Inside the elegant and tranquil cabin of the Biyou Warship, Princess Youruo approached Liu Tianning, her voice soft yet carrying an undertone of seriousness.
"Liu Lang, someone is investigating your disciple."
Liu Tianning's brows furrowed slightly. "Investigating my disciple? Who's behind this?"
Princess Youruo handed over a letter, her expression remaining composed. "It's Meng Kun and Gu Changqing from Kunyuan Academy. They were sent by the court to set up arrangements for the arena."
Liu Tianning opened the letter, quickly scanning its contents. "What are they trying to do?"
A faint smile appeared on Princess Youruo's lips. "They've taken a liking to him. Meng Kun and Gu Changqing want to transfer Zhao Xing. Since they don't hold positions in Pinghai Prefecture, they intend to use Kunyuan Academy's channels to make the transfer happen."
In cases where individuals belonged to different prefectures, transferring officials or personnel often posed difficulties unless specific channels like the Seventy-Two Dao Academies were involved, as these institutions maintained branches across the Nineteen Provinces, making such operations significantly smoother.
"They're all the way in Daoyuan Continent and have their sights set on my disciple?" Liu Tianning's expression relaxed slightly. As long as their interest didn't stem from malicious intentions, there was no cause for alarm.
"Meng Kun even sent someone to speak to me," Princess Youruo added with a trace of amusement. "He mentioned that Zhao Xing had reached the First Heaven, comprehended the Essence-Draining Earth Palace they set up, and perfected his advanced technique. He even claimed that assigning him to the Dragon Horse Directorate to raise horses was a waste of his talent…"
Princess Youruo rested her chin on Liu Tianning's shoulder, her tone playful. "In short, they believe Zhao Xing is a prodigy of the Earth School and want to take him from me."
"They don't know Zhao Xing is my student?"
"Oh, they know," Princess Youruo replied with a sly smile, wrapping her arms around Liu Tianning's waist and whispering in his ear, "But they don't care. They just see Zhao Xing as a promising talent of the Earth School and even asked me to put in a good word for them."
Liu Tianning's brow twitched—not at the mention of Meng Kun and Gu Changqing's interest in his disciple, but because Princess Youruo's teasing had reached the point of licking his ear and letting her hands wander mischievously.
"What they think doesn't concern me," Liu Tianning replied coolly, turning away and placing the letter on the desk. "But Zhao Xing's decision must be his own."
Princess Youruo was unrelenting, her movements smooth as she swayed closer, her sleeves fluttering like shadows. She sat beside him, pressing against his side as she asked, "You seem so confident. Aren't you worried that little Chen'an might be tempted to join the Earth School and abandon your Myriad Law Straw Puppet techniques?"
"He won't," Liu Tianning said with certainty.
"You seem to have a lot of faith in him," Princess Youruo commented, twirling the letter in her fingers. "This letter says that if Zhao Xing were to join them, he'd immediately become a Transmission Master at the Genchuan Branch. Within five years, he could achieve the title of Doctor of Classics, and within twenty, they'd guarantee him the position of Vice Dean."
Liu Tianning chuckled softly. "Shared ideals and principles create bonds stronger than promises of high office or great wealth. Zhao Xing has already embarked on the path of ultimate mastery in the Myriad Law Straw Puppet techniques—a gate many strive to enter but few succeed. He's not going to abandon it."
"Take Pang Xiangyun as an example. Two years ago, I defeated him, and though he switched to the Self School, his progress has been lackluster. Even if Zhao Xing joined another sect, his achievements wouldn't necessarily surpass his current trajectory."
"As for Zhao Xing's affiliation," Liu Tianning continued nonchalantly, "it doesn't matter to me. I've never been one for factional politics or sectarian squabbles."
This casual demeanor came from Liu Tianning's deep disdain for academic cliques and sect rivalries. If not for irreparable past conflicts, he might have aimed to unify the three schools himself.
"So, shall I handle this my way?" Princess Youruo asked, her voice teasing yet filled with genuine curiosity. "You truly don't mind?"
"Why should I?" Liu Tianning smiled. "The fact that others value my disciple is a testament to his potential."
"However, I won't permit anyone to interfere with his path unless it's his choice."
"Understood," Princess Youruo replied playfully, nestling into Liu Tianning's embrace. "I'll send someone to make things clear to them later."
Aboard the Genchuan Fubo Ship
Meng Kun received the reply and immediately sensed the difficulty of their endeavor. His subordinate handed him the letter, and a frown creased his face.
