The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 48

After several rounds of selection, fewer than one-fifth of the original participants remained for the finals. Even so, the number still far exceeded the limit for those allowed entry into the secret realm.

The competition remained fierce. Yi Xian dared not slack off for even a moment.

On the day of the finals, Yi Xian finally saw the man everyone had been talking about, Zhu Mingyi, the Peak Master of Mingwang Peak. He was the closest person to the No Recklessness Rank, the ultimate goal all Beast Tamers of Qingshan Sect aspired to. It was rumored that Zhu Mingyi might even be the next Sect Master of Qingshan Sect. Dressed in flowing white robes, his eyes shone with clarity and warmth, and his voice was gentle yet powerful, like a fresh breeze.

His appearance stirred a buzz of whispers among the crowd.

“Today, aside from announcing the rules for the finals, there is also a joyous matter to share. We will now reveal the top three prizes that await the champions of this tournament.” He paused briefly, his warm gaze sweeping over the crowd already buzzing with excitement. “Bring forth the first treasure.”

Xie Ying, Zhu Mingyi’s personal disciple, stepped forward with three people holding trays covered in red cloth. After bowing to her master, she unveiled the first item, a smooth and round egg. She explained concisely, “The first treasure is the egg of a sixth-level phantom beast. It is a growth-type.”

Her voice had barely faded when the crowd erupted.

“A growth-type phantom beast egg? That means it can be raised from youth!”

“It must be an offensive-type beast.”

…

Yi Xian was suddenly pinched by Duanmu Ya, who had insisted on joining the crowd. With envy in her eyes, Duanmu Ya exclaimed, “Qingshan Sect is being so generous. Starting off with a sixth-level beast, and it’s even a growth-type!”

Yi Xian kept hearing the same thing repeated around her and finally asked, “What is a growth-type phantom beast?”

Duanmu Ya whispered, “It means an unpredictable type of beast. It might develop new abilities as it matures. You never know what it could become, maybe something far beyond expectations. These beasts are the hardest to capture and extremely expensive. Being able to raise one that is highly compatible with you is a dream for most Beast Tamers.”

Seeing Yi Xian’s calm and indifferent expression, Duanmu Ya said no more.

Seizing the moment of excitement, Xie Ying soon revealed the second treasure, a white jade porcelain bottle. “Inside is a single Revitalizing Spring Pill, mid-upper seventh-grade, with a seventy percent chance of repairing a crippled spiritual root.”

Yi Xian winced as Duanmu Ya’s fingers dug sharply into her arm. Duanmu Ya stared unblinkingly at the bottle. Understanding, Yi Xian patted her hand gently. “Xiao Ya, relax.”

Duanmu Ya looked at Yi Xian and sighed in disappointment. “I didn’t expect Qingshan Sect to have such a treasure. I wonder who will be lucky enough to win it.”

Yi Xian knew Duanmu Ya’s crippled spiritual root was her greatest regret. “Who knows? If the winner doesn’t need it, we might be able to trade for it. There are always ways.”

Duanmu Ya’s hope reignited with just those few words. “Right! This pill is useless to most others.”

Yi Xian thought of someone else in the crowd who might also covet the pill. If both of them competed for it, there was no telling who would win. “Xiao Ya, I remember you have a sharp nose for medicinal herbs. If you could smell the pill, could you deduce its ingredients and try making one yourself?”

The idea had never occurred to Duanmu Ya. She scratched her head. “It’s a seventh-grade pill… I can only refine up to fourth-grade at best. But the formula? Maybe I can try.”

While they were talking, Xie Ying revealed the third treasure, a small fragment of a map. “Do not underestimate this piece. It is a partial copy of the Earth-level secret realm map of the Phantom Beast Valley. Because much of it is missing, the internal details remain unknown.”

A hush fell over the crowd.

Duanmu Ya gasped. “They really spared no expense for the Watermark Secret Realm. Shouldn’t something like that be kept secret?”

Judging by the order in which Xie Ying had revealed the prizes, Yi Xian realized that this broken map was likely the most valuable of them all. “Looks like the bloodshed begins even before the finals.”

Duanmu Ya anxiously warned her, “Yi Xian, be careful.”

Yi Xian felt she was worrying too soon. She was only a third-stage Human-level Beast Tamer. No one would even bother to take her seriously.

The rules of the finals were the same as the semi-finals. Yi Xian discovered only after the announcement that she had two matches scheduled for the first day. Unfortunately, her first opponent was the dark horse from Zone Three. Her second was the lunatic from Zone One. Her luck was so awful she couldn’t even complain.

