Chapter 878: Searching for Qingqing Ni

“Ice Field Domain.” Qiao Sang spoke calmly.

Against opponents of the same tier, Lubao’s Ice Field Domain provided her with a brief period of near invincibility. It was the confidence that came with a Super-tier skill.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao leapt gracefully onto her Beast Master’s head, her expression calm as she let out her call.

A chilling frost fell. Instantly, everything around them was overtaken by the cold, sealed beneath a thick shell of ice, frozen in place.

The wild pet beasts below, who had been watching as though it were a show, became sculptures of ice.

The Vine Rock Giant was locked in mid-gesture, head tilted, eyes still pointed skyward.

Hundreds of rock spikes, each about two meters long and suspended in the air, were now frozen into crystalline artworks of ice.

Only Qiao Sang and her companions, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Gangbao, remained untouched, still glowing with life.

“Duanwei…”

The Electric Tail Worm stared blankly at the frozen scene before it, mouth hanging wide.

Though Lubao was already a Kinh-level beast, she was still at the initial stage. The Vine Rock Giant, judging by its aged body, carried far greater energy reserves. How long it could remain frozen was uncertain.

They had to find the Penetrating Armor Beast quickly

… Qiao Sang studied the frozen battlefield, thought for a moment, then said steadily: “Mountain Crush.”

“Gang Zhan!”

Gangbao spread her wings wide at her Beast Master’s command, her body swelling larger.

A massive shadow spread over the battlefield, blotting out the light.

“Duanwei…”

The Electric Tail Worm looked up instinctively, pupils shrinking, jaw dropping wider still.

Having returned to her full form, Gangbao soared high into the sky. Wind currents whipped violently around her colossal body as she climbed, her purple form piercing the clouds.

The white clouds churned unnaturally, as if stirred by a storm.

Then, like a violet meteor, Gangbao plummeted from the heavens, her speed increasing with every passing second.

Just before impact, Lubao subtly restrained the surrounding energy.

BOOM!

Gangbao slammed into the frozen ground beneath the Vine Rock Giant with earth-shaking force.

The ground convulsed violently.

The ice shell shattered, exploding into countless shards.

From beneath the earth, wild pet beasts were blasted upward, shrieking in panic and terror.

Even so, despite the destruction, the creatures that had been frozen remained encased in ice.

Qiao Sang’s sharp eyes scanned among the beasts that had been unearthed.

Soon, she spotted a two-meter-tall beast, its skin a deep brown, its belly and mouth pitch black, with two-toed claws and feet.

So the Electric Tail Worm wasn’t lying…

Her eyes lit up. She called out immediately: “Take the Penetrating Armor Beast, and let’s go!”

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure followed his Beast Master’s gaze and instantly recognized the beast he had seen earlier on the phone screen.

His eyes glowed blue, and the Penetrating Armor Beast was suddenly lifted into the air, dragged upward against its will.

“Chuan Li!”

The Penetrating Armor Beast struggled desperately, raising its head.

But before it could clearly see the figures above, darkness swallowed its vision and it vanished.

At the same moment, the light in the sky winked out.

The ice shell dissolved.

Hundreds of frozen rock spikes came crashing down.

---

Still in the skies above.

The sudden appearance of Qiao Sang and her beasts startled the nearby flocks of flying pet beasts.

Before Qiao Sang could even assess her surroundings, dozens of black-feathered blades shot toward them from all directions.

“Yap!”

Yabao reacted instantly. Before the blades closed the hundred-meter gap, he burst into a streak of flame, darting higher into the clouds.

Then he opened his mouth, unleashing rapid streams of scorching fire toward the attacking bird beasts.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions of fire roared in all directions, flames scattering wildly.

Within moments, several dark-feathered bird beasts were struck, screaming as they plummeted from the sky.

Qiao Sang quickly scanned the area. Finding no further threats, she turned to the trembling Penetrating Armor Beast still suspended in midair. Her voice was calm, direct: “Don’t be afraid. I only need your tears. Give me 500 grams, and I’ll let you go."

Even as she spoke, Yabao surged forward with blazing steps, rushing toward the beast.

The crushing pressure bore down.

“Chuan Li!”

The Penetrating Armor Beast shuddered violently, its expression twisted in terror. Remembering Qiao Sang’s words, it squeezed its mouth shut and forced itself to cry.

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure, seeing this, called out to Yabao.

Yabao’s eyes glowed blue, taking over control.

Little Treasure rummaged through his spatial ring, finally pulling out an empty bottle, placing it beneath the beast’s eye.

“Chuan Li! Chuan Li!”

But the Penetrating Armor Beast only sobbed dryly. Not a single tear fell.

Minutes passed. Exhausted, it slumped, eyes wet but no tears shed, its face pitiful.

Of course… not every beast was like Little Treasure, able to cry on command.

Qiao Sang frowned, then suddenly recalled the spicy peppers she had once fed to the Chan Chan Stones. She asked:

“Little Treasure, do we still have those peppers?”

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure shook his head.

They had left them all behind for the Chan Chan Stones before departure.

No peppers

… Qiao Sang thought quickly, devising three alternatives:

1. Search the environment for spicy ingredients, it was a resource-rich secret realm.

2. Find a pet beast with a Tear-Inducing skill, like Grass-types with Tear Powder, or Poison-types with Tear Gas.

3. Have Little Treasure use hypnosis to give the Penetrating Armor Beast a nightmare.

The third could be tested immediately...

