Chapter 1115: The Mysterious Old Man (Two in One)

“The evolution path for the Liao Xing Hound has been figured out?” Qiao Sang was startled at first, then reacted with surprise.

“Really? What’s the evolution path?”

To be honest, too much had been happening recently, and she had almost forgotten that the Vice Principal was still researching the evolution path for Steel Treasure…

“It’s to make the internal energy boil when the energy reaches the evolution standard, and then evolve on the night of the full moon,” Liu Yao said excitedly.

“Make the internal energy boil?” Qiao Sang was a bit confused.

“It means putting the Yan Ling Dog into a state of battle or anger,” Liu Yao explained. “In the initial stage, we completely replicated Steel Treasure’s evolution scene at the time, but not a single Yan Ling Dog evolved. Later, through continuous experiments, we discovered that it must be on the night of the full moon.”

“With this necessary condition, we then brought out several Yan Ling Dogs whose internal energy had reached the evolution standard on the day of the full moon, but not a single Yan Ling Dog evolved.”

“So, we discovered that battle is also necessary.”

“Later, we had five Yan Ling Dogs battle in the same environment, but not all of them evolved into Liao Xing Hounds; only two did.”

“Through continuous experiments, we found that the internal energy must boil to a certain extent during battle. If the battle is not intense enough, the boiling level of the internal energy will not reach the evolution standard.”

Liu Yao paused, then added:

“The anger of Fire-type Pets will cause their internal energy to boil to varying degrees, so as long as the Yan Ling Dog’s anger is sufficient, it can also cause the energy to boil and reach the evolution standard.”

So that’s how it is… Qiao Sang processed the information and said admiringly:

“I didn’t expect such complex evolution conditions to be figured out so quickly.”

Liu Yao laughed and said, “Compared to the Yan Ling Dog’s evolution conditions, the Liao Xing Hound’s are really not that difficult. If it weren’t for the limited number of Yan Ling Dogs available for research, the research time for the Liao Xing Hound’s evolution path could definitely be shortened even more.”

“After all, we perfectly replicated Steel Treasure’s evolution scene at the time.”

Qiao Sang said with a smile:

“If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have thought of the full moon night.”

Liu Yao didn’t refute, saying, “Professionals do professional things. No matter what, I am a researcher, and I have a team behind me. It’s definitely faster than you thinking alone.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

Originally, she was just flattering him, but now she couldn’t refute…

Liu Yao changed the subject and suddenly said:

“Speaking of which, we have you to thank for figuring out the Liao Xing Hound so quickly.”

Qiao Sang pretended to be embarrassed and said:

“I just described Steel Treasure’s evolution scene at the time. I’m also a member of the research team, so it’s only right.”

“It’s not for that,” Liu Yao said with a laugh. “It’s to thank you for winning the Regional Competition.”

Huh? Qiao Sang was stunned.

Liu Yao continued:

“If you hadn’t won the Regional Competition, so many Yu Beast Masters who had contracted Fire Fang Dogs wouldn’t have actively signed up for the experiment, successfully evolving enough Yan Ling Dogs to participate in the Liao Xing Hound’s evolution research.”

I didn’t expect to have this credit… Qiao Sang offered another compliment:

“It’s mainly due to everyone’s trust in you.”

This child… Liu Yao smiled, then thought of something and said:

“Oh, there’s one more thing.”

“What?” Qiao Sang cooperatively asked.

Liu Yao didn’t answer, but instead asked:

“When Steel Treasure evolved into a Liao Xing Hound, did it awaken the Moonlight Power characteristic?”

Qiao Sang’s heart stirred, and she said, “That’s right.”

“We checked all the successfully evolved Liao Xing Hounds and found that only one of them awakened the Moonlight Power characteristic,” Liu Yao’s tone was no longer excited. “This proportion is too small. We haven’t figured out whether it’s related to genes or some other reason.”

Generally speaking, whether a Pet can awaken a corresponding characteristic during evolution is related to genes, but there are exceptions.

Although the Liao Xing Hound’s evolution path has been successfully researched, the number is still too small, especially Liao Xing Hounds with the Moonlight Power characteristic.

Liu Yao said:

“So, we are preparing to conduct research in this area recently.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang inexplicably thought of the other branch of the Liao Xing Hound’s evolution into a Flame Qilu, the Moon Calamity Hound.

She wondered if the Moonlight Power characteristic would be related to the later evolution path, as both contained the word “moon.”

Qiao Sang didn’t voice this thought. After all, it involved her Gold Finger, and she couldn’t easily explain how she knew about the Liao Xing Hound’s other evolution branch.

She thought for a moment and said:

“What about the Flame Qilu’s evolution path? Are you not researching it for now?”

Her meaning was to quickly research the Flame Qilu’s evolution path. If they figured out the Moon Calamity Hound, it might solve the Moonlight Power characteristic issue.

