Beast Taming Begins with Inheriting a Legacy.

"Let's put the Qiankun Tournament aside for now and eat first. The most urgent thing is to confirm the roster for tomorrow's match against Lishan Middle School."

After Zhou Mengran spoke, everyone began to eat.

The next team match in the round of 16 will be against Lishan Middle School.

There was a projector in the private room. Long Yifei connected his tablet to the projector and played a match video: "This is a video that Xueyi and I recorded of Lishan Middle School's matches in the preliminary rounds and the top 32."

Every match in the friendly tournament is actually recorded live, and Long Yifei and Sun Xueyi deliberately chose different angles from the live video to present more details.

Seeing how thoughtful the two were, Zhou Mengran nodded with a smile: "You two did a good job."

"I'm glad I could help."

"We've done our part for the team."

Both Long Yifei and Sun Xueyi were happy to be able to help.

While eating, everyone watched several competition videos of Lishan Middle School and then began to analyze them.

"The beast-taming style of Lishan Middle School focuses on strength training. The contracted pets are mostly fighting or normal types. Presumably, in daily training, some speed training has been abandoned, and only high burst damage and high defense are pursued."

"In the preliminary rounds, Lishan Middle School faced Mingdong Middle School. The latter's Beast Taming style focused on speed, and they initially adopted a strategy of attrition warfare, but they still lost in the end."

"The pets of Lishan Middle School are tough and have high defense, so they can make many mistakes. But Mingdong Middle School is different. Once they show a weakness, Lishan Middle School will seize the opportunity and defeat them in one blow."

"..."

"Who wants to fight?" Zhou Mengran looked around at everyone, preparing to finalize the list of participants.

Pei Gang was the first to volunteer to fight: "I'll go on stage. If it's a contest of strength, my Shield Dragon won't lose."

Lou Huayu, equally excited, raised his hand: "Count me in!"

"Then let's have Zihan take the stage for the last one." Zhou Mengran turned to look at Xia Zihan.

Of the remaining people, apart from Gu Ling, Xia Zihan's mini doll had the strongest burst of power.

Once the mini doll successfully switches forms, its attack power will be greatly increased. At that point, there's no need to defend; just kill the opponent before that happens.

Furthermore, Ghost-type Mini Dolls have an attribute advantage when battling Fighting or Normal-type Pokémon.

"Okay, Teacher Zhou." Xia Zihan nodded.

"Then the roster for tomorrow's team competition round of 16 will be Pei Gang, Lou Huayu, and Xia Zihan."

After finalizing the list of 16 finalists, Zhou Mengran didn't forget to remind Gu Ling and Lu Jiuwen, who weren't participating, "Although you two don't have a team competition for now, you still need to prepare well for the individual 16 finals the day after tomorrow."

Gu Ling and Lu Jiuwen both nodded.

Wan Endong chimed in, "Nanping No. 1 Middle School's best record in the individual competition is reaching the quarterfinals. I hope you can all make it to the quarterfinals the day after tomorrow."

"Director Wan, we will do our best."

"..."

After lunch, Gu Ling declined Huang Weiwei's invitation to go shopping with the other girls and returned to her hotel room, where she unleashed the mischievous boy.

After using poison-type resources several times in a row, the mischievous ghost felt its entire body become even greener.

It wasn't a dull, lifeless green; it was more like a flowing, fluorescent green liquid, very eye-catching yet fraught with danger.

"You little rascal, how are you feeling?" Gu Ling asked.

The mischievous boy nodded with a smile, patting his chubby belly confidently: "Hehehe~"

"It's time to use the Ghost Incense. Get ready."

"Hehehe~"

The mischievous ghost pulled the ghost incense burner and the special box directly from his stomach and placed them on the hotel balcony.

Then, while fiddling with the ghost incense burner, the mischievous ghost took out a ghostly jelly from its stomach and swallowed it in one gulp.

Gu Ling first sensed Xian Jiu's movements in the pet space, and seeing that Xian Jiu was still meditating, he felt relieved.

After the mischievous boy crawled into the specially made box, Gu Ling closed the balcony door and went back to watch the match video.

