Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 967: Yabao vs. Flying Radium King

A heavy silence hung over the entire stadium.

The concluding moments of the previous bout had been so savage that the spectators were left speechless for a long time. Many in the crowd felt an involuntary, sympathetic ache in their own jaws.

The quiet persisted until the Mechanical Referee hovered next to the Iron Battle Dragon, at which point a roar of excitement finally surged through the stands like a breaking wave.

"The state of the Iron Battle Dragon's mouth is truly pitiful... watching it makes me hurt."

"Has the match concluded? Is the Iron Battle Dragon finished?"

"Without a doubt. Having the same wound targeted repeatedly and then pierced from the inside out—it likely lost consciousness from the sheer agony."

"Ice Emperor Ram is remarkably cold-blooded, using her own tail as a lure like that."

"Official records describe the Ice Emperor Ram as a symbol of tranquility. That finishing strike was clearly Qiao Sang's idea; if anyone here is ruthless, it’s the Beast Master herself."

"The Iron Battle Dragon was actually quite formidable. I assumed it was beaten after taking so many hits within the Ice Field Domain, but its synchronization with Zeng Feitian was unexpected, landing that Dragon Pulse perfectly. Even with its jaw mangled, it managed to execute a skill like Crunch."

"Ice Emperor Ram is simply phenomenal. Between the Ice Field Domain and Healing Light, it feels like almost no competitor can endure against her."

"I initially believed the Iron Battle Dragon would hold its ground. Even when immobilized by frost, its defense is so immense that breaking it should be nearly impossible. I never anticipated Qiao Sang would have Ice Emperor Ram relentlessly focus on its mouth..."

"It seemed to me that Ice Emperor Ram's final gambit was a move of desperation. You could see her energy reserves were nearly depleted."

"Regardless, both competitors are terrifyingly capable. A B-rank Professional Beast Master operates on a completely different level; those C-rankers just don't compare."

While the audience debated, the Mechanical Referee pried open the Iron Battle Dragon's jaws for a professional assessment. After the inspection, he signaled toward Qiao Sang with a green flag while his eyes pulsed with a green light, indicating a status update.

A moment later, several bird-type pets clad in white medical coats descended from above, maneuvering medical stretchers into place.

The Mechanical Referee’s duties extend beyond declaring a victor; he must also evaluate the severity of a fallen pet's wounds. If the injuries are deemed critical, the medical response team is summoned immediately for extraction.

One of the avian medics attached a temporary Lightweight miniature bracelet to the Iron Battle Dragon's limb and activated it. The dragon's massive frame began to rapidly diminish in size.

The Iron Battle Dragon possessed its own bracelet, but since equipment is prohibited during official matches, it wasn't wearing it. To ensure medical teams can transport oversized creatures, the tournament officials always provide emergency Lightweight miniature bracelets.

The bird pets in their white coats took flight, carrying the Iron Battle Dragon, which had been reduced to a mere 70 centimeters in length.

As they departed, a massive holographic screen flickered to life in the arena's center, displaying portraits of Qiao Sang, Zeng Feitian, and their respective pets. The image of the Iron Battle Dragon faded from vibrant color to a somber black and white.

The stadium erupted in cheers for Lubao and the Iron Battle Dragon alike. The match had showcased incredible power and spirit from both sides. While Lubao emerged the winner, the Iron Battle Dragon's tenacity had won the audience's admiration.

---

Ye Xiangting shouted her support, her eyes glistening with emotion. To be honest, the intensity of this battle far exceeded her expectations. Qiao Sang usually secured easy wins, and she had never witnessed her daughter struggle this hard for a victory.

Looking at the damage to Lubao's tail filled her with a mix of pride and sorrow; B-rank Professional Beast Masters were formidable opponents, and this was only the opening round.

Liu Yao remained silent but was vigorously waving light sticks along with his Sky Bat. The sheer speed of his movements betrayed his deep excitement. Nearby, Mikayla maintained a perfectly neutral expression, keeping her internal thoughts hidden.

