Chapter 649 - 630: Old Horse’s Horse

"I think you must be nearsighted. Didn’t you see the texture on that Molten Fire Dragon Turtle’s shell? It’s an Inscribed Spirit True Text, a Talent Array. That’s far stronger than any mutation."

The two of them were such that if one spoke, the other had to contradict him. If one said east, the other would say west; if one said south, the other would insist on north. They couldn’t agree on anything.

While the two traded barbs and teased each other, Fatty Bai, on the other hand, had gone completely silent.

The steward, Li Xunhuan, his face ashen, sidled up to Fatty Bai. "Young Master... we’re not actually going to send up a Third-Transformation Demon Spirit, are we?"

A Third-Transformation Demon Spirit wasn’t bad, but compared to these True Essence Beasts... calling it cannon fodder would be an understatement. It would simply lower the standard of this Sacrificial Battle. What would the people of Wang City think of the Bai Family then?

The Bai Family is going to rise?

They should find a decent True Essence Beast to guard their home first!

"What are you worried about! The Boss has his own plans! So what if it’s a Third-Transformation Demon Spirit!" Fatty Bai said, though he didn’t really believe his own words.

Just then, the Kun Family’s True Essence Beast took the stage!

BOOM!

A tremendous crash!

A monster the size of a small mountain charged into the center!

"A Three-Transformation Two-headed Mountain Demon!"

ROAR ROAR ROAR...

The monster reared up on its hind legs, standing as tall as three men. It looked vaguely humanoid, but two grotesque heads, one large and one small, sprouted from its shoulders. In its left hand, it gripped a tree trunk as a shield, while its right hand held a Fine Iron Giant Hammer! A terrifying aura radiated from its entire body!

The frenzied roars from the square had reached their peak! The successive appearances of these True Essence Beasts were one incredible surprise after another! In terms of power, the Two-headed Mountain Demon was actually inferior to the other three families’ beasts. However, it was a humanoid True Essence Beast, and skilled with weapons! The occasional glint of light flashing across that Fine Iron Giant Hammer proved it was no ordinary hammer!

At that moment, an unusually loud roar erupted from the crowd: "Bai Family, Bai Family! Bai Family! Bai Family!"

The people were stunned for a moment, then began to chant along!

Bai Family!

Bai Family! Bai Family!

There had already been four consecutive surprises. With the cheers for the Bai Family, the crowd’s anticipation for a fifth surprise was suddenly raised to its absolute limit.

Now, even the composed Fatty Bai was starting to get restless.

A faint smile appeared on Kun Yaoyang’s face. He had planted that person in the crowd. If Wang Meng had actually brought an even stronger True Essence Beast back from Haojing, he would admit defeat. But frankly, he just didn’t believe it!

If the Wang Family really did that, it would be too shameless. The big shots in Haojing would surely be displeased.

Just then, the announcing cultivator walked over and asked Fatty Bai, "The Bai Family’s True Essence Beast is...?"

A muscle in Fatty Bai’s cheek twitched. He desperately wanted to say it was a Third-Transformation Profound Abyss Demon Spirit... but the cheers for the Bai Family were growing louder and more intense... He couldn’t bring himself to say the words!

The cultivator grew a bit anxious. "Mr. Bai, please confirm quickly. Time is limited."

On the stage, the Two-headed Mountain Demon was about to complete its circuit. Then it would be time for the Bai Family’s True Essence Beast to appear. Any delay would be a breach of the Sacrificial Battle’s etiquette, and the situation would become ugly.

He knew perfectly well what the Bai Family had—just a few Third-Transformation Profound Abyss Demon Spirits.

Under normal circumstances, they were indeed excellent, eye-catching True Essence Beasts. But in this environment, they simply weren’t presentable enough for such a grand stage!

An occasion like this was a competition of appearance, rarity, and strength—not one could be lacking!

He had been having his people watch them the whole time; the Bai Family hadn’t made any moves. Besides, they couldn’t have afforded anything better anyway.

The little bit of prestige the Bai Family had just built up was about to vanish with the wind.

