108 - I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets!

"There's no rush, no rush... there will be other opportunities later..." "Besides, the Ice Ridge Institute will battle many more times; surely one will coincide with the Star Sand Awakening period, right!?" Lian Xing consoled herself while trudging dejectedly toward the exit. Seconds later, familiar figures appeared before her, leading the Starlight Institute's team into the battle corridor, with Zi Wutong at the forefront. Looking at the despondent blonde girl with buns styled like dumplings, the members of the Starlight Institute team showed mixed expressions. Just half a month earlier, she had been an unknown entity, but now, she had become the famed top contender, the 'Ten Greats Moon Rabbit,' even defeating the likes of Chilin from the Nether River Institute and Yaoxian from the Yin Extreme Institute. They were no longer competitors from the same dimension... However, just then, a petite girl with green twin-tails, known as the number one 'Beautiful Burn Girl' of the Starlight Institute, curiously asked, "Strongest Moonlight Rabbit, why are you still here? What are you up to?" "You won the battle, yet you don't seem happy..." "......" "......" Being naturally straightforward, her question left the nearby team members stunned. Oh, sisters, who would understand? This is, after all, the only person in the world ever to defeat Lian Xing!! Don’t be fooled by Moon Rabbit Lian Xing's current glory. Back in the day, didn't her Eight-Legged Spider blast her to oblivion until she didn't know which way was North?~~ However... Lian Xing seemed completely indifferent to the Starlight Institute’s number one 'Beautiful Burn Girl'; instead, she suddenly thought of something, her expression immediately changing to one of delight, sparkling starry eyes focused on Zi Wutong, the team leader. "Ziyue Ji, I saw your last match. Your advanced traits are fully covered, so why haven't you evolved yet?" "Could it be that you haven't fed your body hair to the Inverted Void yet?" "......" "......" "My, my body hair?" Hearing this, Zi Wutong's face turned bright red with an incredulous, embarrassed expression. What does body hair have to do with the evolution route for the Inverted Void? That's such a bold statement!!! For a moment, she even forgot to correct that her name wasn’t Ziyue Ji but Zi Wutong. "Indeed, isn't the evolution route you chose the Dominion Class's Myriad Illusion Mirror?" "Don't you know that the viral particlization of the Myriad Illusion Mirror can affect its owner?" "If it hasn't remembered your body scent, how could it forcibly interfere with you?" "Forget it, I'm too lazy to explain~~~" As Lian Xing's words fell, Zi Wutong's expression became one of horror. That's right, this is what I was missing, the last condition for the Inverted Void's evolution!!! In the next second, under her bewildered gaze, the blonde girl turned and left without looking back. Moon Rabbit, Lian Xing... Who exactly is she? How does she know the evolution route for the Inverted Void so well!? With her teammates watching in disbelief, Zi Wutong, deep in thought, reached under her skirt. Hmm, since she had never grown underarm or leg hair, there was no other choice... "......" "......" "Myriad Illusion Mirror, among the viral types, is quite tricky and should cause some discomfort to that entity~~~" "If things go well, we might even gauge the quality of the opponent’s battle techniques..." Meanwhile, as she walked away from the Starlight Institute, the starry-eyed blonde girl bore a sly, gleeful look. Perhaps, in the perception of the Extreme Cold Eruption·Ice King, all life in the White Moon Continent, aside from ants, were insignificant. In its arrogant view, nothing here could threaten its existence. Truth be told, it really was like that. Below the King Class, all were ants. If there were no surprises, Lian Xing might quietly abscond with the Nether Orchid Institute team towards the end of the league, passing on this King Class information to that little fox, leaving it to fate. But... During the entire course of the league. As long as that lofty King Class revealed even a slight flaw... Lian Xing would unhesitatingly strike at the oppressor!! So, better pray you don’t get caught by me!!! Chapter 80: Star Sand Awakens, Confronting the Sky Spring!! [9500 words] [Group Elimination Second Round] [Starlight Institute vs. Ice Ridge Institute] Amidst much anticipation, both teams