"If there are no further transactions, then I shall take my leave," Li Rong said as he prepared to return.
The ferocious Spirit Beasts reacted politely but without much enthusiasm, merely offering customary words of farewell.
The five guards, however, were clearly dissatisfied.
"Boss Li," Dugu Bo protested, "there are ferocious Spirit Beast forces in the Far North and the deep sea as well. Those are all potential customers! How can we leave without contacting them?"
This was only the first day!
Inside, Dugu Bo and the others were howling in grief. Today they'd only earned a pitiful thirty thousand sacrificial coins. When they'd set out, they'd expected at least three hundred thousand!
"There's no need to go to the Far North," Li Rong replied calmly. "The guest has already agreed to notify the two potential customers there. As for the deep sea, since the Far North is being handled, there's no need to worry. If there's nothing else, we naturally return."
Dugu Bo and the others immediately shot murderous glares toward Di Tian and the Spirit Beasts, wishing they could break his legs on the spot.
Unfortunately, they couldn't win.
"Since preparations were made in advance, shouldn't we go?" Yue Guan tried one last time. "Otherwise, wouldn't all those prepared goods go to waste?"
"Not at all," Li Rong said lightly. "We'll simply place them on the activity list with a 9.9% discount. They'll sell just fine."
Yue Guan was rendered completely speechless.
Seeing that no one was eager to leave, Li Rong found the situation amusing. After a moment of thought, he decided to seize the opportunity to strengthen future cooperation between Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts.
"Since none of you wish to return yet," Li Rong said, turning to Gu Yuena, "how about this? I'll send five people, and the guest sends five as well. We'll form two teams, set up a temporary ring, and hold a team battle."
"I'll personally add 300,000 sacrificial coins from my salary as a reward for the winning side."
Gu Yuena instantly understood his intention. Seeing Dugu Bo and the others practically itching with excitement, she nodded.
"Very well."
"My team's captain will be Dugu Bo," Li Rong continued. "Vice-captain: Golden Crocodile. Members: Gu Rong, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan. One-on-one matches. Each victory earns one point. No points for losses or draws. The team with more points wins."
"Agreed," Gu Yuena said. Simplicity was best—her side wouldn't need complicated tactics.
"Our captain will be the Ten Thousand Demon King. Vice-captain: Xiong Jun. Members: Chi Wang, Zi Ji, and Yao Ling."
She deliberately excluded Di Tian and Bi Ji.
A quick glance was enough to tell her that Li Rong's side peaked at Golden Crocodile's Rank 98, with the rest at Rank 95 and below—one was only Rank 94. This would be an easy victory. Anything less than a clean win would be an embarrassment.
Li Rong noticed her confidence, smiled faintly, and said,
"You may now discuss your order of appearance. Once submitted, it cannot be changed."
Dugu Bo and the others immediately gathered—to discuss tactics, definitely not to scheme.
"We can't beat Ten Thousand Demon King or Xiong Jun except for me," Dugu Bo said bluntly. "We'll have to sacrifice weaker members to deal with them. As long as we win three matches, the coins are ours."
"That Yao Ling is around two hundred thousand years," Golden Crocodile said confidently. "Zi Ji shouldn't exceed three hundred thousand. Chi Wang is about the same. I can defeat all three."
"Dugu Bo can win one," Gu Rong frowned. "But the last match is uncertain."
"When Zi Ji spoke earlier, her aura leaked," Gui Mei added. "She's a dragon-type—thick-skinned, terrifying defense. Both Old Bone and I are agility-attack systems. Bad matchup."
"There's little intel on Chi Wang and Yao Ling," Yue Guan said. "But when that divine Spirit Beast listed names, Chi Wang came first. He's likely stronger."
The group fell silent.
"Not necessarily hopeless," Golden Crocodile said slowly. "I guarantee one win. If Dugu Bo defeats Xiong Jun, and Gu Rong defeats Yao Ling, we win."
Facing questioning gazes, he explained,
"Xiong Jun's true form must be an Amethyst Dreadclaw Bear. Overwhelming power and defense—but weak poison resistance and limited speed. If Dugu Bo uses mobility and poison warfare, avoids direct clashes, he has a chance."
"Old Bone's defense is exceptional despite being agility-based," Yue Guan added. "He can drag Yao Ling into a prolonged fight. Spirit Beasts lose patience easily."
"And that divine Spirit Beast is watching," Gui Mei added quietly. "Yao Ling already made one mistake earlier. He'll rush to redeem himself—and that creates openings."
"So the issue is the matchup order," Gu Rong said.
"That's easy," Dugu Bo suddenly shouted, pointing forward.
"Hey, you bear cub! I've been annoyed with you for ages! Come fight me one-on-one if you've got guts!"
"DAMN IT!" Xiong Jun exploded. "I'll tear your mouth off!"
Gu Rong's eyes lit up.
"Yao Ling? What's your true form? Judging by how you bowed earlier—are you a dog?"
Yao Ling's face darkened with killing intent.
Golden Crocodile stiffened. He valued dignity too much for such tactics. Instead, he spoke evenly,
"I challenge Chi Wang. Will you accept?"
"I will," Chi Wang replied readily.
Bi Ji covered her face in silence.
Ten Thousand Demon King sighed.
"How will we fight?"
"Gui Mei, Yue Guan, then Gu Rong, Golden Crocodile, and finally me," Dugu Bo said.
"Then Zi Ji, me, Yao Ling, Chi Wang, and Xiong Jun," Ten Thousand Demon King replied.
Li Rong nodded.
"Begin."
The first two battles ended quickly.
Gui Mei's speed meant little against Zi Ji's dragon-blooded defense. His ninth ring failed to penetrate her scales. Hellfire flooded the battlefield, restricting his movement until he conceded.
Yue Guan fared worse. Ten Thousand Demon King's talent skill—Tree Eye Paralysis—instantly incapacitated him.
"That was mental suppression," Yue Guan said afterward, pale-faced. "You can't even dodge."
Gui Mei silently added mental defense manuals to his exchange list.
The real battle began with Gu Rong versus Yao Ling.
Yao Ling's Golden Lion form relied on explosive bursts. Yet before activating Blood Boil, he couldn't breach Gu Rong's defenses. After activation, he still couldn't catch him. Once the boost faded, defeat was inevitable.
Humans secured their first point.
Golden Crocodile then faced Chi Wang.
Despite dominating early in close combat, Golden Crocodile lacked ranged methods. Chi Wang endured the blows, withdrew, and slowly wore him down with flames and mental interference.
Golden Crocodile fell.
With victory already decided, Dugu Bo unleashed everything.
Spirit fusion. Ring fusion. Giant python manifestation.
He clashed head-on with Xiong Jun.
Shockwaves tore through the battlefield. Trees uprooted. Even ancient Spirit Beasts were forced to retreat.
The collision favored Xiong Jun—but Dugu Bo laughed.
"Big bear," he roared, "taste my poison!"
His body split into hundreds of serpents, flooding land, water, and sky.
Poison thickened. Corrosion spread.
Xiong Jun struggled—until Gu Yuena intervened.
"Enough," she said softly.
"This round—Xiong Jun loses."
_____________________
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