“Do you have any plans for the coming days?” Pirite asked as he sat down.

Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, “Classes during the day, training when I can, and healing in the evenings. My defense seems to have had a breakthrough, so I’m planning to go to the club to see if I’m ready to enter the third phase.”

Her schedule really was packed… Pirite sighed inwardly and said: “You only have about two months left here on Chaosu Star. You’ve already got a pretty solid understanding of C-rank beast tamers’ combat levels. As for B-rank beast tamers, you haven’t had much exposure yet. Once you're back on Blue Star, I suggest you seize the chance to participate in regional tournaments and sharpen your skills.”

Regional tournaments… Just a year ago, it still felt so far out of reach… Qiao Sang listened quietly, her gaze slightly distant, then hesitantly said: “I still have classes when I return. I’m afraid I won’t have time.”

Pirite picked up a piece of meat and smiled.

“You’re a student of the Imperial Class. Lessons there aren’t restricted to the classroom, most of them are practical field experiences.”

Upon hearing that, Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up. She almost wanted to head back to Blue Star immediately to enroll.

Compared to sitting in a classroom, she clearly preferred the Imperial Class’s teaching method.

“Actually, most students in the Beast Taming Department train in the field too.” Pirite continued.

“The same goes for Yulianton. It’s just that since you're still a freshman, there's more classroom content for now.”

While placing energy food on Adinishi’s plate, Liu Yao chimed in, “You skipped a grade to get into university, filling in some academic gaps is a good idea.”

That was true… Qiao Sang nodded in agreement.

She could clearly feel her recent progress. She could now identify many beast species on sight without relying on the beast identifier and even had a good idea of their basic info and weaknesses.

If she were still in her second year of high school, she’d definitely be a straight-A student.

“You can’t neglect foundational knowledge. Later on, the Imperial Class will assign you a mentor for one-on-one guidance. Just like how I’m helping you now, you can ask anything you don’t understand.” Pirite said while chewing.

Qiao Sang pondered for a moment and asked, “Are there any tools or materials that can help Adinishi shorten the prediction time?”

After a pause, she added, “Not that I have to get them. I just want to know.”

Pirite: …

Liu Yao also looked over, waiting for an answer.

Adinishi quietly continued eating his energy meal.

After five or six seconds of silence, Pirite tactfully said, “Adinishi is a Chaosu Star phantom beast. There are things I can only guess at, so I can’t give you a definitive answer.”

Indeed, if even he wasn’t sure, it was better not to say anything and risk misleading the student. That’s what made him a true Imperial Beast University teacher, so rigorous… Liu Yao silently retracted his gaze and resumed placing energy food for Adinishi.

Qiao Sang felt a bit disappointed.

She had hoped to use her unlimited credit card before it expired to try and get some of those tools or materials…

Pirite took a bite of rice and got back to the main topic: “I did some research. Among C-rank tamer events, the only one currently open in the 1st District is the pet beast arena. But since you’ve already defeated the reigning four-time champion of that tournament, there’s really no point in joining that level of competition anymore. In the coming days, I’ll filter some tasks for you to complete instead.”

“Alright.” Qiao Sang had no objections.

---

After the meal, Qiao Sang tidied up briefly and headed to the street dedicated to pet beast-related goods, looking for luxury pet stores.

Anything she could buy with the credit card, she bought. If not, she walked away.

The unlimited card was about to expire anyway. These items could still be resold for good money on secondhand platforms.

Before long, both of Little Treasure’s round rings were full.

Seems like those rings don’t hold that much after all. She’d need to find a room to store them when she got back and maybe come by again when she had time… As Qiao Sang thought about this, she opened her map and searched for the address of a high-end beast tamer club.

Yabao slowly grew larger, eyes glowing blue, and helped his beast tamer up onto his back.

“Go straight first.” Qiao Sang instructed while checking the map.

“Yap!” Yabao barked and took off into the sky.

---

Twenty minutes later.

High-End Beast Tamer Club

Qiao Sang arrived at the lounge area.

As soon as she sat down, Elma walked over with a bright smile.

“Long time no see.”

Qiao Sang stood and said, “I’d like to check how my second-phase defense training has progressed.”

“I’ll take you to the training room first.” Elma said, then led the way.

