Chapter 921: Burrow Rat and Leaf Stone

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that the Dark-Eyed Bird’s wounds had mostly healed, Qiao Sang didn’t wish to linger.

It wasn’t out of kindness, it was just that the injured bird had reminded her of Gangbao, back before they’d formed their contract, when the Little Steel Falcon was wounded and alone.

After speaking, she turned and continued walking in the direction they’d decided on earlier.

After two steps, she suddenly remembered something. Turning back, she pointed toward the direction where the flock of Dark-Eyed Birds had flown earlier and said: “When I came, I saw your kin heading that way.”

“Dark.”

The Dark-Eyed Bird looked deeply at the human before it, let out a soft call of thanks, then flapped its wings and flew in that direction.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure floated beside her, sighing softly as if lamenting that it was a pity to let it go.

It could’ve helped them search for that so-called Lele Seed.

But in such a vast secret realm, one more mid-level Dark-Eyed Bird wouldn’t make much difference. To find the Lele Seed, they would still have to rely mainly on Guo Ruiqi.

Besides, if wild beasts were really that easy to communicate with, Qiao Sang would’ve saved every injured one she’d seen by now.

To keep herself from saying that thought aloud, Qiao Sang simply acted like she hadn’t heard anything and continued forward along the planned path.

Atop the towering tree they’d passed earlier, the Dark-Eyed Bird that had flown away lowered its head, watching their figures disappear into the distance.

---

The three of them moved through the humid jungle in silence, none of them took the initiative to speak.

After what felt like ages, they crossed two ridgelines. Ahead was a broad mountain hollow, the view suddenly opened up.

Night had already fallen. Under the pale moonlight, everything was still. A few wild pet beasts wandered past, ones Qiao Sang had never seen in this secret realm before. She immediately realized they’d likely reached another zone.

Then, something occurred to her. Turning to Little Treasure, she asked, “Do you want Yabao to recognize you as the boss?”

Yabao, alertly scanning the surroundings, immediately turned to look.

“Xun!”

Little Treasure froze, then, feeling Yabao’s sharp gaze, waved his hands frantically.

He had never thought about that!

Yabao snorted softly and continued his watch.

Good. It seemed the effects of the Truthflower had finally worn off

. Qiao Sang relaxed and turned to Guo Ruiqi.

“Do you need to rest?”

Guo Ruiqi, exhausted, could barely speak.

“I… definitely do.”

He wanted to keep going, to find the Lele Seed as soon as possible, but his body wouldn’t allow it.

Qiao Sang surveyed the area.

“Then let’s rest here.”

The ground was flat, vegetation sparse, a good place to stop. Even if a wild beast appeared, they’d spot it instantly.

Guo Ruiqi found a spot and collapsed without even bothering to lay out a sleeping bag.

Qiao Sang turned to Xu Gehong. Just as she was about to speak, Xu Gehong met her gaze, then, without a word, swiftly pulled a sleeping bag from her pack, crawled in, and shut her eyes.

“...”

Qiao Sang crouched beside the sleeping bag.

“Don’t sleep yet. I need to talk.”

That’s exactly why I pretended to sleep…

Mikayla (disguised as Xu Gehong) mumbled drowsily without opening her eyes, “If it’s important, tell me when I wake up…”

Qiao Sang silently stared at the sleeping bag.

This Xu Gehong clearly knew far more than she let on, from the Tungsten Corpse Crystal to the Truthflower, she’d recognized both instantly.

Her knowledge was vast, too vast. Could such a well-informed B-rank Beast Master really have been so helpless under the effects of Nightmare Aura?

And that sound earlier… it definitely wasn’t from the Hidden Shield.

It sounded exactly like Mikayla's Spengami.

Honestly, if Qiao Sang hadn’t personally seen Xu Gehong’s red star array before departure, she would’ve thought this person was Mikayla herself.

But no Beast Master, no matter how skilled, could change the color of their star array.

After staring for a while, Qiao Sang sat cross-legged.

Suddenly, something yellow poked out from the ground ahead, a small, mouse-like pet beast.

A Burrow Rat.

A ground-type Beginner-level beast that loved tunneling. It often peeked out of the soil, and was generally mild-tempered.

As the information surfaced in her mind, Qiao Sang took some snacks from her pocket, ones Yabao and the others liked, and offered them forward.

