Chapter 846: Team Building

The beeping sound lasted for a few seconds before the call connected.

A mature male voice asked: “Who is this?”

“Hello, I’ve taken on an assessment task, to enter a secret realm and bring back the missing Liu Bo. According to the information here, you were teamed up with him when you entered the realm. I was wondering if you could go in with me again to the place where he disappeared, and help me find him.” Qiao Sang got straight to the point.

There was a pause on the other end.

“What level Beast Master are you?”

“C-level.” Qiao Sang replied.

“Not going.” Qu Yang rejected without hesitation.

“I got injured the last time I went into the secret realm, and I’m still recovering.”

What a joke.

A C-level Beast Master, he was C-level himself, and even then, when his teammate disappeared in the realm, he hadn’t noticed a thing.

She only mentioned her level after he asked, then said he was injured? This guy probably just thinks my level is too low and doesn’t want to go…

Qiao Sang thought to herself, then said, “One of my pet beasts happens to have healing skills. I could help you recover.”

“No need.” Qu Yang refused.

“I’ve already been treated. I’m just resting now.”

After a pause, he added, “Even though I can’t go into the secret realm with you, I can describe what happened.”

Qiao Sang didn’t push.

“Alright, go ahead.”

Qu Yang recalled the scene, speaking in a low voice: “After we entered the secret realm, we went southwest. On the third day inside, we found a pond and camped beside it for the night. Liu Bo was on watch duty that night. When I woke up the next morning, he was gone.”

“Later, we searched the nearby area and found only a distress signal he had left, about a kilometer away.”

Night watch… vanished… this sounds just like that other missing case in the post…

Qiao Sang pondered, then asked: “You didn’t hear any noise during the night?”

“No.” Qu Yang said.

“We didn’t hear anything at all.”

Before Qiao Sang could speak again, his tone turned serious as he offered his own guess:

“This is actually not normal. In the secret realm, we stay alert at all times and sleep very lightly. My pet beast was outside as well, an Earloop Cat. It can hear even the faintest sounds within five kilometers and wakes at the slightest noise. But that night, it didn’t hear anything and slept deeply.”

A wild pet beast using a sleep-type skill, no doubt

… Qiao Sang thought to herself.

“There’s something else I can’t figure out.” Qu Yang continued.

“Why didn’t the wild pet beast attack all of us? Why did it only take Liu Bo?”

“Were you inside a tent at the time?” Qiao Sang asked.

Qu Yang was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting the question. His voice carried a trace of puzzlement:

“Of course not. There are so many wild pet beasts in the secret realm, if you’re in a tent, you can’t see your surroundings the moment you open your eyes, and you can’t react instantly to sudden attacks. That’s dangerous. Haven’t you ever been in a secret realm?”

That didn’t sound right…

Taking on an assessment task meant she was aiming for the regional competition. To participate in the regional competition, a Beast Master would normally have entered a secret realm before.

I really haven’t been in a secret realm…

Qiao Sang simply said, “Got it. Thanks for telling me all this.”

Qu Yang seemed to forget about the tent issue entirely and said in a low voice, “I hope you can find Liu Bo.”

Though, the chances weren’t high.

Someone missing for a week inside a secret realm… how could they still be safe?

“I will.” Qiao Sang said.

Qu Yang didn’t say anything else and hung up.

Qiao Sang then dialed another number.

After just one ring, the call was answered.

“Who?” Came a listless voice from the speaker.

“Hello, I took on the assessment task for the regional competition…” Qiao Sang briefly explained her situation.

“Would you be willing to come with me to Secret Realm No. 88 to find Liu Bo?”

“You should be looking for someone named Qu Yang.” Yuan Jiewen replied flatly.

“He was friends with Liu Bo. I only teamed up with them temporarily.”

Qiao Sang paused.

“You sound low on energy. Are you sick?”

Yuan Jiewen fell silent for a moment at the sudden concern.

“Got injured the last time I went into the secret realm.”

“My pet beast has a healing skill. I could help you recover.” Qiao Sang offered.

Yuan Jiewen gave a short laugh.

“So you heal me, and then I follow you into the realm to get injured again?”

“My pet beast’s healing skill is Healing Light.” Qiao Sang said.

“I don’t care if it’s Healing Light or Healing Heart, I’m not going into the secret realm with you.” Yuan Jiewen said impatiently.

“You could look up this skill.” Qiao Sang said calmly.

