Chapter 19: Death Match to Fame 

“What does this mean?” Chen Xi turned to look at the immortal Wuyi beside him.

“What do you mean?” Immortal Wuyi feigned ignorance, but the malicious glint in his eyes grew more intense.

Daoist Ming Ling couldn’t help but frown, while the immortals below cast complicated glances at Chen Xi.

An official of culinary arts, without suitable ingredients, was pushed onto the death match stage. The outcome was obvious.

“Master Chen, this time, it’s more likely that disaster will strike…” the immortal who usually handled food distribution couldn’t help but sigh softly. However, his tone wasn’t one of schadenfreude but one tinged with a sense of sorrow, as though he felt the fate of the rabbit after it was hunted.

As the person who understood Chen Xi’s habits the most, he knew better than anyone that Chen Xi would not cook without fish and shrimp. Even when cooking plain rice, he would use fish stock as a base. Now, faced with such stringent ingredients and forced into a death match, wasn’t this deliberately putting someone in a dangerous situation?

However, in the face of this predicament, Chen Xi grew even more composed. He arranged over twenty knives neatly on the table, picked one up, and skillfully sharpened it on the whetstone. Then, he revisited the area where the ingredients were arranged.

Normally, Chen Xi used seafood in his dishes, but today he planned to make a bold move, showing the immortals here what true Chinese cuisine looked like.

In the real world, Chen Xi had once studied various grand feasts out of personal interest and tried to adapt them into dishes suitable for pets to consume. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to perfect his research before he was brought to the immortal realm by the system. However, it turned out that this knowledge would come in handy to solve the current pressing problem.

No fish, shrimp, crab, or shellfish? So what? There are only incompetent cooks, not picky cats. Even on Earth, he could coax those cats into eating lamb, let alone here in the immortal realm, where even celestial beasts didn’t have dietary restrictions.

Today, Chen Xi planned to astonish everyone by making a “^[1]Burnt Tail Feast (燒尾宴, Shāo Wěi Yàn) was a grand traditional banquet in ancient China, often held to celebrate a scholar’s success in the imperial examinations or an official’s … Continue readingBurnt Tail Feast,” one of the five great banquets, hoping it would impress the picky Moonlight Celestial Beast.

Chen Xi thought for a moment, then counted the ingredients he could use, quickly selecting what was needed and preparing to begin.

He kneaded lard and flour into a pure white dough. Just a small piece could be effortlessly molded into a white tower of clouds. Using a delicate carving knife, he shaped it into a scene of spring dawn at the hook-shaped terrace, a spirit bell at sunset, and a view of the mountain from a scholar’s garden, all beautifully intricate. Beneath the pastry was a sweet red bean filling with salted egg yolk, waiting to be baked and release an irresistible fragrance.

And this was just the first appetizer, one of the most famous in the pastry world—^[2]Yangzhou Eight Views (揚州八景) refers to a famous set of scenic spots in Yangzhou, a historically and culturally rich city in China. These “eight views” (八景) are well-known for … Continue readingYangzhou Eight Views.

“Such delicate skill,” Daoist Ming Ling, who was closest to the stage, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. As for the immortals below, their attention had already completely shifted to Chen Xi. Zhuang Fan’s techniques were indeed proficient, but compared to Chen Xi’s current artistry, they seemed like a mere clown.

“Just a trivial skill. Whether the celestial beast likes it or not is still unknown,” Wang Luo, amidst the crowd, couldn’t help but sneer. The Moonlight Clan favored meat dishes, and such bland pastries, no matter how exquisitely made, would be useless if they couldn’t please the celestial beast. Wang Luo huffed dismissively and mentally marked Chen Xi as a failure.

However, his attitude lasted only for the briefest moment, just half a cup of tea.

When Chen Xi used tofu to craft a fish, not only did Wang Luo widen his eyes in astonishment, but even Sect Master Lingyun who prided himself on being well-read, furrowed his brow. The playful expression on his face turned serious.

Tofu was usually bland, but it was precisely because of this that it could pair with any dish. Chen Xi skillfully wrapped minced chicken inside the soft tofu, and with his deft hands, it turned into a living, swimming fish in a bowl of broth. The broth itself was extraordinary, made from a blend of chicken bones, duck carcasses, and crushed bone marrow. The longer it simmered, the richer the flavor, eventually turning into an irresistibly aromatic delicacy that would make anyone’s taste buds submit to its perfection. Chen Xi had transformed a dish originally made with fish, “Stewed Huai White Fish,” into a spectacular meal by adding other ingredients, presenting a complete feast for the senses—taste, smell, and sight.

The dishes continued, each one more intricate than the last:

Flowered Dream Pork, Soft Cow Intestines, White Dragon Glow, Lamb Skin Flower Threads, Snow Baby, Immortal Jerky, Little Heavenly Pastry, Spring Chopsticks…

Fifty-six dishes, one by one, were placed on the table. The complicated techniques used were unheard of and unseen by most. Chen Xi’s movements while cooking were elegant and mesmerizing, each gesture imbued with an indescribable charm. Watching him, no one could take their eyes off him, they were drawn in, as though the very essence of Dao was hidden within his actions, profound and unfathomable.

