¯d like to eat, I¡¯ll treat you instead.¡± The three continued chatting until the plane took off. Gazing out the window, Qiao Sang felt an unusual sense of loneliness without her beasts, Yabao and Little Treasure, by her side. --- Evening. With the first-class seat reclined into a bed, Qiao Sang closed her eyes, mentally reviewing the data she¡¯d sorted yesterday. The files, compiled by different people, contained overlapping yet varied information. For instance, most reports on Ancient Guwu Region¡¯s Qin Shuoran mentioned his advanced beast, Optimistic Sea Lion, possessing two advanced skills, with Steam Explosion at intermediate mastery. However, a few reports stated the skill had reached advanced mastery. To err on the side of caution, Qiao Sang noted it as advanced. Similarly, regarding Lianke Region¡¯s Yuan Xiaotian, only one out of 31 reports mentioned his advanced beast, Healing Bloom, having the Chlorophyll Trait, a trait that doubles speed in sunny weather. Despite the lack of consensus, Qiao Sang included the trait in her notes. As the saying goes: Always prepare for the strongest version of your opponent. After finishing her mental review, her thoughts drifted to Lubao. Given Lubao¡¯s description, it was clear finding the place would be near impossible. Yet, with the miraculous nature of extraordinary beasts, perhaps there was a skill that could restore a memory¡¯s scenery... ----- ----- Chapter 393: Haicheng Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Midnight, Ancient Guwu Region, Haicheng ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our flight has arrived at Yiguang International Airport in Haicheng.¡± ¡°Explore the wonders of Haicheng and experience its breathtaking underwater world. Thank you for choosing this flight. We wish you a memorable stay in Haicheng and look forward to seeing you again on your next journey.¡± The gentle voice of the flight attendant came through the speakers. Qiao Sang opened her eyes and glanced out the window. The plane had successfully landed. Taking out her phone, she turned off airplane mode. Knowing it was too late for a call, she sent her mother a message instead, letting her know she had arrived. Sun Boyi stood up and turned to remind them: ¡°Put on an extra layer of clothing. The Ancient Guwu Region is colder than where we¡¯re from, and the temperature difference between day and night is significant. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± ¡°Finally! Good thing we were in first class and could lie down. If we¡¯d been in economy, I¡¯d be done for.¡± Xu Yixuan muttered while putting on a thick coat she had prepared earlier. Qiao Sang put away her phone, clasped her hands to summon Little Treasure. ¡°Xun~¡± The little creature happily nuzzled against her cheek, wiping away her lingering drowsiness. Qiao Sang laughed and said, ¡°Bring out a warm coat for me.¡± Since she hadn¡¯t checked any luggage, her belongings were stored in Little Treasure¡¯s ring. Once the three of them had put on their coats and exited the airport, they spotted a tall, handsome man with blond hair waving excitedly at them. Qiao Sang¡¯s first thought was that the hotel¡¯s pickup service had arrived. Since the school had arranged their accommodations, it made sense for a hotel with such services to send someone. Sun Boyi walked straight toward the blond man and asked, ¡°Are you Professor Jiang?¡± Professor? Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected the stylish, blond man before them to be a professor. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± Jiang Xiu replied before turning his gaze toward the young girl with a ghostly pet on her head. He smiled brightly. ¡°You must be Qiao Sang, right? Liu Yao showed me your picture.¡± Without waiting for her reply, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll be accompanying you in place of the vice principal, who had other commitments.¡± Sun Boyi added, ¡°This is Professor Jiang Xiu from the Ancient Guwu Region. He¡¯s also an A-level breeder. Originally, the vice principal was supposed to come, but due to a last-minute project, he asked Professor Jiang to take over.¡± ¡°Hello, Professor Jiang.¡± Qiao Sang greeted him politely. She recalled that the vice principal was busy with a newly approved project studying the evolution of Fire Fang Dogs into Flame Hounds. She had even visited the lab, where everyone was too preoccupied to leave. ¡°Professor, you look so young!¡± Xu Yixuan exclaimed sincerely. Jiang Xiu chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m actually two years older than your vice principal.¡± Two years older? Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts raced. If she remembered correctly, the vice principal was the same age as the principal, who was 48. That would make Professor Jiang¡­ 50?! ?? She stared at the blond man before her, whose trendy appearance could easily pass for a university student, and found herself at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯re kidding! You look like you could be his son!¡± Xu Yixuan blurted out, her face full of astonishment. Thank goodness the vice principal isn¡¯t here¡­ Sun Boyi thought, silently giving Xu Yixuan a look. Thank you for saying what I was thinking¡­ Qiao Sang mused. Jiang Xiu paused before bursting into laughter. ¡°Let¡¯s keep that between us. If Liu Yao hears this, he¡¯ll quietly fume. Now, let¡¯s get you to the hotel so you can rest.¡± After a few more exchanges, the four quickly became acquainted. Haicheng was crisscrossed with waterways, making boats and water-type beasts the primary modes of transportation. Outside the airport, just across a narrow street, lay a waterway. Despite the late hour, several medium-sized aquatic beasts waited by the water¡¯s edge. Their backs were fitted with seats that could accommodate two to five passengers. Jiang Xiu led them to the water¡¯s edge and formed a hand seal. A red star array lit up beneath his feet, drawing attention from nearby onlookers. Haicheng, as a bustling city and the Ancient Guwu Region¡¯s hub, attracted countless travelers. While unusual beasts or people weren¡¯t rare sights, a red star array was something extraordinary. Under the warm glow of streetlights, a five-meter-long beast appeared within the array. Its body was a dark gray with blue, circular spots along its back, and a distinctive bump on its head. ¡°This is a Sea Salt Lizard.¡± Jiang Xiu explained. ¡°Salt.¡± The lizard called out politely. A mechanical voice chimed in: ¡°Sea Salt Lizard, King-tier water-type beast. While clumsy on land, it enjoys seawater, seaweed, and other aquatic plants. Known for its salt-excreting trait, its nasal glands separate excess salt from its food, which is then expelled as solid crystals. Occasionally, people may see it sneeze white crystals, which are actually expelled salt.¡± Someone used a beast identifier¡­ Qiao Sang turned to see everyone staring at her head. It clicked. She picked up Little Treasure and found him holding the device. ¡°Xun~¡± The little creature blinked innocently. So that¡¯s what h was doing in the store, trying out gadgets. Without saying a word, Qiao Sang placed him back on her head. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun~¡± From his perch, Little Treasure scanned the unfamiliar aquatic beasts in the waterway, identifying them one by one. Jiang Xiu observed the little creature for a moment and commented, ¡°Your Treasure-Seeking Demon is quite interesting. If you go into research, it would make an excellent assistant.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°He¡¯s naturally curious about everything, which makes him perfect for scientific work.¡± Jiang Xiu¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°You should consider moving to the Ancient Guwu Region after graduation. I could mentor you personally. With Ice Qiya as your partner, it would thrive in this environment.¡± Is he seriously trying to recruit her right in front of me? Sun Boyi coughed to break the tension and said, ¡°Professor Jiang, shall we get going?¡± ----- ----- Chapter 394: The Underwater Hotel Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- This guy is so clueless... Jiang Xiu grumbled inwardly. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite being an A-rank breeder, the competition in the Guwu District for cultivating talents like the contracted Ice Qiya was intense. The sheer number of researchers vying for the opportunity to work with such a beast, even as unpaid labor, was staggering. Jiang Xiu only managed to secure this opportunity because of his prior connection with Liu Yao from their university days. Forget it. There''s still over ten days. Let her enjoy the unique scenery of the Guwu District first. Jiang Xiu turned to his Sea Salt Lizard and commanded, "Let¡¯s go." "Salt." The Sea Salt Lizard nodded and slowly slipped into the water, pausing at the edge of the canal. "You can just hop on,." Jiang Xiu said as he climbed onto its back. Unlike other aquatic beasts waiting along the waterway with seats for passengers, the Sea Salt Lizard''s massive frame and natural ridges served as perfect backrests. The group of four quickly settled on its back. Jiang Xiu, sitting at the front, patted the lizard''s head. The next moment, the Sea Salt Lizard opened its mouth and exhaled a giant, translucent bubble that encapsulated its entire body. Wait, are we going underwater? Before Qiao Sang could process the thought, the lizard dove headfirst into the canal. The scenery changed instantly. Though it was late at night, the underwater world glowed with ethereal beauty. The waterway shimmered in hues of blue, illuminated by bioluminescent aquatic extraordinary creatures, turning the scene into something out of a dream. Wow! This is amazing! And so many unique beasts... Qiao Sang stared in awe. Clusters of unfamiliar water-element beasts swam around, their forms dazzling under the faint glow. "Xun~" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes sparkled as he pressed his paws eagerly against the bubble¡¯s interior, staring outside. "This is so going on my social media!" Xu Yixuan exclaimed, snapping photo after photo with her phone. Even Sun Boyi, despite his usual reserved demeanor, couldn¡¯t resist taking a few pictures. Jiang Xiu turned back and grinned at Qiao Sang¡¯s stunned expression. I knew it, no one can resist the underwater scenery of Guwu District. "Are all these wild extraordinary creatures?" Qiao Sang asked. Jiang Xiu¡¯s charming smile didn¡¯t waver. "Unlike the Yuhua District, Guwu District is built atop waterways. It¡¯s impossible to drive out all the wild aquatic creatures, so we¡¯ve learned to coexist. As long as they aren¡¯t disturbed, they won¡¯t cause any trouble." No sooner had he spoken than a delicate, translucent creature with wing-like side fins swam up to their bubble and playfully blew a kiss toward Little Treasure. "Xun~!" Little Treasure grew ecstatic and tried to leap out of the bubble. Qiao Sang quickly pulled him back into her arms. Jiang Xiu laughed. "That¡¯s a Kissing Wima. They love to blow kisses, and their targets are countless. Tell your Treasure-Seeking Demon not to take it too seriously." Little Treasure heard him and froze, his hopeful expression dimming as he watched the Kissing Wima move on to its next target. "Xun..." His heart of friendship shattered, but he quickly moved on, pressing himself against the bubble again to marvel at the underwater scenery. --- The Sea Salt Lizard continued to dive deeper into the water, bypassing the surface entirely. Half an hour later, the group arrived at a massive structure encased in an enormous bubble. The luxurious underwater hotel gleamed under faint, filtered light, exuding opulence. Xu Yixuan stared in shock. "The school¡¯s actually footing the bill for this?!" Having endured budget accommodations for two consecutive competitions, she was overwhelmed by the sight of a clear five-star hotel. Sun Boyi hesitated. "Professor Jiang, I don¡¯t think this is the hotel I booked." So we¡¯re at the wrong place¡­ Xu Yixuan deflated internally. Jiang Xiu chuckled. "I checked your reservation, and the rooms were small and inconvenient for training. Since you¡¯ve come all this way, you should be comfortable. "This hotel is directly above the Haicheng Pet Beast Arena. It¡¯ll save you time traveling to the competition. "The rooms I booked for you all come with floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can enjoy the underwater scenery while you rest. I think your water-element beasts will like it too." He glanced at Qiao Sang, clearly hinting that the arrangements were made for her Ice Qiya. Xu Yixuan¡¯s excitement surged as she eagerly looked forward to staying in such a luxurious place. Sun Boyi thanked Jiang Xiu, though his gaze toward Qiao Sang hinted he knew exactly why the arrangements had been made. --- Each of them received a private room, complete with exquisite furnishings and breathtaking views of underwater life. Summoning her sleeping Lubao and Yabao, Qiao Sang settled into bed, her eyelids growing heavy as she fell into a deep sleep. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang awoke to a cacophony of chirping sounds: "Yap! Xun! Lu!" Opening her eyes, she found her beasts pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing outside in fascination. Yabao and Lubao wagged their tails in unison, a rare display of camaraderie. "Have you two made up?" Qiao Sang asked in surprise. "Yap!" Yabao turned and bounded toward her, nuzzling against her. "Lu." Lubao, on the other hand, remained aloof, glancing away with a haughty expression as if to say, Who said I¡¯ve reconciled with that guy? Qiao Sang seized the moment. "Since we¡¯re in the Guwu District, you¡¯ll need to watch over Yabao when we explore the waterways." "Xun!" Little Treasure chimed in from atop her head. "And Little Treasure too." Qiao Sang added with a smile. Lubao hesitated, then stiffly nodded, agreeing to the task. ----- ----- Chapter 395: People in Guwu Region Are So Friendly Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. It was breakfast time. Just as Qiao Sang was about to head to the top-floor revolving restaurant for breakfast, she heard a knock at the door. "It''s me." A somewhat familiar voice came from outside. Walking to the door, Qiao Sang opened it to find a blond-haired, handsome man standing there. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was none other than Professor Jiang, who had escorted them here in the middle of the night. "Professor Jiang, what brings you here?" Qiao Sang asked. Jiang Xiu subtly glanced inside the room. His gaze paused for a moment on a certain extraordinary beast he had dreamed of seeing, but he quickly averted his eyes, pretending nothing had happened. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he said: "It''s important for beasts to have breakfast before 9 a.m. I made some specially crafted energy pellets and thought I''d deliver them to you." As he spoke, he handed over three boxes he was carrying. Though Jiang Xiu appeared composed, his inner thoughts were in turmoil: Holy crap! It''s Ice Qiya! It just looked at me! Stay calm. Stay calm. Ice Qiya¡¯s species dislikes overly enthusiastic people or beasts at first meetings. Act natural. Delivering the food personally¡­ Qiao Sang accepted the boxes, moved by the gesture. "Thank you, Professor Jiang." "It''s my pleasure." Jiang Xiu replied with a smile. Yet, he made no move to leave, instead continuing to smile warmly at Qiao Sang. Understanding his intention, Qiao Sang offered, "Would you like to come in and sit for a bit?" "Sure!" Jiang Xiu¡¯s eyes lit up as he stepped eagerly into the room. Each box of energy pellets was labeled with the names of the specific beasts. Qiao Sang matched them one by one, placing them in front of Yabao, Lubao, and Little Treasure. The beasts took a bite, their eyes curving with satisfaction, it was evidently to their taste. While Lubao was focused on her food, Jiang Xiu couldn¡¯t help but stare at her, his gaze filled with anticipation and subtle tension. Noticing this, Qiao Sang smirked internally. Just as I thought. She asked aloud, "Lubao, how does it taste?" "Lu." Lubao lifted her head, gave a cool reply, and continued eating. Although Jiang Xiu, as an A-rank breeder, could interpret beast behavior, he still couldn¡¯t resist asking, "What did Ice Qiya just say?" "She said it¡¯s delicious." Qiao Sang translated. Hearing this, Lubao paused momentarily but didn¡¯t refute, continuing to eat. Jiang Xiu¡¯s face lit up with excitement as he mentally prepared to make another hundred servings. Just then, Qiao Sang''s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID: Xu Yixuan. "What''s up?" Qiao Sang asked after answering. Xu Yixuan¡¯s voice came through the speaker. "Have you had breakfast? Want to eat together? I heard the restaurant here also serves energy pellets for the beasts." "I haven¡¯t eaten yet, but Professor Jiang just delivered energy pellets to my room." Qiao Sang replied. "What?" Xu Yixuan exclaimed. "Professor Jiang brought them directly to your room? Then I¡¯ll wait a bit before heading up, I wouldn¡¯t want to miss him if he comes by." "Alright." Qiao Sang replied before hanging up. She turned to Jiang Xiu, whose hands were conspicuously empty. Crap! I was so excited about seeing Ice Qiya that I forgot to bring the other energy pellets¡­ Jiang Xiu''s exceptional hearing had picked up every word of the phone call. Feeling guilty, he stood up and admitted: ????? "I¡¯ll head back now. I forgot the other energy pellets at home." Qiao Sang: "¡­Alright." --- 10:30 PM Leaning against her bed¡¯s headboard, Qiao Sang scrolled through her phone, watching an interview video from Guwu District. On-screen, a female reporter in a dress conducted random street interviews: "Hello, do you know about the National Campus Beast Mastering League?" The first interviewee, an elderly man with gray hair, answered proudly, "Of course! My grandson is participating in it." The reporter¡¯s eyes lit up. "Could you share his name?" "Liu Hengzhi." The old man replied. "And what grade is your grandson in?" "Twelfth." "Will you be supporting him on-site?" "No." "Why not?" The reporter was puzzled. "Because my grandson¡¯s already been eliminated." The old man replied bluntly. The reporter hesitated, about to offer consolation, but the old man continued seriously, "I¡¯ll still go to the venue, but I¡¯m supporting Qiao Sang from the Yuhua District! Even if my grandson hadn¡¯t been eliminated, I¡¯d still support her!" Five seconds later, the reporter stopped a school-uniformed girl for another interview: "Do you know about the National Campus Beast Mastering League?" "Yes!" "Do you have a favorite contestant?" The girl grabbed the microphone, leaned close, and shouted excitedly into the camera, "Qiao Sang, you rock! Ice Qiya, you rock! I¡¯ll always support you!" The reporter hurriedly retrieved the microphone and continued her interviews. Next, she approached a man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses who exuded an intellectual aura. "Do you know about the National Campus Beast Mastering League?" "Yes. I¡¯m rooting for Qiao Sang." He said succinctly before walking away. Qiao Sang smiled, receiving a new message from Xu Yixuan: [Did you watch the video I sent?] Qiao Sang replied: [Just started watching.] Xu Yixuan responded: [Everyone interviewed in Guwu Region supports you!] Qiao Sang¡¯s smile deepened as she typed: [Really? I¡¯ll keep watching to see for myself.] Guwu Region¡¯s people were friendlier than she¡¯d expected¡­ --- The Next Morning At 9:24 AM, riding the Sea Salt Lizard, Qiao Sang asked, "Professor Jiang, are you really free today?" Jiang Xiu smiled warmly. "Taking care of you all is my top priority these days. Don¡¯t hesitate to ask for help, we in Guwu Region are known for our hospitality. If you decide to settle here someday, you¡¯ll feel right at home." "Our rwgion offers plenty of entertainment. You can explore on land or underwater, your choice." After praising Guwu Region for a while, Jiang Xiu asked, "By the way, why are you heading to the Beastmaster Center?" "I¡¯m going to post a task." Qiao Sang replied. "What kind of task?" Jiang Xiu turned to her. "Maybe I can help, so you won¡¯t have to make the trip." After a brief hesitation, Qiao Sang explained, "It¡¯s for Lubao." Jiang Xiu¡¯s interest was instantly piqued. "Tell me everything!" ----- ----- Chapter 396: Memory Reading Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Jiang Xiu pondered for a few seconds before saying, "I have a friend whose beast can perform memory reading. However, I¡¯m not sure about its proficiency level. Let me call and ask." As he spoke, he took out his phone and began scrolling through his contacts. Qiao Sang immediately felt that the matter was as good as settled. Memory reading, a high-tier psychic ability, allows one to read another¡¯s memories. Unlike Touch Perception, which senses past events by touching people or objects, psychometry can only detect recent events. The older the event, the more proficiency is required to perceive it. Memory reading, on the other hand, can access any memory stored in a living being¡¯s mind, regardless of its age. It¡¯s particularly effective when the target is consciously recalling the memory, making the reading smoother. With higher proficiency, even deeply buried and almost-forgotten memories can be retrieved. Most people cannot recall every detail of their past, as some memories fade and get stored in the subconscious, deep within the brain. This is where a highly skilled memory reader proves invaluable. Jiang Xiu quickly dialed a number. Qiao Sang clearly heard two beep tones before the call connected, followed by a deep male voice on the speakerphone: "Speak." Jiang Xiu got straight to the point: "What¡¯s the proficiency level of your Tuo Luola¡¯s memory reading?" The man¡¯s tone was indifferent. "Mastery." Jiang Xiu¡¯s face lit up with delight. "Can you come to the Deep Sea Mantis Hotel? I need your help with something." "I¡¯m busy." The man replied coldly. "I haven¡¯t completed today¡¯s training quota." Unperturbed, Jiang Xiu explained, "It¡¯s to check the memory of an Ice Qiya. It wants to go somewhere but hasn¡¯t described it clearly. You know Qiao Sang, the contestant from the Yuhua region? It¡¯s her Ice Qiya." ? Silence fell on the other end. Qiao Sang instinctively held her breath. After a long pause, the man finally said, "I¡¯ll be there." --- On the waterway, the Sea Salt Lizard turned around. "His name is Pei Shipan. He¡¯s a training fanatic. If you spend time in the Guwu region, you¡¯ll definitely hear about him. He participates in the regional competitions every year and is somewhat of a local celebrity." Jiang Xiu said. After a moment¡¯s thought, he added, "Don¡¯t be fooled by his obsession with training; he¡¯s actually very warm-hearted. See? The moment I mentioned I needed help, he agreed to come." If I hadn¡¯t heard the call myself, I might¡¯ve believed you¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. Jiang Xiu, sensing an opportunity, continued, "Actually, it¡¯s not just him. Everyone in the Guwu region is like that. If you ever decide to settle here, it¡¯ll feel just like home." To be honest, Qiao Sang did like certain aspects of the Guwu region. If she could buy a house here and come for occasional holidays, it would indeed be quite enjoyable... Noticing her thoughtful expression, Jiang Xiu felt encouraged and launched into an enthusiastic account of the Guwu region¡¯s attractions. Forty minutes later, they arrived back at the Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. On the way, Jiang Xiu had deliberately slowed the Sea Salt Lizard, chattering on about the region¡¯s culture, local delicacies, and fascinating wild Water-type beasts they passed by. "You see that glowing purple beast earlier? It¡¯s actually milky white in its natural state. It¡¯s called a Feathered Cottonfluff. The feathery antennae on its head can-" Before he could finish, a tall man in a hat, mask, and sunglasses, who had his face covered almost entirely, leaned against a hotel pillar and called out, "Jiang Xiu." Jiang Xiu turned and, surprised to see him, remarked, "Didn¡¯t expect you to get here so fast. Normally, it¡¯d take over an hour by submarine from your training spot." The tall man strode over with long legs. Suppressing his surprise, Jiang Xiu introduced him to Qiao Sang, "This is Pei Shipan. Just call him Uncle Pei." Another one who looks much younger than his age¡­ Qiao Sang straightened her expression and greeted politely, "Hello, Uncle Pei." Pei Shipan removed his mask, nodded, and replied, "Hello." Then, as if recalling something, he pulled his lips into an awkward smile. He actually smiled? Jiang Xiu was taken aback. Pei Shipan was infamous for his perpetual poker face. In nearly ten years of knowing him, Jiang Xiu had never seen him smile before. Reflecting on the recent smile, Jiang Xiu concluded: Yeah, he¡¯s better off not smiling. After a brief exchange, the three of them took the elevator to room 2088. Pei Shipan removed his hat, mask, and sunglasses, revealing a cold, stern face. At the same time, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal, summoning her Lubao. The previously cold face broke into excitement. So this is the Ice Qiya... Pei Shipan¡¯s cheeks flushed as he crouched down, reaching out to touch it. Just as his hand was about to make contact, Lubao opened her mouth and blasted a jet of water larger than his face, drenching him completely. The water cannon struck directly, turning Pei Shipan into a soaked mess. Jiang Xiu silently covered his face. "Sorry!" Qiao Sang quickly scooped up Lubao, bowing her head apologetically. "Lubao, apologize!" Lubao looked conflicted but was about to comply when Pei Shipan, drenched and wiping his face, interjected loudly, "No need!" Qiao Sang froze. "But that¡¯s¡ª" Pei Shipan cut her off earnestly, "It¡¯s my fault. I tried to touch it without its consent. Its reaction was justified." With that, he pulled out his phone, snapped a selfie of his drenched state, and posted it with a caption: "Drenched in water, courtesy of the Ice Qiya." Though Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t see his post, Jiang Xiu, standing at a similar height, caught a glimpse. For a moment, he felt envious but reminded himself of the importance of maintaining good rapport with the beast. He resisted the urge to let Ice Qiya drench him too. What is he doing, taking selfies and playing with his phone¡­ Qiao Sang found his behavior puzzling. "Let¡¯s not waste time. Get started." Jiang Xiu interjected, steering the conversation back to the task at hand. "Alright." Pei Shipan set his phone aside and made a hand seal. A red star array lit up in the room. A moment later, a 110 cm deer-like beast with blue and white coloring materialized in the array. Qiao Sang noticed a lightweight miniaturization bracelet on its left front leg, identical to the one on her Yabao. Its actual size must be much larger¡­ she thought as she knelt to explain to Ice Lubao, "You¡¯ve been wanting to go somewhere, right? But there are too many places that match your description. I can¡¯t find it. That¡¯s why I brought someone who can help. This beast can perform memory reading to clearly see the place you¡¯re recalling." "Just let it work and don¡¯t resist, okay?" "Lu..." Lubao looked at her master, then at the unfamiliar beast and the human she had just sprayed, before finally nodding. So obedient... Jiang Xiu¡¯s heart melted at the sight. Pei Shipan suppressed his desire to pet it and said, "Let¡¯s begin." Tuo Luola placed its antlers gently on Lubao¡¯s head. Ripples spread from the antlers, and it let out a soft cry, "Tuo Tuo." Closing its eyes, Lubao followed suit. "It¡¯s asking the Ice Qiya to recall the scene." Pei Shipan explained. Qiao Sang nodded. It made sense, the clearer the memory, the easier the reading. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A minute later, Tuo Luola opened its eyes. "Did it see anything?" Pei Shipan asked. "Tuo." The beast nodded. "What did it see?" "Tuo Tuo, Tuo." "Tuo Tuo." "Tuo." Tuo Luola carefully described the scene it had retrieved. When it finished, Qiao Sang asked eagerly, "What did it say?" Pei Shipan hesitated before replying, "It mentioned a tree, a house, and a small green beast." Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 397: Phenomenal Traffic Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "What? That¡¯s it?!" Qiao Sang was utterly baffled. How was this any different from Lubao¡¯s description? Hearing her reaction, Jiang Xiu paused, seemingly caught off guard by Tuo Luola¡¯s lackluster vocabulary. It was like someone asking, ¡°What does the beautiful woman you just saw look like?¡± and another person answering, ¡°Two eyes, one nose, and a mouth.¡± What an incredible way to describe things! After a brief moment, Jiang Xiu coughed lightly and said, ¡°I have another friend who-¡± Before he could finish, Pei Shipan interrupted, ¡°Tuo Luola has already committed the scene to memory. If you trust me, I¡¯ll find this place for you. I¡¯ll give you an update in a few days.¡± After speaking, Pei Shipan fixed Qiao Sang with a serious gaze. Perhaps it was his dependable demeanor, but Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Pei.¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Pei Shipan casually pulled out his phone and said, ¡°Let¡¯s add each other. That way, I can contact you directly when I have news.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang took out her phone and added him. Watching the exchange, Jiang Xiu fell into deep thought. Did he... not have Qiao Sang¡¯s contact info yet? --- Two days later, 8:55 AM. At the Haicheng Pet Battle Arena, a massive circular arena hovered over the sea, capable of accommodating 80,000 spectators. Above the arena, an enormous open LED dome loomed, glowing faintly. By now, all 80,000 seats in the arena were filled. The noise of the crowd created a fiery, electric atmosphere. "I''m so excited! My heart''s racing just thinking about seeing Ice Qiya in a bit!" ¡°Ugh, I was just a few seconds late, and the front-row tickets were gone!¡± "I heard that Qiao Sang kid has three battle pets. She wouldn¡¯t not use Ice Qiya, right?" "Stop jinxing it! Don¡¯t even say that!" ¡°Can someone explain? Do matches here usually draw such big crowds?¡± ¡°Bro, you¡¯re not from the Guwu region, are you?¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯m from the Xilu region.¡± ¡°Thought so. Normally, apart from regional tournaments, no match here would fill even half the seats. But this time is different. One of the contestants contracted Ice Qiya. You know what that means, right?¡± §²? The spectator from the Xilu region looked utterly puzzled. ¡°No, what¡¯s so special about Ice Qiya? What type of pet is it?¡± Hearing this, the previously enthusiastic local spectator immediately pulled a face and turned away, ignoring him. Did I say something wrong...? The Xilu spectator was even more confused. Nearby, someone else overheard the conversation and muttered to their companion, ¡°How did someone who doesn¡¯t even know Ice Qiya get a ticket? Must¡¯ve used connections, right?¡± --- Yuhua Region Contestants¡¯ Area. ¡°I¡¯m Jiang Xiaotian. I already sent you my request. Check it out.¡± Said a buzz-cut boy. Qiao Sang scrolled through her phone and found the chat history. ¡°You want a photo with Blazing Star Canine?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Jiang Xiaotian excitedly pulled out his phone, even opening the camera app for convenience. ¡°Just one photo, that¡¯s all I need!¡± Qiao Sang turned to Yabao and gave him a silent look. ¡°Yap...¡± With a reluctant expression, Yabao obediently leapt over. Jiang Xiaotian grabbed Yabao in a tight hug, his excitement palpable. After the photo was taken, Qiao Sang handed the phone back and said, ¡°Next.¡± ¡°Me, me, me! I¡¯m next!¡± A sweet-looking girl stepped forward quickly. ¡°I¡¯m Chen Yunru. We talked about this earlier, I want a photo with Blazing Star Canine too.¡± Qiao Sang checked her messages and nodded to Yabao. ¡°Yap...¡± Once again, Yabao jumped into action. ¡°Next.¡± ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Li Yue.¡± A boy wearing silver earrings approached. ¡°I¡¯d like Ice Qiya to use Healing Light on me.¡± Out of the 31 requests she had received, most involved either Yabao or Lubao. To save time, Qiao Sang had already summoned Lubao. She glanced at her phone and signaled to Lubao. ¡°Lu.¡± The gem on Lubao¡¯s forehead glowed blue in response. Sitting nearby, Xu Yixuan watched the scene of people swarming Qiao Sang and sighed. ¡°Why does this feel like a celebrity fan signing event?¡± Sun Boyi, standing beside her, noticed someone in the crowd and said in surprise, ¡°Why is Wang Rui here?¡± Xu Yixuan shrugged. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be charmed by Blazing Sta Canine and Ice Qiya?¡± Fair point... Sun Boyi subtly withdrew his gaze and looked out at the packed audience, his heart skipping a beat. Even regional tournaments don¡¯t draw this kind of crowd... --- In the Audience. A fashionable woman with curled hair and impeccable makeup excitedly spoke into her phone, which was held by a small yellow bird-like pet flapping its wings: ¡°Family, I¡¯m here live at the Haicheng Pet Battle Arena! Don¡¯t worry if you couldn¡¯t get a ticket! I¡¯ll be streaming the entire event so you can witness Bing Luqiya¡¯s appearance with me!¡± She glanced at her screen and added, ¡°Thank you, ¡®Lulu¡¯s One True Love,¡¯ for the rocket gift! You¡¯re so generous. By ¡®Lulu,¡¯ you must mean Ice Qiya, right? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure you see your one true love today!¡± As soon as she finished, another rocket animation appeared on her screen. ¡°Another rocket! Thank you, ¡®Lulu¡¯s One True Love!¡¯¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wasn¡¯t the only one streaming. Dozens of other livestreamers were scattered throughout the audience, all eager to capture the phenomenon that was Ice Qiya. In the Guwu region, Ice Qiya was a treasure, there were only a handful of them, and ordinary people had no chance to see one. But now, word had spread online that a high school student from the Yuhua region had contracted one. The news exploded. Why was a Guwu region treasure in the Yuhua region? Why had a Yuhua Beastmaster managed to contract a rare Guwu pet? And why was the contractor a high school student? These questions turned this Ice Qiya into a unique symbol, sparking endless debates and shares online. For streamers, this level of traffic was an unmissable opportunity. As the fireworks concluded, the massive LED dome above the Haicheng Pet Battle Arena slowly closed, forming an arched screen visible to the audience. A man with striking blue hair floated into the arena on a glowing blue platform, accompanied by a white pet whose glowing eyes made it clear the platform¡¯s levitation was its doing. The crowd fell silent. Holding a microphone, the blue-haired man stood confidently on the floating platform and spoke loudly: ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± ¡°Welcome to the regional qualifiers of the National Campus Beast Mastering League!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 398: Enchantment Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "The young talents from Guwu, Yuhua, Lianke, and Xilu¡ªfour major regions¡ªwill gather here for an exhilarating battle of skills!" "Today, at the Pet Beast Battle Arena on Blue Ocean, the regional competition of the National Campus Beast Mastering League officially begins!" "Which region''s rising star will secure a ticket to the national finals? Let¡¯s direct our attention to the big screen!" As the blue-haired man finished speaking, the enormous LED dome above the arena transformed into a holographic blue ocean. Shortly after, hundreds of holographic photos appeared, shuffling rapidly before pairing off and freezing in place. Each photo displayed the competitor¡¯s region and name below it. [Yuhua Region, Wang Chengrao VS Xilu Region, Zhao Sa] [Lianke Region, Zhang Xueming VS Yuhua Region, Zhu Tong] [Guwu Region, Li Wenqian VS Lianke Region, Song Hanyue] [Lianke Region, Zhao Tong VS Guwu Region, Chen Zhe] ... [Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang VS Lianke Region, Tang Zhongyi] Xu Yixuan stared silently at the list on the screen for a long moment. "I kind of regret it now." Although she didn¡¯t explain further, Qiao Sang understood what she meant, Xu regretted not editing her photo more thoroughly. Qiao Sang glanced at the clearly visible battle list projected above. The arena was massive, and the holographic photos had been magnified countless times so every spectator could see them clearly. This meant every flaw was on display: Pores, acne, blackheads, even faint mustaches. Good thing I¡¯m naturally flawless, Qiao Sang thought to herself with satisfaction. The contestant area was abuzz with reactions to the photos. "Are you kidding me?! Why are these photos blown up this much?!" "What the heck?! My picture shows eye crust!" "Seriously? Not only are they magnified, but the resolution is insanely high?!" "Guwu Region is going too far this year! It¡¯s never been like this before!" "This year¡¯s regional competition is weird. Normally, these events don¡¯t attract many spectators, but look at that, it¡¯s a full house." "Yeah, something¡¯s off. In previous years, we never had venues this big, and now there are fireworks, pet beast performances, and even a real host. That blue-haired guy? That¡¯s Yi Ao, a well-known host from Guwu. He¡¯s got both charisma and looks, and he only hosts major competitions." "I just want these photos taken down already! I¡¯ve memorized the matchups ages ago!" The noise quickly died down as Yi Ao announced the first matchup. The competition used a mixed-format system. Each contestant was paired randomly for an elimination round, and the winners advanced to a points-based tournament. The top 40 scorers would then qualify for the national finals. Naturally, the first battle was crucial. The staff responsible for the event had already matched contestants to their photos. Divided into four regions, with 30 to 40 contestants per area, it didn¡¯t take long to locate the participants. As Yi Ao finished speaking, two beams of white light descended on the contestant area. The named competitors were instantly transported to opposite sides of the arena. This entrance alone earned a round of cheers. "Wow, the scale of this year¡¯s regional competition is something else." Xu Yixuan commented. In previous years, contestants had to wait at designated entry points for ages, nothing as flashy as this teleportation setup. Qiao Sang, unfamiliar with the old procedures, found the method efficient and impressive. The battle began with both contestants summoning their pet beasts. One summoned a large beast covered in orange fur across its face and chest, exuding an aura of immense strength, clearly a high-level pet beast. The other contestant¡¯s pet beast, in contrast, radiated much weaker energy, a mid-level pet. High-level vs. mid-level... no contest, Qiao Sang thought as she analyzed the situation. By this stage of the competition, high-level pet beasts weren¡¯t rare. According to the data, 21 contestants across the four regions owned high-level beasts. To avoid unfair matchups, organizers typically ensured high-level beastmasters wouldn¡¯t face each other in the first round. As expected, the contestant with the high-level beast dominated, winning two rounds in a row with overwhelming force. Qiao Sang nodded knowingly and lost interest in the match. She pulled out her phone to review her opponent Tang Zhongyi¡¯s profile. Before she could, Yi Ao¡¯s voice echoed again: "Second match: Lanke Region¡¯s Zhang Xueming vs. Yuhua Region¡¯s Zhu Tong! Please step into the arena!" White light descended, and two figures appeared. Qiao Sang immediately looked at one of them, a slender figure from Lanke Region. Zhang Xueming, known for having both a mid-level fairy-type pet beast and a high-level ice-type beast. "Fairy-type... First one we¡¯ve seen in this competition." Xu Yixuan whispered. "I heard her fairy-type pet even defeated a high-level beast during her provincial matches." Both contestants had summoned their beasts. "She¡¯s formidable." Qiao Sang said. Among the profiles she¡¯d reviewed, Zhang Xueming¡¯s stood out. With one high-level beast and one mid-level beast capable of matching high-levels, she was not to be underestimated. Zhang Xueming was striking, with a clean-cut appearance. Her fairy-type beast, a small creature with oval eyes and curled green ears, looked harmless at first glance. Qiao Sang recalled its name: Mimisprite. Zhu Tong, on the other hand, was a short-haired, tanned girl who exuded tomboyish energy. Her beast, a massive Brute Bear, towered over the petite Mimisprite, creating a stark visual contrast. As the match began, Brute Bear charged forward with ferocious momentum. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Mimisprite calmly responded with a flirtatious wink. Brute Bear abruptly halted, hearts forming in its eyes. "That bear¡¯s vision must be sharp, managing to catch the Mimisprite¡¯s charm attack mid-charge." Xu Yixuan quipped. Qiao Sang tilted her head thoughtfully. "Is that Mimisprite male or female?" The Charm ability, a mid-tier transformation skill, was highly effective against the opposite gender but useless against the same gender. Xu Yixuan pondered before replying, "I don¡¯t think the profiles mentioned it. We could just ask Zhu Tong later if her bear¡¯s male or female." "Guess that¡¯s the only way." Qiao Sang muttered. The match ended without surprises. Both of Zhu Tong¡¯s pet beasts, charmed by Mimisprite, had their attack power significantly reduced and were swiftly defeated. What a tricky ability... Poor Zhu Tong, unlucky enough to have two beasts of the opposite gender, Qiao Sang mused, silently sympathizing with her teammate. ----- ----- Chapter 399: The Ancient Guwu Region was Terrifying Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- ¡°In the Ancient Guwu Region, Ma Zongji possesses the high-level beast Thousand Path Water Bear, a dual-type water-and-fighting pet beast. Its high-level skills from both attributes were demonstrated in previous matches, showing immense offensive power both on land and in water.¡± ¡°In the Lianke Region, Deng Tianyue''s high-level pet beast is the dark-type Black Devouring Giant. Known for its insatiable appetite, it can devour anything and convert it into energy. If you see it biting the ground or eating dirt during a battle, be on high alert.¡± ¡°In the Xulu Region, Duan Man owns Steeltra, a steel-and-ground type pet beast. Covered in segmented, plate-like armor, it feeds on Iron Rage Rocks and iron-rich spring water. Its defense is frighteningly strong.¡± As one competitor after another stepped onto the battlefield, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind filled with data about them. While her strength had grown significantly since the start of the competition, the sheer intensity of the division-level matches left her uncertain about her chances of achieving a perfect win record. Drawing herself out of her thoughts, she mulled over another consideration: Should I go all-in and let Lubao evolve now? Two high-level beasts would massively increase my odds¡­ --- Time flew by, and the morning¡¯s matches finally approached their conclusion near noon. ¡°Mr. Yi, you can announce the next group now!¡± Hearing the somewhat excited voice through his earpiece, Yi Ao felt his heartbeat quicken. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and spoke into the microphone, striving to keep his voice from trembling: ¡°Next up, let¡¯s welcome Tang Zhongyi from the Lianke Region and Qiao Sang from the Yuhua Region!¡± For a moment, the entire audience collectively fell silent. Then, the crowd erupted. ¡°AAAAAAAHHHH!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ice Qiya! My Ice Qiya is finally here!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! Please summon Ice Qiya! I¡¯m begging you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting! I was almost falling asleep earlier!¡± ¡°I feel like crying!¡± ¡°Huh? Is this real? Am I actually about to see Ice Qiya!?¡± Despite the high skill level of the youth contestants gathered for the division matches, the fact that it was a high school tournament left some spectators less engaged. By late morning, many audience members felt more like they were filling seats as hired extras, poorly motivated ones at that. But the sudden fervor from the stands confused all the contestants except those from the Ancient Guwu Region. ¡°What the, what¡¯s happening?!¡± ¡°The audience woke up?¡± ¡°Who just came on stage?!¡± ¡°Oh, I think I get it now. The data says this Qiao Sang has a beast classified as a threatened species in the Ancient Guwu Region.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. The whole audience is rooting for her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m seriously jealous. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think this was her home ourt.¡± ¡°To be fair, this kind of attention must bring a lot of pressure. What if she loses?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not our problem to worry about.¡± --- In the Yuhua Region''s contestant area, Qiao Sang barely had time to react before a dazzling blue light enveloped her. In the blink of an eye, she stood in the center of the battlefield. This dramatic display immediately sparked another round of chatter among the contestants. ¡°What the heck? Why does she get blue light?¡± ¡°Worse, Tang Zhongyi still has white light! The contrast is so blatant¡­¡± ¡°Why is Qiao Sang¡¯s entrance effect different from ours?¡± ¡°The Ancient Guwu Region is so biased! I want to protest! I want blue light too!¡± On the field, Tang Zhongyi was already feeling the strain. No one could stay completely unaffected when the entire crowd seemed to cheer for their opponent. To be fair, he¡¯d faced hometown favorites in matches before, but never this blatantly. It felt as though even the pretense of fair treatment had been abandoned. All this for a Ice Qiya? Seriously? But what truly sapped his morale was the opponent standing before him. Tang Zhongyi had thoroughly researched all the contestants in the division matches, memorizing the details of anyone with high-level pet beasts. His strategy was simple: As long as he avoided facing one of the 21 contestants with high-level beasts in the elimination round, his chances of reaching the top 40 weren¡¯t bad. Yet luck had betrayed him. Out of all possible opponents, he¡¯d been matched with one of the 21. And not just any, he¡¯d drawn a contestant who was wildly popular in the Ancient Guwu Region. Today was shaping up to be his unluckiest day yet. --- Unlike previous matches, there was no immediate countdown to summon pet beasts. Instead, a stirring background track began to play. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! It¡¯s currently 11:01 AM in the Ancient Guwu Region, and we¡¯re about to witness the final match of the morning on this first day of division battles! Tell me, are you tired?¡± Yi Ao¡¯s voice boomed across the venue as he pointed his microphone toward the crowd. ¡°No!!!¡± The audience roared. ¡°Then let me hear you cheer for our contestants!¡± Yi Ao shouted. ¡°Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± " Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!¡± --- Tang Zhongyi felt numb. ¡°Well done! I believe both contestants can feel the crowd¡¯s passion!¡± Yi Ao declared. No, I can¡¯t¡­ Tang Zhongyi deadpanned internally. --- ¡°3!¡± ¡°2!¡± As the countdown echoed, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart began to race slightly. The Ancient Guwu Region¡¯s intent was clear: They wanted her to summon Lubao. But she couldn¡¯t deny that their enthusiasm had infected her mood. ¡°1!¡± As the countdown ended, Qiao Sang clasped her hands into a seal. The audience collectively held their breath. In a flash of green, a sleek, fox-like beast appeared, its pale blue body shimmering. A deep blue diamond-shaped gem adorned its forehead, while white fur flared elegantly at its tail fin and neck. Its entire demeanor exuded a regal, frosty aura. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao flicked her tail lightly. ¡°AAAAHHH! Ice Qiya! It¡¯s Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! I love you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m crying! She really summoned Ice Qiya in the first match!¡± ¡°Look at its tail flick! That¡¯s too cute, I¡¯m dead!¡± ¡°I¡¯m officially a fan for life!¡± --- The audience erupted into cheers and tears, while the contestants in the seating area collectively shuddered. The Ancient Guwu Region was terrifying. In the midst of this feverish atmosphere, Yi Ao¡¯s elated voice echoed across the field, announcing the start of the match. Chapter 400: Qiao Sang vs. Tang Zhongyi Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- T/N: Congrats on us getting on Chapter 400! ----- The Mandibular Electric Worm, a mid-level dual-type pet beast from the Lianke Region specializing in Bug and Electric attributes, was renowned for its acrobatic flight patterns. These techniques were used to confuse opponents before launching a decisive electric beam attack at the moment they faltered. As Qiao Sang observed the creature with its yellow eyes and prominent mandibles, its details came to mind. The moment the battle was announced, the Mandibular Electric Worm launched its attack. At this stage of the tournament, strategies were predetermined before the match. Commands were rarely issued in real-time for the first move. ¡°Zzzzt!¡± Yellow arcs of electricity surged from the Mandibular Electric Worm¡¯s mouth, targeting Lubao. Lubao darted and weaved, her movements fluid and precise, dodging the incoming electric strikes. Lightning bolts struck the ground, leaving shallow craters in their wake. The crowd buzzed with excitement, their expressions shifting rapidly in the span of mere seconds. ¡°What are they going to do? The opponent¡¯s pet beast is Electric-type! This is bad!¡± ¡°Oh my God, are they trying to fry Ice Qiya to death? That¡¯s brutal! Where¡¯s the referee?¡± ¡°Wow, Ice Qiya¡¯s movement on land isn¡¯t hindered like other Water-types. Look at how fast it is!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t fair! The battlefield should¡¯ve been water! We¡¯re in the Guwu Region, why isn¡¯t this a water arena?¡± In the arena, Lubao swiftly closed the distance between herself and the Mandibular Electric Worm. The audience anticipated Lubao¡¯s next move. The Mandibular Electric Worm was within range of Ice Qiya¡¯s Water Tail. At this proximity, an Electric-type counterattack was impossible, but the bug¡¯s powerful jaws could potentially bite down on Lubao¡¯s tail. Tang Zhongyi hesitated. Should he command his beast to attack, knowing the risk? Or should he have it evade, sacrificing the offensive momentum? ¡°Bite it!¡± The words escaped Tang Zhongyi¡¯s lips as Lubao closed in. The command was instinctual, born from countless hours of training. Yet, as soon as it left his mouth, regret consumed him. What gave him the confidence to think his Mandibular Electric Worm could take on Ice Qiya head-on? Tang Zhongyi¡¯s mind spiraled. His thoughts raced with worst-case scenarios, panic washing over him. ¡°Ice Claw.¡± Qiao Sang calmly instructed. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao raised her paw, cold energy crystallizing into sharp claws that gleamed menacingly. She struck mercilessly. (T/n: Lubao is a girlboss!) The Mandibular Electric Worm hesitated for a split second before opening its jaws to retaliate. It froze mid-motion. ¡°Zzzzt¡­¡± Cold. Hard. In that instant of hesitation, frost spread across its mandibles. The icy force propelled it backward several meters, its mouth encased in a thin layer of ice. The crowd erupted in cheers. ¡°Beautiful!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you get for trying to bite Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°Ice Qiya, you¡¯re the best!¡± Tang Zhongyi exhaled a shaky breath, feeling like he had narrowly escaped disaster. His beast shattered the ice on its jaws with a forceful chomp. ¡°Zzzzt!¡± It then turned toward its trainer with a loud cry, snapping Tang Zhongyi out of his spiraling thoughts. Right. What was he doing? This was a competition. He couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on unnecessary worries. ¡°Take flight!¡± Tang Zhongyi issued his next command. Despite its injured state, the Mandibular Electric Worm spread its wings and ascended. But Lubao unleashed Icy Wind without hesitation. The Mandibular Electric Worm tried to evade, but its right wing was grazed by the freezing gale, leaving it coated in frost. Tang Zhongyi¡¯s heart sank. His beast¡¯s greatest strength lay in its acrobatic flight. With a frozen wing, its mobility was compromised. Even so, the Mandibular Electric Worm persevered, pushing its wings harder to maintain flight. Qiao Sang observed the scene with a cool gaze. The Mandibular Electric Worm darted unpredictably, feigning approaches only to veer away at the last moment. Its movements were clever, but with an injured wing, its effectiveness was diminished. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao remained poised, her expression unchanging. Tang Zhongyi¡¯s frustration grew. Ice QIya showed no signs of unease, and he couldn¡¯t find an opening to exploit. Then, without warning, Lubao released a stream of Fine Snow in a seemingly random direction. To the crowd¡¯s shock, the Mandibular Electric Worm flew straight into the snowy stream, as though drawn to it. Ice crystals clung to its body, quickly spreading until it was entirely encased in ice. ¡°Water Tail.¡± Qiao Sang commanded, her voice calm and decisive. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lu.¡± Water swirled around Lubao¡¯s tail as she leaped into the air, bringing her powerful attack down onto the frozen insect. Bam! The impact sent the frozen beast crashing into the ground. The ice cracked, and the Mandibular Electric Worm lay motionless, its unconscious state displayed on the massive holographic screen. The crowd went wild. ¡°Ice Qiya wins!¡± ¡°I knew it! I knew it!¡± ¡°Ah! Ice Qiya is so cool and composed! I¡¯m in love!¡± The spectators were ecstatic, some even shedding tears of joy. In the competitors¡¯ area, the other trainers exchanged uneasy glances. ¡°That Ice Qiya¡­ It seems to predict its opponent¡¯s flight path.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The Mandibular Electric Worm was flying randomly.¡± ¡°Maybe it has a vision-based skill, allowing it to slow down its perception of the opponent¡¯s speed.¡± The skeptical trainer fell silent, pulling out a tablet to take notes. Under Qiao Sang¡¯s profile, he typed: [Ice Qiya¡¯s vision is extraordinary.] --- The countdown to summon the next battle pet didn¡¯t immediately appear after the first match ended. Instead, an epic, heart-pounding BGM filled the arena, its grandeur and intensity leaving everyone awestruck. Qiao Sang rubbed her forehead in silence. This track was from a war film, symbolizing the triumph of a great battle. Yet, the earlier match was just between mid-tier battle pets, completely out of place! ¡°Friends! Was that match amazing or what?¡± Yi Ao, the enthusiastic host, hyped the crowd through his microphone. ¡°Amazing!¡± The audience roared in unison. ¡°Now tell me, who was the victor?¡± Yi Ao continued, pushing the energy higher. ¡°Ice Qiya!¡± The audience''s thunderous chant echoed through the arena. ¡°Lu¡­¡± For the first time, Lubao heard so many people shouting her name in unison. Stunned, she turned her gaze toward the audience. That single glance caused an immediate uproar in the crowd. ¡°Oh no! Did we scare it with our loud voices?¡± ¡°Ahhh! Ice Qiya just looked at us!¡± ¡°Damn it! If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve bought tickets for Section C!¡± ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t believe I chose front-row seats. Big mistake!¡± Yi Ao, positioned high above as the host, suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. He lamented that his elevated position meant Ice Qiya couldn¡¯t see him at all. ¡°Mr. Yi, follow the schedule!¡± Came a reminder through his earpiece. Yi Ao steadied himself, raising the microphone once more. ¡°Next up, we have the final match of the morning! Let¡¯s count it down together!¡± ¡°Three!¡± ¡°Two!¡± As the audience counted down, Qiao Sang was already strategizing for the next battle. Based on her research, Tang Zhongyi¡¯s remaining pet was Light Grass. Like his pet earlier, it was a mid-tier pet with attributes that countered Lubao to some extent. Qiao Sang considered swapping Lubao out, but one look at the enthusiastic audience cooled that thought. Given their excitement, especially after many seemed moved to tears earlier, she felt it would be almost unethical to pull Lubao from the stage on the first day. Well, Lubao also has Ice-type moves¡­ She shelved the idea of substitution. ¡°One!¡± As the countdown ended, the final match began. --- Light Grass, a mid-tier Grass-type pet from the Lianke region, absorbed sunlight to convert it into energy. Thankfully, the arena¡¯s ceiling was closed, so no sunlight could enter. Qiao Sang eyed the mostly yellow pet before her with a calculating gaze. Lubao initiated with a water gun attack. A strong stream of water shot directly toward Light Grass. Why isn¡¯t she using Ice-type moves? Water-based attacks won¡¯t deal much damage¡­ Tang Zhongyi countered quickly, ¡°Dodge and use Green Field!¡± The water stream, being a linear attack, was easily avoided as Light Grass sidestepped thrice. ¡°Guang Guang!¡± Light Grass let out a cry, and its feet emitted a soft green glow. The light penetrated the ground, and in the blink of an eye, lush greenery spread across most of the field before it. Green Field restored a portion of the energy of any pet standing on the ground and enhanced Grass-type moves by 30%. Lubao had Healing Light, and Green Field only replenished stamina, not energy, so the benefit to Lubao was minimal. The biggest advantage would undoubtedly go to Light Grass. Qiao Sang decisively commanded, ¡°Melting Water!¡± Hearing her trainer¡¯s words, Lubao leapt forward, seemingly disappearing into the puddle of water she had created earlier. The water gun wasn¡¯t meant to attack, it was meant to hide Lubao. At this level of competition, opponents would have studied the pets¡¯ characteristics from previous matches. Lubao¡¯s Melting Water traitt wasn¡¯t a surprise to Tang Zhongyi, who quickly countered, ¡°Grass Knot!¡± Light Grass closed its eyes, and Qiao Sang suddenly felt a twinge of unease. Was it the enhancement from Green Field? Or was it simply because she had only seen Grass Knot used in videos? Either way, she sensed danger. Grass Knot, a mid-tier Grass-type skill, caused vines to emerge from the ground, tripping opponents and dealing damage. The heavier the opponent, the greater the damage. Logically, Lubao, in her liquid state, shouldn¡¯t be affected. Could Light Grass somehow sense where Lubao would emerge and target that spot? Always assume the opponent is stronger. Let¡¯s act as though it can predict Lubao¡¯s movements! Qiao Sang raised her hand and gave a clear command, ¡°Ice Claw, now!¡± A ripple spread across the puddle, and just as Lubao¡¯s head emerged, Light Grass opened its glowing green eyes. At that moment, glowing vines shot up on either side of the puddle, linking above it to form a trap. If Lubao fully emerged, it would undoubtedly be tripped. The audience collectively held their breath, wishing they could jump in and rip those vines apart themselves. On the field, Lubao shot out of the water at lightning speed, unhindered. Half her body was out of the puddle, and her front claws gleamed with icy sharpness. She slashed forward, instantly slicing the vines in two. Immediately after, water swirled around her body, propelling Lubao into the air. Though water-based moves weren¡¯t particularly threatening, Water Steam Jet had physical impact, which could still deal damage. However, if Light Grass endured this, its boosted Grass-type skills would pose a significant threat. Tang Zhongyi¡¯s mind raced. He locked eyes on the descending Lubao, hesitating before giving a command. ¡°Bind it! Use Leech Seed!¡± he finally shouted. Tang Zhongyi¡¯s strategy was clear: If Light Grass could bind Ice Qiya and land Leech Seed, the seed would continuously drain the Ice Qiya¡¯s energy over time. While Ice Qiya could counter with Healing Light, the persistent drain would eventually exhaust it. ¡°Guang Guang!¡± Light Grass extended its short claws, launching vines that shot toward Lubao. The seeds were effective, but no pet would stand still and allow them to land. Tang Zhongyi aimed to restrain Lubao with the vines, creating an opportunity for a close-range attack. Unfortunately, he underestimated the strength of Lubao¡¯s attacks, amplified by the S-tier potential enhancer. ¡°Lu!¡± With a cry, the water surrounding Lubao expanded threefold just as she closed in on Light Grass. ¡°Guang Guang!!!¡± Light Grass couldn¡¯t withstand the attack and was sent flying. ¡°Guang Guang!¡± Tang Zhongyi¡¯s disbelief was written all over his face. ----- ----- Chapter 401: Seems Like Its Found Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- There was a commotion in the audience. Even though it was Ice Qiya who had knocked Light Grass flying, many people still expressed concern. ¡°I could hear the impact! Do you think Ice Qiya hurt its head?¡± ¡°Probably not¡­¡± ¡°But Light Grass flew so far back. That must¡¯ve been a hard hit. Ice Qiya¡¯s got to be feeling it. Isn¡¯t your brother a pet masseur? After the match, let¡¯s bring him to Qiao Sang and see if he can massage Ice Qiya.¡± ¡°My brother¡¯s not worthy!¡± --- On the field. ¡°Icy Wind.¡± Qiao Sang never forgot the importance of finishing the job. Lubao opened her mouth, and a gust of cold air surged toward Light Grass, who was lying several meters away. ¡°Dodge it!¡± Tang Zhongyi shouted. Light Grass opened its eyes. At the same time, a green glow emerged from the ground and enveloped its body. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Light Grass immediately regained some strength. It quickly extended its vines, anchoring them two meters away. Under the effects of the Green Field, Light Grass¡¯s vine speed was noticeably faster than usual. In the nick of time, just as the Icy Wind was about to hit, Light Grass used its vines to swing itself two meters away. It can do that? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned by Light Grass¡¯s move. ¡°Well done, Tang Daguang!¡± Tang Zhongyi cheered excitedly. ¡°Light!¡± Light Grass stood up, looking as though it hadn¡¯t been injured at all. It puffed out its chest and called out confidently. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao stepped forward with her left front paw, showing a serious expression. Using vines to move¡­ Qiao Sang quickly made a decision: ¡°Use Icy Wind on the ground!¡± Hearing this, Lubao puffed up her cheeks and blew a stream of cold wind at the ground. The icy air spread out, and in an instant, the ground froze over, turning into a slippery sheet of ice. ¡°Light!¡± Light Grass wobbled, its feet slipping on the icy surface. ¡°Icy Wind.¡± Qiao Sang commanded again. Lubao blew another gust of cold wind, this time directly at Light Grass. ¡°Move with Vine Whip!¡± Tang Zhongyi instinctively called out. He knew Light Grass too well, there was no way it could move normally on ice. Even balancing itself would take significant effort. Light Grass extended its short vine and swung it down as it had before. But the ground was no longer the same. Light Grass jabbed its vine forcefully downward, shattering the ice. It managed to anchor its vine into the ground beneath, stopping its slide. Just as the Icy Wind was about to hit, Light Grass used its vine to swing itself away again. ¡°Keep using Icy Wind.¡± Qiao Sang ordered. The cold wind surged forward. Light Grass attempted to pull its vine out and lash it toward another part of the ground. However, this time it couldn¡¯t pull the vine out immediately. ¡°Light!¡± With a forceful yank, Light Grass finally retrieved its vine. This time, it dodged the Icy Wind in a rather hasty and clumsy manner. Lubao gave it no breathing room, and another Icy Wind was already heading toward it. One gust after another, combined with the effort it took to retrieve its vine each time, forced Light Grass into an increasingly desperate position. As time passed, the effects of Green Field wore off. Without the stamina boost, Light Grass was soon frozen solid by the relentless Icy Wind. ¡°Water Tail!¡± Qiao Sang delivered the final blow. ¡°Lu.¡± A torrent of water formed as Lubao¡¯s tail swung down heavily. The ice shattered, and Light Grass reappeared in everyone¡¯s view, its eyes swirling with dizziness. ¡°Tang Daguang!¡± Tang Zhongyi called out in anguish. Human emotions differ, while Tang Zhongyi cried out in dismay, the audience erupted into wild cheers. Some were even hugging each other and weeping with excitement. ? ¡°Ice Qiya! I knew you could do it!¡± ¡°Anyone who says Ice Qiya is just a healer, I¡¯ll fight them! Ice Qiya is clearly a powerhouse attacker!¡± ¡°It¡¯s won two matches against type-disadvantaged opponents! That¡¯s incredible! Not to mention it¡¯s a rare species in our region. Of course, Qiao Sang deserves credit too.¡± ¡°Ahhh! I don¡¯t think I was this emotional even on my wedding day!¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°¡­Wife.¡± ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll forgive you because I feel the same! Ahhh! Ice Qiya is so amazing!¡± --- In the competitors¡¯ area, aside from Sun Boyi and the coaches from Guwu Region, the other coaches were frowning and analyzing: ¡°Ice Qiya is only a mid-level pet, but after two matches, it doesn¡¯t show any signs of fatigue. Its energy levels seem off.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It used Icy Wind so many times in the second match, yet its speed and power didn¡¯t diminish.¡± ¡°I checked, and this Ice Qiya is much larger than normal. It¡¯s clearly been raised well and fed plenty of high-quality resources.¡± Everyone fell silent. Sometimes, resources were a form of strength too, and they all understood that. ¡°Even with resources, the pet has to be capable of absorbing them.¡± The man who had been noting Ice Qiya¡¯s unusual eyes pulled out a tablet and began recording: ¡°Ice Qiya¡¯s energy is unusual.¡± --- A triumphant BGM echoed throughout the arena. Yi Ao picked up the microphone and announced loudly: ¡°Friends! It is currently 11:32 in Guwu! The morning matches are now over. See you all this afternoon!¡± ¡°See you this afternoon!¡± The audience responded enthusiastically. Hearing the cheers and music, Xu Yixuan felt a rush of excitement. However, come the afternoon, she found herself staring at the near-empty stands in confusion. What happened to see you this afternoon? Xu Yixuan took a picture of the empty seats and sent it to Qiao Sang: ¡°Can you believe this was the audience from this morning? The difference in numbers is ridiculous!¡± --- Meanwhile. At the Deepsea Mantis Hotel, Room 2088. Qiao Sang leaned against the headboard, typing back: ¡°There is quite a difference, but there are still thirteen minutes until the match starts. People should show up by then.¡± Xu Yixuan replied instantly: ¡°No way. I¡¯ve thought it through, most of the audience was here for Ice Qiya. Since you¡¯re not competing this afternoon, they didn¡¯t come back.¡± Does this really need thinking through? Qiao Sang thought to herself. Given the enthusiasm in the morning, it felt like she couldn¡¯t not send out Lubao. She replied while laughing: ¡°It¡¯s a pity I got mobbed outside the hotel. I can¡¯t make it to the arena, so I¡¯ll just watch the live stream. Do your best this afternoon!¡± Xu Yixuan replied immediately: ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t reply again and instead opened the regional tournament live stream. Thinking about how she couldn¡¯t make it to the scene, Qiao Sang sighed. The Haichen Battle Arena was located right above the hotel, just a ten-minute walk away. At noon, she, Xu Yixuan, and Coach Sun hadn¡¯t been in a hurry. But as soon as she stepped out of the hotel, she was met with a dense crowd and a barrage of cameras. Not wanting to delay Xu Yixuan, she had let them go ahead. Qiao Sang had considered using Little Treasure¡¯s Teleport to take her directly there. But given the surrounding water, a bad teleport could send her to the bottom of the ocean. She decided to stay behind. Watching the live stream is fine. It¡¯s not like I have a match this afternoon. No reason to be there in person¡­ Qiao Sang consoled herself. Just then, a notification popped up at the top of her phone: Uncle Pei: Looks like we found the place. Chapter 402: The Emerald Python Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Found it? Qiao Sang froze. Could it really be found based on that vague description? And so quickly?! She sat up abruptly, quickly opening the chat app, just about to reply- Two new messages appeared. Uncle Pei: Picture Uncle Pei: Show it to Ice Qiya and see if this is the place. Qiao Sang tapped the picture to take a look. It was a wooden, stand-alone house. The leaves on the trees in front were half-yellow, half-green. Except for the absence of that green beast, everything else looked the same. ¡°Lubao.¡± Qiao Sang turned and held her phone up, showing the enlarged picture to Lubao, who was resting with her eyes closed by the window. ¡°Come and see if this is the place you¡¯re looking for.¡± Lubao opened her eyes. Despite the distance, she could clearly see the photo. The moment Lubao saw it, she froze, then her eyes lit up. She immediately ran over in just a few steps, staring intently at the photo. After three seconds, her expression became serious and faintly excited as she nodded firmly. ¡°Lu!¡± This is the place! Qiao Sang was stunned. It really was the place?! They already found it? How? She quickly replied: [Lubao says this is the place. Uncle Pei, how did you find it?] Pei Shipan didn¡¯t type a reply. Instead, he initiated a voice call. ¡°Uncle Pei.¡± Qiao Sang picked up immediately. ¡°I have a friend whose beast can also read memories. The difference is, her beast can recognize written characters and note down addresses.¡± Pei Shipan got straight to the point and explained rapidly. ¡°I asked her for help the day we returned. But at that time, we didn¡¯t have a specific location, so I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± So that¡¯s how it was¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly felt the urge to teach her beasts something similar. She glanced at Lubao and Yabao before her eyes settled on Little Treasure. If any of her three beasts were best suited for studying, it would definitely be Little Treasure... ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure was happily using his spatial shift to move ants around, completely unaware of his beastmaster¡¯s wild plans. ¡°Where is this place?¡± Qiao Sang refocused and asked. ¡°It¡¯s on an island near Fangcheng. Fangcheng is about five hours by boat from Haicheng. You¡¯re busy with matches these days, so you won¡¯t have time to go. I¡¯ll take you there after your matches are over.¡± Pei Shipan said. ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang agreed. With such a long trip, she indeed didn¡¯t have the energy to make it right now. ¡°By the way.¡± Pei Shipan¡¯s tone suddenly lowered, ¡°If Ice Qiya is going there to see the Emerald Python, I suggest you don¡¯t bring it along.¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°That green beast you mentioned?¡± Pei Shipan hummed an acknowledgment. ¡°Why not?¡± Qiao Sang asked, confused. ¡°It¡¯s not there anymore.¡± Pei Shipan said. ¡°I looked into it. Six months ago, someone reported it for helping wild beasts sneak onto a plane. It¡¯s still in the Beast Reform Facility.¡± Six months ago¡­ helping wild beasts smuggle themselves? Qiao Sang glanced at Lubao, and then something clicked. Her expression turned serious. ¡°What about its beastmaster?¡± ¡°The beastmaster worked at the airport. Because of this incident, they lost their job.¡± Pei Shipan said somberly. Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Uncle Pei, is there a way to get the Emerald Python out of the Reform Facility early?¡± There was silence on the other end. After a few moments, Pei Shipan sighed. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the wild beast it helped sneak onto the plane was Ice Qiya, right?¡± It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out. Why would an endangered beast from Guwu District appear in Yuhua District? Why would Ice Qiya want to visit this place? And why would Qiao Sang want to get the Emerald Python out of the facility? A bit of thought was enough to uncover the truth. Ice Qiya was the wild beast that snuck onto the plane. She wanted to visit this place to see the Emerald Python, which had once helped her. Qiao Sang fell silent again. After a few moments, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask Lubao, but this does line up with the time she appeared in Yuhua District.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Hearing her name, Lubao perked her ears up and leaned toward the phone. Qiao Sang instinctively leaned back against the headboard. Lubao: ¡­ S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pei Shipan¡¯s voice lowered: ¡°If it were just a regular wild beast, it wouldn¡¯t matter. But if people find out the Emerald Python helped Ice Qiya, this could get serious.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t something you can handle. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Some matters sound serious but can be easily resolved as long as you find the right person. For those in high positions, it¡¯s just a matter of saying a word. Qiao Sang thanked him. She understood this was a big favor to owe. --- Evening. Fangcheng. Beast Reform Facility. ¡°Feifei!¡± ¡°Susu!¡± ¡°Lili!¡± Three beasts were gathered, playing cards. Suddenly, one of them, a predominantly green beast with four limbs, excitedly slapped down the last of its cards. ¡°Feifei!¡± A straight! It won! ¡°Susu¡­¡± ¡°Lili¡­¡± The other two beasts wilted, dejectedly grabbing energy pellets from their plates and dropping them into the green beast¡¯s pile. ¡°Feifei!¡± The green beast happily shuffled the cards, signaling for another round. ¡°Susu!¡± ¡°Lili!¡± The two losers called out seriously, ready to win back their pride. At that moment, a uniformed staff member approached and said, ¡°Emerald Python, you can go now.¡± ¡°Feifei.¡± The Emerald Python flicked its tail dismissively, not stopping its shuffling. It called back half-heartedly. Let me finish this round first. The staff member sighed. ¡°Your beastmaster came to pick you up.¡± ¡°Feifei!¡± Hearing this, the Emerald Python¡¯s eyes lit up. The cards dropped from its paws, and it rushed toward the exit. After a few steps, it stopped and turned back. ¡°Susu!¡± ¡°Lili!¡± The two beasts looked at it with reluctant expressions. ¡°Feifei!¡± The Emerald Python cheerfully called out its farewell, then scooped up the plate full of energy pellets with its tail and left without looking back. ¡°Susu¡­¡± ¡°Lili¡­¡± --- That night, Qiao Sang received news that the Emerald Python had been released. That was fast¡­ Qiao Sang was pleasantly surprised. A weight lifted from her shoulders. She glanced at Lubao, who was sleeping soundly beside her. Her lips were curved into a rare smile, so unlike her usual aloof demeanor. ¡°Luu¡­¡± In her dream, Lubao stood under a tree with a wary expression. She was still in her earlier form as Water Luriana. ¡°Feifei!¡± The Emerald Python pushed a plate of energy pellets toward it. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao looked conflicted. She didn¡¯t want to eat, but she was so hungry. ¡°Gurgle¡­¡± Her stomach growled. Her face turned red. ¡°Feifei!¡± The Emerald Python pushed the plate forward again. Unable to resist her hunger, Lubao reached out for a pellet and, before she knew it, began wolfing them down. When she finished, she noticed the Emerald Python was staring up at the sky. ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°Feifei!¡± The Emerald Python excitedly explained that its beastmaster worked up there in the sky. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s wary expression returned. She had no trust in humans. ¡°Feifei!¡± The Emerald Python looked serious. Not all humans are bad. One day, you¡¯ll meet a human you¡¯re willing to bond with. ----- ----- Chapter 403: Qiao Sang VS Zhang Xueming Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Day Three of the Regional Tournament. Haicheng Beast Battle Arena. ¡°Friends! Welcome back to the live broadcast of the National Campus Beast Mastering League Regionals !¡± Yi Ao floated midair with a microphone, enthusiastically engaging the audience. ¡°Did everyone sleep well last night?¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Not good!¡± The crowd responded with fervor. In the competitors'' area, Xu Yixuan, who had smoothly advanced to the points stage, was in a great mood. She glanced at the packed stands and marveled, ¡°This is insane. There were barely any people here the first two days, and now the place is full because of you.¡± This wasn¡¯t a small venue, it was a stadium that could hold 80,000 spectators. ¡°They¡¯re all here to see Lubao.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. Xu Yixuan paused, as if something occurred to her, and asked, ¡°Are we friends?¡± ¡°Of course we are.¡± Qiao Sang replied, puzzled. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Then I have a favor to ask.¡± Xu Yixuan leaned closer and whispered, ¡°If we end up facing each other in the points round, can you not send out Ice Qiya?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡°...Fine.¡± --- In the Guwu region, 144 competitors qualified for the regional tournament. After the elimination stage, 72 remained. According to the rules of the points stage, the competitors are initially divided into eight groups, with nine people in each group. At the end of this stage, the top player in each group will directly advance to the national tournament. Those in the bottom three of each group will be eliminated. The remaining five players in each group will be re-shuffled into new groups, from which the top 32 scorers will be determined. The eight competitors who directly advanced will later compete for the top eight spots in the regional tournament. After two days of matches, the elimination rounds had concluded. Though there were 72 matches, with three time slots: Morning, afternoon, and evening, two days were enough to complete them. ¡°Next up, the group list for the first round of the points stage!¡± Yi Ao announced excitedly. ¡°Everyone, look to the front!¡± The large arena screen displayed holographic photos of all advancing players. The competitors groaned quietly, covering their faces in embarrassment. The photos quickly shuffled before freezing in place. Qiao Sang scanned the list and soon spotted her name: [Group B: Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang] [Guwu Region, Chen Ye] [Xilu Region, Guan Shuyi] [Lianke Region, Li Hua] [Xilu Region, Bai Binbin] [...] [Lianke Region, Xu Tong] [Lianke Region, Zhang Xueming] Bai Binbin, Zhang Xueming... Seeing these familiar names, Qiao Sang quickly pulled out her phone and opened her notes. Bai Binbin (Xilu Region, E-rank Beastmaster): High-level Beast: Evil Tail Scorpion Dual Attribute: Dark/Poison Aggressive temperament; its claws and tail can release deadly poison. Its claws are strong enough to crush cars. Even without poison, its sheer strength can overpower opponents. Advanced Skills: Evil Pulse, Poison Bomb (both suspected to be at Small Mastery) Traits: Sniper: Deals increased damage when hitting critical points. Poison Point: 30% chance to poison opponents using contact-based attacks. Mid-level Beast: Scythe Mongoose Agile and swift, its sharp claws are its deadliest weapons. Trait: Toxic Boost: When poisoned, its attack power increases. She scrolled further. Zhang Xueming (Lianke Region, E-rank Beastmaster): High-level Beast: Ice Sea Lion Its thick fat not only resists cold but also rebounds attacks. Advanced Skills: Blizzard, Heavy Slam Trait: Oblivious: Immune to charm, taunt, and intimidation. Mid-level Beast: Mimi Sprite (Fairy Attribute) Fragile but skilled in charm-based abilities. Trait: Super Luck: Higher chance of landing critical hits. --- It seemed her greatest opponents in the group were Bai Binbin and Zhang Xueming. After carefully reviewing their details, Qiao Sang patiently read through the other six competitors¡¯ information. While group assignments were randomized, the system ensured fairness by guaranteeing that each group contained two to three high-level beasts. This prevented groups with only mid-level beasts from advancing unfairly. Xu Yixuan was placed in Group E. She scanned her group, focusing on those with only mid-level beasts. Every group had high-level beastmasters, which ruled out a direct promotion to the nationals for most competitors. However, as long as she stayed in the top six, she still had a shot at the nationals. --- The first round of the points stage officially began. As matches progressed, the audience erupted into lively discussions. ¡°What¡¯s that beast called? It¡¯s so big, yet it moves so fast!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Twin-Headed Grizzly. Despite its size, look at the muscles on its legs.¡± ¡°This Zhang Chu player is interesting, winning matches with just two bug-type beasts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate bug types. There are no weak attributes, only weak beastmasters.¡± ¡°Still, bug-type beasts grow fast early but lack potential later. They only shine at this stage.¡± ¡°That beast looks just like a Void-Grass.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the evolved form, Giant Truth-Grass.¡± ¡°Impressive! Didn¡¯t expect a slacker like you to know evolution forms from other regions.¡± ¡°Trust me, I wish I didn¡¯t. My ex rented a Giant Truth-Grass right before breaking up with me.¡± ¡°...Yikes.¡± Ninety-five percent of the spectators were from the Guwu region. While most weren¡¯t diehard fans of the tournament, they found great interest in learning about beasts from other regions. As time passed, Qiao Sang¡¯s match approached. The arena¡¯s atmosphere reached its peak. The epic BGM kicked in right on cue. Yi Ao¡¯s excited voice boomed as he introduced the next players. Blue and white spotlights simultaneously lit up the competitors¡¯ areas. When the crowd saw who had appeared on the stage, the arena erupted with deafening cheers. Unlike the first day, competitors and spectators from other regions were no longer clueless. Ice Qiya had taken the Guwu region by storm. Its significance was so profound that every major headline covered it after the first day¡¯s matches. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°I asked the fortune pig yesterday. It said Qiao Sang would summon Ice Qiya today!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lock, brother!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! I love you! Please let us see Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°Everyone, calm down! Qiao Sang¡¯s opponent today is Zhang Xueming, who has a high-level beast. What if Ice Qiya gets hurt?¡± Amid the deafening shouts, Lubao and Mimi Sprite entered the arena. This time, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t swayed by the crowd¡¯s expectations. She had already gathered intelligence, Mimi Sprite was female. Chapter 404: How Is That Possible? I Fooled You Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The proficiency of Mimi Sprite''s Charm skill was an unknown factor. To eliminate the risk of being charmed, sending out a pet of the same gender as Mimi Sprite was the optimal choice. Qiao Sang''s gaze landed on the Mimi Sprite. This was her first time battling against a Fairy-type pet¡­ Contestant Area. In the Lianke Region contestant section: "Zhang Xueming is a bit unlucky, being placed in the same group as Qiao Sang." A thick-browed, square-faced boy remarked. Facing off against a super popular contestant, the pressure alone, regardless of winning or losing, was significant. "Do you even know Zhang Xueming? Her mentality is rock-solid. She couldn¡¯t care less about some endangered pet." Said another boy with a chestnut-colored haircut. "But Zhang Xueming is still unlucky. At this stage, the focus is obviously on high-tier pets. Qiao Sang¡¯s high-tier pet is the Blazing Star Canine, which is Fire and Psychic-type. Zhang Xueming¡¯s Ice Sea Lion is Ice-type, which is countered by Fire. Plus, the Psychic-type gives Qiao Sang another edge. She has no advantage at all." Commented a brown-haired boy nearby. The chestnut-haired boy couldn¡¯t help but retort: "Have you guys forgotten how her Mimi Sprite defeated the Octo-Turtle during the provincial competition?" The boy who called Zhang Xueming unlucky fell silent. The Octo-Turtle was a high-tier pet that had walked itself off the battlefield under the influence of Mimi Sprite¡¯s Charm. After that match, the Octo-Turtle was reportedly so traumatized it nearly became withdrawn. Indeed, Zhang Xueming not only had a high-tier Ice Sea Lion, but also a Mimi Sprite whose Charm had reached a terrifying level of mastery¡­ --- On the Field. As the whistle blew, Mimi Sprite struck a pose and threw a flirtatious wink at Lubao. At the same time, a special energy formed a heart-shaped wave and launched toward Lubao. Lubao received the wink with a perplexed expression. In the next moment, she opened her mouth and fired a jet of water about forty centimeters in diameter directly at Mimi Sprite. Mimi Sprite swiftly dodged, and the water jet hit empty air. Information is everything¡­ Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction, sending out Lubao had been the right choice. "Female¡­" Zhang Xueming¡¯s expression remained calm, showing no sign of panic over the failed Charm. She eyed the Ice Qiya, which was preparing to jump into the water puddle, and gave her next command: "Disarming Voice." ¡°Mii~ Mii~ Mii~¡± Mimi Sprite began to sing. Disarming Voice was a mid-tier Fairy-type skill that caused spiritual damage and had a chance to put the opponent to sleep. Unless the target had a Soundproof ability, this move was nearly unavoidable. ???? Just as Mimi Sprite started to sing, Qiao Sang issued her command: "Healing Song." Half-submerged in the water puddle, Lubao stuck her head out confidently and began to sing: "Lu-lu~ Lu-lu~ Lu~ Lu-lu~ Lu~" The two songs reverberated through the battlefield. In the front rows, some of the previously frenzied spectators started to look calmer: "Ice Qiya, you¡¯ve got this." "Both Ice Qiya and Mimi Sprite sing pretty well." "Why do I feel like Mimi Sprite¡¯s singing sounds slightly better?" "Actually¡­ now that you mention it¡­" "Why do I suddenly feel sleepy¡­" "Me too¡­" On the Field. ¡°Mii¡­¡± Mimi Sprite¡¯s face went tranquil, and it couldn¡¯t keep singing. On the other side, Lubao also stopped her song, her head resting on the water puddle¡¯s surface, eyelids drooping heavily. "Healing Light." Qiao Sang said calmly. "Lu¡­" Hearing her trainer, Lubao struggled to stay awake. Just as her eyes were about to close, she snapped them open, only to have them droop again. She jerked them open once more, repeating this cycle until the blue gemstone on her forehead suddenly emitted a light that enveloped her entire body. Healing Light, this needs to be interrupted¡­ What skill should I use? Zhang Xueming pondered, her mind unusually calm. When people become too calm, their spirits relax, their mental focus loosens, and their reaction speeds slow down, exactly what was happening to Zhang Xueming. In the contestant area, coaches and players were abuzz. "So this is what Healing Light looks like¡­" "What¡¯s wrong with Zhang Xueming? Why didn¡¯t she interrupt Ice Qiya¡¯s Healing Light immediately?" "Didn¡¯t you see her face? When have you ever seen her look so¡­ Zen? She¡¯s clearly been affected." "Is Healing Song¡¯s area of effect really that wide?" "It must be because Ice Qiya¡¯s proficiency in the move is so high." Once the blue light dissipated, Lubao dove into the water puddle and disappeared. Only then did Zhang Xueming seem to snap back to reality. Her face turned serious. I didn¡¯t expect Healing Song to affect me as well¡­ "Metronome!" Zhang Xueming called out. Metronome was a versatile yet unpredictable skill that could randomly trigger any move within the same tier. It was powerful but relied on luck. If you were unlucky, you might even teleport yourself out of bounds. ¡°Mii¡­¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mimi Sprite sluggishly raised a tiny finger. "Enchanting Idol!" Zhang Xueming shouted, noticing that Mimi Sprite still wasn¡¯t fully responsive. ¡°Mii?¡± Hearing its trainer, Mimi Sprite blinked in confusion, as if to ask, What just happened? At that moment, Lubao suddenly appeared behind Mimi Sprite, her tail wrapped in swirling water, striking down hard. ¡°Mii!!!¡± Mimi Sprite cried out, tumbling backward and rolling a few times. I need to heal it immediately¡­ Zhang Xueming, her face tense, abruptly looked at Qiao Sang and asked, "What¡¯s Ice Qiya¡¯s Healing Song proficiency?" Why is she suddenly asking that? Qiao Sang blinked at her in surprise. In that split second when Qiao Sang glanced toward Zhang Xueming, the fallen Mimi Sprite gathered its energy. Multicolored light began to surge from its body. "Lu!" Lubao leapt into the air, her left forelimb forming a razor-sharp claw of ice that slashed down hard at Mimi Sprite. ¡°Mii!!!¡± The light surrounding Mimi Sprite shattered as it let out a pained shriek. So she managed to distract me too¡­ Qiao Sang realized, startled. To be honest, opponents who tried to interfere verbally were rare. In major competitions, under so many watchful eyes, trash talk was almost non-existent. If there hadn¡¯t been intel noting Zhang Xueming¡¯s tendency for verbal interference, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t have been on guard. Luckily, Lubao¡¯s focus never wavered from Mimi Sprite, or else that healing attempt might have succeeded. This match had truly taught her a lesson¡­ Qiao Sang turned to Zhang Xueming with a serious expression. "Healing Song? It¡¯s been mastered to the Ultimate level." Qiao Sang suddenly said. What? Ultimate level?! Zhang Xueming stared at her in shock, momentarily frozen. Her thoughts about the next move completely short-circuited. In that moment of distraction, Lubao¡¯s water-wrapped tail struck Mimi Sprite again. ¡°Mii!!¡± After a third consecutive hit, Mimi Sprite tumbled a few times and fell unconscious. The crowd erupted into cheers. Zhang Xueming regained her composure, taking a deep breath, her expression complex. " "Has Ice Qiya really mastered Healing Song to the Ultimate level?" Qiao Sang smiled faintly: "How is that possible? I fooled you." Chapter 405: Regrets Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "You''re lying?" Zhang Xueming nearly cursed aloud but swallowed her words as she remembered she was the one who had initially tried to distract her opponent. Truthfully, if anyone else claimed their beast''s skill had reached Ultimate, she wouldn''t even blink. But Qiao Sang was different. A 15-year-old prodigious Beast Master with undeniable talent should naturally carry an innate pride, a disdain for such verbal tactics. Added to that was the intel they had gathered: Qiao Sang''s Blazing Star Canine''s Meteor Rain had genuinely achieved Ultimate. When Qiao Sang said it, Zhang Xueming almost believed her. "So this was her way of repaying me for distracting her earlier?" Zhang Xueming sighed internally, both frustrated and somewhat impressed. It turns out that those with immense talent learn dirty tricks just as quickly... The first match ended with roaring cheers from the audience. Though the battle hadn''t been exceedingly intense, the crowd''s excitement soared to its peak. ¡°Forget its looks; Ice Qiya''s singing is just divine! I¡¯m so in love!¡± ¡°Did anyone record that moment? When Ice Qiya forced its eyes open against the sleep effect? So cute I could die!¡± ¡°To be fair, Zhang Xueming and Mimi Sprite were pretty coordinated. At one point, she distracted Qiao Sang, and Mimi Sprite managed to use Healing Wave, that''s real teamwork. But none of that escaped Ice Qiya''s eyes! Did you see that Water Tail? Fast, precise, brutal!¡± Among the uproar, Mimi Sprite was carried off the field. --- Audience Zone B, First Row. ¡°Fei Fei! Fei Fei!¡± An Emerald Python coiled around a woman''s shoulders, chirping excitedly toward the battlefield. The woman wore a beige mid-length coat, her bright and striking features making her look around thirty. Compared to the surrounding frenzy, she remained calm. ¡°Thank you for bringing me here.¡± The woman said. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank?¡± Replied Pei Shipan, a man in a cap and mask. ¡°I happened to have tickets, and you happened to want to come.¡± The woman looked at the pale-blue figure on the field and sighed softly. ¡°It¡¯s been raised well.¡± Pei Shipan glanced at her. ¡°Did you already know the Emerald Python was helping raise Ice Qiya?¡± Wei Ying fell silent for a few seconds before answering, ¡°Yes.¡± Of course, she knew. Back then, the Emerald Python often looked unsatisfied no matter how much it ate. She followed it once and discovered the little creature that would one day evolve into Ice Qiya. Her heart had pounded wildly back then. Fearing she would scare it away, she stayed hidden. When she later realized the creature hated humans, she avoided showing herself even more. Truthfully, she had hoped for something, a bond of sorts. But her own talent was lacking; by 33, she had only unlocked a single page in her Beast Master Codex. If those people hadn''t appeared later, she might have slowly built a relationship with it. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Pei Shipan asked. Wei Ying knew exactly what he meant. Discovering Ice Qiya¡¯s existence as the Emerald Python''s Beast Master meant she was responsible for the python sneaking onto a plane. If she had stopped it, the Emerald Python wouldn¡¯t have been sent to the Beast Rehabilitation Facility, and she wouldn¡¯t have lost her job. Wei Ying didn¡¯t answer immediately. Her gaze fell on the aloof but serene Ice Qiya. It¡¯s different now. Back then, it was a nervous, spiky creature that seemed ready to lash out at any moment. Now, while its expression remained unapproachable, its stance was relaxed. ¡°I used to regret it.¡± Wei Ying finally said with a small smile. ¡°But not anymore.¡± --- On the Field. Qiao Sang raised her hand, ready to recall Lubao. ¡°Lu!¡± At that moment, Lubao turned her head and called out, signaling she wanted to continue battling. Don¡¯t copy Yabao! Qiao Sang kept a smile on her face but spoke seriously: ¡°Your next opponent is an Advanced-tier Ice Sea Lion. It¡¯s going to be tough.¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s expression was determined. After all, Qiao Sang had already discussed the upcoming matches and what to watch out for. She remembered every word. She wanted to battle stronger opponents. If Yabao could do it, why couldn¡¯t she? This is a points match, losing means losing points¡­ Qiao Sang stared at Lubao¡¯s unwavering gaze and sighed. Fine. She thought through her strategy again. The toughest group opponents were Zhang Xueming and Bai Binbin. With Yabao, she was confident about beating the Ice Sea Lion next match. Against Bai Binbin, she had a chance to face his Intermediate-tier Scythe Mongoose early on. In the second round, if Yabao could land Meteor Rain on his Evil tail Scorpion, victory was assured. Between Zhang Xueming and Bai Binbin, it was unlikely either would win both their matches. If things go as planned, I¡¯ll still rank first in our group. Even if her predictions were off, she could still advance by placing in the top 40 of the division through the next rounds. More battles meant more points, and points mattered most. Resolved, Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Alright. I believe in you. Fight to your heart¡¯s content.¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s eyes lit up, her heart surging with a mix of determination and gratitude. I can do it. She believes in me just like she believes in Yabao. I can¡¯t let her down. As the announcer Yi Ao called for the second round of beasts, Lubao assumed a battle-ready stance. Seeing Ice Qiya still on the field caused a stir in the audience. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhang Xueming¡¯s second beast an Advanced-tier Ice-type?¡± ¡°Yeah! Why hasn¡¯t Qiao Sang recalled Ice Qiya?!¡± ¡°I want to see Ice Qiya, too, but I don¡¯t want to see it get crushed!¡± ¡°Is Qiao Sang planning to use Ice Qiya to wear down the Ice Sea Lion?¡± ¡°The level gap is too big, what¡¯s she thinking?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ didn¡¯t Qiao Sang start to recall Ice Qiya earlier? But then Ice Qiya said something, and she stopped. Maybe Ice Qiya wants to keep fighting?¡± The comment was drowned out by the growing commotion. --- ¡°Fei Fei! Fei Fei!¡± The Emerald Python chirped excitedly, watching its old friend, transformed yet recognizable, focus intently under the gaze of countless humans. It was truly happy for it. --- On the Field. "Seal!¡± A powerful roar resounded as a massive beast emerged from the star array, a white, long-haired creature with piercing blue eyes and bushy eyebrows, its mouth covered by trailing tufts of fur. The second battle was about to begin. ----- ----- Chapter 406: Chaos Ensues Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Thank you for the continuous support of this new patreons of mine???? @Jared, @Error 404, @Bunlang, @2ps, and @Otto! And my ko-fi lovers @Kelly! ----- The audience grew restless, staring intently at the field. It was clear that Ice Qiya was still present, and it would be competing in the second match as well. The exclusive, adrenaline-pumping BGM did not play again, and Yi Ao did not engage in any countdown interaction this time. The audience from the Guwu region had lost the enthusiasm to cheer phrases like, "Go, Ice Qiya!" "I love you, Ice Qiya!" or "Qiao Sang, I believe in you!" especially when they knew Ice Qiya was about to be crushed in the upcoming match. After a brief silence, Yi Ao announced the start of the match. Zhang Xueming looked at the Ice Qiya still on the field. Shocked, she felt insulted. At this stage of the regional competition, every match was crucial. If the opponent didn¡¯t have a high-level pet, that would be one thing. But knowing the opponent had a high-level pet beast and still choosing Ice Qiya, despite being aware of her next pick, Ice Sea Lion, was undoubtedly insulting. Lubao made the first move, shooting a Water Gun. Zhang Xueming''s expression was icy as she commanded, "Icy Wind." Hearing its trainer''s command, Ice Sea Lion opened its mouth, releasing a visible chill that quickly spread outwards. The chill engulfed the incoming Water Gun, freezing it into an ice-covered projectile in an instant. Clink! The frozen water column hit the ground and shattered into countless fragments. An Icy Wind from a high-level pet beast was a force to be reckoned with... Qiao Sang calmly said, "Bubble Beam." Lubao opened her mouth, releasing over a hundred bubbles into the air. Zhang Xueming frowned, unable to discern Qiao Sang''s intentions. In her view, even if Ice Sea Lion stood still and let the Bubble Beam hit it, it wouldn¡¯t cause any damage. Since the skill was so weak, Zhang Xueming gave no counter commands. Contestants who made it to the regional competition didn¡¯t need to issue commands for every move. The pets, trained over long periods, could rely on their battle instincts to decide on the appropriate skills and timing. ? However, without a trainer''s instructions and facing such a seemingly harmless opponent, Ice Sea Lion appeared lazy and uninspired, lacking any fighting spirit. It wasn¡¯t until the hundred-plus bubbles had traveled a fair distance that Ice Sea Lion finally launched an attack. This wasn¡¯t negligence, but more like a situation where an adult fighting a child would casually wait until the child, wielding a fragile twig, rushed forward before nonchalantly countering with a single move. Ice Sea Lion reacted slowly but attacked swiftly. A white beam infused with icy energy shot out of Ice Sea Lion¡¯s mouth, heading directly for Lubao. The beam pierced through the bubbles, freezing them solid along its path and advancing unhindered. An Ice Beam, a mid-tier ice skill, could damage the opponent and potentially freeze them. Qiao Sang remained composed. She was fully aware of the disparity between Lubao and Ice Sea Lion. The gap between mid-level and high-level pet beasts wasn¡¯t just for show. Her previous pet, Yabao, had been able to challenge high-level beasts because of his teleportation and his mastery of a high-damage, wide-range ultimate skill, Meteor Rain. Similarly, Little Treasure¡¯s victory over Stronghold Sky Owl had relied on his teleportation skill and mastery of Shadow Control, along with the owl''s lack of synchronization with its trainer. But Lubao was different. Her most powerful skill was for healing, and her offensive abilities were either low-tier or mid-tier. Given Lubao''s defense, she would likely fall after a single hit. Ice Sea Lion, being Zhang Xueming¡¯s starter beast, had excellent synergy with its trainer. Defeat was inevitable. Her only goal was to ensure Lubao didn¡¯t lose too quickly to avoid dealing a severe blow to her morale. Lubao reacted quickly. As the white beam broke through the bubbles, she leaped and disappeared from view. The anticipated scene of Ice Qiya being injured didn¡¯t occur, and the audience breathed a small sigh of relief. ¡°So that¡¯s why it used Bubble Beam, to create water! I was wondering why it used that skill.¡± ¡°Actually, I noticed earlier. The bubbles were too scattered, and some even dropped to the ground immediately after forming.¡± The bubbles were transparent, but under the holographic blue ocean and lighting effects, they appeared colorful, making their scattered trajectory noticeable to some. ¡°At least Ice Qiya can melt in water.¡± ¡°Speaking of Melting Water, I watched a match where a Water Toad ran out of energy in the final round, and its trainer told it to spit into the ground and jump into the spit. Genius move.¡± ¡°Being able to melt into water is impressive. I heard the Melting Water trait needs to reach Grade A to melt into any liquid.¡± ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t bear to watch anymore. I wish the match would just end here¡­¡± So it was about melting water... Zhang Xueming realized the purpose of Bubble Beam and decisively commanded: ¡°Freeze the field!¡± Upon hearing its trainer, Ice Sea Lion blew away the fur covering its mouth. Once the fur parted, it opened its mouth wide, releasing a massive wave of cold air. The chill spread rapidly, covering the field in a layer of ice. As the ground froze, Lubao had no choice but to leap out of the small puddle it was hiding in when the cold reached the center of the field. ¡°Ice Beam!¡± There it was! Zhang Xueming¡¯s eyes lit up as she shouted the moment Lubao emerged. Ice Sea Lion immediately ceased its chilling breath and redirected its energy. In the next instant, a white beam shot toward Lubao. Still airborne, Lubao looked up, her pupils reflecting the approaching beam. Her pupils contracted as she forced her muscles to respond, unleashing unprecedented speed to change direction mid-air and jump to safety. Ice Sea Lion, however, adjusted its aim to follow Lubao¡¯s movements. Boom! As Lubao landed, the white beam hit directly. ¡°Luuu!¡± Lubao was struck head-on and sent flying over ten meters. The entire venue erupted in chaos. Eighty percent of the audience stood in outrage, with some in the front rows even rushing toward the field, only to be stopped by diligent security staff. ¡°Damn! Damn it! Ice Qiya! Don¡¯t give up!¡± ¡°That was way too ruthless! If anything happens to Ice Qiya, I won¡¯t let it slide!¡± ¡°Why did Qiao Sang send Ice Qiya into a match she knew it would lose? Did she do it on purpose?!¡± ¡°Ice Sea Lion! Zhang Xueming! I¡¯ll remember this! I¡¯ll remember you both!¡± Some emotionally fragile spectators covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Ice Qiyaa injured and lying on the ground. In Section B, first row. ¡°Fei fei¡­¡± Emerald Python stared at the field, its expression full of worry. ----- T/N: Sorry for not updating till now.???? I was busy with our movie filming (a final project for a subject of ours) because not only was I the scriptwriter, I was also one of the antogonists in it. And the very next two days after an overnight filming, I became busy with musical theater practice (another final project for another subject????). And then after that, I was down with a severe fever. I''m kind of okay right now so I managed to update. (Why are we doing these kind of projects, I''m an educ student???? I''m not for the arts.) Ps. Sorry for ranting. But overall, here''s the updates!?? sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ----- ----- Chapter 407: Of Course, I Can Continue! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the Field. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s a competition, injuries are inevitable. If you¡¯re afraid of getting hurt, why even compete? This wasn¡¯t her fault; blame Qiao Sang for sending Ice Qiya out despite knowing it would lose. Zhang Xueming felt the restless uproar around her and froze momentarily. No matter how tough she tried to appear, her natural bodily reaction betrayed her. After all, Zhang Xueming was still a child. Although more composed than her peers, she had never encountered such a situation. On one hand, she believed she did nothing wrong. On the other, she wondered if she had gone too far by hitting an endangered beast so hard, especially in someone else¡¯s territory. Should she have held back for a couple of rounds before attacking? These conflicting thoughts robbed Zhang Xueming of the joy of victory. --- Meanwhile, Lubao lay on the ground, covered in wounds and motionless. A referee-certified mechanical beast floated to Lubao¡¯s side. Although Qiao Sang had known Lubao¡¯s defeat was inevitable, seeing her lying there unmoving still made her heart sink. Should I not have focused so much on hiding her? Maybe attacking was what Lubao wanted. She loves battling strong opponents, yet she didn¡¯t even land a single attack. Could this leave her with a psychological scar? Even though I knew she would lose, I should¡¯ve let her fight with everything she had, no regrets. Steeling her emotions, Qiao Sang took a deep breath and shouted, ¡°Lubao! Can you still fight?¡± Lubao felt exhausted and could barely move. Is this it? Did I lose? Her thoughts wandered to the time Yabao had saved her a second time. She didn¡¯t understand, why did Yabao rescue her even though she had always been so cold toward him? Why do I keep struggling to catch up to Yabao, no matter how hard I train, while he sleeps through the night? And then there was her Beastmaster. She¡¯s so gentle, even when she didn¡¯t want to see Yabao after the hearbreak. I couldn¡¯t bear to break our contract. This is a competition. If I insist on fighting and cause her to lose, she¡¯ll be sad¡­ But I don¡¯t want to lose! At that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s voice rang out again, faint but persistent. ¡°Lubao! Can you still fight?¡± The sound broke through Lubao¡¯s hazy consciousness, pulling her back. Fight? Of course, I can! The referee-certified mechanical beast, oblivious to Lubao¡¯s faint movement, was about to blow its whistle when a brilliant blue light suddenly erupted from Lubao. Startled, the referee beast froze in place. ¡°Lu!¡± When the light subsided, a perfectly healed and energized Ice Qiya stood proudly in the center of the field. The referee beast, shocked, retreated quietly. --- Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened with a mix of excitement and relief. No one could understand a Beast¡¯s condition better than its contracted Beastmaster. She hadn¡¯t expected Lubao to pull off a Healing Light in such a weakened state. Letting Lubao fight without regrets was one thing, but witnessing her tenacity was something else entirely. --- The crowd fell silent, staring in awe at the dazzling blue figure on the battlefield. Then, deafening cheers erupted throughout the arena. ¡°Ice Qiya! Ice Qiya!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a miracle! I thought it was done for, but it didn¡¯t give up!¡± ¡°Damn! How did I forget Ice Qiya is a legendary healer?¡± ¡°Look! It¡¯s standing again, as if nothing happened!¡± --- The cheers soon gave way to worry. ¡°Is it really okay to keep fighting? I don¡¯t want to see what happened earlier again. I nearly had a heart attack!¡± ¡°I feel the same, but when Qiao Sang called out to it, it seemed to rise with purpose. Their bond is so touching!¡± ¡°Still, this is too dangerous. I¡¯d surrender if I were them.¡± ¡°But look! Ice Qiya seems ready and eager to fight!¡± --- On the field, Lubao stared intently at the Ice Sea Lion, her eyes filled with determination. The Ice Sea Lion, sensing the shift, blew its fur away from its mouth and adjusted its posture, becoming more serious. --- Zhang Xueming¡¯s fleeting thoughts of underestimating Ice Qiya vanished entirely. She realized she had to end this quickly before Healing Light could turn the tides. ¡°Ice Spikes!¡± At her command, chilling air coalesced around Ice Sea Lion, forming dozens of sharp ice shards, each over ten centimeters long. The spikes hurtled toward Lubao. Lubao dodged rapidly, weaving through the barrage of ice spikes. However, the attacks didn¡¯t stop. As soon as one wave ended, another wave of spikes appeared, filling the battlefield. Missed spikes embedded themselves into the ground, creating an increasingly hazardous terrain. Lubao¡¯s movements grew sharper under the intense focus. She seemed to see the trajectory of each spike. But as she tried to leap forward, she noticed the terrain ahead was filled with ice spikes. The only open space was a small three-meter diameter circle around her. --- ¡°Body Slam!¡± Zhang Xueming ordered. ¡°Sea!¡± With a powerful push, Ice Sea Lion launched itself high into the air, rising over twenty meters. The ice spikes had been a setup to corral Lubao into a confined area. The open space was precisely Ice Sea Lion¡¯s target for its devastating Body Slam, a high-tier skill with deadly force, especially against smaller opponents. --- But it¡¯s okay, Qiao Sang thought, analyzing the situation. Lubao¡¯s Water Stream Jet can change direction multiple times. As long as she¡¯s quick enough, she can dodge. Just as Qiao Sang prepared to issue a command, she noticed Lubao staring upward, brimming with eagerness. --- Qiao Sang froze for a moment. ¡°Lubao!¡± Lubao turned to her, her expression serious, and let out a determined cry. Why was my first instinct to make her dodge? Lubao clearly wants to fight back¡­ What skill could she use to counter Ice Sea Lion? Water Stream Jet is her strongest attack- Wait, no¡­ there¡¯s one other. Qiao Sang glanced at Ice Sea Lion, now a shadow against the sky. She estimated the distance, steeled her resolve, and shouted: ¡°Ice Flower Seal!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 408: The Light Of Evolution?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Lu!" Lubao''s eyes lit up, a determined look flashing across her gaze. The energy within her body surged rapidly, and with her head raised high, she let out an exhilarating cry. Ice Flower Seal? Did Qiao Sang just say Ice Flower Seal?! No way. Zhang Xueming''s mind faltered slightly. Ice Qiya using Ice Flower Seal? That couldn''t be possible. She''d never heard of it before. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But after a moment of thought, she relaxed. Even if it could use Ice Flower Seal, so what? That skill, while formidable in its later stages and nearly unbeatable, was practically useless in the early stages. Besides, her Ice Sea Lion was an ice-type beast with some natural resistance to freezing effects. Moreover, at the speed Ice Sea Lion was descending, it should strike Ice Qiya with Body Slam first! --- From the stands, groans of frustration echoed throughout the audience. Though Ice Qiya had regained its stamina with Healing Light, it was still clearly being toyed with by Ice Sea Lion. First, it was immobilized by the wide-ranging Ice Spikes. Then, Ice Sea Lion deliberately left an open space to set up Body Slam. Everything was unfolding according to Ice Sea Lion''s plan. "Why use Body Slam?! Its sheer size looks like it¡¯s going to flatten Ice Qiya into a pancake!" "Seriously?! Using a high-tier skill against Ice Qiya? Does Zhang Xueming have no heart?!" "Qiao Sang, please! Just forfeit this match already! Don¡¯t let Ice Qiya suffer more damage!" "Wait, did you hear Qiao Sang earlier? She said Ice Flower Seal! Is Ice Qiya really that incredible?! It can even use Ice Flower Seal?" "Ugh, it¡¯s not that I doubt Ice Qiya, but Ice Flower Seal is useless early on. Plus, Ice Sea Lion is not only an ice-type beast, it¡¯s also a level higher. Even if Ice Qiya can use it, could it really turn the tables?" "True, true. Ice Qiya, forget about Ice Flower Seal! Just spray some water and hide!" "Wait, what?! Ice Qiya actually knows Ice Flower Seal! Look! It¡¯s snowing!" On the battlefield, as Lubao¡¯s high-pitched cry echoed, pristine snowflakes began to fall... One, two... And then, a flurry of snow followed, dancing in the air and gracing the battlefield with a dazzling beauty. Amid the snowfall, the first figure to emerge was the imposing Ice Sea Lion. "Sea!" Its fur bristled as the colossal creature plummeted toward the ground at an alarming speed, the air whistling from its rapid descent. At that moment, the audience''s fleeting excitement over the snow was replaced by mounting anxiety. No one doubted the destructive power of Body Slam. If that move landed, Ice Qiya would undoubtedly suffer severe injuries and faint on the spot. Amidst the swirling snowflakes, Lubao¡¯s heart pounded wildly. She felt this time... she might actually succeed. ¡°Dodge!¡± A massive shadow loomed overhead. Lubao heard her trainer¡¯s voice loud and clear. Cornered near the ice spike trap, Lubao didn¡¯t hesitate. She leaped toward the sharp, frozen spikes below. At the same moment, Ice Sea Lion crashed to the ground with incredible force, causing gusts of wind to whip around its massive form. The ground splintered and cracked, debris flying everywhere as spiderweb-like fissures spread from beneath Ice Sea Lion. In an instant, every ice spike on the field shattered into pieces. ¡°Lu!¡± The impact sent the already injured Lubao flying backward, her body propelled by the residual force. Even the shockwave alone was devastating. If the attack had struck Lubao directly¡­ Qiao Sang cut her thoughts short, unwilling to imagine the consequences. ? There was something more pressing to focus on. Raising her head, she looked at the snowflakes drifting toward Ice Sea Lion and quickly accessed her Beastmaster Codex. Over the past days, Lubao had been diligently practicing Ice Flower Seal. While some online strategies were scatterbrained, certain ideas weren¡¯t without merit. Lubao, initially clueless about how to start training, eventually focused on compressing and condensing cold energy. Over time, her snow summoning grew heavier and more substantial. Beasts usually had an instinctive feel for their progress. They knew when they weren¡¯t ready and when they were on the cusp of success, only lacking a trigger. Lubao had told her she was just one step away. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t known how to help. Breakthroughs were elusive and varied, some came naturally, others through sudden enlightenment, rare resources, or the crucible of battle. Though Ice Flower Seal wasn¡¯t fully mastered, it felt like Lubao was on the brink of something significant. Qiao Sang had a hunch. This match against Ice Sea Lion might be the catalyst Lubao needed. Being outmatched throughout the battle, unable to land a single hit, Lubao¡¯s desire to win should be overwhelming. The tension was certainly enough. She quickly found Lubao¡¯s page in the Beastmaster Codex. At first glance, her eyes locked onto the words Ice Flower Seal. Holy crap, it worked! Calm down, calm down! There¡¯s still work to do¡­ Suppressing her excitement, Qiao Sang swiftly allocated points to the skill. Back on the battlefield, just as Qiao Sang enhanced the skill, snowflakes fell onto Ice Sea Lion. As an ice-type beast, Ice Sea Lion paid no mind to the snow, relishing its chill. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stared intently at Ice Sea Lion, eager to see if she had succeeded. ¡°Ice Spikes!¡± Zhang Xueming shouted. Though Ice Qiya had evaded Body Slam by leaping into the ice trap, it was injured. Now was the perfect time to strike! ¡°Sea!¡± Ice Sea Lion roared, frost rapidly condensing around its massive frame. Dozens of icy spikes materialized in midair. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao tensed, her limbs tightening as she prepared to react. But then, her expression froze. Her gaze locked on the towering beast before her. Perched atop Ice Sea Lion''s head was an exquisite ice flower. "Lu..." Lubao stood motionless, stunned. "Dodge!" Her trainer¡¯s voice snapped her back to reality. Reacting instinctively, Lubao moved. The spikes kept coming, relentless. Logically, the injured Lubao should have grown weaker. Yet, she seemed to grow more exhilarated as she dodged. Glancing toward her trainer, she saw Qiao Sang give a thumbs-up, mouthing, "Well done!" Though she didn¡¯t speak, Lubao understood her perfectly. ¡°Lu!¡± A grin spread across Lubao¡¯s face, filled with joy. She dashed around the field, channeling her newfound emotions into every step. To the spectators, the pursuing ice spikes no longer seemed like an attack but part of a playful game. "Fei Fei!" "Fei Fei!" The familiar voice of Emerald Python suddenly called out. Lubao stopped, looking back toward her friend. ¡°Fei Fei!¡± Emerald Python greeted enthusiastically. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao blinked at it, pausing. Boom, boom, boom! The spikes struck Lubao directly. Snowflakes continued to fall. ¡°Fei Fei!¡± Emerald Python cried out, worry and guilt written across its face. The crowd held their breath, hearts clenching for the injured Ice Qiya. Discussions about Ice Flower Seal or Lubao¡¯s earlier elation faded away. Some couldn¡¯t bear to watch, covering their eyes. But then¡­ ¡°Wait¡­¡± ¡°Wha- What¡¯s that light?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not Healing Light, is it?!¡± From the murmurs and gasps, the atmosphere shifted. One spectator, hesitant, lowered her hands. The sight she feared didn¡¯t appear. Instead, Ice Qiya stood bathed in dazzling white light. She froze, then shot to her feet, her voice trembling with disbelief. ¡°Ev¡­ Evolutionary Light?!¡± Chapter 409: Ice Xilu Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The shock filled everyone¡¯s expressions, their pupils, and even every strand of their hair. Just a second ago, they were worried about how much pain Ice Qiya might be in from being struck by so many ice spikes. Yet, the next second, it was enveloped in the light of evolution! Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! Although the Ice Qiya species was rare, it was well-known to the people of the Guwu region. They were somewhat familiar with the conditions required for its evolution at each stage. For Ice Qiya to evolve into the advanced pet beast Ice Xilu, it had to feel an unprecedented level of happiness during a snowfall. So... was Ice Qiya just happy? And not just happy, but unprecedentedly happy? The audience was dumbfounded. There was no doubt that the radiance before their eyes was the light of evolution. Could Ice Qiya really have felt so happy while being bombarded by ice spikes that it evolved? The sheer absurdity of this revelation left the people of the Guwu region stunned. --- On the battlefield, the dazzling white light faded away, revealing a majestic pet beast. It was over three meters tall, its body primarily a sapphire blue, covered in shimmering scales. Its head was adorned with a white crystalline ornament, and a white, spherical gem gleamed on its forehead. Its four legs ended in white-tipped claws, and its long, scaled tail bore purple stripes. The tail fin at its very tip was composed entirely of water. A mysterious aura surrounded it. For a few seconds, the entire arena fell silent. Then, the crowd erupted. ¡°Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Mom! I¡¯m seeing Ice Xilu with my own eyes in this lifetime!¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ahhh! I never dreamed I¡¯d witness Ice Xilu¡¯s evolution in person!¡± ¡°I get it now! I finally understand! Qiao Sang sent out Ice Qiya to fight the Ice Sea Lion just to trigger its evolution!¡± ¡°Oh my god! I knew it! Why else would Qiao Sang use Ice Qiya knowing they were bound to lose? It was all part of the plan to evolve it!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang is a born beast tamer! How could anyone understand their pet so well?!¡± ¡°This Ice Qiya has some peculiar preferences! No wonder it was smiling so happily while being attacked by ice spikes earlier! Now it all makes sense!¡± In the ninth row of the C-section, a middle-aged man in a black hoodie froze for a long moment before breaking out of his daze. He exclaimed, enlightened: ¡°I was wrong. I never considered making Ice Qiya happy in this way. Each Ice Qiya has its own personality, and this one is clearly a masochist!¡± (T/n: Next to him, a refined young man immediately flattered, ¡°As expected of Dr. Jiang. I never would have thought of that!¡± --- Meanwhile, the conversations in the competitors'' area were of a very different tone. After their initial shock, everyone felt a heavy weight settle on their hearts. ¡°With this new pet, does Qiao Sang now have two advanced pet beasts¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrifying¡­ According to the records, Qiao Sang is only 15 years old¡­¡± ¡°God Ya wasn¡¯t this impressive at 15¡­¡± ¡°Are you seriously comparing God Ya to Qiao Sang? That¡¯s crazy! Plenty of beast tamers start strong but falter later. How many can actually reach God Ya¡¯s level? Let¡¯s see if Qiao Sang can match God Ya at 18!¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll win this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering Leangue?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say something so scary¡­¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t someone from the Zhongkong region also have two advanced pet beasts?¡± ¡°You mean Zhao Chuanyu? One of his pets was already advanced when he contracted it. Talent-wise, he¡¯s no match for Qiao Sang.¡± ¡°Still, that pet is very obedient, so it¡¯s essentially the same as one he raised himself. The strength is still there.¡± ¡°And what about Dan Yongchun from Dongjia? His ace pet usually defeats other advanced pets in under a minute. He¡¯s a strong contender for the championship too.¡± ¡°If Qiao Sang really wins the championship, the third years of our region would lose face completely¡­¡± The group fell silent. The more they discussed it, the heavier the pressure became. --- On the battlefield, the source of this immense pressure, Qiao Sang, was utterly baffled. To be honest, as her experience and abilities had grown, it had been a long time since she felt this kind of confusion. She had always thought that Lubao¡¯s evolution conditions were too difficult to meet given her personality. She never expected it to happen so suddenly! Lubao¡­ was happy? Why was she happy just now? Was it because she learned Ice Flower Seal? That shouldn¡¯t be it. While learning that move would excite Lubao, it shouldn¡¯t make her happy enough to evolve! Staring at Lubao, who now looked completely different, Qiao Sang felt like her brain was about to overheat from trying to figure it out. ¡°Lu.¡± Sensing her trainer¡¯s gaze, Lubao turned and called out. Even her voice had changed... Qiao Sang shook off her thoughts, suppressing her shock and excitement. She turned her attention to the Ice Sea Lion. Lubao was right, they could continue the match! ¡°Icy Wind!¡± ¡°Ice Spikes!¡± Qiao Sang and Zhang Xueming shouted at the same time. Interrupting a pet¡¯s evolution during a match was a big no-no. This was a competition, not a grudge match. Interrupting an evolution was seen as inhumane. With an audience present, even those who wanted to disrupt it wouldn¡¯t dare. --- Evolved?! How could it evolve now?! Zhang Xueming was undoubtedly the most distraught person in the arena. She had thought she had won, only for her opponent to evolve on the spot?! This was a direct attack on her mental fortitude! There were no words to describe Zhang Xueming¡¯s feelings at this moment. If she had to choose one, it would be: F%! Taking a deep breath, she waited for Ice Qiya¡¯s evolution to finish before urgently issuing a command. She couldn¡¯t lose! No matter what, she couldn¡¯t lose this match! Hundreds of ice spikes materialized this time, far more than before. Facing its transformed opponent, the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s expression turned deadly serious. As the ice spikes appeared, Lubao opened her mouth. The temperature around them dropped drastically, and a biting chill spread through the air. When the Ice Spikes collided with the Icy Wind, they froze mid-air, a thin layer of ice forming over them before they clattered to the ground. One wave of spikes was neutralized, but another was already on its way. In an instant, hundreds more ice spikes materialized and shot forward mercilessly. ¡°Water Stream Jet!¡± Qiao Sang quickly issued her command. Water Stream Jet was Lubao¡¯s most proficient attack. In the past, its effectiveness had been limited by her small size. But now¡­ Looking at the three-meter-tall Lubao, Qiao Sang was brimming with confidence. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao roared, and a powerful stream of water enveloped her body. In the next moment, she shot skyward before diving toward the Ice Sea Lion. The massive Water Stream Jet shattered every ice spike in its path. As Lubao closed in to within three meters of the Ice Sea Lion, Zhang Xueming¡¯s expression turned frantic. She waved her hand and shouted: ¡°Frozen Touch." ----- ----- Chapter 410: A Work Of Art Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang had exceptional hearing and clearly heard the words Frozen Touch. Instinctively, she wanted to call out to Lubao to stop the attack. But it was too late! Lubao was only 3 meters away from the Ice Sea Lion, and the water stream jet were traveling at an incredible speed. Almost without even blinking, they struck the Ice Sea Lion. The Ice Sea Lion emitted a cold aura and remained motionless. As soon as the water jets hit the Ice Sea Lion, a thick layer of ice quickly formed around Lubao, visible to the naked eye. Bang! The next moment, Lubao, frozen solid, crashed heavily to the ground. Frozen Touch, a mid-level ice-type skill, could freeze any opponent that used physical attacks when in contact with it. None of the 31 pieces of data given in the group mentioned that the Ice Sea Lion would use Frozen Touch. From the power of that move, it was clear that its mastery was not low. Without some extraordinary ability, it would take at least years of training to reach such a level¡­ Qiao Sang furrowed her brows. The senior year was different from the first-year competition; this was their third National Campus Beast Mastering League. Every year, the progress of the contestants could be tracked. She hadn''t expected that, even in the regional finals, someone would still hide such a skill. After the brief exchange, the audience erupted in murmurs. They no longer reacted as they had when Lubao was injured earlier. Since Ice Xilu was a masochist, receiving a little injury during the battle wouldn¡¯t cause it pain. Thinking that Ice Xilu was actually enjoying the pain, they managed to suppress the urge to curse when they saw Ice Xilu hurt. --- In the contestant area. When the Ice Sea Lion froze Ice Xilu, the crowd began to discuss it. ¡°I remember Zhang Xueming¡¯s Ice Sea Lion has never used Frozen Touch in a match, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Zhang Xueming had such a hidden move¡­¡± ¡°Freezing a water-type beast of the same level with such ferocity, the skill¡¯s proficiency must be near perfect, right?¡± ¡°Qiao Sang¡¯s beast also has ice attributes, and beasts with ice attributes generally have some resistance to ice-type skills. To be frozen like this¡­ maybe the skill¡¯s proficiency has reached the realm of mastery.¡± ¡°Mastery? Impossible, absolutely impossible!¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s impossible, then what¡¯s Ice Qiya¡¯s evolved form called?¡± ¡°I heard the audience shouting earlier; it sounds like it¡¯s Ice Xilu.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s impossible, why hasn¡¯t Ice Xilu broken free from the frozen state? Look, the Ice Sea Lion is about to attack again.¡± --- On the field. At the same level, even if an ice-type beast is frozen, it will eventually break free. The key is to quickly land a powerful move before the freeze ends. If the enemy uses their healing light afterward, all that effort will be wasted... Just as this thought appeared in Zhang Xueming¡¯s mind, the Ice Sea Lion seemed to sense its trainer''s intentions. It exerted force with its limbs and leapt into the air. Then, it was like a mountain crashing down... Qiao Sang sensed Lubao and knew that she was still conscious and had more than half of her energy remaining, capable of breaking free from the ice shell at any moment. But Lubao didn¡¯t seem to want to break free right now. Given Lubao¡¯s desire to win, she wouldn¡¯t passively remain frozen unless she was trying to hold still and build up for a bigger move¡­ Lubao didn¡¯t have any surprise moves, but now that she had evolved, she had new skills¡­ Looks like she learned some bad habits from Little Treasure... Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before quickly pretending to panic. Even though she knew Ice Xilu was a masochist, the audience couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned. If that mountain-crushing strike landed, Ice Xilu would likely be knocked out cold, could it still enjoy the pain afterward? No one noticed that within the ice shell, Lubao¡¯s eyes moved slightly. The Ice Sea Lion¡¯s fur flew up as it descended, accompanied by the whistling of wind. The force of its descent was so great that even spectators in the middle and back rows could hear the terrifying whistle. ¡°Swish!¡± Just as the Ice Sea Lion was about to land on Lubao, dozens of ice spikes, about one meter in length, suddenly erupted from Luba¡¯s body, breaking through the ice shell and impaling the Ice Sea Lion. ¡°Sea!!!¡± The Ice Sea Lion let out a piercing cry of agony. Due to the resistance from the ice spikes, the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s descent slowed momentarily. But that was only for a brief second. In the next moment, the ice shell shattered, and the full weight of the Ice Sea Lion crashed down onto Luba. ¡°Lu!!!¡± Lubao screamed in agony. The scene of mutual injury was so tragic that the audience collectively gasped. ¡°Ugh... I can feel the pain just watching this¡­¡± ¡°Being crushed by the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s mountain strike, can Ice Xilu really enjoy that?¡± ¡°Those ice spikes, that¡¯s a skill Ice Xilu can only use after evolving, right? Truly impressive, Ice Xilu! It mastered its new skill so quickly!¡± ¡°Ice Xilu released those ice spikes at just the right moment, waiting for the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s attack to land on it. It wanted to enjoy the pain while also striking back at its opponent, amazing!¡± ¡°But after taking that mountain-crushing strike, Ice Xilu should have lost, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. Although Frozen Touch limits Ice Xilu¡¯s movement, the ice layer itself offers some protection. With the ice spikes providing cushioning, the force of the mountain-crushing strike was weakened. As long as Ice Xilu still has some consciousness, its Healing Light can fully recover its injuries.¡± Just as these words were spoken, a brilliant blue light appeared beneath the Ice Sea Lion. Damn! I hate healers! Zhang Xueming realized the light was Healing Light and her previously calm state collapsed again. The first time, she thought she had won, but then came Healing Light. The second time, she thought she had won, but then came an evolution. The third time, she thought she had won, but then came Healing Light again! How do you fight this? Can someone tell me how to win?! This time, it was different from before, the Ice Sea Lion was injured! It wasn¡¯t a healer, and it didn¡¯t have Healing Light, let alone the lowest-level healing skill. While it had some defense from its thick fat, it was still vulnerable compared to most ice-type beasts. Watching the Ice Sea Lion, which was momentarily immobilized by pain, still pressing on top of Ice Xilu, Zhang Xueming suddenly thought of something and hastily shouted: ¡°Get back!¡± Since Ice Xilu could use ice spikes as protection, staying under the Ice Sea Lion was dangerous, it might strike again the next second. They needed to retreat immediately! ¡°Sea¡­¡± The dozen or so one-meter-long ice spikes had truly pierced the Ice Sea Lion. Even though Lubao used Healing Light, the ice spikes couldn¡¯t remain, but the immense damage still persisted. Hearing its trainer''s command, the Ice Sea Lion, enduring the pain, reluctantly moved off Lubao. Just as the Ice Sea Lion moved, Qiao Sang¡¯s voice echoed across the arena: ¡°Ice Flower Seal!¡± Ice Flower Seal? Zhang Xueming froze for a moment, recalling the ice flower that had bloomed on the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s forehead earlier. Her collapsing mental state was briefly restored. An Ice Flower Seal that could only bloom one flower, what difference did it make? Using this move was just wasting energy. Although Qiao Sang had great talent, she didn¡¯t seem to fully understand all the skills. She thought high-level skills were all powerful. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the early stages, the Ice Flower Seal was practically useless¡­ The audience sighed in disappointment. ¡°Lu!¡± Regardless of others¡¯ thoughts, Lubao immediately obeyed her trainer¡¯s command. The Ice Sea Lion, still in pain, moved away without resistance. The temperature plummeted, and white snowflakes began to fall in a steady stream. The temperature dropped further, and the snowflakes danced through the air. The Ice Sea Lion let the snow fall on its body. It liked the cold... The Ice Sea Lion¡¯s thoughts stopped there. It lost all feeling in its body, its left foreleg still raised, unable to move a single inch. From a panoramic view, the Ice Sea Lion¡¯s body was covered in blooming ice flowers. One flower, two flowers... dozens of delicate ice flowers. From its head to its tail, the flowers bloomed closely together, like exquisite works of art. For a moment, the audience fell silent in awe. ----- ----- Chapter 411: The Truth About Evolution Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- After a few seconds, a deafening roar erupted, and the entire scene exploded into chaos. ¡°Ahhh! Did Ice Xilu win? Did it actually win?!¡± ¡°Whoa! Dozens of ice flowers sealing everything! It turned the tables completely!¡± ¡°I get it now! I finally understand! Qiao Sang knew from the beginning that Ice Xilu would evolve in this match. That¡¯s why the first ice blossom was just a diversion! Only after evolving did Ice Xilu unleash the true power of its Ice Flower Seal to win in a single strike!¡± ¡°I never expected Qiao Sang, at such a young age, to devise such a meticulous strategy from the very start¡­¡± ¡°I thought Ice Xilu had just recently learned Ice Flower Seal, but it was hiding its real strength all along!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang is only 15, right? And they¡¯ve already trained Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal to this level. Isn¡¯t that a little too insane?!¡± The Ice Flower Seal is renowned among all high-level ice skills, not just for its powerful sealing effect in the later stages but also for its unparalleled beauty. Because of this, even though Ice Flower Seal isn¡¯t particularly useful in its early stages, many Beast Tamers still spend a significant amount of time teaching their pets the skill. Coordinators, in particular, make up a large portion of this group. However, it was soon discovered that whether a pet beast was of royal or advanced rank, the number of blossoms generated by Ice Flower Seal at the same proficiency level was the same. Higher-level pets might produce larger blossoms, but the quantity remained constant. The only factor that could increase the number of blossoms was proficiency. This means that Ice Xilu wasn¡¯t producing more blossoms because it evolved, it had been hiding its true proficiency from the start! The crowd''s chatter grew louder. Surprising battles were nothing new, but when the unexpected came from Ice Xilu, the audience¡¯s emotions were ignited, leaving them unable to calm down. In contrast, the atmosphere in the competitors'' area was much tenser. Facing a stronger opponent wasn¡¯t intimidating in itself, but realizing that this opponent was two years younger and showed such terrifying potential to win the national campus senior division league? That was terrifying. --- On the field, a mechanical pet beast wearing a referee badge floated over to inspect Ice Sea Lion¡¯s condition. After confirming the result, it blew the whistle, signaling the end of the match. Qiao Sang¡¯s enlarged holographic portrait and name immediately appeared above the arena. ¡°Ice Xilu!¡± Amidst the thunderous cheers, Lubao ran over to Qiao Sang, wrapped her tail around her, and lifted her onto her back. Then, she dashed toward the audience area in Zone B. ? The spectators in Zone B erupted in excitement at the sight. In major tournaments, well-known contestants often interacted with the audience after a victory to celebrate. The audience instinctively thought that Qiao Sang was moved by the enthusiasm of the people from Guwu District and had brought Ice Xilu to interact with them. In an instant, nearly everyone began screaming and pulling out their phones, eager to capture the moment. The perfected Ice Flower Seal is just too amazing, she one-shot Ice Sea Lion! This investment was totally worth it¡­ Wait, what¡¯s Lubao doing? Why is she wrapping me up with her tail? Oh, she¡¯s putting me on her back¡­ Where is she going? Toward the audience? Is this some kind of victory lap? Could it be that Lubao¡¯s personality changed again after evolving¡­? Throughout the process, Qiao Sang was utterly baffled. Just as she was wondering, Lubao suddenly stopped in front of the Zone B audience. Qiao Sang looked up and immediately spotted a green snake-like pet beast in the front row. Bringing pets to matches wasn¡¯t uncommon, but most brought small-sized ones. A pet beast of this size, almost entirely coiled around its Beast Tamer, was hard to miss. ¡°Fei fei!¡± ¡°Fei fei!¡± The green snake-like pet called out excitedly to Lubao. Its eager expression, as though it wanted to leap over, left Qiao Sang stunned. Wow, even the pets here in Guwu District are crazy fans of the Water Luriana species¡­ ¡°Lu!¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao responded enthusiastically, surprising Qiao Sang even further. ¡°Qiao Sang, congratulations. Both matches were excellent.¡± A familiar voice came from beside the green snake-like pet beast. Though the speaker wore a cap and mask, Qiao Sang recognized him instantly, it was Uncle Pei. ¡°Uncle Pei¡­¡± Qiao Sang started but then abruptly stopped. Wait¡­ A long green pet beast?! Her gaze shifted back to the snake-like pet, and she suddenly realized the truth. This green snake-like pet was the very friend Lubao had wanted to see! No wonder Lubao rushed here as soon as the match ended, greeting it so happily. It was her old friend from Guwu District! Even during the match, when Lubao faced that ice spike attack, she was looking in this direction! It wasn¡¯t mastering Ice Flower Seal that triggered Lubao¡¯s evolution, it was reuniting with her old friend! Understanding the true reason for Lubao¡¯s evolution, Qiao Sang¡¯s emotions became incredibly complex. What a friendship¡­ She thought with heartfelt admiration. --- ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Ice Xilu! I love you!¡± ¡°Ice Xilu! Don¡¯t just stop there!¡± ¡°Look at me! Look at me!¡± Fans waved their phones, eager to get the perfect shot. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With so many people around, some topics were best left unsaid. After a moment of thought, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Uncle Pei, check your phone later.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Pei Shipan nodded. So she¡¯s the one who lost her job because of Lubao¡­ Qiao Sang gave the snake-like pet¡¯s Beast Tamer a polite smile before leaning down to whisper something in Lubao¡¯s ear. ¡°Lu.¡± Hearing her tamer¡¯s words, Lubao called out to the green snake, signaling, See you later, before leaving. As their figures grew smaller, Wei Ying, the snake pet¡¯s tamer, recalled Qiao Sang¡¯s earlier smile and asked, ¡°Does she know me?¡± Pei Shipan glanced at the message he¡¯d just received and replied, ¡°Not directly, but she¡¯s already figured out who you are.¡± ¡°She said to meet her in her room.¡± --- At the Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao excitedly circled the newly evolved Lubao several times before stopping and letting out a battle cry filled with fighting spirit. Wanna spar?! ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with equal fervor. I¡¯ve been waiting for this fight! ¡°Not now.¡± Qiao Sang reminded them from the bed. ¡°Lubao, stay in the room. Your friend will be here soon.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao thought for a moment, then nodded. There¡¯ll be plenty of chances to spar with Yabao later. Meeting an old friend is more important. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao barked in agreement. After the visit, we¡¯ll fight! ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao agreed wholeheartedly. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Xun¡­¡± In the corner, Little Treasure looked utterly despondent. I don¡¯t get it. How did I become the third child in just one morning¡­? Chapter 412: What The Heck?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Knock, knock! At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Qiao Sang was about to get out of bed when Lubao eagerly went over and stretched out a paw to open the door. ¡°Fei fei!¡± The moment the door opened, the Emerald Python enthusiastically lunged forward. Lubao instinctively sidestepped. ¡°Fei fei!¡± The Emerald Python missed its mark, stumbled slightly, then turned and grinned. Its tail lightly swayed against Lubao, as if saying, "Ah, you¡¯re still the same as ever, unchanged." ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao immediately protested. Puffing out her chest, she called out, asserting, Can¡¯t you see how much stronger I¡¯ve become? ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao stared at the Emerald Python for a moment but, finding nothing on it to ignite his fighting spirit, lost interest and looked away. ¡°Xun...¡± In the corner of the room, Little Treasure stayed in his world of gloom, silently emo as ever. Lubao''s expressions seemed a lot richer after her evolution¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself, then shifted her gaze to the doorway. She noticed Uncle Pei hadn¡¯t stepped in but was instead standing outside, holding up his phone to snap a photo of the open door. What is he doing? Qiao Sang was momentarily baffled. Pei Shipan uploaded the photo to his social feed with the caption: "The door? Ice Xilu opened it for me." ¡°Uncle Pei.¡± Qiao Sang got out of bed to greet him. Pei Shipan lowered his phone and stepped aside, revealing a woman in a beige mid-length coat behind him. She now entered Qiao Sang¡¯s view. ¡°This is the Emerald Python¡¯s beastmaster.¡± Pei Shipan introduced. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Wei Ying.¡± Wei Ying said. ¡°Hello, elder sister.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. Elder sister? Wei Ying blinked in mild surprise before a smile tugged at her lips. Although she was older than Pei Shipan by a few years, her appearance often made her look older than him. Hearing Qiao Sang call him uncle but addressing her as sister suddenly brightened her mood. The two moved to the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window and sat down. Wei Ying turned to Qiao Sang with a serious expression. ¡°Thank you for getting the Emerald Python released early from the pet modification center.¡± Her gratitude was sincere. With Qiao Sang¡¯s qualifications, 15 years old, three contracted beasts (two of them advanced-level), Wei Ying couldn¡¯t see her as just an average lucky kid who happened to bond with an Ice Xilu. ? ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Qiao Sang quickly denied it. ¡°It was all Uncle Pei¡¯s arrangements.¡± Pei Shipan interjected, ¡°But it was your idea in the first place. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have acted.¡± Why does it sound like all the credit is mine¡­? Qiao Sang thought to herself. She brought out the prepared potions and items, placing them on the glass coffee table to change the subject. ¡°This is a Grass Stone and an Energy Vitality Enhancer. They should help the Emerald Python evolve in a short time.¡± On her way back to the hotel, she¡¯d researched the Emerald Python and its details. As soon as she returned, she dug through Little Treasure¡¯s storage ring to find the best-suited items for the Emerald Python. She didn¡¯t mention that the Grass Stone was Grade A and the Energy Vitality Enhancer was Grade S. Pei Shipan glanced at the items on the table, his gaze sharpening slightly. Although he wasn¡¯t an appraiser, he¡¯d encountered plenty of high-quality items in his time. He could instantly tell that the items were exceptional, though he couldn¡¯t determine their exact grade. ¡°I can¡¯t accept this.¡± Wei Ying said, pushing the items back. ¡°I believe anyone in Guwu District would¡¯ve helped Ice Xilu if they¡¯d encountered it. You don¡¯t need to give me these.¡± ¡°If that were true, Lubao wouldn¡¯t have wanted to flee to another district.¡± Qiao Sang replied. While a group might treasure an endangered pet beast, a single individual¡¯s thoughts could be much less altruistic. ¡°I still can¡¯t accept them.¡± Wei Ying insisted firmly, her brow furrowing slightly. Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. ¡°What a pity. I really thought these Grade-A Grass Stone and Grade-S Energy Vitality Enhancer would be perfect for the Emerald Python.¡± Wei Ying: !!! Pei Shipan: !!! ¡°I wasn¡¯t done speaking!¡± Wei Ying suddenly pressed her hand onto the items. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Wei Ying said seriously, ¡°Since these were chosen especially for the Emerald Python, it wouldn¡¯t be right to refuse your kindness.¡± This sudden change of heart feels oddly familiar¡­ Qiao Sang smiled. (T/n: Pretty much like you, Qiao Sang.) ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. I truly appreciate both you and the Emerald Python. Without you, I never would¡¯ve met Lubao.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Hearing this, Lubao walked over and affectionately nudged her beastmaster with her head. How I wish I could switch places with Qiao Sang right now¡­ Pei Shipan thought enviously. ¡°May I pet Ice Xilu?¡± Wei Ying asked hesitantly. ¡°Lubao?¡± Qiao Sang looked at it. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced at the slightly familiar human next to the Emerald Python. After a moment of contemplation, she lowered her head, offering herself. Pei Shipan: !!! Wei Ying¡¯s eyes instantly welled up. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t this emotional even when she heard about the Grass Stone and Energy Vitality Enhancer. With trembling hands, she reached out and stroked Lubao¡¯s fur. Worth it. This life is truly worth it... When she finished, Pei Shipan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Can I pet it too?¡± Lubao shot him a glance, then flicked her tail and walked over to the Emerald Python, clearly expressing her opinion through action. Qiao Sang gave him a helpless look. Pei Shipan: ¡­ --- Until the evening, the two stayed before finally leaving. Before leaving, Qiao Sang added Wei Ying as a friend and took a group photo with Lubao and the Emerald Python. "Yap yap!" "Lu!" As soon as the door closed, Yabao and Lubao faced each other, calling out with full fighting spirit. "It''s already late. If you fight now, you won¡¯t get enough rest, and what about tomorrow¡¯s match?" Qiao Sang tried to persuade them. "Yap..." "Lu..." Realizing the logic, Yabao and Lubao called out again, agreeing to postpone their battle until tomorrow. Qiao Sang: ... When is my match tomorrow again...? Qiao Sang decided to check the schedule. The regional matches were divided into three time slots: Morning, afternoon, and evening. Specific match times for each participant were announced the evening before at 6 PM. Just as Qiao Sang was about to grab her phone to check the schedule, her fingers brushed the screen and froze. The screen showed 99+ notifications. Why are there so many messages...? Qiao Sang opened the chat app. Out of nearly a hundred messages, almost half were from Xu Yixuan. She clicked on the chat: [Haven¡¯t you seen it yet?] [Quick, look! Look!] [Don¡¯t bother searching; I¡¯ll screenshot it for you!] [Image] [Did you see it?!] Qiao Sang opened the image to find a screenshot of trending topics in the Guwu region. At first glance, the list was almost entirely about Lubao: [Is Ice Xilu a masochist?!] [Ice Xilu!] [Ice Qiya evolves!] [Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal!] [Ice Xilu¡¯s Aesthetic Beauty!] [Conditions for Ice Qiya¡¯s Evolution] [Why Did Ice Qiya Evolve?] [Ice Xilu¡¯s Beast Tamer, Qiao Sang] Qiao Sang stared blankly at the top trending topic for a moment. A masochist?! What the heck?! The audacity of this slander against Lubao¡¯s reputation was simply intolerable! Ignoring all other messages, Qiao Sang immediately opened the trending topic to figure out what was going on. ----- ----- Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 413: Setting The Record Straight Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- When Qiao Sang clicked on the trending topic, a video popped up, showing the moment Lubao evolved after being attacked by ice spikes. The poster had written a lengthy caption: "As everyone knows, for Ice Qiya to evolve into Ice Xilu, one of the conditions is to experience an unprecedented level of happiness." "Today, at the Haicheng Pet Battle Arena, the much-talked-about Ice Qiya evolved! Everyone saw it, it evolved while being attacked!" "Its opponent was the advanced pet Ice Sea Lion from the Lianke region, known for its powerful attacks. Yet, it evolved!" "This means that while it was under attack, it felt an unparalleled sense of joy!" "Yes, this Ice Qiya is actually a masochist!" "I hope our region''s Water Luriana Research and Conservation Center takes this news seriously!" "Why is the evolution rate of Ice Qiya in the Guwu region so low every year? It¡¯s because you haven¡¯t fully understood their personalities and preferences!" "Everyone who saw the video knows what happened. Still, I must point out that this Ice Qiya evolved twice in one year, from Water Luriana to Ice Xilu!" "When I first heard that Ice Qiya was contracted by a high school student from the Yuhua region, I was worried." "But she¡¯s raised it better than any Ice Qiya at our research center!" "She knows what kind of pets Water Luriana likes and even helped it recover from heartbreak. She also figured out what makes Ice Qiya happy, enabling its evolution." "Why are the researchers at our Water Luriana Research and Conservation Center being outdone by a high school student from another region?" "Is it because you¡¯re not paying enough attention?" "[@Water Luriana Research and Conservation Center]" The comments section had already exceeded 10,000, with most people criticizing the center for neglecting its duties: "I don¡¯t get it. How hard can it be to figure out what Ice Qiya likes and make it happy?" "Honestly, unless you really understand Ice Qiya, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d notice its masochistic tendencies. But Qiao Sang figured it out and did a better job than the researchers!" "How embarrassing! Someone from another region is better at nurturing our endangered pets than we are." "I looked it up, last year, the evolution rate for Ice Qiya was 7%. That¡¯s pathetic. What are the researchers even doing?" "Can we convince Qiao Sang to stay in the Guwu region?" "Agreed. She should work at the Water Luriana Research and Conservation Center!" "What does the research center staff even do all day?" Lubao evolved because she was so happy after being attacked? And now she¡¯s a masochist? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know whether to appreciate their enthusiasm for Lubao or criticize their wild imaginations. "Good thing Lubao can¡¯t read, or she would be fuming¡­" After thinking for a while, Qiao Sang decided to log into her account to clear up the misunderstanding. Although public opinion wasn¡¯t important, she couldn¡¯t tolerate baseless rumors tarnishing Lubao¡¯s name. Luckily, she had a photo of Lubao and the Emerald Python on her phone. While Emerald Pythons weren¡¯t common in the Guwu region, they weren¡¯t rare enough to draw too much attention. Unless a pet was exceptionally distinctive within its species, or its tamer publicly identified it, it was almost impossible for others to trace its owner from a single photo. ????? Even if someone managed to dig up the Emerald Python¡¯s origins, as long as the involved parties didn¡¯t issue a statement, most people would dismiss it as gossip. Without overthinking, Qiao Sang uploaded the photo of Lubao and the Emerald Python to her social media with the caption: "Thanks to my old friend the Emerald Python for making Lubao so happy she evolved." Her account, which had several million followers, received comments almost instantly: "Wow! What¡¯s this blue pet called? It¡¯s so beautiful!" "Qiao Sang finally remembered she has an account..." "What about Blazing Star Canine? Show us pictures of Blazing Star Canine!" "Does Qiao Sang have two advanced pets now?!" Most of her followers were from the Yuhua region and weren¡¯t paying much attention to the situation in the Guwu region. To them, Qiao Sang and Blazing Star Canine were far more intriguing than Ice Xilu. After all, the former were considered unparalleled talents of their region, while the latter was a rare evolution whose mechanisms remained a mystery. After skimming through the comments, Qiao Sang quietly turned off her screen. Although the current responses were from Yuhua residents, the interconnectedness of the internet meant it was only a matter of time before people from Guwu stumbled upon and shared her post. --- At the Water Luriana Research and Conservation Center. "Dr. Jiang, are you really restarting this machine? Shouldn¡¯t you think it over again?" A young man asked hesitantly. "It¡¯s clear I didn¡¯t fully understand Ice Qiya before." Replied Dr. Jiang, a middle-aged man in a white lab coat. Sitting before a half-human-height machine, he continued, "Pets¡¯ preferences aren¡¯t always conventional. We must acknowledge their diverse inclinations." "But Ice Qiyas strongly resisted this machine before. Don¡¯t you remember how they collectively protested against it?" "That only proves the machine¡¯s necessity." Dr. Jiang said. "The stronger their reaction, the more likely it is that it¡¯s uncovering secrets they don¡¯t want us to know. It¡¯s a matter of evolution versus pride. If they don¡¯t evolve, they won¡¯t live past 20 years. Whether they like it or not, every Ice Qiya must undergo this analysis!" "If a high school student can figure out her Ice Qiya is a masochist, then so can we!" The young man glanced at the white, screen-equipped machine, visibly uneasy. The Pet Analysis Device was designed to deduce a pet¡¯s habits based on its physical condition, offering clues about its preferences. However, its accuracy was reportedly less than 50%. In its initial trial, the machine analyzed an Ice Qiya with a broken claw and concluded it had a nail-biting habit linked to anxiety, recommending relaxation exercises. The result had enraged the Ice Qiya, which retaliated with a water blast. Recalling past incidents, the young man sighed, convinced the machine was better at annoying Ice Qiya than helping them. But with Dr. Jiang¡¯s insistence, the tests proceeded. Before long, a hesitant Ice Qiya was coaxed into the room by a blue, egg-shaped pet. Seeing the analysis machine, the Ice Qiya appeared conflicted. "Lyall." The egg-shaped pet cooed, sending soothing waves toward the Ice Qiya. Gradually, Ice Qiya relaxed. Dr. Jiang seized the moment, playing the viral evolution video while speaking earnestly: "This Ice Qiya evolved because it embraced its hidden preferences. Some interests may even be unknown to you. That¡¯s where this analysis comes in. Trust me, I¡¯ll uncover them for you!" "Lu." Looking at the evolved Ice Qiya in the video, the conflicted Ice Qiya hesitated no longer and nodded. Dr. Jiang smiled and aimed the scanner at its forehead. A red laser swept over its surface. The machine¡¯s robotic voice announced: "Analyzing¡­ Fur thinning detected. Likely enjoys frequent grooming and vanity. Suggest limiting scratching to prevent further hair loss." The young man: ¡­ The Ice Qiya froze in shock. Dr. Jiang dutifully noted the results. Just then, a woman in black-rimmed glasses rushed in, holding her phone. "It¡¯s wrong! It¡¯s all wrong! Ice Qiya isn¡¯t a masochist or anything unusual! Qiao Sang posted that it evolved after seeing an old friend!" "Lu!" Before anyone could react, the center¡¯s Ice Qiya blasted Dr. Jiang squarely with a water cannon. The woman stood there, dumbfounded. What just happened? The young man sighed, muttering under his breath, "I told you to reconsider¡­" --- Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. Room 2088 Qiao Sang lay on the soft bed, her consciousness delving into the Beast Master¡¯s Codex. She quickly flipped to the page about Lubao. Name: Ice Xilu (Lubao) Attributes: Water, Ice Level: Advanced (11,000/100,000)+ Traits: 1. Melting Water Level: B (1,872/2,000)+ Status: Effective Description: Allows cellular transformation to merge with water. 2. Swift Swimmer Level: C (79/1,000)+ Status: Usable Description: Doubles speed during rainy weather. 3. Rain Sense Level: C (823/1,000)+ Status: Usable Description: Senses impending rain through ear and tail absorption of atmospheric moisture. Skills: Healing Light (Mastery: 10,202/20,000)+ Water Gun (Proficient: 644/2,000)+ Bubble Beam (Advanced: 389/500)+ Water Tail (Expert: 3,996/5,000)+ Mist (Proficient: 1,781/2,000)+ Water Stream Jet (Flawless: 7,956/10,000)+ Icy Wind (Advanced: 288/500)+ Gentle Snow (Proficient: 903/2,000)+ Ice Claw (Advanced: 106/500)+ Healing Soundwave (Proficient: 681/2,000)+ Rain Prayer (Advanced: 189/500)+ Snowfall (Advanced: 466/500)+ Ice Flower Seal (Expert: 2,001/5,000)+ Ice Spike Shield (Beginner: 2/100)+ Hail (Beginner: 1/100)+ Aurora Veil (Beginner: 1/100)+ Points: 3,980 Ice Spike Shield, Hail, Aurora Veil... Luckily, Lubao learned Ice Flower Seal. Otherwise, becoming an offensive powerhouse would¡¯ve been a pipe dream. Qiao Sang examined the newly acquired skills with a wry thought. Ice Spike Shield: A mid-tier defensive ice skill; counters physical attacks with ice spikes upon being hit. Hail: A high-tier weather-based ice skill that summons hail. Aurora Veil: A high-tier defensive ice skill that halves damage for a set time but requires snowfall or hail to activate. Considering Lubao already had Healing Light, the utility of Aurora Veil was limited. Hail caused discomfort but couldn¡¯t defeat opponents outright. Meanwhile, Ice Spike Shield, though defensive and counter-attacking, was ineffective against non-physical attacks... Thankfully, there was Ice Flower Seal. Qiao Sang sighed again in relief. --- The Next Morning. Bright and early, Jiang Xiu arrived with heavy dark circles under his eyes, delivering an energy pellet. Qiao Sang accepted it and asked, "Professor Jiang, did you not sleep well last night?" Jiang Xiu gave a tired smile. "Since Lubao evolved into Ice Xilu, the old formula for its energy pellets became obsolete. I stayed up all night creating a new batch for it." Staying up all night to make energy pellets... Qiao Sang was both moved and astonished. She turned and called out, "Lubao." There was no need for Qiao Sang to elaborate. Lubao immediately understood. A blue light enveloped Jiang Xiu, who emerged looking completely revitalized, his dark circles gone. Healing Light... they actually used Healing Light on me... just for losing one night''s sleep?! Jiang Xiu stared at Qiao Sang in stunned disbelief. This is way too extravagant! --- Nightfall. The sun had just dipped below the horizon. The normally quiet Haicheng Pet Battle Arena was bustling with activity. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! It¡¯s 6:26 PM, Guwu District time! Welcome to the regional qualifiers of the National Campus Beast Mastering League!¡± Yi Ao stood on a blue square platform, microphone in hand, speaking energetically. Qiao Sang sat in the audience holding Yabao, with Little Treasure perched on her head. Xu Yixuan glanced at Little Treasure for a long time before leaning in and whispering, ¡°Is your Treasure-Seeking Demon obsessed with milk? It¡¯s already on its sixth bottle.¡± Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°It¡¯s been feeling insecure.¡± Ever since witnessing Lubao¡¯s evolution yesterday, Little Treasure had been acting strangely. Qiao Sang knew her pet well enough to understand he wasn¡¯t content being ranked third in their team. He wanted to reclaim second place. ¡°Xun... hic~¡± Little Treasure hiccupped as he guzzled another bottle. The commercials said milk is nutritious and helps pets grow stronger faster! I need more milk to get stronger! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Xu Yixuan shifted the topic. ¡°Was the post you made yesterday true?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Xu Yixuan sighed. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been such a huge topic on social media, I¡¯d never have guessed Ice Qiyas had such bizarre evolution conditions. Happiness alone isn¡¯t enough, it also depends on the weather!¡± ¡°What if they¡¯re suddenly thrilled by something unexpected? No Beastmaster can watch them 24/7, and it doesn¡¯t snow every day.¡± Summing up her thoughts, she added, ¡°No wonder they became an endangered species.¡± It¡¯s not just Ice Qiyas, it¡¯s every stage of their evolution chain that has absurd requirements, Qiao Sang silently retorted. Xu Yixuan continued, ¡°By the way, how come I didn¡¯t notice so many Emerald Pythons in the audience yesterday?¡± ----- ----- Chapter 414: Hiccup Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang looked toward the audience as she heard the chatter. Almost every row had an Emerald Python present. Qiao Sang: ... She could swear there weren¡¯t this many yesterday! The audience was noisy, with voices overlapping. Under normal circumstances, large pets were rare in the stands since they often obstructed views and caused disputes. However, despite the numerous Emerald Pythons scattered throughout the seating area, everyone seemed unusually harmonious ¡°Hey, your Emerald Python looks a lot like the one in Qiao Sang¡¯s photo. Could it be...?¡± ¡°Haha, no way. I rented it. Since Ice Xilu gets happy seeing Emerald Pythons, and these tickets were hard to get, I was worried its Emerald Python friend¡¯s Beastmaster couldn¡¯t get in. When Ice Xilu sees mine from a distance, maybe it¡¯ll think it¡¯s its buddy and stay cheerful.¡± ¡°Man, that¡¯s considerate! Let¡¯s exchange contacts. I need a friend like you!¡± ¡°Dude, tell me honestly, your Emerald Python isn¡¯t actually Ice Xilu¡¯s buddy, is it?¡± ¡°Wow, didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be exposed so quickly!¡± In Section D, Row 6, a well-dressed youth asked, ¡°Miss, where did you rent your Emerald Python? It looks just like the one in Qiao Sang¡¯s photo.¡± Wei Ying replied coolly, ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Fei fei.¡± The Emerald Python nodded. The youth paused before laughing, ¡°The one you rented is quite cooperative.¡± Wei Ying fell silent. The youth stared at the Emerald Python, his suspicion growing. ¡°Seriously, where did you rent it?¡± Wei Ying, clearly annoyed, replied, ¡°I told you, it¡¯s mine.¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t play coy.¡± The youth said. ¡°Tell me the rental place. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll rent it for a day and pay you to rent it again after that. How about this much?¡± He held up five fingers. Wei Ying hesitated for a few seconds before responding, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you the contact.¡± --- Time passed. During this time, Xu Yixuan lost her match. It was expected, each group had at least two contestants with advanced-level pets, and the first-place spot could only go to one of them. Xu Yixuan¡¯s opponent was Qin Shuo from the Guwu region, whose advanced-level pet, the Water Otter Lion, defeated her effortlessly. Xu Yixuan accepted the result gracefully, as her goal was to rank in the top six of her group and advance to the next round. ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang from the Yuhua region and Chen Ye from the Guwu region!¡± The host Yi Ao announced enthusiastically. Exciting background music played as the crowd erupted. In the contestant area, a slightly chubby boy looked as though he might cry. A cheerful-looking boy beside him comforted him, ¡°What¡¯s there to cry about? Even if you weren¡¯t up against Qiao Sang, other groups also have advanced-level pets. You¡¯d lose a few rounds anyway.¡± ¡°Idiot.¡± The chubby boy stood, straightened his uniform, and said seriously, ¡°Why would I cry about fighting Ice Xilu? I¡¯m excited! Thrilled!¡± Before the cheerful boy could respond, a white light enveloped the chubby one, teleporting him to the battlefield. The cheerful boy: ... Chen Ye, a contestant from the Guwu region, had two intermediate-level pets: One Water-type and one Ice-type. As Qiao Sang watched him from afar, relevant information about him surfaced in her mind. Chen Ye waved excitedly at Qiao Sang, attempting to appear friendly. Trying to lower my guard? Not happening. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained cold and impassive. The audience buzzed: ¡°No suspense in this match. Once Ice Xilu steps in, it¡¯s game over!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Qiao Sang¡¯s opponent from our Guwu region? Lucky him to fight Ice Xilu.¡± ¡°If only I were born twenty years later, I¡¯d be standing where he is!¡± To the crowd¡¯s surprise, Little Treasure appeared on the field instead. ¡°Xun~ hic~¡± Little Treasure let out an uncontrollable hiccup. The arena went momentarily silent before the audience erupted: ¡°It¡¯s not Ice Xilu¡­¡± ¡°Whoa, I totally forgot Qiao Sang has three pets.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t she send out Ice Xilu? Advanced-level versus intermediate-level would¡¯ve been a breeze!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this pet¡¯s name?¡± ¡°No clue. Judging by its appearance, it seems to be Ghost-type.¡± ¡°Looks so tiny, though.¡± --- On the battlefield. Not Ice Xilu¡­ For real this time, Chen Ye looked like he might cry. This time, the tears were genuine. Water Python, known for its powerful jaws capable of causing severe injuries... Qiao Sang analyzed the medium-sized, entirely blue creature with sharp fangs as its data flashed through her mind. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure appeared serious. If Lubao evolved during a match, so can I! He thought. The match began. Little Treasure immediately vanished. ¡°Mud¡ª¡± Before Chen Ye could command, the Water Python looked around warily. ¡°Hic~¡± Suddenly, a hiccup echoed ahead. The Water Python instinctively opened its mouth, firing a water gun toward the sound. The attack hit an invisible figure just a meter away, splashing onto Little Treasure and forcing it into view. Little Treasure staggered back several meters. The audience burst into laughter: ¡°Ha! Got caught because of a hiccup.¡± ¡°How much did it eat to hiccup like that?¡± ¡°This Ghost-type is hilarious!¡± Qiao Sang frowned. Careless. Didn¡¯t expect a hiccup to give him away. Should¡¯ve made him drink less¡­ He¡¯s too fragile to take more hits. Time to end this quickly. ¡°Shadow Control.¡± She commanded. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure lifted a short claw, and shadows slithered on the ground, quickly lunging toward the Water Python¡¯s shadow. ¡°Black Water!¡± Chen Ye countered. He had researched Qiao Sang and knew her pet could use Shadow Control. Black Water was weak but effective against it. The Water Python opened its jaws and sprayed dark, viscous liquid across the field, merging it with its shadow. ¡°Xun~ hic~¡± Despite the interference, Little Treasure didn¡¯t stop. Shadows peeled off the ground, transforming into ribbons of darkness that shot toward the Water Python like silk in the wind. Chapter 415: The Two Stages of a Doppelganger Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Water Python launched a continuous barrage of Water Guns. The dark shadows split apart, transforming into a dozen strands of shadow resembling black silk ribbons. These shadows wove through the streams of water, ferociously closing in on the Water Python from all directions. The audience erupted in excited chatter. "Wait, isn''t this supposed to be a mid-level pet beast?!" "A three-dimensional version of Shadow Control! Is the mastery level this advanced?!" "This mastery level is even higher than the advanced skills of other contestants'' high-level pet beasts!" "I thought this little ghost-type pet was still drinking milk, it looked so young! Who would have thought its advanced skills were trained to this extent¡­" "Wait a second¡­ isn''t Qiao Sang only 15 years old?" High-level pet beasts generally possess advanced skills, but achieving high mastery of those skills is rare. Skill mastery is a crucial factor. Once a skill reaches a certain level of mastery, a highly mastered intermediate skill can easily surpass a poorly mastered advanced skill. However, achieving high mastery in advanced skills is significantly more challenging than in intermediate or basic skills. It requires not only time and resources but also exceptional talent. Even with years of effort and copious investments, a talentless pet beast might not progress its mastery of an advanced skill from novice to expert. This is why seeing such high mastery of an advanced skill, performed by a mid-level pet beast during a high school competition, stunned the crowd. In the blink of an eye, the dozen shadows bound the Water Python tightly. The Water Python lowered its head and bit at one of the shadows binding it. The shadow shifted under the strain but refused to break. Something felt off. Qiao Sang frowned. Indeed, the speed of Shadow Control''s attack was swift. Yet the Water Python''s behavior was unusual. Despite the ineffectiveness of its Water Guns, it made no effort to dodge and simply allowed itself to be tied up. In regional competitions, where opponents were far more experienced than in provincial matches, such passivity was suspect. She recalled from the data that the Water Python possessed the Substitute skill and had likely mastered it to a high level. Scanning the battlefield, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes settled on the area above Little Treasure. Droplets of water were falling like light rain in a small area, originating from two specific Water Gun shots earlier. Her mind raced back to earlier events. The Water Python''s Water Guns seemed aimed at the shadows, but a few shots had deliberately sprayed above Little Treasure. Those seemingly random attacks had a purpose, they were setting up this trap. Everything clicked. "Look up! Hypnosis!" Qiao Sang shouted. "Look up? Look up?! She already figured it out?!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Ye''s heart pounded. Sure, he''d wanted to face Ice Xilu, but this was the National Campus Beast Mastering League Regional Competition, he couldn''t afford to slack. Both he and his coach had devised strategies to handle Qiao Sang''s Treasure-Seeking Demon. ? One key plan was to bait the Treasure-Seeking Demon into using its three-dimensional Shadow Control. In theory, if he could trap the Treasure-Seeking Demon while it attacked, the Water Python could successfully counterattack. The Treasure-Seeking Demon was fragile; one strong attack could decide the match. But he''d never expected Qiao Sang to see through everything before the Water Python could act! It was too late. Little Treasure tilted his head upward, blue light glowing in his eyes. His stubby toes remained pointed at the ground, still controlling the shadows. With his high mastery level, Little Treasure could simultaneously maintain both Shadow Control and Hypnosis. The shadows binding the Water Python tightened further. Suddenly, the Water Python dissolved into a droplet of falling water. Above Little Treasure, the Water Python reappeared, mid-leap, poised to strike. It remembered its master''s instructions: Go all out with this final attack. But just as it opened its maw, it met Little Treasure¡¯s glowing purple eyes. ¡°Waaaa¡­¡± Sleepiness overwhelmed the Water Python. Its eyelids drooped, and it fell into a deep slumber. Boom! The next second, the Water Python crashed heavily to the ground. ¡°Xun~ hic~¡± Little Treasure covered his mouth, giggling. "Buzz!" The referee''s mechanical pet floated over, inspected the Water Python, and blew its whistle. Though the audience was calmer than they might have been had Ice Xilu appeared, the discussion was electric. "Qiao Sang is seriously just 15? Her battle sense is insane!" "Chen Ye''s strategy wasn¡¯t bad. He sprayed water into the opponent''s blind spot, creating an opening to switch positions with Substitute. But Qiao Sang completely saw through it." "Yeah, he even successfully baited the three-dimensional Shadow Control!" "Why did he have to wait for the three-dimensional version, though?" "It''s not about waiting, it¡¯s just that when the Treasure-Seeking Demon used the two-dimensional version, the shadows would have locked him down. A Substitute wouldn''t let him swap positions, only block the damage. But the three-dimensional version leaves the shadows loose, so he could switch positions." "Chen Ye''s strategy was solid. But it only made Qiao Sang look more incredible." "Seriously! How does she think this fast? Is it even humanly possible to see through all that?" "And the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s Hypnosis skill is terrifyingly well-trained. The referee ruled the match immediately." "The Water Python¡¯s Substitute is impressive too, being able to swap with objects is no joke." The Substitute skill is divided into two stages based on mastery: 1. Creating an identical substitute at the original position to block attacks. 2. Swapping places with any object within a certain range to evade attacks. The Water Python had clearly achieved the latter. Amid the audience''s enthusiastic commentary, Yi Ao announced the start of the second match. ----- ----- Chapter 420: Underwater Wild Beast Interaction Event Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang advanced directly to the national competition by finishing first in her group. When the news reached Hanggang City, it caused an uproar among those familiar with the scale of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Their city produced someone who went straight to the nationals? And it was a high school freshman, only 15 years old, competing in the senior group? Suddenly, Qiao Sang''s growth story became the talk of the town. --- A Certain Neighborhood. A middle-aged woman sat on the sofa, gripping a test paper so tightly her hands trembled with anger. "How did you score like this?! The high school entrance exam is next semester! How are you supposed to get into an ordinary high school with these grades?" She yelled furiously. "Mom, what era are we even living in? Grades don¡¯t matter anymore. As long as I awaken my potential, schools will come begging for me." Retorted a bespectacled boy standing by the sofa, craning his neck. The middle-aged woman chuckled coldly. "You? Awaken your potential?" The boy, clearly irked, shot back: "Ever heard of Qiao Sang? That genius who directly advanced to the nationals after topping her group in the regionals? She used to be ranked third from last in her class back in middle school! Later, she awakened on her own and got into Shengshui High School." Excitedly, he added, "Mom, when I awaken, I want to contract a Fire Fang Dog just like her!" The woman scoffed. "Fire Fang Dog? Be like Qiao Sang? How many people like her do you think exist? What do you even have to compare with her?" The boy grumbled, "What kind of mother talks about her son like that?" "If you don¡¯t want me to say things like this, then go study and improve your grades! What are you still standing here for?!" The woman bellowed. You¡¯re the one who called me over to lecture me¡­ The boy grumbled internally as he shuffled back to his room. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once he was gone, the woman¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. She picked up her phone and began searching for the price of Fire Fang Dogs online. The buzz around Qiao Sang even led many families to consider contracting a Fire Fang Dog. The sudden interest caused the Fire Fang Breeding Store¡¯s business to skyrocket, leaving Ye Xiangting no time to catch up with her friends over the phone. --- Seaside City - Deepsea Mantis Hotel After dinner, Qiao Sang lay on her bed, scrolling through places to visit in the Ancient Guwu Region, occasionally replying to messages. With her spot in the nationals secured, she had a week of free time while the remaining 32 participants were determined. After that, the top eight would compete for rankings. ? Finally getting a chance to visit the Ancient Guwu Region, she decided to take some time to explore and have fun. ¡°Balance between work and play is essential.¡± She muttered. "Underwater Ancient City? Sounds good. Ruins exploration, maybe even some ancient beast fossils." "Underwater Battle Arena? Perfect for Yabao to play around." "Underwater Museum? Eh, pass." As she carefully sifted through online recommendations, her phone buzzed. The caller ID read Professor Jiang. "Hello, Professor Jiang." Qiao Sang answered. "Tomorrow, there¡¯s an underwater wild beast interaction event. Want to join?" Jiang Xiu asked directly. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. "An underwater wild beast interaction event?" Professor Jiang explained: "Unlike Yuhua Region, this area is teeming with wild aquatic beasts. To ensure they recognize us and don¡¯t attack on sight, we host these events every three months. ¡°Certain areas are marked as safe, meaning the water beasts there don¡¯t attack humans. Others remain unsafe, indicating the beasts aren¡¯t familiar with us yet and could strike at any time. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading to one of those unsafe zones.¡± ¡°Participants must have at least one general-level aquatic beast. If not, they need to be accompanied by a beastmaster with a king-level water beast. ¡°Interested? The area¡¯s still untouched, so you might find some valuable items.¡± Do I, someone with an unlimited spending card for the year, care about treasure? Qiao Sang thought to herself before answering enthusiastically, ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± --- Underwater, on the back of a massive aquatic beast encased in a bubble, Pei Shipan, dressed in a black suit, asked skeptically, ¡°Are you sure this will work?¡± ¡°I have no idea.¡± Jiang Xiu admitted. ¡°This was Old Xu¡¯s suggestion.¡± Pei Shipan fell silent. The so-called underwater wild beast interaction event had actually concluded last month. This one was a ruse cooked up by a group of people hoping to entice Qiao Sang to consider staying in the Ancient Guwu Region in the future. Their goal was to amaze her with underwater wonders and ensure she stumbled upon valuable treasures, ones they¡¯d plant if necessary. As Old Xu put it: ¡°No one can resist a treasure-filled underwater paradise.¡± --- The next morning, Qiao Sang woke up early, dressed, and carried Yabao with Little Treasure perched on her head as she headed to the hotel lobby. Jiang Xiu was already waiting in the lounge, a large black backpack on his shoulders. ¡°Professor Jiang, do we really need to bring so much?¡± Qiao Sang asked in shock. ¡°It¡¯s just in case.¡± Professo Jiang replied with a smile. ¡°How about putting it in Little Treasure¡¯s ring? It¡¯d be lighter that way.¡± She suggested. Hearing this, Little Treasure eagerly touched his ring, ready to store the bag. ¡°No need!¡± Jiang quickly declined. ¡°It¡¯s not heavy at all.¡± No way am I putting it in the ring. How else will I scatter treasures later? --- Underwater, dozens of medium to large aquatic beasts gathered, each encased in a bubble carrying humans inside. When Jiang Xiu and Qiao Sang arrived on the back of a Sea Salt Lizard, a man in a tan overcoat brightened and announced, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here. Let¡¯s head out.¡± Dozens of aquatic beasts began swimming in unison toward a designated area. Inside their bubble, Little Treasure pressed against the wall, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at the underwater scenery. Yabao, nestled in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, was tense. While he didn¡¯t dislike water as much as before, being surrounded by it on all sides still felt unnerving. Sensing Yabao¡¯s discomfort, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Want to return to the beast codex?¡± Yabao shook his head. He had learned that overcoming his fears, whether of ghostly beings or water, was essential to growing stronger. Yabao¡¯s growing up¡­ Qiao Sang thought with pride as their group swam toward the deep-sea zone. Chapter 421: If You Want It, Go Pick It Up Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- ¡°This is a Rolling Octopus. It loves doing backflips for no reason.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an Axe Fish. Though it looks scary, it¡¯s actually very gentle.¡± ¡°That pet beast with something like a fishing rod on its head is called the Angling Fish. It uses the ¡®rod¡¯ to lure prey.¡± Jiang Xiu was introducing the pet beasts they saw along the way. Qiao Sang listened quietly. She had to admit, seeing wild pet beasts up close and having them explained like this was far more interesting than just attending pet beast ecology classes. The deeper they went, the dimmer the surroundings became. The number of glowing aquatic pet beasts gradually decreased. However, dozens of medium to large aquatic pet beasts had prepared in advance. Each had some glowing organ on their body that lit up. One large shark-like pet beast caught Qiao Sang¡¯s attention because the glowing part of its body was its teeth. It was moving forward with its teeth bared, making it quite memorable. Such a distinctive glowing spot... Qiao Sang suppressed her urge to laugh and asked, ¡°Professor Jiang, does this activity only include aquatic pet beasts that can glow?¡± Of course not! Jiang Xiu chuckled, realizing the misunderstanding. ¡°No, it¡¯s just a coincidence. The beastmasters participating this time happen to have glowing aquatic pet beasts.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t doubt him and continued enjoying the sight of the wild aquatic pet beasts. As they ventured deeper, the wild pet beasts they saw started looking more intimidating. ¡°Xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head curiously, wondering why the creatures became scarier as they went further down. Qiao Sang joked, ¡°Maybe since no one can see each other down here, they just grow however they like.¡± Though she was joking, her tone was so serious it was convincing. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Teasure nodded with an enlightened expression. Jiang Xiu: ¡­ He didn¡¯t understand what the Treasure-Seeking Demon was saying, but from Qiao Sang¡¯s reply and the Demon¡¯s reaction, he could piece together the gist of it. So this is what Qiao Sang¡¯s personality is like¡­ Jiang Xiu mused. At that moment, the leading turtle-like pet beast stopped. Jiang Xiu understood immediately. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± He said. Qiao Sang looked around. The aquatic wild pet beasts in the area all scattered upon seeing them, leaving a hundred-meter radius completely empty. ¡°Bibi!¡± The leading turtle called out, and the medium-to-large aquatic pet beasts dispersed, swimming off in different directions. ¡°We should move too.¡± Jiang Xiu said. He led the way with his Sea Salt Lizard toward a direction no one else was heading. ¡°Not staying together?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Jiang Xiu explained, ¡°High-level pet beasts exert pressure on lower-level ones. If too many high-level pet beasts gather, wild ones won¡¯t come near. We have to split up.¡± Qiao Sang nodded and formed a hand seal. A green star array glowed underwater, and the next moment, Lubao appeared beside the Sea Salt Lizard. After such a long competition, Qiao Sang was well aware of Lubao¡¯s overwhelming impact on the people of the Ancient Guwu Region. She didn¡¯t dare summon her when there were so many people around earlier. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao was momentarily stunned by the underwater environment but soon let out a cheerful cry. Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu! Jiang Xiu internally screamed. He had wanted to suggest Qiao Sang summon her Ice Xilu but held back, fearing it would seem too intentional. Luckily, he finally got to see the Ice Xilu now. Lubao¡¯s personality really isn¡¯t as aloof anymore after evolving¡­ Qiao Sang thought. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao glanced at the Sea Salt Lizard, then at Lubao, and suddenly grew excited. He asked if she could create a bubble to encase himself, like the Sea Salt Lizard. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao thought for a moment and nodded, indicating it should be doable. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure immediately looked over with anticipation. They¡¯ve grown closer, huh? In the past, Lubao wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge Yabao¡­ Qiao Sang thought with satisfaction. Under the gaze of four pairs of eyes, Lubao opened her mouth. A transparent bubble slowly formed, expanding and enveloping her head, then neck. But as it reached her body, the bubble suddenly burst with a pop. ¡°Yap¡­¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Yabao and Little Treasure looked disappointed. Guess it doesn¡¯t work¡­ ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao¡¯s mood visibly dropped, and she resumed trying to create a bubble. Once again, the bubble burst at the body. ¡°Yap¡­¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± The two shook their heads in unison. Still doesn¡¯t work¡­ ¡°Lu¡­¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lubao¡¯s mood sank further. Of course, it won¡¯t work. Lubao hasn¡¯t practiced this skill before; how could she succeed in just one or two tries? Qiao Sang cleared her throat and explained, ¡°Bubbles are easier to form in low-pressure environments. The deeper the water, the greater the pressure, so the bubbles burst easily. It¡¯s normal for Lubao to fail. On land, it¡¯ll definitely succeed. ¡°Like the Sea Salt Lizard, they form their bubbles before entering the water.¡± ¡°Yap Yap!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Yabao and Little Treasure suddenly looked enlightened. So it¡¯s not Lubao¡¯s fault! ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s low spirits immediately vanished. She swished her tail, lifted her head proudly, and acted as though it had never doubted herself. Jiang Xiu watched this unfold, his thoughts racing. Qiao Sang¡¯s ability to cheer up the Ice Xilu with just a few words further solidified his determination to keep her in the Ancient Guwu Region. He¡¯d even decided on her workplace: The Water Luriana Species Research and Conservation Center! The difficulty in evolving the Water Luriana species largely stemmed from their complex emotions. With Qiao Sang around, perhaps the evolution rate of the Water Luriana species could improve! While maintaining a calm exterior, Jiang Xiu secretly opened his backpack, pulled out an item, and discreetly placed it on the Sea Salt Lizard¡¯s blue circular marking. The blue spot emitted a stream of water that engulfed the item, which slowly sank into the Sea Salt Lizard¡¯s body and disappeared. Moments later, the Sea Salt Lizard spat the item out. How should we communicate with wild aquatic pet beasts later? Qiao Sang wondered, observing the surroundings. ¡°Look! What¡¯s that? Should we pick it up?¡± Jiang Xiu¡¯s sudden exclamation startled her. Qiao Sang looked in the direction he pointed, observed for three seconds, and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s just a Thermal Stone. No need to pick it up.¡± Jiang Xiu: ??? Realizing his expression wasn¡¯t quite right, Qiao Sang quickly added, ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t need it. But if you want it, Professor Jiang, go ahead. You found it, after all.¡± Jiang Xiu: ¡­ Too late, too late¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 422: The Bulging-Eyed Fish Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Jiang Xiu suddenly realized he had made a mistake. The girl in front of him contracting Ice Xilu might have been a coincidence, but the Blazing Star Canine and the Treasure-Seeking Demon were not. To be able to contract such talented beasts and nurture them to this level in such a short time, how could her family possibly lack money? With such a noble background, her standards must naturally be high. No wonder she wasn¡¯t interested in something as ordinary as a Thermal Stone. Speaking of which, what else was in his bag¡­? Jiang Xiu silently reached into his backpack to search. ¡°Not picking it up?¡± Qiao Sang asked again when she noticed Professor Jiang hadn¡¯t made a move or said a word for a while. After a moment of silence, Jiang Xiu called out, ¡°Haizi.¡± The Sea Salt Lizard looked exasperated as it swam quickly to where the Thermal Stone had sunk and swallowed it in one gulp. Soon after, water began to gush out of one of the blue circular spots on the lizard¡¯s back. As the water dispersed, the Thermal Stone reappeared. Seeing this, Qiao Sang asked with interest, ¡°Is that a skill or a trait?¡± Jiang Xiu placed the Thermal Stone back into his bag as he explained: ¡°It¡¯s a storage trait, considered one of the lowest levels. My Sea Salt Lizard can store small objects inside its body, transferring them through its mouth or these circular spots. However, the storage time is limited, anything stored inside for more than five minutes will be digested.¡± Qiao Sang mentally noted the new information. --- Over the next while, materials suitable for contracted beasts appeared every few minutes. Jiang Xiu¡¯s backpack was in a constant cycle of taking out and putting in items, never seeming to deflate. ¡°There seems to be something over there.¡± Jiang Xiu said numbly. He felt like an NPC in a game, endlessly repeating the same actions and lines. Qiao Sang followed his gaze and her eyes lit up. ¡°Is that Dark Phantom Crystal?¡± Seeing her interest, Jiang Xiu perked up. Pretending to scrutinize it carefully, he said with certainty, ¡°It is indeed Dark Phantom Crystal!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to pick it up, Professor?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Jiang Xiu waved dismissively, his tone indifferent. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in Dark Phantom Crystals. If you want it, I can have the Sea Salt Lizard fetch it for you.¡± What a peculiar man. He showed interest in a mere thousand-coin Thermal Stone but couldn¡¯t care less about a Dark Phantom Crystal worth tens of thousands¡­ Qiao Sang was inwardly amused but said, ¡°I¡¯ll let Lubao fetch it.¡± At her command, Lubao darted to the crystal¡¯s location. Just as she reached out to grab it, a large, dark red orb nearby caught her eye. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao placed one paw on the Dark Phantom Crystal and another on the red orb, intending to take both. But when she tried to lift the red orb, it wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao increased her strength. ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± Suddenly, a roar echoed nearby, and the red orb quivered. Below it, a pair of dark red eyes snapped open. The initially fierce and violent gaze turned momentarily stunned upon seeing Lubao. ¡°Not good! It¡¯s the King-level Bulging-Eyed Fish!¡± Jiang Xiu exclaimed. ¡°Quick, recall Ice Xilu!¡± A King-level beast?! Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank as she quickly gestured to recall Lubao into her Beast Tamer Codex. ¡°Zhu Zhu!!!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish let out a deafening roar, even more furious than before. The water rippled as a massive, deep blue beast with bulging eyes and two dark red orbs, one on its forehead and another on its tail, entered Qiao Sang¡¯s view. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, Qiao Sang¡¯s other contracted beast, showed an eager expression, itching for a fight. ¡°Why do you want to fight everything strong you see? This is a King-level beast! We can¡¯t win!¡± Qiao Sang said, noticing Yabao¡¯s excitement with a twitch of her lips. ¡°And we¡¯re underwater. Are you sure you want to fight here?¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao stiffened and obediently stayed in her arms, unwilling to move. Ugh, he really hated water! ¡°This area¡¯s most aggressive creature is this Bulging-Eyed Fish.¡± Jiang Xiu said grimly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to encounter it right away.¡± ¡°This is supposed to be a water beast exchange event, right? Shouldn¡¯t we try talking to it?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°I need to prioritize your safety.¡± Jiang Xiu replied. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to communicate with the Bulging-Eyed Fish, it tends to attack on sight.¡± ¡°Other participants who¡¯ve tried to interact with it said it¡¯s highly territorial and attacks without warning.¡± He explained further. That made sense, fighting underwater would be disastrous if the bubbles surrounding the Sea Salt Lizard burst. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Should we leave now?¡± ¡°Not yet. If we move now, the Bulging-Eyed Fish will likely target us.¡± Jiang Xiu warned. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang hesitated and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we turn off the light from the Sea Salt Lizard? It¡¯s like a giant glowing beacon!¡± Jiang Xiu: ¡­ The Sea Salt Lizard seemed to understand and dimmed its green light. At that moment, the Bulging-Eyed Fish darted over, stopping right in front of the Sea Salt Lizard. ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish let out a cry. ¡°Not good! Run!¡± Jiang Xiu¡¯s face darkened as the Sea Salt Lizard spun around, its tail creating a water vortex to propel them away. ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish roared, chasing after them. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure clung to the bubble¡¯s interior, excitedly calling out that the fish was catching up. Why are you so excited?! Qiao Sang inwardly grumbled, glancing back at the relentless pursuer. After observing for a while, she hesitated and said, ¡°Professor Jiang, it doesn¡¯t seem like the Bulging-Eyed Fish wants to attack.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Jiang Xiu said. ¡°Its expression and roar earlier were clearly aggressive.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s a King-level beast.¡± Qiao Sang reasoned. ¡°If it wanted to attack, it could have already done so at this range. It hasn¡¯t used any skills, it¡¯s just chasing us. Doesn¡¯t that seem odd?¡± Jiang Xiu paused, considering her words. ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± ¡°Maybe it wants to say something.¡± Qiao Sang suggested. ¡°Why not try communicating?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Jiang Xiu refused immediately. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± ¡°We can communicate from a distance.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile. Jiang Xiu was momentarily puzzled. Qiao Sang turned to the Little Treasure. ¡°Didn¡¯t we buy a voice amplifier recently? Find it.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure rummaged through his ring, quickly producing a microphone shaped like a lollipop. ¡°Ask it why it¡¯s chasing us.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. Little Treasure nodded, switched on the microphone, and tested the volume with a few chirps. The sound echoed loudly through the water. Jiang Xiu was dumbfounded. What kind of crazy idea is this?! ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish flinched at the noise. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure held the microphone up and earnestly repeated Qiao Sang¡¯s question. ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish hesitated, then called back shyly while still chasing them. ¡°What did it say?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Before Little Treasure could answer, Yabao translated, It¡¯s asking if we¡¯ve seen a beautiful creature just now. Chapter 423: The Mystic Auction Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "A beautiful creature?" Qiao Sang thought back to the earlier scene. When she realized who the bulging-eyed fish was referring to, she was speechless. By now, the green light radiating from the Sea Salt Lizard had grown brighter again, illuminating the blushing and shy expression on the bulging-eyed fish. An outrageous thought crossed her mind: Could this creature... be interested in Lubao? "What did it say?" Jiang Xiu asked curiously. Qiao Sang translated, "It''s looking for Lubao. Maybe Lubao provoked it earlier while retrieving the Dark Phantom Crystal." "What?!" Jiang Xiu''s face darkened. He shouted at the Sea Salt Lizard, "Full speed ahead!" "Sea Salt!" The Sea Salt Lizard let out a cry and suddenly sped up. "Blub-blub!" The bulging-eyed fish paused for a moment, then looked displeased and picked up speed as well. Along the way, small and medium-sized water-type beasts scattered in fear. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure clutched the microphone, looking excited. Why is it still chasing us? What does it want? Qiao Sang complained inwardly. If the bulging-eyed fish''s goal is Lubao, it¡¯s better to keep them apart. While she wasn¡¯t one to judge based on appearances, Lubao¡¯s past interest in Yabao suggested that her taste was pretty normal. The bulging-eyed fish, on the other hand, was far too peculiar in appearance. Lubao would never go for something like that. Besides, Jiang Xiu said this creature had a temper. If they didn¡¯t get along, what if a fight broke out? Bad temper and odd looks? Absolutely not. After a while, Jiang Xiu, whose expression had grown increasingly grim, finally couldn''t bear it anymore. He opened his bag and rummaged through it. "What are you looking for?" Qiao Sang asked. "A seabed signaling device." Jiang Xiu replied while searching. In the Guwu Region, seabed signaling devices are a must-have due to the underwater environment. These devices are more advanced than those in other regions and serve both communication and safety purposes. There are two types: 1. Signals sent to surface safety towers, where professionals can respond. 2. Signals sent to other device users within range. This option relies on the goodwill of nearby individuals to provide assistance. Jiang Xiu quickly located his device, a thick, phone-like gadget with a screen. He activated it, and a green signal dot began flashing. With the distress signal sent, Jiang Xiu felt slightly relieved. This blasted bulging-eyed fish! If Qiao Sang weren¡¯t here, he would¡¯ve given it a stern lesson. But for now, all he could do was wait for help to arrive. ? "Blub-blub!" The bulging-eyed fish cried out again. "Yap Yap!" Yabao translated, clearly exasperated: It¡¯s asking us to wait for it. Can¡¯t it see we¡¯re trying to avoid it? Qiao Sang frowned and asked, "Is it chasing us because it knows Lubao is here?" Jiang Xiu thought for a moment before answering, "Probably. Even though Ice Xilu disappeared before its eyes, her scent was still present. That¡¯s why it hasn¡¯t stopped chasing us. Plus, this isn¡¯t its first encounter with beast tamers participating in these exchanges, so it knows how tamers operate." No wonder, Qiao Sang thought. Seeing her deep in thought, Jiang Xiu grew uneasy and warned, "Don¡¯t summon Ice Xilu under any circumstances. This fish is obviously here to cause trouble for her." No, it¡¯s smitten with her... Qiao Sang nodded without explaining, but Jiang Xiu continued to elaborate, "Last time, participants tried to curry favor with it by offering rare gems. It took the gems but turned hostile immediately after." "Blub-blub!" The bulging-eyed fish cried out again. "Yap yap!" Yabao translated: It says it forgot to give something back to Lubao and wants to return it when it meets her. Qiao Sang squinted at the creature in the distance. It was hard to make out details under the dim underwater light, despite the Sea Salt Lizard¡¯s glowing green illumination. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiu kept talking, "This species is obsessed with collecting crystals and gemstones. My guess is that it noticed the gem on Lubao¡¯s forehead and decided to cause trouble." Obsessed with crystals, yet it wants to return one to Lubao? That definitely sounds like love¡­ Still, wild beasts are unpredictable. Who knows what level that Dark Phantom Crystal was? Forget it. It¡¯s better to let it go. Qiao Sang resisted the urge to summon Lubao. Jiang Xiu added, "The only time this species¡¯ temper improves is when they find a mate they genuinely like. They even hand over their entire collection of treasures to their partner." Their temper improves, and they give away all their treasures? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Without hesitation, Qiao Sang began forming a summoning seal. Jiang Xiu was stunned. "!!!" He was utterly bewildered. Had everything he just said been in vain? "Lu!" Lubao appeared in the water. "Stop! Call her back immediately!" Jiang Xiu shouted frantically. The Sea Salt Lizard executed an emergency brake. ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Little Treasure paused in confusion. Why did we stop running? Jiang Xiu took a deep breath. ¡°Why on earth did you summon Ice Xilu?!¡± Obviously, to see if the Bulging-Eyed Fish would hand over its collection... Qiao Sang replied earnestly, ¡°For the sake of a successful wild pet exchange event.¡± The heck with the exchange event! That event was arranged early solely for Ice Xilu! Jiang Xiu panicked. ¡°That¡¯s nowhere near as important as Ice Xilu! Quickly, summon it back!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Just watch.¡± Qiao Sang calmly gestured at him. Jiang Xiu, his eyes already red with frustration, looked over, and froze in disbelief. The Bulging-Eyed Fish had reached Lubao and, unbelievably, was bashfully handing something over with its side fin. Squinting, Jiang Xiu focused on the object and recognized it immediately, it was the Dark Phantom Crystal he had thrown away earlier! ¡°What...?¡± Jiang Xiu was completely dumbfounded. He couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation at all. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°As I thought, the Bulging-Eyed Fish really does like Lubao.¡± ¡°Like Ice Xilu?!¡± Jiang Xiu¡¯s face contorted as he instinctively yelled, ¡°I absolutely forbid this union!¡± I forbid it too... Qiao Sang coughed lightly and said, ¡°I only summoned Lubao because you said the Bulging-Eyed Fish wouldn¡¯t attack if it liked Lubao. This is a good chance to communicate with it and maybe prevent it from randomly attacking others in the future. Letting it chase us like this isn¡¯t a solution.¡± Jiang Xiu hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Even if the Bulging-Eyed Fish likes Ice Xilu, it¡¯ll go back to its old self once Ice Xilu is gone.¡± Not important, Qiao Sang thought. I¡¯m just here to see those gemstone crystals... ¡°Zhu Zhu~¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish, having handed over the Dark Phantom Crystal, wiggled bashfully and let out a soft cry. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao, maintaining a cold demeanor, turned around and began swimming away. ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish panicked and tugged Lubao¡¯s tail fin with its side fin. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao coldly flicked her tail, breaking free. Suddenly, the water stirred violently, and a thick water column nearly a meter wide shot toward the Bulging-Eyed Fish from a distance. The Bulging-Eyed Fish, entirely focused on Lubao, had dropped its guard and didn¡¯t notice the attack. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao leaped up, her tail wrapped in a surge of water, and struck the incoming water column with a fierce blow. The column dispersed instantly, breaking into a cascade of droplets that merged with the surrounding waters. ¡°Zhu Zhu¡­¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish stared at Lubao, its long side fin covering its mouth in a gesture of awe, nearly moved to tears. She¡¯s protecting me! ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± A moment later, the Bulging-Eyed Fish turned, baring its teeth, and snarled ferociously. Who dared to attack it?! ¡°Old Jiang! Take Ice Xilu and leave quickly! Leave this to me!¡± A deep male voice echoed through the murky waters. Qiao Sang turned toward the source of the voice and saw a familiar sight, a shark-like pet beast with glowing teeth. Jiang Xiu lit up in recognition. ¡°It¡¯s Old Xu!¡± ¡°Old Xu?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°The one organizing this underwater wild pet exchange event.¡± Jiang Xiu explained. ¡°He must¡¯ve received the signal I sent out.¡± Knowing this was a critical moment for communication, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t let anyone ruin it. She grabbed Little Treasure¡¯s microphone and shouted: ¡°Stop attacking! Everything¡¯s fine! We¡¯re just having an exchange!¡± Xu Mingqing froze at the sudden announcement. What the heck? Who¡¯s shouting through a mic?! An exchange? With whom? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s the Bulging-Eyed Fish... ¡°Zhu Zhu!¡± The Bulging-Eyed Fish had noticed the glowing-toothed Shark Fighter. Its mouth opened, gathering deep blue water energy. ¡°Lu.¡± Before the attack could be launched, Lubao called out, signaling it to stand down. The Bulging-Eyed Fish obediently dissipated the energy, its posture becoming docile. It¡¯s the same old story, Qiao Sang thought. Whether human or beast, when trying to impress a crush, they¡¯ll always put on an act. As if Ice Xilu would fall for this, I spit on it... Jiang Xiu¡¯s fists clenched tightly as he watched the Bulging-Eyed Fish¡¯s behavior. Riding atop Shark Fighter, Xu Mingqing arrived beside the Sea Salt Lizard with no trouble. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked, staring at the Bulging-Eyed Fish fawning over Ice Xilu. Jiang Xiu remained silent. Qiao Sang gave a brief rundown of the events. Xu Mingqing: ¡­ He was speechless for a good ten seconds. So the Bulging-Eyed Fish likes Ice Xilu? Never thought those big eyes weren¡¯t just for show, it actually has good taste¡­ ¡°Zhu Zhu~¡± Meanwhile, the Bulging-Eyed Fish, seeing Lubao ignoring it, reached for the enormous dark red orb attached to its tail and cracked it open. Inside, a pile of gemstones and crystals glittered. Wait, this thing can detach?! I thought it kept its collection elsewhere. And to offer it on a first meeting, this has to be true love¡­ Qiao Sang was quietly amazed. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t lacking in money, and summoning Lubao wasn¡¯t about taking all the gemstones and crystals. What she really wanted was to observe the Bulging-Eyed Fish¡¯s unique behavior, the kind of peculiar actions specific to certain pet beasts. For example, Sword-Winged Birds plucking a sword-like feather to stab someone they dislike. Or Paper Mew Sprites changing color based on their emotions. Or Clean Freak Treasures compulsively cleaning anything dirty. These quirky behaviors fascinated her. The Bulging-Eyed Fish offering its cherished gemstone crystals to a crush was equally intriguing. Qiao Sang silently moved her gaze away from the pile of gemstones. To stick to her original intention, it was better not to look too much... ¡°Xun Xun!¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure was lying on the inner wall of the bubble, his eyes shining as he stared at the pile of crystal gems, eager to stuff them all into his circular ring. "Stop thinking about it." Qiao Sang said beside him. "Those are for Lubao." "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure called out excitedly. It can''t put them in Lubao''s place, so it''ll have to store them in his own ring. Qiao Sang: ... "Lubao won''t take them." Qiao Sang said. "Xun Xun?" Little Treasure asked anxiously. Why not take them? "You''re still young and don''t understand." Qiao Sang smiled. "Xun Xun!" "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure began gesturing towards the Bulging-Eyed Fish. He understands! This big guy likes Lubao, so it''s giving her things! Qiao Sang was stunned. "How do you understand that?" "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure gave an expression that said, This is so simple. It''s just like in the TV shows. Qiao Sang: ... How does he watch every TV show... After sighing inwardly, she turned to Lubao, who looked aloof. She understood now; Lubao wouldn''t take anything from the Bulging-Eyed Fish, and she wouldn''t let Lubao take anything either. Wait, if Lubao took the gems and left, it would be no different than being a gold-digger. At that moment, Xu Mingqing suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, isn''t that an invitation card for the Mystic Auction?" Qiao Sang also saw the invitation card he mentioned. It was a crystal-made card, sitting on top of a pile of gem crystals, particularly eye-catching. Jiang Xiu seemed to realize something, and immediately asked, "Isn''t your national competition going to be held in the Central Hollow area?" Qiao Sang didn''t expect the topic to change so quickly. She nodded, confirming, "Yes." After confirming she had ranked first in her group and would directly advance to the national competition, Teacher Sun Boyi had told her the location of the competition. Jiang Xiu suddenly said, "Find a way to get that invitation card." Qiao Sang was stunned. "Why?" Before Jiang Xiu could answer, Xu Mingqing explained, "The Mystic Auction is a top-tier auction held only in the Central Hollow area. Invitations are limited and not under real-name registration, as long as you have one, you can attend." "The invitation cards are issued once a year, and those who have attended the auction before will have their cards taken back. If the card is here, it means it hasn¡¯t been used yet." "The Mystic Auction seems to be held next month, and you''ll be in the Central Hollow area at that time. Maybe you can go." Qiao Sang laughed twice and politely replied, "I''m not really interested in auctions." The national competition in the Central Hollow area was the most critical stage. Opponents with high-level beasts would have a huge advantage. She wouldn''t have the energy to attend an auction. Jiang Xiu said, "The Mystic Auction sells things you can''t see anywhere else. Even if you don''t buy, you can go and broaden your horizons. If you see something you like but your parents won''t let you buy it, just call me." Wonderful, without leaving a trace, he got her to witness the extravagance of people from the Ancient Guwu region and established a connection. If she really bought something, and didn''t have enough money, she could ask for help and come to the Ancient Guwu region. Truly, Jiang Xiu is a master... Xu Mingqing silently gave him a thumbs-up. Jiang Xiu remained calm, pretending he didn''t notice Xu Mingqing''s gesture. Qiao Sang asked, "Do they auction S-level or higher items and potions?" Jiang Xiu and Xu Mingqing were clearly stunned. They thought Qiao Sang would be shy and say something like, "No, no," but she directly asked about S-level or higher items and potions? S-level or higher! Is it really okay to ask like this? Xu Mingqing glanced at Jiang Xiu, somewhat concerned about his wallet. "Of course!" Jiang Xiu replied. "Last year, they auctioned an SSS-level Thunder Stone." An SSS-level Thunder Stone, something that you couldn''t buy with money on normal days... Qiao Sang immediately turned and called out, "Lubao! Lubao!" At her Beast Master''s signal, Lubao extended a claw and took the crystal invitation card. "Zhu Zhu!" The Bulging-Eyed Fish wagged its tail happily when it saw this. In its mind, taking something meant that the beautiful creature in front of it was willing to communicate further. "Lu." Lubao remained aloof and was about to explain that she had only taken it because her Beast Master had asked. At that moment, a water-type beast with scales resembling red gems slowly passed by. "Zhu Zhu..." The Bulging-Eyed Fish immediately stared in awe. When the gem-like creature swam a distance away, the Bulging-Eyed Fish hurriedly closed the dark red orb it had split in half, panicked, and chased after it. "Zhu Zhu!" Wait for me! Lubao: ??? Qiao Sang: ??? Little Treasure: ??? Jiang Xiu was more furious than if he had been dumped. He spat and cursed, "Scumbag fish!" Xu Mingqing thought, "The Bulging-Eyed Fish really has poor taste." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao looked at his Beast Master and then at Lubao, completely confused. He had originally thought that Lubao would fight the large beast, but this? --- At 7:30 p.m., the Underwater Wild Beast Exchange came to a close. Following the navigation, Qiao Sang went to the appraisal center to appraise the Dark Phantom Crystal she had found in the water that day. The appraiser finished quickly. "It''s a C-level Dark Phantom Crystal." Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds. "Can I resell it?" The appraiser glanced at her. "This is the appraisal center." Qiao Sang remained silent for a moment, then said, "This is the Dark Phantom Crystal that Ice Xilu took." The appraiser was stunned. Qiao Sang continued, "Do I look familiar to you?" The appraiser studied the girl in front of her carefully. After a few seconds, she gasped and covered her mouth in shock. "Can I resell it?" Qiao Sang asked again. "Yes!" The appraiser nodded firmly. --- In the following days, Qiao Sang took Yabao and the others to several famous landmarks in Haicheng. Some of the small stalls didn''t accept cards, so she used cash she had exchanged with the Dark Phantom Crystal. Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the national campus Beast Mastering League regional competition¡¯s top-eight rankings were approaching. The Haicheng Beast Battle Arena was packed with spectators once again after a week. The crowd was buzzing with conversation. "I feel like I haven''t seen Ice Xilu in forever..." "Yeah, these days have been so slow." "Do you think Qiao Sang will summon Ice Xilu today?" "I''m not sure. Her thoughts are impossible to predict..." "Qiao Sang has two high-level beasts. The first place in the competition is basically a given." "I checked last time. Qiao Sang''s Blazing Star Canine is a brand new evolution. There''s only one in the Yuhua area right now!" "Oh, I want to see Ice Xilu." In the contestant area. Qiao Sang looked at the information of the other seven contestants who had directly advanced to the national competition. Xu Yixuan smiled and said, "You''re already guaranteed first place, but you''re still working so hard. How are we supposed to live?" Qiao Sang looked at her and asked, "Aren''t you going back? Is everything okay?" Just yesterday, the results of the points competition had been released, and Xu Yixuan ranked 49th, stopping at the regional competition. "It''s fine." Xu Yixuan shrugged nonchalantly. "This is my best result in three years. With this result, plus my cultural score, getting into a good university is no problem." She then changed the topic, smiling, "I have to watch your competition. You''re the first person in our school with a chance to win first place in the regional competition. So many people wanted to, but couldn''t. I''m witnessing history." Even though she''s so close to the national competition, she must still be upset... Qiao Sang moved her lips but didn''t speak. At times like this, comfort wasn''t necessary. Others achieved what they had never done before with their hard work, and what she needed was praise. Yi Ao''s voice came from the loudspeaker: "Friends! Welcome to the national campus Beast Master League regional competition! I¡¯m sure everyone knows the top-eight list, and today we will hold the top-eight matches to determine the top-four!" "Which contestants will face off today?" "Let''s take a look at the big screen!" ----- ----- Chapter 424: Qiao Sang VS. Deng Tianyue Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As Yi Ao finished speaking, eight holographic images appeared before the audience, shifting and changing. Soon, the images split into four groups and froze. [Lianje Region, Song Wenying VS Guwu Region, Ma Zongji] [Guwu Region, Hu Fan VS Yu Hua Region, Shan Huaiyang] [Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang VS Xilu Region, Deng Tianyue] [Guwu Region, Qin Shoruan VS Xilu Region, Shao Liben] In the contestant area, a boy with slightly brown hair looked at the photo of his opponent and his expression changed. If there was anyone in the quarterfinals he absolutely did not want to face, it would undoubtedly be Qiao Sang. Two of her three pets were high-level, and each one had advanced skills with a high proficiency, making it nearly impossible to compete. He looked at the coach beside him, trying to seek some psychological comfort. Sensing the gaze, the coach put down the tablet, patted his shoulder, and said, ¡°Your opponent is no ordinary player. Just perform at your usual level, and remember, you¡¯ve already made it to the national competition.¡± ¡°No ordinary player, no ordinary player¡­¡± Deng Tianyue couldn¡¯t help but feel speechless. --- The competition proceeded smoothly. Now, all the contestants on stage had high-level pets, which added to the excitement for the audience. Moreover, with only four groups of matches and the third group being Qiao Sang¡¯s, the crowd''s emotions were running high, with everyone chatting happily. ¡°Our Guwu Region¡¯s kids are amazing! Three of them made it to the top eight.¡± ¡°Anyone who can join this competition must be from a wealthy family. Look at their pets, none of them you¡¯d normally see on the streets.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know other regions¡¯ pets, how can you be sure they¡¯re rare elsewhere?¡± ¡°High-level pets are rarely seen on the streets.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­¡± The competition quickly reached the second group. Watching the contestants already summon their pets, Xu Yixuan asked, ¡°Who do you think will win, Hu Fan or Shan Huaiyang?¡± ¡°Hu Fan.¡± Qiao Sang answered without hesitation. ¡°Why?¡± Xu Yixuan was curious. Qiao Sang pointed to Yabao, who was enthusiastically cheering in her arms, and calmly said, ¡°Because he¡¯s cheering for the Mudbone Turtle.¡± The Mudbone Turtle was Shan Huaiyang¡¯s pet. Xu Yixuan: ¡­ Ten minutes later, Shan Huaiyang¡¯s Mudbone Turtle predictably lost the match. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s tail drooped down. The power of this toxic cheerleading was absolutely amazing¡­ Xu Yixuan couldn¡¯t help but glance at the dejected Blazing Star Canine. Soon, the third match began. The spotlight shone on Yi Ao, who excitedly announced, ¡°Let¡¯s welcome the next contestants! Qiao Sang from Yuhua Region! And Deng Tianyue from Xilu Region!¡± ? Cheers erupted throughout the Pet Battle Arena, with the names Qiao Sang and Ice Xilu echoing through the venue. The intense BGM played. Under the blue lighting, Qiao Sang appeared on the stage. So this is what it feels like to be treated differently¡­ Deng Tianyue felt a bit dazed. In the previous two matches, the enthusiasm for Guwu Region contestants hadn¡¯t been as intense¡­ ¡°What was Deng Tianyue¡¯s pet again?¡± A spectator was discussing as the two contestants appeared. ¡°Wait, let me check.¡± Someone next to them took out their phone and after a moment said, ¡°His high-level pet is the Evil-type Black Devouring Demon, and his mid-level pets are the Bug-type and Fighting-type Giant Needle Ant.¡± The person asking got excited upon hearing this: ¡°Evil-type pets can counter Psychic-types, and Blazing Star Canine has Psychic-type attributes, so Qiao Sang will probably summon Ice Xilu, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably true for other contestants, but it¡¯s hard to say for Qiao Sang. Also, the most important thing for Blazing Star Canine is its Fire attribute.¡± While the audience discussed, Qiao Sang and Deng Tianyue formed hand seals. In the next moment, Ice Xilu and Giant Needle Ant appeared before the crowd. ¡°Lu.¡± ¡°Zhen.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The crowd erupted in excitement. ¡°It¡¯s Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Oh my god, I thought I¡¯d just be here for nothing today, but I actually got to see Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Every time I see Ice Xilu, I think, why isn¡¯t Qiao Sang from our Guwu Region?¡± ¡°Aaah! Although I¡¯ve always cheered for her, I honestly didn¡¯t have much hope! But Qiao Sang really summoned it!¡± ¡°I love Ice Xilu! I love you, Qiao Sang!¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Ice Xilu¡­ Deng Tianyue felt unprecedented pressure as he gazed at the mysteriously powerful pet. Through his research, he knew that to defeat Ice Xilu, one had to strike in a single blow, or the Healing Light would overwhelm them and make them collapse. He had heard that Zhang Xueming, who had faced Qiao Sang before, went to see a psychologist after her match against Ice Xilu¡­ The more Deng Tianyue thought about it, the more his head hurt. He had ranked in the top three in his regional competition for the past two years, but now it seemed like he might get the worst score in this round. The most important thing was that the rewards for being in the top three of the region were nothing compared to the top eight. Just as Deng Tianyue was lost in his chaotic thoughts, the mechanical sound announcing the start of the match echoed. ¡°Water Stream Jet.¡± Qiao Sang immediately shouted. ¡°Lu.¡± Luba raised her head slightly, opening her mouth. ¡°Double Return!¡± Deng Tianyue responded instantly. Even if he was going to lose, it had to be after a fierce battle, with a stylish exit! ¡°Zhen.¡± Hearing its master¡¯s command, Giant Needle Ant remained still for a moment, before a magenta glow enveloped its body as it prepared for the incoming attack. However, no Water Stream Jet came. Dark clouds appeared in the sky, and raindrops began to fall. Deng Tianyue¡¯s mind went blank, and he froze in place. Rain Prayer? Why isn¡¯t it Water Stream Jet?! Why did Qiao Sang shout Water Stream Jet then?! Double Return is a mid-level Fighting skill that reflects back double the physical damage taken. Qiao Sang had initially expected the first pet to be the Black Devouring Demon, so she had prepared for Rain Prayer to boost attack and speed, but considering both were using high-level pets, she anticipated that the opponent wouldn¡¯t just let her cast Rain Prayer. So she told Lubao to start with Water Steam Jet, leaving her to focus on Rain Prayer. Water Stream Jet was a close-range attack skill, and most pets would either defend or wait for the opponent to come close before countering. So, she wasn¡¯t too worried about the opponent attacking Lubao from a distance. But she didn¡¯t expect the first pet to be the mid-level Giant Needle Ant. Double Return, then. This feint had worked out unexpectedly, but using Rain Prayer to boost attack and speed seemed unnecessary against Giant Needle Ant¡­ Qiao Sang muttered in her mind. The water surged, quickly enveloping Lubao in a massive wave. In the downpour, Lubao soared into the air, the water column shifting left and right at incredible speeds, like a streak of blue light darting through the sky. At this moment, the magenta glow on Giant Needle Ant began to dim. This was really Water Stream Jet! Deng Tianyue¡¯s expression darkened as he shouted again, ¡°Double Return!¡± ¡°Zhen!¡± Giant Needle Ant realized the immense damage it was about to endure. It let out a cry, its muscles tensing as the magenta glow flared even brighter. Boom!!! In that instant, Lubao, enveloped in water, slammed into Giant Needle Ant at breakneck speed. Giant Needle Ant became a blur, crashing into the barrier below the audience seats. ----- ----- Chapter 425: Black Devouring Demon Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As the dust settled, the giant needle ant, now dizzy and with stars in its eyes, appeared before everyone. Deng Tianyue felt as though he had been hit on the head with a stick, his mind blank. Did I just lose? A wave of shock rippled through the audience. Though it was no surprise that Ice Xilu would defeat the mid-tier pet, the giant needle ant, this was the top eight competition, and each contestant''s mid-tier pet was extraordinary. To have the match end in less than thirty seconds was quite fast. ¡°That was too fast.¡± ¡°Why couldn¡¯t it last a little longer? What if Qiao Sang switches Ice Xilu out in the next round?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qiao Sang to use tactics against a mid-tier pet with Ice Xilu... That¡¯s really sneaky¡­¡± ¡°The ant needs to survive first, right? If you can¡¯t even last, it¡¯s just standing there getting hit.¡± ¡°I guess they underestimated the power of the Water Stream Jet. I remember the giant needle ant used Double Return to withstand attacks from other high-tier pets in a previous match.¡± ¡°Ice Xilu has the Swift Swimmer. I saw Qiao Sang''s match online before.¡± ¡°No wonder.¡± ¡°Please, let Qiao Sang keep using Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied Qiao Sang¡¯s matches. She usually uses one pet throughout, so there''s a high chance she¡¯ll bring out Ice Xilu again.¡± --- Not only were the contestants studying Qiao Sang, but the audience was too. Qiao Sang recalled Lubao. Using Lubao to fight the Black Devouring Demon was a plan she had considered beforehand. But the earlier feint move had already been used. Some techniques work wonders when used once, but when employed again in a short time, their effectiveness drops. If the opponent catches on early, the pace of the battle will be disrupted. The Black Devouring Demon had strong offensive power and could turn anything it ate into energy. It was exactly the type of opponent that Yabao loved. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Qiao Sang formed a seal with her hands and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao looked at the opponent, full of battle intent, and barked. ¡°Devour¡­¡± The Black Devouring Demon felt its muscles tense, as an invisible pressure began eroding its sense of safety. It felt like being targeted by a higher-level pet. Deng Tianyue sensed the Black Devouring Demon¡¯s state and called out, ¡°Xiao Hei.¡± ¡°Devour!¡± At the sound of its master¡¯s voice, the Black Devouring Demon immediately surged with energy and returned its fierce gaze. The Black Devouring Demon was about four meters tall, with a mouth that stretched across its body, two curved, exposed fangs at the back of its upper jaw. Its black body was terrifying, and it looked like it could be a villain in a TV series. It barked fiercely, locking its eyes on its opponent as if saying, Wait until I deal with you! ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao felt a little itchy after being stared at like that. The audience roared with excitement. ¡°Ice Xilu! Qiao Sang switched it out!¡± ¡°I feel like Ice Xilu was only out for less than a minute!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice that we got to see it. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t even summon Ice Xilu last time she competed.¡± ¡°Actually, the Blazing Star Canine is pretty good too. I still remember its performance in the last match. Afterward, I looked it up online, and it¡¯s still the only one of its kind.¡± ¡°True, but the Blazing Star Canine isn¡¯t from our Guwu region. Besides, it¡¯s a newly evolved form, so there¡¯ll be more of them soon. Ice Xilu, on the other hand, is rare among endangered pets.¡± The conversation in the audience didn¡¯t affect the battle on the field. Yabao and the Black Devouring Demon stared at each other, filled with battle intent. The mechanical sound signaled the start of the match, and the Fire Whirl and Evil Wave were unleashed simultaneously. Boom!! The burning flames collided with the dark, malevolent energy wave, creating an explosion so loud it shook the air like ripples. The next second, Deng Tianyue saw the Blazing Star Canine suddenly appear in the sky. Another Fire Whirl. Deng Tianyue¡¯s eyes widened as he suddenly understood what was happening. He shouted, ¡°Wide Defense!¡± Wide Defense was a high-tier defensive skill that protected all of the user¡¯s pets within a certain range, often used in team or group battles. Upon hearing the command, the Black Devouring Demon turned its internal energy, and an invisible barrier expanded around it. But just as the barrier expanded half a meter, a fiery fang descended and shattered the shield. The Black Devouring Demon stared in shock and looked up, meeting Yabao¡¯s gaze, who had just unleashed Fire Fang. From the bird¡¯s-eye view, there were now two Blazing Star Canines on the field! The audience erupted in conversation: ¡°No way! That Blazing Star Canine¡¯s moves are too fast! It¡¯s using split body, Fire Whirl, and Fire Fang all at once!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the real question how it¡¯s able to use different skills while the split body and the original are both active?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly at the same time. The Fire Whirl was used first, and then the Fire Fang.¡± ¡°Think about what just happened! It used Teleportation, dude! While casting Fire Whirl, it instantly teleported!¡± ¡°How do you know the one that teleported was the original?¡± ¡°Are you blind? Didn¡¯t you see the Wide Defense break? Only the original could deal that much damage!¡± ¡°The ultimate-level Fire Fang is insane! It can even break high-tier defensive skills!¡± ¡°It seems like the Black Devouring Demon¡¯s Wide Defense isn¡¯t very skilled.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s skilled or not, it still blocked it. If Deng Tianyue hadn¡¯t reacted in time, the Black Devouring Demon would¡¯ve been seriously injured.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, it¡¯s a high-tier skill.¡± The audience continued to chat, their attention never leaving the battle, not wanting to miss a moment of the action. In the moment that Yabao and the Black Devouring Demon locked eyes, Yabao raised his left front paw. The fiery claws immediately enveloped the paw, and with a slash, the fiery claws descended. The Black Devouring Demon¡¯s pupils shrank as it instinctively opened its mouth and bit down on the flaming claws. ¡°Yap!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao cried out in pain, but his eyes grew brighter. He raised his head, and a fiery head three times his size instantly formed, showing his fangs as he bit down. ¡°Devour!¡± The Black Devouring Demon let out a scream. Boom! The flames roared, and in the deafening explosion, both Yabao and the Black Devouring Demon were sent flying apart, creating some distance between them. As the Black Devouring Demon regained its footing, Deng Tianyue immediately commanded: ¡°Eat!¡± Upon hearing its master¡¯s command, the Black Devouring Demon lowered its head, opened its mouth, and began to gnaw at the ground. The ground, which seemed as fragile as crumbling tofu, was quickly reduced to a pit wherever the Black Devouring Demon bit. ¡°Yap!¡± Seeing this, Yabao¡¯s expression lit up with excitement, his limbs twitching as he prepared to go and bite the Black Devouring Demon on the head. ¡°Yabao, stop playing around.¡± Qiao Sang called out. Though Yabao¡¯s strongest skills were long-range, he insisted on close combat. This wasn¡¯t the time for that. ¡°Yap¡­¡± ----- ----- Chapter 426: Qiao Sang Isnt Human! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Playing? You¡¯re saying the Blazing Star Canine was playing just now?! Deng Tianyue was momentarily convinced he had misheard. Nearby, Yabao heard his Beastmaster''s comment and resisted the urge to charge forward and bite someone. At this moment, the doppelganger in the sky had already dissipated following the earlier collision. Yabao gathered energy, and an identical clone appeared high above once again. What''s it planning? It can''t be preparing Meteor Rain, right? If it were Meteor Rain, there''d be no need for a clone¡­ Deng Tianyue''s heart sank as he quickly shook off irrelevant thoughts, analyzing the situation. Realizing the next attack likely wouldn¡¯t be Meteor Rain, he let out a slight sigh of relief. He had never backed down from high-level pet battles. But Qiao Sang''s Blazing Star Canine was different. An ultimate-level Meteor Rain, nobody could withstand that! As he mulled over this, the Blazing Star Canine on the ground stomped its uninjured right forepaw. In the next moment, a surge of heat erupted, the ground shattered, and terrifyingly hot flames burst forth from below, hurtling toward the Black Devouring Demon still clawing at the ground. ¡°Wide-Area Defense!¡± Deng Tianyue shouted in response. ¡°Devour¡­¡± The Black Devouring Demon raised its head, just about to channel energy and respond. But just as it managed to utter the first syllable of his words, it found its mouth suddenly immobilized. The next syllable remained stubbornly unspoken. The doppelganger''s telekinesis may not be strong, but as long as it can restrain for a moment, that''s enough... Qiao Sang thought to herself. Scorching flames erupted from the ground. The fire spread from beneath. Boom!!! In the blink of an eye, fire exploded where the Black Devouring Demon stood. ¡°Devour!!!¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The roaring flames danced wildly, and the Black Devouring Demon let out a pained cry. Seeing this, the audience erupted into a frenzy. ¡°Holy crap! The Blazing Star Canine''s doppelganger can actually restrain the Black Devouring Demon with telekinesis!¡± ¡°The main body attacks while the clone control, genius!¡± ¡°By the way, just how proficient is this Canine''s shadow clone technique? It can maintain telekinesis while using Hellfire?¡± ¡°Could it¡­ also be at ultimate level?¡± ¡°¡­Stop guessing randomly.¡± So the clone was to restrain the Black Devouring Demon with telekinesis¡­ Deng Tianyue took a deep breath, quickly pushing aside the thought. ¡°Eat!¡± He shouted. The Black Devouring Demon had a certain degree of defense. As a high-level pet, it could withstand Blazing Star Canine''s Hellfire. Despite taking a full-force hit, it hadn''t yet lost its combat ability. ¡°Devour¡­¡± Hearing its Beastmaster''s command, the Black Devouring Demon strained to open its eyes. It grabbed a nearby glowing, charred stone and shoved it into its mouth. Extraordinary creatures are so fascinating¡­ Eating that can actually replenish its energy? Qiao Sang, curious, refrained from issuing an interrupt command. She wanted to see what would happen next. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao saw his opponent still moving and quickly gathered energy. He remembered his Beastmaster''s words: No playing! Lifting his head slightly, Yabao fired a red energy orb with terrifying force straight into the sky. Meteor Rain! It¡¯s using Meteor Rain now?! Watching the red orb ascend, Deng Tianyue was dumbfounded. He had never anticipated the Blazing Star Canine to unleash Meteor Rain at such a critical moment! Wasn¡¯t that its strongest skill? It didn¡¯t use it earlier, but now, when the Black Devouring Demon was already battered, it decided to unleash it?! This isn¡¯t human behavior! Well, technically, the Canine wasn¡¯t human... but Qiao Sang? She wasn¡¯t acting human either! Making the Blazing Star Canine use Meteor Rain against an already heavily injured opponent, how ruthless! Completely oblivious to the opponent''s perception of her, Qiao Sang was baffled. Yabao used Meteor Shower? Didn¡¯t he always complain battles were too short and unsatisfying? Why use it now? "Yap!¡± Sensing his Beastmaster''s gaze, Yabao turned his head with a confident smile, baring his white teeth as if to say, Relax, this one¡¯s in the bag! Qiao Sang: ¡­ The red energy orb exploded high in the air. Flames rained down like a wrathful storm. The entire arena turned crimson as the temperature spiked, leaving the audience in the front rows struggling against the heat. As the dense rain of fire closed in on the Black Devouring Demon, Deng Tianyue took a deep breath and shouted with all his might: ¡°Frenzied Strikes!¡± Though the Black Devouring Demon had mastered the high-level defensive skill Wide-Area Defense, its proficiency was only at Advanced. Hellfire had already broken through this defense before; ultimate-level Meteor Rain would be even more devastating. Since defense wouldn¡¯t work, the only option left was offense. Attack to counterattack, maybe there''s still a glimmer of hope! Frenzied Strikes was a chaotic, mid-tier Dark-type skill that dealt indiscriminate damage within its range. It was the Black Devouring Demon¡¯s most proficient offensive ability. Fueled by the energy from the stones it had consumed, the Black Devouring Demon surged with power. Looking up at the fiery rain, its eyes seemed to shout, Bring it on! I¡¯m ready! ¡°Devour!¡± The Black Devouring Demon roared, raising its arm and clenching its fist. A dense, white energy enveloped its entire limb. Just as it was about to swing, it froze. Black Devouring Demon: ??? What the hell?! Qiao Sang isn¡¯t human! Making the Blazing Star Canine restrain the Black Devouring Demon with telekinesis at this moment?! Deng Tianyue stared at the glowing blue eyes of the Canine in disbelief, his body trembling. An ultimate-level Meteor Rain¡­ and it¡¯s not even letting the Black Devouring Demon move! This isn¡¯t human, this is demonic! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao kept his eyes on the Black Devouring Demon, his tail wagging furiously. He was so clever to preemptively restrain his opponent! Qiao Sang: ¡­ Honestly, even without the telekinesis, it wouldn¡¯t have lasted anyway¡­ Qiao Sang silently thought. The fiery rain poured down, engulfing the Black Devouring Demon entirely. Fire illuminated the arena as the ground crumbled beneath the onslaught, leaving no intact spot except where Yabao stood. When the fire finally subsided, the Black Devouring Demon lay sprawled, eyes shut, looking even darker than before. The arena fell into a brief silence. Then, as the mechanical referee pet blew the whistle signaling the match¡¯s end, the audience erupted. ¡°Incredible! Ultimate-level Meteor Rain! I¡¯m speechless!¡± ¡°Wow! So this is the power of an ultimate-level Meteor Rain!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of high-level ultimate skills before, but seeing it in action is terrifying!¡± ¡°Unbelievable! Qiao Sang is ruthless, using telekinesis to restrain the opponent even after unleashing Meteor Rain!¡± ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s thrilling to watch! I love these high-impact battles!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of continuing? Just crown Qiao Sang as the champion already!¡± For the first time since Qiao Sang''s arrival in the Guwu Region, no one was discussing Ice Xilu¡¯s matches. ----- ----- Chapter 427: Inspection Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Haicheng Beast Battle Arena isn¡¯t just any ordinary arena. Large-scale competitions like regional championships are held here. To qualify for such a prestigious event, beastmasters must possess at least general-level beasts, which means the battles often result in extensive field destruction. To ensure smooth progress during competitions, the arena is equipped with facilities that allow the battlefield to be replaced swiftly. The black-and-red scarred battlefield slowly sank into the ground, replaced shortly by a pristine one that rose as if nothing had happened. Yi Ao stood on the blue platform, loudly announcing the contestants for the next match. At that moment, Qiao Sang returned to the contestants'' area, holding Yabao, now wearing a lightweigt miniaturization bracelet. The surrounding beastmasters cast her complicated looks. After witnessing the devastating power of the ultimate-level Meteor Rain, no one doubted Qiao Sang¡¯s potential to clinch first place in the league. "Nicely done!" Sun Boyi put away his camera and turned to Qiao Sang with a wide grin, nearly squinting his eyes shut from happiness. Though typically a reserved person, Sun Boyi couldn¡¯t hide his excitement in the face of such extraordinary talent. Xu Yixuan gave Sun Boyi a sideways glance before silently averting her gaze. Having known Teacher Sun for nearly three years, she had never seen him smile like this. It was almost unbearable to watch. Sun Boyi, still grinning, said, ¡°The semifinals are at 6 p.m. If you don¡¯t have other plans after this match, how about taking your beast to the Beast Center for a full recovery checkup?¡± After every match, contestants typically visited the Beast Center for comprehensive recovery treatments for their beasts. But since Qiao Sang had Lubao, she hadn¡¯t needed to go once during the competition. Semifinals in the evening already? Qiao Sang glanced at the time on her phone, 10:28 a.m. She nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± --- Haicheng Beast Center ¡°I¡¯m absolutely not swapping shifts!¡± Declared a disheveled young man in a white lab coat, holding a phone. His messy hair and black-rimmed glasses gave him a haphazard appearance. ¡°Dr. Wang, please! My husband got into a car accident, and I¡¯m the only one who can take care of him. None of our relatives or friends are around!¡± Pleaded a distressed voice on the other end of the call. ¡°I have plans to meet my girlfriend¡¯s parents tonight. If I don¡¯t go, she¡¯ll break up with me.¡± The young man replied firmly. ¡°I really can¡¯t swap shifts.¡± ¡°But Dr. Wang-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Rent a Healing Coral or find another doctor to cover for you. I absolutely can¡¯t.¡± No way he was giving up his hard-earned ticket to the National Campus Beast Mastering League! Just then, a fair-skinned woman with an oval face entered. Like him, she wore a white lab coat. The young man glanced at her and moved the phone away from his ear. ¡°Dr. Zhang, Dr. Li¡¯s husband got into a car accident, and she wants to swap shifts this afternoon. Are you up for it?¡± The Haicheng Beast Center¡¯s afternoon shift ended at 6 p.m. The woman hesitated briefly before nodding. ¡°Sure.¡± --- At 2:30 p.m., Qiao Sang arrived at the Haicheng Beast Center with Sun Boyi. Though Yabao¡¯s injuries had been healed by Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, Qiao Sang decided the Beast Center would be the fastest way to restore optimal energy levels for the semifinals. Thanks to their prior appointment, they went straight to the beast examination department. After handing over her information card, Qiao Sang placed Yabao on a specialized examination table. A white, soft-bodied nurse beast, wearing a nurse¡¯s cap, adeptly wheeled Yabao into an adjoining room. The two rooms were separated by a large pane of soundproof glass. Though Qiao Sang could clearly see what was happening inside, no sound reached her ears. The nurse beast said something inaudible, prompting Yabao¡¯s eyes to glow blue as he glanced at his lightweight miniaturization bracelet. In the next moment, Yabao returned to his original size. And the examination table collapsed. Through the glass, Qiao Sang locked eyes with Yabao, whose innocent expression screamed, I didn¡¯t do anything! I have no idea what happened! Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Wriggle! Wriggle!¡± The soft-bodied nurse beast stormed out, furiously gesturing toward the female doctor. While Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand its language, it was clear the creature was complaining. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Qiao Sang quickly stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. How much does it cost? I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± This shift swap was worth it¡­ Thought the female doctor as she stared blankly at the patient¡¯s information displayed on the computer screen. ¡°Doctor?¡± Qiao Sang called out. The woman snapped back to reality, looking puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Wriggle! Wriggle!¡± Before Qiao Sang could repeat herself, the nurse beast pointed indignantly at Yabao, as if reporting a misbehaving student to the principal. The doctor glanced toward Yabao through the glass and said, ¡°Go back in. The examination isn¡¯t over yet.¡± ¡°Wriggle¡­¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The nurse beast pouted but obediently returned to the other room. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the damages.¡± Qiao Sang offered again. ¡°No need.¡± The doctor waved it off. ¡°This was my fault for not warning you about removing the miniaturization bracelet. It¡¯s not a big deal. We have more examination tables in the supply room.¡± What a kind person! thought Qiao Sang gratefully. The doctor then turned to Qiao Sang and said, ¡°You have two other beasts, right? Let¡¯s examine them too.¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. They¡¯re in excellent condition.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared with a chirp, indicating his flawless state. Unfazed by his sudden appearance, the doctor insisted, ¡°You have a match tonight. Better safe than sorry.¡± So she recognized me and wants to see Lubao, huh? Qiao Sang thought as she glanced at Yabao undergoing examination inside, the collapsed table still lying on the floor. She finally relented. --- 5:45 p.m. At the Haicheng Beast Battle Arena, the audience was bustling with noise. Many spectators were still finding their seats. In Section C, Row 12, a woman dressed in a simple, forest-themed outfit navigated the row, stopping when she encountered a pair of long legs sprawled across the aisle. ¡°Excuse me.¡± She said. The legs pulled back but then stretched out again, blocking her path. ¡°Dr. Li, wasn¡¯t your husband hospitalized after a car accident?¡± The woman froze, turning to see the owner of the long legs. Her forced smile was razor-sharp. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Dr. Wang. Weren¡¯t you supposed to meet your girlfriend¡¯s parents tonight? What brings you here?¡± They exchanged a knowing look, then silently turned away. The legs were retracted, and the woman continued forward, both pretending nothing had happened. ----- ----- Chapter 248: The Semifinals Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Contestants¡¯ Area. Qiao Sang sat in her seat, reviewing information about the remaining competitors on her phone. Now, apart from her, only three contestants remained. Although she remembered most of their details, she wanted to double-check. [Guwu Region, Ma Zongji.] Pet 1: A high-tier Water/Fighting-type pet beast, Thousand-Path Water Bear. Known for relentless, flowing strikes akin to water currents. Proficient in high-tier moves like True Qi Punch and Waterfall Climb. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Trait: Water Absorption. Negates damage from water-type attacks while recovering energy instead. Pet 2: A mid-tier Grass-type beast, Yaksohlor. Its normally soft spikes on its head and back become sharp and hard enough to pierce rocks when infused with energy. Close-range combat should be approached with caution. Meanwhile, in the contestants¡¯ area, a young man wearing a blue headband kept glancing nervously at Qiao Sang¡¯s back. ¡°Ma Zongji, why are you staring at her? Nervous?¡± A middle-aged man next to him asked. ¡°A bit.¡± Ma Zongji admitted. The man chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve already made it to the top four, and you¡¯re still nervous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about winning this semifinal.¡± Ma Zongji sighed. ¡°Even if I lose here, I¡¯m confident I can secure third place in the next match. But I¡¯m worried that if I face Qiao Sang, she might not summon her Ice Xilu.¡± ¡°You know my Thousand-Path Water Bear is practically immune to water-type moves due to its Water Absorption trait.¡± The middle-aged man paused, his expression growing serious. ¡°She probably will, though. After all, Ice Xilu also has ice-type skills¡­¡± He trailed off, realizing the probability wasn¡¯t as high as he initially thought. The two exchanged a knowing look before sighing in unison. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang continued reading her notes. [Guwu District, Hu Fan.] Pet 1: A high-tier Water-type beast, Swift Sinking Frog. Unrivaled in water, where it moves at speeds too fast for the eye to track. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say it can evade 99% of attacks underwater. Trait: Torrent. When in a critical state, its water-type moves gain a dramatic power boost. Pet 2: A mid-tier Electric/Flying-type beast, Thunder Tail Dragonfly. Its tail¡¯s sharp spikes can unleash electrical attacks, making it dangerous even when approached from behind. Trait: Speed Boost. This trait allows its speed to increase incrementally during battle. --- As Qiao Sang read this, six rows behind her, a young man sat with his fingers clasped, muttering repeatedly, ¡°Please let her use Ice Xilu. Please let her use Ice Xilu...¡± This was Hu Fan. A man beside him, seemingly in his thirties, finally couldn¡¯t take it and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hu Fan opened his hands to reveal a small red bell. Lowering his voice conspiratorially, he said, ¡°I got this red bell from Wish Wish Bell.¡± The man raised a skeptical eyebrow. ¡°Did you check the Wish Granting level of the Wish Wish Bell?¡± Wish Wish Bells were Fairy-type beasts known for granting wishes to those they deemed worthy. However, their trait came with risks. For an S-grade Wish Granting trait, there was only a 70% chance of the wish coming true. But if the wish failed, the outcome would backfire. For example: Wishing for someone¡¯s long life might result in their untimely death. Hoping to live happily ever after with a partner might expose their infidelity the next day. Over time, some had begun experimenting with reverse wishes: I hope I fail my college entrance exam. Result: A string of illnesses prevented them from attending the test, resulting in an actual zero score. Because of such risks, Wish Wish Bells were both revered and feared. Scratching his head, Hu Fan replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask. I just figured if it works, I can face Ice Xilu. If it doesn¡¯t, maybe I won¡¯t face Qiao Sang at all. Either way, I¡¯ve got a shot at the finals.¡± The man fell silent, surprised by Hu Fan¡¯s uncharacteristic thoughtfulness. --- [Xilu District, Shao Liben] Pet 1: A high-tier Psychic-type beast, Predictive Tower Turtle. Its precise ability to anticipate opponents¡¯ next moves based on subtle physical cues makes it formidable. Trait 1: Inner Focus. Immune to flinching or intimidation, rendering it fearless. Trait 2: Synchronize. When afflicted by poison, paralysis, or burns, this trait has a chance to inflict the same condition on its opponent. Pet 2: A mid-tier Fire-type beast, Ashfire Fox. Its ears emit intense heat to intimidate opponents. Trait: Flame Body. Physical contact skills against this beast have a chance to cause burns. --- ¡°This Predictive Tower Turtle might be tricky¡­¡± Qiao Sang thought, putting her phone away. She turned her attention to the arena, awaiting the match to begin. Meanwhile, a stoic young man nearby closed his laptop, his screen displaying Qiao Sang¡¯s profile. ¡°Confident?¡± Asked a sharply dressed woman in a black suit. ¡°As long as her Blazing Star Canine doesn¡¯t use Meteor Rain, it¡¯ll be manageable.¡± Shao Liben replied. ¡°And the others?¡± She pressed. ¡°Former defeated opponents.¡± He said flatly, folding his arms. --- ¡°Who will face whom in the semifinals?¡± The announcer boomed. ¡°Let¡¯s look at the big screen!¡± Four large holographic photos appeared, shuffling rapidly. After seven seconds, they settled: [Yuhua District: Qiao Sang vs. Guwu District: Ma Zongji] [Guwu District: Hu Fan vs. Xilu District: Shao Liben] ¡°Ma Zongji¡­¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced with his details. ¡°Ma Zongji, huh.¡± Xu Yixuan said, adjusting her glasses. ¡°His Thousand-Path Water Bear has a type advantage against fire and is immune to water-type moves. But with your Blazing Star Canine¡¯s mastery of Meteor Rain, even type disadvantages won¡¯t matter. Plus, it has Psychic-type moves. You¡¯ve got this.¡± To her, the choice was clear: Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t risk using Ice Xilu against an opponent with such clear counters. Chapter 429: Yaksohlor Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang remained silent, as Yi Ao had already begun introducing the next contestants. The process was all too familiar. After the announcement of the first group of contestants, the spotlight would shine, and she would appear on stage. Qiao Sang quickly waved her hand, recalling Little Treasure into the Beast Codex. "I''m going!" With her words, a blue light enveloped her. Simultaneously, a white light descended upon Ma Zongji. The moment the two contestants appeared on the stage, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd. Based on the collected information, Ma Zongji had no particular habits. The chances of him summoning either of his two beasts in the first round were fifty-fifty. After some thought, Qiao Sang decided on her first summon. At this moment, Ma Zongji, visibly excited, shouted, "Qiao Sang, summon Ice Xilu! I''ll summon Yaksohlor in the first round!" The audience roared with approval: "That''s it! A true child of our Ancient Guwu Region, bold and fearless!" "Exactly! Going straight for a match with Ice Xilu! Kid, even if you lose, it''s worth it!" "If you''re going to lose anyway, why not challenge Ice Xilu? I get you, man!" "Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!" The entire crowd chanted those four words. "Really?" Qiao Sang asked. The cheers were so loud that Ma Zongji couldn''t hear her. He only saw her lips moving. "What did you say?" He hollered back. Seeing this, Qiao Sang raised her hand, and the audience, surprisingly cooperative, fell silent. "Really?" She repeated. Ma Zongji, now more animated, exclaimed, "Of course!" Qiao Sang glanced at him, noting his sincerity, and nodded, signaling her understanding. The audience erupted again, their excitement mounting as they interpreted her nod as agreement to summon Ice Xilu. Their gazes toward Ma Zongji were filled with pride, as if he were their own child finally achieving greatness. Triumphant background music played. As the countdown began, Qiao Sang and Ma Zongji simultaneously formed hand seals. Green and gray star formations lit up. The next moment, a nearly all-gray beast with a ghostly flame-like hairstyle billowing backward appeared on the field. "Xuuun~" The moment Little Treasure emerged, he twirled joyfully to the upbeat music. But the music abruptly stopped. "Xun..." Little Treasure paused, his gaze locking on the distant opponent, his expression turning serious. Time to resume his role as Number Two! "What? It¡¯s just Treasure-Seeking Demon?" After the first phase of the competition, most viewers had grown familiar with Yuhua Region''s ghost-type beast. "I really thought she agreed to summon Ice Xilu..." "Me too..." "Thinking about it now, if Ma Zongji hadn''t announced his pick, Qiao Sang might¡¯ve hesitated and actually summoned Ice Xilu." "Exactly!" The audience sighed in unison, their perception of Ma Zongji shifting from pride to disappointment. --- On the stage. No Ice Xilu... Ma Zongji felt as if he''d been struck in the heart the moment he saw Treasure-Seeking Demon. Life¡¯s highs and lows couldn''t be more dramatic. What a blow! At that moment, the mechanical voice signaling the start of the match sounded. "Root yourself!" Ma Zongji¡¯s expression turned serious, masking his earlier heartbreak. Having analyzed Qiao Sang¡¯s battles extensively, he had concluded that he needed to act first. Otherwise, she''d control the entire rhythm of the match! "Yaksohlor!" Yaksohlor resembled a humanoid flower, its lower half consisting of stem-like structures. At Ma Zongji''s command, grayish-brown roots emerged from its base, burrowing into the ground. Grass-type beasts in a rooted state could recover energy over time. More importantly, Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Shadow Control would face certain restrictions. However, staying motionless was far from ideal. As Qiao Sang observed Yaksohlor''s actions, she silently analyzed the situation. By now, Little Treasure had instinctively cloaked himself in invisibility. A black Shadow Ball suddenly appeared about a meter above Yaksohlor''s head. "Vine Whip!" Ma Zongji decisively ordered. Two vines shot out from Yaksohlor¡¯s sides, wrapping around it in protective circles instead of attacking. Judging by the size of the vine shield, there was plenty of space between Yaksohlor and its defenses. So that''s why it dared to stay rooted, it had already planned to use vines as a shield. Qiao Sang mused. The Shadow Ball collided with the vine shield. When the vines retracted, Yaksohlor remained unscathed. At this moment, Qiao Sang said, "Burn it." Burn it? Ma Zongji froze. The intel never mentioned Treasure-Seeking Demon having fire-type moves! Unwilling to take chances, he hurriedly commanded, "Razor Leaf!" "Yaksoh!" Yaksohlor swung its arms, conjuring glowing green leaves that circled it. At the same time, ghostly green flames emerged from behind Yaksohlor, carrying an icy chill. The ghost flames collided with the leaves, incinerating them into ash. The audience buzzed with discussion. "This kid Ma Zongji¡¯s got potential! Yaksohlor doesn¡¯t have defensive skills, but he creatively uses its existing moves for defense. And by widening the vine shield, even if the vines break, it buffers the damage to Yaksohlor." "Come on, he¡¯s used that move before in the group stage." "I wasn¡¯t there!" "Still, I didn¡¯t expect Treasure-Seeking Demon to know Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp. That means it has three elemental skills!" "Clearly, someone didn¡¯t do their homework. Let me explain: Yuhua¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demons with two yellow rings can all use Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp. Look, one on its head, another on its ear." "No way, I thought those were decorations..." "Decorations? In this kind of competition, no beast would be allowed to wear such things." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Fair point..." --- Meanwhile, the battle raged on. As ghost flames and razor leaves clashed, Ma Zongji¡¯s mind raced. Crap! It really has a fire-type move. Stay calm, it¡¯s still the match. Both Shadow Ball and Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp appeared close to Yaksohlor, meaning the Treasure-Seeking Demon must be nearby. Now¡¯s the perfect time to attack! ¡°Stun Spore!¡± he shouted. Yaksohlor opened its mouth, releasing a brownish powder that began to spread around it. Qiao Sang immediately commanded, "Come back." Little Treasure teleported to her, avoiding the spreading spores. "Shadow Ball." She said, unfazed. Another Shadow Ball appeared and shot toward Yaksohlor. "Yaksoh!" Yaksohlor instinctively used its vine shield again. But Qiao Sang¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. "Get inside." "Xun~" Little Treasure understood instantly. Letting out a gleeful cry, he vanished. Get inside? Inside what? Before Ma Zongji could process, Yaksohlor found itself staring into a pair of glowing purple eyes within its own shield. ----- ----- Chapter 450: Thousand-Path Water Bear Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- ¡°Yak¡­¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yaksohlor¡¯s eyes closed involuntarily. The vine whips scattered across the ground. What entered the audience''s view was Yaksohlor snoring soundly on the floor and the Treasure-Seeking Demon just a centimeter away from it. The crowd instantly erupted. ¡°What just happened? I don¡¯t get it! What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Did Yaksohlor get hypnotized?¡± ¡°No, isn¡¯t the real question how the Treasure-Seeking Demon suddenly appeared there? Yaksohlor had surrounded itself with vine whips from every angle. How did the Treasure-Seeking Demon get inside?¡± ¡°This is crazy! Judging by the range of that Ghost-type pet¡¯s Shadow Ball earlier, there¡¯s no way it could¡¯ve gotten there!¡± ¡°You probably didn¡¯t watch the matches featuring this Treasure-Seeking Demon from before, did you?¡± ¡°No, this is my first time getting a ticket today.¡± ¡°That explains it. This Treasure-Seeking Demon also has Psychic-type attributes, it can teleport.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ But wait! Even with teleportation, it shouldn¡¯t be able to get inside the vine whips!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because this isn¡¯t teleportation.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯s spatial shift.¡± ¡°!!!¡± Among the spectators were professional Beast Tamers, and they quickly pieced together what had happened. ¡°Vine whips can block teleportation but not spatial shift. Qiao Sang likely realized this the first time Yaksohlor used its surrounding vine whip strategy. That¡¯s why they deliberately had the Treasure-Seeking Demon use Shadow Ball later, baiting Yaksohlor to repeat the tactic. This way, with the vine whips as a barrier, neither Ma Zongji nor Yaksohlor could react in time to the Demon¡¯s spatial shift.¡± ¡°Damn! How are you calmly analyzing this?! Spatial Shift! This is a mid-level Ghost-type pet with spatial shift!¡± ¡°Why are you so worked up? Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine can already pull off the ultimate-level Meteor Rain. With a genius like that, is anything impossible?¡± ????? ¡°¡­¡± The heated discussion in the audience didn¡¯t affect the match. A referee-certified Mechanical Beast blew the whistle signaling the end of the match. Ma Zongji¡¯s expression was blank. His first thought was: I lost just like that? His second thought: Does this mean Qiao Sang will use the Treasure-Seeking Demon again? Will I miss my chance to battle against Ice Xilu? ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure carefully felt the energy within himself, then displayed a disappointed expression. M Zzongji interpreted this expression differently: Is it disappointed because the match was too easy? Does it think Yaksohlor was too weak? Is that why it looks so let down? At this thought, Ma Zongji felt a pang in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to adjust his mindset. A single loss means nothing. If I can defeat the Treasure-Seeking Demon in the next round and face Ice Xilu, I¡¯ll still be the victor! At that moment, Qiao Sang waved their hand and recalled Little Treasure into the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex. Ma Zongji, filled with fighting spirit moments ago, froze in surprise at the sight. Before he could process it, the prompt to summon their second pet rang out. Ma Zongji instinctively formed hand seals. The star array lit up, and what appeared in Qiao Sang¡¯s green star array was a beast with sapphire-like scales covering its near-perfect form. Ma Zongji froze for a moment before his expression turned excited. It was like expecting to overcome a dark force and countless obstacles to meet the goddess, only for the goddess to appear before him the next second. Pure delight! --- ¡°Whoa!¡± The audience erupted even before the match began. ¡°Ice Xilu! Ahhh! It¡¯s Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Quitting my job to rush here was worth it! I finally get to see Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°I thought Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t summon Ice Xilu when I expected it. Now, when I¡¯ve given up hope, she summons it out of nowhere. Are genius minds this unpredictable?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it! Doesn¡¯t Ma Zongji¡¯s Thousand-Path Water Bear have the Water Absorption trait? Why would Qiao Sang send out Ice Xilu?¡± ¡°Ice Xilu¡¯s strength lies in its Ice-type moves. Even if it doesn¡¯t have Water Absorption like Thousand-Path Water Bear, it still has water attributes, which give it some resistance to Water-type moves. Unless the Water Bear can get close and use Fighting-type moves, it¡¯ll be hard to harm Ice Xilu with just Water-type attacks.¡± Everyone assumed Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t choose Ice Xilu against the Thousand-Path Water Bear because they considered the threat to Ice Xilu. But flipping the perspective, looking at it from the Water Bear¡¯s side, they¡¯d realize that Ice Xilu posed just as much danger to it. Ice Xilu had the Melting Water trait, making large-scale Water-type attacks from the Thousand-Path Water Bear ineffective. Coupled with its near-reviving Healing Light and mastery of Ice Flower Seal, the Water Bear might be the one at a disadvantage. --- As the signal for the match¡¯s start rang out, Lubao slightly raised her head and opened her mouth. ¡°Interrupt it!¡± Ma Zongji shouted urgently. That stance, it was clearly preparing to use Ice Flower Seal! Though he wasn¡¯t afraid of losing, Ma Zongji didn¡¯t want to lose too quickly. Finally getting the chance to fight Ice Xilu, he wanted to stay on the same battlefield for a while longer. ¡°Thousand!¡± The Thousand-Path Water Bear opened its mouth, shooting a thick water stream jet from its throat. Although Lubao began channeling her energy first, releasing a high-level move like the seal wasn¡¯t instantaneous. Lubao kept her head raised, mouth open, glancing down at the incoming water stream jet but made no move. Boom! The thick water jet struck Lubao squarely. Simultaneously, the surrounding temperature dropped as snowflakes began to fall. On the other side, Lubao steadied herself after being knocked back several meters. Blue light enveloped her body. ¡°Lu¡­¡± When the blue light faded, there was no sign of injury on Lubao. Damn, it really used Ice Flower Seal. Starting with a big move just because it has Healing Light to recover from damage, how reckless and cool is that¡­ Ma Zongji suppressed his excitement and issued a command: ¡°Use Whirlpool Barrier!¡± ¡°Thousand!¡± Following its Beast Tamer¡¯s order, the Thousand-Path Water Bear clenched its fists and roared. A three-meter-wide, spiraling vortex of water appeared above its head. As snowflakes fell into the vortex, intricate ice flowers formed within the spiraling water. In an instant, the vortex solidified with ice blossoms. The Thousand-Path Water Bear flexed its muscles and lifted the now-solid vortex with both arms. While the falling snow continued, the frozen vortex provided perfect protection for the Thousand-Path Water Bear. Whirlpool Barrier, a high-level Water-type skill. Who knew this guy had such a hidden ace¡­ Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ----- ----- Chapter 431: Underestimated Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- T/N: Happy New Year (in advanced????????????)!!!!! And shout out to @Sharif for donating in my paypal! Have a good evening, everyone! Got busy a few days back and I only have the free time now to do some updates. ----- "This kid actually managed to use Whirlpool Barrier!" In the contestants'' area, the middle-aged man who had been chatting with Ma Zongji earlier frowned. Though his brows were furrowed, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction and delight. "Looks like Ma Zongji really wants to win." A younger man standing beside him commented. "Win, my foot!" The middle-aged man retorted, spitting in irritation. "I know him too well, he just wants to spar with Ice Xilu for a bit longer." "Should I have a word with him after his match?" The younger man asked tentatively. The middle-aged man coughed. "There''s no need for that." I knew it... The younger man turned his gaze toward the arena, then chuckled. "Ma Zongji has made significant progress. We''ve all seen how hard he''s worked over the past year. Now that he''s made it this far, I believe he doesn''t just want to prolong the match against Ice Xilu, more than anything, he actually wants to win." His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable sense of conviction. The middle-aged man paused and looked at Ma Zongji on the stage. So, he really does want to win against Qiao Sang? Who would''ve thought... --- Perfect! Ma Zongji''s expression lit up as he successfully used Whirlpool Barrier to block the Ice Flower Seal. This way, I can spar with Ice Xilu for a while longer... Just then, a jet of water shot from Lubao''s mouth toward Thousand Path Water Bear. Ma Zongji''s expression froze. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Does Qiao Sang not know about Thousand Path Water Bear''s Water Absorption trait? When hit by Water-type moves, it doesn¡¯t take damage, it recovers! This isn¡¯t exactly a secret¡­ But Qiao Sang knew perfectly well. As soon as Lubao finished firing the Water Gun, Qiao Sang gave her next command: "Icy Wind." "L." Lubao opened her mouth, and a chilling wind swept rapidly toward the end of the water stream. The cold spread quickly, and the water jet visibly froze, forming an icy shell. At that moment, Thousand Path Water Bear was still holding up the now-icy Whirlpool Barrier, using it to block the falling snowflakes. Seeing the incoming frozen water stream, it showed a disdainful expression. But when the water jet transformed into an ice pillar right before its eyes, Thousand Path Water Bear''s gaze shifted. It quickly raised its muscular right hind leg, which immediately became encased in white energy. Boom! With one powerful kick, the ice pillar shattered into shards that scattered everywhere. The ice fragments obscured Thousand Path Water Bear''s vision momentarily. It faintly glimpsed five sharp, frosty beams slicing toward it. "Thousand!" The battle-hardened Thousand Path Water Bear instinctively ducked to dodge. Bang! As it crouched, the frozen Whirlpool Barrier shifted, and the five icy beams struck it, shattering the whirl into pieces. Amid the scattered shards, Thousand Path Water Bear locked eyes with its opponent¡¯s aloof expression. The audience erupted into thunderous cheers after witnessing the intense exchange. "Well done! Ice Xilu nailed it!" "Brilliant! Freezing the water gun to create a distraction while actually setting up a close-range Ice Claw attack on Thousand Path Water Bear!" "I think Qiao Sang''s goal wasn¡¯t to attack Thousand Path Water Bear directly but to shatter the icy Whirlpool Barrier just like this!" "Exactly! Ice Claw wouldn¡¯t do much damage to Thousand Path Water Bear with its thick skin, but destroying the icy Whirlpool Barrier changes everything. Without it, how can Thousand Path Water Bear block the Ice Flower Seal?" "To be fair, Ma Zongji''s strategy of using Whirlpool Barrier for defense was clever. I wouldn''t have thought of it." "True, but Qiao Sang¡¯s precision is on another level. It¡¯s as if she predicted that Thousand Path Water Bear would attack the frozen water gun and duck to avoid the Ice Claw!" "Isn''t that obvious? Who wouldn¡¯t attack an ice pillar appearing right in front of them?" "Not me." "...Why not?" "Uh, I¡¯m human? What would I even attack it with, my bare hands?" "¡­" "And the Ice Claw? Wouldn¡¯t you dodge it?" "Are you kidding me? With my reflexes, I''d be hit before I even realized it was there." "¡­" --- Ma Zongji: !!! The sight of the shattered icy Whirlpool Barrier shook Ma Zongji to his core. His mind was racing with one thought: What the heck?! I spent so much effort devising the perfect counter to the Ice Flower Seal, and it¡¯s gone just like that? Is this the end of my match against Ice Xilu?! As the icy Whirlpool Barrier broke apart, snowflakes continued to fall. "Thousand!" Thousand Path Water Bear''s limbs became enveloped in white energy. Its body spun rapidly like a giant top, generating gusts of wind that blew most of the snowflakes away before they could land. Before the match, Ma Zongji and his beast had studied their opponent¡¯s videos. They knew the snow from the Ice Flower Seal mustn¡¯t touch them! Even so, some flakes still landed on Thousand Path Water Bear, and ice flowers began to bloom on its body. The ice flowers are forming so slowly¡­ Is the snowfall weakening? Qiao Sang glanced skyward, then issued her command: "Ice Flower Seal." "Lu." Hearing his opponent¡¯s instructions, Ma Zongji tensed. Again?! At that moment, he wasn¡¯t sure how to describe his emotions. The first Ice Flower Seal wasn¡¯t over yet, if Thousand Path Water Bear stopped spinning now, the accumulated ice flower would fully bloom. But if it didn¡¯t act, allowing Lubao to unleash another Ice Flower Seal, the match would surely end. So far, Thousand Path Water Bear had done nothing but defend. How could Ice Xilu possibly remember it after this match? Desperate, Ma Zongji made a gamble. He steeled himself and shouted, "Fire Punch!" The lingering power of the first Ice Flower Seal had waned over time. With Ice Xilu so close, attacking before the ice flowers fully formed was his best chance! Fire Punch, a mid-tier move where flames envelop the fist to deal damage, could melt some of the snow and potentially strike Lubao. Qiao Sang remained calm. She understood his reasoning. The data showed Thousand Path Water Bear¡¯s strongest moves were Aura Punch and Waterfall Climb. Aura Punch required the user to be unharmed for optimal execution, but each snowflake now hindered its use. Waterfall Climb, an upward strike resembling a waterfall, was impossible with snow weighing it down. Fire Punch, with its flame-melting properties, seemed like a viable option. But Ma Zongji had underestimated the Ice Flower Seal¡¯s power. "Thousand!" Thousand Path Water Bear roared, stopping its spin. Flames engulfed its right fist as it swung toward Lubao. Lubao remained motionless, keeping her head tilted upward and mouth open. Just as the audience thought Ice Xilu would endure the hit to complete the Ice Flower Seal, the flames on the Thousand Path Water Bear¡¯s fist extinguished, leaving a delicate ice flower in their place. "Thousand?" Thousand Path Water Bear stared at its frozen fist, stunned. Then, still maintaining its attack stance, it froze completely, unable to move. ----- ----- Chapter 432: Regional Finals Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- In a wide-angle view, Thousand Path Water Bear stood frozen, its body entirely covered in intricate ice flowers. The audience erupted into waves of excited chatter. "I told you Ice Xilu wouldn''t have any problems!" "In competitions like this, the opponents'' information is typically reviewed beforehand. No wonder Qiao Sang never let Ice Xilu use any water-based moves." "The power of Ice Flower Seal is beyond what I imagined. Even after snowing for so long, it managed to freeze Thousand Path Water Bear completely." As a high-level skill popular among coordinators, Ice Flower Seal had been featured on television frequently. However, seeing it mastered to such a level was exceedingly rare. In regional tournaments, well-known contestants occasionally used Ice Flower Seal to instantly incapacitate opponents. For those unfamiliar with the move, the audience often attributed success to the pet''s strength rather than the skill itself. This misunderstanding stemmed from the stark difference between poorly mastered and well-executed Ice Flower Seal. Most people had only seen mediocre demonstrations by coordinators, leading to preconceived notions. --- Contestants'' Area. "What do you think of this match?" Asked a woman dressed in black. Shao Liben pondered for a moment before replying: "Ice Xilu took three seconds to gather energy and cast Ice Flower Seal. If Thousand Path Water Bear had used Aura Punch instead of Water Gun during that time, Ice Xilu likely couldn''t have withstood the damage." "At its core, Ma Zongji, like others from the Guwu region, hesitated to go all out against Ice Xilu." "Your analysis is spot on." The woman said. "However, at the start, the distance between Thousand Path Water Bear and Ice Xilu was over 100 meters. Even if Aura Punch were used, it couldn¡¯t cross such a distance in three seconds to land a hit. Water Gun, being instantaneous and with a longer range, was indeed the best choice at that moment." Shao Liben replied calmly: "But what if the goal of Aura Punch wasn¡¯t to interrupt Ice Flower Seal but to defeat Ice Xilu outright?" The woman cast a satisfied glance at Shao Liben. Although Qiao Sang was undoubtedly the strongest at present, she had never dismissed Shao Liben''s potential for victory. As Shao Liben pointed out, had Thousand Path Water Bear aimed to defeat rather than disrupt, Aura Punch might have landed just as Ice Flower Seal completed. ???? At that moment, the snow wouldn¡¯t necessarily have fallen on Thousand Path Water Bear first. After all, Ice Flower Seal didn¡¯t instantly hit its target upon activation. Snowfall took time to reach the ground. --- Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. The finals for the regional tournament were scheduled for 8:00 PM the following evening. To ensure success, Sun Boyi, for the first time in a while, reviewed the opponent''s information with Qiao Sang. The final opponent was confirmed as Shao Liben from the Xilu region. "Shao Liben''s trump card, Predictive Tower Turtle, can accurately predict the opponent¡¯s next move based on subtle actions. Not only that, but it can also identify the real body among decoys based on those same movements." Sun Boyi explained as he pulled up a prepared video. "Take a look at this footage." Qiao Sang, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Lubao all focused on the screen. In the video, Predictive Tower Turtle hovered mid-air with a calm expression. Its opponent was a lightning-and-flying-type bird-like pet. At that moment, 12 identical yellow bird pets surrounded Predictive Tower Turtle in a circle. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next second, 12 bolts of lightning struck simultaneously toward the center. The speed of the lightning was incredible, seemingly about to hit Predictive Tower Turtle. But at the last moment, Predictive Tower Turtle teleported onto one of the yellow birds, pressing it down. The yellow bird plummeted straight to the ground as if crushed by a heavy object, while the remaining 11 duplicates disappeared instantly. Sun Boyi paused the video and said: "I know your Blazing Star Canine excels at using decoys and its real body to simultaneously launch different skills, but against an opponent that can instantly recognize the real body, you can''t afford to carelessly rely on decoy attacks." "Look at Predictive Tower Turtle, calm and composed, just like its Beast Master. Even after identifying the real body, it waits for the opponent to relax after executing a move before delivering a decisive blow." Yabao perked up his ears, his expression turning serious. But what if the decoys are numerous enough¡­ Qiao Sang mused silently without responding. --- The next evening at 7:58 PM. Fireworks blossomed over the sea, red blooms scattering into shapes resembling notable pets from the regional tournament. Cheers and chants reverberated throughout the Hainan City Pet Battle Arena. On the blue stage, Yi Ao held a microphone and looked around, shouting: "Ladies and gentlemen! "Tonight marks the final match of the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡¯s regional tournament for Guwu, Yuhua, Lianke, and Xilu regions! "Will Shao Liben from Xilu defend his title, or will Qiao Sang from Yuhua continue her undefeated streak? "I believe we¡¯re all eagerly anticipating the match ahead¡­" ----- ----- Chapter 433: Qiao Sang vs. Shao Liben Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- ¡°Who do you think has the better chance of winning the finals?¡± The audience was abuzz with discussion: ¡°It¡¯s got to be Qiao Sang. She has two advanced beasts, and both have mastered high-tier skills to such a level they could compete in the college division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll lose.¡± ¡°I agree. Just Ice Xilu alone could probably take out Shao Liben¡¯s entire team.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to judge. Shao Liben was the regional champion last year.¡± ¡°Big deal. I bet Qiao Sang will win the national championship this year.¡± ¡°Shao Liben¡¯s Predictive Tower Turtle is one of the rarest psychic beasts in the Xilu region. It¡¯s not going to be easy to deal with.¡± ¡°Rare doesn¡¯t mean powerful.¡± ¡°Then why is someone holding a banner that says, Send Ice Xilu and the championship is guaranteed?¡± One man asked, pointing toward a section in Zone D. His neighbor glanced at him skeptically and replied, ¡°You¡¯re not from the Guwu region, are you?¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± The man looked puzzled. ¡°If you were from Guwu, you wouldn¡¯t have asked such a question.¡± ¡°¡­¡± --- In the Competitors¡¯ Area. ¡°How confident are you?¡± Xu Yixuan asked. ¡°Fifty percent.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°So modest!¡± Xu Yixuan looked surprised. Qiao Sang glanced at her. ¡°You won¡¯t think so in a moment.¡± Xu Yixuan was puzzled. With a Blazing Star Canine and an Ice Xilu on Qiao Sang¡¯s team, there was no way her chances were only fifty percent. But Qiao Sang¡¯s tone hinted that her odds might actually be worse. How could that be? ? --- Meanwhile: ¡°Listen.¡± A woman in formal attire said, ¡°Almost the entire crowd is chanting Qiao Sang¡¯s name.¡± Shao Liben remained calm. ¡°That¡¯s only because Qiao Sang has Ice Xilu, and this is its home region, Guwu.¡± The woman smiled. ¡°On the battlefield, stay just as composed and maintain this mindset.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Shao Liben replied firmly. As the clock struck 7:59:55 PM, Yi Ao began announcing the contestants¡¯ names and regions. ¡°Ready?¡± The woman asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Shao Liben replied solemnly. A white light descended, and in the next instant, he was standing on the battlefield. Qiao Sang, 15 years old, competing in the high school division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League, and undefeated thus far... Shao Liben studied the slim figure in the distance. People said losing to such a prodigy was no shame, but he wouldn¡¯t enter any match expecting to lose. As adrenaline-pumping BGM played, Qiao Sang and Shao Liben formed hand seals. A green star array and a gray star array lit up simultaneously. When the first two beasts were revealed, the music abruptly stopped, and the audience erupted into chaos. ¡°What the-? Treasure-Seeking Demon and Predictive Tower Turtle?!¡± ¡°Why the Treasure-Seeking Demon? I thought it would be Ice Xilu or Blazing Star Canine!¡± ¡°Maybe Qiao Sang thought Shao Liben would lead with Ashfire Fox?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s Ashfire Fox, Ice Xilu or Blazing Star Canine would be perfect counters!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang always uses Treasure-Seeking Demon against mid-tier beasts. This must be a miscalculation.¡± ¡°Even if she loses one round, it¡¯s fine. Treasure-Seeking Demon is hard to track, so it can wear down Predictive Tower Turtle. Then Ice Xilu can clean up with a two-for-one.¡± ¡°Ice Xilu pulling a two-for-one seems unlikely. Blazing Star Canine would be a safer bet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it! It¡¯s the finals! Are you saying we won¡¯t get to see Ice Xilu in action?!¡± ¡°¡­ My bad.¡± --- Competitors¡¯ Area. Sun Boyi had just finished setting up his camera when he noticed the beasts on the battlefield. His eye twitched. ¡°I specifically told her to use her two most reliable beasts! Did yesterday¡¯s talk go in one ear and out the other?¡± He sighed heavily. Xu Yixuan remained silent. When she saw the Treasure-Seeking Demon, her first thought was that Qiao Sang had miscalculated, expecting Ashfire Fox to come first. But then she recalled Qiao Sang¡¯s earlier words and realized this was no mistake. Qiao Sang had deliberately sent out Treasure-Seeking Demong, knowing Shao Liben would lead with Predictive Tower Turtle. No wonder she couldn¡¯t match Qiao Sang¡¯s level. Who could keep up with such an unconventional thought process? --- On the Battlefield. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure looked thrilled to face his opponent. He had made the starting lineup, proving he had outperformed Yabao and Lubao in yesterday¡¯s training! Who cares about being third child? Training makes me the best! ¡°Ji.¡± Predictive Tower Turtle analyzed its opponent¡¯s facial expressions and subtle movements, processing the information automatically. Shao Liben remained composed. To him, it didn¡¯t matter which beast Qiao Sang sent out. As long as he took the match seriously and aimed to win, that was all that mattered. Predictive Tower Turtle, a psychic advanced beast known for predicting its opponent¡¯s next move based on subtle actions. Qiao Sang glanced at the silver-gray, single-eyed creature atop its triangular body, recalling its data. If Predictive Tower Turtle truly relies on analyzing minute actions for its predictions, then this will be easy¡­ Qiao Sang gave Little Treasure a quick look. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mechanical voice announcing the start of the match echoed. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure quickly raised one short finger on each of his claws. Predictive Tower Turtle, initially on the ground, processed the motion and instantly teleported into the air. As Predictive Tower Turtle moved, a black shadow ball materialized on the raised finger of Little Treasure¡¯s left claw. The next second, the shadow ball shot toward Predictive Tower Turtle. Predictive Tower Turtle teleported again to evade it. Boom! The shadow ball exploded mid-air, missing its target. That wasn¡¯t Shadow Control¡­ Shao Liben¡¯s face remained neutral, but his heart sank. He had studied all of Qiao Sang¡¯s battle footage, including Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s. Knowing an opponent¡¯s habits helped Predictive Tower Turtle make more accurate predictions. It seems Qiao Sang didn¡¯t pick Treasure-Seeking Demon by accident, this move was clearly rehearsed for Predictive Tower Turtle. But there¡¯s no need to predict every step against a mid-tier beast¡­ Shao Liben issued his command. ¡°Gravity.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 434: Acting Skills Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Gravity, an advanced psychic skill, creates a field of intense gravity within a limited area, immobilizing opponents. It''s particularly effective against flying or floating-type beasts. Thankfully, Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s mastery of gravity isn¡¯t very advanced¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s gravity skill was still at the beginner level, limiting its range. It could only apply its effects effectively in close proximity to its target. However, with its ability to teleport, the limited range was less of a drawback, and it still posed a significant threat, at least to opponents who couldn¡¯t teleport themselves. Qiao Sang issued a command: "Don¡¯t let it get close." "Xun~" Little Treasure chirped cheerfully before vanishing from his spot. In the next moment, Predictive Tower Turtle appeared exactly where Little Treasure had been standing, only to find its target already gone. Little Treasure had hidden himself from sight. Predictive Tower Turtle closed its single eye, and an invisible psychic wave radiated outward, scanning its surroundings. Moments later, it appeared roughly ten meters away, seemingly following the trace of its elusive opponent. As a beast tamer, Qiao Sang could clearly sense where Little Treasure was, even while he remained invisible. She knew he had moved again as soon as Predictive Tower Turtle teleported near his previous position. For the next 30 seconds, from the audience¡¯s perspective, Predictive Tower Turtle appeared to be teleporting repeatedly around the arena with its eyes closed, trying to track its opponent. ¡°I don¡¯t like watching matches with ghost-type beasts. I can¡¯t see what they¡¯re doing when they¡¯re invisible.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Predictive Tower Turtle a level higher than Treasure-Seeking Demon? Why hasn¡¯t it caught up yet?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s wasting time sensing the exact location before acting.¡± ¡°Is Qiao Sang just trying to wear down Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s energy?¡± ¡°Looks like it.¡± The audience murmured among themselves, speculating about Qiao Sang¡¯s strategy. --- I can¡¯t let this continue. She¡¯s controlling the pace entirely¡­ Shao Liben kept his calm. Although it seemed like Predictive Tower Turtle was chasing after the Treasure-Seeking Demon , in reality, Qiao Sang was the one dictating the flow of the match. I¡¯ll have to use more energy to turn the tide¡­ Shao Liben decisively issued a new command: ¡°Psychic Wave.¡± ¡°Ji.¡± Predictive Tower Turtle stopped moving, opened its eye, and emitted a blue glow. A circular white wave of psychic energy radiated outward, spreading rapidly in all directions. Psychic Wave, an advanced psychic skill, damages all opponents within its area of effect. We discussed this scenario yesterday¡­ Qiao Sang remained composed. Expecting Shao Liben to resort to such a move, she had already instructed Little Treasure on how to counter it during the morning¡¯s strategy session. ¡°Xun!!!¡± The white wave rapidly expanded outward. As it reached five meters from Predictive Tower Turtle, a small grayish-gold figure appeared in midair, screeching in pain before plummeting straight to the ground. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure lay motionless on the ground, visibly injured. Struggling, he weakly raised his right paw toward Qiao Sang, as if pleading for help. Qiao Sang stepped back, covering her mouth with her hand, a look of shock and disbelief on her face. Treasure-Seeking Demon has low defense and should¡¯ve fainted immediately after taking a direct hit from Psychic Wave. Yet, it¡¯s still moving¡­ It seems its defense is stronger than most mid-level ghost-type beasts¡­ Shao Liben mused. Qiao Sang''s strategy was clear: To drain Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s energy. Although it still has plenty left, she¡¯ll likely send out the Blazing Star Canine next. Against it, this loss of energy might become a problem. Still, it¡¯s a relief to have taken the lead in this round. Shao Liben glanced at the injured Treasure-Seeking Demon and Qiao Sang¡¯s stunned expression. He decided to end the match quickly. ¡°Gravity.¡± He said firmly. Before Predictive Tower Turtle could act, Little Treasure¡¯s outstretched paw fell limply, ihis head slumping to one side as he appeared to faint completely. ¡°Ji.¡± Seeing this, Predictive Tower Turtle stayed in place, no longer preparing to activate its gravity skill. Victory. Shao Liben remained composed, showing no outward joy in his win. But the next moment, his pupils constricted in shock, as if witnessing something terrifying. ¡°Get out of there!¡± He shouted. But it was too late. ¡°Xun~¡± Three meters behind Predictive Tower Turtle, Little Treasure reappeared, grinning mischievously. His short claw extended, connecting his shadow to Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s shadow on the ground. Simultaneously, the injured and unconscious Little Treasure vanished. Qiao Sang, now wearing a confident smile, had no trace of her earlier disbelief or panic. Shao Liben was dumbfounded. --- In the contestants¡¯ area, the well-dressed woman observing the match looked grim. Why does it feel like my IQ drops when competing with Qiao Sang? While Shao Liben¡¯s position on the field had limited visibility, the audience and contestants had a clear view of the entire match. The Treasure-Seeking Demon had never been hit by the Psychic Wave. It had stopped just a centimeter short of the attack range! The fall, the struggle, the pained expressions, everything was an act! ¡°Wow!¡± When Little Treasure Hunter reappeared and connected his shadow to Predictive Tower Turtle''s, a wave of uproar erupted in the audience. Who would have thought that an advanced psychic-type battle pet with teleportation abilities could be outmaneuvered by a mid-level ghost-type using shadow control? A steady and predictable match fails to ignite excitement. But unexpected twists like this are what truly captivate the crowd. ¡°Unbelievable! That ghost-type pet has incredible acting skills!¡± ¡°And Qiao Sang! Look at her. If I didn¡¯t know for sure that the psychic wave didn¡¯t hit Treasure-Seeking Demon, even I would¡¯ve been fooled by her expression!¡± ¡°Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Qiao Sang¡¯s strategy is insane!¡± ¡°You mean to say Qiao Sang predicted that Shao Liben wouldn¡¯t drag the match out and would use Psychic Wave to attack?¡± ¡°Exactly! Otherwise, how could she have rehearsed everything so perfectly? The timing of the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s appearance just outside the psychic wave¡¯s range, its dramatic fall, and the acting, it¡¯s clear this was planned from the start!¡± ¡°And don¡¯t forget, the one that first fell and seemed injured was a decoy. The real body is the one now controlling the shadow. This strategy had to be premeditated!¡± ¡°Damn, even the decoy¡¯s acting was top-notch. How good must the real one be?¡± ¡°So Qiao Sang didn¡¯t summon the Treasure-Seeking Demon thinking Shao Liben would use Ashfire Fox but had already decided to pit it against Predictive Tower Turtle?¡± The audience''s astonished gazes locked onto Qiao Sang and Little Treasure. For any high school student competing in the National Campus Beast Mastering League, every match is of utmost importance. Yet in such a critical match, instead of sending in her highly reliable Blazing Star Canine or Ice Xilu, Qiao Sang chose to devise a complex strategy using the Treasure-Seeking Demon, aiming for an underdog victory. Her approach was baffling. But astonishingly, the unfolding situation seemed entirely within Qiao Sang¡¯s expectations... --- It¡¯s a massive success, Qiao Sang thought with satisfaction. Yesterday¡¯s training hadn¡¯t been in vain. Among her three pets, Little Treasure was the best actor, the smartest, and the quickest to adapt. If his level weren¡¯t slightly lower, his wits alone could have played Predictive Tower Turtle, with its reliance on telegraphed movements, like a fiddle. Stay calm. It¡¯s just shadow control. At most, teleportation is disabled, and movement is restricted. The match isn¡¯t over yet. Shao Liben took a deep breath, calming his emotions before issuing a command: ¡°Psychic Force.¡± ¡°Ji!¡± Predictive Tower Turtle, clearly furious at being outplayed, let out a sharp cry. Energy surged within it, and its eyes glowed a brilliant blue as it directed its power at Little Treasure. In response, Little Treasure swiftly hooked his claw, causing Predictive Tower Turtle to flip 180 degrees in mid-air. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The energy it unleashed went astray, shooting upwards instead. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure twisted his claw again, making Predictive Tower Turtle spin uncontrollably in mid-air. ¡°Use Psychic Force to stabilize yourself!¡± Shao Liben urgently ordered. ¡°Ji!¡± Fighting back nausea, Predictive Tower Turtle emitted a blue glow that enveloped its body, stopping its spin. Little Treasure noticed his claw was restrained by some invisible force, unable to move further. ¡°Xun?¡± He blinked at its upright claw, looking puzzled. Psychic Force, a mid-tier psychic skill, wasn¡¯t as high-level as the ghost-type¡¯s Shadow Control. However, given the difference in energy levels between the two, Predictive Tower Turtle¡¯s psychic energy easily overpowered Little Treasure¡¯s shadow control. --- The audience grew uneasy. Most of them were rooting for Qiao Sang. After witnessing Little Treasure¡¯s stellar performance and seeing it gain the upper hand, they were eager to witness an underdog victory. Now, their excitement was replaced by worry. ¡°What a pity. Its level is just too low¡­¡± ¡°Predictive Tower Turtle might break free from Shadow Control soon.¡± ¡°Unlikely. The Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s shadow control is already in three-dimensional mode. It shouldn¡¯t be that easy to escape.¡± ¡°That Predictive Tower Turtle has honed its Psychic Force well.¡± ¡°Shao Liben¡¯s adaptability is impressive. He even had Predictive Tower Turtle use Psychic Force on itself.¡± As the audience discussed, the match continued. ¡°Use Psychic Force to pull yourself closer!¡± Shao Liben devised a new strategy. Under the psychic influence, Predictive Tower Turtle slowly moved closer to Little Treasure. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure puffed out his cheeks, channeling more energy in an attempt to regain control. But no matter how hard he tried, Predictive Tower Turtle, although briefly slowed, continued to close the gap. --- Why move closer? To use gravity? Predictive Tower Turtle has other ranged skills¡­ Wait¡­ Can it not use other skills while maintaining Psychic Force? Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts raced before she issued a calm command: ¡°Bind it.¡± ¡°Xun!¡± From the connected shadow, black tendrils emerged, splitting and shooting toward Predictive Tower Turtle. However, when the tendrils reached about a meter away, they were blocked by an invisible force. Psychic Force again. Qiao Sang smirked internally, her guess confirmed: Predictive Tower Turtle couldn¡¯t use other skills while sustaining Psychic Force. --- The gap closed to four meters. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure strained himself, but Predictive Tower Turtle continued inching closer. Shao Liben, hands clenched, thought, Just a bit closer... Within three meters, gravity will seal the win. ¡°Spatial Shift,.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly commanded. Spatial Shift? Shao Liben¡¯s thoughts raced. Why not just teleport to dodge? What¡¯s the point of using Spatial Shift? ¡°Xun!¡± Excitement flashed across Little Treasur¡¯s face. As Predictive Tower Turtle reached the three-meter mark, Shao Liben yelled: ¡°Gravity!¡± Simultaneously, the shadow connection vanished, and Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed blue. ¡°Ji!¡± Predictive Tower Turtle cried out and disappeared from the arena. Shao Liben froze, disbelief plastered across his face. From the back of the audience, someone screamed, ¡°What the hell?!¡± Turning stiffly, Shao Liben saw Predictive Tower Turtle, now in the stands, blinking innocently at the surrounding humans. ¡°Ji?¡± Predictive Tower Turtle looked at the humans around him and blinked with a confused and innocent expression. ----- ----- Chapter 345: I Have Something To Say Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The commotion in the back row, combined with the inexplicable disappearance of Predictive Tower Turtle on the field and Shao Liben''s sudden head-turning motion, instantly alerted some sharp-eyed spectators. They craned their necks to look in the direction of the disturbance. At the same time, a holographic image appeared, displaying the source of the uproar. All eyes were immediately drawn to a specific direction, their movements in perfect unison. The scene grew increasingly noisy. ¡°What the heck! How did Predictive Tower Turtle end up there?!¡± ¡°Spatial shift! When Qiao Sang issued the command for spatial shift earlier, it wasn¡¯t for the Treasure-Seeking Demon, it was for Predictive Tower Turtle!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it! Doesn¡¯t spatial shift require physical contact to work?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the early stages of spatial shift. At advanced levels, physical contact isn¡¯t necessary.¡± ¡°So, this Treasure-Seeking Demon has mastered spatial shift to an advanced level?!¡± ¡°At the very least, it must be near ultimate.¡± ¡°I feel like my brain has stopped working. I can''t process all this information¡­¡± ¡°Qiao Sang is unbelievable! It¡¯s one thing to train one overpowered beast, but how does she manage to train all three of her beasts to this insane level?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Did Qiao Sang just win this match?!¡± ¡°No way, that skill is broken! If the Treasure-Seeking Demon can use spatial shift in every match, doesn¡¯t that make Qiao Sang invincible?¡± ¡°Well, what can you do? Who would¡¯ve thought a contestant in the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡¯s high school division would have such overpowered beasts?¡± --- In the contestant area, a woman in formal attire snapped out of her daze, leaped to her feet, and rushed to the chief referee, shouting: ¡°Pause the match! I request a timeout!¡± The chief referee glanced at her but made no comment. At the same time, the assistant referee, a mechanical pet beast, blew the whistle signaling the end of the match. ¡°I refuse to accept this result!¡± The woman said angrily. ¡°Qiao Sang broke the rules! Spatial shift cannot be used to directly remove an opponent from the field during a match!¡± The chief referee explained, ¡°There is no such rule in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. That regulation only applies to regional competitions.¡± The woman froze momentarily before her face darkened. Indeed, the National Campus Beast Mastering League had no such rule. Few students competing had pet beasts capable of mastering high-level skills, and spatial shift, being one of the more difficult high-level skills to learn, was even rarer. Mastery at a level where physical contact wasn¡¯t needed to remove an opponent from the field was practically unheard of. In fact, such an event had never occurred in the league¡¯s history. The rule existed in regional competitions because, in one particular year, a contestant in the regional tournament held in Zhongkong District had pulled off such an outrageous maneuver, prompting the creation of this regulation by other regions. Different levels of competition necessitate different rules. Who would¡¯ve expected someone like Qiao Sang to appear in the high school division of the National Campus League? The woman took a deep breath, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number. The most urgent task now was to get the rule spatial shift cannot be used to directly remove opponents from the field added to the official regulations before the national finals began. Otherwise, there would be no way to compete. --- Qiao Sang looked at the holographic image, her mouth twitching slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected Little Treasure to teleport Predictive Tower Turtle into the audience and crush someone underneath. On the screen, the man pinned beneath Predictive Tower Turtle looked pale, his eyes shut, and he seemed on the brink of collapse. Feeling guilty, Qiao Sang raised her hand and called for a timeout. The chief referee immediately ran over to ask what was wrong. ¡°This was my doing. I want to check on him.¡± Qiao Sang said, pointing at the spot in the back row surrounded by a crowd. The chief referee glanced at his watch and nodded. ¡°Alright, but the timeout can only last 15 minutes.¡± Qiao Sang agreed without hesitation. ¡°Little Treasure.