105: The last game

"No way... he's surrendering just like that?! In such an important match, he didn't even try and just gave up."

"Wang Zi, are people from your White Tiger Beast Taming University this casual?" Xu Yao asked with dissatisfaction, her mouth agape.

She had just been about to cheer for Su Ze, but because the opponent surrendered too quickly, Su Ze didn't even get a chance to take the stage before the first match ended.

Wang Zi scratched his head and said, "I think he's scared. When the Shen family came to cause trouble for me before, Su Ze intimidated them. He probably left a psychological scar from that incident."

Xu Yao nodded. She had been present at the time and knew this explanation was the most reasonable.

Meanwhile, on the judges' panel backstage, the principals of several schools sat in high positions, while other teachers could only sit in lower seats.

Faced with Shen Kui's recent performance, Xue Yu, seated in the center, spoke in a superior tone.

"Principal Liu Yao, the Beast Taming Grand Competition is meant to showcase students' talents and gain public recognition for the teaching standards of our Beast Taming Universities. Your White Tiger Beast Taming University's performance this year... seems less than satisfactory."

Liu Yao, who appeared to be the oldest among them, wasn't angered by the criticism. Stroking his white beard, he said, "As you know, our region is vast and sparsely populated, so we don't have many students to begin with."

"Plus, powerful demonic beasts frequently appear there, to the point that even the Beast Taming College Entrance Examination had to be postponed."

"So for us, the most important thing has always been survival first."

"For us, knowingly attempting the impossible isn't bravery—it's foolishness."

"So I believe my student made this judgment because he was certain he was no match for his opponent."

Faced with Liu Yao's explanation, Xue Yu didn't know how to refute it. With a displeased expression, he said, "I see. I just wonder, as fellow number four seeds, how he determined he was definitely no match."

"Could it be that Azure Dragon Beast Taming University has produced an extraordinary figure this year?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Xu.

Xiao Xu smiled and replied, "Su Ze is indeed quite remarkable. I believe he won't disappoint everyone."

"Su Ze..." Xue Yu repeated the name a couple of times, then seemed to recall something and said, "Oh, that's the lucky kid who contracted a Diamond-rank Demonic Beast, right?"

"Then it seems if he were born a few years later and participated in the next Beast Taming Grand Competition, he might have had a chance to win the championship. No wonder his opponent surrendered."

At this point, Yu Zhen, the principal of Vermilion Bird Beast Taming University and the only woman among them, said, "Principal Xue, your information seems outdated. This student Su Ze's Diamond-rank Demonic Beast was schemed against and killed by the Fusang Dark Guards."

"Oh? Is that so? That's truly a pity..." Xue Yu said with genuine-sounding surprise.

"Principal Xue Yu, as expected of someone from the Four Great Families. While the rest of us focused on the Diamond-rank Demonic Beast, you paid it no mind. It seems we'll get to see an extraordinary genius from the Xue Family in this competition." Luo Yan, the principal of Black Tortoise Beast Taming University, remarked from the side.

Xue Yu didn't deny it. In the once-a-decade grand competition, there are always a few who contract Diamond-rank Demonic Beasts, mostly from the Four Great Families or geniuses personally trained by the Great Xia Spirit Guards headquarters.

But very few of them grow to their full potential; otherwise, Great Xia wouldn't have only two Level 100 War Gods.

Still, Xue Yu sighed, "But having a diamond rank as your first demonic beast... that's exceedingly rare. If nurtured within one of our families, he might have become the next War God-level figure. Now... what a waste."

Then he wondered, "Since he's already lost his Diamond-rank Demonic Beast, what else could threaten others? Aside from the demonic beast's influence, he seems to be the only freshman, right?"

The others were also curious, but Xiao Xu didn't answer, simply telling them to keep watching... After two rounds and ten matches, the competition, which had started early in the morning, was now nearing noon. Everyone could take a break for lunch.

This was thanks to Shen Kui's surrender.

The earlier evenly matched fights had dragged out the competition time, but Shen Kui's surrender made up for it, allowing everyone toJust in time for lunch.

For the audience in the stands, staff were arranged to push food carts through the aisles.

Of course, it wasn't free.

The lunch break wasn't long. After a quick meal, there was only half an hour to rest before the third round began again.

In this round, Kuang Yi easily won another match.

However, Li Heng wasn't so lucky; he encountered the number six seed from Imperial Capital Beast Taming University.

His opponent rejected his request for aPerform a show, wanting to crush Li Heng directly and win beautifully.

But Li Heng avoidedfrontal combat entirely, relying on his agile footwork to dodge while fighting, stubbornly dragging out the match for a long time.

In the end, though he couldn't escape defeat, at least he didn't lose too badly, making his opponent's win less impressive.

And because he hadI've laid the groundwork for my own overexertion. in the previous match, from the start of this one, he acted as if he hadn't recovered from serious injuries, only able toTo exert 50-60% of one's strength.

Even if he lost, it seemed understandable to everyone.

In the fourth round, Su Ze still didn't take the stage.

Instead, Liu Yiyi faced the number two seed from White Tiger Beast Taming University, who hadExcessive consumption during the opening match. After a fierce battle, sheI won a game by luck again.

Thisgreatly improve her chances of advancing, and she happilyShe skipped and hopped off the stage..

White Tiger Beast Taming University, on the other hand, was in atragic state. So far, aside from Luo Xingyu, no one had won a single match.

But theirHis mindset seems to be quite good.; after losing, theyHe decisively stepped down from the stage to cheer on the next person..

Jiang Jianbin also secured his second point in this round.

The strength in his group was fairly even, with only one number four seed from Black Tortoise Beast Taming University.

In such situations, hisPhysical fitness far exceeding that of ordinary people became his greatest advantage.

Advancing as one of the top two wasn't a big issue.

After the fourth round ended, it was already dark, but several large lights illuminated the Dragon Nest Arena.

Following a brief dinner break, the fifth and final round of the day began.

With twenty-five people divided into five groups, playing all matches would total ten rounds and fifty matches!

It was impossible to finish in a single day.

So the group stage was split into two days, with each person fighting the other two in their group.

The remaining two matches would be played the next day, with scores tallied at the end.

The other four from Azure Dragon Beast Taming University had already completed their matches.

Kuang Yi won both his matches easily;

Li Heng had one draw and one loss;

Liu Yiyi, though she wondifficult, achieved a good record of two wins;

Jiang Jianbin also won both matches afterTwo fierce battles.

Only Su Ze had fought one match, and that ended with his opponent's surrender.

And because he was in the last group, Group Five, Su Ze's match became today's closing performance.

Everyone was curious about thisThe only freshman, former Diamond-rank Demonic Beast owner, and what kind of strength he possessed.

His opponent was the number nine seed from Imperial Capital Beast Taming University, Jiang Ying.

That's right—he was a Jiang family member!