Indeed, after learning the twenty-nine volumes of 【Array Formations,】 the Dao energy that had appeared within Chen Xi due to the 【Heavenly Dao Fragment】 had become more evident. Even ordinary immortals could vaguely sense it, though they couldn’t see its true nature.

As time passed, a variety of mouthwatering aromas spread across the entire Beast Island. Unlike the previous meals made solely for the Moonlight Celestial Beast, the “Burnt Tail Feast” with its fifty-six dishes included both meat and vegetarian options, offering a wide variety that could cater to any taste. Therefore, nearly any celestial beast could find something they liked.

More and more celestial beasts were drawn in by the scent, gathering around the arena. Undoubtedly, they weren’t here because of the appearance of the beast-taming family’s immortal elixir, but purely because of Chen Xi’s cooking.

Yet even so, Chen Xi didn’t stop. He continued working.

By the time the last main dish was served, the atmosphere in the arena had reached its peak.

The “^[3]Red Lamb Branch Staff (红羊枝杖) refers to a roasted whole lamb dish, often associated with imperial banquets or ancient Chinese culinary traditions. The name is highly poetic, likely inspired by … Continue readingRed Lamb Branch Staff,” or roasted whole lamb, was prepared in an entirely unique way. Chen Xi employed a special technique. Lamb meat was notoriously gamey, but when seasoned with cumin, it became something entirely different. However, Chen Xi didn’t stop there. A tender free-range chicken was stuffed into a duck’s gutted body, which was then wrapped in a whole goose, and finally sewn into the belly of the lamb, all of which was roasted over a fire.

The rich fat of the lamb sizzled as it roasted over the high heat, and the goose inside benefited from this, turning the coarse meat into something delicate and tender, melting in the mouth. The most amazing part was the free-range chicken hidden deep inside. It was like being placed in a natural slow-cooker, where the moderate heat cooked the chicken perfectly, locking in all its essence and flavor without a hint of scent escaping. Just one small bite was enough to captivate anyone.

“Delicious. I want to eat it so badly.” One immortal couldn’t help but swallow, though they had long since cultivated themselves to no longer require food. Yet they could not escape this temptation. As for the celestial beasts drawn in by the smell, they were uncontrollably eager to rush in and feast.

“Fifty-eight dishes of the Burnt Tail Feast, please, do enjoy,” Chen Xi said casually, as though it were no more than a trivial task.

However, the immortals were so shocked they could hardly put their feelings into words. As for Zhuang Fan, he had been utterly defeated.

It had to be said, regardless of the final result, in terms of sheer momentum, Chen Xi had completely outshone Zhuang Fan. At this moment, many immortals couldn’t resist the temptation, their eyes glued to the table of dishes Chen Xi had prepared, unable to look away. The celestial beasts were tightly surrounding Chen Xi’s stage, their expressions filled with extreme longing.

In contrast, on Zhuang Fan’s side, aside from a few Sun-Chasing Celestial Beasts that the Beast-Taming Family usually cared for, no other Celestial Beasts showed any interest. Even these Sun-Chasing Celestial Beasts were only loyal in name, with their hearts still aligned with the Moonlight Clan. If they were allowed to follow their true desires, they would likely abandon Zhuang Fan in an instant.

Absolute dominance.

No one had ever humiliated him like this before. Zhuang Fan, holding the spiritual cauldron, felt his hands tremble uncontrollably, his face turning ashen as though he had been slapped in public.

Seeing this, Immortal Wuyi quickly stepped in to ease the situation: “Calm down, after all, the final evaluation hasn’t been conducted yet.”

Chen Xi remained unshaken, his expression indifferent. But to Zhuang Fan, this expression seemed no different from outright contempt. His anger flared, and he declared fiercely, “My Beast Pills cannot be consumed with any other food.”

By insisting on using the Beast Pills, Zhuang Fan was directly challenging Chen Xi. Some immortals hesitated, while the Sun-Chasing Celestial Beasts made up their minds immediately.

Previously, the Beast-Taming Family had spread rumors that their newly developed Beast Pills could help Celestial Beasts level up and had been proven to have miraculous effects. The news of the Moonshadow Celestial Beast advancing under Chen Xi’s care had already amazed many Celestial Beasts. However, since Chen Xi had the Moonlight Clan’s mark, they could not easily covet him. Therefore, the Beast-Taming Family had become their second choice.

^[4]“You can’t have both fish and bear’s paws” (魚與熊掌不可兼得) is a Chinese idiom meaning you can’t have everything at once or you must make a choice between two … Continue readingYou can’t have both fish and bear’s paws. If they could truly level up, the desire for taste could be set aside. Thus, Zhuang Fan’s statement succeeded in shifting the tide, and some Celestial Beasts began to lean toward him.

However, the Moonlight Clan’s Celestial Beasts had no such doubts. The little orange fluff ball jumped straight onto the table, inspecting each dish one by one. As for the Moonlight Celestial Beast, it casually climbed onto Chen Xi’s shoulder, arrogantly lifting its fluffy little head.

