342 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

Chapter 342: The Might of the Greater Beast King and the Art of Transformation From the very beginning, the outcome was already determined. Even with the joint effort of Li Shao (黎紹) and Haier Bo (海波兒), they faced defeat. With the fall of these two prodigies of the Blue Sea, it signified that Xu Yan (许炎) had subdued all the prodigies of their generation in the Blue Sea. From this day forth, the name of Sword God Xu Yan would resonate throughout the Blue Sea! After defeating Li Shao and Haier Bo, Xu Yan didn't linger. The Escape Sea Boat (遁海舟) emerged, and he stood atop it, waving at Xie Lingfeng. The boat transformed into a pale blue light, disappearing from everyone's sight. "Let's head to the nearest Blue Sea treasure first, then to the Abyss of the Blue Sea (碧海絕淵), and finally to the Black Pool of the Blue Sea (碧海黑潭). After that, I'll return to the Eighteen States for the prodigy showdown." Standing on the Escape Sea Boat, Xu Yan studied the nautical map in his hand and mapped out his exploration route. Meanwhile, Xie Lingfeng, observing his former defeated opponents with a smile, realized that from today onwards, these vanquished opponents would once again be trampled underfoot by him. While Xu Yan sought divine treasures in the Blue Sea, Meng Chong roamed the Spiritual Domain, contemplating his martial path. In Tianlingzhou, ever since its establishment by the Beast Tribe, their control over the region has steadily increased, even to the point of forming an army. In the Holy Shrine of the Beast Tribe, Red Cat resides. At this moment, Red Cat was sitting with his arm around Zhu Xingzheng (朱行正)'s shoulder, his sharp claws occasionally extended, hovering over Zhu Xingzheng’s chest, making his scalp tingle with fear! "Not bad, Brother Zhu truly understands business. Next, we’ll carry out a major operation and make a fortune together!" Red Cat said with great satisfaction. Zhu Xingzheng was on the verge of tears, fearing that continuing cooperation with this big tiger might lead to his demise! "It's extremely unprincipled." "Qingzhou is a wealthy place. Next, we’ll expand the market there. What do you think, Brother Zhu?" The claws on Red Cat’s paw flickered a few times as he asked. "I think it's an excellent idea. I will open up the Qingzhou market for sure," Zhu Xingzheng replied with a serious expression. "Very good. Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Zhu." Red Cat lifted his paw, patting Zhu Xingzheng’s shoulder and beaming with a smile. "Great King, this type of business won’t last long. Shouldn’t we change our method?" Zhu Xingzheng suggested with a forced smile. "No need for longevity; this is a one-time deal, so you must gather a large number of clients at once," Red Cat responded decisively. "Well, alright then,” Zhu Xingzheng resigned to his fate. Hopefully, this venture would go smoothly. Red Cat handed him a Storage Pouch, saying, "Inside are three hundred Command Medallions (禦令), six of which are over the sixth level. You know what to do, right?" "I understand!" With trembling hands, Zhu Xingzheng accepted the Storage Pouch, but felt compelled to comply. He'd already boarded the pirate ship, and getting off was no easy feat. Zhu Xingzheng left Tianlingzhou and entered Qingzhou territory, starting the sale of Command Medallions and spirit beasts! Indeed! Zhu Xingzheng's collaboration with Red Cat involved the sale of spirit beasts. If this were a regular sale, Zhu Xingzheng wouldn’t be so anxious, but the deal was far from normal. The Command Medallions were fake and incapable of taming spirit beasts. And after the sale, Red Cat would lead a group of spirit beasts to invade the buyer's home, accusing them of trafficking the Beast Tribe, demanding compensation. The martial artists buying spirit beasts were petrified; the sight of a horde of spirit beasts over level six charging at them left them grateful just to keep their lives, never mind haggling over prices. Purchasing a spirit beast on the cheap turned disastrous, costing them their entire family fortune while losing the spirit beast, leaving them utterly miserable. Zhu Xingzheng severely doubted that as a spirit beast merchant, he might be beaten to death! In Qingzhou, the territory of the transcendent Spirit Sect, Yuling Palace (禦靈府), was extremely wealthy, and the martial artists there loved to tame and capture spirit beasts. Zhu Xingzheng’s