Chapter 943: Cheonan City (two-in-one)

“It evolved a month or two ago,” Qiao Sang said modestly. “I stayed in the secret realm for a bit too long this time.”

Mi Jiala naturally knew the exact time Xiao Xunbao evolved, and her exaggerated reaction was just to show that she was completely unaware of what happened in the secret realm.

“Yaya!”

Just as she was about to say something, Xiao Xunbao came out of the bathroom with her head held high, looking as if she was waiting for a scream.

Mi Jiala looked at Xiao Xunbao, was silent for a second, then made a stunned expression, and then looked disbelieving:

“Flame Qilu evolved too?!”

After doing all this, she couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed.

It wasn’t that she felt ashamed of acting, but that she felt her acting was a bit too exaggerated.

“Yaya!”

Xiao Xunbao showed a proud little expression and nodded.

“Xiao Xunbao evolved on the day we left the secret realm, Teacher. You don’t know what I encountered in the secret realm…” Speaking of this, Qiao Sang got excited and rattled on, describing in detail from beginning to end how she entered the underground, encountered a Rongjia Dragon, managed to deal with one, only for another to appear, and after rescuing Xiao Xunbao, discovered that it had absorbed the rong ming fire seed.

Mi Jiala assumed a posture of listening intently.

After chattering for a long time, Qiao Sang’s throat was dry, and she got up to get a bottle of water to drink.

Mi Jiala pretended to ponder and said, “So, Flame Qilu’s evolution path is the rong ming fire seed?”

Qiao Sang stated her opinion:

“It’s not certain yet. Xiao Xunbao rushed out from underground and evolved under the sunlight, so it might also be related to the sun.”

Aodinihi’s predicted location must have a deep meaning, and the three skills Xiao Xunbao gained after evolving are all related to the sun, making it hard for her not to connect Xiao Xunbao’s evolution conditions with sunlight.

However, she couldn’t mention the latter, as she had just said that Xiao Xunbao evolved on the day they left the secret realm, making it impossible for her to have had time to know what skills it had awakened, let alone three of them.

After speaking, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to need to inform the Vice Principal about Xiao Xunbao’s evolution first…

Indeed, if Flame Qilu evolved due to the rong ming fire seed, it would most likely complete its evolution within or by rushing out of magma. If it was due to sunlight, then the act of rushing directly out of the underground would be understandable. After all, when a Pet reaches the critical point of energy evolution, it will be attracted by the evolutionary item and try to get closer… Mi Jiala fell into deep thought.

This time, her reaction was genuine.

A few seconds later, Mi Jiala collected her thoughts and smiled:

“It’s good that Flame Qilu was able to evolve smoothly. Its evolution path was unknown, and I was always worried before. Now that your Xiao Xunbao and Flame Qilu have both evolved, I’ll ask the Imperial Beast Academy Staff to come again, so they can change the Energy Pill based on their conditions.”

Qiao Sang immediately said:

“Then I’ll trouble you, Teacher.”

“This is what I should do,” Mi Jiala said. “But before that, we need to go to Tian’an City first.”

Qiao Sang nodded and said, “I understand.”

Tian’an City, the city where the Regional Competition is officially held.

“Then you should rest early, we’ll depart tomorrow.” Mi Jiala finished her instructions and turned to leave.

As her hand was on the doorknob, she suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask:

“Have you decided on the name for Flame Qilu’s evolution form?”

Qiao Sang replied:

“Yan Jiaoou.”

A good name… Mi Jiala pushed the door open and left.

Qiao Sang looked at the closed door, deep in thought.

“Steel Sword?” Steel Treasure called out, asking what was wrong.

Just as it said, it couldn’t sense all of its Yu Beast Master’s thoughts. For example, right now, it didn’t know what its Yu Beast Master was thinking.

Qiao Sang said with a serious expression:

“I always feel like the Teacher is a bit off.”

“Steel Sword?”

Steel Treasure showed a puzzled expression.

What’s wrong?

Qiao Sang shook her head and said, “Nothing, maybe I’m overthinking it.”

