Chapter 975: Top 16

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

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The cold air on Lubao’s body intensified.

Sweet Poison King, still in the middle of clutching its mouth, was instantly turned back into an ice sculpture. Within the ice crust, the green light in its eyes flickered. The frozen purple flower secreted a large amount of white powder.

Then, the powder exploded.

With a loud BANG, the ice encasing the purple flower shattered completely. Large chunks of ice shards flew in all directions.

A wave of commotion erupted from the stands.

"Sweet Poison King’s purple flower has broken through the seal of the Ice Field Domain!" Tian Yiwan cried out.

The eyes of several contestants in the waiting area lit up. Since Lubao first displayed her Ice Field Domain, this was the first time a frozen pet had managed to break the effect on its own, even if it was only for its companion item. This gave them a glimmer of hope that Super-tier skills were not entirely insurmountable.

"The ice layer freezing the purple flower had already been corroded by the poison and thinned significantly." Tang Xueran analyzed. 

"Now that Sweet Poison King is in the Overgrow state, the boost to Grass-type power made the Magic Powder even more potent, allowing it to break the seal in one go. It seems Lubao only re-froze the Sweet Poison King itself just now, rather than strengthening the freeze of the entire domain."

As they spoke, the giant purple flower began to rotate at high speed, scattering its petals. The petals fell to the ground, glowing with green light. Then, individual purple flowers evolved from the petals, growing wildly upward. Each one quickly reached a height of over ten meters.

The purple flower is Sweet Poison King's companion item; it can control its size at will. When proficiency is high enough, it can also split into multiple flowers, each containing lethal toxins and capable of releasing Magic Powder... He either wants to flood the area with toxins or use a large-scale Magic Powder explosion to melt or shatter the surrounding ice... Qiao Sang watched the scene calmly.

Under Mikayla’s tutelage and her own deeper exploration, Lubao’s methods of utilizing the Ice Field Domain were far beyond what they used to be. Whether the opponent used toxin or powder, she could defeat them before they succeeded. 

After all, a set of eleven normal-sized Giant Ice Spikes had already knocked the Sweet Poison King into the Overgrow state, its actual defense was clearly not that high.

"Maximum." Qiao Sang commanded.

The sapphire on Lubao’s forehead flickered with blue light. Almost the second the gem flickered, a colossal ice spike, covering the entire arena like a real mountain, materialized in mid-air.

Instantly, the entire stadium was plunged into shadow.

It... it’s so big... The crowd’s faces were frozen in shock, confusion, and disbelief.

Tian Yiwan stared open-mouthed, then suddenly stood up from his chair, shouting excitedly: "Glacier Descent?!"

As soon as he said it, he realized he might be wrong. Glacier Descent is a peak Ice-type Super-tier skill that condenses a true mountain of ice, it can be used to permanently change geography or as an attack. If it were a true Glacier Descent, this mountain seemed a bit small.

But then he remembered Lubao’s Beast Master was Qiao Sang, and his conviction wavered. If the proficiency of Glacier Descent is high enough, one can manipulate its size at will. 

Glacier Descent is among the most difficult Super-tier skills to learn because the ice is real, it doesn't disappear when the pet leaves, it remains like a natural landmark unless the caster dismisses it or it melts over time.

If it were any other Beast Master, he wouldn’t consider that a King-level pet could have high proficiency in Glacier Descent. But Qiao Sang was different; she couldn't be understood through normal logic. Her Steel Sword Falcon could use the Super-tier skill Holy Sword while only at the General level, so it wasn't impossible for Ice Emperor Ram to have high proficiency in Glacier Descent...

As his thoughts raced, Tang Xueran said beside him: "It's Giant Ice Spike."

Giant Ice Spike? A Giant Ice Spike this huge?!

The crowd stared at the glacier in the sky, their minds going blank. In their memory, even a Giant Ice Spike at the peak of Ultimate level shouldn't be this massive.

Chen Tianqin felt the shadow from above and looked up. When he saw the massive ice mountain in the air, his pupils shrank, and only two words flashed through his mind: Holy crap!

After freezing for 0.01 seconds, he snapped out of it and screamed at the top of his lungs: "Explode! Explode it all!"

