Chapter Nine: The Bestial Nature of Beasts

Chapter Nine
The Human Nature of All Beasts: Desire

Imagination is beautiful, but reality is merciless; the plan is flawless, yet change is the most ruthless.

“Grandpa Herb, are we going in again tomorrow?” Li Hao asked the Divine Doctor of Herbs.

“No, a person can only enter once. For some, one visit is enough; for others, even a lifetime inside is futile,” the Divine Doctor of Herbs replied.

Just like Li Hao and Lu Yao—after spending a few months inside, they managed to imprint all the essence left by their ancestors into their minds. Many who enter are lucky to grasp even a sliver of the sages’ pill-refining wisdom, benefiting for a lifetime. Let alone Li Hao and Lu Yao, who also comprehended the great truths of life—truths that extend far beyond alchemy and will benefit them for all their lives to come.

Among all the Divine Doctor’s descendants, Lu Yao was undoubtedly the most gifted. Her future achievements were simply unimaginable.

The profound meaning within “Nature’s Myriad Laws” would become their master key, unlocking resplendent doors in the journey ahead.

That evening, Li Hao returned to his private chamber and changed into a white robe. With his handsome features, he seemed immaculate, like a refined young noble stepping out of a painting.

Lu Yao, who yesterday wore a purple gown, was now dressed in a pink one. With her breathtaking beauty, she resembled a spirit born of peach blossoms—stunning and enchanting. Once she matured, who could fathom how her beauty might astonish the world?

Li Hao and Lu Yao secretly summoned a seven-colored cloud eagle, unable to contain their excitement as they directed it toward Lishui City. Their main destination today was the Beast Arena.

Soon, a pair of golden youths descended into Lishui City atop a dazzling bird. Li Hao led Lu Yao back to the same inn where they had housed their cloud eagle the night before. The innkeeper greeted them with a radiant smile, recalling their polite demeanor from the prior evening. “Not only are these two strikingly attractive, but they’re also well-mannered,” he thought.

“Your presence graces this humble inn, truly elevating it beyond measure,” the innkeeper said with customary politeness.

Li Hao replied with measured courtesy, “Innkeeper, please take good care of our colorful bird.”

Hearing itself called a “bird,” the seven-colored cloud eagle could only fume silently—if only it could speak: “Little brat, you’re the bird! I am the dashing seven-colored eagle!”

“Of course! I’ll personally see to your bird’s comfort,” the innkeeper promised, arranging the eagle’s lodging himself.

The eagle rolled its eyes in exasperation at their conversation, cursing Li Hao and the innkeeper in its heart: “You’re the birds! You’re all bird-brains—your whole families are bird-brains…”

Afterward, Li Hao and Lu Yao donned masks and headed straight for the Beast Arena.

On the way, Lu Yao said, “Brother Li Hao, can we watch the matches at the Beast Arena today?”

“All right,” Li Hao agreed to accompany her.

There were still two days before the competition registration closed. During these days, Lishui City was hosting all sorts of festivities—partly to welcome the young talents, and partly as a means of recruitment. No matter the place, it is the younger generation who must shoulder the future. If each generation is weaker than the last, a place is doomed to decline; if each is stronger, it will only flourish.

There were other motives for the festivities: to help the young participants relax before the coming week’s contest of strength, and inevitably, to boost the local economy—no community survives without economic support.

Arriving earlier than yesterday, Li Hao and Lu Yao found the city still teeming with people, though the Beast Arena was a little less crowded this time.

With great effort, they squeezed into the inner ring.

At that moment, a hundred-foot-tall, fire-imbued, striped tiger was locked in combat with a massive blue water serpent of equal stature. The tiger’s blazing flame law clashed fiercely with the serpent’s surging water law. The shockwaves radiated outward, making the entire arena tremble.

The powers were evenly matched, neither side able to overcome the other. Both beasts strove to defeat their opponent, growing more frenzied with each exchange. In the end, their spiritual strength exhausted, they resorted to a bloody fight with only their bodies.

At the final moment, the tiger summoned its last ounce of strength to clamp its jaws around the serpent’s vital spot. The blue serpent, undaunted, coiled its thick body around the tiger’s neck, squeezing with all its remaining might. Neither dared let go: if the tiger released its bite first, and the serpent did not unwind, the tiger would be strangled to death in an instant; if the serpent uncoiled first, and the tiger didn’t release its bite, it would die just as quickly.

Neither trusted the other, and so, as time slipped by, they fought to mutual destruction—a duel of water and fire, a bloody battle for life itself.

