Chapter 985: The Seventh Round
Chapter 985: The Seventh Round (Combined)
That evening.
Beastmaster Center.
Room 2603.
Qiao Sang lay half-reclined on the bed, reviewing the profiles of the Top Eight Contestants.
The Top Eight had been finalized that evening, and the next day would see the top eight to semifinals match.
With Chen Tianqin's precedent, she was being particularly meticulous in her research, but the content remained largely unchanged, as if no one had anything to hide.
If it weren't for a Contestant's Water Elemental Familiar suddenly using a previously unseen thunder technique during the evening match, she might have thought the initial profiles were complete.
She couldn't help but wonder how such famous Beastmasters, constantly tracked by paparazzi, managed to keep anything secret... Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.
Suddenly, there were two knocks on the window.
The Steel Treasure perched on the coffee table by the window used its wings to pull the curtains open.
Qiao Sang turned to see a bird familiar, about thirty centimeters in size, with its left wing holding a mobile phone pressed against the window. A message scrolled across the screen:
"Qiao Sang, my songbird is a fan of Steel Sword Falcon. Could it take a photo with Steel Sword Falcon? If not, could it at least get a photo of Steel Sword Falcon?"
A songbird, a basic flying-type familiar, loves to sing when happy, and its song has a revitalizing effect. People who hear it are said to feel instantly refreshed, even if they were very tired just moments ago... Qiao Sang recalled the familiar's profile as she read the message, her thoughts drifting.
She never expected that even basic familiars would use mobile phones now. Did it type this message itself?
She was no stranger to fan familiars seeking her out. She had encountered several earlier that day, both at the suburban villa and in the residential area corridor.
Steel Treasure turned to look at its Beastmaster.
Qiao Sang understood the unspoken question and nodded.
"Open it."
Steel Treasure then opened the window.
The yellow bird familiar hopped onto the coffee table, its eyes shining with admiration as it gazed at Steel Treasure, a clear fangirl.
Steel Treasure was momentarily taken aback by the intense gaze.
Qiao Sang asked, "Are you a fan of Steel Treasure?"
"Steel Blade?"
Steel Treasure, now realizing the situation, looked at the yellow bird familiar with a surprised expression.
Its fan?
"Song?"
The songbird pointed at Steel Treasure and called out, asking if Steel Treasure was its name.
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure nodded.
"Song!"
Seeing its idol respond, the songbird became excited, nodding vigorously to confirm it was indeed a fan.
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure turned and called out to Treasure Seeker.
"Xunxun~"
Treasure Seeker quickly put down the snack in its paw, teleported in front of the songbird, took the mobile phone from its wing, and skillfully opened the camera to take a photo.
After the photo was taken, it returned the mobile phone to the songbird and teleported back to continue snacking.
"Song~"
The songbird looked at the photo of itself with its idol, its eyes curving into a smile as it began to sing.
"Song~ song~ song~"
Invisible sound waves rippled through the air.
Qiao Sang felt her drowsiness vanish instantly.
Fangy, who had been yawning, sprang up from the bed, suddenly full of energy.
Lulu opened her eyes in the water tank, glanced at the songbird, and then closed them again.
Qingbao appeared, curiously watching the singing songbird.
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker put down the snack and clapped for the songbird, giving it a lot of emotional support.
Steel Treasure watched the songbird thoughtfully.
“Song~”
After finishing its song, the songbird bowed and then flapped its wings happily, flying out the window.
“Steel Blade……”
Steel Treasure stood by the window, watching the direction the songbird flew off in. It waited until the bird's shadow disappeared completely before closing the window and drawing the curtains.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Sang, who now had a deep bond with Steel Treasure, sensed its inner doubt and couldn’t help but ask.
“Steel Blade?”
Steel Treasure called out, indicating whether the bird’s song had a revitalizing effect.
Qiao Sang nodded:
“Yes.”
She paused, then asked, “Is there a problem?”
“Steel Blade……”
Steel Treasure fell silent for a moment before calling out again, expressing that it was quite late, a time when they should be sleeping, and the sudden appearance of the songbird singing might affect their energy for tomorrow’s match.
Qiao Sang was taken aback and said in a serious tone:
“Are you suggesting that someone deliberately sent it here?”
She recalled another piece of information about the songbird:
The songbird, when happy, likes to sing, and its song has a revitalizing effect, but the effect is limited. The duration depends on the level of the songbird’s trait. Once the effect wears off, the original fatigue will return, doubled.
