Chapter 153: Star Sand Evolves, the Ultimate Arcane Art!!!
The Dominating Cauldron Palace arena, the site of the All-Pet Beast Tournament, was in ruins. Except for the spectator area, the surrounding terrain for thousands of kilometers had been devastated, the clouds dispersed, the mountains collapsed, all ravaged by the Sun Harp’s barrage of Golden Wheel rings.
The entire spectator area was silent, most of the participants dumbfounded, speechless. Even the collective consciousness of Jade Lady’s consorts was silent. It was like watching your favorite team lose a game, that sudden wave of disappointment and frustration.
And Jade Lady’s connection to them was far deeper than that of an ordinary idol and their fans…
Each consort who had shared their pet beast had all been defeated…
A moment later, amidst the dust and debris, a disheveled green figure emerged. Jade Lady, her mask half broken, her body trapped in a crevice, her usually alluring eyes now filled with helplessness, raised her hands in surrender.
Jade Lady had given up…
Lover’s consorts couldn’t die. If she just stayed there, refusing to admit defeat, she wouldn’t be eliminated.
However, the Seven Heavens’ observers wouldn’t allow that. If she didn’t show any resistance, she would eventually be declared the loser.
So, after pretending to be dead for half a minute, realizing that the Monarch-Tier pet beast couldn’t break through the Viral Species’s void, Jade Lady forfeited.
The battle was over, and the Dominating Cauldron Palace staff immediately began the rescue operation…
And at this moment, all eyes turned to the stunning, golden-haired girl with starry eyes.
“Moon Rabbit Lian Xing…she’s too strong… Even a combined attack from almost a million Royal-Tier pet beasts couldn’t harm her. And that Monarch-Tier pet beast just disappeared…”
“And that’s without Calamity Sun and Star Sand. If they had appeared, Jade Lady wouldn’t have even had a chance, right?”
“I wonder if Moon Rabbit can defeat Snow Sun or Tears Maiden…”
The livestream chat was filled with discussions.
Tears Maiden, as the Saintess of Worry-Free Pond, naturally had a high concentration of hybrid blood, and with the support of Rainwater, one of the 72 Legends, and the resources of the Seven Heavens, she was considered the undisputed queen of the new generation.
And although Snow Sun’s hybrid concentration wasn’t high, her Resistance to Powerful Auras wasn’t her strong suit, her pet beast, Dark Ink Candlelight, evolved from the Legend Black Sun Flame, was a powerful, offensive Royal-Tier Legend.
It was even comparable to a Royal-Tier Moonwalker.
So, this wasn’t a level that ordinary Beast Tamers could reach, even Dead Ash’s Ancient Juvenile Species, Extinction, would struggle against them.
At this moment, basking in the adoring gazes, Lian Xing returned to the spectator area, her expression unchanged. After this battle, the other T0 contenders’ assessment of Lian Xing’s strength had increased significantly.
It seemed that her success wasn’t solely due to Star Sand and Calamity Sun…
That Flame Harp, which had instantly annihilated millions of Royal-Tier pet beasts, and that mysterious Viral Species, which had effortlessly blocked all attacks while hidden within her…they were both incredibly powerful!!!
And that Commander-Tier Heaven-Gracing Curtain, evolved from the Moonlight Rabbit, besides having a Green Quality combat skill, it didn’t seem that special…
Meanwhile, back in the spectator area, Lian Xing checked her lineup’s progress while watching the other matches.
[Heaven-Gracing Curtain LV378]
[Azure Mechanical Heart LV60]
[Sun Harp LV60]
[Dreamflow Sunset Glow LV82]
[Star Sand LV59]
After slaughtering millions of Royal-Tier pet beasts, the Heaven-Gracing Curtain’s level had jumped by over 70, most of the experience gained at the beginning of the battle. After the Red Prison Palace Master evolved into the Sun Harp, being considered too powerful for those opponents, the Heaven-Gracing Curtain had stopped gaining experience.
Level 378, it was already within the Monarch-Tier range, yet the Heaven-Gracing Curtain, having embarked on the perfect evolution path, was still stuck at Commander-Tier.
Meanwhile, thanks to her blood-feeding method, Star Sand’s level had finally reached a critical point, just a step away from breaking through to Commander-Tier. Lian Xing preferred breakthroughs during battle… Not only did it boost morale, but it also intimidated the opponent.
So, it was best to unlock Star Sand’s Arcane Arts now, preparing for its breakthrough…
Unlocking a Legend’s Arcane Arts was too conspicuous to do in reality. So, Lian Xing sent Star Sand into Dreamflow Sunset Glow’s Viral Space. With its current durability, it could conceal…almost any aura leakage.
[Star Sand’s Spirit attribute increased by 50, unlocking the Legend Arcane Art list.]
[Choose 5 out of the following 11 options. One chosen Arcane Art will receive a special Legend enhancement.]
[1. Starless Shackles: Permanently removes one combat skill slot from the user. When other pet beasts have their combat skills sealed, they permanently lose one combat skill slot. When other pet beasts have their Arcane Arts sealed during Awakening, they permanently lose a random Arcane Art. Effective once per target. Only Star Sand can remove this negative status.]
