Chapter 926: Flame-Tailed Fan Fox and Fruity Rock Decay

After the brief rush of excitement, Qiao Sang quickly calmed down.

Yabao was only at the mid-General level, there was still quite a way to go before evolution. Even if that canyon really was Yabao’s evolution site, going there now wouldn’t help. What she should focus on first was finding the Lele Seed…

With that thought, Qiao Sang resumed searching for any signs of the Lele Seeds.

Her gaze swept around, and soon she spotted two Lele Seeds near the edge of a mountain top close to the canyon, happily gnawing on yellow fruits.

So that’s why they couldn’t find any Lele Seeds before, they’d just been using the wrong method to search…

Qiao Sang thought wryly and asked,

“Do you see them?”

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure nodded.

“Let’s go.”

“Xun xun!”

Energy flowed through Little Treasure’s body.

Qiao Sang’s vision darkened for a moment, and when light returned, she found herself already standing exactly where she’d intended to be.

“Lele!”

The two Lele Seeds froze in surprise, bit down on their fruits, and bolted to the side with remarkable speed.

Even running, they still remembered to take the fruits with them…

Qiao Sang silently complained in her heart and asked,

“Are any of them yours?”

The moment she asked, she already knew the answer, probably not.

No pet would run away from its own Beast master.

“No.”

Guo Ruiqi shook his head in disappointment.

As expected

… Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure.

Just a glance, and Little Treasure understood. His eyes glowed faint blue.

Qiao Sang closed her eyes.

A 3D map of the surrounding terrain appeared in her mind.

Then, rustling sounds reached her ears.

Instantly alert, Qiao Sang broke off the mental link, opened her eyes, and turned toward the sound.

There, a few fox-like pet beasts, about ten centimeters tall, their fur bright as flame, were parting the grass and peering curiously at them.

When she looked back, they didn’t flee in fear. Instead, their eyes gleamed with interest as they continued staring.

Fire-tail Foxes, low-level Fire-type pet beasts. The fur on their tails was highly sought after in the fashion world. Clothes made from Fire-tail Fox fur were not only naturally soft and warm but also ageless, they could stay glossy even after decades in storage.

That information flashed across Qiao Sang’s mind as her gaze unconsciously drifted toward their tails.

“There are Fire-tail Foxes here?!”

Guo Ruiqi exclaimed in delight.

In the Central Hollow, Fire-tail Foxes were extremely popular. To get a contract for one usually required an advance reservation, they were considered rare pets.

As he spoke, his eyes also fixated on their tails.

He remembered once when his parents had a huge fight. The next day, his father gifted his mother a scarf made from Fire-tail Fox fur. They reconciled instantly.

The Fire-tail Foxes, noticing the humans’ gaze fixed on their tails, became tense and wary.

“Huowei!”

One of the foxes took a step back, its tail stiffening as it cried out sharply.

Don’t tell me it’s calling its parents…

Qiao Sang’s heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling about this.

“Gang Zhan.”

No sooner had she thought that than Gangbao’s voice rang in her mind.

It really is calling its parents.

Qiao Sang: …

She glanced at Gangbao, her look clearly saying,

Compared to the parent that hasn’t even shown up yet, you look way more terrifying right now…

“Gang Zhan.”

Gangbao flapped her wings helplessly, as if to say she didn’t mean to.

“Yanwei!”

Suddenly, a deafening voice boomed like thunder.

The sound shook the forest, trees toppled one after another, the shockwave rolling closer and closer.

“Yap!”

Yabao rushed to Qiao Sang’s side, watching warily toward the noise.

Soon, a massive creature leapt out from the forest.

“Huowei!”

“Huowei!”

The small Fire-tail Foxes ran up beside the beast.

Flame-tailed Fan Fox, Fire-type, General level…

Qiao Sang looked up at the towering figure, about six meters tall, its bright red tail fur thick and fanned out like a great feather fan, and exhaled in relief.

So it’s just a General-level pet beast…

“Lubao.” Qiao Sang called calmly.

Sometimes, when facing wild pet beasts, you didn’t have to fight at all. A simple show of overwhelming size and aura could make them retreat on their own.

Only the reckless ones, or those backed by a group, would dare to attack a stronger foe.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao took a step forward, her body expanding as her aura surged.

