King of Beasts

Currently, although the Tyrannosaurus Rex Team made an unexpected appearance, the Freshman Tournament at the Beast Taming University was proceeding smoothly.

The moment the news of Lu Ran’s victory over the Tyrannosaurus Rex Team spread, his next opponent decisively forfeited.

Lu Ran, hailed by many fourth-generation beastmasters as “the most promising” beastmaster.

Thus, Boss Lu advanced without a fight.

Now, Lu Ran could only laugh, because his next opponent in the upcoming match was none other than Fang Lan.

Fang Lan was having a terrible headache.

To be honest, even if Lu Ran wasn’t that strong, Fang Lan would still feel troubled, because her greatest fear was the wind attribute.

She had been quite lucky in her previous matches, where her opponents, despite being equipped with advanced wind and poison resistance equipment, couldn’t restrict her much.

But with Lu Ran, his wind skills, compressed multiple times over, were too much for her poison attribute to handle.

Knowing she couldn’t possibly win against Lu Ran, Fang Lan chose not to struggle pointlessly and decided to give up.

She was no longer the beastmaster she was at the beginning, determined to compete with Lu Ran.

“Pfft.” Just like that, Lu Ran advanced again without a fight, moving one step closer to the sovereign pet beast egg.

Now, he was in the top 8.

Three more battles and he could claim the grand prize.

The remaining seven opponents were all formidable.

For example, there was Xia Ri from the Fire Plundering school, the only other freshman besides Lu Ran known to have mastered the shaping artistic conception skill.

Then there was Du Yuan from the official strategy team, whose initial pet beast had awakened the Space attribute, essentially granting him the second-place reward by default, with a pet beast of extraordinary talent.

From Xia Country’s largest guild, “Living Fossil,” there was Youxiong Anlin, who contracted with the national treasure, Panda, a pet beast possessing both the top-level Light and Dark attributes, similar to the Rank 1 Light-Dark Butterfly on the Commander Divine Beast Leaderboard in Infinite City No.3.

And then there was the superpower big sister, whose personal strength rivaled that of mental attribute pet beasts, with equally astonishing talent.

These were all formidable opponents; for instance, Pluto, someone Lu Ran was familiar with, was defeated by Xia Ri, while Sister White Tiger was brutally beaten by the national treasure beast.

“Not bad luck, finally going up against her.”

As the tournament progressed, Lu Ran’s next opponent was finally determined.

It was Xia Ri, the gun-wielding successor of the Fire Plundering school.

…

At This Moment, the Domestic Audience Is Getting Impatient

Ever since Lu Ran crushed the Tyrannosaurus Rex Team, his momentum has surged, establishing him as the strongest among the Fourth Generation in Xia Country.

This perception isn’t limited to just Xia Country’s public, it’s a global consensus.

It’s foreseeable that Lu Ran’s upcoming matches in the Freshman Tournament will attract significant attention.

Unfortunately, the audience, after a long wait, only saw two of his opponents consecutively forfeit.

Thankfully, when it came to Xia Ri, there were no premature forfeits, and the anticipation for this match was at its peak.

“Dean Chu, you’ve kept a deep secret! I didn’t expect Lu Ran to be a Culinary Professor in your cultivating department.”

Before the match began, while Lu Ran hadn’t yet appeared, Dean Kong of the History Department couldn’t help but speak, whether out of genuine surprise or as part of the script.

“Haha, not just you, I was surprised too. Professor Lu Ran approached me after the Freshman Tournament had already started. When I found out he had mastered the dragon culinary intent, I was equally shocked.”

In other words, Lu Ran became a professor after enrolling in the Freshman Tournament, not a cultivating department professor dominating the freshmen. So don’t get it twisted.

Dean Chu Yan smiled. Next to him, Dean Kong sighed, wondering how the forging department and cultivating department had such good fortune.

