Absolute Defense Training (Two in One)

At a thought from Qiao Sang, the value after the level changed.

Level: Emperor Level (52075544/100000000)+

Qiao Sang waited three seconds. When the data did not change in the slightest, delight filled her heart. She finally confirmed that Gang Bao had completely absorbed the Ranxiang Fruit's energy.

Her consciousness withdrew from the Pet Beast Codex. Just as she was about to offer congratulations, she remembered that Teacher Mikala was in the next room and promptly changed her words.

"Whether it has finished absorbing it or not, it's safer to check."

"Gang Bao."

Gang Bao nodded cooperatively.

"Little Treasure," Qiao Sang called.

"Xun Xun~" Little Treasure floated over.

"Take out the energy detector," Qiao Sang said.

"Xun Xun~"

Little Treasure removed Ring, enlarged it, and stuck its head inside.

Before long, it pulled out an energy detector.

At that moment, Mikala pushed open the door and came out. "Has Gang Bao finished absorbing the energy?"

"Not sure yet," Qiao Sang said. "We need to check its energy first."

Mikala walked over and sat on the sofa, her expression barely changing.

Compared to Ya Bao and Gang Bao evolving to Emperor Level so quickly in their new forms, and Shalala being able to travel with them, Gang Bao taking half as long as other Emperor-level Pet Beasts to absorb energy was naturally nothing remarkable.

Qiao Sang pressed the connector against Gang Bao's body, and the data on the display immediately soared.

Before long, the numbers stopped completely.

12.0908 million.

Mikala's expression tightened slightly as she looked at the value on the energy detector.

The energy limit for an Emperor-level Pet Beast was twenty million. This value meant it was no longer merely at the beginning of the middle Emperor Level, but had reached the level of an Emperor-level Pet Beast that had remained in the middle stage for several years.

It seemed the effects of those two Ranxiang Fruits were even better than she had imagined...

During a Pet Beast's early stages, its energy and the value after its level were roughly at a ratio of one hundred to one. However, the higher the level, the more points it usually took to increase even a single point of energy. The later a Pet Beast's stage, the harder it became to increase its energy. Logically, more than fifty million points should not have translated into over twelve million energy, but Ya Bao and the others had always evolved only after breaking through their energy limits. Qiao Sang had long known that Gang Bao's energy would exceed the conversion from its fifty million-plus points.

Putting on a pleasantly surprised expression, she said, "Just as Gang Bao said, its energy has stabilized."

"I'll contact Yakelin," Mikala said, taking out her phone and dialing a number.

The call connected quickly.

"Gang Bao has already absorbed all the energy in the Ranxiang Fruit. Come over and check it... Yes, its absorption ability is relatively strong... All right, send me your current location. I'll have Mei Mei make a trip over."

Looks like Teacher Yakelin finally knew to take the initiative and ask Penjia Mei to pick her up... Qiao Sang mused inwardly.

Mikala hung up, opened the location the other party had sent, placed her phone in front of Penjia Mei, and said, "Go here and pick up Yakelin."

"Pen Pen."

Penjia Mei stared at the location for a while, blue light glowing in its eyes.

A few seconds later, it vanished from the spot.

"Xun Xun~"

Little Treasure looked at Gang Bao's measured value, then pressed the connector against itself.

The data on the energy detector reset to zero before shooting upward.

A moment later, it stopped.

Little Treasure stared at the number on the display with anticipation. Its expression changed from hopeful to silent, then to dejected.

"Xun Xun..."

Little Treasure placed both paws on the ground and lowered its head, looking utterly crushed.

Its energy was far too different from Old Fourth's...

"Don't worry, you'll catch up eventually," Qiao Sang comforted it. "As long as you reach the middle King Level, you can take a King Energy Potion. Then you can advance to the late stage. I've already prepared the materials for your evolution to Emperor Level too."

"Xun Xun~"

The moment Little Treasure heard that, it instantly perked back up and floated into the air again.

At the same time, Penjia Mei and Yakelin appeared out of thin air in the room.

Yakelin's complexion was rosy, and she did not look exhausted in the slightest like she had the last time she rushed over.

"You're here, Teacher," Qiao Sang greeted her.

"Gang Bao absorbed it far too quickly. It actually took half the time of other Emperor-level Pet Beasts," Yakelin said as she quickly walked over to Gang Bao, set down her equipment, and said, "Let me check it right away."

She activated the equipment and began examining it rapidly.

Gang Bao quietly cooperated.

Time passed second by second.

About an hour later, Yakelin put down the equipment and said with feeling, "Its energy has completely stabilized. Its physical qualities are also among the best of Emperor-level Pet Beasts, especially its defensive ability. It has become much stronger."

