CHAPTER 576: CHAPTER 357: SECURING A PLACE FOR ONESELF

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The two stood on different parts of the arena. After an incredible rapid exchange, both were panting heavily. Yan Xiaobao’s eyes were dark because he understood that the person in front of him was an opponent that Yan Xiaobao, as a human, could not compete against. Slowly, a red mist-like energy began emerging from Yan Xiaobao’s body as he commenced his transformation; the shift was unexpected for the spectators.

Typically, your human form correlates to your beast form. Just like birds have beaks or curved noses; their sharp eyes and every aspect of their behavior reflect the traits of their beast form.

Yan Xiaobao was an exceptionally handsome young man, with white hair and blue eyes. Many people initially thought he might be a white wolf, a white tiger, or some other white beast. But now, as they witnessed his transformation before their very eyes, the red fur and taller frame that appeared drew expressions of astonishment from many.

The only ones unsurprised were the Wanqiao Guards. They had seen his transformation long before. While they didn’t particularly like Yan Xiaobao, now all of them wore bright smiles on their faces, a shared sense of happiness evident among them.

This arena was a place where people fought either to gain favor from leaders or to earn a bit of fame for themselves. Seeing Yan Xiaobao transform into the red beast, everyone knew he was becoming serious, and when he was serious, he truly was a dangerous opponent. All of the Wanqiao Guards believed Yan Xiaobao was destined to win this fight, and they thought he was likely to secure a seat of honor for Wan Qiao. Anyone who brought glory to Wanqiao was someone they would appreciate.

"Be careful," Yan Xiaobao roared. His voice sounded hoarse and menacing as his powerful hind legs propelled him into the air, closing the distance between him and his opponent to mere centimeters.

The sudden shift in speed and power left the other man momentarily dismayed. He had always been a human beast. Unless he became a full beast, there was no way to further improve his strength. If he transformed the battle into an aerial combat, he might gain an advantage. Though entering his full beast form was a rare occurrence, this man didn’t hesitate, he immediately sprouted wings instead of weapons, replacing even his feet.

Seeing this change, Yan Xiaobao knitted his brows. Predicting what the bird-man intended, he immediately swung his arm toward the man. His ferocious swing sent ripples of energy that created a shockwave, disrupting the other man’s ascent into the air.

Witnessing his success, Yan Xiaobao smiled faintly and let out another loud howl. Activating his Speed Flow, the wolf’s agility surged, making him faster than ever before. Appearing behind the bird-man, Yan Xiaobao raised his hand and replicated an attack he had seen Wanqiao use earlier. With a flattened paw, he struck the bird square across the face.

The moment the paw connected with the face, Yan Xiaobao could feel the force of his swipe ripple into his opponent, sending the man flying before he crashed onto the stage below.

Much like how Wanqiao remained conscious after suffering a slap, this man also stayed awake following Yan Xiaobao’s blow. However, as he rose to his feet, his legs trembled uncontrollably, and streams of blood leaked from the corners of his beak. His dark eyes carried a storm of fury as he roared beast-like, charging at Yan Xiaobao from the sky, his claws and beak poised to gouge at him in the most agonizing way imaginable.

The tall man’s hatred and anger burned brightly in his features, showing utter disregard for the pain he was enduring, his entire being consumed by the humiliation of being slapped and losing face. The calm and collected demeanor he had before transformed into unbridled rage.

While rage and fury can grant someone significantly increased power, being in such a state often leads them to disregard their own meridians, pushing excessive energy through them. This is a disadvantage, as enraged individuals frequently lose sight of strategy and fail to see a plan through. Beasts driven by anger tend to become simplistic in both offense and defense. This was what made Yan Xiaobao smile. Rage could be powerful, but it needed control—without it, rage would become a weakness instead of a strength.

Watching the fury in the tall guard before him, Yan Xiaobao grew curious about whether the man had let his anger override his rationality or if his mind remained clear.

Noticing that his opponent didn’t immediately lash out with a reckless attack, Yan Xiaobao concluded that his anger hadn’t completely taken over. He smirked bitterly, cursing his luck. Clearly, nothing was unfolding as hoped, but eventually, he decided it was better this way. In the end, Yan Xiaobao was here to challenge himself, and he had deliberately chosen to confront the most formidable King-level expert in the training arena—someone who would force Yan Xiaobao to focus all his attention.

As he concluded that the man before him had full control of his body, Yan Xiaobao feigned a smirk, his claws surrounded by blood-red mist. The mist spiraled around him, slowly solidifying into a protective barrier encasing the young werewolf. More energy began to emerge, and with a flick of his hand, three large crimson claws condensed into shockwaves, unleashing a thunderous attack toward the towering opponent.