https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1151-The-Legend-of-the-Sludge-Frost-Spirit/13487407/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1153-It-Doesn-t-Want-to-Evolve-Part-2-/13487639/
Chapter 1152: Gathering
Chapter 1152: Gathering (Combined)
It didn't take long before Migala picked up a twelve-sided crystal, her tone surprised.
"An Ice Essence?!"
This was much rarer than the Ice Crystals of the same level.
Qiao Sang smiled. "There are quite a few more. Not just Ice Essence, I also saw several Aquamarine Crystals."
Migala put down the Ice Essence and said, "The Ice Emperor Ram can consume all these materials. Once we finish sorting, we'll have them appraised."
Qiao Sang paused, looking at the room piled high with crystals. "Do we need to appraise everything except the Ice Crystals?"
Migala nodded and explained, "These materials should last the Ice Emperor Ram a long time. If it consumes the same type of material for too long, it needs to be monitored. Once the levels are appraised, we can determine which ones to use daily."
Qiao Sang nodded, understanding. "Like taking medicine. More isn't always better. Overuse can lead to risks. We need to use the materials reasonably based on the familiar's condition and the material's level."
Migala smiled. "You got it."
Qiao Sang hesitated. "But this is a big project. It might take a long time to appraise everything."
Migala replied, "We can get more appraisers to help. We can set the time requirements as long as the payment is in order."
With enough money, a month's work could be condensed into a few days.
"I wonder if we can finish appraising all the materials within a week", Qiao Sang said, casually tossing a confirmed C-Class Ice Crystal to Lulu.
Lulu opened her mouth, precisely biting the Ice Crystal with a "click" and began to eat.
"If there aren't enough appraisers, we can have them start with the Ice Crystals first", Migala suggested.
"Knock, knock!"
Just as she finished speaking, a knock sounded.
"Who is it?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Leng Leng", Lengxin Frog's voice replied.
"Ya Ya!" Fangy's eyes lit up, translating immediately. "The food is ready. Let's go down."
"We'll be right there", Qiao Sang called out.
"Leng Leng." Lengxin Frog called and turned to leave.
...
Five minutes later.
The Seeker put the mountain of crystals back into the Ring. Then, Qiao Sang, Migala, and Fangy went down to the first-floor dining room to enjoy the innkeeper's carefully prepared dinner.
The table was laden with energy meals, fruits, delicacies, and drinks—plentiful and delicious. Fangy and the others were eating heartily, clearly very satisfied.
The young innkeeper filled their glasses, stood up, and said solemnly, "Coldblooded Frog's safe return is all thanks to you. I don't know what to say, so let's raise a glass to you!"
He drank the glass in one gulp.
After finishing, he gently nudged Coldblooded Frog.
"Leng Leng."
Coldblooded Frog understood its Beastmaster and stood up, pouring itself a glass. It called out and drank the glass in one go, its attitude casual and experienced.
Migala wasn't surprised; she had seen many familiars drink before.
Qiao Sang, however, was taken aback. "Is Coldblooded Frog okay drinking like that?"
"No problem", the young innkeeper smiled. "It likes to drink."
Sure enough, Coldblooded Frog poured itself another glass and sipped it slowly.
Qiao Sang: "..."
"Ting ting..."
Tingbao curiously crawled to the bottle and sniffed it. Coldblooded Frog glanced at it and poured a glass.
Tingbao paused, then stuck its head into the glass and took a sip.
"Ting ting..."
Soon, Tingbao's eyes glazed over, and it fell to the ground, clearly drunk.
One sip and it was out cold. Tingbao's alcohol tolerance was terrible... Qiao Sang thought, waving her hand to return Tingbao to the Beastmaster Codex.
"If you ever come back to Wanbing Island, feel free to visit. I'll provide free lodging and meals", the young innkeeper said warmly.
Before Qiao Sang and Migala could respond, he continued, "How long are you staying? I know the island's terrain and all the best spots. I can be your guide for the next few days if you'd like."
"No need", Qiao Sang said, taking a bite of tender stir-fried beef. "We're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" The young innkeeper was taken aback. "So soon?"
"Because our business is done", Qiao Sang explained.
"Looking for Ice Crystals?" The young innkeeper asked.
