Chapter 97: Top Eight Emerge [2-in-1]
Hearing Coach Ping Ningyan’s teasing, Coach Zheng’s face grew even darker.
He was very clear that Ge Bai had contracted a Space Element Spirit Plant.
He had even watched one or two match recordings of Ge Bai from the Jinggang City Level Arena Competition Preliminary.
At that time, wasn’t the coordination between Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid and Weeping Ancient Willow pretty good?
Wouldn’t one Spatial Teleportation have settled it?
Why bother dragging it out step by step today.
Coach Zheng was speechless toward Ge Bai and Big Willow in his heart, but on the surface, he kept his gaze straight ahead, not wanting to pay any attention to Ping Ningyan.
Seeing Professor Zheng say nothing but his face clearly darkening more, Ping Ningyan laughed with a giggle.
The matches in the upper bracket for the top eight to quarterfinals gradually came to an end.
Among the original 32 students participating in Jinggang No. 1 Middle School Special Recruitment, including Ge Bai, there were 4 Spirit Planters.
After that round of matches ended, aside from Ge Bai, the other 3 Spirit Planters were all eliminated.
That boy who contracted Devil Vine and was shocked by Big Willow’s Movement Ability originally had a chance to break into the quarterfinals and secure a Special Recruitment spot.
Moreover, to be honest, he had cultivated his Devil Vine very well, with the pet beast’s Spiritual Power Level reaching Mortal Spirit Realm level 9.
Devil Vine’s Entangle, Strangulation, Concealment, and other skills had all reached Proficient mastery.
In the previous match, his Devil Vine’s opponent was a Mortal Spirit Realm level 8 Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle.
Although the Steel Wing Eagle held a natural high-altitude advantage, this Spirit Planter and Devil Vine’s response could be called quite good.
In the battle, the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle’s high-altitude ranged attacks were dodged very well by Devil Vine, unable to cause fatal damage.
On the contrary, the somewhat anxious Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle, in a dive, was seized by Devil Vine’s opportunity, with vines shooting out, steadily entangling its feet.
The Steel Wing Eagle nearly fell to the vines’ Strangulation.
Who would have thought that the Beast Tamer of the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle, this girl named Yin Qilan, still had a trick up her sleeve.
From the moment everyone arrived at Jinggang No. 1 Middle School Training Ground, her Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle had always been by her side, and no contestant on the venue had seen her draw a Summoning Array, naturally not seeing the color of her Summoning Array.
And Jinggang No. 1 Middle School Special Recruitment didn’t announce detailed player information, plus her Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle’s cultivation level wasn’t low either.
So, her opponents naturally thought she, like most contestants, had only contracted one pet beast.
Seeing the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle entangled by vines, Yin Qilan quickly drew a Summoning Array and summoned a glowing Water Sprite.
This Water Sprite’s Spiritual Power Level wasn’t high, estimated to be only at Beginner Mortal Spirit Realm level.
But it was clearly prepared for a long time in the Beast Tamer’s Spiritual Consciousness Space, or perhaps the pet beast and Beast Tamer had already discussed tactics beforehand.
The moment the Water Sprite appeared, without a second’s hesitation, it directly cast a full-power Healing Spell Water Bubble on the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle.
After casting, the Water Sprite visibly withered, and Yin Qilan immediately recalled the Water Sprite into her Spiritual Consciousness Space to nurture.
If not for still being on the arena where match rules didn’t allow, Yin Qilan probably would have directly taken out Nutrient Solution and soaked the Water Sprite in it.
But this Water Sprite that appeared for less than a second and was drained by one skill completely changed the battle situation.
The Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle caught by Devil Vine struggled desperately, while Devil Vine, after grabbing the Steel Wing Eagle, retracted all other extended vines, concentrating Spiritual Power to complete Strangulation.
The Steel Wing Eagle’s struggling strength grew weaker and weaker, with victory’s balance visibly tipping toward Devil Vine.
Unexpectedly, a Water Bubble smashed over, and the Steel Wing Eagle surged back like it had regained a mouthful of blood, fiercely breaking free of the bindings.
At the same time, it seized the opportunity to deliver a Steel Wing Spin to Devil Vine at close range.
Victory and defeat flipped in an instant.
This Spirit Planter boy and his Devil Vine could only prepare more and see if they could grab a Jinggang No. 1 Middle School Special Recruitment spot in the Challenge Match.
After Ge Bai stepped down, she immediately turned her gaze to Yin Qilan and that Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle; according to the schedule, they were Ge Bai’s opponents in the next match.
Right after the match with Devil Vine ended, Yin Qilan eagerly summoned the glowing Water Sprite from her Spiritual Consciousness Space.
Although sent back to the Spiritual Consciousness Space to nurture immediately, it still looked withered and limp at this moment.
She carried the glowing Water Sprite to the Chief Referee’s side, softly exchanged a few words, and applied for a Healer to treat her pet beast.
