Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 998: The Finals

 A wave of emotion surged within Qiao Sang, pulling her inevitably into contemplation.

She pulled back her wandering mind and refocused on the present. A sudden recollection hit her, so she glanced at the clock on her device and instructed Gangbao: "Remain in that shape for the moment. I'm curious about your endurance time."

Understanding Gangbao's duration in her King-level state would help her manage the battle's rhythm more effectively.

"Gang Zhan." Gangbao gave a nod of affirmation.

Qiao Sang hesitated briefly: "Has your cry stayed the same?"

Gangbao froze for an instant, then attempted another vocalization: "Gang Chief?"

Qiao Sang: ...

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure overheard the exchange nearby, his expression turning somber. While gaining a King-level ally brought joy, the beast tamer's words confirmed that this ally would likely step into the ring for tomorrow's bout.

"Gang Chief?"

Gangbao picked up on Little Treasure's demeanor and directed a call his way. 

Little Treasure perked up instantly, responding with feigned vigor: "Xun xun!"

"After the tournament wraps up, we'll head to the Zidia area." Qiao Sang announced with a grin.

"Xun xun!"

Upon hearing that, Little Treasure swirled around in delighted loops. 

. Qiao Sang mused inwardly with a soft exhale, her eyes mirroring the warmth of her smile.

"Gang Chief." Gangbao conveyed her approval through their mental link.

Qiao Sang shifted her attention away, grabbed her phone, and typed the phrase  into the search bar, all while monitoring the timer.

In no time, the results appeared, revealing the details: Steel Beam: A Steel-type Super-tier skill. The beast channels the metallic energy inside itself into a concentrated blast. Its force rivals that of a missile, delivering devastating impact.

Even with her prior hunch, Qiao Sang found her mouth curving into a smile.

The challenge of unlocking and mastering a Super-tier skill was well-known. If it weren't so tough, the Regional Competition—showcasing top young beast tamers—wouldn't feature so many pets lacking even one...

Images of Yuan Tianlong and his Sawtooth Dragon flickered in Qiao Sang's thoughts.

Though Yuan Tianlong's Sawtooth Dragon hadn't unleashed a Super-tier skill during this Regional Competition, reports from Wu Tianjiao and Rong Yuhua indicated that the Dragon had gained a technique named  right after evolving.

This technique assaulted foes with horrifying sound waves. It wrecked the enemy's nervous system, triggering , while also blocking their thoughts, resulting in instant unconsciousness and total combat failure.

To put it simply, the mind ceased functioning, and the ears shut out the beast tamer's orders. Even a pet with iron will might cling on without collapsing, but once the effects took hold, defeat was inevitable.

What made it truly fearsome was that this wasn't merely a sound assault; it incorporated a sonic explosion too. Should a pet deploy a targeted noise-cancellation skill against the waves, the Dragon Sonic Blast would still detonate nearby, erupting with enormous destructive force.

Yuan Tianlong's Sawtooth Dragon had yet to deploy this in any bout. Rumors held that while awakened, its activation remained erratic, lacking full reliability.

"Gang Zhan."

Gangbao's call echoed. Qiao Sang noted the time, set her phone aside, and raised her head. Gangbao had reverted to her General level appearance.

No matter if the Sawtooth Dragon could execute Dragon Sonic Blast flawlessly, Qiao Sang needed to assume the foe could wield it without flaw.

Yabao possessed sharp hearing, amplifying the harm from this skill. Gangbao's King-level defenses were formidable, yet as a fleeting evolution, her psychic power paled against the Sawtooth Dragon's. She could potentially endure the blast, but the sound waves might overwhelm her.

Besides, Gangbao's King-level form lasted roughly a single minute.

Qiao Sang pondered deeply.

---

The following day. Dawn.

"Yap yap!"

Yabao vocalized next to his beast tamer. Qiao Sang remained with eyes shut, offering no reply.

"Yap yap!" Yabao extended a paw to nudge his beast tamer, calling once more.

"What's going on..." Qiao Sang's eyes fluttered open, heavy with drowsiness.

Spotting Yabao cleared her mind somewhat, then a sharp realization struck: 

"Yap yap!"

Yabao gestured toward the window and cried out. 

Qiao Sang: ...

Qiao Sang reached for her phone and viewed the time: 7:01 AM. Her face showed bewilderment: "You rose this soon today?"

"Yap yap!"

Yabao let out an enthusiastic bark, insisting it wasn't early—the sun had risen, and training prep time had arrived. 

Qiao Sang paused for a couple of beats, then began slipping into her shoes.

"Food comes first. Keep training mild, conserve strength, or recovery will drag on. The match awaits tonight."

"Yap yap!"

Yabao absorbed the advice and nodded, then glanced at Little Treasure.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure grasped the cue right away. He slipped off his ring, ready to fetch energy pills.

"Knock knock~"

Right then, knocks sounded at the door, which creaked open a bit. Her mother appeared there, beaming: "I caught voices, so I figured you were stirring."

Qiao Sang looked startled: "Mom, you're awake this soon too?"

"The finals today had me buzzing with excitement, sleep just wouldn't come." Ye Xiangting grinned, her eyes shadowed by prominent dark circles.

"Now that everyone's up, I planned to summon the Service Meow for breakfast. What'll it be? Let's pick as a group."

"Yap yap!" Yabao barked with thrill.

Little Treasure quietly withdrew his paw from the ring. Daily energy pills were fine, but hotel delicacies weren't. He knew Big Brother Yabao would opt for the treats. And so would he.

"Xun xun! Xun xun!"

Little Treasure waved his paws animatedly, listing his food choices. Once Qiao Sang relayed them, she headed to the bathroom for a swift rinse.

