Previously, Li Cunxu wasn't interested in the seed gourds, but since he collected both the Yellow Seed Gourd and the Green Seed Gourd, he started to have a bit of an idea.

Winning the Golden Tournament's championship would earn him the Red Seed Gourd.

If he could also get the Blue Seed Gourd from the Ice Flame White Dragon King's treasure, he would have collected four seed gourds, leaving only the Orange Seed, Green Seed, and Purple Seed Gourds to collect.

Gathering all seven seed gourds might possibly recreate the legendary Emperor's Artifact: Seven-seed Gourd.

There are only 49 of these artifacts in the world. In his past life, after playing a game for forty years and reaching maximum level, he only managed to collect two of them despite his formidable power.

The referee noticed Li Cunxu was somewhat distracted and used a telepathic method to remind him.

Upon being reminded, Li Cunxu came back to his senses.

"Both parties, please summon your respective pet beasts."

Across from him, Xue Baiwu summoned a pet beast, a big cat with snowy white fur and a sleek body.

Fast Snow Leopard.

A pet beast unique to the area around Ice City, their tribe's innate ability is fixed as [Snow Affinity (Blue)].

The 'Affection' in Snow Affinity means a liking or appetite for snow.

Snow Affinity: Eating a mouthful of snow, spurs one's fighting spirit, allowing them to run faster.

Li Cunxu summoned his pet beast for the battle, the Flame White Horse.

Seeing the appearance of the Flame White Horse, many in the audience felt it looked familiar, but couldn't immediately recall where they'd seen it.

Some audience members remembered where they had seen it.

"Isn't that the horse that frequently runs along the peripheral roads of Golden City?"

"It's it, no wonder it seemed familiar."

To reach the gold level, the Flame White Horse had been running around the city to grow stronger, and hence many attendees at the Golden City games had seen it.

"So it's Li Cunxu's pet beast."

"Whoa! It advanced so fast. Just a few days ago, I saw it was only in the silver level, and today it's reached gold."

"Excellent, I've finally found its owner, I want to buy it."

A hardcore Horse Fanatic excitedly shouted like a madman.

Ever since catching a glimpse of the running Flame White Horse on the roadside, its majestic appearance was etched deeply into this Horse Fanatic's mind, making him toss and turn, sleepless at night, dreaming of the Flame White Horse even in his sleep.

Thus, this Horse Fanatic resolved to purchase the horse.

He inquired with the Golden Guard, hoping they would help investigate whose pet beast it was, but the Golden Guard sternly refused and warned him not to cause trouble within Golden City.

The Horse Fanatic wanted to follow the Flame White Horse home to find its owner, but it ran so fast that he couldn't keep up.

His eyes, shining with desire, locked onto Li Cunxu, the master of the Flame White Horse, intending to approach him to buy the horse after the match ended.

Li Cunxu felt a chilling gaze and glanced over, not noticing anything unusual.

...

Xue Baiwu gazed at the figure of the Flame White Horse, a flicker of surprise crossing her cold eyes.

Why isn't it the Blood Lotus Flame Flood Dragon? Her dragon-slaying weapon had been prepared in vain.

"The battle starts."

The referee commanded.

Xue Baiwu's cool voice resounded.

"Fast Snow Leopard, Frozen Land, Snowy Day."

Frozen Land locks the chill on the field, preventing it from dissipating, bolstering Ice Spiritual Energy while weakening fire-type Spiritual Energy.

Clouds gathered, forming a thick layer, releasing large, feather-like snowflakes.

Li Cunxu said, "Flame White Horse, Aurora's Swift Hoof Kick."

The Flame White Horse began running, getting faster and faster, until it left afterimages trailing behind.

The Flame White Horse charged at the Fast Snow Leopard, lifting its front legs before slamming down mightily.

The big cat, Fast Snow Leopard, was stunned — how could it be this fast? It, too, was a speed-type pet beast yet hadn't anticipated this attack.

The Flame White Horse kicked the Fast Snow Leopard squarely in the face, sending it hurtling, though the Fast Snow Leopard managed to evade crashing into the perimeter wall using its skill [Force Disperse], diminishing the impact by half, merely tumbling several times.

Force Disperse is a martial skill, yet many flexible-bodied pet beasts learn it even across attributes because it truly is practical in combat.

The Fast Snow Leopard rolled a few times, barely stabilizing itself when the Flame White Horse launched another attack, this time a stronger hind-leg kick.

Xue Baiwu quickly shouted, "Fast Snow Leopard, Snow Shattering Step."

Snow Shattering Step allows for an instantaneous burst, akin to a sudden avalanche.

Xue Baiwu's reaction was correct, but her voice was too slow.

The Fast Snow Leopard was kicked before hearing her command.

It wasn't Xue Baiwu's slow voice to blame, but rather the Flame White Horse's incredible speed.

The Fast Snow Leopard was kicked into the air, spinning around and about to land safely, when the Flame White Horse's hind-leg kick came once more.

The Fast Snow Leopard raised an Ice and Snow Protection Shield, which was shattered in one strike, yet this gave the Fast Snow Leopard time to twist mid-air, avoiding the hind-leg kick.

The Fast Snow Leopard landed and rapidly used Snow Shattering Step to vacate its previous location. Sure enough, the Flame White Horse's front hooves pounded down, leaving spider-cracked hoof prints on the ground.

The Fast Snow Leopard ran; the Flame White Horse chased.

It ran.

It chased.

It was kicked.

The one being kicked, of course, was the Fast Snow Leopard, even using Snow Shattering Step couldn't shake off the Flame White Horse.

Whenever the Fast Snow Leopard tried to counterattack with a skill, the Flame White Horse's front leg would unerringly kick, interrupting the skill.

The Fast Snow Leopard felt aggrieved, as a speed-type pet beast, being mercilessly outpaced by one seemingly of a lower level, was a first.

Fast Snow Leopard, Gold 9.

Flame White Horse, Gold 1.

In the chase, Fast Snow Leopard discarded the dragon-slaying weapon [Ice Claw], slightly impedimental to its speed.

Ice Claw, dealing ice damage, slows the injured target. If injured is of the Dragon Race, the damage and slow effects multiply.

The sky's snow fell slowly, but after an intense chase, eventually, it drifted down.

Fast Snow Leopard, seeing the falling snow, eyes sparkled, its time to turn the tables had come, opening its mouth, catching a mouthful.

[Snow Affinity] talent activated.

Seeing the Fast Snow Leopard swallow snow, an audience member declared Fast Snow Leopard the victor.

"No need to watch, Fast Snow Leopard has won. After swallowing snow, its speed surges; among all golden-level pet beasts, few can rival its speed."

Xue Baiwu thought the same, as did her pet, Fast Snow Leopard.

"My turn has come. I'll repay those dozen kicks received back to it."

Fast Snow Leopard thought angrily, but the rapidly enlarging hoof ahead shattered its hopes against cold reality.

"Damn it, who taught this horse to keep aiming for the face?"

Li Cunxu, helpless, explained it wasn't his doing; it was the little white spider after reading "The Art of Devious Beast Battle," who taught the Flame White Horse.

The book argued that face-kicking would enrage foes; if one encountered an easily angered opponent, fury would likely cloud their judgment and dull their senses.

An infuriated, bewildered enemy was definitely easier to handle than a clear-headed one.

Fast Snow Leopard, with a rapid speed boost, readied to turn the tables, but… but… it couldn't catch up to the Flame White Horse.

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