At once, Bei Wen and Yu Qian also looked at Zheng Dong eagerly.
Especially Yu Qian, she had spent all her pocket money buying a pile of tonics, which had scared her family into thinking something had happened to her.
Afterward, she cultivated desperately, almost to the point of exhaustion. The effect was there, but it was completely disproportionate to her efforts!
At the same time, other students around also pricked up their ears.
Taking tonics?! What did that mean?
Did they have some secret cultivation methods?
Ning Wei, the bigmouth, knew a little about everything and spread it everywhere. Zheng Dong couldn't help but frown. He thought for a moment and said,
"I don't know the reason either. Perhaps it's individual differences. Anyway, when I was tired from cultivating, I took a sip of the life essence. After recovering my energy, I continued cultivating. There's no other method!"
"Individual differences?"
Ning Wei rubbed his head and doubted himself. Did Brother Dong's method not suit me?
Yu Qian couldn't help but sigh, feeling that her pocket money had been wasted.
Bei Wen didn't pay much attention. Although she had bought a lot of tonics, she hadn't used them at all, either because she didn't have time or simply because she wanted to rest.
In the relic space, she felt quite tired every day from cultivating. After returning, besides contracting the Three-Headed Firebird, she was completely in a relaxed state and didn't want to do anything.
As a result, her Three-Headed Firebird did not reach the Commander level.
Before long, it was her turn to compete.
This time, her luck was not good, and she really met Ke Jun.
As expected, she lost thoroughly.
The Three-Colored Elk at the Commander level was no match for the Earth Splitting Bear.
As for the Three-Headed Firebird at the Extraordinary level, it also posed no threat to the Earth Splitting Bear.
Afterward, Zheng Dong fought a few more matches, and finally reached the finals.
In the final four, besides Zheng Dong, Luo Hao, and Ke Jun, there was also a long-haired girl.
Zheng Dong was not familiar with the long-haired girl, and they did not meet during the draw. He was lucky to draw Luo Hao.
Luo Hao was stunned.
Damn it, I can't beat him, and surrendering is humiliating.
He even suspected that someone was deliberately targeting him, wanting to see him make a fool of himself! He would rather meet Ke Jun and the long-haired girl than Zheng Dong again.
Damn it, I'm so unlucky!
Gritting his teeth, Luo Hao reluctantly chose to surrender. He felt that being humiliated was better than being beaten again.
Ke Jun also won easily against the long-haired girl.
Finally, Zheng Dong faced Ke Jun.
Zheng Dong didn't pay much attention. He wasn't flustered at all. After returning from the relic space, although he hadn't cultivated much in the past five days, he had also taught Xiao Zi a few ultimate combo skills. Dealing with Ke Jun should not be a big problem.
Ke Jun also appeared full of confidence.
Although Zheng Dong's performance surprised him, he was not bad either. With the help of Teacher Deng Feng, he had contracted a Rock Python at the Commander level.
The Rock Python could counter the Treasure Hunting Mouse and mastered the Earth Evasion skill, allowing it to easily track and lock onto the Treasure Hunting Mouse that burrowed underground.
Coupled with his Earth Splitting Bear, he was confident of a 50-50 chance even against ordinary Lord-level pet beasts.
He walked onto the stage and summoned the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
He planned to go all out and directly use his Beast-Taming Talent, Earth Element Reinforcement, to suppress Zheng Dong's Treasure Hunting Mouse with absolute strength and win the match.
The two massive pet beasts appeared on the stage.
The gray Earth Splitting Bear was muscular and full of power.
The black Rock Python, like a python made of oval black stones, had astonishing defense.
On the rostrum, Teacher Deng Feng watched the scene intently, silently cheering for Ke Jun.
To ensure Ke Jun won the school championship, he had gone all out, paying out of his own pocket to help Ke Jun contract the Commander-level Rock Python.
He also persuaded Ke Jun's parents to buy resources, allowing Ke Jun's Earth Bear to evolve into the Earth Splitting Bear.
He did all this because the school's dean was suddenly retiring, and his only competitor was Teacher Wang Guixiang.
At the same time, Teacher Wang Guixiang frowned. She felt that Ke Jun contracting the Rock Python was deliberately targeting Zheng Dong.
Unfortunately, she couldn't say anything.
However, she couldn't help but ask.
"Teacher Deng Feng, even if Ke Jun wins, he probably won't be able to use the evolution resources that the principal promised, right?"
"No, the principal has already promised me that if Ke Jun wins, he will reward Ke Jun with resources for the Earth Splitting Bear to evolve again," Teacher Deng Feng said triumphantly.
Teacher Wang Guixiang was stunned and looked at Principal Liu, who was sitting in the center. When did he become so generous?
Principal Liu nodded slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
He knew Deng Feng's intentions, but he also understood Zheng Dong's strength and knew that Ke Jun could not possibly win against Zheng Dong.
