Beast Pet Preliminaries

With only one day left before the Beast Pet Tournament, the academy finally posted a notice about the competition.

Students crowded around the noticeboard, all discussing the Beast Pet Tournament that the Shenzhou Kingdom held once every five years.

"These rules are way too vague! Of the four stages, they only mention the preliminaries. There isn't a single word about when or where the other three stages will take place. This is ridiculous!"

"Exactly. Does that mean this tournament's rules are different from the previous ones?"

"That's a good thing! A little suspense makes it worth watching! Just look at those outrageous rewards, especially for the top three. Keeping your military rank permanently? Incredible. Tsk, tsk, I can't wait to enter."

"..."

Jiang Hao and Chubby squeezed through the crowd with some effort. The notice read as follows:

To all citizens of the Shenzhou Kingdom: the once-every-five-years Beast Pet Tournament has arrived on schedule. We encourage the Beast Tamers of our kingdom to register enthusiastically. By resolution of His Majesty King Han and the Ten Transcendent Masters, the tournament will consist of two tiers and four stages. The First Tier is for Beast Pets above the peak of the Golden Body Realm and at or below the Divine Valor Realm. The second tier is for Beast Pets below the Golden Body Realm.

The top two hundred competitors in the preliminaries of each of the five competition regions will advance to the second stage. Rules, locations, and times for subsequent stages will be announced separately.

Rewards for the second division are as follows:

Competitors placing five hundredth through one hundred and first will each receive one thousand Low-Grade Beast Crystals. Those placing one hundredth through fifty-first will each receive one thousand mid-grade beast crystals. Those placing fiftieth through twenty-first will each receive one thousand high-grade beast crystals. Those placing twentieth through eleventh will each receive five thousand high-grade beast crystals and an additional appointment to Centurion rank. Recipients must report to the Shenzhou Army Camp within the specified time. Failure to do so will be considered voluntary forfeiture.

Competitors placing tenth through fourth will each receive ten rare beast crystals and an additional appointment to Thousand-Man Commander rank. Recipients must report to the Shenzhou Army Camp within the specified time. Failure to do so will be considered voluntary forfeiture.

Third place will receive one uncommon beast crystal, with the additional reward of permanently retaining the Deputy Commandant Rank.

Second place will receive ten uncommon beast crystals, with the additional reward of permanently retaining the Commandant Rank.

First place will receive one Top-Grade Beast Crystal, with the additional reward of permanently retaining the Deputy Colonel Rank.

There were even military ranks among the rewards. This was unprecedented in the Shenzhou Kingdom's history! Soldiers could only earn those ranks by fighting bloody battles on the battlefield, yet now they were being handed out to people who did not even qualify as raw recruits.

"A t-Top-Grade Beast Crystal! Hao, did you see that? It's actually top-grade! I wouldn't dare dream of something like that!"

Wait, that's what you're focusing on?

Compared with permanently retaining the Deputy Colonel Rank, all you see is one Top-Grade Beast Crystal? Which one is more important? Jiang Hao was utterly exasperated with his best friend, like someone trying to forge iron that stubbornly refused to become steel.

But the more perceptive among them quickly realized something else when they saw those rewards.

"Don't you think this Beast Pet Tournament looks like a way to select military talent? I heard our Shenzhou Army has started fighting the North Sea Kingdom at the border again."

"What's so strange about that? Have there ever been any shortage of clashes between our Shenzhou Kingdom and the North Sea Kingdom? Those northern barbarians harass our borders every year before winter. It's happened far more than once or twice."

"Exactly. Damn it, if our Shenzhou Kingdom had a Myriad Forms Divine Beast, those northern barbarians would never get the chance to come bullying us at our doorstep. We'd have marched straight into their homeland long ago."

"Tch, easy for you to say. The Chaoyun Kingdom, the strongest nation, took a thousand years to raise two generations of divine beasts. Do you think the Myriad Forms Realm is as common as cabbages by the roadside? We'd be lucky to have even one Saint."

The North Sea Kingdom dared to harass the Shenzhou Kingdom's borders so brazenly because their nation had produced a Saint. Brimming with confidence, they bullied their neighbors precisely because those neighbors hated them but could not beat them.

"Tell me, Lord Dragon Venerable's beast pet, Tyrannosaurus, has been stuck at the transcendent peak for thirty years without any news of a breakthrough. Can he still evolve into the Saint Realm within his lifetime?"

"Probably a long shot."

Yes, that was right. Dragon Venerable was not only the foremost of the Ten Transcendent Masters, but also the former marshal of the Shenzhou Army. Countless citizens of the Shenzhou Kingdom placed their hopes in his beast pet, believing he might evolve into sainthood.

The preliminaries were simple. All registered Beast Tamers would draw lots and face off. The winners would enter the next round of draws, continuing to defeat opponents until the top two hundred were decided.

Setting aside the First Tier competition for now, the second tier had a total of 5,320 entrants from Primordial City and several neighboring cities. Primordial City served as the Fifth Competition Zone, and tomorrow's matches would take place at the War Academy.

Registration had closed three days earlier, so visiting Beast Tamers could now be seen strolling around the academy, admiring the campus scenery.

"Well, well, isn't this Chicken Bro? Don't tell me you think that weak little chicken of yours can fight its way into the top two hundred! Hahaha!"

That mocking voice belonged to the bastard Song Jie.

"Hahaha! Chicken Bro, if your weak little chicken makes the top two hundred in the preliminaries-no, the top five hundred-I'll take a shit while doing a handstand!"

That was Song Jie's first lackey speaking.

