Qiao Sang stepped inside and scanned the layout of the training room.

What entered her view were a single armchair, operating equipment, a large fireproof viewing screen, and a heavy door.

Through the viewing screen, she could clearly see a mess on the other side. The ground was charred black, as if a sea of fire had just been extinguished.

The mechanical-type pet beast walked over to the control panel and pressed a red button. The door next to the viewing screen slowly opened.

Instantly, a wave of heat rolled out from the open doorway.

"You can let your pet go in now." The mechanical pet said, its mouth unmoving while the voice came from its abdomen.

Qiao Sang looked at Yabao.

"Go on."

"Yap!"

Yabao's eyes lit up with excitement. He turned around and walked confidently toward the other side of the door.

Soon, the door shut behind him.

"Yap..."

The training room was pitch black. Yabao instinctively looked back in the direction he came from, trying to catch sight of his beast master.

From the outside, one could see inside, but from the inside, nothing could be seen.

Yabao's expression shifted from confusion to determination. His limbs tensed slightly, and his flame wings suddenly expanded, ready for the incoming fire.

Qiao Sang sat down in the armchair.

The mechanical-type pet gestured toward the fixed microphone on the control desk.

Its belly voice said, "You can use that to talk to your pet inside."

"Got it."

Qiao Sang leaned forward slightly and spoke into the mic, "Hey, Yabao, can you hear me?"

"Yap!"

On the other side of the screen, Yabao immediately dropped his guard and let out a delighted cry, signaling that he could hear her.

"Good."

Qiao Sang watched Yabao through the screen and reminded him, "Remember, don't push yourself. If it's too much, come out."

"Yap!"

Without his beast master in sight, Yabao could only imagine her expression from her voice. In his mind, he pictured Qiao Sang's worried face and, instead of saying something brave, he simply responded with a cry to show he understood.

Hearing that, Qiao Sang relaxed and nodded to the mechanical-type pet.

"Begin."

The mechanical pet pressed several buttons on the interface.

Flames burst up from the floor on the other side of the screen, illuminating the interior.

Yabao's figure was instantly engulfed in fire.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure appeared without thinking, watching the fiery scene with a cringing expression as if saying, Ugh... that's brutal.

"Lu Ai."

Lubao, who had been peeking out halfway from Qiao Sang's backpack, now jumped out completely, hopped over her head, and landed on her lap, seriously observing the training through the screen.

"Gang Slice..."

Gangbao watched Yabao's figure in the flames with an admiring expression.

Qiao Sang's own expression grew more worried as the blaze roared.

This training room was too small. If it were large enough, Yabao could've taken off the lightweight miniaturization bracelet and returned to his full size. Then she could see Yabao's condition more clearly.

Also, returning to full size meant he could use his full power, which would help him resist the fire more effectively.

As the thought crossed her mind, the mechanical pet tapped a few more buttons on the control panel.

After hitting confirm, loud clang, clang, clang sounds rang out all around.

The walls, the viewing screen, and even the door began to extend upward.

The height of the room visibly increased in real time.

This... Qiao Sang couldn't control her reaction and showed obvious shock and disbelief.

She had just been thinking the room was too small, and it expanded?

Then she realized something and came to an understanding.

Right, this fire-type training facility was several dozen meters tall from the outside, but the inside had only three floors.

If she remembered right, the Architecture Department was one of Yulianton's top nine colleges. Creating buildings that could expand on demand wasn't all that surprising...

No wonder everything here required reservations. If each room were as small as before, they could've housed way more beasts at once...

"Yabao, return to full size!" Qiao Sang leaned toward the mic and said seriously.

"Yap!"

Hearing his beast master's command, Yabao slowly expanded in size.

At the same time, the mechanical pet pushed something on the console, and the flames in the training room suddenly surged upward.

Yabao had now returned to his full size, and the fire engulfed the lower half of his body.

Qiao Sang could clearly see Yabao's excited expression, it was as if the flames weren't burning him at all.

Good grief, he's not afraid of fire at all... Qiao Sang felt like he had already awakened a fire-attracting trait.

She mentally entered the Beast Codex, but when she saw that Yabao hadn't gained any new traits, she quietly exited.

Guess she over thought it.