The Chief Referee carefully assessed it, then looked back at Coach Zheng Mingchun on the stage.
Coach Zheng nodded from afar toward this side.
Two Hegemon Realm healers for pet beasts, accompanied by the Beast Tamer, walked to Yin Qilan and the glowing Water Sprite, easily restoring the Water Sprite to peak condition.
They also conveniently healed the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle’s injuries.
Seeing this, Ge Bai looked back at Big Willow, who was happily drinking her own prepared Nutrient Solution.
Big Willow immediately got the hint, hid the Nutrient Solution in her dense Willow Threads, and swayingly walked toward the Healer, mooching a Spiritual Power Recovery skill.
Hmm, not bad.
There was no spare grain left in her own rice bin; saving one bottle of Nutrient Solution was one bottle saved.
Ge Bai didn’t care about that, and even felt a bit heartbroken over the half bottle of Nutrient Solution Big Willow had already drunk.
In her heart, pragmatism was the way to go.
Now, there weren’t few teachers and students in the venue focusing on Ge Bai and Big Willow.
Seeing this scene, many people had black lines sliding across their foreheads.
“Impossible, I must have guessed wrong earlier; even one bottle of Nutrient Solution needs saving—how could they afford Time Soil.”
Chu Qiang pursed his lips, inwardly cursing himself again for wishful thinking.
“This little girl sure knows how to live frugally.”
Ping Ningyan grew fonder of Ge Bai the more she watched her.
The little eye contact between Ge Bai and Big Willow hadn’t escaped her eyes.
They say pets resemble their masters; just looking at Big Willow’s extremely proficient move of hiding half a bottle of Nutrient Solution in her Willow Threads showed that Ge Bai was also an interesting person capable of such things.
Big Willow walking to the Healer was utterly composed.
Zheng Mingchun frowned; what was going on with the Spirit Plant Research Institute—how was such a genius Spirit Planter so stingy that she couldn’t even afford one bottle of Nutrient Solution?
In contrast, on the other side of the venue, Yi Kai Jun, also from an ordinary family, appeared much more composed.
Not to mention mooching Healing Spells.
His pet beast Dark Nether Ghost shrank back into his own Beast Tamer’s shadow right after stepping down, which was also this ghost’s characteristic.
Yi Kai Jun opened a Nether Concealment Umbrella and sat calmly under it.
It wasn’t some special hobby of his, but Dark Nether Ghost particularly liked the shadow of the Nether Concealment Umbrella, recovering better while resting in that shadow.
Just this umbrella alone was worth several million.
Clearly, this was also a gift from the Spirit Beast Research Institute.
Compared to the Spirit Beast Research Institute, Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute was only richer, not poorer.
Coach Zheng Mingchun couldn’t figure it out.
How would he know Ge Bai had already spent nearly ten million.
——
While Big Willow was mooching the Healing Spell, the lower bracket quarterfinals also all ended.
The 8 players who temporarily secured Jinggang No. 1 Middle School Special Recruitment spots this session were all confirmed.
Upper bracket: Ge Bai, Yin Qilan, Shi Chenliang, Lan Xin
Lower bracket: Fang Miao Wen, Long Jun Chi, Yi Kai Jun, Nangong
“Next, continue with the top eight ranking matches.”
Coach Zheng Mingchun stood on the stage and announced loudly.
“The Challenge Match will be held tomorrow; other players who wish to participate, gather at the same venue at the same time tomorrow.”
“The 8 players wait in their respective areas; other players may leave on their own or go to the spectator seats.”
Coach Zheng Mingchun’s style was as concise as ever.
Hearing the announcement, none of the over 20 eliminated players left the venue, all choosing to go to the spectator seats and find seats.
From the looks of it, tomorrow’s Challenge Match would take a full day too.
Ge Bai and Yin Qilan walked to opposite sides of venue one respectively; Ge Bai drew a Summoning Array while walking, drawing Yin Qilan’s frequent glances back.
For the second pet beast, Ge Bai naturally summoned Thousand Generations.
“Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid, Space Element Spirit Plant.”
Chu Qiang watched the Little Orchid that solidified into form and immediately sprawled on Ge Bai’s head, drooling greedily.
As for Weeping Ancient Willow, powerful as it was, it was just a tree-type Spirit Plant with strong Attack Power.
Similar Spirit Plants could be counted as a few.
If given another chance to choose between contracting his Explosion Ball or Weeping Ancient Willow.
He would probably still choose Explosion Ball; he had always held the view that explosions were art.
But Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid was different!
This was a Space Element Spirit Plant—the only Space Element Spirit Plant currently known and publicly documented by the Interstellar Alliance that could be contracted by Spirit Planters!
Other Space Element Spirit Plants were either high-mountain flowers in Secret Realm Spaces or Strange Plants in chaotic battlefield states.