"Meng daren, has the Princess refused?" Gu Changqing asked, noticing Meng Kun's expression and guessing that things might not go as planned.
"She hasn't outright refused," Meng Kun replied, passing the letter to Gu Changqing. "But she insists that any decision must come from Zhao Xing himself. We're not permitted to use influence to force a transfer."
"Well, that's a surprise," Gu Changqing remarked after reading the letter, his interest piqued. "It seems the Princess holds him in high regard."
Liu Tianning wasn't the primary obstacle here. Despite his ability to overpower third-ranked officials, his fourth-ranked status meant his influence couldn't match that of Meng Kun and Gu Changqing. The Earth School's influence far exceeded Liu Tianning's Self School.
Had Princess Youruo permitted it, a single word would have sufficed to enact the transfer.
"It seems the rumors are true—Liu Tianning and the Princess share a close relationship," Gu Changqing mused.
"Let's not indulge in idle speculation," Meng Kun admonished. "Since this is the Princess's stance, we'll wait until the competition concludes and speak directly with Zhao Xing."
Meng Kun had little interest in gossip. His sole focus lay in advancing the Earth School, and his greatest ambition was to see it surpass the Heaven School within his lifetime.
As an Earthly Advantage Shennong, Meng Kun's ultimate dream was to cultivate the world's soil and explore all the lands, soils, and ley lines of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations—even if it cost him his life.
"I'll handle the discussions after the competition," Gu Changqing offered.
"Then I leave it in your hands," Meng Kun replied with a nod.
Unbeknownst to Zhao Xing, his comprehension of the Essence-Draining Earth Palace had caught the attention of the senior members of the Earth School.
At this moment, Zhao Xing was still hiding out in the Crescent Moon Mountain region, maintaining a low profile.
With sufficient supplies, especially after mastering the eleventh transformation of the Boundless Earth Palace technique, the influence of the Essence-Draining Earth Palace had significantly diminished. Neither he, Long Aotian (the Mountain Cat), Xiaotian (the Blue Lion Hound), nor Huantian (the Spirit Illusion Goat) needed to eat regularly within the range of the Boundless Earth Palace.
Of course, this stability was location-specific. If they moved to another area or engaged in prolonged combat, they would still need sustenance. However, comprehending the eleventh transformation had put Zhao Xing in a far better position than when he first entered.
Another fifteen days passed, bringing Zhao Xing to the fiftieth day within the Grand Arena. Once again, he made a breakthrough. Building upon the eleventh transformation, Starlight Boundless, he achieved the twelfth transformation, Boundless Whirlpool.
Upon comprehending this transformation, Zhao Xing emerged from underground.
He shifted his footing slightly, and beneath him, light began to shimmer and ripple as if the earth had turned to flowing water. A shadow extended outward, quickly covering an area of over 600 square meters.
"Shrrr~" The ground trembled as ley lines, like streams of water, began to swirl. Rocks and soil resonated as though vibrating to a hidden rhythm.
"Woof! Woof!" Xiaotian immediately bit down on Huantian's neck, carrying it beyond the shadow's reach, while Long Aotian, the Mountain Cat, walked upright with a supply box in its paws.
If they didn't leave now, their supplies would soon be pulverized.
Everything around Zhao Xing was turning into a desert. What had once been barren land with scattered rocks was now spinning into a vortex of fine sand centered on him.
The vortex expanded and contracted, grinding everything it touched into dust.
Zhao Xing opened his eyes, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
"Starlight Boundless counteracts the effects of the Essence-Draining Earth Palace."
"Boundless Whirlpool, on the other hand, is completely different."
"It retains the constrictive force of the Boundless Earth Palace but adds a powerful offensive capability. With the help of the Pure Essence Soil, everything within the spell's range is ground to dust."
"Although the range appears smaller—just over 600 square meters—it disregards vertical limitations, extending equally upward and downward."
Looking skyward, Zhao Xing stretched out his hand. A hundred-pound boulder not far away floated upward under his control.
The boulder rose to 100 meters, then 300, 500, 800, 1,000, 2,000 meters…
The stone hovered steadily at 3,000 meters, supported by gales.
With a flick of his hand, Zhao Xing dispersed the gale.
The boulder began to fall, descending just 20 meters before Zhao Xing's focus sharpened. He pointed a finger at the stone.
"Shatter!"
"Buzz—"
The shadowy vortex beneath him expanded instantaneously. The massive boulder, now 2,980 meters above the ground, shattered into fine dust.
