Magic Pet Glory Arena.
The enormous space, capable of holding tens of thousands, was uncannily quiet at this moment.
After the wild wind, the entire area’s airflow physically came to a halt.
All was deathly silent.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed unblinkingly on the seemingly weak “little chubby bird” in the arena, and the ethereally beautiful figure in moon-white beside it.
The pale-blue puffball of a sparrow settled once more on the girl’s shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately with its tiny head.
It looked exceptionally well-behaved, nothing at all like the powerful magic pet that had caused such a spectacle just now…
The brief stillness ended.
A gentle breeze returned, teasing a few mischievous strands of golden hair on the girl’s forehead.
Those strands brushed the tiny star diamonds scattered across her moon-white battle dress, reflecting a dreamlike halo.
That light was so pure, so holy, it seemed untainted by the mortal world.
She stood there quietly, her slender waist held straight, like a proud plum blossom standing alone atop a snowy cliff.
As if that overwhelming, world-shattering scene moments ago had nothing to do with her.
Only, deep in those sky-blue eyes, a trace of anxiety flashed by unnoticed.
In the stands it was dead, utter silence.
The air was so heavy it felt as though water might drip from it.
People could hear the drumbeat of their own hearts, and the ragged breathing of those beside them.
And then—
A gasp escaped, impossible to suppress.
As if a fuse had been lit.
“Boom—!!!”
Thunderous cheers and deafening screams suddenly swept through the entire arena.
A tide of sound surged skyward, as if determined to blow the very roof off!
The entire Magic Pet Glory Arena seemed to tremble violently in the grip of this fevered roar!
The stone slabs underfoot shuddered.
Even the air felt like it was burning.
“Su Nian—! Su Nian!!”
Cries from the bottom of the heart joined into a surging torrent.
“Teacher Su Nian—!!!”
Countless arms shot up, waving madly.
“Magic Little Bird! Magic Little Bird!”
This newly coined name was chanted in rhythmic unison.
Countless people leaped from their seats, eyes shining with fanatic light.
As if they had witnessed the coming of a miracle with their own eyes.
It was unbelievable to them.
Against such an overwhelming disadvantage—one against seven!—it ended with a single move!
Those who had doubted Su Nian before were utterly conquered by this miraculous display.
Their voices were even louder than her most loyal fans.
In the magic pet command area of the arena, however, the atmosphere was completely different.
Countess Lilian Field and the other six noble young ladies were as pale as paper.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably—not from cold, but from disbelief.
Their once-proud and powerful magic pets now lay scattered in the sand like seven heaps of broken garbage.
Foaming at the mouth, limbs twitching, not a trace of their former might or ferocity remained.
If it had been a private duel, it might not have mattered so much…
But this was in full view of tens of thousands of spectators, beaten seven-to-one.
It was easy to imagine: from tomorrow onward, they and their magic pets would become the laughingstock of every tea table…
Humiliation.
Humiliation like never before.
All their careful scheming, the trump cards painstakingly nurtured with vast family wealth—
Their self-assured pride and calculations.
All, in this instant, were crushed to dust by that harmless-looking little chubby bird.
Countess Lilian Field’s fingernails dug deep into her palm, crimson blood seeping out, dripping onto her luxurious dress, and she didn’t even notice.
The once-shrewd eyes now held only venom and unwillingness, locked fiercely on that dazzling figure in the arena.
As if she could devour Su Nian alive with her gaze.
Why?
How could this be?
Her Lava Drakesaur—wasn’t that a sub-dragon breed?!
Miss Rosaline and the other young ladies could not restrain their tears of resentment and frustration.
Clumsily, they pressed lace-trimmed handkerchiefs to their faces, unable to bear the sympathetic, mocking, or contemptuous gazes of those around them.
It was over.
In the front row.
Amy and Lise clung to each other, trembling with excitement.
Even the usually calm Lise was jumping and squealing with Amy, unable to contain her joy.
“Woo woo woo… Nian-bao! Nian-bao won! I knew it! I knew Nian-bao was the best!” Amy shrieked incoherently.
In that instant.
Stories about Su Nian and her “Magic Little Bird” spread faster than any previous rumor, like wildfire.
It swept through the entire Academy City in the blink of an eye.
Students of the Magic Academy were in total uproar.
They felt immense pride and joy for their instructor.
Teacher Su Nian had proved with undeniable strength that a genius of common birth could utterly crush the so-called noble heritage—even in the field of magic pet training.
Cries of “Long live Teacher Su Nian!” echoed from every corner of the Academy.
The ordinary citizens of Academy City had already heard of Su Nian in one way or another.
Now, after this battle, having defeated the magic beasts nurtured by the seven great families—
She had become their invincible hero.
