Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1015: Boss

Thirty minutes later.

Beast Center, residential zone.

Room 708.

'Is this Baowuwu?' Mikayla fixed her doubtful gaze on Baowuwu.

'Wuwu...'

Baowuwu sensed an inexplicable pressure and quietly moved behind the human Dr. Zhang Taitong had assigned it to.

'Here's what happened: after I arrived at the research institute...' Qiao Sang quickly recounted her discussion with Dr. Zhang Taitong.

Mikayla reflected briefly before inquiring: 'So, you're heading to Xihan City next?'

Qiao Sang affirmed with a nod: 'The Mingzhu Flower arrives in nine days. With nothing urgent in between, I thought this trip could serve as practice for a regular Beast Tamer, especially with the fame of the Ten Great Ghost Cities.'

Mikayla questioned: 'When do you plan to leave?'

Qiao Sang considered briefly and replied: 'Tomorrow.'

She paused momentarily, then continued: 'Dr. Zhang Taitong went out of her way to arrange a guide for us, someone who obviously knows Baowuwu's origins.'

For that reason, she had saved that person's contact details.

'Fine.' Mikayla agreed.

'We'll set off together tomorrow morning. No need to fret over the tickets.'

Qiao Sang responded with a firm 'mm.'

Suddenly recalling something, she scanned the room and asked: 'Where's Teacher Flauda?'

'He's gone already.' Mikayla answered, then steered back to the key point.

'So, the alternative evolution Dr. Zhang Taitong studied requires Ghost-type pets to take in positive emotional energy from what they cherish most?'

Qiao Sang sighed inwardly before confirming the latter part of Mikayla's words: 'Yes, exactly.'

She hesitated, then supplemented: 'But only certain Ghost-type pets can draw in this energy. Not sure if Little Treasure qualifies.'

Mikayla's eyes shifted to Little Treasure. 'To find out, just test it.'

Qiao Sang swiveled to face Little Treasure too.

Little Treasure blinked curiously.

'Is there something you've deeply wanted to do but couldn't?' Qiao Sang inquired.

'Xun xun...'

Having eavesdropped on the full exchange at the institute, Little Treasure grasped the intent behind his Beast Tamer's query. He dipped into his ring-shaped appendage, retrieved the phone he'd purchased, and cried out: 'Xun xun!'

Little Treasure had craved a SIM card for ages. With it, he could enjoy any game freely, without sneaking his Beast Tamer's phone for codes anymore.

Qiao Sang: ......

'What's the Ghost Ring King saying?' Mikayla wondered.

Qiao Sang paused briefly. 'He wants a phone card.'

Mikayla froze momentarily, then burst into laughter. 'Then get him one.'

Little Treasure's eyes sparkled instantly as he stared at his Beast Tamer.

Qiao Sang stayed quiet for two seconds before telling Little Treasure: 'Let's head to the nearest business hall.'

'Xun xun!'

Little Treasure's gaze lit up even more. A blue glow flickered, and he teleported off with his Beast Tamer.

Roughly five minutes afterward, Qiao Sang and Little Treasure reappeared in the room.

Little Treasure eagerly powered up the phone, now fitted with its new SIM card.

Right then, Qiao Sang instructed: 'Try absorbing now.'

'Xun xun...'

Little Treasure paused in surprise. Understanding dawned, so he set the phone aside and focused intently on sensing and drawing it in.

'Xun xun...'

After half a minute, he shook his head candidly.

Gangbao suddenly eyed Little Treasure with deep sympathy.

Qiao Sang shrugged helplessly.

Gangbao displayed a 'just as I thought' look.

'Xun xun?'

Little Treasure blinked, utterly puzzled.

'Hand over the SIM card.' Qiao Sang stated deliberately.

Thunderstruck!

Little Treasure recoiled in shock.

'Faster.' Qiao Sang pressed.

'Xun xun...' Little Treasure extracted the SIM card unwillingly and passed it over.

Qiao Sang pocketed it, then addressed Teacher Mikayla:

'I think Little Treasure shouldn't rush into absorbing this energy. His potential reaches Emperor-level. If he absorbs it in the upcoming phase and evolves into an unfamiliar form, he risks forfeiting the road to Emperor-level.'

New evolutionary forms bring uncertainty to every future stage.

The path ahead remains unclear, and even further advancements are questionable. With Yabao and Gangbao by her side, Qiao Sang harbored profound wariness toward the challenges of evolving novel forms.

Mikayla mulled it over briefly and suggested: 'You could have the Ghost Ring King test absorbing this energy to gauge its evolutionary leanings. If it's not the path you desire, just halt further intake.'

Though Qiao Sang doubted Little Treasure could absorb it, she nodded anyway.

'Got it.'

With nothing more to discuss, Mikayla rose to depart.

She had barely taken two steps when a thought struck her. Turning back to Baowuwu, she asked: 'Should I grab some energy pills fit for it?'

Under her stare, Baowuwu's form stiffened immediately.

