Chapter 900: Venom-Saw Bird

The Explosive Flame Bomb and the Fire Whirl would normally trigger a direct energy explosion upon contact, but if the Fire Whirl left enough hollow space for the Explosive Flame Bomb to pass through, perhaps fusion could be attempted during the passage!

“Yap yap!”

Hearing her beast master’s words, Yabao forced open his already bloodshot eyes, wider and redder than usual, and gathered energy in his mouth.

At once, a hollow-centered, larger-than-normal spinning vortex of flame erupted forth.

Immediately after, a crimson-golden beam shot out at incredible speed, piercing straight through the Fire Whirl!

The spinning crimson flames and the red-gold beam intertwined, their scorching energies suddenly multiplying several times over.

The two collided yet seemed to merge as one.

Boom!

With a thunderous blast, crimson flames and the red-gold beam exploded together in a dazzling burst.

A violent shockwave and searing heat flames swept outward in all directions.

It worked

… Qiao Sang drew a deep breath, her face glowing with exhilaration.

“Qing qing…”

Awakened by the deafening sound, Qingbao rubbed her eyes and stared at the sight before her.

“Yap yap!”

Yabao froze for a moment, then looked at his beast master with wild excitement.

They had succeeded!

He had succeeded!

Qiao Sang was just about to speak when Yabao suddenly closed his eyes and collapsed to the ground.

Even breathing, steady snores soon filled the air.

A soft azure glow washed over Yabao’s body.

When the light faded, he was still sound asleep.

Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn’t help but laugh.

Good. They’d trained all night, it was about time to rest…

Then a thought struck her, and she glanced at Little Treasure.

“Xun xun…”

Caught by his beast master’s gaze, Little Treasure’s body stiffened, then he suddenly lifted a paw to his mouth and faked a yawn.

Qiao Sang: …

Do you even realize you don’t get tired? S

he muttered inwardly, but didn’t expose him. Instead, she said, “Let’s go back and rest.”

“Xun xun!”

---

Lodging Area. Room 708.

Qiao Sang leaned back on the bed, laptop resting on her knees, logged into the Imperial Beast University’s official site. Entering the Elite Class page, she opened the points exchange tab and sorted items by descending points. ℞АNÔΒÈs̩

Last time, when Teacher Mikayla had said she could choose any one item from the list, she’d browsed through briefly. But every option looked good, making it hard to pick.

[Name: Void Feather

Type: Feather

Function: A feather from the Void Dragon. With it, one can ignore restrictions and barriers, entering secret realms and forbidden zones that normally require time and keys to access.

Note: A legendary beast’s feather. Each use consumes its energy. Currently, it can still be used 11 times.

Points: 1.1 million]

Tempting indeed, but sadly consumable. Only 11 uses for 1.1 million points… the hefty price clearly came from the legendary beast value

. Qiao Sang scrolled further down.

[Name: Breakthrough Stone

Type: Crystal

Function: Allows a beast to advance directly by one major realm, without side effects.

Note: Usable up to Emperor-level. Invalid for beasts above Emperor-level.

Points: 1.1 million]

That was good but she had her golden cheat. Her beasts would evolve eventually;

it wasn’t strictly necessary…

Qiao Sang thought calmly, and kept browsing.

“Xun xun!”

“Xun xun!”

Suddenly, Little Treasure cried out excitedly, pointing at the Void Feather’s description.

This one’s good!

Qiao Sang glanced at him.

“Weren’t you just sleepy?”

“Xun xun?”

Little Treasure blinked innocently.

Was I? He didn’t remember.

Qiao Sang: …

“Qing qing?”

Qingbao, hearing the exchange, tilted her head with a pure expression:

If you’re not sleepy anymore, doesn’t that mean it’s time to train again?

Little Treasure stiffened, then immediately lay down, eyes closed, pulling the blanket over himself.

“Qing qing?”

Qingbao looked puzzled.

Wasn’t he just fine? Why is he asleep now?

Qiao Sang gave Qingbao a complicated look.

Honestly, if she didn’t know Qingbao’s age and hadn’t spent time with her already, she’d suspect it was on purpose…

Knock knock!

A knock sounded at the door. Teacher Mikayla’s voice came from outside: “Awake?”

