Chapter 867: Yabao vs. Lubao

Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

The task was completed? In less than half a day?

The examiner was momentarily stunned.

It took her several seconds to process the news before she picked up the phone and dialed the number for the Inspection Department.

The call connected quickly: “Hello, this is Examiner Liu. I’d like to confirm whether a Beast Master who took an assessment task today has reported the coordinates of a lost Baby Moon… Yes, the name is Qiao Sang… Alright, I understand…”

She hung up, fell silent again, and then turned her gaze to Qiao Sang, her expression complicated: “How did you find that Baby Moon so quickly?”

Qiao Sang gave her the short version of what happened, rushing through it for fear that if she talked too long the examiner might just clock out for the day.

A few minutes later, the examiner’s face went slightly dazed.

She glanced at Qiao Sang without making any comment, then opened the task list on her computer and clicked

Pass

This luck… it was just a bit too terrifying.

---

Qiao Sang walked out of the office feeling refreshed, even the endless rain outside suddenly looked a lot more pleasing to the eyes.

Although the last task had taken her half a month, at least this one was completed quickly enough to make up for the lost time.

As she walked toward the stairs, she dialed Teacher Mikayla’s number.

After five beeps, the line connected. From the speaker came Mikayla’s calm voice: “What is it?”

“Teacher, I’ve already completed the task.”

The other end went silent.

“Teacher, can you hear me?”

“…I hear you. How exactly did you complete it?”

“I was searching on the street for half the day and ran into ‘Want Sun’ again, the Rain-Sheltering Butterfly that followed Lubao last time…” Qiao Sang recounted everything in detail, then added her own reflection:

“Now that I think about it, this task was a total trap. If I hadn’t been lucky, how would I have guessed that the wild Baby Moon had already been contracted by someone in such a short time? Thankfully that person knew me from a match, otherwise I might not have finished this even by the time the Regional Tournament started.” Ŗ𝘼ɴọ𝔟Ê𝒮

“Yap.”

Yabao listened seriously, nodding from time to time, he completely agreed.

He hadn’t expected it at the time either.

“Sometimes, luck is also part of strength.” Mikayla said, still in her steady tone.

A wild beast from a secret rift being contracted, without surveillance footage or eyewitnesses, who would immediately think of that just by searching blindly?

To actually run into a Beast Master who had done so, and even have them start a conversation… That kind of luck…

Well, I really am lucky, aren’t I…

Qiao Sang brightened:

“Teacher, since I’ve finished the task already, let’s head to the next city now!”

Again, silence on the line.

After a few seconds, Mikayla’s voice returned: “Rest here for one night. You didn’t really rest properly last time in Pantian City.”

“No need.” Qiao Sang said quickly.

“Lubao has Healing Light, she can just heal me directly.”

You might not need it, but I do…

Mikayla thought, suppressing a sigh.

“You’re still young. You need a proper night’s sleep. That’s enough, rest early.”

And with that...

click

, the call ended.

Qiao Sang: …

“Yap!”

Sensing the call was over, Yabao barked loudly, demanding to battle Lubao before rest.

Lubao? Its goddess?

Want Sun instantly gave Yabao a hostile glare.

Big Brother Yabao vs. Lubao?

Little Treasure perked right up.

“Are you sure? It’s raining.” Qiao Sang tried to delay.

There was indeed an indoor arena in the Beast Center, but it wasn’t suitable for King-level battles.

And outdoors, in the rain, Yabao would clearly be at a disadvantage.

“Yap!”

Yabao’s eyes were firm with determination.

Qiao Sang sighed at his unwavering gaze and gave in: “…Alright. I understand.”

She turned and headed toward the outdoor training grounds.

In Changyu City, with its constant rainfall, few trained outdoors. At dinnertime, there were even fewer people.

After a quick glance around, Qiao Sang found an empty space.

Forming hand seals, two orange-yellow star arrays lit up, summoning Lubao and Gangbao onto the field.

“Rain…”

At the sight of Lubao,

Want Sun

instantly had heart-shaped eyes, flapping eagerly to shield her from the rain.

Qiao Sang: …

As expected, this one was unreliable, thank goodness

Hates Rain

was still on her shoulder.

“Rain…”

That butterfly glanced at

Want Sun

with a look of utter disappointment.

“Gang Zhan?”

Gangbao surveyed the area, then nodded,

mission ready?

Qiao Sang affirmed: “Before we head to the next city, Yabao wants a match against Lubao.”

“Lu Di.”

Lubao turned, slightly surprised.

She hadn’t expected Yabao to issue a challenge, especially in rainy weather.

“Yap!”

Yabao barked, eyes burning with fighting spirit.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao’s expression hardened. She nodded, accepting.

“Alright, I’ll referee. You two can fight freely.” Qiao Sang said, backing away to the sidelines.

Then she thought again, grew uneasy, and stepped even further back.

Yabao and Lubao took their positions at opposite ends of the field.

Rain fell steadily.

Lubao’s focus never wavered from Yabao, not even noticing she wasn’t getting wet.

“Rain…”

Want Sun

simply gazed at Lubao, entranced.

Then, both beasts began to enlarge, their towering shadows swelling.

From

Want Sun’s

view, the colossal shadows seemed to swallow the sky itself.

“Rain!!”

