《Beast Taming: Starting From Zero》 Chapter 1: Not Her Fault Hanggang City, Zhehai Province. Wencheng Middle School, ss 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 ss 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 nce 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?] [Whichs 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 nks randomly, and leave the essay questions nk. 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 maic stimtion. 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 manualbor. Who would use humanbor to move bricks when there are extraordinary creatures that can move hundreds or even thousands of kilograms with ease? It¡¯s time-consuming andbor-intensive. The same applies to serving tes. Even if the sry 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 ss. Last month¡¯s mock exam showed a slight improvement, cing 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 ss, 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 disyed her zero-scored paper, was the one being talked about. Qiao Sang nodded. In Qiao Sang''s memory, her deskmate had a good rtionship with her. They would go out to eat and y together. One key reason for their good rtionship was that her deskmate was also a poor student. Fang Sisi had reced Qiao Sang as the fourth-from-bottom student in their ss¡¯s ranking after falling ill duringst 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 med? If anything, me 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 fromst 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 bitcking to her, it was a significant improvementpared 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 ss 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 achievementspared to those who awaken through maic stimtion. The first batch of beastmasters awakened 30 million years ago was all self-awakened, representing a rare 0.01% of the poption. It wasn¡¯t until 2,563 years ago that researcher Chen Leshen discovered that human brain regions could be awakened through maic stimtion, marking the true beginning of the Beast Taming Era. Yet, those who seed in self-awakening remain exceptional. ¡°Self-awakening?¡± Fang Sisi pondered, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s toote for me totch 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 stille 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 ce for poor students,¡± Fang Sisi patted Qiao Sang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I had a simr 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 intoughter. Self-awakening! She had sessfully 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 maic stimtion 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 stimtion. Without the pressure of the uing high school entrance exam, Qiao Sang felt much more rxed 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 ck, 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 ofmon knowledge made her want toin. 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 ck-rimmed sses approached. ¡°Qiao Sang, the teacher wants you to go to the office.¡± Qiao Sang was momentarily taken aback. ¡°I understand.¡± The girl with sses was Ma Xiao, the ss monitor. She was ustomed 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 exin 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 ssmate.¡± ¡°Calm down? How can I calm down? I¡¯ve taught so many sses 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 youe 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 simr 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 rtivelyfortable 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 exined. 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 simr 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 itsrge 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 exnation 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 habitables. The universal currency across these fours is the Alliance Coin. After her mother paid, the staff memberpleted 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 nt-type pet, Cialiguo was gentle and well-loved, especially by women. "Cialiguo." It approached Qiao Sang and made a weing gesture with its three-fingered hand, disying a professional demeanor. As the capital city of Zhehai Province, Hanggang City boasted thergest 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 whiteb 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 rtively rare. In fact, psychic-type extraordinary creatures were quite umon. 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 wealthydy. Qiao Sang immediatelybeled the short-haired researcher in the white coat as rich. The short-haired researcher was typing away at herputer, 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 forzy 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 ss.¡± 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 exined, praising Qiao Sang for her top rank. Qiao Sang: ¡­ About two minutester, the short-haired researcher looked up and called, ¡°Bubbles Bell.¡± ¡°Bell.¡± Bubbles Bell used its telekinesis to return the equipment to its original ce. ¡°Congrattions on a sessful 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. 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 maic wave awakening and then meet the score threshold. The middle school exam had a full score of 650 points, withst 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 seeded 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 dying 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 hade out with Qiao Sang, was left standing in the wind, looking disheveled.¡°Cialiguo!¡± No running or making amotion is allowed in the Beast Taming Center! ¡­ Back at home, Qiao Sang locked herself in her room and turned on herputer. Her mother had nned 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 be 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 exceptionalbat 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 be a higher-level Beast Tamer? Selecting a pet beast should focus on those with high potential and strongbat 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 ount, ¡°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 rted 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 thest 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 rmend Sand Diggers!] Thements 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, itsrger body causes it to fly slower than other flying-type beasts. It is a popr 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¡¯tst 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 oftenpared. 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 impressivebat 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 ns 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, everyonee and absorb the luck!] ¡­ In addition to buying pet beasts at the base, they can also be obtained through ck markets, beast betting, or the wild. Pet beasts from the ck 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 herputer 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 contemtion, 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 ced the takeout on the dining table. So she had just gone out to buy food... ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± 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 motioning 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, nced 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 ck 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. 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 ss 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 popr 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 vtile temperament as their first, not only will they struggle tomand 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 bacsh 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 be 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 exnations 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 me struck about five meters away from her. Qiao Sang jumped in surprise. She turned towards the source of the me. Two Fire Fang Dogs, noticeablyrger than the others, were facing each other with their teeth covered in mes. The fiery teeth, known as Fire Fang, is a skill that most Fire Fang Dogs inherit. The staff member remained calm and exined, ¡°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 me 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 exining, ¡°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 tranted, ¡°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 exined, ¡°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 toe 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 forcedugh. ¡°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 ------ Chapter 5: The Beast Mastery Codex A minuteter. 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 shecked 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 m 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 mes 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 me-like ears twitching. The Fire Fang Dog was ced in front of Qiao Sang. It was a small-sized canine pet with me-red fur ented by ck 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 ck 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 me Impact. The staff member exined, ¡°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 ss 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 toe 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 me skills, and its ws weren¡¯t fully developed. So, they let it have its way, sometimes ying 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 themission 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 "" Of course, it wanted to leave. It had no rivals here, and this human¡¯s touch felt veryfortable¡­ 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 seed, both sides must be willing. However, it is also possible to establish a contract after thoroughly defeating the extraordinary creature when it is defenseless. Thetter method carries many risks; without enough intimacy, the pet may be 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 nk 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 circr 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 nk 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 Sangplied. 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 ck 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 y 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 ying.¡± --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t go straight home after leaving the Hanggang Pet Beast Base; instead, she made a stop at the Hanggang Beastmaster Center. ording to the Alliance''s regtions, 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 umon 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 avable, 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 Dogy 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 nced 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 ced 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 nced at the time on hisputer¡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 nce. She had narrow, upward-nting eyes that made others ufortable 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. 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 cane 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, nted 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 girlined. 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 thest 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, nced 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 nced around, surprised by the location, and asked, "Isn¡¯t this ce 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 ced 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 Linn 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 Linn 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 Linn 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 Linn shouted at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang paused, then said, "I''m not officially a Beastmaster yet." Xu Linn: "..." 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 Linn 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 Linn 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 shed 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 alreadye to a conclusion. Given the disparity in strength, she wouldn''t send the Fire Fang Dog in for a one-sided beating. "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 Linn 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 Linn didn¡¯t stop her. There¡¯s no way someone else¡¯s pet beast would obey hermands as well as her own. Even if they were both mid-level pet beasts, Xu Linn didn¡¯t think she would lose. "Desert-Tailed Fox, Quicksand!" Xu Linn decided to strike first and gave themand. "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 andposed. 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 ce? Qiao Sang felt the dog¡¯s emotions clearly, and her throat tightened slightly as she was about to speak. "How sneaky! You actuallyunched a sneak attack and want to fight two against one!" Xu Linn 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 Linn gritted her teeth, ring 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 apetition. 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,e 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 eyesfortably,pletely 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 Sangmanded 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 Linn 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 seeded because Xu Linn¡¯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 slowpared 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 Linn was stunned, not understanding what Qiao Sang was nning. ¡°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 anothermand 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 Linn 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 nextmand. ¡°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 Linn finally realized what was happening. But it was toote. The Fire Fang Dog¡¯s zing 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 mercilesslyshed at where the Fire Fang Dog had just been. Without the Fire Fang Dog clinging to it, the forceful tailnded 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 Linn was hopping mad on the sidelines, unable toprehend how the situation had deteriorated so quickly. But the Desert-Tailed Fox was in too much pain to listen. ¡°Fat Dove, Wing sh!¡± Qiao Sang pressed the attack. Wing sh was a move unique to flying-type pet beasts, allowing them to turn their wings into sharp des¡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 sh,¡± Qiao Sangmanded without hesitation. The Fat Dove pped its wings forward, and six des of condensed air appeared in the air. ¡°Desert-Tailed Fox! Dodge!¡± Xu Linn was frantic. The Desert-Tailed Fox¡¯s amber eyes narrowed as it watched the des rushing toward it. Despite the intense pain, it managed to dodge to the side. However, four of the des still hit it. ¡°Merrow!!¡± The Desert-Tailed Fox wobbled, feeling like it was about to copse 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 nk as it copsed under the impact,pletely crushed¡­ Xu Linn¡¯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 Linn, 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 Linn could see that this fierce girl didn¡¯t even know what skills the Fat Dove had, and the Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t seem particrly special either. She had beenpletely defeated by the girl¡¯smanding 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 momentster, mes enveloped its fangs. When the mes vanished, the Fire Fang Dog eagerly gestured at Qiao Sang again. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯ve never sessfully 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. 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 requireter 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 spected that perhaps as long as the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex disyed 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 pleasee 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 bing 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 asionally 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 standardizedpressed blocks at the beast base and had never tried this fruit. It smelled good and looked simr 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 contemtion. 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) + 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 eximed 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 rted 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 developmentpared to those awakenedter, allowing them to awaken the Beast Tamer¡¯s Codex faster and have a better chance of reaching higher realms. There was nothing particrly 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 Sangposed herself and opened the message. She noticed that her deskmate had sent eight or nine messages since yesterday. ¡¾Why didn¡¯t youe to ss 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 youe to ss today either?¡¿ ¡¾Why is your mom at school again? Did something happen to you?¡¿Thest 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 exined 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 cing 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 nned 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 maic 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 rtively 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 ept her, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t interested. Self-awakened individuals can enter Beast Tamer High School through rmendation or special admission. For rmendation, 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 rmended to for qualification review. Given Qiao Sang¡¯s consistently poor grades, even if she were self-awakened, the school might be too embarrassed to rmend 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 itsrge 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, "ording 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 rmended 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 rted to Beast Tamers. ¡°Mr. Wang Dianao, is your rtionship 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 majorpetition in the Yuhua region. If you face each other in thepetition, 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 ck Wind Wolf¡¯s Tornado! It didn¡¯t retreat! It looks like it¡¯s about tounch a special move. I wonder what yer Xu Zhou will do next!¡± Thementator excitedly narrated. This was a rey. Various regions holdpetitions every year, and the channel Qiao Sang was watching was dedicated to broadcasting Hanggang City¡¯s Beast Tamerpetitions. The camera shifted to the ck Wind Wolf. The ck 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 rxed. ¡°The ck Wind Wolf¡¯s stamina has clearly decreased after using the Tornado¡­¡± Before thementator 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. "Is there something you''d like to exin?" 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 ced it in front of Qiao Sang. "I think you should consider applying to this school." Qiao Sang picked it up and nced at it, her eye twitching. "Hanggang Shengshui High School?" Her mother remained calm. "Yes." "Mom, aren''t you overestimating me?" Qiao Sang said helplessly, cing 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 eptance 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 herputer, 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 rtively 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 moreplicated. The special admission for independent awakeners only epted five students. After passing the registration review, they would have to participate in a pet beast battle at a specified time and ce. Students who ranked second to fifth would need to score 50 points higher than the minimum passing score to be admitted. The first-ce 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 Sangy 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 me 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''te out, after all. "Yip." He nodded, indicating that he wanted to watch. Qiao Sang picked up her phone from the bedside and searched for thetest popr horror movie, cing 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 ck shadow floated in the air¡­ Qiao Sang didn¡¯t watch along with him. Instead, she ced 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 ck figure suddenly drew closer, emitting a sinisterugh. 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 ck 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 toe 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 Sangughed. ¡°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. --- ss 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 ss 9 got epted 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 ssroom door. As the figure walked in, the chatter suddenly quieted down. Qiao Sang sat in her seat, noticing some of her ssmates sneaking nces at her. Sensing the strange atmosphere in the ssroom, Qiao Sang rubbed her nose and whispered to Fang Sisi, ¡°Did you tell the ss 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?¡± ¡°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 exined. 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 deted. 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 thest mock exam.¡± The homeroom teacher hadn¡¯t called out Qiao Sang by name to spare her some dignity, but had asked the ss monitor to summon her to the office andter 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 butugh, 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 nt analysis homework? Let me copy it.¡± Fang Sisi nudged Qiao Sang with her elbow. ¡°I didn¡¯t evene 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 hade to schoolst 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 re, 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 ssroom 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 yground in five minutes,¡± The homeroom teacher said, ncing in Qiao Sang''s direction after speaking. Wencheng Junior High School¡¯s over 4,000 students and 300 teachers were all gathered on the yground, 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 sses that were exceptions. Qiao Sang nced 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 urrence 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 apuse 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 ss 9 of the third year. It¡¯s an honor¡­¡± What Qiao Sang thought would be an ordinary assembly turned out to be a personalmendation 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 waster self-awakened and rmended to a Beast Master high school. She was the typical inspirational figure. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being rmended? 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. 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 be 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 bing 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 rmended to Shengshui High School wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the help of my teachers¡­¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s eyshes 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 topare herself to her. Theparison left her feeling a bit disheartened, and she quickly lost interest in listening. Back in the ssroom, 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 urred 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. Bing 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 thest 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 fromst 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 popr figure in the school, naturally attracting the attention of her ssmates, 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 ss. 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 happenedst 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 youcked 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 ssroom. 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 sses 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 maintainposure. "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 ssst time." Qiao Sang replied seriously, "Teacher, if you don''t grant me leave, I''ll just skip ss again. I¡¯ll write the reflectionter." 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 toe to school again, then go back to ss. I admit I was wrong about using youst 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 schoolst Friday when my mom came, right?" The homeroom teacher paused and replied, "Yes, I asked your mom toe in to exin why you were skipping ss." Qiao Sang tilted her head and asked, "Then why was she sent out of the office?" The homeroom teacher froze, his expressionplex, 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 ss Nine. That day, Dai Shushu and her mother came to the school, coinciding with Qiao Sang''s mother¡¯s visit. Dai Shushu had just been rmended for admission to Shengshui High School, and even the Dean of Students came to congratte her. Naturally, the office''s attention was focused on ss Nine. When Qiao Sang''s mother exined 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 be 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 exin 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 toe 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 areing up soon. Once your mom is a bit better,e back quickly." Qiao Sang nced 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 popr industries today, these clubs have spread to neighborhoodsrge 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 aid-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 ce. Given her current level, she wasn¡¯t even sure if she could meet the minimum passing score. To be admitted, the second through fifth ces 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 cing first in the special admission exam. Having made this decision, she realized she needed to elerate 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 winst 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 ce 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''sbat skills through battles in a short time. Qiao Sang had a solid n, but once she stepped out, she felt lost. There were many pet beast battlepetitions and venues, but they all had requirements. Somepetitions required a certain level of beast-taming proficiency. Beast-tamingpetitions 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 nextpetition 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 arge 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, thispetition takes ce 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 legitimatepetitions, 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 ce 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 nned to train Fire fang dog¡¯s speed and stamina after the entrance exams. Once its basic training wasplete, 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 itsbat 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 ce. 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 ce 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 minutester, she hugged Fire fang dog and headed home. Back home, Qiao Sang changed out of her school uniform into regr 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 10mb 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 auntieughed. Qiao Sang smiled politely. She¡¯d beenplimented on her looks so often that she¡¯d be numb to it. Five minutester, Qiao Sang took themb skewers and handed one to Fire fang dog, who was practically drooling. ¡°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 ofpulsory education, their paths diverge entirely. Although Beast Masters hold a higher status in society, ordinary people are also divided into different sses. 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 ess information about extraordinary creatures after nine years ofpulsory education. Even though such information is widely broadcasted, ordinary peopleck 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 auntieughed. ¡°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 epted 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 n Qiao Sang coulde up with after much thought. If you were looking for F-level Beast Masters, high schools with beast-training programs were the ce 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 nce 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 triangr head poked out. It was a Longtail Snake, the evolved form of the Shorttail Snake. Qiao Sang nced 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 por tree in South River Park. They were currently near the park¡¯s entrance, where students wereing and going, making it a poor ce for a battle. Qiao Sang nodded and followed them to the por 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 thedy 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 me. Jiang Liu didn¡¯t issue anymand, and the Fat Dove casually dodged the Ember by hopping to the left. Fat Doves were notoriously slow, so this one wasn¡¯t particrly fast either. However, its reflexes were impressive¡ªit had likely undergone targeted training. Analyzing the situation, Qiao Sang issued anothermand, "Charge!" The Fire Fang Dog tensed and charged forward. "Fly up and use Growl," Jiang Liu ordered. The Fat Dove pped its short wings and took to the air. The Fire Fang Dog,cking 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 Liumanded. Aerial Strike, a move exclusive to flying-type beasts, was simr 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 iing attack. "Don¡¯t move!" Qiao Sangmanded sharply. If it took the full force of the Aerial Strike, it would definitely get hurt. Yet, the Fire Fang Dog heard Qiao Sang¡¯smand 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¡¯smand 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? "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¡¯smand 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 me, 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 expressionplicated. This girl looked younger than him, yet her battle instincts were clearly superior. It wasn¡¯t easy to calcte the timing of the jump during an Aerial Strike. If the Fire Fang Dog had jumped even half a second toote, 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 havended on the Fat Dove¡¯s back. This level of coordination could onlye from trust and seamlessmunication 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 ns 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 be 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 me 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 particr 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 be the second. "It''s fine, go ahead." Qiao Sang said nonchntly. 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 disy. 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 andmon 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 Frostp 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 dyed 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 longerparable to ordinary Cottonseed Worms! He had even achieved 39th ce 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 suddenlyunched itself into the air! Its speed was noticeably faster than the Fire. fang Dog''s previous Charge. Qiao Sang gauged the distance, and three secondster, she gave themand: "Fire Fang." In an instant, brilliant mes destroyed the snow-white silk and urately bit into the charging Cottonseed Worm. "Ji!!!" The Cottonseed Worm screamed in agony. Two secondster, 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 ept 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? "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 ismon 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 urred 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 proficiencyes 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. Fire fang Dog nodded, determined to seed. 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 timees... "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 rx 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 nced 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." Thedy running the stand recognized Qiao Sang. "Yeah." Qiao Sang replied, inhaling the aroma of grilled meat. "Auntie, I¡¯ll take 20mb 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 dinnerter, 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 frommb 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 nced 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 disy. 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 wasmon 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 surroundingments 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 Sangforted 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 rtionship 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 surveince 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,pletelypromising 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 barte 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. The misdeeds of ghost-type extraordinary creatures were countless. Encountering one that merely yed 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''tplicate 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 red at her fiercely, his expression menacing. If it weren''t for the Fire fang Dog in front of her, he might haveshed out by now. "Why is it not a ghost-type?" The female student asked. "Thatdy''s pet is a Ma 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 exined, pointing to thedy''s pet on her shoulder. The female student paused, recalling that there was some truth to that. The Ma Mouse can detect maic fields and sense unique maic fluctuations. Ghost-type extraordinary creatures have distinct maic fields that would trigger the Ma 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 Ma Mouse does indeed behave like that," Thedy 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 nced 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 tant 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 simr 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 eximed, "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 ne 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. "He is! He¡¯s wearing a beast tamer badge!" The female student eximed, 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 disying 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 stic 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 stic 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 themand, it gathered all its energy and shot it out with full force. The ember, usually the size of a baby''s fist, grew asrge 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 tform. "Driver, close the door!" Qiao Sang shouted at the driver. The driver was stunned for a moment as he nced 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 ne 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! The square-faced man red 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 toote. 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 thetter 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 blowsnding 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 many on the ground like a dead pig, his face bruised and swollen, with w 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 nce 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 toe to the police station to make a statement." Qiao Sang hesitated, "My mom''s waiting for me toe 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 exin, she won''t me 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 im 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 exin her situation to her mother, so when she returned, she was greeted with a warm wee. "You''re homete; you must be tired. Come eat, I just reheated the food." Qiao Sang was starving; the five skewers ofmb 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''te 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 herputer, 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 simr 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. Bying into contact with an object, it can adjust the nanocrystals on its skin to change its color ordingly, 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 avable didn¡¯t exin 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 rted 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. If Fire fang dog couldbine a sandstorm skill to obscure vision with aura suppression, it would be a deadlybination. 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 herputer 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 minutester, 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 thest 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 n 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 iscking, so that needs to be a focus. Otherwise, it will be an easy target, and even if it attacks, it won¡¯t be able tond 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 n 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 n 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 thest few days. But the problem is that, in her mother¡¯s eyes, she¡¯s a cker¡­ Who would expect a cker to study well after leaving school? Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t nned 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 miscalction¡­ ¡°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 yourst days of school? It¡¯s already 8:10, and ss 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 nned 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 ne trees, a slender figure sat cross-legged in the shade, reading a book. The Fire fang Dog had lost track of how manyps 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 tenps, 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 rted 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 moreter." Qiao Sangforted. 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 minutester. Qiao Sang found herself lost in thought, holding arge bag of Qiyuan Milk. This 50,000 Union Coins shouldst 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. Thergest shopping center in Tangxin District, Vlie Square is a premiummercialplex thatbines 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 ording to the Qingyue Butterfly¡¯s preferences. Your Fire fang Dog has a nice color, but itcks personality. Why note 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 itcked 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 simr, 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 professionalpetitive 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. 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 ming 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 essory 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, ncing 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 regr speed while carrying a load, removing the weightter 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 rmend 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 ne. Thetest OM-8 model from Yongchuang Group can adjust its settings ording 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 nced 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 ck gravity ring from the shelf and smiled, "If your Fire fang Dog is just starting with gravity rings, I rmend this 10 kg one. The ck color would look good with your Fire fang Dog." "Isn''t that too heavy?" Qiao Sang asked. "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 exined. 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 rmendations, 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 sp. 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 nkly 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 prestigiouspetition in the Alliance. The Global Interster Beast Master Cup. Commonly known as the Interster Cup. The Interster Cup is apetition where the top Beast Masters from fourspete, held every three years. Just on Blue alone, the global poption exceeds 7 billion, and with the other threesbined, the total poption reaches over 38 billion. Selecting the top Beast Masters from 38 billion people to participate in the Interster Cup is no easy feat. First, one must win two national-level championships within a year and then receive national support topete 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 yers from the Global World Alliance Championship will qualify for the Interster Cup. The screen was currently showing the Interster 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-ck, its color deep and heavy, with a solemn expression as it gazed forward. A pair of custom ck sunsses 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 thepetition 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 topete in the Interster 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 dered, "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 sunsses?" Fire fang Dog nodded eagerly. "You were looking at the sunsses, not thepetition?" "Yap?" Firefang Dog tilted its head. Whatpetition? Qiao Sang: "..." To hell with mutual understanding! --- At Chagui Park. "Yap!" A burst of fiery sparks shot out. Wearing a pair of ck triangr sunsses, Fire fang Dog energetically practiced its skill release training. Qiao Sang watched from the side. The triangr sunsses 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 minutester, the effect wore off. Fire fang Dog copsed 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 sunsses?" "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 sunsses 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 ofps 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 n without any objection. This time, Qiao Sang decided to run with Fire Fang Dog. Encouraged by Qiao Sang, Fire Fang Dog managed toplete two difficultps, then looked at her with a face that said, "You call this a warm-up?" Qiao Sang was panting heavily. After twops, 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 perp. Now, with the weighted ring, the firstp took 29 minutes and 3 seconds, and the secondp took 38 minutes and 42 seconds. Qiao Sang noted the times in her phone¡¯s memo, intending topare themter. "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. It had made the contract in the first ce 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 exined. "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 exined 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 revtion. 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 ce, and resumed its training. At 5:53 PM, training was over. Fire Fang Dogy 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 andpleted 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 tters, fruit sd, 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¡¯te without a price¡­ The price was one-fifth of her assets and a scolding from her mother¡­ --- Three dayster. Boom! A fist-sized me 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 hugemotion. 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 triangr sunsses that had arrived the day before, was focused on its training. With its red-and-greenbination, Fire Fang Dog was attracting plenty of attention. Many children ying in the park stopped to watch but didn¡¯t dare approach because of the mes 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 uing 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 hadpleted ap 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¡¯tpletely 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 bnce 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 returnedte 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 uing 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 nned 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 girlined. 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 busst 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 exined. 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 examsing 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 nced at the Fire Fang Dog standing beside them. "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 exining 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 ssmates, 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 ovep?" "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 exined. "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 ce, 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 hade 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 backter. 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 unavable. 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 disy. These kinds of airships were amon sight, and pedestrians could catch a glimpse of them now and then. They usually broadcast thetest news and events, always showing the current hottest topics. At this moment, the TV screen outside the airship was showing an interview rted to the Gctic Cup. "What''s your opinion on your uing opponent?" One of the reporters asked. "Baudire is an outstanding beastmaster. His tacticalbinations are varied and intricate. Especially in thest round, the match where he used the Earthcmity Dog and the Twin-headed Serpent Dragon together to execute thatbo, ''Cmity into Cmity,'' 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 Gctic 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 gxy. I can''t say I have confidence." Lin Ya replied with a smile. The interviewing reporters exchanged nces, clearly surprised by his answer. "But I''ll give it my all." Lin Ya added. "The odds on the Gctic Betting Network for you and Baudire are 1.89 and 1.23, respectively. What do you think about having higher odds than Baudire?" 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 Gctic Betting Network on her phone. The Gctic Betting Network is the official betting site of the alliance. While there are other websites, big and small, where you can bet on Gctic Cup matches, the Gctic Betting Network is the most reliable in terms of safety and credibility. Without hesitation, Qiao Sang ced a bet of 5,000 Alliance Coins on Baudire. Although Lin Ya was the representative of Blue Star and the only Dragon Nation participant in the Gctic Cup, Baudire''s odds were lower than Lin Ya''s. Such odds are meticulously calcted by bettingpanies, and barring any surprises, the difference in odds reflects their chances of winning. Qiao Sang chose to trust the data provided by the bettingpany. In addition to Lin Ya and Baudire''s match, Qiao Sang also bet 5,000 Alliance Coins on another nearby match, again based on the win probability. After cing 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 gctic matches, she had stayed up until 3 AM watching Lin Ya and Baudire''s match. When ites 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 bettingpany odds? Completely unreliable! 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 ncing 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, disying 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 bepleted in person, including verifying the information and retesting the development level of her brain region to prevent any oversights. Qiao Sang felt pretty rxed 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 sses, speaking kindly. Chen Shengtang gave her an approving nce. 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 nced 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 corrte with the brain''s development. The percentage of brain development is calcted starting from the moment one awakens the Beast Master¡¯s Codex. For an ordinary Beast Master, the brain''s development after using maic stimtion 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 rted to brain development, and without exception, they have concluded that stability is crucial in brain development. If the brain isn¡¯t stable, it could copse.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 nced at the Firefang Dog. Since the child was able to sessfully 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-nighterst 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 rxed during the second test and no longer overthought Mr. Zhao¡¯s subtle expressions. With Qiao Sang''s cooperation, the test was quicklypleted. 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 hade 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. 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 za. 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 being 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 woulde 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 onught 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 asionally rotating to change direction. After dodging for about a minute, Fire fang Dog became more ustomed to the ball¡¯s trajectory, its expression bing more rxed. It even started to yfully dodge at thest 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. Baseballse 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 ying yet. Qiao Sang squatted down beside Firefang Dog, unfastened the weight ring from its right foreleg, and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re not here to y 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 sunsses, hesitated for a moment, and chose a pair of triangr, 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 sulkter. 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 minutester, 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 ce. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn¡¯t hallucinating. This kind of unnatural urrence 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. 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 popr 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 nced 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 nced 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 nce, 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 umted experience over time, while others suddenly gain skills triggered by external stimuli that activatetent energy within them. Just a few days ago, a civilpensation case arose in Lianbo District during apetition, 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 topensate them for their ticket costs, but some spectators had traveled from other areas specifically to attend the event and demanded additionalpensation 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 simr way. Now, the Fire fang Dog, startled, experienced an imbnce 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 exined helplessly. "Yap?" The Fire fang Dog¡¯s movements suddenly halted, its dark eyes filled with confusion. "Congrattions, 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 coinsst night, she would have taken the Fire fang Dog in for a nice, rxing session today. Back home, Qiao Sang opened herputer 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 asionally 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 nced 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 itst night to avoid losing sleep again, which might affect her mood for today¡¯s Shengshui High School special recruitment exam. 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 preupied, she woke up early even though the rm 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 arge 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 untiltest 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 me 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 tly. "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 rmended 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 rmended?" Qin Wen asked. "Apparently, after he awakened, he rarely attended school, so his academic scores dropped." Sun Boyi exined. 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 ck dots appeared on the horizon, growingrger as they approached, until theynded 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 ckbeak Sparrows, each about two meters in size. Their beaks were as ck as their feathers, and they had a distinctive pair of ck curled tails, making them easy to identify. From the backs of the ckbeak 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 ckbeak Sparrows. ¡°We signed up for the group rate.¡± A girl with a bob haircut and a red headband hurriedly reminded him. The man nced at hispanion for confirmation with a questioning look. Hispanion 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 backter.¡± 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 againter?¡± ¡°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, andpared 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 umon 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 minutester, the group that had arrived on the ckbeak 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 youe with us?¡± She subtly nced at the Fire fang Dog beside Qiao Sang. A strongpetitor¡­ Qiao Sang was puzzled. ¡°Why would Ie 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 exined. ¡°We agreed to meet at the Oujie Street intersection ande 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 upst. Then everyone started iming they would be thest 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 avable 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 rtionships 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-ck 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 notte, am I?¡± The boy walked up to the teachers and asked. ¡°Lu Liangye, right? You¡¯re thest one. You cut it pretty close¡ªanother two seconds and you¡¯d bete.¡± 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 upst! Everyone else: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! He outdid us all! Sun Boyi pped 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 willpete 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 willpete 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 alles 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. 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 rtionship 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 thest to arrive."Li Yang: ... "He had an independent awakeningst 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 exined. "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 ce. Running into him in the first round, what terrible luck. On the field, Qiao Sang took a pair of dark green triangr sunsses 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 triangr sunsses 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 mymand. 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 popr 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 cor. With a pair of fins instead of legs, it stood upright using its tail for bnce. 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 Sangmanded 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 likeughing, 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 nked the Water Ring Carp from either side, their fangs wrapped in mes. ¡°Surround yourself with Water Ring!¡± Lu Liangyemanded 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 hisposure, calling out frantically. Meanwhile¡­ "Those are intermediate-level me Fangs." Qin Wen observed. "That Fire fang Dog is impressive. It seems it was already trained before being contracted." Zheng Guopingmented. "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 nce. Zheng Guoping was at a loss for words. Vice Principal Liu Yao was someone Shengshui High School had begged toe. 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 sunsses 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 Carpy 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?""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 be 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 ce 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 d 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 uing 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 thest 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 sunsses 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 weremon 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 werezily 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. Afterparing them, it picked the Sky-piercing Pig, which looked stronger and could fly. Sixteen minutester, the Sky-piercing Pigy 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 ring 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 exined 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¡¯tst 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 nced 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 hadpletely changed. "How long do you think he canst?" 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 ckbeak 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 amand. 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 exmation arose from the stands. In reality, Fire Fang Dog had initiated its attack first. Even before the bubbles formed in the air, it had alreadyunched 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. 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 barelynd a ball on it. These slow-moving bubbles were nothing inparison. 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 urgentmand of its Beast Master, Water Ring Carp tried toply, 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 me condensed into a fist-sized ball and mercilessly struck the still-wailing Water Ring Carp. After struggling for two seconds, Water Ring Carpy 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 evenst two minutes." "That Fire Fang Dog is impressive." "No, it¡¯s the Beast Master! She didn¡¯t even give amand 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¡¯smand before taking the next action. For example, if themand was Fire Fang, the pet would know whether to defend, dodge, or counter-attack. But that girl didn¡¯t issue anymand, and the Fire Fang Dog executed a powerful charge on its own. The subsequent coordination and oue 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 ofbo 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 ncing at the candidate information in his hand. "I remember Wencheng Junior High had a student who was rmended 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 ced in the Elite Beastmaster ss." 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 ss was established topete with Litan High School. We need to consider all aspects, like the strength of her contracted pet, herbat 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 rmended 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 ss¡­ 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 ce candidates still had to score 50 points above the minimum requirement in the high school entrance exam, while the first ce 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 triangr sunsses, 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 rtionship. 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 minutester. 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 somefort: "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 oue 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¡¯smand. 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 onnd? 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 nk 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 ce. "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 nced 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 getcent. 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¡¯tsted 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 themand to begin. Qiao Sang quickly refocused,manding, "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 ttery had worked. Zheng Yining was pleased with Qiao Sang¡¯smand. Charge was a basic move that rarely seeded 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 versatilemand. 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 dere 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, pped 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. 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 exined. 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 be 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 ount 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,e, 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 Dogst pooped?" Liu Yao: ... "Hahahahaha..." Zheng Guoping, standing to the side, couldn''t hold back hisughter, 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 popr, 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 ming 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 schr, 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 exined, "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 rted to speed. The herbs like Vitality Grass and Heat Soothing Powder are all materials that can stimte 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 continuepeting, 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 cing 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 mes, taken down cleanly without even moving. Li Yang was filled with regret. If he''d known the oue would be so disastrous, he would have found an excuse to forfeit! This was no rookie Beast Tamer¡ªher level wasparable 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 deted. As long as the special admissions passed the test, not to mention the first ce, 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... Chapter 37: Medical Mishap Qiao Sang felt a sense of crisis; the joy of securing first ce in the special admissions exam had somewhat diminished. Just then, Zheng Yining suggested, "Boss Qiao, do you want to join us for a celebrationter? 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 mas? 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,ughing 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 topete 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 Interster 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 calctions. She had lost 5000 Alliance Coins betting on Baudire, 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 being 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 disappointedter. --- That evening, at her desk. Qiao Sang held some freshlypleted practice exams, checking the answers. These werest 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 werergely simr. 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 hourter, 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 forparison. 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 herputer. 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 ying. 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 ss 37 with her backpack, the ss erupted. "Whoa, Qiao Sang, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actuallye back!" "Where have you been all this time, skipping ss?" "Hey, watch what you¡¯re saying! Couldn¡¯t it be family matters?" "What are you talking about? Couldn¡¯t it be a rtive¡¯s issue?" "We all missed you. Without you, the teacher kept picking on me and Fang Sisi." This was from Guo Linze, the ss''s perennial second-tost student. The teacher had essentially given up on thest-ce 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 ss, 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 transnt, but... haha." Fang Sisi couldn¡¯t help butugh, "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 exined. 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 transnt because of what she said about his wigst time? No wonder he stopped answering calls and turned off his phone... This medical mishap was pretty severe. 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 herughter. "Haha, you''re not wrong." "Hahahahaha..." Fang Sisiughed 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 finishedughing, 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 transnts. "A bottle of Su-Root Gel costs as much as our teacher''s half-year sry. Hair transnts are way cheaper." Fang Sisi exined.Indeed, anything rted 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 ss 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-nk question on the test. After finishing, he adjusted his sses 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 thetter 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 missedst week¡¯s ss, 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 theynded 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 ss 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 cing a slip on the desk. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but nce 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 epting it¡ªthis was precisely what she needed right now. "Thank you, Teacher." The teacher waved her off, signaling that she could leave. Qiao Sang left with mixed feelings. The teacher might have his ws, 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 toe 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 nned 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 ced 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 porcin 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 exining, it felt a bit guilty, and its ears drooped. "The vase breaking doesn¡¯t matter as long as you¡¯re okay." Afterforting 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 porcin 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 red at her with reddened eyes and shouted, "Wang Dian''ao? This was signed by the Sharpw 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 Sharpw 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 thepany 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 apany 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 cor. The 10kg cor 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¡ªthest day of sses at Wencheng Middle School, just two days before the high school entrance exams. ss 3-7. The students were all using thest 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 outughing. 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 ssroom suddenly shouted, "What? Your dad actually shipped you a L¨¡''os¨©!" Everyone in the ss 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. 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 dide 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-tost in ss, had no chance. Guo Linze chose not to respond. Thest ss 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: "ss, 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 ssroom erupted in thunderous apuse, with Qiao Sang pping 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, apanied 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 ss 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 forst, 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 Sharpw Ursine. Qiao Sang felt a bit unustomed 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 ssroom, there were not just two teachers invigting, 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 uncontroble 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 umon; they could transmit answers for multiple-choice questions over a considerable distance using mental signals. However, they were useless for fill-in-the-nk or essay questions. Only pet beasts with psychic abilities could enable this type of transmission, which meant that the student had an aplice with a psychic-type pet beast who could see the test paper. Of course, this aplice couldn''t be another student. "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 providedprehensive, all-around surveince 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 thetter 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? Itpletely 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. Thest day of the written exams. After finishing her final test, Qiao Sang went home and copsed 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 rx, 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 waspletely 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 ying, 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 ns 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 cor 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 ns to go out for dinner with Fang Sisi, so her mother didn¡¯t ask any questions. --- Twenty minutester. Qiao Sang arrived at the hot pot restaurant, holding Fire Fang Dog in her arms. "Holy crap!" "Fire Fang Dog!" Two exmations 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 hourte, 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 nced 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 thising. 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 ss group.¡± Fang Sisi said, rxing. Qiao Sang: ¡­Thank you, Lu Siya! Lu Siya was different from Fang Sisi. She wasn¡¯t a cker¡ªher grades were consistently in the top 15 of the ss. 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 practicalbat. 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 me-like fur being especially eye-catching. Its evolved form, ze 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 nced 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 eximed, ¡°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 stimtion 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 be 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 be 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 exmation. Qiao Sang was stunned. The Beast Codex had gained another page! Aside from the page with Fire Fang Dog, there was now an additional nk contract space! Qiao Sang¡¯s mind went nk 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 regr meditation, there was nothing that could safely stimte 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. Most students needed to use maic waves to stimte 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 nned 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 nt-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. Aftering 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 nced 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 ount. 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 disyed 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 ce 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 departmentst 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 ce¡­ 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 minutester. "Mom, didn¡¯t you already tell Grandma and Grandpa? Who are you calling now?" "Your uncle." "..." Twenty-five minutester. "Sis-inw, how¡¯s Li Xuan doing recently? Oh, nothing, just wanted to chat¡­" Thirty-six minutester. "Brother-inw, 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 hourter, 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 ss. 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, ss 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, birthces, 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 eximed. 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 sses. "You¡¯re not bad either, contracting a Short-tailed Snake." Qiao Sang said, ncing at the snake coiled around Guo Linze¡¯s head. Although the Short-tailed Snake was a popr choice for beginner beastmasters, its poison-type nature made it the least favored among the five rmended starter beasts. Usually, only the bravest newbie beastmasters dared to contract it. "But it¡¯s nothingpared 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 easilysh 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. Hiding a smile, she asked, "Didn¡¯t you say you were going to contract a Fire fang Dog? Howe 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 exined. Seeing that Fang Sisi had it all nned 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, amotion erupted in the ss. It turned out Qin Shou had brought in his Laosi. When Qiao Sang brought her Fire Fang Dog into the ssroom, 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 excitementsted for over ten minutes before the ss 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 nced 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 sessfully 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 ss didn''t seed. 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 regr person, sessfully 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 hisughter, adjusted her position to face the ss and loudly announced, "I have good news to share! Our ssmate Qiao Sang has studied hard and lived up to expectations by getting into Shengshui High School!" The entire ss was shocked. Studied hard? The same Qiao Sang who slept in ss, 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 fromst in ss?! 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 asion?" Qiao Sang asked, momentarily forgetting why she hade 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 exined. 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,e 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 me-like fur was meticulously groomed, a ck bow tie was stylishly fastened around its neck, and a pair of matching ck triangr sunssespleted its dashing look. "You''ve grown so much, Qiao Sang." Aunt Pingping said to Qiao Sang, though her eyes couldn''t help but keep ncing 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: ...! 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 awkwardughs, secretly giving Fire Fang Dog a gentle pat. Now that she¡¯s graduated, exining things to her homeroom teacher no longer matters; exining 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 nce, 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 rtives. 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 apanied 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 rtives, 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 abouting 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 havee 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¡¯lle in mid-July.¡± Qiao Sang agreed, even offering a specific date. Actually, she had already nned 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 me could easily damage the greenery in the neighborhood. But Qitang Town was different. Her old home had arge courtyard in the back. A short bus ride would take her to a small forest in Tanan Township nearby, an ideal ce for training. Qiao Sang had already calcted the timing. On June 30th, there would be apetition in Hanggang City for F-rank Beast Tamers, which she could participate in before returning to her hometown. For Qiao Sang, thispetition 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 eyesfortably. Seeing this, Qiao Sang felt relieved. Sometimes, whether a pet liked someone or not could be a mystery. --- After the banquet, while her mother apanied 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 epted 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... 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,pressing it, and then releasing it.¡± Her real purpose foring 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 trypressing 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 nt-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,pressed, and released, the effect should be different. Although Fire Fang Dog didn¡¯t fully understand its Beast Tamer¡¯s n, 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 practicepressing 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 ¡°Yow!!!¡± 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,press,press it, then try releasing it.¡± Qiao Sang reminded from the side. ¡°Yow!!!¡± Fire Fang Dog¡¯s eyes were now truly wet with tears. Compress? Whatpress? 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. ¡°Yow!!!¡± Fire Fang Dog began spewing fire unconsciously, just wanting to soothe its burning throat and stomach. Qiao Sang noticed that Fire Fang Dog''s mes 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 copsed 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 forter." Qiao Sang refused. Recently, her funds had shrunk drastically. With expenses piling up and no ie, 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 mes 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 ced 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 zing Mane Lion with fiery red curls. It roared towards the sky, stomped its right front paw forcefully, and a me the size of a goose egg formed above its head. The me, 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 me Jet, Fireball, or me Impact that beginner pet beasts could learn. The Meteor Shower disyed by the zing 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 mes 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 hadpletely 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 mes. Gather the surging energy,press 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. It closed its eyes, held its breath, and took a bite of the wing as if it were itsst meal. ¡°Yappppp!!!¡± The familiar sensation surged up again. ¡°Compress!¡± Qiao Sang reminded from the side. Fire Fang Dog resisted the urge to immediately spew mes, focusing on the energy within,pressing it as much as possible. Until it felt it had reached its limit, Fire Fang Dog could no longer hold back and released the umted mes. This time, it wasn¡¯t the usual sparks, nor the columnar mes from earlier. A scorching me 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 copsing echoed in her ears. The wall had copsed... Qiao Sang cked out, stunned in ce. 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 mes. 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 therest 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 urately every time after just one sessful 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 exined. 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 hadpleted five Fire Whirl attempts. "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 sess of her skill development experiment¡ªthe Fire Whirl had a 100% sess 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 exined, "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 ssified 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 toocent. How could they call it a day after mastering just one small skill? It was determined to be 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 secondter¡ª "Yap!!!" --- At Qingcheng Jiayuan, 7:30 PM. The Fire Fang Dogy weakly on the sofa, lookingpletely 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 me 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 Dogpletely 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 exining 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 ce in Shengshui High''s special admissions? Right, Fire Fang Dog?" "Yap." The Fire Fang Dog rasped. Her mother nced at Qiao Sang, then got up, went to the kitchen, poured a ss of water, and gently ced it in front of the Fire Fang Dog. "Here, have some water." Qiao Sang: ... Why did it feel like her mother was silently using 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 ying on TV, announcing the registration time and location for the F-level Beastmasterpetition in Hanggang City on June 30th. As they showed the prizes for the top three finishers, Qiao Sang leaned forward. Third ce, a BD-7800 model Moonlight Motorcycle and 50,000 Alliance Coins. Second ce, a Water Evolution Stone and 100,000 Alliance Coins. First ce, a random pet egg and 200,000 Alliance Coins. Qiao Sang¡¯s breath quickened. This first-ce 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 urred on Jiangyi Street..." Chapter 47: The Ghostly Sucker As the female news anchor continued her broadcast, a corresponding surveince 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 exin frantically. That''s not what it meant! It and its master were on TV! Mother looked over at Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang tranted, "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 Interster 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 calcted 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 ced 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. 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 minutester¡­ "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 ck 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 disyed 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 ept 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 onest 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 nket 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 inpensation, 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 wouldst at most two days. Qiao Sang could only pin her hopes on the uing Hundred New Competition. This was the F-rank Beast Tamerpetition that was to take ce on June 30th. Qiao Sang had already registered onlinest night. After reviewing the entry requirements and rules, she wasn¡¯t too optimistic about winning first ce. 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 thepetition¡¯s poprity. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t expect to win first ce, but she was determined to at least make it into the top ten. After all, if she didn¡¯t ce 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 disyed 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 sessful 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 sessful 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 sunsses, making it stand out among the other new Beast Tamers of her age. The Fire Fang Dog wasn¡¯t wearing the sunsses 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 be much quieter. So, Qiao Sang decided to give it sunsses. 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 ssmates 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 Interster 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 sunsses. It looked so cool! Fang Sisi thought the Fire Fang Dog was cool and said so out loud. Normally, if someoneplimented 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 thanst time.¡± Qiao Sangplimented. 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 Caterpir to weigh it. ¡°It does seem much heavier.¡± Cottonbug: ... It was all the same meaning, but why did it feel ufortable 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. ¡°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 thepetition.¡± 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 yed, it would take some time. Sixteen minutester. ¡°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 wouldpete 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 congratte¡­¡± The host was about to dere Contestant No. 12 the winner by default when a voice suddenly came through his earpiece. ¡°Let¡¯s congratte 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 secondster. 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 rted to one of the investors?" Everyone quickly dismissed the idea. If they were really rted to the investors, they probably wouldn¡¯t have contracted with just a Cottonbug¡­ Qiao Sang rxed 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 officialpetition. 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 exined with its slightly hoarse voice. That person had justplimented 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-agedmentator with slicked-back hair asked the handsome young man beside him. In a normal pet beastpetition, there¡¯s usually a main and a secondarymentator. The mainmentator typically has sharp eyesight and a quick tongue, responsible for giving a blow-by-blow ount of the match. The secondarymentator 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 poprity. He had won over the audience during the Yu Hua District tournament with his handsome looks and never-give-up spirit until thest moment. Although he only made it to the top 24, his poprity 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 beforting 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 somewhatforted. She hadn¡¯te to thepetition 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 andughed, ¡°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 particrly 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 y?¡± ¡°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 ws¡­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 regr 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 yer for this tournament.¡± Praised thementator. Qiao Sang agreed with thetter 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 w 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 otherter. As apetent pet beast trainer, analyzing opponents and formting 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. With just a p 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 topare 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 nced 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. Thepetition continued efficiently. "Let¡¯s wee 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 sunsses 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 thepetition area. "Let¡¯s wee 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 neer Beast Master to contract a fire-type beast as their first pet! San Duo, what do you think?" Asked the middle-agedmentator 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-agedmentator 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. Thisbination created a striking visual effect for the audience. "It seems there¡¯s no suspense in this match for Qiao Sang." As thementator''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." Thementator also tried to save a bit of face for Sun Jie. The Hundred Newpetition not only had live audiences but also viewers streaming on various tforms. ¡¾Isn¡¯t this just bullying?¡¿ ¡¾Why are there so many people contracting cotton pests?¡¿ ¡¾Because they¡¯re cheap.¡¿ ¡¾I want the link to those Huoya Dog sunsses 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 bodynguage. Embarrassed, sheughed 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 thepetition, the match had already ended... The wagging tail of the Fire Fang Dog stopped instantly. Its sunsses 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, thepetition tform has reys." Qiao Sangforted. 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 Dogpletely under control. --- Although the F-grade Beast Masterpetition 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 ofpetition. Among the freshly graduated students from ss 3-7, all four other ssmates who participated had been eliminated, leaving only Qiao Sang. ¡¾Qiao Sang, you have to keep it up!¡¿ ¡¾You''re thest one standing from our ss!¡¿ ¡¾If you face someone named Zhao Hai, remember to take revenge for me!¡¿ Although they had graduated, the ss group had not disbanded, and the eliminated ssmates 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 reys of today¡¯spetition and handed her phone to the Fire Fang Dog. The Hundred Newpetition wasn¡¯t arge-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. Thements filled most of the screen. "Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog barked anxiously. Qiao Sang reached out to turn off thements, and only then was the Fire Fang Dog satisfied to watch the video. After it finished watching, it barked once again, and Qiao Sang reyed it for it. After Qiao Sang reyed 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 rey the video itself. --- The next day. Shouke Garden. In front of the petpetition 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 timepetitions were held in various ces, there were always a few contestants that became hot topics. After yesterday¡¯s live broadcast, Qiao Sang had be 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 neer Beast Master. "Sorry, I need to go inside topete." 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 thepetition, and the preliminary rounds from yesterday are still ongoing. However, only about 60 contestants remained, and the preliminaries can bepleted in about an hour. Qiao Sang arrived at Zone C, Row 9. Bai Yunmiao also signed up for this Hundred New Competition and sessfully 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 exined, 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 ismon inpetitions. ¡°Why are you dressed so¡­ nicely today?¡± Qiao Sang asked.More urately, she looked quite morous. Bai Yunmiao was sitting elegantly, fully made up, wearing a little ck 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 rey 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 Yunmiaoined. 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 popr choices for novice Beast Tamers but a Water Shrimp. Water-type beasts aren¡¯t all amphibious extraordinary creatures; even those that can move freely onnd 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 secondster. ¡°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¡¯sbat level before the match was over! The opponent¡¯s beast, a fat dove,nded two hits on the Water Shrimp, knocking it out ofbat. 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. Therge screen above the arena was filled with photos of contestants that rapidly jumbled together. Six secondster. 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 nce; he was one of the 21 Beast Tamers she had noted in her memo. Good luck! Her hard work studying wasn¡¯t wasted... Thepetition to advance to the top 64 soonmenced. 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-agedmentator 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 hade 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 themand 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 ck creature to appear... Within the gray star array, a fully red beast with an oval-shaped head and a ck stripe running from its head to its tail appeared. Huh? Why isn¡¯t it that ck 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 nned 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 dered the start, Qiao Sang immediately issued themand to proceed ording to the original n. Simultaneously, Xie Jianyin alsomanded his beast to unleash a me 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 sess level of Ember!¡± Thementator eximed. Just as the me jet from the Fire Chain Snake finished gathering and hadn¡¯t evenunched ten centimeters, the Ember from the Fire Fang Dog charged straight toward the me 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 toplete the encirclement, all froze in ce. 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-agedmentator said. Winning in one move isn¡¯t particrly remarkable in matches at this level. The short duration andck of atmosphere meant the audience couldn¡¯t grasp anything professional; that¡¯s when the role of thementators and guests bes crucial. ¡°The speed and power of Fire fang Dog''s attacks are a cut above Fire Chain Snake, especially its attack speed. Itunched its skill almost as soon as the match began, while contestant Xie Jianyin was still givingmands.¡± San Duo analyzed. The middle-agedmentator, listening nearby, held a different opinion. While attack speed is undoubtedly important, he believed the key to victoryy in that Ember. That was an Ember of the Minor Sess 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. ¡°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 smallpetition like this, throwing matches is pointless.¡± These days, there are many viewers forpetitions, especiallyrge-scale events where various media outlets and online tformspete 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 suchpetitions can gain arge following, and their market value can skyrocket. Not to mention, achieving a certain ranking in such high-levelpetitions 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 apetition 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 Yunmiaoughed. ¡°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 hrious. Too bad we didn¡¯t record it. You can check it out onler; it could be 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 rey. The matches proceeded efficiently. By the time it was the 20th group¡¯s turn topete, Bai Yunmiao took out a mirror from her crossbody bag to check her appearance. Then she pulled out ab and fixed her bangs. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You brought ab.¡± 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¡¯tplimented 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 itsrge head, and several leaf-shaped des shot towards the little fat dove in the air. The little fat dove pped 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 andb 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 meter, 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 thepetition.¡± 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¡¯reing this way!¡± Bai Yunmiao eximed 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 tform. I¡¯d like to interview you about Fire fang Dog and thepetition. 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 apetent journalist, one must have a keen sense for news. From Qiao Sang''s response, the reporter had already formted a potential headline. |Fire-type neer 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 afternoonpetition 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 hade 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 regr training. Four hourster. 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 simr. After finishing her training and returning home, Qiao Sang immediately watched the rey of the afternoon Hundred New Competition on her phone. After watching for a while, she felt something was off. Five minutester. Qiao Sang realized something. Why were there so fewments? Normally, although not many people watched, the screen was usually filled withments, but today, there were only a handful. After a while, ament 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 Interster 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 Interster 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 ck, sharp beak, was panting in midair, surrounded by terrifying lightning forming a horrifying maic 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 growrger 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. This was quite rare. The difference between the two beast was apparent; the white beast was even smaller than a single w of the Purple Crown Electric Falcon. In the footage, the humanoid beast raised its w-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 Interster Cup, information about its beast was readily avable 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 ck? 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,e 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, asionally revealing its white silhouette. Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn''t help butin. If only it were a normal ck 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 shes 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¡¯smand. Suddenly, a ck hole appeared above the Purple Crown Electric Falcon, from which a white w-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?!