Chapter 956: The Third Round

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

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She just evolved last night, and today the news is already out and trending. Are paparazzi this efficient nowadays...? Qiao Sang was dazed for a moment, then came to her senses and offered comfort: "It is fine. Anyway, they do not know what skills Qingbao has."

Yu Ke: ???

Yu Ke fell silent for a few seconds before asking hesitantly: "Does that have anything to do with them knowing what skills Qinyin Fairy has?"

Qiao Sang said: "Weren't you calling because you were worried other contestants would find out Qingbao evolved and prepare in advance?"

Yu Ke froze, her voice suddenly spiking in pitch: "You are planning to let Qinyin Fairy compete?!"

Qiao Sang was also taken aback: "Otherwise, why would you call me saying something had happened?"

"I was worried that once the news of Breezewing Nini evolving into a Qinyin Fairy leaked, everyone would come to harass her." 

After saying this, Yu Ke asked again impatiently: "Are you really planning to let Qinyin Fairy compete?"

Qiao Sang gave a hum of affirmation: "She has been training so hard lately specifically so she could evolve and get on the field."

"But, Qinyin Fairy just evolved into a High-level pet." Yu Ke couldn't help but worry.

As a loyal viewer of the Regional Championships, she knew clearly that High-level pets were basically the bottom-tier in terms of strength at this stage of the competition.

Just the year before last, there was a Beast Master with a huge disparity in strength between their pets who made it onto the hot searches because among their three pets, two were General-level and the last one was Mid-level.

Other than him, the lowest level pet any contestant fielded was a High-level pet.

Now they were already deciding the Top 108, and Breezewing Nini had just evolved into a Qinyin Fairy. Even though a Qinyin Fairy was a legendary pet, she couldn't in good conscience say that a Qinyin Fairy would definitely win.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao appeared next to the phone, and the surrounding wind grew stronger instinctively. She was very dissatisfied with the human speaking on the phone, fearing her Beast Master might actually listen to her.

Seeing Qingbao appear, Qiao Sang reached out to pet her head and said: "I already promised her."

Qingbao affectionately nuzzled her Beast Master's hand. At the same time, the surrounding wind instantly calmed down.

Yu Ke opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't say anything more.

After some small talk, Qiao Sang hung up and opened the hot searches. She immediately saw the tag #Breezewing Nini Evolves into Qinyin Fairy#.

She clicked in and saw that the account that posted it was named The Paparazzo Who Can Crouch. It contained a video shot from a top-down perspective, showing the footage of Qingbao’s evolution last night.

The caption read: Followed Qiao Sang for days and finally found her training location. Didn't expect to capture such heavy-hitting footage on the first try. Let me go viral!!!

Looks like I’m truly famous now. Every time I go to a training spot, I basically have Little Treasure use Spatial Shift, yet I can still be scouted. This paparazzo really has some skill... I wonder how he filmed it, I didn't feel anything strange in the sky when Qingbao evolved yesterday... Qiao Sang marveled inwardly and looked at the comments below:

[Holy crap! The last update was still Breezewing Nini, and now she’s already a Qinyin Fairy!]

[God Qiao is awesome! God Qiao is mighty!]

[So Qiao Sang really did contract a Breezewing Nini... I always thought it was an internet rumor...]

[This paparazzo is no good, he doesn't even have a front-facing video of the evolution!]

[He’s already good enough to find Qiao Sang’s training spot. You have to realize Qiao Sang usually uses Ghost Ring King’s Spatial Shift to travel, she's incredibly hard to track.]

[Doesn't Qiao Sang live at the Pet Center? She doesn't train at the Pet Center's training grounds?]

[Nope. Probably doesn't want people to find out what skills her pets are training.]

[I wonder if I’ll ever see a Qinyin Fairy in a match in my lifetime...]

[Follow Qiao Sang; you'll know as soon as she has a match.]

[What is Qiao Sang’s ID?]

[@I am Qiao Sang, definitely real-name verified.]

[The one above is a fake ID. The real one is @GeniusAgainAgainAgain.]

[God Qiao’s ID is truly humble. How could genius possibly describe her!]

[Can't we let the Qinyin Fairy play in this year’s Regional Championships!]

[She just evolved, it’s probably unlikely she’ll play.]

[Making a wish: I want to see the Qinyin Fairy in this year’s Regional Championships!]

[You should go make that wish under Qiao Sang’s account.]

Seeing this comment, Qiao Sang thought of something, exited the hot searches, and logged into her own account. She saw that her new followers and messages were all at 99+.

