Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 981: Top 8

"It’s the Ghost Ring King!" an audience member cried out in astonishment.

Although Qiao Sang had sent out the Divine Blazing Lion and the Ice Emperor Ram in the previous rounds, the Ghost Ring King’s earlier displays of power had left a lasting mark on the spectators.

Since the opponent no longer had any King-level pets available, the crowd was eager to witness a competitive struggle between General-level pets rather than another instantaneous defeat.

From the commentary booth, Tian Yiwan announced: "In this third bout, Qiao Sang has called upon her Ghost Ring King, while Qi Fuqing is fielding her Ink-Stinger Beast."

Tang Xueran chimed in: "Will Qiao Sang capitalize on this match point to secure her spot in the Top 8, or can Qi Fuqing claw back a victory to keep the match alive? Let’s turn our attention to the arena."

Every lens in the stadium was fixed on the battlefield.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure stared down his foe, his gaze burning with a competitive fire. Hearing the roar of the crowd, a momentary sense of pride swelled within him—he lived for the limelight—but he quickly forced himself to regain focus. Concentrating solely on his enemy and recalling Qiao Sang’s tactical plan, he vanished into thin air.

Qiao Sang reviewed the species data in her mind. She noted that once it reached the Emperor-level, this creature would evolve into an Ink-Crystal Dragon, gaining the Dragon-type attribute.

As she analyzed the situation, Little Treasure reappeared on the ground behind the Ink-Stinger Beast. Raising his claws, he sent his shadow racing forward across the floor.

Qi Fuqing was prepared for Little Treasure’s typical maneuvers and reacted instantly: "Ink Ground!"

The Ink-Stinger Beast slammed its coiled tail into the arena floor. From the point of impact, a fountain of dark ink exploded outward, flooding the area. Within a heartbeat, the liquid covered a massive radius, effectively drowning out the beast's own shadow and neutralizing the ground-based attack.

"Xun xun!"

Repulsed by the sharp scent of the ink, Little Treasure teleported ten meters into the air. With a swift movement of his toes, he shifted his Shadow Control from a flat plane into a three-dimensional form. Dark ribbons of shadow surged out of the ink like predatory silk, lashing out toward the Ink-Stinger Beast.

"Back Spikes!" Qi Fuqing commanded.

The Ink-Stinger Beast hunched its spine, launching hundreds of glowing black needles in every direction. Little Treasure was forced to blink away again, manifesting high above the ground, a hundred meters in front of his target.

---

Qiao Sang issued her next order: "Big!"

"Xun xun!"

Excitement surged through Little Treasure. He pressed his claws together and reached upward. Suddenly, a colossal thirty-meter-tall Shadow of Darkness, resembling the Ghost Ring King, materialized on the field. The massive specter glared down with icy eyes, radiating an overwhelming pressure.

"Mo-ci..." The Ink-Stinger Beast’s stoic demeanor vanished, replaced by intense caution. Remembering its duty, its eyes flared with a blue light. A towering wave of black ink, matching the height of the shadow giant, rose from the pool and crashed toward the Shadow of Darkness!

... Qiao Sang watched the incoming tide and calmly stated: "Bind."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure pointed a small toe, a gesture mirrored by the Shadow of Darkness. Thick cords of shadow erupted from the phantom’s fingers, lashing toward the Ink-Stinger Beast. The massive ink wave engulfed the shadows and the phantom itself, causing the giant image to dissolve into nothingness.

However, Qi Fuqing’s face paled. Dozens of slender shadow threads were already wrapped tightly around the Ink-Stinger Beast! She looked up at the small figure hovering in the sky, her expression one of pure disbelief.

"Xun xun~" Little Treasure smirked, seeing his trap had succeeded.

"I didn't realize that the Shadow of Darkness was merely a distraction," Tang Xueran noted.

"The actual strike was executed by the Ghost Ring King himself."

---

Qiao Sang maintained her composure. Little Treasure’s Substitute had already attained the Ultimate level.

When he had turned invisible at the start of the match, Little Treasure had actually created an invisible Substitute. The spectators assumed he was managing both the phantom and his own movements, but the truth was that the Substitute was the one directing the Shadow of Darkness.

"Poison Spikes!" Qi Fuqing screamed.

A hail of needles flew toward Little Treasure. He darted through the air, utilizing his small frame to slip through the gaps in the attack. As he closed the distance to thirty meters, the Ink-Stinger Beast spat a nearly microscopic needle from its maw. The projectile was a mere centimeter from Little Treasure when it suddenly halted in mid-air.

The Ink-Stinger Beast froze in place. Looking down, it discovered a second, identical Ghost Ring King standing beneath it, eyes glowing with the blue light of Psychic energy.

"Wait, there’s another Ghost Ring King? Could that be a Substitute?"

Little Treasure grinned as he bypassed the frozen needle, finishing the process of wrapping his shadows around the Ink-Stinger Beast. He pulled the restraints taut, adopting a Seismic Toss stance. The sight of the tiny pet attempting to hurl a six-meter-tall monster drew chuckles from the crowd, until they saw Qi Fuqing’s panicked expression.

"Wave!" she shouted.

But before the ink could rise, the massive Shadow of Darkness reappeared, connected to the binding threads. Mimicking Little Treasure’s movements, the giant phantom seized the shadows and yanked with incredible strength.

"Mo-ci!" The Ink-Stinger Beast was hoisted into the air in a wide arc before being slammed violently into the arena floor.

Little Treasure twirled his toes, causing the shadows to wrap around the beast like a tight cocoon. Then, the towering Shadow of Darkness leaned down, its forehead glowing with a fierce white light, and began to deliver a series of brutal headbutts.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Each time the Ink-Stinger Beast attempted to retaliate with spikes from inside its prison, the massive head crashed down, keeping it pinned. Qi Fuqing tried to call for another move, but Little Treasure constricted the shadows around the beast’s jaw, stifling any counterattack.

Sensing that the opponent’s strength was fading, Little Treasure released the shadow bindings.

"Cleave!" Qiao Sang commanded.

Both Little Treasure and his Substitute raised their glowing white claws and struck down simultaneously on the beast’s head. The Ink-Stinger Beast finally slumped into unconsciousness.

The Substitute flashed a grin at Little Treasure before vanishing. The referee checked the fallen beast and signaled the victory toward Qiao Sang. On the overhead display, Qiao Sang’s portrait was moved into the winning bracket.

"Let’s give a round of applause for Qiao Sang, who wins this match 3-0 and moves on to the Top 8!"