¡± Thementator eximed 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 ck hole. It was indeed Arxius White. ¡°Let¡¯s congratte Klika on winning this match and bing the second contestant to enter the top ten of this year¡¯s Interster Cup!¡± As thementator¡¯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 oues of the Interster Cup and then ce bets. Chapter 54: The Third One Once this thought emerged, it became increasingly uncontroble. Qiao Sang immediately searched for the lineup of the next match in the Inster Cup on her phone. Pasol vs. Chen Mo. Every match in the Inster Cup follows a 6v6 format. 99% of Beast Masters participating in the Inster 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 cing 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 topare carefully. Earlier, it had predicted that the fat dive would win, but it lost; therge 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 ce a bet of 1,000 Alliance Coins on Chen Mo. July 2nd. The screen above the arena was disying 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 oning out for an interview." Bai Yunmiao said helplessly. Qiao Sang nced 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 exined. "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 thest match." Qiao Sang replied. "God Ya lost, didn¡¯t he? He made it to the top 10 in thest two Inster Cups, but this time he¡¯s outside the top 10. I guess most people couldn¡¯t ept it right away and are not in the mood toe." Bai Yunmiao exined. Qiao Sang understood. Lin Ya, as the only participant from Dragon Country in Blue Star, had everyone cing 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. --- "yer Guo Yiqi won easily in hisst match, but this time he¡¯s in a predicament." The middle-agedmentator 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 nced 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 thementatorscked 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. 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 finallying into y! 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''smand, Fire Fang Dog split into two and charged forward. "Sand Throw!" Seeing that Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t given anymands for Fire Fang Dog, Jin Chengxiunched 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 copsed 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 thementator''s voice fell, the Fire Fang Dog bit down on the Sand Fox''s neck, enveloped in mes. 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... Thementator jumped up excitedly. "Am I seeing this right? That¡¯s the minor adept mastery of Fire Fang skill!" Hismentary was now filled with emotion. While minor adept mastery mid-tier skills are not umon, 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. 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 impable. "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 thatst 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 thenunching a surprise attack was quite simr 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 wee..." 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 yer who would exploit any openings he saw. She only needed to deliberately create a w 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 hadmanded the Sand Fox to use Sand Throw, so there was a good chance this new strategy would work. The oue 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 minutester, 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." Thementator reported in real time. Bai Yunmiao froze in ce, 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 nned, Chen Qian might also be 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 constion. "Actually, you could let the Golden Vine out, reporters also interview the eliminated participants for their thoughts." Bai Yunmiao eximed, "¡­!" 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, cing 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 ofments on the phone screen. The sparsements didn¡¯t affect the Fire Fang Dog¡¯s enjoyment, so it didn¡¯t ask its Beast Master to turn off thements. As Qiao Sang looked at thements, 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 outsidements 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 shing. The score was already 5-4, it was match point. Tonight¡¯s Interster 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 exined. ¡°Yap!¡± Fire fang Dog understood and raised its paw. ¡°Yap! Yap! Yap!¡± Twenty minutester, Qiao Sang was satisfied as she watched the Double-Headed Gear Dragon make aeback 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 dide 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 bothering 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 toe 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. ¡°They were chatting this morning, and the conversation shifted to my future." Bai Yunmiao exined. ¡°My mom wants me to pursue being a Coordinator, while my dad wants me to be a professional Beast Tamer. That¡¯s how the argument started.¡± ¡°That should depend on your own wishes, right?¡± Qiao Sangmented. 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 ns 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, nning 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 strongbat 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 be a Coordinator and participate in coordinationpetitions, 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 be 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 dy would put you far behind others in bing 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 ofpetition, 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 thispetition?¡± 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 sunsses 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 shing. At their Beast Tamers¡¯mand, 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 triangr sunsses 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 apletely different levelpared 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 ss monitor back in elementary school. The purpose is simple: To give thementators more to talk about during introductions. Someone like Qiao Sang, who left all the fields nk 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 aprehensive 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 w 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 regr 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 disyed 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 nced 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 exin to it that we were just lining up.¡± Fire fang Dog nodded and beganmunicating 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 ce. ¡°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 muscr 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 nced 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 timesrger than a regr gym. Even with Fire fang Dog backing up ten meters, it didn¡¯t interfere with other pet beasts¡¯ workouts. 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 secondster. 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 minutester. 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 simr 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 me 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 ng!!! 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 epted 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 hourter, 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 porcin 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 nce. ¡°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 justpensated 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 remainingpetitors 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 ces 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. Qiao Sang nced at the list she had just organized. Of the top 16, including herself, only four Beastmasters had just one beginner-level beast. The other 12petitors 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 sunsses in yellow, purple, and green. ¡°Yap Yap.¡± Fire Fang Dog looked at her, then at the sunsses, clearly struggling with the choice. ¡°This one.¡± Qiao Sang pointed at the purple pair. During the past few days of thepetition, Fire Fang Dog had worn a different pair of sunsses 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 sunsses 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 essed 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)+ me 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 Dognded 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 me Charge! This skill was considered one of the more difficult mid-level skills to learn. Enrolling in a specialized training program for me 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 exined. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Such a real married life¡­ She hadn¡¯t even figured out how to console her when Bai Yunmiao suddenly eximed, ¡°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 sunsses. 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 me 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 fewerpetitors and more time avable, the 16-to-8 matches didn¡¯t disy 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. Thepetitors 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 thementator and guest speaker finished their opening remarks, the photos on the big screen above the arena began to rotate. Five secondster, 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!¡± Thementator 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. 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 tform''s bulletments surged instantly. [Exciting! Exciting!] [It¡¯s like this match-up was predetermined, thispetition knows exactly what we want to see.] [Fire fang Dog changed its sunsses 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 amand 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 w 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 anymand. "It seems Lu You intends to solve this in closebat. I wonder how Qiao Sang will respond." Only after Little Dragonpleted 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 n 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 ofpetition. If everything went ording to n, 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 initialmand 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 finalmand, "Dragon..." Thest syble 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 toote. "Fire Whirl." Seizing the moment of distraction, Qiao Sang issued the attackmand. All four remaining Fire fang Dogs simultaneously opened their mouths. Four swirling mes shot out, all hitting Little Dragon. "Qiii!!!" Little Dragon let out a cry of pain. "Unbelievable! Qiao Sang haspletely misled Lu You! The Fire Whirl hit Little Dragon from all sides! Could Qiao Sang be the victor?" Thementator 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. Thebined 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 ws toward the ground. At the same time, four zing fangs bit down on Little Dragon. One on its left limb, one on its right, one on its left shoulder, and thest on its head. "Qiii!!!" Little Dragon let out a heart-wrenching scream. As it screamed, a white Dragon Breath spewed uncontrobly 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 Fangnded. "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 copsing. 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¡¯smand. "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 oues. 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 spectacr battle! San Duo, what do you think?" Thementator asked, being the first to react amid the stunned audience. "Qiao Sang has the potential to be 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 thergestpetition within a given region. Take the Yuhua region, where they are located, for instance. Itprises 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 rtively manageable with just 12 prefecture-level cities. On average, you have about a month toplete the exam in each city. However, neighboring Yongwu Province has 18 prefecture-level cities, leaving only about 20 days toplete the exam in each city, something a regr Beastmaster can hardly aplish. 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 previousment 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 amand, it was clearly a pre-nned 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 sunsses?¡± The young female guest asked ¡°Pretty cool.¡± A guest beside her praised. ¡°I just opened an online shop selling sunsses. If I invite her to do a livestream now, or more urately, 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 triangr sunsses 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 butin. ¡°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 toe 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 thepetition 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.¡± 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 sessfully advanced after yesterday¡¯s research. If she faced any of them, tactics alone might not be enough to win. Sometimes, sheer power can¡¯t bepensated 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 augh and took the phone to see an unknown number. She swiped right, ending the call. A secondter, 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 nkly 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 upied 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 andughed, ¡°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 nces. 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 thest 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 tform 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 exined. 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 thementary booth. She noticed that the twomentators were now joined by a third person. A woman with short chestnut-colored hair. It was Gao Xulu. --- As the opening ceremony ended, therge 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 m 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 seedsrgely 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 matchsts 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 thest 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 sunsses. 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,mented. ¡°By the way, Song Yuan, what did Qiao Sang say when you contacted her yesterday? Are the live streaming fees calcted per session, or do they depend on salesmission?¡± ¡°Song Yuan?¡± ¡°Song Yuan, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Song Yuan: ¡­ She really didn¡¯t feel like talking... 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¡¯smand, 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 toe 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 thementator''s enthusiastic opening, focused their attention on the arena. Half a minuteter... ¡°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 amand. 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-agedmentator was puzzled. He had been in this line of work for over ten years,mentating on about 20 matches annually. Among them were not a fewrge-scalepetitions, 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 wouldunch 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 copsing 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...¡± Thementator 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 guestmentator remarked. ¡°But why not attack before the ground copsed? What difference does it make nowpared 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 exined, observing the battlefield. ¡°Song Yuan, so you do speak after all.¡± Song Yuan: ... ¡°That¡¯s a me Charge!¡± A guest suddenly eximed. On the battlefield, the Fire Fang Dog gained speed as it hopped across the scattered rocks. Mid-charge, mes erupted from its body, engulfing it entirely. me Charge. One of the more powerful mid-level skills, itbines both special and physical attacks and has a certain chance to inflict a burn on the opponent. ¡°Quick, retreat into your shell!¡± Chen Qian quickly issued hermand. 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 mes around the Fire Fang Dog were notrge, 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 rxed, already nning 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 mmed into the ground right in front of it! The ground, already cracked from the Earth Fissure, rapidly widened. The impact from the me Charge caused the area where the Land Tortoise stood to copse. 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 ording to her n. 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 onught. ¡°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 expressionplex. The match had gone as she nned, 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 be 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?¡± Thementator turned to the two guestmentators 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.¡± Thementator quickly added. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang returned to her seat. The voices from thementator¡¯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 popr 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 poprity is about the same as San Duo¡¯s, I¡¯m not as worried.¡± Qiao Sang exined. 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 urate.¡± 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 shed 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 ce. 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¡¯sforting.¡± 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-ce prize was much better than third. Forget the Alliance coins, the motorcycle and water-type evolution stone were far more valuable. She had even nned 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 oue... The second semifinal match quickly followed. ¡°Will Hou Xiangyu secure another overwhelming victory, or will Qiao Sang create another miracle by winning against a superior opponent? Who will im thest spot in the finals!¡± Thementator said excitedly. He then asked the guestmentators for their opinions: ¡°What do you two think?¡± Most of the audience hade 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 standoutpetitors 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, me 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 immediatelyunched their attacks. The Scale Controller Doll¡¯s body began to emit a faint, translucent psychic energy. It pointed its small, wed 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 ws 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 tond 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 tond. It seems she would have to drag this out... The two sides kept their distance, leading to a temporary standoff. "Illusion Ray." Hou Xiangyumanded first. The Scale Controller Doll extended its short ws, 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 thest Fire fang Dog on the field, Qiao Sang issued her countermand: "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. The Scale Controller Doll lowered its ws, 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?" Thementator 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 Xiangyumanded. 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 regr 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 hisposure. 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 iing 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 formted 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 mes 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 mes, heard themand. 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 mes, the Scale Controller Doll no longer emitted the faint transparent psychic waves it had before. Instead, blue psychic waves radiated from it. "This is..." Thementator eximed in surprise. "This psychic power has reached the mastery level." San Duo finished for him. In the guest seating area: "As expected of someone epted 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''smon 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 nced 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 arge 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,pletely 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. Reaching this point was already an aplishment. As long as she won her next match against Li Rangyi, she could still secure third ce. 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 amand! He wanted to beat this guy! He had never suffered such a loss before. 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. 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 tomand from the sidelines, have to fear?! "me Charge!" Qiao Sang resolutely ordered. Some of the audience members seated further away, watching therge screen, noticed that at this moment, the expressions of contestant Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog ovepped, looking almost identical. Fire fang Dog didn''t hesitate; it immediately sprang into action. This time, it was different from previous me Charges. There was no need to gather momentum for the energy to erupt from within. With just a quick push from its hind legs, mes 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 rtively 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 mes, charging towards it ferociously. It froze for a moment, then felt the temperature around it rise dramatically. When it snapped out of it, the me-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¡¯smand. 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." Thementator remarked. Fire fang Dog missed its target. However, the mes 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. "me Charge!" Qiao Sang issued the samemand again. Fire fang Dog struggled to its feet, mes 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 itpare 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 y 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 ce. 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, "me Charge!" At this point, no one could understand. "What¡¯s wrong with Qiao Sang?" "Wasn¡¯t she acting really smart in the previous rounds?" "me 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 thementator''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!" Thementator said, moved. Once again, mes 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 ted. Her strategy had been wless! 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 me 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 n. It was simply following her orders and giving it its all. However, on the third me 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, me Charge is already a high-damage, mid-tier move. Scale Controller Doll, blinded by the previous two me Charges, expected the third to be of simr strength. And the result? Just as she had predicted. Scale Controller Doll''s Psychic attack couldn¡¯t withstand the suddenly enhanced me Charge. "Yap!" "Yap!" Fire fang Dog barked twice. The first was out of joy, the second out of pain. It hadpletely forgotten to maintain its aloof expression and leapt up in excitement before copsing from exhaustion. Luckily, it quickly got back on its feet. On the other side, the Scale Controller Doll wasn¡¯t engulfed in mes, 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. me 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 Sangmanded 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 ws, 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 mes. This wasn¡¯t me Charge¡ªthis was... ¡°This is ze!¡± Thementator eximed, 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 copsed, unable to stand any longer. The arena fell into silence. Chapter 67: The Fearless Eyewear Shop Momentster, 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!¡± Thementator excitedly eximed, ¡°This is definitely the most thrilling match of the Bai Xin Competition! At thest moment, the Fire fang Dog even triggered its ze ability! Too bad the Scale Controller Doll copsed so quickly, we didn¡¯t get to see more of the Fire fang Dog in ze mode!¡± Hou Xiangyu: ...Did no one think that he could hear them too? Qiao Sang stared nkly 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 mes around it dissipated, and it closed its eyes, copsing. ¡°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 ws, 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 minutester, 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 ze 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. ze, 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 be 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 ze ability, it was absolutely advantageous in terms of attack power. Once it was injured to a certain extent and its energy was severely depleted, ze 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 ze had to be mastered to be triggered. In general, any fire-type pet beast that could reliably trigger ze 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 ze 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 ss pane and paused. It jumped out of Qiao Sang¡¯s arms and stood in front of the ss, staring at its reflection. Then it panicked. ¡°Yip?¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± Where were his sunsses?! Qiao Sang pulled out a broken pair of red, triangr sunsses from his bag and held them up. ¡°The match just now was too intense, they shattered.¡± The Fire fang Dog froze in ce, as if struck by lightning. It reached out with its paws to take the broken sunsses and let out a mournful cry, ¡°Yap!!!¡± This cry was even more tragic than when the Scale Controller Doll had used telekinesis to m 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 Sangforted. 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 sunsses. I can give them to your Fire fang Dog.¡± Qiao Sang turned around. A woman around 25 or 26, with long ck 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 lightugh, unfazed. Qiao Sang thought for a moment, ¡°Was that the number ending in 1772? The one I blocked after several calls?¡± 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 callerbeled with a name. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Song Yuan answered. Qiao Sang: ... A minuteter. ¡°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 exined, ¡°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 sunsses 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 sunsses 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 sunsses from her bag. Qiao Sang looked at the sunsses and fell silent. Fire fang Dog nced at them and shook its head like a rattle. It had standards too, okay! Chapter 68: Did She Go Easy? The sunsses 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¡¯sst pair got damaged during the match. If your sunsses get broken during the finals, it won¡¯t be good." "Yap!" Fire fang Dog nodded quickly, holding up the broken red sunsses as evidence. Song Yuan smiled and said, "The frame of these sunsses is made from the ws of a Nikken Lizard. I can''t speak for otherpetitions, but for something like the Bai Xin Tournament, they¡¯ll definitely hold up." "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 coboration 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 ck 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 ce? 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 exined 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 wee the twopetitors who have fought their way to this stage: Wei Wenya and Qiao Sang!¡± The announcer called out passionately. As the background music red, 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 sunsses that shed 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 sunsses, 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 thepetition, 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 mes, 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 ming 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 ced 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 ce 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, exining that they would invite her up to the stage for the award presentationter. Unlike the formal and simple award ceremonies of her past life, the current world of beast masters loved to add some ir and spectacle to these events. The awards ceremony in the beast masterpetition was a bit showy, though not as over-the-top as the entry process in coordinationpetitions. The difference was that in coordinationpetitions, participants had toe up with their own creative entrance ideas, whereas in beast masterpetitions, 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 note?" Another young man sitting nearby added, ¡°Qiao Sang, do you have any ns for the summer? If not,e to our Longwu Basic Pet Beast Daycare. Fire fang can y 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. 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 umon 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 ce had something to do with it, but more importantly, the fact that pet beasts were amon interest now brought people closer together. As the background music yed, 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 hadpeted, they wouldn''t have even made it to first ce.¡± Bai Yunmiao said admiringly. ¡°Stop exaggerating! The truly strongpetitors at this stage probably didn¡¯t even join thispetition.¡± Qiao Sang said, removing the sunsses from Fire fang''s face. She had felt awkward seeing those sunsses 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 sunsses, quickly putting them back on. Qiao Sang: ... Wasn''t it the one refusing to wear them earlier? ¡°Anyway, the timing shed with the Interster 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 disys their rank badge, the color of their star array is the mostmon 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 rted 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 elerate energy gathering, enhance defense or attack, or even influence breeding abilities. These engravings had time and usage limits. Officialpetitions didn''t allow pet beasts to have such engravings, as they were considered external aid, simr 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 shed 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,unching attacks from new angles, thrilling the audience with each round. Neither San Duo nor Gao Xulu issuedmands. After about ten minutes of intense battle, Swift Swallow dodged one of Fierce Arrow Fire Owl''s ming Air sts and suddenly veered toward the audience. Swift Swallow immediately chased after it, even releasing a Gale st during the pursuit. Fierce Arrow Fire Owl, sensing the danger from behind, effortlessly dodged the attack without even looking back. The chase was exhrating, 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 fromunching any more attacks. But the sight of two pet beasts zipping over the audience, ying 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 secondster, Qiao Sangnded 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 hadpleted 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-ce winner, after all! Why didn¡¯t theye for him? No recognition at all! Was he supposed to walk up there himself?! Before he couldin further in his head, his body suddenly lost bnce 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 speechter, she was definitely going to curse a little in front of everyone. The prizes were handed out starting with the third-ce winner, and soon it was Qiao Sang¡¯s turn. The first-ce 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 ce 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 ce?" 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 thispetition. 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. Apletely 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 ced 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 andposed. 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 beastpetition 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 Yuanplimented. "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 minutester¡­ ¡°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 ce in the Bai Xin Cup. 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 rtionship, 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, ze fang dog. Once that happens, I¡¯d be in breach of contract if Fire fang dog doesn¡¯t appear.¡± Qiao Sang exined. The sses were designed to be a hot-selling product for a quarter, with a new producting out every few months. By the time six months passed, Fire fang dog wouldn¡¯t be avable 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 Yunmiaoughed and exined, ¡°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 Yunmiaomented. 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 birthce. 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 tofort 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 tofort 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 epted 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 ce 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''sp. First ce 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 ce?! Were all the participants as young as her daughter, just fresh out of middle school? Even so, winning first ce 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 pped 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 herputer, and prepared to research her second pet. As usual, she nced at the trending topics first. The hot searches were all about the Interster Cup. [The Real Dark Horse: Felinus!] [Yuki Akane¡¯s Bitter Farewell to the Interster 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 Interster Cup was being held. Every year, a few people would try to smuggle themselves onto thepetition, and this year was no exception. This time, though, the smugglers were from Blue Star. Without even clicking in, Qiao Sang knew thements would be filled with curses, probably scolding the smugglers for embarrassing Blue Star. The Interster Cup was a sensitive time. There weren¡¯t enough Beast Masterspeting to represent even a whole country. Honor was no longer just between nations; it had be apetition betweens. Qiao Sang kept scrolling, and soon, her eyes paused on one line. Among all the Interster Cup-rted topics, onepletely unrted 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 aplices, murdered Researcher Qin Yuxin and stole ssified research data.] 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-typest. Grass-type beasts were excellent, aside from being a bit expensive. Water-type beasts, while not always able to perform their best onnd, 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 gic 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 be 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 rmended 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 skillster. 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 skillster 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 incrediblyfortable. 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 herputer, got ready for bed, andy on her back with her hands behind her head. Staring at the ceiling light and listening to the yful sounds of Fire Fang Dog and Fat Dove from the living room, her thoughts began to drift towards her uing ns. 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." Hey on its side in her arms, finding afortable spot to sleep. A few secondster, he suddenly remembered something. Opening his eyes, he jumped off the bed, shut the door, and returned to find his ce 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 nce, and she froze. Name: Fire Fang Dog (Yabao) Attribute: Fire Level: Beginner (192/1000) + [Primary Trait: ze Rank: D (1/500) 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) + me 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 lookedpletely 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 exnation 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 me 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, me 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 minutester. "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 toote, 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 sote? Should he wake her up? He was hungry. ----- ----- Chapter 73: A Major Client An hourter, unable to bear his hunger any longer, Fire fang Dog jumped onto the bed and pulled back the nket with his mouth. "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 nket. Forty minutester, Fire fang Dog jumped back onto the bed and pulled the nket off again. "Yap!" "Yap Yap!" "Just a bit longer, just one more... Ah!"--- At the dining table, Fire fang Dog finished thest 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 bnce of ingredients to be chopped, mixed, andbined with a little energy gel toplete the dish, simr to making a sd. 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 exined, "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 likelyy 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 oue, seeing the number change from 645 to 653 still made her excitedly shout. Nearby, a young boy of about four or five who hade 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 popr and sessful business was the Hanggang Beast Base, where the Bai Xin Competition prize vouchers were redeemable. Last time, she hade early and coincidentally arrived just as the ce 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 nced 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 withplete respect, not underestimating her because of her young age. To work at thergest 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 inly 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¡¯te 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 hade 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 onlye 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 apany you into the base for now. I¡¯lle 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 bes stronger, and the range over which they can sense each other increases. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t mind. She had no other ns for the day, and a tour of the base sounded nice. The Blue Delight Butterfly fluttered in ce, 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 abyrinth, and without someone familiar with theyout 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 youe 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 wasid out like a courtyard. At a nce, 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 mefinch 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 nced 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 simrly 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 exin what Budblossom meant to express. "Yue." "Yue Yue, Yue." "Yue." Qiao Sang: ... "Yaobao, trante for me." Qiao Sang said. Fire fang Dog faithfully tranted. "Yap Yap." "Yap." "Yap." Qiao Sang finally rxed. 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. 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 ced 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 used 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 exining 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 simr. 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 be 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 ites 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 ryed 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. Bncing 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 secondster. "Treasure~" The little one opened its arms and cooed. Qiao Sang stood frozen in ce. 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 nce over. There stood arge 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, therger 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 ncing 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 disy 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 popr choices, they often resorted to all sorts of tricks to force their preferred beast tamers into a contract. This wasn¡¯t the first time this Treasure-Seeking Ghost had pulled this stunt, always using an egg on the verge of hatching to me 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 n would likely seed. The base didn¡¯t mind, as they were more than happy to help push the sale if it worked out. After all, if sessful, 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 surveince 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 red at the seemingly innocent Treasure-Seeking Ghost. It even had aplices?! "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 be 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 toe 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 surveince 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. 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." Exined 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 n 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 miscalcted 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 popr 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 rmend 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 nkly 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 ced 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 regr customer. This whole situation has been disappointing." "When we checked the surveince, 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 cing 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 minutester. 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 apanying 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 toe 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 Sangughed. 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 inpetitions? ¡°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 tough. 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 zing Arrowhawk was a fire-type and flying-type pet beast. But these weremon attributebinations. However, psychic and ghost types were rare attributes. Abination 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 verypetitive, 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 wasbeled For Baby Pets Only. This milk had been a gift from the base, specially formted 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 ept 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 secondster. 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. 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 eatter!¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ Chapter 78: The Photoshoot 7:45 PM. Qiao Sang sat at her desk, nning 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 umted 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 andplete an evolution by the end of the summer. As for its ze 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, simr to how skill proficiency is measured. For innate, uncontroble 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 ze ability could only be triggered under certain conditions, like poor health or exhaustion, she decided it could wait. Forcing it wouldn¡¯t make her apetent 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 riskints 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 ns, 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 toote. 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 ying 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 ws 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-inw? 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 moreposed 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 form. 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 coboration. A fresh graduate from middle school, specially admitted to Shengshui High School, she had won first ce in thepetition 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 secondster. 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 exnation, Song Yuan finally hung up the phone. ¡°I remember you just graduated from middle school.¡± Song Yuan said with aplicated 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. It just didn¡¯t seem like the best choice. They say geniuses think differently from the average person, but her rtives¡¯ children seemed pretty normalpared 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 sunsses, 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 sunsses that had just been swapped out, clumsily removed its ring, and ced the sunsses 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 sunsses. Could it have the same taste as Yabao? Just as Qiao Sang was about to ask the Ghost to return the sses, 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 sses 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 thatpliment for real? Why did it feel like there was some kind of bizarre social graceing 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 ount on Chaoboter. I''ll have the online store follow you. Once the photos are selected, make sure to post them." Chaobo was simr to Weibo from her past life, a tform where people checked trending topics and such. Qiao Sang nodded. This was already part of the contract. "Also, don''t forget to verify your ount as the Champion of the Bai Xin Competition." Song Yuan reminded her. "Got it." Qiao Sang agreed. Song Yuan nced at Yabao and the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, then couldn''t help but ask out of concern, "Have you made ns 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 particrly 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 nning 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. Thest 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 ept the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. But in just two nights, their rtionship had improved significantly. As she took out her phone to capture a backview photo of her two pets, the phone buzzed in her hand. ncing 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. 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 nced 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 ce. 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 be 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, apanied 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 toe 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 exined. "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 littlepanion 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 ept 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 itsrge 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 ept 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 shee along to check out her blind date, to help her judge the guy. Qiao Sang tly 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 manypetitions. 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 nt all of this?" Her aunt beamed with pride. "This is all for your cousin Jingwen, who''s preparing to apply to Southern nt University to be a Spirit nt Specialist. Your uncle brought these nts over for her to study." Qiao Sang: ... A Spirit nt Specialist is someone who specializes in cultivating energy-rich nts. 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 rted knowledge. Typically, you needed to be a Beast Tamer to apply to universities offering pet-rted majors. The Spirit nt 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 theing 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 nts were just regr ones, but these were all spirit nts... 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 me Charge. This way, she could effectively gauge Yabao¡¯s energy capacity and know its limits in future battles. Before long, Yabao waspletely 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 rx 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, sprawledzily 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 eximed in disbelief, "Qiao Sang?" ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s me. My mom asked me to bring something over.¡± Qiao Sang replied.¡°Come in,e in! You¡¯ve grown into such a youngdy. I almost didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Aunt Wang said, warmly inviting her inside. Qiao Sang recalled seeing her baby-faced, t-chested reflection in the mirror that morning. A youngdy? 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. ¡°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 augh. 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 ce in apetition?¡± 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 n... 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 session: ¡°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 wasplete. 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 n. 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. Inpetitions, 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 lowerpared 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 disyed items rted to fire-type pets. Qiao Sang wanted to buy Yabao a tool that would elerate 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 duringpetitions, 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-rted 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 possiblypete? 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 Sangughed. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost froze, staring at her nkly, 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 nkly 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 simr 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 umtion 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, nced 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 nced 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 notpatible." Third Aunt frowned. "How are you notpatible? 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 rtionships. She got along well with her inws. "He has a Snowbrow Rabbit, and my Wind Eagle is its natural enemy. We¡¯re notpatible." Ye Ranran exined. 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 mes, he was once again exhausted. Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost handed over the prepared milk. This time, Yabao hesitated a bit but finally epted 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¡ªssic 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 ck-rimmed sses. Instead of looking like a terrifying ghost, she just looked like a bookworm. "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 insteade 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 exined. 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. 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 exined, ¡°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 aint 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 bncing both studying and dating¡­ ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend anymore.¡± Ye Jingwen retorted. This indirectly confirmed their previous rtionship. 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 reced with Xun) Ye Jingwen was startled. She nced 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 nce 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 ept 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 rified. 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 apartmentplex 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 ce?¡± 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, asionally apanied 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 weed 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 homnd. 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 exin his intentions. The Magnerat stared in confusion for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Ziii?" "Ziii ziii?!" The Treasure-Seeking Ghost nodded. "Ziii!" The Magnemouse cried out in excitement, nodding earnestly to show its full cooperation. But in the next second, it deted, looking despondent. It pointed to the cage, then at itself. "Ziii ziii." "Xuun." At that moment, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost removed its ring and ced 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 theplex. "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 youe 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 aplished 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 be a Spirit nt Master?" Ye Jingwen nodded shyly. "For independent admissions, 60% of the score is based on the Spirit nt 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 surveince 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 rm, 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 exin. "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 exnation, the Magnemouse rxed, 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 tootest night, so Ye Jingwen suggested letting the Magnemouse sleep at her house, with ns 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 ce, it would¡¯ve likely electrocuted her at dawn without the Treasure-Seeking Ghost to trante. Qiao Sang nced at the time. 9:12 AM. Still groggy from sleep, she was surprised. Thiste? 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, ring at his Beastmaster with a wounded look. Qiao Sang felt a bit guilty. She had put Yabao into the Beastmaster Recordst night to keep him safe but had been too tired to let it outter. "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 t 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 minutester. 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 nce 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 nced 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 hadpletely misunderstood his beast master''s intentions. After another ten minutes of walking, the Maic Rat stopped and pointed to a spot, making a weing gesture. ¡°Zi.¡± ¡°Ziii zi.¡± Without needing Yabao to trante, 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 particr spot was moving more noticeably. ¡°Yabao!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he assumed abat-ready stance again. The next second, a slightlyrger Magnemouse suddenly darted out from the bushes,unching 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 red up in anger, and red mes surged around his body. He red 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, ring at Qiao Sang with fury, as if it wanted nothing more than to bite her. 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 apletely 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 mes 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 therger Magnemouse, a smaller yellow figure suddenly jumped in front of it. The force of Yabao¡¯s me charge sent both the small figure and therger Magnemouse flying. ¡°Zii!¡± ¡°Zii¡± Two different voices cried out in unison, and momentster, 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. Therger Magnemouse had clearly known the one she brought back, and assuming she was the viin, it attacked. She nced 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 identally knocked out his newpanion, 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 me 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 nning on venturing into any mystical realms, it never hurt to be prepared. And sure enough, they hade in handy. ¡°Little Treasure, the medicine.¡± Qiao Sang called out. Since Yabao already had a name, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t want to y favorites, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything particrly 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 therger 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 n. 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 exin itself to Qiao Sang.With Yabao acting as a trantor, Qiao Sang quickly understood their rtionship, 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 vignce 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, mes 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 nces, 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 exin to your mom.¡± Qiao Sang urged the Magnemouse in her arms. Five minutester. The mother Magnemouse looked at Qiao Sang with guilt in its eyes. 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 trantor. It turned out the mother maic fierce rat wanted to repay her with a tree fruit. Qiao Sang initially wanted to decline but reconsidered and epted. 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 vige, any spirit nt was useful. If the tree had been cultivated by someone, it wouldn¡¯t have been nted on a mountain inhabited by wild pet beasts. Not to mention the soil and temperature issues, the timing of fertilization, and maintaining the bnce 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 nted in such easily essible 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 theye to our Hanggang?¡± Across from him sat a round-faced middle-aged woman, who replied, ¡°We tracked the route. After ditching surveince, 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 surveince 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 gged 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 vige. Yet, there had been no trace of him for days. stic surgery? Gender change? Could he have contracted a mud beast to disguise himself? But ording to the records, he had only be 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 mightsh 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 Xianes 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 surveince. Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± The young man¡¯s attention was sessfully 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 havepletely hidden this ce 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 muchrger, clearly overfed. It looked about 25 centimeters, its body primarily a grape-grey-brown color with a chestnut-brown head. A ck stripe ran from its head down to the tip of its tail. Its beak,pared to its body, appeared particrly 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 ying with each other. She didn¡¯t want to be the viin 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 rece 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, whilemander-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 ck and silver figure ahead. Someone, please exin 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 ck, 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 ck Python, a purely poison-type beast, and the other was the Silver-Tailed Sea Serpent, a dual water-poison type. The Poison Mother ck 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 yful 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 rmed 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 ck coloring on its face wasn¡¯t particrly 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 contemtion, she took out her phone and tried to call the inspection department. Two secondster, her face darkened. No signal... Huangming Mountain wasn¡¯t a deste, uninhabited ce. asionally, 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 secondster, 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 awkwardlyughed, 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! 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 minutester. 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 havee to Huangming Mountain. If she hadn¡¯te 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 arge wutong tree that still provided a clear view of the 5 million. She hid there, waiting in silence. It wasn¡¯t until some timeter 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 hadmitted. There was no mention of his level as a beastmaster or details about his beastpanions. 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 electromaic 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 nced around the man¡¯s surroundings. Hey there, eyes closed, appearing gravely injured, but there was no sign of any beasts nearby. That was suspicious. A wounded fugitive with no beastpanions 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 mountaintely 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 muchmotion? 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 seeded, 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 hisst 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 singlerge 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 rtively 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 ept 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 shoces, 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. 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-ss, and he might even be a C-ss tamer who passed the league¡¯s certification. If he really was a C-ss 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-ss 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 rashlytely. Was it because of thepany 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 n, 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-ss wanted criminal, is here. Hurry and..." Beep, beep, beep... Before she could finish, the call cut off. The sweltering summer heat,bined 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 me 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-ss 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." 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 nced 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 afortable spot on her head, andy 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 arge 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 ck, 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 toe up with a solution, Yabao suddenly jumped onto the man¡¯s body. His mouth opened, and his sharp teeth were covered in mes. "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 be 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 dyed 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 ckness 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 regr beast tamer¡¯spanions, 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 nce at the Fire Fang Dog. "Helm!" "Helm!" The Stone Helm Spirit quickly stepped forward to exin everything that had just happened. "Thunder Swift!" The Thunder Swiftbird feigned anger, pping 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 ws stayed firmly nted, 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 identally 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 mes 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 bacsh 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 bacsh. 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 exin everything. The Thunder Swiftbird, even if it wanted to suffer bacsh, 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 red at the Thunder Swiftbird, extending its right w 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 ce 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 ck 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 ckened 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 be dull and lifeless, lookingpletely withered. "Thunder Swift." The Thunder Swiftbird growled, ring 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-calledrades 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 ws had lost a segment. Because it cameter, 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 electromaic 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 regrly release electromaic 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 thest 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 wed the ground, striking near the Stone Helm Spirit. Electric arcs burst in the air. This disy 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 suddenmotion? 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 elerated. Qiao Sang, sitting nearby, watched with growing rm. 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 boltsnded. 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 shes 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. 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. Itsst-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 red 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, ity still on the ground, its eyes turning purple once again. This time, the ck ground began to spread toward Qiao Sang, starting from the Stone Helm Spirit. Qiao Sang watched the ck 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 me 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¡¯smand, the Dark Night Feast stopped just past the Thunder Swiftbird''s feet. "Thunder Swift!" Ignoring themotion 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 copsed. Yabao''s eyes lit up upon hearing themand. 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 mes red up, and with excitement, he summoned all his energy. In the next moment, a red sh 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 w. The still-feathered wing tried to swat the Fire fang Dog, but itcked 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 exin¡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, vigntly eyeing the neers. "Where¡¯s Zhou Xian?" The middle-aged woman asked, ncing 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-ce Fire fang Dog that clearly didn¡¯t belong in this level ofbat. 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, rxed 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 shoces?! 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 exin everythingter." 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. 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 ce? Right¡ª It was all because of that human standing in front of it. That vile human! The Stone Helm Spirit red 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 exnation. Qiao Sang, snapping out of her sadness over the Stone Helm Spirit fainting before she could finish it off, began exining 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 ck-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 toe 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 ount 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 be 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 nced around but couldn¡¯t spot the Magnemouse mother and child that had been there earlier. "Yap!" At that moment, Yabao barked at a particr 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 therger 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 particrly 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 morningpetition, 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: ze 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) +, me 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 ining 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 ept. --- 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 oddtely, 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 ze 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 theirpanion. No one would reject bing stronger, especially not thepetitive 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 hadpletely forgotten about Yabao¡¯s endorsement deal! The contract stipted a six-month endorsement, during which Yabao would model for two seasons of sunsses. They had just finished shooting the summer collection, but the autumn collection hadn¡¯t even started yet. If Yabao evolved into ze 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 cane 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 augh. That would be in about a month and a half. Qiao Sang thought for a moment and epted. There was no rush. After hanging up, Qiao Sang turned to Yabao and said, ¡°Let¡¯s practice me Charge now.¡± Yabao currently had four fire-type skills. The limits of the other three had already been tested, leaving only me Charge. Yabao, still holding his 45-degree-angled pose, was now confused. Weren¡¯t they taking pictures? Ten minutester. Qiao Sang was typing in her phone¡¯s notepad. me Charge, 48 times. Both Fire Fang and me 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, me 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 reced 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 fewments 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. ¡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 mostments 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 n for Yabao¡¯s uing 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 immacte makeup she wore was worn off, and she hadn¡¯t bothered to fix it. Could something have happened? Just as Qiao Sang began to specte, 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 rx.¡± 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 toe all this way. Are you off tomorrow?¡± Her mother smiled. ¡°How did you know? I made ns 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 ns 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 ws had be 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, yfully 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 disyed as ¡¾Beginner (800/1000)+¡¿ The changes to Yabao¡¯s body were just as she had expected. The point total represented Yabao¡¯s energy umtion at the beginner level. Evolution depends on two factors: Energy umtion and a transformation trigger. Thetter 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 n 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 minutester, after releasing Ember 320 times, Yabao copsed 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 ws touched it, water sshing 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 ident, 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 ws much sharper. Looks like she¡¯d need to trim those ws soon. After all, Yabao didn¡¯t have any w-rted 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 exin. "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 sess 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 ws." "¡­" --- 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 pping. It turned out that the F-grade energy recovery fluid, as well as the E-grade me 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 me 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 ws 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 besting 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 mes. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t y 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 mes, a tiny energy ball the size of a fingernail appeared. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. No matter the size, sessfully 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, therger the ball would be. "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 iing 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 rxed. "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 reallymitted 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 secondter, 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." 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 suchplex 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 butugh. 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 be 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,unching 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 ssh 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 ced the fish into a stic 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 ustomed 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 rtively 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 rmended 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 dayter, 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 outdoorstely. Even though she stayed in the shade, the zing sun and herck 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 Inster Cup." Ye Ranran said, exasperated. The Inster 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 Inster Cup could easily cause rifts in rtionships. Statistics showed that during each Inster Cup, divorce rates rose by 9%, and breakups due to arguments over thepetition weremonce. "That¡¯s definitely a deal breaker. What kind of people are they introducing to you?" Third Auntined. 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 ry 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 werecking, 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 topete, 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 ry, 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 calcte individual rankings for each beast in the ry. I¡¯m mainly aiming for the individual scores." Third Uncle exined. 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. 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 Hanggangpetition 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 ze Fang Dog, it would be fine. But even after evolving, the energy might still be insufficient. ording 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 challengey 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 suchints. 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 ws 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 secondter, 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 exin, but seeing Little Treasure proudly making funny faces, she felt like exining 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 cing 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 ry?¡± 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 ovepped, and they also had conflicts with their pet beasts¡¯ roles in the race.¡± ¡°This marathon ry is divided intond, 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 exined. 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. Thend section is the first part of the ry, and Fire Fang Dog is supposed to run the second leg. Uncle is mainly counting on his Roaring Swamp Crocodile to take first ce 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 thepetition channel, and figured it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Is Little Treasure thest 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 nced 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. After drinking the restoration potion, he no longer practiced energy ball condensation to the point of exhaustion, leaving time to run a fewps 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 rxing 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 ry. ----- ----- Chapter 98: Hitching A Ride Early in the morning, Yabao started rummaging through his backpack, trying to find a particr pair of sunsses. 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 shy pink sunsses 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 mped the backpack in his mouth and brought it over to Qiao Sang, who was tying her ponytail. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap-yap!¡± Qiao Sang calmly tied thest loop of her hair tie and said, ¡°Oh, that pair? I forgot where I put it. Wear the red sunsses 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 sunsses with him justst night? Little Treasure nced 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 sunsses he was originally looking for. He excitedly dug out the red triangle-shaped sunsses 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 sses, 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 formalpetition once before, Qiao Sang was feeling quite rxed about the uing marathon ry 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. t 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 hade 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,e 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 Beastmasterpetition.¡± Ye Ranran exined. Qiao Sang nodded. In the city, there were many Beastmasters and frequentpetitions. Unless there was heavy promotion, smallerpetitions often went unnoticed. Bai Xin''s Competition was a perfect example. But here, with fewer Beastmasters and even fewerpetitions, news of any Beastmaster contest spread quickly by word of mouth. ¡°Sang, don¡¯t get too nervouster, just stay calm.¡± Her third uncle suddenly said from the side. Qiao Sang: ... Although she was surprised by therge turnout, she wasn¡¯t nervous at all, she wasn¡¯t the one running, after all... ¡°Yabao, are you nervous?¡± Qiao Sang asked, ncing down. ¡°Yap.¡± Wearing his sunsses, 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 thend 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 calcte the results. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to the second stage now. Your aunt and Jingwen are waiting for me there. We¡¯ll meet upter." 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 Vige. 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 Vige. ¡°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 Vige,¡± Ye Ranran said, not insisting further. --- Thirty minutester, 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 Vige 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 ws, 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 Vige! 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 nces, 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 regtions 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 Vige for the second leg of the race, which put her mind at ease. ¡°I feel like the prize for first ce in the individualpetition 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 ce?¡± Her third uncle was gunning for the individual prize. He had given up onpeting in a team after realizing the prizes ovepped 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 nt especialist, another costly path. Looking at all the spirit nts 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 nts, 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 Inster 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 Vige, quite a few people had already gathered. After registering at the check-in point, Qiao Sang and Yabao went to the designated spot¡ªthe vige 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 thepetition 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 ry. Around the vige entrance, roughly 200 beasts stood ready, some of them advanced-level. Even among this crowd, Yabao stood out with his unique sunsses and fiery red fur, catching the attention of many. ¡°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 nced over, surprised to find some kids who had seen the Bai Xin Competition. Impressive. She secretly approved of their sharp eyes. Time passed. Thirteen minutester, a thunderous sound approached from afar. ¡°Xuuuuun!¡± Little Treasure excitedly pointed in the direction of the sound. Following his gesture, Qiao Sang froze in ce, 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 ry sash hung around its neck. Qiao Sang was a bit dazed. It was a Twin-Tailed Land Tortoise... Was it really apetitor? 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 ry sash to a Six-Tentacle Snail. What happened nextpletely altered Qiao Sang¡¯s perception of a marathon ry. 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 straightforwardpetition: Running onnd, swimming in water, and flying in the air. She hadn''t expected it to be so... creative. ncing at her Yabao, confidently wearing its sunsses, Qiao Sang suddenly regretted not understanding the rules better. If all the other beasts used such shy tricks, her poor dog running on his own might end up inst ce... 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 ry sash from its neck and passed it to Yabao, who was still proudly wearing his sunsses. 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 inst ce. Once Yabao donned the yellow ry 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 thepetitors. They had a professional medical team and technical support throughout the race, with robust logistical security. Running alongside would just cause unnecessaryplications 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 anotherpetitor 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 entirepetition. Excessive energy consumption might leave a pet beast too exhausted to finish. Those with marathon experience alternate between running normally and asionally 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 ofpeting 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 me 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 fewps around Liu Gan Creek wasn¡¯t nearly enough to prepare him for a marathon. While his stamina was decentpared 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 thepetition number A099. It bounced rapidly toward the third ry point, using its springy tail to hop forward, overtaking the Yabao with ease. "Ball." 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 zed 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 copsed 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 ry 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 red into a me. In the next moment, the me 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 copsed, then suddenly burst into mes... It must¡¯ve triggered its ze ability and shot off like a rocket. I¡¯ve never seen a fire-type beast burn itself out running a marathon before." The staffer exined, still shaken. It was like seeing a copsed 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 ry point. "That tail is perfect for this race!" She eximed. "I still think the Icesnow Lynx''s skill is more suited." Ye Ranyanmented. "It slid on ice balls attached to its paw pads. No idea how they thought of that." "In this heat, though, the ice won¡¯tst long. It¡¯s just to make it a bit easier in the middle. But you can tell they put in the effort. The bnce is impable." Qiao Sang analyzed. "A well-nned strategy that conserves energy with asional 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 n?" 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 zing mes sped toward them like a bolt of red lightning, zooming past her in a sh and overtaking the Bouncing Pig just before reaching the ry 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 mes danced wildly, unrestrained and zing. A distinctive triangr pair of sunsses 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 ry point, she was deeply worried. Isn''t this ze mode?! What''s going on? Why is the ze 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 ry 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 nced at Yabao out of the corner of its eye, and the next second, passed by it, handing the yellow ry 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 mes on his body, once fierce, now seemed dimmed. "Yabao, pass the ry 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 ry band?! ... The pet marathon in Qitang Town had, for the first time in history, encountered a missing ry 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 ze trait. Fire-type pets were already rare in the town, and those with the ze trait were even more umon. For the locals, seeing a pet trigger ze during a marathon was a first. In a way, Yabao had be famous in Qitang Town. For future pet marathons, the organizers would specially provide ry 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 ry band, three minutes had already passed. The pet marathonpetitors 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, cing 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 dy, Yabao''s original 51st ce in the second leg dropped to 62nd. "No worries, I never expected us to get 62nd in the first ce." Qiao Sangforted. "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 ze, you fainted shortly after. Now, you''re staying conscious and still able to drink milk. That''s progress." Qiao Sang continued tofort. Yabao paused mid-drink and stared nkly 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 ns based on the pet''s current mental state and strength. One of the exams to be 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 ze. Ah-Sang has talent, and so does her pet. She should be a professional beastmaster." Her Third Unclemented 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 ce 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 thepeting pets,pletely 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 ry point for the fifth leg, had set up a venue to watch the live broadcast in its hall. Qiao Sang, a participant in the firstne, had to send Yabao to the second ry 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 ry band?!" The man eximed 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 rtive of yours?" "Officer Ye, I just saw your white fox. It was in second ce! There were several that looked simr, 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 mentallyment that while this method did speed things up, moving backwards was risky, it could easily bump into otherpeting pets. Soon, the screen switched, showing an underwater scene instead of the river''s surface. A blue Water Smander 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. What the heck? It was using tulence 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 onmand, 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 nkly 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 minutester, the footage shifted to a ck 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 rm. "Ah-Sang, we¡¯re in trouble!" While her third uncle was gunning for an individual first-ce win, this was still a team ry. If thepeting pet wasn''t at the ry point to pass the band, the results wouldn¡¯t count. Qiao Sang had nothing to worry about since she was thest 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 cing Little Treasure on the track, Qiao Sang held Yabao in her arms, waiting on the sidelines. Many people around them pointed andughed 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 ry band to Little Treasure Qiao Sang¡¯s mission was sessfullypleted. She pulled out her phone, ready to call Ye Ranran, when suddenly amotion 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 waspletely thrown. Could Little Treasure teleport? No way! She had checked the beast codexst 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 be this easy? Chapter 103: It Seems to Have Worked... Having a pet beast learn a skill is crucial, both forpetitions 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, bing 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 livefortably 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 shed 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 nced 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¡­ Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts,pletely 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 revtion 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 ce, 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. Hey on Qiao Sang¡¯s head, leisurely sipping milk, clearly not aspetitive as Yabao. As the family walked back,ughing 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 ce. ¡°Dad, second ce 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 Jingwenforted him. ¡°Yeah, Uncle San, I think the second-ce prize is even more practical than first ce.¡± Qiao Sang chimed in with a smile. Uncle San forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Getting second ce 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,te 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. Howe 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 mes 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 mesnded not far in front of Qiao Sang, illuminating her wide-open mouth, dted pupils, and almost-dropping jaw. Qiao Sang felt her mind go nk. 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 mes 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 ck 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 seed? Logically, there¡¯s no way he should have learned it so quickly. The speed at which he picked up the skill seemedpletely unscientific. Of course, sessfully 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 seed again soon. But for Yabao, that¡¯s not the case. With the help of her golden finger, he can sessfully 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 exin 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 ze 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 ze trait, learning Meteor Rain still feels a bit imusible. Suddenly, Qiao Sang thought of something and opened the Beast Codex. Level: Beginner (935/1000) + [Primary Trait: ze 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) +, me Charge (Mastery 165/500) +, Meteor Rain (Beginner-level 1/100) Points: 786 Sometimes, things that don¡¯t make sense be 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 ze, and it all made sense why Meteor Rain was sessfully 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 Orbtely, which increased its points by 7 per day. It was at 905 pointsst night, so how had it gained 30 points in one day? Was it because of ze? 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 ofpliments, 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 rece it." Qiao Sang said seriously. "Yap." Yabao looked at the ck 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, nced at his Beastmaster, then quietly stepped back, flipping his own Prayer Beads ne 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, asionally runningps 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 simr 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 mes 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 umting 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. She couldn¡¯t help it, her two pet beasts were so talented, learning new skills as if it were child¡¯s y. 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. ¡°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 nce 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 exined. 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 graspplex exnations, 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 regr practice, but in apetition, it would be a major w. 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 snarkyment. ¡°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 nced at the screen, answered the call, and before she could speak, her mother¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Pack your things ande 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 ss.¡± Her mother said, beaming with pride. ¡°It¡¯s the honors ss, and you need to report tomorrow. All the students in that ss 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 ss, but on the other, memories of being ruled by rm 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 epted 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 exin 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 practiceter; right now, she should enjoy thest 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 rm 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 nced at the unusuallyvish 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 ss, 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 allzy,¡± Third Aunt said. Qiao Sang: ... It seemed like she used to be thest 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 que 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 ss 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 dyed 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 beenplimented on her looks, andtely, people had praised her talent, but no one had ever sincerelyplimented 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 Xiane 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 particr 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, andrge, bat-like ears appeared out of nowhere. In its ws, 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 ce to another. It can be countered by simply enclosing the space. 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 ssified as a high-tier skill. "Yap!" Yabao bared his sharp teeth in a defensive stance upon seeing the sudden arrival of the new beast. Therge-eared pet beast paid no attention to Yabao. It briefly scanned Qiao Sang, then started flipping through the papers it was holding with its ws. After a few pages, it stopped, looked at the paper in its w, 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 w, it waved its right w. Suddenly, Qiao Sang''s vision went ck, 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 aplish. "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 be 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 exmation. "Lu Liangye, mind yournguage." Liu Yao said with a nce. 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 shed his sharp teeth in a handsome disy. 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 ss 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 nce. 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 ss.)?? 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 variouspetitions the students participate in during their time there. Whether it''s academic or martial, group or individual, they have won ces in national and even international High schoolpetitions. Sometimes, when they win provincialpetitions, they don''t even bother to post a notice on the school website. However, while there are manypetitions, they always announce the results of individual or teambatpetitions at the provincial level. After all,batpetitions have always been the most popr. 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-ce school never epts 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 nced 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 forpetitions, 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 ced third in the national middle school beastmasterpetition. 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 yourbat 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 ce in the provincialpetition, 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 beastmasterbat 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 exin more tomorrow, and I¡¯ll also give you specific guidance on how to nurture your contracted beasts." Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes lit up. A training n 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 irreceable. 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 ze 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 toe 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 ack of money and resources. Though he wasn¡¯t a phnthropist, 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 dormitoryplex for female students, called Qin Xiu Garden. The name clearly reflected the school¡¯s high hopes for its students. After calling her mother to exin 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, vigntly staring at the culprit while assuming abat 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 rxed. 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 exined. The girl forgot her fear and stood frozen in ce. 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 nced 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 rtionship! ¡°I¡¯m Qiao Sang. Are you here for the training camp too?¡± Qiao Sang asked while inspecting the dorm¡¯syout. ¡°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 nced 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 weing? 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 nced 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 imed. ¡°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 ce 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 rm. 