Chapter 922: Evolution Night

A stir came from below. Qiao Sang snapped back to focus.

She saw a dozen or so Grass-type beasts surrounding the fragments of the Leaf Stone, each unwilling to yield as though one more push would spark a fight.

She gave a glance to Little Treasure,

move

.

Although the Leaf Stone had already been cut in half and couldn’t enable evolution for Grass-types, that didn’t mean the beasts wouldn’t try to consume it.

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure, watching the scene, received the look from his beast master and let out a disappointed chirp. His eyes glowed blue.

The next moment, the fragments of the Leaf Stone vanished.

The Grass-types froze, then each glared around in rage, certain another beast had snatched the shards while they weren’t looking, and within seconds, they unleashed their skills and began to fight.

“Move five hundred metres away” Qiao Sang said quietly, holding the Leaf Stone fragments and pointing a direction.

Little Treasure’s eyes glowed blue again as he locked coordinates.

In two or three seconds, the trio reappeared on ground roughly five hundred metres away.

Qiao Sang repeated the tactic: Placed the Leaf Stone fragments, Qiao Sang had Qingbao use wind to spread the energy (though leaking) across a wide area, while Qiao Sang, Xu Gehung, and Guo Ruiqi hid in a nearby thicket, watching the attracted Grass-type beasts.

“The fragments won’t last long.” Mikayla noted, keeping her eyes on the incoming beasts. Cut evolution stone = Incomplete item, energy leaking.

Qiao Sang nodded inwardly:

About half a month of effectiveness.

If they hadn’t purposely used Qingbao’s wind to disperse the energy, the leak would be much slower.

“What if we haven’t found the Lele Seed by then?” Guo Ruiqi asked with concern.

“No problem. I still have spare Leaf Stones.” Qiao Sang answered confidently.

She had stockpiled as many as she could when she had unlimited-use cards. For regular beast-masters, a Leaf Stone was valuable but for her, it wasn’t much. And the ones she got in the shop were at most A-rank, hardly rare.

Hearing that, Guo Ruiqi’s tension eased: “No matter how many it takes, I’ll repay you when we’re out.”

Just then, the grass beside them rustled and a little pair of stubby legs bounded out toward the Leaf Stone location.

“!!!”

Both Qiao Sang and Guo Ruiqi stiffened.

“Yap!”

Yabao flared, shocked,

how had he not noticed that pet beast?

That startled call drew the surrounding Grass‐types’ attention.

“YeYe!”

“Shuai!”

“MoMo!”

Each called out warily.

Flying Leaf Blade! Vine Whip! Magic Leaf!

Skills exploded around them, aimed at Qiao Sang’s concealed position.

“Yap!”

Yabao leapt from her arms, his eyes glowing blue.

In an instant, all the attacking skills froze mid-air.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure appeared before them, his gaze stern, radiating a kingly presence. A strong aura dropped instantly.

The Grass-types shuddered, then froze, then their eyes glazed, and they collapsed to the ground.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure hovered, and with a calm expression retrieved the Leaf Stone fragments and returned them to Qiao Sang’s side.

“I didn’t expect that grass tuft over there was a pet beast…” Guo Ruiqi murmured, still a little shaken.

Neither did I…

Qiao Sang thought.

He caught himself realizing what she’d noticed.

“Senior Qiao, you must have seen it earlier.”

No, I didn’t

… She said outwardly coolly.

“The grass-tufted creature lies still nearly twenty hours a day, disguised like grass. Even if someone stepped on it, it wouldn’t give away a clue. I didn’t expect the Leaf Stone fragments to lure it out.”

It was only after noticing its tiny legs that she recognised it.

“That just goes to show how powerful the Leaf Stone’s draw is for Grass-types.” Guo Ruiqi added quickly.

Mikayla cleared her throat: “Don’t underestimate the pull of a Leaf Stone on Grass-types, even in fragment form.”

Qiao Sang looked at her and suddenly asked: “Have you ever been a teacher?”

Mikayla stiffened: “No… why?”

“Nothing.” Qiao Sang withdrew her gaze.

“Just the way you speak reminds me of an instructor I once had.”

Mikayla: !!!

---

From then on, every five hundred metres Qiao Sang placed another Leaf Stone fragment.

If the Lele Seed didn’t appear, Little Treasure would collect the fragments and they’d move onward.

This increased speed and avoided unnecessary wild-beast fights, saving time.

Night fell quickly, the temperature plummeted.

Guo Ruiqi donned a heavy down jacket and pressed close to Yabao for warmth.

Qiao Sang hid among the tree canopy, watching the gathered Grass-types below.

Thanks to Little Treasure’s

return support

, even in darkness she could make out forms clearly.

“If you can’t see, sense.” She whispered to Guo Ruiqi.

“Understood.” He nodded.

The cold slowed the gathered Grass‐types, unlike during daylight when they came rushing at scents, these moved sluggishly.

As she observed below, Qiao Sang asked casually: “Xu Gehong, why haven’t you said anything?”

I’m afraid I’ll sound like a teacher again

… Mikayla kept her persona and answered: “Nothing to say.”

Qiao Sang: “You could talk about your Hidden Shield…”

Before she finished, Guo Ruiqi whispered urgently: “Ice-Leaf!”

Qiao Sang turned.

A small beast, about fifteen centimetres tall, ice-blue in colour, with two leaves sprouting from its head, bounded happily toward them.

Ice-Leaf Grass, a rare Ice/Grass dual-type beast, the leaves were ingredients used by herbalists for drying and decoction to reduce internal damp-cold.

“I can’t believe we encountered an Ice-Leaf Grass but still haven’t found the Lele Seed.” Guo Ruiqi said disappointedly.

“Don’t worry, we will.” Qiao Sang reassured.

But to be honest, she had no solid confidence yet.