Terror surged in its instincts, it trembled, eyes widening in horror, before frantically fleeing toward

Hate Rain

Glancing back, it saw Lubao’s massive form. Shock shattered its heart,

crack

, in two.

“Rain…”

It knew… it could never be with its goddess.

“Xun Xun!”

Little Treasure whirled in excited circles, waving a glowing red support stick.

“Xun Xun!”

Go Big Brother Yabao! Go Big Brother Yabao!

Lubao glanced over expressionlessly.

Little Treasure froze, waved weakly again: "Xun Xun…"

Lubao, go too.

Gangbao: …

Lubao looked away.

Little Treasure exhaled in relief.

“Give me the whistle.” Qiao Sang said.

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure quickly found it in the ring and handed it over.

Qiao Sang lifted it to her lips:

FWEEE!

At once, Yabao blazed forward, a torrent of fire streaking across the field.

The ground cracked beneath his launch, speed so great he crossed the distance in a blink.

“Yap!”

His fangs gleamed, flames roaring forth. Behind him, an immense fiery Fire Qilu head formed, biting down with searing force.

But just as it was about to land, Lubao slammed her paw into the ground.

Bone-chilling frost erupted.

Every raindrop froze midair, encased in ice, time itself seemed to stop.

The fiery Fire Qilu head froze solid too, suspended mid-bite.

And Yabao?

Gone

Lubao raised her head, far above, Yabao reappeared, unleashing a devastating crimson energy sphere skyward.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao’s tails swept, unfreezing all.

Rain resumed. The fiery head shattered into shards.

Then, Lubao leapt, vanishing into the rain.

“Yap!”

Sensing danger, Yabao warped to another spot.

But the instant he appeared, frost engulfed him.

His body froze solid, locked in the sky, along with the suspended raindrops and the unspent energy ball.

“Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure’s jaw dropped.

Lubao had become terrifying.

“Gang Zhan…”

Gangbao’s face was grim.

Melting Water, Ice Field Domain, aerial reach, Lubao was using brains now. Yabao had predicted earlier, escaping upward, but this time Lubao’s power far outclassed his own…

This match is over, Qiao Sang thought, analyzing swiftly.

In that instant, a frozen raindrop warped, and Lubao’s head emerged.

A giant ice spear materialized above, slamming Yabao down.

BOOM!

The ground cracked into a crater, shards of ice scattering.

“Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure covered his eyes.

Yabao

…

Qiao Sang blew her whistle: “Battle over.”

But even as she said it, blazing flames erupted from the crater.

Yabao rose, body burning, unfazed by the downpour.

“Lu Di…”

Lubao stared, momentarily stunned.

Yabao only gave her a deep look, then extinguished his flames, staggering back toward Qiao Sang

---

10:54 PM.

Beast Center, Dormitory, Room 1103.

“Rain…”

Both butterflies trembled in the corner, still shaken from the afternoon battle, unable to sleep.

Qiao Sang finished washing up and leaned against the bed, only to notice Yabao still awake, eyes open.

A miracle.

Normally, by this time he would already be fast asleep, impossible to wake even with tickles.

“Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure noticed too, peeking at him in disbelief.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Yap.”

Still training

, Yabao replied.

“Training?” She paused.

“Wait, do you mean your clone is still training outside?”

“Yap.”

Yabao nodded.

“Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure’s eyes widened in realization.

From her water tank, Lubao briefly opened her eyes to glance at Yabao, then shut them again.

Qiao Sang wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or worried.

Since the battle, Yabao seemed to have matured overnight, calmer, steadier

…

She finally said softly: “Still, get some rest. We’re traveling early tomorrow.”

“Yap.”

Yabao shook his head.

He wasn’t done.

“…Then are you hungry? Want Little Treasure to fetch food?”

“Yap!”

His eyes lit up immediately.

Relieved, Qiao Sang smiled.

“Xun Xun~”

Before she could even ask, Little Treasure had already produced Yabao’s favorite snacks.

“Yap?”

Yabao bit into a red fruit, then looked at Qiao Sang, asking if he could watch matches on her phone.

“Of course.” She agreed.

“Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure glared.

When I wanted to play at night, you said no…

“I’ll watch with you.” Qiao Sang added gently.

Yabao rubbed his head against her shoulder, touched.

Her heart melted instantly.

---

Late at night.

Qiao Sang and Yabao sat red-eyed, fighting sleep, staring at match replays.

“Xun Xun.”

Little Treasure lounged beside them, eating seeds, watching too.

“Yap…”

Yabao’s head bobbed, his eyelids heavy.

Then, suddenly, a soft blue glow enveloped them. Fatigue melted away.

They turned to see Lubao in her tank, eyes still closed, looking asleep.

Meeting eyes, Qiao Sang and Yabao said nothing, and returned quietly to the screen.

---

The next morning.

Knock, knock, knock.

“It’s me.” Mikayla’s voice came.

Qiao Sang, toothbrush in mouth, opened the door.

“Teacher, so early?”

“You seem to have gotten up late today.” Mikayla noted, glancing around the room and spotting Yabao still asleep.

“Went to bed a bit late yesterday. I’ll be quick.”

Soon after, Qiao Sang finished washing up and asked as usual: “Which city are we heading to next?”

“Yongtian City.” Mikayla replied.