Chapter 471: Fifth Stage National Championship
Chapter 471: Fifth Stage National Championship (Combined)
The evolution cycle of a dragon-type familiar becomes longer as it progresses.
Regardless of the dragon-type familiar, even if it has top-notch talent and resources, it will still take several years to evolve from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage.
In theory, it should be impossible for an advanced dragon-type familiar to appear in the high school division of the National Campus Beastmaster League.
Unless, of course, one skips the cultivation process and directly bonds with a high-class dragon familiar.
Zhao Chuanyu did exactly that.
His Red Urgent Dragon wasn't cultivated from the basic familiar stage, the little red dragon. Instead, he bonded with it a month after the previous National Campus Beastmaster League ended, when it had already grown into a high-class beast companion.
This immediately made him a strong contender for the championship in the senior division of this year's National Campus Beastmaster League.
Later, it was revealed that Zhao Chuanyu had deliberately delayed bonding with his second familiar, all for the Red Urgent Dragon.
Most participants in the sophomore year division of the National Campus Beastmaster League have two familiars, but Zhao Chuanyu had only used one familiar in the competition.
As for why he waited until after the previous National Campus Beastmaster League to bond with the Red Urgent Dragon, there were two main theories circulating online.
The first theory was that Zhao Chuanyu's goal was to win the senior division championship.
If he had bonded with the Red Urgent Dragon earlier, its strength would have been exposed during the sophomore year division matches. This would have given other competitors a wealth of information to use against him in the senior division matches, potentially leading to very targeted and detailed strategies.
The second theory was that the Red Urgent Dragon was only willing to bond with Zhao Chuanyu at that time.
Human brain domains are extremely fragile, especially in the early stages of being a Beastmaster, when the replenishment hasn't been performed many times and only a few pages of the Beastmaster Codex have been developed.
If Zhao Chuanyu had tried to bond with the Red Urgent Dragon before it was willing, not only would the bond have failed, but his brain domain would have suffered severe damage.
The contestants from Hollow Plains are truly formidable, managing to get their hands on a high-class dragon familiar... Qiao Sang thought to himself, shifting to a more comfortable position on the bed and continuing to watch the match.
...
Fifty minutes later, all the afternoon matches ended. Qiao Sang opened the official forum of the National Campus Beastmaster League to check the news.
The forum had many posts updating the match results in real-time.
Right after the matches ended, the official announcement was posted on the forum:
#National Campus Beastmaster League Senior Division Top Nine Individuals List#
The post had been made only a short while ago but was already pinned to the top, with comments flooding in and the view count rapidly increasing by dozens every second.
The action is really fast... Qiao Sang clicked on the post.
[Note: This ranking is based on the results of this round and does not reflect the contestants' overall strength.]
[1: Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang]
[2: Zhitia Region, Zhou Shanliang]
[3: Heavy Island Region, Zhang Wandi]
[4: Hollow Plains, Tang Yi]
【5: Tuwai Region, Xu Jie】
【6: Liaoxi Region, Liao Qiang】
【7: Hollow Plains, Zhao Chuanyu】
【8: Dongjia Region, Sun Yi】
【9: Hollow Plains, Xia Fengyuan】
Apart from Wu Chongyu and Cui Pingkun not making it into the top 9, the rest of the list was pretty much as everyone had guessed... Qiao Sang scrolled through the comments below:
【It’s still Hollow Plains, even without Wu Chongyu, they still have three in the top 9.】
【Not at all surprising. If it weren’t for the sudden appearance of a freak from Yuhua Region this time, we would have had at least four in the top 9.】
【Don't get discouraged. Although we don’t have four from Hollow Plains in the top 9, we still have a good chance in the top 10. There’s still the losers' bracket, Wu Chongyu might have a chance to come back. Look at how intense his match was against Qiao Sang from Yuhua Region today; he even destroyed the arena.】
【Forget about the top 10. Cui Pingkun is in the losers' bracket this time. If there’s no surprise, he’ll definitely be one of the top 10.】
【Damn! We don’t have anyone from Lianbo Region!】
【My heart is so cold. For so many years, we still haven’t had anyone from Beilun Region make it to the top 9.】
【The previous commenter needs to chill. I thought this year’s Senior Division matches would be just like before, with Yuhua Region having no chance. But we got a huge surprise.】
【That’s a bit of an overreaction. You’re talking about a potential champion.】
【Anyway, we don’t have anyone from Ancient Fog Region. I’ll say it right here: everyone in the top 9 except Qiao Sang is trash.】
