Chapter 383: Insignificant Dignity

Silent was the Beast Holy Sanctuary's arena, with no one daring to challenge or to find excuses for the recent defeat.

Those present were all elite Spirit Beast Masters, acutely aware of the complexities at hand. This was not merely an augmentation of a Spirit Beast's strength; the chasm between blue flame and red flame was immense, a formidable barrier indeed, for it belonged to the realm of the 异火 (Unique Flame)!

In normal circumstances, be it wind, fire, water, lightning, or ice, every attribute has its standard state, which is also the initial state of almost all Spirit Beasts, except for those at the divine beast level. Only after reaching the Ghost Rank can a Spirit Beast’s initial state undergo a transformation or evolution.

Of course, during the holy wars long ago, there were individuals who achieved such an evolution even at Tiger Peak, but that was the era of the holy wars... the age of great heroes where Supreme Saints and the Eight Virtuous Ones stood at the pinnacle, contending with various races! And if we consider her age on top of that... How old is Winnie Lee? Not only is she unparalleled in this era, but even in that heroic age of the holy wars, she would still be considered an elite!

This... No one could argue, nor dared to argue. Unlike the shameless followers of Saint Light in Mangalam, the Beast Holy Sanctuary, at least, still acknowledges strength and has some sense of honor!

Setting aside their adversarial roles, such a Winnie is a living legend, worthy of the admiration of every Spirit Beast Master.

Wiggins, completely silenced by Winnie, took a few seconds to regain his composure. He cleared his throat, with no intention of retaliating, merely casting a complex glance at Winnie before calling out, "Ape Frenzy! You’re up!"

The deputy captain, Ape Frenzy.

Compared to Quio, who was heavily favored and equipped to take down Winnie Lee, this man was actually the true second-in-command of the Beast Holy Sanctuary, ranked 103rd in Dragon City, having personally slain two disciples of the Nine Gods. His brilliance was second only to Captain Wiggins! However, due to the battle styles of the Dragon Ape and Ape Frenzy, he had no clear advantage over any of the Rose members, nor was he at a disadvantage, making him the most suitable for a defensive role. Wiggins originally planned to have him fight in the fourth match, but with the Beast Holy Sanctuary already losing one, they had learned from Mangalam’s mistakes and could not afford another loss here.

Boom!

A figure rose from behind Wiggins, exuding a far more imposing aura than Quio had. More astonishingly, when he landed on the stage, there were now two formidable figures standing there.

The shorter one was Ape Frenzy, a disciple of the Beast Holy Sanctuary skilled in both soul and martial arts. Shorter only in comparison to his shadow, Ape Frenzy himself stood at two meters tall, his bare upper body rippling with muscles, each hand gripping a copper hammer larger than his head.

Behind him stood a Dragon Ape over three meters tall, its form resembling that of an ape, with particularly developed and elongated arms that nearly touched the ground when hanging down. Unlike the fur-covered Magic Apes, its body was covered in thick, gray scales, like a natural suit of dragon-scale armor!

The Dragon Ape also wielded two heavy hammers, mirroring its master’s style. It did not roar or make a show of itself, but stood silently behind its master, its seemingly intelligent eyes fixed intently on Wang Feng and the others by the side of the arena.

A power type, but not entirely.

The Dragon Ape is the absolute aristocrat among ape Spirit Beasts, even worthy of being called royalty. Not only are they agile and immensely strong, but they also have a strong resistance to witchcraft, making it impossible to find any flaw in them!

However, when faced with the enigmatic Rose, who consistently defies expectations, the audience maintained a certain restraint, merely buzzing with low whispers as they awaited the appearance of Rose’s chosen fighter. After all, there was still the quite mysterious Mapeier within Rose, and one shouldn’t speak too confidently beforehand.

At this moment, everyone turned their gaze toward Wang Feng, only to be stunned. The other ace, the most mysterious figure of Rose that everyone had imagined, was actually massaging their captain’s legs at this very moment!

Seeing the woman warrior, whom the Holy Sanctuary's Light hailed as the most mysterious of the Rose Holy Sanctuary, now serving Wang Feng like a devoted wife, and doing so naturally and harmoniously... everyone suddenly felt a bit off.

Envy? Jealousy? Perhaps more than anything, they felt their intelligence insulted! This was the legendary hidden boss of Rose? Here to do this?

Before they could recover, Old Wang’s next words didn’t just insult their intelligence; they insulted the honor of the entire Beast Holy Sanctuary!

"Wu Di, you’re up!" Old Wang said cheerfully, "Don’t lose, or we’ll waste time and our tickets will be for nothing!"

