Beast Arena, Arena Eight
The crowd's hearts leapt as they watched the Blazing Flame Birds, once majestic and wreathed in flames, reduced to tattered rags, mercilessly pounded by Lan An and his Earth Bear. None could fathom how such ferocious beasts were so brutally ravaged by a lone youth.
Lan An savored the violence, but cruelty wasn't his aim. Yet, recalling how their kin nearly killed his Bai Su Mei, rage flared. These birds would pay for their kind's sins.
Blazing Flame Birds, known for their ferocity and fiery tempers, were driven mad by Lan An's torment. Unable to break free, their bloodshot eyes gleamed with desperate resolve—to die and take him with them.
Screech!
Two piercing cries, laden with venom and despair, echoed. The birds' bodies swelled like balloons, the arena's air scorching.
"Danger—they're self-detonating!" Jin'er's voice blared in Lan An's mind.
His silver eye narrowed. Self-detonation, igniting all their spiritual energy, unleashed devastating power, obliterating the user to drag their foe to death. The birds' hatred for Lan An was palpable, their suicidal intent to bury him unyielding.
Spectators, versed in such tactics, murmured gravely. The arena's formations protected them, fueling lively debates:
"Blazing Flame Birds live up to their savage name."
"Even a Body Cultivator will suffer."
"No doubt—self-detonation could cripple him."
Li Zhu Lan paled behind her veil, an inexplicable worry gnawing at her. "What's wrong with me? Why do I care for him?" she whispered, rationalizing, "It's just… I don't want a human dying before my eyes. That's all." Her heart churned, unconvinced.
"Hahaha! Perfect—maimed and dying! Prepare to seize him!" Muo Jiao cackled, envisioning Lan An's peerless movement art as his own. He signaled his men.
"Yes, sir!" Two black-robed enforcers bowed, eyeing Lan An.
Events unfolded in a flash. The birds' detonation loomed.
Too late to flee, Lan An hurled their battered bodies down, chanting rapidly. His right foot stomped, anchoring him as his body spun. His hands wove palm seals, striking all directions.
"Earth-Grade Defensive Skill: Eight Trigrams Heavenly Reversal Palm!"
BOOM!
The birds exploded, a deafening blast shaking Ling Wu City. A mushroom cloud of flame engulfed the arena, as if to devour the heavens.
With his Strange Flame, Lan An could shrug off mere fire, even consume it. But the birds' life-fueled detonation, compressing their entire spiritual energy, rivaled a Late-Stage Nascent Soul's full strike. He dared not underestimate it, deploying his defensive art.
Outside, smoke and dust cloaked the arena. Many shook their heads, lamenting a genius's fall.
Han and Yan Clan prodigies smirked smugly.
Li Zhu Lan's eyes reddened, her heart aching inexplicably.
A Spirit Transformation expert would've seen Lan An spinning like lightning within the inferno. His arms unleashed mystic palm seals, forming a rotating Eight Trigrams energy shield around him, deflecting most of the blast's fire and force.
Yet, small gaps in the shield—due to Lan An's incomplete mastery—let slivers of flame through, singeing his black robes.
As the explosion's fury faded, the crowd's eyes bulged, fixed on the figure emerging.
The arena floor was a deep crater, scorched by the Third-Tier beasts' cataclysmic self-detonation. Yet, at its center, a perfect circular mound stood defiant. Atop it, a youth in tattered black robes, his silver eye eerie, his face calm, and a faint smirk radiated magnetic charm.
Gulp.
Swallowing sounds rippled. Some rubbed their eyes; others pinched themselves, doubting reality.
Ignoring their stares, Lan An inspected his robes, frowning. "I need to master Eight Trigrams Heavenly Reversal Palm," he thought. Its 360-degree defense, when perfected, would've left no gaps for flames to ruin his attire.
"My heavens, is he human?"
"Holy hell!"
"How'd he do it?"
"Two same-tier beasts self-detonated, and not a hair on him burned!"
"Damn, that's unreal!"
The crowd erupted, overwhelmed. This youth was a freak of nature.
"Hmph, worrying for nothing," Li Zhu Lan huffed, but her sparkling eyes betrayed her joy.
Seeing Lan An's dominance, Li Lin steeled his resolve for his bold plan.
"Unless we're mortal enemies, we can't offend him," Yan Yang thought gravely.
"Who is he?" Han Ming and Han Lie muttered, baffled.
"It's some incredible defensive treasure!" Muo Jiao's eyes burned with greed, convinced Lan An survived via a supreme artifact.
Amid their schemes, the System chimed in Lan An's ear:
Keng, Mission [Unyielding Valor] completed. Reward: One designated Earth-Grade Skill summon.
Nodding, Lan An preempted the announcer. "I'm done. No more challenges."
A discordant voice, laced with spiritual energy, interrupted: "Brother Xiao Nan, your talent's heaven-defying! I'd love to see you fight on!"
