Chapter 934: Ten Minutes

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 

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One hour later, by a lakeside.

"Yap yap!"

Yabao was full of energy, vigilantly guarding the surroundings with an air of "I dare anyone to try me."

If only Yabao knew Spatial Shift and could share my Emphatic Positioning... Qiao Sang released the struggling Lele Seed in her hand and sighed inwardly. With Yabao’s current King-level strength, if he also knew Spatial Shift, his sensory range would surely extend much further.

Suddenly remembering something, she turned to look at Xu Gehong, the person who remained mysterious even after dozens of days together, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't manage to get the Molten Flame Crystals you wanted."

Yabao had actually obtained one earlier, but it was dropped during the fight.

"It’s fine, safety is most important." Mikayla replied dismissively. 

After a pause, she added, "Just remember to give me the items you promised before."

Qiao Sang immediately guaranteed, "Definitely."

Then, she asked with a smile, "I don't suppose your Hidden Shield knows Spatial Shift?"

Mikayla instantly understood Qiao Sang’s intent. She didn’t answer immediately, asking instead, "How long have we been in the secret realm?"

If this were before the Fire Qilu had swallowed the Molten Flame Seed, she would have denied it outright. But now, since absorbing the seed in the magma had taken so much time, she felt they might not make it to the Regional Championships if they kept searching like this.

"Let me check." Qiao Sang pulled out her phone.

Before she could light up the screen, Guo Ruiqi spoke up: "92 days."

"What did you say?" Qiao Sang froze and turned to him. 

"What 92 days?"

"It’s been exactly 92 days since we entered the secret realm." Guo Ruiqi said with a melancholy face. 

"I wonder if my 'Big Lele Seed' still remembers me." Every day spent without finding his Lele Seed felt like a year, so he had calculated the time very precisely.

"!!!"

Shock plastered Qiao Sang’s face. What? 92 days had passed?! Had it really taken Yabao that long to absorb the Molten Flame Seed?

Does that mean I’m going to miss the Regional Championships?!

She hurriedly looked down at her phone. When she saw the date, her heart turned ice-cold. She didn't even need to do the math, it was August 24th. There were only two days left before the official registration deadline for the Regional Championships.

At that moment, only one thought surfaced in Qiao Sang’s mind: I'm doomed...

Even if Little Treasure suddenly mutated and his Spatial Shift detection grew strong enough to cover the entire secret realm, it would be impossible to find the specific Lele Seed in just two days. They had to bring Guo Ruiqi to confirm every single Lele Seed they sensed, and many of them hid in secluded spots. Two days simply wasn't enough.

It's actually been that long... Mikayla’s heart sank. Even she couldn't guarantee finding the right Lele Seed in two days.

However, she soon came to terms with it. The main reason she brought Qiao Sang to the Central Hollow Region was because of the Fate Spirit's prediction. Now, Qiao Sang’s brain development had broken through to 50%, she had contracted Qingqing Ni, and both Lubao and Yabao had evolved into King-level pets. 

The harvest had far exceeded her expectations. Even if she didn't participate in the Regional Championships, they could just find another place to compete and train.

Seeing Qiao Sang’s grim expression, Guo Ruiqi thought she was upset about wasting time underground and quickly said, "Senior Qiao, I’m actually not in that much of a hurry. My parents already helped me take a leave of absence from school. As long as I can find my Lele Seed, I’m willing to spend as much time as it takes."

Qiao Sang: ... I’m not willing... the Championships are about to start...

At that moment, Mikayla spoke: "I'll give it a try. My Hidden Shield knows Spatial Shift, though it’s not at the Ultimate level like your Little Treasure's."

The remaining two days had left Qiao Sang completely withered. She held no hope and said weakly, "Okay."

Mikayla looked up into the air. "Hidden Shield."

"Stealth." A voice responded from high above.

Mikayla closed her eyes. In truth, as an S-rank Beast Tamer, she didn't need to close her eyes to focus, she was just staying in character.

A pair of blue glowing eyes appeared out of thin air.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure floated over to the glowing blue eyes and reached out a paw to poke the space next to them. When he felt something solid, his eyes lit up, and he poked it twice more in excitement.

