Qiao Sang advanced directly to the national competition as the first-place finisher of her group.
Once this news reached Hanggang City, almost everyone who knew the scale of the National Campus Beast-Taming League went wild.
Someone from their city had advanced directly to the nationals?
And she was a tenth-grader competing in the twelfth-grade group at only fifteen years old?!
In an instant, Qiao Sang's growth history was picked apart and scrutinized.
...
In a certain residential complex.
A middle-aged woman sat on the sofa, her hands trembling with rage as she held a test paper.
"How on earth did you take this exam! The high school entrance exams are next semester; with these grades, how are you going to get into a general high school!" the middle-aged woman scolded.
"Mom, what era are we living in? What do grades even matter? As long as I undergo spontaneous awakening, I don't have to worry about schools wanting me," a boy wearing glasses said, straining his neck as he stood by the sofa.
The middle-aged woman laughed out of sheer anger. "You? Spontaneous awakening?"
Hearing this, the boy became displeased.
"You know Qiao Sang, right? That genius who advanced directly to the nationals as the group leader in the regional qualifiers. She was just like me; she was consistently third from the bottom of her class throughout middle school. Later, she had a spontaneous awakening and got into Shengshui High School."
As the boy spoke, he suddenly thought of something and said excitedly, "Oh right, Mom! After my brain domain awakens, I want to contract a Fire-Fang Dog just like Qiao Sang!"
The middle-aged woman snorted coldly. "Fire-Fang Dog, just like Qiao Sang... how many people like that are there? What do you have to compare yourself to her with?"
The boy complained, "Who talks to their own son like that?"
"If you don't want me to talk to you like this, then hurry up and study to improve your grades! What are you doing just standing here!" the middle-aged woman suddenly raised her voice.
*Isn't it because you called me over here to lecture me...* the boy complained inwardly as he returned to his room.
After the boy left, the middle-aged woman wore a thoughtful expression. She then picked up her phone and began searching the internet for the price of a Fire-Fang Dog.
There were many families like this who wanted to contract Fire-Fang Dogs because of the discussions surrounding Qiao Sang.
For a time, business at the Ya-Zai Pet Shop became exceptionally booming.
It left Ye Xiangting with no time even to call her friends and family to chat.
...
Haicheng.
Deep Sea Mantis Hotel.
After dinner, Qiao Sang lay on the bed searching for fun places to visit in the Ancient Mist region, occasionally replying to messages.
After confirming her direct advancement to the national competition, she had a week of rest.
During this week, the remaining 32 qualifiers would be decided, followed by the battle for the top eight rankings.
Since she had finally come to the Ancient Mist region and happened to have the time, she naturally wanted to visit some interesting places.
Balancing work and relaxation was the right way to go.
"The Underwater Ancient City looks good. I can see the ruins; maybe I can even find fossils of ancient pets."
"The Underwater Arena City is also good; it's suitable for Ya Bao and the others to swim around."
"Underwater Museum? Forget that one."
Qiao Sang looked at the recommendations from netizens, filtering them one by one.
Just then, her phone vibrated.
The caller ID showed "Professor Jiang."
"Hello, Professor Jiang," Qiao Sang answered.
"There is an activity tomorrow in Haicheng for interacting with underwater wild pets. Do you want to participate?" Jiang Xiu asked straightforwardly.
Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. "An activity for interacting with underwater wild pets?"
Jiang Xiu gave an "mm" and replied
"It's a bit different here than in the Yuhua region. There are wild pets everywhere underwater. To let the wild pets get used to us so they don't suddenly attack when they see us on the seabed, we hold an underwater wild pet interaction activity every three months."
"Some waters are safe, and some are not. Safe waters mean that the water-type wild pets in that area will not randomly attack humans."
"Unsafe waters mean that the water-type wild pets in that area are not yet familiar with our existence and could launch an attack at any time."
"And where we are going is a water area that cannot yet be guaranteed as completely safe."
"Participants must have a General-level water-type pet. If they don't have a General-level water-type pet, they must be accompanied by a beast-tamer with a King-level water-type pet."
"Do you want to go? The fact that the waters aren't marked as safe yet means the things in that area are still there. You might be able to pick up some good treasures."
*I'm currently someone with an unlimited credit card for a year; would I even care about 'good treasures'...* Qiao Sang agreed immediately: "I'll go!"
...
Underwater, atop a super-large water-type pet encased in a bubble, Pei Shipan, dressed in a black suit, asked
"Will this work?"
"I don't know either," Jiang Xiu said. "Old Xu gave me the idea."
Pei Shipan was speechless for a long while.
The "Old Xu" Jiang Xiu mentioned was one of the members organizing the underwater wild pet interaction activity.
The activity had actually ended last month, and there wasn't one this month. However, a group of people had exhausted every idea possible to make Qiao Sang want to stay in the Ancient Mist region in the future.
The underwater wild pet interaction activity was actually designed to let Qiao Sang experience the underwater wonders and let her scavenge a wave of good items.
If she had bad luck and didn't find anything, they would secretly throw good items for her to pick up.
In Old Xu's words, no one would refuse an underwater world where treasures were scattered everywhere.
...
Early the next morning, Qiao Sang climbed out of bed early.
She changed her clothes, held Ya Bao in her arms, and walked toward the hotel lobby with Little Treasure-Seeker on her head.
Jiang Xiu was already waiting on the sofa in the hotel lobby reception area.
Unlike before, he was carrying a very large black backpack.
Qiao Sang asked in shock, "Professor Jiang, is it necessary to bring so many things?"
Jiang Xiu smiled. "Just in case."
"Why not put them in Little Treasure-Seeker's ring? It would be easier," Qiao Sang suggested.
"Xun~"
Hearing its tamer's words, Little Treasure-Seeker placed its paw on the ring, preparing to take it off.
Jiang Xiu quickly refused
"No need, no need. It's not heavy at all."
*Are you kidding? If I put them in the Treasure-Seeker's ring, how am I supposed to throw the treasures later!*
...
In a certain underwater area, dozens of medium-to-large water-type pets were gathered. They were all encased in water bubbles with people sitting inside.
After Jiang Xiu brought Qiao Sang over while sitting on a Sea Salt Lizard, a man wearing a camel-colored overcoat's eyes lit up, and he spoke
"Everyone is here. We set off now."
Dozens of water-type pets advanced in unison toward a certain direction.
"Xun xun!"
Little Treasure-Seeker pressed against the inner wall of the bubble, looking at the underwater world with excitement.
"Ya..."
Ya Bao's body was somewhat tense in Qiao Sang's arms.
Although it didn't hate water as much now, it was still a bit unaccustomed to the feeling of being surrounded by water from all sides at such close range.
Noticing Ya Bao's state, Qiao Sang asked
"Do you want to go back into the Beast Codex?"
"Ya ya."
Ya Bao shook its head.
It had already learned that things one is not accustomed to must be overcome—like ghost-type transcendent creatures, or like water—only then could it become stronger.
*Ya Bao has grown up too...* Qiao Sang felt a wave of emotion.
The dozens of medium-to-large pets swam majestically toward the deep sea zone.
(End of Chapter)