"Tsk, tsk, Chicken Bro, don't listen to his nonsense. If you make the top thousand, I'll streak in front of everyone."

That was Song Jie's second lackey.

"Hahaha!" Their remarks sent everyone into roars of laughter!

Even some visiting Beast Tamers looked at Jiang Hao and whispered among themselves.

"The War Academy really does get worse with every class. They even admit people like him now. Perfect. Looks like we came to the right place. One of the Fifth Competition Zone's top two hundred spots is definitely mine."

Jiang Hao was so angry his gums ached, but he soon calmed down. He would let them gloat a little longer. Tomorrow, they had better hope he did not draw Song Jie or his cronies. Hmph!

"Come on. Let's go back to class."

Chubby glanced back at Song Jie and the others, then cursed indignantly, "Bastards! They'd better hope Grandpa Chubby doesn't draw them tomorrow, or I'll have Dudu smash their beast pets to pieces with one slap!"

"You're getting ahead of yourself. The Beast Pet Tournament isn't a battlefield. You can't just do whatever you please. Still, I keep feeling there's more to this tournament than meets the eye. Isn't it strange that they haven't even announced the location of the second stage?"

"Whatever happens, as long as a scumbag like Song Jie doesn't win, I'm fine with it."

Dragonkeep

At the dinner table, Dragon Venerable offered a few words of guidance.

"Hao, are you confident you can take first place in this Beast Pet Tournament?"

Luo Su sputtered, "Pfft!"

She nearly spat out her mouthful of rice. Their father really did know how to stun people with his words!

Jiang Hao's voice sounded rather weak. "...I'll do my best."

Liao Yunxiao frowned and set down her chopsticks, displeased. "What's this? Since when did the men of Dragonkeep speak with so little confidence?"

Jiang Hao declared loudly, "Father, Second Sister, I can't guarantee first place, but one of the top three spots will be mine!"

The next day

The eagerly awaited Beast Pet Tournament, held once every five years, finally began.

The War Academy's gates, normally closed to outsiders, stood wide open. Its vast campus plaza was packed with academy students, competing Beast Tamers, and ordinary people who had come to watch the excitement. In the middle of the plaza, a large circular platform nearly a hundred meters across had been divided into five smaller Competition Platforms.

Reinforced glass separated the Competition Platforms to prevent stray Beast Pet skills from injuring others. Each Competition Platform also had a marked area roughly ten meters across at its center. Whether a Beast Tamer or a Beast Pet stepped outside that area, they would lose.

On the speaking platform, the War Academy's headmaster stood at the front, with the Referee Panel lined up behind him. To ensure fairness and impartiality, these judges were Beast Tamers nominated by their respective cities. As a Transcendent Master, Liao Yunxiao was naturally among them, representing both Primordial City and the War Academy.

"Quiet!"

The rich, powerful voice rolled over the entire field.

The field instantly fell so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard. Every gaze turned toward the headmaster. This elusive middle-aged man, already past fifty, still spoke with tremendous vigor.

Satisfied, the headmaster nodded, cleared his throat, and continued, "Our Shenzhou Kingdom's Beast Pet Tournament, held once every five years, begins today as scheduled. On behalf of the War Academy, I welcome all of you who have traveled from afar. Now, please welcome Lady Liao Yunxiao, a Transcendent Master, a serving teacher at our academy, and the chief judge of this tournament, to announce the rules."

There was probably no one present who did not recognize the young, beautiful female Transcendent Master beside him.

Liao Yunxiao wasted no words. Her clear voice reached everyone through the loudspeaker.

"As time is limited, I'll get straight to the point. The rules of this tournament are as follows:

"First, the competition will last five days. Each match must last no longer than five minutes. If neither side can force their opponent out of the circle within five minutes, both will be eliminated.

"Second, opponents will be determined by drawing lots, with the first number facing the last, and so on. Losers will be eliminated immediately. Winners will earn points and proceed to the next round of draws. Faster victories earn more points: a win within one minute earns five points, within two minutes earns four, and so forth. The top two hundred competitors by points will advance to the second stage.

"Third, cheating and deliberately throwing matches are forbidden. Anyone caught doing either will be eliminated immediately.

"Fourth, a round of elimination matches determined by drawing lots will be held on the fifth day. This will be the last chance for competitors ranked outside the top two hundred. If you defeat someone ranked above you, you will take their place. So those of you in the top two hundred should not assume victory is already in the palm of your hand.

"Fifth, to ensure the safety of Beast Tamers and beast pets, please be sure to collect your Safety Bells when drawing lots. I won't explain their function here.

"Sixth, all First Tier competitors should now head to the new field to draw lots for their matches. All support-type competitors should head to Field Two to draw lots for theirs."

"That is all. Take your positions."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Referee Panel immediately split into three groups. One went to oversee the First Tier, while another went to oversee the support-type matches.

But the announcement of those rules drew a chorus of wails from the owners of defensive Beast Pets. This was their worst nightmare. They could not help wondering whether the Referee Panel had deliberately devised these rules to target them. What happened to fairness and impartiality?

Many withdrew from the competition as a result. There was nothing they could do. If they at least had a damage-reflection skill or something similar, they might still have had a chance.

As the saying went, luck was also part of strength. These people had simply been unlucky enough to lose before the competition even began.

After spending most of the day waiting, Jiang Hao finally received two Safety Bells and a draw slip with its number concealed from a staff member. He scratched it open and looked. Well, well-number 4001.

After excluding the thousand support-type competitors and those who had withdrawn earlier, exactly 4,001 people remained. That meant one person was destined to receive a bye and advance directly to the next round. And that person was none other than Jiang Hao.