173: Blind referee
"Roar—"
Rustle, rustle, rustle... After evolving, the two Yao Beasts made their respective sounds; one let out a roar, while the other rubbed its willow branches together.
"No matter how much a plant-type evolves, it won't get much stronger. Student, are you sure you want to continue?" Duan Jun looked at Xie Ning.
Xie Ning said, "Won't we know after the evaluation? Besides, you should address me as 'Teacher'."
"Hmph! Then let's begin."
The Middle-aged Man spoke as he pushed a giant egg-like scoring machine in the center of the challenge stage toward the evolved Sandstorm Crocodile. With a press of a button, the giant egg cracked open, extending countless pipes.
These pipes either hovered in the air to scan the Sandstorm Crocodile or were attached to various parts of its body by the Middle-aged Man, looking very high-tech.
Xie Ning was not slow either, operating his 'giant egg' to attach the pipes to the Poplar Willow.
As the two finished their operations, the 'giant eggs' began to flash. Rows of indicator lights flickered like a marquee, moving faster and faster.
At the same time, two boxes appeared on the massive display screen above. The numbers displayed were for Name, Scarcity, Grade, Rank, Attribute, and Comprehensive Star Rating.
This was naturally different from the attributes shown by the System; it was information researched by the Monster Taming Alliance over hundreds of years.
The rapidly flashing marquee lights pulled at the hearts of every student below the stage, making the atmosphere suddenly tense.
"It's coming, it's coming. You absolutely must win..."
"Oh my god, I've never been this nervous even when scratching lottery tickets."
"Heavenly Father bless us. If Great God Xie wins, I promise to eat vegetarian for a week as a thank-offering!"
Just as everyone was holding their breath, a change finally occurred on the display screen.
The left side of the screen stopped abruptly, displaying the final information.
[Yao Beast Name] Wasteland Sandstorm Crocodile
[Scarcity] Rare
[Grade] Extraordinary Medium Grade
[Rank] Silver Level 1
[Attribute] Earth
[Comprehensive Star Rating] Four and a half stars
It was clearly the evolved Origin form of the Sandstorm Crocodile.
Looking at these attributes, the students below the stage whispered among themselves. Contestants from other academies were also discussing in low voices with solemn expressions; clearly, this level of evolution was troublesome even for them.
A moment later, the attributes for the Poplar Willow also appeared.
[Yao Beast Name] Flying Leaf Poison Willow
[Scarcity] Rare
[Grade] Extraordinary High Grade
[Rank] Silver Level 1
[Attribute] Wood, Poison
[Comprehensive Star Rating] Five stars
The atmosphere went silent for a moment before erupting into a boil.
The students of Lingnan Academy jumped for joy, chanting Xie Ning's name loudly.
"Yeah! Good job, Xie Ning!"
"An idol! He's simply too amazing!"
"Flying Leaf Poison Willow—that sounds so domineering."
However, some students with good memories were shouting, "Who was it that said they'd eat vegetarian for a week as a thank-offering? Step forward!"
Hearing the words from below the stage, Xie Ning smiled faintly.
The Middle-aged Man was somewhat dejected, but he quickly shifted his expression and glanced at Yan Chengze.
"Now, I announce the results of the match!" Yan Chengze's words silenced the entire venue, with tens of thousands of eyes fixed upon him.
He nodded with satisfaction and then said:
"In this round, contestant Duan Jun from Yulong Cultivation Academy receives full marks for Conduct and four and a half stars for Cultivation, earning a total of 9 points." At this point, he looked at Xie Ning with a flash of cunning in his eyes.
Xie Ning frowned, having a bad premonition.
"Contestant Xie Ning from Lingnan Nurturing Academy failed to greet the referee upon taking the stage, which undermines the 'Friendship First, Competition Second' purpose of this tournament. 1 point is deducted from Conduct. Cultivation is five stars (full marks). 10 minus 1 equals a total of 9 points. Both sides are tied."
As soon as Yan Chengze said this, the students who had just been celebrating immediately exploded with anger.
"Holy crap! Are you kidding me..."
"Referee, are you blind? Where did these 'Conduct points' come from?"