Fatty Bai gritted his teeth. ’Might as well face the music.’ He opened his mouth and said in a low voice, "A Third-Transformation Profound Abyss..."

But just then, Wang Meng clapped him on the shoulder, cutting him off.

"Boss?"

"Everyone’s spirits are so high. It wouldn’t be right not to show them something good."

Fatty Bai was stunned at first, then overjoyed. In his eyes, Boss Wang Meng was omnipotent and impossibly mysterious. Even if a Flood Dragon with pure Dragon Race blood suddenly leaped out from his boss, he wouldn’t find it strange!

’I was going to use the Third-Transformation Red Melting Bird from my Five Elements Spirit Holding Bracelet,’ Wang Meng thought. ’After I advanced to the Earth Wheel Realm, it evolved to the Third Transformation Peak and has been incredibly irritable. It would be good to let it out for some air. But looking at this scene... if I want to make a real splash, I’ll have to rely on a certain... horse.’

Wang Meng looked at Old Horse. The horse was clearly a bit displeased with this bunch of juniors acting so outrageously arrogant.

"Old Horse, are you up for it? I’m tapped out. Can you handle a Third Transformation Peak Divine Beast? ...Never mind, I won’t force you. I’ll just send out the Demon Spirit for them to eat."

Old Horse rolled his eyes. ’What a load of crap. A Third Transformation beast dares to call itself a Divine Beast? Unbelievable.’

Wang Meng feigned surprise. "You want to go?"

Then he shook his head again. "Are you sure? Don’t get yourself hurt."

Before Wang Meng could even nod, Old Horse charged forward. ’That damn kid. As if these small fries are worthy!’

Fatty Bai stared blankly at Old Horse... ’The Boss isn’t really going to send this horse in, is he? But is this horse crazy or something? An ordinary horse would piss itself in fear just from a regular True Essence Beast showing its might, let alone a Third Transformation one.’

"Go easy on the Firebird in the sky and that Molten Rock Dragon Turtle. Do whatever you want with the others." Wang Meng patted Old Horse’s back. ’Muhe Xiaoyu is a good person. And when I first arrived in this world, the Jiang Family took me in. Their attitude was a bit poor, but at least they didn’t kick me when I was down.’

Old Horse’s posture seemed to slump... He shot an angry glare at Wang Meng. ’Damn kid, I’ve been tricked. Such is the life of a horse...’

However, feeling the force of Wang Meng’s pat, Old Horse could only suck it up. Who could he blame for not being as strong as his master?

"The Bai Family, one Third-Transformation Old Horse..."

Wang Meng said, confirming with the cultivator in charge.

The cultivator was a bit dazed... ’Old Horse? Third Transformation?’

’Dammit, does he take everyone for an idiot!’

He felt like he was about to lose it. ’Holy crap, since when do worldly horses used for carrying goods and people have a "Third Transformation"? And "Old Horse"! OLD!’

"Ahem... don’t just stand there daydreaming. That’s right. The Bai Family, a Third-Transformation Old Horse."

Fatty Bai’s eyes also glazed over, but since the Boss had spoken, he wouldn’t object!

’What did the Bai Family rely on to rise? Wang Meng! So what if we fall again? Can it be any worse than the past?’ Fatty Bai was philosophical about it. Of course, this was also due to his unconditional trust in Wang Meng.

The cultivator rolled his eyes. ’Fine. If the Bai Family wants to court death, why should I be a busybody and stop them?’

"The Bai Family’s True Essence Beast will now enter!"

He activated an amplification spell, and instantly, the cheers across the entire square came to a halt!

In that instant, all anticipation for a surprise coalesced into a single point. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was the focus of everyone’s will.

In the VIP seats, Chairmen Yang Qi and Luo Shan, who had been bickering incessantly, both turned their attention to the Bai Family’s area.

They were both curious what kind of True Essence Beast Wang Meng would produce! ’If a day goes by where that guy doesn’t pull off some miracle to scare people, something would be truly wrong!’

However, the scene that followed shocked the two chairmen so much that tears almost burst from their eyes!

"A Third-Transformation Old Horse..."

The cultivator’s announcement echoed throughout the entire venue.