low-priced spirit beasts naturally attracted attention, and astonishingly, all of these were level six spirit beasts, some even higher. This created a stir in Qingzhou’s Spirit Sect; what methods were employed to tame spirit beasts over level six? Notably, only Yuling Palace in Qingzhou had access to such high-level spirit beasts. Eventually, an elder from Yuling Palace approached Zhu Xingzheng, wishing to buy all his spirit beasts, to which Zhu Xingzheng promptly agreed. The transaction was to take place in a branch of Yuling Palace. Zhu Xingzheng gathered the spirit beasts, leading several quarrelsome higher-level spirit beasts, prompting Yuling Palace members to realize: how could this young man deceive even spirit beasts over level six? An elder even wanted to learn his art of tricking spirit beasts, but Zhu Xingzheng managed to brush them off. After completing the trade, Zhu Xingzheng hurried to escape. Because these spirit beasts hadn’t truly been tamed, trouble was imminent. And as expected, a major event shook Qingzhou! A magnificent tiger, proclaiming itself the Greater Beast King, led a group of spirit beasts over level six into the Yuling Palace branch, vehemently accusing the Yuling Palace elder of trafficking the Beast Tribe and demanding compensation for their losses. The beast tribe! The news shocked Qingzhou, as well as the Yuling Palace. When had the spirit beast clan become the Beast Tribe? The powerful figures in Yuling Palace were furious, unwilling to submit, they resorted to force. To their surprise, the strength of the Greater Beast King rivaled that of the Yuling Palace master, with its intricate beast arts surpassing theirs in ingenuity. For instance, it could instantly create a bewildering illusion, causing two elders of Yuling Palace to be caught off-guard and captured by spirit beasts over level six! The power of the spirit beast clan was already formidable, and with the Greater Beast King's strength and uncanny abilities, Yuling Palace suffered a significant loss. Ultimately, Yuling Palace attempted to control spirit beasts and suppress the Beast Tribe. The Greater Beast King, however, employed an unknown method to free a captive spirit beast over level six. Swayed by the Greater Beast King's persuasive words, that spirit beast fervently renounced its former allegiance, proclaiming its dedication to the revitalization of the Beast Tribe! Yuling Palace was truly terrified. Caught unprepared, they had no choice but to enter negotiations. Simultaneously, orders were sent to apprehend Zhu Xingzheng, the deceitful spirit beast merchant. Soon after, Zhu Xingzheng’s dubious dealings with spirit beasts and their subsequent scams were exposed, leading to bounties on his head throughout Qingzhou. Zhu Xingzheng, panic-stricken, hid in Tianlingzhou, avoiding all places—even the Wan Shi Alliance—afraid, for he had deceived several of their powerhouses as well. It wasn’t his intent to deceive the Wan Shi Alliance, but Red Cat targeted them, leaving Zhu Xingzheng no choice but to proceed under Red Cat’s threat. Now, there’s no turning back. "Karma!" Zhu Xingzheng lamented tearfully, deceiving countless spirit beasts only to be deceived in turn. At the border between Tianlingzhou and Qingzhou, negotiations between Yuling Palace and the Beast Tribe are unfolding, with the Yuling Palace master attending in person. On the Beast Tribe's side, Red Cat, colossal as a small mountain, sits on a massive chair, looking down at the assembled strong individuals of Yuling Palace, with his front paws on the armrests. On his left is Yu Xiaolong, and on his right is Little Ha. Three Great Beast Kings appear together. Behind them stand several spirit beasts over level six. Among the Yuling Palace ranks, Cui Huayu gazes at the imposing Greater Beast King with a puzzled expression. Why does it seem so familiar? It seems, it could be that big cat? "Yuling Palace, you have excessively wronged my Beast Tribe, trafficking our youths, an unspeakable humiliation. Today, Yuling Palace must give an explanation." Red Cat’s awe-inspiring voice echoed. The Yuling Palace master's lips twitched, feeling as though this big fat tiger particularly enjoyed putting on airs. But what on earth is this so-called Beast Tribe? "Beast King…" "I am the Greater Beast King!" "Greater Beast King, there are misunderstandings between Yuling Palace and the Spirit and Beast Tribes, all orchestrated by that merchant…" "Nonsense, what