Chapter 139: Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear!
Chapter 139: Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear!
The Bamboo Bear, as an adorable pet, was also the regional mascot of Xiyue Continent and the lucky symbol of Donghua War Zone.
It was different from the Green Caterpillar.
It had status and strength.
Both Xiyue Continent and Donghua War Zone would surely dedicate manpower and resources to research its evolved forms.
Other war zones all had their own mascots and representative Soul Pets.
The Bamboo Bear was Donghua War Zone’s representative mascot.
Naturally, many research and development efforts focused on its evolutionary paths.
The third round of the competition began.
The dueling platform shifted to the Central Combat Zone.
That was the 3000×3000 battle area.
A place specifically reserved for Soul Pets over a thousand years old to battle.
The Central Combat Zone also had the highest number of spectator seats nearby.
Currently, only a little over sixty competitors had advanced to the third round.
Selected from tens of thousands of students through elimination, these sixty-plus competitors were undoubtedly the strongest among the strong.
Since there were no smaller sections, each day’s battles eliminated half the competitors based on the matches scheduled.
On the third day, depending on the number of remaining contestants, additional matches would be held as needed to determine the Top Sixteen.
The fourth day would have the quarter-finals (Top Eight). Fifth day: semi-finals (Top Four). Sixth day: elimination matches leading to the finals. Seventh day: finals.
It wrapped up in one week.
Every single day was critical. The slightest mistake meant instant elimination.
All sixty competitors’ Soul Pets had Soul Power Cultivation around seven hundred years. A small portion exceeded seven hundred years.
Very few could even reach eight hundred years.
Most were relatively close in strength.
The first day’s matches were roaring with noise.
Each subsequent day had fewer matches, but the intensity kept increasing.
The popularity of many Soul Pets could also be seen from the fan signs hanging around the spectator area.
Additionally, the third round featured special guest seating and visiting judges observing from different vantage points.
These special guests included, but were not limited to, representatives from border Military Departments, masters from professional gyms, personnel from the Xiyue Headquarters’ Soul Pet Research Base, the Martial Soul Research Department, and principals from Xiyue Continent’s top universities…
The visiting judges would be powerful officials from Rongdu city’s Garrison Force, city’s Inspection Unit, and Xiyue Continent’s Lingyue Army present. Should a situation arise during a match that the regular judges couldn’t settle, these combat-specialized experts would step in and provide their judgment.
The Qihang Cup held unique significance.
It represented the potential seed competitors, the future Soul Pact Masters of Xiyue Continent each year.
Essentially, anyone who advanced to the second round was considered a talent worthy of future attention from Xiyue Continent.
Those who reached the third round were the genius youths requiring key focus.
These genius youths were the ones who would shine brightly on the stage of the War Zones, and even the entire Federation, in the future.
Having only a little over sixty such contestants a year wasn’t actually that large a number.
“Old Zhao, watching the Qihang Cup matches so early this year? In previous years, you always started watching from the Top Eight, didn’t you?”
In the special guest seats, a few spirited elders chatted and laughed.
An elder in grey robes smiled as he spoke to Zhao He. “What’s up? Is Martial Soul research no longer appealing? Or has cultivating Soul Pets gotten boring?”
“Scram.”
Zhao He waved dismissively. “Mood strikes, understand? Judging by your deficient vitality, you probably wouldn’t get it. Your Western Peaks Academy carries the banner of our Xiyue Continent’s top academy, but just look at what became of the Qihang Cup champions from the past two years under your cultivation?”
“Truly staggering that in this year’s joint academy competition, the Zhulu Cup… your team didn’t even make the Top Eight? The individual competitor barely scraped by in sixteenth place, dead last.”
“Across nine war zones, dozens of top-tier academies, and scores of first-class ones, Western Peaks Academy’s actual results least deserve its name! Utterly shameful!”
Zhao He had important business the previous two weeks and hadn’t been able to watch the Qihang Cup.
The grey-robed elder calmly replied, “Competitors underperforming – what does that have to do with me, a mere vice-principal? I wasn’t the one competing.”
Zhao He: “…”
“Ah well. Your thick skin isn’t a new thing either.”
Zhao He straightened up, focusing intently on the ongoing match.
