Chapter 918: Nightmare Aura

You have to understand, the more advanced a pet beast becomes, the harder its evolution materials are to find on the market.

For example, the Tungsten Corpse Crystal, a key item needed for a King-level Ghost-type beast to evolve into an Emperor-level one, only appears occasionally in select underground auctions.

Mikayla continued, “But a place crawling with that many Corpse Imps…can’t possibly have only Corpse Imps.”

The Tungsten Corpse Crystal’s value wasn’t just due to its rarity.

It was also because the places it could be found were usually eerie, forbidden graveyards, the kind no one could enter openly.

Anyone trying to retrieve one risked being captured, or worse.

And perhaps most importantly, where there was a Tungsten Corpse Crystal, there was always a colony of Corpse Imps.

Ghost-type beasts live exceptionally long lives, and no one could ever predict how powerful a Corpse Imp colony’s leader might be.

Qiao Sang paused for a moment, then said, “My objective hasn’t changed. The mission is still to locate the Lele Seed. For now, what matters most is exploring this region safely, and getting out alive, while keeping Guo Ruiqi safe.”

The Tungsten Corpse Crystal was tempting, yes.

But with Guo Ruiqi, someone with barely any combat strength, by her side, and Little Treasure still a long way from even reaching the King level, there was no point risking their live for something that might not even exist.

She’s… not going after the Tungsten Corpse Crystal?

Mikayla blinked, genuinely surprised by Qiao Sang’s restraint.

No, it wasn’t that Qiao Sang wasn’t interested. It was that she could suppress that desire. Such steadfast willpower.

A Tungsten Corpse Crystal could be traded for almost anything a beastmaster might need.

If it had been her younger self, Mikayla knew she would’ve gone after it, no matter the danger.

One goal, unwavering in the face of temptation… impressive.

A quiet look of admiration flickered in her eyes.

But still, this place was far too dangerous.

Beasts here appeared in swarms.

They needed to leave while they still could.

Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure and gestured toward Guo Ruiqi.

“Lick him awake.”

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure floated over, stuck out his tongue, and gave Guo Ruiqi’s cheek one heavy, wet lick.

Guo Ruiqi’s eyelids fluttered open, and the moment he looked down at the scene below, he jolted fully awake, his face turning pale.

“This place is dangerous. Get ready, we’re moving out.” Qiao Sang ordered.

“Xun xun?”

Little Treasure raised the limp Corpse Imp he was holding, asking silently what to do with it.

The Corpse Imp didn’t move, its expression blank, resigned to its fate.

So arrogant before, and now it’s pretending to be a rock. For a second I thought it was already dead.

Qiao Sang glanced at it, mildly amused.

“Let it-”

Before she could finish, a thick, black fog rolled in from every direction, cold, heavy, oppressive.

A massive shadow began to rise from the ground.

No way…

Qiao Sang’s scalp prickled.

Something was very wrong.

Even without knowing the species, she could sense its power.

A King-level beast...and not one that had just advanced.

Oh crap.

Guo Ruiqi’s body trembled violently as he clung to the Sleepbird for dear life.

He had no idea what was happening, one moment it felt like the crisis had passed, and the next, he was trapped in a worse one.

Oh heavens…

If seeing Qingqing Ni costs this much terror, I’d rather not see her at all!

“Grave Specter, the King-level evolved form of a Corpse Imp.”

Mikayla said in a low, serious voice.

“Looks like this one’s their leader.”

“Jie jie jie!”

The once-docile Corpse Imp suddenly raised its head, grinning with a twisted smile.

Yeah, that’s right, my boss is here.

Now be smart and let me go!

“Xun xun!”

Annoyed, Little Treasure smacked the imp’s head with a paw.

“Shi shi!”

The Corpse Imp froze in shock.

You hit me?!

My boss is right there and you actually hit me?

“Xun xun!”

Another slap.

Yeah, I hit you. So what if your boss is here?

I’m a boss too!

The Corpse Imp looked utterly dumbfounded.

Then Little Treasure’s eyes glowed violet, and the imp immediately fell into a deep sleep.

The black fog thickened again.

The shadow below vanished into it.

“Bind!” Qiao Sang commanded.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure tossed the sleeping Corpse Imp downward and lifted his tiny toes.

Dozens of dark tendrils shot out from every direction, wrapping tightly around the Grave Specter’s hulking body.

Ghost-type beasts could turn invisible to most, but to Little Treasure, the massive figure was perfectly clear, a hulking silhouette outlined by dark energy.

The Grave Specter tore at the bindings, grabbing the shadows around its arm, and yanked once.

Little Treasure was nearly pulled off balance, his body dragged forward by sheer force.

“Ice Field Domain!” Qiao Sang shouted.

She knew Little Treasure’s strength was nowhere near enough to restrain a creature like that.

All she needed was to force it visible, to mark its position for a few seconds.

“Lu Di!”

Lubao, her Ice Emperor Ram, leapt onto her shoulder and howled, icy power surging through her body.

In an instant, the temperature plummeted.

Frost raced outward, and the world froze over.

Both the Grave Specter and the shadows binding it were encased in thick ice.

But the black fog only thinned slightly, it didn’t fade away.

Just as Qiao Sang prepared to launch a coordinated strike, her heart began to hammer in her chest.

Her mind blurred.

An overwhelming sense of dread flooded her.

No, this isn’t right.

Why… why am I so scared?

Her whole body trembled, fear clawing at her throat. But she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay rational.

“Senior Qiao… w-what do we do?”

“This place is horrifying! I- I don’t want to be here anymore!”

Guo Ruiqi’s voice cracked as he slumped against the Sleepbird, face pale as ash.

Even the Sleepbird beneath him was trembling uncontrollably.

Qiao Sang glanced around.

Even the usually composed Gangbao and Little Treasure were shivering in fear.

The shadows faded completely.

Yabao’s expression twisted, as though trapped in a nightmare.

Qingbao clung tightly to her arm, body shaking uncontrollably.

The air suddenly grew warmer, still cold, but no longer biting.

Qiao Sang turned to Lubao.

“Lu Di…”

Lubao stared downward, body trembling, eyes wide with terror.

The frost encasing the Grave Specter cracked, then shattered.

And then, Mikayla’s voice echoed: “It’s Nightmare Aura. It amplifies a target’s deepest fears, clouding their mind and breaking their focus. For beasts, it disrupts their energy flow entirely.”

Her tone grew grave.

Nightmare Aura, a high-tier Ghost skill. Only ancient, malicious creatures ever learned it.

You’d never see it in a standard battle.

Right now, Qiao Sang’s strongest allies were the Ice Emperor Ram and Fire Qilu.

But with Fire Qilu still asleep, and the Grave Specter already using Nightmare Aura first...

Even with Lubao by her side, this battle would be nearly impossible to win.

Could it be…that barely an hour into this mission, she already had to reveal her true power?