……

The next day.

Day four of the friendly match.

——Friendly Match Schedule: Team Round of 16

Gu Ling didn't stay in the hotel any longer, but went to the central arena with the others to watch the match.

Nanping No.1 Middle School vs Wenshan Middle School

In the first round, Pei Gang played. Except for a minor injury to the Shield Armor Dragon midway through the game, he still managed to win the first round smoothly.

However, in the second round, the player from Wenshan Middle School had the idea of ​​mutual destruction and made his pet suddenly self-destruct. Xiaolongshi was entangled by the opponent's pet and could not break free.

After the self-destruction, both pets lost their fighting consciousness, resulting in a draw in the second round.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't win..."

After the match, Lou Huayu looked remorseful and lost his usual radiant spirit.

Zhou Mengran comforted them, "The opponents also want to win. Xiaolongshi's defense is no weaker than theirs. Wenshan Middle School doesn't want to admit defeat easily, so they can only use self-destruction, a method of mutual destruction. If it were the Little Water Leopard or Little Vine Monster, which have lower defense, they might have won a round by accident."

He Siruo nodded in agreement: "Yes, Xiao Longshi has done very well. You should take it to the medical room for treatment first."

"Um."

Zhang Huizi summoned Diludan, first giving Xiaolongshi a set of treatments, and then had Lou Huayu put Xiaolongshi back into the pet space.

With Lou Huayu's departure, the halftime break ended, and the third game began.

Just as Xia Zihan was about to go on stage, Gu Ling saw the message Lu Jiuwen posted in the group chat:

[Gu Ling, come quickly to Battlefield C.]

Gu Ling turned to Dai Hao beside her and asked, "Isn't the match over at Arena C between Qingchuan No. 1 Middle School and Yulan Middle School?"

Because several team matches were being held simultaneously, Gu Ling and the others who didn't have to play didn't all stay here. Lu Jiuwen, Long Yifei, and Sun Xueyi went to other match venues to watch the matches and gather intelligence.

"Yes." Dai Hao nodded. "Since Xiao Wen told us to hurry over, something must have happened over there."

Xia Zihan still needs to play a third match, Zhou Mengran, as the team leader, can't leave, and Pei Gang and Lou Huayu have already taken their pets to the medical room for treatment, so they can't go there either.

"You guys go ahead, I'll stay here and cheer Zihan on."

"Me too."

He Siruo and Huang Weiwei chose to stay.

Gu Ling nodded: "Okay."

Afterwards, Gu Ling and Dai Hao rushed to the C-class battlefield.

When the two arrived at the arena of Battle C, their first instinct was to look at the score displayed on the big screen:

——Qingchuan No.1 Middle School vs. Yulan Middle School

—2:1

"Why is the match still going on? Wasn't it already over at 2:1?" Gu Ling quickly walked to Lu Jiuwen's side.

Moreover, even though Qingchuan No.1 Middle School is currently in the lead, everyone at Qingchuan No.1 Middle School looks rather serious, and the atmosphere seems a bit oppressive.

Lu Jiuwen explained, "The competition we're playing now is the Qiankun Tournament."

"The Qiankun Tournament? Was it initiated by Yulan Middle School?" Gu Ling was surprised and turned to look at the two pets that had just started fighting in Battlefield C.

The player representing Qingchuan No. 1 Middle School is their captain, Cheng Zuoming. Gu Ling had previously reviewed his information and recognized him.

However, the contestant from Yulan Middle School was a short-haired girl who was a complete stranger.

At this moment, the battlefield was almost entirely dominated by the short-haired girl, and the rhythm was completely controlled by her.

"Who is that girl?" Gu Ling asked curiously.

Lu Jiuwen replied, "Yulan Middle School's captain is Bai Xiuwen, and Qingchuan No. 1 Middle School's captain is Cheng Zuoming. Both of their pet beasts are at the warrior level. One is a super-powered skeleton night hawk, and the other is a fire-type wind and fire horse."