“Burrow.”

Startled, the Burrow Rat squeaked and ducked back underground.

About two seconds later, it carefully poked its head out again.

Qiao Sang extended her hand with the candy again.

“Burrow?”

The Burrow Rat pointed to itself.

Qiao Sang nodded.

“Burrow…”

After hesitating for a moment, it took the candy and vanished underground again.

Qiao Sang’s ears twitched, faint chewing sounds came from below.

“Burrow!”

When the noise stopped, the Burrow Rat popped back up, eyes gleaming.

Just as friendly as the records said. Qiao Sang smiled.

“Want another one?”

“Burrow!”

The Burrow Rat nodded eagerly.

“How about this.”

Qiao Sang coaxed, “You stay with me, help explore underground paths, and I’ll feed you treats every day.”

She offered another candy.

“Burrow!”

The Burrow Rat gulped, nodded quickly, and this time stayed aboveground to munch.

Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction.

Gangbao and the Sleepbird could monitor the skies, Yabao and Little Treasure could guard the area, but underground threats were hard to detect.

Now, with a tunneling pet like the Burrow Rat, they’d be much safer on the road ahead.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure watched in admiration.

Qiao Sang gave him a discreet

stay humble

look.

“Qing qing?”

Qingqing Ni tilted her head and chirped, as if asking why she hadn’t let the dark-feathered one from before help too.

“Because that one’s a Dark-type.” Qiao Sang explained, knowing Qingbao was referring to the Dark-Eyed Bird.

“They’re not as friendly as Burrow Rats. There’s risk in dealing with them. But this one’s harmless.”

She’d said it loudly enough for the Burrow Rat to hear.

“Burrow!”

Sure enough, the Burrow Rat looked touched, like it had found a kindred soul, and patted its chest to promise it would scout diligently.

“Burrow.”

Then it added, as long as there’s more food.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure translated promptly.

It felt good to be past the Truthflower’s effects again

… Qiao Sang smiled.

“Yap…”

Yabao was fighting to keep his eyes open, too wary to rest.

The Grave Spectre incident had shown him how much more dangerous this realm was than he’d imagined.

---

Morning came. The temperature rose sharply.

“Let’s move.”

Once Xu Gehong and Guo Ruiqi were awake, Qiao Sang stood and gave the signal.

“Burrow!”

The Burrow Rat popped up briefly, called out, then dove back down.

Mikayla wasn’t surprised, she hadn’t been asleep when Qiao Sang struck the deal last night.

Guo Ruiqi blinked at the little creature, then shrugged it off as a coincidence, until he noticed it popping up every few minutes, calling “Burrow, burrow!” and signaling that the path ahead was clear.

Only then did realization dawn.

“Senior Qiao… this Burrow Rat is-?”

“I met it last night. It’ll help us scout underground from now on.” Qiao Sang replied.

Guo Ruiqi paused, then his expression lit up with understanding.

So even wild pet beasts could be recruited for help inside a secret realm…

Of course, only a powerful Beast Master could manage such a thing.

---

Days blurred into nights, and nights into days.

They searched mountain hollows, dense forests, caverns, valleys, along mountain ridges and cliffs, but not a trace of the Lele Seed appeared.

Qiao Sang’s hope dimmed bit by bit.

“How long has it been?” Mikayla asked, after commanding the Sleepbird to take down a few attacking flying-types.

“Forty-three days.” Qiao Sang replied instantly, she’d been keeping count.

After a pause, she added, “The mission I posted only said to enter the secret realm and assist, not for how long.”

In other words:

Don’t expect extra pay just because it’s been long.

Mijala’s lips twitched.

“I wasn’t implying that.”

“Good.” Qiao Sang’s tone was flat, she was starting to lose patience with her.

Forty-three days.

All this time, nearly every battle had been handled by the Sleepbird.

The only exception was when they’d encountered a swarm of hundreds of Advanced-level beasts, a dozen General-levels, and even one King-level creature, forcing that mysterious Hidden Shield pet to intervene briefly while hidden.

Sometimes Qiao Sang felt having that teammate or not made little difference. Yet, the woman’s rare insights into exotic resources and beasts had saved them from missing key finds.

Still… her contribution was far less than expected. It felt like she was carrying two passengers.

“Don’t you have anything important to do outside?” Mikayla asked casually.