When she returned, the Service Meow had wheeled in the meal, arranging it on the living room table with remarkable speed.

"You're starting early today—couldn't sleep either?" Ye Xiangting inquired between bites.

"Nope, Yabao roused me." Qiao Sang replied.

"Yap yap..." Yabao's jaws were packed with food, yet he managed an affirming call.

"Yabao must've been mulling the match, hence the early rise, huh?" Ye Xiangting eyed Yabao and asked warmly.

"Yap yap!" Yabao gulped down his bite and nodded.

Qiao Sang swallowed some porridge and remarked with resignation: "The match's this evening."

"I'm aware."

Ye Xiangting responded, then probed with interest, "But it's the championship round. You're not feeling any jitters?"

She noted how her daughter's composure had grown rock-solid. During the National Campus Beast Taming League, traces of anxiety had shown. Yet here, in the Regional Competition's decisive stage, Qiao Sang seemed utterly at ease.

Qiao Sang answered casually: "Reaching the final is a feat. Win or lose, it's beyond what I aimed for. Why get nervous?"

Truthfully, advancing this far had outstripped her plans. Prior to entering the Central Hollow Regional Competition, Lubao hadn't evolved, and she held C-level status. Finals? Top 30 hadn't crossed her mind. The entry was for practice, not glory as champion.

"Gang Zhan."

Abruptly, Gangbao's voice echoed in her thoughts. 

Qiao Sang turned to the nearing Gangbao and smiled: "You're up."

"Gang Zhan." Gangbao answered, approached, and started on her energy feed. Kindly, she kept the  remark to herself.

"Yap yap!"

Just then, Yabao issued a solemn cry, correcting her—she was mistaken, clearly anxious to claim the title.

Qiao Sang: ...

She regarded Yabao with mixed feelings. 

"What did Yabao say?" Ye Xiangting wondered.

Qiao Sang let out a breath and admitted: "He claims I'm off base, that I'm obviously quite nervous."

Ye Xiangting paused, then chuckled: "If nerves are there, own them. No shame in it."

Qiao Sang quieted briefly, then confessed: "I worried your hopes were sky-high, and a loss would let you down."

Initially, victory or top 30 hadn't factored in. But progressing through rounds to the finals, with one bout from triumph, denying the desire to win would be false.

Still, certainty wasn't guaranteed. Better her mother remain calm than build expectations and face letdown.

Ye Xiangting paused once more, then smiled: "Finals reached—what letdown? Just qualifying for the Regional Competition stunned me pleasantly."

She emphasized earnestly: "Win or lose today, you're outstanding already."

"Yap yap!" Yabao declared, affirming his beast tamer's sure victory with him by her side.

Qiao Sang gazed at her mother, then Yabao, and smiled: "Got it."

---

7:30 PM. Yuhua District. Hangang City.

In a office high-rise, Qiao Wangyang hunched over his desk, eyes glued to the laptop stream, eager not to miss the opening.

"Old Yang, still at it?" A balding colleague nearby grabbed his case, rose, and approached.

"What's on the screen?"

"My daughter's competition." Qiao Wangyang stated.

. The balding man caught the stream's title and the assertion, his mouth twitching. Opting out of debate, he said:

"Have fun then. I'm off." He pivoted and departed.

Another balding fellow hastened after him. They strode together, talking idly: "Word is a fresh seafood buffet launched, and it's solid. Up for it?"

"Pass, gotta get home to the wife."

"I'll check with Old Yang."

"Skip it, he's tuned into his daughter's match."

"...Qiao Sang?"

The initial balding man nodded.

"He seriously doesn't need therapy? How does he cling to this wild fantasy that Qiao Sang's his kid?"

"Probably burnout from work piling up."

"I suspect his mind's off. I nearly bought it once and suggested calling, but he had no contact. Delusions need boundaries."

"On Qiao Sang, my spouse urged me home to view the match together. She's hooked, and so are our two little ones."

"Screw the buffet, I'm heading back to watch. Rumor has it today's the Central Hollow Regional Competition finale. Should Qiao Sang triumph..."

The pair's chatter faded into the distance until silence. Qiao Wangyang fixed a stern glare on the monitor.

---

7:50 PM. Central Hollow District. Yukong Beast Taming Arena.

Vivid neon and shifting shadows flooded the venue. Crowds packed every spot, faces alight with fervor, the atmosphere buzzing with fervent chatter.

"Aaah! Just ten minutes left! Ten minutes!"

"Yuan Tianlong versus Qiao Sang—it's electric to imagine. No clue on the victor."

"Yuan Tianlong for sure. His lone Sawtooth Dragon crushed three foes."

"Nonsense, those were mere average King-level beasts."

"No King-level beast qualifies as average."

"Qiao Sang's the sole entrant boasting three King-level pets."

"That Steel Sword Falcon's merely a short-term bond evolution; it may never trigger again."

"You-!"

"Quiet down, the announcer's emerging!"

Section A, front row. Three familiar faces to Qiao Sang gathered. Yu Ke and Yu Le eyed the glow stick in Rong Yuhua's grip with odd looks.

Rong Yuhua shot them a glance: "What's with the stares?"

The Rong and Yu lineages intertwined, so he knew these young women somewhat.

"You a fan of Goddess Qiao?" Yu Ke ventured warily, noting the Qiao Sang glow stick.

"Fan?" Rong Yuhua denied with a head shake.

"Nah, I'm her pal."

... Yu Ke and Yu Le exchanged glances.

At that instant, the announcer's voice boomed:

"Esteemed guests, fellow viewers across the nation, evening greetings! Welcome to this year's Regional Competition! Broadcasting live the epic conclusion! Here at Yukong Beast Taming Arena in Tianan City, tonight we name the ultimate champion of this Regional Competition!"

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