’Is this a joke? An old horse?’

But, what walked out from the Bai Family’s camp... really was an old horse!

’A freaking horse! And it’s Third Transformation? Since when can horses "transform" and advance in rank?’

"That kid, Wang Meng... is he trying to be funny?"

"Is this a strategic retreat? But in this situation... isn’t this retreat a bit too big?"

Yang Qi and Luo Shan were both deeply confused.

Among horse-type True Essence Beasts that could advance to a High Tier, there were only two kinds: the Dream Horse and the Celestial Horse. The former is born with a single horn, the latter has wings. Both are True Essence Beasts of the Seventh Transformation or higher. Clearly, the old horse the Bai Family sent out was neither of these. A Seventh Transformation beast was not something a place like Wang City could even dream of.

No matter how you looked at it, it was just an ordinary horse.

Moreover, according to the Horse Inspection Scripture, it was a low-quality horse at that!

In the square, the crowd’s expectations for the Bai Family plummeted from the peak to rock bottom!

"An old horse? What the hell is that?"

"I’ve lived for decades and I’ve never heard of a ’Third-Transformation Old Horse’ True Essence Beast..."

"Are they messing with us?!"

"The Bai Family really doesn’t take the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival seriously, do they? Pulling a prank on an occasion like this?"

At first, it was just disappointment. But as a few instigating voices shouted out from the crowd, the people’s emotions began to turn agitated.

That’s right, this was an important Divine Beast Festival that concerned Wang City’s status! Whether the Bai Family could surprise everyone wasn’t actually important. What was important was whether they took it seriously! Pulling a prank was clearly an irresponsible act. It might be forgivable during a normal, insignificant little Divine Beast Festival, but this Five Elements Divine Beast Festival was the critical ceremony to establish Wang City as the eighth major city of Great Zhou!

The crowd began to grow angry!

If the ceremony weren’t still in progress, the furious crowd in the square would have probably charged the Bai Family’s camp!

However, their emotions didn’t disappear just because they were held back for the moment. Instead, they continued to brew and fester...

Li Xunhuan was extremely worried, his brow furrowed deeply. He walked up behind Fatty Bai. "Young... Young Master, did we take this too far...? You should leave first in a bit."

Fatty Bai was also very worried inside, but he maintained his composure. "The Boss is here, what’s there to be afraid of!"

Li Xunhuan gave a bitter smile. He didn’t have that much confidence in Wang Meng. They had sent out an old horse, and now all the crowd’s hatred was focused on the Bai Family. There was only one possible outcome: when the Five Elements Festival was over, the Bai Family would be torn to pieces by the angry mob!

In the Kun Family’s section, Kun Yaoyang frowned. ’Something’s strange. I’ve crossed swords with Wang Meng so many times, that guy...’

’What trick is he trying to pull now!’

Muhe Xiaoyu was a little stunned, watching Wang Meng from afar. After frowning for a moment, they gave an order to a subordinate, "Send some people to protect the Bai Family a little later. The Five Elements Divine Beast Festival is sacred. Don’t let anyone get killed."

On the other side, Zhe Wulei sneered and gave an order to their own subordinate: "Take out the Bai Family if you get the chance. Also, tell King Leopard to tear that horse to pieces. The smaller, the better!"

All five True Essence Beasts had entered the arena, each taking a corner as they prepared for the Sacrificial Battle.

"Let the high platform rise, and the Bright Pearl ascend!"

The cultivator in charge waved his hand. Amidst a surge of True Essence Power, the magical mechanisms long installed beneath the sacrificial altar activated. With an exciting tremor, a high tower began to rise continuously from the center of the altar, stopping only when it reached a height of thirty-three zhang. At its peak, a Bright Pearl shimmered and glowed.

The victory condition for the Sacrificial Battle was to seize the Bright Pearl and defeat all opponents.

"No-Fly Array!"

"Defense Array!"

"Spirit Binding Array!"

One after another, Arrays were activated. Only now did the Three Major Conferences display their profound resources, as successive rings of light from the Arrays enveloped the sacrificial altar.

(A vote for Old Horse’s debut, please~~~~) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)