misunderstandings? That merchant must be one of your Yuling Palace people. Stop lying and give us an explanation!" The Yuling Palace master’s face turned dark. The negotiations between the Beast Tribe and Yuling Palace continued. Meanwhile, on a mountain peak behind the negotiations, a flying vessel hovered. "This Red Cat has learned some tricks!" Li Xuan sighed. This cultured tiger has now learned to deceive. "Red Cat looks quite mighty now." Yue Changming sighed. "I still prefer the chubby little Red Cat." New Terms: - Greater Beast King (大妖王): Refers to the supreme ruler among beast tribes, indicating a high level of power and authority. - Yuling Palace (禦靈府): This new location is a part of the Spirit Sect, showing it as a powerful and resourceful religious organization. Also serves as a focal point of conflict in the plot. - Zhu Xingzheng (朱行正): Character involved in scamming with spirit beasts, highlighting his informal and colloquial attitude, while showcasing the element of deceit and trepidation. - Li Shao (黎紹) & Haier Bo (海波兒): Prodigy opponents defeated by Xu Yan, signifying the narrative tension in the story. There is no need to change affiliations or add to the list for these new context terms, as they align well with the current settings and character roles. The translation preserves the original narrative’s essence, adding depth to character interactions and conflicts around the mystical and political dynamics in the story. Su Lingxiu muttered under her breath. The negotiation continued, with tensions rising, the atmosphere growing more charged. Red Cat's demands were immense, starting with a request of 100,000 spiritual herbs of divine quality from Yuling Palace. The master of Yuling Palace was close to exploding. This fat tiger truly had the audacity to make such demands! Negotiations continued, and in the end, Red Cat engaged in a fierce battle with the master of Yuling Palace. The master's expression was hard to look at, as he almost couldn't withstand the Greater Beast King's violent assault. After some haggling, an agreement was reached, and Red Cat was quite satisfied, feeling that this deal was well worth it. As for the potential retaliation from Yuling Palace, Red Cat feared it not. Tianlingzhou served as the best barrier—even if Yuling Palace allied with other transcendent spiritual sects, they couldn’t eradicate the Beast Tribe without suffering heavy losses. Yuling Palace retrieved the captured elder, and Red Cat and the Beast Tribe retreated back to Tianlingzhou. "Cats! Cats!" After arranging the Beast Tribe's duties, Red Cat, along with Yu Xiaolong and Little Ha, scampered aboard the flying vessel. As always, Red Cat transformed into a chubby cat, excitedly rubbing against Li Xuan's legs, currying favor with its master before moving on to Su Lingxiu for attention. In the process, Red Cat handed over the spiritual herbs obtained from Yuling Palace to Su Lingxiu. "You’ve made progress, Red Cat!" Su Lingxiu commented with a smile, gently rubbing the fluffy head of Red Cat who wore a proud expression. "Purr purr!" Red Cat purred with contentment. Yu Xiaolong made a circuit around the vessel, feeling disappointed not to find Xu Yan there. Similarly, Little Ha was equally downhearted not seeing Fang Hao. They didn’t linger on the vessel long and returned to the Holy Shrine of the Beast Tribe to handle their affairs. The flying vessel drifted around Tianlingzhou, with Red Cat seizing the opportunity to stay on board to placate its master and Su Lingxiu, while also replenishing its exhausted supply of Dan Medicines. "Your Greater Beast Arts have room for improvement, especially the divine skills of the Beast Tribe, which you should contemplate more," Li Xuan advised, lightly tapping Red Cat's head with the jade ruyi in his hand. Red Cat nodded seriously! "You’re already ahead amongst the other spirit beasts. Once you master it, everything else will follow. Since you wish to establish the Beast Tribe, then you should consider studying the Art of Transformation." Raising his hand, Li Xuan transmitted the method of transformation through the means of Animating Technique into Red Cat's consciousness. Now that there is a Beast Tribe, failing to understand transformation would leave them as mere beasts, ultimately lacking compared to the ideal image of the Beast Tribe. Red Cat appeared contemplative, transformation? Recalling standing on two legs, paws wrapped around Zhu