Satisfied with the results, Zhao Xing conducted multiple tests, even tossing a fifth-rank armor into the air.
The armor, a rare supply drop from one of the resupply crates, was more than just food—it was valuable equipment.
Yet, even at 3,000 meters, the fifth-rank armor was reduced to powder.
"At 3,000 meters, the effect remains constant. It only begins to weaken beyond 4,000 meters," Zhao Xing mused.
The two transformations he had mastered had far surpassed the limits of high-level techniques. In particular, Boundless Whirlpool had reached a third of the power of a first-transformation top-tier technique.
While the destructive force was impressive, what truly stood out was the spell's consistency in power up to 4,000 meters. This feature alone set it apart from ordinary high-level techniques.
Normal Boundless Earth Palace techniques weakened as their range extended vertically.
In contrast, Boundless Whirlpool maintained its strength, embodying a principle akin to universal law.
If high-level techniques borrowed the power of the heavens and earth by following natural rules, top-tier techniques began to defy those very rules. For instance, top-tier fire techniques could burn even underwater.
"Retrieve!" Zhao Xing commanded, retracting the Pure Essence Projection after completing his tests.
"This technique still relies on an external factor—the Houtu Sand in the Pure Essence Soil. If I delve further into the Houtu's Return to Origin section of the Three Great Secret Texts, its power might increase even further."
"However, as it stands, it's still one step removed. I need to deploy the Pure Essence Projection first, which makes it less effective than a true top-tier technique."
"Woof! Woof!" Xiaotian rushed over, signaling that a toxic mist was approaching from behind.
At most, they had another hour before it reached them.
"Already the fiftieth day," Zhao Xing noted, glancing at the Earth Mirror in his hand.
Name: Zhao Xing
Arena: Grand Arena (Fiftieth Day)
Points: 689,500
Rank: 9,421
"Even by staying low, I've made it into the top ten thousand."
Zhao Xing smirked slightly.
Thanks to survival points—10,000 earned daily—he had accumulated 500,000 from survival alone. Adding the points he gained from eliminating others and those redistributed from participants who had starved to death, his total points comfortably secured his current rank.
Simply lying low had brought him into the top ten thousand.
"With only ten days left, it's time to start eliminating others actively."
"Aotian, Xiaotian, Huantian, it's time for you three to stretch your legs."
The three battle beasts had only participated in two fights over the fifty days, spending the rest of their time eating, drinking, sleeping, and resting.
Long Aotian, in particular, had grown noticeably rounder from all the eating!
"Let's go!"
Zhao Xing activated his full strength, leading his three battle beasts as they flew directly toward the central region.
He made no effort to conceal his movements, flying openly in the sky.
Before long, he entered the central zone known as the Dragon City Ruins. The moment he arrived, sixteen figures emerged from a collapsed building nearby.
"Hmm? On the fiftieth day, there's still such a weak fifth-rank Beast Tamer alive?" one voice mocked.
"Hmph! What a fool, daring to fly so openly in the sky," another sneered.
"Darkflame Tiger, knock them down for me!" a man shouted.
The sixteen figures consisted of five humans and eleven battle beasts. As soon as the beasts heard their masters' commands, they charged out from the ruins, immediately launching an attack on Zhao Xing.
"Four of them," Zhao Xing murmured, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Their killing intent is strong—they've clearly been through many battles. Their points must be far higher than mine."
"Attack!" shouted the four Beast Tamers in unison. To them, someone like Zhao Xing, a seemingly weak fifth-rank, was the perfect target for harvesting points. With only ten days left, the final stretch was the ideal time for scoring.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Two wolf-like battle beasts leaped forward, their paws stepping through the air as they turned into golden streaks, rushing at Zhao Xing.
From two other ruins, red and purple beams of energy shot toward Long Aotian (the Mountain Cat), Xiaotian (the Blue Lion Hound), and Huantian (the Spirit Illusion Goat).
Eliminating a Beast Tamer or killing all their beasts yielded the same result—complete elimination.
"Swish~" Zhao Xing sidestepped nimbly, easily dodging the lunges of the two wolf-like beasts. His mastery of high-level wind techniques, fully perfected, gave him exceptional speed and agility, making evading such attacks almost effortless.
"Zzzzz~" Long Aotian swung its claws, splitting the thunderous energy beam in two. Meanwhile, Xiaotian took the brunt of a fire-elemental spell, enduring the full impact without flinching.