This meant that whether he agreed to Deng Feng or not, the outcome would be the same.
At this moment, Zheng Dong also walked onto the stage and summoned Xiao Zi.
Seeing this, Ke Jun said confidently:
"You are very powerful! I admire you for training your Treasure Hunting Mouse to this extent. However, I'm afraid it's not enough for you to win against me with just this Treasure Hunting Mouse!"
Zheng Dong also looked at Ke Jun. Ke Jun looked refined, but he didn't expect Ke Jun to be as conceited as Luo Hao.
However, he didn't take it to heart and casually said:
"Let's try. Maybe I'll win!"
"I want to kindly remind you that if you don't have any other pet beasts, you'd better surrender immediately! Because my Earth Splitting Bear and Rock Python are both ill-tempered pets. They might not hold back during the fight, and if they accidentally kill your Treasure Hunting Mouse, don't blame me!" Ke Jun said.
Zheng Dong frowned, feeling only two words: hypocrisy.
He felt that Ke Jun was not kindly reminding him, but making an excuse for accidentally killing Xiao Zi.
After all, the top ten students in this competition would participate in the Chengdu Rookie King Competition, and he and Ke Jun would still be rivals then.
Ke Jun might be worried about his Treasure Hunting Mouse evolving into a Gold-Devouring Rat and wanted to eliminate the threat in the Chengdu Rookie King Competition in advance.
After understanding this, Zheng Dong decided not to hold back.
So, he also said to Ke Jun:
"How could that be? Injuries and deaths are normal during battles. My Treasure Hunting Mouse also often disobeys my commands when it gets into a frenzy. At that time, you'd better be quick and recall your pet beasts into your Beast-Taming Space, otherwise, if they suffer any permanent damage, don't blame me!"
Ke Jun immediately frowned, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.
At the same time, the referee teacher gave the order, and the battle began.
Ke Jun launched the first attack. He directly used his Beast-Taming Talent to reinforce the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
The aura of the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python became even more powerful, seemingly more than double their previous strength.
The Earth Splitting Bear let out a roar and used Lava Burst.
The Rock Python followed suit with Avalanche.
The two skills combined, instantly turning the surroundings into a disaster zone.
Facing the fierce attacks of the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
Zheng Dong was not flustered at all.
Without him even needing to command, Xiao Zi used the more powerful combo skill ultimate, Earth Vein Rampage.
The ground rolled like waves, blocking the incoming scorching lava, and the cracked ground was filled by the rolling earth.
Next, it used the ultimate skill, Mud Monster, formed by the combination of Shadow Clone and Mud skills.
Immediately, a large mud swamp appeared under the feet of the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python, and mud monsters crawled out of the mud swamp, sticking tightly to the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
These mud monsters would also fuse together, trying to completely envelop the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python, suffocating them to death.
Moreover, the mud monsters could detach from the mud swamp and exist independently. Even if they died, they would form a pool of mud, sticking to the opponent like flypaper, making them very troublesome.
Ke Jun immediately frowned.
He quickly had the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python move away from the mud swamp on the ground and find a way to get rid of the mud monsters on their bodies.
The Rock Python immediately used the Petrification skill, turning the mud swamp and the mud monsters on its body into hard rocks.
Unfortunately, the Earth Splitting Bear did not master the Petrification skill and could not clear the mud monsters on its body, so it could only let the Rock Python help.
By the time they finished clearing the mud monsters, Xiao Zi had already condensed eighty-one clones.
All the clones then used the combo skill ultimate, Booby-Trap Arrow, to attack.
Booby-Trap Arrows rained down like a storm, shooting towards the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
Ke Jun's face changed drastically. He remembered that Luo Hao's Cold Duck was heavily injured by the Booby-Trap Arrows. He quickly had the Earth Splitting Bear use the ultimate skill, Earth Guardian.
The ground around the Earth Splitting Bear continuously rose, forming four small mountains that protected both the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python.
The Booby-Trap Arrows hit the mountains, causing continuous explosions, gradually trying to blow them up, forcing the Earth Splitting Bear to maintain the Earth Guardian.
Seeing this, Xiao Zi chirped excitedly.
Instead of using Booby-Trap Arrows to attack with its clones, it secretly used the Booby-Trap skill to condense a large, strange bomb beneath the ground where the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python were located.
Moreover, it kept using Earth Vein Resonance to replenish its energy, causing the strange bomb to gradually grow larger.
At this moment, a vicious glint flashed in Ke Jun's eyes. He secretly had the Rock Python use the Earth Evasion skill to burrow out and quietly approach Xiao Zi and its clones.
The Rock Python burrowed underground and approached silently, leaving no trace. Xiao Zi and its clones did not notice anything unusual.
However, the Rock Python also found it difficult to distinguish which one was Xiao Zi's true body.
Since it couldn't distinguish, Ke Jun had it catch them all and use the ultimate skill, Earth Devour.
