The Master of Beasts

"Let's hope so," Miaomiao said with a gentle smile.

Walking on the street, Chen Jiuge was still thinking about the Golden Lion that had unexpectedly sought trouble with him. So this is the trouble that comes with a 'fate connection.' It doesn't seem too bad, though. In fact, it's perfect, as my main goal is to temper my physical body.

In that case, perhaps forging this fate connection is actually a good idea.

But what if I go through with it and then don't accept her in the end? What would happen then? That sounds rather interesting too.

After much wandering, Chen Jiuge still ended up back at the Meow Meow Inn. He couldn't help it. The other inns didn't have the visually pleasing Cat Sisters, and Chen Jiuge didn't want to inconvenience himself.

After successfully sending Chen Jiuge away, Zhao Hongyan was humming a little tune while wiping the dining tables in the hall. When she turned her head, she saw Chen Jiuge waving awkwardly.

"Ah, Brother Chen, why have you come back?" Zhao Hongyan asked, barely maintaining her smile. Inwardly, she was screaming, Why is he back again?!

"I think the Spiritual Beasts in those other inns are too ugly. You sisters are much more pleasing to the eye," Chen Jiuge complimented.

"Thank you."

Zhao Hongyan was shaken. What should I do? What should I do? He hasn't taken a liking to us sisters, has he? Hiss... The Human Clan is truly despicable!

Chen Jiuge, unaware of Zhao Hongyan's internal turmoil, just left some Spirit Stones and returned to his previous room.

No sooner had he arrived in his room than he received a transmission from Miaomiao.

"If you want to forge a fate connection, Brother Chen, you must participate in the city's Beast King Tournament. An invitation should arrive tomorrow; be careful."

Chapter Nineteen: Beast King Tournament

Beast King Tournament? Chen Jiuge was a bit bewildered. What does this have to do with a fate connection?

He summoned Zhao Xiaotang, who was hopping about in the hall, and after asking a few detailed questions, Chen Jiuge finally understood what this Beast King Tournament was all about.

The Beast King Tournament, as the name implied, was a competition to elect the Beast King. Its purpose was to determine which Spiritual Beast possessed the strongest physical body below the rank of Immortal. However, due to the arrival of Human Clan cultivators, and the fact that the fated partners for Spiritual Foxes were predominantly Human Clan cultivators, this had resulted in an unofficial custom.

If you, a member of the Human Clan, want to reap the benefits of a fate connection and obtain a beauty from the Fox Clan, you can.

But you must participate in the Beast King Tournament. The results don't matter, but you must participate. As for whether a Spiritual Fox might deem you too weak and refuse to form a connection, well, that's not their concern.

Interesting. That's exactly to my liking, Chen Jiuge thought, a slight smile on his face.

「The next day.」

The invitation to the Beast King Tournament indeed arrived.

The invitation was delivered by two sturdy men who, judging by their external features, appeared to be two boar Spiritual Beasts. The two beasts merely glanced at Chen Jiuge with a bit of pity before leaving the invitation and departing.

Zhao Xiaotang looked at the gold-foil invitation with a shocked expression. "With your small frame, won't you be blown apart by a single punch?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao Hongyan snapped, smacking Zhao Xiaotang's head.

If you keep talking like that and this human unleashes his brutish nature, we sisters are done for! Still, can this human really survive the first round?

"Ultimately, it's your fault. Weren't you the ones who told me to go to the Fox Fate Pavilion?"

"And now, look, I have to participate in this Beast King Tournament," Chen Jiuge said, feigning blame.

"Ah, this..." Zhao Hongyan said, somewhat embarrassed. She had only told him to go to the Fox Fate Pavilion to see the fox beauties, hoping he'd take a liking to one and not return.

"Wait, a Spiritual Fox wants to forge a fate connection with you?" Zhao Hongyan said incredulously.

"It seems so," Chen Jiuge said, grinning.

"Hiss..." Zhao Hongyan drew a sharp breath, seemingly understanding something.

Chen Jiuge's first match in the Beast King Tournament was half a month away, so it was time to scout the opposition.

"I want to go too! I want to go too!"

With Zhao Xiaotang, the little black cat, in tow, Chen Jiuge arrived at the liveliest place in Beast City—the Beast King Arena.

This is the Beast King Tournament? Chen Jiuge thought. I must be going crazy, or maybe these Spiritual Beasts are.

A huge crowd was gathered around an arena, shouting madly and waving what appeared to be betting slips. Many Spiritual Beasts, as they shouted, reverted to their original forms, shoving aside nearby spectators and then starting to brawl with each other.

Chen Jiuge could accept all of this.

But could someone tell him why there was a massive crystal screen above the arena broadcasting the battles in real-time? And the most preposterous thing of all—there was even a commentator beast?!

"WAH! WAH! WAH! The Black Bear contestant has completely flattened his opponent with a butt-slam, winning this bout!" the rabbit-like commentator shrieked, their commentary high-pitched and absurd.

"That's right. There was no big screen or commentator here in the past. You couldn't see much from the periphery," Zhao Xiaotang said, looking intently at the big screen. "It wasn't until the Demon Clan gifted us a small world a while ago that we got these convenient things."

Chen Jiuge took a deep breath. Not strange, not strange at all. This is a super-large world. Da Bai even wears sunglasses; what's so surprising about any of this?

"Next up is the contestant who, in just one day, successfully KO'd several powerful opponents—Super Idol!"

Following the commentator's shout, a five or six-year-old boy appeared in the arena. He wore sunglasses, a large gold chain, and swaggered arrogantly towards his opponent, a huge lizard.

Chen Jiuge watched with a deadpan expression as Da Bai, on the screen, provocatively beckoned to the giant lizard with a finger, then ended the fight with an absurd over-the-shoulder throw.

"Our Super Idol has once again cleanly and decisively taken down his opponent with a single move! Let's give him a cheer!"