In the Puprle Cloud Archipelago, there are five arenas.
The main arena on Puprle Cloud Island won't open for the preliminary rounds; it will only be used during the group stage at the earliest.
Zhao Xing's Twin Island, located on the western side of the archipelago, meant he was placed in the Western Division to participate in the West Winter Evaluation Preliminary.
The Puprle Cloud Arena in the Western Division is located on Tianjing Island.
When Zhao Xing arrived, Tianjing Island was bustling with excitement. On land, in the sky, and even in the sea, people and exotic beasts could be seen everywhere—there were even members of the aquatic race dressed in their traditional attire.
"Sir, a total of 7,830 islands are participating in this West Winter Evaluation Preliminary," reported Tao Anchun as they docked the boat on the island. "As of one quarter past noon today, there are a total of 357,954 exotic beasts participating, but only one-tenth as many handlers. Ninety percent of the beasts are ranked at the Sixth Rank."
Looking at the ground mirror, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile, "What a grand event, with so many battle beasts."
"Each island has a minimum of two spots for contestants, but the actual number is much higher. Some large islands control hundreds or even thousands of spots."
"For example, Yalong Island, Myriad Beasts Island, and Puprle Cloud Island—these three large islands control over 50,000 spots each," said Dong Yuanqiu with a sigh.
"This year, these three large islands have only sent about a dozen people each for the Winter Preliminary. Most of the contestants are from medium and small islands. Even then, some medium-sized islands hold hundreds of spots."
Zhao Xing nodded, recognizing the stark difference in strength between the islands.
For islands like Myriad Beasts Island, Yalong Island, and Puprle Cloud Island, where Fourth-Rank and even higher-ranked battle beasts were abundant, they could afford to pick and choose among their Fourth-Rank battle beasts!
For such major islands, it was natural to have more spots, and they didn't even need to participate in the preliminary rounds. They even had guaranteed spots in the group stage; the question was merely how many spots they'd take up.
This preferential treatment was due to the powerful backing behind islands like Yalong, Myriad Beasts, and Puprle Cloud. Puprle Cloud Island belonged entirely to Princess You Ruo, as it was her mother's ancestral home. Yalong Island and Myriad Beasts Island also boasted supporters among the dukes and martial marquises.
With 350,000 battle beasts participating from the Western Division, it sounded like a lot. But in reality, each handler controlled multiple pets.
However, 90% of these beasts were Sixth Rank and merely there as stepping stones. Due to the brutal internal selection system, the death rate for these Sixth Rank beasts during the preliminary rounds reached as high as 50%. Nonetheless, many battle beasts would break through ranks, moving from Sixth to Fifth, or from Fifth to Fourth.
It was all a matter of who would end up as the stepping stone.
"Tiger Jiao and Azure Luan can die in the preliminaries, but the Mountain Cat cannot. If it encounters a strong enemy, it should forfeit," Zhao Xing thought to himself. There would be plenty of chances in the future.
Over the next five years, advancing in any of the four seasonal preliminaries would allow participation in the group stage held once every five years. This was the first year of the preliminaries, so even if they failed this time, there were still four years and a total of sixteen chances to qualify.
The Mountain Cat, Aotian, was only in the early stages of the Fifth Rank and had ample room for growth, so there was no need to risk its life just yet.
As for the Tiger Jiao and Azure Luan that the Dao Academy had provided, their growth potential was limited, so Zhao Xing didn't care too much.
Let them fight for survival in life-and-death battles. As battle beasts, it would be better to die on the battlefield than live out a life of boredom caged up.
While Zhao Xing was thinking, the leading ship in front suddenly came to a halt, and the lead flying boat also stopped.
There was even the faint sound of an argument.
"Is there a traffic jam?" Zhao Xing looked ahead.
"Sir, I'll go take a look," Tao Anchun volunteered.
But before he could go to investigate, flames suddenly burst from the left side of a nearby Mingyue Tower Ship, spraying towards a Seven-Sail Tower Ship on its left front.
The Seven-Sail Tower Ship didn't back down and quickly adjusted course, accelerating as it crashed into the Mingyue Tower Ship.
"Boom!"
The Seven-Sail Tower Ship, clad in a layer of black iron and equipped with piston-like ramming horns on its left side, rammed into the Mingyue Tower Ship, creating over a dozen holes in it.
"You damned ancestor, how dare you attack a military ship!"
"You scoundrel! I am of the Ji clan. How dare you insult me? Are you rebelling? Guards, seize them!"
"Bah! As if you're the only one with the Ji surname! Wolf God Guards, attack!"
The two ships quickly engaged in a boarding battle. Although only a few dozen people participated, there were over a thousand exotic beasts involved!
Even the lead flying boat from Tianjing Island got caught in the fray and was quickly shattered. The leading official managed to escape by leaping from the boat, saving his life.
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding people were stunned, and Zhao Xing was also speechless. Road rage seemed to be universal.
"Reverse the ship and gain altitude," Zhao Xing ordered.
The Cloud Rain Tower Ship he was on was a civilian vessel from the Shennong Office, not a warship, and wouldn't withstand a hit. If they got caught in the fray, it would be an undeserved disaster.
However, just as Zhao Xing had feared, since the Twin Island's Cloud Rain Tower Ship was positioned about a hundred meters behind these two ships and slightly lower, it was likely to get involved.