[2. Undying Sand: Permanently removes one combat skill slot from the user. Increases all resistances and enhances sealing priority.]
[3. Star Shift: Changes the exclusive combat skill, Nether Staircase, to Star Vortex, increasing its quality by three levels. Star Vortex’s quality increases with each tier evolution of Star Sand.]
[4. Guiding Star: Permanently removes one combat skill slot from the user. Increases the range and effectiveness of the exclusive combat skill, Nether Staircase/Star Vortex.]
[5. Starfall: Permanently removes one combat skill slot from the user. Converts a combat skill into a permanent talent, its effect scaling with the combat skill’s quality.]
[6. Sand Gathering: The spreading aura is no longer limited to inanimate objects and terrain, gradually…corroding…all living beings.]
[7. Reversal: Permanently removes two combat skill slots from the user. Grants Star Vortex a…reverse…form.]
[8. Inverse Star: Permanently gains two combat skill slots.]
[9. Chaotic Stars: The more combat skill slots the user has lost, the stronger its talents and the faster its leveling speed.]
[10. Starbane: The fewer combat skill slots the user has lost, the stronger its combat skills and the faster its leveling speed.]
[11. Eternal Star Ring: Permanently removes four combat skill slots from the user. Makes Awakening permanent and eliminates Pet Essence consumption for all actions.]
“…”
“…”
A Legend’s Arcane Arts were truly dazzling… And having to choose a compatible set reminded Lian Xing of playing a roguelike game…
After a brief analysis, she identified three main builds.
-
Combat Skill Focused: Using Inverse Star and Starbane as the core, turning Star Sand into a combat skill machine with six slots.
-
Awakening Focused: Using both Inverse Star and Chaotic Stars, combined with Eternal Star Ring, first adding then subtracting, removing all six combat skill slots to maximize the talent’s effect.
-
Star Vortex Focused: Keeping the Nether Staircase/Star Vortex combat skill as the core.
Each build had its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the first one, increasing the number of combat skill slots, was a safe bet, but it relied too much on external resources and combat skills. The second one was more extreme, wasting an Arcane Art point on Inverse Star, then removing it, essentially trading an Arcane Art for other enhancements, but it was the only way to obtain Eternal Star Ring. The third one maximized the effect of Star Vortex, an enhanced version of Nether Staircase. But the Reversal Arcane Art was intriguing, removing two combat skill slots at once, which meant its effect must be powerful…
The third build was probably the optimal choice for Star Sand, but it had a major flaw: not enough Arcane Art points.
[Guiding Star, Starfall, Star Shift, Reversal, Chaotic Stars] Enhancing Nether Staircase to Star Vortex, then converting it into a talent, and finally maximizing its effects…this combination of five Arcane Arts was the fastest way for Star Sand to become powerful.
This Star Vortex build was perfect.
But…
The Arcane Art Lian Xing valued the most was [Starless Shackles].
It was so evil that it almost made her laugh.
Only an Arcane Art of this level of threat was worthy of a Legend!!!
So, Lian Xing reluctantly chose the second build.
[Inverse Star, Chaotic Stars, Eternal Star Ring, Starless Shackles, Undying Sand]
The reason she didn’t choose Sand Gathering for the last slot, but Undying Sand, was because Star Sand didn’t need to be a damage dealer in her lineup. It just needed to maximize its control and sealing abilities, and it would be a terrifying presence.
As she finalized her choices, Star Sand’s combat skill slots first increased to six, then vanished completely. Its original combat skill, Nether Staircase, also disintegrated.
And then, in the next second…
“Boom!!!!!”
A blinding golden light erupted from Star Sand, filling Dreamflow Sunset Glow’s Viral Space. At the same time, a dreamlike Star Wheel, with chains and a pointer, appeared behind the beautiful, golden figure.
This was the effect of Eternal Star Ring. Star Sand would now permanently be in its awakened state, and its actions wouldn’t consume Pet Essence. This Arcane Art might seem overpowered for others, but for Star Sand, it wasn’t that significant. After all, its awakened Arcane Art, sealing the opponent’s abilities, was a one-time effect, activated the moment it appeared. Afterward, it was just a giant lightbulb, without any other combat abilities.
Permanently maintaining its awakened state…it just looked intimidating…
The main benefits were the elimination of Pet Essence consumption and the talent boost from losing its combat skill slots.
[All Arcane Arts selected. Please choose one Arcane Art for Legend enhancement.]
Facing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Lian Xing chose Starless Shackles without hesitation.
[Starless Shackles’s effect has been changed.]
[1. Starless Shackles: Permanently removes one combat skill slot from the user. When other pet beasts have their combat skills sealed, they permanently lose two combat skill slots. When other pet beasts have their Arcane Arts sealed during Awakening, they permanently lose two random Arcane Arts. Effective once per target. Only Star Sand can remove this negative status.]