Probably, Dean Qin of the combat department was also envious. Such a powerful newcomer, yet he wasn’t from the combat department…

However, Dean Kong understood. Lu Ran had inherited the Flame Sprite, known to be specially developed by Yan Sizhen, the originator of forging and culinary manship, for forging and cooking. Lu Ran’s choice was understandable.

Ah, when will some powerful figures emerge in our History Department? Archaeological studies of the Star-Moon Continent’s history are quite fascinating!

If they could uncover traces of legendary creatures, even a fraction of their benefits would be a groundbreaking advancement for the beast taming field on the blue star.

“Next, we will proceed with the Freshman Tournament’s quarterfinal round, featuring the forging department’s freshman, Lu Ran, against the combat department’s freshman, Xia Ri!” As the judge of the Freshman Tournament, Xu Pingze felt an urge to add Lu Ran’s other title, such as professor in the cultivating department, but unfortunately, that wouldn’t be appropriate.

Following the enthusiastic cheers from the audience, Lu Ran, dressed in a black combat coat, and Xia Ri, the Fire Plundering school’s heir, dressed in red, walked out from opposite sides of the arena.

Xia Ri held a red-tasseled spear, and out of respect for the opponent’s school, Lu Ran also revealed his weapon in advance, with a sword hanging at his waist.

As soon as the two appeared, their confrontational aura made the audience realize that this battle was going to be very interesting.

In the latter half of the Freshman Tournament, the three deans spoke more frequently. Dean Qin Ming deliberately asked Dean Kong, “Dean Kong, could you introduce the combat styles of the two contestants?”

“Of course, Xia Ri’s combat style, as we’ve seen before, involves fusing with her pet beast and fighting with a spear. This is a standard style where the beastmaster personally participates in the battle.”

“This style can be roughly divided into three types: one that focuses on ranged skills, one on physical combat, and one on cold weapon combat.”

“Most beastmasters lack experience in hand-to-hand combat or weapon use, so even if they choose this style, they typically follow the ‘mage school,’ focusing mainly on release-type skills.”

“Styles like Xia Ri’s are relatively rare because mastering a weapon proficiently is difficult within one or two years. It requires prior experience and talent in the respective field before becoming a beastmaster.”

“Hmm…”

“As for Lu Ran’s style… it’s even rarer.”

“Having pet beasts use weapons in combat is actually a new combat style developed by the Beast Taming Empire in 2023 to prepare for war, aiming to further arm pet beasts on top of their armor.”

“That year, the Beast Taming Empire, to enhance the strength of the Beast Taming Legion, pioneered many new styles, some successful and some not.”

“And this school of thought cannot be deemed a success, but neither can it be labeled a failure. It isn’t considered a success because, in the short term, it didn’t demonstrate sufficient war potential, and the evolutionary limits of these biological weapons were not high.”

“It isn’t considered a failure because the plan was temporarily halted due to the early onset of war, so no one saw its final form.”

“After the war ended, the Beast Taming Empire was left in ruins, severely weakened, and lacked the resources to perfect this research. Moreover, with the loss of initial research materials, the project was never restarted.”

“Through the ‘Abyssal Difficulty: Novice Secret Realm: Abandoned Testing Ground,’ we can learn a bit of this history. Lu Ran’s pet beast, the Gale Sword Dog, has its primary trait as the ‘Weapon Mastery Trait’ acquired from the Abandoned Testing Ground.”

“However, unlike Lu Ran, I don’t recommend everyone to follow this path. According to current records, no beastmaster’s pet beast has perfectly fused with the Weapon Mastery Trait. This evolution path is immature, much like how the Beast Taming Empire never fully completed its research on this path.”

After Dean Kong finished speaking, many people turned to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran and his pet beast might be considered the first to perfectly master the Weapon Mastery Trait, right?

People couldn’t believe that Lu Ran’s Erha hadn’t perfectly fused with this trait. It was proficient in sword control and utilized a dual sword style with both mouth and tail. If this wasn’t perfect fusion, then what was?

