Chapter Ten: The Battle Dragon Beast

When it first awakened, its spiritual power had not yet returned. The interference from the Zhu family gave it time, and now, it truly revealed the ancient might belonging to a primordial spirit beast. Its body grew larger and larger, until it resembled a small mountain. It seemed as if, with a single step, it could crush a hillside into mud.

Sensing the threat from Zhao Yuan in the sky, it let out a low roar toward him.

“Hahaha! The Dragon Spirit Beast has finally fully awakened. Zhao Yuan, surrender yourself!” The Zhu family members were overjoyed at the sight.

They had not forgotten that their barrier was already in place; confident it could withstand the strike, and even if it could not, most of it would hold. As for Zhao Yuan—unleashing such a blow would surely injure him. Would he really be able to contend with the Dragon Spirit Beast in such a state?

“Zhao Yuan, you’ll die by our hands!” The Zhu family, as if the battle were already over, wore rare expressions of joy, relaxing as they waited to witness Zhao Yuan’s demise beneath the beast’s claws.

Zhao Yuan looked at them with pity, his voice cold and deep. “Pitiful worms, you always place your hopes in external power. How can you ever stand at the pinnacle? No matter what, only true strength from within matters.”

He laughed wildly, his gaze gradually iced over with ruthless coldness, staring at the Zhu family as if they were nothing more than buffoons.

One by one, they believed he was doomed.

“You have never understood the terror of the Wild Bull bloodline. The further it is pushed, the more it can break through its limits. As long as my will is strong enough, I can keep growing stronger!”

Zhao Yuan’s pursuit of strength bordered on obsession. At that moment, he suddenly moved—both fists clenched, his body lunging downward.

Though the Zhu family believed victory was theirs, they were still unsettled by his actions, their eyes darting with unease, unable to meet his gaze.

Zhao Yuan charged toward the Zhu family, unstoppable as a raging tide.

With a thunderous crash, smoke and dust billowed. After the deafening explosion, Zhao Ling’er felt her body lighten—not because she herself had changed, but because the spiritual power and the barrier collided fiercely.

The explosive force sent her flying.

Zhu family members fell, wounded or dead, unable to believe their carefully laid barrier had been so easily destroyed. Zhao Yuan’s terrifying strength—if left unchecked—what astonishing heights might he reach? Fortunately, they still had the Dragon Spirit Beast.

All their hopes now rested on it. The beast shook its massive frame, facing Zhao Yuan in a tense standoff.

It snorted, and Zhao Yuan chuckled, standing calmly before the towering beast, as steady as a mountain.

“Zhao Yuan, what are you doing? Run!” Zhao Ling’er cried out in alarm, tugging at him.

She never imagined Zhao Yuan would choose not to flee.

“Zhao Yuan!” she shouted, unwilling to let him risk his life.

“We can always return another time!” she called, but her voice faltered as she saw the unyielding battle spirit burning in Zhao Yuan’s eyes. This man—he yearned to fight!

He wanted to battle the Dragon Spirit Beast.

“Zhao Yuan, don’t be reckless,” Zhao Ling’er bit her lip, her cold gaze fixed on the approaching Zhu family.

Zhao Yin-tian rushed over as well, his scalp tingling at Zhao Yuan’s intention to face the beast.

“Zhao Yuan, even if you want to fight, not now! We should regroup first!” Zhao Yin-tian shouted.

His unease grew stronger—was the Dragon Spirit Beast truly at its peak? No one could say for certain, not even the Zhu family. If the beast possessed intelligence, it could easily hide its true power, suddenly escalating its attacks during the fight and inflicting deadly harm.

“I want to fight!” After a moment’s contemplation, Zhao Yuan resolved himself, his voice cold. “If I always choose to retreat before battle, my offense will always have gaps. If we escape now, what about next time? I cannot allow such a weakness to exist in my strength!”

He looked at the Dragon Spirit Beast. It seemed as though it could easily kill him—yet was that truly the case? His Wild Bull bloodline enabled feats beyond imagining. The Dragon Spirit Beast, already at its limit, would never grow stronger; its power now was all it would ever have.

But he—his future was bright.

“I cannot retreat.” Zhao Yuan turned, picked up Zhao Ling’er, and placed her in a relatively safe spot so he could face the beast without distraction.

He was grateful that Zhao Ling’er possessed enough ability to protect herself; even if he could not care for her, the Zhu family would never capture her.

She could do nothing to stop him, only clench her fists and pray for Zhao Yuan’s victory. Yet their hope was slim—such was the reality of their respective strengths. No matter how powerful Zhao Yuan was, he could not rival the bloodline and age of the beast.

Zhao Ling’er took a deep breath, a faint smile rising on her face. Zhao Yuan was savoring the battle, so she would accompany him—no matter the outcome, she would stay by his side.

The gentle smile softened her entire face.

She narrowed her eyes, closely watching everything about to unfold.

Her thoughts stirred. She saw Zhao Yuan move—during the standoff, he struck first, seizing the initiative. Like a cannonball, he shot forward.

His form was like lightning, rushing toward the Dragon Spirit Beast’s head.

The beast raised its massive paw, swiping down viciously in an attempt to break his momentum.

Zhao Yuan’s body twisted sharply, dodging the blow at the last instant. His attack was undeterred; his fist landed squarely on the beast’s enormous head.

The difference in size between him and the Dragon Spirit Beast was staggering—like a mouse battling an elephant. But who could say a mouse could not defeat an elephant?

The explosive force of that punch was tremendous; Zhao Yuan poured every ounce of strength he possessed into it. Within, his blood boiled from exertion.

At that moment, he was the brightest presence of all.

“Impossible! How could he ever defeat the Dragon Spirit Beast? That punch is barely enough to scratch its back.”