Chapter 915: Blind Selection (2-in-1)

Outside the spherical arena.

Qiao Sang dismounted from Xiao Xunbao.

There were mostly eye-catching red Pets around, but even so, the moment Xiao Xunbao landed, she attracted the attention of most people.

A Fire-type lizard Pet nearby couldn’t stand her Yu Beast Master, who had just been saying “good girl” to her a second ago, now looking at other Pets. She immediately showed an unhappy expression, her tail glowing red, and whipped her Yu Beast Master on the head.

“Ah!”

A scream entered her ears.

Fire-type Pets were still so temperamental; thankfully, Xiao Xunbao was more well-behaved… Qiao Sang picked up the now smaller Xiao Xunbao and queued at the entrance.

When it was her turn, she showed the ticket inspector the mission confirmation slip sent to the backend by the Yu Beast Center after the mission was issued, and then she smoothly walked in.

Qiao Sang arrived at a hall according to the address given in the mission details.

At this time, many people were gathered inside, and almost everyone had a Fire-type Pet beside them.

Perhaps because of the gathering of Fire-type Pets, Qiao Sang only felt that the temperature inside was a bit higher than outside.

“Yan Yan.”

A Pet with a small chimney on its head looked over, showing a sneering expression.

Xiao Xunbao’s expression darkened, and then she jumped out of her Yu Beast Master’s arms.

Qiao Sang didn’t think much of it.

“Steel Sword.”

At this moment, Steel Treasure’s voice echoed in her mind.

The guy with the chimney-like head just now mocked Xiao Xunbao for still needing her Yu Beast Master to carry her at her age.

Qiao Sang turned to look at the Pet Steel Treasure mentioned, and its relevant information appeared in her mind.

Chimney Monster, Fire-type General-level Pet. The flames burning in its chimney indicate mental concentration. When unhappy, black smoke will rise from its chimney.

Qiao Sang retracted her gaze, bent down, and picked up Xiao Xunbao again.

Xiao Xunbao’s first reaction was to struggle.

“Let me hold you. You’re soft, and it’s comfortable to hold you,” Qiao Sang said gently.

“Ya Ya…”

Xiao Xunbao stopped moving, showing a compromising expression.

Sigh, even though she was already grown up, if her Yu Beast Master wanted to hold her, she couldn’t do anything about it.

“Yan Yan!”

The Chimney Monster saw this scene, its face fell, and it immediately turned to its Yu Beast Master and cried out, indicating that it also wanted to be held.

The thin young man didn’t know what was wrong with his Pet, but he still bent down and picked her up.

“Yan Yan?”

The Chimney Monster was comfortable and cried out. Was she soft?

Whether you’re soft or not, don’t you have any Point in your heart… The young man didn’t answer, conveying his thoughts with his eyes.

The Chimney Monster understood the meaning conveyed by her Yu Beast Master’s eyes and immediately started emitting black smoke from her head.

“Everyone!” A lady wearing a work badge cleared her throat, attracting everyone’s attention, and said loudly, “Later, everyone, please have your respective Fire-type Pets line up and go up. The selected Pets will stay, and for those not selected, you can directly recall them to your yu beast codex. The competition scene outside will be broadcast live here.”

“Of course, if Yu Beast Masters of selected Pets wish to watch on-site, we have also arranged seats outside. Just find me then.”

Everyone listened quietly, seemingly having no issues with the arrangement.

What? There’s also a selection and non-selection process? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned.

If Xiao Xunbao wasn’t selected, would this mission still count as completed?

Qiao Sang glanced to the side, picked a kind-looking woman, and asked:

“Hello, I’d like to ask what are the specific rules of this competition?”

The woman looked over, her gaze falling on Xiao Xunbao, paused, and then softly asked in return:

“You don’t know about the Item Crafting Competition?”

Qiao Sang said sheepishly:

“I know a little, but not much. I just took on a mission to come here.”

The woman didn’t ask further and began to explain the competition content:

“This Item Crafting Competition is already the finals. The participating crafters have all gone through several rounds of competition and were selected from various towns, counties, and cities. They will blind select Fire-type Pets arranged by the organizer to assist in crafting, which are our Fire-type Pets.”

“The competition will last three days. During these three days, they will continuously craft, and the selected Fire-type Pets will also continuously participate in assisting.”

“Once the finished items are produced, their functions will be demonstrated on-site. Then, the judges from the Item Association will select the ten most powerful items for scoring. These ten items, plus the judges’ scores and live audience votes, will determine the top three.”

“Finally, ten lucky audience members will be randomly drawn on-site and gifted these ten items.”