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 ess. ¡°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 arge 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 littlepanion. He didn¡¯t understand. His little buddy was so well-behaved, so why were so many people afraid of it? Yabao hadpletely 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,e back. You¡¯re running low on milk. If you give it all away, there won¡¯t be any left for yourself.¡± Little Treasure paused, quicklyparing the two options in his mind. Milk or dandelion¡­ Something to eat or something to y with¡­ Hmm, milk was more important. He wouldn¡¯t do to have none to drinkter. 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 Sangy 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 seeded, 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 regr 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. 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 fieldte at night, she worried the mes 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 exined 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? Aftering 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,paring 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 manined. Qin Wen nced at him and said calmly, "The meeting is at 9 a.m., and it¡¯s only 8:55. If anyonecks 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¡¯rete to eight. You didn¡¯t even show up for the special admissions self-awakening exam, and for the coordination meeting, you were nearly 40 minuteste. Do I need to go on?" "Alright, alright, you''re the boss. I just made onement, no need to roast me." Luo Qian conceded. "Don¡¯t call me that. You¡¯re 31, and I¡¯m 32. I can¡¯t ept 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 teamster?" Luo Qian said, giving in. "Do you have any sense of responsibility? We¡¯re picking the best team topete against Litan, not ying 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, dying 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. Therge 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 Xinpetition. "Alright, everyone¡¯s here. Gather around." Qin Wen pped her hands and called out. She looked at the two girls who had just arrived with satisfaction. They hadn¡¯t beente, 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 nced 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 rmended, 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 thepetition 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 solobat. 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 de, 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 alreadymand 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 ites 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 reced halfway through.¡± Qiao Sang quietly mused. Praising them and then reminding them of the difficulty of this opportunity... ssic 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. Thetter 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 nced 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 wasplete. ¡°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 Bellughed, thinking it was ying 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 battlemands? 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 red 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. But still, if her Fire Fang Dog¡¯s energy level was lower than Little Dragon¡¯s, he couldfort 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 ced 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 feltfortable 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 epting the exnation. 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 thanst time.¡± Zheng Yiningmented. ¡°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,pletely 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 screenpletely 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 urrences beyondmon 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 afortable 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 sunsses, he''s still the coolest. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t know much about the energy value range of beginner-level pets, but with all theparisons, 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 secondster, 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 stimte 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 movebinations. Show the others a demonstration.¡± Luo Qian instructed. The three nced at each other. The girl in the middle, with long ck 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 ites 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. ----- ----- 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, muscr limbs, and webbed feet and hands. As a dual-typebat and water beast, these attributes were fully disyed 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 itpletely... "......" "Li." Not hearing any apuse 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 apud, 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 andughed. "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 movebinations often shown on TV. The ones who appear on TV participating in coordinationpetitions 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 movebination during the exam, and the result lookedpletely different from what we just saw." Jin Feifan whispered. Qiao Sang was taken aback by this. The same movebination, but a different oue? How could something as simple as bubbles bursting and water falling on you have a different oue? 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 regr 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 exins it. Under the light, the bubbles change color. This ce has no lighting, so the effect is different from what you saw during your exam." Qiao Sang exined. 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 ce, asionally third¡ªthat was the status of Shengshui High School in provincial-level coordination contests. 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 topare? 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 hermands 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 individualpetition 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 snowkes. The 360-degree rotation created particrly 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 snowke that hadnded 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 y. "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 nkly 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 snowkes, 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 youe 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 exined. Qiao Sang was speechless for a long time. So it wasn¡¯t trembling out of fear... What a revtion... "I''ll say a few words first." Luo Qian spoke, his usual smile gone. "I¡¯m very dissatisfied with the coordination disys 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 duringst 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. "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 movebination would look good for Little Treasure. Even if it didn¡¯t go well, she couldn¡¯t embarrass herself too much¡­ But before she coulde up with a n, Little Treasure floated directly to the front. "Xun~" Little Treasure raised his tiny ws and pulled the corners of his mouth wide, making a funny face. Then, he pulled his eyelids down with his middle toes. Soon, he ced 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 movebinations, but he was just showing off his funny faces... "Good!" Luo Qian led the apuse. When the teacher pped, 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¡ªyful and mischievous, its series of actions fully showcased its personality." Luo Qian praised loudly. Everyone suddenly understood. The point of coordination disys 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 disy, 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 mmed 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 nced 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 exined. 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 famergely came from his psychic-type pet, the Mind-Eye Eagle.Gao Xuan once used his Mind-Eye Eagle to save over 23 people during andslide 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 exmation. Teacher Xian nced at the paper clutched in his ws 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 w, and in an instant, they both vanished. ¡°¡­¡± The group fell silent. A momentter, 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 juste 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 nced at him and responded, ¡°Good news.¡± Luo Qian: ¡­ --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang stared resentfully at the man in a whiteb coat with meticulouslybed 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 thest 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 aboratory. She found a stool near theb 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 te of cherry-sized red fruits, covered in spiral patterns, floating beside it. A secondter, the fruit appeared in front of Qiao Sang on theb 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. 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 had its own specialties. She had mostly eaten themon 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 ces. 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 exined, ¡°That¡¯s the ming 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 awkwardughs 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 awkwardlyughed, 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 Pado 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 ze 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 uncontrobly. The Alliance currently listed the Fire Fang Dog''s species limit as the King-tier me 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 regr 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 me 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 me 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 n for it. Qiao Sang answered honestly, "Milk, and asionally 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 in milk and the asional 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 nk, 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 regr 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 ming Fruit with a pained expression. After saying that, he nced 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 minutester. "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. Thetter seemed unlikely. She had just checked the Beastmaster¡¯s Codexst 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 theb bench and froze for a moment. She recalled something the vice principal had said. The ming 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 rxed, 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 rece 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 throughbat, 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 ming 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 orcks the necessary energy to absorb.¡± ¡°So, I gave it a bit of the ming Fruit to test it. If it was the former, it would feel full after eating just one. But it finished an entire te.¡± 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 simrly 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 bnce. 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 Sangughed 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, pped 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 copsed 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 nkly at the ceiling, Qiao Sang thought, Breach of contract... How much would she have to pay inpensation? When she signed the six-month contract, she thought she had nned 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 nced 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 ced 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 themotion. She snapped out of her thoughts and nced 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 exined, ¡°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 sunsses? 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 nned on telling him this, just like when she tricked itst time about the Condensed me Pearl. In her view, her beast should just focus on doing what it loves¡ªtraining, eating, ying¡ªand not worry about anything else. Human affairs were tooplicated 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 mountainst 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 ze 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 ze Dogs. ¡°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 be 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 epted 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 ze Dog made Qiao Sang''s heart race. Unlike Fire Fang Dog''s somewhat cute appearance, ze Dog was imposing, entirely covered in a me-like red, with no more ck stripes or that tuft of orange fur on its head. Its majestic form was perfect for practicing the skill Intimidation.With just one re, 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 copsing 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, exined. 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 ze 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 be 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 augh. "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 sunssesmercial. 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 nearlyughed when they said it would take six months for the evolution when they signed the contract. Now they were iming 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 ze 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 minorpetition. 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!" "..." 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 nced 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, nced 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 note 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 ced Yabao on the ground, speaking gently. "Yap!" Yabao looked seriously at his beastmaster and nodded. He rxed, 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 themotion 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 ze 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 ze Dog. However, apart from its size being simr to that of a ze Dog, the beast in front of them looked nothing alike. Qiao Sang stood there in a daze, staring at Yabao, who hadpletely 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 me Fruit as regr 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 bepletely 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,pletely 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,pletely 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 ze 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 rtionship 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 ws and teleported her away. Song Yuan: !!! --- Back in the dormitory. Qiao Sangy 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: me Hound (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: Intermediate (1100/10000)+ [First Trait: ze 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: me 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) +, me Charge (Master 165/500) +, Meteor Rain (Beginner 4/100), Phantom me (Beginner 1/100) +, Telekinesis (Beginner 1/100) +, Precognition (Beginner 1/100) + Points: 786 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 dragone 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,pared 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¡¯tst long. ording to statistics, out of a million beast tamers who bought Leaping Fish, only one sessfully 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 rarebination 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 me 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 me Hound had appeared on another, 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 others 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 mes to emerge and burn the opponent. In short, the trait required getting hit first before his mes 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 butin. She kept reading. There were three new skills. She recognized Telepathy. Phantom me, an invisible me, 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 me and take precautions. The alliance had ranked Phantom me 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 thest skill. Touch Perception. What was this¡­ Qiao Sang felt a bit embarrassed. She knew mostmon skills. Even if she hadn¡¯t learned them from textbooks, she¡¯d picked them up from watchingpetitions and listening tomentators. 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 abat skill. As for its exact function, she¡¯d have to look it up online. After another nce at the Beast Taming Codex, Qiao Sang¡¯s consciousness returned to reality. She was quite satisfied with her performance this time. Calm andposed. 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 remainposed and steady. And then, in the next second, life pped 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 med 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 smallpared 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 eximed, ¡°Yabao, you have Psychic now. Can you float like Little Treasure?¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head. Psychic? Float? You mean the thing I y with regrly 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 mmed 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 minutester. Qiao Sang was parched after talking so much.Jin Feifan sat nkly 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 be 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 nce, Yabao had conveyed that he found the space too small and wanted to go out and y. 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 ying 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 ws. 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. She had looked it up online. Touch Perception, ssified 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 urred. 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 orw enforcement agency within the Federation. After all, with sufficient proficiency, this skill could be a game-changer in solving cases. "Boss." Jin Feifan whispered, snapping out of her daze when she saw Qiao Sang smiling foolishly. Qiao Sang immediatelyposed 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 ssic humble brag ever? But since Qiao Sang said so, Jin Feifan decided toply 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 exined, "We had all the pet beasts show off the skills they¡¯d already learned, tested their attack and defense capabilities, then ran tenps 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 allpletely 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 rified, "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 tond 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 me 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 nced 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 inpletely. "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 exined. "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 thepliments was enough. The training ground fell silent as everyone exchanged nces. 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 secondster. "Appear." Qiao Sang looked up, suddenly seeing the familiar figure she had been encountering quite frequentlytely, and she felt a bad premonition. It can¡¯t be... "Teacher Xian, you..." Before she could finish her sentence, her vision went ck. 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 tosh 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 be 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 gazeplex 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 apletely 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? 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 beenpletely baffled when Yabai had evolved into a me 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 ze Dog.¡± Liu Yao exined 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, cing five cups on the guest table. Clearly, two of the cups were meant for Yabao and Little Treasure, while thest one was for itself. Holding the cup like a schr, 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 herughter. As she suppressed her amusement, a thought struck her. ¡°Could it be rted to our bond?¡± When the rtionship 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. Inparison, 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 be 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 youpleted 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, ess 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 n. Yabao had just evolved to the intermediate stage, leaving her with a lot to handle. Bing a trainee researcher would be a huge opportunity for anyone looking to be 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 be a professional Beast Master. Since she didn¡¯t n 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 ss.¡± Qiao Sang: !! ¡°Oh, and I forgot to mention¡ªtrainee researchers receive a sry 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 rted 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, theponents 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 spection, 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 turnedplicated. She whispered, "The group assignments were just announced. You¡¯ve been ced in the individualbat group." Qiao Sang was delighted. Nice, the teachers had good judgment after all. Even though she hadn¡¯tpleted all the tests, they still recognized her strength. But what did that have to do with the current situation? A secondter, Jin Feifan solved her confusion. "Ms. Qin assigned you to the individualbat 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 ced in?" Qiao Sang asked. Jin Feifan, looking dejected, answered, "I got ced in the teambat group." Although she felt for her roommate, who hadn¡¯t been ced in her preferred group, considering the capabilities of her pet, Ball Pofu, being in the teambat group was the best option. Qiao Sang was just about tofort 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 thebat group or the coordination group?" Luo Qian asked, suppressing his irritation and forcing a smile. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Wen to y so dirty, going straight to the vice principal to im her for thebat 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, thebat 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 individualbat group and the teambat group followed Qin Wen to the field. Qiao Sang recognized three of the six other students. Besides Jin Feifan, Lu Liangye was also ced in the teambat group, and Lu You was in the individualbat 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 hisst battle, and he was eager to test his strength. Feeling Yabao¡¯s excitement, Qiao Sang¡¯s heartbeat quickened. It had been a month since theirst 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 me Hound. His progress was nothing short of remarkable. Qiao Sang also wanted to see how strong Yabao had be. After a brief nce at each other, Yabao leaped in front of Qiao Sang, staring fiercely at Tongue Drip. "Yap!" "Do you think Qiao Sang cannd a hit on Teacher Qin¡¯s Tongue Drip?" "She should be able to. Her pet is a mid-level beast, definitely stronger than ours. Butnding a hit is one thing; She¡¯ll probably just lose with less embarrassment." "Maybe she could even win?" Everyone froze and turned tough. "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 zing fireball, about the size of a basketball, that hurtled toward Tongue Drip. Tongue Drip had beenzily standing there, but upon seeing a fireball nearly the size of its own faceing at it, it quickly gathered energy, attempting to form a Water Wall to defend itself. But Yabao¡¯s attack was far too fast,unched 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 topletely block this fireball, which was packed with overwhelming energy. "Jump!" Qin Wen ordered quickly. Without hesitation, Tongue Drip followed hermand, 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 mes 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, wasrge 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 itnded. The best strategy would be to aim for where it was about tond¡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,unching a fireball the size of a basketball toward the exact spot Qiao Sang had imagined. As Tongue Dripnded, its injured foot made contact with the still scorching ground, but it bit back a scream. In the next second, a ming ball of energy came hurtling straight toward it. ¡°Drip!!!¡± This was the advantage of attacking first¡ªif done right, one couldpletely 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 thest contestant in the one-on-one battle group. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± Lu Liangye nodded seriously. By now, he hadpletely given up any thoughts ofparison. If Qiao Sang were only slightly stronger than him, he might still be unwilling to ept it. But with such a huge gap in strength, all he could feel was admiration and respect. ¡°Lick.¡± Qin Wen said calmly. Lick? 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. Onnd, 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 exnation. ¡°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 ce, 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 tond 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 nned 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 ofbat 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 frequentints. Unfortunately, with just these four conditions, she could only find two avable rentals. After confirming viewing times with both, Qiao Sang closed her phone. She looked up at the ceiling where Yabao and Little Treasure were ying. Despite a full day of training, Yabao hadn¡¯t even reached his limits. He had finished tenps 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 ranps 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 saidzily as shey 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 Treasurey on Qiao Sang¡¯s stomach in the same rxed 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 Sangughed. 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 ites to Yabao.Because Yabao can be ridden. Just this alone¡ªwhen the news about the me Hound spreads¡ªwill cause an uproar. However, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t feeling any excitement at the moment. She cautiously nced 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 afy 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 telekic powers. ¡°Maybe I should rece 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. ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Sang yawned. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep wellst 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¡¯tnd 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 dyed things. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well either?¡± Qiao Sang picked up on the either in her roommate¡¯s question. ¡°Yeah,st 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. Sinceing 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 ck 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 nned 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 particrly 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 andy 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 somemon knowledge. But Little Treasure hadn¡¯t even been born for a month, and exining the universe, celestial bodies, ands seemed way tooplicated. 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 nced 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 sessfully migrated to others, 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. 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 rx 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¡¯splete? 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 identally misfired. Are you alright?" A boy with sses jogged over, apanied 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 sses 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 uppletely. 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 nced 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 exin." Shi Gaofeng braced himself, "Yes, ''Zheng Baolong'' refers to you, but it¡¯s a term of respect." "The inspirationes 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 ttery, 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 thepressed 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 beastpanions, 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 nced 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 exin your uing tasks." Xu Yajie and the others stiffened, unable to dwell on the new freshman issue any longer. Zheng Guoping nced 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 aint and a bad review?" Shi Gaofengined, "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 nt 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 nt 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 havepleted the task while also training Chokeberry nt¡¯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 nced at the tablet and nearly burst a vein. "The task issuer said youpleted the task, but then you went and beat up their Long-Tailed Snake during the final check. Why?" Wang Yao nced 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." 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 ce 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 pped 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 arge 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 intoplete 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. Therge 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 withughter. Qiao Sang¡¯s head wasn¡¯t big enough for him toplete a full roll, so he tumbled off, stabilizing himself mid-air. But that wasn¡¯t all. After steadying himself, Little Treasure pointed his tiny w at Zheng Baolong¡¯s dripping face and continuedughing 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 revtion 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 ck, as he nced between Xu Yajie and Qiao Sang, before finally settling his gaze on the former. ¡°Xu Yajie, immediately go outside and run 20ps!¡± In this weather, running 20ps 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 me Sparrow unleashed its me vortex, she realized it wasn¡¯t that simple. Yabao, like me 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 me 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 mes... An entry-level me vortex would be about 20 cm wide, with an attack range of around 3 meters. A proficient-level me whirl wouldn¡¯t change in width, but the attack range would extend to around 9 meters. Although Yabao had never released a me vortex in his advanced form as a me Hound, Qiao Sang had thoroughly researched all of Yabao¡¯s skills online. When a fire-type pet evolves from basic to intermediate, a me whirl released at the same proficiency level would maintain the same range but widen from 20 cm to 30 cm. Yet, the me whirl me 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 skillpression 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 thepressed 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 ce 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 me Hound.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked up in confusion at his Beast Tamer. me Hound? Wasn¡¯t he a ze 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 me Hound have?¡± Zheng Guoping continued. Because he knew so many, Qiao Sang took a moment to think before answering, ¡°Ember, fire whirl, me charge¡­¡± Before she could finish, Zheng Guoping interrupted, ¡°Let¡¯s go with the fire whirl. Have your me Hound release one.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Sang agreed and exchanged a look with Yabao. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao nodded and immediatelyunched 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 me Hound... Zheng Guoping tried hard not to dwell on the fact that the person in front of him was just an iing 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 me whirl was released? How did the me Hound know to release a fire whirl? Wang Yao suddenly turned to stare intently at her own me Sparrow, hoping it could sense what she was thinking at that moment. me Sparrow, feeling puzzled, stared back. After a moment, me 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 me Hound keep the energy output the same but reduce the width of the fire whirl?¡± Zheng Guoping asked. Qiao Sang nodded andmunicated with Yabao. ¡°Use the same skill as before, but try to narrow the mes to about this width.¡± Qiao Sang gestured roughly 8 cm with her hands. This wasn¡¯t like the time theypressed energy to make super spicy roasted wings in that alley. Back then, it was about energypression; Now the training focused on maintaining energy output whilepressing the skill¡¯s width to extend its range. The 8 cm width she suggested was based on me Sparrow¡¯s. In her mind, if me Sparrow could do it, then Yabao should be able to as well. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao focused on his internal energy, rapidly circting 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 skillpression would seed. If the me Hound¡¯s proficient-level fire whirl followed the width Qiao Sang had indicated, it should reach about 15 meters. When the me 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 me Hound. At that moment, Yabao wlessly released a fire whirl with the exact width Qiao Sang had indicated. The high-speed rotating mes 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 seed on the first try? That''s impossible..." One must understand that for their skills,pression and transformation only showed slight progress after a week of consistent training. Today''s test was a sess after a full month of practice. Yet not only did me Hound seed, but the width of the fire whirl looked almost the same as Wang Yao''srge me sparrow... Shi Gaofeng turned to nce at Wang Yao, who was still in a daze. Wang Yao seemed to be lost in thought, staring nkly. "Yan Yan!" Therge me sparrow pped its wings on the spot, full of fighting spirit, staring at Yabao, no longer thezy creature it was moments ago."Yap." Yabao, who had been basking in the sess with his beast master, heard the call of the me sparrow and turned to meet its gaze. In the me 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 nces, 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,petition 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 gazeplex. Feeling the pain on his forehead, he took a deep breath and said, "I''m fine." Who could he me? 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. Yabaoy 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 levelpared to the first year. For example, the physical training had doubled from 10ps to 20, but fortunately, the beast masters were not required to run with their pets. Otherwise, Qiao Sang would bepletely 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 Sangughed 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 previousints. 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 w 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 epting 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 beforeing 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. 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 arriveter. 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 bes 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 bes hard to manage them all. If your pet beast is being trained by someone else while you''re in ss, it would be easy to surpass ssmates 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 me 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 havee 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 exnations 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 abo technique. It''s possible, but it generally happens in double battles. If it''s a single pet beast using abo 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 exined 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 abo 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 be second nature to them." Liu Yao said. "Once using a skill bes 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 nced 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 hourter, 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 simr in size,yout, and decor. Initially, both were listed online for around 10,000 alliance coins. However, two days ago, thendlord of the Chang¡¯an Road apartment, for some unknown reason, urgently shed 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 particrly 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 minutester, Little Treasure, having tired of the fun, floated back onto Qiao Sang¡¯s head, but Yabao was still busy with his reflection. Ten minutester, Yabao was still staring. 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 waste, 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 me Hound on the right opened his mouth, and scorching mes began to gather in front of him. The crimson firelight was especially dazzling in the night. However, in the next second, the barely formed me suddenly dissipated. Qiao Sang was stunned. It failed... But it wasn¡¯t aplete failure. At least the mes 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 bes 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, aplicated look. "Yap?" Yabao looked at the disappearing me 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''ste. 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 headacheing on. What should she do when her pet beast is too motivated? "Staying upte 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 manipte¡­ 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 toe in. Just then, a small Ball Pofu poked its head out from behind Jin Feifan. It nced 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 trante, "It''s for the Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost." Qiao Sang: ... Little Treasure stared nkly at Little Ball Pofu, not understanding why this normally shy creature was suddenly offering him a dandelion. After all, it usually cried when Little Treasure tried to give it milk. "Ball." "Ball ball." Seeing that the little Treasure-Seeking Ghost wasn¡¯ting 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 epted 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 themotion in the living room, Qiao Sang felt uneasy. When she came out to check, she saw three me Hounds rummaging around the living room, as if searching for something. "What are you doing?" Qiao Sang asked, looking at the me 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 y with water?" ----- T/N: Sorry for thete 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 ying 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 amercial was ying. In the ad, a Green w 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 w Meowmeow''s wife, ck Paw Cat, calling. Since the voice acting was done in humannguage, Qiao Sang understood everything they said. ck Paw Cat: Are you at home? Green w Meowmeow: Yes, I¡¯m at home. ck Paw Cat: Then why do I hear other sounds nearby? Green w Meowmeow: I¡¯m watching TV. ck Paw Cat: Why didn¡¯t you answer the door when the package I sent arrived? Green w Meowmeow: Maybe the TV was too loud. I¡¯ll go check now. The scene switched to a wide shot of ck Paw Cat standing outside an apartment, spraying perfume on itself. It turned out ck Paw Cat had just returned from a trip and was nning to surprise Green w Meowmeow. Just when Qiao Sang thought Green w Meowmeow¡¯s lie was about to be exposed, the door opened. The one who opened the door was none other than Green w Meowmeow, who was supposed to be at the candlelight dinner! What¡¯s going on? Teleportation? Spatial movement? She recalled that Green w Meowmeow wasn¡¯t a psychic-type pet beast. The camera returned to the dinner table, where Green w 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 ck Paw Cat embraced Green w Meowmeow warmly. The clone, smelling the scent of ck Paw Cat, grew increasingly flustered, its face turning redder by the second. Then, it exploded on the spot and disappeared¡­ Green w 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 be 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¡¯smand, Yabao hesitated no longer, mobilizing his energy at once. Fifteen me 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 wille out properly.¡± Yabao froze. So this wasn¡¯t just about practicing Ember! There was anotheryer 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¡­ ¡°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 exined. ¡°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, red furiously at the 15 me 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 sshed out from the Ember attack, dissolvingpletely and disappearing. If one looked closely, they¡¯d notice the puddle of water had grown slightlyrger. "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 me 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 be 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, stillmenting the loss of the pleasant scent, had no idea his carefree days of rxation were about to end... At 10:33 PM, Qiao Sang, having just finished her bath,y 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 me 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 Essencest 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 y 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. Hypnosisbined with Dream Eater was a nastybo 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,pletely 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. ¡°You¡¯re saying you woke up and found yourselfpletely soaked?¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded miserably. Qiao Sang pondered. Yabao didn¡¯t sleepwalk, so he couldn¡¯t have yed with water in his sleep. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t y 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 watere 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 me 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 red up, enveloping his body in zing mes. Momentster, the fire dissipated, revealing apletely dry, fluffy me Hound standing before Qiao Sang. me 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 me 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, cing 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 reyed 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.After all, Touch Perception was a godlike skill for intelligence agencies, allowing them to perfectly rey crime scenes. If those with ill intentions knew the exact time limit of what could be traced, it would be easy for them to n even more wless 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 rey 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 thest 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 bitforted. --- 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 calcted 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 calctions, 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 forparison, she¡¯d realize just how impressive Yabao was. This wasrgely 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 thest one to arrive again. Xu Yajie was still practicing thepression of his water gun. Shi Gaofeng was training his Berry Lance¡¯s uracy, 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 outss 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 me Sparrow¡¯s tongue. ¡°You¡¯re feeding your me 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 me Sparrow managed to reach the intermediate level of me Whirl in just a year without any special advantages. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao sniffed curiously from the side. ¡°Yan Yan.¡± The me Sparrow generously dipped its wing into the Original Fire Paste and offered it to Yabao. Its wing wasrge, 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 me 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 me 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 me Sparrow, it would probably have pped 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 exined. 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 me Sparrow got anxious the moment it heard that. "It¡¯s from Xiao Yan to the me Hound!" Wang Yao quickly corrected herself. "Yan yan" me Sparrow nodded in satisfaction. Qiao Sang looked at Wang Yao with aplicated expression. Seeing her reminded Qiao Sang of her past self... "Thanks." Qiao Sang patted Wang Yao¡¯s shoulder in constion. 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 ovees 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. Oveing fears, huh... What was Yabao afraid of again...? Yabao, still diligently using his skills, waspletely unaware that he was about to enter the darkest moment of his life. A whileter... Qiao Sang took out her phone, nced 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 waspletely 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 roomst 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. 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 thendlord 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, "Thendlord 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 arge 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 thendlord 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 thendlord 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 contemte. 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 inte, she would oftene acrossizens sharing strange urrences 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 asionally. 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 contemtion, 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 ce with water. In the house, the most obvious ce 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 me 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 exined as she sat on the edge of the bed. Yabao blinked in surprise, his eyes instantly zing 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 toe 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 toe into a 5 million asset, with her first extraordinary me 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 zed 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 typicallyrge in size. But since they hadn¡¯t seen a trace of this pet beast, it was probably small in size and not particrly 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 sted 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 rainnds." One of the best things about this house was the spacious, barren courtyard, with no nts to worry about. It was the perfect ce to practicerge-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 ce. But this was Ya bao''s first time using Meteor Rain since evolving into a me 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 ce 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 contemted moving, the fire rain burst open, with dozens of fireballs streaking across the sky, trailing red mes. One of themnded 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 me 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. zing mes 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 therge section of shattered ground. She was confident that even if she were topete 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 creaturey on its side, with four legs resembling a fox, covered in light blue scales. Itsrge, 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 cing 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 cellr structure is simr 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 nk 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 sunsses¡­ Yabao was puzzled by his Beastmaster¡¯s words. Were these things really for the culprit? But when he saw the familiar sunsses on the coffee table, he forgot his previous thoughts. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Excited, Yabao grabbed the pink heart shaped sunsses. 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 me Hound, Yabao had grown several timesrger. His head was also much bigger, so the sunsses no longer fit. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao quickly realized the issuey in his evolution. He lowered his head in disappointment, unable to ept 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. 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 y.¡± Little Treasure stopped pulling things out of his ring and gave his Beastmaster a sidelong nce. 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 y, as his Beastmaster said¡­ Thinking this, Yabao nodded. ¡°Yap.¡± ¡°Yap Yaap.¡± Just a greeting, right? He could handle that. Qiao Sang wanted tough 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 butugh. 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,parable 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 waspletely 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 red up, forgetting all about the earlier n 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, ring angrily at Water Luriana. ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Water Luriana, though much smaller, wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated by the massive me 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!¡± 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 littlepanion 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 mes 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 elerate rapidly. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Once again, Little Treasure, with two bottles of milk in his ws, 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 nkly 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 mes 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 ce. 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 rtionship with Water Luriana, she couldn''t go around damaging its home. While water could be replenished, their rtionship 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 ofnd 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 mes hitting the ground echoed non-stop.Dust rose, and debris scattered everywhere, inevitablynding 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 me 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 ming 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 headacheing 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 rece 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 byparing it to the previous day. They must have already covered 300 meters. "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 infort. 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 toe 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 exin 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 Sangpletely 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,e to my office. I¡¯ve been so busy I forgot to help you n 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 hade from the Public Security Bureau of Hanggang City. Qitang Town was under the jurisdiction of Hanggang City, so for such arge 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 minutester, 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. Thest 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 exined. So it wasn¡¯t about the Bai Xin Competition... "Sorry, not convenient right now." Qiao Sang still refused. Five minutester, Qiao Sang, apanied 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 ss-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-ss 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 havee 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-ss 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 nce around. "Yap." Yabao let out a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t even had time to look in the mirror or wear sunsses. 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 ck stripe on its forehead. "Yap!" Startled, Yabao instinctively prepared to shoot Ember. Recently, due to his focus on practicing this skill, Ember had be 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. Qiao Sang bent down for a closer look. It was a press pass¡­ She gave the Short-Eared Mouse aplicated 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 unttering shots? She nced at Yabao, who was trying hard to look tough. Oh well, Yabao was wless 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 exined. "me Hound." Qiao Sang suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t yet told the vice principal the name. ¡°me Hound¡­¡± Liu Yao paused, ncing at her in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s a fitting name.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Qiao Sang scratched her head sheepishly. Of course it was. She didn¡¯te 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 me Hound, his ears seemed even more pronounced. Not aplete 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 secondster, it returned with an otoscope. The speed, the efficiency¡­ Qiao Sang was seriously impressed. Liu Yao ced the thin endoscope into Yabao''s ear. Yabao flinched, so itchy¡­ The viewing screen, just an ordinary tablet, disyed the results. After a few moments, Liu Yao had his answer. ¡°As expected, the me 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 theck of ultrasonic emission, though. Normally, the Fire Fang Dog would have evolved into the ze Hound. Now that it had be a me 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 me Hound¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯ve finished examining the me 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 nced 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 hisposure 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 itsnguage, 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 waspletely drawn to his eyes. He eximed 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 ck to light brown, she thought it was merely a hereditary difference. Could it be moreplicated 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 be a Ghost-Ring Phantom, you¡¯ll need to start following a different cultivation n while it¡¯s still a Treasure-Seeking Ghost.¡± Qiao Sang genuinely didn¡¯t know this. Most beasts¡¯ cultivation ns 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 contemtion, 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 umted enough energy. The Ghost-Ring Phantom, a ghost-type beast,cked a dark attribute, butpared 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 simr to how Yabao awakened his ability to sense through touch and spectral fire when he evolved into me Hound. However, to evolve into a Ghost-Ring Phantom, the Treasure-Seeker Demon¡¯s circr 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 thetter 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 me to temper its ring. Once the ring splits into two, you can use Dark Soul Crystals at night to trigger its evolution.¡± Liu Yao exined. 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 bes a Treasure-Seeker Demon to teach it Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp, the materials required would be more than ten times greater.¡± Liu Yao exined 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? 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 Yaoughed. ¡°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 med for her confusion, though, Liu Yao¡¯s exnation had touched on her knowledge blind spots. After the examination, Liu Yao went to his desk and quickly wrote up two cultivation ns by hand. Qiao Sang leaned in for a closer look. Thankfully, unlike doctors¡¯ handwriting, it wasn¡¯tpletely illegible¡­ --- After leaving the school, Qiao Sang, holding the two cultivation ns 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 forms. Energy pellets perfectly blended all necessary nutrients and were easy to carry. They could even be customized to match a beast¡¯s preferred vor, making them the ideal choice for energy-based meals. Although Qiao Sang now had the form, 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 deste atmosphere. Inside, there was only a man in a ck short-sleeve shirt, sitting on a low stool, ying 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 moleszily yed four cards, likely a bombbination. 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 ce 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 ce to cover all of them. Qiao Sang''s opinion of the institution improved. She hadn''t expected such a small ce to be soprehensive. 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. me 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 ns. 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 y cards and roll dice." "Do you have any particr 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 ording to this." Qiao Sang handed over two nurturing ns, exining her intent. The man took them with a smile, casually ncing at the documents. But just that quick nce almost made him lose hisposure. Oh boy, refined liquid, molten fire fruit, fire element crystals, warm powder... Even a quick nce 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, nning 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 ce 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 inted 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 minutester, 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. Not to mention the materials needed for her Little Treasure¡¯s ring and the Dark Nether Crystal required for his evolutionter. 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 Ghostme 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 itemster. 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 fromst time, closed his eyes and copsed. Qiao Sang: ¡­! She hadpletely 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 Yabaounched 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 Lurianay 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 nk 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 rtionship 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¡­ 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, cing it gently in the spot with the best light near the ss wall. The experience of looking at himself in the blurry reflection of the water versus seeing his image clearly in the mirror waspletely 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 me Fruit. Meanwhile, Little Treasure, having levitated the coin for a short time, started to get bored. He absentmindedly wiggled his paw, manipting 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 littlepanion. "Xun!" Little Treasure issued a challenge. "Yap!" Yabao¡¯s expression shifted, indicating he epted 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, nts, 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 regr 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. asionally, he would y with Little Treasure, floating objects around the house. His psychic ability points were steadily increasing, with his proficiency sessfully reaching the Small Sess stage, and rising by over 200 points daily, pushing it closer to Great Sess. 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 rtionship with Water Luriana¡­ --- One weekter. 7:22 AM. Qiao Sang opened her eyes and saw Yabai calmly using his me Body to evaporate the water off himself. Recently, Yabao had been soaking wet every morning. From his initial irritation to his current eptance, 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 preupied, 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 eptance. 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 skillpression training. Aside from practicing at school, Qiao Sang hadn''t been doing much. "I''ll tell you, my Little me has already met the training target, it can now hit anything within a 30-meter range with 100% uracy." Wang Yao said in a hushed tone. Last time, me Sparrow¡¯s range had almost reached the red target but hadn¡¯t quite gotten there. Skillpression 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 Yaoughed. "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 youplete 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 Yaoined. "Some people who post tasks are a nightmare. Even if you solve their problem, they''ll nitpick and say you had a bad attitude whilepleting 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 rm 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, disying either newly posted tasks or those that had been unimed 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 nced at Zheng Baolong''s back, clicked her tongue, and whispered to Qiao Sang, "He hasn''te 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 theputer screen, checking the disyed 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." "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 exined. 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 arge 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 ce. 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 disyed 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 disyed 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-rted skills.] [Task Location: 231 Qin She Road, Hanggang City, Zhehai Province] [Task Reward: 1,000 Alliance Coins per day] Qiao Sang nced 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-rted 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.] Even though the details weren''t clear, experienced Beastmasters would know what this kind of task involved. This task was simr 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 onlysts three hours.] The Mimic skill allows a fire-type beast to alter the shape of its me, 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 particr 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 theputer screen. "Task 665: Searching for the Ghost Lamp." Qiao Sang was surprised and checked the task. Since the desk screen and the staffputer 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 exined, "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 identally 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 seedst 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 simr to yourst 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 simr task tost time." Xu Yajie was silent for a few seconds before replying, "I wanted to, but the task giver fromst time gave me a one-star rating and a thousand-word negative review. I probably won¡¯t get a simr 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, ncing 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 iplete 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 notpleting 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, sess 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 apetition for five days." Wang Yao replied. "Both of you picked tasks simr tost 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: /?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." 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. Thest 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 toe pick them up." The man beamed. "Where¡¯s me 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 me 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 tworge containers of energy pills. The packaging for both containers was identical, except for thebels: one for a me Hound, and the other for the Treasure-Seeking Ghost. After verifying them, Qiao Sang pulled out her bank card, ready to pay the remaining bnce. 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 me 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 hourst time?" Qiao Sangforted. "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 arge 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, thismunity 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 inly 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, ncing 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 nced 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 nced at the inner room, then turned back, hesitating before lowering her voice. "The person who posted the task is our olddy. She¡¯s entric, reclusive, and since her Ghost Lamp disappeared, her temper¡¯s only gotten worse." "Two other Beastmasters came before you, but the olddy 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 entric olddy 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 146: Do You Think She Can Hear Us? Chapter 146: Do You Think She Can Hear Us? p>"I want to give it a try." Qiao Sang said resolutely to the aunt. Even though the task issuer seemed to be a difficult person, her purpose in epting the task was to train her beasts'' abilities. The temperament of the task issuer didn¡¯t matter to her. The aunt shook her head subtly, no longer trying to dissuade her. She pointed to the right side, saying, "It''s the room at the very end. You can go ahead, I won¡¯t follow you in." "Okay." Qiao Sang walked to the designated room. The door was slightly ajar, but out of courtesy, she still knocked. There was no response. She knocked again, still no answer. A third knock. "What''s your problem? The door isn¡¯t even closed, and I already told you it¡¯s thest room. Why are you knocking so much?" A strong voice came from inside. Qiao Sang: ... This task issuer is definitely hard to deal with... As she pushed the door open, a strong, unpleasant medicinal smell mixed with the distinct scent of old age hit her. Though it was a hot summer day, the room felt damp and chilly. By the window, an olddy with silver hair, prominent cheekbones, and a face full of wrinkles was half-lying on the bed. Before Qiao Sang could introduce herself, the olddy asked, "Do you have a ghost-type beast?" Her eyes were sharp, clearly someone who wasn¡¯t easy to please. "Yes, it''s a Treasure-Seeking Ghost." Qiao Sang replied, stepping closer to the bed. To protect their privacy, the Beast Center doesn¡¯t disclose detailed information about task issuers or contractors. "Xuuuun~" As if to prove his existence, Little Treasure appeared above Qiao Sang¡¯s head and let out a sound. The olddy stared at the suddenly appearing ghost, momentarily lost in thought, as if recalling something. After a brief silence, she took a photo from her bedside and handed it to Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang took it and saw a young girl in a floral dress, smiling with dimples. In her arms was a blue,mp-shaped beast, an Incense Ghost Lamp. The olddy didn¡¯t say anything after handing her the photo. Thinking it would be best to lighten the mood, Qiao Sangmented, "The girl in this picture is really beautiful. Who is she?" Under normal circumstances, a photo like this usually depicts the person themselves. The girl in the picture had such a sweet smile,pletely different from the difficult olddy before her. But people change as they age. It¡¯s not hard to imagine that the olddy was once this girl. And since she was holding the Incense Ghost Lamp, it wasn''t hard to guess that the girl in the photo was the olddy herself. Qiao Sang silently praised herself for her cleverness. By pretending not to know who was in the picture, the olddy would be pleased by thepliment. Women, after all, love hearing they look good, no matter their age. Then, the olddy would proudly reveal that the girl in the photo was indeed herself. Qiao Sang could then feign surprise and throw in a few morepliments.With the olddy feeling satisfied, it would be easier to secure a good review, right? "That''s my granddaughter." Qiao Sang: ??? Wait, what?! That¡¯s not how this was supposed to go! "Last month, my granddaughter took the Incense Ghost Lamp out to y. Neither of them came back." The olddy¡¯s voice became sad. "Now my granddaughter is gone, and the Incense Ghost Lamp is gone too." Qiao Sang''s heart sank.The granddaughter is gone?! Was she implying...? Carefully, Qiao Sang asked, "Did the police find any clues?" The olddy snorted. "Those useless fools. If they had, why would I need to issue this task?" A heavy feeling settled in Qiao Sang''s chest.This task was now more than just about a missing beast... It was understandable for the Incense Ghost Lamp to go missing, it¡¯s a ghost-type beast, known for its elusive nature. But a person going missing with no trace? That wasn¡¯t a simple case of getting lost. In today¡¯s world, with surveince everywhere, people can¡¯t just disappear without a trace. Unless... A ringing phone pulled Qiao Sang out of her thoughts. It was the olddy''s phone. "Hello, Nannan... I took the medicine, don¡¯t worry, Grandma¡¯s fine..." Due to the quietness of the room, Qiao Sang could faintly hear the voice on the other end. It sounded like a young girl, probably around the same age as the girl in the photo. After the olddy hung up, Qiao Sang hesitated before asking, "Was that your granddaughter?" "Yes." "May I ask... how many granddaughters do you have?" "Just one." Qiao Sang fell silent. After a couple of seconds, she asked, "Then when you said your granddaughter isgoneearlier, what did you mean?" The olddy shot her a sharp look. "She moved with her parents to the Lanke District. What were you thinking?" Qiao Sang: ... She wanted to switch tasks now... "..." "The right-handmpstand of my Incense Ghost Lamp is missing a piece. It broke when it saved me at the age of 28. There¡¯s also a red nail-sized mark on its head, left behind from some cheap dye I used on it when I was younger, and..." The rest of the conversation went rtively smoothly. During the chat, Qiao Sang noticed that Little Treasure often floated near the olddy, as if something about her attracted him. Perhaps he was because the olddy had contracted a ghost-type beast before. --- Qiao Sang stepped out of the room and put her shoes on at the entrance. The aunt, who had been waiting in the living room, approached and, after eyeing Qiao Sang for a moment, whispered, "I really think you should take on a different task." Qiao Sang looked up, puzzled. "Why?" From their earlier conversation, she knew this aunt was hired to care for the olddy and wasn¡¯t a rtive. But even so, without any special reason, wouldn¡¯t the aunt usually side with her employer? The aunt nced towards the room and lowered her voice even further. "The olddy doesn¡¯t have much time left. Even if you find the Incense Ghost Lamp, it won¡¯t be of any use. I¡¯m just giving you a heads-up because you''re still young." Qiao Sang was stunned. Even though the olddy looked very old, her voice was strong, and she seemed full of energy. Her sharp eyes didn¡¯t seem like those of someone with little time left. Besides, earlier, when Qiao Sang had knocked, the olddy clearly overheard the conversation between her and the aunt in the living room. Would someone near death have such sharp hearing? Even though her room smelled strongly of medicine, still... Wait... Qiao Sang suddenly realized something was off. The olddy¡¯s room was at the far end, quite a distance from the living room, and the aunt had spoken in a fairly low voice. The door had only been slightly ajar, with a barely noticeable gap. When the aunt went to check with the olddy earlier, Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t heard any of their conversation, showing the room was soundproof enough. But why was it that the olddy could hear their conversation while she couldn¡¯t? Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang asked slowly, "Do you think she can hear us talking now?" The aunt paused. "How could she?" Meanwhile, the olddy, now lying in bed, pulled the covers over herself from head to toe. A faint voice came from under the nket. "You think I want to hear everything..." Chapter 147: Vital Energy and Death Energy Read at: /?m=1 ----- As soon as Qiao Sang asked the question, she realized how foolish it was. If the olddy¡¯s beastmaster rank had reached level D and she had been rejuvenated by her beast, it might have been possible. But the olddy¡¯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. 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 toughter 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 olddy¡¯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 olddy 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 be so lively, it could only be a case of terminal lucidity. However, research suggests that terminal lucidity usuallysts an hour or two, maybe three, but it rarely persists. The olddy 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 ofst month, the olddy was delirious and couldn¡¯t eat anything. The doctors at the hospital said she wouldn¡¯tst until the next day." "I was so frightened that I called Mr. Jiang, the olddy¡¯s son, andter, their entire family rushed over that very day, all ready to make funeral arrangements." "But then¡­" The woman swallowed hard, "After they arrived, the olddy 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 awkwardugh 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 regr 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 urrence 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 olddy¡¯s granddaughter took the Ghost Lamp out to y, 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 y when a family member was dered near death by the doctor? And when the Ghost Lamp went missing, instead of worsening, the olddy¡¯s condition inexplicably improved? With that in mind, Qiao Sang asked, "Do you have the olddy¡¯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 olddy¡¯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 ofmunication 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 olddy lying on the bed next to it. Help me see what she¡¯s been up to." Yabao¡¯s Touch Perception could only rey 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 ced 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 olddy 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 olddy, ignored him. "Yap!" "Yap! Yap!" He ran in front of his beastmaster, trying to grab some attention. Still no response. Yabao stared nkly at his beastmaster, suddenly remembering that this scene was only a rey. Right, the olddy! Yabao refocused on his task, eyes wide, staring at the olddy 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 olddy? 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.¡± Yabaoy down on his back, imitating the olddy¡¯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 olddy 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 nket. ¡°Yap, Yap.¡± He continued, mimicking the olddy¡¯s words. Qiao Sang felt like she had been struck in the head, her mind reeling. What the hell! The olddy could hear! While she had suspected something strange about the olddy, 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 olddy 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 be 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 nkly 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 olddy shed 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: /?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, asrge data sets indicate. Death energy, on the other hand, is a type of aura representing the absence of life. ces 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 olddy. This doesn¡¯t make sense! Qiao Sang silently pondered. Every abnormal phenomenon must be caused by an extraordinary creature. Could this be rted to the missing Ghost Lamp? For a moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind raced with ideas. She tried to connect all the events. The olddy was on the verge of death, but her family arrived on the same day, and then the Ghost Lamp went missing while the olddy¡¯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 olddy¡¯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 exins why the Ghost Lamp disappeared while the olddy, 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 olddy, as its beastmaster, would have been the first to know... But what if the Ghost Lamp had saved the olddy 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 thest 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 frequentlytely, 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 wereter 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 olddy¡¯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 exining 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: /?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: ... "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 bing more rxed. "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 olddy¡¯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 ces filled with young people, where hormones are high. Bars, schools, clubs, or ces hostingpetitions 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 backte 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 toe up with another n. 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 nkly. He didn¡¯t want to... A minuteter. Xiying Residential Complex. In the shadows by the entrance of Building 5. A magnificent red-and-white pet beasty on the ground, with a slender girl resting on its back. Qiao Sangy 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,pletely different from the quiet world outside. This was an underground ck market beast battle arena. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, tobo, 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 Scorpiony 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 themand 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 w, 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 manined 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 copse 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 tranted. 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 youing 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: /?m=1 ----- 1:02 AM. The moonless night was apanied by a strong wind. Qiao Sang shifted positions as shey there. Despite the wind, lying on the Fire-type pet beast kept herpletely 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 youngdy. 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 rted 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 thetest 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 elderlydy. 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 olddy¡¯s granddaughter. Something just felt off about her taking the Ghost Lamp out at that hour. And how could the olddy 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 olddy hadn¡¯t noticed something strange. ¡°Xun.¡± The small Little Treasure, who had been ying with a coin using telekinesis, suddenly dropped it. The coin rolled on the ground with a loud ng. 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 waste 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 morefortable 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 ce felt dpidated and deste. 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 rx 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? 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 thempshade. Qiao Sang froze. She didn¡¯t expect Little Treasure to move so swiftly. Target acquired. Instant teleportation. Precise tongue strike. It was all executed wlessly, like a seasoned pro, not a baby just over a month old. Suddenly, a pet beast resembling a ssmpshade appeared in midair where Little Treasure had licked. It had yellow eyes, long, swaying arms, and a broken right arm at themp¡¯s support. Its left arm, meant to be symmetrical, was almost entirely gone, leaving it even shorter than the right. The blue me that once burned brightly within themp 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 olddy¡¯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 copsed 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 me inside itsmpshade, 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 me flickering violently. It lifted its head. A hand opened before it, revealing the ghostly crystal in its palm. "Here." Chapter 151: Hypnosis Read at: /?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 simr effect to absorbing life energy. It wasn¡¯t something she learned from school, but rather from a popr film she had watched before. In the movie, the ghost-type beast Absorb Ghost was the main viin, 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 me inside itsmpshade dimmed, bing 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 ced 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 olddy 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 olddy¡¯s age, barely hanging on with the wick, Qiao Sang decided to wait until morning, when the olddy 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 olddy misses you very much. You must miss her too, right?¡± Qiao Sang continued. The me 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 thest 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, ncing 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. It was Little Treasure. --- Little Treasure felt dizzy. When he regained his rity, 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 uncontrobly. "Absorb!" Qiao Sangughed, closing her eyes and crossing her hands over her chest. ¡°I wish to be a professional Beastmaster and take Spirit to explore the world andpete 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, ming 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 wille 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 ce. 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: /?m=1 ----- After experiencing so many scenes, Little Treasure clearly knew that none of this was real. Hey 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 ck fruit from a nearby basket and handed it over. "Here, your favorite Shadow Candle Fruit." "Lamp." Little Treasure took it uncontrobly and started eating. He sighed inwardly. He wanted milk, not this pitch-ck thing. "You''re so grown up, yet you''re still making a mess." The person, who looked like Qiao Sang,ughed, 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. Shey 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 manipted 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, apany 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 ssmate¡¯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 inpetitions and went to mysterious realms. If she hadn¡¯t met Grandpa, she probably would have joined the regional tournament and be 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 ce. People passed by, but everyone seemed to avoid getting too close to him. Uncontrobly, he looked up, and arge screen on a distant building was showing a Beast Masterpetition. 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 uncontrobly, his heart racing, limbs cold. These weren¡¯t his feelings. In the next moment, he uncontrobly turned back, the lights around him dimming as he passed, then returning to normal afterward. Little Treasure saw that person again. Shey in bed with her eyes closed, the man beside her with red-rimmed eyes. "Mom, let Nannan and Spirite to see you onest time." The person in bed barely moved her eyelids, then, with great effort, opened them and red 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, uncontrobly, 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 ced 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 inrge 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 nkly at the milk in front of it. Qiao Sang took a sharp breath from the side,pletely caught off guard by how terrifying the hypnotic spell¡¯s power was! "Xunxun." "Xun~" "Lamp!" "Xunxun..." "Lamp..." Little Treasure and the Ghost Lampmunicated intensely. After half an hour of this back-and-forth, the Ghost Lampy on the ground, eyes nk, utterly defeated. Little Treasure floated over to Qiao Sang and nodded. Qiao Sang was stunned. ----- ----- Chapter 153: Give a Five-Star Rating Read at: /?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 Ghostmp 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 olddy was absurd. Would a beast, willing to sacrifice its evolution or even its life to save its trainer, reallypromise 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 thetter half of the night, the Ghost Lamp recovered but didn¡¯t leave. Instead, it startedmunicating 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 nced at Yabao, who was still sound asleep, and felt a bit conflicted. there¡¯s no harm withoutparison... 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¡¯vee to withdraw from the task, right? Actually, you didn¡¯t have toe 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 diedter on... 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 nk. 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 olddy lost but another that looked simr? Ghost Lamp nced at her coldly and walked straight inside. Aunt: ¡­! It was indeed it! Qiao Sang followed the Ghost Lamp inside. Themp hesitated outside the room for a moment. "Xun." Little Treasure floated to its side and nodded at it. The Ghost Lamp nced 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 olddy was lying on the bed, still asleep, while the two beasts stood beside her, staring nkly 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 ovepped 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 olddy, 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 themp¡¯s shade, slowly moving towards the olddy. Qiao Sang froze for a moment. Seeing that the crystal was about to enter the olddy¡¯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¡¯tst long. The olddy 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 olddy was human; She couldn¡¯t possibly withstand... wait... The wick, the olddy 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 exin 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 ced the crystal near the olddy. 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 olddy slowly opened her eyes. The Ghost Lamp froze, instinctively hiding the crystal and vanishing. "You¡¯vee." The olddy 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 waspletely different from yesterday... Qiao Sang paused, about to speak, but Little Treasure floated up to the olddy and gestured. "Xun." "Xun Xun." The olddy 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 olddy 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 olddy¡¯s gaze. The Ghost Lamp must be hiding in that direction. The olddy had likely noticed too... Sure enough, the olddy 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 olddy 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 themp for a while." The olddy said, her gaze soft as she looked at the empty space in front of her. Qiao Sang remained still. After several seconds, the olddy 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 olddy: ... Chapter 154: Energy Pills Read at: /?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 copsed 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 feltpletely 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 rted to Little Treasure glowed blue. Her mind whirred, and various fragmented images shed through her head. The next moment, the fragments pieced together into aplete 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 olddy and the ghostmp without needing to overthink it. After finding the ghostmp, 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 hadpletely 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 exined. 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 olddy say at the end?¡± If there was anything that intrigued her, it was the olddy¡¯s final words, because it was clear those words had changed the ghostmp¡¯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 sped 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 forms to help the pets improve in specific areas, building a perfect foundation. In the past, she had only fed Yabao and Little Treasure regr milk and easy-to-make energy meals. This was the first time they¡¯d be trying properly formted energy pills. ¡°Give them a try.¡± Qiao Sang took one energy pill from each jar and ced 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-ck energy pill, then nced 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!¡± Chapter 155: Mission Accomplished Read at: /?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 form, pills crafted by energy pill makers of different levels yield different results. For example, themon energy pills on the market, designed to boost a beast¡¯s stamina, have publicly avable forms 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 rified. 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-ss 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 ck energy pill. "Xun~" "Xun xun~" Little Treasure described his feelings. Qiao Sang nodded along. The ck pill had a simr effect to the red one, except that the red pill stimted fire energy, while the ck one activated ghost energy. There was one major difference, though, the ck 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 ck 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 byw. Any ghost-type beast found doing so would be ssified 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 carefullybined 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 simr to others, the ck 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¡¯tst 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 gic 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 fewps 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. 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 ount, 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 olddy 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 concisement and the five stars were enough to ensure Zheng Baolong wouldn¡¯t find any faults with her work. Turns out the olddy wasn¡¯t so bad after all¡­ Rest in peace. --- Thest message in the Invincible Shengshui group was from an hour ago. [Wang Yao: Anyone around? I¡¯m so bored,e chat with me.] Wang Yao was really bored. Her task was simply to make sure her me Sparrow posed as a model without getting restless, so all she had to do was watch over it. Now, she was left to idly y 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 ck off like that.] [Qiao Sang: cking? 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 aplished.] 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: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang followed closely and sent a [ ? ] in response to the formation. The next second, the chat disyed: [ 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 toin, she scrolled up to see Qiao Sang''s message and felt a headacheing on. From epting the mission until now, it had only been a full day, and they¡¯d alreadypleted 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 theypleted it, but after typing two words, thetest 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 timepleting a task, and she¡¯s done so efficiently and excellently. Now, look at how many tasks you¡¯vepleted, 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 me 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,paring 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 me 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 be 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. Thest 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 inte for dark cuisine recipes and fed them to the poor thing. 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 nning 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 nning 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 secondster, 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 y 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 ck, 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-yer or multi-yer 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 ovee 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 ovee 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 rmend 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: /?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 abouting to the secret chamber to y. Knowing that he might break through and be 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 asrge, 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 ying NPC pets in the secret chamber.Some beast trainers, worried about their pets, would apany 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 nning 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. Fang Sisi didn¡¯t mind. She gazed at Yabao on therge 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 me 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 me 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 ce 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 inte, "Bite its leg." "This is the Doppelg?nger Puppet. Most pets thate 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 augh while watching Yabao on the screen. "But the me 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¡¯trge, it still had secret chambers designed to challenge intermediate-level pets, as most beast trainers could nurture them with some effort. To help Yabao ovee 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 themand from the inte. 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 inte, "Number 2, get ready! Number 2, get ready! The yer 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, apanied by... voices. "Number 2, get ready! The yer is advancing." "Copy that." "I heard the pet ying today is the legendary me 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 inter." "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 himy a small town street, shrouded in purple mist. The surrounding buildings were dpidated, and the asional 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 ck liquid appeared beneath the woman, rising up to envelop herpletely. "Save..." Before she could finish her words, the ck 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 ck Sludge not brush its teeth today? Feels like it¡¯s got bad breath." "ck Sludge! ck Sludge!" Chapter 158: Innocent! Read at: /?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 identally enter, along with their pet beasts, will lose their way and be trapped forever.¡± ¡°Despite this, many stille, 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 nced at the introduction to the Lost Town escape room in her hand and couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°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 c and casually remarked, ¡°Entertainment is inspired by life. As long as it¡¯s fun, that¡¯s all that matters. Look at me 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 nce 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 me Hound all show and no substance? How can it be so timid? It''s far inferior to the ze 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 re. 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 ttering 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, nced back, and calmly returned her gaze to the screen. The hidden Little Treasure shifted into a morefortable position, quietly basking in his anonymity. --- ¡°Why isn¡¯t it moving yet?