…
Meanwhile, in a Vip box of a teahouse near the Beastmaster Center.
“Song~”
The songbird flew in through the window, looking cheerful.
On the sofa sat a sixteen-year-old boy with thick eyebrows. Seeing the songbird, he exclaimed in surprise:
“Did you get the photo?”
“Song~”
The songbird handed the mobile phone to its Beastmaster and nodded happily.
Moved by the songbird’s excitement, it couldn’t help but spread its wings and prepare to sing again:
“Song~ Song……”
The song was abruptly cut off.
A man on the other side of the sofa, with a stylish short ponytail, stuffed a yellow fruit into its mouth and said with a smile:
“I don’t want to stay up all night.”
“Song……”
The songbird took a bite of the fruit, instantly forgetting about singing, and happily munched away.
“Really took a photo!” The boy looked at the photo on the mobile phone, full of surprise. Then he thought of something and felt deeply regretful, saying with great sorrow:
“If I had known Qiao Sang was so easy to talk to, I should have gone to her myself to ask for a photo. Maybe I could have even gotten an autograph.”
The man with the stylish ponytail smiled and said:
“She might give a photo and an autograph to a familiar, but not necessarily to a person who comes looking for her. If you went to her place like the songbird, you’d be a stalker fan, and she wouldn’t be happy with that.”
“You’re right…” The boy sighed, then added gratefully:
“Bro, I’m glad you came up with the idea of having the songbird get the photo. Qiao Sang’s movements are really hard to track. After each match, she always spatial shifts away from the scene, making it impossible to find her.”
The man took a sip of tea and said:
“I have a friend who lives near where Qiao Sang trains. He said his familiar suddenly brought back an autograph from Yan Jiaou and refused to take a bath, so he thought it might be a good idea for the songbird to try.”
The boy was taken aback:
“What does that have to do with taking a bath?”
The man laughed and said:
“Apparently, the autograph was on its belly.”
The boy was stunned, then burst into laughter:
“How could it be on the belly? Did the familiar ask for it there?”
“I don’t know.” The man’s voice carried a smile.
The boy suddenly asked, “Bro, how did you know Qiao Sang lives in 2603?”
The man replied:
“Her residence at the Beastmaster Center isn’t a secret. It’s easy to find out with a little investigation.”
The young boy worried:
"Qiao Sang should really move to a different place. Everyone knows where she lives, and what if they come to disturb her?"
The man smiled but didn't respond.
A few seconds later, he looked at the songbird who was eating fruit and asked:
"Did you enjoy taking the group photo?"
"Song~"
The songbird nodded enthusiastically.
The man asked again, "Were you so happy that you sang?"
"Song~"
The songbird nodded.
Satisfied, the man smiled.
At that moment, the young boy said:
"Bro, I couldn't get a ticket for tomorrow's live event. Could you ask Brother Yu if he could save me a spot? He's made it to the Top Eight, so it shouldn't be hard for him to get a spot from the organizers, right?"
The man didn't refuse:
"I'll ask him when I get the chance."
Saying that, he took out his mobile phone, opened a chat, and typed and sent:
"Qiao Sang's place is all set."
It wasn't out of malice; it was just a standard distraction tactic.
After all, among the remaining contestants, only Qiao Sang's location was the easiest to access.
…
Beastmaster Center.
Room 2603.
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure called out, uncertain, worried that the singing bird might keep it awake, affecting its performance the next day.
It could tell that the bird singing was indeed one of its fans, unless the bird was as good at acting as it was.
"Don't worry about that", Qiao Sang said. "Lulu has Healing Light. She can use it if needed."
Pausing, she added:
"However, it seems many people know which room I'm staying in. After the semifinals match, I should probably move to a different place."
Whether the songbird was a fan of Steel Treasure or not, it had managed to find her room precisely, even with the curtains drawn, and had brought a mobile phone. This definitely wasn't a solo action by the songbird without the Beastmaster's knowledge.
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure nodded in agreement.
It was pleased with its Beastmaster's caution.
Qiao Sang sensed Steel Treasure's satisfaction and paused, then smiled and said:
"Do you think our bond has grown even stronger?"
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure flapped its wings, indicating that it might be so.
"Do you remember the place you dreamed about for your evolution?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure's expression grew serious, and it nodded.