Dai Hao, standing to the side, adjusted his glasses, his expression slightly grave: "Qingchuan No. 1 Middle School has consistently ranked among the top four in the friendly matches, so it's not surprising that their captain, Cheng Zuoming, has a warrior-level pet. But Yulan Middle School actually has a warrior-level pet..."

"If I remember correctly, Magnolia Middle School is a private school that was founded just five years ago, right?"

at this time.

On the battlefield.

The Windfire Steed neighed in pain, its body struggling, but it was firmly controlled by the Skeleton Night Hawk's telekinesis, remaining suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

boom!boom!

The Fiery Steed was casually slammed to the ground, then controlled to float up again, only to be slammed to the ground once more... just like a toy in a child's hand, being carelessly smashed and tormented.

The rock-type terrain has been riddled with deep craters.

"...I surrender!"

Cheng Zuoming looked at his Windfire Steed with heartache, his fists clenched tightly, but in the end he could only grit his teeth and say those three words.

The referee then announced the result of the match.

"...The winner of the Qiankun Tournament is Skull Night Hawk! Congratulations to Magnolia Middle School for advancing to the top 8 in the team competition."

Upon hearing the other party concede defeat, Bai Xiuwen's eyes were cold and indifferent, revealing a hint of mockery: "Trash."

"you--"

Cheng Zuoming rushed into the battlefield, about to check on Feng Huoju's injuries, when he heard Bai Xiuwen say those two words, and immediately glared at him angrily.

But after Bai Xiuwen retrieved the Skeleton Night Hawk, he turned and left without looking back.

Gu Ling, who watched the entire match from the stands, was utterly astonished.

Before the competition began, probably no one expected that the favorite to win, Qingchuan No.1 Middle School, would lose to the ordinary Yulan Middle School.

Gu Ling watched Bai Xiuwen's departing figure, thinking to herself, "Bai Xiuwen, that guy is pretty strong..."

Cheng Zuoming from Qingchuan No.1 Middle School is already quite strong.

Qingchuan No.1 Middle School is known for its military-style management and learning system for all students. The school rules are extremely strict and the competition within the school is fierce. Cheng Zuoming, who was able to stand out from Qingchuan No.1 Middle School and become the top student in his grade, must have been very strong.

But now, facing Bai Xiuwen from Yulan Middle School, Cheng Zuoming was completely powerless to fight back.

It was less of a battle and more of a one-sided game where Bai Xiuwen toyed with Cheng Zuoming.

……

noon.

Gu Ling and the others gathered in the private room to have lunch, and also watched the live replay of the match between Qingchuan No.1 Middle School and Yulan Middle School that morning.

In the initial official match, apart from the first game where Bai Xiuwen easily dominated, Qingchuan No.1 Middle School steadily won the next two games.

In the final match, Bai Xiuwen returned to the field and unexpectedly defeated the captain of Qingchuan No. 1 Middle School so badly.

Moreover, what is most disturbing is that during the competition, Bai Xiuwen deliberately commanded his pet to repeatedly torment his opponent's pet.

Even if the opponent's pets are all down and unable to get up, they will still launch an attack.

Huang Weiwei felt sorry for the battered and bruised pets in the video and said angrily, "This person is too wicked! He defeated his opponent and then toyed with his opponent's pets like this."

"That's right! She's shameless, even more so than Gu Ling." Lou Huayu nodded in agreement.

Gu Ling: ?

"Wait... what does this have to do with me?" Gu Ling felt she needed to clarify things for herself.

I always defeat my opponents fair and square, okay?

However, Bai Xiuwen... really gave Gu Ling a very strange feeling.

So far, all the beast tamers Gu Ling has encountered, although they fought fiercely in battle, could all be felt to cherish their pets.

Bai Xiuwen, on the other hand, seemed to treat his pets as mere tools, showing no trace of passion for the competition or his pets.

Zhou Mengran turned off the video of the match that was playing: "In the past five years of friendly matches, Qingchuan No.1 Middle School has made it to the top four in its worst performance, and has won the championship once and the runner-up once."

