Everyone Tames Beasts, So Why Are You Taming Goddesses? - Chapter 21

The preliminary round was held in Magic City University’s most advanced combat arena, lavishly designed with spacious seating capable of accommodating over ten thousand spectators, even with the seats widely spaced.

The arena itself spanned an impressive 500 by 800 meters. Along its edges stood four unique pet beasts forming an absolute defensive barrier, ensuring that none of the intense battles within would affect the audience outside.

While the preliminary round didn’t draw as many viewers as the Nine-School Alliance main event, the atmosphere was still buzzing with excitement.

The arena was packed to capacity, and online live streams across various platforms saw their viewership skyrocket past a hundred million.

—

An Zhishui took a deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves as she stepped into the arena.

Over the past three days, she had spent all her credits purchasing high-tier sequence beast meat, barely managing to break through to the Transcendence Realm just before the preliminaries.

She whispered to herself, Do your best, Shuishui.

—

On the battlefield,

A Nirvana Realm referee declared, “The preliminary round does not restrict the use of demonic lair weaponry. Remember to stop before causing fatal injuries.”

Li Mu nodded gently. “Understood. An Zhishui, please go easy on me.”

An Zhishui didn’t dare underestimate him. “Li Mu, please.”

There was no hesitation. The battle began immediately.

Remembering Shangguan Ling’s advice, An Zhishui prioritized gathering intel and keeping her distance. She knew better than to act recklessly without understanding her opponent’s abilities.

Her talent, A-rank Spirit Eyes, was well-suited for this.

It allowed her to perceive even the slightest changes in her opponent’s emotions, magical fluctuations, and elemental compositions.

“Chasewind Pegasus, take me to the skies!”

A sequence no. 177 beast, the Chasewind Pegasus, possessed pristine white fur and expansive wings. Its unparalleled mobility and agility were unique traits of its race.

Li Mu looked up at the soaring pegasus and calmly raised his left hand.

An Zhishui immediately locked onto his movements.

“Spirit Eyes!”

Through her Spirit Eyes, Li Mu’s talent was laid bare.

“What is this?”

The realization came too late—his ability was already in effect.

Li Mu’s S-rank talent: Spatial Intersect.

A specialized combat-oriented ability, it extended countless nearly invisible sharp threads from his fingers, creating an intricate web that functioned like a birdcage, completely sealing off An Zhishui’s escape routes!

His pet beast then materialized, its humanoid form covered in a crimson glow, with sharp horns atop its head.

Shangguan Ling gasped. “That’s the Crimson Flame Demon from the Volcanic Demonic Lair, sequence no. 39!”

“Zhishui! Surrender immediately!”

It was a complete counter.

The sharp threads of Spatial Intersect restricted the Chasewind Pegasus’s mobility. Any attempt to break free would result in the threads slicing it into pieces!

The Crimson Flame Demon’s scorching breath penetrated the air, following the threads to unleash waves of heat.

“Demonic Inferno!”

“Boom!”

Crimson-black flames swiftly spread along the threads, engulfing the area around An Zhishui. Realizing she couldn’t win, she quickly raised her hand. “I admit—”

Before she could finish her words,

Li Mu flicked his fingers.

The sharp threads of Spatial Intersect constricted further, dragging the hellfire along with them.

“Boom!!”

“Zhishui!” Shangguan Ling, sensing something wrong, immediately intervened, rushing forward.

—

Meanwhile, both the live audience and online viewers erupted into fervent cheers.

Ordinary spectators couldn’t comprehend the danger or malice behind Li Mu’s tactics. They were simply thrilled by the display of brilliance from a new generation of prodigies.

—

“This is the strength of an S-rank student! I thought the morning matches were impressive, but this is next level!”

“No wonder he’s ranked third on Great Xia’s Potential List. Truly outstanding.”

“I couldn’t even see what he did—just instantly wiped her out. Is this what an S-rank talent looks like?”

“With Su Yu and Li Mu, Magic City University might actually dominate this year’s Nine-School Alliance Tournament!”

“Hey, wait a second, doesn’t that girl seem injured?”

“Haha, serves her right. We pay such high taxes to train powerful Beastmasters, not to watch a bunch of weaklings play around.”

—

Shangguan Ling and the referee dashed into the flames and pulled An Zhishui out of the battlefield.