She took a quick look and found that her followers had increased from 20 million to over 40 million.

The comments left there were: [Following to make a wish to have a child as talented as Qiao Sang.]

[Where is the Qinyin Fairy! Why isn't there a single photo of Breezewing Nini!]

[This account is almost entirely professional photos of a Fire-type pet. Where are the advertisers? Hurry up and get the Qinyin Fairy to do an ad! How can you not grasp such a good business opportunity! Do I have to teach you!]

[Wishing to see the Qinyin Fairy in the Regional Championships @GeniusAgainAgainAgain.]

[A legendary pet paired with the youngest B-rank Beast Master in history. Two words: Perfect Match!]

[Please! Let me see the Qinyin Fairy! Just post one photo!]

Qiao Sang took a general look and understood without even thinking that these 20 million new followers were all from the Central Hollow region.

No wonder the fastest way for a professional Beast Master to get famous is the Regional Championships. Only two matches in and the followers have increased this much... Qiao Sang marveled while opening her private messages.

Many of them expressed admiration and support for her, as well as love for Gangbao, Little Treasure, and Qingbao. Of course, most were asking questions about Qingbao. Some businesses were also seeking collaboration.

Qiao Sang exited her account and ignored them. She wasn't as short on money as before, so she wasn't in a hurry to take ads.

Qiao Sang put down her phone. She wanted to go downstairs to update Qingbao's information, but then she remembered it took a whole day last time she updated Yabao and Qingbao's info. She instantly lost interest and planned to go when the Pet Center was about to close.

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For the rest of the time, Qiao Sang watched matches in the morning and afternoon. When it was nearly closing time for the Pet Center, she put on a baseball cap and a mask, cautiously recalled Yabao into the Beast Codex, and set off for the Beast Hall. She took a number and went to the corresponding window.

Before she could hand over her ID card, the staff member at the window’s eyes lit up. They lowered their voice in a pleasant surprise: "Qiao Sang?"

Am I so familiar now that I can be recognized even with a hat and mask while not holding Yabao... Qiao Sang gave a shh and handed over her ID card and Beast Master badge.

The staff member understood immediately, nodding repeatedly, and took the cards for scanning.

"Is it changing the information for Breezewing Nini?" The staff member asked softly.

"Correct." 

Qiao Sang nodded and asked, "Can we go to a private room for verification?"

She was a bit worried that Qingbao’s appearance might cause a commotion in the hall.

"Of course!" The staff member's eyes became several times brighter than before. 

"Please follow me!"

---

Two hours later, Qiao Sang walked out of the Pet Center with a face full of exhaustion.

By now, the sky was dark.

She never expected that these staff members, who usually grumbled about working even one extra minute, would rather work overtime for so long just to observe Qingbao from a 360-degree angle.

Qingbao’s evolution chain was clearly defined. It should have been a one-minute task to verify the evolution, yet they dragged it out for two hours. If she hadn't brought it up, she feared they would have stayed even if it meant working the night shift... Qiao Sang thought tiredly.

She looked at Little Treasure: "Let's go."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure appeared, his eyes glowing blue. In the next second, Qiao Sang vanished from the spot.

At the same time, dozens of meters away, a Ghost-type pet with a largely purple body and eyes like red gems appeared holding a camera. It looked in the direction where Qiao Sang had disappeared, pulled a phone out of its crossbody bag, and dialed a number.

The call connected. It uttered a "Yeyan", hung up, and disappeared into invisibility again.

---

Suburbs, Villa.

Qiao Sang appeared out of thin air at the front gate and rang the doorbell.

"Hu ji." The Hu Ji Tiger opened the door and then turned his head to let out a call. The sound of walking was heard immediately.

"God Qiao, why are you here so early today?" Yu Le came downstairs, pleasantly surprised.

"The next round of matches is tomorrow. I want Qingbao to get familiar with her newly awakened skills." Qiao Sang said.

Yu Le was clearly stunned and cried out: "You are planning to let the Qinyin Fairy compete?!"

Looks like your sister didn't tell you... Qiao Sang gave a hum of affirmation.

Yu Le immediately cheered: "That's great! I get to see the Qinyin Fairy compete!"

Qiao Sang smiled and casually asked, "Where is your sister?"

"She went to the stadium to watch the matches." Yu Le replied.

I remember Yu Ke has gone to the site several times. I wonder how she managed to grab all those tickets... Qiao Sang commented inwardly and said, "I'll go train first."

With that, she stepped toward the outdoor training ground.

"Wait!" Yu Le thought of something and ran to block the way.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled.