As it emerged from the fiery red beam, Xiaotian had already entered its second transformation. Its entire body was now ablaze with crimson flames, and its size had doubled.
"A divine beast bloodline?" one of the Beast Tamers muttered in shock.
"Only divine beast bloodlines can so easily achieve second-phase transformations. Could it be… the Blue Lion Hound, descendant of the ancient divine beast Suanni?" The four Beast Tamers exchanged uneasy glances. "Unbelievable! That fourth-rank Bloodthirsty Firehawk used its innate secret technique, and it just shrugged it off?"
However, they soon witnessed something even more extraordinary.
After dispersing the thunder beam, Long Aotian darted into the ruins.
"Whoosh~"
It moved with astonishing speed, so fast that even afterimages were invisible. In the blink of an eye, it descended upon a massive leaning tower in the ruins.
"What the—this cat too…" Two middle-aged men beneath the ruins turned pale and attempted to flee.
"Boom—crack!"
With a swing of its claws, Long Aotian unleashed two lightning-infused slashes. The Thunder Rift Claw struck true, sending the two Beast Tamers out of the Canghai Cave-Heaven with a flash of light.
"They're trouble—run!" The remaining two humans and their beasts scrambled to escape.
"Run? Leave your points behind!" Zhao Xing said coldly, raising a hand. Beneath the fleeing Tamers, an eerie wind began to swirl.
The sudden burst of cold wind froze the two Beast Tamers in their tracks, their bodies stiffening.
"Thud~" They collapsed to the ground as a faint blue light enveloped them.
"The Yin Wind works like a charm," Zhao Xing remarked with a faint smile. Fully perfected, the Yin Wind Curse was incredibly effective against soul forces.
Many late fourth-rank Beast Tamers in the arena still had soul forces stuck at the fifth rank, as they couldn't cultivate their soul stage here and weren't allowed to bring equipment. Against the Yin Wind, they were utterly defenseless unless they had similar spells for protection.
"One touch from the Yin Wind, and they can't even issue commands. Their minds dull, and even merging with their beasts becomes impossible. Huh? Wait, one of them isn't eliminated yet?"
Zhao Xing frowned slightly. Despite the faint blue light that had appeared, one of the two Tamers was still struggling to get up.
The man's battle beast had disappeared, replaced by a pair of horns sprouting from his head and thick skin that resembled armor enveloping his body.
"A Pure Essence Fusion with a Lingxi Beast?" Zhao Xing observed keenly.
The young man Zhao Xing was watching trembled all over. Though the Lingxi Beast had a powerful soul force, its merged form had still suffered significant damage from the Yin Wind. Seeing Zhao Xing's beasts eliminate the others so effortlessly had left the young man terrified.
"A Suanni-bloodline Blue Lion Hound, a Mountain Cat of unparalleled agility, and even a Spirit Illusion Goat with a divine beast bloodline," he muttered to himself. "And this guy… he even knows a high-level Yin Wind Curse? This is bad—I've run into someone who's been hiding their strength. What do I do?"
In the blink of an eye, the man made his decision. "Brother," he called out, forcing a smile. "I underestimated your strength."
"However, I only have survival points. Eliminating me won't get you much."
"If you spare me, I can tell you who's carrying high points!" he offered hastily.
Zhao Xing's expression remained calm. "Do I need you to tell me? The leaderboard is clear enough."
"It's not the same," the young man argued, recovering his composure while stabilizing his soul force. "The leaderboard only shows names. You don't know who's who, nor where they are."
"I, on the other hand, can give you precise information. For example, the Beast Tamer Yadaro from Myriad Beasts Island has 2.25 million points!"
"He's been active in the eastern part of the Dragon City Ruins, controlling a strategic location."
With the toxic mist shrinking the arena's playable area, some participants had predicted the center zone in advance and fortified their positions with equipment or formations, greatly increasing their chances of survival.
"Besides Yadaro, in the southwestern part of the ruins, there's also…"
"Speak," Zhao Xing interrupted. "Why did you stop?"
"You have to promise to spare me first," the young man insisted. "I'll tell you everything I know—uh!"
His sentence was cut short as his heart seized. His eyes bulged, and his body reverted to its unmerged state, covered in scales. He was consumed by a blue light and vanished.
"Wasting time." Zhao Xing withdrew his hand.
With his mastery of the Heavenly Eye technique and the Five-Finger Fate Technique, he could easily analyze his own fortune and identify the strongest threats. He didn't need anyone else to point out who was powerful.