¡± She called out. Little Treasure understood immediately, floating above his master¡¯s head. In the next second, the two disappeared from the field. --- As the top-rated match in the Ancient Guwu Region, the event naturally had a professional medical team on standby. At that moment, a duck-like pet beast in a white coat emitted a blue glow, continuously casting healing skills on the man with closed eyes. ¡°Ji¡­¡± Predictive Tower Turtle silently backed away, step by step. ¡°Hang in there, buddy!¡± One of the onlookers said encouragingly. The sound of cameras clicking was incessant, with flashes going off in rapid succession. Despite their sympathy, the crowd couldn¡¯t resist recording such a dramatic moment. Come on, stop taking pictures! How am I supposed to face anyone after this? The man thought, his mind in turmoil. Though the pain was gone thanks to the treatment, the relentless camera flashes were impossible to ignore, even with his eyes closed. He could already foresee these photos being uploaded online. If he opened his eyes now and his face was captured, he¡¯d surely become a laughingstock among his acquaintances. He could even imagine future headlines like Top 10 Unlucky Moments in Spectator History featuring his face. No, he couldn¡¯t open his eyes. Absolutely not. Just send me to the hospital¡­ He thought, his rich inner monologue hidden behind his closed eyes. ¡°Healing Light.¡± At that moment, he heard a slightly familiar voice. Healing Light? The man¡¯s thoughts froze as he felt an incredibly soothing energy wash over him. Could it be¡­? The screams from the crowd confirmed his suspicion. His heart raced. He cautiously opened one eye and saw the Ice Xilu he had always admired. ¡°!!¡± The next second, the Ice Xilu vanished. ¡°!!!¡± ¡°Uncle, are you okay?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she retrieved her pet beast. The man didn¡¯t get up. Instead, he slowly opened his eyes and weakly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not okay. I won¡¯t recover until I see Ice Xilu in the next match.¡± The crowd immediately fell silent in awe. Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- Predictive Tower Turtle was returned to Shao Liben, and Qiao Sang re-entered the field. The second and final match of the division finals began shortly afterward. Before the summoning of the pet beasts, the holographic screen zoomed in on the man who had been crushed earlier. The entire crowd erupted in cheers as the man gave a dignified wave in response. Qiao Sang: ¡­ By this point, Shao Liben had regained control of his expressions. Though he never entered a match expecting to lose, with only his mid-tier pet beast, Ashfire Fox, left, claiming victory seemed far-fetched. Losing is fine. Just do your best. It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of¡­ Shao Liben exhaled deeply, pushing the thought out of his mind. ¡°Contestants, please summon your next pet beasts!¡± The announcer, Yi Ao, said with excitement. The moment his voice fell, energetic background music filled the arena. Under the spotlight of the holographic camera focused on the man in the audience, Qiao Sang paused briefly before summoning Lubao. ----- ----- Chapter 436: The End of Regional League Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As Ice Xilu appeared on the field, the audience erupted into thunderous applause. What could possibly be more exciting than seeing Ice Xilu in the final match? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! ¡°Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! I love you!¡± ¡°Ahhh! Qiao Sang, you¡¯re killing me! With her usual strategy, she¡¯d definitely send Treasure-Seeking Demon for this round. But she sent out Ice Xilu for us!¡± ¡°Uh, isn¡¯t sending Ice Xilu just the better choice? It¡¯s a guaranteed win.¡± ¡°You from another district wouldn¡¯t understand a thing!¡± ¡°...¡± In the back row, the uncle who had been crushed earlier by Predictive Tower Turtle was tearing up. This injury was worth it! He was bound to make the list for Top Lucky Moments for Spectators of the Year! --- Ashfire Fox, an intermediate-level fire-type beast. It intimidates opponents with steam emitted from its ears. Trait: Flame Body. Qiao Sang studied the small creature, mostly gray with red inner ears and eyes. Relevant information flashed through her mind. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao stared coldly at the tiny opponent. Yes, tiny. The Ashfire Fox was less than a meter tall. In Lubao¡¯s eyes, it wasn¡¯t much bigger than Little Treasure. ¡°Ash!¡± Ashfire Fox crouched low, its muscles tensed for action. Its expression showed both hesitation and resolve. The mechanical voice signaling the start of the match sounded. ¡°Fire Jet!¡± Shao Liben commanded immediately. At his directive, Ashfire Fox¡¯s hesitation disappeared. With a determined gleam in its eyes, it opened its mouth and spewed out a blazing jet of fire toward Lubao. The attack was swift, at least, for an intermediate-level beast. Standing her ground, Lubao watched the incoming flames. To her, they seemed to be moving in slow motion. As the fire was about to hit, she took a casual step to the left. The flames narrowly missed her. The audience erupted in cheers, as though they¡¯d witnessed a spectacular move. ¡°Ice Xilu is incredible!¡± ¡°Look at that calm and effortless dodge! She¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! You folks from Guwu District are being ridiculous. A high-level beast fighting an intermediate one, this is basic stuff.¡± ¡°What do you know? The same move looks way cooler when Ice Xilu does it!¡± (T/n: Lubao''s defender till death xd) ¡°...¡± On the field, Shao Liben quickly gave his next command: ¡°Flame Wheel!¡± Flame Wheel, a mid-tier fire skill that envelops the user in flames, allowing them to roll at high speed toward their opponent, with a chance to inflict a burn. ¡°Ash!¡± Ashfire Fox cried out, somersaulted forward, and was instantly engulfed in flames. Like a fiery wheel, it rolled rapidly toward Lubao, leaving steaming ground in its wake. In the blink of an eye, it reached Lubao. Lubao remained stationary, as if sensing that Ashfire Fox wouldn¡¯t attack just yet. Sure enough, Ashfire Fox suddenly shifted direction a meter away, circling Lubao instead. The Flame Wheel grew faster and faster, leaving only a fiery blur. Then, Ashfire Fox leapt five meters into the air, positioning itself behind Lubao for a surprise attack. ¡°Now!¡± Qiao Sang shouted. ¡°Lu.¡± At her signal, Lubao swung her tail, which was instantly wrapped in a torrent of water. In one swift motion, her water-covered tail smacked Ashfire Fox midair. With a resounding boom, Ashfire Fox was flung backward like a cannonball, crashing to the ground and rolling twice before lying motionless. ¡°Whistle!¡± The mechanical referee beast hovered over Ashfire Fox, confirmed its condition, and blew the whistle signaling the end of the match. I lost¡­ Shao Liben glanced at Qiao Sang, then dismissed Ashfire Fox with a wave. At that moment, the massive LED ceiling screen above the arena began to open. In the sky, a giant projection of Ice Xilu, formed of blue light, appeared. It swished its tail, releasing a cascade of glowing blue waves. As the waves fell, the projection shattered into a spectacular display of blue fireworks. ¡°Lu...¡± Lubao gazed upward, her eyes reflecting the brilliant fireworks. Qiao Sang also looked up, silently admiring the breathtaking display. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! The Regional Competition of the National Campus Beast Mastering League, featuring contestants from Guwu, Yuhua, Lianke, and Xilu Districts, has officially concluded!¡± Commentator Yi Ao announced passionately. ¡°The award ceremony will commence in 20 minutes. Please stay tuned!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience. --- Meanwhile, in Zhongkong District... In a lavishly decorated conference room, a man sat at the head of a table and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your opinion on the suggestion submitted by Xilu District?¡± There was no one else physically present, but a large virtual screen at the end of the table displayed 12 video feeds. Each feed showed a formally dressed individual, leaders of the highest educational authorities from various districts. Who would¡¯ve thought the National Campus Beast Mastering League would progress to this stage of the Regional Competition and require these top officials to convene for a meeting? ¡°I think the rule should be added. We¡¯re selecting the strongest students, not those who can win by teleporting their opponents out of the arena. That¡¯s unfair to others.¡± Said a bald man in one of the feeds. ¡°Ha! Training a beast to master high-level spatial shift is also a display of strength. Limiting it would be unfair to the student who achieved that.¡± Retorted a chubby middle-aged man with drooping cheeks. A younger man spoke calmly: ¡°This is a battle tournament. The focus is on combat. If everyone starts teleporting opponents out of the arena, what¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the regional tournaments change their rules after something similar happened before? If they can adjust, why can¡¯t we?¡± The chubby man snorted. ¡°Changing the rules now, after the Regional Competition has concluded, would be ridiculous. If we¡¯re revising them, it should be after this year¡¯s tournament ends.¡± An elderly man with graying hair chuckled and asked, ¡°Minister Zhou, are you opposing this just because the student in question is from Yuhua District?¡± Of course, I am! This genius is our ticket to a championship, how could I let you weaken her strength? But outwardly, the chubby man declared righteously: ¡°What do you take me for? My stance is purely for the sake of talent selection, with no personal bias whatsoever!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 437: The Meeting Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- ¡°We are also approaching this issue from the perspective of selecting talent.¡± The bald man spoke first again. ¡°All the students participating in the competition have remarkable talent in battle. They¡¯ve dedicated most of their time to training their beasts for this event.¡± ¡°If, after all their hard work, they step onto the battlefield only to be instantly removed by someone using Spatial Shift without even starting a fight, what will people think?¡± A middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses adjusted them and said calmly, ¡°Using Spatial Shift to directly remove an opponent from the field exploits a loophole in the rules. Since the rules have a flaw, it¡¯s our responsibility to fix it.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± A relatively young man agreed. ¡°Rules are meant to be refined continuously. The purpose of this competition is to select the strongest students.¡± ¡°Moreover, we¡¯re not banning Spatial Shift entirely. We¡¯re only prohibiting its use to directly teleport opponents off the battlefield.¡± An elder with white hair added, "This rule must be implemented. The reason it didn¡¯t exist before is simply that no one anticipated a student could train their beast to such a level of proficiency with Spatial Shift.¡± The other leaders remained silent, refraining from expressing their opinions for the moment. 1 vs. 12? Looks like I¡¯m outnumbered. Even if I argue until my voice gives out, it¡¯s useless¡­ The chubby middle-aged man with sagging jowls frowned deeply. At that moment, a gentle female voice broke the silence: ¡°I believe Minister Zhou was correct earlier. Rules can be changed, but it should happen in the next competition. Changing them now, after a student has already utilized this technique, might come across as targeting them.¡± Minister Zhou was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the leader from the Guwu region to speak in favor of a student from the Yuhua region. Could it be because of Ice Xilu? S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As one of the most promising contenders from the Yuhua region, Minister Zhou was well aware of Qiao Sang¡¯s potential. The woman continued: ¡°Spatial Shift isn¡¯t a skill that guarantees a 100% success rate just by using it. The reason that student succeeded was twofold: The opponent¡¯s beast was within Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s teleportation range and hadn¡¯t maintained enough distance, and the opponent didn¡¯t anticipate such a move, leaving them defenseless. Otherwise, with the superior spiritual energy and level of Predictive Tower Turtle, they could have interfered mentally, preventing the positioning or defending against the teleportation entirely.¡± ¡°Additionally, according to the records, this was the first time the student used Spatial Shift to remove an opponent from the battlefield.¡± ¡°In the end, Treasure-Seeking Demon is only a mid-tier beast. The focus of the national competition is still on high-tier beasts. If contestants are informed of this tactic in advance, they¡¯ll prepare countermeasures. With their talent, I believe they¡¯ll come up with effective strategies.¡± Minister Zhou¡¯s eyes lit up as he stood, exclaiming excitedly, ¡°Well said!¡± Realizing he might¡¯ve overreacted, he quickly sat back down under the scrutiny of others. ¡°Isn¡¯t Treasure-Seeking Demon a ghost-type beast?¡± Asked a gloomy-looking man who had remained silent until now, seemingly intrigued. ¡°That student¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon also has psychic attributes.¡± The bald man replied. Aside from the ministers from Yuhua, Guwu, and the bald man from Xilu, the other leaders appeared momentarily stunned, evidently hearing this information for the first time. ? The meeting had been convened too hastily. They¡¯d only been informed that a Yuhua student had used Spatial Shift to remove an opponent, with little else provided. As high-ranking officials in their respective regions, they rarely had time to familiarize themselves with individual contestants, often only paying attention during the national finals. The gloomy man pondered for a few seconds before sharing his thoughts: ¡°Being able to train a ghost-type beast¡¯s Spatial Shift to such a level is an achievement. If the goal is to select the strongest candidates, we shouldn¡¯t restrict anyone from demonstrating their full potential.¡± Minister Zhou quickly agreed, ¡°I think Minister Yang makes an excellent point!¡± It wasn¡¯t surprising for Minister Yang from the Shidiya region to support this stance. Shidiya was the only region among the thirteen where ghost-type beasts were popular. Additionally, they didn¡¯t have a strong contender for the championship, so the rule change wouldn¡¯t affect them. ¡°You can¡¯t look at it that way.¡± The bald man interjected, frowning. ¡°Spatial Shift differs from other skills. Winning without fighting must be prohibited. If this becomes a precedent, everyone will start contracting psychic beasts and training only this move.¡± ¡°To my knowledge, this student from Yuhua is only 15 years old and has already unlocked three pages of her Beastmaster Codex. She currently has two high-tier beasts and one mid-tier beast.¡± ¡°Her fire-type beast, Blazing Star Canine, has mastered the advanced Meteor Rain skill to its highest level. Meanwhile, Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal can summon dozens of ice flowers simultaneously. Treasure-Seeking Demon is likely her weakest beast.¡± ¡°With such talent and strength, imposing a minor restriction on Spatial Shift shouldn¡¯t pose any problem.¡± ¡°Her skills and potential are outstanding. She¡¯s fully capable of earning respect through fair competition. But if she continues using Spatial Shift to win, she¡¯ll inevitably face criticism.¡± ¡°If Minister Zhou truly has this student¡¯s best interests at heart, you should agree to this rule.¡± The room fell silent for over ten seconds. Nearly everyone looked stunned, processing the information about such an extraordinary contestant. Minister Zhou, meanwhile, was deliberating. The reasoning wasn¡¯t entirely baseless. If Qiao Sang won using Spatial Shift, it could tarnish her reputation, even if she became champion. But conceding now, knowing that only their region had a student capable of such mastery, was too bitter a pill to swallow. In the heavy silence, the leader of the Zhongkong region, Minister Yan, finally spoke: ¡°What¡¯s this student¡¯s name?¡± Minister Zhou composed himself and replied respectfully, ¡°Her name is Qiao Sang.¡± Minister Yan asked, ¡°How are her academic grades?¡± Not great¡­ Minister Zhou hesitated before answering tactfully, ¡°They¡¯re decent; she was admitted to the best high school in her city.¡± Minister Yan considered this before calmly stating: ¡°Here¡¯s the plan: Minister Zhou, contact this Qiao Sang and instruct her not to use Spatial Shift to directly remove opponents during the national finals.¡± ¡°If she secures one of the top two positions, I¡¯ll ensure she¡¯s admitted as an interstellar exchange student and placed in the senior special class of their final year. She¡¯ll also gain the same rights to apply for universities as this year¡¯s seniors.¡± This meant Qiao Sang, though a first-year student competing in a senior-level competition, could graduate two years early if she excelled. Hearing this, Minister Zhou was stunned. Could Qiao Sang keep up with such an advanced curriculum? After a moment, he nodded. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll notify her.¡± ¡°As for the new rule.¡± Minister Yan concluded, ¡°It will officially take effect in the next competition.¡± The other ministers silently agreed, knowing Qiao Sang would accept the offer. No student could refuse the chance to graduate early. ¡°Since there are no objections.¡± Minister Yan said, ¡°This meeting is adjourned.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 438: The Awakening Pearl Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Guwu Region. Haicheng Pet Beast Battle Arena. The night sky was lit up with dazzling fireworks, so spectacular that it seemed like an invitation for the entire city to enjoy the grand celebration together. The arena''s floor had split open from the center to the sides, transforming into a blue water-based stage. Around a hundred types of water-element pet beasts, which Qiao Sang had never seen before, were performing. They shifted formations and displayed their skills, creating an enchanting spectacle. ¡°What were the rewards for previous division championships?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me.¡± Xu Yixuan sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve never even attended an awards ceremony for a division championship before.¡± Did I just ask the wrong person? Qiao Sang cleared her throat and changed the topic. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such an impressive show before the awards ceremony.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s my first time seeing it too.¡± Xu Yixuan remarked with a sigh. Qiao Sang decided to stay quiet after that. Not far away, several instructors from other regions were enthusiastically discussing how to train their students. Occasionally, they subtly tried to probe Sun Boyi for details about Qiao Sang¡¯s usual training routines. Whenever the conversation veered in that direction, Sun Boyi would just smile without saying a word. Before long, the lights shifted. The performing water-element beasts leaped off the stage, disappearing beneath the water¡¯s surface. In the next moment, a massive podium slowly rose from the water. Simultaneously, a thin, bubble-like membrane spread evenly across the water stage, creating a stable surface. Yi Ao stepped onto a blue platform, descended to about half a meter above the stage, then jumped down, landing steadily on the membrane. From afar, it looked as though he was standing on the water itself. Holding a microphone, he announced: ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the awards ceremony is now beginning! First, let us welcome the third-place winner of this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League Division Championship: Hu Fan, from the Guwu Region...¡± Waiting Area. Yabao had deactivated his lightweight miniaturization bracelet, returning to his full form. Wearing a custom-made green triangular pair of sunglasses, he tried to suppress his excitement and put on a cool expression. Meanwhile, Little Treasure perched on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, eagerly slipping diamond-studded gloves onto his paws. As for Lubao, she stood nearby with a cold and aloof expression. Soon, Yi Ao called out Qiao Sang¡¯s name: ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome the champion of this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League Division Championship! The youngest high school senior champion in history! Representing the Yuhua Region: Qiao Sang and her pet beasts: Blazing Star Canine, Treasure-Seeking Demon, and Ice Xilu!¡± ?? The arena erupted in thunderous cheers and applause. ¡°Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± Most of the audience shouted Qiao Sang¡¯s and Lubao¡¯s names. Occasionally, someone cheered for Yabao or Little Treasure, but those voices were quickly drowned out. Qiao Sang led her pet beasts onto the podium. A blue ceremonial pet beast, carrying a tray with the awards, stepped forward. Yi Ao delivered a prepared speech, his voice rising noticeably when he talked about Lubao: ¡°Ice Xilu¡¯s expression remains stoic, and that¡¯s precisely where its strength lies! To win without arrogance and to lose without despair, one who has thunder in their heart but remains calm on the surface is destined for greatness!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao glanced at him, only understanding that this human had commented on her expressionless face. Are all Guwu Region people this exaggerated? Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched slightly, momentarily forgetting to pay attention to the award itself. After the awards were presented, the cameraman clicked the shutter, capturing the moment. In the photo, Qiao Sang stood with Yabao on one side, looking cool with his green sunglasses, and Lubao on the other, exuding an icy aura. Perched on her head, Little Treasure waved enthusiastically, showing off his diamond-studded gloves. The scene was oddly harmonious. --- Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. Sitting on the bed, Qiao Sang examined a deep blue, nearly black pearl in her hand. In addition to the trophy, the division championship prize included this water-element Awakening Pearl. She searched online and found that these pearls could awaken latent talent skills in a water-element pet beast¡¯s bloodline when consumed. Pet beasts are born with varying chances of innate skills, depending on their talent and bloodline purity. For instance, Yabao¡¯s skill is Fire Fang, while Lubao has Healing Light. However, it¡¯s not uncommon for some pet beasts to be born without any innate skills. As society evolved, interspecies relationships among pet beasts became more accepted. Pet beasts of different species often formed bonds, which diluted bloodlines over generations. Naturally, the number of pet beasts born with innate skills decreased. This is where Awakening Pearls gained their value. This is my first time seeing one... Qiao Sang held the water-element Awakening Pearl up to her eyes for a closer look. The deeper the pearl¡¯s color, the higher its quality. Even without professional appraisal, its deep, almost black hue indicated that this pearl was of exceptional quality. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Speaking of which, besides Healing Light, what other innate skills does the Ice Lurianas species have? Qiao Sang picked up her phone to research further. At that moment, her phone rang. The caller ID displayed: Professor Jiang. Qiao Sang answered, ¡°Professor Jiang?¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, when are you coming back?¡± Jiang Xiu asked. ¡°I¡¯m not going back. I¡¯ll head straight to the Zhongkong Region in a couple of days.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The final stage of the National Championship was only a week away. Traveling back to the Yuhua Region before heading to Zhongkong would waste too much time. She hadn¡¯t even started gathering information on her competitors yet, so every moment counted. ¡°Do you have time to visit the Ice Luriana Conservation Center tomorrow?¡± Jiang Xiu asked. Qiao Sang was startled. ¡°The Ice Luriana Conservation Center?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Xiu confirmed. ¡°Dr. Jiang over there asked me to invite you. If you¡¯re willing to go, let me know what time, and I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow.¡± ¡°Dr. Jiang has spent most of his life studying the Ice Luriana species. I believe speaking with him will greatly benefit you in raising Ice Xilu.¡± Jiang Xiu paused, as if recalling something, then added, ¡°Oh, and Dr. Jiang asked me to tell you not to use the Awakening Pearl on Ice Xilu just yet.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang asked, puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Jiang Xiu admitted. ¡°But if you want to find out, he¡¯ll explain when you meet him tomorrow.¡± Seriously? Did he have to say that just to get me to go? Can¡¯t people be more straightforward without using all these tactics? Qiao Sang muttered to herself before imitating Jiang Xiu¡¯s tone, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just give me Dr. Jiang¡¯s contact information so I can ask him myself?¡± Jiang Xiu: ... ¡°I¡¯m joking.¡± Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°Tomorrow at 9 a.m., I¡¯ll be ready.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Xiu replied. ----- ----- Chapter 439: The Evolution Requirements of Ice Xilu Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Next Morning. The Sea Salt Lizard skimmed across the tranquil waters. Professor Jiang seemed unfamiliar with the location of the Water Luriana Species Research and Conservation Center. He relied entirely on the GPS to reach their destination. At the entrance, adorned with a statue of an Water Luriana, Dr. Jiang and his assistant had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing the two approaching figures, Dr. Jiang''s eyes lit up when he spotted the shorter figure among them. He quickly walked over and greeted her enthusiastically: "Qiao Sang, finally, I get to meet you!" "Dr. Jiang?" Qiao Sang asked hesitantly, eyeing the man in the white lab coat. In this world, one couldn¡¯t easily judge someone¡¯s age or identity by their appearance, especially when someone like Professor Jiang, standing beside her, was living proof of this ambiguity. "It''s me." Dr. Jiang smiled warmly. Professor Jiang, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, extended his hand with a polite smile. "Dr. Jiang, I¡¯m Professor Jiang Xiu." Although he was a professor, he wasn¡¯t anywhere near Dr. Jiang''s level of prestige. If not for personally escorting Qiao Sang and handling Ice Xilu''s diet plan, he likely wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to interact with someone of Dr. Jiang''s status. Frankly, when he received Dr. Jiang¡¯s call yesterday, he nearly hung up, thinking it was a scam. "Nice to meet you!" Dr. Jiang briefly shook hands before turning to Qiao Sang. "Shall we chat while we walk?" The four of them entered the Water Luriana Research and Conservaion Center, arriving at an elegant and expansive water garden. "This is where the Water Lurianas usually play and live." Dr. Jiang explained. Qiao Sang gazed at the artificial waterfalls and shimmering pools where over a dozen Water Lurianas frolicked. Beside her, Professor Jiang wore an almost dreamlike expression, as if he¡¯d stumbled into paradise. At that moment, Qiao Sang remembered something. She formed a hand seal, summoning her Lubao. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao froze momentarily upon seeing her kind for the first time, clearly taken aback. ¡°Lu lu!¡± One of the playing Water Lurianas looked up, its eyes sparkling with excitement as it let out a cheerful cry. The rest of the Water Luriana immediately turned their attention to Lubao. Some even poked their heads out of the water. Moments later, they all dashed over to surround Lubao in a lively huddle. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao looked utterly at a loss, her gaze seeking help from her trainer. ¡°Go play with them.¡± Qiao Sang encouraged with a smile. After all, Lubao was still under a year old, an age meant for play. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Hearing her trainer¡¯s reassurance, Lubao hesitated before looking down at the smaller creatures gathered around her. Gradually, her eyes softened, her tail swayed slightly, and she moved toward the water''s edge. ¡°Lu lu!¡± ¡°Lulu!¡± The Water Lurianas eagerly followed, trailing closely behind. Watching Ice Xilu interacting so peacefully with the Water Lurianas, Dr. Jiang remarked with admiration, ¡°You¡¯ve raised a very gentle Ice Xilu. The ones here at the center rarely play with the Water Lurianas.¡± Gentle? Clearly, you¡¯ve never seen her behavior back when she was still an Water Luriana¡­ Qiao Sang thought, though she only said, ¡°Not at all. The Water Lurianas here are the truly gentle ones.¡± Dr. Jiang chuckled. ¡°Water Lurianas are inherently mild-mannered, symbolizing beauty and peace.¡± Huh? Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment. To be honest, after spending so much time with Lubao, she had nearly forgotten about the descriptions of Water Lurianas she¡¯d read online. Dr. Jiang continued, ¡°However, their temperament changes gradually as they evolve.¡± That much is true, Qiao Sang agreed silently. ¡°Do you know what Ice Xilu evolves into next?¡± Dr. Jiang asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Its next form is Frost Aipalu.¡± The vice principal had already included information about the Water Luriana species in the data he¡¯d provided her. Dr. Jiang explained, ¡°Statistically speaking, Frost Aipalu is the most temperamentally sensitive stage in its evolutionary chain. You¡¯ll need to be especially mindful during this time; any misstep could undo all the trust you¡¯ve painstakingly built.¡± Qiao Sang pondered this before asking, ¡°Does this have to do with Ice Xilu¡¯s evolution requirements?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Dr. Jiang nodded. ¡°For Ice Xilu to evolve, it must experience extreme despair during a sandstorm. This emotional turmoil inevitably affects its temperament.¡± Even though she had already read about these conditions in the data, hearing it again made Qiao Sang sigh inwardly. What a miserable species¡­ --- For the rest of their visit, the group toured areas designated for Ice Xilu and its relatives, including the exclusive Frost Aipalu habitat. Professor Jiang wore a starry-eyed expression the entire time. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When they reached the Ice Xilu zone, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something. ¡°Dr. Jiang, yesterday you asked Professor Jiang to relay that I shouldn¡¯t rush to use the Awakening Pearl Orb on my Ice Xilu. Why is that?¡± Dr. Jiang smiled as he explained, ¡°Awakening Pearls awaken dormant talents within a beast¡¯s bloodline. However, the chances of successful awakening aren¡¯t guaranteed. Studies have shown that during evolution, a beast¡¯s bloodline surges. Using an Awakening Pearl at that time increases the likelihood of success by 30% or more.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Qiao Sang felt enlightened. Awakening Pearls were rare items that she¡¯d never encountered before. They weren¡¯t even covered in high school curricula; she¡¯d likely have had to wait until university to learn about them. Despite the significant age gap between Qiao Sang and Dr. Jiang, their shared enthusiasm for the Water Luriana species made their conversation lively and engaging. In just over an hour, Qiao Sang gained a comprehensive understanding of the Water Luriana species. As the center approached closing time, Dr. Jiang¡¯s young assistant cleared his throat, subtly reminding him of something. ¡°Oh, right!¡± Dr. Jiang chuckled at his forgetfulness. He turned to Qiao Sang, his demeanor suddenly serious. ¡°Would you be interested in becoming a researcher?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°A researcher?¡± The vice principal had also mentioned this path before. Now Dr. Jiang was bringing it up again. Did she really have a knack for this? ¡°Yes, a researcher.¡± Dr. Jiang confirmed. ¡°The moment I met you, I could see your potential.¡± Oh, come on¡­ Even though I guessed it, hearing it outright feels so awkward¡­ Qiao Sang scratched her head, a bit flustered. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m already an apprentice researcher.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Dr. Jiang smiled. ¡°My assistant, Xiao Qian, is acquainted with your vice principal. The information you received on the Water Luriana species was shared with my permission.¡± ¡°Xiao Qian told me you¡¯re an apprentice researcher.¡± Xiao Qian¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at the man who looked a few years older than Professor Jiang. Xiao Qian smiled politely. ¡°But I¡¯m talking about becoming a junior researcher.¡± Dr. Jiang added. ----- ----- Chapter 440: The Central Region Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Becoming a junior researcher is vastly different from being a apprentice researcher. Apprentice researchers hold temporary positions and must participate in research projects for two years before they can apply for a junior researcher assessment. Junior researchers, on the other hand, are officially employed under a permanent appointment system. Typically, becoming a formal researcher requires appropriate academic qualifications and contributions to research projects. For someone like Qiao Sang, a high school student, she doesn''t even qualify to apply. However, exceptions can be made for applicants who have made significant contributions to research projects, provided they are endorsed by at least two experts in the same field. Qiao Sang pondered for a moment and asked, "What¡¯s the salary for a junior researcher?" Dr. Jiang: ??? --- 9:20 PM, Deep Sea Mantis Hotel. Qiao Sang lay on her bed, recalling what Dr. Jiang had told her earlier: "Since the research focuses on the evolution of the Water Luriana species, you¡¯ll need to spend a month each year at the Water Luriana Species Research and Conservation Center. After graduating from college, you¡¯ll officially live and work in the Guwu region." "As for housing, don¡¯t worry. The research center can cover the cost of buying a home for you. Alternatively, you could live at the Water Luriana center if you prefer." Honestly, the offer was incredibly tempting. The monthly salary was 150,000 yuan, and Qiao Sang almost agreed on the spot. Fortunately, she reached into her pocket, touched her unlimited credit card, and managed to regain her composure. The benefits were great, but accepting the offer would determine her post-graduation future. Having come to the Beast Taming world, how could she settle for being confined to one region for years? As she pondered, there was a series of urgent knocks at the door. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Knock, knock, knock!" The sound made it clear that whoever was knocking was in a hurry. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t get up. Instead, she looked at Little Treasure. Without her needing to say anything, Little Treasure floated over knowingly. "Xun Xun~" He stuck his head through the door, leaving half his body inside the room. Outside, there was a startled exclamation, "What the!" The knocking immediately stopped. Little Treasure retracted his head and turned back to report that the visitor was their teacher. I already knew from the voice... Qiao Sang thought. She said, "Open the door." "Xun~" Following his master''s instruction, Little Treasure opened the door. When the door swung open, Sun Boyi stared at the pet beast before him, his expression complicated. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure blinked innocently. Taking a deep breath, Sun Boyi stepped inside, excitement returning to his expression as he said, "Qiao Sang, I¡¯ve got some news for you!" "What is it?" Qiao Sang sat up, puzzled. In her memory, Teacher Sun was usually calm and composed. For him to show such unrestrained emotion, especially after exclaiming ¡°What the!¡± just moments ago, was quite unusual. "It¡¯s good news!" Sun Boyi said, barely containing his excitement. "The principal just called me. Apparently, someone from higher up contacted him. If you don¡¯t use your Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s spatial shift to directly move opponents out of bounds during the national league, and you manage to secure a top-two placement, you¡¯ll be chosen as an interstellar exchange student. You¡¯ll also be enrolled in the advanced class for third-years at the partner school, allowing you to take the university entrance exam this year!" "What?!" Qiao Sang bolted upright, startled. "That¡¯s right!" Sun Boyi repeated with an even bigger smile. "As long as you place in the top two, you¡¯ll become an interstellar exchange student, join their advanced class, and take the entrance exam this year!" In his eyes, securing a top-two position at the national league was a piece of cake for Qiao Sang. No teacher wouldn¡¯t want their students to succeed. If Qiao Sang achieved this, she¡¯d be attending a prestigious university after just one year of high school. This unexpected news cleared Qiao Sang¡¯s head instantly. While she was thrilled, she couldn¡¯t help but think about her current academic standing. After a brief pause, Qiao Sang took a deep breath to calm herself and asked, "When do university special admissions typically start?" Sun Boyi replied quickly, "Each top university has a different schedule, but most begin the initial application process at the start of the year, with tests and evaluations in March or April." "If you tell me which school you¡¯re aiming for, I¡¯ll look into it for you!" March or April... That¡¯s two or three months earlier than the standard entrance exam. Qiao Sang remained silent for a moment. She was tempted to shout that she understood, but reason reminded her that mastering three years of high school content in such a short time was even harder than winning the national tournament. With a sigh, she asked, "Teacher Sun, do you really think I can do it?" Sun Boyi, fully confident in her abilities after seeing her battle prowess, replied with unwavering conviction, "Of course you can!" His resolute tone made Qiao Sang briefly believe that she might actually succeed. --- The Next Day, Imperial Capital International Airport. The plane touched down at the sprawling, warmly lit airport. Carrying Yabao, Qiao Sang was the first to disembark, followed closely by Sun Boyi. Xu Yixuan had not advanced to the national tournament. After watching the award ceremony, she returned to the Yuhua region alone the next day. The capital¡¯s airport was vast, and it took over 40 minutes just to reach the exit, not including the time spent retrieving luggage. The Central Region. Located at the heart of the Dragon Kingdom, the Imperial Capital was one of its most prosperous cities. As soon as she exited the terminal, Qiao Sang saw numerous flying-type beasts lined up in the air, forming several straight rows. The sheer number of them nearly obscured half the sky. Most of these flying beasts wore uniform-colored gear, indicating they were on official duty. "Yap!" Yabao, awestruck by the spectacle, gawked at the scene above. One large, red-feathered bird noticed Yabao¡¯s gaze and sent a playful wink down at him. "Yap." Yabao tilted his head in confusion before looking away. (T/n: No flirting with the baby!) ----- ----- Chapter 441: Song Xinyue Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Thank you to my Ko-fi lovers @Fsghd and @Magada for your donations!!! ???? And also to my Patreon babies @anna, @neuman, and @Jackson ???? ----- Sun Boyi opened his phone and followed the navigation to lead Qiao Sang to a large gray flying-type beast. This gray flying beast had a flight license printed on its side and a seat arrangement on its back that could accommodate 10 people. Most of the seats were already occupied, leaving only two empty spots. "Driver, is this heading to the Moting Hotel?" Sun Boyi asked. "Yes." Replied a middle-aged man seated alone in the front row. He turned to confirm, "Is your tail number 3345?" "Yes." Sun Boyi nodded. "Hop on." The man said. Once Qiao Sang and Sun Boyi climbed aboard, fastened their seatbelts, and settled in, the gray flying beast spread its wings and took off. Under the vast night sky, various flying beasts carried passengers at a steady pace. The imperial capital was dazzlingly prosperous at night, adorned with stunning holographic neon lights. The gray flying beast didn''t fly too high, so looking down, one could see some remarkably striking buildings. "Yap Yap!" Yabao''s eyes sparkled as he watched other flying beasts pass by and took in the view below. At that moment, a mechanical voice sounded: [Great Barbarian Bird, a high-level flying beast. Although forgetful and not very intelligent, it is diligent and approachable. Its evolved forms are typically much larger than other beasts of the same level, making it popular among beastmasters.] Hearing this, the surrounding passengers turned to locate the source of the voice. Qiao Sang silently reached up to remove Little Treasure from her head. As expected, the little creature was clutching a beast identifier in his claws. "Xun~" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure blinked innocently. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Bar-bar!" Meanwhile, the Great Barbarian Bird, hearing itself described as forgetful and not very intelligent, appeared displeased. But as soon as it heard it was well-loved by beastmasters, it instantly forgot the earlier comment, chirped happily, flapped its wings energetically, and sped up. --- Half an hour later. "We''ve arrived at the Moting Hotel." The middle-aged man announced from the front row. After disembarking from the Great Barbarian Bird, Qiao Sang looked up at the luxurious hotel before her, stunned. "Is the school always this extravagant?" She wondered aloud. As Sun Boyi led her inside, he remarked, "The vice-principal has already arrived." "The vice-principal is here?" Qiao Sang asked in surprise. Sun Boyi glanced at her with a smile. "You''re currently the only student from our school to make it to the national championship. Of course, the vice-principal had to come to ensure everything goes smoothly. The principal wanted to come too, but since the national championship spans several days, one of them had to stay behind at the school. So, the principal couldn''t make it." ?? So I¡¯m the school¡¯s sole hope now, Qiao Sang thought. No wonder the accommodations were so good this time, even though she hadn¡¯t made any requests. It turned out all the competition funds were being spent on her. At the door to her hotel room, Sun Boyi excused himself. Qiao Sang, carrying Yabao, entered alone. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. When she opened it, she found Teacher Sun and the vice-principal standing outside. "Vice-principal!" Qiao Sang greeted them. "I brought food for your beasts." Liu Yao said with a smile, lifting the bag in his hand. "Yap!" Inside, Yabao sniffed the air, immediately perked up, and ran over excitedly. "Xun~" Little Treasure quickly stashed the ant he had just pulled out and followed behind. "Lu." Lubao, who had been lying down, raised her head to glance at them before quietly getting up. Liu Yao entered and opened the three boxes of energy pills from the bag. The beasts eagerly dug in, eating with gusto and occasionally showing expressions of bliss. Even though Lubao''s expression wasn¡¯t as animated as Yabao''s or Little Treasure''s, her slightly upturned lips and squinting eyes betrayed her satisfaction with the energy pills. "When I suggested you compete in the senior year bracket, I never expected you''d advance so effortlessly." Liu Yao remarked. Qiao Sang grinned. "I didn¡¯t expect it either." She had thought qualifying for nationals would be an uphill battle. But with each match, both Yabao and Lubao evolved, gaining valuable combat experience. None of the matches felt overly challenging. Sun Boyi added with a smile, "Vice-principal, you don¡¯t know, Qiao Sang has improved remarkably fast. She¡¯s excellent at devising strategies and can quickly adapt to unexpected situations in matches. She¡¯s practically a natural-born professional beastmaster." Qiao Sang straightened her back with pride. "I know." Liu Yao nodded. He had always recognized her exceptional talent at school, though he hadn¡¯t realized just how extraordinary she truly was. His tone turned serious as he continued, "However, at nationals, the competition will be on a whole different level. Every participant there is formidable." "I¡¯ll be careful." Qiao Sang assured him. Liu Yao smiled, satisfied. He had encountered many geniuses in his time. Though none as prodigious as Qiao Sang, most were arrogant, looking down on others once they achieved a bit of success. While some could hide their disdain outwardly, it always showed through their behavior. But Qiao Sang seemed genuinely humble. "By the way." Liu Yao asked, "Do you know a contestant named Song Xinyue?" The name sounded familiar to Qiao Sang, but she couldn¡¯t place it. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "No, I don¡¯t." Sun Boyi turned to Liu Yao. "Are you referring to Song Xinyue from Lianbo District?" Liu Yao nodded, taking out a stack of documents from his briefcase and placing them on the coffee table. On top was a profile of Song Xinyue. "This was compiled by Principal Wang. It contains information on all the contestants who advanced to nationals. He asked me to pass it along to you. I glanced through it on the plane and found an interesting contestant." Wow, they even prepared a dossier for me¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she eagerly picked up the documents. Liu Yao continued, "Song Xinyue has a high-level fire-and-flying-type beast with a fire-absorption trait." He paused, then asked, "You know what that trait does, right?" Qiao Sang nodded. "A beast with the fire-absorption trait isn¡¯t affected by fire-based attacks and can even absorb flames to enhance its own fire skills." "Exactly." Liu Yao said. "According to her records, it¡¯s rumored she once used her beginner-level beast, the Fire Summer Bird, to defeat a high-level fire beast, emerging unscathed despite facing fire-based attacks." "I looked it up online at the hotel and found it to be true." "That¡¯s interesting. Even with the flame-absorption trait, it shouldn¡¯t be possible for a beginner beast to withstand fire skills from a beast two levels higher." Sun Boyi said with a frown. "Precisely." Liu Yao agreed. "No beastmaster would willingly subject their beast to such a lopsided fight, especially when it¡¯s at its weakest stage. Unless¡­" Qiao Sang thought for a moment before realization struck. "Could it be that the fire-absorption trait is A-level or higher?" ----- ----- Chapter 442: Fire-Subduing Bird Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- If the Fire Summer Bird''s Fire Absorption trait reaches grade A or higher, it would make sense to pit it against advanced fire-type beasts, even at an early stage. But that wouldn¡¯t be a real battle, it would be a test of the Fire Summer Bird''s ability to endure and absorb fire! Liu Yao turned to Qiao Sang and said, "That''s exactly my point. If that''s the case, I recommend not using your Blazing Star Canine against it." Yabao''s ears twitched as he ate. Liu Yao continued, "The Blazing Star Canine''s most powerful skills are fire-type. While it has some psychic-type skills, none are particularly destructive." "Even though its Meteor Rain skill has reached the ultimate level, if the Fire Summer Bird¡¯s Fire Absorption trait is as strong as you suspect, there are two possibilities." "First, if its trait is at grade A, then at the same level, the Meteor Rain might inflict some damage, but it won¡¯t be fatal. Instead, it would likely enhance the Fire Summer Bird¡¯s fire-based abilities." "Second, if its trait is at grade S, the Meteor Rain will feel like nothing more than a refreshing rain to it, perhaps even more comfortable than actual rain." "Either way, it''s extremely disadvantageous for the Blazing Star Canine." "Yap..." Yabao looked up at that, his appetite suddenly dulled. Liu Yao pressed on: "I haven¡¯t attended your matches in person, but I¡¯ve been watching the live streams. I¡¯ve noticed that you often send out beasts in disadvantageous matchups despite knowing the opponent¡¯s capabilities." "For example, in this regional league, you had both the Blazing Star Canine and the Ice Xilu, but most of the time you relied on Treasure-Seeking Demon." He softened his tone: "I understand you want your beasts to grow faster." Qiao Sang thought to herself: You¡¯re overthinking it, I just wanted more points. Little Treasure racks up points faster while Yabao and Lubao crush weaklings for fun. "But the national championship is coming up, and every move matters." Liu Yao said, his tone becoming serious. "If you want to train your beasts, there will be plenty of time after the competition. For the national championship, winning should be your top priority." ? "Only losers say things like it¡¯s the participation that counts." "I hadn¡¯t planned on bringing this up, but the situation is different now." Liu Yao said, fixing Qiao Sang with a firm look. "You have a significant chance of becoming the first high school freshman to win the National Beast Mastering Championship in the senior division. This has never been achieved since the competition began." "If you succeed, your future will be limitless!" No wonder he¡¯s the vice principal¡­ Sun Boyi discreetly glanced at him, impressed. He¡¯d long noticed this issue with Qiao Sang, but since she kept winning and never relied on him for training advice, he felt like a redundant coach. He hadn¡¯t found an opening to bring it up until now. But the vice principal was cunning, starting with criticism and ending with encouragement. He hit the nail on the head in just a few sentences. The vice principal made sense. There would always be time to earn points, but the chance to win the championship as a freshman came only once. After a moment of thought, Qiao Sang nodded solemnly, "Understood." After Liu Yao and Sun Boyi left, Qiao Sang picked up her notes and started reviewing them. "Yap?" Yabao wandered over to look at the papers with her. After a while, realizing he couldn¡¯t understand, he barked, asking who wasn¡¯t afraid of fire. "This one." Qiao Sang pointed to a photo of a red avian beast on a dossier about Song Xinyue. "Yap¡­" Yabao stared intently at the photo. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t notice his reaction and continued reading. --- By 2 a.m., Qiao Sang was still wide awake. The glow of her phone illuminated her face in the dark room. On the screen was the official forum for the National Beast Mastering Championship. New posts appeared by the minute, indicating a lively discussion among night owls from all regions. Most posts revolved around contenders likely to win the championship. The most popular thread was titled #Which Senior Contender Has the Best Shot at the Title?# In the comments, users passionately debated their region¡¯s top talents: "The top contender has to be Zhao Chuanyu from Zhongkong Region. Two advanced beasts! Who can top that?" "Get with the times! In Yuhua Region, we have a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy, 15 years old, three beasts, two of which are advanced. Just won first place in the Guwu Regionals!" "Yuhua¡¯s high school senior division needs a freshman to carry them? Shameful." "Don¡¯t be salty. If your seniors lost to our freshman, isn¡¯t that your problem?" "Have you all forgotten Zhang Wandi from Zhongdao Region?" "Zhang Wandi? Perpetual runner-up material." Qiao Sang skimmed the thread but found little useful information about the beasts. She made a mental note of a few names mentioned before leaving the forum. She then searched for the upcoming Mukui Auction¡¯s items. Typing Mystic Auction into the search bar, she hit enter. "Sorry, the content you¡¯re trying to access doesn¡¯t exist." "...So mysterious." She muttered, glancing at the time before shutting her phone. --- The Next Day On the 15th floor of the Moting Hotel, in the pet training arena, Yabao wore a lightweight miniaturization bracelet, reducing his size to his Fire Fang Dog form as he controlled several heavy steel balls with telekinesis. The bracelet not only shrank his size but also significantly limited his energy output. "Yabao, why aren¡¯t you practicing fire skills today?" Qiao Sang asked, noticing he had Little Treasure fetch the steel balls as soon as they arrived. The store-bought items had their perks, like these steel balls that weighed 20 kilograms each despite their small size, perfect for honing telekinetic precision. "Yap!" Yabao barked, still manipulating the balls. If his opponent wasn¡¯t afraid of fire, he would use psychic skills to defeat them! Qiao Sang blinked. "You mean the Fire-Subduing Bird?" The Fire-Subduing Bird, a more advanced form of the Fire Summer Bird. "Yap!" Yabao nodded firmly. Qiao Sang: ... How am I supposed to explain this? Should I just admit that if we encounter it, I wasn¡¯t planning to let you fight at all¡­? After some thought, Qiao Sang finally chose a more tactful approach: "Actually, there are many opponents. We might not even run into it." "Yap!" Yabao let out a serious cry, insisting there was still a chance and that they needed to prepare early. Qiao Sang: ... Just as she was about to speak frankly, a pet beast lazily walked in. It had colorful feathers with red as the dominant color, a green crest on its head formed by two feathers, and eyes that were half-closed, as if it hadn¡¯t slept well. The pet battle arena at the Moting Hotel was a public space, accessible to any hotel guest. The Fire-Subduing Bird... Qiao Sang froze when she saw the pet beast enter. "Yap!" At the same time, Yabao also spotted the Fire-Subduing Bird. He immediately stopped his training, his eyes lighting up. He barked at the Fire-Subduing Bird with excitement, issuing a battle challenge. The Fire Subduing Bird stopped, stared at Yabao for two seconds, then opened its beak and yawned. Yabao: ... "Why haven¡¯t you gone in yet?" A lazy-sounding female voice rang out from behind the Fire-Subduing Bird. The next moment, a girl with messy hair and delicate features appeared in Qiao Sang¡¯s line of sight. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, the girl¡¯s appearance overlapped with the image of Song Xinyue from the dossier in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. Qiao Sang: !!! She was stunned. She never expected to encounter Song Xinyue here! She had thought the Fire-Subduing Bird was just from the same species. Who would have imagined that this Fire-Subduing Bird was the very one? "Fire¡ª" The Fire-Subduing Bird turned and called out to Song Xinyue. Following its gaze, Song Xinyue spotted a dazzlingly beautiful pet beast, about 60 centimeters tall, standing not far away. It resembled a miniature version of a Blazing Star Canine. Song Xinyue blinked, suddenly wide awake. This¡­ this looks just like a scaled-down Blazing Star Canine! Her gaze then shifted, and sure enough, she recognized the figure standing nearby, the same figure her coach had repeatedly mentioned. ¡°Qiao Sang¡­¡± Song Xinyue whispered the name. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Yabao barked again, issuing another battle challenge with renewed vigor. Though Yabao wasn¡¯t allowed to participate in the official competition against the Fire-Subduing Bird, there was nothing stopping them from having a private match. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, then walked over to Song Xinyue with a polite smile. She got straight to the point: ¡°Hi, would it be possible for my pet to spar with your Fire-Subduing Bird?¡± Song Xinyue hesitated for a moment, recalling her coach¡¯s warning: ¡°Qiao Sang from Yuhua District may be young, but in certain aspects, she¡¯s as capable as a professional trainer. Her Ice Xilu is likely to be your biggest obstacle in the national finals.¡± Ice Xilu¡­ After a brief pause, Song Xinyue nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing this, Yabao''s face lit up with excitement. Once both sides were ready, Yabao stepped forward. His eyes glowed blue as he focused on the lightweight miniaturization bracelet on his paw, preparing to unleash his power. ¡°Wait! Are you sending out your Blazing Star Canine?¡± Song Xinyue¡¯s surprised voice broke the tension. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised that Song Xinyue recognized Yabao, it was only natural, given her earlier mention of Qiao Sang¡¯s name. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao paused, his glowing blue eyes dimming as he tilted his head in confusion. Song Xinyue hesitated briefly before explaining, ¡°My Fire-Subduing Bird doesn¡¯t like battling fire-type beasts. It feels there¡¯s no challenge in it.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Tooth Treasure: ??? As if to prove Song Xinyue¡¯s point, the Fire-Subduing Bird glanced lazily at Yabao, then covered its beak with a wing to yawn again before turning to leave. Qiao Sang: !!! Tooth Treasure: !!! ¡°Sorry!¡± Song Xinyue apologized hastily before chasing after her beast. ¡°Don¡¯t go! If you won¡¯t fight, at least finish your training!¡± Qiao Sang: ... ¡°Yap! Yap! Yap!¡± Yabao, who had never been so blatantly dismissed, barked furiously at the Fire-Subduing Bird¡¯s retreating figure, his face flushing with anger. Qiao Sang quickly picked him up, soothing him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯ll face it in the competition and show it how strong you are!¡± ¡°Yap! Yap!¡± Yabao pointed his paw in the direction the Fire-Subduing Bird had gone, whining in frustration, as if to say they might not even encounter it during the championship! Qiao Sang reassured him with firm conviction. ¡°We will!¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yaban''s ears perked up, his watery eyes brimming with hope as he stared at his trainer. Qiao Sang clenched her teeth. ¡°We definitely will!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, reinvigorated, jumped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and wagged his tail as he returned to his training with renewed enthusiasm. I shouldn¡¯t have approached Song Xinyue for a battle¡­ Qiao Sang sighed, regretting her earlier decision. Still, since she¡¯d promised Yabao, she had no choice but to let him face the Fire Subduing Bird if the opportunity arose. For now, though, she needed to devise a strategy tailored specifically for Yabao to counter the Fire-Subduing Bird. If they waited until competition day to learn their opponent was Song Xinyue, it might be too late. Lost in thought, Qiao Sang began planning. ----- ----- Chapter 443: National Championship! Here I Come Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Actually, Yabao wasn¡¯t entirely devoid of powerful non-fire skills, one of them was Hyper Beam. However, Yabao had never practiced Hyper Beam, and it was currently at only a beginner level. Using such an underdeveloped skill, Yabao couldn¡¯t guarantee taking down Fire-Subduing Bird in a single blow. But this wasn¡¯t a major problem. Whether by allocating more points or practicing directly, the skill could reach a proficient level before the national championship. If she used Hyper Beam as her trump card, the key issue would be ensuring it hit Fire-Subduing Bird accurately. After all, once the skill was unleashed, Yabao would be immobilized for a certain period. If the attack missed, it would be Yabao who ended up in trouble. Qiao Sang''s thoughts were crystal clear, and she quickly devised a training plan. First, get Yabao to improve Hyper Beam to the proficient level, ensuring that if it hit Fire-subduing, it would deliver a decisive blow. As for guaranteeing accuracy, this would need to be refined through further training. With a plan in mind, Qiao Sang turned to Yabao. ¡°Next, let¡¯s practice releasing Hyper Beam.¡± ¡°Ya T!¡± Yabao immediately put down the gravity steel ball he had been training with and began gathering energy for the skill. ¡°Wait!¡± Seeing a ball of terrifying white energy forming in Yabao¡¯s mouth, Qiao Sang panicked. ¡°Not here!¡± Though she had never seen the move used in real life, she had seen it in shows. The destructive power was terrifying. If practiced in a hotel, she might end up as tomorrow¡¯s headline in the local news. Thankfully, Yabao had good control over his energy. Hearing her, he dispersed the beam before firing it. Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Let¡¯s find a suitable place to practice.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- The sun dipped below the horizon as night approached. At an open training ground, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Lubao were all training, each focusing on their own tasks. Qiao Sang stood nearby, taking notes: Hyper Beam - Proficient Level: 8 seconds. Thanks to ample supplies of B-grade energy restoration potions, Yabao advanced the skill from beginner to proficient level within an afternoon. Qiao Sang noticed keenly that at the beginner level, Yabao was immobilized for 9 seconds after using the skill. At the proficient level, this time decreased to 8 seconds. ? It seemed that as mastery improved, the immobilization time would decrease... While Qiao Sang pondered, a pair of dark eyes observed her from a nearby bush. ¡°Did you see that?¡± A tanned man asked. ¡°Lai Lai.¡± Replied a yellowish, 70-cm-long salamander-like beast with drooping corners of its mouth and a perpetually weary expression. It nodded. ¡°When she fires that beam again, just collapse nearby.¡± The man instructed. ¡°If we pull this off, I¡¯ll treat you to a big meal tonight.¡± ¡°Lai Lai!¡± The beast¡¯s drooping expression lit up at the mention of food. It swallowed its drool, nodded solemnly, and braced itself. Meanwhile, Yabao took another sip of energy potion and prepared to unleash Hyper Beam again. --- Just as Yabao fired the beam and became immobilized, a man¡¯s panicked voice suddenly rang out. ¡°Ahhh! My Lai Lai Da!¡± Startled, Qiao Sang turned and saw a creature lying unconscious in the beam¡¯s impact zone, a creature that hadn¡¯t been there moments ago. This setup screamed scam. Qiao Sang frowned, her intuition warning her of trouble. A robotic voice interrupted her thoughts: ¡°Lai Lai Da: A mid-level Dark-type beast native to Tuwei. Known for its crude temperament, it provokes enemies by spitting but shows extreme loyalty to its trainer.¡± Little Treasure had quietly activated the Beast Identifier. ¡°You hurt my Lai Lai Da! What are you going to do about it?¡± The man bellowed at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang¡¯s suspicions deepened. A textbook scam... just my luck. People began gathering, drawn by the commotion. The man smirked internally, confident in his con. But Qiao Sang remained calm. With a slight smile, she issued an order: ¡°Yabao, Hyper Beam.¡± The man froze. ¡°W-what?¡± As Yabao¡¯s mouth began glowing with another hyper energy charge, realization dawned. ¡°Oh crap, she¡¯s serious!¡± He panicked, screaming, ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Sang had no intention of following through but wanted to see how long the creature would keep pretending. So she didn¡¯t stop Yabao. Terrified, the man scooped up Lai Lai Da and bolted, prompting a disappointed collective sigh from the onlookers. --- As the man fled, Qiao Sang, intrigued, had Yabao halt him with psychic power. Trapped, the man finally confessed. ¡°It was all a misunderstanding!¡± Onlookers, realizing the scam, berated him loudly. Some suggested taking him to the authorities. The man was dragged away, shouting indignantly. --- Later that night, Qiao Sang reviewed her opponents¡¯ profiles for the championship. She noticed Little Treasure lying motionless on the bed, pretending to sleep. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She asked, poking his belly. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure responded, claiming he was practicing deception. ¡°...Weren¡¯t you going to work hard to reclaim your second-place spot?¡± she teased. Realizing his slip, Little Treasure shot upright, determined once again. Meanwhile, Lubao flowed out of the bathroom in her liquid form, muttering about training to become the leader. Qiao Sang sighed, watching her team¡¯s antics. --- Finally, the big day arrived. Standing in the lobby of the hotel, Qiao Sang looked at her team, brimming with resolve. ¡°Are you ready?¡± She asked. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Xun!¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Satisfied, she led her team out the door. ¡°National Championship! Here I come!¡± Chapter 444: The Grand Opening of the First Illumination Beast Battle Arena Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- At the entrance of the battle arena, various large flying beasts had gathered. In the Central Hollow Region, the primary mode of transportation was aerial, making flying beasts a common sight. However, the large size of some flying beasts didn¡¯t necessarily mean a higher level, it could simply be that their species naturally dwarfed ordinary flying beasts by several times. Such beasts were particularly popular during the annual interschool competitions, especially at the national level of the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship. With hundreds of media outlets covering the event, the spectacle of majestic flying beasts often captured public attention. Students dismounting from these magnificent creatures would invariably make a grand entrance on camera. ¡°Look at that! A Titan Seat! Who could possibly be riding a Titan Seat here?¡± Exclaimed a male reporter with wavy hair and a refined appearance, holding a microphone. He pointed to a silver-gray flying beast gracefully descending from the sky. The cameraman quickly turned his lens to focus on the Titan Seat. As students dressed in matching uniforms began dismounting one after another, the reporter grew even more animated. ¡°They¡¯re coming down! Look at their uniforms, this is Oberon Beast Taming High School!¡± ¡°Oberon Beast Taming High School is a renowned institution from the Central Hollow Region! Last year, students from their high school across all grades advanced to the national level. This year, senior student Chen Chao, who ranked 18th nationally last year as a junior, has qualified again. What kind of performance will he deliver this time?¡± Another flying beast, pearly white and magnificent, caught his attention before he could finish his thought. ¡°Wow! A Pearl White Eagle! That¡¯s a rare beast from the Ancient Lianke Region! Could it be that the students riding it are competitors from there?¡± Before the reporter could confirm the school of the students dismounting from the Pearl White Eagle, a sudden gust of wind roared through the arena. A majestic beast with four legs, two pairs of elaborate orange-yellow wings, a long tail, and a body covered in armor-like scales descended rapidly. Dust billowed as a powerful airflow encircled the beast, creating a barrier that left the students riding it untouched, not even a hair out of place. All eyes turned to this dazzling creature. The reporter abandoned his earlier focus, his voice trembling with excitement. ¡°A Dual-Winged Wave Dragon! Apart from the Imperial Apex Beast Taming High School of the Central Hollow Region, who else could command such a spectacle?¡± The camera zoomed in, showing students dismounting from the beast. The boys wore tailored navy-blue suits with gold-emblazoned crests on their right chests, paired with white shirts and bow ties. The girls donned navy-blue dresses accented with white collars and ribbons. Their uniforms, refined and elegant, stood in stark contrast to those of the other schools. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s Imperial Apex Beast Taming High School! Last year¡¯s national champion in the senior division came from this very school. Will they take the title again this year?¡± ¡°This year, their star student, Zhao Chuanyu, topped the preliminary rounds held in the Central Hollow...¡± While all eyes were on the students from Imperial Apex High, a gray mid-sized flying beast quietly landed behind them. ¡°Alright, the fare is 522 yuan. Will you pay by scan or cash?¡± the woman riding the gray beast asked. ¡°Scan.¡± Sun Boyi replied, pulling out his phone. After paying, the trio headed toward the entrance. Qiao Sang glanced around, noticing groups of students dressed in matching uniforms walking together. She, however, stood out in her school¡¯s lone uniform. Curious, she asked, ¡°Why does it seem like every school sent so many students?¡± Sun Boyi thought for a moment. ¡°They¡¯re probably here to watch the matches.¡± That¡¯s obvious, Qiao Sang thought, rolling her eyes. Rephrasing her question, she asked, ¡°Why did students from other regions come, too? Today isn¡¯t even a weekend, it must¡¯ve been hard to get permission to leave.¡± Though unfamiliar with which schools the students represented, Qiao Sang could tell they weren¡¯t all locals. Considering the distances between regions, it seemed excessive for students from far-off places to attend just to watch. After all, getting leave in high school was notoriously difficult. Sun Boyi chuckled. ¡°If your school has a student competing in the national finals, it¡¯s only natural for others to come and support them. This is the national championship, after all.¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Does our school have anyone here?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sun Boyi: ¡­ Next to him, Liu Yao hesitated before pulling out his phone to type a message. --- Since its founding, Shengshui High School had never had a student qualify for the national championship in the individual competition. Naturally, they were unfamiliar with the spectacle surrounding such events. In the stands, students from various schools waved colorful banners, passionately cheering for their representatives. Names of competitors were enthusiastically called out, except for Qiao Sang¡¯s. In the participants'' section, Sun Boyi sat awkwardly. This was his first time leading a student to the national finals, and he hadn¡¯t expected this level of disparity. He couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy imagining the upcoming scene where other competitors were met with raucous cheers, while Qiao Sang stood alone. Qiao Sang, however, seemed unfazed as she observed the arena. The venue was open-air, surrounded by a packed crowd. Although impressive, it wasn¡¯t nearly as grand as the venue used for the Diagram Veil Region¡¯s qualifiers. This wasn¡¯t due to the Central Hollow Region neglecting the national competition but rather because they had gone above and beyond for their regional event, using their premier venue. The First Illumination Beast Battle Arena, on the other hand, was typically used for major high school and university tournaments and adhered to standard specifications. --- ¡°Chomp chomp!¡± At that moment, a small brown-and-white flying beast passed by, holding a basket filled with snacks and drinks. A QR code hung around its neck as it chirped energetically. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he pointed excitedly at the passing vendor beast. ¡°Chomp chomp!¡± The vendor beast turned back and hovered in front of Qiao Sang, sensing an opportunity. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao stared at the basket, clearly overwhelmed by the options. ¡°Just take them all.¡± Qiao Sang said. Yabao: !!! ¡°Chomp chomp!¡± The vendor beast cheered, immediately lowering itself to present its QR code for payment. ----- ----- Chapter 445: The National Championship Starts Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As time passed, a man dressed in formal attire appeared, standing atop a medium-sized flying pet beast with a predominantly white body and fan-shaped tail feathers, hovering in the center of the arena''s airspace. The man''s voice rang out, echoing across the venue: ¡°Welcome, everyone, to the 336th National Campus Beast Mastering Championship Finals!¡± His voice was powerful and spirited, instantly igniting a sense of excitement among the audience. The crowd instinctively quieted down, directing their attention to him. He continued: ¡°This year¡¯s competition will be broadcast live across the nation. I am confident that the entire country will witness your remarkable performances!¡± ¡°Now, let me introduce the leaders and guests attending today¡¯s opening ceremony!¡± Approximately 70% of the audience consisted of students, with the rest being friends, family, and school staff accompanying the participants. Although some spectators were professionals, the large student crowd maintained order, refraining from disrupting the host¡¯s introductions with idle chatter. The atmosphere felt overly formal, leaving Qiao Sang slightly uncomfortable with the seriousness of the proceedings. ¡°Which one is Qiao Sang?¡± Asked an elderly man with graying hair seated in the first row among the leaders, squinting as he scanned the contestants'' section. ¡°The one holding a pet beast that''s snacking.¡± Replied a balding man next to him, pointing at a specific area in the contestant seating. The elderly man followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes further. ¡°Leaf.¡± At his command, a cat-like pet beast with a leaf growing on its head, perched on the elder''s lap, let out a soft cry. The leaf shook slightly, releasing a green, glowing powder. As the powder entered the elder''s eyes, his vision instantly sharpened. ¡°So that¡¯s her.¡± He murmured. ¡°Has she agreed to let the Treasure-Seeking Demon bypass the arena rules and teleport her opponent out directly?¡± The balding man shook his head. ¡°Not sure.¡± The elder opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the host¡¯s resonant voice from the center of the arena: ¡°Now, let¡¯s welcome Minister Wang from the Education Headquarters of Chongdao Region!¡± The elder refrained from speaking further, instead stroking the leaf-headed pet beast, which then vanished. As applause filled the air, the elderly man stood and waved briefly to the crowd. --- After nearly ten minutes of introductions, the man in the center concluded his acknowledgments of the attending leaders and guests. Without further delay, he raised his hand and announced loudly: ¡°Next, let¡¯s begin the pairing for the first match! Please direct your attention to the screen!¡± At his words, a massive virtual cube screen materialized above the arena. Around a hundred photographs appeared, shuffled rapidly, and soon froze into fixed pairings: Beilun Region, Gao Jianyu vs. Dongjia Region, Sun Yi Guri Region, Mao Shilei vs. Liaoxi Region, Liao Qiang Zhitiya Region, Zhou Shanliang vs. Guwu Region, Hu Fan Tuwei Region, Li Haoxia vs. Zhongkong Region, Xia Fengyuan Lianbo Region, Wu Hengxu vs. Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang In total, 65 pairings and 130 participants were displayed. ¡°Wu Hengxu¡­ Ranked 29th in the divisionals with one mid-level electric pet beast and one mid-level ground-dark hybrid pet beast.¡± Said Sun Boyi, flipping through his notes. ?? Feeling reassured, he relaxed slightly. Even though he knew Qiao Sang had the potential to win the championship, seeing that her opponent wasn¡¯t particularly strong gave him some relief. It was hard for him to maintain a calm demeanor on his first time accompanying a student to the national finals. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang remained unfazed, immediately deciding which pet beast to summon for her battle. --- The matches commenced with the first pair entering the arena. By the time it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn, two hours had passed. The host once again appeared, riding his white flying beast: S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let¡¯s welcome Wu Hengxu from Lianbo Region and Qiao Sang from Yuhua Region!¡± Unlike the elaborate entrances of Guwu¡¯s divisional competitions, the national championship adopted a simpler process. Qiao Sang had already left the audience area earlier and waited in the contestant tunnel. Hearing her name, she straightened up and stepped toward the light at the end of the corridor. --- Back in Yuhua Region, Zhehai Province, Hanggang City, Shengshui High School The Shengshui Gymnasium was packed with the school¡¯s entire faculty and student body, seated in a circular, tiered arrangement. A giant virtual screen in the center broadcasted the event live. When Qiao Sang appeared on the screen, stepping out of the tunnel and into the arena, the entire gymnasium erupted in deafening cheers. ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± The uncoordinated voices converged into a thunderous chant that reverberated through the gymnasium, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle. --- Back at the Arena. ¡°Wu Hengxu! Wu Hengxu!¡± Supporters from Lianbo Region chanted enthusiastically, holding banners that read, ¡°Wu Hengxu, You¡¯re the Best!¡± It was the first time in the competition that only one side¡¯s schoolmates were present to cheer, sparking discussions among the audience: ¡°Which school is Qiao Sang from? Why didn¡¯t any of her classmates come?¡± ¡°Maybe they got stuck in traffic?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. There¡¯s no way Zhongkong Region would have traffic issues.¡± ¡°Could it be they don¡¯t think she¡¯ll make it past the first round?¡± ¡°That¡¯s absurd! She made it to the nationals, it¡¯s a big deal no matter what!¡± A student from Guwu Region couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and interjected, ¡°Do you even know the seeded players? Qiao Sang is a favorite to win the championship! With her Ice Xilu, she¡¯ll completely dominate this Wu Hengxu guy!¡± Hearing this, a student from Lianbo Region exclaimed, ¡°Oh, right! Qiao Sang was the divisional champion from Guwu Region this year!¡± The realization spread through the crowd. They glanced around, puzzled as to why a potential national champion¡¯s school hadn¡¯t sent anyone for support. --- On the arena floor, the referee signaled the start of the match. Qiao Sang clasped her hands together, forming a seal. In the next moment, a green star formation glowed beneath her feet. ----- ----- Chapter 446: The Rogue Pig Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Xun~" As expected, the Treasure-Seeking Demon was sent out... Wu Hengxu was not surprised to see the pet beast in the distance. Qiao Sang, 15 years old, with two advanced-level pet beasts and one intermediate-level pet beast, had advanced from the preliminaries to the national competition with an undefeated record. In the regional matches, she almost always sent out the Treasure-Seeking Demon to defeat two opponents in a row when facing competitors with only two intermediate-level pet beasts. The moment Wu Hengxu learned that his opponent was Qiao Sang, he couldn''t help but curse inwardly, ''Damn.'' feeling extremely unlucky. Without an advanced-level pet beast, he never expected to go far in the national competition. However, he never imagined that he would encounter a player who seemed like the ultimate boss in the very first round. What kind of rotten luck is this... In contrast to his trainer''s unstable mindset, the Rogue Pig, holding a black flower in its mouth, looked at its opponent, the corner of its mouth curling up, revealing an eager expression. The Rogue Pig, a dual-type intermediate-level pet beast with earth and dark attributes, is known for its impulsive nature and love for causing trouble. From birth, it carries a black flower in its mouth, feeling insecure without it... Qiao Sang observed the pig-like creature with numerous black stripes on its body, three sharp claws on each limb, and a black flower in its mouth, recalling its information. "Xun~" Little Treasure stared at the flower in his opponent''s mouth with great interest. "Ee ee..." The Rogue Pig noticed Little Treasure''s gaze and immediately became wary. "Qu!" At that moment, a mechanical-type pet beast wearing a referee''s badge blew the whistle signaling the start of the match. Little Treasure quickly disappeared from his spot. "Who do you think will win this round?" On the spectator seats, a group of students in navy blue uniforms, holding a banner that read ''Wu Hengxu, you''re the best! Wu Hengxu, you''re the strongest!'' discussed. A girl who had just checked the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s information using a pet beast identifier said, "It should be Wu Hengxu. I just checked, and the opponent''s pet beast is called the Treasure-Seeking Demon, a ghost-type." It''s common knowledge that dark-type pet beasts counter ghost-types. Dark-type pet beasts are usually cruel and cunning, capable of breaking the ghost-binding abilities of ghost-type pet beasts. Some dark-type skills, such as Pursuit and Beat Up, are very effective against ghost-types. "But didn''t you see the green star array of this Qiao Sang just now? Three pet beasts! I heard she was the first in the regional competition held in the Ancient Guwu Region." A short-haired girl nearby expressed her concern. "Is she the one whose Blazing Star Canine''s Meteor Rain reached the ultimate level?" A bespectacled boy asked. "Exactly." The short-haired girl nodded. The classmates holding the banner listened to the conversation and silently lowered the banner. "But she has sent out the Treasure-Seeking Demon now. Even if he loses in the end, he should at least win this round, right?" The girl who had checked Little Treasure''s information earlier said. The classmates holding the banner immediately raised it high again. "But Qiao Sang''s Treasure-Seeking Demon also has psychic attributes. It knows Shadow Control and has even mastered the three-dimensional mode." The short-haired girl added. The classmates holding the banner silently lowered it once more. "We can''t boost others'' morale and dampen our own! Even if others think Wu Hengxu will lose, we can''t think that way!" The girl with the pet beast identifier said with utmost seriousness. The short-haired girl fell silent. The classmates holding the banner perked up and instantly raised it above their heads. "Qu!" At that moment, the whistle signaling the end of the match sounded. Following that, the host''s voice echoed in everyone''s ears: "The first match goes to Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School in Yuhua Region!" The students in navy blue uniforms: "!!!" --- One minute earlier. On the field, Little Treasure vanished from sight, only to reappear in front of the Rogue Pig the next second, his eyes glowing purple. Although Wu Hengxu held little hope for himself, as the sole representative of his school in the national championship, the coach had thoroughly discussed all opponents'' information and countermeasures. Knowing his opponent was Qiao Sang, he hadn''t watched any matches in the past few hours. Instead, he and the coach had been strategizing for this match. Losing was one thing, but this was a national broadcast. He couldn''t afford to lose without dignity, or it wouldn''t just be him losing face, but the entire school! "Shadow Clone!" Just as the Little Treasure-Seeking Demon disappeared, Wu Hengxu quickly issued the command. When Little Treasure appeared in front of the Rogue Pig, five identical clones of the Rogue Pig appeared around it. The Rogue Pig that met Little Treasure''s purple gaze showed no reaction. "Xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes lost their purple glow, and he vanished once more. Simultaneously, the six Rogue Pigs gathered dark energy in front of their mouths, forming black teeth that snapped at the spot where Little Treasure had just disappeared. Bite, an intermediate dark-type skill, uses dark energy to form teeth for attack, with a certain chance of causing the opponent to flinch, dealing significant damage to ghost-type pet beasts. If Little Treasure couldn''t teleport, given the Rogue Pig''s reaction speed, the chance of being bitten would be as high as 70%. Qiao Sang analyzed the situation calmly. Her gaze swept over the six identical Rogue Pigs, suddenly stopping on the black flower in one of their mouths. A piece of information flashed through Qiao Sang''s mind: The Rogue Pig values its black flower as its life. Anyone who threatens the flower will face its relentless wrath, not even its own trainer is spared. As this thought emerged, Qiao Sang immediately commanded: "Burn its flower!" "Xun!" The invisible Little Treasure let out a cry, and three eerie green ghost fires suddenly appeared out of thin air, randomly shooting towards the black flowers in the mouths of three Rogue Pigs. The second Rogue Pig from the left immediately turned fierce. As the Rogue Pig''s trainer, Wu Hengxu could naturally sense which one was the real body. He knew clearly that none of the ghost fires had targeted the real body. A great opportunity! Wu Hengxu seized the moment and quickly ordered: "Throw upwards!" Throw, an intermediate dark-type skill, gathers dark energy on an item to hurl it at the target. The black flower in the Rogue Pig''s mouth was its item. At the same time, Qiao Sang commanded: "The second one from the left." The three ghost fires hit the black flowers in the mouths of three Rogue Pigs, causing them to disappear along with the flowers. The remaining three Rogue Pigs used their claws to take the black flowers from their mouths, spreading their feet apart and raising their right arms, preparing to throw. Immediately after, a dark energy enveloped the black flowers. Just as the three black flowers were about to be thrown, a black shadow suddenly shot up from the ground, tightly binding the second Rogue Pig from the left, leaving only the Rogue Pig''s beady black eyes and the black flower exposed. "Xun~" Little Treasure reappeared, grinning as he reached his claw towards the black flower. The Rogue Pig''s eyes widened. Little Treasure''s claw drew closer to the black flower. The Rogue Pig''s eyes grew even wider. "Xun xun xun~" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure covered his mouth with his other claw, letting out a villainous laugh, then his eyes glowed purple. The Rogue Pig closed its eyes uncontrollably. The shadow released its grip. Bang! The Rogue Pig fell to the ground peacefully, eyes closed. The whistle signaling the end of the match blew. Thus, the match concluded in one minute and one second. ----- T/N: I''m backkkkkkkkkkkkk. I''m free from my cageeeee hahahahaha! ----- ----- Chapter 447: Spinning Until Exhausted Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The previous matches lasted anywhere from half an hour to just over ten minutes. A match where two pets of the same level ended so quickly was a first for the audience since the start of the national championship, causing a stir among the spectators. "That¡¯s it? I don¡¯t think even a minute has passed." "I don¡¯t get it. How did that girl recognize the Rogue Pig¡¯s clones right away?" "Aren¡¯t Dark-type pets supposed to counter Ghost-types? Why does it feel like that advantage doesn¡¯t exist at all?" "Damn, a three-dimensional Shadow Bind! Isn¡¯t that basically unbeatable at the same level?!" "Shadow Bind is all about restriction, right? Logically, the Rogue Pig, being a Dark-type, should be able to break free." "But it¡¯s in a three-dimensional mode, and the proficiency is so high. It¡¯s not something you can escape from easily. Plus, the Treasure-Seeking Demon immediately followed up with Hypnosis, there was no time for the Rogue Pig to break free." "Did it use Hypnosis right away? I thought I saw it touch that flower with its claws first, like it was teasing the Rogue Pig on purpose." "You don¡¯t get it! That¡¯s strategy! Didn¡¯t you notice how the Rogue Pig¡¯s eyes bulged when the Treasure-Seeking Demon touched the flower? The wider the eyes, the easier it is to hypnotize." "Ohhh, that makes sense!" About 70% of the audience were students, most of whom reacted instinctively to the battle, while the leaders in the front row focused on analysis. "Invisibility from its Ghost-type and Teleportation from its Psychic-type¡­ Forget the Rogue Pig, even a high-level pet would struggle to land a hit on this Treasure-Seeking Demon." "That Qiao Sang planned well. She deliberately mentioned burning the flower to bait the Rogue Pig into making a mistake, then swiftly secured victory. This wasn¡¯t just a brute-force win with a high-level pet, the championship of this division is well-earned." --- While the audience debated, the second match had already begun, and both competitors had summoned their pets. "She''s using the Treasure-Seeking Demon again in the second round. Who do you think will win?" One student in navy blue school uniforms asked. "Qiao Sang." A short-haired girl answered. "I think it¡¯ll be Wu Hengxu. His Bolt Spider makes it hard for opponents of the same level to get close." A bespectacled boy added. Just then, a girl who had previously looked up the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s data on a pet identifier turned to ask, "Hu Le, what do you think?" Hu Le shook her head. "I don¡¯t know." The girl glanced at the banner Hu Le had been holding. "Why aren¡¯t you holding up your banner anymore?" Hu Le was silent for a few seconds. "My hands hurt." --- The Bolt Spider, an Electric-type mid-tier pet, could spew out large amounts of electrified silk to form barriers. It could use this silk for both defense and attack. On the battlefield, Qiao Sang observed the pet on the other side, a predominantly yellow creature with four eyes, eight legs, and a fluffy white tuft on its back. Information about it flashed through her mind. "Qu!" The referee¡¯s whistle signaled the start of the match. As usual, Little Treasure vanished from sight. At the same time, the Bolt Spider opened its mouth, spitting out several strands of white, electricity-laced silk. The silk crisscrossed over the battlefield, forming an all-encompassing web around and above the Bolt Spider. Sparks crackled through the web, creating an intimidating deterrent. Yet, the Treasure-Seeking Demon still hadn¡¯t appeared¡­ Wu Hengxu felt uneasy. Logically, with its Teleportation ability, the Treasure-Seeking Demon should have launched an attack the moment it vanished. Before the match, he had instructed the Bolt Spider to stay alert at all times, ready to switch from defense to offense in an instant. Ideally, if the Treasure-Seeking Demon appeared within range, it would immediately be ensnared in lightning silk. But now, the entire web was set up, and the Treasure-Seeking Demon was still nowhere to be seen. This was not normal. A wave of anxiety washed over Wu Hengxu. He had a bad feeling the Treasure-Seeking Demon was about to pull off something big. Still, he reassured himself: At least the web is fully deployed. No way this match ends as quickly as the last one¡­ A strange silence hung over the battlefield. "Bolt!" The Bolt Spider¡¯s four eyes darted warily around. Suddenly, all the lightning webs lifted as if caught by an invisible force and came crashing down onto the Bolt Spider itself, coalescing into what looked like a glowing white thundercloud. "Bolt!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bolt Spider scurried across the web, but there was nowhere to run, it was surrounded by its own trap. Within moments, the web had completely wrapped around the Bolt Spider like a cocoon. Wu Hengxu looked up at the Treasure-Seeking Demon, now materializing midair, utterly bewildered. Why did the lightning web lose control? Wait! Its eyes¡­ blue? Could it be¡­ Telekinesis?! Of course! The Treasure-Seeking Demon had Psychic-type abilities, it must have a Telekinesis skill! But was its Telekinesis really this strong? It actually managed to manipulate so many electrified threads?! A flurry of thoughts raced through Wu Hengxu¡¯s mind. He suddenly realized: Damn it, this Treasure-Seeking Demon had waited until the web was fully deployed before striking, just so it could ensure the Bolt Spider was completely entangled. So¡­ the Bolt Spider worked so hard¡­ just to trap itself? Wu Hengxu nearly spat blood at the realization. Still, he comforted himself. At least it wasn¡¯t bound by some other force, it was just its own web. Suspended about half a meter above the ground, the Bolt Spider, now a silken cocoon, bared its fangs and tore a hole through its bindings. Just as its head was about to break free, Qiao Sang sighed. "Spin." "Xuuuuun!" Little Treasure let out a chirp. The cocoon, crackling with electricity, began to spin rapidly. Wu Hengxu reacted instantly. "Spit silk at the opening!" If the Bolt Spider could attach a strand of silk to the ground, it could pull itself out! Hearing its trainer¡¯s command, the Bolt Spider fought through its dizziness and aimed for the opening. But just then, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed an even brighter blue. The spinning sped up. If the initial speed was normal, this was now 8x speed. Inside the cocoon, the Bolt Spider gagged. Its insides churned violently. Never mind spitting silk, it was too nauseous to even attempt it. Seeing this, Wu Hengxu quickly issued another command. "Bite through the web!" For others, the lightning web was nearly indestructible, but the Bolt Spider could easily chew through its own silk. That was the only reason Wu Hengxu had remained confident earlier. Inside the cocoon, the Bolt Spider steadied itself with sheer willpower. It opened its eyes, resolve hardening. Just as it aimed for the webbing with its fangs... Little Treasure¡¯s eyes gleamed once more. "BOLT!!!" A miserable cry echoed across the battlefield. To the audience, the cocoon had become nothing but a yellow-white blur. If the previous speed was 8x, this was now 16x. ¡­Poor Bolt Spider¡­ The same thought surfaced in everyone¡¯s minds. No one knew how long it spun. Eventually, the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s blue glow faded, and the cocoon dropped to the ground, rolling twice before lying still. "Xuun¡­" Little Treasure wiped his paw across his forehead, despite the absence of sweat. Spinning is so exhausting¡­ A referee pet hovered over, squinted at the cocoon, then blew its whistle. "Quuuuu!" ----- ----- Chapter 448: Out of Place Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Apart from the section occupied by students in navy blue uniforms, the rest of the audience remained silent for a moment before erupting into loud cheers. "Even though it ended so quickly, that was absolutely exhilarating!" "I never expected this ghost-type beast to have such powerful telekinesis!" "Brilliant! Using someone else¡¯s thunder web against them, why didn¡¯t I think of that?" "Even if you had thought of it, executing it would be a whole different challenge. Mastering telekinesis to that level is no joke." "Honestly, the battles for the championship just hit differently. It felt like everything was under control from start to finish. That guy, Wu Hengxu, wasn¡¯t even in the same league!" "Yeah, especially the previous match. It was a type disadvantage, but she still won effortlessly!" "Tsk, I guess even in the national championship, the skill gap between competitors is huge." "By the way, which school is Qiao Sang from? Why isn¡¯t anyone from her school here? How could they not send anyone to cheer for such an amazing competitor?" --- Yuhua Region. Zhejiang Province, Hanggang City. Shengshui High School The Shengshui Gymnasium was in an uproar. "Holy crap, it¡¯s over already?! It took me longer to walk here from the classroom than those two battles combined!" "Exactly! My seat isn¡¯t even warm yet!" "God Qiao is God Qiao! She¡¯s still absolutely dominating, even at the national championship level!" As the crowd buzzed with excitement, the school principal, Wang Weidou, took the microphone and stepped onto the stage. Clearing his throat, he spoke solemnly: "We will be selecting a group of students to travel to the Zhongkong region as a cheer squad. Who among you would like to volunteer?" The gym fell into a brief silence. Then, within seconds, it exploded into chaos. Hands shot into the air, students practically throwing themselves forward in their eagerness. "Me! Pick me! I¡¯m tall, handsome, and presentable! I won¡¯t embarrass Shengshui High!" "Me! My voice is loud! I can drown out the cheers of every other school!" "Me! I¡¯ve spoken to Qiao Sang three times! She¡¯ll feel a sense of familiarity if I go!" "Qiao Sang is competing in the senior division, so obviously, seniors should be chosen!" "She¡¯s a first-year! The first-years should be the ones going!" "If we¡¯re being technical, Qiao Sang trained with the second-year team the longest, so it should be us second-years who get selected!" "Pick the seniors!" "First-years! Choose the first-years!" "Second-years! It has to be the second-years!" As the gymnasium descended into a heated debate, Wang Weidou nodded in satisfaction. When he first received Liu Yao¡¯s message, he¡¯d been a little worried. But for something as simple as forming a cheer squad? With this much enthusiasm, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t assemble a team capable of overwhelming the competition. --- The first phase of the national championship lasted three full days. During this time, due to the odd number of competitors, a supplementary match was held among the 65 eliminated contestants. One winner was chosen to rejoin the competition. As a result, a total of 66 competitors advanced to the second phase. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the eve of the second phase, Qiao Sang was flying high above the ground, navigating with her GPS while riding on Yabao¡¯s back. As they ascended, more and more people wearing oxygen masks became visible in the sky. The Zhongkong region was known for its deep appreciation of flying-type beasts, largely due to its advancements in constructing floating buildings in the high-altitude clouds. However, cloud-based architecture was no easy feat, so the number of structures in the sky was far fewer than on land. And every single one that did exist had been built at exorbitant costs. One such landmark was the Imperial Beast Battle Arena, the most iconic venue for beast battles in the entire Zhongkong region, located high above the clouds. The Mystic Auction House, where Qiao Sang was headed, was also situated in a cloud-based building. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure tilted his head curiously, observing the increasing number of people wearing helmet-like devices. He chirped a question, wondering what they were. "Those are oxygen masks." Qiao Sang explained. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure chirped again, asking what they were for. "Because we¡¯re flying so high, there¡¯s not enough oxygen up here. The masks help them breathe." "Xun xun?" Little Treasure looked at his trainer and tilted his head. Why aren¡¯t you wearing one? Qiao Sang patiently replied, "Yabao and Lubao have both evolved, and I have you. With all that feedback energy, I can handle the altitude just fine." In the Zhongkong region¡¯s high-altitude travel guide, it clearly stated that D-rank Beast Tamers could reach the cloud layer without needing an oxygen mask. She hadn¡¯t officially taken the D-rank certification exam yet, but her strength was already at that level, she just hadn¡¯t gone through the paperwork. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure nodded in understanding, then suddenly seemed to have an idea. He reached into his ring, rummaged around, and pulled out an old gaming headset. Placing the headset on his head, he chirped proudly. "Xun xun~" Then, extending a short claw, he poked Qiao Sang¡¯s shoulder. Qiao Sang turned to look. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure grinned widely. Doesn¡¯t this look just like an oxygen mask? Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- Half an hour later, Yabao landed outside a grand, white building. A stream of well-dressed second- and third-generation elites, clad in elegant suits and gowns, made their way inside. Qiao Sang dismounted, glancing at the cloud-like ground beneath her feet. Out of curiosity, she gave it a couple of test stomps. Huh. It¡¯s actually soft¡­ Before coming, she had done her research. These clouds weren¡¯t natural but were floating constructs created by flying-type beasts. After a few more stomps for good measure, she picked up the now-miniaturized Yabao and walked toward the grand white building. Nearby, a few well-dressed men and women stopped in their tracks, turning to stare in confusion. Who¡¯s this kid? Did she seriously just show up in a school uniform? Qiao Sang was already used to being stared at. After spending the past few days in high-profile battles, constantly watched by thousands of people, she had long since adapted. Even here in Zhongkong, people recognize me? My damned popularity¡­ Straightening her back, she calmly handed her invitation card to the staff. After receiving a bidder number 67, she proceeded inside. The auction hall was located on the second floor of the white building. The vast space spanned over 600 square meters, covered in plush carpets, with a luxurious crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Rows of walnut-colored chieftain chairs were neatly arranged, and at the far end of the hall, there were VIP suites with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There are VIP rooms too? Qiao Sang withdrew her gaze, walked over to a long buffet table draped in a white cloth, and picked up three pastries: One for Yanao, one for Little Treasure, and one for herself. She then found a seat near the back and sat down. However, all around her, people were casting furtive glances her way. Understandable. Everyone else was dressed in tailored suits and elaborate gowns. Qiao Sang, sitting there in a school uniform, was entirely out of place. ----- ----- Chapter 449: Purebred Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Inside a VIP private box, a lean man dressed in a black formal suit stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the lively social scene below. His neatly combed hair reflected his meticulous demeanor. The invitation cards for the Mystic Auction were mostly distributed within the Zhongkong Region, meaning the attendees were primarily from influential families within the area. While many were here to bid on desirable items, others came with socializing in mind. Zhao family, Li family, Xu family¡­ The man¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd, matching faces to the information in his mind. Soon, his eyes landed on a student in a school uniform. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, whose child was this? ¡ª "Hello, I¡¯m Yu Ke from the Yu family in the Northern District." A young woman, seemingly around eighteen, with bare shoulders and a pink gown, gracefully sat in the chieftain chair next to Qiao Sang. She smiled politely. "Which family are you from?" Qiao Sang glanced at her while munching on a pastry. "The state¡¯s." Yu Ke: ??? So guarded¡­ Yu Ke mused. Her eyes instinctively shifted toward the luxurious-furred pet beast curled on Qiao Sang¡¯s lap. On her way in, she had already noticed it. The beast, about three meters in size, could run through the skies. Such rare and majestic psychic-type beasts, especially those capable of carrying people, weren¡¯t something an ordinary person could contract. Moreover, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t worn an oxygen mask while flying in, which meant she was at least a D-rank Beastmaster. That also suggested this beast likely belonged to her personally, not a family elder. Some people might attend the auction in casual attire simply because they were unaware of the Mystic Auction¡¯s exclusivity, perhaps they had just stumbled upon an invitation card by chance. But this girl had an extraordinary presence. Even without an elder guiding her, she carried herself with complete confidence. Coupled with her rare pet beast at such a young age, Yu Ke was nearly certain, her background was anything but ordinary. With that realization, Qiao Sang¡¯s cautious attitude made perfect sense. As someone skilled in socializing, Yu Ke quickly adjusted her approach. Just as she was about to engage Qiao Sang again, the lights dimmed, and a striking woman stepped onto the stage. The chatter in the hall gradually quieted as people took their seats. The woman smiled and spoke, "Distinguished guests, good evening. Welcome to this year¡¯s Mystic Auction. I am Tang Shu, a nationally certified senior auctioneer, registration number 1102876. I will be hosting tonight¡¯s auction, and it¡¯s my pleasure to serve you all. I hope each bidder leaves satisfied." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Before we begin, I will go over some important statements regarding this auction. Staff, please distribute the auction catalogs." At her signal, a group of small, white, bird-like pet beasts, all dressed in professional-looking uniforms, swooped in through the windows, each carrying an auction catalog in its beak. Qiao Sang took one from a passing bird and flipped it open. Holy sh-! A Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg! An SS-rank item crafted by Grandmaster An! A crystallized essence that can make illusion-based pet beasts¡¯ abilities manifest physically for a full minute! An evolution potion that lets any king-tier pet beast experience an entire day of evolved power! This is insane! Qiao Sang was ecstatic. These were things she would never even see in normal circumstances! And even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily have the means to buy them. But now, they were all up for sale, right in the year she was at her wealthiest! Heart pounding, she eagerly flipped to the next page: [Item Name: SS-Rank Dark Nether Crystal Description: A highly beneficial item for ghost-type pet beasts, sourced from Secret Realm No. 82 in the Zidya Region. Appraiser: Zhu Sugu] This auction was worth attending. Qiao Sang took a slow, deep breath, calming her excitement. Her gaze grew sharp with determination. The other items were negotiable, but this one was a must-have. The auctioneer¡¯s introductory speech felt like the prelude to a formal meeting, dull and far from the thrilling portrayals in novels. Fortunately, it was brief, and soon, the real bidding began. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce our first auction item." As she spoke, a pet beast with a chubby lower half, gloved claws, and hair-like appendages on its head pushed a glass-covered container onto the stage. At the same time, a virtual screen behind her displayed an image and details of the item inside. "The first auction item is a Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg!" Most of the audience remained composed, people here were accustomed to seeing rare goods. The auctioneer seemed to anticipate their lack of reaction. She smiled knowingly and continued, "This isn¡¯t just any Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg. Both its parents, grandparents, and every ancestor in its lineage were Venomspike Earth Dragons!" "In other words, this is a purebred Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg!" Qiao Sang¡¯s sharp hearing caught the sound of someone swallowing hard. A purebred pet beast was vastly different from an ordinary one. With a pure lineage, its natural abilities were guaranteed to be present from birth. Moreover, it had an over 90% chance of reaching its species¡¯ maximum evolutionary tier. For a Venomspike Earth Dragon, that meant¡­ Emperor-tier. This meant that as long as the beast lived long enough and was provided ample resources, there was a 90%+ chance of acquiring an Emperor-tier pet beast! The auctioneer¡¯s satisfied gaze swept over the audience. "Starting bid: 30 million!" "35 million!" Someone immediately raised their paddle. "40 million!" "50 million!" "55 million!" "60 million!" "80 million!" The numbers flew like they meant nothing, just arbitrary figures rather than actual money. As the price skyrocketed, Qiao Sang¡¯s initial temptation cooled into rational calculation. A purebred Venomspike Earth Dragon was tempting, no doubt. But it was still just an egg, who knew how long it would take to hatch? Even if it hatched the very next day, her Beast Codex hadn¡¯t unlocked a fourth contract slot yet. She wouldn¡¯t be able to form a contract immediately. If she openly purchased the egg in this hall full of powerhouses, her identity would be scrutinized. If anyone discovered her background, the egg wouldn¡¯t stay hers for long. Stay calm. A purebred Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg was great, but she had a golden finger. Evolutionary limits weren¡¯t an issue for her. Right now, the Dark Nether Crystal was her priority. Her resolve settled, and her expression remained steady. Yu Ke stole another glance at the girl beside her, inwardly stunned. Who the hell is this? She¡¯s actually staying this calm in front of a purebred Emperor-tier pet beast egg?! The bidding continued for over ten minutes. Eventually, a VIP box from upstairs placed the final bid, securing the egg for 239 million. The auction progressed. Time ticked by. After the initial frenzy over the purebred Venomspike Earth Dragon Egg, subsequent bidding wars remained relatively restrained. Finally, the same pet beast from before wheeled out a box draped in purple silk. Inside sat the Dark Nether Crystal. "Our next item: the Dark Nether Crystal. Starting bid: 2.6 million!" ----- ----- Chapter 450: The Qingfeng Compass Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The next second, Qiao Sang raised her paddle decisively. "Five million." Yu Ke turned her head in shock. While five million wasn¡¯t an astronomical sum, the girl in front of her looked way too young, practically underage. Even if her family had given her the money, was she really not going to get scolded when she got home for raising the bid by 2.4 million on her first call for a piece of Dark Nether Crystal? Auctioneer Tang Shu was momentarily stunned when she saw the bidder. What the heck? A school uniform? However, her professionalism allowed her to recover in just 0.01 seconds. With a smile, she announced, "Bidder No. 67, five million, first call." The crowd subtly glanced at the young girl who had just bid and, almost in unspoken agreement, refrained from raising their paddles. Although an SS-grade Dark Nether Crystal was rare, it wasn¡¯t something entirely unobtainable with enough time and effort. Everyone here was a person of status. Competing against a young girl in public would be beneath them. Normally, some attendees might bid just to collect such an item, even if they didn¡¯t need it. But today, no one made a move. "Bidder No. 67, five million, second call!" Seeing no further bids, Tang Shu continued, "This SS-grade Dark Nether Crystal contains an unparalleled concentration of dark energy, and its crystal structure is flawless, something you won¡¯t find on the open market. If you let this opportunity slip by, who knows when the next one will come?" The audience exchanged glances, but still, no one raised their paddle. Seriously? No one''s going to fight me for this? This doesn¡¯t even feel like an auction¡­ Although Qiao Sang was complaining inwardly, she was secretly relieved. She casually took a bite of the pastry that Little Treasure had just brought over. "Bidder No. 67, five million, third call!" Bang! The gavel came down. "Congratulations, Bidder No. 67, on your successful purchase!" She won! Qiao Sang felt elated inside, but outwardly, she remained composed, wearing a look of I totally expected this. If Yu Ke had been surprised before, now she was outright shocked. An SS-grade Dark Nether Crystal might not necessarily be worth five million, but anything above S-grade was so rare that its value always skyrocketed at auction. Under normal circumstances, an SS-grade Dark Nether Crystal would sell for around seven million. Yet today, no one else bid? Could it be that this girl came from an extraordinary family, one so influential that no one dared to compete with her? That thought made Yu Ke look at Qiao Sang differently. Soon, a staff member approached. Under their guidance, Qiao Sang entered a private room. For every winning bid, the buyer needed to immediately sign a Transaction Confirmation Agreement, make the payment, and collect their item. "Miss, your total comes to five million." The staff member said respectfully. Qiao Sang pulled out a black-gold credit card. The staff member froze. --- Meanwhile, in a VIP suite above the auction hall, a man with triangular eyes turned to the person beside him. "I recall your grandson has a Nightmare Mo-Mo. Why didn¡¯t you bid for the Dark Nether Crystal on his behalf?" The man beside him, appearing in his thirties, took a sip of tea and said, "At this critical juncture, I¡¯m not spending millions on a single Dark Nether Crystal." The triangular-eyed man fell silent. He understood exactly what critical juncture meant. --- After collecting her Dark Nether Crystal, Qiao Sang returned to the auction hall, feeling that time was passing much faster now. Before she knew it, the event was nearing its end. On stage, Tang Shu dramatically lifted the red cloth covering the next item and announced, "Now, we present the grand finale of this auction: The Qingfeng Compass!" Beneath the cloth was a silver compass with three concentric rotating rings. The moment it appeared, Qiao Sang noticed the collective sharp intake of breath from the audience. Yu Ke¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. No wonder everyone had been so reserved with their bids after that Poison Spine Earth Dragon Egg at the start of the auction! So this was the real prize! The Qingfeng Compass! Qiao Sang took another bite of her pastry. Qingfeng Compass? Never heard of it. Not even in the auction catalog. Seeing how calm she was, Yu Ke couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and whispered, "Why aren¡¯t you reacting?" Qiao Sang looked at her. "What kind of reaction should I have?" Yu Ke was even more shocked. "This is the Qingfeng Compass!" Just as Qiao Sang was about to ask what that was, Tang Shu started her introduction: "The Qingfeng Compass, a device that can locate Qingqing Ni. There are only thirty-two of these compasses in the world. This particular one was once owned by Master Yuan Yazhang." "As many of you know, Qingqing Ni can only be found in Hollow Zone¡¯s Secret Realm No. 16, which opens only once every thirty years." "Now, with only two years left until the next opening, I¡¯m sure many of you will be very interested in this compass." What kind of question is that? Of course, everyone¡¯s interested! Though all items at the Mystic Auction House were kept secret beforehand, the attendees were no ordinary people. To attract high-profile buyers, the auction house often leaked information about key items in advance. Over 70% of the audience had already heard whispers that the Qingfeng Compass would be up for auction today. Most of them were here for that reason. Seeing the crowd¡¯s anticipation, Tang Shu smiled and announced, "The Qingfeng Compass, starting bid: 1.1 billion!" Holy crap. 1.1 billion just to start?! Qiao Sang was utterly stunned. She might not know what the Qingfeng Compass or Qingqing Ni were, but she definitely knew what money was! Immediately, she pulled out her phone to search for Qingqing Ni. Yu Ke, meanwhile, was completely speechless. Not only was this girl unfazed by the Qingfeng Compass, but she was also casually playing on her phone?! [Qingqing Ni: A legendary Fairy-type beginner-level pet beast from the Hollow Zone. Known as the child of the wind, its mood fluctuates based on wind conditions, calm in a breeze, agitated in a storm. In short, the stronger the wind, the more volatile its temperament.] [It loves drifting with the wind and can slip through even the tiniest cracks, just like air itself.] [It¡¯s said that Beast Tamers who form a contract with Qingqing Ni will also be favored by the wind.] After reading that, Qiao Sang immediately understood why the Qingfeng Compass was so expensive. Forget anything else, just the word legendary alone justified the price. The bidders were obviously after Qingqing Ni. If someone could contract with a legendary pet beast, they wouldn¡¯t just spend one billion, they¡¯d go bankrupt for it if necessary. Having a legendary pet beast meant endless opportunities to make money. After all, encountering one was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Not to mention, in the Hollow Zone, the sky was king. People often rode their pet beasts to fly around. Contracting with Qingqing Ni, which was loved by the wind, would make aerial travel exponentially safer. Still, no matter how amazing it was, it had nothing to do with her. Some things weren¡¯t just about money, it was about whether you could survive using them. Qiao Sang put her phone away. By now, the price had already climbed to 3.7 billion. "You¡¯re really not interested in the Qingfeng Compass?" Yu Ke tried again. "Of course I am." Qiao Sang replied. Yu Ke wasn¡¯t convinced. "Then why don¡¯t you look excited?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Maybe I¡¯m just good at controlling my facial expressions." Yu Ke¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. She struggled to continue the conversation. "I wonder who will win the Qingfeng Compass." Qiao Sang pondered for a second before answering seriously, "Probably someone with enough backing to not be afraid of getting robbed." Yu Ke was momentarily stunned before chuckling helplessly. "That¡¯s impossible! This is the Mystic Auction House!" Qiao Sang frowned. "So?" Yu Ke replied knowingly, ¡°This is your first time attending the Mystic Auction, right? Your family must have forgotten to tell you, every single item at this auction is cursed by the Curse Nightshade. Anyone who obtains an auction item through illegal means, aside from the legitimate buyer, will be cursed and meet an untimely death.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°There¡¯s no way to lift the curse?¡± Yu Ke chuckled. ¡°Do you think the Mystic Auction is famous for no reason? The Curse Nightshade behind these curses has lived for at least a hundred years. Its mastery of curses is undoubtedly at the Ultimate level. The only way to counter it would be to find a beast that is both stronger than the Curse Nightshade and possesses a cleansing skill capable of breaking curses. Otherwise, even slightly weaker beasts might suffer backlash.¡± ¡°Even if a beast happens to have a cleansing skill at the Ultimate level, they wouldn¡¯t dare to try.¡± ¡°You have to understand, this is a Curse Nightshade that has lived for over a century. Who can guarantee a 100% success rate in lifting its curse without being backlashed?¡± Qiao Sang fell silent for a few seconds before asking, ¡°If...hypothetically speaking...someone hired another person to steal an auction item and then obtained it through them, would they be cursed?¡± A minor thinking about this much¡­ she can¡¯t actually be planning to do this, right? Yu Ke paused, shifted away slightly, and answered cautiously, ¡°The curse applies to anyone who acquires the item through illegal means, no matter how many hands it passes through.¡± Feeling uneasy, she emphasized again, ¡°Anyone.¡± Oh my god, what have I missed¡­ Hearing this, Qiao Sang deeply regretted her earlier caution. She should¡¯ve just bid on all those treasures instead of holding back! ¡°Lot 255, 5.67 billion, second call!¡± At that moment, the auctioneer¡¯s voice echoed through the hall. Qiao Sang suddenly snapped back to reality and raised her paddle decisively. ¡°6 billion!¡± Yu Ke: !!! The childish voice caught the remaining bidders off guard. Everyone turned their heads abruptly, only to see a school-uniformed minor. Crowd: ??? Everyone, including the auctioneer, Tang Shu, was stunned. ¡°Whose kid is this? No guardian watching over her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize that uniform. Doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s from any of the top ten academies in the Imperial Capital.¡± ¡°This bid shouldn¡¯t be valid, right?¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd erupted into murmurs. Before Tang Shu could restore order, a voice rang out from a VIP booth. ¡°6.1 billion.¡± ¡°6.2 billion.¡± Qiao Sang immediately followed. ¡°Can someone step in already? Shouldn¡¯t we verify assets first? What if she bids randomly and then calls her parents to pay, but they refuse?¡± Someone in the hall complained. Tang Shu hesitated briefly before speaking, but before she could, a message came through her earpiece. ¡°Proceed with the auction. The girl is holding a Alliance Dingshi Bank Black Gold Card.¡± Tang Shu: !!! ¡°Bidder 67, 6.2 billion, first call!¡± Tang Shu announced loudly. The crowd fell silent. Looking at the auctioneer¡¯s attitude¡­ could this kid really afford to pay? ¡°Bidder 67, 6.2 billion, second call!¡± ¡°6.3 billion.¡± The VIP booth raised their bid again. ¡°7 billion.¡± Qiao Sang lifted her paddle. ¡°7.1 billion.¡± ¡°8 billion.¡± ¡°Bidder 67, 8 billion, first call!¡± Tang Shu¡¯s face was flushed with excitement. The VIP booth fell into silence. ¡°Bidder 67, 8 billion, second call!¡± ¡°8.1 billion.¡± The VIP bidder spoke again. Without hesitation, Qiao Sang raised her paddle. ¡°9 billion.¡± The crowd¡¯s minds went blank. Mystic Auction¡¯s minimum bid increment was 500,000. Who the hell jumps straight by 900 million?! A-Ah! What¡¯s the commission percentage for 9 billion?! Tang Shu was ecstatic, almost hearing the sound of her own pounding heartbeat. ¡°Bidder 67, 9 billion, first call!¡± ¡°Bidder 67, 9 billion, second call!¡± ¡°Bidder 67, 9 billion, third call!¡± Tang Shu slammed the gavel down. ¡°Congratulations to Bidder 67 for winning our grand finale item!¡± The hall erupted into noise. Under the guidance of auction staff, Qiao Sang proceeded to sign the confirmation documents and collect her auction item. No one left. The entire crowd gathered at the entrance, unwilling to believe that a minor, without any guardian present, had just spent that much money. Did I¡­ just sit next to someone incredibly powerful? We talked so much¡­ it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to exchange contact info, right? Which family¡¯s direct heir is she¡­? At the entrance, Yu Ke glanced inside anxiously from time to time. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, having used Little Treasure¡¯s spatial shift, was already airborne, seated on Yabao, flying back to her hotel. --- Moting Hotel. 9 billion. If this were before I had an unlimited credit card, I¡¯d hesitate even over 90,000¡­ Qiao Sang sat on the bed, glanced at the Qingfeng Compass for a moment, then casually set it aside before shifting her consciousness into the Beastmaster Codex. Ten seconds later. Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness returned to reality. She carefully opened a box containing Dark Nether Crystal and turned to Little Treasure. ¡°Little Treasure, come here.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Hearing his Beastmaster¡¯s call, Little Treasure obediently placed his tiny ant back into his ring and floated over. Qiao Sang placed the Dark Nether Crystal in front of him and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s time for you to evolve.¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure blinked, glancing back and forth between the crystal and his Beastmaster, again and again, before his eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± The next second, Little Treasure dove into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, sobbing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang looked utterly confused. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure cried out twice. So¡­ the thing she bought tonight was for his evolution?! I¡¯m so useless¡­ I actually need an item to evolve! Unlike Big Brother Yabao and Lubao, who didn¡¯t need anything! Qiao Sang: ¡­ She explained patiently, ¡°Many beasts require items to evolve. That doesn¡¯t make them weak. In fact, some beasts that evolve through special items are far stronger than those that evolve naturally.¡± ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Little Treasure sniffled and looked up. Really? Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes immediately blazed with excitement. I¡¯m finally reclaiming my position as the second strongest! Qiao Sang: ¡­ Little Treasure reached out his tiny claws toward the Dark Nether Crystal. The moment he touched the crystal, the room was instantly engulfed in brilliant white light. ----- ----- Chapter 451: Ghost Ring Phantom Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The drowsy Yabao was suddenly jolted awake by a burst of bright white light. In the next moment, his eyes widened abruptly. "Yap!" My little brother is evolving! Bathed in the white glow, Little Treasure¡¯s body gradually grew larger. At the same time, Qiao Sang felt a refreshing coolness sweep through her mind, like a gentle breeze brushing past. It was incredibly soothing. "Hah..." Qiao Sang let out a long exhale, instantly feeling clear-headed and revitalized. This sensation wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to her. She had experienced it before when Yabao and Lubao had evolved. However, back then, one evolution had occurred in the midst of a crisis, and the other during an intense competition. Her attention hadn''t been on herself, so she hadn''t realized the changes in her own state as clearly as she did now. The feeling of being nourished in return was truly amazing... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but marvel at it. Just then, the white light faded. A small creature emerged, his body predominantly gray. His golden hair was tied into a single braid that fluttered behind his head. Each of his ears sported a golden hoop earring, radiating a visible black ghostly aura. Around his neck, a golden ring-like pattern was embedded in his fur. A golden band encircled the connection between his hands and wrists. Evolution successful... Qiao Sang¡¯s lips curled into a bright smile. "Yap Yap!" Yabao excitedly ran up to Little Treasure. My little brother really evolved! "Gui!" Little Treasure placed his tiny paws on his hips and let out a triumphant, head-tilted laugh. But just as he started laughing, he suddenly sensed something was off. "Gui?" He hesitantly called out again. "Gui?!" Little Treasure''s expression turned into one of utter disbelief. Why had his voice changed?! Seeing this, Qiao Sang explained, "It''s normal for your voice to change after evolving. Didn¡¯t Lubao¡¯s voice change too?" "Gui..." Little Treasure, struck by the realization, suddenly looked dejected. His floating braid drooped along with his spirits. But then, as if recalling something, his eyes lit up, and his braid once again fluttered in the air. Little Treasure took a deep breath and opened its mouth. "Gui... Gui... Xun..." Qiao Sang blinked. Little Treasure also blinked, then carefully called out again, "Xun?" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he put his paws on his hips and resumed hiss triumphant laughter. Qiao Sang: !!! Wait... a pet beast can control its evolved voice?! "Yap yap..." Yabao, standing beside them, tilted his head in confusion. Why is little brother so excited? It¡¯s just a different voice¡­ "Xun xun~" After laughing joyfully for a while, Little Treasure floated toward the bathroom, eager to see his new form in the mirror. "Xun xun!" Soon, a sharp cry echoed from the bathroom. Qiao Sang frowned. Now what? Before she could get up to check, Little Treasure had already floated out, teary-eyed. "Xun xun!" "Xun xun!" He threw himself into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, wailing. He was still so small! "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head, looking at him seriously before blurting out a sincere question: Oh? You evolved, but you''re still tiny? "Xun xun!!" Little Treasure wailed even louder. Qiao Sang: ... Well, technically, Little Treasure had grown about ten centimeters taller after evolving. But compared to Yabao and Lubao, the size difference was still noticeable. Actually, wasn¡¯t the normal size of a Ghost Ring Phantom supposed to be twice as big as this? Yeah... it''s indeed too small... Qiao Sang silently agreed but said instead, "You''re much bigger than before. If you don¡¯t believe me, try sitting on my head." "Xun xun..." Hearing his beast master''s words, Little Treasure stopped crying and floated onto her head. Since he rarely looked in the mirror, he always gauged his size compared to Yabao and Lubao. But the moment he sat on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, he immediately noticed a difference. Before, he could wiggle around and still see Qiao Sang¡¯s ears when he lowered his head. But now, he couldn''t. "Xun..." Little Treasure blinked. He really had grown a little. "Xun xun..." But in the next second, he pursed its lips, looking aggrieved. Only a little¡­ Qiao Sang comforted it, "This size is just right. You like sitting on my head, don¡¯t you? If you got any bigger, you wouldn''t fit." "Xun xun..." Little Treasure fell into deep thought. But¡­ he already felt like he didn¡¯t fit¡­ You''re not wrong. Qiao Sang sighed internally. Little Treasure¡¯s size now completely covered her head. If it had been a beret before, it was now a full-on sun hat. But could she say that? Nope. Qiao Sang smiled. "You fit just fine." "Xun..." Little Treasure sighed. Well, at least being small had this one advantage. "Yap..." Yabao, watching from the side, saw how half of Qiao Sang¡¯s face was now covered in shadow and grew even more confused. Does that really count as ''fitting''...? --- 11:30 PM After washing up, Qiao Sang lay in bed and entered the Beast Codex in her consciousness. She quickly flipped to Xiaoxunbao¡¯s page. Name: Ghost Ring Phantom (Little Treasure) Attributes: Ghost, Psychic Level: Advanced (15000/100000) + [First Trait: Absorption Level: B (1967/2000), Status: (Very Useful), Description: Can absorb physical objects using the rings; currently holds up to 50 cubic meters. Second Trait: Phasing S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Level: A (6155/10000), Status: (Exceptionally Useful), Description: Can phase through barriers or decoys to attack opponents. Third Trait: Extrasensory Perception Level: C (6/1000), Status: (Usable), Description: In double battles, can sense allies'' attacks and evade their ultimate moves. Fourth Trait: Cursed Body Level: C (1/1000), Status: (Usable), Description: Has a 30% chance to paralyze the attacker when hit. Hidden Trait: Accursed Body Level: B (60/2000), Status: (Very Useful), Description: Has a 30% chance to immobilize the attacker when hit.] Skills: Lick (Mastery 133/500) +, Hypnosis (Ultimate 16460/20000) +, Dream Eater (Beginner 11/100) +, Barrier (Beginner 6/100) +, Telekinesis (Ultimate 8007/10000) +, Teleport (Ultimate 7678/10000) +, Shadow Control (Secret Art 13688/20000) +, Will-O-Wisp (Proficient 672/2000) +, Substitute (Beginner 97/100) +, Taunt (Mastery 232/500) +, Brick Breaking (Proficient 1022/2000) +, Shadow Ball (Beginner 96/100) +, and more¡­ Qiao Sang read through the list line by line. When she saw Cursed Body, she froze. Wait¡­ how is this different from Accursed Body? Her gaze flicked between the two descriptions. The only difference is¡­ one extra character?! But then, what exactly was the difference between ''paralyzed'' and ''immobilized''...? Qiao Sang knew she wasn¡¯t the best at academics. Time to look it up. She returned to reality, grabbed her phone, and typed ''immobilization status.'' Soon, she found the relevant explanation. ----- ----- Chapter 452: The Second Stage of the National Championship Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- [Pet Beast is affected by Immobilization Status, preventing it from using the last skill it used before entering this state for a certain period.] Qiao Sang understood now. The Paralyzed status meant being unable to move, while the Immobilization Status state meant being unable to use the last skill used before entering the state. A sudden thought flashed through her mind: The names are so similar, but the meanings are completely different. I should remember this, feels like something that might show up on an exam later. With that in mind, she re-read the introduction to the Immobilization Status one more time before putting her phone down and refocusing on the Beast Taming Codex. Looking further down, she noticed that Xiao Little Treasure had gained three new skills, just like when Yabao and Lubao evolved. They were: Psychic Strike, Scare, and Misfortune Curse. Psychic Headbutt was an advanced Psychic-type skill that concentrated mental power into the head to attack the opponent, with a 20% chance of causing the target to flinch. Wow, Little Treasure actually awakened a Psychic-type physical attack skill¡­ While delighted, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but feel a bit concerned. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was happy because Psychic-type physical attack skills were extremely rare, and having one would surely bring unexpected advantages in battle. She was worried because the power of any physical skill was somewhat linked to a pet beast¡¯s body size. She hadn''t seen Psychic Headbutt used in reality yet and had no idea about its actual power. Something told her that with Little Treasure¡¯s small frame, the impact might not be all that impressive. "Looks like I¡¯ll have to find a chance to test this move out first¡­" Scare was an intermediate Ghost-type skill that attacked by startling the opponent with a sudden scream, with a certain chance of making the target flinch. This one seemed quite fitting for Little Treasure¡­ Finally, Qiao Sang looked at the last skill: Misfortune Curse. Misfortune Curse was an advanced Ghost-type skill that reduced the user¡¯s energy by one-third and caused the target to experience a streak of bad luck for a set period. Ghost-type pet beasts weren''t particularly popular, but those with curse-related skills were secretly in high demand. In fact, when it came to market value, pet beasts that could use curse-type skills were the most valuable among Ghost-types. Got scolded by your boss? Rent one to place a curse. Boyfriend/girlfriend cheated? Rent one to place a curse. Lost a game because a teammate suddenly went AFK? Rent one to place a curse. In short, curse-type Ghost beasts had no trouble finding work. Qiao Sang thought to herself: Looks like my range of business opportunities just expanded again¡­ She glanced at her remaining points: 6511. After all the training and battles, Little Treasure¡¯s total points had nearly reached 10,000. However, before giving Little Treasure the Dark Nether Crystal, she had entered the Beast Taming Codex and maxed out its level points to 9999, which left her with only this much remaining. "Points really are a good thing¡­ They¡¯ve shortened the evolution time so much." Qiao Sang mused silently. The next second, she snapped back to reality. --- The next morning, Qiao Sang woke up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. "Xun Xun!" Just as she picked up her toothbrush, Little Treasure floated in with teary eyes. "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang asked while brushing her teeth. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure lifted his little diamond-studded gloves, looking pitiful. He couldn''t wear them anymore! Qiao Sang rinsed her mouth and reassured him, "It¡¯s not a big deal. After the competition, I¡¯ll get you a new pair custom-made." "Xun Xun¡­" Hearing this, Little Treasure showed an ¡®I guess that¡¯s the only option¡¯ expression. After washing up, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something and picked up her phone to call her mother. After two rings, the call connected. "Hello, Mom." "You¡¯re calling me today? What¡¯s the occasion?" Her mother¡¯s voice carried a smile. "Nothing much, just wanted to tell you, Little Treasure evolved." ¡°¡­¡± Why wasn¡¯t she saying anything? Qiao Sang waited a few more seconds, but her mother remained silent, so she said, "Hello?" Ye Xiangting¡¯s mind went blank. Little Treasure evolved? What did that mean? Her daughter now had three high-level pet beasts? Qiao Sang called out again. Ye Xiangting snapped out of her daze, took a deep breath, and suppressed the overwhelming emotions surging in her heart. "Do your best in the competition¡­ Bring home a championship!" Qiao Sang chuckled. "I¡¯ll do my best." "Oh, and send me a picture of Little Treasure after his evolution." "Huh? Why?" "I want to post it on my social media." "¡­" After chatting for a bit more, they hung up. Qiao Sang checked the time: 8:12 AM. Just then, her phone vibrated, it was an incoming call. She looked at the screen. Vice Principal. She answered, but before she could speak, she heard the vice principal¡¯s voice: "Qiao Sang, come straight to the first-floor hall later. We¡¯ll be waiting for you there." We? So, Teacher Sun was with the vice principal¡­ "Okay." Qiao Sang replied. --- About ten minutes later, she carried Yabao and took the elevator down to the first floor. The moment she reached the hall, she froze on the spot. She saw over a dozen familiar faces. "God Qiao!" "Qiao Sang!" "God Qiao!" "Qiao Sang is here!" Jin Feifan, Lu Liangye, Zheng Yining, Wang Jihang, Lu You, Wang Yao, Shi Gaofeng, Xu Yajie¡­ Their eyes lit up as they crowded around her. --- At the Zhongkong Pet Battle Arena, Qiao Sang sat in the contestants'' section, looking at the familiar faces in the audience wearing the same school uniform as her, feeling slightly dazed. She hadn¡¯t expected Jin Feifan and the others to come all the way from Yuhua District just to be her cheering squad¡­ Was it really that easy to get leave from school? And did that mean¡­ they didn¡¯t have to do their homework anymore? Meanwhile, in the audience¡­ "Qiao Sang just looked over. Do you think she¡¯s really touched right now?" Shi Gaofeng asked. "I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s touched, but I do know you¡¯re really excited." Wang Yao replied, finally unable to hold back her frustration. "Why the hell are you wearing a wig?" Shi Gaofeng smugly ran a hand through his wig. "This is a nationally broadcasted event. Of course, I need to look stylish." Wang Yao was speechless. "And you think that spiky hairstyle looks good?" "Of course! It makes us look more intimidating than the other schools!" After speaking, he turned to Xu Yajie. "Right?" "Right." Xu Yajie nodded and then silently pulled a giant afro wig out of his backpack and put it on. Wang Yao: ¡­ Seriously, is there no one normal in the senior team? The underclassmen at least seem more reliable¡­ Just then, Lu Liangye leaned in and whispered, "Senior, could you ask where he bought that spiky wig? I think it looks kinda cool." Wang Yao: ??? --- Five minutes later, a man in a white suit entered the arena, standing atop a medium-sized, predominantly white Flying-type pet beast. After the usual rule announcement, the match-ups for the second stage of the national competition appeared on the virtual screen. ----- ----- Chapter 453: Qiao Sang vs. Song Xinyue Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- [Zhidiya Region, Zhou Shanliang vs. Zhongkong Region, Zhu Yalin] [Beilun Region, Tao Rong vs. Tuwei Region, Li Zhenyu] [Lianke Region, Zhang Lu vs. Liaoxi Region, Cai Hangcheng] [Guri Region, Ma Yiwen vs. Dongjia Region, Pan Hao] ¡­ [Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang vs. Lianbo Region, Song Xinyue] The second phase of the national competition consisted of 33 matchups, totaling 66 contestants. When Qiao Sang saw her opponent¡¯s name, she froze for a moment. She had considered the possibility of facing Song Xinyue, but she never expected it to happen this soon¡­ "Song Xinyue¡­" Sun Boyi noticed the name and turned to Qiao Sang, reminding her with concern, "You know which beast to send out, right?" Qiao Sang recalled how eager Yabao had been to battle Fire-Subduing Bird and nodded. "I know." Sun Boyi exchanged a glance with Liu Yao and finally felt relieved. Given Qiao Sang¡¯s sharp understanding, she clearly grasped the implication behind his question. Since she answered so confidently, it was unlikely that she would send out Blazing Star Canine again. --- In the contestants¡¯ area, about ten meters away from Qiao Sang, a middle-aged man with thinning hair spoke in a low voice, "Change the strategy. This time, send out Fire-Subduing Bird first." "Okay." Song Xinyue instinctively nodded at her coach¡¯s instructions. After a brief silence, the middle-aged man asked, "Aren''t you going to ask why?" "Why?" Song Xinyue asked. The middle-aged man: ... He explained, "I''ve studied Qiao Sang¡¯s matches. She tends to go for a one-on-two strategy, using a single beast to finish the fight. Initially, I thought she would send out Ice Xilu to counter you. But after what happened at the hotel last time, I now believe she¡¯ll start with Blazing Star Canine instead." Song Xinyue was taken aback. "Why?" Satisfied that she was finally questioning things, the middle-aged man smirked. "Talented people are proud, especially someone like Qiao Sang. Back then, you rejected her challenge, thinking that battling a Fire-type opponent wasn''t worth it. The more you dismiss her, the more she¡¯ll want to prove you wrong." "Geniuses always believe they¡¯re different. The more others doubt them, the more they insist on proving themselves." "You two met just a few days ago. She didn¡¯t recognize you at first, but once she saw your name on the list, she must have figured it out." "Even if she originally planned to send out Ice Xilu, knowing you''re her opponent will likely change her mind." Would she really do that in a national championship? No one would risk a match just to prove a point¡­ But then again, this was Qiao Sang. It wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. After all, even if Blazing Star Canine lost, she still had another high-tier beast. Song Xinyue nodded. "Got it." --- The matches proceeded smoothly, and by midday, a man in a white suit appeared in the air, standing atop a large, mostly white Flying-type beast. He announced in a loud voice: "Next up, please welcome Qiao Sang from Yuhua Region and Song Xinyue from Lianbo Region!" "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Song Xinyue! Song Xinyue! Song Xinyue!" Two distinct cheers erupted across the arena. Some spectators who remembered Qiao Sang¡¯s first match murmured among themselves. "I knew it! There¡¯s no way a national competitor wouldn¡¯t have a cheering squad. They finally arrived!" "Guess the delay last time really was due to travel issues." "Maybe they didn¡¯t take an air route?" "Could be. I looked it up. Qiao Sang¡¯s school has never had a student make it to the national competition before. This is probably their first time in Zhongkong Region. They might not have known about the air route option." "Who do you think will win, Qiao Sang or Song Xinyue?" "Is that even a question? Obviously, Qiao Sang. She has two high-tier beasts, and Ice Xilu is a direct counter to Fire-Subduing Bird." "Speaking of Ice Xilu, I did some research¡­ Can you believe that thing is an endangered beast? And it''s a god-tier healer! Why is it that some people can contract an endangered beast, while I have to promise my mom I¡¯ll wash dishes for a year just to afford an 80,000-credit Pipi Egg?" "Uh¡­ maybe put your Pipi Egg back in the Beast Codex before you say that." The guy speaking stiffened and looked down, locking eyes with the Pipi Egg on his lap. "Pipi¡­" "¡­My bad." --- The referee¡¯s whistle signaled the start of the match. Both Qiao Sang and Song Xinyue formed hand seals simultaneously. A green summoning array appeared beneath Qiao Sang, while a gray one formed under Song Xinyue. In the next second, two imposing beasts materialized in the arena. "Yap!" "Fire!" The audience¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to one particular beast, a creature with exceptionally lustrous fur. "Whoa! What¡¯s that beast? It looks like it belongs in a national beast coordination contest, not a battle!" "A beast from Yuhua Region that actually matches my aesthetic taste?! I¡¯ve decided, this is the one I¡¯m contracting next!" "Forget it. Blazing Star Canine is a brand-new evolution form. So far, there¡¯s only one in existence, and no one has figured out its evolution conditions yet." "!!!" "Actually¡­ Qiao Sang might lose this match. I remember Fire-Subduing Bird has the Absorp trait, which makes it completely immune to Fire-type attacks." "Who cares if she loses? She¡¯s not from our school." "Fair point." --- In the contestants¡¯ area, Sun Boyi was momentarily stunned. "Blazing Star Canine?!" Despite all their warnings, Qiao Sang still sent out the Blazing Star Canine?! Liu Yao, however, remained calm. He sighed. "Qiao Sang must have her reasons. Don¡¯t scold her after the match." Scold her? Not a chance. If this golden child so much as felt wronged, you and the principal would have my head on a platter¡­ Sun Boyi let out a heavy sigh, looking years older in an instant. --- In the arena, Song Xinyue stared at the beast before her. Her coach was right. "Fire¡­" Fire-Subduing Bird took one look at its opponent and appeared completely disinterested. Another Fire-type? Boring. "Yap!" In stark contrast, Yabao looked absolutely thrilled. The small flame-like wings on his shoulders flickered and grew ever so slightly. Qiao Sang could sense Yabao¡¯s excitement. Her expression turned serious. This match...she couldn''t afford to lose! The referee announced the start of the battle. "Feather Dance!" Song Xinyue issued the first command. "Fire!" Fire-Subduing Bird shot into the air and flapped its wings forcefully, sending a flurry of faintly glowing white feathers toward Yabao. Feather Dance, mid-tier Flying-type skill. Lowers the opponent¡¯s attack power. Qiao Sang mentally recalled the skill¡¯s effects but didn¡¯t issue a countercommand. She and Yabao had studied Fire-Subduing Bird thoroughly over the past few days. There was no need for her to say anything, Yabao already knew exactly what to do. "Yap!" Yabao let out an excited cry. In the next instant, one, two¡­ a hundred identical Blazing Star Canines appeared simultaneously, both in the air and on the ground! "Fire¡­" Fire-Subduing Bird was dumbfounded. And so was the entire audience. ----- ----- Chapter 454: The Best Timing Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- What did they just see?! A hundred clones of the Blazing Star Canine?! How the hell is this something a high school student''s battle pet should be capable of?! The sheer visual impact of the scene left everyone''s minds blank. Even the officials in the front row were frozen in shock. Across the country, nearly every audience member watching the live broadcast reacted in unison: "Holy sh*t!" High-level competitions were common nationwide, and it wasn''t unheard of for someone to train their clones to such an exaggerated extent. But for this to happen in a high school tournament, even if it was a national championship, was simply unreal. For a moment, the entire Zhongkong Pet Battle Arena fell into stunned silence. Then, about two seconds later, the crowd erupted. "WHAT THE F*CK?! These clones! This can''t be real!" "Who is this supposed to scare to death?!" "No way! I don''t believe these are all clones! This has to be some kind of illusion technique!" "Wake up! Illusions only affect a single target, but all of us are seeing this. How could it possibly be an illusion?!" "With this many clones, the battle doesn''t even need to start. Just standing there is enough to scare the opponent to death!" "This is insane, absolutely insane! An ultimate-level Shadow Clone combined with an ultimate-level Meteor Rain, I¡¯ve barely seen this in regional tournaments!" "I confess! Actually, I¡¯m a prophet! And I predict that Qiao Sang is this year''s national champion!" "F*ck! It''s only been a little while, and that psycho Qiao has become even more of a monster!" Shi Gaofeng couldn''t hold back and swore. Wang Yao''s expression was complicated. Back when Qiao Sang was training with the sophomore team, she had still felt like she could compete with her. But now? The gap was just too wide, so wide that she couldn''t even muster the will to challenge her. There was no hope of winning at all. Meanwhile, a group of students in gray school uniforms sat in a row, forcing themselves to stay composed. "I remember the teacher saying that if two skills reach a high enough proficiency, they can be combined into a synergy move. Both the Blazing Star Canine¡¯s Shadow Clone and Meteor Rain have reached the ultimate level... Do you think she''ll use them together?" "Don''t say such terrifying things..." "That should be impossible. Using Meteor Rain once already consumes a massive amount of energy. Even a high-level battle pet wouldn''t have enough energy for that many clones to unleash it at the same time." "Stay calm, stay calm! No matter how strong it is, it''s still a fire-type pet! We have to believe in Song Xinyue!" "But the Blazing Star Canine also has psychic attributes..." "Let¡¯s not scare ourselves. I''ve watched all the matches of the top-seeded players. The Blazing Star Canine¡¯s ultimate moves are all fire-type. The only psychic moves it has are Teleportation and Psychic Force." "Right! Trust Song Xinyue! Her Fire-Subduing Bird has never lost against a fire-type pet!" Even in the face of a hundred clones, Song Xinyue, who was being encouraged by her classmates, stood there slack-jawed, her mouth wide enough to fit an egg. She stared in disbelief at the scene before her. At this moment, the word shocked was far from enough to describe her emotions. Suddenly, as if snapping back to reality, Song Xinyue desperately shouted: "Flame Dance!" But by the time she realized the danger, it was already too late. She had been too stunned by the sight before her and had missed the perfect moment to react. The Fire-Subduing Bird had done the same. Feathers fell onto the Blazing Star Canine clones, only to vanish instantly, as if they had no effect at all. A hundred Blazing Star Canine clones opened their mouths in unison, revealing sharp fangs as they lunged toward the Fire-Subduing Bird from all directions. "Fire!" The sheer ferocity of the attack made the Fire-Subduing Bird''s feathers stand on end in terror. At this point, it wasn¡¯t even listening to commands anymore. Brutal. Too brutal. The spectators winced at the sight. Sure, clones were fragile and didn¡¯t deal much damage, but when this many of them swarmed a single target, the sheer visual impact alone was overwhelming. The Fire-Subduing Bird instinctively flew skyward. It wasn¡¯t afraid of fire, but it was afraid of getting bitten! "Fire!" In its panic, the Fire-Subduing Bird took off at an incredible speed, soaring into the sky like a streak of red light. But it was fast, just not fast enough. The Fire-Subduing Bird had barely climbed six meters when one of the Blazing Star Canines suddenly appeared right in front of it, pouncing onto its body. And where there was one, there was another¡­ and another¡­ In the blink of an eye, the Fire-Subduing Bird was completely enveloped, trapped in a writhing mass of Blazing Star Canine clones like the filling inside a dumpling. From a full-field view, the Blazing Star Canines had formed a massive sphere in mid-air. "Use Flame Dance!" Song Xinyue screamed at the top of her lungs. Calm down... Stay composed¡­ It¡¯s not over yet. The clones aren¡¯t the real body. Even if they attack together, their strength is limited. It¡¯s just the visuals that are terrifying¡­ As long as the Fire-Subduing Bird fights back, the clones will vanish like paper¡­ The Blazing Star Canine¡¯s main attack skills are fire-type, and clones can only create obstacles at best¡­ Song Xinyue watched the sphere remain motionless. Sensing the Fire-Subduing Bird¡¯s fear, she knew it was panicking. In battle, both the beastmaster¡¯s and the battle pet¡¯s mindset were crucial. She took a deep breath and shouted: "Don¡¯t be afraid! It¡¯s a fire-type opponent!" "Fire!" Hearing its master¡¯s voice, the Fire-Subduing Bird felt the sharp pain of the bites but realized they were bearable. Its eyes hardened with determination. It spread its wings and let out a piercing cry as blazing flames erupted from its body. Its aura suddenly became ferocious. The clones biting it vanished instantly, as if they had been made of paper. The inner layer of clones was gone, but the outer ones remained. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those left hesitated, baring their fangs but not making a move. "Fire!" Seeing this, the Fire-Subduing Bird grinned, its expression one of sudden realization: So that¡¯s all you''ve got? Then, with a powerful beat of its wings, it began spinning in mid-air, scattering crimson flames in every direction like molten sparks. Each ember that landed on a clone caused it to vanish. Flame Dance, an advanced fire-type skill that released extreme heat while moving in a dance-like motion¡­ Qiao Sang remained calm, watching the battle without issuing any commands. When only five or six Blazing Star Canine clones remained, her eyes gleamed, and she shouted: "Now!" At that moment, the Fire-Subduing Bird was still spinning, flapping its wings. Hearing Qiao Sang¡¯s command, Song Xinyue suddenly felt a deep sense of foreboding. Her eyes darted around the battlefield, and when she looked upward, her pupils contracted. Holy sh*t! There¡¯s another Blazing Star Canine up there?! In the high sky, about ten meters away, a Blazing Star Canine had its mouth open, gathering an eerie white energy. She wanted to warn the Fire-Subduing Bird, but it was already too late. A devastating white beam shot forward with a piercing screech. At that moment, the Fire-Subduing Bird, having just defeated the last clone, stopped spinning. It had no time to react before the destructive beam struck. Boom! The Fire-Subduing Bird was blasted backward like a missile, crashing into the ground and leaving a deep crater. Song Xinyue: !!! Qiao Sang smirked. AlthoughnYabao''s clones could unleash fire-type attacks en masse, the energy consumption was immense. She wouldn¡¯t take a gamble against the Fire-Subduing Bird, which was nearly immune to fire-based skills. Attacking with fire despite knowing the opponent was resistant would be downright foolish. After all, if there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance that the Fire-Subduing Bird endured the attack, Yabao might be the one to lose. A better strategy was to use a swarm of clones to divert the Fire-Subduing Bird''s attention and restrict its movements. As long as Song Xinyue and the Fire-Subduing Bird remained focused on dealing with the clones, Yabao only needed to time its Hyper Beam perfectly. The moment the clones were wiped out, when the Fire-Subduing Bird''s concentration and energy reached their peak, was the ideal opportunity to strike. ----- ----- Chapter 455: Three High-Level Pet Beasts?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the virtual screen, the camera zoomed in on the unconscious Fire-Subduing Bird, giving it a close-up shot. A mechanical pet beast wearing a referee badge floated down into the deep pit, checked the situation, and immediately blew the whistle, signaling the end of the match. A loud whoosh erupted from the audience as many spectators shot to their feet in astonishment. High-level skills had always been one of the hottest topics in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. By the final stages of the nationals, each contestant¡¯s high-level pet beast and its advanced skills were usually dissected to the last detail. Every participant who had made it this far had exhausted their best techniques to advance. No one expected that, even at the 66-to-33 elimination round, there was still someone hiding a high-level skill! What made it even more shocking was that this contestant was none other than the youngest participant, Qiao Sang! "Hyper Beam! That Blazing Star Canine can actually use Hyper Beam?!" "Qiao Sang is simply unreal! Is she really just 15?!" "Forget 15, even if I were 51, I wouldn¡¯t be able to train a pet beast like this!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That Blazing Star Canine is almost too cool!" "Song Xinyue is seriously unlucky. I thought she had a solid chance to win the first match, but she got completely destroyed instead." Leadership Section. In the front row, Minister Huang from Lianbo Region couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment. In his opinion, Song Xinyue had a real shot at winning. Hyper Beam was powerful, but it required significant focus and charging time, with the added drawback of leaving the user immobile after firing. As a high-level fire and flying-type pet beast, the Fire-Subduing Bird had unquestionable speed and reflexes. Yet somehow, it wasn¡¯t even heavily injured, barely exchanged a few blows, and still got one-shot by Hyper Beam . In the end, the gap between the competitors was just too vast. Sitting beside him, Minister Zhao from Tuwei Region, who had a good relationship with Minister Huang, noticed his silence and spoke up: "Song Xinyue actually reacted fairly quickly. Honestly, even I didn¡¯t process what was happening until she shouted ''Flame Dance'' after seeing all those Blazing Star Canine. But Qiao Sang had everything calculated down to the last detail, her timing for using Hyper Beam was impeccable." "Yeah." Minister Huang sighed. "She knew for sure that Song Xinyue¡¯s focus would be on the clones." Minister Zhao nodded. "Anyone seeing that many clones for the first time would be caught off guard. Honestly, I already thought it was crazy when her ghost-type pet beast used Spatial Shift. But who would have guessed she had an even crazier Blazing Star Canine?" Minister Huang¡¯s voice turned serious. "The most incredible part is her understanding of battle dynamics. The proficiency of that Hyper Beam is at least at the intermediate level. Unlike other skills, Hyper Beam requires absolute concentration for precise execution." "While the clones were still present, the Blazing Star Canine had to divert part of its attention to controlling them. That¡¯s why she issued the command at the exact moment the last clone disappeared. By then, the Blazing Star Canine was fully prepared, its focus entirely on Hyper Beam, and the energy distributed among the clones returned to it." "If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I¡¯d find it hard to believe a high schooler could think this far ahead." At that moment, Minister Zhou from Yuhua Region grinned and leaned in. "She¡¯s from our region." Minister Huang: ¡­ Minister Zhao: ¡­ --- Contestant Area. Liu Yao was silent for a long time before asking, "When did Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine learn Hyper Beam ?" Sun Boyi, looking just as dazed, muttered, "I don¡¯t know¡­" Liu Yao fell into silence again before asking, "Then when did her Blazing Star Canine master Shadow Clone at the Ultimate level?" Sun Boyi hesitated. "I¡­ don¡¯t know¡­" Liu Yao shot him a glance, thinking, Is there anything you actually know? Sensing the vice principal¡¯s gaze, Sun Boyi suddenly jolted as if waking from a dream. Holy crap! I really don¡¯t know anything! --- On the Field. "Yap!" Yabao was beyond pleased, holding his head high with pride. Another dazzling day for him! With a wave of her hand, Qiao Sang recalled the overly smug Yabao back into the Beast-Taming Codex. What? She recalled it? Was she not planning to use the Blazing Star Canine in the next match? If that were the case¡­ then¡­ that would be fantastic! Seeing this, Song Xinyue, who had been feeling immense pressure, let out an involuntary sigh of relief. After their last battle, she had absolutely zero desire to fight the Blazing Star Canine again! "Qu!" Just then, the referee blew the whistle signaling for contestants to summon their pet beasts. "Phew¡­" Song Xinyue exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. Green and gray summoning arrays lit up once more. Meanwhile, the audience buzzed with speculation. "Who do you think Qiao Sang will send out this time?" "Probably still the Blazing Star Canine. I read a forum post about her, she usually sticks to one pet beast per match." "Then why did she recall it?" "¡­For dramatic effect?" "Dramatic effect, my ass! I think she¡¯ll summon her ghost-type pet beast. Song Xinyue only has one mid-level pet beast left. If Qiao Sang uses the Star Canine again, the fight will be over in one move, where¡¯s the fun in that?" "Fun? This is the championship! Winning is what matters." "Honestly, I kinda want to see the Ice Xilu. I heard it¡¯s an endangered species." "Yeah, but I still wanna see the Star, wait, holy crap!" The moment one of Qiao Sang¡¯s summoned beasts materialized, a male spectator¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He stammered, "W-Wait, isn¡¯t her ghost-type pet beast supposed to look different? Did¡­ did it evolve?" No one answered him. Nearly the entire audience wore blank expressions, their minds buzzing. Even the officials in the leadership section were frozen, including the always-composed Minister Yan. Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon was well known as a mid-level pet beast, proficient in high-level Shadow Control and possessing psychic-type abilities. Its combined strengths had left a deep impression since its last appearance. But the gray silhouette on the field, though similar, was clearly different. The Treasure-Seeking Demon had evolved¡­ The realization detonated through the arena. Chaos erupted. If it were any other contestant, the reaction wouldn¡¯t have been so extreme. But this was Qiao Sang. "AHHH! Can someone from Yuhua Region tell me?! This is an evolution, right? Right?!" "I¡­ I think my brain just short-circuited. So you¡¯re telling me Qiao Sang now has three high-level pet beasts?!" "Damn, what¡¯s even the point of competing anymore?!" "Three high-level pet beasts?! Is she even human?!" "This blows my mind! She¡¯s only in her first year of high school! How the hell did she pull this off?!" A group of students in gray uniforms sat stiffly in the stands, slowly lowering the banner they had just raised. Cheering for their side¡­ somehow didn¡¯t feel right anymore. "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" Meanwhile, the students from Shengshui High erupted with excitement, shouting her name at the top of their lungs, their faces flushed red with exhilaration, even the usually introverted Jin Feifan joined in. "Xuuum~" On the field, Little Treasure basked in the electrifying atmosphere, waving his paw enthusiastically at the audience. Qiao Sang, meanwhile, eyed the opponent¡¯s Ironhorn Rhino, a mid-level steel and ground-type pet beast known for its ridiculous durability. Perfect¡­ a great test subject for Little Treasure¡¯s Psychic Strike. ----- ----- Chapter 456: Theres Still One Move to Try! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- In the previous second, Song Xinyue had just managed to adjust her mindset. In the next, it completely collapsed. Her face was filled with shock. Not even the sight of over a hundred Blazing Star Canine clones earlier had caused such an intense emotional fluctuation. A high-tier pet beast, the highest level of beast seen in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Every contestant who owned one was a seed competitor from their respective regions. Yet, the opponent standing before her didn¡¯t just have one high-tier pet beast. She had three. Just moments ago, that Ghost Ring Phantom was still just a Treasure-Seeking Demon. Since when was evolving into a high-tier pet beast this easy?! Song Xinyue stood there in a daze. What made it even harder to accept was that the girl in front of her was only 15 years old. 15! What kind of concept was that? For a moment, Song Xinyue¡¯s mind was in turmoil. Before she could snap out of her chaotic thoughts, the referee had already blown the whistle, signaling the start of the match. "Psychic Strike." Qiao Sang swiftly gave the command. "Xun!" Upon hearing his tamer¡¯s order, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. It was his first time using this move! In an instant, blue psychic waves gathered at the center of his forehead. The next moment, he launched himself toward Ironhorn Rhino at a terrifying speed. From the audience¡¯s perspective, all they could see was a streak of blinding blue light. The crowd erupted into discussion. "Psychic Strike?! That ghost-type pet beast actually knows Psychic Strike!" "Holy crap! It just evolved and already gained a high-tier psychic skill? That talent is insane!" Not every mid-tier pet beast awakened high-tier skills upon evolution. Whether a beast could immediately gain high-tier skills upon evolving depended largely on its innate talent. The Ghost Ring Phantom on the battlefield had been a mid-tier pet beast just a few days ago, there was no way it could have learned such an advanced move in that short time. That meant Psychic Strike was an innate ability awakened upon evolution. "Of course, its talent is insane! Even when it was a Treasure-Seeking Demon, it already had the three-dimensional Shadow Control skill." A student from Yuhua District commented. At that moment, the boy beside him hesitated before speaking. "Now that you mention it, doesn¡¯t Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom seem... different from ordinary ones?" Although Ghost Ring Phantoms weren¡¯t common in Yuhua District, high school was the peak of one¡¯s intellectual years. Any student who spent their days cramming pet beast knowledge and grinding through countless practice tests would at least have a decent understanding of the pet beasts from their own region. Once the words were spoken, other Yuhua students nearby fell into deep thought and began to chime in. "Actually, I was about to say the same thing. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of the distance, but this Ghost Ring Phantom looks noticeably smaller than usual." "Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom was already smaller than normal when it was still a Treasure-Seeking Demon. It¡¯s not surprising that it remained small after evolving. But don¡¯t you guys think its color looks a little different too?" "Yes! According to the books, a Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s hair, eyes, and ring are supposed to be mustard yellow. But this one¡¯s golden!" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Did Qiao Sang dye it?" "That¡¯s unlikely. The ring on a Ghost Ring Phantom carries ghostly energy, it can¡¯t be dyed." "I have a bold guess¡­ Could this Ghost Ring Phantom be a partial color mutation?" "Holy crap! That actually makes sense! No wonder it¡¯s so small! I always thought it was just malnourished!" "Think about it logically. There¡¯s no way it¡¯s malnourished! Qiao Sang clearly comes from a wealthy family, and this Ghost Ring Phantom has crazy talent. How could it be lacking nutrition?!" "Quick, take a photo! Let¡¯s ask in the group if it¡¯s really a color mutation!" While the crowd was engrossed in discussion, Little Treasure had already reached Ironhorn Rhino. Song Xinyue was still struggling to stabilize her emotions. Though her beast tamer hadn¡¯t issued a command, Ironhorn Rhino¡¯s extensive battle experience kept it from lowering its guard just because its opponent was small. "Iron!" With a powerful stomp of its right front limb, a brownish-yellow energy barrier immediately formed in front of it. Boom! The blue light collided with the barrier, causing cracks to spread across it instantly. In the next second, Little Treasure, his forehead still glowing with blue psychic energy, slammed into Ironhorn Rhino¡¯s head. The massive beast staggered backward several meters, leaving deep grooves in the ground. "Iron..." Ironhead Rhino steadied itself, shaking its head. The power of Psychic Strike was decent, not as weak as expected. Even at entry-level, it was strong enough to break through Ironhorn Rhino¡¯s defenses. Of course, the level difference between the two played a role in that. After a quick analysis, Qiao Sang issued another command. "Misfortune Curse." Little Treasure had only evolved last night, leaving no time to test his new abilities. Today was the perfect chance to try them all out¡­ At the same time, Song Xinyue had barely managed to regain her composure. "Metallic Roar!" She issued her command almost simultaneously with Qiao Sang. Metallic Roar, a mid-tier steel-type skill that produced a sharp, grating sound similar to metal scraping together, significantly reducing the opponent¡¯s defense. Qiao Sang immediately recalled the skill¡¯s description. Sound-based attacks were nearly impossible to evade as long as one¡¯s hearing was intact. With Little Treasure¡¯s naturally low defense, if he got hit by this, even a mid-tier pet beast might be able to damage him. However, Ironhorn Rhino was a ground-type. Hitting Little Treasure would be difficult. Not to mention, in battles like this, a single-second difference in execution speed could determine the outcome. This time, Little Treasure acted first¡­ Qiao Sang remained calm. Just as she predicted, Ironhorn Rhino had only just opened its mouth when Little Treasure¡¯s eyes flashed purple, glancing down at it. Ironhorn Rhino gathered energy and prepared to unleash Metallic Roar but nothing happened. "Iron-" A piercing screech erupted from Ironhorn Rhino¡¯s throat, sending an invisible soundwave outward. Yet the very next second, the sound abruptly cut off, and it began coughing violently. "Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Ironhead Rhino hacked uncontrollably, looking utterly miserable. Song Xinyue was dumbfounded. Did¡­ Did it just choke on its own spit? "Xun~" Little Treasure giggled, covering his mouth. He hadn¡¯t forgotten its tamer¡¯s wise words: Strike while the iron is hot! "Xun!" His eyes glowed blue. Having learned from the previous round, Song Xinyue kept a close watch on the airborne opponent. The moment she saw its eyes flash, her face changed. "Sand Veil!" Sand Veil, a mid-tier ground skill that kicked up dust, obstructing vision-based abilities like telekinesis. "Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Unfortunately, Ironhorn Rhino was still coughing violently, unable to act in time. An unseen force locked onto it, forcing its gaze toward its opponent. At that instant, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes shifted to a deep violet. "Cough..." A high-tier pet beast¡¯s Ultimate-Grade Hypnosis was far beyond Ironhorn Rhino¡¯s ability to resist. With just a single cough, it closed its eyes and collapsed. "Iron..." Its face looked utterly peaceful. Not coughing anymore felt so comfortable¡­ "Qu!" The mechanical referee beast floated over, checked Ironhorn Rhino, and blew the whistle. Qiao Sang: ??? It was over? Just like that? But Little Treasure hadn¡¯t even tried his Scare yet! ----- ---- Chapter 457: A Letter? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Looking at the match results, though expected, the audience was still incredibly excited. "This Ghost-type pet beast is insane! It even knows a skill like Misfortune Curse!" "Haha, that was hilarious! That Ironhorn Rhino kept coughing nonstop, must''ve been the effect of the curse." "This is my first time seeing a Ghost-type use a curse skill. Just one glance and it''s done? How are you even supposed to defend against that?" "Are all curse skills like this? Cast it one moment, and it takes effect the next?" "Not exactly. I saw a Wraith Ghost use a curse skill once. It phased through the target''s body, and the effect only kicked in after ten minutes or so." "Where did you see that?" "Heh, I got scammed out of 2000 coins by someone I knew. When I reported it, the cops said it wasn''t enough to file a case. I was so pissed that I rented a Wraith Ghost to curse the scammer." "Uh¡­ renting a Wraith Ghost costs more than 2000, right?" "Don¡¯t remind me!" "¡­" --- Contestant Area. "Do you think you can beat her?" The man asking the question was at least 1.9 meters tall, his muscles bulging with raw power. "I can win one round by sacrificing two of my own, but in the end, I¡¯ll still lose." The boy beside him, though wearing a loose school uniform, still had an obviously athletic build. "Look at you." The man sounded dissatisfied. Despite his displeasure, he didn''t say more. He knew that was already the best possible outcome. --- Elsewhere. A man dressed in a simple, forest-style outfit sighed. "Fifteen years old. Three high-level pet beasts. If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn¡¯t believe such a genius exists." Beside him, a young man with black-framed glasses twitched his lips. "You said the same thing about me back then." The man chuckled. "You and her have different talents. She has a Beastmaster talent, while yours is Mechanical. For a Beastmaster to raise powerful pets, both their own talent and the pet¡¯s talent are crucial. But you rely solely on your own talent, if you put all your effort into it, you can still create a powerful Mechanical pet." "You managed to raise a high-level Mechanical pet in your second year of high school. Qiao Sang couldn''t do that." "So, do you think I can beat her?" The young man asked. The man pondered for a moment before changing the subject. "What are we eating later?" "¡­" --- Meanwhile... In the back row, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit sat upright, a laptop resting on his knees. "A Ghost Ring Phantom¡­ Those with high talent awaken curse-type skills upon evolution. A different-colored mutation pet beast truly is extraordinary." He examined the Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s data on the screen, quickly identifying the differences between it and a normal one. "Different-colored mutation pet beast?" The young man beside him, exuding an air of nobility, looked at the grayish figure floating above the girl¡¯s head. "Technically, it''s a partial color mutation." The man corrected. "This Ghost Ring Phantom mainly relies on control skills. Its newly awakened Physic Strike and Misfortune Curse are both entry-level, so their power is limited." "Misfortune Curse doesn¡¯t instantly make the target unlucky. It takes effect within a certain time frame, at the entry level, the victim will experience one bout of bad luck within a day." "The Ironhorn Rhino was just exceptionally unlucky. Normally, a newly cast curse wouldn¡¯t take effect so soon. When you face Qiao Sang, just ignore the curse and focus on attacking." The young man withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, "Got it." The man looked at him seriously and said, "She has three high-level pet beasts, but the National Campus Beast Mastering League is a 2v2 competition. Even if she has three, she can only use two in battle. You¡¯re one of only two contestants in the entire tournament with two high-level pets. You have a real chance at winning. Don''t disappoint me or your family." The young man was silent for a moment before answering firmly, "I won¡¯t lose." --- A Few Rows Ahead. A middle-aged man with streaks of silver in his black hair sat with a heavy expression. "She already has three high-level pet beasts. Have you made up your mind yet?" Beside him, a rather handsome young man hesitated. "I already won the national championship in my second year. Even if I don¡¯t win this time-" "What nonsense are you talking about?!" The middle-aged man cut him off sharply. "You have the chance to win again, and you¡¯re just going to throw it away? How can you be so foolish?" "But my Paralulu¡¯s energy levels haven¡¯t reached their peak. If I force it to evolve now, its future growth potential will be limited!" Thinking of his pet, the young man gathered his courage to argue back. "You only have one year in your final year of high school. This is your only shot at winning the senior division of the national tournament." The middle-aged man frowned. "If you win, you¡¯ll have access to better resources as an interstellar exchange student." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Once you reach a higher platform, you¡¯ll have a chance to acquire truly rare materials. Then, you might find something to enhance Paralulu¡¯s potential." The young man¡¯s expression wavered with hesitation. After a long struggle, he finally said, "Let me think about it a bit more." --- 6:23 PM Moting Hotel, 15th Floor. Pet Training Grounds. "Xuuun!" Little Treasure let out a sharp cry beside Lubao. Lubao was completely unbothered, even feeling the urge to cover her ears. "Lu." She shook her head at her Beastmaster. "Xun¡­?" Little Treasure looked shocked. How could that not have worked? "Try it on Yabao." Qiao Sang suggested thoughtfully. Little Treasure nodded and instantly teleported next to the training-immersed Yabao. This time, his cry was even sharper. "XUUUUUUUN!!" The sound waves rippled outward, reaching Yabao¡¯s ears. "YAAAP!!" Yabao¡¯s fur stood on end, and he instinctively swung a claw toward the source of the noise. Smack! Little Treasure, caught off guard, was sent flying several meters before tumbling to the ground. "Xun¡­" "Lu." Lubao, unfazed by the training mishap, cast a healing light over Little Treasure. Xun!" As the blue glow faded, Little Treasure was instantly back at full health. Looks like Scare works best when the target isn¡¯t expecting it. As for Lubao¡¯s complete lack of reaction¡­ Maybe it¡¯s because her evolution relies on emotional fluctuations, so she has strong mental resilience¡­ Qiao Sang silently analyzed the training session. Just then, a pet beast floated in from the large floor-to-ceiling window. It was entirely gray-black, with red pupils and a small horn on its nose. "Li Li." The gray-black pet beast seemed to recognize Qiao Sang. It floated directly to her and handed over a letter. Qiao Sang blinked. "For me?" "Li Li." The pet beast nodded, then turned and floated back out the window. Who would send me a letter? Curious, Qiao Sang opened it. [Hello, I''m Yu Ke, the person who sat next to you at the auction last time. I was wondering if you¡¯d have time to chat? If you¡¯re interested, you can add me.] [My contact info: 150099¡­] ----- ----- Chapter 458: I Want to Invest in You! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Yu Ke... As Qiao Sang read the message, she immediately recalled who this person was. How did she find me? Why is she looking for me? Back at the auction, the only time I stood out was when I bid for the Qingfeng Compass. Could she be after that? One question after another surfaced in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. After thinking for a moment, she put the letter into her pocket. She decided to contact the sender after her training. After all, she was quite curious about why this person was looking for her and how she managed to find her. --- Yulai Bay. A high-end villa district in the prime northern area of the Imperial Capital. The gray-black pet beast that had delivered the letter floated into a towering three-story villa. Yu Ke, who was sitting on the sofa, stood up eagerly when she saw the floating pet beast. "Did you deliver the letter?" "Li li." The gray-black pet beast nodded. Yu Ke¡¯s eyes lit up. She picked up her phone and checked it, but her expression quickly dimmed with disappointment. "Then why hasn¡¯t she contacted me yet?" At that moment, a girl sitting on the sofa, who looked around sixteen, with delicate features, spoke up. "Sis, are you sure you didn¡¯t mistake her for someone else?" Although she was talking, her eyes remained fixed on a virtual screen in front of her, where a replay of today¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League was being broadcast. "How could I be wrong? She was the only one wearing a school uniform at the time." Yu Ke said. "I remember her face very clearly. She¡¯s definitely Qiao Sang, the one trending on the hot search today." "But she¡¯s from the Yuhua region. How would she have an invitation to the Mystic Auction?" Yu Le asked. Yu Ke put down her phone. "What¡¯s so strange about that? Her family elders probably got her an invitation since she was visiting the Zhongkong region." "Even if it was really her, she probably doesn¡¯t want to bother with you. Didn¡¯t she refuse to even tell you her name at the auction?" "That was a different time and place." Yu Ke argued. "She came alone to an auction in a different region, with no one accompanying her, it¡¯s normal for her to be cautious." "You shouldn¡¯t get your hopes up." Yu Le said, still watching the competition replay. "People with strong family backgrounds and exceptional beast-taming talent tend to be arrogant. They always think they¡¯re different from those of us who only have connections but lack talent. There¡¯s a guy in my class who got into the school team¡¯s individual combat group. He got eliminated in the regional qualifiers but still acts like he¡¯s above us. Qiao Sang, on the other hand, is a real deal." "Sigh..." Yu Ke sat back on the sofa, looking a bit weary. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but her sister¡¯s words weren¡¯t entirely wrong. In large families, talent was paramount. If someone had high talent, even if they were from a side branch, the Yu family would still provide them with top-tier resources. After all, setting aside other advantages, people with greater talent generally lived much longer. The longer one lived, the more possibilities they had to excel in a given field. If someone lacked talent, even if they had a powerful contracted pet obtained through their family¡¯s wealth, they wouldn¡¯t earn true respect within the elite circles. Take Yu Youwei, a former direct descendant of the Yu family, for example. The family spent a fortune helping him contract a purebred Haile Dragon. But in the end, his brain domain never developed enough to contract a second pet beast. He passed away at just seventy. By then, the Haile Dragon had already evolved into a General-class beast, the Tidal Dragon. It refused to bond with anyone else. Forcing a contract with a resistant General-class beast was highly dangerous, so the family tried a softer approach, providing for the dragon in hopes that it would eventually agree. But the Tidal Dragon took advantage of a lapse in surveillance, entered a secret realm, and never reappeared. Since then, the Yu family had placed even greater importance on talent. Even though Yu Ke was from the main branch, she hadn¡¯t awakened her abilities naturally. Her brain domain development was slow. Now that she was in college, she still only had one high-tier pet beast. At this rate, she would never qualify for the Yu family¡¯s top resources. In a few years, she¡¯d likely be sent off into a political marriage. She didn¡¯t want to live that kind of life. So, she worked hard to build connections in elite circles, hoping to carve out an alternative path for herself. That¡¯s when Qiao Sang appeared. At first, when Qiao Sang disappeared after the auction, Yu Ke hadn¡¯t thought much of it, just some mild disappointment. But then, she saw the trending news. Fifteen years old. Three high-tier pet beasts. An undefeated record so far in the high school division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Even in the history of the league, no one like her had ever existed. When Yu Ke realized that the girl in the hot search was the same one who had sat beside her at the auction, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. If she could establish a connection with someone of such limitless potential, then once Qiao Sang rose to power, her own future would no longer be dictated by her family. Her ideal life might just depend on clinging to this future powerhouse. With this in mind, Yu Ke couldn¡¯t help but reach out. But Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t responded. "I had a great conversation with Qiao Sang at the auction. If she doesn¡¯t contact me, it must mean that Limeng Monster delivered the letter to the wrong person." Yu Ke said, trying to save face in front of her sister. Yu Le turned to the Limeng Monster. "Is that true?" "Li li!" The Limeng Monster immediately protested. It hadn¡¯t made a mistake! Yu Le asked, "What did it say?" "It admitted its mistake." Yu Ke translated. "Li li!" The Limeng Monster¡¯s eyes blazed with fury. That was a blatant lie! It had delivered the letter correctly! Sensing trouble, Yu Ke quickly changed the subject. "You must be hungry. Want an energy pill?" "Li li!" The Limeng Monster instantly forgot its anger and nodded eagerly. Just then, Yu Ke¡¯s phone screen lit up. With sharp eyes, she immediately noticed a friend request. For a moment, she swore she could hear the pounding of her own heartbeat. Fumbling in excitement, she grabbed her phone, opened her chat app, and accepted the request. Before she could type anything, a message popped up: [Hello, I received your letter. How did you find me?] It¡¯s really her! Yu Ke practically leaped off the sofa, her face filled with excitement. Yu Le shot her a glance, skeptical. "Didn¡¯t you just say Limeng Monster delivered the letter to the wrong person?" Yu Ke ignored her, fully immersed in her conversation. "Li li¡­" The Limeng Monster sighed, feeling utterly betrayed. --- [You were on the hot search. You¡¯re basically a celebrity now. Most high school students recognize you. My sister is in high school, so I just asked around.] Qiao Sang, now lying in bed after her training, read the message. So she had been found through gossip, not through some pet beast¡¯s tracking skill. Speaking of which, why was she on the hot search again¡­? While she grumbled internally, she typed: [Why are you looking for me?] Yu Ke responded instantly: [I want to invest in you!] Invest in me¡­? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Before she could reply, another message came through: [That means whatever you want to do, you can come to me. Of course, I know with your family background, you probably don¡¯t lack much. But you¡¯re still young, and there are always things you want to do that your family might not allow. When that happens, you can come to me.] Yu Ke got straight to the point. She knew that Qiao Sang was from the Yuhua Region and had only come here to participate in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. If she didn¡¯t establish a close relationship with her within a short period, once Qiao Sang returned to Yuhua, she would likely forget about her before long. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze flickered as she typed a reply: [Why do you want to invest in me?] Yu Ke responded with three question marks, expressing confusion. [With your talent, do you even need to ask? I¡¯m sure plenty of people want to invest in you. Others might wait until you finish the national championship or graduate high school, but I¡¯m simply getting ahead of them.] She continued messaging: S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I know you come from an extraordinary background, but you¡¯re from Yuhua. Some resources and information are only available in Zhongkong. For example, the Qingfeng Compass you won at the auction while it¡¯s undeniably valuable, its worth is more in collection than in practical use.] [It¡¯s true that the Qingfeng Compass can help locate Qingqing Ni, but for most people, that just means getting a glimpse of it.] [Throughout history, only three people have successfully formed a contract with Qingqing Ni using the Qingfeng Compass. Otherwise, do you think everyone would have given up so easily at 900 million?] [Information like this is hard to come by unless you belong to a family with over a century of history in Zhongkong.] Extraordinary background? Where did she get that idea? Qiao Sang instinctively typed a response but quickly deleted it and rewrote: [You don¡¯t seem much older than me. You¡¯re probably still in school. Would you even have time for anything else?] Yu Ke¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as she read the message. She knew that if Qiao Sang was asking this, it meant their relationship was already halfway built. [Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯m in college, so I have plenty of free time!] Qiao Sang stared at the chat page, pondering for a couple of seconds before replying: [Let¡¯s set up a time to talk after my national championship is over.] At the moment, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t lacking money or resources but only for the next year. It had already been over a month since she got the Black Gold Card, leaving her with just a little over ten months. This past month had given her a very clear understanding of how expensive resources were. Buying real estate, like she did in her previous life, was unrealistic. Household registration issues prevented her from purchasing property in other provinces, let alone in other regions. And even if she stockpiled existing properties, she¡¯d have to pay property taxes every year. While property prices were undeniably high, reselling second-hand homes was difficult. If she couldn¡¯t sell them, she¡¯d end up losing money every year. The real estate market in the Beast master world wasn¡¯t very liquid, meaning it was hard to turn assets into cash. Unlike the previous world, properties here lacked financial value. At the end of the day, the most lucrative and expensive industry was still pet beasts. Right now, her mother had opened a pet breeding store specializing in Fire Fang Dogs and was making a bit of money. But her ultimate goal was to compete in the Star Cup. A single pet breeding store could never provide enough resources for that. After this conversation, Qiao Sang suddenly realized: She needed to start preparing for the days when she no longer had the Black Gold Card. Yu Ke was based in Zhongkong, had connections, a background, and was still young, not one of those old, cunning capitalists. She would indeed make a good business partner. [Alright! Good luck with your competition! I¡¯ll be waiting for you!] Qiao Sang read Yu Ke¡¯s message, then exited the chat page. ----- ----- Chapter 459: The Third Stage of the National Championship Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day for the third stage of the national championship had arrived. At the Zhongkong Beast Battle Arena... Colorful fireworks exploded in the sky, transforming into various battle beasts that had appeared in the national championship. ¡°Hello, everyone! Welcome to the live broadcast of the National Campus Beast Mastering League!¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A man dressed in a white suit stood atop a flying-type battle beast and announced loudly, ¡°Next up, we will proceed with the 34-to-17 elimination matches!¡± After the second stage of the national championship concluded, 33 competitors had advanced. However, an additional match was held among the eliminated contestants to determine one more qualifier, bringing the total to 34 competitors. At this moment, Qiao Sang appeared in the competitors'' seating area, holding Yabao in her arms. As soon as she sat down, she attracted attention from all directions. In the live broadcast, nearly everyone turned their heads in unison toward the same direction. ¡°So this is Qiao Sang¡­ She really does look like she¡¯s just 15.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t fake age. People even dug up details about when she went to kindergarten.¡± ¡°Kindergarten records? Isn¡¯t that going too far¡­¡± ¡°Well, maybe not for us, but over in the Yuhua region, they¡¯ve gone crazy. I heard that the kindergarten she attended is already fully booked for the next three years.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Talents should be nurtured from a young age. If a kindergarten produced someone like Qiao Sang, it must have something special. If my family weren¡¯t all based in Xilu, my relatives with kids would definitely be applying to that kindergarten too.¡± Amidst the chatter, the host continued with the introductions, and soon, the matchups appeared on the virtual screen. [Dongjia Region, Gao Su VS Zhongkong Region, Zhao Chuanyu] [Xilu Region, Feng Changfei VS Zhidia Region, Zhou Shanliang] [Chongdao Region, Liu Yongming VS Beilun Region, Zhang Siya] [Liaoxi Region, Cui Pingkun VS Zhongkong Region, Luo Yangyang] ... [Guri Region, Tian Xiaoyun VS Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang] ... A total of 34 contestants were divided into 17 matchups. ¡°Tian Xiaoyun¡­¡± Sun Boyi flipped open his notebook and began reading aloud: ¡°Seventeen years old, female. Awakened her abilities one week before the high school entrance exams. In her first year of high school, she participated in the National Campus Beast Mastering League¡¯s team battles. Later, due to her outstanding personal strength, she transitioned to solo battles in her second year.¡± ¡°She has a high-level psychic-type beast, Bigmouth Ai. This beast emits a special alpha wave that causes headaches to those who get too close. When using its abilities, the emitted alpha waves can disrupt machinery, making it a natural counter to mechanical-type battle beasts.¡± ¡°Her second beast is a mid-level insect-type, the Three-Headed Hornet. Its abilities are Bug Premonition and Light Metal.¡± ¡°As a mid-level beast, the Three-Headed Hornet isn¡¯t particularly strong, but back in her second year¡­¡± Since realizing how little he knew about Qiao Sang, Sun Boyi had resolved to prove his worth. Over the past few days, he had been tirelessly reviewing past national championship s, staying up all night researching, and digging up every detail on the competitors who made it to the third stage, including what resources their beasts had received over the past two years. But before he could finish, Liu Yao waved his hand and interrupted, ¡°Qiao Sang, you know what Bug Premonition and Light Metal do, right?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Bug Premonition doubles the attack power of insect-type moves when the beast¡¯s energy drops below one-fourth. Light Metal halves the beast¡¯s weight in battle.¡± Sun Boyi couldn''t help but say, ¡°Vice Principal, these are basic concepts. Of course, Qiao Sang knows them.¡± Qiao Sang inwardly thought: No, I only know them because I¡¯ve been researching my opponents during the competition¡­ Even though she hadn¡¯t studied for a long time, watching matches had expanded her knowledge of battle beasts from different regions. I''m one to talk, Liu Yao thought. I didn¡¯t even know Qiao Sang¡¯s entrance exam score. But she really has improved a lot. If I didn¡¯t still vividly remember her eating a Wanyan Fruit, something only fire-type beasts can consume, I might have forgotten that she wasn¡¯t great at studying¡­ Liu Yao kept his thoughts to himself and said calmly, ¡°Continue.¡± Sun Boyi refocused and continued his notes: ¡°In her second year, Tian Xiaoyun used an A-rank speed-enhancing potion on the Three-Headed Hornet¡­¡± A speed-enhancing potion? Something that increases speed? Qiao Sang listened attentively, this wasn¡¯t in her original research. Meanwhile, about ten meters away from her, Tian Xiaoyun looked miserable. ¡°I¡¯m doomed¡­ How did I end up facing Qiao the Demon so early in the championship?¡± A mature-looking woman in a black coat frowned. ¡°You haven¡¯t even fought yet, and you¡¯re already losing confidence. When will you ever fix this flaw? You have the strength, yet you never believe in yourself before a match.¡± Tian Xiaoyun paused, her eyes shining as she stared at the woman. ¡°Teacher Cui, does this mean you think I have a chance in this match?¡± The woman was silent for a moment before looking away. ¡°Of course. Xiaoyun, you must believe you¡¯re no weaker than anyone else.¡± Then at least look me in the eye when you say that¡­ Tian Xiaoyun¡¯s mouth twitched. --- Time passed, and by the time Qiao Sang¡¯s match came, it was already the afternoon. The host appeared in midair, standing on a white flying-type battle beast. ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome Qiao Sang from the Yuhua Region and Tian Xiaoyun from the Guri Region!¡± Cheers erupted across the arena. ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!¡± In the world of beast masters, admiration for the strong was timeless. Qiao Sang might only be fifteen, but she was undeniably powerful! A true rival is one of equal strength. When the gap is insurmountable, there¡¯s no real competition. As a result, apart from the media-favored schools and Tian Xiaoyun¡¯s own academy, nearly every other school¡¯s students were chanting Qiao Sang¡¯s name. Students wearing black uniforms sat in a row, their expressions tense as they listened to the deafening cheers. After a few seconds of silence, one boy couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you guys cheering?¡± ¡°With how loud they are, would anyone even hear us?¡± A girl beside him asked. ¡°What? What did you say?¡± The boy leaned closer, unable to hear. The girl: ¡­ --- On the battlefield. Qiao Sang and Tian Xiaoyun took their positions. At the whistle¡¯s blow, both formed hand seals and summoned their battle beasts. ¡°San san.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± The moment the beasts appeared, part of the audience leaped to their feet and screamed. ¡°Ahhh! Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to cry! I couldn¡¯t get tickets for the regional matches, but now I get to see Ice Xilu at the national championship!¡± ¡°Ice Xilu! Mom will always support you!¡± The rest of the audience gave them odd looks. ¡°¡­What¡¯s with these people? Are they insane?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? The Guwu Region¡¯s regional matches were even crazier than this.¡± A spectator from Lianke Region explained. ¡°To be fair, Ice Xilu is a rare, endangered species from Guwu.¡± ¡°I watched the Guwu matches online, but seeing this live¡­ These fans are too much.¡± ¡°Not gonna lie, Qiao Sang¡¯s lineup is almost fit for a coordination tournament. All her beasts look so elegant, even her ghost-type beast is cuter than most ghost-types.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same thing.¡± --- In the front row. A woman in her thirties suddenly sprang up in excitement. ¡°Minister Lan?¡± Someone beside her called in confusion. The woman stiffened, then quietly sat back down as if nothing had happened. At that moment, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match. Ice Xilu can use Healing Light. For a top-tier healing-type pet, if it can''t be taken down instantly, dealing damage little by little feels pointless... But there is a way. First, use Three-Headed Hornet to deplete some of Ice Xilu¡¯s energy with its speed. Then, when facing a weakened Ice Xilu, Big-Mouth Ai might actually have a chance to win... Before the match, Tian Xiaoyun had been hesitant and timid, but the moment it began, her entire demeanor changed. "Move!" Tian Xiaoyun''s sharp gaze locked onto her target as she quickly issued a command. "San San!" The Three-Headed Hornet let out a cry, transforming into a blur as it darted across the battlefield. It continuously changed directions, weaving unpredictably through the air like a golden streak. Lubao remained calm and composed, standing motionless. Her eyes stayed locked on the erratic golden blur, as if she could see through its movement patterns. Ice Xilu is so calm¡­ it really can track the opponent¡¯s high-speed movement. Tian Xiaoyun''s gaze flickered toward the blue figure in the distance, her expression serious. She had studied every one of Qiao Sang¡¯s matches. Back in the regional competition, when facing a fast-moving Electric Bug, Ice Xilu had tracked its movement and ended the fight instantly with a single Water Tail. But what if there wasn¡¯t just one trajectory? Suddenly, the golden blur in the air split, one became two, two became four. Four streaks of golden light weaved chaotically, crisscrossing and separating again at extreme speed. Forget following them with the naked eye, even keeping count of how many there were became difficult. At that moment, Qiao Sang spoke: "Rain." "Lu." Lubao raised her head and opened her mouth. "Interrupt it!" Tian Xiaoyun reacted instantly. Using Rain Prayer might deplete some of Ice Xilu¡¯s energy, but for a high-level pet, that energy loss was negligible. If Rain Prayer succeeded, the consequences would be severe. Three-Headed Hornet¡¯s speed would decrease, while Ice Xilu, with its Swift Swimmer trait, would have its speed doubled. At that point, Three-Headed Hornet would likely be defeated in no time. Instead of letting that happen, it was better to interrupt Rain Prayer, keeping constant pressure on Ice Xilu and forcing it to keep attacking, draining its energy bit by bit. ----- ----- Chapter 460: Such A Clever Mind Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "San San!" Upon hearing its trainer''s command, the Three-Headed Hornet let out a cry. Three of the four golden streaks immediately shot toward Lubao from different angles. The remaining streak stopped midair, revealing its true form, three heads, each with two antennae, large and thick white needles on its hands, and intricately patterned yellow wings on its back. Seeing this, the audience quickly voiced their thoughts. "I get it now! Tian Xiaoyun is using a stamina-draining strategy in this match." "Obviously! The Three-Headed Hornet was speeding around without attacking all this time, but it only decided to strike when Ice Xilu started using Rain Prayer." "Yeah, I noticed too. The real body is staying far away while the clones attack. The clones won''t do any real damage, it¡¯s just to interrupt Rain Prayer." "Solid tactic. There¡¯s no way Three-Headed Hornet can beat Ice Xilu head-on. This is a nationally televised match, so of course, they want to drag it out a bit longer." As the audience debated, the three golden streaks had already closed in within a meter of Lubao. At that moment, a chilling frost burst from Lubao''s mouth, spreading in all directions. But the anticipated rain never fell. Icy Wind! I was tricked! This wasn¡¯t Rain Prayer at all! Tian Xiaoyun''s expression shifted. She quickly commanded, "Dodge!" Rain Prayer is a high-tier skill that takes time to cast, but Icy Wind is different. A high-level pet can unleash a mid-tier move almost instantly. If Ice Xilu had intended to use Icy Wind, it could have done so much earlier. But it had deliberately waited until Three-Headed Hornet was about to attack. It was a trap all along! How did she figure out that one of the attacking Three-Headed Hornet was the real body? Tian Xiaoyun¡¯s heart sank. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had studied all of Qiao Sang¡¯s battles and knew that Ice Xilu would sometimes stand still and take damage just to complete a skill. That meant clone attacks were like mere scratches, it was highly likely that Ice Xilu would still go through with Rain Prayer. So, to guarantee an interruption, one of the attacking Three-Headed Hornets had to be the real body. To throw off her opponent, Tian Xiaoyun had intentionally left a clone stationary in the distance, making it seem like that was the real body. The idea was to mislead her opponent into attacking the wrong target. But Qiao Sang saw through it in an instant. In matches like these, pets never act without their trainers¡¯ commands. Now, Qiao Sang had called for Rain Prayer, but Ice Xilu had instead used Icy Wind. That could only mean one thing, this was planned in advance. No wonder she managed to raise three high-level pets by the age of 15. Her mind works on a whole different level, even when fighting mid-tier pets, she strategizes so meticulously¡­ Tian Xiaoyun felt exhausted just thinking about it but couldn¡¯t help but admire her opponent. Lubao¡¯s reaction speed had improved. She had quickly switched tactics. Qiao Sang had expected her to tank the damage again to use Rain Prayer, but she had changed course at the last second. Still, the clones wouldn¡¯t have done much damage anyway. But then, Qiao Sang suddenly froze for a moment. Wait a second¡­ the real body is in there?! The three attacking golden streaks abruptly changed direction. They were fast, but too close to Lubao. The frost spread rapidly, catching up to them in a blink. Two of the golden streaks halted midair, revealing their true forms before disappearing. The third slowed down drastically, half of its wings were already encased in ice. At the same time, the Three-Headed Hornet floating in the air vanished. Now, it was obvious which one was the real body. The audience members who had assumed the stationary Three-Headed Hornet was the real one suddenly felt embarrassed. Icy Wind is this fast?! Tian Xiaoyun realized the situation was bad and quickly shouted, "Agility!" Hearing the command, the Three-Headed Hornet¡¯s unfrozen wing started flapping frantically. Agility is a mid-tier move that relaxes the body, making it lighter and significantly increasing speed. But with one wing frozen, could it really escape? Qiao Sang spoke: "Water Gun." Lubao swiftly opened her mouth. A blue energy gathered at her lips. At the same time, a powerful white light flashed from the Three-Headed Hornet, and the ice on its left wing began to crack. Still, Lubao¡¯s Icy Wind was strong enough that even a mid-tier pet struggled to break free. Due to the ice¡¯s weight, Three-Headed Hornet¡¯s speed boost didn¡¯t kick in immediately. That slight delay was all it took. A thick blast of water roared through the air and struck Three-Headed Hornet head-on. Bang! The Three-Headed Hornet was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground. "San San¡­" Its left and right heads drooped, leaving only the middle head conscious, struggling to get up. Just then, another Water Gun blasted forth. The Three-Headed Hornet finally passed out. "Quuuu!" The mechanical referee pet floated over, glanced at the fallen opponent, and blew the whistle. The audience erupted into discussion. "As expected of Qiao Sang! If it were me, I¡¯d be completely outplayed. I wouldn¡¯t even be able to tell the real body from the clones." "To be fair, it¡¯s not entirely your fault. That Three-Headed Hornet deliberately left a clone behind to trick everyone." "Yeah, but against Qiao Sang, there¡¯s no room for tricks. She even started with Rain Prayer but ended up using Icy Wind instead! She already has three high-level pets, yet she still goes all out against mid-tier ones. That¡¯s terrifying." "Honestly¡­ to make it this far in the national championship, you have to be insanely clever." --- On the battlefield, two white-coated medical pets lifted Three-Headed Hornet onto a stretcher and carried it away. "Lu." Lubao stood tall and composed, looking completely unscathed, as if she had just been summoned and hadn¡¯t even fought yet. In the stands, spectators from the Ancient Guwu Region cheered excitedly, completely captivated by Ice Xilu¡¯s dreamlike performance. Tian Xiaoyun took a deep breath, calming herself. Three-Headed Hornet had lost even faster than expected, and Ice Xilu had barely expended any energy. The next battle was going to be brutal. Soon, the referee gave the signal to summon the next pet. Tian Xiaoyun formed a hand seal. A gray star formation lit up. From within, a deep-blue pet with small eyes and massive jaws emerged. Big-Mouth Ai, a high-level Psychic-type pet. The Alpha Waves it emitted caused headaches in nearby creatures¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind flashed through relevant data. This fight will be all about keeping a safe distance¡­ "Qu!" The referee''s whistle blew. The very next second, Big-Mouth Ai appeared right in front of Lubao. ----- ----- Chapter 462: Where Did Ice Xilu Go? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the battlefield, all the water droplets splashed by the Water Gun were now suspended midair under the influence of Psychic power. The opponent wanted to force Lubao out¡­ With just a glance, Qiao Sang saw through the plan. The trait Melting water wasn¡¯t unbeatable. As long as the water it had merged into was disturbed, the beast using Melting water would be forced out. In the past, Lubao¡¯s Melting water seemed invincible mainly because her opponents weren¡¯t skilled enough to figure out which puddle she had merged into. But now that Big-mouth Ai was controlling every drop of water, there was no way to hide. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced, strategizing the next move. The biggest issue right now was Defensive Swap. As long as the skill¡¯s effect remained, even if Lubao was forced out, she would be in danger. Big-mouth Ai had never used Defensive Swap in previous matches. It was unlikely that they had been hiding it all this time, more likely, it had only recently learned the move. If that was the case, then its proficiency was probably still at a beginner level, meaning the duration of the swap would be limited. Wait... How long was the duration for a beginner-level Defensive Swap again¡­? Never mind. Change the approach. If the duration was uncertain, then the safest move was to ensure that Lubao was in a place completely unaffected by Ice Flower Seal. There wasn¡¯t time for a long command, and if she spoke too precisely, the opponent would catch on and counter. This was a test of Qiao Sang''s synchronization with Lubao. ¡°Smash!¡± Tian Xiaoyun commanded, her expression eager. Defensive Swap was a skill Big-mouth Ai had only learned two days ago. Its success rate was just 60%. Using an unreliable skill in a match was a gamble, but at that moment, it had been the best option. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve had to fend off Ice Flower Seal while also dealing with Ice Xilu¡¯s attacks, which would¡¯ve been impossible to maintain for long. She hadn¡¯t expected it to work on the first try, and the effect was so significant! Ice Xilu¡¯s biggest threats were Healing Light and Ice Flower Seal. Big-mouth Ai didn¡¯t have any moves strong enough to one-shot Ice Xilu, but now, with Defensive Swap, Ice Xilu was vulnerable to its own Ice Flower Seal! As long as Ice Xilu was forced out before the swap ended, this battle was over! ¡°Big!¡± Big-mouth Ai¡¯s eyes glowed blue as it looked down. All the suspended water droplets instantly dropped straight down. At that moment, Qiao Sang commanded, ¡°Jump. Toward the opponent.¡± Jump toward the opponent? Big-mouth Ai? Tian Xiaoyun wasn¡¯t concerned. Even if Ice Xilu approached Big-mouth Ai, what could it do? The falling Ice Flower Seal would slow it down, and getting too close would trigger its headache. Did Qiao Sang think she¡¯d make Big-mouth Ai stop using Psychic and teleport away just because of that command? Not happening. The water droplets fell. One of them suddenly trembled violently. Big-mouth Ai¡¯s Psychic could¡¯ve held Lubao in place for a while, but it was currently spread too thin controlling all the water droplets. A bit of struggling was all it took for Lubao to break free. The trembling droplet moved forward in an unnatural arc before hitting the ground. The moment it landed, two Ice Flower Seal blossomed on Lubao. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao gritted her teeth, her body glowing blue. She then leaped sharply, reaching a still-descending water droplet ahead. At that moment, the Ice Flower Seals on Lubao disappeared for a second. In that instant, Lubao melted into the new water droplet. That works? Tian Xiaoyun froze, struggling to process it. Healing Light and Melting water could be used like that? She exhaled slowly. No problem! The advantage was still on her side. Now that Ice Xilu¡¯s new location was clear, she just needed to tighten the Psychic control. If it tried the same trick again, she¡¯d strike the moment it reappeared! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as that thought formed, Lubao had already completed her second jump. Now, it was one leap away from Big-mouth Ai. ¡°Big!¡± Big-mouth Ai, a seasoned fighter, acted instinctively before its trainer even spoke. Its Psychic power focused, trying to hold the opponent in place. ¡°Big?¡± But the moment it focused its Psychic, Big-mouth Ai froze. Where was the opponent? The battlefield fell silent. From the audience¡¯s perspective, Ice Xilu had jumped toward Big-Mouth Ai and then disappeared. Tian Xiaoyun frowned. ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Big!¡± Big-mouth Ai floated higher, its eyes glowing blue. The area it had just been in, three meters in diameter, saw every water droplet lifted again and slammed down. Still no sign of Ice Xilu. The spectators from both regions held their breath. The expected moment where Ice Xilu would be slammed out of hiding never came. Where was Ice Xilu? If she couldn¡¯t find it soon, Defensive Swap would expire¡­ Tian Xiaoyun steadied herself. ¡°Expand the area!¡± ¡°Big!¡± Big-mouth Ai floated even higher. In an instant, a six-meter radius of water droplets levitated and then crashed down. Still no Ice Xilu. Then, Big-mouth Ai felt an icy chill. An Ice Flower Seal had appeared on its head. Defensive Swap¡¯s effect had ended! Tian Xiaoyun panicked. ¡°Barrier!¡± Barrier was only a low-tier skill, but Ice Flower Seal had been active for a long time, its power was weakening. Maybe Barrier could hold out. Just as she thought that, Qiao Sang spoke. ¡°Ice Claw!¡± ¡°Dodge!¡± Tian Xiaoyun reacted instinctively. Even though Ice Xilu hadn¡¯t appeared yet, at this crucial moment, Big-mouth Ai could not take damage! Hearing its trainer¡¯s command, Big-mouth Ai immediately canceled its Barrier and teleported five meters away. By now, three Ice Flower Seals had bloomed on its body. Big-mouth Ai gritted its teeth through the cold, raising its claw to try again- At that moment, a single water droplet on its body twisted. The next second, Ice Xilu emerged, raising an icy claw condensed from frost. Big-mouth Ai looked up, its pupils reflecting Ice Xilu¡¯s form. Slash! The sharp, chilling claws struck without hesitation. Big-mouth Ai, being a Psychic-type beast, had no defense against a close-range attack like this. Bang! It was sent crashing downward. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao landed gracefully, her expression cold and composed. Snowflakes drifted down. Soon, Big-mouth Ai was covered in delicate, intricate Ice Flower Seals. At this point, there was no more doubt. Ice Xilu had been hiding on Big-mouth Ai the whole time! (T/n: That was so damn smart on Qiao Sang and Lubao''s part.) It felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer and Tian Xiaoyun was completely stunned. How could Qiao Sang think of something like that in such a short time? What¡¯s even more baffling is that Qiao Sang¡¯s command was simply, ¡°Jump to the opponent¡¯s side.¡± It was so vague, yet Ice Xilu seemed to understand perfectly. On the other side, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t stop the corners of her mouth from curling up. Big-mouth Ai had been hit by a Water Gun earlier and was still wet. If there was a safe place in the arena, nowhere was safer than Big-mouth Ai¡¯s body. To be fair, her bond with Lubao was getting stronger. Lubao understood that she meant for her to jump onto the water droplets on Big-mouth Ai¡¯s body rather than just following the literal meaning of the command. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao flicked her tail, showing no change in expression as she turned and walked toward her Beast Tamer. But in the next second, she suddenly staggered. Seeing this, Qiao Sang immediately called out, ¡°Use Healing Light, quick!¡± Lubao had been staying close to Big-mouth Ai the entire time. She must have been enduring the headache so she wouldn¡¯t give herself away. ¡°Lu.¡± A warm feeling surged in Lubao¡¯s heart, she knew her Beast Tamer had been paying attention to her all along. A blue glow appeared around her. ¡°Qu!¡± At the same time, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the match. The audience fell silent for two seconds before erupting in an overwhelming wave of cheers. ¡°What just happened? Why did Ice Xilu suddenly appear in front of Big-mouth Ai at the end?!¡± ¡°Are you serious? You didn¡¯t get it? Ice Xilu jumped into the water on Big-mouth Ai¡¯s body!¡± ¡°What water?¡± ¡°Are you dumb? Didn¡¯t Ice Xilu hit it with a Water Gun at the beginning?¡± ¡°Damn, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind is something else.¡± ¡°Ice Xilu, I love you!¡± ¡°Holy crap, did you guys notice how Ice Xilu was casting Healing Light while hopping through the snow, blending into the water at the perfect moment? That was insane!¡± ¡°Yeah, it was seriously amazing! Healing Light looked like an instant cast, and it timed the moment when the ice on its body melted perfectly to merge into the water. If any part of that had gone wrong, Ice Xilu would have lost!¡± ¡°Aaaaah! I knew Ice Xilu would win!¡± ¡°Wait, does no one else find the bond between Qiao Sang and Ice Xilu unbelievable? If I were in her place, and I told my Needlebug to ¡®jump to the opponent¡¯s side,¡¯ it would just stupidly jump right in front of them.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t treat Qiao Sang like a normal person. Forget her skill, just the idea of having Ice Xilu merge into the water on Big-mouth Ai¡¯s body¡­ Who else would come up with that in such a short time?¡± ¡°¡­When you put it that way, I get it now.¡± The students from Shengshui High School shouted Qiao Sang and Ice Xilu¡¯s names wildly, feeling immensely proud to be in the same school as her. At that moment, a boy sitting next to Jin Feifan leaned in and asked, ¡°You guys go to the same school as Qiao Sang?¡± Jin Feifan, usually socially anxious, was still caught up in the excitement and didn¡¯t feel her usual nervousness when a stranger talked to her. She nodded firmly. ¡°Mm!¡± ¡°I heard her grades are bad, that she even got a zero once. Is that true?¡± The boy asked. Jin Feifan glared at him. ¡°Who told you that?! Our school is the best high school in the city, and Qiao Sang is in the best class in our grade. She¡¯s also the smartest student in the class!¡± The boy looked a little embarrassed. ¡°I read it online¡­¡± Jin Feifan huffed. ¡°The internet is full of fake news! How can you believe that?¡± ¡°¡­Got it.¡± --- Front row of the audience. ¡°Ahh!¡± Minister Lan suddenly jumped out of her seat in excitement. ¡°Minister Lan?¡± A man around her age looked at her in confusion. Minister Lan quickly sat back down but couldn¡¯t help turning to ask, ¡°Wait, are none of you reacting to such an amazing match?!¡± It was exciting, sure, but not to the point of jumping up. We¡¯ve seen plenty of incredible battles in our lifetime¡­ The man internally grumbled but chose his words carefully. ¡°It was great, but considering this is a national live broadcast with cameras zooming in on us, and we¡¯re here representing our region, I figured I should hold back.¡± ¡­Minister Lan fell silent. --- That night, 15th floor of the Moting Hotel. Yabao and Little Treasure sat in front of a computer, watching Lubao¡¯s match from earlier. Qiao Sang sat nearby, reviewing the battle with them. ¡°Information isn¡¯t always reliable. We can¡¯t just stick to pre-planned strategies. Lubao made great decisions today.¡± "Lu." Lubao flicked her tail, as if to say, That was just basic stuff. Yabao stared at the video, growing more and more excited. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned to look at Lubao, eyes full of fighting spirit. Qiao Sang immediately knew what he was thinking. It had taken a lot of effort to make Yabao forget about fighting Lubao, and now just watching a video had brought the idea back¡­ Before he could issue a challenge, Qiao Sang quickly said, ¡°The next matches are only going to get tougher. The remaining opponents are all strong. The next battle is in two days, so tomorrow, we¡¯ll train as usual, but no extra battles. We need to rest well to be in top form.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically, dropping the idea of fighting Lubao. He could battle Lubao anytime, but matches like this weren¡¯t an everyday thing. Seeing this, Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction. Good job, Yabao! Learning quickly and thinking smart. ¡°Xun?¡± Just then, Little Treasure called out curiously. Only one of them could compete in each match. If he wasn¡¯t going to be chosen for the next one, did that mean he could do something else tomorrow? As soon as he spoke, Yabao and Lubao both turned to look at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang: ¡­ After a moment of silence, she said, ¡°We don¡¯t know who the next opponent is yet, so we all have to be ready at any time. I can¡¯t say for sure who will be competing next.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded in understanding. So that¡¯s how it was. Yabao and Lubao exchanged identical expressions of realization. A thought suddenly flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind: Little Treasure was asking more and more questions. He was so eager to learn¡­ What a shame he wasn¡¯t in school. ----- ----- Chapter 463: The Fourth Stage of the National Championship Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Yuhua Region. Zhehai Province, Hanggang City. Drizzling rain fell from the sky. A man in his thirties, dressed in a black suit with a rather handsome appearance, walked into an old, weathered residential complex that exuded a strong sense of history. Huihe Residential Complex was one of the most expensive housing areas in Hanggang City. Though old, it was a designated school district for Hanggang No. 2 Middle School. And Hanggang No. 2 Middle School was ranked the top middle school in the city. The man entered the elevator of one of the buildings and pressed the button for the 5th floor. The elevator quickly ascended, and the man stepped out, pulling out a key to unlock the door of Apartment 502. Inside, a 106-square-meter apartment with three bedrooms and a living room was decorated in a way that starkly contrasted the exterior, showing evident care and attention to detail. A girl in a Hanggang No. 2 Middle School uniform, sitting on the couch playing on her phone, quickly tucked it into her pocket when she heard the door open. She stood up obediently and greeted: ¡°Dad, you¡¯re back.¡± Qiao Wangyang glanced toward the pocket where she had hidden her phone, frowning. ¡°Still playing on your phone? Have you finished your homework?¡± ¡°I was doing it, but Mom said dinner was almost ready, so I came out to wait.¡± Qiao Ningning replied. Qiao Wangyang said no more. He returned to his room, took off his suit, and changed into casual clothes. Soon, a woman in a beige sweater placed three dishes and a soup on the dining table. As they ate, she asked gently, ¡°Have the test results come out? How did you do?¡± ¡°They¡¯re out. I got 571 points, ranking ninth in my class.¡± Qiao Ningning answered. Qiao Wangyang put down his chopsticks and scolded, ¡°Why is it 11 points lower than last time?¡± The woman responded, ¡°Maybe the test was harder this time.¡± Qiao Ningning nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking at grains. Qiao Wangyang scoffed, ¡°If the score dropped, it¡¯s because you didn¡¯t answer the hard questions well. You¡¯re almost taking your high school entrance exam. How will you get into a top high school with this score?¡± Qiao Ningning shrank her neck and silently ate her rice. Then, as if remembering something, she looked up seriously and said: ¡°I think I might awaken my brain domain on my own! I¡¯ve already planned it! Once my brain domain awakens, I¡¯ll contract a Fire Fang Dog and apply for the special admissions program at Shengshui High.¡± The woman was surprised. She had never heard her daughter mention this aspiration before. Qiao Wangyang frowned. ¡°What makes you so sure you¡¯ll awaken? Do you know how rare it is for someone to awaken their brain domain on their own each year?¡± Qiao Ningning¡¯s expression was full of excitement, her tone filled with admiration: ¡°Do you know Qiao Sang? She¡¯s 15 years old, has three high-level battle beasts, and is the first student from our province to qualify for the National Campus Beast Tamer Tournament in the senior division! ¡°She awakened her brain domain in middle school and got a special admission into Shengshui High. And guess what? Her last name is Qiao! My last name is Qiao too! Since we¡¯re from the same city, we could be from the same ancestral lineage!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making this up. Look at her photo! Don¡¯t you think we look a bit alike?¡± As she spoke, Qiao Ningning operated her phone and placed it on the table with the screen facing up. Both Qiao Wangyang and the woman looked at the phone. The next second, an odd silence filled the dining table. The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy. Sensing something was off, Qiao Ningning was about to ask... But at that moment, Qiao Wangyang suddenly stood up. ¡°I¡¯m full. You two continue.¡± Without another word, he entered the bedroom and shut the door. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with Dad?¡± Qiao Ningning asked, confused. Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be a coincidence. Same name, same age, and similar appearance. That Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t possibly be that child¡­ The woman suppressed the rising anxiety in her heart and forced a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Maybe he¡¯s really full.¡± Inside the Room. Qiao Wangyang scrolled through his phone, looking up all the latest news about Qiao Sang, his expression dazed. [The Strongest High School Student in History!] [Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom Suspected to Be a Rare Partial-Colored Beast!] [The Growth of Qiao Sang: An Insider¡¯s Story!] [How Did a 15-Year-Old Train Three High-Level Battle Beasts?] [Tournament News: Qiao Sang Is Likely to Win This Year¡¯s National Senior Division Championship!] [Qiao Sang¡¯s Middle School Teacher: ¡°Without a Doubt, She¡¯s the Smartest Student I¡¯ve Ever Taught.¡±] [Qiao Sang and Ice Xilu¡¯s Unbelievable Bond!] [Yuhua Daily: Congratulations to Qiao Sang for Advancing to the National Top 17!] As Qiao Wangyang read, his disbelief grew stronger. He couldn¡¯t believe that this was his daughter. But the name, the face, and the insider information, it all matched. Could I really have fathered such an incredible child? Sitting on the bed, Qiao Wangyang¡¯s face showed an expression of existential doubt. After hesitating, he opened his contacts and dialed Qiao Sang¡¯s number. Although he and Ye Xiangting had divorced, perhaps out of guilt for leaving with nothing and not wanting his daughter to feel fatherless, Ye Xiangting never cut off his visitation rights. However, after Qiao Sang learned the reason for their divorce, she became distant. She never accepted his invitations on holidays. Eventually, he shifted his focus to Qiao Ningning, and his contact with Qiao Sang dwindled. Come to think of it, their last phone call was during last year¡¯s New Year¡¯s holiday. Soon, an automated response played: ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently on another call¡­¡± Not thinking much of it, Qiao Wangyang hung up and tried again after a minute. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently on another call¡­¡± Still on the phone? He frowned. Over the next few hours, he called every five minutes. By 11 PM, the woman in bed finally lost patience. ¡°Who are you even calling?¡± Qiao Wangyang hesitated and said, ¡°What kind of person talks on the phone from 6 PM to 11 PM straight? I¡¯ve been calling for over five hours, and it¡¯s always busy.¡± The woman thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve been blocked?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Wangyang: ??? On the day of the Fourth Stage of the National Championship. Central Region. Shouyao Beast Battle Arena. Under the gazes and murmurs of the audience, Qiao Sang sat in the contestants'' area. A familiar brown-and-white flying-type beast fluttered past, holding a basket. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± ¡°Chomp Chomp!¡± The beast¡¯s eyes lit up and immediately ran over. It hadn¡¯t forgotten its big-spending customer! Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll take everything.¡± The beast excitedly displayed its QR code. After paying, Qiao Sang took the basket full of snacks. ¡°Chomp Chomp!¡± The beast bowed and flapped its wings as it flew away. ¡°Which one do you want?¡± Qiao Sang asked Yabao, placing the basket in front of him. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao picked a bag of sunflower seeds and placed it in front of her, eyes shining. Feeling touched, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded. ¡°Thanks.¡± She ruffled Yabao¡¯s head with a smile. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao chirped excitedly. Now that you ate my sunflower seeds, does that mean I get to compete? Qiao Sang: ??? What are you talking about? What does eating sunflower seeds have to do with sending you into battle? Qiao Sang briefly doubted her own ears. "Yap!" Seeing that his Beast Master wasn¡¯t responding, Yabao blinked his bright eyes and repeated the same words again. Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before asking, "Who told you that sending me sunflower seeds means I''ll send you into battle?" "Yap!" Yabao pointed at Little Treasure, who was hiding on top of his Beast Master¡¯s head. It was Little Treasure who said so! He claimed that in the past, whenever he gave someone milk, they would never refuse his requests. So, other food should work the same way too! Little Treasure: ¡­ Hiding in stealth, Little Treasure froze completely, pretending he didn¡¯t exist. He never expected Brother Yabao to sell him out so quickly¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 464: Electric Slash Beast Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang¡¯s tone was dangerous. ¡°Little Treasure!¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure weakly called out, indicating that he had only casually mentioned it yesterday¡­ ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head in confusion after hearing their conversation. Wasn¡¯t Little Treasure right? ¡°Of course not!¡± Qiao Sang said as she lifted Little Treasure off her head. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure revealed himself, blinking innocently, trying to get away with acting cute. You think acting cute will get you off the hook¡­? Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched, but in the end, her tone softened. ¡°If I trade this basket of food for your Diamond Gloves, would you agree to the exchange?¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure shook his head like a rattle drum. Of course not! ¡°That¡¯s exactly it.¡± Qiao Sang turned to Yabao and said earnestly, ¡°See? Even Little Treasure won¡¯t trade. Everything has different values, and not everything can be exchanged equally.¡± ¡°Yap yap¡­¡± Yabao nodded, looking a little dejected. Seeing his expression, Qiao Sang spoke gently, ¡°If you want to compete, just tell me. You don¡¯t need to go through all this trouble.¡± ¡°Yap yap¡­¡± Yabao lifted his head and looked at Qiao Sang with big, wet eyes. So¡­ could he participate today? Qiao Sang responded seriously, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao immediately brightened up, wagging his tail wildly. Seeing this, Qiao Sang finally got to her real point. ¡°So, don¡¯t always listen to Little Treasure¡¯s nonsense. He¡¯s still young and doesn¡¯t understand many things. As the older one, you should have your own judgment.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded seriously, then glanced at Little Treasure with a look that said, Why did I even listen to you in the first place? Little Treasure: ¡­ Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction. Yabao was such a simple-hearted kid. If he kept listening to Little Treasure like this, how was she supposed to trick him in the future? Thankfully, she had stopped this bad habit in time. --- With the usual procedures completed, the matchups soon appeared on the virtual screen. Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang VS Zhongkong Region, Wu Chongyu Zhidiya Region, Zhou Shanliang VS Chongdao Region, Liu Yongming Beilun Region, Tao Rong VS Chongdao Region, Zhang Wandi Xilu Region, Shao Liben VS Zhongkong Region, Tang Yi --- Zhongkong Region, Zhao Chuanyu VS Liaoxi Region, Cui Pingkun --- A total of 9 matchups, plus competitors who re-entered from elimination, making it 18 contestants in total. As the matchups were revealed, the arena grew noisy with chatter. ¡°This is intense! The first match is already a big showdown.¡± ¡°Whoa! The final match is Zhao Chuanyu against Cui Pingkun! We¡¯re still in the round of 18, and they¡¯re already paired up?!¡± ¡°Ahhh! Tao Rong is matched against Zhang Wandi! He¡¯s our Beilun Region¡¯s last remaining contestant! Will he be eliminated today?¡± At this stage of the competition, all remaining contestants were well-known. Out of Dragon Nation¡¯s 13 regions, only 18 contestants remained. Some regions had just one last competitor, like Beilun¡¯s Tao Rong and Yuhua¡¯s Qiao Sang. Usually, at this point, regions with only one remaining competitor would be under immense pressure. However, Yuhua Region¡¯s atmosphere seemed different this year. ¡°Zhongkong Region still has so many contestants. It¡¯s time for Qiao Sang to thin them out!¡± ¡°Wu Chongyu, right? I know him, he has a mid-tier Dragon-type pet beast and a high-tier Electric-type pet beast. Not a big problem. I bet Qiao Sang will take them both down.¡± ¡°Whether she takes them both down or not doesn¡¯t matter. Winning is enough. Wu Chongyu¡¯s Ice Dragon may be mid-tier, but it¡¯s on par with many high-tier pet beasts.¡± ¡°You just said it yourself, it¡¯s on par with ordinary high-tier pet beasts. Now tell me, does any of Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts look ordinary to you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say she can¡¯t win. I just think we shouldn¡¯t pressure her to take down both. Winning is enough.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Good point¡­ Qiao Sang for the win!¡± --- In the contestants¡¯ area. ¡°Wu Chongyu has one high-tier¡­¡± Sun Boyi flipped through his notebook, preparing to give a detailed breakdown. Before he could finish, Qiao Sang stood up and interrupted, ¡°No time, I¡¯m up first.¡± She then turned and walked towards the contestant entrance. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Sun Boyi closed his notebook, letting out a long sigh as he watched Qiao Sang leave. Why was it so hard to be useful? Liu Yao, for once, comforted him. ¡°Whether you say it or not, it doesn¡¯t change anything. Qiao Sang can look it up herself. And if it¡¯s something like Tian Xiaoyun from last time, you wouldn¡¯t have known either.¡± Sun Boyi: ¡­ --- On the other side. ¡°Teacher Li¡­¡± Wu Chongyu looked at the middle-aged man beside him, his face tense with nerves. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± The middle-aged man patted Wu Chongyu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go on.¡± Wu Chongyu: ¡­ Say something more, will you?! --- As the crowd erupted in cheers, Qiao Sang and Wu Chongyu stepped onto the stage. Wu Chongyu looked at the girl in the distance, his palms sweaty with nerves. This was really bad luck. He hadn¡¯t even made it into the Top 10, and he was already facing Monster Qiao Sang¡­ Honestly, having three high-tier pet beasts wasn¡¯t an impossible challenge in the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship¡¯s 2v2 format. After all, there were differences even among high-tier beasts. Evolution time, species potential, and natural abilities all influenced their strength. A high-tier pet beast that had evolved for three years would obviously have a better chance of winning than one that had just evolved. But the terrifying thing about Qiao Sang was that all three of her high-tier pet beasts had no weaknesses. Stamina, speed, burst power, reaction time, skill proficiency, and synergy with her, they were all flawless. It was terrifying. And now, he had to battle this monster¡­ Qu! The whistle signaling the start of the match blew. Just my luck. I¡¯d rather have faced Zhao Chuanyu¡­ Wu Chongyu let out a heavy breath and began forming hand seals. A gray star formation and a green star formation lit up simultaneously. Soon, the summoned pet beasts appeared within their respective formations. Electric Slash Beast, a high-tier Electric-type pet beast. It had a violent temperament and explosive speed akin to lightning. When enraged, it discharged electricity from its mane in all directions. Its abilities? Lightning Rod and Motor Drive, meaning if it got hit by Electric-type moves, it wouldn¡¯t take damage. Instead, one ability would boost its Special Attack, while the other would increase its Speed. Qiao Sang examined the beast before her, its yellow fur accented with numerous orange stripes, a sharp horn protruding from its forehead, and the powerful presence of a lion-tiger hybrid. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Electric!¡± Yabao and the Electric Slash Beast bared their teeth at each other from afar. Crackle¡­ Golden electricity danced across Electric Slash Beast¡¯s body, its flowing mane billowing in the charged air. Whoosh¡­ The flame-formed wings on Yabao¡¯s back suddenly expanded, causing a wave of heat to surge around him. His red-and-white fur rippled wildly. Judging by aura alone, neither side was willing to back down. ----- ----- Chapter 465: Yellow Lightning Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The whistle blew. "Flame Charge!" "Volt Tackle!" Yabao, who had been gathering power, suddenly burst into flames. The fire from his wings surged, engulfing his entire body as his limbs exploded with force, transforming him into a brilliant streak of fire rushing forward. At the same time, electric arcs danced wildly across the Electric Slash Beast¡¯s body. In an instant, its form was covered in golden lightning, like a streak of thunder racing across the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, it had already reached the center of the field, dozens of meters ahead. Fire and lightning were about to collide. The audience instinctively held their breath. No matter the level of the competition, the clash of raw power always excited the most primal emotions. However, the expected violent impact never happened. Just before the two forces met head-on, the streak of lightning suddenly changed trajectory, dodging the incoming flames. Meanwhile, the fire disappeared, only to reappear high in the air, ten meters above the battlefield. The flames around Yabao had already dissipated. He hovered midair, tilting his head upward. A massive crimson energy ball, pulsing with terrifying power, shot further into the sky. On the ground, the Electric Slash Beast also came to a stop, yellow lightning still crackling around its body. "Electric Slash!" It let out a loud cry, and a bolt of lightning shot skyward. Suddenly, the sky darkened. For a moment, the audience fell silent. Then, the stadium erupted in noise. "Holy crap, did they plan this in advance? They both started with feints?" "Distraction tactics? I don''t get it. Why not just use the big moves directly?" "Isn''t it obvious? They both wanted to unleash their strongest attacks but were afraid of getting interrupted, so they used smaller moves first to divert attention before going all in." "Qiao Sang and Wu Chongyu have some serious synergy going on." "Not bad! Wu Chongyu actually managed to keep up with Qiao Sang¡¯s strategy." "But what are these ultimate moves they¡¯re preparing... wait, what the?!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The speaker¡¯s eyes nearly popped out at the scene on the field. The sky darkened briefly before an enormous bolt of lightning, five times thicker than normal, came crashing down like a lightning pillar. Its sheer force sent visible tremors through the air. But the lightning didn¡¯t strike the opponent, it struck the Electric Slash Beast itself! "Electric Slash!" The beast let out a cry as the sharp horn atop its head crackled with golden electricity. The massive lightning bolt was instantly absorbed into its horn! Violent golden arcs surged across its body, its fur billowed wildly, and its eyes turned a blazing gold. Its aura intensified exponentially. Then, an unexpected shift occurred in the air. A rain of fire descended from the sky! Countless flaming orbs fell, engulfing the battlefield in a sea of red. Boom! Boom! Boom! Firebombs exploded as they hit the ground, shattering the battlefield. Scorching waves of heat filled the air. At a glance, there was nowhere left to land. And yet, in the midst of this hellish landscape, the Electric Slash Beast darted through like a flash of lightning, moving at an incredible speed. But the density of the fire rain was overwhelming. Despite its rapid movement, the beast¡¯s large frame made dodging impossible. Fireballs kept striking its body. White smoke rose from its fur as it sizzled on impact. "Electric Slash!" Gritting its teeth against the pain, the beast let out a roar. Its aura surged again as it accelerated further, breaking through the fiery downpour. Amidst the burning battlefield, it surged forward, trailing arcs of electricity, charging straight toward Yabao in an upward diagonal sprint. Brilliant move! It had summoned lightning upon itself at the start of the battle, utilizing the Lightning Rod and Motor Drive abilities to boost its special attack and speed. Now, it was so fast that even teleportation might not be able to dodge it¡­ Qiao Sang was genuinely impressed. She had initially planned to dominate the battlefield with an overwhelming assault, preventing a prolonged battle that would drain stamina and energy. But she hadn''t expected Wu Chongyu to be thinking the exact same thing. The deeper into the competition they got, the tougher the opponents became¡­ Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Yabao vanished from his spot, teleporting to a new position. Electric arcs flashed as red and yellow streaks clashed in the air, engaged in a frenzied chase. Again and again, the Electric Slash Beast was struck by fire, leaving it covered in burns. However, the flames never spread beyond their initial impact, dissipating into controlled explosions before vanishing. "The electricity is conducting through the flames." Liu Yao analyzed from the contestants'' area. "When the temperature reaches a certain threshold, the energy causes explosive shockwaves. The Electric Slash Beast is getting hurt, but at the same time, it¡¯s using the shockwaves to disperse the flames before they can ignite fully." "Lightning Rod increases its special attack, making its electric energy overflow and crackle continuously across its body." Sun Boyi muttered. "But the electric-flame explosions are still damaging it. At this rate, it''s only a matter of time before it loses." "And how did he know Qiao Sang would start with Meteor Rain?" "He didn¡¯t." Liu Yao replied. "Calling down lightning on itself was a safe move. Yabao can teleport, making it hard to land a normal attack. Even if the beast managed to hit it once, that wouldn¡¯t be enough to take it down. But with increased speed and special attack, the Electric Slash Beast now has a real chance of winning." "As for Meteor Rain, he prepared for it just in case, but even he probably didn¡¯t expect Qiao Sang to open with it immediately." Sure enough, Wu Chongyu was staring at the battlefield in shock, internally screaming: What the hell?! This was Meteor Rain at ultimate level?! Watching it on TV was nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand! Good thing I boosted my stats at the start! Otherwise, I might have been wiped out within a minute. How would I even face his school after that? Even with Motor Drive increasing its speed, the Electric Slash Beast should have caught Yabao by now. But the Meteor Rain''s damage was slowing it down just enough to prevent a direct hit. This couldn¡¯t continue. If he let the Blazing Star Canine keep dodging, his beast¡¯s injuries would only worsen. He had to launch a full-scale assault now. Even if he lost, he had to go down with a fight. Wu Chongyu steadied himself and shouted: "Thunderbolt!" "Electric!" Despite the pain, the Electric Slash Beast roared, golden lightning crackling wildly across its body. As the last flames exploded against its skin, a massive bolt of lightning surged forward, streaking toward Yabao like a golden serpent. In the sea of red flames, a single flash of yellow lightning stood out: Sharp, blinding, and unstoppable. ----- ----- Chapter 466: Wu Chongyu is Pretty Good! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Yap!" Yabao showed an excited expression as he faced the overwhelming lightning attack. He let out a loud cry, and in the next second, flames surged, his wildly flowing fur seemingly turning into a raging inferno. Then, he charged head-on toward the incoming lightning strike. With an Ultimate-Level Flame Charge, Yabao''s speed was just as fast as lightning, appearing as a dazzling streak of fire weaving left and right through the chaotic bolts. If this attack landed, combined with Meteor Rain, Electric Slash Beast would likely be knocked out on the spot... Wu Chongyu''s mind raced. Electric Slash Beast could dodge, but how would it counterattack afterward? Quick reflexes and speed meant taking the initiative in every move. Even against wide-range attacks, as long as one could react fast enough, all enemy moves would feel like slow motion, making them much easier to counter. This speed advantage had always ensured his Electric Slash Beast dominated in past battles. But now, Meteor Rain had already slowed Electric Slash Beast down. Worse, his opponent could teleport due to its Psychic-type abilities. This meant that even in terms of speed, Electric Slash Beast had lost its edge. If this dragged on, Electric Slash Beast wouldn''t be able to hold out under the continuous meteor rain. Once its ability effects wore off, its attack power would also drop. Rather than dodging, it was better to face it head-on! If they could at least land a hit, then he¡¯d be the first contestant in the tournament to actually damage Blazing Star Canine! Wu Chongyu had this thought, but the battle between high-level battle beasts happened in a split second, too fast for him to give a command. Before he could shout, Yabao had already weaved through Thunderbolt and appeared right in front of Electric Slash Beast. Even though Wu Chongyu hadn¡¯t spoken, at that moment, it was as if Electric Slash Beast could read his thoughts. "Electric!" Just as Yabao closed in, Electric Slash Beast didn''t dodge. Instead, it suddenly burst into a brilliant electric glow. A massive surge of electric energy and shockwaves exploded outward from its body, forming an enormous yellow half-sphere of destruction. Within its radius, everything seemed doomed to be obliterated. Thunderstorm Explosion, a high-level Electric-type move that releases devastating energy around the user. There was no way for Yabao to avoid it now. Instinctively, Qiao Sang wanted to order Yabao to teleport to safety. But she could sense Yabao¡¯s battle excitement, he wanted to face this head-on. She hesitated for 0.1 seconds but that was enough for Yabao to be caught in the range of the Thunderstorm Explosion. At this point, dodging was no longer an option. Qiao Sang thought fast, then shouted: "Version 2.0!" However--- BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Meteor Rain was still raining down. As it collided with the yellow half-sphere, massive explosions erupted. Thick white smoke filled the air, and the deafening explosions completely drowned out Qiao Sang¡¯s voice. Did Yabao get the message? --- At the heart of the explosion, when Yabao¡¯s Flame Charge struck Electric Slash Beast, an immense electrical surge erupted from it¡¯s body. The clash of fire and lightning triggered a massive detonation, sending both of them flying. Both battle beasts endured the first wave of the explosion. But Electric Slash Beast had already suffered from Meteor Rain earlier. This time, after the impact, the electric arcs around its body flickered weakly. The flames continued to fall, causing repeated fire bursts across the battlefield. Soon, Electric Slash Beast swayed unsteadily then collapsed. Yet, the Thunderstorm Explosion it had triggered did not stop. Once unleashed, this kind of ability didn¡¯t need constant energy control, it would keep going for a set duration. "Yap!" Yabao, caught in the center of the raging storm, was being battered from all sides. He gritted his teeth and held firm. At that moment, he heard Qiao Sang¡¯s command. Version 2.0? In an instant, Yabao understood what she meant. "Yap!" Yabao endured the pain, gathered his energy, and opened his mouth. The next second, flames erupted from his maw. When fire met the chaotic lightning energy... BOOM! A colossal explosion detonated. Yabao bared his fangs, his eyes glowing blue. The fire surrounded Yabao, spiraling around him, expanding in size and intensity. Despite the constant detonations, Yabao¡¯s relentless fire and powerful psychic energy forced an opening, a safe zone within the storm. If any professional beast trainers had witnessed this scene, they¡¯d have shouted "What the hell?!" in shock. Everyone knew that Electric-type energy was violently unstable. Combining Electric and Fire-type energy always resulted in massive explosions. Yet, right in front of them... A battle beast was using flames and psychic power to block it off?! Fire naturally amplifies explosions. Once the temperature hit a certain point, lightning should have scattered the flames. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But here, the fire just kept coming, refusing to be extinguished. Only the outermost layer of fire showed any signs of dispersing and even that was just due to the shockwaves and smoke from repeated explosions. How much energy did it take to sustain this?! --- The ground trembled, cracked, and shattered. Blazing Star Canine and Electric Slash Beast were completely obscured in the explosion¡¯s core. The audience swallowed hard, their hearts pounding. By the later stages of the national championship, high-level battle beast duels were common. But even among elite matches, this was different. This battle wasn¡¯t about tactics, it was pure destructive force. In this year¡¯s entire national championship, no other battle had been this brutal. The sheer ferocity of Blazing Star Canine and Electric Slash Beast had left everyone stunned. The same thought ran through the audience''s minds: Wu Chongyu is insane! Did he just go for mutual destruction with Qiao Sang?! The explosions were so intense that no battle beast could have survived unscathed. Not even Blazing Star Canine, as terrifying as it was, could possibly still be standing¡­ After all, its true strength lay in offense, not defense. Nearly everyone thought the same thing. Wu Chongyu, on the other hand, was already celebrating. He knew Qiao Sang had underestimated him. Now look! Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t even given a command and it had cost her the match. He was about to become the first contestant to defeat Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine. His Electric Slash Beast¡¯s sacrifice had not been in vain. Wu Chongyu straightened his back, bracing for thunderous applause. In the audience, his classmates in white uniforms waved a massive banner: "Wu Chongyu, Charge Forward! Victory in Every Match!" All they had to do was wait for the smoke to clear and for the referee to announce the draw. Then... The explosions subsided, and the smoke dispersed. Wu Chongyu froze. His classmates stopped cheering. Silently, they lowered the banner. On the battlefield- The Blazing Star Canine stood proudly, head slightly raised, injured but unyielding. And beside it... Electric Slash Beast lay unconscious on the ground. ----- ----- Chapter 467: Ice Dragon Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Qu!" The referee''s whistle, signaling the end of the match, quickly echoed through the arena. The crowd''s faces were filled with shock and disbelief. But after the initial shock, their eyes lit up as they processed the scene before them, it completely defied their understanding. For the first time, the students in the audience had never felt so eager to learn. "Oh my god! How can it still be standing after such an explosion?!" "Is there a teacher here? Someone explain what just happened!" "Isn''t Blazing Star Canine a Fire and Psychic-type beast? How did it achieve such high defense?" "Did it secretly use some powerful Psychic-type defensive skill that we didn''t notice?" "That explosion just now, what level of defensive skill could possibly withstand that?" "Wu Chongyu is pretty strong himself. If he hadn''t encountered Qiao Sang, I think he could''ve at least made it into the top five." "Wait, can someone explain what exactly Blazing Star Canine did inside that explosion to come out unharmed?" "Who said it was unharmed? Look at its body, it''s covered in injuries! It just managed to endure thanks to its strong defensive skills." "After all this discussion, what exactly is Blazing Star Canine''s defensive skill?" --- In the competitors'' area, Liu Yao turned to Sun Boyi and asked, "What is Blazing Star Canine''s defensive skill?" Sun Boyi remained silent. Liu Yao was surprised. "You don''t even know?" Sun Boyi: ... Yeah, why don¡¯t I know this either¡­? He felt like he was on the verge of a breakdown. To be honest, in all his years, he had never felt so useless before. --- In the front row of the audience, officials from various regions were engaged in a rare discussion. "How did the Blazing Star Canine defend against that?" "I noticed that the explosion created an absurd amount of smoke, which means a massive amount of Fire-type energy must have been released." "You think it used a Fire-type skill to block the attack?" "I didn''t say that, but judging from the energy fluctuations, it¡¯s not impossible." "In theory, using a Fire-type skill to block a Thunderstorm attack is impossible. The collision of these two elements would only make the explosion even stronger, and Blazing Star Canine would have suffered even more damage." "Then how do you explain the abnormal amount of smoke from the explosion?" "Maybe Blazing Star Canine was fighting Electric Slash Beast inside the explosion?" "You''re saying that not only did the Blazing Star Canine fight Electric Slash Beast within the range of the Thunderstorm attack, but it also withstood the explosion?" "¡­That guess sounds pretty far-fetched." At this moment, Minister Zhou from the Yuhua region suddenly coughed and said, "Why are you all overthinking? If we want to know, I can just ask Qiao Sang later. She¡¯s from our Yuhua region, so she should be willing to tell me even if it¡¯s a trump card." "Do you need me to ask for you?" That last sentence was probably the real point¡­ The officials twitched their mouths but ignored him. --- On the battlefield. Yabao lifted his head at a 45-degree angle, striking a cool pose. But in reality, his ears were twitching as he listened to the surrounding praises, his tail wagging furiously. Seeing this, Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. "Come back. We need to change the field." After the recent battle, the arena had turned into a wasteland, it had to be replaced. Electric Slash Beast was carried away on a stretcher, while a mechanical referee beast waved its paw in a leave the field gesture. But Yabao was still standing there, foolishly posing. "Yap!" Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Yabao maintained his 45-degree-angled pose before disappearing from his spot and reappearing beside Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang turned her head, saw Yabao¡¯s expression, and her mouth twitched. Soon, the ground sank, and a brand-new arena replaced the destroyed one. Yabao, without changing his pose, instantly teleported onto the new battlefield. So it really is going for a two-in-a-row battle¡­ Wu Chongyu took a deep breath, preparing to steady his emotions. But the next second, his newly stabilized mindset wavered. Qiao Sang waved her hand and recalled the Blazing Star Canine back into her Beast Master¡¯s Codex. Wu Chongyu: ??? Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t going to have Blazing Star Canine fight back-to-back? Then why did she let it stay in the arena for so long¡­? Wu Chongyu wasn¡¯t someone who thought before speaking, so he directly shouted, "You¡¯re not going to continue using Blazing Star Canine?" This was the first time in the national championship that a competitor had spoken to her so openly under the spotlight. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned before replying, "Are you trying to trick me into revealing something?" She actually understood why he asked, but with a national audience watching the live broadcast, there was no way she could say the real reason: That Yabao had been soaking up the audience¡¯s praise and she just wanted him to enjoy the moment a little longer. If she said that, it would completely ruin the cool guy image Yabao had worked so hard to maintain. Yabao might have looked confident and unshaken, but Qiao Sang knew he was actually badly injured. The first battle had been exciting enough. There was no need to push it further. Wu Chongyu regretted his question the moment he asked it. Just as he was about to explain, the whistle signaling the summoning of new beasts suddenly rang out. With no choice, Wu Chongyu swallowed his words and formed a summoning seal. A gray-green star formation lit up. The next second, the summoned beasts appeared before the audience. "Xun~" Little Treasure waved enthusiastically at the crowd. "Pupu." Ice Dragon bowed politely toward the audience. Ice Dragon, an Ice and Dragon dual-type intermediate beast. It was known for being extremely calm and gentle, with a body surface temperature of -120 degrees Celsius and an ability called Frozen Body¡­ Qiao Sang observed the entirely blue, long-necked, short-limbed beast before her, recalling its information. A surface temperature of -120 degrees¡­ If someone got too close, wouldn¡¯t they freeze to death? What level of Beast Master reinforcement would be needed to withstand that¡­? She silently mused. "Qu!" The mechanical referee beast, wearing its referee badge, blew the whistle to start the match. "Xun!!!" The moment the whistle ended, Little Treasure let out a piercing scream. A soundwave, invisible to the naked eye, transmitted straight into Ice Dragon¡¯s ears. Unlike Lubao, who was immune, Ice Dragon was highly affected by Scare. Its eyes widened in shock, and its body trembled. At this stage of the competition, even a one-second delay in reaction could determine the outcome. Ice Dragon stood frozen as Little Treasure¡¯s shadow rapidly approached. "Ice Beam!" Wu Chongyu reacted swiftly, seeing the shadow about to connect with Ice Dragon¡¯s. To break free from the two-dimensional control of Shadow Control, the Ghost-type beast needed to leave its current position. If the Ghost Ring Phantom dodged the Ice Beam, its shadow would naturally retract. Hearing its Beast Master''s command, Ice Dragon snapped out of it, opening its mouth. Several freezing beams of light rapidly formed and shot toward Little Treasure. "Xun~" Little Treasure grinned, standing his ground. At the same time, his shadow twisted, splitting into multiple strands that connected with each incoming Ice Beam. Just like that, the Ice Beams suddenly froze mid-air. Wu Chongyu¡¯s eyes widened as a terrible premonition surged within him. His gaze shifted to the ground, his pupils shrank. The Shadow Control had not only stopped the Ice Beam, it had connected with Ice Dragon¡¯s shadow as well! "Hypnosis." Qiao Sang commanded. "Close your eyes!" Wu Chongyu quickly countered. But it was too late. Ice Dragon''s eyes met Little Treasure¡¯s glowing purple ones and instantly shut as it collapsed into a deep sleep. "Qu!" The referee beast blew the whistle. Wu Chongyu: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 468: Advanced Dragon-Type Beast Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The audience fell into a brief silence, unsure of what to say. It was common for advanced beasts to crush intermediate beasts, but this was the national championship, every contestant''s intermediate beast was capable of exchanging blows with an advanced beast. Moreover, Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom had only recently evolved. Wu Chongyu¡¯s Ice Dragon was a rare and powerful dragon-type beast that many had high hopes for, it was one of the most popular beasts in the championship. While no one expected Wu Chongyu to use Ice Dragon to defeat Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom, no one could have predicted that Ice Dragon would lose the battle in under thirty seconds! ¡°I take back what I said about Wu Chongyu making it to the top five.¡± ¡°In the last match, I didn¡¯t expect Wu Chongyu¡¯s Electric Slash Beast to put up such a fight against Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine. And now, I didn¡¯t expect Ice Dragon to be defeated like this.¡± ¡°Same here¡­¡± ¡°Look at that Ghost Ring Phantom, it didn¡¯t even move from its position from start to finish.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the weakest dragon-type beast I¡¯ve ever seen¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve watched Ice Dragon¡¯s other matches, you¡¯d know it¡¯s not weak at all. It¡¯s just that Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring Phantom is way too overwhelming. Its Shadow Control and Hypnosis skills are at an insanely high level. Forget intermediate beasts, even most advanced beasts wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand them.¡± ¡°To be fair, Ice Dragon is the most miserable pet I¡¯ve seen in this national competition so far. It only managed to fire off one Ice beam before getting knocked out!¡± Amid the crowd¡¯s noisy discussions, Qiao Sang turned and walked toward the contestant passageway, heading back to the contestant area. As soon as she stepped into the passageway and took just a few steps, she suddenly remembered something. Forming a hand seal, she prepared to summon Lubao to heal Yabao. Just as she completed the first hand gesture- ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡± Footsteps echoed in the quiet contestant passage, followed by a cheerful voice: ¡°Qiao Sang, that was an amazing match! I knew you¡¯d win.¡± Who is that¡­? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang lowered her hands and looked up, spotting a somewhat familiar figure, Zhou Shanliang, a contestant from the next match. At this stage of the competition, only a few contestants remained, and each had at least some understanding of the others. Zhou Shanliang was from the Zhidiya Region. Despite his name meaning kind-hearted, both of his contracted beasts were ghost-types. One of them, the Masked Nightmare Ghost, was infamous in the Zhidiya Region for its eerie nature. It loved sneaking into people¡¯s bodies at night, gradually draining their body heat. Once targeted by it, a person would feel cold 24/7. It also had a habit of cursing those it found interesting, and it was rumored to be filled with cursed energy. Zhidiya was the region in the Dragon Nation with the most ghost-type beasts. For a ghost-type beast to be notorious even in that region, the Masked Nightmare Ghost must have been unsettling beyond common acceptance. And for Zhou Shanliang to contract such a beast¡­ He might not be as kind-hearted as his name suggested. After all, it was well-known that beasts often took after their masters. Even if they didn¡¯t, a long-term contract would cause certain traits of the beast and the beastmaster to influence each other over time. However, having contracted Little Treasure herself, Qiao Sang felt that the world¡¯s perception of ghost-type beasts was a bit one-sided. She also didn¡¯t believe that just because a beastmaster had a beast with a bad reputation, it meant the beastmaster was a bad person. ¡°Thanks! Good luck in your match later.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. Zhou Shanliang was briefly stunned before flashing a bright, cheerful grin. ¡°I will.¡± With that, he lifted his leg and continued walking toward the passage exit. Qiao Sang was about to take a few more steps inside and resume summoning Yabao and Lubao. But suddenly, Zhou Shanliang seemed to remember something. He stopped, turned around, and said: ¡°By the way, since you have ghost-type beasts, you should visit Zhidiya someday. You¡¯ll gain a lot from the trip.¡± Qiao Sang was slightly taken aback. ¡°Got it.¡± --- Qiao Sang returned to the contestant area, holding a fully recovered Yabao. By then, the second match had already begun. She watched Zhou Shanliang on the battlefield and fell into thought. The Zhidiya Region was known for its abundance of ghost-type beasts, and its resources for ghost-type training were particularly rich. Even if Zhou Shanliang hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she had already planned to visit one day. However, she wouldn¡¯t have time in the near future. If, at the beginning of the national campus beast mastering league, she had been uncertain about her chances, she now felt confident that she could secure a spot in the interstellar exchange program. If she won that spot, she would likely spend a long time on another planet. When that time came¡­ Just then, Sun Boyi suddenly interrupted her thoughts. ¡°How did the Blazing Star Canine defend itself in that final moment against the thunderstorm?¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Hearing someone mention his heroic moment, Yabao smirked, lifting his right paw in a proud gesture. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure immediately understood his big bro¡¯s meaning. He removed a round ring and pulled out a dark green triangular pair of sunglasses, placing them onto Yabao¡¯s outstretched paw. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao put on the sunglasses, tilted his head up at a cool 45-degree angle, and let out a confident growl, as if saying that the story of his defense was long and complicated¡­ ¡°It was a Counter Shield. Ning Yu¡¯s Explosive Tortoise used it before. Teacher Zheng was the one who had me learn it." Qiao Sang explained. Counter Shield¡­? Sun Boyi was stunned. As a professional coach, he knew exactly what a Counter Shield was. But he couldn¡¯t figure out how any version of it could withstand an attack at the center of a thunderstorm. Just as he was about to ask further, Liu Yao suddenly spoke. ¡°Teacher Zheng Guoping taught you that?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Liu Yao glanced at Sun Boyi in silence. Sun Boyi said nothing more. Yabao: ¡­ --- Ten minutes later, as expected, Zhou Shanliang won his match. His opponent, Liu Yongming, was strong, but his ace beast was a fighting-type. Ghost-types counter fighting-types. The fact that he held out for so long was already a testament to his strength. Time flew by. One by one, the contestants for the next round were decided. There wasn¡¯t a single weak contender left. Whenever Qiao Sang thought one contestant had a higher chance of winning, the other would suddenly unleash a trump card and turn the tables. By noon, six contestants had secured their spots in the next round. The most anticipated match between Zhao Chuanyu and Cui Pingkun was scheduled for the afternoon. --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t attend the afternoon matches in person. Instead, she watched the live stream from her hotel room. On-screen, a massive, predominantly red dragon-type beast was soaring into the sky, clutching a fully mechanical beast in its arms while spinning at high speed. Visually, it looked like a giant flaming fireball. Seconds later, the dragon-type beast stopped spinning and dove straight down, still holding the mechanical beast. The sheer speed of the descent created a high-pressure airwave in its wake. As they neared the ground, the dragon-type beast suddenly released its grip--- The mechanical beast plummeted headfirst into the battlefield. BOOM!!! A deafening crash shook the ground, sending a cloud of dust into the air. When the dust settled, the camera zoomed in to reveal the mechanical beast, unconscious with its eyes closed. At the same time, the camera shifted back to the imposing red dragon-type beast. Meanwhile, the live chat was flooded with ¡°666¡± and ¡°Awesome!¡± Qiao Sang turned off the chat and focused on the red dragon-type beast on the screen. Crimson Rush Dragon, Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s beast, and the only advanced dragon-type beast in the national campus beast mastering league. ----- ----- Chapter 469: The Fifth Stage of National Championship Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Dragon-type pet beasts have increasingly longer evolution cycles as they progress. Regardless of the species, for a dragon-type pet beast to evolve from intermediate to advanced, even with top-tier talent and resources, it would take several years. Logically, an advanced dragon-type pet beast should be impossible to appear in a high school-level match of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Unless, of course, the trainer bypasses the nurturing process and directly contracts an advanced dragon-type pet beast. This was exactly what Zhao Chuanyu did. His Crimson Rush Dragon wasn¡¯t raised from a young Scarlet Dragon; instead, he contracted it a month after last year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League had ended, when it had already matured into an advanced-level pet beast. This immediately made him a strong candidate for this year¡¯s high school senior division championship. After some deep digging, everyone learned that Zhao Chuanyu had deliberately delayed contracting his second pet beast, waiting specifically for the Crimson Rush Dragon. In the sophomore division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League, most contestants already had two pet beasts. Yet Zhao Chuanyu competed using only one. As for why he waited until after last year¡¯s tournament to contract the Crimson Rush Dragon, there were two main theories online. One theory was that Zhao Chuanyu had his sights set on the senior division championship. If he had contracted the Crimson Rush Dragon too early, its abilities would have been exposed during the sophomore division matches. By the time the senior division rolled around, opponents would have collected too much battle data on it and could craft highly targeted strategies. The other theory was that the Crimson Rush Dragon simply wasn¡¯t willing to form a contract earlier. A human¡¯s brain domain is fragile, especially in the early stages of beast taming, when they haven¡¯t undergone many rounds of power feedback and have barely unlocked a few pages of their Beast Taming Codex. If he had forced the contract before the dragon was willing, not only would he have failed, but his brain would have suffered severe damage. The contestants from the Central Hollow region are truly outrageous, they can even get their hands on an advanced dragon-type pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang sighed, shifting into a more comfortable position on her bed as she continued watching the matches. --- Fifty minutes later, all afternoon matches had concluded. Qiao Sang opened the official forum of the National Campus Beast Mastering League to check for updates. The forum was flooded with real-time posts tracking the tournament. The moment the matches ended, an official announcement appeared: #National Campus Beast Mastering League Senior Division Top 9 List# The post had just been pinned, yet it was already overloaded with comments, soaring past 99+ within moments, and the view count was climbing by dozens per second. So fast¡­ Qiao Sang clicked on the post. [Disclaimer: This ranking is based on match results from this round and does not reflect actual strength.] 1. Yuhua Region - Qiao Sang 2. Zhidia Region - Zhou Shanliang 3. Chongdao Region - Zhang Wandi 4. Central Hollow Region - Tang Yi 5. Tuwei Region - Xu Jie 6. Liaoxi Region - Liao Qiang 7. Central Hollow Region - Zhao Chuanyu 8. Dongjia Region - Sun Yi 9. Central Hollow Region - Xia Fengyuan Except for Wu Chongyu and Cui Pingkun not making the top nine, the rest of the list is pretty much what everyone expected¡­ Qiao Sang scrolled down to read the comments: [Central Hollow Region is still dominating even without Wu Chongyu, they still have three out of the top nine.] [No surprises here. If Yuhua Region hadn¡¯t suddenly produced a monster, Central Hollow would¡¯ve had at least four in the top nine.] [Don¡¯t be discouraged! Even though we only have three in the top nine, we might still have four in the top ten. There''s still the resurrection round. Wu Chongyu might make a comeback. Did you see his match against Qiao Sang from Yuhua? They almost destroyed the entire arena!] [Forget the top ten. With Cui Pingkun in the losers'' bracket, he¡¯s almost guaranteed to make it.] [Damn! Our Lianbo Region has no one left!] [I''m heartbroken¡­ How many years has it been? Our Beilun Region still hasn¡¯t placed anyone in the top nine.] [Calm down. I used to think our Yuhua Region was doomed again this year, and then we got a huge surprise.] [That¡¯s an understatement. You guys produced a championship contender!] [Forget it, our Guwu Region is done for. I¡¯m calling it now, everyone in the top nine besides Qiao Sang is trash.] [Ignore the Guwu folks, they¡¯re a bit delusional. I attended a match in person once, and they cheered louder for Qiao Sang than their own contestants. You¡¯d think she was from their region.] [Strength-wise, Central Hollow is still the strongest overall. Tang Yi in the front, Zhao Chuanyu in the back.] [Overall strength means nothing in an individual competition. Need me to explain what individual means?] [Tang Yi is washed up. Forget Zhao Chuanyu and Qiao Sang, he might not even beat Zhang Wandi now.] [Wow, people really switch up fast. You guys used to say Tang Yi was unbeatable.] [Tang Yi used to be unstoppable. If he hadn¡¯t gotten cocky after winning the championship and injured his Paralulu in a secret realm, causing it to spend two months in recovery, he¡¯d be a top contender this year too.] [Why did he even go into a secret realm when he wasn¡¯t even a D-rank beast tamer?] [He had family issues, his school covered his resources, but only if he produced results. He probably entered the secret realm to secure more resources.] So that¡¯s what happened to Tang Yi¡­ No wonder no one mentions last year¡¯s champion anymore. Qiao Sang thought for a moment. A fallen genius from a declining family, striking setbacks in his prime, making everyone think he''s done for¡­ Isn¡¯t this straight out of a male protagonist¡¯s storyline? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I better keep an eye on this guy¡­ According to male protagonist logic, when everyone thinks he''s finished, that¡¯s exactly when he makes a legendary comeback. --- The next day was the losers'' bracket match to determine the final member of the top ten. After breakfast and washing up, Qiao Sang brought her team to the hotel¡¯s 15th floor for training. Despite the grueling sessions, Yabao and Lubao never showed signs of fatigue. Little Treasure, on the other hand, wanted to take breaks multiple times. But every time he saw Yabao and Lubao pushing through, he clenched his teeth and kept going. Qiao Sang felt a sense of admiration, whether in studying or training, environment truly makes a difference. --- Soon, the fifth stage of the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship arrived. With only ten contestants left, all matches were held in the afternoon. At 2 PM, figures appeared one by one in the Shouyao Battle Arena. Though there were fewer school-uniformed cheer squads, the audience turnout remained overwhelming, every seat was filled. Any competition has its audience. While the high school division of the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship wasn¡¯t the highest level of competition, it was the most prestigious for high schoolers. With millions of high school households in Dragon Country, plus middle school students interested in beast battles, there was no shortage of viewers. Attending the national championship in person didn¡¯t require ticket, it required connections. Any available seats were instantly reserved by school officials. As cameras zoomed in, the host stood atop a white flying-type pet beast and formally announced the matchups: Zhidia Region, Zhou Shanliang VS Chongdao Region, Zhang Wandi Central Hollow Region, Tang Yi VS Tuwei Region, Xu Jie Liaoxi Region, Liao Qiang VS Central Hollow Region, Xia Fengyuan Dongjia Region, Sun Yi VS Central Hollow Region, Zhao Chuanyu Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang VS Liaoxi Region, Cui Pingkun --- After yesterday¡¯s intense battles, Cui Pingkun successfully became the tenth contestant to advance from the losers'' bracket. As the matchups were announced, the arena erupted in an uproar. ¡°The only seedling from the Dongjia region! And he has to face Zhao Chuanyu?¡± ¡°Is Cui Pingkun being punished by the system? First, he encountered Zhao Chuanyu, and now he¡¯s up against Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°I seriously suspect something¡¯s wrong with the system! Why are the three contestants from the Zhongkong region all separated?!¡± ¡°I noticed this too. As long as there are enough contestants, those from the same region are usually placed apart.¡± ¡°The first match is between two lone representatives from their regions. Interesting.¡± Cui Pingkun... Looking at her opponent, Qiao Sang''s interest was immediately piqued. Cui Pingkun was the only contestant in the national tournament with an advanced mechanical-type pet beast. And she had never fought against a mechanical-type pet beast before. The battles were fierce and exhilarating. As time passed, the list of the top five advancing contestants was revealed one by one. The names were: Zhang Wandi, Tang Yi, Liao Qiang, and Zhao Chuanyu. The host stood atop a white flying-type pet beast and announced in a loud voice: ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome our final set of contestants! From the Yuhua region, Qiao Sang! And from the Liaoxi region, Cui Pingkun!¡± The arena erupted into deafening cheers. ¡°Go, Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang, almighty! Qiao Sang will win!¡± ¡°Cui Pingkun! Fear no one! Cui Pingkun, you¡¯re the best!¡± Now that it was the top ten matchups, the audience from each region was shouting at the top of their lungs, afraid that their energy would be overpowered by the opposing side. Amid the roaring cheers, Qiao Sang and Cui Pingkun walked to their designated spots on the battlefield. ¡°Qu!¡± As soon as the referee blew the whistle, both Qiao Sang and Cui Pingkun formed hand seals simultaneously. In an instant, their pet beasts appeared within their respective star formations. Meanwhile, in the audience, a war of words broke out. ¡°I have to say, your region¡¯s Cui Pingkun is really unlucky. He just fought his way back from the losers'' bracket, only to be eliminated again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon. You never know who¡¯s going to eliminate whom.¡± ¡°Ha? Are you seriously thinking that your region¡¯s Cui Pingkun can beat our Qiao Sang?¡± ¡°Why not? When Cui Pingkun was dominating the competition, your Qiao Sang was probably still in middle school, getting scolded by teachers for failing exams.¡± ¡°Say that again?! Who-¡± The boy who spoke looked as if his idol had been insulted. He stood up, eyes flashing with hostility, trying to intimidate the other person. But before he could finish speaking, the girl beside him tugged at his sleeve and whispered: ¡°Don¡¯t argue with people from the Liaoxi region. I heard that some of their mechanical pet beasts can transform their bodies into digital data and move freely through electronic spaces. They can even access browsing histories on phones and computers.¡± ¡°Some people have offended folks from the Liaoxi region before, and all their chat and browsing history got exposed, completely ruining their social lives.¡± Expose... chat and browsing history?! The boy¡¯s heart trembled. He immediately sat back down and muttered: ¡°Forget it, not worth arguing. I¡¯m here to watch the match.¡± --- On the Battlefield. "Lu." Lubao¡¯s expression was icy and composed. "Calculate." On the other side, Suan Tao observed its opponent, its two red eyes instantly filling with streams of data. [Name: Ice Xilu] [Height: 3.3m] [Weight: 223kg] [Beep, beep¡ªanalysis beginning... The highest energy concentrations are in the tail and forehead. Weak point: The eyes...] Suan Tao was an advanced mechanical-type pet beast. By scanning, it could analyze its opponent¡¯s weak points. The slot on its chest was for inserting attribute cartridges, and Cui Pingkun always selected a counter-type cartridge based on the opponent¡¯s pet beast. Qiao Sang glanced at the red-metal-covered pet beast in the distance, which had two crossed dual-bladed swords on its back and long, slender limbs. A thought flashed through her mind: I have three pet beasts. There¡¯s no way this thing can predict with absolute certainty that I¡¯d send out Lubao first... ¡°Qu!¡± The whistle signaling the start of the match blew. Lubao opened her mouth, unleashing a thick blue water gun that shot toward Suan Tao. Blazing Star Canine, Ghost Ring Phantom, Ice Xilu, Qiao Sang had been rotating her pet beasts fairly in the national championship. Last round, she had already used Blazing Star Canine and Ghost Ring Phantom, so this time, as expected, it was Ice Xilu... Cui Pingkun adjusted his black-framed glasses, the lenses reflecting a glimmer of intelligence. ¡°Calculate.¡± Suan Tao swiftly drew the two one-meter-long dual-bladed swords from its back and swung them forward with force. As the swords moved, yellow arcs of electricity crackled along their blades. The blades flickered under the yellow electric currents. In a flash, they reached the oncoming water gun. The water gun was instantly sliced into three parts, and the severed streams continued hurtling toward Lubao¡¯s position. ----- ----- Chapter 470: Qiao Sang vs. Cui Pingkun Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Lubao opened her mouth, and the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped. A cold aura spread forward, filling the air with intense frost. The two double-bladed swords, which were almost within reach, began to form a layer of ice from the front, halting their movement for a moment. As the chill touched the yellow electric arc in the center of the blade, the arc suddenly became active and its power increased. Crack! The ice-covered front of the two swords cracked and fell to the ground. Suan Tao extended its claws, palms facing forward. Two yellow electric arcs shot out from its claws, heading straight for the double-edged blades. The arcs on the swords flickered and connected with the two incoming electric arcs. Under the influence of the electric arcs, the double-bladed swords were pulled back to Suan Tao''s claws. Whoosh! Once Suan Tao held the double swords, the mechanical surface of its body flashed red, and it began to charge towards Lubao at an incredibly fast speed. No way, Suan Tao is now using electric skills. Did it predict that I would send out Lubao? How did it figure that out... It''s true what they say about the people in Liaoxi District being really smart. Looks like it''s true. Qiao Sang briefly froze when she saw the electric arcs on the double swords, but quickly regained her composure. Attribute disadvantage does make the battle more challenging, but it¡¯s not impossible to overcome. "Water Stream Jet." Qiao Sang spoke calmly. At her command, energy surged through Lubao¡¯s body, and a massive stream of blue water wrapped around her instantly. In the next moment, Lubao transformed into a water column and shot up into the air. Suan Tao twisted its wrist, and the two swords flashed, crossing to strike, but it slashed at nothing. ¡°Suan Tao.¡± Suan Tao remained where Lubao had been, raising its head. Its pupils followed the water column, which was changing direction mid-air at an abnormal speed. Soon, a series of data appeared in its red eyes. [Skill: Water Stream Jet] [Proficiency: Ultimate] [Energy Fluctuation: 240,000¨C260,000] [Speed: 29.9 meters per second] [Attack Power: 1474 kg¨C1519 kg] [Beep, suggestion: Evade, suggest evade...] Just as Suan Tao was about to follow the data''s suggestion to evade, it heard its trainer¡¯s voice: ¡°Electromagnetic Burst!¡± ¡°Suan Tao.¡± Suan Tao immediately stopped its movement and cried out, as golden and violent electrical currents began to gather around its body. It was not easy to defeat Ice Xilu with a single strike, since Ice Xilu¡¯s Healing Light was incredibly powerful, allowing it to recover from injuries as long as it had energy. However, if it used Water Stream Jet for close-range attacks, that would be the perfect opportunity to defeat Ice Xilu... Cui Pingkun¡¯s eyes glinted with excitement as he focused on Suan Tao. Wait, Suan Tao would likely suffer heavy damage, but its defense is much stronger than Ice Xilu¡¯s. If it can withstand the blow, this match will be Ice Xilu¡¯s loss! In the audience, some people were growing anxious. ¡°This is going to be a direct clash. Judging by the momentum, it looks like Ice Xilu is the more terrifying one. By the way, how high is the proficiency of Water Stream Jet? I watched the match yesterday, and another high-level water-type beast used this move, but its power seemed much weaker than Ice Xilu¡¯s.¡± ¡°At this point, the proficiency of Water Stream Jet doesn¡¯t matter much. Electric-type skills are strong against water-type ones. Now Ice Xilu is completely drenched, and it needs to make a close-range attack. It¡¯s definitely going to suffer more damage.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but don¡¯t underestimate the electromagnetic burst, it¡¯s a high-level skill. Even if the proficiency isn¡¯t high, the power is still immense. I think this will result in a two-sided injury.¡± ¡°It¡¯s clearly Cui Pingkun who¡¯s at a disadvantage. Ice Xilu has Healing Light, so no matter how heavy the damage, it can heal. But the injuries on Suan Tao will persist.¡± ¡°Something doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± A girl from Yuhua Region frowned and said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± A boy beside her asked. The girl replied, ¡°I watched the revival match yesterday, and during one of the rounds, Cui Pingkun used Suan Tao¡¯s electric skill, Electromagnetic Burst. I saw it, and the power didn¡¯t seem as weak as this.¡± The boy looked uncertain. ¡°Are you saying Suan Tao intentionally controlled the power of the Electromagnetic Burst to a certain range, waiting for Ice Xilu to attack before unleashing all its energy?¡± The girl nodded, her expression uneasy. ¡°I don¡¯t know if Qiao Sang saw yesterday¡¯s revival match, but with the massive amount of water Ice Xilu has on it right now, if Suan Tao uses the same strength as it did in the revival match, I feel like Ice Xilu might not be able to withstand it.¡± --- S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Electromagnetic Burst is a high-level electric skill that can unleash tremendous power from within, dealing huge damage to any biological organism it comes in contact with... Qiao Sang observed the battle, her expression calm. The power seems weaker than yesterday. Looks like Suan Tao wants Lubao to attack with Water Stream Jet... It¡¯s a battle of defense... In yesterday''s match, Suan Tao''s Electromagnetic Burst was around a intermediate level, but now it looks more like a beginner-level attack... Qiao Sang¡¯s face remained unchanged, but her mind was racing. To increase the power of a skill, energy must be channeled and unleashed, which takes a certain amount of time, even if it''s brief. If the goal was to make Lubao use Water Stream Jet to attack, then Lubao might indeed be heavily injured. In the case of attribute disadvantage, they might even lose the match outright. But Water Stream Jet wasn¡¯t the final goal. Lubao would take damage, but that would only be a brief moment. Before Electromagnetic Burst unleashed its full power, Lubao should have achieved the true goal. In the air, the speed of Water Stream Jet increased dramatically, darting in all directions with an erratic path, making it impossible to predict its next move. Suddenly, the water column shot down in an unseen direction behind Suan Tao. [Warning! Warning! Behind...] An electronic voice echoed inside Suan Tao¡¯s mind before cutting off abruptly. The more advanced a mechanical-type beast is, the more precise its functions become. Whenever an opponent enters Suan Tao¡¯s ten-meter radius, a warning would sound in the settings. Though Suan Tao couldn¡¯t see the movements behind it, the alarm in its mind clearly indicated that the opponent was closing in. ¡°Suan Tao!¡± Suan Tao activated its energy, and the golden electrical currents around it surged several times over. With the surge of electricity, the ground around it cracked instantly, and countless fragments of stone floated around Suan Tao. ¡°Lu!¡± At the same time, Lubao, seeing the terrifying golden electrical current in front of her, steeled herself, without any hesitation, and charged directly into the electric storm. Boom!!! A massive explosion sounded, and the terrifying golden electric current pierced through the water column, spreading and engulfing the surrounding area. Once the noise from the explosion faded, only the injured Suan Tao remained on the field. Ice Xilu was nowhere to be seen. The audience was in a frenzy, utterly confused and unsure of what had just happened. Had the Water Stream Jet left water on Suan Tao¡¯s body? Was Ice Xilu hiding inside the droplets on Suan Tao like last time with the Big-Mouth Ai? It¡¯s impossible. Suan Tao was covered in electrical currents just now. Ice Xilu couldn¡¯t have stayed unharmed while on Suan Tao¡¯s body... Cui Pingkun furrowed his brows tightly. ¡°Suan Tao, Suan Tao...¡± At that moment, Suan Tao looked toward its trainer, its voice intermittent as if there was a connection issue. Cui Pingkun¡¯s mind suddenly snapped awake. Damn! Ice Xilu used the Water Stream Jet to enter Suan Tao¡¯s body! ----- ----- Chapter 471: Such Madness Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As one of the strongest competitors in the national championship, Cui Pingkun¡¯s ace beast, Suan Tao, had long been on Qiao Sang¡¯s radar. Mechanical-type beasts require constant assembly and enhancement. Depending on the needs of their beastmasters, mechanical-type beasts can develop highly adaptable combat styles. Suan Tao wasn¡¯t one of the mass-produced mechanical beasts from Liaoxi District, it was entirely created by Cui Pingkun himself. That wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. Every mechanical beast that can form a stable evolutionary chain and be sold on the market is the result of immense knowledge, countless material combinations, and incalculable trial-and-error costs. But Suan Tao wasn¡¯t a market product. Before Cui Pingkun created Suan Tao, there wasn¡¯t a single mention of it online. In other words, searching for Suan Tao¡¯s weaknesses on the internet was futile. Qiao Sang could only analyze Cui Pingkun¡¯s past matches to identify vulnerabilities. She discovered that Cui Pingkun would insert attribute cartridges into Suan Tao¡¯s slots based on his opponent¡¯s beast. This strategy could completely overwhelm an ordinary beastmaster. Fortunately, mechanical beasts have energy storage limitations at every stage. Their power systems, operating systems, and module load capacities prevent them from learning skills infinitely or enhancing proficiency without restriction. So, Suan Tao wasn¡¯t truly invincible. However, the fact that it could adjust its elemental resistance to counter opponents¡¯ attacks was still troublesome. Qiao Sang thought carefully. No matter which beast she sent out, Cui Pingkun could always insert a counter-element cartridge into Suan Tao¡¯s slot. In that case, she might as well send out the one with the highest chance of winning: Lubao. Regardless of what element Suan Tao¡¯s slot contained, it was still, at its core, a mechanical beast. And all mechanical beasts, no matter how strong their offense and defense, had a fundamental weakness, their internal structures. Lubao had the Melting Water trait. Other beasts might struggle to enter an opponent¡¯s body, but mechanical beasts were assembled from various mechanical parts. No matter how seamlessly the head, torso, and limbs were put together, there had to be a gap somewhere. Suan Tao was exceptionally well-constructed, with almost no visible gaps. However, its palm and the twin-blade slots on its back had energy output devices, both of which connected to its internal structure. Lubao¡¯s objective wasn¡¯t to attack Suan Tao with Water Stream Jet but to use Water Stream Jet to approach and melt herself, then infiltrate Suan Tao¡¯s body through the energy output device on its back. ¡°Suan¡­ Suan¡­¡± Suan Tao trembled as it sensed movement inside its body, its expression filled with terror. It had no choice but to plead for help from its beastmaster. Qiao Sang smirked and commanded, ¡°Water-¡± Cui Pingkun¡¯s face turned pale with shock, and he urgently shouted, ¡°I forfeit! I forfeit this match!¡± His heart pounded wildly, adrenaline surged, and cold sweat poured down his back in sheer panic. Suan Tao was his life¡¯s work. Losing the match was one thing, but if its internal structure were damaged, there was no telling how long it would take to repair! Mechanical beasts weren¡¯t like ordinary beasts, internal damage couldn¡¯t be healed by any restorative skill. Since Suan Tao was his own creation, he alone had to figure out how to fix it. The time and materials required were beyond imagination. Just like that¡­ he forfeited? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned and turned to look at the mechanical beast wearing a referee badge. Cui Pingkun followed her gaze and panicked even more. ¡°I already forfeited! Hurry up and announce it!¡± For the first time in the national championship, a contestant had voluntarily conceded. The mechanical beast referee looked confused and turned to the head referee. The head referee nodded. ¡°Qu!¡± The mechanical beast referee finally blew the whistle to signal the match¡¯s end. Qiao Sang called out, ¡°Come out.¡± As soon as she spoke, the magnified view on the virtual screen zoomed in on Suan Tao¡¯s eyes, where a single drop of water trickled down, landing on the ground and transforming into a three-meter-tall Ice Xilu. At that moment, the entire audience froze. Faces filled with shock, confusion, and disbelief. A few seconds later, the stadium erupted into chaos. Especially the audience from Liaoxi District, they couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. ¡°Holy crap, that¡¯s even possible?!¡± ¡°So Ice Xilu used Water Stream Jet to infiltrate Suan Tao¡¯s body?!¡± ¡°No wonder Cui Pingkun forfeited, it all makes sense now!¡± ¡°This is insane! I never thought Melting Water could be used like that!¡± ¡°I feel like my worldview just got shattered¡­¡± ¡°That was such a sick move from Qiao Sang!¡± ¡°Ice Xilu was inside Suan Tao. Who the hell would dare continue the fight after that?¡± ¡°Damn¡­ If that¡¯s the case, doesn¡¯t that mean Melting Water-type beasts are the natural enemies of mechanical beasts?!¡± ¡°Not necessarily. It still depends on their power levels. Plus, some mechanical beasts have internal defense systems that automatically eliminate foreign objects.¡± ¡°Well, after this match, Cui Pingkun is probably going to spend all night designing one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. Once a mechanical beast awakens and gains self-awareness, modifying its internals is a huge risk. Unless you¡¯re over 95% certain of success, no mechanic would dare tamper with it.¡± --- ¡°Lu.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lubao, covered in injuries, appeared on the battlefield. She glanced at Suan Tao, flicked her tail, and strode coolly toward Qiao Sang. ¡°Suan¡­ Suan¡­¡± Suan Tao walked up to its beastmaster, its face full of dejection. ¡°You did great. This was my fault.¡± Cui Pingkun comforted it. He genuinely hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Sang to be so utterly ruthless. Who in their right mind would think of liquefying their beast to invade a mechanical beast¡¯s internals?! ¡°Suan¡­ Suan¡­¡± Suan Tao still looked dispirited. Cui Pingkun sighed and waved his hand, recalling Suan Tao back into his Beast Codex. On the other side, Lubao stood before Qiao Sang, glowing with blue light. Moments later, as the glow faded, all of her wounds had disappeared. No matter how many times they saw it, that Healing Light ability was just too broken¡­ In the contestants¡¯ area, every competitor who had advanced to the next round suddenly had the same thought. The championship continued. At the referee¡¯s whistle, Cui Pingkun formed a hand seal, summoning a tiny, fist-sized, jet-black beast with an incredibly smooth surface, like a miniature bomb. Boom Ball, a low-level mechanical beast with a built-in target-lock system that guaranteed a 100% hit on its opponent¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind instantly recalled relevant information as she eyed the new beast. Cui Pingkun¡¯s strength was undeniable, Suan Tao alone could crush over 90% of the contestants. But outside of Liaoxi District, few believed he had any chance of winning the championship. The reason? His other mechanical beast¡­ was just a low-tier one. ----- ----- Chapter 472: The Top Five Finalists Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Boom Boom!" Although Boom Ball was only a low-level pet beast, it had nerves of steel and didn''t know the meaning of fear. It looked at its opponent, which was many times larger than itself, and let out a provocative cry, as if saying, "Come on! Bring it on!" "Lu?" Lubao glanced at the tiny opponent, so small that it was even smaller than Little Treasure, and then turned her head toward her beastmaster, wearing a puzzled expression. This is my next opponent? "Yes." Qiao Sang nodded. Lubao fell silent. "Qu!" At that moment, the referee''s whistle blew, signaling the start of the match. The spectators began to place their bets. "I bet it¡¯ll be over in 30 seconds." "I say 20 seconds." "Then I¡¯ll bet 15 seconds." "Come on, guys, don¡¯t be so harsh! Boom Ball is actually pretty strong. Think about it, how many pet beasts would dare to face an opponent two levels higher without fear? I say 10 seconds." "Hahaha, bro, you¡¯re hilarious." "...Actually, Boom Ball isn¡¯t weak. It¡¯s just that its level is too low. If Ice Xilu tries to handle it like it did with Suan Tao, it won¡¯t work. Boom Ball specializes in self-destruction, which is dangerous whether inside or outside its body." A spectator from the Liaoxi region tried to defend the little beast. "Alright then, how many seconds do you bet?" Someone nearby asked. The Liaoxi spectator thought seriously for a moment and said, "13 seconds." "Qu!" As soon as he spoke, the referee¡¯s whistle blew again. "Boom Boom..." On the virtual screen, Boom Ball was shown lying on the ground, its eyes spinning in circles. The spectators reacted indifferently, none of them were particularly surprised. The Liaoxi spectator froze for a moment before turning to ask, "How long did that match last?" "11 seconds." Replied a guy who had been keeping track of the time for the bets. Sigh! So disappointing! Couldn''t you have lasted just two more seconds... The Liaoxi spectator looked at Boom Ball on the screen, his expression filled with regret. Back to 11 Seconds Earlier... At the whistle, Boom Ball shot up into the air and let out an arrogant cry toward Lubao. "Boom Boom!" Then, it launched itself toward Lubao at full speed. Cui Pingkun couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. Honestly, Boom Ball¡¯s arrogance in the face of much stronger opponents wasn¡¯t really its fault. It was mainly because of how he had trained it. He had always told Boom Ball that it was an absolute powerhouse. Since all of his opponents had at least mid-level pet beasts, Boom Ball, despite its immense potential, was still objectively weak. Its only skill capable of dealing serious damage, and even trading one-for-one with a stronger opponent, was self-destruction. To unleash its full explosive power, confidence was key. Since self-destruction always resulted in Boom Ball fainting, Cui Pingkun had told it every time afterward that it had successfully taken down its opponent. Boom Ball believed this wholeheartedly. Go with confidence... Cui Pingkun mentally encouraged it. "Boom Boom!" Boom Ball glowed white as it rapidly closed the distance to Lubao. Its beastmaster had always said, "If you see an opponent stronger than you, just explode!" No opponent could withstand its self-destruction! For a low-level pet beast, Boom Ball¡¯s speed was exceptionally fast. But Lubao wasn¡¯t low-level. Over the past few weeks, Qiao Sang had trained with high-level pet beasts that moved too fast for the naked eye to track. Compared to them, Boom Ball¡¯s speed seemed almost slow. "Looks like it''s going for self-destruction. They say Boom Ball has a 100% target lock, but what if Lubao melts? Will it still lock on then?" Qiao Sang decided to test it out. "Melt." "Lu." Although Lubao felt that a simple Water Gun attack would be enough to win, she followed her beastmaster''s command without hesitation and sprayed water onto the ground. Just as Boom Ball closed within a meter, Lubao jumped down and vanished. "Boom Boom!" At that moment, Boom Ball self-destructed with absolute confidence. But then, its expression froze. Where''s the target?! It wanted to look around, but it was already too late. A blinding explosion of fire and shockwaves erupted from Boom Ball¡¯s body, surging outward. Yet, the referee didn¡¯t blow the whistle. Perhaps due to the unusual circumstances, Boom Ball, despite its confusion, didn¡¯t faint immediately. It struggled to open its eyes, attempting to scan its surroundings. And then, it saw its opponent standing right in front of it, completely unharmed. "Boom Boom..." Boom Ball¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Lu." Lubao, seeing that her opponent was still conscious, lifted a paw without even bothering to charge energy, and swatted it down. "Boom Boom..." Boom Ball rolled backward several times before finally closing its eyes, unwilling to accept its fate. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So Boom Ball''s target lock doesn''t work on melted pet beasts..." Qiao Sang concluded. "Qu!" The whistle blew. Qiao Sang recalled Lubao into the Beast Codex and walked toward the contestant exit. Inside the exit tunnel, the announcer¡¯s voice echoed clearly: "Everyone, the Top Five Finalists of the 336th National Campus Beast Mastering Championship have been determined! Look at the big screen!" --- On the Battlefield. Following the announcer¡¯s words, five names appeared on the virtual screen, along with their win-loss records in the national championship. The announcer declared: "The finalists are: Zhang Wandi from Chongdao Region! Tang Yi from Zhongkong Region! Liao Qiang from Liaoxi Region! Zhao Chuanyu from Zhongkong Region! And Qiao Sang from Yuhua Region!" "According to tournament rules, the finalist with the most losses so far will automatically take fifth place in this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering Championship!" "And that person is: Liao Qiang from Liaoxi Region!" On the virtual screen, each finalist¡¯s loss count was displayed. Liao Qiang had the most losses, with [3]. The announcer continued: "Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM, the semi-finals of the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship will be held here! Don¡¯t miss it!" --- 9:25 PM ¨C Moting Hotel. [Qiao Sang! I heard you made it to the semi-finals!] [Damn, I can¡¯t believe I have a god-tier friend in my contacts! Please don¡¯t delete me!] [If someone had told me six months ago that you¡¯d be in the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship¡¯s semi-finals, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it even if they beat me to death!] [Qiao Sang, let us know when you¡¯re back! My whole family is ready to throw a celebration banquet!] [We were supposed to be slackers together, and now you¡¯re in the top four nationwide?! I refuse to believe it! Tell me this isn¡¯t real!] Lying in bed, Qiao Sang stared at the ceiling as her phone screen flickered with endless messages. Top four. If she won the semi-finals, she would earn a spot as an interstellar exchange student. Qiao Sang closed her eyes and entered the Beast Codex¡¯s consciousness space. ----- ----- Chapter 473: National Championship Semifinals Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Soon, Yabao¡¯s data appeared before her. Every match from now on was crucial, so she had to be fully prepared. The semifinals were held in the evening, and coincidentally, the battlefield was an open-air arena. Yabao had the Moonlight Power trait, which meant its condition would be doubled under the moonlight, making it the best choice for victory. To be extra cautious, she decided to use her golden finger ability again. If she still lost after that, she might as well slap herself. But when Qiao Sang saw the data, she didn¡¯t know where to start for a moment. Winning wasn¡¯t always about using the most skills but rather, it was about mastering a few high-level techniques that could be effectively combined. Otherwise, using random skills would just waste energy. Take Boom ball from today¡¯s match, for example: It could have used all the skills it knew, but in the end, nothing was as effective as Self-Destruct. Now, among Yabao¡¯s skills, Fire Fang, Ember, Shadow Clone, Flame Charge, Meteor Rain, and Telekenesis had all been honed to the Ultimate level. Aside from Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s mysterious and unpredictable Crimson Rush Dragon, Qiao Sang was sure there wasn¡¯t a single beast in the tournament stronger than Yabao in terms of attack power. Realistically speaking, these Ultimate-level skills were already enough. Still, she felt it was safer to have a backup plan. Among Yabao¡¯s remaining skills, the most powerful were Hyper Beam and Hellfire. But since she had already used those in previous matches, she couldn¡¯t freely increase their proficiency without raising suspicion. If she boosted them too much at once, the sudden improvement would be too obvious. Qiao Sang calculated carefully. It would be better to enhance a skill she hadn¡¯t used much, something her opponents wouldn¡¯t be prepared for. She scanned through the data and finally settled on Illusion Flame. Illusion Flame was also a high-tier skill. While it wasn¡¯t as destructive as Hyper Beam or Hellfire, its invisibility was a huge advantage in battle. She didn¡¯t need to max out its proficiency, just reaching Intermediate level should be enough for the semifinals. After all, among the top-level beasts in this national championship, even the strongest high-tier skills were usually only trained to intermediate. With that decision made, Qiao Sang wasted no time and started rapidly adding points to Illusion Flame. --- Qiao Sang opened her eyes, returning to reality. She saw Yabao practicing Telekinesis with Gravity Steel Balls, while Lubao occasionally released sharp ice spikes from her body to train Ice Spike Shield. Only Little Treasure was slacking off, playing on her phone while she was checking the Beast Codex. Qiao Sang instinctively felt the need to intervene. Getting addicted to phones isn¡¯t a good habit¡­ ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She asked. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure floated over with the phone and pointed at a trending topic. Qiao Sang glanced at the screen and was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re checking trending searches?¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded. Qiao Sang chuckled, looking at him curiously. ¡°Can you even understand them?¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure held up a paw, making a just a little gesture. Qiao Sang was skeptical. She casually pointed at a trending topic: #Quack Monster Smoking# and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure tapped the topic, carefully examined the photos and text, then confidently mimed putting something in his mouth. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Translation: This guy is eating something! Qiao Sang: ¡­ So you¡¯re just playing guess the words from pictures¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the little creature, which seemed curious about everything. After a moment, she suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Do you want to go to school?¡± ¡°Xun!!¡± Little Treasure immediately looked horrified, shaking his head like a rattle drum. School?! No way! Only ghosts would want to do that! Qiao Sang nearly burst out laughing at his reaction. ¡°You even know what school is?¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded firmly. Of course, he knew! He used to hide invisibly in classrooms all the time. And it was boring as hell. Qiao Sang cleared her throat, she had almost forgotten about that. Forget it. She¡¯d think about all this after the championship. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Seeing that Qiao Sang didn¡¯t continue, Little Treasure secretly sighed in relief. That was close! I almost got sent to school¡­ --- The next day, Qiao Sang woke up on time. Ever since gaining Beast Feedback, her biological clock had become ridiculous¡­ Sitting up, she grabbed her phone and saw that it was only 6:00 AM. Her head throbbed. Once the championship is over, it''ll be winter break. If my sleep schedule stays like this, how am I supposed to enjoy life¡­ Grumbling to herself, Qiao Sang got up to wash up. Then she sat at her desk, opened her laptop, and started strategizing for her upcoming battles against Zhang Wandi, Tang Yi, and Zhao Chuanyu. The semifinals were that night, so she figured she might as well use the time wisely. Her fingers flew across the keyboard: [Zhang Wandi: Ace Beast, Giant Whale. Thick-skinned, extremely high defense.] [Traits: Water Veil prevents burn status. Oppressive Aura intimidates opponents upon entering battle, potentially making timid or lower-level beasts lose the will to fight instantly.] [Type counters Yabao, traits also counter him. However, the weak point is the blowhole on its head. Under Moonlight Power, Yabao¡¯s state is doubled. As long as he targets the blowhole¡­] She paused. If she really faced Zhang Wandi in the semifinals, did she even need to send out Yabao? While Yabao had an advantage at night, he was still heavily countered in terms of type and traits. Sending out Lubao would be the smarter choice. The rest of her morning was spent revising strategies. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once she finalized her battle plans, she went over them with her beasts. Aside from mealtime, she barely took a break. By the time she finished everything, it was already 6:30 PM. Perfect timing. ¡°We''re off!¡± She recalled Lubao into the Beast Codex, picked up Yabao, and let Little Treasure sit on her head before heading out with high spirits. --- Zhongkong Beast Battle Arena. Dazzling fireworks exploded across the sky. Flying-type reporter beasts hovered mid-air, wearing press badges. Cameras dangled around their necks as they snapped pictures of the center stage, their flashes blinking wildly. ¡°Welcome, everyone! This is the 336th National Campus Beast Mastering Championship, Individual Division!¡± ¡°I¡¯m your host, Yin Jiang, and it¡¯s my pleasure to welcome you all!¡± ¡°After intense competition, our Final Four have been determined!¡± ¡°This is the ultimate showdown among the top student beast-tamers! Who will claim the glory? Who will face off tonight? Let¡¯s turn our attention to the big screen!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 474: Qiao Sang vs. Zhao Chuanyu Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The audience held their breath, staring intently at the virtual screen. Who faced whom in the semifinals was crucial, as the matchups could determine who advanced to the finals. Four photos shuffled continuously. After five seconds, they settled. [Zhongkong Region: Zhao Chuanyu VS Yuhua Region: Qiao Sang] [Chongdao Region: Zhang Wandi VS Zhongkong Region: Tang Yi] A collective uproar erupted from the audience. ¡°Zhao Chuanyu and Qiao Sang?! These two are facing each other in the semifinals?!¡± ¡°Holy crap! Zhang Wandi and Tang Yi? They were the champion and runner-up in last year¡¯s high school second-year division. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re clashing in the semis this time. This is going to be intense!¡± ¡°Good thing Tang Yi is his opponent. If it were one of the other two, Zhang Wandi would be in trouble.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to doubt him! Do you think the nickname ¡®Perennial Runner-Up Zhang Wandi¡¯ was given for no reason? No matter who he faces, he always makes it to the finals.¡± ¡°Wait a second! Why are the Zhongkong Region contestants always placed in separate matches?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to worry... what if Qiao Sang stops at the semifinals?¡± ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t jinx it!¡± ¡°But Zhao Chuanyu has two high-level battle beasts, and one of them is a Dragon-Fire type.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s Dragon-Fire? Qiao Sang has three high-level battle beasts, and any one of them alone can crush most opponents. How could she lose?¡± ¡°She might lose because of experience. I want Qiao Sang to win too, but her battle beasts only recently evolved. Objectively speaking, she¡¯s at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°Why are you even worried? Sure, Qiao Sang¡¯s battle beasts are younger, but they¡¯re just as strong as fully evolved ones. Blazing Star Canine has mastered the Ultimate-level Meteor Rain, Ghost Ring Phantom has developed Three-Dimensional Shadow Control, and Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal can now form dozens of ice flowers.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s a high-level dragon-type beast!¡± The previous speaker fell silent. Dragon-type battle beasts were universally acknowledged as formidable. Their reputation for dominance at the same level wasn¡¯t just hype, it was backed by data. And the stronger a dragon-type beast became, the more terrifying its power grew. The high-level stage was where their potential truly began to shine. --- Contestant Area. ¡°I remember that Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s Crimson Rush Dragon has horn-like protrusions on the inner side of its second wing joint. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that means it¡¯s between 10 and 20 years old.¡± Said Liu Yao as he analyzed the matchup. Wait, so which is it? 11 or 19? That¡¯s a huge difference¡­ Qiao Sang gave him a look of admiration. ¡°Vice Principal, you¡¯re amazing! You even know the details of Zhongkong Region¡¯s battle beasts?¡± Liu Yao glanced at her. ¡°If you read more books, you¡¯d know this too.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ At that moment, Sun Boyi asked, ¡°What does the wing protrusion have to do with its age?¡± Liu Yao explained, ¡°The Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s wings develop different protrusions at different ages, one at a time. It has eight joints, and the protrusions grow in sequence. From ages 1 to 10, they form on the first joint. After age 10, the first one recedes while the second joint develops a new one. This pattern continues.¡± ¡­So does that mean it dies at 80? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What about after 80?¡± ¡°The protrusions stop at the eighth joint. They don¡¯t change anymore.¡± Liu Yao replied. Ah, so it doesn¡¯t just drop dead at 80¡­ Good to know. Liu Yao continued, ¡°A Crimson Rush Dragon under 20 is a formidable opponent in every way.¡± Then he turned to Qiao Sang with a serious expression. ¡°Zhao Chuanyu was able to form a contract with such a rare and powerful dragon, and their coordination is seamless. This opponent is not to be underestimated.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily taken aback before nodding solemnly. ¡°I understand.¡± Sun Boyi looked at Liu Yao, hesitating to speak. His expression seemed to say: Wait, isn¡¯t it my job as the coach to say that? Why are you stealing my lines? Liu Yao shot him a glance that clearly read: Well, maybe if you were actually useful¡­ Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sun Boyi: ¡­ --- Twenty minutes later. The crowd erupted in cheers as Qiao Sang and Zhao Chuanyu stepped into the battlefield. The stadium buzzed with excitement, fans shouting their names. Zhao Chuanyu¡­ One of the strongest contenders for this year¡¯s championship. Qiao Sang studied the boy across from her. She had already considered every possible matchup in the semifinals, including this one. With both sides allowed two high-level battle beasts, the first one she sent out was crucial. If she led with Yabao, then Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s best response would be his Crimson Rush Dragon. But if he instead sent out his other high-level battle beast, the Venomous Starfish, Yabao would be forced to expend a large amount of energy. Even if Yabao won, he wouldn¡¯t be in peak condition for a fight against the Crimson Rush Dragon. And without being at full strength, his chances of victory would drop significantly. After all, Yabao¡¯s strongest moves were fire-type attacks, and the Crimson Rush Dragon was both dragon and fire-type. Everyone knew that battle beasts had natural resistance to their own elemental attributes. If that resistance was strong enough, they could even develop specialized abilities like the Fire-Subduing Bird¡¯s Flame Absorption trait. ¡°Qu!¡± The referee¡¯s whistle signaled the start of the match. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hesitate. She swiftly formed a hand seal. A glowing green star array appeared on the ground. Since she had anticipated facing Zhao Chuanyu in the semifinals, she had already decided on her first move. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao emerged from the array with a frosty, aloof expression. Across the field... ¡°Ao, ao!¡± Venomous Starfish floated into the air, its head held high in arrogance. Two streams of purple poison gas billowed from its nostrils. Ice Xilu¡­ Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the gemstone on Lubao¡¯s forehead. As the battle beasts took the field, the audience buzzed with discussion. ¡°Ice Xilu versus Venomous Starfish. Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°Probably Ice Xilu. The starfish doesn¡¯t have any moves that can take it down in one hit.¡± ¡°One-hit K.O.? That¡¯s not the point! Venomous Starfish is a battle beast that thrives on attrition. I¡¯m telling you, Ice Xilu is going to run out of energy first.¡± ¡°All I know is that there¡¯s no way Qiao Sang is pulling off a two-in-a-row sweep this time.¡± ¡°I admit that Qiao Sang is insanely talented, but Zhao Chuanyu isn¡¯t just strong because of his Crimson Rush Dragon. Last year, he reached the national high school championship using only his Venomous Starfish.¡± ¡°The starfish was his first battle beast. Of course, it¡¯s insanely powerful.¡± ¡°Ahhh! Ice Xilu must win!¡± ¡°Whether it wins or not depends on how much energy it has.¡± ¡°I bet those Yuhua Region people have never had a contestant make it this far before. They don¡¯t even know what they¡¯re talking about, just screaming nonsense. Watch, they¡¯ll be crying soon.¡± ¡°¡­Uh, actually, the ones cheering are from Guwu Region.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even though the championship was being held in Zhongkong Region, attracting spectators from all over, the Zhongkong supporters were the loudest. For now, most of the audience was betting on Zhao Chuanyu. ----- ----- Chapter 475: A Simple Yet Effective Countermeasure Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Venomous Starfish, an advanced dual-type beast with poison and psychic attributes, absorbs pollutants from the atmosphere, using contaminated air and toxic gases as nourishment. The toxins accumulated within its body are constantly released through speech or breath. Even inhaling a tiny amount can cause full-body paralysis¡­ Qiao Sang gazed at the black-purple, star-shaped beast floating in midair with a serious expression. Zhao Chuanyu was a top contender for this year''s National Campus Beast Mastering Championship, not just because of his Crimson Rush Dragon but also due to the Venomous Starfish. However, the most troublesome aspect of the Venomous Starfish was neither its toxins nor its psychic abilities, but rather its Chemical Gas Mutation trait. In beast battles, special traits were just as crucial as skills. A useful trait could allow a beast to win even when it was at a disadvantage. When a beast with the Chemical Gas Mutation trait was present, all other beasts'' traits would be nullified or rendered ineffective. In other words, against the Venomous Starfish, Lubao''s Ice Xilu traits would be completely disabled. The Match Begins. The referee''s whistle blew. "Ao ao!" The Venomous Starfish immediately ascended, spinning at high speed. As it spun, thick black gas spread like storm clouds, rapidly covering the battlefield. "Lu." At the same time, Lubao lifted her head and let out a call. The temperature in the arena plummeted. An Ice Flower Seal right away? Before a single snowflake even appeared, Zhao Chuanyu had already realized what Ice Xilu was trying to do. He didn¡¯t give any commands. Everything was under control. The Venomous Starfish lacked instant-kill moves, but its perfected Toxic Fog could linger for five whole minutes. Once released, if Ice Xilu inhaled it, it would immediately become poisoned. In a poisoned state, Ice Xilu would struggle to attack unless it used Healing Light. Even if it healed itself, the toxic mist would still be present. As soon as it recovered, it would be poisoned again. This cycle would repeat until its energy was drained. From what Zhao Chuanyu had observed in Qiao Sang¡¯s previous battles, Ice Xilu''s Iceflower Seal couldn¡¯t last five minutes. As long as he endured it, Ice Xilu would eventually be defeated. Qiao Sang made a mistake by not stopping the Venomous Starfish from releasing so much poison. The Venomous Starfish, however, instinctively lowered its altitude as the frigid air grew more intense. Just then, a thick Water Gun shot straight at it! The Venomous Starfish reacted swiftly, converting its poison mist into Toxic Sludge to counter. Boom! Water splashed as the two attacks collided, mixing with the toxic air and spreading across the ground. Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal seems faster than before. But that¡¯s fine, the Venomous Starfish has already released enough toxins. Zhao Chuanyu glanced at the blackened sky, satisfied. "Light Wall." The Venomous Starfish''s eyes glowed blue, and a protective energy barrier formed above it. By now, the battlefield was completely covered in black mist. Ice Xilu should have inhaled the toxins by now, meaning it would soon be forced to use Healing Light¡­ Zhao Chuanyu looked over at Ice Xilu then suddenly froze. What the hell? Why is Ice Xilu still moving like normal without using Healing Light?! The blue beast was enveloped in rushing water, dashing toward the Venomous Starfish at high speed! "Ao ao!" Startled, the Venomous Starfish instantly teleported ten meters away, causing its Light Wall to vanish. At that moment, snowflakes began falling through the toxic mist. Why isn¡¯t Ice Xilu poisoned? Zhao Chuanyu furrowed his brows. Something was wrong, but he wasn¡¯t panicking yet. If the mist wasn¡¯t enough, he could use an even stronger poison attack. He had to make Ice Xilu succumb. "Light Wall!" As snow and toxic mist mingled, Ice Xilu surged forward in its water form. When it was five meters away from the Venomous Starfish, Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s eyes flashed. "Venom Impact!" A double-edged attack strategy? Qiao Sang¡¯s heart clenched at the command. But she quickly calmed down, her trust in Lubao was unwavering. Like a high-speed torpedo, Lubao rocketed toward the Venomous Starfish. Just as it was about to strike, the Venomous Starfish opened its mouth, dispelling the Light Wall and unleashing a wave of corrosive black venom. Sizzle... The venom burned through Lubao¡¯s watery shield, sizzling against her scales. The poison spread rapidly, leaving small corroded patches on her body. Lubao clenched her teeth, enduring the pain. Bang! The Venomous Starfish was slammed into the ground, leaving a dent in the arena. Lubao, now battered, also collapsed. Snowflakes mixed with black gas continued to fall. Though the Venomous Starfish was now covered in intricate Ice Flowers, the toxic mist slowed their formation. "Healing Light!" "Light Wall!" Qiao Sang and Zhao Chuanyu shouted at the same time. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lubao took a deep breath, as if she had been holding it in the entire match. Then, she glowed blue, healing herself. Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s mind clicked. Damn it! That¡¯s why the poison didn¡¯t work! Ice Xilu was holding its breath the entire time?! Realization dawned on him, followed by frustration. He never expected Qiao Sang to counter his poison mist with such a ridiculously simple method! Now, Ice Xilu could just heal itself and continue holding its breath, making the Venomous Starfish¡¯s last attack almost pointless. Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s face darkened. To outsiders, I probably look like an idiot right now. ----- ----- Chapter 476: Immunity Trait Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Things didn''t go as Zhao Chuanyu expected. The audience erupted into a commotion, but no one was mocking him for being foolish. "Damn it! The Venomous Starfish is way too toxic! Look at what it did to Ice Xilu!" "Ah! My poor Ice Xilu! Its scales are corroded, imagine how much pain it''s in!" "Hey, hey, you people from the Ancient Guwu Region, don¡¯t go too far. This is a competition, and even the Yuhua Region contestants haven¡¯t complained." "Hah, Zhao Chuanyu should be glad this isn¡¯t happening in the Ancient Guwu Region." "Do all Water-type beasts have such good breath control? Or did Ice Xilu train for this specifically?" "Looking at this, Zhao Chuanyu is in a tough spot." "The Ice Flower Seal doesn¡¯t seem as powerful as people said online. It''s been half a match, and it hasn''t done much at all." "That¡¯s because the air is filled with poison. The Ice Flower Seal¡¯s energy is affected, and the Venomous Starfish absorbs the poison, replenishing itself." "Well, after all that, Ice Xilu just used a single Healing Light and fully recovered." "No worries, the Venomous Starfish still hasn¡¯t used its ultimate move." Despite how disadvantageous the situation looked for Zhao Chuanyu, some spectators from the Central Hollow (Zhongkong) Region, who were familiar with his strength, didn¡¯t believe Qiao Sang would win so easily. --- On the battlefield. "Ao... Ao...." The Venomous Starfish struggled to rise, delicate ice flowers blooming all over its body. Its eyes glowed blue, and a Light Wall reformed above its head. The Ice Flower Seal had a rather obvious flaw, it only worked if it directly touched the opponent¡¯s body. But snow took time to fall, and if the opponent knew in advance that the falling snow contained Ice Flower Seal energy, they could prepare accordingly, using a skill to shield their head from the first wave, which contained the most sealing energy. As the snowfall continued, the sealing energy would weaken, slowing the bloom of ice flowers. If the opponent had a strong physique, at most, it would only slightly affect their movements. Qiao Sang analyzed the situation instinctively as she observed the Venomous Starfish. If the Ice Flower Seal were more effective, the opponent wouldn¡¯t have dared to dispel its Light Wall just now to use a Venom Impact against Lubao... At that moment, the blue glow around Lubao faded. Qiao Sang immediately snapped out of her thoughts and called out loudly: "Ice Flower Seal!" If one wave wasn¡¯t enough, then another! The Venomous Starfish was currently maintaining its Light Wall, if it dared to remove it again to interrupt the Ice Flower Seal, then let¡¯s see who would last longer! ????????????? Lubao lifted her head and opened her mouth, unleashing an invisible chill that quickly spread through the area. Many poisonous fumes drifted into her mouth. Zhao Chuanyu squinted at the scene without making a move. When Lubao finished casting the Ice Flower Seal and closed her mouth, her body clearly stiffened, surrounded by a dark mist. Then, she took a deep breath, and blue light flared around her once more. Zhao Chuanyu finally understood: This Ice Xilu, which could hold its breath, was no longer playing by his original plan. His initial strategy was to drain Ice Xilu¡¯s energy with constant poison exposure, so that the Venomous Starfish could advance to the next round and weaken Blazing Star Canine before going down, maximizing its contribution. But now, that plan was no longer viable. Since that was the case, he might as well go all in before the Venomous Starfish collapsed, it would use up all its energy to create a Toxic Battlefield! With that thought, Zhao Chuanyu didn¡¯t hesitate and commanded: "Poison Sludge, everything!" "Ao!" Hearing its trainer¡¯s command, the Venomous Starfish let out a cry, dispelled its Light Wall, and immediately released a vast amount of thick, sticky poison from its five corners. Snowflakes landed on its body, and the cold slowly formed ice flowers. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Venomous Starfish shivered but remained intensely focused. Dark purple poison continuously poured onto the battlefield. The blue glow surrounding Lubao disappeared as she warily eyed the expanding pool of poison, swiftly retreating to a part of the field that had not yet been contaminated. Poison Sludge, a high-tier Poison-type skill that reduced the opponent¡¯s attack and speed. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t produce this much sludge... This guy was trying to cover the entire field in poison! No way, this had to be stopped! If this continued, the whole battlefield both ground and air would become a death trap of poison! Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned sharp as she looked at Lubao, now fully recovered. Without hesitation, she ordered: "Water Gun!" Although Water Gun wasn¡¯t powerful, it was an instant-cast skill, perfect for disrupting an opponent! "Hold your ground! Keep using Poison Sludge!" Zhao Chuanyu immediately countered. Lubao opened her mouth, shooting a powerful blue jet of water at the Venomous Starfish. Just as the command reached its ears, the Venomous Starfish, which had instinctively tried to dodge, suddenly steeled itself. Instead of evading, it lowered its head and continued spewing toxic sludge onto the battlefield. Bang! The Water Gun struck the Venomous Starfish head-on, knocking it backward several meters. Even as it stumbled, it gritted its teeth, still expelling poison. At that moment, a fresh wave of snowflakes fell. In an instant, ice flowers rapidly bloomed across the Venomous Starfish¡¯s body. Within seconds, it froze into an ice sculpture, its five corners still positioned as if releasing poison. "Qu!" The referee''s whistle blew. Qiao Sang furrowed her brows, not letting her guard down despite winning the first match. Her expression grew serious as she observed the battlefield. The air was thick with black poison gas, and the ground was nearly entirely covered in sludge due to the Venomous Starfish¡¯s persistence in releasing poison even while being attacked. The air and ground, both completely toxic. Lubao lifted her tail stiffly and raised one of her front paws, shaking it with a disgusted expression. Qiao Sang took a deep breath and waved her hand, recalling Lubao into her Beast Codex. At the same time, the audience erupted in waves of cheers. "Ahhh! Ice Xilu is amazing! Qiao Sang is amazing!" "What? I thought Zhao Chuanyu was supposed to be strong, he still lost, didn¡¯t he?" "You don¡¯t get it. Zhao Chuanyu had a solid strategy. Look at the battlefield, it¡¯s now a Toxic Field. No matter who Qiao Sang sends out next, they¡¯ll be at a disadvantage. That means Crimson Rush Dragon can dominate the next round!" "The battlefield is this contaminated, isn¡¯t it supposed to be reset?" Jin Feifan, who had been excited, suddenly calmed down and hesitantly asked. "Of course not! Do you even know what a 2v2 battle is? The first beast can set up the battlefield to benefit the second one." "But in past matches, when the battlefield got too damaged, wasn¡¯t it reset?" Jin Feifan, no longer shy, pressed on. The person next to him shrugged. "That was for field destruction, this is field setup. Completely different." "But Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s next beast, the Crimson Rush Dragon, isn¡¯t even a Poison-type. Won¡¯t this poison affect it too?" Jin Feifan asked in confusion. The person smirked. "Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s Crimson Rush Dragon... has the Immunity Trait." ----- ----- Chapter 477: I Concede This Match Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Immunity trait prevents a pet beast with this trait from becoming poisoned. In other words, the poison on the field had no effect on Crimson Rush Dragon at all. Jin Feifan looked at the familiar figure on the field, her eyes revealing a hint of concern. Truthfully, the fact that Qiao Sang had made it this far in the national campus championship was already beyond expectations. But now that she had reached the semifinals, saying that she didn¡¯t have any hope for her to win the championship would be a lie. ¡°Qu!¡± The whistle signaling the second match¡¯s pet beast summon was blown. As the match began, the audience from both Yuhua and Central Hallow regions could practically hear their own hearts pounding wildly. Everyone was filled with tension and excitement. Qiao Sang formed a seal with both hands, summoning: Lubao. The moment Lubao appeared, her four limbs sank into the poisonous sludge. Black toxic gas rose upward, making Lubao visibly uncomfortable. However, she held her breath and didn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°Chi Chi!¡± On the other side, Crimson Rush Dragon raised its head and let out a loud cry. With a powerful flap of its massive wings, it stirred up a chaotic gust and soared into the air. Looking at the two pet beasts on the field, the audience erupted in discussion: ¡°Wait, why did Qiao Sang send out Ice Xilu again? And if she was going to use it, why did she recall it earlier?¡± ¡°Are you dumb? The whole field is covered in poison. Was she supposed to just leave it there the whole time?¡± ¡°She¡¯s using Ice Xilu again¡­ Looks like she wants to wear down Crimson Rush Dragon first.¡± ¡°But Ice Xilu is already weakened from the last match. If it fights Crimson Rush Dragon, it probably won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Ah! Qiao Sang, why send Ice Xilu out again? It just won a match, at least let it rest!¡± ¡°Wait¡­ I just remembered her previous matches. Could it be that Qiao Sang is planning to have Ice Xilu take down two opponents in a row?¡± ¡°¡­Against Crimson Rush Dragon? That¡¯s a bold assumption.¡± As the crowd continued their discussions, the referee blew the whistle to start the match. Zhao Chuanyu gave his command. Crimson Rush Dragon opened its abyssal maw, causing the surrounding air currents to twist into a massive red vortex. Searing, swirling flames erupted from its throat and surged toward Lubao. ??¦­?§£¨§s Qiao Sang remained calm. ¡°Melting water.¡± Melting water?! Lubao looked at the poisonous sludge covering the field, her first instinct was to reject the idea. But this was a match, if she hesitated, her Beast Tamer could lose. Lubao gritted her teeth, shut her eyes, endured the discomfort, and leaped in. Boom! The fire vortex missed, sending toxic liquid splashing everywhere. Seeing this, Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s eyelid twitched. Ice Xilu could actually melt into poisonous sludge?! Wasn¡¯t this species extremely sensitive to unclean water? And weren¡¯t pet beasts with Water Melting trait supposed to be forced out if the water was toxic? Not to mention, this wasn¡¯t just toxic water, it was poisonous sludge! ¡°This Ice Xilu¡¯s Melting Water trait must be at least A-rank.¡± The leaders in the front row of the audience immediately identified the reason. ¡°Indeed. Only A-rank or higher Melting Water pet beasts can maintain their abilities while continuously taking damage. But even so, most water-types wouldn¡¯t endure staying in poison. I didn¡¯t expect this Ice Xilu to withstand it.¡± ¡°I assumed Ice Xilu would be more delicate since it''s an endangered species from the Guwu Region. Seems I was wrong.¡± ¡°Minister Lan should know best about Ice Xilu¡¯s temperament. What do you think, Minister--?¡± Minister Wang from Chongdao Region turned to his side but suddenly froze. Noticing something unusual, the other ministers followed his gaze and were also stunned. ¡°Minister Lan¡­ are you crying?¡± Minister Lan, teary-eyed, choked up, ¡°I just¡­ feel so bad for Ice Xilu¡­¡± The ministers: ¡­ Meanwhile, Qiao Sang called out: ¡°Icy Wind!¡± Lubao immediately understood her intention. Her target wasn¡¯t Crimson Rush Dragon, but the poisonous sludge! Poking her head out of the sludge, Lubao moved while exhaling freezing air over the toxic field. Frost quickly spread, forming an icy crust over the poison. However, already coated in toxic sludge, Lubao¡¯s Icy Wind wasn¡¯t as powerful as before. Although the frost expanded rapidly, it only froze about a quarter of the field. ¡°So she wasn¡¯t trying to weaken Crimson Rush Dragon, but to freeze the poison for her next pet beast¡­¡± ¡°She actually moved while submerged in toxic sludge¡­ I never expected that¡­¡± ¡°¡­But this is where it ends.¡± Zhao Chuanyu gave his next command: ¡°Dragon Dive.¡± ¡°Chi chi!¡± Crimson Rush Dragon folded its massive wings and dove from high above. As it descended, golden light flared across its body, making it look like a falling sun, illuminating the night sky. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the audience, the Zhongkong crowd cheered wildly, while the Yuhua supporters grew tense. The Guwu audience covered their eyes, unable to watch. Dragon Dive, a high-tier dragon-type skill, combined overwhelming momentum with a terrifying impact. This attack would be devastating. In her poisoned state, Lubao wouldn¡¯t survive¡­ But fortunately, time was up. Qiao Sang glanced at the sky. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she recalled Lubao into her Beast Codex. Boom! The ground shuddered violently. The ice shattered. Poison splashed everywhere. A massive crater formed where Crimson Rush Dragon landed. The audience was baffled. She recalled Ice Xilu? That¡¯s a foul during a match! Before the referee could intervene, Qiao Sang spoke calmly: ¡°I concede this match.¡± The entire arena fell silent. Then, after a few seconds, the silence exploded like a bomb. ¡°What the hell?! Concede?! Just like that?!¡± ¡°No way! Wasn¡¯t she going to wear down Crimson Rush Dragon?¡± ¡°I thought she was strong, but she just gave up before even fighting properly!¡± ¡°So she only used Ice Xilu to freeze the sludge?¡± ¡°But she barely froze anything! What¡¯s the point?!¡± ¡°¡­Wait. Look at the air.¡± The toxic mist was gone. Poison in the air paralyzed pet beasts. Poison on the ground reduced their speed and attack power. Whether her next pet beast was airborne or on land, it would¡¯ve been at a disadvantage. But poison gas eventually disperses. By stalling, Qiao Sang had neutralized a crucial part of the battlefield. ¡°Qu!¡± The referee¡¯s mechanical pet beast blew the whistle, declaring Zhao Chuanyu the victor. Qiao Sang re-summoned Lubao and spoke gently: ¡°Heal yourself first.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded, emitting a blue glow. Soon, all her injuries disappeared. Qiao Sang then recalled Lubao once more. Then, she formed another hand seal. A green star array lit up. This time, she summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 478: Yabao vs. Crimson Rush Dragon Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Under the bright moonlight, Yabao¡¯s fur danced freely in the evening breeze. "Chi chi." Crimson Rush Dragon eyed its new opponent, its previously indifferent attitude vanishing as an intrigued expression took its place. Seeing the Blazing Star Canine standing proudly midair without a scratch, Zhao Chuanyu immediately realized: Qiao Sang had sent out Ice Xilu earlier solely to buy time! And he wasn¡¯t the only one who understood this, so did the audience. The spectators who had been mocking Qiao Sang for supposedly surrendering in fear of Crimson Rush Dragon now wore stiff expressions. Others also looked surprised, staring in astonishment at the majestic Blazing Star Canine. Everyone had initially assumed that Qiao Sang had sent Ice Xilu out to drain Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s energy and stamina. But that wasn¡¯t the case at all! Were their brains too simple?! No, it was Qiao Sang¡¯s mind that was too meticulous! There was barely any time between the first and second match. It was too short for careful planning. Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s Venomous Starfish had forced its way through damage just to set up the Toxic Field, a strategy he had never used before. Since there was no precedent, there was no way Qiao Sang could have prepared a counter in advance. Which meant she had devised a strategy to neutralize the Toxic Field within less than half a minute, turning a complete disadvantage into a winning situation. Strength alone wasn¡¯t enough, her quick thinking was terrifying. In an instant, the audience''s attitude took a full 720-degree shift. "I was wrong! I apologize to Qiao Sang! I actually doubted her just now..." "With a brain like this, who dares say Qiao Sang has bad grades? If she does, then what does that make my brain?!" "Incredible! I was sure Crimson Rush Dragon, combined with the Toxic Field, had this match in the bag. But this, what a twist! The Blazing Star Canine can stay airborne! As long as it doesn¡¯t touch the ground, with its combat prowess, it might actually win!" An excited spectator from Yuhua Region exclaimed. A spectator from Zhongkong Region retorted, "Aren¡¯t you thinking too much? Even without the Toxic Field, Crimson Rush Dragon is still incredibly strong. Besides, the airborne toxins may be gone, but the ones on the ground are still there." "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang, I love you!" A fan from Guwu Region stood up and waved frantically. "Qu!" The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the battle. The audience instantly fell silent, their eyes locked on the arena. "Dragon Dive!" Zhao Chuanyu commanded immediately. "Chi!" Crimson Rush Dragon flapped its wings forcefully, soaring high into the sky. A brilliant glow radiated from its body as it charged at Yabao with immense speed. ?¦¡????§°¦Â?S If one paid close attention, they would notice that this time, Dragon Dive was even faster and more powerful than before. Qiao Sang¡¯s voice remained calm: "Hit it!" "Yap!" Yabao threw his head back and howled in excitement. Mottled light, the same color as the moonlight, shimmered around his body. Just as Crimson Rush Dragon was about to collide with him, Yabao vanished and reappeared higher in the air. Then, he suddenly opened his mouth. A spiraling flame shot down precisely toward Crimson Rush Dragon, who had paused mid-air due to the missed attack. Crimson Rush Dragon reacted quickly. Though it couldn¡¯t dodge in time, it instinctively used its massive wings to shield itself. The flames blazed brightly in the night, revealing a red burn mark on Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s wing! The audience erupted into chaos: "Did I see that right?! The Fire Whirl actually hurt Crimson Rush Dragon?!" "Whoa, I never noticed before, but compared to the Blazing Star Canine, Crimson Rush Dragon looks so slow!" "Wait, I¡¯ve been wondering! What¡¯s that glowing thing around the Blazing Star Canine?!" "No clue!" "Damn it, I protest! Why is there no commentator at the National Campus Championship? Are we high schoolers not worthy?!" "This¡­ This looks like Moonlight Power?!" A student from Imperial Capital¡¯s Zhishang Beastmaster Academy suddenly widened her eyes and stammered. "What¡¯s Moonlight Power?" A nearby boy asked. "It¡¯s a Fairy-type ability. Under the moonlight, all its actions are twice as effective." The girl explained. The boy scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, now. The Blazing Star Canine is a Fire/Psychic-type beast. How could it possibly have a Fairy-type ability?" "I don¡¯t want to believe it either! But look at the Blazing Star Canine right now, it¡¯s displaying all the signs of Moonlight Power! You remember my mom¡¯s Chichi Sprite, right? It has Moonlight Power too!" The students at Zhishang Beastmaster Academy all came from well-off families. They were part of the same social circles, so they generally knew what kind of beasts each other¡¯s parents had. Since Zhao Chuanyu was also from their academy, everyone was rooting for him. There was no way the girl would lie at this moment. The boy believed her and panicked. His heart pounded as he looked at the shimmering silhouette in the arena, swallowing hard. "Zhao Chuanyu¡­ won¡¯t lose, right¡­?" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Moonlight Power?! Zhao Chuanyu struggled to control his expression, but shock and disbelief were written all over his face. How could the Blazing Star Canine have Moonlight Power?! That was a Fairy-type trait! For a few seconds, he was completely frozen in place. Meanwhile, in midair, the battle raged on. Crimson Rush Dragon, instead of being intimidated by its injuries, grew even more excited. "Chi chi!" It threw its head back and let out a piercing screech. Invisible sound waves reverberated through the battlefield. The air trembled as the sound waves reached Tooth Treasure¡¯s ears, causing it to momentarily falter. Seizing the opportunity, Crimson Rush Dragon opened its mouth and unleashed a powerful energy wave. The audience instantly recognized it: Dragon Pulse, a high-tier Dragon-type move! Just as Dragon Pulse was about to strike Yabao, he vanished again. Boom!!! Dragon Pulse exploded in the air, sending shockwaves and heat waves rippling outward. Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s expression turned wary. Suddenly, it sensed something above and jerked its head up, only to see its opponent descending upon it from directly overhead! "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. Raising his claws, now coated in a fierce inferno, he swiped down with all his might. Crimson Rush Dragon had incredible defense. Even at this close range, despite the Moonlight Power-enhanced Fire Claw, it only reeled back a few meters, its skin barely torn. At this moment, Zhao Chuanyu finally snapped out of his shock. Assessing the situation, he quickly ordered: "Heat Wave!" "Chi chi!" Crimson Rush Dragon flapped its wings hard, sending a wave of scorching heat toward Yabao. The superheated air caused the space around Yabao to distort. This was his chance! Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s heart leaped. He shouted, "Draco Meteor!" Blazing Star Canine, being a Fire-type beast, wouldn¡¯t take much damage from Heat Wave. But Zhao Chuanyu didn¡¯t need it to, it was merely a distraction! Draco Meteor would rain down a barrage of meteors from above. It was one of the most powerful high-tier moves. If not for its severe recoil that drastically reduced the user¡¯s Special Attack afterward, it might have been classified as an Ultimate-tier move! Hearing the command, Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained cold and composed. She spoke one word: "Meteor Rain." ----- ----- Chapter 479: Truly Thick-Skinned Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Hearing their beastmaster¡¯s command, Yabao and Crimson Rush Dragon simultaneously tilted their heads back and opened their mouths. Two energy spheres, filled with terrifying power, were launched one after the other into the sky. Visually, the red sphere was more than three times larger than the golden one. Soon, the two energy spheres exploded high in the air like fireworks. The next second, fire rained down like a torrential storm, and the overwhelming flames rapidly engulfed the entire battlefield. Under the night sky, the flames burned fiercely, shocking everyone. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! The horrifying flames continued to descend, and among them, over a dozen meteors fell as if they were mere decorations. If the audience hadn¡¯t known from the start that Crimson Rush Dragon had unleashed Draco Meteor, they might have been blinded by the dazzling flames and failed to realize the presence of the meteors. Scarlet flames raged violently. Poison splattered across the ground, evaporating in the heat. The deafening crashes of the meteors striking the ground created an unprecedented visual impact. Pairs of stunned eyes stared at the battlefield, now painted in a sea of red, as if looking into another world. Most of the spectators were students, and their understanding of power mainly came from the internet and textbooks. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many had compared Draco Meteor and Meteor Rain before, and almost everyone instinctively assumed that Dragon-type skills were superior. However, they had forgotten that the power of a skill could vary drastically depending on proficiency. Even though many had seen live demonstrations of Draco Meteor and Meteor Rain separately before, this was the first time they were witnessing such a stark difference when the two were used together¡­ --- The ground trembled. Firelight ran rampant. In mid-air, Crimson Rush Dragon moved like a high-speed fighter jet, weaving through the flames at incredible speed. Yabao also dodged swiftly. However, compared to Crimson Rush Dragon, he had far fewer meteors to avoid, making his maneuvering look almost effortless. Something¡¯s not right¡­ Qiao Sang watched Crimson Rush Dragon closely, her brows furrowed. Crimson Rush Dragon had high defensive power and some resistance to Fire-type attacks, but for it to withstand Meteor Rain at this intensity and still move freely, this was far from normal. Qiao Sang tried to track Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s movements, attempting to observe more carefully. Soon, she noticed that while the flames did cause damage to Crimson Rush Dragon, it endured them without suffering any fatal injuries. This isn¡¯t right at all. Is Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s defense really this absurd? Even Meteor Rain, powered by an Ultimate level and enhanced by Moonlight Power, couldn¡¯t take it down instantly? "This Scarlet Rush Dragon has the Miracle Scales trait." In the contestant area, Liu Yao spoke in a deep voice. Miracle Scales, when afflicted with a status condition, this trait activates and boosts the beast¡¯s defense. "We didn¡¯t receive any information about this beforehand." Sun Bo said, frowning. "Crimson Rush Dragon already has high defense. If it weren¡¯t for Blazing Star Canine¡¯s Meteor Rain being so overwhelmingly powerful, causing it to enter a burn state directly, we might not have even discovered this trait throughout the entire national championship." Liu Yao explained. ?§Ñ????£Ï????¨º£Ó Sun Bo sighed. "A pet beast like Crimson Rush Dragon shouldn¡¯t even be in a high school competition." Liu Yao asked, "Do you think a pet beast like Blazing Star Canine should be in a high school competition?" Sun Bo was momentarily stunned. He focused on the red-and-white figure in mid-air and shook his head. "Forget high school, even top university leagues might not field such a beast." "Exactly." Liu Yao chuckled. "So think about it differently. Scarlet Rush Dragon was contracted midway by Zhao Chuanyu, but Blazing Star Canine was entirely nurtured by Qiao Sang herself. Who¡¯s the stronger trainer? It¡¯s obvious." "Trust Qiao Sang. She¡¯ll win." --- On the battlefield. Qiao Sang cleared her mind and made a decisive call: "Go!" Even though she wasn¡¯t sure why Crimson Rush Dragon had withstood Meteor Rain, one thing was certain: It was still taking damage. Plus, after using Draco Meteor, its special attack had decreased. Now was the perfect time to strike! "Yap!" Yabao barked excitedly, locking onto Crimson Rush Dragon. While dodging meteors, it swiftly turned into a fiery blur, charging straight toward its opponent. Crimson Rush Dragon tilted its body, flying to evade. But just as it was about to dodge completely, Yabao split into two. An identical Blazing Star Canine suddenly appeared above Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s head, extending flaming claws and striking downward. "Chiiii!" Crimson Rush Dragon cried out in pain and was sent spiraling downward. Just two meters from the ground, it managed to stabilize itself. This is bad¡­ Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s heart sank. With Moonlight Power enhancing Blazing Star Canine, Meteor Rain was far more powerful than he had anticipated. Crimson Rush Dragon knew many high-level moves, but its proficiency in them was low. Previously, he didn¡¯t think its moves were weak, but compared to Meteor Rain, the gap was glaringly obvious. Now, with its special attack weakened and Miracle Scales having a limited duration, Crimson Rush Dragon would continue taking damage from Meteor Rain. This was not the time for a head-on clash. It needed to retreat¡­ Just as Zhao Chuanyu prepared to issue an order to withdraw, Yabao and Crimson Rush Dragon had already begun another fierce exchange in mid-air. Their figures blurred together as they clashed repeatedly. Crimson Rush Dragon was covered in burn wounds from Meteor Rain. After dodging several of Yabao¡¯s attacks, it could no longer endure and lashed out with its powerful tail. It struck Yabao and sliced it in half, but the figure vanished instantly. A clone! Crimson Rush Dragon realized it had been tricked. It flapped its wings, trying to escape, but at that moment, the real Yabao lunged at it with fire-forged fangs. Brilliant embers flickered around it, and its blazing fangs seemed even more menacing than before. "Chiiii!!" Yabao bit deep into Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s body, sending it crashing to the ground. But he wasn¡¯t done. He clamped down even harder. Crimson Rush Dragon staggered backward, on the verge of stepping out of the battlefield¡¯s boundary. It desperately sank its claws into the scorched ground, sparks flying. The atmosphere in the audience was electric. Viewers from the Yuhua region were breathless with excitement. Meanwhile, spectators from Zhongkong region were pale with anxiety. Just a little more... Crimson Rush Dragon was about to be forced out of bounds! --- On the battlefield. At this point, retreating would be cowardly. The situation also presented an opportunity¡­ Zhao Chuanyu didn¡¯t hesitate. "Gravity Overhead Throw!" "Chi!!" Crimson Rush Dragon let out a fierce cry. Spreading its arms wide, it tightly embraced Yabao. Then, with tense leg muscles, it shot upward into the sky, carrying its opponent with it. Fire continued to rain down, but Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s eyes were blood-red, locked in a state of wild frenzy, seemingly oblivious to the pain. "Bite down!" Qiao Sang commanded. Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. The flames around his fangs flared even larger as he bit down deeper into Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s flesh. Crimson Rush Dragon winced in pain but it didn¡¯t slow down. Nice! Zhao Chuanyu was thrilled. Crimson Rush Dragon had never endured this level of damage before, and even he hadn¡¯t realized just how strong its willpower and defenses were. Truly thick-skinned¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but complain in her mind. Gravity Overhead Throw, a high-level Fighting-type move that uses gravitational force to hurl the opponent, dealing massive damage. It was the very move that had won Zhao Chuanyu his match against Cui Pingkun¡¯s Suan Tao. ----- ----- Chapter 480: The First Finalist is Born! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The audience''s emotions were at their peak, especially those from the Zhongkong and Yuhua regions. Zhongkong spectators were almost in despair as they watched Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s claws nearly step out of the arena. But in the next second, a Gravity Overhead Throw turned the tide. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Yuhua spectators were on the verge of celebrating, cheers stuck in their throats. They hadn¡¯t expected the situation to reverse so suddenly. If just watching made emotions fluctuate so wildly, one could only imagine what it felt like for the competitors. Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s Gravity Overhead Throw was only at an intermediate level, so Yabao should be able to endure it¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced as she watched the two figures spinning in the air, her expression remaining calm. High above, Crimson Rush Dragon locked its limbs tightly around Yabao, spinning in rapid 360-degree rotations. It spun faster and faster, like a giant fireball. After about ten seconds, Crimson Rush Dragon stopped spinning and plummeted downward with Yabao in tow. In the blink of an eye, they were nearly at the ground. At about five centimeters from impact, Crimson Rush Dragon released its claws, expecting to land stylishly as usual. But to its surprise, while its claws let go, its opponent¡¯s jaws did not! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao clamped down hard on Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s shoulder. He had trained extensively in dizziness resistance, there was no way ten seconds of spinning could make him lose his senses! Boom! The entire arena trembled as Yabao crashed heavily onto the ground. ¡°Chi Chi!¡± Crimson Rush Dragon, looking utterly bewildered, fell alongside it. The meteor rain also came to an end at that moment. What just happened? Zhongkong spectators were shocked, and even the Yuhua audience was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, murmurs erupted throughout the crowd: ¡°What''s up with Crimson Rush Dragon? Did it just Gravity Overhead Throw itself into the ground?¡± ¡°Are you blind? That Blazing Star Canine never let go!¡± ¡°Damn, Blazing Star Canine is insane! It actually resisted the disorienting effects of Gravity Overhead Throw.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how you counter Gravity Overhead Throw¡­¡± ¡°Honestly, hasn¡¯t Blazing Star Canine been dominating the match from the start?¡± ¡°That Ultimate-level Meteor Rain wasn¡¯t even fair for this competition! But Crimson Rush Dragon is crazy strong too, it fought back even under that meteor storm.¡± ???????????????? ¡°I don¡¯t get Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s defense; it¡¯s ridiculously overpowered. I need to rewatch the analysis later¡­¡± ¡°So¡­ who¡¯s going to win?¡± ¡°Injury-wise, Crimson Rush Dragon is worse off. Blazing Star Canine barely took damage in previous matches, its only injury was in a thunderstorm, and no one even knows how it defended itself back then. But this time, it didn¡¯t use any defense skills. If Gravity Overhead Throw did enough damage, this might be the turning point. It all depends on who stands up first.¡± On the battlefield. ¡°Chi Chi, get up!¡± Zhao Chuanyu shouted. Crimson Rush Dragon had trained extensively with Gravity Overhead Throw, it had overcome both weightlessness and dizziness. The impact hurt, but it shouldn¡¯t be enough to take it out of the fight. No need to panic, it¡¯s still winnable. If Crimson Rush Dragon stands up before Blazing Star Canine, it can counterattack¡­ Zhao Chuanyu steadied his emotions, full of confidence in his contracted beast. Crimson Rush Dragon had cost him a fortune to contract. It had never lost before, and it wouldn¡¯t start now! At Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s call, Crimson Rush Dragon opened its eyes and struggled to its feet, despite its injuries. In the stands, Zhongkong spectators¡¯ eyes lit up. Meanwhile, Yuhua spectators, who had just been excitedly discussing Blazing Star Canine¡¯s impressive moves, instantly fell silent, watching nervously. Everyone had the same feeling, if nothing unexpected happened, the match was about to be decided. ¡°Chi Chi¡­¡± Crimson Rush Dragon¡¯s vision blurred. It was more injured than people realized. It had taken nearly all of Yabao¡¯s attacks directly, and now, after that Gravity Overhead Throw, it was barely holding on. Staring at its opponent through double vision, Crimson Rush Dragon tried to gather energy and opened its mouth. Then, its expression froze. Where was the enemy? ¡°Dodge it!¡± It heard its trainer¡¯s urgent warning. Crimson Rush Dragon understood. The opponent had teleported away! ¡°Chi Chi¡­¡± But this time, it didn¡¯t listen to its trainer. It knew its condition too well, if the enemy was already attacking, dodging was impossible. Rather than retreating, it would gamble everything on a counterattack! Crimson Rush Dragon stayed put, ears twitching, sensing the shift in temperature behind it. The next instant, it detected the heat approaching. ¡°Chi Chi!¡± Crimson Rush Dragon spun around, opening its mouth, charging up a devastating attack. It was confident the enemy was right there! But then, it froze again. The opponent was standing twenty meters away¡­ mouth open¡­ but not attacking? Why wasn¡¯t Crimson Rush Dragon listening to him?! And why was Blazing Star Canine just standing there with its mouth open?! Zhao Chuanyu was just as confused. ¡°Chi Chi!¡± Before he could react, Crimson Rush Dragon was sent flying backward with a miserable cry. Zhao Chuanyu: !!! What the hell just happened?! How did Crimson Rush Dragon get hurt?! ¡°Chi Chi!¡± Crimson Rush Dragon crashed onto the ground, writhing as it frantically flapped its wings against its body. Illusion Flame, an advanced fire-type move. Its flames were invisible, but what made it high-level was its lingering burn time. Once ignited, not even water could extinguish it. Very few beasts knew Illusion Flame, and the information online was often unreliable. Originally, Yabao¡¯s Illusion Flame was only at an beginner level, barely different from normal fire. Qiao Sang had invested points into it and had Yabao test it out, discovering its true potential. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Qiao Sang declared. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s expression brightened, muscles tensing as he crouched low. ¡°Huff¡­¡± In the next second, a blazing fire engulfed his body, and he shot toward Crimson Rush Dragon like a streak of red light. Zhao Chuanyu realized too late that Crimson Rush Dragon had no chance to dodge. Forcing down his panic, he shouted, ¡°Dragon Pulse!¡± Stay calm! If dodging is impossible, attack head-on! If Dragon Pulse hits, it can stop Blazing Star Canine¡¯s charge! Crimson Rush Dragon braced itself, ignoring the burns, and opened its mouth to retaliate. But for its battered body, the opponent was too fast. Before it could unleash Dragon Pulse, Yabao had already slammed into it. ¡°Chi Chi!¡± Crimson Rush Dragon was sent flying, letting out a pained wail. It struggled to keep its eyes open, staring at its opponent¡­ but ultimately, it collapsed, defeated. ¡°Qu!¡± A referee-class mechanical beast floated over, inspected the scene, and blew its whistle. The host, standing atop a white flying-type beast, descended into the arena and announced loudly: ¡°The first finalist of the National Campus Championship has been decided! Let¡¯s congratulate Yuhua region¡¯s Qiao Sang!¡± ----- ----- Chapter 485: Bond Evolution Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang stared blankly at the glowing light surrounding Paralulu, stunned for a long moment. Was this some kind of male protagonist power-up trope?! A final match, right on the verge of losing, and then, evolution? Was this a joke?! At that moment, the audience surrounding the battlefield was equally dumbfounded. Although most of them were high school students, they were all genuine Beast Tamers and were no strangers to this kind of glow. As the figure inside the white light gradually grew larger and its shape became more defined, an uproar broke out, and the stadium instantly erupted. "Holy crap! Evolution?!" "This is evolution, right?! Right?!" "Damn! If Paralulu evolved, that means it''s now a General-rank beast?!" "No way! Evolution?! Tang Yi is only in his senior year of high school, and he already has a General-rank beast?!" "Game over. I thought Qiao Sang would be this year''s champion." "This year''s national championship is insane¡­" "Amazing! This totally brings honor to our seniors!" "This year''s national championship is absolutely wild. First, I thought Zhao Chuanyu would win, then Qiao Sang appeared out of nowhere, and now Tang Yi turns out to be the final boss!" "Hahaha! Tang Yi is incredible! I told you the champion belongs to Zhongkong Region!" The gap between a General-rank beast and an Advanced-rank beast was vast, like a bottomless chasm. In high school, Advanced-rank beasts were already rare, and General-rank beasts were practically unheard of. But now, right in front of everyone, on a national live broadcast, Paralulu has evolved. The Yuhua Region audience turned pale as death. A General-rank beast¡­ Even someone as monstrously talented as Qiao Sang seemed to have no chance of winning. "A General-rank beast appearing in the national championship¡­" Wang Yao was in complete disbelief. Shi Gaofeng was equally shocked. "A General-rank beast¡­ So this is the level of the national championship?" Xu Yajie was silent for a moment before speaking: "In the history of high school campus Beast Mastering Leagues, there has never been a General-rank beast. This is the first one." ?????£Î§°?¨§? Wang Yao''s expression turned complicated. "And of all people, it had to be Qiao Sang who encountered it. What kind of luck is this¡­?" While the students of Shengshui High were discussing, the rest of the Yuhua Region audience tried to console themselves: "If you think about it, Qiao Sang is still too young. She''s competing in the senior division, but if she had two more years, Tang Yi wouldn''t stand a chance." "Exactly! If Qiao Sang were competing in the freshman division of the national league, she would take the championship effortlessly!" "With her strength, she''s definitely the champion of the next two national championships. Missing out on one title doesn''t matter. Honestly, I think she''s stronger than Tang Yi. Back when Tang Yi was a freshman, he didn''t even have one Advanced-rank beast, let alone three." "Yeah, exactly." In the VIP Seating Area. In the front row, among the officials, Minister Zhou''s face, which had been trembling with excitement just moments ago, suddenly froze. "It actually evolved¡­" muttered Minister Wang from Chongdao Region. A rare smile appeared on the usually stern Minister Yan''s face. "Looks like we can confirm the second interstellar exchange student slot now." The other ministers remained silent, tacitly agreeing. A high school student with a General-rank beast absolutely qualified for that spot. At that moment, Minister Huang from Lianbo Region asked: "What does Paralulu evolve into?" There were countless beast species in the world, and while the ministers were familiar with the ones from their own regions, they weren''t necessarily experts on every species. Minister Yan studied the figure emerging from the light and answered, "Judging by the shape, it should be Paraleo." --- In the Competitor''s Area. Sun Boyi was in a daze. Liu Yao stared intently at the evolving beast''s silhouette and let out a slow breath. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he sighed, "To think it would undergo Bond Evolution at this moment." Sun Boyi turned to Liu Yao, still in a state of shock. "Bond Evolution?" Liu Yao kept his gaze on the battlefield and gave a slight nod. "I looked up Paralulu''s information last night and got a general idea. It has two possible evolutions, one requires absorbing 500 liters of pure thunder-infused water to become Paralur, and the other is achieved through Bond Evolution into Paraleo." "Judging by what we''re seeing, this one evolved into Pareleo." Sun Boyi''s eyes lit up as a thought struck him. "Since it''s Bond Evolution¡­ does that mean it might revert to its original form?" Liu Yao considered it for a moment and nodded. "There''s a high chance." Bond Evolution was a mysterious form of evolution that required a deep enough bond between the beast and its tamer. Beasts that evolved this way were usually able to synchronize with their tamers more effectively, making their cooperation seamless. Some tamers even experienced physical pain when their beasts were injured. However, this type of evolution was often unstable in its early stages. For example, a beast and tamer might have a strong enough bond, but if the beast''s energy reserves were too low, the evolution wouldn''t last. Alternatively, the beast might have enough energy, but the bond could only sustain the evolved form for a short time. Because of this, early-stage Bond Evolution was often referred to as Temporary Evolution. But even temporary evolution had its advantages: 1. A sudden boost in combat power. 2. A clear path toward full evolution. Many beasts never even reached the threshold for evolving into General-rank. Since Tang Yi was only a senior in high school, Paralulu shouldn''t have had enough energy to evolve permanently. The only explanation was that the bond between him and Paralulu was strong enough to trigger temporary evolution. Sun Boyi focused on the battlefield, his hope rekindled. If this was only temporary evolution, then as long as Qiao Sang could endure¡­ she might still have a chance to win! On the field. Paraleo... an Electric, Flying, and Dark-type General-rank pet beast... Good thing I looked everything up yesterday, otherwise, even if Paralulu evolved, I wouldn''t know what it was called... Qiao Sang took a deep breath and gave a command: "Little Treasure! Keep using Hypnosis!" Who cares if this is a classic face-slapping plot straight out of a male-protagonist web novel? Just go for it! A newly evolved pet beast is always in an unguarded state. As long as Hypnosis is maintained, once the light of evolution fades, the first thing Paraleo will see is Little Treasure''s eyes. This is the opportunity! "Xun!" Hearing his Beastmaster''s command, Little Treasure snapped out of his exclamation-mark-filled stupor. His eyes turned blue again. At that moment, the white light faded, revealing a pet beast standing over six meters tall, its nearly black body adorned with purple-patterned wings. Its sharp gaze and imposing aura exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression. "Pa Pa!" Paraleo let out a loud cry, ready to fight. But then, it saw those same familiar eyes from just moments ago. A wave of drowsiness instantly swept over it. "Pa... Pa..." The freshly evolved Paraleo slowly closed its eyes again. The audience: !!! The spectators, who had been buzzing with excitement over Paralulu''s evolution, suddenly froze in stunned silence. Wait, what just happened? Ghost Ring Phantom''s Hypnosis works on a General-rank pet beast?! It''s hard to judge the proficiency of a skill like Hypnosis just by watching, but some had speculated that the Ghost Ring Phantom''s Hypnosis had reached the level of Ultimate. Now, that speculation was confirmed. For a Hypnosis to affect a General-rank pet beast despite the level difference, what else could it be but an Ultimate level?! "I was just making a random guess, but Qiao Sang''s Ghost Ring Phantom''s Hypnosis really is at the Ultimate level..." "No wonder every opponent in her matches never wakes up once hit by Hypnosis, turns out it''s maxed out in proficiency..." "If Paralulu hadn''t evolved, Qiao Sang would''ve won already!" "Now that it''s evolved into Paraleo, even if it got hit, it should be able to wake itself up by force, right?" The audience turned their attention to Tang Yi and Paraleo, eager to see how they would respond. This was the first General-rank pet beast in the national competition, there was no way it would fall to Hypnosis just like that. --- Evolved?! Paralulu evolved into Paraleo?! Tang Yi was momentarily stunned before a wave of ecstasy hit him. But when he saw Paraleo close its eyes again, he panicked and quickly shouted: "Tang Bupa, wake up!" That same line again... Qiao Sang internally rolled her eyes but didn''t dare be careless. She immediately commanded: "Teleport!" She had no doubt that Paraleo would wake up soon. After all, it had evolved just from hearing Tang Yi''s voice. A conscious General-rank pet beast was no joke, she had to seize this chance! Qiao Sang''s command was brief, but Little Treasure understood instantly. His blue eyes flashed deeper, and the still-drowsy Paraleo suddenly disappeared from its spot, reappearing at the edge of the battlefield! No way... The audience widened their eyes at the sight. "Xun!" Little Treasure teleported again, appearing right in front of Paraleo. With full confidence and momentum, he rammed his head forward. Just before impact, a blue glow surrounded his forehead. Paraleo didn''t budge. Audience: ... Was Psychic Strike really this weak? He couldn''t even make Paleo move an inch... Qiao Sang almost facepalmed. "Xun..." Little Treasure, still pressed against Paraleo, suddenly shivered. He felt an ominous sense of danger. Before he could lift his head, his Beastmaster''s urgent voice rang out: "Retreat!" "Xun!" Little Treasure flinched and immediately teleported away. At the same time, Paraleo''s position erupted with a massive burst of electricity. Countless yellow lightning bolts crackled, the air trembled, and the entire battlefield was instantly transformed into an Electric Terrain. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ground shook, rocks levitated and shattered, sparks danced in the air. The entire battlefield had become an Electric Terrain... So this was the power of a General-rank pet beast.. Qiao Sang''s heart sank as she looked at the now-awake Paraleo. "Pa Pa!" Paraleo roared, its body surging with yellow lightning as it shot toward the sky, chasing after the terrified-looking Little Treasurr. Its speed was lightning-fast, almost literally. Little Treasure barely dodged. But just as he reappeared twenty meters away, a bolt of yellow lightning struck him from out of nowhere. "Xun!" Little Treasure let out a painful cry. Paraleo turned into lightning again. A General-rank pet beast''s speed was no joke, by the time Qiao Sang''s brain registered it, Paraleo had already been slammed into Little Treasure. "Xun!!!" Little Treasure was sent flying in a diagonal trajectory, his scream more miserable than ever before. So fast... Even Tang Yi, Paraleo''s Beastmaster, was momentarily stunned. Boom! Little Treasure crashed into the ground, dust flying everywhere. Many spectators in the stands jumped up excitedly, as if they had already secured the championship title. "A General-rank pet beast is insane! That speed, I couldn''t even follow it with my eyes!" "This is intense! Ghost Ring Phantom, even with teleportation, couldn''t dodge! This is the first time I''ve seen it take a direct hit!" "Qiao Sang will have to send out her next pet beast now, right? I bet she''ll use Blazing Star Canine!" While the crowd discussed, Little Treasure lay face-down, unmoving. "Pa pa." Paraleo flew over and nudged it with its claw. Little Treasure remained motionless. Qiao Sang''s eyes flickered. Just as the referee''s mechanical pet beast floated onto the field, she shouted: "Control it!" Ghost Ring Phantom can still move?! Tang Yi''s pupils contracted. He instinctively shouted: "Thunderbolt!" But it was too late. Paraleo''s shadow covered Little Treasure''s own. Little Treasure didn''t stand back up, he was badly injured. But that didn''t stop him from using Shadow Control. "Xun..." Still lying on the ground, he linked his shadow with Paraleo''s. Since Paraleo was so large, its shadow was large too, perfect for this. Paraleo''s body surged with electricity, gathering a massive amount of energy to unleash a devastating Thunderbolt at the fallen Little Treasure. The referee''s mechanical pet beast twitched and quickly floated away. "Xun..." At that moment, Little Treasure''s claws twitched. "Pa Pa!" Paraleo suddenly lost control of its footing and slipped, crashing to the ground. Its Thunderbolt''s trajectory shifted upward, exploding in mid-air. Bright yellow lightning illuminated the night sky. The Shadow Control should be able to break free now¡­ With the Ghost Ring Phantom state, it only needs to land one more hit¡­ Tang Yi quickly analyzed the situation on the field and commanded: "Thunderbolt!" There was no need to even consider breaking free, he firmly believed that Paraleo could definitely escape Ghost Ring Phantom''s control! "Pa pa!" Paraleo let out a sharp cry, energy surging within its body. Its muscles tensed, wings flapped forcefully, and the shadow connecting it to the ground grew thinner and thinner, showing signs of breaking apart. "Xun..." Little Treasure struggled to lift his head and look at the towering figure before him. Was he going to lose¡­? If he had to go back and review this battle, and Brother Yabao and Lubao found out, would he lose the second-in-command position that he had worked so hard to reclaim¡­? As expected of a General-class pet beast¡­ Even an Ultimate-level Hypnosis and an Ultimate-level Shadow Control could be forcibly broken free from¡­ Qiao Sang took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. The more anxious she got, the harder it was to think. "Little Treasure relies mainly on his unpredictable movements and powerful control skills to win battles. But on this Electric Terrain, Paraleo can catch up to him in an instant. His speed will be matched, and his control-type moves can be broken by Paraleo''s overwhelming energy and size." ¡°The chances of Little Treasure winning are close to zero. However, he can create some advantages for the next match, just like Zhao Chuanyu¡¯s Venomous Starfish¡­¡± Qiao Sang''s mind raced, and suddenly, an idea struck her like lightning. -- The shadow connecting to the ground was tearing wider and wider. It was about to completely break. At this moment, Qiao Sang commanded: "Misfortune Curse!" "Xun..." Little Treasure tried to get up with difficulty. He felt like he needed urgent medical attention, he might not even be able to curse properly anymore¡­ So tired¡­ Sensing Little Treasure''s state, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something and shouted loudly: "Second child, it''s up to you now!" Little Treasure''s ears twitched, and his gaze became resolute. That''s right! He was the Second Child! He absolutely couldn''t fall to the Third child spot just because of this match! "Xun!" Little Treasure vanished on the spot. In the next second, his eyes glowed with a purple light as he reappeared right in front of Paraleo. "Pa pa!" Having regained its freedom, Paraleo instantly gathered a massive electric current around itself. A thick and terrifying lightning bolt crashed down toward Little Treasure. "Xun!!!" Little Treasure let out a painful scream as his entire body turned pitch black from the blast and crashed onto the ground. Ashet closed his eyes, a sudden thought flashed through his mind: This was the last opponent. Would that mean there wouldn''t be a battle review when he got back¡­? Your sacrifice will not be in vain¡­ Qiao Sang waved her hand and recalled Little Treasure into the Beast Master''s Codex. "Go!" The referee''s whistle blew. The audience erupted into a tidal wave of noise. As the only contestant with three Advanced-level pet beasts, Qiao Sang had placed immense pressure on schools from all over the country, aside from the Yuhua region. Although Ice Xilu had lost an earlier match, it was recalled to the Beast Master''s codex before losing its combat ability, this time was different. Strictly speaking, this was Qiao Sang''s first true loss in the competition. "As a senior in high school, I suddenly feel like our pride has been restored!" "Ahhh! Tang Yi! Paraleo!" "Tang Yi! Tang Yi! You must take first place!" "Sigh, if only Ghost Ring Phantom''s Psychic Strike had been stronger, it might''ve won just now¡­" "Psychic Strike is a move it only learned after evolving into Ghost Ring Phantom. It hasn''t been long since its evolution, so don''t expect too much." "If Paralulu hadn''t evolved, it would''ve lost to Ghost Ring Phantom''s Hypnosis from the very start." "It evolved, so let''s not dwell on that. Just keep watching, I think Qiao Sang will send out Blazing Star Canine next." "Of course! Everyone knows Qiao Sang''s Blazing Star Canine has the highest attack power. Plus, it''s nighttime now, so with the Moonlight Power effect, it might just stand a chance against a newly evolved General-class pet beast." "Are all you Yuhua people this confident? Do you even understand what a General-class pet beast is?" "Heh, I''m confident, so what? Bite me." ¡°¡­¡± "Go!" Amid the noisy chatter, the referee''s whistle blew again. The entire stadium fell silent in unison. Qiao Sang formed a hand seal. A green star formation lit up, and a pet beast with both dazzling elegance and mystery emerged in front of the spectators. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao stared at his opponent in the distance, momentarily stunned before excitement flared in his eyes. The small flame wings on his back expanded by several centimeters. The Blazing Star Canine that defeated the Crimson Rush Dragon¡­ Tang Yi took a deep breath and said, "Tang Bupa, don''t let your guard down!" ¡°Pa pa.¡± Hearing its Beast Master''s words, Paraleo locked eyes with its new opponent, its expression turning serious. "Go!" The referee''s whistle marked the start of the final match of the national tournament. "Blazing Charge!" "Thunderbolt!" Qiao Sang and Tang Yi shouted their commands at the same time. Moonlight poured down, flames erupted, and burning embers danced wildly around Yabao''s body. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao dug his claws into the ground. In the next second, he transformed into a fiery streak, charging toward Paraleo with a powerful whirlwind. ¡°Pa¡­Pa pa?!¡± Just as Paraleo was gathering energy, its eyes suddenly clouded with confusion. Boom! In that brief moment of hesitation, Yabao crashed into Paraleo with full force, sending it flying backward. Most of its body sank into the ground upon impact. Audience: !!! What just happened? Why didn''t Paraleo use Thunderbolt¡­? Tang Yi stared blankly, a string of question marks flashing through his mind. Accursed Body, when attacked, there''s a 30% chance of inflicting immobilization on the target. A pet beast in this state cannot use the last move they attempted before being affected¡­ Looks like Paraleo got caught in it¡­ Was it just unlucky, or was it the Misfortune Curse''s doing¡­? Qiao Sang''s mind worked rapidly as she analyzed the situation, formulating a counterstrategy. ¡°Yap!¡± As Qiao Sang pondered, Yabao lifted his head and opened his mouth wide. A massive, terrifyingly powerful fireball shot into the sky with a whoosh. The audience, still in shock from Paraleo''s inexplicable hesitation, finally snapped back to reality. "What the hell?! Why did Paraleo just stand there and take the hit?!" "Guys, I''m kind of freaking out... Tang Yi won''t lose, right?" "Relax! It''s a General-class pet beast, for crying out loud!" "But Blazing Star Canine''s Meteor Rain is already at Ultimate level. Combined with the Moonlight Power effect, its attack might be stronger than most General-class pet beasts¡­" ¡°It just entered the match, why are you all panicking?!¡± "I''m not panicking, I just don''t get what happened to Paraleo just now!" "I got it! Ghost Ring Phantom cast Misfortune Curse at the end of the last match, it must''ve taken effect!" "That''s fine, then. Its curse level is low, it should only work once." The audience from the Central Hollow region let out a sigh of relief. ----- Previous Chapter _Next Chapter ----- Chapter 486: Qu! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the battlefield. A crimson energy sphere shot high into the sky, reaching a peak before suddenly exploding. Meteor Rain fell, the temperature soared, and the blazing flames seemed to set the sky ablaze. The intense visual impact and overwhelming sense of destruction made it feel as though the battlefield and the audience were worlds apart. If that were to land on Paraleo, even as a General-tier beast, it would be doomed¡­ The audience held their breath, eyes locked onto the battlefield. Especially those in the mid-air seating area, who didn¡¯t even dare to breathe, fearing that Paraleo might be finished in the next second. Paraleo lifted its head, staring at the sky, its entire vision swallowed by a sea of flames. ¡°Pa¡­pa¡­¡± It wanted to move but couldn''t. Tang Yi inexplicably sensed Paraleo¡¯s condition. In an instant, he had a guess: Ghost Ring Phantom from the last match must have had the Accursed Body trait! Flame Charge was powerful, but it shouldn¡¯t have immobilized a General-tier beast for this long. It seemed that Paraleo had fallen victim to Accursed Body as well¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze flickered as she observed Paraleo, half-buried in the ground. Accursed Body: 30% chance to immobilize the target upon being attacked, preventing movement for a certain period. Little Treasure did great! He actually made Paraleo suffer both effects! With this opportunity, the match might end immediately! ¡°Thunder Net!¡± Tang Yi¡¯s command rang out. As he gave the order, he clenched his fist before loosening it. No need to panic. Even if Paraleo was paralyzed and unable to move for a short time, its internal energy could still circulate. As long as it could cast skills, the situation wasn¡¯t too dire¡­ Looking on the bright side, even if Paraleo could move, its massive size made dodging the dense rain of fire almost impossible. ?????N??????£Ó Tang Yi¡¯s voice reached Qiao Sang¡¯s ears clearly. She immediately responded: ¡°Hyper Beam!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s opportunity was fleeting, Paraleo must not be allowed to evade! Yellow electric arcs flickered around Paraleo, lightning crackling as a massive, semi-circular Thunder Net formed, hovering just a meter above it. Boom! Boom! Boom! Flames rained down wildly, igniting the entire Thunder Net and triggering continuous explosions. Some flames slipped through the gaps in the net and landed on Paraleo. ¡°Pa pa!!!¡± ¡°Ah!!!¡± Scarlet fire instantly engulfed Paraleo. Both it and Tang Yi screamed in pain. Hearing its Beastmaster¡¯s cry, Paraleo looked toward Tang Yi amidst the agony. After that single glance, it gritted its teeth, its energy surging wildly. Golden lightning flashed, and the Thunder Net thickened significantly. At that moment, a two-meter-thick white energy beam shot down from above, tearing through the Thunder Net in an instant and striking Paraleo directly! ¡°Pa pa!!!¡± ¡°Ah!!!¡± Both Paraleo and Tang Yi screamed again. The Thunder Net dissipated, leaving Paraleo completely exposed. The fire rain continued to pour down mercilessly. So this is what bond evolution feels like¡­ Turns out, what the internet said was true: If the pet feels pain, the Beastmaster feels pain too. But the pet should experience it more intensely; otherwise, no one would dare let a bonded pet fight. Seeing Tang Yi¡¯s pained expression, Qiao Sang both mocked and felt a bit relieved. Thinking carefully, although Paraleo was a General-tier beast, because of bonded evolution, Tang Yi was also in pain. That pain would split his attention, making it hard for him to issue commands in time. That was exactly why jumping straight into battle after bonded evolution was risky. If they had time to adapt, train, or experience more energy feedback, they wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. Also, even if Paraleo had gained a Dark-type attribute, it wasn¡¯t something to fear. Tang Yi didn¡¯t have a cheat ability, he couldn¡¯t instantly figure out Paraleo¡¯s new skills. Likewise, Paraleo couldn¡¯t immediately master them like Yabao and the others. At most, the Dark-type traits needed some precautions. But at this point¡­ precaution wasn''t necessary anymore. Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened as she watched Paraleo, now silent. The Meteor Rain, empowered by Moonlight Power, and the Hyper Beam were Yabao¡¯s strongest moves. If Paraleo could still stand after that¡­ all she could say was: Respect. Flames continued to fall. The audience was stunned into silence, unable to believe their eyes. Even spectators from Yuhua District doubted their own vision. A General-tier beast, the only one in the national championship, was getting crushed? No intense exchanges, no dramatic comebacks, just pure punishment? A General-tier beast! ¡°I don¡¯t get it. I really don¡¯t get it. Can someone explain? Why is Paraleo just lying there? Did Blazing Star Canine¡¯s Flame Charge immobilize it from the start?¡± ¡°Use your brain! That¡¯s a General-tier beast, for god¡¯s sake. No way it¡¯s that weak.¡± ¡°Then why isn¡¯t it moving? I get that avoiding the meteor rain was impossible, but why didn¡¯t it dodge the Hyper Beam? There¡¯s no way its reflexes are that slow.¡± ¡°Could it still be the Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s curse?¡± ¡°No way. What kind of curse makes a General-tier beast this powerless?¡± ¡°No idea. We¡¯ll have to wait for the replay and commentary.¡± ¡°¡­Qiao Sang won, right?¡± A hush fell over the mid-air seating area. The current situation made it impossible for them to insist that Tang Yi could still win. Meanwhile, the Yuhua District audience''s eyes lit up, breathing rapidly, faces flushed with excitement. Paraleo lay still on the ground, charred and battered. Tang Yi, recovering from his pain, stared at the unmoving Paraleo, breath hitching. It had evolved¡­ He knew about the pain-sharing of bonded evolution. He had prepared for it. But why couldn¡¯t he endure it? If only he had held on, issued a command in time, Paraleo wouldn¡¯t be in this state¡­ This was his fault¡­ A lump formed in Tang Yi¡¯s throat, his emotions nearly suffocating him. At the same time, those emotions manifested within Paraleo. My Beastmaster is sad. Why? Because we¡¯re losing? ¡°Pa¡­pa.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A mysterious power surged within Paleocho. The next second, despite its severe injuries, Paraleo slowly stood up. Qiao Sang: !!! Tang Yi: !!! The entire arena was shocked! ¡°Yap!¡± Ya Bao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as he watched his opponent rise. Damn! Paraleo was still standing after all that?! No choice. Finish it off now! Qiao Sang took a deep breath and commanded, ¡°Flame Charge!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao roared, flames bursting around him, limbs tensing for the attack. But just as je was about to strike, he couldn¡¯t move. Yabao blinked, teary-eyed, and looked at his Beastmaster. Qiao Sang: !!! Too excited! She forgot about the post-move cooldown! But just a few seconds, as long as they attacked before Paraleo countered! Two seconds. Just wait two more seconds! ¡°Get ready!¡± Qiao Sang shouted. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s flames roared, waiting for the cooldown to end. Sensing Paraleo¡¯s state, Tang Yi¡¯s spirit reignited. He raised his hand and shouted: ¡°Destructive Light Beam!¡± At that moment, he and Paraleo were in perfect sync. This was their only chance! Paraleo, still battered, poured all its energy into one final attack. A dazzling white light bloomed in its throat. Yabao, mid-air, felt an unprecedented sense of danger. Paralei¡¯s mouth opened wider... But suddenly, a strange purple energy erupted inside Paraleo. ¡°Pa¡­¡± Its expression froze. In the next second, its energy vanished, its body weakening. From an aerial view, the Destructive Light Beam fizzled out, its energy completely drained. Paraleo shrunk down, reverting to its original form, Paralulu! A fiery blur crashed into it. Boom! Paralulu was sent flying, motionless. ¡°Yap!¡± The arena fell into a terrifying silence. ¡°Qu!¡± In that eerie stillness, the referee¡¯s Mechanical Beast blew the whistle. ----- ----- Chapter 487: National Championship Concludes Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The entire audience fell into a silent stillness. At first, when they saw Paraleo being attacked simultaneously by Meteor Rain and Hyper Beam, then collapsing motionless, the crowd, especially those from the Zhongkong region, wore expressions of shock and disbelief. However, just as the Zhongkong audience was bracing themselves for a devastating loss, Paraleo suddenly stood up again and unleashed Destruction Light Beam, on the immobilized Blazing Star Canine. God knows how excited they were at that moment. But just when everyone thought the battle was about to turn around, Paraleo suddenly reverted to Paralulu! And with a single Flame Charge from the revived Blazing Star Canine, the match was over! The emotional rollercoaster was as intense as a high-speed rollercoaster ride, ups and downs to the extreme. Meanwhile, the Yuhua region¡¯s audience was just as on edge, except their emotions had been the complete opposite of the Zhongkong audience. "The champion of the 336th National Campus Beast Mastering League, Senior Division, has just been decided! Let us congratulate the contestant from the Yuhua region, Qiao Sang!" The host¡¯s voice rang out. The crowd snapped out of their daze, and the silence shattered as an unprecedented wave of cheers erupted. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aside from the Zhongkong audience, everyone else jumped to their feet, waving their arms and screaming. Spotlights and all cameras on the field immediately focused on the young girl and the Blazing Star Canine raising its head at a 45-degree angle. The champion had been crowned! "Qiao Sang! Ahhh! Qiao Sang!" "Ahhh! Qiao Sang! I knew you¡¯d be the champion!" "Blazing Star Canine! Blazing Star Canine" "Oh my god! Champion! Our Yuhua region won the championship!" "Who cares about a General-level beast? It still got crushed by Qiao Sang!" "It''s been years since we¡¯ve felt this proud! I¡¯ve had enough of the Zhongkong folks acting superior! Well done, Qiao Sang!" "I''m thrilled Qiao Sang won, but I don¡¯t get it. Why did Paraleo not perform at a General-level against Blazing Star Canine? It was so powerful when it fought Ghost Ring Phantom." "I don''t get it either, but who cares? We¡¯ll watch the analysis later. Right now, let¡¯s just celebrate!" "True! Qiao Sang is amazing!" "Qiao Sang won! Qiao Sang won!" The students from Shengshui Highschool jumped up, screaming with excitement. Since the National Campus Beast Mastering League began, Shengshui Highschool had never even had a single student qualify for nationals. Now, not only had someone made it, but they had directly won the championship in the Senior Division! It was well known that out of the Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior divisions, the Senior division''s championship held the most prestige. It wasn¡¯t that the Freshman and Sophomore champions weren¡¯t impressive, but the Senior division was the final year of high school, the last chance for all competitors. ???????????¨¨? Every school team member would train relentlessly in this year, dedicating their entire being to it, just like ordinary seniors preparing for college entrance exams. And in this fiercely competitive environment, Qiao Sang, who was two years younger than her opponents, emerged victorious. And Qiao Sang was from their Shengshui Highschool! "Ah! We won! We won!" Sun Boyi, usually calm and collected, was so overwhelmed that he hugged Liu Yao in excitement. "Qiao Sang won! We won!" Liu Yao smiled and let Sun Boyi hug him. --- Front Row of the Spectator Stands, Leadership Section "Minister Zhou, congratulations, congratulations!" Several regional ministers stood up and turned toward Minister Zhou. "Hahaha!" Minister Zhou grinned from ear to ear. "Tonight, dinner is on me! Whatever you want to eat, just name it!" "Minister Zhou." Minister Yan suddenly spoke up, "The college entrance exams are coming up soon. Don¡¯t forget to have Qiao Sang¡¯s teachers help her catch up on her studies." At this, Minister Lan and Minister Yang from the Zhidia region exchanged a brief glance. "Of course, I won¡¯t forget!" Minister Zhou, still immersed in excitement, immediately agreed. Amidst the cheers, the host¡¯s voice echoed again: "The awards ceremony will take place in 20 minutes! Please wait patiently!" The National Campus Beast Mastering League''s award ceremony traditionally had both the beast tamers and their beasts on stage. However, since some beasts suffered severe injuries during battles, 20 minutes were allotted for treatment and preparation. Though this time wasn¡¯t enough for a full recovery, it was sufficient to ensure they could stand on stage for the ceremony. --- "Xun xun?" Under Lubao''s Healing Light, Little Treasure fully recovered. He blinked twice, then suddenly seemed to realize something and eagerly called out to his beast tamer. Did we win? "Yap yap!" Yabao puffed up his chest beside him. Of course! Qiao Sang smiled. "We won." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure looked at Yabao in awe. Big brother is truly incredible! He even defeated such a strong opponent! "Yap yap!" Yabao puffed up his chest even more. Lubao listened to their conversation, deep in thought. Was the opponent really that strong? Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure, her face full of warmth. "Winning was mainly thanks to you. If it weren¡¯t for your special trait and curse, Yabao wouldn¡¯t have won so easily." "Yap¡­" Yabao froze for a moment. So, it was actually thanks to his little brother¡¯s abilities? No wonder the opponent''s performance seemed off. "Xun?" Little Treasure was also momentarily stunned, his expression reading, Really? "Of course." Qiao Sang picked up Little Treasure. "You¡¯ll see when you watch the replay later. But for now, we need to go accept our award." --- Under the Night Sky. Fireworks exploded in brilliant colors, overlapping and blooming. The falling sparks formed images of the various beasts that had appeared in the national tournament. As the fireworks display ended, small flying-type beasts in matching holographic uniforms took to the sky. Constantly shifting formations, they recreated the silhouettes of different beasts, their uniforms changing colors as they moved, painting the night sky in dazzling hues. The entire venue cheered in excitement. Though the Zhongkong region hadn¡¯t won the championship, both the runner-up and third place, Tang Yi and Zhao Chuanyu, were from Zhongkong. With two representatives on the podium, their supporters still had something to celebrate. In the midst of this electrifying atmosphere, Qiao Sang and her beasts stood in the center of the podium. Minister Yan placed the gold medal around Qiao Sang¡¯s neck and handed her a gold trophy wrapped by a dragon-type beast and a white cylindrical crystal tied with a string. "Congratulations on winning the championship." Minister Yan smiled. Qiao Sang returned the smile. "Thank you." Then, grinning widely, she raised the trophy high toward the crowd. Countless cameras zoomed in on her. As Qiao Sang reveled in the euphoria of her victory, Minister Yan¡¯s voice suddenly rang out again: "Good luck with the college entrance exam." Qiao Sang: ??? --- Moting Hotel. The moment Qiao Sang entered her room, she flopped onto the bed in a starfish position. The competition was finally over. She was exhausted. From the start of the National Campus Beast Mastering League, Qiao Sang had never allowed herself to relax. Maybe it was because everything had finally concluded, and the dust had settled, but despite only having fought one match today, fatigue crashed over her like a tidal wave. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep. "Xun." Little Treasure pouted as he watched his beast tamer sleep. What about watching the replay? ----- ----- Chapter 488: Video Analysis Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- When Qiao Sang woke up, dawn had just broken, and the room was still dim. She turned her head and saw Little Treasure holding a phone in one paw while covering his mouth with the other, stifling laughter. The phone screen cast a glow on his face, and faint sounds came from the device, he was watching a video. "What are you watching that''s so funny?" Qiao Sang sat up and asked. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xun Xun~" Seeing his Beastmaster awake, Little Treasure''s eyes lit up. He eagerly brought the phone over and signaled excitedly, urging her to watch. Thoughtfully, he even dragged the video progress bar back to the beginning. Qiao Sang glanced at the screen. The video showed Little Treasure''s eyes glowing purple as he was struck by lightning from Paraleo. At this moment, the camera zoomed in on Little Treasure''s glowing purple eyes. The content creator¡¯s voice narrated: "Here! Right here! Misfortune Curse! Ghost Ring Phantom! The true culprit behind Paraleo''s defeat!" The video continued, now showing the battle between Paraleo''s and Yabao. "Look at this, everyone! When Tang Yi called out ''Thunderbolt,'' Paraleo''s eyes sharpened, clearly entering combat mode. But when Blazing Star Canine attacked, it didn¡¯t move at all!" "Why? Because it was stunned! Why was it stunned? Because it couldn¡¯t release Thunderbolt!" "Although we didn''t get an interview with Qiao Sang, based on what Tang Yi and Paralulu said, we can reasonably infer that the Ghost Ring Phantom has the Accursed Body trait!" "Accursed Body causes a pet hit by an attack to have a 30% chance of disabling the opponent¡¯s last-used move!" "The higher the Curse Body level, the greater the chance of this effect triggering." "Earlier, Paraleo used Thunderbolt to attack Ghost Ring Phantom. So when it fought Blazing Star Canine, it couldn¡¯t use Thunderbolt anymore." "Now, look at this!" The footage transitioned to the moment Paraleo was simultaneously struck by Meteor Rain and Hyper Beam. "In Tang Yi¡¯s interview, he mentioned that Paraleo couldn¡¯t move at all at this moment, which is why it couldn¡¯t dodge Hyper Beam and had to take the hit head-on." "Why couldn¡¯t it move? Well, we have to talk about that Ghost Ring Phantom again." "That''s right! It¡¯s back!" "We can reasonably guess that Ghost Ring Phantom also has the Cursed Body trait!" "Cursed Body causes an opponent who attacks the pet to have a 30% chance of becoming paralyzed for a certain period!" "As the Cursed Body level increases, the chance of being paralyze increases, and the duration extends." The video continued to the scene where Paraleo struggled to stand and unleashed Destruction Light Beam. The content creator¡¯s voice dramatically heightened: "This is the most critical moment!" "At this point, everyone probably thought Paraleo was making a comeback!" "I felt the same way! Watching the livestream at home, I couldn''t help but scream, my neighbor¡¯s aunt thought something happened to me and nearly called the police." ??????¨®??? "Ahem, back to the point." By now, the footage showed Paraleo shrinking. "I''m sure you''ve guessed it by now: Yes, it''s Ghost Ring Phantom AGAIN!" "This time, it¡¯s because its Misfortune Curse activated! You don¡¯t need to ask me how I know, considering the interviews with Tang Yi and Paralulu, plus the fact that Paraleo transformed back at such a critical moment, what else could it be but Misfortune Curse?!" "I even suspect that Paraleo got hit by both Cursed Body and Accursed Body because of Misfortune Curse!" "Otherwise, how could it be this unlucky?" "From the start of the fight with Blazing Star Canine, it couldn¡¯t use Thunderbolt, then it got paralyzed on the ground, and just when it survived an Ultimate-tier Meteor Rain and Hyper Beam, it suddenly turned back into Paralulu at the most crucial moment!" At this moment, the video replayed the scene of Little Treasure glowing purple as he was struck by lightning from Paraleo. The content creator summed up: "So from the very beginning, this was a calculated scheme, Qiao Sang deliberately let Ghost Ring Phantom get hit!" (T/n: This feels like watching a hype video to boost your ego????) "Ghost Ring Phantom was actually the key to winning this match!" "Xun Xun!" The video ended, and Little Treasure slicked back the fur on his forehead, wearing an expression of I¡¯m amazing! Qiao Sang nearly laughed out loud at his smug look. "I told you, this win was mostly thanks to your traits and curses." "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure grinned and happily floated around the room. Qiao Sang picked up her phone and noticed the video had hit #5 on the trending list. No wonder Little Treasure saw it¡­ She scrolled through the comments: "Cursed Body + Accursed Body + Misfortune Curse¡­ I can only say, Ghost Ring Phantom is insane!" "Damn, I was wondering why a General-rank Pet was just standing there getting beaten, it turns out it couldn¡¯t move! That¡¯s tragic!" "Seriously, with these two traits and one skill combined, who would dare fight this thing?" "I won¡¯t lie, Ghost-type pets are terrifying, but their abilities are undeniably strong. Even if you manage to defeat them, they still make your life miserable." "The more I analyze this, the scarier Qiao Sang seems¡­" So many talented people online¡­ They figured out Little Treasure''s traits so quickly. Qiao Sang thought to herself. After browsing the comments for a while, she opened her messaging app to check her notifications. She had 99+ unread messages, mostly congratulating her on winning the championship. She skimmed through them until her gaze stopped on one particular message: [Yu Ke: When do you have time? Can we finally meet now? (humble.jpg)] Yu Ke¡­ She had almost forgotten about this investor. Her flight back to Yuhua District was booked for tonight¡­ After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang replied: [10 AM today at the Moting Hotel.] Almost instantly, her phone vibrated. [Yu Ke: Great!] This girl¡¯s still a college freshman, right? Why is she up so early¡­? Qiao Sang checked the time: 6:11 AM. She couldn''t help but mentally complain. An hour later, Yabao woke up. After a simple wash-up, Qiao Sang carried the lightly-shrunk Yabao to the hotel¡¯s top-floor restaurant. She had just picked up some soup dumplings, fruit, and milk from the buffet when she saw the vice principal walking over with a middle-aged man whose cheeks sagged slightly from excess weight. "Qiao Sang, perfect timing, I was just about to come find you." Liu Yao smiled. "Let me introduce you, this is Minister Zhou from the Yuhua District." ----- ----- Chapter 489: Just A University Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- A minister, a big shot... Qiao Sang smiled and greeted him: "Hello, Minister Zhou." "I watched the entire national championship from the audience." Minister Zhou said, unable to hide his smile. "A 15-year-old winning the high school senior division championship, this is the first time in the history of the National Campus Beast Mastering League! You¡¯ve really brought honor to our Yuhua region." Hearing the praise, Qiao Sang was about to respond modestly when Liu Yao spoke up: "Let''s not just stand here. Let''s find a seat and talk while we eat." Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang''s first instinct was to refuse. Having a meal with leaders? What a hassle¡­ Of course, she couldn''t say that out loud. So, she obediently followed the vice principal and Minister Zhou to a window-side table. "This is my first time seeing a Blazing Star Canine up close." Minister Zhou said, glancing at Yabao, who was drinking milk. "It looks quite imposing." "Yap." Yabao understood the compliment and gave a bark, as if to say, Good eye. After chatting for a while, Minister Zhou suddenly thought of something and turned to Liu Yao. "I recall that you''re in charge of the research project on the latest evolution of Fire Fang Dogs, right?" Since Minister Zhou oversaw education, he wasn¡¯t particularly familiar with research matters. He only knew about it because Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beast happened to be a Blazing Star Canine, and Liu Yao was her school¡¯s vice principal. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Yao nodded. "Yes, that''s me." Minister Zhou spoke earnestly: "This kind of research takes time. Qiao Sang will be preparing for the college entrance exams soon. It¡¯s best if she can focus on her studies for now. The research can wait." Qiao Sang was utterly confused. College entrance exams? Who¡¯s taking the college entrance exams?! Liu Yao replied solemnly, "I understand. Our research is still stuck at the Flame Hound stage. Even if we complete the first phase of evolution research, it¡¯ll be after the college entrance exams. Any collaboration with the Blazing Star Canine will happen later, so it won¡¯t interfere with Qiao Sang¡¯s studies." ????¦¡¦­??????? Minister Zhou took a sip of his drink. "That¡¯s good to hear." Wait, wait, wait! What are you two talking about? College entrance exams?! Qiao Sang was stunned for a while before cautiously asking: "Isn''t the college entrance exam for third-year students?" Minister Zhou looked surprised. "Your teacher didn¡¯t tell you? Minister Yan from the Zhongkong region said that as long as you didn¡¯t use Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s space movement ability to remove opponents from the battlefield and still placed in the top two of the national league, you would qualify for the interstellar exchange student program and be allowed to take the college entrance exam early, just like the third-year students." Liu Yao also looked at her. "Teacher Sun should have mentioned it to you." Memories flooded back into Qiao Sang¡¯s mind like a fast-forwarding movie reel. Her expression suddenly cleared up. She remembered! At the time, she had been excited about it. But then she had thrown herself into preparing for the national championship and completely forgotten. No wonder Minister Yan had told her good luck on the college entrance exam during the award ceremony¡­ College entrance exams¡­ So she really had to take them now?! Wait, I never agreed to this! Sure, graduating early sounds great, but there are only a few months left until the exams. With my grades, how am I supposed to get into a top university¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind was in chaos. On one hand, there was the temptation of early graduation. On the other, there was the harsh reality of her less-than-stellar academic abilities. Take the exams? Don¡¯t take the exams? Take them? Don¡¯t take them¡­? Qiao Sang took a deep breath, looked at Minister Zhou, and asked, "If my college entrance exam scores aren¡¯t good, can I retake it next year?" Minister Zhou chuckled. "Of course. You¡¯re only a first-year student, and you¡¯ve already won first place in the national campus senior-level beast mastering championship. It would be a shame if you couldn¡¯t get into your dream school just because of cultural subject scores. Naturally, you can retake it next year." Oh, so I can retake it if I fail? That solves the problem. Qiao Sang felt relieved. Minister Zhou then asked, "Have you thought about which university you want to apply to?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "No." She had been too focused on the championship to think about anything else. Minister Zhou¡¯s eyes lit up. He opened his briefcase and pulled out several documents, placing them in front of Qiao Sang. "These are introductions to some of Yuhua¡¯s top universities, along with past special admission test subjects. They might help you choose." Whoa, they think this highly of me? They''re showing me top university materials right away¡­ Qiao Sang quickly accepted them. "Thank you, Minister Zhou." Top universities, the institutions at the pinnacle of Dragon''s Nation education system, were reserved for the nation¡¯s best students. Qiao Sang¡¯s championship win had qualified her to take the D-rank beast-tamer exam. Passing that would allow her to apply for special admission to top universities. But even in the special admissions process, her competitors would be students who had at least won first place in their province. Compared to her national championship title, that didn¡¯t seem too intimidating. However, the number of special admission slots was limited. While she had no pressure regarding the beast-taming test, she still had to compete against third-year students in cultural subjects, which was definitely a challenge. Qiao Sang flipped through the documents until her gaze settled on Yuhua University¡¯s information. Seeing this, Minister Zhou nodded in understanding. "You might consider Yuhua University. They have a separate, easier cultural test for special admissions. If you pass, you won¡¯t need to take the college entrance exam." "Of course, their beast-taming test is much harder, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be a problem for you." No college entrance exams¡­ This school sounds great¡­ Qiao Sang was tempted. Minister Zhou continued to chat, giving overviews of several well-known universities in Yuhua. After he left, Liu Yao, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke. "I suggest you aim for one of the top universities in Zhongkong or Xingdao University in Chongdao." Qiao Sang hesitated. "Wouldn¡¯t it be even harder to get into a top school outside Yuhua?" Since each region had different beast species, varying education levels, and distinct exam formats, every region set its own entrance exam. The best universities in Zhongkong and Chongdao were far more competitive than those in Yuhua. Liu Yao looked at her and asked, "Are you planning to stay in Yuhua forever?" Qiao Sang immediately answered, "Of course not." "Then you should go to a better university. Yuhua¡¯s schools are good, but they aren¡¯t even ranked in the national top ten." Liu Yao spoke seriously: "Your beast-taming talent is the greatest I¡¯ve ever seen. You deserve a better future. If you don¡¯t aim for the absolute best universities, it would be a waste of your potential." "I have no doubt you¡¯ll pass any beast-taming test. As for cultural subjects¡­" Liu Yao paused before continuing, "If you don¡¯t pass this year, you can retake it next year. If you don¡¯t pass next year, you can try again the year after. You have three chances at the college entrance exam. Since you want to explore a wider world, why not set your sights higher?" Qiao Sang¡¯s spirit soared. That¡¯s right! My goal is to compete in the Interstellar Cup. A mere university, why wouldn¡¯t I dare to aim higher?! ----- ----- Chapter 490: Ancient Guwu University Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- No one noticed that, at this moment, in the corner of the restaurant sat a woman dressed in a black wool coat, wearing sunglasses that obscured her face. Seated diagonally across from her was a middle-aged man with a gloomy demeanor. It was as if the two suddenly became aware of something, they exchanged glances and momentarily froze. Then, as if in tacit understanding, they lowered their heads and pretended not to recognize each other. Minister Yang from the Zhidiya region is here¡­ Could his purpose be the same as mine? While Minister Lan was deep in thought, she caught sight of a young girl standing up in the distance. A flicker of realization flashed through her mind, leaving her no time to consider further. She lightly tapped her right index finger twice on the table. The white flower-shaped earring on her right ear instantly transformed into a droplet of water, falling to the ground and silently following behind the girl. --- Restaurant Restroom, Ladies'' Room. The admission standards for top universities¡¯ special recruitments changed every year, but since her specialty was beast combat, the test would likely revolve around battles. That shouldn¡¯t be a big problem¡­ For now, the priority was to pass the D-rank Beast Master exam first, which also didn¡¯t seem too difficult¡­ The biggest problem was the cultural studies score. She wasn¡¯t sure if winning this championship would lower the top universities¡¯ cultural requirements for the top ten ranked students¡­ As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Qiao Sang reached the sink and placed her hands under the faucet. "Splash~" The water didn¡¯t scatter upon contact with her hands but instead clumped together like jelly. What the hell¡­ Qiao Sang instinctively shook her hand. The milky-white jelly fell onto the sink. Something unexpected happened. In the center of the jelly, a blue eye suddenly opened. Then, in an instant, it expanded, transforming into a pet beast about 30 centimeters in size, entirely milky white, with a soft and bouncy body. ???????£Â?? So it¡¯s a pet beast¡­ Having witnessed all sorts of bizarre pet beasts in different regions over the past few months, Qiao Sang remained unfazed. She asked, "Are you lost?" "Guo Guo." The milky-white pet beast shook its head, then opened its mouth and reached inside with its paw, rummaging around. Ew, that¡¯s disgusting¡­ Qiao Sang grimaced. The next second, she was stunned. Because the pet beast pulled out a transparent document folder containing white sheets of paper from its mouth. "Guo Guo." The milky-white pet beast handed over the transparent folder. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She stared at the water-stained folder in silence for a few seconds before decisively turning to leave. "Guo Guo!" The milky-white pet beast panicked and quickly blocked her path, letting out a cry. Qiao Sang had no choice but to stop. She asked, "Is this for me?" "Guo Guo!" The pet beast nodded. "Do you know me?" Qiao Sang asked again. "Guo Guo!" The pet beast nodded again. Just then, a very familiar mechanical voice sounded: "Guo Didi, a high-level water-type pet beast from the Ancient Guwu region. It can solidify and liquefy into various shapes. Despite its soft appearance, it is extremely stubborn and will not give up until it achieves its goal." Qiao Sang turned her head in silence. Sure enough, she spotted Little Treasure holding a pet beast identification device. "Xun~" Sensing his master¡¯s gaze, Little Treasure grinned sheepishly and vanished from sight. Qiao Sang:n¡­ "Guo Guo!" At that moment, Guo Didi pushed the transparent document folder forward again. Qiao Sang lowered her gaze and stared at the folder for two seconds before finally reaching out to take it. Through the transparent cover, she could clearly see the title on the topmost document: [Ancient Guwu University Special Recruitment Introduction] Isn¡¯t this one of the top universities in the Ancient Guwu region¡­? Qiao Sang was briefly stunned. She looked ahead and realized that Guo Didi had already disappeared. Who sent this to me¡­? Qiao Sang wondered, then opened the folder and scanned through the pages. --- [1. Enrollment Programs] Beast Combat [2. Application Requirements] Students eligible for special recruitment assessments as per the Ministry of Education¡¯s regulations: 1. Possess a D-rank Beast Trainer certification badge and have won first place in a provincial-level competition during high school. 2. Possess a D-rank Beast Trainer certification badge and have ranked in the top eight in a regional-level competition during high school. 3. Possess a D-rank Beast Trainer certification badge and have ranked in the top thirty in a national-level competition during high school. [3. Admission Plan] Enrollment: 6 students, selected based on merit. [4. Application Process] Applicants must register online and complete the application form. All competition achievements must be documented with scanned or photographed proof. [5. Selection Process] 1. Preliminary Review Applications submitted within the designated period will be reviewed. Applicants who fail the review will not be allowed to participate in the test. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 2. Testing Tests include pet beast energy assessment, 2V2 battle, double-beast battle, and skill application tests. Tests will be fully recorded per education department regulations. 3. Final Evaluation Candidates will be selected based on total scores from preliminary review, energy assessment (50 points), 2V2 battle (150 points), double-beast battle (150 points), and skill application test (100 points). Final admission will be granted to candidates who score high enough and achieve at least 50% of the second-tier university entrance exam cutoff. [6. Special Clause] Candidates who have won first place in a national-level competition and own an Ice Xilu may submit proof, and they will be directly admitted! --- Direct admission¡­? Qiao Sang''s eyes widened as she read the last line. National first place, owning an Ice Xilu, that¡¯s me! If she applied to Ancient Guwu University, she wouldn''t have to take any tests or even the entrance exam?! Qiao Sang¡¯s heart pounded wildly. She quickly flipped through the remaining documents. The Ancient Guwu region had three top-tier universities: Ancient Mist University Haicheng University Mayuan University All three had special recruitment programs, and all included the same direct admission clause for national champions with an Ice Xilu. To be honest, Qiao Sang was tempted. These were top universities, the best of the best! Among them, Ancient Guwu University ranked 9th nationwide among all elite institutions! Just apply, and I get in directly¡­ How could she not be moved by such an offer? Qiao Sang took a deep breath to calm herself. The special clause was clearly tailored for her. Someone had gone out of their way to deliver this to her through Guo Didi. Ancient Guwu region is really¡­ so thoughtful! In that moment, her impression of Ancient Guwu soared, it almost felt like a second home. Just as she was basking in her emotions, the restroom lights suddenly went out. "Bang!" The door slammed shut. What the hell¡­ Qiao Sang was startled and immediately became alert. Just as she was about to rush forward and open the door, a ghostly green pet beast, resembling a will-o¡¯-the-wisp, appeared, holding a transparent document folder containing white papers. Qiao Sang instinctively checked her hand, her own folder was still there. "Nuo Nuo." The ghostly pet beast extended the folder toward her. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "For me?" She asked cautiously. "Nuo Nuo." The pet beast nodded. [Promise Spirit, a high-level ghost-type pet beast from Zhidiya region. Never make promises in its presence, if you fail to keep them, terrible things may happen.] Another mechanical voice rang out. Qiao Sang turned and, unsurprisingly, saw Little Treasure again. This time, Little Treasure didn¡¯t hide but eyed the ghostly pet beast warily. "Nuo Nuo." The Promise Spirit ignored the scrutiny and simply extended the folder again. You could have just handed it over in the first place instead of scaring me¡­ Qiao Sang muttered internally and politely accepted it. "Nuo Nuo." The Promise Spirit smiled before vanishing. The next second, the lights turned back on, and the door unlocked. ----- ----- Chapter 491: Target Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- 9:30 AM Moting Hotel, first-floor lobby. Qiao Sang sat on a reception sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, reviewing the documents that the Promise Spirit had given her earlier. Just like the ones provided by Guo Didi, these documents contained information about special admissions to top-tier universities. However, Promise Spirit''s materials focused on the Zhidia region. Zhidia University ranked seventh among all top-tier universities in the nation. Qiao Sang picked out the highest-ranked universities in the Zhidia region, Zhidia University and Ancient Guwu University, and placed their special admission guidelines side by side for comparison. Both were among the nation''s top ten universities, and their special admissions policies were largely similar. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The main differences lay in the registration and assessment dates, as well as the final test component. In the Guwu region, the test was a Skill Application Assessment with a maximum score of 100. In the Zhidia region, it was a Mystic Realm Survival Simulation with a maximum score of 200. And then, there was one more important detail... Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze shifted downward. [Special Conditions] [Candidates who place first in the national competition and own an advanced ghost-type pet beast may undergo an on-site test of their pet''s energy value. If the ghost-type pet¡¯s energy reaches 250,000, the admission score requirement will be reduced by 50 points.] The energy limit for an advanced pet beast was 500,000. Little Treasure had only recently evolved, and his energy value had not been measured yet. With four months until the Zhidia University entrance exam, Qiao Sang had no shortage of money. If she focused solely on resource investment, she should be able to raise Little Treasure''s energy value to 250,000 within that time. A 50-point reduction from the original admission requirement... That meant that for the same subject category, the second-tier university cutoff score could drop another 50 points. What was last year''s second-tier cutoff score for the Zhidia region again...? Just as Qiao Sang was about to take out her phone to look it up, an excited but suppressed voice suddenly spoke beside her: ¡°Qiao Sang! You¡¯re here so early! I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long, did I?¡± Qiao Sang looked up and saw a girl standing in front of her. Though she looked haggard, her delicate features were still evident. It took Qiao Sang a moment to match the heavily dark-circled, bloodshot-eyed girl before her to the well-groomed Yu Ke she had previously sat beside. ¡°I just sat down not long ago.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°We agreed on ten o¡¯clock. You¡¯re early too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Yu Ke let out a sigh of relief and sat across from Qiao Sang. Noticing Yu Ke¡¯s dark circles, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well last night?¡± You won the championship. How could I possibly sleep? Yu Ke suppressed her excitement and said, ¡°I watched your match yesterday and got too excited. I was so hyped that I couldn¡¯t sleep. But it¡¯s fine, I once went three days without sleep in my senior year of high school. One night is nothing.¡± ???????????????? Heaven knew how much her adrenaline had surged yesterday. Champion! The national campus Beast Mastering League champion for senior students! And this wasn¡¯t just any champion, it was a 15-year-old, with three advanced pet beasts, who dominated the entire senior division, even defeating advanced dragon-type pet beasts and general-rank pet beasts! The weight of this championship title completely crushed all previous years¡¯ champions! And to think, she had actually managed to befriend such a monstrous genius! Yu Ke sat up straight, focusing all her energy. She dared not let her guard down. She knew very well that if she hadn¡¯t been lucky enough to meet Qiao Sang at that auction, there was no way she would have had the chance to invest in someone like her. Three days without sleep¡­ That¡¯s intense. Qiao Sang marveled internally. Yu Ke¡¯s gaze burned with determination. She skipped further pleasantries and got straight to the point: ¡°Whatever you need me to do, I can do it!¡± Someone like Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t carve out time to meet a mere acquaintance without reason. Since she was drawn in by Yu Ke¡¯s investment proposal, Yu Ke had to prove her value as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once Qiao Sang returned to Yuhua, their contact would be limited to phone calls. She couldn¡¯t rely on verbal promises alone to leave a lasting impression on Qiao Sang. If she failed to establish a mutually beneficial relationship in this conversation, how would she ever secure this golden opportunity? Yu Ke fixed her gaze on Qiao Sang, waiting for her answer. Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before responding seriously: ¡°I need to make money.¡± --- 6:40 PM A plane ascended into the stratosphere. In first class, a flight attendant served a meal. As Qiao Sang ate, she read a book. The cover displayed six bold characters: "High School Knowledge Guide." A small stack of textbooks sat on the stand in front of her, all high school-level materials. She had made a special trip to a bookstore before heading to the airport just to buy them. The flight attendant glanced at the scene, thinking, These kids nowadays¡­ just how competitive do they want to be? After the flight attendant left, Liu Yao couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Maybe eat first and read later?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No way. The college entrance exam isn¡¯t far off, I can¡¯t waste any time.¡± Are you seriously aiming to get into a top-ranked university in your first year¡­? Liu Yao¡¯s expression turned complicated. In the end, he decided against saying anything. Having motivation to study was a good thing, no need to kill her enthusiasm with harsh realities. Qiao Sang focused on her book. After her conversation with Yu Ke that morning, she had thought things through. Yu Ke¡¯s family was well-established in Zhongkong. A quick online search confirmed their prominence. Though young, Yu Ke had the family backing to conduct legitimate business. Money begets money. With the right connections and a ten-month investment period, Yu Ke had a high chance of making a profit. If she really did make money for Qiao Sang, then Zhongkong would become a necessary part of her future plans. If that was the case, aiming for Zhongkong¡¯s top universities was the most logical choice. Among the nation''s top ten universities, Zhongkong University (ranked #1), Imperial Capital University (ranked #3), and Dragon Ivy University (ranked #6) were all located in Zhongkong. Each had its own unique admission tests, but all enforced a cap on the number of schools a student could apply to. The limit was generally five universities. She could focus on these three top-tier universities in Zhongkong. Even if she failed, Ancient Guwu University could be her backup. As for Zhidia University, she decided to rule it out this year, traveling there for the test would disrupt her study schedule. With only a few months left before the college entrance exam, it was wiser to focus all her energy on Zhongkong¡¯s universities. This year¡¯s special admissions guidelines for Zhongkong¡¯s universities had yet to be published, but they were unlikely to differ much from last year¡¯s. Last year, the cultural requirement for special admissions was 65% of the second-tier university cutoff score. The 2024 Zhongkong second-tier cutoff was 495. That meant 322 points would have been enough for admission. The number would likely remain around the same this year. Honestly, getting into a top-10 university with just 322 points sounded like a dream. But the real challenge lay in the admissions test itself. Academically, 322 points was ridiculously hard for someone like Qiao Sang, a self-proclaimed academic underachiever still in her first year of high school. Catching up on all of high school in just a few months was practically impossible, so she had to make every second count. --- The next morning. At dawn, the plane landed. ----- T/n: Sorry I can''t update yesterday, guys. My body decided I need to stop eating cold food in such a cold day and gave me a fever. But don''t worry, I''m well enough to update! Chapter 492: Chaosu Star Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- As the airplane doors opened, Qiao Sang, wrapped in a down jacket, stepped out with dark circles under her eyes and an unsteady gait. She took a deep breath of the fresh, chilly air, finally feeling a bit more awake. Staying up all night really isn¡¯t for humans¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. Liu Yao followed behind her, noticing her exhausted appearance. Remembering how she had spent the entire night studying, he softened a little and said gently: "Go home and get some rest. Don¡¯t go to school today, I¡¯ll help you request a leave of absence." "Request leave? The college entrance exam is only a few months away. How can I take a day off?" Qiao Sang¡¯s weak voice carried a serious tone. "I¡¯m not the type of person who needs a break just because I missed one night of sleep." Liu Yao: ?? He was utterly stunned. So all those times she had asked him to call in sick before¡­ was that a ghost? Under Liu Yao¡¯s bewildered gaze, Qiao Sang walked down the stairs and stepped into a quiet, passenger-free area nearby. She formed a hand seal and summoned Lubao. Before Qiao Sang could even say a word, Lubao immediately understood the state she was in. Without hesitation, she cast Healing Light. Nearby passengers turned their heads, watching in curiosity. As the blue glow faded, Qiao Sang was instantly refreshed, her dark circles completely gone. Using a super-tier skill like Healing Light just because you pulled an all-nighter¡­ Liu Yao took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He quickly averted his gaze, worried that if he kept looking, his heart wouldn¡¯t be able to take it. --- Shengshui High School. At this moment, a swarm of reporters and paparazzi had gathered at the school gates. Several journalists were clustered outside the security office. "Is Qiao Sang returning today? The cheerleading team and Teacher Sun already came back yesterday afternoon, why didn¡¯t she return with them?" "Is her homeroom teacher at school? Can we interview him?" "The chairman of Tengcheng Group has expressed willingness to donate five million yuan to your school. Have you received any official notice?" "Even during holidays, the school team continues their training. With winter break approaching, will Qiao Sang still be attending training sessions?" "Rumors say Qiao Sang has secured a spot as an interstellar exchange student. Which planet and school will she be going to?" What kind of questions are these? How would I know? The security guard in the booth wisely chose to remain silent. The growing crowd of onlookers included office workers passing by and elderly residents on their way to buy groceries. A confused passerby asked, "What¡¯s going on? Why are there so many reporters?" A helpful elderly woman explained, "I heard a student from Shengshui High School won a national championship." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A championship?" The passerby blinked. "What kind of championship is important enough to attract this many reporters?" "The National Campus Beast Mastering League Championship." The elderly woman replied. "Ohhh, beast-taming. That makes sense." The passerby nodded in understanding. Of course. Other than a championship related to beast-taming, what other kind of title could warrant this level of media attention? --- Across the street, inside a taxi, Qiao Sang peeked out the window at the crowded school gate. Her heart trembled slightly This kind of scene¡­ if she walked in now, wouldn¡¯t she be torn apart? "Aren¡¯t you two getting out?" The driver, who had already received his fare, asked. "Hold on, just a moment." Liu Yao responded, then began forming a hand seal. Qiao Sang immediately understood his intent, he wanted to summon Teacher Xian. This isn¡¯t something a teacher should handle¡­ Qiao Sang quickly stopped him. "No need. I¡¯ve got this." She turned and called softly into the air, "Little Treasure." "Xun~" Liu Yao barely had time to react before everything went dark. Liu Yao: !!! Taxi driver: !!! Little Treasure was no longer the same as before. After rigorous training, he had mastered precision teleportation. When Qiao Sang''s vision cleared, she found herself standing near the school¡¯s main building, the closest location to the gate. Around her were students in school uniforms, each holding what looked like party poppers. They were all focused on the gate, chatting excitedly. "Is God Qiao really coming? She¡¯s a day student, and she just got off a flight." "Of course she¡¯s coming! Would the school have let us skip morning self-study just to prepare this surprise otherwise?" "Good point. But the reporters outside¡­ do you think they¡¯ll block her way?" "That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Her Ghost Ring Phantom has spatial movement abilities. Besides, the vice principal is with her." "Xun~" Little Treasure nodded, confirming their guesses. Suddenly, everything fell silent. A voice rang out, "AH! It¡¯s God Qiao! And her Ghost Ring Phantom!" The next second, all eyes turned toward her. Then, chaos erupted. The students cheered as if they had spotted their biggest idol. Qiao Sang barely had time to react before she was lifted into the air. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Party poppers went off, showering colorful streamers and confetti everywhere. "GOD SHEN! GOD SHEN!" "GOD QIAO! GOD QIAO!" The entire campus of Shengshui High School was filled with electrifying excitement. Qiao Sang looked up at the sky, then at the youthful, energetic faces surrounding her. Her heartbeat quickened, and a strange warmth surged in her chest. R¨¢?£Ï?¦¥? This was a kind of youth she had never experienced in her past life. --- Meanwhile, on the other side¡­ Liu Yao was barely keeping himself together, his large belly squished by the crowd. "Stop pushing! Everyone, stop pushing!" He yelled. "Where are the teachers? The principal? Someone needs to control this situation!" --- An hour later, at the Principal¡¯s Office. "The Yuhua Daily, Yuhua TV, and Yuhua Beast-Taming News all want to interview you. Do you want to meet with them?" Wang Weidou asked Many media outlets wanted interviews, but these three were the most authoritative in the Yuhua region. "No." Qiao Sang declined without hesitation. Before, she might have considered accepting interviews to promote her family¡¯s beast-taming shop. But after seeing the world beyond her home, she understood just how expensive nurturing beast companions could be. Relying solely on the shop¡¯s income wasn¡¯t a long-term solution. Her priority now was the college entrance exam, getting into a top-tier school in Zhongkong District and establishing herself there was the real path forward. "Got it. I¡¯ll turn them down for you." Wang Weidou agreed immediately. What¡¯s a few prestigious news stations compared to his school¡¯s star player? There was no way he would force her to do something she didn¡¯t want. "By the way." He continued, "The interstellar exchange program results are out. Your name is on the list." Saying this, he handed her a form and a pen. Qiao Sang took the pen, unscrewing the cap while scanning the form. Then she froze. "Chaosu Star?" Chapter 494: Just Grind It Out! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Chaosu Star?" Ye Xiangting was momentarily taken aback. Qiao Sang nodded. "Winning this championship earned me a spot as an interstellar exchange student to Chaosu Star, granted by the nation. It''s a one-year program, and I need to leave before the next semester starts. I probably won''t be home for the New Year." With less than half a month until winter break, and the break itself lasting around a month, plus the fact that traveling from Blue Star to Chaosu Star by starship took about a month, it meant she would likely have to leave as soon as this semester ended. Going to Chaosu Star as an interstellar exchange student?! Ye Xiangting stared at her daughter in shock, unable to speak for a long time. She had been in a constant state of astonishment lately. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her daughter won first place in the regional competition, all three of her pet beasts had evolved to advanced levels, she defeated an advanced dragon-type beast, she triumphed over a terrifying general-level beast, and now she had won the national campus Beastmaster League championship. Every so often, she found herself in disbelief all over again. She had thought that after experiencing so many surprises, her ability to accept shocking news had reached a new level. Clearly, she had overestimated herself. She''s going to another planet?! The entire living room fell into silence. Suddenly, Ye Xiangting asked, "Can you bring family members?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Probably not." Damn, I really want to go too¡­ Ye Xiangting sighed in disappointment. Different regions on the same planet might not be of great interest to everyone, but another planet? That was something no one could ignore. Interstellar travel had always been a romantic notion. However, getting onto a starship and traveling to another planet required extremely complicated procedures and qualifications, it wasn''t something you could just do on a whim. After a brief moment of melancholy, Ye Xiangting''s expression turned to one of pride. That¡¯s my daughter! I gave birth to her! Then, as if remembering something urgent, she quickly pulled out her phone and opened her contact list. Oh no, not calling all the relatives again¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself and asked, "Mom, who are you calling?" "I''m calling the manager of Shidu Grand Hotel." Ye Xiangting replied while scrolling through her contacts. "You won the championship, so we must celebrate properly. I booked ten tables at Shidu Grand Hotel for your winter break, but now I''ll move the reservation up to this Saturday." ????????§¦???? Oh, so it''s not about notifying the entire extended family¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief for no reason. Five minutes later, her mother sat on the sofa, saying, "Hey, Second Sister-in-law, I changed the celebration dinner to this Saturday. Are you free?" "It''s not that I''m busy, it''s Qiao Sang! She just told me she was selected by the nation to go to Chaosu Star as an interstellar exchange student. She won¡¯t even be here for the New Year. She''ll probably leave as soon as this semester ends." Ten minutes later, still on the sofa, her mother continued, "Little Sis, yes, Qiao Sang is back. What else would she be doing? Of course, she''s studying. She missed a lot of classes while competing in the national Beast mastering League." "I''m calling because I changed the dinner to this Saturday. Oh, right, Qiao Sang just told me, " Fifteen minutes later, now lying on the sofa, "Big Brother, are you busy--" Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡ª After dinner, Qiao Sang went to the largest room on the second floor. It was already fully furnished, with the same warm and cozy design. The new bedroom was much larger than her previous one, spacious enough for Yabao, Little Treasure, and Lubao to move around freely together. After briefly checking out the layout, Qiao Sang pulled out her textbooks and the study notes she had acquired from top students and began reviewing them seriously. She knew that mastering three years of high school knowledge in just a few months was extremely difficult, but she still wanted to attempt the college entrance exam in her first year. Besides wanting to enter the Central Hollow Region as soon as possible, there was another very practical reason, her high school-level Beastmaster training was no longer sufficient to help Yabao and the others progress quickly. All of her classmates'' pet beasts were only at beginner or intermediate levels. Even if she had opponents to battle daily, the experience gain was minimal. If she had to stay in high school for another two years, Yabao and the others might take a long time to evolve to the general level. Before, it was Yabao and the others working hard. Now, it¡¯s my turn. Qiao Sang flipped through her textbooks at high speed. The high school curriculum was different from her past life, almost everything was new to her. Geography, astronomy, history, Beastmasters, and pet beasts¡­ Luckily, Chinese only required memorization, and although math problems were all related to pet beasts, she no longer found it incomprehensible. As long as she memorized the basic formulas and practiced different types of problems, scoring around 322 points wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless. All I lack is time. The warm light cast a soft glow on the girl''s face, outlining her determination. Before she knew it, it was already midnight. Feeling sleepy, Qiao Sang checked the time on her phone: 12:03 AM. "Little Treasure, take me to Lubao." She said. "Xuuun~" With a soft call, the next second, Qiao Sang found herself by the pool. The villa she had purchased came with a pool, and Lubao had instantly fallen in love with it. She stayed there even at night. "Lubao, are you asleep?" Qiao Sang called. "Luuuu." Lubao poked her head out of the water. "Give me a Healing Light." Without hesitation, Lubao cast a blue glow over her. Once the glow dissipated, Qiao Sang felt fully refreshed. She turned toward Little Treasure. "Xuuuun~" One exchanged glance, and Little Treasure immediately understood. In an instant, Qiao Sang found herself back in her room. Having pet beasts is amazing¡­ She sat back at her desk and continued studying. Lack time? Just grind it out! --- For the next few days, thanks to Healing Light, Qiao Sang studied almost 24/7 without sleep. Even though her body remained fine, continuous studying did take a mental toll. However, with the college entrance exam only months away, she pushed through. In the blink of an eye, it was already Friday, the final class of the day. As the lesson wrapped up, a clear voice echoed through the broadcast system: "Qiao Sang from Class 1, Grade 10. Qiao Sang from Class 1, Grade 10. Please proceed immediately to the principal''s office. Your interstellar visa and exchange program admission letter have arrived. Please pick them up at once!" The entire school erupted into excited chatter, including the teachers. Couldn¡¯t they have just informed a teacher? Why announce it over the PA? This is embarrassing¡­ Qiao Sang set down her book and stood up to leave the classroom. --- Principal¡¯s Office. "Why did you announce it on the PA?" Liu Yao frowned. Wang Weidou took a sip of tea and replied, "You science nerds don¡¯t get it. Our school produced an interstellar exchange student! This is an honor! Of course, everyone should know, it¡¯ll motivate them to study harder." Liu Yao was about to argue when... Knock, knock. A knock came at the door. Wang Weidou¡¯s eyes lit up. Instinctively, he straightened his posture, his usual casual demeanor disappearing. "Come in!" He called. Chapter 495: The Day After Tomorrow? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to be surprised to find the vice principal there as well. Before she could greet them, Wang Weidou pushed an unopened package across the desk with a smile. ¡°Go ahead and open it.¡± Qiao Sang stepped forward and unwrapped the package. Inside, she found a temporary ID card for Chaosu Star, an interstellar passport with a Chaosu Star visa, and an admission letter from Sainan High School. The efficiency of the national administration was truly impressive, within just a few days, everything had been processed without her even needing to go in for a photo. Looking at the documents, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but be impressed. At that moment, Wang Weidou spoke warmly, ¡°The official notice has arrived. You¡¯ll need to depart the day after tomorrow. Be at school by 9 AM, someone will pick you up.¡± Qiao Sang was taken aback. ¡°The day after tomorrow? That soon?¡± Did this mean she wouldn¡¯t have to take final exams this semester? Liu Yao, standing beside them, explained, ¡°Traveling to Chaosu Star takes about a month, but that¡¯s just reaching the planet itself. You¡¯ll still have to travel from there to the school, and no one knows how long that will take. The government has its reasons for scheduling your departure early, it¡¯s always better to leave sooner.¡± Wang Weidou added, ¡°The school is fully aware of your situation. Don¡¯t worry, even if you miss your final exams, it won¡¯t affect your academic records.¡± Alright then, the day after tomorrow it is. The timing was oddly perfect, it would be right after her mother¡¯s banquet¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Just as she was about to take her leave, Liu Yao glanced sideways, prompting the ever-silent Teacher Xian to float over to Qiao Sang and hand her a sheet of paper. ¡°This contains the latest custom energy pill formulas for Blazing Star Canine, the Ghost Ring Phantom, and Ice Xilu.¡± Liu Yao said. ¡°On Chaosu Star, you can find an energy pill maker to craft them according to these recipes.¡± The vice principal had even considered this¡­ Qiao Sang was touched and took the paper. ¡°Thank you, Vice Principal.¡± Wang Weidou, still smiling, pointed to a conspicuous black box beside the table. ¡°This box contains a two-month supply of energy pills for Blazing Star Canine and the others. The vice principal specially prepared them using the new formula over the past few days, they should last them throughout the space journey.¡± ????????????? What a pleasant surprise! Qiao Sang was overjoyed and was about to express her gratitude and admiration... But Liu Yao chose that moment to push forward a towering stack of textbooks and exam papers, nearly half a meter high. ¡°These are the textbooks and practice exams for all subjects across three years of high school. You¡¯ll have plenty to do on the starship during your journey.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? She stared, momentarily stunned. For a brief two or three seconds, the office was silent. Then, Qiao Sang forced out a sentence: ¡°You really¡­ think of everything.¡± --- After Qiao Sang left, Wang Weidou took a sip of tea and remarked, ¡°The competition is over, but I didn¡¯t expect you to still be investing your efforts outside of research.¡± Liu Yao replied coolly, ¡°Qiao Sang is different.¡± Wang Weidou glanced at him. ¡°Is it because of the Blazing Star Canine?¡± ¡°Not entirely.¡± Liu Yao gazed toward the door. ¡°Qiao Sang¡¯s talent in both battle and pet cultivation is extraordinary, she¡¯s the most gifted individual I¡¯ve ever encountered. You could say I simply appreciate true talent.¡± --- 7 PM. Qinglu Residence, Building 16. After dinner, instead of studying or reviewing practice questions as usual, Qiao Sang took off her school uniform and put on a casual black down jacket. Holding the miniaturized Yabao, she headed out. Since she only had tonight and the whole day tomorrow left on Blue Star, she needed to prepare everything properly before leaving. Under the night sky, she carried Yabao to the supermarket, buying several large bags of snacks and some daily essentials. Although online sources said the starship would provide meals, she¡¯d be on it for about a month, having some snacks was definitely necessary. She also stopped by a clothing store to buy outfits suited for around 20¡ãC weather. Chaosu Star maintained a temperature of about 25¡ãC year-round, so as long as she bought the right thickness of clothing, she could wear them anytime. The school regulations at Sainan High School were still unknown, whether she could live off-campus was unclear. Since she¡¯d likely be stuck in school focusing on her academic scores, she figured it was best to stock up in advance. After storing her purchases in Little Treasure¡¯s ring, Qiao Sang took out her phone and dialed Song Yuan¡¯s number. The contract for the sunglasses endorsement was for a year, and Yabao had only completed two seasons of new product shoots. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With two more seasons left, and her impending year-long stay on Chaosu Star, she needed to discuss this with Song Yuan. After two rings, the call connected, and a surprised voice came through the speaker: ¡°Qiao Sang?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Qiao Sang got straight to the point. ¡°I have to leave Blue Star the day after tomorrow. Have the winter sunglasses been released yet? I can shoot them tomorrow, but I won¡¯t be able to do spring¡¯s. I¡¯ll pay the penalty fee.¡± There was a brief silence before Song Yuan, shocked and confused, asked, ¡°Leave Blue Star? Where are you going?¡± ¡°The government has selected me for an interstellar exchange program. I¡¯m heading to Chaosu Star.¡± Qiao Sang explained. Going to Chaosu Star¡­ as an interstellar exchange student?! Song Yuan was genuinely stunned. But then she recalled that Qiao Sang had won the national campus beast mastering league for the senior division. With that achievement, it made sense for the government to select her¡­ Song Yuan took a deep breath, steadying her voice. ¡°Do you have time to meet up?¡± Qiao Sang thought for 0.1 seconds. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll send you my location.¡± --- City Center Mall. Third-floor caf¨¦. Qiao Sang held a steaming cup of coffee in one hand while flipping through a book with the other. The college entrance exams weren¡¯t far off, time was too precious to waste. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Beside her, Yabao gagged. Qiao Sang turned to see that Yabao had pushed his coffee cup aside, looking utterly disgusted. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± She asked, amused. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded fervently. Too awful! So coffee wasn¡¯t to his liking¡­ Qiao Sang turned to the side. ¡°Little Treasure, want to try it?¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure materialized and shook his head furiously. If Big Brother Yabao said it was bad, then it must be! Such a waste of talent¡­ Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure and had the thought, yet again, that he should really go to school. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Sensing his master¡¯s gaze, Little Treasure had a bad premonition and quickly vanished. Qiao Sang turned back to Yabao. ¡°If you don¡¯t want coffee, do you want something else?¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao hesitated. To drink or not to drink, that was the question¡­ Just then, a familiar female voice approached with the sound of footsteps. ¡°You¡¯re too much! Even outside, you¡¯re still studying, do you even let people breathe?¡± Qiao Sang looked up, unsurprised to see Song Yuan. ¡°No choice. I¡¯ve missed too many lessons.¡± She closed her book. Song Yuan pulled out a chair, took a contract from her bag, and placed it on the table. ¡°Take a look, this is the new contract.¡± Then, she glanced at Yabao, barely hiding her excitement. Ahhh! Miniature Blazing Star Canine! I want to pet it so badly! Qiao Sang, puzzled, took the contract and flipped through it. Soon, she was dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re giving me 20% of the shares?¡± Song Yuan stared at Qiao Sang with a burning gaze and said, "That''s right. I drafted this contract right after you won the championship. There are no conditions, just that you and Blazing Star Canine take a few promotional photos for our new sunglasses each year." Qiao Sang was tempted. Although she currently had an unlimited credit card, it had an expiration date and certain restrictions. Stocks, for instance, couldn''t be purchased with a credit card in the stock market. To buy stocks, the associated tripartite deposit account had to be linked to a debit card, not a credit card. "Why?" Qiao Sang asked. Song Yuan''s tone was serious: "My company may be small, and I can''t afford to hire well-known professional beast masters. But ever since you became our spokesperson, our sales have skyrocketed, one month''s sales now exceed what we used to make in half a year." "You''re improving too fast. I¡¯d bet anything that your future is limitless. I hope we can continue working together." "The 20% shares are my sincerity." Song Yuan''s words were incredibly earnest, she meant every word without any deception. She wanted to form a long-term partnership with Qiao Sang. A genius of Qiao Sang''s level wouldn''t stay confined to the Yuhua region forever. Right now, Qiao Sang was still a minor. No matter how wealthy her family was, the money she could directly control was likely limited. This was the perfect time to strike a deal. To be honest, giving away 20% of her company''s shares to a high school student might seem insane to others, but she was betting on the future. With Qiao Sang''s incredible talent, and the fact that she was pursuing competitive beast master battles, her chances of participating in major tournaments were practically guaranteed. As long as Qiao Sang made a name for herself, Song Yuan¡¯s company would undoubtedly rake in massive profits in the future. She had been somewhat hesitant before, but after hearing that Qiao Sang had been selected by the nation as an interstellar exchange student, she knew she couldn''t afford to wait any longer. What a talent scout! Truly a sharp eye for potential... Qiao Sang was deeply moved. Back when she only had Yabao, it was Song Yuan who first recognized her potential. At that time, Yabao hadn''t even evolved into Flame Hound yet. Later, their contract grew from a six-figure deal to now, 20% ownership in the company. She had been worrying about what to do once her unlimited card expired, and now, Song Yuan had delivered this massive opportunity right into her hands. "I''ll be staying on Chaosu Star for a year. I might not be able to return for photoshoots." Qiao Sang remembered. Song Yuan smiled, Qiao Sang¡¯s concern meant she was seriously considering the offer. That meant the deal was solid. "I''ll send the sunglasses to you via interstellar courier. You can take the photos yourself or have someone help, then send them to me through the Star Network." Song Yuan said. "Alright." Qiao Sang didn''t hesitate any longer. She took out a pen from her bag and signed her name on the contract. --- The next day, at 5:23 PM. At the Shidu Grand Hotel. A large banner was displayed outside: "Congratulations to Qiao Sang for winning the 336th National School Beast Mastering Championship (Senior Division, Individual Category)!" Somehow, news had spread to various reporters, who swarmed to the hotel in droves. It had been less than a week since Qiao Sang''s championship win, and the buzz hadn''t died down at all. Cameras and a sea of journalists packed the hotel lobby. The hotel''s staff did their best to maintain order. Meanwhile, on the third floor, inside the banquet hall, Qiao Sang was surrounded by a crowd of relatives, being stuffed with red envelopes from every direction. Chapter 496: Departure Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Qiao Sang has really made a name for herself. She''s only in her first year of high school and already has three advanced pet beasts. Unlike your cousin, his only pet beast evolved to the intermediate level when he was in his third year." "Isn''t that right? I used to hold you when you were little, and now, in the blink of an eye, you''ve grown so much." "I remember watching TV and thinking, ''This kid looks so much like Qiao Sang.'' I never expected it to actually be her. If your mom hadn¡¯t hosted this banquet, I wouldn¡¯t have even known." "A national champion in the Campus Beast Mastering League, and in the senior division, no less. Does that mean you''re the strongest high schooler in the country?" "I heard you''re going to Chaosu Star as an interstellar exchange student. What''s the name of that school? Is it as good as Shengshui High?" "I always knew you¡¯d do well when you grew up. And see? You really did!" The people around were all talking at once. Qiao Sang accepted the red envelopes with a polite smile. To be honest, apart from her third uncle and third aunt, she had to mentally search for a while just to recognize the other relatives. Family relations were a strange thing. Even if they barely saw each other all year, they could still act like they were close when they met. As long as someone in the family made it big, even the most distant relatives would find a way to boast, saying, "So-and-so from my family is that famous person," just to bask in a little reflected glory. Waiters continuously brought dishes and drinks to the tables. At the same time, they couldn''t help but sneak glances at the star of the banquet, wanting to see the person all the reporters in the main hall were clamoring to interview. Unfortunately, that person was completely surrounded, making it impossible to get a clear view. As time passed, the guests finally took their seats. Ye Xiangting went around clinking glasses with the relatives, exchanging pleasantries. From the unwavering curve of her lips, it was clear she was genuinely happy. Qiao Sang sat with her pet beast, Yabao, eating. A cousin sitting nearby asked, "Aren''t you going to put your Blazing Star Canine back into the Beast Taming Codex?" "Yap!" Yabao turned his head toward the speaker and bared his teeth slightly. The cousin immediately stiffened, stood up, and said, "I''m going to the restroom." She grabbed her phone and left in a hurry. Qiao Sang: ... "Don''t scare people." Qiao Sang said, rubbing Yabao''s head. "Yap..." Yabao pouted. He had only shown his teeth a little... At that moment, an elderly voice called from behind, "Qiao Sang." Hearing the voice, Qiao Sang turned around and was momentarily stunned. Then, she stood up and called, "Grandma." The relatives chatting at the table instantly fell silent. As the most accomplished child in the Ye family, even distant relatives knew about Qiao Sang¡¯s family situation. Now that everyone here was from the Ye family, the sudden presence of someone from the Qiao family made the atmosphere awkward. The elderly woman, with her graying hair, gazed at her granddaughter intently, her expression surprisingly tense. "Can we talk in private?" She asked. Qiao Sang glanced at her mother. She knew that if her mother hadn¡¯t informed her grandmother, there was no way she would have known about this gathering. "Okay." Qiao Sang nodded. They moved to stand by the floor-to-ceiling windows. The surrounding guests followed them with their eyes but refrained from approaching. "This is your Blazing Star Canine, isn''t it?" The old lady smiled as she patted Yabao''s head. "It looks so beautiful." "Yap." Yabao squinted his eyes, enjoying the touch. After a moment, the old lady lifted her head, took out a red envelope from her bag, and handed it over with slight hesitation. "I heard from your mother that you''re going to Chaosu Star. Here, take this. There''s 50,000 inside, and the password is your birthday." Qiao Sang didn¡¯t take it. She calmly said, "There''s no need. My mom gave me enough money." To be honest, as a rational adult, she had no personal grudges against her grandmother. But perhaps because she was more attached to her mother, or maybe because her grandmother had barely been present during her childhood, she couldn''t feel close to her. §²¨¢??????????? In her past life, her parents had been divorced. When she was young, she might have still held some expectations, but as she grew up, she had become accustomed to a life without a father or a grandmother. Without her father''s side of the family, her life was still perfectly fine. The old lady stiffened slightly, looking a little dejected. After a brief silence of two or three seconds, she asked, "Did you block your father?" Qiao Sang replied, "Maybe. People who never contacted me before are suddenly reaching out. If I don¡¯t recognize the number, I just block it." The old lady stiffened again. As someone who had seen the ups and downs of life, she understood the underlying message. After another brief pause, she took out her phone and dialed a number. The next moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and looked at the caller ID. Caller: Grandma. The phone stopped vibrating. Qiao Sang looked up. The old lady beamed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At least you didn¡¯t block me." Qiao Sang stared at her smile and hesitated for a moment. After the old lady left, Yabao seemed to sense something and licked his Beast Tamer¡¯s hand. "Yap!" Qiao Sang looked down and smiled. "I¡¯m fine." Logically speaking, compared to familial love, what her grandmother felt was more like guilt. If she hadn¡¯t won the National Campus Beast Mastering League, her grandmother probably wouldn¡¯t have thought of her, let alone contacted her outside of a holiday. Qiao Sang looked at her mother, who was smiling and toasting nearby, and walked toward her. --- Saturday morning. Shengshui High had no classes. Normally, students would be resting in their dorms, but today, most were standing in the corridors, whispering as they watched a few figures below. The team escorting Qiao Sang to the spaceport had arrived. "When you get there, call me." Ye Xiangting said gently. Qiao Sang nodded. "I will." "Remember to eat on time, go to bed early. You¡¯re only in your first year. Even though you missed a lot of lessons because of the competition, don¡¯t try to catch up all at once. Learning should be done step by step, understand?" "Got it." Qiao Sang replied softly. She didn¡¯t tell her mother that she planned to take the college entrance exam right away. It was better to wait until she had actually passed, otherwise, if she failed, it would be embarrassing. Plus, her mother loved to share news. If she announced it now and failed, that would be even worse. As her mother continued to give advice, Qiao Sang finally said, "Mom, how about we talk while walking? You could come with me to the spaceport." Ye Xiangting: ... --- Yuhua Spaceport. At the docking area for interstellar ships. Qiao Sang waved at her mother before stepping onto the massive spacecraft. "This time, you¡¯re traveling with two other exchange students, one boy, one girl. One of them should be familiar to you." said Officer Chen, the government-assigned escort. Familiar? Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "Is it Tang Yi?" Officer Chen praised, "You''re good at guessing." Duh. Among my competitors, the only logical choice for the program would be the national runner-up¡­ She humbly replied, "I just took a wild guess." Just then, a voice called out, "Officer Chen!" Qiao Sang turned to see Tang Yi and a stylish girl with waist-length hair, wearing a leather beret, holding a green-furred feline beast dressed in matching clothes. Tang Yi held a miniaturized Paralulu. As soon as their gazes met, Yabao and Paralulu locked eyes, battle intent surging. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure bravely stepped forward. Hold on, let him get beaten up first! Qiao Sang: ... Tooth Treasure: ??? Chapter 497: Interstellar Journey Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Such a show-off¡­ Qiao Sang silently covered her face. Combat was prohibited aboard the starship, so naturally, no fight took place. The four of them headed to the dining area and found a spot to sit. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± Officer Chen asked. ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Cola.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Officer Chen tapped a marked spot on the dining table, and a ten-centimeter virtual screen instantly appeared. ¡°Four colas.¡± He said. The screen immediately displayed images, text, and quantities corresponding to the order, then disappeared. Within seconds, four glasses of cola materialized on the table out of thin air. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Damn, does this ship¡¯s kitchen have a space-shifting pet working behind the scenes? ¡°You kept saying you wanted to meet Qiao Sang. Now that she¡¯s right in front of you, why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Officer Chen turned to the girl across from him, who was wearing a leather beret. Wants to meet me? Qiao Sang picked up a cola, took a sip, and looked over. The girl looked a bit embarrassed and hadn¡¯t had the chance to speak before Officer Chen introduced her. ¡°This is Yang Jiayi, from Chongdao District. She¡¯s also the national champion of the senior high division in the Individual Coordination category of the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Ever since she arrived in Yuhua District yesterday, she¡¯s been saying she wanted to meet you.¡± After introducing her, Officer Chen turned to Tang Yi and the other person. ¡°No need to introduce Qiao Sang, you both already know her.¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Yang Jiayi.¡± The girl¡¯s voice was soft, her lips curved in a polite smile, very ladylike. So she¡¯s the national champion of the Individual Coordination League. No wonder she¡¯s dressed so fashionably¡­ even her pet is wearing clothes. Qiao Sang nodded in response. ?????N?????§¦? ¡°Hello.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Yi scratched his head. ¡°We competed not long ago. You haven¡¯t forgotten me already, have you?¡± ¡°Of course not. Runner-up.¡± Qiao Sang grinned. Tang Yi: ¡­ Yang Jiayi almost burst out laughing. She hadn¡¯t expected the rumored Senior Year Terminator Qiao Sang to have this kind of personality. She¡¯d assumed Qiao Sang would be a difficult person to get along with¡­ Officer Chen observed the three of them and felt relieved. These three were all top-tier talents, especially Qiao Sang. Veteran officers who had previously escorted interstellar exchange students often said that dealing with geniuses was tricky. Some were merely aloof, but the real headaches were the ones who constantly clashed, forcing the officers to mediate daily. Before this trip, his biggest concern was whether Qiao Sang would be difficult to get along with. After all, her level of talent surpassed all previous interstellar exchange students and had earned national recognition. As long as she could get along with the other two, this journey would go smoothly. --- Two hours later, the starship took off. ¡°Attention, passengers. The YH-33 starship is about to depart. Please remain in your designated cabins. In seven minutes, we will reach space, at which point passengers may move to designated leisure areas. We wish you a pleasant interstellar journey!¡± As the broadcast played, the massive starship shot beyond the blue planet like a streak of light. Upon reaching space, the warp engine activated, pushing the ship beyond the speed of light. For the first seven minutes, there was some turbulence, but once in space, everything became incredibly smooth. Qiao Sang stayed in her cabin, pressing her hands against the transparent wall, eyes gleaming with excitement. Space! I¡¯m here! She cheered inwardly. Interstellar travel! A close-up view of the dazzling cosmos! How many people dream of this? Who wouldn¡¯t want to explore the stars? Unfortunately, in her past life, she died too young, before technology advanced enough for non-astronauts to travel in space. Even if she had lived long enough, she probably wouldn¡¯t have had the money to go. But it doesn¡¯t matter. Because now, at this very moment--- She made it! And it didn¡¯t even cost her a cent! Qiao Sang watched the view outside, filled with anticipation and excitement. But after clinging to the cabin wall for ten minutes, she completely calmed down. The grander the dream, the harsher the reality. Forget about a sea of stars, everything outside was just an endless, pitch-black void. Not even a speck of light! Her dream of witnessing a breathtaking cosmic spectacle? Shattered. With a sigh, she sat at the table and started reviewing practice questions, trying to forget the disappointment. The scenery outside was like an abyss, endless, silent, and terrifying. Maybe it was the vast emptiness of space, but she felt a faint pressure in her head. "Xun¡­" Beside her, Little Treasure had also been peering outside with the same posture, now showing a disappointed expression. It looked so beautiful from below¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± At that moment, Yabao let out a call. Qiao Sang turned to look. While she and Little Treasure had spent all that time staring into space, Yabao had been diligently using gravity steel balls to train his telekinetic powers. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded. Before she could ask Little Treasure to take out the energy pellets prepared by the vice principal, Yang Jiayi, who had been on the bed doing yoga, spoke up. ¡°I have Lilingzi. Want to try some?¡± Although the state was generous, it wasn¡¯t generous enough to provide each exchange student with a private cabin. Qiao Sang and Yang Jiayi were sharing a double room. Lilingzi? What¡¯s that? Remembering her experience with the Wanyan fruit, Qiao Sang cautiously asked, ¡°Is that for humans or for beast pets?¡± Yang Jiayi blinked, then chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s for beast pets. It fills them up while also enhancing their fur¡¯s shine.¡± Seeing Qiao Sang¡¯s reaction, she quickly added, ¡°Those of us in coordination competitions prioritize pet aesthetics, so we often give them this. Your focus is on battles, so it¡¯s normal that you haven¡¯t heard of it.¡± Oh, so it¡¯s for pets. Good thing I asked¡­ Qiao Sang thought. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed about asking. If you don¡¯t know something, you ask, that¡¯s the fastest way to learn. ¡°One is enough.¡± Qiao Sang said. Lilingzi was just for fur enhancement. A taste was fine, but the specially formulated energy pellets were still the main food source. ¡°Alright.¡± Yang Jiayi got up, rummaged through her bag, and pulled out a pale yellow, spindle-shaped fruit with jagged edges, handing it to Yabao with a gentle smile. ¡°Try it.¡± Yabao sniffed it before taking a big bite. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out a happy cry, it tasted good! Such a beautiful coat¡­ what a waste not to enter coordination competitions¡­ Yang Jiayi admired the Blazing Star Canine, her fingers twitching, barely holding back the urge to pet it. No one noticed the small, green cat-like beast lying on the bed. Its beret had been removed, revealing a leaf on its head. As its eyes opened, it glared at its beast master, who was acting overly friendly toward another pet. Its expression? Unhappy. Chapter 498: Veil Essence Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Life aboard the starship was relatively peaceful. Although it wasn¡¯t quite the endless sea of stars that Qiao Sang had imagined, at least they hadn¡¯t encountered any black holes or interstellar beasts freely roaming the universe like in the movies. Each day, Yabao alternated between training his telekinesis and meditating. Little Treasure practiced both telekinesis and his misfortune curse, using the ants brought from Blue Star as test subjects. As for Lubao, she focused on training her Healing Light and Healing Soundwave. And her training target? Qiao Sang. With continuous 24-hour studying, she had gone from needing a Healing Light every 12 hours to every 6 hours, then every 3 hours. By the end, only a combination of Healing Light and Healing Soundwave could keep her going. Staring out at the abyss-like void of space every day, combined with non-stop studying, Qiao Sang felt her brain swelling with pressure, occasionally accompanied by headaches. Fortunately, Lubao stayed by her side at all times. Whenever she felt discomfort, she would immediately cast a Healing Light without her needing to say a word. Sensing her beastmaster¡¯s exhaustion, Lubao eventually stopped sleeping at night, using Healing Light on herself so that she could stay alert and heal Qiao Sang at any moment. Moved by this, Qiao Sang smothered Lubao in hugs and kisses. Though Lubao pretended to be annoyed, the swaying of her tail betrayed her joy. Outside the ship, darkness stretched endlessly. Without a clock, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, constantly reading and solving problems. "Dr. Zhou Tai once proposed that when a contracted beast reaches the General level, the feedback received by its beastmaster undergoes a qualitative change. As long as the bond between the beast and the beastmaster is strong and stable, the beastmaster¡¯s lifespan can reach an average of 200 years." "However, this theory was soon challenged by researcher Xue Dongshi. Through investigations and studies, she discovered that beastmasters with only one General-level contracted beast did not, in fact, live for 200 years." "She argued that a beastmaster¡¯s lifespan is influenced not only by their beast¡¯s rank but also by the level of their brain domain development." "Thanks to Xue Dongshi¡¯s research, the later classification of beastmasters from Rank F to Rank SSS was established based on both brain domain development and beast level." "Do you think this theory is correct? Why or why not?" Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before putting pen to paper. "It is incorrect. The ranking system for beastmasters was established by the Beastmaster Alliance after rigorous statistical analysis across history, not solely based on Xue Dongshi¡¯s research¡­" As she worked on her answer, Yang Jiayi quietly slipped out of their cabin. --- In the Dining Area. "Qiao Sang is still studying?!" Tang Yi exclaimed in disbelief. Yang Jiayi nodded and sighed, "It¡¯s terrifying. I¡¯ve never seen anyone so obsessed with studying." "Studying non-stop for 32 days? Do you still call that a person?!" Tang Yi blurted out. Yang Jiayi glanced at him and said solemnly, "You make a good point. That¡¯s beyond human¡­" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Yi mused, "Why is she working so hard? She already won the national Campus Beast Mastering League. She could get into any top-tier academy through special admissions. As long as she scores above 350 on the college entrance exam, she can enter any elite school she wants." ??????????????????? Yang Jiayi shook her head. "I don¡¯t know." For them, as special admissions students, their high school journey had always been focused on excelling in competitions. They barely touched their textbooks. Their semester books often remained pristine. It was impossible for them to understand why someone at the pinnacle of special admissions, like Qiao Sang, would still study so relentlessly. Changing the subject, Tang Yi asked, "I heard that Sainan High School is one of the best on Chaosu, with strict hierarchy and a resource-based points system, similar to the Imperial Capital¡¯s Zhishang Beastmaster Academy. Do you think we¡¯ll be able to obtain the Veil Essence?" It was well known that the brain domain could not be forcibly developed. But certain rare and invaluable resources possessed unimaginable effects. Veil Essence was one such resource. It allowed beastmasters to enhance their brain domain without any side effects. However, it could only be used once in a lifetime, and its effects were most potent before the age of eighteen. How much it could enhance depended on the individual¡¯s brain domain capacity. One of the qualifications for top-tier academy admissions was passing the Rank D Beastmaster certification. Yet, nearly no high school seniors in the national Campus Beast Mastering League ever met that requirement. However, after the tournament and just before special admissions, a group of students would always miraculously pass. Apart from spending their time meditating post-tournament, another major reason was that some of them had acquired Veil Essence. Such resources were tightly controlled by the state. They were not mentioned in textbooks, could not be found online, and were entirely unknown to ordinary beast masters. The reason why a batch of Veil Essence was distributed before major academy entrance exams each year was due to government sanctioning. This wasn¡¯t a secret among powerful families in different regions. Yang Jiayi reassured him, "I don¡¯t know about others, but as long as the interstellar exchange students report to school, they¡¯re guaranteed to receive Veil Essence. You don¡¯t have to worry about that." Hearing this, Tang Yi sighed in relief. Since Yang Jiayi had strong family connections, her relative was Minister Wang of Chongdao Region, her information was likely accurate. --- Meanwhile, In the Cabin. Qiao Sang had just finished one problem and was about to move on when... "Sasa!" Suddenly, the sound of Sagan''s Meow¡¯s voice interrupted her. Qiao Sang turned her head to see Sagan Meow standing beside the meditating Yabao, its leaf on end, clearly picking a fight. Here we go again¡­ Qiao Sang thought, already exhausted. Sagan Meow was Yang Jiayi¡¯s pet. For some reason, it and Yabao were always at odds. If she hadn¡¯t told Yabao that fighting was prohibited on the starship, they would¡¯ve brawled long ago. "Lu~ Lu lu~ Lululu~ Lu~ Lulu~" Yabao had just started to open his eyes when Lubao swiftly unleashed a Healing Soundwave. A gentle, invisible wave spread through the cabin. "Sasa¡­" Sagan Meow¡¯s leaf instantly drooped. Yabao blinked and then closed his eyes again. Qiao Sang shot Lubao a thumbs-up, signaling Good job. "Lu." Lubao¡¯s lips curled into a small smile. Just then, the ship¡¯s intercom crackled to life: "Attention, passengers. In ten minutes, we will arrive at our destination, Chaosu Star, District 13, Hetto Starport. For your safety, please remain in your cabins until docking is complete." Qiao Sang: !!! We¡¯re here?! Her spirits soared. She quickly got up and rushed to the transparent cabin window. Gazing out, she saw the vast darkness of space split apart... A massive blue-violet planet loomed before her eyes. Chapter 499: The 13th District Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Only the outermost ring was illuminated, with the moon hanging low above the densely packed skyscrapers of the city. Maglev trains zipped through the sky, glowing with dazzling blue lights, their futuristic designs enhancing the sci-fi ambiance. A gentle evening breeze drifted by, and the temperature was comfortable. Various unfamiliar pet beasts roamed beneath the city''s neon lights, creating a surreal and fantastical atmosphere. This was the scene that greeted Qiao Sang as she stepped out of the starport. She paused for a moment, then pulled out her phone and snapped away. Although Blue Star also had pet beasts, none of it compared to the strong otherworldly vibe here! This definitely deserved a post on her social media! Officer Chen, dressed in a black shirt, held his luggage in one hand while using his phone with the other. ¡°The school you¡¯re heading to, Sainan High, is in the 3rd District. It¡¯ll take about three days to get there from the 13th District. We¡¯ll find a hotel nearby for the night and set off tomorrow morning.¡± No one responded. Officer Chen turned his head and saw that all three exchange students were too busy taking pictures, excitement written all over their faces. The corner of his mouth twitched. He coughed lightly and raised his voice slightly. ¡°Did you all put identity wristbands on your pet beasts?¡± ¡°Done!¡± Qiao Sang was the first to put down her phone and respond. On Chaosu Star, wild pet beasts were everywhere. To easily distinguish between wild creatures and contracted ones, every tamed pet beast had to wear an identity wristband. The moment they disembarked, the staff had handed them out. Right now, Yabao wore a lightweight miniaturization wristband on his left paw and an identity wristband on his right. Before leaving the spaceship, he had also put on a pair of green triangular sunglasses, making for quite the trendy look. ¡°Good. Don¡¯t lose it. Replacing it is a hassle.¡± Officer Chen warned. Just then, a middle-aged Caucasian man with blond hair, blue eyes, and a noticeable belly approached. Speaking in fluent Mandarin, he said, ¡°Hello, are you travelers? I can give you a ride.¡± Qiao Sang looked at him, and a thought popped into her mind: If only everyone in the world spoke Mandarin in my past life too¡­ ¡°No need.¡± Officer Chen declined. The man didn¡¯t give up. He stepped forward and insisted, ¡°You seem new here and unfamiliar with the area. It¡¯s better to have a guide. I can show you around the 13th District.¡± R?????????????????? Officer Chen¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°I said, no.¡± The atmosphere grew tense. Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi noticed the shift and put their phones away. The man squinted slightly and slid a hand into his pocket. Shit, is he reaching for a gun? Qiao Sang thought, recalling countless foreign movies from her past life. She tensed. ¡°Yap.¡± Sensing Qiao Sang¡¯s shift in mood, Yabao also became alert. The man glanced down at the small pet beast, unimpressed by its tiny size. But then his gaze locked onto the lightweight miniaturization wristband on Yabao¡¯s paw. His pupils shrank. He quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket, forced a friendly smile, and said, ¡°Enjoy your stay here.¡± With that, he turned and left. ¡°Was that guy about to pull out a gun?¡± Qiao Sang asked. A gun?! Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi were stunned. Even Officer Chen was momentarily caught off guard, staring at her in shock. Why would you think something that scary¡­ ¡°Of course not.¡± Officer Chen regained his composure. ¡°Carrying a firearm is illegal in the 13th District. Guys like him just hustle tourists. They use tricks, like having their pet beasts snatch a visitor¡¯s bag, so they can conveniently offer to help chase it down. Since they know the area, most panicked tourists accept.¡± ¡°When he put his hand in his pocket, he was probably activating a signal device for his pet beast.¡± That¡¯s a thing? Qiao Sang was surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t that illegal? Doesn¡¯t anyone stop them?¡± Officer Chen explained, ¡°Of course, but these guys only target newcomers. And there¡¯s rarely evidence linking them to the pet beasts. Even if someone reports them, the case usually goes nowhere.¡± Qiao Sang frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t pet beasts have identity wristbands? Wouldn¡¯t it be easy to catch them?¡± Officer Chen¡¯s expression turned complicated. ¡°I explained this on the ship to Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi¡­ but you were always studying in your cabin, so you might not know.¡± ¡°Some people on Chaosu Star use wild pet beasts for their schemes. Those hustlers mostly command wild ones, so even if you catch the pet, it leads nowhere.¡± Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi nodded in agreement. ¡°Are wild pet beasts really that obedient?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Of course not.¡± Officer Chen replied. ¡°But they have needs too. As long as you can communicate, you can strike deals with them.¡± Qiao Sang understood now. So it¡¯s basically a mission board system, but the ones taking the missions are wild pet beasts¡­ --- On the Train. Qiao Sang quietly read her book. Yabao and Little Treasure had their faces practically glued to the window, watching the scenery pass by. Every now and then, they¡¯d exclaim, ¡°Yap yap!¡± or ¡°Xun xun!¡± in excitement. Other pet beasts in the train car looked at them with disdain. On Chaosu Star, public transportation didn¡¯t restrict pet beasts from boarding. Wild pet beasts were everywhere, so instead of scaring passengers with sudden appearances, it was better to normalize their presence. ¡°You¡¯re seriously reading a book even after arriving here?! Be human for once!¡± Tang Yi stared at Qiao Sang in disbelief. During their time on the spaceship, Qiao Sang rarely left her cabin except for meals. After more than a month together, the three had grown familiar, and Tang Yi now spoke casually with her. You think I want to? The entrance exams are coming up, I have no choice¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at him. ¡°I love studying.¡± Tang Yi fell silent. ¡°Sasa!¡± Just then, the previously calm Sagan Meow in Yang Jiayi¡¯s arms suddenly straightened its leaf, glaring at Yabao in annoyance. Yang Jiayi panicked and quickly covered its mouth. But it was too late, Yabao had heard. He turned his head, locking eyes with Sagan Meow. His small flame wings flared slightly. He had tolerated this thing long enough! No fighting was allowed on the spaceship, but now that they were on land, it was time to settle the score! Oh no, the healing soundwave¡¯s effect has worn off¡­ Qiao Sang put down her book, about to intervene. ¡°Xun xun.¡± Before she could, Little Treasure placed a paw on Yabao, giving him a knowing look: Big bro, stay calm. Let me handle this. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao huffed: No need, I got this! ¡°Xun xun.¡± Little Treasure pointed at a sign on the train car wall. It was a no-fighting symbol. Yabao hesitated. Qiao Sang followed his gaze and suddenly lit up. Wow, Little Treasure can recognize signs now? He¡¯s learning so fast! ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure patted Yabao¡¯s shoulder. His eyes glowed purple. A second later, Sagan Meow, still glaring at Yabao, abruptly shut its eyes, head drooping as it fell asleep. Chapter 500: Ganggang Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Yabao: ... So weak... Tang Yi silently turned his head away, unable to watch. He was sure that Sagan Meow had never watched a Blazing Star Canine match. Otherwise, how could it dare? Yang Jiayi felt utterly exhausted. For the past month, Sagan Meow had constantly picked fights with Blazing Star Canine. She knew why, it was nothing more than jealousy. After all, this had happened before. At first, it wasn''t too bad. Every time Sagan Meow tried to provoke Blazing Star Canine, it either got pacified by Ice Xilu''s healing soundwave or, like now, put to sleep by Ghost Ring Phantom''s hypnosis. To be honest, these two moves did temporarily solve the conflict. But every time Sagan Meow woke up afterward, it felt like it had lost face. The more it thought about it, the angrier it got. Eventually, it escalated into this endless cycle, and she had no solution. "When we get to the 3rd District, find a Beast Trainer." Officer Chen suggested. High-level Beast Trainers could not only provide correct guidance for a beast''s development but also smooth out psychological conflicts between Beastmasters and their beasts, or even between different beasts. "Okay." Yang Jiayi nodded. That seemed like the only solution. "No need for all that trouble." Qiao Sang said. The three of them immediately turned their eyes toward her. Yang Jiayi eagerly asked, "You have a solution?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang nodded slightly. "Set up a battle between them. At the end of the day, Sagan Meow just wants to fight Yabao. Let it." Officer Chen thought for a moment and agreed. "That could work." Among Beast masters, beast battles were a normal occurrence. Sometimes, people would challenge each other just from exchanging glances in the street, or even over a casual meal. ????¨¢??????¨§s? Yang Jiayi: ??? Can you even call it a battle? That would just be a one-sided beatdown! Sure, she was a high school champion, but that was in coordination battles! How could her combat strength compare to the national high school champion of individual battles?! Yang Jiayi politely declined. "I''d rather go with the Beast Trainer. My Sagan Meow is stubborn, if it loses, it''ll probably keep pestering Blazing Star Canine every day." That works for me. Free battle points every day... Qiao Sang remained serious. "Beast Trainers cost money. Sagan Meow is only acting like this because of Yabao, it hasn''t done anything wrong; it just wants to fight. Daily battles aren''t a problem. My Yabao can handle it." "Yap..." Hearing his master''s words, Yabao looked thoughtful. That little guy was pretty weak, but if it really wanted to battle that much, he wouldn''t mind. Tang Yi looked envious. If only he could battle Qiao Sang every day,nhow great would that be... Every day?! That was terrifying. Truly terrifying... Yang Jiayi turned to Tang Yi, hoping he would back her up. But the moment their eyes met, she froze. What kind of look is that?! --- Ten minutes later, the train arrived at Baitun Station. Led by Officer Chen, the group checked into Yuanxin Hotel. At the front desk, the receptionist handed over the room keys and gave a friendly reminder: "If anything strange happens in your room, just call the front desk. We''ll send someone up immediately." Strange? What kind of strange? Qiao Sang used her eyes to ask the question. Tang Yi voiced it aloud for her: "What kind of strange things?" Yang Jiayi also looked at the receptionist, curious. The receptionist hesitated, as if surprised they asked, but quickly adjusted her expression and smiled professionally. "Things like the TV turning on by itself, channels switching randomly, or half of your food disappearing for no reason." That sounds exactly like something Little Treasure would do... Qiao Sang turned to look at Little Treasure. "Xun~" Little Treasure blinked innocently. The receptionist continued, "Sometimes, wild beasts wander into the hotel by mistake. But don''t worry, the ones in this district are friendly and won''t harm anyone." Just then, two guests walked into the lobby, cursing under their breath. "The wild beasts on this street are out of control! They even steal identity bracelets. If my Qiqi Bird hadn''t reacted quickly, mine would be gone!" "Exactly! I don''t know who''s in charge of security here, but beasts like that should be sent down to the lower districts." "Last night, while I was showering in this hotel, a wild Mud Bug crawled out of the toilet! And then it rolled all over my towel before leaving! If it weren''t for how close this place is to the airport, I wouldn''t stay here!" "Yeah, seriously..." The two guests walked off toward the elevators, their voices fading. The front desk fell into a brief silence. The receptionist cleared her throat and corrected herself: "Ahem... I meant, most of the wild beasts here are friendly." Everyone: ... --- Yuanxin Hotel, Room 302. Qiao Sang sat at the desk, reading. Suddenly, her head started hurting. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pain. After a while, she glanced at Yang Jiayi, who was already asleep, then out at the night sky. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. Qiao Sang closed her book, turned off the lights, and lay down. The Chaosu Star was different from the starship. In the starship, unless near a star, the outside was pitch-black. If the lights were off, you couldn''t see a thing, it was like being blind. You couldn''t even find your phone. So even while sleeping, people left a dim light on. Now that she was on Chaosu Star, she was sharing a room with Yang Jiayi. Leaving the lights on all night didn¡¯t seem appropriate, as it might disturb her roommate¡¯s sleep. Yang Jiayi was too kind, she probably wouldn¡¯t complain even if she was bothered. Drowsy, Qiao Sang soon drifted off. --- Under the night sky, a small bird-like beast perched outside Room 302''s window. Its eyes were red, its feathers deep purple, resembling an armored warrior. Only the feathers on its chest were soft and fluffy. Its sharp gaze locked onto Yabao, who was sleeping soundly. Then, its eyes settled on the identity bracelet on Yabao¡¯s right paw. Cautiously, it glanced around the room, ensuring the two humans were asleep. Then, it carefully pushed open the window with its wing. Its movements were precise and silent, as if it had done this a hundred times before. Inside the room, Qiao Sang remained in deep sleep. Anyone who hadn¡¯t slept for over a month would be just as out cold. Right now, even an earthquake wouldn¡¯t wake her. The purple bird-beast fluttered to Yabao¡¯s side, extending its wing toward the identity bracelet. Just as it was about to touch it-- Tap, tap. Something poked its back. The purple bird-beast stiffened, slowly turning its head. It found itself staring into a pair of glowing purple eyes. "Ganggang..." ----- T/n: Yay! 500 chapters! Chapter 501: 3rd District Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Xun." Little Treasure grabbed the uninvited guest, who had already fallen asleep, with his paws, floated to the window, and tossed them out. Then, he turned his head to look at the sleeping Yabao and shook his head with a worried expression. Without him, what would happen? --- Late at night, on the street. "Isn''t this a Steel Falcon?" A dark-skinned, bald man with unfocused eyes staggered forward and nudged the unmoving purple avian beast lying on the ground with his foot. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beside him, a drunken white young man crouched down for a closer look. The moment he got a good look, the drunkenness in his eyes instantly faded. "It really is a Steel Falcon! And a wild one at that! Doesn''t it look like the one that was on the news recently?" Hearing this, the bald man sobered up a bit as well. He picked up the Steel Falcon, carefully examined it for a few seconds, and exclaimed in surprise, "It really is! The news said the Steel Falcon had rotten claws, and this one''s claws are rotten!" As a steel-type beast, the Steel Falcon naturally had unparalleled defense. How many of them would have rotten claws? The moment he saw its injured claws, the bald man knew for sure, this was the very same Steel Falcon that had been wanted recently. The white young man¡¯s eyes lit up. "If I remember correctly, the bounty for the Steel Falcon is 200,000, right?" The bald man whistled. "The government bounty is 200,000, but in the black market, a Steel Falcon is worth much more. Its feathers alone are top-tier material." The young man immediately understood what the bald man meant. In official pet beast trading markets, a Steel Falcon was worth around 600,000. But that was for beasts from regulated breeding bases. Wild pet beasts were difficult to train unless they were still in eggs or were extremely rare species, making them hard to sell in legal markets. However, the black market didn¡¯t care about that. Beast masters buying from the black market weren¡¯t necessarily looking to form a contract. Selling a Steel Falcon in the black market would fetch much more than the government''s 200,000 bounty. Normally, even spotting a Steel Falcon was rare, let alone a wanted one. Why was it just lying on the street? As these thoughts raced through the young man''s mind, he turned to the bald man and asked, "How are we splitting this?" "What do you mean, splitting?" The bald man''s expression darkened. "I was the one who saw it first." For a moment, their sharp gazes locked, and any sign of their previous drunkenness vanished. Behind his back, the white young man secretly formed a hand seal. A white star formation lit up. At such a crucial moment, secretly summoning a pet beast, anyone with a brain could guess his intention. "You bastard!" The bald man¡¯s face changed drastically, and he hurriedly formed his own hand seal. But it was already too late. From the white star formation, a moth-like pet beast with pink ring-like patterns on its wings emerged. "Sleep Powder!" The white young man commanded quickly. The moth flapped its wings, scattering a glowing powder toward the bald man. Before the bald man could finish forming his seal, he collapsed with a thud, sound asleep. "And you thought you could compete with me?" The white young man smirked disdainfully, kicked the bald man a few times, then bent down to pick up the Steel Falcon and left. ?¦Á????? He didn¡¯t notice that, at that very moment, the Steel Falcon quietly opened its eyes and glanced at the identity bracelet on the moth''s leg before closing them again. --- The next day. Near noon, Qiao Sang finally woke up, yawning. She picked up her phone to check the time, 11:41 AM. Qiao Sang was shocked and turned to Yang Jiayi, who had just walked out of the bathroom. "It''s almost noon, and you didn''t wake me up?" "Officer Chen said not to disturb you." Yang Jiayi explained. "He said you rarely get proper rest and should sleep more." How considerate... Qiao Sang thought as she put on her shoes. "When are we leaving?" "Whenever you''re awake, we¡¯ll leave." Yang Jiayi replied. After some casual chatting, Qiao Sang finished freshening up, packed away the books she had taken out yesterday, and hugged Yabao as she followed Yang Jiayi out of the room. Their hotel, Yuanxin Hotel, was close to the airport. After a short ten-minute walk, the group arrived at Rad Airport. Since their tickets were bought last-minute, the four of them were seated separately. Qiao Sang¡¯s seatmate was a young Southeast Asian woman. She was on a phone call. As a beastmmaster with three high-level pet beasts, Qiao Sang could clearly hear their conversation. "What? The Toxic Moss Moth¡¯s identity bracelet was stolen? By who?" "It was a wild pet beast. I saw it sleeping on the street and felt sorry for it, so I picked it up. But when I woke up, the Toxic Moss Moth''s identity bracelet was gone." "Oh my god, can you just pick up wild pet beasts like that?" "This was my first time picking one up¡­ I didn¡¯t expect this to happen." "You''re too kind, babe. Promise me you won¡¯t randomly pick up wild pet beasts again, okay?" "Honey, I promise you anything. But since the Toxic Moss Moth¡¯s identity bracelet is missing, I can''t board the plane today. You''ll have to wait for me one more day." "Oh, sweetheart, I¡¯ll wait for you." "I love you." "I love you too." --- Qiao Sang remained expressionless, pretending not to have heard anything as she silently read her book. --- Three days later... The plane arrived in the 3rd District. During the day, the sun of Chaosu Star emitted a constant halo, and its dazzling rings prompted Qiao Sang to take several photos as soon as she stepped off the plane. On the way to Sainan High School, she noticed far fewer pet beasts on the streets than in the 13th District. However, there were significantly more large-sized ones. Towering skyscrapers stretched into the clouds, and nearly every flying pet beast in the sky had a person riding on it. An advertising blimp slowly drifted through a flock of flying-type pet beasts. Compared to the 13th District, the 3rd District had a much better environment. "Yap!" Yabao stared excitedly out of the car window at the large pet beasts passing by. The driver was a talkative man who hadn¡¯t stopped chatting the entire ride. "You guys are students at Sainan High School?" He asked. "Don¡¯t mind me, I was just curious. I¡¯ve been driving around here for years, but I¡¯ve never had a Sainan High student as a passenger." "I''m not doubting you or anything, it''s just that most Sainan High students travel on pet beasts. I''ve never seen one take a taxi before." "But you all do look like students from there. By the way, kid, what¡¯s the name of that pet beast you¡¯re holding? I''ve never seen it before." In the car, only Qiao Sang was holding a pet beast. Tang Yi didn¡¯t have a lightweight miniaturization bracelet, so he kept his pet beasts stored while using public transport. Similarly, Yang Jiayi had kept her Sagan Meow in her Beast codex to prevent it from fighting with Yabao again. "Blazing Star Canine." Qiao Sang answered. "Blazing Star Canine?" The driver praised, "That¡¯s a beautiful pet beast. It must be a rare breed, I''ve never even heard of it." "Of course, you haven''t," Officer Chen was about to introduce the three prodigies from Dragon Nation when--- The car came to a stop. "Sainan High School, we¡¯re here." Chapter 502: Laiseimodo Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The car door opened, and the group stepped out. --- Sainan High School, located in 3rd District, was one of the top five aristocratic schools on Chaosu Star. It accepted students aged 13 to 18 and had both middle and high school divisions. When a prestigious aristocratic school reached a certain level, wealth alone was no longer enough for admission. After all, there were too many wealthy people in the world. Sainan High School focused more on students'' talent, knowledge, abilities, and family background, among other factors. Although many students applied each year, the acceptance rate was extremely low. As a globally recognized top-tier aristocratic school, aside from its educational resources, its campus covered more than a thousand acres. In 3rd District, where every inch of land was precious, such a vast area was truly astonishing. Every student had their own private dormitory, and each dorm building was equipped with qualified caretakers. Beast trainers would also visit daily to check on the students'' contracted beasts. All of this information was what Qiao Sang had found on StarNet after arriving on Chaosu Star. Even though she had looked at photos of Sainan High School online before coming, she was still taken aback when she stepped out of the car. On either side of the grand entrance stood towering statues, each dozens of meters tall. The statues depicted beasts with wolf-like faces, two rings around their necks, massive wings, and tails also surrounded by two rings. The tail tips were sharp, resembling a spike, making it hard to name the species. The statues were exquisitely carved, radiating grandeur and magnificence, hinting at the opulence within the school. "What kind of beast is this?" Tang Yi pointed at the statue and asked. As their escort and guide, Officer Chen responded: "It''s called Laiseimodo. It''s a legendary beast on Chaosu Star, said to be the one that granted beasts the wisdom to understand human speech." "Impossible." Yang Jiayi refuted. "It''s a beast from Chaosu Star, but beasts on Blue Star and other planets can also understand human speech." Tang Yi glanced at her. "It''s just a legend." Yang Jiayi looked at him, wondering if he was just trying to argue. Of course, she maintained a refined expression, so no one knew her inner thoughts. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Laiseimodo... If it''s important enough to be a statue at the school entrance, it might be on a test someday. Probably a knowledge point I should look up later... Qiao Sang instinctively thought about exams. ?????¦­?B¨º???? At that moment, the grand gates slowly opened. A middle-aged Caucasian man in formal attire walked out, accompanied by a similarly dressed, light brown, bear-like beast about a meter tall. "Nice to meet you. My name is Kadra, though my Dragon Nation name is Jiang Tongyuan." The middle-aged man greeted, extending his hand. Officer Chen had already called ahead, so he wasn¡¯t surprised to see someone receiving them. He shook hands with Kadra. "I''m Chen Chen." Then, turning slightly, he introduced, "These three are the exchange students from Dragon Nation." The middle-aged man withdrew his hand and looked over the students, his gaze finally settling on the beast in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he held back. With a gesture of invitation, he smiled. "Let me give you a tour of the school first." The bear-like beast beside him also mimicked his inviting gesture. Officer Chen nodded slightly and led the students into the school grounds alongside Jiang Tongyuan. "The semester hasn¡¯t started yet, so there aren¡¯t many people around. But tomorrow is the first day of school, and it¡¯ll be bustling then." Jiang Tongyuan explained as they walked. Qiao Sang listened quietly. After a full tour of the high school section, during which Jiang Tongyuan introduced various buildings, he turned to Officer Chen and said, "Mr. Chen, I''ll now take them to their dormitories, so you don¡¯t have to worry." Why wouldn¡¯t I be at ease? Of course, I trust you... Officer Chen found the comment strange but responded, "Of course, I¡¯m not worried." But Jiang Tongyuan didn¡¯t start leading them to the dorms. Instead, he looked at Officer Chen with a polite smile. A brief three-second staring contest ensued before Jiang Tongyuan finally spoke: "Mr. Chen, dormitories do not permit outsiders." In other words, you can leave now... Qiao Sang translated in her mind. Officer Chen finally got the hint. You could¡¯ve just said so, why be so indirect? He thought, but outwardly, he maintained a polite smile. "Understood." Then, turning to the students, he gave them a genuine smile. "This is where I leave you. Study hard and don¡¯t let down our country¡¯s expectations." "Got it!" The three replied cheerfully, with no hint of reluctance. Officer Chen: ... "Sir Gentleman Bear, please escort Mr. Chen." Jiang Tongyuan instructed. "Sir!" Sir Gentleman Bear nodded and made a "please" gesture toward Officer Chen. Once Officer Chen left, Jiang Tongyuan didn¡¯t take them to the dorms but instead led them to an office. The four of them entered. Jiang Tongyuan closed the door, then walked straight to a desk. He pressed a few buttons on a locked drawer, took out a small blue box with another lock, and said as he keyed in a code: "Take this in the morning. The night before, be sure to get plenty of sleep, let your brain rest fully for the best effect." "This is Veil Essence. It works immediately. Once you take it, start meditating right away." With that, the box unlocked. Inside were three transparent, sealed bottles containing a white liquid. The moment they saw the serum bottles, Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi''s breathing became slightly unsteady. Jiang Tongyuan handed each of them a bottle. Veil Essence? What is that? Qiao Sang keenly noticed that Tang Yi¡¯s hand was trembling slightly as he received his bottle. She glanced at the bottle in her own hand, weighing it slightly, but found nothing particularly special about it. Jiang Tongyuan observed their reactions, his gaze lingering on the youngest student, the girl who had seemed the calmest. Although she coddled her beast too much, always carrying it around (a common problem among Dragon Nation beast masters that could be corrected during school), her composed demeanor when facing Veil Essence impressed him. Not everyone could remain so indifferent to something this valuable. At that moment, Qiao Sang asked, "What is Veil Essence?" Jiang Tongyuan: ??? Wait, I just praised you for having the air of an elite, and now you¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t even know what Veil Essence is? Tang Yi and Yang Jiayi were momentarily stunned, their faces showing disbelief. How could she not know about Veil Essence? Didn¡¯t her family tell her? That doesn¡¯t make sense... After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Tongyuan explained: "It¡¯s a rare resource that develops brain capacity. It has no side effects." So there¡¯s something that can develop brain capacity without any drawbacks? Looks like I haven''t studied enough, I didn¡¯t even know about this... Qiao Sang glanced at the bottle in her hand, her expression calm. Chapter 503: The Elite Class Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- After completing the dormitory registration procedures, the three of them walked out of the office. The earlier statement about personally leading them to the dormitories was a lie, Jiang Tongyuan did not follow them out. Instead, he let the recently returned Gentleman Bear lead the way. Qiao Sang was not surprised. Back in the office, she had noticed a nameplate on the desk with Jiang Tongyuan¡¯s foreign name, Kadra, and below it, the title Administrative Director in bold letters. Receiving students wasn¡¯t really part of Jiang Tongyuan¡¯s job. However, this time was special, interstellar exchange students had arrived. Besides handling their records, he had to personally hand over the Veil Essence to them, which was why he was the one welcoming them. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as they stepped out of the office, Tang Yi could no longer hide his admiration for Qiao Sang. A monster is a monster indeed. Even when hearing about the Veil Essence for the first time and holding such a miraculous resource in her hands, she remained completely calm. But then again, it made sense, this was someone who won the National Campus Beast Mastering Championship at just a first-year level and went an entire month without sleep. It was impossible to judge her with common sense. If only I could spar with someone like her regularly, my progress would skyrocket! Tang Yi thought eagerly. Too bad she¡¯s in the first year. We won¡¯t even be in the same building, let alone have the chance to battle¡­ Then, an idea struck him, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Let¡¯s create a group chat! That way, we can stay in touch.¡± The first step to securing future battles was frequent communication and building a good relationship! ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang responded, pulling out her phone without much thought. As she was adding the group, Yang Jiayi suggested, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the first day of school. Should we go out and have some fun tonight?¡± Tang Yi immediately nodded. ¡°I¡¯m in! I did some research before coming here, there¡¯s a famous pet beast arena in 3rd District. It hosts matches almost every night, and you never know which ranked professional beast tamers might show up. Want to check it out?¡± Yang Jiayi countered, ¡°I actually did some research too. There''s a Coordination Tournament happening in 3rd District tonight. Some of the top-ranked coordinators will be performing, and even the judges are big names in the field. How about we go watch that instead?¡± ?a???????? Tang Yi turned to Qiao Sang. ¡°What about you? Where do you want to go?¡± He figured Qiao Sang would have no interest in a Coordination Tournament and would side with him. Qiao Sang paused for two seconds before saying, ¡°I¡¯ll pass. I need to study.¡± Tang Yi: ??? Yang Jiayi: ??? --- "Gentle.¡± After escorting Qiao Sang to her dorm, Gentleman Bear politely closed the door and left. Qiao Sang took a brief look around her room and was genuinely impressed. No wonder this school ranked so high among elite academies. Though they called it a single dormitory, it was essentially a luxuriously furnished duplex apartment with a modern aesthetic. It had a bedroom, living room, study, kitchen, bathroom, and balcony, everything one could possibly need. The ceiling was over five meters high, likely to accommodate large pet beasts, ensuring that even high-level creatures could move freely in the living area. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao happily ran around the living room, clearly satisfied with his new environment. Qiao Sang summoned Lubao, then retrieved her luggage from Little Treasure''s space ring and spent half an hour unpacking. After that, she headed straight to the study to read. She read until 10 PM. Recalling what the Administrative Director had said about getting enough rest before taking the Veil Essence, she quickly closed her book, washed up, turned off the lights, and went to bed. It wasn¡¯t that she was in a hurry to form a contract with her fourth pet beast. But if the essence could enhance brain function, it would improve her memory. With that, her studies would progress even faster. Everything for the sake of learning. With that thought, Qiao Sang fell asleep. --- The Next Morning. At Sainan High School. Class 6, Senior Year, the Elite Class. About a dozen students, dressed in custom-made uniforms with sapphires embedded in their cuffs, sat in their seats, casually chatting. ¡°I heard we got three exchange students from Blue Star this semester.¡± ¡°Which country?¡± ¡°Seems to be Dragon.¡± ¡°Oh, great. More people who¡¯ll be running around kissing their pet beasts'' butts all day.¡± A female student with black hair and dark eyes, delicate features, and an unmistakable Dragon nation heritage, raised an eyebrow. Although people of all ethnicities coexisted on Chaosu Star, national identities still existed. She asked coldly, ¡°What, do you have a problem with Dragon Nation?¡± The boy who had spoken first quickly explained, ¡°No, no! I was just talking about Dragon Nation people from Blue Star.¡± The girl countered, ¡°It¡¯s just a different beast training philosophy. Besides, the past exchange students from Dragon Nation were all pretty strong.¡± Someone nearby muttered, ¡°Of course they were. Only champions get sent here.¡± The girl shot him a sharp look. Sensing the tension, another student swiftly changed the subject. ¡°So, which class did the exchange students get assigned to?¡± ¡°If not Class 1, then probably our Class 6. Interstellar exchange students always get placed in the top-ranked classes.¡± At Sainan High School, both Class 1 and Class 6 were Elite Classes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind having an exchange student in our class. I heard Dragon Nation people from Blue Star have the most advanced Beast Bond Evolution techniques.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not. Back in my first year, we had a senior exchange student from Dragon Nation, and he was so annoying! I was training my Flame Sprite, and he came over, acting all impressed, saying that I had amazing control over a fire-type beast. He went on about how, in his country, if you trained a fire-type beast like that, the beast would either refuse to obey or even break the contract outright if it had a bad temper. My Flame Sprite had been fine before, but after hearing him say that, it suddenly developed an attitude problem, and I had to work extra hard just to get it back to normal!¡± ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± The students around burst into laughter. At that moment, their homeroom teacher, Mu Deli, walked in, accompanied by an unfamiliar male student. ¡°I have an announcement, this is our new exchange student.¡± Mu Deli said from the podium. The boy stepped forward and introduced himself. ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Tang Yi, from Dragon Nation on Blue Star. Please take care of me.¡± The class responded with polite, half-hearted applause. The homeroom teacher continued, ¡°There¡¯s actually one more exchange student in our class. They should be arriving shortly. Make sure to welcome them.¡± Tang Yi was momentarily stunned, then felt a wave of relief. It must be Yang Jiayi! Even though they had disagreed about where to go last night, it was still comforting to have a familiar face in the same class. But it¡¯s already past 8 AM¡­ why isn¡¯t she here yet? Since highly talented beast tamers took longer to absorb Veil Essence, could it be that Yang Jiayi had higher talent than him and was still absorbing it? If that¡¯s the case¡­ Tang Yi suddenly felt a little bitter. Was his 12-minute absorption time the shortest among the three of them? ¡ª Meanwhile¡­ Dormitory Area 1, Room 502. Qiao Sang sat on her bed, looking at her phone. She felt exhausted. On the first day of school¡­ she had overslept. ----- ----- Chapter 504: Interested in Competing with Me? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- It seemed that after staying up late studying for so long, her biological clock had become irregular again... Qiao Sang put down her phone and turned to stare at the vial of Veil Essence she had placed on the bedside table last night. After a moment of contemplation, she got up and got dressed. At this stage, studying was still more important than developing her brain domain. She wasn¡¯t sure how long the absorption of the Veil Essence would take, and since she had classes in the morning, she couldn''t afford to miss them. Since she had the vial in hand anyway, she might as well set an alarm for tomorrow morning and absorb it then. After washing up, Qiao Sang went to the living room, pouring some energy pills onto a plate while addressing her pet beasts. "You guys stay here. After breakfast, make sure to train for two hours. I''ll be back at noon." Yesterday, when she toured the school, she specifically noted the distance between the senior year teaching building and the dormitory. Although it was quite far, it was still within her summoning range. If she needed them, she could summon them at any time. For the next few months, most of her time would be spent in the classroom. Keeping her beasts inside the Beast Codex all the time would be a waste. "Yap¡­" Yabao''s tail drooped, looking reluctant. Since their contract, he had never been apart from his beast master. Even when he trained at a distance, it had only been through his clones¡­ Seeing Yabao¡¯s expression, Qiao Sang felt a pang of guilt. Among her three pet beasts, Yabao was the most dependent on her. When he wasn''t training, he stayed by her side almost all the time. Little Treasure, on the other hand, was curious and liked playing with his phone or exploring fun things. As for Lubao, she required no supervision. When not training, she stayed quietly in the water, barely making an appearance. "Lu." Just as Qiao Sang was about to comfort Yabao, Lubao made a sound, signaling that she would train diligently and that she needn¡¯t worry. "Yap!" Yabao turned to look at Lubao before giving Qiao Sang a determined nod He would stay and train hard, no way was he going to let Lubao surpass him! Qiao Sang chuckled. Honestly, a bit of competition among pet beasts was a good thing. She then turned to Little Treasure. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure quickly patted his chest, promising to train seriously as well. Truthfully, he wanted to follow his beast master, but since she was going to class, he recalled the times he had to stay hidden in classrooms at Shengshui High and decided that training here was a better idea. ????????N?§£¨¨s At that moment, Qiao Sang spoke up. "Can you locate Senior Year Class 6 and send me there before returning?" Her admission notice had stated that she was placed in Senior Year Class 6. "Xun~" Little Treasure gestured that he had no problem, then closed his eyes to search for coordinates. But suddenly, he seemed to remember something, opened his eyes, and tilted his head in confusion. What did the words "Senior Year Class 6" even look like? Qiao Sang: ¡­ She almost forgot, Little Treasure couldn¡¯t read. --- Senior Year Class 6. When Qiao Sang stepped into the classroom, the first period was already halfway through. The entire room fell silent, including the teacher who was in the middle of the lecture. "Let me introduce her. This is the other exchange student from Blue Star who has joined our class." The homeroom teacher announced, leading Qiao Sang into the room. Goodness, no wonder this was a prestigious school. Not only did each student have their own desk, but there were barely over a dozen students in the whole class¡­ Qiao Sang took in the setting with mild surprise but kept a composed expression as she approached the podium and introduced herself. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My name is Qiao Sang." At that moment, Tang Yi, sitting in the second-to-last row, was frozen in shock. Qiao Sang?! How could it be Qiao Sang?! Wasn¡¯t she a freshman?! The classroom erupted into murmurs. Clearly, everyone found Qiao Sang¡¯s arrival far more intriguing than Tang Yi¡¯s. "She looks so young." "She must be the coordination battle champion." "Should we ask her to perform for us after class?" "Raffi, you¡¯ve participated in coordination battles before. Want to challenge her later?" "You also compete in beast battles regularly. Why don¡¯t you challenge the new guy instead?" Retorted the red-haired girl, Raffi. "He¡¯s the national high school champion in beast battles. Why would I challenge him? Am I crazy?" "Who said he was the champion?" "Look at his hair, it¡¯s messy like he barely maintains it. Do you really think he¡¯s a coordination battle champion?" "Didn¡¯t they say three exchange students came? One¡¯s a beast battle champion, one¡¯s a coordination battle champion, so what about the third?" "Maybe a genius scholar from Dragon Nation." "If that¡¯s the case, then this girl might be the scholar. She looks really smart." Though their assumptions were way off, Qiao Sang quite liked that last comment. With her extraordinary hearing, she cast a glance of approval at the boy who had said it. The boy, feeling her gaze, unknowingly straightened his posture. High schoolers cared a lot about others¡¯ opinions, especially those of the opposite gender. The teacher didn¡¯t reprimand Qiao Sang for being late. In fact, he didn¡¯t even question her and just resumed the lecture. At a school like this, none of the students were people he could afford to offend. Qiao Sang listened attentively, taking notes. Though she had been studying extensively recently, senior year classes mainly focused on review, meaning many concepts were new to her. Before long, it was time for the break. A Black male student approached her and asked, "Hey, are you a champion in your country?" Qiao Sang turned to him and replied with a simple "Mm." See? She really is the coordination battle champion¡­ The Black student exchanged a glance with the red-haired girl, Raffi. A champion¡­ The coordination battle champion of Dragon''s high school division¡­ It would be interesting to challenge such a strong opponent. Raffi thought for a moment, then walked over to Qiao Sang with a confident smile. "Would you be interested in competing with me?" At the same time, Tang Yi also walked up. "Qiao Sang! What are you doing in the senior year class?!" As someone from the same place, Qiao Sang naturally chose to answer Tang Yi first. "My admission notice placed me in senior year." Tang Yi looked utterly shocked. "But aren¡¯t you a freshman?!" Freshman?! The students of Senior Year Class 6 all turned to stare at the black-haired girl with a ponytail, looking completely bewildered. Why would a freshman be in their senior-year class?! Qiao Sang calmly replied: "The leadership told me that if I could win at least second place in the national campus senior division without using spatial shift to eject my opponent from the ring, I would be allowed to take the college entrance exam this year." Tang Yi: !!! No wonder! No wonder Qiao Sang had been studying so hard for the past month! She was going to take the college entrance exam! Meanwhile, the other students in the class were processing this revelation at high speed. Coordination battles required elegance and beauty in combat. Using spatial shift to remove an opponent from the ring was definitely not part of their style. If leadership had given her this condition, then¡­ She wasn¡¯t the coordination battle champion, she was the beast battle champion! And she was only a freshman who had already won the high school senior division championship! For a moment, the class fell into a strange silence. Then, Qiao Sang turned to the red-haired girl. "Sure. When do you want to compete?" Raffi: !!! Chapter 505: I Want to Test My Brain Domain Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Raffi looked around for help. Gene guiltily averted his gaze, while the other classmates gave her a good luck look. Raffi deeply regretted her decision. She, a coordinator, had challenged a national campus beast battle champion. Wasn''t this just asking for trouble? Why did she assume she was a coordination champion without confirming first?! It was all Gene¡¯s fault for misleading her! Despite gritting her teeth internally, she maintained a graceful smile and said, "Sorry, I mistook you for a coordination champion because of your elegance and appearance. I originally wanted to have a coordination match with you." Rather than stubbornly going through with it and embarrassing herself, it was better to admit her mistake outright. Raffi understood that if she admitted it, the class would just have a laugh and move on. But if she insisted, she¡¯d become the school¡¯s next big joke. Having been flattered, Qiao Sang was in a good mood and smiled. "It''s fine. If you ever want a beast battle, you''re welcome to challenge me." Challenge you? Am I crazy? Raffi kept her sweet smile. "I will." Tang Yi, watching from the side, was both envious and excited. Now that he was in the same class as Qiao Sang, didn¡¯t that mean he''d have more chances to battle her? After the last morning class, their homeroom teacher, Mu Deli, called Qiao Sang and Tang Yi to the office. A beast with a yellow flower on its head and light green leaf-like garments stood nearby, holding a measuring tape. Mu Deli said, "This is Scissor Bloom, a tailor. You¡¯ll have your measurements taken so it can make your uniforms." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Scissor!" Scissor Bloom placed its paws on its leafy skirt and slightly bent its knees. After a graceful bow, it approached Qiao Sang and professionally took her measurements. A custom uniform? Just like a designer outfit¡­ Qiao Sang sighed internally. As measurements were taken, Mu Deli continued, "In our school, beasts must also undergo a series of studies. However, each student only needs to select one beast for enrollment. Think about which beast you¡¯d like to register, and I¡¯ll sign you up." §²?N§°?¨º? Tang Yi was taken aback. "Beasts have to study too?" Mu Deli nodded. "Beasts are the core of a beast master¡¯s strength. If they remain in the Beast Codex while you''re in class, that¡¯s wasted time, and their growth will be slow. That¡¯s why we implement structured training for them while you attend classes." "Their schedule matches yours. Once school ends, you can take them back." "But only one beast is required. You should keep a strong beast with you for safety while letting a weaker one undergo training." Tang Yi was thrilled. Wasn''t this basically free beast training? And since it was at the same school, with the same schedule, there was no risk of drifting apart from his beast due to distance or time constraints. Qiao Sang remained calm. Her beasts trained on their own and never wasted time, even without supervision. Standardized training might even slow their progress. After all, continuously using skills increased proficiency. A standardized instructor wouldn¡¯t just make them repeatedly cast abilities. If the training enhanced speed, reflexes, and other abilities, that would be fine. But her beasts'' overall abilities already far exceeded their peers. How many high school students even had advanced-rank beasts? Training alongside mid-rank or even low-rank beasts wouldn¡¯t necessarily help. She didn¡¯t doubt the instructors¡¯ skills, but they had to tailor lessons to the majority. Like how a high school math teacher wouldn¡¯t suddenly start teaching college-level calculus just because one student was ahead. Wait¡­ something occurred to Qiao Sang. "Can they teach beasts how to read?" --- Meanwhile, in Dorm Area 1, Room 502... Little Treasure, who was cursing an ant with bad luck, suddenly sneezed for no reason¡­ --- Leaving the office, on the way to the cafeteria, Tang Yi sneaked a glance at Qiao Sang. Teaching a beast to read?! She really wasn¡¯t human¡­ Suddenly, something came to mind. "How much has your brain domain expanded?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "I haven''t taken the Veil Essence yet." Tang Yi was shocked. She had resisted the temptation of consuming Veil Essence immediately?! Then again, considering it was Qiao Sang, maybe that wasn¡¯t too surprising¡­ "My brain domain was originally 17%. Now it''s 23%." Tang Yi scratched his head. "Only a 6% increase, but I broke through the third page of my Beast Codex." He spoke with a hint of pride. Everyone knew brain domain expansion wasn¡¯t easy, especially later on. At first, it might take just a year to go from 11% to 19%, but pushing from 19% to 20% could take a decade. That¡¯s why some beast masters reached General-level in their thirties yet remained stuck for over a hundred years, unable to unlock another page of their Beast Codex. Breaking through a page while also increasing by 3% showed that Tang Yi had good talent. That number sounds too precise¡­ Qiao Sang asked, "You tested your brain domain before taking the essence?" "Of course!" Tang Yi said. "It¡¯s a big deal. You need to know your baseline, and the increase from Veil Essence reveals a beast master''s potential. Everyone tests before taking it." Then he turned to Qiao Sang, puzzled. "You haven¡¯t tested yet?" Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before asking, "Where do you test it?" So she really hasn¡¯t tested¡­ Tang Yi replied, "At the school¡¯s medical center." --- 1:10 PM. The medical center¡¯s door was slightly open. Inside sat a young doctor in a white coat, along with a pet beast also dressed in a white coat. It had rabbit-like ears and green limbs. "I want to test my brain domain." Qiao Sang said. Ahem. I promise I¡¯ll take the essence tomorrow. Chapter 506: This Feeling Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Just sit there." The young doctor gestured for her to take a seat and smiled. "Are you a first-year? I don''t think I''ve seen you before." Although Sainan High School had both a middle school and a high school division, their management and campuses were separate, including the infirmary. As a prestigious school providing elite education, each class only had about 15 students, and the entire high school division had just over 400 students. The students who attended this school all came from influential families in society, people he couldn¡¯t afford to offend. To ensure his long-term employment here, the young school doctor had memorized the profiles of nearly every high school student, afraid of saying the wrong thing or encountering any sensitive issues. However, he had never seen the girl in front of him before, nor had he ever come across her in the records. "I''m an exchange student from Blue Star this semester, a senior." Qiao Sang replied. As she spoke, his emerald-green pet beast, which had rabbit-like ears, brought over a brainwave detection helmet. Qiao Sang cooperated and put it on. So, she was an interstellar exchange student... The young doctor relaxed. Exchange students from other planets naturally had strong backgrounds, but since her connections weren¡¯t rooted in Chaosu Star, he didn¡¯t have to be overly cautious. "You look quite young, nothing like a senior student." Now that he knew she was an interstellar exchange student, the young doctor spoke more casually. Just then, a green light lit up at the bottom of the monitor connected to the brainwave detection helmet, and a series of data appeared on the screen. The young doctor turned to look, and his expression instantly froze. "Because I''m only fifteen." Qiao Sang said at that moment. The young doctor abruptly looked at the girl before him, shock and disbelief written all over his face. Fifteen?! How was that possible?! If she was a senior, he could understand the brainwave data displayed on the screen. After all, most interstellar exchange students had access to rare resources that enhanced brain development. Over the years, he had tested several exchange students, and without exception, their brainwave data changed drastically from one day to the next. Just yesterday, he had tested two students whose readings were completely different from those in the morning. The girl in front of him had likely consumed one of those rare resources before arriving. Even so, her data indicated extraordinary talent. But now she was saying she was only fifteen? That made no sense at all! Could a person''s brain develop to this extent at just fifteen?! Was she joking, or was the equipment malfunctioning? For a moment, the young doctor felt his mind go blank. "Doctor?" Seeing the school physician staring at her in silence, Qiao Sang called out to him. The young doctor snapped out of it, his expression complex. "Your brainwave development is at 29%, but it would be best if you came back for another test after school or tomorrow. That way, the data will be more accurate." ???????§£?? "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded. She was planning to come back tomorrow anyway, after taking the Veil Essence. After Qiao Sang left, the young doctor picked up his phone and made a call. The dial tone rang for a few seconds before the other party answered. Before they could speak, the young doctor urgently said, "I think there''s something wrong with my brainwave detection helmet. Can you send someone to check it out?" --- 5:45 PM Dormitory Area One. Room 502. Qiao Sang''s consciousness entered the Beast master Codex to check on the data. This cheat ability had another benefit, it let her monitor whether Yabao and the others were slacking off. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A minute later, Qiao Sang opened her eyes in satisfaction. "Not bad, you all trained well this afternoon too." She praised. "Yap!" Yabao put on a proud expression, as if saying, Of course! "Xun xun~" Little Treasure blinked his bright eyes and chirped, indicating that he hadn¡¯t slacked off either. Could he play on the phone tonight? Sainan High School didn¡¯t have strict rules against bringing phones. Qiao Sang recalled that Little Treasure would be starting school soon and softened her tone. "Of course, you can." Lubao remained silent on the side. "Yap!" "Yap!" At that moment, Yabao pointed toward the balcony and called out seriously, asking when they could go outside. Many skills couldn¡¯t be properly trained inside the dorm. "Lu." Lubao nodded in agreement, a rare occurrence. She also wanted to train outside. Training inside the dormitory simply wasn¡¯t effective, many attack skills couldn¡¯t be unleashed properly. Qiao Sang said, "I''ll ask tomorrow if there¡¯s a suitable place for training. Once I find one, I¡¯ll take you there." The administrative director had taken her on a tour before school started and introduced some training areas, but while those facilities were spacious, they were fully furnished and had smooth floors. If Yabao used a fire-type skill, she¡¯d probably be called in for a discussion. "Yap!" Yabao cheered excitedly. Lubao didn¡¯t show much emotion, but her tail flicked slightly. Only Little Treasure remained immersed in the joy of being allowed to play on the phone. If his Beast master had granted permission, it meant he didn¡¯t have to sneak around at night, he could play before she even went to sleep! As for where the training would take place, that didn¡¯t really matter. Training was training. Since the usually talkative Little Treasure was quiet, Qiao Sang glanced over. She quickly realized something and added, "But you can only play for an hour." Little Treasure: ¡­ --- 9:30 PM Qiao Sang set down her book, finished washing up, and got into bed. She adjusted her alarm clock. "Little Treasure!" Once everything was ready, she called out, "Bring me the potion bottle I told you to put away this morning." "Xun~" In the next second, Little Treasure, who had been in the living room searching for new ants, appeared before Qiao Sang. He removed his spatial ring, reached inside, and quickly pulled out the Veil Essence. Qiao Sang took the bottle and reminded it, "You can play on the phone while I sleep, but don¡¯t forget to charge it." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically. Placing the Veil Essence by her pillow, Qiao Sang lay down. Her eyelids grew heavier, and before long, she drifted into a deep sleep. --- 6:00 AM the next morning. Qiao Sang was startled awake by her alarm, nearly suffering a heart attack. It had been a long time since she last experienced waking up to an alarm¡­ She yawned as she turned it off and got out of bed. "Yap¡­" Beside her, Yabao mumbled in his sleep, completely unaffected by the alarm. Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao. She knew he had an unbelievably deep sleep cycle and wouldn¡¯t wake up easily even if there were loud noises, but she still picked up the Veil Essence, put on her slippers, and quietly left the room. Stepping onto the balcony, she took a deep breath of fresh air, instantly clearing her groggy mind. Once fully awake, Qiao Sang sat down on the living room couch, uncapped the potion bottle, and drank the Veil Essence in one gulp. Immediately start meditating after taking it¡­ She recalled the administrative director¡¯s advice and closed her eyes. A surge of powerful energy erupted in her brain, like parched earth soaking up fresh rain. Qiao Sang felt something shatter in her mind. The energy didn¡¯t dissipate, instead, it continued circulating through her brain, steady and strong, in sync with her meditation. It didn¡¯t hurt, in fact, it felt incredibly comfortable. Time passed. She didn¡¯t know how long it had been when she slowly opened her eyes, her mind clearer than ever before. This feeling¡­ As a thought formed, Qiao Sang clasped her hands together. The next moment, an orange-yellow star formation lit up on the ground. Chapter 507: The Points Ranking Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The Beast master¡¯s Codex had indeed unlocked the fourth page¡­ Qiao Sang was delighted. Yesterday, when she learned that her brain domain had developed to 29%, she had already guessed that this might happen. But now that it was confirmed, she couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. After all, unlocking the fourth page of the Beast master¡¯s Codex was one of the prerequisites for becoming a C-rank Beast master. As long as she successfully certified as a C-rank Beast master, she would be eligible to participate in the regional tournament. The regional tournament was the largest event in each region. It gathered nearly all the most talented and powerful professional Beast masters, representing the highest level of competition among young professional Beast masters in the region. For the younger generation of professional Beast masters, participating in the regional tournament was an ultimate goal, not just for honor, but also for fame. Anyone who had participated in the regional tournament and achieved decent results would receive endless invitations from major TV stations and endorsement deals. For a long time afterward, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about resources. Though the attention from the public was similar to that of celebrities, professional Beast masters held much higher social status and earned far more money than them. The Interstellar Cup was too far-fetched to even consider, but the regional tournament was already a dream for all professional Beast masters. Naturally, Qiao Sang wanted to participate. She grabbed her phone from the coffee table, intending to search for suitable contract beasts. Since she had come all the way to Chaosu Star, it would be a waste not to contract a beast from here. "Yap!" At that moment, Yabao¡¯s voice rang out beside her. Qiao Sang turned her head and was surprised to see Yabao looking energetic. "You¡¯re awake?" "Yap yap." Yabao let out a sound, meaning he had been awake for a long time. Awake for a long time? Qiao Sang was stunned and glanced at the time on her phone: 7:58 AM. "!!!" Crap! It was only the second day of school, and she was about to be late again?! --- As Qiao Sang walked into the classroom, all eyes turned to her. Late on the first day. Late on the second day. Even in the elite class, and in the entire Saiman High School, there were barely any students like her. Under the stares of her classmates, Qiao Sang remained calm and went to her seat. Being late wasn¡¯t a big deal. What mattered was that she had missed a large part of the lesson. "Looks like we have a troublemaker in our class." A student whispered. "She¡¯s an interstellar exchange student. Even if she¡¯s late every day, the school can¡¯t do anything about it." "So jealous..." "What¡¯s there to be jealous of? Our school has a point-based system. She jumped straight from first-year to third-year. If she can¡¯t keep up with her studies, she won¡¯t earn any points except through Beastmaster battles and field studies. Being late costs 3 points each time. At this rate, she¡¯ll run out of initial points in no time." ?¦¡????? "But she¡¯s an interstellar exchange student. She won the championship to get here. She doesn¡¯t lack resources. Even if she loses all her points, her family won¡¯t care." "Still, I envy her..." Qiao Sang clearly heard the discussion around her, but she didn¡¯t react, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard a thing. During the next break, she turned to the student sitting behind her, Tang Yi, and asked, "What¡¯s this point-based system at Sainan High School?" Tang Yi was slightly surprised. Then he remembered that Qiao Sang spent most of her time reading and rarely interacted with others, so it made sense that she didn¡¯t know about it. He explained, "At Sainan High School, resources are exchanged using points. 3 points can be exchanged for resources worth 300,000 credits in the market. You can roughly think of 1 point as equivalent to 100,000 credits." "???" Wait a minute. Someone had just said that being late deducted 3 points. She had been late twice¡­ meaning she had already lost 600,000 credits?! Tang Yi continued, "I know you don¡¯t lack resources, but some of the exchangeable items here aren¡¯t available on the market. I checked the redemption system yesterday, and it even has some SS-rank resources." These words hit Qiao Sang like a sharp arrow to the heart. She fell silent for a while before speaking. "No one ever told me about this..." "You¡¯re always reading. No one had a chance to talk to you." Tang Yi lowered his voice. "Besides, the students here wouldn¡¯t voluntarily tell us these things." "Why not?" Qiao Sang asked. "Because we¡¯re interstellar exchange students." Tang Yi said quietly. "Their points have been accumulating since first-year, but we only arrived in the second semester of third-year. They don¡¯t want us competing for the best resources. The teachers here are all from Chaosu Star, and to them, we¡¯re just here to experience a different learning environment." "But they probably also assume we don¡¯t need those resources." He added. "After all, we¡¯re only here for half a year. We don¡¯t have enough time to earn points for rare items, and anything we can buy on the market, they think we already have." Qiao Sang processed the information and said, "The students here shouldn¡¯t care too much about points, right?" "Who says they don¡¯t?" Tang Yi sighed. "They all come from influential families. They might not care about the resources, but they care about the points ranking." Qiao Sang gestured for him to continue. "The points ranking is used to evaluate students'' overall abilities. Even if the students themselves don¡¯t care, their families do." "If their points are too low, their families will consider them incompetent. And once they¡¯re labeled as incompetent, it¡¯ll be hard for them to be taken seriously in their family in the future." High schoolers being judged on their capabilities already? As expected of prestigious families¡­ Qiao Sang asked, "How do you earn points?" Tang Yi patiently answered, "It depends on your grades, or if you bring honor to the school. You can also help classmates or teachers with tasks, points can be transferred between students. People here basically use points as currency." "By the way, how many starting points did you get?" Qiao Sang had a bad feeling. "Aren¡¯t our initial points the same?" Tang Yi looked at her with a resentful expression. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You were the champion. I was the runner-up. How could they be the same?" Oh. That was awkward. So starting points were based on rankings¡­ Qiao Sang cleared her throat. "Where do I check my points?" Tang Yi gave her a look as if she were still using a 2G network. "Just log into the Sainan High School website with your student ID." He said. So that¡¯s how it worked¡­ Taking advantage of the break, Qiao Sang quickly pulled up the school website and logged in. "How many points do you have?" Tang Yi asked eagerly. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression darkened. "94 points." 94 points. That meant she had already lost 6 points. That was 600,000 credits gone¡­ just like that. "What about you?" She composed herself and looked at Tang Yi. Tang Yi was silent for two seconds. "Guess." Qiao Sang: ¡­ Tang Yi was crying internally. So champion and runner-up were this different?! He only had 20 points, and it was too embarrassing to say out loud! Chapter 508: The Chasm Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- After the morning classes, Qiao Sang headed toward the infirmary. "Teacher, I want to test my brain domain." She said as she pushed the door open. "Wait a moment." The young doctor replied while examining a pet beast. The creature had a hardened wooden shell covering its head and back, with a brown-tipped tail. Standing beside him was a Southeast Asian-looking male student. Qiao Sang glanced at his sleeve and saw a white gemstone. A first-year student... She found a seat and sat down. At Sainan High School, each grade level had different gemstone colors embedded in their uniform sleeves. First-years had white, second-years had green, and third-years had blue, making it easy to distinguish. After the examination, the young doctor said, "It can be treated, but full recovery will take until the evening." The boy frowned. "I have an outdoor training session this afternoon. If it¡¯s not fully healed, how can I participate?" "Junjun..." The pet beast, with its wooden-covered head, lowered its head as if it had done something wrong. The young doctor reassured him, "Junjian Grass can still battle, but its movement will be slower than usual. It shouldn¡¯t affect your training too much." The boy raised his head and said seriously, "Kul Chaang once said that even the slightest discomfort before going into battle can put a pet beast in a passive position." Qiao Sang''s mouth twitched hard. Are you seriously using a famous wartime quote for an outdoor training session? With just a beginner pet beast? Do you even realize your own level? The instructor isn''t going to throw you against creatures way beyond your capabilities, what''s wrong with moving a bit slower? The young doctor mentally rolled his eyes but outwardly put on a look of admiration. "You''re right. That was my oversight." Then, he looked troubled. "But the issue is that Junjian Grass absorbed too much energy, which is now blocked inside its body and unable to dissipate. I can only accelerate its energy absorption and help it release the excess, but this process takes time." ??¦­?§£????? "If you want an immediate fix, it¡¯s not impossible. But Junjian Grass is a low-level pet beast, its body won¡¯t be able to handle it. In the end, it would still need a few hours to recover." The boy fell silent, seemingly weighing his options. "Junjun..." Junjian Grass lowered its head even further. "Um..." At that moment, Qiao Sang spoke up. "Maybe I can heal it immediately." Both the boy and the doctor turned to look at her. The boy asked skeptically, "Does your pet beast have a skill that specializes in this?" He had recognized her the moment she walked in. There had been a post about her on Sainan High School¡¯s forum yesterday. The new interstellar exchange student. The high school champion of Blue Star¡¯s Dragon Nation Beast master League. Someone the same age as him but assigned to the senior class, Year 3, Class 6. With those titles, it was hard not to remember her. If she were from Chaosu Star, the elite social circles here would have been all over her. But she was from Blue Star and would eventually leave, so there was no need to befriend her. "Something like that." Qiao Sang nodded. "What do you want in exchange?" The boy, maintaining a fair-trade mindset, asked. Well, since you put it that way, I won¡¯t hold back... Qiao Sang smiled. "Just give me six points." The boy immediately turned to the young doctor and said, "Go ahead and treat Junjian Grass. Use the first treatment option." Thank you, exchange student... The young doctor gave Qiao Sang a grateful look and began the treatment. Qiao Sang: ... After the boy left with Junjian Grass, she asked, puzzled, "I told him I could heal it right away. Why didn''t he take my offer?" The young doctor chuckled. "Points are extremely important to students here. He wanted Junjian Grass to fully recover before training so he could earn more points. Giving you six points would have been worse than giving you 600,000 alliance credits." Are points really that hard to earn¡­? Realizing this, Qiao Sang felt even more heartbroken about losing six points. "You''re a special talent student, right?" The doctor asked. "Yeah." "Most interstellar exchange students are special talent students." The doctor said with a smile. "If you want to earn points, it¡¯s easy, just participate in competitions related to your specialty." Like I have time for that... Qiao Sang pouted. As the doctor placed the brain domain testing helmet on her head, he added, "If you have a breakthrough in your brain domain, an evolution in your pet beast, or pass a beast master ranking exam, you can also earn points." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. "How many points?" "It depends on your previous records." The doctor said as he turned on the helmet. "You need to surpass your archived stats for it to count." "For brain domain increases, going from 8% to 9% won¡¯t earn points. Only reaching a milestone, like going from 9% to 10%, where your Beast master Codex gains an additional blank contract page, counts as a major breakthrough and will reward points." Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. "How many points for that?" "Well, let¡¯s see..." The young doctor looked at the display screen, and his words suddenly died in his throat. How many points¡­? Say it already! Qiao Sang was getting impatient. "Teacher?" "Hold on." The doctor snapped back to reality and immediately pulled out his phone. "The brain domain testing helmet is broken. I need to call for maintenance." Broken? Qiao Sang turned to look at the screen. [39%] "Where is it broken?" She asked. The young doctor was dialing maintenance when he noticed her glancing at the display. He froze for a moment. Does she really need me to explain?! Can''t she see this number for herself?! Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he said, "The data is incorrect." Qiao Sang, ever the curious learner, asked, "How can you tell?" The doctor couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. "Thirty-nine percent! It shows thirty-nine percent!" Qiao Sang asked sincerely, "What¡¯s wrong with 39%?" Tang Yi¡¯s brain domain had increased by 6%. It wasn¡¯t unreasonable for hers to increase by 10%, right? In her experience, breaking through in brain domain had always been easy. First, it awakened naturally. Then, after a good night¡¯s sleep, her Beast master Codex had an extra page. Later, resisting a hypnosis skill had unlocked another. She had never found brain domain advancement particularly difficult. Besides, to qualify as a B-rank Beastmaster, she needed to reach 50%, a universally recognized barrier. She hadn¡¯t even crossed the small chasm of 40% yet. Do you even hear yourself?! The young doctor¡¯s eye twitched violently, struggling to find words for this absurdity. Seeing his expression, Qiao Sang started to understand. She had tested at 29% yesterday. Today, it showed 39%. A sudden 10% jump, it was no wonder he thought the equipment was faulty. With that realization, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal. In the next moment, an orange-yellow star formation lit up. The young doctor¡¯s mind went blank. An... orange-yellow star formation?! "Hey, why aren¡¯t you saying anything?" The voice from the phone speaker echoed faintly. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 509: Then Ill Say It Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The young doctor was stunned for a long time, unable to say a word. The person on the other end of the phone called out ¡°Hello¡± several times, and when no one responded, they simply hung up. Only after the star array faded did the young doctor finally find his voice again. ¡°I think I just saw an orange-yellow star array¡­¡± Even now, he still couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°It was orange-yellow. My brain domain broke through today.¡± The young doctor, still in a daze, asked, ¡°How old did you say you were yesterday?¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Almost 16.¡± So, I didn''t remember wrong... The young doctor¡¯s pupils were filled with shock. A prodigy like this, and her family actually felt at ease letting her study at a school on another planet? Weren¡¯t they a little too relaxed about it?! 15 years old! Throughout the entire history of Chaosu Star, there had never been a beast master whose brain domain exceeded 30% at that age! The young doctor took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his shock. He tossed his phone onto the table, feeling a bit nervous as he stepped forward to remove the brain domain detection helmet from Qiao Sang''s head. ¡°I-I¡¯ve never seen a high school student with a brain domain this high before.¡± ¡°How many points can I get for this?¡± Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t forgotten about the points. ¡°I''ll ask the higher-ups.¡± The young doctor didn¡¯t notice that his attitude had become much more respectful. ¡°Brain domain breakthroughs do earn points, but there''s no regulation for how many points exceeding 30% should earn because the school never anticipated that any student¡¯s brain domain would surpass 30%.¡± ?????????????§£§¦???? As he said this, his expression became a little tense. ¡°Can we add each other¡¯s contacts first? Once I get the results, I¡¯ll let you know right away.¡± Good thing this school doesn¡¯t strictly prohibit students from carrying phones. Otherwise, this would¡¯ve felt like a trap¡­ Qiao Sang took out her phone and said, ¡°Alright.¡± After exchanging contacts, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Teacher, is there a training ground in the school that isn¡¯t afraid of being destroyed?¡± The way she addressed him as teacher made the young doctor feel incredibly pleased. Although working as a school doctor at Sainan High School gave him an impressive status outside, only he knew what it was really like inside. It wasn¡¯t that he suffered in the school, but the students here were outwardly polite yet inherently arrogant, as if they viewed anyone outside their circle as mere NPCs. The girl in front of him wasn¡¯t from Chaosu Star, yet her talent surpassed the students here by a hundredfold. Despite this, she still called him teacher without any sense of superiority, as if she genuinely saw him as one. The young doctor thought seriously. ¡°All the training grounds are resistant to damage, but if you mean large-scale destruction, then it¡¯s best to go to the open-air field behind the school. Some teachers often battle there, and the field has never been intact.¡± ¡°If there are teachers training in battles when you go, it won¡¯t be a problem. The field is large enough that you won¡¯t be affected.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. --- 8:29 PM. Dormitory Area 1, Room 502. After finishing her homework, Qiao Sang surprisingly didn¡¯t read but instead searched online for suitable contract beasts on Chaosu Star. Since her Beast master Codex now had a fourth page, it was time to decide on the next contract beast. She had considered this before. A beast master could only contract a limited number of beasts, so every choice had to be made carefully. Some beast masters specialized in a single type, but that made their teams highly limited. Not only did it make them easy targets in competitive matches, but it also reduced their survival rate in secret realms. That was why beast masters typically entered secret realms in teams. To make it out of a secret realm alive, team composition was crucial. Currently, her contracted beasts were: Yabao: Undoubtedly the firepower output. Little Treasure: Scout and control abilities. Lubao: Healing abilities. So, the fourth beast should have strong defensive capabilities. With that in mind, Qiao Sang typed into the search bar: ¡°What beginner contract beasts have strong defense?¡± Search results appeared quickly. She clicked on a post labeled most comments in the bottom-right corner. The original poster had the same question as her, and there were many replies below: [User 1]: I highly recommend Ice Shell Turtle! Its entire body is covered in a thick layer of frost, almost like it''s made of ice. Super high defense! [User 2]: Don''t mislead OP! Ice Shell Turtle has high HP and defense but terrible special defense. Plus, it''s super slow! If it encounters a wild beast, it''ll just stand there and get hit. [User 3]: I think Air Wall is a great choice. It naturally creates air barriers for defense. [User 4]: Are you trying to make OP go broke? Do you know how expensive an Air Wall is?! [User 5]: OP just asked for strong defensive beginner beasts, not price limits. Why are you so worked up? [User 6]: If we¡¯re talking defense, then Little Rock Rhino is the best. A wild one broke through a building wall on the news last time, and it wasn¡¯t even injured! The security team couldn¡¯t catch it in time. [User 7]: I admit its defense is strong, but it¡¯s dumb! It can only focus on one thing at a time, and once it starts charging, it might forget why halfway through. With a brain that bad, forget learning new skills, it can¡¯t even train properly. [User 8]: I recommend Rock Shell. [User 9]: Rock Shell is reliable! Its defense is basically an iron fortress among beginner beasts. Plus, it''s obedient, you tell it to do something, and it does it. If OP gets lucky, they might even contract one with the Sturdy trait! [User 10]: Uh¡­ Rock Shell just stands there and gets hit, though. At least Ice Shell Turtle has some attack power. Rock Shell doesn¡¯t even hurt when it hits something. [User 11]: How about Steel Falcon? Defense, attack, and speed, it has everything. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [User 12]: No way. Steel Falcons are impossible to handle. Even the ones from beast centers pretend to be obedient until they get contracted. Then, they either run away or forcibly break the contract. [User 13]: I thought of Little Fortress. Its whole body is armored, it has high defense, and it looks cool. When it evolves, the shed armor can even be sold for money. [User 14]: Are you serious? Little Fortress eats metal! Just yesterday, District 29¡¯s trending topic was about a Little Fortress eating 12 cars and bankrupting its beast master. Wanna go check it out? Is there no well-rounded beast with defense, intelligence, and combat skills? Qiao Sang exited the post and continued searching other websites. At that moment, she suddenly felt a weight on her head. Looking at the mirror on her desk, she saw nothing there. ¡°Why are you invisible?¡± She asked. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure whispered. He was playing hide-and-seek with Big Brother Yabao and didn¡¯t want to be found. ¡°Alright, keep playing, but when you''re done, I have something to tell you.¡± Qiao Sang lowered her voice. ¡°Xun.¡± Little Treasure originally wanted to nod but couldn''t resist its curiosity. Instead, he softly asked that she could say it now. ¡°Then I''ll say it.¡± Little Treasure nodded. ¡°Get a good night¡¯s rest. Tomorrow, you¡¯re going to school with me.¡± Little Treasure: ?!! Chapter 510: Dream Enlightenment Stone Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- A bolt from the blue! Little Treasure was struck as if by lightning and immediately revealed himself, floating to the side. At that moment, he forgot he was still playing hide-and-seek and let out a trembling cry. "Xun?!" School?! "Yes." Qiao Sang nodded slightly. "The school requires pet beasts to study as well, so I signed you up." Little Treasure staggered back, as if taking a heavy blow. He stared at his Beast master in disbelief, never expecting such a cold-hearted statement to come from those 37-degree lips. "Xun xun?" After a few seconds, Little Treasure seemed to think of something and called out tentatively. What about Big Brother Yabao and Lubao? Qiao Sang coughed. "The school only allows one pet beast per student, so I only registered you." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "!!!" Little Treasure clutched his chest with one paw, looking as if he had been shot through the heart. He shakily extended another paw, just about to accuse his Beast master of being cold and heartless. Then Qiao Sang said, "I had no choice. You''re smarter than Yabao and the others, so you''re the only one who can actually understand the lessons." "Xun..." Little Treasure froze for a moment, then began to seriously consider the statement. That seemed... true. He was the smartest, after all. Qiao Sang continued, "So you''re the most suitable one to go." "Xun..." Little Treasure sighed. Qiao Sang smiled. "When you come back from class, I''ll let you play on the phone for an extra hour." "Xun~" Little Treasure waved his paw. He had no choice, after all, he was the smartest. After successfully fooling Little Treasure, Qiao Sang resumed searching for defensive pet beasts to contract. Two minutes later, a message appeared on her phone screen: [School Doctor: I reported to the higher-ups. They said they want to meet you tomorrow before making a decision.] Qiao Sang opened the chat app and typed a reply: [Okay, what time and where?] The school doctor replied instantly: [Just stay in your classroom. Someone will come get you.] [Got it, thanks, teacher.] [School Doctor: It''s my duty. If you ever have any questions, feel free to come to me. You''re always welcome.] That line sounded a little odd coming from a doctor... Qiao Sang mentally complained but still thanked him again before closing the chat. Then she remembered something and logged into Sainan High School''s official website. She wanted to check what items could be exchanged for points. Opening the points exchange section, she saw a long list of unfamiliar items, though thankfully, each had a description. --- [Item Name: Sweet Secret Cloak] Function: Hides the user''s presence by emitting the scent of Sweet Worms, preventing recognition by wild pet beasts even in heavily infested zones like District Ten. ??????¨¯????§¦? Notes: 1. Only prevents identification by scent-based pet beasts; those relying on sight will still recognize you immediately. 2. Sweet Worms are the natural enemies of Noisy Sparrows. If you encounter them, remove the cloak immediately, where there is one Noisy Sparrow, there is a whole flock. 3. Crafted by Master Jaden, quality guaranteed. Points: 150 --- Wow! A cloak that hides presence from pet beasts? That would be insanely useful for surviving in secret realms! But then she read the notes and immediately cooled down. Oh, it only works on scent-based beasts... What a useless gimmick. The vast majority of pet beasts rely on vision! Qiao Sang lost interest and moved on to the next item. --- [Item Name: Focus Monocle] Function: When worn by a pet beast, it automatically locks onto an opponent¡¯s weak spots. Notes: 1. Fixed size, fits only small pet beasts with a head circumference of about 20 cm. 2. Crafted by Master Zhuhong, quality guaranteed. Points: 60 --- Now this was useful! Little Treasure could wear it, and maybe even the fourth pet beast in the future. Qiao Sang glanced at the points requirement. 60 points, she currently had 94, so she could afford it. Wait, how much was 60 points in Alliance currency? She quickly did the mental conversion. 6 million. With her unlimited credit card, she could probably buy something like this on the market instead. No need to waste points on it. If she was going to spend points, it should be on rare items unavailable elsewhere. With that in mind, Qiao Sang continued browsing. Soon, she spotted the SS-ranked resource Tang Yi had mentioned. --- [Item Name: SS-Rank Water Evolution Stone] Function: Allows certain Water-type pet beasts to evolve. Notes: 1. Evolution Stones are one-time-use items. It¡¯s best to ensure your pet beast has enough energy before using it. Points: 500 --- Too bad it¡¯s for Water-types... Qiao Sang sighed. Lubao¡¯s entire evolution chain was emotion-based, so she wouldn¡¯t need this at all. She scrolled on. Then, her eyes suddenly narrowed as she carefully read the details of a particular item. --- [Item Name: Dream Enlightenment Stone] Function: Allows a pet beast to dream of its most suitable next evolution while sleeping. Notes: 1. Even if you already have an evolution plan, you might not have chosen the best option, this stone can confirm or correct your choice. 2. Some pet beasts have dreamed of evolution forms never before recorded in Alliance history. If you suspect your pet has another possible form, this is worth trying. 3. The stone is single-use. It¡¯s recommended to have a pet beast with Dream Projection abilities watch the dream so the evolution form can be accurately recorded. Otherwise, if your pet dreams of a brand-new form but can¡¯t describe it, the stone will be wasted. Points: 1000 --- Nice. This was perfect for Yabao! Since Yabao''s evolution form was completely new, there was no reference to follow. When he evolved from Flame Hound to Blazing Star Canine, she had already been wondering, was this really the only evolution path for Flame Hounds? Logically, Yabao shouldn¡¯t have gained Moonlight Power traits, but he did. If Blazing Star Canine was just one of several evolution paths, then wouldn''t it also have multiple potential final forms? Right now, Yabao¡¯s future evolution was a complete unknown. If she used the Dream Enlightenment Stone, at least she¡¯d get some clarity. Qiao Sang glanced at her points, and her excitement cooled down slightly. After returning to the dorm, she had carefully reviewed the school''s points system. Only the top five students in each subject earned points during exams, with first place getting just 10 points. This point system was brutal for someone like her, a self-proclaimed academic disaster. If she relied solely on academics, she might not even earn a single point by graduation. Chapter 511: Whos Speaking?! Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Fortunately, aside from academic subjects, there were other ways to earn extra points. When the time came to contract her fourth pet beast, with her golden finger ability, raising it to an advanced level within six months shouldn¡¯t be a problem. According to the previous point system of Sainan High School, evolving a beginner-level pet beast to an intermediate level earned 20 points, while evolving an intermediate-level pet to an advanced level granted 100 points. At the very least, she would have 120 points. Adding that to her current 94 points, she would have a total of 214 points. That meant she was still¡­ 786 points away from the 1,000-point goal¡­ Thinking of this, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank halfway. Sigh, she wondered how many points the school would award for a breakthrough in brain domain development tomorrow¡­ --- Sainan High School, Administration Building, Ninth Floor Conference Room. Nine senior officials of the school sat on either side of a long conference table. Almost everyone who could attend was present. At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties. His appearance was ordinary, yet he exuded an undeniable air of authority. ¡°How many points do you think would be appropriate?¡± He asked slowly. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss Qiao Sang¡¯s point allocation. As soon as he finished speaking, the previously quiet meeting room erupted with differing opinions. ¡°How about 1,000 points? A genius with 39% brain domain development at just 15 years old is unprecedented.¡± Said a man with black hair and sharp facial features. ¡°No way. Qiao Sang isn¡¯t even from our Chaosu Star. If she gets 1,000 points, we¡¯re essentially telling all our students that they¡¯re inferior to an exchange student from Blue Star.¡± An elderly black man objected. ¡°Well, they are inferior. Not just in Sainan High School, no high school on Chaosu Star has a 15-year-old with 39% brain development.¡± A blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman with light makeup shrugged. Another blond man, ignoring the woman¡¯s remark, glanced at the black-haired man who had spoken first. With a dissatisfied tone, he said: ¡°Just because she¡¯s from the same country as you doesn¡¯t mean you can spout nonsense. You really think 1,000 points is reasonable?¡± The black-haired man chuckled. ¡°Oh? You think 1,000 is too little? Fine, make it 2,000 then.¡± ¡°You-!¡± The blond man slammed the table and stood up. ¡°Sit down. I didn¡¯t come here to watch you argue.¡± A red-haired young man seated just below the head of the table said indifferently. The blond man snorted and reluctantly sat down. Silence fell over the meeting room for a moment. After a few seconds, a brown-haired woman with a cold and serious demeanor spoke: ¡°I think 300 points is enough. Our school values well-rounded abilities. If brain domain development alone earns more points than three years of hard work from other students, how would they feel?¡± ??????????¦¢????? A black-haired woman beside her countered: ¡°A student who breaks through 20% brain development gets 200 points. We all know how difficult it is to reach 30%. Isn¡¯t 300 points too stingy?¡± The blond man immediately retorted, ¡°But 1,000 is too much! That¡¯s the equivalent of two rare resources!¡± ¡°I agree. She¡¯s only here as an exchange student, she¡¯s not even from Chaosu Star.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with where she¡¯s from. Even if she were from Chaosu Star, 1,000 points is excessive.¡± ¡°1,000 is too much, 300 is too little. We can compromise.¡± The black-haired woman suggested calmly. ¡°How about 500 points? I remember there¡¯s an SS-rank Water Evolution Stone in the exchange vault that costs exactly 500 points. First, it would show we acknowledge her talent. Second, resources like this can be replenished over time. Third, 500 points wouldn¡¯t shake up the top ranks on the leaderboard.¡± Several officials nodded in agreement. At this moment, the red-haired young man spoke: ¡°I have no objections to the points, but I want to personally test the Blue Star exchange student¡¯s brain domain again.¡± ¡°Of course. A 15-year-old with 39% brain development, we all want to see that for ourselves, regardless of where she¡¯s from.¡± The elderly black man chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the school doctor. She¡¯ll be brought in tomorrow.¡± The middle-aged man at the head of the table asked: ¡°Does anyone object?¡± Silence filled the room. His voice remained steady, unhurried: ¡°Since there are no objections, it¡¯s decided.¡± --- 7:00 AM Lubao cast a healing light, instantly erasing the dark circles under Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes after her all-nighter. After a quick wash and breakfast, she led Yabao and the others to the outdoor training grounds, as directed by the school doctor. The training grounds were massive, equivalent to four football fields. With no classrooms nearby, they didn¡¯t have to worry about disturbing lessons, no matter how much noise they made. ¡°You guys train here. I¡¯ll summon you back after school.¡± Qiao Sang instructed Yabao and Lubao. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao scanned the area, seemingly satisfied with the environment. Then, as if recalling something, he asked, What about Little Treasure? ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked at them with a sorrowful gaze. He has to go to school¡­ ¡°Yap yap?¡± Yabao had already learned yesterday that Little Treasure had to attend school. But did that mean every day? ¡°Xun?!¡± Little Treasure''s eyes widened in shock. Every day?! He had never considered such a terrifying prospect! Seeing his reaction, Qiao Sang put on a serious expression. ¡°Of course not. There are weekends and holidays. And once I graduate, Little Treasure won¡¯t have to study anymore.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure patted his chest in relief. Phew. That scared me. After saying goodbye to Yabao and Lubao, Qiao Sang left with Little Treasure. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao watched Qiao Sang¡¯s departing figure. When she was completely out of sight, his expression dimmed, and his tail drooped. Lubao glanced at Yabao, then started singing: ¡°Lu~ Lulu~ Lu Lu Lu~ Lu~ Lu Lu~¡± Invisible sound waves rippled through the air. Gradually, Yabao¡¯s tail lifted off the ground again. "Lu?¡± Lubao finished her song and called out. Shall we train? ¡°Yap.¡± Expression calm once more, Yabao nodded. Let¡¯s train. --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang and Little Treasure passed through the school grounds, following the homeroom teacher¡¯s directions to a small forest. Though called a forest, it was more like a park, lush with greenery and populated by numerous small pet beasts. The identification bracelets on their paws made it clear they weren¡¯t wild beasts. Some of them were adorned in lavish outfits, their mannerisms elegant. Little Treasure curiously looked around. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a white lace glove on the paw of an egg-shaped pet beast. ¡°Xun xun!¡± After staring at it for two seconds, Little Treasure turned to Qiao Sang, raising both of his tiny paws. Gloves! He forgot to buy diamond gloves! Oh¡­ Right¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned awkward as she was about to respond. At that moment, the surrounding pet beasts suddenly panicked, scattering in all directions. Qiao Sang sensed something and turned her head. A two-meter-tall bipedal beast with a predominantly purple body and a white stripe running down its face was approaching. ¡°You must be the new student. Let me check¡­ Ghost Ring Phantom. You have five minutes until class starts. You should hurry.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Who?! Who¡¯s speaking?! ----- Chapter 512: The Power of the Mind Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The voice was soft and pleasant, enough to make a voice enthusiast''s heart race. But the problem was, there was no one else here except her! Qiao Sang looked around, trying to find the person who had spoken. "Xun Xun..." Little Treasure called out from the side. Qiao Sang turned to look at him. "Xun..." Little Treasure had an expression as if he were heading into battle, never to return. If he had to go, she must remember him... After saying that, Little Treasure turned and floated toward the inner part of the park, his back looking desolate. "Wait!" Qiao Sang called out. "Xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes lit up, turning back. Was his beast master reluctant to part with him and had changed her mind? "Who was speaking just now?" Qiao Sang asked. That sentence took only 0.01 seconds to make Little Treasure''s heart sink. He had thought he wouldn¡¯t have to go to school anymore... "Xun Xun..." Little Treasure stretched out his short claw and pointed forward. Qiao Sang followed the direction he pointed and saw the two-meter-tall, purple-colored beast. "You should go ahead." The purple beast looked at Little Treasure, but its mouth didn¡¯t move. "Xun..." Little Treasure glanced at his beast master, then turned and floated toward the park¡¯s inner area. That tone, it was definitely a teacher. And his beast master had said to listen to teachers... At this moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s face was full of shock. Was that voice just now coming from the beast in front of her?! "Are you the beast master of the Ghost Ring Phantom?" A soft, melodious voice reached Qiao Sang¡¯s ears, but the purple beast simply looked at her without moving its mouth. ?????¦¥???? Qiao Sang almost blurted out, What the hell?! but held back and simply replied, "Mm." "I received your thought about wanting the Ghost Ring Phantom to learn to read. I will teach it well. You may leave now, your class starts in thirteen minutes." The purple beast''s gaze was calm. Qiao Sang: !!! --- Senior Year, Class 6. During the break, Qiao Sang couldn''t hold back and asked, "Do you know of a purple-colored beast that teaches at Sainan High School?" Tang Yi shook his head. "There are no beasts that teach here." Hearing this, Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Tang Yi continued, "Beasts in Chaosu Star aren¡¯t like the ones we have. They can¡¯t be teachers or reporters. If you thought it was a teacher, then it¡¯s probably just a beast contracted by a teacher here, helping with lessons." Qiao Sang frowned slightly and asked, "Then among the teachers who train beasts, does anyone have a purple-colored beast that can talk?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Aren¡¯t all beasts able to talk?" Tang Yi looked puzzled. Qiao Sang stared at him. "I mean speaking human language." Tang Yi was utterly confused. "I¡¯m speaking human language right now." Qiao Sang: ... She decisively gave up talking to Tang Yi and turned to the blonde girl sitting to her left. "Do you know of a purple-colored beast in our school that can talk?" Why is she suddenly asking someone else? Wait... A talking beast? Could it be that kind of talking... Tang Yi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he also looked toward the blonde girl. The blonde girl was momentarily surprised before replying gently, "You must be talking about Teacher Jin¡¯s Kunori." "Thanks." Qiao Sang said and immediately pulled out her phone to look it up. So this school really does have a talking beast... Tang Yi was in shock. Is she asking me because she wants to be friends with me? That wouldn¡¯t be bad... I¡¯ve never had a friend from Blue Star before... The blonde girl glanced at Qiao Sang with a hint of anticipation. Qiao Sang, however, was completely unaware. Her entire focus was on her phone. She had read about talking beasts online before, but they were all legendary creatures, no one had ever seen one in real life. Movies had them, too, but those were just voiceovers. Qiao Sang had always believed that only mythical beasts could speak human language. But now, she had encountered one?! Could it be that a teacher here had contracted a legendary beast?! No way! Are the teachers here really that powerful?! Just as her mind was spinning with wild thoughts, the search results appeared: [Kunori, a Psychic-type King-level beast, specializes in using Mind Power to transmit its thoughts as mental signals.] [Some Kunori with high-level Mind Power can directly send thoughts into a person''s mind, creating private conversations that only they can hear.] Oh, so it¡¯s just a King-level beast... Qiao Sang felt a bit disappointed. No wonder Kunori¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t move, yet she could hear it. So it was Mind Power... But come to think of it, she hadn''t heard much about this ability before. Well, that just means her own knowledge was lacking... As she searched for Mind Power, she thought to herself: Since it¡¯s a skill, it should be learnable. Little Treasure also has a Psychic attribute. If it stays with Kunori, could it learn Mind Power? Just as the search results loaded, footsteps approached from outside the classroom, stopping at the podium. The class instantly quieted down. Qiao Sang instinctively turned off her phone and stuffed it into her desk. Looking up, as expected, it was the teacher. --- "Currently, every nation is divided into thirty districts, which are further categorized into the Upper Ten, Middle Ten, and Lower Ten Districts." The geography teacher lectured on the podium: "This division was not originally based on wealth or social class but on the number of wild beasts." "A thousand years ago, when the thirty districts were first established, the Upper Ten Districts were not as peaceful as they are now." "Back then, they were the areas with the highest concentration of wild beasts. Attacks on humans happened daily. To combat this, Beast masters, under the leadership of Xie Tiange, united and moved into the Upper Ten, while ordinary citizens relocated to the beast-free Lower Ten." "After years of conflict, the Upper Ten Districts saw a reduction in wild beasts, with only the more docile ones remaining." "However, the Lower Ten Districts saw a surge in wild beasts, as many from the Upper Ten fled there." "Now, the Upper Ten have become the safest and most prosperous regions, while the Lower Ten have the highest concentration of wild beasts." Although this was interesting, it definitely wouldn''t be on the college entrance exam... Qiao Sang thought to herself while maintaining a look of serious attentiveness. The geography teacher continued: "Nowadays, only Beast masters are allowed to buy property and settle in the Upper Ten. The management of wild beasts is much stricter there, and wild beasts from the Middle and Lower Ten are forbidden from entering." Noticing the two exchange students from Blue Star in the class, the teacher added: "Of course, this doesn¡¯t mean we''ve abandoned ordinary people whose Brain Domains haven''t awakened. Many Beast masters regularly organize expeditions to the Lower Ten to deal with the wild beasts there." Chapter 513: You Really Want Me To Brag About This, Huh? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "If nothing unexpected happens, your final outdoor practical lesson will also take place in the 10th District." Upon hearing this, the students in the class didn''t have much of a reaction. The 10th District was indeed a high-risk area, but given their prestigious backgrounds, their families would undoubtedly send bodyguards with them. "But the exact district you''ll be going to still depends on your teacher, Ailon." The geography teacher said with a smile. "Let''s get back to discussing the First Ten Districts¡­" Since she was certain this lesson wouldn''t be on the college entrance exam, Qiao Sang found it hard to focus. If the 10th District was really filled with wild pet beasts that required beast masters to constantly handle, then wouldn''t it be the perfect place to farm points? On Blue Star, most secret realms required one to meet certain conditions before entering¡­ Just then, the school bell rang. Qiao Sang pulled herself out of her thoughts and took out her phone to continue reading about psychic power. The matter of points wasn''t urgent right now. She had to prepare for her exams, and besides, she was in the 3rd District. The 10th District was quite far away, it would take several days to travel there and back, which she simply didn''t have time for. As the webpage loaded, she had only glanced at it when the sound of footsteps approached from outside. The classroom instantly quieted down. Qiao Sang instinctively shut off her phone and stuffed it into her desk drawer. Wait, why does this feel so familiar¡­? She internally complained as she looked up, only to see a pet beast entering, a large-headed, mostly pink creature, dressed in a formal suit and even wearing leather shoes, striding straight toward her. The students in the class exchanged puzzled looks. "Isn''t that the school director Ma¡¯s pet beast? What¡¯s it doing here?" "It''s heading toward the exchange students." "Why is Director Ma looking for the exchange students?" "Meow meow~" The pink pet beast stopped beside Qiao Sang and grinned to show friendliness. The school director¡¯s pet beast? Qiao Sang listened to the whispers around her, then looked at the creature and asked, "Do you need something?" The pink pet beast opened its mouth. A small puff of white smoke emerged from it. The smoke didn''t disperse but instead twisted and condensed into a line of words floating in the air: [The school directors are waiting for you. I¡¯m here to take you there.] Not only Qiao Sang, but everyone in the class saw the message. The school directors, plural¡­ The expressions of her classmates turned complicated. --- In a spacious office, soft lighting illuminated the room. Every detail of the interior radiated luxury and prestige. Nine school executives, each with different skin and hair colors, sat on sofas or high-backed chairs. As Qiao Sang entered, this was the scene she walked into. One of them, an elderly black man, waved a hand, and the pink pet beast beside Qiao Sang vanished. A middle-aged man seated at the only office desk got straight to the point: "Dr. Guo reported that your brain domain has reached 39%. We¡¯ve brought you here for a retest. If the data is accurate, you¡¯ll be awarded 500 points." R?¦¡??¦¢¨º???? 500 points?! Qiao Sang''s heart burned with excitement. She immediately agreed, "No problem!" A young man with red hair, wearing a white suit and appearing about twenty-four, gestured to the center of the room. "Sit there and put on the testing device." This brain domain testing device looked different from the ones Qiao Sang had seen before. It was more compact, with a built-in display located on the forehead instead of an external screen. So brain domain detectors come in this style too¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she put it on. The moment she did, all eyes focused on her. The data on the forehead display flickered before settling at: [39%] For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath. Though they knew the school doctor wouldn''t report false information, seeing it for themselves was still a shock. Was 39% brain domain development terrifying? Not necessarily. But when someone under 16 years old achieved it, it became terrifying. A blond man sitting in a high-backed chair discreetly glanced at the red-haired young man. Even someone as talented as Ke Wen had only broken past 30% brain development at nineteen. This guy usually never shows up, but he¡¯d rushed over within two days of hearing the news. He must have refused to believe there could be someone with such a monstrously superior talent. The office fell silent for a few seconds. Then, the middle-aged man behind the desk looked at Qiao Sang seriously. "The results are confirmed. You¡¯ll receive the 500 points shortly." Qiao Sang was overjoyed. "Thank you, sir!" A black-haired woman in a long black dress chuckled. "He¡¯s the principal." "Thank you, Principal!" Qiao Sang quickly corrected herself. The principal¡¯s expression was gentle. "I saw in your file that you were originally in your first year of high school. You skipped ahead to the third year upon transferring here. Does that mean you¡¯re planning to take the college entrance exam this year?" Qiao Sang scratched her head, feeling a little embarrassed, and replied, "Yes." "You spent half a year in competitions before this, so covering three years of coursework in just half a year will be quite challenging. Plus, Chaosu Star''s curriculum is somewhat different from Blue Star¡¯s." The principal continued, "If you¡¯d like, I can arrange for a teacher to tutor you privately." Everyone in the room understood what he was doing, this was a goodwill gesture. When a new beast master displayed unprecedented, monstrous talent, nationality became less significant. After all, with starships, high-level beast masters lived long lives. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for them to reside on different planets for extended periods. And besides, the principal was also from the Dragon Nation. That¡¯s really not necessary¡­ Qiao Sang shook her head. "No need. I can study on my own." Since her brain domain breakthrough, her memory had improved drastically. She could understand all the textbooks, her only limitation was time. --- Qiao Sang returned to class in a good mood. All eyes turned toward her. "The school directors called you in, a whole group of them. What was it about?" Tang Yi asked impatiently as soon as she sat down. "Nothing much. My brain domain broke through, so they wanted to confirm it." Qiao Sang replied. Brain domain breakthrough? Tang Yi was momentarily stunned and was about to ask more when¡­ A red-haired girl walked over with a smile. "Qiao Sang, you haven¡¯t joined our class group chat yet, right? Want to join?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang turned her head and recognized her, Raffi, the girl who had challenged her to a match on the first day of school. After that day, they hadn¡¯t interacted. Then again, Qiao Sang hadn''t really interacted with anyone in the class, except for Tang Yi. "Um¡­" Tang Yi raised his hand. "I haven¡¯t joined either." I wasn¡¯t talking to you¡­ Raffi maintained her sweet smile. "Let¡¯s add you both, then." After adding them to the chat, Raffi casually asked, "By the way, what did the school directors want from you?" The entire class perked up their ears. "They just measured my brain domain." Qiao Sang said. "Why?" Raffi asked, puzzled. "Because I had a breakthrough, so they wanted to confirm it." Qiao Sang replied. Just a brain domain breakthrough? Why would that warrant a whole group of school directors? Raffi was skeptical. "How high is your brain domain now?" You really want me to brag about this, huh? Qiao Sang calmly said, "39%." Raffi: ??? Tang Yi: ??? The whole class: ??? Chapter 514: I Dont Care What They Think Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- The entire classroom fell into sudden silence. How much?! The students were both shocked and bewildered, many wondering if they had misheard. After a few seconds, Raffi let out an awkward laugh and said, "You actually broke through to 29%? That¡¯s impressive! No wonder the school directors called you in for a brain domain test." So it was 29%... The students inexplicably felt a sense of relief. Although reaching 29% was still hard to accept, it was at least within the realm of reason compared to 39%. "It¡¯s 39%." Qiao Sang corrected. As soon as she spoke, the classroom plunged into silence once again. 39%? Did she really say 39%?! So they hadn¡¯t misheard?! But even among geniuses, it was impossible to reach 39% brain domain activation at this age! Everyone¡¯s expressions changed as they looked at Qiao Sang. Only now did they realize that this interstellar exchange student might be completely different from any they had seen before. At that moment, the class bell rang. During math class, the teacher quickly noticed that none of the students were paying attention. They were all distracted, lost in thought, except for the girl from Blue Star, who was diligently taking notes. After class, Tang Yi hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice, "You really broke through to 39%?" Qiao Sang glanced at him. "Why would I lie?" Tang Yi sighed in frustration. "I knew we had a gap, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be this big." Qiao Sang offered a sincere piece of advice, "You¡¯ll get used to it." ¡­Thanks for that. Tang Yi nodded, as if trying to accept reality. Then he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Have you decided what your fourth contracted beast will be?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "Not yet. What about you? Have you chosen your third?" Tang Yi hesitated before replying, "I¡¯ve decided on the attribute, but I¡¯m not sure whether to contract one here or wait until I return to Blue Star." So, he hadn¡¯t really decided¡­ Qiao Sang said, "Isn¡¯t contracting a beast here a good option? If you wait until you return, you¡¯ll have to wait a few months." Tang Yi sighed. "We¡¯ll have to return to Blue Star eventually. If we contract a beast here, there¡¯s no guarantee that it will adapt. I once heard my elders talk about a man who contracted a beast from Chaosu Star. But after he brought it back to Blue Planet, the poor thing couldn¡¯t handle the summer and winter. It refused to train or even step outside during those seasons." ??N??¨§? That was a fair point... Qiao Sang fell into thought. Chaosu Star had a consistent temperature year-round, unlike Blue Star. If she was going to contract a fourth beast, she needed to consider whether it could withstand both heat and cold. At that moment, a blonde girl at the neighboring desk spoke up. "Do you two want to come to my house tomorrow?" Qiao Sang and Tang Yi both turned to look at her. The blonde girl continued, "I overheard your conversation. My little sister just unlocked the second page of her Beast Taming Codex a few days ago, so we¡¯re holding a celebration tomorrow. Some pet beast base leaders from the Upper Ten District will be attending, and they¡¯ll be bringing some of their most talented beasts. You two can take a look and see if there¡¯s one you like." Whoa. So this was the life of the rich¡­ Qiao Sang was envious. Tang Yi, however, didn¡¯t look particularly impressed, he had grown up in a similar environment. Instead of answering immediately, he glanced at Qiao Sang. Tang Yi knew that the girl was inviting him mainly because of Qiao Sang. Ever since Qiao Sang had been summoned by the school directors, he had noticed that their classmates¡¯ attitudes toward her had changed. "Sounds good." Qiao Sang agreed. "What time?" "I¡¯ll go too!" Tang Yi quickly added. The blonde girl smiled. "Tomorrow at six in the evening. I¡¯ll wait for you at the school gate." --- That night, Qiao Sang sat at her desk, scrolling through her phone. [Mind Power: A trait of Psychic-type pet beasts. It allows them to transmit thoughts directly to another¡¯s mind as mental intent.] [Pet beasts with Mind Power have a higher chance of learning certain mind-based moves, such as Charm, Taunt, and Mind Swap.] So, Mind Power was a trait¡­ Qiao Sang was slightly disappointed. It was such a useful ability, yet it was tied to a beast¡¯s innate traits¡­ Unlike skills, which could be learned through training, characteristics were typically determined at birth. If a beast didn¡¯t have it upon evolution, it was unlikely to ever develop it. She put her phone down and turned to see Little Treasure staring at her eagerly. "Xun¡­" The little beast stretched out his paw. Qiao Sang twitched the corner of her mouth and handed over her phone. "Here." "Xun~" Little Treasure grinned and floated away, hugging the phone happily. Watching him, Qiao Sang mused to herself: If pet beasts have to attend school, why don¡¯t they have homework? Maybe I should suggest it¡­ "Xun¡­" Just then, Little Treasure shuddered slightly, feeling a sudden chill. He turned to the window, his eyes glowing blue. The next moment, the half-open window shut with an invisible force. Little Treasure looked down, satisfied, and went back to playing with the phone. Yep, now he won¡¯t be cold anymore. --- The next evening, at six o¡¯clock. Qiao Sang stepped out of the school gate, holding the shrunken Yabao in her arms. "Qiao Sang! Over here!" Tang Yi waved at her from a distance. Beside him was a three-meter-tall bird-like pet beast. It had a white crest composed of five feathers, dark blue plumage covering its upper body and wings, and yellow feathers on its chest, belly, and legs. Its tail had a white band and a yellow band at the tip, altogether, a strikingly beautiful creature. A blonde girl was sitting on its back, with a middle-aged man in a black suit seated in front of her. Judging by their positions, it was clear that the man was the beast¡¯s true tamer. The bird-like beast turned its head and saw Yabao being carried in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. It froze. The middle-aged man tapped his index finger on the beast¡¯s back. The bird jolted and quickly looked away, as if afraid to stare for too long. As Qiao Sang and Tang Yi climbed aboard, Yuna got a closer look at Yabao. Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "So this is your pet beast? It¡¯s gorgeous!" "Yap." Yabao let out a sound, as if to say, I¡¯m not just good-looking, I¡¯m cool too! "It¡¯s called a Blazing Star Canine." Qiao Sang said with a smile. Tang Yi added, "Right now, there¡¯s only one on all of Blue Star." For some reason, he sounded almost proud. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t turn around, but his posture stiffened slightly. Youna¡¯s eyes widened. "Only one?!" "Yeah." Qiao Sang explained. "It¡¯s a newly discovered evolutionary form. Researchers are still studying it. Once they figure it out, there will be more." "So that¡¯s how it is¡­" Yuna stared at Yabao for a while before hesitating. Finally, she said, "By the way, you might not want to hold your Blazing Star Canine like that when we arrive." Qiao Sang frowned slightly. "Why?" "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head in confusion. Yuna hesitated, then explained, "Most people think that only weak trainers carry their pet beasts like that." "Yap?" Yabao blinked. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang chuckled. "I¡¯m a champion." Yuna was momentarily stunned. "I don¡¯t care what they think." Qiao Sang said. "Yap!" Yabao let out a triumphant cry. Chapter 515: You Go First Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- Sfevo Manor. Banquet Hall. Nine luxurious crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the grand hall. Long dining tables covered in white tablecloths were filled with exquisite delicacies, fine wine, and fresh fruits. Several beast companions dressed in work uniforms moved back and forth, continuously delivering food and drinks to the tables. Guests who knew each other gathered in small groups, either sitting around sofas or standing by the dining tables, chatting and laughing while enjoying the feast. Felice, the star of the evening, wore a red gown adorned with exquisite jewelry. She maintained a graceful smile while listening to the compliments from those around her. "Miss Felice is so young and has already unlocked the second page of the Beast Taming Codex. There probably aren¡¯t many like her in the entire 3rd District." "I heard that various beast-taming bases have brought some exceptionally talented beast companions for Miss Felice to choose from this time." "Madam Mara truly favors Miss Felice." At that moment, a beast companion dressed in a work uniform led three young individuals into the banquet hall. As soon as they entered, many guests in the hall turned their attention to the black-haired girl among them, particularly to the beast companion in her arms. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Isn''t that Miss Yuna? Why is her friend carrying a beast companion in here?" Someone beside Felice remarked. Felice furrowed her brows as she gazed at the beast in the black-haired girl¡¯s arms. Qiao Sang approached the dining table, casually picking up a pastry and handing it to Yabao. "Yap!" Yabao eagerly took the pastry with his paw and happily began munching on it. "Which one is your sister?" Qiao Sang asked. "The one in the red gown over there." Yuna indicated with her gaze toward a spot ahead on the right. Tang Yi asked, "Aren''t you going over?" "No need." Yuna smiled. "We don¡¯t get along." Tang Yi was taken aback. "Why not?" Well, in a big family, sibling rivalries usually boiled down to the same old issues¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Yuna with a gossiping expression. After a moment of silence, Yuna explained, "We don¡¯t have the same father." Qiao Sang: !!! Honestly, she had imagined many possibilities, but this was not one of them! Tang Yi¡¯s eyes widened in shock as well. Yuna continued, "My mother and father had an arranged marriage. Later, they amicably separated, and then my mother married Felice''s father." "Wait, hold on." Qiao Sang blinked. "Married?" Yuna was momentarily puzzled by the question, but then she remembered Qiao Sang was from Blue Star. She explained, "On Chaosu Star, strength is highly valued. Whoever has the higher rank as a beast tamer is the one who ''marries'' the other. After all, the stronger one should be responsible for providing for the family." ?¦¡?????¦Â¨¨? Qiao Sang¡¯s curiosity was instantly piqued. "What if one is a Coordinator and the other is a Professional Beast Tamer, but they¡¯re at the same level?" Yuna chuckled. "Coordinators are all about flashy performances. How could they compare to Professional Beast Tamers in strength? Of course, the Professional Beast Tamer would be the one to ''marry'' the other." "No wonder they say Chaosu Star has the most Professional Beast Tamers." Tang Yi mused. "That¡¯s mostly because of the abundance of wild beast companions here." Yuna explained. "It¡¯s not entirely about the marriage system. Being the ''marrying'' party means taking on more responsibility, and not everyone wants that role." Qiao Sang silently absorbed the new information. At that moment, the lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone on a raised platform. A man walked onto the stage, followed by a small, four-legged fox-like beast companion with three tails. "It¡¯s starting." Yuna whispered. "Most of the people attending this banquet are here for the beast companion exhibition. Each beast-taming base is showcasing their most talented creatures. Even though Felice gets first pick, the remaining ones are still rare to come across." "If you see one you¡¯d like to form a contract with, just let me know. I can have someone reserve it for you." Qiao Sang felt a wave of gratitude. She wasn¡¯t familiar with Chaosu Star¡¯s beast companions, and normally, she could only rely on online research. But now, she could see top-tier ones firsthand, with experts introducing them, what a privilege! On stage, the man began his presentation. "This is the Frost Sense Fox. It can exhale a breath of air at -50 degrees Celsius." "Jue Jue!" The Frost Sense Fox cooperatively released a cold breath. "It is currently six months old and has already learned Tackle, Snow Flurry, Icy Wind, and Ice Fang." As he introduced each skill, the Frost Sense Fox demonstrated it. "It also possesses the abilities Frozen Body and Pure Body." Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. No wonder this Frost Sense Fox was selected for the showcase. Pure Body prevents its stats from being lowered by an opponent¡¯s moves or abilities. That was an exceptionally rare trait. At that moment, a white bird-like beast companion appeared on stage. It wasn¡¯t there to be displayed, it suddenly flapped its wings, launching several air blades at the Frost Sense Fox. "Jue Jue!" The Frost Sense Fox let out a cry as it was knocked back several meters. "What¡¯s happening?" Qiao Sang frowned. "They¡¯re demonstrating its ability." Yuna explained. As soon as she finished speaking, the white bird flapped its wings forcefully, creating a small flurry of snow. Snowflakes landed on the Frost Sense Fox¡¯s body. "Jue Jue!" Soon after, it stood up, full of energy again. The man on stage announced, "As you can see, this Frost Sense Fox has exceptional recovery abilities. We¡¯ve preliminarily assessed its Frozen Body ability to be at Grade A!" A Grade A Frozen Body¡­ Among all the opponents she had faced, the only beast companion with a Grade A ability was Song Xinyue¡¯s Fire-Subduing Bird Qiao Sang suddenly turned to Yuna. "You¡¯re interested in the Frost Sense Fox?" Yuna guessed. "No, I was actually going to ask where the restroom is." Yuna: ... --- Qiao Sang walked toward the restroom. Along the way, she felt numerous gazes land on her and Yabao. "Yap." Yabao sighed. This place was so boring, he would rather be training. Qiao Sang chuckled. "Didn¡¯t you just train all day? You¡¯re not tired yet?" "Yap yap." Yabao waved his paw dismissively. Lubao had used Healing Light and Healing Soundwave on him earlier, so he wasn¡¯t tired at all. Qiao Sang was surprised. "You two get along so well now?" Before, Lubao would only heal Yabao when she instructed her to. Now, she was doing so voluntarily? "Yap yap?" Yabao tilted his head in confusion. Hadn''t they always gotten along well? Qiao Sang: ¡­ Had he forgotten how they used to fight all the time? Suddenly, a voice ahead snapped her out of her thoughts. "What¡¯s going on? How could such an important event have this kind of mishap?" Qiao Sang looked ahead and saw a middle-aged man scolding several beast companions in work uniforms. "Search over there. Keep it discreet, you must not disturb the guests." Qiao Sang paid it no mind. Right now, her priority was finding the restroom. "Wait here." She told Yabao upon arriving at the restroom entrance. "Yap." Yabao nodded. Qiao Sang entered and pushed open a stall door, only to lock eyes with a small bird-like beast companion with red eyes and armored purple feathers. "Gang gang¡­" The little Steel Falcon stared at her warily. After two seconds of silent staring, Qiao Sang calmly shut the door. "You go first." Steel Falcon: ¡­ Chapter 516: Such A Useless Trait Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- It turned out that on Chaosu Star, humans and pet beasts shared the same restroom. As expected, it was good to go out and experience the world, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t even know something like this¡­ Qiao Sang felt like she had gained some new knowledge. One minute later. "Are you done?" Qiao Sang asked patiently. No response came from inside the restroom. Three minutes later, Qiao Sang, feeling a little anxious, asked, "Still not done?" Still no response. Five minutes later, Qiao Sang couldn''t hold back anymore and knocked on the restroom door. With her knocking, the door creaked open slightly. Qiao Sang suddenly realized something was off. She pushed the door fully open and saw that there was nothing inside, no sign of the pet beast that was supposedly using the restroom. Looking up, she noticed a window, which was wide open. Good grief. It had already left long ago, and she had been waiting all this time for nothing¡­ Qiao Sang muttered to herself as she stepped into a restroom stall. --- When Qiao Sang returned to the banquet hall, Yuna asked considerately. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Did you get an upset stomach? Do you need me to call the family doctor to check on you?" Qiao Sang declined. "I''m fine. No need to trouble the doctor." Yuna smiled. "It''s no trouble. My family''s doctor has a Budbud that knows Healing, it''s just a simple skill." Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. "I really am fine." Yuna was about to say more when Tang Yi, who was standing nearby, interjected, "Qiao Sang has a pet beast known as ''Divine Healer'' in our group. If she were really sick, she could just heal herself." "Divine Healer?" Yuna became interested. "What¡¯s its name?" "Ice Xilu." Qiao Sang replied. Yuna looked at her curiously. "Can you summon it? I¡¯d like to see just how powerful its healing is." Qiao Sang chuckled. "But no one¡¯s injured, how would you know how good its healing is?" "That¡¯s easy." Yuna said with a smile. "The butler just reported that a wild pet beast has broken in. Once we catch it, we can make it suffer a little, and then you can have your Ice Xilu heal it. That way, I can see how effective it is." ????????¨§s? Qiao Sang¡¯s smile faded. "That¡¯s unnecessary. Maybe it just wandered in by accident." Yuna was briefly taken aback, then let out a soft laugh. "Are all people from Blue Star this kind to wild pet beasts?" Qiao Sang and Tang Yi exchanged a glance but remained silent. Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Yuna¡¯s expression became a bit more serious. "Wild pet beasts are usually dangerous. This area is private property, it shouldn¡¯t have come in. Have you considered that we''re holding a banquet? What if it hurt someone? Isn¡¯t it only right to capture and teach it a lesson?" For the first time, Qiao Sang clearly noticed the stark difference in attitudes toward pet beasts between Blue Star and Chaosu Star. She wasn¡¯t someone with a saintly heart and could understand how people on Chaosu Star thought. After all, if she had originally transmigrated to Chaosu Star instead, worse still, if she had lived in the lower districts, where wild pet beasts roamed freely and occasionally attacked humans, she probably would¡¯ve also associated pet beasts with danger at all times. Different environments shaped different mindsets. She had always understood this. She couldn¡¯t simply say, "It hasn¡¯t hurt anyone yet." because she had no idea what kind of pet beast had intruded or what its temperament was. If it did harm someone, it would be too late to regret it. But because she had first arrived in Blue Star, Yuna¡¯s intentions, catching the wild pet beast just to torment it, felt wrong to her. She couldn¡¯t stand by as a spectator and watch it be abused simply for wandering in. After some thought, Qiao Sang asked, "Isn¡¯t this a place where humans and wild pet beasts coexist? Do wild pet beasts even recognize private property? I heard that on Chaosu Star, it¡¯s common to wake up and find a pet beast suddenly appearing beside you." Yuna chuckled again. "Yes, coexistence is true, but what you''re describing only happens in the middle and lower districts. In the upper districts, wild pet beasts are strictly managed. If a wild pet beast is deemed dangerous, it¡¯s either sent to the lower districts or¡­" She trailed off, her smile turning meaningful. "As for private property, wild pet beasts in the upper districts don¡¯t just randomly enter human residences. If they did, they wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to stay in the first place." Tang Yi was puzzled. "Isn¡¯t the lower district mostly ordinary people? Wouldn¡¯t sending dangerous wild pet beasts there make things worse?" "There¡¯s no other choice." Yuna said casually, taking the champagne offered by a waiter. "Wild pet beasts are everywhere on Chaosu Star, and some of them are incredibly powerful. If we completely exterminated them, we humans would also suffer. "Even the more intelligent wild pet beasts understand this. That¡¯s why the lower districts aren¡¯t as dangerous as you might think. High-level wild pet beasts regulate the lower-level ones, so large-scale attacks on humans don¡¯t really happen." Ordinary people and low-level pet beasts had no say in the matter at all. As expected, on Chaosu Star, strength determined everything¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and returned to the main issue. "You assumed that people from Blue Star are kinder to pet beasts, so you should also consider that Blue Star pet beasts wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch one of their own be tormented, especially just to show off their healing abilities." Yuna paused, then asked, "Even if you told them to do it, they wouldn¡¯t obey?" Qiao Sang met Yuna¡¯s gaze calmly. "I don¡¯t force them to do things they don¡¯t want to do." "Xun Xun!" Nearby, the invisible Little Treasure, who had been snacking, nodded in agreement. But suddenly, he fell into deep thought. School¡­ did that count as forcing? No one noticed the small purple head peeking out from behind a curtain, quietly observing everything. Yuna contemplated for a few seconds before quickly smiling again. "I see." If Qiao Sang had been just an ordinary exchange student, Yuna would have ended the conversation over their differing views. But this girl¡¯s talent was absolutely extraordinary. Even though she wasn¡¯t from Chaosu Star, she had still caught the attention of the school board. They would be interacting for an entire semester, Yuna had to consider her perspective. Just then, the banquet hall lights brightened. "They decided so quickly?" Yuna looked at Felice, who had taken the stage, in surprise. "What kind of pet beast is that?" Qiao Sang asked. Her gaze also landed on the stage, but she was focused on the pet beast. Before Yuna could answer, Tang Yi, who had been keeping an eye on the proceedings, spoke up first. "It¡¯s a Tear Bud. A Fairy-type pet beast with the abilities ''Natural Recovery'' and ''Shared Tears.''" Natural Recovery, when a pet beast leaves battle, its status ailments gradually heal¡­ The relevant information surfaced in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. She asked, "What¡¯s the ''Shared Tears'' trait?" She hadn¡¯t come across it in the books she had read. "When a pet beast with this trait cries, everyone within a certain range is emotionally affected and feels like crying too." Yuna explained. What a useless trait¡­ Qiao Sang couldn''t help but think. Chapter 517: The Good Person Card Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- On the stage, a gray star array lit up. With Tear Bud offering no resistance, the contract was completed swiftly. Madam Mara watched from the stage and led the applause. Clap, clap, clap... Immediately, the entire banquet hall was filled with enthusiastic applause, and everyone was smiling brightly. This is way too exaggerated, if someone didn¡¯t know better, they¡¯d think this was an award ceremony... Qiao Sang thought to herself before saying, ¡°Since it¡¯s over, I¡¯ll be heading back now.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t find a pet beast you liked?¡± Yuna asked, a bit surprised. Aside from the Frost Sense Fox at the beginning, did I even see anything else... Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°No.¡± Yuna¡¯s expression shifted instantly. As expected of an unprecedented prodigy, so many gifted pet beasts right in front of her, and none of them even caught her interest... Yuna set down her wine glass and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone escort you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qiao Sang refused. ¡°I can go back on my own.¡± Tang Yi looked at Qiao Sang. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yuna was shocked. ¡°You didn¡¯t find a pet beast you liked either?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all great.¡± Tang Yi sighed. ¡°But I haven¡¯t decided if I want to contract a pet beast from the Chaosu Star.¡± Just as Yuna was about to say more... A beam of light suddenly shone on Qiao Sang. ¡°Miss, would you be willing to have a match with me?¡± Felice asked from the stage. She held a microphone, and her voice rang clearly throughout the banquet hall. All eyes followed the beam of light. Qiao Sang blinked in surprise and pointed at herself. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you.¡± Felice nodded. Tang Yi was both shocked and impressed, today¡¯s star of the banquet really had an eye for people. She went and picked the absolute worst opponent for herself. ??????¨®B¨¨? Yuna nearly laughed out loud. She had invited Qiao Sang not only to build connections but also to slap Felice in the face. Originally, she thought Felice would come over first, pretending to be friendly while actually showing off. Yuna had even prepared how to introduce Qiao Sang. But unexpectedly, Felice never approached her. If she took Qiao Sang over to her directly, it would seem too deliberate, and she didn¡¯t want Qiao Sang to see through her intentions. Between humiliating Felice and getting on Qiao Sang¡¯s good side, she chose the latter. She had already given up, yet now Felice had handed her such a delightful surprise. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem appropriate. She¡¯s my friend, why don¡¯t you choose someone else?¡± Yuna stepped forward, fanning the flames. If it weren¡¯t for how hard it was to suppress her smirk, I might have actually believed you¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Yuna. ¡°Sis, this is my celebration banquet. According to the rules, after contracting a pet beast, I can challenge anyone to a match.¡± Felice smiled. Yuna put on a troubled expression and turned to Qiao Sang. ¡°She¡¯s right. In our family, after contracting a pet beast, we typically have a match to showcase their strength, it¡¯s part of the banquet. My sister probably chose you because you¡¯re about the same age as her.¡± Meanwhile, the guests murmured amongst themselves. ¡°Whose family is this child from? I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the pet beast she¡¯s holding?¡± ¡°I noticed her from the moment she arrived, she¡¯s been holding that pet beast the whole time. Maybe she¡¯s just keeping it as a pet.¡± ¡°She¡¯s Yuna¡¯s friend, does that mean she¡¯s also a student at Sainan High School?¡± ¡°But she looks much younger than Yuna.¡± ¡°She seems to be about the same age as Felice.¡± Hearing the whispers, Qiao Sang looked up and hesitated. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± She genuinely thought so. Since the rule existed, Felice obviously intended to showcase her newly contracted pet beast. But any of Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts were at an advanced level. Fighting a beginner-level pet beast in front of all these people, it just felt like bullying. ¡°There¡¯s nothing unfair about it.¡± Phyllis said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re the same age, it¡¯s a good opportunity to spar.¡± Same age, but not the same strength, girl¡­ Tang Yi, after his initial admiration, now looked at Felice with sympathy. Say yes! She¡¯s practically begging you! Yuna whispered, ¡°Qiao Sang, maybe you should just-¡± Before she could finish, Qiao Sang cut her off. ¡°I¡¯ll go up, but if the wild pet beast hasn¡¯t hurt anyone, just chase it away.¡± With that, she carried Yabao onto the stage. Even now, she¡¯s still thinking about this¡­ Yuna blinked in surprise, watching Qiao Sang¡¯s back with a complex expression. On stage. Felice formed seals with her hands and summoned her newly contracted Tear Bud. Yabao jumped down from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. The guests below whispered. ¡°That pet beast looks unusual.¡± ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°Probably Miss Felice, this banquet is for her, after all. Even if this girl could win, she should know her place.¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Of course Miss Felice will win! That girl treats her pet beast like a pet, carrying it around all the time.¡± ¡°Good point.¡± As the guests chatted, Yabao''s body began to grow until it was over three meters tall. The hall fell silent. Everyone¡¯s expressions turned to sheer disbelief. This wasn¡¯t some weak beginner pet beast treated like a pet! With a physique like that, it was clearly an advanced pet beast! And the aura, it was overwhelming even for an advanced level! But the black-haired girl looked no older than Felice! ¡°Yabao¡± Qiao Sang called. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao gave a short cry, signaling he understood. He looked at the tiny opponent in front of him, then opened his mouth. A controlled burst of scorching flames surged forward, completely engulfing Tear Bud. ¡°Gong¡­ Gong¡­¡± When the flames faded, Tear Bud lay on the ground, unconscious, black smoke rising from its mouth. Yabao shrank back to his Fire Fang Dog form and leaped onto his beast master. Qiao Sang caught him in her arms and walked off the stage. The entire battle had lasted less than thirty seconds. Felice had stood there in shock the entire time, unable to say a word. Sigh¡­ I should¡¯ve just stayed in my dorm and read my book. Qiao Sang walked towards the banquet hall¡¯s exit. ¡°Qiao Sang, wait for me!¡± Tang Yi hurried after her. After a few seconds of silence, the guests swarmed around Yuna. ¡°Miss Yuna, which family is your friend from?¡± ¡°Miss Yuna, is she the same age as you?¡± ¡°Miss Yuna¡­¡± ¡°Yuna, come here.¡± Not far away, Madam Mara smiled. Mother¡­ Yuna¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion as she quickly walked towards her. The banquet continued but for now, the spotlight had shifted from Felice to Yuna. --- Qiao Sang left the Sfevo Manor. Before she could speak, Yabao understood her intent, jumping down and shrinking back to his normal size. Tang Yi summoned his Paralulu. Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao''s back. ¡°We finally got out. Want to go for a stroll?¡± Tang Yi, sitting on Paralulu¡¯s shoulder, asked. ¡°No, I still need to read.¡± Qiao Sang declined. Read¡­ Tang Yi¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head off first. I want to check out the pet beast arena.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Paralulu carried Tang Yi away. Qiao Sang finished setting up her navigation and was about to give directions when... ¡°Gang, gang!¡± A voice came from the side. Qiao Sang turned her head. Oh? Isn¡¯t this the pet beast from the bathroom? ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± She looked around, confirming no one else was there. ¡°Gang, gang.¡± The little Steel Falcon nodded. ¡°What do you want?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. ¡°Gang.¡± The Steel Falcon chirped. Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds. ¡°Yabao, translate.¡± ¡°Yap, yap.¡± Yabao translated. Qiao Sang blinked, momentarily doubting her ears. ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m a good person?¡± She asked, skeptical. ¡°Gang.¡± The Steel Falcon nodded. What the hell? Did I just get handed a good person card by a pet beast? Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned bewildered. Chapter 518: A Terrifying Pet Beast Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Gang gang." "Gang Gang." At this moment, the little Steel Falcon chirped twice. "Yap yap." "Yap yap." Yabao paused for a moment, processing the conversation, then voluntarily translated. "You want me to help you find your beast master?" Qiao Sang looked at the pet beast in front of her with a strange expression. No wonder it handed out a good person card right away, it turned out it needed her help. "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon nodded. "That''s easy." Qiao Sang picked up her phone, ready to contact Yuna. All contracted pet beasts wore identification wristbands. Since this pet beast was here, it must belong to one of the guests. The best way to confirm was to ask the owner. "Gang!" Seeing the human¡¯s actions, the little Steel Falcon panicked. It swooped in and slapped the phone away with its wing. "Xun xun!" Before Qiao Sang could react, Little Treasure appeared, quickly snatching the phone back. He let out a warning cry, signaling that the phone shouldn¡¯t be touched recklessly, it could break! Suddenly, his gaze landed on the little Steel Falcon, examining it seriously. At the same time, the little Steel Falcon narrowed its eyes, scrutinizing Little Treasure. Both found the other oddly familiar. They stared at each other for two seconds. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure¡¯s expression shifted to one of realization: So it''s you! The little Steel Falcon also recognized Little Treasure. Without hesitation, it turned around and fled. Although it reacted quickly, the strength difference between a low-level pet beast and a high-level one was too great. The little Steel Falcon barely flew two meters before a black shadow wrapped around its claws and yanked it back. "Gang gang!" The little Steel Falcon turned its head and slashed down with its wing. A sharp, tangible light blade shot toward the shadow, attempting to cut through it. ????????????S The blade left a faint mark on the shadow, but it quickly vanished. The little Steel Falcon was dragged back in front of Qiao Sang. It looked down at the unscathed shadow binding its claws, then at Little Treasure, then at the human in front of it. Its mind whirred. "Gang gang..." The little Steel Falcon let out a submissive cry, signaling that this was all a misunderstanding. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure anxiously pointed at the identity wristband in Yabao''s claws. This was no misunderstanding, he had personally seen this guy sneak into the room in the middle of the night, trying to steal Yabao''s wristband! "Yap?!" What?! Steal his wristband?! Yabao bared his fangs. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She recalled that this had been mentioned before, Little Treasure had told her about it. "The night in 13th District?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun!" Little Treasure nodded firmly. It was definitely this guy. There was no mistake! Qiao Sang frowned, looking at the little Steel Falcon with increased caution. The guests attending this banquet all had some background. It was unlikely that anyone would order their pet beast to steal an identity wristband... Her gaze fell on the little Steel Falcon¡¯s claws and paused. No wristband? Was it undocumented? Did it forget to wear one? Was its beast master¡¯s identity questionable? Did it sneak into the banquet with some grand plan? Wait, Yuna had mentioned a wild pet beast had broken in. Could it be this one? Various speculations flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. "Gang!" "Gang gang!" The little Steel Falcon keenly sensed the shift in her gaze. It flapped its wings, gesturing as it explained. Little Treasure¡¯s expression gradually changed from Let''s hear your excuse to Ah, that¡¯s tragic. "Xun xun..." Finally, he covered his mouth, tears welling up: You poor thing! "Gang Gang..." The little Steel Falcon sighed, confirming that this was indeed the case. "Yap..." Yabao looked at it with sympathy. Wait a minute, was I the only one who didn¡¯t understand?! Qiao Sang noticed the change in Yabao and Little Treasure¡¯s expressions and couldn¡¯t help but ask: "Can someone translate for me?" "Xun xun!" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure took the lead in translating. After listening, Qiao Sang had a strange expression. She turned to the little Steel Falcon. "You¡¯re saying your beast master traveled from the 27th District to 3rd District, but accidentally left you behind? And you chased them all the way from 27th District on your own?" "Gang." The little Steel Falcon nodded. "You didn¡¯t have an identity wristband, so you weren¡¯t allowed into 10 Central District or 10 Upper District, so you had to use other people¡¯s identity wristbands along the way?" "Gang." It nodded again. "Where¡¯s your own identity wristband?" Qiao Sang smirked. "Don¡¯t tell me you lost it by accident." A beast master accidentally leaving behind their pet beast? Ridiculous. She didn''t believe it at all. "Gang." The little Steel Falcon shook its head. It didn¡¯t have an identity wristband. "Xun xun." Seek Treasure translated in real-time. Qiao Sang stared at the little Steel Falcon. Its eyes were sincere, it didn¡¯t seem to be lying. "Why don¡¯t you have an identity wristband?" She asked. "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon helplessly explained. Its beast master wasn¡¯t a real beast master, so it never had a wristband. What did that mean? Under Little Treasure¡¯s translation, Qiao Sang froze, struggling to process the information. Suddenly, she recalled something from an astronomy lesson on Blue Star: "Some wild pet beasts are naturally gentle. Over time, they develop peaceful relationships with ordinary humans. While these people aren¡¯t beast masters, they can command pet beasts to do things for them. We call them ''pseudo beast masters.''" Qiao Sang had an epiphany. "Your beast master is a pseudo beast master?" "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon happily nodded, finally, she understood. That explained it. No wonder its beast master had left it behind. A pseudo beast master wasn¡¯t a true beast master. They had no beast codex, couldn¡¯t summon their pet back, and couldn¡¯t even sense their pet¡¯s location. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze softened. "Even so, stealing someone else¡¯s identity wristband isn¡¯t right." "Gang." The little Steel Falcon obediently nodded, acknowledging its mistake. "Gang Gang." It then looked at Qiao Sang, chirping again. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure turned to his beast master, translating: You¡¯re a good person~ Qiao Sang: ... Here we go again. Next, it would surely ask her to help find its beast master¡­ Qiao Sang retrieved her phone from Little Treasure¡¯s claws. "I¡¯ll call the police for you. They should be able to find your beast master." "Gang!" "Gang Gang!" The little Steel Falcon flapped its wings anxiously, no police! This time, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t need a translation. She could tell from its reaction. "Why?" She asked, lowering her phone. "Gang¡­" The little Steel Falcon suddenly felt regretful. This human was kind, but not very smart. "Gang Gang." "Gang." It gestured as it explained. It had stolen identity wristbands from 27th District to get here. If the police got involved, it would be arrested. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained unchanged. "But they¡¯ll help you find your beast master. As long as he takes responsibility, he should be able to get you out." "Gang..." The little Steel Falcon twitched its beak, holding back laughter. After a moment of hesitation, it plucked a feather from its back and offered it to her. "Gang Gang." Qiao Sang was startled. "You¡¯re¡­ bribing me?!" The little Steel Falcon nodded. Oh my god, a pet beast actually understands social etiquette¡­ Qiao Sang was shocked and momentarily speechless. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± Seeing that the human in front of it didn¡¯t respond, the little Steel Falcon thought she found it insufficient. It stretched out its wing, plucked another feather from its body, and handed it over. Qiao Sang: !!! Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± The little Steel Falcon gritted its teeth and continued plucking. ¡°Stop plucking!¡± Qiao Sang hurriedly stopped it. ¡°If you keep going, you¡¯ll go bald!¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± The little Steel Falcon obediently lowered its wing and laid out the feathers it had already plucked in front of Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang: ¡­ This pet beast was really ruthless to itself¡­ She looked down at the feathers, feeling both helpless and impressed. Although she still didn¡¯t know the name of the pet beast in front of her, judging by its appearance and the hardness of its feathers, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that it was a Steel-type pet beast. For ordinary bird-type pet beasts, shedding feathers was normal. But for Steel-type ones, their feathers were usually extremely tough. Forget shedding, even if they were attacked, it was unlikely that a single feather would fall off. Yet this one had plucked several without even flinching¡­ That kind of determination was something else¡­ She still didn¡¯t know its name. Without taking the feathers, Qiao Sang said, ¡°I¡¯m still a student and don¡¯t have much free time. If you have a photo of your Beast master or know where they are, I might be able to help you.¡± ¡°Gang!¡± The little Steel Falcon¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. It flapped its wing and pointed in the direction of Sfevo Manor. Seeing its actions, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t even need Little Treasure to translate before making a guess. ¡°You¡¯re saying your Beast master is in there?¡± ¡°Gang!¡± The little Steel Falcon nodded repeatedly. Qiao Sang looked speechless. ¡°You were just inside. If you know your Beast master is there, why don¡¯t you just go find them yourself?¡± ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± The little Steel Falcon showed a helpless expression. The place was too big, and there were so many obstacles that it had to keep stopping to call out, making it impossible to move around freely. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, seemingly sympathetic, showed a helpless expression as he translated. You seem to be moving around just fine. You even went to the bathroom¡­ Qiao Sang mentally complained while asking, ¡°What¡¯s your Beastmaster¡¯s name?¡± --- ¡°Ashley.¡± A black maid in a black uniform took a bite of her food and praised, ¡°Your cooking is really delicious.¡± The maid named Ashley had chestnut-colored curly hair, a gentle temperament, and faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She looked to be in her thirties. ¡°If you like it, have some more.¡± She smiled. ¡°You¡¯re so capable. No wonder you made it from 27th District to here.¡± The black maid remarked. ¡°She didn¡¯t get here because of her cooking.¡± The white male servant beside them said as he sipped his soup. ¡°She saved Mr. Clair in 27th District, which is why she was brought here.¡± ¡°Oh my god, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard that.¡± The black maid looked at Ashley in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Clair a C-rank Beast master? Why would he need you to save him? You¡¯re not even a Beast master yourself.¡± The white male servant said, ¡°Whether she¡¯s a Beast master or not doesn¡¯t matter. As long as she has the means to make pet beasts obey her, that¡¯s enough.¡± As he spoke, he glanced at the chestnut-haired woman across from him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Ashley?¡± Ashley simply smiled and said nothing. Seeing that Ashley didn¡¯t deny it, the black maid sighed. ¡°So you¡¯re a pseudo-Beastmaster¡­ What a pity you don¡¯t have a Beast Tamer Codex. Otherwise, I bet you wouldn¡¯t be any worse than the official Beast masters.¡± Ashley replied softly, ¡°It was just a coincidence. There¡¯s no way I could compare to real Beast masters.¡± ¡°As long as you know that.¡± The white male servant interjected. For a moment, the atmosphere at the table became tense. Sensing the shift, the black maid quickly shoveled a few more bites of food into her mouth before standing up. ¡°I¡¯ll go check if the banquet needs any help.¡± With that, she quickly walked toward the door. After she left, the white male servant dropped his pretense, his face turning cold. Ashley set down her fork and said blandly, ¡°Buck, I don¡¯t recall offending you.¡± Buck snorted. ¡°I just don¡¯t like you.¡± Ashley was puzzled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you like me?¡± ¡°You know very well what you¡¯ve done.¡± Buck¡¯s tone was icy. Ashley sighed. ¡°Is it because I made the Chirping Bird scare Miss Felice and then pretended to pass by and drive it away?¡± Buck stared at her without responding. Ashley continued, ¡°Others might not understand, but you should, Buck. You and I both came from the lower ten districts. I never did anything to harm Miss Felice. I just want to live well here and make my life as good as possible.¡± Buck was silent for a few seconds before saying, ¡°I saw it.¡± Ashley was confused. ¡°Saw what?¡± ¡°The wild Chirping Bird.¡± Buck¡¯s voice was deep. ¡°You injected poison into its usual food and then pretended to be a good person by saving it.¡± Hearing that, Ashley paused before bursting into laughter. ¡°Hahaha! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re sympathizing with a wild pet beast.¡± Buck glanced at her and said, ¡°I just don¡¯t like the way you became a so-called pseudo-Beast master. Now, I¡¯m really starting to wonder if Mr. Clair¡¯s incident was also your doing.¡± Ashley¡¯s smile faded. ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit. I¡¯m just an ordinary person. Mr. Clair is an esteemed Beast master. What could I possibly do to him?¡± Just then, the door opened, and the black maid from earlier reappeared. ¡°Ashley, Mr. Clair is looking for you.¡± --- Inside a lavish room. ¡°Miss Qiao, this is the Ashley you were looking for.¡± The butler, Clair, said respectfully. Qiao Sang glanced at the chestnut-haired woman, then turned to Clair. ¡°You can leave now. I want to speak with her alone.¡± Clair stepped out, closing the door gently behind him. ¡°Miss, do you need something from me?¡± Ashley asked respectfully. ¡°It¡¯s not me who¡¯s looking for you.¡± Qiao Sang said, then turned toward the curtains. ¡°Are you coming out or not?¡± A purple head slowly peeked out from behind the curtain, its expression both expectant and nervous. Ashley followed her gaze and froze for a moment before breaking into a radiant smile. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Gang!¡± The little Steel Falcon flapped excitedly and threw itself at her, tears streaming down. It had plucked so many feathers without crying, but now it was sobbing¡­ Qiao Sang felt a strange emotion stir within her. Ashley held the little Steel Falcon and tentatively asked, ¡°Miss, what¡¯s your relationship with this Steel Falcon?¡± So it¡¯s called the Steel Falcon¡­ Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°Nothing much. Just happened to run into it and gave it a hand. What can I say? I¡¯m a good person.¡± ¡°Gang Gang!¡± The little Steel Falcon stopped crying and gave her a thumbs-up with its wing, certifying her as a good person. Qiao Sang nearly laughed out loud. Ashley¡¯s eyes flickered before she said, ¡°Miss, thank you for bringing it back.¡± Qiao Sang waved a hand. ¡°No need to thank me. It came all the way from 27th District on its own. I just helped it through the door.¡± ¡°Even so, thank you.¡± Ashley bowed slightly. Qiao Sang, uncomfortable with the politeness, said, ¡°I¡¯ll be off then. You two catch up.¡± --- Walking out of the manor, Qiao Sang held Yabao in her arms. Steel Falcon¡­ That name sounded familiar¡­ Then she remembered the forum discussion where someone recommended Steel Falcons, only to be shot down by another user. She reached into her pocket to check its price and froze. When did these get in here? She hadn¡¯t noticed at all¡­ Under the moonlight, the hard feathers shimmered with a purple glow, Steel Falcon¡¯s feathers. She quickly searched online. The result: 500 Alliance Coins per feather. 500 Alliance Coins doesn¡¯t seem like a lot¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the feathers in her hand and counted. There were seven in total. But it clearly hadn¡¯t plucked seven feathers in front of her¡­ Just as the thought arose, she remembered the little Steel Falcon¡¯s situation. Its beast master was just an ordinary person, with limited ways to make money. Now, on top of that, they had to take care of the little Steel Falcon, so they probably needed this money even more¡­ With this in mind, Qiao Sang turned around and headed back. Following her memory, she passed through the garden and entered the corridor. As she turned a corner, she saw a familiar figure standing in the shadows, someone she had just met not long ago. Qiao Sang was about to greet her when she suddenly heard the person speaking: "The little Steel Falcon you¡¯re looking for is with me." "I¡¯m absolutely sure." "This is Sfevo Manor." "Oh, by the way, I just want to confirm, the bounty on the little Steel Falcon is 200,000 credits, right?" Qiao Sang: ??? Her mind buzzed as she stood there in shock. What was going on? Wasn¡¯t she the little Steel Falcon¡¯s beast master?! Shock and confusion surged through her, and then, suddenly, she realized something. The little Steel Falcon had said that its beast master had accidentally left it behind in 27th District. That was how it saw things. But¡­ what if Ashley had never intended to take it with her in the first place? Of course. The 10 upper District didn¡¯t allow wild beasts from the middle or lower districts to enter. Ashley didn¡¯t have a Beastmaster¡¯s Codex, so technically speaking, she wasn¡¯t the little Steel Falcon¡¯s beast master at all. To the public, the little Steel Falcon was still a wild beast. Naturally, it couldn¡¯t stay in the upper districts. So from the very beginning, Ashley had never planned to bring it along. Did the little Steel Falcon know all this¡­? A wave of indescribable sadness rose in Qiao Sang¡¯s heart. Such a na?ve little Steel Falcon, traveling thousands of miles to find its beast master, only to discover that she had sold it out¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a gaze on her from behind. She turned her head in confusion and looked toward another corner, right into a pair of red eyes. The little Steel Falcon grinned, raised a wing to its beak, and made a shh gesture. Qiao Sang: !!! Her pupils contracted, and a storm of emotions surged within her. What the hell?! When had it gotten there? Had it heard everything Ashley said? And if it had, why was it grinning?! Shouldn¡¯t it be heartbroken, devastated, and crying? Why did it look so creepy in this situation?! Meanwhile, Ashley ended the call, humming a tune as she disappeared down another hallway. The little Steel Falcon flapped its wings, about to fly off in the opposite direction. "Wait!" Qiao Sang whispered urgently, chasing after it. "Gang Gang?" The little Steel Falcon turned back with a puzzled expression. Qiao Sang looked at it with a complex gaze. "Did you hear everything just now?" "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon hesitated for a moment before making a small just a bit gesture with its wing. "Aren¡¯t you sad?" Qiao Sang asked. "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon blinked, then grinned and let out a cry, saying it was sad, but it didn¡¯t matter. It had known for a long time that she wasn¡¯t a good person. Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment. "Yabao, translate." Yabao looked a bit dazed as it processed the translation. Qiao Sang went quiet again. After a few seconds, she asked, "If you already knew she wasn¡¯t a good person, why did you still come looking for her?" "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon flapped its wings and pointed outside, just as a man happened to pass by. Qiao Sang turned to look and saw that it was the butler who had taken her to find Ashley earlier. "Yap Yap¡­" Suddenly, Yabao¡¯s expression turned furious as he translated with great agitation. Qiao Sang took in the meaning of the translation and asked, "Ashley told you all that this man was here to capture you, so you drove him away. But the truth is, she used you to reach the 10th District, and because of that, your home was destroyed and your elders were injured?" "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon nodded. "You came here to expose her and send her back to 27th District?" "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon shook its wings dismissively. Its elders had said that the best punishment was to make all of her efforts go to waste. Qiao Sang pondered for a moment, then asked, "Why are you telling me this now?" "Gang Gang?" The little Steel Falcon didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, it looked at Qiao Sang and let out a cry, asking if it was because she had seen the feathers. With Yabao¡¯s translation, Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Gang Gang." The little Steel Falcon grinned and finally answered the previous question. Because you¡¯re a good person. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure appeared at just the right moment to translate. --- Qiao Sang suddenly felt chills down her spine. This little Steel Falcon¡­ was terrifying. She had received the good person card once again, but this time, it felt completely different! At first, she thought it had chosen her because of their random encounter in the restroom. But looking back now,nthis little Steel Falcon must have observed her being a good person somewhere before deciding to approach her. Just when, exactly, had it set its sights on her? For a moment, countless thoughts flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. Chapter 519: Need Help? Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- At that moment, the little Steel Falcon suddenly flew toward the window. As it exited, it seemed to miscalculate, and its wing collided with the window, producing a loud bang. The noise caught Claire¡¯s attention. He turned his head just in time to see the little Steel Falcon¡¯s figure. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This is... Claire frowned deeply and was about to give chase, but his gaze swept past the window and landed on the black-haired, black-eyed girl inside. By the time he came back to his senses, the little Steel Falcon was already gone. Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but have a thought flash through her mind: Damn, did this little Steel Falcon crash into the window on purpose? After witnessing its scheming nature, every action of the little Steel Falcon now seemed suspicious. For instance, the window was wide open, so how did its wing just happen to hit the edge? Yet when it stuffed the feathers into her pocket, she didn¡¯t even notice a thing. Could it be that it saw someone outside and wanted to get their attention, so it deliberately made a noise? "Miss Qiao? Miss Qiao?" Claire¡¯s voice pulled her back to reality. Qiao Sang looked at the man outside and gathered her thoughts. "What¡¯s wrong?" "Miss Qiao, I wanted to ask, was there a little Steel Falcon here just now?" Claire asked respectfully. Case solved. The little Steel Falcon had deliberately made a noise to draw this man''s attention. It wanted Ashley¡¯s efforts to be in vain, and Claire was a key figure in this. But why did it think Claire would pay attention to it...? Qiao Sang¡¯s mind drifted. Unless Claire was already aware of a wild Steel Falcon intruding. He was the steward of the estate, so he must have received reports about it. With so many surveillance cameras here, he likely knew the intruding beast was the little Steel Falcon. So, the Steel Falcon was certain he would notice it, not because he recognized it, but because it was a wanted wild beast! Qiao Sang suddenly understood. "Miss Qiao?" Claire called again. Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and responded with a calm "Mhm." Claire remained polite. "Miss Qiao, do you know which direction that little Steel Falcon flew?" Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds before smiling slightly. "If I¡¯m not mistaken, it probably went to find Ashley." A chance meeting was fate, she didn¡¯t mind helping the little Steel Falcon. --- Ashley returned to her room in high spirits. But the next second, her face darkened. Where was the little Steel Falcon? Hadn¡¯t they agreed that it would wait for her here?! Meanwhile, outside the room, the little Steel Falcon perched on a tree, peering through the window at the scene inside. After staring for a full minute, its ears twitched, it heard the footsteps of a human male in leather shoes approaching. "Gang!" The little Steel Falcon instantly switched to a happy expression, flapping its wings as it flew into the room through the window. "Where did you go?" Ashley turned her head and immediately adjusted her expression, pretending to be concerned. "Wild beasts aren¡¯t allowed here. If you wander around, you¡¯ll get caught." "Gang." Such a pretender. The little Steel Falcon put on a guilty look. "As long as you understand." Ashley patted its head. She couldn¡¯t directly understand the language of beast companions, but she could infer their meaning through body language and expressions. That was why she could communicate with wild beasts and act as a fake beast tamer. ?????¦­??????? Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Ashley didn¡¯t panic. She whispered, "Hide first." "Gang." Like hell it would listen to her. The little Steel Falcon nodded obediently, quickly darting behind the curtain. Ashley opened the door with a surprised expression. "Mr. Claire?" Claire stepped inside, scanning the room before turning his cold gaze on Ashley. "Are you aware that a wild little Steel Falcon has intruded today?" Ashley¡¯s heart tensed, but she feigned concern. "I heard about it tonight. Why? Did something happen?" "Have you seen it?" Claire pressed. "No." Ashley shook her head. Claire¡¯s voice grew colder. "What did Miss Qiao come to see you about today?" Something was off. Claire never acted like this. Had that Qiao Sang told him something? But that didn¡¯t make sense, if she had, why would she send Claire away earlier? Ashley was just about to respond when- A sudden gust lifted the curtain into a dramatic arc. Claire turned his head and saw the very Steel Falcon the entire estate had been searching for. "Gang..." The little Steel Falcon wore a bewildered expression. Ashley¡¯s face changed. Her plan had been to stabilize the little Steel Falcon and hand it over when the police arrived. That way, she¡¯d get the bounty and earn a good reputation within the estate. But now the police weren¡¯t here yet, and Claire had found the Steel Falcon first, completely ruining her plan. If Claire captured it, the 200,000 bounty wouldn¡¯t necessarily go to her. At best, she¡¯d be credited for providing information. And worse, she had just denied seeing it. When the police arrived, they would contact her first, exposing her lie in front of Claire. Damn it! Why did Claire have to show up now?! No, she had to find a way to make the little Steel Falcon escape from Claire. Even if it didn¡¯t get away, she couldn¡¯t let him realize they knew each other. Ashley made up her mind. She was about to put on a shocked expression and speak- "Gang..." At that moment, the little Steel Falcon flew over, hiding behind Ashley, clinging to her leg with its wings, and peeking out timidly. No one would believe they weren¡¯t familiar. Ashley: !!! "ASHLEY!" Claire¡¯s eyes burned with fury. At this moment, he fully believed what Miss Qiao had told him. "Mr. Claire, I have no idea why it¡¯s in my room." Ashley changed her expression slightly. "You know how wild beasts are naturally drawn to me." She was confident that Claire wouldn¡¯t bother listening to the little Steel Falcon or summoning a translation beast. Compared to wild beasts, he was more likely to believe her. She was sure of that. A sharp ringtone suddenly blared. No way. Could her luck be this bad? Ashley cursed internally. "You¡¯re not answering?" Claire¡¯s tone was ice cold. "It¡¯s an unknown number." Ashley glanced at the screen and reached for her phone to silence it. But Claire was faster. He grabbed the phone, answered, and put it on speaker. A young man¡¯s voice came through: "Hello? Is this Miss Ashley? We¡¯re the police who just received your report. We¡¯ve arrived. Is the little Steel Falcon still with you? We¡¯re at the front gate of the Fayswort Estate. Can you bring it out now? Ashley froze. Claire might not know the Steel Falcon¡¯s full story, but the police certainly did. And just now, the Steel Falcon had acted so close to her, if the police and Claire compared notes, he would surely put two and two together... "Gang..." With things this obvious, even a half-wit human would figure it out. As Ashley panicked, the little Steel Falcon suddenly put on a hurt expression, spread its wings, and darted toward the window. Ashley hesitated for a second, then felt a surge of relief. This situation was bad, but if the Steel Falcon escaped, things wouldn¡¯t be completely lost. After all the effort it took to reach here, it must really like her. It would come back to her eventually. Even if she got kicked out by Claire for lying, she would still get her 200,000 in the end. Claire snorted. "Trying to run?" He put down the phone and began forming a hand seal. "Mr. Claire!" Ashley grabbed his hand to stop him. Claire paused, but only for a moment before shaking her off and continuing. --- The little Steel Falcon flapped its wings, heading toward an area without surveillance. Suddenly, it spotted a familiar figure under the eaves. "Need help?" Qiao Sang looked up and smiled. Chapter 520: It Wont Be For Much Longer Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1 ----- "Gang?" The little steel falcon stared at Qiao Sang for a moment, grinned, and flew over, calling out. You''re still here? Through Yabao''s translation, Qiao Sang smiled and said, "Didn''t you say I was a good person? Your problem isn¡¯t solved yet, how could I leave?" She didn''t consider herself a good person, but she was quite interested in this little steel falcon, very interested, in fact. There were plenty of intelligent pet beasts, but one as cunning as this, capable of toying with humans, was rare. Moreover, the fact that this little steel falcon had traveled alone from 27th District to 3rd District and then accurately found Ashley¡¯s location proved its remarkable perseverance. A pet beast that was both intelligent and determined, and whose attributes happened to meet her criteria for a fourth contract beast, it was hard not to be tempted. The little steel falcon looked thoughtfully at the human before it. "You targeted me from the very beginning." Qiao Sang said. "In fact, you didn¡¯t really need me to find Ashley." At this point, she seemed to realize something and chuckled. "No, maybe you had already found her but needed a ''good person'' to bring you right to Ashley. That way, you''d have a witness to prove your connection to her." "Even if Ashley denied knowing you in front of Claire, the ''good person'' would step up as a witness." "You knew Ashley would be eager to trade you in for the bounty, so you had to make sure Claire saw evidence of your connection to her before that happened." "Once a seed of doubt is planted, when the police arrive and compare notes, Ashley¡¯s true identity will be exposed." "But you still felt uncertain. That¡¯s where the ¡®good person¡¯ comes in." "She will confirm your connection to Ashley, after all, she¡¯s a ¡®good person,¡¯ isn¡¯t she?" Qiao Sang¡¯s excitement grew as she spoke. "And you did one more thing, you slipped a feather into the ¡®good person¡¯s¡¯ pocket. Because you were afraid she might leave before the police arrived." ??£Î?¦¢?? "You bet that she really was a good person and that she¡¯d come back when she saw the feather. Am I right?" Yabao was utterly confused. Little Treasure appeared, looking at the little steel falcon with shining eyes, wearing an expression of admiration. "Gang¡­" The little steel falcon froze. Had it really done all that¡­? Suddenly, the sound of leather shoes approaching caught its ears. Its ears twitched, and it flapped its wings, ready to take off. But Qiao Sang, quick as lightning, grabbed its wing. "I said I''d help you, why are you running?" The little steel falcon was stunned. "Miss Qiao." Claire stepped out from the shadows, accompanied by a one-meter-tall pet beast covered in brown mane with an elongated snout. "Can you hand over the little steel falcon to me?" Claire asked. "No." Qiao Sang refused instantly. Claire was momentarily taken aback. Just as he was about to say something, Qiao Sang beat him to it. "Have the police arrived?" Claire: ??? The question completely threw him off. How did she know about the police? Did the little steel falcon tell her? His mind raced for a second before he respectfully replied, "They¡¯re already outside the Sfevo Manor." Qiao Sang said, "I¡¯ll head there now. You go get Ashley. Some things need to be clarified in front of the police." With that, she cradled Yabao in one arm, held onto the steel falcon¡¯s wing with the other, and strode toward the manor¡¯s entrance. Suddenly, Claire called out, "Miss Qiao!" She turned around, silently asking what was wrong. "Should I call Miss Yuna as well?" Claire asked, looking conflicted. "No need." Qiao Sang replied nonchalantly. --- On the way to Sfevo Manor¡¯s main entrance, the little steel falcon stayed in Qiao Sang¡¯s grip without struggling. It looked up at the human it had chosen and wondered if she was also after its bounty¡­ Just then, Qiao Sang let go. The little steel falcon flapped its wings, quickly stabilizing itself midair. Then, without hesitation, it turned and flew off in another direction. A black shadow instantly wrapped around it, pulling it back. "Where are you running to? We¡¯re almost there." Qiao Sang glanced at it. "Gang¡­" The little steel falcon looked at Little Treasure, then at Yabao, evaluated their combat strength, and resigned itself to fate. Even if it were traded for the bounty, as long as that pretentious human lost everything¡­ Before long, Qiao Sang reached the entrance of Sfevo Manor. Several uniformed police officers immediately surrounded the little steel falcon, which was still bound by shadows. "Are you Miss Ashley?" A young officer hesitantly asked. "I¡¯m not." Qiao Sang shook her head. "Miss, you can release the steel falcon now and hand it over to us." Another middle-aged officer said. Qiao Sang calmly replied, "I¡¯m not here to hand it over. I¡¯m here to report a crime." Huh? The officers exchanged puzzled looks. "Gang¡­" The little steel falcon stared blankly at the human beside it. --- "Name?" "Qiao Sang." "Age?" "Fifteen." "You¡¯re an interstellar exchange student from Blue Star?" "Mm." At the police station, Qiao Sang went through the familiar process of filing a report. The two officers questioning her grew increasingly uneasy. The case itself was minor, but the person reporting it was far too special. If mishandled, and this girl posted about it online or contacted the media, it could cause a public scandal. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They could already imagine netizens saying, "Chaosu Star is embarrassing itself in front of Blue Star" or "I hope she won¡¯t go back and say we¡¯re all like this¡­" One officer steadied himself, poured Qiao Sang a cup of tea, and asked, "You said Ashley tricked the steel falcons into attacking Claire. Do you have proof?" Qiao Sang smiled. "Aren¡¯t there people and pet beasts in the station? I heard Chaosu Star police stations all have a pet beast called the Yaya Clock. If someone speaks the truth, the clock chimes once; if they lie, it chimes twice. You can test it." The two officers: ¡­ Qiao Sang continued, "If you don¡¯t have a Yaya Clock, I can help. My Blazing Star Canine has perceptive abilities, it can project Ashley¡¯s recent memories, proving she knows the steel falcon. If you don¡¯t trust my canine, you can use a pet beast with mind-reading abilities." Hearing this, the officers exchanged alarmed glances. If they had to rely on this girl for their case, their reputation would be in shambles. The officer who had poured her tea quickly said, "No need! We have a Yaya Clock! Don¡¯t worry, this case will be wrapped up soon!" Qiao Sang sipped her tea. "Good." The two officers let out a breath of relief. "By the way, since the steel falcon is in your custody now, is its bounty canceled?" She asked. "That¡¯s right." The younger officer replied. "It didn¡¯t attack humans, only stole identity wristbands. That¡¯s not a severe offense. Can I bail it out?" She had checked the regulations on the way here, captured wild pet beasts in Chaosu Star were usually sent to work camps before being released into lower districts. The officer was stunned. "Bail it out? But it¡¯s a wild pet beast." "It won¡¯t be for much longer." Qiao Sang said with a smile. "I want to contract it." --- Three minutes later. In another room. The little steel falcon watched as a human entered, called away its interrogators, and spoke to them in hushed tones. When the officers returned, their attitudes had completely changed. "Didn¡¯t expect this, you actually caught the attention of someone like that." One officer unlocked its cage and patted its head. "Behave yourself. Don¡¯t embarrass Chaosu Star when you get to Blue Star." The little steel falcon: ??? ----- T/n: Sorry for not updating yesterday, got a little busy with personal things! And tadah! Our next target: The Steel Falcon!!! Welcome our new baby! Chapter 521: Its Not Unwilling Chapter 521: It''s Not UnwillingRead at: /?m=1 ----- The Steel Falcon walked out of the interrogation room. A sharp voice suddenly rang out: "Steel Falcon! Tell them! You and I don¡¯t even know each other! Tell them!" "Tick-tock." "Tick-tock." As soon as these words were spoken, Yaya Clock, standing nearby, didn¡¯t open its mouth, but its belly, resembling a clock, made two ticking sounds. Steel Falcon turned its head toward the sound and saw the human who always pretended to be composed. Her expression was twisted with rage, as if she wanted to rush over, but the humans behind her restrained her. "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon''s eyes flickered, revealing a hurt expression. "Stop struggling. Not a single truthful word is coming from your mouth." The officer holding Ashley in place said impatiently. The officer who had interrogated Steel Falcon earlier sighed and said in a serious tone: "They say Steel Falcons are smart, but I think you''re quite foolish, sold out and still unaware." Then, with a more patient tone, he continued: "She will receive the punishment she deserves. From now on, you two belong to different worlds, she¡¯s human, and you¡¯re a beast companion. You won¡¯t meet again. Stop thinking about her. Your Beast master won¡¯t be happy about it." Little Steel Falcon looked confused. Beast master? What Beast master? This human was speaking words it couldn¡¯t understand again. --- S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ten minutes later. At the Police Station Entrance. Qiao Sang and Steel Falcon stared at each other. "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon took a step back. It had originally thought this human wanted the bounty, but it never expected, what she coveted was its body! Seeing Steel Falcon''s reaction, Qiao Sang laughed. "What? You don¡¯t want to form a contract with me?" "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon looked at Yabao, then at Little Treasure, reevaluating both sides'' combat power for the Nth time. Then, it shook its head. Not exactly unwilling... "If you don¡¯t want to, just say it. I won¡¯t force you." Qiao Sang said. "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon looked at the human in front of it with suspicion. "Let¡¯s talk while walking. No need to keep standing in front of the police station." Qiao Sang reached out and patted Yabao. "Yap!" Understanding his Beastmaster¡¯s intent, Yabao jumped to the ground. The next second, his body expanded, returning to his full size. Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao¡¯s back and extended a hand toward Steel Falcon. "Come on up." "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon hesitated before extending its wings. But the next second, it realized how foolish that was. It could have just flown up directly... --- High above in the night breeze. Perhaps because what it wanted to do was finally settled, Steel Falcon felt its body relax for once. "I want to form a contract with you, but there¡¯s something I need to say first." Qiao Sang said. "I¡¯m from Blue Star. In a year, I¡¯ll be going back. The environment and climate there are different from here. I¡¯m afraid you might not adapt, so before the contract, I want to test your resistance to heat and cold." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure clenched his tiny paw and lightly punched Steel Falcon''s body, implying that with its tough physique, there would be no problem. "Gang gang?" Steel Falcon looked confused. What was Blue Star? "Xun xun~" Little Treasure waved his paw dismissively and let out a small cry. You don¡¯t even know what Blue Star is? Then, he extended a paw toward his Beastmaster. Without needing to be told, Qiao Sang immediately understood. She placed her phone in Little Treasure''s paw. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure skillfully navigated the phone, quickly pulling up a video. He gestured for Steel Falcon to come closer. Curious, Steel Falcon leaned in. On the screen, a blue planet appeared. At the same time, a man¡¯s voice played from the phone: "Blue Star, our home planet. A place filled with countless secret realms, accessible only to Beast masters." The scene shifted to a man holding a microphone, looking at the camera: "Because of these Beast masters, our society remains peaceful. Now, let¡¯s take a look at what they do in their daily lives." The footage cut to a Beast master feeding a bird-like beast companion. "Look at this heartwarming scene. This Beast master is feeding a Bald Swallow-" Before he could finish, the Bald Swallow spat out the food in disgust and turned away. "Baldy! Don¡¯t go!" The Beast master quickly chased after it, holding the food. "This is expensive! At least take another bite!" The man with the microphone shook his head. "Looks like this Beast master still doesn¡¯t understand Bald Swallow¡¯s taste preferences." At that moment, a white cloth-like beast companion appeared on screen. "A Cleansecloth! A Cleansecloth just appeared!" The man¡¯s eyes lit up, and he quickly approached. "Hello! I make short videos. Can I touch you?" If he hadn¡¯t mentioned Cleansecloth, this would¡¯ve looked like some kind of harassment scene, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but internally complain. Cleansecloth, a beast companion from the Lianbo Region, had a peculiar ability. It was said that if a healthy person touched it, its color remained unchanged. But if someone with an illness touched it, the Cleansecloth would turn black, the darker the color, the more severe the illness. No wonder the man was so excited. Cleansecloths were rare in Lianbo. In the video, the Cleansecloth skillfully pulled out a paper from its crossbody pouch: [One touch: 500 coins] "Deal!" The man happily handed over 500 Alliance Coins. "Clean clean." After taking the money, Cleansecloth nodded. The man looked thrilled as he reached out to touch it. The moment he did, more than half of Cleansecloth¡¯s body turned black. "Ah!" The man let out a scream and turned to the camera, his face pale. "Stop recording! What are you still filming for?! We need to get to the hospital!" Then, the screen went black. The video ended. "Xun xun..." Little Treasure shook his head, dissatisfied with his choice of video. He started searching for another one. "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon, deep in thought, recalled what it had just seen. "The planet you''re on now is called Chaosu Star. It¡¯s different from ours." Qiao Sang said with a smile. "Once you form a contract with me, you¡¯ll understand." Steel Falcon listened quietly. "Is there anything you want to do?" Qiao Sang asked. "Gang gang..." Steel Falcon was startled. Something it wanted to do... "You just completed something you wanted, but it took too much time and effort." Qiao Sang continued. "Ultimately, it¡¯s because you weren¡¯t strong enough. If you were powerful, Ashley wouldn¡¯t have dared to target you at all." "If you were strong enough, you wouldn¡¯t have needed to scheme so much." "You set up those schemes because you knew they wouldn¡¯t listen to you. But when you become powerful, they¡¯ll have no choice but to listen and believe." "I was able to take you away so easily not because I have power or influence, but because I proved myself through strength. They had no choice but to recognize me." "Like I said, I won¡¯t force you into a contract. Just say the word." "Gang gang." Steel Falcon was silent for a long time before finally letting out a call. It wasn¡¯t unwilling. Chapter 522: Climate Hall Chapter 522: Climate HallRead at: /?m=1 ----- 11:12 PM. Sainan High School. As soon as she arrived at the dormitory, Qiao Sang summoned Lubao. ¡°We¡¯ll do the tests tomorrow. For now, let¡¯s all get to know each other. If nothing unexpected happens, you¡¯ll all be companions from now on.¡± Qiao Sang had already looked up detailed information on Steel Falcon back at the manor. Steel Falcon, a dual-attribute beginner-level pet of the Flying and Steel types. It possessed excellent flight abilities and an extremely intelligent mind, making it one of the few bird-type pets with high defense. However, due to its extreme intelligence, many Beast masters found it difficult to control. As a result, it was not recommended for rookie Beast masters. Its feathers were incredibly tough. Yet, despite their heaviness, it could still fly with ease. It had high defensive and endurance capabilities. According to the information online, Steel Falcon should be able to adapt to all four seasons on Blue Star, so forming a contract shouldn¡¯t be a problem. After saying that, Qiao Sang went to the bathroom, leaving the pets behind. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Steel Falcon glanced at Lubao and immediately assessed that this was yet another creature it couldn¡¯t defeat. It let out a call as a greeting. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure enthusiastically waved his little claws and took on the role of storyteller, recounting everything that had happened that night. From being deceived, to having its home destroyed, to relying on sheer determination to travel from 27th District to 3rd District, Little Treasure vividly narrated every detail. ¡°Yap Yap.¡± Yabao nodded along as he listened, acknowledging that this newcomer was indeed impressive. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Steel Falcon felt a bit embarrassed hearing all that praise. Lubao listened quietly. Though her expression didn¡¯t change much, she kept her gaze on Steel Falcon, eventually focusing on its injured claws. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao called out a greeting, then the white gem on her forehead lit up, casting a healing light over Steel Falcon. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± A refreshing coolness spread through its body, making Steel Falcon feel immensely comfortable. It couldn¡¯t help but let out a cry of delight. As the light faded, it suddenly realized something and raised its left claw to inspect it. The injury was completely healed, there wasn¡¯t a single trace of a wound left. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± Steel Falcon was shocked. It put down its left claw, then lifted its right claw for comparison. It repeated this motion several times before turning to Lubao with a serious expression. Without hesitation, it extended its wing and plucked several feathers from its body, offering them to Lubao. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao was momentarily stunned by this gesture. At that moment, Qiao Sang stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing the scene before her, she twitched at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Stop plucking your feathers so recklessly. If you keep doing that, you¡¯re really going to go bald.¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Steel Falcon solemnly placed the feathers before Lubao. It wasn¡¯t just giving them away randomly. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand Steel Falcon''s words, but before Little Treasure could translate, she suddenly thought of something and asked: ¡°Are you male or female?¡± She figured that since it didn¡¯t care about going bald, it was probably male. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Steel Falcon answered. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure translated. Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re female?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Steel Falcon nodded. Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected a female Steel Falcon to be so unconcerned about her appearance¡­ --- Yabao soon fell asleep. Lubao merged into her water bowl. Little Treasure played on his phone, while Qiao Sang sat at her desk, planning the next day¡¯s activities. She needed to test Steel Falcon''s resistance to cold and heat. If there were no issues, they could proceed with the contract. After the contract was formed, she¡¯d need to visit the Beast master Center to register the information and take the D-rank Beast master qualification exam. Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment. She remembered that when she took the E-rank Beast master exam, there were fixed time slots for the assessments. She wasn¡¯t sure if the same rules applied on Chaosu Planet. With that thought, she opened her laptop to check the exam schedule for professional Beast masters. [On Chaosu Planet, the Beast master Center operates 24/7, and professional Beast masters can take the exam every day. Walk-in registrations are available from 9 AM to 9 PM.] The Beast master Center here operates 24 hours a day?! Qiao Sang was shocked. On Blue Star, only medical and lodging services were available at night, everything else was closed. They were both Alliance-run Beast master Centers, so why was there such a huge difference? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but grumble internally. Just then, a growl sounded. Qiao Sang turned toward the source of the noise and saw Steel Falcon standing on the windowsill with its back to her. It¡¯s still awake¡­ Qiao Sang instinctively checked the time, 12:23 AM. She didn¡¯t say anything, just got up and walked out of the room. A moment later, she returned with a plate of energy pellets. ¡°You must be hungry. Come and eat.¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Steel Falcon turned around and looked at Qiao Sang, then at the energy pellets on the floor. She wanted to refuse, but just then, her stomach let out another growl. Blushing slightly, she hesitated for two seconds before flapping her wings and flying over. She lowered her head to take a bite, paused for a moment, then quickly sped up her eating pace. ¡°These are just standard energy pellets. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to a breeder who can create custom pellets for you. That way, eating them will help you grow stronger faster.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. In truth, the pellets Steel Falcon was eating weren¡¯t that ordinary. Sainan High School made these specially for their students¡¯ pets. However, they weren¡¯t personalized, just generic pellets that all pets could eat. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Steel Falcon paused for a moment, then continued eating. --- The next morning. Under the effect of Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, Qiao Sang felt refreshed as she brought Steel Falcon to a climate hall on campus. This facility could simulate both summer and winter environments. It was a classic case of wanting what one didn¡¯t have. Chaosu Planet had no summers or winters, so wealthy and bored individuals would install climate rooms in their homes and invite friends over to experience different seasons. As a renowned aristocratic school, Sainan High naturally had such facilities. At the entrance, an electronic screen displayed instructions. Qiao Sang scanned her school ID, and the doors automatically opened. The moment she stepped inside, a gust of cold wind hit her. She instinctively hugged Yabao tighter for warmth. Inside, snowflakes drifted down, and the floor-to-ceiling glass walls were not transparent but instead functioned as massive holographic screens, displaying a snowy landscape. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Steel Falcon, seeing this scene for the first time, was momentarily stunned. Someone¡¯s here¡­ Qiao Sang scanned the room and spotted a person bundled in a thick blanket in the corner. The student seemed engrossed in something and occasionally chuckled. The temperature was around 10¡ãC¡­ Qiao Sang estimated that it wasn¡¯t cold enough for a proper endurance test. So, she walked over to the student and asked, ¡°Hey, can I adjust the temperature for about half an hour?¡± Chapter 523: Ready to Proceed Chapter 523: Ready to ProceedRead at: /?m=1 ----- The young man turned his head and was momentarily stunned upon seeing the newcomer. He quickly sat up and said, "Of course." Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected the other party to be a familiar face. Well, familiar was a stretch, they were in the same class, so she recognized him, but they had never spoken before. From his expression, he clearly remembered her as well. Qiao Sang smiled. "Thank you." After speaking, she took out her campus card and pressed it against the chip reader. A ten-inch virtual screen immediately appeared beside her. The screen displayed the location of the current building, the climate hall. She tapped on it, and the control panel for the hall appeared. While Qiao Sang was adjusting the indoor climate, Hulis discreetly glanced at the unfamiliar pet beast and the small steel falcon beside it. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "You formed a contract with the small steel falcon?" "Not yet." Qiao Sang replied while operating the panel. "But soon." "Why would you want to contract a small steel falcon?" Hulis asked bluntly, completely disregarding the fact that the small steel falcon was right there listening. The small steel falcon gave him a look, thinking, Foolish human. Obviously, it''s because of my physique and intelligence. "Small steel falcons are great, aren''t they? They have both offense and defense, plus they¡¯re smart." Qiao Sang said. Just as she finished speaking, the temperature inside the hall plummeted, and the light snowfall turned into a blizzard. Hulis shivered and quickly burrowed back into his blanket. He was about to ask the girl beside him if she wasn¡¯t cold, but before he could get the words out, he saw Qiao Sang turn to the air and say, "Clothes." The next second, an unfamiliar pet beast suddenly materialized. It removed the golden hoop from its ear, and as the hoop expanded, the beast reached inside and rummaged around. Before long, it pulled out a sweater, cotton pants, a down jacket, a hat, a scarf, everything needed for winter. Hulis fell silent. Good thing he hadn¡¯t asked... Once Qiao Sang was fully bundled up, she picked a spot to sit and looked at the small steel falcon. "Gang..." The small steel falcon''s gaze flickered. It knew that if it pretended to be unable to endure, this human would likely give up on contracting it. This person was a good one, but ultimately, still human. She could become stronger on her own, even without a contract... At this moment, Hulis resumed their earlier conversation. "Here on Chaosu Star, pet beasts like the small steel falcon are generally only considered for contracts when a Beast Tamer reaches C-rank. You haven¡¯t been here long, so you might not know but don¡¯t be fooled by how obedient it looks now. One day, it might just betray its own tamer." Qiao Sang remained unfazed. "Not all small steel falcons are like that, right?" "Not all." Hulis admitted grimly. "But you can never truly know what it''s thinking. Actually, small steel falcons used to be quite popular here on Chaosu Star." He deliberately paused. Qiao Sang played along. "So, what happened?" Hulis looked at te small steel falcon in the distance, his gaze complicated. "Many years ago, in 1st District, there was a famous Beast Tamer. He had contracted a small steel falcon and even nurtured it to the emperor-rank form, Solid Armor Yudo. But one day, without any warning, Yudo forcibly broke the contract. "That Beast Tamer had the potential to achieve great rankings in the global tournament. But all of it was ruined by Yudo." "After that day, the market for small steel falcons plummeted. Even after multiple price drops, few people were willing to contract them." Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised and blurted out, "What¡¯s the species limit for small steel falcons?" You didn¡¯t even figure that out before deciding to contract one?! And also, Is that really your main concern?! Hulis twitched. "Emperor-rank." He replied. So it''s emperor-rank... Just like Little Treasure... Qiao Sang thought to herself. Then she asked, "Since that Beast Tamer could enter the global tournament, he must have had a high mental domain, right? How did the contract get broken?" That¡¯s what you care about?! Hulis answered with a frown, "His mental domain was high, he was a B-rank Beast Tamer. But Yudo was an emperor-rank pet beast, so breaking the contract wasn¡¯t difficult." "Makes sense." Qiao Sang shrugged. "That just means he advanced too slowly and couldn''t suppress Yudo." Chaosu Star¡¯s Beast Tamers relied on strength to subdue their pet beasts. Considering how long it would take to raise a small steel falcon to Solid Armor Yudo, the Tamer¡¯s mental domain was likely developed gradually over time. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If his growth in strength couldn¡¯t keep up with the small steel falcon¡¯s evolution speed, who was really at fault? Hulis was momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected her to draw that conclusion. Are all Beast Tamers from Blue Star this¡­ peculiar? But... it actually made sense. No! Wait! I almost got dragged into her way of thinking... Hulis frowned and said, "But other pet beasts don¡¯t behave like this. Only small steel falcons have a high incidence of such incidents." Qiao Sang waved a hand dismissively. "Maybe their species just has a strong personality." Hulis: ... The climate hall fell into a temporary silence. Qiao Sang checked the time, then looked up at the small steel falcon. "Feeling cold?" "Gang." The small steel falcon stared at her for a while, then shook its head. No. --- Half an hour later, Qiao Sang exited the climate hall. The internet wasn¡¯t lying, small steel falcons really have exceptional resistance. Experiencing two extreme weather conditions back-to-back, and her expression didn¡¯t even change¡­ While marveling at this, Qiao Sang led the small steel falcon to a tree. "Stand still and don¡¯t resist." She said, forming a hand seal to initiate the contract. "Gang!" The small steel falcon spread its wings in a wait gesture. Qiao Sang paused. "What is it?" "Gang." "Gang." The small steel falcon chirped twice, expressing her wish to visit 27th District before heading to Blue Star. With Yabao¡¯s translation, Qiao Sang chuckled. "Of course." "Gang." The small steel falcon nodded. No more problems then. Qiao Sang formed the hand seal again. "Gang!" Midway through the process, the small steel falcon suddenly extended her wings again in another wait gesture. "...What now?" Qiao Sang sighed, dropping her hands. "Gang." "Gang." The small steel falcon chirped twice more, stating that she wanted to eat hard minerals daily, it would help her grow stronger faster. Yabao translated once again. "No problem at all." Qiao Sang agreed readily. A desire for strength was a good thing. "Gang." The small steel falcon nodded, her expression solemn. Now you can proceed. Qiao Sang formed the hand seal. Soon, specks of orange light gathered from all directions, merging atop the small steel falcon''s head and forming an orange star array. At the same time, in Qiao Sang''s mental domain, the final page of the Beast Taming Codex slowly revealed the small steel falcon¡¯s information. Chapter 524: Its Me Chapter 524: It''s MeRead at: /?m=1 ----- Once the contract was completed, Qiao Sang immediately accessed the Beast Taming Codex. She quickly flipped to the last page. Name: Steel Falcon (Gangbao) Attributes: Steel, Flying Level: Beginner (766/1000) + [Traits: First Trait: Mirror Armor Level: A (23/10,000) Status: (Extremely Useful) Description: When affected by an opponent''s ability-reducing move or trait, the effect is reflected back onto the attacking beast. Second Trait: Hard Skull Level: D (6/500) Status: (Hard to Use) Description: Grants immunity to recoil damage from its own moves. Third Trait: Sharpness Level: C (192/1000) Status: (Usable) sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Description: Increases the power of cutting-type moves by 50%. Skills: Iron Wall (Beginner 61/100) +, Trickery (Advanced 332/500) +, Steel Wing (Advanced 280/500) +, Air Blade (Beginner 39/100) +, Peck (Advanced 278/500) + Qiao Sang''s gaze froze on the Mirror Armor trait. She was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized its significance, her face lighting up with excitement. She had initially chosen the Steel Falcon purely for her intelligence and determination. But she never expected her to have such an extraordinary talent, her Mirror Armor trait had already reached A-rank at the beginner stage! An A-rank Mirror Armor trait, this was definitely worthy of appearing among the top candidate beasts at yesterday¡¯s banquet! It was extremely rare for a beast at the beginner stage to have any trait reach A-rank. Even seemingly useless traits, when leveled up, could develop some unexpected, powerful effects. Take the Stink Bug¡¯s Stench trait, for example. At normal levels, it simply emitted an unpleasant smell. But when upgraded to A-rank, it could knock opponents unconscious upon entering battle, effectively achieving victory without even fighting, a biological weapon of mass destruction. Mirror Armor was far from useless to begin with. In fact, it was even more effective than Pure Body, as it allowed for counterattacks. At A-rank, this trait could make it possible to defeat mid-tier beasts even without a golden finger (cheat ability). Qiao Sang¡¯s heart burned with excitement as she continued analyzing. Hard Skull was decent, it increased durability during battles. Sharpness was excellent, boosting cutting-type moves greatly. She hadn¡¯t expected the Steel Falcon¡¯s traits to be so useful in combat¡­ The more she looked, the more satisfied she became. Then, as she glanced at the skills section, she froze again. Trickery? Wasn¡¯t that a Dark-type move? Beasts could learn moves outside of their natural attributes, but only moves matching their attributes could be used at full power. Most Beast Tamers wouldn¡¯t deliberately teach their beasts off-attribute moves because the efficiency would be lower. Also, learning off-attribute moves required talent, it wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved just by spending time and resources. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t expected the Steel Falcon to have a natural talent for Dark-type moves¡­ Trickery was a mid-tier Dark-type move that activated cunning tactics, sharpening the mind and greatly boosting special attack power. After reading through all the stats, she exited the Beast Taming Codex and looked at the Steel Falcon with growing admiration. With these traits and skills¡­ It had defense. It had offense. It had intelligence. Absolutely perfect. ¡°Gang¡­ Gang¡­¡± Gangbao, feeling her new Tamer¡¯s intense gaze, shuddered slightly. --- 3rd District - Beast Taming Center. The place was bustling, filled with people going in and out. At Window 17¡­ The staff member was completely stunned as they registered the Gangbao''s information. After finishing the process in a daze, they handed over the identity wristband with an absentminded expression: ¡°¡­This is the Steel Falcon¡¯s identity wristband¡­¡± Qiao Sang thanked them, took it, and left. It was only after a long moment that the staff member finally snapped out of their shock. ¡°Fifteen¡­ she¡¯s only fifteen?!¡± A nearby colleague reminded them impatiently: ¡°Come on, call the next person! There¡¯s a long line!¡± ¡°Oh, oh!¡± The staff member finally recovered from their daze. At the same time, Qiao Sang had already completed her exam registration. The Professional Beast Tamer exam on Chaosu Star was more efficient than on Blue Star. Both manual and self-service options were available. Simply scanning an identity card and Beast Taming Badge at a kiosk would check if you met the eligibility criteria. Qiao Sang sat in the waiting hall, holding Yabao in her arms, while the newly registered Steel Falcon perched nearby, observing the crowd. Just then, a petite girl with shoulder-length hair sat down beside her. She glanced sideways at Yabao, then curiously turned to ask: ¡°What kind of beast is this? I¡¯ve never seen one before.¡± ¡°Blazing Star Canine.¡± Qiao Sang answered casually. She was already used to people asking about Yabao. ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t look like a mid-tier beast.¡± The girl muttered. Most people in the waiting hall were here for the Professional Beast Tamer exam. F-rank Beast Tamers didn¡¯t need to take an exam. E-rank required an exam and two mid-tier beasts. Seeing that Qiao Sang looked even younger than herself, the girl assumed she was aiming for E-rank. ¡°Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s beast flicked his ears and proudly lifted his head. He had shrunk his form significantly, yet people could still sense his exceptional nature. ¡°What beast are you using for the exam?¡± The girl asked. ¡°Just Blazing Star Canine.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The girl hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re relying on just that?¡± Yabao: ??? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?! What¡¯s wrong with relying on me?! ¡°¡­Never mind, I shouldn¡¯t judge a beast by its appearance.¡± The girl said, shifting her focus. ¡°What¡¯s your number? I¡¯m taking the exam too, maybe we¡¯ll go in together.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at her number slip. ¡°39.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m 43! We¡¯re really close, we¡¯ll definitely be in the same group. Let me tell you-¡± ¡°D-rank Beast Tamer exam: Candidate 39, please proceed to Examination Room 8.¡± A mechanical voice interrupted. Qiao Sang checked her number slip again, then stood up. The girl blinked in confusion, then kindly reminded her: ¡°That¡¯s for the D-rank Beast Tamer exam.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at her. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m taking.¡± Then she walked toward the exam room. ¡°!!!¡± The girl froze in shock. Gangbao, unnoticed the entire time, flapped her wings and followed after her new Tamer. --- Examination Room 8 Rather than a room, it was more like an arena. It was as large as a basketball stadium, with scattered spectators. Most were adults, the youngest looking around twenty. As Qiao Sang entered, the staff at the entrance stared blankly. ¡°Candidate 39?¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her number slip and ID card, placing them on the table. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Chapter 525: Fortress Turtle Chapter 525: Fortress TurtleRead at: /?m=1 ----- The staff member fell silent for a moment before picking up the identity card on the table and scanning it. The next second, upon seeing the information on the computer screen, his mind went blank with a loud buzz. His mouth slightly opened, and his expression froze. "Is it done?" Qiao Sang waited for a while before asking. "Yes, yes! It''s done!" The staff member snapped back to reality, hurriedly picked up the identity card, and handed it over with both hands. Qiao Sang took it, put it in her pocket, and walked inside. After she left, the staff member excitedly pulled out his phone, opened a group chat, and started typing frantically: [Holy crap! You guys won¡¯t believe it, but I ran into a total freak at work today!] S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang found a seat and sat down, attentively watching the battle below. The assessment was still ongoing, and both sides were using beast companions she had never seen before. It was different from both the National Campus Beast Mastering League and the E-rank Beast Tamer assessment she had previously taken. In the National Campus Beast Mastering League, competitors could learn about their opponents and their beast companions in advance, allowing for preparation. The E-rank Beast Tamer assessment was held in the Yuhua region, where Qiao Sang had a general understanding of the beast companions there. But here, on Chaosu Star, the summoned beast companions were completely unknown. Forget about their traits, even their attributes might only be revealed after an exchange of blows. Of course, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t worried about failing the assessment, but being cautious was always a good thing. At the same time, the people nearby gradually shifted their attention from the ongoing battle to Qiao Sang. "What¡¯s the deal? Is she here for the assessment too?" "No way, she looks way too young." "Definitely not. She still looks like a high school student. How could she be taking the D-rank Beast Tamer assessment?" "I heard some prodigies become D-rank Beast Tamers before even entering college." "At the very least, they''d be in their final year of high school. Does she look like a senior to you?" "Why are we even debating this? Just look at her, she''s carrying her beast companion like a pet! Have you ever seen a professional Beast Tamer do that?" A dozen people chattered noisily, their discussions overlapping. At that moment, a massive scorpion-like beast companion, over three meters tall, was sent flying and collapsed unconscious. "Assessment failed." The man on the left side of the field announced indifferently. "Next." The woman at the desk by the field coordinated by making some entries on the computer. The screen displaying the participants¡¯ information updated to the next page. At the same time, a mechanical electronic voice echoed through the room: "Number 39, please step forward for your assessment." Qiao Sang stood up and walked to the center of the field. The room fell into a brief silence as everyone stared in shock at the girl stepping onto the battlefield, except for the staff member who had checked her identity at the entrance. He was currently typing like a madman: [The freak is taking the assessment! The freak is taking the assessment!] On the field, Yabao leaped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. The moment Qiao Sang appeared, even the experienced male examiner was taken aback. But when his gaze landed on Yabao, his eyebrows lifted slightly. His eyes then moved to the lightweight miniaturization bracelet on its paw, and his interest was piqued. This was a beast companion he had never seen before. The examiner gave Qiao Sang a deep look before waving his hand to recall his previous beast companion. He quickly formed hand seals. In the next second, an orange-yellow star array lit up on the ground. A towering turtle-like beast companion, over three meters tall, appeared in the field. It stood on two legs, with a predominantly deep-blue body, white eyes, a light blue abdomen, and a tough shell on its back. "I don¡¯t recognize your beast companion." The examiner said, "but don¡¯t think that means you can easily pass the assessment." There were countless beast companions in the world, no one could possibly recognize them all. However, most could be roughly categorized by their appearance and color. For instance, Yabao''s red markings and flame-like wings hinted at its Fire attribute. Similarly, the blue color and shell of the turtle-like beast strongly suggested a Water attribute. It¡¯s a Water-type¡­ Qiao Sang instantly made her judgment. So the examiner had guessed that Yabao was purely a Fire-type. But if he knew it also had Psychic abilities, he probably wouldn¡¯t have said that¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at the examiner with a complicated expression before calling out: "Yabao." "Yap!" Yabao''s expression turned excited. He let out a cry as his body began to enlarge, returning to his original size. His red and white fur billowed, the flame-like wings on his shoulders intensified, and a terrifying heatwave spread outward from his body. The scarlet flames, luxurious fur, and powerful physique, it was still the same Yabao, just scaled up proportionally. But now, his presence was overwhelmingly oppressive, radiating an undeniable aura of nobility. The onlookers'' eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god! I thought it was just a pet beast companion!" "This looks way too cool!" "I feel like its value just skyrocketed a hundredfold¡­" "I¡¯ve never heard of a beast companion like this before!" "Just from its aura alone, the Fortress Turtle is completely outmatched!" On the field, the Fortress Turtle eyed its opponent warily. The mechanical electronic voice rang out: "Assessment begins." "Water Domain!" The examiner immediately commanded. A thin blue water layer coated the Fortress Turtle¡¯s body. At the same time, one-third of the battlefield turned into a deep blue water terrain. The ground sank, water surged, and the center of the flooding area was precisely where Yabao stood! The spectators focused on the unknown beast companion. But instead of rushing forward or attacking, Yabao suddenly vanished from sight. Fortunately, the battlefield wasn¡¯t that large, and soon everyone spotted Yabao hovering in midair. It has a Psychic attribute! The thought flashed through everyone¡¯s minds. The examiner also realized this, his expression turning serious. However, before he could give another command, a brilliant crimson flame suddenly descended upon the Fortress Turtle from above. The turtle instinctively fired a high-pressure Water Gun to counter it. Although Water beats Fire, when the two attacks collided, the flames completely overpowered the water attack. BOOM! A deafening explosion erupted just two meters away from the Fortress Turtle, sending a shockwave of fire and smoke billowing across the field. The examiner remained calm, he knew the Fortress Turtle had likely withdrawn into its shell. Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, the Fortress Turtle was fully retracted. The examiner was about to issue a command when his expression suddenly darkened. Why does it look like the Fortress Turtle is in pain? He focused on the scene and saw the turtle twisting and rolling, its shell turning faintly red. From the audience''s perspective, the whole sequence was crystal clear. Yabao had launched two attacks. The first was a swirling fire whirl, and the second, an invisible flame was fired during the explosion. The heat was so intense that the air itself distorted. "Use Water Gun on yourself!" The examiner shouted. "Fire Fang." Qiao Sang commanded simultaneously. Before the Fortress Turtle could react, Yabao teleported beside it and bit down ferociously with flaming fangs. "Fort!!!" The turtle let out a miserable scream. The examiner''s pupils contracted sharply. Three seconds later, as the Fortress Turtle lay motionless, the mechanical voice announced: "Number 39, assessment passed." Chapter 526: Pet Beast Arena Tournament Chapter 526: Pet Beast Arena TournamentRead at: /?m=1 ----- Amidst a silent atmosphere, Qiao Sang walked out of the assessment room, holding Yabao, who had shrunk back to his smaller form. [Say something already, who was the one conducting the assessment for that monster?] [Was it recorded?] [Has the assessment started? What kind of pet beast did that monster send out?] The staff member at the registration desk snapped out of their daze, glanced at the group chat, and after a long moment of silence, typed out a response on their phone: [The assessment is over...] [?] [What the hell? I haven''t even finished reading a chapter of my novel, and you''re telling me the assessment is already over?] [Who won?] The staff member slowly typed: [The monster won.] [Well, we already called them a monster, so it''s not surprising they won.] [This monster seems pretty strong. I just went to make a cup of coffee, and the assessment was done.] [You said she''s from Blue Star and has four pet beasts, three of which are high-level. I''ll admit that''s rare in a D-rank Beast Tamer assessment, but does that really warrant calling her a monster?] The staff member sent another message: [Forgot to mention the most important part, this monster is 15 years old.] The group chat instantly fell silent. --- After updating her information and receiving her new Beast Tamer badge, Qiao Sang opened her navigation and searched for the "Beast Breeders Center." Like the Beast Center, the Beast Breeders Center was directly managed by the Alliance. The difference was that most of the people entering and exiting the Beast Breeder Center were breeders, and all cultivator-related rank assessments were conducted there. Another group of visitors came to look for suitable cultivators, just like Qiao Sang was doing now. There were Beast Breeders Centers on Blue Star as well. However, back then, Qiao Sang had limited money and low-level pet beasts. Later, after meeting the vice principal, she never considered going to a breeder center to find a breeder. Now that she was in Chaosu Star, unfamiliar with the place but not lacking money, she naturally thought of this option. After finishing her search, she suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Gangbao. "You''re awfully quiet." "Gang gang." Gangbao flapped her wings. If she liked her noisy, she could make some noise too. Qiao Sang: ... You''re overthinking it. --- Beast Breeder Center. The building¡¯s exterior walls slanted inward, covered with glass panels extending upward, gradually narrowing from bottom to top, resembling a crystalline glass tower. First-floor lobby, Window No. 6. "I want to find an S-rank breeder." Qiao Sang said. The staff member, who had been inputting information, momentarily froze, then looked up with a polite smile. "I can register your request, but S-rank breeders typically don''t accept orders from strangers. Please consider this carefully." Qiao Sang asked, "Not even for a lot of money?" The staff member chuckled. "You should know that S-rank breeders are never short on money." Qiao Sang immediately lost interest. She had planned to take advantage of her current financial situation to hire a top-tier cultivator, but it seemed they wouldn¡¯t bend for money at all. "Then I''ll look for an A-rank breeder." Qiao Sang said instead. "Understood." The staff member finished inputting the request, then looked at the screen. "Currently, there are three A-rank breeders available. One requests a Danok¡¯s severed tail as payment. Another requires the client to be an A-rank Beast Tamer and accompany them to Area 22 in a month. The last one requires the client to have a pet beast capable of memory cleansing, to assist with some work." Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment. "Is there no one who just wants money?" The staff member maintained a professional smile. "You should know that A-rank breeders aren''t short on money either." Qiao Sang: ... sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then find a B-rank cultivator." She relented. Currently, she had the special energy pill formulas from the vice principal for Yabao, Little Treasure, and Lubao. The breeder only needed to follow the instructions. As for Gangbao, she was still a beginner pet beast. Even if she evolved to an intermediate level, a B-rank breeder would be sufficient. "Understood." The staff member said patiently, searching the database. A moment later, she spoke. "There are currently 122 B-rank breeders available. I''ll transfer the list to the external screen for you to review." As she finished speaking, the screen in front of Qiao Sang changed. The difference in numbers between A-rank and B-rank breeders was staggering¡­ Qiao Sang marveled at the gap while browsing through the profiles. [Hertzberg, B-rank breeder, specializes in water-type pet beasts. Previously helped cultivate a King-level water-type pet beast to Emperor level. Available for orders.] [Payment: Negotiable] [Note: Do not contact if the pet beast is not water-type.] A true professional breeder should be capable of handling any attribute¡­ Qiao Sang moved on. [Chilento, B-rank breeder, specializes in resolving pet beast psychological issues. Available for orders.] [Payment: 2,000,000¨C3,000,000 credits] [Note: Only accepting clients whose pet beasts have severe psychological issues.] --- Qiao Sang stared at the note for a long time, speechless. What a bizarre requirement. She continued scrolling. Despite the large number of breeders, finding a suitable one wasn¡¯t as easy as expected. The order system for Beast Breeders Centers resembled the Beast Center¡¯s Beast Tamer mission board, it was a two-way selection process. Perhaps because higher-ranked breeders weren¡¯t concerned about money, they tended to choose pet beasts they were personally interested in cultivating. Qiao Sang spent a long time searching before finally finding a cultivator whose payment request was straightforward and whose notes were normal. [Moniel, B-rank cultivator, available for orders.] [Payment: 1,000,000¨C3,000,000 credits] [Note: Full payment upfront.] "I''ll go with him." Qiao Sang said, tapping Moniel¡¯s name. --- Following the address provided, Qiao Sang took a taxi to a white building. At the entrance, a security guard stopped her. "Miss, only Beast Tamers are allowed inside. Please present your Beast Tamer badge." I''m literally holding Yabao and have Gangbao beside me, and you still need to check my badge¡­ Qiao Sang silently complained. The security guard, having dealt with all kinds of people, immediately saw through her thoughts. "It''s a precaution." He explained. "Sometimes, ordinary people try to sneak in by carrying wild pet beasts and pretending to be Beast Tamers. Thank you for your understanding." Fine¡­ Qiao Sang took out the Beast Tamer badge she had just updated that morning and handed it over. D-rank Beast Tamer¡­ The security guard paused upon seeing the badge, carefully took it with both hands to verify it, then suddenly looked up, visibly shocked. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained unchanged. She was used to this reaction. Ten minutes later, under a staff member¡¯s guidance, she arrived at an incredibly noisy area. "Go! Take it down!" "Liu Yuan! If you can''t do it, get off! You''re using a Diamond Scorpion, and you''re still getting beaten like this?" "Ah! Yuya! Whether I can get married depends on you!" Qiao Sang looked up. In the center, a massive arena stood with two pet beasts battling fiercely. Their respective Beast Tamers stood on elevated command platforms on either side. The surrounding audience was packed, shouting in excitement. She wasn¡¯t surprised. When she searched for the address, she had already learned that this was the famous Pet Beast Arena Tournament that Tang Yi frequently talked about. Chapter 527: Hekin Tower Chapter 527: Hekin TowerRead at: /?m=1 ----- A minute later, Qiao Sang finally found Moniel based on his seat number. Moniel was a typical white man with blond hair, blue eyes, deep facial features, and a messy, unkempt hairstyle. His face was covered with stubble. "Mr. Moniel." Qiao Sang greeted. "Ah! Go for it!" "Mr. Moniel." "Ah! King Scorpion, attack! Stop just defending!" "Mr. Moniel!" "Ah! Liu Yuan! Are you eating crap?!" Qiao Sang: ¡­ Gangbao couldn''t take it anymore and flew right in front of Moniel, blocking his view. Moniel froze for a moment, just about to curse. At that moment, Qiao Sang called out again, "Mr. Moniel." Only then did Moniel turn his head. Seeing this, Gangbao flew back beside Qiao Sang, hiding her achievements and fame. Finally, you''re listening to me¡­ Qiao Sang silently complained. Moniel looked at the young girl in front of him, paused for a moment, and suddenly realized, "You''re the one who wants a custom energy pill?" Qiao Sang nodded. "That''s me." Moniel smiled gentlemanly. "Just give me ten minutes." Then he turned back to the arena, his expression shifting instantly as he roared with a contorted face, "Ah! Liu Yuan, you coward!" Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Gang!" Gangbao flapped her wings, suggesting that they might want to find another breeder, she had doubts about this one''s reliability. I want to change too¡­ Since the breeder was right there, Qiao Sang tactfully said, "He''s the best fit." Ten minutes later, the match on the arena ended. Moniel ranted at the competitor named Liu Yuan, and once he was done, he turned back with a dramatic face change, smiling warmly. "Let''s go somewhere quiet to talk." Qiao Sang nodded without objections. They took the elevator to the 17th floor. Moniel had an office there, and he led Qiao Sang into a spacious room. "Tell me." Moniel said as he sat on the couch. "What kind of effects do you want in the custom energy pills for your pet beasts?" Qiao Sang sat on the opposite couch and pulled a piece of paper with formulas from her pocket, placing it on the table. "I want to make these three types of energy pills, just a month''s supply for each. Also, I need a special formula tailored for Gangbao''s body condition." Moniel picked up the formula sheet, glanced at it, and nodded. "No problem, but the ingredient costs are separate." "That''s fine." Qiao Sang said. "I need them within a week." Moniel chuckled. "Of course." Then, he gestured to Gangbao. "Come here." Knowing that this human was going to examine her body, Gangbao cooperated and flew over. From Moniel''s sleeve, a tiny pet beast emitting a white glow, as small as a firefly, flew out. "Open your mouth." Moniel instructed. This time, Gangbao didn''t comply right away. Instead, she turned to look at Qiao Sang. "What is this?" Qiao Sang asked, knowing Steel Falcon was being cautious. "It''s a Microtransparent Bug. It has a shared vision ability, allowing me to directly inspect the pet beast''s internal condition." Moniel explained in a gentle tone. Similar to a Vision Bird¡­ Qiao Sang nodded slightly toward Gangbao. "Gang¡­" Gangbao hesitated but eventually opened her beak. The Microtransparent Bug quickly flew inside. At the same time, Moniel closed his eyes. This job must be tough. What if they encounter a pet beast with bad breath? So many don''t brush their teeth¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts drifted as she suddenly felt sympathy for the Microtransparent Bug. Two minutes later, the Microtransparent Bug flew out of Gangbao''s mouth. Moniel opened his eyes and said, sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This Steel Falcon has excellent physical attributes, but its blood flow is slower than usual for its species. It''s caused by a lack of sleep. It¡¯s less than a year old, it needs sufficient rest." Less than a year old¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Gangbao in surprise. This smart at under a year old? How is Yabao supposed to compete? "Yap yap!" At that moment, Yabao was wagging his tail, his tiny paws pressing against the glass window, excitedly looking at the scenery outside, completely unaware that his intelligence had just been questioned. Moniel continued, "The reason Steel Falcon has such strong defense is largely due to its feathers. However, it''s losing feathers at an unusual rate, it''s looking a little bald." I told you plucking out feathers would make you bald¡­ Qiao Sang shot Gangbao an I told you so look. "Gang¡­" Gangbao couldn''t help reaching back to feel her feathers. Being bald wasn¡¯t the problem, if it affected her defense, that was a real issue¡­ Moniel smiled and said, "But you don¡¯t need to worry. The custom energy pills I make will fix these problems." You¡¯re a B-rank beast breeder, fixing sleep issues and bald spots should be a basic skill¡­ Qiao Sang smiled outwardly and said, "Then I''ll be counting on you, Mr. Moniel." "This is my job." Moniel replied. "Also, if you want Steel Falcon to evolve perfectly, it should master at least a intermediate level defensive skill during its early stage. Also, apply Strengthening Oil daily until the day it evolves." Qiao Sang nodded. "Understood." "There are a lot of fake Strengthening Oils on the market." Moniel said with a smile. "I''ll be careful." Qiao Sang replied. "Fake Strengthening Oils are hard to distinguish." Moniel continued smiling. "I''ll be extra careful." Qiao Sang repeated. Moniel''s smile twitched, and he finally got to the point. "Actually, I have Strengthening Oil right here." You could¡¯ve just said that from the start¡­ Qiao Sang inwardly rolled her eyes but outwardly said, "That¡¯s great! Can I get a month¡¯s supply?" Moniel grinned. "Of course. But about the price¡­" Qiao Sang interrupted, "Money isn''t an issue." Moniel¡¯s smile grew even wider. He loved straightforward customers like this. Then, he added, "For the best results, have Steel Falcon fight a match before applying the Strengthening Oil each time. Trust me, you¡¯ll be impressed with the results." A client who didn''t even ask about the price was rare, he naturally wanted Steel Falcon to show noticeable improvement, ensuring long-term cooperation. Moniel continued, "The first floor holds beast battles for F-rank trainers. You should try letting Steel Falcon participate, then apply the oil and observe the results. Believe me, you''ll be satisfied each time." Hekin Tower. The most famous pet beast battle arena in 3rd District. It had 101 floors, each designated for different-ranked trainers. The higher the rank, the higher the battle floors. Not all floors were for battles, some contained restaurants, accommodations, and luxury shopping areas. The higher up, the more expensive the brands. Some floors were strictly office spaces requiring special key cards for access. Ding! The elevator doors opened on the 11th floor. Qiao Sang stepped out, holding Yabao, with Gangbao following beside her. After considering Moniel¡¯s suggestion, she found it reasonable. Since she was already here, she might as well test the Strengthening Oil. More importantly, she wanted to assess Gangbao''s combat abilities. Of course, the biggest reason was earning evolution points. Gangbao currently had 766 evolution points, just 234 away from evolving. She wasn¡¯t too interested in F-rank battles anymore, but considering Gangbao was still a low-level pet, she chose the 11th floor, E-rank beast battle arena. Chapter 528: Palm Strike Kid Chapter 528: Palm Strike KidRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang had considered many things, but she hadn''t expected to run into an issue at the very first step of registration. "You¡¯re a D-rank Beastmaster. This is the E-rank Beastmaster arena. You can¡¯t participate." The staff member glanced at her Beast master badge without even checking the detailed information and directly rejected her. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. "I was still an E-rank Beastmaster before ten this morning..." "But you¡¯re not now." The staff member shot her a sidelong glance. "If you¡¯re not an E-rank Beastmaster, you don¡¯t qualify to sign up. If you want to compete, go to the 21st floor where the D-rank Beast master battles are held." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A burly black man, at least 1.9 meters tall, standing behind her in line, chimed in, "Yeah, you¡¯re a D-rank Beast master. Coming here is just bullying us!" Qiao Sang turned to look at him and fell silent. The man looked at the petite girl who barely reached his chest, her face still youthful and innocent. He suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and muttered under his breath, "Well, I wasn¡¯t wrong." At that moment, a manager who had been paying attention to the situation walked over. "What¡¯s going on here?" The staff respectfully explained the situation. The manager was a black-haired, black-eyed woman. She studied the girl and the unfamiliar beast in her arms before saying, "Register her." The staff hesitated. "But that¡¯s against the rules." The woman smiled. "Rules aren¡¯t set in stone." Then she turned to Qiao Sang. "You can participate, but you¡¯ll have to follow the E-rank Beast master rules and only send out two beasts." "No problem!" Qiao Sang immediately agreed. Hearing this, the contestants who had been unhappy about the situation finally relaxed. After the woman returned to her post, someone approached her and whispered, "Is that girl special?" "She¡¯s probably from some prestigious family." The woman smiled. "I don¡¯t know how special she is yet, but I¡¯ve never seen that beast she¡¯s holding before. A new beast like that will definitely make things more exciting." --- While waiting for her match, Qiao Sang finally realized why the audience here was so invested in the battles. Spectators could place bets on the fights. Basically, this place was full of gamblers. When personal stakes were involved, it was no surprise the crowd got so riled up. "I want to place a bet." Qiao Sang walked up to the betting counter and coolly pulled out her black gold card. If there was ever a time to flex a black gold card, this was it! The staff member took the card and stared at it for several seconds before respectfully handing it back. "We don¡¯t accept credit cards for bets." Qiao Sang: ... First the Beast master registration, and now this? Why did it feel like she was rich but couldn''t spend her money? She pulled out two 100-yuan bills and handed them over. "I¡¯m betting on Qiao Sang to win 2-0." After seeing the black gold card earlier, the staff didn¡¯t react much to the mere 200 yuan. He accepted it respectfully. "Please show your Beast master badge." Qiao Sang handed it over. Three seconds later, the staff returned it with an apologetic look. "Sorry, contestants can¡¯t bet on their own matches." Qiao Sang: ... --- Back in the waiting area, she discovered something else. There was a high-level beast in the competition! Qiao Sang suddenly understood. D-rank Beast masters had at least 20% brain development, but many Beast masters never reached that level. Some remained stuck at less than 15%, or even 10%, their whole lives. E-rank Beast masters hadn¡¯t met the brain development requirement for D-rank, but that didn¡¯t mean their beasts would always stay at the mid-level stage. Some beasts evolved into high-level beasts, but their masters didn¡¯t meet the standards to advance. Naturally, these Beast masters remained at the E-rank. Realizing this, Qiao Sang became excited. Up until now, her opponents were either her peers or people only a few years older. But here, she might face competitors decades older than her. Older meant more experience. This E-rank tournament might be way more interesting than she expected! --- Forty minutes later, Qiao Sang stepped onto the command platform as the announcer introduced her. Since E-rank tournaments featured contestants of all ages daily, the crowd was used to seeing young competitors. But that didn¡¯t mean they were indifferent. "She¡¯s way too young! She looks like a high schooler!" "Bet on Kash! Free money! This match is basically giving it away!" "Damn! The betting closed ten minutes before the match! Otherwise, I¡¯d have put everything on this!" "Calm down! Remember that kid a while ago who looked like a high schooler too? He had a high-level beast and made us all lose big!" "How many geniuses like that exist? This girl looks even younger than him! Look at that little Steel Falcon. It¡¯s just a beginner-level beast, and that red-and-white one next to her is probably mid-level at best. And just look at it, it doesn¡¯t have any combat potential!" A middle-aged man hesitated. "Why do I feel like the bracelet on that red-and-white beast¡¯s paw looks like a lightweight miniaturization bracelet?" The person next to him gave him a disdainful look. "Get your eyes checked, man." --- In the arena, Gangbao flew from the command platform to its position. Kash was a bald, 36-year-old man. He glanced at the small falcon, then at the obviously school-aged girl across from him, and grinned. He looked like he thought this match was already in the bag. He formed a hand seal, and a gray star formation lit up beneath his feet. A one-meter-tall beast appeared, gray eyes, two small horns, and bandages wrapped around its hands and neck. The crowd erupted in cheers. "It¡¯s Palm Strike Kid! Kash¡¯s Palm Strike Kid is here! This is its 32nd match in this arena!" The commentator spoke into the mic. "It looks like Kash isn¡¯t planning to hold back against Qiao Sang at all, he¡¯s sending out his ace right away! Facing an opponent one rank higher, how will Qiao Sang respond?" "Match countdown: 3, 2, 1!" As soon as the mechanical voice finished- Palm Strike Kid blurred forward with lightning speed, appearing right in front of Gangbao almost instantly. Gangbao remained calm, flapping its wings as Palm Strike Kid¡¯s fist, glowing with white energy, hurtled toward it. A gust of wind roared through the arena as the punch landed where Gangbao had just been. Chapter 529: A Defeat Well-Deserved Chapter 529: A Defeat Well-DeservedRead at: /?m=1 ----- Gangbao swiftly retracted her claws, narrowly dodging the attack from Palm Strike Kid. ¡°Beautiful!¡± The commentator exclaimed in amazement. ¡°Although the Steel Falcon isn¡¯t as fast as Palm Strike Kid, its reaction speed is top-notch, and its body control is impressive.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± The young caucasian man beside him agreed. ¡°If the Steel Falcon had relied solely on flying, it wouldn¡¯t have been able to dodge that attack. The way it retracted its claws was nothing short of brilliant.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This young man wasn¡¯t just anyone, he was yesterday¡¯s reigning champion from the E-Class Beast Tamer Arena. The Beast Battle Arena had an unwritten rule: The reigning champion of the day would be invited to join the commentators for the next day¡¯s matches. This gig was prestigious, attracted fans, and came with a hefty paycheck, few would turn it down. While the two commentators spoke, Gangbao flapped her wings and ascended to a higher altitude. From the looks of it, Palm Strike Kid was likely a combat-type beast. Close combat was risky, so long-range attacks would be the better option. Gangbao''s only ranged attack was¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts moved quickly, and she gave a swift command: ¡°Air Blade.¡± Without hesitation, Gangbao flapped her wings forcefully, summoning several white, razor-sharp blades of air that slashed toward Palm Strike Kid. Palm Strike Kid didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, it swiftly tore off the white bandages wrapped around its wrists and swung them in the air. Bang! Bang! Bang! The unwrapped white cloth stretched over two meters long, glowing as it swung, forming what appeared to be a radiant chain encircling Palm Strike Kid¡¯s body. It blocked every single Air Blade with precision. In mere moments, the air blades dissipated completely. What kind of skill is this¡­? Qiao Sang remained composed on the surface, but internally, she was filled with doubt and surprise. She had thought that after her tireless studying, she had finally shed her status as an academic slacker. But now, she couldn¡¯t even recognize a single skill being used! ¡°This tool is quite handy.¡± The commentator remarked. ¡°Lightweight Protective Cloth can be infused with energy and used as a defensive tool. It¡¯s weightless when worn and highly practical. Every time I see Palm Strike Kid use it, I want one myself.¡± The young caucasian man shook his head. ¡°The energy it can withstand is limited, and so is its defensive capability. The only reason it blocked the Air Blades so well just now is because Palm Strike Kid is inherently stronger than the Steel Falcon. If its opponent had a significantly higher energy level, that cloth would¡¯ve been torn apart instantly.¡± Oh, so it¡¯s a tool. That explains it. After all those sleepless nights of studying, there was no way I wouldn¡¯t recognize a mid-level beast skill¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief, only to be immediately shocked again. Wait, what?! So tools aren¡¯t banned in the arena?! ¡°Close combat!¡± Kash commanded. Palm Strike Kid obeyed immediately, tossing aside the white cloth. Then, with a powerful push from its legs, it leaped into the air, reaching Gangbao''s altitude. Clenching its fists, its muscles tensed, and it launched a ferocious punch straight at Gangbao. Gangbao''s battle instincts kicked in, she instinctively flapped her wings, preparing to evade. But at that moment, her Beast Tamer¡¯s voice rang in her ears: ¡°Head! Steel Wing!¡± Gangbao hesitated for 0.1 seconds. From her perspective, dodging was the best option. The opponent was already stronger than her. Engaging in direct combat against a superior foe wasn¡¯t wise, she should stall and look for an opening instead. But that 0.1-second hesitation was all it took for Palm Strike Kid¡¯s punch, carrying a fierce gust of wind, to reach right in front of Gangbao''s eyes. ¡°Gang gang!¡± Gritting her teeth, Gangbao suppressed her instinct to retreat. Instead, she shifted 90 degrees upward. As she moved, her wings transformed into two gleaming silver blades! Gangbao narrowly dodged Palm Strike Kid¡¯s punch by a hair¡¯s breadth. Palm Strike Kid¡¯s attack missed, but it didn¡¯t pause for even a second. It immediately twisted its body and sent a powerful kick toward Gangbao. Head! Gangbao recalled her Beast Tamer¡¯s words. She locked her eyes onto her opponent¡¯s head, then swiftly slashed her now blade-like wings straight toward Palm Strike Kid¡¯s face. ¡°Palm! Palm!¡± Palm Strike Kid¡¯s legs were long, but it was still a step too slow. It was sent flying backward, crashing hard onto the ground. ¡°Gang¡­?¡± Gangbao froze in place, surprised by her own success. Kash¡¯s expression darkened instantly, his face turning grim. Likewise, the audience members who had bet on his victory weren¡¯t looking too pleased. However, since the match wasn¡¯t officially over yet, they held back from hurling insults, at least for now. ¡°Get up!¡± Kash shouted. Before Qiao Sang could even give a command, Gangbao''s eyes gleamed. She knew this was the perfect moment to strike. With a forceful flap of its wings, she launched multiple Air Blades directly at Palm Strike Kid¡¯s face. Having a smart beast pet is amazing. We didn¡¯t even discuss strategy beforehand, but she already knows to keep targeting the head just from one hint¡­ Qiao Sang silently praised both Gangbao''s intelligence and her own great judgment. Palm Strike Kid winced in pain and tried to get up, but the Air Blades were already upon it. With no time to react, it could only roll across the ground to evade. Boom! Boom! Boom! The Air Blades struck the arena floor, sending debris flying and obscuring Palm Strike Kid¡¯s vision with dust. ¡°Steel Wing! Head!¡± Seeing that Palm Strike Kid had rolled to the edge of the arena, Qiao Sang gave her next command. Gangbao''s strongest move was her mastered Steel Wing attack. Combined with her sharpness trait, she could deal significant damage, even against an opponent a level higher. Most combat-type beasts had weak points at their heads and necks. Since Palm Strike Kid¡¯s neck was wrapped in that white cloth, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t take chances. Targeting the unprotected head was the best choice! ¡°Gang Gang!¡± This time, Gangbao didn¡¯t hesitate at all. If anything, she looked excited. Diving downward, her wings once again became silver blades, striking mercilessly toward Palm Strike Kid¡¯s head. ¡°Block your head!¡± Kash¡¯s heart pounded as he shouted in alarm. Palm Strike Kid reacted instantly, crossing its fists to guard its face. Gangbao''s eyes flickered, she subtly twisted her body, shifting her attack from the front of the head to the very top. ¡°Palm!¡± Palm Strike Kid let out a final cry before collapsing, motionless. At that moment, the large virtual screen displayed the match results: [Kash vs. Qiao Sang, 0:1] The audience members who had bet on Kash erupted in rage, nearly hurling trash onto the stage. ¡°Kash! You¡¯re trash! How could you lose to a kid?!¡± ¡°Palm Strike Kid was a level higher and still lost! Get off the stage, you disgrace!¡± ¡°Kash, you¡¯re a total failure!¡± Amidst the furious shouts, the commentator remained professional: ¡°Looks like we have an exceptional newcomer. Despite facing a stronger opponent, they showed no fear. Instead of relying on flight to drag out the fight, they seized an opportunity for a counterattack in close combat.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± The young man nodded. ¡°That Steel Falcon has been well-trained. The core of battle techniques is body control. The better the control, the sharper the reactions. We saw this clearly when it dodged Palm Strike Kid¡¯s close-range attack and struck back at the perfect moment.¡± ¡°Not to mention its quick adaptability.¡± The commentator added. ¡°It changed its target mid-attack within a split second, that¡¯s not something most beasts can do.¡± In conclusion, he stated: ¡°Kash¡¯s defeat was well-deserved.¡± Chapter 530: Muscle Flaunting Bug Chapter 530: Muscle Flaunting BugRead at: /?m=1 ----- The pet beast arena battles, especially the low-level ones, often see unexpected outcomes due to differences in the competitors'' ages, the gap in their equipment, and the variations in spirit patterns. While it is rare, there have been cases where a low-level pet beast has defeated a mid-level one. However, in the match just now, all the buffs that could ensure victory were on Kash¡¯s side. Not only was he older, but his pet beast was also one level higher than his opponent¡¯s. He had even used an item. This made the spectators who had bet money on him feel their blood pressure spike, many were on the verge of losing their composure from frustration. For a moment, the stands were filled with angry curses and flying spit. The small portion of the audience who remained silent weren¡¯t necessarily more composed or well-mannered; they simply hadn¡¯t placed any bets. Amid the chorus of complaints, Kash was starting to lose his cool. But on the surface, he had already mastered his facial expressions, making it difficult for anyone to see through him. ¡°I underestimated you.¡± Kash said coldly. Qiao Sang blurted out, ¡°Did you? You even used an item.¡± Kash: ¡­ Isn''t using items in pet beast battles completely normal?! Feeling annoyed by her remark, Kash was about to throw in another harsh comment. Just then, the mechanical voice sounded: ¡°Summoning countdown, 3¡­¡± Kash quickly formed a seal with his hands and summoned his second pet beast. ¡°Kash won¡¯t lose again, right?¡± Someone in the audience asked. The person next to him snorted, ¡°I don¡¯t care if he wins or loses.¡± A white woman sighed. ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t lose.¡± ¡°What, are you a fan of his?¡± ¡°No, I bet on him winning 2:1.¡± ¡°¡­¡± On the battlefield, a pet beast appeared within the gray star array. It was predominantly cyan-colored, covered in bulging muscles, had a small, flat head, and wore red boxing gloves on its claws. Two pairs of semi-transparent wings fluttered behind it. ¡°The Muscle Flaunting Bug has entered the match.¡± The commentator announced. ¡°Although the Muscle Flaunting Bug isn¡¯t as strong as the Palm Strike Kid, its opponent is the Steel Falcon. With its flying attribute, the Muscle Flaunting Bug should be able to put significant pressure on the Steel Falcon in the air.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± A young white man agreed. ¡°Earlier, the reason Palm Strike Kid was struck first by the Steel Falcon wasn¡¯t just because the Steel Falcon had excellent body control. It was also because Palm Strike Kid leaped into the air to engage in close combat. If it had fought on the ground, its attack speed would have been faster. In that case, it would¡¯ve been hard to tell who would land the first hit.¡± As his words fell, the battle resumed. The Muscle Flaunting Bug flapped its wings and swiftly flew toward Gangbao. As it neared, its two claws clenched into fists and launched a sudden strike. Gangbao immediately moved, creating distance to evade. The Muscle Flaunting Bug twisted its body, altering the trajectory of its punch. Logically, at this distance, the punch shouldn¡¯t have been able to hit Gangbao. Yet, Qiao Sang suddenly felt an intense sense of danger welling up in her heart. She instinctively shouted: ¡°Dodge!¡± Gangbao hesitated for 0.1 seconds. Wasn¡¯t she already dodging? Just as this thought arose, in the next 0.1 seconds, she suddenly realized... She meant to dodge in a different direction! ¡°Gang!¡± Because of the last battle, Gangbao had developed a bit of trust in her new beast master. Without overthinking, she flapped her wings and rapidly descended. In midair, a massive, white-energy projection of the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s punch suddenly appeared, striking toward where Gangbao had originally been. What kind of skill is this¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze locked onto the red boxing gloves on the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s claws. Could this be another item? The next second, the commentator answered her unspoken question: ¡°It looks like the newcomer, Qiao Sang, is quite knowledgeable about items. She correctly predicted that the Energy Manifestation Gloves can transform a Fighting-type pet beast¡¯s punch techniques into energy attacks, extending their reach. That¡¯s why she instructed the Steel Falcon to dodge in advance.¡± ¡°I think Qiao Sang must have watched Kash¡¯s previous battles.¡± The young white man countered. ¡°There are too many items on the market; it¡¯s impossible to know the source and function of every single one. The Energy Manifestation Gloves aren¡¯t well-known either. They can only be used by Fighting-type pet beasts, and their main function is merely to increase attack range, at the cost of reduced power.¡± So it really is an item¡­ Qiao Sang focused on listening while keeping her eyes locked on the battlefield. Judging by the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s displayed strength, it was likely a mid-level pet beast. Although it had a flying attribute, its flight speed didn¡¯t seem particularly fast, it was probably trained more for Fighting-type skills. While Qiao Sang was analyzing, the Muscle Flaunting Bug flapped its wings, stirring up a violent gust of wind. Yellow dust swirled up, filling the air and obstructing most of the view before the bug rushed forward. Gangbao reacted quickly, spreading her wings and forcefully fanning out multiple air blades, cutting through the haze. But as soon as the dust cleared, the Muscle Flaunting Bug was already upon her, fists raised. ¡°Sonic Punch!¡± Kash¡¯s voice carried a hint of excitement. Upon hearing its beast master¡¯s command, the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s fists became coated in a layer of white energy as it struck downward. Sonic Punch, a mid-tier Fighting-type skill known for its speed and precision. It¡¯s all about being fast¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. She suddenly realized something. When her original pets were still low-level, she paid close attention to every single movement and issued commands for nearly every action. But over time, as her pets evolved into high-level beasts, she gradually let them act on their own, only stepping in at critical moments. This was both a sign of trust in their combat abilities and a habit she had developed. However, now that she had transferred this habit to Gangbao, it didn¡¯t seem to work as well. Gangbao was still a low-level pet beast, and her opponent was a higher-level one. She couldn¡¯t be expected to fight as independently as her old team. Right now, just because she got momentarily distracted, Gangbao had fallen into a passive position. At the speed of Sonic Punch and the current distance, shouting Dodge wouldn¡¯t do any good. In fact, it might even distract Gangbao. It all comes down to whether Gangbao can withstand Sonic Punch¡­ Qiao Sang thought anxiously. In midair, Gangbao''s pupils contracted. Instinctively, she crossed her wings in front of herself, which gleamed with an iron-gray sheen. ¡°Xuan xuan!¡± The Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s Sonic Punch struck down mercilessly. Bang! Ironclad wings collided with the Sonic Punch, sending chaotic air currents surging in all directions. Kash¡¯s previously excited expression slightly darkened. The Steel Falcon hadn¡¯t been knocked to the ground. Instead, it was merely pushed back about two meters before steadying itself. At that moment, Kash suddenly realized- The Steel Falcon wasn¡¯t just a low-level pet beast. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a low-level pet beast renowned for its defensive capabilities among its peers in the Steel-type class. Chapter 531: No More Chapter 531: No MoreRead at: /?m=1 ----- T/n: Thank you to this three patreon supporters @Karina Moskalenko, @Mitchell barta, and @drake shade35!!! Thank you for the support!???? ----- The commentator also realized this. ¡°I suddenly remembered that we haven¡¯t really seen a Steel Falcon in this tournament.¡± The commentator said. The young white man responded, ¡°Steel Falcons are rarely contracted nowadays. For a contestant at this age to form a contract with one, I have to say, that takes courage.¡± Qiao Sang ignored their conversation. She was pleased and quickly analyzed the situation. Gangbao''s reaction speed and defense were even better than she had expected. Even though the Muscle Flaunting Bug was a level higher, it couldn¡¯t break through her defenses in one go. However, just relying on defense wouldn¡¯t be enough to take down the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡­ If only she knew its weak spot¡­ Would it be like other Fighting-type beasts, with weak points at the head and neck? As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she rejected it. No, the Muscle Flaunting Bug had such a sharp, pointed mouth, at least twenty centimeters long. If the Steel Falcon got too close to its head, the bug wouldn¡¯t even need to move; one stab from that mouth could be dangerous. Even though Gangbao had solid defense, she had a strong feeling that the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s mouth was a dangerous weapon. Without more information, it was best not to take unnecessary risks¡­ As Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts raced, Gangbao''s eyes suddenly turned black, her mind running rapidly. ¡°Those eyes?¡± The commentator exclaimed, ¡°Is the Steel Falcon using a Dark-type skill?!¡± The moment he spoke, Gangbao locked onto the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s wings and flapped her own wings forcefully. Several air blades, formed from compressed air, slashed toward that spot. Of course! The wings! Qiao Sang suddenly realized. The Muscle Flaunting Bug was also a Flying-type beast, and for most Flying-type creatures, the wings were both their source of power and their most vulnerable part! After all, the wings were the key to their mobility! Now that she had figured it out, Qiao Sang remained calm on the surface but felt a spark of excitement inside. ¡°Air Blades!¡± At that moment, Kash gave a command. The Muscle Flaunting Bug flapped its wings and flew high, dodging the incoming air blades before sending a downward gust. A dozen large air blades, at least twice the size of the ones Gangbao had just used, were instantly launched. Gangbao swiftly maneuvered through the air, dodging them. ¡°Sonic Punch!¡± Kash issued another command while Gangbao was evading. ¡°Muscle!¡± The Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s wings flapped, its muscles tensed, and it swung its fists, which were now wrapped in glowing white energy, at Gangbao. Left and right were both blocked by air blades, and the Muscle Bug was attacking straight ahead. Gangbao instinctively wanted to dodge upward, but suddenly, she seemed to sense something. She lifted her head and locked eyes with the human on the command platform who had just become her Beast master. Qiao Sang gave a small shake of her head. Gangbao turned serious, focusing on the opponent in front of her. She didn¡¯t move. One second later, Qiao Sang shouted, ¡°Dodge!¡± ¡°Gang!¡± Gangbao flapped her wings and shot straight up. Boom! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s attack collided with its own air blades, causing an explosive impact. ¡°Now!¡± Qiao Sang commanded. ¡°Gang!¡± Gangbao spread her wings, which instantly turned silver like sharp blades. Without hesitation, she dived straight into the shockwave. Everyone saw the gleaming silver blades slice through the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s wings. ¡°Muscle!!¡± The Muscle Flaunting Bug let out a painful cry and plummeted from the sky. Without needing further instruction, Gangbao dove down, her blade-like wings slashing twice more at the bug¡¯s wings. The Muscle Flaunting Bug crashed hard onto the ground. ¡°Muscle Flaunting Bug! Get up!¡± Kash, unwilling to accept the outcome, shouted with a dark expression. ¡°Musc¡­le¡­¡± Hearing its Beast master¡¯s voice, the Muscle Bug trembled, trying to stand. But with its wings too badly injured, its body couldn¡¯t coordinate properly, and it collapsed again. This time, its eyes shut. Gangbao''s eyes returned to their usual red hue, and she looked strangely at the human who had just become her Beast master. Qiao Sang met her gaze and grinned. The massive virtual screen behind them updated the match results: [Kash vs. Qiao Sang, 0:2] At that moment, the audience erupted into chaos. ¡°Kash! You idiot! You worthless trash! I never want to see you again!¡± ¡°Useless piece of garbage! Give me back my savings!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had enough! You lost two matches in a row! Kash, what the hell are you doing?!¡± Amidst the curses, the commentator spoke with excitement: ¡°Looks like we have an exceptional contestant in this tournament. If the previous match showed that she trained her Steel Falcon to have excellent body control, then this match proved that she has a sharp battle sense! At her age, such a keen awareness of combat is rare!¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The young white man agreed. ¡°The timing of the Steel Falcon¡¯s dodge was absolutely perfect. If it had been even a second too early or too late, it wouldn¡¯t have worked. Using the Muscle Flaunting Bug¡¯s own air blades against it¡­ even I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± ¡°If the Steel Falcon didn¡¯t have such a bad reputation, I¡¯d consider contracting one myself.¡± The commentator joked. On the field. Kash recalled his defeated Muscle Flaunting Bug into its Beast Codex and walked off the command platform with a grim expression. Qiao Sang beckoned Gangbao with a finger. Gangbao flew over without hesitation. Qiao Sang picked up Yabao and started walking down, with Gangbao following beside her. A tournament staff member hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. ¡°Miss Qiao Sang, aren¡¯t you continuing?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. She had read about the tournament format while waiting earlier. Winners could either stay and defend their position or leave. The one with the most victories at the end of the day would be crowned the Arena Champion. Qiao Sang had no interest in being the Arena Champion. Her main reason for coming was to test the Strengthening Oil and Gangbao''s combat abilities. As for battle points, after these two matches, she realized it was more worthwhile to fight trainers at her own level or even stronger ones. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just Gangbao that needed battle points, Yabao and the others needed them too. In an E-rank Beast master tournament, while high-level beasts did appear occasionally, they weren¡¯t common. Fighting lower-level beasts wouldn¡¯t earn her many points. Now that she had tested Gangbao''s combat abilities, this tournament wasn¡¯t worth staying in. Qiao Sang left without hesitation, carrying Yabao. Just as she reached the exit, a voice called out: ¡°Miss Qiao Sang, you forgot to collect your prize money.¡± Chapter 532: The Ore Market Chapter 532: The Ore MarketRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang turned her head and recognized the person as the manager who had previously let her in through the back door to participate in the match. ¡°Money?¡± Qiao Sang asked in confusion. The woman smiled. ¡°Yes, money. Every contestant who wins a match gets paid.¡± ¡°How much?¡± Qiao Sang asked casually. Right now, she was at the wealthiest point in her life, so she didn¡¯t care much about money that couldn¡¯t sustain long-term growth. ¡°500 Alliance Coins per match.¡± The woman replied with a smile. ¡°However, including the betting pool dividend, you¡¯ll receive 130,000 Alliance Coins.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment, suspecting she had misheard. ¡°How much?¡± Winning against just one E-rank Beast master and two mid-tier pet beasts had earned her the equivalent of a Fire Fang Dog¡¯s market price? And there was still extra?! ¡°130,000 Alliance Coins.¡± The woman understood what the girl in front of her was shocked about and explained, ¡°This was your first match today, so no one knew your strength, and they all bet on Mr. Kash instead. That¡¯s why your share of the winnings is higher this time.¡± Got it. That meant that as a newcomer, she could play the underdog and rake in the wins. But after a few matches, the dividends wouldn¡¯t be as high... Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds before saying, ¡°I think I can go back up and fight a few more rounds...¡± The woman apologized, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t be possible today. Each contestant can only fight once per day.¡± Qiao Sang looked regretful, as if she could see piles of money slipping away from her. The woman changed the subject and continued, ¡°If Miss Qiao Sang is interested in the arena battles, you can come back tomorrow.¡± I¡¯d love to come, but tomorrow is Monday, I have school, homework, and college entrance exam prep... Qiao Sang looked even more distressed. The woman noticed the girl was clearly still a student. Since tomorrow was Monday, she probably thought she wouldn¡¯t have time. After a moment of consideration, the woman said, ¡°If you want to come, I can arrange a private resting room for you. You can do your homework there, and I promise no one will disturb you.¡± Qiao Sang was tempted, not just because of the money but also because of the skill points. She had already figured out Sainan High School¡¯s curriculum, there were barely any practical combat classes. If Yabao and the others stayed in school all semester, they probably wouldn¡¯t earn many skill points... Thinking of this, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°What time does the arena close at night?¡± The woman smiled upon hearing this, she could tell the girl in front of her would most likely return. She took a business card from her pocket. ¡°We¡¯re open 24/7. You can contact me directly when you arrive. Here¡¯s my card.¡± After handling the paperwork and collecting her winnings, Qiao Sang left. A staff member approached the woman. ¡°Sister Feng, do you think she has potential?¡± The woman smiled. ¡°Without using any equipment or spirit engravings, she defeated two mid-tier pet beasts in a row with just a small Steel Falcon. How many people have you seen do that? Plus, she¡¯s a D-rank Beast master, her real ace pet hasn¡¯t even appeared yet. Trust me, she¡¯s a gold mine.¡± --- 11th Floor, Resting Area. Qiao Sang was applying Strengthening Oil to her Gangbao. Gangbao stayed still, cooperating obediently. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Qiao Sang asked as she applied it. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao concentrated for a moment before replying. She didn¡¯t feel anything, except that the oil smelled bad. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao, standing three meters away, nodded fervently in agreement. It really did smell... But that didn¡¯t make sense. Wasn¡¯t this oil supposed to show obvious effects immediately? Could it be a scam...? Qiao Sang wiped her hands with a tissue she had prepared in advance and was about to take out her phone to contact the breeder named Moniel. At that moment, Gangbao''s body suddenly stiffened. Qiao Sang noticed and paused. ¡°Are you feeling something now?¡± ¡°Gang gang...¡± Gangbao looked as if she were trying to endure something and nodded. ¡°What does it feel like?¡± Qiao Sang asked again. ¡°Gang gang...¡± Gangbao hesitated before replying, she was a little itchy. At that moment, Little Treasure suddenly materialized and curiously poured the remaining Strengthening Oil onto himself. Five seconds later... ¡°Xun xun!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure rolled wildly on the ground, crying out. He was unbearably itchy! Qiao Sang glanced at the empty bottle and realized what had happened. This curiosity was really something else... She looked at Little Treasure with a complicated expression. --- Five minutes later... ¡°Xun xun...¡± Little Treasure wiped his imaginary sweat from his forehead, looking as if he had narrowly escaped death. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao glanced at him and chirped. I told you it was itchy. ¡°Xun xun!¡± "Xun xun!" Little Treasure instantly became agitated. That wasn¡¯t just itchy! That was very itchy! Gangbao: ... She suddenly realized that Little Treasure was quite different from the powerful image she had imagined... --- That afternoon, Qiao Sang visited a jewelry store. When the staff heard she wanted to custom-make diamond gloves for Little Treasure, their expressions immediately turned as if they had encountered some strange new species of human. ¡°No custom orders?¡± Qiao Sang asked when the staff remained silent. ¡°We do! Of course we do!¡± The staff quickly composed themselves. They glanced between Yabao, Little Treasure, and Gangbao, then finally settled their gaze on Yabao. Then, the staff took out a soft measuring tape, ready to take its measurements. ¡°Yap?¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yabao looked bewildered. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang took a step back while holding Yabao. The staff member paused. ¡°Measuring for Little Treasure''s gloves.¡± ¡°Xun xun...¡± Little Treasure floated up, looking at the staff. He was Little Seeker, not Yabao... After Qiao Sang explained, the staff member was stunned for a long time. If they weren¡¯t mistaken, this pet should be a Ghost-type. So... she wanted to custom-make diamond gloves for a Ghost-type pet? Qiao Sang was unaware that her request had left the staff confused for half their life. After confirming that the gloves would be completed within a week, Qiao Sang left the store, leaving her school¡¯s address and contact information. She then searched for the location of the ore market. --- At sunset, a taxi pulled up near a crystal-shaped building. The ore market was here. Since the location was a bit remote, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t let Yabao navigate. Instead, she simply hailed a cab. After paying the fare, she got out and walked inside. ¡°Feel free to pick out any type of ore you like.¡± She said generously. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao nodded. She understood. As Qiao Sang entered, she saw that the first floor mainly had vendor stalls, neatly arranged, while the upper floors looked like proper stores. There weren¡¯t many shoppers, just a scattered few. She strolled leisurely. Suddenly, Gangbao stopped in front of a stall. ¡°What caught your eye?¡± Qiao Sang asked with a smile. ¡°All my diamonds are natural.¡± The vendor quickly introduced. ¡°Large grains, few impurities, top quality. Perfect for polishing into stunning diamonds.¡± The girl was clearly a Beast master. To ordinary people, diamonds were priceless, but to a Beast master, they might not even be worth as much as a single potion. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao pointed at the diamonds with her wing. These seemed nice. Qiao Sang stared at the dazzling diamonds on display and hesitated. ¡°I remember you wanted ore to eat?¡± ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao nodded. ¡°Every day?¡± Qiao Sang took a deep breath. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao nodded again. Qiao Sang: ... Eating diamonds? Every day? Who could afford that?! Gangbao glanced at her expression and quickly pointed ahead, signaling to browse more first. Qiao Sang hesitated, then asked, ¡°Boss, do you take credit cards?¡± The vendor¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Of course!¡± Qiao Sang pulled out a black-gold card. Gangbao blinked, surprised she was actually buying. For the future, Qiao Sang spoke earnestly. ¡°Don¡¯t get addicted. You should eat a variety of ores.¡± Gangbao secretly smiled and nodded. Chapter 533: It Really Is A Pet Beast Chapter 533: It Really Is A Pet BeastRead at: /?m=1 ----- After buying the diamond, Qiao Sang continued browsing other stalls, with Gangbao flying ahead. While minerals were the hardest and provided the best effects when consumed, pet beasts also had their own taste preferences. It was up to Gangbao to choose what she liked. She browsed for over an hour and purchased a good number of minerals, all stored in Little Treasure''s circular ring. Estimating the quantity, it should be enough for Little Gangbao to eat for a month. Of course, that was assuming she didn¡¯t evolve. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t sure how much Gangbao would eat after evolving. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± When they had nearly finished browsing, Gangbao let out a call, indicating that she had enough. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go back.¡± Qiao Sang turned toward the elevator. At that moment, a Black shop owner who had been standing at his storefront for a long time couldn¡¯t help but call out: ¡°Miss, take a look at my shop! I have all kinds of minerals!¡± He had been watching her for a while. The girl had gone around buying minerals from almost every store, not in bulk, but always picking rare ones and spending generously. Now that she had finally reached his store¡¯s vicinity, she was about to leave? He couldn''t let that happen! Qiao Sang glanced at him but continued walking toward the elevator. The shop owner became anxious. ¡°I have Zitan Crystal!¡± Zitan Crystal? What¡¯s that¡­? Qiao Sang¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Aside from the minerals she was familiar with, she knew little about the rest, she was practically a novice in this area. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao showed a thoughtful expression, flapping her wings as she flew toward the store. Seeing this, Qiao Sang followed without much thought. The shop owner was delighted and immediately went inside to retrieve a black square box. Opening it, he revealed a crystal inside. ¡°Take a look! My Zitan Crystal has almost no impurities. Wearing it helps absorb toxins. Even if you encounter poison-type pet beasts, there¡¯s nothing to fear.¡± As he spoke, he handed over the crystal: ¡°Look at this color and luster! Whether made into a necklace or earrings, it would look stunning.¡± So it had toxin-absorbing properties¡­ Qiao Sang took it and handed it to Gangbao. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Gangbao glanced at the Zitan Crystal, then discreetly scanned the other minerals in the shop. Finally, her gaze fixed on an inconspicuous green mineral on a wooden shelf in the corner. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± She withdrew her gaze and nodded, indicating that she liked the crystal. ¡°How much?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°80,000.¡± The shop owner¡¯s eyes lit up. After stating the price, he worried that the girl might not buy it and quickly added: ¡°This is rare and hard to find! If you ask around, there are probably only a few stores in the entire market that have it.¡± Rare or not, in the end, it was just going to be eaten anyway¡­ Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Can I pay by credit card?¡± Five minutes later, Qiao Sang walked out of the store with the packaged Zitan Crystal. ¡°Come again next time!¡± The shop owner waved enthusiastically. He didn¡¯t notice that the inconspicuous green mineral on the wooden shelf in the corner suddenly opened a pair of black eyes. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It stood up on two short legs, leaped off the shelf, and then turned into a semi-transparent white color, blending into the wall as it stealthily crept out of the store. --- Inside the elevator, Qiao Sang looked at Gangbao.¡° What were you looking at just now?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao looked surprised, she hadn¡¯t expected her to notice. Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°I¡¯m your Beast master now. How could I not notice what you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao flapped her wings and pointed at the bag containing the Zitan Crystal, explaining patiently. After listening, Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re saying that soon, a pet beast called Chan Chan Stone will follow us?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao nodded. ¡°Because of the Zitan Crystal?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao nodded again. ¡°Wait, you bought the Zitan Crystal for Chan Chan Stone?¡± Qiao Sang was baffled. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao nodded once more. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang was puzzled. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Little Steel Falcon waved her wings, because she could eat it. Qiao Sang: !!! Yabao: !!! Little Treasure: !!! Three faces full of shock! ¡°You eat pet beasts?!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils shrank, almost screaming. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao showed a speechless expression. She pointed toward Qiao Sang¡¯s pocket, indicating that she could look up Chan Chan Stone on her phone. At that moment, the elevator doors opened. As Qiao Sang walked out, she took out her phone and searched for Chan Chan Stone. Curious, Little Treasure leaned over to take a look. Soon, the search results appeared: [Chan Chan Stone: A beginner-level rock-type pet beast, rarely seen. It nests in cliffside caves and usually disguises itself as a mineral to blend in.] [It grows by eating rocks. The stones it consumes crystallize inside its body and are expelled in various forms, such as tears, sweat, or waste.] So it wasn¡¯t eating the Chan Chan Stone itself but rather the crystals it produced¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief and turned to see Little Treasure seriously staring at the phone screen. ¡°You can read now?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure shook his head. Then why are you looking so seriously¡­? Qiao Sang internally complained. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked Gangbao, ¡°Where did you see the Chan Chan Stone just now?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao nodded. Qiao Sang continued, ¡°How did you know it would follow us for the Zitan Crystal?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao explained patiently, she had met a few Chan Chan Stones before, and they all liked to stay near Zitan Crystals. I see¡­ Qiao Sang felt like she had learned something new again. On the Chaosu Star, humans and wild pet beasts coexisted. Some people secretly kept wild pet beasts for various reasons. If Chan Chan Stone¡¯s crystals were something Gangbao liked to eat, maybe she could make a deal with it and see what it needed in return¡­ With that in mind, Qiao Sang slowed her pace. Upon reaching the street to call a ride, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but glance around. Why hasn¡¯t it caught up yet? Yabao noticed her actions and looked around as well. Five minutes later¡­ ¡°Yap Yap?¡± Yabao showed a puzzled expression. Are we not leaving? ¡°I¡¯m waiting for a pet beast.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao pointed two meters away at an inconspicuous black stone under a bush. Is it that one? Qiao Sang followed his direction and looked. No way, this thing is a pet beast? She walked closer and squatted down, staring at the seemingly ordinary black stone. After a few seconds of contemplation, she asked, ¡°Is this a pet beast?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded firmly. This guy has been following us for a while! Just as he finished speaking, the inconspicuous black stone suddenly sprouted numerous semi-transparent crystals, like sweating. Qiao Sang: ... It really is a pet beast. Chapter 534: Planning Chapter 534: PlanningRead at: /?m=1 ----- Sainan High School. Dormitory Area One. Room 502. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, staring at the motionless black stone in front of her. If it weren¡¯t for the occasional emergence of semi-transparent crystals, it would be hard to tell that this was actually a pet beast. Earlier, no matter how she tried to get its attention by the roadside, it refused to respond. To avoid wasting time, she simply stuffed it into her pocket and brought it back. Unexpectedly, this Chan Chan Stone had an incredibly patient temperament. Even now, aside from producing semi-transparent crystals, it remained completely still. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao was beside her, carefully collecting the crystals one by one with a plate. This was all food, it couldn¡¯t be wasted. ¡°Do you want the Zitan Crystal? If you do, just say so. How else would I know?¡± Qiao Sang placed the Zitan Crystal next to the black stone, attempting to tempt it. Chan Chan Stone didn¡¯t move, completely unfazed. ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything, I¡¯ll let Gangbao eat the Zitan Crystal.¡± Seeing that temptation wasn¡¯t working, Qiao Sang resorted to threats. Chan Chan Stone still didn¡¯t move. You brought this upon yourself¡­ Qiao Sang turned to Lubao. ¡°Go ahead.¡± She didn¡¯t need to explain further, Lubao instantly understood. She opened her mouth, and a melody carrying an invisible sonic wave echoed through the room. ¡°Lu~ Lululu~ Lulu~ Lu Lu Lu~ Li~¡± Like a warm spring breeze and gentle sunlight, the semi-transparent crystals on Chan Chan Stone¡¯s body stopped forming. Slowly, it opened its eyes, grew limbs, and transformed into a semi-transparent white color. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone gazed at Lubao with a peaceful expression. So beautiful¡­ As the song ended, Qiao Sang calmly asked, ¡°How about following me?¡± ¡°Chan chan.¡± Chan Chan Stone peacefully shook its head. Not interested. ¡°Just for six months. I only need your crystals. During this time, I¡¯ll take care of all your food and necessities. When it¡¯s over, I¡¯ll give you the Zitan Crystal.¡± Qiao Sang bargained. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone contemplated peacefully for three seconds, then nodded in agreement. --- Thirty minutes later. Curled up in the corner, Chan Chan Stone shivered in fear and regret. Humans are terrifying! Why did I agree just now?! Meanwhile, Qiao Sang and her pet beasts were discussing ways to make Chan Chan Stone produce more crystals. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao enthusiastically suggested intense training, the more Chan Chan Stone trained, the more crystals it would produce. Qiao Sang nodded. This was a viable plan. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao proposed feeding Chan Chan Stone more food so that it could expel more crystals. That doesn¡¯t seem right¡­ Although they were called crystals, at the end of the day, they were technically¡­ waste. Qiao Sang instinctively glanced at Gangbao, who was happily munching on the crystals. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure raised his paw, suggesting that watching tear jerking dramas could make Chan Chan Stone cry more, increasing crystal production. That¡¯s exactly the kind of idea Little Treasure would come up with¡­ Qiao Sang turned to Gangbao and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao thought for a moment and decided all three methods were worth trying. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the second one.¡± ¡°Gang gang?¡± Gangbao looked confused. To her, crystals were food, it didn¡¯t matter where they came from. Since pet beasts had different perceptions from humans, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t force Gangbao to share her viewpoint. She simply found the idea of eating those crystals a bit disturbing. After some thought, she decided to be honest. ¡°I just don¡¯t think the ones that come from¡­ that place¡­ are very clean. Besides, we bought a lot of minerals today, there¡¯s enough to last a while. There¡¯s no rush to collect crystals, so let¡¯s skip the second method. The other two are fine.¡± ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao took another bite of a crystal, showing no objections. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone had been listening to the entire conversation, its expression lifeless. Why is no one asking for my opinion¡­? Then, as if realizing something, its eyes became resolute. I¡¯ll prove to this human that none of these methods will work! My crystals are not so easily obtained! --- Late at night. Living Room. ¡°Xun xun!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± Little Treasure and Chan Chan Stone sat together, crying their eyes out as they watched a tragic scene of two pet beasts being torn apart by fate. After sobbing for a while, Little Treasure suddenly remembered his mission. Sniffling, his eyes glowed blue as he used telekinesis to move the fallen crystals into the prepared bowl on the coffee table. ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± Chan Chan Stone continued crying uncontrollably, large crystals dropping one after another, completely forgetting its earlier determination. --- Meanwhile, in the bedroom¡­ Qiao Sang sat at her desk, writing down her upcoming plans: 1: Help Gangbao evolve within a month. 2: Score 300 points in the next monthly exam. 3: Accumulate 1,000 points before graduation. 4: Dedicate 4 hours daily to pet beast arena battles. With Lubao¡¯s presence, she could stay awake 24/7, meaning she had twice as much study time as others. Even though she had to catch up on three years¡¯ worth of high school material, she only needed to score around 325 points on the college entrance exam. Excluding subjects that required conceptual understanding, she could memorize enough formulas and problems to achieve around 300 points on her own. Honestly, thanks to the memory boost from spiritual feedback, studying for a month straight without sleep on the starship had made high school subjects feel less daunting than she had expected. Besides, the entrance exam included a Beast master Brain Domain test, also known as meditation, which had a max score of 100 points. A mental domain reaching 10% capacity would result in a perfect score. For her, those 100 points were basically free. With several months left before the college entrance exam, aiming for 325 points meant she could still set aside a few hours for other activities. Of course, this plan depended on not sleeping at night and continuing her studies after training. Since Yabao usually slept early, she¡¯d need to visit Hekin Tower after school before returning home to study. At Sainan High School, dormitory checks were at 10 PM on weekdays, but weekends were free. As long as she returned before the check-in time, she¡¯d be fine. After finalizing her plan, Qiao Sang closed her notebook, picked up a copy of "National Excellent Mock Exam Compilation," and continued solving problems. --- The next morning. After breakfast, Qiao Sang took Yabao and the others to the outdoor training field behind the school. ¡°Yabao, Lubao, keep an eye on Gangbao¡¯s training. And don¡¯t let Chan Chan Stone escape.¡± For consistency, she had decided to rename the Steel Falcon, Gangbao. Gangbao was easygoing about certain things, she agreed to the name without hesitation. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao pounded his chest confidently. "Lu.¡± Lubao nodded calmly. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked envious. Just thinking about having to go to school made him realize how nice training actually was¡­ ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone stood aside, eyes red and fists clenched. It had messed up last night, but today it would show this human that its crystals were not easy to obtain! --- Thirty minutes later. Gangbao looked at Chan Chan Stone, which had barely moved before collapsing onto the ground, pretending to be too weak to continue. She flew over to Yabao, who was training with gravity steel balls, and pointed at Chan Chan Stone. ¡°Gang gang.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao turned to Chan Chan Stone and nodded. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± A bad feeling rose in Chan Chan Stone¡¯s heart. Ten seconds later. ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± Chan Chan Stone ran uncontrollably, tears streaming in the wind. What did I do to deserve this?! Meanwhile, Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue with excitement. Old Fourth was right! Training with telekinesis on Chan Chan Stone is way more fun than training with gravity steel balls! Chapter 535: 21st Floor Arrived Chapter 535: 21st Floor ArrivedRead at: /?m=1 ----- Senior Year, Class 6. As soon as Qiao Sang entered the classroom, Yuna, who sat next to her, immediately lit up. "Qiao Sang, I heard you contracted a Steel Falcon?" The news sure spread fast... Qiao Sang turned to look at Hulis, who was sitting in the last row, the same person she had encountered at the Climate Hall yesterday. He was the first in the class to know about her contracting the Steel Falcon. Sensing her gaze, Hulis lifted his head. When he saw it was Qiao Sang, his eyes flickered slightly, and he grinned. Qiao Sang turned back and replied with a simple "Mm." "Was it the one that broke into our house?" Yuna asked in a low voice. Since Claire, the butler, had reported the incident to Yuna, it wasn¡¯t surprising that she knew about it. "It was." Qiao Sang confirmed. "As expected of a champion, daring to contract a wild Steel Falcon." Yuna sincerely admired. Wild pet beasts had strong personalities and were hard to tame, so few people were willing to contract them. Among them, wild Steel Falcons were notorious troublemakers. Even if one was injured and seemed too weak to resist, people passing by would still hesitate, wondering if it was faking. And yet, Qiao Sang actually contracted one. Just as she was about to say something modest-- Tang Yi walked into the classroom with dark circles under his eyes, his steps unsteady. "What happened to you?" Qiao Sang asked. Tang Yi looked at her with a dejected face. "I lost." She motioned for him to continue. "It was the pet beast arena tournament." Tang Yi said weakly. "Last night, I won six matches in a row. Then a staff member approached me during a break, said I was performing well, and offered me a contract. If I could win the title of Defender of the Night, I''d get an extra 20% cut from the betting pool. Of course, I agreed and stayed there all night. But when I reached my 22nd match, just one win away from the title, I lost." Qiao Sang''s gaze suddenly showed a trace of sympathy. If she hadn¡¯t participated in the pet beast arena last night, it would be one thing. But she did, and she knew how much each match''s earnings were. After over 20 matches, an extra 20% of the betting pool would have easily reached seven figures. It was like fighting through a dungeon with a million-dollar grand prize, making it all the way to the final boss, only to be one hit away from victory when the boss unleashed a devastating attack, ending it all. Just as Qiao Sang was about to offer some comforting words, Yuna chuckled. "This is a common trick in pet beast arenas. They entice strong competitors to stay, and if one keeps winning, they¡¯ll eventually face a powerful opponent in the final match to stop them." "The chosen competitors are always skilled and feel like they¡¯re just one step away from victory, so they can¡¯t resist continuing." Tang Yi¡¯s face darkened. So he was set up! "But even knowing this, many still sign the contract." Yuna continued. "Winning means an extra 20% profit, and losing doesn¡¯t really cost anything. It¡¯s an upfront temptation." Qiao Sang''s first thought was: Only strong competitors get chosen? Then why didn¡¯t they pick me yesterday? What, am I not good enough?! Her second thought: Forget it. It¡¯s not their fault for lacking foresight. After all, I only played two matches before leaving... "You going again tonight?" Qiao Sang asked. Tang Yi gritted his teeth. "Yes!" Unlike regular seniors, he had won second place in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Even if he slacked off, he could still get into a top university with ease. His teachers would even turn a blind eye if he skipped homework, and he didn¡¯t have the pressure of preparing for the college entrance exam. "I¡¯ll go with you." Qiao Sang said. "Huh?" Tang Yi was momentarily stunned. Then, realizing what she meant, he instinctively asked, "Aren¡¯t you going to study?" Qiao Sang smiled. "It won¡¯t take much time." Tang Yi: ... Wasn''t this the same person who used to bury her face in books every day, refusing to be dragged away? Then, as he processed the situation, a sudden excitement surged in him. If Qiao Sang came along, wouldn¡¯t he have the chance to battle her?! At that moment, Yuna spoke up. "I¡¯ll come with you guys." "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded. She vaguely felt that Yuna was being even friendlier than before. --- After school, the three of them left together. At the school gate, various medium and large pet beasts were waiting for their owners. Sainan High School didn¡¯t require students to live on campus, so every day, people came to pick up the young nobles and heiresses. Among them, Qiao Sang spotted the same avian pet beast that had taken her to the Sfevo Manor last time. This time, instead of riding it, she had Yabao enlarge himself and sat on his back. Yabao''s unusual appearance instantly drew everyone''s attention. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the beast master community, pet beasts were symbols of status. The rarer the pet, the more prestige its owner had. Since Yabao had never been seen on Chaosu Star before, Qiao Sang instantly became the most eye-catching figure at the school gate. People whispered about her identity and snapped pictures of Yabao, hoping their families could acquire a similar beast. Qiao Sang remained calm under their gazes. "Not riding with us?" Yuna asked. "No, I want Yabao to get familiar with the route so he can find his way next time." Qiao Sang explained. "Yap?" Yabao blinked, then suddenly took on a serious expression. So he had a mission! --- Hekin Tower. Upon entering the elevator, Qiao Sang pressed the button for the 21st floor, while Tang Yi pressed for the 11th. Seeing this, Tang Yi was surprised. "You¡¯ve been here before?" "Came yesterday." Qiao Sang replied. Yuna glanced at the floor numbers, then asked knowingly, "Qiao Sang, are you already a D-rank beast master?" The 21st floor was where D-rank beast masters competed in arena battles. "Mm." Qiao Sang nodded. "I took the exam yesterday." Then she noticed Tang Yi had pressed 11. "You haven¡¯t taken the exam yet?" Tang Yi sighed. "To qualify for the D-rank beast master exam, you need to have contracted three pet beasts. My brain capacity meets the requirement, but I haven¡¯t contracted a third pet yet." "Then you have to contract one from Chaosu Star." Qiao Sang mused. "Otherwise, you won¡¯t have time to qualify before the college entrance exam." "Tell me about it." Tang Yi shrugged. "Contracting a pet from here isn¡¯t bad. Qiao Sang just contracted a Steel Falcon." Yuna smiled. Tang Yi looked at Qiao Sang in shock. "You contracted a pet? That fast? What kind of beast is a Steel Falcon?" Yuna was surprised. "You don¡¯t know?" Tang Yi looked clueless. "I don¡¯t!" Suddenly, he felt a bit sour. He was supposed to be the one who came to Chaosu Star with Qiao Sang, yet she told the locals about her contract before him? "I contracted it yesterday." Qiao Sang explained. "A classmate saw me do it, so word spread. They just didn¡¯t tell you. I¡¯ll summon it for you later." Oh, so she hadn¡¯t intentionally told them first. That was fine then... Tang Yi immediately felt better. Just then, the 11th floor arrived. "You¡¯re not getting off?" Qiao Sang asked. "No, I¡¯m going with you." Tang Yi said. Lower-ranked beast masters could challenge higher-ranked arenas, as long as they didn¡¯t mind losing face. Ding. The 21st floor arrived. Chapter 536: An Adults Match Chapter 536: An Adult''s MatchRead at: /?m=1 ----- The three of them walked inside. Upon entering, it was immediately apparent that the arena for D-rank Beast Tamers was significantly larger than that of the E-rank matches. The cheers and shouts from the surrounding crowd were also much louder. Yuna handed a card to a staff member at the reception. The staff member was clearly stunned for a moment, then respectfully led the three of them through the side entrance to a private room on the second floor. The room was decorated lavishly. Through the glass window, the entire arena below was clearly visible. In front of the plush seats was a holographic touchscreen that displayed information about the competitors and allowed real-time betting. Qiao Sang had a complicated expression. She had been here yesterday, yet she had never noticed this place¡­ At that moment, Tang Yi¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°I¡¯ve been coming here for so long, and I never knew this place existed!¡± Thank you, my spokesperson¡­ Qiao Sang immediately thought of something and turned to Yuna, asking, ¡°Did you bring cash?¡± Yuna paused, thinking Qiao Sang was worried about expenses. ¡°I have a VIP card, this private room is free.¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang clarified. ¡°I meant actual money, cash, not credit cards.¡± Youna shook her head slightly. ¡°My family only gave me a credit card.¡± So, just like me¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t hide her disappointment and let out an ¡°Oh.¡± Youna caught on and asked, ¡°Are you thinking of placing a bet?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°I only have a credit card, but they don¡¯t allow credit card bets here. And you can¡¯t bet on your own match. I originally wanted you to place a bet for me, and I¡¯d pay you back later.¡± Yuna chuckled. ¡°You forgot, I¡¯m a VIP here. My VIP card has money on it.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. ¡°Then when it¡¯s my turn, place a bet on me to win. I¡¯ll pay you back later.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Yuna made an OK gesture. ¡°Place a bet for me too.¡± Tang Yi said excitedly. ¡°I wanted to find someone to bet for me before, but I couldn¡¯t find anyone.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± Yuna smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve come to the right person. With me here, it¡¯ll be hard for you to lose.¡± After saying that, she formed a seal with her hands. A gray star array lit up on the floor. Soon, a beast appeared in the room. It was predominantly white, with a slender upper body and a plump lower half. Two blue ribbons floated around it, and it had long arms with three fingers on each hand, holding two cards. ¡°This is Ze Youmu.¡± Youna introduced. ¡°Just give it two options, and it can calculate which one is the better choice with high accuracy.¡± ¡°Ze.¡± Ze Youmu called out, as if greeting them. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This ability is too overpowered, basically a cheating tool for betting¡­ Qiao Sang was envious. Tang Yi, intrigued, asked, ¡°Can we test it now?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Yuna pointed at the two Beast Tamers currently battling in the arena. ¡°Ze Youmu, show them what you can do.¡± Her expression was full of confidence, her tone utterly casual. ¡°Ze.¡± Ze Youmu, following its Beast Tamer¡¯s command, tossed the two cards in its hand into the air. They hovered for a moment as it closed its eyes. About three seconds later, the left card emitted a blue glow and slowly floated down in front of Ze Youmu. ¡°Ze.¡± Ze Youmu opened its eyes, looked at the card, then pointed at the Beast Tamer standing on the left side of the arena and let out a cry. Yuna confidently pointed as well. ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact score, but if you¡¯re betting on a simple win or loss, this person should win.¡± For a moment, Qiao Sang and Tang Yi both held their breath, watching the match below as they waited for the result. Nineteen minutes later, the match was decided. All three of the left-side contestant¡¯s beasts collapsed first. The right-side contestant waved and smiled in victory. Qiao Sang and Tang Yi both turned to look at Yuna with meaningful expressions. Yuna looked a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s not 100% accurate every time¡­¡± ¡°Ze¡­¡± Ze Youmu scratched its head, looking apologetic. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Then why did you act so confident earlier? ¡°I¡¯m going to register. When my match comes up, bet on me to win.¡± Qiao Sang said before pausing and adding, ¡°Don¡¯t bet too much, 10,000 alliance coins per match.¡± She was always cautious. Although she was confident she wouldn¡¯t lose, that was only against people her age or high school students. Arena matches were open to the public, with no age restrictions. Competitors could use tools and spirit patterns, and the beasts here were unfamiliar to her. No matter how confident she was, she couldn¡¯t guarantee an absolute win. 10,000 per match isn¡¯t too much? Tang Yi silently complained but said aloud, ¡°I¡¯ll register too. Bet everything on me to win, 1,000 alliance coins per match.¡± After speaking, he suddenly thought of something and added, ¡°If I go up against Qiao Sang, bet on her to win, 10 times the amount.¡± Yuna was slightly surprised. Most runners-up didn¡¯t easily accept their defeat to the champion. This was the first time she¡¯d seen someone with such a humble attitude. ¡°I got it.¡± Youna nodded. --- Unlike the E-rank Beast Tamer matches, the registration process this time went smoothly. However, when a staff member learned that Qiao Sang had contracted four beasts, they specifically informed her that D-rank matches followed a 3v3 format, only three beasts could be sent out per match. Qiao Sang had no objections. After registering, she went to the restroom. Going to the restroom before a match was an unspoken rule among Beast Tamers. After all, there had been many cases where Beast Tamers suddenly needed to go mid-battle, lost focus, and turned an advantageous situation into a loss. Exiting the stall, she was washing her hands when she suddenly felt movement in her pocket. She took out the seemingly ordinary-looking Chan Chan Stone and handed it to Little Treasure. ¡°Store it in your ring for now. Take it out after the match.¡± Now that Little Treasure''s storage ability had reached A-rank, he could store living things. They hadn¡¯t tested the exact limit, but a week was definitely fine. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared and took the Chan Chan Stone. ¡°Chan Chan¡­¡± The Chan Chan Stone, which had just attempted to escape but failed, silently shed two crystal-clear tears. She had barely taken a few steps out of the restroom when she suddenly overheard a conversation between two men: ¡°When¡¯s your match?¡± ¡°The third one after this.¡± ¡°Alright. How much this time?¡± ¡°I want 50,000 more than last time.¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t pay, who knows how I¡¯ll fight against Naideng? What if I ¡®accidentally¡¯ win? You¡¯re Naiden¡¯s agent, what do you think he¡¯d say? I want money. You want fame. A fair trade, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Mr. Kaies, you seem to think too highly of yourself. You really believe you can beat Naiden?¡± ¡°If you thought I couldn¡¯t win, why come to me at all?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So, this is an adult¡¯s match¡­ I¡¯d heard about bribing opponents before, but I didn¡¯t expect to witness it firsthand. And they didn¡¯t even pick a more discreet location, if someone overheard them, they wouldn¡¯t even know¡­ Wait a minute, are my ears getting sharper? I didn¡¯t even see anyone, yet I heard everything so clearly¡­ Qiao Sang silently complained in her heart but kept a straight face, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard anything, and continued walking toward the arena. A minute later. Two men exited the men¡¯s restroom. ¡°Well then, to a successful partnership.¡± ¡°To a successful partnership.¡± Chapter 537: Pet Beast Arena Championship Chapter 537: Pet Beast Arena ChampionshipRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang entered the waiting area for contestants, just about to gossip about who Naiden was. At that moment, the announcer''s voice rang out: "Naiden effortlessly wins again! Among all the D-rank Beast Tamers in the Top Ten Districts'' arena rankings, he has consistently placed around 70th. Last year, he even secured an impressive 68th place. As the star contestant of our 3rd District, he has never disappointed us!" Qiao Sang looked at the holographic screen broadcasting the arena battle in real time. The screen was giving a close-up of a red-haired young man with well-defined facial features. "Is that Naiden?" Qiao Sang asked. Tang Yi nodded. "That''s what the introduction just said." A star contestant, no wonder he even had a manager... Qiao Sang quickly thought of something and asked, "How is this ranking determined?" Qiao Sang spent most of her time buried in books and rarely participated in group chats. She didn''t even know how ranking points worked back then, let alone something as popular as the pet beast arena battles on Chaosu Star. Since she had only visited for the first time yesterday, Tang Yi was already used to her asking what seemed like common knowledge He explained: "The Upper Ten Districts hold an annual Pet Beast Arena Championship at a fixed time. Beast Tamers of all ranks can participate, and the rankings are determined during this event and updated every year." "Any contestant who ranks in the top 100 is considered a star contestant. They usually have dedicated teams backing them, and their overall strength is recognized as the best among Beast Tamers of their rank." Qiao Sang looked at Tang Yi. "Then wouldn''t contestants without a team be significantly weaker?" Unlike the national Campus Beast Mastering League, many large-scale competitions on Blue Star allowed the use of tools and spirit patterns. The most popular contestants in these competitions were often backed by tool brands and spirit pattern specialists. After all, it was a form of advertisement that allowed more people to see their brands. To get top contestants to use their products, some brands would even pay astronomical sums to have them wear their gear and use their spirit patterns. Over time, people saw the profit potential, and specialized companies emerged to manage these deals. With managers came star contestants. When a skilled contestant gained a team¡¯s support, losing became almost impossible. "So, when we say ''overall strength,'' it includes all factors." Tang Yi said. "Tools and spirit patterns are part of that strength." That made sense¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at the virtual screen, where Naiden was already in his next match. Star contestants all started as ordinary competitors, gradually gaining attention and proving their value to major brands. And since even a single loss could spark heated discussions online, they couldn¡¯t afford to treat wins and losses lightly like regular contestants. No wonder his manager was making shady moves behind the scenes. Logically, the top 100 Beast Tamers of a rank in the Upper Ten Districts should represent the absolute best. But now, it seemed like there was some padding in those ranks¡­ As time passed, Qiao Sang''s name finally appeared in the next round of matchups. Tang Yi was stunned. "Why are you up first? I clearly registered before you." Qiao Sang shook her head. "I have no idea." Just then, a contestant nearby who had also been watching the screen turned to them. "You guys really don¡¯t know? It¡¯s not about who registers first. Right now, Naiden is in the arena. If they send up an average contestant, people will question the fairness of the match, thinking it''s rigged to let Naiden rack up consecutive wins and become today¡¯s defending champion." Tang Yi: ¡­ Ouch. He was the runner-up in the National Campus Beast Mastering League''s high school division, yet he was being categorized as a weak contestant¡­ S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nice observation skills, though. Just from a glance at her information, they recognized her strength¡­ Qiao Sang saw Tang Yi''s expression and comforted him. "Your current ranking is still E-rank Beast Tamer. Once you qualify as a D-rank, this won''t happen anymore." Tang Yi nodded and took out his phone. "I''ll look for a suitable pet beast to contract right now!" Just as he pulled up the interface, he suddenly thought of something. His eyes lit up. "Do you think you can win?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "Yes." Tang Yi immediately turned and headed toward the betting area. Qiao Sang grabbed him. "What?" Tang Yi turned around. "Are you going to place a bet?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yeah." Tang Yi sounded excited. "You''re up against a star contestant! Betting on you would be a major upset!" Qiao Sang chuckled. "You believe me just because I said so?" "I know your strength, even if no one else here does." Tang Yi glanced around, then lowered his voice. "And I watched Naiden¡¯s previous matches. He¡¯s definitely not your match. Plus, he''s already fought so many rounds in a row. He¡¯s exhausted, while you''re at full strength. Of course you''ll win." Qiao Sang thought, Not bad for a runner-up, his analysis is on point. "I''ll transfer you 100,000. Help me place a bet, too." Qiao Sang said as she pulled out her phone. Tang Yi was momentarily stunned. "Didn''t you already ask Yuna to bet for you?" Qiao Sang looked at him. "Who would complain about having too much money?" Tang Yi burst into laughter and asked, "What score are you betting on?" "3-0. Me 3, him 0." Qiao Sang answered. --- Fifteen minutes later. The announcer spoke: "This is already Naiden¡¯s 21st match! Just four more wins, and he¡¯ll be today¡¯s new defending champion!" "Our next contestant is making her debut in our arena tournament. Facing Naiden in her very first match, should we envy her or pity her?" Qiao Sang stepped onto the command platform. She heard the commentary but showed no reaction. Betting on herself to win 3-0 wasn¡¯t about underestimating the star contestant. She had watched several of Naiden¡¯s matches and had already gathered key information, his pet beast¡¯s attributes, skill power, tool usage, and other critical details. Meanwhile, Naiden knew nothing about her. Most importantly, as Tang Yi pointed out, Naiden was already fatigued. If she couldn¡¯t win under these conditions, then her national championship title would be meaningless. As Qiao Sang entered the battlefield, the audience erupted into chatter. Although the Pet Beast Arena had no age restrictions, this girl looked way too young. "I¡¯m a little nearsighted, can someone tell me what her pet beast is?" "Sending someone this young up there, aren¡¯t they just handing Naiden an easy win?" "Is she even an adult?" "Some people just look younger than they are. You think the outcome is so easy to predict? The betting pool never makes a loss. No way it¡¯s going to be a 3-0 sweep." "True, Naiden will win, but it won¡¯t be a perfect victory." "Good point. What did you bet?" "Heh, 2-1." --- Meanwhile, in the tournament¡¯s office area. A middle-aged man in black watched the arena, frowning at the obviously youthful contestant. "Are you sure this kid can put pressure on Naiden?" A staff member reviewing the contestant list assured him, "Absolutely. Her records show she has three high-level pet beasts." Three high-level pet beasts¡­ The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned. Three high-level pet beasts at her age? "How old is she?" He couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Let me check." The staff member replied. Age wasn¡¯t a factor in their selection process, contestants were matched based on their Beast Tamer rank and pet levels, not age. What was the big deal about looking young? He casually took a sip of water while checking the records. Two seconds later... "Pfft!" The staff member spat water all over the screen. "What¡¯s wrong?" The middle-aged man frowned. Ignoring the mess, the staff member stared at the information in shock. His voice sharpened. "Oh my god! 15! She¡¯s only 15!" Chapter 538: Qiao Sang Vs. Naiden Chapter 538: Qiao Sang Vs. NaidenRead at: /?m=1 ----- The middle-aged man was stunned at first, then his eyes widened sharply. "How old did you say?!" The staff ignored him and kept staring at the screen, lost in their emotions, completely failing to control their expressions. "How could it be only 15... How could it be only 15..." Just then, a wave of exclamations erupted. The middle-aged man looked up blankly. On the arena, a magnificent beast appeared, one that had never been seen before. Its red and white fur swayed gently, smooth and elegant. Its slender yet powerful body, along with a fluffy but suspended white tail, exuded nobility. Paired with the crimson flame wings on either side, it was an absolute showstopper. Such an eye-catching appearance made everyone overlook the other pet beast on the field. At that moment, almost everyone present had the same thought: What is this beast called? Command Platform. Naiden narrowed his eyes. "Oh my god!" The commentator''s voice rose at the perfect moment. "Contestant Qiao Sang has actually summoned an ultra-rare pet beast! In my 16 years as a commentator, having watched countless competitions, I have never seen this beast in a tournament before!" He turned to the black-haired woman beside him. "Miss Xuezhi, do you recognize this pet beast?" Wang Xuezhi, the reigning champion of yesterday¡¯s D-rank beastmaster tournament. The black-haired woman did not respond. The commentator turned his head- Only to see Wang Xuezhi excitedly holding up her phone, frantically taking pictures of the red-and-white pet beast on the stage. Commentator: ... Battle Countdown. "3..." As the mechanical voice echoed, Qiao Sang''s gaze locked onto the opposing pet beast. It was a creature nearly four meters tall. The top half of its head was pale pink, the lower half white, with two green antennae protruding from its head. Strange vine-like patterns covered its body. Her mind raced. Reverse Cricket Flower. A high-tier Grass-type pet beast. Its scent is particularly attractive to Bug-type creatures. To protect itself, it usually camouflages as a Bug-type. "2..." It has the ''Contrary'' ability, which reverses all stat changes, buffs become debuffs and vice versa. The vine-like patterns on its body aren¡¯t natural; they¡¯re drawn spirit patterns that continuously restore its energy. Yabao¡¯s attributes counter it. The opponent can easily tell that Yabao is a Fire-type, but they likely won¡¯t suspect he has Psychic abilities... I need to take advantage of their lack of information and strike before they can react... "1!" "Fire Fang!" Qiao Sang commanded instantly. Naiden waved his hand, shouting, "Knot!" Knot, short for Grass Knot. Many beast masters use shortened commands to save time and prevent opponents from countering their tactics in real-time, just like Naiden was doing now. Others might not react in time, but the Reverse Cricket Flower, well-versed in its master''s commands, understood immediately. A green glow quickly spread over its body. At the same time, dozens of glowing green vines shot out from the ground. Fire Fang requires close-range contact to attack. That unknown pet beast will have to charge in. Using Grass Knot to trip it is the best strategy... Naiden analyzed calmly. But in the next second, his pupils shrank in shock. "Activate!" He blurted out. Activate, short for Activate Defense Ring. The Defense Ring was a collar-like defensive artifact on the Reverse Cricket Flower¡¯s neck. Once infused with energy, it would create a protective barrier around it. This command was so specific that only the Reverse Cricket Flower could understand it. It abandoned controlling the vines that hadn¡¯t yet ensnared its target and hurriedly tried to activate the defense ring. But it was already too late. At the exact moment Naiden called out "Activate," Yabao had already teleported behind and above the Reverse Cricket Flower. Before the massive beast could react, Yabao, despite being only a third of its size, sank his flaming fangs deep into his head. "Reeeev¡ª!" The Reverse Cricket Flower let out a miserable cry and collapsed, unconscious. Silence. The entire venue fell into a sudden hush. Two seconds later, the giant virtual screen displayed the match result: [Naiden vs. Qiao Sang, 0:1] Then, the audience erupted into an uproar. Though most spectators had bet on Naiden winning, surprisingly few were angry about the outcome. For one, most of them were his fans. For another, this completely unknown pet beast had shocked them all with its overwhelming performance. Discussions immediately exploded throughout the crowd. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A Fire and Psychic-type? And there¡¯s not a single mention of it online?" "Fire Fang at that level, it must have reached the Ultimate level!" "An Ultimate level skill? Even among celebrity contestants, barely any of their pet beasts have Ultimate level abilities!" "There are a few, but those contestants are all in their 30s or older. That kid up there is just different!" "I knew the betting pool wouldn''t just hand us free money!" "This loss isn¡¯t on Naiden. Who could have expected this pet beast to be both Fire and Psychic-type, and to have Ultimate level Fire Fang on top of that? Not to mention, his Reverse Cricket Flower has been in so many matches today, its reaction time was bound to slow down." "Doesn¡¯t matter, I am blaming him! That was my entire month¡¯s food budget!" Commentary Booth. The two commentators also couldn¡¯t take their eyes off Yabao. "This is insane! A Fire and Psychic-type! It¡¯s got power, it¡¯s got speed, how is there no information on a pet beast like this online? It¡¯s unbelievable!" The commentator exclaimed. "Miss Xuezhi, what do you think?" Wang Xuezhi ignored him. Instead, she had already taken out a pet scanner and was frantically scanning the mysterious red-and-white beast. Commentator: ... Second Round. As the discussion continued, Naiden summoned his second pet beast. Suction Beast. A high-tier Water-type pet. Its skull was incredibly tough. The ink it spewed could disrupt an opponent¡¯s sense of smell. Its suction-cup-covered feet were used to entangle enemies... It had the Sniper ability, when landing a critical hit, its attack power would significantly increase... Qiao Sang took a glance at the octopus-like beast, covered in blue with yellow suction cups and wearing a monocle. She instantly recalled its information. No need to look it up, thanks to the previous matches, the commentators had already revealed everything. The countdown started again. "3, 2, 1, Begin!" Qiao Sang acted immediately. "Fire Fang!" Again, Fire Fang... But it made sense, although it was a mid-tier skill, once it reached the Ultimate level, it surpassed most high-tier skills in power. Naiden''s eyes flickered. He didn¡¯t give an immediate command. Yabao teleported, vanishing from sight. A moment later, the transparent rings around Suction Beast¡¯s tentacles glowed red. At the same time, it felt an intense heat from one of its tentacles. Suction Beast instinctively turned and sprayed a jet of pungent black ink in that direction. Naiden smiled. Each of Suction Beast¡¯s tentacles had a Pet Sensor Ring. These devices detected energy, allowing it to sense approaching creatures, even Ghost-types in stealth mode. But in the next second, his smile froze. The ink struck the red-and-white beast... And it disappeared. Realization struck Naiden. He shouted, "Alert!" Suction Beast barely had time to react. A wave of searing heat washed over it... "Glrrrkk¡ª!" It fainted instantly. "Yaaap!" Yabao gracefully landed on the battlefield, his fur as pristine as ever. Qiao Sang remained calm, but inwardly, she thought: Thanks, commentator, I didn''t even need to look up that gadget''s name. Naiden''s two pet beasts had already expended most of their stamina and energy. The remaining one had appeared the least in battle and also had the strongest defense. Relying solely on Fire Fang wouldn¡¯t be enough to take it down in one hit¡­ Chapter 539: Wheres the Promised Fire Fang? Chapter 539: Where''s the Promised Fire Fang?Read at: /?m=1 S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ----- Compared to Qiao Sang¡¯s calm demeanor, Naiden was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He was at least a somewhat well-known beast tamer, yet he had been defeated twice in a row. What would others think of him? If his opponent were a fellow beast tamer ranked higher than him in the Beast Battle Arena, he might feel a bit better about it. But the person before him was clearly a newcomer, and worse yet, an underaged one. Where was he supposed to save his face after this? Naiden could almost hear the mocking laughter of the audience. In reality, there wasn¡¯t much laughter; instead, there were plenty of angry complaints. Previously, the audience who bet on a 2:1 result were collectively losing their cool. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Not even a minute passed, and he lost the second match. Is he throwing the game?¡± ¡°He already knew that the opponent¡¯s pet was Fire and Psychic-type, yet he made no preparations at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had enough! Losing once is bad enough, but to lose the second round like this? And this guy is ranked 68th in the Beast Battle Tournament?!¡± The venue was filled with angry shouts. The commentator, though equally shocked, restrained from using impolite language, thanks to over a decade of professional discipline. ¡°Qiao Sang wins again!¡± The commentator excitedly announced, ¡°I believe this match surprised everyone! Qiao Sang¡¯s pet first used clones to confuse the Suction Beast and then ended the battle swiftly with the ultimate skill, Fire Fang!¡± ¡°It was clean and decisive! Naiden didn¡¯t react at all throughout the match!¡± ¡°But this round got me thinking, has Naiden become too reliant on his equipment? If the Suction Beast didn¡¯t have the Beast Sensor Ring, would Naiden have been more cautious?¡± Having said enough, the commentator turned to Wang Xuezhi beside him, not expecting much as he asked, ¡°Miss Xuezhi, what are your thoughts on this match?¡± Wang Xuezhi leaned towards the microphone and spoke, ¡°I¡¯m curious about the name of that pet. I couldn¡¯t identify it using the Beast Identifier.¡± Even though her response was entirely unrelated to his question, the commentator was so moved that he almost shed tears. She spoke! Finally, he wasn¡¯t monologuing anymore! Her comment brought a brief silence to the audience, followed by a louder uproar. For a moment, everyone forgot their anger, focusing all their attention on the dazzling pet on the stage. ¡°How can the Beast Identifier fail to recognize it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Even legendary pets should be identifiable with the Beast Identifier!¡± ¡°Is Wang Xuezhi¡¯s Beast Identifier an older model?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s using the latest model from the Quanshi brand!¡± A well-informed fan replied. At that moment, one audience member looked stunned. ¡°Oh my god! It really can¡¯t identify it!¡± Those around turned to look and saw the person aiming their Beast Identifier at the red-and-white pet on the stage. Seeing this, the audience members quickly took out their own devices to check. Soon, they were all dumbfounded. ¡°Did yours recognize it?¡± ¡°No... What about yours?¡± ¡°Mine didn¡¯t either...¡± ¡°What could make a Beast Identifier fail to recognize a pet?¡± ¡°This pet must be an unknown species, not yet cataloged by the Alliance!¡± ¡°How could there be a pet that the Alliance doesn¡¯t know about?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more possibility.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°This pet isn¡¯t from our planet, Chaosu Star.¡± ¡°!!!¡± Although interplanetary interactions were normal in this age, it was still rare to encounter beasts from other planets. Each planet¡¯s Beast Identifier only recorded data about its native creatures. There were devices cataloging all known interplanetary pets, but they were incredibly expensive, far beyond what ordinary people would buy. None of the audience members present owned such an advanced device. Realizing that the nameless pet on the stage was likely from another planet, the crowd quickly forgot about the match¡¯s outcome. They all took out their phones, eagerly snapping pictures to share on social media. Meanwhile, the countdown for the third round had just ended. This time, Naiden¡¯s pet launched the first attack. It plunged its claws into the ground, and countless solid rocks burst out, closing in on Yabao. The rocks were so numerous that they covered almost the entire arena. Yabao opened his mouth, spewing spinning, dazzling flames that shattered the oncoming rocks into dust. Rockdora, an advanced Rock-type pet known for its strong defense, could easily crush rocks with the sharp horn on its head... Its special ability was Sturdy, which prevented it from being knocked out in one hit, even by an instant-kill move. In other words, it had a one-time shield... But since Rockdora had already fought several battles, it wasn¡¯t in peak condition, so that ability could be ignored... Qiao Sang observed the massive, gray, rock-covered creature with a sharp horn on its head and spiked lower jaw. Her mind recalled the commentator¡¯s earlier analysis. ¡°Fire Fang.¡± Qiao Sang calmly commanded. Everyone¡¯s attention was on the pet, so they didn¡¯t notice Qiao Sang¡¯s upward finger gesture. But Yabao noticed. In the next moment, he vanished from sight. That move again... Naiden instinctively grew wary. Although confident in Rockdora¡¯s defense, the two previous defeats still haunted him. If he lost to the same move again, his reputation would be ruined. Not daring to be careless, Naiden quickly gave his order: ¡°Spike!¡± Spike Stone Attack, rather than defending, he decided to counterattack. Fire Fang required close proximity to strike, so he wanted to see if Fire Fang would hit Rockdora first or if Spike Stone Attack would reach the opponent first. At worst, he¡¯d trade blows, confident that Rockdora¡¯s defense wouldn¡¯t lose... This thought bolstered Naiden¡¯s confidence. But soon, his face turned pale, and he shouted in an unprecedented panic: ¡°Dodge it!¡± On the arena, Rockdora stood firm, fists colliding as countless spikes of varying sizes erupted from its body, making it impossible to approach. But Yabao didn¡¯t use Fire Fang. He used Hyper Beam. By the time Naiden yelled ¡°Dodge it,¡± the Hyper Beam had already been fired. A thick white beam shot down from the sky at incredible speed, obliterating the spikes and hitting Rockdora dead-on. Rockdora¡¯s entire body was engulfed in the blinding light. ¡°Rooooock!¡± With a miserable cry, the beam faded, and Rockdora collapsed to the ground, eyes closed. Naiden¡¯s face turned ashen, unable to cope with the blow. Where was the promised Fire Fang?! Rockdora might¡¯ve been the most defensive of his three pets, but it had already fought a few rounds and wasn¡¯t in peak condition... Qiao Sang had initially expected Naiden to use a defensive move, but he chose Spike Stone Attack instead... Not that it mattered. She had already noticed that Rockdora rarely moved when attacking or defending... She deliberately mentioned Fire Fang to mislead Naiden. Otherwise, if she had announced Hyper Beam, he would¡¯ve made Rockdora move to dodge it. Everything went exactly as she planned. Despite Yabao''s usual silliness, his battle instincts were spot-on. Just a glance and a gesture were enough to convey her true intent. Chapter 540: Frida Chapter 540: FridaRead at: /?m=1 ----- Three matches, all ending in less than half a minute. The audience stared at the defeated Rockdora, momentarily stunned. That... was fast? They hadn¡¯t even taken a few photos, and Naiden, who ranked 68th in last year¡¯s D-Rank Beast Master Tournament, was defeated just like that? Naiden¡¯s fans were collectively devastated, some even unfollowed him on the spot. A few couldn¡¯t accept their idol¡¯s poor performance and stormed out, only to quietly return halfway. Even if Naiden was disappointing, that kid was astonishingly strong... And that mysterious beast that even the Beast Identifier couldn¡¯t recognize, this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime sight. The thought of missing out made them reluctant to leave. Most of the audience had bet on Naiden winning 3-0 or 2-1. After the second round, they knew their money was gone. With no more financial stake in the third match, they focused on Qiao Sang and her nameless beast that had defeated Naiden three times in a row. ¡°How is she this good? How did she raise her beast to be so powerful at such a young age?¡± ¡°She has the potential to be a star player! If I were a talent scout, I¡¯d sign her in a heartbeat!¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll compete in this year¡¯s Beast Tournament?¡± ¡°No way. Even if she looks mature, she¡¯s clearly still in school and wouldn¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°There are plenty of college students competing each year...¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like a college student, though...¡± ¡°I just want to know the name of that beast...¡± While the audience buzzed with amazement, the commentator did his job: ¡°She won! Qiao Sang wins again! What a clever strategy, she announced ¡®Fire Fang,¡¯ but her beast used Hyper Beam instead, clearly setting a trap for Naiden.¡± ¡°It seems we¡¯ve got a remarkable newcomer this time!¡± Then, as if struck by a thought, the commentator continued: ¡°Still, I believe Naiden¡¯s response wasn¡¯t wrong. If the attack had actually been Fire Fang, his Stone Spike counter would have been an excellent choice, offering both offense and defense.¡± ¡°If Yandora were in peak condition, with its Sturdy ability still active, I believe the match would have been much more thrilling.¡± He then asked, ¡°Ms. Wang Xuezhi, what¡¯s your take on this match?¡± Wang Xuezhi leaned into the mic and shared her view: ¡°Qiao Sang is undoubtedly strong, but Naiden had already fought over twenty matches today, and his beasts¡¯ stamina and energy were depleted. There was also a clear information gap.¡± ¡°As you mentioned, if Rockdora were at full strength, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t have risked using Hyper Beam so recklessly.¡± ¡°I hope everyone views these three matches rationally. A player ranked 68th in the Beast Tournament is definitely not weak.¡± The commentator glanced at her. Wang Xuezhi, who ranked 116th in the last Beast Tournament, obviously didn¡¯t want people questioning the skills of those ranked above her. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And criticizing someone ranked higher is risky, one wrong word could result in harsh online backlash. He had initially thought Wang Xuezhi was just uncooperative, but now realized she actually knew how to navigate public opinion. --- The matches continued. Qiao Sang remained the defending champion. After six consecutive wins, she signed an agreement that would grant her a 20% bonus from the betting pool if she became today¡¯s King of the Arena. Time passed, and challengers came one after another, all leaving with a 0-3 defeat. Initially, the audience placed small bets, unsure of Qiao Sang¡¯s true strength. But after watching one 0-3 defeat after another, each match lasting less than a minute, they realized she wasn¡¯t just some rookie, she was a cash cow! The crowd grew more excited, betting everything they had. In the betting pool, the odds of Qiao Sang winning 3-0 dropped from 10x to 5x, and then to 2.6x. A staff member, sweating nervously, approached the manager: ¡°Mr. Jude, shouldn¡¯t we send in some stronger challengers?¡± Jude, the middle-aged man in black, replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t the current challengers strong enough?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not nearly strong enough. The gap in skill is too wide. If this keeps up, we¡¯ll lose a fortune.¡± The staff member argued. Jude glanced at him. ¡°When have you ever seen the house lose money?¡± The staff member hesitated. ¡°But we¡¯re already losing now...¡± ¡°This is only temporary.¡± Jude¡¯s eyes gleamed as he watched the pony-tailed girl on the stage. ¡°We just need to make sure she doesn¡¯t become King of the Arena today, so she¡¯ll come back next time.¡± The staff member looked uncertain. ¡°Ordinary challengers might not be able to beat her.¡± Jude smiled. ¡°Miss Frida is here today, resting on the 29th floor. I¡¯ve already contacted her.¡± The staff member immediately relaxed. With Miss Frida involved, everything was under control. --- In a private room, Tang Yi was grinning ear to ear. He had won so much money tonight that he could afford a rare beast he¡¯d never considered before. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to compete? You might be up next.¡± Yuna asked. Tang Yi confidently replied, ¡°No way. I didn¡¯t even get a turn when Naiden was up.¡± That¡¯s true... Yuna silently agreed. Qiao Sang¡¯s strength was beyond her expectations. Using only one beast, Blazing Star be, she had won 23 consecutive matches. If she won the next one, it would be her 24th victory. Even more shocking, Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine had no energy-restoring items or inscriptions. She won purely on skill and internal power. And she hadn¡¯t even summoned a second beast yet. Simply terrifying. So, this is the level of a high school champion from Dragon Nation on Blue Star... Yuna thought as she watched Qiao Sang from the viewing window. On stage, Yabao ended the fight with a Flame Charge. The result of the 24th match was announced. The commentator shouted excitedly: ¡°She did it! Qiao Sang wins again! If she wins the next match, she¡¯ll be today¡¯s King of the Arena!¡± Yuna suddenly thought of something and asked: ¡°Did Qiao Sang sign the contract to receive the 20% bonus if she becomes King of the Arena?¡± ¡°Of course she did.¡± Tang Yi confirmed, recalling witnessing the signing. Yuna frowned and looked at the next challenger¡¯s information on the holographic screen. She froze. Rosie Frida?! Chapter 541: The House Always Wins Chapter 541: The House Always WinsRead at: /?m=1 ----- Tang Yi noticed Yuna''s expression and couldn''t help but ask, "What''s wrong?" Yuna was silent for a moment before replying, "Qiao Sang''s next opponent is Rosie Frida." "Who''s that?" Tang Yi asked. "She ranked 13th in last year''s D-rank Beast Tamer Tournament." Yuna said gravely. Tang Yi thought for a moment and then asked, "Is she strong?" "Very strong." Yuna glanced at him and sighed, "I didn''t follow the D-rank Beast Tamer Tournament much, but I did see her trending on social media and in the news, so I know a bit about her." "Rosie Frida is 34 years old. She became a D-rank Beast Tamer at 20, and her ace beast evolved to General-rank when she was 27. However, since her brain capacity hasn''t advanced, she couldn''t become a C-rank Beast Tamer." "Currently, she has one General-rank beast and two Advanced-rank beasts." Hearing this, Tang Yi felt a jolt of anxiety. His first thought was that this match could be tough. But on second thought, it wasn''t entirely hopeless. In his opinion, any of Qiao Sang''s Advanced-rank beasts had the power to instantly defeat beasts of the same level. During the National Campus Beast Mastering League, the opponents only managed to hold their ground because they had thoroughly researched each other beforehand. Otherwise, who would expect a high school student''s beasts to have so many ultimate skills? And as for the General-rank beast, it was just one. Didn''t his Paralulu evolve into Paraleo and still get beaten? Besides, not all General-rank beasts are equal. Paraleo''s attack power was among the best in the Central Hollow region''s General-rank beasts. Even if it had just evolved, not just any General-rank beast could match it. The only concern was that this opponent''s General-rank beast had been at that level for seven years... Wait, there''s something else... Tang Yi''s face turned serious. Qiao Sang''s best chance at defeating a General-rank beast lay with her Blazing Star Canine. But that beast had fought so many consecutive matches that its energy and stamina were greatly depleted, while the opponent''s General-rank beast was still at full strength... Yuna continued, "I first heard about Rosie Frida because she was in the news for extinguishing a fire in an apartment building and saving 136 people." After saying this, she paused, giving Tang Yi a moment to process. Tang Yi''s face changed as he realized, "Rosie Frida''s General-rank beast is Water-type?" Yuna''s mouth twitched, "No." Then why bring it up? Are you just trying to say she''s a good person...? Tang Yi''s eyes conveyed his thoughts. Yuna helplessly explained, "Rosie Frida doesn''t have any Water-type beasts." "Then how did she put out the fire?" Tang Yi was confused. "She may not have a Water-type beast, but she does have one that perfectly counters Fire-types." Yuna looked through the glass at the woman gracefully stepping onto the stage, emphasizing each word, "Against her, Blazing Star Canine''s Fire-type skills are useless." --- Meanwhile, the crowd erupted into wild cheers. This was the power of a popular contestant. "Frida! Frida!" "Oh my god! Why is Frida here today?" "Ahh! What do I do? I didn''t check the match info and just bet on Qiao Sang to win 3-0!" "Heh, I saw the match info and didn''t bet on Qiao Sang this time." "The Pet Battle Tournament is so dirty. Every time a new contestant is about to become the King of the Ring, they always send out a super-strong opponent at the last minute." "I actually think Qiao Sang is really good... too bad she''s up against Frida." Frida... Qiao Sang listened to the crowd while watching the elegantly dressed woman with brown hair in the distance. Her expression became serious. This person was clearly very popular, and in the world of Chaosu Star Beast Battles, popularity equated to strength. If she was this popular, she must be powerful... Looks like Yuna was right, signing that contract for a 20% bonus was a trap. There was no way the tournament organizers would let her take the prize money that easily... If there were contestants with Advanced-rank beasts in the E-rank tournament, then it''s no surprise that the D-rank tournament would have people with General-rank beasts... sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This opponent probably has a General-rank beast... Just then, the commentator''s excited voice echoed, "Frida! Qiao Sang''s obstacle to becoming King of the Arena is Frida! This match is going to be interesting! Looks like we''ll finally see Qiao Sang''s other two beasts!" What''s that supposed to mean? Do they think Yabao is definitely going to lose? Qiao Sang frowned slightly. "Miss Wang Xuezhi, I remember you faced Frida last year. You should be familiar with her strength. What''s your score prediction for this match?" The commentator asked. This time, Wang Xuezhi was cooperative: "I''m not sure about Qiao Sang''s other two beasts, but I favor Frida in this match. Her strength is undeniable, and her Sky Void Bird specifically counters Fire-type beasts." "Even though Qiao Sang''s beast also has Psychic attributes and powerful moves like Hyper Beam, it''s clear from the previous matches that its main offensive moves are Fire-type. And against Frida, no Fire-type stands a chance." "I''d guess 1-3. Qiao Sang is strong, and since her other two beasts haven''t appeared yet, she might take one round." The commentator added, "I predict 0-3. Despite Qiao Sang''s impressive strength, her age is a factor. I think her strongest beast is the one currently in the ring. If it goes down, Frida will have no trouble winning the remaining rounds." As soon as he finished, Frida on the stage formed a hand seal and began summoning her beast. A green star array lit up. Soon, a bird-like beast about 2 meters tall, mainly white and blue with green striped skin along its head and neck, and clawed wings appeared on the stage. "Yap..." Yabao lowered his stance, ready to attack at any moment. Even though the opponent was smaller, he felt an immense sense of danger. Qiao Sang looked at the distant beast, her heart sinking. Different ranks of beasts exude different levels of presence. Except for her newly contracted Gangbao, all of Qiao Sang''s beasts were Advanced-rank, so she knew exactly what an Advanced-rank aura felt like. The presence from this beast was much stronger... If she was right, this was a General-rank beast... The tournament organizers were playing dirty, actually sending a contestant with a General-rank beast just to stop her from becoming King of the Arena. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but complain inwardly. Two seconds later, a mechanical voice announced, "Match countdown: 3, 2, 1!" Chapter 542: The Sky Void Bird Chapter 542: The Sky Void BirdRead at: /?m=1 ----- Spinning, dazzling flames shot out as Yabao launched the first attack. Frida¡¯s expression remained calm. She waited until the flames were just two meters from her pet before leisurely commanding: "Vacuum." The pet Frida had summoned was exactly the Sky Void Bird that Wang Xuezhi had previously mentioned. It spread its wings, emitting a white glow. An invisible energy expanded outward. In an instant, the flames in mid-air vanished. Qiao Sang: !!! What the heck! Air vacuum?! The commentator¡¯s voice chimed in at the perfect moment: "As expected! Against the Air Vacuum ability, all fire-based attacks are rendered useless!" Wang Xuezhi added, ¡°Qiao Sang looks shocked. It seems she¡¯s not familiar with Frida¡¯s Sky Void Bird.¡± Air Vacuum isn¡¯t a skill; it¡¯s a special trait possessed by a rare few flying-type beasts. It can drain the air within a certain area, creating a vacuum. In the absence of air, living beings would suffocate, and flames would extinguish. No wonder the commentators were so sure Yabao would lose... As the realization dawned, a curse word flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. For a fire-type beast, encountering a flying-type beast with this ability was truly the worst matchup. Qiao Sang strongly suspected that the Beast Battle Arena deliberately invited Frida to counter Yabao! On the battlefield, after the flames were extinguished, the white glow surrounding the Sky Void Bird persisted as it maintained its wing-spread stance. No way... Is it planning to drain all the air from the arena... Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened as she quickly shouted: "Psychic!" She needed to interrupt this! Fire attacks being ineffective was one thing, but losing due to suffocation was another. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose like this! Unbeknownst to her, Qiao Sang had changed a lot from before. Previously, faced with an opponent of a higher rank and a countering type, she would have calmly analyzed the situation and accepted the possibility of defeat. But now, all she could think about was how to win. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao''s eyes glowed blue. In the next moment, the Sky Void Bird was slammed to the ground by an invisible force. Frida looked stunned. Isn¡¯t that supposed to be a high-level beast? How could its psychic power restrain a beast one rank above it? The commentator was equally shocked and had just regained his composure when Qiao Sang gave the next command: "Hellfire!" ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao stomped his front paw onto the ground. The arena cracked open as flames surged rapidly toward the Sky Void Bird. If this creature could vacuum the air, close-range attacks were out of the question. Though Hellfire were fire-based, they erupted from underground. Even if the Sky Void Bird vacuumed the air above ground, the debris from the scorched rocks would still hit it... And if the Sky Void Bird tried to dodge by flying, Yabao would use his psychic power to slam it back to the ground... Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced as she calculated the next steps for every possible scenario. Yet, Frida remained calm, issuing her command: "Dodge." "Sky!" The Sky Void Bird stood up and spread its wings. Even without Qiao Sang¡¯s command, Yabao''s eyes gleamed blue. But just then, the Sky Void Bird split into two, then four... In the blink of an eye, twelve Sky Void Birds charged toward Yabao. The commentator quickly explained: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qiao Sang¡¯s pet to have such powerful psychic abilities. Even after so many battles, it can still control a beast one rank higher. But it looks like it¡¯s at its limit now, unable to distinguish the real body among so many clones.¡± ¡°If the Sky Void Bird gets close...¡± The commentator¡¯s voice cut off abruptly. His eyes widened in disbelief. All twelve Sky Void Birds were pinned to the ground by an unseen force! Fiery flames burst from the earth, striking every one of them with precision. The clones vanished one by one until only the real one remained! Is this... really the psychic power of a high-level beast? In the audience, faces were frozen in shock and astonishment. During the month on the starship, Yabao had either been meditating or training his psychic powers. He had mastered them to the late stage of the Ultimate level. Once his proficiency maxed out, and if he had enough energy, he could fully control beasts one rank above him... Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts raced as she planned the next wave of attacks. Yabao could indeed restrain a General-rank beast, but if the General-rank fought back with all its might, it could break free. Success earlier was mostly because the Sky Void Bird hadn¡¯t realized Yabao''s true strength... Using psychic power in combination with Hellfire might not work a second time... S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, since his proficiency was nearing the peak of the Ultimate level, the Sky Void Bird probably couldn¡¯t break free instantly... Suddenly, an idea flashed in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind, and her eyes lit up as she shouted: "Spin!" At her command, the Sky Void Bird was lifted high into the air and spun rapidly at a 360-degree angle. You can do that? The spectators watched the spinning Sky Void Bird in stunned amazement. No wonder they brought me here... Frida¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise before quickly regaining composure. She resolved to seize control of the battle¡¯s pace. She commanded: "Vacuum, just like that." "Sky... yue..." The Sky Void Bird, fighting the urge to vomit, began to glow white. Yabao''s eyes remained blue, increasing the spinning speed. After several seconds, Qiao Sang noticed the white glow hadn¡¯t faded. A bad feeling crept into her mind: Did the Sky Void Bird also train to resist dizziness? She pondered briefly, deciding not to take that risk. "Drop!" She commanded. Right now, she needed to stop the vacuum effect. An opportunity! Frida¡¯s eyes gleamed as she shouted, ¡°Now!¡± Changing the movement trajectory under psychic control is when the control is at its weakest! The Sky Void Bird stopped spinning. Before Yabao could slam it to the ground, the Sky Void Bird spread its wings and broke free from the psychic grip. Its body glowed green before shooting forward at terrifying speed, tearing through the air toward Yabao. In a blink, the Sky Void Bird appeared before Yabao. Yabao''s battle instincts kicked in, preparing to teleport away. ¡°Yap!¡± But just as he was about to teleport, his eyes widened in pain. Frida knew she had it. Everyone saw the Sky Void Bird¡¯s green light turn white just one meter away from the nameless beast. Chapter 543: Stay Calm! Chapter 543: Stay Calm!Read at: /?m=1 ----- The commentator''s eyes lit up as he saw the scene, his tone slightly excited: "The Sky Void Bird seized the opportunity to break free from the psychic hold and used Brave Bird Attack, closing in on its opponent with its speed, then instantly switched to Air Vacuum, causing its opponent to suffocate! I didn''t expect Frida to turn the tables in just a moment!" "I didn''t expect it either." Wang Xuezhi sighed. "I can''t believe Brave Bird Attack could be halted so abruptly." "No one expected that." The commentator said with admiration. "Stopping an attack mid-charge isn''t easy. It requires incredible control over one''s body, otherwise, a mistake could lead to self-injury." "And the switch from Brave Bird Attack to Air Vacuum was brilliant." Wang Xuezhi added. "I originally thought the Sky Void Bird would directly strike that nameless pet beast, but now that I think about it, switching to Air Vacuum was the best choice." "That nameless pet beast has psychic powers and can teleport. If the Sky Void Bird continued with Brave Bird Attack, it would''ve likely dodged. But with Air Deprivation, it could experience suffocation before having the chance to teleport." "For a pet beast that has never experienced suffocation, the sudden lack of air is extremely painful." "Now, the nameless pet beast can''t breathe. Even if the Sky Void Bird does nothing and just stands nearby, Frida would still win this match." Although Frida''s sudden comeback was impressive, not everyone present was her fan. Some spectators who had bet on Qiao Sang''s victory were displeased by the commentary. "Is the commentator biased toward Frida? Clearly, Qiao Sang controlled the pace from the start. She only just turned it around, and he''s already singing praises. If I were using a General-level pet beast and got pushed around by a High-level one, I''d be too embarrassed to boast." "Calm down, man. Frida''s move was flawless. Besides, who would''ve expected a High-level pet beast''s psychic power to completely restrain a General-level one? Frida simply seized the chance to counterattack, and it was executed perfectly. I bet we''ll know the result soon." "Ahhh! Qiao Sang, don''t lose! I bet all my savings on you!" "What were you thinking? Betting on Qiao Sang against Frida?" "I got carried away! Didn''t even check the opponent''s info!" "I checked, the odds were 1:3. I just hope Qiao Sang can win one round." "You''re bold. Betting on Qiao Sang to win even one round against Frida?" "What''s wrong with that? Frida still has two other High-level pet beasts. What if she summons one of them in the second or third round?" --- Inside the private room. Yuna looked at the scene on the arena and sighed, "Qiao Sang is doing much better than I expected. I thought the Blazing Star Canine would lose as soon as the Sky Void Bird appeared, but it''s only now affected by Air Vacuum." Tang Yi watched in silence. Suddenly, Yuna asked, "I explained earlier that Frida''s General-level pet beast has traits that counter fire types. Why did you still ask me to bet on Qiao Sang winning?" What a joke. They were all from Blue Star, and Qiao Sang was the national champion of Dragon Nation''s high school division. Of course, he had to show his support. Besides, it was just 1,000 alliance Coins, no big deal, especially since he''d earned plenty earlier... Tang Yi replied seriously, "You didn''t watch Qiao Sang''s National Campus Beast Mastering Championship. She won''t lose so easily." Yuna looked at the arena, puzzled. She couldn''t understand why Tang Yi was still so confident in Qiao Sang despite the current situation. --- On the arena. Yabao''s face twisted in pain, his mouth wide open, struggling to breathe. Stay calm. Stay calm. The match isn''t over yet... Qiao Sang took a deep breath, her mind racing. The Sky Void Bird switched from Brave Bird Attack to Vacuum, which meant it couldn''t use other moves while maintaining Air Vacuum. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have stopped Brave Bird Attack and missed the chance to follow up. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wants to make Yabao faint from suffocation... Normally, Yabao could hold his breath for a minute, but sudden suffocation is different from voluntarily holding one''s breath... Involuntary suffocation amplifies pain, shortening the time one can hold out... Yabao has to calm down and then interrupt the Sky Void Bird''s Air Vacuum... Thinking this through, Qiao Sang shouted, "Yabao! Stay calm!" Stay calm? Frida heard this and smirked, then ordered, "Claw Strike." Although Claw Strike was just a low-level flying-type move, the Sky Void Bird had mastered it to the level of high profiency. Coupled with its strength, it could even harm General-level pet beasts. Qiao Sang''s words reached Yabao''s ears. The Sky Void Bird raised its claws, drawing elegant arcs in the air that gleamed like cold light as they slashed toward Yabao. Qiao Sang instantly realized: The Sky Void Bird can''t use energy-consuming moves while maintaining Air Vacuum! That''s why it stopped Brave Bird Attack. Using physical attacks is still possible! No time... Qiao Sang''s heart sank. It was too late to issue a command. Normally, this attack wouldn''t be a threat, but now Yabao was suffocating. He couldn''t even focus on his opponent, let alone react. Yabao... Qiao Sang watched worriedly. Meanwhile... Stay... calm... Yabao remembered his master¡¯s words. "Yap..." Stay... calm... His gaze sharpened. The sharp claws tore into Yabao, but he didn''t fall. His eyes filled with resolve as he lunged at his opponent, biting down on the Sky Void Bird''s neck. The Sky Void Bird screeched in pain, its glowing aura dimming. "Sky!" "Don''t stop!" Frida shouted urgently. "Ten more seconds, and it''ll pass out!" The Sky Void Bird struggled, but its wings were pinned down. 3 seconds... 2 seconds... 1 second... Boom! White light collided with green light, creating a massive explosion. A fierce shockwave swept across the arena. Everyone held their breath. When the dust settled, both beasts lay motionless on the ground. The large virtual screen showed the result: [Qiao Sang VS Frida, 1:1] Chapter 544: Little Treasure vs. Flame Charcoal Fox Chapter 544: Little Treasure vs. Flame Charcoal FoxRead at: /?m=1 ----- The arena fell into complete silence. After about three seconds, the quiet was finally broken, and the audience erupted. "What the heck? A tie?!" "Oh my God, I never expected this result!" "Ahhh! I bet on 1:2! Does this mean I still have a chance to win?!" "What happened to Frida? She lost even though her Sky Void Bird had an advantage over fire types and was a level higher?" "You can''t really say she lost; it was a tie." "Come on! They¡¯ve already fought so many rounds! Both beasts were exhausted, and it still ended like this. How is that any different from losing?" "If you ask me, even if Qiao Sang''s beast was in peak condition from not fighting before, Frida still shouldn''t have ended in a tie." "I''m starting to become a fan. That unnamed beast''s counterattack at the end was so cool! It lunged straight at the enemy despite the attack. Normal beasts wouldn''t dare to do that, even if ordered by their Beast Master." "Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" Some of the audience stood up, shouting excitedly like crazed fans. They were the ones who bet on 1:2. After placing their bets, they actually felt a bit of regret. After all, Frida was ranked 13th in last year''s D-Rank Beast Master Championship, owning a General-level beast. She was practically at the pinnacle of D-Rank Beast Masters. Why did they think Qiao Sang, who only had an unbeaten streak in about twenty arena matches, could win even one round against Frida? Most Beast Masters prefer to use one beast until it''s exhausted before switching to the next. They were devastated when Frida sent out her Sky Void Bird first. The gap between General-level beasts and High-level beasts is like night and day. Normally, a General-level beast can easily defeat three Advanced-level beasts in a row. Even if they didn¡¯t say it out loud, everyone thought Qiao Sang was doomed, and Frida would end the match with a two-on-one using the Sky Void Bird. Who could have predicted the twist? Qiao Sang gave them a huge surprise by fighting the Sky Void Bird to a draw in the first round, making it unable to continue. One audience member who blindly bet on Qiao Sang winning 3:0 said sourly, "Don''t get too excited. What if Qiao Sang wins the next round too?" The cheering audience felt as if cold water had been poured over them, instantly losing their enthusiasm. --- At the commentary booth, the announcer was stunned by the result. It took him a few seconds to snap out of it and remember his job: "Both beasts were caught in the explosion. With the clash of Air Cannon and Hyper Beam, they both lost the ability to fight." "But it''s unbelievable! Even when the air was depleted, that unnamed beast managed to counterattack! And at the last moment, the Sky Void Bird couldn''t break free from its hold. The Sky Void Bird was a whole level higher!" "Miss Wang Xuezhi, what are your thoughts on the match?" "I''m disappointed." Wang Xuezhi said bluntly. The announcer was stunned and turned to look at her. Wang Xuezhi continued, "The Sky Void Bird is a General-level beast. In every aspect, it should''ve been stronger than that unnamed beast. Its air vacuum technique did render the opponent''s fire abilities useless, but Frida relied too heavily on it to secure an easy win." "She already drained the air around her opponent. There was no need to engage up close. All she had to do was keep her distance and wait." "Even if she didn''t anticipate the unnamed beast would lunge through the attack and pin the Sky Void Bird down, she should''ve adjusted her strategy when it happened." "In my opinion, if Frida wasn''t so eager to end the match quickly, she would''ve stopped the Sky Void Bird''s air depletion when her opponent was about to use Destruction Beam, instead of maintaining it and dodging." "At the end, the Sky Void Bird clearly had the advantage in distance. As a General-level beast, its attack power was definitely higher. The unnamed beast could only use Destruction Beam, which requires charging and can''t be fired instantly." "If Frida''s command had been to attack instead of dodge, the outcome would''ve been completely different." The announcer could feel Frida''s icy stare from the arena. Wow... she¡¯s bold... The announcer glanced at Wang Xuezhi. Earlier, he thought she knew how to be tactful, but he clearly misjudged her... Wang Xuezhi continued, "If the Sky Void Bird hadn''t instinctively used Air Cannon at the last moment, Qiao Sang might have actually won." "Also, Frida clearly wasn''t fully prepared. The Sky Void Bird didn''t have any equipment or runes on it." "I wonder if she underestimated her opponent..." Cold sweat ran down the announcer''s back. He quickly interrupted: "Ah! The next match is about to start! I wonder what beasts they''ll send out this time?" Wang Xuezhi''s attention instantly shifted. --- Qiao Sang waved her hand, recalling the unconscious Yabao into her Beast Codex. To be honest, her initial goal in the arena was just to gain combat experience and points for her beasts. Winning wasn''t that important. But she couldn''t deny that the thrilling atmosphere and Yabao''s desire to win influenced her. Not to mention the 20% prize share... If she had been more rational, she would''ve recalled Yabao, whose energy and stamina were mostly depleted, when she heard the cheers for Frida. She should''ve sent out Little Treasure or Lubao instead... Qiao Sang took a deep breath, reflecting on her decision as she formed a seal. From the panoramic view, an orange star formation lit up. A ghost-type beast, never seen before, appeared before the crowd. At that moment, everyone forgot about the green star formation. The audience, who were still speculating about the score, went silent, then erupted into a wave of excitement. "What the heck! Another never-before-seen beast?!" "Did you see that? An orange star formation?!" "Who is this kid?" An orange star formation, symbol of a C-Rank Beast Master. Two unfamiliar beasts in a row, and Qiao Sang''s youthful face brimming with collagen clearly showed she was underage. All these factors combined made her appear even more mysterious. "Did you find any info?" "Nope!" "Me neither!" Everyone pointed their beast detectors at the ghost-type beast, but none got a match. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure was quite familiar with beast detectors. Seeing them aimed his way, he waved excitedly. Some audience members burst out laughing at its antics. "What level is this beast?" "Not sure. Just by its size, it looks like a low-level beast." "No way. After facing Frida''s strength, she wouldn''t send out a low-level beast, right?" "Then it''s probably a mid-level beast. It doesn''t look like a high-level one. Besides, how could someone as young as Qiao Sang have two high-level beasts?" The person next to him glanced over. "Her star formation is orange. What can''t she do?" "..." Amid the chatter, the announcer exclaimed: "One unfamiliar beast wasn''t enough, here comes another! At first, I wasn''t sure, but now I can say with confidence: Qiao Sang definitely isn''t from around here!" Before the announcer could ask, Wang Xuezhi spoke up: "If possible, I''d like to know Qiao Sang''s exact age." Everyone present was thinking the same thing. In the pet battle arena, strength determines everything, age doesn¡¯t matter. However, when a contestant is noticeably younger than others in the same tier yet stronger than them, and their pets are unfamiliar to everyone, curiosity about that contestant¡¯s background inevitably arises. --- Meanwhile, in the arena. Frida pressed her lips together, feeling an indescribable mix of jealousy, envy, and a hint of bitterness. Honestly, she didn¡¯t feel this complicated when she lost earlier. At 19, she broke through 20% of her brain domain and became a D-rank Beast Master at 20, enjoying unmatched glory. Yet, 14 years later, she¡¯s still a D-rank Beast Master. All because of her brain domain... This contestant, Qiao Sang, looked much younger than her, yet her brain region had already reached the level of a C-rank Beast Master. If her own brain domain had broken through smoothly, she would¡¯ve made a name for herself in the C-rank Pet Battle Arena on the 31st floor long ago... S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Flame Charcoal Fox! Win this round!¡± Frida adjusted her mindset and spoke with determination. She admitted that in the first round, she wanted to end the match quickly and issued some poorly thought-out commands. But she would definitely not lose again this time! She couldn¡¯t compete in terms of brain domain, but... When it came to battle experience, she wouldn¡¯t lose! ¡°Blaze.¡± The Flame Charcoal Fox responded with a cry, indicating its understanding. ¡°Match countdown, 3, 2, 1!¡± At the end of the countdown, the Flame Charcoal Fox¡¯s three tails ignited, curling forward and launching bullet-like fireballs towards Little Treasure with rapid ¡°bang bang bang¡± sounds. Flame Bullets, an advanced fire-type skill... It¡¯s a fire-type pet... There didn¡¯t seem to be any special equipment or spirit patterns on it, which meant Frida was likely a last-minute substitute as a Beast Master... Qiao Sang analyzed the situation while observing the pet from a distance. Little Treasure was fragile, any hit could be extremely dangerous... He was a ghost-type. Based on his appearance, the opponent could easily deduce that. Starting with this move wasn¡¯t just an attack but also a way to prevent Little Treasure from approaching. But she probably didn¡¯t know that Little Treasure also had psychic attributes... Just as this thought crossed her mind, time in the arena seemed to freeze. All the flame bullets hung motionless in mid-air. ¡°W-what¡¯s this?!¡± The commentator was stunned before leaning forward eagerly toward the microphone, eyes fixed on the ghost-type pet. ¡°My gosh! It¡¯s another pet with psychic abilities!¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure''s eyes gleamed blue as he grinned. In the next moment, all the flame bullets reversed direction, shooting rapidly back toward Flame Charcoal Fox. Psychokinesis?! And strong enough to control all the flame bullets?! Frida was momentarily stunned before biting her tongue to regain focus. ¡°Flame Tail!¡± She shouted. ¡°Blaze!¡± The Flame Charcoal Fox whipped its three flaming tails forward, spinning like fiery propellers and forming three circular walls of flame that perfectly blocked the incoming bullets. Fire collided with fire, causing explosions. Boom! Boom! Boom! Flames and shockwaves roared. Explosions echoed one after another, their force crashing like ocean waves. Thick white smoke billowed, blocking much of Flame Charcoal Fox¡¯s view. Something¡¯s wrong... Frida stood on the elevated platform above the arena, unaffected by the smoke, clearly observing the situation. The ghost-type pet had vanished! She furrowed her brows slightly, then relaxed. No matter how tricky a ghost-type pet¡¯s movements were, in this situation, it wouldn¡¯t be able to get close to Flame Charcoal Fox. At that moment, the explosions ceased. Before Frida could issue another command- Little Treasure appeared out of the smoke, teleporting right in front of Flame Charcoal Fox. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure''s eyes turned purple. ¡°Blaze...¡± Flame Charcoal Fox instinctively tried to close its eyes. How could I forget to bring equipment... Frida regretted it deeply. If she had taken this match seriously and brought mind-clearing equipment, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Hypnosis. But now... Frida didn¡¯t have time to think further and shouted, ¡°Attack yourself!¡± ¡°Blaze...¡± Flame Charcoal Fox felt its master¡¯s voice coming from far away. Upon hearing it, its body instinctively tried to comply. Its tail slowly lifted, aiming the tip at its own head while gathering flames. But in the next second, it succumbed to drowsiness and collapsed with a thud. ¡°Flame Charcoal Fox! Get up!¡± Frida¡¯s face darkened. The giant virtual screen at the back didn¡¯t immediately display the match result but started a ten-second countdown. In the Pet Battle Arena, if any sleep-inducing skill caused unconsciousness, the match continued as long as the pet woke up within ten seconds. Earlier, the crowd, who had bet on a 1:2 ratio and cheered, ¡°Qiao Sang is awesome! Qiao Sang is unbeatable!¡± suddenly switched sides, desperately shouting for Flame Charcoal Fox to get up. Their voices were downright heartbreaking. They¡¯re even giving external support... Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dare be careless and commanded, ¡°Block it.¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure raised his short toes, and two three-dimensional shadows immediately plugged Flame Charcoal Fox¡¯s ears. Audience: ??? This move stunned everyone. For a moment, the entire audience was dumbfounded, forgetting to keep shouting. Ten seconds passed. The giant virtual screen displayed the match result: [Qiao Sang VS Frida, 2:1] Chapter 545: Little Treasure vs. Vine King Chapter 545: Little Treasure vs. Vine KingRead at: /?m=1 ----- A loud uproar erupted from the audience, and everyone present was visibly shaken. Frida lost? Just like that, defeated by a simple Hypnosis move? And then there was Qiao Sang¡¯s pet. It wasn¡¯t unusual for a pet to possess two attributes, but a pet with both Ghost and Psychic attributes was incredibly rare, as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn¡¯s horn. Even without any top-grade equipment or spirit patterns, its mere attributes made it overwhelmingly powerful. At the same time, the audience recalled Qiao Sang¡¯s previous pet. A Fire and Psychic type, capable of high damage output and excellent control, stunningly majestic, and even able to fly as a mount. It was the dream pet for most people. What kind of background did this person have to be able to contract with such pets? For a while, aside from those who bet on the 1:3 odds and were now wailing in despair, everyone else was intensely curious about Qiao Sang. ¡°Who is this kid? Even nobles might not be able to get pets like those.¡± ¡°She¡¯s definitely not from 3rd District . There¡¯s no one this talented in our district.¡± ¡°Forget 3rd District, with those pets, I doubt she¡¯s even from Chaosu Star.¡± ¡°Never judge a pet by its appearance. I thought that pet was just a mid-level beast, but it controlled all the Flame Bullets! I was stunned. And that Hypnosis... I still don¡¯t get it. What level of Hypnosis can instantly knock out a Flame Charcoal Fox?¡± ¡°Perfected or maybe even a Ultimate level Hypnosis.¡± ¡°But shouldn¡¯t we be talking about that last move, Shadow Control?¡± ¡°Exactly! A 3D-modeled Shadow Control... that¡¯s at least at a high profiency level.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, it¡¯s hilarious. Such a grand skill was used just to block its ears.¡± Meanwhile, on the commentary platform, the commentator exclaimed, ¡°It seems we greatly underestimated Qiao Sang¡¯s abilities. This pet, whose name we still don¡¯t know, has mastered Psychokinesis, Hypnosis, and Shadow Control to an extraordinary level.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Wang Xuezhi agreed seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many high-level Psychic pets, but none of them could control that many Flame Bullets with Psychokinesis.¡± ¡°And that Hypnosis... It¡¯s clear Frida didn¡¯t come prepared with equipment or spirit patterns this time. If her next pet doesn¡¯t have strong willpower, I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll lose to Hypnosis again.¡± Hypnosis... Frida fell silent after hearing this. She pursed her lips and waved her hand, recalling her fallen Flame Charcoal Fox back into her Beast Master¡¯s Codex. At that moment, the prompt for the third round of pet summoning echoed in the arena. The audience immediately stopped their discussions. Frida formed a seal with her hands, and a pet with a predominantly green body, five vine-like fingers, and short, stout legs appeared. A Grass-type pet... Qiao Sang took one look and immediately recognized it. The commentator¡¯s voice rang out at the perfect time, ¡°Frida¡¯s third pet is the Vine King. Let¡¯s see if it can withstand the Hypnosis that instantly put the Flame Charcoal Fox to sleep.¡± He didn¡¯t realize that he¡¯d gone from firmly believing Frida would win to now doubting whether she could even counter Hypnosis. The match countdown began. Three seconds later, Frida shouted sternly at the first opportunity, ¡°Use Spikes on the ground!¡± ¡°Vine Vine!¡± Following her command, the Vine King quickly extended its ten fingers into the ground. Sharp spikes burst forth, piercing deep into more than half of the battlefield, with only the tips remaining visible above the surface. ¡°What¡¯s Frida planning?¡± The commentator was puzzled. During his commentary, Little Treasure vanished into thin air, reappearing right in front of the Vine King, who was still deploying its Spikes. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. ¡°Vine...¡± The Vine King¡¯s eyes started to droop uncontrollably, its body tilting forward. Frida didn¡¯t issue any commands. She watched intently, her expression serious, but she was secretly relieved. No matter how advanced the Hypnosis, physical pain could always break its effect. That¡¯s why she had the Vine King plant Spikes right from the start, so that if it fell asleep, it would get pricked and wake up. This Ghost-type pet also had Psychic abilities, allowing it to teleport and cast Hypnosis up close. The Spikes were a necessary precaution. The Hypnosis came faster than she anticipated, but luckily the Spikes were ready. The moment it fell, the Vine King would be pricked, and then she could counterattack. Even the seasoned commentator who had witnessed countless matches saw through Frida¡¯s plan. He marveled, ¡°No wonder Frida ranked 13th in last year¡¯s D-rank Beast Master Tournament. She planned this from the very beginning...¡± His voice abruptly stopped. He stared at the arena in shock, his mouth forming an ¡°O.¡± The Vine King¡¯s body tilted to within 0.01 centimeters of the spikes before stopping mid-air, its upper body suspended as if frozen. ¡°Xun Xun...¡± Little Treasure''s eyes gleamed blue as he patted his chest, revealing a That was close expression. Luckily, he reacted quickly, otherwise, the opponent wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep peacefully. The Vine King¡¯s eyes were now tightly closed, drooling from the mouth, clearly in a deep sleep. Frida: !!! The commentator suddenly realized, exclaiming, ¡°This Ghost-type pet¡¯s reaction speed is incredible! It transformed Hypnosis into Psychokinesis just in time, preventing the Vine King from getting pricked by the Spikes.¡± ¡°Vine King! Wake up!¡± Frida shouted. There was still hope! As long as she could wake it up! Little Treasure was using Psychokinesis and couldn¡¯t use Shadow Control to block its ears like before! Some of Frida¡¯s fans in the audience joined in, shouting to wake up the Vine King. Again... Qiao Sang sighed, ¡°Block it.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure acknowledged and immediately controlled the Vine King¡¯s vine-like fingers to plug its own ears. Frida: !!! Audience: ... The ten seconds passed. On the large virtual screen, the final result appeared: [Qiao Sang VS Frida, 3:1] ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure raised his paws in victory, signaling to the audience to cheer. Qiao Sang chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure stopped showing off and instantly teleported to his Beast Master¡¯s side. Qiao Sang descended from the platform. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A staff member quickly approached, ¡°Miss Qiao Sang, aren¡¯t you going to continue?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang replied, ¡°It¡¯s already late, and it¡¯s time for Ya ao to sleep.¡± The audience was momentarily stunned, then started speculating about Qiao Sang¡¯s departure. ¡°Why¡¯s she leaving?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°She won, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Maybe she feels she¡¯s already the champion today and doesn¡¯t want to continue.¡± Amid the chatter, a middle-aged man hurried over, blocking Qiao Sang¡¯s path, ¡°Miss Qiao Sang, I¡¯m Jude, the person in charge here.¡± Qiao Sang blinked, then her eyes sparkled, ¡°Are you here to tell me how much prize money I¡¯ll get today?¡± Jude: ... Chapter 546: Want to Learn Chapter 546: Want to LearnRead at: /?m=1 ----- Jude¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, barely perceptible. ¡°The amount is quite substantial. We didn¡¯t expect you to leave so soon, so we¡¯re still calculating.¡± Quite substantial¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s smile widened uncontrollably. She was in a great mood and said, ¡°No rush, take your time. Calculate carefully. I¡¯ll be waiting in room 03 upstairs.¡± With that, she turned and walked away. ¡°Wait!¡± Jude hurriedly blocked Qiao Sang¡¯s path. ¡°One more thing, I wanted to ask if you¡¯d be willing to be a guest for our arena tournament tomorrow?¡± Guest? Qiao Sang glanced at Wang Xuezhi, who was at the commentator¡¯s booth, then turned back and refused outright. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have time.¡± What a joke. She wasn¡¯t familiar with the pet beasts of Chaosu Star, nor did she know anything about the equipment or spirit patterns. Going up there would only embarrass herself. Jude hadn¡¯t expected her to refuse so directly. He wasn¡¯t ready to give up yet. ¡°You can come at any time, morning or night. Just let us know, and we¡¯ll send someone to pick you up. You only need to be there for three hours.¡± As he spoke, he handed her a business card. Qiao Sang took the card and was about to refuse again when Jude added, ¡°We won¡¯t waste your time. Afterward, we¡¯ll pay you 100,000 Alliance coins.¡± To be honest, just being a guest wasn¡¯t a demanding job. There were professional commentators, and she only needed to sit there and chime in occasionally. The pay wasn¡¯t bad. Unfortunately, she was currently at the wealthiest point in her life. She was tempted, but only a little. ¡°I really don¡¯t have time. I still have school. But I¡¯ll be back at night to continue participating in the arena matches.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You¡¯ll be back for the matches? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier¡­ Jude smiled slightly. ¡°Then I won¡¯t insist. I hope we¡¯ll have another chance in the future.¡± --- Qiao Sang entered the private room, and Yuna and Tang Yi immediately surrounded her. Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Qiao Sang, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Of course, I¡¯m the champion¡­ Qiao Sang humbly said, ¡°That¡¯s only because my opponents didn¡¯t understand my pet beasts.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know theirs either, did you?¡± Tang Yi laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest. I always knew you wouldn¡¯t lose.¡± As Qiao Sang summoned Yabao and Lubao, she asked, ¡°What bet did you place just now?¡± Tang Yi sighed. ¡°3-0. You 3, Frida 0.¡± Friend, this is blind faith¡­ The opponent had a general-ranked pet, yet he still bet on a clean sweep¡­ Qiao Sang pretended not to hear and focused on summoning. Tang Yi suddenly changed his tone, full of conviction. ¡°If your Blazing Star Canine was in peak condition, I believe the first round wouldn¡¯t have ended in a draw!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao, freshly summoned, frowned slightly as she saw Yabao lying there, eyes closed and covered in wounds. What kind of opponent was that? Even Yabao couldn¡¯t win? ¡°Lubao, heal Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded, and the white gemstone on her forehead glowed blue. Nearby, Yuna stared at the mysterious aura surrounding Lubao, her heart pounding. This pet beast is stunning! As someone who cared more about aesthetics than battles, Yuna knew a lot about coordination competitions. At first glance, she could tell, just based on appearance, this pet beast could cause a sensation in coordination circles. ¡°Qiao Sang, what¡¯s its name?¡± Yuna took a deep breath and asked. ¡°Ice Xilu.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The moment she finished speaking, Yabao was fully healed. Yuna¡¯s eyes sparkled even more. A beautiful name, and such a strong healing ability! ¡°Can I pet it?¡± She asked hopefully. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao shot her a wary glance, releasing a hint of cold air. Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°Probably not. Lubao doesn¡¯t like being touched by others.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao patted Lubao with his paw. That¡¯s right! She doesn¡¯t like being touched. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao glanced at Yabao. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao blinked his big, watery eyes. Lubao stared again. Yabao blinked again. Lubao: ¡­ I see¡­ Yuna sighed, slightly disappointed. It¡¯s a rare pet beast. If it were that easy to touch, the people in the Ancient Guwu region would have gone crazy already¡­ Tang Yi silently mused. Just then, a knock came at the door. Yuna said, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened automatically. A staff member entered and respectfully handed Qiao Sang her contestant card. ¡°The prize money from your matches tonight, along with the 20% bet pool share in your contract, has been deposited into this card.¡± ¡°How much?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°3.23 million.¡± ¡°HOW MUCH?!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s voice shot up, and she nearly jumped. ¡°3.23 million.¡± The staff repeated politely. Qiao Sang, in a daze, took her contestant card. Tang Yi looked equally stunned. So much money? Then, realizing something, his expression turned pained. Wait¡­ does this mean he missed out on a million in prize money from the E-rank arena?! The staff bowed and left. So making money is this easy¡­ If I come every day and keep winning¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind drifted off with happy thoughts. Just as she was getting carried away, Yuna spoke. ¡°They might offer the same contract multiple times, but once you win a Defender¡¯s Crown, they won¡¯t ask you to sign it again.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ She could almost hear the sound of her dream shattering. --- Sainan High School, Dormitory Area 1, Room 502 Qiao Sang eagerly checked her account balance. [Your savings account ending in 0666 has a balance of 5,127,833.67 yuan.] With the 3.23 million prize money, the bets Yuna placed on 3-0 victories, and her previous savings, she had crossed five million in just one night. Unlimited balance cards were nice, but they didn¡¯t show specific amounts. Many places didn¡¯t accept them, and they couldn¡¯t be used like regular credit cards. That made them feel intangible, hard to grasp. But real money in a savings account? That was solid. She could see it, touch it. Qiao Sang was in a fantastic mood. No wonder so many people spent their lives in the pet battle arena. This was way faster than doing missions. Of course, money went just as fast¡­ Qiao Sang put down her phone, adjusted her mindset, and started studying. Suddenly, she noticed a blue glow behind her. Turning around, she saw Lubao using Healing Light on Yabao. As the glow faded, Yabao looked refreshed and energetic. ¡°You¡¯re not sleeping?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao answered seriously. No! He needed to train his breath-holding! He lost to that bird tonight because his breath-holding wasn¡¯t good enough! Qiao Sang was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Yabao to be this determined. She didn¡¯t notice that, nearby, Gangbao was listening and showing a thoughtful expression. --- Half an hour later¡­ ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao, eyes closed, was drooling in his sleep. Qiao Sang: ¡­ So Lubao¡¯s Healing Light only kept him awake for half an hour¡­ She never noticed before, since Lubao never used it when Yabao wanted to train at night. ¡°Gang.¡± Just then, Gangbao called out. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang turned around. ¡°Gang.¡± Gangbao responded seriously. She wanted to learn. Qiao Sang was confused. ¡°Learn what?¡± ¡°Gang.¡± Gangbao pointed at Yabao with her wing. She wanted to learn the move that the bird used to defeat her big brother. Chapter 547: Absolute Vacuum Chapter 547: Absolute VacuumRead at: /?m=1 ----- Air cannon? Qiao Sang''s first thought was this skill. But after thinking about it carefully, she realized that this move wasn¡¯t the key to helping Yabao win, and she hadn¡¯t mentioned this technique in front of Gangbao before. "Are you talking about the move where Yabao practices holding his breath?" Qiao Sang asked tentatively. "Gang gang." Gangbao nodded. As expected... Qiao Sang smiled and explained, "That¡¯s actually a trait called Air Vacuum, not a skill." "Gang gang." Gangbao looked serious. Traits can also be developed later, can''t they? Qiao Sang was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Gangbao to even know about this. It was widely known that pet beasts¡¯ traits were almost always innate. Apart from cases where evolution awakened new traits, it was rare for a pet beast to develop a trait without evolving. But rare didn¡¯t mean impossible. Yabao¡¯s Blaze trait had been awakened later on. Some beast tamers went to great lengths to develop their desired traits in their pet beasts. She once read online about a beast tamer who wanted to awaken the Intimidate trait in his Blaze Hound. Every day, he arranged battles and had it roar at the opponent right at the start, trying to build up its confidence and presence. Over time, even outside of battles, the Blaze Hound would automatically roar at unfamiliar pet beasts on the street. One day, it roared at a passing small snake-type pet beast. The next second, that snake-type pet beast grew in size, reaching about 13 meters long, and with a flick of its tail, it sent the Blaze Hound flying to the next street. When the tamer finally found his Blaze Hound, he discovered it had unexpectedly awakened the Timid trait. The Timid trait might sound weak, but it was actually quite useful. Pet beasts with this trait gained a speed boost when attacked by Dark, Ghost, or Bug-type moves. If they were intimidated by a pet beast with the Intimidate trait, they would also receive a speed boost. This incident even made the top trending list in the Yuhua region. That beast tamer took pride in it, sharing his insights and experience on various platforms, eventually becoming a minor online influencer with tens of thousands of followers. Many netizens tried to replicate his method, but none succeeded in awakening the Timid trait in their own pet beasts. Unlike skills, traits depended entirely on a pet beast¡¯s natural potential. If it had the potential, it could awaken; if not, no amount of money, resources, or targeted training could force it to manifest. Moreover, traits varied greatly. Something as rare as Air Vacuum, which could function like a high-tier skill, was almost impossible to develop through sheer effort. Qiao Sang asked, "Why do you suddenly want to awaken this trait?" "Gang gang." Gangbao flapped her wings and explained. To become stronger, one should aim to surpass the strongest opponent. Right now, Yabao was her goal. "Lu?" From the side, Lubao, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them, looking confused. You''re still awake...? Qiao Sang quickly reassured her, "Gangbao just arrived and hasn¡¯t seen your strength yet." "Gang." Gangbao immediately understood the situation and nodded in agreement. "Lu." Lubao seemed to accept the explanation and closed her eyes again, only to open them the next second, stand up, and start training in the living room. Qiao Sang: ... "Gang..." Gangbao had an expression of I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this either. "It¡¯s fine, Lubao often stays up late to train." Qiao Sang said before pausing and stating bluntly, "The trait you mentioned is Air Vacuum. Honestly, I have no clue how to awaken a trait, but I can ask others. To be frank, this trait mostly appears in high-tier pet beasts, so don¡¯t get your hopes up too much. For now, the priority is getting Iron Defense to the beginner level." "Gang." Gangbao nodded, indicating her understanding. Even so, after finishing her study session, Qiao Sang still went online to look up ways to awaken Air Vacuum. She skimmed through the search results, but all she found were descriptions of Air Vacuum and lists of pet beast species that had a chance of possessing it. There was no discussion on how to awaken it. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. People marveled at pet beasts with rare traits but never thought about what it would be like if their own pet beasts had them. Unlike skills, where seeing a powerful move performed by the same species or a similar attribute might inspire trainers to teach their own pet beasts, traits weren¡¯t something people actively pursued. Then, suddenly, inspiration struck. Was there a skill with the same effect as Air Vacuum? With all the studying she had done lately, her knowledge had expanded significantly. Traits were an important characteristic of pet beasts. Some pet beasts with Drizzle, Snow Warning, or Drought traits could alter the weather upon entering the battlefield. But similar effects could also be achieved with active skills like Rain Prayer, Hail, and Sunny Day. The difference was that traits were passive and cost no energy, whereas skills were active and required energy. Air Vacuum affected the surroundings rather than just the user, so maybe there really was a skill with a similar effect? With that thought, Qiao Sang started searching. Soon, she found a relevant forum post. [Why are pet beasts with Air Vacuum being sold for sky-high prices? It¡¯s just because they resemble the skill Absolute Vacuum. Since that¡¯s the case, why not just teach pet beasts Absolute Vacuum?] Absolute Vacuum... what a straightforward skill name. But she had never even heard of it before... For a moment, Qiao Sang forgot her status as an academic underachiever and kept reading. [Do you think we don¡¯t want to teach our pet beasts Absolute Vacuum? The problem is, they can¡¯t learn it!] [Haha, that¡¯s like asking why we don¡¯t all enroll in Zhouzhou Laina University.] [Did the OP forget that Absolute Vacuum is an super-tier skill?] Super-tier skill... Qiao Sang sighed internally. No wonder she had never heard of it, it was an ultra-tier skill. If it were a high-tier skill, she might still have confidence that Gangbao could learn it, given the precedent set by Yabao and the others. But an super-tier skill¡­ Qiao Sang quietly closed the post and started searching for similar moves to Absolute Vacuum. In a world where god-tier skills were considered mythical, ultra-tier skills were already the highest level. Even in top-tier competitions like the Interstellar Cup, representing the peak of beast-taming talent, the highest-level moves used were ultra-tier skills. For most professional beast tamers, high-tier skills and combo techniques were the standard, while ultra-tier skills were something only the strongest trainers¡¯ pet beasts could learn. Qiao Sang was well aware of this reality. The reason Water Luriana was so highly valued in the Guwu region wasn¡¯t just because it was nearly extinct, it was also because of its innate skill, Healing Light, which was classified as an super-tier move by the Alliance. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After searching for over five minutes, Qiao Sang finally found a similar skill: Air Absorption. Chapter 548: Lose a Few Matches Chapter 548: Lose a Few MatchesRead at: /?m=1 ----- [Air Absorption, a high-level Flying-type skill that can briefly create a vacuum by absorbing surrounding air.] A high-level skill, little Gangbao could learn it¡­ Satisfied, Qiao Sang shut down her computer. Unlike before, she didn¡¯t bother searching for ways to learn the skill on her own. She was now attending Sainan High School, a well-funded institution. If she didn¡¯t understand something, she could just ask the teachers directly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Early the next morning, after settling Yabao and the others, Qiao Sang arrived at the classroom and immediately noticed a neatly folded school uniform on her desk. She turned to look at Tang Yi, white shirt, black vest, black formal jacket, black trousers, he was already dressed in full uniform. "Didn¡¯t sleep well again?" Qiao Sang approached, eyeing the dark circles under Tang Yi¡¯s eyes. "Just thinking about how I was only one match away from that million-dollar bonus, I couldn¡¯t sleep at all." Tang Yi sighed, slumping onto his desk. Qiao Sang chuckled. "What¡¯s there to lose sleep over? Just compete again." Tang Yi stared at her with a resentful expression. "Be honest. If you were also just one match away from the bonus and lost it, would you be able to sleep?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment. "If I hadn¡¯t experienced yesterday¡¯s arena matches and didn¡¯t know how much the bonus was, I think I¡¯d be fine." Hearing this, Tang Yi looked even more aggrieved. At that moment, Yuna leaned over. "Qiao Sang, are you going tonight?" "Of course, why wouldn¡¯t I?" Qiao Sang replied. "Then I¡¯ll go with you." Yuna said with a smile. "I¡¯ll come too." Tang Yi said without hesitation. "But once we get there, I won¡¯t stick around. I need to head to the 11th floor and claim an E-rank Beast Master Arena title." The three chatted for a while before Qiao Sang asked, "Does our grade have teachers who specialize in teaching pet skills?" Yuna looked a bit awkward. "Yes, but hardly anyone goes to them." "Why?" Qiao Sang was curious. "Because it costs points." A voice answered before Yuna could reply. Gene, who sat behind her, leaned forward and whispered, "Low-level skills cost 5 points, mid-level skills 10 points, and high-level skills 50 points. It¡¯s a total rip-off." He then grinned and lowered his voice further. "But if you really want to learn, you can come to me. I can get someone from outside to teach you. Since we¡¯re classmates, I¡¯ll give you a discount, 20% off. As the champion, low-level skills probably don¡¯t interest you, so I¡¯ll charge you 8 points for mid-level skills and 40 for high-level skills." Qiao Sang¡¯s mood instantly soured. "It actually costs points¡­" She had assumed the lessons would be free! "Of course it does." Gene said. "Any teaching resources beyond the standard curriculum require points." Yuna nodded silently in agreement. Qiao Sang remained quiet for a long time. Suddenly, she felt that studying Air Absorption on her own and teaching it to Gangbao wasn¡¯t such a bad idea after all¡­ "Do you need it?" Gene asked when Qiao Sang didn¡¯t respond for a while. "No." Qiao Sang shook her head decisively. Gene looked disappointed but quickly brightened up as he thought of something. "If you change your mind, feel free to find me anytime." Qiao Sang thought, That¡¯s never happening. I barely have enough points for myself. But now that she thought about it, maybe she should start figuring out how to earn more points¡­ With that in mind, Qiao Sang sincerely said, "I will. And if you ever need anything, like if you get sick, just come to me anytime." Gene: ??? --- At 7:30 PM, Qiao Sang arrived at the Hekin Tower with Tang Yi and Yuna, riding on Yabao. Tang Yi went to the 11th floor while she and Yuna headed for the 21st. As soon as they entered, Qiao Sang noticed many people sneaking glances at her, reminiscent of the attention she received during the National Campus Beast Mastering League. After only a few steps, a staff member quickly approached them. Yuna handed over her VIP card. The staff member paused for a moment before carefully accepting it. Then, with an apologetic smile, he said, "Miss, please wait a moment." He called over another staff member. "Take this lady to a private room." Then, he turned to Qiao Sang with a respectful demeanor. "Miss Qiao Sang, we have prepared a private lounge just for you. Please follow me." So this was what they meant by fame from a single battle¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. "Alright." Yuna: ??? Wait, weren¡¯t we here together?! --- That night¡¯s matches went smoothly. Qiao Sang won every round with ease. Even in the final match for the title of Arena Champion, no particularly troublesome opponents showed up. As she left the arena, the crowd erupted in cheers. Some even held out pens, asking for her autograph. Caught off guard, Qiao Sang hesitated. Had she really become this famous after just two days? As she was surrounded by enthusiastic fans, debating whether to sign autographs, a business card was suddenly handed to her. She looked up and saw a blond man. "Miss Qiao Sang, I¡¯m an agent from ChuangSuo Company. Would you be interested in working with us? I¡­" Before he could finish, a middle-aged man pushed him aside and handed over his own business card with a polite smile. "Miss Qiao Sang, I¡¯m an agent from Weidao Company¡­" "You idiot! Do you not understand first come, first served?! I wasn¡¯t finished talking!" The blond man shouted, shoving the middle-aged man angrily. The middle-aged man remained calm, still smiling at Qiao Sang. "This man seems to have a bad temper. If you work with him, your experience likely won¡¯t be smooth." Hearing this, the blond man¡¯s face darkened. "That¡¯s it! I¡¯m fighting you!" Without another word, he threw a punch. The two quickly began wrestling each other. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Seriously? You guys go from talking to brawling just like that? Fortunately, the staff intervened swiftly and escorted both men out. At that moment, Jude approached with a smile. "Miss Qiao Sang, may we talk?" --- In a private lounge. Yuna sat on the sofa, tapping away on her phone in a group chat: [As expected of a champion. Only her second day here, and the official Pet Beast Arena already wants to recruit her.] Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was engaged in conversation. Jude explained, "For every match you participate in, we¡¯ll add an extra 10% to the betting pool distribution. You only need to help with promotions and use sponsor-provided items and glyphs during matches." "Of course, we¡¯ll split the sponsorship payments 80-20, you get the larger share." "You can even choose what kind of items and glyphs your pet beasts use, and we¡¯ll find the right sponsors for you." "You¡¯ll always have access to a private lounge, with no interruptions." "If you have any additional needs, just let us know." "When it comes to partnership sincerity, no one is more committed than the official Pet Beast Arena." Qiao Sang pondered for a few seconds before asking, "With such generous terms, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re only asking me to use some items and glyphs, right?" Jude smiled. "You¡¯re sharp. Actually, there¡¯s one more thing, we¡¯ll need you to enter the arena at crucial moments and win matches for us. And¡­" He paused and glanced at Yuna. "I¡¯ll step outside to make a call." Yuna said tactfully. She got up, walked out, and considerately closed the door behind her. Jude turned back to Qiao Sang and continued, "And occasionally, we¡¯ll need you to lose a few matches." Chapter 549: Im Not That Kind Of Person Chapter 549: I''m Not That Kind Of PersonRead at: /?m=1 ----- So it was about rigging matches. No wonder the treatment was so generous¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. She wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. In places where large sums of money were involved, it was almost impossible for there to be no behind-the-scenes manipulation. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t agree to this.¡± Qiao Sang said calmly. ¡°Why?¡± Jude looked baffled. From his perspective, this was an offer that no one could refuse. Qiao Sang almost rolled her eyes. Why do you think? Yabao was nestled in her arms, Little Treasure was hiding nearby, and Gangbao had been by her side all night to get used to battles. If she agreed to throw matches in front of her own pet beasts, wouldn¡¯t that completely ruin the heroic image she had in their eyes? ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± Qiao Sang said righteously. Jude hesitated. A child this young hadn¡¯t stepped into society yet, so she was probably still an idealist. Both of her pet beasts, one Fire and Psychic-type, the other Ghost and Psychic-type, were rare on any planet. If she was able to acquire them, then her family definitely wasn¡¯t lacking in wealth¡­ Jude came to a conclusion and added: ¡°When I say to lose a few matches, I don¡¯t mean throwing the whole fight. Just drop a round or two so that the score is occasionally 3:1 or 3:2.¡± None of that mattered, Yabao and the others were still listening! Qiao Sang repeated, ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± Jude was speechless. This kid was strong, sure, but she was also incredibly stubborn. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Qiao Sang said, standing up. Just as she was about to walk out the door with Yabao in her arms, Jude suddenly called out loudly: ¡°Do you even know how much one percent of the daily revenue share is, not counting endorsements?¡± Yesterday, two percent of the revenue share was 3.23 million¡­ meaning one percent was¡­ Qiao Sang froze, took a deep breath, and set Yabao down on the floor. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked up at her with a puzzled expression. Gangbao flapped her wings, looking unsurprised. That¡¯s more like it¡­ Jude thought, seeing her stop in her tracks. He assumed she had come to her senses and was just about to say, ¡°You¡¯ve made the right choice.¡± But before he could speak, Qiao Sang formed a seal with her hands and summoned another pet beast, one Jude had never seen before. Jude was stunned. What was she trying to do? ¡°Lubao, Healing Soundwave.¡± Qiao Sang commanded. Lubao didn¡¯t ask any questions and immediately started singing: ¡°Lu~ Lu Lu~ Lululu~¡± An invisible soundwave rippled through the room. Once Lubao finished her song, Qiao Sang waved her hand, recalling Lubao into her Beast Tamer Codex. Then, she picked Yabao up again and sincerely said: ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± With that, she pushed the door open and left. Jude remained in the room, staring blankly. ¡­Did I forget to have her sign a confidentiality agreement? --- The night sky was clear, bathed in soft moonlight. Yabao walked alongside a bird-like pet beast with a white feathered crest. ¡°You really didn¡¯t accept?¡± Yuna, sitting on the bird-like pet beast¡¯s back, asked curiously. ¡°No¡­¡± Qiao Sang lay on Yabao¡¯s back, looking troubled. ¡°Why not?¡± Yuna pressed. I¡¯d like to know that too¡­ Qiao Sang stared at the sky for a few seconds before answering, ¡°Maybe because I don¡¯t need the money right now.¡± Suddenly, a voice called out from afar, growing closer. ¡°Miss Qiao Sang! Wait for me!¡± Qiao Sang sat up and saw a medium-sized blue bird-like pet beast flying rapidly toward them. On its back was none other than Jude, who had approached her earlier. Qiao Sang frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected him to still be pestering her after everything she had said. If he raised the offer, maybe two or even three percent revenue share, could she still hold her ground? She felt both excited and worried. Excited that money was chasing after her, but worried that she might not be able to maintain her dignified image in front of Yabao and the others under such tempting conditions. At Qiao Sang¡¯s signal, Yabao slowed down. Soon, Jude caught up. ¡°Miss Qiao Sang! There¡¯s something I forgot to mention!¡± Jude said urgently. ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± To avoid being tempted, Qiao Sang immediately cut him off righteously. ¡°No matter what you say, I won¡¯t agree.¡± Jude was dumbfounded. But if she didn¡¯t agree to sign a confidentiality agreement, that would be a huge problem! If word got out that the pet beast arena was riggedeven if people didn¡¯t believe it, it would still cause trouble. Especially since she had already defeated Frida, and many people knew her name. Normally, if someone refused to collaborate with the officials, they would have to sign a confidentiality agreement before leaving the Hekin Tower, preventing them from revealing any business details. But just now, under the effects of the Healing Soundwave, his mind had been fuzzy. By the time he realized it, she had already left the building! If Qiao Sang didn¡¯t sign the confidentiality agreement today, how was he supposed to explain himself to his superiors? Should he resort to¡­ extreme measures? Jude hesitated. Qiao Sang was clearly not an ordinary girl. He really didn¡¯t want to use force unless absolutely necessary. Then, an idea struck him. He hadn¡¯t actually mentioned the confidentiality agreement yet¡­ Jude¡¯s expression turned complicated as he tentatively asked, ¡°Are you really saying that no matter what, you won¡¯t sign a confidentiality agreement?¡± Confidentiality agreement? Qiao Sang was taken aback. Wait, what? So he wasn¡¯t trying to convince me to collaborate¡­? This is so embarrassing. I completely misinterpreted the situation! Qiao Sang fell silent for two seconds before replying, ¡°If you insist, I suppose we can discuss it.¡± Hearing this, Jude let out a sigh of relief and said seriously, ¡°As long as your conditions aren¡¯t excessive, I can agree.¡± Before Qiao Sang could respond, he caught a glimpse of Yuna from the corner of his eye. Jude¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°You haven¡¯t told your friend about our conversation, have you?¡± He asked. Yuna: ¡­ Wow, you just now noticed me? Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Jude exhaled in relief again. ¡°Alright. Tell me your conditions.¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment before saying, ¡°I want a teaching plan for Air Absorption.¡± --- S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sainan High School, Dormitory Area 1, Room 502 That was fast¡­ Qiao Sang reviewed the document Jude had sent her. [Air Absorption, an advanced Flying-type skill, enhances a pet beast¡¯s respiratory organs with energy to temporarily absorb all surrounding air, creating a vacuum.] Notes: 1. Before practicing, first master internal breath suspension. Once mastered, proceed to concentrating energy in the respiratory organs. 2. Internal breath suspension refers to filling the lungs with air and holding it without exhaling. 3. The size of a pet beast¡¯s respiratory organs fundamentally determines the amount of air it can absorb. Energy compression can influence this, but not significantly. 4. Pet beasts with small respiratory organs are not recommended to waste time on this skill. 5. Pet beasts with small bodies are also not recommended Chapter 550: Friendly Match Chapter 550: Friendly MatchRead at: /?m=1 ----- The respiratory organs are small, and the body size is small¡­ Qiao Sang silently glanced at Gangbao beside her, who was currently feeding spicy peppers to Chan Chan Stone, and thought to herself: This doesn''t fit at all. "Gang gang?" Gangbao noticed her Beast Master''s gaze and turned her head with a puzzled expression. "It''s like this." Qiao Sang decided to be honest. "Didn''t you want to activate the ''Air Vacuum'' trait? I thought about it and felt that activating a trait might be difficult, but learning a skill should be easier. So, I found a skill similar to ''Air Vacuum'' which is ''Air Absorption''." "But just now, I checked some training plans for ''Air Absorption,'' and they suggest that pets with small respiratory organs and small body sizes shouldn''t learn this skill. What do you think?" If it were Yabao, Qiao Sang might have made the decision for him outright. But Gangbao was exceptionally intelligent, she was the one who first proposed activating the ''Air Vacuum'' trait. So, she wanted to hear her opinion. "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao was stunned. She had thought that her Beast Master had long forgotten about this, but she was still trying to find a way¡­ Last night, she had been there the entire time, so she naturally knew what kind of agreement she had signed to exchange for the ''Air Absorption'' training plan. She had imagined many things, but she never thought she had done it for her sake¡­ Qiao Sang continued speaking on her own. "Actually, I think recommendations are just recommendations. In my opinion, even though your respiratory organs and body size are small right now, that won¡¯t be a problem after you evolve." "The problem is that even if you learn this skill now, it won¡¯t be very useful in battle." "''Air Absorption'' works better with larger respiratory organs, the more air you inhale, the wider the vacuum range. Since you''re small, even if you learn it, the air you absorb will be limited, and it likely won¡¯t cause much suffocation to opponents." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course, once you evolve, this skill will definitely be very useful." "So, it''s up to you whether to learn it now or wait until after you evolve." After finishing, Qiao Sang looked at Gangbao, waiting for her answer. "Gang Gang." Gangbao pondered for a moment before nodding seriously. She wanted to learn now. "Alright, we¡¯ll start training tomorrow." Qiao Sang agreed immediately. "Gang." Gangbao turned back and continued feeding spicy peppers to Chan Chan Stone. On the surface, nothing seemed different, but if one looked closely, they would notice that her actions were a bit livelier than before. --- The next morning, at dawn. Under Lubao''s Healing Light, Qiao Sang''s dark circles disappeared. After a quick wash and putting on her new school uniform, she grabbed a piece of bread and took Yabao and the others to the outdoor training field. "You need to train ''Internal Suspended Breath'' first, meaning you inhale but don''t exhale." Qiao Sang instructed Gangbao. "Let''s try it out first." "Gang." Gangbao nodded, then handed the Chan Chan Stone in her claws to Little Treasure and called out, asking for help watching over it. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure happily agreed. "Chan Chan!" The Chan Chan Stone, whose mouth still looked like a sausage from last night, clung tightly to Little Treasure''s arm the moment it was handed over, wailing loudly as if it had found its savior. Compared to the others, who only made it watch tragic dramas, Little Treasure was truly the kindest beast in the world! "Xun Xun!" "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure was momentarily stunned, then pointed at the crystalline tears falling from the Chan Chan Stone¡¯s face and called out to Yabao. Quick, collect them! These are all Old Four¡¯s food! "Yap." Yabao¡¯s eyes glowed blue as he telekinetically gathered the fallen crystals into a bowl that Little Treasure had retrieved from his ring earlier. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang had begun the lesson. "Slowly inhale¡­" Qiao Sang deliberately slowed down her speech. Gangbao obeyed, inhaling slowly. "When you can''t inhale any more, stop and hold it in. Don¡¯t exhale, just maintain the suction force." Qiao Sang instructed. Gangbao did as told. Once she was done, she blinked, signaling that she was ready. "Not bad." Qiao Sang praised. "Now, inhale again¡­" Gangbao inhaled once more. "That''s right, just like that." Qiao Sang smiled. "This is ''Internal Suspended Breath.'' You keep inhaling, pausing, inhaling, pausing, this way, you can hold the breath inside, building up more suction power." She had only learned all this from the files last night. Gangbao was incredibly smart. She understood everything in one go, no need for a second explanation. After two rounds of practice, Qiao Sang checked her phone and turned to Little Treasure. "We have to go." As soon as she spoke, before Little Treasure could react, the Chan Chan Stone hanging onto his arm started wailing again, crying "Chan Chan! Chan Chan!" as if facing a life-or-death farewell. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Since when did these two get so close? Still, they had to part ways, being late to class wasn¡¯t an option. After dropping off Little Treasure at his class, Qiao Sang headed to her own. The moment she entered, she noticed Tang Yi¡¯s prominent dark circles. "What¡¯s up? Stuck at the last match again?" Qiao Sang asked. She had no idea how the E-rank Beast Master tournament was scheduled, but yesterday, she had already finished competing, while Tang Yi hadn¡¯t even gotten his turn. To ensure Yabao got enough sleep, she had left early. "No." Tang Yi yawned. "I won the Defender King title yesterday, but by the time I finished, it was already past midnight. I¡¯m just sleep-deprived." Saying that, he yawned again. Qiao Sang thought, Good thing I have Lubao¡­ At that moment, their homeroom teacher, Mu Deli, entered the classroom and stood at the podium. "Everyone, put down your textbooks for a moment, I have an announcement." The entire class immediately focused their attention. Mu Deli smiled. "In a few days, our school will be participating in a 2vs2 team battle friendly match in 1st District. Is anyone interested in signing up?" 2vs2 team battle? Qiao Sang pondered. It could mean two Beast Masters teaming up for a doubles match, or a single Beast Master using two beasts in a tactical formation to battle an opponent''s two beasts. Large tournaments using both formats weren¡¯t uncommon. She wasn¡¯t sure which one the teacher meant. Nobody raised their hands, most students didn¡¯t seem too interested. "This friendly match includes top schools from the first three districts. It¡¯s a rare opportunity to exchange skills. Anyone willing to participate?" Mu Deli scanned the room. Hearing this, a few students hesitantly raised their hands, about four or five of them. The exact number was uncertain because the fifth student kept raising and lowering their hand, looking conflicted. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t raise her hand. Her schedule was already packed, where would she find time for a so-called friendly match? Mu Deli looked around, dissatisfied. She smiled and added, "If anyone places in the top three, they¡¯ll receive point rewards, third place gets 20 points, second place gets 50, and first place gets 100 points." As soon as she finished speaking, every single student, including Qiao Sang, raised their hands in unison, decisively. Chapter 551: Do You Know Team Battles? Chapter 551: Do You Know Team Battles?Read at: /?m=1 ----- Mu Deli nodded in satisfaction before continuing: ¡°This friendship match is mainly for exchange, but showcasing our true strength is equally important. I hope that the selected students have experience in 2v2 team battles. Although we don¡¯t require you to have a core tactical system like professional beast tamers, you should at least be capable of basic team coordination.¡± Upon hearing this, nearly two-thirds of the students silently put their hands down. Mu Deli glanced at the remaining students who still had their hands raised. Finally, her gaze landed on a black-haired girl with a ponytail. ¡°Qiao Sang, have you ever participated in a 2v2 team battle before?¡± How could I have¡­? Qiao Sang remained expressionless. ¡°Yes.¡± Mu Deli immediately smiled. ¡°Then, Qiao Sang will represent our school in this friendship match.¡± A champion from Dragon Nation''s senior high school league on Blue Star, there was no one in the entire school stronger than her. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and she looked at the rest of the class. ¡°Does anyone have any objections?¡± The class unanimously shook their heads. For someone who had reached 39% brain development at just fifteen years old, what was there to object to? Mu Deli continued, ¡°There is still one more spot¡­¡± She glanced around at the students who still had their hands raised. ¡°I will remember the names of those who want to participate. After class, gather at the field for 2v2 matches. The winner will earn the second spot to represent our school in the friendship match at District One.¡± Strength ruled all, and no one in the class objected. As soon as the homeroom teacher left, Qiao Sang turned to Tang Yi and asked, ¡°Did you raise your hand just now?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Tang Yi sighed. ¡°But I put it down afterward.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Tang Yi replied, ¡°The teacher said the participants should have experience in 2v2 team battles. I have no such experience.¡± Qiao Sang gave him a surprised look. Honest guy¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have experience in team battles.¡± Tang Yi said admiringly. ¡°How do you even manage your time? The national school beast-taming league alone took almost an entire semester, and yet you still had time for team battles?¡± ??¦­?????¨¨???? Qiao Sang was silent for a moment. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have that experience either.¡± Tang Yi¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Then earlier-?!¡± Qiao Sang admitted honestly, ¡°I want the points.¡± Tang Yi instantly understood. Right! They were from Blue Star, no one here would know whether they had 2v2 experience or not! The goal of participating in the friendship match was to earn points. As long as they won in the end, that was all that mattered! --- After school in the afternoon, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t go to Hekin Tower for the pet battle arena like she had the past two days. In two days, she would be heading to 1st District. The 2v2 team battle the teacher mentioned meant that a beast tamer would send out two pets at the same time to battle against two opposing pets. She had never fought this way before, so she needed some practice, especially since she was in it for the points. That said, team battle skills were also crucial for becoming a professional beast tamer. Even if it wasn¡¯t for the points, she would have to work on this sooner or later. Professional beast tamers usually had multiple pets and could create core tactical systems using two or more of them to achieve a synergy effect where one plus one was greater than two. Building a team battle system was essential to becoming a professional beast tamer. Starting from the B-rank beast tamer certification exam, the format was no longer simple 1v1 battles. The strength of a single pet no longer determined the depth of a professional beast tamer¡¯s skill. Team battles were the real focus moving forward. To be fair, expecting high schoolers to build full-fledged team battle systems in a 2v2 setting was a bit premature. Just having their two pets cooperate decently was already an achievement. That was why Mu Deli didn¡¯t ask Qiao Sang about her team battle strategy before making the final decision. Qia Sang sat in front of her computer, browsing common team battle tactics while thinking: ¡°Currently, my pets are Yabao, Little Treasure, Lubao, and Gangbao¡­ I¡¯ll leave Gangbao out for now since she¡¯s still a low-level pet. Since I¡¯m aiming for points, I need to prioritize winning. A strong combination would be best.¡± ¡°Yabao and Little Treasure seem like a good match, Little Treasure focuses on control while Yabao is the main attacker.¡± ¡°The Shadow Control ability paired with any of Yabao''s attack skills could yield excellent results¡­¡± ¡°Yabao and Lubao also make a good combo. Lubao¡¯s Healing Light can keep Yabao in peak condition at all times, it¡¯s practically an infinite regeneration strategy. But if Lubao fights alongside Yabao, she won¡¯t agree to just being a healer¡­¡± ¡°The most common weather-based strategy online would rely on Lubao. She can summon rain and has the Swift Swimmer traiy, meaning she doesn¡¯t need a specific teammate to synergize with.¡± ¡°Little Treasure and Lubao could also work well together. Little Treasure''s Spatial Shift could relocate opponents, allowing Lubao to hit them with Ice Wind or other attacks easily.¡± ¡°Actually, Little Treasure''s Spatial Shift works with almost anyone. As long as he moves the opponent at the right moment, his partner would get an optimal attack opportunity. This could be considered a spatial strategy¡­¡± ¡°On top of that, Little Treasure has the Extrasensory Perception trait, which allows him to read his partner¡¯s attacks and avoid getting hit.¡± ¡°That trait is perfect for double battles. In the early stages of team battles, many pets end up accidentally injuring their teammates instead of the enemy. Sometimes, they lose not because of the opponent but because of friendly fire¡­¡± As she was deep in thought, Lubao suddenly let out a cry. Next to her, Yabao¡¯s voice followed. Qiao Sang turned her head to see Yabao and Lubao locked in a staring contest, both in a confrontational stance. Beside them, Gangbao had a headache-ridden expression. What¡¯s going on? Weren¡¯t they already on good terms? Are they fighting again? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned before she was about to ask. ¡°Yap?¡± Before she could speak, Yabao turned his head and asked seriously: Who was stronger, him or Lubao? ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao turned her head just as seriously and stared at Qiao Sang, waiting for an answer. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She suddenly thought of something and slowly looked toward Gangbao. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could this be because of what Gangbao said earlier, about aiming to surpass the strongest? Did that trigger an internal competition? ¡°¡­Gang?¡± Gangbao stiffened under Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze. Then, as if nothing had happened, she quickly flew to the side and obediently began practicing her Internal Suspension Breathing technique. Knew it. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched as she faced Yabao and Lubao¡¯s expectant gazes and slowly said: ¡°Do you guys¡­ know what a team battle is?¡± Chapter 552: 1st District Chapter 552: 1st DistrictRead at: /?m=1 ----- "Yap yap!" Yabao nodded, indicating he understood. All those battles he had watched were not in vain. Qiao Sang smiled and said, "In two days, there will be a team battle. I want you two to participate." Before Yabao and Lubao could react, Qiao Sang continued, "Only those who excel in both individual strength and teamwork can be called truly strong. I hope you two can cooperate during the team battle. Once it''s over, I''ll be able to tell which of you is stronger." "Yap!" Yabao let out an eager cry, full of fighting spirit. "Lu." Lubao, despite her usually cold expression, also had determination in her eyes. Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. For a team battle to work, the participants needed a good relationship. If Yabao and Lubao could grow closer through cooperation over the next two days, then with Yabao''s memory, he would surely forget about their rivalry. Thinking back, these two had always talked about dueling each other during the National Campus Beast Mastering League, but in the end, they forgot about it. They only sparred occasionally during training, and even then, they held back. "Gang gang..." Gangbao nearby watched her new beast-tamer with admiration. So things could be solved like this... After finalizing the team battle lineup, Qiao Sang immediately took Yabao and the others to the outdoor training field. Yabao and Lubao had never fought in a team before, so they needed to practice coordination. The homeroom teacher''s requirement was simply for the two beasts to cooperate. There was no need for a core tactical system. If that was the case... Qiao Sang hesitantly said, "Yabao will be the main attacker, and Lubao will stay in the back and use Healing Light on Yabao whenever needed-" "Lu..." Before she could finish, a chilling aura emanated from Lubao. Qiao Sang quickly changed course. "Of course, that¡¯s impossible. Lubao must also participate in the attack!" The cold aura disappeared. Qiao Sang continued, "If Lubao uses Healing Light, the opponent will likely focus their attacks on her. Yabao, you need to be extra vigilant. You are a team, and protecting your partner is important." "Yap!" Yabao nodded seriously, understanding the gravity of the task. "Of course, Lubao, you must also protect yourself." Qiao Sang added. "Once Healing Light is cast, you¡¯ll become the primary target, and the pressure will be immense." "Lu." Lubao nodded in understanding. "Gang gang..." Gangbao listened attentively, his admiration for Qiao Sang growing. She was clever! She framed it as if Lubao was too powerful and would naturally draw attacks, emphasizing the importance of protecting teammates. But the hidden premise was that Lubao needed to cast Healing Light in the first place. ??????S? From the look of things, Lubao was already convinced to heal Yabao whenever necessary. Qiao Sang, unaware of the little falcon¡¯s thoughts, continued explaining the strategy. "Yabao, you¡¯ll charge forward while Lubao monitors the battlefield. If any attacks go unnoticed by Yabao, Lubao will block them. Avoid using Rain Prayer since most of Yabao¡¯s moves are fire-based, which would weaken them." "Alternatively, Lubao can use a water-type move immediately and merge into the water, sneaking closer to the opponent. This will divide their attention, allowing Yabao to take advantage and focus on one target first." "If the opponents are strong, our core strategy will revolve around Lubao¡¯s Healing Light. Every time someone gets injured, they¡¯ll be healed immediately. If we do this several times, the opponents will lose their composure." "Lu." Lubao gave an expression of determination, signaling agreement. Finally, you agree! Qiao Sang felt relieved but kept her expression neutral. "There''s also another crucial aspect of team battles." She continued. "You might accidentally use your moves at the same time, interfering with each other instead of hitting the opponent." "That¡¯s why coordination is key." "But I have a solution that doesn¡¯t require perfect synchronization." She turned to Yabao. "Yap!" Yabao perked up, knowing this solution involved him. Qiao Sang smiled. "People say fire and water don¡¯t mix, but when they momentarily merge, they can create a powerful explosion. If Lubao¡¯s water-type move collides with your fire-type move before hitting the enemy, use telekinesis to guide the fusion and direct the explosion at the target." "Likewise, if your fire move reaches Lubao¡¯s water attack first, you should use telekinesis to adjust its path immediately." "Yap!" Yabao nodded seriously, realizing how critical his role was. "Lu." Lubao chimed in, signaling that such coordination wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Finally! Qiao Sang pretended to hesitate. "Since you¡¯re confident, you¡¯ll need to develop a sense of trust. In battle, you won¡¯t always have my commands. A glance should be enough for you to understand each other¡¯s intent." "Lu!" Lubao¡¯s eyes shone with determination. "Yap!" Yabao responded energetically, signaling agreement. "Alright, let¡¯s start training." Qiao Sang said, turning toward the others. "Little Treasure." "Xun~" Little Treasure appeared. "Gangbao." She called out to the Steel Falcon. "Gang gang." Gangbao looked surprised but flapped her wings eagerly. She hadn¡¯t expected to be included. "You¡¯ll form two teams." Qiao Sang explained. "Yabao and Lubao on one side, Little Treasure and Gangbao on the other." "Xun xun?!" Little Treasure immediately backed away, looking horrified. How was he supposed to team up with the smallest one against Yabao and Lubao? Wasn¡¯t this just a beating waiting to happen?! "Gang Gang!" Gangbao, on the other hand, seemed eager. To her, fighting stronger opponents was the best way to improve. Besides, Lubao could heal them, so there was no real risk. Qiao Sang reassured them, "I¡¯m not asking you to fight just yet. This is a coordination exercise. I won¡¯t be giving any commands. Yabao and Lubao, you need to communicate on your own and decide when to attack together or separately." "Yabao, use Ember with reduced power. Lubao, use Water Gun, also weakened." "Little Treasure, just focus on dodging with Teleport. Gangbao, try to evade as well. If you can¡¯t, use Iron Defense. Little Treasure, if you think Gangbao is in danger, use Spatial Shift to move her away or block the attack." "Xun xun..." Little Treasure patted his chest in relief. "Gang..." Gangbao, however, looked disappointed. Qiao Sang then added, "Once Yabao and Lubao develop enough coordination, we¡¯ll move to real team battle training." She turned to Yabao and Lubao. "In the real battle, don¡¯t hold back against Little Treasure. But when attacking Gangbao, lower your power." "Yap!" "Lu." Both responded affirmatively. Little Treasure: !!! His eyes widened in horror. Gangbao, on the other hand, flapped her wings happily. As training began, Qiao Sang watched with satisfaction. Little Treasure had always relied on his unpredictable movements in solo fights, but now, with a teammate, he had to consider another''s safety. This would improve his reaction time and awareness. Meanwhile, Gangbao, training against much stronger opponents, would grow tougher and more resilient. After all, one of the reasons she had chosen her as a contracted beast was her defensive capabilities. A tank couldn¡¯t be raised as a glass cannon. A few injuries would only make it stronger. --- Meanwhile, at Hekin Tower, 21st floor. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a lavish private room, a man in a shirt and vest sat with his legs crossed, looking impatient. "You said that kid, Qiao Sang, was coming. Where is she?" Jude forced a smile. "She should be here soon. She came at this time the past few days. Maybe something delayed her today." The man checked his watch. "I¡¯ll wait thirty more minutes." Thirty minutes later. "Is she here?" Jude called to check, then shook his head. The man frowned. "Final thirty minutes." When time was up, he asked again. Still no sign of Qiao Sang. The man lost his patience and stood to leave. Jude tried to stop him. "Mr. Byron, you signed an agreement with us!" "That agreement didn¡¯t say I had to sit here waiting!" Byron snapped. "Are you sure that kid will even show up?" Jude assured him, "She¡¯s had a taste of victory. She¡¯ll definitely return." Byron scoffed. "Call me when she does." And with that, he stormed out. Jude rubbed his temples in frustration. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t signed a contract, and so far, her matches always ended in 3-0 victories. If everyone bet on that score line, it¡¯d be a problem for the organizers. He could block her from competing, but her popularity brought in too much money. So, he had arranged for stronger challengers to disrupt her winning streak. But she hadn¡¯t even shown up today. Still, just because she missed today didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t come tomorrow. To be safe, he needed to keep inviting top-ranked opponents¡­ --- Two days later, early morning. After breakfast and washing up, Qiao Sang packed her luggage into Little Treasure''s ring and carried Yabao as she walked out of the dormitory. Gangbao followed beside her, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t store her in the Beast Taming Codex. The internal breath-holding training could be done anywhere, and keeping Gangbao outside made it convenient for continuous training. The meeting time was nine in the morning. At the school gate, a massive avian pet beast was already waiting. On its back sat five people, two men and two women, all wearing Sainan High School uniforms, along with a young Caucasian man with curly brown hair. As they saw Qiao Sang approaching, their gazes carried scrutiny and curiosity, and they whispered among themselves. The news that the champion from Dragon Nation had reached 39% brain development at the age of 15 had spread throughout the school. Honestly, even in history books, they had never seen such a genius with such an exaggerated level of brain development at this age. "Qiao Sang, over here." Hulis waved and greeted her. Hulis was the second representative from Class 6 of the senior year. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t been present during the selection process but had heard that his team battle skills were quite impressive. Qiao Sang climbed onto the large avian pet beast. The young Caucasian turned his head, saw that everyone had arrived, and patted the bird¡¯s back. The pet beast flapped its wings, stirring up dust as it soared into the sky. At the same time, a blue glow spread out, enveloping the enormous avian pet beast. Within the glowing barrier, everyone sat steadily on its back. "We¡¯ll be staying in 1st District for five days. Your homeroom teachers should have already explained this friendly match to you." The young man glanced briefly at Qiao Sang and Yabao before continuing, "Top schools from 1st District to 3rd District will be attending, and there will be many strong competitors. This is primarily an exchange event, just do your best. Winning or losing isn¡¯t the most important thing." How could winning not be important? I came here to win¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. At that moment, a red-haired girl asked, "Teacher, since this is mainly about the exchange, does that mean we¡¯ll still get points even if we don¡¯t place in the top three?" The young man glanced at her. "What do you think?" Everyone instantly understood. Exchange? Not important. Winning? That¡¯s the real priority. --- In the 10 districts, aerial transport mainly consisted of airships. Seeing the clearly different class of airship before her, Qiao Sang finally realized the stark difference between ordinary high schools and elite private schools. She had assumed that a prestigious school might splurge on first-class seats or something. She hadn¡¯t expected them to outright own a private airship¡­ Onboard, the young man took the co-pilot¡¯s seat. Seeing that the teacher was busy, the red-haired girl became more animated and looked toward Qiao Sang. "Let¡¯s introduce ourselves! I¡¯m Gerta from Class 1, Senior Year." Then she urged the others, "Come on, let¡¯s all introduce ourselves. We already know each other, but Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t know us yet." Sainan High School only had about a dozen students per class, so most students ran in the same social circles, even if they weren¡¯t in the same class. Hulis was the first to respond with a chuckle. "No need for me to introduce myself, I¡¯m in the same class as Qiao Sang." Next was a blond boy with a few freckles on his cheeks. "I¡¯m Pelleg, also from Class 1." The last was a shy black girl who smiled timidly. "I¡¯m Mabel, from Class 3." So, two spots went to the top classes, and only one was selected from an ordinary class¡­ Qiao Sang immediately said, "I¡¯m Qiao Sang, from Class 6." Gerta covered her mouth and laughed. "We all know that already." She then seemed to think of something and asked, "Want to add each other as friends?" "Sure." Qiao Sang took out her phone. The others, though not very talkative, also pulled out their phones. Hulis twitched at the corner of his mouth. He had been in the same class as Qiao Sang for so long, yet they hadn¡¯t even added each other as friends before this¡­ With that thought, he silently took out his phone as well. After adding everyone, Gerta¡¯s eyes lit up as she asked, "Qiao Sang, since you¡¯re from Blue Star, you probably don¡¯t care much about points, right?" At those words, everyone¡¯s eyes immediately turned toward her. Their expressions were like wolves spotting prey. Wait¡­ are they after my points? Qiao Sang became instantly alert but remained expressionless. "Points are great. They can be exchanged for things." Hearing that, Gerta saw an opportunity and smiled. "If there¡¯s something you want, you can trade with me. I¡¯ll offer you a much better deal than the school¡¯s point exchange system." Pelleg nodded seriously. "You can trade with me, too." "What are you two thinking?" Hulis frowned. "If she¡¯s trading with anyone, it should be me, we¡¯re classmates." Oh, right. I almost forgot. Sainan students need points mainly to secure their status within their families. Their priority isn¡¯t resources but points. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. "Do you guys have Dream Enlightenment Stones?" Silence. A few seconds later, Hulis was the first to speak. "You want a Dream Enlightenment Stone?" Qiao Sang nodded repeatedly. Hulis gave her a complicated look. "That costs 1,000 points to redeem." I know¡­ Qiao Sang grinned. "But didn¡¯t you all say you¡¯d offer me a discount if there was something I wanted?" Everyone: ¡­ That¡¯s only if we actually have it! For the rest of the trip, everyone fell silent, and Gerta was no longer as lively. --- By the time they arrived in 1st District, it was already the next morning. After disembarking, the young man formed hand seals with both hands, summoning the large avian pet beast from before, which soon materialized in a glowing orange star array. Then, he summoned another pet, a three-meter-tall creature with a predominantly pink body and a shell on its back. The pet seemed to know its purpose immediately. "Koko." It called out, and the shell on its back slowly opened, revealing a few miscellaneous items and a large Sainan High School emblem. The avian pet extended a wing, took out the emblem, turned it over, and spit on it before pressing it against its other wing, where it stuck firmly. Did¡­ did it just use saliva as glue? Qiao Sang silently roasted in her mind. "Yap!" Yabao, nestled in her arms, saw this and seemed to get an idea. He called out to the side. "Xun Xun~" The next moment, Little Treasure appeared, took off his ring, rummaged through it, and pulled out a familiar pair of dark green triangular sunglasses, handing them to Yabao. "Yap!" Yabao took them and wore them with satisfaction. Little Treasure, mission accomplished, promptly vanished. Qiao Sang was already used to this, but for Gerta and the others, it was their first time seeing such a scene. They curiously examined Yabao and glanced around, seemingly searching for Little Treasure. "You contracted a ghost-type pet beast?" Gerta asked. "Mm." Qiao Sang nodded. Gerta inconspicuously glanced at the always-quiet Gangbao. As expected of someone who reached 39% brain development at 15, she contracted nothing but difficult-to-handle pet beasts. At that moment, the shyest of them, Mabel, stepped forward. She gazed at Yabao and timidly asked, "Can I pet it?" "Yap!" Yabao puffed out his chest proudly. Even on a different planet, his charm remained undiminished. But why didn¡¯t anyone want to pet him earlier on the airship¡­? Qiao Sang was about to agree, but suddenly, she thought of something and turned to Mabel. "Sure, but it costs one point per pet." Gerta, about to say she wanted a turn too, instantly froze. What?! A pet costs one point?! Mabel hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth. "Okay!" Wait, I was just joking, but you¡¯re actually paying?! Qiao Sang excitedly placed Yabao in front of her. "Go ahead!" Yabao: ¡­ "Yap¡­" Why does this feel so different this time¡­ After Mabel finished petting Yabao and transferred one point via the school website, Qiao Sang put a hand on her shoulder, her expression filled with anticipation. "I have two other pets that don¡¯t exist on this planet. Want to pet them too?" Mabel¡¯s eyes lit up at first, then she hesitated, before finally gritting her teeth. "I do!" Qiao Sang: !!! Such a generous patron! --- At first glance, 1st District in the early morning didn¡¯t look much different from 3rd District. The only difference was that the pedestrians here paid extra attention to their appearance. The men were dressed in suits, exuding elegance, while the women had exquisite makeup and a polished look, creating the impression that wealth was everywhere. Sahel Academy was the host school for this exchange competition. Large pet beasts adorned with various school emblems slowly descended at the school gate. Qiao Sang dismounted from the avian pet beast. Many people immediately turned their gaze toward her. They were surprised to see someone holding a pet beast in their arms and even more shocked that it was a species they had never seen before. Beside each large pet beast, a student in a Sahel Academy uniform stepped forward, seemingly acting as a volunteer for the friendly match. "Are you from Sainan High School in 3rd District?" A girl in a Sahel uniform approached and asked. "Yes, that¡¯s us." The young Caucasian man leading the group, Magee, nodded in response. The girl checked the roster, confirmed that the numbers were correct, and then smiled. "Please follow me." At that moment, Qiao Sang felt an intense gaze on her. Following the sensation, she turned her head and saw a white male student staring at her with an unfriendly expression. More precisely, he was staring at Gangbao. "Remember the B-rank beast tamer I mentioned last time at the climate hall? The one whose contract was forcibly severed by the Steel Emperor?" Hulis suddenly leaned in and whispered. Qiao Sang paused for a moment. "I remember. Why?" Hulis subtly gestured with his eyes. "The guy staring at you and Little Steel Falcon right now, that''s his son." Chapter 553: Rules Chapter 553: RulesRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang¡¯s first thought was: This whole contract termination incident with that Steel Emperor didn¡¯t even happen that many years ago. The kid is still in high school, I thought it was ancient history. Her second thought was: Looks like this guy has some hostility toward the Steel Falcon species because of what happened to his father. He¡¯s been staring for ages, doesn¡¯t he get tired? Hulis continued, "His name is Cirillo Thompson, a student at Sahel Academy. Apparently, he thinks that anyone who contracts with a Steel Falcon is an idiot." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang blurted out, "So he thinks his father is an idiot?" (T/n: Sassy????) Hulis chuckled. "That, I¡¯m not sure about." Qiao Sang glanced at him and couldn¡¯t help teasing, "You seem to know a lot about this." Hulis smiled. "His father was once a well-known professional beast tamer. When the incident happened, every media outlet covered it. His family was followed and interviewed for a long time, and his son¡¯s face was on the news so many times that it¡¯s hard not to recognize him." So that¡¯s how it is... Qiao Sang glanced at Gangbao, who remained quiet as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. She had no intention of storing her back in her Beast Taming Codex. Other people disliking the Steel Falcon species, what did that have to do with her? Led by the volunteer, the group of six entered the school gates, passed a fountain, and stepped into a white, classic Western-style building. "This is where the exchange matches will take place." The girl said as she led them to Row 3 in Section C. She pointed to a few seats labeled Sainan High School. "Your seats are here." After the six took their seats, the girl didn¡¯t leave but instead sat down next to Magee. Looking around, almost every school had a Sahel student sitting beside them. During the exchange matches, student volunteers from Sahel Academy would serve as assistants for the various prestigious schools, providing full support. "When does the match start?" Qiao Sang turned and asked. The volunteer, Alva, checked her watch and replied, "There are 32 minutes left until the official start." Hearing this, Qiao Sang immediately pulled out her textbook and started reviewing. Thirty minutes, plenty of time to memorize a lot of key points. Alva was momentarily stunned, then felt a surge of admiration. To be able to study in this situation, what a talent! While Qiao Sang was focused on her studies, the audience seats were buzzing with discussions. "They¡¯re starting the matches right away? I thought they¡¯d give us a tour first." "This is a tradition at Sahel Academy. They always hold a few matches first before showing us around." "Why?" "Not sure, but since their students are always the first to compete, maybe they just want to show off their school¡¯s strength." "Speaking of which, Mank Academy is here too." "That¡¯s not surprising. All the top schools from the first three districts were invited this time." "No, I mean Lavina from Mank Academy. I heard she¡¯s competing this time too." "Oh my god! You mean that Lavina? The one who just won second place in the Global High School Coordination Tournament and was publicly praised by Lady Dinnie?" ??N?????§§? "Yep, that¡¯s her." "But isn¡¯t she a coordinator? Why is she competing in a team battle?" "Just because beast tamers who focus on coordination don¡¯t prioritize battles doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re bad at fighting. They just emphasize aesthetics more. Besides, pets trained by coordinators tend to have stronger synergy and better control over their own abilities." "That makes sense!" As the discussions continued, an elderly man with white hair stepped onto the central stage. He was none other than the principal of Sahel Academy. Scanning the crowd, he spoke, "Good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to attend this friendly match." With that, the crowd quieted down. The old man smiled. "I¡¯m sure none of you want to hear me ramble on with unnecessary speeches." The audience burst into laughter. A school leader with self-awareness? Qiao Sang looked up in surprise. The principal continued, "So let¡¯s get straight to the point. This friendly match follows the principles of ¡®friendship first, exchange first.¡¯ There are no prizes, but every student who competes will receive a VIP ticket to this year¡¯s International Team Tour of the Professional Beast Taming League." After saying this, he smiled. "That¡¯s all from me." Thunderous applause erupted, not because of the VIP tickets, but because the principal truly didn¡¯t waste any time with formalities. I wish all school leaders were like this... Qiao Sang put down her book, clapping while thinking to herself. "Yap yap!" Yabao, caught up in the excitement, started clapping along. Meanwhile, Gangbao was completely unfazed, quietly practicing her Internal Suspended Breath technique. At that moment, the lights dimmed. When they lit up again, the principal was gone, replaced by a black-haired male student in a Sahel uniform. At the same time, a massive virtual screen lit up above. Displayed on the screen were the emblems of various schools. A second later, the emblems began to rotate. Soon, a red-and-white emblem featuring a book symbol enlarged and hovered at the center. Then, a female voice echoed through the venue: "King¡¯s High Academy, please send out your competitor." Shortly after, a curly-haired brown-haired boy stood up from the audience and walked onto the stage. Watching this, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something and turned to ask, "What are the competition rules? Do they just call out a school¡¯s emblem, and then we choose someone to go up?" "Huh? What did you say?" Alva had been focused on the stage and had only caught that someone from Sainan High School had spoken. She turned to ask again. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t answer her directly because Magee, the team leader, had already started explaining. "That¡¯s right. If our school¡¯s emblem appears, we send someone up. The first competitor is chosen by us, but the next two are randomly selected by the system. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be our turn soon, only 24 schools are participating in this friendly match." Wait! Something feels off. Qiao Sang paused for a moment, then asked, "Didn¡¯t we bring five people? If only three compete, then what happens to the other two?" Magee was also momentarily stunned. "Your homeroom teacher didn¡¯t tell you?" Did she? Qiao Sang turned to Hulis, confused. "She did." Hulis replied. "She mentioned it after selecting the second competitor. You weren¡¯t there at the time. It was also announced in the group chat, you probably didn¡¯t check it." Qiao Sang: !!! Did no one consider the fact that I don¡¯t check group chats?! Hulis added, "She even tagged you." Qiao Sang: ¡­ Magee listened in silence and realized that this exchange student from Blue Star had no clue what was going on. So, he explained, "Here¡¯s how it works: Each school brings five students, but only three actually compete. It¡¯s a single-match elimination. The winners advance to the next day¡¯s round." Qiao Sang looked puzzled. "Then why bring five people?" Magee chuckled. "It¡¯s a friendly match. The goal is to promote interactions between schools, so having more people helps with that." Qiao Sang felt a curse stuck in her throat, almost blurting out the name of a plant. So basically¡­ there¡¯s a chance I might not even get to compete?! ----- ------ Chapter 554: A Different Seal Gesture Chapter 554: A Different Seal GestureRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang remained silent. After a few seconds, she turned her head with anticipation and asked, "Teacher, have you decided who will go first?" Immediately, Gerta and the others focused all their attention. "Does anyone want to go first?" Magee asked in return. "I do!" "I want to!" "Me too!" Several voices sounded at the same time. The group exchanged silent glances, none willing to back down. Being the first meant a guaranteed spot in the battle, while the remaining two would have to rely on luck. No one wanted to come all this way for nothing. Magee smiled slightly and said, "Since everyone wants to go, we''ll follow our school''s rule, priority goes to the most capable." Most capable? Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up at the words, and she straightened her back. Just as she was about to boast about her glorious battle record, Magee continued, "Report your points. The one with the highest score will go first." "???" Qiao Sang¡¯s expression froze instantly. Wasn¡¯t this rule a bit unfair for someone like her, who had just arrived as an exchange student?! "I''m at 201." Pelleg spoke first. Hulis followed, "I''m at 459." Gerta smiled confidently. "I''m at 523." Mabel said a bit shyly, "116." Wait a minute, their scores¡­ aren¡¯t actually higher than mine? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes gleamed as she realized something incredible. "Qiao Sang, what about you?" Magee asked. Qiao Sang coughed and said, "697." Her previous 94 points, plus 500 for breaking through 30% brain power, another 100 from passing the D-rank Beast Tamer exam, and 3 points earned from Mabel, all added up to 697. ????????¦¥???? Everyone¡¯s minds went blank. An exchange student who had been at Sainan High School for less than a month had surpassed over two years of their efforts?! Magee wasn¡¯t surprised at all. He had already checked their scores when selecting students for the friendly match. Letting the strongest student go first was a given. Otherwise, Qiao Sang, as an exchange student from Blue Star, wouldn¡¯t have been chosen. Amid the silence, Magee smiled. "Since Qiao Sang has the highest points, she¡¯ll go first." Qiao Sang sincerely repented. She had been wrong, this rule was actually way too favorable for her! Time passed slowly. Qiao Sang observed that many of the competing pet beasts weren¡¯t individually strong, but their teamwork produced unexpected results. Like the current match. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two teams had drastically different pet beasts in size. One side had two massive beasts over two meters tall, both looking fierce. The other side had two tiny beasts, barely a few dozen centimeters tall, with adorably cute appearances. At first glance, based on size and aura, the two-meter-tall pet beasts seemed destined to win. But as soon as the match began, the two cute pet beasts used Charm at the same time. The massive beasts instantly became dazed and stopped attacking. Seizing the opportunity, the cute pet beasts launched an assault. Despite their low attack power, they remained dominant throughout the battle. Qiao Sang frowned slightly. She had encountered the Charm skill before in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Back then, she had identified Mimi''s Sprite gender and countered it with Lubao. But in a team battle, that method wouldn¡¯t work. If one pet beast was male and the other female, any counter pick would still fall victim to Charm. So this was the Charm strategy... Qiao Sang silently took note of the opponent''s name. Omar Ashur. If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely be one of her future opponents. After five minutes, the two-meter-tall beasts inevitably lost. Both teams left the stage. The large screen rolled, displaying the logos of two schools. One was a blue shield-shaped emblem with a crown in the center. The other was a red circular emblem featuring the legendary pet beast, Lesemodo. Then, the announcement rang out: "Mank Academy, Sainan High School, please send your competitors to the stage." At that moment, the audience erupted in cheers. Under Magee¡¯s signal, Qiao Sang stood up and walked onto the stage. At the same time, she noticed a tall girl with silky golden hair leave her seat in the front row and step onto the stage. From the Sainan High School seating area, Greta frowned. "Lavina? She actually came too." Pelleg, intrigued, commented, "One is the leading figure of Coordination Battles among her peers, while the other is a monster in Beast Tamer Duels. This matchup should be interesting." Then, he turned and asked, "Hulis, who do you think will win?" "In a 1v1, definitely Qiao Sang. She won the championship before becoming an exchange student." Hulis said, his gaze falling on the blonde girl. "But in 2v2, it¡¯s hard to say. Many people''s team battle skills differ greatly from their solo battle skills." "But Qiao Sang should have team battle experience, right?" Mabel argued. "Didn¡¯t the teacher pick students with team battle experience?" Hulis chuckled. "Qiao Sang skipped straight from freshman year. In just one semester, she spent most of her time in national-level competitions. Was she training her pet beasts for individual duels or team battles?" "Remember, she¡¯s the Beast Tamer Duel Champion, not the Beast Tamer Team Battle Champion." "She spent over a month just traveling here, where would she have had time to train for team battles?" "¡­That makes a lot of sense." Mabel admitted, unable to refute. "So does that mean she has no team battle experience?" Greta frowned. Just then, Magee smiled and asked, "You guys don¡¯t know how many high-rank pet beasts Qiao Sang has, do you?" What students could think of, teachers had already considered. But when someone''s strength reached a certain level, some rules could be overlooked. "Three, maybe?" Hulis joked. Magee simply smiled. Hulis, initially laughing, froze at the teacher¡¯s expression. He swallowed nervously and cautiously asked again, "Wait¡­ it¡¯s actually three?!" Same question. Different tone. Magee replied, "You guessed right." Silence fell. Alva, who had been quietly listening, was utterly confused. A freshman? Spent over a month traveling here? No team battle experience? Three high-rank pet beasts? What were they even talking about?! Meanwhile. On stage. Yabao leaped from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms onto the battlefield. Qiao Sang formed a seal gesture with both hands. An orange-yellow star formation lit up beside Yabao. Across from her, Lavina also formed a seal gesture but it was completely different from Qiao Sang¡¯s. Two green star formations appeared on the ground in front of her. Chapter 555: Dream Spirit and Seasons Spirit Chapter 555: Dream Spirit and Seasons SpiritRead at: /?m=1 ----- Yabao slowly grew in size. As four distinctly different yet equally magnificent pet beasts appeared in the arena, a commotion arose in the audience. Originally, the crowd had been chanting Lavina¡¯s name, but now their attention was completely drawn to the two never-before-seen pet beasts. It was no exaggeration to say that nearly everyone present belonged to the upper class, people with broad horizons who weren¡¯t unfamiliar with ultra-rare pet beasts. Yet now, the two pet beasts sent out by Sainan High School¡¯s student were completely unrecognizable to them. This was utterly inconceivable. For a moment, everyone even forgot how much they had been looking forward to Lavina¡¯s two pet beasts appearing. "Does anyone recognize these two pet beasts?" "No idea, I''ve never seen them before." "Just based on appearance, that blue one with a gemstone on its head looks the best." "I think the one with flaming wings looks the coolest." "Maybe it''s just that we¡¯ve never seen these two before, so they make a stronger visual impact. But purely in terms of looks, Lavina¡¯s two pet beasts definitely aren¡¯t inferior." The Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit were the two pet beasts Lavina had summoned. These two creatures were already known for their rarity and stunning appearance. Combined with meticulous care, professional grooming, and trained mannerisms, they exuded an aura that practically screamed, I am expensive. At that moment, a blond-haired boy suddenly exclaimed, "I found it!" "What?" The people beside him turned to ask. The boy, holding a pet beast identifier unavailable to the public, said, "Ice Xilu! That blue pet beast is from Blue Star Dragon Nation!" "I found it too!" A black-haired girl holding her own pet beast identifier read aloud, "Ice Xilu, a high-level dual Water-Ice type pet beast." She paused mid-sentence, then suddenly widened her eyes and shrieked: "Oh my god! This is an almost extinct pet beast!" An almost extinct pet beast?! Everyone froze. Their expressions shifted as they hurriedly pulled out their own pet beast identifiers and scanned the blue creature on the field. Sure enough, they all displayed the same information: Endangered species. A huge uproar erupted in the audience. It was well known that all near-extinct pet beasts were under strict protection by the Alliance and the government. It was impossible to form a contract with one so easily, even for people of their background. £Òa????????£Â¦¥? To even apply for contracting an endangered pet beast, one had to submit a request, undergo investigations into their identity, background, and financial status by research and conservation institutions. Of course, those without any status likely wouldn¡¯t even qualify to apply. And most importantly... Any beast tamer wishing to contract an endangered pet beast must have made significant contributions to the study and conservation of that species. Afterward, they must pass a rigorous assessment on their knowledge of the species to ensure they truly understand it. Only after passing that would they even get a chance to apply. Even then, it didn¡¯t guarantee success. The application would then be reviewed by the Endangered Pet Beast Protection Center before being submitted to the government for final approval. This entire process took at least half a year. If any stage of the process received an objection, the application would be denied. Yet now, someone had actually formed a contract with an endangered pet beast? And that someone was a peer of their age? This was simply unbelievable! "What about the other pet beast? What¡¯s its name?" Someone suddenly asked. One advantage of having powerful connections was access to the most advanced pet beast identifiers. Soon, someone found the information. "It¡¯s called Blazing Star Canine, a high-level dual Fire-Psychic type pet beast from Blue Star Dragon Nation." They reported. The crowd inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to the endangered blue pet beast, this ultra-rare dual-attribute one felt much easier to accept. "So this girl is from Blue Star?" A brown-haired girl commented. The schools participating in this friendly competition were all prestigious institutions from the top three districts. Naturally, many of them had exchange students from other planets each year. Just then, a boy suddenly seemed to recall something and asked in confusion: "Wait¡­ wasn¡¯t the star array of that Sainan High School girl orange-yellow just now?" A silence fell over the surrounding crowd. Many began recalling the moment the beasts were summoned. It seemed like¡­ yes, the array was indeed orange-yellow¡­ Realizing this, they turned their shocked gazes to Qiao Sang. They had seen high-level star arrays plenty of times in their lives. But because their attention had been drawn to the two unfamiliar pet beasts earlier, they hadn¡¯t paid much mind to the array¡¯s color. An orange-yellow star array wasn¡¯t anything special... But for it to appear on someone their age¡­ now that was terrifying. --- On the battlefield. Qiao Sang¡¯s focus was on the two green star arrays that had appeared the moment her opponent completed their summoning gesture. She didn¡¯t recognize most of the pet beasts from Chaosu Star. Even if a legendary pet beast stood before her, it would be no different from any other since she simply wasn¡¯t familiar with them. At most, she¡¯d just think some looked more majestic. These two pet beasts were no exception. Qiao Sang merely thought they were quite stunning. That was all. The next second, her thoughts drifted to those two simultaneously appearing green star arrays. She had seen this kind of synchronized summoning in televised double battles and had heard that summoning two or three pet beasts at once required different summoning gestures. But this was her first time witnessing it in real life. Looks like she needed to take some time to learn how to summon multiple pet beasts simultaneously. After all, she now owned four pet beasts, it was only a matter of time before she¡¯d need to use it¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was deep in thought, the match¡¯s starting signal rang. "Dream~" "Seasons~" Lavina¡¯s two pet beasts immediately spiraled upward in a graceful, mesmerizing display. As they soared, they left behind traces of blue stardust, resembling a stunning in-game flying effect. Only now did the audience finally shift their focus back to Lavina¡¯s pet beasts. "Does she think this is a coordination contest?" "She¡¯s from the coordination world. Even in team battles, she focuses on aesthetics over brute force. She never treats battles like ordinary pet beast duels." "This is Lavina¡¯s strategy." Someone who had seen many of her coordination battles explained. "She attracts the opponent¡¯s attention with dazzling performances, when in reality, it¡¯s a trap." "See that blue stardust? That¡¯s Dream Spirit activating Dream Control. If the opponent focuses on it for more than three seconds, they¡¯ll be forcibly dragged into a dream state." Hearing this, someone hurriedly averted their gaze. "Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?! I was staring at it for so long!" The previous speaker was speechless. "Dream Spirit is only a mid-level pet beast. Its effect radius isn¡¯t that wide. It can only affect those within close range. Didn¡¯t you notice how Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit are getting closer to those two Blue Star pets?" "I see!" someone suddenly realized. "It looks like an elegant display, but it¡¯s actually an attack! Genius!" Just as those words fell- Bang! Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit were suddenly slammed to the ground as if something had forcefully smacked them down. "Yap-" Meanwhile, Yabao¡¯s blue-glowing eyes held a hint of confusion. Isn¡¯t this a battle? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why were the opponents just flying around in circles? Chapter 556: Training Was Not in Vain Chapter 556: Training Was Not in VainRead at: /?m=1 ----- This fire-type pet also has psychic abilities¡­ Lavina''s expression slightly changed. In battle, the most concerning thing wasn¡¯t facing an opponent with a type advantage over you, but encountering one you were completely unfamiliar with, because they could surprise you at any moment. And the two pets in front of her were exactly the kind she least wanted to face. But they do look pretty nice¡­ Realizing what she was thinking, Lavina quickly shook herself out of it. At a time like this, she was actually thinking about appearances? But still, they really did look nice¡­ Her gaze uncontrollably shifted toward the other blue-colored pet. This one should be water-type, but did it have other attributes too¡­? Her thoughts were quickly interrupted when she saw a powerful Water Gun attack shooting straight toward her Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit on the ground. At that moment, Lavina completely refocused. She didn¡¯t issue a command. To be a competent coordinator, knowing when to add or subtract in battle was crucial. It wasn¡¯t just about the pets, every decision the beast master made was part of the competition. Commanding at a critical moment could add points, but unnecessary instructions could cost them. Right now, she was confident her pets could dodge the attack without her interference. If she stepped in, it would only be a hindrance. ¡°Seasons!¡± The Psychic attack hadn¡¯t completely disabled Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit. The latter was the first to recover, grabbing Dream Spirit and quickly pulling it upward. The Water Gun missed. As they were lifted into the air, Dream Spirit shook its dizzy head and regained clarity. Then, a spinning vortex of fire shot toward them from the front. A green glow flickered around Four Seasons Spirit. A shimmering, translucent green barrier formed in front of it and Dream Spirit. The fierce flames crashed against the barrier. It held for two seconds before violently shaking and then collapsing into scattered particles of pure light. Beneath the glimmering dust, Dream Spirit and Four Seasons Spirit had already split into two paths, flying high into the air. The audience erupted into discussion. Although Lavina specialized in coordination, she had also placed second in the global high school coordination competition. The final phase of coordination competitions involved battles, meaning Lavina was no amateur in combat. Everyone knew that Qiao Sang¡¯s two pets were high level, so it was widely expected that Lavina would lose. After all, among Lavina¡¯s pets, only Four Seasons Spirit was high level, while Dream Spirit was mid-level. As a foreign exchange student from Blue Star, Qiao Sang was either the champion or runner-up in beast master competitions, clearly an elite among her peers. ?¨¤????????????¦¥???? When two elite competitors faced off, even a slight gap in pet level could decide the match. No matter what, both sides had rich battle experience and rare pets, so it wasn¡¯t a match where one could easily overcome a level disadvantage. Still, the current scene was unexpected. They had anticipated Lavina would be at a disadvantage, but they didn¡¯t expect her pets to be struggling this much against only basic attacks like Psychic, Water Gun, and Fire Whirl, before Qiao Sang¡¯s pets even used any high-level skills. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang quickly analyzed the opponent¡¯s pets. One was high level, the other mid-level. She wasn¡¯t overconfident, but with the energy stored in Yabao''s body and his perfected mastery of Fire Fang, a mid-level pet¡¯s defensive skill wouldn¡¯t last even a second against him. ¡°Take out the pink one first!¡± Realizing the power gap between the two enemy pets, Qiao Sang gave an immediate order. She had studied team battles a bit in the past two days and found that eliminating the weaker pet first was an effective strategy. She didn¡¯t know the names of the opponent¡¯s pets, but it was easy to tell that the pink one was the weaker one, just a mid-level pet. Once it was taken out, any teamwork-based strategy would crumble. Then the remaining one would be much easier to handle. Pink? Dream Spirit instinctively looked down at its own color, then showed a panicked expression. ¡°Dream!¡± Oh no! It was coming for it! ¡°Four Seasons!¡± Four Seasons Spirit quickly called out reassuringly. Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m here! Just as it spoke, the surrounding temperature suddenly spiked. From an overhead perspective, Yabao had already teleported behind them, his mouth opening wide to reveal a massive, flame-forged Blazing Star Canine head, several times larger than its own. At the same moment, Four Seasons Spirit¡¯s brown skin shifted to red. As a fairy-type advanced pet, Four Seasons Spirit¡¯s body color changed based on temperature and humidity, though this did not affect its abilities. ¡°Mirror Coat!¡± Lavina, who had been closely observing the situation, was stunned and immediately gave the counter command. Mirror Coat was a high-tier psychic ability that could reflect special attack damage back at twice the power. Normally, fairy-types couldn¡¯t learn psychic moves, but it wasn¡¯t impossible. With professional training, pets had a chance of mastering skills from other elements. Any pet capable of learning psychic skills was undoubtedly exceptional in mental power. Four Seasons Spirit was one of them. ¡°Four Seasons!¡± Four Seasons Spirit hesitated for a moment. Weren¡¯t they supposed to take down Dream Spirit first? Confused but obedient, it quickly raised both claws in front of it, touching its fingertips together to form a diamond shape. A transparent barrier materialized before it. At the same time, across the battlefield... Lubao surged forward, her body wrapped in swirling water. With a sudden burst of speed, she shot into the air like a blue meteor, drawing an elegant arc before slamming directly into Dream Spirit. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dream Spirit¡¯s small body was launched like an arrow, crashing into the ceiling dozens of meters above with a muffled bang. ¡°Dream!¡± With a pitiful scream, Dream Spirit plummeted to the ground like a rag doll, unconscious. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao landed steadily, her water currents dispersing as she looked toward Yabao. Qiao Sang, seeing Lubao finish off the mid-level pet, also turned her gaze skyward, satisfaction flashing in her eyes. These past two days of teamwork training had paid off. Yabao and Lubao didn¡¯t even need explicit instructions to coordinate effectively. Yabao successfully held off the advanced-level pet, giving Lubao a free hand to eliminate the mid-level one. Now, with only one opponent left, the match was as good as won. ¡°Yap!¡± High in the air, Yabao completely ignored the Mirror Coat. His flaming fangs clamped down mercilessly. The invisible barrier shattered instantly. The Blazing Star Canine''s fiery maw bit down hard on Four Seasons Spirit. ¡°Seasons!¡± With a heart-wrenching scream, Four Seasons Spirit crashed to the ground, unconscious. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao hovered in the air, grinning at Lubao. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s lips curled slightly before quickly returning to her usual aloof expression. Qiao Sang smiled and recalled Lubao. Mirror Coat was indeed a high-tier move, but without an external boost, no high school-level student¡¯s pet could achieve high proficiency with advanced skills. Yabao''s Fire Fang might be a mid-tier skill, but it had been honed to the highest level, far stronger than an unpolished advanced skill like Mirror Coat. Of course, there was always the chance that the pet had been raised elsewhere and was contracted later on, already highly trained in all its abilities. But so what? This was a team battle, and she still had Lubao. A simple Healing Light would¡¯ve been enough. Fortunately, things went exactly as she expected, no healing necessary. Chapter 557: Viscous Substance Chapter 557: Viscous SubstanceRead at: /?m=1 ----- Fast, incredibly fast. The audience hadn¡¯t expected the match to end so quickly, especially in such a one-sided fashion. For a moment, the school leaders and students from the top three districts showed various expressions. Low whispers filled the stands. "Why does it feel like there''s such a huge gap between Lavina and this student from Sainan High?" "Lavina specializes in coordination, after all. From the start, she focused too much on the aesthetics of the battle, which isn''t very suitable for team combat." Lavina was well-known among high school students at this stage. She had just won second place in the global high school coordination tournament, her pet beast training was nearly perfect, and she was beautiful. To put it bluntly, in this circle, she was practically a goddess. Because she lost, many people naturally viewed the situation from her perspective. "The opponent''s two pet beasts had clean and decisive movements, without focusing too much on skill control or aesthetics. It''s clear they specialize in beast combat. Plus, both are high-level pet beasts, it''s normal for Lavina not to be a match." "It¡¯s not surprising that Lavina lost. I just feel like she lost a bit too quickly." "That¡¯s just how it is. You can¡¯t expect a coordinator to last 300 rounds against a professional beast master of the same level." "Exactly. Look at that girl from Sainan High, her star formation is orange-yellow, which means her brain domain has broken through 30%. Even without considering her pet beasts, her commands alone resemble those of experienced professional beast masters. It''s impossible to predict her moves based on her instructions alone. Like just now, she clearly said to take down the Dream Spirit first, but her two pet beasts attacked both the Dream Spirit and the Four Seasons Spirit simultaneously." "And that Fire Fang move from her fire-type pet beast, it reached the Ultimate level. The Four Seasons Spirit reacted quickly, but even with Mirror Coat, it couldn¡¯t block the attack." "Oh, poor Lavina. She just stepped into the arena and ran into such a terrifying opponent." The group from Mank Academy didn¡¯t look too pleased. Even though it was just a friendly match, being utterly crushed like this was a huge blow. On the other hand, the team from Sainan High was all smiles, shocked but elated. Qiao Sang had truly brought glory to their school. People might talk about friendship first, exchange first, but deep down, everyone wanted to win. Sometimes, winning was exactly what drew people in for further exchanges. Like now, the blond man standing behind Magee patted him on the shoulder. Magee turned around. The blond man offered a friendly smile. "Are you a teacher from Sainan High? I''m a teacher from Caron High in 2nd District. Once the competition is over, would you have time to tour Sahel Academy with me?" ?????¦­?£Â¨º???? Magee smiled back. "It would be my pleasure." --- When the morning exchange matches ended, Alva led them on a tour of Sahel Academy, explaining things as they walked. Several people from other schools joined them. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t sure if it was just her imagination, but Alva seemed much more enthusiastic than before. "Qiao Sang." As Alva was introducing a building, a clear voice rang out. Qiao Sang turned her head and saw, beneath a nearby oak tree, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl with a graceful figure, dressed in a blue-and-white school uniform, waving at her. It was none other than Lavina, her opponent from the earlier friendly match. Qiao Sang pointed at herself silently. Lavina smiled and nodded. Qiao Sang walked over and asked, "Is there something you need?" Lavina seemed completely unaffected by her loss. Smiling, she said, "I have a favor to ask." Qiao Sang responded cautiously, "Let¡¯s hear it first." "That pet beast of yours, the one called Blazing Star Canine, when you return to Blue Star, could you send me one of its initial forms? Or maybe an egg of its species?" Lavina asked with a smile. "I looked it up, and I think it¡¯s called Fire Fang Dog." By now, nearly everyone at the exchange had heard that Qiao Sang was a transfer student from Blue Star. Lavina didn¡¯t even need to ask around. After speaking, she glanced at the little beast in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, Yabao, and continued, "I really like that pet beast. I recently unlocked the third page of my Beast master Codex, but I still haven''t formed a contract with a third pet. Now, I think I''ve found the one I want." In terms of appearance, Lavina actually preferred Ice Xilu. Unfortunately, after looking it up, she discovered it was an endangered species. She immediately gave up on the idea. An endangered pet from Chaosu Star? She had no chance of contracting one, let alone a pet from another planet. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, she hadn''t expected Lavina''s request to be cross-planet transportation of a pet beast. In this interstellar era, industries specializing in transporting goods between planets certainly existed, but transporting pet beasts across planets was extremely rare. First, it cost a fortune, and the procedures were complicated. Second, on a foreign planet, there would be no experienced trainers familiar with the pet¡¯s habits. If something went wrong, there¡¯d be no one to consult. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, different planets had different environments. A pet beast that thrived on one planet might not adapt well to another. Qiao Sang glanced around. All the pet beasts she saw were calmly walking or engaged in various activities, looking perfectly domesticated. After a moment of silence, Qiao Sang tactfully declined. "Fire Fang Dogs probably wouldn¡¯t adapt well to life on Chaosu Star." Lavina chuckled. "That¡¯s not a problem. Whatever environment it likes, I can create it. I heard that some fire-type pet beasts on Blue Star prefer to stay in high-temperature areas all year round, I can ensure it has that environment every day." So she planned to use money to solve the problem... Qiao Sang refused again. "I won¡¯t return to Blue Star for another year." In other words: Don¡¯t wait, just contract another pet. Lavina, unfazed, said nonchalantly, "That¡¯s fine. I can wait a year. I want every pet I contract to be one I truly like." High-appearance pet beasts had an irresistible appeal to her. With Blazing Star Canine''s looks, she didn¡¯t mind waiting. She¡¯s serious¡­ Qiao Sang thought for a moment before saying, "Since you did your research, you should know that Blazing Star Canine evolves from Flame Hound, which, in turn, evolves from Fire Fang Dog. However, the conditions for evolving into Flame Hound haven¡¯t been discovered yet. If you contract a Fire Fang Dog, there¡¯s no guarantee it will evolve into Flame Hound. Think it through carefully." Lavina froze, she didn¡¯t know that! Seeing her hesitate, Qiao Sang said indifferently, "Come find me when you''ve made up your mind." With that, she turned and left. After her match, Hulis and the others had filled her in on Lavina¡¯s background. She had recently won second place in the global high school coordination tournament. If nothing unexpected happened, she would become a rising star in the coordination field. There were even interstellar coordination tournaments. If Lavina made a name for herself, the Fire Fang Dog she contracted would gain widespread recognition. That alone could elevate the entire species'' status. This wasn¡¯t uncommon, many pet beasts contracted by star-level Beast masters became highly sought after across all four planets, with their species thoroughly studied and imported for contracts. The pet¡¯s value and status would skyrocket, and it could even boost the economy of its home planet. A huge deal. If Lavina¡¯s character was sound and she understood what this meant, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t mind sending her a Fire Fang Dog. After all, Lavina came from an elite background, any pet following her would live comfortably. Training might be tough, but food and care wouldn¡¯t be an issue. And if Lavina made it big, promoting Fire Fang Dogs¡­ Her mother''s pet breeding store might even expand into a whole chain of shops! Just as Qiao Sang was envisioning a bright future, Gangbao, who had been quietly standing by, suddenly darted to the side. A viscous substance fell from above, landing exactly where it had been standing. The moment it hit the ground, white smoke rose from the surface. Chapter 558: Zeyoulais Chapter 558: ZeyoulaisRead at: /?m=1 ----- This is... Qiao Sang frowned at the corrosive saliva on the ground. Then she looked up and saw a bird-type pet beast, about two meters in size, nearly entirely black, with a single tuft of hair standing on its head. It glanced in the direction of Gangbao before retracting its gaze and flapping its wings to fly forward. Qiao Sang turned to look at Gangbao. After confirming she was unharmed, she felt relieved and looked again in the direction of the bird-type pet beast. It had already landed beside a white male student wearing the Sahel academy uniform. The student had brown hair and green eyes, with an outstanding presence. He was the same one who had earlier glared at Gangbao with hostility at the school gate. Qiao Sang still remembered his introduction. Cyril Thompson, the son of a forcibly de-contracted B-class Beast Master by Steel Emperor. Recognizing him, Qiao Sang''s frown deepened. Judging by the positioning, the bird-type pet beast with poisonous saliva was likely Thompson''s pet. If it had been someone else''s pet or a wild beast, this might have been an accident. But if it was Thompson¡¯s pet, it didn¡¯t seem like a mere coincidence. After all, his dislike for the Steel Falcon species had even been reported in the news, with some Beast Masters contracting them being considered foolish. With such a reputation, it was hard not to overthink. Not far away, Thompson glanced at Steel Falcon, smirked coldly, waved his hand to recall his pet, and turned to leave. Thanks to her enhanced vision, Qiao Sang clearly saw his facial expression. She narrowed her eyes and spoke: "Little Treasure, take me to that person." "Xun~" Little Treasure, still invisible, let out a cry. The next second, Qiao Sang, holding Yabao, teleported right in front of Thompson, with Gangbao beside her, looking unusually confused. Thompson was startled by the sudden appearance of the girl. Before he could speak, Qiao Sang got straight to the point: "Did you do that on purpose?" This pet can even use spatial shift...? Thompson discreetly glanced at the mini-sized Yabao, steadied his emotions, and said: "Classmate, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I don¡¯t even know you." Qiao Sang stared at him. "If it wasn¡¯t on purpose, let me touch you, and I¡¯ll know for sure." Thompson: ??? Thompson was stunned and stared at Qiao Sang for a few moments, just as he was about to speak. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang said, "Yabao, use Perception Touch." "Yap!" Yabao cried out and stretched his paw toward Thompson. Instinctively, Thompson tried to step back, but he suddenly realized he couldn¡¯t move at all. His heart tensed, and he immediately understood what was happening. He glanced to the side. There, next to the Little Steel Falcon, was another pet beast that hadn¡¯t been there before. It appeared to be a Ghost-type, its eyes glowing blue as it stared at him. A Ghost-type pet with telekinetic abilities... Thompson instantly grasped why he couldn''t move and widened his eyes in shock. A nearly extinct pet beast, a Fire and Psychic-type pet, and now even a Ghost and Psychic-type pet? This exchange student from Blue Star had way too many tricks up her sleeve! ???????????§¦? Wasn''t this a bit excessive?! "Yap!" "Yap!" Before Thompson could process it all, Yabao opened his eyes, retracted his paw, and angrily reported to his Beast Master what he had just seen. "Yap!" After finishing, he bared his teeth fiercely at Thompson. "Gang...?" Gangbao looked at Yabao with shining eyes. So amazing... He even had such an incredible ability... "You heard it." Qiao Sang said expressionlessly. "Do you have anything to say?" Thompson was dumbfounded. He heard what? The pet talking? It wasn¡¯t even his pet, how could he possibly understand it?! But considering Yabao had used Perception Touch, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what it had said. It had likely seen the scene of him ordering the Venomous Hawk to attack... Thompson took a deep breath. Since he was caught, there was no point in pretending. He said seriously, "Someone as strong as you shouldn''t contract a Little Steel Falcon." Qiao Sang chuckled. "Just because your father was forcibly de-contracted by Steel Emperor, you¡¯re targeting all pet beasts of the Little Steel Falcon species? Isn''t that a bit extreme?" Thompson¡¯s face instantly turned ugly. "What do you know?!" Qiao Sang didn¡¯t bother arguing further. Everyone had their own perspectives, and once someone became fixated on a belief, it was hard for them to see things objectively. She wasn¡¯t some anime protagonist who could change someone¡¯s mind with mere words. She looked at Little Treasure. Little Treasure immediately understood, his eyes glowing purple as he looked at Thompson. On a day like this, during the Friendship Match, an attempt to harm another¡¯s pet beast, though unsuccessful, would likely be brushed off as a minor incident, with nothing officially recorded. But that wasn¡¯t what Qiao Sang wanted. Little Treasure''s eyes quickly returned to their original golden color, making Thompson briefly wonder if he had imagined the purple hue. "Don''t touch my Steel Falcon again." Qiao Sang said coldly. Gangbao stared at her Beast Master in surprise, feeling an overwhelming sense of security. She thought for a moment and quietly suppressed the idea of tracking this human and secretly spitting on his head. --- "Why were you talking to Thompson?" As soon as Qiao Sang returned to the group, Hulis curiously leaned in to ask. "Nothing much, just a casual chat." Qiao Sang replied dismissively. Nearby, Alva overheard and walked over with a smile. "That Cyril Thompson you were just talking to was originally supposed to be part of the Friendship Mtach. His team battle skills ranked among the top three in our senior year. Unfortunately, Madeline-sensei calculated that if he participated, he would suffer a crushing defeat, so the school replaced him." "Not competing must have been a regret for him. I guess he watched your match and wanted to challenge you separately. Did I guess right?" Good guess, next time, don¡¯t guess... Qiao Sang said, "He didn''t challenge me, unfortunately." So he was just picking a fight¡­ Alva silently glanced at the quiet Little Steel Falcon beside them. Thompson¡¯s father¡¯s situation was well known across the school. Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something and asked with interest, "By the way, you mentioned Madeline-sensei calculated something earlier. Does your school have a divination teacher?" Hulis was also intrigued and leaned in. "It¡¯s her pet." Alva laughed. "She has a Zeyoulais. Give it two choices, and it can precisely determine which one is the better option." Ze Youlais? Why does that ability sound familiar... Qiao Sang pondered and quickly recalled where she had heard it before. She asked, "How is it related to Ye Zomu?" As expected of a Blue Star native, she didn¡¯t even know this... Alva explained, "Ze Youlais is Ye Zomu''s general-rank evolution." So it''s the evolved form of Ye Zomu... Qiao Sang instantly lost interest. She still remembered how Yuna¡¯s Ye Zomu once predicted a winner, only for that person to lose the next second. At that moment, Alva pointed toward a building ahead and said, "Madeline-sensei''s office is right there. Do you guys want to check it out? You might get a chance to meet her and have her predict something for you." Seeing Qiao Sang¡¯s lack of response, Alva added, "It''s very accurate." Chapter 559: As Expected, I Shouldnt Have Hope Chapter 559: As Expected, I Shouldn''t Have HopeRead at: /?m=1 ----- The fortune teller on the street said the same thing... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but complain inwardly. Just as she was about to refuse, Magee, who was walking ahead, turned around with a smile and asked: "Ms. Madeleine from Sahel School, her divination, Ze Youlais, is rare to come by. Her office is just ahead. Do you want to check it out?" Beside him were other teachers and students from various schools, along with a few volunteer students from Sahel Academy, all turning to look at her. Logically, only the teacher leading the team needed to decide, but since the topic of conversation among the visiting schools had all started with discussions about Qiao Sang, Magee instinctively asked for her opinion. With so many people staring at her, could she really say no? Qiao Sang nodded. "Alright." --- The group arrived at Madeleine¡¯s office. The office door was tightly shut, and a crowd of students in different school uniforms stood outside, chatting in small groups, making the place seem more like a tourist attraction than an office. As soon as Qiao Sang arrived, all eyes turned toward her and Yabao. The previous match wasn''t exactly spectacular, but her pet beasts were unlike anything the students had ever seen. The beast identifier even identified one of them as an endangered species. Adding to that, the presence of an orange-yellow star array, something that shouldn''t appear at a high school level, left a deep impression on everyone. "She looks even younger up close." "People from Dragon Nation always look younger than their actual age." "That''s right. I once met a woman from Dragon Nation who looked like she was in her twenties. Turns out she was 42. I originally thought she must be at least a C-rank beast master to look that young, but she was only an E-rank." ?????¦­????¦Â¨º???? It was well known that low-level beast masters hardly benefited from any age-defying effects. "Yeah, some people from Dragon Nation look well-maintained even if they aren''t beast masters." Just then, the office door opened. Five students, all dressed in white shirts and silver-gray jackets, stepped out. "Lulu." Behind them, a pet beast that looked like a large egg with a milky-yellow body scanned the area before calling out to a few students in dark red uniforms. It then turned and walked back inside. Even if they couldn''t understand what it was saying, its gesture made it clear, it was inviting them in. As the dark red-uniformed students entered, Qiao Sang turned and asked, "There¡¯s no need to line up?" The students outside weren¡¯t queuing at all. The egg-shaped pet beast simply picked people at random, as if the process was entirely arbitrary. "No need." Alva explained, "Ms. Madeleine only performs divinations for those she deems fated. They say that if people queued in order, it would affect the accuracy of her Ze Youlais." It was the first time Qiao Sang had heard such reasoning. So¡­ did that mean Yuna¡¯s Ye Zomu divination was inaccurate because she wasn¡¯t ¡®fated¡¯? No, that one was probably just inaccurate in general. It wasn¡¯t even about her, after all. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang asked, "What¡¯s the difference? Does the order of the readings affect accuracy?" Was it really just a matter of going in sooner or later? "No." Alva shook her head. "Ze Youlais has a fixed number of readings per day. No one knows the exact number, but not everyone here will get a turn." Qiao Sang: ... Understood. Basically, there''s no need to line up because you might not get a turn anyway¡­ --- Meanwhile, at a massive training ground¡­ Thompson entered, looking rather grim. A black-haired student, wearing boxing gloves and sparring with his pet beast, stopped and asked, "What¡¯s wrong? You look upset." "That Qiao Sang from Sainan High has a ghost-type pet beast." Thompson walked to a bench at the edge of the arena and sat down. "A ghost-type?" The student approached, surprised. "That¡¯s an unexpected attribute. I thought most girls wouldn¡¯t like ghost-type pets." "That¡¯s not the issue." Thompson''s voice was low. "The problem is, that ghost-type also has psychic attributes." The student sat beside him, stunned for a moment before responding calmly, "You sure you didn¡¯t mistake it for a beast that just knows a couple of psychic moves? There''s a big difference." "I¡¯m not an idiot, Radko." Thompson frowned. "That ghost-type beast used Telekinesis. A non-psychic beast can¡¯t learn that move." Radko paused while removing his gloves, then sighed. "What kind of background does she have to get so many rare pet beasts?" Thompson scoffed. "She even contracted a Steel Falcon." Radko looked at him. "You went to pick a fight with a Steel Falcon just now?" Thompson remained silent. Radko sighed, immediately understanding his friend''s unspoken admission. He had grown up with Thompson and knew more about his family situation than most. Thompson¡¯s hatred for Steel Falcons wasn¡¯t just because of his father, it was something deeper that no one else knew. As a child, Thompson had loved Steel Falcons. Before awakening his Beast master Codex, he had always said he would contract one as his first pet beast. His family even prepared a young Steel Falcon hatched from an egg just for him. He and the little falcon spent a long time together. But later, his father¡¯s Solid Armor Steel Emperor forcibly broke the contract and took the Steel Falcon away. Thompson had been there, witnessing everything. The falcon had left willingly. The betrayal had devastated him. The more he had once loved Steel Falcons, the more he now resented them. Ever since then, he had never treated any Steel Falcon kindly. But messing with someone¡¯s pet required considering the owner. And Qiao Sang from Sainan High clearly wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. Radko opened his mouth, about to analyze the pros and cons for his friend. Thompson sneered, "I know it''s an exchange competition. But I just happened to see that Steel Falcon on the way, so I had Venomous Hawk spit some saliva at its head. Who knew it would dodge?" "That¡¯s a good thing." Radko relaxed, smiling. "With so many schools gathered here, causing trouble wouldn¡¯t be wise." Thompson scoffed. "What¡¯s the big deal? Who can prove I did it on purpose? Besides, Venomous Hawk¡¯s spit would only make its feathers fall out for a week. That Steel Falcon already looked a bit bald, what''s a little more?" As he spoke, a thought crossed his mind. He formed a hand seal and summoned Venomous Hawk. "How did you miss a simple spit attack?" Thompson glared up at it. "Venom¡­" Venomous Hawk lowered its head, looking guilty. Just then, a cold breeze swept through the training ground. "Venom¡­ Qiu!" The hawk¡¯s nose twitched, and it sneezed uncontrollably. Droplets of saliva splattered down. "Venom!" Realizing its mistake, the hawk flapped its wings to deflect the falling spit. But no matter how careful one was, mistakes happened. A single drop still made it through. Thompson suddenly felt a cold sensation on his head. At the same time, his heart went cold. His expression froze as realization dawned. "Cyril, you¡­" Radko hesitated, looking at his friend¡¯s head. "Venom¡­ venom". Venomous Hawk took a step back, slowly retreating. Thompson took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and reached up to touch his hair. Then, he pulled. "AHHHHHHHH!!!" --- Two seconds later, a scream echoed across the entire training ground. The office door opened, and several students in identical school uniforms walked out. A pale yellow pet beast looked around. When its gaze passed by the small steel falcon, the falcon gave its brightest smile. "Lulu." The pale yellow pet beast paused for a moment, then called out to Qiao Sang and her companions, signaling that they could go inside. "How lucky." Alva remarked. "I can''t believe it''s your turn so soon. I won''t be going in, I¡¯ll wait for you outside." Their luck was indeed good, she had thought they might not get their turn... Qiao Sang mused as she stepped forward, following the group inside. Inside, she saw a woman with high cheekbones, thin lips, black hair, and brown eyes, along with a pet beast about seventy centimeters tall. Its body was mostly white, and it held a stack of cards in its right hand. Although its appearance was different, the floating ribbons on its body and the cards in its hand bore a slight resemblance to Ye Zomu. Ze Youlais? That small? Qiao Sang glanced at its wrist and, as expected, saw a lightweight miniaturization bracelet. Madeline smiled and said, "Sit wherever you like." There was a sofa nearby. Once everyone had taken their seats, Madeline spoke: "Do you have any questions? To ensure accuracy, Ze Youlais can only perform divination for two questions." So it wasn¡¯t one reading per person. No wonder the previous students finished so quickly... Qiao Sang thought. Magee pondered for a moment before looking to the others. "Do you have anything you¡¯d like to ask?" The group exchanged glances. Gerta spoke up first. Seeing that no one else was immediately responding, Magee said, "Then you go first." Gerta stood up, walked over to Ze Youlais, and asked seriously, "I want to know, will I inherit my family''s business in the future?" Ze Youlais didn¡¯t move. Madeline smiled. "Distant matters are unpredictable. Ze Youlais can only divine events within the next two days." Hearing this, Gerta looked a bit disappointed. "Then I¡¯ll ask whether I¡¯ll get a chance to participate in the upcoming friendly match." Madeline nodded at Ze Youlais. Receiving its trainer''s signal, Ze Youlais tossed the stack of cards into the air. The cards froze in midair, seemingly defying gravity. For a moment, time itself seemed to stand still. Then, one card suddenly lit up with a blue glow and flew back to Ze Youlais. "Zeyou." Ze Youlais said after glancing at the card. Madeline translated, "You will participate." Gerta smiled politely. "Thank you, I have no further questions." "Does anyone else have a question?" Madeline asked. As she finished speaking, she looked at Qiao Sang with a playful smile. "Aren''t you curious to experience the divination abilities of our Chaosu Star pet beasts?" During the morning match, Madeline had been present and knew the girl before her wasn''t from Chaosu Star. Sensing fate calling her? Qiao Sang hesitated before asking, "Can it divine something that exists but is unknown to me?" Madeline chuckled. "Isn¡¯t that the purpose of divination, to shed light on the unknown?" That made sense. Qiao Sang nodded. "Then I want to know, does the next stage of the Blazing Star Canine''s evolution have multiple forms or just one?" Yabao''s evolution was entirely new, with no set path. However, since she had the Beast Master¡¯s Codex, she could directly allocate points to ensure evolution without obstacles. But she wasn¡¯t sure whether a better evolution path existed for Yabao, which was why she was accumulating points to exchange for the Dream Enlightenment Stone. Although the evolved Flame Hound and Blazing Star Canine had never appeared on Blue Star, the Beast Master¡¯s Codex had consistently displayed their names. This led her to suspect that these forms had appeared on other planets. Perhaps an even higher evolutionary form existed. Of course, if Ze Youlais divined that there was only one path, Qiao Sang would still accumulate points for the Dream Enlightenment Stone. After all, given Ye Zomu¡¯s precedent, she didn¡¯t completely trust Ze Youlais¡¯s divination abilities. The others in the room were momentarily stunned, unsure why Qiao Sang was asking this question. "That¡¯s a Blazing Star Canine, right?" Madeline looked at Yabao and asked with certainty. She had used a pet beast identifier during the morning match. Now, she was just confirming. "Yap." Yabao nodded. Yes, it is me. "It is." Qiao Sang replied. Madeline nodded at Ze Youlais. Ze Youlais once again tossed the cards into the air. The cards froze. Ze Youlais closed its eyes. This time, it kept them shut for a long while. Ze Youlais furrowed its brows, and sweat formed on its forehead. Unseen to the others, its internal energy was rapidly depleting. The room remained silent for half a minute. Then, suddenly, Ze Youlais''s eyes snapped open, and all the floating cards crashed to the ground. Hulis and the others exchanged bewildered glances. "Zeyou..." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ze Youlais shook its head at its trainer. Madeline''s expression became complicated as she glanced at Qiao Sang and the Blazing Star Canine. "Ze Youlais has exhausted its energy. It won¡¯t be able to divine anything else today. When you leave, please inform the others not to wait anymore." Qiao Sang: ... She knew she shouldn¡¯t have gotten her hopes up. --- 7:00 PM. A five-star hotel within a kilometer of Sahel Academy. Room 2703. Qiao Sang stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the first district under the night sky. Sainan High School had been generous, booking a five-star hotel and giving each student a private room. This was quite different from last time when she had to share a room with Yang Jiayi. It felt a little strange. She turned around and saw Little Treasure carefully applying strengthening oil to Gangbao. It seemed that the past two days of team battle training had really strengthened the bond between them¡­ Qiao Sang thought with satisfaction. After watching for a while, Qiao Sang asked, "I see you two have built quite a bit of teamwork. Want to test it in tomorrow¡¯s match?" Chapter 560: Too Tragic! Chapter 560: Too Tragic!Read at: /?m=1 ----- Today, she had observed the leading contestants from each school and assessed their overall strength. They were decent, but not so formidable that she found them impossible to handle. It wasn''t that their beasts lacked synergy, certainly not worse than what Yabao and Lubao had achieved in just two days of training, but most of them had teams composed of two mid-level beasts. Only a few had a combination of one high-level beast and one mid-level beast. Given this situation, she was confident that Little Treasure and Gangbao could secure a victory in their match. After all, with Little Treasure''s abilities, he was practically made for team battles. Even if the opposing team had a beast stronger than Little Gangbao, they could compensate for the gap through teamwork. "Xun~" Little Treasure paused his movements, raised his head, and called out in a relaxed manner, signaling that there was no problem. He had been watching from the sidelines all day and didn¡¯t think today¡¯s competitors were stronger than Yabao or Lubao. "Gang." Gangbao, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned before nodding seriously with a determined expression. She hadn¡¯t expected her Beast Master to send her into battle. After watching today¡¯s matches, she felt like everyone was stronger than herself¡­ For a moment, Gangbao felt a heavy burden on her shoulders. She didn¡¯t want to lose. --- That night, just as Gangbao closed her eyes to sleep, she suddenly opened them again and got up. She walked over to Little Treasure, who was playing on his phone. "Gang." Gangbao nudged Little Treasure with her wing. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure turned his head with a puzzled expression. "Gang gang." "Gang." Gangbao lowered her voice and asked if they should take advantage of the remaining time to train a bit more before the match tomorrow. "Xun xun?!" Little Treasure''s eyes widened in shock. What kind of terrifying idea was that?! Nighttime was for sleeping! "Gang." Gangbao remained serious, she was just worried about the match. Hearing this, Little Treasure let out a sigh of relief. So that¡¯s what it was. "Xun xun~" He patted Gangbao on the shoulder with his paw, calling out in a big-brotherly tone to reassure her, there was no need to worry. With him around, they wouldn¡¯t lose even without extra training. ?????????O??¦¥£Ó "Gang." Gangbao used her wing to knock Little Treasure''s paw off her shoulder. She wasn¡¯t convinced. Little Treasure: ¡­ --- At 7:30 in the morning, Qiao Sang, who had stayed up all night doing practice problems, suddenly heard a thud as something collapsed to the ground. Turning her head, she saw that Little Treasure, who had snuck out in the middle of the night, was now lying face-down on the floor. Qiao Sang was startled. "What¡¯s wrong with you?" "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure struggled to lift his head, revealing a face that looked as though he had aged several years overnight. The next second, he collapsed face-first onto the ground again. "Gang gang." At that moment, Gangbao flew in through the open window, sporting two large dark circles under her eyes. She chirped, explaining that it was nothing, just an all-night training session. Qiao Sang: ¡­ So there was really that much difference between staying up all night playing on your phone and staying up all night training¡­ Qiao Sang sighed, stood up, and bent down to pick up Little Treasure. She glanced at Lubao, who was already awake. Before she could say anything, Lubao had already guessed her thoughts. Amused, she looked at Little Treasure, who seemed completely out of it. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, the white gemstone on Lubao¡¯s forehead emitted a blue glow. A few seconds later, the dark circles under Qiao Sang, Little Treasure''s, and Gangbao''s eyes disappeared. "Xun xun!" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure, now fully restored, buried hi self in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, tearfully recounting his tragic night. Too miserable! Old Four wouldn¡¯t let him rest at all! He was a high-level beast, and she was just a low-level one. Even if he had refused, what could he do against Gangbao?! Qiao Sang patted Little Treasure''s head in comfort. "You worked hard." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure teared up: It really was too much effort. Qiao Sang then turned to Gangbao with a gentle look. "Didn¡¯t the breeder mention last time that you¡¯re still under a year old? You need to get enough sleep. I let you participate because I trust in your synergy and strength." "Of course, I¡¯m glad you take the competition seriously. But next time, make sure you get enough rest first. You¡¯re still too young." Last night, Little Treasure and Gangbao had informed her before heading out to train, even asking her to suggest a location, the 15th-floor training area in the hotel, reserved for guests. She had assumed they¡¯d train for an hour or so and then return, but they had gone all the way until morning. "Gang." Gangbao recalled what the breeder had said last time and nodded. She had almost forgotten about that. --- Sahel Academy. Pet Beast Battle Arena. The audience was noisy, with people constantly switching seats to chat with their newfound friends. Compared to yesterday, they were all much more familiar with each other. Gerta and Pelleg also got up to change seats. Even though the seating was chaotic, everyone still wore their respective school uniforms, making it easy to recognize who was from where. A male student wearing a Sahel uniform and a black newsboy cap sat down in front of Qiao Sang. Alva glanced at him several times before suddenly recognizing him. She leaned forward and patted his shoulder with a smile. "Thompson, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen you wear a hat." Cyril Thompson? Qiao Sang silently glanced at him. Thompson turned his head and met Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze. His calm expression instantly stiffened. Without a word, he stood up and walked away. "What¡¯s up with him?" Alva was baffled. Beside her, Hulis glanced at Qiao Sang with a complicated expression. He had a strong feeling that Thompson¡¯s reaction had something to do with her. --- Meanwhile, Thompson returned to his original seat. "Why are you back? Didn¡¯t we agree to switch seats? My friend is coming soon." Said a red-haired boy with freckles. "I changed my mind." Thompson replied coldly. The red-haired boy frowned but said nothing, turning to discuss the seat switch with someone else. "You¡¯re back already?" The student on Thompson¡¯s right, Radko, asked. "Something wrong?" Thompson was silent for two seconds before replying in a low voice. "Qiao Sang is sitting right behind that spot." Radko instinctively glanced at the newsboy cap on Thompson¡¯s head. Retracting his gaze, he said nothing more. Yesterday, Thompson had felt increasingly uneasy. He had contracted the Venomous Hawk for a long time, yet this was the first time something like this had happened. The more he thought about it, the more he suspected it had something to do with that ghost-type beast with glowing purple eyes. Even though he didn¡¯t have much experience with ghost-type beasts, he still knew the basics. After thinking it through, he realized he had likely been hit with a curse-type debuff skill. No wonder Qiao Sang had simply said a few words before leaving. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. Now, he just wanted to stay far away from Qiao Sang. As Thompson¡¯s friend, Radko knew the whole story and understood his thoughts. He cast a deep glance toward Qiao Sang¡¯s seat. A ghost-type beast with a cursing ability¡­ Would it be appearing in the matches? --- At the same time, Alva, who had been watching Thompson switch seats, noticed the person next to him turning to look over. She immediately introduced him to Qiao Sang. "See that guy next to Thompson? That¡¯s Radko. He¡¯s one of our school¡¯s competitors in this friendship match." Qiao Sang followed her gaze and casually asked, "What kind of beast does he have?" Chapter 561: Qiao Sang vs. Ashur Chapter 561: Qiao Sang vs. AshurRead at: /?m=1 ----- Alva, who had never experienced a major tournament before, had no idea how crucial pre-match intelligence was. But even if she had known, she probably wouldn¡¯t have cared much. In her opinion, this wasn¡¯t some classified information, it was just a friendly match. Besides, if anyone wanted to learn about the participants from her school, they could simply ask any student from Sahel Academy. She was a volunteer, and one of her duties was to help answer questions for students from other schools. So, without any reservations, Alva began introducing Radko''s situation: ¡°He has two pet beasts, one is a high-level Fairy-type pet, Poponelli, and the other is a mid-level dual-type Fighting and Steel pet, Punch-Hook Baboon.¡± At this point, Alva stopped talking. Qiao Sang waited for three seconds before she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are Poponelli¡¯s and Punch-Hook Baboon¡¯s abilities and skills?¡± Alva was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qiao Sang to ask in such detail. After thinking for a while, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the specifics, but Poponelli¡¯s innate skill is Purification, which effectively weakens the duration of poison and curses. That¡¯s all I know. I¡¯m not in the same class as Radko, and I haven¡¯t seen him battle. I just know he¡¯s really good at team battles and often represents our school in 2v2 team competitions.¡± Purification¡­ Qiao Sang repeated the name of the skill in her mind. She was quite familiar with this ability. Purification was a high-tier Fairy-type skill that could cleanse toxins and curses within a target¡¯s body, making it a natural counter to Poison-type pets and Ghost-types that specialized in curse-based abilities. Many high-level Beast Tamers preferred to rent Fairy-type pets with Purification when venturing into secret realms. After all, the secret realms they explored were usually classified as high-danger zones by the Alliance. In such environments, encounters with Poison-type and Ghost-type pets were significantly more likely. Based on Alva¡¯s description, Poponelli¡¯s Purification only weakened the duration of poison and curses rather than completely removing them, which indicated that its proficiency level wasn¡¯t high yet¡­ But even if it were fully mastered, it wouldn¡¯t matter, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have any Poison-type pets, and Little Treasure rarely used Misfortune Curse in battles anyway¡­ She instinctively started analyzing the situation. That dual-type Fighting and Steel Punch-Hook Baboon sounded like a tank. Gangbao wouldn¡¯t have much of an advantage against it, and if Little Treasure attacked it, there would still be a high-level Fairy-type pet watching for an opportunity. It seemed like the best strategy would be to send in a combination of Yabao and Lubao against Radko¡­ While Qiao Sang was lost in thought, a Sahel Academy official stepped up and gave a lengthy speech, mostly about hoping everyone would have a pleasant time. Qiao Sang was so bored she almost fell asleep and unexpectedly found herself missing a person she had only met once, the principal of Sahel Academy. If only all officials were like that principal¡­ She mused while pulling out her textbook. About twenty minutes later, a virtual screen appeared, marking the beginning of the first round of team matchups. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, two school emblems were magnified and displayed at the center of the screen. One had a red background with a circular emblem featuring the legendary pet beast, Laisemodo. The other had a white background with a circular emblem displaying a trophy. Then, the screen scrolled again. This time, two profile pictures appeared. One of them featured a girl with red hair and black eyes, someone Qiao Sang recognized: Gerta. Looks like Ze Youlais¡¯s divination accuracy is much higher than Ye Zomu¡¯s¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she watched Gerta walk up with a black girl who had curly hair. For most high school students, having only two pet beasts was common. Because their attributes were fixed, battle strategies were straightforward, and often, just by seeing the summoned pets, people could predict the outcome. This match had no suspense. Gerta¡¯s pets were Water-type and Ice-type, while her opponent¡¯s were Fire-type and Ground-type, a complete elemental disadvantage. The black girl only lasted a little over two minutes before both her pets were defeated by the synergy of Gerta¡¯s team. The tournament continued smoothly. After about forty minutes, the screen rolled again. When the school emblems and contestant names appeared, the broadcast announcement rang out: ¡°Senan High School¡¯s Qiao Sang vs. Chegebi Academy¡¯s Omar Ashur. Both contestants, please enter the arena.¡± Omar Ashur? Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. After watching matches all day yesterday, only a few contestants had left a lasting impression. Ashur was one of them, his pet beast synergy focused on a Charm Tactic, which stood out to her. She hadn¡¯t expected to face him so soon. Yesterday, she had thought that if she encountered him, she would use a combination of Yabao and Little Treasure or Lubao and Gangbao. After all, Charm wasn¡¯t a group effect, it could only be used on a single pet at a time. If she sent out two pets of the same gender, at most, one would be affected while the other could seize the opportunity to attack and eliminate the charmer first. As for the second pet, if it also had Charm, but its gender matched her two chosen pets, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about them being affected. That meant she could take it down quickly as well¡­ As these thoughts ran through her mind, Qiao Sang stepped into the arena. Once in position, she caught a glimpse of Gangbao''s serious expression, snapping her out of her strategy planning. For today¡¯s match, Little Treasure and Gangbao had even pulled an all-nighter training¡­ With that in mind, Qiao Sang calmed herself, refrained from forming hand seals, and instead, glanced to the side. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure materialized. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao, looking serious, flapped her wings and flew onto the battlefield. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next moment, Little Treasure teleported to Gangbao''s side. Seeing this, Ashur, who had just begun forming a hand seal, paused. The entire arena instantly buzzed with excited discussion, growing increasingly noisy. Qiao Sang¡¯s star array was orange-yellow, meaning she had four pet beasts, something that didn¡¯t surprise the audience much. But what had just happened with that Ghost-type pet? Teleportation? Did it just use Teleport?! In the stands, Thompson¡¯s face darkened. He didn¡¯t even look at the Steel Falcon, instead, his gaze was fixed on the unfamiliar Ghost-type pet. The thought of the bald patch on his head made it hard not to develop a psychological shadow toward this pet. At that moment, a mechanical voice sounded beside him: ¡°Ghost Ring Phantom, A high-level Ghost-type pet from Blue Star¡¯s Dragon Nation. It enjoys storing items inside its rings. If you encounter one, be mindful of your belongings, as anything it takes a liking to will be quietly stolen.¡± Thompson turned and saw Radko holding a pet beast identifier aimed at the Ghost-type pet in the arena. The scanner displayed a full holographic image of the Ghost Ring Phantom. Suddenly, Radko¡¯s face froze as realization dawned on him. With a serious expression, he muttered: ¡°That¡¯s a partial-colored Ghost Ring Phantom!¡± ----- T/n: Sorry for not updating this past few days. I got quite sick and we thought it might be Dengue (Because a lot of people seems to get sick with it in our place). Thankfully enough, it wasn''t and so, I''m recovering well! Sorry this one''s late though. Chapter 562: Absolute Control Chapter 562: Absolute ControlRead at: /?m=1 ----- Radko''s pet beast identifier was highly advanced. Next to the identified pet beast¡¯s holographic image, it also displayed the species'' typical height and weight. Looking at the Ghost Ring Phantom on the field, which clearly differed from the hologram in both body size and eye color, Radko quickly realized that this was a partial color variant pet beast. Of course, this was also due to his upbringing. In his circle, no one would tarnish their reputation by dyeing a pet beast to pass it off as a rare color variant. Moreover, the Ghost Ring Phantom on the field had an additional Psychic attribute, which made him dismiss the idea of mere cosmetic alterations like dyeing or contact lenses altogether. Thompson had the same reaction. After hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, then murmured, ¡°No wonder¡­ No wonder¡­¡± No wonder this Ghost-type pet beast also had a Psychic attribute¡­ While the two conversed, the audience in the stands buzzed with discussion: ¡°Ghost and Psychic¡­ I can''t even imagine that attribute combination¡­¡± ¡°For the first time, I truly understand jealousy! One rare pet beast is already impressive, but why are all three of hers so unique?!¡± ¡°I thought it was just a low-level pet because of its small size, but it turns out it¡¯s an high-level one.¡± ¡°Three high-level pet beasts¡­ And she¡¯s still just a high school student¡­¡± ¡°Looking at her three pet beasts, I don¡¯t understand how she managed to contract a Steel Falcon?¡± ¡°You have to admit, there are very few pet beasts that can match that species in intelligence.¡± --- On the battlefield, Ashur had already summoned his two pet beasts. The surrounding chatter was too noisy for him to catch useful information. Two low-level pet beasts? Ashur frowned as he looked at the Steel Falcon in the distance and the Ghost-type pet beast that was only slightly larger than it. But the next second, he dismissed that idea. Even though this was a friendly match, no one came here to lose. With two high-level pet beasts at her disposal, there was no way she would send out two low-level ones. That would not only be disrespectful to the match but also to her opponent. At that moment, the broadcast announced the start of the battle. Almost the instant the voice finished speaking, Little Treasure vanished into invisibility. ¡°Charm!¡± Ashur remained unfazed and gave his command. The biggest mistake in battle was letting the opponent control the pace from the start, and Ashur knew this well. Since that Ghost-type pet beast was currently unseen, he decided to focus all attacks on the Steel Falcon first! The Steel Falcon¡¯s gender was unknown, but that didn¡¯t matter. Blasen and Hatgentle simultaneously used Charm, one of them was bound to succeed! ¡°Bubu~¡± ¡°Hat~¡± The two pet beasts, one white and one black, fluttered their eyes flirtatiously at the Steel Falcon, as if launching pink heart-shaped beams into the air, making the scene suddenly feel strangely amorous. Blasen and Hatgentle¡­ Qiao Sang recognized the two pet beasts in the distance. One was predominantly white and resembled a noblewoman in a flowing dress, while the other was mainly black and looked like a gentleman in a top hat. Their species names flashed through her mind. Since Ashur had won a previous match, he might become her opponent. Gathering intel on potential opponents had become second nature to her during the National Campus Beast Mastering League. After Ashur¡¯s victory yesterday, she had looked up his two pet beasts. Blasen and Hatgentle were both evolved forms of the low-level Psychic-type pet beast, Mushroom Sprite. However, the evolution differed by gender: A female Mushroom Sprite evolved into Blasen, while a male evolved into Hatgentle. Both could sense emotions within a hundred meters. If they detected hostility, they would immediately attack. No wonder he isn¡¯t guarding against Little Treasure''s invisibility, he probably isn¡¯t worried about being caught off guard. Qiao Sang analyzed the situation calmly. She didn¡¯t give a command. Little Treasure and Gangbao had watched the matches yesterday, and with their intelligence, they certainly understood the effects of Charm. Just as Qiao Sang expected, the moment Blasen and Hatgentle fluttered their eyes, Gangbao shut her own. The next second, Hatgentle appeared in front of Gangbao, looking utterly dazed. ¡°Hat~¡± Its expression soon changed, its eyes filling with pink hearts as it gazed at Blasen with infatuation. In midair, Little Treasure Hunter materialized, its eyes glowing blue as it covered its mouth, giggling. That¡¯s¡­ Ashur¡¯s heart jolted as he took in the battlefield¡¯s sudden shift. His gaze snapped up to the Ghost-type pet beast with glowing blue eyes, and his mind raced. As a Beast master specializing in Psychic-types, he was more than familiar with Psychic skills. That Ghost-type pet beast used a high-level skill, Spatial Shift! It had swapped Hatgentle¡¯s position, placing it in front of the Steel Falcon to take Blasen¡¯s Charm instead! Unbelievable! It can use Spatial Shift, so it really is an high-level pet beast¡­ Ashur refocused and immediately commanded, ¡°Wake-Up Slap!¡± Wake-Up Slap, a mid-tier Fighting-type skill that deals heavy damage to targets under abnormal conditions but simultaneously removes effects like sleep or confusion. He¡¯s trying to wake Hatgentle up¡­ Hearing "Wake-Up Slap," Qiao Sang instantly saw through her opponent¡¯s plan. ¡°Bubu~¡± Blasen teleported to the love-struck Hatgentle and raised its paw, white light gathering in its palm. But before the first slap could land, Gangbao''s eyes shot open. Her wings spread wide, resembling two sharp white blades slashing mercilessly toward Hatgentle. ¡°Hat!¡± Hatgentle let out a cry of pain, tumbling forward. Blasen¡¯s slap hit nothing but air. ¡°Bubu¡­¡± Blasen looked up, only to meet Gangbao''s gaze. Years of battle experience told Blasen this was an opening. ¡°Bubu~¡± On instinct, Blasen fluttered its eyes flirtatiously. This time, at such close range, Charm took full effect. ¡°Gang.¡± Gangbao''s expression remained unchanged as her blade-like wings slashed forward again. Blasen activated its energy to teleport, but it suddenly found itself unable to move. ¡°Bubu¡­¡± A realization struck Blasen. Looking down, it saw its shadow entwined with a dark, eerie silhouette. ¡°Bubu!¡± Gangbao slashed down, striking Blasen squarely. Shadow Control¡­ Ashur¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he looked at the Ghost-type pet beast, which had teleported to the ground nearby. A single thought screamed in his mind: It knows Shadow Control too?! Meanwhile. ¡°Hat¡­¡± Hatgentle, struggling to get up, suddenly realized it couldn¡¯t move. On its knees, claws pressing against the ground, it lowered its head... Its legs were bound by the same dark, eerie shadow. ¡°Hat¡­¡± It turned its head in horror. ¡°Xun~¡± Noticing his opponent¡¯s gaze, Little Treasure flashed a friendly smile. Before Hatgentle could react, razor-sharp Air Blades rained down on both it and Blasen. ¡°Hat!¡± ¡°Bubu!¡± The battlefield echoed with their cries. Ashur clenched his fists, refusing to give up. He quickly devised a strategy. The Steel Falcon was a low-level pet, meaning its attacks were limited. But Blasen and Hatgentle were fragile, if this onslaught continued, defeat was inevitable. Eliminate the Steel Falcon first! That Ghost-type pet beast is occupied using Shadow Control and can¡¯t move. If it protects Steel Falcon, it¡¯ll have to release its control. I was caught off guard before, but once we get past this hurdle, my pets¡¯ teleportation will prevent them from being restrained again! ¡°Psychic!¡± Ashur took a deep breath and commanded loudly. Psychic-types excelled in one thing, attacking without needing to move! ¡°Bubu!¡± ¡°Hat!¡± Blasen and Hatgentle, still reeling from attacks, forced their eyes open, turning toward Gangbao. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang finally issued her first command: ¡°Three-Dimensional Bind.¡± ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure chirped. In the next second, the shadow tendrils coiling around Blasen and Hatgentle twisted upwards, covering their eyes before they could activate Psychic. Ashur: !!! Thirty seconds later... Under Little Treasure''s Absolute Control and Gangbao''s relentless assault, both Blasen and Hatgentle collapsed. Little Treasure released Shadow Control. Gazing at the fallen opponents, he recalled his Beast master¡¯s past words about finishing moves. So, he casually launched two Shadow Balls at each of them. ¡°Xun~¡± Satisfied, Little Treasure beamed. The audience fell utterly silent. Chapter 563: A Perfect Way to Farm Points Chapter 563: A Perfect Way to Farm PointsRead at: /?m=1 ----- Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the ghost-type pet beast, which was about the same size as most beginner-level pet beasts. They never expected this pet beast to simultaneously possess two highly difficult skills, Spatial Shift and Shadow Control, which were extremely rare in both the psychic and ghost types! Not only that, but its Shadow Control had even reached the three-dimensional mode! A few seconds later, the audience erupted into an uproar, with discussions breaking out everywhere. "Ashur was completely overwhelmed! That ghost-type pet beast is terrifying, it effortlessly controlled both Blasrnn and Hatgentle!" "This isn''t the level of battle that should be happening in high school." "It¡¯s like Qiao Sang knew from the start that her opponent would be Ashur. She barely even gave any commands, yet her two pet beasts knew exactly how to counter Blasen and Hatgentle''s charm abilities." "I noticed it too! When Blasen and Hatgentle used charm, the Steel Falcon closed its eyes, and the ghost-type pet beast even moved Hatgentle to block Blasen¡¯s charm. If they hadn¡¯t planned this in advance, I wouldn¡¯t believe it for a second." "Exactly! Otherwise, why would Steel Falcon close its eyes? Even if it wanted to resist charm, shutting its eyes would be too risky. Both Blasen and Hatgentle are psychic-type pet beasts and are even a level higher than it. They could have easily taken it down the moment it closed its eyes. The only reason the Steel Falcon did it was because it trusted the ghost-type pet beast to act at the right moment." "I also think Steel Falcon knew that the ghost-type pet beast would move Hatgentle instead of Blasen. Otherwise, why would it specifically close its eyes against Hatgentle''s charm? Look, later on, when Blasen tried to use charm at close range, it had no effect. The Steel Falcon knew how charm worked and was aware that Hatgentle was a different gender." "Oh my god, I wouldn¡¯t have thought of all this if you guys didn¡¯t point it out! My attention was completely on that ghost-type pet beast!" "Qiao Sang¡¯s skill level is already far beyond her peers. She should be competing against older and more experienced opponents, not participating in this friendly match." "You¡¯re right. Even if she has a solid core strategy, the gap in pet beast strength is just too huge. That ghost-type pet beast¡¯s Shadow Control completely immobilized the opponents, turning them into nothing more than standing targets." The students from Sainan High School were initially thrilled, but when they realized that Qiao Sang could be their next opponent, their excitement quickly died down. "Looks like there¡¯s no suspense about who¡¯s winning the championship this time." The young black man sitting next to Magee sighed. Magee restrained the smile on his face and responded humbly, "That¡¯s not necessarily true. Qiao Sang just has more pet beasts, and people aren''t familiar with their abilities yet. Now that all her pet beasts have been revealed, her opponents will be better prepared. She won¡¯t have such an easy time winning anymore." The young man gave him a silent glance. This guy didn¡¯t say she won¡¯t win, just that she won¡¯t win as easily. --- At 7 PM. After turning down a few dinner invitations, Qiao Sang returned to her hotel. She sat at her desk reading for about ten minutes before suddenly thinking of something. She turned to Gangbao and asked, "What''s wrong with you?" Ever since the match ended today, she had noticed that Gangbao had been unusually quiet. Although she was usually reserved, today¡¯s silence felt different. Gangbao, who had been silently feeding Chan Chan Stone some spicy peppers, paused for a moment, then looked up and let out a calm cry, indicating that nothing was wrong. She just felt... weak. Qiao Sang: ??? Didn¡¯t they win the match? "Do you feel like Little Treasure was doing all the work while you just attacked?" Qiao Sang tested. Gangbao fell silent and nodded. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Well, that was unavoidable. The opponents were both psychic-types and could teleport. If Little Treasure hadn¡¯t taken control of them, Gangbao wouldn¡¯t have been able to dodge their attacks in time¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Don¡¯t think of it that way. If they hadn¡¯t targeted you first, Little Treasure wouldn¡¯t have been able to control them so smoothly." "Gang¡­ Gang..." Gangbao gave her trainer a glance. She understood. Attack the weaker target first, huh. Qiao Sang: ... How do you comfort a pet beast that¡¯s too smart? Asking for advice, this is urgent! Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched as she sighed helplessly. "You¡¯re still just a beginner-level pet beast. Your opponents were all a level higher than you, and Little Treasure is two levels higher. The fact that you could work so well with him during the match is already impressive. Once you evolve, you¡¯ll be stronger." "Gang gang." Gangbao nodded, indicating she understood. Then, she turned back and continued feeding spicy peppers to Chan Chan Stone. Qiao Sang sighed silently. She felt that Gangbao was more mature than Yabao and the others. She would express her concerns, but she wouldn¡¯t fully open up. It was like a mother noticing that her child came home from school acting off, asking what happened. The child would hesitate, then give a brief answer. The mother would offer some comforting words, and the child would nod, signaling the end of the conversation. But whether the issue was truly resolved¡­ only the child knew. Lubao, in contrast, didn¡¯t say much either but she would emit cold air or spray water to physically express her displeasure. Qiao Sang found herself unable to focus on her book. After a moment of thought, she closed her eyes and entered the Beast Taming Codex. The pages flipped quickly until she reached Gangbao''s entry. Name: Steel Falcon (Gangbao) Attributes: Steel, Flying Level: Beginner (815/1000) + Her gaze moved down to the last line. Points: 280 280?! Yesterday, it was 120, and today it¡¯s 280?! Did today¡¯s team battle give Gangbao 160 points in one go?! Qiao Sang¡¯s heart pounded wildly. She suddenly realized that she had overlooked a perfect method for quickly farming points! From past experience, she knew that defeating pet beasts of a higher level yielded significantly more points. But not all same-level pet beasts gave the same points, the stronger the opponent, the more points awarded. Team battles allowed Gangbao to defeat much stronger opponents by working with teammates. Previously, she had only tested letting Yabao and the others battle opponents one level higher in competitions. But what if they challenged opponents two levels higher? Of course, Yabao and the others couldn¡¯t do it yet. But Gangbao? It might be possible! Back when Yabao was still a beginner-level pet beast, he landed the finishing blow on Thunderbolt Bird, earning a staggering 930 points in one go! The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. She shifted her gaze to the first skill listed. [Iron Wall (Mastery 476/500) +] To achieve a perfect evolution, Gangbao needed to master a defensive skill at the minor proficiency level while still at the beginner stage. At this rate, Gangbao would meet that condition by tomorrow. If she used all her points to level her up, she could evolve immediately¡­ But that would mean losing the chance to farm more points through team battles against stronger opponents. Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. Once Gangbao evolved, she would be harder to fight opponents two levels above her in team battles to farm points efficiently¡­ Chapter 564: I Think That Person Is Still You Chapter 564: I Think That Person Is Still YouRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang hesitated for less than a second in her mind before deciding not to immediately allocate the points to upgrade Gangbao''s level. Instead, she planned to let her naturally evolve into an intermediate pet while accumulating more points in the meantime. Then, when the time came, she could allocate them all at once, allowing her to evolve into an high-level pet more quickly. The higher a pet¡¯s level, the more points it needed. So, it was best to accumulate as much as possible while she still could. A strong foundation leads to rapid progress, this would also help Gangbao catch up with Yabao and the others faster... Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness returned to reality, her gaze burning as she looked at Gangbao. ¡°In the next few days of competition, I¡¯ll be sending you into battle.¡± ¡°Gang Gang?¡± Gangbao looked up with a puzzled expression. She didn¡¯t understand why, as the weakest one, she was still being sent into battle. Of course, it was to accumulate points while still in the beginner stage! Qiao Sang said seriously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you felt weak? Facing stronger opponents will help you improve faster. Even though this is a team battle and you might not be the main damage dealer, all your opponents are stronger than you. Under these circumstances, just not dragging your team down is already an outstanding performance. Because if you make a mistake, your teammates will have to fight two-on-one.¡± She then smiled. ¡°I should¡¯ve said this earlier, if you hadn¡¯t trusted Little Treasure today and closed your eyes to avoid Hatgentle¡¯s charm, and if you hadn¡¯t attacked Hatgentle in time to prevent it from being awakened by Blasen''s wake-up slap, we wouldn¡¯t have won the match so easily.¡± ¡°Gang...¡± Gangbao thought for a moment. That made sense, she had contributed, after all... Qiao Sang continued, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be comparing yourself directly to Little Treasure and the others. It¡¯s okay to want to surpass them, but that won¡¯t happen overnight. You need to build up your strength step by step, understand?¡± ¡°As long as you improve every day, you¡¯ll catch up to them sooner or later.¡± With intelligent pets, sometimes it was better to be direct. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao nodded, showing an expression of understanding. She realized that her mindset had indeed been a little off. Thinking about this, Gangbao turned back and continued feeding spicy peppers to Chan Chan Stone, only this time, its actions were more focused. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure, who had been listening nearby, quietly went invisible. Too scary... If Gangbao has to battle every day now, what if she drags me into late-night training again... ¡°Xun xun...¡± You can¡¯t see me, you can¡¯t see me... --- At 8:30 AM, Qiao Sang carried Yabao and arrived at Sahel Academy with Magee¡¯s group. ¡°Qiao Sang.¡± A voice called out near the competition venue. Qiao Sang followed the sound and saw a black-haired, brown-eyed woman, Madeline, the teacher who had performed a divination for her two days ago. ¡°We¡¯ll go inside and wait for you.¡± Magee nodded politely at Madeline before turning to Qiao Sang. After that, he led Hulis and the others into the venue. Come on, was that really necessary? Maybe she¡¯s just here to say hi... Qiao Sang complained internally but kept a smile on her face as she greeted, ¡°Ms. Madeline.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find a quiet place. I¡¯ll redo your divination from last time.¡± Madeline approached and said, ¡°This time, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues with energy shortage. After all, you¡¯re the first person it¡¯s divining for today.¡± ¡°Youlais.¡± Ze Youlais nodded. Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected Madeline to seek her out for a divination. She immediately nodded. ¡°Alright!¡± Yesterday, Gerta¡¯s performance proved that Ze Youlais''s divinations had some accuracy. The two moved under a camphor tree. Ze Youlais glanced at Yabao, then seriously tossed the cards into the air. The cards hovered chaotically in midair. Then, Ze Youlais closed its eyes. As time passed, Madeline¡¯s smile slowly stiffened, and an uneasy feeling crept into her heart. Not again... Could the energy be insufficient once more? But how was that possible? The divination target was just a high-level pet¡­ What had gone wrong? Madeline stared at the Blazing Star Canine in confusion. About thirty seconds later, the cards fell, and Ze Youlais opened its eyes, shaking its head in disappointment. Qiao Sang looked at Madeline. Madeline remained silent for a few seconds, then took out her phone. Her voice was unusually serious. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange contact information. When Ze Youlais evolves into a king-tier pet, I¡¯ll contact you and redo your divination.¡± Qiao Sang, pulling out her phone, asked, ¡°Is Ze Youlais evolving soon?¡± ¡°No.¡± Madeline shook her head. Qiao Sang pressed on, ¡°Then when do you expect it to evolve?¡± Madeline thought for a moment before saying, ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but I believe it will reach king-tier within ten years.¡± Ten years?! Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Ten years? Why would I need a divination for this in ten years? By then, Yabao will have evolved ages ago! ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Madeline asked when she saw Qiao Sang¡¯s strange expression. What do you think? Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No.¡± --- Qiao Sang sat in Row 3, Seat 27 of Zone C. Hulis and the others didn¡¯t ask what Madeline had wanted, it was a personal matter, and they respected her privacy. The matches were ongoing. It was now the third day of the friendship match, and all three selected students from each school had already competed. Sainan High School¡¯s third contestant, Pelleg, had fought yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, he lost in the first round. Still, Pelleg had a good mindset and didn¡¯t seem discouraged. As the match ended, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and started typing in her notes. ¡°What are you writing?¡± Alva asked curiously. ¡°Opponent information.¡± Qiao Sang continued typing. ¡°Anyone who wins could be my future opponent.¡± Alva was momentarily stunned, then stared at Qiao Sang in shock. She¡¯s already this strong, yet she¡¯s still so serious¡­ She¡¯s really leaving no chance for anyone else, huh? The match proceeded smoothly. By the time the morning matches concluded, the top eighteen players had been determined. When the host announced this, Qiao Sang was momentarily taken aback. They were already down to eighteen? That meant Gangbao wouldn¡¯t have many battles left. ¡°This afternoon, we¡¯ll determine the top nine. Among them, one contestant will be randomly drawn to get a bye to the next round.¡± The host announced. ¡°So, after your matches, please don¡¯t leave.¡± Qiao Sang thought, Please don¡¯t let it be me. Just then, Alva suddenly said, ¡°Qiao Sang, looks like you¡¯ll get the bye.¡± What have I ever done to you? Why would you jinx me like that¡­ Qiao Sang hesitated before asking, ¡°Why do you think that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s common sense to let the strongest one get the bye.¡± Alva said with a wave of her hand. No, everyone made it to the top eighteen on their own merits. Why am I suddenly the strongest? Qiao Sang righteously countered, ¡°It¡¯s just a random draw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a formality.¡± Alva grinned. ¡°And in the next round, when five players remain, another will get a bye. I think that person will still be you.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 565: Dont Win Too Easily Chapter 565: Don''t Win Too EasilyRead at: /?m=1 ----- A spot in the top five still required one contestant to receive a bye?! She had just come up with a way for Gangbao to quickly accumulate points, and now she was being directly sent to the semifinals? Based on previous calculations, defeating a mid-tier pet earned 80 points. Even if she didn¡¯t face a single high-tier pet in the next two rounds, that would still be 320 points. A whole 320 points, just gone like that? Qiao Sang remained silent for a long time. Although Alva¡¯s words were unpleasant to hear, selecting the strongest contestant to receive a bye was a common practice in many competitions. Damn it, after just two rounds, she was already deemed the strongest? Wasn¡¯t that a bit too hasty? Suddenly, Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up as she came to a realization. She jumped up abruptly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Alva asked. ¡°Bathroom.¡± With that, Qiao Sang turned and walked away. Of course, going to the bathroom was just an excuse. While the other schools were still in the arena, she slipped away to find a quiet place. ¡°Don¡¯t win too easily in the afternoon match.¡± Qiao Sang told Little Treasure and Gangbao. The so-called bye was still just Alva¡¯s speculation, but compared to the other contestants, her performance in the first two rounds had indeed been much stronger. However, before the bye decision was made, there was still one match in the afternoon. She could make herself seem a little weaker so that the officials wouldn¡¯t think she was the best candidate for the bye. ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure looked curious. Why? ¡°To get in more matches.¡± Qiao Sang answered honestly. ¡°Otherwise, I might get back-to-back byes and be sent straight to the semifinals.¡± ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure didn¡¯t quite understand. Wasn¡¯t going straight to the semifinals a good thing? ¡°Gangbao needs more battles to grow stronger.¡± Qiao Sang patiently explained. After this friendly match, she had to return to the 3rd District. Even if she didn¡¯t actively allocate points to Gangbao, she would still gain points daily, making evolution inevitable. However, opportunities to farm points through team battles were rare. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure understood and patted his chest with his paw, assuring Qiao Sang that she could count on him. As long as the fourth child, Gangbao, slept on time like last night and didn¡¯t drag him into all-night training sessions, playing a few extra matches was fine! Gangbao flapped her wings but remained silent. In her view, whether the match was easy or not didn¡¯t depend on herself, Little Treasure needed to be the one to watch out. --- At 2:30 p.m., in the pet battle arena. Qiao Sang sat with Yabao in her arms, watching the match. Magee was seated right beside her. Now that Qiao Sang was the only remaining contestant from Sainan High School, Magee had to keep an eye on her. ¡°Which two pets are you planning to send out?¡± Magee asked. ¡°Haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Revealing pet choices before a match was a huge taboo. Since there were people around, she instinctively kept it vague. ¡°Anyone is fine, just don¡¯t send out the Little Steel Falcon.¡± Magee said in a lowered voice. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang frowned slightly. ¡°I talked to the higher-ups at Sahel School during lunch. They unanimously agreed that you¡¯re the strongest contestant here. If nothing unexpected happens, you¡¯ll be given a bye after this match.¡± Maggie spoke earnestly. ¡°Little Steel Falcon is still just a beginner-level pet. You should send out stronger ones to secure this critical win.¡± Qiao Sang looked at him and righteously declared: ¡°Teacher, this is a friendly match. Winning and losing don¡¯t matter. I came here for the exchange experience.¡± Magee: ¡­ --- There were only 18 contestants left, meaning the matchups consisted of 9 duels. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t have to wait long before her name was called. ¡°Sainan High School¡¯s Qiao Sang vs. Greville Academy¡¯s Du Silan. Both contestants, please step forward.¡± Hearing the announcement, Qiao Sang and Du Silan walked onto the battlefield under the watchful eyes of the audience. Du Silan had shoulder-length black hair, fair skin, and delicate features. It was clear she was also from the Dragon Nation. Looking at Qiao Sang from across the field, she sighed softly. ¡°Looks like my luck isn¡¯t great.¡± Her voice was broadcasted throughout the arena, drawing laughter from the crowd. Four pets, three of which were high-tier, at a stage where most contestants only had two pets, Qiao Sang¡¯s overwhelming strength was undisputed. Anyone matched against her was simply unlucky. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, this was a friendly tournament, and not all participating schools used a points-based system. Some schools genuinely came for the learning experience. Greville Academy was one such school. Hearing Du Silan¡¯s remark, even her own teammates chuckled. Come on, friend, don¡¯t be so discouraged! You have to believe in yourself! Otherwise, how can I make my win seem more hard-earned? Qiao Sang felt the urge to step in as a motivational coach. Du Silan had already been noted in Qiao Sang¡¯s battle notes. Her two mid-tier pets consisted of a Water-type and an Electric-type, relying on a water-electric combo to double the damage against opponents. It sounded strong in theory, but unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t yet mastered fusing the two attributes. So, their combined power wasn¡¯t as terrifying as it seemed. Qiao Sang wanted to make the match look more difficult, but if her opponent started off weak-spirited, how could she pull that off? If the officials saw through her act and still gave her the bye, what would she do then? For the first time, Qiao Sang felt worried. Meanwhile, Du Silan had begun forming seals with both hands. Two gray star arrays lit up simultaneously. A blue, round-bodied creature with white spots and small ears, along with a deep-blue, medium-sized canine with yellow streaks and a large head, appeared from the arrays. At the same time, Little Treasure and Gangbao materialized on Qiao Sang¡¯s side. Rolling Leopard, a mid-tier Water-type pet. It dislikes swimming and prefers rolling forward in the water, rolling is faster than walking¡­ Thunderfur Hound, an Electric-type pet. Its fur generates electricity through friction with the air, storing the charge in its coat. It uses the stored electricity to stimulate its muscles, greatly enhancing its burst power¡­ Qiao Sang quickly recalled the information she had gathered on them. Then, the announcer¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°Match, start!¡± Thunderfur Hound turned into a lightning-fast streak, charging straight at Gangbao. As it sprinted, yellow electric sparks crackled around its body. Simultaneously, Rolling Leopard casually opened its mouth and spat out a weak Water Gun attack at Little Treasure. Just before Thunderfur Hound could hit, Little Treasure''s eyes gleamed blue. In an instant, Rolling Leopard appeared in front of Gangbao. The audience gasped. ¡°It¡¯s that move again, forcing one opponent to take the other¡¯s attack. Spatial Shift shouldn¡¯t even be allowed in high school tournaments.¡± ¡°If I were Rolling Leopard, I¡¯d have kept moving. That Ghost Ring Phantom isn¡¯t just skilled in Spatial Shift, but also Shadow Control. The worst thing to do against it is stay still.¡± ¡°This match is unwinnable. Completely hopeless.¡± ¡°Honestly, Little Steel Falcon is just being carried by Ghost Ring Phantom.¡± Just as these words fell, the Thunderfur Hound slammed full force into Rolling Leopard. Gangbao, seemingly caught off guard, didn¡¯t move at all. Rolling Leopard was sent flying backward, crashing into Gangbao and sending them both tumbling hard onto the ground. The audience: ??? Chapter 566: The Reaction of Air Absorption Chapter 566: The Reaction of Air AbsorptionRead at: /?m=1 ----- The Ghost Ring Phantom launched an attack on its opponent, unintentionally dragging Little Steel Falcon into the fray. A low-level mistake like this in a team battle, how could it happen to Qiao Sang? For a moment, the entire stadium fell silent. Everyone looked on in shock, realizing that perhaps Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t truly invincible. "Steel Falcon is still just a beginner-level pet beast. In a chaotic battle like this, it''s easy to get hurt if you''re not careful." "I think Steel Falcon is the weak point. As long as we take it down, no matter how strong the Ghost Ring Phantom''s control is, it won''t be able to handle two opponents at once like in the previous match." "If it were me, the moment Rolling Leopard was moved, I''d have commanded it to use any water-based skill to drench itself completely. The electric charge on Thunderfur Hound would have doubled the damage Rolling Leopard received, but at the same time, if it hit Steel Falcon, that bird would be done for. Trying to defeat a high-level ghost-type pet with psychic abilities is unrealistic, better to take out one while there''s an opportunity." "Easier said than done. Rolling Leopard was moved unexpectedly, and Thunderfur Hound was right in front of it. At that distance, expecting an instant reaction to issue a command and have the pet execute it immediately, do you think that''s realistic?" "Not really. But now that we¡¯ve seen it happen, if Ghost Ring Phantom moves like that again, this strategy could work. It all depends on what Du Silan decides to do next." --- On the battlefield, Du Silan was stunned at first, then a strange smile crept onto her lips, completely different from her earlier indifferent attitude. She suddenly realized that she might actually have a chance to counterattack. Whenever her opponent¡¯s pet attacked Steel Falcon, the Ghost Ring Phantom would move another pet to shield it. It was risky, but it was also an opportunity. An opportunity for close-range contact with Steel Falcon. A beginner-level pet, if it took a direct hit at close range, it was done for! In a team battle, taking out even one of the opponent¡¯s pets was already a win... With this thought, Du Silan shouted loudly: "Keep moving!" To launch another attack, she couldn''t let both of her pets be easily controlled by the dark shadow abilities like that guy Ashur''s had been! Hearing their Beast Master''s command, Thunderfur Hound dug in its paws, surging forward with arcs of yellow electricity crackling around its body as it sprinted in circles. The injured Rolling Leopard was slightly slower, but it struggled to its feet and rolled forward, gaining momentum as it spun faster and faster. The two pets moved in opposite directions, one clockwise, the other counterclockwise. Up in the air, Little Treasure blinked his eyes, glancing back and forth between them. Meanwhile, Gangbao had also risen, flapping her wings and flying back into the air. At that moment, as it hovered, Du Silan¡¯s eyes lit up, and she issued a command: "Water Gun!" A powerful jet of water suddenly shot from Rolling Leopard''s mouth, heading straight for Little Treasure. "Xun~" Little Treasure instinctively wanted to use telekinesis to stop the attack and reflect it, but he recalled his Beast Master''s instructions before the match. Resisting the urge, he vanished from sight. The water jet hit nothing but air. Seeing this, Du Silan fell silent. She had meant for Rolling Leopard to attack Steel Falcon, but instead, it went for Ghost Ring Phantom? Was it trying to get revenge for being moved earlier? As Rolling Leopard''s Beast Master, Du Silan understood its thoughts immediately. "Rolling..." Rolling Leopard, frustrated that its attack had missed, pulled an annoyed expression before rolling forward again. But before it got far, Du Silan¡¯s voice came from behind: "Water Gun." Rolling Leopard obeyed instantly, steadied itself, and fired another jet of water, this time at Gangbao. Du Silan watched the battlefield intently, waiting for Thunderfur Hound to be moved so she could issue a precise command. But the expected scenario didn¡¯t happen. Steel Falcon simply shifted to the side, easily dodging the water attack. Two consecutive failures crushed Du Silan¡¯s brief moment of confidence. The opponent''s offense was too weak¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. She realized that her opponent had very few skills, just the same two attacks over and over. If this continued, how was she supposed to win the match in a way that didn¡¯t look too easy? At that moment, Du Silan spoke with a seemingly helpless expression: "Plan C." At her words, Thunderfur Hound¡¯s electric arcs suddenly surged wildly, spiraling upwards into the air as it moved. The yellow lightning formed a vortex in the sky. Seeing one of the bolts about to strike Gangbao, the bird swiftly sidestepped, avoiding the direct hit. However, the widespread electric effect still reached her wings, causing a brief paralysis that slowed her flight. Qiao Sang saw this and stopped worrying about making the match seem not too easy. She decisively commanded: "Take down Thunderfur Hound." The outcome of the next rounds was uncertain, but winning this match meant real points. Gangbao couldn''t fall before the enemy! "Xun~" The moment she spoke, Little Treasure reappeared in the air, where the lightning couldn¡¯t reach. He raised both his small claws, each extending a single short toe. At the same time, his shadow on the ground suddenly expanded, splitting into more than a dozen dark silhouettes that surged toward Thunderfur Hound from all directions. Thunderfur Hound ran ahead while the shadows chased from behind. Seeing the eerie sight of the splitting shadows, the entire audience was stunned. A three-dimensional Shadow Control skill of this level, one that could split into over ten shadows, meant it had reached Ultimate mastery! A fully mastered high-level skill? That was unfair! That was so unfair¡­ On the battlefield, Du Silan nearly lost her composure. Even at the high school level, it was rare for Beast Masters to have pets with high-level skills, let alone ones perfected to Ultimate level! She was breaking down, but Rolling Leopard wasn''t. "Rolling!" Rolling Leopard locked eyes on the tiny figure in the sky and leapt up, water swirling around its body as it lunged toward Little Treasure. Its long-standing coordination with Thunderfur Hound allowed it to instinctively avoid the yellow lightning arcs in midair. But just as it reached a few meters up, a dozen air blades shot toward it from the side. Sensing danger, Rolling Leopard instinctively changed its trajectory. But in doing so, it moved straight into Thunderfur Hound¡¯s lightning bolt. "Rolling!" The moment its water-covered body made contact with the electricity, a violent current surged through it. Water and lightning intertwined, and Rolling Leopard let out a bloodcurdling cry before crashing to the ground, unconscious. Would the points still count for Gangbao? Qiao Sang briefly wondered as she looked at the fallen Rolling Leopard. Thunderfur Hound, realizing it had accidentally hurt its own teammate, flinched, its electric charge weakening. At that moment, the dozen dark shadows finally reached it, wrapping around it tightly in an instant. "Lei Lei!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thunderfur Hound struggled desperately. The moment Rolling Leopard collapsed, Du Silan had already given up on the match. She didn''t issue another command. This is just a friendly match¡­ Friendship first¡­ Du Silan consoled herself. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure called out to Gangbao, signaling her to finish the fight. Gangbao flapped her wings hard. Dozens of air blades shot toward Thunderfur Hound. The audience knew, it was over. With Thunderfur Hound restrained and its teammate down, it was just a sitting target. --- "Lei Lei!" Thunderfur Hound struggled fiercely. Seeing the air blades coming, its eyes flashed with defiance. The next second, its electric arcs surged explosively, slicing through the incoming air blades and striking Gangbao directly! Gangbao, gathering energy for another attack, froze at the sight of the sudden lightning strike. She inhaled sharply but forgot to exhale. No one knew that in that brief moment, the air she had absorbed mixed with her gathered energy, forming a strange vortex reaction. If a Beast Master specialized in flying-types had seen it, they would have recognized it instantly: This was the reaction of Air Absorption. Chapter 567: Did She Learn? Chapter 567: Did She Learn?Read at: /?m=1 ----- The flow of energy shifted, preventing the originally intended air blade from being released. The yellow lightning was inches away. Just as the lightning was about ten centimeters from Gangbao, Little Treasure curled his short toes inward. The Thunderfur Hound''s body leaned backward, its legs facing the sky. The yellow lightning traced a perfect arc upward, narrowly missing Gangbao. "Gang..." Gangbao lifted her head, staring blankly at Little Treasure in the air. "Xun~" Noticing Gangbao''s gaze, Little Treasure grinned at her. "Gang Gang!" At that moment, Gangbao suddenly understood the concept of teamwork. Her expression turned serious again as she channeled energy and launched consecutive air blades at the Thunderfur Hound, which was still bound. Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of explosions erupted, accompanied by the Thunderfur Hound¡¯s agonized cries. Eventually, it unwillingly closed its eyes. Applause echoed from the audience. No one was surprised by this outcome. They had predicted it even before the battle began. However, when Steel Falcon was caught in Ghost Ring Phantom''s attack, they briefly entertained the thought that Du Silan might at least take it down before losing. But even then, they didn''t think Du Silan could win. The Ghost Ring Phantom and Steel Falcon duo relied on the Ghost Ring Phantom''s control. If it could be restrained, the possibility of another outcome might exist. However, the Ghost Ring Phantom had Psychic-type abilities, could teleport, and even perform spatial shift. On top of that, it was a Ghost-type pet, making its whereabouts nearly impossible to track. Expecting two lower-level pets to contain it was sheer fantasy. On the battlefield, hearing the applause, Little Treasure suddenly had an idea. He placed a paw on his forehead, feigning exhaustion, and slowly floated to the ground in a weak state. "Gang..." Seeing Little Treasure¡¯s act, Gangbao seemed to recall something. She staggered, clutched her chest with her wings, and appeared to belatedly feel the aftereffects of injuries sustained during the battle. The match was already over, yet they were still pulling this stunt... The acting was way too exaggerated! Gangbao wasn¡¯t like this before, had she been influenced by Little Treasure? Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched as she silently averted her gaze, unable to watch any longer. --- An hour later, all the matches concluded, and the top nine competitors were determined. The principal of Sahel Academy stepped into the center of the arena. Without any preamble, he got straight to the point: "We will select one contestant to receive a bye in the next round. The nine victorious competitors, please step forward." A drawing? Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up, hope igniting in her heart. She stood up, about to walk toward the stage. At that moment, Magee turned his head with a smile. "Relax, the one getting the bye is definitely you." "I think so too." "This is just for show. But I¡¯m curious how they¡¯ll rig the selection." The nearby Hulis and others chuckled in agreement. Qiao Sang: ... Due to the conversation, Qiao Sang stepped onto the stage with less-than-pleasant emotions. Once the nine contestants took their positions, the principal clapped his hands. Nine birds, primarily yellow-feathered with large, pouch-like beaks resembling nets, flew in from the far end of the arena and lined up before them. "Each of you will choose a Pouch bird. One of them holds a slip of paper with the word ''bye.'' Whoever selects it will receive the bye." The principal smiled. Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up again. This method seemed fair, no room for manipulation! The other eight contestants glanced at the Pouch birds before them, their expressions calm. In the audience, people murmured. "They¡¯ve probably already decided that Qiao Sang from Sainan High is getting the bye. Why bother with this charade?" "As long as everyone knows, they just need to put on a show." "Qiao Sang deserves the bye. Otherwise, whoever faces her is doomed." "I''m not doubting her strength, but they could¡¯ve just announced it outright. There¡¯s no need to bring in Pouch birds, everyone knows they all hold slips of paper. If the predetermined contestant doesn¡¯t pick the right one, the bird just keeps the slip under its tongue." "Qiao Sang seems unaware." "Of course she doesn¡¯t. She¡¯s from Blue Star." On stage, Qiao Sang was fully focused on the nine Pouch birds, blocking out the surrounding chatter. She carefully examined them, searching for any distinguishing features. The selection order followed the sequence of that day¡¯s matches. Qiao Sang was third. The first two contestants didn¡¯t even hesitate, they just picked the birds in front of them. When it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn, she eyed the remaining six birds, then looked down at Yabao in her arms. "Which one do you think I should pick?" She asked. "Yap!" Yabao adopted a serious expression, then pointed confidently at a Pouch bird. This one! Alright, that means I shouldn¡¯t pick this one... To be sure, Qiao Sang asked, "Besides this one?" Yabao, without suspecting anything, pondered again before pointing at another bird. "Yap!" Got it. This one¡¯s also off the list... Continuing this process, Qiao Sang had Yabao pick five different Pouch birds. Then, she pointed at the only remaining one and said, "I¡¯ll take this one!" "Yap...?" Yabao looked confused. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The audience was baffled by her selection process, curiously eyeing the peculiar Blazing Star Canine at her side. Did this pet have some kind of special detection ability? On stage, Qiao Sang watched the Pouch bird intently. Under her gaze, the Pouch bird slowly opened its beak, revealing a slip of paper. Four words were written on it: [Congratulations on the Bye] Qiao Sang fell silent. She never expected Yabao¡¯s choices to actually be correct... "It looks like we have our contestant for the bye." The Sahel Academy principal announced with a smile. "Let¡¯s congratulate Qiao Sang from Sainan High." "Clap, clap, clap..." The audience applauded. --- At 6 p.m., Qiao Sang returned to her hotel room, utterly drained. She shut the door, collapsed onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. On the bright side, she had come to this friendship match for points. The discovery of the score system was just a bonus, if she could achieve her main goal, the trip wouldn¡¯t be in vain. Gangbao had only gained a few extra points, but there would be future team battles... Right, she still needed to check if the Rolling Leopard¡¯s points had been added to Gangbao''s tally. Qiao Sang closed her eyes and entered the Beast Tamer Codex. Flipping through the pages, she quickly found Gangbao''s section and glanced at the last line. Points: 360 Only an 80-point increase, so the Rolling Leopard¡¯s points hadn¡¯t counted... Qiao Sang sighed and casually glanced upward. Suddenly, she froze. Wait, what did I just see...?! Her eyes widened in disbelief, locking onto a new entry in the skill list. [Air Absorption (Beginner 1/100) +] Air Absorption? Gangbao had learned Air Absorption?! When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t I know about it?! Qiao Sang''s eyes snapped open. She turned to look at Gangbao, who was practicing Inner Suspension Technique. "When did you learn Air Absorption?" She asked in shock. "Gang?" Gangbao hesitated. Had she learned it? How come she didn¡¯t know? Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 568: Congratulations on Getting a Bye Chapter 568: Congratulations on Getting a ByeRead at: /?m=1 ----- Wait, Air Absorption! This is Air Absorption! A high-tier skill, when did you learn it without even knowing? Qiao Sang stared at Gangbao in disbelief. To be honest, she wasn¡¯t surprised that Gangbao had learned Air Absorption. After all, Yabao and the others had also mastered high-tier skills in their early stages. At most, she would just marvel at how fast Gangbao had picked it up. But Gangbao learning a high-tier skill without even realizing it? That was something she hadn¡¯t expected at all. "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao saw that her beast master seemed serious, thought for a moment, and began inhaling while channeling energy. A suction force immediately pulled the surrounding air into her nose. "Gang Gang?!" Feeling the change within her body, Gangbao''s¡¯s face filled with shock. She actually learned it?! Why didn¡¯t she even know?! Seeing that Gangbao had mastered Air Absorption, Qiao Sang immediately forgot about the match points and focused entirely on this skill. "Try using it again." Qiao Sang said. She had only read about Air Absorption online but had never seen it in reality. "Gang¡­" Gangbao looked at her beast master, fell silent for a moment, then called out, indicating that she had already used the skill just now¡­ Qiao Sang: ??? Wait, is Air Absorption really this underwhelming? She learned it without her realizing, and even when she used it, she still didn¡¯t notice! A heavy silence hung between Qiao Sang and Gangbao. After a few seconds, Qiao Sang said, "Then use it again." "Gang." Gangbao nodded seriously, took a deep breath, and tried to make the effect of Air Absorption more noticeable. After using it, she looked at her beast master with eager anticipation. Qiao Sang, who still didn¡¯t feel any difficulty breathing, fell silent once again. She was starting to doubt whether this Air Absorption skill was even real¡­ S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I don¡¯t seem to feel anything. Wait, let me check where the problem is." Qiao Sang said, picking up her phone. If you don¡¯t know something, look it up online, that¡¯s the right way to go. The internet always has at least one correct answer. Gangbao flapped her wings and leaned over, looking at the screen with a serious expression. She wanted to know where the problem was too. After staring at the screen for two seconds, she suddenly realized¡­ She couldn¡¯t understand any of it¡­ Qiao Sang typed in the search bar: "Why can¡¯t I feel anything when Air Absorption is used?" Soon, she found a post explaining the skill in detail. Air Absorption: A skill that becomes more effective the larger the beast¡¯s body size. Air Absorption: A skill that briefly creates a vacuum around the user. Air Absorption: A somewhat underwhelming high-tier skill. Why is Air Absorption considered a high-tier skill? Because it has a slight connection to the super-tier skill Absolute Vacuum. But despite that connection, it is fundamentally different from Absolute Vacuum. Absolute Vacuum refers to a state where no gas molecules exist in an area, meaning the pressure is zero, and there is no matter at all. Air Absorption, on the other hand, relies on a beast¡¯s suction force to pull in the air around it, briefly creating an area with no air. However, since air exists everywhere, it will naturally flow back in, making the effect temporary. Why is this skill considered underwhelming? 1. If an opponent understands this skill, they can simply move away. Air Absorption removes air only around the user, but stepping just outside that range allows them to breathe freely. 2. The effect duration is too short, air continuously refills the vacuum, making it hard to maintain. 3. Unlike other high-tier skills, which are difficult to counter without enough strength, Air Absorption is easy to counter. Even if the opponent is one level lower, they can escape it, especially psychic-type beasts, which can teleport away instantly. That said, the skill isn¡¯t completely useless. If a large beast uses it, the effect can be terrifying. But only if the beast is big enough. No wonder she couldn¡¯t feel anything when Gangbao used Air Absorption¡­ After reading the post, Qiao Sang finally understood the reason. She turned to look at Gangbao, which was still smaller than Little Treasure. With her current size, she could probably only affect the air within ten centimeters of her body. Any farther, and there would be no effect at all¡­ "Gang?" Sensing her beast master¡¯s gaze, Gangbao looked up and asked, Did you find the problem? "I did." Qiao Sang sighed. "It¡¯s because you¡¯re too small. I knew the skill¡¯s effectiveness would be weak on small creatures, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be this weak. Looks like you¡¯ll have to wait until you grow bigger before this move can be useful in battles." "Gang." Gangbao nodded, easily accepting the situation. Her beastmaster had mentioned this problem before she started training the skill, and she still remembered. "Just because the skill isn¡¯t useful now doesn¡¯t mean you shouldn¡¯t practice it." Qiao Sang said earnestly. "The higher your mastery, the stronger the effect will be when you evolve and grow larger." "Gang." Gangbao nodded seriously, showing that she understood. Then, as if realizing something, she flapped her wings and flew to the table, grabbing a chili pepper from a plate and offering it to Chan Chan Stone. To grow bigger, she had to eat a lot, not just evolve. "Chan¡­ Chan¡­" Chan Chan Stone hesitated for a moment before opening its mouth and letting Gangbao shove the chili in. By now, it didn¡¯t find chili peppers that spicy anymore¡­ --- On the fourth day of the friendly match, Qiao Sang spent the entire time reading at the venue, only looking up when the matches ended to check who won. After about an hour, the list of the Top Five was announced. "Will the five finalists please come to the stage?" The principal of Sahel Academy spoke into the microphone. "One of you will be chosen to skip the next round and advance directly to the semifinals." After speaking, he clapped his hands, and five nearly identical Pouch Birds flew into the air. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Not again¡­ Qiao Sang did her best to keep a neutral expression as she walked onto the stage. After getting a bye in the last round, she was starting to suspect some backstage manipulation. Everyone had predicted she would get a bye, and she actually did. What were the odds of that? But she had no idea how the nine Pouch Birds were doing it. Could they have some ability that let them hide the chosen slip inside their pouches and regurgitate it when she picked? But she didn¡¯t see any of the birds making a regurgitation motion¡­ Maybe she was overthinking it and it really was just a coincidence¡­ As Qiao Sang mulled over these thoughts, the principal of Sahel Academy smiled and said, "Qiao Sang, since you were the one who got a bye last round, you get to pick first." Time to test it again¡­ Hugging Yabao, Qiao Sang took a step forward and asked, "Which one do you think I should pick?" "Yap Yap!" Yabao, having completely forgotten that all of his previous choices had been wrong, thought seriously for two seconds before pointing at a Pouch Bird, declaring that its intuition said this one was absolutely right! "I¡¯ll take this one." This time, Qiao Sang decided to trust Yabao. The Pouch Bird slowly opened its beak. A familiar slip of paper came into view: [Congratulations on Getting a Bye] Chapter 569: Direct Advancement Chapter 569: Direct AdvancementRead at: /?m=1 ----- "Yap..." Yabao showed an awkward expression. Even though he couldn''t read, he knew that seeing a note appear meant trouble. Sure enough, it had been set up... Qiao Sang nearly failed to keep her facial expression in check. "I didn''t expect Qiao Sang from Sainan High School to be the first one to draw a lot. What a surprise." The principal of Sahel Academy chuckled. "Congratulations on getting a bye for two consecutive rounds." Your expression doesn''t look surprised at all... Qiao Sang kept her tone calm. "I didn¡¯t expect my luck to be this good." Of course, this wasn''t a matter of luck... The crowd exchanged knowing smiles, as if to say, You get it, I get it, we all get it. --- On the way out of the competition venue, Qiao Sang couldn''t hold back anymore and asked: "What are the characteristics of a Pouch Bird?" "Rain Dish." Xulis thought for a moment before replying. "Most Pouch Birds have the Rain Dish ability, which allows them to slowly recover in rainy conditions." "And?" Qiao Sang pressed on. Hulis shook his head. "That''s it. Other abilities depend on whether the individual Pouch Bird has any special talents." Hearing their conversation, Gerta turned his head and asked: "Are you interested in Pouch Birds?" Qiao Sang didn''t hide it and directly said: "I just want to know how they managed to make me pick the Pouch Bird with the note so precisely." Julis laughed. "This isn''t really a secret on Chaosu Star. Many entertainment programs and interactive segments with guests use Pouch Birds. Someone once exposed it, Pouch Birds'' beaks look like a net, right? They pre-load items inside the beak, and the Pouch Bird presses them under its tongue, essentially storing them in the ''pouch.'' Then, when the pre-selected guest makes a choice, the Pouch Bird releases the item back onto its tongue." Qiao Sang twitched at the corner of her mouth. She thought it was some kind of magical ability, but it turned out to be just a clever use of the Pouch Bird¡¯s physical structure... No wonder everyone had such calm reactions when she got byes twice in a row. Turns out, they all knew about this little trick, she was the only one kept in the dark... --- The next afternoon, Qiao Sang carried Yabao to the Pet Battle Arena. By the morning, the semifinalists had already been determined. The audience seats were nearly full. Today was the final day of the friendship tournament. Even students from Sahel School who weren¡¯t competing or volunteering had come to watch, making for a lively atmosphere. "Is that Qiao Sang, the one holding a pet beast? She looks so small, she doesn¡¯t seem like a high school senior at all." "Yeah, it''s her. She¡¯s the only contestant here carrying her pet." "I heard she has a nearly extinct pet beast. Is that true?" "Not sure, but it must be if the rumor is that outrageous." The crowd whispered among themselves, discussing Qiao Sang. Some had come to watch the competition specifically because they were curious about Blue Star''s pet beasts. Though they had the money and ability to import pet beasts from other planets, everyone knew that forming a contract with a pet beast was best done with full knowledge of its origins and abilities. Even if they were tempted by the pet beasts from other planets showcased in the Interstellar Cup, they would hold back until their Beast master level was higher before making contracts. "Stop staring. Contracting a pet beast from another planet is already risky, and you want to contract a newly evolved species? Do you even know its future evolution path? What if its highest form turns out to be its limit?" The speaker was a curly-haired black girl, who was trying to dissuade her friend, Lavina, from recklessly contracting a Fire Fang Dog. "I know, but don¡¯t you think Blazing Star Canine looks really cool?" Lavina looked longingly at the smaller version of the Blazing Star Canine in the distance. The black girl frowned slightly. "There are plenty of good-looking pet beasts on Chaosu Star. You don¡¯t have to contract one from another planet." "But the Blazing Star 4 just speaks to me." Lavina insisted. The girl sighed silently. Her friend was great in every way, except for being a total face-con. "I¡¯ll think it over more. Qiao Sang won¡¯t return to Blue Star for another year, so I have plenty of time to decide." Lavina said with a smile. There were other ways to get someone to bring a Fire Fang Dog from Blue Star for her, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as picking an entire row of pet beasts from their own planet. At best, she could have someone pick one for her and bring it over. But that came with risks, if the pet beast¡¯s innate talent didn¡¯t meet her expectations, it would be a huge hassle. Given that Qiao Sang was an interstellar exchange student with an excellently raised Blazing Star Canine, Lavina believed Qiao Sang could find her a satisfactory Fire Fang Dog. --- Qiao Sang had no idea she was being discussed. Ever since her brain domain development reached 39%, she had gained the ability to control her hearing. While she couldn¡¯t completely block out sounds, she could ignore distant conversations as if they were silent movies, only seeing lips move without hearing the words. After discovering she could control the range of her hearing, the world became much quieter. Having overly sharp hearing wasn¡¯t always a blessing. At that moment, Qiao Sang was focused on reading the profiles of the other two semifinalists. Just then, the principal of Sahel Academy stepped onto the stage and smiled: "After days of fierce competition, we have finally reached the final match of this friendship tournament. The three semifinalists are, first, from Sahel School, Radko." As he spoke, a spotlight shone on Radko. "Second, from Checkbi Academy, Colten." Colten was a red-haired, brown-eyed boy. When the light hit him, his bright hair color stood out even more. "And finally, from Sainan High School, Qiao Sang." The spotlight landed on Qiao Sang. Yabao, as if he had been waiting for this moment, reached out his paw and adjusted the dark green triangular sunglasses hanging around his neck onto his face. The audience burst into laughter. If a pet beast was just putting on a cool act, they would roll their eyes. But when a powerful pet beast did it, they actually found it adorable. The principal smiled at the scene before drawing everyone''s attention back. "This friendship tournament was organized with the principles of friendship and exchange. After a discussion among our school leaders, we found that one of the top three contestants has far surpassed the level of high school students. To provide a better experience, we have decided to grant her direct entry into the finals." "Of course, we will take a vote among the schools present. If at least two-thirds agree, we will implement this decision." "I''m sure you all know who this contestant is." The principal smiled. "That would be Qiao Sang from Sainan High School." Qiao Sang: ??? Wait, what? Direct entry? Does that mean I¡¯m missing another match?! Two byes weren¡¯t enough? Now I have to sit out another round?! No way! She refused! Just as she was about to object, she saw many people already raising their hands. Magee, sitting beside her, laughed as he raised his hand. "Honestly, this makes sense. With your strength, everyone knows you¡¯re bound for the finals. Letting the other two fight first ensures the winner is in top condition to face you." Before she could argue further, a voice rang out: "Out of 24 schools, 23 voted in favor. The motion passes. Qiao Sang will directly enter the finals!" Applause thundered through the arena. A spotlight fell on her. Qiao Sang: ... She twitched her lips, then forced a smile. --- 7:20 PM. Sahel Academy. Pet Battle Arena. The final battle of the friendship match was about to begin. Standing on the field, Qiao Sang nearly teared up. Finally, she could compete. After three byes, she had suffered enough. Earlier, she had analyzed her opponent. Sending Little Treasure and Gangbao against his two battle pets didn¡¯t seem like a safe choice. To be cautious, it would be better to go with Yabao and Lubao as a pair... But that would mean Gangbao wouldn¡¯t get any points... And the opponent had a high-level battle pet. If she could allocate the points to Gangbao, she might earn a few hundred... However, the risk was too high. If she lost, she would lose 50 points, which was the main reason she came here in the first place. 50 points, besides evolving Gangbao, she had no idea if she¡¯d get another chance to earn that many in the future... After hesitating for a while, Qiao Sang glanced to the side. "Yabao, you¡¯re up." "Yap!" Yabao was momentarily stunned, then showed an excited expression and ran onto the battlefield. "Gangbao, you too." Qiao Sang said, turning to Gangbao. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Gang gang." Without hesitation, Gangbao nodded and flew onto the battlefield. At the same time, Radko formed a hand seal and summoned Poponelli and Punch-Hook Baboon. Chapter 570: Qiao Sang vs. Radko Chapter 570: Qiao Sang vs. RadkoRead at: /?m=1 ----- As the battle pets entered the arena, most of the audience looked on in confusion. "This is the finals, so why is Qiao Sang still sending out Steel Falcon?" "Could it be that she''s using the friendly match as a chance to train it?" "If the leaders had known she''d still be using Steel Falcon in the finals, they probably wouldn''t have let her advance straight to this round." "I don¡¯t get it. She could have summoned a more reliable lineup. I think the combination of Ghost Ring Phantom and Blazing Star Canine would¡¯ve been a good choice." "What''s there to not understand? This is a friendly match. If she just sent out two high-level battle pets to crush her opponent, where''s the ''friendship'' in that? She''s being considerate, doesn''t want to make Radko lose too badly." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, people nearby nodded in agreement. But then someone hesitated and asked, "That makes sense, but doesn¡¯t this also increase her risk of losing?" The original speaker confidently replied, "Just watch. That Blazing Star Canine is definitely no ordinary pet. I think Qiao Sang believes that even without Steel Falcon, it can handle a two-on-one fight. Punch-Hook Baboon may have strong defense, but it¡¯s still a mid-tier battle pet. Meanwhile, Blazing Star Canine is a fire type, one of the most powerful offensive attributes. It can definitely break through with a single strike. As for Poponelli, its defense is too weak. It¡¯ll go down in one or two hits. If Radko wants to win, his only chance is if his two battle pets can work together well enough to create a synergy greater than the sum of their parts." On the Battlefield. Radko looked at Qiao Sang¡¯s two battle pets in the distance, his expression tense and serious. Because his friend Thompson had investigated Qiao Sang after losing a chunk of his hair, Radko also learned some details about his opponent. Qiao Sang, from Dragon Nation on Blue Star. A high school sophomore. She had won the national campus beast mastering championship in the senior division and was promoted directly to her final year. Blazing Star Canine had evolved from Fire Fang Dog and Flame Hound. Both were entirely new evolutionary forms never seen before. In the national championship, it had even defeated a general-tier battle pet, Paleoka... It defeated a general-tier pet... At that thought, Radko took a deep breath, barely restraining himself from cursing. He hadn''t expected to face such a monster of an opponent! At that moment, the announcer¡¯s voice rang out: "Battle, begin!" Qiao Sang quickly gave an order, "Don¡¯t go too hard! Let Gangbao land the final blow!" Little Treasure was mainly responsible for control, using Shadow Control and Spatial Shift, but he couldn¡¯t attack at the same time. And Gangbao¡¯s attack power wasn¡¯t strong enough to defeat a high-tier battle pet and a heavily defensive mid-tier one. Balancing control, offense, and leaving the final blow to Gangbao would be too difficult for Little Treasure alone. Yabao, however, could handle it with ease. He could create clones, use multiple skills simultaneously, protect Gangbao, and attack at the same time. "Yap yap!" Yabao called out seriously, signaling his understanding. The moment the words left Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth, a pink-white energy sphere shot straight toward Yabao. Reacting instantly, Yabao teleported, vanishing from his original spot and reappearing high in the air. Moonlight Power, A high-level Fairy-type skill. It not only inflicted damage but also had a chance of reducing the opponent¡¯s special attack power... Qiao Sang glanced at the enemy''s battle pet, a humanoid flower-like creature with a stem-like lower body and an unappealing head resembling a carnivorous plant. For a moment, her thoughts drifted. It really does look like a Grass-type pet... Just as this thought crossed her mind, Punch-Hook Baboon lunged forward with its fist raised, charging straight at Gangbao. "Yap!" Yabao, tasked with ensuring that his fourth sister landed the final blow, wasn¡¯t about to let the opponent attack Gangbao. He teleported again, reappearing right in front of Gangbao in a protective stance. Then, opening his mouth, he began gathering red flames deep in his throat. Gangbao, who had been about to flap her wings and move, froze in surprise. "Dodge!" Radko''s heart skipped a beat at the sudden appearance of Blazing Star Canine. Almost reflexively, he shouted for Punch-Hook Baboon to retreat. "Fist! Fist!" Hearing its tamer¡¯s command, the baboon quickly withdrew its fists, shifting its weight back and sliding under Yabao in a defensive maneuver. Yabao¡¯s Fire Whirl missed its target. But just as Punch-Hook Baboon¡¯s head emerged from behind Yabao¡¯s tail, Gangbao¡¯s wings suddenly spread wide, slashing down like blades. "Fist!" Punch-Hook Baboon cried out in pain, its movements slowing momentarily. Though the attack hadn¡¯t fully breached its defenses, it had been caught off guard, leaving it vulnerable. Gritting its teeth against the sting, Punch-Hook Baboon tried to continue its retreat, only to feel an unexpected weight pressing down on its stomach. "Fist...?" Realizing something was amiss, it tilted its head back, only to see the terrifyingly huge head of its opponent staring right at it. "Yap yap!" Yabao bared his teeth in a vicious grin. "Fist!!!" Even before being attacked, Punch-Hook Baboon let out an even more agonized scream than before. From a panoramic view, Yabao¡¯s right hind leg had effortlessly pinned Punch-Hook Baboon to the ground, preventing it from moving. Radko''s face darkened as he urgently shouted, "Sonic Punch! Moonlight Power!" "Clone technique! Step on its hand!" Qiao Sang countered immediately. As Punch-Hook Baboon tried to raise its fist for an attack, Yabao stomped down hard on its arm, preventing it from gathering energy. At the same time, a pink-white energy sphere from Poponelli shot toward Yabao. Yabao smirked. Suddenly, dozens of identical Blazing Star Canines filled the battlefield! The clones didn¡¯t counterattack, merely blocking the incoming Moonlight Power. One by one, the clones shattered under the energy assault. But just as Moonlight Power broke through, Yabao shifted his footing, stomping down on Punch-Hook Baboon¡¯s other hand, the one that had been about to unleash Sonic Punch. From Radko¡¯s obscured vantage point, all he could see were countless Blazing Star Canines surrounding his battle pet. "Fist..." Sweat beaded on Punch-Hook Baboon¡¯s forehead. It was terrified, the pressure from its opponent was suffocating. Then, suddenly, heat. "Fist!!!" Its eyes widened in panic as it saw red-hot flames. Its pupils contracted violently, struggling desperately, but it was too weak. Yabao¡¯s Fire Fang struck down. But at the last second, remembering Qiao Sang¡¯s instruction, Yabao slightly restrained his force. "Fist!!!" Punch-Hook Baboon let out its loudest scream yet. At that moment, Moonlight Power finally reached Yabao. With a quick leap, Yabao dodged backward, snatching up a bewildered Gangbao in his mouth before teleporting into the air. As the battlefield cleared, the flames and clones vanished. Punch-Hook Baboon lay unconscious, its eyes closed. Chapter 571: I Have a Question Chapter 571: I Have a QuestionRead at: /?m=1 ----- "Yap..." Looking at the fallen, unconscious opponent below, Yabao showed an awkward expression. He hadn''t expected that even after holding back his strength, the opponent still fainted. Clearly, they had agreed that the final blow should be delivered by Old Fourth... As the scene unfolded, the audience erupted into loud cheers. The spectators who had initially questioned Qiao Sang¡¯s decision to send out the Steel Falcon in the finals now all wore expressions of admiration. "I knew it! How could Qiao Sang send a low-level pet beast into the finals for no reason? Turns out her Blazing Star Canine is strong enough to take on two opponents at once!" "Did any of you notice? Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts seem highly proficient in all their skills. Just look at its Clone and Fire Fang, I''ve never seen that level of mastery even in high school competitions." "Seriously. I actually feel a bit bad for Radko now. I''ve watched his team battles before, and his Punch Hook Baboon was definitely much stronger than this. But today, it lost without even getting a chance to use a single skill. That¡¯s just tragic." "Honestly, I don¡¯t think the Steel Falcon was even necessary. Just look at how the Blazing Star Canine stands in front of it like an impenetrable wall. Neither Poponelli nor the Punch Hook Baboon could even touch it." "The Steel Falcon did play a small role, but its level was too low to have much impact. If it hadn¡¯t seized the right moment to attack the Punch Hook Baboon while the Blazing Star Canine was using Fire Whirl, I think the Baboon could have safely escaped." "That¡¯s true. And if the Baboon had escaped, it could have attacked the Steel Falcon from behind. Maybe then, it wouldn¡¯t have lost so quickly and unceremoniously." "I think the real issue is the skill gap. For most pet beasts, the abdomen is a weak spot. If the Punch Hook Baboon had better battle awareness, it would¡¯ve realized that besides Sonic Punch, it could have used its legs to attack. Its legs weren¡¯t being restrained, after all." "Come on, who has time to think that much in a battle? The Blazing Star Canine''s attacks were way too fast." At that moment, someone suddenly said, "I have a question." "What is it?" The person next to them asked curiously. "The one who got knocked out was Radko¡¯s Punch Hook Baboon, right? Then why does Qiao Sang look like she¡¯s the one who lost it?" --- On the battlefield, Qiao Sang looked at the unconscious Punch Hook Baboon with deep regret. The points! She had finally gotten a chance to fight, but the points were gone just like that! This won¡¯t do! Yabao''s attack skills were too powerful, one wrong move and it might just knock out the opponent directly. Even though Poponelli was also a high-level pet beast, Fairy-type creatures generally had low defenses. If she used an overly strong attack, the points would be lost again... No, now that the Punch Hook Baboon was gone, she absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to miss out on Poponelli¡¯s points! With that thought, Qiao Sang''s expression turned unusually serious. She decided that from this moment on, she would take full control of the fight, no more letting Yabao act on his own! "Flame Claw!" Qiao Sang commanded loudly. Yabao was highly proficient in most of his skills, but not all. Flame Claw was one of the few he hadn''t mastered. "Yap!" Yabao released his grip on Gangbao, then instantly teleported in front of Poponelli, raising his paw as flames rapidly gathered around it. A flash of fire, Flame Claw was about to strike! Poponelli, being a high-level pet beast, reacted swiftly. It abruptly leaned backward, placing its palms on the ground, narrowly dodging the attack. Then, it executed a series of backflips, swiftly putting distance between itself and Tooth Treasure. Wait... does this Poponelli have a Fighting-type attribute too? Seeing how agile Poponelli was, Qiao Sang quickly adjusted her strategy. "Clone!" She ordered. Yabao locked eyes with Poponelli, which was about ten meters away. In an instant, dozens of identical Blazing Star Canines appeared across the battlefield, both on the ground and in midair, relentlessly closing in from all directions. Poponelli continued flipping backward, then twisted its waist left and right before rolling and leaping into the air. Displaying impressive flexibility, it dodged each clone''s attack. Then, out of nowhere, a dozen air blades sliced toward it from behind. Though Poponelli didn¡¯t turn around, it sensed the danger. Almost simultaneously, its Beast Master¡¯s voice rang in its ears, "Jump onto the Blazing Star Canines!" "Popo!" Poponelli leaped into the air, its powerful jump carrying it over the nearest two Blazing Star Canine, landing on another ten meters away. With a boom, the leading clone was hit by the air blades and vanished. The remaining energy dissipated, posing no further threat. Using its agility and swift footwork, Poponelli hopped from one clone to another, continuously repositioning itself. The audience erupted in excitement, now this was a battle worth watching! A fight that ended too quickly wasn¡¯t what they wanted to see. Just as the spectators expressed their satisfaction, a Blazing Star Canine suddenly appeared high above, baring its fangs as it charged toward Poponelli. Poponelli leaped again, intending to step on its head but mid-jump, its body suddenly froze in the air, maintaining its jumping posture but unable to move. Looking at the Blazing Star Canine before it, its eyes had turned an eerie shade of blue. It found the real body! S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Radko¡¯s expression changed drastically. He opened his mouth to issue a command but before he could even get a word out, the real Blazing Star Canine, its eyes still glowing blue with psychic energy, raised its paw. In an instant, flames gathered, and with one powerful strike, Flame Claw tore downward! "Popo!" Poponelli let out a miserable cry as it crashed to the ground. Radko forgot to give any further commands. His mouth hung open, his expression blank, his mind buzzing with shock. What just happened?! Using Clone, Psychic, and Flame Claw simultaneously? Just how high does its skill proficiency have to be to pull that off? Are we sure Qiao Sang isn¡¯t some professional Beast Master who shrank herself with a pet beast''s ability just to experience high school life? Because this level of skill is absolutely insane for a high schooler! --- The audience was in an uproar. Every spectator knew exactly what it meant for a pet beast to use three skills simultaneously. This simply wasn¡¯t something a high school student should be capable of. "Oh my god! Even my teacher can only have his pet beast use two skills at once!" "That¡¯s different. Your teacher probably uses fusion techniques. Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine used three separate skills at the same time without combining them." "How much control over energy does it take to achieve that? Even the Flame Claw it used didn''t seem to be fully mastered." "There¡¯s one possible explanation." A teacher in the audience said. "This Blazing Star Canine likely has an immense reserve of energy. Its Clone and Psychic are at least at the ultimate level, allowing it to precisely control its energy. Under such conditions, it¡¯s possible to use an additional, lower-proficiency skill without overwhelming itself. Since it¡¯s not trying to merge the skills, the difficulty is slightly lower." Chapter 572: Registration is Open Chapter 572: Registration is OpenRead at: /?m=1 ----- While the crowd was still discussing, the Blazing Star Canines took advantage of Poponelli¡¯s fall and piled onto it. It won¡¯t faint from being crushed, right¡­? Qiao Sang was concerned about Poponelli¡¯s endurance. But after thinking it over, she realized that Yabao¡¯s clones couldn¡¯t possibly weigh as much as his real body. Poponelli was a high-tier pet, so it shouldn¡¯t be that fragile. Her plan was to first drain Poponelli¡¯s stamina and energy significantly, then let Gangbao deliver the final blow. It sounded simple, but the execution required precise control, one miscalculation, and Poponelli might end up like Punch Hook Baboon. Qiao Sang couldn''t afford to be careless. Just as she was about to command Yabao to disperse his clones at the right moment, a powerful white energy wave burst from within, blasting away the pile of Blazing Star Canines stacked like a small mountain. The clones dissipated like bubbles upon impact. "Popo..." Poponelli panted as it struggled to stand. Suddenly, a dozen Air Blades came slicing from behind, striking Poponelli directly. "Popo!" Though the attack didn¡¯t cause much damage, it infuriated Poponelli. It felt like Steel Falcon was just an annoying little bug that kept showing up to irritate it, so frustrating! Poponelli turned its head towards Gangbao, opened its mouth, and began gathering energy, determined to take it out first. But just then, its beastmaster¡¯s voice rang out: "Dodge!" Unfortunately, it was too late. A flaming Blazing Star Canine head descended from above, biting down on Poponelli¡¯s head. "Popo!" Poponelli let out a pained shriek. It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. Poponelli is a high-tier pet. A single Fire Fang shouldn¡¯t be too much for it to handle¡­ Qiao Sang tried to reassure herself as she watched. A loud explosion followed. When the flames cleared, Poponelli was lying on the ground. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she shouted, "Get up!" Radko: ??? The audience: ??? That shout stunned everyone. Was Qiao Sang¡­ telling Poponelli to stand up? Whose pet was this again? The most unexpected part was that Poponelli actually responded. Supporting itself with its palms, it struggled to rise as if answering Qiao Sang¡¯s command. Radko fell silent. Seeing Poponelli get up, Qiao Sang relaxed and gave the next order: "Psychic Power." "Yap!" Yabao let out a cry, his eyes glowing blue. The next moment, Poponelli was lifted into the air and spun rapidly in a 360-degree rotation. Ten seconds should be enough¡­ Qiao Sang began counting in her head. Radko stared at the scene, his expression growing more complex. He never imagined Psychic Power could be used like this¡­ While he was momentarily stunned, Qiao Sang had already counted to ten. "That¡¯s enough." She said. Yabao¡¯s eyes returned to their normal color. Poponelli plummeted from the sky. As it fell, a streak of purple light flashed past. From a panoramic view, the audience could clearly see a Steel Falcon gracefully passing by, executing a Steel Wing attack as if it were just casually gliding through. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Boom! Poponelli hit the ground, seeing stars before losing consciousness. The arena¡¯s lights dimmed instantly, and a spotlight swayed around before finally landing on Qiao Sang. The crowd fell silent. While they had anticipated this outcome, they hadn¡¯t expected the final moments to play out like this. "So, Psychic Power can be used that way¡­ I need to try it when I get home." "Does anyone know why Qiao Sang told Poponelli to get up at the end?" "I want to know too¡­" At that moment, the principal of Sahel Academy spoke through the broadcast: "This Friendship Match has concluded successfully. First place goes to Qiao Sang from Sainan High School. In the spirit of friendship and exchange, all participating contestants will receive the same prizes." "Tonight at 9 PM, 79 minutes from now, we will host the final exchange banquet on campus. We hope all attending students will join us." --- 9:15 PM. Inside an elegant European-style castle within Sahel Academy, students in various school uniforms sat along an enormous dining table draped with white cloth, capable of seating a thousand people, enjoying their dinner. Gerta finished the dessert in front of him, set down his utensils, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Looking across at the black-haired girl surrounded by a crowd, she sighed, "Qiao Sang is really popular." Pelleg shrugged. "If you had a brain domain developed to 30%, three high-tier pets, and one of them was a near-extinct species, you¡¯d be just as popular." "I¡¯ve been her classmate for so long, and I only found out here that she has a near-extinct pet." Hulis sighed. Suddenly, Mabel, who had been quietly eating, shot up from her seat. "What¡¯s wrong?" Gerta asked. Mabel¡¯s eyes sparkled. "I just realized I spent only 1 point to touch a near-extinct pet! I¡¯m going to ask Qiao Sang if I can touch it again." With that, she left her seat. Watching her go, Pelleg mused, "I¡¯d actually like to pet that Blazing Star Canine too. Losing 1 point doesn¡¯t seem like a big deal." Gerta: ¡­ --- Surrounded by the overly enthusiastic crowd, Qiao Sang finally managed to slip away with an excuse. She took a deep breath, gazed up at the night sky, and felt utterly refreshed. This trip to 1st District had been quite rewarding, not only had she secured 100 points, but Gangbao also learned the advanced skill Air Absorption. Even though she had three rounds of byes in the tournament, the final match against Poponelli meant Gangbao earned 510 points. Suddenly, missing those rounds didn¡¯t seem so bad. Now, her total score was 797. Just 203 more, and she could exchange for a Dream Enlightenment Stone¡­ As Qiao Sang daydreamed about her bright future, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw a call from Tang Yi. "Hello?" Qiao Sang answered. Tang Yi¡¯s voice came through the receiver: "How¡¯d the competition go?" "It was good. We just finished today. I¡¯ll be heading back tomorrow." Qiao Sang replied. Tang Yi didn¡¯t ask about the results but instead changed the subject. "Have you decided which top-tier university you want to apply to?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment before answering honestly, "I plan to apply to all three top-ranked universities." After grinding through practice tests day and night, she was confident she could score around 325 points. "I knew it!" Tang Yi¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. "Then hurry and get online! The Central Hollow University website just opened special admissions! I just finished signing up. I heard that as interstellar exchange students, as long as we apply, they¡¯ll send a team to test us in a week!" Chapter 573: The Assessment Chapter 573: The AssessmentRead at: /?m=1 ----- Central Hollow University? The top-ranked elite institution? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned and asked, ¡°They can come over in just a week?¡± Tang Yi explained, ¡°Central Hollow University has people stationed on Chaosu Star. They will notify the local representatives to conduct the assessment, and the entire process will be recorded and sent back.¡± So that¡¯s how it is... Qiao Sang immediately said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go check it out.¡± Without further discussion, she hung up the phone. She swiped down her screen and connected to the Star Network. Unlike regular networks, which only work within planetary signal coverage, the Star Network enables information sharing across celestial bodies. Naturally, this also meant higher costs, which was why Qiao Sang rarely used it. She typed in Central Hollow University and clicked on the official website. Soon, she found the special admission registration portal. Online registration was quite convenient. Even if she didn¡¯t have a suitable photo in her phone¡¯s gallery, she could simply use facial recognition to take one on the spot. After filling in all the required information, Qiao Sang checked the assessment details. [Pet Energy Value Test (50 points), 2v2 Pet Battle Test (150 points), Pet Double Battle Test (150 points), Secret Realm Survival Test (200 points)] Secret Realm Survival Test? Qiao Sang was taken aback. She thought, At Zhidiya University, it was just a simulated survival test. But Central Hollow University is doing an actual Secret Realm Survival Test? But Chaosu Star doesn¡¯t have any Secret Realms, how will they manage that? When in doubt, ask someone. Qiao Sang quickly opened her chat app, found Tang Yi, and sent a message: [Have you seen the test details? Do you know how the Secret Realm Survival Test will be conducted?] Tang Yi didn¡¯t reply via text. Instead, he called her directly. She answered, and his voice came through the speaker: ¡°I checked. The Secret Realm Survival Test just requires candidates to stay in a Secret Realm overnight. But it¡¯s generally safe. Central Hollow University selects the least dangerous Secret Realms, with clearly marked areas indicating where different pet beasts are located. The school designates a safe range for movement, and teachers monitor from the shadows to ensure safety and record everything.¡± ¡°How will we be tested, then? There aren¡¯t any Secret Realms on Chaosu Star.¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Tang Yi admitted. ¡°I only know about the test because I¡¯ve heard past candidates mention it. But I don¡¯t know anyone who took the exam as an interstellar exchange student like us.¡± Before Qiao Sang could respond, Tang Yi reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter how they modify the test, you won¡¯t have any trouble. For you, the only real challenge is scoring well on the academic portion of the entrance exam.¡± So you do know my academics are weak, huh¡­ Qiao Sang sighed internally. ¡°Got it.¡± She hung up the call. Just then, an unexpectedly soft voice drifted from behind her, ¡°Qiao Sang¡­¡± She jumped. Honestly, ever since her enhanced hearing ability awakened, it had been a long time since someone managed to startle her like this. Turning around, she saw a meticulously dressed blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl sitting on a bench, Lavina. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Qiao Sang asked with a complex expression. ¡°I was already here when you answered your first call¡­¡± Realizing she had startled Qiao Sang, Lavina smiled apologetically, ¡°Maybe you were too focused and didn¡¯t notice me.¡± That¡¯s true, I was entirely focused on the registration process¡­ Qiao Sang sat beside her. Yabao immediately followed, hopping onto her lap. Lavina¡¯s gaze settled on Yabao, lingering for a long time. ¡°Your Blazing Star Canine really likes wearing sunglasses, huh?¡± ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao stylishly adjusted his shades with a paw. Since there were a lot of people earlier, he had to maintain his image¡­ Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°Yeah, he loves them.¡± She suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Why are you outside instead of inside?¡± ¡°I came to find you.¡± Lavina answered seriously. ¡°You were right, contracting a pet with a completely new evolutionary chain requires careful thought. Let¡¯s exchange contact info. I¡¯ll give you my decision before you return to Blue Star.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t refuse. She could tell Lavina truly liked Yabao¡¯s appearance. After adding each other, Lavina seemed to feel closer to her. She smiled and said, ¡°I actually overheard your conversation earlier, you were asking about the special admission assessment, right?¡± Suddenly, Qiao Sang understood the awkwardness of having her calls overheard. What if I¡¯d said something I shouldn¡¯t have? Luckily, the conversation was normal. She grumbled internally but still replied with a simple, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to listen in.¡± Lavina quickly clarified, realizing it might have been an invasion of privacy. ¡°Ever since my brain domain breakthrough reached 20%, my hearing has become much sharper.¡± I get it. I went through the same thing¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Seeing that Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t upset, Lavina relaxed and smiled again. ¡°Our school also has two exchange students from other planets. Want me to ask them how they were tested?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qiao Sang declined. Tang Yi was right, given her current strength, the test format wouldn¡¯t be an issue. Unlike a written exam, getting early information wouldn¡¯t guarantee success. --- The next day. 3rd District. Sainan High School. Dormitory Area One. Room 502 Qiao Sang turned on her computer, logged into the school website, and grinned at the 800 points displayed on her account. On the way back, Mabel had petted Yabao and the others again, perfectly making up for the points she lost due to tardiness. Thinking of this, Qiao Sang picked up her phone and messaged Mabel: [Let me know if you want to pet them again.] Mabel didn¡¯t respond immediately. Qiao Sang put down her phone and noticed Gangbao staring at the shivering Chan Chan Stone with a contemplative look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao responded: Chan Chan Stone wasn¡¯t producing as much food after eating spicy peppers. Qiao Sang looked at Chan Chan Stone. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone had a teary-eyed, miserable expression. It wanted to sweat out food, but it wasn¡¯t something it could control! Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Maybe it built up a tolerance to the spice?¡± ¡°Gang gang¡­¡± Gangbao¡¯s eyes lit up with realization. She stared at Chan Chan Stone. Looks like they¡¯d need a new plan. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone trembled. It was doomed. Just then, Qiao Sang suggested, ¡°If it¡¯s immune to regular spicy food, let¡¯s try something even spicier.¡± ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone turned to her, reconsidering its stance, maybe spicy peppers weren¡¯t so bad after all¡­ ¡°But eating plain spicy food all the time would get boring.¡± She continued. ¡°I¡¯ll cook some spicy dishes instead. That way, Chan Chan Stone might actually enjoy them.¡± ¡°Gang gang.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gangbao thought about it and nodded in agreement. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone looked at Qiao Sang in shock. Maybe¡­ she wasn¡¯t so bad after all? --- The following days... Qiao Sang didn¡¯t leave school to participate in pet battles at Hekin Tower. With the assessment approaching, staying in peak condition was her priority. Even though Lubao had healing abilities, she couldn¡¯t remove mental fatigue. On the seventh day back at school, Qiao Sang and Tang Yi were summoned to their homeroom teacher¡¯s office. Inside, a man in a black suit stood beside the teacher. ¡°This is Teacher Qu from Central Hollow University.¡± The teacher introduced. ¡°He¡¯s here to oversee your assessment.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± The man greeted with a smile. ¡°Since the test isn¡¯t on Blue Star, the Secret Realm Survival Test isn¡¯t possible. So we¡¯ve replaced it with another challenge. I¡¯ve already arranged a one-week leave for you both. Pack your things, we¡¯re heading to 10th District.¡± Chapter 574: The 25th District Chapter 574: The 25th DistrictRead at: /?m=1 ----- The happiest one about getting leave to visit the Lower Ten Districts was undoubtedly Little Treasure. If his beast master didn¡¯t have to attend classes, that meant he didn¡¯t have to either. Little Treasure, who had been suffering through a lecture, was suddenly summoned back, completely confused. The moment he received the news, he was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he packed up his things and stored them in his round ring, not even needing Qiao Sang to lift a finger. On the way to the Lower Ten Districts, Little Treasure excitedly clung to the airplane window the entire time, acting as if he was experiencing a flight for the first time. In contrast, Yabao, who had flown several times before, was much calmer, displaying the demeanor of a pet beast that had seen the world. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was attentively listening to the assessment instructor¡¯s speech. ¡°This time, we will be heading to the 25th District.¡± Qu Zhuo announced. ¡°All assessments will take place there, and the 200 points allocated for the secret realm survival test will be converted into a mission-based test.¡± ¡°You will receive your missions at the Beast Center. I won¡¯t assign them, you will choose for yourselves. However, there are some requirements for the missions.¡± ¡°First, the mission must be related to wild pet beasts. Second, the difficulty level cannot be too low, it must be at least at the level of a D-rank beast master.¡± ¡°The difficulty of the mission will also be factored into your assessment score. The harder the task, the higher the points awarded. I won¡¯t be accompanying you throughout, but I will be observing and recording your performance from the shadows. You will have three days to complete your mission, and after the assessment period ends, I will evaluate your performance in three additional tests within a day.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked, ¡°So the mission only needs to be related to wild pet beasts? There are no restrictions on the type of mission?¡± ¡°No restrictions.¡± Qu Zhuo confirmed, looking at Qiao Sang. ¡°But let me clarify in advance, the 25th District is teeming with wild pet beasts. No matter what type of mission you choose, you will likely encounter a large number of them. Ensuring your own safety while completing the task is also part of the assessment criteria.¡± So, the real purpose of this mission is to observe how everyone handles wild pet beasts¡­ Qiao Sang pondered. ¡°Any other questions?¡± Qu Zhuo asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Tang Yi raised his hand. ¡°Teacher, you¡¯re just one person. Since Qiao Sang and I will have different missions and will be acting separately, how will you observe and record both of us at the same time?¡± Qu Zhuo smiled mysteriously. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Acting all mysterious¡­ Qiao Sang and Tang Yi exchanged glances, immediately understanding each other¡¯s thoughts. The 25th District. The plane landed smoothly. As soon as Qiao Sang got off, she saw two nearly identical monkey-like pet beasts walking toward them, eyes squinted in a cheerful expression. Their bodies were mostly blue, with large fan-shaped ears on either side of their heads. ¡°Baba.¡± ¡°Baba.¡± The two monkey-like pet beasts smiled as they reached for Tang Yi¡¯s luggage. Before Tang Yi could react, one of them had already grabbed his bag. Seeing this, the other monkey-like pet beast wasted no time and immediately turned to help other passengers with their luggage. The one carrying Tang Yi¡¯s suitcase led the way ahead, eyes squinted in a cheerful manner. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the 25th District to have this kind of service.¡± Tang Yi said with a relaxed smile, now free of his luggage. Qu Zhuo gave him a look as if he were an ignorant yet pure-hearted college student. ¡°That¡¯s a wild pet beast. It¡¯s carrying your luggage, so you¡¯ll have to pay it a service fee.¡± The blue monkey-like pet beast leading the way twitched its eyelids at their conversation, revealing a hint of disdain. Did this human seriously think it was offering free labor? Tang Yi froze for a moment before hurriedly looking at the pet beast¡¯s wrist, sure enough, there was no identification wristband. So, the Lower Ten Districts really are full of wild pet beasts. They had just arrived, and they¡¯d already encountered one¡­ Qiao Sang marveled internally. ¡°How much is the usual service fee?¡± She asked. Qu Zhuo explained, ¡°Anywhere between 20 and 100 Alliance coins. If you don¡¯t have cash on you, there are pet beast food shops just outside, you can buy them a snack instead.¡± Qiao Sang asked again, ¡°What do they do with money?¡± Qu Zhuo chuckled. ¡°There are a lot of wild pet beasts and humans living here. Some wild pet beasts who want human goods find ways to earn money.¡± Sounds like humans and pet beasts live quite harmoniously here¡­ Qiao Sang thought. Just then, a sharp scream pierced the air. Qiao Sang turned her head toward the source of the sound. A young woman with delicate features stood there, completely drenched, as if someone had dumped a bucket of water on her. In front of her stood a pet beast with a round body and white wave-like patterns on its belly. It looked displeased. Judging by their positions and expressions, there was no need to check surveillance footage, it was clear the pet beast had used a Water Gun attack on the girl. Thank goodness Lubao used to hold back when spraying me¡­ Watching the soaking-wet girl, Qiao Sang suddenly recalled the times when Lubao had sprayed her with water. ¡°That wild pet beast is called a Waterfruit. It likes to bask in the sun.¡± Qu Zhuo explained, also noticing the scene. ¡°If someone blocks its sunlight, it will attack. That¡¯s why understanding the habits of various pet beasts is crucial when living in the Lower Ten Districts.¡± ¡­Why does it feel like struggling students are being targeted? Qiao Sang suddenly realized that living here might not be very safe. When they reached the airport exit, the blue monkey-like pet beast set down Tang Yi¡¯s luggage. He handed it 20 Alliance coins. ¡°Baba.¡± The pet beast took the money, and its cheerful expression immediately disappeared. It looked at Tang Yi with blatant disdain, as if calling him a cheapskate. Its gaze struck Tang Yi¡¯s heart like a knife. Feeling humiliated, he reached into his pocket to give it more money, only to see that the monkey-like pet beast had already turned and walked away without a backward glance. Tang Yi: ¡­ Meanwhile, Qiao Sang quietly celebrated in her heart: Thankfully, all her luggage was stored in Little Treasure¡¯s ring. To the Beast Center. Qu Zhuo hailed a car and headed straight for the Beast Center in the 25th District. Along the way, various pet beasts either strolled leisurely or dashed past them. Some even perched on car roofs, their tails swaying as they hitched a ride, forcing the vehicle to slow to a crawl. Fifty minutes later, the car pulled up outside the Beast Center. Qu Zhuo didn¡¯t get out. He glanced at his watch, then turned to Qiao Sang and Tang Yi, who had already stepped out. ¡°It¡¯s now 5:13 PM. In three days, at this exact time, we will meet back here.¡± With that, he turned to the driver and said, ¡°Sir, let¡¯s go.¡± Wait, what about food and lodging?! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Qiao Sang stood there, stunned, the car drove off into the distance. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go,¡± She sighed. ¡°Alright.¡± Tang Yi nodded. The two of them headed toward the Beast Center together. Meanwhile, 50 meters down the road, Qu Zhuo suddenly called out, ¡°Sir, you can stop the car now!¡± The driver turned around, looking at him speechlessly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just get out with them earlier?¡± Qu Zhuo, embarrassed, had no answer. Chapter 575: Two-Star Mission Chapter 575: Two-Star MissionRead at: /?m=1 ----- At the Pet Beast Center. After registering, Qiao Sang and Tang Yi went to different counters to wait. The layout of the mission hall in the Lower Ten District¡¯s Pet Beast Center was slightly different from others. In addition to consulting staff at the counter to find suitable tasks, one could also directly browse the mission board on the wall to pick a task of interest. Due to the excessive number of wild pet beasts, hundreds of new missions were posted almost daily. Some tasks that had long gone unclaimed would be pinned on the mission board. Qiao Sang waited for a long time. Seeing that her turn was still far off, she walked to the mission board to take a look. [Mission: Drive Away the Leisure Python Mission Location: No. 102 Tongfu Street Mission Reward: 10,000 Alliance Coins Mission Rank: Two-Star] Qiao Sang looked at a nearby mission sheet that had already yellowed with age. It was just about driving away a pet beast, yet no one had taken it? At that moment, a woman in a black long dress, her hair elegantly pinned up, approached Qiao Sang and asked, ¡°Are you interested in this mission?¡± Qiao Sang glanced around to confirm the woman was talking to her before replying, ¡°Not really, I¡¯m just curious why no one has taken it.¡± The woman''s gaze subtly shifted to Yabao before she asked, ¡°You¡¯re not from around here, are you?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± The woman withdrew her gaze, not prying further. Instead, she answered, ¡°The missions pinned here are either too difficult, poorly rewarded, or, like this one, have misleading information.¡± ¡°This mission has been taken up by several beast tamers before, but they all abandoned it as soon as they arrived.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang asked curiously. The woman shrugged. ¡°Because it¡¯s not Leisure Python that needs to be driven away, it¡¯s a whole group of them.¡± The difficulty difference between these two scenarios was like night and day¡­ Qiao Sang was shocked and asked, ¡°If they already know the information is wrong, why don¡¯t they correct it?¡± The woman replied indifferently, ¡°There are too many wild pet beasts here and not enough beast tamers. We simply don¡¯t have the manpower to verify every single mission in time. Some tasks might take a year before they¡¯re properly reviewed.¡± Doing work worth 100,000 for only 10,000? Who would want to take that¡­? Qiao Sang silently complained in her heart. She continued browsing the mission board for a while. The woman didn¡¯t leave either, occasionally chatting with her. Suddenly, the woman asked, ¡°I have a task, would you be interested?¡± Not far away, a few beast tamers were watching them, chatting with amusement: ¡°Maiya is trying to recruit someone for that mission again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been almost three months, and she still won¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°If Nada Pong hadn¡¯t spoken up, I might¡¯ve helped her.¡± ¡°Look at her, she¡¯s even targeting kids now.¡± ¡°That girl doesn¡¯t seem to be from our Lower Ten District. I¡¯ve never seen the pet beast in her arms before.¡± ¡°Maiya is only looking for people from other districts now.¡± ¡°Last month, she found someone from the 16th District, but that guy still backed off because of Nada Pong.¡± Meanwhile, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°What mission?¡± ¡°A Mura Monster keeps leaving trash at my doorstep every day. Sometimes, it even sneaks inside and causes trouble. I need you to help drive it away.¡± Maiya said seriously. Mura Monster, a mid-level Grass-type pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang quickly recalled its details. All those sleepless nights studying weren¡¯t for nothing, she had already learned quite a bit about Chaosu Star¡¯s pet beasts. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go to the counter and post the mission?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Maiya hesitated for a moment. ¡°I did, but no one took it right away. I didn¡¯t want to wait. I saw that your pet beast seems to be a Fire-type, which should be effective against a Mura Monster.¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and declined, ¡°Sorry, this task isn¡¯t quite suitable for me.¡± For the assessment, mission difficulty directly affected the score. Driving away a mid-level Grass-type pet beast was clearly too easy, it probably wouldn¡¯t earn her many points. ¡°Why?¡± Maiya asked, puzzled. Because it¡¯s too easy¡­ Qiao Sang answered honestly, ¡°I¡¯m still a student. I¡¯m here for a school assessment, so I have specific mission requirements. I can only take missions that at least a D-rank beast tamer is allowed to accept.¡± Maiya¡¯s eyes lit up. She had noticed the girl when she first entered. From her demeanor to her pet beasts, it was clear she wasn¡¯t from the 25th District. Young, a beast tamer, carrying a pet she didn¡¯t recognize along with a small Steel Falcon, it was almost certain she was a student from the Upper Ten District training here. Students from the Upper Ten District always had high-ranking beast tamers secretly protecting them, ensuring they wouldn''t be endangered. Maiya took a deep breath and said seriously, ¡°The Pet Beast Center ranked my mission as two-star. Only C-rank and D-rank beast tamers can accept it.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. After spending over a month on Chaosu Star, she had learned quite a bit about how things worked here. The Pet Beast Center categorized missions into five levels, from One-Star (lowest) to Five-Star (highest). Beast tamers could only choose tasks within their rank or lower. For instance, One-Star missions were mainly for E-rank and F-rank tamers. Two-Star missions were for D-rank and C-rank tamers. While D-rank and C-rank tamers take One-Star missions, they weren¡¯t allowed to pick Three-Star missions or higher. This system prevented beast tamers from taking on tasks beyond their capability. But even within these limits, there were always risks, especially on Chaosu Star, where wild pet beasts were everywhere. Qiao Sang was skeptical. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Maiya pulled out her phone, operated it briefly, and showed Qiao Sang the mission request. "If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask the staff at the counter.¡± Qiao Sang carefully examined the mission details on the screen. It was indeed listed as a Two-Star mission. But why¡­? After a brief moment of thought, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask about it, but I¡¯m not promising I¡¯ll take it.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Maiya said with a smile. "I¡¯m just happy you¡¯re considering it.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she casually asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the reward for this task?¡± --- Ten minutes later. At Counter 27, it was finally Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. She sat down and handed over her ID card and beast tamer badge. The staff member, accustomed to handling hundreds of clients daily, barely looked at her details before asking, ¡°Are you here to take a mission?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you have any specific requirements?¡± ¡°The harder, the better.¡± The staff member was momentarily surprised. Such a strange request! But she quickly resumed her usual work mode, typing on the computer. Before long, a list of missions appeared on the screen. Qiao Sang scanned them quickly, none seemed particularly difficult. She hesitated, then asked, ¡°Can I ask why the mission to drive away the Mura Monster is rated Two-Star?¡± ¡°Do you know the name of the requester?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Maiya.¡± ¡°Please wait.¡± After about two minutes, the staff member looked up and said, ¡°This mission has been posted for nine months. Sixteen beast tamers have taken it, but all gave up. Due to the long duration and repeated failures, it was upgraded from One-Star to Two-Star.¡± Qiao Sang realized the task wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. ¡°I¡¯ll take this mission.¡± --- Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Pet Beast Center, in the mission management department¡­ A phone rang. A staff member in a black uniform picked it up. A clear, precise voice came through the speaker: ¡°Mission ID 0396268801, Drive Away the Mura Monster. Verified, two major obstacles: human interference and a swarm of wild Scale Moths. Recommended upgrade to Three-Star.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The staff member hung up. Chapter 576: Caught So Quickly? Chapter 576: Caught So Quickly?Read at: /?m=1 ----- After sending Tang Yi a message saying, "I''m leaving first." Qiao Sang followed Maiya out of the Pet Beast Center. The assessment task had a time limit, and she didn''t want to waste any time. "I didn''t expect you to actually accept my task." Maiya said with a smile as they walked. "Since I took your task, you should be able to tell me the truth now, right?" Qiao Sang asked. "What?" Maiya''s smile faded. Qiao Sang didn''t beat around the bush and got straight to the point: "I just asked the staff, and they said your task was upgraded from one-star to two-star because it''s been posted for nine months. In that time, 16 beast tamers accepted it, but none completed it. That doesn¡¯t match what you told me when you asked me to take it." As she spoke, Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. "If you want me to complete the task successfully, you need to tell me the truth." Maiya was silent for a few seconds before finally saying, "I have a pursuer named Nada Pong. Every time a beast tamer takes my task, he comes out and threatens them, forcing them to give up." Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She had assumed Maiya was hiding something about the number or strength of wild pet beasts, but it turned out the problem was just a love-related issue?! What the hell?! The difficulty of this task had nothing to do with wild pet beasts at all! Qiao Sang suddenly regretted accepting it. Was it too late to switch to another task? For a moment, the atmosphere between them became a little awkward and stiff. "But isn''t he your pursuer? Why would he do that?" Qiao Sang finally asked. "Because I rejected him." Maiya sneered. "He wants me to beg him." Qiao Sang: ¡­¡­ Wait¡­ Hasn''t this task been posted for nine months already?! This guy is really that persistent?! Qiao Sang couldn''t understand his logic at all. Then, a thought struck her. "What rank of beast tamer is he?" "C-rank." Maiya replied. A C-rank beast tamer¡­ Qiao Sang cautiously asked, "How many general-level pet beasts does he have?" If he had two or more, it could be troublesome. "One." Maiya answered. That wasn¡¯t too bad¡­ Qiao Sang felt relieved. Seeing how calm and composed Qiao Sang looked, like some powerful expert, Maiya secretly exhaled in relief. Her guess was right, there must be a high-level beast tamer secretly protecting her. Not far from them, a pet beast that resembled a one-meter-tall rock silently followed. Its left eye emitted a faint green glow as it recorded everything happening before it. --- Meanwhile, inside a caf¨¦ near the Pet Beast Center, Qu Zhuo casually sipped his coffee while staring at the screen in front of him. The screen was split into two live feeds, broadcasting the current movements of Qiao Sang and Tang Yi. --- S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. About twenty minutes later, Qiao Sang followed Maiya to a noticeably rundown area. People of various skin tones gathered in small groups, giving off a mix of street thug and homeless vibes. Their gazes lingered on Maiya, boldly sizing her up, but when they noticed the expensive-looking pet beast in the arms of the black-haired girl, as well as the small steel falcon following beside her, they quickly shifted their eyes away, not daring to stare for too long. In the corner, a black man around twenty-five years old took out his phone and typed a message: [Maiya brought another beast tamer.] --- "This is where I live." Maiya stopped in front of a two-story house with a small yard. Compared to the surrounding buildings, this one showed clear signs of renovation. Maiya took out her key and unlocked the door. As soon as she stepped inside, after taking off her shoes and walking just two steps, a little girl around seven or eight years old, wearing a pale yellow dress, ran toward her from the sofa and threw herself into Maiya¡¯s arms. "This is my daughter." Maiya introduced warmly as she stroked the girl¡¯s head. The little girl turned to look at Qiao Sang, her gaze timid, but her eyes kept darting back and forth between Yabao and Gangbao. Wait a second¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned by Maiya¡¯s introduction. She remembered that Maiya mentioned Nada Pong, the guy pursuing her¡­ So was Maiya divorced? Or widowed? As Qiao Sang''s mind raced through different scenarios, Maiya continued, "My husband works in 19th District, so he rarely comes home." Oh¡­ so she wasn¡¯t divorced or widowed¡­ Qiao Sang took a solid ten seconds to process this information. After a long pause, she finally asked, "Why don¡¯t you guys move to 19th District together?" "My daughter is at the age where she needs to attend school. To enroll in 19th District, you must own property there. It''ll take us a few more years to afford a house there, so until then, we¡¯re staying here." As Maiya spoke, she sighed. "My husband is also a beast tamer. If he were here, Nada Pong wouldn¡¯t be so brazen." After saying that, she suddenly realized that the beast tamer she hired was still a student, so she quickly cleared her throat and changed the subject: "Would you like something to drink? I''ll get it for you." "Just a glass of water, thanks." Qiao Sang replied. Maiya turned to get water but suddenly felt a tiny pair of arms still wrapped around her leg. Looking down, she gently said, "Go play for a bit, sweetie. Mommy will get you some milk." Only then did the little girl let go. As soon as Maiya left, the little girl curiously asked: "Big sister, why are you hugging your pet beast?" Qiao Sang smiled. "Because he¡¯s soft. It feels nice to hug." "Yap." Yabao lifted his head proudly. "Is it really that soft? Can I touch it?" The little girl asked cautiously. "Of course." Qiao Sang let go, and Yabao immediately jumped down and walked over cooperatively. The little girl hesitantly reached out, and after feeling his texture, her eyes lit up. She petted hi again. And again. When Maiya returned with water and milk, this was the scene she saw. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly noticed... The once-docile pet beast suddenly took a step back, its eyes turning sharp. It bared its teeth, glaring toward the door. "Is there something outside?" Maiya asked urgently. The little girl, sensing something was wrong, hid behind her mother. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t answer but subtly nodded toward the left side of the room. A shadowy figure materialized from thin air and floated toward the door, her ghost-type pet beast, Little Treasure. Maiya was stunned. She never expected that the beast tamer she hired had a ghost-type pet secretly following them all along. Then... A sharp "Mumu!" shriek rang from outside! Little Treasure immediately darted out through the door. About ten seconds later, the front door mysteriously swung open. Little Treasure floated back inside, dragging along a creature with dark energy bindings. The captive was a green-bodied pet beast with a head resembling a dense bush. Maiya gasped. "Mura Monster?!" Qiao Sang: ??? What the hell? Did she¡­ seriously just capture it that easily?! Wait, if she simply delivers this pet beast somewhere far away, does that mean her task is already complete?! Chapter 577: The Scale Moth Chapter 577: The Scale MothRead at: /?m=1 ----- "Mu Mu!" The Mura Monster struggled desperately. A little girl, frightened, moved further behind her mother. Sensing the girl''s movements, the Mura Monster instantly quieted down. "Is this the Mura Monster you were talking about?" Qiao Sang asked. "It''s definitely the one." Maiya said with certainty. "No other Mura Monsters have appeared around here, and it always has that garbage dump smell. I''m sure of it, it''s definitely this one!" In fact, the moment the Mura Monster entered, Qiao Sang had already noticed the unpleasant odor. So, it really is this one... Since the mission issuer had confirmed it, Qiao Sang wasted no time and said, "In that case, I''ll take this Mura Monster away now." Maiya enthusiastically responded, "Have some water before you go!" She hadn''t expected this young beast tamer to capture the Mura Monster before Nada Pong even arrived. She was so thrilled that she wished she could take out her phone and give a five-star review immediately. "No need." Qiao Sang declined. This mission was a bust anyway. The assessment still had time left, she needed to find another, more challenging mission quickly... Seeing her refusal, Maiya didn¡¯t insist. Satisfied, she stepped forward and opened the door, smiling. "I''ll see you out." As the door opened, the Mura Monster realized it was about to be taken away and started struggling desperately again. "Mu Mu!" It let out a cry, and suddenly, two bare vines shot out from its palms, wrapping tightly around the support beam under the coffee table, as if it refused to leave no matter what. Gangbao, which had been quietly observing from the side, gave the Mura Monster a thoughtful look. "Gang Gang." Just as Qiao Sang was about to have Little Treasure hypnotize the Mura Monster to take it away, Gangbao spoke, indicating that the Mura Monster seemed to have something to say. Qiao Sang was slightly surprised and looked at the Mura Monster. "Do you have something to say?" "Mu Mu..." The Mura Monster hesitated when facing the unfamiliar human, then its gaze landed on the little girl nearby, as if confirming their relationship. Seeing the Mura Monster looking at her, the little girl grew scared and wanted to hide behind her mother. But to get there, she would have to pass by the Mura Monster, so she instinctively hid behind Qiao Sang instead. At this, the Mura Monster''s eyes darkened, but its expression quickly became resolute. It retracted its vines from the support beam and suddenly lashed out, attacking the nearest wall. Before Qiao Sang could react, several sharp leaves shot in from outside, swiftly slicing the vines into pieces. A hoarse voice followed, "Maiya, I told you I could help, so why did you hire another beast tamer?" Qiao Sang turned toward the voice. At the door stood a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with sunken eyes, an eagle nose, and thin lips. Beside him was a mostly green pet beast with short, fingerless arms and a large, round yellow mouth. The man glanced at Qiao Sang and smirked. "A kid, huh?" Maiya¡¯s face darkened. "You''re not welcome here. Leave." "If it weren¡¯t for me, who knows how many times your house would¡¯ve been wrecked by that Mura Monster?" The man laughed as he walked in, not even bothering to remove his shoes, as if it were his own home. He casually picked up Maiya''s milk glass and took a sip. This guy¡¯s trying to steal my client... Qiao Sang thought to herself but kept a confused expression as she asked, "Nada Pong?" "Oh? You¡¯ve heard of me?" Nada Pong turned to look at her. Looks like it''s him... Qiao Sang gave Little Treasure a knowing look. Little Treasure immediately understood. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dark shadow binding the Mura Monster vanished instantly. A second later, Little Treasure''s eyes glowed purple as he appeared before Nada Pong. Nada Pong was startled, his pupils shrinking. Before he could even curse, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness hit him like a tidal wave. The yellow-mouthed pet beast sensed danger and opened its mouth to gather energy, but before it could act, a scorching fireball roared toward it with a loud "boom." "Gu Gu!" With a pained cry, the yellow-mouthed pet beast was sent flying out the door like a blur. Nada Pong¡¯s eyes rolled back as he collapsed forward. Little Treasure sidestepped slightly, letting Nada Pong fall face-first onto the ground with a heavy thud. Everything had happened so quickly that Maiya and the little girl were left completely stunned. "Got any rope?" Qiao Sang asked calmly. She had experience dealing with stronger beast tamers. Back when she returned to her hometown during summer break, she encountered a C-rank beast tamer. Before coming here, she had already planned to take action before her opponent could summon their pet beasts. Otherwise, she¡¯d have to argue or even fight, which would be a hassle. Maiya stared blankly at Qiao Sang. "Got any rope?" Qiao Sang had to ask again. "Y-yes!" Maiya snapped back to reality and hurried inside. Soon, she returned with a bundle of rope. Taking it, Qiao Sang crouched down and skillfully tied up Nada Pong¡¯s hands, securing them with a dead knot. When she stood up, she found the little girl staring at her with an expression of admiration. Feeling a little embarrassed, Qiao Sang turned her head and noticed the Mura Monster still standing in place, staring at her blankly, it hadn¡¯t even tried to escape. Is this pet beast a little dumb...? Qiao Sang thought, then commanded, "Dark Restraint." Several black shadows suddenly shot out from beneath Little Treasure''s feet, swiftly binding the Mura Monster tightly. This time, the Mura Monster didn¡¯t resist. Yep, definitely a little dumb... If Nada Pong hadn¡¯t interfered, this mission would¡¯ve been completed ages ago. Qiao Sang internally complained. Just then, Yabao''s ears twitched at the sounds outside. He immediately became alert and dashed out the door in a flash of red light. "Is something wrong outside?" Maiya asked worriedly. "Probably that pet beast from earlier waking up." Qiao Sang, who had good hearing, also caught the noise. She smiled. "Don¡¯t worry, that one isn¡¯t a General-tier pet beast. Mine can handle it." Each pet beast tier had a different aura pressure, and since she had encountered General-tier pet beasts before, Qiao Sang was certain that one wasn¡¯t at that level. As soon as she finished speaking, a loud explosion erupted outside. Maiya flinched. They¡¯re fighting? Did she mean that high-level pet beasts could handle it? That pet beast she was holding... is high-level? Maiya was confused. Based on this girl''s age, she didn''t seem like someone who could have a high-level pet beast. "Mu Mu." Suddenly, the Mura Monster spoke seriously. "Gang Gang?" Gangbao''s expression grew solemn. Is that true? "Mu Mu!" The Mura Monster nodded firmly. "What''s true?" Qiao Sang, who could only understand Gangbao, asked. "Xun Xun~" Before Gangbao could answer, Little Treasure translated. This guy says there are Scale Moths in this house. "Xun Xun?" What are Scale Moths? "Scale Moths?" Qiao Sang was puzzled. Maiya froze upon hearing those words, then her face filled with panic. "Scale Moths? Why are we talking about Scale Moths?" "This Mura Monster says they¡¯re here." Qiao Sang replied. "Impossible!" Maiya¡¯s face turned pale. Her first instinct was denial. Sensing something was off, Qiao Sang asked, "Is there a problem?" Maiya took a deep breath to steady herself and explained, "Scale Moths are swarm-type insect beasts that build nests together. If they were in my house, there¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t know." "Gu Gu!" Just then, a green figure screamed as it was sent flying into the room, crashing hard against the wall. The wall cracked like brittle tofu, revealing a large hole. Beyond it, a swarm of densely packed white pet beasts came into view. Chapter 578: Devoured Chapter 578: DevouredRead at: /?m=1 ----- ¡°Ah!!!¡± Maiya''s scream echoed through the room. The little girl stood frozen in place, as if paralyzed by fear. The sudden and overwhelming sight before them sent a chilling sensation rushing from Qiao Sang¡¯s feet to her head, making goosebumps rise all over her body. Inside the walls, densely packed white pet beasts were pressed tightly together, motionless, resembling taxidermy specimens. It was a nightmarish sight for anyone with trypophobia. ¡°Yap yap?¡± At that moment, Yabao walked in from outside and looked at the pet beasts inside the walls with a puzzled expression. ¡°What is this?¡± Qiao Sang finally found her voice after hearing Yabao speak. Maiya¡¯s legs had gone completely weak. With a trembling, tear-choked voice, she said: ¡°Sca¡­ Scale Moths. These are Scale Moths.¡± So, these were Scale Moths. It seemed that what Mura Monster said was true¡­ The Scale Moths inside the walls were utterly still, which helped Qiao Sang regain her composure. Then, a thought struck her, and she asked, ¡°Are the Scale Moths hibernating?¡± Through her studies, she had learned that some pet beasts had a habit of hibernation, some in summer, some in winter, and some even alternated between one year awake and one year asleep. ¡°They should be hibernating.¡± Maya also realized, but the fear in her eyes did not lessen in the slightest. She wasn¡¯t a Beast master. Her understanding of wild pet beasts came from personal encounters, gossip, or online news. She didn¡¯t know the exact hibernation patterns of Scale Moths, but she had heard before that they were social creatures that preferred dark, damp environments. If you found one wild Scale Moth, there were bound to be hundreds or even thousands more in the area. Last year, she had read a news article online about Scale Moths. In 24th District, a homeowner sold a house at a price far below the market rate to a newlywed couple. The couple often posted short videos online about their daily life and had shared this purchase online. At the time, many people expressed envy, though some netizens suspected that something was wrong with the house, otherwise, why would the owner take such a huge loss? Three days after their video was posted, a sudden storm with hail struck 24th District. The house the couple had bought collapsed, and from inside, tens of thousands of Scale Moths swarmed out, completely burying the couple underneath. Investigations later revealed that the house''s roof, walls, pillars, and structural materials had long been eaten away by Scale Moths, turning the place into their nesting ground. Maiya had never imagined something like this would happen to her. The thought that her home was infested with Scale Moths and could collapse at any moment made her feel like breaking down. Mura Monster must have been here for the Scale Moths. Perhaps everything it had done before was to lure them out or to make the mission client discover them. But with Nada Pong interfering, it had failed¡­ Was Nada Pong unaware of the Scale Moths, or did he know and deliberately obstruct things? Qiao Sang quickly connected the dots and said, ¡°No matter what state the Scale Moths are in, staying here with so many of them is dangerous. You should move out as soon as possible and either call the police or find another Beast master to handle this. I¡¯ll take Mula Monster with me now.¡± Her task was to drive away Mura Monster, Scale Moths were outside the mission¡¯s scope. Just one damaged section of the wall revealed so many of them. Who knew how many more were hidden inside? Qiao Sang had no intention of getting involved in this mess. ¡°I understand.¡± Maya forced a smile. ¡°I won¡¯t see you off then. I need to pack my things immediately.¡± Although the child in front of her was a Beast master, Scale Moths were mid-tier pet beasts. A few wouldn¡¯t be an issue, but facing this many was beyond what an ordinary Beast master could handle. She never even considered asking this child to deal with the problem for her. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t waste time and turned to leave. Then, she suddenly remembered something. Looking at Little Treasure, she gestured with her eyes toward Nada Pong and his unconscious grass-type pet beast. ¡°Take them with us too.¡± Nada Pong was a Beast master. If his pet beast woke up before him and saw its unconscious master, the mission client and her daughter might be in danger. It was safer to take them along¡­ Qiao Sang thought cautiously. "Xun~" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure twitched his short toes, and his shadow expanded and split, quickly binding Nada Pong and his grass-type pet beast. Mura Monster remained silent. Ever since the Scale Moths were discovered, it had become eerily still, as if its mission was complete. Only occasionally did it glance at the little girl with reluctance. Unfortunately, the little girl¡¯s attention was entirely on the Scale Moths, unaware of this. Seeing that Little Treasure had secured everything, Qiao Sang opened the door wide to make it easier for Little Treasure to exit. As Qiao Sang opened the door, a beam of sunlight streamed inside, landing directly on the Scale Moths within the walls. --- Meanwhile. ¡°Pfft!¡± At a caf¨¦, Qu Zhuo spat out his coffee as he stared at the surveillance feed. Ignoring the stains on his clothes, he bolted from his seat and ran toward the door. ¡°Sir! Your laptop!¡± A waiter called after him. Already summoning his flying-type pet beast, Qu Zhuo quickly patted its back, urging, ¡°Turn around! Turn around!¡± His flying pet made a sharp 90-degree turn. Once he retrieved his laptop and was back on his pet beast, he stared at the screen with a grim expression. Scale Moths, mid-tier bug-type pet beasts that thrived in dark, damp places. If left in the dark, they could sleep for years, even decades, only waking when they were about to evolve. But once exposed to sunlight, they would wake immediately. And if one woke up, they would all wake up. The Scale Moths Qiao Sang had encountered were already in hibernation, which meant there had to be at least a thousand of them. Because their numbers had reached over a thousand, the colony felt safe enough to hibernate. A thousand Scale Moths were far beyond what a D-rank Beast master could handle. Moreover, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t alone, beside her were two ordinary people who weren¡¯t Beast masters at all¡­ Qu Zhuo¡¯s heart grew heavier with worry. --- Sunlight shone onto the Scale Moths inside the walls. One of them twitched its antennae and slowly opened its eyes. Just as Qiao Sang was stepping out of the house, an inexplicable sense of unease surged in her heart. She turned her head and her eyes widened in shock. The Scale Moths, which had looked like lifeless specimens moments ago, were now flapping their wings, swarming outward. The mission client, still holding her daughter, faced Qiao Sang and waved goodbye, completely unaware of the danger behind her. ¡°Little Treasure! Get them out of here!¡± Overwhelming shock filled Qiao Sang¡¯s voice as she shouted urgently. "Xun!" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. In the next second, Maiya and the little girl vanished from sight. An uncountable number of Scale Moths surged out from the house- Engulfing Qiao Sang. Chapter 579: Luring Away Chapter 579: Luring AwayRead at: /?m=1 ----- Flames suddenly expanded within the swarm of Scale Moths, shooting skyward. Yabao reverted to his original size and carried Qiao Sang into the sky. Countless embers rained down. Upon closer inspection, they were actually charred remains of the Scale Moths. ¡°Scales! Scales!¡± A seemingly endless number of Scale Moths lifted their heads, glaring furiously at the culprit above them. They displayed expressions of anger and surged upward from all directions, surrounding their target. Qiao Sang looked down at the approaching swarm of bug-type pet beasts, and her scalp instantly tingled. Any kind of pet beast, when gathered in such numbers, was terrifying! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao bared his fangs, just about to launch an attack when Qiao Sang quickly ordered: ¡°Run!¡± This was a residential area. Most of the people living here were ordinary citizens. Leaving aside the potential destruction of buildings, the most critical issue was that innocent people could get hurt. The moths had to be lured somewhere uninhabited first. ¡°Yap!¡± Though Yabao didn¡¯t understand why they had to flee, he still obeyed his Beastmaster¡¯s command without hesitation and turned to escape. The Scale Moth swarm pursued relentlessly. ¡°What is that?!¡± On the streets, passersby looked up in shock. The dense swarm of Scale Moths in the sky seemed to block out half of the sunlight. ¡°Oh my god! Why are there so many Scale Moths all of a sudden?!¡± ¡°This is terrifying! Where did they even come from?¡± ¡°Look! It looks like they¡¯re chasing something!¡± ¡°Oh, heavens! There¡¯s a person riding that pet beast!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± A little girl a hundred meters away clutched her mother¡¯s clothes tightly, staring at the sky with instinctive fear. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay¡­¡± Maiya murmured. By now, she understood what had happened. The Scale Moths had awakened for some unknown reason. The young Beast master who took on her task had realized the danger and somehow teleported them to safety, choosing instead to risk their own life to lure the swarm away. She¡¯s just a kid herself¡­ Maiya¡¯s eyes welled with tears. Then, as if recalling something, she pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency number. --- Damn it, how did they wake up so suddenly? Qiao Sang sat atop Yabao, occasionally glancing back at the swarm, completely puzzled. Also, she was totally unfamiliar with the area! Where could she find a place with no people? As she pondered, she suddenly felt an unexplained itch spreading across her body. Her head throbbed as well. If she could see herself now, she¡¯d realize her entire body was covered in red blotches, her face swollen beyond recognition. ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure, carrying three others, used Shadow Bind to teleport Mura Monster and the others onto Yabao¡¯s back. Just as Qiao Sang turned her head. Little Treasure took one look at his Beast master¡¯s appearance, his eyes widening in shock before he let out a piercing scream. ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± The next second, tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down like raindrops. He looked as if Qiao Sang had contracted some terminal illness. Qiao Sang was utterly baffled, but she had no time to dwell on it. She quickly took out her phone, opening the navigation app to search for a suitable location. Soon, she found an area that wasn¡¯t residential. ¡°Yabao, turn left!¡± Qiao Sang confirmed the direction. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao obediently changed course. Both Yabao and Little Treasure could teleport. Little Treasure, in particular, could move through space freely, making it easy to escape from a swarm of mid-tier pet beasts. However, if their retreat put nearby civilians in danger, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive herself. Should I just lure them to the police station? For a fleeting moment, that thought crossed her mind. But she quickly dismissed it. Police stations were typically located in city centers. With so many Scale Moths, even a minor mishap could affect bystanders. With that in mind, Qiao Sang directed Yabao northwest. At that moment, Nada Pong slowly regained consciousness. He opened his eyes to find himself being chased by a massive swarm of Scale Moths, nearly passing out again from sheer fright. Noticing the movement behind her, Qiao Sang turned back. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± She hadn¡¯t abandoned him, hoping that once he woke up, he could help deal with the swarm. After all, he was a C-rank Beast master with a General-tier pet beast. Having him around would definitely make things easier. Just as she was about to explain the situation, the middle-aged man before her suddenly let out a terrified scream. ¡°Ahhh!¡± He shut his eyes, tilted his head, and fainted on the spot. Qiao Sang: ??? Wait a minute. You didn¡¯t faint when you saw the swarm of Scale Moths, but you pass out after looking at me? Isn¡¯t that a bit rude? For a brief moment, Qiao Sang had the urge to kick him off Yabao¡¯s back. The itchiness on her body, coupled with Little Treasure and Nada Pong''s reactions, made Qiao Sang realize something was wrong with her. It was most likely caused by the earlier encounter when she was surrounded by the Scale Moths at the door. But now wasn¡¯t the time to worry about that. The priority was getting the swarm to an unpopulated area. By carefully controlling his speed, Yabao arrived at a desolate wilderness. Qiao Sang looked down and saw a large water pond, with no other creatures in sight. This will do¡­ She withdrew her gaze and turned toward the relentless swarm of Scale Moths. Meanwhile, below, a pet beast that closely resembled a rock was rolling forward, arriving late to the scene. It lifted its eyes, which emitted a faint green glow, and glanced at the aerial battle. Finally, it could stop running. It was exhausted¡­ --- Elsewhere, Qu Zhuo stared at the computer screen, his expression changing drastically as a water pond flashed across the image. It¡¯s over. This time, it¡¯s really over! If he remembered correctly, that pond was the habitat of a King-tier pet beast, Source Water Croc! ¡°Peering Wave Eagle, faster!¡± Qu Zhuo urged. ¡°Peep peep!¡± Peering Wave Eagle let out a cry and picked up speed. --- ¡°Meteor Shower!¡± Qiao Sang commanded. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao raised his head slightly, forming a searing crimson energy sphere in his mouth. The Scale Moths flapped their wings, releasing a massive cloud of fine scales, resembling a desert storm, that swept toward Qiao Sang. ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Still immersed in despair over his Beast master¡¯s terminalillness, Little Treasure suddenly sensed danger. He quickly sniffled, withdrew Shadow Bind, and, without even wiping his tears, started gathering energy. A translucent barrier rapidly formed in front of him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the small shield that barely covered his own body, Little Treasure fell into deep thought. Just then, Qiao Sang¡¯s voice rang in its ears: ¡°Little Treasure, control Lubao!¡± An orange star array lit up in the sky. The next second, Lubao appeared within the array. She didn¡¯t fall but instead hovered mid-air, just like Yabao. Meanwhile, Little Treasure''s eyes had turned blue. ¡°Icy Wind!¡± Qiao Sang commanded. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao took in the scene before her and, without hesitation, opened her mouth. The temperature plummeted. A terrifying chill froze most of the approaching scale dust in an instant. But the Scale Moths were simply too many. Even as Lubao unleashed its Icy Wind, some had already reached overhead. At that moment, the fiery rain began to fall. Chapter 580: Ill Leave You Here Chapter 580: I''ll Leave You HereRead at: /?m=1 ----- Fiery embers fell from the sky in clusters. The moment the fire rain descended, the entire sky seemed to ignite into a sea of red. Boom! Boom! Boom! Deafening explosions echoed endlessly. The dense rain of flames was dazzling yet carried an overwhelming sense of destruction. Tongues of fire danced wildly, almost completely devouring all the Scale-armored Moths. Amidst the chaotic blaze, Yabao stood proudly in the fire, carrying Qiao Sang on his back. Though flames filled the sky, they curiously avoided the area centered around Yabao. The extreme commotion caused Nada Pong to groggily regain consciousness. Opening his eyes, he was met with a scene of utter devastation. Nada Pong shut his eyes again and promptly fainted once more. On the ground, a pet beast resembling a rock frantically rolled around, trying to evade the fiery downpour. At the bottom of a water pool, a pair of sharp eyes slowly opened. High above, a flock of Scale Moths scattered in panic, flitting about chaotically. But the meteor rain was far too dense, wiping out almost all of them in an instant. However, the sheer number of Scale Moths was no joke. Even under such an intense firestorm, a small portion still managed to reach the safe zone above Yabao. They flapped their wings forcefully, releasing a continuous shower of scale dust. Seeing this, Gangbao, who had been motionless and quiet all this time, swiftly flapped her wings upward. A dozen sharp air blades instantly sliced through the scale dust, striking toward the Scale Moths above. The moths quickly dodged in all directions. Lubao, who had already turned her head, opened her mouth, releasing a visible blast of icy breath. The freezing air spread rapidly, instantly freezing the Scale Moths that were dodging the air blades above Yabao. The moths were gone, but the scale dust they had released was still drifting down. Qiao Sang instinctively wanted to cover her head with her clothes but suddenly realized she had already been affected earlier. She hesitated and stopped her movement. Since she had already been exposed, and with Lubao around, getting hit a little more didn¡¯t seem to matter¡­ As this thought crossed her mind, she noticed that the Beast master named Nada Pong, with a peaceful expression and closed eyes, had somehow positioned himself just five centimeters above her head, shielding her from the falling scale dust. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned before realization dawned on her. She looked toward Little Treasure. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure sensed his master''s gaze and, with his glowing blue eyes, gave her a determined look that seemed to say, Don''t worry, I''ve got this. Qiao Sang was unexpectedly touched by Little Treasure''s attentiveness. But the next second, a sudden thought struck her. Wait¡­ If you''re using psychic power to control Nada Pong, then what about Lubao¡­? A chill ran through Qiao Sang as she quickly turned to look at Lubao. To her surprise, Lubao wasn¡¯t falling, she remained floating in the air. Qiao Sang blinked in confusion. What was going on? "Yap!" At that moment, Yabao let out a cry. Qiao Sang instantly understood, Yabao had seamlessly taken over from Little Treasure, using his psychic power to keep Lubao suspended in the air. I didn¡¯t even command them, yet their teamwork is this flawless¡­ Qiao Sang felt a sense of pride. As the fire rain finally subsided, only a few scattered Scale Moths remained in the air. "Lin Lin!" The surviving moths glared at Yabao, showing no sign of retreating despite the fiery carnage. Qiao Sang looked at them and was reminded of something her teacher once said in class: "Some pet beast species are extremely united. If one of their kind is harmed, even if the opponent is a hundred times stronger, they will fearlessly launch an attack. These beasts generally have lower intelligence, making it difficult for them to learn complex skills. If you plan to contract such beasts, think carefully." I got distracted¡­ Qiao Sang snapped back to focus, just as she was about to command Lunao to launch a final attack. Suddenly, the surface of the water pool trembled violently. "Lin Lin!" The Scale Moths seemed to be startled by something and fled in all directions. "Gang Gang!" Gangbao also sensed something and adopted a serious expression, calling out urgently. Qiao Sang turned to look at Gangbao and was taken aback. Gangbao''s face was horrifically swollen, making it look like a pig-headed version of herself. Qiao Sang immediately recalled the earlier scene of the moth swarm attack, Gangbao had been caught in it too¡­ Did that mean her own face looked the same right now¡­? And what about Yabao¡­? "Gang Gang!" Gangbao couldn''t stand watching her master space out in such a critical moment. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She raised a wing, about to smack her master¡¯s head as a wake-up call, but Qiao Sang quickly said, "I got it." Even though this was her first mission on the Chaosu Star, she knew the rules. In situations like this, there was definitely a big boss lurking beneath the water. "Gang Gang?" Seeing the water pool shaking more violently, Gangbao grew anxious. Why weren¡¯t they leaving yet? "Little Treasure, can you do it?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun Xun!" Understanding his master¡¯s question, Little Treasure nodded seriously with confidence. "We¡¯re leaving!" As she spoke, Qiao Sang waved her hand, recalling Yabao, Lubao, and Gangbao into the Beast Codex. Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. The next second, just as Qiao Sang and her beasts were about to drop from the air, they vanished in an instant. Rushing toward the scene on a Peering Wave Eagle, Qu Zhuo witnessed Qiao Sang disappear before his eyes. At the same moment, the violently shaking water pool revealed a massive head with a huge triangular sky-blue crest on its forehead, a protruding jaw, and a thick blue mane. Qu Zhuo locked eyes with the newly emerged Source Water Croc. For a moment, only one thought echoed in Qu Zhuo''s mind: F*ck. --- Qiao Sang opened her eyes and found herself in a dense thicket. A three-eyed spider-like pet beast leisurely crawled past her. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure quickly floated in front of his master, spreading his arms protectively. The spider beast¡¯s middle forehead eye glanced at Little Treasure, then withdrew its gaze and continued crawling forward at a steady pace. Little Treasure: ¡­... At that moment, Qiao Sang chuckled. "I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to teleport so many people at once." "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure instantly puffed out his chest with pride, as if to say, That was nothing. Previously, Little Treasure''s spatial shift could only move one target at a time. During the earlier encounter with the Scale Moths, Qiao Sang had instinctively given a command without overthinking it, and surprisingly, Little Treasure had successfully teleported both the mission issuer and her daughter. This time, he had even teleported Nada Pong, his pet beast, and the Mura Monster along with them. Wait, Mura Monster? Qiao Sang quickly looked around. Soon, she spotted the Mura Monster a few meters away, still looking shaken. A realization struck her. She formed a hand seal and summoned Yabao, Lubao, and Gangbao one after another. "Yap!" Seeing that the danger had passed, Yabao wagged his tail happily. Qiao Sang''s lips twitched. Due to the urgency earlier, she had remained on Yabao¡¯s back and was only now seeing his face. His head was swollen with red bumps, less severe than Gangbao''s but completely ruining his usual handsome appearance. Strangely enough, Qiao Sang admired Lubao¡¯s composure. She could look at Yabao and Gangbao¡¯s current state without flinching at all¡­ If Qiao Sang could see herself, she''d realize she was actually the worst off¡­ "Healing Light." She commanded. "Lu." Lubao responded, her forehead gem glowing blue. As the light faded, Qiao Sang''s swelling disappeared, restoring her fair and clean complexion. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure cheered, excitedly circling around his master. As Lubao healed Yabao and Gangbao, she was about to heal Nada Pong when Qiao Sang stopped it. "Leave him like that." "Lu." Lubao instantly withdrew her healing light. Now, it was time to drop the Mura Monster off. The mission was almost complete. This place seemed far enough from the mission issuer¡¯s home¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the Mura Monster thoughtfully and asked, "I¡¯ll leave you here, okay?" Chapter 581: Memories Chapter 581: Memories"Mumu..." As the creature regained composure, it heard the question and silently took a step back. "You don''t want to?" Qiao Sang understood its thoughts without needing Yaobao to translate, just by watching its actions. In fact, she had already captured the creature and could have simply left it here without considering its wishes. However, the creature''s earlier actions were clearly for the sake of the group of Scale Armored Moths in the house. Without it, no one would know when the Scale Armored Moths would be discovered. Moreover, according to the description from the task issuer, the creature only made a mess outside the door and tried to cause destruction inside the house; it did not attack anyone. Now, thinking about it, creating a mess might have been a way to make the task issuer unable to bear it and move out, while the destruction could have been a way to make the issuer discover the Scale Armored Moths. Facing such a benevolent creature, Qiao Sang couldn''t bring herself to just abandon it, especially since wild Pet Beasts also have their preferred environments, and living in an unsuitable place could shorten their lifespan. "What kind of environment do you like? I''ll look for one for you," Qiao Sang said. "Mumu..." Only then did the creature realize that the human in front of it was genuinely asking for its opinion. With a hesitant expression, it uttered a sound, asking if it could be returned. "No." With Xiao Xunbao''s translation, Qiao Sang immediately refused without a second thought. Completing the task was the priority. If the creature insisted on going back, then she would have no choice but to leave it here. "Mumu." The creature first fell silent, then its expression became resolute. It just wanted to go back for one last look, and after that, it would leave. "Xun Xun." Xiao Xunbao mimicked the creature''s expression and tone as it translated. Qiao Sang gazed at the creature and asked after a moment of silence: "Who do you want to see?" The creature looked at the human in front of it without speaking. After a few seconds, Qiao Sang spoke with a tone of resignation: "I understand." ... The task handover documents from the Beast Taming Center were all synchronized to her phone, clearly indicating the task''s location. After retracting Lubao back into the Beast Taming Codex, Qiao Sang left Nadapeng and his swollen face, along with his Pet Beast, and followed the navigation to the task issuer''s home as indicated on the document. When she arrived at the destination, she found a large group of onlookers gathered at the door. Qiao Sang pushed through the crowd and saw the task issuer arguing with two police officers in uniform. "So much time has passed! You haven''t even located the spot! What if something happened to that child?" Mai Ya shouted angrily. That child? Is she talking about me? Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. "Ma''am, please calm down," the black police officer said irritably: "We have arrived as quickly as possible. You didn''t provide us with the exact location, and finding the right direction takes time. You know we are always understaffed here." Mai Ya cursed: "What use are you police if..." Before she could finish, Qiao Sang stepped forward, cradling Yaobao, and feigned ignorance as she asked, "Has something happened?" These brief seven words made Mai Ya stop her cursing. She paused, then seemed to think of something, her expression tensing up as she glanced up at the sky to check for any sign of Scale Armored Moths. Upon seeing no trace of them, Mai Ya visibly relaxed. Once the police officers knew that the black-haired young girl was the person to be rescued from the emergency call, they quickly left without delay. The words spoken by the black police officer earlier were not a brush-off; indeed, the police stations in the Lower Districts were always short-handed. With the spectacle over, the surrounding crowd of onlookers quickly dispersed. "Are you hurt?" Mai Ya asked with concern. To swell up like a pig''s head, I wonder if that counts as an injury... Qiao Sang shook her head and said: "No." "I''ve heard that the Scale Armored Moth''s scale powder is toxic and can cause allergic reactions. If not treated promptly, over time, it can even lead to hallucinations," Mai Ya said with sincere admiration: "I never thought that with so many Scale Armored Moths around, you wouldn''t get any scales on you." Qiao Sang coughed: "Actually, I did get a bit on me, but I have a Pet Beast that can heal, so it took care of it." This Pet Beast could actually perform healing skills... Mai Ya automatically ruled out the possibility of the Spectral-type Pet whose name she couldn''t remember, and the Little Steel Falcon, as well as another Pet, looking shocked at Yaobao, who was currently being held in Qiao Sang''s arms. As the two chatted, the Mumu looked back reluctantly at the little girl who failed to notice it and eventually turned to leave, its silhouette fading away into the distance. Only Gangbao noticed it. It silently watched Mumu''s retreating figure, not saying anything. It was only when Mumu was about to disappear at the turn that Gangbao looked at its own Beast Tamer and remembered her mission was to send Mumu away from this place. If Mumu didn''t go far and came back, she would probably be in a tough spot... "Gang Gang." Gangbao heaved a sigh internally and patted Qiao Sang''s shoulder with its wing to give a reminder. When Qiao Sang turned her head, Gangbao pointed with its wing in the direction Mumu had gone. Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow and called out: "Xiao Xunbao." "Xun~" Xiao Xunbao cried out and its eyes emitted a blue light. The next second, Mumu was back where it started. "Mumu..." Mumu looked bewildered. It was only then that Mai Ya remembered Mumu''s existence. "Mumu''s actions before must have been to remind you all that there were Scale Armored Moths in the room," said Qiao Sang. Upon hearing this, Mai Ya was stunned for a moment, then realized, "No wonder it kept sneaking in trying to attack the wall in the room." But on second thought, she asked in confusion, "But why would it do that?" "That''s a question for Mumu," Qiao Sang said, looking at Mumu. Mai Ya and the little girl both looked over as well. "Mumu..." Mumu showed a puzzled expression. Suddenly, the little girl tugged at her mother''s clothes and said crisply: "Mom, it looks just like the Pet Beast in that trash can." Upon hearing this, Mumu''s body stiffened. "What Pet Beast in a trash can?" Mai Ya asked. "The Pet Beast in the trash can, don''t you remember? I even gave it some food," the little girl explained. "That can''t be," Mai Ya said with a smile, denying it. She remembered that incident well; it was two years ago. It was raining that day when she picked up her daughter from the kindergarten; they had also bought some corn cakes. Just as they had not walked far from the purchase, she noticed a trash can by the side of the road shaking. Her daughter was scared and immediately hid behind her, and as she was about to lead her daughter away, a very small wild Pet Beast crawled out of the trash. The little beast looked fierce, but sadly its young age meant its fierceness had no deterrent effect. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The daughter, probably seeing that it was very small, wasn''t afraid anymore and even gave it the corn cake they had just bought. The reason why she remembered the incident so clearly was that the little beast had a dumbfounded and cute expression when it saw the corn cake being offered to it, quite unlike the wild Pet Beasts she had in her memory. As Mai Ya recalled the past, she continued: "That wasn''t Mumu, that was a little..." At this point, Mai Ya paused, stunned. Larva Beast, is Mumu''s juvenile form... Chapter 582: The Dangerous 25th District Chapter 582: The Dangerous 25th DistrictRead at: /?m=1 ----- ¡°You¡¯re that little Little Wood Monster from two years ago?¡± Maiya looked at the Mura Monster in front of her in surprise. ¡°Mu... mu...¡± Mura Monster stiffened and nodded. Maiya was completely stunned. She had never expected that the little Wood Monster from back then would evolve into a Mura Monster and even come to help them. The little girl¡¯s eyes lit up. She quickly ran up to Mura Monster and said excitedly, ¡°So it really is you!¡± Mura Monster looked a little uneasy as the girl got so close. Qiao Sang, standing to the side, had a so-I-was-right expression. She wasn¡¯t surprised that Mura Monster knew this family. Only a prior relationship, especially a good one, could explain why Mura Monster had gone to such lengths to get the task issuer to notice the Scale Moths. And only if they had known each other would it make sense why Mura Monster had never attacked them. After all, the real danger of wild pet beasts was that they attacked humans. A Mura Monster that had been driven away so many times without retaliating was already unusual. ¡°You know each other?¡± Qiao Sang asked, pretending to be surprised. ¡°Well, here¡¯s what happened¡­¡± Maiya recounted the events from two years ago. All over a corn cake? You really remembered that for this long¡­ Qiao Sang stared at Mura Monster in astonishment. Wild pet beasts could be like this? This was nothing like what the books described. ¡°In that case, do I still need to take Mura Monster far away?¡± Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before asking. Maiya turned to look at her daughter happily playing with Mura Monster and smiled gently. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I misjudged it before.¡± Hearing this, Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment. ¡°But about the mission¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Maiya cut her off, understanding her concerns. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely give you a five-star review!¡± As long as you say that, I¡¯m relieved¡­ Qiao Sang was satisfied. But then she remembered something and her expression grew serious. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to mention.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Maiya adopted a serious look. ¡°That Beastmaster, Nada Pong, seems really suspicious.¡± Qiao Sang frowned. ¡°Once or twice might be coincidence, but he¡¯s just so happened to show up and interfere for months. Something feels off.¡± Maiya thought for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s a Beast master. People listen to him, and he has a lot of people in this area. They probably just reported to him.¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°What I mean is¡­ I don¡¯t think he was trying to stop the Beast masters you hired. It felt more like he was trying to stop Mura Monster.¡± Maiya froze. ¡°And...¡± Qiao Sang continued, ¡°He doesn¡¯t feel like a C-rank Beast master at all. Something about him is strange. Just be careful.¡± A C-rank Beast master, working in the 25th District, a place constantly dealing with wild pet beasts, should not be this incompetent. Maiya nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± --- Leaving the task issuer¡¯s house, Qiao Sang followed the navigation to the Beast Tamer Center. She wasn¡¯t going there to report the mission but rather to find a nearby hotel to stay in. Mission confirmation could be done through the Beast Tamer Center¡¯s official app. When she went to confirm it earlier, she noticed that the mission had been inexplicably upgraded to a three-star task. After calling customer service to ask, they confirmed it wasn¡¯t an error, so she knew she wouldn¡¯t need to take on another task. Staying near the Beast Tamer Center was just for convenience, her assessment instructor hadn¡¯t given her any contact information, only a meeting time and place. Since there were still two days until the meetup, Qiao Sang walked at a relaxed pace. The Lower Ten Districts were very different from the Upper Ten. Wild pet beasts could be seen everywhere on the streets. Unlike before, when she had been preoccupied with her mission, she now had the leisure to stop and admire the unfamiliar wild pet beasts around her. Street vendors were everywhere, and even wild pet beasts could be seen lining up with Alliance Coins to buy food. The sight intrigued Qiao Sang. I should really get a pet beast identifier for Chaosu Star¡­ Seeing yet another pet beast she didn¡¯t recognize, Qiao Sang made a mental note. Suddenly, her eyes stopped on a particular stall. ¡°Boss, six corn cakes, please.¡± Qiao Sang stepped forward. ¡°Alright!¡± The stall owner, seeing the girl accompanied by two pet beasts, knew she was a Beast master, someone he couldn¡¯t afford to offend. His tired expression instantly changed to enthusiasm. The six corn cakes were quickly packed up. After paying, Qiao Sang handed out the corn cakes to Yabao and the others. Then, her gaze landed on a gray bird-like pet beast not far away. Might as well do a good deed. Who knows, maybe it¡¯ll turn out to be another Mura Monster¡­ With that thought, Qiao Sang walked up to the gray bird-like pet beast, smiling kindly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Want some?¡± She held out a corn cake. The gray bird sniffed at it cautiously, then made a disgusted face, turned around, and flew away. Welp. Guess not all wild pet beasts are like Mura Monster¡­ Watching the bird¡¯s retreating figure, Qiao Sang took a bite of her own corn cake, thoughtful. ¡°Gang gang.¡± Gangbao, standing beside her, watched the scene unfold and couldn¡¯t help but look amused. --- 11:50 PM. A hundred meters away from the Beastmaster Center, inside the Sen Nong Hotel. As usual, Qiao Sang closed her eyes and entered the Beast master Codex. Even though she had been staying up late recently, her habit of checking the data at bedtime was already ingrained. She casually browsed through the stats, but when she reached the last line of Yabao''s points, her breath caught. Points: 83,002 83,002?! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at the numbers in front of her. Yesterday, it had only been 56,842, but today it had shot up to 83,002?! An increase of over 20,000 points in just one day?! Qiao Sang double-checked multiple times before finally confirming she hadn¡¯t seen wrong. 83,002¡­ So that swarm of Scale Moths was worth this many points¡­ Taking a deep breath, she shifted her gaze to the top rows of data. Name: Blazing Star Canine (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: Advanced (14,500/100,000)+ Ever since Yabao evolved, his daily natural point increase hadn¡¯t changed much. Even after consuming specially formulated energy pills, he had only increased by 2,500 points so far, averaging around 40 points per day. At this rate, it would take about six years for Yabao to evolve into a General-class beast. But now, with these points, he wouldn¡¯t take anywhere near six years¡­ If she participated in a few more beast battle tournaments, Yabao might even evolve before she got into university¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before making a decision. The next second, the 14,500 point count under his level started soaring, finally stopping at 90,000. Level: Advanced (90,000/100,000)+ She planned to obtain a Dream Enlightenment Stone before letting Yabao evolve. The remaining 10,000 points would take around eight months to accumulate naturally. By then, high school would be over, and she should have already acquired the Dream Enlightenment Stone. With an important combat assessment in two days, she needed Yabao to get even stronger¡­ With this thought in mind, Qiao Sang turned the page and continued reviewing the data. --- Two days later. After breakfast, Qiao Sang finished washing up and even had Lubao cast a Healing Light on her. Then she packed up and quietly waited for 5:13 PM. Time passed by, and at exactly 5:00 PM, she checked out of her hotel and had Little Seeker teleport her straight to the Beastnmaster Center entrance. There, Tang Yi was already waiting. ¡°Tang Yi.¡± Qiao Sang walked over and greeted him. ¡°You actually arrived at the last minute.¡± Tang Yi said with a chuckle. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± Qiao Sang glanced at her phone. ¡°There are still 13 minutes left. The instructor set the meeting time so precisely, I doubt he¡¯ll arrive early.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Tang Yi nodded, then suddenly remembered something. ¡°By the way, what mission did you pick?¡± ¡°Driving away a Mura Monster.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°A Mura Monster?¡± Tang Yi pulled out his phone to look it up. A few seconds later, he raised his head in surprise and exclaimed, ¡°You picked such an easy mission?!¡± Easy? My face, Yabao''s face, and Gangbao''s face all got beaten into pig heads¡­ If it weren¡¯t for Lubao, you¡¯d be looking at a pig-headed version of me right now¡­ Qiao Sang silently complained in her heart. ¡°What about you?¡± She asked. Hearing the question, Tang Yi¡¯s face lit up with excitement. ¡°I picked an ultra-difficult mission, collecting Mist Purification Grass! That stuff grows in a place no one dares to go. If it weren¡¯t for the assessment, I wouldn¡¯t have taken it, the rewards aren¡¯t even that great.¡± ¡°Where does it grow?¡± Qiao Sang asked, intrigued. Tang Yi lowered his voice and whispered: ¡°In the territory of a King-class beast, the Water Source Croc.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned. ¡°A King-class beast?!¡± ¡°Yep, King-class.¡± Tang Yi grinned. ¡°My luck was amazing, when I got there, I saw the Water Source Croc fighting multiple beasts, so I took the chance to grab the Mist Purification Grass.¡± Qiao Sang was shocked again. ¡°How is collecting resources in a King-class beast¡¯s territory only a two-star mission?¡± Tang Yi chuckled. ¡°The rewards are low, and it¡¯s been sitting unclaimed for a long time, so the difficulty rating dropped.¡± ¡°Wow, you were really lucky to get out of there unharmed.¡± Qiao Sang commented. ¡°Yeah, I never knew my luck was this good.¡± Tang Yi said, scratching his head. At that moment, a rock-like beast walked up to them, holding a phone. ¡°Head-Head.¡± It glanced at Yabao and twitched its mouth before turning the phone screen toward them. Qiao Sang blinked and looked at the screen. Holy crap. Who¡­ is this?! On the screen was a person wrapped head to toe in bandages, with only their eyes and mouth exposed, looking like a mummy. ¡°You two¡­¡± The person on the screen spoke weakly. ¡°Come to Lisher Hospital with Head Rocker.¡± Qiao Sang and Tang Yi exchanged looks, both seeing confusion in each other¡¯s eyes. Although the person''s face was completely wrapped, Head Rocker was a unique beast only found on Blue Star. And at this time, the only person who could be looking for them was their assessment instructor from Central Hollow University. ¡°Instructor¡­ what happened to you?¡± Qiao Sang asked in confusion. That one simple question made the ¡®mummy¡¯ suddenly agitated. He seemed to want to jump up but failed due to his injuries. After struggling a few times, he gave up, lay back down, and panted: ¡°Don¡¯t ask unnecessary questions. Just come to the hospital.¡± The video call ended. Qiao Sang and Tang Yi looked at each other, both feeling the weight of the situation. Tang Yi said seriously, ¡°Looks like this place is a lot more dangerous than we thought.¡± Qiao Sang nodded slightly. ¡°Once the assessment is over, we should leave immediately.¡± --- Following Head Rocker, they soon arrived at Lisher Hospital and entered Qu Zhuo¡¯s hospital room. Qu Zhuo, wrapped in bandages, lay on the hospital bed and slightly turned his head. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± He looks this badly injured¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. The 25th District is really dangerous¡­ ¡°Instructor, are you okay?¡± Tang Yi asked with concern. Qu Zhuo snorted. ¡°Do I look okay to you?¡± Tang Yi instantly shut up. Qu Zhuo glanced at him. ¡°You did well on your mission, good job taking the chance to collect the resources.¡± So the instructor was secretly watching¡­ Tang Yi was just about to humbly respond when- Qu Zhuo suddenly changed his tone: ¡°But when someone was in danger, did it never occur to you to help?¡± Tang Yi blinked in confusion. ¡°Instructor, do you mean the other Beast masters fighting the Water Source Croc? But how could I possibly help in a battle of that level? And didn¡¯t you say that ensuring our own safety is the top priority? That¡¯s also part of the assessment criteria.¡± Qu Zhuo fell silent. Then, he slowly turned to Qiao Sang and spoke through gritted teeth: ¡°You did very well on your mission.¡± ¡­Was it just her imagination, or did he stress the word ¡®very¡¯? Qiao Sang thought back to her mission, it had gone well, despite some surprises. She¡¯d protected the task giver, eliminated the Scale Moth swarm, and even resolved the misunderstanding with Mura Monster. It really was a job well done. Seems like the instructor is quite satisfied¡­ Qiao Sang thought, then said, ¡°There were some unexpected events, but in the end, everything worked out fine.¡± Everything worked out fine¡­? Ha. Ha. Qu Zhuo looked down at his bandaged body, his barely stabilized mental state crumbling again. He really wanted to shout, Do you even realize that I''m in this state because of you?! But his dignity as a teacher forced him to restrain himself. Just as the two conflicting thoughts were battling in Qu Zhuo''s mind, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal and summoned Lubao. "Lubao, Healing Light." "Lu." Lubao glanced around and immediately understood who needed healing. She let out a cry, and the gemstone on her forehead emitted a blue glow, enveloping Qu Zhuo in light. Qu Zhuo instantly felt his pain disappear, replaced by a soothing warmth, like soaking in a hot spring. Once the blue light faded, Qiao Sang asked, "Teacher, how do you feel now?" Qu Zhuo first wiggled his fingers, then suddenly flipped up from the hospital bed like a carp leaping out of water. So this is the endangered pet beast from the Ancient Guwu Region, Ice Xilu... Don''t think I¡¯m going to thank you. This Healing Light was something I rightfully deserved, you hear me¡­ Qu Zhuo cast a deep look at Lubao, then at Qiao Sang. He stepped down from the bed, put on his shoes, and while slowly unwrapping the bandages on his body, he said, "I originally planned to delay the assessment for a few more days, but it seems unnecessary now. Follow me, we''re heading straight to the pet beast energy detection test." Chapter 583: Pet Beast Energy Value Test Chapter 583: Pet Beast Energy Value TestRead at: /?m=1 ----- Beast Mastery Center. Pet Beast Testing Room. Qu Zhuo handed the document in his hand to the medical staff inside. After reviewing it, the staff member nodded. "I understand." After speaking, he pressed the red button in the corner of the desk. The sign at the entrance immediately changed to "Testing in Progress." Qu Zhuo said seriously, "No equipment is more precise than that of the Beast Mastery Center. This test will be fully monitored and simultaneously uploaded to Central Hollow University. Besides me, there are three other teachers on Blue Star who will invigilate the test remotely via the internet. "During the assessment, unless under special circumstances, you must remain within the camera''s range. "Before the energy detection test, we must conduct a full-body examination of your pet beasts to prevent the use of potions or other substances that could temporarily boost energy. "During the assessment, each pet beast must be summoned on the spot. If your pet beast is already outside, please recall it into your Beast Mastery Codex and then summon it again. "Do you all understand?" "Understood!" Qiao Sang and Tang Yi responded in unison. As they spoke, Tou Yanke had already set up a series of cameras, aiming them at Qiao Sang and Tang Yi. No wonder the meeting point was at the Beast Mastery Center, it turned out the assessment was taking place here... Qiao Sang glanced around. The two medical staff members in the pet beast testing room had not left. Instead, they stood by, clearly preparing to conduct the examination. "Now, summon all of your pet beasts." Qu Zhuo instructed. Qiao Sang was about to form a hand seal to summon Lubao but immediately recalled what the teacher had just said. With a wave of her hand, she recalled all of her pet beasts into the Beast Mastery Codex before forming hand seals again to summon them one by one. This wasn''t just a procedural requirement, there had been past incidents where examinees rented pet beasts to cheat, passing them off as their own. Since then, all major academies mandated that candidates summon their pet beasts on the spot. Looks like it''s time to learn how to summon multiple pet beasts at once¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she performed four identical hand seals in succession. Before long, seven pet beasts with vastly different appearances filled the testing room. Tang Yi¡¯s third pet beast was a dual-attribute poison and water-type beast: the Poison water Lion. Its body was covered in sharp purple spines, and its internal poison sac stored lethal venom. Even with immediate medical attention, anyone injured by its poison would suffer lasting effects. Its toxicity ranked among the most potent of all low-level poison-type pet beasts on Chaosu Star. Earlier, when diving into the lake to collect Mist Purification Grass, Tang Yi had relied on the Poison water Lion. Under Qu Zhuo¡¯s instruction, the two medical staff members quickly completed the examinations on all seven pet beasts. "No issues, everything is normal." One of the staff members, a woman with short wavy brown hair, reported. Qu Zhuo nodded. "Then let¡¯s begin the energy test." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure eagerly raised his paw and called out. He wanted to go first! He wanted to go first! His sudden movement made him the center of attention. The two medical staff exchanged surprised glances. This was the first time they had seen a pet beast remain so¡­ lively after being contracted. "He wants to go first." Qiao Sang translated. "No rush, everyone will have their turn." Qu Zhuo replied coldly. He hadn¡¯t forgotten, among Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts, this was the only one capable of space travel! "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure lowered his paw, suddenly feeling dejected. --- Meanwhile, on the other end of the camera feed. The three invigilators on Blue Star watched the virtual screen, whispering among themselves. "What¡¯s going on with Qu Zhuo? Why is he treating Qiao Sang so coldly?" "I initially doubted the reports that Qiao Sang¡¯s brain domain had surpassed 30%, but now it seems to be true¡­" "Maybe it''s just me, but I feel like Qu Zhuo is bringing some personal emotions into this." The Dragon Nation wasn¡¯t short on geniuses, but a talent like Qiao Sang was unprecedented. Every top-tier schools was aware that Qiao Sang would be taking the college entrance exam this year, and Central Hollow University was no exception. When they confirmed Qiao Sang had applied, the university¡¯s admissions team paid special attention. They had carefully chosen Qu Zhuo as the examiner, not just because he happened to be on Chaosu Star, but because he was known for his strong sense of responsibility and wouldn¡¯t overlook a true talent. They had expected him to view Qiao Sang favorably, but to their surprise, he remained indifferent. --- While the three discussed, the energy testing had begun on Chaosu Star. The test took place in another room, with pet beasts entering one by one. The glass partition ensured no sound escaped, but the process was still visible. Once Tang Yi¡¯s pet beasts were tested, Qiao Sang led her pet beasts into the testing chamber. The medical staff placed the testing device on Gangbao¡¯s head. "Little Steel Falcon, energy value: 9,101." The medical staff read the numbers from the monitor while Qu Zhuo recorded them. "Ghost Ring Phantom, energy value: 240,593." "Ice Xilu, energy value: 252,159." "Blazing Star Canine¡­" The staff member hesitated upon seeing the number before continuing, "Energy value: 496,726." "What?" Qu Zhuo doubted his own hearing. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "496,726 energy value." The medical staff repeated. "Impossible!" Qu Zhuo, full of disbelief, rushed to the monitor. The energy cap for high-level pet beasts was around 500,000. As the first evolution of its kind, the Blazing Star Canine''s evolution timeline was verifiable. The medical staff on Chaosu Star might not know, but Qu Zhuo had done his research. He knew for a fact that the Blazing Star Canine had evolved less than three months ago, how could its energy value already be approaching the high-level limit?! But when Qu Zhuo saw the number on the screen, he was stunned. The monitor clearly displayed: [496,726]. Looks like yesterday¡¯s added points worked wonders. Even without evolving, Yabao might already break the 500,000 limit¡­ Qiao Sang thought, keeping a neutral expression despite her inner delight. After a long silence, Qu Zhuo asked, "Could there be an error with your machine?" One of the medical staff frowned. "Sir, if you doubt our equipment, you¡¯re welcome to get tested elsewhere." Qu Zhuo hesitated before ultimately recording the number. Regardless of whether the Blazing Star Canine''s value was accurate, Qiao Sang had already secured full marks for this test, considering the energy values of her previous three pet beasts. After the test, Qu Zhuo looked slightly dazed, but the one most affected was Little Treasure. "Xun xun¡­" Initially proud of his result, Little Treasure soon heard Lubao¡¯s energy value and wore an expression of existential crisis. He actually lost to Lubao¡­ Did that mean he had now fallen to third place?! Qiao Sang noticed something was off and whispered, "What¡¯s wrong?" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure looked up at his master, teary-eyed. He had become child number three! Qiao Sang paused, then immediately understood. She wasn¡¯t too surprised that Lubao had surpassed Little Treasure, Lubao had consumed an S-rank potential booster and nine bottles of Ice Elixirs. Meanwhile, while Little Treasure was playing on his phone at night, Lubao was training. Her talent was catching up, and her dedication paid off. Just as Qiao Sang was about to console Little Treasure, she noticed Lubao talking to Gangbao. "Lu?" Which is stronger: 252,159 or 496,726? "!!" Before Qiao Sang could speak, Gangbao responded: The one ending in 9 is stronger. "Lu." Satisfied, Lubao smiled. Gangbao is something else¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief, casting a look of admiration at Gangbao before recalling Lubao into the Beast Mastery Codex. "Yap." Yabao shrank back to his small form, leaping into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms, blissfully unaware of Little Treasure''s internal struggle. At that moment, Qu Zhuo cleared his throat. "Tomorrow at 9 AM, we meet at the Beast Mastery Center for the 2V2 pet beast battle test." Chapter 584: Pet Battle 2v2 Combat Test Chapter 584: Pet Battle 2v2 Combat TestRead at: /?m=1 ----- As they left the Beast Taming Center, Qu Zhuo seemed unwilling to waste a single moment. He turned and left coldly and mercilessly. Tang Yi watched Qu Zhuo''s retreating figure, deep in thought. "What kind of dangerous mission did the teacher take on to end up in that state?" Qiao Sang shrugged. "It''s definitely not something at our level that we can interfere with." After saying that, she turned around and added, "I''m going to buy a pet identifier device here. Want to come along?" Tang Yi was briefly stunned before quickly following. "Sure!" The two soon arrived at a nearby pet accessories store. "Do you have any new pet identifier devices?" Qiao Sang asked directly. The staff enthusiastically recommended, "Of course! Recently, Hongxi released its latest dynamic pet identifier device. You can wear it like a watch, and to identify a pet, you just need to aim it at the pet." As she spoke, she walked to the counter and was about to take out a black, watch-like pet identification device. Qiao Sang quickly declined politely. "Do you have anything else?" Are you kidding me? Holding out your wrist like that to scan a pet, it looks way too much like an anime transformation pose. Too cringy! The staff member took out another pet identifier device¡ªa pink, ultra-thin model, and introduced it, "This one is lightweight and easy to carry. It''s a new model from Aichuang this year." Just as Qiao Sang was about to try it, Tang Yi asked, "Do you have the latest model of the StarLens series with full pet identification?" The staff member was momentarily stunned. "No, the newest StarLens models require pre-orders. If you want, I can call the main store to place an order. It should be available for pickup in about a week." After spending enough time around wealthy people, Qiao Sang had learned a thing or two. The StarLens series could identify all interstellar pets, but it cost ten times more than a regular pet identification device. Unless someone was traveling across the galaxy, the extra functions were practically useless. It would be nice to have a full interstellar pet identifier, she could even use it when she returned to Blue Star but waiting a week was out of the question. She''d just get one back in 3rd District. Just as she was about to leave, she caught sight of Little Treasure still looking dejected, mourning over his newfound third-place status. Qiao Sang spoke up. "Little Treasure, pick out a pet identifier device you like." "Xun" Little Treasure''s ears perked up, his spirits instantly lifted as he floated over to the counter and carefully began selecting. Fortunately, they had money now. Distracting Little Treasure first, then buying a better one back in 3rd District, it was a solid plan. Qiao Sang watched Little Treasure''s back with a smile in her eyes. --- The next day. At 9 AM. Beast Taming Center. Outdoor Training Grounds. The beast tamers in the lower ten districts were constantly on the move, solving real-world problems. Few had time to train in peace, so at this hour, the training grounds were nearly empty, with only a handful of people scattered around. The training area was vast, and everyone was spaced far apart, not interfering with each other. After ensuring that all recording equipment was set up, Qu Zhuo followed protocol and announced, "This 2V2 pet battle test will be fully monitored and uploaded in real-time to Central Hollow University. Three other professors on Blue Star will supervise remotely." "During the assessment, every pet must be summoned on-site." "The test lasts 20 minutes. The longer you endure in battle, the higher your score." He turned to Qiao Sang and Tang Yi. "Which of you wants to go first?" Qiao Sang raised her hand. "Alright." Qu Zhuo nodded slightly. "Then you go first." "No, wait." Qiao Sang explained, "Teacher, what if I win within 20 minutes?" Qu Zhuo''s mouth twitched. "Then you get full marks." Qiao Sang stepped forward seriously. "I''ll go first, then." Tang Yi felt touched. It was well known that in an assessment with only one examiner, the first participant was at a disadvantage. Though, for students like them, national champions and runners-up of the Campus Beast Mastering League, unless something unexpected happened, the test wouldn''t be a problem. Still, Tang Yi couldn''t help but feel moved. Qiao Sang took her position on one side of the battle arena. "Head Head!" Head Rocker, doubling as the referee, raised a green flag and swung it down. Qiao Sang and Qu Zhuo simultaneously formed hand seals, summoning two bright orange star arrays. The next second, Lubao appeared, along with an eagle-like flying pet about three meters tall, with gray-black feathers, white wingtips and tail feathers, and a pair of piercing black eyes. Peering Wave Eagle, a high-level flying pet from Chaosu Star. Its eyes were extraordinarily sharp, with a special structure that allowed it to see clearly up to a kilometer away, even the intricate patterns on an insect''s wings. Qiao Sang recalled its data in her mind. She had spent enough time on Chaosu Star to recognize many of its local pets. The Peering Wave Eagle was one of them. Using Ice Xilu'' Healing Light to drag out the battle? Qu Zhuo''s thought flashed briefly. Almost simultaneously, Lubao and the Peering Wave Eagle moved. Lubao lifted her head slightly and fired a Water Gun. The Peering Wave Eagle, already flapping its wings to approach, dodged in a flash and split into three identical copies, Shadow Clone. The three identical eagles dived sharply toward Lubao with a fierce momentum. Lubao leaped into a water droplet on the ground and instantly disappeared. Using Ice Xilu''s melting water trait to evade? Not bad¡­ Qu Zhuo mentally scored her strategy. The Peering Wave Eagle struck empty air. Without hesitation, it stabilized itself and flapped its wings hard, sending a powerful gust downward, lifting all the water droplets from the Water Gun off the ground. "Icy Wind." Qiao Sang commanded. At her words, a single water droplet, floating less than five meters ahead of the Peering Wave Eagle, suddenly revealed Lubao! She opened her mouth, releasing an intensely cold gust aimed at the three identical eagles. "Enhanced Gale." Qu Zhuo spoke calmly. The left and right clones disintegrated under the icy attack. The real Peering Wave Eagle did not dodge. Instead, it flapped its wings and surged forward, glowing with a cyan light, dramatically increasing its speed. The icy wind barely formed a thin frost layer on its feathers. It slowed slightly. But in the next instant, it spread its wings and flapped powerfully. The fierce gust it generated instantly shattered the Icy Wind, sending a vastly stronger windstorm surging across the battlefield. A Brave Bird Attack combined with Gale¡­ Qiao Sang found this troublesome. For the first time, she was facing an opponent who used combination techniques in battle¡­ --- Meanwhile, on Blue Star, the three remote examiners watched the scene unfold on a virtual screen. "Using combination techniques in a special recruitment test, doesn''t that make it too difficult? Did previous years do this too?" Asked a new examiner. "It depends." Answered a senior examiner with graying hair. "Campus Beast Mastering League champions are strong. Without extra difficulty, the test would be too easy for them. The combination techniques are to gauge their limits." The young examiner beside him added, "And to remind them that in university battles, combos are the key." "If only certain candidates face combo techniques, wouldn''t it be unfair if their matches end too quickly?" The new examiner asked. "Match duration is only one factor. The real assessment is based on overall performance." The younger examiner chuckled. "Qiao Sang is the national champion. If she lost to a simple combo, she wouldn¡¯t be champion in the first place." --- As they spoke, the Peering Wave Eagle, glowing with cyan light, dived toward Lubao with a powerful storm. Qiao Sang instantly knew, Lubao couldn¡¯t dodge this. But she remained calm. For unavoidable, contact-heavy attacks, Lubao knew what to do. "Ice Armor." Lubao braced herself. A violent collision followed. But instead of Lubao being blasted away, both Lubao and the Peering Wave Eagle went flying together! Lubao and the Peering Wave Eagle cried out in pain at the same time. The scene that Qu Zhuo had imagined, where Ice Xilu would be knocked back and then struck again by the raging wind, did not happen. Instead, on the battlefield, Ice Xilu was sent flying backward due to the collision. But strangely, the Peering Wave Eagle seemed to be stuck to it, following Ice Xilu as they tumbled backward together! Qu Zhuo was momentarily stunned. Upon closer inspection, he saw that Ice Xilu had grown more than a dozen ice spikes, most of which had embedded themselves into the Peering Wave Eagle. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was precisely these ice spikes that caused the Peering Wave Eagle to be dragged along with Ice Xilu as they fell back. Ice Spike Armor¡­ Realizing what had happened, Qu Zhuo''s pupils shrank sharply. At that moment, Qiao Sang gave a command: ¡°Healing Light.¡± Lubao struggled to open her eyes. A soft blue glow radiated from her body. When the glow dissipated, Lubao was completely unscathed. She swiftly leaped backward, putting some distance between herself and the Peering Wave Eagle. Only the heavily wounded Peering Wave Eagle remained in place. ¡°Ice Flower Seal.¡± Qiao Sang immediately followed up with another command. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao lifted her head, beginning to gather energy. ¡°No need.¡± Suddenly, Qu Zhuo waved his hand, recalling the badly injured Peering Wave Eagle back into his Beast Taming Codex. Qiao Sang looked at him in confusion. Qu Zhuo cleared his throat and said, ¡°That was a good performance. Let''s move on to the next match.¡± Chapter 585: Steel-Slashing Monkey Chapter 585: Steel-Slashing MonkeyRead at: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang instinctively took out her phone and checked the time, 9:14 AM. Four minutes had passed since the assessment began. The assessment lasted for 20 minutes, and the longer one could last in battle, the higher their score. But only four minutes had passed so far, not very long. She hadn''t even defeated the Peering Wave Eagle yet. Qiao Sang wondered how many points the examiner would give her¡­ This wasn¡¯t quite what she had expected. Looks like she needed to take the second battle more seriously¡­ She only had one chance at this assessment, and she didn¡¯t want anything unexpected to happen. Qiao Sang put her phone back in her pocket and waved her hand, recalling Lubao into the Beast Taming Codex. That was close, I almost lost face¡­ Qu Zhuo sighed in relief. He had thought Ice Xilu was going to stall for time with Healing Light, but just one use of it had already thrown him off balance. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its speed wasn¡¯t great, but as a water- and ice-type pet beast, its mobility on land was decent enough. Its reaction time at this stage was practically perfect. Even without a beast tamer¡¯s command, it knew exactly when to use what skill. He hadn¡¯t seen much of its attack power yet, but its overall performance was impressive, especially that Ice Spike Armor. The timing had been flawless. A second too early or too late, and the effect wouldn¡¯t have been the same. Looks like Qiao Sang had trained this Ice Xilu well¡­ Qu Zhuo found himself instinctively admiring her a little. At that moment, Touyan Ke waved a green flag. Qiao Sang and Qu Zhuo formed hand seals. In an instant, Yabao and another pet beast appeared on the battlefield, a powerful-looking, six-meter-tall monkey-like beast with glowing orange eyes, a gray body, and long blade-like extensions running from the backs of its hands to its elbows. A general-rank pet beast¡­ Feeling the overwhelming presence that set it apart from high-rank beasts, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. She didn¡¯t recognize this pet beast. Despite improving her knowledge of pet beasts, most of the ones she was familiar with ranged from low- to high-rank. She only knew those from researching opponents in the National Campus Beast Mastering League or those commonly seen on the streets. But this one didn¡¯t fall into either category. ¡°A steel-type general-rank pet beast¡­ Steel-Slashing Monkey.¡± Tang Yi, watching from the sidelines, recognized the examiner¡¯s newly summoned beast and immediately felt the pressure. This beast was famous for its absolute speed in mid-air battles, and its defense was terrifyingly strong. Even against opponents of the same level, it specialized in swift and decisive combat. Trying to prolong a battle against it would be nearly impossible¡­ --- At the same time. Blue Star. Three examiners watched the virtual screen, discussing among themselves. ¡°I think if the Blazing Star Canine can last five minutes, it should get a full score.¡± ¡°The Blazing Star Canine does have a psychic attribute and can teleport. If it focuses entirely on dodging, five minutes shouldn¡¯t be too hard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still quite difficult. If it were the Ghost Ring Phantom, maybe. But the Blazing Star Canine is big. Given the Steel-Slashing Monkey¡¯s speed and reflexes, it¡¯ll get hit even if it teleports.¡± ¡°Pressure is the best way to see a beast tamer¡¯s abilities. Let¡¯s see how Qiao Sang handles it.¡± --- Chaosu Star. Beast Taming Center. Outdoor Training Grounds. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao gazed at the massive opponent in front of him, his expression serious. A light breeze passed through. In the next instant, the Steel-Slashing Monkey tensed its leg muscles. Like a thunderous explosion, its speed skyrocketed, its momentum like a fearsome beast. Qiao Sang barely registered a blurry gray figure rushing toward Yabao. She had only blinked once, and it was already right in front of Yabao. With a lightning-fast slash, the Steel-Slashing Monkey swung its blade-like arm down toward Yabao. Whoosh! Even Tang Yi could hear the wind tearing from the strike. But the Steel-Slashing Monkey hit nothing but air. Just as the blade was about to land, Yabao teleported at the last second, appearing high in the air. Yabao opened his mouth, unleashing a spiraling inferno diagonally downward toward the Steel-Slashing Monkey. The monkey¡¯s fiery orange eyes seemed to blaze even brighter. It tensed its legs again, making no effort to dodge. Instead, it leaped straight toward the incoming vortex of fire! A strong sense of danger surged in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. Acting on instinct, she called out: ¡°Shadow Clone!¡± The Steel-Slashing Monkey sliced straight through the fire whirl, emerging completely unscathed! Still carrying the heat of the flames, its blade slashed down toward Yabao with unstoppable force. From Qu Zhuo¡¯s perspective, the Blazing Star Canine was cut cleanly in half. He didn¡¯t panic at his beast¡¯s overwhelming attack. The split Blazing Star Canine dissipated. A clone¡­ No wonder it won this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League. Every one of her pet beasts had top-tier reflexes¡­ and Qiao Sang had a solid grasp of the battlefield situation¡­ Qu Zhuo silently graded her performance. After its attack, the Steel-Slashing Monkey landed on the ground and looked up. Dozens of Blazing Star Canine floated in the sky, all staring down at it. The battle quickly drew the attention of nearby beast tamers who had been training. Beast tamer duels weren¡¯t uncommon, but these two pet beasts, they hadn¡¯t seen either before. That was rare. ¡°What are these two pet beasts?¡± ¡°Not sure¡­ They look like general-rank beasts.¡± ¡°No way, that one with the flaming wings looks like a high-rank beast.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not flying with those wings.¡± ¡°Yeah, the wings are tiny. It¡¯s not even flapping them.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ it¡¯s a fire and psychic-type pet beast?¡± The surrounding chatter didn¡¯t distract Qiao Sang. She was fully focused on the battle. A steel-type beast, fast, strong in both defense and offense, excelling in close combat. As long as she kept it at a distance, she could prolong the fight¡­ Qiao Sang quickly formulated a strategy. Everyone knew steel-type beasts had high defense. If Yabao were the same level, she was confident she could win. But against an opponent one rank higher, she wasn¡¯t sure. Luckily, victory wasn¡¯t required for the assessment¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was thinking, the Steel-Slashing Monkey swung its arms. The blade-like extensions detached and spun upward, cutting through the air like they were guided by an invisible string, slicing through the clones with perfect precision. One by one, the clones vanished. Its key weapons were gone, this might be an opportunity¡­ Seeing that the Steel-Slashing Monkey was now unarmed, Qiao Sang quickly commanded: ¡°Illusion Flame.¡± The remaining clones all opened their mouths. For the first time, Qu Zhuo gave an order: ¡°Mount Tai Crush.¡± Mount Tai Crush? Qiao Sang frowned. Does he know where Yabao¡¯s real body is? Invisible flames surged down from all directions. The Steel-Slashing Monkey¡¯s body gleamed metallically as it tensed its legs and leaped high into the air, seemingly unfazed by the Illusion Flame. In an instant, it soared dozens of meters upward. At the same time, its two spinning blades accelerated, cutting down the last of the clones. Only Yabao remained, having teleported away from the incoming blades. But the moment it reappeared... The Steel-Slashing Monkey plummeted from the sky like a meteor, shattering the air with its sheer speed, slamming into Yabao. The ground cracked apart, forming a massive crater. Yabao was completely embedded in the pit. The spectators gasped. ¡°That steel-type pet beast is insanely fast!¡± ¡°The fire and psychic-type beast¡¯s reflexes aren¡¯t bad, but it¡¯s a rank lower, so it¡¯s struggling.¡± As the crowd discussed, the Steel-Slashing Monkey stepped back. Qu Zhuo smiled. ¡°You did well in this round, too. My Steel-¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Qu Zhuo¡¯s eyes flickered as he saw the Blazing Star Canine slowly rise from the crater. Flames erupted from its body. Standing tall amidst the inferno, its slender yet powerful form radiated overwhelming danger. Blaze¡­ ----- T/n: Guysssss, I''m sorry for not updating chapters. School work is making me busy???? (Damn the 3rd year 2nd sem uni life????). I''m here to tell y''all that this might happen quite frequently because I''m starting to do teacher assistance-ship and research. Don''t worry, I''ll try my best to still do it everyday. Enjoy the chapters! Chapter 586: The Assessment Time is Up Chapter 586: The Assessment Time is UpRead at: /?m=1 ----- Tang Yi stared blankly at the Blazing Star Canine, now engulfed in flames. "Qiao Sang¡¯s Blazing Star Canine has the Blaze trait? There was no mention of this during the competition!" Qu Zhuo glanced at Qiao Sang with a complex expression. As the youngest ever champion of the senior high school division in the National Campus Beast Mastering League, and now an applicant to their Central Hollow region, they had some information about her. As an assessment instructor, he had naturally received her records. However, there was no mention of the Blazing Star Canine having the Blaze trait. There were only two possibilities: Either the Blazing Star Canine awakened its Blaze trait after the National Campus Beast Mastering League ended, or during the competition, no one had ever pushed the Blazing Star Canine to activate it. The chances of suddenly awakening a new ability without evolution were extremely low. So, the most likely scenario was the latter. Winning the National Campus Beast Mastering League senior high school division without ever activating Blaze¡­? Qu Zhuo couldn¡¯t help but admire Qiao Sang even more. He was well aware of Steel-Slashing Monkey¡¯s strength, whether in speed, power, explosive force, or defense, it was at the top tier among General-level pet beasts. Ordinary high-level pet beasts couldn¡¯t last even a single exchange against it. For the Blazing Star Canine, as an high-level pet beast, being able to withstand two moves against Steel-Slashing Monkey was already remarkable. The 2v2 pet beast battle assessment mainly evaluated the candidates'' performance in battle and their pets¡¯ overall capabilities. It wasn¡¯t necessary to hold out until the assessment time ended or determine a winner to receive a score. Qu Zhuo had already determined an appropriate score in his mind. He opened his mouth, about to announce the end of the assessment- But just then, the Blazing Star Canine stomped its front paws forcefully on the ground. Cracks split open from where its paws landed, the temperature rose sharply, and flames erupted from below, surging madly toward Steel-Slashing Monkey. Steel-Slashing Monkey tensed its leg muscles and leaped into the air, nimbly dodging the sudden eruption of hellfire. As if it had been waiting for this moment, Blazing Star Canine vanished from its original position. In the next second, it reappeared right before the airborne Steel-Slashing Monkey, jaws wide open. A massive head of fire, shaped like a Blazing Star Canine, bared its sharp fangs and bit down ferociously onto Steel-Slashing Monkey! ¡°Steel!¡± Steel Shave Monkey let out a painful cry as it crashed to the ground. Blazing Star Canine didn¡¯t stop for even a second, immediately pouncing on Steel-Slashing Monkey and pinning down all four of its limbs with its claws. Speed: Full marks. Explosiveness: Full marks. Attack power: Full marks. Qu Zhuo¡¯s eyes lit up, completely forgetting that he had been about to end the assessment. ¡°Fire Fang!¡± Qiao Sang commanded. Yabao opened his mouth, flames surging. A massive fire-formed Blazing Star Canine head materialized once again. Steel-Slashing Monkey, still reeling from the previous attack, hadn¡¯t even regained its footing when another wave of scorching heat and pain struck. On the sidelines, Tang Yi, initially shocked, suddenly had a gleam in his eyes. No wonder she beat me! Even at a lower pet level, her Blazing Star Canine could momentarily gain the upper hand against Steel-Slashing Monkey! --- Blue Star. Central Hollow University. The three proctoring instructors watched the scene on the virtual screen and nodded in approval. ¡°Not bad. This Blazing Star Canine has excellent battle awareness and remains calm even under Blaze, following its beast tamer¡¯s commands precisely.¡± ¡°Using Hellfire to force Steel-Slashing Monkey into the air, then teleporting to intercept with Fire Fang, the timing was perfect. This shows a wealth of real combat experience.¡± ¡°This battle has lasted over eight minutes already. I think Qiao Sang deserves a perfect score.¡± The young instructor glanced at his phone¡¯s timer. --- Chaosu Star. Beast Taming Center. At the outdoor training ground, more and more people gathered to watch. Some who had been about to leave stayed after seeing Blaze trait activate. At first, they were just momentarily drawn in, but the battle¡¯s sudden reversal held their attention. A high-level pet beast was actually taking the upper hand? Was Blaze really that powerful? ¡°I had no idea Blaze could boost an high-level pet¡¯s combat power so much! Now I want to get a Fire-type pet with Blaze!¡± ¡°Bro, let me tell you responsibly, not every pet with Blaze is this strong. This one is just naturally exceptional.¡± ¡°Could this Fire-type pet actually pull off an upset victory?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Come on, its opponent is a General-level pet beast!¡± Yabao was reaching his limit¡­ Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t sure if the last attack had been effective. If it hadn¡¯t¡­ Her gaze locked onto the Steel-type pet that had just been bitten by Fire Fang, her expression grave. Just then, Qu Zhuo spoke up: ¡°You¡¯re even better than I imagined.¡± As he spoke, Yabao leaped off Steel-Slashing Monkey, distancing himself. ¡°If Steel-Slashing Monkey were still Steel Armor Monkey, I believe you would have won before the assessment time ran out.¡± Qu Zhuo continued. Steel Armor Monkey, Steel Shave Monkey¡¯s evolved form. The moment he finished speaking, Steel-Slashing Monkey slowly stood up, its gaze locking onto Yabao as if acknowledging its opponent for the first time. So it¡¯s called Steel-Slashing Monkey¡­ Qiao Sang took a deep breath and issued a command: ¡°Shadow Clone!¡± The earlier Mountain Press attack had inflicted severe damage. Right now, Yabao¡¯s fierce performance was entirely thanks to Blaze, but the effect wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had to seize this window to attack! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out a sharp cry. In the next instant, over a hundred Blazing Star Canines appeared out of thin air, some in mid-air, some on the ground, completely filling the designated battle zone! Qu Zhuo¡¯s expression finally changed, his eyes widening in shock. So those earlier dozens of clones weren¡¯t its limit?! In that moment, he suddenly believed the energy reading from Blazing Star Canine''s test yesterday. A hundred-plus Blazing Star Canines lunged at Steel-Slashing Monkey all at once. This was the only chance¡­ Qiao Sang raised her hand and shouted: ¡°Meteor Rain!¡± High above, Yabao lifted his head. A terrifying crimson energy orb formed in his throat and shot skyward. Qu Zhuo, seeing this, issued a command: ¡°Stop it.¡± A razor-sharp blade tore through the clones and spiraled upward at high speed, slicing through the air. In the blink of an eye, the blade caught up to the rising crimson energy orb. Boom! Before the energy orb could reach its peak, the blade struck it dead center. The energy orb exploded instantly. Flames and heat waves churned in the air, making the atmosphere tremble. Scattered embers fell, far from forming a true Meteor Rain. At the same time, Steel-Slashing Monkey broke free from the surrounding clones. It leaped high into the air, brandishing another blade, and slashed ferociously toward Yabao. At that moment, the flames surrounding Yabao completely faded. Just as the blade was about to strike, only one centimeter away- Qu Zhuo¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°The assessment time is up.¡± The blade halted abruptly. Steel-Slashing Monkey landed on the ground, blade in hand. Chapter 587: Pet Beast Doubles Test Chapter 587: Pet Beast Doubles TestRead at: /?m=1 ----- "Yap..." Yabao unwillingly looked at the Steel-Slashing Monkey. The flames on his back, resembling wings, flickered unsteadily, as if they were about to extinguish at any moment. At that moment, Qiao Sang''s voice rang out: "Yabao, come back." "Yap..." Yabao turned his head, just about to teleport back to his beast tamer¡¯s side. But the moment he tried to activate his power, an overwhelming exhaustion swept over him, and he could no longer keep its eyes open. Yabao plummeted from the sky. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart tightened. She waved her hand and quickly recalled Yabao into the Beast Taming Codex. So this is the gap between a General-level pet beast and an high-level pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the Steel-Slashing Monkey. Yabao had fought General-level pet beasts before, but never had he been defeated this badly. It seemed that even among General-level pet beasts, there were still vast differences in strength¡­ The surrounding crowd, seeing that the excitement was over, quickly dispersed. --- Blue Star. Central Hollow University. Three exam proctors withdrew their gazes from the virtual screen and began sharing their opinions. "This Blazing Star Canine''s energy level does seem to match yesterday¡¯s test results. Otherwise, maintaining so many shadow clones while still using an advanced skill like Meteor Rain, even with the Blaze trait, wouldn¡¯t make sense." "I feel like it¡¯s already comparable to some ordinary General-level pet beasts, both in terms of energy level and mastery of advanced skills." "No, in terms of advanced skill mastery, it has already surpassed most General-level pet beasts. I watched Qiao Sang¡¯s championship match, her Blazing Star Canine''s Meteor Rain had undoubtedly reached the Ultimate level. Even among General-level pet beasts, only a rare few can elevate advanced skills to that level." "From what we''ve seen so far, the Blazing Star Canine is well-trained as an attack-type pet beast, and it lasted longer against the Steel-Slashing Monkey than we expected." "To be honest, I was quite impressed when it suppressed the Steel-Slashing Monkey with its Blaze trait." "Haha, I believe our scores will be quite similar." The special recruitment examiners weren¡¯t just proctors; they were also responsible for grading the test. Each assessment instructor, along with the three proctors, would give their own scores, and the average would determine the candidate¡¯s final result. The three examiners turned back to the virtual screen. "Next up is Tang Yi, right?" "I''m looking forward to seeing his Paralulu. I wonder if it will undergo Bond Evolution later." --- Chaosu Star. Beast Taming Center. While Tang Yi was undergoing his test, Qiao Sang stepped aside and summoned Yabao and Lubao. Under the Healing Light, Yabao quickly recovered. "Ya yap..." But his ears drooped, and his expression remained a bit downcast. He had never lost this badly before. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You did great. That Steel-Slashing Monkey is a General-level pet beast, and it''s clearly been evolved for many years. You¡¯re still young." Qiao Sang comforted. "Winning or losing in a single battle doesn¡¯t mean much. I believe you¡¯ll surpass it soon. When that time comes, I¡¯ll arrange another match with that instructor." Losing in an exam was frustrating, especially after a nearly undefeated streak up until now. But realistically speaking, the opponent was an assessment instructor at the top university in Dragon Nation, much older than her, with a pet beast of a higher rank. The power gap was natural, it would have been strange if she had won. "Yap yap!" Hearing his beast tamer¡¯s words, Yabao¡¯s eyes regained their determination. Next time, he would win! Once Tang Yi''s test ended, Qu Zhuo waved his hand and recalled the Steel-Slashing Monkey into his Beast Taming Codex. Touyan Ke also put away his filming equipment. "Get some good rest at noon." Qu Zhuo looked at Qiao Sang and Tang Yi. "Let your pet beasts recover properly at the Beast Taming Center. At 2 PM, we¡¯ll begin the pet beast doubles test." "A reminder: If you want a high score in this test, teamwork between your pet beasts is more important than their individual battle strength." "I know you probably don¡¯t have much experience with doubles battles yet, so make sure to practice your coordination before the afternoon test. I¡¯m looking forward to your performance." Qu Zhuo¡¯s attitude was noticeably softer than before. Qiao Sang and Tang Yi¡¯s impressive showings had momentarily made him forget the fact that he had been hospitalized due to a serious injury from the King-level pet beast, Water Source Croc. At that moment, a mechanical voice rang out: "Stopmourning Bug, a mid-level bug-type pet beast. It spends most of its time curled up in its shell, growing without the need for food, water, or movement. If you encounter one in its shell, it is advised not to disturb it." Qu Zhuo turned toward the sound and saw Ghost Ring Phantom holding a pink pet beast identifier, curiously scanning a passing pet beast. Seeing the Ghost Ring Phantom, he immediately thought of spatial shift, and that memory he had briefly forgotten came rushing back. Qu Zhuo¡¯s previously relaxed expression instantly turned serious. "Don¡¯t be late this afternoon." With that, he turned and left with Touyan Ke. "Sigh." Watching Qu Zhuo¡¯s back, Tang Yi sighed. "I thought the special recruitment exam would just be a formality for us, but I couldn¡¯t even last the full test time before losing. I guess a perfect score is out of reach now." Qiao Sang glanced at him. "I lasted until the end." Tang Yi: ... "By the way, have you decided which two pet beasts to use in the afternoon test?" Tang Yi asked. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, "Yabao and Lubao." Yabao and Lubao had trained their teamwork specifically for the friendly match before. If it weren¡¯t for her wanting to get more points for Gangbao, she probably would have let them team up for the entire friendly match. --- 2 PM. Beast Taming Center. Outdoor Training Grounds. Touyan Ke skillfully set up the recording equipment. "This doubles test will be fully monitored and livestreamed to Central Hollow University..." Qu Zhuo recited his usual lines. Once he finished explaining the rules, he scanned the group and locked eyes on Tang Yi. "Qiao Sang went first this morning. This afternoon, Tang Yi, you¡¯ll go first." Tang Yi had no objections and quickly stepped forward. Qiao Sang quietly moved outside the battle area and picked a good spot to observe. Going second was great, it allowed her to study the examiners'' chosen pet beasts, their abilities, and their combination techniques. Unlike this morning, when she hadn¡¯t even known the Steel-Slashing Monkey¡¯s name¡­ As that thought crossed her mind, she made a hand seal and summoned Lunao. Since she had already decided on Yabao and Lunao as her team, it was best to let them familiarize themselves with their potential opponents in advance. "Lu?" As soon as Lubao appeared, she instinctively looked around, confused, there was no battle, and no one was injured. "Just watch the fight. They might be your next opponents." Qiao Sang explained. She didn¡¯t confirm it outright. The examiner¡¯s star array was orange-yellow, meaning he had four pet beasts. Aside from Touyan Ke, who was in charge of filming and refereeing, the examiner still had three others. He could very well send out a different pair for each match. "Lu." "Yap." Hearing their beast tamer¡¯s words, Lubao and Yabao exchanged a glance before turning their full attention to the match. Meanwhile, Little Treasure curiously used his new pet beast identifier to scan each passing pet. Gangbao stood beside hi , replaying the morning¡¯s battle in her mind, silently plucking one of her own feathers and attempting to fling it like a blade. Chapter 588: The Sandstorm Team Chapter 588: The Sandstorm TeamRead at: /?m=1 ----- Tang Yi didn¡¯t have much experience in pet beast doubles battles, but he had known that the special admission exam included a doubles test for about a week. During that time, he had specifically trained in pet cooperation and skill synergy. As the runner-up in the national high school segment of the Campus Beast Mastering League, his battle talent was undeniable. After ten minutes of battle between Tang Yi¡¯s Palm Zhangci Lili and Paralulu, Qiu Zhuo declared the test over. With Steel-Slashing Monkey¡¯s level, it could have easily endured the damage and taken down Zhangci Lili in an instant. However, since the goal of the exam was not victory but rather evaluating the candidate and their pet¡¯s capabilities, Qiu Zhuo held back significantly. That the battle lasted the full ten minutes of the pet doubles test showed that Tang Yi¡¯s skills were solid. Even with the examiner going easy on him, candidates still needed to have sufficient strength, many had already been eliminated early. When it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn, Qiu Zhuo waved his hand, recalling Peering Wave Eagle into the Beast Taming Codex, leaving only the Steel-Slashing Monkey on the field. So they were changing the lineup... Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. During Tang Yi¡¯s test, Peering Wave Eagle had taken a heavy blow from Paralulu¡¯s temporary bond evolution and wasn¡¯t in a state to continue testing. Just as Qiao Sang assumed her opponents would be Steel-Slashing Monkey and another unseen pet beast of the examiner, Qiu Zhuo spoke up: ¡°Little Steel, switch with Little Head.¡± ¡°Steel steel.¡± Steel-Slashing Monkey nodded, walked over to the camera equipment, and crouched down, trying to lower its head, nearly a meter wide, closer to the lens. ¡°Head head!¡± Touyan Ke disapprovingly patted Steel-Slashing Monkey on the knee. ¡°Steel steel¡­¡± Steel-Slashing Monkey made a face like it had almost forgotten something, then pressed a button on the lightweight miniaturization wristband, shrinking its body. So intelligence and combat power really are two different things¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, trying not to react. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Touyan Ke, Yabao, and Lubao stepped onto the field. The now 70-centimeter Steel-Slashing Monkey waved a green flag. Qiu Zhuo made a hand seal, summoning a 5-meter-long beast covered in an armor-like, sand-colored exoskeleton. Several spikes of varying sizes jutted from its head, neck, and shoulders, with a ring of smaller spikes at the end of its tail. So much for strategizing, neither of these were the pets that tested Tang Yi¡­ Qiao Sang felt like plans could never keep up with change. She recognized Touyan Ke, a Rock-type advanced-level beast that usually hid underground, absorbing sunlight through the gray crystal on its chest, converting it into energy, and firing light balls from its mouth. However, it couldn¡¯t use this attack at night or in the rain. That much was common knowledge. Her gaze then fell on the new beast, growing serious. Judging by its presence, another general-level pet¡­ A Rock-type general-level beast, Sandstorm Armor Beast¡­ Tang Yi, watching from the sidelines, quickly identified Qii Zhuo¡¯s newly summoned pet. He might not have much doubles battle experience, but he was well aware of Sandstorm Armor Beast¡¯s role in team battles. With its Sandstorm trait, it was the absolute core of any weather-based Sandstorm Team. If paired with a teammate that had the Sand Rush ability, they would be an unstoppable duo¡­ --- Blue Star. Central Hollow University. The three examiners watching the virtual screen turned to discuss. ¡°Sandstorm Armor Beast and Touyan Ke¡­ That¡¯s a professional beast tamer¡¯s doubles lineup. Qiao Sang¡¯s sending out Blazing Star Canine and Ice Xilu, Fire and Water, which counter each other. This is tough.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. Ice Xilu has Healing Light. As long as it keeps healing, it could outlast the opponents.¡± ¡°Sandstorm Armor Beast is a weather setter, an attacker, and a tank. With its Sandstorm trait, it¡¯s almost flawless in doubles battles, way more effective than Steel-Slashing Monkey.¡± ¡°Ice Xilu has Healing Light, but its defenses are weak. If it takes a strong attack, it might not even have time to heal.¡± ¡°With healing, it should be able to hold out until the test time ends.¡± ¡°Qin Zhuo will probably focus on taking down Ice Xilu first, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget about Blazing Star Canine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually looking forward to seeing how Blazing Star Canine and Ice Xilu coordinate.¡± The three turned back to the screen. The test had already begun. --- Chaosu Star. Beast Taming Center. Outdoor Training Field. ¡°Sandstorm!¡± Sandstorm Armor Beast roared. A fierce wind kicked up, sending sand and dust swirling into the air, instantly shrouding the area in a thick haze. The yellow storm completely obscured Qiao Sang¡¯s view of her opponents. The Sandstorm trait¡­ Pet beasts with this trait could shift the weather to Sandstorm for a period of time. During this weather, Rock-type, Ground-type, and Steel-type beasts gained boosted Special Defense, while other types gradually weakened. Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced, analyzing her options. If this beast had Sandstorm, then it was almost certainly Rock-type. Paired with Touyan Ke, they were clearly setting up a Sandstorm Team strategy¡­ She had studied common doubles team strategies before while preparing for the friendly team battle. Among all the weather-based strategies, the Sandstorm Team was one of the most discussed. The best counter? Rain. Lubao could use Rain Prayer. But that would also weaken Yabao¡­ Qiao Sang hesitated for only 0.2 seconds before deciding: ¡°Rain Prayer!¡± Breaking their setup was top priority! ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao lifted her head, gathering energy. Just then, Touyan Ke, already rolling forward and accelerating, glowed faintly yellow. The massive, spinning yellow ball hurtled toward Lubao as she cast her skill. Just as the attack was about to land, a scorching flame descended from above, cutting between the ¡°yellow ball¡± and Lubao. Touyan Ke was forced to veer off course. Lubao glanced at Yabao. Yabao looked toward Sandstorm Armor Beast, still unmoving in the distance. From the storm¡¯s center, it was impossible to see clearly. But Yabao had teleported to high altitude at the start of the match. Though visibility was poor, he could still make out vague silhouettes of their opponents. Suddenly, the blurry figure on the ground raised a massive fist and slammed it down. The ground trembled violently. At the same time, the sky darkened, and rain began to fall. Chapter 589: Half-Rain, Half-Sunshine Chapter 589: Half-Rain, Half-SunshineRead at: /?m=1 ----- As the rain washed over the battlefield, the scene instantly became clear. A tremendous force erupted from the ground. Lubao, who had just finished casting Rain Prayer, had no time to react before being blasted away by the force. The rolling Touyan Ke seemed to be waiting for this moment, it suddenly accelerated, leaping into the air and charging upward toward Lubao from below. Just as it was about to collide with Lubao, barely a centimeter away, a flash of fire streaked through the air, Lubao disappeared. "Tou Tou." Touyan Ke landed on the ground, lifted its head, and saw Yabao, who had grabbed Lubao and was swiftly moving away. Lubao endured the pain and took the opportunity to cast Healing Light. A blue glow radiated from the gem on her forehead. "Knock it down." Qiu Zhuo ordered, gazing at Ice Xilu, who was casting Healing Light in mid-air. "Sandstorm!" The Sandstorm Armor Beast lifted its left foreleg high and suddenly stomped down. The ground cracked, and countless rocks, seemingly defying gravity, levitated into the air before shooting toward Lubao¡¯s location. Lubao opened her eyes, the blue glow dissipating, and jumped downward without hesitation, vanishing into the rain. Almost simultaneously, Yabao teleported away. The rocks missed their target. Having lost their aim, they soon fell to the ground. Hiding in the rain using its Melting Water trait, huh¡­ Qiu Zhuo silently nodded in approval. Not bad, full marks for evasion. --- sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, on Blue Star. At Central Hollow University, three examiners watched the virtual screen and nodded in agreement. "Blazing Star Canine and Ice 4 are coordinating well. Normally, Blazing Star Canine fights aggressively, but this time, it split its focus to protect Ice Xilu and reacted in time. It shows a strong sense of teamwork." "And their synergy is impressive. That evasive maneuver just now was executed perfectly, almost as if they had planned it in advance." "Well¡­ I think it was just Blazing Star Canine''s quick reflexes. If it hadn¡¯t teleported in time, it would have taken the hit instead." "It¡¯s about their coordination. If Blazing Star Canine didn¡¯t know Ice Xilu would use Melting Water to evade, its usual combat style would have been to attack for protection instead." "Good point¡­" --- On Chaosu Star. Open-air training ground. A chance¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. Now that Lubao was hidden, the opponent would have to allocate some attention to her, and Yabao wouldn¡¯t need to split his focus anymore. "Take down the weak one first!" Qiao Sang called out. Hearing the command, Qiu Zhuo immediately responded, "Tou Tou! Move!" ¡­Wait, does it not have a name? Why call it the ''weak one''¡­? Touyan Ke grumbled but started rolling again. Yabao teleported to the ground and forcefully stomped. The ground cracked apart, and flames erupted. At the same time, the Sandstorm Armor Beast charged forward through the drizzle. Blazing Star Canine''s Hellfire wasn¡¯t fully mastered, it would damage Touyan Ke but not Sandstorm Armor Beast. With its Sandstorm trait, Sandstorm Armor Beast could run through fire unscathed. More importantly, the rain weakened Blazing Star Canine''s attack power ¡­ Qiu Zhuo glanced at the cloudy sky. Most Beast Tamers in double battles send out complementary pets. Yet, Qiao Sang had deliberately chosen two pets that countered each other in attributes. If it were another examinee, he¡¯d understand, Special Exam candidates typically had only three contracted pets, with the third one being newly acquired before the exam, making it the weakest. They had no choice but to use the first two. But Qiao Sang had three high-level pets besides the newly contracted Steel Falcon. Any pairing seemed more logical than Blazing Star Canine and Ice Xilu. Just as Qiu Zhuo had this thought, the ground beneath Sandstorm Armor Beast suddenly froze over with a thin layer of ice. "Sandstorm!" The charging Sandstorm Armor Beast slipped, its momentum breaking, its steps faltering as it skidded from side to side. Qiu Zhuo snapped back to focus. He glanced at Ice Xilu, which had reappeared from the rain, and quickly commanded, "Stomp harder!" "Sandstorm!" The Sandstorm Armor Beast obeyed, forcefully stomping with its left foreleg. The ice shattered, and its foot sunk into the ground, stabilizing its stance. Meanwhile, while Sandstorm Armor Beast struggled to regain balance, Yabao successfully unleashed Hellfire. Flames erupted from the ground, pursuing the rapidly rolling Touyan Ke. The explosion of Hellfire spread much faster than Touyan Ke¡¯s rolling speed. Flames engulfed Touyan Ke from below, the blast sending it flying into the air. At its highest point, Yabao suddenly appeared beside it. A fire-forged Blazing Star Canine head bit down mercilessly. "Tou Tou!" Touyan Ke let out a miserable cry and crashed to the ground. Flames erupted beneath it once more. Touyan Ke was sent flying again before rolling a few meters and losing consciousness. Tang Yi, watching from the sidelines, was filled with excitement. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Sang to take the upper hand in the doubles test by eliminating one of the examiner¡¯s pets first! "Xun Xun!" "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure waved his arms excitedly, cheering. If anyone could understand, they¡¯d know he was shouting, Big bro Yabao! Third sis Lubao! I didn¡¯t expect Blazing Star Canine and Ice Xilu to sync so well¡­ Qiu Zhuo took a deep breath and recalled the unconscious Touyan Ke into his Beast Codex. He gazed at the battlefield, his pupils constricting in shock. Above the field, one half rained, the other was clear. On the ground, one half was frozen, the other burned with flames. Ice Xilu had reduced the rain¡¯s range, keeping it away from Blazing Star Canine''s position while it cast Hellfire! Brilliant¡­ Qiu Zhuo silently admired. He had never expected such a scenario. He originally thought Ice Xilu was a healer, mainly providing support while Blazing Star Canine fought and protected it. But now, it was clear that neither could do without the other. They functioned as a true team. Just based on that performance, Qiao Sang deserved a perfect score for this doubles test. But¡­ Qiu Zhuo¡¯s eyes flickered. He wanted to see just how far Qiao Sang¡¯s limits could go! "Little Sand!" Qiu Zhuo shouted. "Sandstorm!" Sandstorm Armor Beast roared, its immense aura surging outward. Sand and gravel whirled into the air. It lifted its free foot and stomped down hard. The ice-covered battlefield cracked apart like a spiderweb, shattered. Chapter 590: Who Did This? Chapter 590: Who Did This?Read at: /?m=1 ----- Blue Star. Central Hollow University. The three proctoring teachers were still sighing over the fall of Touyan Ke. ¡°Although Blazing Star Canine and Ice Xilu have incompatible attributes, their teamwork is truly outstanding, honestly, it¡¯s almost at a professional level.¡± ¡°Ice Xilu actually controlled the range of Rain Prayer so as not to interfere with Blazing Star Canine''s skills.¡± ¡°Controlling the casting range of Rain Prayer isn¡¯t easy. It requires a high level of energy control and skill proficiency.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. And more importantly, it wasn¡¯t controlled during casting but after it had already been activated.¡± ¡°This means Ice Xilu was continuously regulating the energy of Rain Prayer.¡± ¡°Also, Ice Xilu knew to stall Sandstorm Armor Beast¡¯s movement, allowing Blazing Star Canine to attack Touyan Ke without any pressure.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, in a battle between high-level pet beasts, Blazing Star Canine really seems almost invincible. Touyan Ke barely put up a fight.¡± ¡°Good thing Teacher Qiu has two General-level pet beasts. Otherwise, this test might¡¯ve been a bit of a problem.¡± ¡°Hmm? Look, the test is still going on.¡± --- Chaosu Star. Outdoor Training Grounds. The drizzle stopped, and half of the dark clouds dispersed. On the battlefield, the ground caved in, swirling sand forming vortexes that seemed ready to swallow everything on the surface. ¡°Water Stream Jet!¡± Qiao Sang saw the change in the field and immediately commanded. Water instantly enveloped Lubao¡¯s entire body, launching her upward like a water column. Almost the moment Lubao left the ground, the spot she had occupied moments before turned into a quicksand vortex. In midair, the water column moved at extreme speed, rapidly changing angles. After a sharp turn, it streaked past Sandstorm Armor Beast¡¯s body at a speed too fast for the eye to follow. Sandstorm Armor Beast showed no signs of injury. Lubao landed in an area untouched by the quicksand vortex. ¡°Lu.¡± She had a solemn expression. A General-level pet beast truly is on another level¡­ Qiao Sang thought. When Lubao used Water Stream Jet near Sandstorm Armor Beast just now, it was as if Sandstorm Armor Beast had already predicted the attack¡¯s trajectory. With just a slight shift of its footing and a small turn, it had effortlessly dodged the strike, almost as if, to its eyes, Water Stream Jet was moving in slow motion. Qiao Sang refocused her thoughts, concentrating fully. Even though her opponent was a General-level pet beast, it was alone. One-on-one, she might not stand a chance, but now¡­ maybe she had a shot. ¡°Meteor Rain!¡± Qiao Sang shouted. Yabao¡¯s Fire Rain took about five seconds to drop after being released. With Lubao there, stalling for five seconds should be manageable. ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing his beastmaster¡¯s command, Yabao lifted his head slightly. A crimson energy sphere containing terrifying power condensed in its mouth. ¡°Stop it.¡± Qu Zhuo ordered. The champion of this year¡¯s High School National Campus Beast Mastering League had a Blazing Star Canine whose Meteor Rain had reached the ¡®Ultimate¡¯ level. Qiu Zhuo had read about it. He didn¡¯t even need to check the records, he had seen the news trending online back then. Even though he was on Chaosu Star, he checked the interstellar web daily to stay updated on news from home. He had never personally experienced a Ultimate level Meteor Rain before, and he didn¡¯t want to. Hearing Qiu Zhuo¡¯s command, Qiao Sang was reminded of her morning match between Yabao and Steel-Slashing Monkey. Back then, Steel-Slashing Monkey had split an energy sphere in half with a single blade slash, leaving a strong impression on her. This General-level pet beast can¡¯t be that strong¡­ right? She muttered internally. ¡°Sandstorm.¡± Sandstorm Armor Beast let out a cry. A fierce wind erupted. A spiraling air current rose from the battlefield, quickly reaching a height of about eight meters. Along with the whirlwind, sand and gravel filled the air, spreading a choking scent of dust. The sky darkened. Against the swirling sand, it seemed to take on a yellowish hue. High-tier skill, Sandstorm¡­ Ugh, this is suffocating. (T/n: It had both a skill and a trait of Sandstorm???) Qiao Sang instinctively held her breath and muttered, ¡°Lubao.¡± The Sandstorm swirled, advancing toward Yabao. The battlefield wasn¡¯t small, but the Sandstorm¡¯s range was massive, covering nearly a third of it. As it moved slightly, even its outermost edge began affecting Yabao. Suddenly, a freezing chill shot upward from the storm¡¯s outermost layer, attempting to freeze the swirling sand. But the Sandstorm was too powerful. The moment the icy air entered, it was instantly consumed, having no effect. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lu!¡± Seeing that Yabao was about to be swept into the Sandstorm, Lubao¡¯s expression turned firm. She wrapped herself in water, surged forward, and made a sharp 180-degree turn midair, diving straight into the storm! A hole instantly appeared in the Sandstorm in front of Yabao. Using this opening, Meteor Rain successfully launched toward the sky. The swirling sand engulfed the battlefield. Yet Yabao did not teleport to safety. Instead, he turned and charged into the Sandstorm without hesitation. What is this, some heartwarming TV drama scene? Qiao Sang¡¯s brain went off-track for a moment before she quickly refocused and analyzed the situation. Sandstorm was a skill that caused continuous damage rather than a sudden burst of high damage. As long as it wasn¡¯t an explosive, devastating attack, Lubao could endure it while using Healing Light. That was her main reason for letting Lubao face the Sandstorm head-on. Dust and sand filled the air, making it impossible to see what was happening inside. Then, fire rained down. Tang Yi, who was well aware of the power of Ultimate level Meteor Rain, silently took a few steps back. Little Treasure and Gangbao also instinctively retreated. The once-dusty, sand-filled sky instantly turned red. Flames fell like torrential rain, dispersing the sandstorm. At five meters tall, Sandstorm Armor Beast had nowhere to hide. It raised both arms, and a hazy yellow energy shield enveloped its body. Boom! Boom! Boom! Fire rained down continuously onto the shield, exploding like grenades. The yellow glow flickered, and soon, cracks appeared. Qiu Zhuo¡¯s expression changed drastically. As if realizing something, he quickly glanced at his wristwatch. The shield shattered. When Qiu Zhuo looked back up, he saw the exact moment it broke. Even though he had full confidence in Sandstorm Armor Beast¡¯s defense, the sheer power of this Meteor Rain still made his heart skip a beat. With the fastest reflexes of his life, he quickly recalled Sandstorm Armor Beast into his beast master codex. Why¡¯d you recall it? Qiao Sang blinked at him in confusion. Noticing her gaze, Qu Zhuo shouted, ¡°The test is over!¡± You could¡¯ve said that earlier! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened as she hurriedly recalled Yabao and Lubao into her codex. As the firestorm ceased, she made a hand seal, preparing to summon them back out. Just then, a staff member in a deep blue uniform walked over, staring at the battlefield, now full of craters, faintly glowing red, and utterly unrecognizable. He pointed at the devastated field and asked, ¡°Who did this?¡± Chapter 591: Missions Hidden Truth Chapter 591: Mission''s Hidden TruthQiao Sang''s hand, which had been forming a seal, suddenly paused. Damage to battle or training grounds at the Beast master Center was common. Usually, unless it was severe, the center wouldn''t make a fuss. After all, ground- or rock-type beast masters frequently restored the terrain. But to wreck the field beyond recognition like this? That was rare. The Beast master Center had no choice but to intervene. Looking at the utterly unrecognizable battlefield before her, Qiao Sang felt a sudden pang of guilt. Just as she was about to step forward and admit responsibility, Qiu Zhuo walked over and calmly said, "It was our battle that caused this damage. I''ll cover the costs. Give me two minutes, I need to talk to these two first." "Understood, sir." The staff member replied politely before stepping aside. Clearly, anyone capable of this level of destruction was no low-level beast master. If not for his job, he wouldn''t dare bring up compensation with such a powerful individual. Qiao Sang looked at Qiu Zhuo, suddenly finding him more reliable than ever. Qiu Zhuo continued, "The assessment is now complete. The results will be published in a week. You can check the Central Hollow University website for them." "Now, go pack up. We''ll meet at the Beast master Center entrance in an hour, I¡¯ll take you back to 3rd District." Tang Yi was surprised. "Teacher, you''re personally taking us back?" Qiu Zhuo gave him a steady look. "I brought you here, so it''s my responsibility to see you home safely." Such a dependable adult.. . Qiao Sang couldn''t help but admire him again. Then, her gaze drifted toward the ruined battlefield, and her guilt returned. She turned to Qiu Zhuo and said sincerely, "Techer, I can cover the cost of the damage." "You don¡¯t have to." Qu Zhuo replied with a smile. "I chose this field, and you were only here for the university¡¯s assessment." "But-" Qiao Sang started, but Qiu Zhuo cut her off. "Don''t worry about it. Central Hollow University reimburses these expenses." Since he put it that way, Qiao Sang let the matter drop. After confirming the meeting time, she and Tang Yi left the outdoor training ground. Once they were gone, the staff member approached, took out his phone, and entered the already-calculated compensation amount. Just as he was about to show it to the beast master- Qiu Zhuo quickly formed a hand seal, summoning his Sandstorm Armor Beast back. Urgently, he called out, "Hurry, hurry! Let¡¯s fix this! We leave in an hour!" "Sandstorm!" The staff member silently watched as the powerful beast master and his unfamiliar pet dashed toward the wrecked field. --- Three hours later, Qiao Sang boarded a plane, holding Yabao, who had been healed by the Healing Light. The plane hadn''t taken off yet. Leaning back against her seat, Qiao Sang replayed the past few days of assessments in her mind, estimating her possible score. For the Pet Energy Test, worth 50 points, assuming no surprises, she should get full marks. Yabao''s energy level was close to the limit for high-level battle pets. For the Mission Evaluation, worth 200 points, she figured she¡¯d score at least 170. The mission itself was beyond her level, yet she completed it and even earned a five-star review from the mission issuer. 170 was a conservative estimate. If the examiners weren¡¯t overly strict, she might even get over 190. For the Pet Doubles Battle Test, worth 150 points, she was likely to score the full amount. She had lasted the entire assessment duration and defeated one of the examiner¡¯s pets. As for the 2v2 Pet Battle Test, also worth 150 points... S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To be honest, this was the one she was least confident about. If scoring was based purely on wins and losses, it¡¯d be fine but it wasn¡¯t. In her first match, she had performed decently. However, in the second match against the Steel-Slashing Monkey, if not for the time limit, she would have lost. After some thought, she decided to be cautious and assume she scored only 120 points. That brought her estimated total to around 490 points. The maximum score for the special admissions test was 550¡­ Was that too low? The thought made Qiao Sang feel a bit heavy. At that moment, Tang Yi, sitting beside her, suddenly commented while looking at his phone, "I didn''t expect something like this to happen in 25th District." Qiao Sang immediately forgot about her scores and perked up with curiosity. "What happened?" Her little pet, Little Treasure, also popped out, ears twitching eagerly, mirroring Qiao Sang''s gossip-loving expression. "A beast master of F-rank pretended to be a C-rank for over twenty years before finally getting exposed." Tang Yi said. Qiao Sang was shocked. "How? Wouldn''t the star array on his pet give him away instantly?" "Not sure." Tang Yi speculated. "Probably because he rarely summoned his pets in public. According to the report, he had a deal with a general-tier pet, and for a long time, he always appeared with it. Since people assumed he had a general-level pet, no one doubted he was a C-rank beast master." "Who would think someone with a general-level pet would fake their rank?" "How was he exposed?" Qiao Sang asked curiously. Tang Yi scrolled through his phone. "Someone reported him. The person was a married woman he had been relentlessly pursuing. She had been posting a mission to drive out some Mura Monster for a long time, but this guy kept interfering to stop others from taking it, using his pursuit of her as an excuse." "A few days ago, an outsider finally accepted the mission and discovered that her home had already turned into a lair for Scale Moths." "But that beast master was apparently quite strong, they dealt with the moths easily. Before leaving, they even warned the woman that something was off about the guy." "So she secretly investigated him and found out he had been faking his C-rank status." Wait a minute¡­ Wasn¡¯t that her mission? Qiao Sang was stunned. Tang Yi suddenly turned to her with a sly look. "Do you know where all those Scale Moths in her house came from?" Qiao Sang shook her head. "No idea." "That guy deliberately set up a nest for them." Tang Yi said conspiratorially. "The general-level pet he had a deal with was a Scale Hunter Moth, the leader of that whole swarm. Their agreement was to find a safe place for the swarm to evolve." Now it all made sense. No wonder that Nada Pong guy was so weak. No wonder he always showed up just in time to block others from taking the mission. He was probably using his so-called pursuit as a pretense to get close to the mission issuer¡­ Qiao Sang felt a wave of realization wash over her. She hadn¡¯t expected this mission to have so many hidden layers¡­ Chapter 592: The Secret Realm Key Chapter 592: The Secret Realm KeyUnder the night sky, the plane landed smoothly. Passengers disembarked, stepping out into the open. Qiao Sang, Tang Yi, and Qiu Zhuo merged into the bustling crowd, leaving the airport. This time, instead of calling a taxi, Qiu Zhuo formed a seal with his hands and summoned the Peering Wave Eagle. The three of them mounted the eagle and soared into the sky. Below them, the city lights shimmered, and beasts, either carrying people or flying solo, moved about like a river of motion. Without the interference of rampaging wild beasts, Qiao Sang found the traffic much faster than before. Suddenly, Tang Yi asked, "Teacher, I heard that Central Hollow University has an exclusive secret realm. Is that true?" An exclusive secret realm? Qiao Sang''s ears perked up instinctively. "It''s true." Qiu Zhuo smiled. "If you had taken the entrance exam on Blue Star, the secret realm assessment would have been conducted in the secret realm owned by our school." "Secret realms can be exclusive?" Qiao Sang couldn''t hold back her curiosity. Tang Yi looked at her in surprise, as if he hadn¡¯t expected her to be unaware of this. Qiu Zhuo, however, didn¡¯t mind and explained, "Owning an exclusive secret realm requires meeting many conditions. Central Hollow University went through great efforts to acquire one. Apart from us, some noble families and organizations also have their own secret realms." "These secret realms contain not only resources but also beasts that don¡¯t exist in the public market. Some family-specific beasts are unattainable by outsiders because they can only be found within the family¡¯s exclusive secret realm." At this point, Qiu Zhuo seemed to recall something and turned to Qiao Sang, "I remember that this year''s champion of the National Campus Beast Mastering League received a key to Secret Realm No. 16 as a prize." Wait, Secret Realm No. 16? Why does that sound so familiar...? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She recalled that the championship prizes included a gold trophy and a white cylindrical crystal pendant strung on a cord. During the award ceremony, the officials had explained its purpose: An entry key to a certain secret realm. But at the time, she had been too caught up in the excitement of her victory to pay close attention. Thinking back now, she realized they had mentioned Secret Realm No. 16. Secret Realm No. 16... why does that ring a bell...? Qiao Sang dug through her memories, rewinding past events in her mind. Suddenly, an image surfaced The Mystic Auction House! The Qingning Compass! That¡¯s right! Qingning is in Secret Realm No. 16! Damn! Not only does this secret realm open only once every thirty years, but it''s also exclusive?! That means that even if she waited for two more years until the next opening, without the championship prize, the nine billion credits she had spent would have been wasted! Qiao Sang fell into silence, processing the realization. If the secret realm was exclusive, and yet the auction house had still sold the Qingning Compass... Had they never considered that an uninformed rich fool like her might end up buying it? Feeling somewhat bitter, Qiao Sang asked, "If Secret Realm No. 16 is exclusive, how did its key end up being auctioned?" Qiu Zhuo patiently explained, "Exclusivity means that the realm has been officially granted to its owner for exclusive use. Once acquired, how it''s used is entirely up to them. For example, Central Hollow University holds many of its courses within our exclusive secret realm, so every student has the opportunity to enter." "For noble families, their secret realms are strictly reserved for their own members." "And then, there are certain exclusive secret realms that release a few external entry permits each year. These are used to exchange for rare resources or to build relationships with influential figures." "Secret Realm No. 16 belongs to the Beast-Taming Rune Center. Since it only opens once every thirty years, its accumulated resources are incredibly valuable. With less than two years until the next opening, the government likely obtained entry permits as an incentive for the championship prize." Qiao Sang had to admit, it was a well-thought-out reward. Qiu Zhuo continued sharing insights about secret realms. Between bits of casual conversation, they soon arrived at Sainan High School. Qiao Sang dismounted the Peering Wave Eagle, then suddenly turned to ask, "Teacher, if I don¡¯t get into Central Hollow University, would I still have a chance to battle you again?" Qu Zhuo paused for a moment, then chuckled. "You should have more confidence in yourself." --- Back in her dorm room, Qiao Sang flopped onto her soft bed. "Yaaawn..." Yabao yawned, lay down on the floor, and fell asleep within a minute. Lubao walked out into the living room to begin training. Little Treasure, who had just planned to scroll through his phone for a while, clenched his teeth and followed suit. Qiao Sang turned her head and saw Gangbao feeding extra-spicy chili peppers to Chan Chan Stone. She stared for a couple of seconds before hesitantly saying, "Gangbao, why do I feel like you have even fewer feathers now?" "Gang Gang." Gangbao didn''t pause in feeding Chan Chan Stone and responded nonchalantly, saying that she had plucked a few heself. Qiao Sang''s brow twitched. "Why are you plucking your feathers?" "Gang." Gangbao didn''t hide the reason. She had been inspired by the opponent from Yabao¡¯s battle earlier and wanted to try mimicking her technique. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t even need the name, it was obvious that Gangbao meant Steel-Slashing Monkey. Wait, do you think its move was cool because it actually looked good, or just because it won against Yabao...? Holding back a sigh, Qiao Sang said, "It''s fine to experiment, but don''t pluck too many feathers. Your defense depends a lot on them. If you really want to try, just pull one and use it repeatedly for practice." "Gang!" Gangbao''s eyes lit up, finding this method very reasonable. Having a beast eager to learn was a good thing, so Qiao Sang had no intention of stopping her. Now that the entrance exam was over, she needed to get back into her previous study rhythm. With her beasts all self-motivated, she could focus more on her studies without worrying about them. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Determined, Qiao Sang suddenly sat up, moved to her desk, and opened her textbook. An all-nighter! No sleep! Just studying! --- Meanwhile, outside the darkened window- A shadowy beast, black as coal and resembling a rock, perched on a tree branch, staring at Chan Chan Stone, who was being fed chili peppers. Its eyes glistened with silent tears. --- The next morning. Under the glow of the Healing Light, Qiao Sang¡¯s dark circles completely vanished. After a quick wash, a hearty breakfast, and changing into her uniform, she took Yabao and the others to the familiar open-air training ground. Then, she turned to look at Little Treasure. "Xun xun!" Before she could say anything, Little Treasure gave her an I understand look and vanished from sight. Sensing where Little Treasure had gone, Qiao Sang knew he had reached his training destination. Growing up already, so much more self-sufficient now... Qiao Sang mused before heading toward the classroom. Chapter 593: The Rescue Plan Chapter 593: The Rescue PlanSenior Year, Class 6. As soon as Qiao Sang entered the classroom and took her seat, a group of classmates gathered around her. ¡°How did the assessment go?¡± ¡°Was it for Central Hollow University on Blue Star?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you try Merta Academy?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just stay here for college?¡± Ever since Qiao Sang secured first place for Sainan High School in the friendship competition, her classmates'' enthusiasm for her had risen noticeably. She was beginning to resemble the influential figure she once was at Shengshui High School. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t feel disturbed by the attention. Instead, she smiled and casually chatted with them. Suddenly, a female classmate asked, ¡°Was 25th District dangerous?¡± The fact that Qiao Sang¡¯s assessment took place in 25th District wasn¡¯t a secret, Tang Yi had already mentioned it in the class group chat when asked. Qiao Sang recalled the assessment instructor who had looked like a mummy and nodded. ¡°Pretty dangerous.¡± Upon hearing this, the surrounding classmates grew restless. ¡°Looks like when we do our final outdoor practical class, I¡¯ll have to ask my family to send a few strong beast tamers to accompany us.¡± ¡°If you always rely on protection, won¡¯t you just become useless?¡± ¡°You can go alone if you want. I¡¯ll definitely bring extra people. I heard the final outdoor practical class location has been confirmed, it¡¯ll be in 27th District. That place is even more dangerous than 25th District.¡± The lower ten zones were all dangerous, but generally speaking, the further back the districy number, the more perilous it was. 27th District¡­? Qiao Sang paused. Wasn¡¯t that where Gangbao came from? At that moment, the class bell rang. Qiao Sang quickly put the thought aside and focused on her studies. During class, Tang Yi kept scrolling on his phone. When the lesson ended, he suddenly patted Qiao Sang on the shoulder. She turned her head, and he handed his phone to her. ¡°There¡¯s a pet obstacle course event this weekend. Want to go together?¡± ¡°A pet obstacle course event?¡± Qiao Sang asked in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s one of those TV station activities where you complete challenges for prizes.¡± Tang Yi explained. ¡°Not interested.¡± Qiao Sang turned away. One second later, she turned back. ¡°Wait, are you interested in this?¡± Tang Yi scratched his head, embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s not really about the prize. I just want to see if I can strengthen my bond with Poison Water Lion through the challenges.¡± Qiao Sang looked at him with confusion. ¡°An obstacle course can improve a bond with a pet?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there examples of beasts evolving through bonds on Chaosu Star?¡± Tang Yi said. ¡°Even though bond-based evolution is rare here, people haven¡¯t given up on it. That¡¯s why they organize all sorts of activities to encourage forming strong bonds with pets.¡± Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°You probably don¡¯t need an event like this.¡± ¡°I just want to give it a try.¡± Tang Yi scratched his head again. ¡°When in a new place, do as the locals do. And Poison Water Lion doesn¡¯t have any known cases of bond evolution yet, I want to see if I can be the first.¡± Qiao Sang was impressed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such ambition.¡± Tang Yi chuckled and continued, ¡°There have actually been cases where people from other planets have contracted Chaosu Star beasts and successfully triggered bond evolution.¡± Then, as if he had just thought of something, he added, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also contract a Little Steel Falcon from Chaosu Star? Don¡¯t you want to see if it can evolve through bonding?¡± ¡°Bond evolution isn¡¯t that simple.¡± Qiao Sang was tempted but controlled her excitement with reason. Based on the daily stat increase, Gangbao would likely evolve in about 20 days. Even if Little Steel Falcons had a path for bond evolution, forming a strong enough bond within such a short time was unrealistic, especially with a pet as intelligent as Gangbao. --- That was the logical conclusion. But when Qiao Sang saw Gangbao later, she couldn¡¯t help but think about it again. Bond evolution was rare on Chaosu Star because the planet had long developed a strained relationship between humans and beasts. Even those who attempted to study bond evolution often failed due to impure motives. As a result, only a handful of beasts had achieved bond evolution on Chaosu Star. However, the lack of examples didn¡¯t mean the planet¡¯s beasts were incapable of evolving this way. Like Tang Yi said, there were many cases where people from other planets had contracted Chaosu Star beasts and triggered bond evolution. The most famous case was the international superstar from Blue Star, Pitti Knightley. She had skyrocketed to fame after successfully evolving a Chaosu Star beast through bonding, a species that had never achieved bond evolution before. In the dormitory, Gangbao was feeding Special Spicy Peppers to Chan Chan Stone when she suddenly felt her beast tamer¡¯s gaze. She instinctively looked back at her feathers. ¡°Gang Gang?¡± Was she already losing too many feathers? Just as Gangbao started feeling concerned, Qiao Sang spoke. ¡°What do you think of me as a person?¡± ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao was momentarily stunned before responding simply, A good person. Well, that settled it, no chance for bond evolution. Being called a good person was just a general compliment, meaning she hadn¡¯t left a deep impression. No defining memory had formed in Gangbao¡¯s heart. Qiao Sang quickly abandoned the thought again and returned to her studies. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao stopped what she was doing, deep in thought. Her beast tamer was acting weird today¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± Suddenly, Yabao bared his fangs at the window and growled. Startled, Qiao Sang swiftly put down her pen and walked over to the window, scanning the outside with vigilance. With Yabao¡¯s enhanced hearing, if he said there was movement, then something must have been out there. Even though this was a school, Chaosu Star was full of wild beasts. The top ten districts had stricter management, but that didn¡¯t mean wild beasts weren¡¯t dangerous. ¡°Maybe a wild beast just passed by.¡± Qiao Sang concluded when she saw nothing outside. ¡°Yap yap.¡± Yabao, reassured by his beast tamer¡¯s confidence, relaxed and continued munching on his energy pill. Meanwhile¡­ Outside the window, perched on the fourth-floor ledge, a small, black, rock-like beast wiped away the crystals forming on its forehead. Two hours later¡­ The fourth-floor lights went out. Seeing this, the black beast stretched out its arms and carefully climbed toward the fifth floor. Upon reaching the fifth floor, it noticed the lights were still on and immediately shivered, retreating back down. But after a while, when it realized no one had noticed it, the black beast cautiously climbed up again. This time, it mustered the courage to peek inside. The scary beast inside was asleep. ¡°Chan Chan¡­¡± The black beast let out a sigh of relief and then steeled its resolve. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as that human fell asleep, it would execute its rescue plan! It waited and waited¡­ Until dawn. Chapter 594: Do You Want To Go Back? Chapter 594: Do You Want To Go Back?Morning. Qiao Sang stood up from her desk, walked to the window, and swiftly pulled open the slightly drawn curtain. Sunlight spilled into the room. She opened the window, letting in the cool, refreshing morning breeze. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, her sleep-deprived brain instantly felt much clearer. She turned around, about to call Lubao over for a dose of Healing Light. But just as she turned, something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. A beast was sleeping on the window ledge. Huh? Why is Chan Chan Stone sleeping here¡­? Qiao Sang reached out and picked up the sleeping beast. It was in deep slumber. Looking at the peacefully sleeping Chan Chan Stone, she decided to be considerate and tucked it into her pocket, letting it continue resting. A few minutes later, she opened her bedroom door. Little Treasure was sitting in the living room playing on a phone. The moment he saw his beast tamer emerge, he quickly floated over, clutching the device. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure flipped the phone screen toward Qiao Sang and pointed at the 95% battery level, signaling that he hadn''t been playing the entire time. You think I don¡¯t know you''ve been charging it while playing¡­? Qiao Sang silently looked at him, then took the phone. Even though she hadn¡¯t spoken, Little Treasure felt the judgment in her gaze and guiltily looked away- Only to see Chan Chan Stone sleeping on the couch. "Xun Xun?!" Little Treasure immediately straightened up, puffing out his chest as if he had caught something suspicious. He pointed righteously at the Chan Chan Stone on the couch and let out a firm cry. He was trying to say, most of his phone time had been spent watching tragic dramas to feed Old Four''s rock pet. This was serious business! Qiao Sang, however, was frozen in place, staring at the Chan Chan Stone sleeping soundly on the couch. At that moment, her mind felt completely scrambled. Wait. If that¡¯s Chan Chan Stone on the couch¡­ Then what¡¯s in my pocket? After a few seconds of silence, Qiao Sang reached into her pocket and pulled out Chan Chan Stone No. 2. "Xun Xun?!" Little Treasure''s eyes widened in shock. His head darted back and forth, first looking at Chan Chan Stone on the couch, then at the identical one in Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. Qiao Sang fell into another long silence. She had been a bit confused before. But now, seeing two identical rock beasts at the same time, she understood everything. These were two completely different Chan Chan Stones. Which meant- She had just casually picked up a wild Chan Chan Stone and brought it inside. Staying up all night really fried my brain¡­ How could I do something this ridiculous¡­? Qiao Sang mentally scolded herself and decided to put the stray Chan Chan Stone back outside where it had been sleeping. But just as she was about to do so, the Chan Chan Stone in her hand slowly opened its eyes. "Chan¡­?" Chan Chan Stone No. 2 still seemed a bit groggy. It rubbed its eyes, yawned sleepily, then locked eyes with Qiao Sang. "Chan Chan?!" A brief moment of eye contact- In just a few seconds, its expression went through a full spectrum of emotions: From confused ¡ú frozen ¡ú absolute horror. An utterly spectacular display. With a sharp cry, Chan Chan Stone No. 2 leaped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s hand, rolling and scrambling straight into the corner of the room. Qiao Sang: ¡­ That¡¯s¡­ some next-level cowardice. At that moment, the Chan Chan Stone on the couch seemed to wake up from the noise. Noticing that both Little Treasure and his beast tamer were staring at the corner, he instinctively followed their gaze. And in the next second- "Chan Chan" Its eyes instantly welled up with tears. It jumped off the couch and ran straight toward Chan Chan Stone No. 2 in the corner. "Chan Chan!" Chan Chan 4 No. 2 was also crying now. It threw itself at the first Chan Chan Stone, and the two embraced tightly- Tears and mucus running down their faces, crystals falling in large chunks as they sobbed uncontrollably. Qiao Sang: ¡­ The commotion in the living room drew the attention of Yabao and the others, who emerged from the bedroom to investigate. For a moment, the two stone beasts clung to each other, trembling in fear. Five minutes later. With Little Treasure''s acting as a translator, Qiao Sang finally understood the situation. Turns out: Chan Chan Stone No. 2 was actually Chan Chan Stone''s father. After an arduous journey, it had finally found the child that Qiao Sang, this despicable human, had taken away. And it had been lurking outside the window, waiting for the right moment to rescue its offspring. So basically¡­ I¡¯m the villain now. Qiao Sang sighed, watching the two terrified, pale-faced stone beasts, awaiting their fate. When she had taken Chan Chan Stone in, she had never considered this possibility. Everyone always said wild beasts had a hard time surviving in the top ten districts, so she thought she was doing Chan Chan Stone a favor, giving it food and shelter in exchange for its crystals. That wasn¡¯t too unfair, was it? Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Do you want to leave?¡± "Chan Chan?" Chan Chan Stone looked up nervously. Was¡­ that an option? Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°If you want to.¡± If Chan Chan Stone had been alone, then staying or leaving wouldn¡¯t make much difference. But now that its family was here, forcing it to stay wouldn¡¯t feel right. "Chan Chan¡­" Both stone beasts stared at her in disbelief, as if they couldn¡¯t believe they were being let go so easily. At that moment, Gangbao, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Gang Gang." She casually suggested that they could both stay, as food. Chan Chan Stone Father & Son: !!! Seeing their terrified expressions, Qiao Sang sighed again. ¡°Forget it. Forced bonds never work.¡± She turned to Gangbao. ¡°If you really like their crystals, I¡¯ll just rent one long-term instead.¡± Gangbao looked at her, eyes flickering in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected her to say something like that. The two Chan Chan Stones exchanged glances, then took a few cautious steps forward. When they saw that no one was stopping them, they lit up with joy and bolted toward the balcony. Just as they were about to jump off- S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wait.¡± Chan Chan Stones: ¡­ They instantly deflated. Knew it¡­ it was a trick. With four powerful beasts present, they turned back without daring to move. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t aware of their internal panic. She walked into her room, came back a moment later, this time holding a Purple Lake Crystal. ¡°Here.¡± She handed it to them. ¡°Chan Chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone froze. Its father looked equally confused. ¡°You agreed to stay in exchange for this.¡± Qiao Sang said gently. ¡°Even though you¡¯re leaving earlier than planned, you still worked hard. Take it as payment.¡± ¡°Chan Chan¡­¡± Chan Chan Stone looked up at the human before it. ¡°Hurry up. I have class soon, so I won¡¯t be seeing you off.¡± She nudged the crystal toward them. After a long pause- Chan Chan Stone slowly reached out and took it. --- Later, while heading to training, Qiao Sang suddenly asked Gangbao, ¡°Are your family members in 27th District?¡± Gangbao paused, then nodded. Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment. ¡°¡­Do you want to go back?¡± Gangbao met her gaze. For a while, she didn¡¯t answer. Then, after a few seconds... She nodded. She wanted to go back. --- That entire day, Qiao Sang felt restless. When she got back to her dorm, still distracted, she absentmindedly flipped through her study materials. Then- "Knock knock." She looked up. Outside the window, five identical Chan Chan Stones were lined up neatly. Chapter 595: Delivery Chapter 595: DeliveryQiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Before she could react, the leading Chan Chan Stone tapped on the window twice again with a thud thud. Only then did Qiao Sang snap out of it, get up, and open the window. ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± One after another, five Chan Chan Stones jumped in through the window in an orderly fashion and landed neatly on the desk. Then, they all turned to Qiao Sang with big smiles. She hesitated. ¡°What¡¯s this about¡­?¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± The leading Chan Chan Stone chirped energetically. Whatever it meant, the other four all nodded in agreement. Qiao Sang fell silent for a few seconds before raising her voice. ¡°Little Treasure!¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± In the next moment, Little Treasure appeared out of thin air. ¡°Translate.¡± Qiao Sang said. Following his Beast master¡¯s gaze, Little Treasure looked down in confusion, then his eyes widened. Three minutes later, after digesting the translation, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but confirm: ¡°You all want to stay here and work?¡± ¡°Chan chan!¡± All five Chan Chan Stones nodded in perfect unison. ¡°Are you serious?¡± She still found it hard to believe. ¡°Chan chan!¡± The leading Chan Chan Stone took a step forward, looking incredibly serious as it let out a cry. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t even need Little Treasure to translate, she could tell just by its expression. The whole thing happened so suddenly that she was still a little dazed. Just this morning, they had looked eager to leave, so why had they returned at night, and even brought more of their kind along? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Didn¡¯t they not want to stay? What changed? Seeing that the human before them wasn¡¯t speaking, the leading Chan Chan Stone seemed to have thought of something. It suddenly grabbed one of the other Chan Chan Stones and gave it a firm smack on the back of the head. ¡°Chan chan¡­¡± The smacked Chan Chan Stone let out a shy chirp. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure mimicked its tone and translated dutifully. Though all five Chan Chan Stones looked similar, Qiao Sang had spent quite some time with one of them. She recognized at a glance that the shy one was the very same Chan Chan Stone she had picked up outside the ore market. Unlike its usual lifeless, exhausted demeanor, today its expression was animated, it seemed to have undergone a major shift in mindset. After listening to the translation and seeing the Chan Chan Stone¡¯s reaction, Qiao Sang suddenly felt a burst of amusement. ¡°So you just want food, lodging, and four pieces of Purple Lake Crystal?¡± She asked with a grin. ¡°Chan chan!¡± The four non-shy Chan Chan Stones nodded eagerly. Qiao Sang¡¯s smile widened. ¡°No problem, welcome aboard.¡± Little Treasure had barely teleported in when Gangbao followed in behind him, quietly watching everything unfold with an unmistakable glint of joy in her eyes. --- Late at night. Little Treasure was brimming with energy, floating around the living room in search of the hiding Chan Chan Stones. Of all the creatures in the household, no one was happier about the newcomers than he was. Of course, the one who benefited the most should¡¯ve been Gangbao, but Gangbao had always been reserved, making it hard to tell when she was pleased. Little Treasure, on the other hand, wore his emotions openly. Before, no one ever played with him at night, his Beast master had to study, Yabao needed sleep, Lubao was either training or sleeping, and Gangbao also slept. The old Chan Chan Stone had been too exhausted from binge-watching dramas, and it would often doze off before finishing an episode. But now, with five Chan Chan Stones around, they could take turns on the night shift. And while they were at it, they could also play hide-and-seek with it. Perfect. ¡°Xun!¡± After finding all the Chan Chan Stones, Little Treasure stood with his arms akimbo and let out a triumphant laugh toward the ceiling. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered that Big Brother Yabao and the others were sleeping, so he quickly clamped his mouth shut. Two of the Chan Chan Stones exchanged glances. One¡¯s gaze seemed to ask: Is this part of the job, too? The other¡¯s gaze replied: Don¡¯t ask. Just do whatever the boss says. ¡°Xun xun.¡± Just then, Little Treasure seemed to recall something. He straightened up and declared that he was now going to train. ¡°Chan chan?¡± The three Chan Chan Stones on night duty immediately perked up with fresh-hire enthusiasm. What were they supposed to do? ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure beamed. Obviously, they were going to train with him! --- The next afternoon, after class. Qiao Sang received an interstellar call from Blue Star. It was Song Yuan. She got straight to the point. ¡°I already sent you the new sunglasses. Just got word, they¡¯ve arrived at your school¡¯s mailroom. Pick them up, take the photos, and send them to me online.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly remembered she still had that gig. ¡°Not much else to say. Interstellar calls aren¡¯t cheap. Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything.¡± With that, Song Yuan hung up. Qiao Sang put her phone away and changed direction, heading toward the mailroom. Sainan High School¡¯s mailroom handled incoming and outgoing documents, packages, and temporarily stored food deliveries. While picking up her package, Qiao Sang unexpectedly found she had two deliveries. She checked the sender¡¯s address. [Vit Archway Street, No. 2266, Jilun Jewelry Store] Little Treasure''s diamond gloves¡­ She immediately knew what was inside. ¡°This one¡¯s yours.¡± Qiao Sang handed the package to Little Treasure. ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure looked puzzled. He shook the box, then turned to Gangbao and called out, ¡°Xun xun~¡± Gangbao, ever efficient, simply slashed downward with one wing. A sharp glow flashed, cleanly splitting open the top of the package without damaging the contents inside. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure opened the box, eyes lighting up at the sight of the gloves inside. He let out an excited chirp and eagerly put them on. Gangbao stared at the diamond gloves on Little Treasure''s paws, momentarily dumbfounded. For the first time ever, she felt like he wasn¡¯t very smart. But she didn¡¯t ask any questions. Little did she know, she wouldn¡¯t take long for her to feel this way again. --- 8:30 PM, dormitory. ¡°Right. Lift your head a bit. Yes, just like that. Hold the pose.¡± Qiao Sang adjusted the camera she had borrowed from Yuna, focusing on Yabao. Yabao, now wearing the new sunglasses, struck confident poses. ¡°Cool!¡± Qiao Sang praised. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Encouraged, Yabao posed even more enthusiastically. After nearly an hour of shooting, Qiao Sang was finally satisfied. ¡°Gang gang?¡± Gangbao, who had been watching the shoot, finally spoke up in confusion. What¡¯s this for? ¡°It¡¯s not a tool.¡± Qiao Sang explained while uploading the photos to StarNet. ¡°Gang gang?¡± Gangbao looked even more puzzled. Then¡­ what was the point? Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then smiled. ¡°It enhances your style. Makes you more charming, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Then, as if realizing something, she turned and added, ¡°If you ever want any accessories, just tell me. I¡¯ll get them for you.¡± ¡°Gang gang¡­¡± Gangbao was even more confused now. Accessories didn¡¯t make you stronger, and they weren¡¯t food. But¡­ she couldn¡¯t deny that she didn¡¯t hate the idea. Chapter 596: Special Recruitment Results Chapter 596: Special Recruitment ResultsQiao Sang was a person of action. Seeing that Gangbao was interested in decorative items, she quickly packed up and took Yabao and the others out. Although she still had classes the next day, thanks to Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, which was available 24/7, she no longer felt the same time pressure she initially did when it came to studying. Before heading to 1st District for the friendly match competition, Qiao Sang had been regularly participating in the pet battle arena at Hekin Tower in the evenings. She was very familiar with the area, knowing that besides the pet arena, the building also housed various shops. Without much thought, she decided on Hekin Tower as their destination. Yabao still remembered the way there, so they arrived smoothly without even needing navigation. Qiao Sang had planned to browse leisurely, but she hadn¡¯t expected to have to go from the first floor all the way up to the twenty-fourth before finally finding a sizable pet accessories store. Since Hekin Tower was primarily a venue for pet battle competitions, the focus there was on strength. Most of the shops sold tools and equipment related to pet training, while stores that specialized purely in decorative items were quite rare. After searching for a while, Qiao Sang finally found one, giving her the feeling of this is the place. And so, they began browsing in earnest. ¡°Do you like this one?¡± Qiao Sang picked up a silver necklace and asked. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao shook her head. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure immediately raised his paw eagerly. He liked it! ¡°Then we¡¯ll buy it.¡± Qiao Sang smiled and put the necklace around Little Treasure''s neck. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure''s eyes curved happily as he found a full-body mirror to admire himself. ¡°What about this?¡± Qiao Sang casually picked up a pair of rose-colored sunglasses. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao shook her head again. Just as Qiao Sang was about to put the sunglasses back, an unseen force suddenly lifted them and placed them onto Yabao''s face. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Yabao turned his head, striking a pose as if to say, Do I look cool? ¡°You look great!¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. Twenty minutes later, Gangbao still hadn¡¯t picked anything, while Yabao and Little Treasure were covered in accessories, all still sporting their price tags. Especially Little Treasure, he had a gemstone ring on every short toe, attracting curious glances from passing customers. ¡°What about this one?¡± Qiao Sang, still patient, held up a lavender-colored soft felt hat. ¡°Gang¡­¡± Gangbao was just about to refuse again when Qiao Sang added: ¡°This hat seems perfect for covering up your bald spot.¡± Gangbao hesitated, then glanced at the hat before stretching out her wing to take it and place it on her head. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she praised, ¡°It looks great! This color really suits you. Want to check yourself in the mirror?¡± ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao hesitated but eventually walked over to the full-length mirror. Looking at her reflection, she felt a bit awkward. Does this really look good? ¡°Xun Xun!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Little Treasure and Yabao called out one after the other, showing their approval. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao looked at herself in the mirror, then at her beast master, who genuinely seemed to think it looked nice. After another glance at her reflection, she nodded. This one would do. Qiao Sang paid swiftly, not even bothering with a bag. Instead, she let Yabao and the others wear their newly bought accessories as they walked out of the store. ¡°Come again next time!¡± The store owner waved enthusiastically from behind. Their shop rarely had much business, let alone such a generous customer. That farewell was spoken with absolute sincerity. On the way to the elevator, Yabao and the others garnered a 100% turn-back rate. Having experienced large-scale competitions like the National Campus Beast Mastering League, Yabao and Little Treasure were used to the attention. But Gangbao, usually quiet and blending into the background, felt slightly stiff and uncomfortable. After a moment of thought, she raised her wing and quietly removed her hat. Qiao Sang, sharp-eyed as ever, immediately noticed. ¡°Why¡¯d you take it off? It looks good on you.¡± As she spoke, she reached over and placed the hat back on Gangbao¡¯s head. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao showed a resigned expression. Just then, an excited voice called out from behind. ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± Qiao Sang turned to see a middle-aged, overweight Caucasian man. Who¡¯s this? She quickly searched her memory but found no recollection of him. Her brain¡¯s capacity had reached 39%, giving her exceptional memory. Even if she had only met someone once, she would at least recall a vague impression upon thinking about it. The fact that she couldn¡¯t place this man at all meant she truly had never met him before. ¡°And you are?¡± Qiao Sang asked, puzzled, as the man approached. ¡°I¡¯m your fan!¡± The middle-aged man said excitedly. ¡°I watched every single one of your matches in the D-rank Beast master Arena! You¡¯ve helped me win so much money!¡± At first, Qiao Sang was touched. She hadn¡¯t expected to have a fan after such a short time here, let alone someone who still remembered her after all this time. But when she heard the last part, that sentiment evaporated instantly. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So that¡¯s why¡­ ¡°Hello.¡± Qiao Sang greeted politely with a smile. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been competing lately?¡± The man asked eagerly. If it was a match with Qiao Sang, betting on a 3:0 win was almost a guaranteed profit. He hadn¡¯t encountered such a reliable contestant in a long time! ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with school, so I haven¡¯t had the time.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Are you free now? Could you do a few matches? A lot of us are dying to see you compete again!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face was full of anticipation. Since she was already here, it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to do a few rounds before leaving. Plus, it would be a good way to earn back the money she had just spent on accessories¡­ Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and checked the time. 21:43. She put her phone away and smiled. ¡°I have time.¡± --- 21st Floor. Jude massaged his temples as he watched the near-effortless dominance of the young girl in the arena. ¡°I thought she wasn¡¯t coming back.¡± He muttered. A staff member beside him spoke urgently, ¡°What do we do? Everyone¡¯s going crazy! Not only is there a huge amount of money being bet, but every single bet is on a 3:0 sweep! It¡¯s been nine matches in a row like this!¡± Jude sighed and pulled out a cigarette. ¡°Aren¡¯t there any top-ten-ranked Beast masters from the Pet Battle Championship around?¡± He asked. ¡°No.¡± The staff member shook his head. Jude exhaled a slow stream of smoke and said in a deep voice, ¡°Call in sick for me tomorrow morning.¡± At this moment, Jude was still relatively calm. In his view, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t someone obsessed with money. She seemed to compete purely for fun, which meant she wouldn¡¯t be here all the time, just like how she had disappeared for a while before. Most Beast masters with her skills would be here 24/7, chasing fame and fortune. But Qiao Sang was here today. Tomorrow, she might not be. However, he was soon proven wrong. Because Qiao Sang came back for five days straight! Five whole days! On the sixth day, with a grim expression, Jude dialed a number. After two rings, the call connected. ¡°Mr. Byron, you said you¡¯d be here today. Where are you?¡± Jude asked impatiently. ¡°Is that child there yet?¡± Byron asked instead. ¡°No.¡± Jude replied, ¡°But she should be here soon. You need to arrive before she does.¡± Byron chuckled. ¡°Last time, you said the same thing, and I ended up waiting for hours.¡± ¡°This time, I guarantee it!¡± Jude swore. ¡°I¡¯ll stake my reputation on it!¡± ¡°I believe you,¡± Byron said lightly. ¡°Turn around. I¡¯m already here.¡± Yet, on the sixth day, after visiting Hekin Tower for five days in a row, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t show up. --- Sainan High School - Dormitory 502 Qiao Sang sat at her desk, turned on her computer, and logged into the official website of Central Hollow University. The provisional admission list was right on the homepage. Feeling both nervous and excited, she clicked on it. With a quick scan, she immediately spotted her name at the top of the list. "I got in!" Qiao Sang¡¯s expression lit up with excitement. She jumped out of her chair and grabbed Yabao, showering hi, with kisses. "Yap yap!" Yabao didn¡¯t quite understand what his beast master was so excited about, but seeing her so happy, he joined in the enthusiasm. After nearly ten seconds of intense snuggling, Qiao Sang finally put Yabao down. Instinctively, she reached for her phone, ready to call her mother and share the good news. However, the moment she opened her contacts, rationality kicked in. She took a deep breath, calmed her excitement, and placed the phone back down. The provisional admission list wasn¡¯t the final one yet. Only after her college entrance exam scores met Central Hollow University¡¯s requirements would she be officially admitted. If she failed to reach the required score, telling her mother now would only bring unnecessary disappointment. It would be better to wait until everything was confirmed after the exams¡­ With this thought, Qiao Sang clicked on the results page to check her detailed scores. Pet Beast Energy Value Test: 50 points Pet Beast 2v2 Battle Test: 150 points Pet Beast Doubles Test: 150 points Mission Test: 195 points Total Score: 545 points Seeing her scores, Qiao Sang was a little surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected to get a perfect score in the 2v2 battle test, which she thought she had messed up, while the mission test, where she felt she had performed well, had deducted 5 points. The grading standards were truly unpredictable¡­ Still in a good mood, Qiao Sang shut down her computer. Just then, her phone vibrated. Someone in the group chat Braving the Chaosu Star had tagged her. This chat only had three people: Tang Yi, Yang Jiayi, and herself. They had created it on their first day at Sainan High School. She picked up her phone and opened the chat. After missing out on many important messages in the past, Qiao Sang had made it a habit to always check when someone tagged her. [Tang Yi: (Image)] [Tang Yi: I got in! I got in!] [Tang Yi: @Qiao Sang, I saw your name on the list too! What¡¯s your score?] Qiao Sang didn¡¯t reply immediately. Instead, she checked the screenshot Tang Yi had sent. 525 points. That was 20 points less than her own score. [Qiao Sang: 545 points.] [Tang Yi: Whoa! You only lost 5 points! Which test deducted your points?] [Qiao Sang: Mission Test. What about you? Where did you lose 25 points?] [Tang Yi: Lost 5 points in the Pet Beast Doubles Test and 20 in the Mission Test.] [Qiao Sang: With how difficult your mission was, running around in a King-tier pet beast¡¯s territory, you still only lost 20 points?] [Tang Yi: I think the evaluators thought I was just taking advantage of the King-tier pet beasts fighting each other, and since I didn¡¯t directly confront one, they deducted my points. But it¡¯s fine. Getting in is what matters most.] [Qiao Sang: True. As long as we¡¯re in, the score doesn¡¯t really matter.] Yang Jiayi sent a red packet. Qiao Sang grabbed it instantly. [Yang Jiayi: Congratulations! So you two will still be classmates in college?] [Qiao Sang: Not necessarily. I still have to pass the college entrance exam.] [Tang Yi: You definitely will. With your brainpower and study habits, not getting in would be the real surprise.] [Qiao Sang: But I only started learning high school subjects recently.] The chat fell silent. After spending so much time together on Chaosu Star, they had nearly forgotten Qiao Sang¡¯s actual age. Sensing the awkward pause, Qiao Sang quickly changed the topic. [Qiao Sang: @Yang Jiayi, have you decided which university you¡¯re applying to?] Unlike her and Tang Yi, Yang Jiayi specialized in a different field, and they weren¡¯t in the same class. They hadn¡¯t really talked about university applications before. [Yang Jiayi: Almost forgot to tell you, I applied to Xiekong University in Hollow Central Region. I¡¯ve already been provisionally admitted, so as long as I don¡¯t mess up the college entrance exam, I should be in.] Qiao Sang sent a red packet. Tang Yi sent a red packet. [Qiao Sang: Congrats!] [Yang Jiayi: Thanks!] [Tang Yi: Let¡¯s all get into our dream universities!] Qiao Sang looked at the chat and unconsciously smiled. --- The Next Day - Senior Year, Class 6 When Qiao Sang arrived at the classroom, she noticed a group of students huddled together, chatting excitedly. She took her seat, opened a book, but secretly pricked up her ears to listen. "What are you preparing?" "I got three bodyguards." "I only have one." "My parents told me to handle it myself, but I know they secretly hired five bodyguards to follow me." A competition over bodyguard numbers? Qiao Sang was baffled. Just then, Yuna leaned over and asked, "Qiao Sang, we''re heading to 27th District this afternoon. Are you ready?" What? We''re going to District 27 this afternoon? Why didn¡¯t I know about this? I''ve been checking the group chat regularly¡­ Qiao Sang remained silent for a moment, just about to speak when... Tang Yi, sitting behind her, suddenly exclaimed, "We¡¯re going to 27th District? What for?" Qiao Sang glanced at Tang Yi, relieved to know she wasn¡¯t the only one out of the loop. Yuna was momentarily stunned before realization dawned on her. "Oh, right! I forgot your parents aren¡¯t in the parent group chat." "Yesterday, the teacher announced in the parent chat that this afternoon, we¡¯ll be heading to 27th District for our final field training session. We¡¯re supposed to make preparations." Chapter 597: 27th District Chapter 597: 27th DistrictTang Yi was full of surprise: "So soon, it''s already the last outdoor practice class?" Thank you, my mouthpiece¡­ Qiao Sang silently acknowledged Tang Yi in her heart. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes, having someone just as clueless as oneself was actually quite nice. "Does it feel fast?" Yuna thought for a moment and said, "It''s already been more than two months since the semester started. This is the last semester, so all the courses are moving faster. Once we finish what''s required, the rest of the time will be for review." Qiao Sang had already experienced a high school life once. Thinking back now, there were very few new courses in the final stage of senior year. Indeed, the majority of the time was spent reviewing. She hadn''t expected it to be the same on Chaosu Star. Upon learning that they would be leaving for the 27th District in the afternoon, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t feel any dissatisfaction about being informed so late. To her, whether she found out earlier or later didn¡¯t make a difference. Even if she notified her mother, who was far away on Blue Star, at most, she would just remind her to stay safe. It wasn¡¯t like the parents of some of her classmates, who would even hire bodyguards for protection. When the morning classes ended, the classroom instantly became lively. Unlike usual, no one rushed to leave right away. At that moment, a stylishly dressed red-haired woman walked in, and the students immediately quieted down, all turning their gazes toward her. Ai Lun was Class 6¡¯s outdoor practice teacher. Qiao Sang had a good impression of her, mainly because, unlike other teachers, Ai Lun didn¡¯t frequently call on her to answer questions. Of course, on the flip side, Ai Lun did like to have her demonstrate her pet beast¡¯s various abilities at any time. For Qiao Sang, who had won the National Campus Beast Mastering League championship, this was as easy as answering a simple math problem. Ai Lun glanced around at the students and smiled as she asked: "Is everyone ready?" "Yes!" The class responded in unison. "I¡¯m sure Qiao Sang and Tang Yi have also heard from their classmates about today¡¯s trip to the 27th District." Ai Lun looked at them and instructed, "Since your parents aren¡¯t around, stay close to me while we¡¯re there, don¡¯t wander too far." --- On the way to the 27th District, Qiao Sang gained a whole new level of understanding of her classmates'' wealth. Not only did they have personal bodyguards, but almost everyone also had a butler-type pet beast handling their food, rest, and other needs. Sitting in a corner of the airship, Qiao Sang watched the busy butler pets moving about and couldn¡¯t help but sigh: "If I didn''t know better, I''d think we were going on vacation rather than a class trip." Having experienced the ups and downs of life, Tang Yi was more accepting of it: "For them, going to the lower districts is already considered suffering." Recalling her previous time in the 25th District, Qiao Sang said, "I wonder what the difference is between the 25th and 27th Districts." Tang Yi thought for a moment and guessed, "Maybe there are more wild pet beasts in the 27th, or they¡¯re more aggressive." Hearing this, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered that Gangbao came from the 27th District. The trip had been planned so suddenly that she hadn¡¯t even had time to mention it to Gangbao. Right, Gangbao had said before that she wanted to return to the 27th District¡­ Thinking of this, Qiao Sang felt a bit heavy-hearted and suddenly lost interest in chatting. Back when Chan Chan Stone left, she ended up bringing its whole family along later. But if Gangbao was in the same situation as Chan Chan Stone, she couldn¡¯t possibly take a whole group of little steel falcons back to Blue Star. Even if she wanted to, she wouldn¡¯t have the qualifications or the authority to do so. With her mind in turmoil, Qiao Sang drifted off to sleep. When she woke up again, the airship had already arrived in the 27th District. "Oh my god, there are so many wild pet beasts outside!" "Look, they¡¯re just popping up from the ground randomly. You could trip over one just by walking, isn¡¯t this too dangerous?" "Wait¡­ is that Striding Pig climbing a tree?!" One by one, the well-dressed students exclaimed as they gazed out the cabin windows. Although they were all from Chaosu Star, they had grown up in the peaceful Upper Ten Districts, where even wild pet beasts were strictly controlled. They knew that the lower districts had a higher number of wild pet beasts, but until now, they had only seen them online or in news reports. Facing such a large number of unrestrained wild pet beasts for the first time left them in shock. Qiao Sang understood their overreaction. Their reactions now were probably similar to how people from the south of her old home on Earth reacted when they saw snow in the north for the first time. At that moment, Ai Lun¡¯s voice came through the broadcast: "Students, we¡¯ve arrived at the 27th District. Here, we¡¯ll have our final outdoor practice class. I hope the bodyguards you¡¯ve brought along won¡¯t interfere unnecessarily." "Of course, if you encounter danger, you may ask them for protection. However, I will assess whether the situation truly warrants outside help. If it¡¯s something you could have handled on your own, but you relied on someone else, I will deduct points accordingly." "You can think of this last outdoor practice as your final exam. I will select the top three students based on performance and award them points." "First place: 30 points. Second place: 20 points. Third place: 10 points." As soon as she finished speaking, the whole class erupted in excitement. Normally, the top scorer on a test would only earn 10 points. Now, the rewards were tripled! Freshly woken up, Qiao Sang instantly lost all sleepiness. She sat upright, eyes filled with determination. She might not score a single point in other subjects, but for outdoor practice? This was her specialty! At that moment, the cabin doors opened. Qiao Sang followed the group down the airship. Looking around, there were no other people in sight, but plenty of wild pet beasts. Some wild beasts glanced at them indifferently, while others remained wary, as if ready to attack at any moment. Ai Lun was the first to step off the airship. Seeing that everyone had disembarked, she formed a seal with her hands and summoned a terrifying pet beast over seven meters tall, completely covered in green vines, leaving only a pair of black eyes visible. Sensing its overwhelming aura, most of the nearby wild pet beasts fled in terror. Only a few larger ones remained, still maintaining their guarded expressions. Suddenly, a three-meter-tall black-feathered avian beast swooped down from the sky, aiming at a male student who was eating a cupcake. The boy was so focused on his food that he had no awareness of the incoming danger. Just as his bodyguard was about to react, dozens of bullet-like green seeds shot out at an almost imperceptible speed, striking the black avian beast head-on. "Toot-toot!" With a miserable cry, the bird-beast flew away. The boy looked up, dazed, as if only now realizing he had narrowly escaped an attack. Ai Lun spoke sternly: "Looks like you all forgot what I told you before. Let me repeat it one last time: If you want to stay safe in the lower districts, do NOT eat food randomly out in the open. What¡¯s in your mouth could make you the perfect target for wild pet beasts!" Frightened by her words, the boy hurriedly tossed his cupcake to the ground. But before it even hit the ground- A yellow beast with massive lower jaws suddenly burst out from beneath the soil, swallowed the cupcake whole, and disappeared underground again. Chapter 598: The Eerie Eyes Chapter 598: The Eerie EyesIt seemed that 27th District was indeed much more dangerous than 25th District. Back in 25th District, she had bought several corn cakes, yet not a single pet beast had come to snatch them from her... Qiao Sang observed the scene before her with an expressionless face while quietly placing Yabao on the ground. Yabao instantly understood. In the next second, his body slowly expanded, returning to his original size. Qiao Sang unconsciously relaxed, feeling an overwhelming sense of security. Ai Lun cast her an approving look. "Not bad. It seems Qiao Sang still remembers my words. The first thing a beast tamer should do when entering the lower ten districts is summon their pet beast to stay by their side for protection. The stronger the pet beast, the less likely wild beasts will dare to approach. In this place, there''s no need to hide your pet beast¡¯s power, letting them display their full strength is crucial." "You¡¯ll notice that here, almost no one equips their pet beasts with those so-called lightweight miniaturization bracelets. All beast tamers allow their pets to remain in their natural form." No, I forgot. I just instinctively made Yabao bigger because it felt safer... Qiao Sang complained internally but outwardly maintained the confident posture of a top student. The surrounding classmates struggled to tear their gazes away from Yabao. One by one, they formed hand seals and began summoning their own pet beasts. Except for Tang Yi, Yuna, and Hulis, this was the first time most students had seen Yabao¡¯s true form. Its aura and magnificence were on a completely different level from its smaller form, leaving them utterly stunned. Once everyone had summoned their pet beasts, the previously wary wild beasts around them diverted their attention and no longer focused on them. Seizing the moment, Ai Lun spoke up: "You are beast tamers. Even if you are still weak now, as long as you stay united, most intelligent wild beasts won¡¯t attack a group of beast tamers without reason." She paused briefly before adding, "Unless you provoke them first." "Teacher, what should we do next?" A female student raised her hand to ask. Ai Lun¡¯s expression turned serious, and she spoke each word clearly: "Figure it out on your own. Get from here to No. 106, Awu Avenue. That is the final task of your field training class." Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang immediately pulled out her phone to navigate the route. Though it was just a simple walk, she still remembered the woman from 25th District who was sprayed with hydrofruit juice just because she accidentally blocked the sunlight. It was clear that this journey might not be so easy. Ai Lun continued, "You can form teams or go alone. However, your bodyguards can only protect you from the shadows and cannot accompany you directly." "I will monitor your performance through surveillance." As soon as she finished speaking, the students began looking around, choosing their teammates. At times like this, the safest strategy was naturally to team up with the strongest person. Qiao Sang noticed that many people were looking at her. Oh, so now you remember me? Not when we were discussing class topics, but now? Thanks to her enhanced brainpower, her perception had also improved. Even as she was looking down at her phone, she could sense her classmates¡¯ attention. She straightened her posture silently. At that moment, Tang Yi asked, "Teacher, will forming teams or going solo affect our final grades?" The class fell silent, all eyes turning to Ai Lun, awaiting her answer. Ai Lun smiled. "Of course, it will. But the main focus is on how well you¡¯ve mastered survival skills and your handling of wild beasts." Reactions varied across the class, and many students immediately abandoned the idea of teaming up. If the grading was based on individual performance, forming a team would reduce opportunities to shine. For example, if a teammate took the lead in handling a situation, the teacher would remember them instead, increasing their score. Only the top three individuals, not the top three teams, would receive points. The more points someone else gained, the fewer points one would receive. In other words, this was ultimately a solo competition. A total of 25 kilometers... After confirming the route, Qiao Sang put away her phone and asked, "Does arriving first give a higher score?" "Not necessarily." Ai Lun replied ambiguously. Qiao Sang followed up, "Do we return immediately after finishing the task?" "Of course." Ailun said, amused. "Or do you want to stay and explore 27th District?" Qiao Sang remained silent. She didn¡¯t really want to explore, but since they were already here, she thought it would be a good opportunity to let Gangbao visit home. After all, Gangbao had mentioned wanting to return... Seeing that no one had more questions, Ai Lun nodded toward her pet beast. The vine-covered creature trembled, releasing over a dozen seed-like objects that floated onto each student''s shoulder. "These eerie eyes allow my Ghost Vine Beast to track your positions." Ai Lun explained, pausing intentionally. During that pause, the seeds slowly opened, revealing tiny, green bean-like eyeballs. Qiao Sang and Tang Yi stared in shock at their shoulders. Meanwhile, the other students were unfazed, acting as if this was perfectly normal. Ai Lun continued, "At the same time, these eerie eyes will also monitor your movements." Qiao Sang¡¯s curiosity sparked. "Teacher, are they alive?" "No." Ai Lun clarified. "This is my Ghost Vine Beast¡¯s innate skill, Eerie Eye, which allows it to observe distant locations." "Will they fall off in the wind?" Qiao Sang asked. Ai Lun¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. "No. Unless forcibly removed, they will firmly attach to any surface." Qiao Sang continued, "How do you view the recorded footage?" Ai Lun¡¯s expression turned complicated. For the first time, she truly felt that Qiao Sang was a poor student. Qiao Sang was sharp enough to notice the words "How do you not know this?" practically written on Ai Lun¡¯s face. Is this common knowledge?If she hadn¡¯t just explained it, I wouldn¡¯t even know that beast was called a Ghost Vine Beast... Ai Lun finally answered, "The Ghost Vine Beast can see the images through its Eerie Eyes. If it has mastered them to a great extent, its beast tamer can also see what it sees." Qiao Sang understood. It was similar to Yabao¡¯s perception sensory ability, once a skill reached a certain proficiency, she too could experience what Yabao sensed. But how did the Eerie Eye monitor multiple places at once? Could it only focus on one location at a time, or was it like a surveillance room, displaying all views simultaneously? Just as she was about to ask another question, Ai Lun quickly interrupted, "Alright, I¡¯ve said everything that needs to be said. Decide whether you¡¯re teaming up or going solo and get moving." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why does it feel like she¡¯s saying that specifically to me...? Qiao Sang glanced around. Now, not a single person seemed willing to form teams. Suddenly, Tang Yi approached her. "Want to team up? If we join forces, we¡¯ll definitely take first and second place." Qiao Sang gave him a look. "And who gets first place, you or me?" Tang Yi grinned. "That depends on who¡¯s better." "No." Qiao Sang refused without hesitation. If it were someone else, she might consider it, but Tang Yi was about as knowledgeable as she was. To form a good team, partners should complement each other. Since they had the same strengths and weaknesses, teaming up would be disadvantageous for their scores. Tang Yi didn¡¯t push further, he had only asked instinctively, since they came from the same place. Qiao Sang glanced around. Everyone who met her gaze quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact. If they had wanted to team up with her before, now she was the last person they wanted to work with. Since it was an individual competition, teaming up with the strongest would only mean handing over the spotlight. Qiao Sang withdrew her gaze and chose to go alone. As the others departed, Ai Lun decided against following Qiao Sang. Instead, she summoned a flying pet beast and took off after Tang Yi. She left only the Ghost Vine Beast behind. "Gui-gui." The Ghost Vine Beast watched Qiao Sang, waiting for her to set out. Sitting atop Yabao, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t move immediately. Instead, she formed a hand seal and summoned Gangbao. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure emerged and pulled out a soft hat from his ring, handing it to Gangbao. "Gang." Gangbao calmly accepted it and placed it on her head. She had already gotten used to being forced to wear hats these past few days. Then, Qiao Sang said, "Gangbao, we¡¯ve arrived in 27th District." "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao froze for a moment before suddenly looking round. Her expression was filled with disbelief. It was really 27th District... Chapter 599: The Painted Gray Sparrow Chapter 599: The Painted Gray SparrowGangbao''s expression quickly turned confused. How did they already reach 27th District? As if knowing what Gangbao was thinking, Qiao Sang explained, ¡°We have a class here.¡± Gangbao revealed a thoughtful expression upon hearing this. After spending time together, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t say she understood Gangbao completely, but at least 70% of the way. Seeing Gangbao¡¯s expression, she quickly picked up on her thoughts. Qiao Sang said, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about sneaking back home.¡± ¡°Gang Gang?¡± Gangbao wore a face that said, How could you even think that about me? ¡°Don¡¯t pretend.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°I know you too well. Besides, didn¡¯t you tell me before that you wanted to go home?" ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao looked embarrassed. She hadn¡¯t expected to be seen through so easily. She wanted to explain that she was only planning to visit and would come back afterward. But just then, Qiao Sang spoke, ¡°If you want to go back, do it openly. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Since Gangbao was thinking about going home, it was better to let her go properly rather than sneaking off and not wanting to return. If she went too far, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sense her with her mental connection. It was better to follow along. After all, Gangbao was a very independent beast. Even if she didn¡¯t allow her to go back, chances were she would sneak off on her own anyway. After all, she had traveled from 27th District to 3rd District all by herself before. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she tried again. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao was stunned, showing a Really? expression. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°I¡¯m pretty trustworthy, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao instinctively glanced at Yabao. Yabao, clueless, blinked in confusion. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± Gangbao looked away and reluctantly nodded. No matter what, she believed her Beast Master wouldn¡¯t lie about this. ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry and pass the exam first.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and checked the navigation. ¡°Little Treasure, move straight ahead for one kilometer!¡± The teacher only said to reach 106 Awu Avenue. There were no rules on how to get there. That was why Qiao Sang was confident she¡¯d have time to take Gangbao home after the exam. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure let out a cry, his eyes glowing blue. The next second, Qiao Sang, sitting on Yabao¡¯s back, appeared 200 meters high in the air. Then 400 meters. 600 meters. 800 meters... Very soon, Qiao Sang and her companions became a tiny dot in the sky, disappearing. With Xunbao¡¯s current energy and mastery of spatial movement, teleporting multiple targets one kilometer away wasn¡¯t impossible. However, since the destination wasn¡¯t visible, precise coordinates were needed. It was Little Treasure''s first time here, and je wasn¡¯t familiar with the terrain. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to take risks. Teleporting in short 200-meter intervals was just right, it was fast and kept them on track. ¡°Gui Gui!¡± Ghost Vine Beast, seeing its protection target vanish suddenly, was momentarily stunned before frantically running below, trying to chase after them. But with too many obstacles on the ground, it could only watch helplessly as its target disappeared from view. --- Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Now, move 2.4 kilometers to the left.¡± Qiao Sang said, checking the navigation. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded and obediently adjusted direction. The consecutive space jumps didn¡¯t faze Qiao Sang at all. Having prepared for it, she had grown somewhat numb to the side effects of teleportation. Along the way, she overtook many classmates riding flying beasts, including Tang Yi. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Five minutes later, Little Treasure wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead, then took off his circular ring and pulled out a bottle of B-grade energy recovery fluid, drinking it. Spatial shift was a high-level skill, and using it so many times in a row had drained Little Treasure significantly. ¡°Rest for a bit.¡± Qiao Sang said, noticing his exhaustion. They were less than six kilometers from 106 Awu Avenue. As long as nothing went wrong, they would reach it soon. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded vigorously. Je floated onto Yabao¡¯s back, lying down, sipping his energy drink while admiring the bright blue sky. ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao flew next to Little Treasure and lay down too, staring at the sky. It had been a long time since she felt this relaxed¡­ At that moment, a bird-like beast, over three meters in size, flew six meters above Yabao. It had incredibly vibrant feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. As it passed, it glanced at Yabao before pretending not to care and looking away. Suddenly, a mechanical voice spoke: ¡°Gray-Painted Sparrow, a high-level flying-type beast. Its entire body is gray and lacks distinctive features. However, it enjoys painting itself in various colors or sticking feathers from other beasts onto its body because it finds itself unattractive.¡± ¡°Studies show that the uglier a Gray-Painted Sparrow is, the more it covers itself in colors.¡± ¡°If you see one with multicolored feathers, it must be very ugly. These sparrows have strong self-esteem. It is advised not to spray them with any water-based attacks, or the consequences could be severe.¡± The elegantly flying bird suddenly stiffened. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure showed a look of realization, so all those pretty feathers were fake? ¡°Gang Gang¡­¡± Gangbao covered her face with her wings. A strong self-esteem? Then exposing its dyed feathers right in front of it¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that cause trouble? Qiao Sang looked at the now-frozen Gray-Painted Sparrow and felt a bad premonition. The next second, her fear came true. The Gray-Painted Sparrow turned its head, furious. Without a word, it flapped its wings violently, sending dozens of air blades slashing toward Yabao. Yabao reacted quickly, opening his mouth. A swirling blast of scorching flames erupted from his throat. Boom! The two forces clashed mid-air, exploding on impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. ¡°Gray!¡± As the smoke cleared, the Gray-Painted Sparrow tilted its head and let out a high-pitched screech. ¡°Gray!¡± ¡°Gray!¡± As if responding to the call, cries of ¡°Gray!¡± echoed from all directions. No way¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s heart raced as she scanned her surroundings. From near and far, a flock of Gray-Painted Sparrows was swiftly closing in, forming a tight encirclement. Chapter 600: What a Coincidence Chapter 600: What a CoincidenceQiao Sang: !!! Calling for backup when you can¡¯t win? That¡¯s totally dishonorable! "Yap!" Yabao bared his teeth, looking eager to fight. Qiao Sang sensed Yabao¡¯s excitement and was shocked. Gray-Painted Sparrow is a high-level pet beast, and you¡¯re still this excited even when surrounded by a whole group of them?! Just as Yabao was about to gather energy and charge into battle, Qiao Sang shouted: "Little Treasure!" "Xun xun!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure immediately understood his Beast Master¡¯s intention. His eyes glowed blue as energy surged wildly within his body. The next second, he vanished from the spot, taking Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Gangbao along with him. Qiao Sang¡¯s vision went dark. When the light returned, she found herself in the middle of a dense forest. "Yap¡­" Yabao¡¯s voice came from beside her. Qiao Sang turned and saw him with drooping ears, looking utterly disappointed. Little Treasure lay limp on Yabao¡¯s back, looking completely drained. Meanwhile, Gangbao was the most energetic of the group, flapping her wings and curiously observing the surroundings with an excited expression. Qiao Sang took a moment to recover, then pulled out her phone and checked the navigation. A mechanical female voice announced: "You have deviated from the route. Recalculating your path. Please make a U-turn at the nearest safe location. This area is a wild pet beast habitat with a danger rating of four stars. Please leave immediately. Your destination, No. 106 Awu Avenue, is 21 kilometers away." Qiao Sang stared at Little Treasure in shock. "You actually moved us that far in one go?!" Little Treasure couldn¡¯t even lift his eyelids. "Xun xun¡­" He let out a weak cry, expressing that he had completely exhausted his energy just to escape¡­ Did he really have to push himself this hard? Qiao Sang twitched her lips. "Drink some energy recovery potion first." She said. "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure didn¡¯t even have the strength to nod. He let out another feeble sound, indicating that he was too tired to move and needed a moment. Qiao Sang: ¡­Fine. She formed a hand seal, summoning an orange-yellow star formation on the ground. A moment later, Lubao emerged from the light. Without waiting for instructions, Lubao took one look around and immediately understood that Little Treasure was in trouble. "Lu." The gemstone on Lubao¡¯s forehead glowed blue, radiating light onto Little Treasure. "Xun xun!" As the blue light faded, Little Treasure was fully rejuvenated. The weakness from energy depletion disappeared, though his energy levels weren¡¯t restored yet. Little Treasure quickly got up and impatiently reached into his spatial ring to retrieve an energy recovery potion. Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves broke the silence. Qiao Sang tensed and surveyed the surroundings. "Yabao, Lubao, stay alert. Our safety depends on you." Little Treasure had no energy left, making him vulnerable if a wild pet beast appeared. Gangbao was only a beginner-level pet beast. Earlier, when they encountered the high-level Gray-Painted Sparrows, a whole flock showed up. Now that they were in a wild pet beast habitat, Qiao Sang instinctively didn¡¯t count Gangbao as part of their combat strength. "Yap Yap!" Yabao¡¯s ears perked up, instantly forgetting his earlier disappointment about missing the fight. He looked thrilled. "Lu." Lubao¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but her gaze grew more watchful. The rustling stopped. A small green insect-like pet beast, about twenty centimeters long, slowly crawled down a tree nearby. Halfway down, it noticed Yabao and the others. The green insect froze. After three seconds, it turned around and slowly climbed back up. Just a beginner-level pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief. "Let¡¯s go." She said, climbing onto Yabao¡¯s back. Even though Little Treasure had no energy for teleportation, Yabao could still move. She raised her hand, preparing to recall Lubao into the Beast Tamer Codex. "Gang gang!" But just then, Gangbao chirped excitedly, indicating that her home was nearby. Qiao Sang paused, surprised. "What? Seriously?" "Gang gang!" Gangbao nodded. Yes, seriously! What a coincidence¡­ If they took time to find Gangbao¡¯s clan now, she would probably have no hope of making it to the top three in the class ranking. But if she went straight to No. 106 Awu Avenue, she would be ignoring this unexpected twist of fate¡­ Qiao Sang hesitated. Then she looked up and saw Gangbao¡¯s eager expression. She smiled and made her decision. "Alright, let¡¯s check out your home first." Besides, Little Treasure wouldn¡¯t recover his energy anytime soon, and they were still far from their destination. No one else would be unlucky enough to run into a whole flock of Gray-Painted Sparrows like I did¡­ At that thought, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind drifted. According to the original navigation route, most people should be flying along the same path. Earlier, she had already caught up with several people. If they continued along that route, wouldn¡¯t they eventually run into the Gray-Painted Sparrows? ¡­No way. That would be too unlucky. She shook off the thought. Others wouldn¡¯t be as unlucky as me. Even if they ran into minor obstacles, they wouldn¡¯t get completely thrown off course like I did. By now, most of them had likely covered a third of the distance. Without Little Treasure''s teleportation, even if she set out immediately, she probably wouldn¡¯t catch up. It was better to settle Gangbao¡¯s matter first. "Gang gang!" Gangbao¡¯s eyes sparkled as she flapped her wings, no longer holding back her excitement. --- A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, scattering dappled sunlight across the ground. Many small pet beasts peeked out from the grass or trees, curiously observing the newcomers. Gangbao led the way. Qiao Sang rode on Yabao¡¯s back, with Lubao walking beside them. She chose not to recall Lubao. In a wild pet beast habitat, summoning a pet beast might take too long in an emergency. It was safer to keep Lubao out. Plus, there were no other people around, and Lubao seemed to enjoy exploring this kind of environment. Their journey was uneventful. Most of the wild pet beasts they encountered were small to mid-sized. Sensing that Yabao and Lubao were stronger, they quickly moved aside. After about ten minutes, dozens of plant roots suddenly shot out from the ground, trying to entangle them. "Ice Wind!" Qiao Sang, already on high alert, reacted instantly. Lubao opened her mouth and released a blast of freezing air. The icy wind spread in a fan shape, freezing everything in its path. The roots stopped in their tracks, encased in a layer of ice. Then, a mechanical voice announced: "Hammersprout, Grass-type beginner pet beast. It disguises itself as grass and dislikes water. When it starts raining, it disappears without a trace." Qiao Sang turned, suddenly realizing something. Little Treasure was holding a small, grass-like pet beast in one paw and a pet beast identifier in the other. "Hammer¡ª!" A deep, angry voice boomed from ahead. Heavy footsteps echoed through the forest. A towering, three-meter-tall, tree-like pet beast emerged onto the path. "Xun xun~" Curious, Little Treasure scanned it with the identifier. "Hammerwood, Grass-type advanced pet beast. It disguises itself as a tree and has a peaceful nature. It doesn¡¯t attack unless provoked and sometimes even guides lost travelers." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyelid twitched as she realized what had happened. She looked at the struggling Hammersprout in Little Xunbao¡¯s paw. ¡­Oops. ----- T/n: I''m backkkkkkk! Finally got a little respite from all those group works!???? Chapter 601: Mistshadow Ark Chapter 601: Mistshadow Ark"Xun xun!" Little Treasure was always clever. As soon as the information from the pet beast identifier appeared, he understood what was happening. He quickly threw away the Hammersprout in his hands, indicating that he had just picked it up casually. At the very moment the Hammersprout was tossed, Qiao Sang''s eyelid twitched again. Fortunately, a purple shadow flashed by, and Gangbao steadily caught the Hammersprout. In truth, even low-level pet beasts had a certain level of defense, especially wild ones. Falling from trees, rolling down mountains, or being affected by stronger beings, rolling a hundred meters was not unusual. Even if the Hammersprout really hit the ground, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. However, Gangbao knew that the Hammerwood was still angry, and it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. She didn¡¯t want to delay their journey home. "Gang gang.." With the Hammersprout on her back, Gangbao approached the Hammerwood and chattered away like a mediator. Just as the pet beast identifier had stated, the Hammerwood had a peaceful temperament. Even in such an angry state, it was still willing to listen to an explanation. "Hammer." After Gangbao had nearly run out of saliva from talking, the Hammerwood glanced at the formidable Yabao and Lubao, then turned away with its Hammersprout and left. "Amazing!" Qiao Sang praised Gangbao. Defeating the Hammerwood wouldn''t have been difficult, but she worried that, just like with the Gray-Painted Sparrows, more Hammerwoods might suddenly appear, after all, this was wild pet beast territory. She had initially planned to let Lubao use her Healing Soundwave, but unexpectedly, Gangbao resolved the issue through direct communication. "Gang." Gangbao humbly responded, saying that the Hammerwood was easy to talk to. The species was generally a bit timid and probably thought that if a fight broke out, it wouldn¡¯t win anyway. Hearing this, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes brightened. She almost forgot, she didn¡¯t know much about the pet beasts here, but Gangbao did! With Gangbao''s intelligence, she could definitely help them avoid a lot of trouble! Immediately, Qiao Sang thought of something and sternly said, "Gangbao, while leading the way, explain things to Little Treasure when he¡¯s curious. Try to avoid letting him rely on the pet beast identifier." "Gang Gang!" Gangbao nodded seriously, understanding the importance of this task. "Xun xun¡­" In the back, Little Treasure pouted while listening to the conversation. The next ten minutes of the journey went smoothly. With Gangbaoo answering Little Treasure''s questions in real-time, they didn¡¯t run into another Gray-Painted Sparrow or Hammerwood situation. Though a few wild pet beasts attacked unprovoked along the way, none exceeded high-level rank. Yabao and Lubao easily dealt with them. After traveling further, Yabao''s ears twitched, and he suddenly stopped, showing a vigilant expression. The next moment, Qiao Sang saw a pale, dense mist rising ahead, creeping in from the depths of the forest. "Gang gang." Gangbao flapped her wings and flew to Qiao Sang¡¯s side, offering to scout ahead. No way, you¡¯re the weakest one here¡­ Qiao Sang rejected her outright, "You might know this terrain best, but if something happens to you in there, it¡¯ll be even harder for us to navigate this place." Then, she turned to Little Treasure and asked, "How¡¯s your energy recovery?" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure sensed himself and chirped, indicating he was mostly recovered. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "Little Treasure, you go scout ahead. If anything happens, teleport back immediately." Ghost-type pet beasts were always the top choice for reconnaissance in dramas. Besides being able to turn invisible, Little Treasure could also teleport and use spatial shift. Since Qiao Sang could sense his status, she could recall him instantly if anything felt off, sending him was the safest option. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure''s eyes lit up. He saluted, vowing to complete the mission before floating eagerly into the fog. He loved exploring the unknown! "Yap yap¡­" Yabao looked envious, he wanted to go too! But remembering that he had to protect his beast master, he held back. Lubao remained expressionless, but her eyes stayed locked on the mist, body tensed, ready to attack at any moment. "Gang¡­" Gangbao stared at the fog. In her memory, this place had never had anything like this before¡­ Suddenly, her pupils dilated slightly as a realization struck. "Gang Gang!" She shouted loudly, but before she could explain, the slow-moving mist suddenly surged forward like an avalanche, engulfing everything. In an instant, the entire area was nothing but white. Gangbao felt herself being grabbed by something and then transported to a warm place. "Don¡¯t be afraid. Stay close to me." What the hell is this¡­? Qiao Sang clutched Gangbao, feeling an overwhelming sense of panic but forcing herself to stay calm. From Gangbao''s earlier reaction, she knew she had been scared. As a beast master, she had to remain steady, or else her pet beasts would be affected. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She had always faced opponents directly before, this was the first time she couldn¡¯t even see what she was up against. Just then, a familiar and particularly comforting mechanical voice sounded: "Mistshadow Ark, Dark-type General-rank pet beast. Has the power to create illusions that affect hundreds at once. It is said that when its habitat is about to be exposed to humans, it generates illusions, making people wander endlessly in the forest." This information couldn¡¯t have come at a better time! Now that she knew what they were dealing with, things would be much easier¡­ Little Treasure¡­ Qiao Sang felt a rush of gratitude and tried sensing his location, only to find she couldn¡¯t. She waved her hand, trying to summon him back, but without a specific location, the recall wouldn¡¯t work. Hmm, it must be the fog interfering. But since Little Treasure could still use the pet beast identifier, that meant he was okay¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced. If Little Treasure could use the identifier, then he must have seen the Mistshadow Ark and was nearby. No sounds of battle, so they hadn¡¯t fought yet. Does the Mistshadow Ark not attack pet beasts? Did it sense a human, me, and create this mist because of that? As she was analyzing, she suddenly turned her head. "Xun xun!" A moment later, Little Treasure appeared beside her, patting his chest as if frightened. That¡¯s not Little Treasure¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s expression hardened. She called out, "Lubao!" "Ice Slash." Lubao''s gaze turned icy. She raised a paw, slashing down with a frigid energy. The Little Treasure split in two and dissolved into mist. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looks like we have to deal with this Mistshadow Ark to move forward. As long as we stay in the mist, we¡¯ll remain trapped. But the mist must have a limit¡­ Qiao Sang waved her hand, recalling Lubao into the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex, then calmly commanded, "Yabao, we¡¯re flying up." "Yap Yap!" Chapter 602: Its Over Chapter 602: It''''s OverYabao ran upwards. But the dense fog seemed to move as well. Like a thin veil, the mist followed the airflow, drifting in the same direction as Yabao, all the way up. After nearly a minute of running without breaking free from the fog, Qiao Sang patted Yabao¡¯s back, signaling him to stop. Yabao understood his beast master''s intent, halting mid-air and cautiously observing the surroundings. Sitting on Yabao''s back, Qiao Sang''s mind raced. So running higher wouldn¡¯t work either. Was A planning to trap her here indefinitely? Mistshadow Ark wasn¡¯t just a general-rank beast, it was lurking in the shadows¡­ Might as well have Yabao launch a large-scale attack to lure it out directly¡­ In a normal one-on-one fight, she might not win. But once Yabao unleashed his ultimate skill, Meteor Rain, the fog would surely disperse. Then, without the interference of the thick mist, she could summon Little Treasure. With Little Treasure, plus Yabao and Lubao, taking down a wild general-rank beast wouldn¡¯t be impossible¡­ The only problem was that this was a wild beast territory. If Yabao used Meteor Rain, the large-scale attack might affect other wild beasts, pulling them into the fight¡­ Just as she was thinking about this, a Little Treasure suddenly appeared beside her. Before it could even speak, Yabao quickly retreated, creating distance. A blinding flame suddenly flashed within the dense fog, dazzling and brilliant, shooting straight toward Little Treasure. The moment the fire vortex burst forth, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "This one''s real!" "Yap Yap!" Yabao was startled. Luckily, Little Treasure had quick reflexes, teleporting away just in time to dodge the fiery vortex. "Xun Xun!" After dodging, Little Treasure reappeared, looking at Yabao with an expression of disbelief and hurt. "Yap Yap..." Yabao felt guilty, avoiding eye contact. "A fake Ghost Ring Phantom approached just now. Yabao thought you were a fake too." Qiao Sang quickly explained. "Xun Xun..." Little Treasure showed an Oh, I see expression, then shook his head at Yabao with a sigh. Yabao, big bro, you''re so dumb. You can''t even tell real from fake. "Yap Yap..." Yabao wanted to refute, but thinking about his earlier attack, he found himself speechless. "Alright." Qiao Sang ended the topic and said seriously, "The priority now is to lure out Mistshadow Ark. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be trapped here." With that, she was about to instruct Yabao to unleash Meteor Rain. "Xun Xun~" Just then, Little Treasure raised his left paw and called out, as if presenting a great achievement. Qiao Sang looked over and saw that Little Treasure''s left paw was connected to a three-dimensional shadow control thread, extending downward, piercing through the dense fog. Qiao Sang: !!! "That other end¡­ it''s connected to Mistshadow Ark, isn¡¯t it?" Her face showed clear astonishment. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure nodded. Amazing! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. "How did you think of using shadows to latch onto it?" "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure, seeing his beast master¡¯s reaction, knew he had done something incredible. He called out smugly, looking relaxed and confident, as if to say, Oh, I just casually did it. He explained that the creature was at the edge of the fog, so he linked his shadow to it, hoping to pull it along and avoid getting lost. Having a smart pet beast was such a blessing¡­ Qiao Sang was overjoyed, but then a thought struck her. She asked in confusion, "And it just let you attach your shadow to it?" "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure waved his paw dismissively. That thing was sleeping, completely unaware. Wait...sleeping? Meaning, this fog was unconsciously released? That couldn¡¯t be right¡­ Qiao Sang felt something was off. "Gang Gang!" At that moment, the still-held Gangbao called out seriously. Only then did Qiao Sang realize she was still holding her. She quickly loosened her grip. "Gang Gang!" Gangbao flapped her wings, flying to the side, her expression stern as she repeated what she had just said. Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before asking in a strained voice, "Are you saying¡­ there are two Mistshadow Ark''s here?" "Gang Gang!" Gangbao nodded solemnly. That explained it! No wonder Little Treasure''s shadow bind didn¡¯t trigger a response, there were two of them! This was bad. Facing one general-rank beast was already a gamble. Two? No way¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t doubt Gangbao¡¯s words at all. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. There was still one way out¡­ She turned to Gangbao, speaking quickly. "We¡¯re leaving. Teleport us out. I¡¯m not sure if we¡¯ll end up back at your home, but I promise I¡¯ll bring you back next time." Little Treasure wasn¡¯t familiar with the terrain, and with the thick fog, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint a precise teleportation coordinate. But safety was the top priority now. "Gang Gang!" Gangbao nodded without hesitation. She was always rational, she knew escaping was the best option. Qiao Sang sighed in relief and turned to Little Treasure. "Little Treasure-" Just then, the dense fog surged, and a gust of wind blew Gangbao¡¯s hat off, sending it tumbling into the mist. Gangbao felt the chill on her exposed head, saw the hat falling, and her pupils shrank. Instinctively, she flapped her wings and chased after it. Qiao Sang: !!! She was dumbfounded. Gangbao had always been smart and cautious. How could she risk herself for a hat? This wasn¡¯t like her at all¡­ She had no time to think further. She quickly tried sensing Gangbao¡¯s position. Nothing¡­ Qiao Sang tensed. Unlike Little Treasure, Gangbao was still just a low-level beast. She couldn¡¯t turn invisible, teleport, or shift through space. If she encountered Mistshadow Ark and got injured in the mist, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to recall her to the Beast Tamer Codex¡­ Qiao Sang clenched her fists, making a swift decision. "Yabao, Meteor Rain!" "Yap!" Yabao let out a loud cry, tilting his head slightly. A terrifying energy sphere shot from his mouth, soaring high into the air. The moment its reached its peak, it exploded. A fiery rain fell, violently tearing through the dense white fog. Boom! Boom! Boom! Amid deafening explosions, a sea of burning red emerged below. --- "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao regretted it the moment she dived down. It felt like she had been possessed, why would she chase after a hat? She never even liked wearing it. Losing it should¡¯ve been a good thing. Even if she wanted to cover her bald spot, she could just buy a new one. Why did she chase after it¡­? Gangbao analyzed logically, but her flight speed didn¡¯t slow, in fact, she sped up. Soon, she spotted a flash of lavender, the hat. "Gang Gang!" Her eyes brightened, accelerating as she grabbed the hat in her beak. Suddenly, realization struck. Her body froze. A pair of massive red eyes, several times larger than her entire body, stared at it coldly. "Gang Gang¡­" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, Gangbao''s mind went blank. No matter how smart she was, she was still a young beast, not even a year old. She had never faced such an overwhelming presence. Clutching the hat tightly, Gangbao felt utterly insignificant. Then, the temperature around her spiked. Gangbao seemed to understand. She looked up blankly. A massive wave of fire rained down. Boom! Boom! Boom! "Ark-!" With the endless explosions, the once-cold red eyes turned to pain. Gangbao''s eyes lit up. She flapped her wings, trying to hide under Mistshadow Ark''s enormous head. But in the next moment, a shadow of fire swept over it. Instantly, Gangbao found itself in a familiar, warm place. "Are you okay?" Qiao Sang asked. "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao looked up at her, dazed and dumbfounded. Oh no¡­ She might be in shock. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank. "Little Treasure!" Forget it, everything could wait. They had to escape! Chapter 603: The Nest of the Steel Falcons Chapter 603: The Nest of the Steel Falcons"Xun Xun!" Little Treasure called out. But before his eyes could glow blue, a dark aura suddenly descended, and a blade-like black object appeared out of nowhere, stabbing into the shadow control that Little Treasure had yet to retract. The blade pierced through the shadow and embedded itself into the ground. "Xun Xun?!" Little Treasure showed an expression of disbelief, he found himself unable to move! The dense fog had not been completely dispersed by the meteor rain, leaving a thin layer of mist swirling in the air. Qiao Sang clearly saw a dark shadow stabbing into Little Treasure''s extended shadow, flickering faintly. Dark Blade¡­ Qiao Sang recognized it at a glance as one of Mistshadow Ark¡¯s skills, and her heart tensed. A high-tier Dark-type skill, it could be used for direct attacks or to pin down an opponent by stabbing into their shadow, rendering them immobile. It even prevented a Beast Tamer from recalling their pet into the Beast Tamer Codex. It had some similarities to Shadow Control. The difference was that Shadow Control focused on binding, once the target was restrained in the two-dimensional plane, the user couldn¡¯t move freely either. Dark Blade, however, did not have this limitation. "Withdraw the shadow!" Qiao Sang urged. Since the pinned shadow was an extension from using Shadow Control, retracting the energy would naturally break the effect. Little Treasure had originally intended to retract Shadow Control and then use Spatial Shift. However, the sudden immobilization had startled him, making him momentarily forget to act. Hearing his Beast Tamer¡¯s command, Little Treasure calmed down and began to withdraw the energy sustaining Shadow Control. "Ark!" Just then, not far ahead, Mistshadow Ark, enduring the burns from the meteor rain, let out a furious roar. In an instant, dozens of Dark Blades emerged from the mist and shot downward at high speed. Boom! Boom! Boom! Some of the Dark Blades collided with the still-falling meteor rain, causing explosive bursts. The rest hurtled towards Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Little Treasure, who was still pinned and in the process of retracting his Shadow Control. Within the thin mist and fiery downpour, the Dark Blades were not particularly visible, making them hard to perceive clearly. "Dash above Little Treasure!" Qiao Sang''s eyes sharpened. She had no time to think further and issued the command instantly. For a safe retreat, Little Treasure absolutely couldn¡¯t fall here! Yabao¡¯s eyes mirrored his Beast Tamer¡¯s sharp gaze. He focused on the raging meteor rain and the seemingly insignificant but deadly Dark Blades interspersed within, then charged forward. The white and red figure weaved through the blazing inferno and black blades. The falling flames seemed to have a mind of their own, shifting away as the white-red streak passed. Yanao¡¯s speed was terrifyingly fast. Even while dashing, he didn¡¯t forget to breathe out a fire whirl at the Dark Blades above Little Treasure. Amid the explosions, he reached a position just ten centimeters above Little Treasure. His massive body completely covered Little Treasure, providing a solid sense of security. Qiao Sang was on Yabao¡¯s back. Some of the Dark Blades were still approaching, now within five centimeters of her. Qiao Sang leaned forward, pressing herself close to Yabao. The timing should be just right¡­ Her heart pounded violently as she shouted, "Little Treasure, ready?!" Four centimeters. Three centimeters. Two centimeters¡­ "Xun Xun!" Just as three Dark Blades were less than a centimeter away from Qiao Sang¡¯s back, Little Treasure called out- Ready! The next second, Qiao Sang, Yabao, and Little Treasure disappeared from the spot. "Ark!" The fog fully dissipated, the meteor rain had completely fallen, and Mistshadow Ark, dragging its injured body, furiously approached another Mistshadow Ark that lay unconscious on the ground. "Ark!" Without hesitation, the standing Mistshadow Ark kicked the unconscious one hard. "Ark¡­ Ark¡­" The unconscious Mistshadow Ark rolled over slightly, its head tilting to the side, it was completely knocked out. It had actually fainted under the meteor rain long ago. --- Damn, that was close¡­ Qiao Sang gasped for breath, feeling her back drenched in sweat. Everything that had just happened was way too intense. Honestly, she felt like she had never been this shaken in her life, not even when she encountered the wild pet Dream Doll and the Three-Eyed Phantom in that escape room. Back then, she was still a rookie Beast Tamer, having grown up in a safe environment. Her understanding of pet combat strength mostly came from books and television, making her somewhat fearless due to ignorance. But after becoming a Beast Tamer for a longer time, encountering wild pets and even general-ranked pets, she understood how dangerous wild general-ranked pets truly were. Two general-ranked pets were something she absolutely couldn¡¯t take head-on. Precisely because she understood this, she knew that if anything went wrong, she might not make it out alive. Fortunately, she had been teleported through Spatial Shift so many times that she knew it happened in an instant. As long as Little Treasure withdrew Shadow Control, he could teleport them away. Positioning Yabao above Little Treasure wasn¡¯t just to block attacks, it was also to enable a faster escape. As long as they teleported away, even if they got hit by Dark Blades, she could summon Lubao immediately for healing. Otherwise, in that chaotic battlefield, even Healing Light wouldn¡¯t have been safe to cast. Speaking of which¡­ why did it feel like there was only one Mistshadow Ark earlier¡­? Qiao Sang thought, still shaken. "Gang¡­" At this moment, Gangbao flapped her wings anxiously nearby. Qiao Sang collected herself, turned, and said, "I''m fine." After speaking, she fully snapped back to reality. Remembering something, she quickly checked on Yabao, Little Treasure, and Gangbao¡¯s conditions. "Are you guys okay?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap yap." Yabao shook his head honestly. He was fine. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure, slumped weakly on Yabao¡¯s back, let out a whimper. He wasn¡¯t fine, he was scared to death just now¡­ Gangbao didn¡¯t respond. Qiao Sang looked at Gangbao and asked again, "Are you okay?" She still remembered how Gangbao had acted completely unlike her usual self earlier. "Gang Gang¡­" Gangbao, looking slightly awkward, put her hat back on and murmured that she was fine. That¡¯s good¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief and finally turned her attention to their surroundings. She scanned the area, taking in towering trees, humid air, and a forest floor covered in fallen leaves and branches, everything indicated that they were still in the wild pet habitat¡­ Qiao Sang quickly accepted this reality. With practiced movements, she rapidly formed hand seals. This place was too dangerous. It would feel much safer with Lubao around¡­ Soon, Lubao appeared within an orange-yellow star formation. What Qiao Sang didn¡¯t realize was that, at that very moment, numerous pairs of red eyes were locked onto them. Most of those red eyes fixated on Gangbao, then shifted to the identification bracelet on her paw. Many of the red eyes turned to rage. Suddenly, Yabao¡¯s ears twitched, his gaze becoming sharp. He opened his mouth and shot a blast of scorching fire toward a tree. Just as the flames were about to hit, the leaves rustled, and a purple pet beast flew out. Then a second. A third. A fourth. A fifth¡­ More and more purple figures emerged from the surrounding trees. Before long, the entire sky was filled with countless purple silhouettes. The sky turned completely purple. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Oh crap¡­ Qiao Sang looked up, her heart sinking. They had just escaped from the Mistshadow Ark¡¯s nest, only to stumble into a nest of Steel Falcons. Wait¡­ Steel Falcons? Qiao Sang suddenly realized something and turned sharply to look at Gangbao. Chapter 604: Here to Say Goodbye Chapter 604: Here to Say GoodbyeCould this place be Gangbao''s hometown¡­? At the thought, Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. However, before she could confirm her suspicions, the hovering Steel Falcons flapped their wings in unison without hesitation. Countless air-forged blades shot downward all at once. Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils contracted sharply as she shouted, ¡°Counter with a defensive shield!¡± "Yap!" Yabao opened his mouth, and a spiraling flame erupted forth. At the same time, his eyes glowed blue. Under the control of his psychic power, the flames abruptly changed direction, swirling upward. The range of the flames shrank gradually, forming a perfect 360-degree shield around Qiao Sang, Lubao, and the others. Boom! Boom! Boom! The air blades clashed with the fire, producing explosions as loud as grenades. This wild beast habitat really wasn''t a place for ordinary people, it was far too dangerous. If not for Little Treasure''s teleportation ability, she might not have made it out alive¡­ For safety¡¯s sake, it was better to retreat now and come back after Yabao evolved into a General-ranked beast. Qiao Sang took advantage of the moment to assess her situation and made a firm decision, she had to leave. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± Just as she was about to call for Little Treasure to teleport them away, Gangbao let out an excited cry, signaling that this was indeed her home. Although Qiao Sang had already suspected as much, hearing it confirmed still left her momentarily stunned. The reason was simple, these fellow Steel Falcons were far more aggressive than she had expected. "Do they still recognize you?" She asked, concerned. After all, there were so many of them here, losing or gaining one probably wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao sensed her master¡¯s thoughts and responded seriously, assuring her that they would definitely recognize her. "But they just attacked." Qiao Sang said, confused. You were in their attack range too¡­ She left the second half of her thought unsaid. ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao gave Qiao Sang a complicated look before explaining: Their real target was her. As for herself, her kin viewed getting injured as part of training. Qiao Sang digested this information and hesitated. "Wait¡­ if you talk to them, will they stop attacking me out of respect for you?" ¡°Gang.¡± Gangbao thought for a moment and answered honestly: That was hard to say. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Did you really have to be so honest? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll just have Little Treasure teleport us all away right now? Yet Gangbao''s eyes were shining with trust, as if she had no concern whatsoever that her words might have consequences. Qiao Sang stared at her for two seconds before sighing helplessly. "Alright, once this wave of attacks is over, talk to them. If they still want to fight, I¡­ I¡¯ll endure for a bit. Just make it quick so we can leave as soon as possible." ¡°Gang Gang.¡± Gangbao''s eyes gleamed with amusement, and she chirped in acknowledgment. Qiao Sang felt a strange sense of relief, Gangbao didn¡¯t seem like she wanted to stay in her old home. Time passed, and eventually, the sounds of explosions ceased. Qiao Sang pricked up her ears and waited for over ten seconds. After confirming there were no further attacks, she patted Yabao''s back, signaling him to lower his defenses. Understanding his master¡¯s intent, Yabao''s blue eye glow faded. At the same time, the swirling flames dissipated. However, just as the flames disappeared, a new barrage of air blades rained down like a storm. Damn it, will this ever end¡­?! Qiao Sang shouted, "Little Treasure!" "Xun!" Little Treasure instantly understood. His eyes glowed blue, and in the next moment, Qiao Sang and her team were teleported to a higher altitude than the Steel Falcons. Immediately, Little Treasure turned to Lubao, ready to catch her if she fell. The Steel Falcons stirred in confusion, glancing at each other as they searched for their vanished targets. One of them seemed to realize something and suddenly turned its head, spotting Qiao Sang and her beasts. ¡°Gang Gang!¡± It let out a sharp cry and flapped its wings forcefully, sending five or six air blades streaking toward them. At that moment, Gangbao flew in front of Qiao Sang and flapped her wings. The same number of air blades materialized in response, shooting forward to intercept the attack. The collision of air blades created a series of explosions that caught the attention of all the Steel Falcons. As the blasts died down, the falcons finally noticed Gangbao, wearing an identification bracelet on her claw. A commotion broke out. Their expressions varied, but most of them seemed to show disappointment, as if they found Gangbao''s choices disgraceful. "Gang!" Gangbao flew forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Yabao. She let out a loud cry. "Gang Gang!" "Gang!" "Gang gang!" Nearly all the Steel Falcons cried out in response. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, but their expressions didn¡¯t look good. Beneath her, Yabao tensed, his body coiled and ready to fight at any moment. That only reinforced Qiao Sang¡¯s unease. Being stared at by so many Steel Falcons, there was no way she wasn¡¯t feeling the pressure. Suddenly, she found herself admiring Ashley. Back then, Ashley had the guts to deceive so many Steel Falcons, and she actually succeeded! That was some serious skill¡­ "Gang Armor!" At that moment, a larger falcon flew forward. Its body was about 90 centimeters long, primarily black with a white underbelly and striped feathers on its wings. Its body looked as if it were clad in armor. Steel Armor Falcon¡­ Qiao Sang mentally recited its species name. Since she had contracted a Steel Falcon, she had thoroughly studied its entire evolutionary line. Steel Armor Falcon, an intermediate-ranked beast and the evolved form of a Steel Falcon. Its body was covered in armor-like feathers that were lightweight yet durable. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite its metallic appearance, its flight remained unhindered. Its steel feathers, constantly worn down in battle, regrew annually, each year becoming tougher than the last. If Qiao Sang had understood what the Steel Armor Falcon said next, she wouldn¡¯t have had the luxury of analyzing its data in her head. Because what it actually meant was: Cancel your contract and return to us. We¡¯ll ensure your safety. "Gang Gang." Gangbao fell silent for a moment before shaking her head. Qiao Sang had no idea what was said, but the moment Gangbao responded with a no, the other Steel Falcons erupted in agitation. Many of them turned angry glares toward her, as if ready to attack at any moment. Hey, hey, hey! This is between you guys, why are you looking at me? I¡¯m just the background character here! Maybe she should just have Lubao use Healing Soundwave to calm them down¡­ "Gang Armor?" As Qiao Sang was lost in thought, the Steel Armor Falcon spoke again. Do you really want to leave with this human? The other Steel Falcons turned their gazes toward Gangbao, awaiting her answer. "Gang." Gangbao glanced at Qiao Sang, then turned back, letting out a soft sigh. Her call was both resigned and firm. She was going to a place called Blue Star. With her beast master. This time, she was here to say goodbye. As soon as she spoke, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. From a panoramic view, the small Steel Falcon, standing in the spotlight of countless eyes, suddenly began to glow white. Chapter 605: Steel Guardian Falcon Chapter 605: Steel Guardian FalconThe scene fell silent in an instant. All the little Steel Falcons stared blankly at Gangbao. Qiao Sang gazed at the mysterious white light appearing on Gangbao''s body, her thoughts frozen, stunned for a long moment. The Light of Evolution? How was it that one second they were just chatting, and the next second, she evolved? According to the data in the Beast Codex, there should have been about ten days left¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something, snapped back to reality, and quickly entered the Beast Master Codex, flipping to Gangbao¡¯s page. But the moment she saw the Codex, she was stunned. Before she even made a move, the book was already glowing intensely with white light, automatically turning to Gangbao¡¯s page. To be honest, this was the first time she had entered the Codex while a pet was evolving¡­ So this is what happens when a pet evolves¡­ Qiao Sang composed herself and looked at the data. Her expression abruptly changed to one of shock. A new name had appeared in the evolution data, an evolution path she had never heard of. The first line displayed the familiar name: [Steel Armor Falcon] But below it, a second name appeared: [Steel Guardian Falcon] And at this moment, the Steel Guardian Falcon text was significantly brighter than Steel Armor Falcon. Qiao Sang: ?!! Steel Guardian Falcon?! Was this an alternative evolution path for Steel Falcons?! Why had she never seen any mention of this when researching the evolution chain online?! Her brain overheated for 0.03 seconds before she remembered her purpose. She swiftly maxed out Gangbao¡¯s level to 1000 in the Codex. She hadn¡¯t forgotten, the maximum level data ensured that a pet¡¯s energy reached its full potential for the current stage, making evolution even more complete. The moment she increased the level to 1000, the text Steel Guardian Falcon lit up blindingly, nearly dazzling Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes. She instinctively exited the Codex. Not far away, the white light around Gangbao faded, revealing a completely transformed appearance. Now one meter tall, her entire body was covered in metallic purple feathers, her lower jaw bore sharp fangs, and the white markings around her eyes resembled a mask. The feathers at the tips of her wings were blade-like, giving it a drastically different appearance from a Steel Armor Falcon. Qiao Sang stared blankly at the transformed Gangbao. She had clearly seen the words Steel Guardian Falcon in the Codex and understood that Gangbao¡¯s evolution had diverged from the usual Steel Armor Falcon path. So, while she was briefly stunned, she managed to keep her composure. The other little Steel Falcons, however, were completely different. Their eyes were wide open, their beaks gaped so much an egg could fit inside, and they stared at Gangbao in disbelief, completely losing their usual intelligence. "Gang?!" "Gang?!?!" "Gang!!!" After a few seconds, all the little Steel Falcons flapped their wings in a frenzy, clearly bewildered. They couldn¡¯t understand why this contracted Steel Falcon had evolved into something so different from their usual evolution. "Gang Armor?!" The Steel Armor Falcon looked completely stunned, but it was the first to recover. It flew up to Gangbao, circling around and inspecting it curiously. "Gang Guardian?" Gangbao felt a little confused under the intense scrutiny. Wasn¡¯t it just an evolution? Why such a big reaction? She called out, puzzled, but then- She froze. "Gang... Guardian?" "Gang Guardian?!" Gangbao hesitantly called out again and then looked shocked. Why did her voice sound different from the rest of the species?! "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure didn¡¯t understand the seriousness of the situation. He assumed that the issue was just a change in voice, after all, when he evolved, his own voice had startled him as well. ¡­Your situations are completely different. Qiao Sang silently glanced at Little Treasure. Soon, all the little Steel Falcons gathered around Gangbao, curious and excited. Qiao Sang, still sitting on Yabao¡¯s back, watched the scene unfold. She was now a Beast Master with four contracted pets. Even though she couldn¡¯t understand their exact words, she could guess their emotions from their expressions and movements. Clearly, the little Steel Falcons were confused about Gangbao¡¯s evolution form. She instinctively started analyzing the situation. She distinctly remembered researching Gang Bao¡¯s evolution online, there had only been one intermediate form: Steel Armor Falcon. There was no mention of a Steel Guardian Falcon anywhere. Given the internet¡¯s vast information network, even rare evolutionary paths should have some traceable data¡­ Thinking along these lines, Qiao Sang suddenly recalled Yabao¡¯s evolution from Fire Fang Dog to Flame Hound. Since Yabao was native to the Yuhua Region, she was familiar with his entire evolution chain and knew that Flame Hound was a completely new evolution form. But with Gangbao, she wasn¡¯t sure. All her knowledge about the species came from online sources, and there was always a possibility of missing information. Yet the reaction of these little Steel Falcons was identical to her reaction when Yabao evolved. Could it be¡­ Steel Guardian Falcon is actually a brand-new evolution path? The thought made her heart race. Before evolving, Gangbao had said something that deeply moved her. If she connected all the clues together, it seemed like¡­ this was Bond Evolution. Bond Evolution¡­ Or was she just overthinking it? After all, Gangbao was always rational and viewed her as a good person but never seemed like a pet that would develop a deep emotional bond¡­ Her thoughts were getting tangled. "Gang Guardian?" Gangbao¡¯s voice snapped her back to reality. She looked up and saw all the little Steel Falcons staring at her. But unlike before, their gazes were no longer aggressive, only curious and observant. "Gang Guardian." Gangbao called out again, indicating they could leave now. Qiao Sang was taken aback and whispered, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡± "Gang Guardian." Gangbao smiled and nodded. "Then I¡¯m leaving." Qiao Sang tested the waters, still watching the little Steel Falcons warily. "Gang Guardian." Gangbao nodded again. "I¡¯m really leaving?" Qiao Sang confirmed. "Gang Armor." Before Gang Bao could answer, the Steel Armor Falcon pointed its wing towards the southwest and called out. ¡­Was it giving her directions?! Qiao Sang was a little overwhelmed, hesitating. ¡°You mean I should leave that way?¡± "Gang Armor." The Steel Armor Falcon nodded. Qiao Sang looked towards the direction it indicated. At that very moment, the little Steel Falcons in the southwest moved aside, creating an open path. ¡­What the hell did you just say to them?! Qiao Sang shot Gangbao a shocked look. "Gang Guardian." Gangbao, understanding her expression, chuckled. It¡¯s nothing. They just realized you¡¯re a good person. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang: ??? Just like that? You told them, and they believed it?! So being a good person was a literal passcode in Steel Falcon society? Just moments ago, they hadn¡¯t listened to a word Gangbao said and had even attacked her- Yet now, they changed their minds after seeing her evolution? ¡­If they recognized this as Bond Evolution, it all made sense. Qiao Sang took a deep breath, suppressing her thoughts, and thanked the Steel Armor Falcon before riding Yabao toward the southwest exit. As they left, Gangbao took one last deep look at her kin before flapping her wings and following Qiao Sang. "Gang Armor!" The moment they disappeared, the Steel Armor Falcon flew to the center of the flock, calling out in high spirits. "Gang!!" "Gang!!" "Gang!!" The little Steel Falcons let out excited cries, then scattered, flying off in different directions. Chapter 606: Unidentifiable Chapter 606: UnidentifiableThe route Steel Armor Falcon pointed out was far from a Awu avenue. Along the way, Qiao Sang encountered numerous wild pet beasts, including some at the General level. Fortunately, Little Treasure had recovered much of his energy. When faced with an unbeatable opponent, he would directly use spatial shift. After about half an hour, they finally made it out of the area. Without spatial shift, what would I have done¡­? Qiao Sang glanced back at the boundary of the pet beast habitat, feeling a sense of lingering fear. She quickly thought of something, waved her hand, and recalled Lubao into the Beast master Codex. "Xun xun..." Little Treasure, realizing he no longer needed to multitask by using psychic power to control Lubao in the air, instantly had hos eyes return to their original color. He flopped down onto Yabao¡¯s back, exhausted. Suddenly, he caught sight of Gangbao, who had evolved and grown to about one meter in size. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure''s eyes lit up instantly. He floated up and plopped down onto Gangbao¡¯s back. "Gang Guard." Feeling the movement on her back, Gangbao thoughtfully slowed down, trying to fly more smoothly. "Xun xun..." However, after just thirty seconds, Little Treasure silently got up and floated back to Yabao¡¯s back. Yabao was still the most comfortable to lie on. Old Four was too hard... Gangbao: ... Qiao Sang was unaware of the little scene happening beside her. At this moment, she was checking her phone. After confirming that her route matched the navigation destination, she searched Steel Guard Falcon online. The page loaded, but the results showed information about the Steel Armor Falcon instead. Qiao Sang pondered for a moment and then searched, "How many evolution forms does Little Steel Falcon have?" She quickly found the answer. [One: Steel-Armored Falcon.] Qiao Sang scrolled down and double-checked several times before finally confirming, Gangbao¡¯s current evolution form, Steel Guard Falcon, was an entirely new evolutionary form. Could it be that I¡¯m the legendary chosen one? First, Yabao evolved into a brand-new form, and now there''s Gangbao... Qiao Sang felt slightly dazed. At that moment, her phone vibrated. Incoming call: Tang Yi. Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and answered. Before she could speak, Tang Yi¡¯s voice blared through the speaker: "You finally picked up! I tried calling you so many times, but you wouldn¡¯t answer!" "Maybe the signal was bad where I was earlier." Qiao Sang replied. "Forget that for now." Tang Yi asked, "Have you reached 106 Awu Avenue yet?" "No." Qiao Sang was slightly surprised by the question. "Aren¡¯t you there yet?" That shouldn¡¯t be the case. She had spent over an hour in the pet beast habitat. Given Paralulu¡¯s speed, Tang Yi should¡¯ve arrived long ago. Could it be that he also ran into trouble and got delayed? Tang Yi had been itching to complain about his ordeal. Now that Qiao Sang asked, he wasted no time venting: "You have no idea! I ran into a flock of Gray-Painted Sparrows! Do you know what those are? Advanced-level pet beasts! I got attacked by a whole flock of advanced-level pet beasts!" "If Ms. Ai Lun hadn¡¯t been following behind me, I¡¯d have been skinned alive just trying to escape!" Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds, then said, "That¡¯s¡­ pretty unlucky." "Tell me about it!" Tang Yi agreed wholeheartedly. "Ms. Ai Lun said Gray-Painted Sparrows don¡¯t usually attack people without reason. But today, they came at me the moment they saw me. I didn¡¯t even do anything!" He sounded a little aggrieved toward the end. Qiao Sang silently glanced at Little Treasure. Taking the same route, she couldn¡¯t, in good conscience, tell Tang Yi he had encountered a different flock of Gray-Painted Sparrows. After all, high-level pet beasts didn¡¯t appear in flocks that easily. Seeing Qiao Sang go quiet, Tang Yi suddenly thought of something and asked, "Did something happen to you on the way? Why aren¡¯t you there yet? I thought you¡¯d be the first to arrive." Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before saying, "I also ran into a flock of Gray-Painted Sparrows." "What a coincidence!" Tang Yi was shocked. "Is this route just swarming with Gray-Painted Sparrows?!" Not a coincidence. We encountered the same flock¡­ Qiao Sang coughed and changed the subject. "Did you call just to check if I had arrived?" "No." Remembering the main reason for his call, Tang Yi said, "Ms. Ai Lun announced that this lesson is over. Students who haven¡¯t reached 106 Awu Avenue yet won¡¯t be considered for the top three spots. We can ask for help to get there now. The message was sent in the group chat, but you didn¡¯t respond, so I called to let you know." My points¡­ Although she had expected this outcome, Qiao Sang still felt an inevitable pang of pain. "I got it." She replied, then hung up. --- Following the navigation, Qiao Sang finally encountered other people on the road. Initially, she was worried that Gangbao¡¯s new evolution form would attract too much attention, just like when Yabao evolved into the Flame Hound. But she soon realized she was mistaken. The passersby only took a quick glance at Gangbao before looking away, as if afraid to stare for too long. Without giving it much thought, she continued toward her destination and soon arrived at 106 Awu Avenue. A group of people came into view, it was her classmates from Senior Class 6. She realized that everyone else had already arrived. So I¡¯m the last one¡­ Qiao Sang dismounted from Yabao. Her classmates gave her strange looks. They hadn¡¯t expected her not only to not be the first to arrive but to actually be the last. Given her reputation, this speed seemed uncharacteristically slow. "Qiao Sang, you¡¯re finally here!" Tang Yi hurried over. But the next second, he stopped in his tracks, staring at the unfamiliar pet beast beside her. "Why does it feel like this wild pet beast has been following you?" He asked in a low voice. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What wild pet beast?" Qiao Sang laughed. "This is my Little Steel Falcon. She just evolved." "What? Evolution?!" Tang Yi¡¯s voice shot up. "It¡¯s only been an hour, and your Little Steel Falcon already evolved? That¡¯s way too fast! Didn¡¯t you just contract it recently?!" "Gang Guard." Gangbao gave him a mildly disdainful look. Such a fuss over nothing. "When I contracted it, it was already close to evolving." Qiao Sang said with a smile. Tang Yi muttered, "I almost forgot you contracted a wild pet beast¡­" Hearing their conversation, the other students couldn¡¯t help but laugh. If Tang Yi had been paying attention, he would have noticed, it was the kind of laugh one gives to a fool. "Do you believe everything Qiao Sang says?" Yuna stepped forward, voicing the class¡¯s doubts. "Little Steel Falcon¡¯s evolution form is Steel Armor Falcon. It doesn¡¯t look like that." Tang Yi froze and turned to Qiao Sang. "You tricked me?!" Qiao Sang rolled her eyes. Without a word, she recalled Gangbao into the Beast master Codex, then summoned it again with a seal. Seeing this, the students¡¯ faces stiffened, expressions shifting between shock and disbelief. "Why would I trick you?" Qiao Sang said. Tang Yi felt a bit embarrassed and turned to Youna with a glare. "You tricked me!" Yuna ignored him, her face stiff and dazed. "But¡­ but Little Steel Falcon only has one evolution form, Steel Armor Falcon!" Just then, their pet identifiers beeped in unison- "Unidentifiable. Please scan again." "Current pet beast not found in the database. Please update and retry." Chapter 607: I Have Questions to Ask Chapter 607: I Have Questions to AskAbove the clouds, on a private airship heading to the 3rd District, the people in the cabin had been chatting noisily around Qiao Sang for nearly two hours before finally quieting down. Qiao Sang, covered with a thin blanket, had no intention of sleeping. Anyone who had just evolved their pet beast into a brand-new form would probably be too excited to sleep for a long time. Beside her, Tang Yi suddenly sighed. "Last time we talked about bond evolution, and I didn¡¯t expect your Steel Falcon to actually undergo bond evolution." Qiao Sang sighed sincerely, "I didn¡¯t expect it either." She really hadn¡¯t. Not only was she unsure whether her pet beast even had the potential for bond evolution, but even if they did, achieving bond evolution was no easy feat, especially since Gangbao belonged to the group of highly intelligent pet beasts. Tang Yi glanced at Qiao Sang with a melancholic look. "I want to undergo bond evolution too." Qiao Sang laughed. "Isn¡¯t your Paraleo a result of bond evolution?" Tang Yi sighed. "Precisely because I¡¯ve seen how beneficial bond evolution is in battles, I want to see if my Water Lion can undergo bond evolution too." "What benefits?" Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. She knew a bit about bond evolution, but she definitely didn¡¯t understand it better than Tang Yi. Tang Yi thought for a moment and said: "It¡¯s a very strange feeling. In battle, your thoughts synchronize, you don¡¯t even need to command, and your pet beast instinctively understands your intent. It feels like you¡¯re the one fighting instead." Qiao Sang pondered for a moment. "But I remember you giving commands when we battled before." Tang Yi looked embarrassed. "It was Paraleo¡¯s first evolution back then. I wasn¡¯t prepared at all. Besides, I was so used to giving commands that standing still and just watching felt really weird." Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, he became serious. "But now, I¡¯ve developed perfect synergy with Paraleo. Want to battle me again?" "After the college entrance exams." Qiao Sang replied, not rejecting him outright. Tang Yi¡¯s eyes lit up, and his mood instantly lifted. After chatting a bit more, Qiao Sang closed her eyes and entered the Beast master Codex. The pages flipped until she found the entry on Gangbao. Name: Steel Guardian Falcon (Gangbao) Attributes: Steel, Flying Level: Intermediate (1001/10000) + Traits: 1. Mirror Armor (A-tier, 26/10000) ¨C Reflects debuffs and ability-reducing moves back to the opponent. 2. Hard Skull (D-tier, 11/500) ¨C Negates recoil damage from its own moves. 3. Sharpness (C-tier, 788/1000) ¨C Boosts the power of cutting-type moves by 50%. Skills: Iron Defense (Proficient, 1179/2000) +, Trickery (Mastered, 334/500) +, Steel Wing (Proficient, 567/2000) +, Air Blade (Mastered, 338/500) +, Peck (Mastered, 278/500) +, Air Absorption (Mastered, 109/500) +, Metal Claw (Beginner, 1/100) +, Metal Sound (Beginner, 1/100) +, Wing Blade (Beginner, 1/100) + Qiao Sang looked further down. Gangbao''s traits remained unchanged, but she had gained three new skills. Metal Claw and Metal Sound were common mid-tier Steel-type skills. The former involved slashing enemies with steel-like claws, while the latter emitted a metallic screech that significantly lowered the opponent¡¯s special defense. As for Wing Blade¡­ Qiao Sang thought hard before recalling this move. It wasn¡¯t that she was bad at memorizing skills, it just wasn¡¯t a commonly used ability. Unless, like Gangbao, a pet beast evolved with it, most Beast masters wouldn¡¯t actively train this skill. Not because it was weak, on the contrary, it was classified as a high-tier skill by the league. The issue was that at low mastery levels, it wasn¡¯t very effective, unlike high-tier moves like Meteor Rain or Hellfire, which looked impressive even at entry-level. Moreover, Wing Blade had many mid-tier alternatives, such as Steel Wing or Air Blade. High-tier skills also took an eternity to master. Many pet beasts learned high-tier skills but remained stuck at beginner or proficient levels for their entire lives, so most Beast masters didn¡¯t bother wasting time on them. However, professional Beast masters often trained their pet beasts in Wing Blade because, at advanced mastery levels, it became incredibly powerful. Unlike Steel Wing, which required movement for a close-range attack, or Air Blade, which was purely long-range and could miss, Wing Blade was versatile. It allowed the user to pluck and use its own feathers as blades, which could then be reattached like a sword returning to its sheath. At the Ultimate level, all of a pet beast¡¯s feathers could be unsheathed at once, visually resembling a storm of a thousand blades. However, no one had ever seen the full Ultimate-level version of Wing Blade in competitions, probably because it made pet beasts look aesthetically unpleasing. Qiao Sang imagined the scene. If she ever entered the Interstellar Cup¡­ Her opponent would send out a majestic, imposing, high-ranking pet beast. She would send out Gangbao, dramatically wave her hand, and command in front of a live galactic broadcast: "Wing Blade!" Gangbao would shudder, her feathers scattering everywhere, leaving her completely bald. Even if she won, wouldn¡¯t people still laugh at her¡­? --- 3rd District - Sainan High School The airship landed smoothly in an empty space behind the school. As the group disembarked, Ai Lun, looking slightly fatigued, said, "The results will be announced in two days. It¡¯s late, go rest." Then, she turned to Qiao Sang with a smile. "Come with me for a moment." Looks like this is about Gangbao¡­ Qiao Sang, holding the now-miniaturized Yabao, followed behind Ai Lun. "Where are we going?" She asked after walking for a minute in silence. "I reported your Steel Falcon¡¯s evolution to the school board. The directors want to see you now." Ai Lun said with a forced smile. She had mixed feelings toward Qiao Sang, especially after seeing the footage recorded by the Eerie Eye. Qiao Sang, unaware of Ai Lun¡¯s inner turmoil, let her thoughts drift. School board members decided point allocations¡­ Evolution to the intermediate level already earned 20 points, and Gangbao had evolved into a brand-new form. Could she earn even more points? The thought made her steps lighter. After about ten minutes, they arrived at an office in a school building. Qiao Sang recognized it, it was where she had undergone her brain domain reevaluation. Ai Lun knocked and entered. Inside were the school¡¯s senior officials, some of whom Qiao Sang had met before, though it seemed there were more of them this time. As soon as they saw her, their discussions stopped, and they stared intently. The middle-aged man at the head of the group, exhaustion in his eyes, suddenly perked up and leaned forward excitedly. "Your teacher said your Steel Falcon evolved into a new form?" Ai Lun wanted to respond, but seeing all the directors focused solely on Qiao Sang, she silently stepped aside. So eager? Looks like I really have a shot at earning more points¡­ Qiao Sang felt a surge of joy but remained outwardly composed. She nodded calmly. "Summon it for us to see!" A blond man urged. Under their eager gazes, Qiao Sang formed a seal and summoned Gangbao. "Gang Guardian." Gangbao, seeing the unfamiliar people staring at her, showed no reaction, almost as if she had expected this. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A completely new evolution!" "My god, I never imagined the Steel Falcon had another evolutionary path!" "This form looks more aggressive than the Steel Armor Falcon." The senior officials couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, standing up to examine Gangbao closely. Their enthusiasm was even greater than when they had learned Qiao Sang¡¯s brain domain was 39%. After all, Qiao Sang was from Blue Star, she would eventually leave. But Steel Falcons were native to Chaosu Star. A new pet beast evolution was huge news. If word got out, it would dominate trending topics instantly! The school principal asked seriously, "How did it evolve? Can you describe the process in detail?" Qiao Sang explained without hesitation, knowing the Eerie Eye had likely recorded everything anyway. The principal listened carefully and pondered. "So you believe this was a bond evolution?" "I think it¡¯s very likely." Qiao Sang replied cautiously. The principal nodded. "We¡¯ll verify it in tomorrow¡¯s battle." Then, Qiao Sang coughed. "Actually, I have a question." All eyes turned to her. "If my Steel Falcon evolved into a new form, does that mean I get extra points?" Silence. The principal chuckled. "You want points, are you eyeing something specific?" "Yes." Qiao Sang admitted. "I want the Dream Enlightenment Stone." Everyone looked shocked. That item cost 1000 points. No student had ever redeemed it. After a pause, they glanced at her pet beasts and suddenly understood. For Qiao Sang, possessing two unique pet beast evolutions, the Dream Enlightenment Stone wasn¡¯t useless at all. The principal deliberated. "I understand. But since it¡¯s school property, I can¡¯t decide alone. I¡¯ll discuss it with the board and give you an answer by tomorrow." Hearing those words, Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. What¡¯s going on? She wondered. I was asking about points, so why do they need to discuss the Dream Enlightenment Stone with the board members? Are they afraid I''ll redeem it and leave? --- With a sense of unease, Qiao Sang returned to her dormitory. As soon as she stepped in, a thought struck her. She turned to look at Gangbao and said seriously, "You must focus on practicing Iron Wall from now on!" "Gang Guard." Gangbao had been listening to the conversation in the office just now and understood what her beast master was worried about. She found her concern amusing and nodded, indicating that she understood. "Xun Xun?" Little Treasure suddenly materialized, raising a paw and giving Gangbao a firm pat before turning his head to look at his beast master with a face full of curiosity. Did that hurt? With that level of force? Forget pain synchronization, even if you smacked me directly, it wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­ Qiao Sang inwardly ridiculed but kept a gentle smile on her face as she explained, "You only feel the pain synchronization during battles." "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure nodded, looking as if he had learned something new. "Yap Yap¡­" Yabao looked up, a worried expression on his face. Qiao Sang was touched and said, "It''ll only be in the early stages. Later on, I won¡¯t feel anything." "Yap Yap¡­" Yabao took in her words, but he still couldn¡¯t help feeling a little worried. If anyone dares to say that fire-type pet beasts are hot-tempered again, I¡¯ll be the first to disagree¡­ A warm feeling spread through Qiao Sang¡¯s heart. "Yap Yap!" Just then, Yabao seemed to have thought of something. His eyes lit up, his tail wagged wildly, and he let out an excited cry, meaning that he would battle Gangbao every day so Qiao Sang could reach the later stages faster! The corner of Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. "That¡¯s not necessary. A gradual approach is best." "Yap Yap¡­" Yabao''s tail drooped in disappointment. Chapter 608: I Will Not Fail My Mission! Chapter 608: I Will Not Fail My Mission!The next day. Qiao Sang put on her black-and-white uniform dress and left the dormitory. After taking Yabao and the others to their usual spot, she headed to the classroom. Unlike before, many students from other classes had gathered outside. Everyone was talking about the newly evolved form of the Little Steel Falcon. Since the school had a small student body, most people were in the same social circles. By last night, the news had already spread throughout the school. Usually, it was hard for students like them to be uniformly interested in one thing. But when it came to new pet beast evolutions, even the children of prestigious families, who had seen plenty of rare creatures, couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued. Not to mention, the person who now owned this newly evolved pet beast was a student in their very own school. "I heard it evolved through Bond Evolution." "You guys have no idea, I was completely dumbfounded when I heard the news yesterday!" "Bond Evolution? That¡¯s just speculation, right? How could a species like the Steel Falcon possibly undergo Bond Evolution?" Qiao Sang, listening to the chatter, approached the entrance of Class 6, Grade 12, acting as if she knew nothing and was about to walk in. "Qiao Sang!" A slightly familiar voice suddenly called out. The crowd fell silent in an instant. So many people, and they can still spot me¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and turned her head toward the source of the voice. The speaker was Mabel, who had recently accompanied her to 1st District for the team competition. Mabel was naturally shy, and when she realized that everyone had gone silent because of her outburst, her face turned bright red with embarrassment. However, seeing that Qiao Sang had stopped and was looking at her, the desire to see the Steel Falcon¡¯s new form overwhelmed her shyness. "Is it true? Did the Steel Falcon really evolve into a new form?" Mabel¡¯s eyes sparkled as she asked. Everyone turned their attention to Qiao Sang, waiting for her answer. Although the news had spread from Class 6 and some students with connections to the board of directors had confirmed it, they still wanted to hear it directly from the source. "Yes." Qiao Sang replied. Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in excitement. "Can you summon it so we can see?" A nearby female student asked eagerly. Sigh, it¡¯s almost time for class, and with so many people crowding around, summoning her wouldn¡¯t be ideal¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself, hesitating to respond immediately. Just then, as if struck by an idea, Mabel¡¯s eyes lit up. She raised her voice and said, "I¡¯ll pay 2 points! No, 3 points! I¡¯ll pay 3 points if you summon the evolved Steel Falcon and let me touch it!" Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, then broke into an unusually bright smile. She grabbed Mabel¡¯s hand and started pulling her toward a less crowded area. "You said it, 3 points. I¡¯ll find a place to summon it for you right now." Seeing this, the crowd seemed to catch on. A second ago, they were just excited. Now, the excitement reached a new level. "I¡¯ll pay 3 points too!" "Count me in! I¡¯ll also pay 3 points!" "Let me touch it first! I¡¯ll pay 4 points!" "Stop randomly inflating the price! 5 points! Let me be the first!" "Alright, alright! Don¡¯t rush! One at a time, everyone will get a turn!" Qiao Sang said enthusiastically, her face practically glowing with joy. She hadn¡¯t expected such a wonderful surprise so early in the morning, a line of people eager to hand her points! With this many students, even if the school only awarded the standard 20 points for evolving a beginner pet beast into an intermediate one, she would easily reach her 1,000-point goal! --- By the end of the second period, Qiao Sang checked her school app and saw her balance: 1,121 points. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She couldn''t stop smiling. I made it! Not only did I reach 1,000 points, but I even have an extra 121! Under normal circumstances, earning those extra 121 points would have required her to rank first in the class 12 times on exams. In reality, forget 12 times, she couldn¡¯t even do it once. But now, in just one morning, she had earned 324 points! Among the three goals she had written down last month, evolving Gangbao within a month, scoring 300 on the monthly exam, and reaching 1,000 points before graduation, she had already surpassed two! (The second goal had been missed due to her trip to 25th District for the Central Hollow University¡¯s special admissions.) Taking a deep breath to suppress her excitement, Qiao Sang opened the points exchange section, eager to redeem the Dream Enlightenment Stone she had coveted for so long. But the moment she scrolled through the exchange list, her smile froze. Where¡¯s the Dream Enlightenment Stone?! The item that requires 1,000 points to redeem, where did it go?! Stay calm. Maybe the items are sorted differently¡­ Qiao Sang reassured herself, sorting the list from highest to lowest value and carefully scanning through it. And then- She was completely stunned. It was gone. The Dream Enlightenment Stone had disappeared. Just a minute ago, she had been struggling to contain her laughter. Now, her expression was utterly stiff, unable to accept reality. At that moment, the homeroom teacher appeared at the classroom door and called out, "Qiao Sang, come outside for a moment." Still in shock over the missing Dream Enlightenment Stone, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t respond. "Teacher is calling you." Yuna nudged her. "Oh." Qiao Sang numbly got up and walked out of the classroom in a daze. Mu Deli, the homeroom teacher, looked at her with a broad smile and said, "A researcher from the Flying-Type Pet Beast Research Institute has arrived. They want to see your Steel Falcon." "Oh." Qiao Sang replied flatly, still emotionally drained. Mu Deli noticed that Qiao Sang seemed distracted but didn¡¯t think too much about it. After all, a lot of important people were waiting, and meeting the researchers was the priority. Following Mu Deli, Qiao Sang arrived at a pet beast training facility. Inside, there were no students, only a few middle-aged men and women in formal attire, including the principal of Sainan High School. "This is Qiao Sang." The principal introduced her, a rare smile appearing on his usually stern face. "Hello, I¡¯m Wang Rui from the Flying-Type Pet Beast Research Institute in 3rd District." Said a black-haired, black-eyed man with a typical Dragon Nation appearance. "Hello." Qiao Sang replied, quickly adjusting her expression. In the world of social interactions, no matter how bitter you feel inside, you must wear a smile, unless you¡¯ve reached a status where you no longer need to. Qiao Sang certainly hadn¡¯t reached that level. She was still just a struggling student. "I¡¯m here to see your Steel Falcon¡¯s new form." Wang Rui got straight to the point. "The evolution of any pet beast is significant to the Alliance. The higher-ups want me to understand as soon as possible how your Steel Falcon evolved." "If it underwent Bond Evolution, I¡¯d like you to describe your daily interactions with it. If it didn¡¯t, I hope you can assist us in researching it while you¡¯re in Chaosu Star." No benefits, yet you expect me to cooperate? What are you thinking? When Yabao evolved into Flame Hound, the vice principal offered me a 100,000-a-month internship as a research assistant. Don¡¯t try to fool me with grandiose talk about serving the Alliance¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was inwardly complaining, the principal spoke up, "By the way, after discussing with the board, we¡¯ve decided that the Dream Enlightenment Stone will be delivered to your dormitory after school today as a reward for discovering a new pet beast evolution for the Alliance." Qiao Sang: !!! With righteous determination, she declared, "I will not fail my mission!" Chapter 609: Cant Bear to Look Chapter 609: Can''''t Bear to LookWang Rui was quite satisfied with Qiao Sang¡¯s cooperation and immediately said: "Then summon the new form of your Steel Falcon first." As a senior researcher at the 3rd District¡¯s Flying-type Pet Beast Research Institute, he was used to being superior, and his tone carried an air of authority. However, as soon as he spoke, he noticed the principal beside him glancing at him. Wang Rui immediately remembered that this was Sainan High School, where the elite gathered, and recalled Qiao Sang¡¯s background. Though he wasn¡¯t exactly afraid, he still made an effort to be polite and added, "Every Beast master who first discovers their pet beast¡¯s new form has the right to name it. Have you thought about what to call the new form of your Steel Falcon? After today, I¡¯ll report it for you." As Qiao Sang formed a seal to summon, she said, "I¡¯ve already decided. It¡¯s called Steel Guardian Falcon." "Gang Guardian." Almost as if responding to her, the usually quiet Gangbao, who was summoned but rarely made a sound, called out. "Steel Guardian Falcon, it¡¯s named after its cry, isn¡¯t it?" Wang Rui¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked at the transformed Steel Falcon. He smiled and reached out to touch it carefully. Gangbao''s face was blank. She felt like she was going to be petted bald today¡­ Before, none of these humans had shown so much interest in her¡­ "What are you all standing around for? Take pictures, now!" Wang Rui suddenly remembered something mid-petting and turned to the assistants. You''re the one blocking the way, how are we supposed to take pictures? The assistants dared not speak their frustration aloud. Silently, they picked up their cameras and started capturing the Steel Guardian Falcon from every angle. Realizing he was in the way, Wang Rui stepped aside. After nearly ten minutes of shooting, Wang Rui turned to Qiao Sang. "Next, we need to conduct a battle to confirm whether the Steel Guardian Falcon has truly undergone Bond Evolution. Just fight as you normally would. If you feel any pain when the Steel Guardian Falcon is injured, let us know immediately." "Got it!" Qiao Sang, in high spirits, responded enthusiastically. She had returned too late last night to test Gangbao''s new skills. This battle would be the perfect chance to try them out. Moreover, there was a high probability that Gangbao had indeed undergone Bond Evolution. She wanted to see if a Bond-Evolved pet beast truly fought as amazingly as people online claimed¡­ "Bernice, you go." Wang Rui gestured toward a blonde woman nearby. Before coming, the research institute had received reports that the Steel Falcon might have undergone Bond Evolution. Since Bond Evolution could cause the Beast master to experience pain, they had pre-selected a suitable opponent for the test. Bernice owned a Water Foam Crab, which had only recently evolved into an Intermediate pet beast, making it an ideal match. Bernice stepped forward and, without a word, formed a seal. A gray star formation lit up, and soon, a deep-blue, 80-centimeter-long crab-like beast with two protrusions on its head and six limbs appeared within the formation. Nearby, the assistants adjusted their cameras, ready to record the entire battle. "Come to think of it, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen one of our interstellar exchange students battle." The principal remarked as he found a seat, watching the field with interest. Interstellar exchange students were usually in their senior year of high school, unfamiliar with most students, and had few chances to battle. In fact, even among the school¡¯s native students, few battles ever took place under the principal¡¯s watch. Mu Deli silently ridiculed him in her mind but outwardly agreed, "I¡¯m also seeing Qiao Sang battle for the first time." As they spoke, the match had already begun. "Water Gun!" Bernice commanded. Qiao Sang looked puzzled. It had been a long time since she had faced a Beast master who issued an attack command right at the start of battle¡­ The Water Foam Crab raised its right claw, and a straight stream of water shot forward. The speed wasn¡¯t particularly fast. For Gangbao, who was used to battling Yabao and the others, it even seemed slow. With this speed and power, there was no need to dodge. She could just use Steel Wing to slice through it¡­ As the thought formed in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind- Gangbao''s wings crossed in front of it, transforming into two purple blades that instantly cut through the Water Gun. Water splashed onto the ground. Just as I thought. This is a perfect chance to attack, might as well test out Wing Blade¡­ Qiao Sang had the thought and was about to issue a command. But before she could, Gangbao''s wings pulled back as if they were arms. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two glowing purple feathers were swiftly plucked out, resembling blades. In the next instant, Steel Bao gripped the Wing Blades and transformed into a streak of purple light, dashing toward its opponent. Whoosh! Her blurred figure flashed, and a purple blade light sliced across the Water Foam Crab. Bernice had only just managed to shout, "Dodge!" in a panic. "Water Foam!" The Water Foam Crab let out a pained cry and collapsed with its eyes shut. Qiao Sang stared at the fallen opponent, dazed for a few seconds. Was the other side even taking this seriously? Was it already over? The field fell into silence. From his seat, the principal¡¯s eyes lit up. "I didn¡¯t expect this newly evolved Intermediate pet beast to have already mastered a high-level skill like Wing Blade!" It was impossible for a beginner pet beast to learn high-level skills, so he hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility. Mu Deli lowered her voice and said skeptically, "Are the research institute¡¯s people too weak? Their command speed can¡¯t even keep up with the battlefield." The principal thought for a moment and responded, "Their researchers spend all day in the lab, so their combat skills are generally lacking. They probably assumed that since Qiao Sang¡¯s Steel Falcon had just evolved, it wouldn¡¯t know high-level skills like Wing Blade." "Plus, Qiao Sang was the senior-year champion of Blue Star¡¯s Dragon Nation before becoming an exchange student here. Even if she only bonded with the Steel Falcon after arriving on Chaosu Star, it was never going to be weak." "If the Steel Falcon is indeed Bond-Evolved, its battle coordination is bound to be much stronger than the research institute¡¯s people." "I think they focused too much on whether she would feel pain and forgot about Qiao Sang¡¯s own strength." "That makes sense." Mu Deli said in realization. Then, in a more understanding tone, she added, "But you can¡¯t really blame them. Normally, no one would expect a newly evolved Intermediate pet beast to have mastered a high-level skill, let alone wield it so proficiently." The principal remained silent, seemingly agreeing. Generally, newly evolved pet beasts gained one or two new skills. If they were low-level, it was easy to grasp them quickly. But for mid- and high-level skills, it usually took several days of training to use them proficiently. Qiao Sang¡¯s case was rare, so it was understandable that the researchers hadn¡¯t accounted for it. Wang Rui, realizing his oversight, coughed and turned to Qiao Sang, "Even though this is a standard battle, our real goal is to determine whether Steel Guardian Falcon underwent Bond Evolution. So you¡­ Can hold back a little." The research institute did have Advanced, General, and even King-tier pet beasts, but they had chosen Intermediate-level ones to avoid harming the Beast master if Bond Evolution was real. They just hadn¡¯t expected the first match to end in an instant¡­ You should have said that earlier! Qiao Sang grumbled internally but outwardly responded seriously, "I understand." "Gang Guardian-" Gangbao quietly reinserted the two glowing purple feathers back into her wings. "Scott, you go." Wang Rui called. Bernice recalled her Water Foam Crab and retreated awkwardly. A middle-aged man with brown hair and blue eyes stepped forward. As he summoned his beast, Qiao Sang gave a subtle warning, "Gangbao, remember our real goal in this battle." Gangbao: ¡­Understood. She couldn''t bear to look anymore. Chapter 610: Sacred Water Essence Chapter 610: Sacred Water EssenceAfter confirming that it was indeed a bond evolution, Qiao Sang spent the next two hours detailing her daily interactions with Gangbao, including how she evolved. The researchers recorded everything. When it was over, Wang Rui stepped forward and shook Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you for cooperating with our research.¡± With a Dream Enlightenment Stone worth 1,000 points as a reward, how could she not cooperate? Qiao Sang smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do.¡± --- 7:00 PM. Sainan High School. Dormitory Area 1. Room 502. Qiao Sang sat on the living room sofa, reading a book, occasionally glancing toward the door. Knock, knock! Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. She jumped up and opened the door at the fastest speed of her life. ¡°Shen Shen.¡± Gentle Bear stood at the door, politely calling out before handing over a square blue box. ¡°Thank you!¡± Qiao Sang excitedly took the box. ¡°Shen Shen.¡± Gentle Bear called out again before leaving. Qiao Sang shut the door, sat back on the sofa, and eagerly placed the box on the coffee table in front of her. She quickly opened it. Inside was a hexagonal, double-conical purplish-red crystal. This was the Dream Enlightenment Stone worth 1,000 points... Qiao Sang carefully picked it up and examined it closely. To put it in perspective, 1 point could be exchanged for resources worth 100,000 Alliance Coins, meaning 1,000 points equaled 100 million Alliance Coins in value! But that wasn¡¯t even the most important part. While resources of equivalent value could sometimes be bought on the market, the items available for point exchange at Sainan High School were often exclusive, impossible to obtain elsewhere. The Dream Enlightenment Stone was one such item. So in reality, this Dream Enlightenment Stone was worth far more than 100 million Alliance Coins! And just like that, it had been given to her! For a moment, Qiao Sang was overwhelmed with emotion. Sainan High School truly lived up to its reputation as a prestigious school, so generous! ¡°Xun Xun~¡± At that moment, Little Treasure floated over, curiously eyeing the crystal in Qiao Sang¡¯s hands. ¡°Is it pretty?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded while reaching out a paw to touch it. The crystal wasn¡¯t cold at all, instead, it felt warm to the touch. Little Treasure blinked in surprise, then looked at his Beast Master expectantly. ¡°No.¡± Before he could even ask, Qiao Sang already knew what he was thinking and immediately refused. ¡°Xun Xun...¡± Little Treasure looked disappointed. Qiao Sang carefully placed the Dream Enlightenment Stone back in the box and handed it to Little Treasure, speaking seriously: ¡°This item may determine Yabao¡¯s evolution path in the future. You must store it safely in your ring.¡± She hadn¡¯t forgotten the note¡¯s instructions: Dream Enlightenment Stones were one-time use and required a pet beast with a Dream Projection skill to activate. Now, she had the stone, but she didn¡¯t yet have a pet beast with Dream Projection. This wasn¡¯t the right time to use it. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Hearing this, Little Treasure immediately put on a serious expression. He took the box with both paws, removed his ring, and carefully placed the box inside, selecting the perfect spot for safekeeping. Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt reassured and returned to her room. Little Treasure might be unreliable at times, but when it came to important matters, he was trustworthy. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, turned on her computer, and logged into Sainan High School¡¯s website. The moment she opened the Points Exchange section, she felt a surge of excitement. Originally, she had been saving her points for the Dream Enlightenment Stone, thinking that reaching 1,000 points before graduation was the ultimate goal. But now, the school had generously gifted her one. Which meant: She still had 1,121 unused points! S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If she didn¡¯t spend them now, when would she? Excited, Qiao Sang browsed the available items in the exchange section. She had already taken a liking to several items before, but since she had been solely focused on the Dream Enlightenment Stone, she hadn¡¯t given them much thought. Now, it was time to shop. She quickly found the items she had previously considered. --- [Item: Focus Monocle] Function: When worn by a pet beast, it can directly lock onto an opponent¡¯s weak points. Notes: The size is fixed and only fits small pet beasts with heads around 20 cm in diameter. Crafted by Master Zhu Hong, guaranteeing high quality. Points: 60 --- [Item: Pure Sweet Essence] Function: Extends the duration of any potion or item. Notes: All potions and items have an expiration date, but adding a drop of Pure Sweet Essence extends their lifespan by one year. Only one drop is needed, whether you use one or ten drops, the extension remains the same. Expired items will not be revived by adding Pure Sweet Essence. Each portion contains 10 grams. Points: 100 --- [Item: Sacred Water Essence] Function: Water-type pet beasts can absorb energy faster while immersed in it. Notes: Not for drinking! Do not let water-type pet beasts consume it. Each purchase grants 10 liters, suitable for small water-type pet beasts. If the pet is too large, consider equipping it with a Miniature Size-Reduction Ring before using. Do not mix with other water, or its effects will be lost. Points: 300 --- [Item: Lightweight Miniature Ring] Function: Shrinks oversized pet beasts to their initial form size, making them easier to bring outside. Notes: You can select your preferred color when redeeming. Points: 5 --- [Item: Star Identification Series Limited Edition Pet Beast Identifier] Function: Recognizes all recorded pet beasts across the Star Alliance. Notes: Automatically updates for 10 minutes daily, syncing with the latest interstellar pet beast data. Can record and mimic the voice of any pet beast you choose. Limited edition! Only one available in the exchange- once gone, it¡¯s gone! Points: 100 Seeing that the Pet Beast Identifier cost 100 points, Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment. But then she thought about her 1,121 points and made up her mind. Buy it. Within half a minute, she had spent 565 points. She had chosen these items carefully: Focus Monocle: Perfect for Little Treasure. Pure Sweet Essence: Extremely useful and hard to find on the market. Sacred Water Essence: One of the best energy sources for water-type pet beasts, ideal for Lubao. Lightweight Miniature Ring: While she didn¡¯t have a large pet beast yet, she would eventually need it. Pet Beast Identifier: Exactly what she had been planning to buy, and it was a limited edition. With 556 points left, Qiao Sang was about to check for more useful items. Just then, her phone vibrated. Caller ID: Vice Principal. Qiao Sang paused for a moment before picking up. ¡°Vice Principal?¡± ¡°The research on Fire Fang Dog¡¯s evolution into Flame Dog has made progress!¡± Liu Yao¡¯s excited voice came through the speaker. Chapter 611: A Different Factor Chapter 611: A Different Factor¡°Has there been progress in the research?¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned before asking excitedly, ¡°How far has it advanced?¡± Liu Yao''s voice carried a hint of joy: ¡°We discovered that when a Fire Fang Dog''s energy surpasses the limit of a beginner-level pet and its bond with its Beastmaster reaches an exceptionally high degree, most importantly, when it suppresses its own evolution during its first evolution, it emits an energy fluctuation different from when evolving into a Blaze Hound.¡± So, suppressing its own evolution back then turned out to be a key factor in evolving into a Flame Hound... But this aligns with what I had guessed, except for the suppression part... If I were still on Blue Star, research would probably progress even faster... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but affirm herself mentally. Liu Yao continued, ¡°However, the Fire Fang Dog only displayed an energy fluctuation different from that of evolving into a Blaze Hound, it did not successfully evolve into a Flamehowl Hound. That means there''s still a missing link.¡± ¡°We ruled out the possibility that it was related to exceeding the 10,000 energy limit.¡± ¡°As for its bond with its Beastmaster, that doesn''t seem to be the determining factor either.¡± ¡°The fundamental influence still lies in the act of suppressing evolution.¡± Qiao Sang: ... Oh. So whether I''m involved or not, the research would progress the same way... Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before asking, ¡°So, you still haven¡¯t fully figured it out?¡± ¡°Let me finish.¡± Liu Yao chuckled. ¡°We conducted multiple tests. We selected ten Fire Fang Dogs without Beast masters and had them suppress their evolution during their first evolution, yet their energy fluctuations remained unchanged. Without exception, they all evolved into Blaze Hounds.¡± ¡°Later, we tested another ten groups with Beast masters, all of whom suppressed evolution during their first evolution. Among them, thirteen displayed energy fluctuations different from those evolving into Blaze Hound.¡± ¡°Of course, none of them successfully evolved into Flame Hounds.¡± ¡°The strange thing is, the thirteen Fire Fang Dogs that showed these energy fluctuations did not all have harmonious relationships with their Beastmasters. One of them even had an extremely low bond with its Beastmaster, yet it still exhibited the energy fluctuation.¡± ¡°So, we suspect that a Firefang Dog''s evolution into a Flame Hound is unrelated to bond strength but is definitely influenced by its Beast master.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unrelated to bond strength but still tied to the Beastmaster... How complicated¡­ Are evolution conditions like this even possible? Qiao Sang found herself doubting her own understanding. ¡°After further experiments with dozens more Fire Fang Dogs and their Beast masters, we finally identified a key point.¡± Liu Yao said. ¡°The Fire Fang Dogs that exhibited energy fluctuations all had extreme emotions toward their Beast masters, either deep hatred or absolute trust. These intense emotions seemed to push their energy into an extremely high concentration when suppressing evolution.¡± ¡°And once the energy was suppressed to this degree, the unique evolution fluctuation appeared.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly realized: ¡°So the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s emotions toward its Beast master played a crucial role in its ability to suppress evolution?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Liu Yao laughed, pleased with her conclusion. Then, as if recalling something, his tone grew serious: ¡°But now we have a problem.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°These Fire Fang Dogs still haven¡¯t evolved into Flame Hounds.¡± Liu Yao''s voice turned grave. ¡°I¡¯m certain that evolution into a Flame Hound is closely tied to suppressing evolution, but there still seems to be another missing trigger.¡± ¡°I called you mainly to ask if your Fire Fang Dog had anything different about it at the time. Was there something unique about it compared to the others?¡± Qiao Sang instinctively glanced at Yabao, who was practicing meditation while simultaneously maintaining ten clones. Sensing his Beastmaster¡¯s gaze, Yabao opened his eyes and looked over. Because he had trained himself to split his focus between his clones and main body, he had been listening to both Qiao Sang and the voice on the phone. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao barked excitedly, signaling that he knew what was different. Then, proudly raising his head, he struck a cool pose. The difference? He was exceptionally handsome! Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched at the sight, but she quickly refocused. If there was a difference¡­ There actually was something. Qiao Sang pondered for a few seconds before saying, ¡°When Yabao evolved, he was only a little over three months old. Does that count?¡± A Fire Fang Dog evolving after a year of training was already considered talented. Evolving at just three months was something no ordinary Fire Fang Dog could achieve. The phone suddenly fell silent, and Qiao Sang could vaguely hear Liu Yao¡¯s breath quicken. Then, the call abruptly disconnected. Just as Qiao Sang sat there, bewildered, her phone vibrated again, Liu Yao calling back. She quickly answered, but before she could ask if the signal had cut out, Liu Yao spoke rapidly, excitement evident in his voice: ¡°You¡¯re right! We ruled out so many possibilities but never considered age. Every Fire Fang Dog in our study that met the conditions and was on the verge of evolution was over a year old. If your theory is correct, you are the biggest contributor to this research!¡± Before she could respond, he hung up again, apparently in a hurry to do something important. Qiao Sang: ... It had been a long time since she had seen Vice Principal Liu this excited¡­ She sighed and turned back to browsing the points exchange menu. --- Blue Star. Yuhua Region. Hanggang City, Zhehai Province. Inside a research facility, Liu Yao strode urgently down the hallway and pushed open a heavy white soundproof door. ¡°There¡¯s something we completely overlooked!¡± Liu Yao announced excitedly to the researchers inside. Everyone inside stopped what they were doing and looked at him, including several Fire Fang Dogs. Liu Yao¡¯s eyes burned with intensity as he looked at the crowd. ¡°I just spoke to Qiao Sang, and she provided a perspective we had never considered before.¡± The researchers¡¯ eyes lit up, eager to know more. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°Age!¡± Liu Yao took a deep breath and declared, ¡°Her Firefang Dog evolved when it was only three months old.¡± The lab fell into silence. Seeing their reactions, Liu Yao added, ¡°I can vouch for its age. I saw Qiao Sang¡¯s Fire Fang Dog before it evolved into a Flame Hound, it was indeed only three months old.¡± The researchers exchanged glances. After a few moments of silence, the oldest researcher in the room spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Suppressing evolution is easy. Finding a Fire Fang Dog with extreme emotions toward its Beastmaster isn¡¯t impossible either. But if we add the condition that it must be on the verge of evolution at just three months old¡­ finding such a Fire Fang Dog would be nearly impossible.¡± Liu Yao fell silent. Chapter 612: No One Accepted Chapter 612: No One AcceptedQiao Sang was still unaware that her casual remark had caused the research to reach another deadlock. At this moment, she was continuing to browse the points exchange catalog. [Name: Beast Repelling Sticker] [Function: The sticker emits a scent unbearable to pet beasts, keeping them away within a hundred-meter radius.] [Note 1: Not only wild pet beasts, but your own pet beast will also avoid it.] [Note 2: Beastmasters with a strong sense of smell are not recommended to use this, as they might be affected as well.] [Points: 3] Although the points required weren¡¯t much, this item seemed pretty useless... Qiao Sang moved her gaze downward. [Name: Beast Luring Pellet] [Function: Can attract water-type pet beasts to consume it.] [Note 1: Only effective on water-type pet beasts.] [Note 2: Not recommended for pet beasts that already have an owner, as one of its ingredients, Quietweed, will cause temporary paralysis after ingestion.] [Points: 3] --- [Name: Mechanical Mosquito] [Function: Can move and monitor based on input commands.] [Note 1: A failed product created by a mechanist while attempting to build a mechanical pet beast.] [Note 2: Has a lifespan of only three years.] [Points: 10] A failed mechanical pet beast... Qiao Sang found it somewhat interesting. Apart from fighting against mechanical pet beasts in the National Campus Beast Mastering League and encountering the mechanical referees, she rarely interacted with mechanical pet beasts. Even though this was a failed product, dismantling it might help her understand more about mechanical pet beasts. But soon, she dismissed the idea. Mechanical pet beasts weren¡¯t part of her studies. The deeper knowledge wouldn¡¯t be tested in the college entrance exam, so she shouldn''t waste time on something unrelated to the exam... Qiao Sang continued browsing. When she finished, she realized that several items hadn¡¯t been there during her morning check. It seemed that the catalog updated periodically... Keeping that in mind, she exited the website. Currently, there wasn¡¯t anything she urgently needed in the catalog, so she decided to check back later in case something useful appeared. After all, earning points could be easy or difficult, depending on the situation... Once she left the website, Qiao Sang logged into the Beastmaster Center¡¯s official site and opened the task board to post a request for a pet beast with the Dream Projection skill. Both posting and accepting tasks could be done online, something she had learned after taking on a few tasks herself. However, the Beastmaster Center¡¯s website required a registered Beastmaster ID to log in, meaning regular people couldn¡¯t register. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This also meant that ordinary people couldn''t post tasks there. So, if one wanted to browse a wider variety of tasks, it was better to visit the Beastmaster Center in person. Since Qiao Sang was posting a task, she didn¡¯t bother making a trip there. --- The Next Day. Senior Year, Class 6. During the second break, Qiao Sang was reading as usual. Tang Yi, who was sitting behind her, was scrolling through his phone. Suddenly, he tapped her shoulder excitedly. ¡°Qiao Sang, Little Steel Falcon''s evolution is trending at number three!¡± Qiao Sang turned and glanced at Tang Yi¡¯s screen. Sure enough, #LittleSteelFalconUnexpectedlyBondEvolved was trending as the third topic. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for this to trend?¡± Qiao Sang replied calmly. When Yabao evolved into Flame Hound, he had also trended. Tang Yi nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Any new pet beast evolution would spark discussion, regardless of the planet or region. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Tang Yi glanced at the article and asked, ¡°It says the new evolution form is called Steel Guardian Falcon. Did you come up with that name?¡± It seemed that the researcher, Wang Rui, had already submitted the name quickly... Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tang Yi continued, ¡°Since the species name is already public, don¡¯t you need to go to the Beastmaster Center to update Steel Guardian Falcon¡¯s information?¡± Qiao Sang froze. Oh crap, she had almost forgotten about that... --- 6:15 PM 3rd District, Beastmaster Center Qiao Sang carried Yabao in her arms as she approached Window 13, handing over her ID card and Beast master badge. ¡°I need to update some information.¡± After confirming her identity, the staff member asked, ¡°What information needs updating?¡± ¡°Little Steel Falcon¡¯s species needs to be updated to Steel Guardian Falcon.¡± Qiao Sang explained while forming a hand seal to summon Steel Guardian Falcon. For a moment, silence filled the area around Window 13. Everyone nearby stared at the purple-feathered pet beast with white markings around its eyes, resembling a mask. The bonded evolution of Little Steel Falcon had only just gone viral that day, making it a hot topic of discussion. No one expected the newly evolved Steel Guardian Falcon to suddenly appear before them. Most people were just curious. On Chaosu Star, wild pet beasts were abundant, and most people hadn¡¯t even memorized all known species. A new pet beast evolution wasn¡¯t that different from encountering an unfamiliar wild pet beast. What really surprised them was that a pet beast with Steel Falcon¡¯s known temperament had actually achieved bonded evolution. It was as shocking as reading a novel where a cold-hearted cultivator suddenly turned into a lovestruck fool, something completely unimaginable. The staff snapped out of their daze and quickly resumed their work, updating the information. The Beast master Center in Chaosu Star was too busy. After a few quick snapshots of Steel Guardian Falcon and Qiao Sang, the onlookers returned to their own business. As for those further away, no one even noticed that a pet beast from the day¡¯s trending topic had just been in the hall. --- Over the next few weeks Qiao Sang settled into a routine. She attended classes during the day, and at night, she used Healing Light to refresh herself and studied. Occasionally, she took some time to visit Hekin Tower to participate in the Pet Battle Arena. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she refused to sign a contract with them, but Jude, the manager of Arena District D, was increasingly hostile toward her, always scowling whenever he saw her. However, after she summoned Steel Guardian Falcon in a match, his attitude changed completely, suddenly becoming enthusiastic again. --- Half a month passed. With Lubao (wearing a blue lightweight miniaturized ring) in her backpack and Yabao in her arms, Qiao Sang returned to the Beastmaster Center. The reason? She had been waiting for someone to accept her task for half a month and still, no one had taken it! Second Floor, Task Hall. ¡°I¡¯ve had this task posted for half a month, and no one has accepted it.¡± At Window 27, Qiao Sang complained, ¡°I even spent 100 Alliance Coins to boost its visibility, and still, no one accepted it.¡± Boosting visibility was one of the Beastmaster Center¡¯s money-making tactics. By paying for a boost, the task would be prioritized on the first few pages for a limited time. 10 Alliance Coins bought 1 minute of priority placement. Qiao Sang had already boosted it 10 times. Chapter 613: Advanced Hypnosis Chapter 613: Advanced Hypnosis"Please wait a moment, I''ll check." The staff member said as she began to look into it. A moment later, she looked up and said, "There''s nothing wrong with the task, it''s just that no one has accepted it." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang: ... "Why?" Qiao Sang couldn''t help but ask. The staff member smiled and explained, "Dream Projection isn''t a commonly used skill, and it''s a high-level ability. There might not be many pet beasts that can perform it. Please be patient, someone will eventually accept it." I''ve already been patient for half a month... Qiao Sang sighed and said, "Can you search for beast tamers who have pet beasts capable of Dream Projection and are offering this skill as a task reward? I can take on their task in exchange." Who would use Dream Projection as a reward... The staff member internally complained but maintained a professional smile and said, "One moment, please." She then lowered her head to check the system. After about thirty seconds, she stopped, a look of surprise flashing across her face. She looked up and said, "There''s one. I''ve synchronized it to the external screen. Please take a look." Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up, and she looked down at the screen. [Task: Looking for a pet beast with Hypnosis at least at the Advanced level] [Task Location: Theo Film Base] [Task Reward: Target will perform Hypnosis along with Dream Projection (a necessary combo for certain secret techniques)] [Task Rating: Two-Star] So task rewards can be described like this... But if someone¡¯s already looking for a pet beast with Advanced-level Hypnosis, wouldn''t adding Hypnosis as a reward be redundant? Qiao Sang inwardly complained before pressing the confirmation button in the bottom right corner. No matter what, as long as the reward included what she needed, it was fine. --- One hour later. Theo Film Base. Qiao Sang dialed the number of the task publisher. The call was quickly answered, and a lazy female voice came through the speaker. "Hello?" "Hi, I¡¯m the person who accepted your task. I just contacted you, and I¡¯ve now arrived at Theo Film Base." Earlier, after accepting the task, Qiao Sang had called the publisher to confirm their location. "Wait a moment, a Swift Moth will come to find you. When you see it, say ¡®Sylvia is the Queen of Film,¡¯ and it will lead you to me." The woman instructed. "...Alright." Qiao Sang replied. What does a Swift Moth even look like¡­? Hanging up the call, she immediately searched for information on Swift Moths. Soon, an image of a pale purple moth-like pet beast with bulging, bubble-like eyes appeared on her phone screen. "Yap Yap!" Yabao glanced at the phone screen, then pointed ahead and to the left. It was right there! Qiao Sang followed Yabao''s direction and spotted a pet beast identical to the one in the image, looking around. So fast? Qiao Sang was surprised and walked toward it. As she approached, she repeated the phrase given by the task publisher: "Sylvia is the Queen of Film." The Swift Moth gave her a baffled expression and flitted a meter back, increasing the distance. Qiao Sang: ??? Yabao: ??? Did I mess up the code phrase? No way¡­ Just as she was about to repeat it, "Swift swift." Another Swift Moth flew over from the side and called out. Qiao Sang turned her head to see the newcomer giving her an expression of realization. So there was more than one Swift Moth here¡­ I must have approached the wrong one earlier. Clearing her throat, she addressed the new arrival. "Sylvia is the Queen of Film." The second Swift Moth showed the same baffled expression as the first. Then, the two moths flew off together. Qiao Sang: ¡­ So neither of them were the right one¡­ "Yap¡­" Yabao sighed. After waiting in place for about five minutes, another Swift Moth finally appeared in her view. This time, Qiao Sang was smarter. She didn''t rush over but observed it first. Noticing that this moth''s gaze was fixed on the people entering and exiting the base, she concluded that it must be the right one. Qiao Sang stepped forward and firmly said, "Sylvia is the Queen of Film." "Swift swift!" The Swift Moth''s eyes lit up, and it spun in a circle, signaling that it was indeed the correct one. Qiao Sang couldn''t understand the moth''s speech, but seeing that it didn''t react like the previous two, she knew the code phrase had finally worked. Guided by the Swift Moth, she arrived at a black RV. "Swift swift." The moth called out near the car window, and the door opened. "Come in." The woman¡¯s voice called from inside. Qiao Sang stepped onto the RV and closed the door behind her. Inside, a blonde woman with delicate makeup and a black dress was smoking. The Swift Moth flew to her side. The woman raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qiao Sang, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes. She then twisted her cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it. The person who accepted the task is just a kid? Sylvia examined the girl before her, wearing a school backpack, holding a small pet beast, clearly still underage. Her gaze finally lingered on the pet beast she had never seen before for two seconds before she asked, "You¡¯re the beast tamer who took my task?" Qiao Sang gave a simple "Mhm." "Leave." Sylvia said flatly. "You¡¯re too young." What, now there¡¯s age discrimination? Qiao Sang mentally complained but kept a neutral expression. "I recall your task only requiring a pet beast with Advanced-level Hypnosis. You didn¡¯t specify an age limit." "That was my oversight." Sylvia replied calmly. Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds before saying, "My pet beast has reached the Ultimate level in Hypnosis. If you need a high-proficiency Hypnosis user, I¡¯m undoubtedly the best candidate." Sylvia was momentarily stunned, then fell into deep thought. After about ten seconds, she asked, "Can your pet beast hypnotize someone¡¯s subconscious thoughts?" Uh¡­ Little Treasure''s Hypnosis had only been used in battles and on ants during training, mainly just to put them to sleep. I¡¯ve never tested whether it can extract subconscious thoughts. But since this task requires a pet beast with Advanced-level Hypnosis, it must mean such a beast can do it. If that¡¯s the case, then a pet beast with Ultimate-level Hypnosis should have no problem¡­ Qiao Sang clenched her teeth. "Yes!" "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure, still invisible, scratched his head. Hypnotizing subconscious thoughts¡­? Can I do that? I¡¯ve never tried¡­ Sylvia¡¯s expression relaxed slightly. "I need you to hypnotize a pet beast for me." Huh? What? A pet beast? Not a person? Qiao Sang blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "The task is simple." Sylvia continued. "In a moment, I¡¯ll have a Swift Moth come up here. You¡¯ll perform deep hypnosis on it. As long as its dream content reflects its subconscious thoughts, that¡¯s all that matters. I''ll give you a five-star rating." Chapter 614: You Can Read Now? Chapter 614: You Can Read Now?"I got it." Qiao Sang nodded. Sylvia smiled and said, "Then I''ll-" Before she could finish, Qiao Sang interrupted, "Let me use the restroom first. I''ll be right back." She turned around and reached for the car door. Sylvia was momentarily stunned before saying, "There''s a restroom in my car. You can use it here." Qiao Sang turned back and seriously declined, "No, thanks. It''s a number two, I''m afraid the smell will be too much." Sylvia: ¡­ "I''ll have Swift Moth guide you." Sylvia offered. "No need!" Qiao Sang refused again. "I saw the restroom on the way here. I still remember where it is." With that, she opened the car door and left, afraid Sylvia might say something else. Sylvia watched the girl walk away, her expression turning indifferent. A girl this young couldn¡¯t possibly own a pet beast with an Ultimate-level Hypnosis skill. The one in her arms must be wearing a lightweight miniaturization ring, probably a rich kid who borrowed a family elder''s pet beast to take on a mission for fun. As for taking on her mission? It was probably just an excuse to visit the Theo Film Studio and see some celebrities. Qiao Sang had no idea the mission issuer had overanalyzed things this much. Following her memory, she arrived at the restroom. However, she didn¡¯t go in. Instead, she stood in a quiet spot nearby where few people passed by. "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang turned her head toward the air. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure materialized within her line of sight. "Do you think you can hypnotize someone¡¯s subconscious?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure shook his head honestly. He wasn¡¯t confident, he had never tried before¡­ Figures. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly, then immediately pulled out her phone to search for methods to hypnotize the subconscious. When a pet beast''s skill proficiency reaches a certain level, it can often evolve into more advanced applications. Previously, Qiao Sang had been focused on competitions and her college entrance exams, leaving no time to explore alternative uses for skills. If not for this mission, she probably wouldn¡¯t have thought of having Little Treasure practice subconscious hypnosis at all. Still, she wasn¡¯t entirely clueless about it. A long time ago, she had taken on a mission where the target, Ghost Lamp, had been hypnotized by Little Treasure. The mission issuer had explained that dreams are the activities of the subconscious. When someone is dreaming, their conscious mind is inactive, allowing the subconscious to surface. As she recalled this, the webpage loaded and displayed some related information [To hypnotize someone''s subconscious, the skill proficiency must be high, at least at the Mastered level. Low-proficiency hypnosis is easily detected by the target. If the target has strong mental resistance, the hypnotic dream will be full of flaws, like a paper-thin illusion that shatters instantly.] [However, even if the skill is "Mastered," success isn¡¯t guaranteed. If the energy output isn¡¯t controlled properly, the hypnotist¡¯s subconscious might accidentally seep into the target¡¯s dream.] [Additionally, if the target¡¯s mental strength is too weak, they may become trapped in the dream. Even after waking, they might struggle to distinguish reality from illusion, so precise control is crucial.] "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure floated over, seriously staring at the phone screen as if it could understand. This seems really difficult¡­ Qiao Sang sighed again and closed her phone, deciding not to waste time scrolling further. The difficulty mainly stemmed from the lack of time, after all, the mission issuer was still waiting for her. Theory couldn''t compare to practice. Qiao Sang reached into her pocket and took out two Chan Chan Stones on duty today. From Swift Moth''s profile, she recalled it was a Beginner-level pet beast, same as Chan Chan Stones, so their mental strength should be similar. "Chan Chan?" The two Chan Chan Stones, expecting to start working, looked around but saw no chili peppers. Confused, they turned to Qiao Sang. "I need your help with something." Qiao Sang said. "Let Little Treasure try his hypnosis on you. When you wake up, describe your dream to me. I''ll give you extra food tonight." Time in dreams and reality flows at different speeds. Half a minute should be enough. If they didn¡¯t wake up by then, Little Treasure could use his Tongue Lick skill to wake them. "Chan Chan." The two Chan Chan Stones glanced at each other, then nodded in unison. Extra food? Say no more. Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure and was just about to have him start when- "Lu." At that moment, Lubao finally lost patience and poked her head out of the backpack, expressionless. She let out a short cry, asking: Do we really have to train here? Even though they were outside the restroom, they weren¡¯t that far away. The lingering odor still affected the air around them. Qiao Sang had been too focused on the hypnosis practice to notice before. Now that Lubao pointed it out, she immediately realized, the air here really wasn¡¯t fresh. Without hesitation, she picked up Yabao and left. Seeing this, Lubao was satisfied and retreated back into the backpack. Qiao Sang moved about dozens of meters away before nodding to Little Treasure. "You can start now." "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed purple as he gazed at the two Chan Chan Stones. "Chan Chan¡­" The two Chan Chan Stones willingly met his gaze, and immediately shut their eyes involuntarily. A low-proficiency Hypnosis skill can only target one individual at a time. But once it reaches Ultimate, any mentally weak target who makes eye contact with the hypnotist will fall under its spell. Little Treasure knew this well, he had once knocked out an entire group of ants with hypnosis. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure focused carefully, controlling his energy output. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He remembered, the article had emphasized precise control¡­ Qiao Sang kept track of time. Half a minute passed, but the Chan Chan Stones remained unconscious. She glanced at Little Treasure, who instantly understood her meaning. He floated over and licked each Chan Chan Stone. "Chan Chan¡­" "Chan Chan¡­" The two Chan Chan Stones slowly woke up. Qiao Sang eagerly asked, "How did the dream feel?" "Chan Chan." "Chan Chan." The two Chan Chan Stones recalled their dream and replied: It felt real. Just like usual, Little Treasure had been showing them tragic movies, they hadn¡¯t even realized it was a dream. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure chirped smugly. Of course! He had controlled the energy output perfectly. It made sense that the Chan Chan Stones hadn¡¯t realized they were dreaming. Little Treasure was a High-level pet beast with Ultimate- level Hypnosis, while the Chan Chan Stones were just Beginner-level. There was no way they could resist¡­ Still, Little Treasure had managed the energy output well, they woke up with their minds intact. The only issue? Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t see into their subconscious, she had no way to verify the dream¡¯s content. Wait¡­ Suddenly, something dawned on Qiao Sang. She snapped her head toward Little Treasure, eyes widening in shock. "You can read now?" She distinctly remembered that after closing her phone, she hadn¡¯t told him about managing energy output! "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure froze for a moment, then scratched his head sheepishly. Just a little bit¡­ Chapter 615: Dreams and Reality Chapter 615: Dreams and RealityQiao Sang immediately looked at Little Treasure with admiration. A genius! He had only been learning for a short time, yet he could already recognize words, form sentences, and even understand their meaning! She wondered if there were educational pathways for pet beasts. She felt like Little Treasure could definitely handle more advanced content¡­ "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure shivered inexplicably. Qiao Sang returned to her thoughts, feeling reassured. With how smart Little Treasure was, and having just practiced hypnosis, even though she wasn''t sure if it had worked, the two Chan Chan Stones seemed unaffected. Hypnotizing other pet beasts later shouldn''t be a problem. Even if the task failed, she could just pay the task issuer to perform a Dream Projection herself. She had an unlimited credit card, plus Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, there was no way the issuer wouldn¡¯t be tempted. With this plan in mind, Qiao Sang was about to put the two Chan Chan Stones back into her pocket and head straight to the RV. But just as she moved her hand, something occurred to her. She looked down at the two Chan Chan Stones. "Chan Chan?" The two Chan Chan Stones looked at her in confusion. The next second, Qiao Sang, still holding the Chan Chan Stones, walked into the restroom. She stepped up to the sink, washed the two stones clean, and only then put them in her pocket. That was close, she almost forgot they had just been licked¡­ At that moment, two well-dressed Caucasian women walked out of the stalls while chatting. "I''m planning to request a new Swift Moth. This one is just too dumb. Other than the powder from its wings helping amplify emotions during acting, it¡¯s completely useless." "Forget it. Not every actor here even gets a Swift Moth. You were only assigned one because you¡¯ve had scenes recently. Once your part is done, the Swift Moth will go to someone else." "But I heard the fourth female lead in our crew successfully switched hers just a few days ago." "That¡¯s because-" The two women noticed Qiao Sang and immediately switched to a language she had never heard before. What gossip am I not allowed to hear¡­? Qiao Sang thought to herself but showed no change in expression. She walked out of the restroom and headed toward the task issuer''s RV. Because of what she had overheard, Qiao Sang subconsciously paid more attention and soon spotted several Swift Moths along the way. She noticed that none of them were wearing identity bracelets. So these Swift Moths were all wild pet beasts, probably working here like the Chan Chan Stones. Their wing powder amplified emotions, making them useful for actors¡­ Qiao Sang speculated. Soon, she arrived at the task issuer¡¯s RV. Inside, there was now an additional Swift Moth, looking uneasy as it faced the task issuer. "It''s this one." Sylvia signaled with her eyes before getting straight to the point. Though there were two Swift Moths in the vehicle, their expressions were completely different, making them easy to distinguish. "Now?" Qiao Sang asked. Sylvia nodded. "Now." Hearing this, Qiao Sang nodded toward the empty air beside her. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure immediately materialized in the direction of Qiao Sang¡¯s nod, his eyes glowing purple as he stared at the nervous Swift Moth. The Swift Moth was still focused on the task issuer, completely unaware of what was happening. The next second, its head turned uncontrollably toward Little Treasure. "Xun Xun¡­" Before the Swift Moth could react, it locked eyes with the glowing purple gaze and immediately fell into a deep sleep. "Done." Qiao Sang turned to the task issuer. "Do you need me to step out?" Since the task issuer could offer Dream Projection as a reward, it meant she had a pet beast capable of performing the technique. Many people were particular about privacy when issuing tasks. Some didn''t want the task details shared, while others wouldn''t even disclose any information to the task taker, only instructing them on what to do. The current task issuer was clearly an actress and had not provided any information about the task beforehand. To avoid complications in case the hypnosis failed, and to better negotiate an alternative trade for a Dream Projection, Qiao Sang asked considerately. Otherwise, if the Dream Projection revealed something private, negotiating later might not go smoothly. "Ah¡­" Sylvia snapped out of her thoughts. "What did you say?" As she spoke, she couldn''t help but glance at the two unfamiliar pet beasts. She hadn¡¯t expected another ghost-type pet beast in the RV¡­ And the young girl was holding a psychic-type pet beast¡­ She had clearly seen it use telekinesis earlier, there was no mistake. It was common knowledge that the lightweight miniaturization pet beast shrinking bracelets were only available for beasts over six meters in size. Psychic-type and fairy-type pet beasts generally had smaller bodies compared to other attributes. For other types, reaching six meters typically required reaching General rank at the very least. For a psychic-type pet beast to exceed six meters, it was likely at least General rank¡­ As these thoughts raced through her mind, Sylvia heard the girl repeat, "Do I need to step outside?" "No need, it¡¯s nothing sensitive." Sylvia finally showed a friendly smile. With that, she formed a hand seal. A white star array lit up. A pet beast with a white upper body, pink-blue tentacle-like hair, and an octopus-like lower half appeared. "Look at its dream." Sylvia instructed, pointing at the sleeping Swift Moth. The tentacle-haired pet beast nodded and placed one of its tentacles on the Swift Moth, then closed its eyes. Two seconds later, a transparent bubble with a scene inside slowly emerged from the Swift Moth¡¯s head. As it rose, the bubble expanded. When it reached about twenty centimeters in diameter, it stopped growing and floated in mid-air. With her sharp eyesight, Qiao Sang could clearly see the scene in the bubble. A group of Swift Moths was lined up, and a black man at the front was handing out something resembling boxed meals. The dream was in first-person view, so the Swift Moth¡¯s own expression wasn¡¯t visible, but judging from the other moths¡¯ appearances, they all seemed happy. "This isn''t the dream I¡¯m looking for." Sylvia suddenly said. "If I describe a specific scene, can your pet beast create a dream around it? Or if I give a specific time, can it hypnotize the Swift Moth into recalling memories from that period?" Qiao Sang thought for a moment and nodded. "It can create dreams." Back when she taught Crowned Meow instant teleportation, Little Treasure had used hypnosis to create a dream for it to learn in. At the time, Crowned Meow was aware it was in a dream. Since they were going to construct a dream, Sylvia recounted the events with a calm tone: "This Swift Moth used to be my assistant, and we worked well together. But one day, it suddenly quit, saying it didn¡¯t want to follow me anymore. "Even though the studio paid its salary, I never mistreated it. I gave it the same food I provided for my Dream-Hunting Beast." She paused, realizing she was going off-topic, then continued: "That day, in the dressing room, a different Swift Moth came in. When I asked about it, I was told it had been reassigned. But when I found it and spoke with it through my Dream-Hunting Beast, I learned it had left by choice." "I want you to make it dream of that moment, when I was questioning it, so I can hear its subconscious response and see if it matches what it told me before." So she suspected the Swift Moth hadn¡¯t left voluntarily¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s expression grew complicated. She hadn¡¯t expected the task issuer¡¯s goal to be this. People often said those from Chaosu Star had poor relationships with pet beasts, but perhaps she had been biased. With such a large population, not everyone could have the same mindset. Just as Qiao Sang was about to instruct Little Treasure to create the dream- "Wait!" Sylvia suddenly exclaimed, staring at the bubble with a sharp tone. Did it show what she wanted to see? Qiao Sang curiously turned to look. And what she saw made her pause. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 616: First Person and Third Person Perspective Chapter 616: First Person and Third Person PerspectiveSylvia saw what she wanted to see and remained silent for two seconds before saying indifferently: "Turn it off." Upon hearing this, the Dream Hunting Beast retracted its tentacles, causing the dream-projection bubble to shatter. The Swift Moth was still asleep. Watching the disappearing bubble, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of a serious problem: Were all dream projections shown in the first-person perspective? Then how was she supposed to see Yabao''s evolved form? "The task is complete." Sylvia looked at Qiao Sang and asked, "When do you want your reward?" That wasn¡¯t important right now. What mattered was something else... Qiao Sang didn''t answer but asked instead: "Are all dream projections first-person? Is there a third-person perspective?" Sylvia was momentarily stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected this girl to be paying attention to such a detail. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There is a third-person perspective, but that requires the Dream Projection skill to reach a ultimate level." Sylvia patiently explained. Hearing this, Qiao Sang eagerly asked, "Then what level is your pet''s Dream Projection?" Even though the previous dream projection was in the first-person perspective, pet skills, once highly proficient, could be controlled in terms of power and mode, just like Little Treasure''s Shadow Control! "Advanced-level." Sylvia replied. Qiao Sang: ... Great. The task was done for nothing¡­ "Do you have a requirement for the skill proficiency of Dream Projection?" Sylvia asked, noticing the sudden drop in Qiao Sang¡¯s expression. Actually, it wasn¡¯t entirely a waste. After all, she hadn''t known this before. If someone else had taken on the task, she might have ended up using the Dream Enlightenment Stone on Yabao right away, expecting the other party to perform Dream Projection. If that pet¡¯s skill wasn''t at the ultimate level, it would have been too late to regret it¡­ That Dream Enlightenment Stone was a one-time-use item, and there was only one of it! Thinking of this, Qiao Sang felt much better and said, "Yes, I need a Dream Projection that can play in the third-person perspective." Sylvia was surprised by this answer. She had assumed this girl was just a kid running around with a senior¡¯s pet, but it turned out she was serious about the task rewards. Since the reward was no longer what she wanted, Qiao Sang originally planned to leave. But then she thought of something and said, "I don''t need the task reward anymore. Just give me a five-star review." Sylvia¡¯s gaze inadvertently fell on the pet in Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. After a moment of thought, she said, "I know a director whose pet¡¯s Dream Projection has reached ultimate level. I can take you to see him and ask on your behalf." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. A sudden sense of joy washed over her, like seeing light at the end of a dark tunnel. After waiting for half a month, she knew very well how rare it was to find a Beast Master whose pet had this skill. "Then I¡¯ll leave it to you!" Qiao Sang responded without hesitation. She was afraid that if she hesitated, Sylvia might take it seriously and withdraw the offer. That would be a disaster. "Follow me. That director is on set today." Sylvia said as she got up, stepping around the still-sleeping Swift Moth, opening the car door, and getting out. Qiao Sang quickly followed. "Xun Xun..." Little Treasure trailed behind but suddenly paused as he floated out of the car. He turned back, licked the sleeping Swift Moth once, then finally left the vehicle. "Xun Xun..." Inside the RV, the Swift Moth slowly woke up. --- On Set. An elderly director with white hair sat in front of the camera, angrily scolding an actor: "You¡¯re playing a B-rank Beast Master! Have you ever seen a B-rank Beast Master this cowardly? You instinctively recoil at the sight of a high-level pet? This is acting! Acting! Even that Stealth Mantis is performing better than you!" The actor stood silently, too scared to speak. The assistant director suggested, "Maybe we should take a break so he can adjust?" "Adjust?" The director snorted. "With how timid he is, even a whole day wouldn¡¯t help!" Despite his harsh words, he still halted filming. "We¡¯ll resume when you stop looking so pathetic. Remember, you¡¯re playing a B-rank Beast Master, not a coward!" He said with a dismissive wave. At that moment, a gentle voice spoke beside him: "Director, do you have a moment?" The director turned and saw Sylvia. His expression immediately shifted from stormy to pleasant. "I was just about to take a break. What brings you here?" He asked in a much kinder tone. Had Qiao Sang not heard his furious yelling earlier, she might have been fooled by his current demeanor. "I need a favor." Sylvia said. "What is it?" The director asked. He had always been patient with actors who had real talent, and Sylvia was one of them. "This is my friend." Sylvia said with a smile. "She¡¯s looking for a pet with a ultimate-level Dream Projection skill. I remember your Dreamlace¡¯s Dream Projection is at that level, so I brought her here." "Nice to meet you, Director!" Qiao Sang greeted sincerely. "You have such a young friend?" The director¡¯s gaze swept over Qiao Sang, then paused on the pet in her arms, a creature he had never seen before. "Making friends with people of different ages helps with acting, doesn¡¯t it?" Sylvia said with a smile. Hearing this, the director¡¯s expression softened even more. "You came at the right time. Since I¡¯m on break, we can find a quiet spot to help you now. Any other time might not have worked." He said. Qiao Sang was immediately thrilled. "Thank you, Director!" "It¡¯s nothing, just a small matter." The director said, waving a hand dismissively. Then, feigning nonchalance, he asked, "By the way, what¡¯s the name of the pet you¡¯re holding? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen it before." Qiao Sang was used to this kind of question. Normally, she would just say, "It¡¯s called a Blazing Star Canine" and move on. But since this man was about to do her a big favor, she subconsciously answered more enthusiastically, "It¡¯s called a Blazing Star Canine. You haven¡¯t seen him before because he¡¯s a pet from Blue Star." As soon as she said that, the director, assistant director, Sylvia, and the surrounding crew members all fell silent. "A pet from Blue Star?!" The director''s eyes lit up as he carefully observed the highly photogenic pet. "How do you have a pet from Blue Star?" This was the first time he had seen a Blue Star pet in real life! "Because I¡¯m from Blue Star." Qiao Sang explained. "I¡¯m here as an exchange student." The director¡¯s head shot up, a look of shock crossing his face. He hadn¡¯t expected Sylvia¡¯s friend to have such a significant background. Even though this was an interstellar era, not just anyone could travel between planets freely, let alone study as an exchange student. He turned to Sylvia and saw the same astonishment in her eyes. Chapter 617: Born to Act Chapter 617: Born to ActSylvia stared at the young girl in front of her, both shocked and bewildered. She had considered the possibility that her own knowledge was lacking, that she simply didn¡¯t recognize this pet. She had also thought that perhaps the pet was too rare, so rare that it wasn¡¯t even known in the general market. But she had never imagined that both the pet and the girl herself weren¡¯t even from Chaosu Star. ¡°I have a request.¡± The director said. ¡°Would you be willing to let your pet make a cameo in my film?¡± This... Qiao Sang hesitated. She didn¡¯t want to agree, not because she didn¡¯t want Yabao to experience something new, but because the college entrance exams were coming up soon. She simply couldn¡¯t spare the time to take on an acting role. But if she refused, what if the director got upset and decided not to help her with the Dream Projection? The director, being experienced in reading people, immediately noticed Qiao Sang¡¯s hesitation and quickly added, ¡°The role is very small, just two scenes. If you¡¯re short on time, we can start filming right now! I guarantee we¡¯ll finish within an hour. After the shoot, besides helping you with Dream Projection, I¡¯ll also pay you a small appearance fee.¡± He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. The assistant director beside him was just as eager. He already knew exactly which role the director had in mind. The role had originally been assigned to another pet, but this Blue Star pet was clearly a better fit. Two short scenes, finished within an hour¡­ that didn¡¯t sound too bad. Qiao Sang exhaled, loosening up a little. ¡°What kind of role is it?¡± She asked. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao wagged his tail, looking excited and ready to go. Although he usually watched battles, Little Treasure often watched all kinds of TV dramas and movies. The thought of getting his own epic entrance scene, maybe breathing fire and wiping out enemies in one go, made Yabao quite enthusiastic about the idea. The director smiled and explained, ¡°The role is of a pet that makes a stunning first impression on the protagonist. When the protagonist was still an ordinary person, he accidentally caught a glimpse of this pet, and the sight of it left a lasting mark on his memory. Later, he researched extensively but never found any information about the pet. The first scene is simply this pet appearing in front of the protagonist for a moment.¡± ¡°And the second scene?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The director cleared his throat. ¡°The second scene is when the protagonist encounters the pet again. By then, the protagonist has already become a B-rank Beast Tamer and has kept an empty contract page, hoping to tame this very pet. But when they finally reunite, the protagonist sees it losing a battle to a wild pet. Feeling that the pet is too weak, the protagonist gives up on contracting it and chooses another pet instead.¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s tail drooped as he let out a dissatisfied whine. He did not want to play such a weak role. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Before Qiao Sang could even try to diplomatically translate Yabao¡¯s reluctance, Little Treasure suddenly revealed himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he eagerly raised a paw. If Big Bro Yabao didn¡¯t want to act, je was more than happy to take the role! The director flinched at the sudden appearance of the ghost-type pet but quickly regained his composure. ¡°Is this your pet?¡± He asked, noticing the identification bracelet on Little Treasure. Qiao Sang hummed in confirmation. ¡°Also from Blue Star?¡± The director pressed further. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. The director¡¯s eyes lit up as he carefully examined the unique ghost-type pet. Qiao Sang took the opportunity to say, ¡°Director, could we swap the role for my Ghost Ring Phantom? He¡¯s more interested in acting.¡± ¡°Xun Xun!" Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically. The director hesitated for only a moment before making a decisive call. ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± The character was meant to be a rare and unseen pet, one that the protagonist could never find in any records. And wasn¡¯t a Blue Star pet exactly that, something completely foreign and unknown to Chaosu Star? ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure happily floated in a circle, clearly thrilled. Then, he suddenly paused and looked at the director with curiosity. ¡°Xun Xun?¡± When will this movie be released? When can it see itself on TV? Qiao Sang held back a laugh and translated. The director pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°If everything goes smoothly, it should be out in about six months. Since you¡¯re friends with Sylvia, she¡¯ll definitely notify you when it¡¯s released.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Sylvia said with a smile. Looks like I should exchange contact information with her after this, Qiao Sang thought to herself. With everything settled, the director eagerly set up the first scene. The first shot was simple, Little Treasure just had to float past the protagonist and turn his head to show his face. ¡°Action!¡± The director called. Little Treasure slowly drifted forward. As he passed by the lead actor, he gracefully turned his head and¡­ winked. Turning his head was fine, but why did he wink? Qiao Sang covered her face, feeling second-hand embarrassment. To her surprise, the director exclaimed, ¡°Perfect!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Yap yap¡­¡± Yabao sighed in relief. Good thing he hadn¡¯t taken this role, there was no way he could¡¯ve pulled that off. The first scene was completed in one take. The second scene was the battle sequence. Of course, the fight was staged. Having watched plenty of dramas, Little Treasure instinctively knew how to act, when hit by a fake Leaf Blade attack, he dramatically fell to the ground. Then, he spotted the protagonist. ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure lay trembling, reaching out a paw toward the protagonist. Before the protagonist could step closer, he let out a final shudder, closed his eyes, and let his paw drop limply. ¡°Fantastic!¡± The director clapped enthusiastically. ¡°That was brilliant acting!¡± The lead actor quietly stepped aside, knowing full well that the praise wasn¡¯t directed at him. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure floated over to his Beast Tamer, looking smug as if to say, That was just average for me. The director turned to Qiao Sang and said with admiration, ¡°Your Ghost Ring Phantom is born to be an actor.¡± He¡¯s also born to be a student¡­ Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°He just really enjoys watching TV shows and movies.¡± ¡°Liking shows and being able to act are two different things.¡± The director replied cheerfully. ¡°No amount of watching can help a pet without talent. Anyway, let¡¯s go. You¡¯re still waiting for the Dream Projection, right?¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. Finally, the moment had arrived! They moved to a spacious, empty office. Sylvia followed them in. Qiao Sang placed Yabao on the floor, then turned to Little Treasure with a serious expression. ¡°Take out the Dream Enlightenment Stone.¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure chirped in understanding, then reached into his ghostly ring and rummaged around. A moment later, he pulled out a small, square, blue box. ¡°Yap yap¡­¡± Yabao was both nervous and excited. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew just how important this was. His Beast Tamer had worked so hard to earn points, all for this moment. Chapter 618: A Drastic Change in Appearance Chapter 618: A Drastic Change in Appearance"What is a Dream Enlightenment Stone?" The director suddenly asked. Qiao Sang''s first reaction was surprise, she hadn''t expected that the director didn¡¯t even know about Dream Enlightenment Stones. Her second reaction was understanding. Dream Enlightenment Stones were something unavailable on the market, so it made sense that the director had no way of knowing about them, just like how she initially had no knowledge of the Veil Essence. Realizing this, Qiao Sang coughed and explained, "It¡¯s a stone that allows a pet beast to dream of its most suitable evolutionary form while sleeping." After saying this, Qiao Sang inexplicably felt a sense of satisfaction. To be honest, ever since arriving on Chaosu Star, she had been surrounded by high-achieving students who seemed knowledgeable about everything. Meanwhile, she often felt clueless, reinforcing her identity as an academic underachiever. This was the first time since coming to Chaosu Star that she had seriously answered someone¡¯s question about pet beast items. And it felt pretty good. "Amazing, there''s actually such a miraculous item." Sylvia remarked in awe. At that moment, Little Treasure took out the Dream Enlightenment Stone from the box. Looking at the obviously valuable crystal, the director and Sylvia were once again reminded that the girl before them was far from ordinary. "You actually have a friend like this?" The director glanced at Sylvia, his eyes filled with doubt. "I have no idea either¡­" Sylvia responded with a bewildered look. While the two exchanged glances, Qiao Sang took the Dream Enlightenment Stone and nodded at Little Treasure. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure chirped, then floated in front of Yabao. His eyes glowed purple. Yabao neither dodged nor resisted, allowing Little Treasure to lull him into sleep. From inside the backpack, Lubao silently peeked out, then leaped onto her beastmaster¡¯s shoulder to watch. The director and Sylvia were momentarily stunned. They hadn''t expected a pet beast to be hidden in the backpack¡­ "This pet beast would look great on camera too¡­" The director¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought. "Yap yap¡­" Yabao''s drowsiness surged, his eyelids growing heavier until he finally fell into a deep sleep. "Director." Qiao Sang looked over. "Got it." The director nodded and formed a hand seal. A green star array lit up. From the star array emerged a pet beast with light blue eyes and purple eyelids, with fin-like light blue markings at the outer corners of its eyes. "Dreamlace, use Dream Projection." The director instructed. "Dreamla." With just one glance, Dreamlace understood who needed the skill. It nodded, then its eyes glowed blue as it focused on the sleeping Yabao. This method of casting Dream Projection seems different from how the pet beast of the mission issuer did it¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts briefly wandered before she refocused on Yabao. A transparent, image-filled bubble slowly rose from Yabao''s head. It grew larger and larger, stopping at nearly a meter in diameter. Qiao Sang looked at the bubble. Inside the dream, Yabao had returned to his original size instead of the miniaturized form he usually maintained with a shrinking wristband. He was leisurely strolling when a blond-haired man, his face obscured, stood watching him. Suddenly, Yabao turned his head and casually glanced at the man before walking away. "It¡¯s not dreaming about battling in a competition¡­?" Qiao Sang couldn''t help but internally comment at the unexpected scene. She crouched down, preparing to use the Dream Enlightenment Stone on Yabao. The stone wasn¡¯t meant to be used before sleep but after, as clearly stated in the instruction manual inside the box. Just as Qiao Sang crouched, the scene in the bubble abruptly changed, like a TV suddenly switching channels. Instinctively, she looked up. Yabao was now locked in a distant gaze with another pet beast. In the background, the same blond-haired man stood far away. Since the scene looked oddly familiar, Qiao Sang took a closer look. At that moment, Yabao suddenly opened his mouth, launching a spiraling flame directly at the opposing pet beast. The pet beast was instantly obliterated and collapsed. "Oh my god!" The faceless blond-haired man exclaimed, "You''re incredible! So powerful! I''ve been searching for you! Form a contract with me!" "Yap!" Yabao scoffed disdainfully, then teleported right in front of the man and swiped at him with his claw. As if you''re worthy! The man was sent flying dozens of meters away. Only then did his face become visible, blond hair, emerald eyes, an aquiline nose, and thin lips. It was none other than the male lead who had acted alongside Little Treasure in a recent scene. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "No wonder the scene looked so familiar, it¡¯s exactly like the setting from when Little Treasure was acting¡­" The director and Sylvia, having also realized this, fell into silence. Only Little Treasure''s eyes sparkled as he watched the dream unfold. A few seconds later, in the midst of this silence, Qiao Sang placed the Dream Enlightenment Stone onto Yabao. The moment the purple-red stone touched Yabao, it emitted a soft glow. As the light spread, the Dream Enlightenment Stone slowly sank into Yabao''s body. Once the stone completely disappeared, the dream bubble¡¯s scene shifted again. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes locked onto the new dream sequence. The setting was now a volcanic landscape. The scorching air was so vivid that it felt almost tangible. Molten lava spewed into the air, and the volcano¡¯s surroundings were engulfed in flames and smoldering rock. High above the sea of fire, Yabao''s body radiated with the glow of evolution. As the light faded, a transformed creature emerged in the dream bubble. Without a reference for scale, its exact size was unclear, but its overall form was deep red. Its face resembled a crimson wolf, with piercing blue pupils and dark sclera. It had an exceptionally long, fluffy tail adorned with white markings, and its body was lined with flaming wings. Its silver claws were long and razor-sharp. Staring at the awe-inspiring creature, the room fell silent once again. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finally, the director took a deep breath and hesitantly asked, "Why does your pet beast''s evolved form look like a Dragon-type beast?" Qiao Sang paused, then agreed, "He does look a bit like one." Yabao''s newly evolved form had undergone significant changes, hiss previously subtle flame-like wings had grown large enough to support flight, and his claws had become distinctly draconic. Overall, he resembled a fusion between a canine pet beast and a Western dragon. "Yabao''s appearance has changed so much¡­ Most of his white fur is gone. His evolution must lean heavily toward the Fire element¡­" Qiao Sang pondered. "If the dream''s background is a volcano, does that mean it needs to evolve in a high-temperature environment?" As she fell into deep thought, Lubao quietly observed the dream bubble for a while, then muttered, Ice counteracts him. After that, she turned away and jumped back into the backpack. At that moment, a thought struck Qiao Sang. She pulled out her phone, activated the camera, and snapped a picture of Yabao''s evolved form displayed in the dream bubble. Chapter 619: Kotea Volcano Chapter 619: Kotea VolcanoLittle Treasure licked Yabao awake. After adding Sylvia¡¯s contact information and thanking the director once again, Qiao Sang confirmed that her cameo payment would be processed through the finance department in two days. Then, she rode the now-enlarged Yabao and left the Theo Film Base. Watching the girl disappear into the sky, Sylvia asked, "Director, you seem quite interested in these pet beasts from Blue Star. Why not discuss with Qiao Sang about having her pet beasts act in more films?" The director didn¡¯t answer directly but instead asked, "You¡¯re not actually familiar with her, are you?" Sylvia hesitated for a moment before replying honestly, "I posted a mission at the Beast Taming Center. She took on my mission to come here. Today is actually the first time we¡¯ve met." "The reward for your mission was dream projection?" The director chuckled. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Sylvia admitted, "My Dream-Hunting Beast''s dream projection is only at the advanced level, but she needed a third-person perspective dream projection, so..." "So you brought her to me." The director finished her sentence. Sylvia, unafraid of the biggest boss in the crew, grinned, "Well, I knew you were kind and would definitely help out." The director accepted the flattery with a clear conscience. "A foreign exchange student from another planet, already having three pet beasts at her age, with two of them even wearing miniaturization rings... Someone like that couldn¡¯t possibly be interested in acting. She agreed to let her Ghost-type pet beast cameo today only because I hadn¡¯t helped her yet. She was worried that if she refused, I might go back on my word." Staring at the now-empty sky, the director suddenly answered the original question, "Asking her would just be a waste of time." Sylvia was momentarily stunned. "You mean... all three of those pet beasts belong to her?" "What else?" The director glanced at her. "You wouldn¡¯t be naive enough to think they belong to her family members, would you?" Sylvia: ??? They were just chatting, how did this turn into a personal attack? But the director was always sharp when it came to judging people. If this was true, a child with such natural talent as a beast tamer would indeed have no interest in acting. After all, who would become an actor if they had the potential to be a professional beast tamer... Sylvia suddenly felt a bit melancholic. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Lowering her gaze slightly, she casually asked, "By the way, Director, I remember Eleanor from our team unlocked the second page of her Beast Taming Codex recently. Didn''t she contract a new pet beast the very next day?" The director was a little surprised at the sudden topic change. Thinking for a moment, he replied, "I think so. She even threw a party to celebrate. She didn¡¯t invite you?" "She did, but I was busy at the time." Sylvia replied indifferently. "I just wanted to know what kind of pet beast she contracted so I could pick a suitable gift for her." "I wouldn¡¯t know about that." The director said, checking the time on his phone before turning to leave. "You can ask her yourself. I need to get back to filming." With that, he walked away. Sylvia glanced out of the corner of her eye at the figure still eavesdropping nearby, then acted as if she hadn''t noticed anything and returned to her trailer. "Xun xun..." A Swift Moth fluttered out leisurely. That human definitely noticed me on purpose and started talking... Humans are so troublesome. Back then, she used to feed me those energy pills that Dream-Hunting Beasts liked. I didn''t even enjoy the taste, but when I refused, she assumed I was just being shy and insisted I eat them. It almost made me sick. Now, finally, another human has taken an interest in my abilities, so of course, I switched sides. Even if that person tricked me into forming a contract, I wouldn¡¯t be willing anyway. I told her that, but she still thinks I have some hidden struggles. Humans always assume they¡¯re right. But to be fair, it¡¯s my fault... for being too exceptional. The Swift Moth thought to itself as it lazily flapped its wings and flew off to work. --- Sainan High School, Dormitory Area 1, Room 502. Yabao held a phone in his paws, happily admiring his handsome new evolved form, his tail wagging wildly. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure, seeing Yabao¡¯s excitement, seemed to have an idea. Floating to his beast tamer''s side, he called out, signaling that he wanted to see his own evolved form too. "You¡¯re still far from evolving." Though she said that, Qiao Sang still put down her book immediately, turned on her computer, and searched the star network. The next evolution stage of Ghost-Ring Phantom was only one: Ghost Ring King. Qiao Sang had looked it up before. So, she simply typed "Ghost-Ring King" into the search bar. Soon, information and images of the Ghost-Ring King appeared on the screen. Qiao Sang enlarged the images. "Xun xun!" "Xun xun..." Little Treasure eagerly moved closer at first, but soon his enthusiasm deflated. Compared to Yabao''s powerful and intimidating evolved form, his own evolution seemed... underwhelming. Well, your appearances have always been quite different... Qiao Sang mentally retorted but outwardly comforted him, "I actually think your evolved form looks really cute." "Xun xun?" Little Treasure''s expression turned to one of surprise. Really? "Really." Qiao Sang affirmed. She wasn¡¯t lying. The Ghost-Ring Phantom''s evolution line had a much higher aesthetic appeal compared to other Ghost-type pet beasts. Most beasts grew significantly larger after evolving, but this line only increased in size slightly. Compared to other same-tier beasts that could reach several meters or even over ten meters tall, Ghost-Ring King looked exceptionally adorable. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure instantly perked up. Meanwhile, Gangbao continued practicing her Wing Blade technique, silently shaking her head as she listened to the conversation. Fools. What good is being cute? Strength is what matters. In the Scared Water Essence, Lubao lay still with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but in reality, she was furiously absorbing energy. Thanks to the Sacred Water Essence, even without any stat boosts from a golden finger, Lubao''s energy continued to rise steadily. Qiao Sang, pulled out of her studies by Little Treasure''s interruption, suddenly remembered something, she needed to find out where there were volcanoes on Chaosu Star. She had thought it through carefully: After using the Dream Enlightenment Stone, any scene that appeared in the dream shouldn¡¯t be ignored. Recreating the evolution scene from the dream as accurately as possible would ensure Yabao¡¯s evolution wouldn''t go wrong. She wanted to find a volcanic location where Yabao could evolve. Originally, she had meant to search for this right after returning from the film base, but Yabao had been too busy admiring his evolved form on the phone. Since she couldn¡¯t take the phone from him, she had forgotten about it... Now reminded, Qiao Sang typed "Where are the volcanoes on Chaosu Star?" into the search bar. The results appeared: [Over 6,000 volcanoes. Aside from 1st District to other 29 Districts all have volcanoes.] Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment, then refined her search, adding the word active in front of volcanoes. Volcanoes were categorized as active, dormant, and extinct. Extinct volcanoes had no recorded eruptions or signs of activity. Dormant volcanoes hadn¡¯t erupted for a long time. Only active volcanoes still erupted regularly. The results updated: [Over 1,700 active volcanoes, mostly concentrated in the lower ten districts.] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still too many... Qiao Sang pondered. She had a strong feeling that a volcano was crucial for Yabao¡¯s evolution. If Yabao had never seen a volcano in real life but could dream of one in vivid detail, that meant the volcano was important. Thinking this, she searched: "Where is the most active volcano on Chaosu Star?" The answer appeared on her screen: [19th District, Kotea Volcano.] Chapter 620: Yulianton Univeristy Chapter 620: Yulianton UniveristyIt seems that after the college entrance exam, she would need to make a trip to 19th District¡­ Qiao Sang silently memorized the two words Kotea Volcano in her mind. Based on the natural increase in points, Yabao only had less than seven months left before he could evolve. Over time, she had occasionally participated in the pet battle arena, and Yabao had accumulated enough points to evolve immediately. She planned to focus on Yabao''s evolution as soon as the college entrance exam was over. Otherwise, seven months later, she would likely be in her first year of university, assuming she did well in the exam. And freshman year was the toughest year in university. Taking leave would be difficult, let alone requesting a long one. It would be best to take advantage of the break right after the college entrance exam to dedicate all her energy to Yabao''s evolution, ensuring she had enough time and focus to avoid any mistakes¡­ --- While Qiao Sang was making post-exam plans, a meeting was taking place at Sainan High School. Inside a luxuriously decorated, small conference room, several school executives were holding their regular weekly meeting. "That concludes my report. Now, I¡¯d like to discuss another matter." Said a brown-haired woman wearing light makeup. Everyone turned to look at her. The woman spoke calmly, "The college entrance exam is approaching. I¡¯m not worried about our students¡¯ scores, regardless of their results, they will all get into excellent universities. However, I want to talk about a student from Class 6, Grade 12, Qiao Sang." "She is from the Dragon Nation, and their college entrance exam is standardized, whether for Dragon Nation citizens on Blue Star or those on our Chaosu Star. The exam focuses heavily on memorization rather than creativity. Qiao Sang directly advanced from Grade 10 to Grade 12, and I have reviewed her grades, they are not very good." As high-level administrators, they couldn¡¯t possibly remember every student. But Qiao Sang was simply too special, first, her brain domain ability, and then her bond evolution. It was hard not to remember her. So, no one asked, ¡°Who is Qiao Sang?¡± "What are you trying to say?" A middle-aged Black man beside her asked. "I¡¯m suggesting that we encourage Qiao Sang to apply to universities on our Chaosu Star." The brown-haired woman proposed, "Our planet values strength above all else. Our college entrance exam doesn¡¯t rely solely on test scores. With Qiao Sang¡¯s abilities, even if her grades aren¡¯t ideal, she can still get into a top-tier university. I believe she is a great talent, and we should keep her here on Chaosu Star." "More importantly, her Steel Falcon has undergone bond evolution. The Steel Guardian Falcon represents an entirely new evolutionary form, and its future evolution remains unknown. If she leaves Chaosu Star, further research on the Steel Guardian Falcon may be hindered." Everyone exchanged glances and chuckled. So this was why Wang Xianhui suddenly brought up Qiao Sang from Class 6, Grade 12. Claiming that research on the Steel Guardian Falcon would stall was just an excuse. They already knew it was a bond evolution, while people from Chaosu Star might not be able to trigger it, they could always find individuals from other planets to study. A Steel Guardian Falcon would eventually emerge, Qiao Sang¡¯s was not the only possibility. Besides, they weren¡¯t researchers. Even if research on the Steel Guardian Falcon was delayed, what did that have to do with them? To put it simply, Wang Xianhui, as a Dragon Nation citizen of Chaosu Star, just wanted to keep Qiao Sang here. Attracting and retaining citizens from their home planet was a common practice among interstellar nations. At this moment, an elderly white man spoke in a deep voice, "I recall that Qiao Sang recently participated in the special admissions program for Central Hollow University on Blue Star and was accepted. If that¡¯s the case, she only needs to score a minimal amount on the entrance exam to secure admission." Why are you even paying attention to this? The others looked at the old man in surprise. However, his expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn¡¯t noticed their gazes. Wang Xianhui seemed to have anticipated this question and answered smoothly, "Central Hollow University may rank high within the Dragon Nation on Blue Star, but among all the top institutions there, it¡¯s only third. And in the interstellar rankings, it¡¯s not even in the top ten." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s ranked third among all top universities on Blue Star, and you¡¯re still not satisfied?! The others were stunned. Wang Xianhui continued, "At her age, Qiao Sang already has a 39% brain domain development rate and has contracted three high-level pet beasts. Her only mid-tier pet, the Steel Guardian Falcon, has achieved an unprecedented bond evolution on Chaosu Star. Given her exceptional talent, she deserves to attend an even more prestigious university." "Our Chaosu Star has several top institutions on par with Central Hollow University. In particular, Yulianton University ranks third in the entire interstellar system. A school like that would be a much better fit for Qiao Sang." The room fell into silence. To be honest, they were a little taken aback. No one denied that with Qiao Sang¡¯s abilities, she had a chance at Yulianton University. But what did that have to do with them? No matter how much Wang Xianhui talked, they weren¡¯t the ones making the decisions. "Are you suggesting a direct recommendation?" The elderly white man asked. At his words, everyone suddenly understood why Wang Xianhui had been pushing this idea so hard! Yulianton University, as the third-ranked university in the interstellar rankings, did not usually offer direct admissions. However, in special cases, students could apply for direct recommendation. For instance, children of Yulianton University¡¯s donors could apply. Candidates with outstanding academic achievements, research contributions, and strong involvement in social activities could also apply. And finally, applicants with a letter of recommendation signed by the board members and high-level executives of a top-five global university could apply. Sainan High School happened to meet the third requirement. However, Yulianton University did not admit students solely based on these recommendations. They conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all direct admission applicants and only selected the very best. In previous years, Sainan High School had issued recommendations for exceptionally talented students, but none had ever been accepted. Over time, the recommendation letter became more of an honorary award, nice to have, but not crucial, since it did not guarantee admission. "That¡¯s right." Wang Xianhui smiled. "The board members have already agreed, we just need your approval." The room was silent for two seconds. "I have no objections." "Neither do I." "Alright, since everyone agrees, I won¡¯t object either." One by one, they voiced their approval. Seeing this, Wang Xianhui smiled. After the meeting ended, most of the executives left, leaving only Wang Xianhui and the elderly white man in the room. "Thank you." Wang Xianhui looked at him and expressed her gratitude. "No need." The old man smiled gently. "I¡¯m just following the principal¡¯s wishes." Chapter 621: Letter of Recommendation The next day. After finishing breakfast and sending Yabao and the others to their usual training spot, Qiao Sang headed to Class 6 of Senior Year 3. Inside the classroom, Tang Yi was scrolling excitedly on his phone. Since he didn¡¯t have the pressure of the college entrance exam, he spent far more time on his phone than on books. Seeing Qiao Sang enter, Tang Yi couldn¡¯t wait to share the news he had just seen: "Our university for the interstellar exchange program has been confirmed, it¡¯s Zhizhou University!" "Zhizhou University?" Qiao Sang turned her head and froze for a moment. "But we haven¡¯t even taken the college entrance exam yet. How is the university already decided?" She remembered that the university assigned for the interstellar exchange program was based on the university one got into, matched with a similar-ranking university in the interstellar system. Tang Yi was also momentarily stunned. "Aren¡¯t we both admitted through Central Hollow University¡¯s special admissions program? Since we passed, our spots at Central Hollow University should already be secure..." His voice trailed off, as he suddenly remembered Qiao Sang¡¯s underachiever status. Hey, hey, hey! What are you thinking? Why are you looking at me with that guilty expression¡­ Qiao Sang mentally complained but remained calm on the surface as she asked, "Did Central Hollow University officially announce that its interstellar exchange students would be placed at Zhizhou University?" She had considered her options carefully. Her goal was Central Hollow University, the top-ranked institution in Dragon Nation, as well as the third-ranked Imperial Capital University and the sixth-ranked Dragon''s Qingteng University. She had planned to try for all three universities'' special admissions, but the exam schedules for Imperial Capital University and Dragon''s Qingteng University had been so slow to release that they still hadn¡¯t opened registration. Since she had already secured a place on Central Hollow University¡¯s preliminary admission list, even if she later qualified for the other top schools, the college entrance exam would likely only require a score of around 300. In that case, she might as well focus entirely on the exam and aim for Central Hollow University. If Tang Yi¡¯s information was correct, then Zhizhou University would be where she¡¯d be spending her first semester. "No, no." Tang Yi shook his head. "I just saw it on a news account." Qiao Sang: ¡­ She gave Tang Yi a speechless look and pulled out her phone to search for "Zhizhou University." Though internet rumors weren¡¯t always reliable, what if¡­ Soon, information about Zhizhou University appeared on her screen. After skimming through the details, she had a general idea. This university ranked fourth among all top institutions in the interstellar system, not too different from Central Hollow University¡¯s standing among Blue Star¡¯s elite schools. If she got into Central Hollow University, there was indeed a strong possibility she¡¯d be placed there¡­ So, those news accounts weren¡¯t entirely nonsense after all¡­ --- When the last class of the morning ended, the homeroom teacher, Mu Deli, packed her things and smiled at Qiao Sang. "Qiao Sang, come here for a moment." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The classmates were used to this. Ever since Qiao Sang¡¯s Steel Falcon had evolved into a new form, the homeroom teacher often called her in for chats, asking things like, "Are you keeping up with the lessons?" "Do you have any difficulties?" "Are you adjusting well?", as if Qiao Sang were her star student. One by one, the students left the classroom. Qiao Sang walked up to the podium. Just as she thought the teacher was going to ask about the lesson, Mu Deli pulled out an envelope from her textbook and placed it in front of Qiao Sang. "What¡¯s this?" Qiao Sang asked. "It¡¯s a letter of recommendation." Mu Deli said seriously. "A recommendation letter for Yulianton University." Qiao Sang was stunned. Yulianton University, ranked third across the entire interstellar system. Even though its main campus wasn¡¯t on Blue Star, it was so prestigious that it was nearly impossible not to have heard of it. Wait, this isn¡¯t meant for me, is it¡­? Qiao Sang stared at the letter in disbelief. Mu Deli continued, "With your talent, it would be a shame to limit yourself to Blue Star¡¯s Central Hollow University. This letter will put you on Yulianton University¡¯s radar. The letter is sealed, so there¡¯s no need to open it. If you want to apply to Yulianton, just send it in. Our school has already submitted the electronic version." "If you prefer to stay on Blue Star, then you don¡¯t have to send it. The choice is yours." "Of course, this is just a recommendation. Even if you send it, it doesn¡¯t guarantee admission to Yulianton University." "But I still hope you do. You know, Central Hollow University simply doesn¡¯t compare to Yulianton University." "Any chance to get into Yulianton is worth taking, don¡¯t you think?" Mu Deli smiled at Qiao Sang, waiting for her response. This really is for me¡­ Qiao Sang stared at the letter in front of her. After a few seconds, she picked it up and sincerely said, "Thank you." "If you want to thank someone, thank the principal. This was his idea." --- 8:00 PM. Sainan High School. Dormitory Area One. Room 502. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, occasionally glancing at the recommendation letter beside her. Yulianton University¡­ Just thinking about it made her feel dazed. Until today, she had never imagined that someone like her, a so-called underachiever, would receive a recommendation for Yulianton University. Does the principal have some kind of filter when looking at me¡­? Qiao Sang felt both ridiculous and amazed. It was like in her past life, when she was struggling to get a 325 on the college entrance exam, and suddenly, her school handed her a Harvard recommendation letter, telling her to apply¡­ Should I send it? It¡¯s just a recommendation, after all. Sending it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll actually get in¡­ But what if I do? After all, in the interstellar system, strength matters. And, not to be arrogant, but among all high school students, no one could match her strength¡­ However, her original plan was to develop her career in the Central Hollow region. If she used up her unlimited spending card, her finances would take a serious hit, and she¡¯d have to go back to a struggling lifestyle¡­ Then again, maybe she didn¡¯t have to stay in Central Hollow. Her classmates were all children of wealthy and powerful families. If she stayed on the interstellar system and worked with them, she might earn even more. Plus, the pet battle arena trending on the interstellar system suited her perfectly¡­ The more she thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. Then, realizing she was getting carried away, she quickly shook her head to clear her mind. Calm down, calm down. This is Yulianton University, ranked third in the interstellar system. It¡¯s not a place you just get into on a whim¡­ But if I do get in¡­ Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang picked up her phone, opened the courier app, and carefully filled in her details. Half an hour later, a pitch-black bird in a green delivery uniform knocked on the window. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure floated over, his eyes glowing blue as he used telekinesis to open the window. He let out a chirp, as if asking, Who are you looking for? ----- T/n: Your girlie is backkkkkkk???? Not eating much and staying awake at night for consecutive days while stressing over your action research and demo teaching is apparently not good for the body... My body suddenly betrayed me and gave in to sickness, so I gotta rest for a while. I''m not the strongest night owl I was in the past now. Damn it????. And thanks for everyone patiently waiting for this update! I wasn''t able to check on y''all because pops limited my internet usage????. Chapter 622: Imperial Beast University ¡°They¡¯re looking for me!¡± Qiao Sang heard some noise, turned her head, and saw a courier approaching. She quickly put down her book, picked up the recommendation letter, and went to the window. ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Little Treasure chirped curiously at the letter. What is this? ¡°A recommendation letter from a top-tier university.¡± Qiao Sang replied while handing the letter to a bird-type pet beast wearing a green courier uniform. The bird-type pet beast casually placed the letter into its green crossbody bag and flapped its wings, flying away. At that moment, the phone on the desk vibrated. Qiao Sang walked over to check, it was the vice principal calling. Could it be that the research had made a breakthrough? Qiao Sang answered the call. She knew the vice principal well enough to understand that he wouldn¡¯t call unless it was something important. As soon as she picked up, an excited voice came through the speaker: ¡°We did it! We succeeded! We¡¯ve discovered how Fire Fang Dog evolves into Flame Hound!¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned before her face lit up with excitement. ¡°What is it?¡± She had expected progress, but she never imagined the research would be a complete success! ¡°Age! It¡¯s all about age!¡± Liu Yao said excitedly. ¡°But not just around three months old, it¡¯s Fire Fang Dogs younger than one year! Plus, as I mentioned before, they need to have strong emotional bonds with their Beast masters to suppress the effects of their first evolution!¡± ¡°When these three conditions are met, Fire Fang Dogs can evolve into Flame Hounds!¡± Damn, the thing I casually mentioned last time actually turned out to be the key to evolution¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up, and an inexplicable confidence surged in her heart. Could it be that she really had the potential to be a researcher? As Qiao Sang was lost in thought, Liu Yao continued: ¡°While age plays a role, it¡¯s also about natural talent. At first, when you suggested it was about age, we couldn¡¯t find any Fire Fang Dogs that evolved at around three months. Later, we realized that none of the Fire Fang Dogs under a year old had been tested, so we expanded the age range.¡± ¡°Even though Fire Fang Dogs evolving before one year old is rare, thankfully, the government provided ample support, allowing us to accelerate the evolution process. Soon, we successfully evolved our first Fire Fang Dog at eleven months old.¡± ¡°Then, by focusing on highly talented and young Fire Fang Dogs, we found that those with strong emotional bonds with their Beast masters evolved smoothly into Flame Hounds.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic.¡± Qiao Sang said sincerely. With these research results, her mother¡¯s pet breeding shop was bound to see a surge in business again! Liu Yao suddenly sighed. ¡°This research wouldn¡¯t have been successful without you. We were planning a celebration party and were definitely waiting for you to attend. But unfortunately, since you¡¯re on Chaosu Star, you won¡¯t be able to return in time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°You guys go ahead. You did all the research, after all. I feel like I didn¡¯t do much besides providing a suggestion at the end.¡± ¡°How could you say that?¡± Liu Yao laughed. ¡°You were the first to discover a new evolution path for Fire Fang Dogs. Without you, this research wouldn¡¯t have even started. Plus, your suggestion saved us a lot of time.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled awkwardly at the praise. Liu Yao continued, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve figured out how Flame Hounds evolve, our next step is to study how they evolve into Blazing Star Canines. You¡¯re the first Beast master to own a Blazing Star Canine, so we¡¯ll need your cooperation for this research.¡± Then, as if recalling something, he asked, ¡°Will you be returning after your college entrance exams?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Probably not. After the exams, I¡¯ll still be an exchange student on Chaosu Star for another six months. If I go back, I¡¯d spend over two months just traveling.¡± Liu Yao paused before saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll visit Chaosu Star after your exams. I need to collect some data on your Blazing Star Canine in person.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Qiao Sang agreed readily. ¡°How¡¯s everything over there?¡± Liu Yao asked after finishing the main topic. ¡°It¡¯s been great.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a grin. ¡°Today, my homeroom teacher even gave me a recommendation letter for Yulianton University.¡± Liu Yao was silent for a long time, then hesitantly asked, ¡°Yulianton University¡¯s recommendation letter?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang said, a little embarrassed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting it either. When my teacher handed it to me today, I was completely stunned.¡± Liu Yao fell silent again. So long that Qiao Sang started wondering if the signal had cut out. Then, Liu Yao finally asked, ¡°You mean the Yulianton University, the one ranked third among all interstellar top-tier academies?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ She could hear it now, he didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Unless there¡¯s another university named Yulianton, then yes.¡± Qiao Sang half-joked. Liu Yao fell silent for the third time. ¡°¡­Why did they give you a recommendation letter?¡± After a few seconds, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Qiao Sang thought for a moment before answering, ¡°Maybe because I helped the Chaosu Star¡¯s Steel Falcon undergo bond evolution, so they consider me a talented individual?¡± Liu Yao took a deep breath and said nothing. This call had given him too much to process all at once. After another long pause, Liu Yao finally spoke again. ¡°Has your brain domain reached 30%?¡± ¡°Not 30%, 39%.¡± Qiao Sang corrected. Liu Yao: ¡­ He needed a moment to process that. ¡°You bonded with a pet beast from Chaosu Star, Steel Falcon and helped it undergo bond evolution?¡± Qiao Sang hummed in affirmation. Liu Yao asked again, ¡°And Steel Falcon had no previous record of bond evolution?¡± ¡°Correct. I¡¯m the first case.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a hint of pride. Liu Yao fell silent once more. Now he understood why the high school over there gave her a recommendation letter for Yulianton University. At such a young age, with 39% brain domain activation, four pet beasts, three of which were already high-level, and among them, two had evolved into unprecedented new forms¡­ With such talent, of course they would do everything to keep her. --- Blue Star, Yuhua Region, Research Institute Liu Yao hung up the phone and stood frozen in place, lost in thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯ve lost your soul.¡± A man in a white lab coat walked in and asked upon seeing Liu Yao¡¯s expression. Liu Yao snapped out of his daze and said gravely, ¡°Qiao Sang might stay on Chaosu Star.¡± The man didn¡¯t seem concerned. ¡°She¡¯s an interstellar exchange student. It¡¯s normal for her to stay there after exams. Otherwise, she¡¯d waste two months just traveling back and forth.¡± ¡°The research on Flame Hounds evolving into Blazing Star Canine will take a long time. Even if she comes back after her exchange, we might not have made much progress by then.¡± ¡°No,¡± Liu Yao sighed. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I mean, Qiao Sang might attend university on Chaosu Star, not as an exchange student, but permanently.¡± The man froze, frowning. ¡°Why? That¡¯s not okay! If she stays there for college, what about our research?¡± Liu Yao recounted everything he had just learned. The man¡¯s eyes widened in shock. After taking a moment to process it, his face turned red with frustration. ¡°Then we absolutely can¡¯t let her study on Chaosu Star! She¡¯s from Blue Star! If she stays there after graduating, what then? No way! We can¡¯t let Chaosu Star steal such a genius!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s Yulianton University.¡± Liu Yao said helplessly. ¡°Who could refuse such a school?¡± The man clenched his teeth. ¡°They have Yulianton University, but we have the Imperial Beast University!¡± The Imperial Beast University, the second-ranked top-tier university in the entire interstellar system. ¡°We¡¯ll write a recommendation letter for her too! Between these two schools, she¡¯s bound to choose the Imperial Beast Academy!¡± Liu Yao hesitated. ¡°But the Imperial Beast University isn¡¯t under our country¡¯s jurisdiction¡­ and we might not have the authority to write her a recommendation letter.¡± The man: ¡­ Chapter 623: This Must Be A Scam! "I may not be qualified to write a recommendation letter, but that doesn''t mean no one else is!" The man gritted his teeth and said, "I''ll ask around. I refuse to believe that I don''t have a single friend who knows someone who can write one." With that, he pushed open the door and strode out. Liu Yao remained in place, deep in thought. Then, he picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed a number. He couldn''t guarantee that having a recommendation letter would get Qiao Sang into Yulianton University or the Imperial Beast University. However, given her talent, the possibility wasn''t out of the question. Instead of passively waiting for news from Chaosu Star, it was better to secure another recommendation letter for the Imperial Beast University. That way, even if she didn''t get in, at least he had done his best. After a few rings, the call connected, and a deep, steady voice came through the speaker: "Xiao Liu?" --- Chaosu Star. Qiao Sang had no idea that people on Blue Star were working hard for her sake. For the next month, she focused entirely on studying and solving practice questions, dedicating herself to preparing for the college entrance exam. She didn''t think much about the recommendation letter. After all, the Yulianton University was the third-ranked institution in the entire interstellar system. It was exciting enough just to receive a recommendation, getting her hopes up would be unnecessary. In her dormitory, after a simple wash-up, Qiao Sang took Yabao and the others to their usual outdoor training ground. "Yabao, just keep training your Illusion Flame as usual. If you get tired, you can rest or practice meditation instead." Qiao Sang instructed. "Yap!" Yabao barked, signaling his understanding. Qiao Sang then looked at Lubao. "Lubao, your Ice Flower Seal has already reached ultimate. It''s too powerful, so don''t practice it for now. Several teachers have already complained to me, saying that their beasts got frozen just by passing by." "Lu." Lubao responded calmly, as if to say that those beasts had walked into the ice themselves. One of them had even rushed in using an acceleration skill, eager to experience the snow. Qiao Sang twitched her lips. Chaosu Star had a stable temperature all year round, and weather-changing beasts were rare. Many of them had never even seen snow before. It wasn''t surprising that they would run into an ice field out of curiosity¡­ After thinking for a moment, she said, "The college entrance exam is coming up. Once it''s over, I''ll find a suitable place for you to continue training Ice Flower Seal. In the meantime, focus on practicing Ice Spike Armor, it''s a smaller-range skill." The school''s outdoor training grounds were spacious, but since many teachers'' beasts trained there as well, high-power skills couldn''t be used freely. Especially for Yabao, Hyper Beam and Hellfire had both reached the Mastery level, but she hadn''t let it practice them any further. One mistake could accidentally injure someone else''s beast. "Lu." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lubao, maintaining her usual cold demeanor, nodded, but deep inside, she was secretly pleased. Finally, she had a skill like Yabao''s that couldn''t be freely used in public training grounds. "And Gangbao, stop focusing only on Wing Blades all the time. You need to practice Iron Wall too!" Qiao Sang turned to Gangbao and lectured earnestly. "Defense skills are really important, you know!" "Gang Guard." Gangbao flapped her wings innocently. She was practicing Iron Wall! But Qiao Sang knew better. Technically, yes, she practiced Iron Wall but only enough to increase proficiency by ten points a day. Meanwhile, Wing Blades gained hundreds of points daily. It was obvious that Iron Wall was just an afterthought. If not for her special ability that let her see data, she wouldn''t have even noticed. Meanwhile, in the Sky¡­ Two women, appearing to be in their thirties, sat atop a three-meter-tall avian beast, silently observing Qiao Sang. One of them had an average appearance but an outstanding aura. She spoke first: "Qiao Sang, from Blue Star''s Dragon Nation, just turned 16 last month. The information matches. Four contracted beasts, also matches. In just one year, she evolved two of them into new forms previously unrecorded in the Alliance." The second woman, who had black hair, fair skin, and green eyes, added, "I checked the records on her 39% brain domain activation. She achieved it after consuming Veil Essence, and the results were verified twice. The records match." "I also watched her matches in the National Campus Beast Mastering League of Dragon Nation." The first woman continued. "She didn¡¯t use any items or potions, and several of her beasts'' skills have reached the Ultimate level. Her combat ability is even better than we expected." "Not only that, but she has a research achievement to her name." The green-eyed woman sighed as she gazed at Qiao Sang. "The research report on Fire Fang Dog evolving into Flame Hound includes her name. It states that she played a crucial role, not just as the owner of the test subject." "To be able to contribute meaningfully to research while on Chaosu Star¡­ That¡¯s remarkable." The first woman frowned slightly. "All the information checks out, but we sent her an interview invitation, and she hasn¡¯t responded. Why?" The green-eyed woman thought for a moment. "Maybe there was a scheduling conflict. That¡¯s why we came in person." The first woman nodded. "Applicants as promising as her are rare. Let''s hope the interview doesn¡¯t disappoint us." On the training ground, Yabao¡¯s ears twitched as if he heard something. He looked up, but saw nothing. --- Back in the Classroom. After finishing training, Qiao Sang returned to class. As soon as she sat down, Tang Yi tapped her shoulder. Qiao Sang turned around. "You didn''t stay up all night again, did you?" Tang Yi asked. "What else?" Qiao Sang sighed. "The exam is in half a month. If I don¡¯t study hard now, what if I don¡¯t score well?" Tang Yi was silent for two seconds before saying, "Didn''t you score 398 on last month¡¯s mock exam? That should be enough." "Not necessarily." Qiao Sang shook her head. "That test happened to have two big questions I had seen before. If the real exam has different types of problems, I might not do as well. I need to keep practicing. It¡¯s just half a mont, ¡ªpulling a few more all-nighters won¡¯t hurt." With that, she took out a book from her bag. Tang Yi: ¡­ Honestly, even if Qiao Sang didn''t have her beast master talent, with this kind of dedication, she could still get into Central Hollow University through pure academics. After all, how many students could stay up studying for two months straight? Just then, their homeroom teacher appeared at the door, looking extremely conflicted. "Qiao Sang, come out for a moment." The class wasn¡¯t surprised and continued their work. "Maybe she just wants to check if you slept well." Tang Yi joked. Qiao Sang ignored him and got up to follow the teacher. "Someone''s here to see you." Mu Deli said. "Who?" Qiao Sang asked. Mu Deli gave her a complicated look. "You''ll know when you see them." Who would come looking for her on Chaosu Star? Could it be the vice principal arriving early? Puzzled, Qiao Sang entered the office, only to see two unfamiliar figures. She didn¡¯t recognize them at all. The green-eyed woman smiled and extended her hand. "Hello, we¡¯re from the Imperial Beast University. We¡¯ve reviewed your application and came in person to ask when you¡¯d be available for an interview." Qiao Sang: ??? Imperial Beast University? Application? Interview? She was completely stunned. When did she ever apply to the Imperial Beast University?! This had to be a scam! Chapter 624: The Interview Qiao Sang took a step back, wary. "Did you guys make a mistake? I never applied to the Imperial Beast University." She was well aware of her own abilities. It was already a miracle if she could get into Central Hollow University, how could she possibly have applied to the Imperial Beast University? Come on, that was the most prestigious school on Blue Star, second only to the top academy in the entire interstellar system! Would someone like her, who couldn''t even reach the cutoff score for a second-tier university, be qualified to apply? And they even came all the way here just to interview her? Were they trying to scam her or what? Hearing this, her homeroom teacher, Mu Deli, looked at the two women who had presented their Imperial Beast University faculty IDs with surprise. Cecilia and Summer exchanged glances, a flicker of surprise flashing in their eyes. However, they both maintained their composure well, showing little change in expression. The woman with green eyes, Cecilia, lowered her hand and asked, "Are you Qiao Sang, from Dragon Nation on Blue Star, who came to Chaosu Star as an interstellar exchange student?" Just because you know my information doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re not scammers¡­ What''s up with the homeroom teacher? I''ve already said I didn''t apply, these two are clearly frauds! Why isn''t she exposing them? Qiao Sang complained inwardly but remained expressionless as she nodded. "That''s me. But this information isn''t exactly a secret." So that''s why they never confirmed the interview schedule¡­ It looks like someone applied on her behalf without telling her. Cecilia quickly understood and said, "Your recommendation letter was written by Professor Wang Yanmao from Dragon Nation. All the information was verified before we sought you out, so there''s no mistake." Professor Wang Yanmao...? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She had seen that name in textbooks before, he was a big shot in the research field. He wrote a recommendation letter for her? Why not just say Lin Ya wrote it instead? What kind of absurd story was this? Qiao Sang glanced at the two women in front of her, who could lie without batting an eye, with a strange expression. She ignored them and pulled her homeroom teacher aside, whispering, "Teacher, these two are scammers. I never applied to the Imperial Beast University." No matter how softly Qiao Sang spoke, her words still reached Cecilia and Summer clearly. The corners of their mouths twitched, but they said nothing, pretending not to hear. "They''re not." Mu Deli whispered back. "The school wouldn''t let just anyone in. Their identities were thoroughly checked upon entry, they are indeed teachers from the Imperial Beast University." What''s wrong with my homeroom teacher? I told her I didn¡¯t apply, and she still believes them? Qiao Sang gave her a look as if she were too gullible and said, "I heard that some mechanical-type pet beasts have skills that can alter all kinds of data." "Ahem." Summer finally couldn''t take it anymore and cleared her throat. "You can check your email. You should have received interview details from our school. The email was sent from our official address, it can''t be faked." No, that can be faked too... What was with these people? Wouldn''t I know if I had applied? Qiao Sang turned her head, deciding to be less subtle. At that moment, Cecilia added, "You applied through a recommendation letter. This kind of application doesn¡¯t necessarily require the applicant to submit it themselves. Every year, our school receives many recommendation letters, and based on them, we select a small portion of applicants for interviews." "You can contact Professor Wang Yanmao to confirm or find out who helped you secure that recommendation letter." Applicants who reached the interview stage were the top high school students across the interstellar system. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t give up on a candidate over a small misunderstanding. To be honest, Qiao Sang¡¯s qualifications were already outstanding enough that the interview was practically a formality. Otherwise, the school wouldn¡¯t have sent people over even when the applicant hadn''t confirmed the interview schedule. Qiao Sang was momentarily speechless. She had never encountered this kind of direct recommendation system in top-tier schools before. She had always thought she needed to get in through exams or special talent admissions. So even if she didn''t apply personally, a top-tier school would still take notice of a recommendation letter¡­? If that was the case, could someone have really gotten her a recommendation for the Imperial Beast University? It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, she hadn¡¯t expected Sainan High School to give her a recommendation to Yulianton University either¡­ Why did these people have so much faith in her? Did academic scores not matter to these schools? Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does the interview cost anything?" Cecilia smiled. "No." Qiao Sang remained cautious. "If I pass the interview, will there be any additional fees?" Cecilia''s mouth twitched. "No, we don¡¯t charge anything." No fees¡­ Maybe it¡¯s real. Qiao Sang fell silent, then tentatively asked, "Can we do the interview right now? Right here?" From what she¡¯d heard, these two didn¡¯t seem like scammers anymore. But she couldn¡¯t trust them completely just yet. What if they lured her to some secluded place under the pretense of an interview, only to kidnap her? For safety¡¯s sake, the interview had to happen right here at Sainan High School. The homeroom teacher would be nearby, which would greatly increase her security. Cecilia immediately agreed. "Of course!" She then turned to Mu Deli and politely asked, "Would it be possible to borrow this office?" "No problem." Mu Deli replied. After speaking, she gave Qiao Sang another complicated look before stepping out and thoughtfully closing the door behind her. The homeroom teacher is really okay with leaving me alone with two strangers¡­? She really has no doubts about their identities, huh¡­ But as soon as the teacher left, that sense of security¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She quickly formed a seal with her hands and summoned her pet beast, Yabao, who had been training. "Yap?" Yabao, confused about the sudden change in location, tilted hs head. Qiao Sang picked him up. Okay, this felt much safer. Cecilia and Summer exchanged smiles before sitting on the couch. Qiao Sang pulled up a chair and sat across from them. "The interview is simple. We just have a few questions." Cecilia said. Of course, that was a lie. For any top-tier school, the interview was the most crucial stage, it revealed whether a candidate was truly as capable as their application suggested and provided insight into their background and personality. But for someone like Qiao Sang, who wasn''t applying based on academic scores, they only needed to ask some basic questions. "Can you introduce yourself?" Cecilia asked. This question definitely felt like an interview¡­ Qiao Sang answered easily, "I''m Qiao Sang, 16 years old, a student at Shengshui High School. During my first semester of high school, I won the senior division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League and became an exchange student at Sainan High School." "My brain domain awakened on its own, and it''s currently developed to 39%. I have four pet beasts: Blazing Star Canine, Ghost Ring Phantom, Ice Xilu, and Steel Guardian Falcon." Summer nodded slightly. "What are your plans for the future?" "After the college entrance exams, I''ll focus on evolving my Blazing Star Canine." Qiao Sang replied. "Yap!" Yabao puffed out his chest, confirming his determination to evolve. The room fell silent for three seconds. "That''s it?" Summer asked in surprise. Qiao Sang nodded. "That''s it." "...Do you have any dreams?" "Yes. I want to compete in the Interstellar Cup." Qiao Sang said without hesitation. A common dream among interviewees. Cecilia and Summer weren¡¯t surprised. "Are you interested in research?" Cecilia asked. "I am, but I won¡¯t spend too much time on it." Qiao Sang replied. --- Meanwhile, in the principal''s office, a video call was in progress. The principal frowned. "Did Qiao Sang¡¯s application not go through?" A blonde man on the screen adjusted his glasses and replied coolly, "There were disagreements. Some believe that no matter how high her beast-taming talent is, her academic scores should at least meet the average threshold. They suggested she repeat a year and reapply next year, keeping her recommendation letter on hold." The principal scoffed. "Next year? Do you know that the Imperial Beast University is here interviewing her right now?" The blond man on the video call froze, his expression filled with surprise. "How is that possible? Qiao Sang''s academic scores¡­" The principal interrupted him, "It''s exactly because some of you academic types are too rigid that you''re ranked third, while others are second!" To be fair, this accusation was a bit unjust to Yulianton University. The recommendation letters sent to Yulianton University and the Imperial Beast University were not identical. The letter to the Imperial Beast University included an additional note about Qiao Sang''s involvement in the successful research and evolution of the Fire Fang Dog into the Flame Hound. The blond man pondered for a moment and said, "There may have been some miscommunication. I''ll report this matter." With that, the video call ended. --- Homeroom Teacher''s Office. Cecilia asked, "One last question, have you applied to any other top-tier academies besides ours?" Qiao Sang looked at her with a strange expression. "I never applied to your school." Cecilia: ¡­ "Do you not like our Univeristy?" Summer, who was beside her, asked. No, I just never thought I could even get into the Imperial Beast University¡­ Qiao Sang shook her head and said, "It''s not that." Hearing this, Summer smiled and said, "You''re from Blue Star. You should know that there¡¯s no better top-tier academy on Blue Star than the Imperial Beast University." Of course I know, or else I would have at least considered this school before¡­ Qiao Sang silently ridiculed in her mind but nodded on the surface. "I know." "Then, aside from our academy, have you applied to any other top-tier schools?" Cecilia asked again. "Yes, Central Hollow University." Qiao Sang paused for a moment before continuing, "And Yulianton University." Chapter 625: You Got Accepted? She actually applied to Central Hollow University¡­ It seems Qiao Sang still has deep feelings for local schools¡­ Cecilia took a letter, a pen, and a blue booklet bearing the emblem of the Imperial Beast University from her briefcase. She signed her name in the lower right corner of the letter, then stood up and handed the letter and booklet to Qiao Sang, speaking seriously: "This is an introduction to the Imperial Beast University. As for this letter, it confirms that you passed the interview. If you''re willing to join the Imperial Beast University, sign your name on the letter and burn it. Your official admission notice will be delivered to you within a week." "Once the letter is burned, an email confirming your acceptance will be sent to you within an hour. You can check it online." Qiao Sang looked down at the letter and booklet, remaining motionless for a moment. To be honest, she still had doubts about whether this was real. If the person standing before her was from Yulianton University, she might believe it, since she had personally sent the recommendation letter to them. But the Imperial Beast University had appeared out of nowhere, she had never had any prior contact with them¡­ It was like in her past life, struggling to get into Qingbei, only to suddenly have someone tell her that Harvard had taken notice of her, asked her a few casual questions, and then admitted her. It all felt too unreal. Seeing that Qiao Sang hadn''t immediately taken the letter, Cecilia assumed she was hesitating between the Imperial Beast University and Yulianton University. She added: "As someone from Blue Star, attending the Imperial Beast University is your best choice. We''re recognized as one of the top academies in the entire interstellar community. We have the best beast tamers, breeders, and coordinators, and we''ve contributed countless scientists, philosophers, and sociologists to the world." "As for Yulianton University, while I acknowledge its excellence as a top-tier institution, it has consistently ranked below us in the interstellar rankings. Compared to Yulianton, the Imperial Beast University is clearly superior in every way." "You still have six months as an exchange student on Chaosu Star. If you''re interested in Yulianton University, after enrolling at the Imperial Beast University, we can arrange for you to study at Yulianton as an exchange student for the remaining six months." "I doubt you''d want to stay on Chaosu Star forever, your family and friends are on Blue Star, aren''t they?" After speaking, Cecilia extended the letter and booklet toward Qiao Sang again. Yulianton University¡­ Uh, they haven¡¯t even contacted me¡­ Qiao Sang remained silent for a moment before finally taking the letter and booklet. Regardless of the situation, she had already attended the interview, and they hadn''t asked anything unreasonable, she might as well take it first and think later. Cecilia and Summer exchanged smiles. Summer extended his hand with a smile: "We look forward to having you at the Imperial Beast University." Qiao Sang hesitated for a second before shaking her hand. "Thank you." --- After the two left, Qiao Sang didn''t head to the cafeteria at her usual time. Instead, she summoned Little Treasure and had him teleport her straight to her dorm. Having spent so much time at Sainan High School, Little Treasure was already extremely familiar with the school''s layout. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue as he let out a soft call. The next second, Qiao Sang was in her familiar room. She put down Yabao and went straight to her computer. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure looked at Yabao with a puzzled expression. Did something happen? "Yap yap." Yabao waved his paw dismissively, indicating that it was nothing, just two humans talking to their beast tamer about some school admissions stuff. Little Treasure immediately perked up. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He glanced at Qiao Sang, then scooted closer to Yabao and whispered in a very low voice: "Xun xun?" Do the university''s beasts need to go to school? "Yap." Yabao shook his head disinterestedly. He had no idea. As Yabao and Little Treasure chatted, Qiao Sang opened her laptop. She quickly logged into her email and scrolled down. As expected, she saw an email from the Imperial Beast University. Receiving an official email wasn''t that surprising, hackers in her past life could forge official emails without even hacking into servers. Now, with so many mechanical-type beasts possessing similar capabilities, it was even easier¡­ Qiao Sang remained cautious. Even though she saw the email immediately, she would have just assumed it was a scam and ignored it. The real question was: Who had arranged for her recommendation letter? If she could confirm that someone had actually gotten her a legitimate recommendation, then this whole thing might really be true¡­ Sure, schools verified identities, but just recently in 22nd District, a man had used a beast¡¯s illusion skill to alter what security guards and teachers saw. He kidnapped a child right in front of them, and that child still hadn''t been found. Being directly approached by the Imperial Beast University for an interview was simply too absurd. If she hadn¡¯t personally applied, or if she didn¡¯t know for sure that someone had helped her submit a recommendation, she wouldn¡¯t believe it. Professor Wang Yanmao¡­ Of the people she knew, who would have been able to contact that big shot? This person was most likely on Blue Star and knew her personal details and email¡­ Qiao Sang carefully went over everyone she knew in her mind. Then, as if realizing something, she suddenly grabbed her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and dialed a number. Professor Wang Yanmao was a leading figure in the research world. Among the people she knew, the most capable researcher was the vice principal. To facilitate interstellar communication, she had even given him her email¡­ It was possible¡­ The thought that the two visitors might really be professors from the Imperial Beast University made Qiao Sang hear the rapid pounding of her own heartbeat. The call connected, and a deep voice came from the speaker: "Hello?" Qiao Sang took a deep breath and asked, "Vice Principal, did you¡­ by any chance help me get a recommendation letter for the Imperial Beast University?" The moment she asked, she held her breath. "How did you know?" The voice on the speaker sounded surprised. --- Qiao Sang sat there in a daze, only one thought echoing in her mind: It¡¯s real. This is actually real. "The people from the Imperial Beast University contacted you?!" The vice principal''s voice snapped her back to reality. Qiao Sang jolted awake, suppressing the overwhelming excitement surging through her. "Today, two people claiming to be professors from the Imperial Beast University suddenly showed up at my school, saying they wanted to interview me. After I answered a few questions, they told me I passed and that I was accepted." After speaking, another thought struck her, and she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "I really thought they were scammers¡­" The other end of the call went silent. After about five or six seconds, Liu Yao finally spoke again, his voice slightly hoarse: "You got accepted?" Chapter 626: Burn It! Liu Yao was feeling a bit dazed at the moment. He hadn¡¯t expected that the recommendation letter would actually get Qiao Sang admitted into the Imperial Beast University. Originally, he had only taken a "let¡¯s give it a try" approach¡­ So, even when the teacher told him that Professor Wang Yanmao had agreed to help write the recommendation letter, he didn¡¯t bother calling to inform Qiao Sang. Right now was the most crucial stage of preparing for the college entrance exams, and mentioning the recommendation letter might just distract her. He figured that if the Imperial Beast University really wanted Qiao Sang, they would notify her anyway, his phone call wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Besides, calling just to say he had arranged a recommendation letter would feel like he was trying to take credit and subtly imply that she should stay on Blue Star. Most importantly, he had actually been skeptical about whether Qiao Sang could get into the Imperial Beast University. No matter how talented she was, her lack of knowledge was a glaring issue. He could still remember how she had almost eaten a Flame Fruit, which was only meant for fire-type pet beasts¡­ Qiao Sang suppressed her overwhelming joy and said, ¡°I got in!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good¡­¡± Liu Yao muttered. ¡°Vice Principal, thank you for helping me get a recommendation letter for the Imperial Beast University. Without it, I wouldn¡¯t have even known I could get into such a school.¡± Qiao Sang said sincerely. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you be able to get into such a school?¡± Liu Yao composed himself and smiled. ¡°You even have a recommendation letter for Yulianton University, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I always thought recommendation letters just meant that the school had high hopes for me.¡± Qiao Sang said sheepishly. ¡°Besides, my teacher told me that a recommendation letter doesn¡¯t guarantee admission.¡± ¡°Just having a recommendation letter is enough proof of your excellence.¡± Liu Yao said. ¡°So far, Dragon Nation has never had a student with beast-taming talent as high as yours. You need to have more confidence in yourself.¡± You were clearly a little skeptical just now when you asked, "You got in?" Qiao Sang found it amusing but also touching. ¡°Still, I really appreciate it. If not for this recommendation letter, I wouldn¡¯t have been admitted to the Imperial Beast University.¡± This time, Liu Yao didn¡¯t downplay his role. Instead, he smiled and said, ¡°If you really want to thank me, just help complete the research on how the Flame Hound evolves into the Blazing Star Canine.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang nodded seriously. ¡°I will!¡± After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call. Qiao Sang put down her phone, suddenly jumped onto her bed, and rolled around excitedly several times. She got in! She actually got into the Imperial Beast University! ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Her pet, Yabao, didn¡¯t know why his beast tamer was so happy, but he was infected by her emotions and started rolling around on the bed as well. As they rolled, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She abruptly sat up, rushed to her desk, picked up the recommendation letter given by her teacher earlier, and carefully signed her name on it. Then, she turned to Yabao with unusual solemnity and said, ¡°Burn it!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded, then opened his mouth. A crimson flame, no larger than a fingernail, accurately landed on the letter. The flames licked at the paper, quickly reducing the document to ashes. --- Meanwhile. Blue Star. Imperial Beast University. Inside a simply decorated office, a white-haired old man sat at his desk, writing something with a fountain pen. The room was so quiet that the atmosphere felt heavy. ¡°Yue Yue!¡± Suddenly, a red-feathered bird-type pet beast lying on the floor opened its eyes and called out. The old man looked up. Before him, a few lines of text formed out of fire, appearing in midair. His gaze locked onto two particular words, which he murmured softly: ¡°Qiao Sang¡­¡± --- Chaosu Star. Sainan High School. Dormitory. Qiao Sang watched the letter burn to ashes with satisfaction. The Imperial Beast University was indeed special, even the way they confirmed enrollment was so unique. She wondered what kind of pet beast skill they had used for it¡­ Then, a thought struck her. She picked up her phone and dialed a very familiar number. The call was quickly answered. Before the person on the other end could speak, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Mom, I have something to tell you, but don¡¯t get too excited.¡± The background noise on the other end was loud, as if the person was in a bustling market. ¡°Huh? What did you say?¡± Her mother shouted over the noise. ¡°I said! I have something to tell you, but don¡¯t get too excited!¡± Qiao Sang raised her voice and repeated. ¡°Hold on a second!¡± Her mother yelled back. ¡°Xiao Zhang, take care of the shop for a bit, my daughter is calling me!¡± After that, it sounded like she was walking away. A dozen seconds later, the noise disappeared completely. ¡°The evolution method for Fire Fang Dogs to become Flame Hounds was just released recently, so the shop has been really busy.¡± Ye Xiangting said with a laugh. ¡°What did you want to tell me?¡± Qiao Sang tried to sound nonchalant. ¡°Oh, nothing much. I just got accepted into the Imperial Beast University.¡± Ye Xiangting froze for a moment before chuckling. ¡°You said you got into the Imperial Beast University?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qiao Sang lifted her chin proudly. ¡°I forgot to tell you, I joined the senior class here on Chaosu Star, so I¡¯m actually considered a graduating student.¡± Ye Xiangting¡¯s voice rose in anger. ¡°This is such an important matter, and you¡¯re only telling me now?!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°I wanted to surprise you after I got into university¡­¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s voice softened, trying to sound apologetic. ¡°You¡¯re only a high school freshman! How could you suddenly jump to senior year and keep up with the curriculum?¡± Ye Xiangting fumed. ¡°Which school official let you skip grades? And why didn¡¯t they discuss it with me first?!¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Qiao Sang sighed. ¡°I already got into the Imperial Beast University.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say you got into Central Hollow University while you¡¯re at it?¡± Ye Xiangting scoffed. ¡°I was actually planning to apply for Central Hollow University.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°I already passed their special admissions, so I just needed to score above 325 on the entrance exam. But today, two professors from the Imperial Beast University suddenly showed up to interview me, and then they said I got in.¡± ¡°Central Hollow University is nowhere near as prestigious as the Imperial Beast University. Of course, I¡¯m choosing Imperial Beast University.¡± After speaking, Qiao Sang remembered how even she had taken a while to believe it herself, so she added, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll send you a picture of the admission letter when it arrives. And if you still don¡¯t believe me, you can come with me on my first day and see for yourself.¡± Ye Xiangting fell silent. She knew her daughter¡¯s personality. Qiao Sang could joke around, but she wouldn¡¯t go out of her way to make an interstellar long-distance call just to make up something like this¡­ After a moment of hesitation, Ye Xiangting asked, ¡°You really got into the Imperial Beast University?¡± Qiao Sang smiled at the shift in tone. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± ¡°When the admission letter arrives, send me a picture immediately.¡± Ye Xiangting instructed. ¡°I promise I will!¡± Qiao Sang said firmly. ¡°Anything else?¡± Ye Xiangting asked. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up, there¡¯s a lot of work at the shop.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Wait! Make sure you eat well, dress warmly, and tell me if you need more money.¡± ¡°I got it, Mom!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand your classes, hire a tutor.¡± ¡°Mom, I already got into the Imperial Beast University¡­¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± --- Blue Star. Yuhua District. Hanggang City, Zehai Province. Ya Zai Pet Beast Breeding Shop. Ye Xiangting dazedly put down her phone. Then, as if realizing something, she opened her social media and started typing a post: "My daughter just told me¡­" She hesitated, then deleted the text. Forget it. It¡¯s too unbelievable. Better wait for the admission letter first¡­ ----- T/n: If you guys see a wrong spelling or sumthing, you didn''t. (My glasses snapped literally in half so I''m squinting hard while doing this.???? My phone is almost 10 inches away from my face and I''m still squinting. Damn I''m blind.) Chapter 627: Admission Letter Since she was sure she had been admitted to the Imperial Beast University, skipping the next half-month of classes wouldn¡¯t be a big deal¡­ Suddenly, Qiao Sang had the urge to skip the afternoon classes altogether. But then, she remembered something and decided to tidy up before leaving the dormitory. Her knowledge in certain areas was indeed lacking, so it was still necessary to attend classes. Besides, there wasn¡¯t anywhere else she could go on Chaosu Star. She would wait until she officially received the admission letter from the Imperial Beast University in a week before making further decisions¡­ With that thought, Qiao Sang started walking towards the cafeteria. ¡°Xun xun?¡± At that moment, Little Treasure, who had seemingly been holding back for a long time, finally spoke up, asking if pet beasts in university also needed to attend classes. I have no idea¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, ¡°They probably don¡¯t have to. I heard that university beast tamers and their pet beasts participate in activities together.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Hearing this, Little Treasure''s eyes curved with joy, and he happily floated around in a circle. Qiao Sang looked at him with a soft expression. Forget it. On such a happy day, she should let Little Treasur enjoy himself too¡­ --- 2:12 PM. Qiao Sang was sitting in the classroom, snacking on sunflower seeds while playing on her phone. Tang Yi walked in and immediately noticed this scene. He sat down in his seat, astonished. ¡°You¡¯re not reading?