She couldn’t very well say that she felt Teacher Mi Jiala’s reaction to Xiao Xunbao’s evolution was too calm, as if she accepted it too quickly, which made her feel like she hadn’t gotten to show off, and it was a bit unsatisfying.

Steel Treasure: “…”

Qiao Sang stopped thinking about it, took out her phone, and dialed the Vice Principal’s number.

No matter what, she had to tell him about Xiao Xunbao’s evolution first, to avoid a situation where the data wasn’t properly collected and Xiao Xunbao evolved again.

The ringtone sounded for a few seconds, then the call connected.

The Vice Principal’s clear and resonant voice came from the speaker:

“Hello, Qiao Sang?”

Qiao Sang first exchanged pleasantries: “Vice Principal, you went to the predicted location, did you find anything?”

“No,” Liu Yao said calmly. “Perhaps the time hasn’t come yet.”

He paused, then asked, “Why did you suddenly call me? Is something wrong?”

Ever since she officially participated in the campus Yu Beast League and no longer needed his special help with leave, Qiao Sang had rarely contacted him proactively.

Qiao Sang coughed and said, “Xiao Xunbao has evolved.”

The other end of the phone suddenly went silent.

A few seconds later, Liu Yao composed his stunned expression and tried to steady his voice to confirm:

“You said Flame Qilu evolved?”

Qiao Sang hummed, and immediately recounted in vivid detail what she had told Teacher Mi Jiala earlier.

So I didn’t mishear, it really evolved… Liu Yao was stunned again.

This time, he was stunned for a long time.

So long that Qiao Sang thought the phone signal had cut out when Liu Yao, with a trembling voice, spoke:

“Where are you now? I’ll come find you right away!”

“I’m in Tianlie City in the central region. I’m going to Tian’an City tomorrow, so you can just come to Tian’an City to find me,” Qiao Sang said.

Liu Yao was taken aback:

“Why are you in the central region?”

“I came out for training with the teacher who instructs me at the Imperial Beast Academy,” Qiao Sang explained. “She brought me here to participate in the Regional Competition in the central region. The secret realm I just mentioned was the location where I had to complete my last mission.”

After speaking, she thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she said:

“Oh, by the way, the Regional Competition is officially starting in a few days. It’ll be perfect for you to come and watch my matches.”

Liu Yao was silent for the third time.

He never expected Qiao Sang to have gone to participate in the Regional Competition.

And in the central region, no less.

Before he could say anything, Qiao Sang continued excitedly:

“You really have to say, Aodinihi’s predictions are so accurate. Not only was Xiao Xunbao’s predicted evolution location exactly the same, but so was Lu Bao’s.”

“Wait!” Liu Yao didn’t quite understand. “What do you mean Lu Bao too?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Lu Bao also evolved,” Qiao Sang said with a smile. “She evolved a few months earlier than Xiao Xunbao.”

Dead silence.

Liu Yao’s mind was slightly in a daze.

Could it be that he remembered incorrectly, and the time he and Qiao Sang separated wasn’t six months, but six years?

Otherwise, how could he hear such absurd news…

Liu Yao asked in a dazed voice, “How did Lu Bao evolve?”

“It’s like this…” Qiao Sang rattled off the entire process of Lu Bao’s evolution.

Lu Bao’s energy was already full when she was on Super Dormant Star, so her quick evolution this time was also a stroke of luck… Liu Yao was silent for a few seconds, trying his best to digest the news, and then said:

“I understand. Wait for me, I’m buying a ticket to Tian’an City right now.”

…

The next day, three in the afternoon.

Airport.

On the plane to Tian’an City.

Qiao Sang opened her phone and looked at the trending topics.

[Online Rumored Regional Competition Participant List]

[Yang Yuanhang Has Arrived in Tian’an City]

[Shocking! Qingfeng Nini Appears in Tianlie City!]

[Tian’an City Hotels Raise Prices]

[Direct Shots of Tian’an City’s “Crowded” Famous Scene]

[Insane! Regional Competition Preliminary Tickets, Scalpers Mark Up Over Ten Thousand!]

