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Chapter 243: Consecutive Victories, The Mountain cat’s God-Slaying
🕑 Added 2024-11-21 11:33:53 +0000 UTCWithin the Jiulong Hall of Tianjing City, the seventh-ranked island from the west was stationed.
All other participants were tense and busy, but inside the Jiulong Hall, the atmosphere was relaxed.
This was because Jiulong Island had stationed nine Emperor Crocodiles outside the city.
Each was at the early Fourth Rank, possessing a divine-level First Tier bloodline.
These beasts carried traces of ancient mythical beast lineage, making the qualifying rounds effortless for them. Jiulong Island sent out nine solely to help fellow beast tamers secure spots.
"Here, have a drink," one official said cheerfully within the hall.
“This year’s qualifiers have seen powerful beasts like the Lingxi Spirit Beast from Dragon Spring Island, the Wrathful Dragon from Xinyan Island, and the Frost Roaring Giant Bear from Bear Island. But the other major islands haven’t fielded strong beasts," said Kang Jia, a Fifth Rank beast tamer, raising his wine glass.
“Taking on this mission turned out to be quite a break.”
“Indeed, with the usual grueling training, it’s nice to relax this month.”
Bringing Emperor Crocodiles to the qualifiers was practically a vacation.
While Tianjing Island also featured formidable beasts such as the Frost Roaring Giant Bear, the Wrathful Dragon, and the Lingxi Spirit Beast, the top ten western powers had a mutual understanding to claim their spots with minimal conflict.
The western leader, Longshi Island, hadn’t even sent a Fourth Rank beast. Over the spring, summer, and autumn preliminaries, Longshi Island had already secured its quotas.
"Kunt, why aren’t you drinking?" Kang Jia asked.
Across the table sat a man in a black robe, with refined features and a deep gaze. A shining sapphire bracelet adorned his wrist.
Kunt, the strongest among those managing the Emperor Crocodiles, held a delicate beast soul staff. Although seated at the feast, he remained silent and occasionally distracted.
"Kunt, relax a bit," a colleague urged. “Keeping constant soul-link with the Emperor Crocodile puts strain on both you and the beast.”
Kunt opened his eyes. "Someone has to watch the surroundings. You enjoy yourselves; don’t let me disturb you."
With that, Kunt stepped outside for fresh air.
"Let’s keep drinking," said Kang Jia, accustomed to Kunt’s demeanor as they resumed their revelry.
The city wall of Tianjing City had four entrances, each spanning three kilometers in length and one hundred meters in height.
Outside the eastern entrance, nine Emperor Crocodiles lay sprawled, completely blocking the entry.
To enter, one had to surrender a banner.
With the Emperor Crocodiles guarding, no other beasts dared to barge in.
Zhao Xing guided his Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao towards the east gate. As they approached within a kilometer, he began circling to observe.
"Swish—" From a distance, two golden falcons shot towards them, attempting to sneak past with sheer speed.
However, the golden flags in their beaks were too noticeable, and the nine Emperor Crocodiles immediately spotted them.
“Swish swish swish—” The golden falcons’ bodies gleamed as they activated their Ninth Tier bloodline, unleashing their innate ability.
Shadows of multiple falcons appeared in the sky!
"So fast! The golden falcon already excels in speed, and when it activates its bloodline, it creates even more afterimages," Zhao Xing observed through three different viewpoints.
Through the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao, he could only see the shadows filling the sky.
"Meow~" The Mountain cat, sensing Zhao Xing’s desire to see clearly, expanded its pupils, one green and one purple, granting him a mystical view.
Within the Mountain cat’s vision, the world appeared in shades of green and purple, and there were no shadows at all. The golden falcons’ speed slowed dozens of times, making them easily visible.
“Can Aotian track the falcons’ flight paths? And do the Emperor Crocodiles have a way to stop them?” Zhao Xing pondered.
The Emperor Crocodiles’ massive bodies would struggle with even slight turns. Preventing the golden falcons from sneaking in would be difficult.
Yet, the moment the falcons intruded, two Emperor Crocodiles roared to the sky.
"Roar!"
The spikes along their backs emitted an earthen yellow aura that rippled outward, enveloping the entrance.
The moment the golden falcons entered, their speed plummeted, as if mired in quicksand.
Even the relatively weaker Tiger Jiao could now clearly see the falcons, their shadows dissipating.
“An Earth Path Domain,” Zhao Xing observed. Magical domains refer to any space-altering techniques, typically requiring advanced mastery of high-level spells or martial techniques at the Seventh Transformation level.
For Emperor Crocodiles, however, their domains differed slightly from human techniques. They did not comprehend them through enlightenment but instinctively wielded them, due to their innately powerful bloodlines attuned to specific attributes.
"Emperor Crocodiles carry the blood of the ancient mythical beast Taowu, granting them the status of divine-tier bloodlines."
"Bloodline rank significantly impacts the power of innate abilities."
