"Contestant Liu Yi! Do you have confidence in the Finals?"
"Facing Contestant Su Wenxi's Intermediate stage Moonlight Marten, how do you plan to respond?"
"Contestant Huo Nanyun, as the third-place winner, what are your thoughts?"
The reporters' microphones were practically shoved in their faces, and Qi Zimeng instinctively shrank behind Huo Nanyun.
Liu Yi shielded Ziyue in her arms and calmly said, "I will give it my all in the Finals."
Just then, a commotion broke out from behind the crowd.
"It's Su Wenxi!"
Half of the reporters immediately surged towards the back.
Su Wenxi walked out with her Moonlight Marten. In response to the reporters' questions, she simply said, "See you in the Finals."
The Moonlight Marten jumped onto Su Wenxi's shoulder, meeting Ziyue's gaze across the distance.
The two pets' eyes met in the air, as if invisible sparks were flying.
The photo captured by the reporters quickly made headlines across the Longwu Region's major beast taming media outlets.
The Moonlight Marten and the Ice Fox stared at each other from a distance, radiating battle intent.
In the photo, Ziyue was in Liu Yi's arms, her purple eyes calm and focused.
Meanwhile, the Moonlight Marten on Su Wenxi's shoulder squinted slightly, its white fur fluttering gently in the breeze.
Amidst the interplay of light and shadow in the picture, Ziyue was in one corner of the frame, while the Moonlight Marten's silhouette stood above, subtly creating a delicate disparity.
The accompanying text was even more exaggerated:
《Junior vs. Intermediate! Battle for the Throne of the New Generation's Strongest Beast Tamer!》
......
Inside a restaurant.
Qi Zimeng placed her phone on the table, exclaiming excitedly, "This photo is so cool! I'm going to set it as my screen saver!"
Huo Nanyun glanced at it: "You said yesterday you were going to set a photo of yourself with Thunder-patterned Hound as your screen saver."
"That's different!" Qi Zimeng declared righteously. "This is a historic moment! Witnessing the hidden rivalry between our High School Entrance Tournament finalists before their first showdown!"
Liu Yi put shrimp paste into the hotpot, saying helplessly, "It was just a normal glance before the Finals."
"It was not a normal glance at all!" Qi Zimeng leaned closer, lowering her voice mysteriously. "Someone on the forum has already analyzed it — both the Moonlight Marten and the Ice Fox had killing moves hidden in their eyes!"
Huo Nanyun: "...Read less of the forum."
Liu Yi smiled and placed the ice cream, freshly delivered by the Tray Octopus, in front of Ziyue.
Ziyue ate in small bites, her ears twitching occasionally, clearly listening to their conversation.
Qi Zimeng suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, right! Nanyun and I can go register at Longwu No. 1 tomorrow!"
Huo Nanyun nodded: "One of the admission criteria is reaching the Top 8 in the High School Entrance Tournament, and we've met that."
Liu Yi paused.
The application requirement for Tianqi Beast Taming High School was simply to "participate in the Longwu High School Entrance Tournament," with no ranking restrictions.
This meant she could also go directly to register tomorrow.
The Finals were on August 25th, but admission didn't require waiting for the Finals' results.
Qi Zimeng noticed her expression and blinked: "Liu Yi, you haven't decided about registering yet, have you?"
Liu Yi put down her chopsticks: "No, I just suddenly realized I could also go register at Tianqi Beast Taming High School tomorrow."
"Tianqi?" Qi Zimeng sounded a bit confused.
Huo Nanyun sat up slightly and said, "Are you going to Tianqi? That's certainly an option. Since Yunhai International Beast Taming Academy was established, only Tianqi and Yunhai in our Longwu Region can compete for the championship in the National High School League."
"However, with your strength, you could also go to Yunhai International Beast Taming Academy."
"Mm." Liu Yi nodded, then added, "If it were just Tianqi occasionally winning championships, I might not choose Tianqi. But when you combine Tianqi's application requirements and educational philosophy with its ability to still win championships, that's actually quite remarkable."
Qi Zimeng was a little confused. She grabbed Huo Nanyun's arm and shook it, wanting to know what she meant.
Huo Nanyun didn't push her away, instead looking seriously at Liu Yi: "What are Tianqi's assessment standards?"
"Just participate in the High School Entrance Tournament," Liu Yi said lightly.
"That's it?!" Qi Zimeng was incredulous, suddenly understanding a little.
Huo Nanyun mused, "It seems Tianqi values potential more than current strength."
"Oh, well, let's not talk about such complicated things for now!" Qi Zimeng suddenly raised her juice cup. "Anyway, I wish you all the best in the Finals! May you shine brightly!"
Huo Nanyun also nodded.
Liu Yi picked up her cup, and the three cups clinked lightly in the air.
Ziyue also raised her little paw and placed it on Liu Yi's wrist.
"Bingbing!"
——————————
August 23rd, a rest day.
Liu Yi stood before the school gate of Tianqi Beast Taming High School. The stone monument at the entrance was carved with the powerful school motto:
【Talents of Tianqi are Destined to Be Pillars】
Liu Yi, holding Ziyue, walked towards the guardhouse: "Hello, I submitted my information online and am here to register."
The guard asked, "Name?"
"Liu Yi."
The guard opened the roster, found her name, and checked it off: "Go in. The admissions office is on the first floor of the administrative building."
The moment she stepped onto campus, Liu Yi felt a special energy fluctuation sweep over her body.
"Bingbing?"
Ziyue's ears instantly perked up.
The guard: "Don't be nervous, it's just an energy scan to confirm identity."
Tianqi High School's architectural style was distinctly different from other schools; the main teaching buildings were arranged in a circle, with a huge tower in the center.
Passing through the tree-lined path, Liu Yi arrived at the admissions office in the administrative building.
When Liu Yi pushed the door open, several teachers were organizing documents.
"Hello, I'm here to register."
The teacher in charge of registration looked up and pushed her glasses up: "Name?"
"Liu Yi."
The teacher tapped a few keys on the keyboard, then suddenly paused: "Liu Yi? Liu Yi, the finalist of the Longwu High School Entrance Tournament?"
The other teachers in the office all looked over at the sound.
"Yes," Liu Yi nodded.
The teacher immediately stood up: "Welcome to Tianqi Beast Taming High School!"
She quickly completed the formalities and handed Liu Yi an admission letter: "This is your admission letter. Oh, and the principal specifically asked that if you came, you should go to her office."
Liu Yi took the gold-stamped envelope, a little surprised: "Now?"
"Yes, the principal said you're welcome anytime."
Leaving the admissions office, Liu Yi first opened the envelope in her hand.
【Tianqi Beast Taming High School Admission Letter】
【Student Liu Yi:
Upon review, you have met our school's admission standards, and we officially admit you as a 99th-term freshman of Tianqi Beast Taming High School.
Student ID: TQ-0099-0001
Class: First Year, Class A-1
Special Note:
Please bring this admission letter and report to school at 9 AM on September 1st.
—Tianqi Beast Taming High School Admissions Office】
At the bottom of the admission letter was also printed a school emblem, depicting a tall tower surrounded by stars.
Ziyue curiously touched the school emblem with her paw, and the emblem suddenly glowed faintly, projecting a holographic image:
【Welcome to Tianqi Beast Taming High School!】
In the image, various corners of the campus flashed by quickly, finally settling on the central tall tower.
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