"Qing qing~" Seeing this, Qingbao appeared next to Little Treasure and mimicked him, poking forward with her paw. She paused, looking surprised.

The blue glowing eyes didn't even blink, continuing to sense the surroundings. Three seconds later, Mikayla snapped her eyes open, looking shocked.

Qiao Sang noticed the expression. 

"What’s wrong?" Truly, in all their time in the secret realm, this was only the second time Mikayla had shown such an exaggerated expression, the first being when she saw Qingbao.

"A flock of Darkji Birds is approaching," Mikayla said with a complex look. 

"And every single one of them is carrying a Lele Seed in its beak."

Qiao Sang: ???

What does that mean? A flock of Darkji Birds flying here with Lele Seeds?

Qiao Sang dazed for a moment, then looked up at Little Treasure, who was still poking the air. 

"Sync."

"Xun xun~" Little Treasure immediately switched to serious mode, his eyes glowing blue.

Qiao Sang closed her eyes. Everything around them appeared clearly in her mind as a 3D map. Swaying leaves, scorching sunlight, small pets eating fruit.

Then, the blue sky seemed to turn black. A massive dark cloud of birds filled the air. Pitch-black Darkji Birds were flying toward them at high speed, each carrying a Lele Seed that looked tiny in comparison.

Qiao Sang opened her eyes, her heart racing wildly. There were so many... almost every bird seemed to have one. The number was several times greater than all the Lele Seeds they had encountered so far combined!

She didn't know why they were doing this, but it was an opportunity! With this many Lele Seeds, the one Guo Ruiqi was looking for might be among them!

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Qiao Sang said sternly. 

"Guo Ruiqi, a large flock of birds is approaching with Lele Seeds. Focus your senses and be ready."

"Understood!" Guo Ruiqi said, looking in the direction Qiao Sang was staring.

"Yap yap!" Yabao braced his limbs against the ground, looking eager and excited. Since his evolution into a Blazing Divine Lion, he hadn't had a good fight yet!

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure wore a ready expression and floated closer to Yabao and Lubao. Lubao hopped out of the backpack. Gangbao circled in the air, staring at the horizon.

"Qing qing." Qingbao turned directly into wind.

Soon, cries of "Lele!" and "Lele!" echoed from the distance. A massive flock of jet-black birds rapidly approached.

"Wait for my signal, then control them all." Qiao Sang said seriously.

"Lu Di." Lubao nodded.

"Now!" As the birds reached within a few dozen meters, Qiao Sang gave the command. Lubao stepped forward with her left paw.

"Dark!" Suddenly, the lead Dark-Eyed Bird let out a loud cry and dived downward. The rest of the flock followed behind it.

"Gang Zhan!" Gangbao called out from the air, signaling not to attack.

These birds have no hostility...

Almost a second before Gangbao spoke, Qiao Sang sensed her thought and instinctively shouted, "Wait!"

The visible cold mist around Lubao instantly dissipated.

"Yap..." Yabao, ready to strike, had to hold back.

The flock stopped a few meters away, hovering in the air and staring at them.

"Lele!" "Lele!" The Lele Seeds struggled desperately in the birds' beaks.

Looking at this, a thought so absurd it felt ridiculous rose in Qiao Sang’s mind: These birds wouldn't happen to know we're looking for Lele Seeds and brought them here specially, would they?

"Dark." The lead bird cried out. The flock behind it opened their beaks simultaneously, dropping the Lele Seeds to the ground.

"Lele!" "Lele!" Almost all the Lele Seeds scrambled to flee the moment they hit the ground.

Only one, a somewhat thin Lele Seed, remained. It stared at Guo Ruiqi, and two lines of hot tears slowly rolled down its face.

Could this be the one... Qiao Sang’s heart jumped. She forgot about the strange behavior of the birds, her attention was entirely captured by this crying Lele Seed.

"B-Big Happiness..." Guo Ruiqi’s voice trembled as he called out. In the whole world, his eyes could only see this small, green figure.

"LELE!!!" The Lele Seed’s mouth crumpled, and with tears and snot streaming down, it ran toward Guo Ruiqi, wailing loudly.

"BIG HAPPINESS!!!" Guo Ruiqi knelt down and opened his arms.

