Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1

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Qiao Sang remained silent, as Yi Ao had already begun introducing the next contestants.

The process was all too familiar.

After the announcement of the first group of contestants, the spotlight would shine, and she would appear on stage.

Qiao Sang quickly waved her hand, recalling Little Treasure into the Beast Codex.

"I'm going!" With her words, a blue light enveloped her.

Simultaneously, a white light descended upon Ma Zongji.

The moment the two contestants appeared on the stage, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

Based on the collected information, Ma Zongji had no particular habits. The chances of him summoning either of his two beasts in the first round were fifty-fifty. After some thought, Qiao Sang decided on her first summon.

At this moment, Ma Zongji, visibly excited, shouted, "Qiao Sang, summon Ice Xilu! I'll summon Yaksohlor in the first round!"

The audience roared with approval:

"That's it! A true child of our Ancient Guwu Region, bold and fearless!"

"Exactly! Going straight for a match with Ice Xilu! Kid, even if you lose, it's worth it!"

"If you're going to lose anyway, why not challenge Ice Xilu? I get you, man!"

"Ice Xilu! Ice Xilu!"

The entire crowd chanted those four words.

"Really?" Qiao Sang asked.

The cheers were so loud that Ma Zongji couldn't hear her. He only saw her lips moving.

"What did you say?" He hollered back.

Seeing this, Qiao Sang raised her hand, and the audience, surprisingly cooperative, fell silent.

"Really?" She repeated.

Ma Zongji, now more animated, exclaimed, "Of course!"

Qiao Sang glanced at him, noting his sincerity, and nodded, signaling her understanding.

The audience erupted again, their excitement mounting as they interpreted her nod as agreement to summon Ice Xilu. Their gazes toward Ma Zongji were filled with pride, as if he were their own child finally achieving greatness.

Triumphant background music played.

As the countdown began, Qiao Sang and Ma Zongji simultaneously formed hand seals.

Green and gray star formations lit up.

The next moment, a nearly all-gray beast with a ghostly flame-like hairstyle billowing backward appeared on the field.

"Xuuun~"

The moment Little Treasure emerged, he twirled joyfully to the upbeat music.

But the music abruptly stopped.

"Xun..."

Little Treasure paused, his gaze locking on the distant opponent, his expression turning serious.

Time to resume his role as Number Two!

"What? It’s just Treasure-Seeking Demon?"

After the first phase of the competition, most viewers had grown familiar with Yuhua Region's ghost-type beast.

"I really thought she agreed to summon Ice Xilu..."

"Me too..."

"Thinking about it now, if Ma Zongji hadn't announced his pick, Qiao Sang might’ve hesitated and actually summoned Ice Xilu."

"Exactly!"

The audience sighed in unison, their perception of Ma Zongji shifting from pride to disappointment.

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On the stage.

No Ice Xilu... Ma Zongji felt as if he'd been struck in the heart the moment he saw Treasure-Seeking Demon.

Life’s highs and lows couldn't be more dramatic.

What a blow!

At that moment, the mechanical voice signaling the start of the match sounded.

"Root yourself!" Ma Zongji’s expression turned serious, masking his earlier heartbreak.

Having analyzed Qiao Sang’s battles extensively, he had concluded that he needed to act first. Otherwise, she'd control the entire rhythm of the match!

"Yaksohlor!"

Yaksohlor resembled a humanoid flower, its lower half consisting of stem-like structures. At Ma Zongji's command, grayish-brown roots emerged from its base, burrowing into the ground.

Grass-type beasts in a rooted state could recover energy over time. More importantly, Treasure-Seeking Demon’s Shadow Control would face certain restrictions. However, staying motionless was far from ideal. As Qiao Sang observed Yaksohlor's actions, she silently analyzed the situation.

By now, Little Treasure had instinctively cloaked himself in invisibility.

A black Shadow Ball suddenly appeared about a meter above Yaksohlor's head.

"Vine Whip!" Ma Zongji decisively ordered.

Two vines shot out from Yaksohlor’s sides, wrapping around it in protective circles instead of attacking.

Judging by the size of the vine shield, there was plenty of space between Yaksohlor and its defenses.

So that's why it dared to stay rooted, it had already planned to use vines as a shield. Qiao Sang mused.

The Shadow Ball collided with the vine shield.

When the vines retracted, Yaksohlor remained unscathed.

At this moment, Qiao Sang said, "Burn it."

Burn it? Ma Zongji froze.

The intel never mentioned Treasure-Seeking Demon having fire-type moves!

Unwilling to take chances, he hurriedly commanded, "Razor Leaf!"

"Yaksoh!"

Yaksohlor swung its arms, conjuring glowing green leaves that circled it.

At the same time, ghostly green flames emerged from behind Yaksohlor, carrying an icy chill.

The ghost flames collided with the leaves, incinerating them into ash.

The audience buzzed with discussion.

"This kid Ma Zongji’s got potential! Yaksohlor doesn’t have defensive skills, but he creatively uses its existing moves for defense. And by widening the vine shield, even if the vines break, it buffers the damage to Yaksohlor."

"Come on, he’s used that move before in the group stage."

"I wasn’t there!"

"Still, I didn’t expect Treasure-Seeking Demon to know Will-o’-the-Wisp. That means it has three elemental skills!"

"Clearly, someone didn’t do their homework. Let me explain: Yuhua’s Treasure-Seeking Demons with two yellow rings can all use Will-o’-the-Wisp. Look, one on its head, another on its ear."

"No way, I thought those were decorations..."

"Decorations? In this kind of competition, no beast would be allowed to wear such things."

"Fair point..."

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Meanwhile, the battle raged on.

As ghost flames and razor leaves clashed, Ma Zongji’s mind raced.

Crap! It really has a fire-type move. Stay calm, it’s still the match. Both Shadow Ball and Will-o’-the-Wisp appeared close to Yaksohlor, meaning the Treasure-Seeking Demon must be nearby. Now’s the perfect time to attack!

“Stun Spore!” he shouted.

Yaksohlor opened its mouth, releasing a brownish powder that began to spread around it.

Qiao Sang immediately commanded, "Come back."

Little Treasure teleported to her, avoiding the spreading spores.

"Shadow Ball." She said, unfazed.

Another Shadow Ball appeared and shot toward Yaksohlor.

"Yaksoh!"

Yaksohlor instinctively used its vine shield again.

But Qiao Sang’s lips curled into a sly smile.

"Get inside."

"Xun~"

Little Treasure understood instantly. Letting out a gleeful cry, he vanished.

Get inside? Inside what?

Before Ma Zongji could process, Yaksohlor found itself staring into a pair of glowing purple eyes within its own shield.

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