Sun Chaoju and Chairman Liu did not stay long.
After chatting a bit more about Forest Wolf breeding, they left. Before departing, Vice Chairman Liu reminded Su Ping once again not to forget to attend the lectures later on.
Su Ping asked about the specific schedule and confirmed that he would definitely be there.
Vice Chairman Liu was a high-level breeder who specialized in wolf-type pet beasts. Even within Dragon Country, there were very few breeders of his caliber—figures renowned throughout their regions.
Being able to learn more of his theoretical knowledge would bring Su Ping nothing but benefits in pet-beast cultivation.
Qin Xiaoxue, however, did not rush to leave. Only after the two of them had gone did she pat Su Ping on the shoulder.
"Good job, kid! You really brought your big sister some face. Back then, the looks those two old guys gave me—neither of them believed a word I said. They were practically calling me a sucker to my face. Seeing them like this today? That was so satisfying!"
It was obvious that Qin Xiaoxue was genuinely delighted today.
Su Ping, however, did not immediately go off to study Accelerated Casting or the Myriad Wood Wolf's evolution methods. Since he stayed behind, it was naturally because he had something he wanted to discuss with Qin Xiaoxue.
He didn't ask directly. Instead, he smiled and said,
"Now that I have Accelerated Casting, I'm actually pretty confident. How about leaving Mutou here a bit longer? I can help you cultivate Accelerated Casting as well."
He asked with clear confidence, yet Qin Xiaoxue shook her head and refused.
"No need. Summer break's about to end. I'll pack up and head back to Magic City in a couple of days."
Those words made even Su Ping pause slightly. Truth be told, after more than half a month, he had already grown used to having Qin Xiaoxue around.
Still, he soon smiled.
"Alright. Have a safe trip, then. Don't forget to message me once you get to Magic City."
Qin Xiaoxue turned her head, giving him a strange look. Then, as if explaining, she continued,
"Actually, Mutou learning so many skills was for the sake of evolution in the first place. In the evolution route of the Canopy Wolf Emperor, a Forest Wolf needs to master eight skills before preliminary evolution training can even begin. Thanks to you, it's finally complete."
"The Canopy Wolf Emperor?"
This was an evolution path Su Ping had never heard of before.
Qin Xiaoxue didn't hide anything.
"Mm. Its racial potential can reach the Emperor tier. But just from the name, you can probably guess."
At this point, she said regretfully,
"It's a pity your Xiao Qing has a mutated bloodline. Otherwise, it could try this path as well. The old lady still has some stock of Natural Essence and the Crown of Thorns. If you get into the Magic City Advanced Beast Academy, with my reputation backing you, trying this evolution route wouldn't be a problem."
Natural Essence?
The Crown of Thorns—Su Ping didn't know what that was.
But Natural Essence, he did know.
A peak Emperor-tier wood-attribute resource. Its value was beyond imagination. On the shopping apps, materials of that level were never publicly sold—there wasn't even a listed price.
Su Ping pressed his lips together, suppressing the complicated emotions in his heart. In the end, he could only smile faintly.
"I believe Xiao Qing's future development and evolution won't be inferior to Mutou's."
"Aoowu—(strong… evolve…)"
Xiao Qing howled in agreement from the side.
Mutou, meanwhile, merely glanced at Xiao Qing, its junior, and didn't bother responding.
It was already at elite peak, with far greater intelligence than Xiao Qing. Naturally, it understood that it was about to part ways with Su Ping.
Thus, despite its reluctance, it didn't bother arguing over something so trivial.
"By the way," Su Ping suddenly said, as if recalling something, "when Mutou evolves in the future, could I watch it personally?"
Qin Xiaoxue nodded without hesitation. "No problem. You can come then—or if I have time, I'll return to Linzhou."
Then, out of nowhere, she suddenly asked,
"By the way… your talent is Pet Beast Home, right?"
Su Ping nodded. "Why?"