Lu Ran seemed to be continuing down an evolution path that even the Beast Taming Empire hadn’t fully explored.

At the same time…

“Come on!” Xia Ri, holding her spear, faced Lu Ran.

If previously Xia Ri had confidence in facing Lu Ran, now, after witnessing Lu Ran’s overwhelming defeat of the Tyrannosaurus Rex team, she had no such confidence left.

Nevertheless, forfeiting was not her style. She still chose to step onto the stage and face Lu Ran.

In response to her summons, a cockatiel, resembling a fiery phoenix, appeared!

Xia Ri’s pet beast was a cockatiel, a pet she had raised with her spearsmanship master. Highly intelligent and expressive, it was accidentally contracted by Xia Ri after she obtained a black card. This cockatiel displayed extraordinary talent and comprehension, making it a perfect partner for Xia Ri.

“General Ha.”

As for Lu Ran, he still chose not to summon both of his pet beasts, instead opting to summon General Ha.

After General Ha appeared, Lu Ran threw the sword from his waist to it. General Ha leaped up, caught the Frost Sword in its mouth, and looked at its new opponent.

“Hoo…”

Facing this Dragon Slayer dog, Summer didn’t hesitate. She immediately fused with her pet beast. In an instant, flaming wings unfolded from her sides, and her short hair turned a fiery orange-red!

She wielded her spear, and the Fire Plundering Spear Intent erupted. The spear’s tip seemed to hold a miniature sun, radiating intense heat that made the entire arena blur.

It was as if another sun had appeared on the arena, echoing the blazing sun in the sky.

“There it is, the Fire Plundering Spear Intent, the spearsmanship that can plunder the power of the sun’s flames!”

Seeing the heroic Summer showcase her ultimate skill right away, many of her supporters still hoped she could put some pressure on Lu Ran.

“Summer, go for it!!!”

“Summer, you can do it!!”

Because everyone knew Lu Ran would win, the cheers in the venue were overwhelmingly in support of Summer… just giving her encouragement.

The main reason was that Lu Ran’s third-round opponent and Fang Lan were disappointing and didn’t face Lu Ran, making the audience look forward to Summer’s performance.

Summer… was still the only contestant with the courage to face Lu Ran.

“You know sword intent too, right?”

At this moment, Summer, holding her spear, asked Lu Ran.

She felt that Lu Ran was like her and should also know sword intent!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said those words to her back then.

“Indeed, I do.”

As Lu Ran finished speaking, the entire venue suddenly fell silent, waiting for their conversation.

“Hehe, as expected. When you fought the Tyrannosaurus Rex team, you still didn’t use your full strength. You didn’t even use any beast taming skills then.”

“Alright, quickly empower it with your beast taming skill containing flame dragon artistic conception.”

“At least… let me witness the Flame Dragon Sword Intent!”

Summer twirled her spear, indicating she wanted to see General Ha in an even stronger state.

Since Lu Ran’s Flame Sprite skill can give Sudden Death King a new flame dragon artistic conception, it can certainly grant Erha a similar artistic conception.

Moreover, with Erha’s weapon mastery trait, it most likely can also combine into a sword intent!

A dog that knows sword intent!

Hearing the two’s conversation, the audience erupted in excitement.

“Whoa, no way, can Erha also use the flame dragon artistic conception?”

“Lu Ran just confirmed it! I thought the Flame Sprite’s flame dragon artistic conception could only be applied to dragon species or used by Lu Ran himself.”

“If that Erha can also master the artistic conception of the dragon, then that’s terrifying. The Tyrannosaurus Rex team would be devastated.”

“Woof!”

However, at this moment, General Ha, holding the Frost Sword in its mouth, showed complete disdain for the flame dragon artistic conception.

It had already demonstrated its sword intent!

Dragon Slayer Sword Intent!