Lan An's brow furrowed, spotting the white-haired Muo Jiao, his eager facade failing to mask a glint of greed, caught by the White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye.
"It's Ling Wu City's Young Lord!"
"Right, Muo Heng's son, Muo Jiao!"
The crowd buzzed, recognizing the city lord's heir.
"Indeed, I'd also love to see you continue!" Han Ming laughed, backing Muo Jiao, clearly aiming to trouble Lan An.
Lan An eyed them—slightly older, decent for their age. Muo Jiao, Late-Stage Golden Core; Han Ming, Mid-Stage. He asked coolly, "Are we close?"
"You—" Both choked, stunned. Their status drew fawning crowds, yet this youth dismissed them. Rage simmered.
"Heehee!" Li Zhu Lan giggled behind her veil, amused by their flustered faces.
"After two grueling battles, I'm exhausted. Another challenge is beyond me," Lan An sighed dramatically.
"Pfft!" The crowd scoffed inwardly. Exhausted? You're brimming with vigor! But it was his choice, and they couldn't argue.
"Very well, Young Master Xiao Nan ends his challenge. Please proceed to the hall to claim your spirit stones per the agreement. Winners may collect at the counters," the announcer declared.
Muo Jiao seethed but held his tongue. His father, Muo Heng, set the arena's rules, and even he dared not break them.
Lan An nodded, impressed by the arena's fairness, and headed to the hall.
As his poised figure vanished, the crowd sighed. His name would soon echo across Ling Wu City, a prodigy worshipped by many. Losers gnashed their teeth, while winners rushed to claim their stones.
Beast Arena Hall
"Congratulations, Young Master, for shaking the heavens! I'm in awe," Sister Thirteen purred, swaying closer, her tongue flicking her lips, her eyes stealing glances downward.
"Luck, nothing more," Lan An said lightly.
"Per our agreement, you receive 70% of all bets—92,000 Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to 920 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," she said, handing over a pouch with a smile. The arena had profited handsomely.
"No issue," Lan An accepted the pouch, storing it without checking.
"Come back soon, Young Master. Stronger beasts await your conquest," Sister Thirteen teased, leaning close to whisper, "And I await yours."
Lan An chuckled, unmoved, and left. Her allure was undeniable, but his mind raced to Jun Lin Inn to tally his gains and summon his new skill. Women could wait.
Moments after, Li Lin and Li Zhu Lan arrived, scanning for Lan An.
"Cousin, why seek him?" Li Zhu Lan asked, her eyes searching despite her feigned innocence.
"To befriend him, of course. Such a figure would be a stellar ally," Li Lin said nobly, inwardly resolving to let go of his crush on her.
He knew Li Zhu Lan's beauty, hidden by her veil, was peerless. Lan An's prowess suggested a mighty backer. Befriending him could yield vast benefits. Noticing her budding feelings, Li Lin saw a chance to play matchmaker, reaping favor—perhaps even becoming Lan An's brother-in-law.
With his favor, what woman couldn't I have? he mused smugly, turning to Li Zhu Lan. "No luck this time, but we'll stay in Ling Wu City. We'll meet him again."
Li Zhu Lan bit her lip, her heart racing at the thought of seeing that enigmatic youth. Unfamiliar with the feeling, she nodded shyly.
Jun Lin Inn
"Young Master, we won 500 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones!" Chen Jiang trembled with excitement, clutching the pouch.
"Not bad. Total haul from the Beast Arena: 1420 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones," Lan An marveled. Gambling with his life proved far more lucrative than selling the Ice Slaughter Sword for 80 Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones.
"Your prowess made it possible. Others would've lost their lives," Chen Jiang flattered.
"Enough flattery. You did well. At the auction, name what you want," Lan An said, smirking as he stored the stones.
Chen Jiang grinned, knowing his low cultivation made holding such wealth dangerous. He nodded gratefully.
Near Jun Lin Inn's entrance, a middle-aged man, Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, approached calmly, as if waiting. "My young master wishes to meet you, little brother. You'd best show respect," he said, voice low.
"Your young master? Who?" Lan An frowned, his silver eye piercing.
The man flinched but sneered. "Come with me and find out. Few in Ling Wu City dare disrespect my master."
"Who's dog dares threaten me?" Lan An's killing intent flared. A Mid-Stage Nascent Soul was beneath his notice.
"Refuse, and I'll act!" The man's eyes glinted ferociously, his aura erupting, scattering nearby cultivators.
Lan An's intent surged, the man's aura a mere breeze. As he readied to strike, a voice intervened.
"Which mutt blocks my inn's door?" A woman's calm tone, laced with authority, echoed from Jun Lin Inn, enveloping the man.
AAAAAAA!
A blood-curdling scream shook the street. Before horrified onlookers, the Nascent Soul cultivator's limbs exploded, blood and flesh splattering. He collapsed, spewing blood, writhing in agony.
"Dogs should know their place. Crawl back to your master," the woman's voice said coolly, as if swatting a fly, chilling the crowd.