âQingfeng?!â
Then, that furious voice sounded again, this time laced with disbelief.
âQing qing!â
Qingqing Ni nodded firmly.
You want to protect her?!
Thatâs right, Mom. Iâve chosen her!
Qiao Sang watched the scene unfold and couldnât help automatically filling in the translation of those two lines.
Qingqing Niâs small body suddenly appeared so tall and steadfast.
What did she do to deserve this? To make Qingqing Ni willing to stand up to its own parent just to contract with her. Convincing parents should be her jobâŠ
A wave of emotion welled up in Qiao Sangâs chest, her gaze firming as she stepped forward to stand protectively in front of Qingqing Ni.
She had just opened her mouth to say things like, âTrust me, Iâll give it happiness,â or âDonât judge me by appearances, I actually have many fairy-type resources,â when...
Gangbaoâs voice rang in her mind: âGang Zhan.â
It said it was only guiding her, nothing else, and pleaded with Qingqing Niâs parent not to harm her.
Just⊠only a guiding relationship?
Qiao Sang froze, staring at Qingqing Ni in disbelief, her eyes questioning:
What about the contract we agreed on?
Qingqing Ni felt her gaze, turned back, and showed an apologetic expression.
It hadnât said a word, but Qiao Sang instantly understood its meaning:
My mom doesnât agree. I think weâd better forget it.
ââŠâŠâ
âQingfeng!â
The winds still raged, though less violently now. That voice echoed through the skies again.
âQing qing.â
Qingqing Ni nodded, then turned to Qiao Sang and her beasts with an apologetic look, before dissolving into a breeze and vanishing.
Qiao Sangâs pupils contracted.
A flood of thoughts raced through her mind.
The first time was dumb luck, the second time Qingqing Ni had come to her on its own⊠under these circumstances, there wouldnât be a third chance. This was the last opportunity...
âQingqing Ni! Wait! I have something to say!â Qiao Sang shouted at the top of her lungs.
She wasnât sure about the next time, but she had a gut feeling that this time, Qingqing Ni would appear again.
âXun Xun!â
Little Treasure echoed his Beast masterâs cry.
âYap!â
Yabao also shouted instinctively.
âQing qing?â
Sure enough, Qingqing Ni reappeared in midair.
âQingfeng!â
The furious voice rang again.
This was definitely the last chance, she had to seize it. Qiao Sang drew a deep breath, eyes sharp, and commanded: âHealing Soundwave.â
Lubao blinked, caught off guard.
But she quickly reacted, opening her mouth to sing: âLu Di~ Lu Di~ Lu Lu~ Lu Di Lu Di Lu Lu~â
Ever since evolving, Lubaoâs voice had changed, it was far more enchanting than before.
Invisible soundwaves rippled outward. The raging gale gradually calmed into a gentle breeze.
The first step was a success. To talk peacefully, the real key wasnât Qingqing Ni but its parent. And judging by its earlier reaction, a normal conversation was impossible. ÈïŒĄÉŽđêÎđ
If so, then the only option was to use a skill to soothe it into calm
⊠Qiao Sang thought with a steady expression.
âQingfeng?â
With a voice as soft as the wind, a new figure appeared above Qingqing Ni.
About a meter tall, its whole body was mainly cyan with streaks like flowing wind. On either side of its head were fluffy cloud-like ears, white at the tips with a gradient to cyan. Its lower body was shrouded in billowing white clouds.
Qingfeng Yunren, the legendary fairy-type King-level beast, said to drift with the wind and vanish without a traceâŠ
Information on the creature flashed through Qiao Sangâs mind.
Though Qingqing Ni itself was a legendary beast, records mentioned that some had been contracted before, so information existed on their species. But the records were sparse.
Almost every entry repeated the same vague line: âDrifts with the wind, whereabouts unknown.â
âGang Zhan?â
Gangbaoâs voice echoed in her mind.
It asked what business she had.
Qiao Sang looked composed as she stated directly: âI want to contract with Qingqing Ni.â
Qingfeng Yunrenâs expression cracked for a split second, but soon returned to calm as it called out: âQingfeng.â
âGang Zhan.â
Almost instantly, Gangbao translated in her mind.