"Nothing."
She didn't elaborate, and Su Ping didn't press the issue. After all, small talk was basically over. It was time to get to the real matter.
"I think I know why Dong Muyun wants to acquire my family's land."
The moment he said that, Qin Xiaoxue sharply turned her head toward him.
"What reason?"
Su Ping's unreliable old man couldn't be reached. Among everyone he knew, Qin Xiaoxue—whom he'd only known for just over ten days—was actually the one he trusted most.
He didn't hide anything and told her about what had happened the previous night.
When he mentioned the spatial ripples, realization dawned on Qin Xiaoxue's face.
"A secret realm? So that's it!"
Then she looked at Su Ping with a complicated expression.
"Su Ping, do you know what a secret realm is worth? And you just told me like that?"
Su Ping thought to himself, If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know that thing was called a secret realm, let alone its value.
But saying that out loud would've been downright idiotic.
He blinked, looked at her calmly, and said,
"I trust you."
Sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
Qin Xiaoxue froze.
Under Su Ping's gaze, her cheeks suddenly flushed red—apparently for the first time in her life. Without thinking, she abruptly turned her head away and began speaking rapidly in a serious tone.
"A secret realm is an ownerless pet-beast space left behind after the death of a powerful beast tamer. Basic beast academies don't cover this—only advanced academies do.
"Secret realms are extremely rare, extremely valuable, and extremely dangerous. Some contain the beast tamer's inheritance, descendants of their pet beasts, or all kinds of resources.
"In Dragon Country, there's a special organization called the Astronomical Bureau. Its responsibility is to monitor secret realms across the country to prevent powerful pet beasts from emerging and harming other beast tamers.
"However, if a secret realm appears on private land, the landowner has the right to decide how it's handled. You can develop it yourself, hand it over to the Astronomical Bureau, or sell it to someone else."
She finished all of that in one breath, then took a deep gulp of air before continuing.
"Su Ping, I can't give you advice on how to handle this secret realm. But rest assured—if you don't want to sell it, no one can force you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoxue suddenly sprang to her feet as if possessed. She grabbed Mutou—who let out a miserable yelp—and rushed straight for the door.
She moved so fast that Su Ping didn't even have time to react. Just as he was wondering why she'd suddenly left like that—
She came rushing back.
Cradling Mutou—who was practically suffocating and already rolling its eyes—she stood at the doorway, cheeks flushed, staring at a dumbfounded Su Ping.
"Su Ping! One year from now, work hard for the professional beast tamer exam! It's very important! So you need to improve your strength properly! I'll be waiting for you to take it!"
"?"
Su Ping was even more confused.
Then Qin Xiaoxue truly vanished, not even leaving a shadow behind.
He thought about her final words for a long time.
What was that even about?
Waiting for him to take the professional beast tamer exam?
She was already enrolled at the Magic City Advanced Beast Academy—what exam was she waiting for him to take?
Had she not taken it yet? That seemed impossible.
And even if she hadn't, he'd be taking the exam in Jianghai Province, while she was in Magic City. They were worlds apart—what was there to wait for?
Su Ping was full of doubt and confusion. Sure enough, sometimes this Miss Qin really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
But suddenly, Su Ping froze.
He jumped up from the sofa, took three quick strides, and rushed to the gate of the Wood Heart breeding base, shouting loudly,
"You haven't paid yet!"
But where was Qin Xiaoxue to be seen?
At that moment, Su Ping once again fell into self-doubt.
He started to suspect that Miss Qin had been playing him all along. The way she skipped out on the bill—did that really look like someone who was bad with her head?
Was I just too naive?
Shaking his head, Su Ping couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. The help Qin Xiaoxue had given him was far beyond what a mere million or two could measure.
Right now, the most important thing—
Was undoubtedly his spoils of war.
Su Ping took out the flash drive, excitement flashing in his eyes.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/Nishaat