"Lying to my face, huh?" Zhao Xing glanced at his Earth Mirror.
The latest notification revealed that eliminating the man had earned him 350,000 points!
In other words, the man had lied.
"Trying to play tricks on me," Zhao Xing sneered, pocketing the fallen Yuan Crystals.
Name: Zhao Xing
Arena: Grand Arena (Day 50)
Points: 1.07 million
Rank: 7,264
"In one move, my rank rose by over two thousand places."
"It's easy to rack up points now," Zhao Xing murmured, licking his lips. "Let's go fishing."
With his three battle beasts, Zhao Xing roamed the outskirts of the Dragon City Ruins.
At fifth rank, he and his beasts appeared to be easy targets.
But whenever someone took the bait, Zhao Xing would swiftly eliminate them.
Through relentless ambushes and counterattacks, Zhao Xing eliminated over 100 participants within five days, his points skyrocketing.
Beyond the boundaries of the Canghai Cave-Heaven.
Onboard the Wind Breath Cloud Ship.
"Ho, Old Heng, look at this. Zhao Xing's ranking is climbing at an incredible pace," Geng Shouchang exclaimed, handing the Earth Mirror to Hengyuan. "In just five days, he's broken into the top 3,000."
"Before entering the Dragon City Ruins, he was hovering around the ten-thousand mark."
"This Zhao Xing is truly impressive," Hengyuan remarked with a smile. "His combat experience is rich, and he handles complex battle scenarios with remarkable finesse."
"Indeed. I've been watching him closely these past few days." Geng Shouchang gestured toward the Earth Mirror. "Take yesterday's match, for example. This kid faced off against a formidable opponent, Jiang Huo."
"Using the Heavenly Eye technique, he first observed that Jiang Huo's battle beasts were weak against cold. He immediately activated the Start of Winter Seasonal Qi Command and followed it up with a high-level Ice Sealing Technique. It forced Jiang Huo, a fire-element Beast Tamer, to abandon the terrain he had carefully set up."
"Impressive." Hengyuan nodded in approval. "That was the only instance in the past five days when he used fusion. Once he merged with the Blue Lion Hound, his enhanced defense, speed, and spell power were enough to overpower Jiang Huo and his three fire-element battle beasts. From the outcome, it's clear his combat prowess far exceeded his opponent's."
"Yet, he remained cautious," Geng Shouchang continued. "After fusing with Xiaotian, his defensive and offensive abilities were significantly amplified. Using Ice Sealing and the Severe Cold Seasonal Qi Command, he weakened Jiang Huo's beasts. Then, the Yin Wind Curse disrupted Jiang Huo's soul, leaving him unable to fully utilize his strength."
"When Jiang Huo rushed out of his formation, he couldn't see anyone because Zhao Xing had hidden himself using the Mist Concealment Technique."
"Jiang Huo had no idea which direction to flee."
"In the end, Zhao Xing used the Seasonal Qi Transformation Technique to drain Jiang Huo's strength, eliminating him outright."
"Jiang Huo was a mid-fourth-rank Beast Tamer and ranked in the top 1,000, yet he still lost to this kid."
"He lost fair and square," Hengyuan commented with a faint smile. "What Jiang Huo faced wasn't just a Beast Tamer, but a Shennong genius skilled in numerous advanced Heavenly Timing techniques!"
"Each of Zhao Xing's techniques has reached the level of complete mastery. Jiang Huo likely never anticipated such a battlefield scenario."
Jiang Huo had always focused his training on facing other Beast Tamers.
Who would ever consider a Shennong as a potential adversary?
It simply didn't cross his mind.
Unfortunately for him, he encountered the anomaly that is Zhao Xing—a cross-discipline genius competing in the Beast Taming domain.
As a result, Jiang Huo, despite having the strength to survive until the end, met his defeat in the most unexpected manner.
"Not surprising, considering he's a student of Liu Tianning," Hengyuan praised.
"What does Liu Tianning have to do with this?" Geng Shouchang countered. "Zhao Xing didn't even use the Myriad Law Straw Puppet. All his techniques were from our Heaven School. He's clearly a pure talent of the Heaven School!"
"Old Geng, what are you implying?" Hengyuan, sharp as ever, immediately picked up on the undertones of Geng Shouchang's words.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
After glancing around to ensure Simayi Yunhai wasn't nearby, Geng Shouchang lowered his voice.