I haven’t even slept yet…

Qiao Sang rose and opened the door. “Teacher.”

“Want to have breakfast together?” Mikayla asked.

“Sure.” Qiao Sang nodded.

---

Top-floor Restaurant.

Everyone’s eyes kept darting toward the innermost table.

Mikayla took a bite of her sandwich.

“How was training last night?”

“Pretty good.” Qiao Sang sipped her porridge.

“The fusion succeeded.”

The normally composed Mikayla froze.

“What?”

“Yabao successfully fused Fire Whirl and Explosive Flame Bomb.” Qiao Sang repeated with a smile.

Mikayla stayed silent for several seconds, then calmly bit her sandwich and said, “Good. But it’s still not enough against a King-level beast. You’ll need more training, ideally, fuse another fire skill.”

Qiao Sang nodded seriously.

“I understand.”

That was her thought as well.

At that moment, her phone on the table buzzed.

She picked it up, it was a message from Yu Ke: [Are you there?]

Yu Ke

… Qiao Sang paused at the name. Honestly, she hadn’t spoken to Yu Ke in a long time.

[Here.] She typed back.

[You’re back on Blue Star?] Came the instant reply.

[Qiao Sang: Mm. Been back over two months.]

[Yu Ke: I want to ask you something.]

[Yu Ke: (Image)]

[Yu Ke: Is the person in this photo you?]

Before Qiao Sang could answer, more messages rushed in:

[There’s a beast master in Central Hollow who contracted Qingqing Ni. I thought of you, since you own the Qingqingni Compass, won the National Campus Beast Tamer Tournament, and have the No. 16 Secret Realm key. Plus, this person looks a lot like you. So I had to ask.]

[Qiao Sang: It’s me.]

The other side went silent.

Qiao Sang set her phone down. Only after finishing half her porridge did the phone buzz again, several messages in a row:

[Ahhhhhhh!!!]

[I knew it looked like you!]

[You contracted Qingqing Ni?! That’s insane!]

[That’s it, you’re my idol from now on!]

Qiao Sang typed back: [I’m still your business partner. How’s the company doing?]

[Yu Ke: …]

[Yu Ke: It was fine at first, but then some issues came up. Don’t worry, they’ll be solved soon.]

[Yu Ke: By the way, there are photos of you circulating online at beast centers in several cities. Why aren’t you in school?]

[Qiao Sang: My teachers arranged for me to compete in the Central Hollow Regional Tournament.]

[Yu Ke: Imperial Beast University really is different… Classes held outside school… wait! Regional Tournament?!]

Before Qiao Sang could type, a voice call request popped up. She hesitated, then answered

Yu Ke’s voice burst out, incredulous: “You’re competing in the Regional Tournament? You’re already a C-rank Beast Master?!”

Contracting Qingqing Ni, she had suspected that much from online chatter, but learning that Qiao Sang was already C-rank caught her completely off guard.

Two years ago, Qiao Sang was just a first-year student fighting in senior competitions… To be precise, it hadn’t even been two full years!

Mikayla glanced up at her quietly, then returned to her meal.

Qiao Sang held the phone slightly away, waiting for Yu Ke to finish her outburst, then put it back to her ear.

“Yes. I tested for it while on Chaosu Star.”

“That can’t be right.” Yu Ke argued.

“One requirement for C-rank is having four contracted beasts. If you were already C-rank back then, how did you contract Qingqing Ni afterwards?”

Sigh. Forcing me to brag, huh

… Qiao Sang kept her tone calm: “I broke past 50% brain domain recently.”

The line went dead quiet.

Qiao Sang set the phone down. After more than ten seconds, Yu Ke’s hoarse voice came back: “You’re not lying to me, right?”

Qiao Sang picked the phone up again.

“Why would I? You’ll see at this year’s Regional Tournament.”

Again silence.

Then, with even more hoarseness, Yu Ke said, “I believe you.”

She paused, then suddenly added, “Do you want the company’s financial report? I can send it now.”

Without realizing, her tone had grown far more respectful.

“No need.” Qiao Sang smiled.

“I trust you.”

After hanging up, Mikayla asked casually, “A friend?”

Qiao Sang thought a moment.

“You could say that.”

Mikayla didn’t pry further. Instead, she returned to business: “Do you need my help with training today?”