"Yes, Captain!" Wu Di nodded forcefully.

To be honest, Wu Di never tried to show off; he didn’t even know what showing off meant. He was simply accustomed to responding with “Yes, Captain” or “Okay, Captain” to whatever Wang Feng said.

But this response, heard by the disciples of the Beast Holy Sanctuary, became the most concrete form of mockery. The entire arena instantly fell silent, not a sound to be heard!

That Beastman? He actually dares to think he can defeat the Rank 103 Ape Rampage of Longcheng?

To be honest, while the details of Rose’s victory over Mangalam were not widely known, the first half of Wu Di’s battle against Burst Punch, where he was initially suppressed, was described in great detail by the Mangalam people, with added embellishments. And what kind of fighter was Burst Punch? In Longcheng’s rankings, he would be at least three hundredth place. Even if this Beastman fought him evenly and eventually won, how could he possibly be compared to the Rank 103 Ape Rampage?

Now, facing the vice-captain Ape Rampage, Rose was sending a Beastman cannon fodder to trade a weak for a strong, a common tactic that everyone could understand. Why not just admit defeat honestly? Why must they put on such a grand show of bravado! And that Beastman actually responded with such arrogance!

What the hell...

Just as the Beast Holy Sanctuary's arena had finally quieted down in awe of Winnie Lee's terrifying power, it was now truly unable to remain silent any longer.

Losing the first match was one thing; losing to someone as powerful as Winnie Lee, who could already be written into history, wasn't really shameful. But for an unawakened beastman to dare come to the Beast Holy Sanctuary and act so arrogantly—this was simply intolerable!

When did it become the turn for a lowly beastman to strut around the Beast Holy Sanctuary?

"I can't take it anymore! To hell with decorum, Senior Brother Ape Savage, crush this beastman!"

"Right, if he wants to act tough! Senior Brother Ape Savage, don't give him a chance to surrender!"

"Rose has only one Winnie Lee; the rest are just minor players, and they dare to intimidate us!"

Weakness itself is a sin, especially when it comes from a weak beastman. The stands erupted instantly, the crowd seething with anger, wishing they could rush down and personally beat that beastman until his own feces were smeared on his face!

Ape Savage looked at Wu Di across from him with a faint expression, showing no soul force reaction. This was indeed an unawakened beastman. As for defeating Magic Fist Burst... that guy ranked over three hundred in Longcheng, and Ape Savage could easily annihilate him.

Although his strategy had been exploited by the opponent, at least this match would be easy for him.

Though standing still, his soul pressure spread out, and the oppressive aura from Ape Savage was on a completely different level compared to Burst. Wu Di felt a strong threat, especially from the massive figure behind Ape Savage, which made him feel as if he were facing Jiaobaoba. However, he still politely gave Ape Savage a respectful bow.

"Hmph."

Ape Savage did not return the gesture; a beastman did not deserve such courtesy.

A glint of determination flashed in Ape Savage's eyes: finish him off quickly!

Boom!

Frankly, everyone might have thought that Wang Feng's decision to let Wu Di fight in the second round was a choice to 'sacrifice' or 'send him to his death.' Even Kela and Fantasi, among others, probably found this arrangement too casual, looking at Wang Feng with deep suspicion. After all, everyone had seen the records of the Beast Holy Sanctuary, and Ape Savage, who ranked 103rd in Longcheng, was far beyond the level of the previous opponent, Magic Fist Burst.

Winnie's face, however, showed an expression of keen interest. The opponent, Ape Rampage, was one that Old Wang had long chosen for Wu Di. To be honest, compared to Wu Di, this opponent was somewhat too powerful. She could guess Wang Feng's intentions, but wasn't it a bit too risky?

Bang!

Without any wild momentum, only a puff of dust rose from the spot where Ape Rampage suddenly vanished. Wu Di's pupils slightly contracted, his nose twitched, and his ears, like those catching the wind, trembled sharply.

The battle at Mangalam certainly boosted Wu Di's confidence greatly, liberating his spirit and broadening his horizons. He had always felt like a burden, but now, having truly discovered his abilities, he was eager to contribute to the team.

Putting aside Spirit Power, the perception abilities of Beastfolk were actually much stronger than those of humans, whether in hearing, smell, or mysterious premonitions. During the Old Wang Squad's training, it wasn't the stronger Fantasi who first saw Mo Tong's fist clearly, but rather the then-weak Wu Di. After letting go of his burdens from the last battle, many unique traits he had during training were now fully under his control.

Left side!

Wu Di's body slightly tilted to the side, and his right fist instinctively slammed to the left.

Boom!

