Chapter 894: Power of the Mind

8:30 in the evening.

“I’ll head out first then. There are still a bunch of things waiting for me at the University, but I’ll try to get the energy pills done and delivered within a week.” Flauda said.

“Alright.” Mikayla nodded.

“Goodbye, Teacher.” Qiao Sang added.

“Qing qing.”

The now-awake Qingbao lifted her paw and waved.

Flauda cast a complicated look at Qiao Sang and Qingbao before turning to leave, closing the door behind him.

“Are you planning to leave tonight or tomorrow morning?” Mikayla asked.

“Tonight. I don’t want to waste time,” Qiao Sang replied.

“The amount of time I have to complete my mission isn’t much.”

“Alright, I’ll pack up my things now.” Mikayla turned around and started putting away her clothes.

“Oh right, Teacher.” Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something and asked,

“Why is it that the trait Prankster’s Heart can make a beast’s change-type skills activate faster than its opponent’s?”

While tidying up, Mikayla shot back a question of her own: “Why? Does Qingbao have the trait Prankster’s Heart?”

Qiao Sang quickly flattered her: “Teacher is so clever.”

“Qing qing?

Qingbao tilted her head with a puzzled look.

Prankster’s Heart? Me?

Mikayla chuckled.

“Generally, only Dark-type or Fairy-type pet beasts have Prankster’s Heart. Since you suddenly asked, I guessed Qingbao might have it.”

Then she explained:

“Theoretically speaking, Prankster’s Heart works by using psychic force. When two beasts activate change-type skills at the same time, the trait lets the skill land on the opponent first, making them feel as though they acted one step too slow. That’s why Prankster’s Heart is often jokingly called ‘Disgusting’.”

“But the effectiveness changes with its level. Don’t assume that just because the trait exists, it will always make a beast act one step ahead.”

“For example, a beast with only Prankster’s Heart F-grade can only affect targets within one meter of range. At that level, it’s basically no different than not having the trait at all.”

“And of course, beasts with stronger psychic force or higher-level traits can resist or suppress it.”

Psychic force…

Qiao Sang fell into thought, then asked: “So if I want Prankster’s Heart to level up, does that mean I just need to train Qingbao’s psychic force?”

“Psychic force is innate, it generally can’t be trained.”

Mikayla explained patiently: “The only way to increase psychic force is if, during evolution, the beast happens to break through the shackles of psychic power.”

With that, she hefted her packed suitcase to the side.

Spengami appeared, lifted the suitcase, and then vanished with it into thin air.

Mikayla glanced at Little Treasure and continued: “Qingqing Ni's upper limit is very high. There’s no need to rush. As she evolves, her Prankster’s Heart trait will definitely strengthen.”

Qiao Sang thought to herself:

That’s true… after all, Qingbao’s trait is already A-grade even now…

“Everything’s ready. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Qiao Sang hugged Yabao and followed closely behind her teacher.

The two walked out of the lodging area.

On the way, she had a strange feeling that the passersby were all staring at her with uncertain looks.

Could it be… they’ve realized I’m Qingbao’s beast tamer?

Just as that thought flashed across her mind, a woman who had just brushed past her suddenly stopped, turned, and screamed loudly: “Ah! It’s Qingqing Ni's beast tamer!”

Almost instantly, the sound of countless footsteps came rushing their way.

At the same time, voices rang out one after another: “Where’s Qingqing Ni's beast tamer!?”

“Really? Where is she!?”

“Is Qingqing Ni's with her too!?”

“Qing qing! Qing qing!”

Qiao Sang: !!!

Damn, this is terrifying! Why does it feel like a zombie swarm catching the scent of human flesh in a movie!?

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure popped out, standing in front of his beast tamer, his eyes glowing blue, ready to take them away instantly.

“Peng~”

But before he could activate his power, Spengami appeared beside them.

The next second, both beast tamers and their pets disappeared from the scene.

---

Up in the sky, Qiao Sang let out a long sigh of relief.

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao appeared, looking apologetic.

She hadn’t realized she was this popular.

Qiao Sang comforted her: “It’s fine. Once the hype dies down, things will calm. This is just because news spreads too fast nowadays. The moment people heard I contracted you, it went everywhere.”

Judging from earlier… my face probably got memorized too…

At this moment, Mikayla asked: “Do you have a mask?”

“Yes.” Qiao Sang immediately understood her teacher’s intent and turned to Little Treasure.

“Take out a mask.”

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure removed his storage ring and pulled out two white masks.

He handed one to Qiao Sang, and then, thoughtfully, passed the other to Qingbao.

“Xun xun~”

Wear it, and no one will recognize you.

Gangbao silently turned her head aside, unable to bear the sight.

Qiao Sang had already put hers on.

Qingbao looked at her masked beast tamer, then at the mask being offered. After a moment, she gently pushed it back with her paw, declining.

“Qing qing.”

No need. If I turn into the wind, no one will see me anyway.

“Xun xun.”

Little Treasure didn’t insist, putting the mask back into the ring.

Meanwhile, Yabao slowly grew larger.

Qiao Sang climbed onto his back and opened navigation.

A mechanical voice spoke: [Navigation successful. Current distance to destination: 3.2 kilometers.]

“What? Only 3.2 kilometers?” Qiao Sang froze.

“From the Beast Center to the Sky Passage should be 12.8 kilometers. Did we just… skip 9.6 kilometers?”

She turned in shock to the beast that had been glowing blue-eyed just now, keeping everyone airborne, Spengami.

Little Treasure also sensed something was off. He quickly pulled out the pet beast identifier and scanned Spengami.

Soon, the same mechanical voice rang out in Little Treasure’s own tone:

[Analyzing… Spengami: An Emperor-level Psychic/Flying dual-attribute pet beast of Chaosu Star. Capable of empathic telepathy with humans, and can use refracted light feathers to wrap itself in invisibility.]

[Oh dear, Master, you’re not about to do something reckless like fight it, are you? I’d advise you-]

Before the device finished, Little Treasure quickly shut it off

“Peng~”

Spengami turned its head and glanced at him.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure forced a grin.

Spengami stared at him for a long while.

Just as Little Treasure was getting chills, thinking it might attack, Spengami yawned.

Little Treasure: …

So it’s really an Emperor-level beast of Chaosu Star…

Recalling how Spengami had instantly jumped them from the Beast Center to the Sky Hotel earlier, Qiao Sang carefully asked: “Teacher, could it be possible to-”

“No.” Mikayla cut her off.

Qiao Sang: …

Mikayla said coolly:

“I’ve already told you: no matter what difficulties you encounter during your missions, I won’t interfere. The only reason I had Spengami appear earlier was to intimidate the leaders of the Central Hollow Region so they wouldn’t go too far.”

“If your talent wasn’t so high, do you think you could have left Jintian City so smoothly?”

“I know.” Qiao Sang replied calmly.

“It’s a good thing my talent really is that high.”

Mikayla: …

“Not just missions, any incident during your journey can be a chance for growth. That’s why I won’t intervene, not even to shorten your travel distance.”

Then what about just now, when Spengami skipped us 9.6 kilometers

… Qiao Sang complained inwardly but outwardly wore a serious face.

“I understand.”

-----

T/n: Im now, officially,

officially

deployed to the school. First day and I'm already teaching and handling four sections🥹✊ Hahahahaha, it's damn tiring.