No wonder so many people came… Qiao Sang suddenly understood.

The woman saw Qiao Sang’s expression and smiled:

“This mission of yours is quite worthwhile. There’s an unwritten rule: generally speaking, Yu Beast Masters whose Fire-type Pets are selected have a higher chance of becoming lucky audience members.”

“In the previous Item Crafting Competitions, at least two or three of the ten lucky audience members were us.”

Qiao Sang wasn’t very interested in items and instead asked:

“How do those crafters blind select Fire-type Pets?”

“They cover the Pets with cloth and blind select them based on their silhouettes,” the woman patiently explained. “This also adds some fun to the competition.”

Blind selecting by silhouette… Qiao Sang looked down at Xiao Xunbao, and her confidence suddenly increased a little.

Leaving aside everything else, just by looking at her silhouette, Xiao Xunbao was so handsome; she should definitely be selected.

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao looked up at her Yu Beast Master, cried out, her eyes full of confidence.

After about ten minutes, the lady with the work badge said loudly:

“Everyone, please have your Fire-type Pets follow me!”

Xiao Xunbao jumped out of her Yu Beast Master’s arms.

“Go,” Qiao Sang nodded to Xiao Xunbao.

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao held her head high and chest out, walking with confident strides alongside a group of Fire-type Pets.

At the same time, a giant virtual screen appeared out of thin air above the hall, displaying the live scene.

“Now we’ve reached our exciting partner selection segment!” The Host, dressed in a black suit, said into the microphone, “Please welcome our first group of Fire-type Pets to the stage!”

The whole venue cheered.

Soon, the silhouettes of ten Fire-type Pets were illuminated in the light and shadow.

The camera panned.

Qiao Sang took a general look and knew that Xiao Xunbao was not among them.

The fifty crafters seated in the contestant area began to select Pets.

Five Fire-type Pets were selected.

The crafters barely hesitated.

Although it was a blind selection, most Yu Beast Masters who had some understanding of Fire-type Pets could infer the Pet from its silhouette.

However, to increase the difficulty, the organizer would occasionally have similar-looking Fire-type Pets appear at the same time, and then specifically adjust their positions to confuse their silhouettes.

Qiao Sang watched with great interest.

By the third group, she saw Xiao Xunbao.

“The third group of Fire-type partners has appeared. Please begin your selection!” the Host announced.

Each crafter had a virtual screen in front of them, displaying the numbers of the Fire-type Pets on stage that could be selected.

If a Pet was selected, the light and shadow in front of it would show the crafter’s contestant number.

If not selected, the light and shadow would instantly dim.

If two or more crafters simultaneously selected the same Pet, then according to the crafters’ previous competition rankings, the higher-ranked one would have priority in selection.

Xiao Xunbao was number 31.

Huge wings, a fluffy soft long tail, a strong and slender physique, a domineering posture overlooking everything—even just a silhouette, one could tell it was the most impressive Pet among the ten.

Qiao Sang was very satisfied.

The crafters stopped what they were doing.

“Alright, now let’s see which Pets have been selected!” the Host said loudly.

The camera focused on the ten Pets, which were only silhouettes.

As the slightly suspenseful background music played.

The light and shadow of number 31 dimmed.

Qiao Sang: “!!!”

A bolt from the blue!

Xiao Xunbao was not selected!

Qiao Sang was stunned, bewildered, and confused.

Why!

Why wasn’t Xiao Xunbao selected!

She was clearly the most domineering in silhouette among the Pets on stage!

If Xiao Xunbao wasn’t selected, would this mission of hers still count as completed?

All sorts of thoughts popped up in an instant.

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao appeared with a “how could this be” expression.

Steel Treasure showed a stunned expression.

“Ice Emperor.”

Even Lu Bao, who had half her head sticking out, was startled.

At this moment, the kind-looking woman beside her reminded, “You should recall your Pet.”

Xiao Xunbao’s unique form, even after only a few glances, allowed the woman to recognize who number 31 was.

Qiao Sang collected her thoughts, slowly exhaled, and formed hand seals.

Instantly, a massive crimson star array lit up in the hall.

Holy cow… The people who were originally discussing fell silent, their pupils slightly constricted.

They never expected that a dignified B-rank big shot would also appear in this selection!

Are B-rank big shots nowadays all so fond of pretending to be young! The woman’s expression changed slightly, and she stiffly took a step back.

Xiao Xunbao appeared in the star array, looking as if she was doubting life.