The Chasewind Pegasus had done its best to shield her, but its defensive abilities were limited. An Zhishui suffered severe burns across her body and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Zhishui, quickly—get a Beastmaster with healing abilities!”

Shangguan Ling couldn’t openly reprimand anyone in front of the massive audience.

As An Zhishui was carried off the battlefield, Su Yu and his team pushed through the crowd to reach her.

“Professor, how is Zhishui?”

“Zhishui, are you okay?!”

“Damn it, was it really necessary to go that far?!”

Su Yu said, “Professor, let me try.”

“Alia.”

Alia nodded gently. Waves of crimson light radiated outward, and An Zhishui’s burns began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Shangguan Ling’s pupils contracted. She recalled the principal’s instructions from a few days prior…

Even a brief application of the Immortal trait was enough to heal An Zhishui’s injuries.

—

Meanwhile, as Li Mu exited the stage to thunderous applause, he glanced over at Su Yu’s group.

Liu Xuan, fuming, confronted him. “Li Mu!”

“We’re all classmates. She already surrendered—why did you still attack with lethal force?”

Li Mu’s faint smirk was infuriating as he replied, “I didn’t hear it.”

“Besides, I already held back significantly. Who knew your Alien Beast Department members were so fragile they couldn’t even take one hit?”

“In fact, you should thank me! If I used just a bit more strength, that little girl’s pet beast might’ve been slaughtered!”

Liu Xuan’s chest heaved with anger. “You—!”

Li Mu waved dismissively. “Move aside. This is Magic City University—we don’t welcome weaklings. Are all the Alien Beast Department students just children pretending to fight? If you have the guts, prove yourselves on the battlefield instead of whining here.”

Liu Xuan bit her lip, ready to lash out, but Su Yu stopped her.

As their eyes met, Li Mu’s instincts screamed danger. It was as if he were a wild animal suddenly locked in the sights of a hunter. A faint chill of fear crept into his mind.

A truly dangerous individual.

Among the Alien Beast Department students, none posed a threat to him—except for this anomaly, Su Yu.

But Li Mu wasn’t one to back down either.

“What’s the matter? Is your Alien Beast Department planning to gang up on me?”

Su Yu glanced at An Zhishui. She had always been enthusiastic and helpful, often assisting with school affairs and supporting their team’s practice sessions. Now that one of his team members was hurt, it was his responsibility, as captain, to seek justice.

After a brief silence, Su Yu said, “Tomorrow, I’ll make you regret ever crossing me.”

Students from the Combat Department arrived, dividing the two groups into opposing camps.

Li Mu said coldly, “Big talk. You should focus on how you’re going to get past Lei He first.”

Lei He patted Li Mu on the back and said, “Nice job, Old Li.”

“Haha, so this is the legendary Su Yu everyone’s been hyping up? Honestly, he doesn’t look like much.”

“Hey, kid, it’s our match next. Ready?”

—

The referee announced, “First match: Li Mu wins!”

“Next match: the only battle this round featuring two S-rank students! Lei He from the Combat Department versus Su Yu from the Alien Beast Department!”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Su Yu’s previous public performance had been so shocking that everyone eagerly anticipated his next spectacle.

The live-stream comment sections exploded with activity, the barrage of messages nearly overwhelming the screen.

—

Su Yu glanced at Lei He and muttered under his breath, “You’ll regret becoming my opponent from your hospital bed, mongrel.”

Lei He, a towering man nearly two meters tall, clenched his fists, veins bulging on his face.

“Hah, just like the rumors said—arrogant as hell.”

Li Mu reminded him, “Stay calm, Old Lei. Remember the dean’s instructions.”

Lei He nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll win.”

“No one can catch my lightning.”

“My compatibility makes me the perfect counter to Su Yu.”

—

As the two stepped onto the battlefield, the referee sighed and reminded them, “Demonic lair weaponry is allowed, but remember—stop before causing serious harm.”

However, the crimson gleam in their eyes suggested neither had heard that last part.

This was Magic City University—a place that only produced the strongest. Here, no one would stop them, as the school preferred students to face severe injuries in training rather than die on the battlefield.

Lei He smirked. “You think I’m like those weaklings from the entrance test? Too bad you drew me—that’s your misfortune.”

“Su Yu, you’re the challenger here!”