The Beast-Fighting Merchant

Keke tossed another piece of 'Dzog Roll' onto the fat man's face.

"Hey, not only is it intelligent, it's cocky too. I really like this little dog—uh, or is it a kitten?" The fat man wasn't angry at all; he kept asking excitedly.

"It's an exceptionally ferocious little lion."

Hearing Xiao Chen say that, the snow-white little beast rolled its eyes. If it weren't familiar with Xiao Chen, it would have thrown a rice cake over too.

"No way? What kind of lion looks like this—white as jade without a single off-colored hair?"

The snow-white little beast ignored them completely. With a leap, it landed on King Qin Guang's shoulder and continued devouring its food.

"Could it be the legendary jade lion? Hey, it can climb trees?"

What kind of eyesight did this fat man have? Was that a tree? King Qin Guang also felt like throwing a rice cake, but there was none nearby.

Xiao Chen felt this fat man really seemed like a profiteer. His eyes practically flashed gold as he excitedly circled Keke—until he accidentally bumped into the Little Defiant Dragon following beside them. This proud little dragon had often eaten the spiritual treasures Keke found lately; they say the mouth that eats is weak, the hand that takes is short. With a slight push, it sent the fat man flying.

"Ouch, who bumped into me?" The fat man picked himself up.

At the same time, a commotion arose nearby. A dozen people rushed over, quickly surrounding Xiao Chen and his group. Two carried cats, several led big dogs, and two even brought along four-or-five-meter-long yellow earth dragons—not real dragons, just dragon-kin that resembled large lizards.

"Young master, are you all right?" Those people quickly surrounded them.

The several giant dogs, each the size of a calf, had already charged at the Little Defiant Dragon.

"Stop! What are you doing?!" This fat man didn't seem like a typical villain; he hurriedly tried to stop them.

But it was too late. The Little Defiant Dragon was far too proud—it was usually the one picking fights with others, not the other way around. However, against these ordinary beasts, it didn't feel like killing. With three magnificent tail swipes:

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The three giant dogs were sent flying seven or eight meters. When they landed, they were completely subdued; upon contact, they had faintly sensed a dragon aura that filled them with terror.

The fat man's eyes lit up. The two four-or-five-meter-long yellow earth dragons charged over. This time, he didn't stop them; instead, he watched with eyes fixed unblinkingly.

Thud! Thud!

Two muffled sounds rang out as both massive yellow earth dragons were also sent flying by the Little Defiant Dragon.

"Excellent! Perfect!" The fat man acted like he was high; his eyes gleamed green, and his gaze at the Little Defiant Dragon was even more intense than when he'd looked at Keke. Excitedly, he said, "This is a first-rate battle beast! It seems to be a dragon-kin... but I estimate it has at least one-fifth true dragon blood in it. We're rich, we're rich, hahaha..."

Xiao Chen watched the fat man speechlessly, then led the Little Defiant Dragon and the others forward on his own.

"Brother, don't leave!" The fat man caught up, hastily and overly enthusiastically explaining, "Blame my too-exuberant pride, haha... But I really am delighted. This unicorn cub hasn't even shed its baby teeth yet, and it's already this impressive—truly rare. I mean, we're going to get rich now. Really, you have to trust my judgment. If I manage this, this little beast will bring us a mountain of gold coins."

Xiao Chen didn't want to say much to him. This guy was clearly a profiteer, not someone to scheme with.

"Brother, don't go. You have to trust me." The fat man stuck close to Xiao Chen, chattering incessantly. "Brother, do you know who I am? I'm the beast-tamer with the most strategic vision, renowned for it!"

Ignoring him, Xiao Chen kept walking.

"Do you know that my family has built a Beast-Fighting Palace in the largest city on the southern continent, Heavenly Emperor City? Our strength is absolutely unquestionable."

"Beast-Fighting Palace?" Xiao Chen found it strange. "Is the trend of beast-fighting very strong on the continent?"