When the Seven-Sail Tower Ship capsized the Mingyue Tower Ship, the massive, over 2,000-meter-long vessel began to fall toward Zhao Xing's ship.
"Reverse! Reverse the ship now!"
"Activate the barrier!"
"The lead flying boat from Tianjing Island hasn't detached yet!"
"Forget about it; the lead officer can jump off on his own."
The crew on the Twin Island's Cloud Rain Tower Ship scrambled into action. Tao Anchun, Dong Yuanqiu, and the other officers quickly commanded the mechanists below to operate the ship in reverse.
"This is absurd," Zhao Xing muttered as he leapt off the ship. The officials from Twin Island weren't military personnel, so their response time was too slow. Zhao Xing calculated that if he didn't intervene, the falling Mingyue Tower Ship would crash into theirs.
With ships surrounding him on all sides and little room to maneuver, he couldn't retreat far enough to avoid a collision.
"Nine Heavens Gale Technique, rise!"
With a flash, Zhao Xing appeared outside the ship, summoning nine gusts of azure wind around the Mingyue Tower Ship. The gales extinguished the flames and corrected the ship's tilt, halting its descent.
"Such skilled wind manipulation! Who are you?" someone on the Mingyue Tower Ship shouted in astonishment.
If Zhao Xing hadn't intervened, the Sixth and Seventh Rank officers on the ship might have escaped, but the Eighth and Ninth Rank mechanists working below deck would likely have perished with the ship.
Before Zhao Xing could respond, a youth clad in luxurious attire shouted angrily from the Seven-Sail Tower Ship, "Who dares meddle? Are you seeking death? My father is Marquis Jinwu! My mother is Lady Yuan Yao, and I am…"
His words trailed off as Zhao Xing cast another gale to lock down the Seven-Sail Tower Ship.
With his mastery of the Nine Heavens Gale Technique, Zhao Xing created two spherical wind barriers around both ships, separating them.
Despite the Seven-Sail Tower Ship's full-throttle attempt to escape, it couldn't break free from the wind barrier.
Zhao Xing's proficiency in the Nine Heavens Gale Technique had reached advanced perfection, forming a magical domain of wind that the Fifth-Rank tower ship couldn't escape.
Thunder crackled within the barrier, and streaks of lightning emerged, prompting the combatants on both sides to fall silent.
"An expert!" The young man claiming to be Marquis Jinwu's son quickly came to his senses, looking far more rational.
On the Mingyue Tower Ship, Earl Wen Ce's son, Ji An, couldn't help but marvel, "Which commander does this man serve under? His strength is impressive…wait, he's just a Sixth-Rank officer! How did such a powerful figure emerge in the Puprle Cloud Archipelago?"
A Sixth-Rank officer capable of mastering advanced techniques and dual domains was rare, particularly outside of military ranks.
Ignoring their surprise, Zhao Xing continued holding the ships in place, awaiting the arrival of Tianjing Island's Inspectorate officials.
The Tianjing Island Inspectorate was swift to respond; no sooner had Zhao Xing initiated his technique than they arrived.
A patrol team on a flying boat positioned itself above the two combatant ships.
The lead inspector, Liang Hongyu, a Fifth-Rank officer, surveyed the scene in surprise.
"What happened here?" she asked the lead officers, who had jumped from their respective ships.
After a quick inquiry, Liang Hongyu gained a clear understanding of the situation.
Flying over to Zhao Xing, she offered him a respectful bow, her voice crisp and formal, "Thank you, sir, for helping to maintain order. May I know your name?"
Though Liang Hongyu held a higher rank, she was courteous because Zhao Xing's skill surpassed that of an ordinary Sixth-Rank officer.
"I am Zhao Xing, Commander of Twin Island's Dragon Horse Office."
"A Shennong officer?" Liang Hongyu raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Commander Zhao, would you kindly lift the wind barrier around the Seven-Sail Tower Ship?"
"Certainly." Zhao Xing waved his hand, and the barrier around the Seven-Sail Tower Ship dissipated.
"Apprehend everyone on this ship except the mechanists!" Liang Hongyu commanded briskly, wasting no time in arresting the offenders once she had determined the guilty party.
"You wretch! My father is…"
"Silence!" Liang Hongyu snapped. "Modifying a Seven-Sail Ship into a warship without permission? Unless your father is a duke or prince, you're under arrest!"
The young man claiming to be Marquis Jinwu's son was promptly shackled and the ship towed to an offshore island for detainment.
Meanwhile, Ji An from the Mingyue Tower Ship was also set to be detained. However, due to the severe damage to his ship, he needed to wait for repairs by the Tianjing Island's Mechanist Division before he could move.
Seeing the continued delay, Zhao Xing glanced at Liang Hongyu and suggested, "Inspector Liang, how about I transport both ships and personnel to the island?"
Liang Hongyu hesitated, "Commander Zhao, there's still over an hour's journey left. Are you sure you can maintain the barrier for that long?"
Zhao Xing replied confidently, "No need for such a hassle. By the time you clear the traffic, adjust the entry arrays, and redirect the route, it would be even more time-consuming. Don't worry; I won't let them fall."
With a glint of admiration in her eyes, Liang Hongyu cupped her hands in thanks, "Then I will trouble you, Commander Zhao."
With that, Zhao Xing lifted the damaged tower ship and flew forward, drawing the attention of those around them. Manipulating the Nine Heavens Gale Domain to carry a Fifth-Rank tower ship wasn't a feat just anyone could accomplish.
