C22 The Sudden Outburst

Liu Yangshuo watched the young contenders with keen interest, noting how their techniques vividly showcased the unique traits of their respective family clans and sects. Three individuals, in particular, caught his eye.

The first, a composed young man, approached the iron cage housing a rampaging demonic beast. With a casual flick of his sleeve, a tiny insect emerged and made a beeline for the creature. The enraged beast paid no mind to such a minuscule pest and continued its furious onslaught. But moments later, it paused, bewildered, and then collapsed, lifeless as a lump of clay.

The second was a dark-skinned youth with his right hand swathed in bandages. His gaze had been locked on Liu Yangshuo until their eyes met, prompting him to finally look away. With his uninjured hand, he summoned a sphere of spiritual force.

"Go!" he commanded in a hushed tone. As he unleashed his spiritual force, piercing the air with sharp cracks, the demonic beast before him staggered and then tumbled to the ground.

It was clear who these two were: part of the trio that had ambushed Liu Yangshuo the previous night. And that meant the third girl had to be among them.

Scanning the crowd, Liu Yangshuo eventually spotted her on the fringes of the group. Yan Qing, having been struck by a sliver of the Primordial Thunder Dragon's life essence lightning, was now shrouded in bandages, her face obscured.

Yan Qing's method was particularly fascinating. She did nothing more than walk up to the iron cage with a serene demeanor. Her eyes began to emit a captivating allure, and the demonic beasts inside grew tranquil, their gaze fixed unwaveringly on her.

"The champion this year is likely to be from the Yan, Ouyang, or Mu family," someone remarked.

"I'm not so sure," another countered. "Pavilion Master Hsu from the Fragrance Tower isn't competing, but they've made an exception for a man to enter. He's got to be someone special."

"Look at that kid. He doesn't seem to have any skills. He's done nothing but stand there watching. What does he think this is—a learning experience?"

The onlookers outside buzzed with conversation, clearly recognizing the trio as prominent figures in Hagan Bay.

"Ahem, why the delay? If you're not up to it, you're free to bow out of the contest," the City Lord said, approaching Liu Yangshuo with a hint of impatience after noticing his prolonged inaction.

Liu Yangshuo remained silent, his gaze fixed on the purple-scaled lizard before him, which continued to roar menacingly. The creature was more akin to a dinosaur than a lizard, and according to the system, it was a Purple Electric Lizard at the peak of Spirit Separation, its saliva laced with deadly poison.

"Let's talk this through, stay calm," Liu Yangshuo urged, attempting to establish communication with the beast using the Beast King System.

"Kill! I will exterminate all you humans!" Despite its shock at hearing the human's voice in its mind, the Purple Lightning Lizard's rage only intensified, as it thrashed against the iron cage with its head and claws.

"I'm here to help. As a beast doctor, I assure you that raging won't set you free," Liu Yangshuo said, his brow furrowing at the challenge of pacifying the creature.

"You humans slaughtered my wife and children! What's there to discuss? Can you bring them back to life?!" The lizard's eyes blazed red as it spat a venomous glob at Liu Yangshuo, who narrowly evaded the attack.

The City Lord, witnessing the lizard's aggression, rushed forward with a squad of guards, intent on halting Liu Yangshuo's trial. But Liu Yangshuo had other plans. If he couldn't handle the Purple Lightning Lizard, he had no business competing later on. With a horizontal sweep of his hand, he signaled the City Lord to hold back. The City Lord caught on to Liu Yangshuo's intent, yet he kept the guards at the ready, prepared to intervene should the beast lash out again.

"Hahaha, Pavilion Master Hsu, the individual you've sent from Fragrance Tower this time is quite the talent. The event was supposed to be about calming the mind, yet he managed to enrage the demonic beast even more."

A short, rotund old man guffawed at Hsu Chengqiu.

"Indeed, we were under the impression that any man Fragrance Tower sends would be a master. But now, it seems you might have been better off sending those maidservants behind you, Pavilion Master Hsu. They might have achieved a better outcome."

Another emaciated elder, who appeared to be suffering from long-term malnutrition, joined in the mockery of Hsu Chengqiu.

Unfazed by their taunts, Hsu Chengqiu knew better than to let such petty provocations disturb her composure. After all, she wouldn't deserve the title of Pavilion Master if they did.

"Hehe, Patriarch Ouyang and Sect Master Mu, perhaps you should focus on your own kin. Whom Fragrance Tower chooses to send is of no concern to anyone here. Let me be clear: if I hear any further disrespect towards our esteemed guests, I won't be so forgiving," Hsu Chengqiu retorted with a cold laugh, addressing not only the Ouyang and Mu families but everyone who had sneered at Liu Yangshuo.

"Hmph, all bark and no bite. The Yan family fears no one. We will claim the top spot in the Hagan Competition, without a doubt!" retorted a striking young woman from across Hsu Chengqiu, her tone equally frosty as she squared off with her.

"Master Yan seems quite assured of victory. Well, we shall see who ultimately prevails," Hsu Chengqiu replied, then turned her attention away from the Yan family matriarch, focusing instead on Liu Yangshuo's performance.

The Yan family matriarch bit back a retort, swallowing her words in light of the tense atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Liu Yangshuo was too preoccupied to concern himself with the outside world. The state of his Purple Lightning Lizard was far from promising. Unlike other demonic beasts that had been provoked into rage by guards inflicting deliberate injuries, his lizard had been driven to a frenzy because the guards had slain its mate and offspring in an attempt to capture it, sending it into a rampage from the very core of its being.

"I can resurrect them. Just calm down for a moment. If you keep this up, you're going to endanger your own life as well!"

Liu Yangshuo cast a glance at the poised and ready guards behind him before speaking.

"I don't trust you. All of you humans are evil! I'd rather die and take some of you with me."

With those words, a void flame sparked to life in the eyes of the Purple Lightning Lizard.

"Oh no, it's ignited its soul. It's fighting desperately!"

The Primordial Thunder Dragon urgently sent out a telepathic warning.

But it was a moment too late. Empowered by its ignited soul, the Purple Lightning Lizard's strength surged. It smashed the sturdy iron cage with a single swipe of its claw and lunged at Liu Yangshuo.

"I'm doing this for your own good. Forgive the offense!"

Suddenly, an overwhelming aura of power erupted from within Liu Yangshuo.