Chapter 959: Frost Emperor Crow
Chapter 959: Frost Emperor Crow (Combined)
Contestant Area.
Qiao Sang found her seat and had just sat down when she heard someone nearby greet her:
"Small world, we're sitting together again."
Qiao Sang turned her head and saw it was Rong Yuhua, the Contestant who had sat next to her last time. She gave a polite smile:
"Yeah, it is a small world."
Rong Yuhua lowered his voice and asked:
"I heard online that your Qingfeng Ni evolved. Is that true?"
Before he asked, he already had an answer in mind. He just wanted to use this topic to strike up a conversation.
Usually, Contestants tend to avoid discussing the strength of each other's familiars. If they do, it's either because the familiar has already been dispatched and its strength is known, or because they believe their own familiar's strength isn't worth mentioning. Or, it's just a casual question and a casual answer, with no real expectations.
Qiao Sang's situation was special. The familiar he was interested in, even if it had evolved, was still just a High-Class Beast Companion and wouldn't appear in the match, so it wasn't considered prying. Rong Yuhua chatted freely.
"It evolved", Qiao Sang nodded.
Rong Yuhua's eyes lit up, then he thought of something and asked:
"Do you live in Zhongshui Xianshu?"
Zhongshui Xianshu was the name of the residential complex where Yu Ke lived.
"No", Qiao Sang shook her head, "A friend of mine lives there."
She then asked, "How did you know about this place?"
Did the paparazzi even reveal the exact location of the training grounds?
"I have a friend who lives there", Rong Yuhua replied. "The Qingfeng Ni evolution video showed the layout of the Training Field, and a friend messaged me saying it was the same place he lived in."
After a pause, he asked, "They'll eventually find out where you're training. Are you going to change locations?"
Qiao Sang: "???"
If they find out, I have to change locations? That serious?
Qiao Sang pondered for a few seconds and said, "All the remaining Training Grounds in Tianan City were booked by someone on the same day. I can't change locations."
That someone was me... Rong Yuhua fell silent instantly.
After a dozen seconds, he finally spoke, saying what he had been thinking: "Do you want to train at my place? I still have several unused properties in Tianan City."
If he were a B-Class Beastmaster, even a slight chance of defeating Qiao Sang would have stopped him from offering her a training ground. But he was still a C-Class Beastmaster, and even if he faced Qiao Sang, he had no chance of winning.
Since that was the case, it might as well be good to build a relationship.
Qiao Sang glanced at him and declined:
"No, thanks. I'm training with my friend, and it's going well."
Compared to Rong Yuhua, another Contestant, she naturally trusted Yu Ke, who had a vested interest in her success.
Rong Yuhua, feeling guilty for booking all the remaining Training Grounds in Tianan City, didn't say anything more.
...
Family Section.
Ye Xiangting had become the center of attention in this area.
Almost everyone was gathered around her, chattering away.
"Qiao Sang's mom, is the video online true?"
"Did Qingfeng Ni really evolve into a Clear Hidden Sprite?"
"Can we exchange contact information?"
"You came all the way from Yuhua Region to watch the matches. You must not have had much time to explore Hollow Plains. After the match, you can call Qiao Sang, and I'll show you around Hollow Plains."
Ye Xiangting handled each question with ease:
"I'm not sure... I don't go online much... I don't know. Qiao Sang is always training and rarely calls home. I only found out she became a B-Class Beastmaster when I came to watch the match... Of course, we can... Sure, I'll ask Qiao Sang if she has time."
Liu Yao listened to the conversation in silence.
The equally taciturn Old Man asked:
"Are you Qiao Sang's father?"
Liu Yao replied succinctly, "No."
Old Man, curious, asked, "Then who are you?"
Liu Yao didn't reveal his identity as a researcher and kept it low-key, "I'm her high school teacher."
Old Man's eyes lit up, "Which high school?"
Liu Yao answered, "Holy Water High School."
