Chapter 744: Imperial Class

Late at night...who could it be? Why does it feel a bit creepy...

Qiao Sang felt a chill run down her spine. But before her brain could react, her body had already instinctively turned around.

In the shadows under a tree stood a figure about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a black trench coat, a baseball cap, and a face mask.

The person didn’t step out of the shadows even after noticing her gaze, just stood there still and silent.

Good grief, this feels like a horror movie…

Ever since the negative energy collection contest involving ghost-type pet beasts, Qiao Sang’s courage had grown a lot.

From the figure’s build, she could tell it wasn’t anyone she knew.

Qiao Sang subtly glanced toward the direction where Little Treasure was hiding.

At the same time, her phone buzzed again.

She picked it up and saw a new text message: [I’m a teacher from the Imperial Beast University.]

Qiao Sang’s pupils shrank. She looked up and shouted, “Little Treasure! Wait!”

But it was already too late.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure teleported in front of the figure in the cap, his eyes glowing purple.

Crap. First encounter with a teacher from the Imperial Beast University and she goes and hypnotizes them…

Qiao Sang silently facepalmed, too embarrassed to watch what happened next.

About three seconds passed, but the expected sound of someone collapsing never came.

Qiao Sang lowered her hand and looked again at the shadow under the tree.

The figure in the cap was still standing.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure teleported back and pointed at the figure.

That person was wearing sunglasses!

As if on cue, the figure slightly raised their head, revealing pitch-black sunglasses that covered the upper half of their face.

Qiao Sang: ……

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again.

She lit up the screen and saw another unread text: [It’s good to be cautious, but I really am a teacher from the Imperial Beast University. I have something to discuss with you.]

This teacher, seriously. Could’ve just walked over and spoken to me directly instead of being so cryptic…

Qiao Sang grumbled inwardly and patted Yabao’s back.

“Let’s go.”

“Yap.”

With a cry, Yabao blinked and reappeared in front of the figure.

Although Yabao couldn’t teleport through space, his perfected-level short-distance blink was more than enough to take Qiao Sang with him where there were no obstacles.

Qiao Sang dismounted.

At that moment, a chirping noise came from the tree above.

An invisible barrier instantly enveloped the area.

From a panoramic view, the night was deep, the leaves rustling, but no one could be seen under the tree’s shade.

Having seen spatial barriers before, Qiao Sang keenly noticed this one seemed a bit different.

Regular spatial lockdown barriers had a visible film around them if you looked closely, but this one shimmered with ripple-like waves, very clear.

“This is a perception-blocking field. People outside can’t see or hear us inside.” The figure said while removing their hat, mask, and sunglasses, revealing soft golden hair and a rather nondescript face.

“You’re a teacher from the Imperial Beast University?” Qiao Sang confirmed.

The woman raised her head, her deep blue eyes meeting Qiao Sang’s as she smiled faintly, “Let me introduce myself. I’m Heidi. I’ve been dispatched by the Imperial Beast University to operate on Chaosu Star.”

“What do you need from me?” Qiao Sang asked.

Heidi gazed at her for a moment, then smiled: “I’ve been briefed about your situation. I didn’t expect you to turn down Yulianton University’s offer.”

What the...word’s traveled that far already?!

Qiao Sang was stunned.

Heidi continued, “I was supposed to contact you earlier, but due to my current identity and the attention you’ve been getting from the deans of Yulianton, I couldn’t find a good opportunity.”

Huh? I’m a student of the Imperial Beast University, and you’re a teacher, shouldn’t meeting be no big deal?

Qiao Sang was confused and asked: “What’s your current identity?”

Heidi paused.

“A teacher at Yulianton.”

“You’re a spy?!” Qiao Sang’s eyes widened.

Heidi cleared her throat.

“I handle intelligence.”

She added, “Many top universities plant their own people in rival schools. It’s a standard tactic.”

No wonder she knew I turned down Dean Gilbert… So elite universities have gotten this competitive, even using spies…

Qiao Sang was a bit dazed, then suddenly thought of something: “So does the Imperial Beast University also have spies from other schools?”

