Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 958: Lubao vs. Sky Ice Crow

Snow Cloak characteristic: Movement speed is enhanced during snowy weather, effectively increasing the chance to evade attacks.

Watching the heavy snowfall blanket the sky, Shi Bing was overcome with a wave of excitement. It appeared the opponent’s pet possessed the Snowfall characteristic, as the blizzard began the very moment it materialized. For the Sky Ice Crow, this trait was nothing short of a divine blessing!

"Go!" Shi Bing ordered.

With a powerful surge of its wings, the Sky Ice Crow unleashed a vast, white expanse of freezing mist. The fog was so dense that it rapidly saturated the entire stadium. A delicate layer of frost started to crystallize across the floor.

The icy protrusions on the Sky Ice Crow's back began to glow with a frigid blue light. Suddenly, a multitude of ice shards formed out of thin air within the fog, hurtling directly toward the obscured, looming silhouette of Lubao.

An Ice Mist and Ice Spikes combination... it utilizes the ice-element energy within the fog to quicken the formation of the projectiles while the mist itself obscures the line of sight. It might even inflict a freezing status to restrict the enemy's movement, achieving multiple goals at once... It is fortunate I summoned Lubao, considering he launched a combo right from the start...

Observing the barrage of ice spikes that seemed to engulf half the stage, Qiao Sang stayed composed and gave her orders: "Defend. Bloom."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The shards of ice slammed into Lubao's frame with perfect precision. The spectators were unable to discern Lubao's exact condition or look; they could only catch glimpses of thousands of ice fragments striking that grand and enigmatic pet through the haze. One by one, their hearts pounded with anxiety.

[What did Qiao Sang just say? What is Bloom? What kind of skill is that! Why isn't Ice Emperor Ram reacting!]

[I recall Qiao Sang's Ice Emperor Ram having the Melting Water characteristic when it was still an Ice Xilu. Why isn't it liquefying!]

[Everyone stay calm! Remember that Ice Emperor Ram possesses Healing Light!]

[No! Having Healing Light doesn't mean it's fine to get hit! That still causes pain, alright!]

[There are so many people here from the Guwu region...]

[Wait, how does everyone know the skill set of Qiao Sang’s pet?]

Back at the arena: Shi Bing knit his brows, a sudden intuition telling him something was amiss.

"Sky Ice!"

Abruptly, the Sky Ice Crow let out a pained shriek. Shi Bing snapped his gaze upward. Upon seeing the sight in the sky, his pupils contracted, and his heart skipped a beat.

Stunning flowers made of ice were sprouting at a terrifying rate all over the Sky Ice Crow’s frame.

... Shi Bing understood the situation instantly.

In a flash, the frozen mist evaporated. Lubao was revealed, protected by a layer of radiating ice armor. She appeared entirely unharmed.

The whole stadium erupted into chaos. The previous exchange had led the crowd to believe Qiao Sang’s pet would surely be wounded by the mist and spikes. They never anticipated that once the air cleared, the pet would be shielded by ice armor, completely untouched. Conversely, the Sky Ice Crow was nearly smothered by ice flowers.

From the commentary booth, Tian Yiwan narrated the events at breakneck speed: "The Sky Ice Crow initiated Ice Mist and Ice Spikes, but contestant Qiao Sang seized the moment to have Ice Emperor Ram utilize Ice Armor and Ice Flower Seal as a counter!"

Tang Xueran added: "Ice Emperor Ram has the Snowfall characteristic, summoning snow the moment it enters the fray. By using the existing snow and mist as a veil, Qiao Sang successfully landed an Ice Flower Seal without being noticed. What a masterstroke."

"Additionally, the Ice Armor deployed by Ice Emperor Ram tanked the assault of countless ice spikes. This speaks volumes regarding the defensive capabilities of that move. Qiao Sang’s King-level pet has truly delivered a massive shock from the very first exchange."

"I suspect many viewers are still unfamiliar with this particular pet Qiao Sang has sent out," Tian Yiwan noted.

"This creature is known as the Ice Emperor Ram. It is a nearly extinct species hailing from the Guwu Region and is exceptionally rare."

Tang Xueran remarked with awe: "Qiao Sang’s pets seem to get more exotic with every appearance."

On the official livestream, the chat was moving at a frantic pace: [So Ice Emperor Ram used Ice Armor! That gave me a heart attack...]

