Chapter 162: Hiram Dragon vs. Loxia

The finals still used a computer-randomized selection mechanism, with pairs matched for 1v1 Beast Taming battles.

However, the main purpose of the battles was to showcase the temperament, appearance, and the aesthetic and splendor of the pet’s skills; the final outcome would only serve as a reference for scoring, not as a primary factor.

This type of battle format is common in beauty pageants and is called the Shining Star Battle.

It means dazzling stars.

To prevent contestants from deliberately prolonging the battle, Shining Star Battles generally also have a time limit.

This year, the Hailam Cup stipulates a battle duration of half an hour; if no winner is decided within half an hour, 10% of the total score will be deducted.

The Shining Star Battle is only one match.

So, the possibility of Mingxi being drawn to battle He Binbin was less than 5%, but since he even managed to get the energy suppression ring, he must have made arrangements with the organizers beforehand.

After all, computer randomness cannot outsmart human cheating.

Those who know, know.

Therefore, Mingxi was not surprised at all that her opponent was He Binbin.

“Those two really got matched.”

“Not surprising.”

“Who do they think will win?”

“That must be He Binbin.”

“I also think it’s He Binbin.”

“...”

Mingxi and He Binbin’s Shining Star Battle was scheduled as the fifth match.

When the host excitedly announced the match list, both the live audience and the livestream audience were thrilled.

Today, whether live or on the livestream, the audience numbers were more than double that of yesterday.

Even though it was raining heavily, the venue was still packed, and it was said that tickets that originally couldn’t be sold were all gone, and many seats were temporarily added.

The livestream was even more exaggerated.

Yesterday’s peak online viewership was 5.4 million, while today it had soared to 23 million, directly quadrupling.

And the number was still growing.

Most of these viewers came to see Lokeshia and Mingxi; of course, a small portion were fans of Golden Yuanbao.

Two lift platforms ascended, and Mingxi and He Binbin appeared on opposite sides of the competition stage, one on the left and one on the right.

Due to the sudden heavy rain, today’s Xiqi Plaza activated its protective Barrier, forming a semi-enclosed large space to prevent the intrusion of wind and rain.

The competition stage in front was also adjusted, changing from the Flower Realm to a normal circular arena.

“Mingxi, I’ll put the energy suppression ring on Hailam first!”

He Binbin summoned his Hailam and publicly put the energy suppression ring on it, suppressing Hailam’s strength to intermediate level.

“I know your Lokeshia just evolved, so I won’t take advantage of you. I’ll just suppress Hailam Dragon’s energy peak to 2000.”

As the energy suppression ring was activated, Hailam Dragon’s size also shrank, becoming about two meters tall, and its appearance also changed slightly.

A pet’s strength and appearance are linked to its energy value.

So, when the energy value dropped to 2000, Hailam Dragon indeed could only possess the strength of an intermediate-level pet on the surface.

This included a decrease in both offensive and defensive capabilities.

However, it could not change its skills and skill proficiency.

He Binbin believed Lokeshia’s energy value would not exceed 1500 at most.

But he didn’t know that due to the zhuangdan fruit, Little Silver Flower’s current energy peak had already reached 5000.

Would Mingxi say anything?

Of course not.

This battle was inherently unfair, so she had no burden hiding a bit of her strength.

Easy.

“Little Silver Flower, normal size.”

Mingxi patted her hood, informing Little Silver Flower that it was time to work.

“Lok.”

Little Silver Flower flew out of the hood, its body returning to normal size.

As soon as it appeared, a commotion immediately erupted at the scene.

“Wow! Is that Lokeshia? She’s even prettier in person than in pictures!”

“There really is an angel-dragon dual-type Transcendent creature; she’s so beautiful, I love her so much!”

“I wonder if our alliance has a way to cultivate one? I also want to have such a beautiful pet.”

“Lokeshia! Look this way!”

“Go, Mingxi!”

“...”

The atmosphere instantly became lively.

Countless fervent shouts rang out, a clamor of human voices.

It was as if they were suddenly in a vibrant volcano, feeling the shock and fervor brought by the audience.

“He Binbin vs. Mingxi, battle start.”

The Shining Star {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Battle also had a referee.

At the referee’s command.

Mingxi and He Binbin spoke almost simultaneously.

“Little Silver Flower, Other Realm.”

Because there had been instances of the Barrier being applied to the wrong target before, Mingxi later discussed it with Little Silver Flower and divided the Barrier into two forms: ‘My Realm’ and ‘Other Realm’.

‘My Realm’ is casting a Barrier on oneself, primarily for protection.

‘Other Realm’ is casting a Barrier on an opponent, primarily for confinement and restraint.

In Beast Taming battles, every second counts, so this distinction not only made it easier for Little Silver Flower to understand Mingxi’s command intent but also saved time.

“Linlang, Scale Wave.”

Hailam Dragon is a dragon and water dual-type Transcendent creature. The Scale Wave released by Hailam Dragon at this moment was completely different from yesterday’s situation.

The mirage that appeared was a hundred-zhang-tall tsunami.

It came overwhelming.

Full of oppressive force.

Little Silver Flower’s body involuntarily stiffened for a moment.

Scale Wave has a deterrent effect.

Fortunately, the Barrier had already been successfully cast at this time, and Hailam Dragon was trapped within the Barrier.

But Hailam Dragon was a Shi-level pet after all; although its energy was suppressed, its essence was there, and its size was also there.

So, it quickly broke free from the Barrier’s restraint.

“Water Gun!”

He Binbin immediately followed with a command.

A two-meter-thick water column charged towards Little Silver Flower.

It really was unfair.

Water Gun is an elementary water-type skill; a normal intermediate-level pet’s Water Gun is at most as thick as an adult’s arm.

The Water Gun skill proficiency for a two-meter-thick Water Gun must have reached ‘as one wishes’.

Mingxi remained calm, observing the changes on the field with composure.

After this period of refinement in the Time Realm, and Golden Yuanbao’s high-standard, high-quality exploitation, Little Silver Flower’s current combat ability was incomparable to before.

The moment the deterrent effect of Scale Wave faded, it controlled its body to fly into the air.

The instant the Water Gun struck, it reacted extremely quickly and dodged.

“Wing Control!”

Six wings unsheathed and quickly combined into a circle, resembling a giant curved blade disk.

Mingxi had long envisioned various uses for Wing Control.

As Little Silver Flower’s wings increased, Wing Control would not only strengthen its attack power but also become more flexible and versatile in its combinations.

The blade disk combination, which balances stability and attack power, is one of the Wing Control combinations that Little Silver Flower has mastered best at the moment.

The huge, sharp blade disk rotated like a roller in the air, grazing past Hailam Dragon’s spine.

The current Hailam Dragon did not have the defensive power of a Shi-level Transcendent creature.

When the six-winged blade disk rolled over its body, it immediately left behind a series of gruesome wounds.

“Hailam!”

Hailam roared.

The audience also reacted at this point; this match was clearly not a Shining Star Battle, but a formal Beast Taming battle.