A masked man in a black robe slowly stepped into the arena.

This black-robed man was none other than Ryan Lawson.

A look of battle intent and anticipation flashed in Ryan Lawson’s eyes; he was quite tempted by the high-grade mortal martial technique. Making Charles Duke bleed a little was also a good thing.

“Just you? Merely at the first level of Qi Opening.”

Charles Duke scoffed, sensing only a single qi vein’s fluctuation from Ryan Lawson.

Outside the arena, the gathered martial artists all shook their heads.

In their eyes, Ryan Lawson’s actions were no different from courting death.

Even those at the peak of the second level of Qi Opening had been crushed, and those at the third level had been severely injured.

Someone at the mere first level of Qi Opening—if that’s not suicide, what is?

“Young Master Duke, don’t be so sure of yourself. When I kill your battle beast later, don’t feel too bad.”

Ryan Lawson, wearing his mask, deliberately lowered his voice.

“Hahaha… What a ridiculous joke!”

Charles Duke nearly burst out laughing, the cruelty on his face growing even more pronounced.

“Andrew, crush him!”

Moo! Whoosh!

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo charged, the ground trembling as it barreled toward Ryan Lawson with ferocious momentum.

“Fast, but very clumsy.”

Ryan Lawson commented calmly, showing no sign of panic.

At this moment—

In his mind’s eye, the Heavenly Book revealed a bestiary page, displaying a vivid image of the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo.

The bestiary clearly analyzed all the abilities and weaknesses of the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo.

Several weak points were marked with red dots.

It turned out—

Before the match, Ryan Lawson had the Heavenly Book deduce all the abilities and weaknesses of this Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo.

This deduction consumed a quarter of a “page” of the Heavenly Book’s power.

……

Arena.

With a “whoosh,”

At the instant the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo was about to close in, Ryan Lawson made a sharp turn.

Whoom!

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo was simply too large to turn in time; unable to stop, it charged forward a good distance.

“Beast!”

Ryan Lawson shouted, landing a punch on the buffalo’s abdomen.

Boom!

The true qi in that punch exploded, a chill seeping in, causing the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s body to stiffen for a moment.

Moo!

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo didn’t seem to suffer any obvious harm, roaring as it stabbed its back spines toward Ryan Lawson.

“I dodge!”

After landing his blow, Ryan Lawson immediately pulled back.

Under the control of his spiritual sense, every move of the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo was within his grasp.

A few breaths later—

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo charged again.

“Sigh, I said you were dumb…”

Ryan Lawson repeated his tactic, waiting until the beast was right in front of him before making a sudden sharp turn.

Whoom!

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s massive size made it unable to keep up with Ryan Lawson’s quick turns after each charge.

“I strike!”

Ryan Lawson landed another punch, a wave of cold energy surging into the buffalo’s abdomen.

“I dodge!”

After striking, Ryan Lawson again pulled away, never lingering in battle.

Each time he got close, he only struck once.

“You idiot! At the first level of Qi Opening, you’re just scratching Andrew—you’ll tire yourself to death before you hurt him.”

Charles Duke mocked.

“I strike!”

“I dodge!”

“I strike!”

……

Inside the arena, Ryan Lawson attacked again and again.

At first, many people laughed.

But after Ryan Lawson had struck the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo five or six times in a row, many faces changed.

“The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s movements have slowed by half.”

“Its attacks are also a third weaker.”

Some martial artists exclaimed in disbelief.

The observant would notice that every one of Ryan Lawson’s attacks landed on the same spot on the abdomen.

“Hmph! Every strike I make is at the spot closest to the beast’s vital organs.”

Ryan Lawson sneered inwardly.

At this moment—

A layer of frost had formed on the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s abdomen, its movements growing more sluggish, no longer able to threaten Ryan Lawson.

After a few more rounds—

“Explode!”

Ryan Lawson activated his divine vein, a deep, ghostly blue aura swirling around his fist.

Boom-crack!

The frost-covered abdomen of the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo suddenly burst open, shards of ice and blood flying everywhere.

A fatal blow!

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo let out a soul-shaking howl.

“No—Andrew!”

“Stop right there—!”

Charles Duke shot to his feet, roaring furiously.

Boom! Boom!

Ryan Lawson showed no mercy, landing two more punches in quick succession, smashing the buffalo’s organs to a pulp.

Moo—

The Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo bellowed, its eyes bloodshot, its body suddenly swelling as it radiated a dangerous aura.

In an instant—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Steel needle-like spines shot out from the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo in all directions.

“That’s the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s final attack before death!”

“A strike that self-detonates all its vital energy—each spine is as powerful as a full-force blow from a peak third-level Qi Opening expert.”

The martial artists outside the arena cried out in alarm.

Unfortunately—

Many people looked on with regret.

They seemed to imagine the scene of Ryan Lawson being turned into a pincushion.

However—

What happened next on the field shocked everyone even more.

Roll!

Just before the spines were unleashed, Ryan Lawson rolled under the Iron-Spiked Water Buffalo’s belly.

Although the spines shot out in all directions, the area directly beneath the buffalo was a blind spot.

As a result—