61: Chapter 61: Beast Tamer Elimination Tournament! Opening Ceremony!

Chapter 61: Beastmaster Elimination Tournament! Start!

The next day, as the first light of dawn appeared.

The entire Qingquan City was already buzzing with excitement.

All high schools in the city were on holiday, and countless citizens swarmed like a tide toward the outskirts of the Misty Forest in the eastern suburbs.

Today was the start of the city-level Beastmaster Elimination Tournament, a moment that would decide the fate of the city's younger generation of Beast Tamers.

It was also a grand event that could not be missed.

Jiang Yunyun woke up early.

Pulling her mother along, she squeezed through the bustling crowd, her small face filled with excitement and pride.

Their goal was clear.

To cheer for her older brother.

Jiang Yun, however, had arrived at school first.

He met up with the other five members of the Advanced Class.

Qin Feng still maintained his arrogant look, nose held high in the air.

Zhao Tiezhu leaned in toward Jiang Yun, laughing honestly, seemingly trying to ease the pre-match tension this way.

After Instructor Wang Lei briefly reiterated the precautions, the group set off for the Misty Forest under the leadership of Principal He and three coaches.

When they arrived at their destination.

The atmosphere at the scene was already explosive.

A huge clearing had been cleared on the outskirts of the Misty Forest to serve as the assembly area for the contestants.

And outside the assembly area.

It was a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder; cheers, discussions, and the cries of beasts intertwined to form a deafening wave of sound that hammered against everyone's eardrums.

Parents stood on their tiptoes, trying to spot their children in the crowd.

The eyes of the young students were full of longing, hoping that they too could stand here in the future.

Many veteran Beast Tamers and representatives of various factions also watched with sharp eyes, sizing up every contestant like they were inspecting merchandise, trying to discover the most promising geniuses.

With one look, Jiang Yun spotted his sister waving her arms vigorously and his mother looking over with a smile.

Jiang Yunyun shouted with all her might, "Go, Brother! You're the best!"

Her crisp voice, however, was drowned out by the massive wave of sound.

After bringing the six from Jiang Yun's group to the designated area.

Principal He and the three coaches walked straight toward the temporary high platform built in the center of the venue.

Many people were already seated on the platform.

Judging by their auras, every one of them was extraordinary.

Just as they stepped onto the platform.

Four others came forward to greet them with smiles.

They were from the other two Beast Taming middle schools in the city.

Principal Lei Lie of Leiting Middle School.

And Principal Stone of Panshi Middle School.

Along with their respective school Instructors.

"Principal He, long time no see. You look as sharp as ever!"

Lei Lie's voice was like a booming bell as he spoke first; he was tall and wore a uniform that seemed perpetually meticulous.

"Principal He seems full of confidence this year. Qingquan No. 1 Middle School is our city's flagship; surely many good prospects have emerged this year?"

Principal of Bedrock Middle School followed up with a smile.

His tone was smooth, but his eyes were very shrewd.

Principal He wore a formulaic smile and cupped his hands in response. "Principal Lei, Principal Stone, you flatter me. Your schools are the ones where talents emerge in succession. I heard Leiting Middle School has a student named Lin Kuo this year whose beast has already broken through to Bronze First Tier at such a young age. Truly, the youth are to be feared! Xiao Yutian from Panshi Middle School is the same. Remarkable, truly remarkable!"

Hearing this.

Both Lei Lie and Principal of Bedrock Middle School couldn't help but show looks of pride.

Lei Lie waved his hand in feigned humility.

"Oh, that boy Lin Kuo just has good luck. The beast he contracted has decent Aptitude and barely touched the threshold of Bronze. It's not worth mentioning. On the other hand, Principal He, I heard your student Qin Feng is also at Peak Black Iron Ninth Tier, just a step away from Bronze. What a pity."

Lei Lie chuckled.

The boastfulness in his tone couldn't be hidden.

Principal of Bedrock Middle School spoke even more bluntly.

"Indeed, that boy Yutian just benefited from his Family's resources. Speaking of which, our two schools might be able to secure a few more spots in this competition, don't you think, Principal He? Qingquan No. 1 Middle School must be under quite some pressure this year... I heard the Advanced Class assessment even produced someone at Black Iron Eighth Tier?"

Principal of Bedrock Middle School's words were thorny.

Seemingly concerned, but actually mocking.

Principal He was already laughing inwardly.

But his face remained impassive, even cooperatively showing a trace of heaviness. "Yes, there are indeed a few children this year who still need tempering. As for the spots, it will depend on their own abilities."

Inwardly, he was smirking wickedly. "Bronze First Tier is nothing! My school's Jiang Yun was already at Bronze Second Tier half a month ago! Just wait until he shows it later; it'll scare you old geezers to death!"

Thinking about seeing the shocked faces of these two guys later.

Principal He felt a surge of secret satisfaction.

Just then.

A middle-aged man with a refined temperament and a worried look, yet still maintaining his dignity, walked over.

"Principal He, thank you for your full support regarding my daughter's matter last time."

The newcomer was none other than the Su Family Head, Su Chengtian.

