Chapter 126

Fang Xuyang’s mind raced with many thoughts.

How could it be Wood Thorns? He hadn’t heard Mu Huiyue issue a command to use the skill.

Unless…

He recalled Mu Huiyue’s Tooth Warrior, always hidden in the shadows. Unless this scarecrow, like the Tooth Warrior, had also used its status skill as a true long-term effect, maintaining the Wood Thorns form from the very beginning!

The more Fang Xuyang thought about it, the more baffled he became. It could be said that a single beast doing this was a rare talent, but if every beast did the same… What method did Mu Huiyue use to achieve this?

Mu Huiyue was quite satisfied with the effect of [Wood Thorns].

Maintaining a status skill for the long term requires a high-level technique, achievable only by the beast’s individual talent.

Ellen had an extraordinary adaptability to shadow-type skills, even able to transform his core talent into [Shadow Stealth] during evolution. This was why he could maintain status-type skills for a long period.

Harvey’s [Wood Thorns], however, was a learned skill, so its adaptability was not as good as a core talent skill, but it had [Harvest].

The A-grade wood-type status skill [Harvest] was primarily a farming tool, but it was rated A-grade due to its comprehensive enhancement of the user.

With the [Harvest] skill’s buff, not only could [Wood Thorns] be maintained long-term, but it also boosted the skill’s power and increased the counterattack damage.

On the battlefield, the Thunderstrike Lion King struggled and stood up again, while the Night Demon Scarecrow still swayed gently, looking as if it were bathed in the night breeze of a wheat field—comfortable and relaxed.

It was as if the thunderstorm raining down around it and the electric arcs sparking across its body didn’t even exist.

In the first round of the clash, Mu Huiyue continued to observe, gaining control over both the Thunderstrike Lion King and the entire battlefield.

With the boost from the Thunderstorm Field, the Thunderstrike Lion King fully unleashed its core talent skill, [Thunderstorm Impact], which would deal some damage to Harvey, but it wasn’t enough to force out the [Scarecrow Substitute].

With the enhancement from [Harvest], Harvey’s stamina and hidden energy were far superior to those of a beast of the same rank, meaning that even the Thunderstrike Lion King, a purely offensive beast, couldn’t break through Harvey’s first layer of defense with its full assault.

Of course, this was also an issue with Fang Xuyang’s training methods, as he hadn’t fully maximized the Thunderstrike Lion King’s power.

Mu Huiyue glanced at the golden electric lion, standing up again. Harvey’s attack methods weren’t limited to just the passive counterattack skill, [Wood Thorns].

Timing it just right—now seemed to be the perfect moment.

As the countdown in her mind reached zero, the Thunderstrike Lion King let out a painful roar and crashed to the ground once more.

The golden lion’s abdomen suddenly exploded in a burst of blood, as if something inside had ruptured.

“Thunderstrike Lion King?!” Fang Xuyang shouted in worry.

That was the C-level Wood-type attack skill, [Rotten Fruit], which had somehow been planted inside the Thunderstrike Lion King.

Fang Xuyang’s eyes suddenly widened. It was from the earlier [Raven Feather Storm]!

The Night Demon Scarecrow didn’t use the Raven Feather Storm to block the Thunderstrike Lion King’s charge, but to cover up [Rotten Fruit].

Damn Mu Huiyue—she had hidden so many tactics within a single round of battle. This woman was even harder to deal with than during the national ranking matches!

Mu Huiyue slightly curved the corner of her lips.

Harvey’s life form was very unique, and it wasn’t easy for it to move nimbly on the battlefield. Of course, its attack methods were also different from ordinary beasts.

The characteristics of a beast aren’t [weaknesses]; it all depends on how the beast master utilizes them.

“Thunderstrike Lion King, stand up!” Fang Xuyang clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

“Harvey, once more, [Raven Feather Storm],” Mu Huiyue said softly.

The dark crows flapped their wings, transforming into a dark storm, and charged toward the Thunderstrike Lion King.

