Chapter 781: Phantom Beast Adinishi

Pirite was stunned at first when he saw Qiao Sang’s action. Then, he frowned slightly and asked, “Why did you take back Ice Aipalu?”

He was all too familiar with the act of recalling a pet beast.

Although Ice Aipalu didn’t disappear right before their eyes, Qiao Sang’s sudden move, especially with Fire Qilu and Ghost Ring King still outside, clearly meant she had taken Ice Aipalu back.

Combining this action with Qiao Sang’s current condition after waking up, Pirite couldn’t help but feel concerned.

It had only been a little over an hour. Given such a great opportunity to soak in the energy pool, unless something really happened, he didn’t believe Qiao Sang would take Ice Aipalu back this early.

Qiao Sang paused for a few seconds, suppressing the nauseous feeling, and said, “Lubao has finished absorbing the energy.”

Pirite: ???

Finished absorbing? That shouldn’t be…

Pirite never expected such an answer.

Ice Aipalu was currently only at the early General-level stage, and it had even awakened a super-tier skill through the Awakening Stone. By all reasoning, its talent should rank among the very top. It shouldn’t have finished absorbing energy this quickly…

Just then, a staff member walked over to confirm: “Miss Qiao Sang, the security just contacted me saying Ice Aipalu disappeared from the energy pool. Did you recall it?”

So there were surveillance cameras at the energy pool… Then the footage of her feeding the bug… No, calm down! Others wouldn’t know that bird was her…

Qiao Sang calmly replied with a soft “Mm.”

“Would you like to rest for a bit now, or should I continue taking you to the next area for your visit and experience?” The staff member noticed the black-haired girl’s pale face and asked.

“I’d like to rest for a bit.” Qiao Sang said.

“Alright, please follow me. I’ll take you to the resting area.” The staff respectfully responded and led the way.

On the way, Pirite finally couldn’t help but ask again, “Are you sure Ice Aipalu has fully absorbed the energy?”

“Positive.” Qiao Sang was still adjusting and hadn’t fully recovered.

She almost blurted out about the Stabilizing Stone glowing: “Lubao…”

But just as she opened her mouth, her heart skipped a beat, and her mind instantly cleared up.

Even if the energy absorption was complete, without emotional fluctuations or temperatures of minus sixty degrees, the Stabilizing Stone shouldn’t react.

If she told the truth, Teacher Pirite would immediately realize something was off.

Qiao Sang paused, then continued, “Lubao was in a very painful state at that time, and Healing Light was being used almost nonstop.”

Pirite fell silent for a moment, then comforted her, “Ice Aipalu hasn’t evolved for long, so it’s normal to absorb less energy. Don’t worry too much. The pain will go away after leaving the energy pool.”

No wonder Qiao Sang looked so pale earlier… He hadn’t expected that Ice Aipalu could only endure for such a short time…

Healing Light could indeed restore the state, but since Ice Aipalu had been soaking in the energy pool, it meant that right after being healed, it would immediately feel pain again.

If Ice Aipalu really managed to keep casting several waves of Healing Light inside, that was already impressive…

Under the staff member’s guidance, the two arrived at a private resting room.

As soon as she entered, Qiao Sang wanted to form a seal to summon Lubao.

But this was her first time using the Stabilizing Stone on a pet beast, she wasn’t sure if the stone on Lubao’s neck was still glowing.

If it was still glowing and Teacher Pirite saw it, he’d definitely suspect something.

Moreover, Lubao’s form in the energy pool had been her true form, summoning her now would bring out the same massive size. The resting room couldn’t accommodate her, and even going somewhere like the bathroom wouldn’t provide enough space for her to stay…

Dealing with a "golden finger" situation, Qiao Sang naturally had to think carefully.

She kind of wanted to go back now…

When the staff member brought over coffee and a delicate plate of snacks, Qiao Sang spoke: “Teacher, shall we return now?”

Pirite was stunned: “You’re not going to continue the tour?”

It’s free, after all…

Qiao Sang shook her head.

“I came here for the energy pool. Now that it’s done, I have other things to handle back home.”

Such a firm will… Faced with the temptation of freely touring Ita Valley, she remained unmoved.

Pirite secretly admired her resolve and stood up, saying, “Then let’s go back.”

The staff member quickly stepped forward: “We still have many other projects here. Are you really not going to try any more?”

