"Anyone below the Third Layer of Meridian Opening who can defeat my Battle Beast, the 'Iron Spike Water Buffalo'—I'll reward them with a Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill."
Du Yuncheng stood on the high platform, an arrogant look on his face, flaunting his power.
Demon Beasts and Battle Beasts are essentially the same.
The difference between the two is that one is wild, while the other is tamed by humans.
The moment he finished speaking.
WHOOSH!
The arena erupted into an uproar. Many Martial Artists were thrilled, rubbing their hands in anticipation.
"A Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill? Is that for real?"
"In Qingchang City, only the great Noble Families possess Upper Grade Martial Skills. Scattered Stream Martial Artists never get the chance to even see one."
Above Basic Martial Arts are the Entry Grade Martial Arts Skills and Techniques.
These are divided into Mortal Level, Spirit Level, Earth Level, and Celestial Level, and each level is further divided into Low Grade, Middle Grade, and Upper Grade.
A Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill corresponds to the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening and above. One can only imagine its power!
An Upper Grade Martial Skill?
Even Luo Tian was tempted. He was still practicing Basic Martial Skills at the Academy. After advancing to Meridian Opening, the best he could choose was a Mortal Level Middle Grade Martial Skill.
There was a huge difference in power between Mortal Level Middle Grade and Mortal Level Upper Grade.
"I'll do it!"
A man in his twenties wearing simple cloth robes entered the Beast Fighting Arena.
This cloth-robed man was a Scattered Stream Martial Artist with a Cultivation at the Peak of the Second Layer. His Cultivation was even a half-step higher than Gao Xuan, whom Luo Tian had encountered.
"Ah Niu, crush him."
Du Yuncheng's eyes were filled with bloodlust and excitement.
ROAR!
The Battle Beast, the Iron Spike Water Buffalo, let out a furious roar. The ground trembled slightly as it charged swiftly toward the cloth-robed man.
'Once I master this Upper Grade Martial Skill, I might be able to avenge my father!'
The cloth-robed man's fighting spirit surged as he met the Iron Spike Water Buffalo head-on.
WHOOSH!
The cloth-robed man dodged the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's charge and threw a punch.
Yanggang Fist!
As he threw the punch, a hot current of True Qi rolled forth, fierce and powerful.
THUD!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo was hit. Its hide dented slightly, but there was no obvious wound.
'Such strong Defense!'
The cloth-robed man's expression tightened, and he prepared to create some distance.
MOO—
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo roared, its massive body ruthlessly ramming into the cloth-robed man.
SQUELCH.
The cloth-robed man tumbled away wretchedly but was pierced by the "fleshy spikes" on the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's back.
The fleshy spikes on the Battle Beast were like steel needles.
"AH!"
Blood sprayed from the cloth-robed man's body as he screamed in agony.
"I give up! I surrender!"
The cloth-robed man was terrified. He begged Du Yuncheng, who was outside the arena, for mercy as he ran.
A single command from Du Yuncheng would stop the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's Attack.
"Hmph. Since you stepped into the Beast Fighting Arena, you must abide by its rules. Life and death are of no concern," Du Yuncheng said coldly.
CRUNCH!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo didn't pause for a moment. Its enormous body stomped right over the cloth-robed man.
After a few more screams,
the cloth-robed man was trampled into a meat paste and devoured by the Battle Beast.
"Haha! Well done, Ah Niu!"
Du Yuncheng laughed heartily.
He kept this Battle Beast and loved the thrill of its cruel slaughter.
"Anyone else want to try?"
"My Battle Beast is only a One-star Low Tier, with a Cultivation equivalent to someone below the Third Layer of Meridian Opening," Du Yuncheng said proudly.
A One-star Low Tier Battle Beast or Demon Beast has a Cultivation equivalent to a human from the First to Third Layer of Meridian Opening.
One-star Middle Tier is equivalent to the Fourth to Sixth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm.
One-star High Tier is equivalent to the Seventh to Ninth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm.
"Du Yuncheng's Battle Beast may only have a Cultivation equivalent to the Second or Third Layer of Meridian Opening, but it has a trace of the Ancient Barbaric Bull bloodline. Combined with its training, it's invincible below the Third Layer," an elderly Martial Artist analyzed from below the stage.
"I'll give it a try."
A Martial Artist at the Third Layer of Meridian Opening entered the Beast Fighting Arena.
The Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm was much stronger.
However, this Third Layer Meridian Opening Martial Artist only lasted a dozen or so exchanges with the Iron Spike Water Buffalo before he was injured and forced to retreat, barely escaping with his life.
"Even someone at the Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm is no match for it."
Outside the Beast Fighting Arena, many people sighed.
At this point, the onlookers had basically all given up hope.
Everyone agreed that below the Third Layer of Meridian Opening, the Iron Spike Water Buffalo was practically invincible.
"Let me."
A person in a Black Robe and wearing a mask slowly stepped into the Beast Fighting Arena.
This black-robed person was none other than Luo Tian.
Luo Tian's eyes glinted with fighting spirit and anticipation. He was extremely tempted by the Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill. 'And making Du Yuncheng bleed a little would be a nice bonus.'
"You? A mere First Layer of Meridian Opening."
Du Yuncheng was contemptuous. He could only sense the True Qi fluctuations of a single Qi Vein from Luo Tian.
Outside the arena, the crowd of Martial Artists shook their heads.
