Learning Thunderstorm isn't a one or two-day affair; you can't rush it.

Currently, the most important thing is the Changheng Group's internal selection competition.

The Changheng Group headquarters is located in Han Ning City, about a two-hour drive from Haizhou City.

Going back and forth would be a bit troublesome.

Fortunately, based on the distribution of its subsidiaries and contestants, Changheng Group set up sub-competition areas in five other subordinate cities in the Jianghuai region.

Including the Han Ning City competition area, there are a total of six sub-competition areas.

Haizhou City is the venue for one of these sub-competition areas, which is convenient for Mingxi.

At 8 AM, Haizhou City Cultural Center's affiliated stadium.

Mingxi bid farewell to Shao Dingding, who came to cheer her on, and headed to the contestant waiting area to draw her number plate.

With a glance, Mingxi had one feeling: there were more people in the waiting area than in the audience.

Aside from Staff Members wearing identification badges, it was entirely filled with young men and women in the prime of their lives.

A youthful aura permeated the air.

However, there were very few pets; it seemed all contestants had unanimously refrained from summoning their pets.

Maintaining a sense of mystery.

Mingxi found a pleasant-looking Staff Member and inquired about the competition arrangements.

According to the registration status, which closed last night, there were a total of 416 contestants in the Haizhou sub-competition area.

The competition adopted a loser-elimination system.

Within today and tomorrow, the top 26 from the sub-competition area will be determined, and only these 26 will have the opportunity to go to Han Ning City for the final contest.

In other words, she would have to defeat at least four people to successfully qualify.

The first round of elimination matches began quickly.

Each contestant was randomly assigned a number plate by computer, with two adjacent numbers forming a pair.

To speed up the competition, Staff Members had already divided the stadium into ten fields, with twenty people competing in pairs at a time.

Mingxi drew number 69, which was quite early, so it should be her turn soon, and she didn't return to the audience seats.

She waited for the competition in the waiting area.

“Student, which high school are you from? Are you from this city?”

“Yes, I'm from this city, A University Affiliated High School. How about you?”

“I came from Yuanhe City.”

“Yuanhe City? Isn't that closer to Han Ning City? Why did you come all the way here?”

“Ahem, well, my aunt married into Haizhou City, didn't she? So I just felt it was more familiar here.”

“That's true. In that case, you're half a Haizhou person now.”

“......”

Mingxi, who was sitting diagonally behind the two and heard their conversation almost completely: “......”

She just wanted to say, student, you are so naive.

That out-of-town student didn't specifically take a detour to their Haizhou because of his aunt, did he?

Most likely, he thought the contestants in Han Ning City were stronger than those in Haizhou City, and it would be easier to qualify here, right?

As the provincial capital of Hujiang Province and one of the three core cities in the Jianghuai region, Han Ning City's resources and the strength of its Beast Tamers are simply incomparable to their secluded Haizhou City.

To put it somewhat disparagingly, the two cities are not even on the same level.

It's understandable that others would think their contestants here are weaker.

“Number 69, Number 70, Field 7, prepare.”

The broadcast finally called Mingxi's name.

She immediately stood up from her seat and quickly walked towards Field 7, then realized her opponent was that 'half-Haizhou person'.

What a fate.

The young man, with a spiky, hedgehog-like haircut, gave her a bright and friendly smile.

“Student, where are you from? How old are you?”

Number 70 was truly talkative; the competition was about to start, and he could still squeeze in time to gather information. Mingxi felt he was wasting his talent by not becoming a reporter.

After sighing with emotion, Mingxi replied with a smile to his inquiry: “I'm a local of Haizhou, 14 years old this year.”

Mingxi swore she was absolutely not mistaken; after she spoke, Number 70's eyes immediately shone brighter than the night sky.

Heh.

He probably thought he was guaranteed to win.

“Whistle!”

The referee blew the whistle, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» and the match officially began.

Neither Mingxi nor contestant 70 delayed for a second, almost simultaneously completing their hand seals, and two white, ethereal Pet Space appeared.

Golden Yuanbao soared out.

“Thunder.”

And facing it was a brown-gray bear-type pet, about 1.3 to 1.4 meters tall.

Looking at the adorable bear opposite, Mingxi's mind quickly brought up relevant information.

Chestnut Bear, an intermediate-level Earth-type Transcendent creature from the Jianghuai region, has a pouch on its chest, and every so often, a chestnut fruit condenses within the pouch. The chestnut fruit can not only replenish the Chestnut Bear's energy and enhance its combat endurance but is also one of its main attack methods.

She encountered a tough opponent in her first battle.

This Chestnut Bear is a rare Transcendent creature that excels in both defense and close combat, while also possessing excellent long-range attack capabilities.

Even more troublesome is its endurance.

Generally, a pet of the same level needs to defeat a Chestnut Bear quickly and decisively, not giving it a chance to eat chestnut fruits to restore energy.

Mingxi's expression was calm, and she decisively ordered: “Golden Feather Whirlwind!”

Golden Yuanbao spread its wings and quickly approached the Chestnut Bear. At the same time, golden feathers from its wings, like sharp blades, spun out, forming a one-meter diameter Golden Feather Whirlwind that swept towards the clumsy furry bear.

“Pouch! Pouch!”

The Chestnut Bear's cry of pain reminded Number 70 that he had underestimated his opponent.

That bird-type pet was also intermediate-level.

Although the girl opposite was only 14, she was no weaker than him! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

“Chestnut Blossom Show, Chestnut Attack!”

He immediately shouted; he was also unlucky to encounter a Flight-type pet.

Against a Flight-type pet, the advantage of an Earth-type pet is almost non-existent.

The attribute was completely countered.

Fortunately, his Chestnut Bear was not an ordinary Earth-type.

Mingxi didn't even twitch an eyebrow, continuing to calmly order: “Lightning Ball, don't stop.”

With Golden Yuanbao's reaction speed, it didn't need her reminder to dodge the opponent's attacks.

Golden Yuanbao also didn't disappoint her; while rapidly spinning and flying in mid-air to dodge the exploding chestnut fruits, it could also quickly and accurately release Lightning Ball.

Of course, not all Lightning Ball hit the Chestnut Bear; several were dodged and fell to the ground.

“Crackling!”

Electric sparks and thunder, exceptionally intense.

“Oh, everyone, look at Field 7.”

Although Changheng Group had generously rented the entire venue, due to the nature of the competition's audience, not many spectators came to watch live.

Most of the audience members were family and friends of the contestants, sparsely scattered in various places.

At first glance, they looked like psoriasis.

Originally, they weren't very interested in today's competition, as for humans in this world, pet battles were part of daily life.

They had seen at least a hundred, if not a thousand, Beast Tamers competitions.

There were countless official and unofficial pet competitions: college Beast Tamers leagues, professional Beast Tamers provincial competitions, entertainment matches, regional competitions, national competitions, extreme competitions...

Not to mention the Star Sea Cup Pet Championship, which garnered attention from the entire Alliance.

Which one wasn't more exciting than the current chicken-pecking match?