It said no.
âI understand.â Qiao Sang replied evenly.
âIâm not here to force anything. I just wanted to state my wish. If you truly disagree, I wonât insist. I only hope youâll give me a chance.â
Then she turned to Little Treasure: âBring out everything I prepared.â
âXun Xun.â
Little Treasure carefully removed his ring and began pulling out item after item, fairy-type resources, treasures beloved by fairy beasts.
Wild beasts might not recognize processed materials, but they could sense the energy within them.
Qingfeng Yunren watched silently as one item after another appeared.
After about a minute, its expression began to change.
Five minutes later, staring at the small mountain of supplies, its eyes burned with desire.
âQing qing?â
Qingqing Ni curiously picked up the items Little Treasure kept throwing out, examining them.
When it spotted a pink crystal, it suddenly felt energy surging within, almost compelling it to reach out its paw-
âQingfeng.â
Qingfeng Yunrenâs voice, faintly stern, cut through.
âQing qingâŠâ
Qingqing Ni came back to its senses, quickly retracting its paw.
Healing Soundwaveâs effects should have worn off by now, but Qingfeng Yunren hadnât left. That meant resources worked
⊠Qiao Sangâs heartbeat quickened with hope.
âXun Xun~â
Five minutes later, Little Treasure spread his paws helplessly, he had run out of fairy-type supplies.
His eyes lingered reluctantly on the mound of resources.
âThis is my sincerity.â Qiao Sang said solemnly.
âAs long as you allow Qingqing Ni to contract with me, I promise it will gain even greater resources in the future.â
âQingfeng.â
Qingfeng Yunren forcefully tore its gaze away from the pile, letting out a cold laugh.
Qiao Sang pressed on:
âAllow me to introduce myself. Iâm Qiao Sang, from the Dragon Nation, almost seventeen years old. My brain domain development has reached 50%. My dream is to compete in the Interstellar Cup. I donât know exactly what Qingqing Niâs goal is, but I believe you both want to grow stronger. I promise Iâll cultivate Qingqing Ni into a god-level beast.â
Legendary beasts were called so because they only existed in legends.
Some granted humans wisdom, emotions, and willpower, allowing beasts to understand speech from birth.
Some ruled over time, space, and antimatter.
Others were said to have created the sea, land, and sky.
As for Qingqing Niâs species, legends claimed it stirred the atmosphere, driving the endless cycle of seasons. Yet because even its slightest mood swings could trigger storms, it was also called the God of Calamity.
But the texts always described its god-level form.
She believed no member of Qingqing Niâs species would refuse to seek that divine form, to be revered by all.
Qingfeng Yunren was visibly startled by her words.
It couldnât resist floating closer, scrutinizing this human who claimed to be under seventeen yet already had 50% brain domain development.
Too close!
Qiao Sang instinctively straightened her back.
Yabao, Lubao, and Gangbao all stiffened defensively.
âXun XunâŠâ
Little Treasure stealthily floated beneath Qingfeng Yunren, poking at its cloud-like body.
âQing qing.â
Qingqing Ni called out sternly:
Mom doesnât like others touching it.
âXun XunâŠâ
Little Treasure quickly retracted his paw.
âQing qing.â
Qingqing Ni drifted beside him, softly calling:
If you like, you can touch me instead.
âXun Xun~â
Little Treasure froze, then his eyes lit up. Excitedly, he poked at Qingqing Niâs fluffy clouds.
He loved this little one, wanted it as his underling!
Qingfeng Yunren didnât even notice. Its whole attention was locked on the human before it.
Though only King-level, each evolution granted it inherited memories. And in its memory, a human under seventeen with 50% brain domain development was impossible.
Qiao Sangâs heart pounded under its scrutiny, cold sweat dripping.
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After what felt like ages, Qingfeng Yunren finally drifted back above Qingqing Ni.
âQingfeng.â
âGang Zhan.â
Gangbao hesitated before translating.
It said a contract was possible, under one condition.
Qiao Sangâs heart skipped. Her eyes lit up as she said excitedly, âName it! Iâll do anything!â
âQingfeng.â
Qingfeng Yunren spoke again.
