Very soon, as the stadium’s advertisements finished playing,
The semifinals gradually began to unfold.
“The first pair to enter the stage: Lin Xing! Wu Yan!”
With the Referee’s command, the first match of the semifinals officially began!
All the instructors on the platform locked their gazes on the little bird perched on Lumiya’s shoulder, whispering among themselves with barely concealed excitement.
Even though their strength allowed them to see everything clearly from this distance, several still leaned forward, trying to get an even closer look.
“Lin Xing’s newly contracted beast must be that one! That appearance! That aura! It really is an Emerald Sky Bird!”
“Heavens! That’s the Hua Country’s ace, a ninth-tier Space Element Emerald Sky Bird! What outrageous luck!” An old, white-haired instructor stroked his beard, his eyes shining with astonishment and admiration in his voice.
“What’s even rarer is that it’s already humanoid right after contracting! Back then, even that one from Hua Country needed a Shapeshifting Crystal to achieve human form. Lin Xing’s Emerald Sky Bird is starting on a whole new level!”
The female instructor from South City Branch Academy nearby couldn’t help herself either, her tone full of envy and wonder.
“Our East City’s Wu Yan isn’t so bad either, is he?”
An instructor from East City stiffened his neck to argue, but his words were instantly drowned out by waves of disdainful snickers from all around.
In truth, Wu Yan’s talent and strength were indeed outstanding.
After all, contracting an SSS-grade Fiery Sun Flame Tiger was already one in ten thousand.
But still, as the saying goes—
There are differences even among SSS-grades.
Wu Yan’s Fiery Sun Flame Tiger might only be half a notch stronger than Zhao Lei’s Thunder Crystal Lion, but going up against Lin Xing and Lumiya?
Forget it! Didn’t you see what happened to Zhao Lei?
Lumiya alone could pin both the Thunder Crystal Lion and Zhao Lei to the ground; what do you think would happen to Wu Yan and his Flame Tiger?
Not to mention, after Lin Xing’s breakthrough, he now had a top-tier Space Element Emerald Sky Bird!
Unless Lin Xing had a spell put on him that forced him to only use the newly contracted Emerald Sky Bird, not a single instructor present thought Wu Yan had a chance.
That East City instructor knew this too. His earlier rebuttal was just to try to save a bit of face for his own student.
Now, teased to the point that his ears turned red, he could only awkwardly rub his nose and fall silent.
However, at this moment, none of them realized—
Lumiya truly wasn’t planning to take the stage.
And it wasn’t because she lost to Little Green in leg wrestling! Absolutely not!
She simply wanted Lin Xing to get used to Little Green’s abilities, that’s all.
She curled up in Lin Xing’s arms, her tail flicking lazily over his wrist.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Little Green excitedly bouncing on Lin Xing’s shoulder, chattering away about the dazzling moves she’d pull off onstage, and Lumiya pursed her lips.
That Little Green, although suppressed by the world just like that old tree, was still a big deal— even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse.
Dealing with a fire-breathing big cat was no problem for her.
If anything, the trouble was for the big cat on the other side.
Back in the day, Little Green was chased everywhere by all kinds of feline and canine beasts from other races.
But after her power grew, the first thing she did was take revenge— chasing those cats and dogs all over every day, pecking at them endlessly.
Lumiya leaned close to Lin Xing’s ear and muttered,
“Let Little Green go for this match, okay? Work together with her~”
Lin Xing was stunned for a moment. Wasn’t Little Green just newly contracted?
But still, he let Lumiya go rest.
On one hand, Lumiya was honestly too strong.
Having her lie there and win the match without lifting a finger might be satisfying, but he also wanted to test his own strength.
On the other hand, it was trust in his partner— he believed in Little Green!
Besides, if he really couldn’t win, he could always call Lumiya up as backup~
Soon after, Lumiya curled up leisurely on the soft mat at the edge of the arena, her tail wrapped around herself, dragon pupils half-closed as she prepared to nap.
On the opposite side, Wu Yan, knowing that his opponent was the first-tier freshman Lin Xing who was the talk of the forums yesterday, brimmed with fighting spirit.
