Liu Yi slowly descended on her maglev skateboard, landing on the central double helix floating island.
She crouched down and gently stroked Chiying's head.
Chiying barely opened its eyes, Liu Yi's face reflected in its crimson pupils. It rubbed gently against her palm, then closed its eyes as it was recalled to her Beast Taming Space.
Across from her, Shui Heyu also landed beside his Blazing Feather Eagle.
Shui Heyu crouched beside it, gently placed his hand on its back, then recalled it to his Beast Taming Space.
He was silent for two seconds, then stepped onto his maglev skateboard and slowly flew towards her.
Liu Yi noticed his approach and looked up.
The two stood a few meters apart, one on the floating island, one on the skateboard, their eyes meeting.
Shui Heyu spoke first, "Your Moling Dragon is very strong."
Liu Yi nodded slightly. "You too."
A slight smile played on Shui Heyu's lips—not a bitter or self-deprecating one, but a genuine acknowledgment of a strong opponent.
"I lost," he said directly, without excuses or evasions. "The Molten Blast Lizard and Blazing Feather Eagle both did their best, but they still couldn't beat you."
He paused, his gaze falling on Liu Yi's palm. "Your Chiying endured two battles with Burn status and still managed to unleash Rising Dragon Strike at the end. My Blazing Feather Eagle used every move it had, yet could only achieve a 'mutual destruction' with it."
"You won, fair and square."
He extended his hand.
Liu Yi looked at his hand, then, without hesitation, extended her own.
Their hands clasped together, not with force, but a light grip, then released.
Shui Heyu withdrew his hand, stepped onto his maglev skateboard, and turned to fly towards the exit.
Liu Yi watched Shui Heyu's retreating figure disappear into the teleportation light before looking away.
【Points settlement in progress...】
【Liu Yi (First-year) defeats Shui Heyu (Second-year), gains 15 points.】
【Current total personal points: 90】
【Current Tianqi Beast Taming High School total points: 1038】
...
The teleportation light in the battle zone gradually faded, and Liu Yi's figure reappeared on the teleportation platform in the B-District staging area.
Ziyue was summoned from the Beast Taming Space, her silver-blue form landing at Liu Yi's feet.
"Congratulations on your victory," the staff member beside the platform said with a smiling nod. "There's a medical room in the pet care area; you can go straight there if needed."
"Thank you." Liu Yi nodded, then quickly walked out of the teleportation zone with Ziyue.
The care area was located on the first floor of the main arena, a spacious, semi-open hall. The hall was divided into multiple zones, including treatment rooms, recovery rooms, nursing rooms, and a dedicated pet resting area.
The care area was already quite busy, mostly with contestants who had just finished their matches, lining up with their pets for treatment.
Liu Yi walked to the front desk. The staff member looked up at her, then at Ziyue beside her. "Hello, what service does your pet require?"
"Recovery treatment," Liu Yi said. "Moling Dragon, Intermediate stage, with Burn status."
The staff member operated a few controls on the terminal and handed her a number card. "B-District Treatment Room 3, please wait."
Liu Yi took the number card and walked towards District B.
The door to B-District Treatment Room 3 was ajar, and a faint hum of machinery emanated from within. She pushed the door open and entered, finding a doctor in a white coat adjusting equipment.
"Please place your pet on the treatment table," the doctor said without looking up.
Liu Yi summoned Chiying from her Beast Taming Space.
The dark figure appeared on the treatment table. Chiying opened its crimson eyes, scanned its surroundings, then looked at Liu Yi.
"It's alright," Liu Yi said, gently stroking its head. "A little treatment will fix it."
The doctor finally looked up, her gaze falling on Chiying, her eyes widening slightly. "A Moling Dragon?"
Liu Yi nodded.
The doctor pushed her glasses up, her expression shifting from surprise to professionalism. She walked to the treatment table and began to carefully examine Chiying's injuries.
"Two layers of Burn, sustained for some time," she noted, checking. "Scales are slightly shattered, and there's a rather deep wound on its abdomen, likely a direct skill hit. There are also a few scrapes, nothing serious."
She paused, then added, "Energy consumption is very high; both stamina and energy are near the red line. However, with a Dragon-type pet's physique, treatment combined with good rest will ensure a quick recovery."
"Thank you for your trouble," Liu Yi said.
The doctor nodded and began operating the treatment equipment.
A pale blue light shield rose from the edges of the treatment table, enveloping Chiying.
Gentle energy fluctuations seeped from the light shield, and Chiying's breathing gradually steadied.
Ziyue crouched beside the treatment table, looking up at Chiying, her purple eyes filled with worry.
Chiying seemed to sense her gaze and turned its head slightly.
"Mo."
It's nothing.
Ziyue's ears twitched, and her tail gently swayed. She didn't cry out, just quietly crouched there, watching Chiying within the light shield.
The treatment lasted for about twenty minutes.
The light shield slowly lowered. Chiying stood up from the treatment table and stretched its body.
Its shattered scales were already repaired, their surface glowing with a faint blue light. The wound on its abdomen had healed, leaving only a faint mark.
"All done," the doctor said, putting away her equipment. "I recommend letting it rest well in its Beast Taming Space tonight, and avoid any high-intensity training."
Liu Yi nodded and recalled Chiying to her Beast Taming Space. Chiying transformed into a dark stream of light and vanished into her palm, gently nudging Ziyue's head with its tail before leaving.
Only then did Ziyue relax.
A figure walked in, followed by a giant moth.
Sheng Mingxi.
The Ghost-Mask Moth followed behind Sheng Mingxi, its wings half-drooping. There were several clear scorch marks on its gray-black wing membranes, and its antennae drooped as well; it didn't look to be in good condition.
Sheng Mingxi saw Liu Yi, paused in surprise, then smiled. "What a coincidence."
"Indeed," Liu Yi replied, looking at the Ghost-Mask Moth behind her. "Injured?"
"Yeah," Sheng Mingxi shrugged. "Got beaten by Pei Yingwu's Nightblade Wolf."
Liu Yi didn't immediately reply, simply stepping aside to make way.
Sheng Mingxi led the Ghost-Mask Moth to the treatment table, and the doctor began examining its injuries. She, meanwhile, retreated to the side, standing against the wall with her hands in her pockets.
"Lost?" Liu Yi asked.
"Lost," Sheng Mingxi answered bluntly.
Liu Yi looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
Sheng Mingxi thought for a moment, seemingly organizing her words. "His Nightblade Wolf is indeed strong. Its trait is Oppression. When it appears, it releases a special pressure that significantly increases the opponent's skill energy consumption."
Liu Yi nodded; she had seen it in the contestant profile pages provided by the coaching staff earlier.
"And that Oppression isn't just about energy consumption," Sheng Mingxi frowned. "The Ghost-Mask Moth's movements were slower, its reactions sluggish, as if something was weighing it down. When I gave commands, it would take a beat longer to execute them."
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