After flying for over an hour and a half, they reached the dock of Tianjing Island's Tower Ship Division.
As Zhao Xing was preparing to leave, Ji An, now in shackles, insisted on coming over to greet him.
Ji An, still under guard, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, "Ji An, styled Mingzhi, County Magistrate of Kaiyang on Qixing Island. I thank you, Commander Zhao, for saving me earlier."
Qixing Island, a medium-sized island, was an alliance of seven smaller islands, each with its own magistrate.
In some cases, magistrates held more sway than even the Dragon Horse Office officials on these islands. Sometimes the Left Director was also the county magistrate.
"Zhao Xing, styled Chen'an, Dragon Horse Office Commander of Twin County." Zhao Xing returned the gesture politely. "It was merely a convenient gesture; I hope Brother Ji can keep his temper in check in the future."
Ji An chuckled, "Brother Zhao is right. May I know where you'll be staying on the island? Once I've settled my fine, I'd like to pay a proper visit in gratitude."
Zhao Xing turned to Tao Anchun, who looked embarrassed and whispered, "Sir, it seems Twin Island hasn't been in the competition for many years. This time, we got a special spot, so Tianjing Island hasn't arranged any lodging for us. We'll have to find our own place to stay…"
Nodding, Zhao Xing replied to Ji An, "Apologies, Brother Ji, but we haven't found a place to stay yet."
Ji An looked a bit surprised; an officer of Zhao Xing's caliber was surely deserving of a decent spot. How was it possible that Tianjing Island hadn't made any arrangements?
Puzzled but undeterred, Ji An said, "If Brother Zhao doesn't mind, I can arrange accommodations at the Qixing Island facilities."
After considering it, Zhao Xing nodded. "Thank you for the offer."
"Haha! It's my pleasure, even if I have to greet you in shackles!" Ji An laughed warmly. "Wait here for a moment; I'll return shortly."
With that, Ji An left with Liang Hongyu to handle his fine.
"Sir, that man seems quite genuine. Qixing Island is medium-sized, so we won't need to rent a place after all," Tao Anchun remarked, smiling as he watched Ji An depart.
Finding lodging on Tianjing Island would have been costly, as official inns were full and private rentals or land purchases were pricey.
Since Qixing Island hadn't missed a preliminary for years, they already had a well-established presence on Tianjing Island, making it easy for them to secure accommodations.
As Tao Anchun predicted, when Ji An returned after paying his fine, Zhao Xing discovered that he owned a large manor within Tianjing City, covering over a thousand acres.
"A thousand acres? Brother Ji, you certainly live in style," Tao Anchun couldn't help but marvel.
Ji An chuckled, "Well, I have to thank my predecessor. Before I took office, Kaiyang County had already purchased this property."
"Brother Ji, you're quite lucky," Zhao Xing mused. "I can only wish my predecessor had left something useful for us."
Ji An shrugged, "It's not really luck; the former magistrate of Kaiyang County was my elder brother."
Tao Anchun: "…"
Everywhere you go, there are connections, it seems.
Zhao Xing, however, wasn't surprised; he himself was something of a connected official.
In the Eastern Sea Islands, this was common. Grandfathers would finish their terms as magistrates and then pass the position down to their sons, who'd then pass it down to their grandsons.
Since many of the Eastern Sea Islands operate under a system similar to a native chieftainship, it wasn't unusual to see familial power passing down through generations.
For instance, Long Xiao's fiancée Bai Ling came from one of the most prominent chieftain families in the Eastern Sea—her grandfather, Bai Yunwu, was a leading chieftain in the region.
However, Ji An's case was different. He wasn't of mixed or aquatic lineage; his influence stemmed solely from political maneuvers within the official ranks.
"It's been tough these past few years." Ji An suddenly sighed in the middle of their conversation.
"Oh? What makes you say that, Brother Ji?" Zhao Xing prompted.
"As soon as the campaign to pacify the barbarians started, policies across the Eastern Sea have become increasingly restrictive. In past years, I could pull some strings and secure a direct slot in the Puprle Cloud Western Division group stage without even needing to participate in the preliminaries."
"But now, we have to compete just to get through the preliminaries," Ji An continued with a wry smile. "Especially since King Liang came to power, the Eastern Sea has been ruthlessly squeezed. My elder brother, the former magistrate of Kaiyang County, used to be required to raise ten Fifth-Rank battle beasts every three years. Now, it's fifteen per year!"
"And if we don't meet that quota, we're forced to downsize. Not only do people's salaries get cut, but the rations for the beasts are also halved."
"If this continues for another decade, I doubt we'll even be able to afford beast handlers and trainers," Ji An sighed deeply.
"Brother Ji, aren't you a beast handler yourself?" Zhao Xing asked, somewhat surprised.
Ji An was taken aback. "What? Are you telling me, Brother Zhao, that you handle your own beasts?"
Zhao Xing nodded. "Indeed, I am my own handler."
Tao Anchun looked puzzled. "Is it common to hire handlers, then?"
"Of course," Ji An replied. "The Dragon Horse Office only provides the basic care and maintenance. Skilled beast handlers must be hired independently. Rely on a simple Shennong Priest from the Chenghua Directorate to lead beasts into battle? Those guys are good for rituals at best."
