Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1
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That night.
Beast Center, Room 2603.
Qiao Sang leaned back on her bed, scrutinizing the profiles of the Top 8 contestants. The quarter-finalists had all been decided tonight, and tomorrow would be the matches to determine the Final Four.
With Chen Tianqin as a cautionary tale, her research had become significantly more meticulous. Unfortunately, the public data remained largely unchanged, it was as if everyone was being perfectly transparent.
However, after seeing a contestant’s Water-type pet suddenly unleash a never-before-seen Electric-type move in tonight's match, she knew better than to trust that the public files were complete.
I really wonder how these famous Beast Masters manage to hide so much while being hounded by paparazzi every day... Qiao Sang mused silently.
Suddenly, a "thump-thump" sounded against the window. Gangbao, perched on the side table by the window, used her wing to pull back the curtain.
Qiao Sang looked over and saw a bird pet about thirty centimeters tall. Its left wing held a smartphone pressed against the glass, with a line of text scrolling across the screen:
[Great Qiao, my Little Song Swallow is a fan of the Steel Sword Falcon. Can I get a photo of them together? If not, even a photo of them would do.]
Little Song Swallow, a Basic-level Flying-type pet. It loves to sing when happy. Its song has a refreshing effect; it’s said that anyone who hears it will have their fatigue instantly vanish, turning them from drowsy to spirited in a second... Qiao Sang recalled the data as she stared at the bird. She couldn't help but let her mind wander.
I didn't expect even Basic-level pets to use smartphones now. Did it type that itself?
She was no longer surprised by pet fans tracking her down; she had encountered several at the suburban villa and in the hallways of the accommodation area today.
Gangbao turned to look at her Beast Master. Recognizing the inquiry in Gangbao's eyes, Qiao Sang nodded. "Go ahead and open it."
Gangbao opened the window. The yellow bird hopped onto the side table, its eyes sparkling as it stared at Gangbao, a total fangirl.
"Are you a fan of Gangbao?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Gang Zhan?" Gangbao reacted with surprise, eyeing the yellow bird. A fan of me?
"Ge-ge?" The Little Song Swallow chirped, pointing at Gangbao and asking if that was her name.
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao nodded.
"Ge-ge!" Seeing her idol respond, the Little Song Swallow became ecstatic, nodding frantically to confirm her status as a fan.
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao called out toward Little Treasure.
"Xun xun~" Little Treasure quickly put down his snacks and teleported in front of the swallow. He took the phone from its wing and skillfully opened the camera app to snap a photo. Once finished, he returned the phone and teleported back to his snacks.
"Ge-ge~" The Little Song Swallow looked at the photo, her eyes curving into crescents. Suddenly, she began to sing at the top of her lungs.
"Ge~ ge-ge-ge~ ge-ge~ ge-ge~"
Invisible soundwaves rippled through the room. Qiao Sang felt her sleepiness vanish instantly. Yabao, who had been yawning, sprang up from the bed, suddenly full of energy. Lubao opened her eyes in the water tank to glance at the bird before closing them again. Qingbao appeared, watching the singing bird curiously.
"Xun xun~" Little Treasure provided emotional support by clapping his claws.
Gangbao, however, watched the Little Song Swallow thoughtfully. After finishing its song, the bird bowed and cheerfully fluttered out the window.
"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao stood by the window until the bird's silhouette disappeared. Only then did she close the window and pull the curtains shut.
"What's wrong?" Qiao Sang, having a deep bond with Gangbao, sensed her inner doubt
"Gang Zhan?" Gangbao chirped. That bird's song had a refreshing effect, right?
"Yes." Qiao Sang nodded.
"Is there a problem?"
"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao fell silent for a moment before chirping again. It’s so late, it’s time to sleep. If it suddenly comes here to sing and we can't sleep, won't it affect our stamina for tomorrow's match?
Qiao Sang froze, her expression turning serious. "You mean... someone sent it on purpose?"
She recalled another piece of information about the Little Song Swallow: It loves to sing when happy, providing a refreshing effect. However, the effect is temporary. Depending on the level of the trait, once the effect wears off, the original fatigue returns, doubled.
---
Meanwhile, in a private booth at a tea restaurant near the Beast Center.
"Ge-ge~" The Little Song Swallow flew in cheerfully.
On the sofa, a youth around sixteen with thick eyebrows saw the bird and asked excitedly, "Did you get the photo?"
"Ge-ge~" The bird handed over the phone and nodded happily. Caught up in the emotion, it spread its wings to sing again.
"Ge~ ge..."
The song was cut short as a man with a cool short ponytail on the other side of the sofa stuffed a yellow berry into its mouth. He laughed, "I don't want to be wide awake all night."
"Ge-ge..." The swallow bit into the fruit, instantly forgetting the song.
"A real photo!" The youth was thrilled, but then he felt a wave of regret.
"If I knew Great Qiao was so easy to talk to, I should have gone myself. Maybe I could have gotten an autograph."
The man with the ponytail smiled. "She’ll take photos with pets that show up, but not necessarily with people. If you barge into someone's room like that bird did, you're a sasaeng fan. She wouldn't give you the time of day."
"True..." The youth sighed, then added gratefully, "Brother, I'm glad you suggested sending the Little Song Swallow. Qiao Sang's movements are so hard to pin down. She always uses Spatial Shift to leave the scene after a match."