Duanmu Ya was pacing like an ant on a hot griddle. “Bao Tan and Chu Chen are both promising newcomers this year. They’ve each won over ten matches to reach the finals. Yi Xian, don’t underestimate them!”

Yi Xian never underestimated anyone, but she knew nothing about these two. During the semi-finals, she had spent most of her time training. Aside from watching Nian Yunyin’s matches, she hadn’t seen any others.

First Match: Yundan Peak’s Yi Xian vs. Yunmiao Peak’s Bao Tan

As soon as she stepped onto the stage, she saw a delicate and handsome young man, around seventeen or eighteen. Clearly not yet an adult. When he saw her, his eyes curved like crescent moons and revealed two sharp canine teeth. “I know you. A Light Spirit Beast Tamer who can both support and attack. You’re best at tossing your opponents out of the ring.”

Yi Xian summoned her little pony. He continued, “But that trick has a glaring weakness. I don’t know how you made it to the finals, but this is where your journey ends.”

The little pony emitted Light Spirits so dazzling that they overwhelmed the eyes. The moment they appeared, it was like the signal for battle.

Bao Tan, a Water Spirit Beast Tamer, summoned a fourth-level phantom beast, a giant whale. It excelled at creating waves. Anyone entering its domain would be swept up and tossed out, dizzy and defeated.

Thanks to Duanmu Ya’s briefing, Yi Xian had already studied this young man, known as the Wave Prince.

When she saw the chubby blue whale begin playing in the water, she immediately threw up a five-needle segment shield around it, trapping it in a defensive dome. Let it splash around to its heart’s content in there.

Bao Tan was caught off guard by Yi Xian’s sudden move. This was nothing like the previous matches he had seen. Although he recovered quickly, he had lost his most valuable asset. Still, he remained.

The little pony occasionally reinforced the whale with buffs and used the light to cover Yi Xian. With Bao Tan dazed, Yi Xian slipped behind him under the cover of the Light Spirits and struck at the back of his neck.

But before her strike landed, a pillar of water shot up toward her face as if it had eyes. Yi Xian retreated several steps to dodge it.

Bao Tan turned to face her, eyes still shut, and grinned, flashing his little fangs. “I underestimated you, rookie.”

Yi Xian saw three to five waves floating in mid-air, spinning like a five-petaled flower. It was beautiful, but she had no time to admire it. She cast a shield just as the waves crashed down, striking with such force that they knocked the playful whale out of the ring. The water surged past the shield and then receded into silence.

Bao Tan tilted his head to listen. Hearing nothing, he said, “You—”

Yi Xian had teleported behind him again, but this time she stood at an angle, pressing a dagger to his neck. “If the rules didn’t forbid killing, you’d already be dead.”

His face froze, then he pouted unhappily. “How do you move so silently?”

Yi Xian asked, “Are you stepping down yourself, or do I have to kick you?”

He still kept questioning. “Why couldn’t I sense your movement in my water domain? No one escapes my field. Especially not from the center. Why?”

Yi Xian kicked him off the stage.

Despite being knocked out, Bao Tan scrambled back and chased after her. “Tell me how you avoided my water field!”

His questions were the same ones Duanmu Ya wanted to ask. But knowing Yi Xian had another tough match coming up, she held back and simply said, “Yi Xian, Chu Chen is wild. Be extremely careful.”

Yi Xian found a quiet place and tested her remote object retrieval ability. She stood still, hand outstretched, and a leaf drifting through the air landed in her palm. Bao Tan’s question had a simple answer. She never moved, so there was no trajectory to track. The only thing that moved was the space beneath her.

After resting for half a day, the second match began.

Yundan Peak’s Yi Xian vs. Mingwang Peak’s Chu Chen

Compared to Wave Prince Bao Tan, Chu Chen was called a madman. Yi Xian had no idea how he earned that nickname, but judging by Duanmu Ya’s disapproving expression, he had probably done plenty of crazy things.

As Yi Xian stepped onto the stage, Chu Chen gave her a crooked smile. “I don’t like talking.”

As it happened, Yi Xian disliked idle chatter as well. No one could say who struck first. Her Light Spirits clashed with his flaming palms in rapid succession before both attacks dissolved.

The hem of Yi Xian’s robe caught fire. She tore off the burning section and let it turn to ash. Only now did she truly appreciate how gentle Duanmu Ya had been during practice. Compared to Chu Chen, she had been child’s play.

Chu Chen tilted his head. “A rookie Beast Tamer? Interesting.”

Yi Xian raised her eyes calmly. “You’re quite something yourself.”

Chu Chen was a dual-rooted Fire and Wind Spirit Beast Tamer. His main companions were a fourth-level Wind Spirit flying elephant and a third-level Fire Spirit bird. His specialty? Stirring up trouble.