A calloused fist collided with an incredibly hard mace, a clash of pure physical strength and Spirit Power. Wu Di's arm tingled slightly, and he took a half-step back, feeling that the force of the attack was entirely within his capacity to handle.

The mace, after the collision, lightly lifted upward to deflect the opposing force, but Ape Rampage's charge did not diminish. Another mace, carrying the force of wind and thunder, was already aimed at Wu Di's head. Instead of dodging, Wu Di, who was retreating, brought his hands together and pushed forward.

Boom!

Catching a heavy mace bare-handed, perhaps only a Beastfolk with such tough skin and flesh could manage it. The two forces clashed fiercely, and while Wu Di's arms were numbed by the impact, Ape Rampage seemed to gain no advantage either. Although the opponent lacked Spirit Power, his brute strength was astonishing, and the thick calluses on his palms were as hard as metal. When the mace struck, it felt like hitting something metallic, causing severe pain in his right hand and nearly making him lose his grip on the mace.

The massive counterforce made both of them stagger backward, but Wu Di's vigilance did not wane. He felt better than ever before, and his sharp senses had already predicted the direction of the opponent's Spirit Beast's ambush.

His ears trembled sharply, and above him, a vast shadow blocked out the sky. A colossal figure descended from the heavens, bringing a terrifying pressure and immense power.

Dragon Ape overhead!

Two terrifying giant hammers, nearly half the size of Wu Di, hammered down from the sky, their timing perfectly coordinated. Just moments ago, he had clashed with the Dragon Ape, and his body was still retreating due to inertia, his breath not yet caught. At such a moment, it was incredibly difficult to regain balance and muster another burst of strength.

But Wu Di managed to do just that. He wasn't like those humans who relied on soul power; it didn't matter that he hadn't caught his breath, as long as his physical strength could keep up!

Instinctively, he kicked out with both legs, stomping on the air that seemed almost solid, accelerating his retreat in a situation where there was no room for exertion, and forcefully thrust himself backward.

Boom!

The heavy hammer struck the ground, narrowly missing Wu Di. But the Dragon Ape's arms were incredibly agile. Before the hammer, which had sunk half a foot into the ground, could be pulled out, its massive body twisted, and its scaly four-toed feet kicked Wu Di's hind legs with great force.

Boom!

Wu Di guarded his chest with his arms, the immense force sending him flying backward, sliding for over ten meters before he finally found his footing. He took seven or eight large steps back, 'thud thud thud thud.'

Though his arms were slightly numb, they weren't particularly painful. His chest rose and fell, but his breathing remained steady, and he managed to stand firm!

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Dragon Ape, but it did not immediately attack again. The Dragon Ape pulled its hammer from the ground with a loud thud, shaking off the debris, while Wu Di stopped his retreat and stood steadily. Both sides made slight adjustments.

The scene grew momentarily quiet, with Wu Di's chest heaving and his heart pounding wildly. He could even hear the gushing of his blood within his body!

The previous fight had been too easy, barely giving him a sense of battle. In recent days, he had felt confident, doubted himself, and questioned whether he was truly strong or if the Magic Fist Burst was simply too weak. But now...

He could withstand the 103rd-ranked Ape Bao in the Dragon City, and also the terrifying three-meter-tall Dragon Ape! The captain was right; he shouldn't pay attention to rumors. His sparring partner was Mo Tong, and the invincible Hei Wukai. It wasn't that the Magic Fist Burst was too weak; it was that he was continuously growing stronger!

The human mind is a wondrous thing. When you get stuck in a rut, you might spend years trying to break free, but once you do, the path ahead becomes clear and bright.

Sigh...

Wu Di took a deep breath, and all his excitement, anxiety, worry, and self-doubt vanished in an instant.

His chest no longer rose and fell, and even his breath and eyes underwent subtle changes, becoming composed and steady, as if he had gained true confidence!

The arena that had just been filled with the cries of those boasting to instantly kill the beastman suddenly fell silent. Although this brief exchange did not mean much, being able to withstand the heavy hammer of Ape Rampage and then take the powerful strike from the Dragon Ape with nothing but his bare flesh, without suffering any disadvantage or injury, this...

This strength, this defense—could this really be just an unawakened, soulless beastman? Is this guy some kind of humanoid ferocious beast that grew up deep in the Vern Magic Forest?

He can really fight? That Ape Rampage isn't so impressive either!

Kela and the others did not show much joy; their opponent's strength was far from exhausted. Even at the same level of Tiger Peak, once the skills were on par, Wu Di's weaknesses became glaringly obvious.

