The final rounds of the tournament had begun, and each battle grew more intense. The strongest disciples from every sect stood at the peak, their reputations on the line.
But as Li Tian stepped into the arena, he sensed something different.
His next opponent wasn't just a martial genius—he was a beast cultivator.
The Challenger – Wei Rong, Master of Beasts
Wei Rong stood tall, his black robe embroidered with silver beast patterns. His expression was calm but filled with wild confidence.
Beside him, a massive black panther crouched, its golden eyes locked onto Li Tian with predatory focus. The aura it emitted was sharp—like a beast ready to pounce at any moment.
The crowd murmured in excitement.
"Wei Rong, the beast cultivator! He doesn't fight alone—his contracted beast fights alongside him!"
"That's a Shadowfang Panther! A Tier-4 beast specializing in assassination techniques!"
Li Tian remained composed. Beast cultivators were strong, but their true strength depended on the bond they shared with their contracted beasts.
Wei Rong smirked. "I hope you're ready, Li Tian. Let's see how you fare against the wild."
The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"
The Hunt Begins – Shadowfang's Assault
WHOOSH!
The moment the match started, the panther vanished into a blur of shadows.
Li Tian's eyes sharpened as he twisted his body—just in time to dodge a set of razor-sharp claws aimed at his throat.
'Fast.'
Before he could counter, Wei Rong closed in, throwing a powerful palm strike.
Li Tian raised an arm to block, only for the panther's tail to whip toward his ribs.
"Twin Predator Strike!"
BOOM!
Tian slid back a few steps, his sleeve slightly torn.
The audience gasped.
"He… He actually made Li Tian step back!"
Wei Rong chuckled. "You're strong, but can you handle both of us at once?"
Tian's eyes glowed slightly as his aura surged.
From the stands, a small silver-white fox resting beside Bai Ling suddenly perked up.
"Yue'r?" Bai Ling blinked. "What's wrong?"
The fox leaped onto the stage, landing gracefully beside Tian.
Wei Rong's expression shifted. "You… have a contracted beast too?"
The crowd erupted into noise.
"That's a Moonshadow Fox! But it's so small… how can it fight?"
Tian gently stroked Yue'r's fur. "You're not the only one with a beast companion."
Wei Rong's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Let's see what it can do."
Beast vs. Beast – The True Clash Begins
The panther roared, dashing toward Yue'r with its claws glowing with dark energy.
But Yue'r didn't move.
Instead, her silver eyes gleamed—and in an instant, the panther froze mid-air.
Wei Rong's eyes widened. "What?!"
The audience was stunned.
"Illusion technique? No, it's… suppression!"
The panther staggered back, confusion flickering in its golden eyes.
Tian vanished.
"Too slow."
A single palm strike landed on Wei Rong's chest, sending him flying out of the arena.
Reactions & Aftermath
Silence.
Then—
"Winner: Li Tian!"
The arena erupted with cheers and whispers.
"He… he won with a single strike!"
Wei Rong sat up, shaking his head before letting out a laugh.
"You win this time, Li Tian. But next time, I won't go down so easily."
Tian nodded. "I'll be waiting."
Yue'r curled up on his shoulder, yawning as if nothing had happened.
In the shadows, a group of elders watched intently.
"That fox… its bloodline is not ordinary."
"Li Tian's strength is growing too fast. We must keep an eye on him."
The final match was near.
And far more than just the tournament was at stake.