Just from his dismissive tone, she knew he didn’t actually understand what Healing Light was.

No one would refuse a dose of Healing Light, even if they weren’t badly injured.

“What’s there to look up? I already said-” Yuan Jiewen’s voice suddenly changed slightly, and faint tapping sounds came through the phone.

Qiao Sang instantly realized he’d turned on speaker mode and was searching for Healing Light.

Mouth says no, body says yes…

Then, the other end went quiet.

A moment later, rapid breathing came through the speaker, followed by the sound of someone jumping up and knocking something over.

A few seconds passed before the man cautiously, almost eagerly, asked: “You mean the super-tier skill Healing Light?”

As expected, no one can resist…

Qiao Sang smiled.

“There’s only one skill called Healing Light.”

“Whoa! I’m in!” Yuan Jiewen’s voice was filled with barely contained excitement.

“Just tell me when and I’ll be there on time! I’ll help you with your assessment task!”

You’re even calling me ‘you’ now…

Qiao Sang’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Thanks. Tomorrow at 2 p.m., at the entrance to Secret Realm No. 88.”

“Got it!”

After ending the call, Qiao Sang continued studying her strategy for Secret Realm No. 88.

Now that she had someone to go with her, terrain shouldn’t be an issue, he’d been inside before.

Gangbao could scout

. With the Bond Power, there was no need to return to communicate if something came up.

If they ran into danger, Little Treasure could instantly use Spatial Shift.

Yabao would be the main attacker.

Lubao would handle healing. Her Ice Field Domain should only be used as a last resort, since it would drain over half her energy in one go.

Even drinking Energy Recovery Potion would take time to recover, and that’s not safe in a secret realm.

Scouting, escape methods, offense, healing, and supplies, all covered. Little Treasure’s ring also stored materials. She was fully prepared.

Plus, Secret Realm No. 88 was C-level. The strongest wild pet beasts there would be King-level, and at most there would be one or two. Even if she was unlucky enough to encounter one, Little Treasure could get them out.

By the look of things, she probably didn’t need to find more teammates…

Just then, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Mikayla: [Even though I can’t accompany you into the secret realm, I recommend you find a teammate to go with you.]

Qiao Sang replied: [I’ve already found one, he was one of the missing person’s teammates last time. With him there, I should be able to quickly find the disappearance site.]

Three minutes later, Mikayla responded: [That’s not safe enough. I recommend at least one more Beast Master.]

Qiao Sang: [I think I should train myself. If there are too many people, the training effect might not be as good.]

Mikayla: [You’re unfamiliar with the secret realm. It’s your first time going in. You should find someone experienced.]

Qiao Sang: [The one I found has been inside before. He knows the place and has experience.]

Mikayla: …

This kid is impossible to convince!

Mikayla: [Have you decided when to go in yet?]

Qiao Sang: [Mm, tomorrow afternoon at two.]

---

The next day.

1:50 PM.

Golden Mist Mountain.

A thin veil of mist shrouded the mountaintop.

Some people were heading up the mountain, others were coming down.

Those going up looked full of fighting spirit, while most of those coming down sighed in frustration, some were even in tattered clothes, needing their beast companions to carry them.

High above, a mysterious beast with flaming wings ran downward through the sky, and when it was about five meters from the ground, a powerful wave of air swept in all directions.

Everyone nearby fixed their eyes on the clearly formidable beast.

Qiao Sang dismounted from Yabao’s back.

Immediately, a middle-aged man in black approached with a smile.

“Excuse me, are you heading into the secret realm?”

Although the girl before him didn’t look like an adult, the beast at her side was clearly not one an ordinary beast master could contract.

With his seasoned experience, he could tell her background was extraordinary, definitely someone with powerful support escorting her into the secret realm for training.

Some children from powerful families were like this, despite not having the strength to train inside a secret realm, they insisted on entering, accompanied by a group of strong beast masters.

Qiao Sang gave a short “Mm” and glanced at the flyer in his hand.

The man eagerly handed it over.

“We have a team inside this secret realm. If you encounter any trouble, you can contact us.”

“Whether it’s driving off wild beasts, replenishing supplies, or treating injuries, we can handle it. If we can’t solve your problem, we won’t charge a fee.”

There were even services like this inside a secret realm? That’s quite the money-making scheme

… Qiao Sang took the flyer, glanced at it, then froze.

A bottle of C-rank Energy Recovery Potion, 300,000 Alliance Coins.

