Has it really been that long?

Qiao Sang froze for a second. She hadn’t felt it at all… Quickly pulling her expression back under control, she said: “Then please open a new room for me.”

“Of course.” The staff smiled and tapped away at the system.

Ten minutes later, in Room 2009 of the lodging area...

Qiao Sang stepped in, shut the door, and immediately plugged in her phone to charge.

When it finally powered on, she checked the date. It really was half a month later.

She frowned slightly, then dialed Professor Mikayla’s number.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off.”

The automated message made her pause.

Don’t tell me… she saw I hadn’t come out of the secret realm for so long, and went in to look for me?

Her mind spun with the possibility.

“Lu Di.”

Lubao’s call snapped her out of it.

Qiao Sang turned her head to see the pets crouched in the corner, one paw pinching her nose, staring at her, Yabao, Little Treasure, and Gangbao with faint disgust.

Hey, you weren’t giving me that look when we were outside… Qiao Sang muttered inwardly, then said aloud: “I’ll go wash up first.”

“Xun~”

Little Treasure removed his golden ring, deftly pulling out a few sets of clean clothes for his Beast Master to choose from.

Qiao Sang picked a random outfit and went into the bathroom.

---

Meanwhile...

At the Beast Exchange Center.

“You said you were only renting my Silent Croaker Frog for a week. But now it’s been gone with you for half a month! And the whole time, I couldn’t sense it at all. I almost called the police, you know that?! Aside from paying for the extra eight days, you’re also going to compensate me for mental damages!”

The burly man in a black T-shirt and colorful shorts scowled.

“Ning ning…”

The Silent Croaker Frog by his side sniffled, rubbing at its eyes.

That mission had been way too terrifying…

“And look at it, it’s clearly not in good condition! It deserves mental damage compensation too.” The man shot the frog a glance and added coldly.

Mikayla fell silent.

“What, you’re not planning to pay up?” The man’s brows knit, his tone sharpening.

Mikayla looked at him calmly and suddenly asked: “You said I’ve had your Silent Croaker Frog for half a month?”

---

Back in Room 2009 at the Beast Center lodging area.

After washing herself, Qiao Sang also gave Yabao and the others a proper bath before sitting back down, phone in hand. She dialed Mikayla’s number again.

This time, after two rings, it connected.

Before she could speak, Mikayla’s voice came sharply from the speaker: “Why are you only contacting me after half a month? Did you just come out of the secret realm?”

Qiao Sang hummed in agreement, then quickly explained the situation.

“I thought it would only take at most a week, but I didn’t expect half a month to have passed.”

Mikayla thought for a moment.

“I’ve heard some secret realms have different time flows inside compared to outside.”

“But the files on Secret Realm No. 88 never mentioned anything about that.” Qiao Sang frowned.

“Then maybe the Source Guardian River you went to at the end had a different time flow from the rest.” Mikayla reasoned.

That does make sense… Qiao Sang thought.

Then Mikayla suddenly recalled what Qiao Sang had mentioned earlier and asked in shock: “You said your Ice Aipalu evolved into Ice Emperor Ram?”

Qiao Sang couldn’t help grinning.

“That’s right.”

Still, she felt she should downplay it a bit, so she added: “Actually, my Ice Aipalu’s energy had already maxed out. It only needed emotional stimulation and subzero conditions around minus 60°C to evolve. It was just luck, he got emotional, there was plenty of water nearby, and a bunch of Ice-types were willing to help.”

Luck? You’re calling that luck?! Mikayla nearly choked but kept her voice calm: “Ice Aipalu evolved faster than expected. But your goal is the Interstellar Cup. You still have a long way to go.”

As expected of an S-rank Beast Master, even news of an evolution to King-level barely moved her. For someone like Mikayla, raising a General-level beast to King-level really wasn’t anything remarkable.

Qiao Sang straightened her expression.

“I understand!”

Then she remembered something.

“Professor, did you already check out of your room? Where are you now?”

Mikayla had already prepared her answer.

“I checked out. I’m studying beasts in the Central Hollow Region. Since your mission is complete, let’s meet at the skyway and head for the next city.”

“It might take a little while. The person I rescued went home first. I need him to come with me to confirm the mission.”

“Alright. Contact me once it’s confirmed.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Sang hung up, then messaged the wealthy client who had commissioned her: [My address has changed. I’m in Room 2009 at the Beast Center lodging area. Don’t send it to the wrong place.]

A few seconds later, the reply came: [Got it.]

Relieved, Qiao Sang lay back on the bed, closed her eyes, and entered the Beast Codex.

She flipped through the glowing pages until she found Lubao’s updated entry:

Name: Ice Emperor Ram (Lubao)

Attributes: Water, Ice

Level: King (1,000,000 / 10,000,000)+

Traits:

First Trait: Melting Water (A, very practical) – Allows the body to merge with water.

Second Ability: Swift Swimmer (B, practical) – In rainy weather, movement speed triples.

Third Ability: Rain Perception (C, usable) – Ears and tail absorb moisture from the air to predict rainfall.