The golden electric lion struggled to rise, electric arcs sparking from its body. A powerful electromagnetic field spread out from it, barely blocking the incoming Raven Feather Storm.

B-level Lightning-type defensive skill: [Electromagnetic Field].

Fang Xuyang let out a slight breath of relief, but his mood grew heavier.

One misstep like this would completely fall into Mu Huiyue’s rhythm. The suffocating sensation, like a towering mountain before him, resurfaced.

Charge-type skills would be countered by [Wooden Thorns], and energy-type skills would be blocked by [Raven Feather Storm]. How was the Thunderstrike Lion King supposed to launch an effective attack on the Night Demon Scarecrow?

Clearly, that thing wouldn’t even move, having stood still since the beginning, yet the Thunderstrike Lion King’s speed advantage wasn’t making any difference.

Fang Xuyang gritted his teeth. The more hopeless the situation appeared, the more he needed to break the deadlock with an attack!

“Thunderstrike Lion King, [Daylight Impact]!”

B-level Light-type attack skill: [Daylight Impact]. If it landed, it would deal massive attribute-restricted damage to the Dark-type Night Demon Scarecrow, directly breaking through the [Wooden Thorns] defense.

The golden electric lion erupted in dazzling light, preparing to launch its signature charge, but suddenly paused.

“Ghostly Face,” Mu Huiyue spoke.

In the domain enveloped by Thunderstorm and electricity, a small area suddenly darkened.

It was as if night had fallen. The moon in the sky emitted an eerie, cackling laugh, and shapeless black shadows quickly contracted, gathering into a huge, terrifying, and grotesque face that fell from the sky with a thunderous crash.

The Thunderstrike Lion King let out a whimper from its throat and instinctively took a step back.

It felt fear.

The energy wave from the charging skill dissipated, and [Daylight Impact] failed to activate.

Fang Xuyang felt as if his heart had skipped a beat, and for a moment, he couldn’t respond.

Seeing this, Mu Huiyue understood. He had indeed used the [Thunderfruit], forcibly suppressing the Thunderstrike Lion King’s nature with his own will.

The Thunderstrike Lion King had the potential of a Sovereign of the Mystic Realm, with a proud and noble temperament. In its own Thunderstorm domain, it was impossible for it to feel fear from external forces.

The one who instinctively felt fear from the Ghostly Face was Fang Xuyang, the Beast Master, whose emotions instead affected the Thunderstrike Lion King.

This was the biggest flaw of the Thunderfruit—the moment the Beast Master is incapable of handling the situation, the suppressed instinct loses its effectiveness, and the situation only worsens.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Fang Xuyang, in a fit of humiliation and anger, shouted, “Thunderstrike Lion King, try Thunderstorm Impact again!”

In his eyes, dazzling lightning began to brew as he used Thunder-type crystals to transfer the energy boosts from his Beast Master talent directly to his contracted beast.

At times like this, all that mattered was attacking!

The Thunderstrike Lion King possessed resistance to Thunder, so even if it was affected by the backlash of the Wood Thorns, the damage it took would be less than that of the Night Demon Scarecrow.

As long as it launched an all-out attack, forcing its way through the Wood Thorns, and broke through the opponent’s defense, everything would be fine!

In the Thunderstorm Domain, the energy surged violently, lightning flashing and thunder roaring. Countless bolts of lightning gathered around the golden electric lion, so bright it seemed to disperse all the shadows on the battlefield.

The Thunderstrike Lion King moved so fast it was almost invisible. The next moment, a golden bolt of lightning shot forward, and with a deafening explosion, the spot where the Night Demon Scarecrow stood was obliterated.

The sizzling sound of electricity filled the air as the Thunderstorm fell like rain. The air was filled with the acrid scent of something scorched, and the Night Demon Scarecrow was sent tumbling into a deep pit from the force of the charge, unable to rise again.

Success in breaking through!

Fang Xuyang’s smile, which had just begun to form, froze on his face.

