Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 974: Sweet Poison King
Previously on Beast Taming: Starting From Zero...
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"A round of applause for Qiao Sang as she secures the second victory!" Tang Xueran announced with a stirring voice.
The audience exploded, the stadium descending into a roar even more chaotic than the last. Qiao Sang’s supporters were like a boiling cauldron of excitement. Numerous fans and their pets waved glowing support sticks with fervor.
In contrast, those pulling for Chen Tianqin looked grim. Though they struggled to accept the defeat, the sheer power displayed by the Blazing Divine Lion left them awestruck and speechless. For the moment, the arena was dominated entirely by the cheers of Qiao Sang’s followers.
"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang! The youngest, yet the most powerful!"
"That Blazing Divine Lion is incredible! It actually one-shotted Sairunba!"
"Did you see that skill? Radiant Impact—it's a Super-tier skill!"
"Good heavens, that Blazing Divine Lion is operating on a whole different level!"
"While it was charging up, it managed to use Flash to evade the blade light without losing any momentum before slamming into Sairunba. Those reflexes are insane. I honestly believe that if it hadn't been hit by the Mutual Destruction trait in the first round, it could have swept the entire match."
"I’m not so sure. That lightning-fast win was definitely boosted by the Blaze trait. Without being in that Blaze state, the victory wouldn't have come so easily. Besides, look at it now; once Blaze faded, the lion could barely remain standing."
"True, and don't forget it used Sunny Day. Combined with Blaze, its offensive power must have been multiplied several times over. Forget Sairunba—even Zeng Feitian’s Iron Battle Dragon might have crumbled under that."
"But this is Chen Tianqin we're talking about, and Qiao Sang has already taken two in a row..."
"Is Chen Tianqin really going to lose...?"
"It’s hard to call. Even though Qiao Sang recalled her lion to the Beast Codex, it’s clearly exhausted. Chen Tianqin still has one pet left, and he’ll undoubtedly bring out his King-level Sweet Poison King. Qiao Sang has two left, likely the Ice Emperor Ram and a General-level. It’s possible for the Sweet Poison King to pull off a 1v2 comeback."
"No way, that’s impossible. Qiao Sang’s remaining King-level, the Ice Emperor Ram, possesses Ice Field Domain and Healing Light. The Sweet Poison King won't be able to crack that."
"What should I do? I’m completely obsessed with that Blazing Divine Lion. What was its first form? How much do they cost? I desperately want to contract one..."
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Meanwhile, the official livestream was drowning in a flood of bullet chat: [Ah! Goddess Qiao! Goddess Qiao!]
[The Blazing Divine Lion is legendary! Even with Blaze triggered in the previous round, it still took down a King-level opponent before the duration ended!]
[In my opinion, if Blaze hadn't been triggered in the first match, Chen Tianqin would have been defeated even faster in the second.]
[Both of Qiao Sang’s King-level pets are capable of Super-tier skills... I read that she only recently reached B-rank Beast Master status. How is she managing this?]
[She’s a total freak of nature. You can’t apply normal logic to her.]
[Any brothers here from the Yuhua region? I’m in Lianke. Can we swap info? I want to see your Fire Fang Dogs over video call, I’m looking to contract one.]
[A video call won't cut it. I’ve already booked a flight to Yuhua for next week.]
[Ice Emperor Ram! Ice Emperor Ram! Please! You have to send out Ice Emperor Ram next!]
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Inside a residence styled with traditional Chinese decor.
Tao Yunkai stared at the match results on the screen, her initial shock transforming into pure delight. She had never anticipated that Qiao Sang’s true strength would surpass even her highest expectations.
It was no wonder the girl had shown no interest in training with the National Bureau.
Both of her King-level pets were already proficient in Super-tier skills. In the National Imperial Beast Battle Team, it was uncertain how many years it would take for a fresh King-level pet to master a Super-tier skill.
Chen Tianqin respected power above all else; after this performance, he would likely have no grounds to complain about the coaching staff's choices. It was only a shame that such a monstrous Beast Master couldn't join the team for immediate training.
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Back at the stadium.
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Tianqin pulled Sairunba back into his Beast Codex. He stared across the field at his rival, taking a deep breath until his composure returned.
