Chapter 960: Qingbao's Debut

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

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A giant virtual screen appeared in the center of the arena. Below Qiao Sang, the photo of Gangbao turned from color to black and white.

After a brief second of silence, the entire arena erupted into a tidal wave of noise.

"Why did Qiao Sang recall Steel Sword Falcon?"

"Is this her first time in a Regional Championship? Does she not know that recalling a pet before it's knocked out results in a loss for that round?"

"No way. She might be young and a first-timer, but she's a B-rank Beast Master. Her brain is sharp, there's no way she doesn't know such a basic rule. Besides, even non-contestants in the Dragon Kingdom know the rules of the Regionals."

"Maybe Qiao Sang only watched the Yuhua Regionals before, and their rules are different?"

"Very likely!"

"Even if she lost this round due to a rule misunderstanding, it's fine. She still has one fresh pet and Ice Emperor Ram to send out."

"Hahaha, if she really recalled Steel Sword Falcon because she didn't know the rules, that's hilarious."

"What a shame. If that's the case, she should have just let Ice Emperor Ram sweep three."

"Ah! I actually like Steel Sword Falcon! As a Flying-type fan, I wanted to see it use Holy Sword!"

Simultaneously, the official livestream chat was flooding frantically.

[???]

[Ice Emperor Ram! Ice Emperor Ram! I know Qiao Sang must be planning to bring Ice Emperor Ram back out to finish it!]

[God Qiao must have felt Steel Sword Falcon was wasting too much time, so she decided to bring back Ice Emperor Ram! God Qiao! I love you!]

[This is the first time I've ever seen a Beast Master recall a pet mid-match in the Regionals...]

[Any Yuhua people here? Can you recall pets whenever you want over there?]

[Yuhua local here. No, we can't recall pets mid-match either.]

[I have a theory: maybe God Qiao suddenly needed the bathroom, so she's switching to Ice Emperor Ram to end it fast.]

[That theory is very reasonable!]

[Lucky break for this Shi Bing guy, winning a round for free.]

[Am I the only one who wanted to see Steel Sword Falcon fight?]

---

On Stage.

"Contestant Qiao Sang actually recalled Steel Sword Falcon back into the Beast Codex mid-match!" 

On the commentary platform, Tian Yiwan snapped out of his confusion and remembered his duty: "This move truly leaves me baffled."

"This is the first time in this championship a contestant has recalled a pet mid-battle." Tang Xueran said. 

"Consequently, this is also the first time contestant Qiao Sang has lost a round in this tournament."

In the stands, Mikayla, who had long known Qiao Sang's plan, remained expressionless.

Family Area.

Liu Yao straightened his back, his eyes locked onto Qiao Sang. He knew the main event was about to start.

"Qingbao is about to go on..." Ye Xiangting quickly grabbed her phone and opened the camera, ready to record Qingbao's debut.

On the Field.

I won? I just won a round? Shi Bing was stunned, then ecstatic. Before the match, his goal was to take down at least two of her pets. If her King-level pet was weak, he thought he might even win the whole thing. 

But after Ice Emperor Ram appeared, he felt its extraordinariness. Once it used Ice Field Domain to solve Sky Ice Crow and one-shot Money-Grabbing Ghost, he knew he was finished,likely facing a total sweep.

Who could have guessed Qiao Sang would recall Ice Emperor Ram for Steel Sword Falcon, and then recall Steel Sword Falcon mid-fight? It was a total reversal of fortune!

Even if I didn't win through strength, the record won't look too bad. I'm technically the first C-rank Beast Master to win a round against Qiao Sang... Shi Bing tried to suppress the grin on his face.

"Flower-bud..." The Flower-Bud Lizard fell into deep thought. Could it be that my offensive was so fierce the opponent's Beast Master thought that guy couldn't win and called him back? That's not great... does that mean I've already won a round? The flowers on its antennae couldn't help but quiver.

In a flash, the "10" light-shadow appeared. The mechanical voice boomed: "9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1."

The light vanished. Qiao Sang formed hand seals. A massive red star array lit up on the ground. Immediately, a pet that neither the live audience nor the streamers had ever imagined appeared.

"Qing qing."

The air went silent for a heartbeat, and then the stands exploded with noise ten times louder than before. More than half the audience stood up in shock, eyes wide, looking at the summoned pet with disbelief. The roar seemed to pierce the clouds.

"AHHHHH!!! Qinyin Fairy! It's the Qinyin Fairy!!!"

"My god! My god! Qiao Sang summoned a Qinyin Fairy!"

"Holy crap! Qinyin Fairy! It's real!"

"I thought I'd never see Qiao Sang use it in battle! Not only did I see it, I'm seeing it live!"

"So that video of the Qinyin Fairy really was Qiao Sang's pet. I thought it was edited..."

After the initial hype, some began to cool down.

"I love the Qinyin Fairy, but didn't it just evolve? How can it beat a Flower-Bud Lizard?"