One treatment, 500,000 Alliance Coins.

Driving away up to ten intermediate beasts, 200,000 Alliance Coins, more beasts cost extra.

This… this was daylight robbery!

Qiao Sang quickly handed the flyer back.

“I’m not interested.”

With that, she turned with Yabao and left.

The man sighed, turns out rich people’s business wasn’t so easy to get.

Qiao Sang arrived at the passage to the secret realm.

The entrance was an oval, dozens of meters high, its transparent ripples spreading outward, completely concealing the world beyond.

Mysterious and terrifying.

So this was the entrance to the secret realm

… Qiao Sang took out her phone to snap a picture for record, then prepared to contact Yuan Jiewen to see if he had arrived.

Just then, a slightly hoarse voice came from the side.

“Excuse me, are you heading into the secret realm?”

Qiao Sang turned toward the voice.

It was a woman with slightly sunken cheeks, small sharp eyes, and prominent brow bones, she looked to be around forty.

A thought occurred to Qiao Sang, and she glanced at the woman’s hand,

at least she wasn’t handing out flyers…

“Mm.” Qiao Sang replied.

“Why?”

The woman’s face lit up.

“Could I join you to enter the secret realm as a team?”

Qiao Sang shook her head without hesitation.

“No. I have my own business to take care of inside.”

“I won’t get in the way.” The woman said.

“I just want to pick some materials for potion-making. I’ll go wherever you go.”

She sighed deeply.

“I actually had a team arranged, but they suddenly bailed on me.”

“No.” Qiao Sang said firmly.

“I truly have my own tasks, and I can’t protect you.”

“How could you not protect me? Your beast looks so strong.” The woman glanced at Yabao.

“Yap!”

Yabao blinked, then puffed out his chest proudly, as if to say,

You have good taste, human.

Even if you flatter him like that, I’m still not taking you in…

Qiao Sang kept her expression unchanged.

She couldn’t forget her mission inside, one more person to protect meant one more layer of danger. She wasn’t foolish enough to agree.

While she was thinking, the woman spoke again.

“I can pay you.”

I’m not who I used to be

, Qiao Sang thought. Even without my unlimited credit card, my bank balance is still in the billions, my Little Treasure’s ring has plenty of supplies stored, and I have shares in several companies.

The most important thing now is completing the assessment task

… She steadied herself and refused a third time.

“Find someone else. I really have things to do.”

She picked up her phone to contact Yuan Jiewen again.

The woman fell silent for a moment, then lowered her voice.

“It’s an S-rank Ghost Tear.”

!!!

Qiao Sang froze mid-motion and stared at her.

A Ghost Tear, one of Little Treasure’s next-stage evolution materials.

Just for helping her enter a C-rank secret realm, she was offering an S-rank Ghost Tear as payment?!

“Really?” Qiao Sang’s expression shifted, but she couldn’t help confirming.

“Really.” The woman nodded.

“I obtained it by chance. I don’t have any ghost-type beasts, so I’ve never used it.”

Qiao Sang’s conscience still existed, she hesitated before saying: “For just joining a C-rank secret realm team, isn’t giving an S-rank item too wasteful?”

“It’s fine. The Ghost Tear is useless to me, I’d rather trade what I don’t need for what I do.” The woman smiled.

Qiao Sang paused for a few seconds, then said seriously, “I’ll make sure you’re safe. But you have to listen to me and not wander off.”

“Alright.” The woman looked grateful.

“Thank you.”

Who knew Yabao’s appearance would bring her such a deal

… Qiao Sang glanced at her phone and saw a message from Yuan Jiewen: [I’ve arrived. Where are you?]

She looked around.

The examiner’s information had included photos along with details of the three people.

She quickly spotted a pale young man who looked physically weak.

“Yuan Jiewen.” Qiao Sang called as she walked over.

Hearing his name, Yuan Jiewen turned toward the voice and saw the girl who had drawn everyone’s attention earlier. He hesitated.

“You are…?”

“The one who invited you to team up.” Qiao Sang replied.

“!!!” Yuan Jiewen’s eyes widened.

“This is our other teammate.” Qiao Sang said, looking at the woman.

The woman smiled.

“I’m Lin Shi.”

Yuan Jiewen looked dazed, still trying to process that the ‘

big shot

’ was actually a girl who looked underage.

Qiao Sang glanced at the time.

“It’s getting late. The team is all here, let’s head in.”