Heidi nodded slightly: “Yes. And we’ve identified some of them. But for this kind of personnel, we usually don’t root them out.”

Qiao Sang asked in confusion, “Why not?”

“Anyone who passes the entrance interview for the Imperial Beast is top-tier talent.” Heidi explained.

“Even without them, others would take their place. It’s better to monitor and keep them away from core research than to cause a stir.”

Qiao Sang then asked: “So does Yulianton know your identity?”

Heidi hesitated, thinking of the treatment she’d received over the years.

“Hard to say…”

Realizing the conversation was going off-track, she pulled it back: “I came here because Dean Theresa Dwight asked me to inform you. You came to Yulianton as an exchange student first because you're already on Chaosu Star, and second, so you could meet other star system geniuses.”

“But you’ve progressed far faster than she expected. Even among undergrads in Yulianton’s beast-taming department, no one surpasses you now.”

“You’re already at a graduate level in a top univeristy's beast-taming program.”

“If you hadn’t declined their offer so quickly, Yulianton would’ve provided resources and guidance suited to your level. But since you turned them down, you’ll likely continue as a regular freshman exchange student, attending first-year classes.”

“Dean Theresa feels that would be a waste of your time, so she wants you to join the Imperial Class early.”

Technically, Heidi wasn’t supposed to reveal her identity so casually. But if Qiao Sang was already designated for the Imperial Class, then everything changed.

Qiao Sang absorbed all this and asked, “What is the Imperial Class?”

“I believe you’ve already heard of the Imperial Class in Yulianton?” Heidi said.

“The Imperial Class is the same in Imperial Beast University.”

Imperial Class…

Qiao Sang recalled vaguely, Dean Annmaria of the Item Department had mentioned it.

Said something about access to ultra-rare resources…

Heidi went on: “Students admitted into the Imperial Class are groomed to compete in the Interstellar Cup.”

“Ordinarily, even geniuses must wait until their brain capacity hits 50% and they become B-Rank professional beast tamers.”

“That 50% mark is a major hurdle. The first 40% might go smoothly, but many people never make it past 49%, a lifetime bottleneck.”

“So hitting 50% before age 30 and becoming a B-Rank tamer is the bare minimum for joining the Imperial Class.”

“But your situation is unique. Your brain development is the fastest we’ve ever seen.”

She paused, then added: “And your pet beasts are outstandingly trained.”

You're too kind…

Qiao Sang stifled her smile and coughed.

“I’m a bit worried I can’t keep up academically if I join the Imperial Class.”

“You won’t need to worry about that.” Heidi smiled.

“Imperial Class students don’t sit in classrooms. The teaching is customized and emphasizes hands-on experience.”

“Each student gets a personal mentor for one-on-one guidance.”

“For your case, Dean Theresa already made plans. While on Chaosu Star, you’ll continue taking freshman classes at Yulianton, but homework isn’t mandatory. During your free time, a temporary mentor will take you into real battles to build experience.”

“Once you return to Blue Star, you’ll have a dedicated mentor from the University.”

Sounds pretty great…

Qiao Sang was a little dazed.

Then Heidi added: “Almost forgot, Imperial Class students get all energy pills completely covered by the Breeder's Department institute.”

Qiao Sang: !!!

Excitement surged through her.

The biggest expense in training pet beasts was energy pills!

If that was covered, she wouldn’t even need her unlimited expense card!

“When do I start getting energy pills?” Qiao Sang asked eagerly.

Heidi thought for a moment.

“Your beasts are highly unique. Except for Ghost Ring King and Ice Aipalu, the others aren’t in our records. To make perfect pills, breeders will need to examine them.”

“Once you return to Blue Star and they’re inspected, the pills will be made.”

That’s fair. Even without the unlimited card, she could still support her team for another half year…

Qiao Sang was satisfied with the plan. Then she asked: “What about the temporary mentor? When will they show up?”

Heidi answered responsibly: “Tomorrow. They’ll come find you.”

She paused, then added: “That’s all I needed to tell you.”

