Regional Tournament.
As the name implies, it is the largest scale competition within a specific region.
Taking the Yuhua Region where they were located as an example, it comprised 11 provinces.
And Hanggang City, where they were currently situated, was merely one of the 12 prefecture-level cities within Zhehai Province, one of those 11 provinces.
There are two conditions to participate in the Regional Tournament.
First, one must be under the age of 40 and have already been certified by the Alliance as a C-rank Beast Tamer.
This does not mean that everyone participating in the Regional Tournament is a C-rank Beast Tamer under 40. Rather, these are the minimum age and rank requirements.
While an upper limit was set for age, a lower limit was set for the Beast Tamer's rank.
Second, one must obtain competition eligibility certified by their respective provincial Beast Taming Center.
Obtaining this eligibility is quite troublesome.
One must pass the competition assessments of every prefecture-level city within their province within a single year.
Take Zhehai Province as an example: every local Beast Taming Center in its 12 prefecture-level cities has a specialized department for assessing eligibility.
The assessment content varies, and every examiner has different judging standards.
If you are lucky and encounter a soft-hearted examiner, they might let you pass just by catching a thief.
If you are unlucky and encounter a strict examiner, it is not impossible for them to demand you steal an egg from a Dragon-type transcendent creature.
Zhehai Province is relatively manageable, with only 12 prefecture-level cities, meaning an average of one month to visit each city and complete the assessment.
However, the neighboring Yongwu Province has a whopping 18 prefecture-level cities.
Calculated out, that leaves only 20 days to visit a city and complete the assessment, which is simply impossible for an ordinary Beast Tamer.
In short, any Beast Tamer capable of passing the competition assessments of all prefecture-level cities in their province within a year is no ordinary person.
Sha Duo, who had just participated in this year's Yuhua Regional Tournament and achieved a respectable ranking, actually expressed his anticipation to meet Qiao Sang in future regional tournaments in front of so many people.
It was, quite simply, a gesture of extremely high recognition toward her.
In an instant, the live stream comments exploded.
【Is Sha Duo serious?】 【Am I about to witness the rise of a supernova?】 【To be fair, she really is strong.】 【Even if she can participate in the Regional Tournament, Sha Duo will be over 40 by then, right?】 【The person above is being savage, but I love it.】 【Got tomorrow's news headline.】
In the guest seating area.
"Although this Qiao Sang is young, her combat experience looks very seasoned."
"That retreat with the clone was brilliant. I didn't even see her give a command on the field; it was clearly a tactic designed before the match."
"And that Fire-Fang Dog—the coordination between them doesn't look like they've only just formed a contract at all."
"What do you think about inviting her for a live stream?" a young female guest, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"A live stream? For what? She might have some hype now, but people will forget her once she loses the next match."
"What do you think about the Fire-Fang Dog wearing sunglasses?" the young female guest asked.
"Pretty cool," a nearby guest praised.
"I just opened an online shop selling sunglasses. If I were to invite her for a live stream at this opportune moment—to be precise, invite the Fire-Fang Dog to do a live stream—what do you think?" the young female guest continued.
Everyone's eyes turned in unison toward the Fire-Fang Dog in the arena, which was wearing purple triangular sunglasses.
"It feels... actually not bad," the nearby guest replied after a moment of hesitation.
...
As soon as Qiao Sang returned to the spectator stands with the Fire-Fang Dog in her arms, Bai Yunmiao pulled a pen and a piece of pink-bordered A4 paper from her crossbody bag and handed them to her excitedly. "Genius Qiao, quick, sign an autograph for me!"
"How do you have everything in this bag?" Qiao Sang couldn't help but complain.
"Hehe, actually, this pen and paper were prepared for Sha Duo, but since we didn't get the chance to use them..." Bai Yunmiao said sheepishly.
Qiao Sang: "..."
"Your parents fighting isn't just an excuse for you to come here, is it?" Qiao Sang suspected.
"How else could I call you Genius Qiao? You guessed it so fast," Bai Yunmiao said with a blushing face. "I've recently become a fan of Sha Duo, and I happened to hear he was coming as a guest for the Baixin Tournament, so I came."
Qiao Sang: "..."
So, people come to competitions just for someone else...
"Let's not talk about that. Genius Qiao, hurry and sign for me. Sha Duo already said it—if you participate in the Regional Tournament in the future, your autograph will definitely be worth a lot. I have to get you to sign it for me now while I can." Bai Yunmiao shoved the pen and paper toward her.
Qiao Sang didn't make a fuss. Just as she was about to start writing, she thought of something and looked up. "How many sheets of paper did you bring? If I sign this one, will there be any left if I run into Sha Duo later?"
Bai Yunmiao froze, then snatched the pen and paper back, laughing awkwardly. "Haha, I forgot if you hadn't mentioned it. I only brought this one sheet."
Qiao Sang: "..."
...
After watching a full day of matches, Qiao Sang went home to review the battles.
Dragon-type pets were truly worthy of their kind. As long as she didn't gain an early advantage, the Little Rhino's attack and defense would have made this match a fierce battle.
In today's match, she had underestimated the Little Rhino's defense, thinking she could end the fight with Fire Fang.
If the Little Rhino hadn't resorted to headbutting the ground but had instead used its iron head to shake off the Fire-Fang Dog and create distance, the fight might have lasted longer.
Ultimately, the Fire-Fang Dog's attack power was still insufficient.
The remaining contestants all possessed mid-level pets. Regardless of who she faced, she wouldn't have much of an advantage and would have to rely on tactics.
The three Beast Tamers she had researched yesterday, who both possessed two mid-level pets, had all successfully advanced. If she encountered them, it would be difficult to win even with tactics.
Sometimes, absolute strength is something even tactics cannot compensate for.
If she was lucky tomorrow and didn't run into one of those three, she might still have a chance to strive for a higher ranking. Otherwise...
A nudge on her calf pulled Qiao Sang out of her thoughts.
She looked down and found the Fire-Fang Dog holding her phone in its mouth, pushing it toward her with its paw.
The phone screen was lit up in the dog's mouth, and its vibrations made the fur on its face tremble.
It turned out someone was calling.
Suppressing a laugh, Qiao Sang took the phone. It was an unknown number.
She swiped right and hung up.
The next second, the phone vibrated again.
It was the same number.
Without hesitation, Qiao Sang hung up again.
She had no habit of answering calls from strangers.
But the very next second after hanging up, the screen lit up again.
Qiao Sang frowned slightly and pressed the call button.
"Is this Miss Qiao Sang?" a young woman's voice came from the other end.
"It is. Who are you?"
"I am someone who believes in you. Are you interested in discussing a business deal worth over a hundred thousand? I am at..."
Qiao Sang lowered the phone from her ear, quickly hung up, and added the number to her blacklist.
As expected, it was a scam call.
Trying to trick her—they really picked the wrong person.
She had lived through a period of social tempering in her past life; how could she be so easily deceived?
On the other side, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the 37th floor of the Yijian Building.
A young woman stared blankly at her phone, which had been hung up on and could no longer be reached.
At which step did something go wrong...