âGang Zhan.â
Gangbao shot her a pitying look before translating:
It wanted her to defeat the Ancient Winged Bird and the Frostbird.
Qiao Sang: ?!!
She gaped in disbelief.
Defeat the Ancient Winged Bird and Frostbird? Arenât they your allies?!
âQing qing.â
Qingqing Ni looked at its mother with a sigh.
âGang Zhan.â
Gangbao translated:
It said youâre being unreasonable, if you donât want it to contract, just refuse directly. Donât make things impossible.
Qiao Sang: !!!
Impossible? Who said I canât do it?!
She almost blurted a retort but forced herself calm.
Both the Ancient Winged Bird and Frostbird were Emperor-level beasts. She couldnât possibly beat themâŠ
Even a single Emperor-level beast was enough to make her run, let alone two.
Clearly, Qingfeng Yunren wanted her to give upâŠ
Qiao Sangâs expression turned complicated. After a pause, she asked: âYouâre not on the same side as the Ancient Winged Bird and Frostbird?â
âQingfeng!â
Qingfeng Yunren let out a volatile roar.
The winds whipped up again.
âQing qing. Qing qing.â
Qingqing Ni explained: At first, relations were good. But after those two grew stronger, they began ignoring its mom. Just like earlier, when Mom spoke, the Ancient Winged Bird pretended to sleep.
Qingfeng Yunren stayed silent, which counted as agreement. But the increasingly violent winds revealed its turmoil.
No wonder it had kept its eyes closed earlier while the gales ragedâŠ
Qiao Sang realized suddenly.
In the wild, it was survival of the fittest. Fairy resources were scarce.
Likely, before the other two evolved, Qingfeng Yunren had been the strongest. But once they evolved, it seemed less powerful, and they dismissed itâŠ
After a long silence, Qiao Sang asked: âCan you give me some time?â
âQingfeng?â
How much time?
Gangbao translated.
Qiao Sang raised three fingers: âThirty years. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. I canât beat them now but in thirty yearsâŠâ
Qingfeng Yunren rolled its eyes and vanished into the wind.
âWait!â Qiao Sang cried.
It reappeared.
Qiao Sang straightened and declared, âI mean thirty years for Qingqing Ni to defeat them.â
Gangbao looked at her Beast master with admiration, she was quick on her mind.
âQing qing?â
Qingqing Ni blinked, pointing at itself uncertainly.
âThatâs right. You.â Qiao Sang didnât even need translation.
âOnly if you defeat them will the Ancient Winged Bird and Frostbird respect you both again!â
In less than two years, she had already raised Lubao to King-level. She believed that in thirty years, when the secret realm opened again, Qingqing Ni could reach Emperor-level too.
The winds no longer howled but swirled gently.
Qingfeng Yunrenâs eyes gleamed brighter and brighter.
âQingfeng?â
It glanced at the resources, then at the human before it. With a voice of authority, it asked:
How can I trust you?
Indeed, words were emptyâŠ
Qiao Sang pondered before saying earnestly: âIâll remain in this secret realm for about twenty-seven more days. In that time, you can observe me as much as you like. If you think Iâm unworthy, I wonât cling.â
She added firmly: âAll of these resources on the ground are yours, as payment for this test. If I fail, I wonât take them back.â
Qingfeng Yunren stared silently.
The winds circled and circled again.
Qingqing Ni could tell,
its mother was tempted.
âQingfeng.â
After two or three seconds, Qingfeng Yunren declared:
Deal
.
The wind rose, lifting the supplies into the air.
âQingfeng.â
It called again, then dissolved into the wind and disappeared.
âQing qing.â
Qingqing Ni gave Qiao Sang a sweet smile before vanishing into the breeze as well.
All the supplies drifted away with the wind.
Qiao Sang froze.
What did that mean?
They just⊠left?
âGang Zhan.â
Gangbao said quietly:
It told you to wait here.
Legendary beasts⊠surely they wouldnât lie?
Qiao Sang watched the supplies fade into the distance, unease creeping into her heart.
If Qingfeng Yunren took Qingqing Ni and left for good, wouldnât she end up with nothing, beastless and resourceless?