A sudden flash of white light illuminated the desolate clearing.
Combined with the moonlight and the fine snow drifting in the wind, the night scene took on an almost ethereal beauty.
*E-Evolution light?!*
Qiao Sang was completely stunned, staring blankly up at the white light.
Having witnessed pet evolution several times, she naturally knew what this light represented.
But it shouldn't be happening!
She hadn't just added any attribute points, and based on the level-up values in the Beast Codex, Yabao should still have a long way to go before evolving!
How did it suddenly evolve!
Qiao Sang wished she could dive her consciousness directly into the Beast Codex to see what was going on.
But she couldn't.
Qiao Sang looked warily at the middle-aged man and his three General-grade pets. If the opponent launched an attack at this critical moment and caused an accident during Yabao's evolution, she would definitely end up crying herself to sleep in the bathroom.
"Lubao!" Qiao Sang called out with a serious expression.
"Lu!"
Lubao leaped down from Yabao's body. Facing the three General-grade pets, it crouched low, assuming a combat-ready posture.
Although Lubao was small in size, its aura was commanding; it didn't show a hint of cowardice.
The expected attack did not happen.
Qiao Sang stared intently at the man and noticed he hadn't moved for a long time.
In reality, only a few seconds had passed, but under the psychological pressure of extreme tension, every second felt agonizingly long.
*It actually evolved...* Zhang Rongtang's mouth slowly fell open, his expression vacant as he stared at the blinding white light.
A Mid-grade pet evolving into a High-grade pet wasn't a big deal; it wouldn't normally cause him to lose his composure.
But when you added the other factors, it became terrifying.
The world's only Flame-Listening Hound.
One had to remember that the news of the Fire-Fang Dog having a new evolution form had only been reported a month ago!
And then there was its Beast Tamer!
A child who was only in her third year of high school!
A minor, with a Green Star Array and three pets, none of which were simple—especially this Flame-Listening Hound, which had now evolved to High-grade.
What kind of monster is this girl?!
When he was her age, he only had one Basic-grade pet and one Mid-grade pet!
To be honest, Zhang Rongtang was now a bit afraid to make a move.
The evolution of the Flame-Listening Hound absolutely could not be interrupted. If he interrupted the evolution of the world's only Flame-Listening Hound, he would likely be condemned by the entire internet once word got out.
And then there was the child in front of him.
To be this freakish at such a young age—setting aside the future, she was certainly already under great scrutiny. If he accidentally injured her, the consequences were unthinkable.
How did Wu Chang even know such a monstrous child?
However, it was absolutely impossible for him to just give up on the Luck-Pull.
Various thoughts flashed through Zhang Rongtang's mind.
He steadied his nerves and shot a glance at the Nonsense Wraith.
As partners for many years, they shared a certain level of tacit understanding. The Nonsense Wraith immediately understood its tamer's intent and vanished into stealth without a word.
*The Nonsense Wraith is gone...* Qiao Sang's nerves tightened uncontrollably.
Suddenly, she felt the white light above her head vanish.
*Yabao's evolution is over?!* Qiao Sang was overjoyed.
She instinctively looked up, only to lock eyes with a pair of purple eyes.
"Nonsense."
The Nonsense Wraith, exercising its hypnosis, grinned, saliva dripping from its mouth.
*Your sister! This trick again!* Qiao Sang struggled to keep her eyelids open and tried to turn her head, only to find that far from turning, she couldn't move at all.
In a daze, she saw Biao Maumu not far away, eyes glowing blue as it watched her.
*Great, two General-grade pets against one of me, shameless...* Qiao Sang thought hazily before her eyes closed.
The next second, a water jet hit her square in the face. She snapped awake instantly, her eyes flying open.
This feeling of having water sprayed in her face was far too familiar!
Qiao Sang looked down at Lubao, just about to say "nice job," only to see Lubao spraying the water jet at the Nonsense Wraith.
Qiao Sang: "!!!"
The Nonsense Wraith didn't even flinch; it actually felt a bit itchy.
It looked at the little runt on the ground, grinned with dripping saliva, and slowly extended its claw downward.
"Lu!"
"Lu!!"
"Lu!!!"
Lubao fired water jets, unleashed Freezing Winds, and even landed a Water Tail strike on the claw, but it was completely useless. The claw seemed unscathed, continuing its descent at a steady speed.
"Lu!"
Lubao wore an unwilling expression, preparing for another strike.
Just then, the Nonsense Wraith's claw suddenly froze. The saliva dripping down seemed to solidify in mid-air, and then, it was violently sent flying sideways.
Qiao Sang and Lubao realized something and looked up simultaneously.
The white light in the air had dissipated, replaced by a creature with glowing blue eyes and a red stripe beneath each eye.
With sharp teeth exposed and a size of about three meters, its body was predominantly white with an ultra-long, fluffy tail. A red pattern extended from its nose to the back of its head, and a pair of tiny flame-like wings burned on its shoulders. It looked magnificent and mysterious.
Qiao Sang's eyes lit up.
*This look... so cool!*
As if sensing its tamer's gaze, Yabao looked down, its eyes returning to their original crimson.
As Qiao Sang watched, her expression suddenly changed because the transparent device containing the Luck-Pull was being pulled away by a powerful force.
"Yabao!" Qiao Sang shouted.
"Ya!"
Yabao descended from the sky, raising its front paw and stomping violently onto the ground. A massive force exploded upon impact, and pillars of fierce flames erupted wildly from the cracked earth, creating a surging wave of fire.
"Ya?"
Once the skill was unleashed, Yabao himself was stunned.
*Am I this powerful?*
Biao Maumu, who was using telekinesis, was forced to stop controlling the device and teleported into the air.
The device fell.
Just as it was about to hit the ground, the Robust Flying Owl flew past with a "whoosh" and caught it.
"I won't waste any more time with you. We shall not meet again!" Zhang Rongtang shouted while holding the device, perched atop the Robust Flying Owl.
To be honest, far more time had passed than he had anticipated.
Now that the Flame-Listening Hound had evolved, its strength had surged; it had actually learned a high-tier skill immediately upon evolving.
Although pets usually learn one or two skills per evolution, they typically require research and practice; none of them could cast one so smoothly right after evolving.
And a high-tier skill at that.
If he stayed any longer, he might actually be stalled until the police arrived.
Thinking of this, Zhang Rongtang looked back at the girl below, his heart filled with complex emotions.
A high school student who could stall him for this long—she was probably the only one.
"Yun yun!"
The Luck-Pull frantically patted the device with its paws.
"Stop struggling, she can't catch up," Zhang Rongtang said calmly.
"Catch them!"
Qiao Sang grabbed Lubao and leaped onto Yabao's back.
Yabao took to the sky, but after only two strides...
"Biao Maumu."
At that moment, Biao Maumu suddenly appeared, blocking the path.
*Damn! Using Biao Maumu to stall for time, then recalling it once the Robust Flying Owl is far enough away...* In an instant, Qiao Sang guessed Zhang Rongtang's plan.
Her eyes burned with fire as she looked at the receding figure of Zhang Rongtang.
*It would be great if the Robust Flying Owl suddenly got a leg cramp and couldn't fly...* Just as this thought flashed through Qiao Sang's mind, she saw the distant Robust Flying Owl tip head-first and drop vertically.
Qiao Sang: "!!!"
*I'm actually a prophet?!*
Wait? Why is there something else falling?
Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes, and once she saw what it was, her heart jolted.
*Holy crap! Little Treasure-Hunter?!*
"Xun..."