Dong Yuanqiu, who was from the Chenghua Directorate himself, looked a bit embarrassed since he was the Deputy Steward there.
Ji An, too, seemed slightly taken aback, as if realizing that although Zhao Xing was skilled, his team didn't seem well-versed in the typical customs or going rates. They definitely didn't look like an elite squad.
Zhao Xing was well aware of such things, though, and explained, "It's not just the handlers; high-level islands often recruit a whole range of specialists, including beast physicians, Shennong Priests, dance masters, musicians, ritual masters, and even combat experts as sparring partners."
Tao Anchun was taken aback. "So many different people are needed?"
"Indeed," Ji An said. "Take Yalong Island, for example. They only employ medical officers and Shennong Priests who are retired military medics, Shennong officers, or doctorate graduates from the Dao Academy."
"Competitions between battle beasts are fierce and long-lasting. A beast injured today may need to fight again tomorrow. The only ones capable of restoring battle beasts' combat strength quickly are military medics."
"The Shennong Priests are equally crucial, as battle beasts need to adapt to different climates and landscapes for optimal performance. After all, the ultimate goal of the Myriad Beasts Competition is access to the Ancient Dragon Court."
"Inside, the environment is harsher and survival is more challenging."
"So, training for battle beasts is intensive. One day they might be required to train in a frigid environment, and the next, in sweltering heat."
"A civilian Shennong Priest can't pull that off. Even if they can manipulate seasonal Qi, they can't sustain it for long."
"Then there's the issue of feeding them. Carnivorous beasts are simpler to handle, but for herbivorous beasts, precise nutrition is required."
"Herbivorous beasts are often huge, with equally massive food requirements for high-quality feed."
"To be self-sufficient, cultivation speed and scale must both increase. Some rare plants can't be grown by just any ordinary Shennong Priest."
Dong Yuanqiu, Tao Anchun, Cao Jiang, and the others listened in astonishment, realizing just how intricate these requirements were. It seemed the previous Commander's failures were far from mere bad luck.
Zhao Xing continued Ji An's line of thought, saying, "Besides military medics and Shennong Priests, larger islands also recruit musicians and dancers. Music helps soothe the beasts, while dance incites their fighting spirit. Martial artists and ritual masters also act as sparring partners."
"A beast handler's performance on the battlefield might seem glorious, but it's rarely just their effort. A skilled beast handler is often backed by a powerful logistical team who quietly dedicates their support."
"Yes," Ji An agreed. "Ten years ago, Qixing Island poached a Fifth-Rank Shennong Priest from the Self School at Shangluo Academy. Thanks to him, we've maintained Qixing's status as a 'medium-sized island.'"
"Brother Zhao, if Twin Island hasn't hired beast handlers, does that mean you're responsible for the Divine Feeding Office's tasks?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "No, Tao Daren is responsible for that."
Tao Anchun looked a bit embarrassed. Although he was indeed in charge of the Divine Feeding Office, Zhao Xing himself had handled most of the cultivation for the rarer plants.
As for the Mountain Cat, Tiger Jiao, and Azure Luan, he hadn't managed them at all.
In truth, Zhao Xing had single-handedly led the Twin Dragon Horse Office to the preliminary rounds. Moving forward, the office would continue to rely on Zhao Xing and his battle beasts to fight in the arena.
Notably, the Twin Dragon Horse Office didn't even have a proper beast physician. The physician they'd brought along this time, Wen Mujin, was only a temporary stand-in.
After more conversation, the officials from the Twin Dragon Horse Office couldn't help but feel slightly disheartened. The thrill of competing was fading even before the competition began.
Compared to Ji An's team, they had very little worth mentioning besides Zhao Xing.
One could even say their side seemed woefully underprepared.
Sensing the awkwardness, Ji An tactfully refrained from bringing it up further.
The ship sailed on peacefully for a while until Ji An pointed forward, saying, "Brother Zhao, up ahead is Tianjing City. Fly southwest toward the foot of Jiannan Mountain, and you'll find my Kaiyang Pavilion."
"Understood."
…
When they docked in Tianjing City, they arrived at Kaiyang Pavilion, which covered over a thousand acres and sat alongside four other estates belonging to Qixing Island.
The manor was well-equipped, with an artificial lake for aquatic beasts to train and tall, expansive buildings. Zhao Xing settled the Tiger Jiao and Azure Luan in Tuoquan Palace, a section designated for Kaiyang's exotic beasts, while the Mountain Cat stayed in the guest room with him.
Arriving on December 2, the competition would start on December 4. With two days to go, Zhao Xing chose to remain in the Kaiyang Pavilion, refraining from venturing out.
The preliminary competition's theme was "Winter," lasting an entire month.
The format had multiple stages, not limited to mere combat.
"From December 4 to 11, for these seven days, it's a 'Flag Capture Competition.'"
"Out of the 350,000 exotic beasts, they'll leave the arena area and spread across the island to capture 10,000 flags."
"Capturing a flag qualifies you for the next stage."
"The Flag Capture phase ends on the 11th, and on the 12th, the 'Survival Battle' begins."
"Third-Rank Shennong Priests will alter Tianjing Island's seasonal Qi and terrain."
"This phase also lasts seven days, and during this time, all vegetation withers across the island. Outside designated areas for human activity, there's no way to get supplies. Only a few spots offer food resources."
"In this harsh environment, Essence Qi will be rapidly depleted, and they'll have to fend off attacks from competitors. Surviving seven days will be extremely challenging."
