Chapter 668: Identity Exposed?

“Exactly ten moves!”

The corners of Hong Yu’s lips curled up in a playful smile as he spoke calmly.

These words instantly jolted Chen Tao back to his senses.

Even the grogginess in his head cleared. He snapped his head up to look at Hong Yu, his eyes bloodshot as he glared with unparalleled venom and resentment.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Intense waves of energy formed violent air currents that spread around his body.

Chen Tao was furious.

Ever since arriving at the Spirit Cat Race’s territory, he had never imagined he would lose. He had always held himself in high regard, looking down on the War Race’s experts and, frankly, everyone else. Chen Tao had always believed himself to be the number one person beneath the Lords of the Divine Cities—the top genius, the most outstanding talent.

He considered the Saintess of the Spirit Cat Race to be a prize already in his grasp.

No one in his generation could compete with him.

But now…

He, who far surpassed others in background, realm, and strength, had actually been defeated by some nameless nobody with an unknown origin. This drove Chen Tao to the brink of a rampage.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!”

Chen Tao shot up in a rage, ready to strike again.

As if he had long expected Chen Tao wouldn’t accept defeat, Hong Yu took a fighting stance. Dark golden flames surged around his body, dancing wildly. He was ready for battle.

Just as the two were at daggers drawn, on the verge of clashing…

Mao Mei’Er let out a cold snort. “God King Chen Tao, since you have already fallen off the arena, Beichen is naturally the victor of this battle. If you insist on pestering Hong Yu and attacking him, then don’t blame me for not giving face to your North and South Divine City.”

Mao Mei’Er was very powerful.

Moreover, as the leader of her race, her words carried immense authority.

Her words did indeed force Chen Tao to suppress his rage, but his twitching eyes remained fixed on Hong Yu, glinting with venom.

He was racking his brain, trying to think of an excuse to strike and kill Hong Yu.

Watching from the side, Bear Tao burst out laughing. “Tsk tsk, is this the dignity of a Divine King from the North and South Divine City? A loss is a loss. I, Old Bear, might not be well-read or cultured, but even I know you just said that if you couldn’t defeat Beichen in ten moves, you would lose. Besides, you’re the one who fell off the stage!”

“Heh heh, you big oaf, don’t you know God King Chen Tao of the North and South Divine City is famous for treating his promises like farts and his oaths like stray dogs?”

“I heard that to get that Iron Fan Primordial Weapon, he didn’t even hesitate to seduce a woman from the Giant Elephant Race, promising to take care of her for life. In the end, after he got the Iron Fan Primordial Weapon, not only did he go back on his oath, but he even flew into a rage out of shame and killed the woman from the Giant Elephant Race.”

“You think he’s going to be a sore loser and go back on his word today?”

“It’s very possible!”

Aside from the Spirit Cat Race, which got along with all factions, the Four Great Divine Cities and the War Race were like fire and water.

Chen Tao’s condescending words and actions just now, his disregard for everyone, had long since rubbed these War Race experts the wrong way. Now that they saw him defeated, they naturally made no effort to hide their schadenfreude, mocking him with their words and looking at him with utter contempt.

Chen Tao’s expression was stormy and uncertain.

He knew he had truly stumbled today.

If he challenged Hong Yu again under these circumstances, regardless of whether he could find a suitable excuse, he would forever be branded as a “petty man who goes back on his word and can’t handle losing.” His eyes flickered, a dark look clouding his face. He took a deep breath. “Fine, fine. I admit defeat today. Beichen, is it? Good, good. Very good. The green mountains don’t change, and the clear waters flow on. One day, you will fall into my hands!”

Hong Yu grinned. “Kid, would it kill you to stop posturing?”

“You…”

Chen Tao’s face stiffened.

He couldn’t get his prepared words out, forcing himself to swallow them back down. He turned to Mao Mei’Er with a cold expression. “Your Majesty the Queen, I will take my leave now!”

“Hehe, God King Chen Tao, no need to leave in such a hurry. Why not stay for the banquet?” Mao Mei’Er said with a charming smile.

A single smile could topple a city, giving birth to a hundred charms!

This was likely describing a peerless beauty like her!

Of course…

…Chen Tao was in no mood to appreciate it right now. He shook his head, his face grim. “There are matters to attend to in the Divine City. I’ll be going now!”

With that, Chen Tao stepped into the air and departed.

He moved quickly, unwilling to stay and endure everyone’s scorn and ridicule. But in the eyes of the crowd, it looked as though he were fleeing in disgrace.

Bear Tao and the others let out hearty laughs, which faintly reached the distant Chen Tao, nearly causing him to stumble and fall from the sky…

In his heart, his resentment for Hong Yu grew even deeper.

Once Chen Tao had completely vanished from sight, Mao Mei’Er continued, “Beichen is now the Thunder Pillar. I wonder if anyone else is willing to enter the arena and fight him?”

Bear Tao scratched his head. “I don’t want to get all my fur burned off and become a roasted bear! Tan Hui, isn’t your Netherworld Race the best at controlling fire? Why don’t you go up and have a go with him?”

Tan Hui glanced at Bear Tao and said coldly, “Get lost!”

The Young Master of the Holy Tiger Race, Tiger Wei, laughed heartily from the side. “You big oaf, you’re just asking for it! Don’t you know Tan Hui is completely frigid? He has no interest in women at all. He probably only came to the Spirit Cat Race because his old man forced him!”

