Semi-Finals

"Qiao Sang once again secured victory in a Challenge Above Level through her exceptional tactics! She became the third contestant in our Hundred New Tournament to advance to the top four, and the only one to win with a Basic-level Pet Beast! What do you two think of this match?" After speaking, the commentator looked at the two guests beside him.

"I'll say the same thing as before: I look forward to meeting her in a future Regional Tournament." Sha Duo smiled.

"The course of this match was something I hadn't expected. Qiao Sang is an excellent contestant. Winning against an opponent of a superior level despite an unfavorable elemental matchup was something I couldn't accomplish when I was young. Of course, I can't do it now either," Gao Xulu said seriously.

"Miss Xulu, don't say that. A Basic-level Pet Beast defeating an Intermediate Pet Beast is definitely different from a General-level Pet Beast defeating a King-level Pet Beast," the commentator hurriedly said.

Qiao Sang returned to her seat.

The voices from the Commentary Booth could be heard clearly all the way from the backstage passage to the audience seats.

Before Bai Yunmiao could speak excitedly, Qiao Sang asked first, "Who is more famous, Gao Xulu or Sha Duo?"

Bai Yunmiao froze for a moment.

Although she did not understand why Genius Qiao had suddenly asked that, she thought about it before answering, "Although Gao Xulu beat Sha Duo before, they seem to have about the same number of fans. Most of Gao Xulu's supporters admire her strength, while the vast majority of Sha Duo's supporters like him because of his charisma."

"Then I'm relieved." Qiao Sang let out a breath.

"What were you worried about just now?" Bai Yunmiao asked doubtfully.

"Gao Xulu praised me way too hard just now. I was afraid her fans would block me and challenge me one after another. Since she's about as famous as Sha Duo, I'm relieved," Qiao Sang explained.

Bai Yunmiao: "..."

Inside the arena.

During the break while the Pet Beast performers put on their show, several staff members summoned their Pet Beasts to repair the competition grounds.

After every match, the grounds had to be restored to their original state so they would not affect the next match.

F-rank Pet Tamers did not need the arena repaired very often after their matches.

The winner of the fourth match was named Li Langyi. Although he had two Pet Beasts, one of them was still Basic-level.

Unless something unexpected happened, he would definitely send out his Intermediate Pet Beast, Long Tail Snake, in the afternoon match.

Qiao Sang looked worriedly at the only three contestants remaining in her notes.

Other than Li Langyi, she was not confident about facing any of them.

Unlike the other contestants,

Hou Xiangyu and Wei Wenya had both won through sheer strength without using any tactics.

They each had two Intermediate Pet Beasts of different attributes, and they had only displayed a few skills, making them extremely difficult to assess and study.

Unlike her.

Tactics took a great deal of thought, and all her trump cards had already been exposed.

Inside the contestants' lounge at the Pet Beast Arena.

"Genius Qiao, what are you doing?" Bai Yunmiao walked in carrying takeout.

Since the afternoon would be the Hundred New Tournament Finals, most people had not left and instead ate near Shouke Garden.

As a Semi-Finals contestant, Qiao Sang naturally had not gone back either.

"I'm having Fire Fang Dog draw lots. Whoever it picks will be my opponent this afternoon," Qiao Sang said, staring intently at Fire Fang Dog's movements.

"This isn't something the organizers asked you to do, is it?" Bai Yunmiao could not help asking.

She had to question it, because the Item Academy Fire Fang Dog was using to draw lots was far too crude.

It was just three balls of crumpled paper placed on the table, without even a container to hide them in.

"Of course not. I made it myself," Qiao Sang said.

Bai Yunmiao: "..."

As expected...

Was Genius Qiao really this childish...

She did not seem like it usually...

Fire Fang Dog stared at the paper balls on the table without moving for a long time.

It was not hesitating. Every time it pointed at a paper ball, its Pet Tamer would look at it, put it back, and make it choose again.

It no longer knew what it was doing wrong.

Thirty seconds later.

"Yap."