"Yulan Middle School is a private school that was founded in recent years. The captain of the Yulan school team is Bai Xiuwen. He is the one who defeated Cheng Zuoming, the captain of the Qingchuan school team, in the Qiankun Tournament."

Lou Huayu looked worried: "...Now that Yulan Middle School has beaten Qingchuan No.1 Middle School, won't our opponent in the top 8 be Yulan Middle School?"

"It's obvious," Dai Hao said.

Gu Ling turned to Zhou Mengran: "Teacher Zhou, do you have detailed information about Bai Xiuwen?"

Zhou Mengran shook her head regretfully: "Yulan Middle School has only been there to make up the numbers in the previous friendly matches. They couldn't even make it out of the preliminaries, so the school hasn't been able to gather much information."

The competition is tomorrow morning, and there's not enough time to look up Bai Xiuwen's information now.

Lu Jiuwen raised his eyes to look at everyone and slowly said, "Bai Xiuwen is a special admission student of Yulan Middle School. Yulan Middle School is a newly established private school, and its reputation is not as good as that of established public schools like Qingchuan No.1 Middle School. He probably wants to make a name for himself in the friendly match and make a name for himself, even if it means sacrificing the prize money for the friendly match, in order to achieve a higher ranking."

As he spoke, Lu Jiuwen sent a document to the competition group.

Lou Huayu excitedly patted Lu Jiuwen on the shoulder: "I almost forgot you're a rich young master! You have a bunch of people under you to do whatever you want to investigate."

"Shut up, let me look at your information." Lu Jiuwen said coldly, "I haven't paid much attention to Bai Xiuwen before. I only focused on investigating the information of the official members of the top eight teams in previous years, and the information I have at hand is limited."

Gu Ling entered Bai Xiuwen's profile and paused slightly when he saw the first line.

Bai Xiuwen, a special admission student of Yulan Middle School in 15, lost both her parents at the age of 10, dying in a wild animal riot... She was later adopted by her uncle's family...

The time when Bai Xiuwen's family experienced a change in fortune was quite close to the time when Yulan Middle School was founded and began enrolling students, with only about a year in between.

However, it would take at least two or three years to build a school, just for the construction and building itself.

Looking at the several pages of information in the document, Lou Huayu exclaimed in surprise, "What? You call this limited information? You didn't even find out what Bai Xiuwen eats for every meal, did you?"

Lu Jiuwen paused for a moment: "I'm not as twisted as you."

After reviewing the information, Zhou Mengran sighed softly: "It seems that Yulan Middle School discovered Bai Xiuwen's talent in beast taming and specially recruited him, not only helping him change his household registration but also waiving his tuition, food, and accommodation fees..."

"Wow, the school environment of Yulan Middle School is so beautiful."

"Yulan Middle School was founded by a wealthy businessman who said he wanted to give back to his hometown, so naturally he wanted to make it beautiful."

"..."

Huang Weiwei and her friends were quite surprised when they saw the introduction to some of the advanced facilities inside Yulan Middle School.

Zhou Mengran looked at everyone, her voice carrying a hint of caution: "Yulan Middle School's overall strength isn't that great. The only outstanding one is Bai Xiuwen. I'm worried that even if we beat Yulan Middle School tomorrow, the Qiankun Tournament will still start."

Then, Zhou Mengran looked at Gu Ling, who was still somewhat dazed: "The Qiankun Tournament must be fought by the captain. Gu Ling, you need to be prepared."

Each team's captain is the top student in their respective school, and Nanping No. 1 Middle School is no exception, with Gu Ling serving as captain.

Now that half of the prize money for the competition has already been distributed among the schools, Yulan Middle School naturally doesn't care how many schools are dividing that other half of the prize money.

Therefore, even if Gu Ling and his team win the quarterfinals, Yulan Middle School will most likely start the Qiankun Tournament again.

After all, Yulan Middle School is now like a barefoot person who has nothing to fear.

However, Nanping No. 1 Middle School cannot afford to lose. If they do, it will be up to Nanping No. 1 Middle School to decide whether to start the Qiankun Tournament. Even if they win, their bonus will be deducted.

Gu Ling and everyone else didn't want things to develop to that point.