He swiftly summoned his beasts, placing one on each side of the arena.

Yi Xian summoned her little pony. From the setup, it was clear she was at a disadvantage, outnumbered and outpowered. This was her first time facing a dual-rooted Beast Tamer in an arena match. Fire and wind made quite the pair, perfect for stirring up trouble.

But then she glanced at the five spiral patterns on the unicorn horn of her little pony and stood up straighter. When it came to phantom beasts, quality mattered more than quantity. Her little pony alone could hold its own against two.

“Let me show you my—”

“Wind-Fire Wheels?”

Chu Chen choked slightly.

Yi Xian noticed the two phantom beasts behind him working together seamlessly, one spewing fire while the other fanned it. In the blink of an eye, five or six fireballs flew at her like they had legs. Pushing aside the sarcastic thoughts swirling in her head, she dodged with precision. She slashed twice toward the two beasts with her five-needle light segments. One swing missed slightly, and the result was that Chu Chen and his flying elephant ended up inside the defensive dome. But the firebird flapped its wings and soared right above her, relentlessly spewing fire at her.

Yi Xian could feel the searing heat grazing her from the side. Before she could fully dodge, a fireball struck her shoulder and set her robe aflame. The firebird gave her no chance to breathe and continued its assault, pressing the advantage without pause.

Meanwhile, the little pony busied itself enhancing the dome surrounding Chu Chen and his elephant.

Yi Xian saw the elephant’s wind blast push the dome upward. “Little pony, quick! Toss Chu Chen out of the ring. Once he’s out, the match ends.”

Chu Chen was fuming, pounding the shield over and over. A visible crack began to form. Yi Xian ignored the firebird still tailing her and launched another five-needle swing. With energy reinforcement, she sealed the crack instantly.

“You cowardly woman! Fight me fair and square!”

“Another day.”

Yi Xian paid no mind to his howling outrage. She kicked him out of the ring with one solid strike. Yet the firebird kept hounding her, spewing flames nonstop, leaving her disheveled and scorched.

Finally, the Qingshan Sect judge stepped in and restrained the firebird.

Yi Xian had several burn injuries. She could smell the charred scent of her own flesh. As soon as she left the stage, Chu Chen charged over, furious, grabbing her by the collar. “That was a dirty win! We fight again!”

Duanmu Ya shoved her way through the crowd and slapped his hand away without hesitation. “Let go! Can’t you see Yi Xian is injured? She needs treatment.”

“Fine. Right here, right now. I’ll wait until she’s healed. Then we go again.”

Yi Xian couldn’t be bothered with him. Now she understood how this lunatic earned his nickname. He was like a rabid dog that wouldn’t let go. “A win is a win. A loss is a loss. I beat you fair and square.”

The defensive dome was designed for protection. With the five-needle reinforcement, it could last for a short time, no more than several minutes. Even so, just like before, it nearly collapsed under Chu Chen’s attack.

Chu Chen sneered. “You call that a win?”

A new voice cut in. “The judge already made a fair ruling. Isn’t that enough? Besides, you were the first to be eliminated. That means you lost. What, Young Master Chu, can’t handle losing a little match like this?”

Duanmu Ya muttered in agreement. “Exactly. If you can’t take it, don’t come at all.”

Chu Chen shot Duanmu Ya a vicious glare, then turned to the one who had spoken.

The newcomer was a strikingly beautiful young man with rosy lips and white teeth, dressed in red and white robes that were more dazzling than those of the girls nearby. One might even suspect he was a woman in disguise.

“Watch your mouth. This is Senior Brother Huangfu.”

“Oh? Senior Brother?” Chu Chen scoffed. “If that’s true, I wouldn’t mind a round with him.”

Tension crackled in the air.

Huangfu Yi smiled lightly. “To avoid gossip, perhaps Young Master Chu should seek advice from Xie Ying of Mingwang Peak instead. Have her challenge me. I might even accept.”

“No need for that. Huangfu Yi, we’ll face off sooner or later. Be patient.”

“Xie Ying.”

Speak of the devil, Xie Ying had arrived with her group. In an instant, two opposing factions formed on the spot, the air charged with confrontation. Yi Xian almost believed a brawl was about to break out, but after a few sharp exchanges, they returned to the original issue.

Huangfu Yi said, “Losing isn’t shameful. What’s shameful is refusing to accept it. Seems like people from Mingwang Peak really can’t handle losing. Xie Ying, as the senior disciple, you should lead by example, not spoil the newcomers. Otherwise, your peak’s reputation will suffer.”

