Chapter 1108: The Mysterious Old Man

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

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The evolution pathway for Blazing Star Canine was researched? Qiao Sang was taken aback at first, but after registering the news, she said pleasantly surprised: "Really? What is the evolution pathway?"

To be honest, so much had been happening recently that she had almost forgotten that the Vice Principal was still researching Yabao's evolution pathway...

"Under the condition that the internal energy reaches the evolution standard, cause the internal energy to boil, and then evolve on the day of a full moon." Liu Yao said excitedly.

"Cause the internal energy to boil?" Qiao Sang was somewhat puzzled.

"That means having Flame Hound in battle or in a state of fury." Liu Yao explained. 

"In our initial phase, we fully replicated the scene of Yabao's evolution at the time, but not a single Flame Hound evolved. Later, through continuous experimentation, we discovered that it must take place on the night of a full moon."

"With this mandatory condition, we brought out several Flame Hounds whose internal energy had reached the evolution standard on the day of a full moon, but still not a single Flame Hound evolved."

"Thus, we discovered that battle is also mandatory."

"Afterward, we had five Flame Hounds battle in the same environment, but not all of them evolved into Blazing Star Canines, only two did."

"Through continuous experimentation, we found that during the battle, internal energy must boil to a certain degree. If it's a battle that isn't intense enough, the degree of internal energy boiling won't reach the evolution standard."

Pausing briefly, Liu Yao added: "A Fire-type pet beast's angry emotions trigger varying degrees of internal energy boiling. So as long as Flame Hound's anger is sufficient, it can also trigger energy boiling and reach the evolution standard."

So that was it... Qiao Sang digested the information for a moment and said admiringly: "I didn't expect such a complex evolution condition to be researched so quickly."

Liu Yao laughed and said: "Compared to Flame Hound's evolution conditions, Blazing Star Canine's really aren't that difficult. If it weren't for the fact that too few Flame Hounds could participate in the research, the research time for Blazing Star Canine's evolution pathway could definitely have been shortened even further."

"After all, we fully replicated the scene of Yabao's evolution back then."

Qiao Sang smiled and said: "If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have thought of something like the night of a full moon."

Liu Yao didn't refute it either, saying: "Professional people do professional work. No matter how you slice it, I am a researcher with a team behind me, so using our brains is bound to be a bit faster than you alone."

Qiao Sang: ...

I was just flattering you, but now I can't even refute it...

Liu Yao shifted the topic and suddenly said: "Speaking of which, we also have to thank you for being able to research Blazing Star Canine so quickly."

Qiao Sang pretended to be bashful and said: "I merely described the scene of Yabao's evolution back then. I am one of the members of the research team after all, so it's only right."

"I'm not thanking you for that." Liu Yao laughed involuntarily. 

"I'm thanking you for winning the regional tournament championship."

Huh? Qiao Sang was stunned for a second.

Liu Yao continued: "If you hadn't won the regional tournament championship, not so many Beast Tamers who contracted Fire Fang Dogs would have actively signed up to participate in the experiment, successfully evolving a sufficient number of Flame Hounds to join the evolution research for Blazing Star Canine."

I didn't expect I had a hand in this credit too... Qiao Sang offered up another line of flattery: "Mainly, it still relies on everyone's trust in you."

This kid... Liu Yao smiled, then remembered something and said: "Right, there's one more thing."

"What is it?" Qiao Sang cooperated and asked.

Instead of answering directly, Liu Yao asked back: "When Yabao evolved into Blazing Star Canine back then, did he awaken the Moonlight Power trait?"

Qiao Sang's heart stirred, and she let out a "That's right".

"We examined all the Blazing Star Canines that successfully evolved, and found that only one of them awakened the Moonlight Power trait." Liu Yao's tone was no longer full of excitement. 

"This proportion is too small. We haven't researched yet whether it's related to genes or other reasons."

Generally speaking, whether a pet beast can awaken a corresponding trait during evolution is related to genes, though there are exceptions.

Although the evolution pathway for Blazing Star Canine was successfully researched, the quantity was still too small, especially Blazing Star Canines possessing the Moonlight Power trait.

Liu Yao said: "So we plan to conduct research in this aspect in the near future."

Hearing this, Qiao Sang inexplicably thought of Blazing Star Canine's other evolution branch into Fire Qilu, Moon Calamity Hound.

She wondered if the Moonlight Power trait was related to the subsequent evolution pathway, since both contained the word Moon.

Qiao Sang didn't speak this thought aloud. No matter what, this involved her golden finger cheat, so it would be hard to explain how she knew Blazing Star Canine had another evolution branch.

She thought about it and said: "What about Fire Qilu's evolution pathway then? Are we putting that research on hold for now?"

Her meaning was to hurry up and research Yanqilu's evolution pathway. If Moon Calamity Hound were researched, it might solve the question regarding the Moonlight Power trait.