The Rock Python merged with the earth, opening its huge mouth and emitting an astonishing suction force. From above, it looked like a bottomless pit in the water, devouring everything around it.
Xiao Zi's clones, caught off guard, all suffered.
Even those who reacted quickly and used the Earth Evasion skill could not escape.
Earth Devour had a strong counter-effect against the Earth Evasion skill.
What to do?
Watching its clones disappear one by one, everyone was guessing what Zheng Dong would do.
Even Ke Jun couldn't help but shout triumphantly:
"Zheng Dong, surrender! Otherwise, your Treasure Hunting Mouse might not survive!"
However, Zheng Dong ignored Ke Jun and had no intention of helping.
This calm demeanor made Ke Jun very uncomfortable, and he angrily urged the Rock Python to strike hard and swallow Xiao Zi.
Damn it, keep pretending! You'll cry later!
Just as all the clones were swallowed by the Rock Python, and it was about to reach Xiao Zi's true body, Xiao Zi's figure disappeared from its original spot.
What happened?
Ke Jun looked bewildered.
The Rock Python was also confused.
It couldn't figure out how Xiao Zi disappeared.
At this moment, Xiao Zi appeared on the other side, mockingly chirping at the Rock Python.
"Stupid snake, you want to catch me? Dream on!"
Although the Earth Evasion skill was countered by Earth Devour, Xiao Zi could use the combo skill ultimate, Earth Vein Leap.
This was a combo skill ultimate formed by Earth Vein Resonance and Earth Evasion skill.
When used, it produced no power fluctuations. To outsiders, it looked as if Xiao Zi had disappeared from the spot, and it was impossible to tell what skill it had used.
Although it was not as good as Spatial Leap, it allowed Xiao Zi to move freely on the earth veins without any interference. Even spatial confinement could not stop it.
Unless the entire surrounding area was sealed off, forming an independent space detached from the earth.
However, this was not something anyone could do.
On the rostrum, except for Principal Liu, the other teachers did not understand what was happening.
Teacher Deng Feng frowned and asked somewhat unwillingly:
"Principal, Zheng Dong didn't cheat, did he? Did he prepare some kind of pet beast enhancement machine for the Treasure Hunting Mouse?"
"Although pet beast enhancement machines can mechanically arm pet beasts and comprehensively enhance all aspects of their attributes, their price is even more expensive than a mechanical pet beast.
I'm reluctant to equip my platypus with one. Do you think Zheng Dong can afford it?" Principal Liu glanced at Teacher Deng Feng and couldn't help but laugh.
"But how did the Treasure Hunting Mouse escape Earth Devour?" Teacher Deng Feng gritted his teeth and continued.
"That's something you should ask Zheng Dong. If I'm not mistaken, the Treasure Hunting Mouse should have used a combo skill ultimate that we don't understand," Principal Liu said indifferently.
There were countless combo skills, and many ultimate skills were formed from them. Principal Liu did not recognize all of them, but based on his experience, he could tell that Xiao Zi had used a combo skill, not a pet beast enhancement machine.
Teacher Deng Feng was stunned.
He didn't expect it to be another combo skill ultimate, and his expression was very unsightly.
Damn Zheng Dong, how many combo skill ultimates have you taught your Treasure Hunting Mouse?
He couldn't help but curse in his heart.
But he could do nothing but pray that Ke Jun would win.
Otherwise, all his efforts would be in vain.
Ke Jun was also very frustrated.
He looked at Zheng Dong and couldn't help but make a threat.
"Zheng Dong, I advise you to surrender! Although your Treasure Hunting Mouse was lucky to escape Earth Devour, its consumption should be very high, right? It has no clones left, so it's no match for the Earth Splitting Bear and the Rock Python!"
Zheng Dong frowned.
He really disliked opponents like Ke Jun who talked too much and were hypocritical.
So, he said unceremoniously:
"I also advise you to surrender quickly, otherwise, if something happens to your Earth Splitting Bear, you'll regret it!"
Ke Jun thought Zheng Dong was trying to scare him and didn't take it seriously.
His Earth Splitting Bear was also preparing to attack Xiao Zi together with the Rock Python.
The four small mountains formed by the ultimate skill Earth Guardian gradually receded, and the Earth Splitting Bear was about to come out when a deafening explosion sounded.
It was Xiao Zi detonating the strange bomb it had condensed earlier.
The violent explosion directly sent the Earth Splitting Bear flying, and it crashed heavily onto the defensive barrier before quickly falling again, smashing onto the ground.
The Earth Splitting Bear hadn't even reacted before it was knocked unconscious by the explosion. It was unknown if it could survive. It looked like all four limbs were blown off, its body was scorched, and it was unrecognizable, a truly tragic sight!
Moreover, the immense force generated by the explosion made the entire defensive barrier extremely unstable, forcing the two referee teachers to use their pet beasts to stabilize the barrier.
Ke Jun was stunned, unable to believe that all of this was real.