The ten-meter-tall purple flowers released massive clouds of white Magic Powder, which quickly filled every corner of the arena.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Explosions went off one after another on the field, the impact rolling like ocean tides. Cracks appeared in the ground and on the ice crust covering Sweet Poison King.

Meanwhile, a thick layer of Ice Armor had already condensed around Lubao as the flowers were splitting. Magic Powder detonated continuously around her. The Ice Armor cracked, but the cracks were repaired instantly in the next second. Over and over.

Before the ice on Sweet Poison King could fully shatter or more powder could detonate, the mountain of ice fell from the sky like a descending world, plummeting vertically!

Despite the constant explosions of Magic Powder, which knocked large chunks of ice off the bottom of the mountain, the core structure remained unaffected.

BOOM!!!

The glacier slammed into the arena. The entire ground was pulverized, sinking several inches into the earth. When they saw Sweet Poison King crushed under the ice mountain without even making a sound, everyone swallowed hard.

Is it... flattened?

"The super-sized Giant Ice Spike has successfully crushed Sweet Poison King! The wide-scale Magic Powder didn't slow Lubao’s attack for a second!" Tian Yiwan shouted. 

"Is Sweet Poison King unable to fight? Is the match over?"

The mechanical pet referee appeared beside the ice mountain, looking troubled. It couldn't see the fallen pet.

Qiao Sang spoke: "Lubao."

"Lu Di."

Lubao let out a call, and the ice mountain covering the entire field dissolved into ice crystals and vanished. Sweet Poison King was revealed, eyes closed and unconscious, buried deep in the crater.

The mechanical referee observed for a moment and then waved the green flag toward Lubao and Qiao Sang.

"Lu Di..."

The Ice Armor on Lubao’s body dissipated.

The stands were quiet for two seconds, followed by a roar that seemed to pierce the clouds: "AAAAHHH! QIAO SANG! QIAO SANG!"

"ICE EMPEROR RAM! ICE EMPEROR RAM!"

"Wait, was that move really Giant Ice Spike? How can it be that big? Did the commentator get it wrong?"

"How could they? They're professionals."

"It’s definitely the boost from the Ice Field Domain. I heard that within the domain, ice skills can be condensed instantly and their size can be changed with the surge of ice energy. Did you see how the Ice Armor repaired itself in a split second? Without the domain, that’s absolutely impossible."

"Why didn't Qiao Sang use a Giant Ice Spike like this when Lubao fought the Iron Battle Dragon against Zeng Feitian?"

"She was hiding her hand, obviously. Don't professional Beast Masters always hide their trump cards?"

"But it felt like Ice Emperor Ram really gave it her all in that match."

"That’s why you're not a professional. If she wasn't hiding it, how could she use it today?"

Someone nearby added: "There's also a possibility that Lubao's proficiency in the Ice Field Domain broke through in the last few days."

"Is the Ice Field Domain really that broken...?"

"What did you think? It's a Super-tier skill."

"By the way, did Chen Tianqin just lose three rounds in a row?"

"I thought he might lose, but I never imagined he’d lose this badly..."

"In the first round, I thought his tactics were great, trading a small piece for a big one. I didn't expect a 0-3 sweep."

"It’s not that he isn't strong, it’s just that Qiao Sang controlled the rhythm. He lost before he could even perform."

"The main thing is you can't use Qiao Sang's previous rounds as a reference. Also, the Ice Field Domain is basically unsolvable. Unless a pet has vastly more energy than Ice Emperor Ram, even if they break the ice like Sweet Poison King did, they’ll just be re-frozen instantly. In the domain, it’s just a matter of a single thought."

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In the family area.

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! Lubao! Lubao!" Ye Xiangting stood up in excitement, waving her support stick. She quickly pulled out her phone, took a photo of the field, and posted it to her social feed with the caption: Congratulations to my daughter! Into the Top 16!

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Meanwhile, in the official livestream room, the bullet chat went completely insane. The screen was filled with "AAAAHHH," "ICE EMPEROR RAM," and exclamation marks.

[Goddess Qiao! I knew you could do it!]

