Chapter 1164
1164. Mingzhou (Two-in-One)
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker let out a cry, clarifying it wasn't Electric Shocker. Its name was Electric Gentleman.
No wonder it didn't seem like an Electric Shocker... Qiao Sang said, "You can sit down first. We'll start once we finish eating."
"Electric Electric."
Dian Zha Guai politely nodded and made no inquiry about what would start after dinner. It moved to the sofa and sat down.
"I think we should be able to depart tomorrow", Qiao Sang smiled.
With that, she quickly shoveled her food, accelerating her eating speed.
Migala silently pulled out her mobile phone and began purchasing flight tickets to Mingzhou for tomorrow.
"Xunxun~"
Suddenly, Treasure Seeker turned toward its Beastmaster, letting out a hopeful cry while gazing at her. It wanted to change its name.
During its time at Flame Sky Star, it had noticed many familiars had powerful-sounding names. Now that it commanded three "little brothers" as a Royal Beast, it definitely needed a more imposing name.
Treasure Seeker? Treasure Seeker? Could that be how its body had become so small?
"Ya Ya!"
At this, Fangy—who had been wolfing down Energy Pills—suddenly had its eyes light up with excitement. It turned around, visibly thrilled, and cried out.
It wanted to change its name too!
Qiao Sang turned to look at it.
"Fangy."
Fangy suddenly remembered this was the name its Beastmaster had specially chosen for it after seeking its opinion. The excitement vanished from its face as it sighed and let out a sound.
Well then, it decided not to change its name after all.
With that, it resumed devouring Energy Pills.
Qiao Sang took a sip of soup and looked at Treasure Seeker, speaking with sincere concern:
"You've already participated in so many matches. Whether on Blue Star or Supernest, you've accumulated countless fans who recognize you as Treasure Seeker. They'll even come to matches shouting your name in support. Are you sure you want to change it now?"
Steel Treasure silently glanced at its Beastmaster.
Fans? People already knew its name and came to matches specifically to cheer for it? Treasure Seeker immediately shook its head vigorously:
"Xunxun!"
No name change!
It wouldn't change its name!
Treasure Seeker sounded just fine!
Exactly! Treasure Seeker was such a great name—it fit its image perfectly and harmonized with Fangy's and the others' names, clearly identifying them as a group. Finishing her meal quickly, Qiao Sang turned toward Tingbao, who showed little appetite for its energy meal:
"Come on, if you can't eat it, let's go to Training."
"Tingting!"
Tingbao's eyes lit up. It nodded, twisted its body upward, and flew toward the Open Training Ground.
Qiao Sang turned to Dian Zha Guai sitting quietly on the sofa:
"Electric Gentleman, we're done eating. Follow me."
With that, she walked toward the Open Training Ground.
"Electric Electric."
Dian Zha Guai stood up, nodded slightly to Migala and Fangy to signal its departure, then followed her at a measured pace.
...
Open Training Ground.
"Electric Electric?"
Dian Zha Guai cried out, asking what it needed to do.
A breeze blew through, but no answer came.
"You need to translate", Qiao Sang finally said after waiting a long time for Tingbao to speak.
"Tingting."
It needed a translation... Tingbao let out a cry and provided one.
"You just need to use Discharge-type Skills", Qiao Sang instructed.
"Electric Electric."
Without asking further, Dian Zha Guai took a horse stance, raising its right fist.
"Zizi~"
Golden electric serpents crackled and danced, wrapping tightly around its fist.
Lightning Fist—Electric Type Intermediate Skill, physical contact attack... Qiao Sang watched the Skills Dian Zha Guai displayed, then added:
"Use special attack-type Electric Type Skills."
A moment later, she clarified further: "Attack it."
With that, she gestured with her eyes toward Tingbao.
"Tingting."
Tingbao's expression said, "I'm ready."
"Electric Electric."
Dian Zha Guai cried, retracting its lightning fist. Then chaotic, yellowish lightning wrapped around its entire body.
In the next instant, floating yellow lightning around it surged wildly toward Tingbao's position.