“With both possessing earth-based domains, a Ninth Tier bloodline and a First Tier divine bloodline can differ in power by up to tenfold,” Zhao Xing mused.
Though generations removed, the Emperor Crocodiles still held traces of mythical beast blood, making them semi-mythical creatures.
After stepping into the Earth Path Domain, the falcons' speed continued to decline. When their handler realized the predicament and attempted to recall them, it was too late.
"Chee chee—" The falcons dropped the banner before the Emperor Crocodiles, nodding repeatedly as if pleading for mercy.
“Hmph, surrendering now? Too late!” Kang Jia scoffed from Jiulong Hall, issuing an order to the Emperor Crocodiles. "Kill it!"
With Kang Jia’s command, one of the Emperor Crocodiles opened its gaping maw, and spikes along its black spine glowed with a crimson light.
"Boom!"
A column of red flame burst from the Emperor Crocodile’s mouth, engulfing the golden falcon.
"Roar~" Nearby beasts scattered in fear.
Zhao Xing shook his head as he watched. The Fifth-Rank golden falcon had been incinerated to nothing.
"Ahhhhh! No!" In a public hall in Tianjing City, a Sixth-Rank beast tamer screamed hysterically.
Writhing on the floor with a crazed look, he bellowed, "Damn you, Jiulong Island! My golden falcon, which I raised for over a decade!”
But he could only fume in private. Anyone coming to Tianjing City had to accept that their beasts could die; natural selection and survival of the fittest were the tenets of the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition.
Witnessing the golden falcon reduced to ashes, Zhao Xing felt a hint of worry. He asked again, "Aotian, can you handle them? These big fish are in it together.”
The Mountain cat, only at the early Fifth Rank, faced Emperor Crocodiles of the early Fourth Rank, a gap of a full major rank! And there were nine of them! Jiulong Island clearly wasn’t interested in a one-on-one match.
Earlier, one Emperor Crocodile deployed an Earth Path Domain, while another unleashed a laser-like flame.
The nurturing on Jiulong Island was evidently top-tier, with each Emperor Crocodile displaying slight variations, indicating different growth paths.
The Mountain cat seemed torn, wondering which big fish to tackle first.
Feeling the Mountain cat’s intentions, Zhao Xing sighed. He suspected that Aotian had spent too much time around Long Xiao, becoming similarly overconfident.
In the end, Zhao Xing decided to let the Mountain cat test the waters.
“Aotian, taunt one of them from the edge to draw it out.”
“Use thunder to strike it. Its domain is around 1,500 meters; just at Tiger Jiao’s position.”
Drawing from the strength of the Emperor Crocodile’s secret technique, Zhao Xing estimated that its Earth Path Domain stretched approximately 1,500 meters. Staying beyond that range would place them outside the domain.
Zhao Xing muttered a lengthy explanation.
“Lao Wu~”
Aotian, growing impatient, let out a low meow.
Are we going to catch fish or not?
"Alright, go ahead, but remember to run if you can’t catch anything!"
"Meow~"
Aotian gave a quick nod and then leapt off the back of the Azure Luan, darting straight for the Emperor Crocodile.
Inside the Jiulong Hall, Kang Jia, mid-sip of his drink, suddenly froze.
"Hm? A cat?"
Closing his eyes to sense, he found a small creature descending gracefully through the air.
“A Mountain cat?” Kang Jia stared in disbelief.
"Kang, what's wrong?" a fellow beast tamer asked.
"My Emperor Crocodile reported an anomaly—a Mountain cat, early Fifth Rank."
"Oh?" The others quickly closed their eyes, connecting with their own beasts to confirm and soon saw it too.
“Who would raise a Mountain cat to the Fifth Rank?”
Mountain cates weren’t particularly distinguished beasts, not even reaching the “esteemed” level of bloodlines. In most cases, even reaching Eighth Rank was challenging.
Raising it to the Fifth Rank required extensive resources that could have elevated a divine-tier beast to the Fourth Rank instead. How wasteful!
“Probably some noble’s pet,” one person guessed, “I’ll ask around to see whose it is.”
“It’s amusing,” Kang Jia chuckled.
The circle of beast tamers on the Purple Cloud Archipelago was small, and at their level, it would be easy to find out if this Mountain cat belonged to anyone local.
None of them initially took it seriously. After all, the Mountain cat was merely Fifth Rank, and its owner was probably clueless about beast rankings. Without a banner, the Emperor Crocodiles would let it through without issue.
But then—
Clang!
Kang Jia’s wine cup fell to the floor, and he shot to his feet in shock.
“What happened, Kang?”
“That Mountain cat just attacked my Emperor Crocodile!” Kang Jia roared, “And it’s injured!”
“What?!”
Outside the eastern gate, Aotian strolled down, taking dainty steps through the air as he moved within 1,500 meters of the Emperor Crocodile.
The Emperor Crocodile glanced at the Mountain cat but, seeing no banner, ignored it.
As Aotian moved within 1,000 meters, the Emperor Crocodile still didn’t react.