The atmosphere in the official digital livestream was slightly different. While many celebrated Qiao Sang's tactical genius and Lubao's triumph, a wave of sympathy for Lubao flooded the chat.

[Ahhh! The round ended and Ice Emperor Ram didn't even get to heal her tail. My heart is aching, the pain must be incredible!]

[That Crunch from the Iron Battle Dragon was brutal! Just watching it makes me wince!]

[So heartbreaking, Ice Emperor Ram pushed herself to the limit this match, she has no energy left...]

[Iron Battle Dragon: Is nobody going to feel bad for me?]

[Qiao Sang is truly on another level. Honestly, when the dragon shattered the ice and refused to go down, I lost hope. I didn't think she could pull it off.]

[Qiao Sang, return Ice Emperor Ram to the Codex immediately! Let her recover! I don't mind if she sits out for a while!]

---

From the broadcast booth, Tian Yiwan announced with fervor: "Contestant Qiao Sang has secured the first point!"

He then commented: "What a grueling encounter. Both Ice Emperor Ram and the Iron Battle Dragon displayed incredible grit."

"Matches can be like that sometimes," Tang Xueran remarked.

"The result remains a mystery until the final second."

Tian Yiwan added: "I'm curious to see which pets Qiao Sang and Zeng Feitian will deploy for the second round."

Even though Lubao was the victor, any experienced observer could see her Qi was spent; the chance of her remaining for a second consecutive round was slim.

"Lu Di..."

Lubao’s three tails rested limply on the arena floor, marred by injuries. With a gesture, Qiao Sang withdrew Lubao into her Codex. Although Lubao had the Energy Regeneration skill, tournament regulations forbid healing between rounds; such skills can only be utilized during active combat.

Her opponent, having lost the first round, would certainly be desperate to equalize. It was highly probable he would call upon his other King-level pet, the Flying Radium King.

Regardless of whether she could win, trying to use Energy Regeneration while facing a fresh King-level opponent was suicide. It was wiser to let Lubao recuperate.

... Zeng Feitian glared at his rival across the field, his hand tightening into a fist before relaxing. He knew the Iron Battle Dragon had given everything it had. He took a deep, steadying breath to center his mind. His focus had to be entirely on the upcoming clash.

It was only the first point. Even though the Ice Emperor Ram won, her energy was spent, meaning she was out of the picture for the next fights. The series was far from over.

As he strategized, a holographic countdown flickered in the center of the arena. The mechanical voice droned: "9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1."

The numbers faded. The crowd fell into a synchronized hush, anticipating the next summons. Qiao Sang and Zeng Feitian performed their hand seals in unison. Two massive, crimson star arrays ignited almost simultaneously.

Moments later, two pets with regal bearing and powerful physiques, radiating an innate aura of authority, materialized within the glowing seals.

The crowd stared in wonder at the pet with magnificent crimson fur and massive flame wings that glowed like the sun. Since most of the audience was from the Central Hollow region, they were already familiar with the other creature, the giant bird-type pet with shimmering silver-white plumage.

While the Flying Radium King was impressive, the mysterious creature with golden-red wings offered a much more striking visual impact to those seeing it for the first time. It seemed almost too majestic to be real.

The arena erupted in chatter, all focused on the unfamiliar pet: "What kind of pet is that?"

"No idea! It’s definitely not a local species."

"Good lord, that creature is stunning!"

"King-level! That is absolutely a King-level pet! Qiao Sang actually possesses two of them!"

"It feels like every pet Qiao Sang contracts is beautiful. There isn't a single plain one; even that Ghost Ring King is a masterpiece for a Ghost-type."

"Is every pet in the Yuhua region this striking?"

"This one might not be from Yuhua. Only the Ghost Ring King seemed to originate from there among her previous team."

Online, the livestream viewers were much better informed.

[Is that the King-level evolution of a Fire Qilu? Is it really that imposing?!]

[Honestly, the cool factor is off the charts.]

[I tuned in just for Qiao Sang's match to see the Fire Qilu... what do they call this form?]

[Blazing Divine Lion. Just use a pet scanner, you guys.]

