Chapter 816: Due Date
Chapter 816: Due Date (Combined)
The morning match concluded, and the audience gradually filed out.
“Xunxun!”
“Xunxun!”
Treasure Seeker excitedly fluttered around its Beastmaster.
It wanted to sign up!
It wanted to participate in the Coordination Contest!
Qiao Sang didn’t take it too seriously.
Treasure Seeker’s enthusiasm for anything was always short-lived.
It used to love the Diamond Gauntlet, but when the Evolution size no longer fit, it didn’t insist on getting a new one, as if it had forgotten about it.
Recently, it had become obsessed with playing on the computer, almost to the point of madness. However, due to the need to train Oppressive Aura and the nightly outings to gather Little Brother, its interest in the computer gradually waned.
This time would probably be no different.
“To participate in the Coordination Contest, you need to win five coordination matches,” Qiao Sang casually said. “If you have the time in the future, we can sign you up for a coordination match.”
“Xunxun!”
Hearing this, Treasure Seeker immediately spun several times in mid-air, overjoyed.
Maral, overhearing this, suddenly turned her head, her face filled with excitement. “You’re going to participate in the Coordination Competition?”
Qiao Sang lowered her voice. “Not necessarily. I just want to keep it happy for now.”
She then gave a subtle nod in Treasure Seeker’s direction.
Maral: “...”
Does a familiar need to be handled so delicately? She didn’t understand...
Dean Suli said goodbye to the other four judges and approached, smiling. “So, did the Coordination Competition pique your interest at all?”
Qiao Sang replied honestly, “Yes, but only from an appreciative standpoint. My current goal is still to aim for the Interstellar Cup.”
The Interstellar Cup, such a grand goal... Maral, who hadn’t seen the interviews, was taken aback.
“I know,” Dean Suli’s smile faded, and she spoke earnestly. “I’ve seen a few of your celebrity Beastmaster matches. At your age, to have achieved such strength, I can’t think of another in the entire galaxy. I support your goal of participating in the Interstellar Cup.”
“However,” she continued, “you might consider joining the Coordination Competition. It could offer you a different perspective on the path of a Beastmaster.”
Initially, she had encouraged Qiao Sang for Principal’s sake, but now she genuinely believed that Qiao Sang should pursue the path of a Professional Beastmaster. So, she didn’t say much when Qiao Sang first arrived.
After all, only a Beastmaster who has truly strived to teach their familiar an Epic Skill understands how difficult it is.
This child, at just 16 years old, had managed to teach two General-Class Beast Companions Epic Skills. To call her a prodigy would not be an exaggeration.
Her hope was that Qiao Sang would discover the charm of coordination through the Coordination Contest.
“The path of a Beastmaster is both monotonous and full of excitement,” Dean Suli smiled again. “When you feel exhausted on the path of a Professional Beastmaster, take some time to explore other domains. You might find unexpected rewards.”
“I look forward to the day you participate in the Interstellar Cup.”
Dean Suli extended her hand.
Qiao Sang, moved by her words, reached out to shake it. “I will.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.” Dean Suli glanced at Maral. “Make sure to show Qiao Sang around.”
Maral straightened up immediately. “Sure!”
Dean Suli turned and left for the backstage area.
Maral relaxed and laughed. “I thought Dean Suli wanted to recruit you, which is why she insisted I bring you to the match. Looks like she’s given up on that.”
Qiao Sang checked the time on her mobile phone. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” Maral asked. “Is there somewhere you want to go?”
Qiao Sang looked at her. “Home. We need to start training Fangy’s resistance to Wave of Peace.”
“Yah!” Fangy barked in agreement.
Maral: “...”
...
7:30 PM.
Villa.
After dinner, Treasure Seeker headed to the room piled high with luxury items, stuffed a bunch into the Ring, and then Space Teleported to the full-length mirror in the living room. She took off the Ring and started pulling out various accessories and clothes, trying them on one by one.
"Xunxun..."
This one doesn't fit.
This one is too big.
This one is too ugly.
Treasure Seeker kept trying on and discarding items.
"Beep beep..."
Adinix curiously walked over, mimicking Treasure Seeker by trying on various accessories and clothes.
Fangy and Lulu walked together toward the Outdoor Training Ground.
"Ice Ai..."
As they passed by, Lulu glanced at Treasure Seeker and sighed in relief.
Looks like Treasure Seeker won't bother us today...
Steel Treasure split into four.
Three clones headed to the Outdoor Training Ground, while the original began clearing the dishes from the table.
