Chapter 191: The Beginning — A Draw

The next day, the opening match for the Beast Fighting Art championship began.

There were still twelve days left until the end of this season’s advancement tournament, but today’s battle would determine the final ranking at the top. After more than half a year of matches, Gong Yu had already fought every worthy opponent. With the end of the season approaching, no one dared challenge him anymore.

The only remaining contender was the one he had personally challenged—General Bean.

Half an hour before the match began, three people sat by the second-floor window of the Cuilin Hall in Flying Sea Pavilion, watching the bustling crowd below.

“Gong Yu will definitely win! Those modified demonic beasts are trash!”

“Gong Yu, I bet everything I own on you. Don’t let me down!”

The streets were filled with cheers for Gong Yu, the atmosphere electric. The crowd surged like a boiling pot, bubbling with excitement.

“Looks like Young Master Weng is still riding high this year. Maybe it’s because he’s taken first place three years in a row—people really trust him,” Silver Crane said with a smile, hiding his mouth behind a folding fan.

Lian Mu asked, “Do people really bet their entire fortune on a Beast Fighting match?”

It was just a competition—seemed a bit excessive.

“Plenty of people have made money doing just that in past years,” Silver Crane replied. “Gong Yu is a consistently victorious Beast Master. To many, he’s a walking gold mine.”

“I want to try betting too,” Ji Mingyue chimed in.

“Don’t waste your money,” Lian Mu said flatly.

Silver Crane chuckled. “Looks like your friends aren’t ordinary people. That young master last time threw around money like it was nothing—people at Flying Sea Pavilion are still talking about it. And this young lady has such a refined air, she must come from a powerful family too?”

Ji Mingyue knew exactly who he was referring to. What others might never earn in a lifetime, Xu Xianxing could toss away like spare change without a second thought.

If Xu Xianxing’s family had wealth, then Wen Yun’s had power, and the Baili Family had influence. Compared to them, her own family background was… rather unusual.

“We’re just a small household, nothing worth mentioning,” Ji Mingyue said. “Out in the world, I rely on my own abilities. Flaunting family background isn’t my style.”

Silver Crane smiled but said nothing more. Since he hadn’t gotten any information, he didn’t press further.

He took a sip of tea, then changed the subject. “For this match, I’m backing General Bean. I’ve placed a hefty bet on his victory. Don’t let me down, my friend.”

Lian Mu’s expression didn’t change. She showed no sign of being moved. Silver Crane’s money was his own business—whether he won or lost had nothing to do with her.

Seeing her so unmoved, Silver Crane couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you curious how many rounds I bet you’d win?”

“What kind of question is that?” Lian Mu replied.

Silver Crane paused, momentarily thrown off by her response. “You don’t know the rules? Your match with Young Master Weng is a first-tier bout. The title match is decided over three rounds—early, middle, and final. Best two out of three.”

“Oh, so we’re fighting three times,” Lian Mu said. She had thought it was just a single match.

“…”

Was General Bean’s Beast Master really this casual? Coming to compete in a high-tier Beast Fighting Art match without even knowing the rules—was she that confident she’d win no matter what?

“Young Master Weng has finally met a real opponent,” Silver Crane concluded.

In truth, it wasn’t that Lian Mu didn’t want to understand the rules—she just lacked the means and guidance. Ever since she defeated Bai Lingque, the silver-masked members of Flying Sea Pavilion had been avoiding her like the plague, disappearing the moment she showed up.

“Your Spirit Pet is no ordinary creature, but you should still be cautious,” Silver Crane advised. “Young Master Weng has a beast-controlling technique that’s quite formidable. Even if General Bean is a Spirit Beast, he might not come out unscathed.”

“From what I know of Spirit Beasts, General Bean should be of the metal-earth dual type. Unlike demonic beasts, Spirit Beasts usually belong to multiple elemental types. If Young Master Weng’s flame beast uses its ultimate move, based on General Bean’s elemental alignment…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but Lian Mu understood what he meant. She hadn’t seen Gong Yu’s ultimate move before, but she was already here—how would she know who was stronger without testing it?

“But I believe you can win,” Silver Crane added.

