Volume Six: Stealing is Robbing - Chapter Three: The Chaos of Spirit Beasts (Part Two)

At this moment, a dozen more members from Tyrannosaur Peak rushed to Kuang Chi’s side, shielding him, Jing’er, and Duke Yelu.

Duke Yelu sighed deeply, remarking, "Tyrannosaur Peak is truly worthy of being the most powerful sect on the Forgotten Star."

Just as Kuang Chi was about to speak, the roar of the Martial Venerable echoed through the plaza once more: "Call your master out, or do not blame me for using my lethal techniques!"

Kuang Chi retorted coldly, "Lord Martial Venerable, I have told you many times: my master is not here. If you have any business, you can discuss it with me."

At this, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable, seemingly driven to a fury, shot straight up into the air. A blinding flash of fire erupted in the sky.

Duke Yelu exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable has merged with his Divine Martial Beast, the Fire Phoenix!"

The Crimson Flame Martial Venerable was now enveloped in a layer of crimson flames. Much of his body was covered in fire-red feathers, and several long, glowing plumes trailed from his back. His appearance was exceptionally striking, and paired with his handsome features, it drew waves of shrieks from the crowd around the plaza.

Even Jing’er looked starstruck. Irritated, Kuang Chi snapped at her, "Stop with the starry eyes! He is here to snatch the spirit beast in your arms."

Jing’er came to her senses with a start, then retorted indignantly, "This spirit beast isn't even mine, so what does it matter to me if he steals it?"

Kuang Chi chuckled at this. Turning his head, he looked at A-San, who was standing by in a state of nervous tension. "A-San, I believe you said you were giving this spirit beast to Jing’er earlier. Since she doesn't want it, I think you had better return it to this so-called Crimson Flame Martial Venerable. Let’s avoid any unnecessary trouble."

Upon hearing that the beast was meant for her, Jing’er’s eyes lit up again. Before Kuang Chi could finish, she shouted, "You said it! This spirit beast is mine!"

She hugged the small creature even tighter. The gleam in her eyes was so intense that Kuang Chi found it almost unbearable to look at.

Suspended in the air, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable, now merged with his beast, did not re-enter the fray but simply drifted there, gazing down at the group.

After a while, he bellowed, "All of you, stop!"

The men from the Giant Axe Security Company immediately withdrew from the skirmish, and the Tyrannosaur Peak members also stopped, huddling back together.

Once both sides had ceased fighting, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable chose not to confront Kuang Chi again, instead addressing Duke Yelu directly: "Duke Yelu, I believe you are well aware of the cause of this incident. Please, have the girl by your side return the spirit beast to us."

Duke Yelu glanced at the cold-faced Kuang Chi, then at Jing’er, who was glaring at him with indignation. He finally spoke to the figure in the air: "Crimson Flame Martial Venerable, this matter has nothing to do with me. As for the beast, it is beyond my control, and the Yelu family cannot intervene. I cannot help you retrieve it."

Hearing this, Kuang Chi frowned. He looked at A-San before asking the Duke, "What exactly is this about?"

The Duke looked between Kuang Chi and the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable, feeling as though he could afford to offend neither. Finally, he looked at the nervous and angry Jing’er and said, "I heard—and I stress, this is only hearsay—that the Giant Axe Security Company discovered the beast first, but A-San and his group paid for it first."

Although not explicitly stated, the implication was clear: the beast had been purchased by A-San or his companions first.

Jing’er didn’t care who was in the right. She smiled sweetly at A-San and said, "A-San, thank you."

A-San, who had intended to use the creature to curry favor with her, beamed. "Miss Jing’er, you are too kind," he replied, adding, "Actually, this was ordered by my young master. He has long wanted to find you a beautiful, cute little companion, but we could never find a suitable one on the Forgotten Star."

Jing’er beamed at Kuang Chi, then gently stroked the little creature in her arms.

The Crimson Flame Martial Venerable’s voice boomed from above: "Young man, since your master is absent, if you are the one in charge, then please return the spirit beast to us."

Jing’er immediately cried out in a low voice, "Fatty!" The look of reluctance on her face was clear to anyone.

Kuang Chi did not care that his opponent was a Martial Venerable. If they wanted to fight, then they would fight. If things escalated, Tyrannosaur Peak could afford the losses, and so could the Kuang family. Kuang Chi had never cared about such things; if he did, he wouldn’t be known as the "Butcher of the Sea of Blood."

Kuang Chi replied coldly, "This spirit beast was purchased by our people first. What do you mean by 'returning' it to you?"

The Crimson Flame Martial Venerable glared at him before speaking in a deep, slow voice: "Young man, do not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Although your master is not here and I am reluctant to bully the young, if you remain this ungrateful, do not blame me for being ruthless. If you are wise, state your lineage so I may see if I have any friendship with your master."

Kuang Chi scoffed, "Want to snatch my things? I don't fear you even if you are a Martial Venerable. Spare me the talk of 'bullying the young.' We bought this beast first; don't think that just because you are a Martial Venerable, we have to yield. If you want it, take it by your own merit."

This was typical of Kuang Chi’s past behavior—stubborn, reckless, and arrogant—a stark contrast to the impression he had given Yelu and Jing’er over the years on the Forgotten Star. The two stared at him in astonishment.

