Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 969: Rockquake Camel

A massive holographic display flickered into existence at the center of the arena. Beneath Zeng Feitian’s profile, the image of the Flying Radium King faded from vibrant color to a somber black and white.

Zeng Feitian’s expression was heavy with defeat. Taking a sharp breath to steady his nerves, he composed himself and signaled with his hand, pulling the Flying Radium King back into his Codex.

The arena fell into a stunned silence for two seconds before a roar of excitement erupted, nearly shattering the stadium’s roof.

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Blazing Divine Lion! Blazing Divine Lion!"

"That Blazing Divine Lion is incredible! The Flying Radium King didn't even look like it belonged on the same level!"

"Its movements are so fluid, and that combat instinct is terrifyingly sharp!"

"The way it intercepted the Sky Slash in mid-air and bit through it was legendary!"

"And that finishing Hellfire? Watching it descend and ignite the entire field to take down the Flying Radium King in one shot... that’s definitely going in the Regional League highlight reel!"

"Are all the pets from the Yuhua region this insane?!"

"Was the Flying Radium King actually his trump card?"

"It’s not that the Flying Radium King was lacking; it’s just that the Blazing Divine Lion is a monster. I’d bet it’s one of the strongest King-level pets we’ve seen in the tournament so far."

"Is it really a new King-level evolution? It carries itself like a veteran."

"I’ve decided I need to contract every pet Qiao Sang has..."

"I’m not that greedy. I’d be happy with just a Qinyin Fairy."

---

On the official livestream, the comment section was moving at light speed: [Congrats to Qiao God for securing another victory!]

[Blazing Divine Lion! Blazing Divine Lion!]

[I’m booking a flight to the Yuhua region right now. Dual Fire and Psychic types are so affordable there; you won't find a deal like that anywhere else!]

[Sorry to ruin the mood, but the market price for Fire Fang Dogs just spiked.]

[What? They already went up? I haven't even placed an order!]

[The breeding center is right by my house. I called the staff the second the Blazing Divine Lion appeared. They’re already sold out of Fire Fang Dogs and won't have more for a while. Everyone knows the price is going to double when they restock.]

[Pet bases are always the first to know. They saw Qiao Sang’s match, realized the Fire Fang Dog’s final evolution is King-level, and adjusted the prices instantly.]

[How much is the jump? Give it to me straight so I can stop dreaming.]

[I didn't get a price yet.]

[Wait, the shop near me just listed a Fire Fang Dog. I checked, and the price is still the same.]

[Buy it now! That owner clearly hasn't heard that they can evolve into King-level pets yet!]

[You guys only care about the money. I’m just waiting for the new photos of Yabao’s sunglasses endorsement.]

[Who’s Yabao?]

[The Blazing Divine Lion’s name. That’s what Qiao God calls him.]

---

Back on the field.

"Let’s give it up for Qiao Sang for taking the second round!" Tian Yiwan’s voice boomed from the commentary booth.

"A swift and absolute victory! This performance really highlighted Qiao Sang’s true capabilities!"

Tang Xueran chimed in: "The Blazing Divine Lion utilized teleportation to bypass a direct confrontation, followed up with a Flame Charge to pin the Flying Radium King down, and sealed the deal with Hellfire. It was a high-octane match with incredible visuals. The crowd is absolutely electric."

"Zeng Feitian’s strategy was actually quite sound," Tian Yiwan noted analytically.

"The feather gale from the Flying Radium King was specifically meant to neutralize the Blazing Divine Lion. However, the lion’s speed and raw power were simply superior. It managed to launch Meteor Rain before the gale could take full effect, dealing massive damage."

"Even with its offense potentially dampened later, the initial blow was already fatal."

"That Hellfire was devastating even under the effects of Feather Dance," Tang Xueran said in awe.

"I can only imagine how much stronger it would have been without that debuff." She paused for a second before continuing, "Also, did you notice the silver glow when it used Meteor Rain? It looked like the Moonlight Power trait common in Fairy types."

"That’s a rare trait. Under the moon’s light, their energy becomes hyper-active, doubling their stats regardless of what they do."

"If it truly possesses that trait, it will be at double strength for every night match. That explains why it overwhelmed the Flying Radium King so easily."

"Not necessarily," Tian Yiwan argued.

"Moon phases shift, and clouds or weather can easily obscure the light. You can't rely on the moon being visible every night. Without that bath of moonlight, the trait provides no benefit."

"Fair point," Tang Xueran replied, shifting her gaze back to the arena.

"We are heading into the third round, Qiao Sang’s match point. It appears she has no plans to swap out the Blazing Divine Lion."

Tian Yiwan agreed: "Zeng Feitian has already used both of his King-level pets. This final round might be a foregone conclusion."

---

On the arena floor.

"Yap!"

Yabao teleported back to his Beast Master, staring at the opposing side with eyes full of excitement and hunger for more battle. Seeing his spirit, Qiao Sang chose not to return him to the Codex.

Zeng Feitian looked at the Blazing Divine Lion’s intense focus and then at Qiao Sang. When he realized she was sticking with the lion, he felt a wave of pity for the pet he was about to call out.

The countdown timer appeared in the center of the stadium, echoing with a mechanical voice: "9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1."

As the light faded, Zeng Feitian performed a hand seal. A glowing red star array manifested, and a creature roughly six meters tall appeared. It was brownish-tan with rocky protrusions along its spine.