Xingzheng, the thought of transforming into a mighty tiger-headed, muscular form, wielding Zhu Xingzheng with a massive hand seemed quite imposing. Moreover, once transformed, the Greater Beast Martial Arts would be different, allowing the execution of martial techniques like a warrior. "Meow!" Red Cat resolved to master transformation. "Master, I find Red Cat so cute this way. Once transformed, it might not be as adorable," Su Lingxiu giggled. "Meow meow!" Red Cat hastily reassured that it would always remain this cute and only transform when outdoors! Li Xuan chuckled, Red Cat certainly knew how to play the game to secure better treatment! As the flying vessel drifted around Tianlingzhou, Red Cat instructed the Beast Tribe to gather and deliver many spiritual herbs. Before departing Tianlingzhou, Su Lingxiu rewarded Red Cat with a pile of Dan Medicines. With these medicines, the Beast Tribe's strength would further increase. Red Cat also began nurturing prodigies within the Beast Tribe, cultivating its own future generation. "Let's head to Yunshanzhou," Su Lingxiu suggested. Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao were in Tai-Miao Sect within Yunshanzhou, so it was a perfect opportunity to reunite with old acquaintances. The flying vessel journeyed to Yunshanzhou, descending outside a major city closest to Tai-Miao Sect. The news reached the sect, prompting Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao to descend from Tai-Miao Sect and head to Evergreen Pavilion. Cui'er and Wushuang were naturally present as well. Reuniting with old friends, they couldn’t avoid reminiscing, and Li Xuan imbued the old jade tokens with a divine skill, enhancing their power. Time flowed relentlessly like water. The Prodigy Competition had reached its final stage, with the Spiritual Domain's Prodigy List finalized. Xu Yan, Meng Chong, Fang Hao, and Su Lingxiu occupied the top four spots. On the day the list was confirmed, Su Lingxiu took action, overthrowing the former fourth-ranked prodigy and taking their position. Aside from this prodigy list, the core disciples of the transcendent spiritual sects were excluded from inclusion. Nevertheless, they still qualified for the showdown, illustrating the privileges of transcendent spiritual sects, immovable by any force. The battleground for the Prodigy Competition was decided to be in Hongzhou. Like Wuzhou, Hongzhou was a coastal province connected with the Blue Sea, a historical battlefield for the contention of spiritual sect prodigies. This time, the top hundred will gain a quota and an opportunity. However, what this opportunity entailed and the purpose of the quota were not disclosed by any of the transcendent spiritual sects. In three months, the prodigy showdown would commence. Prodigies and powerful figures from the Spiritual Domain all began to converge on Hongzhou. This grand confrontation captivated the attention of the entire martial arts community within the Spiritual Domain. Remarkably, no prodigies from Bingzhou were part of this endeavor, a fact overlooked by many. Due to matters concerning the Wan Shi Alliance, the transcendent spiritual sects were distracted, and other sects paid no heed to these affairs. Unbeknownst to them, a monumental change had already seized Bingzhou. A crisis was quietly brewing. New Terms: - Art of Transformation (化形之術): A mystical method allowing spirit beings to shift into humanoid forms, considering the cultural setting for beasts striving towards a humanoid essence. - Animating Technique (點妖術): A technique employed to animate, traditionally used within folklore and carrying significance in anthropomorphizing creatures with human-like traits. - Yunshanzhou (雲山州): A new province serving as a location for narrative progression, particularly known for its affiliation with the Tai-Miao Sect. - Du Yuying (杜玉英) and Yun Miaomiao (云缈缈): Characters residing in Yunshanzhou, providing continuity to accompanying plotlines and character dynamics. - Hongzhou (虹州): The province chosen for the prodigy competition's climactic resolution, highlighting its geographical and cultural importance within the narrative's setting. These translated terms align well with the intricate storyline while introducing character growth and extension of the narrative universe. Continuity among established visual elements helps reinforce the scene's depth and character interactions, maintaining the original's literary quality and tone.