Vice Principal, I can only help you this far...

Liu Yao said helplessly: "The later stage a pet beast is in, the harder it is to research. Blazing Star Canine was an exception. In the later stages, even if one disregards potential and desperately piles up resources to stack energy, it's very difficult for internal energy to reach the degree fitting for evolution in a short time."

"Although the goal of the Beast Tamers willing to participate in the experiment is simply to let their pet beasts evolve, and it would be fine as long as the evolution pathway is researched, we cannot mindlessly stack energy inside the pet beast's body. Leaving potential aside for a moment, doing so could easily cause problems for the pet beast's health."

There really should be more researchers like the Vice Principal in the world... Qiao Sang marveled in her heart.

If this were on Chaosu Star, the researchers there definitely wouldn't consider this level.

Liu Yao continued: "While researching why Blazing Star Canines awaken Moonlight Power, we will let the internal energy of the participating Blazing Star Canines reach the evolution degree, and then conduct research on the evolution pathway at that time."

Hearing this, Qiao Sang inquired: "Is there anything I need to help with?"

"Not at the moment. We'll contact you when we need your help." 

Reaching this point, Liu Yao switched the topic: "How does it feel on Flame Star?"

"Pretty good." Qiao Sang giggled. 

"I just won the championship in a small tournament with a free trip to a destination as the prize, and I'm currently on vacation."

Looking at his two big dark circles reflected in the glass not far away, Liu Yao suddenly fell silent, only answering after two seconds: "Have fun."

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After chatting idly with the Vice Principal for two minutes, Qiao Sang hung up the phone and suddenly felt a bit hungry. She couldn't help but pick up her phone to check nearby restaurants.

Very quickly, she settled on one.

Then Qiao Sang remembered something, formed hand seals, and summoned Little Treasure and Qingbao back.

At the exact same time.

At a certain barbecue stall.

A rabbit-type pet beast wearing an apron, enthusiastically grilling barbecue, looked at the two figures that suddenly vanished in front of its stall. It was taken aback at first, then put on a sky is falling expression and screamed at the top of its lungs:

"Kuai kuai!!!"

A customer ran off without paying!!!

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In the hotel.

Looking at the food crumbs at the corners of Little Treasure and Qingbao's mouths, Qiao Sang asked: "Did you guys eat something?"

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure nodded, then put on a regretful expression and called out.

He had originally planned to eat a bit more.

"Qing qing."

Qingbao, on the other hand, put on an admiring expression of "You're so amazing, you even know this".

Qiao Sang enjoyed Qingbao's expression very much. Restraining the corners of her mouth from curling upward, she said:

"That's because there are things on both your and Little Treasure's mouth corners."

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao put on an embarrassed expression, floated over to the coffee table, pulled out a tissue, and wiped her mouth.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure gave Qingbao a strange look and casually wiped his mouth corner with a claw.

He had noticed it, the fifth child's behavior in front of their Beast Tamer was a bit fake. Just now when eating outside, she had clearly wiped her mouth with her claws just like him.

"Then can you guys still eat a bit more later? I'm preparing to go out and eat now." Qiao Sang asked.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure's eyes lit up, and he called out, indicating of course, he could still eat a lot.

"Qing qing."

Qingbao put on a bashful expression and called out.

She could still eat a little bit.

Hearing this, Qiao Sang picked up her phone, started the navigation, placed it in front of Little Treasure, and said: "Then let's go to this one."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure looked at the phone. Once he memorized the route, blue light gleamed in his eyes as he skillfully located the destination.

Qiao Sang then remembered something and shouted: "Wait!"

The color in Little Treasure's eyes returned to normal.

"Go fetch Moda Power Dragon first, it's in Room 502." Qiao Sang said.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure nodded, blue light gleaming in his eyes, and vanished on the spot.

After roughly twenty seconds or so, Little Treasure returned to the room with a delighted Moda Power Dragon.

"We're going out to eat together." Qiao Sang said to Moda Power Dragon.

"Mo mo!" Moda Power Dragon nodded vigorously.

"Let's go." Qiao Sang looked toward Little Treasure.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure called out, blue light gleaming in his eyes. Before long, the location was successfully locked, and he vanished on the spot together with his Beast Tamer, Yabao, and the others.

---

Qiao Sang's vision went black. By the time light returned, she was already inside a restaurant built upon a giant tree.

Tables and chairs were set up on the thick surrounding branches, with quite a few pet beasts and a small number of humans dining on them.

Qiao Sang brought Yabao and the rest over to sit at an empty table.

In the next second, a yellow fruit marked with the number "16" suddenly drooped down from the foliage above, opened its eyes, and let out a call: "Duo duo?"

Saying that, it pulled out a menu from who-knows-where and handed it over.

Having no mental preparation, Yabao and the rest were startled.