The Mountain cat’s nonchalant movements were deceptive. Trained battle beasts typically carried an air of violence and hostility. But this Mountain cat, though Fifth Rank, appeared completely harmless.
It was as if some noble had let their cute pet wander onto the battlefield.
Both the Emperor Crocodile and Kang Jia dismissed the Mountain cat as inconsequential, assuming it just wanted to enter the city.
But suddenly—
Swish~
Aotian vanished when he was within 200 meters of the Emperor Crocodile, a flash of lightning carrying him directly to the creature’s right flank.
Slash!
Lightning-infused claws struck with precision.
Rip!
A ten-meter-long cross-shaped wound opened along the Emperor Crocodile’s left side.
The Emperor Crocodile froze, bewildered.
What kind of Mountain cat is this, knowing how to ambush like that?!
Aotian darted away, carrying a strip of Emperor Crocodile flesh.
At that moment, Aotian seemed like a blend of Zhao Xing’s calculated stealth and Long Xiao’s ferocity. Long Xiao had taught the Mountain cat how to maximize damage by opening wounds in a cross shape, allowing him to tear away flesh and delay the opponent’s recovery.
With Zhao Xing’s guidance, Aotian had also become skilled in playing the ambusher rather than fighting head-on.
Caught off guard, the Fourth Rank Emperor Crocodile’s abdomen suffered a heavy blow, with blood gushing from the wound as residual thunder energy blocked it from healing.
“Roar!” The Emperor Crocodile howled in fury.
Kang Jia, too, was furious—his Emperor Crocodile had been injured, and by what looked like a harmless creature.
“Kill it!”
At Kang Jia’s enraged command, the Emperor Crocodile unleashed an earthen yellow light, expanding its Earth Domain again.
But Aotian was quick, his Fifth Rank enhanced by wind and thunder forces. Mountain cates were naturally fast, and with his mastery of wind-element power, Aotian’s speed exceeded the golden falcon by fifty percent!
The Emperor Crocodile struggled to bring its Earth Domain to bear, but Aotian had already retreated over 1,500 meters, perching back on the Azure Luan.
Watching this, Zhao Xing’s eyes shone with admiration.
“Aotian’s skills exceed my expectations.”
He’d always thought of Aotian as a pet rather than a true battle beast. Whether in Daofeng Mountain or the Extreme Night Sea, Aotian had rarely needed to fight. With teammates like Long Xiao, Chen Shijie, Xia Jing, and Zhao Xing with his myriad straw puppet techniques, there was hardly any reason for the Mountain cat to enter the fray.
With the eventual arrival of Liu Tianning, Aotian’s role remained as a companion, happily eating alongside the group.
Now given a real battle, Aotian’s prowess was surprising.
“Those spirit-rich resources have not gone to waste,” Zhao Xing chuckled.
Outside the city, the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao watched Aotian warily. The Mountain cat had brought back a piece of Emperor Crocodile flesh and offered them a bite.
With Emperor Crocodile flesh carrying the ancient strength of mythical beasts, the aura alone made them uneasy, leaving them unwilling to try it.
“Aotian, stop eating. One of the Emperor Crocodiles is chasing us!” Zhao Xing warned from the Azure Luan’s vantage point.
“Meow?”
Aotian glanced at the lumbering beast, seeming slightly annoyed.
This cat had eaten countless fish and had never encountered one that put up such a fuss!
“Grrr~”
With a low growl, Aotian leapt off the Azure Luan and charged at the Emperor Crocodile.
With a single look, his left eye glowed violet, releasing a streak of lightning that struck the Emperor Crocodile’s head.
Boom!
The lightning flashed, hitting the Emperor Crocodile’s unprotected head without resistance.
“An eye that can release lightning? Not bad,” Zhao Xing commented as he watched from the Azure Luan.
Dodging lightning was nearly impossible for the Emperor Crocodile with its massive form.
“Roar!”
The Emperor Crocodile bellowed in pain, a charred mark now marring its head.
Although its scales didn’t protect its head, its bones were sturdy, so the lightning only left a minor wound.
But breaking through the Emperor Crocodile’s defenses impressed both the beast and Kang Jia.
Despite its open Earth Domain enhancing its defense, the lightning still penetrated and left a mark. Just how powerful was this Mountain cat’s lightning ability?
“Dingchen, Hanguang, go together!” Kang Jia gritted his teeth, “Take down that damn cat!”
This was humiliating.
Under everyone’s watch, Jiulong Island’s Emperor Crocodiles were injured by a mere Mountain cat!
“Don’t kill it—capture it,” Kunt interjected, stepping back inside. “This Mountain cat is extraordinary. If we capture it and break its soul contract, we might gain a powerful beast.”
“Better to enslave it than kill it,” he continued, and the others, sensing the Mountain cat’s potential, nodded in agreement.
“Damn, they’re not playing fair! Aotian is just early Fifth Rank, have some dignity and fight one-on-one!” Zhao Xing cursed from the Kaiyang Hall.