¡± ¡°Some pet beasts aren¡¯t that intelligent. Maybe me 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 ck Sludge scare it, make it run into the next room. How about that?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯ll work.¡± ¡°ck Sludge, ck Sludge.¡± Yabao¡¯srge 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 juste 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, ncing around nervously. ¡°I told you there was something, but none of you believed me earlier!¡± The man eximed, his tone aggrieved. Everyone exchanged nervous nces, 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 themotion around her. She stared at the screen in a daze before copsing 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 therge 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 t-Beaked Fire Duck even-¡± Her voice abruptly stopped. Mouth agape, Fang Sisi stared at the screen in disbelief, where dozens of blood-red mes 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 beenpletely dispersed, and scorching mes rained down, setting the entire scene aze. 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 dpidated houses disappeared one by one, leaving only two twisting in the mes. 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 me 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 eximed, ¡°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: Chapter 159: "The fog, if you didn''t make it, did a ghost make it?" The man in the hat shouted. "Zzz... It really wasn''t me. Do you have something against me? Honestly, apart from being a bit taller, a bit more handsome, and a bit younger than you, there''s nothing else going on. Why do you always pick on me? Yesterday too, I told you I cleared up the fog, but you wouldn''t believe me and insisted it was my doing." A dissatisfied voice came from the walkie-talkie, apanied by static. The man in the hat twitched at the corner of his eye, veins bulging, but he ignored the fool on the walkie-talkie. Turning to the young man beside him, he asked, "Who hired this guy? Make sure he''s fired tomorrow!" "That''s not a good idea. He''s a student from the nearby Ninth Beastmaster High School, working a summer job." The young man offered his opinion. "Most of our customer basees from that school. If he goes back and bad-mouths us, it could cause significant losses." The man in the hat calmed down a little. The shop primarily made money off young people. After all, it was originally opened here to cater to students from the nearby school. Especially since that school was a beastmaster high school, the customer base included not just students but also their pet beasts. "Fine, summer break''s almost over anyway..." The man in the hat begrudgingly conceded, but added to save face, "Once summer''s over, he¡¯s out!" "Understood..." The young man hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when he was stunned by what he saw on the monitor. In the surveince footage, the room that had caught fire was suddenly illuminated, but in the next second, it plunged into darkness again. Not only that, but the ambient lights that helped create the eerie atmosphere had also shut off, leaving only the flickering firelight to vaguely outline the room¡¯s interior. "Who the hell turned off the lights?! Turn them back on, now!" The man in the hat yelled into the walkie-talkie, having also seen the footage. But the only reply was a static "Zzz..." with no response from the other end. The man in the hat, now seething with rage, was just about to curse out the whole family of whoever was on the other end. At that moment, the young man next to him, with a serious expression, said, "Something''s wrong with the color of the fog." The artificial fog in the shop was supposed to be purple, but in that brief moment when the lights shed, the fog had turned ck. --- At the same time. "I didn¡¯t expect this ce to be so dedicated to their service." Qiao Sangmented as she watched the scene on the virtual screen, momentarily forgetting her concerns about the height of the building. The ce was on fire, yet instead of putting it out right away, they kept the horror atmosphere going. That¡¯s real dedication! But the fog seemed a bit too thick... It was starting to obscure the whole scene. Fang Sisi snapped out of her thoughts, looking at the screen uncertainly. "I don''t remember this room having such a scenario." She¡¯d been here all day, keeping the cotton mothpany, watching a dozen scenes. She knew exactly when each scary sound effect was supposed to hit and when the NPCs were meant to appear. It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d seen pet beasts destroy props in the room. Just yesterday, a t-billed fire duck had burnt most of the props in the second room, though it wasn¡¯t as severe as now... But back then, they had put out the fire immediately and used ck Mud to move the t-billed fire duck to the next room. Hearing this, Qiao Sang was startled. She looked back at the screen and saw the mist hadpletely shrouded the scene. The burning smoke and the mist had merged, making it impossible to see anything clearly. Qiao Sang furrowed her brows, a sense of unease rising within her. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she formed a hand sign to summon Yabao back. Three secondster, her face darkened. Summoning had failed... "Can you summon the cotton bug back?" Qiao Sang turned and asked Fang Sisi. Fang Sisi froze for a second. She wasn¡¯t sure what was going on, but from Qiao Sang¡¯s earlier hand signs and serious expression, she could tell something was wrong. "Okay." She nodded and began forming the hand signs to summon the cotton bug. "What the hell! I can¡¯t summon it back!" Fang Sisi¡¯s face paled in panic. Everyone else in the observation room, hearing this, quickly formed hand signs to summon their pet beasts back. One by one, their faces turned pale. "How is this possible..." "I failed too!" "Me too!" Seeing this, Qiao Sang said nothing more. She strode out of the room. Her brain capacity had already exceeded 10%, and as long as Yabao wasn¡¯t too far away, she should be able to sense his location in her mind, making it impossible for her not to summon him back. The fact that no one could summon their beasts back only confirmed her suspicions. Something had gone wrong... "I¡¯ming with you!" Fang Sisi quickly stood up and followed. "I¡¯lle too!" "Count me in!" "Me as well!" The others joined them. Just as thest person stepped out of the observation room, a red eye suddenly appeared on the virtual screen. The eye filled the entire screen, moving slightly as if it were pressed right up against the camera. The next second, the screen flickered twice and then shut off. --- "You can¡¯t go in there!" The staff tried desperately to stop them. "Why not? Our pet beasts are still inside! Who¡¯s going to take responsibility if something happens?" One man, still jumpy after being scared by a Little Treasure, eximed emotionally. "Exactly! You tried calling in there just now and no one answered! Something¡¯s definitely wrong! Let me in!" A girl nearby, eyes red, chimed in. "We¡¯ve already sent someone to check it out. He¡¯ll be out soon. Please calm down. If something really did happen, we¡¯ll call the police to handle it." The staff tried to reassure them. "By the time the police arrive, it¡¯ll be toote! You do know there¡¯s a me Hound inside, right? Do you even know what a me Hound is? Its beastmaster is right here! Miss, tell them..." The man turned, but was stunned. Where was the me Hound¡¯s beastmaster? --- The room was pitch dark. Qiao Sang turned on her phone¡¯s shlight, shining it ahead. She had managed to sneak in while the staff wasn¡¯t paying attention, dragging Fang Sisi along with her. Sometimes, it pays to bend the rules a little. Otherwise, no amount of reasoning would¡¯ve gotten them inside. "Turn left." Fang Sisi directed. Having worked there with the cotton moth, she was familiar with the Lost Town setup of the room. This was also why Qiao Sang had brought her along. They soon reached the first room where Yabao had been in the footage. The fog had dissipated, and for some unknown reason, the fire had been extinguished, leaving only the charred remains of the props and a suffocating smoky smell. Qiao Sang closed her eyes to sense Yabao¡¯s location. Fragments of an image formed in her mind. The background was pitch ck, making it impossible to discern Yabao¡¯s exact location, but she knew he was within a hundred meters. "It¡¯s not here. We need to go further in." Qiao Sang opened her eyes and said. "Wait." Fang Sisi shone her phone¡¯s shlight on the ground, took three steps forward, then two steps to the left. She knelt down and tapped on the stone floor. "What is it?" Qiao Sang asked. "There¡¯s a room beneath here. Remember the NPC that got dragged underground? That was ck Sludge using its special ability. If I¡¯m not mistaken, they should still be in the room below. We could ask them; they might know what happened." Fang Sisi exined. "Is this what you mean by ck Sludge?" Qiao Sang asked, picking up a pitch-ck object from the ground. Fang Sisi froze, shining her shlight on the ck lump in Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. "...Yes, that¡¯s it." Chapter 160: The Sewer Read at: /?m=1 ----- The creature was covered in ck mud. This ground-based pet''s entire body was coated in ck 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. Thetter 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 ck, 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 stilly 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 urrences 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 nted 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,bined 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 bs. Fang Sisi was stunned, her mind nk. What? Little Treasure? A Treasure-Seeking Ghost?! Wait, why could Qiao Sangmand 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 bs. "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." 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 shlight, 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 b 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, ncing 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 thest 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 b slowly slid back into ce. 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 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 beastpanion, typically makes soft whimpering sounds, but it can also produce cries simr 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 yer enters the second stage, the Baby Shell in the water starts making that sound, and then the doppelg?nger puppet''s w brings a fake human hand out of the water to scare the yer." "But isn''t that supposed to be part of the escape room scenario? Could it be that the second-stagepanion beasts weren''t affected?" Qiao Sang asked. Fang Sisi thought for a moment. "No, it''s still different. The doppelg?nger puppet''s w didn¡¯te 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 nning?" "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. 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 me 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 me Hound trainer, and the other was a trainer for NPC No. 9. Neither the me 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-typepanion beasts following the girls! One was a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the other a Dreamless Doll. The former was nothing to worry about, an entry-levelpanion beast, small in size and likely young. But thetter 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 ne, 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 ck 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 ck. --- "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 ying 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 scenee to life, but it was just ghost-typepanion 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 twopletely 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 162: Chapter 162: Qiao Sang felt a bit wronged. If she hadn¡¯t initially thought that only one Baby Shell in the waterway was awake, she wouldn''t have let Little Treasure make so many provocative moves. Butining was useless. Now that things had happened, she had to figure out how to deal with it. Reasoning with them was out of the question. Judging by how the Baby Shell and the Doppelg?nger Puppet were chasing them relentlessly, it seemed they were furious. If they caught up, they''d probablyunch attacks immediately. Qiao Sang couldn''t help but wonder, how did a creature with such a bad temper be an NPC?How was it supposed to serve the public? All it took was a little butt wiggle, a funny face, and some spit,was that really worth getting so upset about? As she ran, Qiao Sang adjusted her breathing, her mind racing to calcte Little Treasure¡¯s chances of defeating them. The Baby Shell wasn¡¯t much of a problem, just a beginner-level pet. Little Treasure had both ghost-type and psychic-type attributes, making him superior in both speed and attack power. In a one-on-one, it would have no trouble. But there was also the intermediate-level Doppelg?nger Puppet to deal with. The only reason why Yabao had managed to defeat an intermediate pets like before was because he had prior battle experience, and she had done tactical analysis on the opponent¡¯s pet. This time, things were different. Little Treasure had never undergone any real battle training. The only reason he had subdued the Ghost Lamp earlier was because themp had lost its core and couldn¡¯t fight back, allowing Little Treasure tond a perfect hit. Even so, when the weakened Ghost Lamp used Hypnosis, Little Treasure still slept for half the day. If this were an official match, the referee would¡¯ve already dered it a loss. Now, in this battle, Little Treasure not only had to face the Baby Shell but also the Doppelg?nger Puppet, neither of which she had analyzed beforehand. At best, the chance of victory was only 10%. That 10% was based on Little Treasure¡¯s ability to teleport, allowing it to possibly evade attacks long enough for the enemies to exhaust their energy. ¡°What should we do now? I can¡¯t run anymore!¡± Fang Sisi asked, her voice trembling. ¡°Where¡¯s the entrance to the secret room for the third level?¡± Qiao Sang asked after thinking for a moment. If they could reach the secret room for the third level and close the passage to the second, they might be able to escape. ¡°If the second level''s script hasn¡¯t changed, in about twenty minutes a Resentful Ghost Orb will appear from the sewer. It''s the boss of this level, and you have to defeat it to open the door to the third level.¡± Fang Sisi said, panting. A Resentful Ghost Orb, an intermediate pet... Qiao Sang dismissed the n in 0.001 seconds. Not to mention how to defeat the Resentful Ghost Orb, just encountering it would lead to a long battle. With the Resentful Ghost Orb in front and the Baby Shell and Doppelg?nger Puppet chasing from behind, they''d be trapped on all sides without even knowing how they went down... After running a few more steps, Fang Sisi gasped, ¡°I can¡¯t go on¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so weak?¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask. Due to her recent training, where they ran every day at school, her stamina had greatly improved. Qiao Sang felt she could maintain this pace for another half hour. Fang Sisi wept inwardly, cursing, "Whose fault is this?!" Qiao Sang didn¡¯t ponder for long. Being beaten up by three pets was far worse than fighting two. The pets working in the city all had trainers. Even if they were furious, they probably wouldn¡¯t attack humans. After analyzing the situation, Qiao Sang figured they might as well give it a shot. Worst case, she could always recall Little Treasure. With that thought, Qiao Sang abruptly stopped, turned around, and, to Fang Sisi¡¯s shock, shouted, ¡°Little Treasure! Get ready to fight!¡± ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure Ghost was stunned for a moment, then excitedly turned around. Finally, a fight! Fang Sisi, panting heavily, snapped back to reality. She swallowed hard to soothe her dry throat and quietly stepped back to reduce her presence. She had to admit, Qiao Sang was brave. But Fang Sisi didn¡¯t mind; she could use the time to recover her stamina and run againter... Unlike in apetition, there were no rules or turn-based systems here, it was all up to the pets¡¯ battle instincts. The moment Little Treasure turned his head, a hand, still dripping red liquid, lunged towards him. Little Treasure stood still, as if it had been paralyzed by fear. But just as the hand was about to touch him, Little Treasure vanished and reappeared elsewhere. The hand missed its target and, confused, turned back toward Little Treasure. Little Treasure grinned provocatively and raised his middle finger. The hand trembled. Qiao Sang watched in silence.She swore she had never taught Little Treasure to make that gesture! Not only the hand, but the other dismembered limbs also started trembling and crazily moved toward Little Treasure¡¯s new position. Little Treasure Ghost teleported again, dodging them. The limbs, using too much force, collided and fell but quickly got back up, not dazed at all, and urately pounced toward Little Treasure again, now five meters away. At the same time, Baby Shellunched a Water Gun attack at Little Treasure. Qiao Sang, observing the scene, fell into thought. She had never studied the Doppelg?nger Puppet, only knowing it was a ghost-type pet capable of separating its body parts to move. But why did it seem like the limbs didn¡¯t need to identify their target and always knew where Little Treasure was? Qiao Sang frowned and thought for a moment before quickly realizing something. Where was the Doppelg?nger Puppet''s head? In the sewer. Little Treasure continued teleporting, dodging attacks. He was bing more and more excited with every dodge, not even counterattacking, as if he were ying a game. At this point, Qiao Sang spoke up, ¡°Take out the Baby Shell first.¡± Little Treasure tilted his head. Baby Shell? Who¡¯s Baby Shell? ¡°It¡¯s that water-type pet on the ground!¡± Qiao Sang quickly added when she saw Little Treasure hesitate. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure understood. He vanished again, disappearing from his original spot. The limbs missed, sttering red liquid everywhere. In the next second, Little Treasure appeared in front of the still-searching Baby Shell, stuck out his tongue, and gave the exposed head a fierce lick. ¡°Baby¡­¡± Baby Shell shuddered violently. Though the lick didn¡¯t paralyze it, the saliva-coated tongue wiping over its head was enough to shatter its mental defenses. Just as its vision refocused, it locked eyes with a pair of glowing purple ones. ¡°Baby¡­¡± Baby Shell¡¯s eyelids drooped uncontrobly. Little Treasure smirked after casting Hypnosis and teleported five meters away. In the spot where he had just stood, the Doppelg?nger Puppet¡¯s limbs appeared, ready to strike. If Little Treasure hadn¡¯t teleported, the limbs would¡¯ve hit it squarely. But Little Treasure had dodged. So, the limbs¡¯ target became the nearby Baby Shell. ¡°Baby¡­¡± Baby Shell, already weakened, took a heavy hit, closed its eyes, and copsed. Even after dealing with Baby Shell, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t rx. Baby Shell was just a water-type beginner pet, and Little Treasure, with his rare ghost and psychic attributes, should have no problem taking it out. The real problem was still the Doppelg?nger Puppet. Chapter 163: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined) Chapter 163: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined) ``` The Doppelganger Puppet was a level higher than Xiao Xunbao, not to mention that at the moment. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Only its limbs were present, and those limbs were each covered with imitations of human prosthetics; the Doppelganger Puppet hadn''t even assembled its real self yet. Without any sensory stimtion, Xiao Xunbao''s current skills, Lick, Hypnotism, and Dream Eater, were rendered useless. The remaining skills were only Barrier, Telekinesis, and Teleportation. Apart from Telekinesis, the other two were not offensive skills. And if Telekinesis couldn''t control all the limbs at the same time, but only individually, the uncontrolled limbs would likely take the chance to attack Xiao Xunbao. After all, Teleportation and Telekinesis couldn''t be used simultaneously. Tough... It was the first time Qiao Sang felt that Xiao Xunbao had too few skills. However, if he didn''t think about defeating the Doppelganger Puppet but instead focused on getting rid of it, it wasn''t impossible. Qiao Sang made an immediate decision. "Throw them in different directions!" Xiao Xunbao was baffled by themand, dodging while disdainfully looking at the limbs covered in red liquid. After making a face, its gaze became resolute. It was an order from its own Beast Tamer, no helping it, at worst it would just clean itself off on the head of its Beast Tamerter. "Xun!" Xiao Xunbao quickened the frequency of its Teleportation, constantly changing positions. Seizing the opportunity, it teleported next to a foot that was at the back, took it by surprise by hoisting it onto its shoulder, and then continuously teleported out of the Doppelganger Puppet''s line of sight. The remaining two hands and one foot stood there dumbfounded, not reacting in time. The Doppelganger Puppet''s eyes widened as it watched Xiao Xunbao carry its foot away and disappear. It wasn''t so much that the hands and feet didn''t react, but rather the brain, hidden in the darkness, didn''t react in time. The Doppelganger Puppet''s eyes widened as it watched Xiao Xunbao carry its foot away and disappear. "Doppel! Doppel!" The Doppelganger Puppet was furious, as everyone else who saw it would have a face full of horror, amusing it. But today! First, it got a kick in the face, and now its own hand was being rejected! Initially, the voice that came through the headset on the head somewhat held it back, but now with no voice, it no longer had any reservations. After all, its own Beast Tamer had said just to listen to the words from the headset. "Doppel! Doppel!" The Doppelganger Puppet red in the direction Xiao Xunbao vanished,pletely forgetting everyone else''s presence and summoned the remaining hands and foot to hastily follow. Qiao Sang watched the head and remaining limbs that appeared out of nowhere chase after Xiao Xunbao''s direction and wasn''t in a rush, as steady as an old dog. She had long guessed the Doppelganger Puppet''s head would be here; it came as no surprise at all. The limbs couldn''t possibly have the ability for independent thought, simr to a doppelganger but not quite, after all, the limbs, aside from being mobile, could not use any skills. And the limbs'' movements had to be controlled by the Doppelganger Puppet itself. If the limbs were doppelgangers, then the head was the real body, it oversaw the whole scene from the shadows¡ªthat''s why the limbs could have an omniscient view and track where Xiao Xunbao teleported to. Indeed, the head had now revealed itself. It wasn''t difficult to understand why the Doppelganger Puppet hadn''t assembled its limbs and head. Because it was still missing a connecting part of the body. The torso. The Doppelganger Puppet divided different body parts in different levels, guessing the torso must also be dispersed somewhere else. "Qiao, Qiao Sang, Xiao Xunbao won''t be in any trouble, will it?" Fang Sisi came next to Qiao Sang and said nkly. She had always known that ever since Qiao Sang awakened his brain domain, he had be very powerful, not only contracting the Fire-Toothed Dog but also relying on it to win the championship at the Bai Xinsai. It''s not that the Fire-Toothed Dog isn''t powerful, but winning the championship among Beast Tamers who were several years older than them seemed a bit unbelievable. After all, some of the Beast Tamers in thepetition already had two Pet Beasts that had evolved into intermediate Pet Beasts, while the Fire-Toothed Dog was still a junior Pet Beast at the time. Just when she thought Qiao Sang couldn''t summon the me Listening Dog and could only run around with her in the second level''s secret room, his second contracted Pet Beast, the Treasure-seeking Ghost, had quickly dealt with the Baby Bay and even lured away the Doppelganger Puppet¡­ It was all very magical... It was like agreeing to be ckers together, and then not only do you turn things around, but you be insanely good at it? "No, it won''t." Qiao Sang said, looking in the direction where Xiao Xunbao disappeared. "That, what''s the skill Xiao Xunbao kept using to change positions called?" Fang Sisi curiously said, "Why does it feel so much like Teleportation?" Chapter 163: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_2 Chapter 163: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_2 "Let''s call it Teleportation." Qiao Sang replied. Fang Sisi: "?!". "Say that again, what''s this skill called?!" Fang Sisi''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Teleportation." Qiao Sang repeated. Fang Sisi stood frozen, she might be a poor student, but she knew that Teleportation was a skill of Psychic Series Pet Beasts, yet wasn''t the Treasure-seeking Ghost a Spectral-type Pet?! Could it be, could the Treasure-seeking Ghost actually... "It''s exactly what you are thinking." Before Fang Sisi could ask, Qiao Sang replied. Fang Sisi fell silent. After a while, she said, "Qiao Sang, do you remember the cheat sheets I risked getting caught by the teacher to write for you during our annual exams? And when you were punished to runps on the field, I stayed with you, even apanying you to the bathroom every time, remember?" Qiao Sang paused, then replied, "I remember, one time you changed a few multiple choice answers so they wouldn''t match mine exactly, and as a result, I ended up fifth from the bottom in our ss, while you dropped to third from the bottom and had your allowance docked by your mom for a month." Fang Sisi''s mouth twitched. Qiao Sang went on, "During that time on the track field, I was running and you were eating an ice pop. Then you saw your crush holding hands with another girl, and you ran to the bathroom to cry without even finishing your ice pop." Fang Sisi: "..." "As for the bathroom..." "Stop talking." Fang Sisi cut off what Qiao Sang was about to say next, afraid her heart couldn''t take it if she didn''t interrupt now. "Aren''t we friends?" Fang Sisi changed the topic. "Yes." Qiao Sang nodded. "We''ve been friends for so many years, I think it''s time our rtionship took a step further." Fang Sisi cleared her throat and said earnestly, "What do you think about having my Cotton Caterpir evolve into a Banyou Butterfly and then mate with your Treasure-seeking Ghost to give birth to a gifted Pet Beast baby?" Qiao Sang: "..." "You don''t need to worry about who will keep the Pet Beast baby. Whether it''s the Cotton Caterpir or the Treasure-seeking Ghost that it''s born as, I will take good care of it." "Scram!" "..." In Beast Taming society, not only do Beast Tamers have an advantage in the marriage market, but so do Pet Beasts with good talents. Many Beast Tamers seek out gically gifted Pet Beasts as partners for their own, somewhat reminiscent of arranged marriages. It''s not as if Pet Beasts can only mate with their own kind. As long as there''s a mutual attraction, Pet Beasts of different attributes and sizes can alsoe together. The Pet Beast Egg that hatches will be of one of their species. "Xiao Xunbao and the Cotton Caterpir have different growth cycles. It''s only a little over a month old; don''t set your sights on it," Qiao Sang warned. Just over a month old... Fang Sisi immediately dropped the idea. A Spectral-type Pet that''s just over a month old is equivalent to a baby that can only drink milk and can''t do much else. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om By the time the Treasure-seeking Ghost has grown up and be sensible, her Cotton Caterpir would be old... After finishing her thought, Qiao Sang''s attention went back to Xiao Xunbao. She estimated that Xiao Xunbao should have gone far enough by now and was about to make the hand seal to summon it back when she realized she was still holding a ck muddy thing in her hand. "Hold this for me." Qiao Sang handed the ck muddy thing to Fang Sisi and started to make the hand seal. Tossing the limbs had been a mere distraction to lead the Doppelganger Puppet away. All she needed was to bring Xiao Xunbao back once it was far enough, and the Doppelganger Puppet surely couldn''t continue to follow. If a Pet Beast is nearby, a simple thought or gesture is enough to bring it back into the Beast Taming Codex, but if the Pet Beast isn''t within sight, a proper summoning gesture is required. Qiao Sangpleted the hand seal and quickly summoned Xiao Xunbao back. "Xun!" After returning, the delighted Xiao Xunbao floated to its designated spot and rubbed Qiao Sang''s hair with its ws before drifting off to the side, no longer staying on her head. Qiao Sang didn''t notice anything unusual, turned her head towards Xiao Xunbao and praised it, "Well done." "Xun~" The Treasure-seeking Ghost curved its eyes, having as much fun as if it was ying a game. "Let''s keep going," Qiao Sang said, preparing to move forward. Just as she took a step with her left foot, Fang Sisi pulled her back excitedly, "Didn''t you realize that you''ve summoned the Treasure-seeking Ghost back?!" Qiao Sang paused,prehending the implication, her heartbeat sped up, and she quickly made the hand seal to summon Yaobao. It failed... "You try." Qiao Sang turned and said. Chapter 164: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_3 Chapter 164: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_3 "Okay," Fang Sisi handed the ck mud to Qiao Sang and then formed a seal. Three secondster. A Cotton Caterpir covered in red liquid with an indistinctive appearance, showing only a pair of round eyes, materialized before them. "Jie?" The Cotton Caterpir cocked its head curiously, wondering why it had suddenly changed locations. "Mian Mian!" The moment she saw the Cotton Caterpir, Fang Sisi lunged forward to embrace it and cried out with a sob: "Wuu... I thought I would never see you again..." "Jie Jie." The Cotton Caterpir looked bewildered, unsure of what had happened. Qiao Sang watched them with a slight frown, lost in thought. When they were outside the secret chamber, no one could summon their Pet Beasts, but inside they could. It must be something wrong with the outeryer of the secret chamber, the inside was fine. But why couldn''t Yaobao be summoned back? Qiao Sang felt anxious, inadvertently exerting more force in her hands. Just at that moment, the ck mud slowly opened its eyes, awakened by pain. "ck Mud!" The ck mud flowed out of Qiao Sang''s hands like liquid, returning to its original form and looked over cautiously. "ck Mud! ck Mud!" Qiao Sang''s eyes lit up, finally awake! Her effort to carry it for so long had not been in vain! "I''m the Beast Tamer of the me Listening Dog. You have just seen it, the Pet Beast with white and red fur," Qiao Sang inquired, "Do you know where it went? What exactly happened just now? Why did you faint?" ck Mud seemed startled, as if recalling something. With its mouth wide open and its stomach suddenly inted, it spat out a Pet Beast covered in ck mud. "It''s the me Listening Dog!" Fang Sisi, holding the Cotton Caterpir, looked over and eximed in surprise. Qiao Sang was dumbfounded for a moment, staring at the Pet Beast that had been spat out onto the ground, at a loss for words. What the hell! This is Yaobao! She had considered many scenarios, but had never imagined Yaobao would be inside the belly of ck Mud! So it turned out she had been carrying Yaobao all along while searching for him! Yaobao was lying on the ground with his eyes closed, drool hanging from his mouth. Qiao Sang: "..." She had frantically searched for him, and he was just here sleeping? Unable to contain herself, Qiao Sang crouched down, grabbed Yaobao''s ear, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Wake up! Shuilu Yana is here again!" "Ya!" Yaobao''s eyes snapped open, and he leaped to his feet, his fur standing on end, ready for battle. "Ya!" "Ya!" Yaobao looked around frantically. Where, where! Where is Shuilu Yana! Qiao Sang: "..." Not bad, seems he wasn''t hurt, and still quite spirited... ... Ten minutester, Qiao Sang finally had a rough understanding of the events. Yaobao had caused a fire at the first checkpoint, so ck Mud initiated n B for special circumstances, intending to use its special trait to take Yaobao to the next checkpoint. But just as it had engulfed Yaobao, for some reason it fainted. "Qiao Sang, I have a feeling something''s not right here," said Fang Sisi, still holding the puzzled-looking Cotton Caterpir as she turned to Qiao Sang to seek her opinion. In the end, the Beast Taming society was still a ce where the strong ruled. In the past, Fang Sisi would have decided on her own whether to let the Cotton Caterpir continue to work in the third checkpoint''s secret room or take it out. But now, she subconsciously wanted to act ording to Qiao Sang''s judgment. "Let''s get out of here for now," Qiao Sang said. There were just too many things wrong here. It was understandable that Yaobao couldn''t be summoned back while inside ck Mud. Yet the other Beast Tamers outside the secret chamber couldn''t summon their Pet Beasts either, and those beasts were not in ck Mud''s belly, that was one issue. Secondly, judging by Yaobao''s state with drooling out of his mouth, he had definitely been asleep before entering ck Mud''s belly, otherwise he wouldn''t have been able to sleep if he was awake when being swallowed. Moreover, not just Yaobao, but ck Mud, the female NPC under the stone floor, and the masked spectral spirit at the entrance of the passage all fell asleep. And thirdly, where had the staff in the secret chamber gone? Normally with all the monitoring there, she and Fang Sisi should have been spotted the moment they broke in, but so far no staff had shown up. Qiao Sang and Fang Sisi headed back in the direction they came from. Just then, the ambient lighting that illuminated the waterway flickered, and a Pet Beast with a purple body, three sharp horns on its head, and a pair of blood-red eyes appeared out of thin air. At the same time, in the surveince room, the monitor screens for the first and second checkpoint rooms came back to life. ... Hangkang City. Chapter 164: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_4 Chapter 164: Mysterious Cicada with Three Eyes (Three Chapters Combined)_4 Police Bureau. Many people were reporting their work progress back and forth in front of a desk. "Captain Liu, Target 10 has appeared at 99 Tongshang Road." "Captain Liu, Target 6 has been captured under Qianshan Bridge." "Captain Liu, a family at 27 Kuantun Road called to report that their child suddenly ate ten bowls of rice in one night; we suspect Target 12 is there." "Captain Liu, 231 Qinshi Road called to report they couldn''t summon their Pet Beasts and they can''t get in touch with the staff inside; we suspect Target 2 has entered." The man who had been looking down at the files raised his head and asked, "Is Target 2 the Dreamless Doll?" "Yes, Captain Liu." "Do the patrol team members know about this?" the man asked. "We''ve already contacted the patrol team." The man lowered his head and flipped through the files, saying, "The most dangerous Pet Beasts that havee out of the cracks in the Secret Realm this time, apart from the Three-eyed Spectral Cicada, is the Dreamless Doll. Send more people over there." "Yes, Captain Liu." "Wait." The man suddenly called out, not looking at the files in his hand but looking at the person reporting, with a grave expression, "The Dreamless Doll that came out didn''t show any abilities to prevent the summoning of Pet Beasts when Qian Song from the guard squad fought with it." "It''s possible that the creature inside is not Target 2, the Dreamless Doll, but Target 1, the Three-eyed Spectral Cicada. I''ll go with you." ... The secret chamber. The sewer. Fang Sisi swallowed hard as she looked at the Pet Beast in front of her, then turned her head to lightly bump Qiao Sang''s arm and whispered, "This isn''t an NPC from the secret chamber; it looks like it means harm. What do you think? Can we beat it?" Qiao Sang asked, "You''ve been here for a few days too; do you know of anyone that has a pact with the Dreamless Doll?" Qiao Sang nced at her and said, "The Dreamless Doll, a Spectral-type High Level Pet Beast ¨C you want me to try fighting it?" Fang Sisiughed awkwardly and then said, "Actually, it might not necessarily be here with bad intentions; maybe it was sent by people outside to check on the situation." Qiao Sang asked, "You''ve been here for a few days too; do you know of anyone that has a pact with the Dreamless Doll?" Fang Sisi shook her head desperately. Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. What a disaster this was; it seemed the strange incidents discovered in the secret chamber must have been the doing of the Dreamless Doll before them. "ck Mud!" Just then, ck Mud stepped forward and confronted the Dreamless Doll with a shout. As Qiao Sang thought the Dreamless Doll would at leastmunicate first, its already red eyes emitted a red light and the next second, ck Mud closed its eyes. And fell over. Qiao Sang: "!!!" If one can fight, no need for nonsense¡ªtotally different from the Pet Beasts she had seen previously! Yaobao would at least strike a pose and give a threateningugh or something before fighting. The Dreamless Doll started attacking without any warning or reason. "Xiao Xunbao, ambush! Yaobao, attack from the front!" Qiao Sang made a snap decision. Fang Sisi stood frozen in ce, scared silly. How did a fight suddenly start? In the past, Pet Beast fights she had seen were either small skirmishes or in regted contest arenas; she had never experienced a scene where the opponent, whose origins were unknown, just began fighting. "Get behind me." Qiao Sang pulled Fang Sisi behind him. Fang Sisi and the Cotton Caterpir watched Qiao Sang''s back with tear-filled eyes¡ªthis damned sense of security! The first to carry out Qiao Sang''smand was the Treasure-seeking Ghost. It immediately vanished out of sight, but after the Dreamless Doll''s red eyes moved around, it suddenly extended its right w, conjuring a ck Shadow Ball and hurling it towards the front right. "Seek!" The Treasure-seeking Ghost, seeing the Shadow Ball just 0.01 centimeters from it, shrank its pupils and forgot to dodge for a moment. Just as the Shadow Ball was about to hit the Treasure-seeking Ghost, it suddenly disappeared on the spot. "Dream." The Dreamless Doll paused, then turned its head toward the human with a pale face before it. Qiao Sang felt his heart race. That''s right, Spectral Series Pet Beasts can see others of their kind that are invisible. It was close, just a moment away, and if the Shadow Ball had hit the Treasure-seeking Ghost, it might have been knocked unconscious by the High Level Pet Beast''s Shadow Ball. Luckily, she had been quick enough to summon the Treasure-seeking Ghost back to the Beast Taming Codex. After all, the response time of the Dreamless Doll was far superior to that of the Treasure-seeking Ghost. Qiao Sang turned to look at Yaobao, whose fur was standing on end, staring intently at the Dreamless Doll. Although the confrontation just nowsted only a few seconds, ording to Yaobao''s usual attacking speed, it shouldn''t have hesitated to attack by now. Indeed, it must have been influenced by the Spectral-type Pet Beast... Qiao Sang made a hand sign and summoned the Treasure-seeking Ghost once more. 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 nced 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 urgente 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. At the same time, Yabao stopped mid-air in the sewer and swung Qiao Sang onto his back, cing 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. Arge 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, pping its wings ominously. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart raced with fear. Were wild beasts always this brutal? No wonder the inte 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 nced 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 nkly at it. ¡°Yap.¡± At his Beastmaster¡¯smand, 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 me Hound? Qiao Sang quickly regained herposure. 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 telekic hold, it couldn¡¯t easily break free. ¡°Cicicicici¡­¡± The Three-Eyed Phantom Cicada, trapped in the telekinesis, spun in circles, quickly bing dizzy. It fought to suppress the disorientation, gathering energy tounch 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. Arge 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 themand just in time. A ball of me, over 20 centimeters in diameter, appeared in Yabao¡¯s mouth. In the next moment, the me, as though it had a life of its own, urately 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 havended 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 me. 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 rtively 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 tounch 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, mming 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 Cicaday 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 seeded 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 me Hound, suspended in mid-air, speechless for a long time. If they hadn''t confirmed that this was the real surveince 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 me 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 me 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-ss psychic ability, an extremely rarebination. 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 me 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 surveince 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 eximed 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 alsoe to the station to give their statements. Qiao Sang was already somewhat famous in the Hanggang City police station, having be a familiar face. Most of the officers recognized her. Her first time here was to im 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 imed 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 manyte-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, simr 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 ssified 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 avability of maps and strategy guides. The other category is unexplored secret realms, which contain many unknown dangers and are far less popr among Beast Masters. Most secret realm entrances remain open in fixed ces 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.¡± 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 exined with augh. ¡°The Dreamless Doll initially nned to follow behind the me Hound to clear the room, but when you tried to leave with the me 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 impressivebat 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 actualbat.Simply practicing skill release only increases proficiency. To improve nerve reactions, spatial awareness, body bnce, 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 realbat... --- 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. "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 rmend 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 ept 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 forpetitions, no time for secret realms, how could she be a professional beast tamer and participate in the Interster 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 nced at him and said in a low voice, "Go watch the surveince 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 doubledpared 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 me 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: me 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. Thest time Yabao''s level shot up suddenly was after it defeated the Scale Controller Doll.That battle had been brutal, and Yabao gained the me 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 reyed 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 Yabaoy. 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 ce, 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 ws 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 ced 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 Treasureter 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 me 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 be 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 me Hounds adopted serious expressions, posing in the same stance. Then the one on the left bared his fangs, while the one on the right nced 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 me Hound were engulfed in mes, while simultaneously, the milk bottle in the Little Treasure¡¯s hands started floating around the courtyard. "Sess!" Qiao Sang was ecstatic. Even though she had expected Yabao to seed, 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,pletely 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, nced 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. 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 rtionship 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 timees, I¡¯ll be mentally and physically scarred for sure.¡± ¡°So, I came here to rent a Phantom Water Baby, to have it take my ce 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 popr 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 w. ¡°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 ce... 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 definitelyugh 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 Yaoughing uncontrobly upon finding out. The mental image was too strong, and she had to admit that Shi Gaofeng¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t without reason¡­ --- Twenty minutester, 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 olddy, 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 olddy had recorded a video inside it, specifying that the items should be handed over to the person whopleted 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, eachbeled 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. 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 disys 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 lowerpared to being taught directly by someone. Thus, after a brief surge in poprity, virtual helmets nearly became obsolete. After all, they were expensive, and pet beasts could easily be 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 y, 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 bing addicted, even if he didn¡¯t learn any new skills. But Little Treasure? Not so much... He had a naturally yful personality. If he couldn¡¯t learn the skills and started throwing tantrums to y, it would be quite a headache. The more Qiao Sang thought about it, the more she realized how likely this oue 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 tworge 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 manipting 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 yed, there was a chance to win a million-dor prize. Yes, Shadow Control was that million-dor 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. ¡°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 sh as it powered on, it was clear that the helmet had enough charge. Qiao Sang ced 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 yer, wee to the training world of Shadow Control." --- ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao curiously circled Little Treasure, who was wearing the virtual helmet, asionally 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 exined, ¡°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 headpared 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 byzy beasts. You¡¯re smart and diligent, so you don¡¯t need it.¡± Yabao paused, recalling how Little Treasure ofteny on his master¡¯s head, barely moving. Indeed, his little brother was toozy. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao nodded, deeply agreeing with his master. Having sessfully 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 amon 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 simr 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 ced the Taunt disk at the bottom of the stack. It¡¯s a zero-damage, aggro-pulling skill. No need to learn it... --- Two hourster, 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 ced it on his head, and mimicked his master¡¯s actions by pressing the helmet twice. Boom! "Dear yer, wee back to the training world of Shadow Control." Little Treasure gazed excitedly at the virtual world before him. Amidst the excitement, heforted himself. This wasn¡¯t for fun, it was all for the sake of learning skills and bing 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 rm, 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. Shey 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 morebat 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 inbat, 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¡¯tpare 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 bemon. 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 strengthy in improving the proficiency of current skills and learning new ones. A new skill had already been ced 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 nned to visit a battle club. Improvingbat 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 hourste 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 exined. ¡°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 hisbat 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 ying with their pets. When I was your age, all I did was y 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~" 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 be a regr client? As for Treasure-Seeking Ghost being a Ghost-type, which meant that his Ground-type Double-Tailed Land Turtle had no particr 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 uing battle isn''t child''s y. 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 firstmand: "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 exin 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 whenbined, they made no sense to him. "Xun~" Little Treasure¡¯s eyes glowed blue, and the faint blue light on his short ws 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 uncontrobly. "Lu..." The Double-Tailed Land Turtle looked bewildered at the ceiling of the training room. 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 whenunched by the -Tailed Land Turtle itself. Little Treasure''s telekically 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 nextmand. 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 uncontrobly. 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 tounch the Mud Bomb, as he had initially nned. But this Treasure-Seeking Ghost could teleport! "Dream Eater." Qiao Sangmanded, taking advantage of the sessful 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 waspletely 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 minutester, 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, arge, 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 ze 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,e back." In the spectator seats. "Why does this girl look familiar?" A bespectacled woman adjusted her sses. "Pretty people tend to look alike." Someone beside her chimed in. "Could she be your daughter''s former ssmate? 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 sses 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 ze Dog. Its teleportation skill alone is enough to take down the ze Dog. Lin Yuanqi hadpletely forgotten that the treasure-seeking ghost was one level lower than the ze Dog. As he was mentally cheering for Qiao Sang and the treasure-seeking ghost, the little ghost floated back to its beast tamer,nding 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 ce 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 me 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: ze Dog vs. me Hound, Fire vs. Fire, Old me 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 eximed. 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 me 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 nkly. 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, red at the ze Dog. The ze 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?! "Batian! Pull yourself together! Use methrower!" Wang Anqiang shouted, trying to snap the ze Dog out of it. "Yap~" The ze Dog ignored him, gathering the courage to steal another nce at the beast that had stolen its heart before shyly lowering its head again. "Yap!" Yabao cloaked himself in mes, bing a fiery blur as he charged toward the ze Dog. "Batian! What are you standing around for? me Charge! Hit back!" Wang Anqiang¡¯s voice nearly cracked from shouting. The ze 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 ze Dog managed to avoid a direct hit, it still took damage to its side. Bang!! The ze Dog was sent flying several meters away. "Yap¡­" The ze Dog weakly whined, looking at Yabao, whose mes had now died down. Wang Anqiang covered his eyes, unable to bear the sight. "Uh, why isn¡¯t the ze Dog listening to you?" Qiao Sang asked, confused. "It seems¡­ it has a crush on your me 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 ze Dog and hesitated, "This ze Dog¡­ it¡¯s a male, right?" She had researched ze Dogs back when Yabao was still a Fire Fang Dog. She recalled that female ze Dogs had a tuft of fur on their heads that was a slightly lighter shade of red than the rest of their bodies. The ze Dog before her had a uniform coat of fur. "Yes." Wang Anqiang nodded. Qiao Sang was silent for a while before saying, "My me Hound is also male." Wang Anqiang: !!! "Batian! It¡¯s a guy! He¡¯s a guy!" Wang Anqiang yelled in shock. "¡­Yap?" The ze Dog froze, staring in disbelief at the beast he had fallen for. "Yap yap." Yabao shot him a disdainful nce. What are you looking at? I¡¯m obviously a handsome, dignified male. "Yap¡­" The ze Dog, unable to handle the blow, wobbled unsteadily. "Yap." Yabao nced at him disdainfully again. Are we going to fight or not? "Yap yap!" The ze Dog¡¯s eyes suddenly changed, and the mes 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 themand. The ze Dog wore a fierce expression as his fangs, wrapped in mes, 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 standsmented 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 ze Dog''s inherited skill was about to reach mastery, which truly made others envious. "Why hasn''t the me Hound moved yet?" Lin Yuanqi thought anxiously.If anyone wanted Qiao Sang to win, it would undoubtedly be him. "Fire Fang!" Just as the ze Dog was about to reach Yabao, Qiao Sang calmly gave hermand. "Themand was too slow." A woman with sses 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 recentmand was suboptimal. In the next second, the crowd, still discussing her supposed mistake, fell silent. Just as the ze Dog was about to bite, the me Hound didn¡¯t respond with a violent bite using Fire Fang. Instead, it took to the air... "What the hell?!" Isn¡¯t the me 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 me Hound behind his ze Dog that he forgot to issue amand. Crunch! The ze Dog¡¯s fangs bit into thin air, producing a screeching sound. As his mes dissipated, he looked up warily, only to feel a sharp pain in his back. "Yap!" The ze Dog howled in agony. "Oh my god, has this Fire Fang reached perfection?" The person who had earlier envied the ze 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 mes enveloping its fangs. mes gathered in front of his teeth, extending nearly a meter in length. The air was filled with violent fire energy, and the crimson mes coalesced into two scythe-shaped fire des 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 ze Dog, and yet, the scythe-shaped mes barely brushed his body. In the next moment, the ze 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 ming scythes had fallen, and tongues of me quickly engulfed the ze Dog¡¯s entire body. The ze Dog held on for three seconds before copsing. Everyone was stunned. This was no ordinary Fire Fang! Perfection! This was a Fire Fang that had reached perfection! The audience had barely recovered from seeing the me Hound take flight when this disy 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 ept! 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 ze 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 ze 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 ze Dog, now recovered, would put on a spectacr fight in front of his colleagues. Instead, he waspletely 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 ze 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 me Hound have psychic abilities?" Wang Anqiang asked next. Although his mind had briefly gone nk when he saw the me 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 ze Dog, which evolved from the same species as the me 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 juste 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 me 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 me Hound was still a Fire Fang Dog¡­ Several people froze in ce as their thoughts came to a halt. So, in just over a month, this Fire Fang Dog not only evolved into a me Hound, but also trained its Fire Fang to perfection?! "I have an idea." A man wearing polished leather shoes and gold-rimmed sses suddenly spoke up, "You could work for us as a sparring partner." "You¡¯d earn a sry, and if you be 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 toe looking for a sparring partner only to have someone suggest she be 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 avable 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 toe 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 sses 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 avable, youe. 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 sses nced 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 thest 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 publiclypared 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 sses 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 me Hound to attract clients, the deal had no downsides for her. --- The two quickly reached an agreement, and the man with the gold-rimmed sses led Qiao Sang to his office, where he had someone draft a contract. Qiao Sang skimmed it, but one use caught her attention, so she gave it a closer look. It was about her sry. A base sry of 5,000 Alliance coins, with a 60%mission rate. How much she made each month would depend on how many clients she had. 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 sses 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 me Hound doesn¡¯t have a psychic-type attribute. I¡¯m curious, is your me 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 me Hound¡¯s poprity. He was aiming for a long-term partnership, one that could lead to a massive business deal. In his view, a rtionship 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 me Hound to use forparison 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 regtions 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 bes 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 poprity of the me 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 avable 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 me 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 me 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-dor 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 ws, indicating he wanted to eat too. "Alright, I¡¯ll cook for you as well." Qiao Sangughed. "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 hourter. After taking a bite of the food, Little Treasure¡¯s happiness disappearedpletely... 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 neverst. 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 me 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! Juste to Chang¡¯an Road, Tianjing Garden, apartment 1705. That¡¯s where I¡¯m staying now." Her mother¡¯s voice immediately rose. "Aren¡¯t you living on campus?!" Qiao Sang: ... "After Yabao evolved into a me Hound, he got too big. The dorm is too small, so it¡¯s inconvenient. The vice principal approved me living off-campus." Qiao Sang exined. 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 Sangforted 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 asionally. 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 me Hound had psychic abilities, Yabao would probably have to stay in the Codex for even longer. Unless a second me Hound appeared, every time Yabao stepped outside, he would likely draw a crowd. 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 thanst 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 me 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 mymands, making it easy for others to exploit the opportunity. I lost to Lu Mai from Litan High Schoolst year because of that." "Now that Xiaoyan''s patience is well-trained, there''s no need for such boring tasks anymore." "Yan Yan." The me 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 Sangughed. "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 inpleting the task." Wang Yao nced 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 minutester. Everyone had arrived. Zheng Guoping held his tablet and started giving feedback. "I won''t say much about Qiao Sang. Shepleted 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 youpleted 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 butugh. 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 ce? 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 recing 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 masterypetition in the country. The event is a centralized tournament spanning all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Thepetition has three stages: Provincialpetitions, regionalpetitions, and the national finals. Winning first ce in the province, defeating Litan Middle School, was just the first stage of the provincialpetition. Among the numerous beast mastery contests, this one garners the most attention and is the most prestigious. If you break through the provincialpetition and ce 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 esteemedpetition. Zheng Guoping frowned. "For now, run twentyps 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 ce, standing stiffly without daring to move an inch. The culprit, Shi Gaofeng, turned around, ready to start runningps around the field, but Zheng Guoping was quick to grab him by the cor. "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 exin 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 disy 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 urrences 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 trante. Qiao Sang quickly covered his mouth with lightning speed. "Yan." With Yabao silenced, the me Sparrow began tranting instead. Upon understanding, Wang Yao wanted tough 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,e with me!" Zheng Guoping said, then looked at Xu Yajie, who was trying hard to stay unnoticed. "You too,e with me!" Xu Yajie: ... Therge training ground was left with only Qiao Sang and Wang Yao. From outside, Zheng Guoping¡¯s angry roars could asionally be heard. Wang Yao finally couldn¡¯t hold back herughter: "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''de 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 be 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 me 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, thepetition 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 rmendation? 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 Maniption for now. Let¡¯s learn Will-o''-the-Wisp first." Qiao Sang said. Learning Shadow Maniption 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 topete 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 Maniption for now. We need to bnce 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? In battles, moves like high-speed spinning, Quick Attack, or me 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 Maniption 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 wereid out in a row. Little Treasure put the ring back on his head, then pressed his sharp ws 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, butter realized thatpared to the money spent on raising them, that was hardly worth mentioning. At the end of the day, it stilles down to ack of money. Even the seven-figure bnce in her bank ount 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 youing 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 ce." Her mother replied. "Just got back to Hanggang?" Qiao Sang was startled. "Where were you these past two days?" "...I''ll exinter, 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 hourter. In the living room. Ye Xiangting ced 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 nced 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,e 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 minutester. 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 beastmasterpetition." Qiao Sang was surprised. "Fuzhou? That¡¯s on the border of Yuhua District. You went all that way to watch apetition?" "Well, after losing the autographed poster of Armor-chad Sharpw 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-d Sharpw 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?" "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 me 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 nned. We¡¯ll focus on selling beast eggs. Even if the research takes longer, we¡¯ll still have measures in ce to handle things." "Bing 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 be 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 ept 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 Gaofengined, "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: /?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 ept 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 andpetition 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 ie 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 coldugh. ¡°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 talkter?¡± --- 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 nk expression. For someone who often flew into fits of rage, a nk 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. Whenpeting against a simrly skilled beastmaster, the realpetition 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 quitemon in pet beastpetitions. As long as it didn¡¯t vite the rules,petitors 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. 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 rted 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 schoolpetition 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 mes, 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. Thetter merely covered the fangs with mes, 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 rification. Zheng Guoping was stunned for a long time. ¡°You¡¯re saying your me 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 me 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 nced at her pet. ¡°Yap.¡± Yabao instantly understood his beastmaster¡¯s intent. He quickly gathered energy, forming two scythe-shaped mes. The ferocious crimson mes nearly blinded Zheng Guoping. Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Teacher, what should I do now?¡± Zheng Guoping waspletely 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 confidencee 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 exined 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 exnation 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 n. 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 forter, 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 aplete 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 ying tag with teleportation, and went back to her room. She opened herputer, ready to discuss this matter seriously withizens. 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 Copses.This person seemed to be a regr 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 sessful beast trainer who taught teleportation, I must say choosing the right training center is crucial. I highly rmend 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 ovep, the beast can then teleport between them.] [Fatty: What you¡¯re describing sounds like spatial movement. How¡¯s that rted to teleportation?] [Unique Beauty: If you can master spatial movement, won''t teleportatione naturally?] [Clear Skies When School Copses: Can we focus on practical solutions rather than theory?] Seeing the poster¡¯stest 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 herment. [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 wascking too¡­ Qiao Sang suddenly felt like the only one awake among a crowd of fools. But the inte was a ce 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 ufortable... 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 impable. By a private pool, a young man in just his swimming trunksy on a recliner, staring at hisptop in deep thought. He nced at thetestments on the forum, then looked at his Crowned Meow, which was elegantly lying on the next recliner, wearing sunsses and sipping a cold drink. After repeating this several times, the Crowned Meow finally took off its sunsses 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, exined, ¡°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 sunsses 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 Copses. [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 cklisted Clear Skies When School Copses, shut herptop, and went back to her book. Forty minutester, 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 ept?] 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 nced at the time, 9:03 p.m. Still early. [ept] 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 waspletely different from the professional smile she hadst 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¡¯te 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 toorge, and if a mid-level pet beast senses something amiss, any random skill they use could cause a hugemotion. More importantly, even if these traffickers seed, 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 aplish. Thus, their targets are always small, easily deceived low-level pet beasts. Of course, cases of beast trafficking are rare, and every time one urs, it makes the news. After all, there aren''t many people involved in this trade nowadays. Thest reported case of beast trafficking was three months ago. ording 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 sh of white light urred, and the fluffball evolved into a sweet flower puff. But that wasn¡¯t the end of it. One minuteter, 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 arrestedter, 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 urrence, 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 rmended 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. There, sitting in the front row of the spectator seats, wearing a sunhat and sunsses, was a pet beast gracefully eating the club''splimentary 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 sunsses. "Crown?" Crowned Cat turned its head at the sound, tilting it gracefully. After a brief silence, Qiao Sang said, "Little Treasure, trante for me." "Xun~" Little Treasure appeared, tranting 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 sunsses 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. Arge 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 givemands, 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 w 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. Afterpleting 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 w, poking at the glowing shield. The spot he touched rippled, and his w 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 exined: "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 andunched an attack, you wouldn¡¯t have even had time to release your shield before taking damage." "Crown..." Crowned Cat stared nkly 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: /?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 ovee 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 andnd in front of Qiao Sang. Qiao Sang¡¯s pupils dted 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 aplex 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¡¯tmon, 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 ce¡­ Qiao Sang answered in her mind, but aloud she said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you y 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 erged 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, cing 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 trantion. ¡°Xun, xun.¡± ¡°Crown, Crown.¡± ¡°Xun, xun xun.¡± ¡°Crown.¡± ¡°...¡± After three minutes of Little Treasure¡¯s trantions, 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 tranting. 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 hade 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 trante, 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. 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 ept 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, sunsses, and phone floated up from the spectator bench, returning to their rightful ces 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''trge, 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 be ustomed 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 apany me when I go out." Qiao Sang exined. 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 me Hound, still a fire-type beast, his psychic abilities hadn¡¯t spread widely yet, but people''s attitudes had shifted 180 degrees. His popritysted longer than that of most newly-evolved beasts. This was not only because the me Hound was thetest 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 byizens were taken from afar. In contrast, people were eager to take close-up selfies with the me 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 olde 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 wickedugh like a viin. 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. Afterughing for a while, Little Treasure called out to his Beastmaster. "Xun xun~" He wouldn''t reveal his n 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 woulde 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 y with? Qiao Sang: ... --- The next morning, when Qiao Sang woke up, she found Little Treasure awake. Not only that, but a ck 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! No need to dye his fur or change his look. Nor did she have to wait for the me Hound¡¯s poprity 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, asionally 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 arge, wavy straw hat and ck cat-shaped sunsses. Thest surveince 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 urate 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 nonchnt, 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 hadpletely vanished. Wait! urate 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. "...Thest surveince footage shows it carrying a cheese-colored square bag. Its whereabouts are currently unknown. A reward of 200,000 alliance coins for urate 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 Meowst 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 youst night?" "It said that its Beast Master wanted it to learn teleportation and was putting it through a particrly 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 forumst 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 someonecks, 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 me Sparrow Instead, it was another pet, primarily red, with three chain-like ck 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 me Sparrow? Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t the only one wondering, Yabao was also confused. Of all the pets in the group training, the me Sparrow was the one he was closest to. After all, the me 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 me Sparrow?" Qiao Sang asked first. "I took it to the pet training centerst 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 me doesn¡¯t like practicing that move, so I brought Little Chain instead." So that¡¯s how it is... Qiao Sang nced 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 duringpetitions. Of course, contracting pets of the same type also had clear benefits. 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 me was still a me Bird, I bought too many materials for beginner fire-type pets. Later, when it evolved into a me 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 asionally nced her way, full of envy. Especially Shi Gaofeng, his eyes were practically red with jealousy. He had never seen anyone dare to y on their phone right under Zheng Baolong''s nose. Qiao Sang was the first! "Meimei, you¡¯ve got to step up. I want to y 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 y 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 nced 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 politement had sounded ridiculous. Who asks someone if they¡¯re tired when they¡¯re clearly ying on their phone? He coughed awkwardly, then sat down next to Qiao Sang, watching Yabao as he practiced his Fire Fang. "Your me 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: /?m=1 ----- Zheng Guoping asked, "Did you watch the match between Liu Qutong and Ning Yu on the Beast Taming Channelst 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 me 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 starpetitors 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 rtionship gossip! Aren''tizens 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 ce, 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 me Hound knows Fire Whirl, so it could definitely train for this move." Rotating in ce? 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 me 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 nned 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 telekic attack was unlikely, it wasn¡¯t impossible. Also, telekinesis could be interrupted during casting, and if the opponent were significantlyrger 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, arge pink turtle-type beast retracted its limbs and spun like a top. Circles of fiery red mes expanded outward from the spinning turtle, colliding with dozens of crescent-shaped blue wind desing from above. The tremendous force exploded on impact. Amidst a ze 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 andmented, "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 exined. 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 hourst night. Could this technique really be harder than learning a new skill? If other beast tamers knew her n, 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! 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 be fun, providing great motivation for those that struggled to stay focused. While Yabao didn¡¯tck 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 ount. After some hesitation, she opened the private message screen with Clear Skies When School Copses. 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 hade 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?¡± ¡°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. Arge red exmation 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 secondster. Thud. He copsed. 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¡¯sforting 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 yed 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 ce... To keep a low profile, she stored Yabao in the Beast codex in a quiet spot outside the square. --- Half an hourter. 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 ount, 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 herposure, 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 popr 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 particrly rare pet, it was still umon 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 ounted 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 himtely, 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 ss 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 ss 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 exined. "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 ce became a hotspot. Tons of people starteding 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 thebyrinth 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? Tofort 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 w and a hot dog in the other, blissfully alternating bites. As she watched the five Lili Ducks ying 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... 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, sunsses, 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 toe 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 y 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 rx asionally. 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 eximed 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 oning out tonight. Our family is about to strike it rich!" "Why?" The little girl asked. "I¡¯ll exin 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 me 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 me 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 me¡­" "me Hound." Someone nearbypleted. "Right, a me Hound!" "It really is a me 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 me 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 ying 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, exining 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 me 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 ept 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. 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 cosy? 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 simr 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 fromst 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 ying 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,nding gracefully on Yabao¡¯s back. "Yap!" Yabao instinctively prepared to dash forward at his Beast Master''smand, 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 sh, 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 me 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 me Hound!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Dad, are you done with your big project?¡± ¡°¡­" "Can we go buy a me 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 slightlyrger 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 ce. But once Yabao used telekinesis, his speed dropped, and his uracy 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 immediatelymanded, ¡°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 ssic viin 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, trante.¡± ¡°Yap.¡± "Yap Yap." Yabao tranted earnestly. Meanwhile, Crowned Meow noticed Little Treasure nearby, still focused on his hotdog. An idea shed in its eyes. Crowned Meow tossed its bag to Qiao Sang, then turned to look at Little Treasure. With a sh 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, ring 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 apud. 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,ing alive. Threads of darkness extended like ck satin, shooting toward a shadow on the wall. With a sharp tug, the ck satin pulled, dragging Crowned Meow from mid-air back to the ground. ¡°Crown?!!¡± ----- 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: /?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-ck 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 disy 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 usingly at Crowned Meow, whoy 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 red 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 juste 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 im the one-million-dor 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 y in the virtual helmet, no way he''d admit to it! Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. She hadn¡¯t expected Little Treasure to t-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 y 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 minutester. Still, the line was busy. It was just a little interruptionst 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, cing 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¡¯lle to you directly.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯m on Xiangqi Road, right near the intersection.¡± Qiao Sang said, looking at the intersection five meters ahead. --- 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 me 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,nding 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 me 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 eximed. ¡°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 inte 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 exined. 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 difort, 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 nced 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 aplished 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. ¡°I already asked. The team¡¯s selections are mainly from special admissions and top-rmend students.¡± ¡°In the official tryoutster, 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 Sangy 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 Inster Cup... Qiao Sang turned, feeling satisfied as she watched Little Treasure, who was still wearing a virtual helmet and diligently learning skillste 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 imed 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 particrly 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 isplete. 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,vishly ordering every popr item on the menu. The total cost? 567 alliance coins. 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 issuey¡­ --- 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 ssmates. 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 exined, ¡°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. Justst 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 wasmon for people to show off on social media or even throw parties over their pets¡¯ progress. Qiao Sang was rtively low-key about it. Otherwise, she¡¯d be posting on social media every three days. ¡°Shadow Control?¡± Wang Yao was stunned, then burst outughing, ¡°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 used. "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 upte 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 ss has the worst grades." Wang Yao said, shrugging.Qiao Sang casually asked, "You guys are in the same ss?" "Yeah, both of us are in ss Nine." Shi Gaofeng said, throwing an arm around Xu Yajie¡¯s shoulder. "If you¡¯re ced by grade, you¡¯ll probably end up in ss Nine too." Before Qiao Sang could respond, Wang Yao shot Shi Gaofeng a re and turned to exin, "Don¡¯t listen to him. He assumes you''re a special recruit. Each year, special recruits are typically ced in ss 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 ss Nine might not excel academically, we neverg in terms of admission rates." "Still, it can¡¯tpare 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 regr students, and regr 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 recruitse from wealthy backgrounds, which magnifies the gap that wasn¡¯t as evident in junior high, leading some students to feel unbnced. However, if a special recruit brings glory to the school by winningpetitions or getting into a prestigious beast-tamer university, they gain respect. After all, only special recruits represent the school inpetitions, so winning among fellow special recruits is no small feat. Despite any inner imbnce, everyone understands that talent can''t be bought; true ability is essential. A beast tamer might rely on resources to gain an edge initially, butter, it¡¯s about both aptitude and resources. Even with wealth, a beast tamercking talent can''t expand their brain domain, limiting them to only one contracted pet in their lifetime. A petcking 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 whoter 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. Qiao Sang, looking touched, said, "I know I''m smart, but I really am a special recruit." Wang Yao: !!! Shi Gaofeng nearly burst outughing, 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 me 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 Sangughed, "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, hispetitive 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 Gaofengughed. 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 ce, 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: /?m=1 ----- Shadow Control, an advanced skill. What exactly is an advanced skill? It¡¯s a skill that¡¯s almostpletely irrelevant to high school students. Most people have only just be Beast Tamers and are still working on developing harmony with their beasts. When ites to skills, even learning a basic skill is something that ordinary high schoolers have to carefully consider,paring 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 bnce. 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 Sangughed. ¡°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 Babyst 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 steelpared 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 barelysting 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. Hepletely believed Qiao Sang was focused on preparing for the uing challenge. --- Qiao Sang didn¡¯t forget her promise to Jin Feifan, stopping at a roadside phone repair shop. ¡°Boss, need a phone repair.¡± 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 me Houndpanion. Three words came to mind: Easy target. The shop owner examined the phone, feigning a troubled look before summoning a maic-type beast with a few hand signs. Having a beast assist in business always seemed to add a touch of ss, which in turn allowed for a higher price. ¡°This phone has a big problem,¡± The shop owner said, ncing at the device. ¡°Xiao Han, see if it¡¯s a circuit issue.¡± He handed the phone to the maic beast. But the maic beast stiffened, looking fearfully in Qiao Sang¡¯s direction. The shop owner froze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mag-maic¡­¡± The maic 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 minutester. 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 dy caused Qiao Sang to get home an hourter than usual. As she entered the neighborhood and rounded a corner, she saw two men in ck suits lingering near her door, asionally ncing 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 yardnd on one of the men¡¯s shoulders and shake its head. Oh, no! Illegal entry! Suddenly, countless headlines she¡¯d seen before shed 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¡­" Thest 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 usible. ¡°Walk over there with fierce expressions.¡± Qiao Sang whispered to Yabao and Little Treasure. "Yap!" Yabao caught on, ring 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 ck 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 viins 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 surveince caught the fat dove flying into her house and they lied about it as an ident, what then? After all, it was a pet, not a person. The two men in ck suits stopped two meters away, facing her and her two pets that were ring 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 nces. The thinner man finally said, ¡°Buttely, 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 exined. 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 surveince 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 ent sounds a bit different from around here.¡± ¡°He¡¯s from Guwu District.¡± Ghe thinner guard cut in. ¡°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 be 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, butbined 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 ce; 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. ¡°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 rifying things with Yabao, Qiao Sang approached the pool and ced 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 petsing 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, ring at Qiao Sang before turning toward Yabao, clearly ready for a showdown. ¡°Yap!¡± Hearing themotion, Yabao turned, clueless but instantly assuming a fighting stance upon seeing Water Luriana¡¯sbative posture. Fight? Bring it on! Seeing the two about to sh, 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 exined again, ¡°I was only joking. Ask Yabao if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao looked nk. Ask about what? ¡°Lu Lu!¡± Water Luriana grew more furious, grabbing the milk and mming 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 trantion 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 ced 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 nced at the milk, then turned with a flick of its tail and leapt back into the pool, sshing water all over Qiao Sang¡¯s face. Qiao Sang: ... --- 10:56 p.m. Qiao Sangy in bed, her consciousness retreating from the Beasts¡¯ Codex. At the same time, in the security dorm at herplex. 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 cor. ¡°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 electromaic 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 regr 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 amotion 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 thisplex. 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 theplex, 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 cor. "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 vis in theplex each had pools in their yards. The Water Snail had sneaked into a few homes before and knew theyout, 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 nonchnt. However, the Water Snail stealthily slipped down and crawled toward the house. The vi¡¯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, mes 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 uncontrobly. Terrifying¡­ "Drip¡­¡± It started to doubt its trainer¡¯s sanity. Why would they send it to such a terrifying ce? 