“You haven’t even prepared food for me!”

The silent mockery was the hardest to bear. The situation on Chen Xi’s side had rendered Zhuang Fan speechless, and he decided to rely on results instead.

On his side, one of the Sun-Chasing Celestial Beasts had already reached the peak of level four. With the help of elixirs, it was possible, though risky, to break through immediately. In order to salvage his dignity, Zhuang Fan could no longer care about anything else and decided to use any means necessary. He secretly increased the dosage for the Sun-Chasing Celestial Beast, attempting to force a breakthrough.

It must be said that Zhuang Fan was somewhat lucky. The Sun-Chasing Celestial Beast, after taking the elixir, actually managed to level up successfully.

A radiant, sun-like light enveloped the Sun-Chasing Celestial Beast, and at the same time, painful howls echoed from within the light cocoon. The shrieks were so intense that it felt as though they were coming from deep within the creature’s soul, chilling the spine of anyone who heard them.

“Celestial Beasts are born bound by the laws of the Dao. To defy fate and alter their destiny, they must pay the price,” Zhuang Fan said, his face finally showing some relief as the gaze of the crowd shifted back to him. “But don’t worry, after passing this stage, they will receive tremendous benefits.”

But before his words could even finish, an unexpected change occurred. An indescribable sense of oppression came from the back of the crowd, seemingly from Chen Xi’s direction. At the same time, someone keenly noticed that over on Chen Xi’s side, it wasn’t just one Celestial Beast preparing to level up—it was an entire swarm!

Previously, under Chen Xi’s care, the Moonshadow Celestial Beast had successfully broken through to level five, but astonishingly, it advanced again after just over a month. The most breathtaking part was not the level increase from five to six, but the most challenging leap from six to seven.

Level seven for Celestial Beasts is a threshold, only when they reach level seven can they truly refine the Demon Bone and advance to becoming true Immortals.

A massive, fierce tiger illusion gradually solidified behind the Moonshadow Celestial Beast, becoming more tangible. Its golden-orange cat eyes were clear and sharp, full of a commanding presence that forbade anyone from acting rashly. At this moment, these soft and cute orange balls finally exhibited the demeanor of Celestial Beast Kings. Moreover, unlike the agonizing pain of the Sun-Chasing Celestial Beast, their advancement was smooth, like water flowing naturally.

With the refining of the Demon Bone, another Celestial Beast was born. On Beast Island, all the beasts cried out in excitement.

At the same time, all high-ranking Celestial Beasts across the Nine Immortal Realms were alarmed. When they discovered that the newly born Celestial Beast had leveled up while still on Beast Island, they were all shocked and immediately opened their nearest water mirrors to investigate.

Chen Xi, once again it was Chen Xi! A mere mortal who could defy the heavens and change fate to this extent—what kind of being was he?

Seeing the familiar figure in the water mirror, the high-ranking Celestial Beasts who had already looked down upon Chen Xi began to harbor an intense desire to rush to Beast Island and negotiate with him in person.

“Send word to our Beast Island clan, all our people must unconditionally submit to Chen Xi,” ordered Zhuque, the leader of one of the Four Immortal Courts, excitedly to his subordinates. In that moment, he fully realized the benefits of Chen Xi, regretting not acting sooner to recruit him into their clan, like the Moonlight Celestial Beast clan had done. However, it wasn’t too late. After all, compared to those short-sighted immortals who had offended Chen Xi to their own demise, the Zhuque clan had at least left a good impression on him.

The same scene was happening in the chambers of the other Celestial Beast clan leaders. Chen Xi’s astonishing feat, which he himself had not anticipated, had already caused the high-ranking Celestial Beasts in the Immortal Realm to be convinced of his capabilities, regarding him as a true elder with immense power.

—

An absolute defeat. Zhuang Fan, looking at Chen Xi on the other side of the arena enjoying the glory, felt his mind nearly collapse. He looked even worse than when he was humiliated by Chen Xi in the live broadcast, worse than Wang Luo.

The chief disciple of the prestigious Beast-Taming Family, crushed under the gaze of everyone by a mere mortal with no martial ability, was a blow Zhuang Fan had never endured. For someone who had been famous since childhood, he couldn’t tolerate such humiliation.

Chen Xi must… must pay the price!

Zhuang Fan, by nature cruel and vengeful, could never let go of a grudge. His hatred and jealousy toward Chen Xi burned fiercely, and he yearned to reduce him to ashes. However, everyone was focused on Chen Xi, not noticing his change in expression. A sudden thought crossed his mind, and he could no longer maintain his calm. He forcefully activated the special barrier of the Death Arena. He intended to kill Chen Xi to vent his rage.

A transparent light shield suddenly appeared, a special setting of the Death Arena rules. Everyone unrelated was forced out, leaving only the Moonlight Celestial Beast currently perched on Chen Xi’s shoulder on the arena.

“What are you doing, Zhuang Fan!” Daoist Ming Ling was the first to react, angrily asking.

But Zhuang Fan naturally responded, “The contest isn’t over yet. Isn’t it normal to begin the second round of the Beast-Taming battle?”