You know, there weren’t many Space Element pet beasts; who knew how much Spirit Planters craved Space Element in the past few years.
Most notably, this Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid’s Spatial Teleportation Skill directly changed the attack methods of Spirit Planters.
Stationary output Spirit Plants sometimes didn’t really want to be “Turrets” deep down—this was just no choice.
Now, the solution was sprawled on Ge Bai’s head!
Yin Qilan, upon learning Ge Bai was her next opponent, had also gathered some info on her in the meantime.
Seeing Ge Bai summon the renowned Space Element Spirit Plant Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid, she felt a sinking in her heart.
Not only that, she was also very worried about the third Spirit Plant that had never appeared.
Ge Bai had no idea what she was thinking right now; if she knew, she would definitely comfort her seriously.
Don’t worry, Big Willow and Thousand Generations can easily handle your two pet beasts.
Ge Bai and Yin Qilan stood on opposite sides of the arena, with the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle circling in the low air above Yin Qilan’s head.
This time, Yin Qilan didn’t hide it either, directly holding the glowing Water Sprite in her arms.
Ge Bai used Spiritual Sense to communicate with the System, scrutinizing the glowing Water Sprite.
As expected.
Spiritual Power Level: Mortal Spirit Realm level 2.
Skills: Water Bubble – Beginner.
It really was a newly contracted juvenile pet beast.
That Water Bubble on the field earlier had already drained all of the glowing Water Sprite’s Spiritual Power.
At this moment, traces of Spiritual Power Fluctuation were still visible around this glowing Water Sprite; it seemed it would take quite a while to accumulate another Water Bubble.
Ge Bai didn’t give much instruction to Big Willow or Thousand Generations.
Just a Mortal Spirit Realm level 8 Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle—even with two lives, these two together could handle it easily.
She had knocked down Transcendence Realm birds before.
Big Willow shifted back to normal size, stood in front of Ge Bai, and skillfully mobilized the power of Time Soil, ready at any moment for Thousand Generations’ Spatial Teleportation.
Thousand Generations wasn’t in a hurry, still sprawled on Ge Bai’s head, but her gaze stayed fixed on the circling Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle without shifting for a moment.
“Match start!”
Hearing the match start whistle, the Ji Lie Steel Wing Eagle immediately gained altitude, wings spread, diving to build initial kinetic energy for Steel Wing Spin.
Two Steel Wing Spins headed straight for Big Willow.
Big Willow didn’t get cocky this time.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Instant-cast six Wind Blades, aimed at the Steel Wing Spin.
No prior clash, who knew the power level of this Steel Wing Eagle’s Steel Wing Spin.
Clap, clap.
Ge Bai’s sharp eyes spotted that the Steel Wing Spin’s power wasn’t small; one Wind Blade could only slightly impede its forward momentum.
It took two, or even three Wind Blades, to fully block a Steel Wing Spin.
No big issue; the Steel Wing Eagle expending energy for one Steel Wing Spin cost far more than Big Willow firing a salvo of Wind Blades.
At this moment, Thousand Generations moved.
One Spatial Teleportation, disappearing from Ge Bai’s head and appearing in the air to Big Willow’s left rear, standing steady in midair.
Though Thousand Generations’ size wasn’t large, there were many people watching her.
“Yo, Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute’s Time Soil reserves look quite abundant; both Weeping Ancient Willow and Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid are equipped with it.”
Ping Ningyan couldn’t use Time Soil herself, but seeing Thousand Generations standing steadily in midair, she couldn’t help sighing at Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute’s wealth.
Zheng Mingchun spoke up this time, giving an objective comment.
“Using Time Soil with Space Element Spirit Plants can indeed achieve astonishing effects.”
These two coaches were just sighing.
On the stands, the Spirit Planters led by Chu Qiang were all green with envy.
“Time Soil! That’s definitely Time Soil! She has two portions!”
Chu Qiang felt his envy turning him green.
Off the field, it was just sighs and envy.
On the field, Yin Qilan personally felt the pressure.
Looking up at Thousand Generations in midair, she kept feeling waves of unease.
“Jixiang, take out that Orchid first!”
“Lie!”
Hearing the Beast Tamer’s order, the Steel Wing Eagle unhesitatingly charged straight at Thousand Generations in midair.
Wings folded back, eagle beak like a blade, the whole eagle’s body streamlined.
Eagle Peck Strike; if Thousand Generations was hit by the eagle beak, it would surely suffer heavy injury.
“Big Willow.”
“Got it.”
Thousand Generations stayed steady at a distance, while transmitting sound to Big Willow.
Thousand Generations in midair, even her Flower Sword was still, without the slightest sway, eyes fixed intently on the charging Steel Wing Eagle.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
30 meters, 20 meters, 5 meters.
Thousand Generations’ extreme maneuver, circulating Spiritual Power at the last instant for Spatial Teleportation!