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 bnce 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 p 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 me 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 me Hound and Little Treasure training,ughing as he said, ¡°Qiao Sang, I think I get your idea, but regardless of whether me 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 mightnd before you can evenunch 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 be 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 onlyunch 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, apletely 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 shy 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 ws 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 toplicate 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 hade 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 sh 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 consideringbo 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! "I was just saying that if your opponent initiates an attack, using the airborne version of the counter-shield might be toote." 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 juste 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 me vortex is still abo! "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 thebo. 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 ident." 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, ncing at the sleeping Qiao Sang and Yabao.Nothing to y with, no one to keep himpany... 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 outpletely. "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 ced 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, recing 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 particrly 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 umon 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 nced 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 simr to the Shadow Step trait. Among all traits, Shadow Step is one of the most dreaded. It prevents any non-ghost pet beast from escaping if theyck the trait themselves. It¡¯s also a counter to teleportation. The Water Snail was restrained by the advanced Shadow Control, which possesses a simr 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: /?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 ident. 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 nced 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 toe 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 exined. ¡°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 ck 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 ssify. 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 inte. ¡°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 identally wandered into your apartment. Could Ie 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 exined. ¡°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 oning 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 sessful 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 standardizednguage, and everyone spoke themonnguage. Even foreign countries had mandatory sses on it from elementary school. At school and with friends, Qiao Sang had always used themonnguage. Hearing him speak a dialect so simr to Sichuanese threw her off. ¡°Lu Lu.¡± A small head appeared from a tiny pool of water, Water Luriana ring 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 topare 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 w-like fingers. Qiao Sang watched, her eyes narrowing with various thoughts. It¡¯s sleeping at this hour, so it has a regr 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 ce to live. It nced 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,menting, ¡°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 cursingte 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. 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 peting here to be a security guard... Li Songhai''s expression grew increasingly grim. Initially, he nned 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-d 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-d 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-d Leg Monster: With an unusual appearance, it is a dual-attribute high-level pet beast of Rock and Water types,monly 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 escted, 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 ced Water Luriana down and said, "Stay inside and don¡¯te out." "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 w, 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 w, 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 w 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-d 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-d 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 ident." Li Songhai froze, his expression stiffening. So¡­ it was all a misunderstanding on his part? Qiao Sang nced at the Steel-d 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 andmunicated, there wouldn¡¯t have been this mess. "Of course!" Feeling guilty, Li Songhai immediately nodded and waved his hand, recalling the Steel-d 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 nkly 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 rte. 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 expressionplicated, 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 tly. 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 trante!¡± ¡°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 viin.¡± 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 ns 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 tranted 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 congratted 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 be 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 ept her. As the saying goes, eptance is the beginning of change. With ns to get closer to Water Luriana, Qiao Sang brought herptop to bed, propping herself up to study Water Luriana¡¯s preferences, thinking of how to progress the remaining 40%. An hourter¡­ 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 overestimatedizens¡¯ 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 camouged 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 nk 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 thetest reply; someone knowledgeable about Water Luriana had appeared! She checked the user¡¯s ID: LetMeMergeWithWater. Several users werementing 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 definitelye 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 Wend 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 otherments, 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 apass 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 isrgely 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.] [Water Luriana has high standards, it¡¯s hard for it to find apatible 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 poption 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 trantion, 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 incrediblyplex 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 uing daily grind, training like me 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 uncontractedpanion 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 n workable. It felt that this human had thought things through; this way, outsiders would have a hard time spotting it. Though theirmunication was somewhat muddled, in the end, Qiao Sang and Water Luriana managed to reach a consensus on daily outings. --- Half an hourter. ¡°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 sh between water and fire-typepanion beasts, but the two seemed perpetually on the verge of a fight, even though they no longer shed as aggressively as they did in the beginning. ¡°Yabao,e 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 elderlypanion beast all this time¡­ ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Qiao Sang patted Yabao¡¯s head tofort 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 anotherpanion beast in itsst 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. Pulling his head back, he turned around and looked at Water Luriana with aplex 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,pletely 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 taughtpetitive 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 minutester. 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 regr meditation significantly enhances brain activity and promotes brain development. Using scientific technology, such as functional MRI and EEG, research shows that regr 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, rxed her mind, took deep breaths, and cleared her thoughtspletely... "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 ss." Wang Yao muttered. Zheng Guoping shot her a sharp look, and Wang Yao immediately went silent. "The National Campus Beast Mastery League ising up soon. If you don''t start putting in the effort now, how do you expect to get into a good college? Through regr 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 rified, "Some people do drool. When the body rxes, and focus intensifies, saliva flows down from the pte 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 vestibr bnce 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 hourter, Qiao Sang opened her eyes. Damn it, I actually fell asleep¡­ Chapter 207: Training the Ring Chapter 207: Training the Ring After the video finished ying, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Did you see one you like?¡± ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana shook her head vigorously like a rattling drum. Seeing this, Qiao Sang wasn¡¯t ready to give up. She picked up her phone, preparing to search for other videos of famous pet beasts. Just then, Water Luriana pressed her paw against the phone screen. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Sang looked up, puzzled. ¡°Lu lu?¡± Water Luriana¡¯s expression was one of confusion, curious as to why Qiao Sang was showing her these videos when they¡¯d agreed to focus on training to grow stronger. Although Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t understand what Water Luriana was saying, after raising Yabao and Little Treasure for a while, she had gotten somewhat used to interpreting her pets¡¯ emotions from their expressions. Of course, she wasn¡¯t exactly sure how urate her guesses were¡­ ¡°Are you asking me why I¡¯m showing you this?¡± Qiao Sang ventured. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana nodded. Great, I guessed right¡­ Qiao Sang exined, ¡°If you want to get stronger, the most effective method is to evolve. I looked it up, and if you want to evolve, you need to experience the feeling of heartbreak on a rainy day. The surge of emotions will help trigger your evolution.¡± ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Water Luriana looked shocked, clearly stunned by the bizarre requirements for her evolution. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m showing you these videos, to see what type of pet beast you might like.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Lu lu¡­¡± Water Luriana looked lost, having never thought about such things. When Yabao finished his training for the day, he was greeted by the sight of his trainer and Water Luriana with their heads close together, watching videos on a phone. ¡°How about this one?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana shook her head. ¡°What about this one?¡± Qiao Sang continued. ¡°Lu lu.¡± Water Luriana shook her head again. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao¡¯s head leaned in, curious about what they were watching. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Before Qiao Sang could answer, Water Luriana let out a panicked cry and immediately dashed toward the courtyard as a sh of blue light. Qiao Sang: ??? Yabao: ??? ¡°Did you scare her?¡± Qiao Sang muttered after a moment of confusion. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao shook his head, equally puzzled. That old pet beast didn¡¯t seem like the type to get scared so easily¡­ --- August 29th Qiao Sang woke up early, not from her biological clock but because Little Treasure was pestering her awake. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She asked, still groggy but in a good mood. ¡°Xun!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure held a ring in both ws, eagerly showing it to her. Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes flew open, and she shot up in bed, eximing, ¡°Did you master Will-o''-the-Wisp?!¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically. He tossed the ring into the air, where it hovered, with a ghostly green me flickering at its center. He really did it! Qiao Sang gazed at the cold, eerie me within the ring, feeling a bit dazed. She remembered researching how long it usually took for a Treasure-Seeking Ghost to master Will-o''-the-Wisp. The unanimous answer was around three months, and for those with lower aptitude, it could take twice as long to fully absorb the materials and produce Will-o''-the-Wisp from the ring. Yet her Little Treasure had managed it in less than 20 days. That level of talent was unheard of¡­ On reflection, though, it made sense that Little Treasure mastered Will-o''-the-Wisp so quickly. After all, he had even learned advanced shadow control skills just by ying with a virtual helmet, so speeding up his Will-o''-the-Wisp training seemed minor inparison. With that in mind, Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Wow, mastering it in such a short time.¡± She praised him with a grin, ¡°Even older Treasure-Seeking Ghosts aren¡¯t as impressive as you.¡± ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure scratched his head bashfully, shy from thepliment. ¡°Now that you have Will-o''-the-Wisp, it¡¯s time for the next step.¡± Qiao Sang continued. ¡°You need to use Will-o''-the-Wisp to train the ring and eventually split it into two, like this.¡± She then searched for short videos on how Treasure-Seeking Ghosts could use Will-o''-the-Wisp to train their ring and showed them to him. Short videos, known for their interactive and entertaining nature, spread rapidly among young people. Many trainers uploaded videos of their pets¡¯ training sessions to gain followers. Just searching the keywords brought up tons of options, with numerous apps devoted to short videos. The most popr one, calledYuYu, was filled with all kinds of pet-rted content. Qiao Sang found a Treasure-Seeking Ghosts training video onYuYuand clicked on it. In the first video, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost on screen wore the ring on its head, eyes closed, with two short toes together in front of it. In the next moment, the entire ring ignited with a ghostly green me. Why does that pose look so much like performing a ritual?Qiao Sang thought, amused, as she scrolled to the next video. In this one, the Treasure-Seeking Ghost spun the ming ring on its toes. Then, as if that wasn¡¯t enough, it tossed the ring up, catching it on another toe to keep it spinning. Well, that¡¯s practically acrobatics¡­ Qiao Sang gave up and turned to Little Treasure, saying, ¡°Basically, you just need to ignite the entire ring with Will-o''-the-Wisp like in the video. When you reach a certain threshold, you should start to feel the ring splitting into two.¡± ¡°Xun xun!¡± Little Treasure nodded, face full of determination. --- After washing up and having breakfast, Qiao Sang went out as usual, only to notice that people were staring at her more than usual. Before, people had been curious about Little Treasure, sneaking nces at him. But today, everyone she passed openly gawked, with nearly everyone snapping photos with their phones. Some people even hung up their calls to start recording. Qiao Sang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.Did Water Luriana somehow poke her head out of the backpack? She quickly turned the bag around. The zipper was only slightly open, revealing nothing of Water Luriana¡¯s presence from the outside. Relieved, Qiao Sang wondered,If they can¡¯t see Water Luriana, why are they acting like they¡¯ve seen something unusual? Could Yabao have suddenly be more handsome? ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao also thought he might be the center of attention. Head held high, he strutted proudly down the street. Neither of them realized that the real spectacle was Little Treasure, who was resting on Qiao Sang¡¯s head with his eyes closed, two toes pressed together, while his ring burned with eerie ghost fire. Just as Qiao Sang was pondering the sudden attention, her phone vibrated. Who would call her now? She nced at the screen: Song Yuan. 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 beenpleted. She had thought it would start in mid-August, but only now did they reach out. If Song Yuan hadn¡¯t called, she might havepletely 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 sunsses is ready, so let me know when you¡¯re avable, 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 rectangr red sunsses. "Yap." Yabao tilted his head and struck another pose. "Great, just like that!" The photographer praised excitedly. "This cyberpunk-tech-inspired sunsses design was custom-made based on me Hound¡¯s image. What do you think?" Song Yuan asked with a smile, looking at the mes Hound wearing the futuristic shades. The designers at the shop had nearly worked themselves into exhaustion finalizing this design, all to harness the traffic me Hound could bring in. She was absolutely confident these sunsses would be a hit! "Very impressive." Qiao Sang genuinelyplimented. Compared to the pink heart-shaped sunsses fromst time, these matched Yabao much better. At this moment, everyone was watching the me 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 sessful shoot, why don¡¯t we go out for dinner?" Qiao Sang paused for two seconds, then replied, "I already ate beforeing 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 bnce in her bank ount... 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 bnce lookedrge, 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 me 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 thetest evolution of Fire Fang Dog, me 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 minutester, 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 withbining 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 onlineptions 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 theyout. She headed straight to the notice board for freshman ss cements. She remembered Wang Yao mentioning that special admissions students were all assigned to ss Nine. ss Nine¡­ Qiao Sang scanned the ss 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 ced in the Elite ss... Qiao Sang checked the Elite ss list and, sure enough, spotted her name in the 39th spot. Grade 10, ss 1. The Elite ss, or the Honors ss. Students selected for this ss 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 ss was full of geniuses. Qiao Sang had thought that the academic stars in Shengshui High¡¯s Elite ss would all be sitting quietly with books from home, waiting for the teacher¡¯s arrival. Instead, the ssroom 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 w Cat, give that guy his sses back!" "Oh no! Twin-headed Raven! Why is there a dark-type pet in our ss?" "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: /?m=1 ----- The ssroom 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 ssroom, 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 ced here too?¡± Only students with particr strengths made it into the Elite ss. 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 ss.¡± 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¡¯tnd 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 andnded 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,e back here!¡± The bespectacled boy frantically called. ¡°Coo coo~¡± The little fat dove pped its wings and chirped, then flew over tond 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 simr traits, so it ran off to y.¡± Qiao Sang looked over and saw Little Ball Pofu, who was usually shy and hid behind Jin Feifan, grinning as it yed 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 apatible 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 ck-framed sses and teaching materials entered the ssroom. 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. Myst 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 ss. 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 ss in the city¡¯s top high school, this was nothing new for Li Yi. He calmly adjusted his sses and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re all new to beast training and want to spend time with your pets, but I ask that during ss, 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 ssroom. Even as he was interrupted, Li Yi remained unruffled. ¡°Let him be. He¡¯lle 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 ss. 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 sses seemed to mysteriously lift off his face. Li Yi squinted, surveying the ssroom, 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 regr people?¡± Wang Jihang flushed, and hastily recalled the Bubble Bell into the Codex. However, the sses 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 nced at the floating sses, 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 sh of white light to cross the air. ¡°Crash!¡± The sses 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 sses, 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 sses?¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ What had toe would eventuallye. 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 sses 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 ss. 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 coordinationpetitions in front of Qiao Sang. As for Zheng Guoping¡­ Li Yi remembered that moment clearly. Zheng Guoping had specificallye to his office early in the morning, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed, ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have Qiao Sang in your ss.¡± Lucky? Lucky for what? To sacrifice a pair of sses 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 ssroom? 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 be 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 be beast tamers. Why were you chosen for the school team while I wasn¡¯t? Many freshmen harbored this thought. The Shengshui Hall, the school¡¯srgest arena, hosted majorpetitions and events. The circr, tiered seating area was packed with students and teachers from all grades. In each ss, students discussed the uing opening ceremony. ¡°Did you hear? Apparently, anyone can go up and challenge the school team today. If you win, don¡¯t you get to rece 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 session, 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.¡± ¡°Thest 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 me 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. ¡°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 me 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 me 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 me 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 be increasingly vulnerable in battle. --- ¡°Good morning, everyone. On behalf of the school leadership, I would like to warmly congratte and extend a sincere wee to all our new first-year students.¡± A man dressed in a white shirt, around six feet tall with a schrly air and appearing about 24 years old, took the stage to speak. ¡°Wee to the path of bing 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 Youughed. ¡°Guess how old he is?¡± Qiao Sang thought for a moment, ¡°Twenty-six?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Lu You replied. ¡°Thirty-six?¡± ¡°Think big. Really big.¡± ¡°Ny-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 beastpanionship 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 nced 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, hase 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." "ording 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 thepetition 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 dered passionately. As soon as he said this, the entire audience erupted. "Top universities? I think only about 26 people in our city got into themst 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 rece 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 ce in a provincial campuspetition 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 timepared 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 wee 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 upperssmen felt a rush of excitement, recalling their early days. Provincial first ce 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 ofpetition all Beastmasters found thrilling. Instead of cramming for exams, they could gain admission bypeting in battles, a dream scenario for 90% of freshly minted Beastmasters. As for the remaining 10% who mightck 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 appearst, with the first ones being cannon fodder. They were the experts, so they¡¯d definitely gost! Jin Feifan, frozen in ce 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 gost?! "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 backwaterpetition. Never heard of it, probably just against a bunch of weaklings." "Her beast¡¯s a Fire Fang Dog? My Power w 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 ssroom. "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 inst 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 ss 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 ss 5, Year 1. Please guide me well." With that, he summoned a little fat dove. "ss 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 nk 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 officialpetition, 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 thosepetitions 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 me 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 n to stay cautious and let the opponent move first. He steeled himself and was about to give amand, 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 toote. 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 ss 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 Beastmastersmand without speaking and have their pets act on their own. Clearly, she nned 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 n. 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 ck. 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 w to pick his nose. Not satisfied, he even flicked the imaginary speck off his w, 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. "ss 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. "Xun~" Little Treasure grinned, raising a w to challenge the next in line. The boy: !!! As the following matches went on, the freshmen couldn¡¯t bear to watch, while the upperssmen looked on, entertained. The approach was simple and repetitive, vanishing, reappearing, then a Hypnosis. Basic as it was, no onested more than 5 seconds, let alone blocked the Treasure-Seeking Ghost''s attacks. After winning 16 consecutive matches, a boy wearing blue sses and sporting a buzz cut finally stepped forward. "ss 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 themand. Qiao Sang raised her eyebrow; it seemed her ssmate hade 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 pped 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 finallyst 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." "ording 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 thepetition on the Lenke Channel recently? Mao Yin used her Sonic Moth¡¯s ultrasonic waves to detect the location of ck-Eyed Doll." "The beast''s traitse in levels too. It was likely that Sonic Moth''s ultrasound proficiency was high, while ck-Eyed Doll¡¯s phasing trait was low." "But aren''t you all curious why Qiao Sang hasn¡¯t issued a singlemand despite this situation?" This remark made those around him feel slightly uneasy. Wasn¡¯t it obvious? Clearly, her level of battlemand was on an entirely different level than theirs. As novices who had only recently be 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 be a professional beast tamer. In the tournament, professional beast tamers let their beasts respond based on their battle instincts, only givingmands 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 be 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 shed 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 pping its wings hard, unleashing two air de 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 des. Just as the des 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 trainingsting 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 ying.¡± 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 ying.¡± 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 des!¡± Chen Dongjun shouted excitedly as soon as Little Treasure appeared, ¡°It¡¯s about three meters below you, in front!¡± ¡°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 nced 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?" 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 ept 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, thenughed as he pped 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 ce." Wang Weidou: !!! Meanwhile, Qiao Sang waited for someone to step up, but no one did. The line that had been forming hadpletely 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 be beastmasters, being able tomand 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 epted 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 im her ce, 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 nce. "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 herpete 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 realbat. 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 ss 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: /?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 bedter 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 nned to work hard in their final year to achieve onest 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 ced inpetitions, 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. "Firste, first served! Don¡¯t fight me for it! My grades are the worst." "To be on the team, you¡¯ll have topete 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 ss 3, the guy whose family is really wealthy. That guy ranked seventh from the bottom in the whole school in thest 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 ss 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 Zongxinmanded 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 vignt, scanning the surroundings. Three secondster, he issued themand 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''smand, Feng Zongxin froze, his pupils narrowing as he shouted, "Don¡¯t look it in the eyes!" But it was toote. 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 copses, 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 dering, "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 ss 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 topete against us in the first ce. 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. 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 be a particrly distinctive species. Recharge Bugs possessed a charging ability, allowing them to store arge 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 popr 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 exined 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 ced 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 uracy 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 shed blue as he focused on the Short-Eared Mouse, which hadn¡¯t fullynded yet. The Short-Eared Mouse froze in midair. In the next second, a 360-degree spin of the mouse yed 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 ept it. Ghost-type and psychic-typebined 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 kepting, one after another. Unlike with the freshmen, Little Treasure needed a recharge after every match with the upperssmen. 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 ck hair covering half his forehead, walked up with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Senior Year 3, ss 9, Xue Chuhua.¡± Chapter 217: See Through ¡°Didn''t expect this guy toe 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 ss of their own¡­ In the year toe, they probably wouldn''t be able to hold their heads up in front of the underssmen. 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 ss 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, afterpeting in one national campus beast-tamingpetition, 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 onlysts three years, and every day counts. If the goal is to get into a top academy, failing to ce first in the provincialpetitions 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 nonchnt, took his hand out of his pocket and said arrogantly in a t tone: ¡°I didn¡¯t really want toe 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 ss Three. ¡°Who cares? As long as he wins.¡± ¡°True enough.¡± 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 Chuhuamanded, unhurried. ¡°Hun Hun.¡± Though the Hunshi Bear looked a bit foolish, its movements were fast. It opened its mouth,unching a ck Shadow Ball filled with intense energy, nearly asrge 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¡¯smand, 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. ¡°Sevenyer 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 zed, its gaze now scanning the area excitedly. Where? Where¡¯s the food?! Seeing this, Xue Chuhua smirked and added onest 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 hismand. ¡°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 urately 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 nextmand: ¡°Use Shadow Control on the shadow on the barrier!¡± The shadow on the barrier? Little Treasure nced 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 epted here?¡± ¡°I was recruited as a special case; why?¡± ¡°Oh, that exins it. Shadows are cast when an object blocks light. Look at the lighting here, the whole ce is brightly lit. With Hunshi Bear charging directly at the barrier, his shadow would naturally appear on it. But for Qiao Sang to think ofbining Barrier and Shadow Control this fast, that¡¯s something.¡± On the field: ¡°Now, keep making it spin in circles!¡± Qiao Sang issued her finalmand. ¡°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¡­¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ What an act¡­ ¡°Hunshi Bear is unable to fight. Qiao Sang¡­¡± The referee, the female teacher, announced the oue. 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 be 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 inints when they saw Xue Chuhua, who had just lost,ughing like an idiot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xue Chuhua? Losing and stillughing 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 skilledmand 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 cor, and then using its little ws 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. Xue Chuhua stood there dumbfounded, his voice cracking: ¡°A¡­ me Hound?!¡± That voice seemed to trigger a switch, and the hall exploded with thunderous shouts. ¡°Holy crap! A me Hound! It really is a me 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 me 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 me Hound and Fire Fang Dog are fire types, right? The Snow Centipede ispletely countered. How could it win?¡± Xue Chuhua was utterly baffled. Raising a me 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 me Hound¡¯s roar, Xue Chuhua¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly issued amand. 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 me 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 mes that quickly enveloped his body as he charged forward fearlessly. As the white ice line collided with the mes around Yabao, it dissolved instantly, like thin threads burning up in a sh. ¡°Are all fire-type pet beasts this brave?¡± In the stands, a student eximed. ¡°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 hismands without hesitation. ¡°Frost Breath on the ground!¡± The Snow Centipede opened its mouth, releasing waves of cold air, instantly covering the ground with a thickyer of frost. The frost spread quickly from the Snow Centipede''s position, rapidly reaching Yabao, who was charging forward with his me Charge. The only area me Charge hadn¡¯t fully covered with mes 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 me Hound vanished. In the next instant, the mes 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 zing mes took shape, resembling scythe-like fangs of death, or magnified fangs. Xue Chuhua: !!! Xue Chuhua panickedpletely: ¡°Ice Block! Dodge!¡± But it was toote. The Fire Fang attack struck the Snow Centipede hard. ¡°Ch-chiiirp!!¡± The Snow Centipede let out a heart-wrenching cry. Three secondster, 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?!" "me Hound is so cool!" "By the way, what was that just now? Was I seeing things? How did me 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 me 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 shepares 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, andter achieved remarkable results in the regionalpetitions. Now, he was just waiting to pass the D-ss 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 be 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-levelpetition 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 bepeting in the freshman division. "Think carefully." Liu Yao warned with a sidelong nce. "Qiao Sang has a 99% chance of iming first in the provincial freshman division. But if she joins the senior division, the odds of taking first ce 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 ying 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 nces 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 nce 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! 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 me Hound? How were they supposed to win? It¡¯s just a spot on the school team! Can¡¯t they just let it go? Seeing theck 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 sry 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 thismotion 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 ssmates and has caused such an uproar, disturbing the order. Are we just going to let her be?" Wang Weidou frowned, ncing 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 teacherins about a studentpeting 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 topete. 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, ss 1 students, a freckled boy with sses remarked, "This me Hound is not only powerful but also has incredible stamina. The students going up are too focused on academics andckbat experience. At this rate, who knows how long it¡¯ll take to wear it down." "Zhou Ren, do you have a n?" Asked a nearby ssmate. 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 ssmate had a hunch Zhou Ren had thought of something. "I do have an idea." Zhou Ren replied, pushing up his sses, which gleamed with a sh of intelligence. "What is it? Tell us!" His ssmate 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 ssmate gestured for him to continue. "I''ve noticed that after every five matches, the school nursees up to replenish the me Hound''s energy and stamina." Zhou Ren exined. "She might not even realize it, but repeating something in a set pattern suggests it''s be a habit." "So, most likely, she''ll restore its condition after every fifth match." "As long as we can inflict cumtive negative effects on the me 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 ss''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 ssmate 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 coborate with other sses. We¡¯re not the only ones who want to win." "But the me Hound has lightning-fast reflexes and can teleport. Even long-range attacks would miss, let alone closebat." 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." "The second should be a fighting-type with a Counter move, which doubles the damage from thest hit it received back onto the attacker. Survive the hit, and it''ll deal significant damage to the me 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 me Hound¡¯s stamina." "Under normal circumstances, these three rounds should wear it down. But we must n for the worst. If the me Hound has the ze ability, we¡¯ll need to find a creature with the sh Fire ability, which nullifies fire-type moves." "But the me 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 me 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 ss." "I''ll ask ss 9!" "I¡¯ll talk to the third-years!" The students sprang into action. Zhou Ren pushed up his sses and fell silent, truly the unsung hero. --- "Second-year, ss 1. Kong Nanhai." The boy introduced himself politely, forming a seal with his hands. A snake-like creature with ck 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 Nanhaimanded. 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 tly. Kong Nanhai showed no surprise, as though he had expected this oue. Just as he prepared to step down, a voice rang out. "Teacher, I¡¯d like to request energy restoration for the me Hound." Kong Nanhai: ??? Chapter 222: He Wants to Keep Competing! Kong Nanhai almost spat blood upon hearing those words! me Hound had just finished a match and barely recovered, yet here he was, demanding a recovery after only using a me 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?¡± ¡°me 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. ¡°Yourst 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 me Hound on the field. ¡°What were you two talking about? Why did she call the nurse this match?¡± The surrounding ssmates gathered around too. ¡°We misjudged this underssman.¡± 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 me 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,pletely different from the arrogant impression she gave off.¡± ¡°Even such a tiny amount of poison mist absorbed by me Hound, with no visible symptoms of poisoning, she still detected it.¡± Cautious and rational? Is he really talking about that ruthless underssman? Zhou Ren stared at Kong Nanhai thoughtfully for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, ¡°Where are your sses?¡± Kong Nanhai paused. ¡°In the ssroom.¡± ¡°Next time, make sure you wear them everywhere.¡± Zhou Ren advised earnestly. Kong Nanhai: ??? ¡°Back to the point.¡± Zhou Ren pushed up his sses and said, ¡°Since n A didn¡¯t work, let¡¯s go with n B.¡± ¡°What¡¯s n B?¡± A ssmate 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 ssmate thought for a moment and said, ¡°She¡¯s strong, and we¡¯re weak.¡± While not wrong, that was a bit disheartening... Zhou Ren nced at the surrounding ssmates 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 keeppeting.¡± A ssmate 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 sses that, no matter who¡¯speting, they should ask the nurse to help their beasts recover after every match.¡± Zhou Ren said, pushing up his sses again. ¡°Make sure to restore all aspects.¡± A ssmate 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 nned to let it rest in the Beast Codex for a while, then give it a special berry when I return to the ssroom.¡± 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 underssman was able to keeppeting for so many rounds.¡± Zhou Ren sighed. ¡°Go find the nurse to help restore your Golden Armor Snake.¡± Kong Nanhai said nothing, epting the suggestion with a nod. --- On the field. Two withered, yellow vinesshed 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 telekic 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 copsed. ¡°Withered Vine is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins.¡± The female teacher announced in a monotonous tone. Having to announce the same oue 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 be 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. Thest 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 me Hound recover for the next match.¡± Qiao Sang paused. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We¡¯repletely 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 topete?¡± ¡°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!¡± Chapter 223: Who Won? Half an hourter. 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 themand, 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 umted injuries from the previous matches, Yabao''s movements were noticeably slower and he couldn¡¯t immediately execute his master¡¯smand. 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. At the Grade 11, ss 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? Thest one took about ten minutes. With the way things are going, the me Hound should onlyst one more match." "Look! Someone else is going up, it¡¯s Chen Zhenming from ss 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 thest round." As everyone¡¯s eyes were on the stage, one student suddenly asked, "Zhou Ren,e 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, ss 9. Chen Zhenming." The boy finished speaking and formed a hand seal, summoning a muscr, 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 epted defeat long before the match started. The whistle blew. Yabao and Force Headed Duckunched their attacks at the same time. A whirl of mes shed with a water jet mid-air. Boom!! The explosion reverberated, filling the stage with white steam. "Water Jet!" Chen Zhenmingmanded. "ming Charge!" Qiao Sang followed up immediately. The water-cloaked Force Headed Duck and the me-cloaked Yabao charged headfirst into the cloud of steam. Bang!!! The two shed, 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 me Hound¡¯s mes are visibly weaker than before." "The me 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 masteringpetition." 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 me Houndy unconscious with eyes closed. "Yes! Finally won!" "Took nearly 200 matches to bring down the me Hound. d she¡¯s not in our year, no way we couldpete." "Yeah, the pressure of having her in the same grade¡­ Wait! What? The me Hound¡¯s getting back up?!" "Oh my god! Its the zing ability! It still has zing!" Everyone stared in astonishment at the me Hound as it struggled to its feet, surrounded by mes of fiery orange-red. "Yap!" Bloodshot eyes zing, every hair on Yabao¡¯s body seemed to ignite. "Meteor Rain!" Qiao Sangmanded with a sweep of her hand. Time to bring this spectacle to a perfect close! "Yap yap!" Yabao lifted his head,unching 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 mes 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 me 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 copsed 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 ofprehension. One was a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, the other a me Hound. They could ept 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 disyed defied themon understanding of pet beasts! "A meteor rain! Another advanced skill!" "Are advanced skills that easy to learn?!" "That me 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 me 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. Thest 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, "me Hound and Force-Headed Duck are both out ofbat. 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 inbat. 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 disyed 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 wee the next team member!" The students were not pleased. The me 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 dered. 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 thew? After all, when the policee 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¡¯rete." Teachers and students: ??? --- 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 disy, but the police even came to present her an award. Regardless of her future achievements, creating such amotion 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 nced to either side of the ssroom. 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 nced 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 ss 2-3. Can I take a picture with the me 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 shepete in the national campus beast mastering league¡¯s senior division? It was like ying 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 topete 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 me Hound not only had the ze 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 stillpete 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 dyed by a year. He had assumed that Qiao Sang, given her high-profile,petitive attitude at the opening ceremony, would agree without a second thought. Yet she was willing to downy 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 ord. 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 hisst 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 deres 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-pluspetitors 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 uniformmanded, "Tail Grass, wake it up!" The referee hadn¡¯t finished the countdown. The beast, Tail Grass, quickly ced 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 dered 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 tough despite the pain. For a beast, that¡¯s pure torment." Qiao Sang understood. Though it seemedical, imagining a creatureughing 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 topete 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 ss bell. Qiao Sang felt instantly ted. 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. "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 littleter getting back." Water Luriana: ¡­ Chapter 226: Diligence Can Make Up For Lack of Talent Little Treasure couldn''t hold back any longer and appeared to trante. ¡°Xun.¡± ¡°Xun xun.¡± Only then did Qiao Sang realize that Water Luriana was asking about Yabao. ¡°When did you two be 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 tranted. Wow, she hadn¡¯t forgotten to continue asking about Yabao¡­ Qiao Sang began to recount what had happened at school today. One minuteter. ¡°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 tranted. 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 ontely 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 afortable expression. Qiao Sang watched in astonishment as Yabao¡¯s wounds healed at a visibly fast pace, taking no more than five seconds. 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 rted to pet beasts. For example, the math problem she was currently working on: ¡°A team battlepetition 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 oues 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 nkly 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 battlepetition. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been writing when a blue w suddenlynded on her problem sheet. Startled, Qiao Sang turned and found it was Water Luriana. ¡°Howe 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 wemunicate 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. ¡°Youe to be the trantor.¡± Qiao Sang instructed. ¡°Xun xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded. Only with Little Treasure¡¯s trantion did Qiao Sang understand Water Luriana''s intention foring 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 be 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 waterpletely 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 w 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 forck 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 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 m 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 simrity 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 sess rate of learning Hydro Cannon. It¡¯s like a student needing toplete nine years ofpulsory 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 exined. 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 reyed 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 trantion. "Alright, then it¡¯s decided! Let¡¯s start now." Qiao Sang said with a smile. Although the two videos had been ratherckluster, 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 beplete." 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 augh. "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 me 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. Name: me 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 weremon 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 me 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 be unusually active, which directly leads to insomnia. Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t sleep¡­ --- September 2. 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 ss 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 ss living off-campus, Qiao Sang was thest to arrive in ss. If there were no unexpected events, this would likely be the pattern for the next three years of high school. Seeing her ssmates all practicing meditation, Qiao Sang quietly went to her seat and joined in, setting aside her morning reading n. Honestly, being in the same ss with these academic geniuses put quite a bit of pressure on Qiao Sang. Especially during ss, 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 schoolst 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 amonly 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 umbre mushroom.¡± The teacher nodded. ¡°Correct, the answer is A. You may sit down, but don¡¯t speak again in ss. 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 ofpulsory education couldn¡¯t be bridged in just three months to match her ssmates. 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 ssroom 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 ssroom 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 me 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 thest chance to score points?! Opportunities like that won¡¯te 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 minutester, 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, pping 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 exined. 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 highpared 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 thanst time! Qiao Sang¡¯s me 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 ss 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 offort. 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 ce 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¡¯sst 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 sunsses the other day, so I¡¯ll mail them to you.¡± Song Yuanughed. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t live at the school, so I¡¯ll send you my addresster.¡± Qiao Sang said. During coborations, brands would often gift the products endorsed by the beastpanions. Part of it was out of goodwill, but another reason was to have thepanions use the products regrly, 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. ncing at the caller ID, Qiao Sang was a bit surprised. It was Bai Yunmiao. ¡°Why the sudden call?¡± She asked after picking up. The two would chat online asionally, 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! Wannae 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 unusualst 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 ncing 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 p himself. How foolish! Too foolish! He¡¯d actually believed whatever she said! That little trickster was probablyughing 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, apanying 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 sote, and she¡¯s still not back.¡± As Li Songhai muttered, he pped 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¡¯te 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 ced 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 neer 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 dyed 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 popr and is probably still on the front page." Qiao Sang felt a headacheing 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?" Qiao Sang couldn''t help but exin, "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 Yunmiaoforted her. "People love to brag on the forum. Information is half-true, half-false. Yesterday, someone imed 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 bacsh. 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 mncholy 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 nk, 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 andshed at him. "I''m innocent!!!" --- Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, freshly showered, leaned against her headboard with herptop on her knees. As soon as she logged into Weibo, she was stunned by the follower count on her ount. Over three million followers! She hadn¡¯t posted anything other than Yabao¡¯s photo modeling sunsses. Checking thements, she saw they were all discussing Yabao. [Is this the ount of the tamer with the me Hound?] [Not much here. I just want to confirm if it¡¯s true that me Hound also has psychic abilities.] [Gotta admit, me Hound is really cool!] [I heard the tamer of me Hound is still in high school.] [Why hasn''t the Alliance published the evolution method for me Hound yet?] [I''ll pay one million if you can tell me how to evolve Fire Fang Dog into me Hound. If you agree, just ignore thisment.] No wonder her follower count shot up. Being the only tamer of a me 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 upst year¡¯s video of your teampeting with ours?] [The past is the past. This year¡¯s what counts.] [Shengshui always says this, but we all know the oue.] [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 herptop. 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 ws 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 eptance 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 w, and tossed it into the air. In an instant, the ring expanded, quickly returning to its original size,rge 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 regrly, 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 aplishment. Otherwise, if Little Treasure knew he could use a cheat to evolve by adding points, with his personality, he would likely ck 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 me 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 blockster, 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. Qiao Sang looked up in confusion, only to find the ck 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 ck 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 ce. As soon as the little girl took out her umbre 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 umbre. Li Songhai was stunned. ¡°What on earth?!¡± At that moment, Yabao¡¯s ears twitched. Qiao Sang opened the umbre, 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 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 vigntly 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 minuteter, 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 de shed through the spot where Qiao Sang had just been standing. So their target was Water Luriana... Qiao Sang realized as the wind de shed past in her peripheral vision. Had she not dodged in time, that wind de 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 thest second to avoid the wind de. 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: "Yabao! Teleport ahead! We¡¯re gonna bete!" 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 de was just a coincidence? "Kehehehe!" Suddenly, a strangeugh 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 copsed 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 red at the Little Treasure, fury written across his face. He beat his wings, instantly conjuring two sharp wind des, andunched them without hesitation. "Xun~" Little Treasure smirked, teleporting away as the wind des mmed 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 p 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 shoces. 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 d 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 thatrge. 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, ring 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 beforending 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 ring 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-d 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-d 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-d Leg Monster. The Steel-d Leg Monster,cking anymand 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-d Leg Monster¡¯srge frame and swift movements, the shadow extension couldn¡¯t keep up with the distance it was creating. ¡°Yabao, hold it down!¡± Qiao Sang quicklymanded. In mid-air, Yabao¡¯s eyes shed 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-d Leg Monster started spinning in ce. ¡°Armor!!!¡± The creature¡¯s wretched scream snapped Rain Swallow out of the chain of unexpected events. ¡°Chi chi!¡± Enduring the pain, Rain Swallow pped its wings, flying upward. It then swooped down, elerating as a cyan glow enveloped its body. 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 w: 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 me 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-d Leg Monster staggered, seeing stars, but remained standing. Seeing it start to recover from its dizzy state, Qiao Sang shouted, ¡°Yabao, Fire Fang!¡± At hermand, Yabao instantly teleported behind the Steel-d Leg Monster. ¡°Yal!¡± Yabao raised his head, and a fierce fiery aura filled the air. ¡°Chi chi!¡± Rain Swallow pped 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 mes gathered around it. The energy, which should have condensed swiftly, dyed momentarily, then surged powerfully. A zing fire formed into the shape of a massive me Hound¡¯s head and Fire Fang in front of Yabao. With a fierce motion, the fiery me Hound bit down viciously. ¡°Armor!!!¡± The Steel-d Leg Monster let out a heart-wrenching scream and copsed 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 wasughing wildly on the inside. The Steel-d 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 exin it. Fire Fang was Yabao¡¯s second strongest attack skill. But, pitting a perfectly mastered Fire Fang against a high-level, attribute-restricted Steel-d 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 sheck 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, yed a significant role in this victory. The Steel-d Leg Monster was down, but Rain Swallow wasn¡¯t. The Steel-d 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, ncing 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 disyed 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 surveince 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 ss right now!] Qiao Sang quickly typed: [You¡¯re allowed to have your phone in ss at your school?] Messages beganing in. Xu Jia: [Our school isn¡¯t as strict as yours; lots of students sneak their phones in.] Xu Jia: [Huh? Isn¡¯t it ss 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 ss, death stares, surprise recitations¡­ you¡¯ll deal with that every day.] Qiao Sang felt a slight chest pain from thest 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 ss, 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 usible 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 ce 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 hourter, 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 inst 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 upant 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 shoce binding his hands. ¡°Call your pets back first." Call his pets back? Li Songhai was momentarily puzzled. Had his Steel-d 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 yed 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-d 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-d 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-d Leg Monster out cold, he didn¡¯t expect much help from it. ¡°Why were you following me?¡± Qiao Sang finally asked the real question. 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, ording 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 aboutter, when your Steel-d 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-d 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 ess their deepest memories. While this skill was highly effective for interrogating criminals, the Alliance had regtions that prohibited its use on humans until a pet¡¯s mastery of it was nearly wless. 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-d Leg Monster and Rain Swallow copse? Just as Li Songhai began to doubt, Qiao Sang delivered her final blow. "Little Treasure, Memory Reading." Qiao Sangmanded. "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. Bing 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 ess. 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 exined, "The dark web is an encryptedwork built on the current inte. Anything can be traded there. A few months ago, someone posted a job there to locate Water Luriana, giving the precise location where itst 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, rxed a little and decided to proceed with her n. "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 arge-headed pet with shiny ck eyes, pale blue horns on either side of its head, a short tail, and smooth, slippery blue skin. Li Songhai waspletely dumbfounded. This¡­ this wasn¡¯t Water Luriana at all! Qiao Sang exined, "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 me 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 me Charge. With mes 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. Chapter 236: The Master of Overthinking Read at: /?m=1 ----- Water Luriana shot up into the sky like a water pir, 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 somesting 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 exining what had just happened. Qiao Sang was taken aback. "Water Luriana is hiding in the water and won¡¯te out?" "Yap!" Yabao nodded. "Did something happen?" Qiao Sang asked. "Yap yap..." Yabao exined helplessly. Qiao Sang was stunned. "So, you¡¯re saying Water Luriana seeded 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, ying with phones and even knowing her lock code, essing history? Incredible. Qiao Sang looked down at the phone, with Yabao curiously peering over. The video ying 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 thement 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 topete in a regional double-beast tournament. The two beasts ended up together, achieving a ssic 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 de, and the green Kemeow, deliberately missing its target, let itself be hit by Leaf de. 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 ying 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¡¯te 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 ssh 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. "Lu lu~" Qiao Sang: ??? ----- ----- Chapter 237: The Fighter Among Underachievers With the help of Little Treasure¡¯s trantion, 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 revtions 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 nced 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 bepanions, 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 andmented, ¡°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 sessfully, 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 be 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 ssroom 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 n 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 ce, 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 nced at her watch. Five minutes remained before the first ss. 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 ss 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 ss. And she was the fighter among underachievers. ¡°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 be 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 ss, so it was almost certain she would be a candidate for the sports day. ¡°I¡¯d like topete 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 ss of the day was with their homeroom teacher.When ss 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 ss, 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 ss 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 ss. Li Yi pped 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 ss 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 ss can achieve outstanding results in the sports day too!¡± As he spoke, the teacher seemed to be addressing the whole ss, 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, ¡°ss, to show my support, I make this solemn promise: If we take first ce, our PE teacher will absolutely never fall sick again!¡± The ss burst intoughter. 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 ss take first ce in the sports day back then?¡± Jin Feifan paused for a moment. ¡°We came in fourth.¡± ¡°Then you can¡¯t really me 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 nced 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 ce, which the sensing device rys 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 be trainers. Despite the difficulty, many students eagerly volunteered. After all, these were the students of the prestigious Beast Training High School¡¯s elite ss. The sign-ups went smoothly, and fifteen minutester, 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 ry, and aerial rings. Anyone interested?¡± Almost everyone nced at Qiao Sang. ¡°Qiao Sang, aren¡¯t you signing up?¡± A ssmate 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 nned 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 forbat-type pet beasts, with participants almost exclusively from thebat specialty; other types would just end up as cannon fodder. The swimming ry is an eventpleted 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 keeppeting 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 yable? 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 topete 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 me Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost are quite suitable for the aerial rings.¡± Li Yi said with a grin. That was just tant 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 ss¡­¡± 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. However, in the second Instet 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 Instet 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 sessfully 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 be. Since then, Brick-Breaking By hand officially entered the public eye and became amon 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 ss 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''speting 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 ss 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 nces. "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 ept 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?] [Maic Rat Vending Machine] [Top Ten Bug Plots in ¡®Water City Guardian¡¯, An Insult to Our Intelligence] [Controversy Surrounding the Year¡¯s Most Popr 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 yed 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 ce, but let¡¯s at least notest." "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 headacheing 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 ming Charge to full proficiency and is now rocketing towards mastery. Despitecking 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 waspletely 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 onlyfort 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 elerated 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-tost ce. 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 inparison to her ssmates with a foundation stronger than the building¡¯s foundation, her own progress felt minimal. Meditation had be a routine of early mornings andte 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 be 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 andughing 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 sses, it was still difficult for a high school student with daily sses 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 youpleted the mission yet? [Shi Gaofeng]: ¡­ Qiao Sang quietly exited the chat. 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 epted 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 dayster, it was Monday, and she had to attend sses, so the mission got dyed. 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 aftering 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 n 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 yetplicated. The client imed 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 inte 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 exined. ¡°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 wherepetition was involved. For a team task, the participants were in coboration. But when multiple people took on the same task individually, it was apetition. If someonepleted it before you, not only could they leave a bad review, but the task would automatically be canceled by the Beast Control Center tform 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 ck-rimmed sses and a id shirt, a typical IT guy. ¡°Come in.¡± The man scrutinized the new arrival before stepping aside to let him in.The man in id 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 exined. ¡°Hello.¡± The man in id nodded in greeting. ¡°Hello.¡± Qiao Sang replied. The man in id 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 id and asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°How did you know myst name was Gu?¡± The man squinted, scrutinizing him. The man in id 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, fanse 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. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t offended anyone?¡± The man in id 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 bes 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 id 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 id¡¯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 id 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 id¡¯s mouth curled into a slight smile. ¡°How do you n 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 regr person. If it¡¯s a beast master, going out casually could be dangerous.¡± The man in id replied, shifting his position. ¡°But we¡¯re also beast masters.¡± Qiao Sang pointed out, looking at him. The man in id 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?¡± ¡°Myst 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, ncing between Qiao Sang and the man in id, 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 id remained calm and suggested, ¡°If you don¡¯t trust us, you can check the tform 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 id, who was intently watching the man with the phone. The man in id 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 id, 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! Hrious...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 id 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 id. 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 red 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 id-shirt man gasped sharply, almost letting out a scream. What the-! Can someone tell him why this kid managed to summon a me 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 id-shirt man''s back. Before he could snap out of his shock, the me Hound in front of him opened its mouth and spewed out spiraling mes."Nightmare Beast! Save me!" The id-shirt man screamed, squatting down with his hands over his head in terror. "Nightmare!" The Nightmare Beast clearly wasn¡¯t skilled inbat, as it failed to react immediately and let out a frightened cry beside him. Just as the mes were about to reach the id-shirt man, Qiao Sang called out in time, "Psychic!" The mes, mere millimeters from the id-shirt man, were suddenly halted mid-air by an invisible force and then abruptly redirected, hurtling toward the unsuspecting Nightmare Beast nearby. The searing mes struck the unprepared Nightmare Beast with pinpoint uracy. 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 id-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 id-shirt man¡¯s face went nk 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 id-shirt man to be so weak. From his initial viinous 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 id-shirt man, a direct attack on the Nightmare Beast could have caused significant damage to the room. The id-shirt man might even have tried to coerce the client to force her to submit. So, she nned to have Yabao feign an attack on the id-shirt man, hoping the Nightmare Beast would intercept the mes or the id-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 ce. Her focus had been entirely on the unidentified id-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 id-shirt man by his cor, delivering a punch to his jaw. The id-shirt man crumpled to the ground. That punch seemed to bring the id-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¡¯lle after you again.¡± "Screw you!" The man punched him again in frustration. ¡°You¡¯re still threatening me after all this?¡± Hearing themotion, Qiao Sang snapped back to reality and approached, asking, ¡°Is he the one who¡¯s been following you?¡± The id-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 tounch was swallowed back down. A me 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 id-shirt man by his cor and said fiercely, ¡°Speak up! Why were you following me?¡± The id-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 me Hound also staring at him. In an instant, the id-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? Exin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you constantly clinging to Yu Xinyan and unting your rtionship online! That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t have time to train.¡± The id-shirt man¡¯s frustration grew as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! She¡¯s so focused on your rtionship that she won¡¯t even participate in the regional tournament¡¯s preliminary trials!¡± The man froze. ¡°You¡¯re a fan of Xinyan?¡± The id-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 id-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 id-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 nning 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 id-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 id-shirt man and said, ¡°You heard it all.¡± The id-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¡¯te looking for me again.¡± Then he turned to Qiao Sang, shing a warm smile. ¡°Would you minding with me to the police station?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you not nning 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 dy any longer. Had it not been for someone standing next to her just now, she would havepleted 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 minutester, 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, ring 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 red 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 exin himself, the burly man¡¯s gaze shifted to Qiao Sang beside him. Instantly, his face brightened, flushing red with excitement as he eximed, ¡°Qiao Sang! You¡¯re Qiao Sang! I¡¯m a fan! Can I get a photo with me Hound?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Qiao Sang, in high spirits, readily agreed. The man: ??? A shy red SUV sped toward the police station. The man drove absentmindedly, asionally ncing 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 ount and scrolled down to see photos of her me Hound pet. He silently followed her. With such achievements at just fifteen, she would surelypete 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. 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 youe 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.¡± ¡°d 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 askedst 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 be a professional beast tamer in the future.¡± Liu Zhezhen smiled, ¡°Bing 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 be a beast tamer whopetes in the Inster 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 iming they¡¯d lead the national football team to a World Cup victory,pletelyughable. But now, she thought there was nothing wrong with saying it. At worst, she¡¯d getughed 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 nced 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 nces. 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 exined. ¡°Lu lu!¡± Water Luriana lifted her head, awaiting the wee 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 d 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 nonchnt. 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-rted 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 doublespetitions. Most professional Beast Masters involved in team matches form their rosters around carefully nned 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 popr choice in teampositions. 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 theparison 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 mostmon 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 disyed 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 learnedter 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 andy 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, theparison 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 nced around, teleporting to wake up the sleeping Yabao to try persuading Qiao Sang. "Xun!" "Xun!" Little Treasure poked at Yabao with a tiny w. Yabao, drooling in his sleep, didn¡¯t move an inch. "Xun xun." Little Treasure pouted, then suddenly giggled as he had an idea. --- Forty minutester. 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 nced 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 n 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 ce. ¡°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 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.¡± Regionalpetition tickets?! 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! Outrageous! Why hadn¡¯t shee 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 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. 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 n.¡± 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 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. Why? They hadn¡¯t unlocked the third page of their Beast Master Codex. 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. 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 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! 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 246: Exchange Student Read at: /?m=1 ----- Shoutout to @Jackson Rand for being a member of my Patreon! Thanks for the support! ????? ----- "Lubao is less than a year old?" Qiao Sang felt her mind go nk. 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 ws thest time?" "Lu lu!" "Lu lu!" Lubao angrily held up seven short ws and protested again. She meant seven months! Seven months! Qiao Sang: !!! Qiao Sang was speechless, almost uttering a specific nt''s name in shock. But standing in the vice principal''s office, she held back. So, thest 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 flightter?" "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, epting thepliment 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. Thest 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. "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 waspletely different from one that could only be kept as a cherished pet. Heposed 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 exined, "Water Luriana¡¯s evolution is driven by intense emotional fluctuations. Normally, Water Luriana isn¡¯t highlypetitive, 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¡¯spetition 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 interster exchange student." Qiao Sang: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 247: What Are We Waiting For! "An interster exchange program?!" Qiao Sang froze in ce, her expression going nk, as if she¡¯d turned into a statue. Research ships, space pirates, space construction, intersterpanion animals, all these elements she¡¯d only seen on the news raced through her mind. If she didn''t consider the entire interster domain, just the three habitables 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. Though interster tourism had be very mature, its high cost meant it was still only essible to billionaires. This was one of the reasons Qiao Sang had wanted topete in the Interster Cup in the first ce.Once selected for the Interster Cup, she¡¯d have all travel, food, and amodations covered to visit others. Having traveled to a world with an interster setting, who would be content to stay on one? To Qiao Sang¡¯s surprise, even though she hadn¡¯t left her province yet, she now had a chance to go to another! 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 thepetition for the senior year and ended up losing, he¡¯d just wait another year. Next year, when Qiao Sang took first ce in the entire province, he could still return to his own research. With this thought, Liu Yao¡¯s regret vanishedpletely. Smiling, he said, ¡°Every year, the country has a few spots for interster exchange students, but those spots are hard to get.¡± ¡°This year, our Interster 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 Interster Cup ranking affects the number of exchange spots?¡± ¡°You think exchange student resources are easy toe by? The interster 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 interster 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, interster exchange students are selected from top sophomores and juniors nationwide, focusing on students with excellent academic performance or outstandingpanion pet skills. You¡¯re clearly in thetter category.¡± Qiao Sang: ... You didn¡¯t need to say thatst part, Qiao Sang thought, wanting to retort but feeling she had no face to do so considering her current standing in ss. 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 sophomorepetition, if you don¡¯t take the national championship, it¡¯s likely no deal. But if youpete 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 interster exchange student. But now, there were only three spots, and the number of slots allocated to students with strongpanion 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 ce like Hanggang. Although Hanggang City was a provincial capital,pared to the wider world, it was pitifully small. After listening for a while, Qiao Sang finally understood. She needed topete 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 thepanion 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 ced the training n 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 regr, 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 nce 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 threepanion animals, Qiao Sang said seriously, ¡°ns have changed. Over the next month, we¡¯ll be training hard because we¡¯re going topete against opponents with two more years of experience than us!¡± Qiao Sang waspletely confident in her ability to qualify for the junior divisionpetition. 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 lovedpetitions! ¡°Lu lu!¡± Lubao nced at Yabao and quickly nodded in agreement. ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure, however, responded a bit absent-mindedly. Apetition¡­ Would there be golden gloves involved? He still preferred the tile-breaking matching 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 nk 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 herputer, and began drafting the next month''s training n. Setting the goal to be 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 n.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 theputer. 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 ming 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 yed 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 bnce on her phone. Good, she could still afford it. She put down her phone and continued drafting the training n. 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. ¡°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 ming 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 simr.¡± 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 ming 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 Sangughed, ¡°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 bepletely 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 nced 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 ce. Practice Healing Light? Lubao remembered past sessions of using Healing Light, then nced at Yabao, who was busy practicing Meteor Rain in the courtyard. Her gaze grew determined. 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 w 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 ws 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 ws, 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 ising up. If you keep practicing with only three tiles, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll get first ce.¡± "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¡¯te 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 hade 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 nighttely, the club had been sending her texts asking if she was avable as a sparring partner. But with her packed schedule of sses, 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 regr 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 imed 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 me 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 homest 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 asvishly 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¡¯te 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 nced 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¡¯vee to the right person. Both my me Hound and Treasure-Seeking Ghost can teleport. I¡¯m fully confident I can teach your Crowned Meow." "I knew it!" Wang Yiding eximed 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 battlepetition and won first ce. 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 dered her intention to dominate the brick-breaking challenge in the uing 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 usualzy expression reced 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 Meowpromise. After all, thest 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 exined teleportation to it in a very¡­ specific way. But its beastmaster had assured it that whoever was teaching it would not use that particr 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 deted. Fifty minutester¡­ 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 alreadying along well. I doubt it¡¯ll take a full month." Thinking about Crowned Meow¡¯s posture, Wang Yiding nced 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 rxed. "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!!! 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 nkly 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 sh 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 seed. "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 tofort 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 umon 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 Sangposed 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 nced 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 whenbined 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. "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 exined. "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 ce 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 w, 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 w in response. Of course not. "Xun!" With a gleeful expression, Little Treasure swung his right w twice in the air, then focused on the apple in Qiao Sang¡¯s hand. Staring-- After two seconds, Qiao Sang ced 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 w, 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 Sangy 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 threerge boxes of bricks. If she wanted Lubao to train Healing Light, Little Treasure¡¯s training volume would need to increase significantly. After cing the order, she thought for a moment and added two more boxes. She hadn¡¯t originally expected Little Treasure to ce 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 sses 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: /?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 epted Qiao Sang''s documents. Typically, such courteous and conscientious employees who don¡¯t mind staying a bit past working hours are neers to the workce, still filled with excitement and passion for their jobs. "Of course." The clerk responded with a smile, taking the information card and cing it on the scanner. 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 disyed 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 asionally 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 ce 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 nce, 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 ced Lubao in front of the window. Lubao nced at the person before her, then sat halfway down andzily 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 reced by a surge of adrenaline. Endangered? One of thest few left in the world? The clerk took a deep breath, trying to contain her excitement as shepleted 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¡¯te 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 be a big name someday! --- Tianjing Garden, Apt. 1705 Sitting at her desk, Qiao Sang opened herputer 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 herputer. 