Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 947: Continuing the Struggle

"Regardless of what they say, why did they feel the need to reveal that Little Treasure knows Teleportation..." Qiao Sang muttered to herself, scanning the feedback in the comments section below:

[No way, so the Beast Master who bonded with Qingqing Ni some time ago really was Qiao Sang!]

[Before: Who on earth was lucky enough to get a Qingqing Ni? Now: She earned it with pure capability!]

[She’s only 17, a B-rank Beast Master with a legendary pet. At 17, I'm just complaining about the food, the morning runs, and the study sessions, wondering about lunch before breakfast is even over.]

[Just check out her team: The legendary Breezewing Nini and a Ghost-type that utilizes Teleportation. Meanwhile, my pet is a Little Sleepy Bear who can’t wake up and passes out the moment a battle starts, making me a total joke in class.]

[Ahhh! Breezewing Nini! I need to see Breezewing Nini in a professional match!]

[I’m starting to think Qiao Sang and Breezewing Nini are the perfect duo. Only a talent like hers is worthy of a legendary pet.]

[Wait, Qiao Sang isn't a native of our Central Hollow Region! How did she get our legendary pet! Someone make her a local quickly! @CentralHollowGovernment]

[A year ago, Qiao Sang was just in the National Campus Beast Tamer League, and now she’s in the Regional Championships. Honestly, I’m speechless...]

[I knew she looked familiar! I spotted her at the exit of Secret Realm 16. She was the first one out. It felt odd then, but it makes sense now—she had contracted Qingqing Ni.]

[It’s true, Qiao Sang really did contract Qingqing Ni. A while back, her assessment task involved helping me locate a pet in a secret realm. I assumed she was from my grandparents' generation; I never dreamed she was my age...]

[To be honest, if it's Qiao Sang who bonded with Qingqing Ni, I’ve got no complaints.]

The comments seemed fairly civil... Qiao Sang exited the page and habitually refreshed, only to find another topic about her trending.

#Qiao Sang, National Campus Beast Tamer League Champion#

The preliminaries just ended, and they’re already digging up everything... Qiao Sang clicked the link out of curiosity.

The post featured a video of the final clash between Yabao and Paralulu, specifically the moment she was crowned champion of the 336th National Campus Beast Tamer League.

The caption read: [Just one year ago, Qiao Sang was still a competitor in the National Campus Beast Tamer League...]

Hundreds of comments were already piling up: [Are students this powerful now? The Dragon Nation feels very safe in their hands.]

[Given Qiao Sang's power, playing in the National Campus Beast Tamer League must have been a complete slaughter.]

[What’s the name of that red pet of hers?]

[I went back to watch that footage. Guess what? A green star array! Qiao Sang was using a green star array back then!]

[Hold on, let me get this straight. Does this mean Qiao Sang jumped from a D-rank Beast Master to a B-rank Beast Master in a single year?!]

[I always assumed Qiao Sang had an early brain domain awakening. Is that not what happened?]

[Is there anyone who actually knows her who can leak some details?]

[She’s from the Yuhua Region; we need someone from there to give us the scoop.]

[Wait, has the news of her in the Regional Championships not reached Yuhua yet?!]

[Yuhua local here! I only follow international events and the Regional Championships, so I missed the National Campus League. Qiao Sang likely didn't attend school in Yuhua, or else those schools would have been bragging about it non-stop.]

I bet my matches on Chaosu Star will be unearthed soon too... Qiao Sang closed the trending list and set her phone down, her face remaining calm.

Even if they found them, it didn't matter. Her current self was far beyond the level she had been at on Chaosu Star.

Over the following days, Qiao Sang maintained her training routine at the suburban villa.

Her name stayed on the trending list for the first three days, but it was eventually pushed aside by other Regional Championships contestants. While the tournament is live, the focus always shifts to the current matches.

Despite this, Qiao Sang could sense her growing popularity. People took secret photos of her on the street, and some even ran up to request pictures. Even during meals, strangers recognized her and insisted on settling her bill.

Inside a restaurant.

After turning down a stranger's offer to pay, Qiao Sang quietly continued her meal.

"Are you positive you don't want to move into a hotel?" Ye Xiangting asked from across the table.

"I checked out that hotel that called you. It’s excellent, offers great privacy, and I heard many other contestants are staying there."

Qiao Sang took a sip of her soup. "Staying at the Beast Center is fine. Nobody bothers me there."