[The 'Bloom' Qiao Sang mentioned was the signal for Defense and Ice Flower Seal... Only an Ice Emperor Ram is clever enough to grasp that instantly. I would have been totally lost...]

[I told you God Qiao wouldn't just let Ice Emperor Ram take a beating!]

[What is with this commentator? 'Many viewers are unfamiliar'? Does nobody have common sense? Who wouldn't recognize an Ice Emperor Ram!]

[I didn't recognize it.]

[Didn't recognize it +1]

[Didn't recognize it +2]

[Now I see why so many people from the Guwu Region suddenly showed up.]

---

As the online debate continued, back on the field:

Shi Bing instinctively blocked out the noise of the crowd, focusing solely on the duel. The moment he identified the Ice Flower Seal, his spirits dampened, but he immediately shouted a counter-order: "Pierce through!"

"Sky Ice!"

The Sky Ice Crow, its wings weighed down by ice flowers as it plummeted, let out a piercing cry. Instantly, the frozen blooms on its body shattered, and from the debris, incredibly durable, frost-coated ice spikes shot outward.

... A look of surprise crossed Qiao Sang’s features.

Unless the internal energy of this Sky Ice Crow far surpassed Lubao’s, or it possessed a characteristic like Puncture that vastly improved the penetrating power of its spike skills.

The Sky Ice Crow beat its wings, steadying its fall. But in that moment, a massive shadow loomed as a gargantuan ice cone, the size of a small mountain, materialized above it. Having just regained its balance, the Sky Ice Crow had no way to evade such a massive Ice Mountain.

Shi Bing made a rapid choice: "Slice!"

The Sky Ice Crow swung its left wing upward with immense strength, manifesting a brilliant blade of freezing light. The blade carved into the Ice Mountain, splitting the mass in two immediately.

"Snow Submerge!" Shi Bing followed up without hesitation.

"Sky Ice!"

The Sky Ice Crow surged upward through the cleft mountain of ice and beat its wings downward with all its might. Suddenly, a ferocious, freezing gale began to howl. Along with the roaring wind, an endless torrent of white snow fell, appearing ready to bury everything on the battlefield in a blizzard.

The Sky Ice Crow flapped its wings once more.

Boom!

This time, within the storm, a colossal wall of snow formed out of thin air and came crashing down toward Lubao’s position! Its monumental scale looked as if a snowy peak had collapsed, triggering a disastrous avalanche!

Clad in her ice armor, Lubao watched the descent with a serene expression, devoid of fear. The crowd, however, watched with wide eyes, paralyzed by the display.

"Good grief! A King-level pet is truly something else; every move changes the landscape!"

"A Blizzard combined with an Avalanche? Even a pet with an Ice Body couldn't survive that!"

"Ice Body provides an edge in the snow, but does this even count as weather? It’s a literal avalanche!"

"The entire arena is going to be buried. Sky Ice Crow is a true King-level pet; its skill range is so immense there is no escape."

Amidst the panicked faces, Mikayla remained distinct. Her expression stayed neutral as she casually cracked a melon seed. Only she was aware that Qiao Sang’s Ice Emperor Ram was holding a Super-tier skill in reserve. It was impossible for an Ice-type pet of the same rank to best her.

.. Qiao Sang sighed softly to herself and commanded: "Domain."

In the stadium, the massive, chaotic avalanche surged downward like a tidal wave.

"Lu Di."

Lubao gave a soft cry and stepped forward with her front limb. A freezing aura that seemed capable of locking the entire world in frost radiated instantly. The avalanche, nearly a hundred meters tall and poised to crush everything, froze into solid ice in a heartbeat, suspended in mid-air. This included the arena floor, the howling blizzard, and the Sky Ice Crow watching from above.

Shi Bing stared at the frozen world before him, his pupils shrinking in absolute shock.

The spectators, who had been roaring for the Sky Ice Crow, were suddenly quieted as if a mute button had been pressed. However, the silence was soon shattered by a massive wave of noise from the stands.

"Holy crap! That's impossible! What skill was that?!"

"Unbelievable! That is insane! Not only did she stop the avalanche and the storm, she froze the Sky Ice Crow instantly from that distance! I didn't even see it happen!"

"Looking at this, a B-rank Beast Master really is a B-rank Beast Master. Even if a C-rank owns a King-level pet, the difference in skill is obvious."

"Wait, even a B-rank Beast Master would find that difficult to pull off! Can someone explain what that skill is!"

"Ice Field Domain!" On the commentary stage, Tian Yiwan looked stunned. For the second time in the tournament, he stood up in shock.