As for how she would win—that was another matter. Some could lose with honor, while others might win in a sorry state.

He was genuinely curious to see how General Bean would perform.

While they chatted, most of the dishes on the table had already been devoured by Green Bean.

Silver Crane was hosting today, treating them to a meal at the best restaurant in Flying Sea Pavilion. But once the dishes were served, none of the three touched their chopsticks, as if by silent agreement.

Silver Crane had hoped to build rapport with General Bean’s Beast Master, but she was cautious—she didn’t touch a single bite, and neither did her friend. In such an atmosphere, eating alone would have felt awkward, so he refrained as well. Green Bean took the chance to climb onto the table and dig in.

Silver Crane was intrigued by Green Bean. In a way, this meal hadn’t been a waste after all.

“It’s about time. We should get going.”

With just two quarters of an hour left, both Beast Masters would soon be entering the arena.

…

…

In the first-tier spectator stands of the Beast Fighting Arena—

A tall figure stood at the best viewing spot, dressed in white, half her face hidden behind a silver mask. Her eyes, deep as a still lake, were fixed on the entrance where people were coming and going.

“Is everyone here?”

“General Bean and Gong Yu have both entered the prep area,” Bai Lingque reported.

Bai Su gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable. She let out a soft “Mm” and gently rubbed the black jade ring on her index finger with her thumb.

Bai Lingque had served her for many years and could read her mood from the smallest gesture. He lowered his head and asked, “Did something unpleasant happen during your investigation in Azure Dragon East, Pavilion Master?”

“Not exactly,” Bai Su said slowly, though her gaze shifted to Bai Lingque, and her eyes grew colder. “It’s just that I heard some things after returning—things that rather surprised me.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Bai Lingque asked.

Bai Su said coldly, “You’ve already done more harm than good. I won’t trouble you further.”

Bai Lingque’s heart sank. “…”

The Pavilion Master knew.

“I know you’ve always had an issue with sword cultivators, but to defy my rules and tamper with the match against General Bean in secret—I’m truly disappointed in you.”

Bai Lingque replied, “It’s not that I look down on all sword cultivators, Pavilion Master, I—”

Bai Su was a sword cultivator herself.

“No need to make declarations of loyalty,” Bai Su interrupted. “I raised you myself—I’ve never doubted your loyalty. As for what happened with General Bean, once the championship match is over, go to the Hall of Reflection and receive your punishment.”

Bai Lingque pressed his lips together and gave a slight nod.

Bai Su glanced toward the preparation area. Spotting Lian Mu, she took the initiative to walk over.

As the two sides met, Bai Su spoke first. “Little friend, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Lian Mu paused in the middle of pinching her Green Bean and turned to see them. “Can’t complain.”

Bai Su truly lived up to her reputation as a shrewd and thick-skinned old fox. She must’ve known everything that had happened over the past two days, yet she still greeted her with a smile, as if nothing had occurred.

Lian Mu smiled back and said pointedly, “Bai Lingque—what a coincidence, we meet again.”

Bai Lingque’s expression stiffened.

With that one line, even the Silver-masked Person standing nearby couldn’t help but sneak a glance. Just one sentence from the General Bean Beast Master, and the atmosphere turned awkward and tense.

Bai Lingque’s fingers twitched slightly, but he said nothing.

Lian Mu had no intention of making a scene, so she played the part of the innocent. “Pavilion Master, what’s going on with your subordinate? I’ve always trusted the Flying Sea Pavilion—why would I come all this way back otherwise? I didn’t hear anything about the Beast Fighting Arena changing its rules.”

Bai Su replied, “Don’t take it to heart, little friend. That matter was mishandled by the Flying Sea Pavilion. How about this—if you win this match, we’ll double the prize. How does that sound?”

The condition was clear—she had to win. If she lost, she got nothing.

The old fox was sharp. She knew how to sweet-talk people.

Lian Mu played dumb. “Really? Then I forgive the Flying Sea Pavilion. As long as there’s a benefit, everything’s negotiable.”

She patted Bai Lingque on the shoulder. “Honestly, I didn’t take it to heart. No need to feel guilty.”