"However, its speed may be somewhat inferior to that of ordinary Emperor-level Pet Beasts."

Qiao Sang was not particularly surprised after hearing this.

Research showed that Pet Beasts with strong defense generally did not have much advantage in speed, especially after Gang Bao awakened the Heavy Metal trait and doubled its weight.

On the other hand, that increased the power of weight-based skills, so it was not entirely a bad thing.

"As for exactly how strong its defense and speed are, we'll still need to test them during regular training," Yakelin continued. "You can keep feeding it the Energy Meals I formulated during Gang Bao's temporary evolution stage last time. Since I have the data from its temporary evolution, I've already been keeping an eye on the materials. The newly formulated Energy Meals won't take too long, around half a month."

The Imperial Class treatment really was excellent. They could formulate Energy Meals for an Emperor-level Pet Beast just like that... Qiao Sang listened carefully and nodded.

"Understood."

"Thank you for your hard work," Mikala said. "I'll have Mei Mei take you back."

Teacher Mikala really sent people away the moment she was done with them... Qiao Sang remarked inwardly.

Yakelin was not dissatisfied in the slightest. Instead, she looked a little flattered.

This was the first time Senior Mikala had taken the initiative to offer to have Penjia Mei send her back!

"Then I'll trouble you," Yakelin hurriedly said.

"Goodbye, Teacher," Qiao Sang said.

Yakelin smiled at her. "Goodby—"

Before she could finish, Penjia Mei disappeared from the spot with her.

Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment, then remembered the main matter. "Teacher, I'll take Gang Bao to train Absolute Defense first."

Now that Gang Bao had finished absorbing the energy, they also needed to prepare for their trip to Void Cliff as soon as possible.

"I'll go with you," Mikala said.

Qiao Sang froze.

When they had first started traveling together, Teacher Mikala often watched their training from the side. But as her trust in Qiao Sang grew, she came to watch less and less often.

The last time she had voluntarily come to observe training was when Little Treasure, Luobao, and Qingbao were doing coordinated combination training.

Mikala continued, "To quickly improve Absolute Defense's proficiency, it needs to withstand attacks that are difficult to endure. That will stimulate the greatest potential and energy within it to maintain the skill."

"So this time, I'll have Penjia Mei train with you."

"Pen Pen."

As soon as she finished speaking, Penjia Mei appeared in the room.

Open-air Training Ground.

"How about letting Ya Bao attack instead?" Qiao Sang suggested despite herself, glancing at Penjia Mei and recalling the combat strength it had displayed in the past.

"Ya Bao!"

The moment Ya Bao heard that, its tail wagged and it cried out excitedly. It thought that sounded great; it had also wanted to test Gang Bao's current defensive ability.

"To improve Absolute Defense's proficiency, the more unbearable the attacks it takes, the better," Mikala said calmly. "Fendi Duo's attack power is indeed very strong, but Gang Bao's defense is also extremely high. For Fendi Duo to harm Gang Bao, it would have to use Super-Level Skills. Super-Level Skills consume too much energy, so Fendi Duo cannot keep using them for long."

"Penjia Mei is one level higher than Gang Bao. It will consume far less energy to continuously unleash damage that Gang Bao finds difficult to endure, allowing for prolonged training. This is the optimal choice."

But Gang Bao can gain proficiency just by normally using Absolute Defense! Qiao Sang screamed inwardly.

"Gang Bao."

Suddenly, Gang Bao called out in her mind, saying that it could do this. If they refused again, they might be suspected.

Gang Bao... Qiao Sang sighed inwardly. On the surface, she put on an expression of accepting advice and nodded.

"Then we'll do as Teacher says."

"Ya Bao..."

Hearing its Beast Master say that, Ya Bao's wagging tail immediately drooped.

Seeing this, Qiao Sang comforted it.

"This is only a one-sided attack on Gang Bao, not a battle. Don't worry. Once we retrieve the Pet Beast egg beneath Void Cliff, you'll have plenty of chances to fight."

"Ya Bao!"

Ya Bao's eyes lit up, and its tail wagged again.

On the training ground, Gang Bao and Penjia Mei faced one another, both hovering in the air.

Seeing this, Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She walked into the shade beneath a tree at the edge of the training ground, took a deep breath, sat down cross-legged, and tensed her body slightly.

"Rain Prayer?"

The Rain Prayer Phoenix in the tree suddenly cried out, asking why she was so nervous when it was her Pet Beast training, not a competition.

Because attacking Gang Bao is the same as attacking me... Qiao Sang explained, "Gang Bao underwent Bond Evolution."