“Yes.” Qiao Sang sighed.

“But for now, finding the Lele Seed is the priority.”

If she failed, her mission would remain incomplete, meaning she couldn’t qualify for the Regional Tournament. Half a year’s work would go to waste.

“Qing qing…”

At that moment, she noticed Qingbao in the air, shifting into wind form and scouting ahead.

Actually, even if she didn’t make it to the tournament… at least she’d contracted Qingbao.

“Burrow!”

Ten meters ahead, the Burrow Rat popped out and called, the road ahead was safe.

“Yap!”

Yabao translated immediately.

“Any readings?” Qiao Sang asked Guo Ruiqi.

He shook his head.

“None.”

Compared to forty-three days ago, Guo Ruiqi looked darker, leaner, and steadier.

This couldn’t go on forever. Xu Gehong’s earlier warning about time pressure echoed in her mind.

As she walked, an idea struck her.

“When the Lele Seed was captured...”

She asked, “Do you think it still had freedom of movement?”

“If it was taken by the Dull-Headed Swallow.”

Mikayla said thoughtfully, “Then yes, it probably did.”

Guo Ruiqi perked up.

“Senior Qiao, did you think of something?”

Qiao Sang said, “I’m thinking, if the Lele Seed can move freely, it might be drawn toward something.”

Guo Ruiqi’s sensing range for the Lele Seed was only a hundred meters, and the same applied in reverse.

But what if the connection wasn’t based on the contract bond, but something else?

She stopped and turned to Little Treasure.

“Didn’t we stockpile a bunch of Evolution Stones last time? Was there a Leaf Stone in there?”

Leaf Stones had an irresistible pull for Grass-type beasts, even those far from evolution.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure nodded and enlarged its ring, sticking its head inside to rummage.

About thirty seconds later, it lifted a gleaming green crystal triumphantly.

“Xun!”

Found it.

“So you plan to lure Grass-types with it.” Mikayla said knowingly.

Qiao Sang nodded.

“The Leaf Stone’s energy should attract them from over a hundred meters away.”

Guo Ruiqi’s eyes lit up.

This could massively increase their chances!

As expected of Senior Qiao, ingenious!

Mikayla, however, frowned slightly.

“But if a Grass-type that’s close to evolving finds it first, it’ll absorb the Leaf Stone entirely.”

Guo Ruiqi’s joy froze into panic.

That would ruin everything…

Qiao Sang had already considered it. She looked up toward the sky.

“Gangbao, split it.”

“Gang Zhan.”

Without hesitation, Gangbao flapped her wings. A purple-feathered blade sliced down, cleanly cutting the Leaf Stone in two.

Guo Ruiqi gaped.

Qiao Sang explained calmly, “A broken Leaf Stone can’t be absorbed but it still emits energy strong enough to attract Grass-types.”

Mikayla nodded.

“Exactly. The energy will still leak out, though it’s a pity to waste such a fine stone.”

Guo Ruiqi clenched his fists.

“Once we’re out, I’ll buy another one to repay you!”

“Let’s find the Lele Seed first” Qiao Sang said, placing the two halves on the ground.

“Qingbao.”

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao materialized.

Qiao Sang instructed, “Spread the Leaf Stone’s energy around.”

A whole Leaf Stone’s energy was contained but once split, its exposed surfaces would constantly leak energy until it eventually faded.

“Qing qing~”

Qingqing Ni turned into wind, circling above the split stones, then expanded its breeze outward.

Soon, faint green energy spread with the gusts.

“Yabao, shrink down.” Qiao Sang ordered.

“Yap!”

Yabao shrank, and Qiao Sang lifted him into her arms.

“Little Treasure, tree.”

“Xun~”

Light flashed blue, and in the next moment, they stood atop a massive nearby tree.

Before long, one after another, Grass-type beasts began emerging from the forest, drawn by the energy.

Guo Ruiqi stared intently, terrified of missing the Lele Seed.

More and more gathered below, but none were it.

Qiao Sang frowned slightly.

If only Qingbao could send the wind farther…

From this eight, she estimated the farthest attracted beasts were only about five hundred meters away.

If Qingqing Ni could extend the reach just a little more…

Then again, the time for Qingbao's evolution…was tonight.

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T/n: Ahahhahahahaha I'm freee! I'm freeeeee!