“Hahaha! Principal Zhou! So glad I didn’t choose your Western Peaks Academy back then and went for Battle Soul Academy instead. Indeed, without me, your Western Peaks Academy just doesn’t quite cut it!”
An imposing middle-aged man nearby burst out laughing.
“And you? A tiny little captain in the city guard department? Still just a captain after all these years? And you graduated from Battle Soul Academy? Don’t you feel ashamed? If you were a student of my Western Peaks Academy, we’d have kicked you out long ago!”
The grey-robed elder retorted just as fiercely.
The middle-aged man wasn’t offended, merely chuckling.
Battle Soul Academy was a unique institution dedicated exclusively to nurturing Battle Soul Masters.
It was currently the war zone’s most popular academy.
After all, who didn’t dream of becoming a Battle Soul Master – fists meeting flesh, fighting freely in combat?
Douhun (Battle Soul) – “Soul” referred to Martial Soul, and also Soul Pets.
It represented Soul Pact Masters who fused their own being with their Martial Soul to the utmost, wielding the pinnacle of human combat prowess.
Among Professional Soul Contractors, Battle Soul Masters, experts in close-quarters combat, were forever the dream of countless aspiring Soul Pact Masters.
They were the peak of humanity’s combat strength.
With their physical bodies, resisting Soul Beasts of a hundred thousand years was trivial.
They could even stride into the far reaches of the cosmos…
There was only one Battle Soul Academy in the entire war zone.
It was distinct from other large academies that merely offered a Douhun Major.
As the sole cradle specifically for Battle Soul Masters, Battle Soul Academy held an extraordinary position.
“Enough, you old codgers. Every year at the competition, you end up bickering endlessly.”
He Huan walked over, frowning. “Hurry up and retire already. The future belongs to the young.’
“Minister He has spoken! Everyone, be quiet!”
“Minister He gets more prett… er, relaxed year by year. Please, comb your hair?”
“When I was twenty, Minister He looked twenty. Now that I’m forty, Minister He still looks… twenty. Sigh, time truly spares no one.”
“Whose fault is it that her Martial Soul is Humanoid! For a woman with a Humanoid Martial Soul, consistent cultivation is like elixir for eternal youth! Decades to them pass in the blink of an eye.”
“Minister He… at your age, haven’t you considered dating? My grandson is about to be born. Staying forever young just seems… wasteful, no?”
“Don’t bother, Minister He sees only Soul Pets. Men? How could they compare to Soul Pets? Right, Minister He?”
The moment He Huan arrived,
Those in the special guest seats showered her with jests and banter.
Even the visiting judges seated a row ahead – stern-faced, unshakeable men – turned around, offering friendly greetings and smiles.
“Alright, alright, watch the match, it’s about to begin.”
He Huan said with a laugh, “The Soul Pet appearing in today’s first match is the Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear, a new evolutionary direction our Western Yue Soul Pet Base has been researching in recent years for the Bamboo Bear Soul Pet.”
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became serious.
“Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear?” Zhao He asked doubtfully, “What kind of evolutionary direction is this? So far, I have only seen three evolutionary directions for Bamboo Bear: the Thunder Bamboo Bear, Spirit Harmony Bamboo Bear, and Diamond Bamboo Bear. What’s the story behind this Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear?”
Currently, the Xiyue Continent had researched three evolutionary directions for Bamboo Bear, based on different materials and Martial Soul characteristics.
These options were for Soul Pact Masters who chose Bamboo Bear as their first Soul Pet.
The three types of Bamboo Bear represented the Thunder-Element, Battle-Type, and Mountain Rock Type.
Each had its own strengths. The Thunder Bamboo Bear excelled at using lightning to enhance itself, being extremely fast and powerful, and could also use formidable Thunder-Element Soul Skills.
The Spirit Harmony Bamboo Bear had strong overall abilities, belonging to the Battle-Type. It was skilled in various combat techniques and could adapt to many harsh environments, always able to fight in any situation. It was the top choice for wilderness exploration.
The Diamond Bamboo Bear belonged to the Mountain Rock Type, specializing in defensive capabilities. It was particularly resilient and was a preferred Soul Pet for many Art Soul Masters to protect themselves.
