"You're lying?" Zhang Xueming nearly cursed aloud but swallowed her words as she remembered she was the one who had initially tried to distract her opponent.

Truthfully, if anyone else claimed their beast's skill had reached Ultimate, she wouldn't even blink.

But Qiao Sang was different.

A 15-year-old prodigious Beast Master with undeniable talent should naturally carry an innate pride, a disdain for such verbal tactics.

Added to that was the intel they had gathered: Qiao Sang's Blazing Star Canine's Meteor Rain had genuinely achieved Ultimate.

When Qiao Sang said it, Zhang Xueming almost believed her.

"So this was her way of repaying me for distracting her earlier?" Zhang Xueming sighed internally, both frustrated and somewhat impressed. It turns out that those with immense talent learn dirty tricks just as quickly...

The first match ended with roaring cheers from the audience.

Though the battle hadn't been exceedingly intense, the crowd's excitement soared to its peak.

“Forget its looks; Ice Qiya's singing is just divine! I’m so in love!”

“Did anyone record that moment? When Ice Qiya forced its eyes open against the sleep effect? So cute I could die!”

“To be fair, Zhang Xueming and Mimi Sprite were pretty coordinated. At one point, she distracted Qiao Sang, and Mimi Sprite managed to use Healing Wave, that's real teamwork. But none of that escaped Ice Qiya's eyes! Did you see that Water Tail? Fast, precise, brutal!”

Among the uproar, Mimi Sprite was carried off the field.

Audience Zone B, First Row.

“Fei Fei! Fei Fei!”

An Emerald Python coiled around a woman's shoulders, chirping excitedly toward the battlefield.

The woman wore a beige mid-length coat, her bright and striking features making her look around thirty. Compared to the surrounding frenzy, she remained calm.

“Thank you for bringing me here.” The woman said.

“What’s there to thank?” Replied Pei Shipan, a man in a cap and mask.

“I happened to have tickets, and you happened to want to come.”

The woman looked at the pale-blue figure on the field and sighed softly.

“It’s been raised well.”

Pei Shipan glanced at her.

“Did you already know the Emerald Python was helping raise Ice Qiya?”

Wei Ying fell silent for a few seconds before answering, “Yes.”

Of course, she knew. Back then, the Emerald Python often looked unsatisfied no matter how much it ate.

She followed it once and discovered the little creature that would one day evolve into Ice Qiya.

Her heart had pounded wildly back then.

Fearing she would scare it away, she stayed hidden.

When she later realized the creature hated humans, she avoided showing herself even more.

Truthfully, she had hoped for something, a bond of sorts. But her own talent was lacking; by 33, she had only unlocked a single page in her Beast Master Codex.

If those people hadn't appeared later, she might have slowly built a relationship with it.

“Do you regret it?” Pei Shipan asked.

Wei Ying knew exactly what he meant.

Discovering Ice Qiya’s existence as the Emerald Python's Beast Master meant she was responsible for the python sneaking onto a plane.

If she had stopped it, the Emerald Python wouldn’t have been sent to the Beast Rehabilitation Facility, and she wouldn’t have lost her job.

Wei Ying didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze fell on the aloof but serene Ice Qiya.

It’s different now. Back then, it was a nervous, spiky creature that seemed ready to lash out at any moment. Now, while its expression remained unapproachable, its stance was relaxed.

“I used to regret it.” Wei Ying finally said with a small smile.

“But not anymore.”

On the Field.

Qiao Sang raised her hand, ready to recall Lubao.

“Lu!”

At that moment, Lubao turned her head and called out, signaling she wanted to continue battling.

Don’t copy Yabao! Qiao Sang kept a smile on her face but spoke seriously: “Your next opponent is an Advanced-tier Ice Sea Lion. It’s going to be tough.”

“Lu!”

Lubao’s expression was determined.

After all, Qiao Sang had already discussed the upcoming matches and what to watch out for. She remembered every word.

She wanted to battle stronger opponents.

If Yabao could do it, why couldn’t she?

This is a points match, losing means losing points… Qiao Sang stared at Lubao’s unwavering gaze and sighed.

Fine. She thought through her strategy again. The toughest group opponents were Zhang Xueming and Bai Binbin. With Yabao, she was confident about beating the Ice Sea Lion next match.

Against Bai Binbin, she had a chance to face his Intermediate-tier Scythe Mongoose early on.

In the second round, if Yabao could land Meteor Rain on his Evil tail Scorpion, victory was assured.

Between Zhang Xueming and Bai Binbin, it was unlikely either would win both their matches.

If things go as planned, I’ll still rank first in our group.

Even if her predictions were off, she could still advance by placing in the top 40 of the division through the next rounds.

More battles meant more points, and points mattered most.

Resolved, Qiao Sang nodded.

“Alright. I believe in you. Fight to your heart’s content.”

“Lu!”

Lubao’s eyes lit up, her heart surging with a mix of determination and gratitude.

I can do it. She believes in me just like she believes in Yabao. I can’t let her down.

As the announcer Yi Ao called for the second round of beasts, Lubao assumed a battle-ready stance.

Seeing Ice Qiya still on the field caused a stir in the audience.

“Isn’t Zhang Xueming’s second beast an Advanced-tier Ice-type?”

“Yeah! Why hasn’t Qiao Sang recalled Ice Qiya?!”

“I want to see Ice Qiya, too, but I don’t want to see it get crushed!”

“Is Qiao Sang planning to use Ice Qiya to wear down the Ice Sea Lion?”

“The level gap is too big, what’s she thinking?”

“Wait… didn’t Qiao Sang start to recall Ice Qiya earlier? But then Ice Qiya said something, and she stopped. Maybe Ice Qiya wants to keep fighting?”

The comment was drowned out by the growing commotion.

“Fei Fei! Fei Fei!”

The Emerald Python chirped excitedly, watching its old friend, transformed yet recognizable, focus intently under the gaze of countless humans.

It was truly happy for it.

On the Field.

"Seal!”

A powerful roar resounded as a massive beast emerged from the star array, a white, long-haired creature with piercing blue eyes and bushy eyebrows, its mouth covered by trailing tufts of fur.

The second battle was about to begin.