Bai Lingque’s mouth twitched. “…”

Lian Mu didn’t bring up Linghu Meng, and Bai Su didn’t mention her either. It seemed Bai Su didn’t want her to know Linghu Meng was still in the Flying Sea Pavilion.

Elsewhere, Gong Yu entered the preparation area. The moment he stepped through the gate, the stands erupted in cheers.

As he passed by Lian Mu’s side, he turned slightly to glance at Bai Su. “Pavilion Master.”

Bai Su gave a faint smile but said nothing.

Gong Yu seemed to understand where her loyalties lay. Without changing his expression, he headed toward his designated arena.

Lian Mu looked him over and noticed he wasn’t in great shape today. His forehead was damp with sweat, his clothes disheveled, and his steps hurried.

She studied his expression and immediately saw that he’d had an argument not long ago—his face was still flushed with residual anger.

The spectator stands were packed. The match was about to begin.

Lian Mu scanned the crowd but didn’t spot Linghu Meng. Ji Mingyue and Silver Crane sat in the front row, though they didn’t know each other. As soon as Lian Mu left, the two of them moved apart, leaving a large empty space between them, which was quickly filled by the crowd pushing forward.

Lian Mu withdrew her gaze. Gong Yu was staring at her from across the arena.

“If you admit defeat now, in front of everyone, I’ll give you fifteen minutes,” Gong Yu said expressionlessly. “Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

Lian Mu replied, “Try straightening your tongue before you throw threats. The way you talk just makes me want to laugh.”

She hadn’t planned on speaking to Gong Yu, but he insisted on coming over.

“You—are you looking to die?” Gong Yu’s brows furrowed.

The Silver-masked Persons beside them exchanged looks, as if they could already smell blood in the air.

“…”

General Bean was done for.

Anyone who knew Gong Yu knew there were two things you never touched: his Spiritual Root and his stutter.

It was said that Gong Yu didn’t used to stutter. But after he learned beast taming, his first contracted demonic beast—now his Spirit Pet—was a flame beast. He was half-burned trying to tame it, and his throat was damaged in the process. Speaking in long sentences became extremely difficult.

In his early days at the Beast Fighting Arena, he was mocked relentlessly for it. After rising to power, he sought out every one of those people and challenged them. Without exception, they all ended up severely injured—some even paralyzed.

But the Silver-masked Person hadn’t expected General Bean Beast Master to say another line: “Looking to die? With your trash Spiritual Root, you might last two moves against me in the Beast Fighting Arena. Anywhere else, you wouldn’t survive three of my sword strikes.”

This time, she said it directly into the Sound Transmission Stone, and her voice was amplified across the entire Beast Fighting Arena.

The Silver-masked Person: “…”

A direct hit.

The stands fell into stunned silence. Not a single sound. People stared in disbelief, unable to believe what they’d just heard.

Mocking Gong Yu’s Spiritual Root was basically… asking for death.

Ji Mingyue’s mouth twitched. “…”

That was blatant bait.

She glanced at Gong Yu across from Lian Mu. Though he hadn’t exploded yet, the veins on the back of his hand were bulging—he was clearly enraged. The people around him, his supporters, also looked visibly upset.

The fish had taken the bait.

Just as the arena held its breath, Silver Crane sensed someone approaching. Without turning his head, he already knew who it was. “Pavilion Master.”

Bai Su stopped beside him and said, “You actually had time to come watch the match? That’s rare.”

“It’s not every day someone interesting shows up—of course I had to come take a look,” said Silver Crane. “The Pavilion Master is busy with a thousand affairs, yet even you made time to come. Let me guess—you bet on General Bean to win, didn’t you?”

Bai Su smiled. “Mm.”

“What do you think—how is she going to win against someone like Gong Yu?” Bai Su asked.

Silver Crane replied, “It’s their first time facing off. Gong Yu will likely have the upper hand at first. He’s watched dozens of General Bean’s matches and will definitely target her weaknesses. But General Bean has barely watched Gong Yu’s battles—she’s got less intel. So I’d say Gong Yu wins the first round, but General Bean takes the next two.”

Bai Su asked, “Is that how you placed your bet at the gambling hall?”

Silver Crane raised an eyebrow. “Unless the Pavilion Master has another take?”

