The following days saw the National Beast Taming Competition continue. Jiang Wenchen, Wang Sheng, and others took to the stage, displaying their formidable strengths. Every match was fiercely contested and filled with anticipation.
Consider, for instance, the battle between Jiang Wenchen and Jiang Duoyu. Both hailed from the Jiang family, renowned for their beast tamers, and were considered top-tier geniuses. More importantly, they were biological brothers, dubbed the "Twin Stars" of the Jiang family! Jiang Duoyu's name wasn't given by his parents; he had changed it himself, aiming to strive hard, defeat his elder brother, and become the sole heir of the Jiang family. Their fight was earth-shattering, with a display of various powerful skills. Ultimately, a mistake by Jiang Duoyu gave Jiang Wenchen an opening, and he emerged victorious. The clash of the Jiang family's Twin Stars thoroughly impressed the national audience with the might of beast-taming families.
The battle between Ji Feng and Wang Sheng was equally brutal. One was a representative figure from a beast-taming family, the other a representative of a beast-taming legion. A confrontation of this magnitude should have ideally occurred in the finals. However, perhaps due to unfavorable luck, they faced each other earlier. Ji Feng possessed two SS+ contract spirits, with evidently higher potential ratings. Yet, it was Wang Sheng who ultimately claimed victory! The reason was simple: he possessed a divine skill of the fire attribute and more than one golden skill. Such extravagance was only possible for the Royal Beast Taming Legion, which was not merely a legion but a major group among the top five in the country, second only to official enterprises, primarily engaged in the beast-taming business. Wang Sheng's relentless offensive led to a lapse in Ji Feng's guard, resulting in his defeat, a fact that made many lament.
As time passed, the competition went on. To Liu Feng's relief, Chen Shu attended every match and caused no trouble. Until... that very night.
The first round of the Hegemony Tournament concluded. Some were elated, others regretful, but all understood that this was not the end.
"Next is the loser's bracket, right?" Chen Shu asked, holding a skewer of grilled meat. "The competition is quite humane."
Liu Feng explained, "On one hand, it's to determine the specific rankings, and on the other, it's to ensure that the participants selected for the world competition are truly the best of the best." In the Hegemony Tournament, three consecutive wins directly secured a spot in the top two. The third place would be contested by the remaining fourteen losers. While a single loss meant no chance at the championship, a player who managed to fight their way out of the loser's bracket could still secure third place and qualify for the world competition.
The teacher and student chatted for a while before parting ways.
"Life without sniper rifles and cannons... I'm actually a bit unaccustomed to it..." Chen Shu circled his wooden cabin, feeling a sense of unease. "I wonder if I'll be able to sleep well..."
Just as he was about to enter his room, options suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Option 1: Go back to your room and sleep! Completion Reward: Large amount of Beast Taming Power]
[Option 2: Beneath Sacred Imperial Island lies a bloodline treasure. As the ferocious bandit you are, you decide to make a direct move! Completion Reward: Invisibility Potion! If the treasure is successfully acquired, additional rewards: 'Death Pillar of Fire' +1, 'Powerful Shield' +2]
[Option 3: As someone who enjoys sharing, you decide to inform others of the intel and head there together! Completion Reward: Elemental Beast Fire Attribute +3%]
Chen Shu paused, his steps halting. The first option was naturally ruled out. Between a treasure and sleep, the choice was obvious: the former! Bandit's Code, Rule Two: To refuse a treasure is an act of rebellion!
"Should I share this with others?" Chen Shu mused, stroking his chin. "It might be a bit dangerous. I absolutely cannot implicate anyone else!" "I truly am a considerate friend to everyone, hehe!" With that, he headed straight for the edge of Sacred Imperial Island...
On the eastern side of Sacred Imperial Island, a person clad in a straitjacket and wearing a gas mask arrived at the seaside. *Plop!* Chen Shu dove into the water and began to descend. "As expected of Xiao Xing's meticulously developed Straitjacket 3.0, it functions just like a diving suit." He felt a sense of admiration for Xu Xingxing as he touched the blue and white garment. While Xiao Xing might not excel in other areas, he was undoubtedly a pioneer in the field of straitjackets! Chen Shu moved like a fish, heading directly for the bottom of Sacred Imperial Island...
Beneath Sacred Imperial Island, a black shark was slowly moving, encased in a dark protective shield that isolated it from the surrounding seawater and rendered it invisible. "Finally, almost there!" the cloaked figure muttered. It had taken him a full month to arrive. The closer he got to Sacred Imperial Island, the slower his progress became. The reason was the King-level contract spirits monitoring the island. He could only advance a little after the black shark's skill cooldown was complete, and he dared not go too fast, fearing detection by Chen Qinghai and others.
The cloaked figure reached a cave entrance at the island's base. With the isolation provided by the black protective shield, the black shark's presence seemed to be invisible to both the King-level contract spirit probes and the pervasive technological equipment. Riding the shark, he directly entered the cave. The interior was lined with jagged rock walls, but a faint azure light emanated from them. At this moment, the black shark abruptly stopped. The black protective shield flickered, indicating its duration was ending. A green protective shield appeared on its body, also masking its aura, but it could no longer move. The cloaked figure held his breath, also remaining still, fearing detection.
Ten minutes later, the black shark released its black protective shield again and moved deeper into the cave. Gradually, a faint white mist began to appear ahead. Seeing this, the cloaked figure's body trembled, his eyes alight with great joy. As he proceeded, the white mist grew denser, seeming to merge with the seawater, creating a bizarre spectacle. At this point, the black shark stopped. They had reached their destination. A spatial passageway appeared before them, the surrounding white mist being its characteristic feature. Without hesitation, the cloaked figure stepped into the passageway.
Not long after he left, the seawater around the passageway rippled, as if an invisible creature were present. "Below is an alternate dimension?" The invisible Chen Shu halted. He was not far from the cloaked figure, yet neither could see the other. One was due to a skill, the other to a potion. "No wonder there were so many surveillance devices. It truly holds secrets!" Chen Shu gazed at the passageway and muttered, "Could this be an Easter egg from the officials for us contestants?" "It must be. I have to get my hands on it and not disappoint everyone's expectations!" He grinned and entered the alternate dimension without delay.