CHAPTER 869: SHORTENING POTION

“Points?”

Qiao Sang froze for a moment.

Now that it was mentioned, she realized she had been so absorbed in completing assessment missions lately that she had completely forgotten about the University's point system…

After a brief pause, she said: “I think I should spend my points on something more useful.”

Gangbao’s energy had already reached the mid-stage level, and with the points accumulated so far, another one or two trips to a secret realm would likely be enough to gather the required points for her evolution.

Points at the Imperial Beast University could be exchanged for rare resources not available on the outside market. To Qiao Sang, using them on simple energy absorption items felt wasteful...

After all, that kind of resource could be replaced by her point system.

Unless it was something like the energy pool on Chaosu Star, which could instantly raise a General-level pet beast’s energy from early stage to perfected late stage without side effects, directly saving years, or even decades, of training time, there was no need to redeem such things.

Mikayla spoke: “Do you know what someone like you, a talent who appeared out of nowhere, lacks the most, if you want to catch up to the others in the Imperial Class?”

Qiao Sang thought for a moment.

“More resources?”

Mikayla shook her head.

“No. Time.”

Qiao Sang waved her hand.

“Well, that can’t be helped. By the time they entered the Imperial Class, I probably hadn’t even been born yet.”

She still remembered, the oldest student in her class was eighty-seven. Practically great-grandpa age.

“But you’ve already caught up with most of the so-called geniuses who are more than ten, even twenty years older than you, haven’t you? Since you’re already in the same class as those Imperial Class students, why not try to chase them? Remember, your shared goal is the Interstellar Cup. Eventually, you’ll all be rivals.”

Qiao Sang was dumbstruck.

Wasn’t it way too early for her to treat those Imperial Class students as rivals with her current strength?

Did Teacher Mikayla really think that highly of her?

She said tactfully: “I… might not compete in the same Interstellar Cup as them.”

Mikayla gave her a look.

“Before the age of thirty, reaching 50% brain-domain development and becoming a B-level professional Beast Master is the minimum standard to enter the Imperial Class. There are plenty of Imperial Class students who are still only B-level professionals.”

In other words, there were still many young people in the Imperial Class.

If they were only ten or so years older, then the chances of competing in the same Interstellar Cup were very high…

Qiao Sang hesitated, then tested the waters: “You want me to exchange for resources that can drastically increase Gangbao’s energy to save time?”

“Exactly.” Mikayla nodded.

“The right time to use resources is when you must. Using them to shorten the gap is the correct choice. Remember: While you’re improving, so are others. You should be even faster than them in saving time. Your Fire Qilu and Steel-Slash Falcon… no, Steel Sword Falcon are still on unknown evolutionary paths. You’ll have to explore their chains step by step. Others, however, already have perfect evolution routes, they don’t need to waste that time. That’s the time they save over you.”

Qiao Sang’s heart stirred.

Mikayla even knew the name Steel Sword Falcon! That race name hadn’t even been officially registered yet. Clearly, Teacher Pirite must have told her everything…

Her final words struck home.

Developing a new evolutionary form was a monumental achievement for any Beast Master. But for a professional Beast Master, it wasn’t always ideal.

Because their job was to continuously excavate their beasts’ potential, raise their strength, and push them toward the racial limit.

A brand-new evolution path was completely unknown, the racial limit uncertain. The Beast Master would have to spend huge amounts of time and energy researching how to evolve them further.

Even with researchers helping, there was no telling when a new form might be discovered.

In that same time, other professionals on the same starting line might already surpass her.

Of course, she had her golden finger, the point system, which could directly force evolution. That lessened the pressure.

But she wanted Yabao and the others to evolve into the forms most suitable for them in the most perfect state possible.

That wasn’t as simple as just adding points.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have used the Dream Enlightenment Stone on Yabao, gathered S-class evolutionary resources for Little Treasure, or forced Lubao to meet her species’ absurd evolution conditions.

Thinking about it, Gangbao was actually the least troublesome of them all…

Pulling her thoughts back, Qiao Sang nodded.

“I understand.”

Even if there wasn’t something to instantly raise Gangbao’s energy without side effects, there might still be special items, like the Dream Enlightenment Stone, that were worth it.

This was the Imperial Beast University. Its resources had to be better than Shengshui Highschool’s.

She really did need to check the exchange list.

While they were talking, Gangbao broke through the clouds, and unique high-rise buildings appeared below.

At that moment, the navigation voice sounded: “Navigation ending. The Beast Center is directly below. Please switch to walking navigation.”

Gangbao descended.

“We’re here?” Qiao Sang’s spirits lifted.

Her dream had shown her not inside Yongtian City’s Beast Center, but above it.

She scanned the skies, only ordinary clouds. Nothing special.

The jagged-winged, horned dragon beast she had seen hadn’t appeared either…

Qiao Sang tried activating her Beast Codex and brain-domain sense, no changes.