Vice Principal, I can only help you this much…

Liu Yao said helplessly:

“The later a Pet is, the harder it is to research. The Liao Xing Hound was an exception. Even if a Pet in the later stages accumulates energy desperately through resources without regard for its potential, it’s difficult to reach the level of internal energy required for evolution in a short time.”

“Although the Yu Beast Masters participating in the experiment only want their Pets to evolve and for the evolution path to be researched, we can’t just blindly pile energy into the Pet’s body. This, not to mention potential, could easily cause problems with the Pet’s body.”

The world really needs more researchers like the Vice Principal… Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.

If this were on the Super Dormant Star, the researchers there definitely wouldn’t consider this aspect.

Liu Yao continued:

“While we’re researching why the Liao Xing Hound awakens Moonlight Power, we will also ensure the Liao Xing Hounds participating in the experiment reach the evolution-ready energy level. Then, we will proceed with the evolution path research.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang asked:

“Do you need my help with anything?”

“Not at the moment. We’ll contact you when we need your help.” Liu Yao said, then changed the topic:

“How do you like Yan Tian Star?”

“It’s great.” Qiao Sang chuckled. “I just won a small competition, and the prize is a free trip to a certain place. I’m on vacation right now.”

Liu Yao looked at his two large dark circles in the glass nearby and suddenly fell silent, only replying two seconds later:

“Have fun.”

After chatting with the Vice Principal for two minutes, Qiao Sang hung up the phone, suddenly felt a bit hungry, and picked up her phone to check for nearby restaurants.

She quickly chose one.

Then, Qiao Sang thought of something, made a hand seal, and summoned Xiao Xunbao and Steel Treasure back.

At the same time.

At a certain barbecue stall.

A rabbit-like Pet, wearing an apron and enthusiastically grilling, looked at the two figures that suddenly disappeared in front of the stall. It was startled at first, then showed a “the sky has fallen” expression and shrieked:

“Quick! Quick!!!”

Customers are running out on the bill!!!

…

Hotel.

Qiao Sang looked at the food residue on Xiao Xunbao’s and Steel Treasure’s mouths and asked:

“Did you eat something?”

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao nodded, then showed a regretful expression and cried out.

It had originally planned to eat a bit more.

“Steel Treasure.”

Steel Treasure, on the other hand, showed an adoring expression, as if saying, “You’re so amazing, how did you know that?”

Qiao Sang was quite pleased with Steel Treasure’s expression, restrained the upward curve of her lips, and said:

“That’s because both you and Xiao Xunbao have something on your mouths.”

“Steel Treasure…”

Steel Treasure showed an embarrassed expression, floated to the coffee table, pulled out a tissue, and wiped its mouth.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao gave Steel Treasure a strange look and casually wiped its mouth with its paw.

It had noticed that the fifth one was acting a bit fake in front of their Yu Beast Master. Just now, when they were eating outside, it had wiped its mouth with its paw just like itself.

“Then, can you still eat a little more later? I’m about to go out to eat,” Qiao Sang asked.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao’s eyes lit up, and it cried out, indicating that of course, it could eat a lot more.

“Steel Treasure.”

Steel Treasure showed a shy expression and cried out.

It could eat a little more.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang picked up her phone, navigated, and placed it in front of Xiao Xunbao, saying:

“Then let’s go to this one.”

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao looked at the phone, and after memorizing the route, its eyes glowed blue, and it skillfully began to pinpoint its location.

Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something and shouted:

“Wait!”

Xiao Xunbao’s eyes returned to their original color.

“First, bring the Mo Li Dragon. It’s in room 502,” Qiao Sang said.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao nodded, its eyes glowing blue, and it disappeared from its spot.

After about twenty seconds, Xiao Xunbao returned to the room with a happy-looking Mo Li Dragon.

“Let’s go eat together,” Qiao Sang said to Mo Li Dragon.

“Mog Mog!” Mo Li Dragon nodded vigorously.

“Let’s go,” Qiao Sang looked at Xiao Xunbao.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao cried out, its eyes glowing blue, and soon it successfully pinpointed the location, disappearing from its spot with its Yu Beast Master and Steel Treasure.

…

Qiao Sang’s vision went black, and when it returned to light, she was already in a restaurant built on a giant tree.

Tables and chairs were placed on the thick branches around, and many Pets and a few people were dining there.

Qiao Sang led Steel Treasure and the others to an empty table and sat down.

The next second, a yellow fruit marked with the number “16” on a branch above suddenly hung down, opened its eyes, and cried out:

“Duo Duo?”

Saying that, it produced a menu from somewhere and handed it over.

Steel Treasure and the others were unprepared and jumped in surprise.

Duo Duo Fruit, a Grass-type Beginner Pet, likes to pretend to be a fruit and hide in trees. If a Pet mistakes it for a tree fruit and eats it, it will bite the other party first… Qiao Sang’s expression was calm. Before coming, while browsing on her phone, she had seen comments related to this restaurant and knew that the yellow fruits seemingly growing on this tree were actually Pets working as Staff.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

After being startled, Xiao Xunbao was the first to react, its eyes lit up, and it cried out, helping to translate.

