...

After receiving the awards, taking photos, and getting a small souvenir, the awards ceremony was officially over.

It was already ten o’clock at night. The competition organizers provided one night of free accommodation for the contestants.

Su Zhi and Yu Bao were walking through the small plaza outside the battle arena, enjoying the evening breeze.

Yu Bao lay in Su Zhi’s arms, curiously sniffing the souvenir.

The city league’s souvenir was a fist-sized coal carving. However, compared to traditional coal carvings, this one had a smooth, bright surface and felt like amber to the touch.

The surface of the carving depicted a landscape painting. The overlapping mountain peaks perfectly matched the natural grain of the coal, creating a magical 2D-to-3D effect that gave it an incredibly strong sense of depth!

Coal carving was a specialty that Huai City was proud of; its craftsmanship and quality were top-tier on all of Blue Star.

Huai City used to be the capital of coal. It experienced a period of economic boom by mining, earning it the nickname "Little Shanghai".

Later, due to environmental pollution, the Common Defense Alliance halted Huai City’s coal industry. The city that once supplied energy to the entire Yu Dian District fell into stagnation.

That was until someone accidentally discovered a method for making coal carvings using Thunderstrike Spiders. A Thunderstrike Spider’s fangs could secrete a special chemical that made the surface of the coal hard, smooth, and textured like amber, solving the biggest problem with coal carvings: crumbling.

To this day, by introducing a batch of Thunderstrike Spiders, Huai City has successfully sparked a new national trend of coal carving...

"Woof."

After hearing Su Zhi’s explanation, a hint of disgust appeared in Yu Bao’s eyes as it looked at the coal carving.

’So after all that, this little ball of coal was just gnawed on by some other Pet Beast?’

’How gross.’

Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he patted Yu Bao. "Thunderstrike Spiders are medical Pet Beasts. If you ever get injured, you might need one to stitch up your wounds with its mouth."

Yu Bao shivered and buried its head in Su Zhi’s chest.

’I’m not going to get injured easily from now on! I’ve awakened Thick Earth Blessing now!’

"That’s right!" Mentioning this, Su Zhi suddenly grew excited.

"Yu Bao, have you fully stabilized your awakened Core Skill?"

"Woof!"

Filled with energy, Yu Bao wagged its tail, leaped out of Su Zhi’s arms, and landed steadily on the ground.

Its eyes turned gold as it activated Thick Earth Blessing!

A faint Golden Light flowed from between Yu Bao’s brows, spreading gently back from its forehead.

Soon, Yu Bao’s entire body was glowing with Golden Light, looking especially dazzling in the night.

The Yu Dian Dog’s Core Skill, Thick Earth Blessing!

"Woof! Woof!"

Yu Bao wagged its tail excitedly, motioning for Su Zhi to hurry up and hit it a couple of times to test it out.

’I’m so strong now! Even if I stood still and took a beating from 004, I wouldn’t even yelp in pain!’

’It’s not a question of whether you’ll feel pain, it’s that it would pain me...’ Su Zhi shook his head and chuckled, reminded of a Beast Taming novel he read as a child where an Iron-Eating Beast, after mastering Hardening, wanted its master to hit it.

"I’m not going to hit you. Even though I’m sure you’d be fine, it would hurt my heart."

Su Zhi patted Yu Bao’s head and smiled softly. "It’s great that you’ve awakened it. I believe in you!"

"Woof..."

Yu Bao looked at its Beast Tamer, touched. Even though it had mastered Thick Earth Blessing, Su Zhi still couldn’t bear to let it get hurt.

’He’s so sweet I could cry!’

Seeing the little guy’s self-dramatizing expression, Su Zhi couldn’t help but smile. Having a Pet Beast like this was so reassuring.

Awakening Thick Earth Blessing was incredibly significant for Yu Bao.

Not only could this Skill greatly enhance a Yu Dian Dog’s physical strength, but it could also increase its resistance to other negative Effects, and even remove some existing ones.

It was equivalent to activating an Overlord Body with high Physical Resistance and Magical Resistance!

That’s right. Su Zhi’s Skill System wasn’t centered around the Core Skill, but the Core Skill was still a very important piece of the puzzle.

Until now, basically all of Yu Bao’s Skills were designed for non-contact combat, which resulted in an awkward sort of overspecialization.

