“A psychologist?” Michaela was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, “Perhaps the problem lies with her.”

Her smile contained no hint of sarcasm.

Qiao Sang looked puzzled: "Did she have a problem herself?"

Michaela said calmly, "The more talented a beast tamer is, the smoother things will be for them when they have no shortage of resources. So when they occasionally experience a major setback, they are very likely to become discouraged and start to doubt themselves."

Penjami, who had been keeping her eyes closed, opened them and silently glanced at her Beastmaster.

“Grind it.” The Dragon King nodded in agreement.

Qiao Sang was taken aback: "It's only one game lost, and it's already come to this?"

Michaela chuckled and said, "This is no ordinary match. The Master Challenge is an interstellar competition, and you are a student of the Imperial Beast Taming Academy. In addition, you are only 18 years old and have only four royal-level pet beasts. With all these conditions combined, just winning against her would be enough to make her feel bad, let alone a shutout."

"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong with my conditions..." Qiao Sang thought to herself. But then she thought, if she encountered a ten-year-old A-level professional beast tamer in the Master Challenge, and the other party defeated her with three royal-level pets, she and Ya Bao would probably have to doubt themselves for a while.

Thinking about it this way, Qiao Sang instantly understood Xia Huo and couldn't help but sigh, "I hope she can adjust soon."

Michaela laughed and said, "Actually, encountering a match like this before the Star Cup is a good thing for her."

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, and sighed with a mixture of regret and pride: "I was hoping you would lose a few matches to learn from your experience, but I didn't expect you to not only not lose, but also win so beautifully."

"It's mainly because Little Treasure Hunter and his crew are so helpful," Qiao Sang said modestly.

To be honest, it wasn't entirely out of modesty.

The tongue-licking scene between Xiao Xunbao and Shui Xixing was truly a stroke of genius; it was a move completely outside of his expectations.

Looking back now, if it weren't for Xiao Xunbao's tongue licking move, Shui Xixing would very likely have caused the water barrier to explode first.

"Teeth..."

Ya Bao gave a resentful look and barked, indicating that it could also perform well, but you didn't let it participate.

Qiao Sang immediately coughed and continued to explain, "Little Treasure Hunt needs to absorb white energy to evolve. Even if it can absorb white energy normally, it can't absorb as much as it did at the Master Challenge. I need to make it appear more often at the Master Challenge. Later, I'll have Steel Treasure appear..."

"Steel Power".

Before he could finish speaking, Steel Treasure barked from the side, indicating that it had always wanted to promote its species, and its own beast tamer knew of this idea, which was why it was brought out.

“That’s right,” Qiao Sang nodded.

"Teeth..."

Ya Bao sighed.

Compared to the reasons why Little Treasure Hunter and the others made their appearance, its reason for wanting to appear was really nothing; it just wanted to fight, so why was it so difficult...?

Qiao Sang patted Ya Bao's head and comforted him:

"It's only the top 20 now, there are still many matches to come, you will have many more opportunities to play."

"Ya Ya?" Ya Bao called out.

Several games are several games.

“There are at least three more games,” Qiao Sang said.

If I want to finish in the top three, I have to win three more games.

"Teeth!"

Upon hearing this, Ya Bao let out a mournful cry.

There are only three games left!

At this moment, Michaela asked, "Is Toothbone sad that he didn't get to fight?"

“Yes.” Qiao Sang’s tone was somewhat helpless.

To be honest, she originally planned to have Ya Bao make an appearance today, but Xiao Xunbao's performance far exceeded her expectations, directly defeating the opponent's four royal-level pets.

Michaela said, "If it wants to fight, it can have the Dragon King accompany it."

Although the Dragon King isn't very obedient to her now, based on her understanding of him, she believes he would be very willing to help with sparring.

Ya Bao's ears immediately perked up, and he turned to look at the Dragon King.

"Grind it."

The Dragon King was taken aback at first, then let out a spirited shout, indicating that if you want to fight, I am ready to fight you anytime.

"Teeth?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Bao's eyes lit up, its tail wagged, and it barked, as if to say, "Really?"

"Grind it."

The Dragon King smirked, crossed his arms in front of him, and let out a cry, indicating that it was indeed true.

Previously, it had no desire to fight against these younger players, but after watching Ya Bao's performance in the Master Challenge, it had to admit that it got excited and rekindled its long-dormant desire to fight.

"Teeth!"

Ya Bao immediately showed an excited expression and shouted, indicating that we should go and fight now!