"Did you see the trending search about Breezewing Nini's evolution?" Yu Le asked back.

Qiao Sang nodded: "I saw it."

Yu Le looked serious: "That video was shot from above this training ground. The location here is already known by the paparazzi. Training skills isn't quite safe. I'll go get the security to do a sweep!"

The Hu Ji Tiger, listening to the conversation, moved silently toward the phone.

"No need." Qiao Sang said. 

"I'll do a sweep myself."

After saying that, she walked toward the outdoor training ground. The Hu Ji Tiger silently put back the phone it had just picked up. Yu Le followed quickly.

Qiao Sang looked up at the sky dotted with a few stars. She formed hand seals and summoned Yabao and the others.

"Is there anything up there?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Yap yap..." Yabao looked up, staring into the sky.

"Xun xun!"

At that moment, Little Treasure pointed at a spot high in the sky and called out.

"Catch it." Qiao Sang said.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure teleported away and appeared high in the air, stretching out a paw. A purple pet, also not very large, suddenly appeared at the spot where he grabbed. Next, Little Treasure teleported back in front of Qiao Sang with the pet in his grip.

A Night-Eye Ghost, a Mid-level Ghost-type pet. Its unique eyes can observe many things invisible to the naked eye. It is said they can see spirits... As Qiao Sang looked at the pet with eyes like red gems and a camera hanging around its neck, its data flashed through her mind.

No wonder I didn't feel the presence of any paparazzi when Qingbao evolved last night. It turns out a Ghost-type pet was doing the filming...

Indeed, when it comes to potential for being a paparazzo, Ghost-type pets are number one. After all, once their invisibility reaches a certain level, they can hide any objects they touch. They can take photos right in front of people without them ever knowing.

"Aha! So it was you sneaking photos! Where is your Beast Master!" Yu Le questioned.

"Yeyan!" The Night-Eye Ghost cried out, its red-gem eyes glowing red. In the next second, it disappeared.

"How did it disappear?" Yu Le was startled.

The first thought that occurred to her was: Could this Night-Eye Ghost have Psychic attributes like God Qiao's Ghost Ring King?

"It was summoned back by its Beast Master." Qiao Sang said calmly.

The eyes of a Night-Eye Ghost can emit waves to strengthen the connection with its Beast Master. Presumably, its Beast Master received the signal and summoned it back.

"So that's how it is." Yu Le breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. 

"It vanished just as its eyes lit up, I almost thought it was teleportation."

It really did vanish the moment they lit up. Such a practiced movement without a second of hesitation, as expected of a professional paparazzo... Qiao Sang marveled inwardly and looked at Little Treasure: "Next, for the training, use a substitute to stay in the air and prevent paparazzi from approaching."

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure patted his chest, indicating she could leave it to him. Then he split in two, and the substitute teleported high into the air.

Seeing that everything was ready, Qiao Sang said: "Let's start training."

"Qing qing!"

Qingbao appeared to the side, her expression serious.

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The Next Day.

Outside the Tianan City Sky Stadium.

A woman in professional attire held a microphone and reported to the camera:

"It is currently 8:50 AM, September 14th, Central Hollow time. This is the Central Hollow Agency. We are currently at the Tianan City Sky Stadium. After intense competition, the Top 108 contestants of this Regional Championship have been decided. Today, the matches for the Top 108 to move into the Top 54 will take place. Which contestants will be paired up and successfully advance? Let's turn our cameras inside."

Inside the arena.

"This is the Central Hollow Agency, a man in a shirt wearing a press badge said to the camera. I am inside the Tianan City Sky Stadium, the site of this Regional Championship. You can see the arena is already filled with spectators, and the contestants have mostly taken their seats in the contestant area."

During the speech, the camera panned to the contestant area.

"Chen Tianqin won his matches in both of the first two rounds by sweeping three opponents with a single pet. He is a strong contender for the top three in this championship."

"And there is Zhu Yang. In his last match, he transformed the entire field into a Water Field, making himself invincible. It was truly impressive. He looks radiant and relaxed today, seemingly very confident about the upcoming match."

The reporter suddenly became excited as he spotted someone: "Qiao Sang has also arrived! As the strongest dark horse of this Regional Championship and the youngest B-rank Beast Master in history!"

"Whether it was the Steel Sword Falcon in the preliminaries or the Ghost Ring King in the Top 108 advancement, she has shown us her invincible strength. Yet her King-level pet has not made an appearance yet. I wonder if we’ll have the chance to see her King-level pet take the stage in this round. It truly fills one with anticipation!"

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