Beast Arena, Arena Eight
Amid the crowd's frenzied cheers, Lan An shook his head inwardly. He'd revealed much—too much. His techniques had drawn eyes, and he knew schemers now watched. Holding back trump cards was never a mistake.
Keng, Branch Mission [Unyielding Valor] triggered. Reward: One designated Earth-Grade Skill summon. Failure: Deduct 3000 Prestige Points.
Mission Note: Continue the challenge, crush all foes with overwhelming might, and awe the masses.
The System's voice rang as he prepared to decline the next fight.
"Crush them, huh?" Lan An's face darkened. Damn System, always pushing me. Yet, the reward—a chosen Earth-Grade skill—was tantalizing.
Inhaling deeply, he opened the Lucky Shop. After buying the Immortal Lovers' Fate Robes and Star-Silver Twin Swords, three items remained:
Lower Mysterious-Grade Skill:
One Yang Finger – 500 Prestige Points
Minor Step Talisman – 300 Prestige Points
Lower Earth-Grade Movement Art: Instant Shadow Step – 1800 Prestige Points
Prestige Points: 11200
His eyes gleamed, his earlier frustration vanishing. "Not bad. A huge Prestige Point haul," he thought, elated. The Golden Fang Tiger's defeat had paid off richly.
The Minor Step Talisman caught his eye. Its teleportation carried risks, but in a pinch, it could be a lifesaver. He decided to buy it.
Keng, successfully purchased Minor Step Talisman. Deducted 300 Prestige Points.
Remaining Prestige Points: 10900
Calculations done, Lan An faced the roaring stands, his voice calm but brimming with dominance. "Bring it on."
The crowd erupted, many vowing to bet on him to recoup losses.
In a shadowed corner, the white-haired youth, Muo Jiao, glared with greed and envy. With a subtle gesture, a black-robed man approached.
"Pit him against flying beasts. When he's battered, bring him to me," Muo Jiao ordered.
The man paled, sweat beading, glancing at Lan An with pity. Flying beasts were a nightmare for pre-Nascent Soul cultivators, who couldn't fly.
"As you command, Young Master Muo," he said, bowing. Muo Jiao, son of Ling Wu City's Lord, outer elder of Tian Mu Sect, and mastermind behind the Beast Arena, was untouchable. His whims were law, and his targets—geniuses of Ling Wu City—often met grim fates.
The man hurried to arrange the fight, certain Lan An was doomed.
Whoosh.
Moments later, a formation deactivated, revealing a massive iron cage. Two piercing cries echoed as twin fiery birds broke free, soaring above Lan An, circling like predators.
The crowd exploded in outrage:
"Damn it, flying beasts? Two of them?"
"They're screwing over Young Master Xiao Nan!"
"He's just Golden Core—can't fly! How's he supposed to fight?"
"This match is rigged. Who do we bet on?"
Sighs rippled through the stands. Lan An's talent was undeniable, but no genius could fly before Nascent Soul. This fight seemed impossible.
Lan An's expression turned odd as he studied the birds, their flames and fierce forms familiar—kin to those that attacked Bai Su Mei as a White Star Serpent.
Blazing Flame Birds—both Late-Stage Third-Tier.
"They really think highly of me," he muttered, amused. The arena pitting a supposed Mid-Stage Golden Core against flying beasts was laughable.
Unaware of Muo Jiao's scheme, Lan An faced the challenge head-on.
"I believe in Young Master!" Chen Jiang, clutching his winnings, gritted his teeth and bet everything on Lan An again.
Screech!
The Blazing Flame Birds dove, their razor-sharp, flame-wreathed beaks aiming for Lan An.
"Hmph, fools," Lan An sneered. Untouchable in the air, they'd dared descend.
ROAR!
The Earth Bear bellowed, its massive arms swinging upward.
Thud, thud.
In perfect sync, the bear seized each bird's beak, one in each hand.
Sizzle.
Flames roared, scorching the bear's fists, but the Spirit Earth Cauldron pulsed, reinforcing it unharmed.
Lan An's grin turned savage. He relished crushing foes with raw power. Gripping tighter, he slammed the birds together.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Their bodies collided, eyes blazing with fury at the Earth Bear.
Mindless, the bear ignored their rage, smashing them relentlessly. The crowd sweated, awestruck by the brutality.
One Blazing Flame Bird snapped, its flames surging into a sudden explosion.
BOOM!
The blast dispersed the Earth Bear, but the Spirit Earth Cauldron swiftly reformed it.
The birds broke free, soaring upward.
Lan An observed. The exploding bird was weakened, its flames flickering. His White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye revealed their flaw: devastating attacks, but frail defenses.
"Damn it!" Muo Jiao hissed, cursing the birds' folly in engaging Lan An up close.
Regrouping, the birds hovered, their beaks conjuring fiery orbs, bombarding Lan An like a meteor shower.
BOOM! BOOM!
The arena quaked, flames raining down.
Lan An's eyes glinted with amusement, standing firm as the fireballs struck him.
"Dodge, Xiao Nan!"
"Is he suicidal?"
"Frozen in fear?"
The crowd's cries mingled as a crater formed, smoke billowing.
As it cleared, Lan An stood tall, hands clasped—utterly bare. His chiseled, flawless physique gleamed, his proud, sinewy "little brother" drawing gasps. Men flushed with envy; women's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, so shameless!" Li Zhu Lan squealed, cheeks flaming, peeking through her fingers. A subtle dampness stirred within her.
Lan An calmly donned black robes, having discreetly stored the Immortal Lovers' Fate Robes in his Black Skull Ring amid the smoke. He hid their defensive power.
Yan Yang's face twisted in shock. Lan An had faced the fiery barrage without any defense, proving his body's extraordinary resilience.
"A Body Cultivator?" Yan Yang muttered, stunned.
"A Body Cultivator? Who is he?" Han Ming's expression soured.
"Dual Spirit and Body Cultivation—rare as phoenix feathers," Li Lin gulped, glancing at Li Zhu Lan's flushed face. A wild plan formed, promising vast gains if it worked.
Body Cultivation demanded iron will, endurance, and immense resources, far beyond Spirit Cultivation. Lan An's youth and dual mastery shook the prodigies' arrogance.
"Not bad," Lan An nodded, having deliberately revealed his Body Cultivator status. He'd avoided other attributes to conceal his versatility, opting to overpower the birds physically.
Eyeing the wary birds above, he smirked coldly. His legs coiled, then launched him skyward, soaring dozens of zhang.
"He's flying!"
"Flying, your ass—he's jumping!"
"Body Cultivators are monsters. That leap!"
"The birds are done."
The crowd roared in awe.
Caught off-guard, a Blazing Flame Bird was seized by its legs. Lan An's Third-Tier Body Cultivation erupted, yanking it earthward.
The Earth Bear mirrored him, grabbing the second bird. Together, they plummeted.
Lan An and the bear exchanged a glance, then slammed the birds' necks into the arena floor.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Man and bear pounded the birds into the stone, a brutal, bloody spectacle.
The savage display thrilled the crowd, their bloodlust ignited.