“Huh? Tan Hui, you really don’t like women? Ah, what a pity…”

Bear Tao had a simple-minded look on his face, shaking his head with regret. “Women are great, you know. And you don’t even like them. Huh? Does that mean you like men? I heard that Chrysanthemum King from the North and South Divine City also likes men. You two wouldn’t happen to be…”

“You big oaf, I’ll duel you!”

Tan Hui’s dark face flushed red and pale with rage. He was furious, his killing intent flaring.

The few of them were actually on pretty good terms, so they wouldn’t really fight to the death. After some roughhousing, Tiger Wei said, “Seriously, though. You guys need to hurry up and decide who’s going to go up and test him.”

Bear Tao shook his head. “I’m not going, anyway! And this frigid guy definitely won’t go either!”

“…”

Tan Hui shot him a fierce glare and shook his head.

Ape Feng laughed. “Forget it. Even Chen Tao was no match for him. I, Old Ape, won’t get involved!”

‘This is so frustrating. I really need to win the Saintess’s favor. I was hoping to take that final step with her help!’

Tiger Wei looked vexed. But then he remembered that even Chen Tao was no match for Hong Yu.

Although he wasn’t afraid of any of his peers if he used his trump card, Tiger Wei knew the price of using it was too great. It was a life-saving measure, and it wasn’t worth wasting here.

And so, no one else was willing to go on stage after that.

Mao Mei’Er glanced at the crowd and then smiled. “In that case, the winner of the martial contest is Beichen. Does anyone have any objections?”

“No objections!”

Everyone shook their heads.

Only then did Hong Yu let out a sigh of relief. ‘After all, if I had lost, Mao Mei’Er would have had to kill me to break the master-servant bond between Miaomiao and me.’

‘Against an expert at the Lord of Divine City Level, I don’t think I’d have any chance of survival.’

But then a headache immediately set in… ‘I won the trial and saved my life.’

‘But according to Mao Mei’Er, this was supposed to be a trial to select a husband for Miaomiao. So what does that make me? Am I really supposed to become the damn Prince Consort of the Spirit Cat Race? I have to take a Cat Maiden home with me?’

Just thinking about it made Hong Yu’s head ache.

“Buddy, I’m Bear Tao. I want to be friends with you!” Bear Tao walked over, his massive frame looming.

Hong Yu was taken aback and looked at Bear Tao in confusion.

‘Aren’t the Eight Great Battle Clans of the core region supposed to be like fire and water with humans? Why is it that besides having a problem with me at the start because of Miaomiao, Bear Tao and Tiger Wei don’t seem to have targeted me at all?’

Mao Mei’Er seemed to notice Hong Yu’s confusion and said with a faint smile, “The reason the Eight Great Battle Clans are like fire and water with the Four Great Divine Cities is actually due to conflicting interests. After all, the core region of the True Dragon Battlefield is only so big. The Four Great Divine Cities are outsiders who want to divide the resources with the Eight Great Battle Clans, so conflict is inevitable.”

“Years of slaughter have made the hatred between the Eight Great Battle Clans and the Four Great Divine Cities grow stronger with each generation. However, this isn’t a hatred between the War Race and humanity!”

Bear Tao boomed in his loud voice, “You’re not one of the Four Great Divine Cities’ people, so of course I can be friends with you!”

Tiger Wei also walked over and smiled. “I am Tiger Wei, Young Master of the Holy Tiger Tribe. Hearing your war song earlier made me appreciate you greatly, so I’m also willing to be your friend!”

“Alas, I, Ape, also have many human friends!”

Ape Feng added with a smile.

Tan Hui, his face cold, said flatly, “Friends.”

Ma Fengxing of the Celestial Horse Race trotted up on his four hooves. He wore a gentlemanly smile and said, “I look forward to battling you one day!”

Hong Yu swept his gaze over them, assessing them in his mind.

‘Ape Feng and Bear Tao are both straightforward. I could become good friends with them.’

‘Tiger Wei is arrogant to the bone. Although he seems to be interacting with me as an equal, he’s actually driven by self-interest.’

‘Tan Hui is cold all over, like a Netherworld Ghost Soul, making his thoughts impossible to read.’

‘And Ma Fengxing, with his phony smile, is completely inscrutable. He’s the last one I should get close to among this group.’

In a flash of thought, Hong Yu responded to them all with a smile, but he was particularly friendly toward Bear Tao and Ape Feng.

Mao Mei’Er remained silent throughout. She tore open the void and brought Hong Yu and the others back to the Spirit Cat Race’s territory, where a banquet was held. The cups were pushed and glasses exchanged in a lively celebration.

Relying on his powerful physique, Hong Yu took on all five of them and managed to drink them all under the table.

Bear Tao was dead drunk, snoring so loudly it shook the heavens.

Ape Feng was dazed and reeked of alcohol. He slung an arm over Hong Yu’s shoulder. “I, Ape, like your personality! Drink! After this cup, there’s another…” Before he could finish, he fell to the ground with a THUD and also passed out.

Hong Yu’s head felt a bit heavy.

A cool stream of energy flowed from his Star River Spirit Bone, clearing his head a little. Miaomiao had been taken away by Mao Mei’Er. Hong Yu scanned the hall, saw there were no guards, and glanced at the vast sky outside. A crafty glint in his eyes, he prepared to sneak away.

But just as he stepped over the threshold of the great hall, a cold voice sounded in his ear, sending a chill down his spine…

“Does the great and famous Hong Yu also engage in such sneaky business?”