The same violent Thunderstorm erupted on the Thunderstrike Lion King. It could no longer endure and, howling in pain, collapsed to the ground.

As the Thunderstorm Domain dissipated, the golden lion collapsed to the ground.

The referee stepped forward to check the Thunderstorm Lion’s status, then raised a hand toward Mu Huiyue.

“The Thunderstorm Lion has lost its combat ability. The Night Demon Scarecrow wins. The match is won by contestant Mu Huiyue!”

“This is impossible—!” Fang Xuyang shouted angrily. The Thunderstorm Lion clearly broke through the scarecrow’s defenses, and even if it lost its combat ability, it should have been a draw. That Night Demon Scarecrow was clearly unable to fight anymore—

As if in response to his thoughts, after the energy of the Thunderstorm Domain dissipated, the crowd was finally able to see clearly what lay in the deep pit caused by the Thunderstorm Lion’s strike.

At the bottom of the empty pit, there was only a tattered scarecrow substitute.

A light breeze blew by, and the Night Demon Scarecrow appeared on the battlefield at some point, swaying gently in the wind, looking completely unharmed by the Thunderstorm Lion’s attack.

B-level Wood Elemental status skill: Scarecrow Substitute!

Fang Xuyang collapsed to the ground, completely speechless.

He had originally thought that the Thunderstorm Lion’s all-out attack would at least earn a desperate opportunity, but who could have known that it was only the first layer of defense of the Night Demon Scarecrow.

All the advantages he had been so proud of before the battle were completely shattered. So what if he was fast and strong? The Night Demon Scarecrow hadn’t even moved, staying in place the entire time.

He had never imagined that Mu Huiyue would contract such a beast and use such tactics.

The Card Soldier and Little Cloud Dog were both agile and mysterious types. She was an animal trainer skilled at timing and seizing her opponent’s weaknesses to counterattack, so how could she coordinate so seamlessly with a defensive beast like the Night Demon Scarecrow?!

He had tried so hard… yet still couldn’t win against Mu Huiyue.

The audience in the stands fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted into applause like a tidal wave.

This was a uniquely exciting battle, and Mu Huiyue had demonstrated to all the animal trainers how to skillfully use a beast’s own characteristics to win what seemed like an impossible match.

Now that the preliminaries had progressed this far, this was the first time such a fighting style had been seen. All eyes were on the beautiful black-haired young woman.

A true future to look forward to!

Mu Huiyue gently patted the raven that flew to her shoulder, then returned Harvey to the beast space. With the crowd’s gaze upon her, she turned and left the battlefield.

“Today’s competition will have three rounds. I wonder who her opponent will be in the next match?

…

After the battle ended, Mu Huiyue returned to the hall to rest, while watching the match results on the big screen. She casually opened a bottle of mineral water to recharge.

Wen Li and Chen Jiashu both made it into the top sixteen, and the remaining spots were mostly taken by familiar names.

She took a sip of water, her gaze stopping on a few names she needed to pay attention to, and her mind involuntarily began to simulate the battle scenarios.

“Mu Huiyue.” Someone called her from behind.

The voice sounded exactly like her own, and for a moment, Mu Huiyue thought she had called herself.

She turned around, and sure enough, she saw a face that looked strikingly similar to her own.

It was Mu Yixia.

She was accompanied by a tall, wolf-like pet beast, with long, shimmering fur. Its tail glowed with an agate-like color, resembling the clouds at dusk in the sky.

It was the Xiguang Fighting Wolf, evolved from the little cloud dog Misha.

Mu Huiyue looked at her with calm, emotionless eyes, like a deep black pool.”

“Mu Yixia bit her lip, but after a long pause, she didn’t continue speaking.

After a moment of silence, both of their phones chimed at the same time, signaling the announcement of the quarterfinals matchups.

“Perfect, you can say what you want to say during the match,” Mu Huiyue said, raising her phone. The opponent for the next round was none other than Mu Yixia.”