Chapter 1007: The Award Ceremony

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

-----

In the stands, it was as if a powder keg had been ignited. With a massive "BOOM," the crowd completely exploded. The waves of sound rising from the field were enough to pierce the clouds, even those outside the stadium could hear the near-manic cheering from within.

"AAAAHHH! Champion! Champion!"

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Holy crap! Once the Blazing Divine Lion's Blaze was triggered, his attack power was absolutely terrifying! I felt like I barely blinked and it was suddenly over!"

"Me too! I thought that after the Sawtooth Dragon and the Blazing Divine Lion both stood back up, they’d clash for a while longer. I didn't expect it to end so fast, the Sawtooth Dragon was completely suppressed."

"I wouldn't say completely suppressed. While the Blazing Divine Lion was using Radiant Impact, the Sawtooth Dragon managed to fire off a Dragon Sonic Blast. If that Super-tier skill hadn't come out, the final score probably would have been 3:1."

"To be honest, the Sawtooth Dragon over-performed this match. The first time it used Dragon Sonic Blast, it needed the boost from Dragon Luck Field, but the second time it pulled it off on pure strength."

"True, the Sawtooth Dragon is terrifyingly strong to be able to stand back up after that horrific Lava Purgatory. It's just that the Blazing Divine Lion is equally terrifying..."

"Truly the youngest B-rank Tamer in history... Qiao Sang isn't even 18 yet, and she's already the regional champion. The value of her B-rank license is insane compared to those Nth-generation kids who just use resources piled up since childhood."

"The prestige of each regional champion varies. Qiao Sang beat Yuan Tianlong; I have no problem calling her the strongest B-rank Tamer in the Central Hollow Region."

"Why just the Central Hollow Region? Just say the whole of Blue Star. The skill level of our Central Hollow Region contestants is inherently higher than other regions. Look at Yuan Tianlong, he won two other regional championships, and here he only took second."

"Wait, let's be precise: Among young B-rank Tamers. Don't forget the veterans, there are B-rank Tamers hundreds of years old whose pets have already reached King-level"

"I don't care. In my heart, Qiao Sang is the strongest B-rank."

"The Sawtooth Dragon could one-string-three and defeat three King-level pets. By that logic, the Blazing Divine Lion can also defeat three King-level pets in a row. Scary, too scary..."

"More than that! The Blazing Divine Lion wasted energy on the Disaster dragon earlier. Plus, the Sawtooth Dragon's one-string-three feat happened two years ago, its strength now is definitely higher."

"I used to be jealous of Qiao Sang contracting a Qinyin Fairy, but now that I think about it, if I were a Qinyin Fairy, I'd definitely contract with Qiao Sang too. Where else are you going to find a Tamer this young and this powerful..."

"...I've been focusing on the matches so much that if you hadn't mentioned the Qinyin Fairy, I would have almost forgotten it."

"From now on, I'm a die-hard Qiao Sang fan. I'll follow her wherever she goes for matches."

"I'm planning to go to the Yuhua Region tomorrow. I'm dying for a Blazing Divine Lion."

"I'm already applying for an interstellar visa. I'm going to Chaosu Star to pick out a Little Steel Falcon."

"Too bad the Ice Emperor Ram is an endangered species, otherwise I'd really want to get one."

"Ghost Ring King is great too. Its ring has a storage function. If my brain capacity breaks through later and I can contract a new pet, I'll go to the Yuhua Region to look for a Treasure Hunter Ghost."

"Ah! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" Wu Tianjiao leaped up, waving her support glow-stick excitedly, looking like a total fangirl. Qiao Sang had beaten Yuan Tianlong and become the champion, so what if she had lost to her? She had simply lost to the champion! Then, remembering something, she turned and left.

In the front rows, Yu Ke, Yu Le, and Rong Yuhua were waving their support sticks frantically. Seeing this, Yu Ke teased: "And you said you weren't a fan of God Qiao."

Rong Yuhua said while waving: "You were right. Qiao Sang is my idol now!"

Yuan Tianlong, that was the Yuan Tianlong! Qiao Sang actually beat him! At this moment, Rong Yuhua felt that adding Qiao Sang on social media was the greatest gain of this entire regional competition.

---

Yuhua Region, Hanggang City

Inside an office building.

"She won. She actually won. Qiao Sang is the champion..." Qiao Wangyang looked dazed. A regional champion, such a distant existence. His seventeen-year-old daughter had actually become such a figure...