Qiao Sang had already messaged ahead, so Elma knew the purpose of this visit.

They took the elevator to the same room Qiao Sang had used before.

Qiao Sang sat down on the sofa.

A Punch Kid brought over a drink.

Elma sat on a single sofa nearby and smiled.

“I’m not surprised at all that you stopped feeling pain before the second-phase treatment ended.”

“Why?” Qiao Sang asked as she sipped her drink.

“When you first came here, your Steel-Slash Giant Falcon was still just a Steel Guardian Falcon.” Elma explained.

“Steel-type pet beasts often give their tamers feedback in the form of enhanced defense. And you’ve had several other pets evolve since then too. That kind of change will naturally impact your physical constitution, so your body adapted early and finished the second phase ahead of schedule.”

She had followed the Beast Tamer Star Tournament from the preliminaries and was naturally familiar with Qiao Sang’s pet lineup.

This club was highly discreet, but most members already knew the tournament champion trained here.

Thanks to her new title as Coach of the Beast Tamer Star Champion, Elma’s hourly rate had also increased considerably.

“It’s really over?” Qiao Sang still wasn’t sure.

“Should I get tested just in case?”

“No need.” Elma shook her head.

“As long as you no longer feel pain when the body-forging bugs roam through your system, the second phase is complete.”

Qiao Sang set her cup down and asked, “Then can I start third-phase training?”

Elma smiled and said, “I’ve already prepared the materials for your third phase.”

She nodded toward the Punch Kid nearby.

The little guy brought over a box from a small side table.

Elma explained: “The third phase is all about changing from the inside out, purging impurities and strengthening your constitution. This box contains thirty packets of impurity-cleansing powder. Add one packet to your bath each day and soak in it. Do it once daily for thirty days, and the third phase will be complete.”

After a pause, she added: “It also has whitening effects.”

Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up with delight.

“That simple?”

“That simple.” Elma nodded.

Qiao Sang took the box, practically overjoyed.

Phase one had her getting pummeled like a sandbag by fighting-type pet beasts.

Phase two involved bug-type pets drilling around inside her body every day.

Phase three, she had braced herself for some unbearable torture.

And yet?

Just a bath?

“Then I’m going home to bathe now!” Qiao Sang said, already turning to leave.

“Wait.” Elma called out.

Qiao Sang turned back.

Elma stood up, choosing her words carefully.

“The impurity-cleansing process may cause some discomfort. But since you have Ice Aipalu with you, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Compared to the pain of bugs tunneling through her body? Qiao Sang wasn’t bothered. She smiled and said, “Got it.”

With that, she turned and left the room.

Elma looked at the closed door and let out a breath of relief.

Actually, Elma felt a bit of psychological pressure when receiving Qiao Sang, she had seen all the trending searches about her recently.

A 16-year-old, enrolled in Yulianton University, with three General-level pet beasts, able to use high-tier skills… All of these things combined were just too terrifying.

Normally, during the third-phase treatment, customers would come to the club for the bath. When the pain became unbearable, the staff would then send in beasts that could relieve pain or offer painkillers, discreet ways to generate hidden costs.

But now that her hourly rate had risen thanks to Qiao Sang, she couldn’t keep scamming others like that…

Wait!

Money?!

Elma suddenly jolted upright and rushed out the door, trying to catch up to Qiao Sang.

She hadn’t paid yet!

---

10:01 PM.

Villa.

Qiao Sang filled the bathtub with water, poured in the impurity-cleansing powder, tested the temperature with her hand, then stripped and stepped in.

At first, there was nothing unusual. But five minutes later, she nearly choked on a scream.

It hurt! A lot!

A sharp, stabbing pain attacked from all directions, it felt like every pore was being pierced with needles.

Qiao Sang’s face went pale, even her breathing seemed to ache.

She gritted her teeth and tried to summon Lubao, but the pain was so intense that her hand seals were broken and incomplete.

[Gang Slice?]

Just as Qiao Sang was about to try again, Gangbao’s voice rang out in her mind.

Are you okay?

Qiao Sang nearly burst into tears. She quickly replied: [Quick, get Lubao for me…!]

Then Gangbao went quiet.

A few seconds later, a droplet of water slipped through the door crack and twisted into the form of Lubao.

