Chapter 155: The Final Draw – Lin Qi’an vs. Ye Yun!
A pet-like little spiritual beast swung its tail and sent the mountain-like Grand Mystic Bull flying, shattering its horns in the process.
The massive bull lay on the ground, breathing heavily and unable to rise. The crowd collectively gasped, their disbelief palpable.
They stared at the small spiritual beast as though they had seen a ghost. The creature, seemingly unbothered, yawned and perched itself on Lin Qi’an’s shoulder, affectionately nuzzling him.
After a long silence, the audience began to murmur in awe.
“This is insane! Absolutely insane!”
“Crown Prince, I’m sorry for doubting you. This spiritual beast is terrifying!”
“Damn, that strength rivals a Dao Transformation Realm expert!”
“The Grand Mystic Bull looked like a mere chick in front of it!”
Even the half-Saint elder hosting the event was stunned for a moment before finally announcing, “Lin Qi’an wins.”
Cheers erupted, starting in Tianjian City and spreading like a tidal wave across the audience.
“Who said the Crown Prince was just messing around? That spiritual beast could probably defeat everyone here!”
“Hahaha, I thought it was just cute, but its strength is monstrous! What a show!”
Li Xuan stood frozen, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Shock, confusion, and anger overwhelmed him, leaving his entire body quaking.
Once again, he had lost to Lin Qi’an, bringing yet another disgrace to his master. The crushing blow of defeat struck like a hammer, shattering his pride.
Eyes lifeless, he staggered off the stage like a puppet, retreating in defeat.
The Blade Emperor, observing the scene, shook his head and sighed.
“This boy’s heart is still too fragile. He has never faced failure, so a single setback is enough to break him. If he cannot endure defeat, his future achievements will be limited.”
[Ding! Gu Jingyun is deeply disappointed in Li Xuan. Li Xuan’s Luck Value -100.]
Zhao Qingmeng: “Even as a reborn Empress, I’ve never seen such a bizarre spiritual beast. How on earth did Lin Qi’an manage this?”
Zhao Yunji: “Its strength is terrifying. Maybe hugging it isn’t such a good idea after all…”
Lin Liuli: “I thought you were throwing this round, but you actually managed to surprise me!”
Earlier, she had advised Lin Qi’an to forfeit the round to avoid raising and then crushing the audience’s expectations.
It turned out he didn’t need to. The strength of this spiritual beast was likely enough to rival even the monstrous beings from Tianhai Dao Domain.
Lu Weishuang, knowing the truth, was the most shocked.
She had given Lin Qi’an the Myriad Beast Essence Orb, knowing it could evolve a spiritual beast, but never imagined it would result in such a drastic transformation.
The power of this little creature could only be compared to the White Tiger of the Four Sacred Beasts.
“Lin Qi’an is far more exceptional than I imagined… His future potential may be limitless.”
“Master, Lin Qi’an is incredible. Seeing his brilliance makes me feel ashamed,” Tong Xiang muttered.
“There is no need for shame. Everyone has their own opportunities. Focus on your own path,” his master replied.
“Yes, Master!” Tong Xiang’s voice was filled with excitement. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect his master to console him like this.
He knew it was all thanks to Lin Qi’an.
—
Meanwhile, the people of Tianhai Dao Domain couldn’t help but grumble bitterly.
“Are we sure that Lin Qi’an caught this spiritual beast himself and didn’t just get it from his father?”
“Having a powerful background is great. You can have anything you want!”
Hearing this, the spectators from Canglan Dao Domain burst into laughter.
“Exactly! Our Crown Prince always relies on his background. Even during the demon beast hunting event, it was definitely his father who cleared the field for him!”
“Absolutely! The Sword Emperor must have taken down all those demon beasts. There’s no way our Crown Prince could be this amazing!”
“We people of Canglan Dao Domain are just born weaker, right? Say no more~”
The sarcastic remarks infuriated the Tianhai Dao Domain crowd.
“Just wait! Let’s hope your Crown Prince doesn’t encounter us too soon!”
—
After Lin Qi’an stepped down, the beast duel continued.
Ye Yun and the two Fate-Blessed contestants from the Western Dynasty performed exceptionally, while the two prodigies from Tianhai Dao Domain secured overwhelming victories.
One by one, weaker spiritual beasts were eliminated.
After dozens of rounds, the remaining contestants dwindled. Even Zhao Yunji’s Spirit Phoenix fell in battle, defeated by a competitor from Tianhai Dao Domain.
Only six contestants remained: three from Canglan Dao Domain and three from Tianhai Dao Domain.
From Canglan Dao Domain, the remaining contestants were Lin Qi’an and two Fate-Blessed individuals.