"Meng Kun and Gu Changqing have been plotting to poach Liu Tianning's student."
"What? Is that true?" Hengyuan's astonishment was evident. "Those two must be out of their minds! Aren't they afraid Liu Tianning will challenge them to a Dao Struggle?"
In the upper echelons of the Shennong community, Liu Tianning's reputation was formidable, especially in recent years.
The Shangluo Academy had officially designated Liu Tianning as a candidate for the next generation of leaders, actively promoting his name.
But beyond the hype, Liu Tianning's actual strength was undeniable.
A few years ago, he had thoroughly defeated Pang Xianyun, reducing him to nothing but a shadow of his former self. In Daoyuan Continent's Shennong circles, there wasn't a single practitioner unfamiliar with Liu Tianning's Myriad Law Techniques.
As a third-rank Shennong himself, Hengyuan had witnessed that battle.
It was awe-inspiring. Pang Xianyun had unleashed every spell in his arsenal, yet not a single one managed to faze Liu Tianning's seven incarnations.
Then, with one move, Liu Tianning ended the fight.
"You likely don't understand Liu Tianning's temperament," Hengyuan said. "Back in the day, for the sake of his childhood sweetheart, he caused rivers of blood to flow."
"People's natures don't change. A hundred years ago, it took the intervention of King Luohou and several other rulers to quell the chaos he caused. And now, you want to poach his student? Old Geng, I think this idea is a disaster waiting to happen."
Geng Shouchang chuckled. "Old Heng, you're misunderstanding me. Recruiting talent isn't 'poaching.'"
"Besides, Liu Tianning hasn't objected to anything."
"What do you mean?"
"Liu Tianning has stated that he won't interfere with Zhao Xing's career choices."
Hengyuan nodded thoughtfully. "He's the Dual Prefecture Transfer Officer and a monitor of the military realm. I've also heard he holds a position in the Shangyu Division. With such extensive authority in Pinghai Prefecture, his stance makes sense."
Geng Shouchang added, "He also mentioned that he wouldn't dictate his student's decisions. As long as Zhao Xing agrees, there's a chance he could join our Xuantian Academy."
"After all, where one serves as an official doesn't really matter."
Hengyuan smiled. "Liu Tianning is quite generous. Then again, he was like this even in his youth."
Geng Shouchang nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
"Just look at Zhao Xing's mastery of Heavenly Timing techniques. He's even perfected the Seasonal Qi Command. It's clear he's destined for the path of Heavenly Timing mastery!"
"Sending Zhao Xing to Shangluo Academy to follow the Self School's path would be a colossal waste of his potential."
"Even if he reaches the first rank in his old age, what's the point?"
Despite his criticisms, Geng Shouchang acknowledged the Self School's combat prowess. His comments stemmed from Zhao Xing's demonstrated talent in the Heavenly Timing domain.
Without the Myriad Law Straw Puppet, the Heaven School's combat techniques far outshined those of the Self School.
The problem lay in the time required for the Self School's techniques to reach fruition.
For Zhao Xing, who was still young, dedicating himself to the Self School's slow cultivation path seemed wasteful.
"Within the same time frame, if Zhao Xing focuses on Heavenly Timing techniques, he could reach third rank, perhaps even second rank, within a hundred years. But if he follows the Self School, it might take him four or five centuries to achieve the same."
"A talent like this being left to struggle at Shangluo Academy would be an absolute tragedy."
Hengyuan chuckled. "You're right; it's truly a shame for someone so gifted."
He understood Geng Shouchang's urgency. The older man had only a century or so left to live. Moreover, they shared a hometown connection—both hailed from adjacent counties in the same prefecture.
"So, you're proposing to recruit Zhao Xing?"
"Precisely," Geng Shouchang affirmed. "His proficiency in Heavenly Timing techniques would make him a pillar of the Heaven School if he joins Xuantian Academy."
"The only concern is Brother Yunhai's potential opposition…" Hengyuan hesitated. Simayi Yunhai held seniority and greater influence, making his objection a significant hurdle.
"I'll handle persuading him."
The Grand Arena, Day Fifty-Eight
The poisonous mist had receded to the outskirts of the Dragon City Ruins.
"Roar!"
"Screech!"
"Boom! Bang!"
The Dragon City Ruins were now more crowded than ever.
Roars of beasts and the clash of spells echoed throughout the ruins.
Every moment, someone was being eliminated.
"The intensity of the battles has escalated. Now, it truly feels like the Grand Arena. Without real skill, passing this stage is almost impossible," Zhao Xing thought.