Bai Su revealed her betting token. Silver Crane blinked in surprise.

“Two draws, one win for General Bean? That’s…” He hadn’t expected that at all.

Bai Su said, “General Bean isn’t ordinary, but Gong Yu won’t go down that easily either.”

Silver Crane shook his head. “I don’t see it that way. Gong Yu’s already been provoked. According to the Seven-Element Beast Mastery Arts—metal for touch, wood for heart, water for bonding, fire for emotion, earth for poison resistance, wind for sky, and lightning for rain. Contracting with a flame beast links to one’s emotions. Flame beasts are naturally aggressive, and a prolonged bond will affect the Beast Master. An unstable mind leads to mistakes. Add in the bloodline suppression—there’s no way Gong Yu ends up with two draws against her.”

Bai Su chuckled. “Seems you’ve studied demonic beasts thoroughly. No wonder you’ve only been interested in Spirit Beasts these past years. But when it comes to beast battles, your insight still falls short. That’s why you keep losing to Gong Yu. This isn’t just a fight between two beasts. The beasts matter, yes—but the real key lies in the person behind them. Just wait and see. This time, you’re going to lose.”

In the arena—

“If that’s your way of testing me, you’re mistaken. That move hasn’t worked on me in a long time,” Gong Yu said.

Lian Mu: “…”

Still putting up a front? Not angry, huh? Then why are you stuttering?

Lian Mu put down the Sound Transmission Stone and threw out bait recklessly. “Let’s be honest—if it weren’t for your beast mastery, with your talent, you’d never be worthy of meeting someone like me.”

Silver-masked Person: “…”

Please stop. Does it have to get this ugly?

She wasn’t afraid of Gong Yu—but they were.

There was once a contestant who pissed Gong Yu off. His flame beast went berserk and nearly tore the entire arena apart. It almost shattered the barrier and injured the spectators. Every Silver-masked Person inside was severely wounded.

Gong Yu’s expression didn’t change, but the flame-shaped mark on his neck began to glow with heat. He shot Lian Mu a cold glance, then turned to the demonic beast cage to release his Spirit Pet.

Lian Mu saw that his emotions had been stirred. Mission accomplished. She also turned to release Green Bean.

In the high-tier Beast Fighting Arena, both sides’ Spirit Pets were of considerable rank, and injuries—or worse—were inevitable. Before the match, each Beast Master had to tie a Life Lamp to the cloud platform. The Life Lamp represented the Spirit Pet’s condition. If the lamp went out or dimmed for more than ten breaths, it counted as a loss.

“To ensure fairness, the outcome will not be decided by any individual, but by the Victory Stone linked to the Life Lamps. Final rankings will also be determined by the Victory Stone. The Golden Radiance Vault of Feihai only recognizes the winner’s token as judged by the Victory Stone. You two may compete without worry,” the Silver-masked Person announced loudly.

Lian Mu pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall into the lamp. The wick ignited without flame, and a green flame slowly rose.

Across from her, Gong Yu’s flame was crimson, larger than hers, and burned brighter. As both lamps rose into the sky, the difference was stark.

Clearly, General Bean was already at a disadvantage.

The crowd turned to look. General Bean, tiny as ever, was sprawled lazily on the demonic beast cage’s railings, gnawing on the bars. It was still in its shrunken form, no bigger than a palm.

Everyone: “…”

They knew General Bean was laid-back, but this was a bit much.

Underestimating your opponent could be dangerous.

Some spectators who had impulsively bet on General Bean were starting to regret it.

“First match of the Beast Battle Advancement Tournament: Gong Yu versus the Mighty and Unstoppable General Bean—begin!”

At the command, both Beast Masters rose to the high platforms. The cages opened, and the atmosphere instantly turned tense.

Gong Yu’s flame beast burst from its cage. The spiritual pressure from the high-tier demonic beast’s unstable mind swept across the entire arena, slamming into the spectator barrier.

Some were shaken so hard their hair flew up. “What a powerful spiritual surge! Even with the barrier, it’s this intense—I can’t imagine what it’s like inside the arena.”

Gong Yu’s flame beast looked different from before. Even though Lian Mu stood on the high platform, she could clearly sense the change.

