NOVPUB“Xun xun~”
Little Treasure happily teleported next to his Beast Tamer, eager to immediately tell her that he had mastered Spatial Lockdown.
But when he saw Qiao Sang’s sleeping face, he hesitated for a moment.
“Xun xun…”
Half a minute later, Little Treasure floated out of the room in a good mood.
Forget it, his Beast Tamer was already asleep. Playing on the computer a bit later wasn’t a big deal anyway, especially since he had already learned Spatial Lockdown.
---
At 7:30 in the morning, Qiao Sang opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Little Treasure's huge face just inches away.
After experiencing this many times, Qiao Sang had developed a strong mental fortitude. She lazily sat up against the headboard and asked: “What’s up?”
“Xun xun!”
Little Treasure eagerly turned his paw upwards to show what he was holding to her Beast Tamer.
Qiao Sang looked and saw a withered petal.
Still groggy from sleep, her mind wasn’t fully clear. She stared at the petal for a few seconds.
After recognizing what it was, her first thought was: Why are you showing me this?
Her second thought was: Holy crap, wait a second! Is this a petal from the Black Flower?!
Qiao Sang suddenly jolted awake, her eyes burning with intensity as she stared at Little Treasure: “You’ve learned Spatial Lockdown?”
“Xun xun~”
Little Treasure put away the withered petal and nodded proudly.
That’s right.
“Amazing…” Qiao Sang took a few seconds to process this information, then genuinely praised him.
Right now, most of Yabao and the others’ high-level skills had been awakened through evolution. Even though she knew Little Treasure was exceptionally gifted, the fact that he mastered Spatial Lockdown in just three days still shocked her.
Especially after all the lectures, where the teachers emphasized how difficult it was for a pet to learn high-level skills on its own, how much time, energy, and resources it would normally take without evolution.
Originally, she was prepared for the possibility that Little Treasure might not be able to learn it by the end of the semester…
Qiao Sang’s gaze unconsciously landed on the white rune inscriptions on Little Treasure.
Could it be that this rune inscriptions was actually this powerful…?
“Xun xun?”
Noticing her Beast Tamer had stopped talking after praising him, Little Treasure finally couldn’t hold back and called out, hinting whether he could play on the computer longer each day now.
Qiao Sang came back to her senses and smiled: “Of course.”
After a pause, she added, “You can play for an extra hour each day.”
“Xun xun!”
Hearing that, Little Treasure excitedly floated around the room several times.
“Yap yap…”
Still sound asleep, Yabao seemed to sense the commotion. His expression twitched a few times, then he turned his head and returned to a peaceful sleep.
Half-leaning against the bed, Qiao Sang watched the still-spinning Little Treasure and suddenly thought of something. She picked up the phone on her bedside table, found the contact for Dean Li of the Rune Inscription Department, and typed out a message:
[Do you have time today? Could we meet to discuss rune inscription drawing?]
If the rune inscription’s effects were truly this powerful, then it’d be best to ask Dean Li to draw some for Yabao and the others sooner rather than later. After all, just a week, if they all improved like Little Treasure did, it could be a huge leap forward…
---
In the sky, on the back of a giant flying-type pet beast, Li Dongdong heard a notification sound and checked his phone. It was a message from Qiao Sang.
He was a bit surprised.
When he read the contents, Li Dongdong’s spirits lifted. As he typed his reply, he asked: “Sterling, did you go talk to her?”
The man sitting in front asked with a puzzled tone, “Who?”
After replying, Li Dongdong put away his phone and said, “Qiao Sang from the Beast Taming Department.”
Sterling was silent for two seconds.
“No. I don’t think there’s a need. She doesn’t have any ground-type or rock-type pet beasts, nor any mechanical pets suited for calculation or surveying. She’s not a fit for our Architecture Department.”
He paused, then continued: “And besides, there’s no way she would come to our Architecture department.”
Li Dongdong clicked his tongue.
“Just admit you’re afraid of being rejected.”
“I’m not afraid of rejection.” Sterling calmly stated the facts.
“Even the Head Master said she has the potential to participate in the Interstellar Cup. Someone at her age with this level of power, already enrolled in the Imperial Beast University… Her goals are probably very clear. She shouldn’t come to our Architecture Department.”
Li Dongdong chuckled: “That’s what I think too, just like how I think she shouldn’t go to any of the other departments either. Too bad those guys don’t agree.”
“Everyone is part of the Nine Major Department. They don’t think they’re holding anyone back.” Sterling waved a hand.
“The people from the Law School and the Pet Beast Archaeology and Culture department are at least self-aware enough not to jump in.”
Yulianton University had a total of 20 departments, but the Beast Taming, Coordination, Breeding, Mechanical, Item, Rune Inscription, Medical, Pet Journalism, and Architecture departments held a leading position, collectively known as the Nine Major Departments.
“You know what I like about you?” Li Dongdong asked with a smile.
Sterling raised an eyebrow.
“Also very self-aware?”
“Hahaha…” Li Dongdong laughed heartily.
“That’s part of it, I guess.”
Then, as if he remembered something, his smile faded.