Fourth Ability: Water Storage (B, practical) – Water-type attacks restore HP instead of dealing damage.

Fifth Ability: Frozen Body (B, practical) – In snowy weather, health regenerates over time.

Hidden Ability: Snowfall (C, usable) – Changes weather to snow upon entering battle.

Skills:

Healing Light (Ultimate), Water Gun (Ultimate), Bubble Beam (+), Water Tail (Ultimate), Mist (+), Aqua Stream Jet (Ultimate), Icy Wind (+), Powder Snow (+), Ice Claw (+), Healing Soundwave (+), Rain Dance (+), Snow (+), Ice Flower Seal (+), Ice Spike Guard (++), Hail (++), Aurora Veil/Screen (++), Blizzard (+), Gigantice Icicle (++), Ice Field Domain (+), Purification (++), Avalanche (Beginner), Ice Armor (Beginner), Energy Regeneration (Beginner).

Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up.

Energy Regeneration?

That skill was one of the most practical high-tier moves of all, it could instantly restore stamina without relying on potions. In training, it would save her a fortune on recovery items. And in battle, it could easily turn the tide.

With Snowfall triggering Frozen Body, plus Healing Light and now Energy Regeneration, Lubao’s endurance is insane. She can basically play tank now.

Though none of the newly awakened moves were super-tier, all three, Avalanche, Ice Armor, and Energy Regeneration, were very solid.

She was a little disappointed, when Lubao evolved into Ice Aipalu last time, she had awakened two super-tier skills.

That had raised her expectations too high. But realistically, a King-level beast not awakening any super-tier skills was normal.

I need to keep my mindset balanced…

Just then, her phone buzzed.

It was Liu Bo calling.

“Boss, I’m already at the Beast Center. Where do I find you?”

Why do you call me boss too… Qiao Sang slipped on her shoes as she answered: “Third floor, mission assessment office.”

“Got it.”

---

Beast Center, third floor.

Mission Assessment Office.

The examiner, a tall thin middle-aged man, checked Liu Bo’s ID, ran a facial scan, and confirmed it was him.

He froze for a long time.

Truthfully, he had never imagined someone who had vanished in a secret realm for so long could actually come back alive.

At best, he had expected the Beast Master to return with bones or remains to identify. That would still have taken over a month.

Yet here they were in just half a month, alive.

Shock simmered in his chest before he finally muttered: “Didn’t expect you to survive in there for so long.”

“All thanks to my boss here!” Liu Bo said firmly.

If not for her, he’d never have left alive.

Boss? The examiner glanced at the black-haired girl beside him. If he remembered right, the file said she was still underage…

What a pity. A genius like this, and she wasn’t from the Central Hollow Region.

He sighed and clicked Complete on the mission file. Then he turned to Qiao Sang with a complicated look.

“You’ve done excellent work.”

He paused, then added: “I look forward to your performance at this year’s regional tournament.”

“I won’t disappoint.”

Outside the office, Liu Bo invited her to dinner, but she declined and returned to her room.

At Room 2009’s door, she found a wooden box waiting.

Inside was a black, teardrop-shaped bead.

That’s… Ghost Tear?! An S-rank Ghost Tear, just left at my door like this? Who delivers something that precious without even calling first? What if it isn’t really S-rank? Maybe I should get it appraised in the next city…

Shaking her head, she closed the box and handed it to Little Treasure.

“Keep it safe.”

“Xun!”

Little Treasure solemnly tucked it into his ring.

With everything settled, there was no more reason to linger. Qiao Sang messaged Mikayla: [Mission confirmed. I’m heading to the skyway now.]

---

High above the clouds, riding on Yabao’s back...

Qiao Sang idly scrolled the forum while following her navigation. On the front page, a pinned post caught her eye:

#After Being Captured by Wild Beasts, I Made It Out of Secret Realm 88 Alive!#

Curious, she tapped it open.

The survivor described his capture, the torment he endured, and how a competitor in this year’s regional tournament had rescued them.

The post cut off suddenly-

The rest was hidden behind a paywall.

Qiao Sang’s lips twitched. People really find any way to make money… She closed the forum and focused on navigation again.

Half an hour later, Yabao descended at the skyway.

She quickly spotted Mikayla.

“How was this mission for you?” Mikayla asked, studying her as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages.

“Pretty good. I gained a lot.” Qiao Sang answered.

Mission complete, points earned, and most importantly, Lubao had evolved into Ice Emperor Ram, her very first King-level beast.

And you summarize all that with just ‘pretty good’? Mikayla kept her expression composed.

“As long as you gained something, that’s what matters.”

“Professor.”

Qiao Sang asked, “which city are we heading to next?”

Mikayla had already decided.

“Changyu City.”

Changyu City, where it rained year-round, earning it the name Perpetual Rain City.

It was a well-known place even back in Yuhua District, so Qiao Sang had heard of it before.

She glanced at Yabao, thinking. He’s not going to enjoy that weather…

Sure enough, when she looked, she found Yabao staring intently at her backpack.

That look, don’t tell me he’s eyeing Lubao for a fight now that she’s evolved?