"LELE!!!" The Lele Seed threw itself into his embrace.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure stood by the side, dabbing away his own tears.

Just like that? Mikayla, despite her vast experience, was a bit stunned. Why would a flock of Darkji Birds bring a group of Lele Seeds over? It looked like they had gone out of their way to help...

"Dark." The lead bird barked.

"Gang Zhan," Gangbao translated, looking surprised. He says this is the reward for saving him.

Qiao Sang stared at the lead bird for a few seconds. Suddenly, it clicked. She asked hesitantly, "Are you... that injured Dark-Eyed Bird from before?"

"Dark." The leader nodded.

Holy crap, it really is... Qiao Sang was shocked. Then, she asked in disbelief, "So, you evolved and became the boss, and since you knew we were looking for Lele Seeds, you gathered a flock to find them?"

"Dark." The bird nodded.

Is this the legendary 'repaying a kindness'? Qiao Sang looked at the bird, which now had the aura of a king; she couldn't reconcile it with the injured little bird she remembered.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure’s attention was drawn over. When he heard this was the injured bird, his eyes widened as he looked at the flock of subordinates. Is becoming a boss and getting lackeys that easy?!

"Yap yap..." Yabao relaxed his claws and sighed. So it’s not an opponent...

It was that bird... Mikayla looked at the leader blankly.

"Dark." The bird glanced at the human and Lele Seed crying together. It barked, indicating that since the debt was paid, it was leaving. It flapped its wings and soared into the sky. The flock followed immediately.

Qiao Sang waved and shouted, "Thank you!" 

The birds didn't look back.

Mikayla watched them go. 

"I never expected the bird we helped by chance would find the Lele Seed for us."

"Yeah, who would have thought..." Qiao Sang watched them for a few more seconds, then suddenly turned around urgently. 

"Stop crying! We have to get out of the secret realm right now!"

She had lost hope before, but now the Lele Seed was right here! With two days left, they might still make the registration deadline!

Qiao Sang’s words were more effective than a headmaster's to Guo Ruiqi. He wiped his tears, scooped up Big Happiness, and said nasally, "I’m ready to go whenever!"

Qiao Sang quickly checked their direction. Mikayla said, "I'll lead. I’ve been to this secret realm before and I’m familiar with the exit." This was a lie, but with Mikayla's actual team power, she could find the exit far faster.

Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up. "I'm counting on you!"

Mikayla looked at the air. "Find the exit."

"Stealth." The glowing blue eyes reappeared.

About twenty minutes later, they arrived at the portal. Qiao Sang was nearly crying with joy. "Gangbao!"

"Gang Zhan." Gangbao flapped her wings and carried the group into the portal.

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Outside the secret realm.

The sky was a golden hue. Qiao Sang checked her phone and saw it was nearly the end of the work day. "Come with me to submit the mission first."

"Anything you say, Senior Qiao!" Guo Ruiqi said immediately.

Qiao Sang turned to Xu Gehong, but before she could speak, Mikayla said, "The reward can wait. I’ll take you there directly; you look like you’re in a hurry."

Qiao Sang was filled with gratitude. 

"Thank you! I need to go to the third floor of the Beast Tamer Center." The Hidden Shield’s ability to find the exit in twenty minutes had earned her complete trust.

"Sleep?" The Sleep Bird, who had just been excited to be out of the secret realm, looked at Qiao Sang and then at the human who rented it in disbelief. What about me? I’m not going too, am I? We're out of the secret realm, my job is done!

Everything went black for the bird, and when the light returned, the scenery had changed completely.

Sleep Bird: ...

"I want to submit a mission!" Qiao Sang pushed open the door of the Examination Office.

"That's right! Senior Qiao helped me find my Lele Seed!" Guo Ruiqi followed, holding Big Happiness high.

A large-mouthed pet sat behind the desk and spoke in human tongue: "ID card and Beast Tamer Badge."

Qiao Sang handed them over. Half a minute later, the pet handed them back with a smile. "You’re just in time. You passed the final assessment task on the very last day. Take heart; there are only ten minutes left before the official registration deadline."

Qiao Sang froze. "Wait, wasn't the deadline August 26th?"

The pet glanced at her. "Tomorrow is a holiday."

Qiao Sang: !!!

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