Don't Jinx It

The elevator stopped on the third floor. The door opened to a quiet corridor. The door to Conference Room 307 was ajar, and voices could already be heard from inside.

The three of them entered the conference room and found that most of the team members had already arrived.

Ouyang Qin sat at one end of the long table, speaking with Chu Qian next to her.

Wei Tan'an and several second-year team members gathered, discussing the day's matches.

Wei Xiuyu stood in front of the projection screen at the front of the conference room, a stack of documents in her hand, conversing quietly with the coaching staff.

Seeing Liu Yi and the other two enter, she nodded slightly, gesturing for them to find seats.

Liu Yi found a seat by the window. Ziyue squatted at her feet, and Chiying hovered beside her.

Li Chengying and Gao Xue sat next to her, and Ouyang Qin also walked over.

“Is everyone here?” Wei Xiuyu scanned the room, and after confirming everyone was seated, she pressed the remote control in her hand.

The projection screen lit up, displaying rows of data.

【Monte Competition Zone Day One Battle Report Summary】

【Tianqi Beast Taming High School: 15 participants, 15 wins, 0 losses, total points 150, temporarily ranked first in the Monte Competition Zone School Total Points Leaderboard】

【Skywing High School: 15 participants, 15 wins, 0 losses, total points 150, tied for first】

【Monte Beast Taming Academy: 15 participants, 15 wins, 0 losses, total points 150, tied for first】

【Blazing Sun High School: 15 participants, 14 wins, 1 loss, total points 140, temporarily ranked fourth】

【Golden Scale Academy: 15 participants, 14 wins, 1 loss, total points 140, tied for fourth】

【Fugang Beast Taming High School: 15 participants, 13 wins, 2 losses, total points 130, temporarily ranked sixth】

【Jinnan Yunyong Beast Taming High School: 15 participants, 13 wins, 2 losses, total points 130, tied for sixth】

【...】

【Tianqi Beast Taming High School · Day One Battle Report】

【Participants: 15】

【Wins: 15 wins, 0 losses】

【Total Points: 150】

【Current Ranking: 1st in Monte Competition Zone (tied)】

A low cheer erupted in the conference room.

Li Chengying excitedly pumped her fist: “Tied for first! We're tied for first!”

Gao Xue pressed her shoulder: “Quiet down, listen to Teacher Wei.”

Wei Xiuyu's gaze swept over everyone. Once the cheers subsided, she slowly began, “You all performed well today, but don't celebrate too soon. We're not the only ones in first place; Skywing High School and Monte Beast Taming Academy are also tied with us.”

Her words quieted the cheers in the conference room somewhat, but the smiles on the team members' faces were still undeniable.

“Tied for first is still first!” Li Chengying declared confidently. “If we keep this up tomorrow, we'll be the sole leaders!”

Gao Xue glanced at her: “You don't even know who your opponent is tomorrow. Don't jinx it.”

“What do you mean, jinx it? This is confidence!” Li Chengying retorted, though her voice was noticeably softer.

Wei Xiuyu ignored their bickering and continued to scroll through the data on the projector.

“Today's data is very detailed. Everyone can go back and watch their opponents' match footage to analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Although the first week involves same-grade matching, you still can't let your guard down.”

“Next, I'll announce tomorrow's battle schedule.” Wei Xiuyu swiped the tablet again, and the projection screen switched to a new page.

A dense list appeared again, arranged in order of third-year, second-year, and first-year students, with battle times, arena numbers, and opponent information noted beside them.

Liu Yi quickly scanned the screen, looking for her name.

【National High School League First Stage · Monte Competition Zone · Day Two Battle Schedule】

【Time: Tuesday, October 7, 10:50 AM】

【Arena: Sky Colosseum · District A Battle Zone 4】

【Tianqi Beast Taming High School · First-Year Contestant · Liu Yi】

【Registered Pets: Silver Snow Fox (Ice-type · Intermediate stage), Moling Dragon (Dragon + Poison-type · Intermediate stage)】

VS

【Zell Yunyong Beast Taming High School · First-Year Contestant · Sheng Mingxi】

【Registered Pet: Ghost-Mask Moth (Bug + Poison + Ghost-type · Intermediate stage)】

Liu Yi's gaze lingered on the screen for a moment.

A Ghost-Mask Moth, Bug, Poison, and Ghost-type, Intermediate stage.

“Zell Yunyong Beast Taming High School...” A voice came from nearby.

Liu Yi turned and saw Murong Qing, sitting diagonally opposite, staring at the battle schedule. A fluffy Moonlight Cotton squatted beside her.

“A first-year, Intermediate stage?” Murong Qing's eyes widened slightly. “Liu Yi, your opponent also has an Intermediate pet!”

Tang Xuejian, next to her, also leaned over for a look.

“Bug + Poison + Ghost...” Tang Xuejian murmured softly. “That attribute combination is quite rare.”

Murong Qing nodded: “It's unique to the Zell Region, right? I remember there are many poisonous swamps there, so the pets are quite special.”

Liu Yi gave a slight nod.

“But no matter how special, it's still Intermediate.” Murong Qing said with a cheerful smile, “Liu Yi, you have two Intermediate pets, what's there to be afraid of?”

“Murong Qing is right,” Tang Xuejian also nodded. “And your Silver Snow Fox and Moling Dragon work so well together, it'll definitely be fine.”

Wei Xiuyu's voice came from the front: “Everyone saw tomorrow's battle schedule, right? Go back and prepare well. Tomorrow morning at seven, gather in the hotel lobby.”

“Understood!” everyone replied in unison.

After the meeting, the team members left the conference room in small groups.

Liu Yi stood up, and Ziyue immediately followed, her two tails gently swaying.

Chiying also hovered beside her, its crimson eyes calmly scanning its surroundings.

“Liu Yi, good luck tomorrow!” Li Chengying walked over and patted her shoulder. “I'm going back to sleep first; I'm exhausted today.”

Gao Xue looked at her, speechless: “Why are you tired? Your match went smoothly, didn't it?”

“Commanding is tiring too, you know!” Li Chengying asserted. “So many of my brain cells died!”

Gao Xue massaged her forehead: “Alright, alright, your brain cells are precious, go get some sleep.”

The group left the conference room together and parted ways at the elevator.

Liu Yi returned to room 1608 with Ziyue and Chiying.

The door closed, and silence filled the room.

Liu Yi sat on the sofa, took out her phone, and opened the Beast Tamer Association's official database.

“Ghost-Mask Moth...” she murmured softly, typing the name into the search bar.

Ziyue jumped onto the sofa, lay beside her, her purple eyes curiously fixed on the screen.

Chiying also moved closer, landing on the back of the sofa and resting its head on Liu Yi's shoulder, its crimson eyes also focused on the phone.

The screen quickly displayed the search results.