A Rockquake Camel, a General-level Earth-type. It dislikes water and is known for being incredibly gullible, often fooled by anyone. It has the Anger Point trait—if it takes a critical hit, its docile nature vanishes, its temper explodes, and its power surges... Qiao Sang quickly recalled the data.

"Yap yap..."

Yabao’s disappointment was obvious as he realized the opponent was barely half his size.

"Rock Slide!"

Zeng Feitian didn't hesitate, despite the odds. He gave the order immediately.

"Rockquake!"

The camel let out a roar, raising its front legs and slamming them down. The impact rattled the stadium. The ground fractured, and massive jagged rocks burst from the earth, racing toward Yabao.

Yabao’s interest sparked again. He stomped his own front paw down.

A burst of flame erupted from the ground, the heat wave rushing forward and turning the incoming rocks into fine ash instantly.

With a thunderous BOOM, the area beneath the Rockquake Camel exploded in a pillar of fire.

"Rockquake!" The camel wailed as it was launched into the air.

In a flash, Yabao teleported to the camel’s landing spot, baring his teeth as a massive fiery lion head formed around his jaws. But just as he was about to strike, he paused, sensing the opponent’s state, and held back.

The flames vanished. The Rockquake Camel hit the dirt, eyes rolled back, completely out cold.

"Yap yap..." Yabao stared at the defeated camel and fell silent.

Zeng Feitian remained silent as well, choosing not to give a command to recover. He knew the fight was over. The power gap between a King-level and a General-level pet was an insurmountable wall; the miracles of the lower leagues didn't happen here. Getting back up would only lead to more pain.

The Mechanical Referee inspected the camel for a moment before waving the green flag toward Qiao Sang.

The giant screen updated. Zeng Feitian’s image disappeared, replaced by Qiao Sang’s, flanked by large photos of Lubao and Yabao. Virtual fireworks burst across the screen in celebration.

The outcome surprised no one. From the booth, Tian Yiwan shouted: "Congratulations to Qiao Sang for winning the match! She officially moves on to the Top 27!"

The stadium erupted. Thunderous applause and chants for Qiao Sang and the Blazing Divine Lion filled the air.

"Yap yap!" Hearing the crowd scream his name, Yabao’s disappointment vanished. He stood tall, chest out, basking in the adoration like a true star.

In the VIP section, Coach Tao from the National Bureau watched Qiao Sang for a long moment before standing up to depart.

---

Qiao Sang headed backstage with a shrunken Yabao in tow. She had hidden him before to keep his stats a secret, but now that the world had seen him, there was no point in hiding. The backstage area was empty as the final match of the day played on the monitors.

Qiao Sang sat down to watch. As the battle intensified, she asked, "Yabao, who do you think will win?"

"Yap yap!" Yabao pointed confidently at a red, monkey-like pet.

Suddenly, a bolt of yellow lightning tore through the sky on the screen, striking the red monkey directly. Its head turned black and charred, and it slumped to the ground. The referee signaled victory for the purple tiger pet and its master.

Yabao: ...

Qiao Sang: ...

After the commentators finished their closing remarks, the host floated into the air on a Flying-type pet. "Next, we begin the three-day losers' bracket. Five contestants will be chosen from the eliminated pool to rejoin the main tournament..."

Picking up Yabao, Qiao Sang stood up to head home.

---

Beast Center. Room 2603.

Despite the late hour, Ye Xiangting was buzzing with energy, far from tired.

"Those matches were incredible! When Lubao caught that tail and countered with those ice spikes in the dragon's mouth, I was on the edge of my seat! And Yabao’s Meteor Rain was breathtaking. What was that final attack?"

"Hellfire," Qiao Sang answered.

"Right, Hellfire!" Ye Xiangting’s excitement only grew.

"The way the flames just consumed the entire arena! It was so impressive. I’m certain the news about the Fire Fang Dog’s King-level evolution will be all over Yuhua by tomorrow. I had so many people asking about prices today, and the shop staff are blowing up my phone..."

Qiao Sang listened, though she couldn't suppress a yawn.

Noticing her daughter's exhaustion, Ye Xiangting lowered her voice. "It’s late. You need your rest. I’ll leave you to it."

"Okay, Mom. Get some sleep too." Qiao Sang glanced at Little Treasure.

"Xun xun~" Little Treasure gave a knowing nod. His eyes glowed blue as he looked at Ye Xiangting, and the two of them vanished instantly.

"I’m heading out as well," Mikayla said, standing up from the couch.

"Goodnight, Teacher," Qiao Sang said quickly.

Mikayla smiled at her.

"You did a great job today." Then, she too was gone.

Qiao Sang blinked, a smile spreading across her face. B-rank Beast Masters were every bit as formidable as she’d imagined. Lubao’s round had been a very close call.

Yabao had only dominated because his energy had spiked to the mid-stage of King-level during his evolution, combined with the Moonlight Power advantage. Without those factors, it wouldn't have been so lopsided.

With those thoughts, Qiao Sang fell into a deep sleep.

"Yap yap..." Yabao slept soundly by her side. In the water tank, Lubao’s body radiated cold as she practiced her Ice Armor. Gangbao stood silently by the window, eyes closed in meditation.

When Little Treasure teleported back into the room, this was the peaceful scene that greeted him.

"Xun xun?" Little Treasure looked around the quiet room.