Watching this gruesome scene, Lu Yao’s face turned pale. She thought it was far too cruel—two living creatures snuffed out in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao, too, felt a deep discomfort. Why couldn’t this world coexist in peace? How wonderful harmony would be.

Though grieved, Li Hao remained composed and comforted Lu Yao, “Don’t be afraid, Yao’er. Perhaps if we humans show mercy to these beasts who have yet to gain intelligence, they would only attack us in turn, seeing us as their prey. That would be cruelty to ourselves.”

Li Hao’s words rang true. To some creatures, mercy is seen as weakness, prompting them to slaughter without restraint. Among humans, too, there is little difference—many stop at nothing, even killing their own kind, to achieve their aims. Humans are animals as well, only appearing nobler by virtue of ruling the animal world.

For all possess a beast’s nature.

It is a world where the strong prey upon the weak; only overwhelming strength can hope to change such a fate. In this era, only a handful of places allow the myriad races to coexist peacefully.

Take the Liyang Star Domain, unified by the Divine Sovereign Liyang—before he led humanity to power, it was no less chaotic than anywhere else. Today’s peace is only possible because the Divine Sovereign and the Supreme of Liyang hold absolute might over all beings.

Across the domains, every race vies for supremacy, seeking to conquer and claim all for themselves. This is an era of great upheaval, soon to see countless tragedies and slaughter. In those bloody times, only the strongest will rise to bring order, establishing new rules and laws.

…

The next beast match began in Lishui City—gamblers placed bets, onlookers jostled for space, and the arena echoed with noise.

Having been comforted by Li Hao, Lu Yao felt he made perfect sense and recovered her composure. Her childlike curiosity returned, “Brother Li Hao, you beat me yesterday. Today you have to win as well, or you’re just bullying me on purpose!”

Her words were a bit unreasonable, but remembering their kiss the day before, her heart raced uncontrollably. Her lovely face blushed crimson, her voice growing softer until even Li Hao could barely hear her.

Lu Yao was knowingly pressing Li Hao’s weak spot—how could he refuse her? He could only agree, thinking, “With Little Nine’s help, even if it’s cheating and not entirely honorable, as long as it makes Lu Yao happy, it’s worth it.”

He answered boldly, “All right, Yao’er, leave it to me.”

He wore a look of complete confidence.

When a hundred-foot-tall black panther and a red-maned demon wolf emerged in the arena, the gamblers began to bet—some on the panther, some on the wolf.

Li Hao asked, “Who do you think will win?”

Lu Yao replied, “The panther looks fiercer; it should win.”

Li Hao had intended the question for Little Nine, but with Lu Yao always eager to answer first, he felt exhausted by the effort.

“Hurry, Brother Li Hao! The match is about to start!” Lu Yao urged, worried he’d miss his chance to bet.

But today, Little Nine was curiously silent, as if asleep. The plan had been seamless, but fate was as unpredictable as ever.

In truth, Little Nine was following the Divine Sovereign’s command, not wishing Li Hao to grow dependent.

With no response from Little Nine, Li Hao was left at a loss. As the countdown reached its final three breaths, he had no choice but to trust his luck. Just as he was about to place a random bet, Lu Yao, seeing him hesitate, quickly bet on the panther herself.

The match began; Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief—since she made the bet, he wouldn’t be blamed for a loss.

He guessed Little Nine must be busy with something special today.

In the arena, the red-maned demon wolf charged the panther, not using any special laws, relying only on its physical strength. Caught off guard, the panther had no time to unleash its power and was forced to dodge frantically. Wolves are among the fiercest of beasts, and though the panther was no weaker, it had lost the initiative and could only evade.

The clever demon wolf pressed its advantage, forcing the panther back while secretly channeling its fire law. The panther, aligned with wood, was naturally restrained by fire and couldn’t fight back. As it dodged, the wolf seized an opportunity, pounced, and in a flash bit through the panther’s throat, ending its life.

“I knew the red-maned demon wolf would win,” Little Nine’s voice finally sounded.

Li Hao’s feelings were beyond words—if he could, he’d have dearly liked to give Little Nine a good thrashing to vent his frustration.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, face grim.

Lu Yao, seeing his expression, said, “Don’t be upset, Brother Li Hao. I saw you were distracted, so I bet on the panther.”

“Oh heavens, how embarrassing,” Li Hao lamented inwardly. “When I need an answer, there’s none; when I don’t, she always rushes to answer.”

Realizing his discomfort, he quickly forced a smile. “It’s fine, we’ll win it back next round.”

“And why should I tell you?” Little Nine’s voice came again.

Li Hao’s face darkened even more. After a moment’s thought, he realized: why, indeed, should it tell him?