A Beastmaster from out of town marveled, "Your Fire State is really amazing. Once we go into the wild, there’s no signal, but you can produce such high-tech stuff."

A local Beastmaster sighed, "This function is quite convenient, but seeing the other teams’ high scores inevitably makes you feel a bit unbalanced."

Someone shook their head and laughed, "What’s there to feel unbalanced about? There are objective differences in skill, so it’s normal for there to be score gaps, isn’t it?"

While discussing this, the person suddenly spoke with undisguised excitement, "I heard that our Fire State’s champion has teamed up with a runner-up from Qin Province..."

At a certain entrance,

"Xia Heng, the ranking this time depends on you." The speaker was a tall man, about thirty years old, with well-defined features, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes—very typical of Fire State appearance.

Xia Heng was dressed in obviously expensive clothing, his lips slightly upturned as he spoke in a steady voice, "Mulate, you’re joking. I’m just going in to gain some worldly experience with you."

Mulate showed a big smile with his white teeth and spoke with a thick accent, "Hey, my friend, let’s not say such things. Together, we will surely win first place in this competition."

The two teammates beside them smiled.

Xia Heng mirrored the smile but inwardly felt somewhat unconvinced.

After failing the Da Feng Cup, Xia Heng didn’t go silent but started pondering a question—why couldn’t his Furious Wave Crocodile defeat the Flame Cloud Falcon?

After thinking for a long time, he quickly came to an idea: since he couldn’t find the answer in a short time, why not gain a deeper understanding of each Fire-type Pet Beast to find a strategy?

So, he made his way to Fire State, home to many Fire-type Pet Beasts, and through some channels found this year’s Blazing Fire Cup champion, Mulate, and they engaged in a battle.

Mulate’s main Pet Beast was also a Fire-type, which filled Xia Heng with anticipation, hoping to find a way to defeat the Flame Cloud Falcon through this opportunity.

But unfortunately, after a fierce battle, the Furious Wave Crocodile triumphed.

This raised two questions in Xia Heng’s mind.

First, is this the pinnacle of Beastmaster skill in Fire State?

Second, is it not that Water-type Pet Beasts can’t defeat Fire-type Pet Beasts, but rather that his Furious Wave Crocodile can’t defeat Chen Yuan’s Flame Cloud Falcon?

His inner doubts grew, and just as the mountainfire-clearing competition was about to start, Mulate had a legitimate reason to pull Xia Heng into the team he was forming: "Flame Mountain is home to the most powerful wild Fire-type Pet Beasts in Fire State. You might find the answer there."

Thus, Xia Heng came here.

He wasn’t too concerned about the ranking of this competition; he only needed to find the way to defeat the Flame Cloud Falcon to consider it a success.

Other teams waiting at the same entrance couldn’t help but sigh when they saw the two exuding a strong aura, "What’s the point of competing, when there’s a champion and a runner-up? We might as well just give them first place."

"I specially watched the battle footage of the Da Feng Cup in Qin Province. This Xia Heng runner-up is really strong, and I reckon his Furious Wave Crocodile can’t find a match here."

"Hiss, even the runner-up is so formidable, the champion who beat him must be insanely powerful."

The discussions around him reached his ears, but Xia Heng’s expression remained unchanged, while Mulate bared his white teeth and heavily patted Xia Heng’s shoulder, "No matter, my friend. You’ve gained a lot from your time in Fire State, and when you go back, you’ll surely defeat that person."

"Right, what was that person’s name again?"

Xia Heng’s lips moved, uttering two words, "Chen Yuan."

"Right, right, Chen Yuan." Mulate nodded repeatedly, "When you go back, you’ll definitely be able to beat Chen Yuan."

Xia Heng slightly smiled, "Thanks for your good wishes."

During the conversation, the time unknowingly reached half-past eight, and the staff opened the iron gate, as the prepared Beastmaster teams entered in order.

Chen Yuan and the other three entered from entrance number seven. He and Liu Jinglan placed the cameras issued by the competition committee on their chests and strode forward.

The first part of the journey was quite normal, with the temperature not too high. Everyone was composed and at ease, with most chatting and laughing along the way.

However, half an hour later, the temperature soared, walking on the barren cracked ground felt like being in a furnace, with searing heat waves distorting the air, and every step felt like a distinct roasting sensation.

As the difficulty of walking increased, the teams that were initially together gradually dispersed, and looking far and wide, only the four of them were in view.

Even though it was December, the blazing sun still roasted the distant Flame Mountain.

Looking closely, the barren earth not far ahead was pulsed with Flame Stream, echoing with the crimson clouds and rolling heat waves from Flame Mountain’s peak, making the area’s temperature even higher than two months ago.

Fortunately, the four’s strength and coping methods improved significantly since the last time.

Spark soared high in the sky, its deep blue eyes scanning all around, checking the surroundings.

The blistering heat had no effect on it and instead made Spark feel delightfully comfortable inside and out.

Compared to Qinling, it was evidently more suited to living here.

Cola walked slowly beside Chen Yuan, with its head slightly raised, continuously creating a cool breeze to blow away the heat surrounding them.

"Cola is amazing!" Liu Jingyi’s eyes sparkled, clapping for Cola.

"Aow~"

Cola lifted its gaze, meeting Liu Jingyi’s eyes filled with admiration, and couldn’t help but raise its head proudly, wagging its tail in triumph.

In such a place, even the big sister isn’t as useful as I am!

Here, I, Cola, am the one everyone relies on!

Chang Yuhuan dispatched a Water Spirit Turtle, which had already broken through to Tier Two, occasionally spraying water streams, complementing Cola’s breezes to keep everyone cool.

Liu Jinglan released the Red Flame Ox and let Liu Jingyi sit on its back to conserve energy.

"Caw~"

The Fiery Flame Eagle spread its wings and soared, in a little brother’s posture, coming to Spark’s side, its eyes full of curiosity and eagerness to learn the ways to become stronger from it.

Unbeknownst to them, a raging wildfire was already right before their eyes.