[Ice Emperor Ram is just perfect! Every battle brings a new surprise!]

[If you ask me, Ice Emperor Ram hasn't even shown half her strength. She didn't even use Healing Light!]

[AAAH! Is the Water Luriana Research and Protection Center really not going to send a few more to Qiao Sang to train?!]

[Some people are 17 and defeating National Bureau members, some are 37 and still worrying about pet food money.]

[National Bureau? Has it been officially confirmed?]

[Even though he lost, I still support Chen Tianqin! Good work! You just ran into a freak! See you at the next venue!]

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At the arena.

A giant virtual screen appeared in the center of the field, showing photos of Qiao Sang, Chen Tianqin, and the pets they used. Chen Tianqin’s photo vanished, leaving Qiao Sang’s photo to expand across the screen. Virtual fireworks blossomed around her image.

"Let us congratulate contestant Qiao Sang for taking the victory with a 3-0 score! She successfully advances to the Top 16!" Tian Yiwan shouted with excitement.

Compared to a veteran winning, the 17-year-old Qiao Sang, who also contracted a legendary pet, was clearly a much bigger highlight for the media and the crowd. Chen Tianqin gave the slender figure in the distance a deep look, then recalled Sweet Poison King to his Codex.

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Backstage.

Qiao Sang carried Yabao, who was drinking energy recovery fluid, back to her locker. She opened it and pulled out her backpack. Lubao, holding her own recovery fluid, hopped into the bag and skillfully used her paw to zip it halfway up.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure was chirping excitedly nearby. What was that skill the guy used in the first round that forced big brother Yabao into Blaze?

Yabao stopped drinking and looked over as well.

"It was the Mutual Destruction trait." Qiao Sang explained. 

"This trait forces the attacker to suffer the same state and injuries as the user."

"Yap yap..." Yabao fell into deep thought, trying to digest the concept.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure understood and its eyes lit up. Can I awaken that trait too?

Qiao Sang looked at it and smiled. "That’s a Dark-type trait. I'm afraid you can't."

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure looked disappointed.

Just then, a voice came from nearby: "Why are you unwilling to join the Imperial Beast Battle Team for training?"

Qiao Sang turned and saw Chen Tianqin had approached at some point.

So that’s why he was hostile... Qiao Sang realized and said: "I'm still a student. I need to study."

Chen Tianqin was silent for a moment. 

"Joining the National Team early means you can participate in major international competitions sooner. With your strength and talent, you'd be selected for the main roster very quickly."

Qiao Sang repeated: "I'm still a student. I need to study."

Chen Tianqin: ...

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: Right, even though Qiao Sang is incredibly talented, she’s actually still a 17-year-old minor. Kids this age might be rebellious, but they actually listen to their parents and teachers on big issues.

She got into the Imperial Beast University. Her elders must be reluctant to see her train so hard in the national team. Joining the National Bureau but not participating in training or matches must have been her parents' idea!

Thinking of this, the last of the hostility in Chen Tianqin’s eyes vanished. He sighed, then smiled. "Go study hard then. I hope to see you at the National Bureau soon."

He knew the condition for Qiao Sang to return to the Bureau was either becoming an A-rank Beast Master or waiting twenty years. Twenty years was too long, he didn't even know if he would have been phased out by then.

Chen Tianqin turned to leave, but as he took his first step, he paused and added: "Watch out for Yuan Tianlong."

He then continued walking.

Yuan Tianlong? That wealthy guy with the all-dragon lineup? Qiao Sang was stunned. Noticing his hostility was gone, she called out: "Can I ask you a question?"

"What?" Chen Tianqin stopped and turned his head.

"I've watched your previous matches and the matches of your Phantasm Hate Fox," Qiao Sang asked. 

"Why has it never displayed the Mutual Destruction trait before?"

Even though the fox hadn't lost in the recorded matches, Mutual Destruction means if I hurt, you hurt. She remembered the fox being hit in matches, but its opponents never showed the same pain.

So there are things you don't understand too... Chen Tianqin felt a bit of smug satisfaction. He smiled and replied: "Ask your teacher."

With that, he waved his hand and walked away coolly.

Qiao Sang: ...

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