“Yanwei…”

The Flame-tailed Fan Fox’s eyes shifted from looking down, to level, to up, its tail trembled, and its mouth slowly gaped open.

“Huowei…”

Even the smaller Fire-tail Foxes now showed clear fear.

Just when Qiao Sang thought they’d retreat, another rumbling sounded in the distance, trees crashing as something enormous charged toward them.

Moments later, more Flame-tailed Fan Foxes emerged from every direction, encircling the group completely.

The air temperature shot up.

“Yanwei!”

With their kin beside them, the first Flame-tailed Fan Fox regained its courage, glaring once more with hostility.

“Huowei!”

The little ones followed suit.

“Yap…”

Yabao glanced at the fanned, fluffy tails of the Flame-tailed Fan Foxes, unable to hide his envy.

Five of them in total

… Qiao Sang’s expression hardened slightly.

No big deal, just five of them. Senior Qiao could handle this…

Guo Ruiqi unconsciously moved closer to her for safety.

“Yanwei!”

All five Flame-tailed Fan Foxes opened their mouths at once.

Five roaring torrents of fire burst out, merging into a massive wave of flame that shot straight toward them.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure had already prepared, his eyes glowed blue, and in the blink of an eye, they were teleported high into the sky.

The fire blast hit nothing but air.

In midair, Yabao opened his mouth, a red-and-gold beam shot down, striking the center Flame-tailed Fan Fox before it could dodge.

A deafening explosion rang out, flames scattered as the creature screamed and was blown backward.

“Yanwei!”

“Yanwei!”

The remaining four did not retreat, instead, they grew even angrier.

Their tails swung in unison, sending countless flaming projectiles upward like fiery rain.

Guo Ruiqi’s face paled. Even if he believed Senior Qiao could handle it, the sheer scale of the attack was terrifying.

“Lu Di.”

At the moment the blazing rain was about to reach them, Lubao let out a soft call.

A wave of visible frost burst from her body.

The temperature plunged.

Each flaming projectile froze midair, encased in ice.

At the same time, the four Flame-tailed Fan Foxes and several Fire-tail Foxes below froze solid, turned to ice sculptures where they stood.

Then, massive icicles like mountain peaks formed overhead and came crashing down upon them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The icy mountains shattered, fragments scattering everywhere.

After about twenty seconds, the barrage ended.

The ice melted, and warmth slowly returned.

The foxes lay unconscious on the ground.

Little Treasure’s eyes flashed blue again, and the group reappeared on the surface.

Guo Ruiqi stared at the fallen foxes, excitement in his eyes.

“Senior Qiao, their tails—”

Before he could finish, the ground gave way beneath them.

A blast of scorching hot air surged upward.

“What the-!” Guo Ruiqi screamed on instinct.

Mikayla raised her head, frowning deeply.

Qiao Sang cursed inwardly, but her expression stayed calm.

After that last free fall from the sky, and the mental expansion that followed, reaching 50% brain domain development, she’d built some tolerance for sudden drops.

Huge boulders fell beside them, along with the unconscious foxes.

Above, several silhouettes peered down.

Qiao Sang looked up, and saw them.

A dozen Fruit Sprayers stood proudly at the cliff’s edge, looking smugly downward.

At their center was an enormous creature, over ten meters tall, its body a dark green-brown, with a fruit tree growing from its back.

Its expression was cold, eyes filled with disdain, as if looking at mere insects.

Fruity Rock Decay, a tri-type King-level pet beast, Poison, Grass, and Rock.

So it was the one that broke the mountaintop… When had it gotten this close without her sensing it?

Qiao Sang’s heart tightened, her muscles instinctively tensed as she took a slow, steadying breath.

She didn’t struggle, didn’t even consider fighting back up the mountain.

Unlike the Fruit Sprayers, Fruity Rock Decay's poison could corrode even a Steel-type’s armor or a Dragon-type’s scales, leaving them unable to regenerate.

Yabao was already half bald, she couldn’t bear to imagine what Lubao or Gangbao would look like if they lost their fur or scales too.

Besides, Lubao had already used Ice Field Domain once during the last battle, her energy reserves were low.

Facing another King-level opponent immediately would be risky.

Not to mention, Guo Ruiqi had no combat power, and Xu Gehung had been suspiciously quiet the whole time.