Fire Fang Dog nudged one of the paper balls with its paw.

Qiao Sang opened it and nearly coughed up blood.

→

Hou Xiangyu again!

That was the third time!

They said things never happened more than three times. Fire Fang Dog had drawn Hou Xiangyu three times in a row. Could her opponent in the first afternoon match really be him?

Hou Xiangyu was obviously the strongest among the three.

What terrible luck...

"Why are you making Fire Fang Dog draw? Why don't you draw yourself?" Bai Yunmiao suddenly asked.

"Because Fire Fang Dog has a unique kind of luck. The people it says will win basically always lose. It's very accurate," Qiao Sang said.

"Then shouldn't it mean you won't face whoever it draws?" Bai Yunmiao countered.

Qiao Sang froze, suddenly feeling enlightened.

That seemed to make sense!

Two in the afternoon.

Pet Beast Arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, audience members here at the venue and viewers watching our Hundred New Tournament livestream, it is now time to reveal the matchup for the first Semi-Finals group. Please look at the big screen!"

The four remaining photos continuously shifted around before stopping six seconds later.

Looking at the matchups on the screen, Qiao Sang stiffly turned to Fire Fang Dog, who was trying hard to maintain an expressionless face.

"The first group's matchup has been decided! It will be contestant Wei Wenya against contestant Li Langyi! That means contestant Hou Xiangyu and contestant Qiao Sang will automatically become the opponents in the second group!"

Bai Yunmiao looked at Qiao Sang sympathetically. "It's okay, Genius Qiao. Even if you lose, you can still compete for third place. At worst, you'll come fourth. That's already incredible."

Anyone with eyes could see that Hou Xiangyu, who possessed Scale Control Puppet, was the strongest of the four.

And Genius Qiao...

Qiao Sang gave a stiff smile. "Thanks. That was comforting."

Having come this far, who would not want a higher ranking?

If she had faced Li Langyi in the Semi-Finals, then based on what she knew about Long Tail Snake, she would most likely have won and directly secured a place in the Finals.

She had never thought about taking first place, but she had indeed imagined taking second...

After all, the prize for second place was much better than the prize for third.

Leaving aside the Alliance Coin, the motorcycle and the Water-type Evolution Stone differed greatly in value.

She had even thought about selling the Water-type Evolution Stone on a certain website after receiving the prize...

She had even decided on the listed price...

In the arena, at the referee's whistle and command, the two sides summoned Long Tail Snake and Power Head Duck respectively.

There was no upset.

As Wei Wenya's first Pet Beast, Power Head Duck was slightly superior to its opponent in both coordination and trump cards.

Every skill Long Tail Snake used was avoided by Power Head Duck, and in the end, Power Head Duck finished the match with Water Cannon.

It seemed her next opponent would be Li Langyi.

Qiao Sang was not surprised at all by the result...

Soon, it was time for the second Semi-Finals match.

"Will contestant Hou Xiangyu once again crush his opponent, or will contestant Qiao Sang create another miracle and successfully Challenge Above Level once more? Who will claim the final spot in the Finals?" the commentator passionately announced.

After speaking, he did not forget to ask the guests for their thoughts. "What do you two think?"

Most of the audience had come specifically for the guests, so naturally, they had to be given more chances to speak.

"Emotionally, I hope contestant Qiao Sang wins. Rationally, though, contestant Hou Xiangyu should be the one who wins," Sha Duo said with a smile.

"And what about Miss Xulu?"

"Me too," Gao Xulu answered.

Commentator: "..."

"What a concise and straightforward answer. Now, let us turn our attention to the arena."

I can see everyone's comments from yesterday and today in the author assistant, but they do not seem to appear on Qidian. Someone asked me a question yesterday and I replied, but it seems my replies are not showing either.

I'll answer her question again here. Pet Beasts definitely have genders, but I will not specifically write them out. I did not specifically state Fire Fang Dog's gender either, but it should be obvious that he is a boy. Also, there should be Pet Beasts later on that can communicate with people.