"Bang!"
Ziyue's body was sent flying by the immense impact, tumbling several times on the ground before coming to a stop.
Liu Yi's heart skipped a beat, but soon, Ziyue shakily got back on her feet.
Its fur was caked with ice shards and dust, and its Ice Armor was covered in fine cracks, but its purple eyes remained bright, fixed on the Winged Blade Eagle in the air.
"Still not giving up?" Xu Yukun's voice came from the other side of the arena, carrying a hint of admiration.
The Winged Blade Eagle circled in the air, its silver wings gleaming under the lights.
It didn't continue its attack, seemingly waiting for Ziyue to prepare.
Liu Yi took a deep breath, rapidly analyzing the situation.
Ziyue had little stamina left. The Winged Blade Eagle's speed and attack power far surpassed hers; a direct confrontation offered no chance of victory.
But—
"Ziyue, do you trust me?" Liu Yi asked softly.
"Bingbing!"
Ziyue looked back at her, letting out a firm cry.
"Alright." Liu Yi's lips curved slightly upward. "Then let's try that move."
She looked up at the Winged Blade Eagle in the air, then glanced at Xu Yukun by the side of the arena.
Xu Yukun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Still have a trump card?"
Liu Yi didn't answer, instead rapidly giving orders: "Ziyue, Frost Path, maximum range!"
Ziyue slammed her front paw onto the ground, and ice-blue paths instantly extended in all directions, spreading a complex network across the snowy arena.
The ice paths crisscrossed, some even extending into the air, forming three-dimensional trajectories.
"This is..." Xu Yukun's eyes widened slightly.
"Not enough." Liu Yi continued her command. "Snowfall!"
Ziyue let out a long cry, her head tilted back, and the snowflakes in the sky suddenly became denser. The temperature of the entire training hall plummeted.
Snowflakes danced in the strong winds, and visibility rapidly decreased.
"Trying to use the weather to obstruct its vision?" Xu Yukun chuckled. "But the Winged Blade Eagle's perception isn't solely reliant on its eyes."
Indeed, the Winged Blade Eagle continued to circle steadily in the wind and snow, its sharp eyes seemingly able to penetrate all obstacles.
But interference wasn't what Liu Yi was after.
"Ziyue, Ice Blast, cover the entire Frost Path!"
Countless crystalline ice crystals instantly appeared around Ziyue. These ice crystals flew along the Frost Path's trajectory, embedding themselves onto the surface of every ice path.
The entire arena instantly transformed into a forest of ice crystals, reflecting dazzling light under the lamps.
"This is..." Xu Yukun's pupils contracted slightly.
"Detonate!" Liu Yi shouted.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Countless ice crystals exploded simultaneously, and the entire training hall was engulfed in ice mist.
Explosion shockwaves rippled one after another, and ice shards scattered like shrapnel.
The Winged Blade Eagle was forced to gain altitude, dodging this sudden area attack.
But the moment it ascended, a figure shot up from the ice mist.
Ziyue stepped onto the last intact ice path, leaping into mid-air, her mouth condensing her final Frost Breath.
"Naive," Xu Yukun murmured.
The Winged Blade Eagle flapped its wings, instantly transforming into a silver streak of light, colliding directly with Ziyue in mid-air from the side.
Just as the two were about to collide—
A dazzling blue light suddenly erupted from the fur around Ziyue.
Ice Soul Awakening activated!
"What?!" Xu Yukun was truly surprised this time.
In her awakened state, Ziyue's speed surged. She forcefully twisted her body in the air, narrowly grazing past the Winged Blade Eagle.
At the same time, her Frost Breath erupted from her mouth. At such close range, the Winged Blade Eagle had no way to dodge.
An extremely cold ice mist instantly enveloped the Winged Blade Eagle's wings.
A layer of frost rapidly formed on its silver wings, and the Winged Blade Eagle's movements visibly slowed.
"Well done!" Professor Lin couldn't help but stand up.