It had… evolved.

She finally noticed what had changed. Gong Yu hadn’t switched Spirit Pets—this was the same flame beast. But during her absence, it had entered a metamorphosis phase.

After its transformation, a first-rank demonic beast would ascend into the extreme-rank realm.

Lian Mu had once crammed knowledge on identifying demonic beast species. Gong Yu’s flame beast had the body of a tiger, the head of an eagle, hooves like a horse, a snake-like tail, and antlers like a deer. Its entire body was covered in fiery red rock-like scales, beneath which molten fire seemed to flow. Its tail dragged along the ground, and the glowing patterns on its scales shimmered in the sunlight.

Those scales seemed to have a special effect. When Lian Mu saw the multicolored light, she felt a wave of dizziness.

The Red-eyed Five-form Beast—one of the most bloodthirsty types of flame beasts. It had a massive appetite, preferred bloody raw meat, and when encountering inedible kin, it often chose to torture them to death.

A Spirit Beast can overpower a demonic beast up to three tiers below it. For example, a Fourth-Tier Spirit Beast could easily crush a First-Tier demonic beast. But when it comes to the Extreme Tier, all bets are off.

The Extreme Tier has a high floor and an even higher ceiling. Since there’s no further classification beyond it, no one can say for sure how powerful a beast becomes once it breaks through.

Lian Mu was still considering her first move when the Red-eyed Five-form Beast across from her began to shift. It didn’t charge immediately; instead, it lashed its tail across the ground.

Sparks flew as its scales scraped against the earth, mixing with the crimson fire-liquid seeping from the gaps in its skin. In an instant, several head-sized fireballs ignited.

The fireballs didn’t fall to the ground but hovered in the air, shooting straight toward General Bean.

“Thousand Forms Flame? Gong Yu usually only uses that at the end of a fight. He’s pulling it out right at the start this time?”

“And it’s different from before. It used to only move along the ground where the fire-liquid had spread. Now it’s airborne, completely unbound.”

“Is Gong Yu trying to finish General Bean in one move? Damn, I bet on General Bean to win this round!”

Five Thousand Forms Flames surrounded the just-released Green Bean. True to their name, the fireballs instantly morphed into various forms: a three-winged firebird, a two-headed fire serpent, and a four-clawed fox.

The remaining two flames dispersed into walls of fire, cutting off General Bean’s escape routes.

“Three beast forms, all specifically designed to counter scorpion-type beasts. Young Master Weng’s power has skyrocketed lately. Training a demonic beast in control-type techniques isn’t easy,” commented Silver Crane from the spectator stands. “But he’s still the same as ever—lights up like dry straw. General Bean said a few words and he already pulled out his trump card.”

“Different opponents call for different openings. He’s not stupid. Thousand Forms Flame might be his finishing move against others, but not against General Bean. He’s still holding back—this is just the opening act.”

Silver Crane raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t the Pavilion Master bet on General Bean? Why are you talking up Gong Yu?”

Bai Su smiled. “I bet on both. I just put more Spirit Stones on General Bean.”

Silver Crane: “…”

Well, being Pavilion Master does come with its perks.

In the arena, the three fire beast forms launched a fierce assault on Green Bean. The three-winged firebird flared its wings menacingly and pecked at the ground with its sharp beak, sending flames bursting forth. The two-headed fire serpent reared up, trying to coil around and melt Green Bean’s outer shell.

Green Bean was still tiny, clumsily scuttling around as it was attacked from all sides, narrowly escaping capture each time.

“Your Spirit Pet’s still in its shrunken state. What, afraid to fight head-on?” Gong Yu called out to Lian Mu from a distance. As he tilted his head slightly, one of the Thousand Forms Flames transformed into an elephant and raised a foot to stomp on Green Bean.

Lian Mu: “…”

Is this guy running a zoo?

She had to admit, Thousand Forms Flame was a real headache. It was a condensed manifestation of spiritual energy flung from the demonic beast’s body. Even if you destroyed the flames, it wouldn’t harm the demonic beast itself—at best, it was just a throwaway skill.

A demonic beast that could actually use techniques—this was a first for her. Wild demonic beasts weren’t this clever; they usually just went berserk.