At most, this kind of training increased the chance of awakening a fire-enhancing trait during evolution, but there's no way the very first session would trigger that.

"Yap!"

At that moment, Yabao let out a cry, signaling he wanted the fire to be even stronger.

Qiao Sang paused for a second.

"Increase the flames."

The mechanical pet was about to execute the command when Qiao Sang quickly stopped it.

"Wait."

The mechanical pet looked at her.

"Can the temperature of the flames be raised instead?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Yes." It replied from its abdomen.

"Then raise the temperature." Qiao Sang said, confirming Yabao wasn't pushing himself too far.

Normal-temperature flames were like the low-tier fire attacks used by mid-level pet beasts. They couldn't harm Yabao.

Only by raising the heat and making the fire energy more intense could there be a real reaction within Yabao's body.

The mechanical pet tapped the controls a couple of times.

The fire on the other side of the screen gradually shifted from deep red to orange-red, then to bright orange, and finally stabilized.

"Yap..."

Yabao's expression was no longer excited, he had become serious.

Time passed little by little. Yabao stood firm throughout, his expression solemn the entire time.

"Yap!"

Suddenly, he cried out again, asking for more fire.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure immediately clenched his front paws in admiration and brought them to his mouth.

Even through the fireproof shielding, he could feel the terrifying heat.

He hadn't expected Big Bro Yabao to ask for even more fire.

Tsk, good thing I avoided him and challenged Lubao last time instead...

"A bit more..." Qiao Sang's voice was heavy, tinged with worry.

The mechanical pet operated the controls once more.

The fire in the training room flared dramatically. The orange flames turned golden-orange, then bright gold, then white-gold, finally becoming pure white.

"Yap!!"

The instant the flames became pure white, Yabao let out a pained cry.

Qiao Sang's heart clenched. She leaned forward and spoke into the mic again,

"If it's too much, come out!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure grabbed the mic and shouted, Big Bro Yabao, in my heart you're the strongest! Hang in there! It hasn't been an hour yet!

Qiao Sang gave him a silent side glance.

"Xun xun!"

Feeling his beast master's gaze, Little Treasure stiffened, then hurriedly added: But don't push yourself too hard!

"Yap..."

Yabao realized his beast master and everyone else was watching. He gritted his teeth and didn't let out another sound.

The pure white flames burned across his body.

It made him feel a bit of the same pain as when he had once charged into a volcano.

But back then, the energy in his body had been boiling, and at the moment of evolution, the pain had instantly disappeared. He had just flown out of the volcano in time and didn't really get hurt.

This time, however, there was no protective mechanism from evolving. The super-high temperature flames kept roasting him, and the pain was excruciatingly clear.

"Yap..."

Yabao gritted his teeth, enduring the pain while trying to absorb the fire-type energy from the surrounding flames.

Qiao Sang saw that Yabao hadn't given up, but the wings of fire on both sides had shrunk, and she couldn't help but worry, her palms beginning to sweat.

Water-type pet beasts live in water all year round, but that doesn't mean they're immune to water-type skills.

That's because those skills carry offensive energy, and when the power exceeds what the beast can handle, it still causes injury.

Similarly, Yabao had previously looked unaffected by the flames only because the fire-type energy in the flames had been within his tolerable range.

Now, however, he was clearly just enduring.

If he didn't have the Fire Absorption trait, then all he was doing now was enduring the burning sensation...

As time passed, Yabao's flame wings shrank smaller and smaller, like candle flames that looked like they'd go out with just a gust of wind.

"Yap!"

Suddenly, Yabao let out a loud cry, and his flame wings flared open again. A surge of scorching fire burst out from his body, his powerful aura spreading through the entire training room.

Blaze... Qiao Sang's expression turned even more serious.

This trait only appeared when Yabao's condition had dropped below one-fourth of his peak...

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure understood what Blaze meant, he finally started to worry. He looked from his beast master to Yabao on the screen.

He didn't understand why his beast master had told Big Bro Yabao to stop earlier, but now that Blaze had activated, she said nothing at all.

"Lu Ai..."

Lubao wore a solemn expression.

"Gang Slice..."

Gangbao looked increasingly respectful.

Even with Blaze active, Yabao hadn't cried out again since hearing his beast master's words, just to avoid making her worry.