In their eyes, Luo Tian's actions were no different from suicide.
Even a warrior at the Peak of the Second Layer of Meridian Opening was crushed, and one at the Third Layer was severely wounded.
What was a mere First Layer of Meridian Opening if not a death wish?
"Young Master Du, don't be so sure of yourself. Don't feel too bad when I kill your Battle Beast in a moment."
Luo Tian wore a mask, his voice deliberately lowered.
"Hahaha… What an absolute joke!"
Du Yuncheng almost cried with laughter, the cruelty on his face deepening.
"Ah Niu, crush him!"
MOO! WHOOSH!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo charged, the ground shaking as it rammed toward Luo Tian with savage force.
'Fast, but clumsy,' Luo Tian calmly assessed, looking completely unhurried.
At this moment, an illustration appeared in the Celestial Book in his mind. On it was a lifelike image of a Battle Beast—the Iron Spike Water Buffalo.
The illustration clearly analyzed the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's various abilities and weaknesses.
Several weak points were displayed as red dots.
It turned out that before the fight, Luo Tian had the Celestial Book perform an Inference on the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's abilities and weaknesses.
This Inference consumed a quarter of a "page" of the Celestial Book's power.
…
The Beast Fighting Arena.
SWISH!
The instant the Iron Spike Water Buffalo was about to close in, Luo Tian made a sharp turn.
WHOOSH-BOOM!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo's body was too large. It couldn't turn in time, unable to stop its momentum, and continued to charge forward for some distance.
"You beast!"
Luo Tian shouted, punching the Iron Spike Water Buffalo in the abdomen.
THWUMP!
The True Qi from that punch erupted, and a penetrating chill caused the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's body to stiffen for a moment.
MOO!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo wasn't significantly injured. It roared and tried to stab Luo Tian with the fleshy spikes on its back.
"I dodge!"
After landing the hit, Luo Tian immediately created distance.
Under the control of his Spiritual Sense, none of the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's movements could escape his notice.
A few breaths later, the Iron Spike Water Buffalo charged again.
"Sigh, you really are stupid…"
Luo Tian used the same trick. When the Battle Beast charged right up to him, he suddenly made a sharp turn.
WHOOSH-BOOM!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo was too large; after every charge, it couldn't keep up with Luo Tian's sharp turns.
"I strike!"
Luo Tian struck again, sending a wave of Cold Power into the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's abdomen.
"I dodge!"
After striking, Luo Tian pulled away again, refusing to get entangled in a prolonged fight.
Every time he got close, he only landed a single blow.
"You idiot! A First Layer of Meridian Opening can only tickle Ah Niu! He'll just wear you down until you die of exhaustion!" Du Yuncheng sneered.
"I strike!"
"I dodge!"
"I strike!"
…
Inside the Beast Fighting Arena, Luo Tian attacked again and again.
At first, many people were laughing.
But after Luo Tian had hit the Iron Spike Water Buffalo five or six times in a row, the expressions on many faces changed.
"The Iron Spike Water Buffalo's movements have slowed by half."
"Its attacks have weakened by a third."
Some Martial Artists said in disbelief.
Anyone paying close attention would have noticed that every one of Luo Tian's attacks landed on the same area of its abdomen.
'Hmph! The spot I'm hitting is closest to the Battle Beast's internal organs,' Luo Tian sneered inwardly.
By now, a layer of frost had formed on the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's abdomen. Its movements grew more and more sluggish, and it could no longer pose a threat to Luo Tian.
After a few more rounds of this…
"Burst!"
Luo Tian activated his Divine Vein, and a deep, ethereal blue aura surfaced around his fist.
CRACK!
The frost-covered part of the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's abdomen suddenly burst open, sending shards of ice and blood flying.
A fatal blow!
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo let out a soul-shaking cry.
"No—Ah Niu!"
"You! Stop right there—"
Du Yuncheng shot to his feet, roaring furiously.
THWACK! THWACK!
Luo Tian showed no mercy, landing two more consecutive punches that smashed the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's internal organs to a pulp.
MOO—
The Iron Spike Water Buffalo bellowed, its eyes turning red. Its body suddenly began to swell, emitting a dangerous aura.
In that instant.
SHOO! SHOO! SHOO!
The steel-needle-like fleshy spikes on the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's body shot out in all directions.
"That's the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's dying attack!"
"It's a strike where it detonates all the Vitality in its body! Each spike is equivalent to a full-power Attack from someone at the Peak of the Meridian Opening Third Stage!" the Martial Artists outside the arena cried out in alarm.
What a pity.
Many people showed looks of regret.
It was as if they could already picture the scene of Luo Tian being shot full of holes like a porcupine.
However, the next scene to unfold in the arena was even more shocking.
ROLL!
Just before the fleshy spikes launched, Luo Tian rolled underneath the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's belly.
Although the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's exploding spikes shot out in all directions, the one blind spot was directly beneath it.
As a result, all the spikes missed, striking the Array's light barrier surrounding the Beast Fighting Arena and causing ripples to spread across it.
'Just as I expected.'
A faint smile touched the corner of Luo Tian's mouth.
He had long since grasped all of the Iron Spike Water Buffalo's abilities and weaknesses.
"Bastard! You killed my Ah Niu! I'll make you wish you were never born!"
Outside the Beast Fighting Arena, Du Yuncheng roared with fury, his murderous gaze locked on Luo Tian.