appeared on opposite sides of the virtual map. The map was a medium-sized open dueling arena without any obstacles or covers. Once again, it was the official mandatory team melee unrestricted mode. This was to fully replicate an encounter with a Beastmaster in the wild, minimizing random factors. Otherwise, if you were about to be killed, could you really apply to compete on who clears the dungeon faster? As the battle countdown neared its end, a lively discussion erupted amongst the audience in the livestream. "Sigh, I was originally excited to see Zi Wutong's growth this year. With her dominance among advanced pet beasts, breaking through to the Dominion would grant her Ten Greats level combat power. Sadly, it looks like the evolution route is obviously blocked..." "Don't mention being blocked; even if she successfully breaches Dominion, she won't be a match for Ice Ridge Institute. Haven’t you seen how even Chilin from the Nether River Institute was instantly defeated?" "Did the Ice Ridge Institute captain cheat? In that battle, even the true form of her pet beast wasn’t seen before the fight ended—thoroughly investigate that mechanical beast in team slot three!!!" "Cheating at the headquarters of the Pet Beast Association, you say...?" "Looks like last year's Ten Greats will be booted out by three or four, such as Tiexu Institute, Baifeng Institute, Vulcan Institute, and those ranking lower—especially the Jizo Institute, now surpassed by Moon Rabbit Lian Xing and Ice Ridge Institute for two spots..." "So, can anyone recite the name of the school Moon Rabbit is associated with without checking historical records?" "......" "......" [Countdown over, battle begins] "Swish——!!!!" The battlefield changed rapidly. As soon as the countdown ended, before the audience could react, the Ice Ridge Institute captain immediately made her move. Icy crystals spread like a swarm, freezing everything in their path, turning objects into ice sculptures, including her four teammates. Bitter cold swept across, freezing a thousand miles solid!!! In an instant, the entire map was frozen over... Once again, no participant managed to escape unscathed. Faced with this awe-inspiring spectacle, a hushed silence fell over the entire league venue. At this moment, the oppressive aura emanating from the Ice Ridge Institute captain completely overshadowed Moon Rabbit Lian Xing. Whether in the audience or the competitors' seating, no one dared make a sound. Even the Ten Greats present felt chills running down their spines. If nothing had been sensed the first time, now it was clear—this was a hopeless situation—a true inexorable despair had descended!! If a normal Beastmaster, facing a true powerhouse, might still muster some fighting spirit... Then what about against a cheater!? With even their life rank different, there's no time to react, it's absolutely incomprehensible—how on earth can you defeat something like this!? "......" "......" "Of course, you get her addicted to virtual battles, so hooked on gaming that you take her out then~~~" Lingered for almost ten minutes before reluctantly leaving the battle area, Lian Xing spoke to the projection screen, suppressing the urge to return to the battle room and directly attack the true form of the Extreme Cold Eruption. She knew very well that now wasn’t the time... This outrageous, shameless act against fate would have to wait until the Star Sand was awakened, and until the Extreme Cold Eruption faced a tougher opponent, to be used. Otherwise, with the caution of a King Class life form, the Extreme Cold Eruption would surely instant-kill the opponent instantaneously and swiftly leave the virtual battle to return to reality. One minute... Someone had to occupy the Extreme Cold Eruption in virtual combat for one minute, so she could confidently shatter the life crystal of the King Class, dooming it to eternal slumber within the network, with its spirit unable to return to its physical body in reality. "Bang!!!!" In the next moment, an abrupt change occurred. Under the stunned eyes of countless spectators within the virtual battle, within the area where the Starlight Institute captain Zi Wutong was located, her graceful form exploded amidst the ice and snow. Around her, more than a dozen vortex-like black mirror surfaces appeared on all sides, simultaneously absorbing her and the ice. At the same time, a sinister-looking gate of the black void slowly unfolded behind the Ice Ridge Institute captain.