As he spoke, the jade pendant at his waist suddenly emitted a faint blue mist. Li Dragon appeared in response, and the aura of a fully-grown Celestial Beast gradually released, becoming strong and terrifying. Not only the ordinary Immortals below who were at the Gold Immortal and Earth Immortal levels, but even the Daluo Golden Immortal Wuyi, could faintly feel the pressure. As for Zhuang Fan himself, he also summoned a top-tier Immortal Sword and began to form the sword art, clearly ready to unleash it.

This was completely different from the agreed-upon beast-taming, it was clear that Zhuang Fan intended to take Chen Xi’s life directly. Daoist Ming Ling and many Celestial Beasts couldn’t help but curse angrily. However, Zhuang Fan was already completely enraged, with no time to consider the consequences. He glared at Chen Xi, cursing through gritted teeth, “This time, it’s a real fight. Your little tricks won’t work anymore.”

“Get lost!” The one who spoke was not Chen Xi, but the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been enduring for a long time. It had long disliked this Immortal, and it only held back earlier to allow Chen Xi to win fairly. Now that he was actively seeking his own death, it would grant him that.

The green cat eyes narrowed slightly, and the palm-sized kitten erupted with an overwhelming aura, nearly crushing the full-grown Celestial Beast. With just one word, it caused Li Dragon, who had just emerged and was showing off, to instinctively tremble. At the same time, it cast a protective talisman, firmly shielding Chen Xi behind it.

For most Celestial Beasts, adulthood marked a significant power divide. But for the Moonlight Celestial Beast, with its divine beast bloodline, this boundary no longer existed. Like the nine sons of the dragon, Bi’an was seventh, and the Moonlight Celestial Beast was a true descendant of a divine beast, not something Li Dragon could compare to. Just relying on bloodline suppression was enough to make him reconsider, unwilling to continue fighting.

“Don’t be afraid! It’s just a bluff!” Zhuang Fan, though also under pressure, knew the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s weaknesses. He knew it still had unhealed injuries and was young. Although strong, it wasn’t invincible. He continuously cast Beast-Taming Runes, and Li Dragon’s form became faster under Zhuang Fan’s enhancement.

The Moonlight Celestial Beast relied on agility, but after being enhanced, Li Dragon could barely hold its own against it. Meanwhile, Zhuang Fan, with a ruthless hand, wielded a cold Immortal Sword that silently appeared behind Chen Xi.

The moment of life and death.

Some Immortals couldn’t bear to watch. However, the Moonlight Celestial Beast, entangled with Li Dragon, had no way to break free and couldn’t get to Chen Xi in time.

It got closer and closer. The seven-foot-long black-gold heavy sword was raised above Chen Xi’s head, mercilessly attacking the protective shield the Moonlight Celestial Beast had placed around Chen Xi. Each strike caused sparks to fly, and with a deafening sound, the protective talisman began to crack under the fierce barrage.

“Hahaha, so much for the so-called first beast-tamer of the Lower Three Immortal Realms, just a useless fool who can’t even defend against a beating!” Zhuang Fan laughed wildly, his tone growing even colder and more vicious. “As expected, I never wanted to leave you alive!”

Another sword art was formed, and the attack on the protective talisman intensified. Around him, the shadow of countless swords appeared and crashed down.

The protective talisman shattered with a sound, and the Moonlight Celestial Beast suddenly turned its head, just in time to see Chen Xi surrounded by deadly blades. Zhuang Fan’s sword was extraordinary, and even an Immortal might not survive without defense. Chen Xi, a mere mortal, was surely doomed the moment the blade made contact.

“Die!” Zhuang Fan’s voice was full of malicious glee, laughing maniacally, feeling more pleasure than he ever had in his life.

“No!” The Moonlight Celestial Beast, which had been fighting Li Dragon, suddenly let out a shrill scream. The chilling roar echoed throughout Beast Island. The Moonshadow Celestial Beasts, whom Chen Xi had cared for for so long, also awakened their bloodlust at this moment. Their fur stood on end, and their eyes gleamed with murderous intent. These Celestial Beasts, usually treated by Chen Xi as mere kittens, revealed their true nature for the first time in front of others. They were descendants of the Qiongqi bloodline—the true ancient Four Great Fierce Beasts.

“Chen Xi is hurt, you die! If anything happens to Chen Xi… I will destroy your Beast-Taming family and slaughter the Li Dragon clan as your burial offering!” The Moonlight Celestial Beast’s voice trembled, unable to finish the final word, its cold, murderous gaze now materialized into intent.

Although it was still a cub, it was after all a descendant of a divine beast. Li Dragon, though fully grown, was just a branch of a Li Dragon and not even a true dragon. In this instant, the bloodline suppression was greater than any difference in level, and Li Dragon was unable to resist. The Moonlight Celestial Beast, disregarding its own injuries and without any intention to evade, had one goal—to make Zhuang Fan pay in blood for his transgressions!

The Moonshadow Celestial Beasts also moved. Without anyone noticing, these young beasts, who had just advanced and were still unstable in their spiritual power, suddenly appeared behind the Sect Master Lingyun and the head of the Beast Taming family. Their sharp claws were already extended, and the cold killing intent spread across the entire Beast Island. Not only could ordinary immortals not withstand it, but even celestial beasts couldn’t either.