Alright. Right place, wrong time. She sighed inwardly.

She couldn’t just camp in the sky above the Beast Center forever…

Lost in thought, she dismounted as Gangbao landed.

Mikayla followed.

Together, they entered the Beast Center.

This time, Qiao Sang didn’t go off on her own, time had already been wasted at Air Control. It was almost noon, most departments other than the medical and lodging divisions were closed.

They checked in, then headed to the dormitories.

“Once you know your assessment mission, inform me.” Mikayla reminded.

“Okay.”

Three minutes later, Qiao Sang scanned her badge at Room 1908 and entered, while Mikayla went to the room next door.

Qiao Sang was glad her teacher always booked two rooms.

If her one-on-one teacher were Pirite, and if she were a boy, he’d probably insist on only one room…

She flopped onto the bed, pulled out her phone, and opened the university's website.

“Yap!”

Suddenly, Yabao barked: He wanted to train.

“…Wait for me. I’ll go with you after I check something.” Qiao Sang said.

“Yap!”

No need, Yabao replied.

A hundred clones of Fire Qilu appeared instantly.

His eyes glowed blue. The door opened.

The army of clones stampeded out.

“…Well, that’s dedication.” Qiao Sang sighed.

“Go to an empty training field, not the wrong place.”

“Yap!”

Yabao nodded, shutting the door with psychic power.

“Gang Zhan…”

Gangbao muttered thoughtfully, then summoned dozens of miniature Steel Sword Falcons, which flew out the window.

“You too?” Qiao Sang asked.

Gangbao nodded.

“…Xun Xun…”

Little Treasure sighed heavily.

So exhausting. Wasn’t food better than this? He pulled out his ring and dug inside.

Meanwhile, Lubao glanced at Yabao, then silently walked toward the door.

“Wait!” Qiao Sang stopped her.

“You’re not planning to train outside too, are you?”

“Lu Di.”

Lubao turned, nodded.

“Yap!”

Yabao stared at her, then suddenly made another hundred clones, sending them out the door again.

Qiao Sang: …

Lubao: …

Little Treasure: …

“Gang Zhan!”

Only Gangbao looked impressed.

After two seconds of silence, Lubao continued out.

“Hold it.” Qiao Sang stopped her.

“You should change your training method.”

“Lu Di?”

Lubao tilted her head.

“You awakened three new skills after evolving: Avalanche, Ice Armor, and Energy Regeneration. The last two can be practiced indoors. Repeatedly train those.”

Ice Armor could stay active during combat, raising both defense and attack flexibility. Energy Regeneration was invaluable.

It was about time she trained her new skills.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao nodded, lay back down, and began forming Ice Armor.

Good girl, Qiao Sang thought with relief, turning her gaze toward...

Little Treasure, who was munching sunflower seeds.

“…You go train too.”

“Xun Xun…”

The only one slacking.

Qiao Sang logged into the academy website and opened the points exchange page.

There were countless detailed categories.

Just as she was about to browse, her phone buzzed, Mikayla’s message: [Forgot to mention, Imperial Class has exclusive exchanges. Normal students can’t access them. Open your profile, then enter Imperial Class.]

[Also, best to use a computer.]

No wonder it was called the Imperial Class. Exclusive resources…

But why the computer?

Qiao Sang, always obedient, turned to Little Treasure.

“Bring out the computer.”

“Xun Xun~”

Little Treasure promptly produced it.

Logging in, she clicked into Imperial Class.

The entire interface turned sleek black.

She opened the exclusive exchange.

Rows of items she’d never heard of filled the screen.

She clicked one: [Name: Life Reversal]

[Type: Consumable]

[Effect: Restores a pet beast’s potential to its peak year.]

[Note: Not de-aging, but returning latent potential to its strongest year. Lasts one year. Do not use on young beasts, wasteful.]

[Points: 2000]

Restoring potential? Incredible.

She clicked another: [Name: Shortening Potion]

[Type: Potion]

[Effect: Increases energy, shortens absorption time.]

[Note: Safe. Helps beasts absorb extra energy rapidly. One bottle adds ~300k–400k energy points, depending on constitution. Do not use more than three times.]

[Points: 300]

So this was what Mikayla meant. She had thought it was for shrinking body size…

One bottle could let Gangbao evolve if absorbed properly.

Such a useful item, and not a whisper of it outside. If it hit the market, people would go insane…

She still had 9995 points. 300 wasn’t expensive.

Temptation rose.

After a pause, she selected one.

[Processing…]

One minute passed. Still loading.

Frozen? She frowned, ready to refresh.

Suddenly, the screen went black.

Ripples spread across it.

This looked familiar…

“Xun Xun!” Little Treasure floated closer, intrigued.

From the ripples, a dark-iron mechanical claw emerged, intricate in design.

It opened its palm, revealing a white potion vial.

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T/n: Dear Readers, I might stop uploading chapters soon...😔