“Leaving already?” Qiao Sang couldn’t help asking.
Mikayla looked at her in surprise.
“Didn’t you already finish your task?”
“The task is completed, yes.”
Qiao Sang replied tactfully, “But it’s already dark now.”
What she really ant was: It’s too late!
Even if they weren’t planning to rest for a few days, there was no need to set out at an hour ant for sleeping!
From her past experience, Mikayla didn’t catch the hidden aning. She only thought Qiao Sang was worried about lodging arrangents and smiled:
“Don’t worry. I already knew your task would take three days, so I booked a room tonight at the Tianfu Beast Master Center in advance.”
“…”
Mikayla walked a few steps ahead before realizing Qiao Sang was still standing in place. She turned and asked: “Not coming?”
Qiao Sang was silent for a mont.
“Wait, I need to go tidy up sothing first.”
With that, she turned and headed toward Room 901.
Did she really co looking for without even packing her things first… Mikayla looked at Qiao Sang’s back, surprise flickering in her eyes.
---
Tianfu City, renowned for its thriving manufacturing industry, often called the World’s Factory. Its industrial reach was vast, making it one of the largest manufacturing bases globally.
But because of this, compared to other cities in the Central Hollow Region, its air quality was noticeably worse.
However, at a certain altitude, the effects of pollution weren’t as strong. Coupled with the regular efforts of pet beasts assigned to purify the upper atmosphere, the housing market had polarized drastically, apartnts in high-altitude buildings could cost nearly ten tis more than those at ground level.
As Qiao Sang descended from the aerial passage, she saw nurous high-rise structures in the sky, giving the impression that an entire city had been built aboveground.
In contrast, the city below was dim, its neon lights lacking the nightti vibrancy of other cities.
Qiao Sang ford hand seals, summoning Yabao and the others.
“Yap!”
Yabao glanced around and instinctively enlarged his body.
Just as Qiao Sang was about to mount him, Mikayla spoke up: “Did your Fire Qilu already consu the Fire-Refining Fruit?”
Qiao Sang nodded.
“Yes, just before we set out.”
“Then you shouldn’t ride it for at least a week.” Mikayla reminded her.
“After taking the Fire-Refining Fruit, the Fire Qilu must remain calm and rest quietly. That’s the best way to fully absorb it.”
Qiao Sang froze.
“Not even running?”
Mikayla nodded.
“Not even running.”
Qiao Sang turned to Yabao.
“Yap…”
Yabao sighed, his body shrinking back down.
Since Yabao couldn’t be used, that left only one option. Qiao Sang called: “Gangbao.”
“Gang Zhan.”
Gangbao grew in size.
With Little Treasure’s psychic power helping, Qiao Sang settled onto Gangbao’s back.
Sigh, riding Yabao is still more comfortable… She thought wistfully.
Gangbao turned her head silently to look at her Beast Master.
Catching the gaze, Qiao Sang suddenly rembered that sotis Gangbao could synchronize with her thoughts. A chill ran through her: Had she just read her mind?
What do you think? Gangbao turned back, spread her wings, and shot upward into the sky.
Qiao Sang: …
So she did hear…
She must’ve been annoyed, flying off without even waiting for navigation. That wasn’t like her usual calm deanor at all…
Gangbao’s body gave a sudden stiff twitch.
The Beast Master Center in Tianfu City was built high above ground.
After a quick check-in, Qiao Sang went to her assigned room and soon fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, after a simple wash-up, she made her way to the entrance of the Exam Office.
Just as she was about to knock, voices drifted from inside.
“My pet beasts don’t have those kinds of skills. How am I supposed to complete this task?!”
A calr voice responded:
“I’m only responsible for issuing tasks. Whether you can complete it is your own problem.”
“You’re deliberately making things hard for ! You don’t want to pass!” The first voice grew angrier.
The calm voice replied evenly: “If that’s how you feel, you can always decline the task.”
The angry voice abruptly fell silent.
“Do you accept the task or not?” The calm voice pressed.
“…I accept!”
A minute later, the office door opened, and a middle-aged man stord out, his face dark.
So in Tianfu City, examiners didn’t assign tasks based on a Beast Master’s abilities… Watching the man’s angry departure, Qiao Sang made a ntal note.
At this stage, most examiners wouldn’t intentionally make things too difficult, especially with the regional tournant approaching.
But clearly, the examiner inside didn’t care in the slightest.
Steadying her mood, Qiao Sang stepped inside.
There, she saw a woman grooming the feathers of a teal-colored bird beast.
The woman looked Qiao Sang over, then her gaze fell on Yabao cradled in Qiao Sang’s arms. She froze briefly, then smiled.
“You must be Qiao Sang, here to take on a task?”
She gestured toward a sofa nearby.
“Please, sit first.”
The examiner appeared to be around forty, fine crow’s feet at her eyes, her warm smile a stark contrast to the harsh tone Qiao Sang had just overheard outside.
The first step to fa is being recognized directly, or through your beasts. Looks like Yabao has already beco my calling card… Qiao Sang thought as she sat down, feigning surprise.
“You know ?”
“You contracted Qingqing Ni, and you carry around such a striking beast like Fire Qilu. It’s hard not to recognize you.” The examiner smiled.
Originally listless from being unable to train, Yabao instantly perked up at those words, puffing out his chest in pride.
The teal bird beast gave him a sidelong glance.
“I’m here to receive my task.” Qiao Sang said, rembering her purpose. She stood and handed over her ID card and Beast Master badge.
The examiner accepted them, scanned quickly, then nodded.
“Actually, for every Beast Master preparing for the regional tournant, I’ve been assigning the sa task.”
Qiao Sang imdiately understood, this was her way of explaining the earlier exchange she’d overheard.
“What’s the task?” Qiao Sang asked in cooperation.
“Air purification.” The examiner lifted her gaze, her expression grave.
“The pollution in Tianfu’s skies has been worsening. If it isn’t addressed soon, it will cause serious harm to the health of ordinary factory workers.”
Qiao Sang blinked.
“But I heard Tianfu City already regularly deploys air-purifying beasts to handle this?”
“That’s nowhere near enough.”
The examiner paused, then said heavily: “And those beasts are usually assigned to high-altitude purification. Near ground level, the pollution is much worse than up above.”
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