When they checked in, Qiao Sang had specifically asked the innkeeper where to find Ice Crystals. She wasn't surprised he guessed their purpose and nodded.
The young innkeeper was silent for a moment, then asked cautiously, "You're so capable, your requirements for Ice Crystals must be high. Have you found suitable ones?"
Qiao Sang was honest. "Not sure yet. We haven't had them appraised."
The young innkeeper picked up his glass, took a sip, and then, as if making a decision, put it down and looked at Coldblooded Frog, focusing on the crystal hanging around its neck.
"Leng Leng."
Before its Beastmaster could speak, Coldblooded Frog understood and unhesitatingly removed the crystal from its neck, handing it over.
The young innkeeper was taken aback, meeting Coldblooded Frog's eyes.
Without a word, they understood each other.
The young innkeeper took the crystal and solemnly handed it to Qiao Sang. "You saved Coldblooded Frog. I have nothing else to offer, but please accept this as my gratitude."
Qiao Sang sipped her soup and smiled, declining. "No need. Saving Coldblooded Frog was just a matter of convenience."
"This is an Ice Crystal", the young innkeeper said.
Qiao Sang paused and looked over.
Migala, who had been eating gracefully, also looked up.
"An Ice Crystal?" Qiao Sang examined the crystal in the young innkeeper's hand, hesitating. "It doesn't look like the others."
Ice Crystals were irregular in shape, clear, and sparkled with filament-like patterns under sunlight or lamp light. But this crystal looked hazy and blue, not fitting the description of an Ice Crystal at all.
"Because it's an SS-Rank Ice Crystal..." the young innkeeper explained.
Before he finished, Qiao Sang's eyes widened, and she stood up, interrupting, "An SS-Rank Ice Crystal?"
Migala looked astonished.
Fangy and the others turned to look.
Qiao Sang realized her reaction and silently sat back down.
The young innkeeper nodded, looking a bit embarrassed, and continued, "I obtained this by chance. It's already been appraised. I'm just a regular Beastmaster and can't protect an SS-Rank Ice Crystal. I originally wanted to use it for Coldblooded Frog, but its level is too high, and Coldblooded Frog could suffer energy overload. So, I coated it with Liyau Oil to disguise it and hung it around Coldblooded Frog's neck."
No wonder it doesn’t look like an Ice Crystal at all... Qiao Sang confirmed, "You’re really going to give me this SS-Rank Ice Crystal?"
The Young Innkeeper solemnly replied, "That’s right. Coldblooded Frog can’t absorb an SS-Rank Ice Crystal, and keeping it with me would be a waste. You saved Coldblooded Frog, and although an SS-Rank Ice Crystal is valuable, it can’t compare to the value Coldblooded Frog holds in my heart. So, please accept it."
Qiao Sang took the blue crystal, her expression serious, and said, "Saving Coldblooded Frog was just a small effort, but if you insist, I’ll accept it."
Steel Treasure silently glanced at her Beastmaster.
For the rest of the time, Migala continued eating, while Qiao Sang and the Young Innkeeper chatted happily.
After the meal, the Young Innkeeper even went back to his room to fetch the appraisal certificate for the SS-Rank Ice Crystal.
After a warm conversation, Qiao Sang returned to her room and, along with Migala, continued sorting the mountain of crystals.
"I never expected to obtain an SS-Rank Ice Crystal this way", Qiao Sang said, unable to hide the smile on her lips.
Migala suddenly remembered something and stopped her actions, saying, "Have Ice Emperor Ram clean that Ice Crystal."
Hearing this, Qiao Sang took out the Ice Crystal and placed it in front of Lulu.
Without a word, Lulu opened her mouth and sprayed a concentrated Water Jet.
In an instant, the blue surface of the crystal was thoroughly washed, revealing its clear, crystalline interior.
Qiao Sang picked up the crystal and examined it under the light.
The sudden brilliance inside the crystal nearly blinded her.
"I don’t even need the appraisal certificate to know this Ice Crystal is higher than S-Class", Qiao Sang reflected.
After all, Snowfall Lion had given her an S-Class Ice Crystal before.
After her reflection, Qiao Sang casually put the Ice Crystal in her pocket without handing it to Treasure Seeker.
