Chapter 1253: Xiao Linyuan

“It’s a new nutritional supplement developed by the Chu team. It has a mild nourishing effect on the body and can quickly replenish mental energy. When Beast Tamers drink it, both Beast Tamers and their pets can benefit.

The only drawback is that the production cost is very high.”

“Thank you, Instructor.”

Mingxi took the drink, took a big gulp without ceremony, and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

“It tastes great! When will it be released? I want to stock up!”

Chu Kuangsheng rolled his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you? This stuff is too expensive to produce; it’s not competitive in the market.”

“Then do you accept private orders? I can pay!”

The drink looked like milk, but it tasted sweet and sour, a bit like mangosteen. Mingxi really liked it.

Its efficacy was secondary.

Seeing her look like a greedy cat, Chu Kuangsheng couldn't help but laugh. “Alright, I don't need your star coins. I’ll send you the rest later.”

“Thank you, Instructor. May good people have a peaceful life!”

Chu Kuangsheng shook his head and brought up the purpose of his visit to Mingxi. “Do you want to use the Star Wish Note before the 3-to-2 draw?”

“What? Did you fail to write your wish?”

“No.” Chu Kuangsheng shook his head, “I’m worried you’ll run into Xiao Linyuan in the 3-to-2 round. You know your own luck with draws.”

“Xiao Linyuan?”

Mingxi had some impression of that name. The data showed he was the top seed from the Chonghua region, very strong, but his reputation seemed a bit... controversial.

“You’ve probably already heard of him, a guy with his eyes on top of his head.” Chu Kuangsheng’s eyes slightly chilled, his tone carrying undisguised disgust. “Did you watch his doubles match today?”

Mingxi shook her head. She was also competing during Xiao Linyuan’s second doubles match.

“He was fighting Ye Miaomiao, a very promising Beast Tamers from the Central region, whose ace pet is a Wind Whisper Sprite.”

Chu Kuangsheng’s expression became serious. “That match... was very strange.

The pet Xiao Linyuan sent out was just a Venomous Thorn Bee, but its speed was unnaturally fast. At the time, their attacks were almost entirely aimed at the Wind Whisper Sprite’s wing joints and energy core.

Although the Wind Whisper Sprite didn't die in the end, its wings were severely corroded, and its core was damaged. Even treatment by a Venerable-level Angel System pet couldn't restore it. It has been confirmed as permanent damage, not only affecting its lifespan but also eliminating any possibility of further evolution.”

Mingxi frowned, “A Venomous Thorn Bee shouldn’t have that kind of destructive power, should it?”

To cause such severe damage that even a Venerable-level Angel System couldn't heal, it would have to be a rule-based skill! Like a curse poison!

But it had never been heard of that a Transcendent creature like the Venomous Thorn Bee, which is not rare and even somewhat mediocre, could awaken or learn rule-based skills.

Mutation?

Did that Venomous Thorn Bee’s ancestors get lucky?

Or was there another reason?

“Definitely not, but somehow it just did.” Chu Kuangsheng’s brows furrowed with coldness. “And that Xiao Linyuan guy even hypocritically went to comfort Ye Miaomiao after the match, saying a bunch of ‘green ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) tea’ remarks that made a tomboy like Ye Miaomiao’s eyes turn red with anger!”

Mingxi raised an eyebrow. “Instructor, are you suspecting him...”

Chu Kuangsheng gave her a knowing look. “It’s possible to some extent, but it looks more like a smoke bomb deliberately released.”

Just then, a commotion came from the entrance of the lounge area.

Several people in dark gray team uniforms crowded around a tall, handsome young man with a gloomy aura, who walked in.

It was Xiao Linyuan.

He seemed to sense the gazes, his sight sweeping across the lounge area, landing precisely on Mingxi and Chu Kuangsheng.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on the corner of his lips, with an arc of disdain.

“This really proves that you can’t talk about dogs when people are around.”

Chu Kuangsheng’s expression grew colder, clearly not fond of Xiao Linyuan.

Xiao Linyuan didn't come over directly but led his people to an empty spot on the other side.

However, a harsh voice clearly carried over.

It was one of his followers, deliberately raising his voice and saying, “Brother Yuan, who do you most want to draw in the 3-to-2 round?”

Xiao Linyuan leaned lazily on the sofa chair, not even raising his eyelids. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a penetrating power that seemed to look down on everything.

“As long as it’s not an SSS-level Beast Master, anyone is fine. Other contestants... Hehe, to me, it’s just the difference between ordinary trash and Advanced Level trash.”

“Brother Yuan is domineering! Those so-called alliance first genius, Blue Star’s strongest new god, hehe, I think they’re all just seeking fame.”

He paused, then added pointedly, “Relying on a bit of talent and luck to gain some fame, being put on a pedestal by others, little do they know they’re just superficial show-offs.

Unlike you, Brother Yuan, who can cultivate the most ordinary Venomous Thorn Bee to the point where it can beat rare Saint-level pets—that’s truly divine!”

Although these words didn't name names, ‘alliance first genius’ and ‘Blue Star’s strongest new god’ both referred to Mingxi.

The lounge area instantly fell silent, and many contestants secretly looked towards Mingxi’s side.

Chu Kuangsheng’s dark eyes were cold, and his aura instantly became two meters eight: “Xiao Linyuan! Control your dog! This is not a place for you to bark and howl!”

Facing Chu Kuangsheng’s angry rebuke, Xiao Linyuan just smiled faintly.

“Young Master Chu, for you to take that personally, isn’t that a bit shameless?

What? Did the Alliance award anyone the title of ‘alliance first genius’? Or did the nations of Blue Star issue a joint statement, acknowledging someone as the ‘strongest new god’?”

“Twisting words!”

Although Chu Kuangsheng was arrogant, he was actually very steady and wouldn't easily get angry.

But at this moment, he was truly enraged.

Mingxi shook her head at him.

She showed no expression on her face, even picking up her drink and taking another sip, as if she hadn’t heard those words.

Only her clear eyes looked towards Xiao Linyuan’s direction, narrowing slightly, as if evaluating the value of an item.

That gaze made Xiao Linyuan feel as if he had been stripped bare, exposing the most secret parts of his body.

Mingxi put down her cup, her voice calm and unruffled, yet it clearly echoed through the silent lounge area, “What you can’t get always causes a stir.”

“And it proves to be quite vulgar and pedantic.”

Xiao Linyuan’s lazy expression instantly froze, his gloomy eyes shooting at Mingxi like poisoned daggers.

His follower beside him was even jumping with rage.

“You stinky girl, who are you calling vulgar and pedantic?!”

Mingxi acted as if she hadn't seen him, turning to Chu Kuangsheng and saying, “Let’s go, Instructor. A perfectly good lounge area has been polluted into a beast-taming ground.”

She paused, as if talking to herself, but her voice was just loud enough for certain people to hear, “The way they take that personally, it seems they’re still very clear about whether they’re human or dog. How rare.”

After speaking, she gracefully turned and pulled the stifling-a-laugh Chu Kuangsheng away from the lounge area.

Leaving behind a strange silence and Xiao Linyuan’s face, which was almost turning green, as if he was about to transform on the spot.

“Mingxi! You’d better not run into me in the 3-to-2 round!”