Chapter 906: Wanted Pet Beast

Midnight.

Cluster Flower Street.

Though it was already past twelve, a few couples still lingered, strolling close together.

Some pet beasts even wandered about without their beast masters.

When Qiao Sang arrived, she saw Zhao Xin, a short-haired breeder, and several beasts already waiting. Their bodies looked as if they were made of mud, sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.

Cluster Flower Street stretched two kilometers, but finding them wasn’t hard, just follow the stench.

The night sky was heavy and dim. Couples who caught a whiff cursed aloud, then either detoured or turned back.

Lala Ash… the book didn’t lie…

Qiao Sang held her breath, casting a glance at the mud-like beasts.

“Lala.”

The Lala Ash noticed her gaze and gave toothy smiles.

Great. Even smellier now…

Qiao Sang politely returned the smile.

“You’re here!” The short-haired breeder hurried forward, beaming, eyes scanning around.

“Is Qingqing Ni with you?” Zhao Xin asked, voice trembling with suppressed excitement.

Qiao Sang nodded lightly.

“She is.”

She turned, only to realize Qingbao, who had been at her side, was gone.

Startled, Qiao Sang stretched out her senses and quickly located her about a hundred meters behind.

She turned to see an unusual gust spiraling petals along the ground, the flowering trees rustling in chorus.

“Did something happen?” Zhao Xin asked anxiously.

Qiao Sang sensed the wind and understood.

After all this time together, she knew Qingbao loved fresh air. She was refusing to come closer because of the Lala Ash’s odor.

She looked back at the confused Lala Ash.

“It’s fine. Let’s start quickly so we can finish and rest.”

Though disappointed Qingqing Ni didn’t appear, Zhao Xin and the breeder pointed to the street corner.

“Pile the petals there.”

“Got it.”

At her word, Gangbao’s body expanded, growing larger.

Both women froze, eyes widening.

How had they missed such a magnificent Flying-type beast?

Qiao Sang climbed onto Gangbao’s back.

With a single beat of her wings, Gangbao rose into the night sky.

Zhao Xin hastily pulled out a scanner and aimed at the soaring figure.

A mechanical voice replied: [Sorry, this pet beast is not within the Blue Star Index.]

The two women exchanged stunned looks.

An alien beast…!

Meanwhile, Gangbao had already flown toward the far end of the street.

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao appeared nearby, visibly tired.

“Want to rest first?” Qiao Sang asked softly.

Normally, Qingbao would already be asleep by this hour.

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao shook her head.

Qiao Sang explained, “That smell came from the Lala Ash, the mud-bodied beasts. It’s natural to them, they can’t help it.”

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao blinked, glancing toward the distant beasts.

At the street’s end, Gangbao’s wings unleashed a violent gale.

Qingbao slipped into the wind.

Instantly, the storm grew orderly, sparing nearby trees while sweeping petals into a flowing spiral.

Whenever the gale faded, Gangbao renewed it, Qingbao guiding the force precisely.

To passersby, it looked like a living whirlwind of petals.

The few remaining couples gasped and quickly filmed it on their phones.

In five minutes, the two-kilometer street was spotless.

A mountain of petals piled at the far end, where the Lala Ash happily fed.

This time, the short-haired breeder stayed quiet.

“Miss Qiao, that beast of yours is…?” Zhao Xin asked carefully, eyeing Gangbao as she shrank back down.

If they had first thought of her as Qingqing Ni’s beast master, the alien beast’s immense form proved she was no ordinary youth.

Of course, someone who contracted Qingqing Ni couldn’t possibly be simple.

They recalled the online rumors of her new Yuhua-region beast not yet studied.

“It’s called the Steel Sword Falcon.” Qiao Sang said.

“Which planet?” The breeder asked, unable to resist.

“Chaosu Star.” Qiao Sang replied.

An alien beast indeed

… The two exchanged glances.

Zhao Xin’s scanner could only read Blue Star species. Yet never had it announced “Not in the Index.”

This was the first time.

They forgot about Qingqing Ni entirely, their eyes fixed on Gangbao.

She stood quietly at Qiao Sang’s side, unbothered by their stares.

Qiao Sang checked her phone.

“I’ll head back. The rest is yours.”

She mounted Gangbao.

The breeder suddenly blurted out, eyes pleading, “Could we see Qingqing Ni? Just once!”

Zhao Xin’s gaze burned with the same hope.

Of course, it came to this

… Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.

Still, since they’d indirectly helped her discover Qingbao’s wind-control ability, she couldn’t refuse entirely.

But they’d need to go farther away. Her eyes turned toward the Lala Ash and froze.

Qingbao had already revealed herself, standing beside them.

Zhao Xin and the breeder followed her gaze, then froze too.

Q-Qingqing Ni!

The genuine Qingqing Ni!

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao’s face flushed as she called out.

“Lala!”

The Lala Ash answered warmly.

Qingbao reddened further.

