Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1007: The Award Ceremony

The stands erupted as though a powder keg had been set ablaze. A thunderous "BOOM," rang out, and the audience burst into complete frenzy. Sound waves surging from the arena pierced straight through the clouds, with the wild cheers audible even to those outside the stadium.

"AAAHHH! Champion! Champion!"

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Holy crap! Once the Blazing Divine Lion's Blaze activated, its attack power turned utterly horrifying! I barely blinked, and it was all over!"

"Same here! I figured after the Sawtooth Dragon and Blazing Divine Lion both got back on their feet, they'd battle longer. Never thought it would wrap up so quickly, with the Sawtooth Dragon totally overwhelmed."

"I wouldn't call it overwhelmed. The Blazing Divine Lion unleashed Radiant Impact, but the Sawtooth Dragon still launched a Dragon Sonic Blast. Without that Super-tier skill, the score might've ended 3:1."

"Honestly, the Sawtooth Dragon exceeded expectations this time. Its first Dragon Sonic Blast required Dragon Luck Field's boost, but the second came from raw power alone."

"Right, it's insanely strong to rise again after that brutal Lava Purgatory. The Blazing Divine Lion matches it in terror..."

"The youngest B-rank Tamer ever... Qiao Sang isn't even 18, yet she's claimed the regional title. Her B-rank license holds way more value than those spoiled kids stacked with family resources."

"Not all regional champions carry the same prestige. Qiao Sang crushed Yuan Tianlong; she's hands down the top B-rank Tamer in the Central Hollow Region."

"Why limit it to Central Hollow? Call her the strongest on all of Blue Star. Our region's contestants always outclass others. Yuan Tianlong snagged two other titles, but here he settled for second."

"To be exact: among B-rank Tamers. Don't overlook the old-timers, some B-rankers centuries old with King-level pets."

"I don't care. Qiao Sang reigns supreme as my top B-rank."

"The Sawtooth Dragon took down three King-level pets before. By that measure, the Blazing Divine Lion could chain three King-level wins too. Terrifying, simply terrifying..."

"Even more! It burned energy on the Disaster Dragon first. And the Sawtooth Dragon's triple feat was two years back—its power has surged since."

"I envied Qiao Sang's Qinyin Fairy contract before, but now I get it: if I were one, I'd bond with her too. Who else offers such youth and might in a Tamer..."

"...I've been glued to the battles; you mentioning the Qinyin Fairy reminded me it exists."

"From today, I'm Qiao Sang's ultimate fan. I'll chase her matches everywhere."

"I'm heading to Yuhua Region tomorrow. Craving a Blazing Divine Lion bad."

"I'm submitting my interstellar visa now. Off to Chaosu Star for a Little Steel Falcon."

"Shame the Ice Emperor Ram's endangered, or I'd grab one too."

"Ghost Ring King rocks as well. That ring stores stuff. If my brain capacity levels up for another pet contract, I'll hunt a Treasure Hunter Ghost in Yuhua Region."

"Ah! Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!" Wu Tianjiao jumped high, swinging her glow-stick in wild excitement like a rabid fangirl. Then, struck by a thought, she spun around and dashed off.

In the front rows, Yu Ke, Yu Le, and Rong Yuhua thrashed their support sticks wildly. Spotting this, Yu Ke teased: "And you claimed you weren't God Qiao's fan."

Rong Yuhua waved hers while declaring: "You nailed it. Qiao Sang's my idol now!"

Yuan Tianlong had been the runner-up. At this instant, Rong Yuhua believed friending Qiao Sang on social media topped all gains from this regional tournament.

---

Yuhua Region, Hanggang City

Within an office building.

"She won. She really won. Qiao Sang's the champion..." Qiao Wangyang stared blankly.

Qiao Wangyang abruptly regretted his past neglect in reaching out to Qiao Sang. Had they kept contact, he wouldn't face this barrier of unreachable lines now.

They seemed worlds apart. He gazed at his desk phone for two seconds before grabbing it to dial the number he'd attempted recently.

Quickly, the automated reply sounded: "I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy..."

---

Ye Xiangting shot to her feet in thrill, yelling Qiao Sang and Yabao's names. Then, mindful of her role, she whipped out her phone to record this epic instant.

Truth be told, Yuan Tianlong's fame rang loud. Though she rooted for her daughter's triumph, victory hopes stayed low. From chats with Qiao Sang, her girl lacked confidence in this bout too.

Not from lack of pride in her child—she knew Qiao Sang's extreme youth. The foe doubled her age, wielded Dragon-types, and boasted two prior regional wins. Odds of success looked razor-thin.

"Brilliant! Qiao Sang! Yabao!" Liu Yao leaped up, shedding his calm demeanor to fanboy hard, waving his support stick with fervor.

"Xian Xian!"

"Xian Xian!"

The Sky Bat clutched a glow-stick, swinging it with matching zeal.

"A teenage prodigy." Coach Tao noted, eyeing the starlit figure.

"Inviting Qiao Sang to the National Beast Taming Combat Team, I never dreamed she'd snatch the crown from Yuan Tianlong."

Suddenly recalling something, she turned to speak with Qiao Sang’s mother, but found her aiming her phone at the field in excitement. So she addressed Mikayla nearby: "When do you depart?"

Mikayla pondered briefly: "Likely tomorrow."

Coach Tao paused in shock: "That quick? Next stop?"

"Zidia Region," Mikayla answered.

Coach Tao blinked stunned again. Skipping the reason, she offered: "Qiao Sang's champ now—a victory feast calls. Dinner tonight? On me."