Principal He straightened his expression. "Patriarch Su, you're being too formal. Qingxue is a student of my school; as Principal, it is my duty."

Seeing this, Lei Lie and Principal of Bedrock Middle School immediately chimed in sarcastically. "Patriarch Su, if you had sent your daughter to our schools, we can't say much else, but safety would definitely be foolproof. Nothing would ever happen to worry you."

"Indeed, our schools' security level for Genius students is of the highest specification."

Su Chengtian's brow furrowed slightly, and the atmosphere instantly turned a bit cold.

The students' battles had not yet begun.

But the smell of gunpowder between the Principals had already started to spread.

"Hahaha, you Principals seem to be having a lively chat!"

A steady voice broke the awkwardness.

A middle-aged man in formal wear with an extraordinary bearing walked over with a smile; it was the Mayor of City C.

Behind him followed an elderly man in a plain robe, with a lean face and warm yet bottomless eyes.

Seeing the Mayor, the Principals immediately stopped their bickering and swapped to polite smiles to greet him.

When their gazes fell upon the elderly man.

Their expressions turned solemn.

Several Amethyst-rank Experts nodded slightly in greeting, showing no arrogance of the powerful.

The Mayor introduced him with a smile. "Everyone, this is Elder Li from the Beast Tamer Academy. For this competition, Elder Li will serve as the academy's special observer and will watch the entire process."

"Elder Li!"

The group cupped their hands one after another, their attitudes respectful.

A teacher sent by the Beast Tamer Academy would have a status and strength that were by no means ordinary.

Below the high platform, in the contestant area.

Jiang Yun's gaze swept over the platform, his pupils shrinking slightly.

His [Manifestation of All Things Entries] talent operated silently, making the general information of those big figures on the stage clear to him at a glance.

"Gold Rank... Amethyst Rank... six Amethyst Ranks."

He was slightly startled; this lineup could be called a gathering of City C's top combat power.

And when his gaze fell upon the elderly man in the plain robe.

His heart skipped a beat.

Amethyst Ninth Tier Peak!

Just one step away from that terrifying Diamond Rank.

The Beast Taming Power contained within his body was like a vast ocean, unfathomable; his silent presence alone brought an invisible and immense pressure.

Jiang Yun realized.

The selection of spots for this competition.

Was something these big figures certainly took very seriously.

Withdrawing his gaze from the platform.

Then, his gaze turned toward the contestants from the other two schools.

Leiting Middle School and Panshi Middle School each had ten contestants, plus the six from Qingquan No. 1 Middle School, making twenty-six in total.

Data entry information flashed rapidly before his eyes.

[Iron-Armored Tortoise, Black Iron Eighth Tier]

[Wind Fox, Black Iron Ninth Tier]

[Claw Monkey, Peak Black Iron Ninth Tier]

...The information flashed by quickly.

The strength of the students from these two schools was generally concentrated at Black Iron Ninth Tier and Peak Ninth Tier; there were only three or four at Black Iron Eighth Tier, while Qingquan No. 1 Middle School accounted for two of them.

Jiang Yun immediately understood.

Why a strict Advanced Class assessment was required to qualify for the competition.

If one's strength wasn't even at the eighth tier, they would indeed just be making up the numbers in this level of competition, only increasing the risk.

Soon, his gaze locked onto two people.

[Shadow Water Python, Bronze First Tier]

[Mountain-Shaking Rock Elephant, Bronze First Tier]

They were Lin Kuo of Leiting Middle School and Xiao Yutian of Panshi Middle School.

The two stood at the very front of their respective teams, their expressions arrogant as they enjoyed the reverent gazes cast from their surroundings.

At this moment, Zhao Tiezhu's fan-like hand slapped Jiang Yun's shoulder. Seeing him dazed and thinking he was nervous, he comforted him in a low voice:

"Jiang Yun, don't worry! Although we Black Iron Eighth Tiers are at the bottom here, once we enter the forest, just follow me! We'll develop quietly and pick on the easy targets! As long as we aren't unlucky enough to run into those two Bronze Rank guys, Lin Kuo and Xiao Yutian, and get robbed, we'll split the points fifty-fifty. Maybe you'll even manage to snag a spot!"

Jiang Yun smiled upon hearing this.

He didn't explain his true strength.

It seemed his low profile during this time.

Had led this honest brother to misunderstand that Jiang Yun was weak.

However, hearing Zhao Tiezhu's words.

He realized that the Bronze Rank people Zhao Tiezhu mentioned seemed to be the two Bronze Rank guys he had just seen.

So he asked accordingly, "Do you know anything about those two?"

Zhao Tiezhu immediately perked up at the question and whispered, "Of course I do! One is named Lin Kuo, the only child of the Lin Family, very precious. The other is Xiao Yutian, the eldest son of the Xiao Family..."

"They are the top prodigies of Panshi Middle School and Leiting Middle School respectively, and also the favorites to win the championship."

"The Xiao Family?"

Hearing this.

Jiang Yun's brow arched.

"Yeah, that Xiao Family. Remember Xiao Ling from the Rookie Class? That's his younger brother! This Xiao Yutian is their eldest brother!"