All three Bamboo Bear types were quite good-looking and had different colors, though their evolution requirements were still relatively high.
“The Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear is a rare Earth Type Soul Pet, specializing in strength.”
He Huan said, “Its power can shake a small mountain. We estimate that after reaching a thousand years of Soul Power Cultivation, it can easily lift a small peak. That’s why it’s called the Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear.”
Everyone thought, that’s amazing!
“In the current stage of the Qihang Cup, only a few Supreme Soul Pets specialized in strength can surpass it in power.”
He Huan said, “From what I’ve seen, in the third round, there should be only one Soul Pet stronger than it in terms of strength. Barring any surprises, as long as it doesn’t encounter Water-Type, Plant-Type, or Sky Element Soul Pets, other Soul Pets would find it hard to win.”
“Even if it does encounter them, the outcome is still uncertain.”
“Guaranteed to make the top eight?” Principal Zhou said.
“Pretty much.” He Huan replied.
“Oh ho, then this first match isn’t looking good. Who’s lucky enough to face such a little monster?”
Zhao He also laughed.
However.
When the two contestants stepped onto the field.
His smile froze.
“Why is it him?” Zhao He exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh?” He Huan also looked toward the competition area and was stunned.
On the competition field.
“Today is the opening match of the third round. Now, let’s welcome both contestants onto the field!”
The third round began.
The venue erupted with cheers as intense as a tsunami.
A popular, beautiful commentator with Soul Wings flew in mid-air, providing commentary.
The venue was enormous, with different sections for the audience.
Distant viewers, who couldn’t see the live action from the front, had access to many large screens.
At the same time, each seating section was equipped with miniature communicators.
Although the commentator’s voice was loud, because of the vast distance, even with real-time transmission, it might take over ten seconds to hear.
And it wouldn’t be clear.
So, the distant seats had miniature communicators, similar to communication devices, that relayed the commentator’s voice from afar.
There were also over a dozen Vigilance Eagles flying in the sky. Without obstructing the competitors, they could capture any combat details and highlight moments from various terrains.
The three-thousand-meter Combat Platform couldn’t have entries from the edges.
Instead, competitors emerged from the center of the field via platforms that rose from below.
The Soul Pact Masters stood on the central high platform, issuing commands to their Soul Pets.
For ordinary viewers, it was naturally impossible to see clearly; they had to look at the large screens.
Only Soul Pact Masters could see some details of the match from such a distance.
“The randomly selected terrain for this match is… Rocky Terrain!”
The beautiful commentator said cheerfully, “The contestant on the right, his Soul Pet is familiar to everyone—it’s the most popular Soul Pet in this Qihang Cup… a very cute and strong Green Caterpillar!”
The central ground began to change gradually.
Artificial hills, twenty to thirty meters high, rose from the ground one after another.
A ground covered with dense rubble spread across the central area.
It was indeed the Rocky Terrain!
At the same time.
The venue erupted again with tsunami-like cheers.
Countless audience members raised various Green Caterpillar signs and nameplates, waving them enthusiastically.
In the central combat area, Wang Che stood on a platform about five to six meters high, looking around. The scene felt familiar to him.
“Small scene.” Wang Che said.
In contrast, the opponent.
Was a young chubby boy named Yang Xiaoshan.
He was plump, less than 1.7 meters tall, but not extremely overweight.
He appeared very excited and thrilled at the moment.
Although the central combat area was large, for Soul Pets at the hundred-year level, it was excessively spacious.
The actual combat range was focused on the central area, but there was more room to maneuver.
With Wang Che’s eyesight, he could clearly see Yang Xiaoshan and his large Soul Pet on the platform over a hundred meters away.
Of course, Yang Xiaoshan might not be able to see Wang Che’s Green Caterpillar clearly.
After all, it was quite small.
“The contestant on the left, as those who have been following along know, his Soul Pet is an evolved form of our Xiyue Continent’s beloved Bamboo Bear—the Mountain-Hugging Bamboo Bear! It is a very powerful Soul Pet!”
“Of course, it’s also very cute!”
“Now, please have the Soul Pets beside each contestant enter the arena!”
“The match is about to begin!”