Free Web NovelChapter 153: Chapter 137: First Come, First Served
The Flying Shadow Alliance’s designated waiting area was gradually filling up. Amidst a medley of accents from all over, the ones from Xin City and Huai City—both in Shanyou Province—were the most similar.
Ordinarily, running into someone from your hometown in a big city should be considered a stroke of good luck.
However, the conversation between Su Zhi and Xu Jianzhi had dwindled instead.
In a complete reversal of his initial enthusiasm and politeness, Xu Jianzhi made an excuse and walked away after a few perfunctory pleasantries, no longer paying Su Zhi any mind.
"Woof?" Yu Bao wagged his tail, confused.
’Weren’t things fine just a moment ago? Why did that happen? Did Su Zhi do something wrong?’
"Relax, it’s pretty normal."
Su Zhi patted Yu Bao’s head. "Maybe something we did without realizing it soured his mood?"
"Woof." Yu Bao nodded in agreement.
’Su Zhi is so handsome. Standing next to him would definitely make anyone feel insecure, so I can understand how that guy feels.’
’He’s quite the flatterer...’ Sensing the little guy’s thoughts, Su Zhi couldn’t help but smile.
"Where do you want to eat later? I hear the feed at the Alliance Headquarters is specially selected by the Divine Strategy Alliance and is different from the stuff they sell to the public."
"Woof woof."
The tamer and his pet chatted intimately, completely unaware of the malicious glare Xu Jianzhi was directing their way.
In fact, the moment he confirmed it was Su Zhi, Xu Jianzhi was already plotting how to get him.
This wasn’t the first time he had heard the name Su Zhi.
Not long ago, during the city league tournament in Huai City, Xu Jianzhi had learned about this person during a regular phone call with his younger brother, Xu Mingzhi.
His brother had been crying his eyes out, telling him how Su Zhi had humiliated him in public, put him in an impossible situation on the tournament stage, and how that little mutt had made him lose his cool with just a smile...
Xu Jianzhi had gripped the phone, his heart aching with rage.
He had watched his brother grow up. Although they hadn’t seen each other much after middle school, he was certain his brother was a good, well-behaved kid.
Regardless of the facts, that Su Zhi had bullied his brother just because he had a stronger Pet Beast, and even had his pet humiliate him with that expression. How despicable!
His brother might endure it, but he absolutely would not.
Xu Jianzhi was not one to let things slide. Since he’d run into Su Zhi today, he had to seize the opportunity and pay him back twofold.
Xu Jianzhi already had a general idea of what to do.
This was the Common Defense Alliance Headquarters, so direct violence was out of the question. However, humiliating him within the rules was perfectly feasible.
All summer camps tacitly allowed friendly spars. If he challenged Su Zhi in front of everyone, Su Zhi would have no choice but to accept.
Then, it would be his chance to viciously avenge his brother!
’A Real-time Energy Value of 1680?’
Seeing the scan data for Yu Bao on his phone, Xu Jianzhi raised an eyebrow, his hot-headedness cooling slightly.
For a Pet Beast like a Yu Dian Dog, reaching this level of development was pretty much its limit.
He had never watched a tournament from a small place like Huai City, but judging by the Energy Value alone, it wasn’t hard to see how Su Zhi had won the championship.
However, this didn’t make Xu Jianzhi feel the least bit intimidated by Su Zhi.
Admittedly, Yu Bao had an impressive Energy Value, one that was even slightly higher than his own Stone Armor Rhinoceros. But he still had a trump card—
His Beast Taming Talent!
Beast Taming Talent: Battle Frenzy.
Effect: At the cost of complete exhaustion afterward, allows a Pet Beast to massively boost all its attributes for a very short time.
It was a talent perfectly suited for fighting opponents of a higher rank. Moreover, the Stone Armor Rhinoceros was a sovereign of the earth, possessing immense Defense Power and formidable attack power. With this talent, Xu Jianzhi had even managed to take down a sparring partner’s One-star Pet Beast!
No one knew more about fighting above one’s rank than him.
Unless Su Zhi’s little mutt could sprout wings and fly away, it had absolutely no chance of victory.
Xu Jianzhi hid his face behind his hand, his eyes on Su Zhi glinting with anticipation.
’Excellent...’
’Everything is in place; all I need now is the right moment!’
After a while, sixty or seventy campers were standing in the Flying Shadow Alliance waiting area. A single bus held about a hundred people, so the current number was just about right.
Xu Jianzhi hesitated no longer and walked toward Su Zhi.
"Su Zhi, I’d like to have a spar with you right here. Would that be convenient?" he asked with an enthusiastic smile.
As Xu Jianzhi finished speaking, a silver Beast Taming Light Array flared to life beside him. A giant rhinoceros nearly two meters tall and clad in thick, rock-like armor slowly emerged, taking its place by his side—
[Pet Beast: Black Wood (Stone Armor Rhinoceros)
Attribute: Earth Element
Race: High Level Extraordinary Race
Real-time Energy Value: 1634]
"SNORT!" The Stone Armor Rhinoceros snorted provocatively at Yu Bao.
The other campers nearby tactfully cleared an open space. No one seemed particularly surprised; after all, Pet Beast spars were an incredibly common sight.
Su Zhi blinked. "Right now? Isn’t this a bit rushed? Why don’t we wait until we get to the Flying Shadow Alliance..."
"Are you refusing because you’re not confident you can win, Su Zhi? That’s hardly the attitude of a top-tier Beast Tamer."
"I heard you’re the champion of the Huai City high school league. How can you not even dare accept a simple Pet Beast Battle?"
"Or perhaps Beast Tamers from small cities only know how to throw their weight around back home?"
Xu Jianzhi raised his voice, as if deliberately making sure the others could hear, his tone dripping with undisguised ridicule.
However, his opponent didn’t rise to the bait with indignant fury as he had expected. In fact, Su Zhi didn’t show the slightest hint of anger.
Yu Bao had been about to bare his fangs and glare back defiantly, but as a dog of superior intellect, he quickly realized that wasn’t the optimal solution.
