Chapter 908: Blind Selection

Outside the spherical arena.

Qiao Sang swung down from Yabao’s back.

Most of the beasts gathered around were striking red-colored fire-types, but even so, the moment Yabao landed, he drew the attention of nearly everyone present.

A nearby fire-type lizard beast couldn’t stand it,mjust a second ago, its beast master was calling it '

good boy,

' and the next moment that same master’s gaze shifted to another beast.

At once, the lizard’s expression soured. Its tail lit up with a red glow and smacked down on its beast master’s head.

“Ahhh!”

The scream rang out.

Fire-type beasts still had such violent tempers. Luckily, Yabao was well-behaved

… Qiao Sang hugged the now shrunken Yabao in her arms and queued up at the entrance passage.

When it was her turn, she showed the attendant the task confirmation slip that the Beast Center had sent to her backend after she received the assignment, and she was smoothly allowed through.

Following the location given in the task details, Qiao Sang arrived at a large hall.

At this time, quite a number of people had already gathered inside, nearly all of them standing beside a fire-type beast.

Probably because of the concentration of fire-types, Qiao Sang immediately felt that the temperature inside was a little higher than outside.

“Yan yan.”

A beast with a small chimney sprouting from its head turned and glanced over, its expression mocking.

Yabao’s face darkened, and he leapt down from his beast master’s arms.

Qiao Sang didn’t think much of it.

“Gang Zhan.”

It was Gangbao’s voice echoing in her mind.

That chimney-headed thing had just mocked Yabao for being so old yet still carried in his beast master’s arms.

Qiao Sang turned her head to glance at the beast Gangbao mentioned, her mind bringing up its profile.

Chimney Monster, Fire-type, General-level beast. When the flames inside its chimney burn, it’s a sign of focus. When displeased, black smoke will puff from its chimney.

Retracting her gaze, Qiao Sang bent down and scooped Yabao back up.

Yabao’s first reaction was to struggle.

“Let me hold you. You’re soft, and it feels nice to hug you.” Qiao Sang spoke gently.

“Yap…”

Yabao stilled, reluctantly showing a look of compromise.

Sigh… Though he had already grown up, if his beast master wanted to hold him, what could he do

“Yan yan!”

The Chimney Monster, seeing this scene, immediately pulled a long face. It turned to its own beast master and barked, signaling that it wanted to be held too.

The frail-looking young man didn’t know what was wrong with his beast, but still bent down to pick it up.

“Yan yan?”

The Chimney Monster felt comfortable in his arms and gave a pleased cry.

Was it soft?

…Didn’t it know the answer itself?

The young man said nothing, but his eyes clearly conveyed his thoughts.

The Chimney Monster instantly noticed the meaning in its beast master’s gaze, and black smoke puffed out from its chimney.

“Everyone!”

A woman wearing a staff badge cleared her throat, drawing attention, and called out loudly, “In a moment, please have your fire-type beasts line up one by one. Those selected will stay, and those not chosen, please summon back into your Beast Codex. The matches outside will be broadcast here in real-time.”

“Of course, if the beast masters of the selected fire-types wish to watch the matches live, we’ve also arranged seats outside. You can come to me then.”

Everyone listened quietly, seemingly without objections.

What? There’s a selection?

Qiao Sang blinked in surprise.

If Yabao wasn’t chosen, would this task still count as complete?

She glanced at a kind-looking woman nearby and asked: “Excuse me, could you tell me the specific rules of this competition?”

The woman looked over, her gaze lingering on Yabao for a moment before she gently asked: “You don’t know about the Tool Refinement Tournament?”

Qiao Sang admitted sheepishly: “I’ve heard a little, but not much. I only came because I accepted a task.”

The woman didn’t pry further and patiently explained:

“This Tool Refinement Tournament is already the finals. The participating tool refiners were chosen through multiple rounds from various towns, counties, and cities. They will blind-select fire-type beasts arranged by the organizers to assist in their refining, that’s our fire-type beasts.”