Utilizing the sensory feedback from her pets, Qiao Sang’s vision was sharp enough to notice that the opponent’s hostility had vanished. It had been replaced by a fierce, focused fighting spirit. She wondered if his previous coldness hadn't been personal, but simply a result of the competition.
As her mind raced, the countdown shadow for the ten-second mark appeared in the center of the arena.
"The third round is set to begin!" Tian Yiwan announced from the commentary box.
"I’m curious to see which pets will be deployed next."
Tang Xueran added, "Chen Tianqin will almost certainly call upon Sweet Poison King. As for Qiao Sang, her choice remains a mystery."
"This is match point for Qiao Sang," Tian Yiwan observed.
"She’ll likely send out a pet she’s confident can close the deal."
This suggested the Ice Emperor Ram was coming.
"Chen Tianqin has suffered two consecutive losses," Tang Xueran noted.
"The weight on his shoulders for this round must be crushing. But all elite Beast Masters deal with pressure. The real test is whether he can endure it and perform at his peak."
While they spoke, the countdown hit 1 and vanished. Qiao Sang and Chen Tianqin executed their hand seals in unison. Two magnificent crimson star arrays erupted on the arena floor.
Two massive pets materialized within the glowing arrays. Simultaneously, the temperature in the stadium plummeted as heavy snowflakes began to swirl through the air.
In the stands, the crowd stayed relatively calm, but the livestream chat went into a frenzy: [AAAAH! Ice Emperor Ram! I knew Qiao Sang would bring out Ice Emperor Ram!]
[Goddess Qiao, I adore you! Thank you for showing us the Ice Emperor Ram!]
[I don’t even need to check their locations to know these fans are from the Guwu region.]
[1st District checking in.]
[1st District? Which region is that?]
[I was trying to find where the Qiao Monster went. I didn't expect her to come back to Blue Star already at B-rank...]
[Returned to Blue Star???]
[Does Goddess Qiao have fans on other planets already?]
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On the field.
The Sweet Poison King was a dual Poison and Grass-type King-level pet. It specialized in luring targets with fragrant toxic gases before attacking. It was also known for scattering hidden pollen that could be detonated around an enemy at the perfect moment.
It possessed the Overgrow trait, which boosted Grass-type power when its health was low, and the Chlorophyll trait, which increased its speed in bright sunlight...
Details about the bipedal creature—covered in light green fur with a dark crown of thorns, three-fingered hands, and a purple blossom in its right hand—raced through Qiao Sang’s mind.
"Plan Two," Chen Tianqin commanded the moment his pet appeared.
Qiao Sang was briefly taken aback, then felt a flicker of respect.
However, such pre-set commands had flaws; only exceptionally intelligent pets could adapt them to the rapidly shifting conditions of a live match.
Obeying its master, the Sweet Poison King’s eyes flashed green. At the same time, it shook the purple flower, releasing a dense cloud of pollen. The white powder blended perfectly with the falling snow; even with her enhanced perception, Qiao Sang couldn't track its movement.
A snowflake settled on the Sweet Poison King’s head, instantly blooming into an elegant ice flower. However, a green barrier surged up a second later, shielding the pet and keeping the frost at bay.
The Sweet Poison King reached up, plucking the ice flower. The translucent frost turned purple immediately, melting away into nothingness.
... Chen Tianqin watched the opposing pet—the one with eyes so deep they seemed to swallow souls—with a grim expression.
The Ice Emperor Ram’s Ice Field Domain was the most difficult obstacle to overcome. While Sairunba also knew defensive barriers, its skill level wasn't as high as the Sweet Poison King’s.
If Sairunba had teleported near the Ice Emperor Ram to strike, the domain would have frozen it instantly for a counterattack. Given Sairunba’s defense, it would have been a guaranteed loss. If any of his pets stood a chance against the Ice Emperor Ram, it was the Sweet Poison King.
"Domain," Qiao Sang ordered.
Even though she couldn't pinpoint the location of the Sweet Poison King’s powder, she knew it had a move called Magic Powder that could be detonated. It was better to freeze everything and neutralize the threat early.
"Lu Di."
Lubao began to radiate a visible aura of intense cold.