Wang Feng still looked relaxed, occasionally teasing Mapeier, "Little Sister, what do you usually eat? Why is your figure so good?"

Mapeier blushed, lightly biting her lip, "It's natural."

Beside her, Winnie struggled to resist the urge to strangle Wang Feng. This guy has become even more outrageous since returning from the Dragon City.

A cold smile flickered at the corner of Ape Rampage's mouth. Being able to withstand his and the Dragon Ape's heavy blows, this beastman was stronger than expected, but it ended there.

"Still a waste," he said coldly.

Bang!

Dust flew as Ape Rampage and the Dragon Ape shot out from their positions, one to the left and one to the right.

Wu Di's gaze was sharp, his ears twitched, and all his senses were heightened. He could clearly judge that the speed of the opponents had not increased at all, and even Ape Rampage's movements seemed slightly slower than before... But what about the Spirit Beast, the Dragon Ape?

He couldn't see it, hear it, or even sense it with the most acute natural perception of a beastman.

That giant Spirit Beast, over three meters tall, had suddenly vanished from the arena, leaving not a trace behind!

The heavy hammer of the left-sided Ape Rampage had already swung down. Wu Di didn't have time to think; he intercepted with a powerful punch. However, just as his fist barely blocked the hammer, the vanished giant hammer of the Dragon Ape unexpectedly struck his back.

Boom!

Wu Di staggered to the left, his back feeling as if it were cracking, and his chest filled with surging blood. Before he could recover, the attack from the left-sided Ape Rampage followed, smashing into his face.

Wu Di's head exploded with a buzz, feeling dizzy and disoriented. He forced himself to react, delivering a straight punch with his right hand toward the position where the hammer was coming from, trying to force the Ape Rampage back. But he could handle the threat in front while failing to defend against the one behind.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The attacks from the Dragon Ape disrupted Wu Di's defensive center. The two beasts attacked him from both sides, a series of hammers striking like punches on a punching bag. The four differently sized black gold hammers made Wu Di's head spin and his steps falter, swaying back and forth.

Fortunately, the muscles forged by Hei Wukai and the others provided excellent defense. Despite the consecutive heavy blows, leaving bruises all over his body, he gritted his teeth and managed to hold on.

At this moment, their coordinated attacks were seamless. Wu Di ran frantically left and right, trying to disrupt the formation of the two attackers, but whether it was the Ape Rampage or the Dragon Ape, their speed was clearly faster than his. No matter where Wu Di ran, the two figures stayed close like leeches, attacking relentlessly.

He could handle the attacks from the Ape Rampage, but the invisible Dragon Ape always hit him effortlessly.

He must find a way to see the Dragon Ape!

In a flash, Wu Di forcibly changed direction. To his surprise, he easily spotted the movement of the Spirit Beast Dragon Ape charging forward. It seemed the creature had never truly disappeared.

But then came the collapse. Wu Di saw the Dragon Ape but suddenly lost track of the Ape Rampage... He finally realized that it wasn't that one of his opponents had disappeared; rather, he simply couldn't keep track of both of them at the same time.

"Old Wang, you fool, this kind of opponent is too early for Wu Di!" Winnie said angrily. "And can you act more like a captain? Anyone would think you're here on vacation!"

When a typical Spirit Beast Master and their Spirit Beast work together, achieving consistent attack frequency is already quite challenging, enough to keep the opponent busy. But it's far from creating a 'blind spot' for a flanking attack.

After all, even if an opponent can't see all directions at once, attacks aren't silent. There's still hearing, smell, and spiritual perception to help judge the opponent's position. These natural senses usually allow for a rough estimate of the opponent's location, which is a basic combat awareness. For someone with the heightened senses of a beastman, this is even less of a challenge.

But at this moment, the movements of Ape Fury and Dragon Ape were not only perfectly synchronized, but even their auras, soul power frequencies, and breathing rhythms were in complete harmony. Coupled with their soul connection, despite being two separate entities, they could create an illusion of being just one person, making it easy to overlook one when seeing the other!

This was not a matter of visual perception but a wondrous resonance that could bewilder. Even if Ape Fury and his Spirit Beast appeared right in front of Wu Di, he would likely only 'see' one movement in a fleeting moment.

It was a highly advanced technique for a Spirit Beast Master, equivalent to the level of man-sword unity among martial artists. It might not be the strongest technique among Spirit Beast Masters, but it was certainly the most difficult to master, requiring unique talent! For instance, Winnie had struggled to learn it, as her fighting style actually differed quite a bit from Jiaobaba’s...

Wang Feng gave a lazy glance, "Stay calm. As the captain, I trust my teammates the most. I give you all my full trust!"