This time, it was the fat man's turn to look at Xiao Chen like an idiot. The people around also showed strange expressions, making Xiao Chen feel uncomfortable.

"Brother, you didn't just crawl out of a cave in the old forest, did you?"

Damn it. Xiao Chen was speechless. This guy was mocking him as a caveman.

"Who doesn't know that beast-fighting has always been the hottest industry on the Immortal Continent?!" The fat man struck an expert's pose. "It's not just nobles and the wealthy powerful who love to watch beast-fights; ordinary folks are heavily involved too. Many people capture strange beasts for a living, let alone cultivators. For a spiritually powerful battle beast, they'll toss out gold without hesitation."

Through the fat man's tireless explanations, Xiao Chen finally understood how deeply ingrained the beast-fighting culture was. The operators of major arenas were closely tied to continent's cultivators, as they indeed controlled many powerful strange beasts. Cultivators loved them, and some sects spared no expense to purchase spiritual beasts.

Many cultivators on the continent raised spiritual beasts—loyal partners who fought alongside them. Those who built Beast-Fighting Palaces needed formidable strength; ordinary sects didn't dare provoke them, as they could supply top-tier spiritual beasts. Legend said that anyone daring to build a Beast-Fighting Palace must control a super-grade ferocious beast on par with a dragon, or even a legendary holy beast.

"Let me tell you an industry secret." The fat man looked mysterious and whispered, "Those who dare build a Beast-Fighting Palace not only have holy beasts of dragon-level to hold the line, but they definitely also have real dragons."

This truly shocked Xiao Chen.

Seeing he was hooked, the fat man pressed on, "Brother, I feel a special connection to you the moment I see you—like old friends at first sight. How about we find a place for a few drinks and chat?"

"Sure, what's your name, fat brother?" Xiao Chen wasn't tempted by money, but by the future prospects for the Little Defiant Dragon. If what the fat man said was true, and beast-fighting was this popular, the Immortal Continent was perfectly suited for this proud little dragon. Even after leaving Dragon Island, it wouldn't lack opponents.

Within moments, they were calling each other brothers. The fat man had a name that would make anyone spew blood: Zhuge Liang.

He showed a rare hint of shyness. "My parents hoped I'd be smart, so they gave me this name."

From their talk, Xiao Chen learned that Zhuge Liang was also famous in the World of Immortality for a simple reason: some cultivator who had broken the void from the Mortal World had written down the mortal world's 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' turning it into an influential classic.

As Xiao Chen and the fat man Zhuge Liang ate and chatted, they finally got to the question that concerned him. Dragon Island had been sealed—how could there still be dragons in those Beast-Fighting Palaces? Were they winged dragons?

But the fat man's next words left him stunned.

"Those in the know all understand that our family's trump card is an invincible Tyrant Dragon raised in our Beast-Fighting Palace."

"How is that possible?!" Xiao Chen didn't believe it. "How could a Tyrant Dragon appear on the continent? Aren't they all sealed on Dragon Island?"

"Brother, you really did just crawl out of a cave in the old forest, didn't you?"

Damn it. That line again. Xiao Chen wanted to kick him.

"Oh, my mistake, I forgot..." the fat man Zhuge Liang muttered. "Ordinary people don't know this—it's information only those who build Beast-Fighting Palaces have access to."

"Don't leave me hanging. Tell me how it works quickly."

"Brother, you must have heard about the recent Dragon Island incident?"

"I've heard."

"Dragon Island hasn't only opened this once. It unlocks every few hundred years. In the past, although no Dragon Kings appeared, and ordinary little dragons were rare, there were still a few. Hehe... you understand what I mean." The fat man squinted, took a sip of wine with a sssh sound.

"You mean people from the past brought young dragons out of Dragon Island?"

"Smart. In earlier times, some young dragons were brought out. Not only did they grow up on the Immortal Continent, but they also had offspring. However, they're mostly in the hands of superpowers. Ordinary people haven't even heard of them."

"So the Immortal Continent doesn't lack dragon-kind?"