Blue flashes of light, signifying eliminations, appeared frequently across the ruins.
Even Zhao Xing dared not act rashly.
In such fierce competition, a single mistake could lead to his own elimination.
"On the fiftieth day, I started fighting. Over the next five days, I fought nearly a hundred matches before encountering an opponent worthy of my full power—Jiang Huo," Zhao Xing mused.
"But in the past three days, I've only participated in twenty-three battles, and I had to use the Pure Essence Fusion fifteen times to ensure victory. Without it, I might have been eliminated myself."
The Pure Essence Fusion greatly enhanced speed, defense, evasion, stamina, and soul resilience.
Each fusion with a different beast produced unique effects.
Fusion with the Spirit Illusion Goat boosted soul resilience, strengthened resistance to illusions, and granted access to its innate abilities: Soul Inversion, Maze of Enchanted Eyes, and Five Elements Insight Blockage.
Fusion with the Blue Lion Hound increased defense, stamina, and resistance to fire-element spells while amplifying fire magic. It also unlocked talents like Flame of Destruction and Power of the Suanni.
Fusion with the Mountain Cat, however, offered the most comprehensive boost—enhancing defense, stamina, speed, strength, and vitality. It lacked only a direct boost to the soul.
Due to the Mountain Cat's consumption of numerous rare spiritual herbs, its fusion effects far surpassed those of the Blue Lion Hound.
Its speed and evasion capabilities were particularly exceptional. When fused, using the cat's innate technique, Wind and Thunder Escape, Zhao Xing's speed was unrivaled among fourth-rank combatants.
Over these three days, Zhao Xing won fifteen of his matches through direct elimination. In the other eight, his reputation alone was enough to deter his opponents into retreat.
This was partly due to Zhao Xing's unconventional nature.
He appeared to be a Beast Tamer but was, in reality, a Shennong—and one adept at all three major schools of the craft.
At this moment, Zhao Xing occupied a crumbling palace in the eastern part of the Dragon City Ruins.
Overhead, a dark red cloud floated, covering an area five miles in diameter.
Beneath the palace lay an endless subterranean network, allowing Zhao Xing to seamlessly switch between Boundless Starlight and Boundless Whirlpool formations.
Surrounding him were fifty Myriad Straw Puppet manifestations, some in plain sight, others concealed.
In the skies above, twenty-four Seasonal Qi Commands floated, ready to shift the environment into his favor at a moment's notice.
Encircling the ruined palace was an intricate Formless Killing Array, left behind by Yadaro, whom Zhao Xing had defeated the previous night.
"As of now, the only trump card I haven't used is my Plant-Based Soldiers. But there's no need to deploy them," Zhao Xing thought.
His position was advantageous, and he was on the defensive. Unless everyone targeted him simultaneously, there was no scenario where he would need to rely on Plant-Based Soldiers.
Suddenly, three streaks of light shot through the sky.
A black streak chased after two ahead—one red and one purple.
The chase entered Zhao Xing's territory.
As one pursued and the others fled, the disturbance clearly stemmed from a battle spilling over into his domain.
Zhao Xing initially raised his hand, ready to intercept the situation, but paused.
"Hm? Isn't that Wang Zhaozhao and Lin Ziyue, two fourth-rank Beast Tamers under the Old Witch?"
"They're being hunted?"
"A Soul Beast Controller? The pursuer is ranked three hundred and ninety-four—Fei She?"
Zhao Xing's gaze fixed on the black streak.
On the surface, it appeared that Fei She was alone, without any battle beasts in tow. In truth, however, an array of spectral beasts surrounded him. Fei She's beasts were all in spiritual form!
Zhao Xing wasn't the only unconventional fighter. Fei She was a rare Soul Beast Controller, akin to a hybrid of a Beast Tamer and a priest.
"The soul essence of humans is relatively pure, but that of beasts is chaotic and volatile. Controlling beast souls is no small feat. This man's abilities are extraordinary," Zhao Xing analyzed.
Fei She had cleverly exploited the competition's loopholes. Though he technically controlled only one physical battle beast, he wielded dozens of beast souls.
This was because Fei She leaned more heavily toward priestly practices than traditional Beast Taming techniques.
Lin Ziyue and Wang Zhaozhao were both entangled by serpent-shaped beast souls, their auras growing increasingly faint.
"Old Witch's people or not, I can't stand by and do nothing," Zhao Xing thought. Besides, Fei She likely wouldn't let him go unscathed either.