But she had no intention of letting Green Bean fight head-on. She immediately sent a command through their spiritual link, telling it to flee.

Gong Yu looked down just in time to see General Bean suddenly pick up speed, darting out from under the firebird’s tail. It took a deep breath, and its body swelled into a perfect sphere. With a flick of its tail hook against the ground, it rolled away smoothly like a ball.

Gong Yu: “?”

The crowd: “?”

What kind of move was that…? And since when could an earth-type beast do that?

Gong Yu’s eyes followed the rolling General Bean as it zipped around the arena, the fire beast forms chasing after it. He ordered the flame beast to transform the Thousand Forms Flame into a ball as well.

But General Bean, thanks to its small size, rolled right up to the flame beast and zipped underneath it like a little bean. It shot straight through, too small to be caught.

The flame ball nearly collided with the flame beast. In a panic, it shifted shape just in time to avoid the crash.

And so, the chase continued all over the arena. General Bean was absurdly agile, and the pursuit dragged on for nearly half an hour.

Gong Yu was starting to lose it: “…”

So General Bean had been in its shrunken form the whole time just to use its size to escape?

And it still hadn’t shown any signs of counterattacking.

Gong Yu narrowed his eyes. Based on what he knew about General Bean, this was just a ruse. It always played weak to lull its opponents into a false sense of security—then struck when they least expected it.

Lian Mu said calmly, “Your Spirit Pet can use techniques. So can mine.”

Bai Lingque had made her fight fifty matches in a row. Green Bean had devoured plenty of demonic beasts along the way and absorbed many of their traits.

This particular move was stolen from a modified water beast that resembled a pufferfish.

Gong Yu tried to provoke her. “Why aren’t you fighting back? What, scared?”

Lian Mu replied, “Yes.”

The crowd: “…”

If it weren’t for the confident look on her face, they might’ve actually believed her.

This wasn’t fear—this was blatant provocation. She was messing with him and staying just out of reach.

Gong Yu pressed his lips together. He hadn’t expected her to play along with the taunt—and even admit defeat so openly.

And yet, that infuriatingly smug attitude only stoked the fire in his chest.

“You like to hide? Then let’s see where you hide this time.”

Gong Yu clenched his fist, channeling power into his hand as he gave the command: “Earthfire—Cover!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Red-eyed Five-form Beast shook its antlered head. The Thousand Forms Flames halted their pursuit, regrouped, and floated high into the air—shining as brightly as the sun.

In the next instant, the Thousand Forms Flame exploded from the center, scattering into countless streams of fire. With the fireball as the core, the flames shot out like meteors, spreading across the entire arena. The branches of fire crawling along the ground wove into a net, closing in on Green Bean from all directions.

Though the Thousand Forms Flame had disintegrated and would only last for three breaths, that was more than enough.

“General Bean, there’s nowhere left to run,” Gong Yu said coldly, his eyes sharp as blades.

Lian Mu grinned cheerfully. “Oh? You sure about that?”

Everyone: “!”

How the hell is she going to escape that!?

She gave a tiny flick of her finger. Inside the arena, General Bean—round like a ball—blinked its eyes, dug its tail hook into the ground to stop itself, and faced the oncoming sea of fire. Just as the flames were about to lick its body, it suddenly opened its mouth and exhaled.

The force of its own breath launched it into the air, lifting it just in time to dodge the sweeping blaze below.

But it clearly had no idea how to steer, and nearly blew itself right out of the barrier.

Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as it flailed through the sky like a runaway kite. The whole crowd fell into stunned silence: “…”

Wait—what!?

General Bean ran out of breath midair and plummeted straight down. By the time it crash-landed, the flames on the ground had already burned out from the time it had spent flailing around.

For the first time, the audience realized—apparently, even a scorpion without wings could take to the skies.

Gong Yu: “…”

He was just about to seize the moment while General Bean was flipping over to order the flame beast to stomp it flat, but before the beast could even make it halfway across the field, a silver bell rang out from the high platform. The crisp chime echoed through the arena, reaching every ear.

Time was up.

“First match of the Beast Fighting Arena advancement round—draw!”