https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-400-The-Poisonous-Flame-A-Legendary-Journey-/13010392/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-402-A-Battle-of-the-Strong-The-Elimination-Round-Begins-/13010394/
Chapter 401: The First Round Concludes! The Mysterious Ye Zhou!
Chapter 401: The First Round Concludes! The Mysterious Ye Zhou!
"Winner: Zhou Yuan from Minyue Province, current record: one win, one loss!"
The chubby boy from Minyue Province let out a slight sigh of relief as his opponent was also a formidable opponent. However, compared to him, they were still slightly inferior.
Now, with a win under his belt, he could somewhat alleviate the pressure that the loss to Master Su Ping had caused.
Zhou Yuan quickly took out his academy watch and searched for Master Su Ping's results and the video of their recent battle, causing his heart to tremble.
Toxic species, suppressed by undead and elemental beasts, yet feared by countless others due to their insidious nature and the damage they inflict on beast powers, even after detoxification, unless the beast has an exceptionally strong physical body.
This Fang Xu, his future prospects didn't look too bright.
Even if the toxin was removed, the Toxic attribute was despised by many for its lingering effects, like a bone-deep ulcer.
Zhou Yuan shook his head and scoffed.
Facing such a formidable opponent, he had the audacity to resist? It was wise to surrender promptly, preserving one's full strength to face other opponents.
Indeed, this was the case.
Master Su Ping's second beast battle, after a brief intermission, became known to all participants and viewers.
The blue wolf, whose brilliance was overshadowed by the origami man in the provincial secret realm, now revealed its sinister fangs.
On Dream Island, endless mists concealed the beast's abilities, making the Toxic species' powers incredibly stealthy.
Many only knew the wolf was formidable, even slaying several Monarch-ranked ferocious beasts, but no one knew its specific abilities.
Now, they understood.
This terrifying, almost impenetrable toxicity! Even rumors suggested Master Su Ping had only these two contracted beasts, but neither was easy to deal with.
Breaking through the wolf's protection to disrupt the origami man's accumulated power was too challenging! Even if one succeeded, the time wasted would render the effort meaningless, as the origami man could instantly break through all defenses. Failure meant the same fate as Fang Xu.
Even with Master Su Ping's detoxification, the combat power of those flame beasts was significantly reduced in subsequent battles.
After several consecutive beast battles, all ended in defeat!
This was precisely why Master Su Ping's first round of beast battles was surprisingly effortless, beyond his expectations.
"Third battle! Su Ping versus Li Sisan from Beijing Province!"
"Surrender! Su Ping wins! Current record: three battles, three wins!"
"Fourth battle! Su Ping versus Li Sisang from Yunnan Province!"
"Surrender! Su Ping wins! Current record: four battles, four wins..."
"..."
Su Ping watched helplessly as each participant took the stage, going through the motions. He even suspected the organizers or the Dragon Nation officials were manipulating the matchups to ensure his advancement.
Of course, he understood the primary reason for this.
The pseudo-random opponents were indeed of varying strengths, with those higher-ranked in the provincial exams less likely to face other high-ranking opponents.
For example, the top-ranked participants in the provincial exams rarely encountered each other in these matchups.
This first round of battles was a process of nurturing the most potent beasts, ensuring the strongest emerged. Many had previously complained about the lack of rewards in the provincial exams.
Now, while the rankings didn't guarantee absolute dominance, higher ranks secured an advantage in this first round.
Undoubtedly, the first round of the finals remained brutally competitive!
Seven wins out of ten battles were required to advance to the second round.
Even by the simplest probability calculations, the chances seemed no more than 20%.
In reality, this number might be even lower, possibly much lower.
Some could win eight, nine, or even all ten battles, further reducing the chances for others to advance.
This was a true battle royale, a chaotic clash of countless beast masters from across the Dragon Nation.
Even Master Su Ping was often amazed by the skills on display.
Those who made it this far were no pushovers.
Although most of Master Su Ping's opponents surrendered, this gave him more time to watch other battles live via his wristband and phone.
(End of Chapter 401)
Of course, the main focus of his attention was on a few individuals.
Qin Xiaoxue, Ye Zhou, Dong Muchuan, and the previously mentioned Chen Zhan, and Su Ping also took a general look.