Dong Yuanqiu and Cao Jiang, standing guard nearby, exchanged puzzled looks. They couldn’t understand why Zhao Xing seemed so agitated.
But in his vision, Zhao Xing saw all nine Emperor Crocodiles converging!
Nine early Fourth Rank beasts cornering a single Fifth Rank Mountain cat. Of course, Zhao Xing was furious.
“Meow~” Aotian’s voice sounded in Zhao Xing’s mind.
“What? You want the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao to retreat, and you’ll stay behind?”
“Aotian, don’t be reckless! If you get killed, Long Xiao will slaughter me... Hey, don’t go!” Zhao Xing jumped to his feet in the Kaiyang Hall.
Aotian was stubborn. He gave the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao a zap of lightning, forcing them to retreat, while he charged alone at the nine Emperor Crocodiles.
“Damn it, all this cautious thinking of mine has been wasted. You’ve been hanging around Long Xiao for too long—you’re just as reckless! You think you’re some sort of sword master?” Zhao Xing fumed as he stormed outside.
“Sir, is something wrong?” Tao Anchun asked.
“My Mountain cat is picking a fight with the Emperor Crocodiles. You stay here—I need to get up on the wall.”
Zhao Xing had no choice but to intervene personally.
If things went south, he’d break the rules to save Aotian if necessary.
With a series of shua-shua-shua-shua sounds, countless Myriad Straw Puppets began spilling out from the Cloud Rain Tower Ship stationed inside the Kaiyang Hall, each holding powerful weapons as they flew into formation.
Nearby, Ji An, busy managing his battle beasts in the adjacent courtyard, looked over when he heard the commotion—and almost had his eyes pop out of their sockets.
“A Sixth-Rank Net Cannon? A Sixth-Rank Tianyuan Bow…what the—are they carrying a premium-grade Sixth-Rank Extermination Bed Crossbow?!”
Ji An was dumbfounded, frozen in place.
This was all high-grade military weaponry! Where on earth did he manage to acquire all this?
In that instant, Ji An felt as though he had been “rescued by a terrorist” and then invited as a guest into his lair—both thrilling and terrifying.
Though he knew Zhao Xing held the title of Marquis Yuanrang, this was only a third-class marquisate, not a martial title. By all logic, he shouldn’t have the right to carry these types of military weapons.
In theory, Zhao Xing had no authority to wield such powerful weaponry. However, Lord Luohou had granted him a special exemption for his safety, allowing him to carry this arsenal.
Back then, Zhao Xing had amassed four million battle merits, only to be pressured by King Liang to settle for a mere Fourth-Rank medal and two ranks of promotion. He even had his free position revoked, prompting Lord Luohou to offer him compensation while also ensuring his safety.
With these weapons, Zhao Xing’s safety was virtually guaranteed, especially in non-combat zones, where he could fend off even Fourth or Fifth Rank foes with ease using his Myriad Straw Puppets.
“Lord Ji, please don’t be alarmed,” Tao Anchun hurried over to explain. “My master is just checking on his Mountain cat from the city walls.”
“Oh…is that so,” Ji An replied, barely managing a strained smile.
Meanwhile, news of the commotion quickly spread through Tianjing City, with word reaching every corner.
"Did you hear? Jiulong Island’s Fourth-Rank Emperor Crocodiles have all gone into action!"
“What? Are they clashing with Bear Island’s giant bears?”
“No, I think they’re hunting a Mountain cat.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“It’s true! Someone recorded it from the city walls. Look for yourself!”
“Unbelievable! Let’s go see!”
The absurd news that nine Fourth-Rank Emperor Crocodiles were hunting down a single Mountain cat spread like wildfire, sparking immense curiosity among the crowd.
What kind of cat could possibly be worth such an extravagant effort from Jiulong Island?
In Bear Hall, a burly man with a beard, none other than Bear Island’s team leader Badaro, was currently engaged in controlling his mid-Fourth-Rank battle beast, the Frost Roaring Giant Bear.
Badaro, a mixed-blood from the Aquatic Tribe, sensed the disturbances from the Emperor Crocodiles and immediately heightened his connection with his giant bear.
Bear Island and Jiulong Island had a long-standing rivalry. With only three Frost Roaring Giant Bears in their current lineup, Badaro worried that Jiulong Island might be up to some covert attack.
“It seems they’re not coming after us.” Badaro commanded his giant bear, armed with a massive axe, to take flight.
“Could they be clashing with Dragon Spring Island’s Lingxi Spirit Beast?”
In Dragon Spring Hall, a woman with a striking physique and dressed in beast hides also stepped out onto the grounds.
Yuu Ji, standing on the grass, closed her eyes to connect with her Lingxi Spirit Beast outside the city.
“All nine Emperor Crocodiles are mobilized, but I can’t see who they’re targeting,” she muttered, puzzled. “What is Kunt from Jiulong Hall up to?”