¡± Qiao Sang continued munching on sunflower seeds. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°There¡¯s no class. Why would I read?¡± Tang Yi was momentarily stunned. ¡°But don¡¯t you usually love reading the most?¡± Qiao Sang glanced at him. ¡°Who said that?¡± Tang Yi: ??? Does this even need to be said? Everyone knows that you spend almost all 24 hours of the day buried in a book! ¡°You¡­ You haven¡¯t been possessed by someone else, have you?¡± Tang Yi gasped in mock horror. Qiao Sang paused, then put down her sunflower seeds, leaned in slightly, and whispered, ¡°I got into the Imperial Beast University, so I don¡¯t need to prepare for the entrance exams anymore.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Tang Yi shot up from his seat, exclaiming, ¡°You got into the Imperial Beast University?!¡± All the classmates turned to look at her in shock. Qiao Sang cleared her throat and said in a composed manner, ¡°Keep it low-key.¡± ¡°Answer me first!¡± Tang Yi couldn¡¯t stay low-key at all. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Qiao Sang tried to suppress the upward curve of her lips as she said, ¡°Someone helped me send a recommendation letter to the Imperial Beast University. This morning, after class, a professor from the University came to interview me, and I passed.¡± Tang Yi stared at her in disbelief for a long moment before sitting down, his expression dazed. He mumbled, ¡°You monster¡­¡± Please, just call me a genius¡­ Qiao Sang internally retorted but held back from saying it out loud, worried it might sound too arrogant. Suddenly, Yuna, who was sitting nearby, hesitantly asked, ¡°You really got into the Imperial Beast University?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°You¡¯re not going to Yulianton University anymore?¡± Yuna pressed further. Everyone at school had already heard about how, a month ago, Qiao Sang had received a recommendation letter for Yulianton University. It wasn¡¯t exactly a secret, every year, the student with the highest accumulated points was usually the one to receive it. Can I just say that Yulianton University never even contacted me? ¡­Qiao Sang inwardly complained but outwardly remained composed as she replied, ¡°I¡¯m from Blue Star. It¡¯s more convenient for me to study at a school from my own planet.¡± Of course, she couldn¡¯t outright say the real reason. The Imperial Beast University and Yulianton University had always been rivals, and saying that would made the academy lose face. Ever since she burned the Yulianton University letter, Qiao Sang had considered herself a student of the Imperial Beast University. After a slight pause, she added, ¡°Besides, in the first semester of my freshman year, I¡¯ll be doing an exchange program at Yulianton University. So technically, I¡¯ll have studied there too.¡± Getting into the second-best university in the entire interstellar system and then going to the third-best university for an exchange semester¡­ Yuna suddenly felt a pang of self-doubt. For the first time in her life, she realized just how vast the gap between people could be. The rest of the class, listening to their conversation, looked at Qiao Sang with expressions that ranged from admiration to envy. Though none of them would have trouble getting into top-tier universities, schools like Yulianton University and the Imperial Beast University were simply out of their reach¡­ For a while, the atmosphere in the classroom became a little heavy. --- Qiao Sang¡¯s successful direct admission to the Imperial Beast University quickly spread across the entire school, making her once again the center of attention at Sainan High School. However, this didn¡¯t affect her life much. Students at Sainan High were naturally reserved, keeping a polite distance in social interactions. Aside from a handful of them who couldn¡¯t resist coming over to see her when her pet beast, Steel Falcon, evolved into Steel Guardian Falcon, most people merely discussed the news from afar. A week passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Qiao Sang ate and slept well. She felt refreshed, no longer plagued by the dizziness caused by late-night study sessions. In fact, her mind had never felt clearer. --- 8:13 PM. Qiao Sang sat in front of her computer, browsing the various items she could redeem with her points. In a few days, she would be leaving Sainan High School. Since one point was worth 100,000 alliance coins on the market, she might as well use them all before she left. [Name: Magical Hood] Function: By absorbing a pet beast¡¯s energy and aura, it can conceal the beast¡¯s appearance. Note 1: This item only covers the head, leaving the rest of the body unchanged. Note 2: If used on one pet beast and then switched to another, it must be thoroughly cleaned first;otherwise, it will still carry the previous beast¡¯s aura, reducing its effectiveness. Note 3: The hood¡¯s size automatically adjusts to fit head circumferences between 10 cm and 1.9 m. Points Required: 50 --- Disguising a pet beast¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t seem all that useful, but the hood¡¯s design looked stylish. It would probably look great on Gangbao¡­ Qiao Sang thought as she examined the images of the hood. Just as she was about to call Gangbao over to ask her opinion, her computer screen suddenly went black. Then, a barely visible ripple appeared in the center of the screen. The ripple spread outward in concentric circles, growing larger and larger. Out of the screen emerged a complexly structured mechanical claw with a dark iron sheen. The claw was holding an envelope larger than an A4 sheet of paper. The envelope was sealed with intricate golden wax. Qiao Sang was startled, staring blankly at the mechanical claw, unable to react at first. Seeing no one take the envelope, the claw trembled slightly, as if urging her to hurry up and take it. What the hell¡­? Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment before accepting the envelope. The mechanical claw, as if sentient, gave a small wave before silently retreating back into the screen, disappearing without a trace. A second later, the screen returned to normal. Qiao Sang lowered her head, looking at the envelope. Suddenly realizing something, she perked up with excitement and eagerly tore it open. Inside was a red folder with embossed gold lettering, elegant yet prestigious in design. On the cover, the words were printed clearly: [Imperial Beast University Admission Letter] Chapter 628: Leaving School It really was an admission letter¡­ Who would have thought it would be delivered this way? At that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s interest in mechanical-type pet beasts skyrocketed. Just imagine arguing with someone online. The other person arrogantly says, ¡°Come at me if you dare!¡± Qiao Sang chuckles, glances at her mechanical pet beast. The mechanical pet immediately understands, reaches into the computer, follows the internet connection, finds the other person, slap! A solid smack right across the face. (T/n: Me to annoying fictional characters????) How satisfying would that be? Lost in her daydream, Qiao Sang opened the acceptance letter. A video appeared out of thin air above it. On screen, a middle-aged white woman with half-gray hair smiled and said, ¡°Congratulations on being admitted to the Imperial Beast University. I am Headmistress Theresa Dwight. I know you must have many thoughts, ¡®Is this the right place for me? Do I truly belong here?¡¯ I assure you, we see many shining qualities in you, even ones you may not have noticed yourself. You will find your place here.¡± ¡°Freshman Qiao Sang, welcome to the Beast Taming Department at Imperial Beast University.¡± The video ended. Beast Taming Department¡­ Qiao Sang fell into thought. This was always a top-tier major in elite academies. She had read about it in the blue brochure given by the Imperial Beast University instructor. Their Beast Taming Department ranked second across the interstellar domain and first on Blue Star, one of the academy¡¯s most prestigious and competitive fields. Since she planned to pursue a career as a professional beast tamer, this department was indeed a great fit for her¡­ Closing the admission letter, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She picked up her phone and snapped a few pictures of the letter. Then, she reopened it, sure enough, the video played again. Once it finished, she took pictures of the video content as well and sent them to her mom. After doing all this, she opened her social media for the first time in a while, selected one of the photos, and posted it with a caption: ¡°I didn¡¯t even take the college entrance exam, yet I got into university. Never saw that coming.¡± Looking at her post, Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction. This was the Imperial Beast University. If she didn¡¯t flex a little, it would be a crime against nature. --- Blue Star. Yuhua Region, Zhejiang Sea Province, Hanggang City Under the night sky, the Ya Zai Pet Beast Breeding Shop was still brightly lit. ¡°Boss, you should go home. It¡¯s already late, and we¡¯ve got it covered here.¡± A young, sweet-looking girl said. ¡°There¡¯ve been too many customers lately. If I leave, you¡¯ll all be overwhelmed.¡± Ye Xiangting replied, exhaustion visible on her face. ¡°The junior high students are about to awaken their mental domains soon, and the internet just revealed the evolution method for Fire Fang Dogs into Flame Hounds, of course, we¡¯re busy.¡± The young man beside her, handsome yet equally tired, added, ¡°I bet we¡¯ll be slammed for at least another two months.¡± Ye Xiangting picked up her phone and said, ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard during this period. Close up in an hour, and dinner¡¯s on me-¡± Her voice suddenly cut off. The employees looked at their boss, only to see her staring blankly at her phone screen. Then, in the next instant, she became visibly excited, her eyes shining with an almost tearful glow, as if she had seen something incredible. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The female employee asked curiously. Ye Xiangting looked up, eyes brimming with emotion, and announced, ¡°She got in! My daughter got into Imperial Beast University!¡± The store fell silent. The employees exchanged bewildered glances, momentarily wondering if they had misheard. Imperial Beast University? The top-ranked university on Blue Star, first among all elite academies? But¡­ wasn¡¯t the boss¡¯s daughter only a high school sophomore?! Before anyone could voice their doubts, Ye Xiangting grabbed her bag, dialed a number while rushing out the door, and turned back to excitedly declare, ¡°Go home, go home! Everyone take the night off! Tomorrow, dinner¡¯s on me!¡± The employees stood frozen in place. A few seconds later, the young male employee swallowed hard and hesitantly asked, ¡°Did the boss¡¯s daughter really get into Imperial Beast University?¡± The older male employee beside him nodded. ¡°Judging by her reaction¡­ it seems real.¡± Silence fell over them once more. Imperial Beast University was a place far beyond their reach, even Yuhua University was already an unattainable dream. Now, someone close to them, albeit unseen, had actually been admitted to this legendary institution. It felt surreal. Then, the sweet-looking female employee suddenly spoke up: ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t the boss¡¯s daughter still in sophomore year? Did she get direct admission to Imperial Beast University?¡± At that, the store fell silent yet again. --- High in the Sky. ¡°Who got you that recommendation letter?! Tell me so I can take them out for a meal!¡± Ye Xiangting, riding on her Glide Owl, exclaimed excitedly into the phone. ¡°It was the vice principal. He asked Professor Wang Yanmao to arrange it for me.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°That vice principal is amazing, he still looks after you even though you¡¯re not at school anymore.¡± Ye Xiangting laughed. ¡°Send me his contact info. I have to treat him to dinner.¡± So she finally believed me after seeing the admission letter¡­ Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Alright.¡± Ye Xiangting suddenly thought of something and said happily, ¡°Now that you¡¯re in Imperial Beast University, you don¡¯t even need to take the college entrance exam!¡± Qiao Sang hummed in agreement. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll take it.¡± Ye Xiangting considered this and suggested, ¡°You should go anyway, just for the experience. You only get one chance to take the entrance exam.¡± Having already gone through it once in her past life, Qiao Sang had no desire to experience it again. She was just about to tell her mom that she planned to leave school early to find a volcano where Yabao could evolve- But before she could say anything, her mom happily said, ¡°Alright then, get some rest. I have something to take care of. Talk later!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Before Qiao Sang could react, the call had already ended. Qiao Sang: ¡­ What could be so urgent that she hung up so fast? She put down her phone, checked the time, it wasn¡¯t too late by Blue Star''s clock. Ten minutes later, she called her mom again, intending to inform her about leaving school early. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy¡­¡± Qiao Sang hung up. Twenty minutes later... ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy¡­¡± Who¡¯s she talking to for so long? Qiao Sang muttered as she hung up again. One hour later... The same automated message played. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She put down her phone, deep in thought. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was Mom calling all our distant relatives to tell them I got into Imperial Beast University¡­? --- On Blue Star. Ye Xiangting continued calling people well into the next morning. Though she had dark circles under her eyes, her energy was through the roof. After making sure she had contacted everyone she could think of, she still felt unsatisfied. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She grabbed an old address book, flipped through the pages, and started dialing numbers. ¡°Zhang Li! It¡¯s me, Ye Xiangting, your elementary school desk mate! I feel like we haven¡¯t had a class reunion in forever¡­ Let¡¯s have one soon! Don¡¯t worry about money, I¡¯ll cover everything. Just show up!¡± --- Chaosu Star. At dawn, Qiao Sang woke up naturally, skipping her usual early morning trip to send Yabao and the others to training. She took her time freshening up, dressed in casual clothes, prepared energy pills for her pet beasts, then leisurely sat at the table, savoring her breakfast. She usually ate in a hurry, but eating slowly like this¡­ somehow made the food taste better. After finishing her milk, Qiao Sang packed her belongings into Little Treasure¡¯s storage ring. Once everything was set, she held Yabao, slung a backpack containing Lubao, and left her dorm room, stepping toward the school''s gates. She had already informed her homeroom teacher about leaving early. With the college entrance exam approaching, roads would soon face traffic restrictions. And after the exam, students would flood travel destinations. It was better to leave now while travel was convenient and crowds were minimal to find Kotea Volcano and help Yabao evolve. Chapter 629: 19th District The 19th District. Qiao Sang stepped off the airship, holding Yabao in her arms, and walked forward. "Lu Lu." A pet beast with a mostly brown-gray body, resembling a baboon, approached her, pointed at the backpack on her back, then flexed its arms to show off its developed muscles. By now, Qiao Sang was no longer completely clueless about the situation on Chaosu Star. She pulled out a ten coins from her pocket and handed it to the pet beast in front of her, smiling as she said, "No need to help carry my bag. Can you tell me which direction leads to the subway?" "Lu Lu." The baboon-like pet beast took the money, grinned, and pointed to the left. Qiao Sang thanked it and, without hesitation, walked to the right. The "Directionally-Challenged Baboon" was a mid-tier ground-type pet beast. Forget about distinguishing north, south, east, and west, it couldn¡¯t even tell left from right. Yet, it had an odd habit of enthusiastically giving people directions. She had read in a book that if one encountered a Directionally-Challenged Baboon offering to carry things or give directions, it was best not to refuse. Otherwise, it would follow persistently until the person needed its help. After about twenty minutes, Qiao Sang successfully arrived at the subway station and followed her pre-planned route onto the train. The 19th District was classified as a Mid-Tier Ten District, yet the number of wild pet beasts here was no fewer than in the Lower Ten Districts. The district was divided into two parts by the Kotea Volcano: Left Pang City, where a large number of wild pet beasts roamed. Right Pang City, the most prosperous area in the 19th District, home to nearly seventy percent of its population. For the same building design, housing prices in Right Pang City were nearly five times higher than in Left Pang City. Despite this, people in the 19th District still worked desperately to afford a home in Right Pang City because safety was the most important thing. Before coming here, Qiao Sang had already researched the 19th District thoroughly. Last night, she had booked a hotel in advance. She had carefully considered where to stay. The Kotea Volcano was an active volcano, meaning it could still erupt. Naturally, no one lived nearby, and only wild pet beasts roamed the area. So, she immediately ruled out staying in Left Pang City. With so many wild pet beasts and poor regulation, the danger wasn¡¯t the only issue, one might even wake up in the middle of the night to find a wild pet beast had broken into the room. According to news reports, residents of Left Pang City frequently complained about wild pet beasts barging in while they were showering or during... intimate moments. As for the Beast Taming Center in Right Pang City, it was located in the busiest area. While convenient for daily life, it was too far from the Kotea Volcano. She wasn¡¯t coming here just to visit the volcano once and immediately complete Yabao''s evolution. Since Kotea Volcano erupted approximately every half-month, she planned to make two trips: 1. The first trip would significantly boost Yabao¡¯s stats and observe if he had any reaction to the volcano. Evolution was a one-time event, she couldn¡¯t afford to make the wrong decision. 2. She also needed to wait for the vice principal to arrive. So, she had to find a hotel that was: Close to Kotea Volcano. In a relatively safe area. Had a large-scale training ground. Available for long-term stays (over a month). The Sota Hotel was the perfect choice. It was only a ten-minute drive from Kotea Volcano. From the most expensive panoramic room, she could see the volcano from a distance and track eruptions in real time. Little Treasure could instantly teleport to any location within visible range. Only one kilometer away, there was a large outdoor public training ground. Except during holidays, when some tourists came to see the volcano, the place was usually empty. This meant she could unleash destructive skills without disturbing others'' pet beasts. Just then, the train''s announcement played: "Terry Station has arrived. Please take your belongings and prepare to disembark." As the train doors opened, Qiao Sang stood up. A crowd of people rushed in, brushing past her. Just as she was about to step off the train- She suddenly felt her pocket become lighter. Qiao Sang paused, reached into her pocket- Where was the Chan Chan Stone?! She froze for a moment, then quickly turned back to scan the crowd that had just entered. Who stole her Chan Chan Stone?! Or did someone just try to steal something from her pocket without realizing what they took? The Chan Chan Stone was probably asleep, or it would have reacted... Qiao Sang frowned and raised her voice: "Who took my Chan Chan Stone?!" Just then, the train doors closed. "Next stop, Nuss Station." The broadcast announced. People inside the carriage turned to look at her- First, their gazes landed on Qiao Sang. Then, they shifted to Yabao. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was carrying a pet beast¡­ One by one, they averted their eyes and remained silent. Qiao Sang sighed and released her grip. "Yap!" Yabao leaped to the ground, baring his teeth, then began growing larger and larger. The passengers panicked. Some screamed, while others scrambled to back away. Qiao Sang''s voice remained calm: "I''ll ask one more time. Who took my Chan Chan Stone?" "It was him!" A white-haired woman grabbed a thin-faced boy beside her and shouted, "I saw him reach into your pocket just now!" The boy remained silent, his head lowered. Qiao Sang stared at him. After a brief pause, the boy suddenly pulled out the Chan Chan Stone, then hurled it toward her before breaking free from the woman¡¯s grip and running toward another carriage. Qiao Sang ignored him. She simply reached out and caught the Chan Chan Stone effortlessly. "Chan Chan..." The Chan Chan Stone was still fast asleep, completely unaware that it had almost been kidnapped. Yabao shrank back to his smaller form. The passengers breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, the announcement played again: "Nuss Station has arrived. Please take your belongings and prepare to disembark." The train doors opened. Qiao Sang returned the Chan Chan Stone to her pocket and stepped out, with Yabao following close behind. Nuss Station, this was already Left Pang City''s territory... Qiao Sang glanced around. All around her, wild pet beasts were either lying down or walking about, their numbers surging dramatically compared to before. She had almost forgotten about this. After a moment of thought, she formed a hand seal, preparing to summon Gangbao. The Mid-Tier Ten Districts were clearly much more chaotic than the Upper Ten Districts. On the subway, Yabao and Lubao¡¯s three-meter forms were too inconvenient to use at full size. Little Treasure was too small to deter thieves. Gangbao, at just over a meter tall, could ride the subway, and serve as a deterrent. The bright orange summoning array flared to life. Most people in Left Pang City were either ordinary citizens or low-level beast tamers. Upon seeing the orange star array, they instinctively felt a chill and hurriedly avoided her path. Nearby, the thin-faced boy froze in place, staring at Qiao Sang with flickering eyes. Then, a man in black, sporting a thin mustache, smacked him on the back of the head. "Stupid brat! Who told you to steal from a beast tamer?!" Chapter 630: Save Me The boy instinctively covered his head and explained: "I saw her holding a pet beast, so I thought she wasn¡¯t a strong beast master." The man with two mustaches yanked him aside and warned, "I told you, even F-rank beast masters aren''t people you can mess with!" The boy lowered his head, making it hard to see his expression. "I understand." "Lift your head." The mustached man said as he looked at the approaching subway. "Get back to work." Qiao Sang stepped into the train with Gangbao. "Next stop: Terry Station." The broadcast announcement played as the subway doors closed. Qiao Sang found a seat and sat down. Gangbao stayed beside her, causing the other passengers to instinctively keep their distance. Beast masters weren¡¯t exactly rare, but most passengers on this subway came from the lower District, ordinary people who commuted daily to work in Left Pang City. They were used to maintaining distance from beast masters. Suddenly, a thin figure sat down beside her. Qiao Sang was scrolling through her phone and didn¡¯t pay attention. She was checking her social media. The last time she posted was when she shared her acceptance letter to the Imperial Beast University. Other than some relatives and a few random acquaintances, her old classmates hadn¡¯t left any comments. She thought they had simply lost touch over time. But now, seeing the flood of replies, she realized it was the weekend, and everyone had just gotten their phones back. Poor high schoolers¡­ Qiao Sang silently sympathized with those who still had to hand in their phones during school. [Where did you get that pic? It actually looks real.] [If I didn¡¯t know you were a slacker, I might¡¯ve believed it.] [How¡¯s the pet beasts on Chaosu Star? Any you want to contract with?] [Whoa! You actually posted something! But what the heck is this?] [Send me the original image! I wanna Photoshop my name onto an acceptance letter too!] [So that¡¯s what the Imperial Beast University acceptance letter looks like. Cool. But more importantly, how are you playing on your phone?!] S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang smiled as she read the comments. "Gang Guard!" Suddenly, Gangbao''s wing stretched past Qiao Sang¡¯s lap and pressed firmly against the pocket on her other side. Feeling the movement, Qiao Sang looked down and saw Gangbao pinning a hand that was reaching into her pocket. No way¡­ Qiao Sang turned her head and saw a somewhat familiar face. Brown hair, gaunt features, he looked malnourished. It was the same boy who had stolen the Chan Chan stone not long ago. Seriously? You again? You only target me or what? Qiao Sang''s mouth twitched. She had even summoned Gangbao instead of Yabao, yet someone still dared to try stealing from her. And it was the same person, this is just outrageous. Did she look like an easy target? "Steel Treasure, don¡¯t let him run." Qiao Sang said as she pulled out her phone to call the police. She had originally let it slide because he was young and she didn¡¯t want to waste time. But now that he had stolen from her twice, she had no reason to let it go. She had even taken a different route and still ran into him, this guy was definitely a repeat offender and needed to be properly educated at the police station. "Yap!" Before Gangbao could respond, Yabao placed his paw on the boy¡¯s hand and let out a cry, signaling that he had things under control and wouldn¡¯t let him escape. "Gang Guard." Gangbao nodded and retracted her wing. She was sitting on the other side of her beast master, so holding the boy down like that was inconvenient. Yabao was currently in his smaller form, with tiny paws that looked soft and cute, completely non-threatening. But the boy was frozen in fear, unable to move. Qiao Sang assumed he remembered Yabao''s full size and knew he couldn¡¯t escape. "Please don¡¯t call the police!" A voice suddenly spoke up in front of her. Qiao Sang looked up and saw a man in his thirties wearing black, sporting two mustaches. "My kid is still young. Can you let him go just this once? I¡¯ll make sure to discipline him." The man pleaded sincerely. Then, he smacked the boy¡¯s head hard and scolded, "Hurry up and apologize to the beast master!" Beast master¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. To be honest, this was the first time someone had called her that. The boy hesitated before murmuring, "I¡¯m sorry." At the same time, Qiao Sang felt something and tensed up internally, though her expression remained unchanged. Passengers nearby began to watch. Seeing Qiao Sang remain silent, some of them, driven by sympathy, spoke up. "Let it go, he¡¯s just a kid." "He¡¯ll probably get punished at home. I doubt he¡¯ll do it again." "His dad¡¯s right here. There won¡¯t be a next time." Most of the passengers were ordinary people. They envied beast masters but naturally sympathized with those like them. Seeing that Qiao Sang was also young, they instinctively sided with the boy. Others simply stayed out of it, unwilling to get involved. Seeing the crowd support him, the mustached man thought the matter was settled. He reached out to pull the boy back- "Yap!" Yabao bared his fangs, revealing a fierce expression. The mustached man flinched and retracted his hand. He remembered what this pet beast looked like at full size. Three meters tall, taking up most of a subway car, absolutely terrifying. The surrounding passengers fell silent. They only dared to speak because the beast master had stayed quiet. But if she or her beast made a move, they wouldn¡¯t dare say another word. "Terry Station has arrived. Please gather your belongings and prepare to exit." The broadcast announcement played. Ignoring everyone, Qiao Sang grabbed the boy and stepped off the train while speaking into her phone: "Someone tried to steal from me on the subway. I¡¯m at Terry Station now¡­" The boy stayed silent, not resisting as he was led away. The mustached man glared at his back but, after hesitating, chose not to follow. The doors closed. His son just got taken away, and he¡¯s not following? The passengers gave the man strange looks. The mustached man ignored them, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. "Is Mr. Fain at Terry Station right now?" --- At Terry Station. Qiao Sang let go of the boy¡¯s arm. "He didn¡¯t follow us." When the boy had apologized earlier, she had felt his hand writing two words in her pocket: [Save me.] The boy turned to make sure the man wasn¡¯t there, then sincerely said, "Thank you!" Then, as if realizing something, he asked, "Did you really call the police?" Qiao Sang nodded. "I did." She had initially wanted the police to lecture him, but if he was telling the truth, it¡¯d be better to have them hear his side of the story. "That¡¯s good." The boy let out a small sigh of relief. He actually seemed relieved¡­? Qiao Sang asked, "Can you tell me what¡¯s really going on?" The boy hesitated before saying, "I will. But can you stay until the police arrive?" Obviously, I¡¯m the one who called them. Qiao Sang nodded. "Yap!" Just then, Yabao growled. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes flickered. She smiled. "We should change locations first." What? The boy was confused. "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang called. "Xun~" Little Treasure materialized, his eyes glowing blue. The boy flinched. Before he could react, everything went black. The ground beneath him rippled into soft, sand-colored waves. From behind a pillar, a middle-aged man in a black bowler hat stepped out, frowning. "Spatial shift¡­" Chapter 631: Everyone Has A Ghost-Type Beast T/n: Thank you to that big Ko-Fi supporter, @Breach254, for your support!!! ???? ----- When the boy¡¯s vision regained clarity, he found himself standing on a bustling street. His face showed shock and bewilderment. After a few seconds of daze, the boy exclaimed, "Was that teleportation?" "No, that was spatial shift." Qiao Sang corrected. Was there a difference between teleportation and spatial shift? The boy, who had never systematically learned about such things, wasn''t sure. But he knew now wasn¡¯t the time to be curious. "You¡¯re really an amazing beast tamer." The boy looked at Qiao Sang and said sincerely. Qiao Sang accepted the compliment without hesitation and said, "Let¡¯s find a place to sit. I¡¯ll call the police again." "Okay." The boy nodded obediently without objection. The two walked into a caf¨¦ across the street. After placing an order, Qiao Sang glanced around and casually picked a seat. The boy sat across from her. Qiao Sang dialed the police and, after providing her location, hung up. "Now, can you tell me what happened?" Qiao Sang asked. The boy glanced around, remained silent for a few seconds, and then spoke: "My name is Tim. I¡¯m from the 26th District. Two years ago, someone offered me a job opportunity and took me to the 19th District." At this point, a pained expression crossed his face. "I didn¡¯t know they were involved in such shady business. They made me steal, pretend to be pitiful to beg for money, and sometimes even lure aggressive wild pet beasts into crowded places." "I just wanted to earn some money. But later, I discovered that many others like me had been tricked too, and some were even kidnapped by them." "I thought about escaping, but some of them were beast tamers. I had no chance." "So, I decided to steal from those beast tamers, because only another beast tamer could stand a chance against them. But those tamers either let me go or beat me up¡­ until I met you." Gangbao quietly listened, looking thoughtful. So, humans could also end up in such miserable situations... Just as I thought, he was being controlled... But why lure aggressive wild pet beasts into crowds? Is there a way to profit from that? Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dwell on the question and instead asked: "Are they an organization? How many people? Are there many beast tamers among them?" Tim thought for a moment before answering, "They are definitely an organization, but I don¡¯t know the exact number. What I do know is that there are quite a few beast tamers among them, and¡­" At this point, he instinctively glanced at Little Treasure before continuing, "Most of those beast tamers have a ghost-type pet beast." "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure pouted. You could just say it, why look at me when mentioning ghost-type pet beasts¡­ A ghost-type pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang was no longer a newbie who had to look everything up online. The moment she heard this, she immediately connected it to what she knew about ghost-types. Different pet beasts have various evolutionary paths and ways of absorbing energy. Most ghost-type pet beasts feed on strange and eerie energies, converting them into their own power. For example, human dreams, resentment, fear, regret, and even life itself¡­ No wonder¡­ Something felt off about all this¡­ How much money can you even make from stealing? Beast tamers have high social status on Chaosu and have many ways to make money, winning just two matches in a pet beast arena could earn them what an ordinary person might take a month to earn. And leading aggressive wild pet beasts into crowds doesn¡¯t seem profitable at all¡­ But if their goal was to collect fear to feed their ghost-type pet beasts, then it makes perfect sense¡­ After piecing everything together, Qiao Sang reassured him, "It¡¯s all in the past now. Just tell the police everything when they arrive." She had no intention of getting further involved. A group of beast tamers with ghost-type pet beasts could be capable of anything. A situation like this was best left to the police. Tim nodded. "Yeah, I understand." "Miss, here¡¯s your coffee and milk." The waiter placed the drinks on the table. Qiao Sang pushed the milk toward him. "This is for you." "Thank you¡­" Tim was momentarily stunned before carefully taking a sip. Just then, a man in a police uniform walked in. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His uniform was too eye-catching, making it easy for Qiao Sang to spot him at first glance. The man had a thick beard and a tall but not overly imposing build. He scanned the room as if searching for someone, then his gaze landed on Qiao Sang. After studying her for a moment, he walked over. "Hello, did you call the police?" Qiao Sang nodded slightly. "Yes, that was me." The bearded officer looked at Tim and confirmed, "So, this is the boy who stole from you on the subway?" Tim stood up and nervously stood to the side. "He did steal from me." Qiao Sang said, "But he was being controlled." "This case seems more complicated than I thought. I¡¯ll need to take him to the station." The officer said, giving Tim a deep look. "I¡¯ll have to trouble you to come with me." Tim didn¡¯t seem relieved by the police¡¯s arrival. Instead, he looked at Qiao Sang seriously and asked, "Can you tell me your name?" Qiao Sang didn¡¯t answer. She took a sip of her coffee and instead asked, "Don¡¯t I need to go to the station too?" The bearded officer hesitated for a moment before smiling. "No need." With that, he grabbed Tim¡¯s arm and prepared to leave. Tim didn¡¯t move. He looked at the beast tamer who had helped him, full of anticipation, hoping she would tell him her name. Qiao Sang set down her coffee cup, rubbed her temples, and said flatly, "I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t let you take him." "Why?" The officer frowned. Because I¡¯m way too familiar with the process of reporting a crime¡­ This is full of holes. There are so many people here, yet the moment you walked in, you somehow already knew I was the one who called? And most importantly, you won¡¯t even let me go to the station to give my statement? What kind of logic is that¡­ Qiao Sang silently ridiculed in her mind while keeping a calm and unreadable expression. Tim seemed to realize something, his face filling with fear as he struggled free from the bearded man¡¯s grip. The officer¡¯s face darkened, but he maintained his persona. "If you don¡¯t cooperate, I¡¯ll have to use force." Just as he finished speaking, he heard a voice beside him. "Little Treasure." The bearded man¡¯s heart tightened. He immediately released Tim and shouted, "Shadow Ambush!" A dark shadow shot out from his own shadow, swiftly crawling along the ground toward Qiao Sang. Just as the shadow was about to strike, Qiao Sang suddenly vanished, along with Gangbao, Little Treasure, and Yabao. The bearded man¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Realizing something, he turned his head, only to find that Tim had also disappeared. "!!!" The man couldn¡¯t hold back and cursed, "Fuck!" He took a deep breath and immediately turned to leave. "Sir!" A waiter called out to him. The bearded man turned back, his face grim. The waiter hesitated before saying, "That lady hasn¡¯t paid yet." Bearded Man: ... In a narrow alley, Tim still looked shaken. "Wasn¡¯t that guy a cop?" "He probably wasn¡¯t." Qiao Sang replied. Tim fell silent. At that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s phone vibrated. She glanced at the caller ID but didn¡¯t answer. "No need to wait for the police. I¡¯ll take you there myself." Qiao Sang said. ----- T/n: Thank y''all for being so patient with me???? I''ve been busy as hell but I finally got time to do this! Chapter 632: Space Lockdown Qiao Sang never considered herself an absolute good person, nor someone who meddled unnecessarily. But the boy in front of her was someone she had brought out of the subway. Ensuring his safe arrival at the police station was something she felt she could manage. The man in a police uniform who had just appeared was far too suspicious, arriving even earlier than the actual police. There were only two possibilities in this situation: Either it was a case of collusion between law enforcement and criminals, a common trope in TV dramas, or some pet beast had an ability that allowed them to track locations. Logically, Qiao Sang found the latter more likely. But having watched her fair share of movies and dramas, she knew the former possibility couldn''t be ruled out either. To be safe, she decided it was best to personally escort the boy to the police station. Caution was always useful, only by being cautious enough could one avoid risks. "I¡¯ll do whatever you say." Tim responded without hesitation. Despite the girl¡¯s young appearance, she gave him an inexplicable sense of security. Seeing that he had no objections, Qiao Sang picked up her phone and started navigating. 4.3 kilometers. Not too far¡­ She glanced at Yabao. Before she could speak, Yabao immediately understood her intent and slowly increased in size. Qiao Sang flipped onto Yabao¡¯s back and extended a hand to Tim. "Get on." Tim was momentarily stunned but reached out. With a light pull, Qiao Sang effortlessly lifted him onto the beast. After multiple instances of reinforcement, her strength had already far surpassed that of an average adult male. Tim¡¯s entire body tensed up, overwhelmed by nerves. This was his first time riding a pet beast... "Head straight for one kilometer." Qiao Sang instructed, following the navigation. "Yap!" Yabao let out a cry, signaling his understanding. Straight ahead? Tim looked at the alley in front of them, where a solid wall blocked their path, and a question mark flashed through his mind. How were they supposed to go straight? Were they going to smash through it? Just as he was puzzling over it, Yabao suddenly lifted off the ground and started running in mid-air. The wind howled around them, and Tim¡¯s vision expanded dramatically. Panicking, he grabbed onto Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack. This... This pet beast could run in the air?! Tim''s mind buzzed, he couldn¡¯t comprehend it. He had seen many wild pet beasts before, but never one that could move through the sky without wings... At that moment, Lubao suddenly poked her head out of the backpack. "Ah!" Tim, now face-to-face with Lubao at an uncomfortably close distance, recoiled in fright and let out a sharp scream. "Lu." Lubao responded expressionlessly before retreating back into the bag. Gangbao, flying alongside Yabao, gave Tim a quiet glance. Cowardly human. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure covered his mouth, giggling. "Don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯s one of my pet beasts too." Qiao Sang called from the front. "She was just telling you to stop grabbing my backpack." "I-I got it." Tim stammered. Holding onto one, carrying another, with one invisible and one flying beside them, this was practically full-on combat gear... Tim exhaled deeply, his emotions a mix of complexity and newfound security. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Five minutes later, Qiao Sang checked the navigation. "Turn left here." "Yap!" Yabao let out another cry and turned left. But after moving less than a hundred meters, Yabao suddenly halted, eyes fixed ahead with a wary expression. No way... A bad feeling crept into Qiao Sang¡¯s heart as she looked forward. A thin, transparent membrane stretched across the space before them. If it weren¡¯t for her exceptional eyesight and careful observation, she might not have noticed it at all. From a panoramic perspective, an invisible barrier enveloped the entire area, it was like a formation. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression darkened. Her recent late-night study sessions paid off, she immediately recognized this as the ability of a pet beast: Space Lockdown. Space Lockdown was a high-level psychic-type skill that could seal targets within a confined space, making it a direct counter to space-based movement abilities... As she analyzed the situation, a woman in her thirties with golden wavy hair, clad in black, rode in on a large white bird-like pet beast, about two meters tall. She passed through the membrane effortlessly. Tim stiffened instantly at the sight of her and muttered, "She¡¯s one of the beast tamers specializing in theft for that organization." So they had been tracked. Otherwise, how could the woman have pinpointed their location so precisely? Qiao Sang had deliberately taken an aerial route... She maintained a neutral expression, but her heart sank. With Space Lockdown in place, Little Treasure couldn¡¯t use space shift to escape. It seemed like a fight was inevitable. She had no idea what level this opponent was... "You didn¡¯t use space shift to go directly to the police station. That means you and your pet beast are unfamiliar with the terrain here." The woman said with a smile. "You¡¯re not from around here, are you?" Qiao Sang remained silent. The woman slowly withdrew her smile. "Hand over the boy behind you, and you can leave. This isn¡¯t something you should interfere with." Still, Qiao Sang said nothing. The woman¡¯s expression darkened completely. To be honest, if the girl in front of her didn¡¯t have an orange-yellow star array, she would¡¯ve taken action already. Her instincts told her that someone with this level of talent was no ordinary person. Not to mention, the pet beasts by her side were so rare she didn¡¯t recognize a single one... Smiling again, the woman said, "I think we may have a misunderstanding." If they wanted to escape, they had two choices: Defeat this woman or take down the pet beast maintaining Space Lockdown. There was only one white bird in sight, was it the one using the ability? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes flickered as she glanced at the bird beneath the woman. "How did you find me?" "Sorry, that¡¯s a secret." The woman replied, before refocusing on her objective. "Now, hand over the boy." Tim clenched his fists instinctively. He was terrified that this beast tamer, whose name he still didn¡¯t know, would actually hand him over. It had to be this white bird. There was no way a ghost-type pet beast could both turn invisible and have psychic abilities like Little Treasure... Qiao Sang confirmed her suspicions and prepared to act. Just as she had the thought, Gangbao¡¯s body trembled. Several glowing purple feathers shot out, transforming into streaks of violet light that charged at both the woman and the white bird beneath her. Nice! Gangbao¡¯s evolution bond was really paying off! Even if the attack didn¡¯t injure the bird, as long as it flinched and lost focus, disrupting the energy flow of Space Lockdown, Little Treasure could teleport them away immediately! At that moment, a voice identical to Little Treasure''s rang out: "Oh my, let¡¯s see what kind of pet beast this is¡­ Howling Swallow, a mid-tier flying-type beast. It has a large appetite, making it bigger than others of the same rank. But size doesn¡¯t mean strength." "Let me take another look¡­ Yep, nothing special¡­ Oh! Is this a battle? Go for it! Attack! I believe you can win!" "Xun xun~" Little Treasureclosed his Star Index Limited Edition Pet Beast Identifier, his mission accomplished. Qiao Sang: !!! A mid-tier flying-type pet beast? Then where was the psychic-type beast using Space Lockdown?! Chapter 633: I Didnt Want These Either The attack came without the slightest warning. The woman¡¯s face changed drastically, and she instinctively shouted, ¡°Dodge!¡± The Howling Swallow immediately veered sideways, narrowly avoiding the direct attack of the wing blade. However, the wing blade suddenly spun around from behind, reversing its trajectory and shooting toward it again. Just as it was about to strike the Howling Swallow, an invisible force abruptly yanked it upward by over ten meters. Qiao Sang seemed to sense something and turned her gaze forward to the right. There, where there had previously been no one, a black-haired, blue-eyed, pale-skinned middle-aged man appeared, accompanied by a cat-like pet beast about two meters tall, predominantly white, with a crescent-shaped marking on its forehead. At that moment, the feline pet beast was not only carrying the man on its back but also had glowing blue eyes, an indication of most psychic-type pet beasts using their abilities. So there was another person¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s heart tensed, but she remained calm. It¡¯s not the number of enemies that¡¯s terrifying, it¡¯s the ones watching from the shadows. It seemed that this white feline pet beast was responsible for sealing the space¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze landed on it. As if to confirm her thoughts, the familiar voice that had been speaking in the same tone as Little Treasure rang out again: ¡°Let me see¡­ Moonlam, a high-level psychic-type pet beast. Its condition and power fluctuate with the moon¡¯s phases. It¡¯s particularly lively on full moon nights, but during the day, when the moon isn¡¯t visible, it becomes lethargic and prefers to hide.¡± ¡°Since Moonlam is usually more active at night, its Beastmaster is likely strongest at night as well.¡± ¡°Not bad, not bad. It¡¯s daytime right now, beating it up will be a piece of cake.¡± ¡°Moonla¡­¡± From a distance, Moonlam stared at Little Treasure, who was using the pet beast identifier, its expression darkening. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure noticed Moonlam¡¯s gaze and grinned provocatively at it, but his body betrayed his caution, he carefully put the pet beast identifier back into his ring. Just got it, wouldn¡¯t want to break it in a fight¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t believe you almost fell for a kid¡¯s trick.¡± The man sneered. The woman steadied herself, her face grim. ¡°Do she look like an ordinary child to you?¡± The man fell silent. He narrowed his eyes at Qiao Sang and said, ¡°Attacking before exchanging even a few words, that¡¯s not a good habit.¡± Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Was the spatial lockdown Moonlam¡¯s doing?¡± The man hadn¡¯t expected the girl to ignore his words completely. He controlled his expression and forced a smile. ¡°That¡¯s right. With just the two of us, you couldn¡¯t possibly-¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang interrupted, ¡°Focus fire!¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, a blazing, spinning flame burst from Yabao¡¯s mouth. Little Treasure raised two short toes on either side, unleashing two black shadows as dark as silk, which then split into four, then eight¡­ Numerous shadows lashed out in a frenzy. Gangbao trembled, and the feathers that had returned to her body transformed once more into purple blades, shooting forward in unison. Fire, shadow, and purple blades, all three different-colored attacks converged toward Moonlam and the man. The man: !!! Damn¡­ His pupils shrank. There was no time to think. He shouted, ¡°Barrier!¡± ¡°Moonla.¡± Moonlam¡¯s eyes flashed blue. A transparent barrier, about three meters wide and long, materialized in front of it. The flames and purple blades slammed into the barrier, causing it to ripple like water from the impact but no cracks appeared. The woman watched from not far away and sneered, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you almost fell for a kid¡¯s trick.¡± At that moment, the man¡¯s face was as dark as could be. He took a deep breath, about to speak when he saw several shadows bypass the barrier and strike at him from the sides. Too fast. In the blink of an eye, the shadows wrapped tightly around him from head to toe. Moonlam reacted swiftly, wrapping its tail around its bound Beastmaster¡¯s legs to keep him from being completely dragged into the air. However, Yabao and Gangbao continued their relentless assault. Moonlam had no choice but to maintain the barrier, unable to do anything else. ¡°Hurry up and help!¡± The man shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me.¡± The woman¡¯s hands formed seals as she spoke. Qiao Sang caught her movement from the corner of her eye and called out, ¡°Lubao!¡± Lubao leaped out of the backpack, landing directly on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, and without hesitation, she unleashed a blast of freezing air toward the woman. The temperature plummeted, and the white frost was visible to the naked eye. The woman¡¯s pupils shrank, and she hastened her hand seals. A green star formation lit up in the air. A round-bodied, predominantly purple pet beast slowly appeared. But the moment it emerged, the cold air engulfed it completely. Before it even had a chance to fully reveal itself, a thick layer of ice covered its body! The frigid wind spread in a fan shape, pressing forward. The Howling Swallow sensed danger and veered downward at full speed, barely dodging the freezing air. The purple pet beast, now an ice block, plummeted. The woman had no choice but to wave her hand, recalling it into her Beast Codex. After doing so, she stared in stunned silence at the small, blue pet beast she had never seen before, barely the size of a beginner pet. Her mind couldn¡¯t process it. What just happened? How did this pet¡¯s icy wind instantly freeze her high-level pet?! She was bewildered for only 0.1 seconds before her gaze locked onto the blue miniaturization ring on Lubao¡¯s body. Then she understood everything. This wasn¡¯t a beginner pet at all. It only looked small because of the ring! What now? She still had one more high-level pet, but it was poison-type and couldn¡¯t move in the air¡­ As for Dick, he had a general-rank ghost-type pet that could move in the air, but with his hands and feet bound, he couldn¡¯t even form a summoning seal¡­ She had to find a way to free him. Damn it, who carries all their pets summoned at once?! Her mind raced, and finally, her gaze settled on the ghost-type pet she had never seen before. A three-dimensional shadow control¡­ It was small and unshrunk by a mini-ring, yet it was clearly not a low-level ghost-type pet¡­ I have to attack it first. Only then can Dick free his hands and summon his pet¡­ As she was strategizing, Qiao Sang scanned the surroundings. She noticed that ever since Moonlam had set up the barrier, the spatial seal had disappeared. Now, Little Treasure could use spatial shift again¡­ But the enemy could still track her. If she moved a short distance and encountered more reinforcements, it would be troublesome. These two, one was already restrained by Little Treasure''s shadows, with only a high-level psychic-type pet left, the other seemed weak, unable to summon another airborne pet after losing the purple one¡­ Instead of running and letting them inform their organization, it was better to take them both down and hand them over to the police. Qiao Sang came to a decision, sighed, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want this either. But you showed up in front of me and wouldn¡¯t even tell me how you¡¯re tracking me.¡± With that, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers. Chapter 634: Directly Attacking the Beast Master Yabao still remembered what it meant when his beast master made this gesture. He raised his head, and an orb of terrifying red energy instantly formed deep in his throat before shooting upward. This¡­ this is a Meteor Rain?! The woman¡¯s heart nearly stopped at the sight, an uncontrollable wave of anxiety and panic surging within her. They had miscalculated their judgment of this beast master, who bore an orange-yellow star array. Originally, they thought they only needed a beast master capable of restraining spatial shift to intercept her. However, they hadn¡¯t anticipated that all four of her beasts were carried with her, allowing aerial combat. Moreover, these four beasts seemed anything but ordinary, overwhelming them almost immediately. And now, she was even unleashing such large-scale attack skills¡­ Without hesitation, the woman abandoned her previous thoughts and shouted decisively: "Retreat!" "Hou Shi!" Howling Swallow let out a sharp cry, flapping its wings forcefully as it quickly withdrew. "Candice! Get back here!" Dick shouted in shock and rage, unable to believe she was leaving him behind. "I''ll send someone to save you!" Candice¡¯s voice grew distant. Dick''s face twitched violently, veins bulging on his forehead. Originally, he wasn¡¯t even responsible for this area. He had only come because his ability happened to counter a spatial-moving beast. Who would have thought that before he could even summon his ace beast, he¡¯d end up captured and now abandoned by his so-called teammate? If word of this got out, where would he put his face? "Candice¡­" Dick glared at the fleeing woman, eyes full of fury. He swore to make her pay when he got back. At that moment, the red energy orb reached its peak. With a boom, fire rained down from above. Tied up as he was, Dick couldn¡¯t see the descending fire, but the rising temperature and the noise of the falling flames filled him with dread. Just as he was about to call for Moonlam, Qiao Sang¡¯s calm voice rang out: "Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s not getting away." Dick lifted his head to look at the girl not far away. That movement also allowed him to see the fiery rain filling the sky. It was as if an inferno had swallowed the heavens, forming a backdrop around her. Perched on her beast, the girl¡¯s hair and eyes seemed dyed crimson, yet her expression remained indifferent and unconcerned. Then, he saw Candice and Howling Swallow suddenly yanked back by a dark shadow. Candice screamed: "Ah-!" Her voice was quickly drowned out by the explosion of flames upon impact. The fire struck Howling Swallow directly, rendering it unconscious in an instant as it plummeted downward. "Little Treasure, bring them over." Qiao Sang instructed, showing no intention of letting them die. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure responded, maintaining his shadow control ability while hos eyes glowed blue, locking onto Candice and her beast. In the next second, the two appeared on Yabao¡¯s back. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One more to go¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at the unconscious woman and Howling Swallow before turning toward the man not far away, whom Moonlam was still protecting. At this moment, Moonlam¡¯s barrier had changed from a single wall to a fully enclosed six-sided shield, providing absolute defense for itself and its beast master. Yet within that shield, the dark shadow remained firmly wrapped around Dick. It was unclear whether the barrier simply had no effect on the dark shadow or if the binding had already taken hold beforehand, making further shielding useless. Qiao Sang¡¯s habit of analyzing situations from months of study made her pause briefly in thought, but she quickly refocused on the present situation. According to the pet identifier system, Moonlam could only exert its full power at night. Right now, in daylight, as a psychic-type beast, its defense relied solely on its energy. Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain was an ultimate-tier skill, surely it wouldn¡¯t hold out for long¡­ Boom, boom, boom¡­ The falling fire rained down on the barrier, exploding in bursts of flame. The shield cracked with each impact. Yet, just as it neared collapse, Moonlam''s body glowed blue, and the barrier rapidly reformed, returning to its pristine state. Fire rained down. The barrier was broken and mended again. This cycle repeated for over ten seconds, until the shield finally shattered completely. "Block for me!" Dick roared. But there was no need for his command. The moment the shield broke, Moonlam teleported instantly, clutching its beast master tightly and shielding him from the still-falling flames. At a high level of proficiency, teleportation could take anything in direct contact along. However, Dick¡¯s limbs were still bound by shadows, tethered tightly to that unknown ghost-type beast. Under these circumstances, a careless teleportation could result in being torn apart, he couldn¡¯t take that risk. Veins bulged on Dick¡¯s face as he struggled to break free. He even tried using his teeth, but no matter how hard he bit, the shadow bindings remained unyielding. What now? What can I do? His mind raced. That ghost-type beast had clearly used spatial movement earlier, yet its shadow bind remained intact. Was it executing two high-tier skills simultaneously? That was utterly absurd! What was his next move? He could tell Moonlam wouldn¡¯t last much longer. If he didn¡¯t escape soon, he¡¯d end up like that damn Candice¡­ Yet he had no way to summon another beast. His opponents had four beasts with her, while his only one was still enduring damage¡­ Then, an idea struck him. He turned toward the girl, his gaze turning sinister. There was still one option¡­ Dick remained silent but subtly raised his bound hands, brushing them against Moonlam twice. This was their secret signal. His line of work wasn¡¯t exactly honorable, having life-saving measures was a given. Giving orders in battle often alerted the enemy in advance. Only a surprise attack could end things quickly. Two taps signified a direct assault, on the beast master. The beast master was the key to everything. If Moonlam struck the girl while still standing, it was just her bad luck. And if it failed, at least her four beasts would be forced to shift their focus. As long as that nameless ghost-type beast stopped its shadow bind, he could drop down, summon Moonlam back, or even call forth his ace beast¡­ "Yue La¡ª" Boom! Fire exploded on Moonlam''s body, but despite the searing pain, it sensed its beast master¡¯s intent. It struggled to raise its head, its glowing blue eyes locking onto the distant girl. A crescent-shaped blue energy blade materialized above Qiao Sang¡¯s head. Chapter 635: The Black Glass Bottle The Phantom Slash appeared too eerily. At this moment, Qiao Sang still had Lubao perched on her head. Sensing danger, Qiao Sang and Lubao simultaneously looked up. The Phantom Slash was already descending. "Watch out!" Tim, sitting in the back, gasped in alarm, his pupils contracting. Little Treasure turned his head at the commotion. Just as he did, Qiao Sang was struck by a streak of purple light, letting out a muffled grunt as she was knocked down. Fortunately, her lower back landed on Yabao¡¯s soft fur, sparing her from secondary injuries. As she was about to look up to see what had happened, a wave of excruciating pain suddenly spread through her body. The pain was so intense and sudden that Qiao Sang''s vision went black, nearly preventing her from getting up. Luckily, the pain vanished as quickly as it came. Propping herself up, Qiao Sang looked over and saw a blue blade slashing against Gangbao¡¯s body. In an instant, she understood what had happened. Gangbao had taken the hit for her, knocking her and Lubao out of the Phantom Slash¡¯s path. However, because Gangbao had evolved through their bond, the pain was synchronized and transferred to her as well¡­ "Gang Guard!" Gangbao let out a miserable cry and plummeted downward. "Yabao!" Qiao Sang called out in a slight panic. Her instinctive worry made her forget that she could have recalled Gangbao directly into her Beastmaster Codex. "Yap yap!" Yabao responded and dashed downward. Wherever he passed, the fiery rain scattered aside. In no time, Yabao caught Gangbao steadily. "Lu." As soon as Gangbao landed on Yabao¡¯s back, Lubao immediately cast Healing Light. A blue glow enveloped Gangbao. When the light faded, Gangbao looked fully revitalized. T-T-That fast?! Tim stared, dumbfounded. "Are you okay?" "Gang Guard?" Qiao Sang and Gangbao spoke at the same time. Qiao Sang paused, not expecting Gangbao to ask if she was alright. Me? What could possibly be wrong with me? You took the hit¡­ Qiao Sang felt her eyes sting but smiled and said, "I''m fine." "Gang Guard¡­" Gangbao recalled the pained expression on her Beastmaster¡¯s face and knew she wasn¡¯t being truthful. She sighed, silently vowing to train harder on defensive skills in the future. "You¡­" Qiao Sang felt a warmth in her heart and instantly understood Gangbao¡¯s thoughts. Then, she turned her gaze upward, her face emotionless, toward the man currently being flung around like a rag doll by Little Treasure''s Shadow Control. After executing Phantom Slash, Moonlam had been bombarded by a dense shower of fire sparks, leaving it unconscious. Meanwhile, Little Treasure had turned his head just in time to witness Gangbao being struck. Realizing his Beastmaster had almost been attacked, Little Treasure''s expression darkened with fury, and he began swinging the man around like a toy. "N-No¡­ yue¡­" "I was wro¡ªyue¡­" Dick¡¯s head spun, nausea overwhelming him. For a moment, he resented Moonlam for casting Phantom Slash in such a poor position. If only the Phantom Slash had landed where this ghost-type pet could see it first, he could¡¯ve broken free from the Shadow Control¡­ Qiao Sang simply watched the man being tossed around expressionlessly. Behind her, Tim dared not utter a single word. Ever since he witnessed a supposedly powerful Beastmaster from his organization being taken down in mere moments, he understood, this little Beastmaster before him was far stronger than he had imagined. Someone like her¡­ might help if she was in a good mood, but if not, she could just as easily abandon him the next second. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure swung the man even harder. Bad guy! Big bad guy! Various items flew out from the man¡¯s pockets. A wallet, papers, and a black glass bottle¡­ The moment the black glass bottle was flung out, Little Treasure seemed to catch a whiff of something enticing. His nose twitched involuntarily. Seeing the bottle falling, he extended a dark shadow, snatching it midair and pulling it toward himself. "Alright, let¡¯s go." Qiao Sang''s gaze remained on the man. Seeing him foaming at the mouth and unconscious, she knew he was thoroughly knocked out. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure nodded, tucking away the black glass bottle while tossing the man onto Yabao¡¯s back. "Just keep their hands tied with Shadow Control to prevent them from waking up midway." Qiao Sang instructed cautiously. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure chirped, promising to complete the task. Feeling reassured, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and started navigating. On Yabao¡¯s back, Lubao stared blankly at the unconscious man for a few seconds before suddenly slapping his face with her tail. "Gang Guard." Gangbao suddenly had a thought and extended her wing to stop Lubao. "Lu?" Lubao looked puzzled. "Gang Guard." Gangbao let out a call, indicating that Lubao¡¯s method wouldn''t do much harm. Instead, she plucked one of her own feathers and swiftly sliced through the man¡¯s hair. Strands of black hair fell to the ground. It¡­ shaved his head bald¡­ Tim shuddered at the sight, shrinking back to reduce his presence. That feather was so sharp, if it wasn¡¯t wielded carefully, blood would surely spurt¡­ As Gangbao stared at the man¡¯s smooth, egg-like head, she pondered for a moment, still feeling unsatisfied. Then, an idea struck him. Her eyes lit up, and with a few swift motions of her feather, she cleanly shaved off the man¡¯s eyebrows as well. "Gang Guard." Gangbao lowered her feather, looking pleased with her work. "Lu." Lubao suddenly understood and nodded, indicating that she had learned something new. "Xun Xun~" Little Treasure, watching the scene from the side, covered his mouth and giggled. Then, his attention shifted back to the black glass bottle still in his grasp. "Xun Xun¡­" Curious, he popped open the bottle¡¯s cap. An overwhelmingly enticing scent rushed out. His curiosity won over, and Little Treasure stuck out his tongue to taste it. Unexpectedly, the contents seemed to be a gas, before he could react, the entire vapor-like substance rushed into his mouth. "Xun¡­ hic!" Little Treasure''s face instantly flushed red, resembling someone who had drunk alcohol. He even let out a small hiccup. Qiao Sang sat at the front, focused on navigation and giving directions, completely unaware of what was happening behind her. Ever since dealing with the two blockers, the road had been exceptionally smooth, with no further obstacles. Soon, Yabao followed the navigation to the police station. Finally here¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief, feeling like a burden had been lifted. Since pulling the boy off the subway, three different groups had attempted to stop them, far more troublesome than she had expected. But now, it was all about to end¡­ Qiao Sang dismounted from Yabao and turned to say: "We''ve arriv- Little Treasure?! What¡¯s wrong with you?!" She was stunned to see Little Treasure flushed red and lying as if drunk. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure mumbled, smacking his lips, too dazed to respond. "It seemed to inhale something just now, and then it became like this." Tim carefully explained. Inhaled something? Where did it come from? Qiao Sang frowned, worried. Forget it, priority is to get this boy to the police station first¡­ With a wave of her hand, she recalled Little Treasure into the Beastmaster Codex. Then, she turned and said: "We''ve arriv-" She froze mid-sentence. What the?! Who could tell her who this bald, egg-headed man was?! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 636: The Healing Light Didnt Work? Qiao Sang observed for a long time before recognizing that the bald-headed man, who looked like a hard-boiled egg, was the Beast master with the Moonlam from earlier. Goodness, how did he end up like this¡­ Qiao Sang seemed to think of something and turned to Gangbao. "Gang Guard." Gangbao flashed the feather she had plucked earlier and let out a cry, confirming that it was indeed her doing. With such skill, she could probably become a barber¡­ Qiao Sang suppressed a laugh and praised, "Not bad technique." "Gang Guard." Gangbao tucked away the feather, curled her beak slightly, and let out a modest chirp, indicating that she still needed more practice. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Where else do you plan to practice? You can''t just find random people to experiment on¡­ Qiao Sang silently complained in her heart before remembering the main matter at hand: "We''ve arrived at the police station. Get off." --- "Name?" "Qiao Sang." "Age?" "Sixteen." "How did you encounter that child?" "On the subway¡­" Inside the police station, Qiao Sang was making a statement, a process she was already quite familiar with. Outside, several police officers were whispering among themselves. "From Blue Star?" "Yeah." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I heard she¡¯s the Beast master who recently triggered the bond evolution of a Steel Falcon?" "That¡¯s her. See that pet over there, the one with a white mask-like marking around its eyes? That¡¯s Steel Guardian Falcon, the evolved form of the little Steel Falcon." "Impressive! How did she even make a little Steel Falcon evolve through bonding?" "There''s something even more incredible. Do you know why she came here?" "A little. I heard someone tried to steal her stuff on the subway." "That''s part of it, but not the whole story. She ran into a kid who had been tricked into stirring up public unrest." "Hiss¡­ You mean that group of Ghost-type Beast masters?" "Exactly. And on her way here, she encountered members of that organization and even brought back two Ghost-type Beast masters." "Whoa, that''s insane! She looks so young¡­ Who were the two Ghost-type Beast masters she brought in?" "Candice and Dick." "Dick?! The one with the high-rank pet, Moonlam, and the general-level pet, the Wet-Haired Giant?!" "Keep your voice down¡­" "How did I not see him just now?" "He¡¯s the bald one." "!!!" Inside the room, Qiao Sang finished her statement and stood up. Then, something came to mind, and she asked, "Can I ask a question?" "Of course." The officer assisting her replied kindly. "I used spatial shift several times. How did they keep finding us?" Qiao Sang asked. "The kid named Tim has a Eerie Eyes from the Ghost Vine King inside him. It allows real-time tracking." The officer explained. So it was the Eerie Eye¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly understood. Back in her last outdoor survival class in 27th District, her instructor, Ai Lun, had also attached a Eerie Eye to them. Wasn¡¯t the Eerie Eye capable of transmitting live footage? Did that mean those people were seeing the insides of a human body in their surveillance? Qiao Sang imagined the visuals they must have seen and shuddered involuntarily. At that moment, the officer suddenly thought of something and spoke in a serious tone, "By the way, be careful in 19th District. Try to avoid the Zuopang District. Based on our intel, their main base is there. Since you captured two of their members for us, they might come after you." Qiao Sang: !!! Hey, hey, hey, don¡¯t say something so terrifying so suddenly! Her expression turned slightly grim as she asked, "Then what should I do?" "Either hire a powerful Beast master to protect you, avoid Zuopang District, or leave 19th District as soon as possible." The officer advised. "If you encounter any danger, contact us immediately." If real danger comes, by the time you guys arrive, I''ll probably already be a goner¡­ Qiao Sang sighed deeply in her heart. As she stepped out of the room, Tim quickly approached her. He didn¡¯t say anything, just looked at her expectantly. "Finished giving your statement?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yeah, but I still need to assist them in reconstructing my memory later¡­" Tim paused for a moment before whispering, "Thank you." "Don¡¯t worry about it." Qiao Sang adjusted her emotions and smiled. "It was just a small effort." It was definitely not just a small effort¡­ Tim silently refuted in his heart. He knew very well that if it had been someone else, they wouldn¡¯t have cared about his situation at all. Back at the caf¨¦, even if someone had noticed something off about the officer, they would have just handed him over without hesitation¡­ Tim took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and asked, "Can you tell me your name?" The young Beast master in front of him smiled beautifully, "Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang¡­ Tim repeated the name in his heart. He knew he would never forget this name, the name that had changed his fate. --- A black-market trading hub. Two middle-aged men, both wearing hats, walked side by side, conversing. "We have to abandon the Terry Station route. The cops found it." "Who¡¯s the Beast master that captured Dick?" "Don''t mess with her. I had someone look into her. She''s an interstellar exchange student from Blue Star." "What''s so special about an exchange student? She¡¯s from Blue Star. Even if she disappears, who would know it was us?" "She was placed in Sainan High School in 3rd District. Do you know why she''s here?" "Sainan High¡­ That¡¯s a top school¡­ Why?" "Because she¡¯s already been accepted into the Imperial Beast University. She¡¯s just here for leisure and doesn¡¯t need to prepare for exams anymore." "¡­The Imperial Beast University?! Are you serious¡­ And she¡¯s just a high school student?!" The other middle-aged man was shocked, twice. "There were others from our group on the subway with her. I checked one of their memories, and they saw her posting about it on social media." The more serious-looking man explained. "¡­I see. What about Dick? He knows a lot about our operations. And Candice?" The man tried to process all this information before recalling his former ''teammates.'' "I¡¯ll arrange for their memories to be erased." The man¡¯s tone remained calm. --- So there''s still danger ahead¡­ Qiao Sang felt the pressure as she walked out of the police station. Maybe she should hire a powerful Beastmaster to follow her? Or perhaps let Yabao evolve sooner and leave this place quickly¡­ Realizing what she was thinking, Qiao Sang quickly shook her head. No, Yabao''s evolution was a top priority and couldn''t be rushed. Moreover, the vice principal still hadn¡¯t gathered enough data on the Blazing Star Canine¡­ Qiao Sang collected her thoughts and decided she needed to intensify her training and grow stronger, fast. With Little Treasure''s spatial shift, she could always escape if she couldn¡¯t win a fight. Even if the enemy used underhanded tricks, as long as she didn¡¯t die immediately, Lubao could heal her. And if things really got bad, she could always go to the mission center and hire a powerful bodyguard, at least for this month¡­ Qiao Sang pulled out her phone, intending to navigate to the Sota Hotel. But as she entered the location, a thought struck her, and she quickly formed a hand seal, summoning Little Treasure. Unlike usual, Little Treasure didn¡¯t float in the air but instead plummeted downward. Qiao Sang reacted swiftly and caught him. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure''s face was flushed, and his entire body was burning hot. What exactly did he absorb¡­? Seeing his tightly shut eyes, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart sank, and she immediately commanded, "Lubao, Healing Light!" "Lu!" Lubao emerged from her backpack, and the gemstone on her forehead emitted a blue light, enveloping Little Treasure. As the glow faded, Little Treasure remained red-faced and unconscious, though his body temperature had lowered slightly. At that moment, panic set in for Qiao Sang. The Healing Light didn¡¯t work?! She quickly grabbed her phone, opened the navigation app, and typed in "Beastmaster Center." Chapter 637: Emotional Energy Beastmaster Center. At the entrance of the pet beast examination room on the third floor, Qiao Sang was waiting outside, holding Yabao, who had shrunk back to his smaller form. "Yap yap." Yabao nuzzled his head against his beast tamer¡¯s face. "I''m fine." Qiao Sang said gently. She knew Yabao was trying to comfort her. On the way here, she had already figured it out. Lubao''s Healing Light could cure all diseases and negate the negative effects of any skill. If Little Treasure remained unchanged under the effect of Healing Light, it meant that it wasn''t an illness, nor was it a skill-induced condition. There shouldn''t be any serious problem. The only thing troubling her was that Little Treasure had never shown these symptoms before. She had been quiet this whole time simply because she was trying to figure out what Little Treasure had absorbed. At that moment, the heavy doors swung open. A female doctor in a white coat walked out, accompanied by a white egg-shaped pet beast that was pushing a hospital bed. Lying on the bed was Little Treasure. Little Treasure''s cheeks were flushed red, eyes closed, and covered with a blanket, still unconscious. "Doctor, is everything okay?" Qiao Sang immediately got up and walked over, asking anxiously. The female doctor gave her a complicated look and said, "It''s fine. It just absorbed too much emotional energy at once. Once it finishes digesting it, it will naturally wake up." Absorbed too much emotional energy? Where did he get emotional energy from? Could it be from those two beast tamers she sent to the police station? Did they generate so much resentment from being defeated by her? Was their grudge really that strong, enough to make Little Treasure absorb so much that he ended up like this? But wait, that didn¡¯t make sense. Weren''t both of them unconscious at the time? Could resentment still be generated even without consciousness? A string of questions flooded Qiao Sang¡¯s mind, though outwardly, she only frowned slightly and asked, "How long will it take to digest?" The doctor subtly took a step back, as if wary of Qiao Sang''s ability to collect such a large amount of negative emotions for her pet. Choosing her words carefully, she replied, "The emotional energy absorbed is quite excessive. It''s hard to say the exact time. It''s best to keep it under observation in the hospital. I¡¯ll notify you once it wakes up." She then paused before adding, "A pet beast¡¯s capacity for emotional energy is limited at each stage. In the future, don''t let it absorb so much at once." With that, she quickly stepped away. Just how much emotional energy did he absorb for him to need hospitalization? Qiao Sang was stunned. "Xiu Xiu." The egg-shaped pet beast beside her called out before pushing the hospital bed forward. Qiao Sang hurried to follow. After spending so much time with pet beasts, even if she couldn''t fully understand their language, she could guess that it was taking Little Treasure to a hospital ward. --- Little Treasure was placed in a double-occupancy ward. The pet beast in the neighboring bed was also suffering from indigestion. However, unlike Little Treasure, it wasn''t in a deep sleep. Instead, it frequently had to run to the bathroom to release the air of the five grains. At first, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t think much of it. But by 11 PM, when the pet beast released another bout of five-grain air in its sleep, Lubao crawled out of Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack, her face expressionless, and let out a cry, clearly asking if they could switch rooms. Qiao Sang wholeheartedly agreed. Without hesitation, she paid extra to get a private ward. --- Private Ward. Lubao jumped out of the backpack and cast another Healing Light on Little Treasure. As the blue glow faded, Little Treasure remained unconscious. "It¡¯s no use." Qiao Sang said. "He just absorbed too much emotional energy. He''s not sick." "Lu¡­" Lubao sighed. Her sacred water essence was still inside Little Treasure''s ring... Ever since exchanging points for the sacred water essence, Lubao had been sleeping in a water tank filled with it every night. "I think Little Treasure should wake up by tomorrow." Qiao Sang reassured. "Lu." Lubao nodded, acknowledging her words. She then jumped onto the nightstand beside the hospital bed, right where Little Treasure would see her the moment he woke up, and lay down, closing her eyes. So much for the sacred water essence, she¡¯s really just worried about Little Treasure. Qiao Sang understood Lubao¡¯s tsundere nature and didn¡¯t expose her. Outside, the night was deep. Qiao Sang glanced out the window. When she left school earlier, she never expected to spend her first night in 19th District inside a pet beast hospital. When you''re alone outside, anything can happen. She wondered if the people from that organization would come looking for her. But this was Right Pang City, and she was inside the Beast Taming Center. Surely, they wouldn''t be bold enough to make a move here¡­ Looking on the bright side, this place was definitely safer than the Sota Hotel. Qiao Sang gazed out the window, letting her thoughts drift. --- The following days¡­ Little Treasure remained unconscious. Fortunately, daily check-ups confirmed that his condition was stable, which reassured Qiao Sang. However, most of her belongings were stored inside Little Treasure''s ring. With him asleep, she had to buy a whole new set of daily necessities. "He doesn¡¯t feel as hot anymore¡­" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang wiped Little Treasure with a newly purchased towel, then checked his temperature, muttering to herself. At that moment, the female doctor from before entered the room. "You''re still here?" The doctor looked surprised. Qiao Sang hummed in response. The doctor approached and examined Little Treasure while speaking: "You don¡¯t actually have to stay here all the time. When the Ghost Ring Phantom wakes up, we¡¯ll notify you." Although the Ghost Ring Phantom wasn¡¯t a pet beast native to Chaosu Star, all pet beasts undergoing examination had to be registered first. The doctor naturally knew its species name. "If I¡¯m not here when he wakes up, he¡¯ll cry." Qiao Sang said with a smile. The doctor blinked, surprised by her response. "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Sang asked. The doctor shook her head. "Nothing. I just suddenly became curious, where exactly did you collect so much emotional energy from?" Qiao Sang immediately understood that she was referring to the energy Little Treasure had absorbed. She fell silent for a moment before asking, "Was it really that much?" The doctor no longer viewed Qiao Sang through a villain filter. She nodded slightly and said seriously, "A lot. Even a general-level ghost-type pet beast would take a long time to digest this much. This amount of emotional energy could sustain a high-level ghost pet beast for years." Qiao Sang was shocked. "Years?! Are you saying my pet will be asleep for years?!" "No." the doctor chuckled. "I mean, if absorbed gradually, it could sustain a pet beast for years. Since it absorbed everything at once, it''s just taking longer to digest but it won¡¯t take that long." Still uneasy, Qiao Sang pressed, "Doctor, just give me a rough estimate. I can handle it." The doctor: ¡­ "This week." She finally said. "Your Ghost Ring Phantom absorbs energy faster than most ghost-type beasts of the same level. If its test results remain stable, it should wake up within the week." Hearing this, Qiao Sang let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Doctor." --- 9:13 PM. Qiao Sang browsed the Sainan High School website on her phone, checking the point exchange section. Her points were still available, and as long as she hadn¡¯t graduated, she could use them even outside of school. The school would even deliver exchanged items to other districts. Since Little Treasure had absorbed so much emotional energy, Qiao Sang now realized it couldn¡¯t have come solely from those two beast tamers. Two people alone couldn¡¯t have provided years¡¯ worth of energy¡­ The school¡¯s exchange section had many rare items not available on the market. Perhaps there was something that could help speed up a ghost pet beast¡¯s energy digestion¡­ "Yap!" Just as Qiao Sang was browsing, Yabao suddenly cried out in excitement. Qiao Sang paused, realizing something. She looked up at the hospital bed. "Xun xun¡­?" There sat Little Treasure, blinking in confusion, his expression clearly asking, Where am I? Chapter 638: Emotional Energy Collection Bottle ----- "You¡¯re finally awake!" Qiao Sang abruptly sat up, her face lighting up with joy as she rushed to the bedside. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings, then at his beast master, looking completely bewildered. What happened to him? "Yap yap!" Yabao, who had been by his beast master¡¯s side the entire time, naturally overheard the conversation. He let out a serious cry, indicating that Little Treasure had absorbed too much emotional energy at once. "Xun xun?" Curiosity sparked in Little Treasure''s eyes as he tilted his head. What is emotional energy? Yabao: ¡­ Yabao silently turned his gaze toward his beast master. Qiao Sang coughed and explained, "It¡¯s the energy produced when people experience emotions. Remember how you kept getting drawn to certain people because of their scent? That was emotional energy." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure''s face lit up with realization. Then, as if remembering something, he took off his ring and rummaged through it. Soon, he pulled out a black glass bottle. "What¡¯s this?" Qiao Sang asked. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure shook the bottle and chirped, indicating that the bottle contained emotional energy, he had only absorbed energy from within it. Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before asking, "Where did you get this bottle?" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure cheerfully responded that he had picked it up after it fell off a bad guy. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Didn''t I tell you not to randomly eat things you pick up?!" Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help raising her voice. "It¡¯s lucky that this emotional energy was something you could absorb. What if you had eaten something harmful?" "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure shrank back, startled by his beast master¡¯s reaction. Hesitantly, he let out a soft cry, reminding her that Lubao was still around. "Lu." Lubao, expressionless as ever, flicked her tail, confirming that she was indeed present. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Xun xun¡­" Seeing her attitude soften, Little Treasure immediately switched tactics, putting on a pitiful expression as if to say, How could you scold me? Qiao Sang¡¯s voice unconsciously lowered. "I didn¡¯t-" "Xun xun!" Little Treasure interrupted, acting even more aggrieved. You totally did! Qiao Sang fell silent. She could see it now, Little Treasure was just getting carried away¡­ She pressed the bedside call button. Soon, a white, egg-like pet beast dressed as a nurse entered the room. Upon seeing Little Treasure awake, it immediately understood the situation. "Xiu xiu." The white egg-like pet beast chirped, signaling for Little Treasure to follow it for a check-up. "Xun xun¡­" Little Treasure, still immersed in his dramatic act, maintained a pitiful expression. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. "If you still want to play on your phone tonight, listen to the doctor." "Xun xun!" Little Treasure instantly perked up, floating off the bed and eagerly following the egg-like pet beast. Qiao Sang, holding Yabao in her arms, followed closely behind. "Wait." Just as Little Treasure was about to enter the examination room, Qiao Sang spoke up. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure turned around, looking confused. "Give me that bottle." Qiao Sang said. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. The next second, the black glass bottle that had been in his grasp appeared in front of Qiao Sang. Once Little Treasure had entered the examination room, Qiao Sang sat down in a chair outside, took a photo of the black glass bottle, and uploaded it to a search engine with the query: "How much emotional energy can this thing store?" Soon, she found relevant information. [The capacity of emotional energy collection bottles depends on their grade, the higher the grade, the more energy they can store.] [If you¡¯re unsure about your purchase, it¡¯s best to have a professional appraiser check it.] So, it¡¯s called an emotional energy collection bottle. What a straightforward name¡­ Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then searched again: "How to use an emotional energy collection bottle to collect emotional energy?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The page refreshed. She clicked on one of the related articles. [It depends on how the item was designed by the artifact crafter, but generally, ghost-type pet beasts hold it and activate their energy, and the emotional energy gets absorbed automatically.] [Important: This only works for ghost-type pet beasts. Other types won¡¯t be able to use it. This item was specifically made for ghost-type pet beasts.] After reading, Qiao Sang gained a rough understanding of emotional energy collection bottles. To be honest, she had been regularly checking the data in the Beast Master¡¯s Codex every night. Little Treasure''s level points were increasing almost every second. Now that she knew it was due to emotional energy absorption, she couldn¡¯t deny feeling tempted. No wonder so many ghost-type beast masters went out of their way to create emotionally triggering events, emotional energy was simply too important for them. For most pet beasts, energy enhancement required consuming specially crafted energy pills or food infused with energy. Special energy pills required high-level breeders and a lot of money. Emotional energy, on the other hand, didn¡¯t cost a thing, it only required triggering people¡¯s emotions. Plus, it had no side effects for ghost-type pet beasts since they naturally fed on it¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before tucking the black glass bottle into the side pocket of her backpack. She wasn¡¯t about to stoop to the level of those two beast masters she had reported to the police. She wouldn¡¯t deliberately create emotionally charged events, but people naturally experienced emotions every day. If she happened to come across emotional energy that Little Treasure liked, collecting it didn¡¯t seem unreasonable¡­ With that in mind, Qiao Sang felt much more at ease. Now that Little Treasure was awake, as long as the test results were fine, she could pack up and head to Sota Hotel. "Yap¡­" Sensing his beast master¡¯s improved mood, Yabao relaxed, found a comfortable spot in her arms, and closed his eyes. Qiao Sang also closed her eyes, but instead of sleeping, she entered the Beast Master¡¯s Codex. She quickly flipped to Little Treasure''s page. Name: Ghost Ring Phantom (Little Treasure) Attributes: Ghost, Psychic Level: Advanced (73,882/100,000) + --- Level: Advanced (73,883/100,000) + --- Level: Advanced (73,885/100,000) + Qiao Sang watched the numbers steadily climb, no longer shocked as she had been initially. The night Little Treasure fell into his deep sleep, she had checked the Beast Master¡¯s Codex, and his level had already been increasing by the second. In just a few days, it had jumped from the 10,000s to the 70,000s. And now, even though Little Treasure was awake, the numbers were still rising. At this rate, wouldn¡¯t he evolve before she even got to university¡­? The thought made Qiao Sang a little excited. But she quickly steadied herself and returned to reality. About five minutes later, the white egg-like pet beast wheeled Little Treasure back out. Alongside them was the female doctor who had been handling the tests. "Congratulations, all the data is normal." The doctor said with a smile. "Your Ghost Ring Phantom is very healthy. However, it still hasn¡¯t fully digested the emotional energy, so for now, feed it regular food and avoid anything with additional energy." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure floated beside his beast master, sneaking glances at her phone. Qiao Sang noticed and silently tucked her phone into her pocket before smiling. "Thank you, doctor." "Xun xun." Chapter 639: Yin Dynasty Pearl After confirming that Little Treasure was in good condition, Qiao Sang packed up that night and left the Beastmaster Center. It wasn¡¯t that she disliked the environment of the pet hospital, but having stayed up for dozens of nights in a row before, this hour wasn¡¯t late for her at all. The Sota Hotel was located near the Kotea Volcano, in a relatively remote area. It took Qiao Sang nearly forty minutes by taxi to reach the place. Although she hadn¡¯t checked into the Sota Hotel immediately upon arriving in 19th District, she had already paid for a full month¡¯s stay through the booking app, so the check-in process was completed swiftly. The receptionist handed her the room card respectfully, flashing a standard smile with eight visible teeth: ¡°Room 3406. The panoramic windows in your room are one-way glass. If any wild pet beasts land on them, you don¡¯t need to worry, they won¡¯t be able to see you.¡± Whether they could see her or not didn¡¯t matter, as long as they didn¡¯t come inside¡­ Qiao Sang responded in her mind but remained calm on the surface as she accepted the card. ¡°I understand.¡± --- Room 3406. Standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, Qiao Sang gazed at the silent Kotea Volcano in the distance, her thoughts drifting. This was the place where Yabao was about to evolve¡­ She hoped everything would go smoothly without any unexpected incidents. Turning away, she took off her shoes, lay down on the bed, and opened the Sainan High School website on her phone to browse the points exchange section. Even though Little Treasure had woken up and no longer needed an item to accelerate a ghost-type pet beast¡¯s energy absorption, she still had to use up her points quickly. Otherwise, once the college entrance exam ended and she was deemed graduated, any remaining points would be erased. [Item Name: Pure Heart Bell] [Effect: If a pet beast has been affected by skills that cause agitation or emotional instability, using this item will purify its mind and restore it to its original state.] [Note 1: This item is only effective for emotional instability caused by pet beast skills. If the user is naturally emotionally unstable, it will have no effect.] [Note 2: Created by Grandmaster Zhu Hong, quality guaranteed.] [Points Required: 30] Isn¡¯t this just like Healing Soundwave? ¡­ Grandmaster Zhu Hong? The same one who made the focus monocle? Qiao Sang suddenly recalled something and looked up at Little Treasure, who was helping Lubao pour sacred water essence into the tank. She asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you like the focus monocle I gave you last time? I noticed you only wore it once and never again.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure cried out excitedly. I don¡¯t like it! But you were so happy the first time you wore it¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dwell on it and continued browsing for redeemable items. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sighed in relief when his beast tamer didn¡¯t insist on him wearing the monocle. He still remembered its first day wearing that thing to class- A whole group of pet beasts had gathered around, saying he looked like he was made for studying. It had scared the life out of him¡­ Qiao Sang browsed for nearly an hour but didn¡¯t find anything appealing. She put down her phone, adjusted her posture, closed her eyes, and began meditating. With two days left before the college entrance exam, everyone was using their points to exchange for items. Maybe something she wanted would refresh in the next day or two. --- The next morning, after breakfast, Qiao Sang followed the navigation to a nearby public outdoor training ground. ¡°Gangbao, you need to practice your accuracy with Wing Blade. Spar with Little Treasure, just attack him.¡± Qiao Sang then turned to Little Treasure, ¡°You use Spatial Shift to dodge, but try not to use teleportation.¡± Repeating the same skill mechanically could quickly lead to exhaustion, but training in pairs, even if it involved repeating the same skill, made it much more engaging. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Gangbao and Little Treasure nodded in understanding. ¡°Yabao, the training ground is big now, so go all out. Use as many clones as you want, and practice Hellfire. Hellfire, as a high-tier fire-type skill, had immense power. Compared to Meteor Rain of the same proficiency, it was even more effective against ground-type pet beasts. However, every use of this skill would cause the ground to crack, so Yabao had never had a suitable place to train it, leaving his proficiency lagging. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out a cry and eagerly found a spot to start training. ¡°Lubao.¡± Qiao Sang turned to Lubao. ¡°Keep training Ice Flower Seal.¡± Ice Flower Seal had already reached ultimate, making it Lubao¡¯s most powerful skill at the moment. But beyond ultimate lay mastery, so it could still be improved. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded and found a spot far from Yabao to continue training. After arranging training for her four pet beasts, Qiao Sang sat in a safe area, crossed her legs, and entered the Beast Taming Codex with her consciousness. Name: Ghost Ring Phantom (Little Treasure) Attributes: Ghost, Psychic Level: Advanced (80021/100000) + --- Level: Advanced (80022/100000) + --- Level: Advanced (80023/100000) + It was still increasing¡­ but much more slowly than before. At this rate, wouldn¡¯t Little Treasure evolve before Yabao? Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before withdrawing her consciousness from the Beast Taming Codex. She took out her phone and dialed the vice principal¡¯s number. After a few beeps, the call connected, and the vice principal¡¯s voice came through the speaker: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Vice Principal, are you on the way?¡± ¡°I left long ago. The moment you told me you got accepted into the Imperial Beast University, I boarded the starship.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Sang was surprised. ¡°That soon? My mom wanted to treat you to a meal.¡± Liu Yao chuckled. ¡°Traveling from Blue Star to your place takes about a month. I had to leave early. Your mom already called me, I appreciate the thought. We can have that meal later when you return to Blue Star. The rest of the research group is eager to have a meal and chat with you too.¡± ¡°But I doubt you called just to ask if I¡¯d left yet.¡± As expected of the vice principal¡­ Qiao Sang organized her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s like this¡­¡± She quickly explained how Little Treasure had unintentionally absorbed a large amount of emotional energy. ¡°If this continues, will it affect Little Treasure¡¯s evolution?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Liu Yao laughed. ¡°Do you think advancing from an advanced pet beast to a general-tier pet beast is that easy? That¡¯s a major dividing line.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. To evolve into a Ghost Ring King, it must fuse with a Yin Dynasty Pearl at midnight, when the yin energy is at its peak. The emotional energy it absorbed will just accumulate inside, it has no direct effect on evolution.¡± ¡°However, the large amount of emotional energy will indeed speed up its evolution. That¡¯s a good thing.¡± No¡­ I have my cheat ability. At this rate, I could make Little Treasure evolve without even needing the Yin Dynasty Pearl¡­ Qiao Sang parted her lips but decided not to discuss evolution further. After some casual conversation, she hung up and started searching online for the Yin Dynasty Pearl. Little Treasure¡¯s level had already passed 80,000. Even if he fully absorbed the emotional energy, his evolution wouldn¡¯t be far off. It was best to prepare the necessary evolution item as soon as possible. If he reached 100,000 points, she could force his evolution, but using the evolution item at the exact moment his level peaked could potentially enhance his final power limit. After all, the quality of an evolution item often determined a pet beast¡¯s strength post-evolution. Chapter 640: Shaping Fruit After browsing the online shopping platform for five minutes, Qiao Sang decisively abandoned the idea of buying a Yin Dynasty Pearl online. Not only was the price ridiculously low at 9.9, but it also included free shipping, this was just too suspicious. Although some well-known flagship stores for mystical items offered Yin Dynasty Pearls with authentication certificates, the highest grade available was only A-level. For Qiao Sang, who still held an unlimited credit card, this was simply too low-tier. Evolution was a serious matter, if she had the means to obtain something better, she would naturally go for the best. Qiao Sang searched for well-known mystical item stores in the 19th District and planned a visit. True treasures were rarely found online. She figured that while the internet might not have them, physical stores would, just like when she previously bought those S-level potions. After jotting down the addresses of several reputable stores, Qiao Sang logged into Sainan High School¡¯s official website and checked the points exchange section. Almost all the redeemable items had been refreshed. It seemed that the senior students at Sainan High School were actively using their points¡­ Qiao Sang scrolled through the screen, checking out the new items that weren¡¯t available yesterday. Since her unlimited credit card hadn¡¯t expired yet, using points to redeem common market goods felt pointless. Qiao Sang set her standard to items that were hard to buy in the market and began filtering through them. Originally, she had accumulated 1121 points. She had spent: 60 points for a focus monocle. 100 points for Pure Sweet Essence. 300 points for Sacred Water Essence. 5 points for a pet beast lightweight miniaturization bracelet. 100 points for a full-identification series limited edition pet beast identifier. This left her with 556 points. She had previously considered exchanging 50 points for a magical hood, but since Gangbao didn¡¯t like it, she hadn¡¯t redeemed it, leaving her points untouched. With 556 points, she could afford some high-tier items. Qiao Sang directly selected "Sort by Points: High to Low." [Name: Potential Card] Function: Drip a pet beast''s blood onto the card to reveal its maximum evolution tier. Notes: 1. This is a one-time use item. 2. The pet beast must fast before using it, no food or water. 3. Do not let the Potential Card come into contact with water, as it will affect the final test results. Points: 666 --- A Potential Card¡­ this seemed useful for pet beasts she was considering contracting but hadn¡¯t bonded with yet. The top-ranked item only cost 666 points? It seemed like all the good stuff at Sainan High School had already been exchanged. Qiao Sang glanced at her remaining points, sighed internally, and continued browsing. [Name: Shaping Fruit] Function: Adjusts a pet beast''s body size according to its inner desires, either enlarging or shrinking. Notes: 1. A pet beast can only use a Shaping Fruit once in its lifetime;a second use will have no effect. 2. Once changed, the size cannot be reverted. 3. The new size must be either twice as large or half as small as the original. 4. The pet beast¡¯s food requirements will increase or decrease accordingly, so prepare in advance. Points: 555 It could change a pet beast¡¯s size? Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up. This was a great item! While size wasn¡¯t the only factor in a pet beast''s strength, it was a crucial one for about 90% of them. Qiao Sang immediately thought of Gangbao. This item was perfect for Gangbao! The larger her body, the more effective her air absorption ability would be. As a flying-type pet beast, many of Gangbao''s skills were tied to her size, such as Air Blade and Brave Bird Strike, two common flying-type moves. Most importantly, the Shaping Fruit cost exactly 555 points, just within her budget! Without hesitation, Qiao Sang tapped "Confirm Exchange," worried someone else might snatch it first. After entering her address, she set her phone down, satisfied. But then she had a thought, picked up her phone again, and switched the points sorting to "Low to High." She still had 1 point left, it couldn¡¯t go to waste. [Name: VIP Invitation for the 126th Pet Beast Arena Tournament Semifinals] Function: Grants VIP seating for the semifinals of the 126th Pet Beast Arena Tournament. Notes: 1. This is for the semifinals, not the finals. 2. It is transferable. Points: 1 Without thinking, Qiao Sang redeemed it. After all, the only thing worth 1 point was this ticket. --- 8:23 PM. At a well-known chain store for pet beast items¡­ The staff member apologized, "Sorry, we don¡¯t have any S-level Yin Dynasty Pearls. Would you like to look at something else?" This was the sixth store she had visited. Qiao Sang''s tone remained calm. "I can wait. Can you have it transferred from another location?" "Sorry." The staff member replied, maintaining their polite smile. "We truly don¡¯t have any S-level Yin Dynasty Pearls. However, we do have many other items suitable for ghost-type pet beasts¡­" Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and ignored the enthusiastic sales pitch. She turned and left. S-level Yin Dynasty Pearls seemed even rarer than she had expected. She had already visited almost every well-known store, but none had it¡­ Feeling the weight of this realization, she pulled out her phone and logged into the Beast Taming Center¡¯s official website. She navigated to the Task Posting section and published a request for information on S-level Yin Dynasty Pearls. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since she couldn¡¯t find one herself, she would have to rely on others. She closed her phone screen, only for it to vibrate a second later. Picking it up, she saw a notification from the Beast Taming Center¡¯s backend: [Someone has accepted your task.] Qiao Sang: !!! So fast! Shocked, she immediately checked the task taker''s info and dialed their number. "Beep¡­ Beep¡­" The call connected, and a pleasant female voice came through the speaker. "Hello?" "I''m ''GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain.'' Are you ''Love Me, No Outcome''?" Qiao Sang asked. For privacy reasons, many people used online IDs when posting and accepting tasks. "That¡¯s me." The woman replied. "But I don¡¯t actually have an S-level Yin Dynasty Pearl. I just know of a place where you might find one. Interested?" "Yes." Qiao Sang said decisively. "Then, about the VIP ticket for the International Team Tournament you offered as a reward¡­" "If your information is accurate, I''ll send you the ticket." Qiao Sang assured her. "Deal." ''Love Me, No Outcome'' chuckled. "I saw that your task is based in the 19th District. There''s an underground trade market beneath the Ghost Nest Bar. If you introduce yourself as a beast tamer and say you''re looking to trade, someone will guide you inside." After a pause, she added, "That place has plenty of rare ghost-type pet beast items." Chapter 641: Ghost Nest Bar The underground trading market¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She had only ever seen such places in TV dramas. "Can you send me the exact address?" Qiao Sang asked. "No problem." "Love Me, No Outcome" agreed readily. Soon, her phone received a private message from the official website of the Beast Taming Center. Qiao Sang ended the call and opened the message: [No. 39, Kaoxie Street] She checked the distance on the navigation app, 11.2 kilometers. Not too far¡­ After thinking for a moment, she went to a nearby clothing store and bought a black hooded coat. She also stopped by a pharmacy to buy a pack of white medical masks. In TV dramas, the protagonist always got targeted in underground trading markets for various reasons. If they found something valuable, they''d often get robbed as soon as they stepped out. Qiao Sang didn''t know how accurate those portrayals were, but it was better to be cautious. She put on the black coat, pulled the hood low to cover her face, and put on a mask. "Yabao, Gangbao, you two stand out too much. Go into the Beast Taming Codex for now. I need to stay low-key where I''m going next." Beast pets were a clear indicator of a Beast Tamer¡¯s identity. Rare ones were even more recognizable. People might forget a Beast Tamer''s name or face, but they''d remember a distinctive beast. Yabao was the only Blazing Star Canine on Blue Star. Even if she disguised herself, anyone who had seen Yabao would instantly recall his owner. Gangbao, in her new steel falcon form, was just as unique and easy to recognize. Bringing them along would make her disguise pointless. "Yap yap¡­" Yabao gave a helpless look. He understood, he was simply too handsome. With him around, staying low-key was impossible. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Gang Guard." Gangbao nodded calmly in understanding. With a wave of her hand, Qiao Sang recalled them into the Beast Taming Codex. "Xun Xun?" Little Treasure couldn''t hold back and revealed himself with a soft call. Wasn''t he inconspicuous? Qiao Sang twitched her lips. "You can turn invisible." "Xun Xun?" Little Treasure looked thoughtful. Did that mean he couldn¡¯t show himself in front of others? "Not exactly." Qiao Sang replied. "If I encounter danger, just act." The real reason she kept Little Treasure outside was for protection. After all, this was 10th District, where wild beasts could appear unexpectedly. Having at least one beast beside her was a necessary precaution. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure''s ears perked up as he nodded seriously. His Beast Tamer didn¡¯t ask Lubao to act but chose him instead. What did that mean? It meant that in his Beast Tamer¡¯s heart, he was definitely stronger than Lubao! Clearly, the second-in-command position was still his! While Little Treasure was basking in excitement, Qiao Sang added, "Lubao, same for you. Don''t show yourself randomly. If there''s danger that Little Treasure can''t handle, then you come out." "Lu." Lubao responded from inside the backpack, acknowledging the order. "Xun Xun¡­" Little Treasure stiffened. If Xun Bao can''t handle it¡­ then you come out. That meant¡­ "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure clenched his tiny teeth, determination burning in his eyes. There was nothing he couldn''t handle! Qiao Sang had no idea about Little Treasure''s sudden resolve. She hailed a taxi and headed to the Ghost Nest Bar. --- A little over ten minutes later, Qiao Sang, now wearing her hood and mask, stepped inside the bar. Soft lighting filled the space. There was no deafening music, no chaotic dancing crowds. The atmosphere was more like a jazz lounge. On the stage, a beast species Qiao Sang couldn''t name was crooning a melancholic tune. She couldn''t understand the lyrics, but the melody was undeniably pleasant. The booths were nearly all occupied. At the entrance, a staff member stopped her. "Good evening. May I see your ID card?" "Why?" Qiao Sang asked. "We need to verify your age. Minors aren¡¯t allowed inside." Oh, crap. She almost forgot she was underage¡­ Qiao Sang paused, then maintained a straight face. "I forgot my ID. Can I use my Beast Tamer emblem instead?" The staff''s expression changed immediately, their smile turning respectful. "Of course." Qiao Sang flashed her D-rank Beast Tamer emblem. "Good enough?" Though she only showed it briefly, the staff member had seen it clearly. A D-rank Beast Tamer? They immediately dismissed the thought that she could be underage. "Please, go ahead." Normally, the emblem had to be scanned to confirm identity, but the staff instinctively trusted that someone of D-rank wouldn¡¯t be a minor. That was close. Good thing I wore a mask¡­ Qiao Sang swiftly walked in and headed for the bar counter. In TV dramas, people always exchanged information in places like this. "What would you like to drink?" The bartender, a handsome man with silver earrings, flashed a smile. Qiao Sang pushed her emblem forward. "I''m here for a trade." The bartender''s smile didn''t waver. "Not even one drink before business?" "No need." Qiao Sang declined. "You must be new here." Qiao Sang nodded. "Someone recommended me." "No wonder." The bartender mixed a drink, sliding over a glass filled with a blue-green liquid. "Take a sip. You¡¯ll need it to find where you want to go." Qiao Sang hesitated, then picked up the glass, lifted her mask slightly, and took a small sip. The moment the liquid touched her tongue, a strong minty aroma filled her senses. Even after she set the glass down, the scent lingered. She quickly pulled her mask back up, not wanting the bartender to notice her youthful face. "How much?" She asked. "This one''s on the house." The bartender smirked. "Do you smell something now?" This minty scent? Qiao Sang nodded. "Follow that scent, and you''ll find where you need to go." That¡¯s¡­ oddly mystical. Qiao Sang kept her expression neutral. "Got it." With that, she stood up and followed the minty trail. It was strange, though the bar was filled with various scents, the mint aroma remained exceptionally clear. This underground market sure had a sense of drama. Wouldn''t it be easier to just have a guide? Instead, they made people drink and follow a scent¡­ As she mentally complained, she continued moving forward. The bartender watched her back disappear into the distance before turning away. So, she really is a Beast Tamer¡­ Qiao Sang followed the scent, winding through multiple corridors. Eventually, she arrived at a private room. Inside, laughter and conversation spilled out, indicating a lively gathering. But the scent led here¡­ Qiao Sang hesitated, then knocked on the door. It swung open almost immediately. A beast covered in green fur, with plant-like tufts growing from its head, stood before her. The moment she saw it, Qiao Sang knew the minty scent was coming from this creature. "Bo Bo." The beast stepped aside, calling softly. Qiao Sang understood the invitation and stepped in. The conversations in the room briefly paused, but within seconds, the people inside returned to their chatter, paying her no mind. "Bo Bo." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The minty beast led her to a wall and tapped it twice. A hidden door slowly slid open. Qiao Sang peered inside, beyond it, a staircase spiraled downward. ------ ------ Chapter 642: I Dont Want Money ¡°Bo Bo.¡± A pet beast with a minty scent darted to the side and let out a cry. Just then, the sound of a camera shutter clicking suddenly rang out nearby. ¡°Bo Bo!¡± The mint-scented pet beast was startled and instinctively jumped a step back. The people chatting and laughing in the private room fell silent, glanced over, saw the pet beast identifier that had appeared out of nowhere, immediately understood what was happening, and then turned back to their conversation. Little Treasure¡­ Qiao Sang gave an apologetic smile to the mint-scented pet beast before stepping down the stairs. The secret door slowly closed. However, there were orange xenon lights lining both sides of the stairs, clearly illuminating the path downward. After confirming that no one else was around, the invisible Little Treasure operated the pet beast identifier. A voice with the same tone as its own instantly rang out: "You have me, what pet beast can''t you scan in person¡­? Let me see¡­ Mint Monster, a mid-tier Grass-type pet beast that emits a mint-like scent. This scent has a numbing effect on ordinary people, causing them to collapse upon inhalation." "The pollen it carries, if consumed, not only clears the mind instantly but also enhances one¡¯s sense of smell to that of a pet beast for five minutes, allowing the user to track the scent back to its source, the Mint Monster." "But be careful, only Beast Tamers with developed brain domains can handle it. Ordinary people will be overwhelmed by the numbing effect of the pollen, leading to dizziness and paralysis¡­ It''s just a Mint Monster, why wouldn¡¯t you scan it in person? You have me, you should be more confident." This limited-edition pet beast identifier had a photo-taking function, allowing it to capture an image of a pet beast and identify it later. Little Treasure had figured out this feature within just two days of using it. So that¡¯s how it works¡­ It seems that the drink she had earlier must have contained Mint Monster¡¯s pollen¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly realized but didn¡¯t slow her pace. She didn¡¯t stop Little Treasure from using the pet beast identifier. The scanner¡¯s sound made it clear to others that there was an invisible Ghost-type pet beast beside her, making them more cautious even if they didn¡¯t know what it looked like. After descending for about three or four minutes, a spacious underground hall came into view. Stalls were neatly arranged, and most of the shoppers either wore hats or had high collars covering their faces. Although Qiao Sang¡¯s face clearly showed she was underage, she was over 1.6 meters tall. With a mask and hood covering her, she blended into the crowd without drawing much attention. The items displayed at each stall were varied, with no proper descriptions. After browsing for a while, Qiao Sang realized she couldn¡¯t recognize over 90% of the goods. I need to expand my knowledge¡­ Qiao Sang reflected, stopping at a stall and pointing at a silver ring with intricate engravings. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She asked. The stall owner looked up. ¡°A ring.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it for?¡± ¡°For decoration.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? You¡¯re in an underground black market that only Beast Tamers can enter, and you''re selling a purely decorative ring? Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before asking, ¡°How much?¡± The stall owner looked surprised, as if he hadn¡¯t expected anyone to actually buy it. After a pause, he gave a somewhat honest answer: ¡°100 alliance coins.¡± Qiao Sang took out cash and handed it over. After the stall owner accepted the money, Qiao Sang lowered her voice and asked: ¡°Do you know where I can find a Yin Dynasty Pearl?¡± The stall owner thought carefully. He didn¡¯t have any on his stall, but since she had just bought something from him, even if it wasn¡¯t expensive, he felt obligated to answer. ¡°Try stall B-13. They mainly sell items related to Ghost-type pet beasts.¡± He said. Qiao Sang thanked him, stuffed the silver ring into her pocket, and quickly found B-13 using the stall numbers. Yin Dynasty Pearl¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of a dark purple, almost black pearl on display. ¡°How much?¡± She asked. The B-13 stall owner was a pale-skinned, gloomy-looking middle-aged man with no facial covering, seemingly unafraid of being remembered. ¡°800,000.¡± The man casually replied. 800,000¡­ That¡¯s low, not an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl¡¯s price¡­ Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°Do you have an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl?¡± The stall owner was startled. ¡°You want an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Do you have one?¡± ¡°No.¡± The man shook his head. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°But you can go to the lower level¡¯s trading area and post a request for one. If anyone here has it, they¡¯ll contact you.¡± The man added. There¡¯s another level below? Qiao Sang was surprised but kept a calm expression. ¡°Thanks.¡± The man smiled amicably. Anyone who could afford an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl was worth befriending, even if there was a chance she was bluffing. Qiao Sang turned to leave but stopped and returned to the B-13 stall. ¡°Which way do I go to get to the lower level?¡± She asked. The man pointed to the right. ¡°Take the elevator over there.¡± Qiao Sang thanked him again and followed his direction. Sure enough, she found an elevator. A burly middle-aged man stood at the entrance, pressing the button for people. Qiao Sang approached. The man scrutinized her before asking, ¡°Going out or going down?¡± ¡°Down.¡± Qiao Sang answered. The man didn¡¯t say more and pressed the button. The elevator doors opened, revealing a ghostly pet beast inside, about a meter tall, with black eyes and a deep purple body. ¡°Going down.¡± The man instructed. ¡°In-in.¡± The deep purple pet beast nodded and pressed the button inside. The elevator doors shut. Click. Just then, the sound of a camera shutter rang out. ¡°In-in.¡± The deep purple pet beast grinned at the invisible Little Treasure. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure grinned back. It had been a long time since he met someone who could see him whilehe was invisible. Ding! The elevator doors opened. Qiao Sang looked out but saw no stalls or people, only five two-meter-long virtual screens in a circle at the center, standing out conspicuously. Self-service transaction postings? Qiao Sang approached a screen. She wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with these, some Beast Tamer centers used the same system. After quickly getting the hang of it, she posted a request for an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl. The screen displayed: [Please Wait] Wait? How? Should she leave and wait, or stay here? If no one had an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl, would she have to wait indefinitely? Just as she was contemplating, the screen changed: [A transaction has been confirmed. Please wait in Room C3 for five minutes.] Room C3¡­ Qiao Sang glanced around and spotted a door labeled [C3]. No wonder it¡¯s so quiet here, everyone¡¯s making deals in private rooms¡­ Qiao Sang walked toward C3. Pushing open the door, she saw a small room about seven square meters in size, with two ergonomic leather chairs and a wooden table in the center. Nothing else. She pulled out a chair and sat down. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. About four minutes later, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Qiao Sang said. A handsome middle-aged Caucasian man in a black trench coat and hat entered, closing the door behind him before sitting in the opposite chair. ¡°You¡¯re looking for an S-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl?¡± The man asked. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Do you have one?¡± ¡°No.¡± The man said. Then why are you here¡­? Qiao Sang almost lost control of her expression. ¡°But.¡± The man continued, ¡°I do have an SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Her eyes gleamed with excitement, but she maintained a calm demeanor. ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want money.¡± The man replied. ----- ------ Chapter 643: Ghostfire Essence "What do you want then?" Qiao Sang asked. When resources become rare to a certain extent, they are usually not something that can be bought with just money. The difference between S-grade and SS-grade resources might seem like just one level apart, but their actual value is worlds apart. So, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised when the other party didn¡¯t ask for money. The middle-aged white man said in a deep voice, "I want half a pound of Ghostfire Essence." Ghostfire Essence? What the heck is that? Never heard of it¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily bewildered but kept a calm expression. She replied, "I don¡¯t have any Ghostfire Essence on me right now, but you can give me your contact information. Once I get my hands on it, I¡¯ll reach out to you." As expected of someone dealing in S-grade Yin Dynasty Pearls, he remained unfazed even when he mentioned Ghostfire Essence¡­ The middle-aged white man was both shocked and delighted, feeling hopeful that he might finally acquire the Ghostfire Essence. Without hesitation, he took out his phone and exchanged contact details with her. After saving his contact as [Yin Dynasty Pearl], Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something and set her social media visibility to only display the last three days. Her admission letter was still visible there. If he saw that information, it wouldn¡¯t be good. The middle-aged white man put his phone away and suddenly admitted, "Actually, two other people have also made the same deal with me. I only have one SS-grade Yin Dynasty Pearl. If one of them brings me Ghostfire Essence before you do, I¡¯ll make the trade with them. The same goes for you, if you bring it to me first, I will trade with you." He''s trying to put pressure on me through competition¡­ Qiao Sang nodded. "I understand." The middle-aged white man stood up and turned to leave. But just as he reached the door, he looked back and said, "Three days from now, the Kotea Volcano will erupt. You might want to check it out then." Qiao Sang: ??? Hey, hey, hey, how do you know I was planning to go when the volcano erupts? Also, doesn¡¯t Kotea Volcano erupt almost every two weeks? It hasn¡¯t even been two weeks yet¡­ A series of question marks flashed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind, but to maintain her composed persona, she simply responded with a calm expression, "I see." Seeing this, the middle-aged white man said no more and exited the room. As soon as the door closed, Qiao Sang immediately picked up her phone and typed "Ghostfire Essence" into the search bar. Soon, relevant information popped up on the screen: [Ghostfire Essence is an ultra-rare material used by ghost-type pet beasts when training fire-type skills. Once absorbed, it directly boosts a ghost-type pet beast¡¯s fire skills by an entire proficiency tier. It might not sound impressive, but to put it into perspective, if a ghost-type fire skill is already at the Mastery level, absorbing this essence could push it straight to the Ultimate level. Sounds amazing, right? But this stuff is ridiculously rare. You won¡¯t find it on the market. Even if it appears, it¡¯s immediately taken by high-ranking beast-taming families. If you¡¯re really looking for it, you might try your luck near active volcanoes. If a volcano erupts at night and spews blue lava, that¡¯s Ghostfire Essence. However, not all nighttime volcanic eruptions produce blue lava. Currently, the only known active volcanoes capable of producing Ghostfire Essence are Misfortune Volcano in 30th District and Kotea Volcano in 19th District. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If these volcanoes erupt with red lava at night, you can take the risk and check the base, there might be a small amount of Ghostfire Essence inside. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that there won¡¯t be any at all.] No wonder that guy told her to check out Kotea Volcano when it erupts. Ghostfire Essence only appears during nighttime eruptions¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly understood. She thought for a moment, then left the room and walked to the central virtual screen in the hall, where she posted a request for Ghostfire Essence. If the information was accurate, even if Kotea Volcano erupted at night, there was still a chance that Ghostfire Essence wouldn¡¯t appear. And going into the volcano¡¯s depths was too dangerous. It would be best to acquire the material through trade¡­ Qiao Sang weighed her options carefully. A minute later, the screen''s [Please Wait] message changed to [No Transactions Available, Please Try Again Later]. So, the listing duration is only one minute¡­ With no other choice, Qiao Sang took the elevator back to the upper level. For the rest of the day, she browsed nearly all the market stalls, but she found neither the Yin Dynasty Pearl she needed nor any Ghostfire Essence. Unlike in TV dramas, she wasn¡¯t being stalked or targeted. Everyone was simply focused on their own business. The underground trading market was far safer than she had imagined. --- Sota Hotel. Room 3406. After mailing a VIP ticket to the Beast-Taming Professional League International Team Tournament to [Love Me, No Outcome], Qiao Sang leaned against the headboard and logged into the Beast-Taming Center¡¯s official website on her phone. She navigated to the task posting section and published a request for Ghostfire Essence. Once the task was successfully posted, the system automatically classified it as a four-star mission. A four-star mission¡­ I wouldn¡¯t even qualify to take it myself¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in frustration. As expected, anything valuable enough to trade for an SS-grade Yin Morning Pearl wouldn¡¯t be easy to obtain. Poor me¡­ I have an unlimited credit card, yet it¡¯s completely useless when it comes to materials of this caliber¡­ She thought for a moment, then scrolled through her social feed. Tomorrow was the college entrance exam. The only thing that could bring her some comfort right now was seeing everyone else struggling with their exam preparations in their posts¡­ --- Three days later. 5:20 PM. The hotel room phone rang. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure picked up the receiver. There was a brief silence on the other end before a voice said, "Could you pass the phone to your beast tamer?" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure called out to his master. Qiao Sang opened her eyes, stopped meditating, and picked up the phone. "Hello?" A pleasant female voice came through the receiver: "Hello, this is the front desk of Sota Hotel. We have just predicted that Kotea Volcano will erupt around 7 PM tonight. Would you like us to arrange transportation or a pet beast to take you to the site?" 7 PM¡­ a volcanic eruption¡­ Qiao Sang immediately recalled what the SS-grade Yin Dynasty Pearl tamer had said three days ago. She paused for a moment and asked, "Is the information accurate?" The receptionist chuckled. "Of course, it¡¯s accurate. Kotea Volcano is one of our major attractions, and while it typically erupts every two weeks, it¡¯s not always exact. We use Meltmelt Beasts to predict eruptions, and they provide the most precise timing." Meltmelt Beast, a fire-type beginner pet beast with the Heat Prediction trait. It can predict volcanic eruptions by sensing surface temperature changes. When a Meltmelt Beast detects an eruption, flames will burst from its body. Professional researchers analyze the flame¡¯s temperature to determine the precise eruption time¡­ So, that SS-grade Yin Dynasty Pearl tamer must have used a highly skilled Meltmelt Beast for his prediction. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to predict an eruption three days in advance¡­ Qiao Sang recalled the information on Meltmelt Beasts, then calmly declined, "I understand. No need to arrange transportation." "Alright. Have a pleasant evening." The receptionist remained polite. Qiao Sang hung up the phone and checked the time. Only a little over an hour remained until 7 PM. Three days ago, no beast tamer had taken her task request. The urgency of obtaining a Yin Dynasty Pearl had slightly diminished when she noticed that Little Treasure¡¯s level stopped increasing at [Advanced (92118/100000)+] while reading the Beast-Taming Codex two days ago. However, while S-grade Yin Dynasty Pearls might be found in high-resource zones, SS-grade ones were another matter entirely. If possible, she still wanted to obtain Ghostfire Essence for the trade. Besides, one of her main reasons for coming here was to visit Kotea Volcano. She wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Qiao Sang put on her jacket and shoes. With a flick of her wrist, she recalled Gangbao into her Beast-Taming Codex, picked up Yabao, slung her backpack with Lubao inside, and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the still-dormant volcano in the distance. "Little Treasure, teleport us there." "Xun xun~" Knowing exactly where his master wanted to go, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed blue. The next second, Qiao Sang and her pets vanished from the room. Chapter 644: We Can Cooperate Around the crater, a group of tourists had gathered, eager to witness the volcanic eruption. The scorching air carried a pungent scent of sulfur. Even though the eruption had not yet begun, the atmosphere here was already unusual. Everyone''s attention was on the volcano. With the sky already dark, Qiao Sang¡¯s sudden appearance went unnoticed. ¡°Yap yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head, wearing a puzzled expression. Where was this place? ¡°This is where you¡¯ll evolve in the future.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yap!¡± Upon hearing this, Yabao¡¯s spirits lifted instantly. His eyes gleamed as he gazed at the distant Kotea Volcano. ¡°Lu¡­¡± From inside the backpack, Lubao silently poked her head out, stared at Kotea Volcano for a moment, and then quietly withdrew. ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Little Treasure, full of curiosity, let out a cry. Then where was his evolution site? Qiao Sang glanced at him. ¡°On Chaosu Star.¡± ¡°Xun Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sighed. Such a vast place¡­ sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But for your evolution¡­¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Little Treasure''s reaction. Just as she was about to talk about the Yin Dynasty Pearl- Suddenly, she heard a loud ¡°woo¡± sound as a strong wind howled. In an instant, a three-meter-tall bird-like pet beast appeared in midair, about three meters away. It was predominantly orange, with a long, sharp beak. A deep male voice rang out. ¡°Little girl, you''re too close to the crater. It¡¯s unsafe. Move back 200 meters.¡± Qiao Sang looked up and saw a man in a black tactical jacket riding the bird-like pet beast in the sky directly ahead. He was the one who had spoken. ¡°I understand.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. The man was about to leave but hesitated when he noticed the young girl holding a pet beast. He frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Where are your parents? Are you here alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m alone.¡± Qiao Sang replied before turning away. Parents these days were really careless, letting a child not only carry a pet beast but also wander around here alone¡­ The man inwardly complained but said nothing more. He rode his pet beast away. Qiao Sang moved back to the designated safe area 200 meters away. This place was crowded and noisy, with nearly everyone discussing the upcoming volcanic eruption. Not far behind her, she overheard a conversation between two men: ¡°Do you think this eruption will produce ghostfire essence?¡± ¡°Possibly. Did you see those dozen or so guys riding sharp-beaked firebirds up there? They seem to be maintaining order for the tourists, but in reality, they¡¯re stopping us from approaching in case ghostfire essence appears.¡± ¡°Who are these people?¡± ¡°Not sure, but they seem to be from the authorities. I¡¯ve been here seven or eight times, and they¡¯re always around at night. Think about it, if they really cared about tourist safety, why don¡¯t they show up during the daytime eruptions?¡± So if ghostfire essence appears, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get close? Qiao Sang looked up. Sure enough, several sharp-beaked firebirds hovered in the sky, identical to the one she had just seen up close. Sharp-beaked firebirds¡­ Almost as soon as she locked her gaze on them, a voice, sounding just like Little Xunbao¡¯s, rang out: ¡°Good thing you have me. Only I can identify those guys so clearly at night¡­ Let¡¯s see¡­ Sharp-beaked Firebird, a high-tier fire-type pet beast. They inhabit volcanic craters year-round, making their body temperature significantly higher than that of regular fire-type beasts.¡± ¡°As a result, when hit by raindrops, steam rises, and a dense fog envelops their bodies.¡± ¡°Their contracted beastmasters all have strong heat resistance. After all, ordinary people can¡¯t even get close due to the firebird¡¯s high temperature.¡± ¡°How should I put it¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯re your match. But there are many of them. If you fight, be cautious. I suspect they¡¯ll gang up on you, so it¡¯s best to scatter them and take them down one by one.¡± That last part was unnecessary¡­ Qiao Sang twitched her mouth. The two men she had overheard earlier fell silent for a moment. Then their footsteps sounded, moving farther away. Qiao Sang: ¡­ They definitely heard that! But that was just the pet beast identifier talking! She hadn¡¯t planned to do anything! Suddenly, steady footsteps came from her left. Qiao Sang turned her head. A middle-aged Black man, seemingly in his forties, was approaching. Who was this guy? Why was he looking at her? He wasn¡¯t coming for her, was he? Qiao Sang quickly averted her gaze, pretending they had never made eye contact. ¡°Hello.¡± The man strode over. ¡°I heard everything just now.¡± Qiao Sang: ??? Heard what exactly? The man lowered his voice. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to act, I can help you.¡± What kind of nonsense was this¡­ Qiao Sang gave him a highly complicated look. The man continued, ¡°Or rather, we can cooperate.¡± Qiao Sang signaled with her eyes for him to go on, curious to hear what else he had to say. The man understood her gaze and elaborated, ¡°You have a ghost-type pet beast. You¡¯re here for the ghostfire essence, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hearing this, Qiao Sang¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°How do you know I have a ghost-type pet beast?¡± Little Treasure had been invisible ever since the man in the tactical jacket approached. ¡°Because I also have a ghost-type pet beast.¡± The man said with a smile. ¡°And when your pet beast identifier was speaking, I noticed it was floating in midair.¡± This guy had sharp hearing. She hadn¡¯t seen him around when she arrived, yet he had clearly heard the pet beast identifier. That meant he must be a beastmaster who had received multiple feedback enhancements¡­ He had a ghost-type pet beast and knew about ghostfire essence. He was definitely after it, too. But why approach her? Were beastmasters really this casual about forming alliances? Qiao Sang pondered while asking, ¡°How do you want to cooperate?¡± The man replied, ¡°See those officials? With them around, we won¡¯t get near Kotea Volcano. But, like your pet beast identifier said, we can scatter them.¡± ¡°If you distract some of them, I can get close to the volcano. Once I obtain the ghostfire essence, I¡¯ll give you a share.¡± So he wanted to use her as a decoy¡­ Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Why me?¡± Because you¡¯re young and easy to fool¡­ The man put on an earnest expression. ¡°We¡¯re both ghost-type beastmasters. We should help each other, right?¡± As if a child could resist the temptation of ghostfire essence. He planned to let her be the bait, but she shouldn¡¯t expect to actually get any lava afterward. Qiao Sang inwardly sneered. Who was he trying to fool? Ghostfire essence could be traded for an SS-tier Yin Dynasty Pearl, there was no way he¡¯d hand it over so easily. However, retrieving ghostfire essence during an eruption would be difficult alone. Not only were those officials guarding the site, but the volcanic temperatures would be challenging. If the lava was only found deep inside, she would struggle to obtain it herself¡­ Maybe she should just let this guy collect it first, then take it from him. Qiao Sang smiled and asked, ¡°Is it just us? Anyone else?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The man, sensing her agreement, pointed at a middle-aged white man about ten meters away. ¡°Him too.¡± Qiao Sang followed his gaze. The white man seemed to sense her looking and flashed a friendly smile. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Well, well. Wasn¡¯t that the beast master she had previously traded an SS-tier Yin Dynasty Pearl with? Chapter 645: Warning The thing they wanted was the ghoostfire essence, so coming here seemed reasonable¡­ Qiao Sang pondered but kept a calm expression as she asked, "Where do we meet after it''s done?" The middle-aged black man smiled and said, "At Black Hunch Spring. If you don¡¯t see me by seven o¡¯clock tomorrow morning, it means I¡¯ve failed." Qiao Sang nodded. "Understood." She knew Black Hunch Spring, it was a sightseeing spot in the 19th District, not far from the Kotea Volcano. When she first checked into the Sota Hotel, the staff had recommended it. Kids are easy to deal with¡­ The middle-aged black man left, satisfied. He approached the middle-aged white man beside him, speaking with a hint of pride, "Got one." The middle-aged white man¡¯s smile faded. "Such a young kid, what use could they be?" "You don¡¯t get it." The black man replied. "That kid had a pet beast in their arms, but I¡¯ve never seen that species before, it¡¯s definitely rare. Plus, the beast had a lightweight miniaturization wristband on its claws." "There¡¯s no way they¡¯re ordinary. Who knows, they might even be able to hold off a few government agents." The white man glanced nonchalantly at the distant pet beast covered mostly in white fur and remarked, "If they¡¯re really from an influential background, why would they need to get the Ghostfire essence themselves?" "Some beast-master families are just like that." The black man waved dismissively. "Even when their families provide everything, they insist on proving themselves." Then, he added, "It doesn¡¯t matter if they can¡¯t hold them off. I just think the more people, the better. In the end, it¡¯s still up to us." At that moment, a sudden "Tune-tune" sound came from the air beside them. The black man turned toward a figure eight meters away, his eyes lighting up. "I won¡¯t waste time talking, another beast master with a ghost-type pet has appeared!" As soon as he finished speaking, he eagerly strode toward the figure. The Ghostfire essence appearing during a nighttime volcanic eruption wasn¡¯t a secret, and beast masters with ghost-type pets were rare. Most who showed up were hoping to get lucky and obtain a share. Any beast master who had a ghost-type pet was his "cooperation" target. So, they want to use me¡­ Ten meters away, Qiao Sang listened to their conversation, her expression unchanged. She casually left her spot, seemingly moving for a better view of the Kotea Volcano, but in reality, she was distancing herself from those two beast masters affected by backlash, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t overhear her movements. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure appeared, calling out to her, signaling that the man earlier had an invisible pet beside him. "I know." Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. The man had already revealed himself as a ghost-type beast master, and that "Tune-tune" sound must have come from his ghost-type pet. Should I make a move¡­? If he were alone, she wouldn¡¯t be worried. But with that SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl beast master involved, she felt uncertain. Still, if she didn¡¯t rob them, how else could she obtain the Ghostfire essence on her own? After a moment of thought, she decided that Yabao¡¯s needs took priority. The Ghostfire essence could wait, it depended on the situation. With that in mind, Qiao Sang asked, "Yabao, have you sensed anything since arriving here?" "Yap!" Yabao nodded, excited! Qiao Sang was taken aback. "Why excited?" "Yap!" Yabao wagged his tail wildly, looking thrilled. Because this was his evolution site! Qiao Sang: ¡­ She recalled what she had just told Yabao. "And besides that?" She asked. "Have you felt any energy inside you reacting?" "Yap." Yabao focused for a moment, then shook his head honestly. No. Looks like I¡¯ll have to wait for the eruption and add some points to see if anything changes¡­ Qiao Sang then thought of something. She formed a seal with her hands and summoned Gangbao. Kotea Volcano was one of only two volcanoes in the Chaosu Star that could erupt blue lava at night. It was considered a natural wonder. If the blue lava appeared, she wanted Gangbao to witness it as well. "Gang Guard." Gangbao glanced around, realizing they were waiting for the eruption, and took the opportunity to train her Iron Wall ability. Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt gratified. Ever since the last ambush, Gangbao had been focusing on defensive skills. Truly a pet beast that evolved through bonds, she really cared about her. Time passed, second by second. No one knew how long had passed when, suddenly, wild pet beasts that had been quiet began fleeing in all directions. The ground trembled, and the dark clouds overhead churned violently. Then, with a deafening roar, scorching magma shot into the sky like a fiery dragon, carrying an aura of destruction. The volcano had erupted! Everyone¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to it. So this is a volcanic eruption¡­ The lava is red, not blue¡­ Qiao Sang pushed aside her thoughts and refocused on the matter at hand. Steadying herself, she asked, "Yabao, do you feel anything happening with your energy?" "Yap¡­" Yabao stared blankly at the breathtaking sight of magma flowing down the crater, forming what looked like a sea of molten rock. At that moment, his entire world seemed to be engulfed in red. His heartbeat quickened, thump, thump, thump, as if something inside was about to break free. Seeing Yabao remain silent and noting his expression, Qiao Sang knew something was different this time. The eruption alone was enough to trigger a reaction in Yabao, this was indeed a key factor in his evolution. Deciding not to disturb him, she shifted her consciousness into the Beast Master¡¯s Codex, preparing to allocate some points and see if Yabao would undergo any changes. Just as she did, Yabao, still staring at the volcano, felt a strange force urging him closer. "Yap¡­" Closer¡­ Just a little closer¡­ Yabao jumped from Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and ran into the sky, his body rapidly growing as he moved toward the volcano. His white fur stood out starkly against the fiery red and deep black surroundings, catching the attention of the nearby tourists almost instantly. Exclamations erupted: "Oh my god! Look! That pet beast is running toward the volcano!" "Whoa! What kind of pet beast is that? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it!" "Could it be a legendary beast? Quick, search for it!" "I can¡¯t find anything! I can¡¯t believe it!" "Wait, doesn¡¯t it have a lightweight miniaturization bracelet and an identity wristband? Didn¡¯t anyone notice?" "What kind of pet beast is this? Doesn¡¯t it know how dangerous the Kotea Volcano is right now? Why is it running toward it?" "If it has an identity wristband, where¡¯s its beast master?" Some people started scanning the crowd, searching for the mysterious pet beast¡¯s owner. Meanwhile, high above, several officials riding Sharp-Beaked Firebirds noticed the unfamiliar pet beast charging toward the crater. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One sharp-eyed officer spotted its identity wristband and immediately reacted, grabbing a loudspeaker and shouting: "WARNING! DO NOT APPROACH KOTEA VOLCANO!" Chapter 646: This Volcano, Yabao Must Go! At this moment, a middle-aged black man who had been waiting for others to create chaos heard the commotion and looked up at the mysterious pet beast running toward the volcano¡¯s crater. He was momentarily stunned before bursting into excitement. "Fleur, I think our opportunity is coming soon!" The middle-aged white man referred to as Fleur also raised his head to observe. After a brief silence, he asked, "Why does this pet beast look somewhat familiar?" "That¡¯s the pet beast the kid was holding just now." McCarthy confirmed. He didn¡¯t recognize the pet beast that the child was holding, so he had taken a closer look. There was no way he could mistake it. "It actually looks like this after getting bigger¡­" Fleur appeared quite surprised. He was now somewhat convinced that the child they had seen earlier was no ordinary kid because this pet beast radiated a single word: Luxury. "How many people do we have left?" Fleur asked. "Three." McCarthy responded. "Tell them to act now." Fleur instructed firmly. McCarthy hesitated. "I don¡¯t have their contact information." A vein throbbed on Fleur¡¯s forehead. "Then how do you communicate with them?" "They¡¯re all ghost-type beast tamers. They know the best timing to act." McCarthy explained. "Look, even the youngest among them hasn¡¯t disappointed us. Don¡¯t worry, they know what to do." If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this guy had a pet beast that could enter the volcano, Fleur wouldn¡¯t have cooperated with someone so unreliable. He suppressed his irritation and calmly said, "While everyone¡¯s attention is on that pet beast, have your Lava Beast circle around and enter from the back." The Lava Beast was a high-level fire and rock-type pet beast. It possessed the trait, covering itself in molten lava and rendering it immune to freezing. It was a rare pet beast that could move freely within lava. McCarthy hesitated. "Shouldn¡¯t we wait a bit longer? My Lava Beast is too big. If it approaches the crater, it will definitely be noticed. It¡¯s better to let the other three act first and divert more of the officials¡¯ attention." "Have it approach now," Fleur decided. "The Lava Beast will take time to get there. If the other three have any brains, they¡¯ll seize this moment to act." McCarthy said nothing more. After all, he was just here to complete a mission. Fleur was the real mastermind. As they spoke, several official personnel were already closing in on Yabao, riding sharp-beaked firebirds in pursuit. "This is your final warning: Do not approach Kotea Volcano, or we will take enforcement measures!" A loudspeaker¡¯s voice echoed across the sky. "Xun Xun!" Little Treasure showed an anxious expression, tugging at his beast tamer¡¯s cheek with his claws. In the Beast Coodex... Level: Advanced (99,000/100,000) + After increasing Yabao¡¯s level to 99,000, Qiao Sang froze. Because at the moment the points were added, two new lines of text appeared next to the name Blazing Star Canine [Moon Calamity Hound] and [Yan Qilu] Both were species names she had never seen before. Just like when Gangbao evolved into Steel Guardian Falcon, at this moment, the name [Yan Qilu] was noticeably brighter than [Moon Calamity Hound] by several degrees. However, the brightness of [Fire Qilu] flickered inconsistently, unlike the stable glow when Gangbao evolved. So, Blazing Star Canine indeed had two evolution paths! Qiao Sang realized this, her heart pounding wildly with excitement. She almost jumped on the spot. The Dream Enlightenment Stone that cost 1,000 points wasn¡¯t wasted! Yabao had found the most suitable evolution path! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes locked onto the [Fire Qilu] name, her thoughts racing. This was the first time an evolution in Yabao¡¯s lineage didn¡¯t have the word "Dog" in it. But why was the brightness flickering? Was it because the points weren¡¯t maxed out yet?And why was [Moon Calamity Hound] glowing as well? Though [Moon Calamity Hound] was dimmer than [Fire Qilu], its brightness remained stable instead of flickering. That dream, where the pet beast had flame wings as massive as a dragon¡¯s, was it a Moon Calamity Hound or FireQilu? As Qiao Sang pondered, she suddenly felt a tug on her face in reality. Little Treasure¡­ Without hesitation, Qiao Sang was certain it was Little Treasure pulling at her. She gathered her thoughts and returned to reality. "Xun Xun!" As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Little Treasure anxiously pointing toward the sky. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She looked up and saw Yabao had returned to his original size, dashing toward the volcano crater with several officials in pursuit. "!!!" What the hell?! Someone tell her why Yabao was running over there?! Qiao Sang was dumbfounded, completely unsure of the situation. In her memory, Yabao never acted on his own without her command. "Gang Guardian." Just then, Gangbao let out a calm cry, as if asking whether she should go up and fight alongside Big Brother Yabao. Qiao Sang: ??? He just flew into the air! How did this turn into a fight?! "Lu." Lubao climbed out of Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack, jumped onto her head, and gazed at the sky with a slightly aloof expression. She let out a cry, indicating that she could help too. "Xun Xun!" Hearing Lubao and Gangbao speak, Little Treasure became serious. He patted his chest solemnly, swear ready to charge at any moment! "No need, no need." Qiao Sang quickly reassured. "Those people just don¡¯t want Yabao getting close to the volcano. I¡¯ll summon him back right now." With that, she prepared to call Yabao back. But at that moment, a Shadow Ball shot upward, striking one of the sharp-beaked firebirds chasing Yabao dead-on. The sudden attack made the firebird screech in pain, its flight becoming unstable. The official riding it was thrown off by the explosion. The crowd watching below gasped. Some, realizing the danger, immediately summoned their pet beasts and took off to escape. Others, eyes gleaming with excitement, hurriedly pulled out their phones and began recording the battle. "Watch out!" A sharp voice rang from the sky. A five-meter-tall ghost-type pet beast, its entire body black with a wraith-like tail instead of legs, suddenly appeared behind a sharp-beaked firebird. It raised a fist imbued with purple energy and mercilessly swung at the official¡¯s head. Boom! A thunderous explosion echoed as shockwaves rippled through the air. The firebird plummeted downward, its rider pale but unharmed. Opposite the ghost-type pet beast stood another sharp-beaked firebird, slightly larger than its kin. It had just used an Air Blade to intercept the ghost beast¡¯s Shadow Fist from striking down. Qiao Sang watched the battle above and instinctively halted her action to recall Yabao. Something¡¯s not right¡­ Yabao was still running toward the volcano¡¯s crater, completely unfazed by the ongoing fight. The crater¡­ The key to Yabao¡¯s evolution¡­ Could it be that Yabao sensed his evolution opportunity? Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced. Pet beasts often felt drawn to items that triggered their evolution when the time was right. Was Yabao being drawn to the volcano¡­ because it was time for him to evolve? Stopping it now might actually hinder his evolution¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes grew determined. This volcano, Yabao must go! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She took a deep breath, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted, "Teleport! Just teleport directly!" Yabao, mid-run, suddenly halted. He turned back, locking eyes with his beast tamer. His previously dazed mind instantly cleared. "Yap!" Yabao nodded, excitement and resolve flashing in his eyes. His eyes glowed blue. The next second, Yabao appeared right above the volcano¡¯s crater. Chapter 647: Second Eruption The tourists who had been drawn in by the battle were suddenly stunned when they saw a mysterious pet beast appear above the volcano¡¯s crater, quickly shifting their attention. "Why did it teleport to the volcano?" "It seems like this pet beast''s target was Kotea Volcano from the start!" "What¡¯s it doing there?" "I know a little about this! I heard Kotea Volcano erupts at night and spews out a rare material. Maybe it¡¯s after that?" "Isn¡¯t it all just lava? Where¡¯s the rare material coming from?" "I have no idea." At that moment, a slightly raspy voice spoke up: "Just now, a girl over there shouted ''Teleport,'' and then that pet beast really teleported. Do you think she¡¯s its Beastmaster?" More than one person had heard the voice earlier. Immediately, some tourists chimed in: "I heard it too!" "Me too!" "I think it was that black-haired girl with a backpack, she looks like she¡¯s from Dragon Nation!" A tourist pointed in her direction. Many curious and envious gazes turned toward the girl, who was staring at the volcano crater. "How... how did she make her pet beast teleport there?" McCarthy was dumbfounded. This move would surely attract the officials¡¯ attention to the crater! How was he supposed to sneak the Lava Beast in now?! "Ignore it." Fleur analyzed the situation and said, "Someone else has already made a move. Just remove the Lava Beast¡¯s identity bracelet. The officials won¡¯t notice a pet without an identity tag, and they¡¯re already preoccupied with other matters." McCarthy thought about it and nodded. "Got it." --- Above the crater. "Yap?" Yabao tilted his head, looking confused. At the same time, Qiao Sang was completely bewildered. Why hadn¡¯t Yabao evolved? Wait a minute, hadn¡¯t she maxed out his evolution points? Realizing this, she was about to check her Beast Codex when- A slightly familiar voice called out from above: "Is that teleporting pet beast yours?" Qiao Sang looked up. She recognized the speaker as the official who had warned her earlier to retreat 200 meters for safety. Her heart tensed. She recalled the conversation between the two people earlier, who had said the officials were here not just to protect tourists but also to prevent anyone from taking the mysterious lava. Might as well just come clean. After all, she needed the volcano for Yabao¡¯s evolution, it was a major matter for a pet beast. Even if the officials questioned her, she had a valid reason. She did want the Ghostfire Essence, but she hadn''t taken any yet. "Yes, it¡¯s mine." Qiao Sang nodded. "Don¡¯t you know that when the volcano erupts, no one and no pet beasts are allowed near it?" The man frowned. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang feigned a surprised expression. "Oh, it¡¯s my first time here. I didn¡¯t know about that rule." What kind of guardian lets their kid wander around like this¡­? The man, recalling how she was holding her pet earlier, had no doubts about her sincerity. He sternly said, "When the volcano erupts, pet beasts are forbidden from getting close. Call it back immediately." Qiao Sang opened her mouth, about to explain that Yabao needed to be near the volcano for its evolution- But before she could finish a sentence, a black Shadow Ball suddenly struck the Sharp-Beaked Firebird from the side! A purple figure appeared before the Firebird, swiftly raising its claws and slashing down. The speed was so fast that the Firebird couldn''t react, it let out a miserable cry before plummeting down. "Shadow Control." Seeing the man also falling, Qiao Sang quickly commanded, "Xun xun!" Little Treasure extended his short toes, summoning a shadowy ribbon from the ground. The dark tendrils shot forward, wrapping around the man¡¯s ankle and pulling him back. The man barely spent a second on the ground before flipping over and summoning his Firebird back with a quick hand gesture. "Thanks." His gaze toward Qiao Sang was complicated. He had never imagined that one day, he would be saved by a child. Qiao Sang ignored him, focusing instead on the purple pet beast before her. The black ghost-type pet beast was still fighting in the sky. But this one was different, it was another ghost-type pet beast¡­ Qiao Sang immediately became alert and was about to order Little Treasure to attack- But unexpectedly, the purple pet beast merely glanced at her before turning and floating toward the battle above. Qiao Sang: ??? Not far away, a woman with a high-collared coat covering most of her face frowned in confusion. She had seen the man talking to the girl earlier. The girl had a ghost-type pet and had even let another of her pets make the first move, wasn''t she supposed to be on their side? Why would she help an official? Had she miscalculated? Qiao Sang had no idea that the other side had attacked with the intention of helping her. She refocused on Yabao. Yabao was still hovering over the crater, staring blankly downward. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s thinking about jumping in¡­ A chill ran down Qiao Sang¡¯s spine. She quickly attempted to enter her Beast Codex to prevent any accidents. Just then, the man beside her spoke again: "Call your pet beast back immediately! Our sensors indicate a high probability of a second eruption tonight. The heat will be unbearable even for fire-type pets, let alone your psychic-type pet." As he spoke, he formed hand seals, activating a green star formation. A three-meter-tall brown eagle-like pet beast with a pale pink beak emerged. The man climbed onto the eagle beast and said, "I¡¯m heading to assist in battle. Summon your pet back and leave quickly." With that, the eagle beast flapped its wings and soared toward the battlefield above. Meanwhile, at the volcano. A three-meter-tall red pet beast with a molten rock body, black eyes, and flame-like antennae atop its head slowly emerged at the crater¡¯s edge. It began crawling toward the bubbling lava at the center. "Yap?" Yabao looked at it. "Lava." The Lava Beast lifted its head slightly and murmured, Stay quiet. We¡¯re on the same side. Yabao: ??? Who are you? Since when were we on the same side? But before Yabao could react, a force from deep within the volcano seemed to beckon it inside. "Yap yap¡­" Yabao forgot about the Lava Beast, staring at the churning lava again. He wanted to go in¡­ Needed to go in¡­ Though the Lava Beast almost blended perfectly with the molten surroundings, Yabao¡¯s presence still attracted attention. Just as Yabao made a sound, someone noticed the Lava Beast. Above, several officials still had the energy to observe the crater while fighting. "Why is there a Lava Beast in there?" "It doesn¡¯t have an identity tag." "I remember Kotea Volcano doesn¡¯t have wild Lava Beasts." "If it has no identity tag, it doesn¡¯t matter. There are too many wild pet beasts to monitor." "But¡­" Before the round-faced official could continue questioning, a freezing aura swept through the air. Dozens of eerie green ghost fires rushed toward them. The Sharp-Beaked Firebird, sensing danger, dove downward in an elegant arc, narrowly dodging. Distracted by the attack, the official forgot what he was about to say. "Are you okay?" A man in a black combat uniform flew over, asking. "I¡¯m fine." The official replied, then asked, "Did you capture the suspect?" "It was just a kid, she¡¯s not with them. It¡¯s her first time here, and she didn¡¯t know the rules. I told her to recall her pet." Hearing this, the round-faced official said nothing more. Elsewhere. Fleur and McCarthy hid in the shadows, watching. Seeing the officials distracted, McCarthy grinned. "You¡¯re smart. Perfect timing." Fleur exhaled in relief as the Lava Beast disappeared into the crater. "Now I just hope there¡¯s Ghostfire Essence down there." "Relax." McCarthy said, still watching. "With two eruptions tonight, the chances are high¡­ Oh, my God!" His face twisted in shock. "That pet beast just jumped in too?!" Fleur was equally stunned. The pet beast that had taken the lead to attract the attention of the officials had just charged headfirst into the volcano! Wasn''t that a Psychic-type pet beast? This volcano had just erupted! Even Fire-type pet beasts couldn''t withstand the temperature at this moment! Fleur suddenly thought of something and abruptly turned to look at the girl in the distance. After seeing the girl¡¯s expression, Fleur was dumbfounded. Why was she ignoring her pet beast and closing her eyes? Suddenly, the ground trembled. Fleur immediately forgot about the girl and fixed his gaze on the Kotea Volcano. He understood, the volcano was about to erupt again. --- Level: Advanced (100000/100000) + The moment Yabao charged into the volcano, Qiao Sang had a strange premonition, she wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. Yabao had been staring blankly at the volcano for a while, and she had already sensed that something was off. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t waste a single second and immediately entered the Beast Taming Codex. The species name of [Fire Qilu] had stabilized significantly compared to before, but it was still flickering. Qiao Sang ignored that and frantically added points. The moment the level data maxed out, [Fire Qilu] shone brightly! The blinding light almost made Qiao Sang go blind. She opened her eyes, and her consciousness returned to reality. --- At the heart of the volcano. A Lava Beast that had just collected some Ghostfire Essence was caught off guard by the sudden eruption and was blasted upward along with the magma. The terrifying, overwhelming magma surged skyward like a tidal wave. Before losing consciousness, the Lava Beast seemed to see a streak of white light. "Yap yap¡­" As the white light faded, the transformed Yabao suddenly sensed something. Looking upward, he spotted the unconscious Lava Beast. He remembered, this guy had claimed to be on his side¡­ "Yap!" With a powerful flap of his massive wings, Yabao stopped stabilizing himself. Instead, he harnessed the force of the erupting magma, turning into a fiery streak and shooting straight up! As he passed by the Lava Beast, he grabbed it effortlessly. --- Around the crater, most of the tourists were drawn back by the second volcanic eruption. Even the officials engaged in battle had to stop fighting. Many people had seen the mysterious pet beast charge into the volcano. "It''s over, it''s over! I didn''t even get to learn its name before it was gone." "Is it crazy? Why did it charge into the volcano?!" "How would I know?!" "Holy-! What¡­ what kind of pet beast is that?!" The scorching magma erupted like hellfire from the gates of the underworld, consuming everything in its path. But amid the apocalyptic scene, a massive six-meter-tall, flame-winged red figure burst forth from the molten sea! Its imposing presence made almost everyone freeze in shock. This was yet another pet beast they had never seen before! "Yabao¡­" Only Qiao Sang recognized it at a glance, this was her Yabao. Chapter 648: The Ghostfire Essence Yabao looked at his Beastmaster, eyes brightening before he flapped his wings, stirring up a chaotic gust of wind. This time, no one stopped him. Nearly everyone''s gaze was fixed on him. In the blink of an eye, Yabao, like a fiery streak wrapped in a violent air current, shot toward Qiao Sang. "Yap!" Landing on the ground, Yabao let out a joyful cry. With his cry, the dust on the ground was completely swept away, and a gust of wind almost knocked Qiao Sang off balance. Had he forgotten that he could teleport? Steadying herself, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but internally complain. "Yap Yap!" Yabao folded his wings, lowered his head, and affectionately rubbed his face against his Beast master. "Lu." Lubao had also recognized Yabao. With a flick of her tail, she smacked Yabao on the head, letting out a displeased cry. She had been squished. For the evolved Yabao, this tail flick was nothing more than a tickle. He looked up in surprise, only then realizing that Lubao was perched atop his Beast master''s head. "Yap Yap." Yabao raised a paw and poked at Lubao. You''re so small now. But that single poke sent Lubao tumbling off Qiao Sang''s head. "Lu!" Lubao leaped, landing perfectly on the ground. For the first time in a long while, she showed an annoyed expression, glaring at Yabao. "Yabao..." Yabao wore an innocent look. He had only poked lightly! "Lu..." Lubao glared up at Yabao, growing more irritated the more she thought about him. Bubbles of air puffed from her nostrils, growing larger and larger. "Pop!" Soon, the bubble grew so big it burst. "Lu!" Lubao huffed, flicked her tail against the ground, and jumped into the backpack. Then, she reached out a paw and pulled the zipper halfway closed, refusing to show her face. Lubao had definitely been triggered... Qiao Sang looked at Yabao, sighing inwardly. Even though Yabao had used the Dream Enlightenment Stone before, allowing her and the others to witness his evolved form in a dream projection, experiencing it in reality was completely different. Lubao''s reaction was understandable. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, she had always viewed Yabao as a rival. Now, Yabao had evolved into such a powerful and majestic form, and with a single paw, he had made Lubao lose her footing. Even Little Treasure wouldn''t be able to take this well. At that moment, the sound of several camera shutters echoed. Qiao Sang turned her head and saw Little Treasure enthusiastically capturing photos of Yabao from different angles. Qiao Sang: ... She took back her previous thought. Little Treasure was totally fine. "Gang Guard..." Gangbao had been watching Yabao the whole time, but her expression remained calm, making it hard to tell what she was thinking. "Yabao." Suddenly, as if remembering something, Yabao loosened his other paw, dropping a creature onto the ground, a pet beast covered in red with flame-like antennae. A Lava Beast? Qiao Sang immediately recognized the creature. --- Meanwhile, chaotic murmurs erupted around the volcano''s crater. At first, everyone had been terrified when they saw the terrifying pet beast shoot out of the volcano and fly toward the girl. They had almost run for their lives, thinking it was about to attack. But then, they saw the fearsome beast lower its head... and rub its face against the girl! Yes. It was rubbing its face. Rubbing. Its. Face. The crowd''s pupils shrank in utter shock. Most people were left with expressions of disbelief. But soon, as they observed the interactions between the terrifying beast, the girl, and the other tiny pet beasts, they suddenly understood something. Then, they spotted the Lava Beast, the one that had originally entered the volcano. It reminded them of the mysterious pet beast that had chased after the Lava Beast into the volcano. The two images overlapped in their minds. And they realized the truth. That white-furred beast that had teleported to the crater and then dived into the volcano... It had evolved! "Did it evolve inside the volcano?!" "How did it evolve just like that?! The volcano erupted just now! Even Lava Beasts, which are immune to magma, got knocked out!" "Are you sure? Is this really the same pet beast? It looks completely different." "It does look different. This one obviously has fire attributes, maybe even dragon attributes. From its colors and appearance, there''s no trace of its previous form." "A lot of pet beasts change drastically after evolution. Their previous form becomes unrecognizable." "I''m not entirely sure, but this pet beast is definitely close to that kid. It must be hers. I remember she was the one who commanded ''Teleport'' before." "But judging by its size and aura, it feels like it''s at the General level. That kid looks so young, how could she possibly have a General-level pet beast?" "Did you guys notice something?" "What?" "That kid has four pet beasts in total." The moment that was said, silence fell over the crowd. Having four pet beasts wasn''t unusual for a Beast master. But having one that was beyond the scope of normal cultivation, and the Beast master still being a minor, made the situation impossible to describe with mere words. "I noticed something else." Someone said. "What?" Another asked, curious "I don¡¯t recognize any of that kid¡¯s other three pet beasts either." By now, the night had fully descended. Apart from the recently erupted Kotea Volcano, visibility was poor beyond a few meters. But the remaining tourists were all Beast masters, and their eyesight was decent. Moreover, Yabao''s wings were made of condensed flames, making them especially eye-catching in the dark and illuminating the surroundings. Many people got a good look at Qiao Sang and her pet beasts. And they all realized- They really had never seen these species before... The crowd parted their lips, shock and confusion flashing in their eyes, but ultimately, they chose silence. Had they just encountered someone... extraordinary? --- Among the onlookers, McCarthy raised his hand, about to summon the Lava Beast back. Fleur quickly pressed his hand down and asked, "What are you doing?" "Calling the Lava Beast back." McCarthy replied. "If you do that now, with all these people watching, the officials will immediately realize it''s not a wild beast." Fleur said in a low voice. "If they react and start sealing off the area for inspections, we¡¯re done for." "Then what should we do?" McCarthy frowned. "We already made an agreement with that girl." Fleur said calmly. "If she thinks about it, she''ll figure out the Lava Beast entered the volcano for the Ghostfire Essence. Even if she doesn¡¯t, as long as no one suspects it has a Beast master, nothing will happen. Once the crowd disperses, you can summon it back." McCarthy thought for a moment and nodded. "Got it." --- On the other side, Qiao Sang looked at the unconscious Lava Beast, recalling the person who had approached her for cooperation. She remembered hearing that Lava Beasts were rare creatures capable of surviving in magma. This one had been brought out by Yabao. If that was the case, it might have obtained the Ghostfire Essence at the volcano¡¯s base. Could it belong to that person? Based on what he had said, he had the means to enter the volcano¡­ Even though the Lava Beast wasn''t wearing an identification bracelet, those could be removed¡­ Or maybe the bracelet had melted in the magma¡­ Wait¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something, her expression stiffening as she looked at Yabao¡¯s front paws. They were strong and fierce, claws sharp and glinting coldly. The bracelets were gone. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched. Both the identification bracelet and the lightweight miniaturization bracelet were gone! Losing the ID bracelet was one thing. But the lightweight miniaturization bracelet was rare and hard to obtain! Back at Sainan High School, it was limited to one per student through the points exchange system¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly felt exhausted. At that moment, the Lava Beast began to cough violently. With each retch, a blue liquid spilled from its mouth. ----- ------ Chapter 649: The Best Strategy Lava Beasts puke blue? Qiao Sang was instantly drawn to the creature. She couldn¡¯t help it, the blue liquid it vomited was too conspicuous. It even glowed, like molten lava. Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze fell on the blue liquid on the ground, and a thought struck her, causing her pupils to contract. This blue liquid¡­ why does it look just like real lava? Rather than a liquid, it was more accurate to call it a viscous substance. Upon hitting the ground, white smoke rose from it. Even though she wasn¡¯t particularly close, she could still feel its terrifying heat. Blue, high-temperature, lava-like, and from a Lava Beast¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s mind worked at high speed, piecing the information together. Suddenly, she realized something, and her heartbeat quickened. Oh wow! Could this be Ghostfire Essence?! "Xun xun." Little Treasure was also drawn to the blue liquid vomited by the Lava Beast. He put down his pet identifier device and floated over, curiously peering at the blue substance, then at the still-vomiting Lava Beast, as if wondering why something coming out of a pet¡¯s mouth looked so extraordinary. "Yap yap." At that moment, Yabao let out a call, indicating that he had encountered this creature near the volcano and that he was part of its group. Part of the same group¡­ Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang became even more convinced of her guess. This Lava Beast was definitely not a wild pet! She hadn¡¯t even done anything, and the Ghostfire Essence had come right to her doorstep! Qiao Sang immediately forgot about losing her identity wristband and lightweight miniaturization bracelet. Her spirits soared, and she wanted to collect the Ghostfire Essence on the spot. She remembered purchasing a high-temperature-resistant container from the Blue Star item shop, it would be perfect for collecting the essence. However, just as she turned to instruct Little Treasure to retrieve the container, she felt countless eyes on her. Her rationality returned, and she realized this was not the best time to collect the Ghostfire Essence. Her mind raced as she analyzed the situation. There were three groups here: Tourists, Beast Masters seeking the Ghostfire essence, and Official Personnel. Tourists could be ignored. Neither the Beast Masters nor the Officials would allow her to openly collect the Ghostfire Essence and walk away with it. They hadn¡¯t acted yet for two reasons: First, their attention was on Yabao;Second, they weren¡¯t sure if Yabao was a wild pet. Anyone who suddenly saw a powerful pet appear would hesitate before making any moves, they wouldn¡¯t want to risk drawing its attention. More importantly, they knew nothing about Yabao. But seeing how he interacted with her, they would soon catch on. To ensure safety, they might even send someone over to confirm her status... A third reason: She was too young. Neither group likely considered her a serious threat. The Beast Masters seeking the Ghostfire Essence probably saw her as an easily deceived rookie¡­ The fact that they hadn¡¯t recalled the Lava Beast immediately suggested they saw her as an ally, meaning it didn¡¯t matter if the beast was in her hands. Another possibility: They weren¡¯t sure if the Lava Beast had already gathered the Ghostfire Essence, so they didn¡¯t want to take the risk of recalling it just yet. After all, summoning it back could expose their location. At the moment, the Beast Tamers seeking the slurry had their ghost-type pets fighting while they remained hidden among the tourists. But if both sides confirmed that the Lava Beast had released Ghostfire Essence, they would undoubtedly battle over it. If she attempted to collect the essence now, she¡¯d become the center of attention¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze fell on the Lava Beast, still vomiting intermittently. She wondered how much Ghostfire Essence it had inside, would it be enough for half a pound? If so, she had a plan¡­ Just as she was thinking, a loud voice shouted: "Is this your pet?!" Everyone heard the voice, and silence fell as they waited for her answer. Guesses were one thing, but confirmation from the person involved was better. Qiao Sang followed the voice and saw an official personnel member, one who had spoken to her twice before. Unlike their previous interactions, the person was now much further away, their expression and posture far more cautious. Did they see the Lava Beast vomiting Ghostfire Essence and assume she was with the Beast Tamers who had attacked them? Qiao Sang speculated internally but outwardly feigned ignorance. She asked, "You mean this Lava Beast?" No, I meant that terrifying red pet over there¡­ The man didn¡¯t respond, which was as good as confirmation. He was also curious about the Lava Beast¡¯s origins. If this kid knew¡­ "It¡¯s not my pet." Qiao Sang deliberately stepped aside, fully exposing the blue liquid on the ground. "My pet brought it out of the volcano. He doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong, it just keeps vomiting." Confirmed, this kid¡¯s pet. The tourists all thought the same thing. Meanwhile, the official personnel and the Beast Tamers with ghost-type pets focused their gazes on the blue liquid. Ghostfire Essence¡­ Previously, some obstructions had made them uncertain, but now, they could confirm it without a doubt. The Beast Masters¡¯ eyes gleamed with desire. Due to the monopolization and rarity of special materials, Beast Masters inherently craved and coveted rare materials they needed but rarely encountered. The officials'' expressions changed. They couldn¡¯t afford to delay any longer. With a quick exchange of looks, a group of them mounted their Sharp-Beaked Firebirds and rushed toward Qiao Sang. But just then, a whirlwind five meters wide and six meters tall suddenly erupted! The wind howled! The fierce whirlwind tore into the officials'' ranks, forcing them to halt and scatter. "Get out of here!" A male voice called out. Is that directed at me? Qiao Sang clicked her tongue inwardly. When the purple pet had attacked the official in the black jacket but not her, she had already gotten a sense of things. These people after the Ghostfire Essence were also protecting her. Not out of kindness, of course, just that in this situation, having an extra teammate meant extra fighting power and a better chance of getting what they wanted. She had already planned for this. With a flick of her hand, she recalled Yabao and Gangbao into her Beast Tamers¡¯ Codex. Fighting the officials head-on was a losing strategy. Teaming up with them would only get her tossed aside later. The best move was to escape while neither side wanted the other to get the Ghostfire Essence! "The ground is covered in the Lava Beast¡¯s vomit, watch your step!" Qiao Sang deliberately shouted, then nodded at Little Treasure and whispered, "The farthest distance." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. In the next second, Qiao Sang and Little Treasure vanished, taking the Lava Beast with them. "Spatial Shift?!" Hidden among the tourists, Fleur¡¯s expression changed drastically. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He growled, "Summon the Lava Beast back, now!" "I-I can¡¯t sense its location." McCarthy stammered, panic-stricken. Then, something occurred to him. His expression brightened, and he reassured, "It¡¯s fine! I arranged to meet her at Black Camel Spring." Idiot! Fleur cursed internally. Only weaklings get arranged by stronger people. That kid was clearly no ordinary child, she might even be stronger than McCarthy! Why would she follow his plan? Fleur took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration. His gaze shifted to the already solidifying Ghostfire Essence on the ground. Making a snap decision, he ordered: "Forget the Lava Beast! Get the Ghostfire Essence first!" Chappter 650: Dont You Want to Try? High above, another group of officials who were unaffected by the whirlwind noticed the disappearing girl and the lava beast, their expressions shifting slightly. "That lava beast probably still has some Ghostfire Essence inside. Should we go after it?" The round-faced official asked. The man in a black tactical jacket pondered for a moment before saying, "Forget it. That kid was probably just startled by the sudden battle, which led to the mistake of taking the lava beast with her. Her fire-type pet can move freely in the volcano¡¯s core. If she wanted the Ghostfire Essence, her pet could retrieve it. There''s no need to cling to the lava beast." "But even if she¡¯s not in league with those people, are we just going to give up on the Ghostfire Essence inside that lava beast?" The round-faced official questioned again. The man hesitated before replying, "There probably isn''t much left in the lava beast. After all, it hadn¡¯t been inside long before the volcano erupted. It was still unconscious when the fire-type pet carried it out." Boom!!! Before the round-faced official could respond, a sonic boom roared through the sky, the deafening sound echoing around them. The man in the black tactical jacket swiftly maneuvered his eagle-like pet to evade the attack. As he dived toward the battlefield below, he shouted, "Forget it! The priority now is eliminating these people!" With his words, the remaining officials still hovering in the sky quickly rode their sharp-beaked firebirds downward, joining the battle. Seeing this, the round-faced official no longer said anything and also joined the fray. Explosions erupted continuously. Around the area where the lava beast had vomited earlier, the two factions clashed fiercely, plunging the scene into chaos. The remaining tourists finally realized that spectating wasn¡¯t as entertaining as they had thought, it might even cost them dearly. One after another, they summoned their pets or rushed to their vehicles to leave. --- Meanwhile, after using multiple space-shift ability in succession, Little Treasure finally stopped in a desolate area. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t care where they were. After confirming no one else was around, she turned to look at the lava beast, which was still vomiting, hesitating. What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s been throwing up for so long¡­ The lava beast''s eyes were filled with tears, its expression one of extreme suffering. It felt absolutely miserable. It had gone into the volcano to retrieve what its beastmaster wanted, but just as it lowered its head and opened its mouth, the volcano erupted. A huge wave of unknown substances had rushed into its stomach, making it feel like it was about to burst. It had no idea how it lost consciousness, but when it woke up, it felt sick and nauseous, surrounded by strangers. Before it could even react, the scenery around it had changed multiple times in a blur. Originally, only its stomach hurt, now, its head did too¡­ "Lava¡­ ugh¡­" Qiao Sang quietly took a step back and looked at Little Treasure. "I remember buying a transparent, ultra-high-temperature-resistant container from a tool shop before. Get it and collect some of this." "Xun?!" Little Treasure widened his eyes in shock. Collect¡­ vomit?! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang patiently explained, "This is Ghostfire essence." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure suddenly understood. So this is Ghostfire Essence¡­ Since he had once followedhis beastmaster invisibly, he naturally knew she needed this for a trade. Without hesitation, Little Treasure removed his circular ring and rummaged through it with his claws. After about half a minute, he finally pulled out the transparent container. "Xun¡­" But the next second, staring at the Ghostfire Essence splattered all over the ground, he looked deeply conflicted. Even though this was Ghostfire Essence¡­ it was also vomit. How was he supposed to collect it¡­? Even though Little Treasure didn¡¯t say anything, his expressive face made his thoughts obvious. Qiao Sang twitched at the corners of her mouth and said, "You can use telekinesis to move it in." "Xun~" Upon hearing that, Little Treasure instantly brightened up. He opened the container, his eyes glowing blue as he guided the regurgitated Ghostfire Essence into the container. Actually, since Little Treasure could use Will-o''-the-wisp flames, absorbing Ghostfire Essence would probably save him a lot of training time¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself as she watched. "Lava¡­ ugh." The lava beast, seeing this, instinctively covered its mouth with its claws, wanting to swallow the Ghostfire Essence back down. It knew its beastmaster needed it. But in the end, it couldn¡¯t resist the physiological response and continued vomiting. Soon, the container was full. Little Treasure sealed the lid and placed it back into his ring. "Lava¡­ ugh¡­" The lava beast was still vomiting. What a waste¡­ Qiao Sang felt a pang of regret as she watched the Ghostfire Essence spill onto the ground. This stuff could be traded for an SS-ranked Yin Dynasty Pearl¡­ Unfortunately, she only had one heat-resistant container, and it was already full. The rest of the slurry would likely be wasted¡­ Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she turned to Little Treasure. "Xun?" Little Treasure blinked, confused by his beast master¡¯s gaze. Qiao Sang cleared her throat. "Here¡¯s the thing... Ghostfire Essence is great for ghost-type pets with fire abilities. Do you want to try it?" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up at first, but when he looked at the steadily flowing blue liquid coming from the lava beast¡¯s mouth, he immediately became wary. "Xun?" How¡­ how would he try it? "You just need to use the energy from your Will-o''-the-wisp flames to wrap the Ghostfire Essence before swallowing and absorbing it." Qiao Sang explained. When she had learned about Ghostfire Essence, she had also looked up its absorption method. "Xun!" Little Treasure instantly shook his head furiously. Swallow it? No way! That¡¯s someone else¡¯s vomit! Qiao Sang tried to reason, "Think about it: You won¡¯t actually be touching the essence since your energy will be wrapping it." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure was always a logical thinker. He visualized the process in his mind. That¡­ did seem to make sense¡­ "And haven¡¯t you been wanting to get stronger lately?" Qiao Sang pressed on, seeing his hesitation. "If you absorb the Ghostfire Essence, your attack power will increase significantly." "Xun¡­" Hearing that, Little Treasure subconsciously glanced at Qiao Sang¡¯s backpack. Qiao Sang seized the opportunity and added, "Ghostfire Essence is precious. You can¡¯t buy it even if you have money. Even if you want to absorb it in the future, you might not get the chance. Now there¡¯s an opportunity right in front of you, don¡¯t you want to try it? Others wouldn¡¯t even get the chance!" "Xun!" After a brief hesitation, Little Treasure clenched his teeth and nodded. He would try! Perfect! Qiao Sang was overjoyed and immediately urged, "Then start quickly¡ªonce it solidifies, it¡¯ll be a lot harder to absorb." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure stared at the Ghostfire Essence on the ground, took a deep breath, and mentally prepared himself. It¡¯s wrapped in energy¡­ It won¡¯t touch me¡­ It¡¯s wrapped in energy¡­ With a determined expression, Little Treasure activated his power, enveloping his mouth in energy. His eyes glowed blue, and the Ghostfire Essence slowly rose from the ground, moving toward his mouth. The moment it entered, layers of energy wrapped tightly around him. Then, Little Treasure swallowed. If any professional beast trainers were present, they would have screamed in outrage. Ghostfire Essence had an extremely high temperature, how could it be swallowed so casually?! Any ghost-type pet that absorbed Ghostfire Essence would normally take special cooling agents or dilute it first. Letting a ghost-type pet consume it raw? That was insane! Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know this, but she did know that lava was dangerous to ingest. "Lubao, if Little Treasure shows any discomfort, use Healing Light immediately." She instructed, unzipping her backpack. "Lu." Lubao jumped out of the bag, nodded, and stood by. With Lubao there, Qiao Sang relaxed. She closed her eyes, her consciousness entering her Beastmaster Codex. ----- T/n: I''m finally free to update today! Sorry for the inconsistent updates this past months, dear readers???? I was working on our teacher assistanceship and got busy with administrative work (+research, action research, and a worksheet????). I want vacation to arrive already... Chapter 651: Lava Purgatory The first page of the Beast Taming Codex displayed Yabao. Qiao Sang, who initially wanted to check Little Treasure''s ghostfire essence data first, immediately paused, her gaze sweeping over the new set of data before her. Name: Fire Qilu (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: General (150000/1000000) + [First Trait: Blaze Level: D (10/500), Status: (Hard to Use), Description: (When HP falls below 1/4, potential is activated, doubling fire-type skill power and speed.) Second Trait: Flame Body Level: B (62/2000), Status: (Useful), Description: (When the opponent uses a contact-based skill, there is a 30% chance of causing a burn.) Third Trait: Moonlight Power Level: A (24/10000), Status: (Extremely Useful), Description: (Under moonlight, energy becomes highly active, doubling effectiveness in all actions.) Skills: Bite (Mastery 114/500) +, Charge (Proficient 601/1000) +, Fire Fang (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Ember (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Shadow Clone (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Fire Whirl (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Flame Charge (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Meteor Shower (Ultimate 13038/20000) +, Illusion Flame (Perfected 8755/10000) +, Psychic (Ultimate 20000/20000) max, Perception Ssensory (Proficient 512/1000) +, Teleport (Advanced 4761/5000) +, Fire Claw (Perfected 6760/10000) +, Hyper Beam (Advanced 4672/5000) +, Calm Mind (Perfected 7231/10000) +, Hellfire (Proficient 632/1000) +, Explosive Flame Bomb (Beginner 1/100) +, Scorching Wind (Beginner 1/100) +, Lava Purgatory (Beginner 1/100) + Points: 8552 Since Yabao had been at school, destructive skills couldn¡¯t be practiced freely. However, thanks to his clones, most of his skills had rapidly advanced to the peak of Ultimate level. Qiao Sang, having reviewed the data daily, skimmed through familiar information and focused on the three newly acquired skills. Explosive Flame Bullet, Scorching Wind, Lava Purgatory... Qiao Sang fell into deep thought. Wow, all rare fire-type skills¡­ She was only familiar with Scorching Wind, a high-tier fire skill that attacks with a hot gust and has a chance to burn the target. The other two were completely new to her. Exploding Flame Bomb, judging from the name, it likely involved gathering flames into a projectile attack. As for Lava Purgatory¡­ she¡¯d have to look it up later. With that, Qiao Sang abandoned further speculation and turned the page to check on Little Treasure''s data. Skipping over unnecessary details, she directly checked its Will-o''-the-wisp data. [Will-o''-the-wisp (Advanced 1123/5000) +] [Will-o''-the-wisp (Advanced 1832/5000) +] [Will-o''-the-wisp (Advanced 2109/5000) +] Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. As expected, the effects of the Ghostfire Eseence were impressive, the Will-o''-the-wisp data was increasing just like when Little Treasure had absorbed emotional energy before, rising almost every second. The difference was that back then, its level would increase by 1 or 2 points at a time, whereas now, Will-o''-the-wisp was jumping by hundreds each second. The growth rate was staggering. Realizing that Little Treasure had successfully absorbed the Ghostfire Essence, Qiao Sang returned to reality. Opening her eyes, she immediately saw Little Treasure''s entire body glowing red, like a boiled shrimp. The next second, the Gem on Lubao¡¯s forehead lit up, casting a Healing Light onto him. The blue light faded, and Little Treasure''s body returned to his normal color. But soon after, he turned red again. Blue light-recovery-red again. Blue light-recovery-red again¡­ This cycle repeated over and over. Watching from the side, Qiao Sang¡¯s heart pounded with fear, worried that if Lubao was even a second late, Little Treasure might be fully cooked. No one mentioned this side effect of consuming Ghostfire Essence¡­ Qiao Sang felt a bit anxious, but recalling Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, she calmed down. After an unknown amount of time, the Lava Beast stopped vomiting, though it lay weakly on the ground. "Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure slowly opened his eyes, wiped the nonexistent sweat off his forehead, and let out a fearful expression recalling the ordeal. Qiao Sang checked the Beast Taming Codex and saw Will-o''-the-wisp data had changed to (Ultimate 12233/20000). Returning to reality, she pointed at the remaining Ghostfire Essence on the ground and asked, ¡°Want to absorb a bit more?¡± ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure frantically shook his head. Too terrifying! No way! Seeing this, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t push further. Will-o''-the-wisp had already evolved from Advanced to Ultimate, a significant breakthrough. For a normal Beast Tamer without cheats, even a ghost-type pet with top-tier talent would need several years to train a mid-tier skill to Ultimate level. Yabao had successfully evolved, the Ghostfire Essence was collected, and Little Treasure had absorbed it, saving tons of training time. Tonight had been a perfect success¡­ Qiao Sang was satisfied. Then, she suddenly thought of something and turned to look at the Lava Beast. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What should she do with this Lava Beast? She couldn¡¯t just send it back¡­ ¡°Lava¡­¡± Sensing her gaze, the Lava Beast nervously backed away. It remembered that terrifying pet was captured by this human in front of it¡­ ¡°Um¡­¡± Qiao Sang started to speak. ¡°Lava!¡± Before she could finish, the Lava Beast abruptly turned around and bolted at full speed, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Fine. That works too. She picked up her phone, checked the time, past midnight. Then, recalling something, she formed a seal with her hands and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± As soon as Yabao appeared, he let out a proud roar. A powerful air current swirled around his body. ¡°Yabao.¡± Qiao Sang called. ¡°Yap?¡± Hearing the voice, Yabao looked around, no one in sight. He tilted his head in confusion. Where was his Beast Tamer? ¡°Lower your head a bit more.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao lowered his head, still seeing nothing. Qiao Sang twitched her lips. ¡°Step back and lower your head again.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao took a big step back, lowered his head further, finally spotting her. He let out a cheerful cry. The lightweight miniaturization bracelet was truly a great invention¡­ Looking at Yabao¡¯s massive form, Qiao Sang deeply appreciated its usefulness. Without it, forget about keeping a pet in the room, training would be a nightmare. No wonder General-tier pets were rarely seen on city streets. With their sheer size, even a small movement could cause major accidents. Qiao Sang gathered her thoughts and said, ¡°Yabao, you¡¯re too big now. Without the lightweight miniaturization bracelet, you can¡¯t fit in the hotel room. For now, stay in the Beast Taming Codex. I¡¯ll order a new one online.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I can¡¯t get one immediately, it¡¯ll only be two days at most. Once I finish my business, I¡¯ll find a house big enough for you.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao wasn¡¯t upset. He wagged his tail, indicating his understanding. No choice, he had simply become too mighty and majestic. Growing up was great¡­ With a satisfied smile, Qiao Sang waved her hand, recalling him into the Codex. --- 2:03 AM Sota Hotel, Room 3406. Qiao Sang leaned against the headboard, submitting her application for a lightweight miniaturization bracelet. To qualify, a pet¡¯s size had to exceed 6 meters, Yabao met the requirement. After submitting, she opened her chat app, intending to set up a meeting with the Beast Tamer who owned the SS-class Yin Dynasty Pearl. But just as she typed the first character, she hesitated and exited the chat. The Ghostfire Essence had only appeared tonight, contacting him immediately would be too suspicious. Better to wait. Then, she recalled something else and opened the search engine, typing in ExplodingFlame Bullet. A page loaded: [Exploding Flame Bullet: A high-tier fire skill. Gathers fire into a bomb-like attack, dealing damage and potentially causing burns.] As expected. She scrolled down and searched for Lava Purgatory. A post popped up: [Lava Purgatory: A super-tier fire skill¡­] Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze locked onto the words super-tier, unable to look away. Ultra-tier? Ultra-tier?! Chapter 652: Explosive Flame Bomb How could it be an Ultra/Super-tier skill?! Qiao Sang was caught off guard, completely stunned by the words Ultra-tier. Ever since Yabao and the others had learned High-tier skills at the beginner stage, her ability to accept surprises had reached a new level. Not to brag, but at this point, beginner-tier pet beasts mastering High-tier skills was no longer enough to stir even a ripple of emotion in her. At most, she would compliment the pet''s good talent. But this- This was an Ultra-tier skill! It wasn''t like Lubao¡¯s inherited Ultra-tier skill, which had been present since birth. This was a skill awakened from the bloodline after evolving into a General-tier pet beast! One had to understand, in today''s world, Divine-tier skills were merely legends, and Ultra-tier skills were the strongest known abilities. Even in major regional tournaments, the number of pet beasts that had demonstrated Ultra-tier skills could be counted on one hand, showcasing just how difficult they were to learn. By all logic, even King-tier pet beasts couldn''t awaken Ultra-tier skills upon evolution. Yet Yabao had awakened one upon evolving to General-tier¡­ It was simply unbelievable¡­ Qiao Sang steadied her emotions, took a deep breath, and stared at the screen again with a maybe I''m seeing things expression. After confirming that the words Ultra-tier were still there, she exited the page and searched for information on a reputable knowledge website. Very soon, relevant information appeared on the screen: [Lava Purgatory, a Fire-type Ultra-tier skill. It''s no exaggeration to say that the flames of this inferno can melt anything. >This skill isn''t something a King-tier Fire-type pet beast can learn just by trying hard. Apart from talent and resources, another crucial factor is that it requires an affinity for lava elements. >In other words, only Fire-type pet beasts with lava elements in their bodies have the possibility of learning this skill. >Everyone should know that while lava elements belong to the Fire attribute, not all Fire-type pet beasts possess lava elements. >Even if your pet reaches Emperor-tier, it must meet this requirement to have a chance at learning it. >As for how to learn it, don''t believe anything people tell you. >The method to acquire a skill of this level will never be publicly shared. It really was an Ultra-tier skill¡­ Qiao Sang read every word carefully, her heart pounding wildly. Her face flushed with excitement, and she had the overwhelming urge to rush to the outdoor training ground right now and summon Yabao to witness it firsthand. An Ultra-tier skill! This was the kind of ability that only the top-tier Beast Tamers possessed! Calm down, calm down. It''s late, Yabao is already asleep, and there will be plenty of time in the future¡­ Qiao Sang took a deep breath but found that she was still extremely agitated. Ah! She couldn''t calm down at all! Qiao Sang glanced at Lubao, who was resting in a water tank nearby, emitting cold air while circulating energy. She said: "Give me a Healing Soundwave." "Lu~ Lu lu~ Lu lu lu~ Lu~ Lu lu~" Lubao opened her eyes, didn''t ask any questions, and directly opened her mouth to cast the skill. A formless soundwave spread out. Qiao Sang''s expression gradually returned to normal. Not bad. Now that she had gathered all the information on Yabao, she could finally sleep¡­ --- At 8:30 AM, Qiao Sang woke up. The excitement from last night immediately returned. She washed up quickly, intending to prepare energy pellets for Yabao and the others before heading to the outdoor training ground to test Yabao¡¯s new skill. But soon, she realized a problem. She was running low on Yabao''s energy pellets¡­ As pet beasts evolved, their bodies grew larger, and so did their appetite. Setting aside the effectiveness of the energy pellets, the sheer quantity needed had to be addressed first. The Vice Principal wouldn¡¯t arrive for another half a month. In the meantime, she had to restock on energy pellets¡­ After tidying up, Qiao Sang left her hotel room and headed downtown to find a store that sold Fire-type pet beast energy pellets. Since custom energy pellets took time to make, it would be better to wait for the Vice Principal to personally craft Yabao¡¯s pellets instead of relying on an unfamiliar breeder. Qiao Sang took the subway three stops and arrived in a bustling district, where she bought a large supply of food and energy pellets suited for Fire-type pet beasts. Then, she found a quiet outdoor training ground, summoned Yabao, and placed the prepared energy pellets before it. The smaller pet beasts had already eaten breakfast at the hotel, so there was no need to prepare food for them "Lu." Lubao grew larger and, seeing that Yabao was still significantly bigger than herself, flicked her tail and turned away to train on her own, out of sight, out of mind. "Yap!" Yabao lowered his head and happily began eating. With one bite, an entire plate of energy pellets disappeared into his mouth. Yabao chewed a few times and swallowed. "Yap!" Yabao looked at his Beast Tamer with big, wet eyes. Qiao Sang quickly poured another serving of energy pellets. Yabao gobbled them up in one bite again. "Yap!" Yabao stared at her expectantly. Qiao Sang silently poured another large serving. Three seconds later. "Yap!" Qiao Sang: ¡­ No wonder richer people could raise stronger pet beasts. If an average middle-class family had to support a General-tier pet beast, it would probably bankrupt them¡­ While inwardly complaining, she didn¡¯t stop feeding Yabao. As she was pouring more pellets, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. After finishing the pour, she took out her phone and saw a message from the micro-official site: [Dear Beast Tamer, thank you for your application. However, the pet beast information you provided does not match actual records. As a result, your application has been denied. If you have any questions, please check or inquire via the micro-official site.] Application rejected¡­ Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood, Yabao¡¯s registration at the Beast Tamer Center was still listed as a Blazing Star Canine, which wasn¡¯t large enough to qualify for a lightweight miniaturization bracelet. Looks like she needed to visit the Beast Tamer Center today to update Yabao¡¯s information¡­ Since she¡¯d be there anyway, maybe she should take the C-rank Beast Tamer certification exam while she was at it¡­ Thinking about it, Qiao Sang got excited. Becoming a C-rank Beast Tamer would qualify her to participate in regional tournaments across the major districts of Blue Star. Those tournaments represented the highest level of competition among professional young Beast Tamers! If she were on Blue Star right now, she¡¯d definitely take the C-rank test and try her luck during the holidays. Unfortunately, she was on Chaosu Star¡­ Qiao Sang kept feeding Yabao as she mulled over her plans. Ten minutes later, Yabao finally let out a satisfied burp. Finally full¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief and said: "Yabao, take a moment to digest, then show me all the skills you¡¯ve just learned." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yap!" Hearing this, Yabao instantly perked up. He excitedly declared that he didn¡¯t need to digest, he could demonstrate the skills right away! "Alright, let¡¯s start with Explosive Flame Bomb." "Yap!" Yabao got into position, looking serious. Energy surged within it as he opened his mouth. A glowing fireball, red on the outside and golden within, formed at his maw. The next second, he fired. BOOM!!! A roaring explosion erupted, shaking the entire training ground. When the smoke cleared, the once-populated training area was now deserted. "Yap!" Yabao wagged his tail excitedly. This skill was amazing! Just then, a staff member rushed over. "Apologies, but could you please move to a larger training field?" Qiao Sang thought about it, there were still skills left to test. Ah well, now that Yabao had gotten so much stronger¡­ She smiled. "Alright." And so, she recalled Yabao into the Beast Tamer Codex. "Thank you! Thank you!" The middle-aged man looked grateful. --- On the way to the Beast Taming Center, Qiao Sang felt a chill on her back and knew that Lubao was in a bad mood again after witnessing Yabao''s powerful attack. She quickened her pace, pretending not to notice and continued walking forward. There was no helping it, aside from evolving Lubao, nothing else would probably cheer her up¡­ About twenty minutes later. At the Beast Taming Center. After taking a queue number and waiting for a while, Qiao Sang arrived at Window 73 and handed over her information card. "Hello, I¡¯d like to update my pet¡¯s information." Chapter 653: Went There The staff member took the information card, scanned it, and after confirming that the photo matched the person, asked: "Which pet beast''s information would you like to modify?" "Blazing Star Canine." Qiao Sang replied. "My Blazing Star Canine has evolved. Please update his information. I want to name him Fire Qilu." Blazing Star Canine? What kind of pet beast is that? And naming it Fire Qilu? Can pet beasts be named so casually...? The staff member glanced at the computer screen and indeed saw a pet beast named Blazing Star Canine in the species field. He then looked further down and froze. A high-level pet beast of Fire and Psychic type? Does our Chaosu Star even have this kind of pet beast? The staff member scrolled back to the beast master''s information page. Blue Star... Dragon Nation, Yuhua Region... Qiao Sang... Female... 16 years old... So, she''s not from Chaosu Star... The staff member smiled and continued with the process: "Please summon the pet beast whose information you want to modify." Qiao Sang was momentarily surprised. "Aren''t large pet beasts supposed to be summoned in a designated room?" Now, it was the staff member¡¯s turn to be stunned. His mind had been filled with the thought that this girl was an alien. But now that he thought about it, the pet beast she was updating was a high-level one. If it evolved into a General-tier pet beast, its size would indeed require a designated space... Wait, isn¡¯t she only 16 years old?! The staff member realized something and looked at the computer screen again. Yes, she really was 16! A 16-year-old with a General-tier pet beast?! After a brief moment of confusion and shock, he recalled her previous words: "I want to name him Fire Qilu." Naming... While pulling up the Blazing Star Canine information, the staff member said, "Please hold on for a moment." The Beast Taming Center''s database contained the most comprehensive pet beast information across the entire interstellar space. Soon, the full evolutionary chain of Blazing Star Canine was displayed. After Blazing Star Canine, there was nothing, no records at all. The staff member''s mind exploded as if struck by lightning. He immediately stood up and respectfully addressed Qiao Sang: "Please wait a little longer. I don''t have the authority to approve a name change. I need to ask my supervisor." "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded. When her Yabbao evolved into Flame Hound and Blazing Star Canine before, she was competing in a tournament in front of a large audience. A quick search back then would have easily revealed that she was the first to cultivate a new form of Fire Fang Dog, so the naming process hadn¡¯t been too complicated. But now, she was on Chaosu Star, where people had no knowledge of Fire Fang Dog''s evolution chain. She could understand why the process was more complicated here. After all, once a name was registered, it would be officially recorded in the Beast Tamer Alliance''s database. --- The staff member hurriedly made his way through the office area and rushed toward the supervisor''s office. He knocked on the door. "Come in." A voice responded. The staff member pushed the door open and immediately announced: "Supervisor, there''s a beast tamer from Blue Star here to modify pet beast information!" The supervisor looked up and said leisurely, "Isn''t it just someone from another planet updating their records? You could¡¯ve handled it. Why come to me?" "But the pet beast she¡¯s modifying appears to be a new form, and there¡¯s no information in the database." The staff member explained. The supervisor glanced at him. "So you''re saying she wants to name it?" "Yes." The staff member nodded. "Check if she''s the first beast tamer to cultivate this new form." The supervisor said indifferently. "If she is, she has the naming rights." "But..." The staff member hesitated. "She¡¯s from Blue Star, only 16 years old, and she''s updating a high-tier pet beast to General-tier. I''m not sure if I should approve the registration." "Supervisor, can you come and verify it?" A brief silence filled the office. After about ten seconds, the supervisor asked, "You said she''s only 16?" The staff member responded, "Yes." "And the pet beast she¡¯s updating is going from high-tier to General-tier?" "Yes!" The staff member nodded vigorously. The supervisor suddenly stood up, grabbed his coat, and quickly walked toward the office area. Seeing this, the staff member was delighted and hurried after him. "This is the beast tamer requesting the name registration." The staff member introduced after reaching workstation No. 73. She really does look 16... The supervisor smiled at the girl outside the window, then lowered his head to check the records seriously. The more he read, the more shocked he became. 16 years old, four pet beasts, including the newly discovered Steel Guardian Falcon from Chaosu Star?! The supervisor was stunned for a few seconds before raising his head, staring at Qiao Sang with a Are you even human? expression. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ...What kind of look is that? Qiao Sang felt a bit confused by his gaze. Realizing his lapse, the supervisor quickly adjusted his expression and said, "Please follow me." He pointed to the left and started walking. Qiao Sang followed him for a few minutes until they arrived at an open field resembling an outdoor training ground. "Please summon the pet beast you want to update." The supervisor instructed. "Alright." Qiao Sang nodded and formed a seal with her hands. An orange-yellow star array lit up. Soon, a six-meter-tall Yabao with enormous flaming wings appeared within the star array. "Yap!" Yabao instinctively took two steps back, lowered his head, and affectionately nuzzled his beast tamer. The supervisor looked up at the pet beast before him and was startled. "This pet beast is yours?" Qiao Sang was slightly surprised. "You recognize him?" The supervisor blurted out, "It was in the news this morning: ''A mysterious pet beast emerging from the volcano.'' You haven¡¯t heard? The Kotea Volcano incident." It made the news...? If people saw Yabao, wouldn¡¯t they realize she took away the Lava Beast? And would that lead them to suspect she had the Ghostfire Essence...? Qiao Sang''s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a calm expression. "I haven''t really watched the news." "You should check online. The news should still be up." The supervisor suggested. Qiao Sang politely declined, "I''ll check later. Updating the information is more important now." "True." The supervisor agreed. After nearly an hour, they finally confirmed that Yabao was indeed the first Blazing Star Canine to evolve. All necessary procedures were completed, and the name registration was officially approved. Qiao Sang stored her updated information card and also applied for a new identity bracelet for Yabao. Now that Fire Qilu''s data was recorded in the database, the registration process for the identity bracelet was smooth. Throughout the process, the supervisor personally accompanied her, drawing curious glances from nearby staff. After collecting the identity bracelet, Qiao Sang bid farewell to the ever-smiling supervisor and proceeded to a self-service machine. She scanned her identity card and Beast Tamer badge to register, pay the fee, and receive a number for the C-rank Beast Tamer exam. There were far fewer people taking the C-rank exam than the D-rank one, and only a few were ahead of her. Unlike previous exams, the C-rank Beast Tamer assessment was conducted outdoors. Qiao Sang confirmed the test location and followed the signs while checking the news on her phone. The volcano story wasn''t trending. She searched "Kotea Volcano mysterious pet beast," and relevant articles popped up. [Kotea Volcano: Mysterious Pet Beast Spotted - A Legendary Creature?] Great headline... Qiao Sang scrolled through the article and saw that it didn''t mention the Lava Beast or the Ghostfire Essence. She sighed in relief and glanced at the comments, everyone was discussing Yabao but nothing else. Just then, her phone vibrated. A message from "SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl" appeared: [Did you go to Kotea Volcano yesterday?] Qiao Sang hesitated briefly before replying: [Yes.] Chapter 654: Snow Concealment After a dozen seconds, the "SS-grade Yin Dynasty Pearl" replied: [Did you get the Ghostfire Essence?] Qiao Sang responded: [Got it.] This time, the reply was immediate: [Let''s set a time and place. The SS-grade Yin Dynasty Pearl is still with me.] That worked. The deal had to happen sooner or later anyway. After a brief moment of thought, Qiao Sang typed and sent: [One hour later, Beast Tamer Center.] --- At the same time, on the third floor of the Beast Tamer Center, in the pet beast assessment hall- "What did she say?" McCarthy asked. Fleur put down his phone and said, "She got the Ghostfire Essence" "How the hell could she get the Ghostfire Essence?!" McCarthy looked incredulous. "We were both at the scene last night. You should know that the Kotea Volcano was sealed off by the officials afterwar, no one could get close!" Suddenly, he fell silent, as if realizing something, then exclaimed in shock: "Could she be the Beast Tamer who teleported away my Lava Beast yesterday?! Besides her, no one else could have possibly gotten their hands on the Ghostfire Essence from the Kotea Volcano! Where is she meeting you? I''m coming with you!" Are you kidding? I finally have a shot at the Ghostfire Essence, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting you come and ruin the deal... Fleur glanced at him and said, "Seven o¡¯clock in the evening, right here at the Beast Tamer Center." --- The items were safely stored in Little Treasure''s ring. Once the deal was done, there was no reason to stay here any longer, she¡¯d check out online and head straight to 1st District. Qiao Sang opened the travel app and booked a ticket to 1st District. Yulianton University was located in 1st District. Since she was transferring there for half a year, she needed to prepare in advance. She had looked up the school online, dorms were villas, training grounds were massive, and it had everything one could ask for. But just like back in Sainan High School, the training facilities weren¡¯t private. Practicing powerful moves occasionally wouldn''t be a problem, but skills with destructive potential, like those of Yabao, needed constant practice and consistent success. That would definitely disturb others. She still needed to find a separate place that met her training needs. With the Ghostfire Essence secured, Qiao Sang had already planned her short-term goals: 1. Find a suitable place to live in 1st District. 2. Push Little Treasure to master Shadow Control at the ultimate level, then evolve him. 3. Get Gangbao more real combat experience, train herself as well, and eliminate the side effects of Bond Evolution as soon as possible. Yabao and the others had evolved from mid-tier to high-tier so quickly before because she had added points to them. Since she needed more points, she had planned for Gangbao to evolve during high school. But then, with the new form of Steel Falcon, she had acquired a Dream Enlightenment Stone directly, so Gangbao¡¯s evolution wasn¡¯t urgent anymore. Even though her points were now enough to evolve into a high-tier pet beast after multiple arena matches, she still wanted to strengthen her foundation first. After all, Steel Guardian Falcon was a new form, and there were no existing references for its development. There was no rush for competitions or points now. Stability was key. Ideally, she could undergo a spontaneous evolution like Yabao did at the volcano. As for long-term plans, making money. But for now, her unlimited credit card was still valid, and she had already established income sources on Blue Star. It wasn''t an immediate concern. After buying her ticket, Qiao Sang turned off her phone and slipped it back into her pocket. The exam arena had switched to a new examinee. Just then, the red-haired woman from before approached her again. "You look really young. What skincare products do you use?" "I don¡¯t use any. Just wash my face with water." Qiao Sang replied. Maybe it was the constant mild temperature of Chaosu Star, or perhaps it was the multiple instances of rebound effect she had experienced, her skin had always been in excellent condition. The woman hesitated before finally asking, "How old are you?" "Sixteen." Silence again. Why did she suddenly stop talking? She had started the conversation twice already, it wouldn''t hurt to keep it going... Qiao Sang decided to flex her social skills and asked, "What''s your number?" "Sixteen." The woman replied. Qiao Sang blinked. "But isn''t the current match for number 23?" The woman maintained an awkward but polite smile and explained, "I already finished my exam. I just stayed behind to observe other assessments." So she failed the test... Qiao Sang understood instantly. She had read online that Beast Tamers who stayed after their exams to watch other matches were usually the ones who failed. They wanted to study the examiners'' battle strategies so they¡¯d be better prepared next time. The woman seemed to realize what Qiao Sang was thinking and quickly added, "My Clockwork Tapir evolved to General-level less than a month ago, I haven''t fully mastered its power yet." "I see." Qiao Sang nodded with a polite smile. The woman felt a little uneasy, but right then, the loudspeaker announced: "Number 24, prepare to enter the arena." Qiao Sang glanced at her number tag: 24. "I¡¯ll be going for my exam." She said as she stood up. "Good luck." The woman said. Thinking about her own failure, she kindly advised, "Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself, just stay calm." Qiao Sang smiled and gave Little Treasure a nod. "Xuuun~" Little Treasure''s eyes glowed blue. The next moment, Qiao Sang appeared directly in the arena. The handful of Beast Tamers present murmured in surprise. They all pulled out their pet beast identifiers, aiming them at the ghost-like, teleporting pet beast, but none of them got a match. The chatter grew louder. Qiao Sang was used to the attention. She stood calmly on one side, composed and at ease. The C-rank Beast Tamer test was the first major threshold for professional Beast Tamers. Naturally, the requirements were higher. She had done her research before coming, the Chaosu Star C-rank exam followed a 3v3 battle format, with a strict rule that at least one General-level pet beast must be used. At this level, a single strong pet beast wasn¡¯t enough to prove a Beast Tamer''s professionalism. Only if all their pet beasts were strong could they be recognized as "professional." "Let¡¯s begin." The examiner said, forming hand seals. A five-meter-tall, snowflake-like pet beast appeared, with a vent on its head continuously spewing icy mist. Different examiners had different styles. Some preferred to summon their pet beasts at the same time as the examinee, in line with standard combat rules. Others, confident in their strength, summoned first, allowing the examinee to choose accordingly. This examiner was clearly the latter type. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hold back. She made a hand seal, and an orange-yellow star array shone brightly. "Yap!" As Yabao emerged, a powerful air current instantly swirled around him. In that instant, the surrounding temperature soared. The frost that had formed due to Snow Concealment Sphere''s icy mist quickly melted away. "What kind of pet beast is that?!" "I can''t find it in the database!" "And that other one she used to teleport, it''s unidentifiable too!" "She looks way too young for this." "Uh... maybe she just has a baby face?" "Wait... I feel like I''ve seen that pet beast somewhere before..." The discussion grew even louder. Qiao Sang, however, had already analyzed her opponent. Snow Concealment Sphere, an Ice-type General-level pet beast with a body temperature around -10¡ãC, capable of launching fierce blizzards and hiding in snowy conditions. Highly popular on Chaosu Star for its ability to create snowfall. Meanwhile, the examiner, who had briefly been stunned by Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beasts, regained his composure and signaled the referee. "Begin!" "Yap!" Yabao''s face lit up with excitement as his massive flaming wings forcefully flapped downward. A scorching crimson gale, visible to the naked eye, instantly swept through the area, seemingly capable of obliterating everything in its path. Dozens of ice arrows met the fiery wind and melted away almost instantly, vanishing without a trace. The energy within this pet beast was clearly greater than that of Snow Concealment Sphere¡­ The examiner immediately spotted the issue. The range of the scorching wind wasn¡¯t particularly large, nor was its heat exceptionally intense. However, because the pet beast possessed an abundance of energy, it was able to completely suppress the ice arrows cast by Snow Concealment Sphere. It seems this isn¡¯t just a recently evolved General-tier pet beast¡­ As the examiner analyzed the situation, Snow Concealment Sphere ascended into the air, releasing an icy chill from the vent atop its head. "It''s trying to create a snowfall for concealment." A Beast Tamer, who had watched numerous exams without passing his own, remarked knowingly. A snowfall conjured by a General-tier pet beast was far faster than that of an High-level one. Within mere seconds, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Is this the Ice Flower Seal? As the surrounding noise automatically faded, Qiao Sang, who was still debating whether to have Yabao use Lava Purgatory, suddenly tensed. Without further hesitation, she called out: "Get close to it, Lava Purgatory!" Lava Purgatory was still at the beginner level. Although it was a super-tier skill, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t certain how much area Yabao¡¯s energy could cover with it. To be safe, using it at close range was the best choice. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure of the power of a General-tier pet beast''s Ice Flower Seal, but it was undoubtedly strong. Since Yabao had only just evolved, there was a high chance he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist¡­ In this situation, the best strategy was to take down the opponent with a big move before Ice Flower Seal could land on Yabao. Qiao Sang thought carefully. "Yap!" Yabao let out a sharp cry. Then, he vanished from his original position. When he reappeared, he was already above Snow Concealment Sphere. His massive shadow loomed over the smaller beast. There was no need for instructions from his Beast Tamer, Yabao instinctively knew he was in danger and needed to evade. But complete evasion was impossible. At the very moment Snow Concealment Sphere moved, Yabao''s sharp claws lifted high and slammed down onto its head! Then, in a straight downward motion, it forcefully smacked Snow Concealment Sphere into the ground! Dust and gravel flew everywhere, leaving a large crater in the battlefield. "Xueyin!" Snow Concealment Sphere struggled frantically beneath Yabao¡¯s claws, but its strength was clearly inferior. It couldn''t move at all. Qiao Sang watched the commotion on the field, and two thoughts flashed through her mind. First: It almost feels like we don¡¯t even need Lava Purgatory. Yabao might be able to finish this before the snow falls on him¡­ Second: Never mind, I might as well take this chance to see Lava Purgatory¡¯s true power¡­ "Ice Spikes!" The examiner remained calm and promptly issued a counter-command. From this angle, if Snow Concealment Sphere launched Ice Spikes, Yabao would have no choice but to dodge. By then, the snow would have already fallen, allowing Snow Concealment Sphere to conceal itself and take complete control of the battle. "Xueyin!" Snow Concealment Sphere let out a cry, gathering a chilling force at the vent atop its head. The Ice Spikes were just about to form. But at that moment, Yabao suddenly stomped his left forepaw into the ground with immense force. "Xueyin¡­" Snow Concealment Sphere suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of oppression, an inexplicable fear creeping into its heart. Overwhelmed by panic, it failed to release Ice Spikes in time. Countless streams of scorching lava erupted from the ground, centered around Yabao. In an instant, they engulfed Snow Concealment Sphere. Dark red magma surged like waves, layer upon layer, pressing outward in all directions! In the blink of an eye, the battlefield turned a deep crimson. The intense heat seemed capable of reducing everything to ashes. The magma roared, followed by relentless waves of raging flames. The ominous red glow was terrifying, and the entire battlefield distorted under the unbearable heat. It was like hell itself! Chapter 655: I Have Arrived T/n: I almost forgot to mention this Ko-fi donator @Underpaid! Thank you for the donation as well as your support.???? For all those who wished for my well-being, Thank you so much! Much much appreciated support!???? ----- The visual impact of the scene before them was simply overwhelming. The vast examination field was eerily silent, with only the bubbling sound of magma echoing through the air. Everyone stared in stunned silence at the red-colored pet beast standing proudly atop the molten lava. No one knew how much time had passed before the dry voice of the examiner finally broke the silence: "The first round of the examination is over." A few seconds later, everyone suddenly stood up in unison, their breathing quickened as if they had only just realized they had witnessed something unbelievable. "Oh my god! What kind of skill was that? That was terrifying!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know, I know! That Beastmaster said the skill¡¯s name earlier! I remember, it¡¯s called Lava Purgatory!" "Ah! I looked it up! It''s an ultra-tier skill! This is an ultra-tier skill!" "Holy crap! I knew it! No high-tier skill could be this terrifying, it had to be ultra-tier!" "Damn it! Who¡¯s the expert pretending to be a rookie in this C-rank Beastmaster exam?" "I swear on my receding hairline, there¡¯s no way that¡¯s just a General-rank pet beast!" Some people even pulled out their phones, frantically taking pictures of the now completely crimson battlefield to send to their friends or post online. Ultra-tier skills were usually exclusive to high-level Beastmasters'' pet beasts, something rarely seen in everyday life. Yet, here they were, witnessing one in a mere C-rank Beastmaster exam. It was like a dream! A pet beast that couldn¡¯t be identified by the pet detector, combined with the ultra-tier skill Lava Purgatory, these two factors stacked together instantly shrouded Qiao Sang in an air of mystery. At this moment, everyone was immensely curious about Qiao Sang¡¯s age and background. By all appearances, the girl standing on the field looked like a minor, far too young to be taking a C-rank Beastmaster exam. Yet, her pet beast could use an ultra-tier skill. Which raised another question, if her pet beast was capable of such a skill, how could she still be taking a mere C-rank examination? It was all just too mysterious! The mystery was so compelling that no one sat back down for a long time. A middle-aged man approached a red-haired woman nearby and asked, "I saw you talking to her earlier. Do you know her?" The red-haired woman kept her eyes fixed on Qiao Sang in the arena and murmured, "Not really." The middle-aged man was unwilling to give up and pressed further, "Do you know how old she is?" The red-haired woman hesitated for a moment before answering, "Sixteen..." The man rolled his eyes, then returned to his seat without asking any more questions. --- The examination was temporarily halted. The battlefield had been completely consumed by lava and was no longer usable. Meanwhile, the examiner''s Snow Concealment Sphere had been sent to the third-floor pet beast medical center for emergency treatment. If Qiao Sang had known the examiner had left for this reason, she would¡¯ve at least given Snow Concealment Sphere a Light of Healing before they left. If they didn¡¯t resume the test soon, she would run out of time... Qiao Sang glanced at her phone every so often. About ten minutes later, a burly middle-aged man appeared at the edge of the field and spoke through a loudspeaker: "We are changing locations! Everyone, please proceed to Examination Field B4 immediately!" Everyone swiftly got up and moved in an orderly fashion toward the right side. Most of the Beastmasters taking the exam in the 19th District Beastmaster Center were locals, so they knew exactly where to go without needing directions. Qiao Sang followed the crowd. "Yap..." Yabao carefully lowered his head, watching the tiny human figures moving below. He cautiously adjusted his steps, afraid of accidentally crushing someone underfoot. "Xun xun..." Little Treasure floated onto Yabao¡¯s head, looking down at the humans as well. From this height, the view was rather thrilling. The more he looked, the more he wanted to get bigger... The B4 examination field wasn¡¯t far away, and within three minutes, everyone had relocated. "From now on, I will be your examiner." Announced the burly middle-aged man who had spoken earlier. Where did the previous examiner go? Qiao Sang suddenly thought of this question. She recalled that Little Treasure had scanned the previous examiner¡¯s three pet beasts. If he were still the one conducting the exam, she would have had a better grasp of what to expect... "Candidate 25, enter the field and prepare." The announcement system broadcasted. "Wait a moment!" Qiao Sang called out. Almost everyone turned their attention to her. "What is it?" The burly examiner asked. "I''m Candidate 24. I''ve only completed one match, I still have two more to go." Qiao Sang explained. The burly examiner gave her a strange look. "You''re Candidate 24?" "Yes." Qiao Sang nodded. "Go to the registration desk and sign your name." He instructed. Qiao Sang blinked in confusion. "Sign what?" "You¡¯ll understand once you get there." He replied before turning back to his loudspeaker. "Candidate 25! Get up here!" ...They wouldn¡¯t be asking her to pay for the battlefield repairs, would they? Qiao Sang sighed and turned to leave. As she was about to exit the B4 field, a staff member seated near the entrance caught her attention with a subtle glance. It was the same staff member who had been at B7 field earlier. Qiao Sang slowed her steps and glanced over. The staff member whispered, "He means you¡¯ve passed the exam. You just need to sign the confirmation." Qiao Sang stopped, looking puzzled. "But I still have two more rounds left..." The staff member chuckled after glancing at Yabao. "With a pet beast capable of Lava Purgatory, you¡¯ve already met the qualifications. In all my years of work, I¡¯ve never seen a C-rank Beastmaster¡¯s pet beast use an ultra-tier skill." "My guess is they¡¯re just trying to prevent you from casting Lava Purgatory again, otherwise, they''d have to change the battlefield after every round." "Yap..." Yabao gazed up at the sky at a 45-degree angle. He understood now, he was simply too powerful. "But..." Qiao Sang hesitated. She had never heard of anyone passing a C-rank Beastmaster exam after just one match... "Relax, just go sign the papers." The staff member reassured her. "The entire examination process is monitored, and an official certifier was present. Everything was done by the book. If they¡¯re letting you pass, that means they¡¯ve officially recognized your C-rank qualifications." "Understood. Thanks." Since everything was legitimate, Qiao Sang had no reason to refuse. Even if the exam had continued, she was confident she could pass. Who would''ve thought the professional Beastmaster exams on Chaosu Star would be this flexible... With a wave of her hand, Qiao Sang recalled Yabao into her Beastmaster Codex and strode toward the Beastmaster Center¡¯s lobby. She completed the necessary paperwork and received her new Beastmaster badge. Checking her phone, she saw that she had 29 minutes left until her scheduled meeting with "SS-Rank Yin Dynasty Pearl." She moved to an unmonitored area and put on the black coat and mask she had worn last time at the underground trading market. Both had been stored in Little Treasure''s ring, making the change quick and convenient. After finishing her disguise, she suddenly remembered something. With another wave of her hand, she stored Lubao into her Beastmaster Codex and placed her backpack into Little Treasure''s ring. She had carried this bag last time at the volcano, she couldn¡¯t risk blowing her cover because of it. After making all necessary preparations, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone, opened her chat with "SS-Rank Yin Dynasty Pearl," and typed: [I have arrived.] Chapter 656: Pleasant Cooperation Three minutes later, a message finally arrived: [I''m already on the way. It''ll take about ten more minutes. I''ll contact you when I arrive.] Qiao Sang sent an OK gesture and put down her phone. --- Meanwhile. At the Beast Tamer Center. On the third floor, in the examination hall. Fleur stared at his phone in silent contemplation. "What''s wrong?" McCarthy asked when he noticed. Fleur put down his phone and asked, "If the person with the Ghostfire Essence is really the same kid who teleported the Lava Beast last night, do you think you can take her in a fight?" "What are you saying? She''s just a kid. How could I possibly-" McCarthy trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly remembering the terrifying beast that had burst out of the volcano last night. "Is she really just a kid?" Fleur continued. McCarthy chuckled. "What else? She looks like a minor." "But her pet beast isn''t something a minor should have." Fleur mused. McCarthy hesitated. "You mean...?" "Aren''t there some pet beasts with abilities that can alter a person''s appearance?" Fleur said seriously. "The girl we saw might not actually look like that at all." Hearing this, McCarthy''s expression turned grim. Indeed, he recalled a news story from a year ago: A man fell in love at first sight with a girl while traveling and pursued her relentlessly. On the last day of their trip, he finally won her over, and they began a long-distance relationship. Over the course of their relationship, he transferred nearly a million to her, yet they never met again. Eventually, she broke up with him. Unwilling to accept it, the man reported the case to the police as fraud, but in truth, he just wanted to see her one last time. After an investigation, the police discovered that she was actually a 48-year-old man. He had been cursed by a Ghost-type pet beast and temporarily transformed into his daughter''s appearance. The man had traveled to avoid being seen by acquaintances after the transformation. When the victim learned the truth, he was furious at first, but upon hearing that the transformed appearance was that of the man¡¯s daughter, he chose to forgive him. Deeply moved, the older man introduced his real daughter to him. Six months later, they got married, making it one of the strangest stories of the year. Fleur continued, unfazed: "Dealing with someone whose true identity is unknown is too risky. We should avoid direct contact as much as possible." McCarthy nodded in agreement. "I need to use the restroom." Fleur said, getting up. He went down to the first-floor lobby and handed a small, square box to the service desk attendant. "If someone comes looking for this and hands you something in return, give this to them." "Understood, sir." The attendant nodded, accepting the box. Fleur then walked to a wall about ten meters away and spoke into the air: "Watch closely. If what she hands over doesn¡¯t give you any reaction, take back the Yin Dynasty Pearl immediately and leave." "Keekee." A voice whispered from the empty air. Fleur glanced toward the service desk, then picked up his phone. He deliberately waited a few minutes before sending a message: [Do you have at least half a pound of Ghostfire Essence?] --- Qiao Sang looked at the new message and replied: [Yes.] Fleur quickly responded: [I''ve left your item at the first-floor service desk. Hand over the Ghostfire Essence to the staff and mention that someone left a box. They''ll give you what you need.] Why the sudden decision not to meet in person¡­? Qiao Sang pondered for a moment and asked: [How can I be sure your SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl is genuine?] The reply came instantly: [You know what I look like. You could find me anytime. Besides, an SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl has a fatal attraction to Ghost-type pet beasts. Let your Ghost-type pet beast sense it. If you''re still doubtful, you can have it appraised before using it.] He doesn¡¯t even seem worried that I might be giving him fake Ghostfire Essence¡­ Does he really trust me that much? No, when dealing with something this valuable, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d just hand it over without ensuring it¡¯s real¡­ Qiao Sang recalled scenes from crime dramas and started suspecting a hidden agenda. But then she thought of Yabao¡¯s combat strength and Little Treasure¡¯s teleportation ability. Nothing to fear. If trouble comes, she can handle it. Strength brings confidence. Qiao Sang stopped overthinking and followed the instructions to the first-floor service desk. She handed over a bottle filled with half a pound of Ghostfire Essence and asked: "Did someone leave a box here earlier?" "Yes." The staff member nodded and handed her a small square box. "A gentleman left this." Qiao Sang accepted the box, exchanged the bottle, and thanked the staff. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure, still invisible, let out a small call. Qiao Sang remained calm, glancing toward the bottle. Then she turned and headed toward the women¡¯s restroom. Five minutes later, she exited the restroom, walked out of the Beast Tamer Center, hailed a taxi, and got in. "To the airport, please." She instructed the driver. At the Beast Tamer Center entrance, Fleur held the bottle of Ghostfire Essence and watched as the taxi disappeared into the distance. --- Inside the taxi. Little Treasure revealed himself. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In 10th District, pet beasts suddenly appearing wasn¡¯t unusual. The taxi driver remained unbothered, his hands steady on the wheel. "Store this away." Qiao Sang said, handing the box to Little Treasure. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure removed his ring and stored the box inside. Qiao Sang pulled out her phone, opened her chat with "SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl," and typed a message: [Pleasant cooperation.] The reply came instantly: [Pleasant cooperation.] Qiao Sang put away her phone and gazed out at the scenery, feeling quite satisfied. The SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl was indeed authentic. She had done her research online beforehand. Aside from being highly attractive to Ghost-type pet beasts, SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearls contained visible purple crystals at least 1 cm in diameter and formed delicate, wing-thin purple threads when exposed to ghostly energy. The pearls in the box matched all these characteristics. --- The next afternoon, at 2 PM, Qiao Sang arrived in 1st District via airship. As soon as she disembarked, she formed a hand seal and summoned Lubao and Gangbao. With Lubao secured in her backpack, she followed her pre-researched navigation route. An hour later, she arrived at a real estate agency. A professional-looking black woman hurried over to greet her. "How may I assist you?" "I¡¯m looking to rent a place." Qiao Sang said. On Chaosu Star, only locals were allowed to purchase property. Beast Tamers could only buy if they were classified as A-rank talents, something she had already looked into. The agent asked, "Do you have any specific requirements for the property?" She didn¡¯t bother asking about the budget. Just from the unfamiliar bird-like pet beast beside Qiao Sang, she had no doubt this young girl was wealthy. Chapter 657: Requirements "The place should be spacious, close enough to Yulianton University, and most importantly, it must have a private outdoor training ground where I can practice various powerful attack skills." Qiao Sang paused for a moment before adding, "I also hope that it''s far from neighboring houses, otherwise, the noise from my training will surely disturb the neighbors." The female real estate agent was momentarily stunned by these requirements. Was she looking for a private luxury villa? She discreetly glanced at the bird-like pet beast beside Qiao Sang, which was about a meter tall, and tactfully asked, "Would you consider a house with only an indoor training ground? Indoor training grounds have excellent soundproofing, so no matter how much noise you make, it won¡¯t bother the neighbors." However, indoor training grounds had many restrictions, they were nothing like outdoor ones, where all kinds of powerful skills could be practiced. Leaving Yabao aside, even Lubao¡¯s weather-related skills wouldn¡¯t be usable indoors. Qiao Sang immediately rejected the idea, shaking her head. "An outdoor training ground is a must." The agent smiled apologetically. "In that case, the only suitable option would be a standalone villa. However, very few owners are willing to rent out such properties, and I currently don¡¯t have any listings that meet your criteria." "But I do have two townhouses available. Other than being a bit far from Yulianton University and closer to the neighbors, they meet most of your other requirements. Would you like to take a look?" Considering the noise Yabao made during training, living close to neighbors would surely lead to constant complaints. Qiao Sang declined outright. "No, thanks." With that, she turned to leave. The real estate agent quickly stepped in front of her, pulling out her phone anxiously. "How about leaving me your contact information? I¡¯ll reach out if I find something suitable for you later." "Sure." After exchanging contact details, Qiao Sang left the agency. She visited several more real estate agencies afterward. The agents were enthusiastic, but none had a property that matched her needs. With no other choice, Qiao Sang temporarily booked a five-star hotel with an outdoor training ground. --- 7 PM, Vivoli Hotel, Room 3406 Qiao Sang leaned against the headboard, operating her phone as she resubmitted her application for the lightweight miniaturization bracelet. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure rested his paws on the large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at 1st District as night fell. Gangbao was practicing with her Iron Wall skill. Lubao was in the bathroom, repeatedly freezing the floor with her Icy Wind skill and then shattering the ice with Water Tail, over and over again. After sending her application, Qiao Sang put down her phone. At that moment, her phone vibrated, it was a video call from her mother. She answered, positioning the screen to show her face. On the other end, her mother¡¯s cheeks were flushed red, clearly, she had been drinking. "My dear daughter, your uncle wants to see you! Come, say hi to your uncle first!" Ye Xiangting beamed. She turned the camera, and her uncle¡¯s large face filled the screen. "Sang, your mom says you got a direct admission to the Imperial Beast University. Is that true?" "Of course, it''s true." Qiao Sang replied with a smile. "Xiangting¡¯s been celebrating with drinks for days now. If it weren¡¯t true, wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing?" The phone was suddenly snatched away, and a vaguely familiar face appeared. "Sang, do you still remember me? I¡¯m your aunt." Before Qiao Sang could respond, the screen changed again. "Sang! I''ve never seen an acceptance letter from the Imperial Beast University in my life. When are you coming back? Let me take a look at it in person! Photos just don¡¯t do it justice, I need to touch it myself!" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, alright, she still has six more months to stay there." Ye Xiangting interrupted, reclaiming the phone. She smiled at her daughter, unable to contain her joy. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to the people at the dining table. "You all keep eating. I¡¯m going to chat with her for a bit." "Go ahead, go ahead!" "Wait! We haven¡¯t all greeted Qiao Sang yet!" "Interstellar calls are expensive, are you paying for it?" As the background on the screen changed and the noisy chatter faded, it was clear Ye Xiangting had moved to a quieter place. "Mom, why do I feel like you''ve been celebrating with drinks every day lately?" Now that the people around had disappeared, Qiao Sang couldn''t help but comment. "You got into the Imperial Beast University! Even if I celebrate for a whole year, it wouldn¡¯t be too much." Ye Xiangting laughed. "And when you come back, I''ll throw another party." "Please, no¡­" Qiao Sang protested. "Let¡¯s not talk about that now." Ye Xiangting continued with a smile. "I transferred some money to you today. Did you see it?" Qiao Sang was momentarily taken aback. "Why did you send me money? I still have the card you gave me." "It¡¯s not like you can use a credit card everywhere. I feel more at ease knowing your bank account has money. Don¡¯t hesitate to spend it. My business is doing great right now, I can afford to support you. And if you ever need more, just let me know." If only you knew how much Yabao eats in a day¡­ Qiao Sang sighed internally. She was about to tell her mother about Yabao¡¯s evolution when her mother spoke first. "Alright, I won¡¯t keep you. Interstellar calls are expensive." Then, she hung up. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Just a moment ago, she was boasting about having plenty of money, yet now she was worried about the call cost? Shaking her head, Qiao Sang opened her unread messages. A moment later, she stared at the bank transfer notification in silence. 1 million¡­ To be honest, with her unlimited credit card still valid, 1 million was just a number. It didn¡¯t mean much to her financially. But the fact that her mother had earned and sent this money herself made it feel completely different. Her nose tingled, and she suddenly felt a surge of motivation. Closing the message, she sat cross-legged and began meditating. --- The Next Morning. The sound of a vibrating phone filled the room. Still half-asleep, Qiao Sang groggily reached for her phone and answered. "Hello?" "Oh? You¡¯re still sleeping? I can call back later if that¡¯s better." The voice sounded familiar. Qiao Sang half-opened her eyes and saw that it was the real estate agent from the first agency she visited. Now more awake, she replied, "No, it''s fine. Go ahead." A soft blue light enveloped her. Instantly, her mind cleared, and all drowsiness disappeared. Looking to the side, she wasn¡¯t surprised to see Lubao standing nearby. "Lu." Seeing her beast tamer more alert, Lubao flicked her tail and returned to the bathroom to resume training. "Hello? Miss Qiao, are you listening?" The agent¡¯s voice brought Qiao Sang¡¯s attention back to the call. "Sorry, can you repeat that?" "Of course!" The agent said cheerfully. "I just found a property that perfectly matches your requirements. When are you available? I can take you to see it." Checking the time on her phone, Qiao Sang replied, "How about 10:30?" "Perfect. I¡¯ll send you the location, just meet me there." "Okay." After hanging up, Qiao Sang glanced toward the glass-walled bathroom, where faint blue light flickered. Approaching the door, she could already feel the chill inside. "You didn¡¯t stay up all night training, did you?" She asked. "Lu." Lubao replied mid-practice, indicating that she had healing abilities and didn¡¯t need sleep. Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. She knew why Lubao was pushing herself, she wanted to evolve quickly and catch up to Yabao. But Lubao¡¯s evolution was the hardest among all her beasts. Without adding evolution points, she had no clue how to make it happen naturally¡­ Lubao would probably be stuck in this state for a long time... "Xun xun~" Just as Qiao Sang was feeling troubled, Little Treasure floated over and called out, indicating that he was fine staying awake. Qiao Sang: ... Other pet beasts stayed up to train! And you?! Qiao Sang glanced at the computer screen glowing on the table not far away. She hesitated, then decided to look away, pretending not to see. --- Two hours later, Qiao Sang was at the outdoor training ground. After feeding Yabao an energy pill, she recalled him into the Beast Tamer Codex. Then, she opened the navigation app and climbed onto Gangbao. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t ride Yabao, but she worried that if the female agent saw Yabao, she might suddenly raise the rent, which would be troublesome. Even though she had an unlimited credit card, she didn¡¯t want to be seen as an easy target. High in the sky, Gangbao flew steadily. "Am I heavy?" Qiao Sang asked. To be fair, Gangbao was still smaller than her in size, but the strength of pet beasts was naturally different from that of humans. Even a flying-type pet beast barely over a meter tall could already carry a person through the air. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao let out a cry, indicating that she wasn¡¯t heavy. Hearing this, Qiao Sang was quite pleased. This meant Gangbao¡¯s strength was up to par. About half an hour later, Gangbao landed in front of a lakeside villa. The lake shimmered under the sunlight, and willow trees grew along the shore, creating a picturesque scene. All around, people were riding medium to large pet beasts, moving along the villa¡¯s pathways. "Over here!" In the distance, a black female agent waved at her. Qiao Sang walked over and noticed that beside the agent stood a brown-haired woman in her early twenties, wearing a light green casual dress. "Let me introduce you. This is Miss Milna. The villa belongs to her parents, but she has full authority over it." The agent said with a smile. "Hello." Milna extended her hand. "I''m Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang shook her hand briefly. Milna discreetly sized up Gangbao beside her and then asked, "How long do you plan to rent?" "Six months." Qiao Sang replied. "Alright, please follow me." As she led the way, Milna smiled and said, "My parents bought this villa five years ago. Back then, they wanted me to experience the atmosphere of Yulianton University. They thought that living close by might help me get to know some students from the university and maybe even get in myself." "But of course, I didn¡¯t get in. So, the house has been sitting empty ever since." Chapter 658: The Clubhouse Yulianton University was ranked third among the top universities in the entire interstellar system. As a prestigious comprehensive research university specializing in beast mastery, it had an excellent geographical location, with most of the resources in 1st District available to its students. Only the top-tier elite of the interstellar system could study there, which naturally drove up the surrounding housing prices. Being able to purchase a home in such a location wasn¡¯t something money alone could achieve. Qiao Sang casually remarked, ¡°The university you got into must be pretty good too.¡± It was an inevitable fact, if you had money and connections, even with poor aptitude, you could still manage to obtain an impressive degree. ¡°I attended Zhizhou University.¡± Milna said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s an outstanding top-tier university!¡± The female agent beside them couldn¡¯t help but praise. Zhizhou University? The university Central Hollow University was partnering with for exchange programs? Qiao Sang instinctively thought of Tang Yi and wondered how he had performed in the college entrance exams¡­ The three of them chatted intermittently. Before long, they arrived at a two-story villa. Milna stood before the facial recognition lock, and the door opened automatically. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang took a look around. The villa¡¯s living room was extremely spacious, with a high vaulted ceiling, large enough to accommodate a six-meter-tall Yabao. At the center were a sofa and a coffee table for receiving guests, and the internal layout followed a "hui" (»Ø) shape. From the second-floor railing, one could overlook everything on the first floor. Besides common leisure spaces like bedrooms, a study, a gym, a home theater, and a pet training room, there were also six uniquely designed rooms, each with a distinct style. Milna explained, ¡°These rooms are for pet beasts. As you know, different species prefer different living environments. These six rooms were set up based on my parents¡¯ pet beasts.¡± ¡°You can let your pet beasts try them out. They might find a room they like, since most pets of the same attribute prefer similar environments.¡± She then pointed to a room filled with thorny vines and looked at Gangbao, saying, ¡°For example, your Steel Guardian Falcon would be well-suited to that room. Steel-type bird pets build their nests among thorns, and as they grow, their bodies become tougher from the wounds they receive.¡± Building nests in thorns, getting wounded¡­ Just the thought of it made Qiao Sang wince internally. She forced a polite but awkward smile, ¡°I don¡¯t think it would like that.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao glanced at her beast master. She had never said that. ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡± Milna said regretfully. ¡°If it stayed there, its defense would improve significantly.¡± Hearing this, Gangbao couldn''t help but steal a glance at the thorn-covered room. She was¡­ a little tempted. The female agent interjected, ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t like it, as its beast master, you can command it to go.¡± Before Qiao Sang could respond, Milna spoke first, ¡°If it doesn¡¯t like it, then forget it. Let me show you the outdoor training field.¡± Steel Guardian Falcons were an evolved form of Steel Falcons through bond evolution. Since it was a bond evolution, how could it be forced into an environment it disliked? If the agent didn¡¯t even understand this about their client, how could she call herself an agent¡­ Milna inwardly found it unprofessional. However, she maintained a polite smile, revealing none of her thoughts. ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang agreed without hesitation. As long as the outdoor training field was spacious and durable without unnecessary equipment, it met her requirements. Qiao Sang looked at the vast open space in front of her, satisfied with its size. A thought occurred to her, and she asked, ¡°My training will definitely damage the field. Is that okay?" ¡°Of course.¡± Milna reassured her with a smile. ¡°Then I have no other questions.¡± Qiao Sang said. The female agent immediately took out the prepared contract and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s go inside and sign the contract.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded with a smile. Milna also smiled. The contract signing went smoothly. After both parties signed, Qiao Sang paid one month¡¯s rent, an additional month¡¯s deposit, and the agent¡¯s fee. The monthly rent was 160,000 Alliance Credits. If it weren¡¯t for her unlimited credit card, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t have considered renting it. Milna helped register Qiao Sang¡¯s face and fingerprints into the security system. ¡°If you have any issues, feel free to contact me.¡± Milna said after exchanging contact details. ¡°I do have one question now.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°Do you know any places nearby that train a beast master¡¯s defensive abilities?¡± Milna glanced at Gangbao and immediately understood, ¡°There are plenty of places for that, but I know one with a great reputation. I¡¯ll send you the location later.¡± Qiao Sang thanked her. After Milna and the agent left, Qiao Sang went to the outdoor training field and summoned Yabao. ¡°Yap Yap?¡± Yabao looked around and then turned to his beast master. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qiao Sang confirmed. ¡°We¡¯ll be living here for the next six months. You can train as much as you want.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Excitement lit up Yabao¡¯s face. He immediately started running around the field. Qiao Sang watched with a smile and didn¡¯t disturb him. She headed to the second-floor bedroom, opened the window, and started making the bed and setting up toiletries. Since she had prepared everything in Little Treasure¡¯s storage ring, there was no need for a shopping trip. After finishing, she took out her phone and sent her location to the vice principal. [Qiao Sang: I¡¯m staying here now. You can use this location to find me.] The vice principal didn¡¯t reply. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t wait and put away her phone before heading back to the training field. By then, most of the ground had turned a deep red, covered in magma, with the air above it visibly distorting from the heat. Yabao stood at the edge, tail drooping, head hanging low. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao lifted his head pitifully, complaining that after using his ultimate move twice, he was completely drained of energy. Running out of energy from big moves was normal¡­ But why did Lubao¡¯s Healing Light, another super-level move, barely seem to use any energy¡­? Qiao Sang pushed the thought aside and reassured Ya Bao, ¡°The more energy it consumes, the stronger the move is.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s ears perked up, and his tail wagged again, convinced by the logic. Looks like she¡¯d need to buy more energy recovery potions¡­ Qiao Sang mused. --- That afternoon, Qiao Sang left her newly rented villa to check out of the Vivoli Hotel. Then, she explored the shopping district near her residence, purchasing a large quantity of energy pellets for fire-type pet beasts and A-grade energy recovery potions. Yes, A-grade energy recovery potions. Unlike most places where A-grade potions were in short supply, here, every pet pharmacy had a few bottles, even if not in large quantities. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hesitate, she swiped her card and bought them all. Next, she followed her landlord¡¯s directions to a high-end private clubhouse. The walls were clad in marble, and even the security guards outside were well-dressed combat-type pet beasts. Qiao Sang approached the reception desk and asked, ¡°I was referred here. I heard this place trains beast masters¡¯ defensive abilities?¡± The tall receptionist smiled, ¡°Yes, but we don¡¯t just enhance a beast master¡¯s defense, we also improve overall physical fitness.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯d like to hire a professional trainer.¡± The receptionist maintained her polite smile, ¡°Apologies, miss. Only beast masters ranked D and above can enroll.¡± Without hesitation, Qiao Sang pulled out her Beast Master badge. The receptionist¡¯s expression flickered briefly before she quickly composed herself. She checked the badge¡¯s details and froze. ¡°All good?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°My apologies.¡± The receptionist returned the badge respectfully. ¡°Do you have a preferred trainer, or would you like to review our options?¡± ¡°I want the most expensive one.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°The top trainer is on a month-long leave.¡± ¡°Then the second most expensive one.¡± ¡°Understood. Please wait a moment.¡± The receptionist said with a gentle smile. ¡°You may relax in the lounge.¡± Qiao Sang sat on a sofa, and a uniformed pet beast soon served her coffee. ¡°Thank you.¡± She took a sip. It was quite good. Just then, Gangbao spoke up, That the thorny room actually seemed like a good place to boost her defense and maybe hers too. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Why did the coffee suddenly taste bad¡­? Chapter 659: Immunity Living in a house of thorns was out of the question. Qiao Sang still considered herself a being of flesh and blood. While she wanted to rid herself of the negative effects of bond evolution as soon as possible, she had no intention of doing so through a method that sounded painful just thinking about it! Qiao Sang firmly refused, "No way, that¡¯s too painful." "Gang Guard." Gangbao knew what her beastmaster was thinking. She let out a cry to express her opinion. The pain now was temporary. It was better to endure it now than to face an enemy in the future and suffer unprepared. Qiao Sang reasoned seriously, "That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, right? Trust me, professional training methods are far more reliable than just enduring damage!" "Gang Guard." Gangbao pondered for a moment, then nodded, convinced by her beastmaster. Seeing this, Qiao Sang silently breathed a sigh of relief. She had managed to keep her body intact¡­ At that moment, a uniformed staff member approached. "Miss Qiao, the trainer you specifically requested, Elma, is waiting for you in the training room. Please follow me." Qiao Sang stood up and followed behind him. They took the elevator to the third floor. The third floor resembled a hotel, with a red carpet running along the corridor, flanked by individual training rooms. The soundproofing seemed excellent, she couldn¡¯t hear a single noise. Qiao Sang curiously looked around. It was her first time visiting a private training facility like this. The staff member knocked on one of the doors. "Come in." A voice responded from inside. The staff member pushed the door open and stepped in. Qiao Sang followed closely behind. The room was much larger than she had expected, equipped with several high-tech body analysis devices and various fitness machines commonly found in gyms. At the center of the room stood a woman in a trainer''s uniform, accompanied by a humanoid beast about two meters tall. Its body was mostly yellow, its eyes were slightly narrowed, its hands were covered in spikes, and there was a tile-like protrusion on its head. Spike Fist Kid, a high-level Fighting-type beast that used its spiked fists to crush opponents. When its partner was in danger, it would use itself as a shield to protect them. It was a beast known for its loyalty¡­ Information about the beast flashed through Qiao Sang''s mind. The staff member exited the room and quietly closed the door. "Good evening¡­" Elma greeted the girl who had entered with a smile. But when her gaze fell on the bird-like beast at Qiao Sang¡¯s side, she abruptly paused. This beast was¡­? Elma froze for a moment, then her expression turned to one of astonishment. "You actually have a Steel Guardian Falcon?" It seemed that people in 1st District were much more knowledgeable. Back in 19th District, hardly anyone could recognize Gangbao¡­ Qiao Sang chuckled. "She only evolved recently." Elma suppressed her urge to ask further questions, after all, training sessions were billed by the hour, and some clients disliked wasting time on idle chatter. "What aspect do you want to train?" Elma asked. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Defense." Qiao Sang replied. Elma wasn¡¯t surprised. Beastmasters often had to battle wild beasts. While the fights were primarily conducted by their beasts, beastmasters themselves were sometimes inevitably injured. Though there were specialized defensive suits available, they were inconvenient. Wild beasts could appear at any time, and it wasn¡¯t practical to wear such suits 24/7. Moreover, beastmasters, despite the benefits of bond feedback, couldn¡¯t match the offensive power of their beasts. As a result, enhancing their own defense to withstand attacks long enough for healing beasts to intervene had become a common training focus. Not to mention, Elma was aware that Steel Guardian Falcons evolved through bond evolution. Beastmasters with bond-evolved beasts experienced the same pain as their beasts during battles. She had read about this in a beast encyclopedia before. "Have you ever tested your immune defense capabilities?" Elma asked. Who would test something like that for no reason? Qiao Sang shook her head. "No." Elma patiently explained, "As beasts evolve, beastmasters typically receive bond feedback. However, the effects vary depending on the beast¡¯s attributes and traits." "Generally speaking, the evolution of Fighting-type, Steel-type, and Ground-type beasts enhances a beastmaster''s defense. On the other hand, beasts with innate healing abilities or healing-related traits boost a beastmaster¡¯s immunity." "These feedback effects aren¡¯t usually noticeable unless specifically tested." "For older or physically weaker beastmasters, the feedback is more apparent. But for most, the changes aren¡¯t easily perceived." "That¡¯s why, whenever a beast evolves, beastmasters usually conduct a comprehensive physical assessment to determine which aspects have been enhanced." Well, that was new information¡­ Qiao Sang felt like she had just learned something valuable. Her lack of awareness was understandable, such tests were typically conducted by wealthy individuals. Qiao Sang had never grown up in that kind of environment. She was still unaware of this distinction and assumed that all beastmasters underwent these tests. Elma continued, "Our training difficulty is adjusted based on individual fitness levels, so before we begin, I¡¯ll need you to test your immune defense capability." She walked over to a specialized testing pod and operated the controls. The pod door opened. "Just lie inside." Elma instructed. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t hesitate. She quickly removed her shoes and climbed in. The pod door slowly closed. As time passed, the test results appeared on the display screen. Elma¡¯s expression froze. She stared at the numbers in complete disbelief. This¡­ this immunity level was ridiculously high?! Anyone familiar with immunity tests knew that low immunity was bad, but excessively high immunity wasn¡¯t ideal either. A balanced immune system was best. Overly high immunity levels could increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. But this girl¡¯s immunity level far exceeded the normal range, yet her body was in perfect health! This was beyond human limits, an inhuman level of immunity! In other words, she was no longer within the human range! Cases like this usually only occurred in beastmasters who had undergone multiple rounds of bond feedback and owned at least one Emperor-class healing beast! Elma¡¯s stunned gaze turned into a look of shock. Then, as if realizing something, she checked Qiao Sang¡¯s defense stats. Thankfully, those were normal¡­ Elma unconsciously let out a sigh of relief. She pressed a button nearby. The pod door automatically opened. Qiao Sang sat up and put on her shoes. "How did it go?" She asked. Elma gave Qiao Sang a complicated look. "Your immunity level has reached an inhuman level. Put it this way, you could be poisoned by a General-class Poison-type beast and still wouldn¡¯t die immediately." Qiao Sang: ??? Chapter 660: Skunk Am I really this amazing? Qiao Sang was a little dumbfounded. She didn¡¯t feel anything at all! Oh right, Lubao''s Healing Light had already reached the pinnacle of mastery. Some pet beasts that naturally possessed healing skills and traits could enhance their Beast master''s immunity¡­ This must be Lubao¡¯s feedback effect on her¡­ Qiao Sang thought in a daze. The immunity of the girl before her was simply abnormal. Elma hesitated for a moment but couldn¡¯t help asking: "Do you have a healing-type pet beast?" Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and responded with a simple "Mm": "I have a water-and-ice-type pet beast that knows healing skills." Elma looked at the girl with great anticipation. Keep going! Don¡¯t stop! What kind of pet beast? What level? What kind of healing skills? Explain in detail! Why is she just staring at me¡­ Qiao Sang was confused for a moment, then suddenly thought of something and asked: "What about my defense? How is it?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elma''s expression shifted slightly before she replied: "It¡¯s normal, just slightly better than an average person. For example, if you fall, you won¡¯t scrape your skin." Qiao Sang felt that wasn¡¯t bad, stronger than she had expected. After all, Gangbao was only a mid-level pet beast, and she hadn¡¯t originally expected her to significantly enhance her defense. As a well-regarded coach, Elma managed to suppress her curiosity. Steadying her emotions, she said: "There are many ways to strengthen your defense. First, you can have a pet beast that specializes in defensive abilities, which can shield you in battle." "Second, you can form a contract with a fighting-type pet beast and evolve it to receive its feedback effect." At this point, she looked at Gangbao: "Of course, your Steel Guardian Falcon is an option too. Since it''s a steel-type, if it evolves, your own defense will improve as well." Hearing this, Gangbao showed a thoughtful expression. Elma continued: "The third way is to train your own defensive abilities. I just tested you, you can''t fully withstand even a beginner-level pet beast¡¯s attack. In game terms, your skin is still the default equipment, has one or two points in defense, but that''s about it." Got it. Basically, I need to pay to win¡­ Qiao Sang joked inwardly but kept a serious expression. "How do I start training?" She asked. "You¡¯re not ready to train just yet." Elma said with a smile. "You need to prepare first. Otherwise, with your current physique, you might get injured after just a few sessions." Am I really that weak¡­? Qiao Sang pouted. "I have a suggestion." Elma said. "You can train your defense alongside your Steel Guardian Falcon. When a Beast master trains with a pet beast that provides defensive feedback, the results improve significantly." "Then let¡¯s start quickly." Qiao Sang said, not forgetting that this place charged by the hour. "Alright." Elma nodded before forming hand seals. An orange-yellow star formation lit up, and a pet beast about three meters tall appeared within it. Its body was primarily green, with white tusks slightly protruding from its mouth. Its lower body and paws were cream-colored, and it had a short tail. "Stinky~" The pet beast let out a call, as if greeting them. Elma introduced it: "This is a Skunk. Its venom can temporarily harden human skin. Apply the venom, let it absorb, and then we¡¯ll begin training." Qiao Sang hesitated: "Is it safe to put venom on my body?" Elma laughed: "Relax, we just tested you, didn¡¯t we? Even a general-level poison-type pet beast wouldn''t be able to kill you immediately." "Skunk is only an advanced poison-type pet beast. Its venom won¡¯t harm you. The hardening effect is temporary and will fade after some time." "Plus, the venom has benefits, if the body can withstand the toxicity, it leaves behind substances that strengthen the subcutaneous tissue." "This material enhances a person¡¯s defense, and many people with loose skin even apply Skunk venom for cosmetic reasons." "Since firm subcutaneous tissue increases skin elasticity, such skin tends to look younger." Damn, who knew it even had beauty effects¡­ Qiao Sang was surprised. Elma suddenly thought of something and added: "Even if some people can¡¯t endure it, we have antidotes prepared." So some people just tanked the venom, huh¡­ Qiao Sang couldn''t help but admire those unknown warriors who had braved it. An advanced poison-type pet beast¡¯s venom! That¡¯s not something a normal person can endure! ...Oh, wait, I guess I¡¯m not normal either¡­ Qiao Sang nodded slightly and said, "I¡¯m ready." Elma looked at the Skunk: "Begin." "Stinky~" The Skunk called out, stepped forward, and grabbed Qiao Sang¡¯s hand with its paw. Then, it lowered its head, bringing its tusks close. When it was just 0.1 centimeters away, a drop of dark purple venom slowly dripped from the tip of its tusk and landed on Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. Elma explained: "Usually, one drop is enough. It spreads throughout the body and hardens the skin entirely." "Xun~" Little Treasure suddenly appeared, curiously approaching to take a closer look. Elma was startled and leaped back, shouting: "Spike Fist Kid!" "Fist!" Spike Fist Kid immediately assumed a defensive stance, clenching its fist and raising it high. Qiao Sang quickly said: "This is my pet beast." Elma and Spike Fist Kid both visibly relaxed. "Xun~" Little Treasure showed an innocent expression. "Sorry, I was too tense, I thought it was a wild pet beast." Elma apologized "No problem, that''s a normal reaction." Qiao Sang replied with a smile. "Xun?" Little Treasure poked his Beast master¡¯s cheek with his paw. The skin didn¡¯t feel any different? What kind of pet beast was this? She had never seen one before¡­ Elma glanced at the small ghost-type pet beast that had suddenly appeared. Though curious, she didn''t forget her task. "Normally, besides hardening the skin, Skunk¡¯s venom also causes intense full-body pain." Elma continued. "The fact that you don¡¯t feel anything is proof of your extraordinary immunity." Thank you, Lubao¡­ Qiao Sang thought to herself. Elma checked the time on her phone. "It should be done. Your skin should be hardened now." "Xun¡­" Little Treasure immediately poked Qiao Sang¡¯s cheek again. "Xun!" Upon feeling the change, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes widened in shock. It really had hardened! "Gang Guardian." Gangbao silently stepped forward and tapped her cheek with her wing, then withdrew her wing and nodded. It had indeed hardened. Qiao Sang wanted to laugh, but she found that she couldn¡¯t move her mouth. She sighed internally- Damn, my face is seriously tough now. Chapter 661: Getting Beaten Up Elma reached out and pinched Qiao Sang¡¯s arm, testing its firmness. She nodded and said, ¡°Not bad, with this level of firmness, we can start training.¡± As she spoke, she looked at the Spike Fist Kid nearby. ¡°Start with just 20 kilograms of force.¡± ¡°Fist!¡± The Spike Fist Kid cried out, then turned around and picked up a pair of red boxing gloves to put on. What¡¯s it doing¡­? Qiao Sang suddenly had a bad feeling. The next second, her premonition came true. Elma said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this level of force won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Are you ready?¡± Elma asked. Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds, then got into a horse stance. ¡°Ready.¡± Elma nodded at the Spike Fist Kid. In the next moment, the Spike Fist Kid launched a punch at her. Qiao Sang¡¯s body swayed slightly, and only one thought echoed in her mind: It actually doesn¡¯t hurt that much¡­ Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t hit the face.¡± ¡°Fist!¡± The Spike Fist Kid cried again, signaling it understood. It didn¡¯t stop, treating Qiao Sang like a punching bag and hammering away. At first, Qiao Sang could barely withstand the force and struggled to keep her footing. But after nearly ten minutes of continuous pummeling, she could already stay as steady as a mountain. Well¡­ as steady as a mountain while being beaten up. Elma didn¡¯t forget her coaching duties: ¡°To improve your defense, you have to train your skin first, then the tendons, and finally the bones. Right now, your goal is to enhance your shock resistance.¡± ¡°Although your skin is hard now, the impact you¡¯re taking is real. Once you get used to this force, you won¡¯t need to apply skunk venom. When your skin adapts further, we¡¯ll apply venom again to increase the intensity of the impact training.¡± ¡°Once you can take punches with 200 kilograms of force, the first round of training will be considered complete.¡± At this point, her face beamed with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ll need at least 30 sessions to see results in this round. How about you get a training card? If you pay for the whole course in advance, I can give you a 20% discount.¡± Qiao Sang responded without hesitation, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get the card.¡± Elma¡¯s smile deepened. Then she thought of the Steel Guardian Falcon beside them and said: ¡°The Steel Guardian Falcon should train too.¡± You just said that¡­ Qiao Sang asked curiously, ¡°Will it train the same way I do?¡± Gangbao looked toward the human called Coach Elma. Elma shook her head. ¡°Of course not. As a mid-tier Steel-type pet, it can¡¯t follow your training method.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bond-evolved pet. During battle, you two share pain perception. It needs to fight opponents stronger than itself and get injured. As you feel that pain, your defense will naturally improve.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Like I didn¡¯t know that already! Unwilling to give up, she asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t there another training method?¡± Elma answered seriously, ¡°This is the fastest way to improve your defense. Bond-evolved beastmasters are always the toughest among their peers, this is why.¡± Toughest¡­ Qiao Sang fell into thought. Elma continued: ¡°You can also take supplements to strengthen bone density, and add toughness-enhancing agents to your bath daily. Trust me, your defense will improve at an astonishing rate.¡± ¡°If you train like this every day and use the supplements, I think we can finish the first round in just 15 sessions.¡± Fifteen sessions¡­ one per day means 15 days¡­ Qiao Sang pondered while still taking hits from the Spike Fist Kid. She had to admit, she was tempted. There wasn¡¯t anything especially urgent right now, and time was valuable. If she could save some, it¡¯d be great. She could get more done¡­ Besides, Gangbao had limited combat experience. She could use this opportunity to hone her skills and quickly raise her proficiency. And as long as she could endure, she¡¯d also improve her own defense, two birds with one stone. Even if she ended up with internal injuries, it was fine, Lubao was around after all¡­ Qiao Sang gritted her teeth. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it your way.¡± Gangbao gave her a look, as if saying: Still have to take the pain, don¡¯t you? Qiao Sang caught the look, averted her gaze awkwardly, and felt a bit humiliated. Elma chuckled. ¡°Then let my Skunk be its opponent.¡± She was about to call over the skunk when Qiao Sang declined, ¡°No need, let my Ghost Ring Phantom do it.¡± After all, if it¡¯s just training, might as well let Little Treasure do it. He was nearby, and she could supervise. Lately, he had been getting lazy, spending too much time on the computer, especially in contrast to Lubao. So it¡¯s called Ghost Ring Phantom¡­ Elma glanced at the ghost-type pet she hadn¡¯t been able to name before. ¡°But Steel Guardian Falcon has to spar with a stronger opponent.¡± ¡°Xun xun?!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure was clearly unhappy. He widened its eyes, floated in front of Elma, and angrily gestured: Open your eyes! I¡¯m stronger than that bird! Elma didn¡¯t understand his gestures, only that the Ghost Ring Wraith was angry. She cautiously took a step back. Qiao Sang coughed: ¡°My Ghost Ring Ph antom is a high-tier pet.¡± High-tier? Elma looked at the small grey pet in surprise. Such a small high-tier pet? ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure folded his arms, turned his head with a cold snort. ¡°Sorry.¡± Elma apologized. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was high-tier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. He¡¯s a Blue Star pet, you wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Qiao Sang replied with a smile. Elma froze. A Blue Star pet? Blue Star?! ¡°Fist.¡± Just then, the Spike Fist Kid dropped its fists and stopped attacking. Elma snapped out of her thoughts, then looked at the time and said: ¡°The venom¡¯s hardening effect is wearing off. You can rest a bit and we¡¯ll resume later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Sang moved her arm as she replied. Once the skin wasn¡¯t hard anymore, it didn¡¯t really hurt, but she still felt that soreness from being punched. As she moved, she remembered Gangbao. ¡°Go ahead and start.¡± She then looked at Little Treasure and said, ¡°Just keep using Brick-Breaking.¡± Among Little Treasure¡¯s offensive skills, aside from the high-level Psychic Headbutt, Brick-Breaking had the lowest proficiency. With that move, Gangbao should be able to hold on for a while. ¡°Xun xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded and instantly forgot the earlier incident. He floated to the side and called out, ready to begin. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao took position across from Little Treasure. In the next second, Little Treasure raised his paw and struck Gangbao with a solid beam of white energy. Gangbao didn¡¯t dodge. She understood the purpose of this training. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang silently screamed ¡°Holy sht that hurts¡±*, but she managed not to cry out. ¡°Gangbao, it¡¯s a sparring match. You can move a little.¡± Qiao Sang said after the pain subsided. Getting hit in battle and standing still to get hit, they were different. The former trained defense and other skills, while the latter was just about enduring pain and building up resistance. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao instantly understood her master¡¯s point. She body turned a shiny iron-gray, absorbing most of the force from Little Treasure¡¯s Brick-Breaking. Qiao Sang felt deeply comforted. Then, Elma looked over in shock: ¡°How did your ghost-type pet learn a fighting-type move?¡± Qiao Sang replied, ¡°I had it learn by breaking tiles.¡± That simple?! But it¡¯s a ghost-type! Elma was dumbfounded. Even though the beastmasters here were all elite, with quality pets, she had never seen a ghost-type that could learn a fighting move¡­ A ghost-type from Blue Star that knows Brick-Breaking¡­ Steel Guardian Falcon¡¯s latest evolution¡­ At that moment, Elma suddenly realized, the girl in front of her might be one of the more exceptional individuals even among the upper class. --- An hour later, training ended. During that time, Qiao Sang went through three rounds of venom application and beatdowns. Elma handed her a fancy gift bag: ¡°There are seven bottles of fitness supplements and seven bottles of toughness agents inside. Drink one fitness supplement per day, and add one toughness agent to your bathwater daily. One per day.¡± Qiao Sang asked, ¡°How much?¡± Elma smiled, ¡°Since you¡¯ve enrolled in my class, it¡¯s all included. Just keep choosing my course next time you come.¡± No wonder it¡¯s the second most expensive one¡­ Qiao Sang accepted the bag. ¡°Got it.¡± Chapter 662: Negative Energy Collection Contest ----- After getting her membership card, Qiao Sang returned to the newly rented villa and immediately summoned Yabao. The next thing she did was take a bottle of fitness supplement. Hmm... the taste wasn¡¯t great. Qiao Sang felt as though the flesh under her skin was twitching slightly. That¡¯s when she suddenly realized a serious problem. If she kept training like this, would her whole body end up covered in muscles? She pictured herself with eight-pack abs and muscular limbs, and couldn¡¯t help but shudder. She pulled out her phone and sent a message to the coach who had just helped her train: [If I keep training like this, will I get eight-pack abs?] There was no immediate reply. Qiao Sang glanced at her phone and noticed that the vice principal had sent her three messages. [I just woke up.] [1st District? You¡¯re already in 1st District?] [I should be able to arrive in about ten days.] Ten days? That felt fast. Qiao Sang typed back: [Yeah, just rented a place here today.] The vice principal replied instantly: [I heard 1st District of Chaosu Star is the most prosperous, with many competitions suitable for psychic-type pet beasts. Your Blazing Star Canine and Ghost Ring Phantom both have psychic attributes, you should take them there. Psychic skills have many applications. You can learn a lot.] Psychic-type skills? Qiao Sang thought it over and figured it might be worth a look. Even though Yabao now leaned more toward fire attributes, that made other-type skills useful as surprises, like Little Treasure¡¯s Brick-Breaking. Speaking of Little Treasure, his attention was always on electronic gadgets lately. A fun competitive event might help refocus his. [Qiao Sang: Got it.] After sending the message, Qiao Sang''s gaze landed on the words Blazing Star Canine in the vice principal¡¯s text Oops¡­ she¡¯d forgotten to mention Yabao¡¯s evolution. Qiao Sang reflected for a second, then began typing: [Qiao Sang: Vice Principal, I need to tell you something.] [Vice Principal: What is it?] [Qiao Sang: My Blazing Star Canine has evolved.] [Vice Principal: ???] Just as Qiao Sang was about to type more, several messages arrived from the other side: [Vice Principal: Is today some kind of holiday in Chaosu Star?] [Vice Principal: Or are you playing some game right now?] [Vice Principal: Haven¡¯t seen you in a while, and you¡¯ve gotten more humorous.] [Vice Principal: ¡­Are you being serious right now?] Liu Yao stared intently at his screen. Rationally, he knew it was nearly impossible for a high-tier pet beast to evolve to the General tier within half a year, especially one with an unknown evolution path. But it was Qiao Sang saying this. The genius beast master who defied all logic. He couldn¡¯t help but waver. What if it was true¡­ Just as thoughts swirled in Liu Yao¡¯s mind, Qiao Sang sent a photo of Yabao¡¯s current form. The chat went silent. Two minutes later- [Qiao Sang: This is what the Blazing Star Canine looks like after evolving. I¡¯ve already registered the info at the Beastmaster Center. The new name is Fire Qilu. You should be able to find it in the Pet Beast Identifier now.] [Qiao Sang: Vice Principal?] [Qiao Sang: ?] Weird, why¡¯s he not answering¡­ Maybe the starship passed through a signal dead zone¡­ Qiao Sang exited the chat, about to message her coach again, when she noticed activity in her class group chat ¡°Shengshui High Class 1 (1).¡± They were talking about final exams. [He Jue Ming: Didn¡¯t do well this time, ranked 11th in the grade.] [Zhou Zhizhi: Me too. I didn¡¯t even get full marks in Pet Beasts and Nature.] [Chen Ya: Stop it, how do you think I feel at 29th place?] [Gu Fei: Talented students have it easier. Like Wang Jihang, who ranked 233rd and still gets a vacation reward from his dad.] [Wang Jihang: Talent students have it rough, okay! My dad''s taking me to visit other regions to learn about their pet beasts for future matches. It¡¯s not just a trip.] As they chatted, Qiao Sang chimed in: [I also think talented students have it rough. Most of the time goes into training, and I can''t keep up in class, sometimes I don¡¯t even understand the lessons.] The group chat fell silent, as if someone had hit the mute button. Sigh¡­ I¡¯ve really become a stranger. No one talks after I pop up¡­ Qiao Sang thought. Suddenly, everyone started tagging her like crazy. [Wang Jihang: @Qiao Sang (link)] [Chen Ya: @Qiao Sang (link) (image)] [Zhou Zhizhi: @Qiao Sang, is what the news says true?] [Jin Feifan: @Qiao Sang, is that photo in your Moments real? You¡¯re trending now.] [Lu You: @Qiao Sang, be human!] [Wang Jihang: Be human +1] [He Jue Ming: Be human +2] Photo? Trending? Qiao Sang was confused. She clicked on one of the links, it was news about her getting into the Imperial Beast University. The article said Ms. Ye threw a seven-day banquet to celebrate her daughter being accepted into the top school on Blue Star, the Imperial Beast University, and invited everyone to eat for free. It even had a photo of Ms. Ye grinning into the camera. The article ended with: [Truth of Ms. Ye¡¯s statements yet to be verified.] Mom¡­ Qiao Sang stared at the photo, her mouth twitching. She glanced at her classmates spamming ¡°be human¡± and felt wronged. She wasn¡¯t lying, sometimes she really didn¡¯t understand the lessons! She sighed and closed the group chat, deciding not to stir up any more envy. Just then, her coach replied: [My training method will only make your muscles and bones stronger from the inside. You''re not doing strength training, you won¡¯t grow exaggerated muscles.] Qiao Sang was relieved. She put down her phone, filled the bathtub, poured in a toughness-enhancing potion, and got in. --- Over the next week, Qiao Sang trained at the club every day. After enduring a week of beatings, her defense had skyrockete, she could now take punches up to 110kg without serious injury. The healing-type pet beasts at the club weren¡¯t even needed. Lubao cast Healing Light every day and left her completely unscathed. As Elma put it: ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have such natural talent for impact resistance (getting beaten up).¡± Qiao Sang found the phrasing odd, but accepted it, it was why she was here: To train her defense. She also got approved to purchase a lightweight miniaturization bracelet, though it was on preorder and would ship in about half a month. That day, after training, she summoned Yabao at home. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao walked straight to the oversized custom mirror and stared at his majestic reflection with little enthusiasm. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t surprised. Yabao had been fine when she left to register at the Beastmaster Center, but over time he had grown moody. Now, he could only find comfort in his new badass form. Qiao Sang drank another fitness supplement and sat on the couch. She pulled out her phone to search for the entertainment-based competitions the vice principal had mentioned. Given Yabao¡¯s current form, walking in public could accidentally hurt someone but in a specialized Beast master arena, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Qiao Sang opened the app 1st District Tournament Talk and started browsing. [Fighting-type Pet Beast Strength Challenge] [D-rank Beastmaster Group Battle] [Water-type Pet Beast Treasure Hunt] [B-rank Beastmaster Championship] [C-rank Beastmaster Beauty Contest] [Beastmaster Translation Contest] [D-rank Beastmaster Card Drawing Contest] None of these seemed like the psychic-type competitions the vice principal mentioned¡­ Qiao Sang sighed. This app only listed events happening in 1st District over the next week. If it wasn¡¯t listed, it probably didn¡¯t exist. Suddenly, her eyes stopped on one event. [Ghost-type Pet Beast Negative Energy Collection Contest] There¡¯s actually an event like this? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she clicked in to read. The contest was in three days. Pet levels were unlimited. Each Beast master would get an emotional energy collection bottle, and there were three hours to collect. Top three didn¡¯t have to return the bottle and would also get an emotion energy detector. Qiao Sang had heard of those, they measured whether someone¡¯s emotions were positive (green light) or negative (red light). Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mainly used by ghost-type pets who weren¡¯t good at sensing emotions. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t care much about the prize but the contest itself intrigued her. After all, Little Treasure had once absorbed emotional energy and jumped to the late stage of the advanced level. She confirmed the event details and paid the 1,000 Alliance coin registration fee. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure floated over and pointed at the computer, wanting to play. ¡°Nope.¡± Qiao Sang rejected flatly. ¡°Three hundred rounds of Shadow Control a day. You haven¡¯t finished yours yet.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± He raised both paws, looking pitiful. But he had just done Brick-Break for ages, he was so tired. Qiao Sang glanced at his paws: ¡°If you¡¯re tired, I¡¯ll have Lubao heal you.¡± Little Treasure: ¡­ ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± He sighed and slumped off to finish training. Seeing this, Qiao Sang sighed too and said: ¡°In three days, there¡¯s a negative emotion energy contest. If you place in the top three, I¡¯ll give you a day off.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Perking up instantly, Little Treasure turned back with a hopeful Really? look. ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. The vice principal should arrive the day of the competition, they¡¯d need to talk about Yabao then. She wouldn¡¯t have time for club training that day anyway. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure was thrilled and zipped off to train with renewed motivation. --- Three days passed in a flash. Other people¡¯s mornings start with an alarm clock. Qiao Sang¡¯s morning starts with Little Treasure pinching her nose until she wakes up from suffocation. Qiao Sang opened her eyes speechlessly. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure cheerfully floated around in a circle, indicating he was ready and they could head to the competition. ¡°The competition is at one in the afternoon. It¡¯s still early.¡± Qiao Sang said, pulling the blanket over her head. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure tried to tug at the blanket and continue waking up his beastmaster. It¡¯s fine that the competition hasn¡¯t started yet, they could head out early to scout the area and see where the negative emotional energy is stronger. If you put this much enthusiasm into regular training, your Shadow Control would¡¯ve reached its ultimate level long ago¡­ Qiao Sang grumbled internally, speaking from under the blanket: ¡°Let me sleep a bit more.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked at Qiao Sang hiding under the covers and shook his head with a sigh-like motion. His beastmaster was just too lazy. --- At noon, around twelve o''clock, Qiao Sang had finished lunch and rode on top of Gangbao, following the GPS to a place called Augustwood Competition Institute. After confirming her information with the staff, Qiao Sang stepped inside. The moment she entered, she was a little stunned. The interior was lavish, with pet beast sculptures all around and a massive crystal chandelier on the ceiling reflecting their brilliance. Directly ahead, a towering virtual screen stood out prominently. Most striking of all, this hall, which looked like it could accommodate thousands, was already filled with spectators! Qiao Sang glanced around the hall in confusion. What the heck? From the look of this, were they really going to collect negative emotional energy in front of a live audience? Just then, an impatient voice came from behind: ¡°Move aside, don¡¯t block the way.¡± Qiao Sang turned around and saw a man wearing a white shirt and black slacks, with blonde hair, white starting to show at the temples. He had forehead wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and crow¡¯s feet. Although his tone wasn¡¯t pleasant, Qiao Sang stepped to the side out of respect for the elderly. The middle-aged man was about to walk forward when he suddenly paused, as if he saw something, and let out a soft ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Sang followed his gaze, and her heart tensed. Because he was staring exactly where Little Treasure was. And right now, Little Treasure was in stealth mode. He couldn¡¯t possibly see Little Treasure¡­ could he? No way, it¡¯s definitely impossible, Little Treasure was clearly invisible right now¡­ Just as Qiao Sang¡¯s thoughts were in chaos, the man looked at her with his somewhat clouded eyes and asked: ¡°Is that your pet beast?¡± What the hell! He really can see Little Treasure?! Qiao Sang was shocked. She silently stepped back, putting some distance between them, and pretended to be puzzled: ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking if that gray pet beast with golden rings on its body is yours?¡± The man asked, his tone much friendlier now. Qiao Sang responded with a question: ¡°You can see it?¡± Upon hearing that, the man chuckled: ¡°Your elders didn¡¯t tell you? For beast masters with ghost-type pets, once they reach a certain level of spiritual feedback, they can start seeing things normal people can¡¯t.¡± ¡°For example, ghost-type pet beasts that are in stealth.¡± Chapter 663: Full-Spectrum Supervision What?! There¡¯s something like this?! Qiao Sang was startled, this was the first time she¡¯d heard of something like this! Did that mean she could see invisible ghost-type pet beasts in the future too? Little Treasure floated over to the middle-aged man, waved a paw in front of him, and even made a silly face. The middle-aged man¡¯s mouth twitched. "Your ghost-type pet beast is quite cute." "Xun xun!" Startled, Little Treasure immediately floated back to Qiao Sang¡¯s side and let out a surprised cry with wide eyes. This guy really can see me! You didn¡¯t react when others described what you look like, but now someone calls you cute and you believe it... Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but roast him mentally, though she kept a neutral expression and answered the man¡¯s earlier question: "It¡¯s called a Ghost Ring Phantom. It¡¯s my pet beast." "Ghost Ring Phantom..." The middle-aged man repeated the name thoughtfully, muttering: "I¡¯ve never even heard of this ghost-type beast before..." "It¡¯s from Blue Star." Qiao Sang said. The man suddenly looked enlightened and nodded: "Ah, that explains it." Then something seemed to occur to him. He looked at Qiao Sang and asked, ¡°Are you here for the competition?¡± Qiao Sang responded with a simple "mm." A smile appeared on the man¡¯s face. In a tone like he was talking to a younger family member, he said: ¡°Good luck, then.¡± With that, he turned and walked toward the backstage area. If his ghost-type pet can give back that much feedback, he must be really powerful. Could he be one of the judges? Qiao Sang brushed off the thought and also headed backstage. As soon as she entered, she heard the sounds of casual chatter. People were gathered in small groups, and with one glance around, she saw that they were all adults. Many pet beasts she had never seen before were also present, but just from their appearance, it was easy to tell they were all ghost-types. Qiao Sang¡¯s arrival drew many glances. Almost everyone participating with ghost-type pets was an adult. A teenage girl like her was a rare sight. Qiao Sang was used to being stared at like this. She casually found a seat. When she turned her head, she spotted the man who had identified Little Treasure earlier. He was chatting with others like a regular participant, not at all like a judge. Noticing her gaze, the middle-aged man turned, saw her, and gave a small nod of greeting. ¡°You know Mr. Barnard?¡± A woman with light makeup and black hair sat beside her and asked casually. ¡°Mr. Barnard?¡± Qiao Sang showed no attempt to hide her confusion. ¡°The guy who just greeted you.¡± The woman clarified. ¡°Don¡¯t know him.¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°We only exchanged a few words.¡± Then a thought struck her, and she asked, ¡°Is he competing too?¡± The woman laughed, as if not surprised by the question: ¡°He¡¯s a bit of an oddball in our ghost-type circle. He¡¯ll enter any competition involving ghost-type pet beasts, even the lowest-tier ones.¡± Qiao Sang had only one thought: Crap. He¡¯s a competitor? Then he¡¯s definitely taking one of the top three spots... ¡°But don¡¯t these competitions have restrictions? If he¡¯s that strong, wouldn¡¯t there be a lot he can¡¯t enter?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°You really don¡¯t know him at all, huh?¡± The woman said. ¡°All of his contracted pets are ghost-types. He¡¯s got both high-level and low-level ones. As long as the contest doesn¡¯t limit the age or rank of the beastmaster, he can enter. Any contest that limits the pet¡¯s level, he has a match for it.¡± She waved her hand dismissively: ¡°What can you do, he just has that many ghost-type pets.¡± All ghost-types? Qiao Sang was stunned. Sure, she knew some people preferred a specific attribute and contracted only that type, but this was her first time meeting someone who had only ghost-types. At that moment, a large virtual screen backstage lit up, showing a live feed of the main hall. A host in a black suit appeared onscreen alongside a ghost-type pet beast that was purple all over, had a horn on its head, and was also dressed in a suit. ¡°Welcome everyone to the Ghost-Type Pet Beast Negative Energy Collection Contest!¡± The host announced, holding a mic. ¡°This year, we have 134 participating beastmasters, all prepped and ready backstage!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be broadcasting live as each beastmaster works with their ghost-type pets to collect negative energy.¡± ¡°The entire process will be under live supervision!¡± ¡°Everyone here will serve as the judges!¡± ¡°Krk!¡± The ghost-type pet next to him echoed with a shout. The crowd erupted in cheers. Watching from backstage, Qiao Sang looked at the screen and asked: ¡°What exactly are they supervising?¡± The woman was briefly stunned. ¡°You don¡¯t know the rules?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, ¡°I only know the contest lasts three hours and the top three collectors of negative energy will be selected.