The Beast-Soul Warrior's Defeat

Yarode arrived just before the battle began, having received word. Behind him followed the members of the Natural Alliance, the organization he had founded with Kael. His expression was grim; he had no wish to see Kael come to harm. "Someone else wishes to duel Xiao Chen first!" he shouted.

Many among the hundred-plus assembled practitioners sneered. Others remained indifferent—a life-and-death battle was entertainment enough, regardless of the details.

Kael's face turned ashen. He knew Yarode acted out of concern, but the public humiliation stung his pride. Rage burned in his chest.

"Is there someone else who wants to fight me? Kael, do you agree? If you want to fight two against one, I'll allow it—you and your partner can face me together." Xiao Chen knew Kael would never accept such a proposal.

Yet, at a subtle signal from Yarode, a spellmaster from the Natural Alliance flew forward and seized on Xiao Chen's words. "Very well! Since Xiao Chen has agreed, I too shall duel him!" he declared loudly to the watching crowd.

It was shameless—utterly brazen. Xiao Chen had not expected Yarode to stoop so low, deploying a pawn without any pretense of honor.

Yarode, as founder of the Natural Alliance, was the first to voice approval. The second alliance to agree was the Treefolk Valley Alliance, whose leader Zhao Lin'er had also arrived on the scene. The third was an alliance called the Flying Cloud Alliance, founded by a stunning woman named Li Miao. Xiao Chen had no recollection of offending her, but when he saw her standing not far from Yarode, he understood immediately: the two alliances were acting in concert.

Many in the crowd jeered. This was going too far.

Kael let out a furious roar. Pointing at the approaching spellmaster, he thundered, "Get back! If you dare to interrupt my duel with Xiao Chen, I'll tear you apart first!"

The golden-haired spellmaster, Dimansi, flushed red and then white. He had already invited ridicule by stepping forward to fight alongside Kael, and now Kael's open rebuke only deepened his disgrace. With a bitter expression, he shook his sleeves and withdrew.

"I swear, if anyone disturbs our duel, Kael will fight them to the death—no quarter!" A low, bestial growl echoed through the forest, carrying a murderous aura.

Yarode could only sigh in resignation. Dimansi, his face like wrought iron, retreated. The brief interlude before the battle was over.

With a thunderous roar that shook the trees, Kael unleashed his full bestial nature. A savage green light blazed in his eyes, and without another word, his three-meter frame erupted with a wild, overbearing aura. His brownish-yellow hair whipped wildly as he charged forward.

Two colossal beasts, each ten meters tall, materialized behind him—one a cyan divine wolf, the other a yellow ferocious tiger. Both were formed of condensed divine light and exuded a soul-shaking murderous aura. Their spectral forms let out chilling, bloodcurdling roars, making Kael appear truly demonic.

Beast-soul guardians! Like a king of beasts, Kael was wreathed in divine radiance. He howled as he rushed toward Xiao Chen, his enormous claws seeming to tear the very void, suffused with blinding cyan and yellow light that warped the space around them.

Xiao Chen, in turn, radiated an oppressive power like a mountain. Light enveloped his entire body, divine flames leaping and dancing. He stepped forward, and the earth trembled.

With a single explosive strike, dazzling beams of divine light shot from Xiao Chen's hands like heavenly blades, piercing through several meters of void. The radiance was everywhere, drowning the surrounding area in blinding brilliance.

Within the terrifying energy storm, the light—like a flowing silver river—clashed repeatedly with the two enormous beast-specters. The resulting shockwaves rolled through the mountain forest, causing the earth to quake and the ancient trees to sway violently, shedding leaves like rain.

The members of the various alliances watched from outside the arena. Many spectators changed color at the sight.

The ground shook. Trees splintered. Leaves flew. The entire area was flooded with the violent aftermath of surging energy. Within the brilliance, the two figures moved like lightning, leaving afterimages as they clashed and collided at blinding speed.

Dozens of exquisite killing techniques were unleashed every moment, surpassing the visual perception of most onlookers. This was a life-and-death confrontation between two true powerhouses!

Divine light, afterimages, demonic claws, beast souls, energy blades—all interwove in a symphony of destruction. Terrifying energy swept across the land. Even the residual shockwaves shattered ancient trees. Broken branches and leaves filled the air like snow.

Both combatants radiated dazzling light, as if divine fire blazed from their bodies. Their movements across the battlefield traced trails like bolts of lightning dancing in frenzy.

"Roar!" Kael bellowed, leaping high like a hawk diving from above. His enormous claws clamped onto Xiao Chen's right arm as he rose to meet him, and Kael tried to swing him around—but could not budge him. Xiao Chen stood immovable, then reversed his grip, caught Kael's left wrist, and with a sudden throw over his back, sent the three-meter giant flying.

Divine light surged. Kael crashed through eleven ancient trees in a row before tumbling among the broken branches and debris. He roared and charged again, but in his heart, he knew he was no match for Xiao Chen. The memory of his previous defeat had shaken his confidence.

Xiao Chen leapt into the air again, his legs sweeping in rapid, brilliant arcs of light. Kael raised both arms to block, but the blows struck with the weight of ten thousand jun.

"Boom!"

Kael was sent flying by Xiao Chen's sweeping kick from midair. A dazzling explosion of light burst forth, and a swath of forest was obliterated by the energy impact.

The watching young elites—all talents of their generation—changed color at the sight of such overwhelming force.

"Roar!" Kael howled in fury, but as he struggled to his feet, Xiao Chen shot toward him like lightning, seized his left arm, and hurled him into the air. Then Xiao Chen spun, his right leg smashing Kael down into the ground.

In the next instant, he was already in pursuit, a mere afterimage in the air. Both feet stomped toward Kael's chest—a blow that, if it landed, would shatter his body.

Kael felt a terror he had never known. The shadows of his previous defeat still haunted him, and this second crushing loss stripped him of his remaining confidence. Desperately, he rolled aside to save himself.

Xiao Chen's feet slammed into the ground, making the earth shake violently. Great fissures spread in all directions.

"Crack!"

Xiao Chen stamped again. The sound of breaking bones rang out. Kael's legs snapped, and a scream tore through the forest. Xiao Chen's right leg swept out, sending Kael hurtling into the air.

Wreathed in dazzling brilliance, Xiao Chen leaped after him, grabbed both of Kael's arms, and with two sharp cracks, broke them as well. The sound was sickeningly final.

Kael crashed to the ground, his limbs shattered, his roar of agony echoing through the dying forest. The duel was over.