Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 421 The Birth of the First Eastern Glory Champion!

When the referee's voice announcing the final victory pierced through the lingering energy and rising steam in the stadium, clearly resounding in every corner, time seemed to freeze for a moment.

Immediately following was a deafening roar and shout of wild joy, like a volcano that had been accumulating for thousands of years suddenly erupting.

The sound waves were no longer just waves, but transformed into a tangible tsunami, sweeping across every inch of space with overwhelming force, making people's eardrums buzz, and even the ground beneath their feet tremble slightly.

Almost simultaneously, the commentator's hoarse voice, hoarse with extreme excitement, exploded at the highest decibel level:

"incredible!"

"Chen Yuan defeated Ye Sheng's Giant Wood Hammer Rat, Howling Wind Flame Hound, and finally, the Crystal Clear Spirit Turtle with just one Blazing Sky Falcon!"

"Chen Yuan achieved an unprecedented one-versus-three victory, sweeping aside the undisputed favorite to win this tournament!"

"With this, Chen Yuan was crowned king with a perfect record of not losing a single game or match from the qualifying rounds to the finals!"

After a brief pause, the commentator shouted amidst the deafening cheers:
"He is the overall champion of the first Donghuang Tournament!"
"That is, the champion of Donghuang!"

The words "Eastern Glory Champion" seemed to possess a magical power, instantly igniting the last vestiges of madness in everyone's hearts.

boom!
Boom boom boom!
Whoosh—bang—

As the commentator's voice faded, a grand fireworks display, far exceeding any previous one, soared into the sky from all around the venue.

Countless dazzling streaks of light pierced the night sky of the capital, bursting forth with a thunderous roar against the high heavens.

Gold, red, blue, purple—the colorful fireworks, like the most magnificent painting, illuminated the dark night sky as brightly as day.

Huge fireworks patterns—the emblem of the Donghuang Tournament and the laurel wreath symbolizing the champion—appeared one after another in the sky, eliciting waves of amazement and cheers from the ground.

At this moment, the entire city seemed to be celebrating the birth of the first Donghuang champion.

Amidst the dazzling spectacle and deafening clamor, Ye Sheng stood quietly, seemingly detached from the bustling world around him.

The dazzling fireworks light flickered in his usually calm eyes, reflecting a brilliant yet empty color.

He stood there for a long time, his face showing no sign of defeat or resentment, but rather a blank expression of relief.

After a while, a faint smile gradually appeared on the corners of his mouth.

He looked up at the night sky, which was illuminated as bright as day by fireworks, and let out a long breath. He murmured in a voice that only he could hear, "Finally, finally I don't have to be a champion anymore."

At the same time, the online world was in complete uproar.

"we are the champion!"

"We're champions again!"

"Consultant Chen is awesome!!!"

"Unrivaled strength, undeniable stats, and a complete and utter victory—he truly deserves the title of the number one beast tamer in the Eastern Empire."

Inside the live stream, watching the scene unfold and the soaring popularity, Lü Hao was already flushed with excitement, shouting hoarsely into the camera:
"This is Consultant Chen!"

"This is the best idol for streamers!"

"This is the beast tamer who took the driving test with the streamer and participated in the Qin Province Riding Competition together!"

"To celebrate Consultant Chen's victory, we're giving away 100 red envelopes worth 88 yuan each! The chat is flooded with 'Congratulations Consultant Chen!' Let's all share in the joy of this championship!"

In an instant, the live stream was engulfed by an even more frenzied torrent of comments, and the atmosphere reached its peak of fervor.

As the fireworks display drew to a close, the noise in the venue gradually subsided, replaced by a solemn and expectant atmosphere.

Staff quickly cleaned up the mess in the center of the venue, and a temporary award stage covered with red velvet was pushed up.

President Ye, dressed in a solemn formal suit, walked slowly to the podium with a dignified expression but an undisguised excitement and complex emotions in his eyes.

Guided by the staff, Chen Yuan walked steadily towards the pinnacle of glory, passing through countless gazes filled with admiration, envy, and fervor, stepping on the golden firework fragments scattered on the ground.

The spotlight shone on the old man and the young man.

President Ye accepted the meticulously crafted, gleaming championship trophy from the ceremonial staff. The trophy featured a streamlined design and seemed to be made of a special alloy combined with crystal. The top was engraved with the emblem of the Donghuang Conference, and it shimmered with a dreamlike luster under the spotlight.

On the base of the trophy, a line of small characters is clearly engraved: Champion of the First Donghuang Tournament, February 22.

President Ye handed the heavy trophy to Chen Yuan with both hands. His voice, broadcast through the microphone, resounded throughout the venue with a solemn declaration of an era: "I hereby announce that the champion of this year's Donghuang Tournament is—Chen Yuan!"

"Congratulations, Consultant Chen! You've made history!"