Migala noticed this and asked, "When do you plan to make the transaction?"
Without hesitation, Qiao Sang replied, "I’ll contact them tonight to avoid any delays."
Migala said, "The Imperial Class exclusive interface on the school website has a one-click teleportation service. You can check it out."
Qiao Sang paused, then asked, "You mean to have Wheel Cel deliver it?"
Migala nodded.
Qiao Sang opened her mouth to say something, but Migala added, "You’ll have to pay the credits yourself."
Qiao Sang: "..."
After sorting the crystals, Migala left the room. Qiao Sang freshened up a bit, sat on her bed, and placed her laptop on her knees. She opened it, logged into the Imperial Beastmaster Academy’s website, and contacted the classmate she had chatted with privately, sending a message:
[Found an SS-Rank Ice Crystal.]
[Image]
[Image]
She also attached pictures of the Ice Crystal and the appraisal certificate.
About five seconds later, a reply came:
[Zhuang: Send it over. I’ll confirm it’s genuine and then send you the Pure Nightstone.]
Qiao Sang typed back, [How long will it take you to confirm?]
She wasn’t worried about the other party disappearing with the Ice Crystal. The Imperial Beastmaster Academy, as the top school on Blue Star, had strict regulations in place to ensure fair transactions.
[Zhuang: How soon can you send it? I can confirm it on the same day.]
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker had approached at some point and, seeing the content, made a comment, indicating that this human clearly didn’t trust her, even though she had sent the appraisal certificate.
Qiao Sang chuckled, "When the other party sends you the Pure Nightstone and the appraisal certificate, will you confirm it too?"
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker nodded.
Of course.
"Exactly", Qiao Sang added, "It’s good to be cautious with strangers. Don’t believe people online so easily."
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker nodded.
Qiao Sang began typing:
[Don’t leave the screen.]
After sending the message, she opened the Imperial Class exclusive interface.
She quickly found the one-click teleportation service.
Opening it, she saw the cost was 50 credits.
50 credits... Qiao Sang felt a slight pang of pain, but she clicked to confirm.
After three seconds, the screen went black, and a faint ripple appeared.
The ripple expanded, and a black-iron-colored claw extended from the screen.
Qiao Sang handed over the prepared Ice Crystal and appraisal certificate.
The black-iron-colored claw weighed it briefly and then retracted into the screen.
A second later, the screen lit up, returning to the original page.
Soon, a reply came:
[Zhuang: You’re an Imperial Class student?]
[How did you know?]
[Zhuang: Imperial Class students can directly spend credits to use Wheel Cel. Other classes and majors have to apply a month in advance and pay credits.]
So, there was a difference in treatment... Qiao Sang typed back:
[You know this pretty well.]
[Zhuang: Because I’m also an Imperial Class student.]
Qiao Sang: "???"
Before she could reply, another message came:
[Zhuang: I know most of the Imperial Class students and their accounts. There’s only one I don’t know, and you must be the prodigy Qiao Sang.]
Prodigy? Who said that? Qiao Sang typed:
[It’s me.]
[Zhuang: Since we’re classmates, I naturally trust you.]
The screen went black again before Qiao Sang could react.
A ripple appeared, and the black-iron-colored claw reappeared, holding a black box and an appraisal certificate.
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker took the box and certificate, shaking hands with the black-iron-colored claw as a sign of appreciation.
The black-iron-colored claw visibly paused, then retracted into the screen.
The screen returned to its normal brightness.
A new message appeared:
[Zhuang: Hope to work with you again in the future.]
This was too efficient... Qiao Sang inwardly marveled but didn’t mention needing to verify it herself. She typed back:
[Hope so too.]
After ending the chat, Qiao Sang took the box and certificate from Treasure Seeker.
Opening it, she saw a dark, cold crystal inside.
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker lifted a claw to touch it.
This was the SS-Rank Pure Nightstone... Qiao Sang examined the appraisal certificate, confirming the level and noting that the appraiser was from the Imperial Beastmaster Academy’s research institute, giving her a sense of finality.
With the Tungsten Corpse Crystal and the Pure Nightstone both in hand, all Treasure Seeker needed for an Imperial Tier evolution was to fill its energy...
(End of Chapter)
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