Aside from being stared at or photographed when she ventured out, staying in her room wasn't as chaotic as the internet made it out to be.

"That's only because the preliminaries are still going, and your next rival hasn't been picked yet," Ye Xiangting said with concern.

"The preliminaries wrap up today, and the Top 100 tournament begins tomorrow. Once the match list is released, people will definitely start bothering you. You won't get any sleep, and you'll be exhausted for your match."

Qiao Sang looked up with a smile. "Mom, you're forgetting, I have Lubao."

In truth, she wasn't even that concerned about sleep. With the preliminaries ending, more than 200 contestants remained. She hadn't finished analyzing their data yet, and Qingbao's Tailwind skill was still a bit short of reaching the Ultimate level. If she was interrupted, she could just focus on the data or pull an all-nighter training at the villa.

Ye Xiangting’s next argument was immediately silenced.

At that moment, Mikayla put her phone down and spoke up, "The university has prepared the energy pills for Yabao and the others. They should arrive today, and I’ll deliver them to you myself."

Qiao Sang’s eyes brightened. "That’s great."

With energy pills tailored to their current levels, Yabao and the rest would develop even faster.

"The university assists in making energy pills?" Ye Xiangting asked, surprised.

"It's because Qiao Sang's situation is unique," Mikayla explained with a smile.

"She is in our university's elite beast-taming class. This is one of the perks."

Hearing this, Ye Xiangting felt a wave of pride, followed by a sudden realization:

Her original goal for opening the breeding shop was to fund her daughter's pet raising. She hadn't expected her daughter would never need to ask for money, and even the costliest items, like energy pills, were provided by the university. So, why had she been working so hard to earn all this money...

Just then, Qiao Sang said: "Mom, since you're finally in the Central Hollow Region, you should explore. There are many items here for Flying-type pets. I'm certain you could find something useful for your Faithful Owl."

Ye Xiangting blinked and smiled. "I’ve been looking, but I heard Huitian City has the best selection of Flying-type items in the region. After I watch your Top 100 match, I'll make time to visit."

Huitian City... Qiao Sang suddenly recalled the Blunt Stone she had purchased there. She had planned for Gangbao to learn biting-type skills, but life had been too hectic to find the time. Even now, the Regionals left her with no spare moment.

If her mother hadn't brought it up, she might have forgotten about it entirely...

That night.

Qiao Sang finished watching the final preliminary match, switched off the TV, and looked toward the window. Although the window was shut tight and the soundproof glass blocked the exterior noise, the curtains were fluttering violently.

Hearing the wind whistling in her ears and feeling her hair whip around, Qiao Sang was silent for a moment before saying: "Qingbao, why don't you take a break?"

"Qing qing."

The wind in the room ceased instantly. Qingbao appeared, floated to the bedside to check the time on the phone, shook her head, and cried out, signaling that the ten-hour skill training session wasn't finished.

With that, she vanished into the air. A second later, the wind returned.

With her hair flying, Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure, who was animatedly discussing the matches with Yabao, and sighed: How did all the pets I contracted become such workaholics? Only Little Treasure is a bit more laid back.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure sensed his Beast Master's gaze and let out an excited cry, asking if it would be his turn to battle tomorrow.

"Maybe," Qiao Sang replied.

"I need to see who the opponent is first."

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure pumped his fist and gave a determined cry, claiming he would take down whoever it was. He looked at his Beast Master with eyes that clearly said, "Pick me."

You’re certainly proactive at times like this... Qiao Sang understood his motivation.

While Little Treasure didn't care much for training or typical battles, he loved the roar of the crowd and the spotlight. He didn't enjoy the act of fighting, but he loved winning in front of an audience.

"Yap yap!"

Before Qiao Sang could respond, Yabao let out a dissatisfied bark, insisting he should be the one to go.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure’s expression turned unusually serious as he shouted at Yabao, reminding him that their Beast Master said the toughest foes appear at the end. Since this was only the second round, he should obviously be the one to handle it!

"Yap yap..."

Yabao paused to consider this, finding Little Treasure's logic quite sound. Past matches had gone that way—since he was the strongest, the most powerful opponents should be saved for him.

Little Treasure caught Yabao's reaction and felt triumphant: I knew Big Boss Yabao would buy that.

Listening to the exchange, Qiao Sang’s lip twitched. "Not necessarily. Opponents are randomized, so we might face a strong one early on."