Among these individuals, the one who truly surprised Su Ping and piqued his interest was not Ye Zhou, who had been making bold statements but remained low-key, nor was it the confident Qin Xiaoxue, and even less so Chen Zhan's Qing Long.
Instead, it was the most unassuming Dong Muchuan.
Dong Muchuan's ranking in the trial tower at the Magic Capital Academy was not particularly high.
However, during the provincial exam, he could be said to have outshone everyone.
He directly suppressed Qin Xiaoxue and secured the second position at the Magic Capital Academy.
In this first round of battles, Dong Muchuan's performance still caught Su Ping off guard.
Because his style of combat was vastly different from the majority of people.
In beastmaster battles, it is most direct and exhilarating to pit the beasts' combat power against each other.
For example, Chen Zhan and Qin Xiaoxue.
They are the epitome of this, with Qin Xiaoxue's Crowned Wolf King and the combination of the mutated Life Ancient Tree, they are virtually invincible.
It can be said to be an absolutely dominant style of combat!
However, Dong Muchuan was the complete opposite.
His combat style was extremely simple and clear-cut, directly targeting the opposing beastmaster.
His three pets were all space-type beasts.
The Weave Void Spider, Break Void Mirror, and Crystal Worm.
Space-type beasts are the most silent and elusive, the most mysterious and unpredictable.
Therefore, they are the most convenient pets for assassination missions.
Regarding space-type beasts, Su Ping was also clueless.
But every time in these battle videos, the Crystal Worm was hardly ever seen.
However, the Break Void Mirror was always in his hand, and the Weave Void Spider would usually appear behind the opponent's neck, and then directly throw the opponent out of the arena.
It can be said that in all the battles he witnessed, Dong Muchuan's combat style was the simplest and most ruthless, as well as the fastest.
This couldn't help but make Su Ping sigh slightly.
There were simply too many wondrous beasts in the world.
Too many wondrous methods, and one couldn't afford to be too arrogant.
Otherwise, when facing Dong Muchuan's tactics, there was a high chance of being overturned.
However, this kind of devious assassination method also had its weaknesses.
Even after ten battles, Dong Muchuan still lost one!
Yes, this Dong family's deeply hidden young heir lost a battle.
His opponent in that battle was named Mu Hanchan.
This name had a rather ancient style.
But without a doubt, she was a modern person.
Moreover, she was a beautiful ice goddess with snow-white hair, exuding a sense of ethereal spirituality.
Even in the photos on the hand ring, her expression and demeanor were indiscernible.
She seemed like a genuinely cold, hard stone.
Her background was indeed extraordinary.
She was the first-place holder in the provincial exam jointly established by the Northern Origin Province and Fongtian Province, the Ice Advanced Academy.
Her method was also simple.
That large ice elemental sprite, with just a wave of her hand, the Weave Void Spider hidden in the void, was forced out.
And then completely frozen, losing all its combat power.
Instant kill!
Of course, as Dong Muchuan's final battle, the Crystal Worm and the other two pets' conditions were definitely not at their peak.
However, even if Dong Muchuan was in his prime, it would be tough to be a match for this ice goddess.
The reason was simple.
Su Ping had a good understanding of ice-type skills.
Old Liu had been researching the Ice Fang Wolf's ultra skill at home.
When they chatted, they mentioned this ice-type ultra skill.
Yes, this skill used by the Ice Advanced Academy's first-place holder, Mu Hanchan, was instantly recognized by Su Ping.
Ice-type ultra skill: 'Absolute Zero!'
According to Old Liu, this was one of the most powerful ice-type ultra skills.
There were no fancy tricks, just pure absolute zero temperature.
A temperature that could freeze even space instantly.
The fact also proved that this skill's power was not an exaggeration.
The directly frozen Weave Void Spider was the proof.
This was Dong Muchuan's final battle; otherwise, if the Crystal Worm had completely lost its combat power, it might have greatly affected the subsequent battles.
This was just one of the many.
The Eight Academies.
Almost everyone who could rank in the top positions was not an ordinary person.
Ultra skills, at this stage, in the competition for the strongest young beastmaster in the Dragon Nation, were no longer an absolute, dimension-defying advantage!
Although at this stage, only Mu Hanchan had displayed an ultra skill other than Su Ping's, Su Ping believed that there were definitely more possessors!