"I get why Qiao Sang recalled Steel Sword Falcon now. She just wanted to wear down the lizard so she could send the Qinyin Fairy out!"

"Oh my god, I'm so moved. She must have seen our comments wanting to see the Qinyin Fairy fight and summoned it just for us!"

"Steel Sword Falcon was recalled too early. The lizard only used a bit of energy and isn't hurt. Breezewing Nini just evolved, it should have waited until the lizard was heavily injured."

"Please, the Qinyin Fairy is a legendary pet. Don't judge it by the standards of ordinary pets."

An excited fan jumping nearby shouted: "Does it matter if it wins? What matters is we saw it!"

--

Official Livestream.

[!!!]

[!!!!!]

[Ah! Qinyin Fairy!]

[My wish from yesterday came true today!]

[I declare Qiao Sang my idol forever!]

[I can't imagine how high the ratings are today.]

[I just shouted 'Qinyin Fairy' and my 97-year-old grandpa jumped out of bed.]

[Isn't Qinyin Fairy a High-level pet? And a fresh evolution? Is a General-level fight too much?]

[I get it. Qiao Sang saw the internet's love for it and summoned it in such an important match just for us. I'm crying. She'd rather lose just to show it to us.]

[Lose? How can a legendary pet lose?!]

[Wait, where's Ice Emperor Ram? Why summon this little shrimp?]

[Who are you calling a little shrimp? That's a future Wind Cloud God !]

---

On Stage.

Tian Yiwan and Tang Xueran both stood up from their chairs in unison, eyes wide.

"Qinyin Fairy! Following Ice Emperor Ram and Steel Sword Falcon, the third pet Qiao Sang summoned is the Qinyin Fairy!" Tang Xueran had abandoned her professional composure; her voice was sharp with excitement.

Tian Yiwan’s voice trembled: "Qinyin Fairy, the legendary pet of our Central Hollow region, the High-level form of the legendary Wind Cloud God! In all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen someone summon a legendary pet in a real match!"

Tang Xueran took a deep breath, calming her voice back to its usual intellectual tone, though excitement still lingered: "Rumors say Qiao Sang’s Qinyin Fairy just evolved. Facing a Flower-Bud Lizard won't be easy. But Qiao Sang must have confidence in its strength. I wonder what surprises it will bring!"

Tian Yiwan suddenly realized something: "Steel Sword Falcon leaving early was clearly to set the stage for the Qinyin Fairy!"

"Exactly!" Tang Xueran agreed. 

"But one is a fresh High-level evolution, and the other is a long-evolved General-level. Even if the lizard lost some energy, it shouldn't be something a High-level pet can handle." 

She then shifted gears: "However, Qiao Sang is the youngest Beast Master ever, and she sent out the legendary Qinyin Fairy. I believe their coordination will give us a surprise!"

---

On the Field.

While everyone was in heated discussion, Shi Bing stared blankly at the pet in the star array. He had the one reaction a professional should never have: Freezing up.

"Wind." Qiao Sang said.

"Qing qing!"

Qingbao's expression turned serious as she vanished into the wind.

Even though it was a simple Wind Transformation, the crowd gasped. Tian Yiwan shouted: "Qinyin Fairy turned into wind! That's its characteristic! It can travel anywhere!"

Qiao Sang looked at the Flower-Bud Lizard, which was looking around frantically. She thought: Even though Gangbao wore it down, winning is still hard. As a General-level, its defense is too high for a High-level pet to break easily. The only way to win is through Power Swap.

"Charm." Qiao Sang commanded.

"Qing qing~"

Just as the lizard turned its head left, Qingbao appeared less than three meters away. She gave a sweet cry and blew a kiss. A pink heart struck the lizard's head perfectly.

"Flower-bud..." The lizard began to show a dazed, infatuated expression.

Flower-Bud Lizard: Flowers on antennae. Females have yellow, males have red. Easy to identify... Qiao Sang noted the lizard was infatuated. Teacher Mikayla's books on Central Hollow pets are definitely useful.

"Qing qing." Qingbao puckered her lips, ready to attack.

However, the lizard suddenly snapped out of it, its eyes turning sharp and glowing green. Instantly, dozens of ten-meter-high wooden spikes erupted from beneath Qingbao! Qingbao reacted quickly, vanishing back into wind.

This lizard's willpower is so strong. To snap out of a sudden Charm that fast without its master's help... Qiao Sang's face grew serious.

In the stands she had muted, the audience was losing it over the Charm: "I'M DYING! I'M DYING!"

"My god, she charmed all of us!"

"I head-canon that Charm as an AoE attack!"

On the field, the lizard felt relieved. Good thing the humans in the crowd were loud enough to snap me out of it. It looked at its master to remind him to give an order, only to hear his voice full of a passion and fire it had never heard before:

"Whirlwind Paralysis!"

Shi Bing, staring at the pet he had only ever seen in books, felt his hands tremble with excitement. He knew his life's most important achievement was right here: Defeating the legendary pet, the Qinyin Fairy!

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