Chapter 1166: Fangy and Treasure Seeker's Underground Expedition
Chapter 1166: Fangy and Treasure Seeker's Underground Expedition (Combined Chapters)
This scene feeling so strangely familiar... Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before saying, "They're not Artifacts - they're my familiar."
As she spoke, she subtly lifted her arm and poked her backpack where no one could see.
Lulu inside the backpack immediately understood.
The next moment, the chill aura surrounding them abruptly dissipated.
The old man, who had been preparing to continue conversing while enjoying the coolness, felt the temperature shift and instantly lost interest in staying. He turned and left.
While it would be possible to purchase another Ice-Type Artifact if needed, bonding another Ice-Type familiar was out of the question.
The people nearby similarly dispersed in silence.
Within moments, the area became a vast Hollow Plains.
"Tingting."
Tingbao tapped the backpack with its tail tip and chirped, indicating everyone had left and they could resume emitting coolness.
It had noticed Lulu intentionally withdrew her chill aura to clear away humans and familiars.
Lulu didn't respond. Instead, she popped her head out of the backpack to survey the surroundings, then retreated and silently resumed emitting her chill aura.
This time, the chill aura's range was significantly smaller, only covering Qiao Sang, Fangy, and their immediate area without spreading further.
So from now on in Mingzhou, she would need to keep Lulu's chill aura under control, otherwise whenever everyone gathered together, it would make private conversations difficult... Qiao Sang mused.
As these thoughts passed through her mind, Migala resumed the previous conversation:
"The fire meteorite event in Mingzhou happened a century ago. Besides the official investigation and Scanning at that time, many professional Scanning teams have come here since then. Unless all the people who came here were amateurs, it's impossible for any Sun Crystal to still exist here."
Meaning there was absolutely no chance any Sun Crystal remained here... Qiao Sang asked, "Then why did you agree to come here with me?"
Migala looked at her and smiled, "Isn't this a tourist attraction? I thought it would be good to bring Freshbloom to see it too."
Qiao Sang: "..."
"Xiàxià..."
Xialala gazed at the breathtaking landscape before her, her eyes inexplicably showing traces of sorrow.
But she didn't like seeing these sights...
Pengamei continued appreciating the view in silence.
"Momo."
Dragon King gave its Beastmaster an amused look and unusually offered to translate.
It says it doesn't like this place.
Migala: "..."
"I don't see anything worth watching here. Why don't we just leave?" Migala said expressionlessly.
They had just arrived minutes ago. Qiao Sang was taken aback.
"Steel Chief."
Steel Treasure's voice echoed in her mind.
Dragon King had just explained that Xialala said she disliked these sights.
No wonder I wondered why we were leaving so soon...
"Xiàxià."
Before Qiao Sang could speak, Xialala turned to Migala and called out, suggesting they had just arrived and should stay to watch a bit longer.
Though she disliked the scenery, she didn't want everyone to have come here for nothing.
Dragon King stopped translating.
Migala hurriedly signaled Pengamei with her eyes to translate.
"Pengpeng."
Pengamei chirped and translated.
"Then let's stay and watch for a while longer." Migala immediately said.
Qiao Sang: "..."
Even without Steel Treasure translating Xialala's words herself, she could guess their meaning through Teacher Mikara's translation.
"If there's no Sun Crystal here, why is the underground area permanently hotter than other places?" Qiao Sang asked her question.
Migala pondered momentarily before countering with a question instead, "You don't plan to go down there to check, do you?"
"You can see through all my thoughts." Qiao Sang timely offered a compliment.
Migala looked pleased with the flattery and smiled, "If I'm not mistaken, some Fire Pet Beasts likely reside underground, which causes the temperature to remain different from the outside."
Qiao Sang hesitated, "Don't the Authorities know about this?"
"They probably do." Migala answered calmly, "But this area is something they intentionally preserved. Fire Pet Beasts living underground don't cause any damage as long as agreements are made not to destroy the landscape. It even adds to the mystery of the fire meteor crater."
"After all, this is a society where humans and familiars coexist."