Mikayla glanced at the lithe form on the field and grinned:

"No thanks. Qiao Sang hates victory banquet vibes anyway. Fresh off the fight, she'd prefer partying with Yabao and crew over us.

"Spot on, spot on." Ye Xiangting agreed, still filming.

"Back when Qiao Sang took the National Campus League, snagged the interstellar exchange spot, or entered Imperial Beast University, I itched for a celebration bash, but she always refused. Youngsters today skip that scene."

Coach Tao: ...

Amid roaring cheers and shrieks, Qiao Sang recalled Yabao into her Beast Codex.

---

Staff swarmed Qiao Sang, blocking media while guiding her to the lounge.

"Miss Qiao, relax here briefly. Award ceremony starts in twenty minutes; we'll go then." A staffer said politely.

Qiao Sang sank into the sofa and nodded: "Got it."

The staffer lingered, seeming hesitant to speak.

"Anything else?" Qiao Sang inquired.

Blushing, the staffer mustered nerve: "An autograph, maybe?"

Qiao Sang hesitated, then beamed: "Sure."

The staffer yanked out a pen and eagerly unzipped their uniform, exposing a white shirt: "Sign my shirt, please."

Qiao Sang grabbed the pen and scrawled her name swiftly. The staffer gushed thanks and floated out elated.

Qiao Sang then called out Yabao and the rest. Lubao had regained some stamina inside the Beast Codex. Silently, she channeled her energy; her forehead gem pulsed deep blue, enveloping her and Yabao.

"Yap yap!"

The blue glow faded, leaving Yabao fully healed in a flash.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure zipped around Yabao and Lubao, chattering excitedly about the match's glory and heaping praise.

"Lu Di."

Despite Little Treasure's hype, Lubao stayed stoic, though her tail twitched twice.

"Yap yap?"

Hearing Xun xun, Yabao's eyes lit up. He faced his tamer and barked questioningly.

"We won the match?"

Qiao Sang confirmed with a nod: "Yes. Sawtooth Dragon went down too. No more rounds."

"Yap yap!"

Yabao yipped in delight.

Qiao Sang grinned: "Everyone, gear up. Award time approaches."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure caught on fast. He ditched his ring, fetching accessories. Yabao donned his green triangular shades deftly. Gangbao eyed the lavender fedora offered and wore it without fuss.

"Lu Di." Lubao signaled no need for gear.

Little Treasure dug deeper into the ring and produced the vintage diamond glove for Qingbao.

"Qing qing?"

Qingbao blinked, pawing at herself doubtfully.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure affirmed, noting he outgrew it, making it ideal for her now.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao eyed the dazzling diamond glove and mewed softly, turning it down politely. She hadn't battled much, so the stage felt unearned.

Qiao Sang spoke firmly: "Who claims you barely fought? You claimed a win too. We're a team; we accept the award as one."

Qingbao gazed at her tamer, frozen briefly.

"Xun xun~"

Then Little Treasure prodded the glove once more.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao paused before voicing another excuse.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure recalled her wind-form time, so he relented. Regretfully, he stowed the glove.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao exhaled in relief.

---

Twenty minutes passed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, plus livestream viewers everywhere!"

The host boomed across the arena: "Welcome to the Regional Competition award ceremony!"

Cheers thundered anew. Following the host's cues, third-place Wu Tianjiao and runner-up Yuan Tianlong ascended for their honors.

Abruptly, lights plunged dark, save for stands' glow-sticks and phone screens. Myriad lights merged into a starry ocean shimmering over the stadium.

Finally, the final entrant's turn. The host inhaled deeply and bellowed passionately: "Behold, your Regional Champion! Fans, ready? Chant her name with me! QIAO SANG!!!"

"Qiao Sang!"

"Qiao Sang!"

The arena pulsed with her name.

As roars swelled, field neons streamed like meteors. Champion anthem blared. The platform split centrally.

A towering bird-type pet, over twenty meters with iridescent-gleaming feathers, ascended from below and hovered. Atop it stood Qiao Sang, Yabao, and team. One wingbeat scattered starry specks skyward in a dazzling spectacle.

The Primal Iridescent Bird, a King-level avian famed for stunning beauty. Only the worthy earn its perch. Feathers shift hues by light angle. Legends say its riders rule supreme.

Central Hollow folk hold this truth sacred, granting every regional champ this grand Primal Iridescent Bird entrance for ultimate acclaim.

Yabao rocked his shades, head cocked 45 degrees. Lubao poised serene by Yabao.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Cape-clad Little Treasure waved paws wildly at fans. Fedora-topped Gangbao beat wings near her tamer.

"Qing qing..."

Qingbao lingered by Little Treasure, eyeing the howling crowd, a tad dazed by the frenzy.

The Central Hollow Beast Taming Association Chairman arrived via another bird pet, hopped aboard the Primal Iridescent Bird, and neared Qiao Sang. A tray materialized bearing a golden trophy, gold ring, and purple-marked pet egg.

The Chairman lifted the trophy, beaming: "Congrats on victory. Epic battle."

Meanwhile, the host pressed on: "Qiao Sang, this tourney's youngest entrant, claims first-time glory. Youth belies her dominance."

"The Sky-Vault Cup, Central Hollow pros' ultimate prize. At 17, Qiao Sang seizes it. Not just our region—the whole Dragon Country etches her name."

"Qiao Sang: Champion of the 767th Central Hollow Region Competition."

Host wrapped up as Qiao Sang grasped the Sky-Vault Cup, thrusting it skyward. The masses thundered. Arena flashes detonated in unison.

-----