Zhao Tiezhu explained with a smile, then added, "Their old man, Xiao Zhan, is at Peak Gold Rank 9 and is known as the number one person below amethyst rank in City C! The Xiao Family can sit firmly as the second most powerful Family all because of him."

As Zhao Tiezhu finished speaking.

Jiang Yun's gaze narrowed slightly.

He hadn't expected that his grudge with Xiao Ling would plant a hidden danger here.

If a Bronze First Tier opponent were to deliberately target him, he would indeed have had a headache half a month ago, but now there seemed to be no need to worry too much.

If the other party didn't come looking for trouble again.

He didn't want to take the initiative to provoke the Xiao Family either.

While Jiang Yun was thinking.

Zhao Tiezhu added, "Actually, our school originally had another Genius, the Su Family's Young Miss Su Qingxue. It's said she's also Bronze Rank, but unfortunately, no one has ever seen her fight. She's very mysterious."

When Jiang Yun heard the name Su Qingxue.

His body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

He smiled bitterly in his heart.

The real Su Qingxue had probably long since disappeared. As for the current Su Qingxue... he wanted to avoid her at all costs.

As they were speaking, a massive commotion and shouts of surprise suddenly erupted in the venue.

"Look! It's Su Qingxue!"

"The Su Family's Young Miss is here!"

Everyone's gaze.

Whether they were spectators or contestants, they were all involuntarily drawn toward her.

At the entrance, a young girl walked in slowly.

She wore a long green dress, her figure slender and her face exceedingly beautiful. Her cold temperament carried a trace of imperceptible laziness and nobility, as if she wasn't there for a competition but was a Fairy out for a spring stroll.

Her appearance instantly made her the focus of the entire venue.

It wasn't just because of her identity.

The Su Family's only daughter.

But also because of her peerless beauty that could topple cities.

And her rumored monstrous beast-taming talent.

The moment Su Qingxue appeared.

There were continuous gasps from the stands. Many young men were left dumbfounded, captivated by Su Qingxue's city-toppling beauty.

Even the perpetually arrogant Lin Kuo and Xiao Yutian couldn't help but look over, a flash of amazement in their eyes.

On the high platform.

Several Principals also smiled and complimented Su Chengtian, "Patriarch Su, your daughter is truly becoming more and more outstanding."

"Niece Qingxue has such grace. At her age, I heard she's already a Bronze Rank Beast Tamer. She will surely shine brilliantly in this competition!"

"You flatter her!"

Su Chengtian responded with a forced smile.

But deep in his eyes, there was a hidden trace of imperceptible worry.

Under the gaze of thousands.

Su Qingxue walked straight toward the Qingquan No. 1 Middle School team.

Seeing Su Qingxue approaching.

Jiang Yun secretly thought things were looking bad.

He subconsciously wanted to shrink back.

Deliberately trying to avoid her line of sight.

However, things did not go as he wished.

As if with precision targeting, Su Qingxue ignored Qin Feng, who was standing at the very front and trying his best to strike a handsome pose, and stopped directly in front of Jiang Yun, who was trying to lower his presence.

Under the disbelieving gazes of everyone, her beautiful face blossomed into a bright, almost fawning smile that was completely different from her usual cold image, and her voice was so soft it could drip water.

She spoke gently to Jiang Yun.

"Junior Jiang Yun, it's been half a month? Did you miss me?"

As her words fell.

Su Qingxue's face still held that gentle smile.

Although her voice wasn't loud.

It was like a clap of thunder.

Suddenly exploding in the noisy venue.

Instantly plunging the area centered around her and Jiang Yun into a dead silence.

Everyone.

The surrounding contestants and the countless spectators in the stands.

All showed expressions of shock and confusion.

One gaze after another shifted from Su Qingxue to Jiang Yun... What the hell?!

What am I seeing?!

The high-altitude flower Su Qingxue would actually show such a... such a gentle, almost fawning smile to a boy?!

What does she mean by 'long time no see' and 'did you miss me'? Are they that close?!

Something's up! There's definitely something between them!

Who is this guy?

Is there such a person in Qingquan No. 1 Middle School?

Didn't I hear the strongest Genius was named Qin Feng?

Never heard of him before! What corner did he crawl out of?!

Countless gazes focused on Jiang Yun like searchlights—shock, doubt, jealousy, inquiry... as if trying to see right through him.

Zhao Tiezhu's mouth hung wide open. He looked at Jiang Yun, then at the smiling Su Qingxue; his CPU was practically fried.

He thought, 'What's the situation?'

When did my brother Jiang Yun get so close to the Great Beauty Su?

Could it be that he managed to win over Big Sister Su at some point?

The smile on Qin Feng's face completely froze.

He showed an expression of extreme jealousy.

Even the gazes of Lin Kuo and Xiao Yutian fell upon Jiang Yun one after another.

Now, even if Jiang Yun wanted to keep a low profile, he couldn't.

The competition hadn't even started.

Because of Su Qingxue's simple sentence.

And one look... he had instantly become the focus of the entire venue...