Hearing this, Qiao Sang felt slightly disappointed.
She had originally thought there might still be a chance Sun Crystal remained here, but it turned out to be just Fire Pet Beasts living underground.
She didn't doubt Teacher Mikara's analysis at all. As an S-Rank Beastmaster and honorary professor at the Imperial Beastmaster Academy, instantly seeing through the issue was completely expected.
"However, you can have Yan Jiaou go down to check", Migala continued.
"Check what?" Qiao Sang asked confusedly.
Migala patiently explained, "When any flock permanently resides in a location, there's usually a reason. These Fire Pet Beasts living underground are likely due to the concentrated Fire Energy there."
Qiao Sang pondered momentarily before bluntly asking,
"You want Fangy to go down and seize the Territory?"
"Ya Ya!"
Fangy, listening nearby, was first stunned, then showed eager excitement. He chirped loudly, declaring he would definitely seize the territory.
Migala smiled slightly, "How could you say 'seize territory'? I just meant having Yan Jiaou go down to check. This area in Mingzhou isn't marked as any familiar's territory. If the underground Fire Energy is abundant, you could have Yan Jiaou negotiate with the Fire Pet Beasts to reserve a space for temporary residence. I believe they wouldn't mind."
On Flame Sky Star, requesting territory from another party always meant challenging them to battle.
Qiao Sang immediately understood Teacher Mikara's meaning. She looked at Treasure Seeker and said,
"You go down with Fangy to check."
Then she turned to Fangy and added, "First sense the Fire Energy underground. If absorbing it there feels no different from staying outside, just come up immediately. If absorbing underground allows rapid energy increase, negotiate with the Fire Pet Beasts for a space."
She paused, then added, "No battling underground. Remember to challenge them to come out and fight elsewhere."
This was just an exploration mission. At most, adding a challenge later. Now the area was filled with tourists, and their group had too many familiars, most of which were rare on Flame Sky Star. Many people and familiars had been secretly watching them. If they all suddenly disappeared underground, it would definitely attract attention. Having Fangy go alone would be risky, but with Treasure Seeker accompanying, whose high emotional intelligence could handle arranging a peaceful challenge, it should be fine.
"Ya Ya!"
Fangy showed a serious expression and nodded.
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker chirped, then its eyes glowed with Blue Light as it began locating.
Instantly, the entire fire meteor crater's topography appeared in its mind like a 3D Map.
Treasure Seeker didn’t linger, expanding their perception range deeper and wider.
Instantly, the 3D Map plunged into the Underground.
The Deep Underground glowed crimson, dominated by a massive semi-circular cave. Even from the surface, Treasure Seeker could almost feel waves of scorching heat radiating from the abyssal entrance. They confirmed the location before vanishing with Fangy.
To be cautious, Qiao Sang monitored Fangy and Treasure Seeker’s Status, ensuring they wouldn’t encounter issues below.
At that moment, a duck-like familiar over a meter tall, standing on two legs, approached. Its mostly white body contrasted with the woven basket around its neck. It flipped open the cloth covering the basket and quacked:
“Huahua~”
Qiao Sang paused her sensing, looking down to see a pile of ice cream and chilled drinks.
“Tingting……”
As she prepared to decline, she noticed Tingbao staring intently at the frosty dessert, practically drooling. She relented, saying,
“Pick what you want. Take as much as you like.”
“Tingting!”
“Qingqing.”
“Steel Chief.”
Tingbao, Qingbao, and Steel Treasure quickly made their choices.
“Ice Emperor.” Even Lulu selected a flavor.
Qiao Sang turned to Xialala, who hadn’t moved, and asked gently, “Don’t you want any?”
Xialala hesitated, then happily began picking.
“Momo.”
Dragon King glanced sideways at Migala.
Look at them. Just ice cream, and you’ve forgotten those generous transfers I’ve sent… Migala inwardly scoffed.
As she prepared to use her Cash Power to buy everything, Qiao Sang spoke again,
“Dragon King, meimei, join them and pick something.”
“Momo.”
“Pengpeng.”
Dragon King and Pengamei obligingly walked over.
