On the other side, Fang Yuan kept cursing, and the old man's fury burned hotter with each word. He thought, "The Little Beast King may be formidable, but he only managed to kill Tie Baxiu because of his aerial advantage. He's so young—he hasn't lived long enough to know anything. If I just focus on defense and don't get greedy for glory, I won't be in any real danger."
In front of such a large crowd, Old Hundred Years had to maintain his reputation no matter what. If he refused to fight, all the prestige he had built over years of careful cultivation would crumble in an instant.
"If it really becomes too much, I'll just retreat back into the cave. With so many people here at this banquet, surely even Fang Yuan wouldn't dare to follow me inside. What's truly infuriating is that these people were all talking big just moments ago, but when it comes down to the critical moment, not a single one is worth relying on!"
Old Hundred Years shot a furious glare at his so-called sons and daughters, his heart burning with both anger and disappointment.
Come to think of it, among all the children he had taken in, only Xue Sansi had any real cultivation and promise—and she had been killed by Fang Yuan.
"Little Beast King, you're far too arrogant! Today this old man will teach you that the old and cunning are still the best!" Old Hundred Years strode out of the cave, locking eyes with Fang Yuan as he roared with barely contained fury.
His appearance was that of a child, yet his tone was weathered and ancient—it made for an incredibly bizarre contrast.
"Less talk, more action—take this!" Fang Yuan sneered the moment Old Hundred Years emerged, then charged forward in a blur of steps, like a tiger descending the mountain, trailing a storm of blood and wind as he pounced directly at his opponent.
All-Out Gu!
In an instant, a beast shadow soared upward and Fang Yuan's strength surged.
Boom, boom, boom...
A series of heavy, muffled impacts rang out in rapid succession.
Outside the cave, the two strength-type Gu Masters' figures twisted together in fierce combat. Both fought at close range, trading brutal blows, each fist sinking into flesh.
After a short exchange, the two had already moved a hundred paces from where they started. Everywhere they clashed, rocks exploded, trees toppled, and dust mingled with shredded leaves in the air.
The Gu Masters at the banquet had long since poured out of the cave to watch the fight from the sidelines.
Hardship Gu!
Fang Yuan abandoned all defense—the worse his injuries, the greater the power he could unleash.
Moo!
Suddenly, a deep bovine roar echoed through the air. Hovering above him was the towering phantom of a massive blue ox.
The phantom ox was enormous—twice the size of an elephant—with a high, thick, sturdy hump of a back, covered in patches of green moss.
This was the mythical beast Kunlun Ox—a creature on par with the Biao, the Dragon Elephant, the Thunder Pig, and the Rock Crocodile!
Fang Yuan drove the Kunlun Ox's power forward in a devastating strike.
The blow was immensely heavy, shattering the air with a thunderous howling wind.
Old Hundred Years, caught completely off guard, was sent flying. His tiny body tumbled like a ball, crashing through more than a dozen tall trees before finally coming to a stop.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes locking onto Fang Yuan with savage hatred.
So it was Kunlun Ox power—the Little Beast King had grown even stronger!
"Old Hundred Years, I killed your adopted daughter Xue Sansi. Weren't you itching for revenge? Today I'll give you that chance." Fang Yuan grinned mockingly and charged again.
"Little Beast King, you're too arrogant! Watch this!" Old Hundred Years' face flushed crimson with rage, his eyebrows bristling upward.
He caught Fang Yuan's attack and launched a counteroffensive.
After all, Old Hundred Years was a demonic path figure who had lived nearly two hundred years. He had a few tricks up his sleeve, and he was still hiding many trump cards.
When he truly unleashed his full power, Fang Yuan felt the pressure mounting, on the verge of being pushed onto the back foot.
Power Gu!
Suddenly, Fang Yuan's shoulder twitched, shaking loose a surge of power.
The Thunder Pig phantom fused with the power, instantly solidifying into reality and charging toward Old Hundred Years.
Old Hundred Years was forced to dodge the brunt of the attack. Fang Yuan followed right behind the Thunder Pig, unleashing a barrage of fierce blows. The counteroffensive that Old Hundred Years had been building dissipated like smoke in the wind.
Fang Yuan's combat experience was growing richer by the day, and his use of this set of Gu became more refined with every battle.
Before, he hadn't been able to use Power Gu while fighting at close range simultaneously. But now, after dozens of engagements, he had learned to coordinate his own movements with the beast shadows in tactical tandem.
The Thunder Pig charged with brute, reckless force, smashing through boulders and mountains alike. The Rock Crocodile was hard and unyielding, its tail lashing like a steel whip, its jaws grinding like a saw, radiating a savage ferocity. The Kunlun Ox was valiant and fierce, its horns skewering in all directions, its back as solid as a mountainside... Once these three mythical beast shadows were summoned, Old Hundred Years would be left scrambling in a desperate panic.
The solidification of beast shadows was a tremendous threat to Old Hundred Years. Yet even destroying one was merely dispersing a single surge of power.
The next time Fang Yuan activated Power Gu, the beast shadow would reappear, as vigorous and lively as before.
"Thank heavens these three great mythical beast shadows of the Little Beast King's can only be brought out by luck. His All-Out Gu is only at the Third Transformation—he can't yet freely summon these beast shadows!"
Old Hundred Years was being driven relentlessly into a disadvantageous position by Fang Yuan, yet he found some comfort in this thought.
Though Fang Yuan had upgraded the Mountain Pig, Crocodile, and Blue Ox shadows into the Thunder Pig, Rock Crocodile, and Kunlun Ox—three great mythical beast shadows—boosting his overall combat power, there was also a drawback.
His All-Out Gu was still only at the Third Transformation. He couldn't yet freely invoke these three Fourth Transformation beast shadows at will.
Unless Fang Yuan obtained the Hundred Battles Gu from the Monarch of Perseverance's inheritance and upgraded his All-Out Gu to the Fourth Transformation.
"Master's situation is getting worse by the minute. Should we step in?"