Most competitions are lively and blood-pumping; the battles between pets and the contests between Beast Tamers often ignite the crowd's emotions.
Among these, the most explosive moments are the thrilling reversals where the weak overcome the strong, and the intense clashes between evenly matched opponents.
Those in attendance were mostly leaders from various schools, and they had seen far too many matches to count.
They usually had no reaction to preliminary rounds like this one, which were steady and devoid of suspense.
If they watched closely, it was only to analyze the contestants from other schools.
Their emotions would only shift when it concerned their own students.
Yet, this preliminary match—which was neither a case of the weak overcoming the strong nor an evenly matched fight—caused the entire B-Zone to fall silent for a few seconds before a roar of noise erupted like rising dust.
"Did you see that? Did you see that! What's with that Flame Listening Hound? Does it have eyes in the back of its head?!"
"How did it do that? How did it suddenly teleport onto the Sea-Gnaw Raccoon?!"
"This Flame Listening Hound's combat instinct is way too strong!"
"When the Torrent characteristic came out, I thought there might be a fight, but Qiao Sang from Shengshui Middle School didn't give the opponent a single chance to turn the tide..."
"To be honest, Zhou Jing from Pinghai High School isn't bad either; she's just unlucky to have encountered a freak."
"Speaking of which, I had zero impression of this Zhou Jing during the last two competitions; I only remember she had a pet from another region. I didn't expect her to perform so well this time."
"That's normal. You probably only started watching the matches in person these last two years, right?"
"How did you know?"
"Because the third year of high school is the final National Campus Beast Taming League for these students. Many people start working twice as hard when they reach their senior year, and it's not uncommon for dark horses to suddenly emerge. If you've accompanied a group of students through the league from their freshman to senior year, you'd definitely know."
"What about someone like Qiao Sang? Do a few of those just suddenly pop up in the senior year too?"
"...You think 'freaks' are that easy to pop up?"
...
The next four matches had no suspense. Even though Pinghai High School sent out only Water-type pets, Yabao possessed powerful Psychic abilities in addition to its Fire-type.
While Water-type can counter Fire-type, that is predicated on the skills actually hitting their target.
Without a hit, it's all empty talk.
Relying on telekinesis and teleportation, no Water-type move could get anywhere near it.
All 18 points were secured.
Qiao Sang sat in the Shengshui High School contestant area, waiting for Xu Yixuan to finish her match.
Beside her, He Datao was hunched over, staring seriously at his phone.
"What are you looking at?" Qiao Sang asked.
He Datao didn't look up. "The schools we're competing against tomorrow. I'm checking the forums to see if there's any data on their school team members."
Losing two matches today had truly shaken him.
"Which school are we facing tomorrow?" Qiao Sang asked.
The list of all participating schools in A2 had already been released, but Qiao Sang only looked into the next opponent after finishing the day's matches.
"Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming Middle School," He Datao replied.
Qiao Sang paused. "Which one?"
"Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming Middle School," He Datao repeated, turning to her. "You've never heard of it? It's right here in our city."
At this point, he paused. "But then again, that school's ranking isn't high; it's not very famous."
Qiao Sang: "..."
How could she not know? She had almost been a student at that school...
...
"You guys just don't know! This Qiao Sang almost became a student at our school!" In the spectator stands, Chen Shengtang, the Vice Principal of Hanggang Sixth Beast Taming Middle School, spoke with heartfelt anguish.
"Old Chen, stop joking around," the person beside him said speechlessly. "Who is Qiao Sang? Her brain domain was already developed to the Green Star Array level in her freshman year, and she has a Flame Listening Hound among her contracted pets. You just saw her strength. I think she went to Shengshui Middle School because of household registration restrictions; as for her going to your school, you're dreaming."
"I'm telling the truth!" Chen Shengtang said excitedly. "Back when she came to our school for a brain domain check for special admission, Teacher Zhao was responsible for the testing! I followed the whole process!"
Qiao Sang was the only autonomous awakening special admission applicant to apply to their school since its founding!
How could he possibly forget!
After Qiao Sang finished her testing at their school, he had been too excited to sleep for several days, counting down the moments until the new students reported for duty!
Who would have thought she actually went to Shengshui Middle School!
Heaven knows how shocked and grief-stricken he was to see Qiao Sang today in the senior division of the National Campus Beast Taming League!
If Qiao Sang had never come to their school, it would be one thing!
But thinking that such a monstrous student could have potentially belonged to their school made Chen Shengtang feel like coughing up blood!
It was like a goddess he had no connection with suddenly asked if he wanted to get married, and just as he was ecstatic and had everything prepared, he heard the news that the goddess had registered her marriage with a high-quality home-wrecker!
It was too painful!
What was even more painful was that he had to admit that anyone with eyes would choose that home-wrecker!
The person beside him spoke up then: "Old Chen, I believe such a person exists, but is it possible your eyesight is bad and you recognized the wrong person? This Qiao Sang might just have the same name and look like the child who went to your school."
Chen Shengtang: "..."
...
After returning to the dormitory in the pet training base, Qiao Sang formed hand seals and summoned Little Treasure.
Little Treasure had somehow learned the competition rules—knowing that pets competing on a given day had to be summoned on-site to battle—and had proactively requested to enter the Beast Codex early in the morning.
Of course, Qiao Sang was unaware of this.
"Xun!"
As soon as Little Treasure appeared, it spun in the air with high spirits, then put its paws on its hips, stared forward, and grinned, flashing a smile that made one really want to punch it.
But in the next second, that smile froze.
"Xun xun?!"
Why was Big Brother Yabao standing in front of it?!
"Ya?"
Yabao was confused, wearing a blank expression.
What was wrong with standing here? Was it strange?
"Xun."
Little Treasure paused, looked around, and realized it wasn't at the competition venue.
"Don't you compete tomorrow?" Qiao Sang said, leaning against the headboard. "Tomorrow hasn't arrived yet."
Little Treasure: "???"
"Xun xun!" Little Treasure began to argue its case.
Impossible! A whole day had already passed!
Qiao Sang said with a straight face, "A day is 24 hours. When you told me, it was 3:00 AM. A new day has only just begun. 'Tomorrow' is after tonight passes."
Little Treasure: "!!!"
Little Treasure's posture became unstable, wobbling in mid-air with an expression of questioning its entire existence.
Qiao Sang had a sudden pang of conscience. She sat up, patted Little Treasure's head, and said softly
"Study hard in the future."
Little Treasure: "..."
(End of Chapter)