Chapter 315: So What?

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1

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Shadows flickered as if trying to break free from the ground and come alive, but they ultimately stayed tethered.

"Xun~"

Little Treasure twitched his stubby toe, and with a sharp whoosh, eleven yellow Thornflowers shot skyward in unison.

"Wan! Wan!"

The flowers whirled in a 360-degree spin, a classic spectacle reprised.

One after another, the yellow Thornflowers clones vanished until only the original remained suspended mid-air, still spinning at high speed.

"Wan!!!"

It howled miserably, its face smeared with tears, mucus, and drool, a pitiful sight indeed.

The tragic cry evoked sympathy and a twinge of shared nausea among the onlookers. 

Although they weren’t spinning themselves, many felt sick to their stomachs just watching.

"Urgh... I can’t believe this Treasure-Seeking Demon's Shadow Control is so advanced."

"Yeah, being able to split its shadow into so many fragments means it’s at least at the Intermediate Mastery level. How is anyone supposed to compete with that?"

"If it advances even further and turns into physical attacks, I’d bet even Ding Yanjing from Litan Beastmaster High School wouldn’t stand a chance."

"Why are you all gagging? You’re making me feel queasy."

"I don’t know. My stomach just feels upset."

"Same here."

"Stop looking at the yellow Thornflower. I think the priority now is training our students' pets against dizziness."

"Look at this Treasure-Seeking Demon. Its strategy is all about spinning the opponent. If they can endure that, there’s hope for victory."

"But didn’t we already lose to Shengshu High just a few days ago?"

"Then let’s inform the other schools. If Qiao Sang loses a few matches and drops some points, our students might climb in the rankings."

"Brother, you’re hilarious. Do you think Qiao Sang could lose several matches? Even if someone does beat her, do you honestly think our students can surpass her? Remember, she awakened her abilities on her own, she’s only a first-year, and she’s already achieved a green-tier Star Array!"

"I was just saying. You’re not a Shengshui teacher, are you? Why are you so worked up?"

Old Li, who had infiltrated Group A2 to gather intel for Litan Beastmaster High School, eyed the speaker suspiciously.

He was sure none of the Shengshui staff had a face like this.

"Hehe, worked up? Not at all."

Chen Shengtang's eyes glistened. If only I were a Shengshui teacher! Then maybe I wouldn’t have been suffering sleepless nights this whole week!

On the field, the referee's whistle signaled the end of the match.

The yellow Thornflower lay on the ground foaming at the mouth, looking like it needed to be rushed to the emergency room.

Zhang Shiming panicked, shouting, "Doctor! Doctor!"

Two muscular pigs in white coats immediately carried over a stretcher and whisked the flower away.

The match continued.

Zhang Shiming took a deep breath and formed a hand seal.

His instant defeat cast a heavy cloud over the other two members of Yicheng Beastmaster High School's team.

Zhang Shiming wasn’t just anyone, he was a former provincial top-24 contestant in the national school beastmaster league. He was their pillar of strength!

If even he was instantly defeated, what kind of fate awaited them?

"Is she really just a first-year?" A girl with shoulder-length hair murmured in despair from the bench.

Though she didn’t name names, the boy beside her knew exactly who she meant.

"Fifteen isn’t the same for everyone." He said. 

"Think of it this way: She’s destined to become a major figure in the future. This might be our only chance to face her. Isn’t it comforting to know we once competed with a future legend?"

The girl blinked, recalling Qiao Sang’s age, the color of her Star Array, and the dark Shadow Control just displayed by her Treasure-Seeking Demon.

Oddly enough, it did make her feel better.

Losing to such a future legend? Not shameful at all!

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Next up: Ghost Lamp, Zhang Shiming’s second pet.

Qiao Sang had done her homework the night before and wasn’t surprised by her opponent. 

However, this was her first time encountering a ghost-type beast in a match. Her expression grew slightly serious.

"Xun~"

Little Treasure waved his paw enthusiastically.

He had met a Ghost Lamp before and naturally had a good impression of its kin.

"Ghost..."

Ghost Lamp hesitated but instinctively raised its paw in return.

The match began in this friendly atmosphere.

At the referee's whistle, Little Treasure’s eyes sharpened, and he vanished on the spot.

Ghost Lamp was a beat slower, only remembering it was in a match before hurriedly turning invisible as well.

The arena suddenly felt vast and empty as neither pet was visible.

The audience began to chatter.

"A ghost-type versus another ghost-type. Looks like the Treasure-Seeking Demon’s Shadow Control won’t be much use here."

Shadow Control relied on controlling shadows. If a ghost-type beast hid its shadow by going invisible, the skill naturally lost effectiveness.

"Don’t speak too soon. What if Qiao Sang’s Treasure-Seeking Demon can convert its shadow control into physical attacks? Its shadows already split, it’s not far from turning three-dimensional."

"Skill mastery isn’t that easy to improve. Even going from beginner to proficient takes months, let alone reaching advanced levels. High-tier skill mastery from intermediate to advanced could take years, even for a prodigy."

"True..."

The person who knew Little Treasure's beast’s mastery level best was, of course, Qiao Sang.

She had taken a month off to focus on training, leading to significant improvements in all its skills.

Although Shadow Control was a high-tier skill, unlike Meteor Rain, it didn’t require specialized venues or massive energy recovery resources for practice. 

Its mastery had steadily climbed and was now nearing perfection.

Qiao Sang glanced at the audience.

Surely among them were Litan Beastmaster High School’s scouts, sent to gather intelligence.

The more strength she displayed in her matches, the more detailed the forum analyses would become.

But so what?

"Will-o’-the-wisp!"

"Shadow Control!"

Their commands rang out simultaneously.

Several ghostly green flames flared up in mid-air and hurtled toward a certain spot.

Even if invisible, ghost-type beasts could perceive each other faintly, though only as hazy outlines.

This much was common knowledge.

What the audience didn’t expect was what came next.

"Ghost Lamp is invisible, right? Isn’t Shadow Control ineffective against it?"

"Maybe Qiao Sang wants to control the shadows of the will-o’-the-wisps."

"With her skill level, she just might pull it off."

"Impossible! Those tiny flames are so small and numerous, it’d be more practical to counterattack or dodge."

Amid the speculation, Little Treasure reappeared, far from where the ghostly flames were heading, instead standing on the ground several meters below.

The audience was bewildered.

Was Ghost Lamp's aim off?

"Xun~" 

Little Treasure extended a stubby toe, and his shadow moved with it.

Suddenly, the shadow tore free from the ground, surging skyward!

It extended, expanded, and split, transforming in an instant.

The black tendrils, like ribbons of darkness, surged toward a single point in the air and coiled tightly.

"Ghost!!!"

When the shadows merged and constricted, Ghost Lamp’s form was revealed to all.

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