By evening, the first day of the tournament had concluded, and the 4,096 contestants had already been halved.
Liu Yi left the Longwu Central Arena with Ziyue.
After returning home and having dinner...
Ziyue went to the backyard training ground to practice her skills as usual, while Liu Yi began her meditation after showering.
Once her meditation was over, Liu Yi called Ziyue back inside to rest.
Before going to sleep, Liu Yi checked her electronic bracelet for the updated information on tomorrow's match:
【Contestant: Liu Yi (Trainee Beast Tamer)】
【Registered Pet: Ice Fox (Junior stage)】
【Second Round Match: August 11, 14:00, Arena 1 in District B】
【Opponent: Lu Siya (Trainee Beast Tamer)】
【Registered Pet: Bubble Jellyfish (Junior stage)】
“Bubble Jellyfish...”
Wasn't that the pet she had seen in the beginner contract recommendation thread on the Beast Tamer Forum?
Its advantage was its ability to levitate, which usually allowed it to evade Ground-type skills, but its defense was extremely low.
However, Ziyue wasn't a Ground-type pet, nor did she have any Ground-type skills.
“Tomorrow's tactic is simple,” Liu Yi said to Ziyue. “Just fight normally.”
“Bing bing.”
Ziyue let out a cry, indicating she understood.
...
August 11, the second round of the Preliminaries.
The area around Arena 1 in District B was packed with spectators, many of whom were holding up their phones to record.
“I think this match is Liu Yi and her Ice Fox!”
“Can the Bubble Jellyfish win?”
“It's a long shot...”
Liu Yi stood on the battle stage, facing a girl with a high ponytail.
Her Bubble Jellyfish floated in mid-air, its translucent body filled with blue bubbles.
The referee raised the flag. “Second round of the Preliminaries, Arena 1 in District B: Liu Yi versus Lu Siya.”
“3, 2, 1—Begin!”
Lu Siya shouted, “Bubble Jellyfish, Sea Moon Illusion!”
The Bubble Jellyfish's body suddenly split into five identical illusions, darting through the air in a dazzling display.
Liu Yi calmly ordered, “Ziyue, probe with Ice Blade.”
Five Ice Blades shot out from Ziyue's side. Four of them passed through the illusions, while only one left a frost mark on the real Bubble Jellyfish.
“Found you,” Liu Yi said softly. “Frost Breath.”
Ziyue opened her mouth and exhaled a freezing mist, accurately hitting the main body.
The Bubble Jellyfish's movements immediately became sluggish as ice crystals formed on its surface.
“Oh no! Healing Bubble!” Lu Siya hurriedly called out.
The Bubble Jellyfish struggled to spit out a glowing blue bubble, but just as the bubble was about to envelop it—
“Ice Blade.”
Ziyue fired seven Ice Blades simultaneously. They not only shattered the Healing Bubble but also struck the Bubble Jellyfish with undiminished momentum.
“Pao pao—”
The Bubble Jellyfish fell from the sky.
The referee began the countdown: “10, 9, 8...”
Lu Siya screamed, “Bubble Jellyfish!”
The Bubble Jellyfish struggled to float back up, but the power of the seven Ice Blades combined with the ice crystals on its body left it unable to rise.
“...3, 2, 1! The match is over. The winner is Liu Yi!”
...
August 12, the third round of the Preliminaries.
In Arena 2 of District C, Yin Chao's Vine Seed immediately scattered a large amount of Paralysis Powder upon entering the field.
“Frost Breath.”
The cold air Ziyue exhaled directly covered the Paralysis Powder. At that moment, the powder suffered the same fate as the poison powder from Wang Yan's Thorn Tuanzi.
The Vine Seed immediately followed up with Bramble Entanglement, but Ziyue easily sliced through it with her Ice Blades.
Yin Chao broke out in a sweat. “Photosynthetic Healing!”
But Liu Yi wouldn't give him the chance to recover. “Ice Blade.”
Seven Ice Blades struck the Vine Seed head-on while it was busy absorbing sunlight.
“Vine Seed is unable to battle! Liu Yi wins!”
After this round, only 512 contestants remained.
...
August 13, the fourth round of the Preliminaries.
In Arena 2 of District A, Song Wenmo started by having his Rock-armored Turtle use Rock Armor Protection. Its thick stone shell made it look indestructible.
“Earth-Rending Tremor!” Song Wenmo waved his hand with confidence.
The ground shook violently, but Ziyue had already leaped into the air.
“Now! Rock Atta—what?”
Song Wenmo's command cut off abruptly.
Liu Yi ordered, “Frost Breath into Ice Blade combo.”
The freezing breath slowed the Rock-armored Turtle's movements, followed by Ice Blades accurately hitting the gaps in its shell.
“Yan jia!”
The Rock-armored Turtle retreated into its shell in pain.
“Continue. Ice Blade.”
Finally—
“Rock-armored Turtle is unable to battle! Liu Yi successfully advances!”
Thundering applause erupted from the spectator stands.
Throughout these three days of matches, Liu Yi and Ziyue had displayed overwhelming power, with each battle lasting no more than three minutes.
After the match, the electronic bracelet updated the information:
【Congratulations on advancing to the Qualifiers! The next round will be held on August 15.】
Liu Yi rubbed Ziyue's head. “Great job, but the real challenge starts now.”
“Bing bing!”
Ziyue nuzzled her palm and cried out, her purple eyes flashing with a fighting spirit.
With that, the Preliminaries ended, and 256 contestants advanced to the Qualifiers.
...
【Name: Ice Fox】
【Attribute: Ice】
【Level: Junior stage (101%)】
【Skills: Ice Blade (Expert level 42%), Frost Breath (Expert level 41%), Ice Armor (Proficient 59%), Ice Spike (Entry level 96%)】
【Trait: Ice Soul Awakening (Entry level 10%)】
Liu Yi, who was at home organizing a list of opponents to watch out for, suddenly had a flash in her mind as Ziyue's information automatically appeared.
She took one look at it and immediately put down what she was doing.
Sensing Ziyue in the backyard training ground through the Beast Taming Space, she recalled her and then summoned her back out in the room.
“Bing bing?”
Ziyue, who had been diligently practicing her skills, tilted her head and let out a confused cry.
Why had she been summoned back?
Liu Yi looked Ziyue over from head to toe, even patting her down, before asking, “Ziyue, do you feel uncomfortable in any way?”
“Bing bing.”
Ziyue looked at her Beast Tamer's strange behavior and shook her head with a cry.
She didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
Seeing that Ziyue was in good condition and sensing no abnormalities through the Beast Taming Space, Liu Yi fell silent for a moment.
Normally, once the latent energy of the Junior stage reached 100%, Ziyue should have been able to evolve.
According to the historical data on the Ice Fox evolution chain, evolving to the Intermediate stage didn't require any items.
However...
Liu Yi took the 【Ice Fox Exclusive Evolution Item: Ice Heart Stone】 she had drawn earlier out of her Beast Taming Space and placed it in front of Ziyue.
The energy fluctuations contained within the Ice Heart Stone immediately captivated Ziyue.
She leaned in to sniff it and then cautiously touched the stone with her paw.
...
Rate on N.U.