“The competition lasts three days. During those three days, the chosen fire-type beasts will continuously assist in refining.”

“Once the finished tools are produced, their functions will be demonstrated live. Then, judges from the Tool Association will select the top ten tools for scoring. The scores, combined with live audience votes, will decide the top three winners.”

“And finally, ten lucky audience members will be drawn on the spot to receive those ten tools.”

No wonder so many people had gathered here

… Qiao Sang realized.

The woman, noticing Qiao Sang’s expression, smiled: “Your task is worth it. There’s an unwritten rule, the beast masters of selected fire-types usually have a higher chance of being drawn as lucky audience members.”

“In past tournaments, at least two or three of the ten lucky audience members were always from among us.”

Qiao Sang wasn’t particularly interested in tools, so she instead asked: “How do those tool refiners blind-select the fire-type beasts?”

“They cover the beasts with cloth, leaving only silhouettes visible for blind selection.” Yhe woman explained patiently.

“It’s to add a bit of fun to the competition.”

Blind selection by silhouette

… Qiao Sang lowered her head to look at Yabao, suddenly gaining a bit more confidence.

Say what you will, but judging by silhouette alone, Yabao was too handsome not to be picked.

“Yap!”

Yabao tilted his head up at his beast master, his gaze brimming with confidence.

About ten minutes later, the staff woman called out: “Please have your fire-type beasts follow me!”

Yabao leapt down from Qiao Sang’s arms.

“Go on.” Qiao Sang nodded to him.

“Yap!”

With his chest puffed out, Yabao strode confidently alongside the other fire-type beasts.

Meanwhile, a massive virtual screen appeared above the hall, displaying the live competition scene.

“And now, it’s time for the exciting partner selection round!” The host in a black suit held up a microphone. “Let’s welcome our first group of fire-type beasts to the stage!”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Soon, ten fire-type silhouettes were cast in light.

Qiao Sang glanced over, Yabao wasn’t among them.

From the competitor seats, fifty tool refiners began making their selections.

Five fire-types were chosen.

The refiners hardly hesitated.

Even though it was blind, most beast masters familiar with fire-types could guess from silhouettes.

Still, to increase difficulty, the organizers sometimes released lookalike beasts together, even adjusting their positions to confuse silhouettes.

Qiao Sang watched with great interest.

By the third group, she saw Yabao.

“The third group of fire-type partners has entered. Please begin your selections!” The host announced.

Each refiner had a virtual screen before them showing the numbers of the beasts.

If a beast was chosen, the light-shadow before it would display the refiner’s contestant number.

If not, its light-shadow would fade instantly.

If two or more refiners picked the same beast, priority went to the one ranked higher in previous rounds.

Yabao was No. 31.

Huge wings, long fluffy tail, sleek strong build, and a domineering aura, even in silhouette, he was clearly the most impressive beast among the ten.

Qiao Sang was satisfied.

The refiners stopped selecting.

“Alright, let’s see which beasts have been chosen!” The host cried.

The camera panned across the ten silhouettes.

Suspenseful background music began.

The shadow of No. 31 darkened.

Qiao Sang: !!!

A bolt from the blue!

Yabao hadn’t been chosen!

She froze in disbelief.

Why?!

Why wasn’t Yabao picked?!

His silhouette was the most majestic of them all!

If he wasn’t chosen, would this mission even count?

Her thoughts raced.

“Xun xun…”

Little Treasure popped out, looking just as shocked.

Gangbao’s expression froze.

“Lu Di.”

Even Lubao, peeking her head out, was stunned.

The kind woman beside her reminded softly: “You should recall your beast now.”

Yabao’s form was too distinct. Even with just a glance, she knew who No. 31 was.

Qiao Sang exhaled slowly, her hands forming seals.

In an instant, a massive crimson star array lit up the hall.

The crowd fell silent, eyes shrinking.