She pulled out her Earth Mirror, quickly sending a message to Longshi Island’s team leader, Ao Feng, whose Wrathful Dragon was patrolling the skies closer to the Emperor Crocodiles.
Soon, Ao Feng replied: “The Emperor Crocodiles are hunting a Fifth-Rank Mountain cat, and one of them is already severely injured!”
“What?” Yuu Ji was stunned. What exactly was going on?
“Someone!” she called.
“Yes, my lady!” came the immediate response.
“Send a scout to the eastern city wall at once!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Roar!” All nine Emperor Crocodiles roared in unison.
The forest outside the eastern city entrance was now a chaotic mess, with countless trees uprooted or splintered.
Deep indentations and enormous footprints covered the ground.
One Emperor Crocodile, an elemental fire type, opened its massive maw, spewing a torrent of searing flames aimed at a dark shadow in the sky.
Carrying the bloodline of divine beasts, the Emperor Crocodile’s fiery breath had the power to melt even a Sixth-Rank divine weapon if it landed a direct hit.
Boom!
The torrent of fire roared into the sky, even staining the clouds with a red hue.
Yet, the shadow in the sky remained unmoved.
Sizzle…
Aotian raised his paw, a blue and purple glow flashing from the mystic runes on his claws. The energy detached from his body, forming two circular rings that wrapped around the fire-elemental Emperor Crocodile.
The rings expanded instantly, trapping the enormous thousand-meter-long Emperor Crocodile, which then began to shrink rapidly as the rings tightened.
Ssshh…sshh…
The friction between the crocodile’s scales and the rings produced sparks, as wisps of green smoke rose.
“Roar!!!”
The Emperor Crocodile struggled in agony.
Nearby, one of the beast tamers, clutching his head in pain, crouched down.
“Dingchen, sever your soul contract and let the Emperor Crocodile fight on its own,” Kunt ordered.
A faint shadow of a Mountain cat reflected in Kunt’s eyes.
“This Mountain cat has reached Pure Essence Realm using wind and thunder powers, mastering multiple high-tier techniques to near perfection.”
“This…how can a Mountain cat have such potent natural abilities?” Kang Jia was in utter disbelief.
In just a few exchanges, the Mountain cat had once again inflicted serious injury on another Emperor Crocodile.
If the first strike was due to a lack of preparation, they now had no excuse, for the Mountain cat had attacked them head-on despite the combined force of the Nine Elements Domain created by the Emperor Crocodiles!
“This Mountain cat must have consumed countless treasures,” Kunt said with a conflicted expression. “At this point, it’s beyond a typical Mountain cat. Its talent has surpassed even Sixth-Rank divine bloodlines!”
The surrounding beast tamers were at a loss for words.
The Mountain cat’s display of power shattered all their previous understanding of such creatures.
How many treasures would it take to reach this level?
Not only did it possess extraordinary talent, but its mastery of advanced techniques was beyond their comprehension.
“My Emperor Crocodile…is on the verge of collapse!” the beast tamer who had earlier been clutching his head now cried out in agony.
“What…how can this be?!”
“It smashed through the Emperor Crocodile’s Earth Element Defensive Mystic Rune with a single strike!”
“No, it wasn’t just one strike. It stomped nine times!”
“What technique is this?”
“Ninefold Wind-Step.”
“That’s impossible! For a Mountain cat to achieve this kind of power with that technique? You must be mistaken!”
“Are you doubting my judgment?”
“Silence!” Kunt barked, “Everyone, focus!”
He raised his beast-soul staff, which emitted a series of shimmering lights.
Outside the eastern city entrance, the largest of the Emperor Crocodiles’ horns began to glow with a crystalline brilliance.
In an instant, the massive beast transformed into a gleaming crystal Emperor Crocodile.
“Hum…”
The other seven Emperor Crocodiles also entered their secondary forms, with only the one ensnared by Aotian’s powerful technique unable to transform.
Having endured two high-tier mystic techniques—Wind-Thunder Shackles and Ninefold Wind-Step—the Emperor Crocodile was on the brink of death.
Aotian seized the opportunity as the other Emperor Crocodiles transformed, diving straight toward the gravely injured Emperor Crocodile.
Thunder Split Claw!
Szzzzzz…
Aotian’s form blurred, appearing near the Emperor Crocodile’s underbelly as the glowing rings suspended it midair.
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop…
Aotian’s claws moved with terrifying speed and precision, each strike infused with lightning, as if dozens of Mountain cates were simultaneously tearing into the Emperor Crocodile’s underbelly with high-level mystic arts.
In an instant, the lower abdomen of the Fourth-Rank Emperor Crocodile was reduced to a mangled mess.
“Rrrah…”
The Emperor Crocodile’s body convulsed as its life force rapidly faded, descending into stillness.
One of the nine Emperor Crocodiles was dead, leaving only eight.
On the eastern city wall, Tong Wanyang observed the scene with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing the news, he had immediately rushed to the eastern city wall.