"Yap yap!" Yabao immediately grew excited again.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure’s face fell.

Qiao Sang looked at Little Treasure and spoke seriously: "Now that Gangbao is strong enough to sweep a match, if you want to appear in major competitions later, you need to be strong enough to handle both early and late-stage opponents."

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure was stunned. Did that mean his Beast Master thought he was weak? Or was his younger brother about to overtake him?

Little Treasure glanced at Gangbao, who was focused on practicing Scary Face nearby, and a sense of crisis gripped him. If he was surpassed by the fourth member, he wouldn't even have a little brother to boss around anymore!

Worry kept Little Treasure training for half the night, and he didn't sleep well.

The morning of September 8th.

Massive virtual screens in shopping malls were broadcasting the Regional Championships live, drawing large crowds. The official livestream viewership had already surged into the tens of millions.

Inside corporate offices, employees were sneaking into restrooms or logging in covertly at their desks to watch. Even on a workday, 87% of the Central Hollow Region's population was tuned into the Regional Championships.

The stands of the Tianan City Sky Stadium were overflowing, with not a single seat left empty.

In the family seating area.

"Why can't we sit together?" Ye Xiangting peered toward the distant contestant section, trying to spot her daughter. The distance was too great and the crowd too thick; her physical enhancements weren't enough to distinguish individual faces from that far away.

"It's likely for the benefit of the cameras," Liu Yao suggested.

"If the contestants are grouped together, the cameras can just pan across the entire row."

"Can you tell where Qiao Sang is?" Ye Xiangting asked.

Liu Yao scanned the area and replied, "Sixth row, third seat."

"Your vision is incredible," Ye Xiangting said in awe.

"You spotted her so fast."

Liu Yao smiled. "Once your pets evolve a few more times, your vision will improve like that too."

Evolve a few more times... Ye Xiangting was momentarily stunned as the realization hit her.

Her daughter was already a B-rank Beast Master with a vastly extended lifespan, and she didn't need the breeding shop's income. She realized she needed to train her own pets better, or she wouldn't be able to stay by her daughter's side in the long run...

"Guests! Audience across the nation! Welcome to this year's Regional Championships!" The host's voice boomed across the stadium.

Ye Xiangting’s thoughts were interrupted as she focused on the field.

"After a week of fierce competition! We have our group of contestants who have moved on to the next round," the host announced.

"Today, we will witness the battles to determine the Top 108 from the Top 216."

"First, please welcome Master Luo Huan from the Beast Union..."

In the contestant area.

"Xun xun..."

As the host went through the opening formalities, Little Treasure was hurriedly gulping down energy recovery fluid.

The surrounding contestants occasionally glanced at Little Treasure. Since Qiao Sang was the biggest dark horse of the tournament, many details about her had already leaked onto the trending lists.

So this is the Ghost-type that can use Teleportation... The other contestants watched with scrutiny. They didn't underestimate Little Treasure just because of his small size or the absence of a Lightweight miniature bracelet.

Professional Beast Masters knew better than to judge a pet by its looks; sometimes, a small frame provided a tactical advantage on the field.

"You should be fully recovered by now, right?" Qiao Sang asked.

Honestly, she hadn't expected that a single comment from last night would make Little Treasure train all night instead of playing on his devices.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure finished the fluid and gave a cry. He was recovered, but he figured drinking more might give him an extra boost later. They weren't allowed to use temporary energy-boosting potions, but recovery fluid was permitted.

Qiao Sang: ... You’re certainly thinking ahead. Are you that certain I’m sending you out?

She didn't want to dampen his spirits by voicing her doubts.

Just then, a contestant in his twenties sitting next to her hesitated before finally leaning over. "The internet says you bonded with Qingqing Ni, is that actually true?"

"It's true," Qiao Sang confirmed with a nod.

To her, the bond with Qingbao wasn't a secret. She used to keep things quiet for the sake of peace, but in the Regionals, peace was a luxury. Furthermore, if Qingbao evolved during the tournament, she intended to let her compete.

The contestant had already suspected as much. He quickly added, "My name is Rong Yuhua. Can we swap contact info?"

"I don't have any ulterior motives," Rong Yuhua clarified quickly.

"I just hope to see Qingqing Ni on your social media in the future."

Seeing his sincerity, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone and added him.

A few minutes later, the host took the microphone again. "Now, we will proceed with the grouping. Please welcome the referees from the Beast Notary Office!"