Around the beast-fighting arena, some people sighed with regret.

　　“Anyone below the third level of Vein Opening who can defeat my battle beast ‘Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’ will be rewarded by this young master with a top-grade Mortal-level martial art.”

　　An arrogant and grating voice rang out.

　　Ryan Lawson paused in his steps.

　　That grating voice came from a chubby, big-eared youth—who else but Charles Duke.

　　“This battle beast... is Charles Duke’s?”

　　A cold glint flashed in Ryan Lawson’s eyes beneath his mask.

　　“Heavenly Tome.”

　　Ryan Lawson closed his eyes slightly, his consciousness entering the Creation Heavenly Tome in his mind.

　　A few days ago.

　　The Heavenly Tome had devoured several spiritual herbs, filling “half a page” with power.

　　And now.

　　The blue-gray light of the first page of the Heavenly Tome was eighty percent full, thirty percent more than before.

　　This extra thirty percent came from cultivating the “Destiny Creation Art,” which helped restore the tome’s power.

　　“Heavenly Tome, can you deduce information about this ‘Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’?”

　　“Yes.”

　　An ancient character appeared, sketched on the page.

Chapter 009 Beast Battle

　　“Anyone below the third level of Vein Opening who can defeat my battle beast ‘Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’ will be rewarded by this young master with a top-grade Mortal-level martial art.”

　　Charles Duke stood on a high platform, looking arrogant and showing off.

　　Demonic beasts and battle beasts are essentially the same.

　　The difference is that one is wild, the other is domesticated.

　　As soon as he finished speaking—

　　Wow!

　　The arena was in an uproar. Many martial artists were excited, rubbing their fists and getting ready.

　　“A top-grade Mortal-level martial art? Is this for real?”

　　“In Qingchang City, only the great clans possess top-grade martial arts. Rogue martial artists can’t even get close to them.”

　　Above basic martial arts are the graded martial techniques.

　　They are divided into Mortal, Spirit, Earth, and Heaven levels, each with lower, middle, and upper grades.

　　A top-grade Mortal-level martial art corresponds to at least the seventh level of Vein Opening—its power is obvious!

　　Top-grade martial art?

　　Even Ryan Lawson was tempted. At the academy, he was still practicing basic martial arts. After advancing to Vein Opening, he could at most choose a mid-grade Mortal-level martial art.

　　The difference in power between mid-grade and top-grade Mortal-level martial arts is enormous.

　　“I’ll do it!”

　　A man in his twenties, dressed in coarse clothes, entered the beast-fighting arena.

　　This man was a rogue martial artist at the peak of the second level, even stronger than Gao Xuan, whom Ryan Lawson had encountered.

　　“Ah Niu, crush him.”

　　Charles Duke’s eyes were filled with bloodlust and excitement.

　　Roar!

　　The battle beast “Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo” let out a thunderous roar. The ground trembled as it charged at the man with astonishing speed.

　　“Once I master a top-grade martial art, I might be able to avenge my father!”

　　The man’s fighting spirit surged as he faced the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo head-on.

　　Whoosh!

　　The man dodged the buffalo’s charge and threw a punch.

　　Yang Fist!

　　With a swing of his fist, true energy surged, fierce and powerful.

　　Bang!

　　The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo was struck, its hide denting slightly, but showing no obvious wounds.

　　“What strong defense!”

　　The man’s expression hardened as he tried to pull back.

　　Moo—

　　The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo bellowed, its massive body slamming into the man.

　　With a “puchi” sound.

　　The man rolled away in embarrassment, but was still stabbed by the “flesh spikes” on the buffalo’s back.

　　The beast’s flesh spikes were like steel needles.

　　Ah!

　　Blood spurted from the man’s body as he screamed in pain.

　　“I give up, I surrender!”

　　The man was terrified.

　　He ran while begging Charles Duke outside the arena for mercy.

　　As long as Charles Duke gave the order, the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo would stop attacking.

　　“Hmph, since you’ve entered the beast-fighting arena, you must abide by its rules—life or death doesn’t matter.”

　　Charles Duke said coldly.

　　Boom!

　　The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo didn’t pause at all. Its massive body trampled right over the man.

　　After a few screams.

　　The man was stomped into a pulp and devoured by the beast.

　　“Haha, good job, Ah Niu!”

　　Charles Duke laughed heartily.

　　He kept this battle beast because he enjoyed the thrill of its brutal slaughter.

　　“Anyone else?”

　　“My battle beast is only a one-star low-grade, with strength equivalent to below the third level of Vein Opening.”

　　Charles Duke said proudly.

　　A one-star low-grade battle beast or demonic beast is equivalent to a human at the first to third level of Vein Opening.

　　One-star mid-grade is equivalent to the fourth to sixth level.

　　One-star high-grade is equivalent to the seventh to ninth level.

　　“Charles Duke’s battle beast, though only at the second or third level of Vein Opening, has a trace of ancient wild ox bloodline. With training, it’s invincible below the third level.”

　　An elderly martial artist in the crowd analyzed.

　　“I’ll give it a try.”

　　A martial artist at the third level of Vein Opening entered the arena.

　　The third level of Vein Opening is much stronger.

　　However—

　　This martial artist fought the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo for over a dozen moves, but was injured and forced to retreat, barely escaping with his life.

　　“Even the third level of Vein Opening is no match.”

　　Outside the arena, many people sighed.

　　At this moment—

　　Most of the onlookers had given up.

　　Everyone agreed that below the third level of Vein Opening, the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo was invincible.

　　“Let me try.”