“Of course!” Qiao Sang answered instantly.

What a joke, having an S-rank beast master around and not using her?

---

The following days, Qiao Sang and her beasts devoted themselves fully to training.

Time passed quickly. Soon, the day of the B-rank Beast Master assessment arrived.

---

9:30 a.m.

Following the message from the Beast Center, Qiao Sang arrived at the outdoor exam grounds.

From B-rank upward, professional beast master exams differed greatly from the past.

Each day, only one candidate would be tested by a specially dispatched examiner. To avoid civilian casualties, no bystanders were permitted.

Thus, when Qiao Sang arrived, only a square-faced, black-clad middle-aged man and a floating mechanical beast about thirty centimeters long awaited her.

“Qiao Sang?” The man approached, his expression complicated.

Qiao Sang gave a slight nod.

“First, your beast master badge needs verification. Standard procedure.” He held out his hand.

Qiao Sang handed over her badge.

The man passed it to the mechanical beast.

“This is a League-appointed mechanical beast, called All-Judge. Besides confirming your identity, it will record the entire exam and upload it for verification. Only once confirmed will you officially know whether you passed.”

“Don’t I find out the result immediately?” Qiao Sang asked.

“You’ll know on the spot.” The man replied.

“But official confirmation takes a little time.”

Meanwhile, All-Judge completed its scan.

A ten-inch holographic screen projected into the air, displaying all related details.

The man glanced discreetly.

“All-all.”

All-Judge returned the badge and nodded, identity confirmed.

The man began explaining: “The exam has two parts. First, a 1v1 battle. Second, a 2v2 team battle. After the first round, you’ll have ten minutes’ rest. Any questions?”

Qiao Sang shook her head. “None.”

“Then let’s begin.” The man moved toward one command post.

Qiao Sang walked to the opposite side.

All-Judge floated upward, its black eyes turning red as it observed the arena below.

She’s underage… damn, really underage

… The examiner stole a look at the black-haired girl across the field, then drew a deep breath and nodded to All-Judge.

“Exam begins.” All-Judge declared in a mechanical voice. “Both parties, summon your beasts, 3, 2, 1!”

Qiao Sang formed hand seals.

A brilliant crimson star array and a deep, mysterious violet array lit up almost simultaneously.

An A-rank beast master

… Qiao Sang’s expression grew serious.

Soon, Lubao emerged from the crimson array.

At her appearance, the air temperature dropped sharply, snowflakes drifting down.

At the same time, a massive beast, thirteen meters long, body nearly violet, black pupils, a violet horn on its head, jagged teeth, and enormous saw-edged violet wings, emerged from the violet array.

The Venom-Saw Bird, a dual Poison/Flying-type King-level beast. Its serrated teeth weren’t just venomous,mthey could pierce even Steel-types…

During her studies, Qiao Sang had crammed knowledge of Central Hollow’s beasts. With one glance, she recognized it.

The Venom-Saw Bird spread its wings, beating them powerfully. A violent gale surged across the field.

It whipped up chaotic currents and soared skyward in a blink.

Snowflakes landed upon its body.

“Venom Storm.” The examiner commanded.

The Venom-Saw Bird flapped down hard. A terrifying thirty-meter hurricane formed instantly, destruction spreading like a tide.

“Lubao.” Qiao Sang ordered.

Lubao’s face turned solemn.

Even before the storm reached, her three tails were whipped about violently by the wind.

As the hurricane took shape, the Venom-Saw Bird opened its mouth.

A torrent of purple venom rained into the cyclone.

The storm absorbed it whole.

A gigantic, violet Venom Hurricane roared into existence!

The gusts carried a pungent stench.

A venom-infused storm technique… Good thing Lubao is the one facing it this time.

Qiao Sang’s heart muttered

good grief

, though outwardly her face remained calm.

-----

T/n: I finally finished my ppt so I'm free. And 900 chapters!!! Yayyyyyy!!! 🥳 On another note: As I was thinking of printing some IMs, I was reminded of the expensive cost for printing per page. I deeply realized, I should probably buy a printer myself because it's going to be costly trying to print something everyday. It's time to tighten the belt and save! Save money everyone! (Not on food though, food got a pass for me😆)