The Crimson Flame Martial Venerable was so enraged that he was forced to take deep breaths to steady himself.

After a long time, he hissed, "Very well. In that case, I will destroy you first, then go find your master."

With that, he lunged toward Kuang Chi, cloaked in towering flames. However, he was intercepted midway by the members of Tyrannosaur Peak, who flapped their wings to block his path.

This time, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable seemed to be using his full power, sending waves of scorching heat toward Kuang Chi and his group on the periphery.

Without a word, Duke Yelu grabbed Jing’er and hauled her away. He shouted toward Kuang Chi and the Martial Venerable, "Sort out your grievances yourselves! I will hold onto the beast for now."

He dragged Jing’er onto an airship, which immediately took off toward a nearby high-rise and vanished into the building.

With Jing’er gone, Kuang Chi turned his gaze back to the plaza. His fighting spirit ignited, and in a moment of hot-headedness, he merged with Little Flower and charged into the fray.

He did not notice the shocked gasps from several onlookers as long, vine-like growths emerged from behind him.

Wielding a whip in one hand and practicing the Heavenly Injury Fist with the other, the battle-hardened Kuang Chi was not a force to be trifled with. Though his "Mad Dragon Art" had seen little progress in recent years, his "Tyrant Moon Body Tempering Art"—which supposedly turned one into a living weapon—had been well-honed.

He shrugged off most physical blows, choosing to trade several hits for one of his own. Yet, one strike from him was worth far more than theirs; even a grazing blow from his Heavenly Injury Fist was enough to put the experts of the Giant Axe Security Company in the hospital for months.

Realizing his power, the security company members cleared a path as he charged toward the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable’s circle. Only then did Kuang Chi realize the intensity of the heat. Had the Tyrannosaur Peak members' innate, bone-chilling cold energy not countered the flames, they would have been incinerated. Even so, several had already been severely injured.

Kuang Chi was furious. Having practiced the Tyrant Moon Body Tempering Art to the point where he could practically bathe in lava, the heat did not faze him, but Little Flower’s body could not withstand the heat, which seemed even more intense than magma.

Kuang Chi pulled the vines back into his body, stripped off his burnt clothing, and charged at the Martial Venerable, his hands glowing with the power of the Heavenly Injury Fist, engaging him in close-quarters combat.

Whether the Martial Venerable was blinded by rage or not, he abandoned his superior long-range flame attacks and engaged in the very close-quarters brawl that even a fool could see Kuang Chi was immune to.

One was a Martial Venerable, for whom close combat was not a specialty but still far superior to ordinary experts. The other was a specialist in hand-to-hand combat. For a time, they were evenly matched.

It was only after a long while that the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable collected himself. Realizing his disadvantage, he flew into the air. With a few roars, the flames surrounding him shifted from crimson to silver-white. The heat was so intense that nearby buildings began to melt, and the metal floor of the plaza turned red, as if it, too, were about to liquefy.

Anyone could see that this was the Martial Venerable's true power.

Though Kuang Chi was unaffected, A-San and the others, who had been guarding him, could no longer hold on. Their bodies turned bright red, and the long fur on their skin began to singe. Knowing this fur was their natural defense against both cold and heat, Kuang Chi quickly ordered them to retreat.

After a moment, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable laughed in the air, "Boy, I must admit you are extraordinary. It is rare to see someone refine their physical arts to this level. If you had more time, while you might not reach the realm of a War God like the Tyrant Moon War God, you would certainly have become a Martial Venerable."

He paused, then laughed coldly again. "But you won't have that chance. I will destroy you, and then I will settle this with your master."

Kuang Chi was struggling. Only now did he realize why everyone said the gap between a Martial Venerable and a Level 9 expert was like the difference between heaven and earth. It was an insurmountable chasm.

His body was glowing red, but his stubborn pride prevented him from showing he was at his limit.

Just as the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable prepared to strike, a hollow, echoing voice resonated across the plaza.

"Fire-player, if you wish to spend your remaining days being hunted by a pack of old madmen, and if you want them to tear your Divine Martial Palace to the ground, then by all means, go ahead and destroy that foolish boy."

At these words, the Crimson Flame Martial Venerable halted his descent.

He regained his composure, gazed calmly at Kuang Chi, and then looked toward a spot in the air to Kuang Chi’s left. "Old Ghost, what do you mean by that?"

The hollow voice erupted into a bizarre, long laugh that made even Kuang Chi, standing in the furnace-like heat, feel a chill.

"Can you not see who that foolish boy’s master is? If you dare destroy him, those madmen will absolutely tear your Divine Martial Palace to shreds."

The hollow voice let out another laugh, then sounded genuinely annoyed. "How I wish I hadn't come to watch this spectacle. If you had destroyed him and brought disaster upon your Palace, that would have been fine, but now that I am here... sigh."

The Martial Venerable’s gaze shifted to Kuang Chi, lingering for a long time before he addressed the hollow voice again. "Old Ghost, I never thought you would be so cowardly, fearing trouble. Weren't you here to cause trouble for this boy yourself?"

The hollow voice gave a strange, mocking laugh. "I only came to observe. I don't meddle in the affairs of the young like you do. I am not foolish enough to invite disaster upon myself, unlike you."

With that, the voice seemed to fade into the distance until it vanished without a trace.