When the regional competitions begin, the qualified contestants from each area typically form group chats.

The purpose is to exchange and share intelligence.

Although it's an individual beast-taming competition, contestants often treat participants from other regions as opponents first.

However, information isn’t shared freely. Most of it is exchanged under mutual agreement.

If someone in the group appears to be a direct counter to another contestant, they are unlikely to share any valuable details about themselves.

After all, in an individual competition, everyone in the group is a potential rival.

In previous years, contestants would only start discussing intelligence after arriving at the competition venue.

But this year, the moment Qiao Sang joined the group, everything changed.

Her unique beasts: Blazing Star Canine and the near-extinct Ice Qiya, proved too enticing for everyone to ignore.

Of course, this being her first regional competition, Qiao Sang hadn’t thought much about these intricacies. At the moment, she was busy accepting friend requests and sorting through dozens of shared files.

In another group chat:

[I can’t bring myself to fight her!]

Qin Shuoran quickly sent the message to the chat for the Ancient Guwu Region’s qualified contestants.

The group, formed just today, was already abuzz, every discussion centered on Qiao Sang from the Yuhua Region.

[I feel the same! How could anyone go up against Ice Qiya?!]

Others chimed in:

[Damn it! Why does someone from Yuhua get to contract such a rare beast?!]

[Honestly, I’d love to battle Ice Qiya, at least I’d get to see it up close.]

[What if Qiao Sang deliberately uses Ice Qiya in all her matches, knowing we’d hesitate?]

The group went silent for a moment.

[I watched her matches. Ice Qiya is actually her weakest beast…]

[Wait, what?!]

[Yeah, her strongest beast is the advanced Blazing Star Canine, a fire-psychic dual-type.]

[Fire and psychic dual-type? That sounds expensive. At least knowing Ice Qiya is well cared for puts my mind at ease.]

[Same here.]

[+1.]

[...It seems our region is doomed.]

Early Morning.

Hanggang Yian International Airport

“Call me when you arrive.” Ye Xiangting said softly.

Though she knew her daughter was heading to the Ancient Guwu Region for a competition, accompanied by her teacher, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“I will.” Qiao Sang reassured her.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Ye.” Sun Boyi, the teacher, said with a solemn tone.

“I’ll look after her and make sure not a single hair falls from her head.”

“Do you lose hair while brushing?” Xu Yixuan whispered to Qiao Sang.

Qiao Sang paused.

“Yeah, sometimes.”

Hearing this, Sun Boyi’s lip twitched. I heard that…

“Thank you, teacher.” Ye Xiangting expressed her gratitude.

“It’s my duty.” Sun Boyi maintained his composure as if he hadn’t heard anything.

Gate 23

A two-meter-tall Lightseeker Beast, mostly white with a black tail, stood at the gate wearing a work badge. Its eyes glowed red as it scanned passengers one by one.

The Lightseeker Beast, with its x-ray-like Perception Trait, could conduct full-body scans without causing harm to humans.

Before its discovery, airport staff relied on handheld detectors to find metal objects. However, concealed items, like capsule-sized contraband, often went unnoticed.

With its ability to scan without violating privacy or causing harm, the Lightseeker Beast became indispensable at airports, significantly increasing its value.

Qiao Sang stood still as the beast scanned her from head to toe.

“Light.” The red glow faded, and the Lightseeker Beast gestured for her to proceed.

On the Plane

Sitting in the plush seats of the first-class cabin, Qiao Sang stretched out comfortably.

The direct flight to the Ancient Guwu Region would take over ten hours. Finally getting a taste of luxury, she wasn’t about to skimp on herself.

“Is this upgrade really free?” Xu Yixuan asked excitedly from a seat nearby.

“Yeah, I had an upgrade voucher.” Qiao Sang replied.

Since she felt bad about making her teacher and Xu Yixuan endure a long flight in economy class, she had used her voucher to upgrade them as well.

“I love you!” Xu Yixuan grinned widely.

“When we land, I’ll treat you to dinner!”

Sun Boyi, seated nearby, smiled.

“No need for that. When we land, just let me know what you’d like to eat, I’ll treat you instead.”

The three continued chatting until the plane took off.

Gazing out the window, Qiao Sang felt an unusual sense of loneliness without her beasts, Yabao and Little Treasure, by her side.

Evening.

With the first-class seat reclined into a bed, Qiao Sang closed her eyes, mentally reviewing the data she’d sorted yesterday.

The files, compiled by different people, contained overlapping yet varied information.

For instance, most reports on Ancient Guwu Region’s Qin Shuoran mentioned his advanced beast, Optimistic Sea Lion, possessing two advanced skills, with Steam Explosion at intermediate mastery.

However, a few reports stated the skill had reached advanced mastery. To err on the side of caution, Qiao Sang noted it as advanced.

Similarly, regarding Lianke Region’s Yuan Xiaotian, only one out of 31 reports mentioned his advanced beast, Healing Bloom, having the Chlorophyll Trait, a trait that doubles speed in sunny weather.

Despite the lack of consensus, Qiao Sang included the trait in her notes.

As the saying goes: Always prepare for the strongest version of your opponent.

After finishing her mental review, her thoughts drifted to Lubao.

Given Lubao’s description, it was clear finding the place would be near impossible. Yet, with the miraculous nature of extraordinary beasts, perhaps there was a skill that could restore a memory’s scenery...