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 withmon 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 popr post with various replies. "Some genius suggested taking a pet beast to a ce 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. "Tomunicate 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 bes 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 aplicated 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 Sangughed 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 nk, overwhelmed by this revtion. 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 n was to make Lubao like Yabao even more. Once Lubao''s Healing Light reached its full potential, they could proceed with the heartbreak n. "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! Aftermunicating 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, ncing 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 Sangy in bed scrolling on her phone. Normally, she¡¯d be asleep by now, but the thought of no sses 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. Thetest message in the group chat was from Shi Gaofeng, posted just a minute ago. Shi Gaofeng: Next week, I¡¯m nning 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¡­ Qiao Sang felt conflicted. The Beastmaster exam was mainly used to distinguish between professional and non-professional paths. Those who didn''t focus onbat 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 thebat group; hisment 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 exnations: 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 ss 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 sophomorebat 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 thebat 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 whosebat 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 apany 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 thatst 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 toe 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 hourster 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 ate night. 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 hisrge 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 Rainbo 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 Mastersgged 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 mentionedst 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, ncing at Yabao. ¡°I heard we had a Beast Master with a me 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 shed his eight white teeth again. ¡°Haha, didn¡¯t expect you to be younger than I thought.¡± Such a rugged man would have such a schrly 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 ws 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 wastnd, with high-tech equipment oddly ced 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 Liughed and didn¡¯t say more. His original intention had been to spar with the club¡¯s only me 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 ck 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 remainedpletely 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 nced at Yabao but ignored him, resuming its practice on its own. Yabao: ... The woman squinted at Qiao Sang, then pulled a pair of sses 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, howe 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 bnce, 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 n." 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 ce 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 andunch it at Lunak, like Yabao." Yabao and Little Treasure¡¯s training routines had always been clear. For Lubao, Qiao Sang¡¯s training n involved perfecting her Healing Light technique and building up her basic attributes. Onnd, water-type beasts generally can¡¯t move as quickly as they can in water. Qiao Sang didn¡¯t expect Lubao to be a jack-of-all-trades. But inrgepetitions, the battle field is chosen randomly, so luck alone can''t guarantee a water environment. 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 telekic control over the gravel was quickly draining his energy. Qiao Sang calcted 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 somefort. 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 iing 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 ws with a tired expression. But his eyes kept ncing 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 me 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 me 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 me 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¡¯tpare 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 me 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 me Hound is extremely skilled in its abilities! It can cast Meteor Rain while using telekinesis to coordinate, which means it could create abo 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 rmend 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 sses, 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 askter." 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 cogen 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 hourter, 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, apanied 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. Then, she noticed the me 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 nced over at Yabao. Yabao seemed to have lost interest in Ice Shimmer Bear and was instead ying a bottle-tossing game with Little Treasure. Little Treasure was floating around, moving the erged ring around with his ws 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 tant 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, andy 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 backter.¡± Qiao Sang exined. 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. 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 nce 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 congrattory 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 nce. --- ¡°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 nced 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 hade 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 me, 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¡¯tst 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 minutester, in the living room. "Yap Yap." Yabao patted the sobbing Xiao Xunbao with his paw, trying tofort him. "So you''ve shrunk after evolving. It''s no big deal.""Xun Xun!" Little Treasure nced 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 Lubaoforting 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 ofments. [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 honestment 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 oues 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 abination 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 gics 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 exnation, 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.¡± 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 regr 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 thingse 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 eximed, ¡°Master Qiao, did you dye your Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s tail?¡± Little Treasure: ... ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. 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 tooplex to exin. Besides, rare-colored pets are hard toe by in real life. Several rare pet owners have evenined online that whenever they im 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 exined, 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 apanied 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 copsed 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 nce and exined, "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 afterpleting 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 Interster Cuppetition. 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 wless 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 theposed and unruffled demeanor of a boss was fully on disy. 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 epts it as fact, witnessing it firsthand doesn¡¯t have the same impact. Meanwhile, Crowned Meow found itself standing on a busy street. Before it could process what was happening, a fat pigeon flew in from the distance and ced a ry 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, cing the ry 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 ce. "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 sessfully 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 itcked the talent, iming that it was all just false hope. But after experiencing teleportation in the dream, Crowned Meow felt its confidence soar,pletely 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 nced at Crowned Meow, who was ring at Wang Yiding. Crowned Meow felt the gaze and turned to look. Qiao Sang smiled broadly at it. "Crown." Crowned Meow nervously nced 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 nkly stared at the person who spoke. Five minutester. 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 ced 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 ept it." "Crowned Meow!" "Then I feel a bit embarrassed." Qiao Sang said as she hesitated, but her hands were already eagerly opening the bag andughing as she said, "What¡¯s in this bag?" She opened it and looked inside. The bag waspletely 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 sessfully used teleportation, but since it didn¡¯t have a golden finger, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed to sessfully perform it every time just because it learned it. Before the sess 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,y 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 be 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: Avable, Description: (Can use a ring to absorb all tangible objects, currently can hold up to 15 cubic meters) Second Trait: Pration Level: B (544/2000), Status: Usable, Description: (Can prate the opponent¡¯s barriers or substitutes to attack) Third Trait: Super Perception Level: C (6/1000), Status: Avable, 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 bnce Little Treasure¡¯sck 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. 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¡¯tment further andpleted 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 mmed 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. "Myst name is Yang. I just epted the task you posted. Is it convenient for me toe over now?" Qiao Sang nced 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 tform on her phone to check the personal information of the person who epted 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 be 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 ss of water and ced 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 n 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 headacheing 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, arge creature with four legs, a mostly blue body, ck 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¡¯lle 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 sry for a regr 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 nced 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. 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 exin 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 y 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 apany 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 youe 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 ss 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, ncing 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 y 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 mostmonly contracted pet beasts among beginner tamers in the Xilu region, Qiao Sang was somewhat familiar with it. Nido, the second-stage evolution of L 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 popr 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 ce¡­ They chatted for a while, bing 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 epting 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 copse 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 toe 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 im.¡± ¡°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. 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 yful mood, ignored her. Beside Lubao, Yabao was frozen in ce, 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 eximed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± She stood up abruptly. Yang Du jumped, startled. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sangughed. ¡°An epic y.¡± 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 minutester, 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 umbre 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 umbres up. But when they passed by a certain someone, they slowed down, turning their heads to nce curiously a few times. ¡°Uncle Yang, we¡¯re not at school yet. Do you want toe out for some fresh air?¡± Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but ask, feeling the stares of almost every passerby. Next to her, an umbre hovered about two meters in the air, with no one underneath it, drawing attention from the onlookers. ¡°Zip...¡± Edamame, still holding the umbre, appeared briefly with a call and then vanished again. ¡°Xun~¡±Little Treasure, showing great intuition, tranted 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, thene find me. Remember, I¡¯m in ss 1 of Year 1.¡± ¡°Zip...¡± Edamame appeared again and nodded. After giving her instructions, Qiao Sang walked on confidently under her umbre. Edamame was a high-ranking beast, so she trusted himpletely. Little did she know, Edamame watched her walk away, standing in ce with a dazed look for nearly a full minute before a confused expression appeared on his face. ¡°Zip...¡± ss what...? At 9:30 a.m., the second ss ended, and Qiao Sang nced out the window, then back into the ssroom. The rain had stopped over forty minutes ago. Edamame should have been in ss 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 nonchnce, 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 mighte 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 usuallye 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 ssroom from the hallway, excitedly eximing, ¡°Guess what just happened in the senior year!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°How would we know?¡± ¡°Stop teasing, just tell us!¡± ¡°Hurry up; ss is about to start!¡± The ssmates each chimed in, focusing their attention on him. Qiao Sang looked over as well. Almost every ss had a news hound who could dig up school gossip at the drop of a hat, and their ss 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 finallyughed and said, ¡°Someone¡¯s pet beast, while invisible, went through every senior ss 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 ss, so I didn¡¯t try contacting you by phone. I asked Edamame, but even he didn¡¯t know which ss 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 me 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 utterlycking! Qiao Sang tried to speak in a calm voice, saying, ¡°I did tell Edamame I¡¯m in ss 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¡¯tprehend it! How could something so forgetful still be so popr 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 sses 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, shing 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. ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao turned, looking at Little Treasure in confusion. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure shed a loving smile, one he¡¯d just learned from ying on a phonest 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 ck 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 nces 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, sheforted 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? --- 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 rming, 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, waspletely unaware that he had just extinguished someone¡¯s desire to go to the bathroom. The next morning. Qiao Sang entered the ssroom, finding her fellow top students meditating as usual. After morning self-study, someone suddenly eximed, ¡°Hey! Where¡¯s my breakfast?!¡± Everyone turned their gaze over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My breakfast I left in my desk drawer, gone!¡± The ss didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No way. Maybe you just misced it.¡± ¡°Are you sure you brought it to ss?¡± ¡°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 eximed 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 ssroom: ¡°Who ate half my breakfast?!¡± That day, word spread through the school: The snack-stealing pet beast from the third-year sses 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 ws. 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 ws 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 exined. ¡°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 regting her energy. Soon, a soft, veil-like mist nketed 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 Dovey 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. ¡°Inparison to others of its species, yes.¡± Girl: ... That night, after her nighttime routine, Qiao Sangy 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 n, 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 herplete 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 ss, 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 nced 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 sessfully will depend on your performance. Remember what I told youst time, right?" "Yap..." "Xun!" --- n One: Double Betrayal. This n 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 Yabaoing out with their faces pressed close together. "Lu?" Lubao tilted her head in confusion. "Yap..." "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 nces and then returned to the living room. Watching their antics, Lubao appeared puzzled while drinking her fresh milk. "What''s up with your me Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon?" Yang Du asked from the sofa. "I¡¯m not sure. Maybe they just get along well." Qiao Sangughed, raising her voice slightly. With that, Lubao should understand... Qiao Sang shot a covert nce 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 yful 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 n 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 rtionship 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 intoughter 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 n One didn¡¯t work, there was always n Two... n Two: Direct Rejection. Although less painful than the first n, 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 ss door connecting the living room to the courtyard. "What¡¯s going on? You and your pets are acting so weird today." Yang Dumented. "I¡¯ll exinter." 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 ss door. Yang Du rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. Then, as if struck by an idea, he summoned his Abyssal Zegua to take Edamame¡¯s ce. 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 re 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 thete 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!" 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. Sotely, whenever Yang Du returned, he mostly stayed in his room. But since the client mentioned today might be thest day of the mission, he couldn''t stay put. Lunao nced 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''snguage, 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 ns 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 trantion, so he exined: "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 thest 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 me 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 be 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 snowkes, 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 unfamiliarpanion 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,ughing. ¡°Of course. Congrattions, 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 exined, ¡°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?¡± 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 taskplete?¡± Yang Du asked. Qiao Sang nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Yang Du¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Do you have any other ns 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 apany 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 arge 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¡¯te 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 ce.¡± 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 theyout, 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 theck 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 paleplexion. 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 Sangy 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 cellr 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 w (Novice 1/100)+ Points: 0 Three new skills had appeared. Icy Wind, Powder Snow, and Ice w¡­ Qiao Sang calcted. 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 ce 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 ce!" "Xun!" ss 1, Grade 10. Even though it wasn¡¯t a regr ss 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 ws, 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 topete?¡± 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¡¯te 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 topete. It wasn¡¯t that shecked 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 ssmates topete stayed on the field. But things were different in this Beast Tamer society. Most of thepetitors 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 ssmates. "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¡¯speting 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 nces at Little Treasure. Treasure-Seeking Demon¡­ who would¡¯ve thought what Wang Yiding from the other ss said was actually true¡­ Zhang Shuzhou looked at Qiao Sang with aplicated expression, thinking she should rename herself to Qiao the Outrageous. Unaware of Zhang Shuzhou¡¯s thoughts, Qiao Sang yed along and asked, ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°There are thirteenpetitors in total, one from each ss.¡± Zhang Shuzhou replied. ¡°Aside from Li Jiang from ss 2 and Zhao Fangrui from ss 8, the other ten participants, all except you three, are sending Fighting-type pet beasts topete.¡± ¡°Besides you, there¡¯s another strong contender: Liu Qijia from ss 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. Forgetpeting with first-years; it could easily crush third-years too.¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°That¡¯s just a rumor.¡± ¡°Rumor?!¡± Zhang Shuzhou eximed. ¡°Are you saying your Treasure-Seeking Demon can¡¯t break tiles?¡± The entire ss instantly fell silent, looking over. Qiao Sang held back for a moment, ¡°¡­It can.¡± The ss resumed their chatter. ¡°I knew it had to be true.¡± Zhang Shuzhouughed. 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 itpete 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 arge 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-wed Crab on the far side. It hadn¡¯t moved from its spot at all, using its ten ws to alternate and kick the shuttlecock in ce. In theory, kicking the shuttlecock should involve some movement, but the Multi-wed 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,pletely 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. 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 secondster, 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 essed 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 skillst 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 Sess: 1902/2000)+ Qiao Sang paused for a moment, recalling thatst 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 aplicated 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 nonchnt. 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 designatedpetition area. Many events were happening simultaneously, but nearly everyone on the field had gathered around the brick-breakingpetition. ¡°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. Especially those with Ghost-type or Fighting-type contract beasts found it hard to ept. After all, the two types are notoriously ipatible. A Ghost-type beast knowing a Fighting-type skill? It sounded more absurd than a mage getting into hand-to-handbat. ¡°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 inparison!¡± ¡°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 topete 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 reallyparing 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 everes, 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 ws and warming up. ¡°Yungli!¡± From the left, a burly Power Monkey scoffed. Little Treasure nced 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 herughed, ¡°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 ssmates, who hade to cheer her on, couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You wish!¡± ¡°Qiao Sang, this guy is Liu Qijia from ss 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 theirments, 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 tost 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 thirteenpeting beasts. For the first round, eachpetitor 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: /?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 regr 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 nkly 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 ss Two and Zhao Fangrui¡¯s Water Ring Carp from ss Eight were eliminated, leaving eleven participating pets, all with muscr physiques, except for Little Treasure. "Go, Treasure-Seeking demon!" "I love you, Treasure-Seeking demon!" "Go, ss 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 red 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 apuse, 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 seemedpletely 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 ce can be yours. But this time, first ce belongs to him. "Yunling!!" The Power Monkey was furious. In the following rounds, the Brick-breaking contest became a disy 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. 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 muscr 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 constion, "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 Qijiafort 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 nced 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, congrattions." Qiao Sang turned. It was Shi Gaofeng. ----- ----- Chapter 271: Fail, Next! Seeing Shi Gaofeng, Qiao Sang was reminded of their n 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 bing 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 particrly 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 others. Once a beast master reaches E-level, they can enjoy a 10% discount on any paid service at any beast center across the gxy. It¡¯s important to know that beast centers are spread throughout the gxy, 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 allmon expenses at beast centers. Calcting 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 nned, right?¡± Qiao Sang shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Compared to getting certified as an E-level beast master, the nextpetition 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 me 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 justst 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 thest 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 learnbat 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 simrly absorbed some life energy from abat-type pet, which influenced it to learn Brick Break. ncing at Qiao Sang, he decided it was best to keep this theory to himself. Meanwhile, Little Treasure was rxing on his master¡¯s head, enjoying the scenery,pletely 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 particr reason other than Yabao apanying her. The me Hound¡¯s poprity 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 nced 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 masterspleted 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 nced at her, only to find her calm andposed, 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: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang turned to look at Shi Gaofeng. Shi Gaofeng hadn¡¯t expected to get pped in the face so quickly, and he hurried to save face: ¡°The remaining one percent who didn¡¯t pass probably justck the qualifications to be a professional beast tamer.¡± Qiao Sang didn¡¯tment. From that brief battle just now, it didn¡¯t look like the examiner had been as lenient as Shi Gaofeng imed. 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 ck baseball cap. ¡°Skills are foundational for beasts. It¡¯s challenging for E-level tamers tobine 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 rxed, 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 mest time.¡± He sighed. ¡°As long as I don¡¯t run into her again, I¡¯m 90% sure I¡¯ll pass this time!¡± Qiao Sang nced at him and slowly said, ¡°Given the universal rule that setting a g guarantees failure, your chances of getting her are pretty high.¡± Shi Gaofeng: ¡­ ¡°The one on the right, the examiner in the ck 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 herpanion, 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 ck 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 abination of a wide-ranging Sleep Powder and a Leaf de that could curve around obstacles, Shi Gaofeng showed potential that caught the examiner¡¯s eye. Seeing his skills, the examiner rxed 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 ck-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 nce 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 particrly unusual. Although rare, a few could usually be seen. But a beast tamer with a me Hound? That was something else. Currently, no official evolution requirements for the me 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 me Hound! ¡°I heard the me 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 thest one. Can she pass?¡± ¡°Hard to say. Testing for professional beast taming is more than just attributes. me 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 ck-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 me 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 ce 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 ck-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. ¡°What the¡ª! When did Wen Lei get on the field?!¡± Wu Ding suddenly eximed. The ck-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 re. ¡°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. "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 me 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 meHound 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 exins it.¡± The man in the white T-shirt exined, ¡°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 me 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 hadplete 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 shed through Qiao Sang¡¯s mind. A month ago, she might not have beenpletely certain, but now¡­ ¡°What skill is this?!¡± ¡°Looks like me Charge! But me Charge shouldn¡¯t be this intense!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the skill proficiency! That¡¯s why!¡± Exmations filled the exam room. Several beast tamers waiting in the back row stood up in amazement. The me Hound on the field was engulfed in bright red mes. Its body was obscured within the ze, creating a mirage-like distortion around it. At that moment, the fire seemed to be one with the me Hound. It didn¡¯t look like the me 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 me Hound vanished in a streak. ¡°Substitute!¡± Wen Lei¡¯s eyes narrowed as she saw the ming shadow rush forward. She quickly issued hermand. She took a deep breath, controlling her surging adrenaline. Ultimate Skill! This was an Ultimate-level me Charge! A proficiency of this level appearing on a mid-level pet beast stunned Wen Lei, but her extensivebat experience and strongposure allowed her to react immediately. Two identical Swift Cats appeared on the field. Seeing her Swift Cat use Substitute just before the me Hound¡¯s attack, Wen Lei rxed slightly, until the next moment, when her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. Whoosh!! The zing 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,nding 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 me 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 me Charge?¡± ¡°Forget how terrifying that me Charge was. How did it manage to use Substitute mid-charge? That¡¯s abo 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 ck baseball cap didn¡¯t have the same concerns. The male examiner swallowed hard and said, ¡°Did you see that? It was abo move, and she doesn¡¯t even need to give specificmands to the me Hound.¡± ¡°I saw.¡± Wu Ding was dazed. ¡°An Ultimate-level me Charge¡­ Thank goodness I didn¡¯t go up there.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± The male examiner replied. Wanting to fight the me 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 nk. 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 aplicated look, then nodded reluctantly. ¡°You passed.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Qiao Sang and Yabao left the field. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao¡¯s tail drooped, looking deted. Shi Gaofeng greeted them excitedly, but paused when he saw the me 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 me Hound look like that?¡± Shi Gaofeng asked. Qiao Sang nced 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: /?m=1 ----- The virtual screen in the Beast Tamer Center''s examination area disyed the names of those who had passed in real-time. Many family members waiting nearby kept ncing at the screen, anxiously watching for their loved ones'' names. Next to the screen was a desk where sessful 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. ording to Qiao Sang, her me 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 me 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 epted 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 reallyte, it¡¯s been over a week already.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for Little Treasure.¡± Qiao Sang rified, sitting down. ¡°Not for Treasure-Seeking Demon?¡± Shi Gaofeng was confused. If it wasn¡¯t for Treasure-Seeking Demon or me Hound, then what pet was it? Just as Shi Gaofeng was racking his brain, Qiao Sang exined, ¡°I contracted a third pet recently, and she evolved a few days ago, so I need to update the info.¡± Shi Gaofeng waspletely 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 toe 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 ws 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: /?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 be 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 nced 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 ballrger 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 seriouslycking 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 exined. "Lu?" The unschooled Lubao looked confused. "It means you need to understand Yabao to defeat him." Qiao Sang rified. "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 ess 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 minutester, 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, onnd, 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. --- 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 aputer, 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: /?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 sleepst night. Training like this, I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯ll end uppletely exhausted¡­¡± Half an hourter, 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 popr stall¡¯s pancakes were made by a little fat dove. Even though this species of fat dove was one of the mostmon pet beasts and the food it made wasn¡¯t particrly 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. ss 1, Grade 10. As soon as Qiao Sang stepped into the ssroom, she noticed that all the ssmates who were usually meditating at this hour were staring at her with intense interest. She¡¯d only won first ce 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 ce 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?¡± ¡°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 thetter part of her exnation, 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, amotion arose among the nearby students. Although Qiao Sang hadn¡¯t spoken loudly, the ssroom 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 nced at Jin Feifan, who was nowpletely 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 ck off either. Seeing Qiao Sang close her eyes, the other students finally turned away and resumed their own meditation. Three minutester, 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 ssmates, hearing themotion, opened their eyes and saw Qiao Sang disappearing. Anothermotion 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 girlmented, ¡°It seems the rumors about Qiao God and the Vice Principal being rted might actually be true.¡± --- Meanwhile, the two people in question, rumored to be rted, 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: /?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. ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡± Liu Yao said, ¡°You¡¯re about topete 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 realbat, gradually improving over time. Her initial decision to be a sparring partner was to get more opportunities for realbat, but school took up too much time. Now, if she could engage inbat 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 nced 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 thepetition 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 Sangpetes 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 studentspeting at higher levels. Qiao Sang has been training with the sophomore team all along, sopeting 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 Sangpeting 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 sry. ording to the Coach Rewards Act, any head coach whose student wins first ce in a nationally hosted provincialpetition 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 Sangpetes 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 red 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, nced 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 ispeting 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 nned 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¡¯smand. 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: /?m=1 ----- The Experiment Was a Sess! 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 upte working or can¡¯t fall asleep at night, it¡¯s like the ultimate godsend! ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nced 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.¡± Lubao looked at the human who had once checked her health with a lofty expression,pletely 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,pletely losing his usual calm demeanor. ¡°Vice Principal?¡± Qiao Sang called to him. Liu Yao snapped out of it, looking at Qiao Sang with aplex 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 mes 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 ss 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 ording 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 ss. 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 thest period in the afternoon, everyone packed up their things and started filing out of the ssroom. A girl with sses, a fairplexion, and a ssic student haircut appeared at the door of ss 1-1. ¡°Is Qiao Sang here?¡± Since receiving her beasts¡¯ energy, Qiao Sang¡¯s hearing had be 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 aplete chatterbox. From ss 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 me Hound male or female? My ze 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 rted 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 morepetitor on the Senior 3bat team. Do you think Teacher Sun might make uspete 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 atst¡­ 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 disying a popr, high-energy battle anime titled The Last Beastmaster Youth. The series was known for its stunning animation,vish 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 exined. ¡°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 emotionlessbat 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 ssroom. ¡°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. ¡°Wee to the Senior team.¡± ----- ----- Chapter 279: Wrong Guess Read at: /?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 thebat 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 rxed. 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 ites 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 dly wee you to represent the senior team. But if you lose, regardless of the vice-principal¡¯s request, I won¡¯t allow you topete.¡± ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re only here to train withoutpeting, 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-yearpetitions, butpeting at the senior level? That would be tough. After all, in the senior division, realbat experience counts the most. And that kind of experience requires time to umte; simply having beasts that meet the level requirements isn¡¯t enough topete. Furthermore, the seniorpetitors 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 nkly 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?¡± ¡°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 seniorpetition, 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 regr training ispletely 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 twobat team members exchanged nces, 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 seniorpetition 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: ¡°ording 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 dy 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 exining 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 me Hound for security.¡± Xu Yixuan analyzed. ¡°The first contracted beast is generally the strongest. You remember how her me Hound performed in the freshman showcase, it dominated! Not only does it have the ze 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 ze Gori. With its Fire Absorb trait, it would counter the me 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 spected, "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 ofplete shock as she looked at the information disyed on the virtual screen. There were many different models of pet beast identifiers avable 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 popr models in Yuhua, particrly 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 disyed 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 inurate 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 suchnguage. ¡°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 hismand, both Lubao and ze Goriunched 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¡¯smands. Water Gun collided with ming Burst. The scarlet me was nearly three times the size of the blue Water Gun. The two attacks shed midair, with the mes overpowering the water stream and advancing toward Lubao. Lubao remained calm, quickly moving to the side to avoid the iing mes. 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 mes 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 Jiamented. ¡°Ice Qiya doesn¡¯t have a big build, and it doesn¡¯t look like a high-defense type. If ze Gorinds 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 me 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,cking the overpowered traits of the me 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 ming Burst!¡± He Dazhao ordered, his chubby hand sweeping downward. ¡°Roar!¡± The ze Gori thumped its chest twice with excitement, opened its mouth, and prepared tounch another me 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 hismand! 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 ze Gori, 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 mostmon 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 skillpletely 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 ze Gori, she gave themand, ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s head shot out from the puddle, letting out a cry. The field instantly filled with a dense mist. ¡°Shoot ming 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 ze Gori wildly shot mes at the ground, blindly firing through the mist. Suddenly, a stream of water rose from the ground behind ze Gori, 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 ze Gori¡¯s pained cries echoed through the field. Qiao Sang estimated the beast¡¯s endurance and gave themand, ¡°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 ze Gori¡¯s screams grew more desperate. ¡°Fire upward!¡± He Dazhao called out in panic. But the mes didn¡¯t ignite. He Dazhao sensed something through his bond with the beast and froze. As the mist cleared, they saw the ze Gori copsed on the ground, eyes closed. Standing on top of it was the coollyposed Ice Qiya. ¡°Lu.¡± Chapter 281: Isnt This an Ice-Type Skill? Lubao leapt down from the ze Gori 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 shended. 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-levelpetitions like the National Campus Beast Mastering League, to ensure fairness, the referee team upgrades as thepetition advances, from regional to sectional matches, and finally, the national finals. 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 exined 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 ze Gori 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 ce, 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 ze Gori 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. ording 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 ry leg in sixth ce 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 shed through her mind, Sun Boyi announced the start of the second match. ¡°Use Air sh repeatedly!¡± He Daotao called out, waving his pudgy hand quickly. The Wind Eagle¡¯s advantagey in its speed, so he had to capitalize on it! Whoosh! With a p 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 des 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 des 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 des 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: /?m=1 ----- Just as He Daitao was hesitating in disbelief, Lubao pursed her lips, evading the wind des while sprinkling white frost onto the ground. A thinyer 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." Feeling that the danger from the wind des 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 newmand.When ites 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 elerated. 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 hadnded. He switched to a new n andmanded, "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 p. 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 ufortable, causing its altitude to drop by a centimeter. Although Brave Bird Attack was a powerful mid-level flying-type skill, it had a fatal w, 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 ast-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 themand 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 eximed, 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 inpeting? 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 sh!" "Whoosh!" By now, the Wind Eagle had somewhat adapted to the difort. With a powerful p, it sent several air des 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 sh didn¡¯t break through the blue light because it had already dissipated before the attacknded. "Lu." A fully restored and energetic Ice Qiya appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. The crowd: ??? ----- ----- Chapter 283: Whoever Wants to Go, Go Read at: /?m=1 ----- Everyone looked baffled. What was that? Where¡¯s the injury? Already healed? ¡°I remember now!¡± Chen Jia snapped out of it, eximing 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 exined 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 shed, 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. 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 thest fight, the recent Rain Prayer, and Healing Light, if she didn¡¯t end this quickly, who would end up copsing first was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡°Lu!¡± Restored, Lubao, enhanced by her Swift Swimmer ability, moved like she was in fast-forward, effortlessly dodging the oing Air de. ¡°Whoosh!¡± When the initial Air de missed, Wind Eagle didn¡¯t stop; it began pping again, creating more Air des. 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 anothermand, Wind Eagle red its wings again, intending tounch another Air de. 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 abo like this, that¡¯s impressive!¡± Praised a guy in a white jacket. ¡°Thisbo 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 res. 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 copsedpletely. ¡°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 lookedplicated. 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 me Hound was strong, but He Datou¡¯s ze Gori had the meproof 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¡¯sst show of strength. Newly evolved pets usually struggle to adapt, limiting theirbat 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 me 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 werepletely 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: /?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 lookedpletely 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 uneptable! "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 willpete. The one who loses will be the substitute." 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 nationalpetition; 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 usuallypeted 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 regr training routine, Sun Boyi added, "Pair up, two-on-two for battles. Once you finish, switch opponents, rotating until everyone haspeted against the other five. Then, form teams of three for an hour of grouppetition 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 ufortable?" Qiao Sang paused for a couple of seconds before replying, "Feels just fine." --- Knowing that the uing 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 nced 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 herposed expression as if to agree. "Xun¡­" Little Treasure gave Yabao a pitiful look, hoping for help. But Yabao simply nodded, lookingpletely 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 asting 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 topete in the elimination rounds tomorrow? I remember Teacher Sun saying the loser would be the substitute. Aren¡¯t you nervous?" In other words: What¡¯s this talk of resting? With an eliminationing up tomorrow, shouldn¡¯t you be using thisst 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 alreadypletely 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 pointsing in that she almost forgot Yabao wouldn¡¯t receive treatment from Lubao due to their current rtionship. "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? ssic you. Qiao Sang began to consider. If Yabao and Lubao¡¯s rtionship 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 toe a bitter because you¡¯d need time for makeup." "I said a bitter, 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,e 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 re 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 nced 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 havepletely 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 simr 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 ites, 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. 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 uing National Campus Beast Mastering League! --- Back home, Qiao Sang immediately opened herputer. 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 be friends again, just in a tonic 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 readingprehension¡­ While impressed by this person¡¯s understanding, Qiao Sang felt it necessary to rify. Just as she ced 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 causalityws 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 thews of physics and alter causality, changing any applicable causalityws.¡± 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 tonic rtionship. > 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 onlysted 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 be 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: /?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 nonchnt 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?" "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 y 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, itsbat effectiveness would drop by at least half." "Yap Yap!" Just as Qiao Sang finished speaking, Yabao¡¯sughter echoed from the living room. Lubao turned and looked through the ss, spotting Yabao watching TV andughing while rolling on the floor,pletely 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. Nheless, 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¡¯lle up with something else." "Lu lu." Lubao nodded. Immediately, Qiao Sang took Lubao to her room, opened herputer, and yed a popr 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 exined 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. Bncing 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 Sangforted, "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 sses, Qiao Sang remembered something and, instead of heading for lunch, walked to the entrance of ss 1-9. "Is Liu Qijia here?" ----- ----- Chapter 287: The Door Helmet The moment the girl appeared at ss Nine''s doorway, the noisy and yful 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 ssroom door, everyone was understandably stunned. ¡°You know Qiao the Great?¡± A boy sitting next to Liu Qijia asked nosily. ¡°Howe you never mentioned it?¡± Liu Qijia gave him a nce. ¡°Not really. We just both joined the brick-breaking event during thest sports meet.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. If you didn¡¯t know her, why would shee looking for you?¡± The boy looked at him with an expression that screamed, ¡°Do I look stupid to you?¡± ¡°Like Dai Shushu, who keeps iming she knows Qiao the Great, but we¡¯ve never seen here 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 ss 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 epted as a precious metal, and the price wasn¡¯t much different from her previous life. Since bing 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 youe 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 arger 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 ssroom, ¡°Xiang Chengfei,e 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 ss Nine. With her grades, Dai Shushu could¡¯ve stayed in the Elite ss. But ever since the vice principal took charge of the senior team, a few top students each year were assigned to the Elite ss, sparking opposition from the teachers in ss Nine. Although ss Nine wasn¡¯t the Elite ss, it boasted high university eptance rates thanks to its talented students. asionally, a standout student would even make it to top universities. Now that some exceptional students were being ced in the Elite ss each year, the university eptance 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 rmendation letters often ended up in ss 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 ssroom door. Qiao Sang had no idea that Dai Shushu was so distracted by her presence. She just nced over, then looked away. Though her academic scores might not rival Dai Shushu¡¯s, she no longer felt any urge to see her aspetition. With different perspectives, goals change. Qiao Sang¡¯s only ambition now was to win first ce in the senior national campus Beast Mastering League and earn a spot as an interster exchange student. At that moment, the boy named Xiang Chengfei ran over and asked Liu Qijia, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Liu Qijia ced 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. Apparently, he had a special way of getting out. ¡°You¡¯re going out with Qiao the Great?¡± Xiang Chengfei nced 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 popr 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 cing 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,e on!¡± Qiao Sang stood silent for a moment before saying, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll use the main gate.¡± Liu Qijia: ??? 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 surveince 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 Qijiay on the ground, looking up at Qiao Sang. At that moment, her figure seemedrger 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 trainingbat-type pets, it was full ofbat-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 ced 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 secondter... Bang! It lost its bnce 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 everybat-type pet has to go through. You''ll recover." "Spike..." Spike Warrior didn¡¯t seemforted. 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 trainingbat-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 sses 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, ncing 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, abat-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 tost two seconds. Bang! The Spike Warrior fell again. In that moment, Qiao Sang¡¯s guess was confirmed. Abat-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 aplicated expression. This... it was still just a kid! "Spike..." The Spike Warrior slumped in defeat, looking heartbroken. 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 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 nk. 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,nded 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 nced 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 exined. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure blinked innocently. Liu Qijia nced 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 eyesnded 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. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao¡¯s tail pped 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 nces 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 ring 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 Sangforted 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 nced around the room, noticing theck of any seating. ¡°I¡¯ll just stand.¡± Liu¡¯s dad noticed the problem andughed 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, straightforwardpany 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 toe 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: /?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 note 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 spected. From her perspective, unless the Beastmaster had passed away, she couldn¡¯t imagine any reason why they wouldn¡¯te 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. Hees 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. Qiao Sang¡¯s second guess was that Jianzhan¡¯s Beastmaster might be stuck somewhere due to an emergency, but she hadn¡¯t expected he¡¯de 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¡¯te 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 rpse.¡± ¡°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 ufortable but didn¡¯t struggle or make a sound. She simply nced 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 difort hadpletely 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 re 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 ced 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 foring 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 nced 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 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 red 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 red 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 y! 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 nk 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 nkly 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, longsting 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 shed in its mind. Slowly, the images blurred, then fractured. Jianjian stayed curled up, motionless, with not a glimmer in its eyes. 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 shed 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 nced in the direction Spike Warrior had disappeared and said softly, ¡°It absolutely made a difference. Although the healing soundwave onlysted 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 ce 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. 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 ce 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 epted, it bes 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 nce. 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 toe out.¡± "Xun~" "Lu..." --- Three dayster. ¡°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-wed 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 withtely? At that moment, in the cracks along the courtyard wall, a dozen ck 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 me hounds opening their mouths in unison tounch 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 fireballrger 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 pped 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 pped its wings, chirping a friendly greeting. The next second, Little Treasure disappeared, and a zing fireball came barreling toward Fat Dove. ¡°Coo!¡± --- Five minutester. 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 exined. 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 busytely. 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 ncing 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 me 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 nonchnt 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 ourplex. 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 nced 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 nk. ¡°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, therger 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 aint. The store was only about 70 square meters, with two ss disy 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 disying 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 be me Hounds, attracting customers was left entirely up to the breeder. And breedersmand very high sries. Qiao Sang nced 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 shed 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 Sangy 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 toe 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 headacheing 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 ount. me Hounds were pretty popr, and even after not posting for a long time, she still got newments every day. Hertest post was a photo of Yabao wearing cyberpunk-style tech sses. Qiao Sang opened thements. [Totally stunned by the cool factor!] [I don¡¯t have the words, but wow, you¡¯re so cool.] [Why hasn¡¯t the evolution condition for me Hounds been published yet? My Fire Fang Dog can¡¯t hold back much longer!] [There are so many fake videos online, all showing me Hounds flying. They don¡¯t even hide the editing marks, have you seen them, blogger?] [Forget flying; I saw a video where a me 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 me Hounds¡¯ dip in poprity was that people didn¡¯t know it genuinely had psychic abilities. If people knew and believed that me Hounds had psychic abilities, would that push it back into the spotlight without waiting for the research findings? After some thought, she replied to thement doubting me Hounds¡¯ psychic attributes. [It¡¯s true. My me Hound genuinely have psychic abilities.] Within two minutes, thement 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 me 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 ount 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 ofments 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 Maic Rat Powers School After Power Outage, Mom Ventures into a Secret Realm for Form 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 tform 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 thatst part. Satellite channels are essible 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 ss 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 ssmates 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. ¡°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 ssmate 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 leagueing up, you¡¯d have more time for training if you took some days off.¡± Qiao Sang exined. 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 ssmate 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 thepetition 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 bnce 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 disy: ¡°51,221¡­¡± Energy meters were amon feature at beast-taming clubs, letting customers see their beasts¡¯ progress at a nce. ¡°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 nned 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 ck baseball cap. ¡°Rx.¡± 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 ying 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 st 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 everypetition, 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 thest 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, anyoneing 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 ss 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 definitelying 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 nced 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 pping its wings." Basic high school knowledge: Hengheng Birds dislike pping their wings when rain is imminent and prefer gliding on air currents instead. "Where?" Zhang Junli scanned the sky. 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 onlying 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 rify. 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 shed 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 rted 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 urring 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¡¯vee 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 ss 1." Qiao Sang said seriously. "She¡¯s exceptionally good-looking, hardworking, and ambitious. She has a me Hound and a Treasure-Seeking Demon. Recently, she contracted another beast, blue in color, likely water-element." "me 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. "Thest 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 opponentunched a methrower attack and the beast instinctively countered with its own skill while the beastmaster was still processing the situation and givingmands, problems would arise. For instance, if themand 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 oue of the battle. Therefore, reducing verbalmands was a critical step for new beastmasters to transition into professional ones. With fewer instructions, the beast''s ability to independently assess and react tobat scenarios became even more crucial.The senior high school team¡¯s current training focused on enhancing their beasts¡¯ judgment duringbat, essentially letting them fight autonomously. As Little Treasure trained, Qiao Sang stood on the sidelines, mentally calcting her finances. She realized that while earning money could be quick, spending it was even faster. Though her bank ount still had seven figures, the first digit had changed multiple times. The bulk of her expenses went toward energy pills, andtely, Yabao''s training with his Meteor Rain skill required a massive amount of energy recovery liquids, which were consumed at an rming 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 Sangmented 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 leagueing 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 returningpetitors 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. ¡°Sincest 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 exined seriously. --- That evening, a new post appeared on the Zhejiang Province high school forums: ¡°Shengshui High School Reces Senior Team Member Before National Campus League! Who Is the Mysterious Neer?¡± The post began with one line: Exclusive information avable for purchase. PM with your price. No scams, guaranteed urate. 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 recement, especially so close to the national campus league? Unbelievable! Even non-participating high school students were intrigued, flooding the thread with clicks andments. --- Inside Qiao Sang¡¯s room, herputer screen disyed the forum¡¯s notification panel, while her phone buzzed continuously with new private messages. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was in the living room exining 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 exined. ¡°Lu.¡± Unfazed, Lubao nodded and tilted the potion, carefully applying drops to her eyes. Qiao Sang admired Lubao¡¯sposure. 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. Qiao Sang sighed. I¡¯ll need to verify materials before trading in the future¡­ She ced 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!¡± Onest 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 herputer, 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 sessful sale, Qiao Sang¡¯s patience was renewed, and she beganbing 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 feltpelled to calm her down. She replied: [Qiao Sang]: It¡¯s just my information; no need to escte 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 Sangughed and exined how money was more important. However, Little Treasure keptining 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 ced 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-rted 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, nced at her. ¡°Got proof of authenticity?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her ID card and ced it on the ss 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 nced 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 cate Qiao Sang. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll pay today¡¯s rate!¡± --- Twenty minutester, Qiao Sang left the shop with 206,000 Alliance Coins. Checking her ount bnce, 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 poprity. Particrly heated were the Shengshui High School students arguing in thements. And when other schools confirmed the thread¡¯s ims, its credibility skyrocketed. This led to Qiao Sang making small fortunes daily from selling information. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°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¡¯sing 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 groupbat 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.¡± ¡°Thepetition 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 exined. 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 Schoolpeted against us once inst 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 borated. ¡°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. ¡°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 exin 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 schoolpetes 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 thepetition, 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 fromst 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 silentlymented. 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 officialpetitions 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 ce 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 thisst 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 me 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!" At that moment, the big spender who had paid 1,000 alliance coins nced 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 apanying 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 regtions, 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 particrly bright. All eyes locked onto the beast that appeared in the center. A male student couldn¡¯t help but exim, "Holy crap! A green array?!" Even among seniors, beasts with green arrays were rare nationwide. Another student gasped, "No way, it¡¯s a me Hound?!" "Yap!" Yabao, the me Hound, was already used to such attention. He nced 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 sunsses from his ring and handed them to her. In everyone¡¯s eyes, the sunsses 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 ce them on his face with ir. The room fell silent. After a few seconds, the doctor broke the tension. "You¡¯ll need to remove the sunsses 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 sessionsted 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 me 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 hourter, the other students from Shengshui High were already waiting for her. "Why were you so slow? We¡¯ve been waiting forever!" Xu Yixuanined, 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 headacheing 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 herputer, 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? Mypetition starts tomorrow." Chapter 301: Pet Beasts Traning Base Leaning against the headboard, Ye Xiangting smiled softly. Finally, this kid remembered to call me... ¡°Tomorrow morning at 9:20, but we have to gather at school by 7:30.¡± Qiao Sang answered. Thepetition time and location were confirmed today after the pet beast health checks werepleted. The coach had promptly issued the notice. Individual and team battles for grades one through three of high school would all take ce at the same location. However, coordination groups, despitepeting at the same school, had a different venue. ¡°Gather at 7:30?¡± Ye Xiangting nced at the time on her phone, put it back to her ear, and said, ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you sleeping yet? It¡¯s almost 11:00.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°I wanted to call you first.¡± Ye Xiangting held back a smile, maintaining the tone of a stern mother. ¡°Go to sleep now, or you¡¯ll end upte tomorrow.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qiao Sang replied, about to hang up. ¡°Wait!¡± Just as the call was about to end, Ye Xiangting suddenly called out. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Sang put the phone back to her ear. ¡°Where¡¯s thepetition? Can parentse to watch?¡± Ye Xiangting asked. ¡°It¡¯s at the Pet Beast Training Base in Xihuai District.¡± Qiao Sang replied after a moment of thought. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about parents. If you want toe, I can ask the teacher.¡± ¡°No need. The store just opened, and I don¡¯t have time to go.¡± Ye Xiangting paused, then added, ¡°But try tost as long as you can in thepetition. Who knows, I might be able to drop by one day.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Sang chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best tost until you cane watch.¡± After hanging up, Ye Xiangting looked delighted. She instinctively opened her contact list, wanting to call everyone she knew, but stopped when she realized the time, it waste, and some people might already be asleep. After thinking for a moment, she opened the family group chat and tagged everyone. [Was about to sleep, but my daughter¡¯s call woke me up. Who else isn¡¯t asleep yet?] Second Sister-in-Law was the first to reply: [Xiangting, doesn¡¯t your Qiao Sang still go to school? Howe she has her phone with her?] Gotcha! Ye Xiangting¡¯s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she opened Second Sister-in-Law¡¯s chat and called her directly. ¡°Second Sister-in-Law, still awake? Great! I can¡¯t sleep either, so I thought I¡¯d chat. Qiao Sang has apetition tomorrow, you know, the National Campus Beast Mastering League. Have you heard of it?¡± Meanwhile, as a member of the family group, Qiao Sang stared at the chat log showing her mother tagging everyone, Second Aunt replying, and both suddenly disappearing from the group. She was speechless for a long moment. One second of silence for Second Aunt. --- October 27th - Sunny Because of the early gathering time, Yabao, Qiao Sang¡¯s pet beast, was usually still asleep at this hour. To ensure Yabao was in good condition, Qiao Sang finished her morning routine, donned her school uniform, and walked to the school gate alone. At this hour, two buses were parked outside Shengshui High School. One bus was for the battle group, and the other was for the coordination group. Around the buses, school team members huddled in groups, chatting with middle-aged adults, likely their parents. Besides the buses, several private cars and some rare, high-level pet beasts that were umon around the school could be seen. These belonged to the families of the team members. Walking up to the bus for the battle group, Qiao Sang was about to board when a familiar voice called out to her. Turning, she saw her mother beaming at her, with a plump fat dove pet beast fluttering its wings beside her. ¡°Mom? What are you doing here?¡± Qiao Sang asked, surprised. ¡°Woke up early and couldn¡¯t sleep. Figured I¡¯de see you off since I had nothing else to do.¡± Ye Xiangting said with a smile. Just say you wanted to send me off, Qiao Sang thought warmly, then teased, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the store is busy since it just opened? Shouldn¡¯t you have a lot to do?¡± ¡°The store opens at nine, and it¡¯s only seven. I¡¯ll have plenty of time to get back. If I couldn¡¯t make it, I wouldn¡¯t havee.¡± Ye Xiangting said matter-of-factly. Qiao Sang: ... ¡°By the way, have you eaten yet?¡± Ye Xiangting asked. Of course I have!Though it was early, she¡¯d grabbed a piece of bread on the way. Noticing the bag in her mother¡¯s hand, Qiao Sang paused and shook her head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Ye Xiangting handed over the bag with a gentle smile. ¡°I made something you like this morning. You can eat it on the bus.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Sang epted it with a nod. --- Xihuai District, Pet Beast Training Base The Pet Beast Training Base is a multi-functional facilitybining lodging, dining, training,petitions, and even vacation amenities. Nearly 70% of the teams participating in nationalpetitions have spent time here. Unlike Beastmaster Centers, this base caters specifically to young students and requires government approval for entry. When Qiao Sang got off the bus, she saw the parking lot was already packed with busesbeled with various school names, over 40 in total. Each bus represented a school, meaning over 40 schools were participating in today¡¯s preliminaries. Just then, Xu Yixuan tugged on Qiao Sang¡¯s sleeve. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Yicheng Beastmaster High School.¡± Xu Yixuan pointed at a group of students wearing blue-and-white uniforms. Qiao Sang followed her gaze. After yesterday¡¯s health checks, the coach had not only informed them of thepetition time and location but also shared their group assignment. Shengshui High was ced in Group A2. Among their opponents, Yicheng Beastmaster High School was the most prominent name. Though only a county-level school, Yicheng High¡¯s reputation rivaled some city-level schools, with its high college admission rates. Inst year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League, one of its Grade 11 students had even made it to the province¡¯s top 24. That Grade 11 student was now in Grade 12. ncing briefly at the group, Qiao Sang lost interest and turned away. Her focus was on defeating Fiqi Beastmaster High. Other schools could wait until they crossed paths. --- The Xihuai District training base had 22petition arenas in total. Grades 10 through 12 were separated and assigned different arenas. For Group A2, Grade 12¡¯s matches were in Area C. The audience seats around Area C were slowly filling with school leaders, coaches, and media reporters. ¡°Principal, what are you doing here?!¡± Sun Boyi eximed in surprise. Principal Wang chuckled. ¡°How could I miss the annual National Campus Beast Mastering League? By the way, where¡¯s Qiao Sang?¡± Chapter 302: Come On, Were Opponents Chapter 302: Come On, We''re Opponents Read at: /?m=1 ----- In previous editions of the National Campus Beast Mastering League, you only showed up for matches against Litan Beastmaster High. Even when our school made it to the top ten in the province, you didn¡¯t bother toe¡­ Sun Boyi inwardly grumbled but kept his face neutral. He pointed to a spot in front and said, ¡°She¡¯s over there.¡± Following the direction of Sun Boyi¡¯s finger, Wang Weidou immediately spotted Qiao Sang among a group of simrly dressed students. His eyes lit up with delight, and the longer he looked, the more pleased he became. Look at her! First year!Three beasts! And all at intermediate level! What a gem! And she¡¯s from our school! If Liu Yao hadn¡¯t personally confirmed it, someone he knew wouldn¡¯t joke about such matters, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it even if his wife told him. While Principal Wang had high hopes for Qiao Sang initially, he hadn¡¯t expected this level of excellence. Those guys from Litan? If they knew about this, they wouldn¡¯t dare boast about Ding Yanjing in front of me anymore! At the thought, Wang Weidou¡¯s gaze grew even more fiery. ¡°Why do I feel like someone¡¯s staring at me?¡± Qiao Sang hesitated and nced around. ¡°Is it them?¡± Xu Yixuan subtly nodded toward a group of people nearby. Qiao Sang looked in the indicated direction and saw a group from Fiqi Beastmaster High School. Among them, a boy at the front noticed her gaze and shed a toothy grin. ¡°That guy¡¯s Li Kun.¡± Xu Yixuan warned. ¡°Don¡¯t let his friendly demeanor fool you, he¡¯s as cunning as theye.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Qiao Sang asked, intrigued. ¡°He likes to cozy up to opponents before matches to gather intel.¡± Xu Yixuan exined. Qiao Sang shrugged. ¡°Collecting intel seems pretty standard to me.¡± After all, this was the National Campus Beast Mastering League, not some casual game. The winners would earn qualification for elite academies¡¯ assessments. To Qiao Sang, gleaning information from opponents was perfectly normal. ¡°It¡¯s not just that." Xu Yixuan whispered. ¡°He pretends to be weak before matches, making his opponents hesitate to go all out. Then, when the time is right, he¡¯ll have his beast unleash a devastating attack. Most people fall for it.¡± She gritted her teeth as she recalled. Qiao Sang got the gist. ¡°So, he acts like a frail Lin Daiyu before transforming into a fierce warrior like Cheng Yaojin during the match?¡± She turned to Xu Yixuan with a knowing smile. ¡°You fell for it too, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xu Yixuan awkwardly chuckled. ¡°I may have held back a tiny bit early on, but I still won¡­¡± Before she could finish, Xu Yixuan tugged on Qiao Sang¡¯s sleeve and signaled with her eyes. ¡°He¡¯sing over. Probably to probe you for information.¡± Sure enough, Li Kun walked up to them. ¡°You¡¯re the famous Qiao Sang everyone¡¯s been talking about, right?¡± He greeted with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯m Li Kun from Fiqi Beastmaster High.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Qiao Sang returned his smile. ¡°Are you really a first-year?¡± Li Kun asked, feigning disbelief. ¡°Yep.¡± Qiao Sang replied cheerfully. ¡°Do I not look like one?¡± The two chatted casually, like old friends catching up. Their easygoing conversation left Xu Yixuan puzzled. Didn¡¯t I just warn her that this guy¡¯s fishing for intel? Why is she so chummy with him?! As the conversation wound down, Li Kun nonchntly asked, ¡°So, which beast are you nning to send out first?¡± Qiao Sang pretended to ponder before replying, ¡°Probably my Treasure-Seeking Demon.¡± ¡°Qiao Sang!¡± Xu Yixuan eximed in rm. ¡°How could you just tell him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Sang said confidently. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose anyway.¡± Xu Yixuan blinked in surprise. ¡°True, I guess¡­¡± Li Kun: ¡­ --- The preliminary matches for all grade levels were underway simultaneously. In the first phase, individuals in the battle group had to face three members from opposing school teams in turn. After each round, professional medics would heal the beasts, ensuring they were ready for the next fight. As the high school seniors¡¯ matches continued, the first-years had already wrapped up their rounds, given that most of their beasts were still at the beginner level. ¡°A2 Group, Shengshui High¡¯s Qiao Sang versus Fiqi Beastmaster High¡¯s Zhao Weiwei.¡± The announcement rang out across Zone C. In the waiting area, a girl with a headband asked, ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll really send out the Treasure-Seeking Demon first?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Li Kun replied with a grin. ¡°These top school kids are all the same. Either they keep quiet or overshare everything. It¡¯s because they¡¯re too confident in their strength and don¡¯t take us seriously.¡± Li Kun wasn¡¯t expecting to win every match, but with his intel, at least one of his team members should be able to counter Qiao Sang¡¯s beast and secure some points. That way, even if they didn¡¯t dominate Shengshui High, they wouldn¡¯t leave empty-handed. But just as Li Kun grew confident in his strategy, the arena lit up with a gray and green summoning array. ¡°Fang Fang!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± A ck beast and a red-and-white one appeared on the field. Li Kun froze, his mind nk. Wait, what?! She sent out the me Hound?! Where¡¯s the Treasure-Seeking Demon?! ¡°You said you¡¯d send the Treasure-Seeking Demon!¡± Zhao Weiwei cried out from the field, furious at the misinformation. ¡°Come on.¡± Qiao Sang said innocently. ¡°We¡¯re opponents. Did you really believe me?¡± Zhao Weiwei felt a pang of regret. Why did we fall for that? On the observation deck, a male reporter excitedly asked, ¡°Principal Wang, I didn¡¯t realize the me Hound belonged to one of your students! What are your thoughts on the match?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me.¡± Wang Weidou replied, his eyes glued to the arena. ¡°Just watch. If you blink, you might miss everything.¡± The reporter was puzzled. ¡°Miss everything? The match hasn¡¯t even started yet¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the referee¡¯s mechanical beast blew the starting whistle. The me Hound vanished in an instant, reappearing behind the Double-Headed ck Crow. ¡°Yap!¡± With a roar, searing mes engulfed the crow, which fell to the ground with a wail. The fire dissipated, leaving the Double-Headed ck Crow unconscious. The match hadsted all of three seconds. Zone C fell silent. ----- ----- Chapter 303: Dont Get Distracted So Easily Chapter 303: Don''t Get Distracted So Easily As the referee''s whistle blew, chaos erupted in the stands. "Wait, it¡¯s over? Already?!" "What just happened? Did that me Hound just teleport? Isn¡¯t it a fire-type beast?!" "Did they even fight? I just bent down to grab a bottle of water, and it¡¯s over?!" This was absurd! Every studentpeting in the National Campus Beast Mastering League was a top contender from their respective schools. Even with some differences in strength, the gap shouldn¡¯t be this massive! Amid the uproar, Qiao Sang remained remarkably calm. She understood why the victory had been so effortless: Her opponent had no idea that Yabao had an additional psychic attribute. This information gap meant they werepletely unprepared. As the tournament progressed, battles would inevitably be tougher. Opponents would grow stronger, and her beast¡¯s abilities and strategies would be more exposed, giving future challengers a chance to devise countermeasures. Such swift and decisive victories were rare and unlikely to happen again inter rounds. "Yabao, don¡¯t let your guard down. This is only the first match." Qiao Sang cautioned. "Yap!" Yabao barked confidently, signaling his readiness to fight seriously. The whistle for the second match blew, and Zhao Weiwei, still dazed from her earlier defeat, hesitantly formed the summoning seal. A gray star array lit up, and Qiao Sang, along with Yabao, fixed their gazes on the field. "Eary~" From the array appeared a feline-like beast with ears longer than a rabbit¡¯s,zily licking its left paw. Qiao Sang: ¡­ Yabao: ¡­ An entry-level beast: Long-Eared Cat. Wasn¡¯t this just handing them the win? The match began, and with a single Fire Whirl, Yabao overwhelmed the Long-Eared Cat. The match ended even faster than the previous one, by two seconds. The crowd in Zone C fell silent. Though everyone had anticipated the oue, they hadn¡¯t expected the match to end before they could even process it. The gap in strength was simply too enormous. Except for those from Shengshui High, the expressions of participants and leaders from other schools grew increasingly grim. After all, most of them were in Group A2 and would eventually face Qiao Sang. Over at the Fiqi Beast Taming High bench, the senior coach addressed the team with a stern face. "When it¡¯s your turn, hold back. Don¡¯t show your full strength. If necessary, just lose. Understood?" "But why?" A girl with a headband asked, puzzled. "The coach means to conserve our strength for others." Li Kun exined, his eyes never leaving Qiao Sang on the field. "We have no chance against her. It¡¯s better to lose deliberately and keep others guessing about our abilities." Exactly! The coach nodded in satisfaction. This was a points-based preliminary. Missing out on a few points here was fine as long as they made up for it elsewhere. Realistically, they never stood much of a chance against Shengshui High, especially not against this monster of a student. Fire and psychic attributes together? Their school¡¯s students didn¡¯t stand a chance. The girl with the headband mulled it over and added, "Honestly, even if we wanted to show all our strength, I don¡¯t think we¡¯d have the opportunity to." Coach: ¡­ The preliminaries required each participant to face three members of another school¡¯s team in a single day. After each match, there was a ten-minute break for healing and recovery. Ten minutester, Qiao Sang and Yabao took the field again. At the Shengshui High bench: "The second opponent is Li Kun. I saw Qiao Sang chatting quite a bit with him earlier. She might go easy on him in the next matches." He Dadao analyzed. Xu Yixuan snorted. "I thought the same before Qiao Sang startedpeting." Who would have thought such a seemingly genuine and straightforward junior could be so devious? If Xu Yixuan hadn¡¯t overheard Qiao Sang and Li Kun¡¯s entire conversation earlier and then seen her send out me Hound instead of Treasure-Seeking Demon, she might have believed they¡¯d hit it off. Junior Qiao was terrifying! On the field, the whistle blew. Li Kun, adopting his usual strategy, prepared to feign weakness. "You tricked me." He said, his tone full of grievance. "Ember." Qiao Sangmanded. "Yap!" Yabao shot out a concentrated burst of mes filled with devastating energy. Startled, Li Kun¡¯s Twin-Tailed Snake instinctivelyshed the ground with its tail, propelling itself several meters away. However, the me spark curved mid-air and homed in on the snake as itnded. Boom!!! The mes erupted on impact, and the Twin-Tailed Snake crumpled to the ground. The match was over. Li Kun: ??? I just said one sentence, and you attacked immediately? Where¡¯s your sportsmanship?! Not even a word of small talk before striking? We talked so much earlier, did that mean nothing?! After the referee announced the match results, Qiao Sang looked at Li Kun and sincerely advised, "This is an official match. Don¡¯t let yourself get distracted. I hope you won¡¯t make the same mistake next time." Li Kun: ¡­ "Was that Ember?" "It should be. I think I heard her call it Ember." "Can Ember really be that powerful? Enough to knock out a beast of the same tier?" "It¡¯s all about proficiency. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that me Hound has likely mastered the skill to its peak." "Mastered it? You mean¡­" "Yes, the ultimate form: The ¡®Secret Art¡¯ level." A collective gasp swept through the crowd. A Secret Art-level skill? That was something rarely seen, even in the finals of the National Campus Beast Mastering League! Amid the murmurs, the next match began. This time, Li Kun summoned a Power-Beaked Duck. "Water counters fire. Finally, Fiqi Beast Taming High won¡¯t be instantly defeated. I¡¯m starting to feel bad for them." "Don¡¯t forget, me Hound is also psychic-type." "That¡¯s true. Still, how long do you think this match willst?" "Ten seconds, maybe? At least water counters fire." "I¡¯m guessing eight seconds." Despite the discussion, no one doubted Qiao Sang¡¯s victory. The whistle blew. Li Kun raised his hand, ready to issue amand. But before he could speak, Qiao Sang said, "I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you earlier." Li Kun froze, caught off guard. In that brief moment of distraction, a pained squawk echoed across the field. Li Kun turned toward the noise, only to see his Power-Beaked Duck standing outside the arena¡¯s boundary. During that fleeting pause, Yabao had used Psychic Control to push the duck out of bounds. ording to tournament rules, a beast was disqualified if it was forced out of the arena. Qiao Sang looked at Li Kun, her tone serious. "I told you, this is an official match. Don¡¯t get distracted so easily." Li Kun: !!! Chapter 304: I Dont Have Time to Watch Chapter 304: I Don''t Have Time to Watch Who in their right mind zones out during a battle! Li Kun''s blood pressure spiked instantly, nearly causing him to cough up blood on the spot. He had never encountered someone so underhanded, despicable, and cunning in his life! It was as if the word schemer was stered across her forehead. "Shameless! Absolutely shameless!" Unaware of the raging insults directed at her, Qiao Sang felt a twinge of regret. She should havemanded Yabao to attack directly earlier. Forcing the opponent out of boundscked a certain sense of finality. --- "This Qiao Sang, so young yet so full of tricks. I bet the next contestant from Fiqi Beast Taming High School will struggle to keep it together." Commented a school leader in the spectator seats.Thepetition area for Group C wasn¡¯t vast, but it wasn¡¯t small either. Most of the leaders watching in the audience were professional beast tamers with heightened senses. As long as they focused on the arena, they could clearly hear the conversations between the contestants. "This match... I still can¡¯t tell the real skill level of either student. One is so weak their beast didn¡¯t even get a chance to attack, and the other is so overwhelmingly strong they win in a single move." Someone sighed. "Fiqi¡¯s students seem pointless to analyze, but Qiao Sang from Shengshui High deserves our attention. Unfortunately, with her current dominance, it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll see her true abilities even when she faces our school." --- Matches weren¡¯t just about entertainment. The leaders of the eight schools in Group A2 weren¡¯t here merely to show support for the National Campus Beast Mastering League. They were also here to gather intelligence: Observing contestants¡¯ battle styles, the skills their beasts used, and their physical or strategic strengths. In short, they sought details far beyond the general student chatter online. "That me Hound of hers... It¡¯s fast, powerful, and well-coordinated with its tamer. I don¡¯t think many in Group A2 will be able to match her." One leader noted gravely. "Let¡¯s not forget." Added another, "She still has two other beasts." The room fell silent. There was no point discussing further, it would only make them feel worse. --- While the spectators deliberated, Fiqi Beast Taming Highschool¡¯s final contestant stepped into the arena. The mechanical beast serving as the referee let out a sharp whistle to signal the start of the match. This time, instead of retreating a full ten meters, it hovered just two meters above the ground. "Kua Kua." The mechanical beast gazed down at the fiery red figure below, unwilling to move too far away, after all, it didn¡¯t want to keep flying back and forth between matches that ended almost instantly. Predictably, Qiao Sang won. Yabao needed only two bursts of fire to dispatch the opponent''s beasts. While Fuqi¡¯s contestants¡¯ pets attempted to dodge, Yabao used Psychokinesis to redirect the mes, ensuring no one could escape. It was as if the fireballs were homing missiles. --- Back in the observation area, the school leaders were not pleased. Among them, only Wang Weidou, the principal of Shengshui High, was grinning ear to ear. Having observed previous leagues, the leaders were well-acquainted with Shengshui¡¯s usual lineup. Aside from Xu Yixuan, who was consistently ranked in the province¡¯s top three, the other two contestants usually hovered around the top 30. Rankings between the 10th and 50th positions fluctuated significantly. It was not umon forpetitors to climb or drop several spots depending on tactics and determination. For instance,st year¡¯s breakout star, Zhang Shiming from Yicheng Beast Taming High School, rose from 48th to 24th in the province. However, Qiao Sang''s overwhelming performance this year left everyone rattled. Even though she¡¯d only used her me Hound, it was evident that her spot in the provincial top 10 was secure. That meant every other school¡¯s students would drop one rank. --- As the referee dered Qiao Sang the winner, a middle-aged man dressed in ck silently left the audience. Although he rose from the front row, blocking the view for many others, no one nced in his direction. It was as if he didn¡¯t exist. Stepping outside the venue, the man nced around cautiously before pulling out his phone. "Hello, Principal? It¡¯s me." "The Shengshui High student, Qiao Sang, is formidable. The reports about her me Hound are true. "She hasn¡¯t summoned her other two beasts yet, but her me Hound not only has fire abilities but also psychic traits. Its Ember has reached the pinnacle of mastery, capable of redirecting mid-flight using Psychokinesis." "Thus far, her tactics are unclear, she finishes battles in one or two moves. But she¡¯s adept at destabilizing her opponents mentally, without resorting to trash talk." "I¡¯ve recorded her matches and will send the footage to you. Have Ding Yanjing review it. There¡¯s a good chance they¡¯ll face offter." "Of course, I¡¯m confident in Ding Yanjing." "By the way, how are things on your end?" --- "We¡¯re done over here." Came a reply from the sky. Atop an eight-meter-wide flying beast, a man with short whiskers on his cheeks spoke through a speakerphone. "All three of our contestants won decisively, each earning 18 points." "By the way, has Xu Yixuan from Shengshuipeted yet? If not, stay and watch her match. I¡¯m heading to lunch now." After hanging up, the man turned to the three teens behind him and said, "You heard him. Watch the footage after lunch." One of the teens, lounging leisurely on the beast¡¯s back with a lollipop in his mouth, repliedzily, "Principal, I don¡¯t have time for that. My Guwei Blossom is about to evolve." Chapter 305: Mechanical-Type Beast Chapter 305: Mechanical-Type Beast The man¡¯s tone was stern: ¡°I don¡¯t care when your Guwei Blossom evolves. When you get back, you¡¯re watching the video. If it evolves right after you return, then watch it after it evolves!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the principle of overconfidence leading to failure? Fire and psychic types, your Guwei Blossom won¡¯t gain any advantage even after evolving into a Guwei Sunflower!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have only one contracted beast." Ding Yanjing retorted, unfazed by the principal¡¯s authority. The two boys beside him kept their heads down, silently absorbed in their phones, hoping to avoid any fallout. They were far too familiar with this scene and knew Ding Yanjing wouldn¡¯t get away unscathed. Sure enough, the man¡¯s face darkened as he added, ¡°When you get back, watch the video and write a 1,000-word strategy. If you don¡¯t, forget about dinner tonight!¡± Ding Yanjing: ...Litan Royal Beast High School¡¯s principal, Huang Renbiao, was a former military officer. Even with students like Ding Yanjing, who brought great honor to the school, he maintained strict discipline. This strictness was one reason Ding Yanjing always studied his opponents thoroughly and achieved remarkable results inpetitions. --- In Xihuai District, at the Royal Beast Training Base... A middle-aged man ended his call and entered a nearby convenience store. He ced a bottle of mineral water on the counter. The cashier, engrossed in a video, didn¡¯t even notice someone standing at the register. The man seemed to think of something. With a wave of his hand, the small beast napping in his pocket vanished. A subtle, unseen force dissipated around him. Startled, the cashier suddenly realized someone was in front of him. Hastily setting his phone down, he scanned the barcode. ¡°That¡¯ll be three alliance coins.¡± The man ced three coins on the counter without a word, picked up the bottle, and walked out. The cashier, staring at the man¡¯s back, muttered, ¡°Weird... He¡¯s a big guy. How did I not notice him walk in?¡± --- Meanwhile, battles in Group A2 were ongoing. Having secured her 18 points, Qiao Sang didn¡¯t leave but instead stayed in the Saintwater High seating area to watch the matches. ¡°Yap?!¡± Yabao still hadn¡¯t recovered from his shock. It¡¯s over? Already?! Qiao Sang gently patted his head tofort him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s still a long way to go. You¡¯ll only face stronger opponents from now on.¡± ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao looked doubtful. Is that really true? Qiao Sang noticed his growing skepticism and thought, Well, well... growing up, aren¡¯t we? Learning to question me now... Feigning seriousness, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao shook his head firmly, his gaze full of unwavering trust. His expression was so earnest that Qiao Sang felt a little guilty. After all, she¡¯d tricked him countless times before. Clearing her throat, she diverted his attention. ¡°Focus on the matches.¡± ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao turned to the battlefield, watching the two battling beasts with an unusually serious expression. Meanwhile, Qiao Sang¡¯s gaze drifted upward to the mechanical beast acting as referee. A mechanical beast... It¡¯s my first time seeing one in real life. Qiao Sang studied the metal-covered creature floating in midair, her thoughts drifting. Mechanical beasts, also known as artificial beasts, are different from other types. Most are created and imbued with life artificially. Of course, not all mechanical beasts are made this way. As the field of beast taming advanced, people discovered new ways to create them. Initially, it was believed they could only be cloned through DNA or formed from artificial materials without human intervention. Later, researchers found that mysterious rays, dark ghostly energies, and a man-made soul called a Soul Core could also grant them sentience and mobility. The referee beast above was one such creation, made using smart chips and mechanical materials. Most mechanical beast tamers build their beasts themselves, as this allows them to maximize potential and n for future evolution. Because of their rarity andplexity, mechanical beasts are seldom seen contracted by everyday tamers. Some regions, however, tell a different story. In Yuhua District, mechanical beasts are a rarity. But in Liaoxi, they¡¯re amon sight. The reason? Many locals grow up to be researchers and scientists, fostering an environment where artificial intelligence thrives. With this technological influence, children in Liaoxi often aspire to create their own mechanical beasts, carrying on the tradition generation after generation. Staring at the referee beast, Qiao Sang thought, If I ever get enough contract slots, a mechanical beast would be a nice addition. Its appearance and functions could be tailored to her preferences, and with a smart chip installed, it could analyze and solve problems on the go. A must-have for daily life and travel! --- The league continued smoothly. Though Xu Yixuan and He Dadao didn¡¯t finish their opponents as swiftly as Qiao Sang, they still secured their 18 points over six matches. --- Half an Hour Later At the Xihuai District training grounds¡¯ dormitories... With matches spanning an entire week, all teamspeting in the area were housed in the on-site dorms, built to hotel standards. Each room amodated two people, but with contracted beasts sharing the space, it felt a bit crowded. ¡°Yap yap!¡± ¡°Yan!¡± Yabao and YanYan locked eyes, instantly adopting battle stances. mes flickered on Yabao¡¯s teeth, while me Sparrow spread its wings wide. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t get along, they just loved a good fight. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure appeared, his expression brimming with excitement. Floating between Yabao and YanYan, he pulled out his round ring and rummaged through it. Momentster, he retrieved a whistle. At that moment, Qiao Sang was chatting with Wang Yao. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect us to be roommates.¡± Qiao Sang said. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s nice. Some people have to room withpetitors from other schools. That¡¯s gotta suck.¡± Raising an eyebrow, Qiao Sang teased, ¡°You mean Senior Xu?¡± Wang Yao burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha! Exactly her!¡± ¡°Pweeet!¡± Suddenly, a sharp whistle interrupted their conversation. Startled, Qiao Sang turned to see Little Treasure holding a red whistle in one paw and swinging his other paw downward. The motion felt oddly familiar... While Qiao Sang pondered, Wang Yaomented, ¡°When did you buy that whistle, Qiao Sang? It looks just like the referee¡¯s.¡± Chapter 306: Shes Not Breaking Her Promise Chapter 306: She''s Not Breaking Her Promise A whistle? I didn¡¯t buy a whistle¡­ Qiao Sang stared nkly at the whistle in Little Treasure''s w. It looked strikingly simr to the one that mechanical pet beast referee had earlier today¡­ No way¡­ A bad feeling crept into Qiao Sang¡¯s chest. Steadying herself, she asked, ¡°Little Treasure, where did this whistlee from?¡± Little Treasure, who was busy urging Yabao and YanYan to start their duel, heard his Beastmaster¡¯s voice. He lowered his head to nce at the whistle in his w and wiggled it a bit. ¡°Xun Xun?¡± Is this what you mean? ¡°Yes, that one.¡± Qiao Sang nodded.¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as he happily exined. He had exchanged Yabao¡¯s sunsses for it. ¡°Yap?!¡± Yabao instantly forgot his staring contest with YanYan. He turned to Little Treasure, eyes wide with disbelief. My sunsses?! You traded my sunsses for this worthless piece of junk?! ¡°Xun Xun~¡± Little Treasure shook his stubby w, signaling for Yabao to calm down. From his ring, he began pulling out a series of colorful sunsses and lined them up neatly. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure gave a cheerful cry, trying to please his elder brother. See? All your favorite colors are still here. I specifically chose one you never use to trade. ¡°Yap¡­¡± Yabao rxed when he saw his favorite styles were all ounted for. Sitting on the floor, he extended a w and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± Nice trade! ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure scratched his head shyly, looking both proud and humble. Just then, the whistle in Little Treasure''s w floated up, slowly making its way to Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao grabbed it excitedly, giving a happy cry. Since it was traded for with my sunsses, it¡¯s mine now! Little Treasure: !!! --- ¡°You¡¯re so lucky your two pet beasts get along so well.¡± Wang Yao said enviously, watching Yabao and Little Treasure interact. Most pet beasts trained separately. Keeping two around meant sending the other to a pet training center for boarding, so they rarely interacted this much. Now reassured the whistle was legally acquired, Qiao Sangughed heartily. ¡°Of course! Little Treasure grew up under Yabao¡¯s watchful eye.¡± --- That night, Little Treasure, who was being praised for his great rtionship with Yabao, grew more and more annoyed thinking about the whistle he had worked so hard to obtain. Looking at the sleeping Yabao, he rolled his eyes and suddenly came up with an idea. Floating over to his Beastmaster, he gently shook her with his w. At 3:22 a.m., Qiao Sang was in deep sleep,pletely unaffected. Little Treasure, now a pro at this routine, pinched her nose shut. ¡°Mmgh!¡± Unable to breathe, Qiao Sang reluctantly opened her eyes. ¡°What is it¡­¡± She murmured, half-asleep, finding Little Treasure¡¯s face right in front of her. She didn¡¯t react with shock, just a mix of resignation and helplessness. It wasn¡¯t because she had nerves of steel, Little Treasure had done this far too many times. Sometimes he even licked her awake, leaving her face drenched in drool. Qiao Sang had built up a tolerance. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure clenched his tiny w into a fist, looking serious. He wanted to participate in tomorrow¡¯s match! If he fought, Big Brother Yabao, who loved battles, would definitely be upset. This is his revenge! ¡°Alright.¡± Qiao Sang agreed without hesitation. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Xun Xun.¡± Little Treasure shook his head. ¡°Then let me sleep.¡± Qiao Sang yawned and closed her eyes again. ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure nodded, satisfied. The room fell silent once more. Little Treasure floated to the windowsill and gazed up at the moon. ¡°Xun¡­¡± For tomorrow¡¯s battle, he should train¡­ Thinking this, Little Treasure began searching the floor. Maybe he could find some ants here¡­ --- The preliminary rounds of the qualifier continued in full swing. Based on the first day of matches, someonepiled a tally. Throughout Zhejiang Province, there were 67 students who scored a full set of points on the first day. The province¡¯s high school forum had a thread that listed these students, ssifying them as the first-tierpetitors while also posting their photos and the pet beasts they used in the first match. Qiao Sang was among them. ¡°So, that¡¯s Qiao Sang?¡± ¡°Looks like her. Must be.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t believe the Beastmaster of that me Hound is someone our age. I thought it¡¯d be some veteran.¡± ¡°Do you even use the inte? The hound¡¯s been featured in a sunsses ad, and its Beastmaster¡¯s info was dug up ages ago. She won a championship right after finishing her high school entrance exam.¡± ¡°Right after the entrance exam? So she¡¯s only been a Beastmaster for a short time? And she already won? Thatpetition must¡¯ve been weak.¡± ¡°Weak? It was the Bai Xin Competition. Any F-rank Beastmaster could enter, and plenty of them had intermediate-level pet beasts.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ That¡¯s impressive.¡± Regardless of whether people had seen her C-Zone match yesterday, all eyes in the B-Zone were on Qiao Sang today. Among Shengshui High¡¯s senior team, all members were part of the first-tierpetitors, but they were veterans who hadpeted twice before. None drew as much curiosity as Qiao Sang, who was aplete neer to the senior team. --- As matches proceeded, the spotlight turned to Shengshui High¡¯s match against Pinghai High. Pinghai High was notorious for its water-type pet beasts, making it a natural counter to fire types. Qiao Sang deliberated. Yabao hadn¡¯t faced a worthy opponent in a long time. Yesterday¡¯s match didn¡¯t even count as a warm-up. Perhaps a school specializing in water types could give Yabao a good fight. Practical experience was the key to progress. Then she remembered herte-night promise to Little Treasure. After a moment of hesitation, her expression cleared. Little Treasure had woken her at 3 a.m., which was already October 28th. It had said it wanted to fight tomorrow, and she¡¯d agreed. Today was still October 28th. Letting Yabao fight wouldn¡¯t break her promise. Chapter 307: This Person Has Some Skills Chapter 307: This Person Has Some Skills The second match was already underway. ¡°That¡¯s a pet beast I haven¡¯t seen before.¡± Qiao Sang remarked, observing the creature at the center of the arena. It had a blue body with a white belly, long blue whiskers, a thick upward-curving tail, and prominent front teeth. ¡°That¡¯s a Marine Gnawer.¡± Xu Yixuan exined, adjusting her sses. ¡°It¡¯s a pet beast from the Guwu Region. Don¡¯t be fooled by its small size, its teeth can gnaw through trees.¡± Her thoughts drifted momentarily before she added, ¡°You know, it¡¯d be nice to have one around. Opening walnuts would be a breeze.¡± Realizing she had gone off track, she returned to the topic at hand. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry. While the Marine Gnawer is a regional pet, it¡¯s no different from any ordinary water-type pet beast. Just go about the fight as usual. Even He Dadao could win this round.¡± No sooner had she spoken than the Marine Gnawerunched a Water Stream Jet straight at the opposing pet, a ze Gori. The gori didn¡¯t dodge and responded head-on with zing mes.Just when it seemed the two attacks would collide, the Water Stream Jet unexpectedly spiraled around the fire attack, closing in on the ze Gori and striking it directly. The gori let out a pained roar. Cheers erupted from Pinghai High School¡¯s section. Fortunately, the ze Gori¡¯s thick hide prevented it from being knocked out immediately. Xu Yixuan¡¯s lips twitched. Was she being proven wrong already? Could He Dadao handle this or not? It was only the second match. Qiao Sang, however, was more focused on the Marine Gnawer, reying the earlier move in her mind. Having trained Lubao in Water Stream Jet, she understood the intricacies of controlling the attack. Redirecting its trajectory was already challenging, but making it spiral around another attack required immense precision and physical control. This wasn¡¯t something an average trainer could teach. ¡°She¡¯s got skills.¡± Qiao Sang murmured, eyeing the Marine Gnawer¡¯s trainer. In the past two tournaments, Shengshui High School hadn¡¯t gone up against Pinghai High, leaving He Dadao with limited information about their team. Beyond knowing their names, pets, and water-training expertise, he was clueless, unlike his prepared approach against Fiqi Beast Taming High. As the match progressed, He Dadao lost both the second and fifth rounds, earning only 12 points in total. With this score, he was likely to be temporarily removed from the top tier of contenders. ¡°Match A2: Shengshui High¡¯s Qiao Sang versus Pinghai High¡¯s Zhou Jing.¡± Announced the broadcaster. He Dadao slumped into his seat, still recovering from his losses. ¡°No big deal. You lost two matches, I¡¯ll win them back for you.¡± Qiao Sang said, patting his shoulder before heading toward the arena. He Dadao snapped out of his funk and watched her walk away, grumbling internally: This isn¡¯t even a teampetition! Your win doesn¡¯t help my record at all! Still, he rxed his posture slightly. Deep down, he did feel a bit better. But then Xu Yixuan¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°How did you lose two matches to Pinghai High? Especially against that Marine Gnawer. You made me look bad after I vouched for you!¡± She said, her tone icy. ¡°This wasn¡¯t even a water-themed field. How could you lose? Didn¡¯t the coach repeatedly remind you not to spam moves if you couldn¡¯t gain an early advantage? Why don¡¯t you listen?¡± ¡°And another thing¡­¡± He Dadao sighed heavily. Never mind. My mood¡¯s ruined again. As Qiao Sang stepped onto the field, the crowd buzzed with spection. ¡°Too bad we won¡¯t see the me Hound this time.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Pinghai High exclusively uses water-type pets. Qiao Sang wouldn¡¯t send out the me Hound.¡± ¡°True. But maybe we¡¯ll finally see her third pet. Nobody knows what it is yet, only that it¡¯s water-type.¡± ¡°Rx. We¡¯ll find out eventually. Even if she sends out her Treasure-Seeking Demon, it¡¯s not like it can sweep thepetition like the me Hound.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± As the chatter continued, the arena¡¯s star formation activated, summoning a familiar figure. ¡°Yal!¡± The audience fell silent, then erupted in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did she send out the me Hound?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she watch Pinghai High¡¯s matches earlier? Zhou Jing¡¯s pets are both water-type!¡± ¡°She has three pets! Why pick the one at a disadvantage?¡± ¡°Well¡­ the me Hound does have psychic abilities.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but water-type moves deal double damage to it!¡± ¡°Why are you so worked up? Are you from Shengshui High?¡± ¡°¡­Oh. Right.¡± On the field, Zhou Jing gave Qiao Sang a wry smile. ¡°You know both my pets are water-type. Are you overconfident or underestimating me?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for an answer, issuing her firstmand. ¡°High-Speed Spin!¡± ¡°Banban!¡± The yellow-shelled, orange-spotted Star-Spotted Turtle retracted into its shell and began spinning rapidly, hurtling toward the me Howler. Star-Spotted Turtle. A mid-tier pet beast, it prefers swampy grasnds. Each of its orange spots can spray water. Qiao Sang recalled the pet¡¯s details but didn¡¯t issue any instructions. The me Hound remained motionless, its gaze fixed on the spinning opponent. Why isn¡¯t it moving? Zhou Jing frowned, sensing something amiss. Her expression shifted as realization struck. ¡°Change direction, circle behind it!¡± The turtle abruptly veered left, positioning itself behind the me Hound. At that moment, the me Hound¡¯s eyes glowed blue. As I suspected, Zhou Jing thought, exhaling in relief. She had studied Shengshui High meticulously. The me Hound¡¯s psychic abilities were powerful enough to control advanced-level moves like me Burst. Qiao Sang smirked. This one¡¯s got some skills. ¡°Yap!¡± Realizing he couldn¡¯t restrain the opponent with his psychic abilities, Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. My trainer was right! The opponents are only getting stronger! Chapter 308: Marine Gnawer vs. Flame Hound Chapter 308: Marine Gnawer vs. me Hound Audience Stands. "Your school''s Zhou Jing has quite the observational skills." "She''s a diligent one. Most students would head home right after training, but she''d always stay behind to keep practicing." The vice principal of Pinghai High School smiled as he watched Zhou Jing on the field. Yesterday, Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School had been winning battles with a single move, ending matches in the blink of an eye. Zhou Jing was the first contestant to analyze her moves and avoid being instantly defeated, which made the vice principal proud. Zhou Jing had always been a hardworking student, though her academic performance left much to be desired. This year was her final chance to participate in the National Campus Beast-Mastering League . Compared to her efforts in the past two years, she had been training far more rigorously, putting all her hopes into thispetition. Even after others had left the training grounds, she would stay behind, tirelessly working with her beast. Every time the vice principal passed by the training center, he''d catch sight of her and her partner through the window. If she couldn''t secure a good ranking in the tournament, her poor academic scores would make it difficult for her to enter a decent university. They say hard work can create miracles. Just now, Zhou Jing had used her Sea Gnawer to defeat He Dadao from Shengshui High School, a contestant who had maintained an undefeated streak yesterday and had ranked among the top 30 in the province in the past two tournaments. Movies often showcase ordinary people surpassing geniuses through relentless effort. The vice principal believed Zhou Jing could create her own miracle too! As he daydreamed about Zhou Jing achieving victory over Qiao Sang, his internal monologue grew increasingly impassioned. SCREEEEECH!! A sharp whistle and a wave of gasps snapped him out of his thoughts. "Whoa! Was that Fire Fang?! I''ve never seen that form in real life before!" "Is this even fair? You¡¯re telling me that¡¯s a first-year student?!" "How does someone even train for this? Both Ember and Fire Fang are at mastery level, this has to be cheating!" "This year¡¯s league is going to be intense!" "Look at Wang Weidou, he¡¯s grinning ear to ear¡­" What? Fire Fang? Mastery level? The Pinghai High School vice principal stared nkly at the field, dumbfounded. His gaze finallynded on the battlefield, and his jaw dropped. The Star-Spotted Turtley unconscious with its eyes closed in the middle of the arena. It was over already?! He had just begun mentally praising Zhou Jing¡¯s brilliance and shifted his attention for only a moment, yet the match had ended? Rewind: 30 Seconds Earlier On the field, the Star-Spotted Turtle had spun at high speed, circling behind Yabao, spraying water stream jets from its shell¡¯s orange spots. The streamsbined into what looked like a massive, spiraling water de. In addition to its increased power, the water jets expanded the attack range by threefold. A direct hit would undoubtedly leave any fire-type beast severely injured and incapacitated. But Yabao twitched his ears and, as though he had eyes on the back of his head, disappeared just as the spinning water de closed in. The Star-Spotted Turtle¡¯s attack missed, but it didn¡¯t immediately stop spinning. Instead, it continued its trajectory, returning to Zhou Jing¡¯s side before withdrawing its limbs and head back into its shell. Yet, just as it retracted, Yabao suddenly reappeared above it, jaws wide open. mes erupted from his sharp teeth. ¡°Harden!¡± Zhou Jing shouted frantically. Harden, an elementary skill that increased defense by hardening the body, was a sound countermeasure. The Star-Spotted Turtle reacted swiftly, retracting fully into its shell. However, its usual training method involved retreating first and activating Harden afterward, creating a slight dy. The turtle managed to pull its limbs and head inside but didn¡¯t have enough time to activate Harden. Yabao¡¯s ming teeth sank into the shell before it couldplete the move. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal. The Star-Spotted Turtle¡¯s sturdy defense and water-type advantage should¡¯ve minimized the damage to its outer shell without harming the creature inside. But just as everyone thought the turtle would emerge unscathed, mes erupted dramatically. A massive ming wolf head formed from Yabao¡¯s mes, jaws wide open,pletely engulfing the Star-Spotted Turtle. And that was the scene the Pinghai High School vice principal witnessed: The two giant pig-like pet beasts wearing whiteb coats lifting the unconscious Star-Spotted Turtle onto a stretcher. The match continued. Zhou Jing took a deep breath and summoned her second beast, the Marine Gnawer. ¡°Gnaw, gnaw!¡± The Sea Gnawer bared itsrge front teeth at Yabao, its expression openly provocative. ¡°Yap!¡± Not to be outdone, Yabao opened his mouth to sh his sharp fangs in response. The yful antics of the two beasts triggered a wave of discussion among the audience. ¡°Whose teeth are stronger, the me Hound¡¯s or the Marine Gnawer¡¯s?¡± ¡°Probably the me Hound¡¯s, look how shiny they are!¡± ¡°Scientifically speaking, it should be the Marine Gnawer¡¯s. But skills make a difference. With the me Hound¡¯s mastery of Fire Fang, no one would dare im its teeth aren¡¯t formidable.¡± At that moment, Wang Weidou, who had been silently grinning, finally spoke: ¡°What science are you basing this on? As far as I know, this is the only me Hound in the world, and no researcher has published any findings on its bite strength.¡± The previous speaker froze for a moment, thenughed awkwardly. ¡°I must¡¯ve subconsciouslypared it to a ze Dog.¡± Wang Weidou smiled politely but cursed internally. Nonsense! How could the Marine Gnawer¡¯s teethpare to the me Hound¡¯s?! On the field, Zhou Jing gave the firstmand. All eyes turned to the battlefield, no one daring to blink. After all, no one wanted to risk missing another instant victory. The Marine Gnawer assumed a ninja-like posture, running toward Yabao. One became two, two became four, four became eight, until sixteen duplicates of the Marine Gnawer filled the arena. ¡°Wow, Zhou Jing had a hidden card up her sleeve! Creating so many clones at this level¡­¡± The Pinghai vice principal, having recovered, was just about to praise Zhou Jing¡¯s diligent training when he noticed everyone around him frozen in shock, their eyes fixed on the arena. His heart sank. Slowly, he turned to look. !!! What the?! Why are all sixteen Marine Gnawers floating in mid-air?! Chapter 309: Torrent Trait Chapter 309: Torrent Trait In mid-air, 16 Marine Gnawers iled their limbs, all wearing expressions of utter panic. The vice principal of Pinghai High School immediately sensed something amiss. He turned sharply to look at the me Hound. At that moment, his mind buzzed, and his expression froze in shock. Although he had spected earlier, seeing it with his own eyes still hit him hard. Sure enough, the me Hound¡¯s eyes had turned blue, the distinctive color of telekinesis activation. Telekinesis... It really was telekinesis... Simultaneously controlling 16 Marine Gnawers from different positions, this level of mastery over telekinesis... The vice principal of Pinghai High School dared not think further. He wasn''t the only one stunned; the audience burst into heated discussions.¡°This... is this really a high schooler¡¯s level?!¡± ¡°Damn it! Why isn¡¯t such a monstrous student in our school?¡± ¡°Gasp... Could their telekinesis already be at the mastery stage?¡± ¡°Be bold! Maybe it¡¯s already at the ultimate technique level, like their Ember and Fire Fang.¡± ¡°... Don¡¯t joke about that.¡± ¡°Wait, someone told me that Qiao Sang from Shengshuu High is just a freshman.¡± ¡°Who told you that? And you believed such nonsense? Even finding seniors nationwide at this level is rare. Now you¡¯re telling me this is a freshman? What are you thinking? Tell me, who said that? I¡¯ll confront them right now!¡± ¡°Wang Weidou.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Wang Weidou, the principal of Shengshui High.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Want to confirm with him directly? He¡¯s here today, seated in the first row, third from the left. See?¡± ¡°... Get lost!¡± ¡°Why are you cursing? I was just talking to you properly!¡± ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, the match continued on the field. Yabao tilted his head downward, and the 16 Marine Gnawers fell heavily to the ground. ¡°Gnaw!!!¡± One by one, the Marine Gnawers vanished, leaving only the original in a pitiful state on the ground. The real one had finally been exposed... Qiao Sang focused her thoughts. Just as she was about to issue themand for Fire Whirl, Yabao seemed to sense something. Without waiting for his beastmaster¡¯s order, a swirling me imbued with violent energy shot toward the Marine Gnawer before it could rise. Toote! Zhou Jing¡¯s mind raced as she analyzed the situation on the field. Given the Marine Gnawer¡¯s current condition, it wouldn¡¯t have enough time to evade or counterattack before the iing assaultnded. If that¡¯s the case, then the only option... Zhou Jing took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and decisively shouted, ¡°Hold on!¡± Hold on? Seriously...? Qiao Sang found it both amusing and oddly convincing. Phrases like ¡°Hold on!¡± ¡°Dodge!¡± ¡°Show your determination!¡± ¡°Stand up!¡± ¡°I believe in you!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got this!¡± often worked in TV dramas. This thought had barely crossed Qiao Sang¡¯s mind when the mes hit the Sea Gnawer head-on and exploded. The heatwave spread out. Yet, the Marine Gnawer did not fall. Not only had it endured, but it had also stood back up! What the heck?! It really held on! Qiao Sang was stunned. TV dramas never lie! To think that Yabao¡¯s Fire Whirl although not yet at the ultimate mastery level, had been honed to near perfection through countless battle trainings. A direct hit like that should¡¯ve left the injured Marine Gnawer unconscious or at least gravely injured and unable to stand. But the Marine Gnawer hadn¡¯t just withstood it, it had risen to its feet?! The power of holding on was truly terrifying. Maybe she should try this tactic with Yabao in future battles... While Qiao Sang entertained these thoughts, her attention remained locked on the match. She noticed the standing Marine Gnawer suddenly be enveloped in water, which then spread across its entire body. Her expression immediately turned serious. Something wasn¡¯t right... It wasn¡¯t just Qiao Sang who noticed; the audience had also caught on. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that this Sea Gnawer has the Torrent Trait? Looks like this match is far from over.¡± Torrent, a trait that significantly boosts the power of water-based skills when the pet beast is in a critical state. It works simrly to the ze ability, except one applies to water and the other to fire. ¡°Your school¡¯s Zhou Jing is impressive. Keeping such a trump card hidden, she might achieve excellent results in this year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League.¡± A man sitting next to the vice principal of Pinghai Highmented. The vice principal opened his mouth but chose to remain silent. He feared that if he spoke, Zhou Jing might lose. Torrent... Qiao Sang silently mouthed the word as her lips curved into a grin. Now that¡¯s more like it! If it had gone down so easily, how could Yabao enjoy a good fight? ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. He crouched, ready to pounce at any moment. ¡°Water Stream Jet!¡± Zhou Jing suppressed her excitement as she gave themand to the water-shrouded Marine Gnawer. The water around the Marine Gnawer suddenly swelled several times over. It leapt into the air, moving with fluid precision, changing direction so rapidly that it was impossible to track. All the audience could see was a streak of blue water darting through the air. Qiao Sang tilted her head slightly, calmly analyzing the blue blur above. The speed was astonishing. If Yabao tried using telekinesis, he likely wouldn¡¯t keep up and might even be left vulnerable during the attempt. If Yabao couldn¡¯t teleport, this opponent would indeed be a tough challenge. ¡°Listen carefully!¡± Qiao Sangmanded. ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao stopped trying to visually follow the blue blur, instead perking his ears to track the sound of the Marine Gnawer¡¯s movements. The water streak zigzagged through the air, moving faster and faster, leaving behind an afterimage. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Qiao Sang giving anymands?¡± Someone in the audience wondered aloud. ¡°Didn¡¯t she just say, ¡®Listen carefully¡¯?¡± Someone nearby replied. ¡°...¡± As they spoke, the blue blur shot toward Yabao from an anglepletely outside its line of sight. Just as it was about to hit, Yabao suddenly vanished from his spot. Zhou Jing¡¯s heart sank. It had dodged?! Then, as a sudden realization struck her, she shouted anxiously, ¡°Don¡¯t stop!¡± Her instincts connected the current scenario to thest match. The moment the Star Spotted Turtle¡¯s high-speed rotation stopped, the me Hound had appeared, ending the battle in an instant. To be safe, she couldn¡¯t afford to stop now! But just as her words rang out, her eyes widened in shock. What the heck?! Why was there a streak of red on the blue? The me Hound had teleported onto the Marine Gnawer?! ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao stood atop the Marine Gnawer, his ws submerged in water, gripping its body tightly. His fur streamed wildly in the wind, exuding the aura of a heroic figure. He would¡¯ve looked perfect, if only his eyes hadn¡¯t been squinting from the force. Yabao opened his mouth, zing fangs forming instantly, and a massive me surged downward without mercy. ¡°Gnaw!!!¡± The blue streak plummeted to the ground. Dust swirled. Water scattered. When the view cleared, the Marine Gnawery unconscious with its eyes closed. A sharp whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match. Chapter 310: She Almost Became a Student at Our School! Chapter 310: She Almost Became a Student at Our School! Read at: /?m=1 ----- Competitions were often exhrating, filled with excitement and adrenaline. Battles between pet beasts and the tactical matches between Beast Tamers always managed to ignite the crowd''s emotions. Among them, the most thrilling moments were either the underdog triumphing against overwhelming odds or a fierce duel between equally matched opponents. For the school administrators in attendance, who had watched countlesspetitions, most matchescked novelty. The predictable oues of preliminary rounds rarely elicited reactions from them. They only paid close attention when it involved their own students, analyzing the opposition with great focus. Yet, this match, which was neither an underdog victory nor a neck-and-neck battle, left Section B eerily silent for a brief moment before the crowd erupted into a frenzy. ¡°Did you see that? Did you all see that? What¡¯s up with that me Hound? Does it have eyes on the back of its head?!¡±¡°How did it do that? How did it teleport onto the Marine Gnawer¡¯s back?!¡± ¡°That me Hound¡¯sbat awareness is off the charts!¡± ¡°When the Torrent trait activated, I thought we had a real fight on our hands. But Shengshui High¡¯s Qiao Sang didn¡¯t give the opponent the slightest chance to turn things around...¡± ¡°To be fair, Pinghai High¡¯s Zhou Jing isn¡¯t bad. She just had terrible luck running into such a monster.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall Zhou Jing making an impression in the past two tournaments. I only remember her using a pet beast from another region. But she¡¯s doing surprisingly well this time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal. You probably only started attending the tournaments in person in thest two years.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± ¡°Because high schoolers only get three chances at the National Campus Beast Mastering League. By the time they¡¯re in their final year, many give it their all and rise to prominence. If you followed a student from freshman year to senior year, you¡¯d notice this pattern.¡± ¡°What about someone like Qiao Sang? Do students like her suddenly emerge during their senior year too?¡± ¡°¡­ Do you think prodigies are that easy toe by?¡± --- The next four matches werepletely one-sided. Even though Pinghai High sent out water-type pet beasts, Qiao Sang¡¯s me Hound had not only fire-type abilities but also formidable psychic powers. While water types typically counter fire types, such advantages only mattered if the attacksnded. Without hitting their target, it was all for naught. Thanks to its mastery of telekinesis and teleportation, none of the water-based skills even came close. Eighteen points secured. Qiao Sang sat in Shengshui High¡¯spetitor section, waiting for Xu Yixuan¡¯s match to finish. Beside her, He Datiao was intensely focused on his phone. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Qiao Sang asked. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s opponent.¡± He Datiao replied without lifting his head. ¡°I¡¯m checking the forums to see if there¡¯s any information on their team members.¡± Losing twice today had clearly gotten under his skin. ¡°Who¡¯s our opponent tomorrow?¡± Qiao Sang asked casually. All the schools participating in Group A2 had been listed, but she only ever looked up her next opponent after finishing the current day¡¯s matches. ¡°Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming High School.¡± He Datiao replied. Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Which school?¡± ¡°Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming High School.¡± He repeated, turning to her. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of it? It¡¯s a local school here in our city.¡± He paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Then again, it makes sense. That school doesn¡¯t rank high and isn¡¯t very well-known.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ How could she not know? She had almost ended up as a student there herself¡­ --- ¡°You guys don¡¯t know this, but Qiao Sang almost became a student at our school!¡± eximed Chen Shengtang, the vice-principal of Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming High School, with a mixture of regret and bitterness. ¡°Chen, don¡¯t joke like that.¡± Someone beside him said skeptically. ¡°Do you know who Qiao Sang is? Her brain domain reached the green star matrix level in her freshman year. She¡¯s contracted a me Hound, as you just saw, and her strength is unquestionable. Even Shengshui High might only have gotten her because of household registration constraints. How could she have ever attended your school?¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Chen Shengtang said, his voice rising. ¡°When she came to our school for her brain domain assessment, she was considering a special recruitment offer. It was our teacher Zhao who handled her evaluation! I was there the entire time!¡± Qiao Sang was the only independently awakened recruit in their school¡¯s history! How could he possibly forget? When she came for the evaluation, he¡¯d spent days excited, dreaming about her enrollment. But then, she chose Shengshui High instead. Seeing herpete in the senior division of the National Campus Beast Mastering League today had shocked and devastated him. It was like having a goddess suddenly propose marriage, only to find out she married someone else at thest minute. Worse still, he had to admit, any sane person would¡¯ve made the same choice she did. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re mistaken.¡± Someone next to him suggested. ¡°It¡¯s possible this Qiao Sang just looks like the student you evaluated, or they share the same name.¡± Chen Shengtang: ¡­ --- Back at the dormitory in the training base, Qiao Sang sped her hands together and summoned Little Treasure. Unbeknownst to her, Little Treasure had learned aboutpetition rules from somewhere and insisted on entering the Beast Taming Codex early in the morning, thinking it was his turn topete. ¡°Xun!¡± As he emerged, Little Treasure twirled mid-air with ir,nded with his ws on his hips, and grinned smugly. But his confident expression froze the moment he spotted Yabao standing in front of him. ¡°Xun?!¡± Why was Yabao here?! ¡°Yap?¡± Yabao tilted his head, confused. Was there something wrong with him being there? ¡°Xun¡­¡± Little Treasure looked around, finally noticing he wasn¡¯t in thepetition arena. ¡°You¡¯repeting tomorrow.¡± Qiao Sang saidzily from her bed. ¡°Tomorrow hasn¡¯te yet.¡± Little Treasure: ??? ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± He protested vehemently. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Qiao Sang said matter-of-factly. ¡°A day is 24 hours. When you told me it was past 3 a.m., which was just the start of a new day. Today has to finish first before we get to tomorrow.¡± Little Treasure: !!! His body wavered mid-air, his expression filled with existential doubt. Feeling a pang of guilt, Qiao Sang sat up and patted his head gently. ¡°Make sure to study hard in the future.¡± Little Treasure: ¡­ ----- ----- Chapter 311: Analyzing the Top Tier Members of the Province’s High School Senior Division Chapter 311: Analyzing the Top Tier Members of the Province¡¯s High School Senior Division An hour had passed since the conclusion of today''s preliminary matches. Some students had returned to their dorms, while others had already eaten. This was the peak time for activity on the Zhehai Province High School Beastmastering Forum. Qiao Sang leaned against the headboard of her bed, phone in hand, and opened the forum. The homepage was constantly being updated. Refreshing the page after just a few seconds would always reveal new posts. Among them, three pinned, red-highlighted posts drew significant attention: 1. #Analysis of Top Tier Members in the Province''s High School Senior Division# 2. #Analysis of Top Tier Members in the Province''s High School Junior Division# 3. #Analysis of Top Tier Members in the Province''s High School Sophomore Division# Qiao Sang tapped on the post analyzing the senior division.--- [Preliminary Results Day 2 Update: Freshly Compiled List of 42 Top Tier yers in the Senior Division.] [We¡¯re updating these 42 yers'' data live based on today¡¯s matches. Check if anyone from your school made it! Contributions wee.] The post began listing yers: Ding Yanjing, Male, Litan Beastmastering High School, Pets: Guwei Blossom, sh-Leaving Crow Used only sh-Leaving Crow in all six matches today, relying on just two moves: Thunder Web and Thunderbolt. Matches concluded in under 30 seconds, continuing the crushing dominance fromst season. Guwei Blossom, his ace pet, hasn¡¯t appeared yet, likely because none of his opponents are worthy of it. Wang Rui, Male, Litan Beastmastering High School, Pets: Spiked Dragon, Scaled Control Doll All six matches featured his Scaled Control Doll. As a psychic-type pet, its abilities like Mind Control and Teleportation remain nearly unbeatable against lower-level pets. However, itsrger-than-average size reduces its movement speed. If an opponent can dodge its Mind Control, they might have a chance at victory. Xu Yixuan, Female, Shengshui High School, Pets: ze Dog, Dream Lure Spirit All six matches utilized Dream Lure Spirit, a tricky pet capable of pulling opponents into dreamscapes with just two seconds of eye contact. Pro Tip: Avoid eye contact at all costs. Dream Lure Spirit¡¯s ability works even on pets with high mental resistance, unlike traditional hypnosis. --- Qiao Sang quickly scrolled through the list until she found her name. --- Qiao Sang, Female, Shengshui High School, Pets: me Hound, Treasure-Seeking Demon, and one unknown pet Today¡¯s matches featured me Hound exclusively. As thetest evolution of Fire Fang Dog, it¡¯s even more monstrous than anticipated. With dual attributes: Fire and Psychic, it excels inbat. Both Fire Fang and Ember have reached mastery-level. Its Telekinesis appears capable of simultaneously controlling 16 Marine Gnawers, suggesting mastery-level proficiency. Observations indicate me Hound¡¯s heightened auditory senses allow it to detect unseen attacks. However, hypersensitive hearing can also be a weakness if exploited by high-decibel sound-based attacks. --- Qiao Sang stared at the analysis, deep in thought. She had to admit, the post was thorough and urate. It exined why matches became increasingly difficult as thepetition progressed. Some people couldn¡¯t discern strategies during battles, but there were always experts who could analyze and expose weaknesses. Even so, a problem identified was a problem to be solved. Just like when her Yabao was once afraid of ghost-type pets, now, he yed happily with Little Treasure. Qiao Sang nced over at Yabao, who was using Telekinesis to toy with Little Treasure, and asked, ¡°Yabao, can you block your ears?¡± "Yap?¡± --- The Next Day Back at Zone B. Qiao Sang sat in Shengshui High School''s contestant area, eating bread as she waited for her turn. Nearby, people chatted idly. ¡°Do you think Qiao Sang will send out me Hound again today?¡± ¡°Probably. We¡¯ve seen most of its skills already. Since no one in this group is her match, it makes sense to hold back Treasure-Seeking Demon forter rounds.¡± ¡°How long do you think today¡¯s match willst?¡± ¡°Against Hanggang Sixth Beastmastering High School? Haha! Do you really need to ask?¡± ¡°Shhh, don¡¯t say it so loud, their vice principal is ring at you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± --- Qiao Sang was the third yer from Shengshui High School to take the stage. The power gap between Shengshui and Hanggang Sixth Beastmastering High School was immense. Xu Yixuan easily won her match. He Datou, motivated by yesterday¡¯s losses, transformed into a fiercepetitor, ruthlessly crushing his opponent without giving them any chance to fight back. On the sidelines, Hanggang¡¯s Vice Principal Chen Shengtang wore a dark expression. Their coach hesitated before finally speaking up: ¡°Vice Principal, this isn¡¯t the students'' fault. We just got unlucky, being grouped with Shengshui High School from the start. Losing to them is understandable. Besides, even Fuqi and Pinghai High Schools didn¡¯t fare any better.¡± Chen Shengtang sighed deeply, staring at Qiao Sang on the field. After a long pause, he said, ¡°You might not know this, but Qiao Sang almost became a student at our school.¡± The coach: ¡­ --- On the battlefield, the whistle blew. Gray and green summoning arrays lit up. Twin-Tailed Tortoise and Little Treasure appeared simultaneously. ¡°Whoa! She sent out Treasure-Seeking Demon?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t she sticking to the script?¡± ¡°Dang it, I guessed wrong again!¡± ¡°Is it just me, or is that Treasure-Seeking Demon unusually small?¡± ¡°It does look small. Maybe it¡¯s underdeveloped.¡± ¡°And its floating hair¡­ why is it golden?¡± ¡°Probably dyed it. Not gonna lie, Qiao Sang has good taste, it looks pretty cool.¡± --- Little Treasure surveyed the arena with excitement, spinning in ce. ¡°Xun!¡± Finally, he had his chance to outshine Yabao! Chapter 312: Principal, We Have a Problem! Chapter 312: Principal, We Have a Problem! To truly carry out revenge, one essential prerequisite remained: Don¡¯t lose! ¡°Xun! Xun!¡± Little Treasure turned his focus to the Twin-Tailed Tortoise. His yful demeanor was reced with a serious expression. The match began. Little Treasure disappeared on the spot, cloaked in invisibility. Meanwhile, Guo Jiacong, the representative from Sixth Beasts Academy in Hanggang, had already given up mentally. He didn¡¯t issue anymands to counter the attack. It wasn¡¯t just about how terrifying Qiao Sang was as a person. Her membership in the elite Shengshu High school team alone was enough to make him feel utterly hopeless. Guo Jiacong¡¯s defeatist mentality wasn¡¯t unique. Plenty of participants lost their will to fight the moment they were matched against students from prestigious schools. Without knowing their opponent¡¯s true strength, they had already psyched themselves out. However, there were two kinds of people with such mindsets: 1. Those who still put in their best effort to test their limits. 2. Those who resigned to saving their energy for winnable matches. Guo Jiacong fell into the second category. ¡°Lupa!¡± The Twin-Tailed Tortoise, however, didn¡¯t share its handler¡¯s defeatist attitude. Its eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously. While it was looking left, Little Treasure appeared suddenly on its right, sticking out hisrge tongue, aiming for a quick lick. Sensing the sudden shadow to its right, the tortoise instinctively retracted its head into its shell, narrowly avoiding the attack. ¡°Xu ln!¡± Little Treasure pouted and vanished again. ¡°Lupa!¡± The Twin-Tailed Tortoise cautiously poked its head out, calling to its Beastmaster with a determined cry. Surprised, Guo Jiacong hadn¡¯t expected his partner to show such spirit after two crushing defeats at the hands of Shengshui students. Just then, Little Treasure reappeared like a phantom, his face mere millimeters from the tortoise''s head. ¡°Watch out!¡± Guo Jiacong shouted in rm. Before Little Treasure could act, the tortoise quickly withdrew its head again. ¡°Xun!¡± Little Treasure disappeared yet again. This time, something in Guo Jiacong¡¯s resolve shifted. His eyes sharpened with newfound determination. Wait a minute. Although Qiao Sang was strong, she hadn¡¯t sent out her infamous me Hound. This small, underdeveloped-looking Treasure-Seeking Demon was obviously weaker than a typical one of its species. If that¡¯s the case¡­ why not give it a try? Even if victory seemed impossible, perhaps a draw could still earn him a single point. Reinvigorated, Guo Jiacong issued his firstmand. ¡°Sand Ssh!¡± ¡°Lupa!¡± The Twin-Tailed Tortoise sprang into action. Stretching out its ws, it scraped at the ground, sending up a dense cloud of dust to obscure the battlefield. Sand Ssh was a low-level Ground-type skill, simple but effective at disrupting visibility. As the dust settled, Little Treasure¡¯s form remained hidden. ¡°One minute in.¡± Someone in the audiencemented while checking their watch. ¡°Looks like this Treasure-Seeking Demon isn¡¯t nearly as overpowered as the me Hound. I thought it would dominate, but it¡¯s struggling.¡± ¡°What were you expecting?¡± Another spectatorzily replied. ¡°For someone her age, having a green-star formation and a me Hound is already extraordinary. If all her beasts were as ridiculously strong, no one else would stand a chance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. This Treasure-Seeking Demon seems reliant on closebat. With the dust cloud as a barrier, it¡¯s hesitant to approach. If the tortoise keeps up the Sand Ssh, this match might drag on indefinitely.¡± ¡°Rx. The rules prohibit prolonged inaction. Even stealthy Ghost-types like this are monitored by sensors on the field. If the Treasure-Seeking Demon leaves the boundary or stays idle too long, the referee would¡¯ve already issued a warning.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about fouls, but¡­ wait, what the?!¡± The speaker¡¯s jaw dropped, his eyes glued to the field. Thezy man beside him sat up straight, equally dumbfounded. On the battlefield, an invisible force dragged the Twin-Tailed Tortoise out of the dust cloud and suspended it mid-air. ¡°LUPA!!!¡± The tortoise, usually calm andposed, let out a terrified scream, tears streaming down its face. It was afraid of heights. Before it could regainposure, the unseen force stopped pulling it upward. ¡°Lupa¡­¡± Trembling, the tortoise hung motionless in the air, too scared to move. But relief was short-lived. The next moment, its body spun violently like a top. ¡°LUPAAAA!!!¡± ¡°Xun, xun~¡± Little Treasure materialized on the ground, his paw connected to a shadow stretching toward the tortoise. As he traced circles with one paw, he stifled giggles with the other. See? If you¡¯d just let me lick you, this wouldn¡¯t have been necessary. Watching its partner¡¯s predicament, Guo Jiacong was stunned. ¡°What¡­ what is this?!¡± ¡°Shadow Control?!¡± Hanggang Sixth Beast High School¡¯s coach eximed, his voice cracking with disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s a high-tier Ghost-type skill! How is this possible?!¡± Chen Shengtang, the vice principal, grimaced, his voice hoarse. ¡°Qiao Sang¡­ she was this close to enrolling in our academy. So close!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The coach rolled his eyes. Not this again. On the field, Little Treasure released the shadow. BANG! With a loud thud, the Twin-Tailed Tortoise hit the ground, unconscious. Guo Jiacong stared nkly at his partner¡¯s motionless form. ¡°What¡­ just happened?¡± Somewhere in the audience, a man in a ck suit abruptly stood. Rushing out of the arena, he frantically dialed a number on his phone. ¡°Principal! We have a problem!¡± Chapter 313: Serves Them Right for Being Provincial Champions Chapter 313: Serves Them Right for Being Provincial Champions ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so flustered?¡± The man on the other end of the phone sounded cheerful, his good mood evident. ¡°It''s about Qiao Sang from Shengshui High! Her Treasure-Seeking Demon just used Shadow Control in the match!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s voice trembled with excitement. Huang Renbiao paused. ¡°What control?¡± ¡°Shadow Control! You know, the Ghost-type move that controls opponents using shadows!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s voice quivered as he repeated himself. There was a moment of silence on the other end before the man¡¯s tone turned serious. ¡°Are you sure? Could you have seen it wrong?¡± ¡°Principal!¡± The middle-aged man was getting anxious. ¡°I¡¯m Old Li! A C-rank Beast Tamer! How could I mistake such a thing?¡± Huang Renbiao remained silent for so long that Old Li thought the call had dropped. Finally, his voice came through, calm but sharp: ¡°What¡¯s the proficiency level?¡±Shadow Control wasn¡¯t just rare for provincial tournaments, it was a move that could cause a stir at the national level. If the proficiency level was low, they might still have a chance to prepare. The real worry was if it was at mastery level. If that happened, the skill would evolve from two-dimensional shadow control to three-dimensional physical attacks. And if it had reached that level... Ding Yanjing was in trouble. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the proficiency.¡± Old Li admitted, though his tone hinted at disbelief. ¡°Qiao Sang is still so young. Just teaching her Treasure-Seeking Demon Shadow Control is absurd enough. There¡¯s no way its proficiency could be high...¡± He trailed off, his tone shifting. ¡°But then again, Qiao Sang doesn¡¯t followmon logic. A high proficiency in Shadow Control on her beast doesn¡¯t seem impossible either. Judging from today¡¯s match, though, it seems like basic control.¡± Old Li¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on her and report back if there are any developments.¡± --- On a grassywn surrounded by greenery... Ding Yanjing whispered to the boy next to him, ¡°What¡¯s up with the principal? He looked ecstatic when Guwei Blossom evolved into Guwei Sunflower, but after that phone call, his face turned dark.¡± Before the boy could reply, Huang Renbiao frowned from not far away. ¡°Do you want to speak any louder? I could hear you clearly from here.¡± Ding Yanjing: ... The boy shot Ding Yanjing a pitying look before wisely staying silent. Huang Renbiao, however, didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he picked up his phone and made a call. After a few rings, the line connected. ¡°Hey, Xiao Song. In today¡¯s post update, focus on analyzing Shengshuu High¡¯s Qiao Sang. Old Li just called to say her Treasure-Seeking Demon used Shadow Control in the match. Yes, that skill. I¡¯ll have him send you the videoter. Make sure to write detailed strategies on how to counter it.¡± --- Meanwhile, Old Li returned to the venue. Just as he was about to sit down and watch the rest of the matches, he noticed people leaving one after another. Confused, he stopped someone nearby. ¡°Hey, why is everyone leaving?¡± The person gave him a weird look. ¡°The match is over. Why else would we leave?¡± After shaking off Old Li¡¯s hand, the person walked off briskly, leaving him stunned. ¡°The match is over?!¡± Old Li stood there dumbfounded. ¡°I was just on the phone for a bit. How is it already finished?! ¡°There were six rounds! When I left, Qiao Sang had just finished the first one! How is it over already?!¡± --- In the dormitory at the West Huai District Beast Taming Training Grounds... ¡°Xun~ Xun~¡± Little Treasure enthusiastically mimicked his own heroic moves from today¡¯s matches, showing off exaggerated gestures to Yabao, which wasn¡¯t present during the matches. Scenes where he simply spun his opponent in the air were now reenacted as if he had been swinging them around like noodles. ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao gasped in awe, humoring Little Treasure. ¡°Xun~ Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure grew even more animated,pletely forgetting his initial grudge against Yabao. Nearby, the Great me Sparrow stared at Little Treasure with a contemtive expression. This little guy is so strong. Maybe it¡¯d be fun to spar with it someday. On her bed, Qiao Sang was lying on her side, scrolling through her phone. Suddenly, she sat up and said, ¡°Do you know who posted this thread analyzing the province¡¯s top-ranked yers? Our match just ended, and the data is already updated. The speed is uncanny.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably someone watching the official livestream.¡± Wang Yao replied from another bed, fiddling with her phone. ¡°No, something feels off.¡± Qiao Sang frowned as she reviewed the pinned posts. The three pinned threads all came from the same user ID, and their updates were suspiciously consistent, always appearing shortly after matches ended. While it was usible to watch a few matches on a livestream, there was no way a single person could gather detailed information on every participant from grades 10 to 12 across all schools in under an hour. This wasn¡¯t an individual¡¯s work, it had to be a collective effort. She reopened the thread analyzing the Senior participants. Unlike yesterday, this time, her name was listed first: [Qiao Sang, female, Shengshui High. Beast lineup: me Hound, Treasure-Seeking Demon, and one unknown.] Notable update: She fielded her Treasure-Seeking Demon in all six matches today! Key skill: Shadow Control! A high-level skill unprecedented in Zhehai Province! Skill countermeasures: Since Shadow Control relies on connecting shadows to control the target, ensure your beast moves quickly enough to avoid being linked. Alternatively, use decoys or clones to confuse the Treasure-Seeking Demon. If a clone is controlled instead, no harm wille to the real beast. Inter rounds, venueyouts will vary. With the right terrain, such as shadowy areas to block visibility, you can effectively evade Shadow Control. --- Qiao Sang noted the post¡¯s timestamp: 10:02 a.m. It was uploaded less than three minutes after her match had ended. If she hadn¡¯t been paying close attention to her own profile, she might not have noticed. Most students focused on their own year¡¯spetitions, while school team members prioritized matches relevant to their division. Who would have the time, or the ability, to track participants from every grade? Suddenly, a thought struck her. She flipped to the section on Ding Yanjing and other members of Litan Beast Taming High. What she found made herugh. Unlike other schools, whose members¡¯ details were meticulously analyzed, Litan¡¯s information wasically vague. For instance: ¡°Kong Chengxi, huge in size but slow-moving. Likely to avoid psychic-type controls.¡± Compared to the precise breakdowns for other schools, Litan¡¯s analysis read like a joke. Qiao Sang chuckled. If her suspicions were correct, then Litan Beast Taming High truly deserved their perennial spot as provincial champions. Chapter 314: Lets Go Together Chapter 314: Let''s Go Together Qiao Sang thought for a moment and decided that it was necessary to return the favor. For instance, she could create a thread solely dedicated to analyzing Litan Beastmaster High School. After all, a school that had consistently ranked as the top in Zhehai Province for several years deserved some recognition. Otherwise, it might seem like people weren¡¯t paying enough attention to such a prestigious institution. Without further ado, Qiao Sang searched the official livestream tform and began watching reys of Litan Beastmaster High School¡¯s matches, covering grades one through three. She didn¡¯t spend too much time watching. The team members of Litan Beastmaster High School were undoubtedly strong, with most of their matches ending in under a minute. However, since many of the participants had only used one beast in the past few days, Qiao Sang took some extra time to watch a few matches from the previous year¡¯s National Campus Beast Mastering League. Once she was done, Qiao Sang opened the forum, created a new post, and began editing.--- #What makes this school the undisputed champion of Zhehai Province? A detailed analysis of Litan High School¡¯s top yers. Feel free to add any insights!# ¡°As everyone knows, Litan Beastmaster High School¡¯s Ding Yanjing is currently the strongest. He¡¯s been the provincial champion for two consecutive years. Let¡¯s start with him.¡± ¡°His ace, the ¡®Guwei Blossom,¡¯ is a difficult opponent to deal with. It excels in prolonged battles, with its regenerative abilities providing impressive endurance. It resists water, fighting, and electricity, making it an indomitable shield.¡± ¡°Moreover, its seed pods can continually weaken opponents while consuming negligible energy itself. This makes it a particrly annoying beast to face.¡± ¡°That said, it¡¯s not invincible. The Guwei Blossom thrives in dark, damp environments, where it dislikes moving much and prefers to stay stationary.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve been watching the matches, you¡¯ll notice that Ding Yanjing has avoided deploying the Guwei Blossom in swampy or water-based arenas.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry! Some beasts, especially those with ice or poison abilities, can create such environments. If you own one of these, congrattions, you might just be the first to defeat the reigning champion!¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss his second ace, the sh-Leaving Crow¡­¡± Qiao Sang¡¯s fingers danced across the phone screen as she wrote down a detailed guide with ease. --- Once the post was published, it immediately received a reply. [ID: I¡¯m Not A Rich Lady]: What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t this the same ID that sells information on Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School? Now they¡¯re analyzing Litan Beastmaster High School too? Not bad! The analysis seems pretty legit. Can I add you as a friend? I¡¯m rich.¡± Seeing the reply, Qiao Sang froze for a moment and was about to respond when Wang Yao, sitting beside her, put down her phone and said seriously, ¡°I found that person posting your information again. Last time their post was so popr they ignored my message. This time they posted something new. Not many people have responded yet, so I¡¯m trying to make myself known and add them as a friend. I¡¯ll figure out who it is sooner orter!¡± Qiao Sang was silent for a few seconds before asking, ¡°What¡¯s your forum ID?¡± Wang Yao answered honestly, ¡°I¡¯m Not A Rich Lady.¡± Qiao Sang: ¡­ --- Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The poprity of Qiao Sang¡¯s post soared, remaining pinned to the forum¡¯s homepage. The reason? Someone actually defeated a Litan Beastmaster High School team member using strategies outlined in the post! The winner immediatelymented below the post, asking to be mentored. This single example caused the thread to explode. Who was Litan Beastmaster High School? The top-ranked beastmaster school in Zhehai Province! The school whose students consistently imed provincial first-ce titles in the National Campus Beast Mastering League! Defeating a Litan student was regarded as the ultimate proof of one¡¯s strength. With the post¡¯s rising fame, its author became a topic of heated discussion. Spection swirled until everyone reached a consensus: The author was Zhang Dezhou. The reasoning was that Zhang Dezhou, a former senior team member at Shengshui High School, had been reced by Qiao Sang and held a grudge. Out of resentment, he began leaking Qiao Sang¡¯s information. Furthermore, as a former team member, Zhang Dezhou was presumed to have enough expertise to write such analyses. Now relegated to a substitute role, he had plenty of time to analyze Litan¡¯s members and create the post. Everything fit together perfectly. As a result, Zhang Dezhou was perceived as both pitiful and vengeful, but also undeniably brilliant. Unbeknownst to Qiao Sang, she was the true author of the viral post. After publishing it, she hadn¡¯t paid much attention, only asionally visiting the forum to check updates on the Top Provincial Team Members ¨C Senior Year Edition. Although the threadcked detailed insights on Litan¡¯s members, it contained extensive analyses of dozens of first-tier participants from across the province, potential opponentster in thepetition. This was Litan Beastmaster High School¡¯s genius strategy. --- Zone A ¡°A2 Group: Qiao Sang from Shengshui High School versus Zhang Shiming from Yicheng Beastmaster High School.¡± The announcement rang out. Qiao Sang rose and walked to her designated spot. The audience remained mostly silent. Over six days ofpetition, Qiao Sang had maintained a crushing record: 36 wins, 0 losses. Her performance had won over everyone in attendance. Even though her opponent for the first match of the final day was Zhang Shiming, a former provincial top-24 yer, no one believed Qiao Sang would lose. ¡°Whistle!¡± At the referee¡¯s signal, the star arrays of both participants lit up. ¡°Xun~¡± ¡°Wan!¡± Seeing Zhang Shiming¡¯s beast with a blooming yellow flower on its head, Qiao Sang¡¯s mind immediately recalled its information. Yellow Thornflower, the evolved form of the Yellow Bulbflower that once refused to lend her its bud at the beast base¡­ (t/n: Qiao Sang sure hold a grudge eh.) ¡°Shadow Clone!¡± Zhang Shiming issued hismand without hesitation. ¡°Wan!¡± The Yellow Thornflower¡¯s figure flickered, creating ten identical clones. Another one relying on forum tips. How boring¡­ Qiao Sang couldn¡¯t help but silentlyin. Since the guide on countering Shadow Control was published, every opponent who could use Shadow Clone had done so. No originality whatsoever. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Qiao Sang said calmly. Together? Zhang Shiming froze. Together what? Was she suggesting the clones should attack simultaneously? But he hadn¡¯t even issued thatmand yet. As Zhang Shiming processed her words, nearly frozen in time, Little Treasure raised a stubby finger. In an instant, his shadow extended forward, rapidly expanding and splitting into numerous tendrils that twisted in every direction. In the blink of an eye, they connected to every shadow belonging to the Yellow Thornflower clones. Chapter 315: So What? Chapter 315: So What? Shadows flickered as if trying to break free from the ground ande alive, but they ultimately stayed tethered. "Xun~" Little Treasure twitched his stubby toe, and with a sharp whoosh, eleven yellow Thornflowers shot skyward in unison. "Wan! Wan!" The flowers whirled in a 360-degree spin, a ssic spectacle reprised. One after another, the yellow Thornflowers clones vanished until only the original remained suspended mid-air, still spinning at high speed. "Wan!!!" It howled miserably, its face smeared with tears, mucus, and drool, a pitiful sight indeed. The tragic cry evoked sympathy and a twinge of shared nausea among the onlookers. Although they weren¡¯t spinning themselves, many felt sick to their stomachs just watching. "Urgh... I can¡¯t believe this Treasure-Seeking Demon''s Shadow Control is so advanced." "Yeah, being able to split its shadow into so many fragments means it¡¯s at least at the Intermediate Mastery level. How is anyone supposed topete with that?" "If it advances even further and turns into physical attacks, I¡¯d bet even Ding Yanjing from Litan Beastmaster High School wouldn¡¯t stand a chance." "Why are you all gagging? You¡¯re making me feel queasy." "I don¡¯t know. My stomach just feels upset." "Same here." "Stop looking at the yellow Thornflower. I think the priority now is training our students'' pets against dizziness." "Look at this Treasure-Seeking Demon. Its strategy is all about spinning the opponent. If they can endure that, there¡¯s hope for victory." "But didn¡¯t we already lose to Shengshu High just a few days ago?" "Then let¡¯s inform the other schools. If Qiao Sang loses a few matches and drops some points, our students might climb in the rankings." "Brother, you¡¯re hrious. Do you think Qiao Sang could lose several matches? Even if someone does beat her, do you honestly think our students can surpass her? Remember, she awakened her abilities on her own, she¡¯s only a first-year, and she¡¯s already achieved a green-tier Star Array!" "I was just saying. You¡¯re not a Shengshui teacher, are you? Why are you so worked up?" Old Li, who had infiltrated Group A2 to gather intel for Litan Beastmaster High School, eyed the speaker suspiciously. He was sure none of the Shengshui staff had a face like this. "Hehe, worked up? Not at all." Chen Shengtang''s eyes glistened. If only I were a Shengshui teacher! Then maybe I wouldn¡¯t have been suffering sleepless nights this whole week! On the field, the referee''s whistle signaled the end of the match. The yellow Thornflowery on the ground foaming at the mouth, looking like it needed to be rushed to the emergency room. Zhang Shiming panicked, shouting, "Doctor! Doctor!" Two muscr pigs in white coats immediately carried over a stretcher and whisked the flower away. The match continued. Zhang Shiming took a deep breath and formed a hand seal. His instant defeat cast a heavy cloud over the other two members of Yicheng Beastmaster High School''s team. Zhang Shiming wasn¡¯t just anyone, he was a former provincial top-24 contestant in the national school beastmaster league. He was their pir of strength! If even he was instantly defeated, what kind of fate awaited them? "Is she really just a first-year?" A girl with shoulder-length hair murmured in despair from the bench. Though she didn¡¯t name names, the boy beside her knew exactly who she meant. "Fifteen isn¡¯t the same for everyone." He said. "Think of it this way: She¡¯s destined to be a major figure in the future. This might be our only chance to face her. Isn¡¯t itforting to know we oncepeted with a future legend?" The girl blinked, recalling Qiao Sang¡¯s age, the color of her Star Array, and the dark Shadow Control just disyed by her Treasure-Seeking Demon. Oddly enough, it did make her feel better. Losing to such a future legend? Not shameful at all! --- Next up: Ghost Lamp, Zhang Shiming¡¯s second pet. Qiao Sang had done her homework the night before and wasn¡¯t surprised by her opponent. However, this was her first time encountering a ghost-type beast in a match. Her expression grew slightly serious. "Xun~" Little Treasure waved his paw enthusiastically. He had met a Ghost Lamp before and naturally had a good impression of its kin. "Ghost..." Ghost Lamp hesitated but instinctively raised its paw in return. The match began in this friendly atmosphere. At the referee''s whistle, Little Treasure¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he vanished on the spot. Ghost Lamp was a beat slower, only remembering it was in a match before hurriedly turning invisible as well. The arena suddenly felt vast and empty as neither pet was visible. The audience began to chatter. "A ghost-type versus another ghost-type. Looks like the Treasure-Seeking Demon¡¯s Shadow Control won¡¯t be much use here." Shadow Control relied on controlling shadows. If a ghost-type beast hid its shadow by going invisible, the skill naturally lost effectiveness. "Don¡¯t speak too soon. What if Qiao Sang¡¯s Treasure-Seeking Demon can convert its shadow control into physical attacks? Its shadows already split, it¡¯s not far from turning three-dimensional." "Skill mastery isn¡¯t that easy to improve. Even going from beginner to proficient takes months, let alone reaching advanced levels. High-tier skill mastery from intermediate to advanced could take years, even for a prodigy." "True..." The person who knew Little Treasure''s beast¡¯s mastery level best was, of course, Qiao Sang. She had taken a month off to focus on training, leading to significant improvements in all its skills. Although Shadow Control was a high-tier skill, unlike Meteor Rain, it didn¡¯t require specialized venues or massive energy recovery resources for practice. Its mastery had steadily climbed and was now nearing perfection. Qiao Sang nced at the audience. Surely among them were Litan Beastmaster High School¡¯s scouts, sent to gather intelligence. The more strength she disyed in her matches, the more detailed the forum analyses would be. But so what? "Will-o¡¯-the-wisp!" "Shadow Control!" Theirmands rang out simultaneously. Several ghostly green mes red up in mid-air and hurtled toward a certain spot. Even if invisible, ghost-type beasts could perceive each other faintly, though only as hazy outlines. This much wasmon knowledge. What the audience didn¡¯t expect was what came next. "Ghost Lamp is invisible, right? Isn¡¯t Shadow Control ineffective against it?" "Maybe Qiao Sang wants to control the shadows of the will-o¡¯-the-wisps." "With her skill level, she just might pull it off." "Impossible! Those tiny mes are so small and numerous, it¡¯d be more practical to counterattack or dodge." Amid the spection, Little Treasure reappeared, far from where the ghostly mes were heading, instead standing on the ground several meters below. The audience was bewildered. Was Ghost Lamp''s aim off? "Xun~" Little Treasure extended a stubby toe, and his shadow moved with it. Suddenly, the shadow tore free from the ground, surging skyward! It extended, expanded, and split, transforming in an instant. The ck tendrils, like ribbons of darkness, surged toward a single point in the air and coiled tightly. "Ghost!!!" When the shadows merged and constricted, Ghost Lamp¡¯s form was revealed to all. Chapter 316: Experience It More Chapter 316: Experience It More Whether it was the school leaders in the audience, thepetitors on the stage, or the cameramen live-streaming on the sidelines, everyone was silent at this moment. Their mouths hung open as they stared nkly at the scene above, the Ghost Lamp bound by several dark shadows mid-air. Shadow Control... has really be a tangible attack?! Those who had previously spected 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: "Popr stars confirm off-screen romance!" It was unbelievable! "Did you see that?" "Yeah.""Shadow Control." "Yeah." "It¡¯s be 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 viinous contexts, heartless attacks that are visually spectacr but leave the protagonist in a terrible state. Now, everyone eagerly looked up, expecting to see the Treasure-Seeking Demon''sunch a dramatic attack, like in those intense TV battles. Instead, the little beast raised another w 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 shed 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 ws, both controlling Shadow Control, in a crisscrossing motion. "Ghost!!!" The Ghost Lamp was sent spinning wildly,pletely 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 shed through the ghostlyntern¡¯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 hrious!" "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 ying with noodles. Genius!" "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 nextpetitor, a girl preparing to go onstage, shrugged nonchntly. "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 topete 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 nce 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 me Hound and his psychic-type abilities! The match began. "Yabao, use Psychic Spin!" Qiao Sangmanded. 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¡¯smand, 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 317: The Preliminary Concludes 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 waspletely unaware that she had beenbeled 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¡¯de 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 me 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 yer 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 herbat style. me Hound¡¯s attacks were normal before the Treasure-Seeking Demon showed up.¡± ¡°Speaking of me 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 me 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 me 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 theter stages of the provincialpetition. The odds of facing each other were high. Losing was one thing, but losing while spinning? Absolutely uneptable! 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¡¯de 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.¡± Ye Xiangting couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. ¡°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 c 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 meter. 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 thepetition. ¡°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¡¯te 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 thepetition channel. ¡°How¡¯s your ear traininging 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 youpete because those opponents were too weak. Yabao and Little Treasure could handle them. The tougher opponents areter 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 318: Group Stage Chapter 318: Group Stage Read at: /?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 dered indignantly. Recalling the events ofst night and that morning, his frustration only grew. Being a substitute was already humiliating, but upon arriving at evening self-study, multiple ssmates had bombarded him with the same question: ¡°Hey, is your online ID ¡®GeniusGeniusGeniusAgain¡¯?¡± Initially puzzled, heter discovered this ID was infamous for leaking Qiao Sang¡¯s information online, earning the title of Shengshui Traitor. When he realized people were using 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 exining 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 ss 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 ss? 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. ¡°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 nationalpetition? Qiao Sang began exining 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! Ipletely forgot about that! With the air cleared, Zhang Dezhou was visibly relieved, chatting andughing with the others. ¡°See? I told you he wasn¡¯t clever enough for something like this.¡± He Datao teased, pping 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 officialpetition began, starting with the group stage and followed by elimination rounds. In the group stage, 576petitors 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 thest time... a Greatmouth Dragon¡¯s egg.¡± Qiao Sang: !!! ----- ----- Chapter 319: Home Court Advantage 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 bnce''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 Interster Cup, where analysis and insight could boost her chances. Lottery tickets were pure luck, a gamble with nearly zero odds of sess.Stay rational, she told herself. Once the me 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?¡± 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 sses, slightly curly hair, and a schrly 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 Rongtanges 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 wille?¡± A girl in the crowd asked. ¡°Look! Isn¡¯t that their uniform?¡± A boy nearby eximed, 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. Amodations in Hongrao Town were limited, so participants were housed in the Beastmaster Center. Though the center wasn¡¯trge, the government had reserved enough rooms for all contestants. As they walked to their assigned quarters, Qiao Sang asked, ¡°Thepetition 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 ce. 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 nket on Qiao Sang¡¯s bed. ¡°Yap! Yap!¡± Let¡¯s go y! Chapter 320: The Favored Child of Fortune 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 dered, "Alright, let¡¯s go!" "Yap!" Yabao lit up with excitement. His eyes gleamed blue as he nced 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 ir was almost too much to bear. Shaking her head, Xu Yixuan summoned her ze Dog with a few practiced hand gestures. "Want to go out and y?" She asked hopefully. "Yap." It responded with a sidelong nce before closing its eyes and lying down. y? How childish. Xu Yixuan: ... --- Riding on her pet beast and soaring through the sky was an experience unlike any other. Airnes couldn¡¯tpare to the thrill of such freedom. Qiao Sang satfortably 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 afortable 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 apparentmitment 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 emzoned 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 hadin moments ago. Was I blind? How did I miss that? It took a moment of self-doubt before Qiao Sang managed topose herself. Some people are just luckier than others. Sheforted 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 mming it on the table. 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,nding on a tree branch, where it was promptly snatched by a passing bird. Momentster, arger bird swooped in, startling the first into dropping the bill. The wind carried it further until itnded 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 thepetition day began. "Which schools arepeting today?" "Apparently, there¡¯s a livestream. Do you think I¡¯ll get on camera?" "I can¡¯t believe it! I set my rm for 7:30, and there¡¯s already no room in the stands!" "I heard that Shengshui High¡¯s Beastmaster with the me Hound ispeting 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 alsopeting!" "Wow, with such strong contenders, how is Wu Chang from our school going to fare?" "Rx. 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 rified. "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 mainpetition began, the battle arenas were set to transform randomly for each match. Although Hui City Beastmaster High was a small-town school, a government grantst 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? Chapter 321: Are Geniuses Always This Easygoing? Read at: /?m=1 ----- Thepetitors in the mainpetition 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 matchessting 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 arge bear-like beast was using his belly fat to bounce back an attack from a sh 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 thickyer 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 Yixuanmented 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 sh, it punched downward at the sh Mouse, which had been enveloped in electric sparks and charging straight at it. The sh Mouse flew across the field and copsed, 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 umted 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 sh Mouse was carried off on a stretcher, Xu Yixuan sighed. ¡°That Violent Bear is faster than thest 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 be noticeably more reserved. Xu Yixuan nced at him but said nothing. As a fellow senior in her final year of high school, she understood his mindset. This was theirst 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: ¡­ That¡¯s not what I meant! Thepetition progressed smoothly. Half an hourter, a boy with bangs covering his eyes stepped onto the field. The announcer¡¯s voice rose with excitement: ¡°Let¡¯s wee 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 nced 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 topete 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 eximed, ¡°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 spected. ¡°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 wee 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!¡± ¡°me Hound! I hope she uses her me Hound!¡± On the field, Lei Lei turned to Qiao Sang and said, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll use your me 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 yful cry. ----- ----- Chapter 322: Falling into the Trap 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 upied 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 y, 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 ustomed to the Treasure-Seeking Demon''s unique form, nced up at its round belly mid-air with a nk 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 sce 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 stered 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 wereing?" 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 muste." 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 attacknded in its position. But Wind Hawk missed entirely. This meant the Treasure-Seeking Demon not only turned invisible but also relocated instantly. Its reaction speed is insane. What a tricky opponent... Lei Lei''s heart sank. Before he could issue anothermand, ribbons of ck shadows materialized mid-air, whipping toward Wind Hawk. "Attack where the shadows are!" Lei Lei''s battle instincts kicked in. Wind Hawk red its wings, diving toward the iing 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 ck 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 amand. "Form a." "Xun~" Little Treasure reappeared, crossing hiss shadow-controlling ws. The dark ribbons converged, weaving into a dense, shadowy that blocked Wind Hawk''s path. "Evade it!" Lei Lei shouted, his heart pounding. But it was toote. Wind Hawk mmed into the shadowy, which stretched under the impact but held firm, forming a faint silhouette of the trapped bird. "Wind screech!" The crowd watched as the resilient folded around Wind Hawk, containing its struggles. On the other side of the, 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 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 323: Qiao Sang vs. Xu Yixuan 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 exin 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 rtivelyposed. ¡°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 orter.¡± ¡°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 becameplicated. In the back row of the audience, a middle-aged man in ck 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 imed victory in her second match against Lei Lei. As thepetition 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 herp. As time ticked on, it was finally time for Qiao Sang¡¯s second appearance. ¡°Let¡¯s wee 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, individualpetition 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 topete 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, shing a smile. ¡°I mean a serious match.¡± Qiao Sang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ve been cking 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 nkly 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 ced 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 me 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. ¡°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 nced at her me Hound with despair. She had expected Qiao Sang to summon the me 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 me 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! me 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 withrge rock obstacles. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao nced at the ze 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 324: Hoping Her Family Can Bail Her Out 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 exmation was like a lit firecracker, it stunned the audience for a moment beforepletely 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. ¡°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 shakilypared 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!¡± ¡°Rx! 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 stillcked 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 ying 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 cked 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 ze Dog, Lubao suddenly leaped out. Her water-d tailshed out fiercely. Without waiting for instructions, the ze 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 topete in the National Campus Beast Mastering League. She owed it to herself and her opponent to take it seriously. ¡°Yap!¡± The ze 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 outter! ¡°me Charge!¡± Both ze Dogs were suddenly engulfed in mes and charged furiously toward Ice Qiya. As they closed in, Lubao remained unfazed. With a graceful leap, she vanished once again. One of the ze Dogs crashed into a boulder, shattering it into fragments. The scattered water left by Ice Qiya caught Xu Yixuan¡¯s eye. She quickly issued amand: ¡°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 ze 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 ze Dog didn¡¯t know the substitute technique. The left one was undoubtedly the real body. ¡°Lu!