The massacre was about to restart, and blood seemed inevitable. The cause this time, however, was just one person—Chen Xi. Yes, because of Chen Xi, a mere mortal, the Moonlight Celestial Beast planned to make the entire group of immortals on Beast Island accompany him in death.

“No, it’s not my fault!” Unable to bear the overwhelming killing intent, many low-ranking immortals began begging for mercy, but the pressure from the Moonlight Celestial Beast remained unyielding. Meanwhile, the Li Dragon, who had been on the arena, was already unable to endure the impact after the beast’s desperate burst and began retreating step by step, close to death. As for Zhuang Fan, he also suffered the consequences, spitting blood on the ground, his face as pale as a ghost.

There was no doubt—if the Moonlight Celestial Beast made another move, he would meet the same end as Chen Xi.

“No, I won’t accept this!” Zhuang Fan gritted his teeth, glaring at the Moonlight Celestial Beast, his eyes tinged with ominous bloodlust. At the same time, something unexpected happened. The Li Dragon on the arena suddenly began to grow larger.

It turned out that in the moment of life or death, Zhuang Fan couldn’t bear the pressure and resorted to a forbidden beast taming technique. The Dragon Transformation Secret Technique forcibly activated the ancient bloodline within the celestial beast, causing it to regress to a more primal state. However, after the technique ended, the beast’s life would be uncertain.

This was a forbidden technique in the immortal realm, banned long ago, right after Emperor Qing Yang ascended. Its transmission had been completely severed. Yet, thousands of years later, it had reappeared, and it was being used by someone from the Beast Taming family.

The Li Dragon’s consciousness was completely lost, turning into a killing machine in the hands of the beast tamer. The situation shifted again, and the Moonlight Celestial Beast was completely suppressed. It had no choice but to abandon Zhuang Fan and turn its attention to Li Dragon.

At this moment, the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s anger reached its peak but was restrained, with no way to break free. A mournful “meow” sounded, and the beast, which had forced itself to explode, was finally at its limit, slowing down.

It couldn’t protect Chen Xi, a young beast, and even seeking revenge was difficult. So what else could it do? Its green cat eyes flashed with uncontrollable regret, and within its body, something seemed to be awakening.

“Such good talent. What a pity, you’ll never have the chance to grow,” Zhuang Fan finally regained his composure, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth and speaking hatefully. At the same time, Li Dragon seemed to comply with his words and released one last attack on the Moonlight Celestial Beast, which had slowed in its movements. As long as this strike hit, the Moonlight Celestial Beast would be lucky to survive.

“Zhuang Fan! Stop!” At this moment, even the head of the Beast Taming family couldn’t help but cry out in shock. This was the purest-blooded celestial beast of the Moonlight clan! Chen Xi’s death was nothing, but if something happened to the Moonlight Celestial Beast, the Beast Taming family would likely suffer disaster. But Zhuang Fan, who had already gone mad with bloodlust, only wanted to slay everyone who had insulted him to avenge his humiliation.

In that instant, the air seemed to freeze. Even the Moonlight Celestial Beasts, who had been threatening the Sect Master Lingyun, halted their attacks involuntarily, anxiously watching the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who was struggling on the arena.

At this very moment, a sighing “Silly cat” emerged from the smoke, and then, around the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who was on the verge of being decapitated, a transparent shield appeared, blocking all of Li Dragon’s attacks.

No, not just that, even Li Dragon’s body seemed to have encountered some sort of restriction. It couldn’t move at all. It couldn’t even respond with a single scale to the outside world.

Absolute binding.

It was as if an invisible spiderweb had appeared, controlling everyone and every beast on the arena, turning them into puppets on strings.

Who was it? Everyone turned to look in the direction.

At this moment, the smoke from Zhuang Fan’s earlier use of immortal magic had completely dissipated. On the ruins at the far right of the arena, a gentle and handsome young man stood, his long sleeves flowing gracefully, his immortal demeanor indistinguishable from the surroundings. In his right hand, he held a chessboard, neither made of gold nor jade, but exquisitely delicate.

It was none other than Chen Xi, whom everyone had thought was dead.

“He… he’s not dead?” Someone mumbled in disbelief. Even Daoist Mingli, who had intended to forcefully break the life-and-death arena’s protective barrier, was left speechless, staring wide-eyed, unable to speak for a long time.

“Impossible! This can’t be!” As the person closest to him, Zhuang Fan was the first to snap out of it. He looked in terror at the slowly advancing Chen Xi, even doubting if he was seeing an illusion.

“A dead person can never come back to life!” The full force of his spiritual power erupted, and Zhuang Fan had completely lost his mind. A mere mortal—how could he repeatedly escape such disasters? Could it be that the way of heaven was always protecting him?

This conclusion was utterly absurd!

What immortal did not go against the heavens to gain eternal life and immortality? How could a mere mortal have such good fortune? How could Zhuang Fan possibly believe it, and how could he accept it? A series of complicated and sharp sword techniques were cast one after another. Zhuang Fan seemed to have no regard for his own life, using all his power to try and kill.