【Ignore the people from Ancient Fog Region; they have some issues. I’ve been to a match, and the cheers for their region’s contestants were nothing compared to the cheers for Qiao Sang. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Qiao Sang was from their region.】
【In terms of overall strength, Hollow Plains is still the strongest, with Tang Yi leading and Zhao Chuanyu following.】
【What good is overall strength in a personal competition? Do I need to explain what a personal competition is?】
【Tang Yi is no longer at his best. Forget about Zhao Chuanyu and Qiao Sang; I think he might not even be able to beat Zhang Wandi.】
【Look at how quickly you people change your minds. You used to shout that Tang Yi was invincible every day. Now, you don’t even mention him without mocking him.】
【The ones shouting that Tang Yi was invincible were from Hollow Plains, not us from Heavy Island Region.】
【We from Zhitia Region never shouted that either.】
【To be fair, Tang Yi was indeed invincible in the past. If he hadn’t gotten cocky after winning the championship and gone into the Hidden Realm, where his Pare Lulu was severely injured and had to recover for two months at the Beastmaster Center, he might have been a top contender this time.】
【I don’t know what he was thinking, going to the Hidden Realm without even being a D-Class Beastmaster.】
【I heard there were some issues with Tang Yi’s family, and the resources they needed were provided by the school, but not for free. They had to achieve certain results. Going to the Hidden Realm was probably to get more resources.】
【Suddenly, I understand. The path of a Beastmaster is really tough if your family can’t provide resources. I have a cousin who had a spontaneous awakening, but because her family went bankrupt, she bonded with a Sand Slither worth only about 20,000, which isn’t even as good as my familiar.】
【I still think Tang Yi is amazing. His ace familiar hasn’t trained for two months, and he can still perform like this.】
【The main issue is that he was so invincible last year that everyone’s expectations were sky-high. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment, making it seem like he’s not as good as before.】
So that’s what happened with Tang Yi. No wonder the champion from last year hasn’t been mentioned much... Qiao Sang pondered.
A family in decline but with exceptional talent, shining brightly only to face setbacks that make others think he’s no longer capable. Isn’t that the perfect setup for a male protagonist?
Looks like I need to pay attention to this guy... Qiao Sang thought cautiously.
According to the typical male protagonist setup, when others think the protagonist is down and out, they often make a comeback and slap those doubters in the face.
...
The next day was the day to select one more qualifier from the Losers' Bracket for the top ten.
After breakfast and a quick wash, Qiao Sang took Fangy and the others to the 15th floor of the hotel to start training.
Despite the monotonous nature of the training, Fangy and Lulu never showed any signs of fatigue.
Treasure Seeker, on the other hand, tried several times to take a break, but upon seeing Fangy and Lulu's dedication, she gritted her teeth and pushed through.
Qiao Sang felt a sense of reflection. Whether it was studying or training, the environment's influence was indeed significant.
...
Before they knew it, the day for the fifth stage of the National Campus Beastmaster League arrived.
With only ten contestants remaining, all matches were scheduled for the afternoon.
At two o'clock, figures began to appear at the Shouyao Battle Arena.
Though there were fewer students in uniform from various regions serving as cheerleaders, the audience was still packed, with every seat taken.
Every match has its audience.
While the National Campus Beastmaster League High School Division might not have the highest level of competitors among all ongoing matches, it was the most watched and prestigious competition in the high school stage.
Dragon Nation had millions of families with high school students, and with the added interest from middle school students, there was no shortage of attention for the National Campus Beastmaster League.
Attending the National Championship on-site didn't require a ticket; it relied on connections.
As soon as news of available seats spread, they were snapped up by the leaders of various universities.
With cameras positioned all around, the host stood on a white Flying-type Companion and announced the match rules. Soon, the list of contestants appeared on the holographic screen.
【Zhitia Region, Zhou Shanliang VS Heavy Island Region, Zhang Wanduo】
【Hollow Plains, Tang Yi VS Tuwai Region, Xu Jie】
【Liaoxi Region, Liao Qiang VS Hollow Plains, Xia Fengyuan】
【Dongjia Region, Sun Yi VS Hollow Plains, Zhao Chuanyu】
【Yuhua Region, Qiao Sang VS Liaoxi Region, Cui Pingkun】
...
The fifth stage of the National Championship consisted of five matches, with ten contestants.
After yesterday's intense matches, Cui Pingkun successfully became the tenth qualifier from the Losers' Bracket.
As the match list was announced, the arena erupted in chatter.
