The Master of Beasts

Chen Jiuge had never seen a Phoenix, only the Vermilion Bird, which was said to be related to Phoenixes, so he was quite curious about Feng Shanyang.

Before Feng Shanyang appeared before him, Chen Jiuge had always thought that a Phoenix would be noble, proud, beautiful, and even aloof. However, the person in front of him shattered his wonderful illusions about Phoenixes.

With fried chicken in one hand and a wine gourd in the other, Feng Shanyang cursed, "Old fool, is that the only trick you know?"

"Hey, kid from the Human Clan across there, just give up. I'm not in a good mood right now. If I accidentally hit too hard, I can't guarantee your safety."

Watching the arrogant Feng Shanyang, Chen Jiuge laughed. "I'd really like to see what makes the Phoenix one of the strongest Divine Beasts."

Feng Shanyang's expression instantly turned serious. He took a vicious bite of his fried chicken and said, "Kid, don't come crying to your mama later."

"SWISH!"

Feng Shanyang suddenly appeared to Chen Jiuge's right, a wicked smile on his face. "First hit."

"Second hit."

"Third hit."

...

"Eighteenth hit."

He gracefully took another bite of fried chicken. Looking at the dust-covered ground, Feng Shanyang said, "Kid, your strength doesn't seem to match your tough talk."

"Indeed," Chen Jiuge's calm voice replied.

As the dust settled, Feng Shanyang watched the burns on Chen Jiuge's body rapidly healing.

"Interesting, very interesting. A Body Refining Great Mahayana Cultivator? And with unique Divine Skills too. Kid, you've actually made me serious now." Feng Shanyang tossed aside his fried chicken and stored the wine gourd in his Storage Ring.

"SCREECH!"

A piercing cry echoed as a colossal, fiery creature materialized in the arena.

"Its Phoenix form? This is its true Phoenix form! It seems we underestimated contestant Green Vine!" The big-headed frog exclaimed, his face alight with excitement as he watched the giant flame Phoenix in the center of the arena.

"Kid, use whatever moves you have. I'm not one of those dawdling beasts," Feng Shanyang declared, hovering mid-air with a proud expression.

"Alright," Chen Jiuge replied with a slight smile.

"Dharma Manifestation!"

"Green Vine Immortal Body!"

Faint green patterns began to appear on his already massive body. These were the life patterns bestowed by the perfected Green Vine Immortal Body, representing the full power of Chen Jiuge's current Body Refining Cultivation.

Two immensely powerful auras collided violently in the arena, generating fierce gusts of wind.

"Phoenix's Nine Heavens!"

"Green Light!" This was a Divine Skill Chen Jiuge had developed based on the characteristics of two Cultivation Techniques. Although it had taken form long ago, he had never used it before.

Crimson flames and a dense green light began to struggle for dominance throughout the entire arena.

After a burst of intense light, Feng Shanyang glanced at Chen Jiuge, a hint of surprise flickering across his usually nonchalant face, before he stiffly collapsed to the ground.

「」

Interesting. From the top tier, Wang Hai had clearly seen the brief exchange that had just occurred.

During the clash of their Divine Skills, Chen Jiuge's self-created skill was actually weaker than Feng Shanyang's Phoenix's Nine Heavens. He had only managed to create that outcome by stubbornly enduring the onslaught with his formidable Life Force, pushing close to Feng Shanyang, and landing a single, decisive blow.

「」

Looking at his body, more than half of which was burned through, Chen Jiuge grimaced in pain. Thankfully, the Green Vine Immortal Body was incredibly potent and was still healing him rapidly. In another fifteen minutes, he would be almost as good as new.

"What happened? He won! The Human Clan Cultivator won!!!" The big-headed frog exclaimed in disbelief.

"Heavens, the Human Clan Cultivator won! How is this possible? Feng Shanyang from the Phoenix Clan actually lost!"

The Hou, watching the spectacle from below the stage, showed a hint of introspection. Have I been too lazy? Master's current strength could probably defeat me easily now, even though I'm supposed to be one of the Ten Vicious Ones, a king among my peers.

I'm rich, I'm rich, I'm rich! At the side, Da Bai gazed at the betting slip in his hand, his expression a mixture of complex emotions. From now on, poverty would be a distant memory, and he would become a top beast in Eden Garden, a beast above other beasts!

Ao Li looked at Chen Jiuge's wretched state with concern. "Are you really alright? Master, you look like you're badly hurt."

"Take another look at him now," Da Bai said to Ao Li, a speechless expression on his face. Has this guy become a fool from playing nanny? Doesn't he know what kind of Cultivation Technique Master practices?

By the time Chen Jiuge stepped down from the platform, his injuries had already mostly healed.

After briefly reviewing the battle, Chen Jiuge realized something. If Feng Shanyang hadn't been so arrogant as to forsake his speed advantage and insist on a head-on clash, Chen Jiuge probably wouldn't have been able to do anything to him. At best, their fight would have ended in a draw; he might have even lost in terms of raw Divine Skill power.

Speed really is a problem, Chen Jiuge thought, a headache forming.

「」

The news of the Human Clan Cultivator defeating Feng Shanyang of the Phoenix Clan spread throughout the entire Beast City overnight, thanks to the gossiping Spiritual Beasts.

「Fox Fate Pavilion」

Early in the morning, Aunt Liu, her slender waist swaying, roused Miao Miao from her Cultivation. "Wonderful news, truly wonderful news!"

Seeing Aunt Liu's undisguised joy, Miao Miao was puzzled. "Aunt Liu, what's happened?"

"Do you remember that Human Clan Cultivator we selected a few days ago?" Aunt Liu asked, her face full of admiration.

"What happened to Brother Chen?"

"He won! He defeated Feng Shanyang of the Phoenix Clan!" Aunt Liu exclaimed excitedly.

They were, after all, a top-tier clan in the Desolate World! Although the Fox Clan wasn't necessarily inferior, a general gap still existed. This was especially true since the strongest among the Fox Clan was only the Qingqiu Fox lineage. The Love Spiritual Foxes, if not for their gifts of fated connection, wouldn't even be considered significant.

"Really?" Miao Miao was also surprised. Her choice of Chen Jiuge hadn't truly been based on his Cultivation level. After all, Cultivators who dared to come to Beast City always possessed a certain degree of underlying confidence, at least enough to avoid fatal mishaps in the Beast King Arena.