"However, if the pressure becomes too much, handlers can recall their battle beasts to the arena."
"The Survival Battle ends on the 18th, and on the 19th, the 'Ice Sealing Training' begins. This stage is held underwater, requiring competitors to start from the northern waters off Tianjing Island, circle east, south, west, and return to the starting point."
"The Ice Sealing phase lasts ten days. After ten days, they'll go straight into an aerial melee."
"During the aerial battle, beasts aren't allowed to touch the ground; they must stay airborne continuously. This tests both stamina and combat prowess."
"Only the top 3,000 beasts will make it through the preliminaries."
"Phew." Zhao Xing sighed as he read through the rules.
The elimination rate was indeed severe.
From 350,000 beasts, only 3,000 would advance through the preliminaries.
The competition was whittling them down with hundred-to-one odds. And these participating beasts had already been screened once by the Divine Selection Office.
"Aotian, do you think you can handle it?" Zhao Xing looked over at the Mountain Cat, who was contentedly munching on a fish, and couldn't help but feel worried.
"Meow~" Sensing its master's unease, the Mountain Cat put down the fish, walked over, and nuzzled Zhao Xing's shoulder.
"All right, I trust you," Zhao Xing smiled, "but if you find yourself in a tough spot, remember to follow my orders and retreat, understood?"
"Meow~"
Meanwhile, in Tianjing City's Longshi Pavilion, the headquarters for the largest island in the Western Puprle Cloud Archipelago—Longshi Island—the Commander of the Dragon Horse Office, Tong Wanyang, was in discussion with his deputy, Yu Pengcheng.
"None of the top ten islands from last year have sent their most powerful beasts this time," Yu Pengcheng analyzed. "Though they've sent Fourth-Rank beasts, only four have divine-grade bloodlines, each ranging from first to third stage."
"They include the Fourth-Rank, Stage One divine-bloodline Emperor Crocodile from Jiulong Bay, the Fourth-Rank mid-stage Lingxi Spirit Beast from Dragon Spring Island, the Fourth-Rank mid-stage Frost Roaring Giant Bear from Bear Island with Stage Two divine bloodline, and the Fourth-Rank mid-stage Wrathful Dragon from Xin Yan Island with a Stage Three divine bloodline."
Tong Wanyang scanned through the list and tossed it aside with a chuckle. "It looks like everyone wants to develop peacefully this time and avoid last year's intense clashes."
"Indeed," Yu Pengcheng nodded. "Rumor has it that the campaign to pacify the barbarians will escalate to the mid-level stage next year. No one knows how many battle beasts will be requisitioned, so everyone has to tighten their belts."
In this era, the Myriad Beasts Competition took a backseat, with the barbarian pacification campaign taking priority.
At least in the Pinghai Province and Eastern Sea regions, this was the norm.
Due to these circumstances, the islands had intentionally lowered their internal attrition during preliminaries and group stages to avoid exhausting their resources for the upcoming military dispatches.
"Has Wang Xuanyi arrived in Tianjing City?" Tong Wanyang inquired.
"Yes," Yu Pengcheng nodded. "I was planning to visit him."
"Good, while you're at it, see if you can get a sense of next year's situation," Tong Wanyang mused, "and ask about the conditions surrounding next year's deployment."
"Oh, right," Tong Wanyang added as if recalling something, "the Twin Dragon Horse Office's resources were approved by Wang Xuanyi, weren't they? Try to find out if there's any connection between Wang Xuanyi and Zhao Xing."
"I heard the Marquis of Yuanrang was exiled here because he offended King Liang. It doesn't make sense that Wang Xuanyi would value him unless there's another reason, perhaps related to Princess You Ruo?"
"I'll look into it."
…
At that same time, in Tianjing City's Chongming Mansion, the Deputy Grand Shennong, Wang Xuanyi, had just arrived at the government offices.
"Deputy Minister Yu Hong pays respects to Lord Wang."
"Mm," Wang Xuanyi nodded. "Are the arrangements for the preliminaries complete?"
"All set, my lord. The islands are sealed off, and all four stages have been prepared accordingly."
"The Eastern Sea Corps' four military divisions, totaling 120,000 troops, are on standby inside and outside the island," Yu Hong reported with a respectful tone.
"And the number of participants?"
"The actual turnout of handlers and beasts fell short of the initial registrations by 1,246 people and 7,846 beasts," Yu Hong replied.
Wang Xuanyi nodded and proceeded to his seat in the main hall.
"Hummm~" The ground mirror above the hall descended, allowing for surveillance of Tianjing Island's interior and surrounding areas.
At the same time, a ranking board appeared nearby, though it hadn't been activated yet.
Wang Xuanyi briefly scanned the list of participants before his gaze stopped on the section listing Zhao Xing of the Twin Dragon Horse Office.
"Here for his first year already? He's brought a Tiger Jiao, an Azure Luan, and a Mountain Cat… Let's see if he can pass the first round," Wang Xuanyi thought to himself before turning his attention elsewhere.
…
On the evening of December 2, Zhao Xing sat by the lake, watching as the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao frolicked in the water.
Nearby, the Mountain Cat sat quietly, imitating Zhao Xing's cross-legged meditation. It even tried mimicking his breathing exercises but soon found its eyelids drooping with drowsiness.
