Five minutester, watching the satisfied expressions of Yabao and Little Treasure munching on energy pellets, Qiao Sang gained a new perspective on her cooking skills.


    ss 1, Grade 10.


    In ss, 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.


    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 ss.”


    Qiao Sangforted 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 afterpleting a mission, the sponsor rewarded them with tickets to next year’s regionalpetition.”


    <i>Regionalpetition tickets?!</i>


    Qiao Sang was filled with envy.


    Although the regionalpetition 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 toe 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!


    <i>Outrageous!</i>


    <i>Why hadn’t shee across such a lucky break?</i>


    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 ck Sludge. Many of us keep our phones with her.”


    Recalling her summer encounter with ck Slime in the secret room, Qiao Sang understood instantly.


    ck 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 hisputer, 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.


    <i>Knock knock.</i>


    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 n.”


    <i>What? What did she say?</i>


    <i>Another pet?!</i>


    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 ce 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 ce for three consecutive years but still couldn’t enter a top academy.


    <i>Why? They hadn’t unlocked the third page of their Beast Master Codex.</i>


    Reaching D-level allows one ess 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.


    <i>That’s the difference!</i>


    At 15, even a 10% brain development would be exceptional.


    But Qiao Sang had reached 20% so soon after the school year began!


    <i>She was practically born for Beast Mastery!</i>


    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 hispse and quicklyposed 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! <i>Why was it here? And contracted by Qiao Sang?!</i>


    <i>This was like something out of a fantasy film!</i>


    “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.


    <i>Ehem</i>. 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.


    <i>Ah, so this was the famous Water Luriana’s texture, cool and smooth, incredibly pleasant to touch.</i>


    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.


    <i>She was only seven months old?</i>


    Liu Yao paused, “Not at all. This Water Luriana looks less than a year old.”


    Qiao Sang: ???