However, Chen Xi showed no signs of fear. He even had the energy to turn and comfort the Moonlight Celestial Beast with a gentle smile. But then, his actions changed.

His slender fingers brushed over the chessboard, and with a slight flick, the world instantly changed. Countless threads made of the laws of heaven and earth appeared around Zhuang Fan, blocking his sword techniques. His spiritual power backfired, and Zhuang Fan coughed up blood from his mouth, collapsing onto the ground in defeat.

“You… you’re not a mortal?” Zhuang Fan’s eyes widened in anger, but before he could get an answer, the threads around his throat tightened sharply.

Blood erupted from his mouth, and his throat cracked with a loud snap, crushed completely.

This all happened so quickly. In the span of just a few breaths, Zhuang Fan, the top disciple of the Beast Taming family, was killed by Chen Xi. But strangely, despite just killing someone, Chen Xi seemed completely unfazed by the shock of the others. He simply answered Zhuang Fan’s final question in a calm manner: “You all called me a mortal.”

With blood, he established his authority! The name Chen Xi completely shocked Beast Island. At this moment, the entire island fell into a deathly silence.

The grand chess game shifted again, and the binding formations in the Life-and-Death Arena were all released. Chen Xi walked to the center of the arena and gently cradled the exhausted Moonlight Celestial Beast. As for Li Dragon, who had lost its sanity, it lay unconscious, its fate uncertain after its master’s death.

All the immortals were shocked by this. No one had expected that the mortal they had always looked down upon had such extraordinary abilities. As for the immortal artifact in Chen Xi’s hand, it was truly a sight never seen before.

“An array master, Chen Xi is an array master!” Someone recognized Chen Xi’s techniques and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. At this moment, everyone became disoriented. Even Sect Master Lingyun, stood up in shock from his chair.

An array master was a rare figure in the entire Immortal Realm. Since the great war of the ancient immortals had ended, the inheritance of many immortal techniques had been lost with the fall of the Immortal Emperors. The path of arrays was one such lost art. Currently, the most profound arrays in the Immortal Realm were in the hands of the celestial beasts of the four great Immortal Palaces, with very few immortals having knowledge of them.

Moreover, arrays originated from the Dao of Heaven. To master the Dao of Heaven and comprehend the art of arrays, one must first understand the Dao of Heaven itself. Could it be that Chen Xi could communicate with the Dao of Heaven?

This thought shocked everyone. It was known that only a few Immortal Emperors from the Upper Three Immortal Realms could even glimpse the threshold of the Dao of Heaven. Apart from them, no one else could. Yet Chen Xi, only in his twenties and born in the mortal realm, how could someone with such a monstrous talent reach such a level?

No wonder Chen Xi, as a mortal, had survived the Seven-Day Catastrophe. No wonder he had such profound skills in taming beasts, even winning the absolute loyalty of the Moonlight Clan, who were the most difficult to please. What was most surprising was that, even though Chen Xi had yet to form his immortal body, he already possessed the means to kill immortals. If he were to fully develop in the future…

Everyone couldn’t help but gasp, feeling a chill in their hearts. Even their gazes toward Chen Xi now held more fear. Even Sect Master Lingyun, and Immortal Wuyi, both regretted their earlier intentions to target Chen Xi.

Such a genius, if they could use him for themselves, would surely bring countless benefits in the future.

The two exchanged a glance, and Immortal Wuyi instantly understood the meaning in Lingyun’s eyes. They began thinking of a way to pull Qingyun Sect out of the conspiracy against Chen Xi. As for the true mastermind, following Lingyun’s gaze, Immortal Wuyi accurately found the most suitable scapegoat—the Beast Taming family.

Such is the nature of people: when someone is weak, others think of exploiting them. But when the object of desire is too powerful, the only thing left for them to do is submit.

At this moment, the Life-and-Death Arena had completely ended, and Chen Xi had emerged victorious.

“Congratulations, Young Chen, you truly made an outstanding move.” As the protective barrier lifted, Daoist Mingli was the first to approach Chen Xi and thank him.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior. It was merely a stroke of luck,” Chen Xi replied with a smile and a nod. Daoist Mingli had tried to protect him several times, and when the Moonlight Celestial Beast was in trouble, he had immediately stepped in to help. Because of this, Chen Xi held him in high regard and spoke with extra respect. However, the situation was not right, and the two couldn’t converse further.

At the same time, Immortal Wuyi, handed over the scepter of victory to Chen Xi. Sect Master Lingyun, then spoke at the right moment: “Young Chen, your extraordinary abilities have truly opened my eyes. I hope that in the future, we will have the opportunity to work together. As for this competition, Zhuang Fan broke the agreement first and received his due fate. As for the Beast Taming family, I still have some influence there and will ensure you receive justice.”

It was clear that they intended to shift the blame directly onto the Beast Taming family, using their righteous faces to cover up the truth, pretending that everything was calm and peaceful. It was truly shameless.