"Good grief, that works too? He's just forcing the score."
"Where are the regulations? Where are the clauses? Show them to us!"
"Xie Ning was right, he's just a lapdog, a lapdog!"
The students below were all fuming, each staring at Yan Chengze with fury. Questioning and cursing him still didn't feel like enough to vent their frustration.
Not only were these students surprised, but even the contestants from other academies were filled with shock and dissatisfaction.
"This Yan Chengze is dead set on opposing Yan Ruyu. After all, Xie Ning is Yan Ruyu's student."
"His opportunity in the Imperial Capital this time must be quite good; otherwise, he wouldn't go to such lengths to curry favor."
"When Lingnan Academy's Old Principal returns, he'll probably be furious."
Several instructors exchanged looks, all seeing a strange glint in each other's eyes.
Inside the Lingnan Academy waiting building.
Yan Ruyu's face was as cold as frost. A dense Killing Intent spread out, sweeping across most of the challenge area.
Beside her, Ruan Qiong and the Tomboy, who had been angry, were now pale-faced, their breathing becoming unnatural.
Instructors in other waiting areas also felt it. Their faces were filled with horror as they looked toward the source of the Killing Intent with either fear or wariness.
Among these people, most were Gold Rank, and there were a few Platinum Ranks as well. But even though they were also Platinum, they still seemed to harbor some dread toward Yan Ruyu.
The students below didn't know what Killing Intent was; they only felt the temperature in the air suddenly drop, making their hair stand on end.
As for Yan Chengze, he was locked by her aura and didn't dare move, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Xie Ning looked at Yan Ruyu and shook his head, his lips moving slightly as if saying something.
Only then did Yan Ruyu nod slightly and withdraw her Killing Intent.
After this display, let alone the others, even the Tomboy girl who previously had little respect for her now looked at her with a face full of fear.
"Since this round is a tie, then announce the second round. But Mr. Referee, don't go deducting any more 'Conduct points' then." Xie Ning looked at Yan Chengze.
The latter wiped his sweat with a dry laugh and said, "Of course, of course. In the second round of combat, the winner gets the points."
Subsequently, all the machines and cabinets on the stage sank into the ground, clearing an open challenge stage.
A protective shield rose, enveloping the entire challenge stage. The two Yao Beasts stood on the left and right, with the Breeders standing at the rear edges of their respective beasts. There were raised platforms there, providing a better vantage point for them to command their Yao Beasts.
Of course, the platforms where the Breeders stood also had protective shields, but they didn't hinder the Breeders from entering or exiting; they were simply a means of protection.
"In the Cultivation Beast duel, falling off the stage counts as a loss, surrendering counts as a loss, and the death of a Yao Beast counts as a loss. Everyone, get in position!"
"Start!"
With the command to start, Duan Jun had already commanded the Wasteland Sandstorm Crocodile to charge at the Flying Leaf Poison Willow. Every time its massive feet landed, they made a heavy 'thud-thud' sound, full of power.
"Flying Leaf Poison Willow, use Poison Mist and Flying Willow."
After Xie Ning finished speaking, under the shocked gazes of the crowd, he stepped out of the protective circle, drew his changhong sword, and shot forward.
"What's wrong with this person? Isn't he a Breeder? Why is he charging forward!"
"I guess he's going to obstruct the Wasteland Sandstorm Crocodile's movements. After all, in a match, a Cultivation Beast cannot attack a Breeder."
"This is too risky; it's practically seeking death."
"Lingnan Academy has gone crazy with the desire to win."
Students near the challenge stage who had already finished their matches the day before were also discussing it, some shaking their heads in sighs, others gloating.
Among them, a grey-haired boy wearing a long robe laughed the loudest; he was the one who had injured Mo Yu the day before.
"I heard that girl from the day before is this guy's disciple. Haha~ they really are alike." The grey-haired boy had a smug look on his face. "Sandstorm Crocodile, you better not show any mercy; it's best if you kill him! It's better if a few more people from this trashy Lingnan Academy die. Let's see if they ever dare to apply to be the home venue again, making us travel so far with such hardship."