From Tianhai Dao Domain, the remaining contestants were all heavyweight prodigies: Kui Xiao of the Kui Dragon Clan, Teng Yun of the Teng Snake Clan, and Jin Lingkong of the Golden Crow Clan.
The next step was to draw lots for one-on-one beast duels. The three winners would then face off in a chaotic final melee.
The draw was entirely random, introducing a significant element of luck. The final three contestants could all be from Tianhai Dao Domain or split between the two domains.
One thing was certain: any lone survivor would likely face a two-on-one scenario.
The crowd’s anticipation reached its peak as they awaited the draw, each hoping the contestant from their domain would have a favorable matchup to avoid a disadvantage in the final melee.
The six competitors stood ready as the tension built, with every heartbeat seemingly amplified in the silence before the announcement.
Jin Lingkong smirked and said, “Friends from Canglan Dao Domain, I suggest you pray you don’t draw me. Otherwise, you’ll be leaving early.”
Teng Yun chuckled. “Haha, Big Brother Jin is as bold as ever, but don’t get too cocky!”
Kui Xiao added with a sly grin, “I hope all our opponents are from their side. Then, the final melee would be between just the three of us.”
Despite the extraordinary display of Lin Qi’an’s spiritual beast, the Tianhai Dao Domain contestants still dismissed him as irrelevant. After all, when it came to beast dueling, they were the undisputed experts.
Meanwhile, hidden thoughts bubbled among Lin Qi’an’s opponents.
Ye Yun: Damn it, Lin Qi’an. If I draw you, I’ll kill your spiritual beast for sure!
Xi Chao’s: That wretched Lin Qi’an. I’ll settle both old and new scores today!
Indeed, everyone in the arena seemed to be Lin Qi’an’s enemy. He had no allies.
The two destined contestants were long-standing rivals. Kui Xiao would undoubtedly seek vengeance for a Saintess from his clan.
Jin Lingkong and Teng Yun both aimed to crush Lin Qi’an for the glory of Tianhai Dao Domain and to elevate their own reputations.
“This doesn’t look good for the Crown Prince.”
“Right? Everyone around him is an enemy.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right. Ye Yun and the Xi Chao definitely won’t stand with him.”
“And the three on the other side seem united. This is going to be tough!”
Even before the draw began, the spectators were already dejected.
Their frustration wasn’t due to Lin Qi’an’s lack of strength but because he was completely surrounded by enemies.
The spiritual beasts from Tianhai Dao Domain were all terrifying, and defeating even one was a monumental task. Facing two at once would mean certain defeat.
Finally, the first draw was announced.
Round 1: Lin Qi’an vs. Ye Yun!*
A wave of disappointment swept through the Canglan Dao Domain spectators. No one expected an internal battle right from the start.
“Ah, I wanted to see the Crown Prince teach those arrogant guys a lesson!”
“Be patient. If we have an internal fight, they’ll have one too.”
As if to balance the scales, the second draw was revealed.
Round 2: Kui Xiao vs. Teng Yun.
An internal Tianhai Dao Domain match. Neither contestant seemed concerned, as advancing or losing a few points meant little to them.
Round 3: Xi Chao vs. Jin Lingkong.
Xi Chao was pitted against the Golden Crow Prodigy, promising an intense battle.
“Let the match begin!” the hosting elder declared.
Lin Qi’an stepped into the massive dueling arena with his miniature Nine-Headed Beast perched on his shoulder.
The atmosphere was electric. Thousands of spectators cheered wildly, their voices forming a tidal wave of excitement that filled the air.
It was evident that most of the audience supported Lin Qi’an; few placed any faith in Ye Yun. His fame, strength, and reputation were all inferior to the Crown Prince’s.
“Elder Sister, if I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Ye Yun once one of your guards?” Zhao Qingmeng asked with a teasing smile.
“Why do I feel like you’re cheering for Lin Qi’an instead of him?”
“Ridiculous! I’m not cheering for anyone!” Zhao Yunji retorted, her frosty expression betraying her annoyance. “Besides, Ye Yun isn’t my guard anymore.”
“So, if you had to pick a side, who would you support?”
“Of course, I… Why do I need to answer you?”
“Giggle~” Zhao Qingmeng couldn’t help but laugh at her sister’s embarrassment.
By this time, Ye Yun had entered the arena with his spiritual beast, the “Desolate Ghost Tiger.”
The massive tiger, nearly five meters long, was pitch black and exuded an aura of ferocity that sent chills down the spines of all who beheld it. Its fangs bared and its menacing aura filled the air, a terrifying sight to behold.