“Actually, I really do hope Qiao Sang stays at Yulianton University. I truly think she has a gift for learning runes.”
Sterling said blandly, “The one with the best chance to keep her is still the Beast Taming Deparment.”
When the Beast Taming Department was mentioned, Li Dongdong immediately snorted and his face darkened: “If it weren’t for Gilbert being so rigid, she wouldn’t have been snatched by the Imperial Beast University.”
In the interview, Qiao Sang had applied to Yulianton University. If the university had just accepted her file first, the Imperial Beast University wouldn’t have had a chance.
It wouldn’t have taken much investigation to discover that she was already on the Chaosu Star at the time.
It’s all Gilbert’s fault for being such an old stick-in-the-mud!
---
In a luxuriously decorated office.
The old-fashioned man couldn't help but sneeze.
"Caught a cold?" Across from him, Dean Angelia smiled.
"How could I possibly catch a cold?" Gilbert replied blandly.
"Why did you come looking for me so early?" Angelia asked.
Gilbert looked at her.
"I want you to give me that purebred Thundercrack Dragon egg."
Angelia’s expression changed slightly.
"What do you want the Thundercrack Dragon egg for?"
Gilbert didn’t answer the question but said instead, "You plan to give the egg to Qiao Sang, right? Then you might as well give it to me."
Angelia wasn’t surprised that he knew about this. In fact, at their level, just showing interest in something was enough for others to present it to them on a platter.
She pondered for a moment, then chuckled: "You want to take the egg from me and then gift it to Qiao Sang?"
Gilbert didn’t deny it.
"If she’s staying at Yulianton University, then the most suitable place for her is our Beast Taming Department."
Angelia took a sip of water.
"She’ll be placed in the Imperial Class by the principal anyway. Which department she joins doesn’t really matter."
"Don’t forget, those who make it into the Imperial Class are all selected from our Beast Taming Academy’s master's and doctoral students." Gilbert said.
"And the ones who help them solve real problems are almost always mentors from our department."
"What does that matter?" Angelia calmly put down her cup.
"Honestly, even without you guys, with her talent, she’ll eventually make it to the Interstellar Cup."
"You still don’t get my point." Gilbert said mildly.
"What I’m saying is, all the geniuses in the Imperial Class come from our Beast Taming Department. Instead of hoping Qiao Sang can compete decades from now, you might as well put your hopes on the current group of kids."
"As long as you hand over the Thundercrack Dragon egg, I’ll have them promote your department's patented tools, you won’t lack for fame or fortune."
"Qiao Sang still has decades, but the next Interstellar Cup is just a few years away, isn’t it?"
Angelia fell silent.
---
12 PM.
Qiao Sang knocked on the door of an office.
"Come in." A voice from inside replied.
Qiao Sang walked in with Yabao in her arms.
"What’s up? You’re back so soon. Already made your decision?" Li Dongdong couldn’t hide his smile.
Qiao Sang gave an awkward smile.
"Not quite. I actually wanted to ask if you could draw runes for a few more of my pet beasts."
Li Dongdong’s smile immediately froze.
"Your runes really worked well." Qiao Sang quickly said.
"Just yesterday, you helped Ghost Ring King with a runes that boosts comprehension, and it learned Spatial Lockdown overnight."
What? Say what now?
Li Dongdong’s frozen expression turned to one of shock.
His rune inscription helped Ghost Ring King learn Spatial Lockdown overnight?
Are runes really that powerful? Why didn’t he know?
Li Dongdong stayed silent for a moment, then considered a possibility and humbly said, "Your Ghost Ring King must’ve been training on that move for a while. My rune inscripstions probably just sped up the process."
"No." Qiao Sang said sincerely.
"He had only been learning for three days, so your runes really had a miraculous effect."
"What? Three days?!" Li Dongdong slammed the table and raised his voice in shock.
Then, realizing he lost composure, he sat back down and tried to recover his mature, composed image.
"Sorry, I was just surprised. After all, the materials I used last time weren’t the best. It shouldn’t have worked that well."
"You’re being modest." Qiao Sang replied.
In her view, though Little Treasure was smart, learning Spatial Lockdown in such a short time definitely had a lot to do with the rune inscription s.
I'm really not being modest, in fact, I was bluffing… Li Dongdong almost said it.
Even with the best materials, there’s no way a rune could let a pet beast master an advanced skill in just three days. If such patterns really existed, their Rune Inscripstions Department would already be the most sought-after place in all academies…
Li Dongdong took a deep breath and changed the topic: "So, what kind of patterns do you want for your pets?"
"Lu Ai."
Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up, but before she could say more, Lubao jumped out of her backpack and let out a chirp.
She wanted a pattern that let her absorb energy faster.
Qiao Sang swallowed her original words and translated: "My Ice Aipalu wants a rune for rapid energy absorption."
"No problem." Li Dongdong nodded.
Helping pet beasts absorb energy faster has always been one of the most popular types of spirit patterns among Beast Tamers.
"Yap!
At this point, Yabao chirped too, indicating he wanted a pattern to boost his attack power.
Qiao Sang: …
"My Fire Qilu also wants a pattern for rapid energy absorption." Qiao Sang said.
