If there was media coverage, it would be a free publicity channel. Qiao Sang estimated there was a 99.99% chance that the event would attract media attention.
After all, every time there’s news, the media flocks to it like flies to fresh manure.
Without real stories, they publish trivial reports or sensationalized headlines, like Magnetic Rat Powers School After Power Outage, Mom Ventures into a Secret Realm for Formula Money 20 Days Postpartum, or One-Armed Gravity Monkey Delivers 3,000 Packages a Day, Buys House and Car, Supports a Family—What’s Your Excuse for Overlooking Injured Pets?
With this kind of fluff making the news daily, surely a legitimate Campus Beast-Mastering League tournament would draw media interest.
Sure enough, the vice principal’s voice confirmed over the phone:
“Of course. There might be less media coverage during the provincial qualifiers, but the official platform will stream the entire tournament. By the time of the finals, the Zhejiang Province Satellite Channel will broadcast it on two major channels.”
“If you care about your image, fix your hair nicely, and keep your uniform on. We’re going for uniformity.”
Qiao Sang selectively ignored that last part.
Satellite channels are accessible nationwide, meaning the Yuhua area matches could be seen in Guwu as well.
Thinking it over, Qiao Sang admitted the vice principal’s reminder about her image wasn’t entirely unreasonable…
---
The next morning, Qiao Sang awoke and checked her phone.
October 11, 6:45 a.m. Sixteen days left until the National Campus Beast-Mastering League.
“Yabao! Get up!”
“Yap!”
Qiao Sang wanted to request leave from school. But given that no one else in her class had taken any days off since the semester began, and she had already used her fair share, she felt reluctant to approach her homeroom teacher again.
When the bell rang for a break, while other students rushed to the hallway or grouped up for the bathroom, her classmates sat glued to their desks, reading as though their seats were sticky traps.
Unable to resist, Qiao Sang turned and asked, “Do you know when the National Campus Beast-Mastering League starts?”
“October 27, I think.” Jin Feifan replied, putting her book down.
Qiao Sang nodded.
“Exactly, October 27!”
Jin Feifan picked her book back up.
Qiao Sang pressed her hand onto the book.
“What’s up?” Jin Feifan looked up, puzzled.
“It’s October 11 now.” Qiao Sang said.
Jin Feifan looked confused.
“I know that.”
Qiao Sang looked at her expectantly. “There are only sixteen days left until the National Campus Beast-Taming League.”
Jin Feifan felt a little on edge under Qiao Sang’s intense gaze. After a pause, she asked, “Are you… nervous?”
Qiao Sang: …
You’re not even worried; why would I be nervous…?
Realizing her classmate wasn’t catching on, Qiao Sang had to be direct. “Do you want to request leave?”
“Why would I?” Jin Feifan asked, looking confused.
“Well, with the league coming up, you’d have more time for training if you took some days off.” Qiao Sang explained.
Jin Feifan replied, “No, thanks.”
“Why not?” Qiao Sang pressed.
“Well, I think my chances of getting into a top school through academic scores are more reliable than winning first in the province.” Jin Feifan said frankly.
Qiao Sang: …
She had expected her classmate to mention concerns about grades, so she could then share her own performance.
Jin Feifan would reassure her, and Qiao Sang could segue into taking leave. But this answer threw her for a loop!
Qiao Sang paused for two seconds and finally asked, “Do you think it’s a good idea if I take leave?”
“Probably not.” Jin Feifan replied after a thought.
“Why?” Qiao Sang asked.
“Because your grades are too low. Taking leave wouldn’t be good for you.” Jin Feifan replied.
Qiao Sang: …
Ouch…
In the end, Qiao Sang did apply for leave.
She reasoned that, with her current level of beast-taming, she had a good shot at qualifying for a top school.
Achieving that goal solely through academics would be nearly impossible with millions of students in the competition each year.
Participating in this year’s Campus Beast-Mastering League would grant her a chance to qualify; she’d have enough time left to improve her academics.
---
The school team training continued, as she couldn’t pass up the free daily points.
Over the next week, Qiao Sang spent her time between the third-year school team, the Hongying Beast-Taming Battle Club, and home.
Yabao and the other beasts showed steady improvements in both points and skill proficiency through the consistent training.
Effective training also meant burning through cash, and Qiao Sang felt the sting as her bank balance shrank day by day. Now, all she wanted was for the league to begin as soon as possible.
At Hongying Beast-Taming Battle Club.
Qiao Sang read the energy meter display: “51,221…”
Energy meters were a common feature at beast-taming clubs, letting customers see their beasts’ progress at a glance.
“Yap…”
Yabao, having finished the test, used his psychic powers to remove the sensor from his head.
Standard energy levels for intermediate beasts range around 50,000. Given Yabao’s current energy, he could evolve anytime, but evolving at maxed-out levels would allow for greater future potential.
As Yabao’s energy continued to rise steadily with each test, showing no signs of leveling off, Qiao Sang decided to hold off on adding points to his stats.
With the league drawing near, schools were busy studying rival teams’ line-ups.
While she didn’t worry about the provincial match, her aim was the national senior-level finals. Keeping an ace in her hand seemed like a smart strategy.
Leaving Hongying Beast-Taming Club, Qiao Sang rode on Yabao toward school.
Her schedule was planned out, and she’d make it in time for school team practice.
---
At Shengshui High’s front entrance.
Two boys stood by, speaking in hushed voices, looking rather suspicious.
“You’re sure it’s legit?” Asked the boy in a black baseball cap.
“Relax.” The boy with spiky hair replied.
“We’re all set. She’s going to sneak out after school.”
“What if she can’t get out?” The cap-wearing boy fretted.
“I heard Shengshui High is strict.”
The boy with spiky hair shrugged. “Then we’ll just leave.”
They both fell silent, staring at the entrance.
The cap-wearing boy asked, “Are you sure about this intel? They swapped their senior team member for a freshman? That sounds way too crazy. You sure she’s not playing you?”
“No way.” The spiky-haired boy took a deep-blue crystal from his pocket, confidence brimming.
“She’s not even on the team. A blue crystal for a piece of info, who wouldn’t take that deal? If she’s lying, I’ll blast her on the Zhejiang High School forum!”
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