"Grind it!"

The Dragon King cried out.

Go now!

After saying that, Ya Bao and the Dragon King prepared to go out together.

"Wait," Qiao Sang called to them, laughing, "Let's go back together."

...

Backstage, lounge.

The female doctor, whose hair was styled in a bun, adjusted her glasses and asked:

What are you thinking about right now?

"I don't want to think about anything right now," Xia Huo said.

What impressed you most in that match just now?

"The Lord of the Underworld..."

"Now imagine the Lord of the Underworld in your mind. What does it look like?"

"It grinned at me in the darkness, revealing its sinister teeth; it was mocking me..."

Why is it laughing at you?

"It's laughing at my stupidity."

The female doctor quickly jotted down the following on a piece of paper: [Diagnosis: Specific phobia – Lord of the Underworld]

...

Villa, vacant land.

High in the sky, a red line and a white line collided with each other, then quickly separated, moving without any trace, and then collided with each other again.

Flames continued to explode, and shockwaves came one after another.

"Xunxun~" Under the tree, Little Xunbao happily looked at the comments on the trending topics.

Qingbao leaned closer, asking questions every now and then.

"Xunxun~" Little Xunbao helped with the translation.

“The Netherworld Lord has really made a splash this time,” Michaela said. “Although it evolved using white energy, I suggest we don’t let it participate directly in the next match.”

"Why?" Josang asked.

"Which of your pets do you think the other contestants are most afraid of right now?" Michaela asked instead of answering.

“Little treasure hunter,” Qiao Sang said without hesitation.

After today's competition, she picked up her phone and browsed the trending topics and news. Almost all the reports were about Little Treasure Hunt, such as "Nightmare of Pets of the Same Level", "How to Defeat the Dark Ring Monarch", and "Qiao Sang's Ace - Dark Ring Monarch". There were just too many similar news headlines.

“That’s right,” Michaela said. “Every opponent you encounter from now on will definitely target the Dark Ring Lord. If you let the Dark Ring Lord appear in the first match every time, they will do everything they can to deal with him. The public’s expectations for the Dark Ring Lord are too high right now. If he makes a mistake even once, most people will be disappointed, and the white energy generated will decrease one after another.”

"It's true that there's a lot of white energy generated during the Master Challenge, but not enough for Little Treasure to evolve directly. If we want the white energy to continue to increase and be absorbed even after the competition ends, the best way is to let Little Treasure effectively participate in battles."

Qiao Sang understood and said seriously, "I understand."

“Oh, right,” Michaela said with a smile, “the Dean contacted me today.”

The topic changed so quickly that Qiao Sang was caught off guard. She paused for a moment and asked, "Did the dean say something?"

Michael looked at her, his smile spreading, and said:

"The Dean is very satisfied with your performance of shutting out Xia Huo today. He has promised to reward you with 100,000 points even if you don't make it into the top three in the Master Challenge this time."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang's first reaction was one of delight, but she quickly calmed herself down, controlled the corners of her mouth from turning up, and said:

"Then I still hope to get 200,000 points."

To be honest, if she had heard this news before today's competition, she would have been even happier and would have praised the dean's generosity even more. However, after today's competition, she felt that as long as her luck wasn't too bad, she still had a high probability of becoming one of the top three.

“Excellent, that’s ambitious!” Michaela was very satisfied and said, “I will relay your words to the Dean and tell her about your idea.”

Qiao Sang was taken aback, then quickly said, "There's no need to tell the dean."

Michaela laughed and said, "You don't know, the Dean values ​​your ideas very much now."

Then I definitely can't tell them. What if the dean misunderstands and says, "Then let's just forget about the 100,000 points"? I think the probability of being in the top three is high, but not 100%... Qiao Sang said seriously, "I think it's better not to bother the dean with such a small matter."

“That’s true.” Michaela was quickly convinced.

Although she wanted to maintain more contact with the dean, Qiao Sang had already said what the intermediary was, so she naturally wouldn't force the connection.

Suddenly, a loud "bang" was heard, and a violent explosion occurred high in the sky.

A streak of flame plummeted from the shockwave, heading directly towards Josan and Michaela's location.

However, just as the flames were a few meters away from them, the cold air suddenly dropped.

The flames instantly froze into ice and disappeared.

Qiao Sang sensed something and turned to look at Lu Bao, who had stopped training at some point not far away.

"Ice Saint." Lu Bao also looked over and calmly called out, indicating to be careful.