Chen Xi smirked, his lips curling with a sarcastic smile. “Sect Master Lingyun, such righteousness. I thank you in advance. As for working together, I dare not promise such things lightly. After all, the lives of mortals are short, only a few decades. I, Chen Xi, only wish for a life of freedom and do not wish to be controlled by anyone.”

After speaking, Chen Xi turned around and walked away, not sparing any face for Sect Master Lingyun. Although he was the arbitrator of the Lower Three Immortal Realms, Chen Xi’s methods were extraordinary, and yet, he was audacious enough to humiliate him in public. The lower-ranked immortals all lowered their heads, saying nothing, like quails shrinking their necks, trying their best to reduce their presence.

As for Sect Master Lingyun, although he maintained a calm exterior, his heart was filled with boundless fury.

“From today onwards, keep an eye on Chen Xi at all times.” Suppressing the boiling anger in his chest, he transmitted a message to Immortal Wuyi: “If Chen Xi refuses to be humble, eliminate him!”

He was just an array master who understood how to tame beasts. Although he possessed some mysterious abilities, he was still a mortal. Since he was on Beast Island, he should remain obedient. He was the true arbitrator of the Lower Three Immortal Realms.

“Understood.” Immortal Wuyi immediately responded, his mind constantly calculating how to arrange the follow-up matters. The series of events that had just occurred, whether it was the array master or the Moonlight Celestial Beast refining demon bones, were all things that could tear apart the skies of the Lower Three Immortal Realms. Therefore, how to handle the aftermath was the most important thing for him right now.

—

On the other side, Chen Xi was completely unconcerned. After preparing a feast and fighting a battle, his energy was completely drained. The Moonlight Celestial Beast, after going through such extreme highs and lows, also appeared somewhat listless.

There was no conversation on the way, but as they were nearing the Zefeng Cave, the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke to Chen Xi: “Wait until I mature, and then we will form a contract.”

“Why?” The sudden invitation left Chen Xi stunned for a moment.

“Because… because you’re stupid!”

Chen Xi’s response made the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s ears flick in irritation, and even the fur on its tail fluffed up. How dare you question me!

However, in Chen Xi’s eyes, this was simply the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s shy reaction. Unable to resist, he playfully decided to tease this little cat that had already learned to protect its master: “Actually, the reason doesn’t matter much. But time waits for no one. It’ll still be a few hundred years before you mature, but I’m a mortal. If I live to seventy, I’ll be considered very lucky.”

Seventy years? The Moonlight Celestial Beast, which had once been all claws and teeth, immediately quieted down, even freezing in place. It had grown accustomed to being with Chen Xi every day and had gotten used to their way of interacting. But now, Chen Xi was telling it that he could only live for seventy more years.

To an immortal celestial beast, seventy years was the blink of an eye, and the Moonlight Celestial Beast couldn’t even fathom what the world would look like after Chen Xi’s passing.

No, it couldn’t be! A trace of sorrow flashed through its emerald cat eyes. The proud little cat, which had always been unwilling to be close to anyone, instinctively wrapped its paws around Chen Xi’s neck, pressing its fluffy head against his neck. As if this way, it could hold him tightly and never let him go.

It was as though it was on the verge of crying at any moment.

Chen Xi originally meant to joke, but he didn’t expect the Moonlight Celestial Beast to react so strongly. He quickly embraced it, gently comforting, “Don’t be sad, I was just talking nonsense. Although I’m not an immortal, I do have some skills. I won’t die easily.”

However, such a weak assurance didn’t have much effect. The little furball in his arms remained immersed in its immense shock, not responding at all. In the end, Chen Xi helplessly said, “Moonlight, don’t worry, even if you die, I won’t die.”

Nonsense! This finally got a reaction from the Moonlight Celestial Beast. It raised its head and angrily slapped Chen Xi across the face, saying, “I, the Moonlight, am Celestial, I won’t die!”

Seeing it rebuttal, Chen Xi gently rubbed its head, “Yes, you won’t die.”

“Hmph, good that you know!” The Moonlight Celestial Beast turned its head away in a huff. It finally seemed to recover some of its spirit. However, after a while, it quietly added, “So you won’t die either.”

As my chef, you should live as long as I do. I won’t allow you to have any accidents.

This weird Moonlight Celestial Beast actually hides such a soft little thought. It was as if it were soaking in comfortable warm water, immediately healing all of Chen Xi’s exhaustion. Unable to resist, he kissed the little cat’s nose and, disregarding the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s resistance, forcefully pulled it into his embrace, happily muttering, “Yes, yes, yes, you’re right. Let’s go, baby, I’ll make seafood noodles for you when we get home.”

“Wh-what baby!” How dare you act so affectionately in public! This is so inappropriate. Where are the usual rules now? The Moonlight Celestial Beast’s body stiffened again, and even its ears flattened in displeasure. It stretched out its claws to push against Chen Xi’s chest, trying to pry him off from holding it.

Meanwhile, in the Immortal Palace, Emperor Qing Yang, upon hearing their conversation, once again turned red in the ears. He was also thinking to himself, “Isn’t this progress a bit too fast?”

