Victory Through Battle

The lingering glow of the setting sun dyed the white clouds drifting across the azure sky red, transforming them into a riot of colorful evening clouds.

Liu Muning gazed at the Cold Jade Snake glowing orange-yellow beneath the sunset clouds. Though puzzled, she sank into thought.

Although the Cold Jade Snake was a rare pet beast, Liu Muning happened to have studied this species. At a glance, she could tell that its size had reached the standard of a first-tier pet beast.

For that very reason, her languid gaze instantly sharpened.

She carefully observed the scales and patterns on the distant Cold Jade Snake. Though it was too far away to see clearly, based on her past research experience, she was certain that this was a pet beast cub barely one month old.

At eighteen, he had cultivated his Source Star to the second tier, and his initial contracted pet beast was a gifted Cold Jade Snake that had reached level ten of the juvenile stage at merely one month old.

Was this something a boy who had awakened an Appraisal talent and lacked abundant Beast Master resources could accomplish? How interesting!

A faint curiosity filled Liu Muning's gentle, clear eyes, and two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.

Sensing the hostility in the Cold Jade Snake's gaze, the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll tilted its adorable head, its eyes full of curiosity as it looked at Color Spirit.

"Use Ice Spikes!"

"Watch out for its attacks. Use Titanium Crystal Stance."

The battle began in an instant, and both sides simultaneously conveyed commands to their pet beasts through their minds.

The translucent ice crystal atop Color Spirit's head lit up with blue radiance. The ice-element Source Power swirling around its body instantly condensed into Ice Spikes that gleamed with a cold light.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." A great number of luminous blue Ice Spikes streaked swiftly through the air, aimed at the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll as it strengthened itself.

Standing where it was, the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll's body lit up with dazzling diamond-like radiance. In a flash of brilliant light, large amounts of crystal surged forth across its body, wrapping it in titanium crystal like a suit of armor.

"Mi." Having just completed Titanium Crystal Stance, the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll narrowed its eyes and swiftly dodged the barrage of Ice Spikes rushing toward it.

Two bangs rang out. In the end, the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll failed to completely evade the area-of-effect attack. Relying on the titanium crystal armor to cushion the blows, it took several Ice Spikes head-on, then charged at the Cold Jade Snake while enduring the pain.

At the same time, Liu Muning's gaze sharpened. "Titanium Crystal Dash."

"Mi." The titanium crystal armor covering the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll seemed to burst into brilliant flames. That shining fire spread across its entire body in an instant, gathering into a glowing mass that radiated energy as it charged rapidly toward Color Spirit.

"Use Ice Armor, and open the distance as much as possible!"

Chen Wei decisively sent his command through his mind.

Thanks to the Appraisal during the assessment test, Chen Wei was extremely familiar with the strength and skills of the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll before him.

Its greatest weakness was that it had no long-range skills, only close-combat ones.

He trusted Color Spirit. As long as it could widen the distance and fight from afar, even against a Master-level Beast Master, it could contend with them!

In an instant, the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll using Titanium Crystal Dash slammed viciously toward Color Spirit with the speed of a thunderclap too swift to cover one's ears.

Bang! A tremendous crash erupted. The Titanium Crystal Ragdoll's attack whipped up a fierce gale across the battlefield, sending countless shattered crystal fragments scattering in every direction.

"Frost Breath Counterattack."

A snow-white ice shield shone around Color Spirit as it sprang into the air, and it successfully evaded the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll's attack.

In midair, it opened its mouth and took a deep breath, its chest swelling slightly as it exhaled with all its strength a blast of frigid breath laden with a massive amount of ice-element Source Power.

The cold-blue frost breath likewise unleashed a terrifying torrent of exploding ice. Cracking sounds rang out without end as the battlefield was dyed blue and white, and the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll on the field was frozen into a block of ice by the freezing current.

Two cracks sounded as the ice covering the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll began to fracture. Protected by its titanium crystal armor, the frost breath had not inflicted much damage on it. It was now struggling to break apart the ice that had frozen it firmly in place.

"Now! Finish it with Frost Breath."

Color Spirit opened its little mouth and, with what little stamina it had left, unleashed two successive cold-blue blasts of frost breath onto the ice imprisoning the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll.

Cracking gradually echoed out. Extreme ice spread across the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll's body, freezing it solid as the layer of ice grew thicker and thicker. Even its titanium crystal armor vanished beneath the bitter cold.

Seeing the Titanium Crystal Ragdoll lose its ability to resist, Chen Wei excitedly looked toward the referee. He felt as though the utterly adorable Titanium Crystal Ragdoll was beckoning to him!

Yet the referee, Gu Yun, stood frozen in place, seemingly unable to believe what she had seen. Her right hand covered her crimson lips painted with alluring glossy lipstick.

One had to know that Miss had become a Master-level Beast Master at twenty-six, and no one even knew how many fifth-tier extraordinary commander-class beasts she had defeated.

With Miss's Source Power intensity, even using a juvenile-stage pet beast, she should have been able to sweep aside special-class pet beasts below the middle rank of the second tier. This was impossible!

Gu Yun's mind was filled with unbelievable thoughts. She even suspected she was dreaming, until a familiar sharp gaze jolted her awake.

Her unfocused eyes turned toward President Liu, who nodded at her, before she looked at the handsome young man in the distance, his face brimming with excitement.

She hurriedly suppressed her confusion and shock, then said solemnly, "The battle is over. The winner is Chen Wei."

Once the referee announced the result, the excited Chen Wei strode toward the somewhat exhausted Color Spirit, then gently gathered it into his arms to celebrate their hard-won victory.

"Yiyi ya yi!" (〃'▽'〃) (I'm really strong!)

Color Spirit lifted its head and struck a pose, looking proudly at Chen Wei. Feeling the excitement and joy flowing from him, a smile began to spread across its face as well.

"You worked hard. You're the best!" Chen Wei did not stint on praise. When praise was due, it should be given—this was also one of the ways he expressed his affection.

As for whether it would make Color Spirit arrogant, Chen Wei felt that probably would not happen. Color Spirit only acted a little tsundere from time to time.

Besides, in his eyes, a confident Color Spirit was adorable beyond compare.

"Rest for a while first." Chen Wei gently stroked Color Spirit's body with his right hand as he conveyed through his mind.

"Yi?" (＞＜)☆ (A reward?)

Color Spirit tilted her cute little head, letting out a crisp sound.

"Alright, alright. You don't trust me? From now on, your daily enhancement attempts will increase to four." Chen Wei soothed her gently, then stored Color Spirit in the Star Ring.

"Your performance just now was splendid. This is the reward you deserve." Hearing this, Chen Wei looked up to see Liu Muning holding out a contract to him.

Chen Wei rose and accepted the contract. After carefully reading the clause noting the free transfer, he looked at Liu Muning with astonishment in his eyes.

So decisive—she said she would give it, and she gave it. This was the first time in his life he had encountered such a generous act.

"Thank you." Chen Wei replied politely. He did not refuse, carefully slipping the contract into his pocket.

Although Chen Wei's heart was still brimming with doubts, there was no way he could turn down a benefit delivered right into his hands.