Qiao Sang was deeply moved and gave a heavy "hmm".

Lu Bao is becoming less and less of a worry; she trains on her own, rarely loses her temper, and even shows concern for others occasionally…

Just then, Michael followed her gaze, pondered for a moment, and said, "Lu Bao is the one that has appeared the least among all your royal-level pets. If it can make its debut in the next match, it should be able to catch the opponent off guard."

A few meters away from them, under a big tree, Xiao Xunbao and Qingbao were chatting animatedly on their phones.

At that moment, the leaves on the tree trembled without any wind, and a green leaf suddenly broke off and fell, then turned yellow and withered, before turning into powder and scattering in the wind.

The succulent-looking Sharara was watering herself with a watering can when suddenly, sensing something in the direction of the large tree, it flew towards Qiao Sang without even putting down the watering can. Pointing at the tree with a serious expression, it cried out:

"Xiaxia".

Qiao Sang paused for a moment, then asked for confirmation: "You mean the tree where Xiao Xunbao and Qingbao are staying is strange?"

"Search?"

"Qingqing?"

Upon hearing their master's voice, Xiao Xunbao and Qingbao, though confused, immediately got up, left the tree, and rushed to their master, both exclaiming in bewilderment.

"Xiaxia".

Xia Lala nodded.

Josan glanced in the direction of the big tree, then said to Teacher Michaela:

"Xialala said something was wrong with that tree."

She had no doubt about Xia Lala's feelings; as a grass-type mythical beast, it was most sensitive to plants.

Michaela had no doubts either, and she looked at Penjame.

Then, Penjami closed her eyes again and fell asleep.

"Bang bang bang!" Violent explosions echoed continuously from high above.

Even so, it did not affect Penjami's sleep in the slightest.

“Meimei,” Michaela called out.

Penjami slowly opened her eyes.

"Does the Mirror Realm still exist?" Michaela asked.

"Puff." Penjami sensed it and nodded.

“What happened to that tree a minute ago? Take a look,” Michaela said.

"Spray." Spray Jia Mei teleported to the tree's location, extended its claws to make contact with it, and its eyes emitted a blue light.

The next second, Xiao Xunbao and Qingbao appeared under the tree, their heads close together as they looked at their phones.

"Qingqing?" Qingbao looked shocked and called out.

"Xunxun~" Little Xunbao called out, indicating that you shouldn't be surprised. This is just a skill called Touch Power, and Brother Yabao can also use this move.

"When the level of 'Touch Perception' reaches the Profound Realm, and the pet's own energy is strong enough, it can rewind the time of an object through contact with it, transforming it into an image so that everyone can see what it experienced during that time," Qiao Sang explained.

Now, Ya Bao's tactile perception has also reached this level.

"Qingqing..." Qingbao first glanced at Xiaoxunbao with displeasure, then looked at her own beast tamer and exclaimed with admiration, indicating that it was such an amazing skill.

Little Treasure Hunter: "..."

Don't think I didn't see you just giving me the cold shoulder...

Qiao Sang looked at the big tree and saw a green leaf suddenly fall, turning yellow and then withering at a speed visible to the naked eye. Before it even hit the ground, it turned into powder and disappeared.

Under the tree, Xiao Xunbao and Qingbao's figures disappeared one after another.

Penjami teleported back.

"What's going on?" Qiao Sang couldn't help but ask.

Michaela said in a deep voice, "A pet has been here. To be precise, a pet came here using a certain skill."

Qiao Sang's eyelids twitched: "What kind of pet can move freely in and out of the Mirror Realm created by Penjame?"

Michaela said solemnly, "It should also be an Emperor-level pet beast."

As she spoke, she looked at Qiao Sang.

Qiao Sang had a bad feeling: "Why are you looking at me?"

“You’re being watched,” Michaela said.

...

Tanzania.

The room with the best view in a river-view hotel.

A pet, about 60 centimeters tall, wearing a miniature shrinking bracelet, with a round, yellow body, dark green stripes, and two green leaves on its head, was lying on the sofa. Suddenly, it opened its eyes, sat up, and barked twice.

"Inch by inch".

"Inch by inch".

"Josang's first opponent in the next match will probably be Ice Saint Asia," said an elderly man with half-gray hair on the sofa.

“I know how to arrange it,” a woman with shoulder-length short hair said respectfully.

"The dean has high hopes for you now. I will inform you of any information about Qiao Sang as soon as possible," the half-gray-haired old man said calmly. "Don't let him down." (End of Chapter)