But the next moment, a dazzling silver light burst from the Winged Blade Eagle's body.
The frost was shattered, and the Winged Blade Eagle abruptly spread its wings, a powerful current of air sweeping across the arena.
"Silverwing Storm," Xu Yukun said calmly.
The storm, comprised of fierce winds and metallic feathers, instantly engulfed Ziyue.
"Bingbing—!"
Ziyue's figure was thrown by the storm, crashing heavily at the edge of the arena.
Liu Yi immediately rushed over, but Ziyue couldn't get up.
She was covered in injuries, her fur disheveled, but her purple eyes were still open, looking at Liu Yi.
"That's enough," Liu Yi said softly, recalling her to her Beast Taming Space. "You've done incredibly well."
"The Winged Blade Eagle wins," Professor Lin announced.
Silence fell over the arena for a few seconds, then applause erupted.
Xu Yukun walked up to Liu Yi, her eyes full of praise. "That last move was truly beautiful. The timing of your Ice Soul Awakening was perfect, and the tactical design was brilliant."
Liu Yi shook her head. "But we still lost."
"There's no shame in losing to an Advanced mid-stage Winged Blade Eagle," Xu Yukun chuckled. "Do you know what happened the first time I battled an Advanced pet?"
Liu Yi looked at her.
"I was one-shotted by my opponent's Blazing Griffon," Xu Yukun shrugged. "I didn't even have time to react."
She patted Liu Yi's shoulder. "Your Silver Snow Fox not only withstood several rounds of attacks but also nearly injured the Winged Blade Eagle. That's truly impressive."
Professor Lin walked over and looked at Liu Yi, his eyes filled with admiration. "To perform like this against an Advanced rank opponent with an Intermediate stage pet, your tactical acumen and pet training are both outstanding."
Wei Xiuyu had also approached at some point, a faint smile on her lips. "Well? Did you gain anything from this battle?"
Liu Yi nodded. "The gap between Intermediate and Advanced is greater than I imagined."
"But you also saw your strengths," Wei Xiuyu said. "Your tactical thinking and on-the-spot adaptability are your greatest weapons. And Ziyue and Chiying's growth speed has far exceeded my expectations."
She paused, then looked at Xu Yukun. "What was that Aurora Slash skill just now?"
"The Winged Blade Eagle's exclusive skill," Xu Yukun explained. "It's a Flying and Steel-type combo skill that requires extremely high speed and precision to execute. The Winged Blade Eagle practiced it for a full year to master it."
"A year..." Liu Yi repeated softly.
"So don't be discouraged," Xu Yukun chuckled. "Your pets are only a few months old, yet they've already mastered so many A-rank skills. Once they reach the Advanced rank, my Winged Blade Eagle and Thunder-patterned Leopard might not be able to stand against you."
Liu Yi nodded thoughtfully.
Professor Lin put away her tablet. "That concludes today's test. Liu Yi, your data is very valuable, and we will compile it and provide feedback to the Beast Tamer Association. Also, if you wish to continue training here, you are welcome anytime."
"Thank you, Professor Lin."
By the time they left the training base, it was already dark.
Wei Xiuyu drove, glancing at Liu Yi in the backseat through the rearview mirror.
She paused, then said, "By the way, the information for other schools assigned to the Monte Competition Zone has been compiled and will be sent to you tomorrow. Study it carefully, especially the contestants you need to watch out for."
Liu Yi nodded.
After returning home, she first summoned Ziyue and Chiying, carefully checking their injuries.
Liu Yi took out recovery liquid and energy liquid, carefully feeding them.
"You worked hard today," she said softly. "You both did wonderfully."
"Bingbing..."
Ziyue rubbed her head against Liu Yi's palm. Though exhausted, her eyes remained bright.
Chiying, meanwhile, gently touched her cheek with her dragon horn.
Liu Yi smiled, gently stroking them. "Get some good rest. We'll continue training tomorrow."
That night, Liu Yi sat at her desk, diligently recording the insights gained from today's battle in her notebook.
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