¡± Lubao suddenly emerged behind the left ze Dog, her water-d tail striking decisively. The ze Dog, mid-attack, couldn¡¯t dodge in time and let out a pained yelp as the tail hit home. The other ze Dog vanished immediately, revealing the real one¡¯s defeat. Having struck the ze 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? Chapter 325: What''s 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 ze Dog struggled to its feet. Water-type moves had an overwhelming effect on fire-types, and it was clear that thest attack had taken a significant toll. As the ze Dog stood, the crowd quieted, their chatter ceasing. On the field, Lubaounched another attack. Taking advantage of the ze 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 amand. 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¡¯smand, the ze Dog tilted its head upward, its fangs igniting in a ze of searing mes. ¡°No!¡± Someone in the audience eximed reflexively, unable to bear the thought of seeing Ice Qiya injured. Lubao¡¯s water-wrapped tail collided directly with the ze Dog¡¯s me-enveloped fangs. The impact sent the ze 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 ze Dog, which bore a striking resemnce 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 ze 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 ze Dog like this.¡± ¡°Well, the type advantage is at y here.¡± ¡°Did you see Ice Qiya¡¯s Water Tail move? Its proficiency seems on par with the ze Dog¡¯s Fire Fang. How does Qiao Sang train her beasts to such a high level of skill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Her me 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 wless. 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 sh 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 ze Dog emitted faint mes, 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 ze 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 battlefieldyout and shouted, ¡°st the rocks!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± With a furious roar, the ze 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 n. As the fire was about tounch, she calmlymanded, ¡°Healing Soundwave.¡± Hearing her master¡¯smand, 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, particrly 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 ze Dog moving?¡± On the field, the ze Dog¡¯s previously fierce expression gradually rxed. The fire in its maw dwindled, neverunching. 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 ze Dog. Chapter 326: The Platform Crashed Chapter 326: The tform 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 ze Dog knew how to respond. It raised its head calmly and opened its mouth, intending to unleash a jet of mes. However, due to its overly peaceful mindset, its movements slowed down by multiple times. Before the mes could be fired, Lubao''s attack had alreadynded. Boom!!! The ze Dog, hit squarely, flew back several meters, rolling over multiple times beforeing to a stop."Yap..." Before losing consciousness, the ze Dog drowsily thought: Oh, I''ve been hit... Ah, I lost... Watching the ze 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 ze 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 exined. ¡°That endangered pet beast¡¯s healing soundwave is highly proficient. It even affected us over here.¡± ¡°The ze Dog didn¡¯t lose unjustly. Battles require constant vignce and preparedness.¡± A man beside her added. ¡°Fire-type pet beasts are naturally spirited, but the healing soundwave dulled that spirit, rxed 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 regr 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 tform. Since it was still early in thepetition, 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, ssmates, and family or friends of the participants. Hanggang City In a spacious 200-square-meter apartment, the group-stage match in Hongrao Town was ying 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 me hound?¡± A woman holding a spat 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 me hound. The man wasn¡¯t overly confident in his son but believed in offering vocal support. After all, one couldn¡¯t concede defeat before evenpeting. ¡°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 me 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. Secondster, three distinct voices broke in unison: ¡°An endangered pet beast?!¡± Outside, a passing pigeon was startled mid-flight and nearly lost its bnce. --- Simr 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!¡± ¡°Guess what? A brat tamed an endangered pet beast!¡± ¡°Go watch now! An endangered pet beast is live in action!¡± ¡°Wait! Which tform? You didn¡¯t tell me!¡± The news spread exponentially, and the number of viewers on the official tform skyrocketed. It wasn¡¯t long before the inevitable happened. The tform 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, onerge 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 ncing casually. ¡°Will-o¡¯-the-wisp!¡± Xu Yixuan made the first move. Though Dream Phantom remained unseen, a dozen ghostly green mes appeared around Lubao, forming a ring before rapidly closing in. Chapter 327: A Preemptive Plan Chapter 327: A Preemptive n The ghostly green mes 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,unching herself into the air with a powerful leap. Boom!!! The ghostly mes collided midair, producing a deafening explosion. Seeing this, Xu Yixuan¡¯s heart leaped with joy. Gotcha! The purpose of releasing the ghost mes 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 nce. Once you¡¯re caught, it¡¯s almost game over.¡± ¡°To avoid the ghost mes¡¯ st radius, Ice Qiya had to jump high, and Xu Yixuan clearly calcted this, positioning Dream Phantom perfectly. With Ice Qiya''s current altitude, it¡¯ll take at least two seconds tond, 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 carefullyid n unraveled before her. How did Phantom nce fail?! With no time to dwell on what went wrong, she shouted, ¡°Ghost mes!¡± On the ground, the frozen Dream Phantom twitched its ws. 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 beforeing 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! Thest one I saw was bawling because it hadn¡¯t eaten enough.¡± ¡°Xu Yixuan ced third in the provincest 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 nned 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.¡± ¡°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 nced 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 Chapter 328: I''ve Been Looking For You Thepetition continued into the afternoon. Aside from a two-hour lunch break, the matches had been non-stop. 4:33 PM. He Dadao withdrew his ze Gori 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 teampeted, 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 rxed as long as they won and thepetition 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 yers were working so hard, how could he justify rxing 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 thepetition. However, with only one avable 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 me Hound and the endangered Ice Qiya are here! Who can focus on training with that distraction?¡± ¡°Look at the me 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~¡± The little one floated down, smirking smugly as he pulled a stic 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 thingspletely 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 p 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 tribtion?¡± Qiao Sang looked up at the sky, now nketed in dark clouds. The ominous atmosphere felt like a storm was imminent. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± ¡°Lu.¡± Her other pets rushed to her side. ncing at Lubao, she noticed her tail and ears hadn¡¯t erged,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 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 med 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 exined, "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 aposed 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 regr high schooler. Completely missing the subtext, he nervously nced 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 oneing. The two fell into an awkward silence until Qiao Sang finally asked, "If your friend¡¯s undocumented, how would they even get into this ce?" After all, entering the Beastmaster Center¡¯s amodation 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¡¯lle 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 nned to refuse him just moments ago? --- 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 muchter. "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. ¡°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 ce. I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°Understandable, probably social anxiety.¡± Qiao Sangmented casually.As they spoke, the twonded 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. Xenonmps hung on both sides, emitting a white-yellowish glow. One couldn¡¯t help but question the logic of the cemetery management. A ce 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 uppletely, his expression vignt as he nced around. ¡°Rx, 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 tough in the face of such an eerie setting. ¡°Yap...¡± Under his trainer¡¯s gentle strokes, Yabao¡¯s body gradually rxed. ¡°Xun!¡± At that moment, Little Treasure suddenly appeared, dangling upside down and making a ghostly face in front of Yabao. ¡°Yap!¡± Startled, Yabao reflexively pped 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 usatory paw at Yabao. I was just ying! 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 themotion, Wu Chang hesitated beforementing, ¡°Your me Hound and Treasure-Seeking Demon seem... very lively.¡± No need to force apliment... Qiao Sang was about to reply when the lights flickered ominously. Little Treasure immediately stopped crying. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao¡¯s body, which had just rxed, 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 eximed joyfully, addressing the man. At his words, the flickering lights steadied, their glow returning to normal. ¡°Yap...¡± Yabao rxed 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 remainposed. Pretending nothing had happened, she curiously asked, ¡°Is that your uncle?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Uncle Zhang.¡± Wu Chang exined. ¡°He¡¯s the one I mentioned who¡¯s been really good to me and even wanted to introduce me to it.¡± Qiao Sang nced at the middle-aged man approaching them and whispered, ¡°Why would your uncle be here sote 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¡¯te 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 thepetition.¡± 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 youngdy. 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,e 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 rtive. For someone unrted 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 spected. ¡°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, ncing 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 unrted 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 borate 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 cemeteryte at night to look for them. Was that normal? And this ce... 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 anding to the cemeteryte 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 onlye 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 arge 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 wasing from right in front of Yabao¡¯s head! ¡°Yabao!¡± Yabao bristled instantly, raising a paw. mes of energy surged, and a fiery ze ignited around his lifted right paw. Whoosh! The me-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 mes 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 mes 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 me w now?!¡± me w was a mid-tier fire skill, concentrating fire energy into the ws. 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? 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,pletely 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 disyed 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 triangr ears. Luckbringer. Qiao Sang stared at the figure revealed under the cloth, her mind going nk 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,plete 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 ustomed 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 ceholder, a merepanion. 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 apanion 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, circr 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 pping noisily. ¡°Yun Yun!¡± Luckbringer, its body covered in sheer chiffon fabric, mmed 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 aplish their wildest dreams, with the universe itself aligning to help them seed. There was even a famous movie about someone whose entire life turned around after meeting Luckbringer. From utter failure to ultimate sess, 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 nced at the device holding Luckbringer. He sighed, his tone regretful. ¡°I didn¡¯t want it toe 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 st of searing mes suddenly shot toward him. ¡°Yap Yap!¡± 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 mes 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 nced 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 viinous uncle didn¡¯t seem upset. Honestly, the most terrifying encounter would¡¯ve been the kind of over-the-top viin 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 amand. His mes red 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 w!" The Phantom Fiend stepped forward, and its cold ws gleamed with purple light. Boom! Red and purple lights collided. The Phantom Fiend¡¯s enormous w 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 mes 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 st. Even though Yabao¡¯s me 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 rtively 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 asionally reported intermediate beasts defeating advanced ones, advanced beasts oveing 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 oue? 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. It was reckless and irrational to act otherwise. This wasn¡¯t a regtedpetition; 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 ssmate, 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 shed with the Phantom Fiend again, she shouted: "Take him down!" "Yap!" Hearing his Beastmaster¡¯smand, Yabao¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. The mes 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 ws lit with purple energy. As they shed, Yabao¡¯s figure blurred, and suddenly, dozens of identical ming me Hound clones appeared, lighting up the night. Wu Chang froze, his jaw dropping as his mind went nk. "So many clones?!" The Phantom Fiend¡¯s ws 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 reced hisposure. A perfected me Charge wasn¡¯t enough? Even the Shadow Clone Technique had been mastered to this degree... Zhang Rongtang quickly regained his focus andmanded: "Wind st!" The Stronghold Sky Owl soared upward. With a powerful beat of its wings, a fierce, unnatural gale swept through the area, erasing all the me hound clones. As the night returned to silence, Zhang Rongtang¡¯s instincts screamed at him. Where was the real me Hound?! Heat red at his side, and a streak of red light shed. 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 me Hound standing beside Qiao Sang, holding the containment device in its mouth. In that instant, Zhang Rongtang realized the rumors about the me Hound¡¯stent 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 viinous 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. 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 viinous 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 grewplex. Never had he imagined that someone he barely knew a few hours ago would go to such lengths for an unrted 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 ws 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 mes 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 mes, his eyes shing 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 me 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 hisposure at the thought. ¡°Tab!¡± The psychic beast¡¯s eyes deepened in color, its amplified mental energy overpowering Little Treasure¡¯s hold on the mes. 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 mes 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 viinous uncle didn¡¯t seem particrly 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 eximed, 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 hismands. 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 simr 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 manipte dreams. The pinnacle of mastery allowed simultaneous dream maniption 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 tond 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 nced at Qiao Sang, his resolve hardening. A mere child dares obstruct my path to Luckbringer? ¡°Whisper!¡± Hemanded. 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 nced 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 toote. ''This is it. It''s over. That viinous 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 copsed, 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¡¯spetition¡­?--- 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 inparison. In the blink of an eye, Yabao looked up and saw the iing attack. The next moment, the Stronghold Sky Owl''s strikended. 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!¡± 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 viinous 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 nced at Wu Chang, who was trembling with unease, his expressionplicated. To be honest, after all that time together, it wasn¡¯t as though he felt nothing. But such feelings were trivialpared to the allure of contracting the Luckbringer. With a kind yet calcting 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 havee 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 youck 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 trante, 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 oue. This wasn¡¯t a spur-of-the-moment decision, it had been meticulously nned. 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 asionally 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 Rongtangmanded. 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, dering 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 shed through the air, mming into the bird and sending it flying. Chapter 336: Take out the Healer First ¡°Yap!¡± Yabao''s majestic form stood proudly amidst the mes. ¡°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 me Hound, whose aura and demeanor were entirely different from before. ze Trait. Is there no end to this nonsense? ¡°Stronghold Sky Owl, Dark-¡± Zhang Rongtang began tomand 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 ck raven pped its wings and coincidentally passed beneath the falling Little Treasure. Thud! Little Treasurended squarely on the raven¡¯s back. ¡°Squawk!¡± The two-headed ck raven shook its heads and red at the pitch-ck little troublemaker responsible for this indignity. Still falling, Little Treasure was oblivious. ¡°Squawk, squawk!¡± A Dark-type beast with a vengeful streak, the raven pped its wings and elerated 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 nkly 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 mes the moment before she mounted. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Qiao Sangmanded. ¡°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 ze trait, initially outpaced Phantom Fiend. However, the energy gap between a mid-tier and a general-tier beast was astronomical. Despite ze''s boost, Phantom Fiend¡¯s speed soon surpassed Yabao¡¯s. £Ò Realizing they were about to be caught, Qiao Sang nced 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 Sangnded, 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 deste 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 everpete 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, cing 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. Although Zhang Rongtang couldn¡¯t identify the beast, he knew it was using a healing skill. me 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 de of shimmering energy condensed in an instant. Illusion sh, a high-level single-target Psychic attack with devastating power. ¡°.¡± Simultaneously, Phantom Fiend¡¯s wraith extended its ws, flicking each stubby digit. Several eerie, purple-glowing spheres, barely the size of bullet casings, floated before its ws. Doom Shadows, a high-level Ghost attack, was nearly impossible to dodge due to its blinding speed and immense prative power. Chapter 337: Blinding White Lights The Illusion sh and several Shadow sts 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 nce, he snapped to full alertness. "Xun!!!" Help!!! Startled, Little Treasure''s energy instinctively gathered and erupted in a sh, 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 apletely different ce. "Xun xun?!" Hovering mid-air and surrounded by gravestones, Little Treasure ced 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 sh 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 mes. 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 sh." Zhang Rongtangmanded 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 herposed exterior. The current situation was spiraling far beyond her expectations. If Little Treasure were still around, the n 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 sharpugh, his expression darkening. Mocking me? Excellent. "Old Hu! Old Byo!" Zhang Rongtang growled. "Hu." Phantom Fiend replied, its glowing eyes signaling the Illusion sh 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¡¯smand, 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 rx, her eyes widened in horror. Behind Yabao and Lubao, unseen to them, the Illusion sh was hurtling toward them. ¡°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 sh was right behind him, the time gap between them less than a second. Should they attack the caster directly? Qiao Sang nced 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 sh kept chasing Yabao, Tablema or Stronghold Sky Owl could easily target Lubao, sealing their fate. The only way forward was to sever the Illusion sh. 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 snowkes. At that exact moment, Phantom Fiend¡¯s gaze shifted to Qiao Sang. The Illusion sh 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 sh 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 deste 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. ording 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 nkly at the blinding white light. A mid-tier pet evolving into a high-tier one wasn¡¯t umon, it shouldn¡¯t have left him so visibly shaken. But considering the other factors, it was nothing short of astonishing. The only known me 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. Particrly this me 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 me 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 isplete?! 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. 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¡¯sst muddled thought before she cked out. The next second, a st of water hit her face, snapping her back to consciousness. The familiar sensation was all too irritating. She nced down at Lubao, ready topliment 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 ming 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. mes erupted violently from the fractured earth, creating waves of scorching heat. ¡°Yap?¡± The disy 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 dered, 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 dy 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 n: 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: /?m=1 ----- Little Treasure had arge 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 ur. However, if Stronghold Sky Owl was in the middle of an eleration and Little Treasure suddenly appeared, the collision could indeed cause both to lose bnce temporarily. After all, ording to the momentum theorem, when a 0.45 kg small flying-type pet beast collides with an 800 km/hrge 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/hrge flying-type pet beast, the impact force could reach 144 tons. In short, the faster the speed, the greater the impact force. This also exins 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!" Shemanded. "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 ck 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 spectacrly, transforming into countless mes that cascaded down like a fiery rainstorm. Amid this brilliant disy, 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 dted 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 mes. 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 triumphantughter. 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 energysted 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 ofbat 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 pped 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 mes, 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 shlight around while walking, apanied by a Magnemouse whose tail emitted a faint glow. Beside him were several other officers holding shlights. "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 seed?" "Come on, what kind of wild pet beast is worth breaking thew 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, eximing 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 simr 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, ncing back from atop the wind eagle at the location where the fiery rain had urred. 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 tomunicate. 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 exining, "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 rified, "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 me Hound. That fiery rain was probably her me 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 iming that Qiao Sang¡¯s me 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 usible. His intuition screamed that it was true. The officers¡¯ faces went nk as they struggled to process the revtion. 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 me 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 exined. "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, shing 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 imed 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 idental, 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 atst! 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 terrifyinglyrge 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 w 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, ring fiercely at the figures above. The mes on his shoulders red 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 dered, 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-ck night sky cracked open, forming a tiny fissure. The rift grewrger andrger, 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 w 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 w was overwhelminglyrge. Even though Tablema had teleported quite a distance, it was stillpletely within the w¡¯s range. Qiao Sang watched, wide-eyed, as the w 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 de-like nose and piercing yellow, vertical pupils. One nce was enough to tell that the head and the w belonged to the same pet beast. Qiao Sang instinctively held her breath, not daring to move. The beast¡¯s yellow eyes scanned its surroundings as though dissatisfied with the environment. Momentster, 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 Yu¡¯s tears flowed uncontrobly 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 furtherment, Qiao Sang ced 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 momentter, she covered herself entirely in water,unched 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 mes 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 Yu 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 onest 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, nked 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 onest 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 shlight, their beams ringly 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 me 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 me Hound? The officer nced 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 ce. 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. Secondster, the officers erupted in disbelief. "You¡¯re a high schooler, aren¡¯t you?" "Where¡¯s your me Hound?" "And whose Treasure-Seeking Demon is this?" "Does anyone else think this pet looks a lot like the me 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 exnation. 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, nced 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 nced at him. She could guess how he was feeling. Anyone would feel upset if their longtimepanion, whether a person or a pet, disappeared so suddenly. "Are you okay?" Qiao Sang asked. Wu Chang lowered his eyes, replying in a t 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 toorge 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 sote? 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 red 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." 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 inte. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never seen one." Xu Yixuan stared at her in awe, feeling that Qiao Sang¡¯sposure and strength were perfectly fitting for a future powerhouse. ncing at the time, Qiao Sang decided to postpone her shower. She kicked off her shoes, halfy on her bed, and entered the Beast Taming Codex. Chapter 342: Blazing Star Canine Name: zing Star Canine (Yabao) Attributes: Fire, Psychic Level: Advanced (12,000/100,000) + [Primary Traits: 1. ze Level: D (5/500) Status: Inefficient Description: Activates when HP is below 1/4, doubling fire-type skill power and speed. 2. me BodyLevel: 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 bes 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) + me Charge (Mastery 12,905/20,000) + Meteor Rain (Mastery 10,038/20,000) + Illusion me (Beginner 23/100) + Psychic (Mastery 10,009/20,000) + Perception Sense (Beginner 23/100) + Teleport (Proficient 366/500) + me w (Beginner 2/100) + Hyper Beam (Beginner 1/100) + Meditation (Beginner 1/100) + Hellfire (Beginner 2/100) + Points: 16,573 --- "zing Star Canine." Looking at the name of her newly evolved advanced beastpanion, 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 improvedpared tost month. Of course, money yed 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. But today was different. One evolution had transformed Yabao¡¯s stats drastically overnight, leaving apletely new impression. --- Moonlight Power! Qiao Sang¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight of this new trait. Unlike ze, 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 studentspeted, 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. me w, 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 me w 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 st, often seen as a finishing move in films. Although its power is immense, it has a critical drawback: After use, the user bes immobile for a short period. Without certainty of a decisive hit, this skill could backfire spectacrly. Hellfire. A high-tier fire-type skill. This area-of-effect move cracks the ground, releasing searing mes. 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, sess 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 ss 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 uncontrobly. Oh dear, so she hadn¡¯t misheard after all... After just surviving a life-and-death battle, and at thiste hour, they were now nning to train? Seriously? While Qiao Sang was mulling over how to persuade Lubao that bncing work and rest was the key to sess, 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¡¯ming too!¡± Xu Yixuan dered loudly. With such a monster around, she couldn¡¯t just lie down and do nothing! Hey, hey, hey. It¡¯s sote, 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 Sangmunicated with Lubao. ¡°Why did you m 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¡¯tpare 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 be 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 shecked was experience. But her misfortune was beingpared 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... Aftermenting 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, thepetition. --- The Next Morning Qiao Sang and Xu Yixuan arrived early at Huicheng Beastmaster High School. Thanks to Healing Light, Qiao Sang, despite staying up aste 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. ¡°I just found out this morning!¡± ¡°Same here!¡± ¡°I heardst 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 thest rift, and we¡¯ve already got another one!¡± ¡°Shall we check it out after the match?¡± ¡°No way. The rift just appearedst 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 Yixuanughed. ¡°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 me Hound has evolved.¡± Xu Yixuan: ??? He Dadao: ??? Chapter 344: Another Lucky Winner Xu Yixuan and He Datiao stared nkly, 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 urrences were typically limited to senior year, usuallyte in the second semester. Achieving eligibility to take the special entrance exams for top universities required one of two aplishments during high school: 1. Winning first ce in the government-hosted national campus tournaments. 2. Passing the D-rank Beastmaster certification. A crucial requirement for thetter? Owning an advanced pet beast. In other words, even if you imed first ce 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-yearpetitors 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 y 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! iming her me 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. ¡°Justst night.¡± Qiao Sang replied earnestly. ¡°I¡¯m calling it zing Star Canine.¡± You actually answered seriously?! Xu Yixuan almost broke character, struggling to maintain herposure. "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 form. 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 nces, 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 currentpetitors, 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 tform¡¯s system, which had just been repaired, crashed again. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao stood coolly on the battlefield,pletely oblivious to the chaos caused by her entrance. Her opponent was a Water Burst Shrimp. The shrimp, known for its aggressive nature, cked its ws provocatively as soon as it appeared. Lubao remained expressionless. ¡°Babo!¡± The shrimp cked again. Lubao didn¡¯t react. ¡°Babo!¡± Still no response. ¡°Babo¡­¡± Defeated, the shrimp lowered its ws 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,nding a decisive Water Tail attack to im victory. The crowd buzzed with admiration: "Lubao is stunning!" "If this were a water terrain, the shrimp might¡¯ve stood a chance. But onnd, 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. asionally, prizes like a house in the capital or an interster cruise vacation be options. For ordinary people, beast-rted prizes have no use beyond being sold for cash. However, prizes like houses, free interster travel, or unlimited cards are universally attractive. Whenever such prizes are offered, the prize pool''s total value often skyrockets. "People in this town are seriously lucky!" He Dazhao eximed 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 me Hound''s evolution form." He Dazhao chimed in with a smile, "Yeah, I¡¯ll skip too. Seeing me Hound¡¯s evolution is more important. I can¡¯t even imagine what it might look like without a reference." The two exchanged a knowing nce, 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 me 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 yawnedzily, 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 increasedpared to before." He paused and exined 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 nced 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 maintainposure. "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 me 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 me 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 me Hounds evolving yet, so I can¡¯t be certain." Other examples? Even examples of Fire Fang Dogs evolving into me Hounds were nonexistent¡­ Wang Weidou silently griped. "What kind of environment and circumstances did me Hound evolve under?" Liu Yao asked, his gaze soft and almost unsettlingly gentle. Qiao Sang recalled, "At night, in a deste area. It evolved during a battle." Liu Yao''s researcher instincts red, 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 me 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 apetition 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: !!! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 346: Why Does This Look So Familiar? Chapter 346: Why Does This Look So Familiar? Read at: /?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 ck polo shirt, looking perplexed. "Are we really going to have Ding Yanjing keep using his sh-Leaving Crow for battles?" Huang Renbiao, watching Ding Yanjing and his sh-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 me 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 provincialpetitions 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 regionalpetition." 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 im 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 directparison 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 regionalpetition 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 usible 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. 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 matchessted 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 herbat 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 zing 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, andy back on the bed, opening her phone to check the lottery website. "You bought a lottery ticket?" Qiao Sang asked, surprised. "Yeah,st night after training, I went with He Daitao." Xu Yixuan replied,paring 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 imed 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! Chapter 347: Perfect Match! It hadn¡¯t been long since the incident, and Little Treasure quickly remembered a simr 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 nced over and exined, ¡°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 exin the concept of intelligence tax, when she noticed Little Treasure remove his ring and rummage through it. Momentster, 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 Sangughed 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 rxed against the bedhead, ncing 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 wasposed 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 minutester. ¡°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 iing 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 imed 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,nding 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 dered 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, thepetition had been underway for over an hour. 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 sincest night.¡± Xu Yixuan replied softly. ¡°Even her roommate says she¡¯s been smiling in her sleep.¡± Before He Dadao couldment 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 Chapter 348: The Possibility of Winning In the group assigned topete 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 reced 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 inst year¡¯s standings!¡± Liu Zeru shrugged and quipped, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s about looks?¡± ¡°???¡± The casualment 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 popr Royal Beastbat team, hisck of poprity remained unchanged. Just as He Dapeng was about to steady his wounded spirit, the whistle blew. ¡°Rock Blockade!¡± Liu Zerumanded decisively. With a powerful punch to the ground, Violent Bear summoned jagged rocks from the sand-filled arena, forming a blockade aimed at ze Gori¡¯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 ns. 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 ced He Dapeng in a disadvantageous position. ze Gori had no choice but to attack the encroaching rocks with fiery punches, each strike unleashing bursts of me 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, ze Gori suddenly saw a blinding sh 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 headcked 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. ¡°ze Gori¡¯s high attack power would make it dangerous to confront directly. Liu Zeru must¡¯ve decided to wear it down first, taking calcted damage to build up Rage¡¯s power. Once ze Gori¡¯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, ze Gori, injured but undeterred,unched another fiery barrage at the now-close Violent Bear. mes exploded across the bear¡¯s body, but the attackscked their initial impact. Unaffected, Violent Bear took a few steps back before Liu Zeru shouted, ¡°Now!¡± With its right paw glowing with violent energy, Violent Bear delivered a devastating punch to ze Gori¡¯s head, sending it flying across the arena. ze Gorinded 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 yernded 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. ze Gori¡¯s superior attack power had ultimately worked against it, serving only to fuel Violent Bear¡¯s Rage. As the unconscious ze Gori 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 ns specifically for her pet. After a brief pause, Qiao Sang replied, ¡°I¡¯ve just thought of a possibility I want to test.¡± Xu Yixuan nced 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 wee 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 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!" 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 ted. In his opinion, if Qiao Sang summoned zing Star Canine, defeating Liu Zeru would be as easy as squashing a bug. Xu Yixuan turned her head and couldn''t helpmenting 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 dered, "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 tform would crash. Technicians had been reced 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: "Rx, 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 tform 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 tform 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 calcted 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 Zerumanded calmly. Violent Bear gathered energy, mming 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 sh. 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 remainedposed, analyzing the situation. At that moment, Lubao leaped onto arge rock,unching herself above Violent Bear with incredible strength. Her tail swirled with water. Liu Zeru¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he issued nomand. Violent Bear didn¡¯t move as the water-d tail struck its head. Bang! Bang! Bang! The water-tail strikes continued, mming 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 gavemands 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 copsing. 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 wless!" "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 hermand, Lubao began to sing. Invisible sound waves rippled through the air. Violent Bear¡¯s red eyes dimmed as its fury subsided, reced 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 mmed into Violent Bear with full force. As Violent Bear stumbled back, it raised its fist onest time... and then copsed. "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! 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 apdog!" The scene was somewhat chaotic, but the battle arena remained unaffected. The second round of thepetition 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 shing 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 ss 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 nced 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 andmanded, "Ice Wind!" Snowguard Bear opened its mouth, releasing a gust of icy wind. The water surface instantly froze into a thickyer 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 ount for this during yesterday¡¯s nning... Despite her calm demeanor, Qiao Sang silently adjusted her tactics. Still, this terrain might actually y to Lubao¡¯s strengths. As Lubao plunged into the water, a massive virtual screen appeared over ten meters above the audience, disying the underwater scene. Lubao swam through the water, her movements clearly visible even through the ice. Fixating on the white figure on the floating stone above, Lubao¡¯s body became encased in swirling currents. Momentster, enveloped in water, Lubao shot upward like a missile, charging at Snowguard Bear. On the floating stone, Snowguard Bear raised its paw and mmed it onto the icy surface. Instantly, dozens of solid ice pirs formed in midair and plummeted toward the water¡¯s surface with immense speed. The iceyer shattered under the impact, but the falling pirs 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 Pir Strike!" "Ice Pir 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 re, 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 Pir Strike was calcted to trap it. Breaking through the ice would take time, forcing Lubao to evade underwater. Yet, the audience suddenly erupted with exmations. "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, nced 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 pir, thicker than her body, bnced on her head. Qiao Sang: !!! "Lubao..." Lubao gritted iher teeth, memories of relying on Yabao for help shing through her mind. "Lu!!" Her eyes grew resolute, the water currents around her surging dramatically. With a sharp crack, the ice pir shattered. Still propelled by her water stream, Lubao didn¡¯t stop, mming into the stunned Snowguard Bear and sending them both crashing into the water. The arena fell silent. A momentter, 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, arge 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 exhrating¡­ "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 alreadyunching another attack¡­" "Speaking of which, I remember Liu Zeru''s matches fromst year¡¯s national school league. He¡¯s fighting much harder this year." "He has no choice. This is hisst 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 ites 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 evennds, 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''smand, 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 mming into the Snowguard Bear''s head. "Snowguard!!" 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 Pirs!" Liu Zerumanded sharply. Simultaneously, Qiao Sang shouted, "Water Stream Jet!" "Snowguard!" The Snowguard Bear howled. In the air, dozens of solid ice pirs 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 copsed, 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 itsted 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 thepetition, 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, oftenbeled 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 uppletely 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 andpetitors in the front rows was much more subdued, except for Wang Weidou and Sun Boyi. ¡°Congrattions, 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 me Hound has already evolved into a zing 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 herter?¡± 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. ¡°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 y the role of a saint; she was here topete. Qiao Sang poured energy pills into tes 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¡¯tst long before anotherpetition. 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 arge body if he couldn¡¯t perch on their Beastmaster¡¯s shoulder? Meanwhile, Lubao nced 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. Afterforting 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 snowkes to descend from the sky. The moment the target came into contact with a ke, their body would be covered in blooming ice flowers, freezing thempletely. 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 newments. [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 shy 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 disys. 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: /?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 reced 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 thepetition. 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 thements? 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 thements had already exploded, numbering in the thousands: ¡°No wonder! I was wondering how the OP knew all this. The streaming tform crashed again today. If OP waspeting 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 alreadyte for school.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been so anxioustely, 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 ce? ¡°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, nced at the sleeping Qiao Sang, and tiptoed silently toward the bathroom. Three secondster, 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. ncing 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 minutester, 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 copse. --- 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 ept 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 juste 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: !!! --- 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¡­ toozy? 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! Ipletely 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 wee 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: /?m=1 ----- Qiao Sang stood frozen in ce, utterly baffled. While everyone else¡¯s attention was drawn to the sudden snowfall, she only nced 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 contemted 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 themand 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 nce 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 thepetition. ?? 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,pletely unaware that her mother was in the audience, Qiao Sang steadied herself as rain began to fall. Maintaining herposure, she issued anothermand, ¡°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 nced down, only to see a blue torrent rushing toward it. Startled, it pped its wings frantically to dodge, its movements so abrupt that a feather fell loose. Luobao flipped mid-air and dove downward. Its already incredible speed surged again, making the surrounding raindrops seem to slow inparison. The Sensory Bird had barely pped 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 snowkes, ceased at that moment. A referee¡¯s mechanical beast flew over from the sidelines to inspect the crater. ¡°Coo!¡± Three secondster, 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 apletely different level!¡± ¡°What was Wu Chang doing? After it started snowing, he just froze up and stopped givingmands.¡± ¡°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 hourter, the week-long group stage finally came to an end. On therge virtual screen above the audience seats, the list of those advancing to the next round was promptly disyed. 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 ck off.¡± He Dadao muttered under his breath, ¡°Why not say that to Qiao-¡± He paused, remembering Qiao Sang¡¯s ming Hound evolution, and corrected himself: ¡°Xu Yixuan.¡± Xu Yixuan: ... Suddenly, a voice called out from behind them. ¡°Qiao Sang,e 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-trantedstories./?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 butin 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 nces, 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 rtionships 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 Weidouughed, 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 nced at the indicated area. The vice principal felt their gazes were piercing but managed to keep aposed expression. I miscalcted. I thought Healing Light would cover the whole body, not just specific areas... That¡¯s... the kidneys. Qiao Sang immediately understood as she nced at the spot he was pointing to. Ten secondster, 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 aplished.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ye Xiangting couldn¡¯t helpughing, 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 me Hound and Psychic types went viral.¡± Ye Xiangting exined. ¡°But I hired someone else, and today isn¡¯t a weekend, so I could spare some time.¡± She added, ¡°Mainly, the live-streaming tform 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 calcted. The journey is 8.5 kilometers. Proceed straight ahead.¡± ¡°8.5 kilometers?¡± Qiao Sang blinked. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ye Xiangting replied, ¡°I saw a news report about a secret realm fissure in Hongrao Town. I missed thest one at the mall because I got the news toote. 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 arge 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 nced 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 ws. ¡°Lu.¡± Lubao, lounging on the sofa, opened one eye at themotion, figured out the situation, and went back to sleep. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ye Xiangting stepped out of the kitchen with adle 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 exined 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 aplex look. ¡°How did he evolve?¡± ¡°Well, after one match, someone approached me¡­¡± Qiao Sang quickly gave a vague exnation, 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 nced 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-trantedstories./?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 im their winnings online. Most wore masks or even used voice modtors. Some relied on their pet beasts to im 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 apany owner, he hadn''t bothered to conceal his identity. Unfortunately, his luck ran out soon after iming 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 asion. 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 im 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 circr 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 aplished my daughter has be.¡± Caught off guard by the sincere praise, Qiao Sang felt awkward. She wasn¡¯t used to such earnestpliments. "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. ? 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 ie 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 contemted 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 bustlingmercial 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 nning 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, reced 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 atrger 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 secondster, she sat frozen, staring nkly. 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 hourter, 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 talkst 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 ck sunsses once belonging to Yabao, Little Treasure floated toward 99 Huachang Street, exuding a don¡¯t mess with me vibe. One minuteter, 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 nced around but didn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Xun Xun!¡± Little Treasure crossed his arms and let out amanding 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 me Hound! He continued scrolling up to check the Beastmaster¡¯s details more carefully. A momentter, he pressed the call button to summon the top-rated reception expert, sh Mouse, to handle this situation. Once the Treasure-Seeking Demon and sh 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 nkly 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 ck-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 exined. 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 padium, 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 others. The exact eligibility requirements for this ck 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 ount there, but they required a minimum daily bnce of one million yuan.¡± A daily bnce 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 aurae from? --- Inside the Lisi shop, Qiao Sang nced 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 exin 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 nced at her daughter, already preparingforting 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 thendlord¡¯s contact information,¡± Qiao Sang said directly. The manager¡¯s smile froze. He shot a nce at the staff member, then replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have thendlord¡¯s contact details.¡± Qiao Sang pulled out her ck 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 thest second. ¡°I want thendlord¡¯s contact information.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± The manager quickly took out his phone, fearing she might change her mind. --- Ten minutester, 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 thendlord¡¯s number, she said: ¡°Hello, are you thendlord 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, thendlord 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 ce 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 nced 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-typepanion 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 ss disy case and pointed to a red potion inside. "This is the Swift me Potion. It enhances apanion 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, apanion beast enters a simted breakthrough experience, aiding its evolution. It¡¯s highly effective for beasts below Royal rank. This bottle is also rated Grade B." 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-typepanion beast can unleash significantly more powerful skillspared to others of the same level and skill proficiency." This time, the staff member tapped and swiped on the ss above the Nine-Ice Potion, bringing up a video disy. The footage showed two ice-typepanion 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 im. "Let¡¯s demonstrate the difference between their ice-based skills, assuming equal proficiency." With a signal, both Fenmoths pped 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-typepanion beast can be a king among its kind!" "This is the unparalleled effectiveness of the Nine-Ice Potion!" The video concluded, and the disy 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 exnation, 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-typepanion 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 waspletely stunned, as though a wild dragon-typepanion beast had suddenly appeared and offered to contract with her. In disbelief, she nced at the silent woman apanying 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-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- Among the staff, a woman whose uniform was noticeably different from the regr employees immediately put on a radiant smile and approached enthusiastically. "Hello, I¡¯m the manager here. Please,e 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, "ording 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 exined 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 nced 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 managerposed herself and answered, "Those two grades are extremely rare. We only stock a handful each year, and they¡¯re exclusively sold at our gship 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-ss living standards, and she was only exposed to items readily avable 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''spany and went to a pet nurturing store on her own. ording 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 uing 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''srge size forced him to hover mid-air. "Little Treasure, take out the potions we bought today." "Xun~" Little Treasure removed his circr 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 identally 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 bing 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 apanying 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-rted products was mostly limited tomon 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 exnations 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 herpanions, 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 nced 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 zing 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 urate. 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 zing Star Canine¡¯s attributes perfectly counter his Guwei Sunflower." "I understand, Principal." After a few more reminders, the call ended. Qiao Sang nced at the S-grade Potential Enhancer in her hand, then turned to Lubao and gently called out, "Lubao,e here." "Lu." ----- ----- Chapter 360: The Housing Requirement Read at: https://blogspot-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- Lying on the floor, Lubao opened her eyes and nced up. "Come here and drink this." Qiao Sang said as she opened the bottle of the potion in her hand. 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 wascking in potential, but rather that,pared 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 eptable, 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 ced 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 yetfortable sensation spreading through her being. Qiao Sang looked over just in time to see a faint blue light enveloping Lubao. Her body began to growrger 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 erged 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 ce 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 me 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 ck 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 nced 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 nce 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 nced 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 exined. "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 weremon 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 amunity 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 ced 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-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- The next day. Shengshui High School. After advancing to the elimination round, thepetition had reached its most critical stage. The school didn''t require Qiao Sang to attend sses 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 ssroom 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-tamingpetition¡¯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 be a celebrity? At that moment, the ssroom door opened, and the homeroom teacher, Li Yi, stepped out with a stern expression. "Don¡¯t you all have sses to attend?" Seeing the teacher, the crowd dispersed within seconds. Li Yi turned to Qiao Sang, his smile spreading uncontrobly. "Come on in." Qiao Sang quickly entered the ssroom and sat in her seat. She soon noticed that the usually focused top students weren¡¯t meditating. Instead, they were all sneaking nces 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 ss break, clusters of students crowded outside the freshman ss 1 windows, their heads practically pressed against the ss. When the morning sses 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 ofpetitions, 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 n! 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 ssmates 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 ss. 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 sshing 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 mightnd 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¡­" ----- ----- 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 me 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 couldpare. 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 me 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 nced 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 eximed, getting up and walking closer. Qiao Sang exined, "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 aplex 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 exined. "All S-grade potions contain immense energy. "The Potential Enhancer works by enhancing a beast¡¯s potential. It doesn¡¯t force the enhancement but instead unlockstent 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 Sanges 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 hisputer, "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, hisrge 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 nce at them, and as she did, the group of students outside the ss window waved excitedly. So I really am famous now¡­ She thought, her back unconsciously straightening a little. Soon, Sun Boyi brought up arge virtual screen, which disyed 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 closebat at all costs. Its venom is far stronger than an average moth''s. Even if you manage tond a hit, you risk sumbing to abnormal status effects." At this point, the virtual screen switched to disy 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. Themands he gives don''t match the moves his beasts execute." "For instance, he mightmand ''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 hismand, 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 outssed, He Daotao¡¯s expression stiffened. Qiao Sang studied the girl on the screen. The photo showed a pale-skinned girl with a ssic 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 rtionship with her Glide Owl. The Glide Owl, an evolved form of the Fat Dove, was an advanced beast. Having one in a high schoolpetition was like holding a trump card. Any high schooler with an advanced beast was almost guaranteed to take first ce 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 ack of synergy between them. Duringst year''s national campus beast mastering league, the Glide Owl outright refused to cooperate. In one elimination match, ity down and fell asleep as soon as it was summoned, ignoring herpletely and costing her the match. However, this year¡¯spetitions showed significant improvement in their rtionship. The Glide Owl was no longer disobedient. Qiao Sang nced 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 inst 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 disyed on the screen. --- Meanwhile, universities across Zhehai Province were simrly briefing students on tough opponents. Dozens of virtual screens across campuses disyed 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 me 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, arge crate of potions was revealed. "Our school bought these Cleansing Potions specifically for your training!" Simr scenes yed 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 ce 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 m 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 arge 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 ck gold card and ced 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 ces with both spaciousyouts and good facilities for beast training. I¡¯m still deciding." "Take the card. By the time you¡¯re back, I should¡¯ve found a ce. 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,e here." Her Lubao sauntered over, but before she could reach the tester, the Fat Dove curiously affixed the sensor to itself. The screen disyed: 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. "Lu." Respecting her elder, Lubao obliged. As soon as the sensor was attached, the screen shed: 92127. Chapter 364: The A-Level Breeders Effort Read at: https://blogspot-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- 92127? As an experienced pet beast, Fat Dove could recognize the size of the number disyed. ¡°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 nced at the number on the screen. ¡°Why is it broken right after I bought it? I even specifically chose thetest 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 ced his hand on a royal-tier pet beast, a Thornback Dragon, and calmly said: ¡°The culmination of energy endurance, thetest Dunsey Series, because expensive has its reasons.¡± ¡°Thorn.¡± The dragon nodded. The scene shifted, showing an energy detector disyed 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 wouldst a week, and if they were still crammed into the same dormitory like during the qualifiers and group stages, Yabao wouldn¡¯t be able toe out. ? It¡¯d be better to find a ce to stay alone. Pet beast battle arenas named after cities are typically icondmarks. Most major beast-tamingpetitions 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 ck 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 yourprehension 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, dered, ¡°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-inmand 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, essed 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 be an advanced pet beast, Ice Kiru, it needed an unprecedented sense of joy during snowfall. Honestly, making Lubao happy wasn¡¯t difficult. 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 remainedpletely 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¡¯ming 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 zing Star Canine evolved and grew toorge, I was thinking of staying outside when we reach Kai¡¯nan City. Is that alright?¡± Liu Yao paused. ¡°Have you chosen a ce 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 me 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-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- Kainan City was about 160 kilometers from Hanggang City, roughly a two-hour drive on the highway. The amodations 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 thepetition. 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 exined 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 amodations if you¡¯re not happy with the ones provided? Why didn¡¯t anyone say so earlier? I¡¯ve always disliked the ces 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 toote for me to ask Teacher Sun to switch hotels?¡± He Dadao nced 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 toe 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 thepetition, 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 ck gold card or the school paid. --- Rui Hotel ¡°What? 770,000?¡± Liu Yao froze. ¡°Yes, sir. The youngdy 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 ck gold card, she wouldn¡¯t dream of staying in a ce 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 Rui Hotel? What a pity, I was hoping to chat with their headmaster, Huang, about some exchange opportunities.¡± --- Rui 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 sped 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 ap, 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 quicklyforted 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 ss 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, ¡°Bing a ss C talent requires an assessment. We¡¯re busy with thepetition right now, so there¡¯s no time to take it.¡± ¡°Yap yap!¡± Yabao, trusting herpletely, barked in excitement. Then we¡¯ll take it after thepetition! Qiao Sang: ¡­ She sighed inwardly. Taking the assessment wasn¡¯t on the agenda. At most, she¡¯d attempt the ss D Beastmaster certification. The ss 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 toe 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 apany their teams. 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 Rui 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 receivingparable training and resources, his pet beast had yet to evolve. Ding Yanjing, lounging on the sofa and ying 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 topete with us seniors.¡± Chapter 366: First Day? Exciting! Wang Rui let out a scoff but said nothing further. Though he asionally 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 beastmasterpetitions, 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 theirpetition. Want to go watch?" Fu Xiaodan was another member of the Senior Team from Litan Beastmaster High, though she participated in individual beast coordinationpetitions. Coordination matches, which focused on showcasing skill elegance, were usually held at night, so they didn¡¯t conflict with the individualbat 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 wasmon knowledge that while high school students were discouraged from dating, many secretly did so. Ding Yanjing was no exception. As a campus star, his rtionship with Fu Xiaodan was an open secret, even among the teachers. But since both had achieved ster academic and extracurricr 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 realpetition 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 nced 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 toe too." "Yeah, Wang Rui isn¡¯t into coordinationpetitions, 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 ce. Many of you are probably familiar with thispetition." A young, elegant female reporter said with a smile to the camera. "At this stage, the remaining participants are the cr¨¨me de 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 andpeting 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. yer¡¯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. "That¡¯s Su Chong Beastmaster High. They haven¡¯t had anyone reach the eliminations in thest two years, so they¡¯re probably just overexcited." Replied someone nearby, ncing at the brown-uniformed group. The buzz-cut student burst intoughter. "Hrious. Imagine making this a big day out, only to get eliminated immediately." Hispanion 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 me Hound." --- As one of the rising stars, Qiao Sang¡¯s presence attracted plenty of attention. ncing 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 exined: "By now, all the top schools in the province are here. The audience isn¡¯t just friends and family. Arge 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 hisbat style is more on the cautious side. My first match should be manageable." Turning to herpanions, 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 dered 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 eximed in shock. Qiao Sang looked nonchnt. "Why are you two overreacting?" He Dadao lowered his voice, "Ruan Yunwen is highly favored to take first ce in the province this year. Her Glide Owl evolved years ago. It used to ignore hermands, but this year, things are different. Your zing 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 ze Gori 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, onerge, one small, emerging in shes of green and gray. "Let the match begin!" Chapter 367: As Long As He Didnt Get Hit Read at: https://blogspot-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- The majestic Glide Owl had descended, its arrivalmanding 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 arge pet beast. Most of the beasts seen on the streets were of beginner or intermediate levels. Circumstances and niche aside, while the Fat Dove, a lesser form of the Glide Owl, was a popr 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 tform was skyrocketing. Barragements 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 tform is finally working properly." "LOL, the size difference between these two pet beasts is hrious." "Where are myrades 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 ce, leaving just one livestream focusing on Zhejiang Sea Province. After the group stage concluded, the tform organizers had quickly assembled a dedicated management and repair team to address the server capacity issues. Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely the tform¡¯s fault, who could have predicted that a simple provincial high schoolpetition 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 contemtive. 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 pped 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 des!¡± The Glide Owl pped its wings again, sending dozens of razor-sharp wind des 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 des 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 revtion 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 manipted a wave of dust toward the Glide Owl. ¡°Windstorm!¡± With a powerful p, 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 quicklymanded. 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¡¯smands, 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 intoughter 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¡¯spletely ignoring them.¡± On the Field. The Glide Owl unleashed an onught of moves. It used Brave Bird Strike, followed by Wind de, then Air sh, 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 havested 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 alwayses to pass. ¡°Caw!¡± Fueled by rage, the Glide Owl''sbat strength skyrocketed. The 20 or so clones simultaneously pped their wings, unleashing hundreds of air des that rained down like a storm toward Little Treasure. Ruan Yunwen watched with aplex 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 des. Boom! Boom! Boom! Wherever the desnded, 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 n. 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 de 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 des 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 des 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 des?¡± ¡°Let me exin. 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 des, impossible.¡± ¡°That exins 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 de mid-teleportation and fell to the ground. Immediately, the relentless air des 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 withments: ¡°Wow, it couldn¡¯t teleport past the des? Basic knowledge, really.¡± ¡°Cut them some ck. She¡¯s only 15 andsted 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 oue; 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 sessfully?! 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 ws, 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 oue. 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 hisposure. 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 particrly 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 n 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 nced at the Glide Own, still struggling desperately in the shadow control, and a clear thought shed 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 sh-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 givingmands, justmunicating 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 rx 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 des 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 be a professional Beast Tamer, one had to focus on thepetition 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. If they wanted tounch an attack next, the shadow control would surely disappear, and if the attack didn¡¯tnd 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 Owlpletely 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¡¯smand, 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 itpletely ignored its Beast Tamer''smand. 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 therge 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 herst National Campus Beast Mastering League. There was no way the two-tailednd turtle could defeat Qiao Sang. She had finally managed to make Glide Owl listen to her, but why¡­ No, she couldn¡¯t ept 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 yed 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 tform was temporarily free ofments. 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 ce 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 waspletely controlled by that kid from Shengshui High¡­ By the way, what was Shengshui High¡¯s admission cutoff scorest year?¡± Meanwhile, the official livestream was flooded withments.[LOL, who knew this was even possible!] [66666, I never saw thating!] [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 andughed heartily. ¡°Principal Huang, it looks like your school might still have a chance to experience the strength of our Qiao Sang.¡± 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 deted 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 nced 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 tform was instantly filled with groans andints. Most of the viewers were from the Guwu region, tuning in specifically to see Ice Qiya. After struggling with aggy tform, they were disappointed not to see Ice Qiya in action. Despite the grumbles, viewer numbers didn¡¯t drop. Qiao Sang¡¯s shy 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 orfort. If anything, you can only me yourself forcking 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 ws, his weak defense meant that a couple of hits from the Turtle could have taken him down. That is, if the attacksnded. 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 rmed. 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 deration 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 eximed 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 turnedpletely ck!¡± ¡°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 ovep with the matches?¡± A male colleague with wavy hair repliedzily, ¡°It¡¯s just a national high school pet beastpetition, not college-level. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± The bun-haired woman shot him a look. ¡°The only me Hound in the world belongs to a high schoolerpeting right now.¡± me 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-trantedstories./?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 ced it on the scanner without looking up. "What updates do you need for your pet beast?" "My me 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 torge-sized. While it wasn¡¯t an issue during off-peak hours, summoning such arge 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 me Hound. She snapped her head up, staring wide-eyed at the girl standing outside the window. What did she just say? Updating me Hound¡¯s information?! The wavy-haired staff member looked up simultaneously, their expressions perfectly synchronized in disbelief. Qiao Sang remainedposed, she was used to this reaction by now. me Hound? Evolved? Impossible! The male staff member¡¯s pupils constricted, his mind racing with shock and confusion. He quickly nced at theputer screen disying the information. Whoa! It really is a me 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 me 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 me Hound evolved?! Isn¡¯t she just a high school student? --- ¡°Yap!¡± Twenty minutester, Yabao, her evolved ze 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 me Hound¡¯s evolved form?" The male staff member asked. ording to the league¡¯s regtions, the first person to raise a new evolution had the right to name it. "zing Star Canine." Qiao Sang replied. "ze as in fire, and star as in the night sky." ¡°That¡¯s such a beautiful name!¡± The female staff member eximed with genuine admiration. "You have a real talent for naming!" ¡°Agreed. I could nevere 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 hearingpliments, Qiao Sang thought, smiling bashfully. "You tter 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 ted. ¡°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 minutester. The female staff member returned, carrying a huge tray of blue ink and a shirt. "I couldn¡¯t find paper big enough for zing Star Canine¡¯s pawprints, so I figured it could sign my shirt instead!" She ced 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 thergest jewelry store in Kainan City on her phone. The store was about 11 kilometers away. Instead of taking a taxi, she erged 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 ring w in her pet¡¯s spatial shift ability: It had terrible uracy. 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 ne 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 asionally. Not that I want to experience the thrill of waking up one minute before ss and teleporting straight to school or anything¡­ ¡°Xun~¡± Little Treasure inspected the map confidently and nodded, indicating he could do it. Momentster, 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 herposure, Qiao Sang poked Little Treasure¡¯s cheek. ¡°Xun¡­¡± He looked embarrassed, squeaking an apology. --- 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 ring. ¡°!!¡± 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 couldmand 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-trantedstories./?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 inurate. 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. Beforeing 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 derisiveugh. ¡°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 oue 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 aputer booting up reached Qiao Sang¡¯s ears. She remained perfectly still, not daring to make a sound. Anyone who could manipte 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 be almost superhuman. Secondster, the younger man¡¯s voice came again, apanied 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 rmendation 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 theputer... Qiao Sang kept her expression neutral as she analyzed the situation. Rumors of corruption in majorpetitions were nothing new, especially in highly publicized events. Some people would stop at nothing to secure victory. Recently, the inte had been abuzz with ims that Zhu Yongchang,st year¡¯s sixth-ce 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 upied the center. By the window stood arge desk with aputer on it. Sitting at the desk, Qiao Sang powered up theputer. [What do I want most in life?] A password... of course. Summoning Yabao, she said, ¡°Can you sense what the previous user typed on thisputer?¡± Yabao ced its paw on theputer, activating its Perception Sense ability. Within minutes, Qiao Sang had the password: [Overthrow the boss, be the boss.] Ambitious, she thought. Using Yabao¡¯s instructions, she navigated the system and eventually essed the tool for manipting match assignments. How despicable! Rigging matchups in apetition 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, recing 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 ns. --- The Next Day At Kainan¡¯s Beast Battle Arena, Qiao Sang took her seat under the watchful eyes of the crowd. She nced 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 me Hound evolving. Did someone see your zing Star Canine yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Sang replied casually. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°True.¡± Xu Yixuan chuckled. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen thements, 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 minutester, 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 disyed. 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-trantedstories./?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 apetition held to foster camaraderie, exchange experiences, and improvebat standards. Schools are inherentlypetitive, 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, particrly 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 be 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 nced at Huang Renbiao and chuckled: ¡°Principal Huang is always so busy, but if the opportunity arises, I¡¯d certainly wee 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 Zhipengughed. ¡°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 schrships.¡± 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 nce. It¡¯s not ttery; it¡¯sworking. 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 dislikepeting against Ding Yanjing, but if they can¡¯t handle this, what real potential do they have? Facing adversity and oveing 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 scheduledter. 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 epted 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 nced at Wang Weidou, who met his gaze head-on, a silent sh of wills erupting between them. Just then, an announcement echoed through the venue: ¡°The matchups have been finalized. Please check therge 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 gazesnded 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 thepetitors'' zone. ¡°Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Qiao Sang, your opponent is Ding Yanjing!¡± He Datou eximed 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 nced 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 ce 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 orter. No point overthinking it.¡± 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 yed the gentleman. ----- ----- Chapter 374: Qiao Sang VS. Ding Yanjing Read at: https://blogspot-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- Old Zhang... so he knew all along... Qiao Sang retracted her gaze. At this moment, many people had noticed the battle lineup. 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? Howe these two major schools are facing off so soon this year?" "Qiao Sang seems so unlucky. It¡¯s only the second day of thepetition, and she¡¯s already up against Ruan Yunwen once and now Ding Yanjing." "I know Ding Yanjing! He¡¯s won the provincial first ce 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 sh-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 ss 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 eximed, "Holy crap!" Everyone in the ss 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 ss indifferent, especially since one of their ssmates, Xue Chuhua, had quit the school team because of him. That incident had been the talk of Shengshui High for quite some time. The ss 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-tost row by the window, with a sharp jawline and ck hair covering half his forehead, suddenly got up and walked out of the ssroom. 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 ss," Xue Chuhua said before leaving the room. The ssmates exchangedplex looks. Everyone knew what he was going to do, he was definitely heading off to watch the live match. --- Twenty minutester. 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 oues 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 y dead to lure the opponent closer, thennded 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 hrious. 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 andnd 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 bothpetitors. 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. Thementator enthusiastically introduced thepetitors: "Today, at the Kainan Beast Battle Arena, the most anticipated match in Zhejiang Province will soon begin! Ding Yanjing, who has imed first ce in the National Campus Royal Beast League for Zhejiang Province two years in a row, has represented our province onrger 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 bing the provincial three-time champion, or will Qiao Sang perform another miracle to im 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. --- yers'' Area Xu Yixuan let out a long breath. "Why does this match feel more nerve-wracking than when Ipeted?" He Daotao nced 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 zing Star Canine in action, nor have I seen how the Guwei Sunflower performs post-evolution. And Ding Yanjing¡¯s sh-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 sh_Leaving Crow and the Treasure-Seeking Demon appeared. sh-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 nomands, his expression unperturbed. Then- "Li!" The sh-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 in front of the sh-Leaving Crow. The instant Litle Treasure reappeared, the surged toward him. Thankfully, Qiao Sang¡¯s timelymand 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-trantedstories./?m=1 ----- The audience, mostly seasoned beastmasters, could immediately gauge the skill levels of thepetitors. Despite only one brief exchange so far, it was clear this match was high-level for a high schoolpetition. 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 tomand sh-Leaving Crow to aim the lightning. 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 sh-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 Yanjingmanded. "Fwee!" sh-Leaving Crow pped 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 hended elsewhere, another bolt of lightning streaked toward him from sh-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. sh-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 sh-Leaving Crow had remained stationary during its attacks, her eyes lit up as she shouted: "Go for the ground!" The meaning of this crypticmand 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 w, Little Treasure extended his shadow across the ground, connecting to sh-Leaving Crow''s shadow overhead. Then, he twisted his w to the left. Simultaneously, sh-Leavinf Crow shifted uncontrobly to the left, causing the lightning bolt to miss its target entirely. Cheers erupted from the audience. "This is a thrilling speed showdown!" "sh-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." "shLeaving 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 tforms were filled withments: [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 sh-Leaving Crow and control it directly?] [Too risky. Ding Yanjing¡¯s sh-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, lightnings 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 seeded, twisting his w to execute a rare move. Spinning. "Fwee!" sh-Leaving Crow twirled uncontrobly 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. sh-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 formted his n, Qiao Sang shouted, "Don¡¯t stop!" "Xun~" Little Treasure raised his w and spun sh-Leaving Crow again. "Fwee!" sh-Leaving Crow cried out in distress. Ding Yanjing: !!! What¡¯s going on? It shouldn¡¯t sound this distressed¡­ Qiao Sang frowned. sh-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¡­ ----- ----- The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!