Skyglow Bat's eyes glowed blue as it used Psychic Power to help tidy up.
"Too bad this Steel Slash Falcon isn't a butler familiar", Birit said, seeing Steel Treasure's industriousness.
"Steel Slash Falcons are flying familiars, not suitable as butler familiars", Liu Yao, succumbing to her professional instincts, explained, "Research shows that the best familiars for butlers are bipedal, with two claws, and can stand and move like humans."
Birit fell silent, then finally managed to say, "I was just joking."
Inside the room.
Qiao Sang sat cross-legged on the bed, meditating.
"Xunxun!"
About ten minutes later, Treasure Seeker's voice suddenly rang out in the room.
Qiao Sang opened her eyes and looked at Treasure Seeker. Her lips twitched, and she felt a pang of pain in her eyes.
A pink afro wig, yellow sunglasses, several chains around her neck, a black cloak from today's shopping, and rings of different colors on each toe—Treasure Seeker looked almost unbearable to look at.
"Xunxun!"
Seeing that her Beastmaster wasn't speaking, Treasure Seeker called out again, asking what she thought of this look.
Qiao Sang paused, then said with forced enthusiasm, "It's not bad."
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker beamed with joy.
Now, she would sign up for the Coordination Competition! She would use this look for her preparation!
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker grew more excited, floating over to the desk, picking up the laptop, and placing it on the bed. She opened it and looked at Qiao Sang expectantly.
Oh no, she actually took what I said this morning seriously... Qiao Sang thought for half a second, then went to the computer to search for upcoming Coordination Competitions she could sign up for.
When she saw the requirements, she felt a twinge of amusement but tried to look frustrated.
"The upcoming Coordination Competition requires participants to have placed in the top three of two previous coordination events. We don't qualify."
Thunderbolt!
"Xunxun!"
Treasure Seeker was struck speechless, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.
Though she knew Treasure Seeker's tears came and went quickly, Qiao Sang couldn't help feeling a bit sorry.
Maybe I should find a coordination event to sign up for, even if I can't participate in the big ones.
Smaller coordination events are shorter, and even if I make it to the second stage, it would only take a couple of days...
Treasure Seeker in this outfit would probably only last a day... Qiao Sang thought and then said, "Don't cry, let me check again."
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker quickly wiped away her tears and pointed at the computer, urging her to look.
Qiao Sang: "..."
I'm a bit regretful now... Qiao Sang sighed inwardly and logged onto the Coordination Center's official website to check.
The Coordination Center had announcements for all upcoming Coordination Matches.
The event descriptions displayed have all been registered with the Authorities, and the achievements gained are recognized by the Coordination Center Authorities.
Qiao Sang took a quick look and discovered that they couldn't participate in any of the upcoming Coordination Matches, as each required certain honors they had not yet achieved.
Except for a Coordination Competition two months from now...
Qiao Sang spoke frankly, "There isn't a single event we can register for, except for the match two months from now. By then, we should be preparing to return to Blue Star."
"Xunxun!"
Treasure Seeker floated to the bed, lying down and rolling around playfully.
So, let's delay our return to Blue Star!
Qiao Sang was about to speak.
"Steel Slash."
At that moment, Steel Treasure pushed the door open and called out, indicating that they had made a decision and wanted to try participating in a Coordination Competition.
"Xunxun?"
Treasure Seeker stopped rolling and looked at Steel Treasure, eyes wide open.
Qiao Sang's attention immediately focused on Steel Treasure and asked, "Why?"
Familiars in Supernest were not treated well, and the wild Steel Sparrows she had encountered clearly harbored hostility towards humans. She suspected that this species might not be fond of bonding with humans.
"Steel Slash."
"Steel Slash."
Steel Treasure understood their Beastmaster's meaning and called out, patiently explaining.
While humans generally disliked bonding with wild members of their own species, many bases still had eggs and members of their kind. If Steel Treasure could change humans' perception of their species, the treatment of their fellow kind in these bases might improve.
Qiao Sang listened, stunned.
She had been to a Companion Base and knew the general layout.
Rare and expensive familiars were given the largest areas, the most popular ones were placed in the best locations, while those that few bonded with were often neglected, sometimes even forgotten during their daily feedings.
This was the situation in most Companion Bases on Blue Star.
In Supernest, the treatment of unpopular species was something Qiao Sang could hardly imagine.
To think even about the treatment of their kind in Companion Bases... Qiao Sang was deeply moved and said, "There is a Coordination Competition we can participate in, but it's two months from now."