With this reasoning, Zhao Xing made his move.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Over a dozen Myriad Straw Puppet manifestations materialized as Zhao Xing unleashed the Yin Wind Curse, precisely targeting the serpent souls entwined around Wang Zhaozhao and Lin Ziyue.
Whoosh!
Sensing the disturbance, Fei She slowed his advance.
Meanwhile, Lin Ziyue and Wang Zhaozhao descended to the ground.
"Zhao Xing?" Lin Ziyue looked on in disbelief. A fifth-rank cultivator like Zhao Xing had saved them.
Wang Zhaozhao, however, recognized the name from the rankings—Zhao Xing had already risen to six hundred seventy-fifth place.
Over the past few days, Zhao Xing had made quite a name for himself within the Dragon City Ruins. Yet, neither woman could reconcile his current appearance with the reputation he had built.
"Fei She!" Zhao Xing ignored the women, glaring coldly at the green-serpent-helmeted man ahead. "Stop. Don't make me repeat myself."
Ranked three hundred and ninety-four, Fei She was undoubtedly powerful, a genuine elite.
But this was Zhao Xing's territory. If Fei She dared to enter, he wouldn't leave unscathed.
"Hm?" Fei She stopped, his eerie gaze piercing through the serpent-shaped visor.
"A Shennong technique… You must be Zhao Xing. I've heard of you," Fei She rasped. "Defeating Yadaro was impressive."
"However, I've been pursuing these two for a while. Since they've entered your domain, let's split the points evenly. Give me one, and I'll leave."
Wang Zhaozhao and Lin Ziyue turned pale.
Zhao Xing's expression hardened. "Did I not make myself clear? Leave. Now."
Giving up one of the two? Setting aside the fact that they were under the Old Witch's command and deserved his assistance, Zhao Xing would never back down.
If he gave up one, Fei She would demand the second and might even target Zhao Xing himself.
"You're too arrogant, Zhao Xing. Don't think your recent fame makes you untouchable!" Fei She snarled. "Take one step, and we'll see who dies first."
All of Zhao Xing's Myriad Straw Puppet manifestations raised their hands in unison.
Fei She hesitated.
Charging into Zhao Xing's territory offered no guarantee of victory. The layered techniques—Boundless Starlight, Boundless Whirlpool, and Yadaro's leftover array—were manageable, but the Myriad Straw Puppets posed a genuine threat.
He couldn't distinguish Zhao Xing's true body among the nine clones, each of which radiated identical soul strength.
Both Zhao Xing and Fei She were formidable individuals. If neither could decisively eliminate the other, the battle would be meaningless.
"I'd rather spend my time eliminating weaker opponents," Fei She finally decided, retreating with a cold sneer.
"Hmph. I'll remember you, Zhao Xing. In the later rounds, I'll keep an eye on you!" With a final glare, Fei She transformed into a streak of light and vanished.
"Phew…" Wang Zhaozhao and Lin Ziyue exhaled deeply.
But then, they realized something strange.
Zhao Xing had only exchanged a few words, yet Fei She abandoned his pursuit?
The women had experienced Fei She's strength firsthand, barely surviving against him. What kind of reputation had Zhao Xing built to make someone like Fei She so cautious?
"Are you two okay?" Zhao Xing asked, glancing at the women. Both were still in their fused states—Lin Ziyue clad in Elephant King Armor and Wang Zhaozhao in Divine Tiger Armor.
But the armors were damaged and bleeding.
Because their armors were physical manifestations of their beasts, the damage reflected the beasts' injuries.
"I'm seriously hurt," Lin Ziyue panted. No sooner had she spoken than her fusion state broke, and her towering form collapsed, revealing a severely wounded Flying Sky Elephant at her side.
Wang Zhaozhao fared even worse, fainting as her fusion ended, leaving her and a bloodied purple tiger lying on the ground.
Zhao Xing approached, inspecting them briefly. "In that case, I'll send you off."
"??" Lin Ziyue was stunned. She thought Zhao Xing had asked about their condition to offer help. Instead, he was saying this?
"Wait, can't you just heal us—"
Before Lin Ziyue could finish, Zhao Xing pointed a finger. Lightning coursed through her, making her hair stand on end. Moments later, she and Wang Zhaozhao were enveloped in blue light.
As she was expelled from the Dragon City Ruins, Lin Ziyue's final thought was: So much pain… What kind of person is he?!