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    -----


    Qiao Sang had grown ustomed to the ssroom falling silent the moment she walked in.


    However, this time, the atmosphere felt noticeably different.


    As she took her seat, she immediately sensed the peculiar gazes from her ssmates.


    To describe it, the looks resembled the conflicted expression of someone deciding whether to watch a horror movie, both eager and hesitant.


    <i>Could it be that Little Treasure had shown up in some bizarre makeup?</i>


    Qiao Sang nced towards the corner where Little Treasure usually resided, only to find him still in his invisible state.


    At that moment, the student seated in front of her turned around and said, "Qiao Sang, congrattions on winning the championship!"After a pause, they added, "Especially the match with the zing Star Canine,so impressive!"


    Although this ssmate appeared as nonchnt as ever, Qiao Sang could still detect a hint of nervousness.


    <i>It seemed the match where she defeated Ding Yanjing with Yabao had really shaken them…</i>


    Of course, Qiao Sang wasn’t truly 15 years old, so she understood the fragile and sensitive mindset of teenagers.


    When faced with someone utterly out of their league, most would instinctively keep their distance.


    That said, there would always be a few who dared to approach, provided their signals were met with a response.


    Like her front-row ssmate now.


    After some thought, Qiao Sang said, "I’m not a champion; I just ced first in the province."


    The ssmate: ???


    <i>Listen to her! Does that even sound like a normal person?!</i>


    Qiao Sang continued, "By the way, could you lend me your recent notes? You know I’ve been away a lot and don’t want to fall behind."


    It wasn’t difficult to dissolve the invisible barriers teenagers built. Simply demonstrating that you weren’t so different from them could work wonders.


    The ssmate froze for a moment before replying, "I don’t take notes."


    Qiao Sang: …


    <i>Ah, she almost forgot that top students didn’t need notes…</i>


    News of Qiao Sang’s achievements quickly spread across the school.


    During breaks, students from other sses no longer openly gathered at the windows to gawk. Instead, they’d casually <i>pass by</i> the ssroom, sneaking nces inside.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Sang was chatting idly with Jin Feifan.


    "Sigh, the gap between us is massive. I didn’t even make the top 30, and you ended up first, against senior-year students, no less," Jin Feifanmented.


    Qiao Sang’s mouth twitched.


    "Put that perfect score test paper down before you talk to me."


    "It’s just a mock exam." Jin Feifan muttered, shoving the paper into her desk.


    "These tests don’t mean much nowadays."


    <i>Did you forget you’ve barely attended ss recently and still aced the exam?!</i>


    Qiao Sang gave them a sidelong nce.


    "My win wasn’t a big deal either; it was just a provincialpetition."


    Jin Feifan: …


    Qiao Sang then asked, "Who from the first-year school team made it to the regional finals?"


    Jin Feifan, unfazed by her deskmate’sck of interest in their group chat, responded softly, "Lu You made it. He ced second."


    Qiao Sang nced at Lu You’s empty seat.


    Jin Feifan added, "Oh, and there’s Zheng Yining from the coordination group. She ced third."


    While Qiao Sang wasn’t familiar with most of the first-year team, she did know Zheng Yining.


    Her choice of Long-Eared Cat as apanion was indeed spot on, it was perfect for coordination events.


    ---


    ss dragged on as usual, dull and seemingly endless. But since Qiao Sang only attended sporadically, she found learning about pet beasts quite engaging.


    Time passed quickly, and soon it was dismissal time.


    Outside the school gate, Qiao Sang summoned Yabao.


    "Yap."


    Yabao’s eyes glowed blue as he nced at the bracelet on his front left paw.


    With a flick of invisible power, the switch on the bracelet was pressed. In an instant, Yabao returned to his full size.


    Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao’s back, smiling.


    "Let’s go home."


    "Yap!"


    With a spirited cry, Yabao leaped into the sky.


    The spectacle left bystanders stunned. By the time they scrambled to pull out their phones, Yabao had already disappeared into the clouds.


    ---


    After dinner, Qiao Sang returned to her room, packed her things, and lounged on her bed, scrolling through information about pet beasts from other regions.


    The beasts from Guwu, Lianke, and Xilü regions were particrly fascinating.


    Though their attributes were the same handful of types, their unique traits set them apart from Yuhua’s creatures.


    For instance, Lianke’s Illusion-Reality Grass had a special ability to discern truth from lies.


    Simply ce a hand on its leaf and speak. If the words were truthful, nothing happened. But if it was a lie, the leaves would slowly fold.


    Many people rented these nts for weddings to test their partner’s sincerity.


    When the wedding vows reached the <i>for better or worse, in sickness and in health</i> part, the grass would almost always close its leaves.


    As a result, Lianke’s marriage and birth rates ranked among the nation’s lowest year after year.


    "Honestly, having all four regionspete together would be great. It’d be a chance to see more of their beasts."


    As this thought crossed her mind, a new message notification popped up on her phone:


    [<i>Xu Yixuan invites you to join a group chat</i>.]


    Curious, Qiao Sang clicked in. The new group was named <i>Yuhua All-In Squad</i> and had 32 members.


    A momentter, another person joined, bringing the total to 33.


    [<i>Cheng Jinhao sent a red envelope</i>.]


    [<b>Cheng Jinhao</b>: New members, change your usernames!]


    Qiao Sang instinctively tried to grab the envelope but found it had already been imed.


    <i>What? Is everyone in this group that fast?!</i>


    Silently, she changed her username.


    [<b>Dan Huaiyang</b>: When we get to Guwu, I want to explore the underwater ruins. Anyone want to join me?]


    [<b>Xu Yixuan</b>: @Qiao Sang, this is the group for Yuhua’s regionalpetitors.]


    <i>Eleven provinces, 33 participants, everyone seemed to be here</i>. Qiao Sang sent a casual ''Hi, everyone'' sticker.


    Initially, the chat was quiet except for the asional red envelope. But as soon as Qiao Sang spoke, the group erupted.


    [<b>Jin Wei</b>: Qiao Sang? As in the one from Zhehai Province?!]


    [<b>Song Bowen</b>: Obviously. Who else with that name would be in the regionals?]


    [<b>Xu Yixuan</b>: It’s her, it’s her, it’s her!]


    [<b>Jiang Xiaotian</b>: Suddenly, this group feels important.]


    [<b>Chen Yunru</b>: OMG! Sister Qiao! Can I take a picture with your zing Star Canine when we’re at Guwu? I’ll give you all the intel I’ve gathered onpetitors from other regions in exchange!]


    Startled, Qiao Sang immediately <i>sold out</i> Yabao.


    [<b>@Chen Yunru</b>: Sure.]


    Her reply instantly made everyone else envious.


    [<b>Dan Huaiyang</b>: I’ve got intel too! Let me take a picture with Ice Qiya!]


    [<b>Li Yue</b>: My data’s 99%plete! I’d like to try Ice Qiya’s Healing Light, please?]


    [<b>Jin Wei</b>: I have data too! Just let me join in!]


    Watching the flood of new messages, Qiao Sang pondered for a moment.


    <i>Who would’ve thought I’d stumble upon such a sweet deal…</i>