She put her hat, sunglasses, and mask back on and said: “If we meet at Yulianton, act like we don’t know each other.”

With that, the barrier around them dissolved.

Heidi turned and left.

Got it, even if Yulianton already suspects her, she still has to keep up the act…

Qiao Sang looked at Yabao.

“Yap!”

Yabao understood immediately. His eyes glowed blue as he used telekinesis to lift his tamer onto his back.

A night breeze brushed past. Qiao Sang felt oddly happy.

Even though her free time on Chaosu Star would be reduced, having an Imperial Beast University teacher personally guide her… didn’t sound bad at all.

Who would’ve thought the Imperial Beast University had been watching her from so far away...

Suddenly, a voice rang in her mind: Gang Slice?

When are you coming back?

…Oh hell. I forgot Gangbao!

Coming.

She replied back.

---

9:05 PM

Yulianton University.

Rune Inscripstions Department.

When Qiao Sang saw Gangbao, she noticed her entire body was covered in mysterious white patterns, much like Little Treasure.

She thought of something and asked: “Is this material waterproof?”

“Of course it is.”

Li Dongdong didn’t mind her asking such a silly question and patiently explained, “The materials we use at the Rune Inscriptions Department are all waterproof.”

That’s good…

Qiao Sang felt relieved.

Over the next stretch of time, Li Dongdong also drew runes on Yabao and Lubao.

Though it was getting quite late, the thought that Qiao Sang would soon be a student registered under his name made Li Dongdong feel energized from head to toe.

Even though Qiao Sang had yet to draw a rune in front of him, he firmly believed that for someone her age to have reached this level of mental development, she must have an extraordinary talent for spirit runes.

2:13 AM

Li Dongdong put down the calligraphy brush stained with a red viscous substance and said: “All done.”

Qiao Sang set aside her Rare Pet Beast Encyclopedia and looked up.

Yabao stood there with eyes closed, drooling, and his limbs were frozen in a standing pose, held in place by psychic power. His body was covered with red runes, two shades darker than his skin.

Beside him, Lubao was still awake. Her body was also covered with mysterious runes, though hers were a deep blue.

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure sighed wearily, clearly asking if he could stop holding Big Bro Yabao in place now that the drawing was done.

Qiao Sang smiled and said, “Thanks for your hard work.”

With that, she waved her hand and retrieved the sleeping Yabao back into her Beast Codex.

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure's eyes returned to their usual golden hue as he wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead.

Li Dongdong stepped forward, a hint of fatigue in his expression: “If you have any questions about runes, feel free to ask me. I know your main focus is still beast taming right now, but I hope that before you leave Chaosu Star, you’ll attend at least one formal lecture of mine on runes.”

After a short pause, he added, “Because once you return to Blue Star, who knows when we’ll meet again.”

“I definitely will.” Qiao Sang said earnestly.

---

7:30 AM.

Qiao Sang woke up, quickly freshened up, and went to the living room.

When she saw the breakfast on the table still steaming, she couldn’t help rubbing her temples.

She’d been so busy from morning to night yesterday that she completely forgot about the vice principal…

Now that she had the contact info of the Yulianton University Department of Taming’s headmaster, she could just ask directly which materials had equivalent effects…

But thinking back, the other party had probably approached her originally to recruit her.

Now that it was known she had turned down Headmaster Gilbert and was returning to Blue Star, who knew if they would still help her…

While thinking, Qiao Sang took out her phone and sent the vice principal a message: [Which materials do you need alternatives for? I can help look into it at school.]

She waited a while, but there was no reply from the vice principal.

Qiao Sang set down her phone and was just about to call Yabao and the others over.

At that moment, Yabao suddenly let out a bark: "Yap!”

“What is it?” Qiao Sang followed the sound.

“Yap Yap!”

She saw Yabao standing in front of a full-length mirror, staring excitedly at his current appearance, then turning to look at her.

Way cooler than the one you drew before!

Hey hey hey, it’s fine to compliment yourself, but why do you have to drag me down while you’re at it…

Qiao Sang pouted and said: “Enough admiring, it’s time to eat.”