Not selected…

She actually wasn’t selected…

How could this be…

Was she not handsome enough…

“Ya Ya…”

Xiao Xunbao looked at her Yu Beast Master with a bewildered expression, wanting to know why.

Qiao Sang noticed that the people around her were quietly moving away, and the atmosphere felt a bit off. She sighed, “You should shrink first.”

Xiao Xunbao slowly shrunk.

One person and one Pet looked at each other.

“It’s those people who have no taste,” Qiao Sang finally said.

“Ya Ya…”

Xiao Xunbao also thought so. She sighed, showing a worried expression, and cried out.

She wasn’t selected, so would the mission still count as completed?

Qiao Sang thought, “You’re worrying about the same thing as me…”

At this moment, the kind-looking woman beside her said:

“Perhaps the crafters aren’t very familiar with your Pet and couldn’t recognize what kind of Pet it was, so they didn’t dare to choose it.”

Her attitude was much more reserved than before.

So that’s how it is… Qiao Sang sighed for no reason.

She had originally thought that with Xiao Xunbao’s domineering appearance, being selected would be a simple matter, but she forgot that this was an item crafting competition, and everyone would only choose Pets they were familiar with and confident in.

The woman continued:

“You can wait a bit longer. Some crafters haven’t made their selection even after all Pets in the first round have appeared. There will be a second round, and your Pet can go up again then.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up: “Thank you. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known and might have left in a bit.”

This demeanor, if I hadn’t seen the red star array just now, I would really think she was younger than me… Indeed, when you’re out and about, you can’t judge a person’s age just by their appearance… The woman smiled: “You’re welcome. I just came to the selection once before, so I have more experience.”

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao had already regained her confidence.

So it wasn’t that she wasn’t handsome enough!

Xiao Xunbao’s silhouette was relatively domineering and easy to recognize. Since she wasn’t selected in the first round, it would be difficult for her to be selected in the second round… Qiao Sang stared at Xiao Xunbao for a while and suddenly said:

“Try removing your flame wings.”

Xiao Xunbao removed her flame wings without a word.

Good, this way she’s not as domineering. If covered and judged only by silhouette, she actually looks quite similar to a Flame Joy Fox from the Hollowed Lands, it’s just that the Flame Joy Fox’s legs seem a bit shorter… Qiao Sang observed for a moment and said:

“When you go up later, lie down and try not to expose your limbs.”

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao understood her Yu Beast Master’s intention and cried out with a serious expression, indicating understanding.

Ten minutes later, sure enough, three crafters still hadn’t selected a Pet.

Xiao Xunbao entered the re-selection stage.

“Remember what I just told you,” Qiao Sang exhorted.

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao cried out, walking towards the stage with steps that seemed to carry a certain mission.

“We will now invite the Pets that were not selected earlier to return to the stage,” the Host said into the microphone. “There are still three contestants who haven’t chosen their Pet partners. Now, please make your selection.”

This time, there were as many as 53 Pet silhouettes on stage, all of which had not been selected previously.

Qiao Sang was backstage, watching the virtual screen. The silhouette of the Pet lying quietly, with a slender body and no limbs exposed, made her look nervous.

This was the last chance…

If she still wasn’t selected, then the mission…

“Xiao Xunbao…”

“Steel Sword…”

“Ice Emperor…”

Xiao Xunbao, Steel Treasure, and Lu Bao stared at the virtual screen, their expressions unconsciously becoming tense.

A sudden gust of wind blew in swirls.

Under the gaze of everyone and all the Pets, almost all the light and shadows extinguished instantly, leaving only three Pet silhouettes on the stage.

“Numbers 31, 69, and 98, let’s see what Pets have been selected!” The Host followed the procedure: “Let’s first look at Pet number 31!”

As the Host’s words fell, the covering cloth disappeared.

A majestic and domineering Pet, almost entirely crimson, was revealed.

“Ya!”

Xiao Xunbao stood up excitedly, throwing her head back and letting out a loud cry.

At the same time, the flame wings on her sides suddenly condensed and spread open.

Her aura was at its peak.

The entire venue was silent for a moment, then a clamor erupted as everyone discussed this mysterious, never-before-seen Pet.

In the contestant area.

A young man with a buzz cut saw his expression transform from confident to astonished, muttering:

“How could this be, how could it not be a Flame Joy Fox…”

The contestant next to him sympathetically patted his shoulder.

Pet number 31 looked very powerful, but for a crafter making items, a powerful Fire-type Pet was useless. The main thing was cooperation and control.

Cooperating with a Pet he wasn’t familiar with, whose species name he didn’t even know—he knew that the guy next to him was finished.