Let Us Welcome Little Earth Dog!

In the preparation area, Lu Jiuyuan saw quite a few people soothing their own spirit beasts. There were even spirit beasts at the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Stages among them. Naturally, Lu Jiuyuan would not mistreat Little Earth Dog.

Lu Jiuyuan said with a grave expression.

"As long as you win for me, I'll find you nine adorable little bitches when we get back."

Hearing Lu Jiuyuan's words, Little Earth Dog was utterly speechless, and a trace of disdain showed in his eyes. What a joke. I'm a spirit beast with the White Tiger bloodline—how could I possibly fancy ordinary little bitches?

Yet in Lu Jiuyuan's eyes, this reaction meant that Little Earth Dog had agreed.

But Lu Jiuyuan quickly thought of something, his expression turning contemplative.

"Still, calling you Little Earth Dog all the time doesn't seem very good. I should probably give you a name."

With that, Lu Jiuyuan began thinking seriously. Since he had bought this spirit beast, its name naturally could not be too ordinary. It had to display Little Earth Dog's imposing aura. At that thought, a name soon came to Lu Jiuyuan's mind.

"In that case, I'll call you Xiao Huang. And since you'll take my surname, how about Lu Huang?"

After all, Little Earth Dog should be able to take human form someday. Giving him a human name was perfectly reasonable, right?

Spirit beasts could generally awaken their intelligence at the Foundation Establishment Realm. At that point, they could understand human speech, though they still could not speak and could only communicate through divine sense.

To speak human language, they needed to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Once a spirit beast reached the Golden Core Stage, it could speak human words, and upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage, it could take human form.

Upon hearing the name Xiao Huang, Little Earth Dog immediately began struggling wildly.

I don't want it! I don't want such an awful name! It sounds so rustic! But in Lu Jiuyuan's eyes, was this not simply excitement at receiving a name?

Thinking this, Lu Jiuyuan said happily.

"Xiao Huang, it looks like you really like this name. Then it's settled—your name will be Xiao Huang from now on. Xiao Huang."

Once the name had been decided, Xiao Huang's face immediately showed a humanlike expression of utter despair. No, once I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I have to change this name.

As the surrounding contestants took the stage one after another, it was soon Lu Jiuyuan's turn.

"Xiao Huang, it's time to show your mighty power. Win ten matches in a row and bring back ten million Spirit Stones for me!"

Lu Jiuyuan encouraged him, then brought Xiao Huang toward Beast Arena Number Nine!

"Damn it, I'm furious! I lost all ten thousand of my Spirit Stones here. When I get home, I'll have to kneel on a washboard!"

"What's ten thousand? I lost a hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"

"What grade were yours?"

"Mine were low-grade."

"Mine were medium-grade!!!"

In the spectator stands, the audience members who had bet on the Blood Wolf were crying out in grief as they looked at the Blood Wolf's corpse lying on the floor of Beast Arena Number Nine.

Gambling had always been heaven or hell in a single thought. Losing was perfectly normal.

The Blood Wolf's opponent was an Azure Sky Python. Seeing its opponent fall, the Azure Sky Python's owner—a middle-aged man with green hair—gave an order, and the python promptly crawled back onto him.

The beast fighting platform was soon cleared.

"Everyone, the next battle will be Soft Bone Rabbit versus Little Earth Dog! What kind of sparks will fly between them? Let us wait and see!"

Seeing the opponent information on the list, the referee on the beast fighting platform spoke with an odd expression, because according to their inspection, Xiao Huang really was nothing more than an ordinary Little Earth Dog.

After hearing the referee's words, the spectators in the stands immediately began complaining wildly.

"Don't bring such a low-level battle up here. It's simply a waste of time."

"This battle actually exists? When I saw it, I thought it was just a gimmick."

"Forget it. What is there to watch in a battle like this? Even the odds are pitifully low."

"Everyone here is at least in the Foundation Establishment Realm, so let's just move on to the next match."

Faced with the audience's complaints, the referee could only smile wryly. But he was merely a referee—how could he possibly cancel the match?

"Xiao Qing, well done. I'll give you something tasty when we get back."

On the passage leading back to the preparation area, the middle-aged man from before stroked his Azure Sky Python's head. The python rubbed against him ingratiatingly.

Just then, the middle-aged man seemed to see something and looked somewhat surprised. Lu Jiuyuan was walking past him while holding Little Earth Dog.

"Even Little Earth Dogs can compete now? The world is vast indeed; there is nothing too strange under heaven."

The middle-aged man shook his head and did not pay it much mind. A Nascent Soul Realm aura erupted from his body, while the Azure Sky Python was a spirit beast at the Foundation Establishment Peak!

Lu Jiuyuan did not pay much attention to the middle-aged man. After all, he did not know him. Soon, a glimmer of light appeared before Lu Jiuyuan.

Beast Arena Number Nine had arrived!

"Let us welcome Soft Bone Rabbit!"

The referee extended his hand in one direction. A swift shadow shot out of the passage. Though small, it was incomparably fast, appearing at the center of the arena in the blink of an eye.

Following behind Soft Bone Rabbit was its owner, a young man dressed in blue.

"Xiao Wu, good luck! You'll definitely defeat your opponent!"

The young man encouraged Soft Bone Rabbit, and Xiao Wu nodded with a serious expression. The referee on the other side looked somewhat strange at the sight.

He had already sent out Soft Bone Rabbit—could she possibly still lose?

But as a professional, he absolutely would not laugh. Unless he could not hold it in.

"And who exactly is Soft Bone Rabbit's opponent? Let us welcome Little Earth Dog!"

After saying this, the referee once again extended his hand in the other direction. A figure slowly emerged from the passage, his soft, limp body making people suspect that he had not even been weaned yet.

Lu Jiuyuan followed slowly behind Little Earth Dog, as though the outcome had long since been decided.

"Hmph, he's merely a Little Earth Dog. How could he possibly compare to my Xiao Wu? Xiao Wu, teach him a proper lesson later!"

The young man snorted. His name was Tang San, and he was the young sect master of the seventh-rate Tang Sect. While out gaining experience this time, he had happened upon this Soft Bone Rabbit.

Feeling that he and this Soft Bone Rabbit were fated, he had brought her to the Heavenly Courage Beast Arena to give her a little battle experience. He had even affectionately named the Soft Bone Rabbit Xiao Wu.

A pleasant name helped cultivate the relationship between an owner and a pet, and it could also increase their tacit understanding.

Upon seeing the strange pair opposite him, Lu Jiuyuan could not help frowning.

Why does this feel so damned familiar? How strange. But this was not the time to dwell on it. The referee stepped before them.

"Contestants on both sides, take your positions!"