It’s asking us what we want to eat.

Qiao Sang took the menu, scanned it roughly, and said grandly:

“Bring all the signature dishes for both humans and Pets.”

“Duo Duo.” The Duo Duo Fruit nodded, took back the menu, and then the branches and leaves above retracted, hanging back on the tree.

“Duo Duo.”

The Duo Duo Fruit cried out to the Duo Duo Fruit marked with the number “15” next to it.

The Duo Duo Fruit marked “15” then cried out to the Duo Duo Fruit in front of it, passing on the message.

Until it reached inside the restaurant, and the sound stopped.

“Steel Treasure…”

Steel Treasure looked at this scene, showing an expression of “So it can be like this.”

Following its Yu Beast Master, it had seen many places where Pets worked.

But in places like this, where everything was run by Pets and then frequented by humans, it still felt a bit dazed every time it saw it.

“If you like it, when we retire and stop competing, you can open one,” Qiao Sang said with a smile in her mind.

Steel Treasure was stunned upon hearing this, a surge of emotion welling up inside, but it strongly suppressed its thoughts from surfacing in its mind.

After about ten minutes, one Duo Duo Fruit after another walked over, carrying plates of dishes, and neatly placed them on the table.

Qiao Sang and Steel Treasure enjoyed their dinner.

“Mog Mog!”

Mo Li Dragon’s eyes lit up more with each bite of energy meal.

Although it didn’t lack food, it had eaten almost nothing but tree fruits since it was young. It felt like this was the first time it had tasted something so delicious.

Mo Li Dragon immediately forgot its purpose for being there, devouring the energy meal as if it hadn’t eaten for days.

While eating, Qiao Sang picked up her phone and searched for nearby tourist attractions.

“Quick! Quick!”

Suddenly, an extremely angry voice sounded from below.

Qiao Sang looked down and saw a rabbit-like Pet wearing an apron, looking at their table and crying out angrily.

Hmm? Why is it looking at my table?

Qiao Sang was stunned. Before she could react, the rabbit-like Pet wearing the apron suddenly leaped up, its body lightly jumping two steps on the tree, and arrived at the branch where the dining table was located.

Everyone and every Pet around looked over in unison.

“Quick! Quick!”

“Quick! Quick!”

The rabbit-like Pet wearing the apron walked over angrily, pointing at Xiao Xunbao and Steel Treasure, accusingly crying out twice.

Steel Treasure blinked, showing an innocent expression.

“Xiao Xunbao!”

Xiao Xunbao recognized who the rabbit-like Pet was, waved its paw, showed an “I didn’t mean to” expression, then pointed to its Yu Beast Master and cried out.

“Quick! Quick!”

The rabbit-like Pet suddenly turned its head and looked over.

Qiao Sang: “???”

What’s going on?

“Xiao Xunbao!”

“Xiao Xunbao!”

Xiao Xunbao cried out twice, indicating that it and Steel Treasure had been suddenly summoned back while eating just now and hadn’t paid yet.

Qiao Sang: “…”

Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds, then said:

“I’m sorry, how much do I owe?”

“Quick! Quick!”

The rabbit-like Pet cried out unhappily.

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao cried out while stuffing food into its mouth.

52 alliance coins.

Qiao Sang pulled out a 100 alliance coins cash note and handed it over: “Keep the change. Consider it my apology.”

The rabbit-like Pet took the 100 alliance coins, its expression instantly changing from cloudy to sunny, and it cried out enthusiastically:

“Quick, quick~”

After speaking, it leaped down from the tree and happily left.

It seems I can’t just summon Xiao Xunbao and Steel Treasure back from playing outside anymore… Qiao Sang reflected, various thoughts flashing through her mind:

Maybe I should just buy Xiao Xunbao a phone so it doesn’t know nothing when it’s out…

No, if I buy it a phone, it definitely won’t earn points anymore.

Steel Treasure has been playing with Xiao Xunbao recently, so maybe I should buy Steel Treasure a phone…

Just as Qiao Sang felt that the more she thought about it, the more it made sense, she suddenly felt a gaze.

Following the direction of the gaze, she saw an old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, but looking very spirited, sitting at a dining table on a branch diagonally below, looking at them with a look of surprise and uncertainty.

To be precise, he was looking at Steel Treasure.

After staring for a few moments, he smiled and said:

“Do you mind sharing a table?”

His voice was not loud, yet it entered her ears with unusual clarity.

Qiao Sang looked at him and nodded:

“Sure.”

The old man stood up, floated to the branch above, and familiarly walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Staring at Steel Treasure, he suddenly spoke:

“This must be the legendary Pet, the Qingyin Fairy, right?” (End of Chapter)