Except for its opponent, the external world couldn’t easily perceive the Dragon Slayer Sword Intent.

With the Dragon Slayer Sword Intent, General Ha didn’t care for any artistic conception of the dragon. This wasn’t because it couldn’t use it or learn it.

“No need.”

“It doesn’t suit the artistic conception of the dragon.”

Lu Ran refused Summer’s suggestion.

“Besides, it’s different from your situation.”

Summer herself didn’t master spear intent, and her fire cockatiel didn’t master spear intent either; it only mastered the shaping artistic conception of the sun.

Only when she fused with her pet beast did her spearsmanship experience combine with her pet beast’s shaping artistic conception ability, forming spear intent.

Evidently, Summer thought General Ha was in the same situation, not knowing that Lu Ran had the real and reverse super dog mimicry.

“Even without the beastmaster’s ability, even without borrowing the pet beast’s power, my Gale Sword Dog and I can master swordsmanship intent on our own!”

Lu Ran had a bit of admiration for Summer; after all, she was the only beastmaster he had met who mastered a weapon artistic conception, making her a kindred spirit. Unfortunately, her spear intent wasn’t perfect.

“What?” As Lu Ran finished speaking, the venue erupted again, and Summer’s expression changed.

In the next instant.

A powerful Blizzard Sword Intent burst forth. General Ha, with the Frost Sword in its mouth, exuded a completely different aura. Its black and white fur fluttered in the icy wind, and an extremely cold blizzard spread out around it!!

Although the Blizzard Sword Intent might seem small and of lower quality than the artistic conception of the sun, the strength comparison depends on the development of each artistic conception. General Ha’s development of the Blizzard Sword Intent, enhanced by its Gale Swordsmanship Talent, revealed a new effect for the first time!

The Blizzard Sword Intent is a sword technique that contains wind force!

Boom!

In an instant, the heat on the field was rapidly dispelled. With the sound of freezing, “crack, crack, crack,” the entire field was covered in a layer of frost. Summer’s feet were already encased in ice and snow!

In the next moment, even her clothes were covered in white frost, and the temperature of the entire field plummeted!

Summer was astonished.

She couldn’t believe that this Erha, without the beastmaster’s power, could master sword intent on its own…

And, most importantly, it was so powerful.

In an instant, the scorching sun seemed to be frozen. A blizzard appeared to engulf Summer, and—

A blue sword qi flashed before her eyes!

Bang.

The spear in her hand was directly knocked away. In a contest of artistic conceptions, the momentum is crucial.

General Ha’s sword intent easily crushed the momentum of Summer’s spear intent!

“This…” At this moment, seeing General Ha display a new power that it hadn’t shown even in the battle against the Tyrannosaurus Rex team or any previous matches with Lu Ran, everyone was dumbfounded.

It felt so unbelievable.

How strong are Lu Ran and his team?

It felt like their strength was unfathomable!

Is the gap between geniuses really this vast?

“Hahaha, Old Xia, what do you think!!” Meanwhile, at the Rainbow Heaven Dojo, Old Gentleman Jiang Dou was on the phone with Summer’s master, Master Xia. He watched the live broadcast and was thrilled. No wonder his grand-disciple performed so well—good job, Erha!!

“Old Jiang, don’t get too cocky.” Master Xia gritted his teeth, not understanding how Jiang Dou got so lucky to have such a disciple.

However, the two bickering old men were stunned in the next moment.

In the tournament, Lu Ran, facing Summer who had lost in the clash of sword intent and spear intent, directly issued an invitation:

“Your spear intent still has flaws. Why not come and learn cooking with me? Culinary Intent, spear intent, sword intent—they are all fundamentally the same. This process can help perfect your spear intent.”

Lu Ran… was actually trying to recruit her on the spot!

Master Jiang, Master Xia: ???

Combat Department Dean Qin Ming: ???

Damn, you brat, you haven’t even started teaching and you’re already trying to poach good students into another department!

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