His gaze held sincere admiration for the outstanding achievements of the younger generation, a hint of regret for his grandson's defeat, but more than anything, a sense of satisfaction at witnessing the dawn of a new era.

Chen Yuan extended both hands and steadily accepted the trophy.

The trophy feels slightly heavy in your hand, and despite its cool touch, you can almost feel the intense heat it contains.

He glanced down at the inscription on the base, and a bright and sincere smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

The next moment, he took a deep breath and, under the spotlight of all the cameras and the gaze of all his supporters, forcefully raised the trophy high above his head.

“Wow!!!!!”

The cheers that had just subsided reached a climax again.

At the same time, the golden fireworks machine, which had been prepared in advance, roared, and countless glittering golden foils poured down from the dome like a waterfall. Under the spotlight, they transformed Chen Yuan and the space around him into a magnificent golden ocean.

At this historic moment, a professional photographer swiftly pressed the shutter, capturing this classic scene destined to be recorded in the annals of Eastern Beast Taming:
In the center of the image, the young champion Chen Yuan, wearing a black and gold cape, has a confident and joyful smile on his face, raising the dazzling trophy high with both hands, as if he wants to touch the sky with this glory.

To his left, Cola stood upright, its two front paws resting on the edge of the podium, its bright blue eyes filled with pride and excitement, its mouth wide open as if cheering.
On his right shoulder, a small, sparkling head rested high, its eyes still carrying a hint of innate indifference, yet it couldn't hide its affectionate nuzzling of Chen Yuan's cheek.
Above his head, the Morning and Evening Flower Fairy sat gracefully, her hands supporting her chin, a sweet smile on her face, casting dappled light.

Behind him, the Cangming Spirit Lord's tall and majestic dragon body coiled, its dragon head slightly raised, looking down on the entire scene, displaying the splendor of the dragon race;
Below the awards stage, Youmi playfully peeked out, curiously rummaging through the falling gold foil, and made a funny face at the camera.

This scene was instantly broadcast live to every corner of Donghuang.

In front of television sets across countless homes, numerous parents watching the live broadcast pointed at Chen Yuan on the screen, offering earnest advice to their children:
"Look at this, this is someone else's child! Study hard, train hard, and you'll be just as successful as him and win championships!"

In the audience, those athletes who had competed against or interacted with Chen Yuan—Li Tianyun, Lu Ran, Su Lan, Xia Heng, Zhuang Jianbai—all gazed at the radiant young figure on the podium from afar. Their expressions were complex, containing admiration, envy, and fighting spirit, but above all, a shared understanding:

A legendary era belonging to Chen Yuan has officially begun at this moment.

But there is no eternal era of legends; the story of each beast tamer has only just begun.

Li Tianyun gazed at the newly crowned champion of Donghuang for a long time before suddenly turning his gaze away and lowering his eyes: "Perhaps, I should also make a change."

Immediately, he turned and left without looking back.

Lu Ran asked loudly, "Hey, where are you going?" Li Tianyun didn't turn his head, but just waved his hand, "Applying for early graduation to gain experience around the world."

Lu Ran was taken aback, then joked, "The world is so big, do you want to go see it?"

Li Tianyun nodded slightly, and his last words drifted on the wind: "The academy can cultivate top students, but it can't produce champions."

Hearing this, Lu Ran was even more stunned. He scratched his head and then quickly followed Li Tianyun's back, shouting loudly, "Hey, wait for me, I'm already tired of being in the academy."

Upon seeing the two's every move, the beast tamers sitting nearby burst into laughter, followed by a long silence.

Someone suddenly stood up and muttered to himself, "Sigh, the competition is over. It's time to go back and review it properly, train hard, and strive for good results in the next competition."

"At the very least, we have to make it to the finals."

Some people nodded in agreement, sighing with emotion: "Indeed, I thought I was pretty good, but after watching this match, I realized that the gap between people is often greater than the gap between people and pigs."

"Go back and train hard to prepare for the second Donghuang Tournament."

"By the way, when is the second one?"

Someone replied, "The same time next year."

The grand awards ceremony has finally come to a close.

Tens of thousands of spectators began to leave in an orderly manner, but the heated discussions continued unabated. Everyone had an excited blush on their face, reminiscing about the thrilling match and the exciting coronation moment.

In the mixed zone after the match, Chen Yuan was surrounded by countless microphones, recorders and cameras.

The reporters bombarded him with questions: his feelings about winning the championship, his future plans, and about the powerful Blazing Falcon.
Chen Yuan smiled and answered each question politely.

Just then, a reporter who had squeezed to the front row asked a seemingly simple question that made everyone prick up their ears: "Contestant Chen Yuan, first of all, congratulations on becoming the champion of the first Donghuang Tournament."

"What is the thing you most want to do right now?"