"Yap!"
Yabao turned to look at his Beast Tamer.
Wrong! He wanted the one to boost attack power!
Qiao Sang glanced at him: "Those big official competitions don’t allow runes, you know."
"Yap…"
Yabao shivered and turned to the Rune artist.
Better go with energy absorption…
"Any others?" Li Dongdong asked.
Little Treasure's comprehension-enhancing pattern was still active, but as for Gangbao… Qiao Sang formed hand seals, and an orange-yellow star array lit up.
Soon, Gangbao appeared within the star array.
She was wearing a lightweight miniaturization bracelet, so she didn’t fill the office space.
"What kind of rune inscriptions do you want?" Qiao Sang asked Gangbao.
Having traveled alone from the lower to the upper district, Gangbao had seen a lot and knew what runes were.
She thought for a moment and chirped.
"Gang Slice."
She wanted a pattern to boost comprehension.
Gangbao hadn’t forgotten her short-term goal, she still hasn't learned the substitute skill.
"My Steel-Slash Giant Falcon wants a comprehension-boosting rune." Qiao Sang translated.
So this is the Steel-Slash Giant Falcon… Li Dongdong looked at the purple-feathered pet in front of him.
As a dean of one of Yulianton’s nine major department, if he wanted to know something, he could get detailed info fast.
He knew this pet was the evolved form of the Steel Guardian Falcon, not just a temporary evolution, either.
Gilbert… Li Dongdong gathered his thoughts and resumed his professional tone:
"I need the detailed dimensions of your pets. Rune Inscripstions must be drawn according to their original sizes to be most effective."
Little Treasure… well, he’s always been that small… Qiao Sang thought for a moment and reported the stats they registered at the Beast Taming Center: "Fire Qilu: 6.2 meters. Ice Aipalu: 5.9 meters. Steel-Slash Giant Falcon: 7.6 meters."
Li Dongdong noted this on the virtual screen and said, "Got it. Come back tomorrow afternoon after class. I’ll need time to prep the materials."
---
Half an hour later.
Yulianton University.
Library.
Qiao Sang returned the book Rare Pet Beasts: Complete and was about to borrow another to read at home.
Her memory was excellent now, she could read ten lines at a glance and remember everything.
She finished the entire book in one night.
But the content was clearly incomplete, it only covered rare pet beasts from Chaosu Star, not other stars.
At the keyword search screen, Qiao Sang typed in: [Rare Pet Beasts].
Several relevant books popped up.
She scanned them and eventually clicked on Rare Pet Beast Encyclopedia.
A minute later, a familiar mechanical-type pet beast flew over with the book.
Qiao Sang was just about to take the book when she noticed a familiar black-gold card on the tray.
This is… She picked it up and looked.
What the heck! Isn’t this my Black Gold Card from the Alliance Dingshi Bank?! How did it end up here?!
Qiao Sang’s eyes widened in shock. She was about to pocket it when she realized something was off.
She always kept that card in Little Treasure's ring, how could it be here…?
Also, this isn’t even her card number…
Who is this person?! Even drops an unlimited Black Gold Card… Qiao Sang was inwardly impressed and was about to return the card to the tray.
But the mechanical pet had already flown off without looking back.
"Memeng."
At that moment, a pet beast’s voice called out.
Qiao Sang looked down and saw a pink, oval-headed pet beast about 30 cm tall, its head curved backward, staring at her.
Qiao Sang immediately recognized it from Rare Pet Beasts: Complete.
Dream Czech, a psychic-type king-level pet. Anyone who sleeps within 100 meters of it will only have sweet dreams…
Wow. This really is Yulianton University. You just run into king-level pet beasts while walking around… Qiao Sang was momentarily dazed.
"Memeng."
Dream Czech pointed at the Black Gold Card again.
"Yap."
Yabao translated.
It said the card belongs to its Beast Tamer.
A Beast Tamer with a Dream Czech… it makes sense they’d have an unlimited card. Compared to humans, pet beasts are often more trustworthy. Qiao Sang handed over the Black Gold Card:
"Here you go."
"Memeng."
Dream Czech took the card but didn’t leave. Instead, it pointed toward a private study room.
"Yap."
Yabao translated again.
Its master invites you over to express thanks.
This Dream Czech can communicate mentally like Gangbao? Qiao Sang paused, collected her thoughts, and politely declined: "No need to thank me."
"Memeng."
Dream Czech didn’t give up and just stared at her, as if it would keep staring until she agreed.
Uh… Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds, then said, "Lead the way."
"Memeng."
Dream Czech squinted happily and started walking.
Before long, it stopped at the door of a private study room and pushed it open.
Inside was a familiar figure.
"You came." The half-white-haired old man turned his head.
Dean Gilbert… Qiao Sang stared, stunned.
She never expected the person in front of her to be the Dean of the Beast Taming Department.
Qiao Sang froze for several seconds, then suddenly remembered something very important.
Oh no… he’s here to poach me too, isn’t he?!
-----
T/n: Whoever implemented the rules that students needs to do research needs to suffer reallll bad. Coz wtf🙃 I don't wanna do this no more😔😭