Hide-Hide Fruit, a Grass-type beginner pet beast. It likes to pretend to be fruit and hide on trees. If mistaken by a pet beast for a tree fruit and eaten, it will bite the other party first before that happens... 

Qiao Sang's expression was calm. When browsing her phone before coming here, she had seen reviews related to this restaurant and knew that the yellow fruits that seemingly grew on this tree were actually pet beasts working as staff.

"Xun xun~"

After being startled, Little Treasure was the first to react. His eyes lit up, and he called out, helping to translate.

It was asking what we wanted to eat.

Qiao Sang took the menu, scanned it roughly, and said generously: "Bring out all the signature dishes for both humans and pet beasts."

"Duo duo." Hide-Hide Fruit nodded and retrieved the menu. Then, the foliage above retracted, hanging back up onto the tree.

"Duo duo."

Hide-Hide Fruit called out to a Hide-Hide Fruit beside it marked with the number "15".

The Hide-Hide Fruit with "15" on its body then called out to the Hide-Hide Fruit ahead, passing the message along in this manner.

This continued until it reached inside the restaurant, where the sounds stopped.

"Gang qiu..."

Watching this scene, Gangbao put on an I see, it can even be done like this expression.

Following her Beast Tamer, although she had seen many places where pet beasts worked, every time she saw a place completely managed and operated by pet beasts while still having human customers, she still felt a bit dazed.

"If you like it, when we retire from competitions in the future, you can open one up." Qiao Sang said with a smile in her mind.

Gangbao was stunned upon hearing this. A wave of emotion surged in her heart, but she forcibly suppressed her thoughts from surfacing in her mind.

After about a dozen minutes or so, Hide-Hide Fruits came walking over one by one carrying plates of dishes on their heads, placing them on the table in an orderly fashion.

Qiao Sang, Yabao, and the rest began enjoying dinner.

"Mo mo!"

With every bite of the energy meal Moda Power Dragon took, its eyes brightened by a degree.

Although it didn't lack food, it had eaten tree fruits almost exclusively since childhood. It felt that this was its first time eating something so delicious.

Moda Power Dragon instantly forgot its purpose for coming here, wolfing down the energy meal as if it had been starving for several days.

Qiao Sang ate while picking up her phone to search for nearby tourist attractions.

"Kuai kuai!"

Suddenly, an extremely angry voice sounded from below.

Qiao Sang looked down, only to see a rabbit-type pet beast wearing an apron looking over here with an angry face while shouting.

Huh? Why is it looking at my table?

Qiao Sang was taken aback. Before she could react, the apron-wearing rabbit-type pet beast suddenly leaped up, its body lightly hopping twice on the tree before arriving at the branch where the dining table was located.

All the surrounding people and pet beasts turned their eyes over in unison.

"Kuai kuai!"

"Kuai kuai!"

The apron-wearing rabbit-type pet beast walked over with an angry face, pointing at Little Treasure and Qingbao to accuse them with two calls.

Qingbao blinked her eyes, putting on an innocent expression.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure recognized who the rabbit-type pet beast was, waved his paws, put on an I didn't do it on purpose expression, and then pointed at his Beast Tamer with a call.

"Kuai kuai!"

The rabbit-type pet beast snapped its head around and looked over.

Qiao Sang: ???

What's the situation?

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure called out twice, indicating that when he and Qingbao were eating just now, they were suddenly summoned back before paying.

Qiao Sang: ...

Qiao Sang fell silent for two seconds and said: "I'm sorry, how much money does it cost?"

"Kuai kuai!"

The rabbit-type pet beast called out with an displeased expression.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure called out while stuffing food into his mouth.

52 Alliance coins.

Qiao Sang pulled out a 100 Alliance coins cash bill and handed it over: "Keep the change, consider it my apology."

The rabbit-type pet beast took the 100 Alliance coins, its expression instantly turning from cloudy to clear as it called out enthusiastically: "Kuai kuai~"

With that, it leaped down to the base of the tree and departed merrily.

Looking at its departing figure, Qiao Sang made a mental note not to casually summon back Little Treasure and Qingbao when they were playing outside in the future.

Just as Qiao Sang felt that the more she thought about it, the more sensible it seemed, she suddenly felt a gaze on her.

Looking in the direction of the gaze, she saw at a dining table on the branch diagonally opposite below, an old man with a head of white hair and a face full of wrinkles, yet looking in very high spirits, was looking over with doubt and astonishment.

To be precise, he was looking at Qingbao.

After staring for a few glances, he said with a smile: "Do you mind sharing a table?"

His voice wasn't loud, yet it entered her ears exceptionally clearly.

Qiao Sang looked at him and nodded: "Sure."

The old man rose, floating over to the branch above, naturally walked over to the dining table, pulled out a chair, sat down, stared at Qingbao, and suddenly spoke: "This is the legendary pet beast, Qingqingni, right?"

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