What was the reason?
Yu Bao’s gaze shifted, and its eyes narrowed slightly as its line of sight swept over the tentacles that dissolved upon contact with the flames.
It was the fire!
The Fire Element Energy it had already awakened and controlled conflicted with the other Gold Element Energy. It was like trying to light a lighter underwater.
To control the Gold Element Energy, it had to temporarily withdraw its Fire Element Energy.
However, if it gave up using its fire, it would easily be suppressed. And even if it could control the Gold Element, whether that would be enough to break the stalemate was anyone’s guess.
’Which should I choose?’
The tentacles were growing more and more numerous, appearing faster and faster.
Yu Bao subconsciously looked toward Su Zhi.
It saw that Su Zhi had been watching it the whole time.
"Trust yourself," Su Zhi said softly.
Yu Bao nodded, no longer hesitating.
Another wave of tentacles attacked. This time, Yu Bao held nothing back, pouring all of its Fire Element Energy into the Sandstorm.
Sand and fire took flight, reducing all the attacking tentacles to ash!
The next moment, an endless number of new tentacles formed all around them. They were thicker, longer, and larger than before, each one like a colossal beast from mythology.
The tentacles blotted out the sky, casting down oppressive shadows that formed a cage.
But Yu Bao simply closed its eyes, remarkably calm. All the flames converged inward, leaving none behind.
The tentacles closed in.
Su Zhi clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the sand swirling around Yu Bao—
"WHOOSH!"
The Sandstorm formed and was unleashed once more.
This time, there were no flames, and it seemed completely unremarkable. However, as the sand particles swept past his eyes, Su Zhi clearly saw a faint glint—
This time, Yu Bao had successfully added metal to the Sandstorm.
"BOOM!"
The wind, sand, and metal fragments collided with the tentacles.
Then, a truly stunning scene unfolded:
The instant the metal particles touched the tentacles, they all stopped moving, as if time had been paused.
Immediately after, the tentacles that had formed an encircling wall began to slowly contract, then shrink, and then break down into soil and metal that fell back to the ground, just like a video playing in reverse.
Finally, the fissure closed, the deep pit filled in, and the initial tranquility of the Secret Realm was restored.
It was over.
The three words surfaced in Su Zhi’s mind, and he looked at Yu Bao with delight. Yu Bao was also looking at him, its tongue hanging out.
However, before the Envoy’s Pet could even give a high-paw, everything went black for both of them, and they lost consciousness.
...
...
When he opened his eyes again, the first things he saw were a somewhat blinding light... and a face with sharp features.
"Yo, you’re awake?"
Luo Sen grinned, revealing a mouthful of red teeth. "The surgery was a success. You’re now a..."
"!" Su Zhi shot up from his deathbed, so to speak, and felt himself over, breathing a sigh of relief that everything was still there.
Luo Sen threw up his hands. "It was just a joke. Was that really necessary?"
’With you, a joke might not actually be a joke...’ Su Zhi shot Luo Sen a glare and looked around.
"Where’s Yu Bao? How is it?"
"*Haaaah*."
Sitting beside Su Zhi, Yu Bao stuck out its tongue and gave him a face-wash, then threw itself into his arms.
Even though it was a big guy now, it was still unabashed when it came to acting cute.
"As long as you’re okay." Su Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down.
Having come out of the dreamscape, he felt utterly exhausted, as if he’d been completely drained.
Shao Yulian’s sultry voice came from behind him. "Comfortable?"
"So comfy~" Su Zhi replied instantly, his eyes closed.
’Have to admit, Luo Sen’s got some good stuff. The pillows in his lab are so soft, and they’re warm, and the shape is... huh? Wait a minute?’
Su Zhi stared blankly as he lifted his head.
A generous bosom filled his vision.
The beauty in the pink robe looked at him with a smile. She leaned forward to get a better look, causing the surging waves to draw even closer...
Su Zhi’s face burned hot. He whipped his head away with a SWOOSH just before a collision could occur.
"S-s-s-Senior! I’m sorry!"
Shao Yulian tilted her head and chuckled. "It’s all right."
Su Zhi pursed his lips.
’He was just afraid she was going to say something like, "Don’t call me Senior, call me ’baby’"...’
"That old thing is bad news. Don’t mind her."
Luo Sen finished setting up his recording equipment and beckoned with his finger. "Has your Pet Beast undergone any changes? Show me."
’You’re not exactly a saint yourself...’ Su Zhi complained internally while looking at Yu Bao.
"Woof~"
Sensing a chance to show off, Yu Bao puffed out its chest, raised its head, and stepped forward.
As the three of them watched, Yu Bao lightly raised its right paw. A metal instrument on the table immediately floated into the air, spun around once, and then returned to its rack.
Su Zhi’s eyes lit up. "You’ve gained the ability to control Gold Element Energy?"
"Woof woof." Yu Bao shook its head.
It could only control existing physical metal, but unlike its Earth or Fire Element Skills, it couldn’t directly convert Energy into metal for combat.
And just like in the dreamscape, if Yu Bao wanted to use Gold Element Energy, it needed to temporarily suppress the release of its Fire Element Energy.
"It’s caused by a combination of incomplete awakening and conflicting Attributes."
After hearing Su Zhi’s relay of the explanation, Luo Sen grinned.
"The Fire Element and Gold Element are conflicting Attributes. Even if they can coexist in the same Pet Beast, the two types of Energy can’t be released simultaneously. Not unless the Gold Element Energy awakens completely, just like how the Earth and Fire Elements can coexist despite their conflict after they both fully awakened."
"I get that part."
Su Zhi nodded, then asked curiously, "And what’s an ’incomplete awakening’?"
"Just as you saw: it can only control, not convert. In fact, it would be more accurate to call it an incomplete evolution."
At the mention of the word "evolution," Luo Sen’s smile clearly grew more excited.
"There’s a law in the Beast Taming Realm: evolution doesn’t necessarily grant a new Attribute, but gaining a new Attribute always means evolution has occurred."