Migala: “……”
Meanwhile, in the Fire Crater Underground.
“Xunxun……”
Treasure Seeker stared at the blazing cave entrance, wiping non-existent sweat from its brow. It whined, suggesting maybe it’d stay outside—this heat looked unbearable.
“Ya Ya!”
Fangy chirped energetically, dismissing the heat as trivial. After all, Treasure Seeker was Royal Tier now. If it feared this much, it could wait here.
With that, Fangy marched toward the cave.
Hearing this, Treasure Seeker suddenly recalled its status as a leader with three Little Brothers. Backing down from a little heat? How could it compete with Big Brother Yabao for the ultimate Leader position? Gritting its teeth, it followed.
Inside, the cave glowed red from the heat, illuminating everything even without night vision. The entrance spanned about a hundred square feet, barren except for a passage leading deeper.
Fangy glanced around, seeing nothing. Without hesitation, it charged down the passage.
“Xunxun……”
Treasure Seeker followed, tongue sticking out to cool down the whole way.
The deeper they went, the hotter the air became.
After two minutes of finding no familiars, Treasure Seeker couldn’t help but call out, suggesting Big Brother Yabao absorb energy here since there were no others around.
“Ya Ya.”
Fangy chirped in response, already sensing another familiar’s presence ahead.
Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a vast chamber—about the size of a standard Open Training Ground. At its center slept a familiar roughly a meter tall. Its body was mostly crimson, marked with black flame patterns. White fur framed its face, nose, and belly, with a tuft of red whiskers under its chin. Miniaturization Bands adorned its claws, and a black, ribbon-like tail wrapped around its body.
Eyes closed, it lay silently.
Fangy glanced around, finding no others. It hesitated, looking at the sleeping familiar.
Should I wake it up for battle?
“Xunxun……”
Treasure Seeker, now visibly panting, pulled a blue artifact radiating a chill aura from its ring and clutched it, sighing in relief.
Noticing Fangy’s hesitation, it called out,
“Xunxun~”
The space is large. Big Brother Yabao, just absorb here first. If the energy isn’t good, we’ll leave. If it is, we’ll wake it up.
“Ya Ya.”
Fangy nodded, closed its eyes, and began meditating, absorbing the surrounding Fire Energy.
“Ya Ya!”
After about half a minute, Fangy’s eyes flew open in excitement, chirping loudly.
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker echoed its excitement, then said,
“I’ll wake it up.”
It floated toward the slumbering Fire Pet Beast.
Just as its claws reached out, Treasure Seeker paused, hesitating.
“Ya Ya?”
Fangy chirped, asking what was wrong.
“Xunxun……”
Treasure Seeker scrutinized the sleeping familiar, then called out,
“I feel like I’ve seen it before. It looks familiar.”
“Ya Ya.”
Fangy chirped, suggesting simply waking it up to ask.
Before they could act, the Fire Pet Beast’s eyes snapped open. Its rose-red eyes, small but piercing, glared as it grumbled,
“Lili.”
You’re too noisy.
“Ya Ya!”
Fangy chirped fiercely, declaring battle.
“Ya Ya.”
Pausing, it gestured outside.
“Outside.”
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker added,
“If we win, can my Big Brother Yabao stay here to absorb energy?”
“Lili.”
The flame-marked familiar glanced at Fangy, then shrugged indifferently, replying they could stay if they didn’t make noise.
With that, it closed its eyes again.
“Fangy”
Fangy’s battle readiness evaporated into confusion. It hadn’t expected this—weren’t most familiars territorial?
“Xunxun……”
Treasure Seeker felt similarly stunned.
They exchanged bewildered glances.
“Ya Ya?”
Fangy whispered, suggesting they report to their Beastmaster first.
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker whispered back, indicating they should wait.
Then it pulled out its Beast Identifier from its ring, lowered the volume, and aimed it at the sleeping familiar.
Soon, a voice matching Treasure Seeker’s tone echoed,
“Master, you finally used me again~ Let me see who you want me to identify... Dios.”
(End of Chapter)
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