Xie Ying’s gaze swept coldly over Chu Chen. “Mingwang Peak’s affairs are none of your concern. I will handle it. Huangfu Yi, see you in the arena.”

With that, she turned and left, her eyes brushing over Yi Xian, calm, indifferent, and unreadable.

Chu Chen was dragged away by his peak mates.

Only Yi Xian, Duanmu Ya, and Huangfu Yi’s group remained.

Yi Xian spoke, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Huangfu Yi examined her briefly, then motioned for someone to come over. A downcast man was dragged over.

“Don’t thank me yet, Junior Sister. I came for an old, unpleasant matter. I hope you’ll let bygones be bygones. You remember him, don’t you?”

Yi Xian never forgot. Especially not humiliation. “I remember.”

It was the same senior who had received her during the sect’s recruitment, the one who’d mocked her.

He glanced at her nervously. “Junior Sister, I failed to recognize your worth. Please don’t hold a grudge. Back then, I even considered—”

Yi Xian cut him off calmly. “Senior Brother Huangfu, the past is the past. Let’s leave it there. Unless there’s something else, I need treatment for my injuries.”

Huangfu Yi didn’t push it. “I know you’re just a follower at Yundan Peak. With your talent, that peak doesn’t suit you. Why not come to Blazing Flame Peak instead?”

Yi Xian considered it. “Let me think about it after the finals. Is that acceptable, Senior Brother?”

“Then I await your good news.”

On the way back, Duanmu Ya was practically skipping with joy. “I was going to ask Master to take you around the other peaks after the finals. Maybe help you find a better teacher. Who would’ve thought Blazing Flame Peak would come to you first? Hah! Took them long enough to realize their mistake. They should reflect properly on how they treated you before.”

Yi Xian suddenly stopped. “Xiao Ya, it’s not that simple.”

Duanmu Ya blinked. “What do you mean?”

Yi Xian didn’t think she was some universally loved treasure. Making it to the finals didn’t mean much. So many other rookies had qualified. Why would someone like Huangfu Yi single her out?

Talent?

She had barely stepped into the world of Beast Tamers, and among them, she was the weakest. Even Chu Chen, with his dual roots, possessed far greater strength. Their match had nearly overwhelmed her, and with just two phantom beasts, she was already struggling.

If the next rounds paired her against someone like Xie Ying, her defensive dome might shatter within seconds.

Yi Xian took a deep breath. “Xiao Ya, there’s more to this than meets the eye. Let’s not worry about it for now. After the finals, we’ll talk. For now, you need to help me heal.”

That finally reminded Duanmu Ya of the main task.

Fortunately, Yi Xian had three days to rest. Even so, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to understand Huangfu Yi’s sudden act of contrition. Was it a performance? A recruitment attempt?

Then her thoughts shifted to Xie Ying. Lately, that woman had been appearing far too often.

Could Nian Yunyin be right? Did Xie Ying actually know her? Someone like Xie Ying was so far above her that she could not imagine what kind of connection they might have shared.

Unable to sleep, Yi Xian rose from bed and went outside. She sat on a stone bench, lost in thought. Her original self had truly left her a mess to deal with, giving her no clues and no guidance. Even Lan Tong alone had nearly cost her half her life.

The memory of that golden-haired beast sent a chill down her spine.

As she turned to go back inside, a pair of dangerous eyes stared at her from the shadows.

Startled, Yi Xian stepped back. The massive lion, lurking in silence, moved forward. Its beautiful blue eyes were fixed coldly on her.

Her heart trembled. She could hardly believe that beast had actually broken in. This was the Qingshan Sect, and if anyone saw it here, the consequences would be disastrous.

It had to be the little one’s doing. The very thought of the cub gave Yi Xian a headache. Raising her felt like caring for a tiny traitor who tattled at every chance.

“Stay right there. Don’t take another step, or I won’t be polite.”

Light Spirit energy gathered in her hand.

The lion took two more steps. Under her glare, it transformed into a tall woman who sniffed the air lightly. “You’re hurt.”

Injuries were nothing new.

Yi Xian wanted to throttle this creature. “What are you doing here? You should have taken the cub back to your Beast Tribe. That’s where you belong, not here. Do you have any idea how many people want Xiao Nan dead? They would skin both of you for a couple of coats.”

Lan Tong watched her anger and found her oddly adorable. “Once you’re healed, come home with me.”

Yi Xian wanted to punch her, but doing so would only hurt her own hand. This beast had no sense of the divide that separated them.

Just as Yi Xian prepared to reason with her calmly, hoping to avoid another misunderstanding, Lan Tong suddenly lunged forward, scooped her up, and sprinted away.