He had been specially assigned to receive her, and if the management found out that the VIP guest left this early, he’d surely be labeled incompetent.

“No need.” Qiao Sang stood up and shook her head.

“Then I’ll keep your spot reserved for you. Please be sure to visit again next time for a proper experience.” The staff member quickly responded.

The higher-ups had specifically instructed that it’d be best if Miss Qiao Sang became addicted to this place.

Though he didn’t have time to watch the competition, many other VIPs here had been discussing the champion of the Beast Tamer Star Tournament, her.

The most talked-about subject was the Healing Light of her pet beast, Ice Aipalu.

Today, they had intercepted many VIPs who wanted to approach her for a chat.

Although the higher-ups hadn’t said it outright, he knew exactly what they intended: Let Miss Qiao Sang have a wonderful experience here, so she’d keep coming back in the future.

That way, other bigwigs interested in the Healing Light would be drawn here as well.

So making this decision wouldn’t get him in trouble.

“Good job.” Sure enough, praise came through his earpiece.

“Xun Xun!”

Before Qiao Sang could say anything, Little Treasure beside her eagerly nodded, promising they’d come back next time.

Qiao Sang glanced at Little Treasure, then withdrew her gaze and smiled, “Alright.”

---

At the Villa.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, Qiao Sang formed a hand seal.

Two orange-yellow star arrays lit up.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but the star arrays seemed brighter than before.

Soon, Lubao and Gangbao appeared inside the arrays at the same time.

The Stabilizing Stone wasn’t glowing, it seemed it wouldn’t glow permanently…

Qiao Sang checked Lubao’s state and the stone, then breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Lubao, are you alright?”

“Lu Ai…”

Right before being recalled into the Beast Codex's, Lubao had cast another Healing Light. Plus, the codex itself had healing properties, so her searing pain was long gone, though she still let out an unhappy cry to complain that she hadn’t absorbed all the energy in the pool.

If you’d kept absorbing, I’d probably have to replace your Stabilizing Stone with a higher-level one…

Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and gently said, “You’ve already reached the highest stage of the General-level. That energy pool could probably fuel several General-level pet beasts.”

“Lu Ai.”

Hearing this, Lubao’s eyes lit up.

Qiao Sang, having witnessed the situation herself, added, “The reason you absorbed energy so quickly was because you actively channeled energy absorption. Others were just soaking like it was a hot spring.”

“Lu Ai.”

Lubao’s spirits lifted instantly, her eyes sparkled even brighter, and her tail began wagging involuntarily.

“Wait!” Qiao Sang’s gaze suddenly turned serious.

Lu Bao tensed up instinctively.

“Did you… get bigger?” Qiao Sang asked hesitantly.

She hadn’t noticed when she was in bird form earlier, but now that her visual sense had returned to normal, she realized something was off.

Standing next to Gangbao, she didn’t look as small as she used to.

“Gang Slice.”

Gangbao glanced at Lubao and nodded, confirming that she had indeed grown larger.

“Lu Ai…”

Lubao let out a relieved sigh.

She thought she was going to ask something else…

“Yap Yap…”

Meanwhile, Yabao stared at Lubao with shining eyes, seemingly thinking of something, and showed an eager expression.

---

At the same time.

Ita Valley.

A staff member doing the routine energy pool check stared blankly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The… the energy pool water had turned completely clear?!

He clearly remembered they had only allowed one General-level pet beast inside today!

---

12:02 AM, Midnight.

Bedroom.

As expected, Lubao’s level had maxed out at a million…

Qiao Sang’s consciousness withdrew from the Beast Codex's and returned to reality.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

Qiao Sang picked it up and saw a text message from Virginia, the dean of the Department of Pet Journalism:

[Here’s some news for you, there’s been a sighting of the phantom beast Adinishi in 30th District.]

Phantom beast Adinishi?

Before Qiao Sang could fully process it, another message arrived: [You probably haven’t seen our Chaosu Star’s phantom beasts before, right? Interested in going to take a look?]

30th District was huge, finding a phantom beast wasn’t that simple… It’d be a lie to say she wasn’t tempted.

Qiao Sang replied: [Don’t tell me there’s some special item that can locate Adinishi?]

She remembered buying a Qingfeng Compass at an auction back in the Central Hollow Region, said to locate the legendary pet beast Qing Qing Ni.

Dean Virginia quickly replied: [Nope.]

Qiao Sang: ……