Tingbao stepped forward, opening its mouth wide to reveal a blood-red maw, actively charging toward the lightning.
Qiao Sang had specifically mentioned Thunder Ingestion Trait when teaching this new Awakening Skill.
"Hong!"
A deafening explosion erupted as rampant lightning power crashed into Tingbao.
In an instant, blinding lightning energy engulfed its entire body.
Looks like it didn't swallow the lightning... Qiao Sang instinctively analyzed the scene.
If it had successfully ingested the lightning, that energy should have gone into its mouth.
As the lightning energy dissipated, Tingbao emerged unscathed.
"Electric Electric..."
Dian Zha Guai, seeing the undamaged Dragon-type Beast Companion in the distance, furrowed its brows.
It had sensed this Dragon-type Beast Companion wasn't particularly strong, likely a low-Level familiar. But it hadn't expected its lightning to be completely ineffective.
"Did you swallow any lightning?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Tingting..."
Tingbao checked itself, nodding uncertainly.
Probably yes.
Whether it had or not would soon be clear... Without a word, Qiao Sang shifted her consciousness into the Beastmaster Codex, quickly flipping to Tingbao's page.
Qiao Sang wasn't entirely pretending. Tingbao's Thunder Ingestion Trait was ranked B-Rank. The Description clearly stated it could devour lightning during thunderstorms. However, Dian Zha Guai was a General-Class Electric Beast – the lightning power it unleashed was incomparably weaker than natural lightning. She'd assumed that if Tingbao could Absorb lightning, it should completely consume it. But it had only managed to Absorb an extremely small portion.
Upon hearing this, Migala smiled and explained:
"The Thunder Ingestion Trait of a Thunder Dragon isn't S-Class. Only S-Class Thunder Devouring can indiscriminately consume lightning."
"For Thunder Ingestion Traits of other Ranks, even A-Class can only absorb refined lightning energy. When consuming lightning with impure energy, it would probably create a feeling of fullness without increasing Stamina or energy."
"Absorbing too much of this impure lightning power might actually harm the body."
"Tingting."
Tingbao listened attentively and nodded in agreement.
No wonder its stomach felt full now.
Since their trip to Wanbing Island, it hadn't disliked Migala as much anymore, occasionally even exchanging a few words.
"You're full because you stuffed yourself with fruits this morning. Haven't you barely eaten at lunch?" Qiao Sang glanced silently at Tingbao before asking:
"Does this mean Tingbao can't randomly devour lightning from familiars?"
"It's better not to", Migala replied. "Even if an Electric Beast's lightning power is strong, it's nowhere near as pure as natural lightning. However, once its Thunder Ingestion Trait reaches S-Class in the future, there won't be any issues."
Eagerly, Qiao Sang asked, "Then what methods can improve the Thunder Ingestion Trait?"
Migala pondered for a moment before saying,
"You could let the Thunder Dragon consume lightning under thunderstorms more often. If it feeds for long enough, its Trait might improve."
To possess the Thunder Ingestion Trait required two conditions: having the Lightning Rod Trait and a sturdy physique. The Thunder Dragon's Lightning Rod was already S-Class, and as a Dragon-Type Beast Companion, its physique naturally strengthened through Evolution. Both conditions it needed – especially the first – had already been fulfilled to perfection. With further Evolution and repeated lightning consumption, there was a real possibility of enhancing its Thunder Ingestion Trait.
"But can lightning summoned during thunderstorms by familiars be Absorbed?" Qiao Sang asked again.
Flame Sky Star had a perpetually hot climate. Although severe droughts hadn't occurred for centuries, rainy days were still relatively rare, let alone thunderstorms. If she wanted Tingbao to consume more natural lightning power, she could only think of having familiars cast thunderstorms for it to Absorb. Migala chuckled:
"Thunderstorms are skills that alter local weather patterns, essentially creating natural lightning. Of course they can be Absorbed."