Now…
It was perfect…
As Lian Xing had expected, from now on, even an Emperor would be crippled by Star Sand. And against opponents she couldn’t defeat, she could use the threat of permanently losing combat skills and Arcane Arts.
No matter who, regardless of their tier, challenging Star Sand would come at a heavy price…
Meanwhile, Star Sand’s panel had also undergone a dramatic transformation.
[High-Tier — Elemental Species — Star Sand LV59]
[Talent: Star Order, Formless]
[Arcane Art: Inverse Star, Chaotic Stars, Eternal Star Ring, Undying Sand, Starless Shackles (Legend)]
[Combat Skill: No available slots.]
Although Star Sand could no longer use combat skills, Lian Xing didn’t mind. She had been prepared for this since the day she contracted it.
Even a Shining Quality combat skill couldn’t replace Star Sand’s unique abilities.
She casually tossed the dropped Death Sentence into a corner of Dreamflow Sunset Glow’s Viral Space and recalled Star Sand, then turned her attention back to reality.
Allocating Star Sand’s Arcane Arts had taken about two hours, and the top 100 to top 50 matches were almost over. Except for Jade Lady, none of the T0 contenders had been eliminated. Dead Ash, Thunder Fly, Tears Maiden, Little Flower Goddess…their opponents had all forfeited at the start. And the Second Princess of Youyou Leize’s opponent had also forfeited after witnessing the battles of Snow Sun, Jade Lady, and Lian Xing.
The Second Princess of Youyou Leize didn’t have a Legend, but Jade Lady and Lian Xing’s battle had shown everyone…
Even without a Legend, a T0 contender was still a T0 contender. They weren’t someone they could easily defeat…
Soon, all 50 matches were over.
As the battlefields were being restored, the Monarch-Tier commentator from the Dominating Cauldron Palace picked up the microphone.
“The top 100 to top 50 matches have concluded. Those who were eliminated, don’t despair, there’s still a resurrection match after the top 50 to top 25 matches.”
“Now, for the top 50 to top 25 matches, we’ll have a random draw. To ensure absolute fairness, Tears Maiden will be presiding over this process.”
Hearing this, Tears Maiden walked towards the commentary desk, where a lottery box had been prepared. According to the rules, she had to draw 50 slips of paper, each with a participant’s name.
The order in which they were drawn determined the pairings for the next round.
For example, the first and second names drawn would face each other, the third and fourth, and so on, until the 49th and 50th.
At this moment, under everyone’s gaze, Tears Maiden began drawing the slips of paper.
#1 vs #2, #3 vs #4, #5 vs #6…mostly unknown participants. Her movements were fluid and without hesitation.
#7, Youyou Leize, Thunder Fly.
The moment Thunder Fly’s name was called, everyone held their breath.
This was the first T0 contender to be drawn.
As long as they didn’t face a T0 contender, everything would be fine.
Everyone prayed silently.
A few seconds later—
#8, Beast Tamer Alliance, Moon Princess.
At this moment, the other participants sighed in relief, while Moon Princess, who had barely survived her last match, facepalmed.
She had lost three of her pet beasts in the previous match, only her little sister, Golden Flower Flying Moon, remained. There was no way she could face a Legend Beast Tamer in this state…
It seemed…her journey this year was over…
However, Thunder Fly’s appearance was just the beginning…
The next few pairings truly shocked everyone.
#17, Dead Ash.
#18, Little Flower Goddess.
#31, Lian Xing.
#32, Second Princess.
#49, Tears Maiden.
In the top 50 to top 25 matches, there were actually two pairs of T0 contenders facing each other!!!
And…it was Moon Rabbit Lian Xing again!!?
Lian Xing…she was so unlucky…
First Jade Lady, now the Second Princess…
Every round, she was facing a T0 contender!!
At this moment, the purple-haired woman in a court dress, a subtle smile on her face, her alluring eyes and beauty mark incredibly captivating, looked at Lian Xing.
The descendant of the Great Emperor Yun Jianyou…
Lian Xing also glanced at the beautiful, purple-haired woman.
Unlike Chiyu and Moon Princess, whose bloodlines were diluted, she was said to have true Emperor’s blood, her mother even a peak Sovereign-Tier Emperor, a being that had once ruled a dynasty.
With such a prestigious bloodline and status, even if she pulled out four Fluorescent Quality combat skills, Lian Xing wouldn’t be surprised.
Meanwhile, as Lian Xing and the Second Princess exchanged glances…
Dead Ash, the silver-haired girl, glared at the conspicuous palanquin in the distance.
Since arriving in the Dominating Cauldron Palace, Little Flower Goddess of the City of Awe hadn’t even left her palanquin. This display was even more exaggerated than the two princesses of Youyou Leize and Tears Maiden, the seventh lord of the Seven Heavens.
However, she wasn’t worried about Little Flower Goddess.
Because during the second qualifier round, the Azure Sky Emperor’s cauldron’s aura had clearly caused Little Flower Goddess great pain, her palanquin shaking violently. This meant that her strength wasn’t that impressive…
If nothing unexpected happened, Extinction could probably win this match.
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