Then she thought of something and added, "You can continue training your Skills with your Clone, and the original can take some time to practice coordination."
"However, coordination training requires more focus. You'll need to get better at multitasking."
"Steel Slash."
Steel Treasure nodded, indicating they understood, then walked out of the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.
"Xunxun?"
Treasure Seeker turned to look at their Beastmaster, their expression filled with uncertainty.
Is Fourth One going to participate too?
Qiao Sang cleared her throat and finished what she had been about to say, "The match is in the last week of this semester. We don't need to stay here specifically for it, but I'll register soon."
"However, I want you to promise me that you'll continue your regular training, especially the practice of Oppressive Aura. Don't interrupt it."
"As for coordination training, you can do it during your rest periods."
"Xunxun!"
Treasure Seeker nodded repeatedly and then asked again.
What about Fourth One?
Qiao Sang said seriously, "You saw today's match. Most Coordinators send out two familiars. When the time comes, I'll have you and Steel Treasure participate together."
"Xunxun..."
Treasure Seeker sighed.
If Fourth One wanted to participate, this was the only way.
...
A month passed quickly.
During this time, Fangy's resistance to the Wave of Peace had improved somewhat. They no longer became completely dazed when hit, but their reaction time was still much slower than normal.
The Epic Skill requires a tremendous amount of energy, which the Clone simply can't muster. Only the original can practice it.
Fangy, by drinking B-Class Energy Restoratives like water, barely managed to bring Lava Hell to the small success level.
Treasure Seeker usually studied by watching videos of Coordination Competitions during the day. In the evenings, he either trained or went to fight Lulu. For a while, he grew bold and even challenged Fangy once, but there was no second time after that.
He would also venture out late at night to look for Little Brother.
The data for Oppressive Aura steadily increased, needing just over 100 points to reach B-Rank.
Lulu, like Fangy, drank B-Class Energy Restoratives like water.
Unlike Fangy, she didn't need to practice resisting the Wave of Peace, so she trained Frost Haven during the day and continued at night. Occasionally, she would stay up all night while Fangy slept, training either Frost Haven or Colossal Ice Spike.
Within a month, she brought Frost Haven to the small success level.
Steel Treasure's Clone had reached mastery, nearly perfection.
The reason for such rapid progress was that it applied to stay home and train while Qiao Sang went to school in the morning.
With a Clone at mastery level, Steel Treasure's other skills improved visibly.
Everything was going smoothly, except for Qiao Sang, who grew increasingly despondent.
At 9:30 PM.
After days of dejection, Qiao Sang stepped out of her room and into the living room. Through the glass wall, she saw Fangy casually using Psychic Control to pour a B-Class Energy Restorative into his mouth and toss the bottle aside. Her heart ached at the sight.
"Di-di?"
The plump Adinix, sitting on the sofa, saw a familiar face and offered a pawful of chips, calling out.
Qiao Sang, guessing the gesture, replied listlessly, "Thanks, but I'm not hungry."
Adinix withdrew the chips and continued eating.
Seeing the pile of snacks on the sofa and coffee table, Qiao Sang couldn't help but ask, "You still can't predict anything, can you?"
"Di-di."
Adinix's body stiffened, then she wore a look of resignation.
Qiao Sang needed no translation; the expression said it all.
With a sigh, she went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.
"Steel Slash?"
At the dining table, Steel Treasure, who was applying familiar care oil to its feathers for the Coordination Competition, called out in inquiry.
Qiao Sang, not wanting to elaborate, replied, "Nothing."
"Steel Slash."
Steel Treasure didn't press further, picking up the familiar care oil and calling out again, indicating that it wanted to buy two more bottles.
"Sure", Qiao Sang said absentmindedly. "How much does it cost?"
Steel Treasure and Treasure Seeker had learned to shop online, and she had set up password-free payments for convenience. The familiar care oil was one such purchase.
"Steel Slash."
Steel Treasure thought for a moment and called out again.
It seemed to be 20,000 Union Coins per bottle.
"Spit!" Qiao Sang, who had just taken a sip, spat out the water in disbelief. "How much did you say?!"
"Steel Slash."
Steel Treasure repeated.
20,000 Union Coins per bottle.
So expensive... Qiao Sang stared at the small bottle of familiar care oil, feeling a pang of pain.
"Steel Slash?"
Steel Treasure, observing its Beastmaster's expression, looked thoughtful and called out, asking if she was broke.
Qiao Sang: "..."
Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment before sighing, "Not exactly, it's just that my Unlimited Credit Card is about to expire." (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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