An Unexpected Talent

At the source of the sound lay Tingbao.

Qingbao stopped practicing and looked over in disbelief.

"Xun Xun?"

Little Treasure looked stunned and called out, indicating: Old Sixth, did you make that sound just now?

"Ting Ting."

Tingbao raised its head and nodded, then looked puzzled as it called out, indicating: Wasn't it just changing languages? Was that so hard? Why did Qingbao need to practice for so long?

Qingbao: "..."

Shalala fell silent in the flowerpot.

"Xun Xun!"

Little Treasure's eyes suddenly lit up. It floated over and called out.

So you're that amazing!

Tingbao was this smart...? Qiao Sang's heart stirred. Looking at Tingbao, she asked, "Can you make the sounds of species other than Little Treasure's?"

"Ting Ting."

Tingbao called out, indicating that it would give it a try.

After saying that, it gathered itself for a moment and opened its mouth.

"Ya Ya."

"Ice Emperor."

"Steel, Authority."

"Qing Qing."

Ya Bao, who had been controlling its clones for training, abruptly looked over.

Even Luobao, lying in the water tank, opened its eyes.

As it spoke the languages of one species after another, Little Treasure and Qingbao's eyes widened further and further. Qingbao's gaze was filled with admiration.

It had tried speaking other species' languages before, so it knew better than anyone how difficult that was.

"Jis!"

Jisidan rolled over, looking worshipful as it called out, indicating: You're amazing.

"Ting Ting."

Tingbao wore an expression that said, What's so special about that? It called out in an incredibly casual tone, indicating: Everyone talks around me every day. What's so hard about it? It feels like anyone with a brain could learn it.

That sentence pierced Qingbao's heart in 0.01 seconds.

If Little Treasure had said it, Qingbao would have thought it was mocking it. But Tingbao had said it, and Qingbao could tell it was speaking sincerely. That hurt even more than mockery.

Shalala was equally upset. After several seconds of silence, it quietly tucked its head back into the flowerpot.

Tingbao had barely practiced at all. It had simply listened to Ya Bao and the others in daily life, yet it could speak the languages of so many species. What incredible linguistic talent... Qiao Sang was delighted, but then she thought of something and asked expectantly, "What about human language? Can you try saying something?"

Shalala's ears twitched at those words, and it poked its head out of the flowerpot again.

Human language? Qingbao's distress instantly vanished. It and Little Treasure looked over with identical anticipation in their eyes.

"Ting Ting."

Tingbao was clearly less confident when it came to human language. After a moment of silence, it called out, indicating that it would try.

Then Tingbao began to gather itself.

About three seconds later, a childish voice rang out.

"Ting, Bao."

The moment those words came out, Ya Bao and the others—including even the usually calm Luobao—stared wide-eyed in shock.

Little Treasure's mouth fell directly into an O shape.

It really could speak! Qiao Sang's eyes suddenly lit up.

Before she could say anything, the room door beside them flew open with a smack. Teacher Mikala stood in the doorway, asking in astonishment, "Did the Thunder Dragon say that just now?"

She had actually heard their conversation outside. She only came out to ask because she could hardly believe it.

Aside from Pet Beasts with language-related abilities and some powerful elderly Pet Beasts, almost no Pet Beast could learn human language.

Yet the Thunder Dragon possessed no language-related ability and was merely a hatchling, but it could speak so many languages, including human language. This was simply unprecedented in all her life!

The moment Tingbao saw Mikala, its expression darkened uncontrollably.

"Yes!" Qiao Sang looked at Teacher Mikala and said proudly, "Tingbao can speak human language without any practice at all, and it can speak Ya Bao and the others' languages too!"

Tingbao straightened its back.

Mikala looked at Tingbao with a complicated expression. "I never expected a Thunder Dragon to have such remarkable linguistic talent."

Tingbao froze. It had not expected the human before it to praise it like that.

"I never expected it either." Qiao Sang sighed. "Qingbao was originally the one practicing, but Tingbao suddenly made Little Treasure's sounds."

"Xun Xun..."

Little Treasure nodded in agreement.

It had not expected it either.

Neither did I... Qingbao thought.

From the expressions of its Beast Tamer, the bad human in front of it, Little Treasure, and the others, Tingbao finally realized that this was something incredibly impressive. The corners of its mouth lifted, and it called out without the slightest humility.

"Ting Ting."

Maybe I'm just too smart.

"Of course you're smart. How else could you learn so many languages if you weren't?" Qiao Sang said with complete agreement.