Though Longshi Island had not deployed any Fourth-Rank battle beasts with divine bloodlines, Tong Wanyang personally oversaw the situation. He recognized this Mountain cat as none other than the pet beast of Zhao Xing, the Twin-Dragon Horse Overseer.
“Unbelievable,” Yu Pengcheng, standing nearby, marveled. “That Mountain cat can’t be more than five years old.”
“To reach this level in under five years, it must have been fed an abundance of spirit treasures,” Tong Wanyang speculated.
“Marquis Yuanrang Zhao Xing—his rise from Ten Sun Cave-Heaven brought him considerable fortune. Even his Mountain cat has reached the Fifth Rank.”
Normally, such a feeding method, using spirit treasures as regular resources, was unheard of.
Not only were humans limited in their access, but spiritual essence from sacred mountains was rarely allocated to beasts.
Furthermore, the benefits of such essence were far greater for humans, while beasts would require double the amount for the same effect—sometimes only yielding half or a third of the effectiveness.
However, with enough spirit essence, even a pig could advance to the Fifth Rank.
Such intense nurturing led to massive enhancements in both natural talents and mystic techniques.
Tong Wanyang shook his head. "Replicating something like Ten Sun Cave-Heaven's incident is nearly impossible," he noted.
Yu Pengcheng nodded in agreement. “With its access to resources like Heaven's Gate and the Lingxiu Hot Spring, even an academy like Bishui Dao Academy couldn't reproduce this level of training.”
“This Mountain cat is shaping up to be quite a formidable opponent,” Tong Wanyang said with a hint of admiration. “Look at those eight remaining Emperor Crocodiles. Even with their crystal transformations, they still can’t keep up with it.”
“They’re just too sluggish,” Yu Pengcheng commented. “Though the crystal transformation greatly enhances the Emperor Crocodiles' defenses, it does nothing for their speed. Their Crystal Five Elements Domain can’t fully contain the Mountain cat either.”
“It has slowed the Mountain cat down, but it’s still faster than the Emperor Crocodiles.”
“However,” Tong Wanyang observed, “even for the Mountain cat, killing another Emperor Crocodile will be challenging now.”
“You and I can see that, and so can Kunt.” Tong Wanyang added. “But it’s strange that Zhao Xing hasn’t ordered the Mountain cat to withdraw yet. What is he planning?”
“Hard to say. If he doesn’t pull back soon, more battle beasts may join in on the action.”
What Tong Wanyang and Yu Pengcheng didn’t realize was that Zhao Xing had very limited options when it came to getting Aotian to retreat.
Using the soul contract, he could forcibly override Aotian’s actions, but that would inflict pain on the Mountain cat and likely only result in resistance. Given the current situation, such a move could spell certain death for Aotian.
Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh…
Finally, Zhao Xing and his countless Myriad Straw Puppets reached the city wall.
When he arrived, Zhao Xing was stunned to see that Aotian had already taken down an Emperor Crocodile.
“Since when did Aotian get so strong?” Even Zhao Xing couldn’t quite believe it.
Against the combined attack of nine Emperor Crocodiles, Aotian had still managed to kill one. It was as if he had a true “sword-wielding cat” right before him.
Seeing this, Zhao Xing relaxed a bit, content to simply watch.
However, his arrival did not go unnoticed by the crowd around him, who looked on in shock.
Zhao Xing’s presence on the wall—with an Extermination Bed Crossbow set up and surrounded by a battalion of Myriad Straw Puppets, each armed with a high-grade weapon—left many spectators speechless.
“Myriad Straw Puppets? Is that the Self School’s straw puppet technique?”
“Who is this guy, to have mastered Myriad Straw Puppets?”
“And how can he be carrying such heavy military-grade weaponry? Isn’t he afraid of being arrested by the city patrol? Is he some kind of Martial Marquis?”
“That’s impossible—he’s dressed in a Sixth-Rank robe. When have you ever seen a Sixth-Rank Martial Marquis?”
“Wait…Myriad Straw Puppets…Could this man be related to Liu Wanfa?”
Amidst the discussions, Zhao Xing ignored the murmurs and reached out telepathically to Aotian.
“Aotian, return to the city wall,” he ordered.
“Meow!”
Aotian flat-out refused.
If he went back now, what about the big “fish” he was chasing? He couldn’t leave empty-handed!
Zhao Xing sighed, realizing more battle beasts were converging on their location.
If Jiulong Island had indeed called in reinforcements, things could quickly get out of hand.
While Aotian could handle the Emperor Crocodiles, it would be risky if beasts like the Wrathful Dragon or the Lingxi Spirit Beast joined the fray.
The Twin-Dragon Horse Directorate lacked allies, making them an easy target.
Now that Aotian had revealed such extraordinary abilities, it was only a matter of time before others sought to capture him.
“If you come back, I’ll catch an even bigger fish for you to eat,” Zhao Xing tried to coax.
“Meow!”
But Aotian’s mind flashed to past experiences—he suspected it would just be another “fish” with a hard shell, something he wasn’t fond of.