Among a host of trending topics related to the Regional Competition and Tian’an City, the Qingfeng Nini trend was particularly striking.

Sure enough, in the central region, as soon as Xiao Xunbao appeared, she would trend… Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and clicked on the trending topic for the rumored list.

As the Regional Competition approached, participant lists circulated online every day, but according to the accuracy rate of previous years’ lists, at most 70% of the people were accurate.

Qiao Sang scanned it roughly and found that her name was still not on it.

This marketing account isn’t good enough…

Just as she was thinking, the sweet voice of the flight attendant sounded from the loudspeaker:

“The plane is about to take off. To ensure the flight safety of all passengers, please ensure your mobile phones and all electronic devices are turned off or in flight mode…”

Flying on a Pet is still better… Qiao Sang heard the announcement from the loudspeaker and turned on flight mode on her phone.

Mi Jiala, with her eyes closed next to her, said faintly, “In the next few days, you should try to figure out what new skills Yan Jiaoou has awakened, and it’s best if it can master and smoothly release them.”

No need for a few days, I already knew yesterday… Qiao Sang, with a mischievous thought, asked:

“What if an Ultra-level skill is awakened? Do I have to master that too?”

Mi Jiala: “…”

Mi Jiala’s mouth twitched, and she really wanted to scoff, but then she remembered that three of Qiao Sang’s Pets had already manifested Ultra-level skills upon awakening. It wasn’t a zero-probability event for Flame Qilu to evolve into a King-level Pet and then awaken an Ultra-level skill. So she held it in and said:

“Then naturally, there’s no need.”

…

An hour and a half later.

Tian’an City Airport.

Tian’an City, the central city of the central region, is also known as the safest city in the country. Since its naming, Tian’an City has never experienced a spatial rift, and its safety factor is extremely high.

Qiao Sang got off the plane and immediately summoned Xiao Xunbao and the others.

Stepping out of the airport, she saw that the outside was packed with people, a dense mass of heads and Pets, all having specifically rushed over for the Regional Competition. Among them were many tourists from other regions and foreigners.

“Yaya!”

Xiao Xunbao jumped out of her Yu Beast Master’s arms, wanting to grow larger.

Qiao Sang saw Xiao Xunbao’s intention and stopped her: “No need.”

“Yaya?”

Xiao Xunbao showed a puzzled expression.

Didn’t she usually sit on its back?

“Look at that.” Qiao Sang pointed to a sign by the roadside.

“Ya?”

Xiao Xunbao tilted her head.

What does that mean?

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao coughed, holding a fist to her mouth, and called out in the manner of an old scholar, indicating that this meant Pets over seven meters in size were prohibited.

Qiao Sang nodded and said:

“That’s right.”

Before coming to Tian’an City, she had specifically learned about this place.

Tian’an City prohibits large Pets from appearing on the streets or in the sky.

Because large Pets could accidentally injure pedestrians by lifting a foot or flicking a tail. As the safest city in the country, Tian’an City naturally wants to prevent this phenomenon from occurring.

Originally, Tian’an City prohibited Pets over six meters in size from appearing, but this policy was met with collective protest from local Yu Beast Masters.

General-level Pets are generally around six meters in size, with many being six-point-something meters. Most Yu Beast Masters only have one Pet in their entire life, and after finally cultivating it to General-level, they can’t apply for a miniature shrinking wristband for a while. They can’t just not bring their Pet out for extended periods.

There are no such concerns for King-level Pets, as Pets at the King-level will definitely have miniature shrinking wristbands.

Therefore, the regulation prohibiting Pets from appearing on the streets and moving in the sky was changed from six meters to seven meters.

Xiao Xunbao sighed.

At this moment, a Pet, about eight meters in size, passed by.

“Yaya?”

Xiao Xunbao was stunned for a moment, then quickly called out.

How could it not have to shrink?

“That’s subject to a fine,” Qiao Sang patiently explained.