The noisy interview area quieted down instantly, as everyone wanted to hear the newly crowned champion's most genuine thoughts at that moment.

Is it an announcement of ambitious goals? Is it a thank you for support from all sides? Or...?
Amidst countless expectant gazes, Chen Yuan was slightly taken aback at first, then a slight smile appeared on his lips:

"Have a good meal."

Inside the banquet hall of a top-tier hotel in the capital, the lights were dazzling, the atmosphere was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the aroma of delicious food and a festive atmosphere.

The core members of the Qin Province team were seated around the main table.

"Come on, brothers! Raise your glasses!" Zhang Hao was the first to stand up, his face flushed, excitedly raising his glass, his voice so loud it drowned out the noise in the room, "This glass is to Consultant Chen for winning the first Donghuang Conference championship! He's brought so much honor to our Qin Province, cheers!"

"cheers!"

Congratulations, Consultant Chen!

"Deserved!"

Everyone at the table stood up in unison, their faces beaming with joy and pride. The clinking of glasses created a crisp sound, instantly pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

After taking his seat, Zhang Hao said:
"The association has already tallied all the rankings and awards for this conference, and they will be distributed to everyone's accounts gradually. Please be patient. So, our itinerary is set. We will be taking a chartered flight back to Qin Province tomorrow afternoon, so everyone can go home and get some rest."

"Great!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Gang immediately stretched, his bones cracking with a series of crisp sounds. He let out a long sigh of relief, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "I've been exhausted these past few days, my mind has been constantly on edge. When I get back, I'm going to sleep for three days and three nights straight!"

He paused, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes, "After resting for a while, I plan to open a martial arts school in Baokun City. If you have time when the school opens, you can come and have some fun."

"Open a martial arts school?" Zhang Hao paused in his chopsticks, his eyes widening with curiosity. "Advisor Shi, I know you used to be a fitness instructor, but now you're a beast tamer revered by thousands. What brings you to this?"

The other people at the table also cast curious glances at them.

Shi Gang chuckled, not answering immediately, but slowly clenching his fist.

Instantly, the muscles in his arms bulged, veins throbbing like coiled dragons, and a refined and powerful aura emanated from him. He raised his eyebrows and said casually:

"After becoming a Beast Tamer, I never neglected to practice the ancient boxing techniques passed down in my family. During this time, I discovered that the things passed down from our ancestors are infinitely profound. As long as I persist in practicing, I can not only strengthen my physique, but also improve my mental will, reaction speed, and even control over my power many times over."

He swept his gaze across the crowd with a sharp look: "To be honest, I can now hold my own against weaker third-tier pets."

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped.

"Just think about it, if a beast tamer himself has extremely strong close combat ability, what an advantage that would be when cooperating with his pets? I'm thinking that, given time, I might become even stronger than most pets."

Huo Hong nodded thoughtfully: "Using your own martial arts to assist the way of beast taming, your path is unconventional, and it may truly open up a new world for you."

Xia Heng smiled and said, "It's a very interesting idea. It's worth exploring to develop human potential to the fullest extent."

Although Zhuang Jianbai did not speak, his gaze toward Shi Gang became more solemn.

"Wow, Gang-ge, you're awesome!" Zhang Hao patted Shi Gang's sturdy shoulder hard. "We'll definitely be there when the martial arts gym opens! Maybe we can even learn a couple of self-defense moves from you!"

The atmosphere grew even more lively, and amidst the clinking of glasses, everyone began to discuss their future plans.

Huo Hong took a sip of wine and said calmly, "I've gained some fame from this competition. Several well-paying bounty missions have come my way in the capital. I plan to stay here for a while, complete the missions, and then return to Qin Province."

Xia Heng said succinctly: "Go home and cultivate."

These four short words convey an unquestionable determination.

Clearly, his experience at this conference, especially his rematch with Chen Yuan, made him see a greater gap in skill and inspired him to fight even harder.

Zhuang Jianbai wiped his mouth and said slowly, "After graduation, I plan to join the Criminal Investigation Department."

"In the Criminal Investigation Department, I get to see more of the fighting."

When it was Chen Yuan's turn, he was picking up a piece of tender fish. Hearing this, he smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Me? I don't have that many thoughts. I'll go back to Xuanhe Town and rest for a while. There are still a bunch of little guys waiting for me at the farm."

Zhang Hao immediately interrupted him: "Brother Yuan, you're the champion."

"The champion has a special reward process. In addition to the trophy and prize money, he/she must personally go to collect the champion's reward."

"The association headquarters has already notified you that you must set aside time after the competition to cooperate in completing the relevant procedures and arrangements. It is estimated that you will have to stay in the capital or nearby for a few more days, and you will not be able to go back for the time being."

Chen Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled helplessly: "Alright then."

I almost forgot, he's the champion now.

The first Donghuang champion.

(End of this chapter)