"Our Dongjia Region's sole representative! How did he end up against Zhao Chuanyu?!"
"Is Cui Pingkun being targeted by the system? He faced Zhao Chuanyu last time, and now he's up against Qiao Sang!"
"I seriously suspect there's a problem with the system! Why are all three contestants from Hollow Plains separated?!"
"I noticed long ago that, when there are enough contestants, they usually don't put contestants from the same region against each other."
"The first match is a battle between two sole representatives. This is going to be interesting."
Cui Pingkun... Qiao Sang's interest was piqued as she looked at her opponent. Cui Pingkun was the only contestant in the National Championship with a high-level Mechanical Pet.
And she had never faced a Mechanical Pet before.
The matches were intense and thrilling, and the list of qualifiers for the top five gradually emerged.
They were Zhang Wanduo, Tang Yi, Liao Qiang, and Zhao Chuanyu.
Standing on the white Flying-type Companion, the host announced loudly:
"Next, let's welcome the last pair of contestants! Qiao Sang from the Yuhua Region and Cui Pingkun from the Liaoxi Region, please step forward!"
Deafening cheers erupted instantly.
"Go, Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang, show your might! Qiao Sang, certain victory!"
"Cui Pingkun! Fear no one! Cui Pingkun, you're the best!"
This was now the top ten match, and the spectators from various regions were almost shouting their lungs out, not wanting to be outdone by their opponents in terms of morale.
Amidst the cheers, Qiao Sang and Cui Pingkun walked to their respective sides of the arena and stood at the designated positions.
"Whistle!"
As soon as the Referee blew the whistle, Qiao Sang and Cui Pingkun simultaneously formed hand seals.
Soon, their familiars appeared within their respective Star Arrays.
At the same time, a heated debate broke out in the audience stands.
"I tell you, your region's Cui Pingkun is really unlucky. After finally making it back from the Losers' Bracket, he has to face elimination again."
"Don't be so sure. It's not certain who will eliminate whom."
"Huh? You think your region's Cui Pingkun can beat our region's Qiao Sang?"
"What's the problem? When Cui Pingkun was dominating the match field, your region's Qiao Sang was probably still in junior high, failing exams and getting scolded by teachers every day."
"Say that again? Who..." The boy, looking like his idol had been insulted, stood up with a fierce look in his eyes, trying to overwhelm the other with his presence. However, before he could finish, the girl beside him tugged at his sleeve and whispered:
"Don't argue with the Liaoxi Region people. I heard that some of the Mechanical Pets from the Liaoxi Region can turn their bodies into digital data, moving freely in the digital space. They can even access your browsing history on mobile phones and computers."
"Some people have been socially ruined because they offended Liaoxi Region people, with their chat records and browsing history exposed."
Exposed chat records and browsing history?! The boy's heart shuddered, and he silently sat back down.
"Forget it, I don't want to argue with you. I'm going to watch the match."
...
On the field.
"Icechill." Lulu's expression was cold.
"Calculate."
On the other side, Calc Tower, with its red eyes, immediately displayed a stream of data.
[Name: Icechill]
[Height: 3.3m]
[Weight: 223kg]
[Ding, analysis starting... Most energy concentrated in the tail and forehead, weakness, eyes...]
Calc Tower, a high-level Mechanical Pet, could scan and analyze the opponent's weaknesses. The slot on its chest was for card tapes, and Cui Pingkun would always insert tapes with attributes that countered the opponent's familiar. Qiao Sang glanced at the distant familiar, entirely encased in red metal, with two crossed double-edged blades on its back and long, slender limbs, and a thought crossed her mind:
I have three familiars. This guy probably won't be able to guess accurately that I'm sending out Lulu first...
"Whistle!"
The whistle signaling the start of the match blew at that moment.
Lulu opened her mouth, and a thick blue Water Jet shot toward Calc Tower.
Blazing Star Hound, Ghost Ring Specter, Icechill. Since the National Championship, Qiao Sang had been rotating her familiars evenly. In the last match, she had already sent out Blazing Star Hound and Ghost Ring Specter, so it was indeed Icechill this time... Cui Pingkun pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting a glint of intelligence.
"Calculate."
Calc Tower quickly drew the two one-meter-long double-edged blades from its back and swung them forward.
As it swung, yellow electric arcs shot out from the blades.
The blade light flickered under the yellow electric arcs.
So fast, it instantly reached the Water Jet several meters away.
The Water Jet was directly split into three parts and continued to slash toward Lulu's position.
(End of Chapter)
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