"Of course, but there aren't many. Also, aside from the winged dragon clan, even other dragon races, once away from Dragon Island, remain in a sealed state and can't use their innate great divine powers. But with their physical toughness and combat strength, only top holy beasts can rival them. Of course, it depends on the breed. The Tyrant Dragon I mentioned—even before it matures, unless a demigod attacks, its body cannot be destroyed."

Xiao Chen drew a cold breath. He'd still underestimated the dragon race. "Which major powers possess dragons?"

"Those who hold power, those who hold money, and the powerful cultivation sects. But mainly, it's monopolized by Beast-Fighting Palaces—that's why the beast-fighting industry has such far-reaching influence." The fat man emphasized again that anyone who could build a Beast-Fighting Palace must have tremendous strength and background.

As they drank and talked, Xiao Chen finally understood the status of the beast-fighting industry on the Immortal Continent. It was arguably the most powerful industry on the continent. Some strong sects either operated their own beast-fighting businesses or served certain Beast-Fighting Palaces.

This fat man could talk endlessly. He told many strange tales from the industry, though many sounded like boasting. For instance, he claimed that a beast-tamer once rode his palace's holy beast, a phoenix, and destroyed an enemy city for revenge. Another beast-tamer raised a little beast of unknown origin; it only grew up in his old age, but it could rival a Tyrant Dragon and defeat a rival who had a Beast-Fighting Palace and a Tyrant Dragon.

The fat man told a string of such legends. Xiao Chen didn't believe most of them, but he did grasp that anyone involved in the beast-fighting industry had formidable strength. Overall, the beast-fighting industry ran deep.

Xiao Chen felt a bit of anticipation. The Little Defiant Dragon seemed to have a bright future ahead. The existence of the beast-fighting industry was perfect for it—truly a wide world of opportunity.

"So what do you say, Brother Xiao? Sell me that unicorn cub. I'll give you a fair price."

Xiao Chen was taken aback. "Why would I sell it to you?"

"Oh, ho? I've been talking for ages, my spit nearly dried up, and you still don't get it? The beast-fighting waters are deep; you can't wade through them on your own. Selling to me saves you trouble and ensures you never lack money for life."

This damned fat man really was a profiteer. Xiao Chen grumbled internally, then said, "I'm not selling."

He also grew wary. This fat man must have noticed the Little Defiant Dragon's extraordinary nature and put in all this effort. Could this guy have already realized it was a real dragon? But the continent had many dragon-kin subspecies; the Little Defiant Dragon's appearance shouldn't be that eye-catching.

After some persistent coaxing, seeing Xiao Chen truly wouldn't sell the Little Defiant Dragon, the fat man said dejectedly, "Alas, pity my saliva. After all this talk, you still don't get it. You blockhead."

"Looking for a kick?" Xiao Chen felt this fat man, though quite personable, was really asking for a beating.

"Just kidding! Hehe. How about this—we'll sign a contract. That unicorn cub stays yours, but I'll handle the management, okay?"

Xiao Chen had already labeled him a profiteer and had no intention of signing anything. "If you can offer the best terms, we can have a verbal agreement. In the future, matters regarding the Little Defiant Dragon will be handled by you, but I won't sign any written contract."

"So its name is Little Defiant Dragon. Fitting name. It really does act like a dragon. But Brother, you're being too underhanded. Verbal agreements don't hold water—only a signed contract is binding."

"I always keep my word and prefer dealing with honest people. If you're trustworthy, you shouldn't care about signing or not."

These words choked the fat man Zhuge Liang. He said sheepishly, "Brother, you really didn't crawl out of a cave in the old forest."

"Damn it, that line again. I'll kick you, you fat bastard!"

Next, Xiao Chen began discussing with this profiteer Zhuge Liang, learning more about the beast-fighting profession. The more he heard, the more he felt that this industry was tailor-made for the Little Defiant Dragon.

Meanwhile, the Little Defiant Dragon was grinding its teeth at the fat man, and Keke was also glaring darkly at him.