The ultimate symbol of a commoner’s rise.
Countless bards had begun to compose new verses, determined to spread the legend of this battle far and wide.
As for those nobles who had previously supported their peers or looked down on Su Nian, they exchanged glances, expressions complicated.
Their hearts were filled with indescribable shock and wariness.
This Su Nian, this seemingly delicate idolized girl—her strength was far beyond anyone’s imagination.
Inside the highest-grade VIP suite of Magic Pet Glory Arena.
Third Prince Elvin Red Maple’s violet eyes shone with unprecedented, deep interest.
A hint of unnoticeable heat glimmered in their depths.
The box was luxurious and quiet, a stark contrast to the frenzy outside.
“How interesting…” He murmured, voice so soft it was nearly drowned out by the ticking of the grandfather clock.
“So very interesting…”
Elvin Red Maple’s lips curved into a meaningful smile, his long fingers gently caressing the cold crystal glass.
The blood-red wine within shimmered alluringly with each small motion.
He had originally regarded Su Nian as a chess piece to be used.
A peerless beauty and commoner genius with astonishing potential.
Under the halo of a magical idol girl, perhaps she could be of use to him.
But now, the overwhelming power displayed by that pale-blue bird forced him to reevaluate Su Nian’s value.
That composure.
That poise.
That magic pet, seemingly harmless but truly unfathomable.
All of it was far beyond what “commoner genius” could explain.
Third Prince Elvin Red Maple’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the smooth rosewood armrest.
His deep violet gaze remained locked on the dazzling figure in the arena.
Amidst all the wild cheering, the girl still stood calm and unruffled; such poise was far beyond what any ordinary commoner could possess.
Yet.
The truth was, the reason Su Nian appeared so composed after her victory was because she was thinking about how to return to Shadowmoon Manor as fast as possible—she was already late!
Elvin Red Maple considered quietly.
His two elder brothers—one had married into the powerful Rhine Kingdom, gaining its strong military and diplomatic support.
The second prince had wed the heiress of the longstanding Morsen Family, whose roots ran deep in the kingdom’s domestic, military, and commercial affairs.
If Elvin wanted to gain the upper hand in the ever fiercer struggle for the throne, relying only on the wavering support of the kingdom’s lesser nobles was obviously insufficient.
Far from enough.
But if he could win over Miss Su Nian…
Or more accurately, gain the backing of the ancient and mysterious Magic Academy she represented…
The Magic Academy.
One of the three great pillars of the Red Maple Kingdom.
The other two were the royal family and the Morsen Family.
Although the mages, engrossed in their research, seldom meddled in worldly affairs and rarely left their seclusion—
Their influence in the kingdom, especially that of the old headmaster known as the Guardian Archmage, was not something anyone dared to underestimate.
The old headmaster, though advanced in years, had yet to name a successor.
And the girl before him, Su Nian, lauded as the genius magic girl of Academy City—
Now displaying such astounding mastery of magic pets…
It was highly likely she would become the next head of the Magic Academy.
If he could draw her to his side…
Have her serve him.
Maybe even… become his queen…
Then, he would possess the power to truly rival, even surpass, his two brothers.
At that thought, Elvin Red Maple let his gaze linger a few moments longer on the girl in the moon-white battle dress.
Her looks were flawless…
Elvin’s lips curled into an elegantly confident smile.
“Go.”
“Contact Miss Su Nian at once.”
“Tell her that this prince wishes to meet her right now.” He gave quiet instructions to a black-clad attendant whose presence was so restrained he seemed to blend with the shadows.
His voice was gentle, but carried an unmistakable command.
The attendant bowed respectfully, and in a blink, slipped away as silently as a ghost, unnoticed by all.
Elvin picked up his crystal wine glass again and took a sip of the blood-red wine.
Once more, his gaze fell on that breathtakingly beautiful figure in the arena, his interest only growing.
With his identity, status, and looks—already known as the “Ice Prince” and adored by all the noble girls of the kingdom—
To personally invite a common-born girl to a meeting.
He imagined the girl would surely be shocked, then overjoyed to accept.
After all, this was a tremendous honor.
At the same time.
The deafening cheers in the arena still showed no sign of stopping.
The host and staff of Magic Pet Glory Arena, following procedure, prepared to invite the winner onstage for an interview…
But then, in the blink of an eye, the girl in the moon-white dress on the arena floor—
Had vanished?
At that moment, Su Nian had no time to worry about anything else—she had to run!
Show off and run, it was thrilling—hehe!
There was no way she could stay…
She was already late!
Just then, a steady, slightly husky male voice suddenly sounded at her side, cutting through the uproar.
“Miss Su Nian, please wait.”
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