"Now, you're quite the interesting cat…" Ji An approached and looked curiously at the Mountain Cat. "It's unusually intelligent, isn't it?"
"Behave like a proper cat." Zhao Xing chuckled, patting Aotian.
"Ah~" The Mountain Cat yawned and opened its eyes.
"Brother Ji, why aren't you resting yet?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Just came out for a walk," Ji An smiled, then added, "Brother Zhao, are you only bringing two battle beasts to compete?"
"Three."
"Even the Mountain Cat is participating?" Ji An pointed at Aotian, looking a bit dubious.
"Yes, I thought it'd be good for it to experience the world a bit."
Curious, Ji An examined the Mountain Cat. "Is it really up for it? Isn't it just an ordinary-bloodline Mountain Cat? Can it really endure all four rounds?"
"Meow!" Aotian stood up, narrowed its eyes, and let out an indignant growl as sparks of electricity crackled around it.
Zhao Xing jumped in surprise, rushing to help Ji An back on his feet. "Brother, are you all right?"
"Yes… I'm fine…cough, cough," Ji An replied, stunned. Despite being a Fifth-Rank official, he hadn't expected to be zapped by a Mountain Cat.
Climbing back up, Ji An's eyes gleamed with admiration as he gazed at the cat. "Brother Zhao, is this cat for sale?"
Zhao Xing chuckled and shook his head. "It's priceless."
"You won't even ask me what I'd offer?" Ji An pressed.
"Even if I were willing to sell, Brother Ji, you'd hesitate to buy it. This cat has a father who'd come after you—a sword immortal. Do you dare risk that?"
Ji An looked confused, unsure if Zhao Xing was joking, but he left it at that.
…
December 4, early morning.
Several officials from Qixing Island's other six counties arrived at Kaiyang Pavilion. However, none seemed to take notice of Zhao Xing, an inconspicuous Sixth-Rank Shennong Officer.
Upon gathering, they quickly turned to Ji An to discuss strategy.
After two hours of planning, Ji An brought up an unrelated topic. "My brothers, on the journey here, I got into a bit of trouble, and it was only thanks to the Twin Dragon Horse Office's Zhao Xing that I got through it."
"He only has three battle beasts, all of which are Fifth-Rank, but his team is rather underdeveloped and lacking in support."
"I'm thinking of inviting him to join our Qixing Island group to share information and access to our healers as a favor. What do you all think?"
"I'm fine with it."
"No objections here."
However, a young man furrowed his brow. "Brother Ji, if you want to repay him, why do it now? He's only a Sixth-Rank Shennong Officer with just three beasts. Even if our dragon pets help him clear one round, they can't escort him through the whole competition."
"You'd only be hurting him by doing this, not helping," he added bluntly.
"Brother Gu," Ji An looked at Gu Yi, the magistrate of Yaoguang County, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you saying you disagree?"
"I just don't think it's wise," Gu Yi replied.
"I agree with Brother Gu," added another Fifth-Rank official. "We're not familiar with him, and if we let his beasts accompany ours, it could cause complications."
"Fine," Ji An said, nodding. "I hadn't considered that. I'll just share my personal healer with him, then."
Ji An understood they were mainly concerned that Zhao Xing's team would be a liability or that it might expose the weaknesses of their beasts—a valid concern.
…
December 4, early dawn.
Zhao Xing stepped outside Kaiyang Pavilion.
At the same time, Ji An, Gu Yi, and the other Qixing Island magistrates and Shennong Officers gathered outside with their team—a formidable group of fourteen Fifth-Rank and forty-eight Sixth-Rank officials with 182 battle beasts in total. For a medium-sized island, their strength was impressive, as half of these beasts were Fifth-Rank.
"Brother Zhao." Ji An approached him with an apologetic look. "Originally, I wanted to invite you to join us, but since I'm not acting alone, I'm afraid I can't extend the invitation."
"No worries." Zhao Xing smiled. "I appreciate the thought. Go on and do what you need to do, Brother Ji."
"If your beasts need healing or support, don't hesitate to contact me," Ji An offered.
"Will do," Zhao Xing nodded.
…
After they parted ways, Zhao Xing returned to his quarters and closed his eyes to summon the Tiger Jiao and Azure Luan.
"Roar~" "Screech~"
The two beasts promptly returned from the lakeside, landing before Zhao Xing.
"Aotian, hop on."
"Meow~" The Mountain Cat leaped onto the Azure Luan's back.
Zhao Xing gave orders to his subordinates, "Tao Daren, Cao Daren, keep an eye on the ground mirror. Alert me at once if there's an emergency."
"Understood, sir."
"Master Wen, please prepare the medicinal supplies. Let me know immediately if we run short on anything."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Tao Anchun and the others set about their tasks.
Zhao Xing then closed his eyes to establish a soul contract connection.
When he opened them again, he could see through three perspectives: one from the Mountain Cat, and the others from the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao.
"Let's go!"
The Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao took to the sky, carrying the Mountain Cat on its back.
According to the rules, they had to leave the city by a quarter past dawn and capture at least three flags within seven days to qualify for the next round.
December 4, a quarter past dawn.
Countless exotic beasts soared out from Tianjing City, which faced south.
Upon exiting the barrier, the beasts split in three directions—east, west, and south.
Ten thousand flags had been scattered throughout the island, and capturing just one would qualify them to advance.
"Roar!"