Qiao Wangyang suddenly regretted contacting Qiao Sang so little in the past. If they had stayed in touch, he wouldn't be in a position where he couldn't reach her even if he wanted to. 

It felt as if they lived in two different worlds. He stared at the phone on his desk for two seconds, finally unable to resist picking it up to dial the number he had been trying lately.

Soon, the familiar voice came through: "I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy..."

---

Ye Xiangting stood up excitedly, screaming the names of Qiao Sang and Yabao. Then, remembering her duty, she pulled out her phone and opened the recording function to capture this thrilling moment.

To be honest, she had heard of Yuan Tianlong's great name. Even though she hoped her daughter would win, she hadn't held much expectation for victory. From her previous conversations with Qiao Sang, she could tell her daughter wasn't very confident about this match either. 

It wasn't that she wasn't proud of her daughter, but she knew how incredibly young Qiao Sang was. The opponent was more than double her age, used Dragon-type pets, and had won two regional championships. From any angle, the hope of victory was slim.

But she never expected Qiao Sang to win! And she did it while only sending out Lubao and Yabao!

"Brilliant! Qiao Sang! Yabao!" Liu Yao stood up abruptly, his usual composure gone, acting like a wild fan as he passionately waved his support stick.

"Xian Xian!"

"Xian Xian!"

The Sky Bat held a glow-stick, waving it with equal passion.

"A teenage genius." Coach Tao remarked, looking at the figure under the spotlight. 

"When I first invited Qiao Sang to the National Beast Taming Combat Team, I never imagined she could take the championship from Yuan Tianlong."

Then, thinking of something, she turned to chat with Qiao Sang’s mother, only to see her holding her phone excitedly toward the field. So, she chatted with Mikayla across her instead: "When are you leaving?"

Mikayla thought for a moment and said: "Probably tomorrow."

Coach Tao froze, looking surprised: "So soon? Where are you headed next?"

Mikayla replied: "Zidia Region."

Coach Tao was stunned again. She didn't ask why, but said: "Qiao Sang won the championship, there has to be a victory banquet. Do you want to have a meal together tonight? My treat."

Mikayla looked at the slender figure on the field and smiled:

"No need. Qiao Sang doesn't like the atmosphere of victory banquets anyway. And since she just finished the match, I think she’d rather celebrate with Yabao and the others than with us.

"Exactly, exactly." Ye Xiangting chimed in while recording. 

"Before, when Qiao Sang won the National Campus League, or got the interstellar exchange student spot, or was admitted to the Imperial Beast University, I wanted to hold a banquet and invite her to celebrate, but she was never willing. Kids these days probably don't like that kind of atmosphere."

Coach Tao: ...

Your "bragging" expression is practically written all over your face...

Amidst the cheers and screams, Qiao Sang recalled Yabao into her Beast Codex.

---

Staff members crowded around Qiao Sang, shielding her from the media and leading her to the lounge.

"Miss Qiao, please rest here for a moment. The award ceremony is in twenty minutes, and we'll head up then." A staff member said respectfully.

Qiao Sang sat on the sofa and nodded slightly: "I understand."

The staff member didn't leave immediately, looking as if they wanted to say something.

"Is there something else?" Qiao Sang asked.

The staff member’s face turned red as they gathered their courage: "Could I get your autograph?"

Qiao Sang paused, then smiled: "Of course."

The staff member quickly pulled out a prepared pen and excitedly unzipped their uniform, revealing a white shirt underneath: "Just sign it on my shirt."

Qiao Sang took the pen and signed her name with two quick strokes. The staff member thanked her repeatedly and left in a daze of excitement.

Qiao Sang then summoned Yabao and the others. Lubao had already recovered some energy in the Beast Codex. Without a word, she circulated her energy, the gem on her forehead glowing with a deep blue light that bathed both her and Yabao.

"Yap yap!"

The blue light vanished, and Yabao was instantly restored to full health.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure floated around Yabao and Lubao, excitedly expressing how brilliant the match was and showering them with admiration.

"Lu Di."

Under Little Treasure’s flattery, Lubao’s expression remained unchanged, though her tail couldn't help but flick twice.

"Yap yap?"

Listening to Xun xun, Yabao’s eyes sparkled. He looked at his tamer and barked as if to confirm.

"We won the match?"

Qiao Sang nodded: "That's right. The Sawtooth Dragon fell too. There won't be another round."

"Yap yap!"

Yabao barked excitedly.