Though he’d watched Zhao Lei’s match, he believed that he and his Fiery Sun Flame Tiger could absolutely put up a fight!
But! Where was the main force— the dragon-horned loli? Why did she just head to the corner to nap as soon as the match began?
Did they look down on him? Did they think using a newly contracted beast would be enough to beat him?!
This was too much! Utter humiliation, Lin Xing! Just because you’re first-tier, you think you’re all that?
Veins bulged on Wu Yan’s forehead as he suddenly slapped the Fiery Sun Flame Tiger’s neck beside him.
“Flame Tiger! Show them what we’re made of!”
Since they wouldn’t go all out, he’d force them to with his own strength!
The huge beast, wreathed in fire, seemed to sense its master’s anger and raised its head in a thunderous roar,
Its tiger eyes blazing with fighting spirit, the flames around its body surged up three meters in an instant, distorting the surrounding air with their heat.
Lin Xing saw this and gently patted the eager Little Green on his shoulder. “Ready?”
Little Green immediately flapped her wings and rose into the air, tilting her little head high.
“Relax, relax~ Even if a hundred of these big cats came at me, none of them would be my match. Just you watch, I guarantee this guy will be so dizzy, he won’t know north from south or east from west~~~”
As soon as she finished, a faint green light shimmered around her, gentle spatial ripples swirling near her wings as she prepared to attack at any moment.
The Referee was puzzled by Lumiya’s actions, but seeing both competitors clearly ready, didn’t press the issue.
“Begin!”
No sooner had the Referee spoken than Wu Yan struck first,
A Flame Blade appeared in his hand,
And with a violent swing, he unleashed a sweeping Firewave!
The Fiery Sun Flame Tiger braced all four paws against the ground, flames gathering solidly around its body, charging at Little Green like a blazing meteor,
It was obvious both master and beast were perfectly in sync— no words needed, their actions were as one!
Seeing the Fiery Sun Flame Tiger charging,
Little Green didn’t panic at all. With a clear chirp, she beat her wings hard, shimmering ripples spreading around her,
And the next moment, she vanished into thin air! The Fiery Sun Flame Tiger’s charge hit nothing but empty space.
Wu Yan’s pupils shrank, but his blade-wielding charge didn’t falter, still heading straight for Lin Xing.
“Space Element?! Is that really an Emerald Sky Bird?!”
He didn’t have as much insider info as the instructors— all he knew was that Lin Xing, a first-tier, had two beasts!
Just then, Little Green appeared behind the Fiery Sun Flame Tiger,
The edges of her wings condensed fine Spatial Blades, which she slashed down hard on the Flame Tiger’s tail!
The Fiery Sun Flame Tiger roared in pain, whipping around and lashing its tail, flames swirling with wind as it struck at Little Green— but she instantly blinked away again.
“Don’t think you’ve won just because it’s an Emerald Sky Bird!”
Wu Yan roared angrily, swinging his long blade straight at Lin Xing’s face,
But Lin Xing shifted five meters away as if by magic, causing the attack to miss.
Then, flame erupted from his fingertips, instantly forming a golden-red longbow!
The bowstring hummed, and three Fiery Arrows blazing with golden-red flames took shape, whistling through the air toward Wu Yan’s shoulder with a scorching heatwave.
Wu Yan hastily swung his blade to block.
Sparks flew as the blade clashed with the arrows, his arm numb from the impact, and the force pushed him half a step back.
Wu Yan gritted his teeth. This guy! No wonder he’s first-tier!
“Flame Tiger! Try to pin down that bird as much as possible!”
The Fiery Sun Flame Tiger raised its head and spat out dozens of pillars of flame.
The pillars wove together in mid-air to form a massive Fire Cage, locking down every spot Little Green could possibly blink to.
The searing heat made the very air waver.
A sly glint flashed in Little Green’s eyes. Far from panicking, she darted through the blazing cage with flickering wings,
She didn’t even use spatial travel or high-powered abilities, just left streaks of green afterimages in the air, constantly teasing the big cat below.
“Can’t catch me~ Can’t catch me~ Come on, come on! Over here, over here! Ah~ what a pity~ almost had me~”
Her crisp voice carried a mocking tone. “Big dumb cat, you can’t burn me, you know!”