The secret realm was far too vast. They hadn’t even covered all the known terrain yet.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the Leaf Stone fragment cracked open. A brown root shot out, wrapping around the fragment and dragging it underground.

Qiao Sang froze.

“Yabao!”

“Yap!”

Yabao’s jaws opened, and a swirling flame jet shot out at the disappearing fragment.

Boom!

Debris flew, flames wreathed the burst point.

From the ground erupted a beast covered in dead leaves. The nearby Grass-types scattered in fear.

The Leaf Stone fragments, caught in the blast, drifted toward Qiao Sang and Qingbao.

Below, a strange sound echoed. A green vine shot from the ground, circling precisely toward Qingbao.

“Yap!”

Yabao’s eyes glowed blue again, the green vine froze mid-air, held by unseen power.

Qiao Sang sensed something, turned, her pupils tightened.

Several green vines were advancing from behind, heading straight for Qingbao!

“Gangbao!” Qiao Sang shouted.

“Gang Zhan!”

Gangbao, hovering above, flapped her wings, dozens of air-blade feathers rained down, slicing every vine.

But at that moment, one vine launched from the branches of their tree and bound Qingbao!

“Qingbao!” Qiao Sang gasped.

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao, calm, glanced at the vine binding her and then transformed into wind and vanished.

The vine lost its target and recoiled.

Qiao Sang exhaled quietly.

This secret realm was too dangerous. Qingbao was still a Beginner-level, she nearly forgot that Qingbao herself had self-preservation abilities.

Mikayla watched silently;

she offered no commentary.

Guo Ruiqi, though unsettled, remained composed. Over forty days of travel with Senior Qiao had built his confidence in her strength.

“We go!” Qiao Sang decided.

Unlike before, she now allowed spatial moves within 500 m to change search points without upsetting direction.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure had already set the coordinates when the fragments were placed, his eyes glowed blue and the group vanished from the spot.

Moments later, the tree they’d sat beneath cracked open its eyes.

---

Late at night, Mikayla and Guo Ruiqi were in their sleeping bags.

Qiao Sang remained standing guard, took out her phone, time: 23:44.

She had learned from previous secret-realm trips: Although she had no Electro-type beast that could recharge gear, she carried ten power-banks. Others may regard power-banks as outdated, but not everyone had an Electro-type beast for charging, so they still held value.

Phone fully charged. Clock clear.

23:44… time was nearly here.

Qiao Sang surveyed the surroundings.

They were on flat ground covered with weeds, ahead lay a narrow path, too small for large beasts to pass, so less risk of a large threat suddenly bursting out.

Occasionally smaller wild beasts appeared but only Beginner or Intermediate levels, no major hazard.

Qiao Sang gave a light shake to the sleeping Qingbao, and whispered: “Qingbao, wake up.”

“Qing qing…”

Unlike Yabao, Qingbao woke instantly, rubbed her eyes.

“Get ready. Your evolution is coming.” Qiao Sang’s voice dropped.

Qingbao’s eyes snapped open: “Qing qing?!”

“Of course.” Qiao Sang said.

On the Beast Codex page for Qingbao, only three points were required until evolution.

Even without energy pills or special foods, Qingbao could naturally reach that.

“Qing qing!”

Qingbao floated up, surprise and joy shining on her face.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure hovered over, admiration on his face. The stronger the

fifth child

becomes, the stronger his own backing will be.

Just then a voice called out: “Qingqing Ni is going to evolve?”

Qiao Sang looked up: Mikayla had opened her eyes, turned to watch.

“You’re still awake?” Qiao Sang asked.

Mikayla nodded and repeated: “Qingqing Ni is evolving?”

Qiao Sang nodded: “Right.”

It didn’t surprise Mikayla much. In the world outside, Beast Masters often test their beasts to estimate evolution time.

For a deep bond partner or a high-rank Master, one could sense it without tests when big changes were coming.

Because at evolution time, beasts show subtle but different signs.

“I’ll help guard you.” Mikayla said, getting out of her sleeping bag.

Qiao Sang expected it, Qingqing Ni was a legendary pet of the Central Hollow region, Xu Gehung, also from Central Hollow, would naturally care.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Silence followed.

After a moment, Qiao Sang asked: “You not waking the Sleepbird?”

Mikayla said: “No need. I have more than just the Sleepbird.”

She paused, then added: “My Hidden Shield hasn’t slept yet.”

She nodded toward the air.

After two seconds: A faint voice said: “Hidden Shield…”

Qiao Sang’s mind flashed.

“Why did your Hidden Shield say ‘pppft’ back then?” She asked.

I remember… Mikayla’s face wavered but she recovered, expression composed.

“It scarcely ever speaks. At that moment it was just clearing its throat.”

A pet beast clearing its throat with ppft?

Qiao Sang said nothing but wondered.

Right now, the priority was Qingbao’s evolution.

No point asking the things someone didn’t want to talk about.

Mikayla waited half a minute, seeing Qiao Sang didn’t continue the topic, she breathed relief.

Time passed.

23:57.

Qiao Sang put down her phone, nodded to Little Treasure.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure understood, removed his ring and pulled out a crystal as large as a pomegranate, a Fairy’s Heart.

Its brilliant glow nearly blinded Mikayla in the darkness.

She stared at the Fairy’s Heart, eyes wide with disbelief.

How could it be this large?

In Central Hollow region, the ones they received were not even half this size.

Mikayla wanted to ask, but held back due to her own identity.

“Qingbao, are you ready?” Qiao Sang asked solemnly.

“Qing qing!”

Qingbao nodded seriously.

23:59:58

23:59:59

Qiao Sang handed over the pomegranate-sized Fairy’s Heart.

Qingbao extended her paw to touch it.

In that instant, a bright white light exploded around them.