“…”
Zhao Xing felt a wave of frustration. Aotian had grown harder to convince with age.
Blame it on all the turtle meat he’d been fed. Now, the Mountain cat had an aversion to any “fish” with a shell.
“It definitely won’t be one of those! Just listen to me and come back.”
After a mix of persuasion and promises, Aotian finally agreed to return.
Meanwhile, the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao had used the commotion to slip through the eastern city gate with the banners.
Before leaving, Aotian even managed to tear a huge chunk of meat from the fallen Emperor Crocodile.
Swoosh!
Electricity crackled as Aotian sped through the air, tearing through the Crystal Five Elements Domain with ease.
“Roar!” The eight remaining Emperor Crocodiles let out furious roars.
Kunt and Kang Jia looked on helplessly. The Emperor Crocodiles had only recently reached the Fourth Rank and had barely had time to develop their bloodline powers.
All they could do now was watch as the Mountain cat darted and dodged with agility, slipping through the Crystal Five Elements Domain.
With a flash of lightning, Aotian, now carrying a chunk of Emperor Crocodile flesh, reappeared on the city wall.
Phew… Zhao Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But his relief quickly turned to frustration as he smacked Aotian on the head.
“You little rascal! So you think you’re some big shot now, ignoring me, huh?” Zhao Xing chastised.
Aotian whimpered in response, clearly sulking at the reprimand.
The sight of a Mountain cat facing off against nine Emperor Crocodiles, killing one, and then escaping, became the talk of Tianjing City. The entire city was abuzz with excitement.
“Has the world gone mad? A Mountain cat took down an Emperor Crocodile? And a Fifth Rank beat a Fourth Rank?”
“Wait, you’re saying nine Emperor Crocodiles went after it?”
“No way, absolutely not!”
“Are you telling me it was a nine-on-one, Fourth Rank against Fifth Rank, and the Mountain cat still killed one of them? Does Jiulong Island even know what they’re doing?”
“Jiulong Island’s reputation has really gone downhill.”
“If a Mountain cat can defeat an Emperor Crocodile, then my Shadow Leopard could probably do the same!”
“This is something to behold! A Mountain cat taking down a god-tier beast…Is there anything in this world that’s impossible?”
“The Beast Taming world will be talking about this for a hundred years, laughing at Jiulong Island.”
“Who is this Twin-Dragon Horse Overseer, Zhao Xing? I’ve never heard of him, but his Mountain cat is truly remarkable.”
Rumors of the battle quickly spread, leaving Kunt and Kang Jia from Jiulong Island fuming.
Messages flooded their Earth Mirrors, with some even openly mocking or taunting them.
“‘My Shadow Leopard could do that too’—what kind of nonsense is that? Let them come here and say that to my face!” Kang Jia fumed, slamming his Earth Mirror on the table in frustration.
“Great, I’m famous now…” another beast tamer muttered dejectedly.
Sure, he was famous now, but for all the wrong reasons. The Emperor Crocodile had fallen in the qualifiers, and it was slain by a Mountain cat. His career as a beast tamer was essentially over.
Back on Jiulong Island, there would be no other choice for him but to resign in disgrace.
Meanwhile, in the City Lord’s Mansion, Wang Xuanyi watched the battle footage captured by the Mirage Pearl with a look of awe.
The Fourth-Rank Governor, Yu Hong, had brought the news to him only moments ago.
Initially skeptical, Wang Xuanyi had only believed it after watching the footage.
“Lord Zhao Xing’s Mountain cat has become quite something,” Yu Hong noted beside him. “The crystal transformation and Crystal Five Elements Domain formed by the Emperor Crocodiles—featuring attributes of gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder, with two purely focusing on enhancing physical strength—yet none of this could stop a Mountain cat.”
Wang Xuanyi placed the Mirage Pearl aside, nodding thoughtfully. “This Mountain cat of his is certainly an extraordinary breed, nourished by many spirit treasures.”
“It displayed four high-tier techniques, all of which have reached near-perfection.”
“Other than Myriad Spirit Essence, it’s rare to find anything else that could yield such results.”
“Lord, what’s the background of Marquis Yuanrang Zhao Xing?” Yu Hong inquired. “He’s carrying significant weaponry. When our patrol approached him for an inspection, he presented a sealed command order from Lord Luohou, permitting him to carry these war machines.”
Wang Xuanyi replied, “He has some connections with Lord Luohou and is a direct disciple of Liu Wanfa.”
“However, he’s also offended the faction of King Liang. There’s a complicated history that I can’t explain in detail. You’re my trusted appointee, so I advise you not to pry further.”
“Yes, my lord.” Yu Hong bowed his head respectfully.
In the Military Realm, within the Tower of a Hundred Weapons, Princes Xin and Anning had arrived in the Earth Mirror observation chamber, clearly worn out.
As the war’s intensity grew, their responsibilities multiplied. As two of the thirty-three titled princes of the Military Realm, both Princes Xin and Anning were finding themselves stretched thin.