“Duanwei! Duanwei!”

Suddenly, the Electric Tail Worm leapt forward, calling anxiously.

Crying isn’t that hard! You can do it!

“Chuan Li?”

The Penetrating Armor Beast froze when it saw him.

You… why are you here?

“Duanwei…”

The Electric Tail Worm stiffened, turning away awkwardly, avoiding its gaze.

“Chuan Li?!”

The beast’s eyes widened in disbelief.

It was you… who brought these terrifying creatures after me?!

“Duanwei…”

The worm kept its head turned away.

The Penetrating Armor Beast understood.

A second later, its lips trembled, eyes instantly filling with tears. This time, they were real, streaming down like a flood.

“Chuan Li… Chuan Li…”

Heartbroken sobs wracked its body as large, shimmering tears poured forth.

“Xun Xun!”

Little Treasure hurried to catch them with the bottle, delighted.

What did the Electric Tail Worm say to trigger this?

Qiao Sang resisted the urge to pry, eyes focused on the filling bottle.

The first container filled quickly.

And still, the tears fell.

“Keep collecting.” Qiao Sang ordered.

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure swapped bottles swiftly, even using his shadow manipulation to hold two bottles beneath both eyes at once.

Nine bottles in total were filled before the beast finally stopped crying.

“Chuan Li…”

Sniffling pitifully, it asked if it could leave now.

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure translated.

“Wait.”

Qiao Sang said, “Give it five bottles of Sweet Nectar.”

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure obeyed, handing them over.

“Chuan Li?”

The beast blinked.

What’s this?

“Try it.” Qiao Sang encouraged.

As the cap opened, a wave of irresistible sweetness filled the air.

The Penetrating Armor Beast couldn’t resist. It licked once, “Chuan Li!”

Its eyes lit up instantly. All sorrow forgotten, joy surged in its heart.

“This is your reward.” Qiao Sang said with a smile.

“Chuan Li!”

The beast nearly danced with excitement. Turning to the Electric Tail Worm, it gave him a look as if to say:

So you brought me here for good food? Why didn’t you say so earlier?

The Electric Tail Worm: …

“Let it go.” Qiao Sang instructed.

“Yap!”

Yabao guided the beast safely down to the ground.

“Chuan Li!”

The Penetrating Armor Beast shouted upward,

Got any more?! I can still cry!

Little Treasure didn’t translate this time.

The beast landed safely.

“Duanwei…”

The Electric Tail Worm chirped cautiously,

Can I go now too?

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure translated.

Qiao Sang glanced at it, then turned to Little Treasure: “Take out your phone.”

“Xun Xun?!”

Little Treasure stiffened, shaking his head wildly.

What phone? I don’t have a phone!

“Back in the Chaosu Star, you used my account to order one online.” Qiao Sang said evenly.

“There’s a purchase record.”

Lightning struck.

Little Treasure staggered back in horror.

There’s… purchase records?!

Qiao Sang nearly laughed. Back then, she had no-password payments enabled. Little Treasure had ordered random things at will. When she noticed the phone purchase, she hadn’t cared, no SIM, no accounts, no way to really use it.

And indeed, she had been right. Too busy treating terminal illnesses day and night, she’d never seen him daring to use it openly.

But now her own phone was destroyed. She needed it.

“Xun Xun…”

Reluctantly, Little Treasure pulled the phone from his ring.

Qiao Sang checked it, 87% battery. Clearly, it had been charging overnight.

She handed it to the Electric Tail Worm.

“My offer still stands. Charge this daily, and you’ll get Sweet Nectar every day.”

“Duanwei…”

It hesitated, remembering the last time it overcharged one. But the memory of Sweet Nectar overrode its fear. It nodded.

The worm inserted its antenna again. Little Treasure watched intently, making sure not to disturb it this time.

The charging went smoothly.

Satisfied, Qiao Sang recalled why she entered this secret realm in the first place.

“Little Treasure, take out the Qingqingni Compass.”

“Xun Xun…”

Distracted, Little Treasure reluctantly produced the compass.

Qiao Sang examined it.

An ancient, silver artifact with three concentric rings, marked with directions, its glass cover clouded. Barely the size of a palm.

According to the description, within ten kilometers of Qingqingni, the compass would stir and its needle point the way.

She tested every direction. Nothing moved.

Meaning Qingqingni was still farther than ten kilometers.

“Little Treasure, Spatial Shift.” Qiao Sang instructed.

“Xun Xun.”

This time, he warned the Electric Tail Worm to pause charging before focusing his blue glow. Space warped, Qiao Sang and her beasts vanished.

The No.16 Secret Realm was vast, thick with vegetation, teeming with hidden pet beasts. Traveling by ground would have been dangerous.

But high in the skies, most flying beasts were exposed targets. Yabao swiftly dispatched those who dared attack.

Not many tamers were encountered either, the realm was far too expansive.

Little Treasure teleported them repeatedly. Each time, Qiao Sang checked the Qingqingni Compass.

After countless jumps, a sudden chill swept down. The air shifted from early spring to deep winter.

Below stretched a land of snow and ice, every tree and rock blanketed in white.

Strangely, Qiao Sang didn’t feel freezing. Only slightly cooler than before.

Lubao’s evolution… had it strengthened her constitution?

Deep in thought, she glanced at the Qingqingni Compass again.

At last, its three rings stirred, moving ever so slightly.