It remembered.
When it had foreseen the evolution location, it had already undergone a temporary evolution, but only to the Advanced Form. The place it had dreamed about was in the Hollow Plains, but it wasn't the exact location where it had officially evolved into the general-class form.
"Skyborne Beastmaster Arena", Qiao Sang stated, giving the location of Steel Treasure's evolution.
"If we match up with the opponent from your dream, I'll let you fight."
"Steel Blade."
Steel Treasure nodded solemnly.
Its strength in the queue was weak, but if it really was the place and time for its evolution, it would have to fight, no matter how strong the opponent.
Qiao Sang's gaze returned to her mobile phone, searching for information, not daring to be careless.
The previous times when Fangy and the others had fulfilled Adinix's prophecy regarding their evolution timing and location had made her realize that to evolve, it wasn't just about finding the location mentioned in the prophecy. It required using the information she already knew to push the prophecy forward.
In other words, the prophecy's outcome would only happen if she knew about the prophecy.
If they encountered the opponent from Steel Treasure's dream, and she made a mistake in judgment, causing Steel Treasure to appear in the wrong match, the prophecy could fail.
Of course, she wasn't sure if Steel Treasure would evolve during this Regional Tournament.
After all, it's not impossible to have a rematch with the same opponent at the same location.
However, this time, the Regional Tournament has brought together both the location and the person... Qiao Sang looked at a name on the document:
Wu Tianjiao.
The opponent from Steel Treasure's dream, the thunder spirit. Among all the contestants, only she has one.
...
8:30 AM.
Skyborne Beastmaster Arena.
"Hello, dear audience", the reporter said into the microphone, facing the camera. "I'm at the Skyborne Beastmaster Arena, where all the contestants are in position. The arena is packed with people, and today we will witness the Top Eight Advancement Semifinals. The dazzling fireworks have ignited, symbolizing our best wishes and respect for the remaining contestants. Only four spots are available in the semifinals. Who will secure these four spots? Let's turn our attention to the arena."
The camera focused on the center of the arena.
The host, having completed the preliminary procedures, announced:
"Let's welcome the beastmaster notary judge."
A giant virtual screen appeared out of nowhere.
Divisio split into two, his head floating into the screen and merging with it.
Eight photos rapidly shuffled and then settled.
Divisio's head emerged from the screen, unchanged.
The eight contestants were divided into four groups. Qiao Sang immediately saw her pairing:
[Qiao Sang vs. Yu Zhenyi]
Audience stands.
Section A, Row 6.
A cheering young man saw the list and immediately fell silent, sighing:
"Poor Brother Yu, he's up against Qiao Sang."
The man beside him, with a stylish short ponytail, glanced at him. "Why do you assume Qiao Sang will definitely win?"
The young man spread his hands.
"Do I even need to think about it? Qiao Sang beat Chen Tianqin, and I remember Brother Yu lost to him before."
"Song."
The Songbird in the young man's arms nodded.
"Exactly, exactly."
The man fell silent and turned his gaze to the contestant area.
He hadn't expected Yu Zhenyi to face Qiao Sang, but she didn't seem to be in poor spirits.
Could it be that the Ice Emperor Ram used Healing Light on her?
Contestant area.
When Qiao Sang saw her opponent, her phone vibrated.
She took it out and saw a message from Rong Yuhua:
[Yu Zhenyi.txt]
[It's a freebie, don't stress.]
Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied:
[Thanks.]
She had to admit that the information provided was indeed more comprehensive than what she could find online.
At least in terms of familiar skills proficiency, she could only analyze and couldn't find specific data.
Rong Yuhua replied instantly:
[Why are you being so formal? I already consider you a friend. By the way, when are you officially joining the National Beastmaster Bureau Training?]
Qiao Sang: [...Didn't I tell you? In twenty years.]
Rong Yuhua: [You're lying! I don't believe you!]
Qiao Sang: [I'm not lying.]
If she became an A-Rank Beastmaster within the specified time, she would go straight to the match.
Staying at the National Beastmaster Bureau Training would only happen if she didn't become an A-Rank Beastmaster within twenty years.
Qiao Sang ignored Rong Yuhua's messages and opened the file on Yu Zhenyi.
Yu Zhenyi, 36 years old, B-Class Beastmaster, spontaneous awakening at twelve. This is his third Regional Tournament, and his ace familiar is a master mimic.
(End of Chapter)
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