That willpower... even Gangbao wasn't sure she could match it.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure finally couldn't help but cry out, asking if maybe Big Bro should stop now?

Qiao Sang stared at the flaming red figure enveloped in fire and said quietly: "He won't come out now."

Yabao was stubborn. Once he committed to something, he saw it through to the end.

He had gone too long without being in a disadvantaged fight. Even she had nearly forgotten that Yabao would never give up until he was physically down.

Whether it was in battle...

Or in training.

Inside the training room.

The fire roared.

The pure white flames kept burning, while the orange-red flames erupting from Yabao's body gradually weakened.

"Yap..."

Yabao gritted his teeth, channeling energy through his body, standing strong.

No one saw it, but a speck of red energy, invisible to the naked eye, entered Yabao's body.

Then a second speck.

Then a third...

Suddenly, the pure white flames went out completely.

"Yabao, the training time is over." His beast master's voice reached his ears.

The door opened, and light spilled in.

"Yap..."

Seeing the familiar figure at the door, all the flames on Yabao's body disappeared. His vision blurred, limbs softened, and he collapsed to the side.

Just then, a blue light flashed.

"Yap!"

Three seconds later, Yabao blinked and jumped to his feet full of energy, completely revived.

He looked at his beast master by the door, gave an excited cry, and leaped forward to pounce on her.

Hey hey hey! Do you remember how big you are right now?! Qiao Sang's heart skipped a beat.

All her earlier worry vanished as she waved her hand and quickly returned Yabao into the Beast Codex before he could leap on her.

She let out a breath, then formed a hand seal to summon Yabao again.

"Yap..."

The moment Yabao reappeared, he drooped his tail and looked at his beast master with a pouty, wronged expression.

Qiao Sang's mouth twitched. She explained: "You haven't shrunk down yet."

"Yap..."

Realizing what was going on, Yabao quickly dropped his sulky look and shrank himself down. Then, once again, he pounced excitedly at his beast master.

This time, Qiao Sang opened her arms and caught him.

Behind them, the mechanical pet opened the door.

"I'll head out first." Qiao Sang said as she held Yabao and left the training room.

Lubao leapt up and landed back into the backpack, stretching out a paw to zip it mostly shut.

"Xun xun!"

Once they were out, Little Treasure floated up beside Yabao, excitedly expressing his admiration.

"Yap!"

With Little Treasure's praises, Yabao straightened his back more and more, lifting his head higher and higher.

"Does it hurt?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Yap!"

Yabao shook his head firmly.

No pain.

Still pretending, huh... Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and asked, "Do you want to continue this training?"

"Yabao!"

Yabao nodded firmly, eyes full of determination.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure cheered from the side, Big Bro Yabao is amazing!

"Yap!"

Yabao showed an expression like, Of course!

Qiao Sang: ...

Qiao Sang headed to the first floor, walked up to the registration desk, and handed over her student card.

"I want to book the 'Rebirth' program."

The staff glanced at Yabao, who looked like he had never set foot in a training room, took her card, completed the registration, and handed it back.

Then, they suddenly recommended: "Actually, our Fire-Type Training Hall has a lot of programs suitable for fire-type pets. You can try them all."

There's no time at all, Qiao Sang silently complained. You have to book every program in advance, and even keeping up with the 'Rebirth' sessions is a stretch...

On the surface, she smiled politely.

"I'll consider it."

---

2:13 a.m.

Qiao Sang finished treating the last terminally ill patient on her list for the night. Dragging her exhausted body home, she collapsed directly onto her bed.

"Lu Ai."

Lubao called softly. The gem on her forehead lit up as she prepared to cast a healing light on her beast master.

"Don't use it." Qiao Sang stopped her.

"This way, I'll fall asleep faster."

The light faded from Lubao's gem. She turned and leaped into the water tank.

Qiao Sang closed her eyes and, as usual, entered the Beast Codex with her consciousness before sleeping.

Yabao's experience bar had gone up by 750 points. As expected, all those energy foods weren't for nothing... Blaze had increased by a point... huh? Wait! Fire Absorption?!

Qiao Sang's eyes snapped open. She shot upright in bed, all sleepiness gone.