As soon as they exited the eastern gate, Zhao Xing noticed a massive head peeking over the city wall about a kilometer west of the gate.
"An Emperor Crocodile with a divine bloodline? Judging by its aura, it's definitely Fourth-Rank," Zhao Xing thought, controlling the Azure Luan to take a quick look back.
The giant Emperor Crocodile, nearly a thousand meters long, had a back lined with spikes and a dark gold sacred pattern coiling around its body.
"Nine Emperor Crocodiles in total, stationed right outside the eastern city gate," Zhao Xing noted. "It seems they're not planning to search for flags."
The competition required the beasts to find flags and return them to the city within seven days to count.
An Emperor Crocodile had little reason to search for flags itself.
By blocking one section of the city's entrance, it could just wait for weaker beasts to bring flags back and then take them by force.
Roars echoed from the other directions as well, accompanied by shadows casting across the city gates.
Through the eyes of the Azure Luan, Zhao Xing glimpsed a massive Wrathful Dragon coiling above the western gate, its spectral form casting a dark presence over the area.
Meanwhile, at the southern gate, a Frost Roaring Giant Bear wielding an enormous spiked mace and clad in heavy armor stood guard, barring any approach.
"With the entrances guarded like this, it looks like any returning beasts will need an extra flag," Zhao Xing mused. "Without it, they won't be able to get back in."
These Fourth-Rank beasts with divine bloodlines were in a league of their own, towering above the rest of the competitors. They had no need to chase after flags—they belonged to the top ten factions of the Western Division, and with their strength, they could easily secure however many flags they wanted.
However, these top ten factions hadn't sent many beasts this year. Once they had enough flags, they would simply withdraw, sparing others from confrontation with the gate guardians.
"Aotian, let's… hmm?" Zhao Xing was about to instruct Aotian, but through the Azure Luan's eyes, he noticed a flag embroidered with a golden dragon, sticking up from a pile of rubble in a nearby valley.
"Luck's on my side… we've barely flown a few miles out, and we've already spotted a flag?"
Zhao Xing immediately directed the Azure Luan to swoop down and seize it.
Beast handlers played an essential role in guiding their beasts. Without a handler's input, even the most capable beasts would struggle with complex tasks.
If Zhao Xing were to send Aotian out to find a flag on its own without a soul contract connection, he'd have to constantly steer it with commands.
The Mountain Cat, left to its own devices, might even get lost after leaving the city gates. Finding a flag? It would likely just wander aimlessly, thinking, "What's a flag, and can it be eaten?"
The Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao were similarly dependent. They might understand this time, but next time they'd probably be just as clueless.
Just as the Azure Luan began to descend, a golden streak shot from the left, moving even faster.
"A golden hawk? A Fifth-Rank golden hawk with that speed? Azure Luan, pull back—don't pursue."
Zhao Xing watched as the hawk reached the flag first, snatching it up in its talons before speeding off.
Among Fifth-Rank beasts, golden hawks were unrivaled in speed. But their stamina was an issue—they could only maintain top speed for about an hour before needing rest and sustenance.
Meanwhile, the Azure Luan could sustain high-speed flight for over six hours without pause.
The Mountain Cat tilted its head in confusion.
"We can't keep up," Zhao Xing explained to the cat through the soul connection.
"Meow!" The Mountain Cat looked indignant, seemingly unhappy with the explanation.
Ignoring the cat's reaction, Zhao Xing directed the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao to avoid crowded areas, opting instead to patrol at high altitude.
The advantage of avian beasts was their ability to fly high and see far. The Tiger Jiao, although capable of flight, served as more of a bodyguard in this formation since its eyesight wasn't as sharp.
From the Azure Luan's elevation, the landscape below was hazy to the Tiger Jiao, almost like an indistinct blur.
As 350,000 battle beasts surged out of Tianjing City, many clashed the moment they cleared the gates.
Sensing this, the Azure Luan soared even higher to avoid the skirmishes, though the sky was still teeming with flying beasts.
But with their Fifth-Rank status, Zhao Xing's three-beast team was not easy prey. The sight of a Mountain Cat perched atop the Azure Luan's back was bizarre enough that it deterred many from approaching.
However, flags were another matter.
"There, more flags! One, two, three, four—a total of four golden dragon flags!" Zhao Xing's luck seemed almost unbelievable. Barely two minutes into flight, he had spotted four flags sticking out of a pond below.
"Go for it!" Zhao Xing urged, sending the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao diving toward the pond.
With a gust of powerful wind, the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao plummeted toward the pond, causing nearby Sixth-Rank beasts to scatter.
"There are flags! Go!" In one of the monitoring rooms within Tianjing City, a beast handler named Huang Biao, who controlled four Fifth-Rank Golden Winged Lions, spotted the flags at the same time as Zhao Xing.
Huang Biao immediately ordered his lions to dive for the flags, all the while scanning the area for potential rivals.
"Azure Luan's special moves include Frost Assault, Ice Feather Strike, Frost Wall, Ice Spike Rush, and Frost Mist," he muttered, sizing up Zhao Xing's team.
"As for the Tiger Jiao, its moves are Ocean Realm, Tiger Roar Dragon Chant, Dragon Fang Devour, and Reverse Scale Burst."
Huang Biao's eyes locked onto Zhao Xing's team, scrutinizing every aspect of the beasts.
"Huh? Is that… a cat?"
