Where's the School?

Tongue Tongue Drop was huge, and with both feet off the ground, it could only descend and couldn't move in any other direction. As long as the attack was fast enough, it was practically a living target.

Unfortunately, given the distance between them, Ya Bao still couldn't attack quickly enough to directly hit Tongue Tongue Drop while it was falling through the air.

It should have aimed for where the opponent would land—the spot where the fireball had just struck.

Qiao Sang finished analyzing the situation and was about to speak.

But the instant she finished her analysis, Ya Bao seemed to sense her thoughts. It opened its mouth, and a basketball-sized spark shot toward the position she had envisioned.

Tongue Tongue Drop had just landed. Its injured sole made intimate contact with the still-scorching ground littered with embers, and it stubbornly held back its cry.

Yet the very next second, a ball of flame containing terrifying energy came hurtling straight at it.

"Tongue Tongue!!!"

This was the advantage of attacking first. If the attack was used properly, you could completely seize control of the battle's rhythm.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"Why does it feel like Qiao Sang has the upper hand..." Wang Jihang said in disbelief.

He was the last remaining member of the Personal Combat Team.

"You're not seeing things." Lu Liangye nodded seriously.

He could no longer bring himself to compare himself to Qiao Sang.

If she were only a little stronger than him, he might still refuse to accept it. But when she was vastly stronger and crushed him in every aspect, all he could feel was envy and admiration.

"Tongue Lick." Qin Wen said calmly.

Tongue Lick?

Qiao Sang froze for a moment and immediately thought of Little Treasure Hunting Ghost. She remembered that Little Treasure Hunting Ghost knew this skill too. A lick of the tongue had a certain chance of paralyzing the opponent.

But it had to get close first.

Logically speaking, Water-type Pet Beasts were generally suited for long-range attacks. Besides, on land, a Water-type Pet Beast's movement was restricted, and it was nowhere near as fast as it was in water.

Could Tongue Tongue Drop have learned some trick that would let it suddenly reach this side?

"Ya Bao." Qiao Sang simply called its name.

"Ya!"

Ya Bao answered, its gaze sharpening as it became alert.

Tongue Tongue Drop stood where it was, stretched out its long tongue, and then... licked the wound on its own body...

Qiao Sang: "..."

Ya Bao: "..."

If not now, when?

Just as Qiao Sang thought this, blue light spread across Ya Bao's body. Tongue Tongue Drop's movements abruptly halted, and it was unable to move.

Qin Wen stood frozen. Th-this was Psychic Power?

How could it be Psychic Power?! Wasn't this a Fire-type Pet Beast?!

Qiao Sang's mind raced. Given Tongue Tongue Drop's abilities, it would probably break free of the control very soon. And Ya Bao's Psychic Power wasn't strong enough to hold Tongue Tongue Drop in place while dealing massive damage, so she had to use this window of control to hit it with a high-damage attack.

"Spark Rain!"

Ya Bao raised its head and gathered energy within its body.

Yet at the same time, the blue light around its body dissipated, and Tongue Tongue Drop was released from the control.

Qiao Sang froze. This wasn't what she'd expected!

She had thought that Spark Rain would fall while Tongue Tongue Drop was restrained, making it absolutely impossible for it to dodge.

After all, with Ya Bao's current energy, Spark Rain couldn't cover the entire field. Without being controlled, Tongue Tongue Drop should have been capable of evading it.

But now the Psychic Power was gone.

Could Ya Bao not release two skills simultaneously?

That wasn't right. Ya Bao could use Take Down at the same time as Fire Fang.

Was it because the attributes were different, or did this require later training to accomplish?

While Qiao Sang was thinking, Qin Wen's heart pounded wildly, and she hurriedly stopped the battle.

"That's enough! The battle ends here!"

If she hadn't misheard, Qiao Sang had just said Spark Rain, right?!

That Spark Rain?!

Qin Wen tried hard to calm herself.

This had only been a test of their practical combat level. Whether Spark Rain was real or not, this was already enough...

Hearing that, Ya Bao paused, and the unformed Energy Ball dispersed.

"Ya?"

No more fighting?

"Student Qiao Sang, you've done very well. There are other training sessions ahead, so don't waste your Pet Beast's stamina and energy," Qin Wen said as she stepped forward, wiping away sweat.

Everyone had still been reeling from the shock that Fire Fang Dog's evolved form could actually use a Psychic Type skill, but Qin Wen's words snapped them back to their senses.

Don't waste the Pet Beast's stamina and energy?

Who was it that had drained every one of their Pet Beasts dry yesterday?

18:00 that evening.

Qiao Sang returned to the dormitory and took a shower.

She lay on her bed and used her phone to buy a cord large enough for Ya Bao's current size, so she could string the Fire Condensing Pearl onto it later. She also looked at several houses for rent near Saint Water High School.

Her requirements for the house weren't too demanding.

Other than being close to the school, it needed to be fully furnished with appliances, have a pool, and have no nearby neighbors. Otherwise, with Tian Tian's skill-release noises, people would probably keep coming to the door to complain.

Unfortunately, despite having only four requirements, she found just two available rentals.

After confirming viewing times with both places, Qiao Sang put away her phone.

She looked up at Ya Bao and Little Treasure Hunting Ghost, who were playing above the room.

After a full day of training, Ya Bao hadn't even come close to its limit. By the time it finished ten laps, the other Pet Beasts had only just completed two. For fairness, the gravity room had been set to 10 kilograms, a level Ya Bao had outgrown ages ago.

Qiao Sang felt a little helpless. After a whole day of training, it felt like they had improved even less than they had during their previous time back home.

She watched her two Pet Beasts for a while before her eyes suddenly lit up.

18:56 that evening.

On the school field.

A figure glowing blue ran around the school field. Looking closely, one could see that the figure hovered about five centimeters above the ground.

"Ya Bao, don't go too fast. Be steadier. What we're after isn't speed, but stability. The longer you can keep this up, the more effective it will be," Qiao Sang said leisurely, lying on Ya Bao's back with both hands behind her head as she gazed at the sky.

"Ya!"

Ya Bao gave a cheerful cry and slowed its pace.

With her head resting against the soft fur and the evening breeze blowing over her, Qiao Sang grew more and more impressed by her own cleverness.

Since Fire-type skills couldn't be trained at school for the time being, they could train Psychic Type skills first.

Using Psychic Power while carrying her as it ran could train both Psychic Power release and physical stamina, while also letting her enjoy the night sky. Three birds with one stone...

"Xun~"

Little Treasure Hunting Ghost lay on Qiao Sang's stomach in the same posture, looking up at the night sky.

It stared blankly at the twinkling stars.

After a while, Little Treasure Hunting Ghost looked at the stars, stretched out one claw, and poked Qiao Sang's stomach.

"Xun~"

"Xun Xun~"

"Be good, we can't manage that," Qiao Sang said with a smile.

Wanting stars and things like that was really adorable...

"Xun~"

Little Treasure Hunting Ghost withdrew its claw and let out a disappointed cry.

Hearing the conversation, Ya Bao lifted its head and looked at the night sky. It could fly now, after all. Its little brother merely wanted a star.

Easy!

Qiao Sang gazed at the stars, feeling happy and peaceful.

It had been a long time since she had been this calm.

The night breeze was so gentle too... Uh, maybe it wasn't that gentle...

Qiao Sang hugged Little Treasure Hunting Ghost tightly and turned her head. The moment she looked over, she was stunned.

Where was the school?

Where was the school field?!

Where was the ground?!