Qiao Sang smiled: "Get ready, everyone. We’re going up to receive the award soon."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure understood immediately. He took off his ring and pulled out several pieces of gear. Yabao skillfully put on his green triangular sunglasses. Gangbao looked at the lavender fedora handed to her and obediently took it to put it on.

"Lu Di." Lubao called out, indicating she didn't need any gear.

Little Treasure rummaged in the ring for a while longer and pulled out the old diamond glove, handing it to Qingbao.

"Qing qing?"

Qingbao blinked, pointing to herself uncertainly. This is for me?

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure nodded, explaining he used to wear it, but he was too big now and the size didn't fit, so it was perfect for her.

"Qing qing..."

Qing qing looked at the blindingly sparkly diamond glove and let out a soft call, politely declining. She hadn't really competed much, so she felt she shouldn't go up for the ceremony.

Hearing this, Qiao Sang said seriously: "Who says you didn't compete much? You won a match too. We are a team; we have to go up and receive the award together."

Qingbao looked at her tamer, momentarily stunned.

"Xun xun~"

At that moment, Little Treasure nudged the diamond glove forward again.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao silenced for a second before giving another reason for refusal. She would go up for the award, but she didn't like being stared at by too many people. This glove was too beautiful, if she wore it, everyone would definitely stare. She preferred not to wear it.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure remembered that she did spend most of her time transformed into wind, so he didn't push further. With a look of regret, he put the diamond glove away.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao let out a sigh of relief.

---

Twenty Minutes Later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and all our viewers watching the livestream!" 

The host's voice echoed through the arena: "It is now time for the award ceremony of this Regional Competition!"

The arena erupted in cheers. Under the host's introduction, the third-place and second-place winners, Wu Tianjiao and Yuan Tianlong, took the stage to receive their awards.

Suddenly, all the lights dimmed, leaving only the glow-sticks and phones in the stands. Combined, the countless points of light looked like a sea of stars twinkling across the stadium. 

Finally, it was time to introduce the last contestant. The host took a deep breath and shouted with passion: "And now, we present the Champion of this Regional Competition! Audience members! Are you ready! Please shout her name with me! QIAO SANG!!!"

"Qiao Sang!"

"Qiao Sang!"

The entire arena was chanting the name.

As the screams and cheers continued, the neon lights on the field suddenly began to flow like a meteor shower. The champion's theme music began to play. Then, the field opened from the center.

A bird-type pet, standing over twenty meters tall with feathers that shimmered with iridescent light, soared up from below and stopped in mid-air. Standing on its back were Qiao Sang, Yabao, and the others. With a flap of its iridescent wings, the bird showered the sky with countless brilliant specks of starlight, a magnificent visual feast.

The Primal Iridescent Bird, a King-level bird pet with an exquisitely beautiful appearance. Only those whose strength it recognizes are worthy of standing beside it. Under different angles of light, its feathers shine with different colors. It is said that those who stand upon it are absolute kings.

The people of the Central Hollow Region believe this firmly, so for every regional competition, the champion is granted the honor of appearing on the Primal Iridescent Bird as a sign of praise and affirmation.

Yabao wore his sunglasses, his head tilted at a slight 45-degree angle. Lubao stood quietly beside Yabao.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure, wearing his cape, waved his paws enthusiastically to the crowd. Gangbao, wearing her lavender fedora, flapped her wings beside her tamer.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao stood next to Little Treasure, looking at the cheering, screaming audience, seemingly a bit overwhelmed by the scene.

The Chairman of the Central Hollow Region Beast Taming Association flew over on the back of another bird pet, stepped onto the Primal Iridescent Bird, and approached Qiao Sang. A golden trophy, a gold ring, and a pet egg with purple markings appeared on a tray out of thin air.

The Chairman picked up the golden trophy and handed it over with a smile: "Congratulations on the win. The match was spectacular."

At the same time, the host's voice continued to ring out: "Contestant Qiao Sang is the youngest participant in this regional competition, and the first to win the championship on her very first attempt. She has truly earned this. She may be young, but she stands tall above the rest."

"The Sky-Vault Cup, the dream of countless professional Tamers in the Central Hollow Region. Qiao Sang has claimed it at the age of 17. I believe not just the Central Hollow Region, but the entire Dragon Country will remember her."

"Qiao Sang: Champion of the 767th Central Hollow Region Competition."

As the host finished, Qiao Sang took the Sky-Vault Cup and held it high over her head. The crowd roared. Every camera flash in the arena went off frantically at that exact moment.

-----

T/n: Rawr. And we're done with the Part One! 

-----

Previous Chapter_Next Chapter

-----