Old Man followed up, "Is Qiao Sang still attending?"
"No, she's already been accepted into university", Liu Yao said.
Old Man couldn't resist prying further, "Which university?"
Liu Yao didn't hide it, "Imperial Beastmaster Academy."
Old Man was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, finding it quite reasonable. He immediately pulled out his mobile phone and sent the gossip to the "Loving Family" group:
[Just heard that Qiao Sang is attending Imperial Beastmaster Academy!]
As he typed, it was already nine in the morning.
The host stepped onto the stage, welcomed the audience, introduced the guests, and went through all the formalities before finally getting to the main event:
"Next, we will proceed with the 108 to 54 advancement groupings! Please welcome the referee from the Public Notary!"
A giant virtual screen appeared on the stage.
Everyone stopped talking and focused their attention on the screen and Divisio.
"Fenfen."
Divisio entered the arena, split into two, and its head floated toward the central giant virtual screen, merging with it.
The photos of all the contestants began to shuffle rapidly.
After about ten seconds, the photos were paired up and fixed on the screen.
Qiao Sang glanced briefly and saw her photo in the third group.
Good, she thought. She would have her matches on the first day, which meant she wouldn't be disturbed at night by malicious interruptions. Feeling content, she looked at her opponent.
The moment she saw her opponent's photo, her slightly raised lips drooped again.
"So, are you ready? For the battle with the General-Class familiar."
"Qingqing..."
Qingbao lifted its head, staring blankly at its Beastmaster.
At the same moment, the strong wind suddenly stopped.
Qiao Sang continued, "Don't worry, I'll weaken the General-Class familiar first. Even so, its strength will definitely far exceed yours. If you think the odds are against you, I'll be participating in many other matches later."
Honestly, unless the General-Class familiar was almost down, Qingbao really didn't have much of a chance.
If Qingbao had the same sort of pride as Fangy or Treasure Seeker, she wouldn't recommend it to debut in this match under everyone's watchful eyes.
"Qingqing!"
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Qingbao nodded resolutely.
It wanted to fight!
"Even if you might lose?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Qingqing!"
Qingbao nodded firmly.
"Why do you want to participate in this match so much?" Qiao Sang couldn't help but ask, curious.
In her view, Qingbao wasn't the type to be overly competitive.
"Qingqing."
Qingbao thought seriously for a moment, then called out, indicating it wanted to try.
"Try?" Qiao Sang was taken aback. This was a response she hadn't expected.
"Qingqing."
Qingbao nodded again.
To try—whether it was Steel Treasure or Treasure Seeker, they both seemed to enjoy matches a lot. And...
"Qingqing."
Qingbao paused, then smiled sweetly and called out again.
We are companions, aren't we? I want to win this match for you.
Qingbao... Qiao Sang was moved beyond words and responded with fiery enthusiasm:
"Alright! We'll win this match!"
...
Time passed.
The matches proceeded in an orderly manner.
In the commentator booth, Tian Yiyi looked at the profiles of the next contestants, her voice growing excited:
"Next up are Contestant Qiao Sang and Contestant Shi Bing, both of whom are highly anticipated in this tournament!"
"That's right", Tang Xueran chimed in.
"Qiao Sang is the youngest and most discussed contestant in this tournament, often trending even on days without matches. Shi Bing, on the other hand, is one of the few C-Class Beastmasters with a Royal Beast, capable of going toe-to-toe with B-Class Beastmasters."
As she spoke, she heard the audience erupt into cheers and smiled. "I can already hear the enthusiastic cheers from the audience. It seems everyone is looking forward to the next match."
The audience stands were filled with screams:
"Ah! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"
"Ghost Ring King! Steel Sword Falcon!"
"Clear Hidden Sprite! Please, let me see Clear Hidden Sprite!"
"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! She will surely dominate!"
Even the fans of Shi Bing in the audience were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming support for Qiao Sang.