The mission came first.

Compared to clashing head-on with a Fruity Rock Decay, falling below was actually safer

… Qiao Sang reasoned calmly.

The silhouettes atop the cliff shrank to dots, then vanished from sight.

For ordinary people, falling off a cliff happened in an instant.

But for someone whose brain domain had developed 50%, that instant was enough to think through a lot.

“Xun xun!”

Little Treasure screamed in panic.

Gangbao, synced with her Beast master’s mind, heard her elder brother’s cry, glanced his way, and flapped her wings, catching him mid-fall.

“Xun xun…”

Feeling steady again, Little Treasure exhaled in relief.

That was terrifying…

“Xun xun!”

Once he’d calmed down, he patted Gangbao’s head proudly, as if saying,

Good job, little bro!

Gangbao: …

“Qing qing?”

Qingbao appeared nearby, tilting her head in confusion at Little Treasure.

Wasn’t he able to float on his own?

Little Treasure stiffened awkwardly.

Mikayla stayed still, confident that her student could handle it.

When the Fruity Rock Decay completely disappeared from view, Qiao Sang nodded at Yabao.

Lubao, noticing, shrank back to her smaller form and hopped into the backpack.

Yabao flapped his wings, catching everyone safely and gliding down.

Qiao Sang glanced at the falling foxes below.

“Qingbao, catch them.”

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao turned into wind and swept under the unconscious Flame-tailed Fan Foxes and Fire-tail Foxes, catching them gently.

Soon, they reached the ground.

The base of the cliff was sweltering, the ground glowed red, heat rising visibly.

Even the cliff walls shimmered faintly red.

No plants grew here.

Even Qiao Sang, whose body had been strengthened by Yabao’s energy feedback, could feel the oppressive heat.

Mikayla looked down thoughtfully.

Guo Ruiqi, whose soul had nearly left his body earlier, slowly came back to himself.

Good thing Senior Qiao was here…

As he thought this, he remembered that Yabao disliked others riding on his back.

His legs wobbled as he prepared to dismount.

“Ah! Hot!”

The moment his foot touched the ground, he yelped and jumped back onto Yabao.

“Yap?”

Yabao stepped lightly on the ground with his front claws, testing it.

Hot?

Qiao Sang looked down at the glowing red surface, then at Guo Ruiqi’s still-intact shoes.

He felt the heat through his shoes?

Curious, Little Treasure floated down from Gangbao and touched the ground.

“Xun xun!”

In an instant, he teleported fifty meters into the air.

Was it really that hot…?

Tempted to test it herself, Qiao Sang restrained the urge.

This place… felt a lot like Yabao’s previous evolution site.

Could it be…?

Realizing something, Qiao Sang turned her backpack to the front and took out Lubao.

A refreshing coolness washed over her, and she couldn’t help letting out a content sigh.

So comfortable

…

Lubao: …

Usually, Yabao was the one being hugged for warmth, now it was her turn to cool everyone down?

“Qing qing…”

After setting down the foxes, Qingbao wiped sweat from her forehead and floated beside Lubao, brushing against her.

So refreshing

…

Lubao: …

Seeing that, Little Treasure’s eyes lit up and he began drifting closer.

Lubao gave him a single look.

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure froze midair, not daring to come closer.

“Senior Qiao, why did the mountain suddenly collapse earlier?”

Guo Ruiqi finally remembered to ask.

“Fruity Rock Decay.” Qiao Sang said simply.

Guo Ruiqi blinked, then his eyes widened.

“A King-level Fruity Rock Decay?!”

Qiao Sang nodded.

“Was it intentional?” He asked.

Honestly, in that moment, Qiao Sang suddenly understood how her old vice principal must’ve felt hearing her ask stupid questions like that.

“It was avenging the Fruit Sprayers.” Mikayla replied calmly.

“Then wouldn’t it be dangerous to go back?” Guo Ruiqi worried aloud.

“Who said we’re going back?” Qiao Sang replied, nodding toward Little Treasure.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure teleported to her side, blinking innocently at Lubao.

Hey, it’s not that I wanted to come over, Master needed me!

Lubao could only sigh wordlessly.

Honestly, she hadn’t glared at him to keep him away earlier, he was just being too timid himself.