A B-rank powerhouse… here in this selection?!

B-rank experts… pretending to be rookies now?!

The woman’s face stiffened as she quietly stepped aside.

Yabao reappeared from the array, staring blankly, disbelieving.

Not chosen…

He hadn’t been chosen…

How could this be…

Wasn’t he handsome enough…? (

T/n: 😆)

“Yap…”

Yabao looked dazedly at his beast master, as if begging for an explanation.

Sensing the people around subtly edging away, Qiao Sang sighed: “Shrink down first.”

Yabao shrank smaller.

They locked eyes.

“It’s those people with no taste.” Qiao Sang finally said.

“Yap…”

Yabao thought the same, sighing with a worried look.

If he wasn’t chosen, would the mission still count?

Qiao Sang thought helplessly,

You’re worrying about the same thing I am…

The kind woman added: “Maybe it’s because the refiners didn’t recognize your beast’s species, so they didn’t dare choose.”

Her tone was more respectful now.

So that was it

… Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.

She had assumed Yabao’s majestic look would guarantee selection, forgetting this was a Tool Refinement Competition, they’d only choose beasts they knew and trusted.

The woman continued: “You can wait. If some refiners don’t choose in the first round, there will be a second. Then your beast can enter again.”

Qiao Sang’s eyes brightened.

“Thank you! If you hadn’t told me, I might have left.”

Her demeanor was so youthful, if not for the red star array earlier, the woman would have thought her younger.

Truly, one couldn’t judge age by appearances…

She smiled.

“No need to thank me. I’ve been through this selection once before, so I know the process.”

“Yap!”

Yabao’s confidence returned.

So it wasn’t that he wasn’t handsome!

But… his silhouette was too striking. If he wasn’t chosen the first time, it would be hard the second time too…

Qiao Sang studied him a moment, then suddenly said: “Try folding your flame wings away.”

Without a word, Yabao dispelled his flame wings.

Not bad. Without them, he looked less domineering. If they hid him well, his outline resembled a Flame Music Fox from the Central Hollow Region, though that species had shorter legs

…

Qiao Sang instructed: “Next round, lie down. Try not to expose your limbs.”

“Yap!”

Yabao understood, nodding solemnly.

Ten minutes later, three refiners still hadn’t chosen.

Yabao entered the re-selection stage.

“Remember what I said.” Qiao Sang reminded.

“Yap!”

Yabao marched out, steps full of resolve.

“We now welcome back the unselected beasts for another round.” The host announced.

“Three contestants still haven’t chosen their partners. Please make your selections.”

This time, fifty-three silhouettes appeared, all previously unchosen.

From backstage, Qiao Sang stared nervously at the long-bodied silhouette lying flat, limbs hidden.

This was the last chance…

If Yabao wasn’t picked this time, then the task…

“Xunxun…”

“Gang Zhan…”

“Lu Di…”

Little Treasure, Gangbao, and Lubao all watched the screen tensely.

A sudden gust of wind swirled.

Before everyone’s eyes, nearly all the silhouettes went dark, leaving only three.

“No. 31, No. 69, No. 98! Let’s reveal them!” The host announced. “First, No. 31!”

The cloth vanished.

A blazing red, majestic beast stood revealed.

“Yap!”

Yabao leapt up, head thrown back in a triumphant cry.

At the same time, flame wings burst out magnificently at his sides.

Aura overflowing.

The hall went silent for a heartbeat, then erupted in commotion, voices rising in shock at the sight of the mysterious beast they had never seen before.

In the contestant seats, a buzz-cut young man’s expression shifted from confidence to disbelief. He muttered: “How… how could it not be a Flame Music Fox…”

The contestant beside him patted his shoulder sympathetically.

No. 31 was clearly powerful, but in tool refinement, raw strength of a fire-type meant nothing. What mattered was coordination and control.

To work with a beast one didn’t even recognize by species name

… The man knew instantly, his neighbor was doomed.