That special Alliance Member named Selena was actually right. Yu Bao had situations it wasn’t good at, such as close-quarters combat.

This was especially obvious in the finals. The difference between Yu Bao without Thick Earth Blessing and Yu Bao with it when facing 004 was like night and day.

—Now that Thick Earth Blessing had been awakened, Yu Bao’s overall combat power would leap to a whole new level!

"Woof! Woof!"

Sensing Su Zhi’s thoughts, Yu Bao started circling him again.

It had even come up with a bunch of new tricks using Thick Earth Blessing! It couldn’t wait to show them off...

"We can show them off tomorrow!"

Su Zhi scooped up Yu Bao and broke into a run.

"God Su? God Su, can I get your autograph?!"

"Contestant Su Zhi, please wait! Our station would like to interview you again!"

"I’m Su Zhi’s dog, huff huff, ahhhhhh!"

"Su Zhi, fly bravely, Mama will forever..."

"Draw your sword!"

The paparazzi and rabid fans behind them were in hot pursuit. The moment Yu Bao had used Thick Earth Blessing, everyone in the plaza had noticed them.

’This is what they mean by "a man fears fame like a pig fears getting fat"!’

·

「Battle Arena Affiliated Hospital.」

Fang Yuan sat quietly on a chair, his face expressionless. 004 lay inside a special treatment device, its eyes shut tight.

Outside, the lights were brilliant, and cheers echoed from the plaza.

Frosted glass blocked it all out, leaving Fang Yuan alone in the quiet, monotonous hospital room. The ticking of the clock and the sound of breathing took turns filling the air.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK"

"Come in."

The door opened, and a dog’s head peeked in with a SWISH.

Yu Bao looked left, then right. Seeing no one else, it went Bling Bling over to the treatment device, looked at 004 inside, and sat down on the floor.

Su Zhi followed close behind into the room, carrying two bags.

Fang Yuan took a quick glance.

One bag was full of oranges.

The other contained Pet Beast snacks: Telekinesis Crisps and Red Oak Nuts. The former was a favorite of Telekinesis Element Pet Beasts, while the latter was beloved by Fire Element Pet Beasts. There were also... two packs of spicy strips?

"What do you want?"

Fang Yuan was blunt. Before Su Zhi could answer, he added, "My mom just called. My dad was arrested by the Holy Order Alliance on suspicion of endangering the safety of Blue Star."

"He got what he deserved. The grudge between us is over."

"There was never any grudge between us."

Su Zhi looked him in the eye. "You are you. You don’t have to carry your father’s burdens."

"The son pays for the father’s debts," Fang Yuan said sullenly.

"Okay, okay," Su Zhi said, nodding with his hands in his pockets. ’You just have to go along with tsunderes like him.’

"Anyway, don’t worry about it. I already forgave you when you treated me and Yu Bao to oden."

"I get it, you’re so magnanimous."

Fang Yuan said with some impatience, "Is there anything else?"

"Yu Bao wanted to come visit 004." Su Zhi placed the snacks on the bedside table, his gaze shifting to the White Flame Battle Spirit in the treatment device.

Elemental Pet Beasts weren’t numerous, but they couldn’t be called rare either. Treatment devices like this, used for healing Elemental Life forms, were already widespread. Although a little expensive, they were still within the affordable range for most people.

A Beast Taming Space could accelerate the healing of injuries, but some wounds that couldn’t be healed by time alone still required assistance from various medical devices.

"How is 004 now?"

"The doctor said the problem started in the semifinals. When 004 took Broken Waterfall Judgment head-on, it actually sustained a rather serious internal injury. That’s why Refusing Flame Blessing shattered so quickly in the finals."

After speaking, Fang Yuan paused.

"Of course, I’m not questioning your victory. Even if 004 had fought at full strength, it would have been impossible for it to take your final attack."

"A loss is a loss. There are no excuses."

Su Zhi didn’t discuss winning or losing. He looked at Fang Yuan.

"So, what are your plans now?"

Fang Yuan’s gaze flickered away for a moment. "What do you mean, ’what are my plans’?"

"An injury like this will most likely affect 004’s future potential. For a long time, at least, it will be impossible to maintain its previous training intensity."

Su Zhi voiced the thoughts Fang Yuan was keeping to himself.

"If 004 still has irreversible damage after leaving the treatment pod, the smartest thing to do would be to cut your losses and switch to a Pet Beast with more potential as soon as possible, right?"