Huang Biao's mind raced as he struggled to recall any relevant details.
In the competition or on the battlefield, Mountain Cats were exceedingly rare as battle beasts.
Most cats were too stubborn to train, let alone deploy in battle.
"Strange. Better play it safe," Huang Biao thought, slowing his lions' approach and instructing them to adopt a defensive formation in mid-air.
To his surprise, the Azure Luan didn't employ any special moves. It simply glided down, snatched up the four flags, and flew off without hesitation.
"What?" Huang Biao was dumbstruck, watching the Azure Luan's retreating form.
"Could this handler be a master tactician? Leaving his back exposed like that without any special moves?"
"A brilliant strategy—no moves, no predictable patterns. Pure genius! He's truly mastered the art of holding back." Huang Biao muttered to himself.
Little did he know that Zhao Xing was no expert in tactics or advanced moves.
Having only had the Azure Luan and Tiger Jiao for a few days, Zhao Xing hadn't even figured out how to properly guide them in unleashing their techniques. He was practically a beginner, just here to get some practical experience.
Battle strategy? That was out of the question—Zhao Xing was only here to familiarize himself with his beasts.
In reality, Huang Biao was overthinking things, fighting an imaginary battle of wits.
"Four flags in hand," Zhao Xing smiled back at the Twin Dragon Horse Office team stationed in the monitoring room. "If it weren't for those divine-bloodline beasts guarding the gates, I'd have the Tiger Jiao and Azure Luan return to the city right now."
"Unfortunately, we'll need a few extra flags to get past them."
"Hmm? Is someone following us?" Zhao Xing noticed through the Azure Luan's senses that a group seemed to be tailing his beasts.
Turning to look, he saw that it was none other than Huang Biao's four Golden Winged Lions.
"This guy is strange. He didn't go for the flags earlier, and I thought he was avoiding a fight. Now he's following me?"
"Playing the long game? This doesn't make much sense." Zhao Xing was puzzled. Had the competitor wanted to fight over the flags, he would have yielded without issue. After all, the competition had only just begun, and there was no need for needless conflict.
"Roar!" The Golden Winged Lions let out frustrated cries.
It turned out that, after some time observing Zhao Xing's three beasts, Huang Biao realized the truth.
"So that's it… This guy's not a master tactician at all; he's a complete novice!"
"I was totally duped!"
Huang Biao cursed himself, feeling utterly humiliated. If word got out that a distinguished graduate of Wanhua Dao Academy had been intimidated by an amateur, his reputation would be ruined!
"Aotian, go give those big cats a taste of their own medicine," Zhao Xing commanded, then quickly realized his wording might confuse the Mountain Cat.
"Aotian, they're trying to steal our food. Go teach them a lesson."
"Meow!!" Aotian's fur immediately stood on end.
Steal food? That was the ultimate offense!
"Sizzle—sizzle—"
Aotian's eyes gleamed with a mix of blue and purple, and bands of mystical light spread from its head down to its tail.
Within moments, the Mountain Cat entered its Second Transformation state.
Its body now armored in blue and purple scales, its fangs and claws elongated, and lightning and fierce winds circulated around its form.
In an instant, a muscular, heavily built Mountain Cat encased in blue-purple scale armor appeared atop the Azure Luan, exuding a metallic sheen.
"What…what kind of transformation is that?" Huang Biao was stunned. "A Mountain Cat with a metal-element affinity? But that doesn't seem right."
While he stood bewildered, the Mountain Cat vanished from the Azure Luan's back.
"Thud!"
A sharp pain shot through Huang Biao's sides as he felt an intense weightlessness descend upon him.
"What?"
Huang Biao was dumbstruck. His view tilted, and the ground seemed to rush toward him.
In a mere instant, his four Golden Winged Lions were paralyzed, their wings ripped off by the Mountain Cat.
"What just happened? What kind of cat can do that?" Huang Biao was at a loss.
Moments ago, he thought he was dealing with an amateur; now, he felt he'd encountered a supreme expert.
He couldn't believe that a Mountain Cat could so easily disable his mid-Fifth-Rank Golden Winged Lions, each boasting a sixth-tier bloodline.
Zhao Xing, equally surprised, watched Aotian's performance with widened eyes.
"Is Aotian incredibly strong, or are those Golden Winged Lions just that weak?"
"It's a total blind spot in my knowledge—I didn't think a Mountain Cat could be this formidable…" Zhao Xing thought, bewildered.
After all, no one would lavish such precious resources on a cat. It was a rare indulgence, even within the Twin Dragon Horse Office.
For the most part, Zhao Xing hadn't even used Aotian as a sparring partner since his clones couldn't compete with it, and his true self was often preoccupied with official duties.
"Aotian, I think I might have underestimated your power," Zhao Xing admitted.
"Meow~" Aotian reclined atop the Azure Luan, casually licking its paw.
Curious, Zhao Xing asked through their connection, "Aotian, when we left the city, you saw those giants guarding the gates—were you afraid of them?"
Aotian straightened up and looked back at the city walls, where the faint silhouette of an Emperor Crocodile could still be seen.
The Mountain Cat's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Is that big fish something we're going to eat? "Eat?"
Zhao Xing was momentarily taken aback.
Not only did Aotian not fear the Emperor Crocodile, but it actually wanted to devour it?
"Well, if you're that tough, why hunt for flags? Let's go back to the city and eat that fish!"