¡± So she''s a total newbie... Did she just form a contract with a ghost-type pet and sign up immediately? The woman glanced at the girl and the more she thought about it, the more she believed it. She was already regretting striking up a conversation¡­ Newbies always ask the most questions¡­ Still, outwardly, the woman patiently explained: ¡°Normally, in 1st District, pet beasts aren¡¯t allowed to absorb emotional energy at will. But for contests like this, we get special approval from the government. The audience is here to supervise, to make sure no one secretly creates negative emotions or has their pet absorb other types of energy.¡± ¡°See the input devices in their hands? If someone breaks the rules, anyone can report their contestant number. After a review, the violator will be disqualified.¡± Contestant number? Like the one printed on the wristband at check-in? Earlier, staff had handed out wristbands and emotion energy collection bottles. ¡°But... do you really need that many people?¡± Qiao Sang said, looking at the packed hall on-screen. The woman replied nonchalantly: ¡°There are as many screens as there are contestants. Over time, the feed will shrink, filtering out the ones not performing well. The audience loves it, makes them feel like they''re part of the event.¡± These organizers really know how to spice things up, Qiao Sang thought. ¡°Contestants backstage, can you hear me?¡± The host looked into the camera. At the same time, the massive screen behind him showed the backstage feed. The camera panned over, and Qiao Sang saw herself onscreen. The beast masters backstage gave polite, if lukewarm, smiles to the camera. The host kept the momentum going: ¡°Ghost-type beastmasters are as quiet as ever, huh. Well then, let¡¯s not waste time. This year¡¯s competition area is limited to Jintong District. Anyone who leaves the district will be disqualified.¡± ¡°During the competition, you''re allowed to interfere with or challenge opponents. But you may not create incidents or collect anything but negative energy.¡± ¡°No other pet beasts may be summoned, only the ghost-type pet entered in the competition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s now 12:59 PM 1st District time. You have one minute to prepare. The contest lasts three hours. Please return by 4 PM sharp.¡± The host smiled wider: ¡°From here on out, the stage is yours.¡± ¡°Krk!¡± The ghost-type pet echoed again. The backstage screen shut off. At that moment... Qiao Sang saw the large doors slowly open. Over a hundred people rushed out instantly, including the woman who had been chatting with her. Only a handful stayed behind, moving slowly. Qiao Sang sat silently for a few seconds, then put on her numbered wristband labeled 113, pulled out her phone, and opened the navigation app. ¡°You¡¯re not going?¡± An older man beside her asked. ¡°Just checking the boundaries of Jintong District.¡± Qiao Sang replied without looking up. Then she casually asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going?¡± The man gave a mysterious smile. ¡°This hall is within the Jintong District and there are thousands of people here. Plenty of emotional energy sources.¡± Qiao Sang suddenly looked up. --- At the same time, the massive screen in the hall was now split into over a hundred sections, each showing a contestant¡¯s current situation. Some audience members noticed a few screens still showing backstage feeds and started talking: ¡°Here we go again. Every year there¡¯s always a few trying to milk our negative energy.¡± ¡°Not me, I¡¯ve been happy as hell lately.¡± ¡°Hey, I lost a ton at the pet beast arena yesterday. If a ghost-type pet wants my emotions, I say go for it.¡± ¡°Absorb you just so you can gamble again? Better not.¡± ¡°Huh? That ghost-type pet¡¯s so tiny. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen it before.¡± They were talking about none other than Little Treasure. Qiao Sang had walked out a minute earlier. Though the hall was packed with thousands of people, they all knew the drill and what was going on. Under this godlike surveillance, collecting much energy here wasn¡¯t realistic. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang had already considered all this. With limited time, she needed to go where negative emotions were thickest. The hospital. Hospitals are full of patients, and life-and-death situations happen every day, generating a ton of negative energy. She called a ride and headed to the second-closest top-tier hospital within Jintong District. Others were probably thinking the same. And Qiao Sang was right. Nearly half the camera feeds now showed contestants heading to the nearest hospital. 1st District was well-regulated. There were no wild pet beasts wandering the streets. The cab only took 16 minutes to reach "Frederbit General Hospital." Qiao Sang quickly paid and walked into the hospital. ¡°Little Treasure, it¡¯s up to you now.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure gave a confident cry, closed his eyes, and twitched his nose. Chapter 664: No. 98 Very soon, it was as if he had caught a scent, and floated off in a certain direction. Qiao Sang followed Little Treasure through the bustling crowd, arriving at a waiting area where the public benches were all occupied. Everyone there looked exhausted. Even when an unfamiliar ghost-type pet beast appeared nearby, people only gave it a glance before sinking back into their own worlds. "Xun xun." Little Treasure opened his eyes with a serious expression and picked up the emotion energy collection bottle his beast master had handed him earlier. Then he sniffed lightly. An invisible energy surged out from above everyone¡¯s heads and floated in the direction of Little Treasure. Just as the energy was about to be inhaled through his nose, Little Treasure channeled energy through his body. The invisible emotions changed direction and flowed into the bottle instead. Qiao Sang watched closely. After the energy was drawn out, the people on the bench first looked dazed, then as if they suddenly remembered something, they either checked the time or began chatting with family nearby. So this is the reaction after negative energy is extracted¡­ She was still thinking when she saw Little Treasure catching another scent and floating off again. She quickly followed. Meanwhile- At the Augustwood Tournament Institute. Viewers watching the live stream began discussing the scene. "This isn¡¯t good, is it? Absorbing emotional energy from so many people at once, it¡¯s easy to absorb positive emotions by mistake." "They¡¯re in a hospital. Of course it¡¯s all negative energy." "Not necessarily. My wife was giving birth and I was in a pretty good mood when I was there." "I once accompanied a friend to the hospital and was pretty cheerful, he had hemorrhoids." "I kinda wanna vote for her number now." "Don¡¯t! You¡¯re just guessing the pet absorbed the wrong energy. I¡¯ve never seen a ghost-type like this one before, I want to see more." Qiao Sang had no idea that Little Treasure¡¯s mass absorption of emotional energy was sparking a debate among viewers. At this moment, she was standing about three meters from a consultation room. The door was wide open, and many people were gathered around it. The noise inside was loud enough to be heard clearly even by someone with normal hearing. Smack! A slap on the table, followed by a man¡¯s furious shout: "Why are you slapping the table at me? What does a crowd have to do with my follow-up appointment? I waited two hours! You didn¡¯t ask me a single question! Didn¡¯t even look at the scans, just started writing prescriptions! So what exactly is wrong with my mother, did you even say?!" Then came an older voice: "I¡¯m a doctor! Are you questioning my professionalism?!" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure looked excited and was about to float over to absorb the energy when Qiao Sang called out: "Wait." "Xun xun?" Little Treasure turned with a confused look. "Invisible this time." Qiao Sang instructed. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure chirped, then vanished. Half a minute later, the man¡¯s voice lowered: "Doctor, I just want to know what¡¯s wrong with my mom." The older voice softened as well: "Your mother was exposed to a Poison Spatter Scorpion. The air it exhales contains toxins that irritated her respiratory tract..." "Xun xun~" Just then, Little Treasure floated back over, shaking the bottle in its hand. "Let¡¯s continue." Qiao Sang said. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure chirped, then sniffed left and right. There were people with negative emotions all over the hospital, including in the obstetrics department. Qiao Sang stood at the door and overheard a pregnant woman talking with her family. "I told you I wanted a pain-free delivery!" "Relax, I told the doctor just that." The family member reassured. "Bull! I saw the paperwork. You just asked for an epidural, that still means I have to push for hours myself. What I want is a Fetal Therapy Xixi! I want it to take the baby out for me painlessly!" The woman snapped. Fetal Therapy Xixi... Qiao Sang listened at the door, and the pet''s data flashed through her mind. That species of pet beast was quite popular with women on Chaosu Star. Nearly every OB-GYN department in the Upper Ten and Middle Ten Districts had one. Supposedly, if its belly touched a pregnant woman¡¯s stomach, the baby would be transferred into the pet¡¯s belly and then safely "spit out" from its mouth. Completely painless, with no harm to the mother. But many families refused to let mothers use Fetal Therapy Xixi, saying a child should never be born through a beast¡¯s body. Little Treasure floated in invisibly. A minute later, he floated back out. Looks like there¡¯s a lot of negative emotion in there, absorbing¡¯s taking longer, Qiao Sang thought. Over the next hour, Little Treasure hardly stopped. Every time it finished absorbing one person¡¯s emotions, he immediately found another. At this rate, making the top three shouldn¡¯t be hard¡­ Qiao Sang leaned against a wall, watching it absorb another dose of negative energy into the bottle, deep in thought. Just then, a heart-wrenching cry echoed from downstairs. Qiao Sang followed the sound to the end of the hallway and looked out the window. She saw a well-dressed middle-aged man downstairs, sobbing with his head in his hands, as if something unbearable had happened. A woman nearby, also looking out the window, saw Qiao Sang noticing and gossiped: "That guy¡¯s got it rough. A wild pet beast suddenly appeared at home and scared his twin kids so bad they both fell from a height. Neither made it." No wonder he''s crying like that¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure floated over after finishing another absorption. The woman noticed the ghost-type pet approaching and immediately fell silent, scooting away a few steps to keep her distance. Qiao Sang was still watching the crying man. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure chirped, indicating he had finished and was ready for the next target. "There¡¯s one right there." Qiao Sang pointed toward the man. "Xun xun?" Little Treasure looked where its beastmaster pointed, then tilted his head, confused. That human had no negative emotional energy? Qiao Sang: ??? Crying like that and you¡¯re telling me there¡¯s no negative energy? "How about you float a bit closer and sense again?" Qiao Sang suggested. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure obediently nodded and went invisible before floating down. Soon, he floated back up. "Xun xun~" He raised two little claws, tips together to show a tiny gesture, indicating the man only had a little bit of fear-related emotional energy. Qiao Sang: ??? --- Meanwhile- At the Augustwood Tournament Institute. Half the stream screen had switched to Qiao Sang¡¯s footage, and more viewers were now paying attention. "This ghost-type pet isn¡¯t working. It can¡¯t even sense negative energy properly." "It definitely can. It¡¯s been absorbing nonstop for an hour." "Then how come it can¡¯t sense this one?" "Maybe it got numb from sensing too long." "Sigh, poor guy. Lost both kids in one go." "Where¡¯s the mom? Haven¡¯t seen her." "I know the guy, he¡¯s the CEO of a listed company. Divorced ages ago, kids stayed with him. Life¡¯s unpredictable... never thought something like this would happen." "What did the ghost pet say again?" "It said the man only had a little bit of fear." A viewer with a ghost-type pet answered. The audience fell silent. A few seconds later, someone broke the silence: "Under normal circumstances, if someone loses two kids¡­ would fear be the main emotion?" "¡­Maybe." Someone replied uncertainly. "Could be fear, but only fear? That¡¯s suspicious." Another said. "There¡¯s something off about that man." "Could the ghost-type have sensed it wrong?" "We¡¯ll know once contestant No. 113 checks whether her pet absorbed anything incorrectly." --- At Fordebert General Hospital. Crying like that, and only a trace of fear? Is that possible? Is that normal? Qiao Sang pondered, then called the police and explained the situation. "You¡¯re saying that just because your ghost-type pet only sensed fear, you think the man¡¯s suspicious?" The dispatcher confirmed. Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Yes. In a case like this, having only that one emotion is abnormal.¡± "Couldn¡¯t it be a problem with your pet?" The dispatcher¡¯s tone turned impatient. "The man just lost his twin kids, and you¡¯re suspecting him? Miss, allow me to remind you, don¡¯t call the police on mere speculation." Then the call ended. Qiao Sang calmly put her phone away. It was just a guess, after all. Other than reporting it, she couldn¡¯t do much. "Let¡¯s continue." She said. "Xun xun~" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure Seeker nodded and sniffed the air. Suddenly, a masked medical staff member approached and said: "You¡¯re not allowed to collect emotional energy in the hospital. Please put your pet away." Qiao Sang stared at the exposed eyes of the person and smiled: "No. 98?" The medical worker froze, then let out an awkward chuckle: "Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d recognize me." She took off the mask, it was the friendly black-haired woman from backstage earlier. Chapter 665: Hidden Resentment "Where did you get that outfit?" Qiao Sang asked with a smile, though she silently muttered to herself: Good grief, if I hadn¡¯t been sharp-eyed, I would¡¯ve walked right into that trap¡­ She had a general understanding of the competition rules and knew interference or combat with opponents was allowed. But she hadn¡¯t expected her first encounter to try this trick right out of the gate. Luckily, she¡¯d had some interaction with her backstage earlier. Otherwise, this method might have actually made her go to a different location. "I prepared it before the competition." The woman put her mask back on and lowered her voice, then added in a tone of approval: "Didn¡¯t expect this to be your first time in this kind of competition, yet you already know to come to a place like this." "The hospital isn¡¯t that hard to guess, right?" Qiao Sang replied modestly. "The hospital isn¡¯t hard to guess, but most people go to the one closest to the Augustwood Arena." The woman finished her sentence just as the fabric at her shoulder was seemingly poked by something, causing a dent. Although contestant No.113 was technically her opponent, her age and her pet''s size clearly posed no threat. The woman didn''t intend to waste any more time on her. She paused and said: "I won¡¯t chat with you any longer. Hope you get a decent result." With that, she turned and left. Qiao Sang watched her back for a moment and then said: "Let¡¯s go too." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure chirped, then continued sniffing around with his nose. In the next twenty minutes, Little Treasure successfully absorbed negative emotional energy from dozens of hospital staff. Then, as if he had caught a scent of something extraordinary, his eyes lit up and he floated purposefully in one direction. Qiao Sang followed him to the basement level, arriving in a rarely-used area. The air around them was cold. Each breath brought a hint of damp rot. Qiao Sang glanced around, seeing not a soul in sight, and suddenly got a bad feeling. She vaguely remembered reading somewhere that hospital morgues are usually built on basement levels or near underground parking... No way¡­ Qiao Sang¡¯s heart started to race, though she kept a calm expression and said: "Little Treasure, maybe we should go somewhere else. Doesn''t seem like anyone''s here." "Xun xun~" Little Treasure pointed toward a hallway, there was negative energy there. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was about to speak again, a series of footsteps echoed from the darkness. She jolted and whipped her head toward the source. --- Meanwhile. Augustwood Tournament Institute. Watching a live feed showing the hospital hallway, the audience began murmuring. "This ghost-type pet has sharp senses, it can actually smell something from the third floor all the way to the basement." "This is the moment I¡¯ve been waiting for, the morgue!" "What¡¯s so great about a morgue? Even if there are ghosts, only ghost-types can see them." "Stop it, you''re scaring me..." "Same here..." "Negative energy doesn¡¯t necessarily come from living people''s emotions. Resentment from the dead is also a kind of negative energy. That ghost-type pet sensing negativity here probably means some of those people died unnatural deaths. It¡¯s normal, nothing to be afraid of." "Sounds like footsteps. Is it a hospital worker?" "Look at the upper-right corner feed, it¡¯s contestant No.98." --- General Hospital. Basement Level. "You again?" Qiao Sang looked at the new arrival and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Surprise flashed in the woman¡¯s eyes. Then, seeming to realize something, she glanced at Little Treasure and said: "Your ghost-type pet¡¯s energy detection is pretty sharp." "Xun xun~" Pleased by the compliment, Little Treasure smirked as if to say it was nothing. So there was negative energy here¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but glance subtly toward the end of the hallway. The woman said: "Since we¡¯ve both found the morgue, let¡¯s see who absorbs more energy." She walked toward the morgue after speaking. So it really is the morgue¡­ Qiao Sang twitched at the corner of her mouth, took a deep breath, and nodded at Little Treasure. "Xun xun~" Little Treasure immediately understood his tamer¡¯s meaning. His eyes glowed blue. The next second, he vanished from the spot. Having spatial shift is so nice¡­ Qiao Sang hurried after No.98 and shouted: "Wait for me!" The woman stopped at the morgue entrance. Noticing the small ghost-type pet had vanished, she asked, "Where is your ghost pet?" Obviously already inside absorbing negative energy¡­ Qiao Sang calmly replied, "It¡¯s gone invisible." The woman didn¡¯t suspect anything and smiled: "Then I¡¯ll go in first." Just as she spoke, a smoke-gray, shadowy creature with a smoking collar appeared. Without a word, it twisted its form and spread like gray mist, wrapping around the woman. Then it slipped through the morgue doors with no resistance. Seconds later, Qiao Sang heard the woman inside curse in English. Looks like Little Treasure was already absorbing a lot of negative energy¡­ She was just thinking that when BANG! the morgue door was blown open by some force. The woman was flung out, crashing into the far wall with such force that the entire wall shook. What the hell?! Qiao Sang was stunned by the sudden outburst. The woman gritted her teeth against the pain and screamed: "Run! There''s a wild Hidden Resentment Yudo in there!" Hidden Resentment Yudo? Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Just then, the corridor lights went out, and an icy chill descended. She suddenly felt a gust of wind heading straight toward her. But in the next second, everything went black. When the light returned, she found herself already outside the hallway. It was Little Treasure¡¯s spatial shift¡­ Qiao Sang realized, then turned around and sure enough, there was Little Treasure. "Xun xun!" Little Treasure stood with a serious expression, staring toward the hallway. Qiao Sang followed his gaze. Contestant No.98 was now slumped against the wall, eyes wide with shock as she stared at Qiao Sang. "Save her!" Qiao Sang ordered without hesitation. She didn¡¯t know much about Hidden Resentment Yudo, but the fact that it attacked humans was enough to mark it as a dangerous pet! "Xun xun!" Little Treasure let out a cry, his eyes glowing blue again. The woman reappeared beside Qiao Sang. She sat on the floor, mouth agape, stunned. Spatial Shift? Was that spatial shift?! Someone please tell her why a ghost-type pet was using a high-level psychic-type skill?! Then, as if recalling something, she snapped out of it and shouted: "Let¡¯s go, now!" Just then, a little girl appeared at the end of the hallway, lips purple, face deathly pale, wearing a bloodstained white dress, looking no older than five. She stared at them blankly, expressionless. Qiao Sang stiffened and asked with difficulty: "That... is Hidden Resentment Yudo?" "Yes." The woman struggled to her feet, about to explain the earlier situation- When a mischievous mechanical voice cut in: "Don¡¯t be hasty, let me check¡­ Hidden Resentment Yudo, ghost-type, General-class pet. Currently in possession mode. Said to see spirits, helps the dead fulfill wishes, at the cost of their soul. The more resentment, the more it likes them. But it does fulfill their wishes first, so it¡¯s quite principled. A strong one indeed, but Master, I believe it¡¯s no match for you. Go get it!" The woman: ¡­ Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Xun xun¡­" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure stared seriously at the girl, quietly putting away the pet identifier. --- Augustwood Tournament Institute. Nearly every audience member had their eyes on one specific live feed. The scene went quiet for a moment, then erupted in chaos. "Oh my god! Hidden Resentment Yudo! This hospital actually has a Hidden Resentment Yudo! That little girl must¡¯ve died horribly!" Anyone possessed by one of those had always died terribly. No exceptions. "This is gonna be big news!" "Holy crap! That ghost pet knows spatial shift?!" "What kind of pet identifier is that? So chaotic!" "Call the authorities! Where there¡¯s a Hidden Resentment Yudo, there¡¯s injustice!" "This is my first time seeing one. Totally worth the ticket price!" Just then, one viewer stared at the screen showing the girl in the white dress, pupils shrinking, gulped, and hoarsely said: "Remember the man who was crying earlier? That¡¯s his daughter." ----- T/n: Yow, that''s some juicy gossip right there. Chapter 666: Why? The hall suddenly fell silent, then erupted in even more chaotic noise than before. ¡°I knew there was something wrong with that man!¡± ¡°Call the police! Hurry!¡± ¡°But if she fell out the window scared by a wild pet beast, wouldn¡¯t that still count as an accidental death? Maybe her grudge is directed at the wild beast?¡± ¡°Impossible. All those possessed by a Hidden Resentment Yodu never die in such simple ways!¡± ¡°Am I the only one worried those two contestants might be in trouble...?¡± The audience once again fell silent, turning their attention to the dark and shadowy livestream footage. The directing team, who controlled the virtual screens backstage, quickly cut over a dozen less-watched streams to enlarge the feeds from Contestants No. 98 and 113. --- Frederbit General Hospital. Basement Level 1. Qiao Sang took a deep breath and calmly said: ¡°We leave first, then immediately evacuate the crowd. We''re live right now. if anyone in the audience sees this, they¡¯ll definitely help call the police.¡± Leave professional matters to professionals. Although Yabao might not necessarily lose to the Hidden Resentment Yodu, the destructive power of two general-level pet beasts clashing was massive, especially Yabao. This was a hospital, after all, if something went wrong, compensation would be sky-high. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to do something thankless and exhausting. The woman clearly shared the same thought. She nodded immediately. ¡°Okay.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She didn¡¯t move yet though, instead glancing toward Little Treasure. Qiao Sang also looked at Little Treasure. Little Treasure instantly understood his Beast Tamer¡¯s meaning. His eyes glowed blue, then he assumed a blank, dazed expression. ¡°Xun... Xun...¡± Little Treasure seemed to sense something, lowering his head and looking toward the ground. Qiao Sang suddenly had a bad feeling and looked down as well. The lights were out nearby, only rough outlines of things could be seen in the dim. But due to multiple rounds of spiritual feedback, Qiao Sang¡¯s vision was still sharp. She clearly saw a thin, long black shadow attached to Little Treasure¡¯s own. No way... Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She traced the thin shadow¡¯s path upward and saw that blood-stained white-dressed little girl. ¡°Have your pet use spatial shift, quick!¡± The woman saw they were still frozen in place and couldn¡¯t help shouting in panic. Qiao Sang stared at the little girl and said, ¡°Can¡¯t move. The Hidden Resentment Yodu used Shadow Control.¡± The woman¡¯s face changed drastically. She quickly looked down and, judging from the shadow contrast, indeed saw an unnaturally dark shadow! Shadow Control, an advanced ghost-type skill. Not only could it manipulate shadows, but it also shared the effects of the Shadow Pin trait. A beast caught in this control couldn¡¯t be recalled, nor could it use any teleportation or spatial movement skills. At that moment, only one thought echoed in her mind: We¡¯re doomed... The little girl twisted her head stiffly, then began to approach rapidly in a strange, eerie posture. ¡°Shadow Blades!¡± The woman gritted her teeth and shouted. A gray shadowy mist suddenly separated from above her head, twisting and condensing into a pet beast wearing a smoking collar. ¡°Yan yan!¡± The beast cried out, and several shadow-forged blades appeared midair, flying at the ¡°little girl.¡± The ¡°little girl¡± flickered like a ghostly blur, dodging every shadow blade effortlessly. Twenty meters... ten meters... In the blink of an eye, the ¡°little girl¡± was already right in front of them. Just one meter away from Little Treasure, Qiao Sang shouted: ¡°Water Gun!¡± ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao sprang out from the backpack, opened her mouth, and fired a thick, powerful jet of water straight at the ¡°little girl,¡± striking her dead-on. The ¡°little girl¡± instinctively crossed her arms in front of herself to block. As she did, the shadow on the ground faded. ¡°Now!¡± Qiao Sang seized the timing and shouted. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes lit up blue again. In the next moment, they vanished on the spot. When the ¡°little girl¡± lowered her hands, all she saw was an empty space. ¡°Resentment...¡± The ¡°little girl¡± tilted her head again. Then, as if remembering something, she sniffed the air and walked toward the elevator, pressing the up button. --- First-floor lobby. ¡°That scared the life out of me...¡± The woman leaned against the wall, looking at the crowd, her heart still pounding. Once she calmed down, she turned to Qiao Sang and said gratefully, ¡°Thank you. If not for you, I probably wouldn¡¯t have made it out today.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Where¡¯s the hospital control room?¡± The woman blinked, then understood. ¡°There should be a PA system at the registration desk in the waiting area.¡± Registration desk... Qiao Sang quickly scanned around, spotted it, and rushed over, saying urgently to the medical staff: ¡°Quick! Alert everyone to evacuate! There¡¯s a Hidden Resentment Yodu on B1, and it¡¯s about to come up!¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s youthful appearance didn¡¯t inspire much confidence, but with Little Treasure by her side, something clearly not native to Chaosu Star, people instinctively felt this child came from a powerful background. One nurse who was about to brush her off hesitated when she saw Little Treasure. ¡°Did you see it yourself?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Qiao Sang nodded. The nurse hesitated for two seconds, then pressed a button on the desk and spoke into the microphone: ¡°Attention, everyone. There is an emergency. Please remain calm and evacuate the building in an orderly manner. Thank you.¡± Then, she dialed the emergency number. Though most people in the hospital didn¡¯t know what exactly was going on from the announcement, their expressions changed slightly, and they began to move outside. Seeing this, Qiao Sang sighed in relief. ¡°Let¡¯s go too.¡± The woman said, stepping forward. Qiao Sang was about to agree but suddenly changed her mind. Calmly, she said, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll stay.¡± The woman asked in confusion, ¡°Why?¡± So many people forced to leave mid-treatment, there must be tons of negative emotional energy in the air. Perfect time to collect... Qiao Sang thought to herself, while righteously saying: ¡°Not everyone has made it out yet. I¡¯ll stay until the police arrive. If anything happens, I can help.¡± The woman¡¯s expression grew complex. She patted Qiao Sang¡¯s shoulder, didn¡¯t say anything more, and left with the others. Just then, noise erupted outside the hospital lobby. Screams echoed as people turned and fled back inside. Qiao Sang¡¯s expression hardened. She followed the source of the noise. A crowd was gathered, staring in terror at something. Qiao Sang squeezed through and saw the ¡°little girl¡± from earlier, holding a man like a rag doll. She felt like she¡¯d seen him before... Her gaze dropped to the man¡¯s face. After a moment of thought, her expression shifted. Oh. Isn¡¯t this the guy who lost two kids earlier but only seemed mildly scared... The ¡°little girl¡± flung the man away like a sandbag. Many people who saw this pulled out their phones to start recording. Exclamations burst out: ¡°Isn¡¯t this the twin girl that was brought in today?!¡± ¡°I saw her too! That guy¡¯s her dad, right?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t she dead?!¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in pain. He glared bitterly at the ¡°little girl¡± and said coldly, ¡°That¡¯s not my daughter. She¡¯s been possessed by a ghost-type pet!¡± Everyone gasped and instinctively stepped back a couple of paces. But no one left, curiosity clearly outweighed fear. The man couldn¡¯t get up, but he could still move his hands. He struggled to put his hands together, beginning to form a seal. But then he realized, his hands wouldn¡¯t move! It was like some invisible force was controlling them! Then, a young girl¡¯s crisp voice rang out: ¡°Oh my gosh! That girl¡¯s possessed by a Hidden Resentment Yodu!¡± The crowd instantly broke into murmurs. ¡°Hidden Resentment Yodu? Isn¡¯t that a general-level ghost-type pet?¡± ¡°I heard they only possess people who die really horribly!¡± ¡°Yeah! If your death wasn¡¯t tragic enough, it won¡¯t even look at you!¡± ¡°Is it trying to help the girl fulfill her wish?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s clearly hurting her dad...¡± ¡°I suddenly thought of something... What if those twins didn¡¯t fall because of a wild pet...¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± Many people glanced subtly at the man lying on the ground. The man, meanwhile, stared daggers at the one who shouted Hidden Resentment Yodu first. ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed blue and stood protectively in front of his Beast Tamer. Then, the ¡°little girl¡± twisted her head again. As if just learning to speak, she slowly uttered: ¡°Why?¡± Chapter 667: If This Is the Final Wish Qiao Sang''s expression froze. Hidden Resentment Yodu actually spoke like a human? At that moment, a slightly familiar voice came from the side: "Hidden Resentment Yodu only speaks human language when it''s possessed someone. Whatever it says are the words the deceased wanted to say." Qiao Sang followed the voice and saw No. 98. "You haven¡¯t left yet?" Qiao Sang asked in surprise. "I was going to." The woman replied. "But this Hidden Resentment Yodu seems to have its sights set solely on this man, so I stayed." Qiao Sang: ¡­ Humans truly do love a good spectacle. The man didn¡¯t answer the ¡°little girl¡¯s¡± question, but his attention had clearly returned to ¡°her.¡± Seeing this, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t dare let Little Treasure release his psychic control just yet. The man was dressed impeccably, if he wanted to make it in 1st District, his primary identity must be that of a Beast Tamer. Although it was unclear if he was a professional or what his level was, the fact that his first reaction after being attacked by Hidden Resentment Yodu wasn¡¯t fear or a cry for help, but forming a summoning seal, indicated that he at least had a battle-capable pet beast. Now, with a large crowd around, a fight would surely endanger bystanders. She couldn''t let the man summon his beast... But at the same time, while Little Treasure was using psychic power, he couldn¡¯t absorb the negative emotional energy from everyone¡­ Qiao Sang thought of this and subtly glanced at No. 98 beside her, hoping she was too engrossed in the drama to remember they were still in a competition. ¡°Why¡­?¡± The ¡°little girl¡± asked again. The man¡¯s gaze turned vicious as he roared, ¡°Get out of my daughter¡¯s body!¡± Seeing this, the crowd''s earlier doubts about the man began to fade. ¡°This Hidden Resentment Yodu is probably a wild pet beast. How could we suspect a father who just lost both his children because of a wild pet beast?¡± Someone in the crowd said. Others quickly chimed in: ¡°Exactly, they say Hidden Resentment Yodu only possesses people who died miserably. I remember this girl fell from a building, definitely a tragic death. Doesn¡¯t necessarily mean it was her father¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°Once Hidden Resentment Yodu possesses someone, it only tries to fulfill their last wish. Remember that news story about the elderly lady possessed by one? Her grandson had stabbed her to death, yet after being possessed, she didn¡¯t go after him. She just went to comfort her daughter. Maybe this little girl only wanted to ask her father why he didn¡¯t save her.¡± ¡°Yeah, that makes sense.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with clear characteristics and behavior traits, when it came down to humans versus beasts, people from Chaosu Star still instinctively chose to believe humans. The ¡°little girl¡± moved stiffly toward the man. The man tried to back away but found his feet seemingly locked in place. Panic flooded his face. The ¡°little girl¡± stretched out a pale, bloodless hand, about to grab the man''s throat, when suddenly, a green thorny vine whipped around ¡°her¡± wrist. The ¡°little girl¡± looked up and saw a male human and a green pet beast roughly three meters tall. ¡°Quick! Summon your beasts and help out!¡± A young man who saw himself as acting righteously shouted. Humans are strange creatures. Alone, they fear even a general-rank pet beast. But as long as there¡¯s a group, and someone takes the first step, courage miraculously appears. Many people answered the call, forming seals with both hands. Stars of different colors lit up around them. The man was stunned for a second, then couldn¡¯t help the corners of his lips twitching upward. But he quickly realized that smiling at this moment was inappropriate and straightened his expression. Qiao Sang glanced at the ¡°little girl¡± with a complicated expression. Honestly, after Little Treasure sensed the emotional energy earlier, she truly believed something was off with the man. But in this situation, what could she do? She couldn¡¯t exactly help the ¡°little girl¡± fight a bunch of Beast Tamers. In truth, letting them battle it out might not be a bad idea. The best solution would be to wait for the police, then explain everything¡­ Qiao Sang thought calmly. But then a flood of other thoughts surfaced. What would happen after the man was taken away? Even if the truth came out, would he be sentenced to death? No. Beast Tamers were always privileged on Chaosu Star. He might get a suspended sentence or even be released on bail. Might as well let the ¡°little girl¡± take care of him now. Avenge the wrong¡­ By now, the area around the man was a fierce battleground. Skills of all colors flared up. Although most summoned beasts were below general-rank, the sheer number of them temporarily held back the ¡°little girl,¡± preventing ¡°her¡± from getting closer to the man. Qiao Sang silently exhaled, looked at Little Treasure, and whispered: ¡°Get him to Hidden Resentment Yodu.¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure perked up with a hint of excitement. The next second, the man, previously shielded by beasts, suddenly slid uncontrollably through them, straight toward the ¡°little girl.¡± In that moment, his expression twisted in terror as he finally cried out: ¡°Help me!¡± Unfortunately, the battle noise was too loud. Everyone was focused on the ¡°little girl,¡± and no one noticed their supposed target of protection was screaming for help. So when the man, face filled with despair, appeared before the ¡°little girl,¡± everyone was stunned. ¡°Resentment?¡± The ¡°little girl¡± tilted her head, seemingly just as confused. Then ¡°she¡± remembered something and raised a hand, instantly forming a black energy ball. Qiao Sang watched coldly. Suddenly, No. 98 sighed beside her: ¡°If this is the little girl¡¯s wish, then with that shadow orb, her soul might completely vanish.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively shouted: ¡°Little Treasure!¡± ¡°Xun Xun~¡± There was no need for further explanation. Little Treasure understood his master perfectly. His glowing blue eyes flicked left. The man instantly flew sideways, crashing hard into a tree. At the same time, with a loud boom, the shadow orb missed its target and blasted a crater into the ground where the man had stood. Qiao Sang¡¯s shout had been so loud that many people turned toward her. Seeing Little Treasure¡¯s glowing blue eyes, everyone quickly connected the dots and began praising her. ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°Kid, you did great!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, that guy would¡¯ve been done for.¡± Qiao Sang just smiled without saying a word. --- Augustwood Tournament Institute The audience watched the live footage from contestant No. 113 and fell silent, hesitating to speak: ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken¡­ wasn¡¯t that man just sent to Hidden Resentment Yodu by No. 113?¡± ¡°I saw it too¡­¡± ¡°He was about to form a seal when that ghost-type pet beast used psychic power to control him.¡± ¡°So why did she move him away at the last second?¡± ¡°Seemed like No. 98 said something.¡± Those who had heard No. 98¡¯s words fell silent again. --- Ferdebit General Hospital The man slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the voices of the crowd. Seeing them praising the girl who had controlled him earlier, he nearly coughed up blood in rage. At that moment, a dark shadow shot out, wrapping around him tightly, constricting his arms, fingers, and legs. Then it pulled back- Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed from his body. ¡°Ahhhh!!¡± His anguished scream sent chills down the spines of everyone present. Fear spread. People backed away, not daring to attack the ¡°little girl¡± again. The ¡°little girl,¡± using her shadow control, approached the man. This time, no one stopped her. Chapter 668: I Saw Everything A dark shadow hoisted the man with broken bones into the air. ¡°W-h-y?¡± The "little girl" asked again. ¡°Help me! Help me!¡± The man screamed hysterically. Seeing the man''s miserable state, everyone looked at each other in horror, overwhelmed by a powerful sense of fear. They instinctively wanted to back away. They had intended to help, yes, but only if it didn¡¯t cost them anything. Now, seeing this spirit of lingering resentment called Yodu actually break someone¡¯s bones, they were afraid they¡¯d be next if they tried to intervene. The man, realizing no one was stepping forward, turned as pale as a sheet, panic and despair flooding his eyes. The "little girl" didn¡¯t wait for an answer. She raised her hand, and a massive black energy sphere began to form. ¡°Someone made me do it!¡± The man finally looked directly at the "little girl" and shouted: ¡°Do you remember Aunt Latifa? She forced me! I didn¡¯t want to do it! She told me to put Sh¨¡n M¨¢ juice on your clothes! You should be after her!¡± As soon as he said this, everyone froze. A chill spread through their hearts. Judging from his words... could it be that this man caused his own child''s death? --- Augustwood Tournament Institute. The audience was silent at first, then their eyes flared with fury as they broke into loud curses, hurling profanities. ¡°Fuck! I knew there was something wrong with that guy!¡± ¡°What a beast! He didn¡¯t even spare his own child!¡± ¡°Trash! Scum! How can someone like that exist?!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Latifa?¡± Someone asked, turning to the audience member who earlier said he knew the man. That person answered, full of righteous indignation: ¡°She¡¯s his current lover. I never imagined the two of them were this vile!¡± --- General Hospital. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and looked at Number 98. ¡°What¡¯s Sh¨¡n M¨¢ juice?¡± The woman sighed. ¡° It¡¯s a substance used to attract Poison-Resistant Eel Fish. Normally, wild pet beasts can¡¯t break into homes, but some species have abilities that let them come and go freely, like the Poison-Resistant Eel Fish, which can enter through any place with plumbing.¡± ¡°Most likely, that¡¯s what made the little girl fall from the building.¡± While watching the situation unfold, the woman also overheard people discussing the girl''s cause of death. Murder through pet beasts... what a monster. Qiao Sang took a deep breath, holding back the urge to order Little Treasure to attack. As the crowd realized what was going on, they began to curse the man tied up in mid-air. Qiao Sang knew this was a prime opportunity to gather negative energy but suddenly, she didn¡¯t want Little Treasure to absorb it. The "little girl" paused after hearing the man¡¯s outburst, then mercilessly launched the shadow orb she held. ¡°I¡¯m your father!¡± The man screamed in horror, his voice full of hopelessness. ¡°Pah! Now you remember you¡¯re a dad?¡± ¡°Scumbag!¡± ¡°I can''t believe I just tried to stop Yodu!¡± The crowd spat at him one after another. Just when the shadow orb was only 0.5 centimeters from hitting the man, a translucent suit of armor appeared over his body. BOOM! A deafening blast rang out as the orb struck. When the dust settled, the man was still intact. The crowd suddenly realized something and turned toward the hospital entrance. There, several uniformed police officers and pet beasts appeared. The man, following their gaze, breathed rapidly. A glimmer of joy lit up his face, as if he¡¯d been saved from the brink of death: ¡°Help me! Please save me!¡± In 1st District, wild pet beasts could communicate. An older officer spoke through a megaphone: ¡°Yodu, don¡¯t hurt anyone. Let¡¯s talk this through.¡± The "little girl" ignored him. Her eyes glowed violet, and several black energy blades materialized in the air, slashing down toward the man. Once again, translucent armor shielded him. The shadow blades struck but did no harm. ¡°What skill is that?¡± Qiao Sang frowned. ¡°Light Armor.¡± The woman answered. ¡°A high-level skill of the Psychic type. Yodu couldn¡¯t cut through it. The one who used it must be a general-ranked pet.¡± Qiao Sang looked toward the police and focused on a cat-like pet beast in uniform, around 60 centimeters tall, mostly white, with glowing blue eyes. She glanced at its paw, and sure enough, spotted a lightweight miniaturization bracelet. That defense skill looked powerful... Just as she was thinking that, the cat-like beast vanished and reappeared before the "little girl." Then, a bird-type police beast dove from above, swiftly snatching the broken-boned man away. ¡°Dian Dian.¡± The cat beast called. Then its body began to expand, stopping only when it reached five meters tall. ¡°Everyone, please evacuate the area.¡± The older officer said. People exchanged looks, then started moving into the hospital. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± The woman asked, noticing the girl beside her hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°I¡¯ll wait a little longer.¡± Qiao Sang replied, eyes still fixed on where the man had been. Following her gaze, the woman seemed to understand and patted her on the shoulder: sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Forget it. The police are here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not planning to do anything,¡± Qiao Sang said calmly. ¡°I just want to see how the police handle him.¡± The woman said no more and walked off. At that moment, Qiao Sang remembered something. She quickly gave Little Treasure a signal: Go absorb all the negative energy before someone else does. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure shook his head, he felt this place was too dangerous. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart warmed. She smiled and said: ¡°It¡¯s okay. Lubao is right behind me.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao poked her head out from her backpack, chirping in assurance. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure pouted, then vanished into stealth mode. Several others still hadn¡¯t left, so Qiao Sang didn¡¯t stand out. Meanwhile, Yodu and the general-ranked cat beast had already begun fighting. Explosions echoed continuously. After a few quick exchanges, the cat beast slammed its left forepaw onto the ground, sending multicolored beams of light toward the "little girl." The "little girl" stared blankly at the incoming light. Just before it hit, she closed her eyes and collapsed like a puppet whose strings were cut. Qiao Sang¡¯s focus remained on the man. Even from a distance, her superhuman hearing let her pick up his conversation with the police: ¡°Is this your daughter¡¯s body?¡± The man¡¯s voice rang out clearly: ¡°She¡¯s already dead! That¡¯s Yodu, not my daughter! Please destroy it!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try not to harm your daughter¡¯s body.¡± The officer reassured him. ¡°I told you, my daughter is dead!¡± The man snapped. ¡°That thing is Yodu! Just attack it!¡± The officer seemed caught off guard by his words and didn¡¯t respond immediately. Then Qiao Sang noticed, the little girl¡¯s body lay limp on the ground like a corpse. Yodu had already separated from her¡­ Qiao Sang understood instantly, and a wave of heaviness fell over her. She regretted ordering Little Treasure to shield the man from Yodu¡¯s attack. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Suddenly, Little Treasure¡¯s voice called out beside her. ¡°You finished absorbing?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded. Then he paused, his gaze falling on his beastmaster. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± He grew uneasy. He could smell negative energy¡­ coming from his own beast master. It was a scent he usually liked but now that it was on her, he found it no longer pleasant. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure rubbed her cheek in comfort. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qiao Sang said. She took a step forward, intending to speak to the police about the man. But after just two steps, she froze. Dozens of meters away, the man, thinking himself safe, lay on the ground pouring his heart out to an officer. The officer said a few words, then walked away. The man lay there, completely off guard. A small figure approached from behind, beyond his field of view. Qiao Sang saw it clearly, it was a little boy, lips purple, face deathly pale, wearing a blood-stained blue hoodie. ¡°Miss, did you see what happened?¡± A few police officers walked up to her. Qiao Sang calmly withdrew her gaze and replied, ¡°Yes. I saw everything.¡± Chapter 669: I Just Feel Like Ive Had an Epiphany A black shadow, like a strange tendril, slowly emerged from the ground and wrapped around the man¡¯s neck. The man, however, seemed completely unaware. He turned his head to look at the girl being questioned by the police in the distance. I almost forgot about that kid¡­ A faint, cold glint flashed in the man¡¯s eyes. He was sure he hadn¡¯t seen wrong earlier. If it hadn¡¯t been for that kid¡¯s pet beast using telekinesis, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t have been able to summon his own beast. And definitely no way he would¡¯ve spilled that matter in front of so many people. Still, it was fine. A bit troublesome, sure, but not unmanageable. Though his reputation might take a while to recover. Eliza too, so young, yet carrying such intense resentment. No wonder she attracted the likes of Hidden Resentment Yodu... The man wanted to pull out his phone to vent to his lover but then remembered his hand was fractured and couldn¡¯t move. Damn it... He looked up at the sky, suppressing his growing fury. Forget it. At least I¡¯m still alive. Just as that thought passed through his mind, a familiar face appeared above him, blocking out the sunlight. The man¡¯s pupils shrank instantly, his expression contorted in terror. He opened his mouth to call for help but the next second, a sharp pain tore through his neck. The world in his eyes flipped and was replaced by the sight of cold concrete. (T/n: You know what? DESERVE!!!) --- ¡°Ah!!!¡± A shrill scream pierced the air. Qiao Sang, who was talking to the police, turned toward the sound and saw the man who had been lying flat on the ground, his head now twisted a full 180 degrees, face planted against the pavement. It was a grotesque sight. Next to him lay a pale boy in a blood-stained blue hoodie. In that moment, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t describe how she felt. Honestly, she¡¯d seen plenty of news reports before, but this was the first time she¡¯d ever witnessed something so brutal up close. The nearby police officers rushed toward the scene. ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure called out cautiously, asking if he should absorb the negative emotional energy. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure sighed. Absorbing negative energy really wasn¡¯t fun anymore. --- ¡°Name.¡± ¡°Qiao Sang.¡± ¡°Age.¡± ¡°Sixteen.¡± ¡°Why were you in the morgue?¡± ¡°I was participating in the Ghost-type pet beast Negative Energy Collection Contest.¡± At the police station, Qiao Sang was giving her statement, something she¡¯d grown familiar with. Once it was over, she asked, ¡°Was Hidden Resentment Yodu caught?¡± ¡°No.¡± The officer reassured her. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. As long as you weren¡¯t murdered or caused someone¡¯s death, Hidden Resentment Yodu won¡¯t come after you.¡± That¡¯s not really what I¡¯m worried about¡­ Qiao Sang muttered inwardly, then asked, ¡°Can I leave now?¡± ¡°You can.¡± The officer nodded. Qiao Sang exited the police station and found that night had already fallen. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared, playing beside her by manipulating his shadow control in 3D mode, turning it into patterns like a string game. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Qiao Sang gave him a sideways glance. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure chirped sweetly, saying he was training his shadow control. Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Why are you suddenly training shadow control?¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure flashed a grin as if to say, I just felt like training. Qiao Sang stared at him, eyes clearly saying: You really think I¡¯d believe that? ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure¡¯s face froze, then sighed in resignation. He remembered every time he trained, Qiao Sang¡¯s mood seemed to improve. He just wanted his Beast Tamer to feel a little better. Qiao Sang was touched. She was about to say there was no need to train, that a good night¡¯s sleep would fix her mood but then she remembered how lazy Little Treasure had been lately. Dragging his feet to train, staying up late glued to his devices¡­ So she held her tongue. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked up at her with big eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Qiao Sang cleared her throat and said, ¡°Watching you train does cheer me up. You can continue.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­ Something felt off, but Little Treasure checked and sensed that Qiao Sang¡¯s negative emotions were indeed fading. His eyes lit up and he happily resumed training with the 3D shadow control. Seeing this, Qiao Sang suppressed a smile and pulled out her phone to check the time. 8:23 p.m. The three-hour competition had long ended. The rankings were probably already released, and the emotional energy collection bottle was still with her. She¡¯d need to find a time to return it¡­ While thinking, a voice nearby called out: ¡°Number 113.¡± Qiao Sang looked toward the voice, surprised. ¡°Number 98, you¡¯re here too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to give a statement as well.¡± The woman replied as she approached. Soon, she noticed Little Treasure, who was playing string games. ¡°That¡­ is shadow control?¡± The woman looked stunned. She wasn¡¯t shocked that a Ghost-type pet beast could use it, after all, it could already teleport like a Psychic-type, but she¡¯d never imagined such a high-level skill could be played with like that! Qiao Sang responded with a soft ¡°Mm,¡± then shifted the topic. ¡°The contest is over. Are you planning to return your emotional energy bottle now or tomorrow?¡± ¡°No need.¡± The woman said. ¡°Didn¡¯t we leave our contact info? The organizers will come to collect them. And since the contest was livestreamed, the audience knows we ended up at the police station.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head out first.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± The woman called out. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Are we going the same way?¡± Qiao Sang asked. The woman smiled. ¡°We can be.¡± Qiao Sang was speechless for a moment, then began walking toward her rented place. The woman followed, trying to make conversation. ¡°You seem a little down.¡± ¡°Do I.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s tone was flat. ¡°Yes.¡± The woman said seriously. ¡°Backstage earlier, you didn¡¯t talk much, but your mood was clearly better.¡± Qiao Sang was silent for a moment. ¡°It was my first time experiencing something like that.¡± The woman chuckled. ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang paused, then said self-deprecatingly, ¡°Maybe I was just feeling overly sympathetic. Thought those two kids were pitiful.¡± The woman went quiet for a few seconds, then gently said, ¡°I saw what you did.¡± ¡°What did you see?¡± ¡°You had your Ghost-type pet beast drag that scumbag to Hidden Resentment Yodu. But after I told you the girl¡¯s soul would disappear, you made him back away.¡± Qiao Sang replied calmly, ¡°I already knew helping came at the cost of a soul. When I saw that man and girl, I instinctively thought evil should be punished. That thought made me forget the price. Thanks to your reminder.¡± In the evening breeze, the woman sighed. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t pulled him back, so what? You¡¯re a Beast Tamer. The guy was carrying the death of his own child. The police would¡¯ve just blamed everything on Hidden Resentment Yodu. You know that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only upset because even after the scumbag was punished, the little girl¡¯s soul would be lost.¡± Qiao Sang looked indifferent. ¡°Can¡¯t have it both ways.¡± ¡°Who says?¡± The woman smiled. Qiao Sang glanced at her. The woman continued: ¡°Hidden Resentment Yodu is only a General-level beast. Above that are King-level, Emperor-level, many who can suppress or overpower it. You just can¡¯t have it both ways yet because you haven¡¯t reached that level.¡± ¡°Any hesitation you had today was simply because your strength isn¡¯t enough to do what you want.¡± ¡°Twenty years from now, you won¡¯t need Hidden Resentment Yodu. You¡¯ll be able to see souls yourself, communicate directly, and help as you wish.¡± ¡°Even if Hidden Resentmentt Yodu eats a soul, you could force it to spit it back out.¡± ¡°From another angle, you could have your beast learn memory-revealing skills. Next time something like this happens, no need for all the trouble. Those scumbags¡¯ true colors could be exposed right away.¡± Then she added, ¡°But you¡¯re already amazing. Better than me. You even saved me today.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t respond right away. One sentence echoed in her mind: ¡°Your ability just hasn¡¯t reached the level to do what you want.¡± That¡¯s it. The helplessness she felt today came from realizing she couldn¡¯t actually do anything. She couldn¡¯t act freely. Suddenly, her head throbbed. Then a voice called out: ¡°Xun xun~¡± Qiao Sang turned to see Little Treasure looking at her with deep concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The woman beside her noticed too. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qiao Sang said. Oddly, the pain vanished, replaced by a feeling of clarity. After a pause, she said seriously, ¡°I just feel like I¡¯ve had an epiphany.¡± The woman: ??? Little Xunbao: ??? ¡°Oh right, my name¡¯s Qiao Sang.¡± Qiao Sang looked at her. ¡°What¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Doreen.¡± The woman said. Chapter 670: Shell Attachment Trait T/n: Thank you @a nice dude for the Ko-Fi support, I appreciate it????????! And thank you to my readers too for the continous support! ----- On the road, the two chatted casually, with no real topic in mind. Before long, they had gotten much more familiar with each other. Doreen finally asked something that had piqued her curiosity for a while: ¡°What¡¯s your ghost-type pet beast called? I searched for a long time on my pet beast identifier but couldn¡¯t find anything.¡± ¡°He¡¯s called Ghost Ring Phantom.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a Blue Star pet beast, so regular market identifiers don¡¯t have any information on it.¡± Doreen was stunned, staring in shock at the little Seeker who was still playing ¡°cat¡¯s cradle.¡± To be honest, she¡¯d considered many reasons why a pet beast couldn¡¯t be identified, but she had never expected that the beast in front of her wasn¡¯t from Chaosu Star! ¡°How did you end up contracting a pet beast from Blue Star?¡± Doreen couldn¡¯t help but ask. Qiao Sang glanced at her. ¡°Because I¡¯m from Blue Star.¡± Doreen: !!! A Blue Star human?! This was her first time meeting a human from another planet in real life! For a moment, the girl in front of her became shrouded in mystery. Doreen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at Qiao Sang, no longer calm, and fired off a barrage of questions: ¡°How did you get to our Chaosu Star?¡± ¡°What kind of procedures are required to go to another planet?¡± ¡°I heard there are no wild pet beasts on Blue Star¡¯s roads, is that true?¡± ¡°Have you ever been to a secret realm? What does it look like?¡± Qiao Sang answered patiently. Honestly, it actually felt kind of nice to answer questions like this for someone older than herself. Suddenly, Qiao Sang remembered something and asked, ¡°What about your ghost-type pet beast? What¡¯s its name? I saw it sticking to you the whole time after.¡± ¡°You mean the Smoky Wraith.¡± Doreen replied with a smile. ¡°It has a special trait called Shell Attachment. It can stay on my body and boost my defense.¡± ¡°Earlier in the morgue, I took a direct hit from that aggressive Hidden Resentment Yodu. If the Smoky Wraith hadn¡¯t attached to me in time, I¡¯d probably be lying in the ICU right now.¡± Qiao Sang felt a twinge of envy as she listened. If only Little Treasure had a trait like that, she wouldn¡¯t have had to keep spending money getting beat up all the time lately. But then she remembered: The pain from bond evolution came from the inside out, Shell Attachment wouldn¡¯t help much with that. That thought gave her some comfort. Maybe being a punching bag hadn¡¯t been for nothing after all... The two chatted a little more, and when they reached a street intersection, Doreen said: ¡°Let¡¯s add each other as friends. If there¡¯s another ghost-type pet beast competition in the future, I¡¯ll call you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and exchanged contact info with her. After saying goodbye and watching Doreen leave, Qiao Sang walked a short distance along the road, reached a spacious area, formed a seal with both hands, and summoned Yabao. She couldn¡¯t quite explain her emotions at the moment, she just wanted Yabao to come out and relax a bit. 1st District didn¡¯t forbid large pet beasts from being out on the streets. In fact, a lot of people would go out of their way to rent huge beasts just to show off. After all, pet beast size generally correlated with strength. Previously, Qiao Sang had been afraid Yabao might cause some kind of accident just by moving around, so she hadn¡¯t summoned him. But now she realized that most powerful beast tamers were actually quite carefree. Even if they summoned large beasts in public, incidents were rare, people would instinctively avoid high-level, large pet beasts. Qiao Sang figured it was time to change her mindset. Otherwise, constantly worrying about everything would just lead to burnout. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao roared with excitement as soon as he appeared, not the living room or the training ground this time. The passersby all gave him a wide berth. Some who had never seen a beast like him even summoned their flying pet beasts to rise into the air and snap photos from a better angle. ¡°Let¡¯s go back the way we used to.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile. ¡°Yap!¡± Yap wagged his tail and barked happily. His eyes glowed blue, and with a bit of psychic energy, Qiao Sang was gently lifted onto his back. She had to admit, after spending all this time riding on Gangbao, being back on Yabao felt amazing. She stroked the fur on his back, noting the softness beneath her, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. Seeing this, Little Treasure''s eyes lit up. He stopped playing ¡°cat¡¯s cradle¡± and floated onto Yabao¡¯s back. ¡°Xun~¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He rolled around comfortably, clearly enjoying himself. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out a long cry. The flame-forged wings spread fully, and like a blaze, they soared into the sky- Leaving a streak of crimson across the night. --- After dinner, Qiao Sang returned to her bedroom and drew the curtains. She sat cross-legged on the bed and began meditating. It was unclear how much time passed before her phone began to vibrate. Qiao Sang opened her eyes and saw Little Treasure just two meters in front of her, practicing his Shadow Control. ¡°Xun~¡± Seeing his tamer watching, Little Treasure grinned and began training even harder. This competition had definitely been worth it... Qiao Sang felt a small joy inside, though she wore a melancholic expression as she picked up her phone and answered. A low voice came through: ¡°Is this Miss Qiao Sang?¡± ¡°This is her.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m a staff member from the Ghost-type Pet Beast Negative Energy Collection Tournament. The emotional energy collection bottle is still with you.¡± The voice said. Thinking they wanted to retrieve it, Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Something came up midway, so I didn¡¯t return in time. Are you sending someone to collect it, or should I bring it over?¡± The person chuckled lightly: ¡°We had a livestream the entire time, we¡¯re aware of your situation. The reason I¡¯m calling is to offer a proposal. Would you be willing to bring your ghost-type pet beast to shoot a promotional video for the competition? In that case, we won¡¯t need the bottle or the energy you collected.¡± Qiao Sang hesitated. ¡°How long would filming take?¡± ¡°Not long, just about half an hour.¡± The staffer said. ¡°If you can¡¯t come to us, we can bring our equipment to you. The next competition is a quarter away, just film within the month and it¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang nodded immediately. ¡°Sure. Once I figure out the timing, I¡¯ll text this number.¡± ¡°Great. Have a nice day.¡± The person said and hung up. Looks like the organizers already know Little Treasure is a Blue Star pet beast... Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t too surprised by the request. Although Chaosu Star normally forbade pet beasts from absorbing emotional energy at will, for competition organizers, those energy bottles and the emotions inside weren¡¯t particularly valuable. Getting a Blue Star ghost-type pet beast to star in a promo video? That was a win-win for them. Just as she was thinking this, the doorbell rang. Who could that be, this late at night...? Qiao Sang put on her shoes and went to check the monitor. A face appeared on the screen, slightly more haggard than she remembered. It was the Vice Principal. ----- T/n: All the Study Gods among my readers, please bless me with a big brain for this coming next week. My midterms are coming????. Chapter 671: None of Them Are Simple Qiao Sang opened the door, surprised. ¡°Vice Principal? Weren¡¯t you supposed to arrive tomorrow?¡± Liu Yao stepped inside in a hurry while removing his shoes. ¡°I rushed over right after disembarking from the starship, so I¡¯m a bit early.¡± As he spoke, he looked around as if searching for something. ¡°Blazing- where¡¯s Fire Qilu?¡± Liu Yao asked eagerly. ¡°Let me see it quickly.¡± ¡°He¡¯s training at the outdoor training field.¡± Qiao Sang replied as she led the way. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Yabao seemed particularly excited today, having trained nonstop since returning. Qiao Sang led the vice principal through the living room to the open-air training ground behind the house. A red figure with flaming wings stood out sharply in the night, instantly catching the eye. Liu Yao stood frozen, staring at the distant red silhouette like he was mesmerized. It really evolved¡­ At that moment, Liu Yao finally felt the reality of Blazing Star Canine¡¯s evolution. ¡°Yabao!¡± Qiao Sang called. Yabao immediately stopped training and happily ran over. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± He looked delighted when he saw Liu Yao, he hadn¡¯t forgotten that the energy pills he used to take came from this human¡¯s formula. Liu Yao took a deep breath and reached out to touch Yabao¡¯s fur. Yabao didn¡¯t dodge. ¡°Tell me again in detail how Blazing Star Canine evolved.¡± Liu Yao said, still petting him. ¡°Well, I used a Dream Enlightenment Stone on Yabao¡­¡± Qiao Sang launched into a detailed explanation of how she came up with sending Yabao to the volcano to evolve. ¡°You definitely used that Dream Enlightenment Stone well.¡± Liu Yao praised. ¡°Judging by the difference in appearance between Blazing Star Canine and Fire Qilu, it seems likely it picked the path best suited to it from the possible evolution routes.¡± He kept talking as his hands moved from one leg to another. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao was starting to get a bit annoyed at being touched so much, but he held back, remembering those delicious energy pills. Liu Yao continued, ¡°A pet beast¡¯s body color often reflects its internal attribute makeup. During its time as a Blazing Star Canine, it clearly had more psychic energy. But now, as Fire Qilu, the balance has shifted.¡± Qiao Sang nodded in agreement. ¡°Exactly. All the skills Yabao awakened after evolving were fire-type.¡± Then she seemed to remember something and said worriedly, ¡°What concerns me now is that Yabao¡¯s future evolution paths are completely unknown. There are a few possible routes, but I might not encounter another Dream Enlightenment Stone to guide him toward the most suitable form again.¡± Liu Yao: ¡­ He just evolved into a General-level, and you¡¯re already thinking about the next evolution into King-level? Isn¡¯t that a bit too early¡­ Liu Yao almost said that out loud but then remembered how it took only half a year for Blazing Star Canine to become Fire Qilu, and fell silent. After a while, he said: ¡°For most pet beasts, there are many evolution paths early on, but later these routes usually stabilize into a fixed chain. Once that¡¯s set, multiple evolution forms won¡¯t appear anymore.¡± ¡°Fire Qilu is already General-level. In theory, its bloodline should be fully stable, and its evolution chain fixed. So, what you''re worried about shouldn¡¯t happen.¡± Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± By now, Liu Yao¡¯s hands had moved from Yabao¡¯s front legs to his hind legs. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Since Yabao is now Fire Qilu, is it going to be difficult to study how Flame Hound evolves into Blazing Star Canine?¡± Liu Yao thought for a moment. ¡°It¡¯ll be more troublesome, yes. But not impossible. When I created the energy pills for Blazing Star Canine, I based the formula on its body at the time. I still have those records.¡± Qiao Sang considered this and said: ¡°Why don¡¯t you scan Yabao¡¯s body data now? Just in case he evolves again while you''re still researching how Blazing Star Canine evolved into Fire Qilu.¡± Liu Yao paused for a few seconds. ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking too.¡± He no longer dared to view Qiao Sang with the lens of a regular prodigy. After all, reaching 39% brain activation at age sixteen and evolving the first new-form advanced pet beast into General-level in just six months? That was beyond absurd. Liu Yao added: ¡°I¡¯ll be staying on Chaosu Star for the next six months. If you need anything, come find me.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I have something right now!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Liu Yao asked. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yabao¡¯s energy pills.¡± Qiao Sang said with a grin. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a breeder customize a new formula post-evolution. I¡¯ve been waiting for you to help.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao immediately forgot about being touched for so long. He wagged his tail at Liu Yao, looking at him expectantly. Liu Yao froze briefly, then smiled. ¡°Got it.¡± --- Inside the house, a stranger had suddenly appeared, and he seemed very close to Qiao Sang. This piqued Gangbao¡¯s curiosity. However, she simply observed silently from the sidelines, making no sound. That was, until the stranger looked directly at her. ¡°What¡¯s this pet beast?¡± Liu Yao asked after scanning Yabao and noticing the other creature watching him. ¡°Steel Guardian Falcon. I contracted it on Chaosu Star.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Liu Yao froze upon hearing that. He¡¯d been so preoccupied with Blazing Star Canine¡¯s evolution that he¡¯d nearly forgotten Qiao Sang had already contracted a fourth pet beast¡­ He looked at Gangbao. Gangbao looked at him. They stared at each other for a moment. Then Gangbao stepped forward and cried out with a ¡°Gang Guard!¡± -asking if she could also get a custom energy pill formula. She observed everything. This human was clearly more skilled than the one who¡¯d checked her body before, after all, he gave Yabao such a high-level checkup. Plus, since he was close to their master, he seemed trustworthy. ¡°She wants you to check her body and make a formula too.¡± Qiao Sang translated, a bit surprised. Uh? Liu Yao paused before answering: ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help. It¡¯s just that there are breeders on Chaosu Star who specialize in Steel Guardian Falcons. They¡¯d be better suited to crafting an energy pill for it.¡± Qiao Sang grinned. ¡°No worries. She¡¯s a bond evolution, first of her kind on Chaosu Star.¡± Liu Yao: ¡­ He¡¯d been so focused on Fire Qilu that he¡¯d completely forgotten¡­ Now that he thought about it, Qiao Sang had mentioned that before¡­ What a pity it wasn¡¯t a Blue Star-native beast. otherwise, it could¡¯ve been another research project¡­ Liu Yao thought with slight regret. He composed himself, smiled at Gangbao, and beckoned: ¡°Come on. Let me take a look.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± --- The villa had plenty of rooms, so Qiao Sang let the vice principal stay over. Liu Yao had come to Chaosu Star primarily because of Yabao, so he didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and picked a first-floor room. Around midnight, he heard a noise and got up to check the living room. In the dim space, the computer screen¡¯s glow immediately caught his attention. There, he saw Ghost Ring Phantom floating in front of the computer, its claws tapping furiously on the keyboard, manipulating three-dimensional shadows in dark energy mode. Liu Yao instinctively rubbed his eyes. Realizing everything in front of him was real, he stood there in shock for a long time. --- Early the next morning. Qiao Sang saw the vice principal standing before her with huge dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± She asked, concerned. ¡°Probably couldn¡¯t adjust from all the time spent on the starship.¡± Liu Yao replied wearily. ¡°Lubao, Healing Light.¡± Qiao Sang said at once. The vice principal had been helping with both Yabao and Gangbao. If he got sick, she¡¯d feel terrible. Without hesitation, Lubao activated the gemstone on her forehead. A soft blue light bathed Liu Yao. When it faded, the dark circles were gone, and Liu Yao looked calm and mature again. ¡°Feeling better?¡± Qiao Sang asked. So this is what it¡¯s like to be healed by a super-level skill¡­ Liu Yao had a very complicated expression. He suddenly realized, even without Fire Qilu, none of Qiao Sang¡¯s other pet beasts are simple¡­ ¡°I feel great now.¡± Liu Yao steadied himself. ¡°I¡¯m heading out to buy materials for energy pills. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°I¡¯ve familiarized myself with 1st District these past few days, I know where to get what we need.¡± That had actually been her plan for the day: Show him around. ¡°No need.¡± Liu Yao declined. ¡°You just focus on your work. I¡¯ll handle the pills.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to let a genius like her waste time running errands for him. Seeing how serious he looked, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t insist. She nodded. ¡°Alright then.¡± She then gave him the house¡¯s passcode. --- Since the vice principal didn¡¯t need her and Little Treasure didn¡¯t place top three in the contest, Qiao Sang resumed training at the clubhouse as usual. As soon as she walked in, she noticed that the receptionist and a few guests in the lobby were giving her strange looks. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t think much of it, until she saw Coach Elma giving her the same kind of look. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She asked. ¡°Why is everyone staring at me like that?¡± Elma hesitated before asking, ¡°You went to the ghost-type pet beast negative energy gathering contest yesterday, right?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°How do you know?¡± Elma gave her a complex look. ¡°You¡¯re in the news.¡± ??? Qiao Sang was full of question marks. She immediately pulled out her phone and checked the trending searches. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there.¡± She said while scrolling. ¡°Search the keyword: ¡®Rare Appearance of Blue Star Ghost-Type Pet Beast.¡¯¡± Elma said. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure immediately perked up. That was clearly about him! He floated over to Qiao Sang¡¯s side and stared at the screen, eager to see what the news said about him. Chapter 672: Shadow of the Darkness Qiao Sang entered the words, the page loaded quickly, and related news popped up. [Shocking! Ghost-type Beast from Blue Star Appears in a Morgue!] Damn, that''s quite a title¡­ Qiao Sang glanced at the video below. It was surveillance footage, showing the moment Little Treasure used spatial shift on Basement Level 1 to teleport Doreen and the "little girl" away. Below the video was also an introduction to the Ghost Ring Phantom. Qiao Sang scrolled down and found plenty of user comments. [Ha! A ghost-type beast that can teleport? That¡¯s rich.] [Never seen a ghost-type pet like this before.] [A high-level ghost-type? Isn¡¯t it a bit too small? Even my Trotting Pig is bigger.] At first, Little Treasure was watching with interest, but when he saw that particular comment, he stepped back a bit, covered his chest with his paw, and made a heartbroken face. Qiao Sang kept reading. [Am I the only one freaked out by that kid?] [Clearly possessed by some ghost-type beast.] [Check trending topic #11. A man and his lover killed his two children. That girl¡¯s one of them.] Qiao Sang went back to the trending list, but didn¡¯t see any such news. At that moment, Elma asked, ¡°You were there at the time, right? Saw it all?¡± Qiao Sang put down her phone and responded, ¡°Yeah.¡± Elma cursed, ¡°Didn¡¯t think there¡¯d be such scum even in 1st District. Thank god for those vengeful spirits, or else those two would¡¯ve gotten away with it.¡± Hearing that, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°What happened to the woman later?¡± Elma thought for a moment and said: ¡°News said the Yodu didn¡¯t go after her, but the police arrested her that same night.¡± Qiao Sang thought to herself, So the kids really resented their father more... Elma couldn¡¯t help glancing at the heartbroken Ghost Ring Phantom beside her. Others might not know, but she did, this ghost-type beast even knew the Fighting move Bric-Breaking. A ghost-type that can use Fighting and Psychic skills? That¡¯s just¡­ insane¡­ Little Treasure didn¡¯t know others had already labeled him insane. He was still moping over the comment about his small size, so much that he was totally distracted during the next round of training. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao noticed Little Treasure was out of it and called out, signaling to pause. Qiao Sang noticed the issue too. While standing there and tanking attacks, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked at Gangbao and sighed deeply. He felt ashamed that as the second eldest, he was actually smaller than the fourth in size¡­ You¡¯re just realizing this now? Qiao Sang organized her thoughts and said: ¡°When you evolve, your size will increase.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure gave his Beast Master a sorrowful look, he had already seen his evolved forms, and the size didn¡¯t change much. Qiao Sang: ¡­Totally forgot about that. Elma joined the conversation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Ghost Ring Phantom?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Qiao Sang replied. ¡°He¡¯s just upset about being too small.¡± She understood Little Treasure well, what he considered a big issue now would blow over in a few minutes. He was pretty good at letting things go. Elma thought for a moment and said: ¡°There¡¯s a ghost-type move called ¡®Shadow of the Darkness.¡¯ It can create a phantom that¡¯s ten or even a hundred times bigger than the beast itself. If it wants to look more imposing, it could learn that.¡± So this is make up for size with a move, huh¡­ Qiao Sang smiled. She was about to explain that the phantom was just an illusion. It could create visual pressure, but wouldn¡¯t deal more damage. ¡°Xun xun!¡± She opened her mouth, hadn¡¯t even said the first word, and Little Treasure''s eyes were already sparkling with excitement. He wanted to learn this move! Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°The most important thing for you right now is to train in Shadow Control and finish evolving.¡± She said helplessly. Little Treasure always acted on impulse. She was honestly afraid he would now waste time training a flashy but impractical move. Despite the cool name, the move wasn¡¯t all that useful. Little Treasure¡¯s opponents were usually his level. Even after evolving to General level, his opponents would still be General level. Those beasts were usually six meters tall. Even if he created an illusion ten times his own size, he¡¯d still seem smaller to his opponents. Unless he trained the move to the point where the illusion was a hundred times bigger. But as levels increased, so did the size of the opponents. Honestly, this move wouldn¡¯t be all that helpful in future competitions. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure raised a paw like a fist in front of his face, full of resolve. He would finish training, evolve, then train that move! Qiao Sang: ¡­ As long as you¡¯re happy¡­ Now that Little Treasure had temporary motivation, Qiao Sang decided not to crush his enthusiasm about the move being useless. She nodded calmly and said: ¡°I believe in you.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Hearing his Beast Master¡¯s words, Little Treasure''s spirits rose even more. With a serious expression, he hooked his tiny claw at Gangbao to signal the training should continue. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Finally back in the zone... Gangbao nodded with a barely noticeable look of satisfaction. --- As the sun set, clouds in the sky were painted with golden hues. Qiao Sang returned to her rented villa, exhausted. The moment she stepped inside and saw no black leather shoes at the entrance, she knew the vice principal hadn¡¯t come back yet. She drank a fitness supplement and took a bath with a fortification serum. The soreness faded quickly, replaced by a hot spring-like comfort. She felt a surge of energy fill her body, even stronger than when healed by Healing Light. Could it be that I¡¯ve finished the first phase of training...? Qiao Sang wondered. After soaking a while longer, she got out, dried off, put on pajamas, and went to her room to grab her phone and ask the coach how to tell when Phase 1 was complete. But then she saw Little Treasure at the computer, tapping away rapidly. What the- he''s gaming now?! Qiao Sang froze, then quietly tiptoed behind Little Treasure. She saw him using 3D-mode Shadow Control to type a reply under a comment: [Ghost Ring Phantom will grow big someday!] Qiao Sang: !!! ¡°You know how to type now?!¡± She exclaimed, eyes sparkling with shock. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure was startled and held up a tiny just a little hand gesture. He was a bit nervous. So many students in TV shows use computers... If he learns, will he have to go to school too someday...? A genius! He¡¯s a genius! Qiao Sang stared at him with admiration, ready to shower him with praise. Just then, her phone buzzed. Qiao Sang calmed herself, picked it up, and saw it was a call from Blue Star. She answered: ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hi, this is the admissions office of the Imperial Beast University. Is this Qiao Sang?¡± Came a mature woman¡¯s voice. Imperial Beast University? Qiao Sang blinked, then quickly answered, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Are you in front of your computer right now?¡± The woman asked. Qiao Sang looked at the screen. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Great. Please don¡¯t turn it off. Your exchange paperwork for Yulianton University has been finalized. We¡¯re sending it over now. Just give the documents to Yulianton later.¡± The moment she finished speaking, the computer screen suddenly turned black. Then rings of ripples appeared in the center. A mechanical claw, dark iron in color and intricately designed, reached out, handing over a sealed file. Having seen this kind of transfer once before, Qiao Sang was much calmer this time. She reached out and took the file. The claw began to retract. ¡°Xun xun~¡± But halfway back, Little Treasure grabbed the claw, curiously poking and squeezing it. The claw seemed confused and froze. Qiao Sang¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Little Treasure, let go.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Reluctantly, Little Treasure released it. The claw, sensing danger, hurriedly pulled back, as if afraid it might get grabbed again. The screen returned to normal. ¡°Did you receive it?¡± The woman asked. ¡°I did.¡± Qiao Sang replied, glancing at the file in her hand. ¡°Good. Have a wonderful holiday.¡± With that, the call ended. Chapter 673: Havent You Always Wanted a Rematch? ------ The holiday was destined not to be enjoyable¡­ Qiao Sang let out a sigh. Logically speaking, the time between high school graduation and the start of university should be the most carefree period for a student. But at the moment, she couldn¡¯t just enjoy it without worries. Since she got into the Beast Taming Department, battles were inevitable. The issue of Gangbao¡¯s pain connection with her during combat had to be resolved. There was also the matter of knowledge. She had skipped a grade to enter university, and at her current level, attending university lectures might be challenging. It was best to make up for it while she still could. Qiao Sang handed a file over to Little Treasure and instructed: ¡°Put this properly inside the ring.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure took it, removed the ring, and carefully looked for the right place to put it before stuffing it inside. After finishing all that, he noticed his beast tamer still staring at him and got an ominous feeling. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± He quietly floated to the side, thinking it was best to retreat first. But just then, his beast tamer¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°Little Treasure¡­¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure stiffened and turned around obediently. On the surface, he looked calm, but his inner thoughts were in turmoil. He didn¡¯t do anything major, just played on the computer and typed a few words. Surely his beast tamer wouldn¡¯t make him go to school because of that? Please no! As he fretted, Qiao Sang spoke: ¡°I¡¯ve realized you''re incredibly smart.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Being praised like that only made Little Treasure more panicked. He quickly waved his hands to show that he really wasn¡¯t smart at all. Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure and emphasized: ¡°No, you''re very smart! You actually thought of using Shadow of Darkness to play on the computer. That¡¯s a training method I never even considered!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided, I''ll no longer restrict how long you play on the computer at night. But I have one condition: You must use Shadow Control the entire time, and every minute, you have to recast the skill.¡± Skill proficiency increases based on the number of times it''s cast. If you just maintain Shadow of Darkness the whole time, you only get one point. But if you interrupt and recast it frequently, you gain a point every minute. Little Treasure was caught off guard by his beast tamer¡¯s unpredictable logic. He looked both excited and confused. ¡°Xun xun!¡± After a few stunned seconds, he excitedly floated to Qiao Sang and affectionately nuzzled her cheek. No need to go to school and still gets to play on the computer, what a dream come true! After finishing Little Treasure¡¯s arrangements, Qiao Sang opened her chat with Elma, briefly explained her condition, and sent the message. Elma replied quickly: [From what you¡¯ve described, it really does sound like the end of Phase One. But I¡¯ll need to check in person to be sure.] [Got it.] Qiao Sang sent the message and didn¡¯t ask more. She opened her chat history and saw a few messages from Tang Yi: [(Location)] [I¡¯ve arrived in 1st District!] [I was planning to tour Zhizhou University, but the security guard said outsiders aren¡¯t allowed. What do they mean outsiders? I¡¯m going to be an exchange student here next semester!] [(Link)] [Lol, day one in 1st District and your ghost ring spirit is already in the news.] Qiao Sang glanced at the title of the link, it was about the incident at the morgue. She replied to Tang Yi: [You could use Paraleo to enter a match and still make headlines.] Tang Yi replied instantly: [Boss, want to join me in a pet beast arena match in 1st District?] Ever since it was confirmed that Qiao Sang was admitted through recommendation to the Imperial Beast University, Tang Yi had started calling her ¡°Boss.¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied: [Maybe another time. My schedule is packed these days.] She was indeed interested in the pet beast arena matches. They were great for real combat practice and making money. But unfortunately, she still had a lot to take care of right now. Meanwhile, Tang Yi was sitting in the audience section of a D-level pet beast arena match, sipping a drink while looking at the chat screen. When he read Qiao Sang¡¯s latest message, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little gloomy. Back when Qiao Sang had Ice Xilu¡¯s Healing Light, she didn¡¯t sleep for two months straight and still found time to enter pet beast matches. Now that she no longer had classes, how could she not have time? Was this what it meant to be a top-tier beast tamer at the Imperial Beast University, too cool to hang out with him now? Just then, another message came in from Qiao Sang: [(Location)] This is where I live now. You can come here to find me. Haven¡¯t you always wanted a rematch? The place I live just so happens to have a battle arena. Tang Yi: !!! He shot up from his seat in excitement, then quickly sat down again under everyone¡¯s curious gazes. Barely containing his joy, he replied quickly: [I¡¯m definitely coming!!!] --- S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 8:50 PM Liu Yao returned to the villa with the Sky Bat, carrying bags of supplies. As soon as he walked in, Yabao, who was in the living room, wagged his tail and stared at him with twinkling eyes. Food. Food. He wanted food. Liu Yao, being an A-rank beast breeder, was always well-liked by pet beasts. He didn¡¯t mind and just smiled at Yabao as he carried the supplies back to his room. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s face immediately fell. He really wanted to go seek comfort from his beast tamer, but his size made it impossible to fit through the door. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao sighed. Just then, Lubao happened to walk by. Expressionless, she glanced at Yabao as she passed, then slowed down and began to sing softly, ¡°Lu~ Lu~ Lu Lu~¡­¡± Invisible sound waves rippled outward. (T/n: Lubao''s such a tsundere.) Yabao¡¯s mood slowly shifted from gloomy to calm. ¡°Gang.¡± Over in the open kitchen, Gangbao was feeding peppers to Chan Chan Stone while watching the scene and thinking calmly: Actually, Lubao doesn¡¯t hate Big Bro Yabao as much as it seems¡­ --- Early Morning. Living Room. Little Treasure was playing on the computer excitedly in the dim light. He used to be allowed to play, but always with a time limit. Not like now, he could play as much as he wanted. He was casting Shadow of Darkness, clacking away while chatting with new online friends. Then he suddenly thought of something and looked at the bottom right corner of the screen. [2:01] A minute had passed. Little Treasure quickly canceled the skill and recast it. His beast tamer had already allowed him unlimited computer time, so of course he had to meet the one requirement! An hour later, Little Treasure started to feel tired, drained in a way he had never experienced from computer games before. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± He thought for a moment, took off his ring, pulled out a bottle of B-grade energy recovery solution, and drank it. Soon, his energy slowly recovered. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Rejuvenated, Little Treasure resumed casting Shadow of Darkness to continue playing. Chapter 674: Theres Something Important to Do Tonight The next day, 8 AM. Qiao Sang got up, washed up quickly, and headed to the living room. There she saw Little Treasure still playing on the computer, surrounded by a pile of empty energy recovery drink bottles. Getting up so fast, she couldn''t believe she saw Little Treasure training overnight¡­ Qiao Sang''s expression was a little dazed. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure heard the sound and looked up. Seeing his Beast Master, he instinctively withdrew the Shadow of Darkness and tried to turn off the computer. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No need!¡± Qiao Sang quickly stopped him. ¡°You keep playing!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure paused for a second, then happily let out a sound and lowered his head to resume casting Shadow of Darkness. At this rate, it shouldn''t take more than a few days for Shadow of Darkness to reach the peak of its ultimate form¡­ Qiao Sang thought briefly and decided to cancel her plan to train at the private club after breakfast. It¡¯s rare for Little Treasure to train like this, better to let him be until he gets tired¡­ Time passed slowly. By 11 AM, Little Treasure was still casting Shadow of Darkness and playing on the computer. Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of admiration. Liu Yao came out carrying energy pills he''d been preparing all morning and said: ¡°It¡¯s already noon. You should at least get Ghost Ring Phantom to eat something first.¡± Qiao Sang nodded and called out: ¡°Little Treasure, eat first, then keep playing.¡± Little Treasure didn¡¯t even lift his head, just raised a short toe, and a shadow wrapped around the plate of energy pills and pulled it over. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure let out a sound, indicating he was fine and could eat while playing. With one paw, he cast Shadow of Darkness to type on the keyboard, and with the other paw, he used Shadow Control to feed himself energy pills. Qiao Sang: ¡­ You''re impressive¡­ Liu Yao seemed like he wanted to say something, but held back and went back to the kitchen to bring out the energy pills for the other pets. Yabao had been excitedly waiting for a while. When he finally saw his portion brought over, he eagerly sniffed it, only to realize it was the same type of energy pill he had been eating recently. His tail drooped instantly, and his mood deflated. ¡°Yap¡­¡± This time, Liu Yao noticed his feelings and smiled: ¡°High-rank pet energy pills aren¡¯t something I can make in a day. Don¡¯t worry, within three days, I¡¯ll make sure you get ones that suit your taste.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing that, Yabao perked up instantly. Qiao Sang watched this scene and thought to herself: It makes sense why higher-level breeders are so popular with pet beasts¡­ If she didn¡¯t have so much going on right now, she¡¯d definitely find time to learn breeding techniques from the vice principal. --- 3 PM. Qiao Sang finished meditating. Seeing that Little Treasure was still tirelessly playing computer games, she twitched her lips and was just about to say, Let¡¯s go train and come back to play after. Ding-dong~ Just then, the doorbell rang. Qiao Sang walked to the door and checked the monitor, it was Tang Yi. She turned the doorknob. Tang Yi came in, visibly excited, and went straight to the point: ¡°Let¡¯s start our battle!¡± Qiao Sang glanced at the time on her phone and apologized: ¡°Let¡¯s do it tonight. I need to head out for a bit.¡± Tang Yi looked disappointed: ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I found a coach to help me improve my defense skills.¡± Qiao Sang said. Tang Yi, who had experience with pet bond evolution, immediately understood why Qiao Sang was working on her defenses. ¡°Then let me come with you.¡± He said. ¡°I want to improve my defense skills too.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang agreed, then turned to Little Treasure: ¡°Little Treasure, stop playing for now, we¡¯re going to train.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure was in the middle of a dungeon game, at a critical moment. He let out a sound. Just a little longer! Qiao Sang: ¡­ If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Little Treasure was casting Shadow of Darkness every minute like she asked, she would¡¯ve already sent him to an internet addiction rehab center¡­ Tang Yi followed Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze. ¡°?!!¡± The Ghost Ring Phantom¡­ is playing on the computer?! Tang Yi was stunned and doubted his own eyes. A pet that knows how to use a computer? Shouldn¡¯t only mechanical-type pets know stuff like that? ¡°Your Ghost Ring Phantom can use a computer?¡± He finally asked. Qiao Sang sighed, ¡°I just found out too.¡± Holy crap! It really can¡­ Tang Yi was dumbfounded. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± At that moment, Little Treasure suddenly sensed something, froze in place, and stopped typing. He looked down at his short toe still casting Shadow of Darkness. Then, his toe moved slightly. In the next second, the dark shadow tendrils, like little black strips, suddenly expanded wildly, twisting and splitting apart. In an instant, they spread across the living room, as fine as strands of black hair. Tang Yi looked completely confused. He couldn¡¯t understand what was happening. Wasn¡¯t it just playing on the computer? Why did it suddenly turn into this? Shadow of Darkness? Can Shadow of Darkness even be this fine? Qiao Sang stared blankly at the scene, then suddenly realized something. She quickly closed her eyes and entered the Beast Master Codex. The pages flipped until she reached Little Treasure¡¯s entry. Her eyes scanned downward and finally stopped at one line. [Shadow of Darkness (Ultimate 20000/20000) max] Qiao Sang: !!! It reached the peak of the ultimate form? It actually maxed out?! Qiao Sang was shocked. (T/n: The power of an internet-gamer addict????) Just last night, when she checked the data, Little Treasure¡¯s Shadow of Darkness still had a long way to go to peak¡­ Wait¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something, and her expression grew complicated. If Little Treasure had been following her instructions since last night, casting Shadow of Darkness every minute while playing games, it really could have reached the peak¡­ She had assumed that without her watching, Little Treasure would slack off, just play games and not keep recasting every minute. But now it seemed¡­ Little Treasure didn¡¯t slack off at all despite her absence¡­ Qiao Sang exited the Beast Codex and returned to reality. By now, Little Treasure had retracted the Shadow of Darkness. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure reached out his paw to his Beast Master with a puzzled look. Qiao Sang gently said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Your Shadow of Darkness has reached the standard I wanted.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Hearing that, Little Treasure grinned happily. He lowered his head, ready to finish the dungeon. ¡°Stop playing.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Rest up. We¡¯ve got something important to do tonight.¡± Little Treasure¡¯s just-raised smile instantly dropped. Qiao Sang looked at Tang Yi: ¡°Come in. Let¡¯s have our match.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Tang Yi blinked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going out to train defense?¡± ¡°Not anymore.¡± Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Little Treasure needs to save energy for something else.¡± Tang Yi wasn¡¯t quite sure how the Ghost Ring Phantom had anything to do with her defense training, but realizing he finally got the chance to battle Qiao Sang, he instantly perked up: ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not the same as before! I¡¯ve been practicing nonstop recently¡­¡± ¡°Yap!¡± At that moment, Yabao casually walked into the living room. Tang Yi looked up at the approaching pet and immediately went silent. Chapter 675: Battling Tang Yi Again At this moment, although his mouth was shut, Tang Yi''s mind was surging with thoughts, like a raging storm. "Yap?" Why did this pet beast''s cry sound just like the Blazing Star Canine? And those flame wings... Tang Yi fixed his gaze on the large red pet beast not far away, his expression flashing with hesitation, shock, confusion, disbelief¡­ After several seconds, he finally took a deep breath and asked: "This pet beast is¡­?" "Yabao." Qiao Sang replied. "He evolved. Now he''s called Fire Qilu." Evolved? Tang Yi''s mouth fell open, completely stunned. It was a bit hard to digest this piece of news. Hadn''t it only been a month? How had it already evolved? His Paralulu could evolve into a General-level pet beast temporarily through their bond, but that was totally different from a true evolution into a General-level pet. Besides, wasn¡¯t the Liaoxing Hound a newly discovered species? Shouldn¡¯t it be even harder to evolve compared to other species whose evolutionary paths were already known? "Tang Yi?" Qiao Sang called out when she saw him zoning out. "Ah?" Tang Yi seemed to snap back to reality and looked over. "What¡¯s wrong with you?" Qiao Sang asked. What¡¯s wrong with me¡­ Tang Yi really wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her. It evolved! This is a high-level pet beast evolving into a General-level beast! How can you be so calm?! Why didn¡¯t you post anything in your social feed?! Why did you say ¡°it evolved¡± like you were just talking about the weather?! ¡°I guess I just haven¡¯t fully processed it yet¡­¡± Tang Yi heard himself say. ¡°Come on, didn¡¯t you say you came to challenge me?¡± Qiao Sang said as she walked toward the outdoor training arena. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao wagged his tail and followed his beast master. Tang Yi¡¯s mouth twitched. He wanted to say he wasn¡¯t ready and maybe reschedule, but then he remembered that Qiao Sang had already been accepted into the Imperial Beast University, a god-tier figure. He might not get another chance to challenge her. Gritting his teeth, he followed. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure watched as his master¡¯s figure disappeared. Then he glanced at the lower-left corner of the screen where a teammate was asking where he had gone. He sighed, then habitually used his Shadow of Darkness to type on the keyboard: [My beast master won¡¯t let me play anymore.] After sending the message, it closed the laptop. --- Tang Yi stared blankly at the field full of blackened craters and ruined terrain. He suggested: ¡°Maybe we should get someone to fix the field first¡­¡± ¡°No need/¡± Qiao Sang said indifferently. ¡°It¡¯ll just end up like this again after the battle anyway. No point fixing it.¡± Tang Yi went silent. A few seconds later, he started silently forming hand seals. Soon, Paralulu appeared within a green star formation. ¡°Papa!¡± Paralulu cried out energetically. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao locked eyes with his opponent, his expression brimming with battle intent. From what he remembered, this opponent wasn¡¯t half bad. ¡°Papa¡­¡± Paralulu turned toward the voice, paused for a moment, and then also adopted a battle-ready stance. At that moment, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll summon a referee.¡± She formed hand seals and summoned Gangbao, who had been training with Wing Blade in the indoor arena. Paralulu would definitely evolve via bond later. Since Gangbao had also evolved that way, she wanted her to watch this match. Gangbao calmly sized up Tang Yi and Paralulu. She quickly noticed the intense eye contact between Paralulu and Yabao. Looks like a battle is about to happen¡­ Gangbao thought. ¡°You¡¯ll be the referee.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao nodded and flew to the sidelines to take position. Yabao and Paralulu faced each other from a distance, both poised to strike. Qiao Sang gave Gangbao a nod. ¡°Gang Guard!¡± Gangbao swung her right wing downward, signaling the start of the match. Paraleo and Yabao flapped their wings simultaneously, soaring into the sky. As they ascended, yellow sparks of electricity appeared around Paralulu. ¡°Electric Terrain!¡± Tang Yi shouted. ¡°Papa!¡± With its cry, Paraleo unleashed a burst of yellow lightning, spreading outward in a powerful wave. In the flickering light of electricity, Paraleo began to glow with a bright white aura. So Tang Yi can now freely use their bond to temporarily evolve Palelulu¡­ Qiao Sang thought coolly. She¡¯d seen several of Tang Yi¡¯s matches before and knew that the bond power used to be unstable. It wouldn¡¯t trigger every time, usually only in critical moments to pull off a comeback. But now, Yabao hadn¡¯t even attacked yet, and Paralulu had already evolved. That was clear progress. Still, a temporary General-level evolution wasn¡¯t the same as a true one¡­ As the white light faded, a six-meter-tall beast appeared in the sky. Its nearly black body was etched with purple patterns on its wings. ¡°Papa¡­¡± Paraleo lifted its head, eyes sharp, but saw no opponent. ¡°Above you!¡± Tang Yi, keeping a close eye on the battlefield, shouted. Paraleo tilted its head upward: 15 degrees¡­ 45 degrees¡­ 90 degrees... Finally, it saw the red figure. Yabao was flying high, just outside the electric terrain¡¯s range. Seeing that its opponent had finished evolving, Yabao grinned, then vanished from sight. Tang Yi immediately sensed danger and commanded: ¡°Expand the range!¡± ¡°Papa!¡± Paraleo cried out, and the electric energy around it burst forth chaotically, expanding in all directions. Amid the swarm of electric arcs, Yabao suddenly appeared above Paraleo! Its massive flame wings flapped, scorching the air, and easily blasted away the nearby electricity. ¡°Papa!¡± As if prepared for a close-range attack, Paraleo began charging energy. The moment Yabao appeared, a mass of yellow lightning formed in front of Paraleo, writhing like a cluster of electric serpents. Yabao raised his flame-charged paw and slammed down without hesitation. The intense lightning was instantly shattered into harmless glowing sparks. Realizing the situation was bad, Paraleo tried to dodge the oncoming flame strike- But then it found itself frozen, as if held by some invisible force. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed blue as he excitedly brought its paw down. ¡°Papa!¡± Paraleo plummeted straight to the ground like a falling rock. The ground cracked and splintered, gravel flew everywhere. The electric terrain dissipated instantly. Almost immediately, Yabao disappeared from the air and reappeared beside Paraleo, placing his right front paw on his opponent¡¯s belly. ¡°Explosive Flame Bomb.¡± Qiao Sang issued her first command of the match. Explosive Flame Bomb?! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Yi¡¯s pupils shrank. He quickly waved his hand, withdrawing Paraleo, leaving only Yabao with his half-formed explosive move. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked toward Tang Yi, confused. ¡°Not continuing?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Tang Yi gave a bitter smile. ¡°I forfeit. I¡¯ve got a pet beast arena match tonight, Tang Bupa can¡¯t get seriously injured.¡± Right now, he was feeling a bit disheartened. He knew Qiao Sang was stronger than him, but back in the finals, it was the match against Ghost Ring Phantom that led to Paraleo¡¯s loss. Now, without Ghost Ring Phantom, Paraleo still lost. And they hadn¡¯t even properly exchanged many moves. It wasn¡¯t the fierce fight he¡¯d imagined. He had been making progress. But Qiao Sang had progressed even faster. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± At that moment, Gangbao raised her right wing, signaling the end of the match. Chapter 676: Ghost Ring King Tang Yi glanced at Gangbao and suddenly sighed. He was reminded of his Water Lion, which still hadn¡¯t evolved. Although he had only formed a contract with it a few months ago, and perfect evolution naturally takes time, it still pained him to see that Qiao Sang¡¯s Little Steel Falcon, contracted around the same time, had already evolved into a Steel Guardian Falcon. Not only that, but its size, feather color, and sharpness were all better than most intermediate pet beasts. Just from looking at it, one could tell it had strong combat power. It was that kind of exhaustion, where no matter how hard you try, you feel like you¡¯ll never catch up. ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡± Tang Yi said quietly. ¡°Stay the night.¡± Qiao Sang said with a mysterious smile. ¡°I have a surprise for you.¡± ¡°What kind of surprise?¡± Tang Yi looked at her, confused. ¡°If I told you, it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. Tang Yi hesitated. ¡°But I planned to join the pet beast arena competition tonight¡­¡± Qiao Sang replied, ¡°Just go. As long as you come back before midnight, it¡¯s fine.¡± Now that Little Treasure had trained his Shadow Control to the peak ultimate level, she was ready to begin his evolution. Back when Yabao evolved, it happened a month earlier than expected, and the chaos at the time made it hard to record anything. But now, the situation with Little Treasure was different. He could evolve peacefully at home, and she could record the whole process. Watching a high-level pet evolve into a general-level one wasn¡¯t something one could see every day. Tang Yi, also from Blue Star and considered a friend, was just in time, she wanted him to witness this moment with her. Tang Yi thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± --- Dinner. Qiao Sang sat at the table, enjoying a meal made by the vice principal. Not only was the vice principal skilled at making energy pills, but his cooking was better than most restaurants. Liu Yao was eating while reading a research paper on pet beasts on his tablet. Chewing on her food, Qiao Sang glanced at Little Treasure happily munching on an energy pill and suddenly thought of something. She asked: ¡°Vice Principal, I¡¯m planning to let Little Treasure evolve tonight. You didn¡¯t make too many energy pills for a Ghost Ring Phantom recently, right?¡± Liu Yao: ??? For a moment, Liu Yao wondered if he¡¯d heard wrong. He raised his head, his brows knitting into a frown. He confirmed: ¡°You¡¯re planning to let the Ghost Ring Phantom evolve?¡± ¡°Xun Xun?!¡± Little Treasure perked up immediately upon hearing that, forgetting all about the energy pill and turning to look at his beast master, eyes sparkling with a ¡°really?¡± expression. Qiao Sang smiled and nodded. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure began happily floating in circles around the living room. Liu Yao put down his chopsticks and said seriously, ¡°Evolving from a high-level pet to a general-level one isn¡¯t easy. First of all, the energy required usually takes years to accumulate, several years is considered fast. For some, it takes more than ten or even twenty years.¡± ¡°Yap yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head in confusion. That long? Seeing his expression, Liu Yao immediately guessed what he was thinking. He went silent. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After two seconds, Liu Yao couldn¡¯t help but continue, ¡°Then there¡¯s the evolution material. For a Ghost Ring Phantom to evolve into a Ghost Ring King, you need a Yin Dynasty Pearl. If you want a relatively perfect evolution, you need one of high quality.¡± ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Just as he said that, Little Treasure floated over, took off his ring, and pulled out a square box. He opened it and let out a sound, asking, Is it this? Liu Yao stared at the pearl in the box for a moment, just about to speak. Qiao Sang added, ¡°It¡¯s an SS-level Yin Dynasty Pearl.¡± Liu Yao: ¡­ He swallowed his words and went silent again. Rubbing his temples, he slowly exhaled and tried to remain composed: ¡°Maybe your Ghost Ring Phantom showed signs of evolution because it came into contact with the SS-level Yin Dynasty Pearl but that¡¯s just because the material was too high-level.¡± ¡°If a pet beast¡¯s internal energy hasn¡¯t reached the level required for evolution and it¡¯s forced to evolve just because of the material, then its potential won¡¯t be fully unleashed. Even if it evolves, it¡¯ll be weaker compared to others of the same level and may never evolve again.¡± If this weren¡¯t Qiao Sang, he might¡¯ve lost it. You think early evolution is good for your pet? Forcing the Ghost Ring Phantom to evolve prematurely due to an SS-level pearl was practically destroying its future! And it had both psychic and ghost attributes, a genius ghost-type pet! But since it was Qiao Sang, Liu Yao held back and said mildly, ¡°I think your Ghost Ring Phantom is highly talented. Evolution is just a matter of time, there¡¯s no need to rush it.¡± Qiao Sang took a bite and replied, ¡°No, he¡¯s ready. Little Treasure¡¯s energy has already reached the evolution point.¡± After Tang Yi left, she had gone into the Beast master Codex and allocated his experience points up to the evolution threshold, leaving just 30 points. She¡¯d planned it all out. Now, thanks to special energy pills and the beast¡¯s increasing level, he gained 50 points daily. By midnight, his points would be full, triggering evolution. And with the Yin Dynasty Pearl added, it¡¯d be perfect. Liu Yao was stunned. ¡°How do you know it¡¯s reached the evolution point?¡± Qiao Sang replied with a straight face, ¡°I checked Little Treasure¡¯s stats yesterday, it showed that.¡± Liu Yao frowned. ¡°Where did you do the check?¡± Qiao Sang casually replied, ¡°The Beast master Center.¡± Little Treasure glanced at her, confused at first, then determined. Did they go yesterday? Doesn¡¯t matter! If Master said we did, then we did! ¡°Xun Xun!¡± He nodded vigorously in agreement. Qiao Sang: ¡­ If it were Blazing Star Canine, fine, its evolution path was unknown, and the evolution itself was already a big deal. But Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s evolution path was clear. In such cases, perfect evolution depends entirely on the beast master. So how could its energy already be full? Could the report be wrong¡­ Liu Yao worried. But since the report came from Chaosu Star Beast master Center, it shouldn¡¯t be wrong. After all, it¡¯s not like another Ghost Ring Phantom would show up at the same time. Liu Yao looked at Little Treasure again but didn¡¯t say more. Still uneasy about tonight¡¯s evolution, he couldn¡¯t concentrate on his paper. --- 11:58 PM The night was heavy. At the open-air training ground. Qiao Sang had her camera set up. Tang Yi came over and glanced at Liu Yao, whispering: ¡°Why¡¯s your high school¡¯s vice principal here?¡± He had noticed this guy during the National Campus Beast Mastering League. ¡°He¡¯s a senior researcher. He¡¯s currently studying the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s evolution chain.¡± Qiao Sang replied while adjusting the camera to point at Little Treasure Seeker. Tang Yi instantly understood. So he was here for Fire Qilu. Watching Qiao Sang¡¯s setup, he asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Recording a beautiful moment.¡± She replied. ¡°And the surprise you mentioned?¡± Tang Yi asked again. Qiao Sang glanced at the time on her phone. 11:59. ¡°Almost. Just one more minute.¡± She said. Maybe a celestial phenomenon? Tang Yi looked up. Nothing unusual. ¡°Your Fire Qilu¡¯s still awake at this hour?¡± He asked, noticing Yabao nearby. He remembered how Qiao Sang used to leave the arena whenever Blazing Star Canine¡¯s bedtime came. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to miss this moment either.¡± She smiled. What is this about¡­ Tang Yi grew more curious. He looked toward Qiao Sang¡¯s camera and spotted the Ghost Ring Phantom. ¡°What¡¯s it holding?¡± His eyesight, enhanced by beast feedback, was still good enough to spot the pearl. ¡°A Yin Dynasty Pearl.¡± Qiao Sang answered. Tang Yi thought for a moment. ¡°Is that a ghost-type item?¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯t answer. She simply said, a bit excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± Tang Yi: ??? Starting what? Following her gaze, he saw a beam of white light, bright against the night sky. !!! Evolution light?! Wait! Wasn¡¯t the Ghost Ring Spirit just standing there?! It evolved?! Tang Yi froze, then blurted out: ¡°Holy crap! That was the surprise, Ghost Ring Phantom¡¯s evolving?!¡± Qiao Sang giggled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good one?¡± Tang Yi: ¡­ Nearby- ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao watched the light excitedly. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stared intently, expression calm. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao glanced at the light, then at Yabao and Lubao, and mentally bumped Little Treasure from third to second place in strength. Wait! The Ghost Ring Phantom was holding the Yin Dynasty Pearl, but it didn¡¯t fuse with it until after the evolution light started¡­ Liu Yao, who had been watching closely, was dumbfounded. Logically, if the energy wasn¡¯t enough, the evolution light wouldn¡¯t appear until after the SS-level pearl fused with the beast. But now, the pearl fused after the light started! Which meant the test report was right! Its internal energy had reached the evolution threshold! Liu Yao was stunned. Tang Yi¡¯s brain was also spinning. Only Qiao Sang, while excited, remained calm. She watched as the silhouette in the light grew bigger, then stopped. After about ten seconds, the light faded. Standing before them was a pet about 60 centimeters tall, primarily gray-black, wearing a golden crown on his head with golden braids sticking out the middle. A golden ring was on his forehead, and two horns on the crown¡¯s sides each held a golden ring. Both paws also had golden rings. ¡°Gho¡­ Xun- Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure adjusted his voice and excitedly floated toward his beast master. Watching the approaching pet, Tang Yi muttered: ¡°Ghost Ring King¡­¡± Chapter 677: Seal It was already deep into the night. From afar, Little Treasure had only seen the outline and changes in appearance, but now that he floated closer, Qiao Sang realized that the parts of his body that used to be gray had all turned into a dark gray-black. Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. She had seen pictures of the Ghost Ring King before and remembered that even when Ghost Ring Phantom evolved into Ghost Ring King, it was supposed to stay gray like the earlier stages... An evolution? The surprise was just for me to see the Ghost Ring Ghost evolve...? Tang Yi struggled to hold back the urge to cough up blood as he looked at the small ghost-type pet beast in front of him. He had seen dozens of General-level pet beasts in real life, each exuding a powerful presence. Even if some of them were under six meters tall, one could still instantly tell they were General-level. But this Ghost Ring King in front of him didn¡¯t feel any different in terms of aura. If someone didn¡¯t already know this was a General-level Ghost Ring King, they might even believe it was a high-grade, or even mid-grade, pet beast. At this moment, Liu Yao had mentally prepared himself and walked closer. But once he did, he suddenly let out a curious sound: "Your Ghost Ring King..." Don¡¯t just stop mid-sentence... Qiao Sang turned to the vice principal and asked, ¡°What about the Ghost Ring King?¡± Liu Yao was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Let¡¯s go into the living room first. It¡¯s too dark out here, could just be a lighting issue.¡± Hearing this, Qiao Sang instantly understood that he might be referring to Little Treasure''s body color. The three of them entered the living room one after the other. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure eagerly floated in front of the full-length mirror, turning left, turning right, admiring his new look. After a while, he showed a satisfied expression. He looked even better than the images he had seen, only a bit smaller in size. But that wasn¡¯t a problem. He could learn that move, Shadow of Darkness, which lets him grow bigger. Under the lights, Little Treasure''s body color was much clearer than before. ¡°Looks like your Ghost Ring Phantom has completely become a variant after evolving into the Ghost Ring King.¡± Liu Yao said, watching Little Treasure admire himself in the mirror. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°I noticed it too.¡± A normal Ghost Ring King was gray with yellow highlights. Little Treasure had always had golden pupils, hair, and rings, making him different from his kin. But now even his body color was totally different. ¡°Call the Ghost Ring King over for a check-up. I¡¯ll prepare a new energy pill later.¡± Liu Yao said. ¡°Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang waved. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure grinned and floated over energetically. Liu Yao took out a device to examine him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Treasure cooperated obediently. Tang Yi stood to the side, mouth slightly open, looking like he wanted to say something but held back. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang noticed his expression and asked. ¡°Why did your Ghost Ring Phantom evolve so fast?¡± Tang Yi couldn¡¯t hold back his question anymore. He just didn¡¯t get it. Normally, it takes years for a high-grade pet beast to evolve into General-level. But Qiao Sang? One Fire Qilu wasn¡¯t enough, now a Ghost Ring King too. And both evolved within a year. It was more unbelievable than a novel. Liu Yao paused momentarily at Tang Yi¡¯s words, then pretended not to hear and continued checking, but his ears subtly perked up. Qiao Sang cleared her throat and organized her thoughts before speaking: ¡°Well, when I went to 19th District, I originally planned to head straight to a hotel near the Kotea Volcano. But then, on the subway...¡± As Qiao Sang explained the story, Tang Yi and Liu Yao¡¯s faces cycled through shock, realization, and disbelief. ¡°You actually went through something like that¡­¡± Tang Yi said, looking complicated. He imagined himself in that situation, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to get out of the station, let alone collect emotion energy. Qiao Sang waved her hand. ¡°A blessing in disguise.¡± Liu Yao looked a bit worried. ¡°If that person could collect enough emotional energy to fill a high-grade ghost-type pet¡¯s energy, they¡¯re definitely not ordinary. Be careful.¡± Tang Yi nodded in agreement. Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not the same person I was back then. Now that both Yabao and Little Treasure have evolved to General-level, even if that person shows up and is stronger than I expect, well, I still have you, Vice Principal.¡± Liu Yao was momentarily stunned, then nodded seriously. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± After some casual chatting, Tang Yi took out his phone, snapped a photo of Little Treasure, then stood up. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I¡¯ll head out.¡± Qiao Sang looked at him. ¡°Just stay the night. There are plenty of rooms here.¡± Indeed, it looked like a big place¡­ Tang Yi didn¡¯t argue and asked: ¡°Do you have spare bedding? I don¡¯t have a pet like Ghost Ring King who can carry stuff for me.¡± When he said ''Ghost Ring King,'' his tone unconsciously turned sour. So bitter... Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± --- An hour later, Qiao Sang finished washing up and lay down. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure floated over, holding a laptop in his claws, and sweetly asked if he could stay up playing all nigh You¡¯ve already trained Shadow Control to the pinnacle, and you still want to play all night? Qiao Sang frowned, ready to scold him. But then she remembered something, and her expression softened. She smiled: ¡°Okay. But tonight, you can only use telekinesis to play, same as last night, renew the power every minute.¡± Little Treasure¡¯s telekinesis was already at ultimate level, just not yet perfected. If he practiced as diligently as last night, he would probably reach the peak in a day or two. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure happily hugged the laptop and spun in the air. In the room¡¯s water tank, Lubao watched Little Treasure¡¯s spinning figure gloomily. It just didn¡¯t make sense¡­ How could such a lazy creature evolve so fast? Qiao Sang had no idea about Lubao¡¯s state of mind. She closed her eyes and entered the Beast Codex. Pages flipped quickly until she reached Little Treasure¡¯s entry. Name: Ghost Ring King (Little Treasure) Type: Ghost, Psychic Level: General (200,000 / 1,000,000)+ [Traits: 1. Absorption Grade: A (7967/10000) Status: Exceptionally Useful Description: (Can store any physical object in its ring. Current capacity: 200 cubic meters) 2. Phasing Grade: A (6765/10000) Status: Exceptionally Useful Description: (Can attack through barriers or decoys) 3. Extrasensory Perception Grade: C (11/1000) Status: Usable Description: (In double battles, can read ally¡¯s attack and dodge accordingly) 4. Cursed Body Grade: C (3/1000) Status: Usable Description: (30% chance to paralyze target upon being attacked) 5. Aura of Intimidation Grade: C (1/1000) Status: Usable Description: (Makes enemies feel pressured as if facing a king) Hidden Trait: Accursed Body Grade: B (62/2000) Status: Effective Description: (30% chance to paralyze upon taking damage) Skills: Lick (Mastery 273/500)+, Hypnosis (Pinnacle 17860/20000)+, Dream Eater (Basic 17/100)+, Barrier (Intermediate 1432/2000)+, Telekinesis (Pinnacle 18007/20000)+, Teleport (Pinnacle MAX), Shadow Control (Pinnacle MAX), Will-o''-the-Wisp (Pinnacle 12254/20000)+, Substitute (Perfect 7867/10000)+, Taunt (Advanced 2232/5000)+, Brick-Breaking (Advanced 4022/5000)+, Shadow Ball (Perfect 6596/10000)+, Illusion Light (Intermediate 1076/2000), Light Wall (Mastery 390/500)+, Space Shift (Pinnacle 12301/20000)+, Psychic Headbutt (Intermediate 1012/2000)+, Scare (Basic 34/100)+, Misfortune Curse (Basic 11/100)+, Trick (Basic 1/100)+, Shadow of Darkness (Basic 1/100)+, Seal (Basic 1/100)+ Points: 23511 Aura of Intimidation? Qiao Sang stared blankly at Little Treasure¡¯s new trait. That tiny body¡­ awakened this kind of trait? She¡¯d looked into it, this was usually only found on kings of the species. Usually, in a group, there¡¯s always one dominant figure. The so-called kingly aura manifests in the leader. Or in high-level, large, rare pet beasts. Even Yabao didn¡¯t get this trait after evolving into Fire Qilu. Yet Little Treasure did¡­ Qiao Sang thought back to his evolved form and stayed silent. Indeed, pet traits were a deep, mysterious field¡­ She looked further down and focused on the three newly acquired skills. Trick, a high-level psychic move that lets you swap held items with an opponent during an opening. Once mastered, it works even if one side has no held item. Hmm... Qiao Sang sighed. She wanted to enter competitions where pets couldn¡¯t use held items, so this skill wouldn¡¯t be very useful¡­ She moved on to the next one. Shadow of Darkness. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. She was seriously starting to suspect that Little Treasure had fixated on this move before evolution, which is why he awakened it¡­ So impractical¡­ Qiao Sang mentally grumbled, then looked at the last skill. Seal? She blinked, then grinned in delight. Finally, a useful move! Seal, a high-level psychic move. If the opponent has any of the same moves, it blocks them from using any move shared with the user. Which meant that when facing ghost-types or psychics, they¡¯d likely be crippled! Especially psychic-types! Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but picture the scenario in her mind. Little Treasure could use Teleport, a staple of psychic-types. If he used Seal first, the opponent wouldn¡¯t be able to teleport for a while. A psychic beast that can¡¯t teleport? Heh! Qiao Sang returned to the real world, closed her eyes, and let her good mood ease her into sleep. Not long after, she drifted off. Chapter 678: Second Phase The next day, 8:30 in the morning. Qiao Sang woke up and instinctively picked up her phone to check the time, only to find that there were quite a few people tagging her in the class group chat of Sainan High School. This was the first time so many people had tagged her since her Steel Falcon evolved into Steel Guardian Falcon. Qiao Sang opened the class group. [Raffi]: @Qiao Sang, is what Tang Yi said true? You¡¯ve already had two pet beasts evolve to General Rank?! [Gene]: I don¡¯t believe it, I don¡¯t believe it, I don¡¯t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes @Qiao Sang [Yuna]: @Qiao Sang, a lot of people from our class got accepted into top academies in 1st District. When can we all meet up? Tang Yi sure was quick with the news¡­ Qiao Sang replied: [@Yuna: Sure, I¡¯m in 1st District too. Let¡¯s grab a meal when everyone¡¯s free.] Qiao Sang appeared?! Everyone in the group chat suddenly lit up like they¡¯d spotted an endangered pet beast. [Hulis]: You can eat anytime, answer us first, do you really have two General Rank pet beasts? [Tang Yi]: You guys seriously? We were classmates and you still don¡¯t believe me? I even sent photos! Qiao Sang, tell them! Did I lie?! [Vivek]: No joke, I¡¯m in 1st District and saw the news about the Ghost Ring Phantom the other day. I thought that was Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beast. Qiao Sang typed out a reply: [That Ghost Ring Phantom is my pet. He evolved last night, and Tang Yi was there, so he knew right away.] [Tang Yi]: See?! I wasn¡¯t lying! The group went quiet. They were all top-tier students and weren¡¯t lacking in any way, whether it was pet beasts or resources. Anything they wanted, they could usually get their hands on. Plenty of adults in their circles pushed their pet beasts to evolve quickly, even if their strength wasn¡¯t stable, hoping for a boost in return. But even with tons of rare resources, none of their elders¡¯ pet beasts had ever evolved to General Rank in such a short time. [Yuna]: @Qiao Sang, when are you free? I want to see your two General Rank pet beasts. [Hulis]: Count me in. [Gene]: @Hulis, aren¡¯t you not in 1st District? [Hulis]: I can go to 1st District. Everyone in the group chimed in, trying to find a time and place. But everyone had their own schedules and ideas, so they couldn¡¯t settle on anything. Then, Qiao Sang sent a message: [How about 6 PM the day after tomorrow? That should give those outside 1st District time to get there. Let¡¯s meet at Xiangshide Pine Restaurant, I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s pretty good.] [Yuna]: Sounds good, I¡¯m in. [Hulis]: Fine by me. [Raffi]: Count me in! I¡¯ll be on time for sure! Just like that, the date and place, which had been dragging on for half a day, were quickly settled. --- An hour later, Tang Yi followed Qiao Sang to a private training facility. ¡°This is where you train your defense?¡± Tang Yi looked around the setup and asked. Qiao Sang gave a soft ¡°Mm¡±: ¡°The coach here is good. I feel like my skin¡¯s gotten way tougher.¡± Could¡¯ve fooled him¡­ Tang Yi glanced at Qiao Sang¡¯s exposed skin. Still looked like skinny arms and legs, soft and delicate. ¡°How much does this kind of training cost?¡± He asked. ¡°No idea, I just swipe the card.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Tang Yi was quiet for a few seconds. ¡°I¡¯ll watch you first before deciding whether to get a membership.¡± He also had pet beasts that evolved via bond, so he needed to train his defense too. Qiao Sang¡¯s progress was always insanely fast, training with her couldn¡¯t be a bad idea. But the facility looked high-end. If the training didn¡¯t deliver, he¡¯d rather stick with his usual method: Have his Paralulu fight real battles to build up pain tolerance. After all, he still had three pet beasts to raise, and his living expenses mostly came out of his own pocket. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind. The two entered the training room. Elma, the coach, was momentarily surprised but quickly smiled warmly. This was a one-on-one private training facility, and strangers weren¡¯t usually allowed, but if a client brought someone in, it was fine. ¡°This is my friend.¡± Qiao Sang introduced. ¡°Hello.¡± Elma offered a handshake. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m Elma.¡± Tang Yi shook her hand briefly. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, just train as usual.¡± He then sat down on the nearby sofa. Qiao Sang said, ¡°Last time I soaked in that toughness-boosting bath, I felt super refreshed afterward. Like my whole body had been rejuvenated.¡± Elma pinched Qiao Sang¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s test and see if you¡¯ve finished Phase One.¡± ¡°How do we test that?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Elma smiled. ¡°If you can take a 200-kilogram punch without using Skunk¡¯s venom and not get hurt, you¡¯ve completed Phase One. Just have Spike Fist Kid give you one punch.¡± ¡°Fist.¡± The Spike Fist Kid, already wearing gloves, stepped forward and touched fists, indicating he was ready. Tang Yi, watching from the sofa, swallowed hard. Two hundred kilograms? Just let a fighting-type pet beast punch her like that?! ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qiao Sang said decisively, getting into horse stance. ¡°Just not the face.¡± ¡°Fist!¡± Spike Fist Kid nodded, then launched a punch so fast it left only afterimages. Qiao Sang took an involuntary step back. ¡°How is it?¡± Elma asked. Qiao Sang felt around and smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± Elma smiled back. ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯ve officially completed Phase One. Let¡¯s begin Phase Two.¡± Tang Yi sat there, jaw slightly open, utterly stunned. He knew beast masters grew more durable through pet beast feedback. He¡¯d seen older beast masters shrug off attacks unharmed but Qiao Sang was two years younger than him and trained her defense to this level in just a month? Was she the monster or was the coach? Tang Yi thought for a moment, probably Qiao Sang. Meanwhile, Elma looked at Qiao Sang and continued: ¡°In Phase Two, we¡¯ll train your tendons. This part¡¯s a bit more painful. I¡¯ll have a Body Forge Bug enter your body and run through all your tendons.¡± ¡°The bug secretes a liquid that strengthens tendons. Once it¡¯s run through your system 99 times, you¡¯ll complete Phase Two.¡± ¡°The time it takes varies. Those with high pain tolerance are faster;those with low pain tolerance take longer.¡± ¡°I had one client who couldn¡¯t even get the bug to do 10 laps in a year, just because they couldn¡¯t stand the pain.¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment. ¡°Can I have my pet use skills to ease the pain?¡± Elma chuckled. ¡°You can, but the results won¡¯t be as good.¡± That ruled out letting Lubao cast Healing Light during the process. If she was going to train, she wanted the best results. ¡°Let¡¯s do it then. I¡¯m ready.¡± Qiao Sang said. Elma nodded and tapped a few times on a virtual control panel. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Spike Fist Kid opened it. A bug-type pet beast wearing a work uniform, in earthy yellow with a pink nose, crawled in slowly. ¡°Duan Duan.¡± The bug bowed. ¡°This is your Body Forge Bug for the training.¡± Elma introduced. Qiao Sang looked at the bug and suddenly thought of something serious. ¡°How is it getting into my tendons?¡± Elma smiled gently. ¡°Through your mouth. You just have to swallow it.¡± ¡°Duan Duan.¡± The bug nodded: Yep, super easy. Qiao Sang was silent. ¡°¡­And how does it come out afterward?¡± Elma patiently explained, ¡°Also through your mouth. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll feel it when it comes out.¡± ¡°Duan Duan.¡± The bug nodded again. Totally normal. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She hesitated. Swallowing a bug¡­ gross. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Just then, Gangbao, who had been quiet, let out a bark, urging her to stop hesitating, they were charging by the hour. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She braced herself, gritted her teeth, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Then opened her mouth like a warrior going to the gallows. ¡°Duan Duan!¡± The bug solemnly removed its work clothes and jumped straight in. Qiao Sang immediately swallowed. Tang Yi turned away in disgust but was secretly impressed. If it were him, he¡¯d need at least an hour of mental prep¡­ Holy crap, that hurts¡­ Qiao Sang immediately felt a wave of pain rush through her after swallowing the bug. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as her body trembled and she squatted down. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared, worried, and floated over. Elma saw this new pet, one she didn¡¯t recognize but looked strangely familiar, and paused. Why did it look like a Ghost Ring Phantom? Since Qiao Sang was in too much pain to speak, Elma looked to the black-haired boy who came with her. Tang Yi understood her gaze and said, ¡°That¡¯s her pet, Ghost Ring King, it¡¯s the evolved form of Ghost Ring Phantom.¡± Elma froze. Evolved form? No wonder it looked familiar¡­ She remembered the news saying the Ghost Ring Phantom was a high-tier ghost-type¡­ Then its evolved form¡­ that meant it was a General Rank pet beast¡­ Chapter 679: Playing Quite the Game An hour later, Qiao Sang vomited out the body-tempering bug, her face pale. Elma promptly brought over a glass of water. Qiao Sang took it, downed it in one gulp, and eased the nausea a little. ¡°Thanks.¡± She said with a long exhale. ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Elma replied, then seemed to think of something and smiled, ¡°So, do you want to keep training with the bug today, or continue tomorrow?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang thought for a moment. ¡°Can I bring the bug home to train?¡± The second phase required the bug to travel through her tendons 99 times. If she only did it once a day, it would take 99 days. By then, she''d be in university. Who knew if she''d even have time to come back here? Naturally, she wanted to finish the training early. She had just tried one round, it took a little over an hour. If she could bring the bug home, she could train at least three times a day and save on travel time. Elma said, ¡°You mean like home service? That¡¯s possible, but this bug isn¡¯t my pet. The cost for home service is different, you¡¯ll need to check with its beast master.¡± She smiled gently. ¡°I¡¯ll go ask for you now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang nodded. For some reason, she felt Elma now held more¡­ respect for her. Yes, respect. Maybe it was because she¡¯d just endured the pain of the bug running through her body, which earned Elma¡¯s admiration? Elma left the room. Just then, Tang Yi gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Damn. Respect.¡± ¡°Respect for what?¡± Qiao Sang sat beside him on the couch. ¡°For accepting the whole ¡®bug-crawling-in-your-body¡¯ thing so fast.¡± He said sincerely. ¡°You¡¯re not grossed out by it?¡± Qiao Sang glanced at him. ¡°What do you think?¡± Yeah, she was grossed out¡­ Tang Yi looked at her pale face, and couldn¡¯t help picturing himself swallowing the bug. Instantly, he gagged, fighting the urge to throw up. Could you not look at me while doing that? Qiao Sang scooted a little further from him. Tang Yi dry-heaved, took a sip of water, then let out a heavy breath. ¡°I don¡¯t think this kind of training is for me¡­¡± Qiao Sang offered, ¡°You could at least try it.¡± He hesitated. He still vividly remembered her tanking a 200kg punch from the punching puppet unscathed. But then he also remembered the part where she swallowed the bug¡­ At that moment, Elma came back in. ¡°The bug¡¯s beast master agreed. But he charges 3,000 alliance coins per hour for home visits. You can choose the time.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang stood up. ¡°Have it come to my place this afternoon. I¡¯ll send the address.¡± One hour at 3,000 coins¡­ Tang Yi quietly pulled out his phone to do the math. 99 sessions = 297,000 alliance coins¡­ Yeah, forget it. He wasn¡¯t built for this. He put his phone away. --- 3:00 PM. Qiao Sang sat cross-legged on her bed, meditating. Ding dong~ The doorbell rang. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure was using telekinesis to play on the computer and didn¡¯t want to move, so he called out to Gangbao, who was training her Iron Wall. ¡°Gang Guard." Gangbao stopped, went to check the monitor at the door. It was the same bug from this morning. She opened the door with her wing. ¡°Duan duan.¡± The Body Forge Bug crawled in slowly, showing its work badge hanging from its neck, then took out a stopwatch to prepare for the session. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao covered the stopwatch with her wing. ¡°Duan duan?¡± The bug looked confused. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao pointed toward her beastmaster¡¯s room and signaled: Not until the training actually starts. ¡°Duan duan.¡± The bug didn¡¯t mind. It nodded and crawled inside. ¡°Gang Guard!¡± Gangbao followed it and raised her voice. Qiao Sang heard the noise and opened her eyes. Seeing the bug, she greeted it, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Duan duan.¡± The bug nodded, then chirped: When do we start? ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao translated. ¡°Right now.¡± said Qiao Sang. ¡°Duan duan.¡± The bug pressed the stopwatch, removed its uniform and badge, and jumped into her mouth. Damn, it still hurts like hell¡­ Qiao Sang broke into a sweat, curling up on the bed. Gangbao went to the kitchen, poured water, and placed it on the nightstand. Then she got a towel from the bathroom, dampened and wrung it out, and placed it on her(QS) forehead. She had seen humans do this when they were unwell. She watched her carefully. The cool towel helped Qiao Sang shift focus and feel slightly better. She let out a slow breath. After observing for a while, Gangbao returned to the living room to continue training Iron Wall, quietly doing her job. --- Ding dong~ Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang again. Gangbao glanced at Little Treasure, who was furiously gaming, canceled her Iron Wall, and checked the monitor. A stranger. Ding dong~ Ding dong~ More ringing. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao pressed the intercom. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± The man paused. ¡°Is this Miss Qiao Sang¡¯s residence? I¡¯m from the Negative Energy Collection Contest. I¡¯m here to film a promo for Ghost Ring Phantom.¡± Gangbao recalled the event and nodded to herself. She opened the door. ¡°You¡­¡± The man¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Where¡¯s the beast master?¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao pointed at the still-gaming Little Treasure. Her gesture said: Beast master¡¯s not feeling well. You can film directly with Little Treasure. The staff brought a ghost-type pet with a horn on its forehead. ¡°Translate.¡± He told the pet. ¡°Y¨­u y¨­u.¡± The horned pet translated. The staff looked at the ghost-like creature typing away on the computer. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like Ghost Ring Phantom¡­¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao explained patiently. He evolved. ¡°Translate again.¡± ¡°Y¨­u y¨­u.¡± The man froze. ¡°It evolved?!¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao nodded. Wasn¡¯t Ghost Ring Phantom supposed to be a rare high-tier pet on Blue Star? That Qiao Sang girl looked like a minor¡­ The man took out a scanner and pointed it at the ghostly pet. Soon, the scanner beeped: [Error: Recognition failed.] Failed to recognize¡­ The man looked at Gangbao. ¡°I want to see your beast master.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao stared at him calmly. She¡¯s unwell. If you won¡¯t film now, you can schedule another time. The man frowned and repeated, ¡°I want to see your beast master.¡± He didn¡¯t like dealing with pets, normally in a place like this, someone should come out and receive him. But there was no one. Just this¡­ bird. He pulled out his phone to call Qiao Sang- ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao suddenly turned and walked off. Finally going to get her¡­ The man put his phone away. Ten seconds later, footsteps, not human ones. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao spoke. The man looked up and saw a massive, over 6-meter-tall red beast with overwhelming presence walking toward him. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao remembered what Old Four told him earlier. He glared menacingly at the man. The man: !!! What kind of beast is that?! The huge shadow swallowed all light. His heart raced. He instinctively stepped back. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao smirked slightly. ¡°Quick! Translate!¡± The man shouted. ¡°Y¨­u y¨­u¡­¡± Even the ghost pet was intimidated, clinging to its master as it translated nervously. Same message: She¡¯s unwell. If you won¡¯t film now, come another time. The man didn¡¯t dare delay: ¡°I¡¯ll film now!¡± He quickly pulled out his equipment. Gangbao looked pleased. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± She waved a wing: Big bro Yabao could return to training ¡°Yap Yap¡­¡± Yabao felt something was off. He shook his head. His beast master was sick, he had to guard her and keep this human away. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao didn¡¯t argue and went back to her training. Suddenly- BOOM BOOM! Familiar explosive sounds. Gangbao tilted her head. That was Yabao¡¯s fire skill. But¡­ Yabao was right here? She walked toward the outdoor training ground and saw a bunch of Fire Qilus practicing fire skills. ¡°Gang Guard¡­¡± Gangbao fell into thought. She knew Yabao could create many clones to train different skills. But she didn¡¯t know the main body and clones could be this far apart¡­ and still work independently. If she learned this one day, maybe she could multitask too and save time¡­ --- One hour later. ¡°Duan duan.¡± The body forge bug climbed back into its work uniform, bowed, and slowly crawled out the door. Lying on the bed, Qiao Sang weakly said, ¡°Take care¡­¡± She took a moment to recover, then picked up the phone beside her, wanting to see how long this training session had lasted. She lit up the screen and saw two unread text messages: [Hello, I¡¯m the person in charge of filming the Ghost Ring Phantom. I¡¯ve arrived, are you home?] [Filming is finished. I didn¡¯t expect your Ghost Ring Phantom to have already evolved. Congratulations!] Huh? It¡¯s already done? Qiao Sang sat up and recalled that she had indeed heard some noises outside just now. The sound insulation of this building was really good. Once the door was closed, basically nothing could be heard. Only Qiao Sang, thanks to her sensitivity, could catch a bit of the commotion, though she hadn¡¯t known what exactly was going on. She had thought it was just Yabao and the others causing a ruckus, turns out it was the promotional film crew¡­ Qiao Sang replied: [I wasn¡¯t feeling well just now. Everything went okay with the shoot, right?] The response came instantly: [It went great! All your pet beasts were very cooperative!] Qiao Sang was relieved and exited the messaging app. It wasn¡¯t that she was worried that Little Treasure¡¯s evolution would cause filming problems, after all, she had already experienced Yabao evolving into a Flame Hound right before a shoot, and knew that evolutions usually benefited the promotion. What surprised her was that, even without her present, Little Treasure had managed to cooperate well with the shoot and keep it running smoothly. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Just then, Gangbao pushed the door open and came in, calling out to indicate that she wanted to learn the Clone skill. Hearing this, Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. ¡°You suddenly want to learn Clone?¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao flapped her wings, expressing that she felt learning Clone would allow her to do multiple things at once, just like big brother Yabao. Qiao Sang was both surprised and not. Gangbao had always had her own opinions and a clear sense of her training direction. She just didn¡¯t expect her to ask to learn Clone now. This skill was ridiculously overpowered for someone like her with a golden finger (cheat-like ability). One pet beast using Clone was fine but if all her beasts started using it like Yabao, it would definitely raise suspicions. If she ever entered a highly watched tournament, people would dig up her history for sure. A skill just learned, yet reaching intermediate or even advanced level within a day due to simultaneous Clone training? Anyone with half a brain would find that suspicious. If it were just one pet beast, people might marvel at its talent. But if all of them were like that, the internet would explode. After all, never underestimate the imagination of netizens. Luckily, Little Treasure and the others each had their own training and battle styles, and their progress wasn¡¯t slow either. So she hadn¡¯t let them learn Clone. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find a way. But don¡¯t neglect training other skills, especially Iron Wall.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao nodded seriously, indicating understanding, then turned and left the room, considerately closing the door behind her. Oh well, if Gangbao wants to learn, let her. Worst case, once she learns a new skill, just wait a while before showing it in public¡­ Qiao Sang thought. She didn¡¯t notice, she had never doubted Gangbao¡¯s ability to learn Clone. --- Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t who she used to be. Now with her unlimited credit card and vacation time, her first instinct was to take Gangbao to a professional training center for Clone. She searched online, and that very evening arrived at the destination. It was a training institute not far from where she lived, with trainers holding high-level certifications and usually booked solid. But for consultation, no appointment was needed. The consultant pushed forward the materials of the trainers and said: ¡°All our trainers are top-notch in 1st District. They¡¯ve trained-¡± Qiao Sang interrupted: ¡°Who has the shortest time for teaching Clone?¡± The consultant thought for a moment, then pointed to a man with a wild afro in the photo: ¡°This is Mr. Everett, a senior trainer. He once taught a pet beast to learn Clone and use it flexibly within half a month. That client even referred several friends afterward.¡± ¡°What? The fastest is half a month?¡± Qiao Sang was a bit shocked. Another one impressed by Mr. Everett, looks like this deal is in the bag¡­ The consultant smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right, just half-¡± ¡°That slow?¡± Qiao Sang interrupted again. ¡°Anyone faster?¡± Consultant: ¡­ She started to doubt her own hearing. Half a month to teach Clone¡­ and that¡¯s slow? She managed to maintain a polite smile and said: ¡°Clone is a mid-tier skill. Half a month is already very quick, it also depends on the pet beast¡¯s talent. Most can¡¯t even learn that fast.¡± Qiao Sang looked disappointed and asked again: ¡°No one faster?¡± The consultant shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Forget it then.¡± That speed? She might as well train it herself¡­ Qiao Sang got up decisively and walked out. The consultant was dumbfounded. Just left like that? Was she really dissatisfied with half a month? Not just messing around? --- Back at home, Qiao Sang thought for a bit and called over Yabao and Gangbao. ¡°Yabao, when training Meteor Rain, control the power a bit, let Gangbao practice dodging under it.¡± Yabao had learned Clone at a baseball training center. The intensity and density of Meteor Rain were far beyond any automatic baseball machine. Given how smart Gangbao was, replicating Yabao¡¯s method might just work. Now that her own defense training was done for stage one, even if Gangbao got hit by fire, she should be able to handle it¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Yabao and Gangbao responded simultaneously, showing they understood. Seeing that, Qiao Sang smiled with satisfaction. The best thing about her pet beasts, they needed almost no oversight in training. ¡°Xun xun!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure, who was playing on the computer nearby, widened his eyes and growled fiercely at the screen. Go! Charge! Don¡¯t be scared! ¡­Except for Little Treasure. Qiao Sang silently added in her heart. --- 2:00 AM. Little Treasure drank an energy recovery potion while using telekinesis to type on the keyboard. [Charming Fatty: Bro, you¡¯re playing wild. Last time, you even called your own tamer your partner?] ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head in confusion, then typed with his mind: [Not partner. Just my own tamer.] [Charming Fatty: Hahaha, okay, kid. I can¡¯t keep up with you young folks.] Little Treasure didn¡¯t quite understand what he meant, and replied: [I don¡¯t use feet. I float.] [Charming Fatty: Still in your beast roleplay, huh? So what¡¯s your type, Ghost or Psychic?] Little Treasure activated his telekinesis: [What roleplay? I am a Ghost-type pet beast.] [Charming Fatty: ¡­you win.] Seeing those two words, Little Treasure looked a little proud. [I am strong.] [Charming Fatty: ¡­] Just as Little Treasure was about to type again, he suddenly sensed something. His eyes lit up with a blue glow. The next second, the coffee table, computer, sofa, TV, dining table¡­ Everything in the living room started floating. Chapter 680: Its Over T/n: Thank you to my April Patreon Darlings???????????? @drake shade35, @Mitchell barta, @Jared D Mckenzie, @Bunlang Lochaingsai, and @neuman!!! Thank you for the support! ----- Early morning. 8:15 AM. Qiao Sang woke up naturally, and the first thing she saw was Little Treasure''s huge face only 0.1 cm away from hers, almost giving her a heart attack. ¡°Holy crap, why are you so close to me?¡± Qiao Sang jolted awake and sat up instantly, all drowsiness gone. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Seeing that his Beast Master was finally awake, Little Treasure grinned, and his eyes began to glow blue. The next second, all the objects in the room started to float. Including the bed and Qiao Sang lying on it. Even Lubao, who was in the water tank, was suspended in midair. She opened one eye, glanced around, paused for a moment, and then shut her eye again. Qiao Sang jumped in shock. ¡°Why are you suddenly using telekinesis?¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure pointed at the floating objects, then at himself, indicating that he now found controlling things to be super easy. Well, you are now a General-level pet beast, and your telekinesis has reached the Ultimate level¡­ of course it¡¯s easy. Qiao Sang looked exasperated. ¡°Put me down, now.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure chirped, and all the items in the room gently settled back to their original places. Qiao Sang stared at him, suddenly sensing something off. Usually, at this hour, when she wasn''t blocking internet access, Little Treasure would be on the computer. Not only was he not playing, but he had come to her room to show off his psychic powers? Something¡¯s not right¡­ way too off¡­ Don¡¯t tell me he played two all-nighters and got sick of computers? The thought gave Qiao Sang a headache. If that¡¯s the case, reaching the peak of the Ultimate tier in telekinesis might take longer¡­ ¡°Xun xun?¡± As she was thinking, Little Treasure let out an expectant chirp, asking if he could pull another all-nighter on the computer tonight. Qiao Sang immediately perked up. ¡°Yes, of course you can!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure lit up and zoomed out of the room. Guess he¡¯s not bored with computers after all¡­ Qiao Sang sighed in relief, then a thought crossed her mind. If he wasn¡¯t tired of the computer, why wasn¡¯t he in the living room playing and instead came here to show off his powers? Frowning slightly, Qiao Sang closed her eyes and entered the Beast Master Codex. The pages flipped, and she quickly found the entry for Little Treasure. She scanned the information and froze at one line. [Telekinesis (Ultimate 20000/20000) max] ¡°!!!¡± Holy crap, it actually reached the peak of the Ultimate level! That progress was insanely fast! Stunned at first, Qiao Sang was soon thrilled but then something occurred to her. She exited the Codex, leapt out of bed, put on her slippers, and hurried to the living room, shouting: ¡°Don¡¯t play on the computer yet!¡± ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure had just begun using telekinesis to play and looked up in confusion, the blue glow in his eyes fading. Qiao Sang said seriously: ¡°I forgot to mention, if you want to play on the computer now, use your Substitute. And same as before, you must recast it every minute.¡± ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure tilted his head, puzzled. Use the Substitute? How? Does it mean I play, or the clone plays? Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said: ¡°You can play directly while casting the substitute, or have the clone play instead. Either is fine.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure imagined both options and didn¡¯t like either. Whether playing while maintaining the clone or letting the clone play, both seemed exhausting¡­ Exhausting? You didn¡¯t say anything about being tired when using shadow control or telekinesis¡­ Wait. Actually, there is a difference¡­ Qiao Sang considered it. The key difference was that with shadow control and telekinesis, Little Treasure was directly in contact with the computer. But using a Substitute meant the clone operated the computer while the real body had to monitor it every minute. And if he controlled the clone to play, most of his attention would be on the clone, making the game less fun. Qiao Sang thought for a bit and said, ¡°How about this, don¡¯t play for now.¡± ¡°!!!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Panicked, Little Treasure immediately summoned his clone to show he could multitask, play with his paws while the clone quietly sat nearby. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She rubbed the twitching corner of her eye. ¡°Go practice Psychic Headbutt outside for an hour first. We¡¯ll talk about the computer later.¡± ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked back at her pitifully, but still obediently dismissed the clone and floated toward the outdoor training area, head drooping, looking completely out of energy. Addicted to the internet, but still obedient¡­ not bad. Qiao Sang felt somewhat comforted. She sat on the couch, picked up her phone, opened a shopping app, and bought the most expensive computer in 1st District with instant delivery. If one computer can¡¯t satisfy both him and his clone, then buy two. That way, both can play, and he can practice multitasking too. Besides, her old computer was from junior high. With college starting soon, it was time for an upgrade anyway¡­ Ding dong- Forty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Qiao Sang opened the door to find a well-muscled fighting-type pet delivering a package. ¡°Is it the computer?¡± She asked. ¡°Kuai kuai.¡± The fighting-type pet nodded. That was fast¡­ Qiao Sang accepted the package and closed the door. At that exact moment, a sharp pain shot through her body. She staggered, almost dropping the package. What the hell¡­ She gritted her teeth and carefully set the box on the table. It¡¯s brand new, can¡¯t risk breaking it. The pain came suddenly and disappeared just as quickly. Qiao Sang took a moment to recover. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Yabao teleported into the living room, looking flustered. Gangbao had passed out! Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao sighed. Old Four got hit by a Meteor Rain during training¡­ Qiao Sang: ¡­ Well, that explains the sudden pain¡­ Looks like the first stage of endurance training is over but Gangbao still can¡¯t handle the pain from Meteor Rain¡­ ¡°Lubao.¡± Qiao Sang called. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao slowly walked out of the room. ¡°Gangbao passed out. Go heal her.¡± She said. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao flicked her tail in acknowledgment and drifted toward the outdoor training area. Yabao followed. Qiao Sang opened the package and took out the new computer. But the second she did, the familiar pain struck again. The word ¡°F*ck¡± practically floated through her mind. When it finally subsided, she took a deep breath and went outside. There lay Gangbao, charred like a lump of coal. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao saw her and gave a helpless expression. Old Three had healed Gangbao once already, but the moment she resumed training, she got knocked out again by Meteor Rain. Qiao Sang: ¡­ The strength gap between Yabao and Gangbao was just too big. Even with the meteor¡¯s power toned down, Gangbao, still at intermediate level, just couldn¡¯t withstand it. Looks like Yabao can¡¯t be the one training Gangbao anymore¡­ She opened her mouth to speak. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a chill swept over her. Qiao Sang turned instinctively to the left. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stood there, body taut, radiating icy energy. She stared daggers at Yabao and called out: Who are you calling Old Three? Qiao Sang: ¡­ It¡¯s over¡­ Chapter 681: Group Dinner "Yap Yap?" Yabao looked at Lubao with a confused expression. Wasn''t Old Third you? "Lu..." The moment this was said, a sudden chill erupted from Lubao. Frost formed at her feet and quickly spread outward. Her body bent slightly, her gaze sharp, she looked ready to launch an attack at any second. "Yap..." Yabao sensed Lubao''s state and his expression turned serious. He assumed a posture that said, If you''re going to fight, I''m ready to go all the way. Just as a battle was about to break out, Qiao Sang quickly said: "Yabao, you''re calling Lubao the third because she was the third to join the team, right?" Say yes! Qiao Sang tilted her head toward Yabao, frantically winking at him. "Yap." Yabao paused for a moment, then nodded. That was indeed the reason he had called Lubao ''Old Third.'' Phew, that almost turned into a family feud... Qiao Sang let out a breath of relief. "Yap?" At that moment, Yabao looked worried. What happened to your eyes just now? Qiao Sang paused before replying, ¡°Some sand got in my eyes.¡± The chill radiating from Lubao lessened slightly, though she still glared at Yabao. Qiao Sang quickly redirected her attention. ¡°Lubao, Gangbao¡¯s been lying there for a while. Go heal him first.¡± "Lu." Lubao swished her tail and walked toward Gangbao. The jewel on her forehead glowed blue. A wave of healing light descended, and soon enough, Gangbao stood up again, full of energy. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± As soon as Gangbao got up, she barked at Yabao, indicating she wanted another round. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Sang jumped in alarm and quickly stopped him. ¡°Gang Guard?¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Both Gangbao and Yabao turned to look at her, faces full of What''s wrong? What¡¯s wrong? You fainted twice already! In less than five minutes! If this training continues, how am I supposed to handle it¡­ Qiao Sang coughed and said: ¡°Meteor Rain is still too intense for Gangbao. We¡¯ll need to try something else.¡± After speaking, she looked at Lubao. She remembered Lubao had a weather-type move that summoned hail. Though it was a high-level move, it hadn''t been trained much and was still at a beginner¡¯s level. Gangbao should be able to hold out under that for longer... With that thought, Qiao Sang said: ¡°Next, let Lubao and Gangbao train together. Lubao can use Hail, and Gangbao can work on her movement speed under it.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao¡¯s body released cold air again as she stared intensely at her beast tamer. What do you mean? Training with Yabao is too intense, but training with me isn¡¯t? Qiao Sang: ¡­ Is she really this sensitive now... Qiao Sang organized her thoughts and said: ¡°Yabao¡¯s Meteor Rain has been practiced a lot. Its mastery is already at the Ultimate level. Your Hail hasn¡¯t been used much, so it''s definitely a bit weaker.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°I¡¯m only comparing the power of these two specific moves.¡± Gangbao quietly gave her beast tamer a glance. (T/n: Gangbao''s side eyes ????) ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s cold air dissipated upon hearing that, and she reluctantly accepted the explanation. She flicked her tail and headed to another part of the training ground. Gangbao flapped her wings and followed right after. Seeing that, Yabao also went off to train on his own. Finally solved it... Qiao Sang let out a breath of relief as she watched Lubao¡¯s back, though she couldn¡¯t help but worry about the future. Even though Lubao hadn¡¯t said anything lately, Qiao Sang could tell that her mood had been anxious, especially after Little Treasure evolved. Before that, Lubao always stayed in her backpack when Qiao Sang went out. But ever since Little Treasure''s evolution, Lubao had stopped following her to the training club and instead preferred to stay in the water tank that held Sacred Water Essence. If this continues, and she still hasn¡¯t evolved after another year or two, Qiao Sang worries Lubao might become even more anxious¡­ ¡°Xun xun~¡± Just then, Little Treasure teleported next to her and sweetly called out, signaling that an hour had passed. Qiao Sang: ¡­ She pulled out her phone to check the time, it had been exactly one hour since she sent Little Treasureoff to train Psychic Headbutt. Not a minute more, not a minute less. ¡°How did you know it¡¯s been an hour?¡± Qiao Sang asked, curious. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure grinned proudly. Because he had to cast the skill every minute for the past few days, he¡¯d been keeping an eye on the time, now his sense of timing was freakishly precise. You¡¯re amazing¡­ Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Come with me. I just bought a new computer.¡± With that, she headed to the living room. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure blinked, then lit up with excitement and quickly followed. In the living room--- Staring at the brand-new computer, Little Treasure looked left, then right, completely smitten. Qiao Sang cleared her throat and said: ¡°Now that we have two computers, you can use your clone. Let the clone and your main body play together, that way, you won¡¯t get tired.¡± ¡°!!!¡± Little Treasure suddenly looked up at his beast tamer. ¡°Xun xun!¡± His eyes welled up as he lunged forward crying, tears falling like rain, he looked so touched it was like he was ready to dedicate his life to her. Not that serious! I just want to keep you from slacking during clone training... Qiao Sang was stunned by his reaction. She knew he¡¯d be excited, but not this excited¡­ Just as Qiao Sang was about to say something to comfort him, Little Treasure had already let go, summoned his substitute, stood side by side, opened the old computer, and began playing on both machines. Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- The Next Day. 6 PM Xiangside Pine Restaurant. Private Room. Pet beasts in work uniforms brought out exquisitely plated dishes one after another. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Around the large table sat a dozen teenagers, all similar in age, except for one girl who looked a little younger. ¡°Qiao Sang, how did your two pet beasts evolve?¡± Asked a blond boy with wavy hair. Everyone, except Tang Yi, turned to her, waiting for an answer. ¡°Well¡­¡± Qiao Sang briefly explained how Yabao and Little Treasure evolved. ¡°If that¡¯s all it takes to evolve a pet into General-level, I¡¯d love to go through something like that too...¡± Said a boy beside her with a sigh. ¡°In your dreams.¡± Sneered Gene after sipping his drink. ¡°It depends on the person, okay? If everyone could evolve their high-level pets into General-level like that, General-level pets would be all over the place.¡± Raffi joked: ¡°You should focus on evolving your Kira Bird into high-level first.¡± Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere turning quite cheerful. Qiao Sang asked: ¡°What are your plans moving forward?¡± ¡°What else? Go to university, graduate, then inherit the family business.¡± ¡°I plan to minor in Beast Taming in college. Actually wanted to major in it, but my scores weren¡¯t high enough.¡± ¡°No idea yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hoping to find a purebred Aqua Dragon Egg before I reach the third page of my Beast Taming Codex and then form a contract when it hatches.¡± ¡°I want to start a professional beast-taming club and try to compete in large tournaments.¡± Said Yuna. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up at that and turned to look at her. A beast-taming club was a mark of professionalism and career, many pro tamers made a living through such clubs. They earned profits from ticket sales, ads, broadcasting rights, beast-betting, sponsorships, magazines, player transfers, and custom stadium seating. Qiao Sang had chosen to meet up with these classmates from Sainan High largely to look for ways to make money. Her unlimited card was about to expire. If she didn¡¯t invest while it was still active, she might not be able to afford the cost of her beasts¡¯ evolution to King-level. Although she still had two other sources of income on Blue Star, she wanted to earn more while she could. Everyone in Sainan High had solid family backgrounds. If she could do business with them, things would be a lot easier, she might even make money while lying down. At this moment, Hulis smiled and said, ¡°I want to start a branded pet-beast accessory shop. Pet battle arenas are trendy right now, and competition among gear is fierce. I just hope I won¡¯t lose money.¡± After Yuna and Hulis, others began sharing their ambitions. Yuna, Hulis, Owen, Wen Xiao... Qiao Sang quietly took note of the classmates planning to start businesses, intending to stay in touch. ¡°By the way, why didn¡¯t you bring that one, Blazing- no, it¡¯s called Fire Qilu now? You usually have it in your arms." Hughes suddenly asked. Qiao Sang shrugged. ¡°He evolved on a volcano and burned up the Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet during the process. I ordered a new one online, but it hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Hughes paused, then laughed: ¡°That¡¯s nothing. My uncle happens to be in that business. I¡¯ll ask him to send you one, you¡¯ll get it tomorrow.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Damn, so this is what it¡¯s like to have rich classmates¡­ She replied calmly on the surface: ¡°It¡¯s fine. I already ordered one. It¡¯ll be here soon.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not here yet, that means it¡¯ll still take a while.¡± Hulis said. ¡°Mine will be there tomorrow. And don¡¯t you have several pet beasts? Yours evolve fast, one more isn¡¯t too many. You¡¯ll need it eventually.¡± Some classmates nearby looked a little unimpressed and subtly exchanged glances. Everyone knows they¡¯re here to build connections with Qiao Sang. We haven¡¯t even talked long and Hughes is already making a move? Offering a Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet? Who even cares? Just then, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t be polite, I¡¯ll send you the address now.¡± Everyone: !!! Chapter 682: Lava Crystal The next morning, Yuna arrived at Qiao Sang¡¯s current residence carrying a gift box for her visit. Last night, Qiao Sang had taken note of a few classmates who were interested in starting a business and contacted them individually to schedule a future meeting. Fortunately, everyone gave her face and agreed without hesitation. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to bring anything.¡± Qiao Sang said with a smile as she accepted the gift box. ¡°It¡¯s an S-rank lava crystal. I don¡¯t have a fire-type beast, so I brought it for you.¡± Yuna said with a smile. S-rank? An S-rank lava crystal? As a visiting gift? Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes flickered with confusion, and suddenly, the gift box in her hands felt much heavier. Yuna continued, ¡°Your Fire Qilu evolved in a volcano, so it should have skills related to lava. A lava crystal can significantly enhance such skills. Even if it doesn¡¯t, using the crystal will make it easier to learn lava-type skills in the future.¡± This was clearly a carefully chosen gift... Qiao Sang was slightly touched. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to be so polite with me.¡± Yuna replied while taking off her shoes and stepping inside. She quickly came to a stop, staring in a daze at the direction of the coffee table in the living room. Following her gaze, Qiao Sang saw Little Treasure and his clone playing on the computer. Yuna hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Why are there two Ghost Ring Kings? And... are they playing on the computer?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the dinner yesterday, after much coaxing from everyone, Qiao Sang had revealed Little Treasure, so Yuna naturally knew that the pet before her was the evolved form of Ghost Ring Phantom. Qiao Sang explained, ¡°There¡¯s only one. The other is his clone. And yes, they¡¯re playing on the computer. He''s taken a liking to computers lately.¡± Yuna was baffled. A ghost-type pet that likes computers? And it plays together with its clone? Can it type? Can it even understand the text on the screen? Unable to resist, Yuna quickly walked over to the coffee table and stared blankly at the keyboard, eyes wide. Oh. My. God. The Ghost Ring King not only knows how to type, but it¡¯s fast too! ¡°Xun xun!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure was fully immersed in the game with his clone and didn¡¯t care that someone was standing nearby. His claws clattered furiously on the keyboard. Just then, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Yuna responded dazedly. She didn¡¯t know whether it was the species itself that was special or just Qiao Sang¡¯s Ghost Ring King. She had never seen a ghost-type pet that could play on a computer with its clone. Her thoughts were still stuck on the Ghost Ring King even after they reached the study. ¡°I want to collaborate with you to establish a beast master club.¡± Qiao Sang said, getting straight to the point as she sat on the couch. Qiao Sang had already mentioned this when they scheduled the meeting, and Yuna had come for that reason. She sat down across from her and had just opened her mouth to speak- Knock knock. The vice principal¡¯s back? Qiao Sang paused and went to open the door. Looking up, she saw Gangbao carrying two cups of tea with her wings. Qiao Sang: ??? She hesitated, then asked, ¡°Did you make this tea?¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± She replied. Gangbao nodded, indicating that serving tea to guests was part of proper hospitality. That¡¯s what she learned from the TV drama Little Treasure had shown her. She set the tea down and left the room. Qiao Sang stood there for a while and finally muttered, ¡°...Nice.¡± Yuna wasn¡¯t surprised at all by Steel Guardian Falcon serving tea. She¡¯d seen many butler-type pets with keen social awareness. ¡°So, what kind of collaboration do you have in mind for the beast master club?¡± Yuna asked as she sipped the tea. Qiao Sang sat back down and said, ¡°I¡¯ll invest money in exchange for shares.¡± She took a sip of the tea. Not bad. Gangbao had a real talent for making tea... Yuna paused in thought, set down her cup, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t lack funds to start a beast master club right now.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Last night when she brought up the idea of collaborating, Yuna didn¡¯t object. Today, she even brought an S-rank lava crystal, so it was clear she wanted to work together. ¡°I want you.¡± Yuna said, staring at Qiao Sang, enunciating every word. Qiao Sang: ??? She subtly leaned back, crossed her arms, and looked alert. Yuna twitched at her reaction. ¡°I mean, I want you to join the beast master club as a team member.¡± You should really phrase that better... Qiao Sang sighed in relief and sat back to her original position. ¡°That might not benefit you. I¡¯m going back to Blue Star in half a year, so I won¡¯t be able to help you in competitions.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Yuna said seriously. ¡°I¡¯m investing in your future. Many top-tier beast masters compete interstellarly. I believe you¡¯ll reach that level.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t place any demands on you. You can decide whether to compete or not. But when you¡¯re ready for interstellar competitions, I¡¯ll provide you with a professional team and guidance.¡± ¡°Before that, I¡¯ll support you in any way I can.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t limit your freedom or movements. When the club is officially founded, I just hope you¡¯ll create an interstellar account and certify our club¡¯s name under it.¡± That actually didn¡¯t sound bad... Qiao Sang was a little tempted. Seeing her hesitation, Yuna grew even more sincere: ¡°If you agree, I can bring the contract this afternoon. I¡¯ll give you 35% of the shares.¡± That was surprisingly generous. Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t even planned on getting that much for investing money... she asked, ¡°What¡¯s in it for you?" Yuna¡¯s expression turned serious: ¡°Do you know how hard it is to find a beast master with the potential to become a top-tier pro? I¡¯ve done the research, only 5% of beast master clubs across the galaxy have members at that level. Those clubs are all highly prestigious.¡± ¡°But a top-tier beast master would never join a newly founded, unknown club. You, however, have the potential to become one.¡± Qiao Sang laughed. ¡°You really believe in me.¡± Yuna stared at the girl in front of her. ¡°At the very least, I¡¯ve never seen or heard of, anyone your age, sixteen, who¡¯s reached your level of strength as a beast master.¡± Qiao Sang was quiet for a moment. ¡°When do you plan to start the club?¡± Yuna knew she had a shot now and quickly replied: ¡°Once I officially move to 1st District for the school term, I¡¯ll start preparing. I¡¯ve already reached out to a few pro beast masters with some recognition. I¡¯ll poach a few trending competitors from other clubs too. Our debut won¡¯t disappoint!¡± It seemed Yuna had already thought about the future of the club in detail. She was on Chaosu Star, Qiao Sang was on Blue Star, Yuna was offering resources and shares without restricting her. Even if things didn¡¯t work out and the club failed, Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t lose anything... After a moment¡¯s thought, Qiao Sang said, ¡°Alright, bring the contract this afternoon.¡± Yuna¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great!¡± ¡°Oh right, do you have a name for the club?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Chaosu Beast Master Club.¡± Yuna said, revealing the name she had already prepared. Chapter 683: Half a Month Later An hour after sending Yuna off, the doorbell rang again. Qiao Sang glanced at the surveillance monitor and saw that it was Hulis. She wasn¡¯t surprised by his arrival. Today, she had scheduled meetings with classmates who were interested in starting a business at different times, Hulis was the second. Qiao Sang opened the door. "You''re pretty close to Yulianton University." Hulis said as he stepped inside and handed over a gift box. "This Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet was originally supposed to be delivered, but since I was coming here today, I figured I¡¯d just bring it myself." "Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet?" Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up as she reached out to take it. "Thanks." "Try it on Fire Qilu, see if it fits." Hulis said with a smile. "Alright." Qiao Sang turned her head, right in time to meet Gangbao¡¯s gaze. "Gang Guard." Gangbao nodded in understanding and walked toward the outdoor training field. I didn¡¯t even say anything. What exactly did you understand¡­? Qiao Sang stared at Gangbao¡¯s back, slightly stunned. Just as she was about to follow, she suddenly sensed something, and the next moment, she saw Yabao stride inside. Following close behind was the low-key Gangbao. "Yap?" Yabao wagged his tail and let out an excited bark. His Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet had arrived? In that instant, Qiao Sang finally understood why so many people loved butler-type pet beasts, why there were even training schools just for them. Honestly, having a pet beast that understood your intent without needing many words, and even managed everything in the house so perfectly, was incredibly convenient¡­ "Yep, the Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet is here. Try it on and see if it fits." Qiao Sang opened the gift box while speaking and took out the bracelet. She noticed this bracelet was slightly different from the ones sold on the market. It wasn¡¯t just a plain solid color, it had flame patterns, and upon closer look, there was even a Qiao character engraved on it. Qiao Sang turned to Hulis, intending to ask, only to find him staring at Yabao. It was that kind of gaze someone would give a goddess, completely stunned by its beauty. Qiao Sang: ¡­ "Nice to look at?" She asked. "Beautiful!" Hulis was full of admiration as he studied the flame-winged pet beast, practically itching to reach out and touch it. At yesterday¡¯s dinner, Qiao Sang had only let them see the Ghost Ring King, saying Fire Qilu was too large to summon in the restaurant. No one questioned it. Everyone had assumed it was just an alien beast that looked strange because no one had seen it before. Most of the classmates had come because of Qiao Sang, so they suppressed their curiosity and didn¡¯t bring up anything that might make her uncomfortable. But Hulis hadn¡¯t expected Fire Qilu to look like this! Powerful, majestic, noble, gorgeous, easily outclassing over 90% of pet beasts on Chaosu Star. In other words, it was exactly his type. "Yap!" Hearing someone compliment him, Yabao proudly lifted his head into a 45-degree upward tilt. In theory, this should¡¯ve looked cool but at over six meters tall, tilting his head made it so that others could only see his chin and nostrils, which immediately sobered Hulis up. "Yabao, wear this." Qiao Sang held out her hand to reveal the Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet. "Yap!" Yabao barked again, and his eyes lit up with a blue glow. The next second, a button on the bracelet clicked downward. Then, the bracelet slowly expanded until it fit perfectly around Yabao¡¯s leg. Pet beast sizes vary, but the precise fit was because Qiao Sang had sent over Yabao¡¯s body data the day before. Under the control of psychic power, Yabao put on the bracelet. An invisible pulse spread from the bracelet, covering Yabao¡¯s whole body. His size began to shrink. Watching the transformation, Hulis said: "This model is specially customized, fire-resistant. Even if your Fire Qilu goes into a volcano again, as long as it comes out within three minutes, there won''t be any damage." Qiao Sang had guessed as much from the design and engraved Qiao, but still looked a bit surprised upon hearing that. "It could be customized that quickly?" Hulis smiled: "The prototype bracelets are kept in stock all the time. Fire-resistant, waterproof, shockproof, you just input the data and engrave the name." Since Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t from Chaosu Star and had pre-ordered online, it was clear her family wasn¡¯t in the pet gear business. So Hulis didn¡¯t mind sharing more. Damn capitalism¡­ clearly capable of fast production, yet they make people wait half a month for the basic models to create scarcity. Qiao Sang silently cursed while maintaining a smile on the surface: "Still, I really appreciate it. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten to use the bracelet so soon otherwise." "You¡¯re too polite with me." Helius laughed. While they spoke, Yabao had shrunk down to his Fire Fang Dog size. "Yap!" He looked up at his now similarly sized beast tamer with a nostalgic expression. Then, wagging his tail excitedly, he leapt toward her. Qiao Sang instinctively dodged and Yabao landed on empty air. "Yap¡­" Yabao froze for a moment, then looked heartbroken and disbelieving. You didn¡¯t catch me! You really didn¡¯t catch me! Seeing Yabao on the verge of tears, Qiao Sang quickly said: "Look at your two giant wings, how am I supposed to catch you?" "Yap!" At her words, Yabao¡¯s tears vanished instantly. He gathered his energy, and the flame-formed wings gradually shrank, then disappeared entirely. "Yap!" With the wings gone, Yabao wagged his tail and leapt into her arms again. This time, Qiao Sang caught him firmly. She had known for some time that Yabao could control the appearance of his flame wings. During Lava Purgatory training, he had once depleted all his energy, causing the wings to vanish. That¡¯s when she realized the wings directly reflected Yabao¡¯s internal energy levels. This worried Qiao Sang. Because if the wings revealed Yabao¡¯s energy status, then in future matches, opponents who researched his background could easily take advantage of that. That would be a major disadvantage, so she had Yabao train to control the wings. To her surprise, it only took one day for Yabao to learn how to hide or reveal them at will. He still couldn¡¯t control the size of the wings but that was fine by her. Hulis watched the flame wings disappear, looking as if he were watching a goddess perform. Then he suddenly sobered, scanned the living room, and asked: "Shall we talk here?" "Let¡¯s go to the study." Qiao Sang said, carrying Yabao upstairs. The two entered the study and sat down. Just as they began discussing, Gangbao came in carrying a tray with three cups of tea on her wings. She set them down and exited quietly. Qiao Sang remained calm this time and said: "Try it. Gangbao brewed it." Hulis politely picked up a cup and took a sip. "Not bad." "Yap¡­" Yabao poured it all into his mouth in one gulp, then made a slightly disgusted face. He didn¡¯t like the taste of tea¡­ "Let¡¯s get back to the topic." Hulis set his cup down. "I have no objections to the partnership. I can give you shares based on your investment but no more than 15%, since you''ll be leaving Chaosu Star in six months, and you won''t be able to handle many key decisions." Truthfully, there were plenty of people he could partner with, it didn¡¯t make sense to choose someone from another planet. But this was Qiao Sang. A once-in-a-lifetime genius. This branded pet accessory store? It was just a business. In their world, all relationships were built on purpose. He had already prepared for losses when starting the brand. But if the partner was Qiao Sang, he wanted to make it succeed. Because friendships might not last but shared interests would bind them together. --- After Hulis left, Owen came next, and finally Wen Xiao arrived. Owen was planning to open a purebred pet beast base, intending to bring in a batch of purely bred pet beasts for breeding and sale. Any pet beast, as long as it''s purebred, would have its price doubled. These types of pet beasts weren¡¯t easy to find, and the target customer base was all high-end. With Ouen¡¯s existing background and connections, Qiao Sang was actually quite optimistic about the business. In the end, they agreed to share based on investment proportion, he got 25% of the shares. Wen Xiao was from the Dragon Nation, though she was a Dragon Nation native on Chaosu Star. Because they were from the same country, Qiao Sang got along with her quite well. Wen Xiao wanted to start a pet beast beauty service. On Chaosu Star, although people respected strength above all else, there were still those who liked managing the appearance of their pet beasts and working as coordinators. Qiao Sang thought this business was feasible too, so she invested and took 30% of the shares. All the collaboration talks went very smoothly. This slightly surprised Qiao Sang, she hadn¡¯t expected her classmates from Sainan High to be so easy to talk to, with none of the typical capitalist attitude. She had originally been prepared to just throw money at them, but unfortunately, no one gave her the chance. --- 8:00 p.m. After dinner, Qiao Sang took Yabao to the open-air training field and handed over a lava crystal. ¡°Absorb this.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head, showing a confused expression. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What¡¯s this? ¡°It¡¯s called a lava crystal. Absorbing it will enhance your Lava Purgatory.¡± Qiao Sang explained. ¡°Yap!¡± Upon hearing this, Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he swallowed the lava crystal in one gulp. Soon, energy began to boil within his body. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t see what was happening inside Yabao, but she saw the flame wings on his sides suddenly surge, becoming extremely fierce. Suddenly, scorching magma slowly oozed out from the areas where the flame wings were. Blazing bright magma flowed onto the ground, and in an instant, terrifying heat swept through the surroundings. Qiao Sang was about to retreat- Just then, a blue blur darted out and whisked her away in the blink of an eye. Qiao Sang looked down, it was Lubao. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao stopped at a spot unaffected by Yabao¡¯s eruption. ¡°Were you here the whole time?¡± Qiao Sang climbed down from Lubao and asked. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao looked in Yabao¡¯s direction and nodded. Looks like she had been here in her liquid form¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. Probably came just to see how Yabao was getting stronger¡­ Even though Lubao didn¡¯t say anything and her expression hadn¡¯t changed much, Qiao Sang still somehow understood her feelings at this moment. The flame-forged wings flapped wildly, and as magma covered the ground, Yabao¡¯s aura grew ever more commanding. Lubao watched Yabao like this, unconsciously clawing at the ground, a sense of powerlessness rising in her heart. He had grown stronger again¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± At that moment, a soft, warm hand patted her head. ¡°You¡¯ll become strong too. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao turned her head to look at that familiar face, relaxed her claws, and let out a small cry. She knew. --- S-class lava crystals weren¡¯t a joke, they directly added 302 points to Yabao¡¯s Lava Purgatory skill. At his peak, Yabao could only use Lava Purgatory three times in a row by gritting his teeth. After taking an S-class energy recovery potion, it trained the skill to the mastery level. The higher the skill level and proficiency, the more powerful the skill becomes, and the more energy it consumes, so its original three uses dropped to two. 302 points meant it was as if it had been used 302 times. You can imagine how thrilled Qiao Sang was. Without energy recovery potions, this would¡¯ve saved Yabao 151 days of training time. Unfortunately, even among items of the same S-tier, there were value differences. Other S-tier items or materials might just cost money, and if you visited a few well-known stores, you could get them. But not many beastmasters needed S-class lava crystals. Low demand meant low supply. When something has high intrinsic value but is also rare, its value goes up even more. So Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t found any stores selling S-class lava crystals directly on the market. Otherwise, she definitely would''ve bought several. --- Half a month later. Late night. Two Ghost Ring Kings were madly typing on their keyboards in the living room. Little Treasure was playing a co-op dungeon game. He had created two accounts, both in the same team. The computer¡¯s glow reflected in his golden eyes, you could see a hint of excitement there. ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure controlled his character to cast Flame Vortex on a group of monsters. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Suddenly, the substitute next to him called out. He was hungry¡­ Little Treasure felt it, he really did feel hungry. ¡°Xun xun.¡± Little Treasure pointed his substitute in the direction of the kitchen. The substitute nodded and floated away. Soon, it came back with a big bag of snacks and opened it. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure took the bag, grabbing chips one by one and stuffing them into his mouth. The substitute didn¡¯t eat, but as Little Treasure chewed, it smacked its lips once and showed a satisfied expression, then resumed gaming. Chapter 684: Aside From Herself The next day, Qiao Sang woke up, washed up briefly, and headed to the kitchen, only to find the vice principal already busy there. ¡°Just five more minutes, it¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± Liu Yao said while preparing energy pellets for Yabao and the others. Qiao Sang walked over and asked: ¡°Is there anything I can help with?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Liu Yao replied without even looking up as he stayed focused on his task. ¡°I just adjusted the formula for the energy pellets based on Fire Qilu and the others¡¯ current physical conditions. You wouldn¡¯t know which batch is meant for whom.¡± Having an A-rank Breeder around really is wonderful¡­ Qiao Sang sighed inwardly, then suddenly heard some noise nearby. She turned her head and saw Little Treasure opening the fridge and rummaging for snacks. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Qiao Sang called out. ¡°Xun xun?¡± Little Treasure turned around with a slightly dazed expression. ¡°We¡¯ll be having breakfast soon. No snacks right now.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Xun xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked at the contents of the fridge, then back at Qiao Sang, and pointed toward the living room. Following the direction he pointed, Qiao Sang saw another Little Treasure watching a tearjerking movie on the computer screen, occasionally dabbing at his eyes with tissues clutched in his paws. Qiao Sang fell silent for two seconds before asking: ¡°Did he tell you to get snacks?¡± ¡°Xun xun.¡± The Little Treasure in front of her nodded. Qiao Sang had a thought, then checked the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex and went silent again before asking, ¡°Are you a substitute?¡± ¡°Xun xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded. So a substitute could be used like this too¡­ Qiao Sang gave a complicated look at the nearby Little Treasure who was silently wiping away tears, then looked away and said: ¡°Don¡¯t get him any snacks. Just tell him breakfast is coming soon.¡± ¡°Xun xun.¡± Little Treasure nodded, closed the fridge, and floated back to the original. Qiao Sang watched the substitute¡¯s direction. It floated over and said something to the other Little Treasure. The latter nodded, then handed over a tissue to the double. Soon after, both Ghost Ring Kings sat staring at the screen, eyes watery, wiping away tears in sync. Qiao Sang: ¡­¡­ At the dining table, Qiao Sang was enjoying the breakfast prepared by the vice principal, though her mind wasn¡¯t on the food. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Liu Yao asked. Qiao Sang lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Vice Principal, do you think a substitute at the Ultimate level could develop its own consciousness?¡± Last night, while looking through the Beastmaster¡¯s Codex, she¡¯d discovered that Little Treasure''s substitute had already reached the Ultimate level, just not at the peak yet. Liu Yao instantly understood what Qiao Sang was worried about. He glanced at the Ghost Ring King munching on his food and said, ¡°Substitute at the Ultimate level can¡¯t develop consciousness of their own. It¡¯s just that they can stay outside for longer, understand what the original is thinking, and share the same feelings.¡± ¡°An ultimate level substitute can move independently. Your Ghost Ring King probably created the substitute because it felt lonely playing on the computer alone and wanted a companion.¡± He paused, then said in a sincere tone: ¡°But it¡¯s better for contracted beasts to stay off the computer, especially your Ghost Ring King. It¡¯s still young and in its prime growth stage.¡± In fact, Liu Yao had been wanting to say this for a while now. Lately, every time he came home or got up at night to use the bathroom, he¡¯d see the Ghost Ring King and its double on the computer. Definitely not a good habit. But since Qiao Sang¡¯s beasts were already trained to such a high level, it didn¡¯t feel right for him to step in and lecture her. This time, at last, he¡¯d found a good opportunity. Qiao Sang smiled faintly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When Little Treasure uses his substitute, that counts as training. His substitute wasn¡¯t this proficient before, only recently did it improve through playing on the computer with his substitute.¡± Hearing that, Liu Yao seemed thoughtful. Thinking back, it was true, the Ghost Ring King¡¯s substitute had become noticeably more agile lately. If you didn¡¯t know them well, you¡¯d have trouble telling it apart from the original¡­ So does that mean¡­ as long as a substitute is summoned, no matter what it does, it still counts toward skill proficiency? Liu Yao fell into deep thought. Meanwhile, Little Treasure quietly munched on his energy pellet beside them, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word of the conversation. ¡°Xun~ hiccup~¡± Elsewhere, in an unused room, a Ghost Ring King that hadn¡¯t eaten a thing was letting out little burps while playing on the computer. After breakfast, Qiao Sang returned to her room, half-reclined on the bed, took out her phone, and opened a second-hand trading platform. Since she couldn¡¯t use a credit card for the investment, she could only purchase rare materials and items from physical stores or major websites to resell them. It wasn¡¯t an easy thing to do. To quickly sell items and raise money, she had to lower the prices. But if the price was too low, people wouldn¡¯t believe it was authentic. If it was just slightly below market price, people thought it was overpriced for second-hand goods. It was really a hassle. After spending more than half a month, Qiao Sang finally managed to scrape together enough money to invest in Hulis. Fortunately, Owen and Wen Xiao hadn¡¯t officially started their own ventures yet, and were easy to talk to, otherwise, the collaboration might¡¯ve fallen through. Qiao Sang was replying to a buyer¡¯s questions. After a round of haggling and persistent back-and-forth, the transaction finally went through. She put down her phone and looked over at Gangbao, who was training Iron Defense nearby. She said: ¡°Gangbao, go pack up the Ice Mist Bud. Someone bought it.¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao stopped training Iron Defense, nodded, and walked out the door. Qiao Sang looked at Gangbao¡¯s back with a face full of relief. Though Gangbao didn¡¯t talk much, she observed and understood just about everything. Just that batch of goods, where it was placed, what it looked like, even the name, she knew it all. That was impressive. At least, before Gangbao, she had never seen another pet beast with such awareness. Suddenly, something came to mind. Qiao Sang entered the Beast master''s Codex. The pages flipped quickly to Gangbao''s entry. Name: Steel Guardian Falcon (Gangbao) Type: Steel, Flying Level: Intermediate (8466/10000)+ Recently, Gangbao had been training with Lubao, but hadn¡¯t yet learned Substitution. She thought maybe with more internal energy, training might be easier, so she had been adding points to her level from time to time. Gangbao had previously participated in the pet arena in 3rd District and had accumulated plenty of points, enough to evolve directly into a high-tier beast. She originally planned to wait until Gangbao mastered a skill to the Ultimate level before triggering her evolution. After all, her next stage was still unknown. It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d be lucky enough to find another Dream Enlightenment Stone. Unfortunately, unlike Yabao¡¯s Shadow Clones or Little Treasure''s Substitution, Gangbao didn¡¯t have a clone technique. She also had to sleep regularly because of her feathers, so she couldn¡¯t stay up training like Lubao. During the day, she had to spend two hours doing mobility training with Lubao, and also practice Iron Defense, Air Absorption, and Wing Blade to protect her fragile beast master. She even occasionally helped care for five Chan Chan Stones beasts. She was really busy. Given how many points she had, if this training schedule continued, she might evolve naturally before mastering any skill to the Ultimate level. It looked like she¡¯d need to reduce the number of skills Gangbao was training and have her focus on just one... With that thought, Qiao Sang checked the proficiency of Iron Defense, Air Absorption, and Wing Blade before exiting the Codex. Eight minutes later, Gangbao pushed the door open and walked in. The moment she came in, she noticed her beastmaster¡¯s gaze on her. ¡°Gang Guard?¡± Gangbao called out, asking if something was up. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing.¡± Qiao Sang got straight to the point. ¡°I plan to have you focus on just one skill moving forward.¡± ¡°Gang Guard?¡± Gangbao looked puzzled. Why? Qiao Sang patiently explained: ¡°You¡¯re going to evolve soon, so we need to prepare. If one skill reaches the Ultimate level before that, you¡¯ll be stronger than other beasts evolving at the same time, and you¡¯ll have more potential.¡± She wasn¡¯t just making this u, it was a conclusion based on previous experiences with Yabao and the others. ¡°Gang Guard...¡± Gangbao was stunned. It was already time for her to evolve... She didn¡¯t feel like it had been long since reaching the intermediate stage... But since her beast master said so, it must be true... ¡°Gang Guard?¡± Gangbao looked up at her beast master. So what skill should she focus on? Qiao Sang smiled and asked: ¡°What skill do you want to train?¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao thought for a moment and responded, she wanted to train Iron Defense. Qiao Sang was a little surprised. Before the incident in 19th District, Gangbao hadn¡¯t been enthusiastic about training Iron Defense. She preferred offensive skills that caused damage. Could it be... she wanted to train Iron Defense for her? Qiao Sang felt a rush of emotion and gently asked: ¡°Why do you want to train that skill?¡± ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao calmly explained her reasoning. Of the skills she was training now, Iron Defense was the simplest, so she could improve proficiency faster. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Got emotional too soon¡­ She controlled her expression and said, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± She had also checked the skill proficiencies earlier and planned for Gangbao to train Iron Defense too. It had already reached the late Mastery phase, close to Perfect, and was the closest among her three main skills to reaching the Ultimate level. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± At that moment, Gangbao looked serious and added that she also wanted to continue practicing Substitution. Qiao Sang looked at Gangbao for a moment, didn¡¯t ask why, and just nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± She could tell Gangbao was determined to learn it. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao heard this and barely visibly curled the corners of her mouth upward. --- 7:00 PM ¨C Outdoor Training Grounds. In the pitch-black night, large hailstones like translucent rocks fell from the sky. A purple silhouette darted between them, not letting a single one touch it. At first, Gangbao moved with ease, but as time went on, she became increasingly strained. Practicing Substitution meant less time for Iron Defense, Gangbao knew that. But she felt like she was this close to learning it. She wasn¡¯t willing to stop now. Faster, faster... If she could just master Substitution quickly, she could focus more on Iron Defense... Gritting her teeth, Gangbao pushed herself, picking up speed again. Bang! A hailstone struck her wing. Gangbao faltered, and her speed dropped sharply. More hailstones pelted down, striking Gangbao over and over. ¡°Gang Guard!¡± Though a mid-tier beast, Gangbao couldn¡¯t take repeated hits from hail, a high-tier weather-based skill, especially with Lubao, who had been practicing it and improved its proficiency greatly. Gangbao cried out in pain. From the ground, Lubao instinctively prepared to cast Healing Light when she saw Gangbao falling. Her gem glowed blue as energy gathered. But just then, less than 5 cm from the ground, Gangbao suddenly spread her wings and soared back into the sky. ¡°Lu...?¡± Lubao froze, then put away Healing Light. Up above, hail rained down in droves, many of them striking Gangbao. She gritted her teeth and stabilized herself. Faster, faster! She felt it, she was about to learn Substitution! ¡°Gang Guard!¡± With a burst of energy, Gangbao¡¯s speed surged to her limit. At the same time, white light shone from her body. Lubao looked up. All she could see was a white lightning-like blur darting through the hail, so fast its form was almost invisible. ¡°Lu¡­¡± --- Inside the Room. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me, after all this training, you didn¡¯t learn Substitution but picked up Flash instead?¡± Qiao Sang was surprised but also excited after checking the Beast Codex. ¡°Gang Guard...¡± Gangbao nodded helplessly. She had always thought she was on the verge of learning Substitution but apparently, it was something else. Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°Flash is great. It¡¯s a solid skill, good for both attack and dodging.¡± Flash was a general-type mid-level skill. Only beasts with strong burst power, speed, and physical strength could learn it. With this skill, even against quick electric-type beasts of the same tier, Gangbao wouldn¡¯t fall behind in speed. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Seeing Qiao Sang so happy, Gangbao¡¯s mood also improved. She chirped, saying she would stop practicing Substitution for now. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Sang was confused. That morning, Gangbao was still set on learning it. ¡°Gang Guard, Gang Guard.¡± Gangbao flapped her wings. She explained that she had been getting the feeling during training that she was about to learn a new skill. She assumed it was Substitution, but it turned out to be Flash. Now that she had learned it, that feeling was gone. So until she mastered Iron Defense to the Ultimate level, she didn¡¯t want to waste time on Substitution. Such clear goals... Qiao Sang smiled. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll practice Substitution again later.¡± ¡°Lu¡­¡± Lubao stood silently on the side, watching. It felt like everyone, Yabao, Little Treasure, even Gangbao, was improving rapidly... except herself. A dim glint passed through Lubao¡¯s deep blue eyes. She walked over to the tank filled with Sacred Water Essence, jumped in, lay down, closed her eyes, and began circulating energy. Chapter 685: Reporting In The next morning, after breakfast, Qiao Sang returned to her room and checked her messages on the secondhand platform. Seeing no customer inquiries, she began meditating. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed before her phone vibrated. Qiao Sang opened her eyes, picked up her phone, and saw it was an email from Yulianton University. Ever since she confirmed her acceptance to the Imperial Beast University, she had set her email to notify her of any messages, after all, professors in university often preferred using email. Qiao Sang opened the email and skimmed through it. It was about coming to campus in the next few days to submit documents and report in. School¡¯s starting already? Qiao Sang thought briefly, then got up and changed into casual clothes. ¡°I¡¯m heading out for a bit, be back soon.¡± She said to Lubao, who was in the water tank, and to Gangbao, who was training her Iron Defense. She didn¡¯t plan to store them in her Beast Codex. When she rented the villa, she had specifically checked the distance to Yulianton University and knew she could summon them anytime. Rather than leaving them confined in the Codex, it was better for them to move around freely or continue training here. At the entryway, while putting on her shoes, she called out to the living room: ¡°Little Treasure, stop playing, come with me to school!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Tresure was like a portable bag, he stored all sorts of items in his ring. Qiao Sang had gotten used to bringing him along for convenience. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure cried out. Give me a minute! The sound of typing on a keyboard suddenly sped up. After finishing with her shoes, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal. In the next second, Yabao, who had been in the open-air training field, appeared in the living room. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head at his Beast Tamer. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Wanna come along?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Yabao was quite clingy. Not long ago, he had to stay home due to his large size and the lack of a Lightweight Miniaturization bracelet. She figured he would want to tag along. ¡°Yap!¡± Sure enough, Yabao¡¯s eyes lit up. He quickly retracted his flame wings and leapt into the air. His body shrank mid-jump and landed perfectly into Qiao Sang¡¯s arms. Qiao Sang swiftly caught him. ¡°Xun Xun~¡± At that moment, Little Treasure floated over. Qiao Sang scanned him with her sense and, confirming he was the real one, smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± --- Yulianton University. The most prestigious top-tier university on Chaosu Star. Although the semester hadn¡¯t officially started, many freshmen had already rushed over for early check-in after receiving the email. As a result, both people and pet beasts filled the place with vibrant energy. Qiao Sang glanced around. Almost everyone had a pet beast by their side, and luggage was mostly carried by the beasts. She scanned the area and finally noticed a large beast with six seats on its back. Qiao Sang approached, and before she could say anything, the blond boy sitting in the front row of the beast greeted her enthusiastically: ¡°New student?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°I¡¯m looking for the registration office.¡± Before coming here, she had specially browsed Yulianton¡¯s forum and learned the campus was massive. Someone had joked that if your dorm was at the east gate and your partner¡¯s was at the west gate, it was basically a long-distance relationship. Another post said: On reporting day, many people get lost. Even if you head in the right direction, your legs might give out. Fortunately, seniors offer free rides to the registration office and dorms. Qiao Sang looked at the six-seated beast for a while and figured it was one of those free ride services. ¡°Sure.¡± The blond guy agreed instantly. ¡°But we¡¯ll have to wait for more people. You can hop on first.¡± Qiao Sang looked at the mostly empty seats, only he was seated, paused, then climbed up and sat down. ¡°Thanks, senior.¡± She said once settled. ¡°No need to be so polite. We¡¯re all from the same school.¡± The blond guy turned and flashed a bright smile with eight perfect teeth. He subtly glanced at the unfamiliar pet beast in her arms and asked warmly: ¡°Junior, what¡¯s your major?¡± ¡°Beast Taming.¡± Qiao Sang replied. His eyes lit up. ¡°Then your battle skills must be amazing, right?¡± ¡°Just slightly better than average for my age.¡± Qiao Sang replied modestly. ¡°No way you¡¯re only slightly better. Getting into the Beast Taming department at Yulianton? That¡¯s top-tier!¡± The blond guy clearly didn¡¯t believe her. Then, as if remembering something, he introduced himself: ¡°I¡¯m from the Pet Beast Genetics and Breeding department.¡± He stared eagerly at Yabao. ¡°Junior, your pet beast looks excellently bred. Interested in letting me research it? We might even create a whole new breed!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­¡­ ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao let out a warning growl and looked on high alert. The blond guy ignored him and looked expectantly at Qiao Sang. He knew that all he needed was the Beast Tamer¡¯s consent. Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. She politely declined, ¡°No, it¡¯s still young.¡± The blond guy chuckled. ¡°No worries. The Beast Taming program is five years long. I can wait.¡± No wonder there¡¯s no one else on this ride¡­ Qiao Sang thought, silently roasting him in her mind, but outwardly replied: ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I¡¯m an exchange student, only staying here for half a year.¡± The guy paused. ¡°Exchange student? From where?¡± ¡°Imperial Beast University.¡± Qiao Sang said calmly. The second-best academy in the entire galaxy? The blond guy was momentarily stunned. Then he got even more enthusiastic: ¡°Half a year is enough! Your pet looks well-developed, already meeting breeding standards. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can take it for an assessment right now!¡± Qiao Sang paused for two seconds, then hopped off the beast. ¡°Senior, I think I¡¯ll find the registration office on my own.¡± Seeing her leave, the blond guy tried desperately to stop her. ¡°Junior, don¡¯t go! I¡¯ll take you now, no need to wait!¡± If I stay any longer, Yabao¡¯s innocence might not survive¡­ Qiao Sang waved her hand without looking back. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Junior! Junior! Think it over! I¡¯m serious! My name is Cole Gillis! If you change your mind, come find me at the Pet Beast Genetics and Breeding department!¡± Seeing this unfold, nearby students couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly: Hitting on juniors on the very first day¡­ what a guy. Qiao Sang ignored him and followed the campus signs. After walking for about five minutes, she heard a senior girl on the roadside monotonously repeating into a loudspeaker: ¡°One credit per ride. One credit per ride. For just one credit, you can enjoy the pleasure of teleportation. Still struggling to reach the registration office or dorms? For just one credit, you can arrive immediately.¡± So Yulianton runs on a credit system too? Qiao Sang glanced over but didn¡¯t approach. Little Treasure could teleport, so she wasn¡¯t interested. Once he got familiar with the campus layout, she¡¯d be able to go wherever she wanted. ----- T/n: I''m back with an update~ Guys, I wanted to talk about something. My plan for this novel is to update 5 chapters a day (but that got disrupted ever since my second semester) and it was kind of hard to do 5 chapters then. Can I go like 2 chaps for a day? If it''s only two, I think I can manage to sneak in some little time to do it. Chapter 686: Flame Sky Star On the way, Qiao Sang occasionally saw parents accompanying students. Unlike regular universities where usually only the father or mother comes along, at Yulianton University, most students arrived with their whole families. They strolled, explored the campus, and took photos as if on a sightseeing trip. Someone like Qiao Sang, with no parents accompanying her, was rare. Many freshmen, seeing Qiao Sang without any luggage or companions, mistook her for a senior and approached to ask for directions. But as they got closer and saw her clearly underage-looking face, they hesitated and walked away. Qiao Sang, unaware of their thoughts, assumed they were just curious about Yabao and came closer to look. She arrived at a fork in the path where a virtual screen displayed a campus map. As she studied it, a voice rang out beside her: ¡°Excuse me, senior, how do I get to the registration area?¡± Qiao Sang kept looking at the map, ignoring the voice. ¡°Senior? Senior?¡± The voice repeated twice more before she turned her head to see a smiling black girl, half a head taller than her. Next to the girl was a pet beast about two meters tall, mostly green, with a long neck, sturdy limbs, and three leaf-like structures around its neck. It carried a suitcase strapped to its back with vine whips. ¡°Senior, which way is the registration area?¡± The girl asked again. Qiao Sang looked around, confirmed she was being addressed, and replied, ¡°I¡¯m a freshman too.¡± The girl was stunned, then smiled apologetically. ¡°Sorry! I thought you were a senior since you weren¡¯t carrying anything.¡± Qiao Sang gave her best social smile. ¡°No problem.¡± Then she turned to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± The girl caught up to her. ¡°Have you already been to the registration area?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°Perfect!¡± The girl¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang said as she confidently headed to the right. The girl quickly followed. ¡°I¡¯m Minian, from the Pet Beast Pharmacy Department. And you?¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, from the Beast Taming Department.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beast Taming Department¡­ Minian looked at the girl and the red pet beast in her arms, momentarily stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected a random student she approached to be from the Beast Taming Department. That department was a major one, much harder to get into than others. ¡°You¡¯re not from Chaosu Star, are you?¡± Minian tried to make conversation. Qiao Sang played along. ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied the cultures of other planets. On Chaosu Star, the relationship between humans and pet beasts is tense. It¡¯s basically unheard of to see someone walking around hugging a pet beast.¡± Minian explained: ¡°Even if the pet beast is injured, Chaosu Star residents typically store it in a Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex and take it to a center or wait for medics to arrive.¡± This was clearly an outsider¡¯s perspective on Chaosu Star¡­ Qiao Sang tilted her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from Chaosu Star?¡± ¡°No.¡± Minian smiled. ¡°I¡¯m from Flame Sky Star.¡± Flame Sky Star¡­ Qiao Sang studied her in surprise. This was the first time she had met someone from Flame Sky Star. Among the four planets, Flame Sky Star had the highest ratio of beast tamers, over 90% of the population, supposedly. You could casually run into beast tamers just walking around, regular people were rare. Unlike the other three planets, Flame Sky Star, because ordinary people had little self-protection or ways to earn money, implemented many policies favoring them. The most talked-about one? If your Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex doesn¡¯t awaken when your brain domain is stimulated, officially confirming you as a regular human, you get a monthly stipend of 5,000 Alliance Credits, for life. Back when she was in middle school, many classmates joked that if their codexs didn¡¯t awaken, they¡¯d immigrate to Flame Sky Star. But it was just talk. Immigration, especially interstellar, wasn¡¯t that easy. Now, realizing Minian was from Flame Sky Star, Qiao Sang got curious. ¡°I heard you can legally fence off areas for wild pet beasts over there, is that true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Minian grinned. ¡°Our wild pet beasts live alongside humans like on Chaosu Star, but they have much better rights.¡± Qiao Sang recalled something she saw on the news and asked: ¡°I heard some of your national leaders are pet beasts?¡± Minian waved it off. ¡°On Flame Sky Star, almost every country has high-ranking leaders who are pet beasts. It¡¯s nothing strange. The world belongs to both humans and pet beasts, only by developing together can things get better.¡± With awareness like that, no wonder Flame Sky Star students win almost every Interstellar Cup¡­ Qiao Sang thought, then asked: ¡°So why¡¯d you choose to study on Chaosu Star?¡± She already knew the answer, Yulianton University was ranked third interstellarly. Who wouldn¡¯t come? Minian smiled. ¡°I just picked the best school among my options. Plus, visiting other planets broadens your horizons.¡± Then she asked, ¡°What about you? Why not attend your home planet¡¯s top university?¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°I am from my planet¡¯s top university, I¡¯m just here on exchange for a semester.¡± ¡°Exchange student?¡± Minian blinked. ¡°Which top university are you from?¡± ¡°Imperial Beast University.¡± Qiao Sang answered. Minian immediately went quiet. Qiao Sang had no idea why the other girl suddenly stopped talking. After wandering around for about 20 minutes, they finally reached the registration area. The process was simple: Present your ID card, admission notice, exam permit, and personal file, verify everything, and sign. Since they were in different majors, Qiao Sang and Minian soon parted ways and lined up at their respective departments. At the Beast Taming Department''s registration desk, a male student was checking names. When he saw Qiao Sang¡¯s documents, he looked up in surprise. ¡°Exchange student?¡± Qiao Sang nodded. Nearby seniors, who were chatting, turned their eyes toward her, then collectively stared at Yabao. A blonde senior girl, curious, leaned in to look at the documents. ¡°Imperial Beast University?¡± Her brows rose in interest. Everyone knew Imperial Beast University and Yulianton University were rivals. No one expected an exchange student from their rival school this year. That got more people to crowd around and read her info. While they were distracted, Qiao Sang quietly finished signing and took back her documents, preparing to leave. Just then, a red-haired boy with sharp features caught up and offered warmly: ¡°Junior, let me walk you to the dorm!¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve applied for off-campus living.¡± Qiao Sang declined. As an interstellar exchange student, she had already indicated her preference for commuting in her application. Since Yulianton agreed to the exchange, they also agreed to let her live off-campus while still reserving a dorm room. Qiao Sang had no plans to visit the dorm yet. She had an appointment at 2:00 PM with a Body Forge Bug and didn¡¯t want to waste time. Hearing that, the red-haired boy could only stop and watch her walk away. Sigh, there were mostly boys in the Beast Taming Department, finally, a pretty junior showed up, and she didn¡¯t even stay in the dorms. How was he supposed to show off his gentlemanly charm¡­ While he was sighing, a ruckus broke out behind him: ¡°Sixteen?! That exchange student is only sixteen?!¡± ¡°Oh my god! No wonder she looked so young, she is young!¡± ¡°Same here! I told Damei she looked young because she¡¯s from the Dragon Nation, but turns out she¡¯s literally underage.¡± ¡°Wait, her pet beast, how come it wasn¡¯t listed in her records?¡± Sixteen. Only sixteen. That¡¯s terrifying. I nearly tried to flirt with a minor¡­ The red-haired boy¡¯s face paled as he silently cursed himself. --- Qiao Sang glanced at her phone. Since it wasn¡¯t yet 2:00 PM, she decided to stroll around Yulianton and get familiar with the layout. The university had all sorts of pet-beast-related shops, especially food ones. Yabao sniffed around, and whenever he caught a whiff of something he liked, he would jump from her arms and dash over, wagging his tail at her. Qiao Sang chuckled and paid up without hesitation. Yabao ended up eating so much energy-filled food that his belly bulged. Little Treasure had been unusually quiet today¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly remembered and called out: ¡°Little Treasure?¡± ¡°Xun~¡± But Little Treasure didn¡¯t appear right away like usual. He took three seconds before showing up. Something feels off¡­ Qiao Sang stared at him. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked innocently. ¡°You want anything to eat?¡± She asked. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure shook his head. Definitely suspicious. There were so many tasty things, and he didn¡¯t want a single one¡­ Qiao Sang gave him a meaningful look. Little Treasure blinked again, looking all sweet and harmless. ¡°Fine, forget it if you don¡¯t want anything.¡± She said. ¡°Xun~¡± With that, Little Treasure gave a chirp, quickly disappeared, looking like he couldn¡¯t wait to be gone. Qiao Sang sensed his aura. He was the real one, still in the same spot, hadn¡¯t moved. Maybe I¡¯m just imagining things¡­ She muttered to herself. Meanwhile, the invisible Little Treasure had a let¡¯s go! expression, yet there was nothing around him, no other ghost-type pet beast in sight. At the same time- In an unused room in a villa, another Little Treasure was furiously typing away at a keyboard. --- 6:00 PM Living Room. The dining table was filled with steaming homemade dishes, Vice Principal Liu had prepared dinner. ¡°You reported to Yulianton University today?¡± Liu Yao asked while picking up some food. Qiao Sang gave a soft ¡°Mm¡±: ¡°They emailed this morning. I thought it wasn¡¯t far, so I just went directly.¡± ¡°When does school start?¡± Liu Yao asked. ¡°In six days.¡± Qiao Sang replied. Not all freshmen at Yulianton University were from Chaosu Star. To give everyone enough time, they had a full week to report in. Liu Yao paused for a moment, then said, ¡°I recently met a supplier who provides ingredients for energy pills to a pet cultivation shop inside Yulianton University. He told me that every year when the new students arrive, each department has its own assessment, which directly affects their ranking and points.¡± He added, ¡°They say it¡¯s very important, probably the easiest time to earn points during your time at Yulianton.¡± Points? Qiao Sang thought of the senior who only needed one point to teleport. Liu Yao continued: ¡°Pay attention the day before school starts. That night, don¡¯t let Ghost Ring King play on the computer. Don¡¯t want him performing badly during the assessment.¡± Little Treasure was focused on eating his energy pill, seemingly unaware of the conversation. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Each department had different assessments. She was in the Beast Taming Department, so the test would probably involve pet battles. Little Treasure definitely needed to conserve his energy. Liu Yao took a few bites of rice, then suddenly thought of something. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°I checked on Steel Guardian Falcon and Ice Xilu today, and I found that Ice Xilu¡¯s condition seems a bit off.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and even the meat in her mouth lost its flavor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Liu Yao recalled Ice Xilu¡¯s state earlier and said, ¡°It seems to be in a low-pressure mood, isn¡¯t coming out to train, just stays in the water tank, and isn¡¯t very interested in food either.¡± ¡°A physically and mentally healthy pet shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± Lubao must be eager to absorb the Sacred Water Essence and evolve quickly¡­ Qiao Sang immediately understood her thoughts. Usually, training skills didn¡¯t increase her internal energy, but staying in the tank with Sacred Water Essence was different, she could clearly feel her energy growing. After thinking it over, Qiao Sang said, ¡°I¡¯ll take her out for walks these next few days to get her moving.¡± The Vice Principal had a point. Lubao wasn¡¯t in the right state. Her hang-up was probably that Yabao and Little Treasure had both evolved and become obviously stronger than her. She used to finish her energy pills cleanly every time, but today she only ate half before going back to her room. But she still had a long way to go before she could evolve. She couldn¡¯t stay like this the whole time. Liu Yao, hearing this, contentedly continued eating. Ice Xilu was a rare endangered pet beast from the Guwu region, basically, a Blue Star-level endangered species. He definitely didn¡¯t want anything to happen to it. --- Qiao Sang returned to her room, meditated for over an hour, then opened her eyes and looked at Lubao in the tank. She said, ¡°Lubao, let¡¯s go out for a bit.¡± ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao opened her eyes, showing an expression that said, Where to? ¡°To see if there are any places to do some battles.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao closed her eyes. Not interested. Qiao Sang: ¡­ ¡°Do you know why Yabao and Little Treasure evolved so quickly?¡± Qiao Sang coaxed softly. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s eyes snapped open, staring intently at her beast tamer. You haven¡¯t looked at me like that in a long time¡­ Qiao Sang felt a twinge of emotion but kept coaxing on the surface: ¡°Did you notice? Yabao and Little Treasure had the most battles out of all of you. Battles help you grow stronger faster.¡± She¡¯d considered letting Lubao experience despair during a sandstorm or something, but that was like evolution on hell mode. Not to mention the sandstorm, getting Lubao to feel despair was almost impossible. Since she wanted to evolve faster, she¡¯d just take her out for lots of battles to build up evolution points toward general level. ¡°Lu.¡± The moment she heard this, Lubao jumped straight out of the tank without hesitation, gave a cry, and signaled that she was ready to leave right now. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Even in a bad mood, still so easy to trick¡­ Chapter 687: Sky Battle Over Water Jiujing Amusement Park. Night had fallen, and the amusement park glowed with a dazzling, dreamlike brilliance. As the most popular amusement park in 1st District, it saw a constant stream of visitors every day. After buying tickets, Qiao Sang carried Lubao and, following the signs, arrived at the water-type pet entertainment zone. Jiujing Amusement Park had built nine themed areas based on the pet attributes most loved by beast masters, according to past surveys. These were: Dragon, Fairy, Psychic, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Flying, and Fighting types. Beast masters who owned pets with corresponding attributes could bring their pets to the related theme zones to participate in various amusement activities. If they achieved first place in any event, they would be exempt from paying the event fee. Among all water-type pets, Lubao was one of the top in terms of appearance, despite not being a Chaosu Star-ranked pet. Her stunning, never-before-seen appearance immediately caught the attention of the crowd the moment she appeared in the water-type area. People only whispered among themselves, pulling out pet identifiers or phones to take pictures, but no one came too close. "Lu?" Lubao ignored the stares and glanced around, calling out to ask if this was the place to play. "Yap." Yabao, following beside his beast master, nodded in agreement after hearing Lubao¡¯s words. Qiao Sang laughed and said, "Don¡¯t worry, many of these activities involve battles too." She had considered taking Lubao directly to the pet battle arena, but losing there meant elimination, and battles were conducted one by one, not the best way to quickly gather points. Only if she could take out a group of enemies at once, like Yabao did with the Scaled moths before, could she quickly rack up points. Unfortunately, unlike the lower districts, 1st District rarely had wild pet clean-up missions. She had to find another way for Lubao to fight multiple opponents at once. Qiao Sang scanned the nearby attractions and finally fixed her gaze on an event called "Sky Battle Over Water." She recalled Elma mentioning it once during casual conversation at the clubhouse. In the water-type area, there was a game where water-type pets would wear equipment fitted with buttons and be tied to flight devices. As they played over the water, they would be launched into the air at random times and then fall back down. During this, they would use water-type skills to attack each other, aiming to hit the buttons to make them light up. Once a pet¡¯s button lit up, it was eliminated. The last pet remaining on the water would be the winner and would not have to pay the participation fee. Knocking opponents unconscious was also fine, it was quite common in competitive amusement events like this. The park even had a free treatment area set up specifically for this. Chaosu Star-ranked beast masters usually brought their pets to participate in purposeful activities like this rather than pure entertainment, which made skill-training games especially popular. Qiao Sang decided on "Sky Battle Over Water" and took Lubao to line up. "Remember, just use water-type skills during the game, no ice-type skills." Qiao Sang instructed carefully. "Only water-type skills are allowed." "Lu." Lubao nodded seriously. "You¡¯ll be suddenly launched into the air, don''t be scared, the equipment is safe. It¡¯s just to make attacking harder." Qiao Sang added with concern. "Lu." Lubao nodded again, indicating she understood. The rules were publicly posted, and she had already seen them. "Also, if a pet¡¯s button has already turned red from being hit, don''t keep attacking them." Qiao Sang continued. "Lu." Lubao nodded. "And one more thing." Qiao Sang said as something else occurred to her, "This is just an amusement event. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t win first place. Don¡¯t feel pressured, we can keep trying." "Lu¡­" Lubao felt her beast master was being a little too naggy. "Yap!" Just as Qiao Sang was about to say more, Yabao wagged his tail and called out, indicating he wanted to play too. "Next time." Qiao Sang said, looking down. "This one''s only for water-types. I¡¯ll take you to the fire-type zone next time." "Yap¡­" Yabao drooped his tail, looking a little disappointed. Soon, though, he perked up and eagerly watched the ongoing "Sky Battle Over Water." Looks like Yabao really wasn¡¯t afraid of water anymore... Qiao Sang felt a small sense of relief. Twenty minutes later, it was finally Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. The staff, seeing Lubao, showed a look of amazement and carefully helped her into her equipment. "Good luck." Qiao Sang encouraged. "Yap!" Yabao cheered as well. "Lu." Lubao glanced at her beast master, then at Yabao, before striding confidently toward the artificial pool where the event would take place. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her expression didn¡¯t look like she was going to a game, she looked like she was heading into an important match. The "Sky Battle Over Water" had thirty pets participating per round. Various water-type pets, each different in appearance, wore black vests with buttons and jetpacks controlled by the staff. Qiao Sang and Yabao found a spot in the viewing area to watch. Here sat the beast masters whose pets were participating in this round. "What''s your pet¡¯s name? It¡¯s really beautiful." Asked a nearby woman with black hair, looking to be in her early twenties, leaning over curiously. She then looked down at Yabao and added, "And this one too, I¡¯ve never seen it before." "That one¡¯s called Ice Xilu, and this one¡¯s Fire Qilu." Qiao Sang replied. "Even the names sound nice." The woman praised. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind making casual conversation with someone polite. "What¡¯s your water pet?" As they spoke, the event began. Many blue-colored water-type pets were suddenly launched into the air by their jetpacks, eliciting screams all over. The woman pointed at a small water-type pet in the air with a shell on its back and laughed, "That little Shellmoney Turtle is mine. It''s timid and afraid of heights. I wanted it to play this to build some courage." No sooner had she spoken than a water gun, thicker than Shellmoney Turtle¡¯s whole body, blasted it squarely. "Shell shell!" Already screaming, the Shellmoney Turtle fell back into the pool, then floated to the surface with its eyes closed, looking almost peaceful. The woman: ¡­ Qiao Sang stayed silent beside her. She had clearly seen that it was Lubao who blasted Shellmoney Turtle¡­ "Yap Yap!" Yabao stared excitedly at the pool, cheering for his teammate, clearly thrilled by Lubao¡¯s performance. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Thank goodness Lubao wasn¡¯t standing next to her right now¡­ Chapter 688: Could It Be An Illusion? The woman waved her hand, summoned the Shellmoney Turtle back, and, having lost interest in chatting, turned and left with an unpleasant expression. Although this was just a recreational activity, the incident happening right after she introduced her pet beast made her feel a little embarrassed. Qiao Sang remained unaffected and turned to look at Lubao. ¡°Whoosh.¡± In the pool, an arrow made of condensed water shot through the air, aiming at the button on Lubao¡¯s chest. Lubao didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, she wrapped her tail in water, flicked it forward, and easily shattered the blue water arrow. Immediately after, a water ball attacked from the left. Lubao jumped into the water, and the ball struck another water-type pet beast with a horn on its forehead. The water ball wasn¡¯t very powerful, the other water pet merely shook its head, entirely uninjured. At the same time, Lubao leaped out of the water, appearing in front of the water pet that had shot the ball, and forcefully whipped her water-covered tail forward. That water pet was sent flying like a cannonball. Not only did the button on its chest light up, but it also immediately fainted. It seemed that most participants in this Sky Battle Over Water game were low- to mid-level pet beasts... Qiao Sang observed the dozens of pets in the pool and found that apart from Lubao, none of the others wore a lightweight miniaturization bracelet. Now, even though defeating low- and mid-level pets wouldn¡¯t earn Lubao many points per match, if she defeated a lot of them in one round, it would still accumulate nicely¡­ About seven minutes later, the Sky Battle Over Water event ended. As the only high-level pet among thirty water types, Lubao unsurprisingly remained the last one standing. Qiao Sang hugged Lubao and lined up again. Soon, Lubao went up once more. Qiao Sang returned to her original seat. Seven minutes later, she hugged Lubao and queued up again. This cycle repeated eleven times, until some of the other players couldn''t take it anymore. ¡°You¡¯ve played so many times already, and you¡¯re still going?¡± As the next Sky Battle Over Water just began, a blonde girl deliberately came over to ask. ¡°Exactly!¡± A young man next to her agreed. ¡°You¡¯ve already gotten first place so many times. Shouldn¡¯t you give us a chance?¡± He sounded a little angry but also slightly timid. He was annoyed because winning or losing didn¡¯t really matter, but normally, a game would last about fifteen minutes. Because of the insane strength of this girl¡¯s water pet, the matches were cut to half the time. He came here to train his pet, and now he was getting half the playtime while paying the full price. After so many rounds, he had had enough. He was timid because he noticed that not only Lubao but also the fire-type pet beside the girl were both wearing lightweight miniaturization bracelets¡­ Qiao Sang remained calm and replied, ¡°Did you bring your pet here to play or to train?¡± The surrounding people spoke up: ¡°Of course to train!¡± ¡°Definitely to train!¡± ¡°Who would bring a pet just to play?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Qiao Sang said lightly, ¡°If you want your pet to train well, they need to battle strong opponents. If the opponent is at the same level as them, the training effect would be minimal.¡± That... actually made sense. The surrounding people showed thoughtful expressions, including the previously angry but timid young man. Qiao Sang thought to herself: Finally bluffed my way through... After this round ended, Qiao Sang hugged Lubao and quickly left. She was worried that if she stayed for a few more rounds, once people fully realized what was happening, she would spark a public outcry. It wasn¡¯t that she feared them, just that she would feel a little guilty. After all, having Lubao crush a bunch of low- and mid-level water pets like this really did feel a bit like bullying... --- The next day, Qiao Sang¡¯s conscience, which had slightly stirred the previous night, had pretty much vanished. She brought Lubao to Jiujing Amusement Park to play Sky Battle Over Water again. During the games, she bumped into a few familiar faces from last night. Everyone smiled and nodded politely as if nothing had happened. But two hours later, no one could smile anymore. Seeing the increasingly dark expressions of the people around her, though none dared say anything, Qiao Sang checked the time and decided to leave with Lubao. On the third day, Qiao Sang brought Lubao as usual. This time, the familiar visitors from the past two days didn¡¯t even bother pretending. Their faces darkened, and they kept far away from her. On the fourth day, even the staff responsible for helping pets gear up started giving Qiao Sang and Lubao complicated looks. On the fifth day, just as Qiao Sang finished lining up and sat down in the spectator stands, a newspaper conveniently floated right in front of her. In such a developed place like 1st District, they still used newspapers? Out of curiosity, she grabbed it, looked down, and saw the headline occupying the main section: ¡°Unknown Water-Type Pet Bullying Incident at Jiujing Amusement Park!¡± Below the title was a distant photo showing a pet¡¯s silhouette from the back. Qiao Sang immediately recognized it as Lubao. We followed all the rules. How did this become bullying... Qiao Sang frowned slightly. At that moment, she sensed something and turned her head. She spotted a silver-white pet, shaped like a small cube, looking a bit like a mini printer. "Baobao¡­¡± The silver-white pet stiffened when it met her gaze, and immediately buried itself in its owner''s arms. Baobao Cass, a mid-level mechanical-type pet that could automatically generate paper documents based on human brainwave activity. It was beloved by many literature lovers... Qiao Sang recalled the relevant information and then looked up at the owner cuddling the pet, it was the same young man who had been dissatisfied with her on the first day. The man averted his gaze, not daring to meet her eyes. Ah, so it was this guy who purposely made this newspaper for me to see... Figuring it out, Qiao Sang casually tossed the paper aside. For her, helping Lubao accumulate points quickly and improving her mental state was the most important thing. By the sixth day, Lubao¡¯s appetite had returned and was even better than before. At the dining table, Liu Yao couldn¡¯t help but sigh: ¡°You really have a talent for being a breeder. For a pet as...¡± Noticing Lubao nearby, he swallowed his original words and rephrased: ¡°For such a unique pet, you were able to adjust her condition so quickly.¡± Does personality even relate to condition? Qiao Sang had a doubt flash through her mind, but outwardly she smiled: ¡°Of course. I¡¯m her beastmaster.¡± Liu Yao became serious: ¡°Not every beast master truly understands their pet. Believe me, you really do have a gift for breeding.¡± Qiao Sang joked, ¡°Then should I minor in the Breeding Department?¡± Liu Yao froze, looking unusually conflicted: ¡°Better not rush into that. Your talent for beast mastery is the highest I¡¯ve ever seen. Now that you¡¯re in the Beast master Department, you should focus all your time and energy there.¡± If Qiao Sang had said this six months ago, he would¡¯ve agreed enthusiastically. But her progress had been nothing short of miraculous. In just half a year, her brain development reached 39%, and she evolved Blazing Star Canine and Ghost Ring Phantom into General-level pets. He simply couldn¡¯t bear to see her split her efforts into another major, even if she had talent there. I was just joking, don¡¯t take it so seriously¡­ Qiao Sang looked at the vice-principal¡¯s serious face, opened her mouth but finally chose to stay quiet and just kept eating silently. --- After the meal, Qiao Sang returned to her room and sat cross-legged to meditate. ¡°Lu?¡± Lubao waited for a long time. Seeing that her master showed no signs of leaving, she called out. Are we not going today? Qiao Sang opened her eyes and said: ¡°Not today. School starts tomorrow, and there will be an assessment. We need to stay in top condition.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nodded in understanding, then turned and jumped into the water tank. At that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s phone vibrated. She grabbed it and glanced at the caller ID, then picked up. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hello, Mom? Why are you calling me?¡± ¡°I want to discuss something with you.¡± Her mother¡¯s voice came from the speaker. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang asked. Ye Xiangting organized her words carefully and said, ¡°Well, you bought two villas at Qinglu Courtyard, right? Someone offered 8 million more than the original price to buy the one we¡¯re living in, Villa 16. Do you want to sell it?¡± Qiao Sang was stunned and blurted out, ¡°Are they crazy? Offering 8 million more than the original price?¡± Back then, she had bought the villas in a suburban area. Without a prime location, real estate usually didn¡¯t appreciate in value, in fact, it was hard to even sell. She didn¡¯t expect someone to throw money away like this. Ye Xiangting chuckled proudly: ¡°You¡¯re now a student at the Imperial Beast University. Forget the house, even the textbooks you used in school, people are offering high prices to buy!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Honestly, she never thought entering the Imperial Beast University would turn her into a selling point for property value. She suddenly thought of something and asked worriedly, ¡°You didn¡¯t sell anything else, right?¡± Ye Xiangting laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t sell anything else, not even your old textbooks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± Qiao Sang was relieved. ¡°So, do you want to sell Villa 16?¡± Ye Xiangting asked. ¡°Up to you. If you want to sell, go ahead.¡± Qiao Sang replied casually. She had originally bought Villa 17 too, considering future pet size issues. Now that she had Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet, keeping Villa 17 alone was enough. Ye Xiangting paused, then said her real plan: ¡°I was thinking of selling it and pooling the money to buy you a house near the Imperial Beast University. You¡¯ll have to stay there for five years, and it¡¯ll be convenient. I heard a lot of beast master students prefer living off-campus.¡± Qiao Sang was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing: ¡°Mom, we probably don''t qualify to buy property there.¡± Ye Xiangting smiled gently: ¡°I checked, as long as you¡¯re a student of the Imperial Beast University, you can buy. Even non-Blue Star residents can.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! Chapter 689: So Miserable, One Person The next day. It was the opening day at Yulianton University. All kinds of pet beasts, some so large they could carry several or even dozens of people, appeared in the sky and on the ground. Throughout, flying-type pet beasts kept swooping down and landing by the roadside. "Yap!" High in the sky, Yabao looked around excitedly, glancing left and right. This one looks so strong! That one over there looks like it would be great in a fight too! Qiao Sang sat onYabao''s back. Although she couldn¡¯t see his facial expression, she could tell from the way his head kept turning what he was thinking. "There will be plenty of chances to battle strong opponents later. For now, stop looking around. Let¡¯s hurry to the freshman reception. We don¡¯t want to be late." Qiao Sang patted Yabao and said. "Yap!" Yabao called out in understanding, then flapped his wings harder, speeding up. About a week ago, Qiao Sang had already scouted the general layout of Yulianton University. She didn''t spend much time and quickly arrived at her destination. The freshman reception was located in a massive visual arts building eight stories tall. Inside the building, the floors were staggered, creating many outdoor terraces. Yabao landed on the ground. After Qiao Sang dismounted, his body slowly shrank in size. Qiao Sang entered the huge second-floor hall. Inside, almost two-thirds of the seats were already filled with freshmen. On the stage at the very front, nine armchairs were placed, with nine elderly individuals of various skin and hair colors seated there, clearly of advanced age. Qiao Sang found the section assigned to the Beast Taming Department. Hugging Yabao, she casually found a seat. The surrounding students glanced at Yabao but quickly looked away. Qiao Sang swept her gaze across the hall and noticed that although there weren¡¯t many students carrying pet beasts like her, it wasn¡¯t completely unheard of either. Just then, a girl about eighteen years old, with shoulder-length blond hair and bright blue eyes, leaned over and greeted her: "Hello, I''m Lylaly." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang glanced at her, responding, "I¡¯m Qiao Sang." "Which planet are you from?" Lylaly asked. Looks like everyone has already assumed that anyone carrying a pet beast isn¡¯t from Chaosu Star... Qiao Sang thought to herself but smiled outwardly: "Blue Star." "Blue Star, huh..." Lylaly said wistfully. "I''ve always wanted to visit the secret realms there, but never had the chance." "You''ll have the chance someday." Qiao Sang replied. After some small talk, Lylaly suddenly thought of something and asked: "Which dorm area are you living in?" "I¡¯m not sure." Qiao Sang explained. "I applied to live off-campus, and I haven¡¯t been to the dorms." Lylaly looked surprised: "It got approved so quickly?" Qiao Sang was about to explain that she was an exchange student when Lylaly continued: "I heard there¡¯s an incredible freshman this year who was assigned to the Special Zone right from the start." Qiao Sang asked curiously: "The Special Zone?" Before Lylaly could answer, a brown-haired boy with a few freckles sitting nearby leaned over and explained: "You probably don¡¯t know because you¡¯re not living on campus. Yulianton University''s dorms are divided into three areas: The Elementary Zone, the Advanced Zone, and the Special Zone." "Freshmen like us usually stay in the Elementary Zone, while the Advanced Zone is for upperclassmen." He paused slightly, looking at Qiao Sang. "And the Special Zone?" Qiao Sang asked, playing along. Before the boy could answer, Lylaly said calmly, "The Special Zone is for the top 100 students in each department. In our Beast Taming Department, the top 100 were all proven through real battles. It¡¯s unheard of for a freshman to be assigned there straight away." "That¡¯s not entirely true." The brown-haired boy raised his voice a little to refute her: "There have been five cases where freshmen were assigned to the Special Zone right upon entry. They were all top-tier geniuses. You can still look up their names in the Beast Taming Alliance. You know Zakaton, right? He was one of them..." Lylaly interrupted: "I mean it¡¯s unprecedented in the Beast Taming Department." The brown-haired boy immediately fell silent. "Who is this freshman that got assigned to the Special Zone?" Qiao Sang asked, interested. "No idea." Lylaly shook her head. The brown-haired boy looked gossipy: "I heard that yesterday, a fifth-year senior who was originally ranked 100th went to the Special Zone dorms to challenge the newcomer, hoping to win back his room but the freshman wasn¡¯t even there." "A challenge?" Qiao Sang immediately perked up. "If you win, you can reclaim the dorm?" "Of course." The brown-haired boy waved his hand. "We''re in the Beast Taming Department;it¡¯s all about strength. The top 100 are literally the best fighters. If you beat one of them, you can move into the Special Zone." Hearing this, Qiao Sang thought for a moment and asked: "Then won¡¯t lots of people want to challenge that freshman?" Lylaly¡¯s face lit up with battle spirit: "Exactly! They¡¯re our peer, after all. Why should they get special treatment? We¡¯re all the same age! I refuse to believe they¡¯re that much stronger than me. I¡¯ll challenge them sooner or later!" The brown-haired boy glanced at her and reminded: "You need to register first. Anyone wanting to challenge a top 100 must sign up. Only battles officiated by a teacher are valid." Poor person, getting targeted by the whole Beast Taming Department right after entering college¡­ Qiao Sang thought with a moment of sympathy, and asked: "Where do you register? I want to go too." She wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the Special Zone itself, but from what they said, this new freshman was probably the strongest among the first-years. Strong enough that, even without defeating anyone yet, the school had placed them in the Special Zone. She was very eager to have a match with such a person. "I¡¯m not sure." The brown-haired boy said. "But you can ask your advisor later." --- Meanwhile. Several teachers from the Beast Taming Department were discussing quietly while looking at Qiao Sang¡¯s seat: "Is that Qiao Sang?" "Yes, looks just like in the records." "I admit reaching this level at 16 is impressive, but putting her directly into the Special Zone seems excessive. Every student there earned it through battles." At that moment, a serious-looking middle-aged man in his forties said flatly: "It was the Imperial Beast University¡¯s request." The surroundings instantly quieted, followed by a disgruntled voice: "So just because they requested it, we have to agree?" The middle-aged man said sternly, "Don¡¯t forget, we also have exchange students over at the Imperial Beast University." A round-faced female teacher, sensing the tension, hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Actually, being placed directly into the Special Zone might not be such a good thing. The entire Beast Taming Department will probably see her as a rival. This semester won¡¯t be easy for her." The middle-aged man said calmly, "That will be part of her training." The previously disgruntled teacher chuckled coldly: "Using our entire Beast Taming Department to ''train'' her, huh?" The female teacher didn''t try to smooth things over anymore. She knew that Teacher Brennan, the serious-looking man, had once strongly favored a student, hoping to keep him for graduate studies. But that student had chosen to transfer to the Imperial Beast University, leaving behind the words, "I just chose the better option." Since then, Brennan had been triggered, seeing the Imperial Beast University as his sworn rival. Though the two top academies officially maintained cordial relations, only Brennan made no effort to hide the competition. Chapter 690: Freshmen Assessment The area where the Beast Taming Department freshmen were gathered. The three of them grew quite familiar with each other through casual chatting. "See that?" Laylaly pointed to one of the nine big shots on stage and said, "That¡¯s the Dean of our Beast Taming Academy." Qiao Sang followed the direction she pointed and saw an old man with half-white hair and a face full of wrinkles, though he still looked very healthy and rosy. "I heard that Gilbert Heren is already 483 years old." Said Landon, the brown-haired boy, lowering his voice. 483 years old? Qiao Sang was genuinely shocked. "That old?" She stared in astonishment at the figure in the distance, a man even older than her great-great-great-grandfather. To be honest, the textbooks did mention that once a beast tamer reached a certain level, they''d be granted longevity through feedback effects, living much longer than ordinary people. But it was the first time she had seen someone live this long in real life. Rounding it off, that''s almost five centuries¡­ "The older they are, the stronger they are." Landon said without hiding his eagerness. "I want to live that long too." Laylaly had a different opinion: "Living long doesn''t necessarily mean being strong. Like Peter Newona, he''s only a C-rank beast tamer, but managed to live up to 329 years old by relying on the ability of Shengheng Mom." "That¡¯s just an exception." Landon retorted. What?! A C-rank beast tamer lived to 329? What kind of beast is Shengheng Mom to be that powerful?! Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. She really wanted to ask, but in order not to expose herself as a "slacker" in front of new friends, she silently pulled out her phone and started searching for "Shengheng Mom." Soon, the page loaded with relevant information: [Shengheng Mom: A legendary pet beast from the Ultra Dormant Star. It can increase the lifespan of all things. However, the price is unknown. It is said to awaken once every 500 years.] A beast that can extend life itself... Qiao Sang felt her knowledge expand again. As she was reading, the stage started broadcasting speeches. But Qiao Sang automatically tuned out until she heard: "This assessment will award corresponding points based on performance. You might not realize it yet, but let me explain the importance of points." "Points can be used to purchase any exchangeable items within the school. Many subjects that require specialized knowledge also need points for lectures or borrowing books. Want to live in better dorms? That requires points too." "As long as you have enough points, any faculty or student from any department can serve you: S-rank nurturers, item makers, potion masters, rune scholars, mechanics, appraisers, spirit plant masters... We¡¯re not short on talent here." "In other words, with points, you can get anything you want here!" At those words, the entire hall erupted in noisy excitement. Everyone had heard bits and pieces about points over the past few days but didn¡¯t realize they were this important! "Ahh! A senior took me around the dorms and campus for 2 points. Was I scammed?" "Oh no! A senior borrowed 10 points from me! Am I never getting them back?" "Damn it, when I was reporting in, I saw a fierce Peacock. It shivered and a feather fell off. Then a senior popped up, claiming I pulled it and made me pay 3 points! I think I got scammed too!" The freshmen each chimed in, sharing how they had been tricked by upperclassmen into losing their points. Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something. She pulled out her phone and checked the email from Yulianton University. Soon she found the line: [From today, all freshmen are uniformly awarded 100 points.] At this moment, she heard Laylaly lament: "If I had known how important points were, I wouldn''t have let that senior teleport me to the reporting office!" Qiao Sang asked, "The 1-point teleport?" Laylaly immediately turned toward her: "You used it too?" Qiao Sang shook her head: "No." Laylaly: ... Landon looked around and said, surprised: "I didn¡¯t expect so many people to be unaware of the points system here. I thought everyone researched Yulianton University before coming." Qiao Sang glanced at him. "There¡¯s no insider info online." Famous top universities often kept internal management details off the internet. What was available were only rankings, environment descriptions, teacher profiles, famous alumni, and some research achievements. Landon fell silent for a moment, then coughed lightly and said: "Yulianton University mainly wants everyone to understand: Here, you have to rely on yourself. Among the students, many come from ordinary families. If everyone needs points, then opportunities are essentially equal." Qiao Sang understood. During this time with her unlimited card, she learned that top resources and talent weren¡¯t just about money. Here, points weakened the influence of wealthy families, creating a more equal starting line. The teacher on stage continued: "Each department''s assessment is independent. You don''t need to communicate with other departments. Now, please pick up the smart glasses in front of you to check your task." Smart glasses? Qiao Sang looked ahead and found a pair of transparent smart glasses that hadn''t been there before. Were they using spatial transfer to distribute items? How skilled must you be to achieve that? Wonder if her Little Treasure could learn it too¡­ Qiao Sang, thinking this, put on the smart glasses. A virtual panel immediately froze midair. [Please enter your student number and password.] Qiao Sang raised her hand and tapped. Soon, new content appeared: Name: Qiao Sang Major: Beast Taming Department Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Points: 0 Task: Defeat any beast tamer from the Beast Taming Academy who owns pets of the Water, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Dark, Electric, Grass, Steel, Fighting, or Fire attributes. (Defeating one pet earns one point.) Note: Do not remove the smart glasses during battles. Assessment Location: Anywhere. End Countdown: 2:59:52 Three hours for the assessment... But why specify those attributes? There were also Normal, Ice, Flying, Dragon, Poison, Bug, Fairy, and Psychic types... Did defeating beast tamers with those other types not count? Qiao Sang stared at the specified attributes, her mind racing to analyze, then suddenly realized: Water, Ground, Rock types counter Fire types. Ghost and Dark types counter Ghost and Psychic types. Electric and Grass types counter Water types. Rock, Steel, Fighting, and Fire types counter Ice types. Fighting and Fire types counter Steel types... The goal was to make them defeat opponents with types countering their own! Meaning everyone had different targets. Choosing the wrong opponent could mean wasting time and draining their pets'' stamina and energy... There weren¡¯t that many pets with certain types either. If someone battled first and weakened an opponent¡¯s pet, others might not have a chance to challenge them. Realizing this, Qiao Sang pressed the side of the smart glasses frame, and the virtual panel disappeared. --- Meanwhile, the Beast Taming Department teachers were chatting: "Everyone wants to challenge counters, but for others, that might be their strong types. Battles will waste time. The real purpose is to encourage communication and deeper knowledge of pet types." "Everyone has multiple pets. To find a mutually countered opponent and get them to agree to battle, both sides need to have pets that counter each other. Battle one match, switch, and battle again. I bet they¡¯ll be talking for ages." "Maybe someone¡¯s a hothead and will start fighting without checking first?" "Impossible. These are Yulianton students, not brainless brute force tamers." --- Back in the Beast Taming freshmen area. The freshmen quickly caught on to the assessment''s goal and began asking around: "What pet types do you have?" "Water, Grass, Poison. You?" "Not telling you. None of mine are countered by yours." "..." To battle properly, both sides needed to have pets countered by each other, and finding such opponents wouldn¡¯t be quick. All Beast Taming freshmen were still gathered. Some wanted to know more about their peers before dueling because once they left, it would be hard to find each other again, everyone was still strangers. Other department students were already getting up and leaving, but not a single Beast Tamer duel had started yet. Amid the chatter, Qiao Sang slowly stood up. Too troublesome. Spending so much time filtering opponents was pointless, she might as well battle directly. Holding her pet Yabao, she cleared her throat and shouted: "100 points! Whoever beats me first gets all my points! I¡¯ll be waiting outside!" With that, she strode toward the exit. The previously noisy area fell silent. Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up, staring at her. Feeling the heated gazes, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something, stopped, and added loudly: "Only Beast Taming Department students allowed!" Then she turned and left. For a moment, the Beast Taming freshmen froze. Then they all got up in unison and started squeezing toward the door. "Don¡¯t block the way!" "I¡¯m ahead of you! You¡¯re blocking me!" "You wanna fight?!" "If we¡¯re fighting, wait until after I finish my match!" Meanwhile, the Beast Taming Department teachers: ??? Chapter 691: Mysterious Weng Qiao Sang deliberately found an open enough area for battle and stopped there. The freshmen from the Beast Taming Department quickly followed and gathered around. "I¡¯ll go first!" "Why should you? I want to go first!" "I was here first!" "Bullshit, I clearly got here before you!" Everyone was practically grabbing the person next to them, preventing them from taking another step forward. The scene became deadlocked, and for a moment, no one stepped up to formally express their desire to battle Qiao Sang. The 100 points reward was for the first person to win. Students who could make it into Yulianton University were all very confident in their own strength. Everyone believed that as long as they went up first, they would win and claim the points, so no one was willing to give way. This isn''t working¡­ so much time is being wasted. Seeing that no one was stepping up even after a while, Qiao Sang realized the problem. She cleared her throat to draw everyone¡¯s attention. As the sponsor offering the 100 points, everyone respectfully quieted down and looked at her. Qiao Sang said seriously, "I will only battle against pets that counter Fire, Ghost, Water, and Steel types." She was listing the main attributes of her own pets. In attribute counter battles, it¡¯s usually the main attribute that matters most. Although secondary attributes can influence things too, they don''t have as much impact as the main one. Oh, so her pets have Fire, Ghost, Water, and Steel attributes... Everyone instantly understood. However, no one thought these four attributes belonged to different pets. Some people couldn¡¯t hide their disappointment and stopped trying to block others, while others became even more excited and competitive. "I have a Water-type pet! It can counter Fire-types perfectly!" "I have Ground-type and Grass-type pets! They counter Fire and Water respectively, I can fight you twice!" "Me! I can summon my pet for you to check first! If you think it fits, then we can fight!" This¡­ doesn¡¯t seem very proper¡­ Qiao Sang looked complexly at the person who said that and replied: "You." Hearing this, the crowd immediately stirred. "Isn¡¯t it just summoning a pet first? I can do that too! I¡¯ll bring whichever one you want to fight!" "Choose me! I can tell you everything about my pet!" "Stop arguing, she already picked me! Move aside!" The boy Qiao Sang chose happily pushed past the people blocking him and without wasting a second, formed a hand seal. At the same time, Yabao jumped down from Qiao Sang''s arms onto the ground. Seeing this, the others realized they''d missed the first chance to battle, and sighed one after another, feeling like they''d lost 100 points. Some people didn''t waste time. They immediately turned to challenge others nearby and left to battle. Since many had already shouted out their pets'' attributes earlier, there was no need for long introductions to find a suitable opponent. At this moment, a clear voice rang out: "Going first doesn¡¯t necessarily mean winning first." This voice struck the frustrated Beast Taming freshmen like a bell. Their spirits lifted: "That''s right, we¡¯re all from the Beast Taming Department! Who says that girl will lose!" "Exactly. You can''t judge strength by appearances. Since she dared to say that, she must be strong." "Right! Anyway, I wouldn¡¯t dare gamble 100 points." As a result, only a few left, most freshmen decided to stay, watching and waiting for another chance. The boy chosen, afraid to lose this hard-earned opportunity, formed a not-so-common hand seal. Three green star formations lit up on the ground. Soon, three pets of different appearances and sizes emerged from the formations. Looking at the scene, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something: She had forgotten to learn the hand signs needed to summon multiple pets at once... The boy enthusiastically introduced: "Leitata, a High-level Electric-type pet. Goplas, a Mid-level Psychic-type pet. Mysterious Weng, a High-level Grass-type pet. Choose whichever one you want to battle!" "Leita." "Gopla." "Mystery." The three pets, all of different types, seemed to understand. They stared at Qiao Sang with eager, battle-ready looks. "Yap..." Yabao glanced at them and immediately lost interest. Too weak¡­ I wasn¡¯t planning to let you fight anyway. Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t polite, she pointed to the roughly three-meter-tall, mostly green pet with blunt, curled horns growing from each side of its head: "Mysterious Weng. That one." If she wanted later opponents to fight eagerly, they couldn''t feel like they had no chance. Yabao was too strong, and Little Treasure was already at General level. Lubao was currently accumulating points, making her the most suitable to battle now. Upon hearing her choice, the boy quickly waved his hand and recalled Leitata and Goplas back into his Beast Taming Codex. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Sang formed a hand seal. An orange-yellow star formation lit up, and Lubao slowly appeared. The scene fell silent for a few seconds. Then, everyone¡¯s expressions changed slightly, and a commotion broke out like dust being kicked up. "An orange-yellow star formation?" "She¡¯s already developed her brain domain to this extent in her freshman year?!" "No wonder she dared to offer 100 points to the winner¡­" "As expected of Yulianton University, even geniuses like this are here!" "Uh, maybe she started school late and is older than us?" "Open your eyes and look carefully! Judging by her appearance, she¡¯s more likely younger, maybe even skipped grades!" Students of Yulianton University came from all over the interstellar territories. Although most students'' pets were of Chaosu Star origin, seeing unfamiliar pets from other planets wasn¡¯t unusual. Thus, everyone''s focus was on the color of Qiao Sang¡¯s star formation, not on Lubao herself. The chosen boy thought back to the color of the star formation and his heart sank, the smile on his face gradually faded. Although he was confident in his own strength, honestly, it was his first time seeing an orange-yellow star formation among peers of the same age... "Let¡¯s begin." Qiao Sang made a please gesture. Even with a counter attribute, she¡¯s letting me attack first... The boy''s mind stirred. Just as he was about to give a command- Lubao suddenly darted forward toward Mysterious Weng. "Catch it!" The boy quickly changed his plan. Mysterious Weng stood motionless, only opening its mouth to spit out a brown seed. When the seed was less than a meter away from Lubao, it suddenly split open. From inside, vines burst out and formed a net, falling from the sky, aiming to trap Lubao underneath. This is a first¡­ Qiao Sang was surprised inwardly, though her face remained calm. "Seed Bomb!" Seeing the vine net successfully trapping the opponent, the boy¡¯s eyes lit up and he followed up quickly. Seed Bomb, a high-tier Grass-type skill, spits out hard seeds like bullets to attack opponents... The skill¡¯s information floated up in Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. "Mystery!" Mysterious Weng opened its mouth and fired seeds. Bang bang bang! One after another, seeds hit the ground deeply, creating cracks. Some of the brown seeds were about to hit Lubao. But just then, the vine net fell flat onto the ground- Inside, Lubao was gone. Chapter 692: Suddenly Understood Something The Beast Taming freshmen present weren¡¯t particularly surprised by the scene. Everyone started discussing among themselves, each offering their own opinions. "It looks like this water-type pet has the Mist trait." The Mist trait allows a pet to exist and move like mist in the air as long as there¡¯s moisture. It''s a rather rare ability. "I don¡¯t think so." A girl offered a different opinion. "I¡¯ve seen a pet with the Mist trait before. When it turned into mist, it didn¡¯t just vanish instantly like this, it was a gradual process, where you could see its body slowly dispersing along with the wind." Another boy pushed up his glasses and said, "It''s the Melting Water trait." Someone nearby laughed. "Impossible, that water-type pet didn¡¯t even use any water-type skills just now." Another agreed, "Melting Water needs water first. There¡¯s no puddle around here, and it¡¯s not raining either." "But its tail fin is made of water." The boy with glasses said calmly. "Generally speaking, body parts made from elements can be partially controlled through training." His analysis was correct. Back when Yabao was training to control his flame wings, Lubao was also undergoing similar training. Her tail fin was condensed from water. Through training, while it couldn¡¯t completely disappear like Yabao¡¯s wings, she could make water drip from her tail fin. Qiao Sang had thought at the time that this move would be very useful in battle. After all, traditional water-type skills were easy to predict and defend against, but dripping water from the tail fin was invisible to the opponent, making it a perfect tactic for sudden disappearance. Inside the encirclement, the boy selected for battle remained calm and gave a command: "Move." "Mysterious!" Mysterious Weng immediately ran off. Its movement path was extremely bizarre and unpredictable, like someone drunkenly staggering about. Qiao Sang¡¯s vision was extraordinary now. She clearly saw Mysterious Weng dropping tiny, dust-like brown particles as it moved. Could it be... it hasn¡¯t bathed in too long? Qiao Sang quickly pushed this thought out of her mind and regained a serious expression. This was a battle, not a joke. Those things it dropped must have a purpose. It would be best to end this quickly... As this thought rose, Lubao suddenly leapt out from behind Mysterious Weng. Her sharp claws condensed into ice, flashing cold light, and she slashed mercilessly forward. Just as the icy claws were about a centimeter away from Mysterious Weng, sharp vines suddenly burst from the ground like swords! Sure enough, those falling particles were a trap... Qiao Sang quickly issued a command: "Water Stream Jet!" Lubao withdrew her claws. Huge streams of water enveloped her body, shooting her into the air, successfully dodging the sharp vines erupting from the ground. Many people around pulled out their pet scanners and scanned the now stationary Mysterious Weng. Mechanical electronic voices rang out. [Mysterious Weng, a high-level grass-type pet from Tengen Star. The seeds it sprays out can randomly produce various grass-type skills. As the pet''s level increases, the skills produced become more aligned with the pet''s will.] Just as one electronic voice finished speaking, Lubao, encased in a water stream, drew an elegant arc through the air and launched a sudden assault on Mysterious Weng. The proficiency of that Water Stream Jet looked almost like a ultimate technique... The boy¡¯s heart tightened and he shouted loudly: "Block it!" Mysterious Weng looked up and opened its mouth. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A brown seed was about to shoot out when Lubao suddenly accelerated and slammed head-on into Mysterious Weng¡¯s head. "Mysterious!" Mysterious Weng screamed and staggered, collapsing onto the ground. "Photosynthesis!" "Continuous Water Tail!" Qiao Sang and the boy shouted commands at the same time. Photosynthesis, a healing skill only grass-type pets could use, allowed them to restore energy and stamina through sunlight. Water Tail, a mid-level water skill, even if Mysterious Weng was hit, it could still maintain Photosynthesis, and its proficiency was already in the late mastery stage. Usually, normal attacks couldn¡¯t overcome its regeneration... or so the boy thought, until the next moment when his mouth twitched hard. Lubao¡¯s Water Tail was thick and massive, many times larger than her original tail, utterly absurd. Mysterious Weng¡¯s Photosynthesis couldn''t keep up. Continuous Water Tail strikes battered the already heavily injured Mysterious Weng, leaving it no chance to retaliate. Seeing the scene, the boy realized a brutal truth: Lubao¡¯s Water Tail was also at the ultimate level... He took a deep breath and prepared to give another command. But at that moment, Lubao, sensing it was enough, retracted her tail. Her claws instantly froze into sharp ice. Swish! The Ice Claws dragged a long, cold gleam across Mysterious Weng¡¯s head. "Mysterious!" Mysterious Weng was sent flying and never got up again. Ice Claws, another Ultimate level... Realizing this, the boy looked at the girl opposite him with a complicated expression. He didn¡¯t choose to continue fighting. He simply withdrew Mysterious Weng and left. At the same time, a virtual panel visible only to Qiao Sang popped up. Name: Qiao Sang Major: Beast Taming Department Points: 1 While Qiao Sang was looking at the virtual panel, the Beast Taming freshmen around her exchanged glances. Although this was the battle result everyone had hoped for, no one was rushing up to challenge her anymore. After all, students who could enter Yulianton University weren''t fools. Whether it was the orange-yellow star formation, or the Ultimate-level Water Stream Jet, Water Tail, and Ice Claws, all of it made them realize that this girl wasn¡¯t simple. At this moment, the boy with glasses pointed his pet identfier at Lubao. [Ice Xilu, a high-level dual water-ice type pet from Blue Star, nearly extinct. Consider yourself lucky to encounter one. Don¡¯t forget to take a picture!] Upon hearing the scanner''s announcement, the boy¡¯s pupils shrank sharply. He stared hard at Lubao and hurriedly took out his phone to snap a photo. "Anyone else want to battle?" Qiao Sang asked. "I do!" Soon, another freshman walked out from the crowd. Three minutes later, as the opponent closed in, Lubao ended the match with an Ice Spike Shield. In the next hour, Lubao used Rain Prayer and the Swift Swimmer trait to easily defeat many opponents. Although these were battles against countering types, Lubao¡¯s skill proficiency far outmatched the opponents'', making every battle a one-sided victory without any disadvantage. As time passed, fewer and fewer people lined up to fight. When they saw a thunder-type pet finally land a strike with lightning, only for the water-type Lubao to immediately glow blue and fully recover after winning, the remaining people cursed and turned away. Seeing the crowd thinning, Qiao Sang quickly shouted: "Don¡¯t leave! We can continue! Don¡¯t you want the 100 points?" Heh, trying to bait them again with 100 points... No one stopped walking. At that moment, a red-haired boy stopped and turned around to ask: "If it¡¯s not counter-typing, will you fight?" "No." Qiao Sang replied without hesitation. "Then there¡¯s nothing more to say." The boy said, turning and leaving. Qiao Sang: ... I haven¡¯t even sent out Yabao or Little Treasure yet... How did it come to this... Suddenly, a voice sounded beside her: "The assessment only said to find a counter-typed pet and win to get points, it didn¡¯t say the opponent had to agree to fight." Qiao Sang turned toward the voice and saw a blond boy with glasses. "What do you mean?" Qiao Sang asked. The blond boy smiled mysteriously: "If we take the initiative to attack, would they really just stand there and get beaten without sending out their pets?" After speaking, he turned to a pet nearby, a roughly three-meter-tall, almost entirely green creature holding a white flower. He commanded: "Jasmine King, the one wearing the cap." "Jasmine!" The Jasmine King cried out, and its eyes flashed green. Ten meters away, vines suddenly shot up from the ground and bound the legs of a boy wearing a black baseball cap. Startled, the boy reflexively formed hand signs and summoned his pet. "Just like that." The blond boy said mischievously. Qiao Sang watched as the boy angrily summoned his pet to slice through the vines and then glared at the blond boy as if ready to fight. Suddenly, she understood something... Chapter 693: Get Angry, Summon Your Beasts Not far away, a boy wearing a baseball cap glared over and questioned: "What the hell are you doing?" The boy with glasses casually glanced at the pet beast the other had summoned, then smiled and said, "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else." Although it was obviously a lie, finding an opponent with a counter attribute was more important right now. The boy with the baseball cap gave a glance at the Jasmine King, said nothing more, and turned to leave. "Why didn¡¯t you battle him?" Qiao Sang asked. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While scanning the surroundings for an opponent, the boy with glasses replied, "The pet he summoned doesn''t counter Jasmine King. I don''t want to waste time." Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang thoughtfully observed the surrounding buildings, then started walking toward the tallest one. Why is she just leaving like that...? The boy with glasses froze for a moment and asked, "Where are you going?" Without looking back, Qiao Sang said, "To a better spot." A better spot? The boy with glasses was puzzled. He glanced at the endangered pet beast Ice Xilu from Blue Star, wanting to follow her, but remembering the importance of gathering points, he restrained the impulse. --- Qiao Sang arrived at the top floor of a white building. From there, she had a clear view of the open area where she had previously battled. At this moment, the area below was bustling with people, many were engaging in battles right where they stood. With her improved memory and vision, Qiao Sang quickly recognized that most people in that area were new Beast Tamer students who had watched her previous battle. The boy was right: The assessment only mentioned that defeating a counter-attribute pet beast would earn points, it didn¡¯t say the opponent had to agree before the battle started. Qiao Sang felt like she had unlocked a new way of thinking. That was, attack them all at once. Challenging individuals one by one would waste too much time, and even if someone got mad enough to fight her, the pet beast they summoned might not have the attribute she needed. The best method was to offend everyone in one sweep. (T/n: Qiao Sang has the making of a troll????) As long as there were enough pet beasts summoned, there would definitely be some that matched the required attributes. As for those from other universities nearby... well, sorry about that... Since she was going to stir up hatred anyway, she didn¡¯t mind dragging more people in. Qiao Sang adjusted her smart glasses and calmly ordered: "Lubao, Ice Flower Seal." "Lu." Lubao looked excitedly at the pet beasts moving about below. She could sense that she was about to do something big. Lubao raised her head, channeled energy, and opened her mouth toward the sky. --- Below, Laylaly glared coldly at the boy with glasses nearby and sneered, "So you want a fight, huh?" The boy with glasses smiled faintly. "If that¡¯s how you see it." Laylaly didn¡¯t waste more words and coldly called out: "Blast Sound Mantis." "Blast Sound!" A pet beast about three meters tall, with a mainly brown-yellow body, spiky thighs, and a pair of transparent wings on its back, stepped forward. It crouched slightly. Boom! In an instant, it shot out like a blurred shadow, charging straight toward the Jasmine King. "Jasmine." The Jasmine King stayed calm, standing still, only a faint green light flickering in its eyes. Just as the two pet beasts were about to collide head-on, they suddenly seemed to sense something and simultaneously looked up at the sky. "Why does it suddenly feel cold..." Laylaly shivered, feeling that the temperature had dropped significantly. Just then, excited voices rose from around: "My gosh, it''s snowing!" "Why is it suddenly snowing?" "Wasn¡¯t it said that Chaosu Star never snows?" Snowing? Laylaly was stunned and looked up, seeing endless snowflakes fluttering down, white as the fur of a Silver Elegant Fox. So beautiful... Having never left Chaosu Star her whole life, Laylaly immediately forgot about the battle, completely mesmerized. Chaosu Star shouldn''t suddenly snow... The boy with glasses frowned slightly. Raising his head to look at the snow, he suddenly realized something and turned his gaze to some flying pet beasts midair. Snowflakes landed on the flying beasts. One flake, two flakes... In the blink of an eye, delicate ice flowers bloomed all over their bodies. The boy with glasses'' pupils shrank. He started running while shouting: "Ice Flower Seal! It''s the Ice Flower Seal! Jasmine King, run!" Standing over three meters tall, the Jasmine King turned toward its tamer. Just as it lifted its left leg, a snowflake landed on its body. Ice flowers bloomed one after another, and the Jasmine King became like a work of art, frozen in place. By now, many realized that it wasn¡¯t ordinary snow falling. First it was flying pet beasts, then large-bodied ones. Some reacted quickly, summoning pets to use defensive skills, while others instinctively ran to hide under nearby roofs. Those who reacted slower, or were mesmerized by the snow, soon found themselves, and their pets, covered with crystalline ice flowers. "Who?! Who did this?!" "Who dares to act out at Yulianton University?!" "Quick! Get the teachers!" New students rushed under the roofs, staring wide-eyed at the frozen beasts and people outside. The scene turned chaotic. At that moment, a girl who had just stepped out of the building, seemingly in her early twenties, clicked her tongue: "Making such a fuss. At Yulianton University, pet beasts often accidentally affect us students. It''s probably just a grad student or doctoral candidate practicing Ice Flower Seal and messing up the range. Don''t worry, I''ll call the rescue office." Saying that, she pulled out her phone to look for the rescue office number. Suddenly, a voice echoed from a loudspeaker: "Beast Tamer students, summon your pet beasts. I''m waiting here. Otherwise, this Ice Flower Seal will keep falling until the assessment ends." The girl: ??? It was deliberate?! She followed the voice and quickly spotted a slender figure standing on the rooftop of a diagonal building, alongside two unfamiliar pet beasts. Just as she wanted to ask about it, an uproar broke out around her. "Holy crap! It¡¯s her doing!" "Why would she do this?" "She''s forcing us to battle her!" "Arrogant! So arrogant!" The Beast Tamer freshmen looked at the figure on the rooftop, their faces twisting in anger and humiliation. What she did clearly challenged all the Beast Tamer freshmen! She wasn¡¯t taking them seriously at all! The girl, sensing the rising tension, grew more curious and turned to a boy wearing glasses next to her: "Who is she?" The boy with glasses looked at the figure on the rooftop with a very complicated expression: "I don¡¯t know..." He hadn''t expected that his casual action would cause such an insane reaction... Sure, he suggested being proactive, but not this proactive! She actually provoked everyone at once... Did she not plan on surviving university anymore...? He had just wanted a way to get closer to rare Blue Star beasts, but now it had turned into such a disaster... Poor Jasmine King... The boy with glasses waved his hand and recalled his frozen Jasmine King back into its sphere. --- The freshmen of the Beast Tamer Department were all outstanding among their peers, having grown up envied and praised. How could they tolerate such provocation? In unison, they began forming seals, most summoning all their pet beasts. Only a few, staying somewhat rational, refrained from summoning lower-tier beasts. --- On the rooftop. Qiao Sang looked at the flashing star arrays under the roofs and the countless furious glares aimed her way, knowing her plan had succeeded. Get angry, summon your beasts, come battle me... She handed the loudspeaker to Little Treasure next to her and quickly formed seals with both hands. An orange-yellow star array lit up. Gangbao appeared from within. Chapter 694: Sand King ¡°There¡¯s probably going to be a big battle coming up. We just have to hold out for 83 minutes.¡± Qiao Sang said as she glanced at the countdown on the virtual panel. ¡°Gang Guard.¡± Seeing the pairs of angry eyes glaring up at them from below, Gangbao immediately understood and showed an interested expression. "Yap!" Yabao called out excitedly, and his body slowly began to grow larger. Seeing this, Qiao Sang quickly stopped him, "Don''t get bigger!" Under a wave of white light, Yabao¡¯s body, which had expanded to about a meter tall, immediately froze, then slowly shrank back to his original size. "Yap?" Returning to the size he had during the Fire Fang Dog phase, Yabao called out, looking confused. Wasn¡¯t there going to be a big battle? Why couldn¡¯t he get bigger? If he had returned to his original massive form, half of the incoming freshmen who came wanting to teach her a lesson might have turned around and left immediately... Seeing Yabao transform back in time, Qiao Sang felt slightly relieved. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on the other freshmen. It¡¯s just that having a general-level pet among freshmen was like having the absolute peak of battle strength. If it were her, she wouldn¡¯t waste time picking a fight with someone who had a general-level pet, she¡¯d find someone of similar strength to battle and earn points more efficiently. After all, there wasn¡¯t much time left in the assessment. But Lubao was nearby, and her mental state had only just started improving these past few days. If she bluntly explained this, she might upset Lubao again... After thinking it over, Qiao Sang said: "Others don¡¯t know your true strength. If an opponent gets close, you can catch them off guard." "Yap!" Hearing this, Yabao immediately showed a serious expression. He understood! "Xun xun?" Little Treasure stored the loudspeaker into his ring, then looked toward the approaching pets who were either using skills or the simplest method, holding umbrellas, to move toward them. He called out, asking whether they should really allow the enemies to get so close? He had been invisible outside this whole time, so he naturally understood his Beast master''s intentions. "Of course not." Qiao Sang said, looking down at the various types of pets below. "Next, it¡¯s up to you all." "Lu." As soon as she finished speaking, Lubao took a step forward, opened her mouth, and spat out a misty white fog. The fog spread out like thick smoke, quickly blanketing everything ahead. Immediately after, a massive stream of water gathered around Lubao, and her entire body became like a huge blue water column, diving down from the rooftop. Qiao Sang stood atop the building, overlooking everything below. Although a white mist covered her vision, she could still see the blue light shifting trajectories under the fog as Lubao moved. As the blue light shifted locations, the cries of injured pets echoed from below. --- "It¡¯s Icy Wind! Does anyone have a pet that can create wind skills? Hurry and blow this mist away!" A black male student shouted urgently from beneath the eaves. "You think you need to remind us?" A brown-haired girl next to him glanced at her pet. "Gale Eagle, Gust!" "Gale!" A massive eagle-type pet, over three meters tall with gray-black feathers, stepped forward, spread its wings, and flapped hard. A fierce wind whipped out, sweeping away everything in front. At the same time, other pets using similar wind-type skills appeared. It was just a mid-level skill with decent mastery, but so many advanced pets were using high-level skills just to deal with it... Qiao Sang couldn''t help but sigh inwardly at the spectacle below. Soon, the thick white mist was dispersed, revealing the fallen pets scattered across the ground. "Little Treasure." Qiao Sang called. "Xun xun~" Without needing further instruction, Little Treasure immediately understood. He called out, and his eyes glowed blue. In the next second, Lubao reappeared nearby. "Lu." Lubao stared intently at the scene below, her tail flicking lazily, clearly still not satisfied. About five meters away, tiny patches of sand began surfacing from the ground, slowly creeping toward Lubao. --- Under the eaves. A pimply-faced boy leaned casually against the wall and said: "You guys just focus on distracting her. My pet has already reached her position. Once my Sand King ties up that water-type pet and interrupts the Ice Flower Seal, you can all charge at once." The others looked slightly dissatisfied when they heard this, thinking, We¡¯re all freshmen. Who are you to boss us around? A boy wearing a cap snorted coldly. "Even without you, I can get through." He signaled to his pet beside him, about a meter tall, with light purple fur and white bone horns on either side of its head. "Drum drum." The bone-horned pet called out and instantly vanished from its spot, reappearing at the rooftop. However, just as it appeared, dozens of black, ribbon-like shadows shot out and bound it layer after layer, flipping it upside down and suspending it mid-air. The boy''s face darkened. He tried to recall the pet with a wave but found it impossible. Soon, he saw his pet spinning like a top at high speed, completely obscuring its original form. The boy silently covered his face. Meanwhile, the pimply-faced boy laughed. "I told you, my Sand King was already in place. Still, thanks for helping attract that ghost-type pet¡¯s attention." The cap-wearing boy snorted again, refusing the offered truce. The pimply-faced boy continued smugly: "That water-type pet¡¯s Ice Flower Seal looks like it''s reached the Ultimate Skill level. If you try to approach it head-on, you¡¯re just giving away points. Listen to me. My Sand King can use any sand-covered object to travel anywhere-" As he spoke, he suddenly froze, and his voice cut off abruptly. "Why did you stop talking?" The cap-wearing boy asked after waiting a while. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pimply-faced boy frowned as he stared at the rooftop. "She has another high-level pet that''s not weak at all..." --- One minute earlier. On the rooftop. Small patches of sand slowly surfaced and crept toward Lubao. A pet with a white face, a prominent nose, and tiny yellow bean-like eyes peeked out of the ground, staring fixedly at Lubao. Suddenly, it sensed a gaze on itself. The Sand King sharply turned its head, locking eyes with a bird-like pet that seemed to wear a white mask. "Sand-" The Sand King put a claw to its mouth, signaling for silence. "Gang Guard." Gangbao stared silently at it for a second, then raised a wing and pointed, calling out to indicate that there was an enemy here. The Sand King: !!! Before the Sand King could react, a searing burst of flame shot toward it. They¡¯re working together... The Sand King closed its eyes in regret. At the same time, the sand patch that had nearly reached Lubao scattered. Chapter 695: Interesting On the rooftop, one pet beast after another approached using various skills, only to be swiftly dealt with and knocked down. Finally, someone couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and suggested: "We can¡¯t keep going like this. It looks like this water-type pet¡¯s Ice Flower Seal has reached the level of an Ultimate level. It¡¯s hard to get through by normal means. Also, her Star Formation is orange-yellow in color, and there are three other pet beasts. We must work together to deal with them." Seeing someone take the lead, others who had been thinking the same immediately chimed in: "He¡¯s right. If we don¡¯t work together, even if one or two pet beasts make it there, they¡¯ll just get wiped out by her other three pet beasts." The speaker, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, was the same boy who had previously sent his Sand King forward. Everyone fell silent but did not oppose the idea. A girl with long straight black hair slightly raised her hand and said: "I know the information about her four pet beasts." "How do you know?" A boy with a face full of acne asked, unable to hold back: "She just summoned her fourth pet beast, and from this angle, we can¡¯t even see what it looks like." Earlier, when Qiao Sang was forming seals, everyone had seen the color of her Star Formation. But the Steel Guardian Falcon¡¯s body was small and not standing at the edge, so no one had gotten a clear look yet. "I had my Little Fear Bird carry the Pet Beast Identifier and sneak around to the rooftop to scan it." The girl explained. "My Little Fear Bird has the ¡®Void¡¯ trait, so it managed to scan the pet beast information smoothly." The Void trait sounded grand, but it simply meant that pet beasts with this trait had almost no presence. As long as such a pet beast stayed silent, even right beside you, it was hard to notice. At that moment, a pet beast call echoed: "Fear~ Fear~" Everyone looked toward the source of the voice in surprise. They saw a pet beast about ten centimeters tall, mostly red with spiky protrusions on its back and black slit-pupil eyes, standing on the girl¡¯s left shoulder. Was it there all along? It really had no presence¡­ Everyone thought simultaneously. "What¡¯s her four pet beasts'' information?" Someone asked. The black-haired girl answered seriously: "Ice Xilu, a high-level water and ice dual-type pet beast. Steel Guardian Falcon, an intermediate-level flying and steel dual-type pet beast." She paused for breath before continuing: "Ghost Ring King, a general-rank ghost-type pet beast. Fire Qilu, a general-rank fire and psychic dual-type pet beast." The surroundings fell into sudden silence, and everyone¡¯s expressions dramatically changed. Faces filled with confusion, shock, and disbelief froze in place. "Is that for real?! Maybe your Pet Beast Identifier malfunctioned?" After a few seconds, someone shouted, breaking the silence, and a wave of noise surged under the eaves. "No way! That device must be broken! She¡¯s the same age as us, how could she have two general-rank pet beasts?!" "I might believe one general-rank pet beast, there are cases where someone inherits one from a parent. But two? That¡¯s absurd. Contracting even one not personally raised general-rank pet beast takes tremendous effort and carries a huge risk of backlash. No capable beast master would contract two uncontrollable pet beasts!" "Maybe her pet beasts just look similar to the general-rank ones?" "Exactly. Your Little Fear Bird is still a pet beast after all. Even with the Void trait, it probably didn¡¯t get too close for a clear scan. The result must be inaccurate." Across the starry universe, there are millions of pet beasts, and it¡¯s common for similar appearances to cause misidentification. Two general-rank pet beasts? Impossible. Everyone instinctively believed the scanning result was wrong. "My Pet Beast Identifier is the latest all-star interstellar version, just bought it. It can¡¯t be wrong." The black-haired girl retorted. But no one was convinced. Everyone here was already among the elite of their age group. To accept that someone their age could be far more talented was a tough pill to swallow. They couldn''t deny the color of the Star Formation, it was visible, but until concrete confirmation of the pet beasts¡¯ ranks, they subconsciously refused to believe it. Suddenly, a voice called out: "Um, I used my Pet Beast Identifier to scan the ghost-type pet beast. It really is a general-rank Ghost Ring King." Silence fell again. After a long while, someone else added: "Earlier I saw the fire-type pet beast wearing a Lightweight Miniaturization Bracelet, so I scanned it too. It showed as a general-rank Fire Qilu." "I- I scanned too. Got the same result." Someone else murmured. A third silence. One person¡¯s device might malfunction. But with so many people getting the same result, the chance of error was slim. Meaning: The one provoking all the new students from the beast master department had four pet beasts, two of which were general-rank monsters? No wonder. No wonder she was so arrogant on the first day of school¡­ Everyone was momentarily dazed. While the crowd was in a daze, a blond boy stood out: "So what if she has two general-rank pets? There are so many of us. Can¡¯t we defeat just one person?" "Exactly!" Another person agreed: "This is her trying to crush us from the start. If we back down now, she¡¯ll suppress us our whole college life. We must show her we aren¡¯t easy to mess with!" "Right." The long straight black-haired girl nodded: "We have numbers. If we work together, we can definitely defeat her!" "We must unite!" "Damn it, I don''t care about points anymore! But we have to win against her!" "Everyone, share what pets you have!" One after another, the students were fired up like heroes fighting a villain. Yes, Qiao Sang had become the villain in their eyes. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After learning she had two general-rank pet beasts, her provocation made her intentions obvious- She wanted to dominate them all and establish herself as the strongest freshman. If it had been a regular competition, no one would object. But to use this method to achieve dominance? Everyone was full of youthful passion, how could they accept becoming stepping stones, let alone collective stepping stones! --- Meanwhile, on the rooftop- Qiao Sang noticed something odd, the attacking pet beasts seemed to have formed formations. Five or six flying-type pet beasts arranged in a vertical line, each using wind skills to clear the falling snow, advancing rapidly. The topmost flying beast lay on the second one¡¯s back, facing upwards, spitting rotating air currents to push snow aside. Whenever snowflakes floated too close, another flying beast would flap its wings harder to disperse them. It was surprisingly orderly... Qiao Sang¡¯s lips curled in interest. "Little Treasure, handle them." "Xun~ Xun~" Little Treasure floated forward, blue light flashing in his eyes. The five or six flying pet beasts stacked like acrobats suddenly lost control and began falling one after another. Without the 360-degree wind protection, snowflakes quickly clung to them. Exquisite ice flowers spread wildly. Before Qiao Sang could even admire it, three purple-toned pet beasts about a meter long suddenly appeared. Without a word, the three beasts opened their mouths simultaneously, spraying arcs of corrosive green poison toward Lubao! Just before the poison reached Lubao, she quickly jumped back twice, dodging successfully. "Icy Wind." Qiao Sang ordered. "Lu~" Lubao opened her mouth and a freezing wind swept out widely. The three purple-toned pet beasts tried to move but found themselves paralyzed. One of the beasts glanced sideways, it spotted a red-furred pet beast with glowing blue eyes staring at them. The chilling aura spread. In an instant, a thick layer of ice sealed all three beasts. Yabao retracted his telekinesis, his eyes returning to normal. The three frozen beasts dropped from the rooftop. Several meters into the fall, they vanished into thin air. --- Under the eaves. The students'' expressions were dark, especially the three whose poison pets had been sent. "Can¡¯t you just teleport a high-level pet beast directly?" One boy asked. "Possible, but only one at a time, with a seven-second cooldown between teleports." Replied a red-haired girl with pale skin. "Then do it! She can¡¯t possibly defeat a high-level pet in just seven seconds!" Someone said excitedly. The red-haired girl glanced at him: "She has two general-rank pets. Seven seconds to beat a high-level pet isn¡¯t impossible for her." Silence fell again. Someone suggested: "Then teleport an attack-heavy pet first, catch her off guard, and take out Ice Xilu!" "Good idea!" Another agreed: "Ice Xilu¡¯s Ice Flower Seal restricts our movements. Taking it out first makes sense." "Actually, I think we should target the intermediate-level Steel Guardian Falcon first." A boy offered a different opinion. "Why?" Everyone looked at him. The boy explained seriously: "Steel Guardian is only intermediate-level, the easiest to take down. A high-level pet can finish it with one ultimate move. If we take down even one of her pets, her momentum will definitely be shaken." As people were nodding in agreement, another voice suddenly rang out: "Why don¡¯t we just take her out directly?" --- Meanwhile, on the rooftop. Qiao Sang pondered the recent events. Looks like the beast master students had teamed up. The three poison pets had clearly been teleported, one of the freshmen must have a psychic pet with spatial shift ability. But why teleport three intermediate-level beasts¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it be better to teleport high-level beasts directly? Since they had teleportation ability... "Yap!" At this moment, Yabao bared his teeth and let out an angry cry. "What''s wrong?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap!" Yabao wore a furious expression. Those humans are discussing how to attack you! Attack me? Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. How interesting. (T/n: Qiao Sang sounded like those CEO''s in a romance novel.)