"Ting Ting."

Hearing its Beast Tamer praise it so much, Tingbao became a little bashful instead.

Speaking of intelligence, Mikala recalled some of the things she had heard in the room earlier and asked, "Did Clear Cloud Nana use Fairy Silk just now?"

Qiao Sang gave a hum. "I exchanged 3,000 points for it through the school's points exchange list."

"Qing Qing..."

Qingbao, standing nearby, was stunned.

It remembered that the King Energy Potion at Flame Sky University had only cost 1,200 points. The Fairy Silk it had used cost so much more?

That was a potion meant for King-level Pet Beasts, while it was only Commander-level.

Was Fairy Silk so much more powerful and versatile, or were points at Flame Sky University worth more than those at its Beast Tamer's school?

All kinds of thoughts surfaced in Qingbao's mind.

It did not realize that these were thoughts it would never have had before.

Mikala smiled. "Fairy Silk is an extremely rare material even among all Fairy-type materials. It is basically priceless on the market, so exchanging 3,000 points for one strand of Fairy Silk isn't a loss."

After a pause, she added, "However, Fairy Silk's primary effect isn't increasing energy. It's improving a Pet Beast's comprehension."

As she said this, Mikala glanced at Qingbao without making it obvious. "That will gradually show itself in the future."

What did this human mean? Was she saying it wasn't smart right now? A trace of displeasure rose in Qingbao's heart.

Hearing that, Qiao Sang hurriedly asked, "The energy in it should be enough to raise it from mid Commander-level to late Commander-level, right?"

After all, her real purpose in buying Fairy Silk was to increase Qingbao's energy. If it could not raise its energy by even a minor stage, wouldn't those points have been wasted?

In her view, it would naturally be best if Qingbao's comprehension improved. But even if it did not, it would not affect much. Qingbao's intelligence was already enough for everyday training and coordination during matches.

Mikala pondered for a moment. "Every strand of Fairy Silk contains a different amount of energy. However, the Fairy Silk you exchanged for cost 3,000 points, so it should contain enough energy to raise it from mid Commander-level to late Commander-level. It might even go a step further."

"That's good." Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief.

"During this period, you can use the Energy Detector every day to check Clear Cloud Nana's Energy Value," Mikala instructed.

"I will," Qiao Sang said.

After saying what she needed to say, Mikala gave Tingbao another complicated look and returned to her room.

One in the morning.

Inside the room.

Qingbao, whose eyes had been closed, suddenly opened them. It looked around, and after noticing that Little Treasure was absent, it glanced at its sleeping Beast Tamer and transformed into wind, drifting out the window.

It arrived at a nearby landscaped area, materialized, and looked around. Once it confirmed there were no people or Pet Beasts nearby, it opened its mouth and began practicing.

"Qing, Qing, Qing, Qing Qing..."

It had to practice in secret, then amaze its Beast Tamer and Little Treasure when the time came!

"Qing, Qing, Qing..."

As it practiced intently, a rustling sound suddenly came from the greenery beside it.

Qingbao instantly shut its mouth, looking alert as it turned toward the sound.

One second, two seconds...

After about five or six seconds, there was no further movement nearby.

"Qing Qing!"

Qingbao seemed to sense something. It called out impatiently.

At the same time, a gust of wind suddenly rose and swept toward the surrounding greenery.

The flowers and grass in the landscaped area immediately bent in the same direction, rustling loudly.

Among the tilted vegetation, a familiar flower suddenly appeared.

Unlike the other flowers and grass, it did not bend with the wind. It remained rooted upright in the ground.

Qingbao froze for a moment, then smiled in amusement and called out, "Qing Qing?"

At the same time, the wind around them stopped.

The leaves on either side of the flower rooted straight in the ground trembled. Then a head emerged from the bud, taking on Shalala's form.

"Xia Xia..."

Shalala pulled its legs free and walked out from among the flowers and grass. Looking embarrassed, it called out.

It had thought it would not be discovered...

"Qing Qing."

Qingbao smiled and teasingly called out, indicating: You were way too obvious.

"Xia Xia..."

Shalala scratched its head awkwardly.

Really...?

"Qing Qing?"

Qingbao looked curious as it called out.

Why are you here?

"Xia Xia."

Shalala looked at it and called out.

I'm the same as you.

The same as me? Qingbao froze, then tentatively called out, "Qing Qing?"

You couldn't sleep either?