Gusts scattered the carefully piled petals.

“Lala!”

The Lala Ash looked alarmed.

Qingbao blinked, patted both cheeks...

The wind stopped.

---

High above, Qiao Sang sat astride Gangbao, glancing at Qingbao asleep in her lap.

“Qing qing?”

Suddenly, Qingbao opened her eyes, confused, as if to ask

why are you staring?

So alert

… Qiao Sang smiled softly.

“Nothing. Just that you’re beautiful.”

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao floated onto her knees, buried her head in Qiao Sang’s chest, and closed her eyes.

“You don’t like bad smells, right?” Qiao Sang finally asked.

Honestly, seeing Qingbao beside the Lala Ash had startled her.

“Qing qing…”

Half-asleep, Qingbao murmured faintly.

She didn’t like it.

Steady breathing followed.

Awake one moment, asleep the next…

Qiao Sang looked down at her, choosing silence.

---

The next morning, after washing and eating, Qiao Sang submitted the task at the assessment office, then knocked on Mikayla’s door.

It opened immediately.

“Finished the task?” Mikayla asked.

Qiao Sang feigned surprise.

“Teacher, how did you know?”

Mikayla’s lips twitched.

“A guess.” She stepped aside.

“Come in.”

Inside, luggage lay unpacked.

“When do we leave for the next city?” Qiao Sang asked politely.

“No rush.” Mikayla sat on the bed, messaging on her phone.

“Researchers from the academy are on their way to examine Qingqing Ni. We’ll leave after that.”

Qiao Sang had no objection.

Mikayla asked as usual, “How did you handle the task?”

Excited, Qiao Sang explained how she discovered Qingbao could merge into Wind-type moves for precise control.

Mikayla went silent.

“You mean… Qingqing Ni can already manipulate wind directly?”

“Yes.”

At the beginner stage already…

Mikayla realized she knew little of the Dragon Nation’s legendary beasts.

Her knowledge came only from books, half myths, half truths.

She had never encountered one directly, let alone a foreign legendary beast.

For the first time, she felt inadequate.

After a pause, she logged into the Imperial Beast University’s internal site and ordered a stack of texts on Dragon Nation beasts.

Qiao Sang saw her teacher preoccupied and didn’t disturb her.

A knock came.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure floated to the door, peeked outside, then mimed three figures.

“Open up, it’s the school staff.” Mikayla said with a smile.

Little Treasure opened the door.

Three people entered, two men and one woman, all brisk and professional.

The blond middle-aged man greeted Mikayla warmly, then looked at Qiao Sang.

“So you’re Qiao Sang! Truly, the academy has produced a remarkable student this year.”

Qiao Sang smiled modestly and called, “Qingbao.”

Qingbao appeared, instantly drawing their attention. They began examining her with instruments mounted on a Mechanical-type beast.

Qiao Sang sat quietly.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure curiously circled the machine.

The sharp-featured woman nearly scolded, then froze, staring.

“This Ghost Ring King… it looks just like the one wanted in Eagle Country.”

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure scowled.

Wanted?

“There’s a Ghost Ring King on a wanted list?” Qiao Sang asked curiously.

“Yes. A wild one, probably from a secret realm fissure. Rare in Eagle Country, so it drew attention.” The woman explained.

“What did it do?” Mikayla asked.

She replied, “The usual wild beast trouble. But this one’s different, it knows it’s wanted. It deliberately lets hunters capture it, then hypnotizes them and steals everything.”

She chuckled.

“Once, a famous hunter, surname Ao or something, was found stripped bare at a police station. Surveillance showed it was the Ghost Ring King.”

“I heard that too.” The younger male assistant added.

“The hunter was traumatized and offered a bounty triple the wanted price. Still hasn’t been caught.”

He glanced at Little Treasure.

“When you return to Eagle Country, be careful. Hunters might mistake you.”

“Focus.” The blond leader cut in sternly.

“That was just a wild beast. It can’t possibly resemble this one.”

Chastened, they fell silent.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure nodded firmly.

Exactly! No one looks like me.

Qiao Sang eased the mood with a smile.

“Don’t worry. My Ghost Ring King is an mutated variant beast. No mistaking it.”

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure crossed his arms proudly.

The woman researcher gave another doubtful glance but stayed quiet.

Nearly an hour later, the inspection ended.

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao floated wearily back to Qiao Sang.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure offered her a bottle of milk.

“Qing qing~”

Qingbao blinked, then smiled sweetly and accepted it.

Little Treasure smirked inwardly.

Closer to recruiting you as my little sister.

The researchers packed up and left.

So efficient…

In the Dragon Nation, they’d surely stay for a meal first, Qiao Sang mused.

She turned.

“Teacher, which city next?”

She wasn’t in a rush.

Eight tasks were already complete, and over three months remained before the regional tournament. Even one task per month would keep her on pace.

“Tianlian City.” Mikayla answered.