"Ice Emperor Ram has activated Ice Field Domain! This is the first time in my career as a commentator that I’ve witnessed a contestant have two different pets utilize Super-tier skills! Steel Sword Falcon’s Holy Sword was the first Super-tier skill of this Regional Championship, and I never expected the second to also come from Qiao Sang!"

Tang Xueran added with excitement: "Ice Field Domain, an Ice-type Super-tier skill. Within its boundaries, everything is transformed into ice, and the power of frost is at the caster's command! Qiao Sang’s Ice Emperor Ram is essentially peerless among Ice-type pets of the same level!"

Simultaneously, the official livestream was overwhelmed with exclamation points and messages of "holy crap" and "insane."

[ICE EMPEROR RAM! ICE EMPEROR RAM!]

[A Super-tier skill?! Holy sh*t! That's too strong!]

[I feel like Qiao Sang trains all her pets to be monsters! Can the Water Luriana Research and Protection Center send more Lurianas to Qiao Sang for training?]

[Alright, this duel is over. No more suspense.]

[Ice Emperor Ram! I love you! And Qiao Sang, I love you too!]

[Ice Emperor Ram is the goat! No debate!]

[People of Central Hollow, tremble! Witness the power of our Ice Emperor Ram!]

[Wait, the Yuhua Region folks haven't even started boasting yet, why are you Guwu people so hyped?]

---

Back at the stadium, in the contestant lounge: The C-rank Beast Masters were in awe, while the B-rank Beast Masters looked grim. Seeing the Steel Sword Falcon use Holy Sword had shocked them, but witnessing the Ice Emperor Ram deploy a Super-tier skill made them feel uneasy.

As a General-level pet, the Steel Sword Falcon could likely only manage Holy Sword once, and it could be avoided. But the Ice Emperor Ram was different; it was a King-level pet.

Not only would its strength be overwhelming for pets of the same rank, but it might be capable of using the skill multiple times. Immediately, the B-rank Beast Masters in the area began adjusting their strategies.

On the field, Shi Bing finally grasped what kind of skill had created this scene, and his expression soured. If it were a Domain skill of any other element, he might have attempted to break through, but Ice-type... He took a deep breath and decided on one final attempt, yelling: "Break!"

Following his lead, a massive ice cone formed above the frozen Sky Ice Crow. With a resounding crash, the giant cone slammed into the Crow. The bird fell toward the ground as the ice shattered.

But the moment it touched the floor and the ice casing cracked, freezing energy surged, and a thick new layer of ice immediately locked around its body. Another Ice Mountain materialized in the air and crashed down without pause.

Another heavy impact. Shi Bing’s heart sank.

The ice shell would break, then refreeze; an Ice Mountain would appear, then strike. This cycle repeated dozens of times. No matter what command Shi Bing gave, the Sky Ice Crow trapped within the ice remained still, as if it were completely cut off from his voice.

The audience went from amazement to cheering, then to nervous tension, and finally to pity for the Crow. Eventually, Qiao Sang spoke: "That’s enough."

"Lu Di."

Lubao let out a soft cry, and the freezing mist around her faded. All the ice in the stadium began to melt, and only the frozen shell holding the avalanche crumbled, turning into a rain of countless ice crystals.

Lubao stood motionless, letting the crystals fall over her. Her eyes were profound and mesmerizing, her presence both mysterious and regal. As the shimmering ice crystals landed on her, she glowed with a dreamlike grace. At that moment, many were so enchanted that they forgot to see if the Sky Ice Crow had finally fainted.

The rest of the spectators looked toward the Sky Ice Crow. On the floor, it had already closed its eyes and lost consciousness.

"It appears the result of the first round is decided!" Tian Yiwan shouted with passion.

Tang Xueran gazed at the mysterious figure on the stage and marveled: "It is truly difficult to believe. From the start of the duel until now, Ice Emperor Ram hasn't moved a single step."

As they spoke, a Mechanical-type pet referee materialized next to the Sky Ice Crow. After a brief inspection, it raised a green flag toward Qiao Sang.

Tian Yiwan shouted eagerly: "Let us congratulate Qiao Sang for taking the lead in the opening round!"

The entire stadium erupted into thunderous, ear-splitting applause. In the center of the arena, a massive virtual display appeared, showing images of Qiao Sang, Shi Bing, and their pets. A second later, the colored image of the Sky Ice Crow under Shi Bing faded to black and white.