"Sweet-Poison~"
Simultaneously, the Sweet Poison King lifted its purple flower and blew it a gentle, mocking kiss.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Violent, ear-splitting explosions suddenly erupted all around Lubao.
"Magic Powder has detonated around the Ice Emperor Ram!" Tian Yiwan shouted.
"The beauty of this technique is the unpredictable scattering speed; it can surround a target without being noticed and explode on command."
"The Sweet Poison King is actually managing to trigger Magic Powder from inside its barrier," Tang Xueran observed.
"However, since Ice Emperor Ram has Healing Light, any damage should be mended quickly. Meanwhile, the Sweet Poison King has to worry about the Ice Flower Seal and the Ice Field Domain, so it likely won't drop that barrier, which means it can't stop the Ice Emperor Ram from healing."
The blasts ceased abruptly. The surprise assault from the Magic Powder hadn't broken Lubao’s concentration on her Ice Field Domain. The entire arena was instantly locked in a frozen state. Everything was buried in ice, and a thick frost crust formed over the Sweet Poison King’s green shield.
Everything on the field was paralyzed, except for Lubao and the Sweet Poison King within its barrier.
"Sweet-Poison..."
The Sweet Poison King peered through the barrier at the frozen wasteland, narrowed its eyes, and gave the purple flower another kiss.
Nothing moved outside.
Chen Tianqin’s heart sank as he realized what was happening. The Sweet Poison King’s Magic Powder had reached Ultimate level proficiency, allowing it to be detonated at will. This was why he had combined the powder with the barrier at the start.
He simply hadn't expected that Ultimate level Magic Powder would fail to blow through the thin layer of ice within the domain. It didn't make sense; the Ice Emperor Ram’s Ice Field Domain should only be at Entry level, while his pet's skill was at the Ultimate level.
Realizing this, a sense of dread washed over Chen Tianqin.
"Break," Qiao Sang said calmly.
"Lu Di."
Lubao let out a soft cry, and the frigid air around her intensified. A moment later, audible cracks began to spread across the Sweet Poison King’s barrier.
Chen Tianqin’s expression shifted, and he barked, "Plan Six!"
"Sweet-Poison!"
With glowing green eyes, the Sweet Poison King hurled the purple flower forward. The plant expanded rapidly and aggressively, growing until it stood fifteen meters tall, matching the height of its master.
At that precise moment, the barrier shattered into a thousand icy shards. Both the Sweet Poison King and the massive flower were frozen solid the instant the protection failed. However, the giant flower began to seep venom, quickly dyeing the surrounding ice a deep purple.
The layer of ice began to melt away at a visible pace.
Chen Tianqin breathed a sigh of relief. It appeared that the fortune spent on specialized toxins for the purple flower to absorb was finally paying off.
His research on the Ice Field Domain suggested that while physical movement was halted, the target's will remained free. The Sweet Poison King could still command the purple flower to attack even while encased in ice.
With the Sweet Poison King’s natural durability, it should be able to survive a few hits from Giant Ice Spikes.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, eleven massive ice spikes—each the size of a small mountain—materialized and lunged toward the Sweet Poison King! The ice around the purple flower hadn't even finished melting yet.
"Plan Seven!" Chen Tianqin’s pupils contracted, but he steeled his gaze and shouted the command.
If this strike connected, the Overgrow trait would certainly be activated.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
The massive ice spikes collided with the Sweet Poison King simultaneously. The air filled with the sound of thunderous explosions as huge blocks of ice crashed down, burying the Sweet Poison King under a mountain of frozen debris.
The purple ice flower went still; the venom stopped flowing.
"SWEET-POISON!!!"
A burst of green light erupted, scattering the pile of ice in every direction. The Sweet Poison King rose from the wreckage, its body shimmering with a vibrant green aura as it roared at the sky.
Snowflakes drifted into its open mouth. Suddenly, delicate ice flowers began to sprout inside its maw.
"The Sweet Poison King has activated its Overgrow trait!" Tian Yiwan noted with a smile.
"It seems the Ice Flower Seal is still in full effect."
The Sweet Poison King didn't panic at the flowers growing in its throat. It reached out with a green-glowing hand, plucked the ice flowers, and crushed them with a simple squeeze, turning them into harmless crystals.