'No thanks.' Qiao Sang declined, shaking her head.

'Dr. Zhang Taitong supplied energy pills and tree fruits it favors.'

'Perfect.'

Mikayla reminded: 'Rest early tonight, rise at dawn tomorrow.'

'Will do.' Qiao Sang nodded.

Mikayla pivoted away.

'Wuwu...'

Baowuwu exhaled in relief.

But the instant after, Mikayla whipped her head around once more.

Baowuwu's tension spiked again.

This time, Mikayla ignored it, focusing on Gangbao instead: 'Prepare the Steel Sword Falcon for Skill Stone training too.'

With that, she exited the room.

Qiao Sang mused inwardly.

'Gang Zhan...'

Gangbao's telepathic message echoed in her mind right away.

Qiao Sang and Gangbao exchanged glances, and she proposed: 'We'll train after returning from Xihan City?'

'Gang Zhan.' Gangbao nodded approvingly.

'Xun xun~'

Just then, Little Treasure edged toward his Beast Tamer, sneaking peeks at Big Brother Yabao and Lubao.

There was one more desire burning in him, though it seemed impossible.

'What is it?' Qiao Sang probed.

Little Treasure signaled with his eyes toward Big Brother Yabao, Lubao, and Qingbao.

Qiao Sang's mouth twitched: 'Don't tell me you want Yabao, Lubao, and Qingbao to call you Big...'

Before she finished, Little Treasure clamped her mouth with his paw.

Qiao Sang: ...

Yabao, Lubao, Gangbao, and Qingbao all turned their attention over.

Little Treasure froze, released his paw quietly, and gazed pleadingly at his Beast Tamer.

Qiao Sang cleared her throat: 'I get it—you still crave growing huge so Yabao and the rest address you as Big Brother, but that's no quick fix...'

'Xun xun...' Little Treasure felt pierced by arrows, yet relief washed over him too.

'Yap yap.' Yabao offered a soothing cry, pointing out small size perks like his own.

Little Treasure found zero solace.

He was determined: even without size change, he'd push for larger growth.

'Wuwu.'

Baowuwu drifted over post-listening, patted Little Treasure's shoulder comfortingly, and cried that he wasn't solo.

As it consoled, it compared their size gap.

Little Treasure: ...

'Wuwu.'

Baowuwu ended the comparison with another supportive cry.

Little Treasure: ...

Truthfully, Little Treasure's top priority seemed to be Big Boss status now, though probably fleeting. Qiao Sang contemplated deeply.

It merited testing, yet the 'Big Boss' feeling demanded genuineness.

'Lu Di.'

As thoughts swirled, Lubao cried out abruptly.

'Lu Di?'

Qiao Sang readied her response to question Lubao's sudden 'Big Boss' call to Little Treasure, but Lubao eyed the floating Little Treasure and cried, inquiring if he could absorb the energy yet.

Silence blanketed the room.

Little Treasure halted mid-drift, staring dazedly at Lubao below.

Qiao Sang first froze, then beamed emotionally at Lubao.

She hadn't anticipated Lubao calling him that to aid energy absorption—what Little Treasure craved most right now.

Qiao Sang urged Little Treasure: 'Hurry, sense it now.'

'Xun xun...'

Little Treasure shut his eyes, straining to detect it.

Moments ticked by slowly.

Tens of seconds later, Qiao Sang blurted: 'Any luck?'

'Xun xun...'

Little Treasure opened his eyes, shaking his head dejectedly.

Lubao squeezed her eyes shut, averting from Little Treasure.

'Xun xun...'

Little Treasure floated to Lubao, crying timidly if she'd call him that again later.

Lubao peeked open, shot Little Treasure a frosty look, and chill visibly emanated.

'Xun xun!'

Startled, Little Treasure teleported over ten meters back, crying it was a jest.

Lubao resealed her eyes; the frost faded.

'Xun xun...' Little Treasure sighed relievedly.

'Yap yap...'

Yabao observed Little Treasure, then Lubao, finally grasping her earlier call's motive.

'Qing qing...'

Qingbao regarded Little Treasure, shaking her head.

Then something clicked, and she glanced at Lubao.

Lubao remained eyes-closed, serene as if silent before.

Unnoticed on the nightstand, the purple-patterned pet egg quivered faintly.

---

The following morning.

Qiao Sang freshened up quickly and headed to the airport alongside Teacher Mikayla.

En route, nearly ninety percent gawked their way.

Recalling it, Qiao Sang dusted Insensitivity Powder over herself and the pets.

Heads turning dropped to nil.

Baowuwu behaved impeccably, trailing silently beside them.

Zidia Region flights bar uncontracted pets, except pet eggs or those with B-level-plus carriers.

Staff verified the Beast Tamer badge and identity, ushering them through swiftly.

Three hours on, the flight touched down safely.

Qiao Sang and Teacher Mikayla disembarked, beelining to the GPS-marked spot: second basement level, where a designated pet awaited pickup.