The man took a sip of tea. "A friend of mine happens to live near where she trains. He said his pet came home with the Divine Blazing Lion's signature and refused to take a bath. So I figured we’d let the Little Song Swallow try."
The youth blinked. "What does a bath have to do with anything?"
The man laughed. "Supposedly, it was signed on its belly."
The youth burst out laughing. "Signed on the belly? Did the pet ask for that?"
"Who knows," the man replied with a smirk. The youth then asked, "By the way, how did you know she was in 2603?"
"It's no secret she's staying at the Beast Center. It's easy enough to find out with a little digging." The youth grew worried.
"She should change rooms. If everyone knows where she lives, she'll be constantly harrassed."
The man just smiled and didn't respond. After a few seconds, he looked at the bird. "Are you happy after the photo?"
"Ge-ge~" The bird nodded.
"And were you happy enough to sing?"
"Ge-ge~" The bird nodded again. The man smiled with satisfaction.
"Brother."
The youth said, "I couldn't grab a ticket for tomorrow. Can you ask Brother Yu if he can save a seat for me? He made the Top 8, it shouldn't be hard to ask the organizers for a spot."
The man didn't refuse. "I'll ask."
He then pulled out his phone and sent a message: [The Qiao Sang situation is handled.]
It wasn't a malicious attack, it was just a standard interference tactic. Among the remaining contestants, only Qiao Sang's location was this accessible.
---
Beast Center, Room 2603.
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao chirped, explaining she wasn't sure, but was just worried about their sleep. She could tell the bird was a genuine fan, unless it was as good at acting as she was.
"Don't worry about that." Qiao Sang said.
"Lubao has Healing Light. We'll just use that if we need to. But..."
She paused, "It seems many people know my room number. After the quarter-finals, we definitely need to move."
Whether the bird was a fan or not, the fact that it could accurately find her room with the curtains closed and bring a phone meant it wasn't acting alone.
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao nodded. She was very satisfied with her Beast Master's caution.
Sensing this, Qiao Sang smiled. "Do you think our bond has deepened again?"
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao waved a wing. Maybe.
"Do you remember the place you dreamed of evolving?" Qiao Sang asked.
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao’s expression turned serious as she nodded.
She remembered. When she had predicted her evolution site, she had already evolved temporarily once, but only into an advanced form. Although the dream location was in the Central Hollow region, it wasn't the place where she officially evolved into her General-level form.
"Sky Beast Mastering League Venue. " Qiao Sang named the location.
"If we are matched against the opponent from your dream, I’ll let you take the field."
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao nodded solemnly. Her strength was the weakest in the team, but if it involved the time and place of her true evolution, she had to be out there, no matter how strong the opponent.
Qiao Sang returned to her research. The previous instances where Yabao and the others had fulfilled Adinishi's prophecies taught her that evolution wasn't just about finding the right spot, it required her to act on the information she had to drive the prophecy forward.
She looked at a name in the files: Wu Tianjiao.
The opponent in Gangbao's dream had a Thunder-Numb Spirit. Among all the remaining contestants, only Wu Tianjiao had one.
---
8:30 AM.
Sky Beast Mastering League Venue.
"Hello, viewers!" A reporter said into the camera.
"I am on-site at the Sky Venue. The contestants are ready, and the crowd is immense. Today is the Top 8 round. Fireworks are being lit as a tribute to the remaining trainers. There are only four spots, who will claim them? Let's turn our attention to the field."
The cameras focused on the center. The host finished the introductions and called for the referee from the Beast Mastering Notary Office. A giant virtual screen appeared. A Unit-Based Divider split into two, its head flying into the screen to merge with it. Eight photos shuffled rapidly before stopping.
The eight contestants were divided into four groups. Qiao Sang immediately saw her match: [Qiao Sang vs. Yu Zhenyi]
In Section A, Row 6, the youth who had been cheering earlier sighed. "Poor Brother Yu, he got grouped with Great Qiao."
The man with the short ponytail looked at him. "How do you know Qiao Sang will win?"
The youth threw his hands up. "Is that even a question? She even beat Chen Tianqin. I remember Brother Yu lost to him before."
"Ge-ge." The Little Song Swallow in his arms nodded in agreement.
The man fell silent, looking toward the contestant area. He noticed Qiao Sang didn't look tired at all. Did she really use Healing Light from the Ice Emperor Ram?
In the contestant area, Qiao Sang’s phone vibrated. It was a message from Rong Yuhua [Yu Zhenyi.txt]
[A freebie. Don't feel pressured.]
Qiao Sang replied: [Thank you.]
She had to admit, his data was far more comprehensive than what she found online, especially regarding skill proficiency levels.
Rong Yuhua replied instantly: [Don't be so polite, I already consider you a friend. By the way, when are you officially starting training at the National Bureau?]
Qiao Sang: [...Didn't I tell you? In twenty years.]
Rong Yuhua: [You're lying! I don't believe it!]
Qiao Sang: [I'm not.]
If she became an A-rank Beast Master within the time limit, she would go straight to competitions. The National Bureau training was only the backup plan if she failed that goal.
She closed the message and opened the file on Yu Zhenyi.
Yu Zhenyi, 36 years old, B-rank Beast Master. Awakened at twelve. This is his third regional Regional League. His trump card: Mimicry Master.
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Thanks for the chapter! That guy is not playing fair so I hope Qiao Sang completely crushes him and destroys his confidence
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