"Xia Xia."

Shalala shook its head and honestly called out, indicating that it had come out to practice other species' languages.

"Qing Qing!"

So it had seen Qingbao practicing just now... Qingbao felt a little awkward inside, but it put on a pleasantly surprised expression and called out.

So you came to practice other species' languages too!

"Xia Xia."

Shalala sighed and called out, indicating: Rain Prayer Phoenix keeps following me now, so I can't really talk. I want to practice more and learn Fresh Pu's language sooner, so I can talk normally during the day.

Seeing that Shalala still had not learned Fresh Pu's language after so long, Qingbao suddenly found it much more agreeable.

"Qing Qing."

Qingbao called out in sincere comfort.

Other species' languages are too hard. It's normal not to learn them. But it's fine—I can practice with you.

"Xia Xia."

Shalala's eyes lit up, and it nodded.

Under the moonlight, the night breeze blew in from every direction, gently swaying the flowers and grass.

Among the vegetation, one large and one small figure practiced seriously.

"Qing, Qing, Qing Qing, Qing..."

"Xia, Xia, Xia Xia, Xia..."

Not far away, a Bug-type Pet Beast slowly crawled past. Hearing the noise, it curiously turned to look, then turned back and continued crawling onward at an unhurried pace.

The next morning.

In the hotel restaurant, Qingbao ate the Energy Meal on its plate. Its eyelids drooped from time to time, and its head kept bobbing as though it had not slept well.

Shalala beside it was the same.

"What's wrong with you two? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Qiao Sang asked as she drank her juice.

"Qing Qing..."

Qingbao struggled to keep its eyes open and called out, indicating that it had slept very well.

Qiao Sang: "..."

You're lying through your teeth...

Shalala said nothing, merely yawned and nodded honestly.

What was going on? Qingbao might not have slept well because it had just absorbed the Fairy Silk, but why hadn't Shalala slept well either... Qiao Sang muttered inwardly before calling out:

"Luobao."

While elegantly eating an Energy Meal, the gem on Luobao's forehead emitted a faint blue glow that shone over Qingbao and Shalala.

Before long, the blue light faded, and Shalala and Luobao were both full of energy again.

"Xun Xun!"

Little Treasure cried out, saying that when it had returned from being the referee last night, it had discovered that Number Five wasn't in the room! So it definitely hadn't slept well!

Qingbao's body, which had just regained its vigor, suddenly stiffened.

Qingbao has secrets of its own now, huh. But Little Treasure, you just started getting along with Qingbao, and now you're exposing it? Aren't you afraid it'll turn into wind again and blow you away with all its might... Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. For the sake of letting Little Treasure and Qingbao train harmoniously in the future, she pretended not to have heard and did not respond to Little Treasure.

Seeing that its Beast Master was ignoring it, Little Treasure lost interest and continued eating its Energy Meal.

Qingbao silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"Today, you'll continue practicing Thunder Penetration," Qiao Sang said.

"Xun Xun~"

"Qing Qing."

Little Treasure and Qingbao cried out at the same time, indicating that there was no problem.

Time slowly passed.

A month later.

In the room, Qiao Sang leaned against the sofa, her gaze slightly vacant.

But very soon, her eyes regained their liveliness.

With the effects of Qingbao's Fairy Silk, its energy had long reached the late general level. During this period, she had been adding some points to its level every day, and it was now close to the general-level energy cap. For now, she should stop adding points, lest she have to wear an Everstone to suppress its evolution later.

After all, Qingbao had recently been practicing doubles battles with Little Treasure and building their coordination. None of its new skills had reached the profundity level yet...

By her calculations, the Fairy Spirit Jade should arrive in a couple of days...

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, she suddenly sensed something. Gathering her thoughts, she turned to look.

Gang Bao, who had been sleeping all this time, had awakened.

Its Dark Red eyes were sharp, lacking the dazed, not-quite-rested look it had shown when it woke up some time ago.

Qiao Sang's heart stirred as she asked, "Have you finished absorbing the energy?"

"Steel Authority."

Gang Bao sensed its condition, then nodded and cried out.

Probably. It could no longer feel the energy in its body being automatically absorbed.

So fast. That was a full month faster than Teacher Yakelin had said... To be safe, Qiao Sang sent her consciousness into the Pet Beast Codex once more and quickly flipped to Gang Bao's page.

Name: Steel Authority Emperor Level

Attribute: Steel, Flying

Level: Emperor Level (50 million/100 million)+