It seemed she'd need to find a familiar capable of conjuring thunderstorms to help Tingbao consume lightning power. Alternatively, she could focus on improving Qingbao's proficiency in Thunderstorm techniques to generate multiple lightning strikes at once. This would save the cost of searching for lightning-capable familiars – a win-win situation. As Qiao Sang considered this, her gaze drifted toward the living room.
...
The next morning, Qiao Sang woke up, freshened up briefly, finished her breakfast, and bid farewell to Youzhen Cat before departing the villa with Migala.
"Tingting…"
As soon as they stepped outside, Tingbao started feeling unbearably hot. Now too large to fit in the backpack, it had to stay close to its Beastmaster, following her steps while crawling and leaning its massive head against the backpack.
Measuring over two meters in length, its head was roughly the same size as the backpack. Each time it leaned against it, Lulu inside would get squeezed.
After being jostled several times,
Lulu popped out of the backpack, her expression unusually serious as she growled:
"Ice Emperor."
Stop moving the backpack.
Without another word, she retreated back inside.
"Tingting…"
Tingbao displayed a pitiful expression.
It wasn't like this before. Why couldn't it lean against the backpack anymore?
As Tingbao felt disheartened, Lulu extended her claws and unzipped the backpack.
The next moment, a visible chill aura rapidly spread outward from inside the backpack.
Within seconds, the temperature in the surrounding several meters plummeted.
"Tingting!"
Feeling the sudden coolness, Tingbao first froze in surprise, then barked joyfully at the backpack.
Lulu didn't respond from within.
Qiao Sang felt the sudden drop in temperature but showed no particular reaction, continuing her casual conversation with Teacher Mikara:
"Did you find suitable accommodations this time?"
"Of course", Migala replied. "Mingzhou is one of the hottest regions on Flame Sky Star. Without a cool place to stay, Xialala and the others wouldn't be able to endure."
Mingzhou had become an extremely hot region after the meteor shower a century ago. While indoor conditions were manageable, the outdoors was nearly unbearable.
To combat the heat, many Beastmasters would bond with Water-Type or Ice-Type familiars when they first became Beastmasters, at great expense. Those with fewer resources would settle for Fire Pet Beasts instead.
As Fire Pet Beasts evolved, their Beastmasters could benefit from replenishment effects, gaining some resistance to the heat.
It's definitely just for Xialala… Qiao Sang mused internally.
"Let's go", Migala said, turning to Pengamei.
"Pengpeng."
Pengamei cried out, her eyes glowing blue.
The next moment, the two humans and their group of familiars vanished from the spot.
Three hours later.
Mingzhou – Barrier Night Eagle landed smoothly.
Passengers exiting the creature's mouth immediately took out ice orbs and other cooling Artifacts to combat the heat.
Even so, many travelers and their familiars still groaned in discomfort.
Qiao Sang stepped off the aircraft holding Xialala, her expression unchanged, not even a drop of sweat on her brow.
Treasure Seeker, Qingbao, and Tingbao stuck close to her, as if basking in a spring breeze.
Even Steel Treasure silently edged closer to its Beastmaster.
Unsure of what they'd sensed, surrounding passengers also started following.
If Qiao Sang quickened her pace, they did too. If she slowed down, they matched her. It looked like a single tour group.
Finally, someone couldn't resist approaching. Bravely enduring the Dragon King's gaze, they asked:
"Excuse me, may I ask what Artifact you're carrying? Why is it so cool near you?"
Ears perked up around them – humans and familiars alike.
Qiao Sang turned and, seeing the person's eager expression, smiled:
"I'm not using any Artifacts. It's just the chill from my familiars."
At her words, everyone's eyes darted across Fangy and the others, desperately trying to identify the source.
Eventually, all gazes settled on Qingbao.
Qingbao: "???"
Right then, ahead of them, a small white Fox Beast measuring only sixty centimeters began growing. Reaching about six meters in length, it paused.
Swishing its tail while radiating icy air, it strutted forward with a tsundere gait.
Instantly, everyone's eyes lit up. Abandoning Qiao Sang, they hurried after the fox without hesitation.
(End of Chapter)
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