“What’s got your attention, Lord Luohou?” Prince Anning asked as he noticed that the numerous Earth Mirrors were all focused on a sea region.
“This is Tianjing Island in the Eastern Sea?” Prince Xin, Liu Yong, glanced at the screens, instantly recognizing the location.
“Yes,” Lord Luohou replied with a nod. “The qualifiers for the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition have begun there. Just watching for leisure.”
“Leisure?” Prince Anning arched a brow. “How is it that you still have time to pay attention to the Eastern Sea?”
Lord Luohou smiled, “I have fewer tasks than you, and my subordinates are more efficient.”
King Anning laughed bitterly. "The Inspectorate is supposed to be the busiest of all, yet here you are, with time to watch a competition. Liu Tianning truly is a treasure."
Lord Luohou chuckled, "How about I let him take up a position in your Shangyu Division?"
Prince Xin spoke up, "Liu Tianning already handles the transport for two provinces. If he were to gather intelligence for Shangyu as well, wouldn’t his authority, as a Fourth Rank official, be a bit overextended?"
King Anning scoffed playfully. "Handling the transport for two provinces doesn’t seem to bother him; what's a little more? Luohou, lend him to me. Tracking down targets in Yanguang Palace’s lands is no easy task, and those Babok Worms make it a nightmare."
These Babok Worms were known for their ability to burrow underground, and most of Yanguang Palace’s forces moved below the surface. Intelligence gathering during their training was especially challenging in these conditions.
Lord Luohou replied, "Each loss of Liu Tianning’s Myriad Straw Puppets requires a significant amount of rare resources to replace."
"I’ll cover the cost from Shangyu Division’s funds."
"With his skill set, he’s as effective as three hundred people. If he takes on more, people might accuse me of exploiting my subordinates."
"Are you really worried about that?" King Anning smirked. "I’ll give him a pay raise, request a promotion, and send three Seventh Rank treasures as a reward once the job’s done."
Lord Luohou smiled. "In that case, we have a deal."
Prince Xin laughed, "If you’d just offered that from the start, Luohou would have agreed immediately."
King Anning sighed, "It’s no easy task to borrow someone from Luohou."
He added, "By the way, wasn’t Zhao Xing, his disciple, assigned to the Eastern Sea? It’s been nearly two years now, hasn’t it?"
"Not quite two years," Lord Luohou corrected. "He’s currently participating in the qualifying rounds of the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition."
"Oh?" King Anning checked the Earth Mirror. "According to the performance assessments, the Twin-Dragon Horse Directorate has maintained an outstanding rating for the past year."
Prince Xin observed, "If he can keep that rating for five years straight and lead Twin Island to place in the Purple Cloud Archipelago’s group stage, securing a spot in the Eastern Sea playoffs, he should be able to attain a promotion to Fifth Rank."
"And if he manages to make it through the Eastern Sea playoffs and into the Four Seas Summit, a primary Fifth Rank promotion would be inevitable."
King Anning mused, "Reaching such heights within a decade might be pushing it."
Lord Luohou nodded in agreement. "It’s certainly a steep goal. How about a wager, King Anning? Let’s bet on whether Zhao Xing can cultivate a battle beast capable of competing in the Summit within ten years."
King Anning thought it over. "And what’s the wager?"
Lord Luohou smiled. "King Anning, you’re wealthy. Surely you can part with an Eighth Rank treasure."
King Anning nodded, "Alright, I’ll wager that he can’t do it."
Lord Luohou chuckled, "Then, King Anning, you might as well prepare that Eighth Rank treasure now."
"What do you mean by that?" King Anning raised an eyebrow, watching as Lord Luohou waved his hand, and an Earth Mirror floated in front of him.
It displayed footage of a fierce battle between the mountain cat and the Emperor Crocodiles.
"This mountain cat is Zhao Xing’s battle pet. Last year, it was still at the Sixth Rank," Lord Luohou explained. "But through Zhao Xing’s training techniques, it has advanced to the initial stage of the Fifth Rank."
"While in Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, it consumed countless spirit treasures, and now it can challenge Fourth Rank beasts."
"This footage just came in."
King Anning, watching the battle, was stunned. "You sly fox, Luohou! Were you planning this?"
"I’m not deceiving you," Lord Luohou replied with a grin. "This footage is as recent as it gets."
King Anning scoffed, "Even so, you’re not guaranteed victory. That mountain cat is far too isolated. How can it fight through such odds?"
Prince Xin, Liu Yong, chuckled. "Funny, those words sound familiar."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" King Anning questioned.
"I heard from Lord Tianyan that this isn’t the first bet you’ve made with Luohou. The first time, Luohou didn’t believe Zhao Xing would succeed, and as a result, he lost two Seventh Rank divine weapons."
"Hmph, I won’t fall for this twice," King Anning said with resolve. "I’ll watch closely to see how Zhao Xing thinks he’s going to make it to the Summit with just a mountain cat."
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