If a Pet exceeding the regulated size appears, its Yu Beast Master will be fined 1000 alliance coins.

The informant can exclusively receive these 1000 alliance coins.

Regulations are regulations, and not all Yu Beast Masters comply.

As one of the most prosperous cities in the central region, there are many wealthy and well-connected Yu Beast Masters here, and they don’t care about a thousand or two thousand alliance coins.

There was once a person who came to Tian’an City and earned enough money to buy a house in the city center just by reporting Pets exceeding the size limit while traveling. This incident even made it to the trending topics.

“Yaya…”

Xiao Xunbao showed an expression of understanding.

“Come up.” Teacher Mi Jiala’s voice sounded from not far away.

Qiao Sang turned her head and saw that she was already sitting on a rented Flying-type Pet.

Such quick movements… Qiao Sang bent down, picked up Xiao Xunbao, and got onto the rented Flying-type Pet that Teacher Mi Jiala had called.

“Is there no one else?” the uncle sitting in the very front asked.

“No,” Qiao Sang said.

“Let’s go.”

As the uncle spoke, a gray Flying-type Pet, about three meters in size with the characters “For Rent” pasted on its body, flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

“Are you here to watch the Regional Competition?” the uncle chatted.

Before Qiao Sang could answer, Mi Jiala first hummed.

“Did you get tickets?” the uncle asked.

“We did,” Mi Jiala said.

It’s a good thing we made it to registration at the last minute, otherwise the teacher’s ticket would have been wasted… A hint of relief flashed through Qiao Sang’s mind.

“That’s great,” the uncle said enviously. “When tickets were available for purchase, our whole family tried to snatch them but didn’t get any.”

“Next time, you can have a Mechanical-type Pet that specializes in online activities help you snatch them,” Mi Jiala suggested.

The uncle was stunned for a moment: “I’ll try that next time.”

Then he thought of something and changed the subject:

“Are you going to the Yu Beast Center? Are you planning to stay there?”

Qiao Sang replied: “That’s right.”

If it wasn’t for prior reservations, it would be impossible to stay at the local Yu Beast Center during the Regional Competition. However, if you’re a participant, it’s just a matter of showing your qualification.

“If you ask me, you should stay at a hotel like Yuyuan. You might even run into some participating Yu Beast Masters,” the uncle said.

Qiao Sang casually asked:

“Don’t participating Yu Beast Masters stay at the Yu Beast Center?”

The uncle laughed heartily:

“Which Yu Beast Master participating in the Regional Competition would stay at the Yu Beast Center?”

He paused, then added:

“Unless they’re those greenhorns who are participating in the Regional Competition for the first time and have no experience.”

Greenhorn Qiao Sang: “…”

“Why?” Mi Jiala asked.

“You guys never paid attention to the Regional Competition before?” The uncle showed an expression of discussing gossip and said:

“If a participating Yu Beast Master stays at the Yu Beast Center, how could they possibly rest well? Not to mention the fans, if opponents find out they’re staying at the Yu Beast Center, they’re guaranteed not to get a good night’s sleep.”

“Last year, a Yu Beast Master who was participating in the Regional Competition for the first time stayed at the Yu Beast Center. He won in the preliminaries, and then he was noticed. And guess what happened?”

Qiao Sang perked up her ears and cooperatively asked, “What happened?”

“His two adjacent rooms somehow changed occupants. That night, both rooms threw all-night parties, making him unable to sleep well for the entire night,” the uncle said.

After speaking, he saw that the two passengers were surprised and speechless for a moment, feeling satisfied. He continued:

“I heard that this Yu Beast Master complained to the Staff in the middle of the night, but when the Staff came up, they found that the occupants of his two adjacent rooms were all sleeping and not having a party.”

“But this Yu Beast Master insisted that, in any case, after being tormented all night, he didn’t get a good night’s sleep, and he lost the match the next day.”

The uncle concluded:

“So, any Yu Beast Master participating in the competition who has a bit of common sense and has done their homework will not stay at the Yu Beast Center during the competition.”

Qiao Sang: “…”