—

That night, the Beast Taming family suffered a great disaster. They misused forbidden magic, and the celestial beasts turned on them. The family, once revered in the Lower Three Immortal Realms, was completely destroyed in one fell swoop.

However, the other two families, who were once known as the three major Beast Taming families, weren’t particularly concerned when they heard the news. Some even considered Wang Luo and his people foolish for being caught in such a calamity. Yet, even so, Chen Xi’s name had now been thoroughly ingrained in their minds.

“Let’s wait and see. If he’s a talent, we can recruit him later, no rush,” one family head carefully instructed his trusted subordinate. “Notify all the family disciples to avoid making an enemy of Chen Xi.”

However, compared to their caution, the two major arbitrator of the Lower Three Immortal Realms, including Lingyun, believed that Chen Xi must be suppressed and not allowed to grow. After all, considering the situation after the deadly duel, Chen Xi was headstrong, seeking revenge for any grudge, and uncontrollable. If left unchecked, the Lower Three Immortal Realms might face upheaval in the future. This was the last thing they wanted to see.

Therefore, no matter what, they needed to find a way to restrain Chen Xi. Either make him submit, or eliminate him.

With this plan in mind, the two quickly reached a consensus. However, for those cultivators not under their command, after hearing about Chen Xi, they secretly rejoiced.

Because the Three Immortal Realms finally had a true Beast-Taming. In the past, the Beast Taming families were very arrogant, and these independent cultivators, even if they offered large sums of money, would often be treated with disdain. But Chen Xi was different. Although decisive in his actions, he was clear about debts of gratitude and enmity, and his temperament was straightforward. As long as you treated him with respect, he was actually very easy to get along with.

And this impression deepened even further after Daoist Ming Ling’s evaluation of Chen Xi. Chen Xi’s name became completely famous in the Lower Three Immortal Realms.

However, at this moment, Chen Xi’s situation on Beast Island was somewhat delicate. Since the assessment, Immortal Wuyi had often hinted that he wanted Chen Xi to join his sect. But it was always politely declined.

In the past, such behavior would certainly be deemed out of touch, but after establishing his reputation through killing, Chen Xi had gained a voice among the immortals of Beast Island. Even with his repeated refusals, he was no longer ostracized like at the beginning. Recently, when walking down the street, even lower-level immortals would respectfully greet him.

This kind of life continued for a while, and the atmosphere on Beast Island became warm again. Chen Xi roughly gathered that the Beast Island Secret Realm, which opened once every hundred years, was about to begin.

Unlike other secret realms in the Immortal World, the Beast Island Secret Realm had very strict requirements. Only immortals below the Earth Immortal realm could enter, and only three teams were allowed in each time. As such, the Beast Island Secret Realm was considered one of the biggest events for the Lower Three Immortal Realms.

However, this didn’t pique Chen Xi’s interest at all. It was even less attractive than the sight of a blooming lotus in a pond, which was enough to make him stop and admire.

As the saying goes, “The lotus blossoms in June,” although the lotus in the Immortal World didn’t bloom in June, it was enough to make Chen Xi want to harvest the flowers for cooking.

Lotus leaf cake, lotus leaf rice, lotus flower nine-fold board, paired with a cup of lotus flower wine—these were the most delicious delicacies in the mortal world.

One day, after preparing the meal, Chen Xi set up a low table under the vine trellis and sat down to eat with the Moonlight Celestial Beast. The Moonlight Celestial Beast and its fellow Moonshadow Celestial Beasts happily dug into their food.

The clear wine was poured into a wine cup, and the entire courtyard was filled with the sweet fragrance of lotus. The tempting smell of the wine made the usually indifferent Moonlight Celestial Beast curious enough to want a sip.

Hesitantly, it lifted its paw and tapped the wine cup, then leaned over to smell it and couldn’t help but sneeze. Chen Xi, mischievous, intentionally poured a small dish to tease it.

Cats’ tongues were already sensitive, and this was really spicy.

“Scoundrel! How dare you tease me.” The Moonlight Celestial Beast couldn’t help but slap Chen Xi across the face, its round cat eyes glaring at him. Seeing that he showed no sign of regret, it became even more annoyed and began to pull at the strands of his hair hanging by his side.

This little chef actually dared to overstep his bounds. He must be taught a lesson.

“Alright, don’t be mad. I’ll try a different kind next time.” Smiling, Chen Xi gently embraced the Moonlight Celestial Beast and kissed its ear. “I’ll make something delicious for you tonight, as an apology. How about that?”

How dare you act so affectionately in front of your juniors? This is completely improper! The Moonlight Celestial Beast stiffened for a moment, then quickly glanced at the other Moonshadow Celestial Beasts nearby. Seeing no one paying attention, it awkwardly twitched its ear.

Why must you be so impatient? At least wait until no one’s around.

When the Moonlight Celestial Beast in his arms quieted down, Chen Xi stopped talking and simply stroked its fur along its spine. On this warm, sunny afternoon, with such an atmosphere, and with delicious food and the cat master by his side, everything felt perfectly comfortable and just right.

However, not long after, the peaceful moment was interrupted when a puppet servant came to report that someone was outside asking to see him.