“Lu Ai!”

Lubao saw the state of her Beast Tamer and immediately looked serious and slightly tense. She activated her energy, and the gem on her forehead began to glow.

Under the soft blue light, the pain in Qiao Sang’s body quickly faded.

She let out a long breath of relief, just starting to relax, when the familiar pain hit again.

This time, it wasn’t as intense as before.

Qiao Sang turned toward Lubao, but before she could speak, another wave of healing light descended.

And so the cycle of pain, healing, pain, healing repeated for half an hour. By then, the bathtub water was murky with gray impurities.

Qiao Sang stood up, turned on the shower to rinse herself off, then got dressed.

She had thought it would be a relaxing soak, but in the end, the third phase was like crossing a tribulation

… She sighed and looked at Lubao, who was still watching her intently. Her voice softened: “I’m fine now.”

“Lu Ai.”

After confirming that her Beast Tamer was really okay, Lubao let out a breath of relief and left the bathroom to continue disciplining Little Treasure at the outdoor training ground.

Qiao Sang went to the living room and walked over to Gangbao, who was feeding spicy peppers to the Cha cha Stones. She asked: “Did you feel it when I was in pain just now?”

“Gang Slice.” Gangbao stopped feeding, looked over, and nodded.

Qiao Sang’s eyes sparkled.

“Does that mean our bond has deepened again?”

“Gang Slice…”

Gangbao was stunned for a second, clearly caught off guard.

Qiao Sang continued: “Your last two evolutions were both bond evolutions. Do you think the next one will be too?”

“Gang Slice.”

Gangbao shook her head honestly.

She didn’t know.

Qiao Sang said to herself, “I feel like there’s a good chance the next one will still be a bond evolution. So maybe for now, don’t go back into the Beast Codex. Try staying outside to see if it helps deepen our bond.”

“Gang Slice.”

Gangbao didn’t think much and nodded.

She wasn’t sure about the bond evolution part, but staying outside gave her more time to train. Maybe she could eventually do long-distance control of her clones, just like Yabao.

---

Three days later.

8:00 AM

The doorbell rang.

Qiao Sang opened the door, already fully geared up.

She looked at Maral standing outside and said helplessly, “Do we really have to go this early?”

“The competition starts at 9:30. We need to get there early. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck in line for ages.” Maral replied with a smile.

While putting on her shoes, Qiao Sang grumbled: “Still, this is too early.”

“This is the Coordination Tournament. Tickets are hard to come by. A lot of people came days early from other districts. Some even stayed overnight outside the venue.” Maral said enthusiastically.

“Only coordinators who’ve won at least five coordination championships can join. They’ve got a ton of fans.”

Qiao Sang finished putting on her shoes and stood up with a strange expression: “And you managed to get one of those tickets, and even gave it to me as a task reward?”

Maral’s expression stiffened, but she quickly recovered and forced a smile: “Well, I saw your potential as a Coordinator. I thought maybe if you watched the tournament, you’d be interested in becoming both a Beast Tamer and a Coordinator.”

“I just didn’t want to see such a rare talent vanish from the Coordination world.”

You’re not even a professor at the Coordination Department… Qiao Sang didn’t quite believe her.

Still, a promise was a promise.

Yabao slowly expanded in size, eyes glowing blue as he helped Qiao Sang onto his back.

Maral summoned her flying pet beast, about three meters long.

The two of them rose into the sky together.

Along the way, they chatted idly.

“Do people on Blue Star usually summon their pet beasts and keep them by their side?” Maral glanced at Qiao Sang’s group, Ghost Ring King, Steel-Slash Giant Falcon, and Ice Aipalu peeking from her backpack.

“Depends on the person. Some do, some don’t.” Qiao Sang replied.

“Why aren’t you interested in coordination?” Maral asked, switching topics.

“Your pet beasts are actually really suited for it.”

“Just because they’re good-looking doesn’t mean they belong in coordination contests.” Qiao Sang retorted.

“Of course not.” Maral said seriously.

“What matters is being able to bring out the charm of your pet beast.”

After a pause, she added: “Though yes, beasts with appealing appearances do have a slight edge during the preliminaries.”

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure, hearing this, flicked his golden hair.

Weren’t they talking about him?