"Yes."

Fang Yuan looked Su Zhi in the eye and took a deep breath. "If that really is the case... I will consider switching my Pet Beast."

"And what about her?" Su Zhi asked, looking again at the quietly slumbering 004 in the treatment pod.

Fang Yuan also looked at his Pet Beast, then lowered his head and was silent for a moment.

"I’ll send her to a Breeding Base. The Breeding Base has a special area for taking care of disabled and uncontracted Pet Beasts. It’s a pretty reputable place."

"True."

Su Zhi nodded. "After all, the parts that aren’t so reputable are never reported in the news."

Fang Yuan fell silent.

Seeing this, a flicker of a smile passed through Su Zhi’s eyes. He walked to the door.

"It’s getting late. We’ll be heading back. I wish 004 a speedy recovery."

"Woof."

Yu Bao wagged its tail at 004 in the treatment pod and followed Su Zhi out the door.

The room fell quiet again. Fang Yuan stared at the White Flame Battle Spirit in the treatment pod for a long time, as if in a daze.

·

On the way back, Su Zhi ran into Shao Ya and Xiaoyue.

"Hey! What a coincidence!" Shao Ya handed him two grilled sausages.

"It is a coincidence. I thought you’d already gone back to your room." Su Zhi played along with a smile, taking the two sausages and giving one to Yu Bao.

Yu Bao ate half, then offered the rest to Xiaoyue.

Xiaoyue glanced at the sausage that Yu Bao had licked and indicated that Big Bro wasn’t hungry, and it should eat it itself.

The two little guys’ masters also chatted as they walked:

"Heading home together tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, but let’s go to the Alliance Headquarters first to pick up my Alliance Youth Team member card."

"Oh, right! I just remembered you’re an Alliance Youth Team Member now!"

Shao Ya smiled lightly and tilted her head. "Congratulations, God Su! Your luck has turned, and you’re on the path to greatness!"

"You’re exaggerating, Great Emperor. It’s just an Alliance Youth Team Member, it’s not that big a deal."

"I’m talking about the summer camp! One of the rewards for the city league champion is an internal recommendation to the Common Defense Alliance’s summer camp!"

The girl blinked her azure eyes. "You get to go to the Common Defense Alliance Headquarters, find tons of opportunities, and meet tons of big shots!"

"Like Peng Kai?"

"Him? He ain’t shit... Ack! Don’t you dare tell Senior Peng Kai I said that."

"Heh."

Hearing Shao Ya say this, Yu Bao’s eyes immediately lit up.

’Meet tons of big shots = tons of chances to battle powerful Pet Beasts = gain tons of points!’

’Yay!!’

"Don’t worry, you’ll get your share," Su Zhi said, a smile creeping into his eyes as he ruffled the fur on Yu Bao’s head.

Chatting as they went, the two tamer-pet pairs arrived back at their rooms.

Su Zhi turned his head and waved. "See you tomorrow morning, then."

"Yeah." The girl pushed her door open, forcing a weary smile. "Tomorrow morn—"

Before she could finish, she collapsed limply into the room.

Su Zhi was startled and quickly dashed forward to catch her, preventing Shao Ya from hitting the floor.

"Shao Ya? Shao Ya?"

Su Zhi gently shook Shao Ya and looked anxiously at Xiaoyue.

"Meow-wrow," Xiaoyue said, shaking its head.

Only then did Su Zhi let out a sigh of relief.

A Pet Beast can most directly sense its master’s physical condition. It seemed Shao Ya’s problem wasn’t serious. It was likely due to the intense competition schedule over the past two days, plus using her Beast Taming Talent, all followed by a sudden relaxation after prolonged exhaustion.

"If you’re tired, you should have just rested. You scared me to death."

Su Zhi grumbled, a bit exasperated. "You can’t even take care of yourself, yet you’re always thinking about taking care of others."

The girl probably didn’t hear him. Her breathing was calm and even as she slept against his chest.

Su Zhi sighed, gently lifted her legs, carried her to the bed, and pulled the covers over her.

"We’re going back now, Xiaoyue. I’ll leave her to you."

"Meow-wrow."

"CLACK—"

Su Zhi turned off the lights for Shao Ya and closed the door.

The sound of footsteps faded away...

In the darkness, the corners of the girl’s mouth turned up slightly.

·

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