At that moment, Tian Yiyi announced:
"Contestant Qiao Sang and Contestant Shi Bing are entering the arena!"
As she spoke, two green bird familiars shot up from the underground passage into the sky.
The audience's screams reached a new peak:
"Ah! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"
"Shi Bing! Shi Bing!"
"Royal Beast! I want to see the Royal Beast!"
"Clear Hidden Sprite! I want to see Clear Hidden Sprite!"
Amid the screams, the number "10" appeared in the arena.
The audience fell into a unanimous silence.
In the family section.
Ye Xiangting looked at the robust shadow on the field, a thought crossing his mind. He furrowed his brow slightly and turned to ask:
"Is Shi Bing’s lineup one Royal Tier, two General-Class, and one Advanced familiar?"
Liu Yao had only watched the matches and was not well-informed about the off-field details. He thought for a moment and replied:
"I know he used a Royal Tier and a General-Class in his last match, but I’m not sure about the others."
Ye Xiangting’s gaze returned to the field, the excitement he felt when his daughter’s turn was called now turning into worry.
Although his daughter was a B-Class Beastmaster, both Fangy and Lulu had only recently evolved.
Even a small difference in energy levels could mean a vast disparity in strength for a Royal Beast.
And there was Qingbao. If the opponent was as formidable as she had seen online, Qingbao might not even be able to take the field…
The light on the field continued to shift, and soon the countdown reached “1.”
The light vanished.
Qiao Sang and Shi Bing both sealed their familiars.
A crimson Star Array and an amber Star Array lit up on the field.
Soon, two exceptionally large shadows appeared within the Star Arrays.
As the familiar covered in dark blue scales emerged from the Crimson Star Array, the temperature on the field plummeted, and large white snowflakes began to fall.
The snowflakes landed on the noble and mysterious familiar, creating a breathtaking and awe-inspiring scene that left the audience momentarily speechless.
"What kind of familiar is this? It’s so beautiful…"
"I don’t know, but it’s definitely Royal Tier…"
"Is this Qiao Sang’s Royal Beast? It’s so gorgeous…"
"Based on its appearance alone, it could easily participate in international-level Coordination Contests."
Meanwhile.
Hollow Plains Regional Tournament Live Stream.
Suddenly, the chat stream was flooded with messages:
"Ah!!! Ice Emperor Ram!!! Ice Emperor Ram!!!"
"I’m losing my mind! What am I seeing?!"
"People from the Ancient Fog Region! Flood the chat!!!"
"Ah!!! Qiao Sang actually turned Icechill into an Ice Emperor Ram! Oh my gosh! I’m going crazy!"
"Ice Emperor Ram! Ah! Tell me, how can I get a ticket to the Hollow Plains Regional Tournament? I want to go!"
"Brothers, I’m heading to Hollow Plains. I’ve already bought my plane ticket."
"People, my boss won’t let me take leave to go to Hollow Plains, so I quit my job."
"I declare, Qiao Sang will be my only idol from now on!"
"Ah! Qiao Sang! Come to our Ancient Fog Region! Our Regional Tournament just ended, but for Ice Emperor Ram, we can apply to have next year’s tournament moved up!"
"People from the Ancient Fog Region, flood the chat! Ice Emperor Ram deserves all the hype!!!"
"What’s going on? Why are there so many people from the Ancient Fog Region?"
…
At the match site.
Lulu looked at her distant opponent, her expression calm.
Frost Emperor Crow, a Flying and Ice-Type Dual Attribute Royal Beast, with a body temperature that typically hovers around minus ten degrees. It can drink large amounts of water and create snow clouds within its body, summoning a blizzard whenever it gets angry… Qiao Sang recalled the Frost Emperor Crow’s Snow Concealment trait, which it had displayed in the previous matches. She looked at the familiar, which was about twelve meters tall, its body seemingly made entirely of ice, with ice spikes growing from its back, and the relevant information came to mind. (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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