Not to mention, Qin Xiaoxue had hardly contacted him in the past half a year.
With Sang Sheng as his backer and his own natural talent, Su Ping would never believe that his three pets didn't have Ultra Skills as their trump cards.
Compared to others, Su Ping seemed to be much more relaxed.
In ten matches, Su Ping only took action three times.
Aside from Fang Xu in the second match.
In the last two matches, Su Ping also made his move, but his opponents were even weaker than Fang Xu.
The reason was simple. His last two opponents were already confirmed to be eliminated, so he took the opportunity to show his face and put up a last-ditch effort during Su Ping's highly anticipated matches.
In the end, not only Su Ping but even the audience could tell that these guys were just messing around.
So, on this 31st arena, Su Ping didn't do much, but he did get a good look at the other remaining top-seeded contestants.
Aside from Mu Hanchan from Glacial Academy, there was also Qin Feng from South Sea Academy and Pan Xiaoyu from Xijinggu Academy, all of whom were quite impressive. They completed the second round with a perfect ten-win streak.
Aside from them...
Su Ping thought again and sat next to Li Ran, the referee who was also leisurely watching Ye Zou's matches.
Ye Zou didn't fight much.
As the first-ranked student of Magic City Academy, one of the eight great academies, it was natural that not many would dare to challenge him. As a top contender for the championship, he had fought four matches.
And in those four matches, there was only one word to describe them: bizarre!
From start to finish, Ye Zou only used one pet: the Ringed Tiger!
Just like Su Ping, his only true combatant was the Ringed Tiger.
As for the Ice Cicada and the most mysterious Time-type Artifact pet, the Time Sandglass, the former remained perched on Ye Zou's shoulder, while the latter hadn't made an appearance at all.
This made Su Ping quite suspicious.
However, just that Ringed Tiger alone was extremely terrifying.
Time-type pets were the most mysterious and rare, but their combat abilities were often criticized.
Yet, this Ringed Tiger, from start to finish, didn't display any special skills, only fighting with its physical body.
And against its opponents, it seemed to drag them into its domain, then defeat them with its rich experience.
As Su Ping was thinking this, a familiar voice sounded from beside him:
"Su Ping, we're indeed kindred spirits. I came here as soon as I finished to see you, and I didn't expect you'd be studying my videos too!"
Su Ping turned his head, and as expected, Ye Zou's ordinary face appeared before him.
However, what made Su Ping's eyebrows twitch even more was that in these ten consecutive matches, he hadn't seen the most mysterious Time Sandglass at all.
At this moment, the Time Sandglass was held in Ye Zou's hand.
Within the silver sandglass, it seemed to contain not sand but countless tiny diamonds.
The crystals were clear and dazzling like stars.
Su Ping remembered that even the feathers of the Dark Flame Ancient Crow were indistinguishable to him, but this Time Sandglass could reveal the origins of that pet with just a glance.
Others speculated that Ye Zou's most powerful pet was the Ice Cicada that controlled the entire field.
But for Su Ping, this mysterious Time-type Artifact pet was the one he feared the most.
"What are you doing here?"
"To see you, just like when I personally went to Linzhou after the provincial exam." Ye Zou seemed a bit regretful. "But you didn't take action much."
Su Ping looked at him suspiciously.
"You went to Linzhou? After the provincial exam? When?"
Ye Zou smiled and nodded, "Right after your speech, I wanted to see you."
Su Ping's suspicion deepened. He always felt like this guy was up to something.
"Su Ping, let's go!"
Qin Xiaoxue's voice also came from below the arena.
After ten matches, with seven victories, out of the original two hundred contestants, only forty-eight remained.
As the sky gradually darkened, the second round of elimination matches would begin early the next morning.
This would allow the contestants to fully recover and engage in true battles of strength.
Su Ping ignored Ye Zou, who had come to him, and when he realized that Ye Zou had no intention of leaving, he turned and left.
Ye Zou sighed, and then his eyes flashed:
"Su Ping, your two pets indeed put a lot of pressure on me. I really don't know how you cultivated them."
Then, within the countless sand grains and stars of the Time Sandglass, the tiny multifaceted crystals reflected the figure of Qian Yi from earlier.
Just like in the provincial exam secret realm.
(End of Chapter)
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