As an Emperor-level Pet Beast with some years on it, the Rain Prayer Phoenix naturally knew what Bond Evolution meant. It froze for a moment, then revealed an expression that said, You're in trouble.

An Emperor-level Pet Beast attacking an Emperor-level Pet Beast might have been manageable, but an Emperor-level Pet Beast attacking an Emperor-level Pet Beast? Even if Gang Bao's defense was high, it could not possibly endure it.

On the training ground, Penjia Mei opened its mouth, and a magnificent white beam instantly shot toward Gang Bao.

Gang Bao's expression turned grave. It circulated its energy, and a set of white armor that looked tailor-made for it appeared in an instant, wrapping it completely.

Bang!!!

The white beam exploded violently against Gang Bao's body.

For a moment, the shockwave covered the entire training ground!

The air shook violently.

Huh? It doesn't seem to hurt... Qiao Sang, whose entire body had been tense, felt a surge of delight and relaxed.

However, the next second, intense pain swept through her entire body!

Damn! That hurts! Looks like under Penjia Mei's attack, Gang Bao's Absolute Defense can only hold for one second... Qiao Sang instinctively thought as she endured the agony.

To be honest, after specifically training my defense on Superstar Planet, it's been a long time since I hurt this much... Qiao Sang suddenly thought of something. She blocked her connection with Gang Bao, then entered the Pet Beast Codex, flipped to Gang Bao's page, and rapidly added points after Absolute Defense.

When it reached proficient, she stopped.

She had specifically looked into Absolute Defense before. Once its proficiency reached minor accomplishment, the white armor covering the body would become darker and larger. That bug would be far too obvious.

Gang Bao had only just begun training Absolute Defense. If its proficiency suddenly skipped two levels, Teacher Mikala would definitely become suspicious.

As for beginner and proficient Absolute Defense, as long as Gang Bao and she said nothing, Teacher Mikala probably would not notice anything...

As these thoughts flashed through her mind—

Suddenly, Bang!!!

Another earth-shaking blast rang out.

Two seconds later, agonizing pain swept through Qiao Sang's entire body.

Proficient Absolute Defense can withstand an Emperor-level Pet Beast's attack for two seconds? No, it's probably because Penjia Mei hasn't used its most powerful attack skills... Qiao Sang thought as she endured the pain.

Bang!!!

Bang!!!

Bang!!!

Deafening explosions rang out one after another.

Shockwaves came in wave after wave.

Qiao Sang sat silently beneath the tree, enduring the searing pain.

The Rain Prayer Phoenix in the tree looked at the scene on the training ground, then at the human below who had not made a sound for so long, and could not help showing a hint of admiration.

She can really endure it...

Time passed second by second.

After an unknown amount of time, Mikala finally said, "Stop."

Penjia Mei stopped attacking.

The shockwaves blanketing the training ground gradually dispersed, revealing Gang Bao's battered, injured figure within.

"Do you need to rest?" Mikala asked.

Gang Bao looked at its Beast Master beneath the distant tree and nodded.

If it did not know about the Golden Finger, it definitely would not rest. But with the Golden Finger, it knew it did not need to endure such injuries to increase its proficiency.

Its Beast Master must have been in great pain too. If not for fear of arousing suspicion...

"Then rest," Mikala agreed readily.

As soon as she finished speaking, a deep blue light shone down on Gang Bao.

Gang Bao felt as if pure water were flowing over its entire body, incomparably comfortable.

Before long, it no longer felt any pain.

"Gang Bao."

Gang Bao nodded toward Luobao in the distance and cried out in thanks.

Then it thought of something and called to Luobao.

"Gang Bao."

Help treat our Beast Master too.

"Ice Emperor?"

Luobao looked at her Beast Tamer in the distance, who was uninjured, her eyes closed as though meditating, and wore a puzzled expression.

Had her Beast Tamer been injured too?

Just as she was wondering, Qiao Sang opened her eyes and said weakly:

"Come here..."

Luobao froze for a moment, then hurried over with a serious expression and used Healing Light.

An Emperor-Level pet's attack was really not something a person could endure. Even though she had only taken a small portion of the damage, it hurt like hell... Under the healing of the deep blue light, Qiao Sang's expression gradually relaxed.

Maybe she should have Gang Bao put on an act early on—have it suddenly experience an epiphany while taking Penjia Mei's attack, then raise its Absolute Defense proficiency to minor mastery herself.

After all, there were real cases of pets suddenly having an epiphany and increasing their skill proficiency...

"Xia Xia!"

As the thought flashed through her mind, a voice full of surprise rang out beside her.

Qiao Sang turned her head and saw Qingbao, who had appeared at some point.