Chapter 63: The Semifinals

“Contestant Qiao Sang has once again secured an upset victory with her exceptional tactics! She’s become the third contestant to advance to the semifinals in the Bai Xin Competition and the only one to do so with a beginner-level beast! What are your thoughts on this match?” The commentator turned to the two guest commentators beside him.

“I’ll say it again: I look forward to meeting her in future regional tournaments.” San Duo remarked with a smile.

“I didn’t expect the match to go this way. Qiao Sang is impressive, I couldn’t have won an upset victory against a superior attribute like that when I was younger, and I certainly can’t do it now.” Gao Xulu said seriously.

“Miss Xulu, you shouldn’t say that. A beginner-level beast defeating an intermediate-level one is different from a general defeating a king-tier beast.” The commentator quickly added.

Meanwhile, Qiao Sang returned to her seat.

The voices from the commentator’s table were clear as she walked through the backstage tunnel to the audience seating area.

Before Bai Yunmiao could excitedly start talking, Qiao Sang asked first, “Who’s more famous, Gao Xulu or San Duo?”

Bai Yunmiao was momentarily stunned.

Although she didn’t understand why Qiao Sang suddenly asked this, she thought for a moment and replied, “Although Gao Xulu has beaten San Duo, their fanbases seem to be about the same size. Most people support Gao Xulu for her skills, while San Duo is popular for his charisma.”

“Then I’m relieved.” Qiao Sang sighed in relief.

“What were you worried about just now?” Bai Yunmiao asked, puzzled.

“Gao Xulu praised me so much just now that I was afraid her fans might gang up on me in a match. Since her popularity is about the same as San Duo’s, I’m not as worried.” Qiao Sang explained.

Bai Yunmiao: …

In the arena...

During the break between matches for a beast performance, three or four staff members summoned their beasts to repair the battlefield.

After every match, they had to ensure the battlefield was restored to its original state to avoid affecting the next match.

Beastmasters in the F-rank category needed the least amount of battlefield repairs.

The winner of the fourth match was someone named Li Langyi. Although he had two beasts, one of them was still a beginner.

Unless something unexpected happened, he would definitely send out his intermediate-level Long-Tailed Snake in the afternoon match.

Qiao Sang frowned as she looked at the remaining three contestants in her notes.

Other than Li Langyi, she didn’t feel confident facing any of them.

Unlike the other contestants, Hou Xiangyu and Wei Wenya had won purely by overpowering their opponents with sheer strength, without relying on tactics.

Each had two intermediate-level beasts of different attributes, and they had only revealed a few of their skills, making it difficult to assess and study them.

Unlike her...

Her tactics required a lot of mental effort, and her trump cards were all but used up.

---

In the contestant lounge of the Beast Arena...

“What are you doing, Genius Qiao?” Bai Yunmiao walked in with takeout.

Since the Bai Xin Competition finals were in the afternoon, most people hadn’t left the nearby Shouke Garden for meals.

As a semifinalist, Qiao Sang naturally didn’t return home either.

“I’m having Fire Fang Dog draw lots. Whichever one it picks will be my opponent this afternoon.” Qiao Sang said, staring intently at Fire Fang Dog’s actions.

“This wasn’t organized by the hosts, was it?” Bai Yunmiao couldn’t help but ask.

She had to be skeptical, given how crude the lot-drawing setup was.

There were just three crumpled pieces of paper on the table, without even a cover or container.

“Of course not, I made this myself.” Qiao Sang replied.

Bai Yunmiao: …

As expected… But was Genius Qiao really this childish...

She didn’t usually seem that way...

Fire Fang Dog stared at the crumpled paper on the table, hesitant to make a move.

It wasn’t that it was indecisive, but every time it pointed to a paper, its Beastmaster would look at it and then put it back, making it choose again.

It had no idea where it went wrong.

After 30 seconds...

“Yap.”

Fire Fang Dog pushed one of the crumpled pieces of paper with its paw.

Qiao Sang opened it and almost spat out blood.

It was Hou Xiangyu again!

The third time!

They say things happen in threes. Fire Fang Dog had now drawn Hou Xiangyu three times in a row.

Could it really be that he was destined to be her first opponent in the afternoon?

Hou Xiangyu was clearly the strongest of the three.

This was too unlucky...

“Why are you letting Fire Fang Dog draw? Why not do it yourself?” Bai Yunmiao suddenly asked.

“Because Fire Fang Dog has a unique kind of luck. He says the person who wins usually loses afterward, and it’s been pretty accurate.” Qiao Sang said.

“Go the opposite way, then. If it picks someone, doesn’t that mean you won’t face them?” Bai Yunmiao countered.

Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment, suddenly seeing the light.

That does make sense!

---

2 PM.

Beast Arena.

“Ladies and gentlemen, and viewers watching our live stream of the Bai Xin Competition, we’re about to reveal the matchups for the first semifinal round. Please turn your attention to the big screen!”

The remaining four photos flashed in sequence on the screen, stopping after six seconds.

Looking at the groupings on the screen, Qiao Sang stiffly turned to her Fire Fang Dog, who was trying hard to maintain its poker face.

“The first semifinal matchups are out! Contestants Wei Wenya and Li Langyi will face off in the first group! That leaves contestants Hou Xiangyu and Qiao Sang as the opponents in the second group!”

Bai Yunmiao looked at Qiao Sang sympathetically. “It’s okay, Genius Qiao. Even if you lose, you can still aim for third place. At worst, you’ll be fourth, and that’s already very impressive.”

It was clear to anyone with eyes that Hou Xiangyu, who controlled the Scale Controller Doll, was the strongest of the four.

And Genius Qiao...

Qiao Sang forced a smile. “Thanks, that’s comforting.”

Having made it this far, who wouldn’t want to rank higher?

If her semifinal opponent had been Li Langyi, she would likely have won based on her knowledge of the Long-Tailed Snake, securing a spot in the finals.

She never aimed to be first, but she had imagined being second...

After all, the second-place prize was much better than third.

Forget the Alliance coins, the motorcycle and water-type evolution stone were far more valuable.

She had even planned to sell the water-type evolution stone on a certain website…

She’d even priced it...

---

In the arena, with the referee’s whistle, the contestants summoned the Long-Tailed Snake and the Force-Headed Duck.

The match didn’t have any upsets.

As Wei Wenya’s primary beast, the Force-Headed Duck had an edge in both coordination and special moves.

The Long-Tailed Snake’s skills were all dodged by the Force-Headed Duck, which ended the match with a Water Cannon.

So her next opponent would be Li Langyi.

Qiao Sang wasn’t surprised by the outcome...

The second semifinal match quickly followed.

“Will Hou Xiangyu secure another overwhelming victory, or will Qiao Sang create another miracle by winning against a superior opponent? Who will claim the last spot in the finals!” The commentator said excitedly.

He then asked the guest commentators for their opinions: “What do you two think?”

Most of the audience had come to see the guests, so naturally, they wanted them to speak more.

“Emotionally, I hope Qiao Sang wins, but logically, it should be Hou Xiangyu.” San Duo said with a smile.

“And what about you, Miss Xulu?”

“I agree.” Gao Xulu answered.

Commentator: …

“Well, that’s a straightforward answer. Now let’s focus our attention on the arena.”

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