However, on the arena floor, Wu Di barely managed to block Dragon Ape's heavy hammer strike, only to have his defenses breached by Ape Fury. His center of gravity lost, he was hit repeatedly from front and back.

He couldn't block, nor could he withstand it!

Wu Di's resilience was truly monstrous, but no matter how monstrous, he couldn't indefinitely endure such heavy blows.

His movements grew increasingly disordered, his feet unsteady, his blood surging, and he suddenly coughed up large mouthfuls of blood.

Yet the terrifying hammering continued in a rhythmic pattern, like the beating of war drums. The 'thud-thud-thud-thud' of heavy strikes echoed continuously on the field, causing Kela and others in the stands to feel their hearts race, while the disciples of the Beast Holy Sanctuary cheered wildly.

"Long-haired freak! Our vice-captain was just letting you off, and you really think you're something now!"

"Furry is furry! Put on some clothes and think you’re human? What a huge joke!"

"You filthy, despicable creatures dare to call yourselves warriors and stand on the battlefield of our Beast Holy Sanctuary? Long-haired beasts will always only deserve to kneel before humans and drink foot-washing water!"

The illusion of 'equal strength' during the previous round of combat seemed to have deeply agitated the disciples of the Beast Holy Sanctuary. The more suppressed they felt earlier, the more frenzied they became now, hurling various filthy remarks from the stands, completely devoid of the dignity expected of a Holy Sanctuary disciple.

Long hair, the most significant difference between beastfolk and humans, has long been seen as a symbol of inferiority and incomplete evolution, and has even been maliciously interpreted by many humans as the result of beastfolk interbreeding with pigs and dogs. Thus, for the beastfolk, these words were the most sensitive and discriminatory. Not only did Wu Di, who was at the center of the ridicule, feel the sting, but even Kela, standing by the side, couldn’t help but turn pale and clench her fists.

Wu Di was in excruciating pain, feeling his defenses about to completely collapse. He heard every word of the filthy and discriminatory insults from the stands clearly. Once, he didn’t care much about such words, but that was because he had accepted his low status. After the surge of confidence following his victory, he had unknowingly begun to develop a sense of dignity, albeit a small and insignificant one.

Defeat him, only by defeating him can those harsh voices be silenced!

Strategies? Wu Di had none of that; he only had instinct. He must first evade the simultaneous attacks from both sides. As long as the opponent's attacks were no longer synchronized, whether in strength or speed, he was not afraid.

He had tried all possible routes to dodge—forward, backward, left, and right. Suddenly, Wu Di stopped his frantic movements, covering his head with his hands to withstand two heavy blows while simultaneously coiling his legs for a powerful leap.

Wu Di roared, concentrating all his strength on his back, which was bearing the heavy strikes. Astonishingly, he managed to push away the descending hammer of the Dragon Ape and forcefully soar into the air.

Bang! Bang!

The two figures below also pursued him, but due to the difference in the force of their leaps, the Spirit Beast Dragon Ape clearly jumped higher, disrupting their synchronized attack.

Wu Di felt the two overlapping figures suddenly separate, sensing their presence distinctly. Overjoyed, he took the initiative in mid-air, gathering all his strength and kicking out with his legs towards the closer target, the raging ape!

But in the next second, the rising speed of the raging ape suddenly increased, as if it had taken flight, causing Wu Di's attack to miss entirely.

It was the Spirit Beast Dragon Ape, higher up, whose feet promptly hooked under the armpits of the raging ape. Its massive body performed a sudden flip in the air, pulling the raging ape upwards.

Now connected at the feet and shoulders, they moved as one, executing a 360-degree spin in the air.

Spirit power, kinetic energy, and physical strength, all three forces converged in an instant, focusing entirely on the two hammer-sized fists of the raging ape.

The hammers were suddenly released, resembling two meteors falling from the sky. The tips emitted a buzzing white shockwave, and the intense friction with the air produced a trail of sparks as they charged directly at Wu Di, who had just missed his attack.

Rushing Ape Meteor Hammers!

Boom!

This was an incredibly terrifying strike. The impact was so fast that Wu Di had no chance to dodge, nor even to clearly see what the attack looked like before it struck his chest like a thunderbolt.

The formidable force felt even greater than the punches of Mo Tong and Hei Wukai during training, after all, those two wouldn't have used lethal force during practice. To make it easier to read next time, you can click "Favorite" below to record your reading progress (Chapter 383: A Trivial Dignity). Next time you open your bookshelf, you will see it!

If you enjoy "Nine Heavens," please recommend this book to your friends via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc., thank you for your support!!