[To train a newly discovered form to the King-level so rapidly—honestly, the research community suffered a loss when Qiao Sang chose to be a Beast Master instead.]

[Wait, how do you all know what this is?]

[Obviously, it's a pet from our Yuhua region.]

[Fine, the Guwu fans have left and the Yuhua fans have arrived.]

[Guwu fan here! We haven't gone anywhere!]

[Even if Ice Emperor Ram is benched, we are still cheering for Qiao God!]

---

"In this second round, Qiao Sang and Zeng Feitian have deployed the Blazing Divine Lion and the Flying Radium King!" Tian Yiwan cried out with excitement.

"Both of these pets are making their first appearance in this tournament!"

"It appears both sides are bringing out their ultimate trump cards with a determination to win!"

"That is correct," Tang Xueran noted.

"From what I understand, these are both of their initial pets. Their Cultivation and synergy should be at their absolute peak."

Tian Yiwan added: "Regarding synchronization, I suspect the Steel Sword Falcon and Qiao Sang might have the edge."

Tang Xueran countered: "Let us observe their performance first."

"Yap yap!"

Yabao gave an enthusiastic bark, sending a powerful gust of air swirling around him. He had been watching Little Treasure and the others fight for so long; finally, it was his moment to shine!

As he barked, the Flying Radium King beat its wings and soared high into the air. With a powerful downward thrust, a massive gale was unleashed. A violent whirlwind descended, its immense scale covering the entire battlefield!

Clouds of dust rose. The sight of the sky-obscuring turbulence rushing forward like a tidal wave made the audience gasp in shock.

Yabao, however, only grew more thrilled at the sight of the chaotic winds. Just as the crowd wondered how he would react, Yabao blinked out of existence and reappeared directly behind the Flying Radium King, baring his fangs.

A massive Blazing Divine Lion head made of pure fire materialized instantly, mimicking his snarl as it lunged for a devastating bite.

The Flying Radium King sensed the lethal threat at its back. Just as Yabao’s fiery jaws were about to close, it dove sharply and maneuvered in a tight arc, narrowly escaping the strike.

With a thunderous BOOM, the flames detonated.

The golden-orange fire radiating from Yabao was incredibly bright; even through the thick dust, the crowd saw him teleport and ambush the Flying Radium King. The stadium erupted in noise once more.

In the commentary booth, Tian Yiwan noticed the confusion in the stands.

"Many of you may be unfamiliar with the Blazing Divine Lion. This is a newly discovered evolution with dual Fire and Psychic attributes. This marks its first appearance in a major professional tournament."

The audience was filled with awe, marveling at how Qiao Sang had secured so many rare and powerful pets. Compared to her diverse and exotic lineup, even the tournament favorite Yuan Tianlong’s all-dragon team seemed a bit less impressive.

The Flying Radium King beat its wings fiercely within the storm it had created. Countless air blades suddenly materialized within the swirling winds, raining down on Yabao's position. The gale possessed a terrifying tearing power. Because the storm covered so much ground, there was no safe place to teleport to within the arena.

At that moment, Qiao Sang commanded: "Charge."

Yabao stared down the incoming barrage of blades. Violent flames suddenly surged from his body as he initiated a fierce assault. Ignoring the storm of sharp air, he turned into a streak of fire and rocketed toward the Flying Radium King.

Blade after blade collided with the fiery aura, but they couldn't slow his momentum. In a heartbeat, the streak of fire reached the Flying Radium King.

The Flying Radium King flapped its wings, soaring vertically. The firelight mirrored the move with perfect precision, banking upward. The Flying Radium King raced toward the sky, but it was on the verge of being overtaken.

Zeng Feitian barked an order: "Collision!"

The Flying Radium King abruptly tucked its wings, its powerful body diving downward to meet the firelight with a blinding white radiance.

BOOM!!!

The impact unleashed a devastating heatwave and shockwave that rippled across the sky above the stadium. The surrounding gales were instantly dissipated. Within the center of the explosion, the two combatants were blown back hundreds of meters in opposite directions.

"Flying..."

The Flying Radium King stared at its opponent, who only seemed to be getting more fired up, with a look of extreme caution.