Chapter 362: Willingly Taking a Beating The Blue Eagle Beast

"How dare you!" Envoy Ran Mu's face darkened when he heard the other person directly claim his prince was mentally ill. "Our prince is in perfect health! What nonsense are you spouting?"

"In perfect health?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled. "Then... are *you* ill?" His Majesty Mo Tianxue had specifically invited him to examine a patient, so someone must be ill. His Majesty and Mo Yu had only just met yesterday, so it couldn't be them. That left only these two in the hall – if not them, then who?

"You..." Envoy Ran Mu was so enraged he nearly spat blood. His face flushed, and he flung his sleeve, turning to face the throne. "Your Majesty Tianxue, is this how your Tianwu Kingdom treats its guests? Our Prince, though not the Crown Prince, holds a high position and significant power, having been personally appointed a Prince by His Majesty. Are you sending someone to casually humiliate him, perhaps to provoke our Kunqian Kingdom?"

"Envoy Ran Mu, please don't be angry..." Mo Tianxue hadn't expected Teacher Liu to speak so directly. His face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he quickly explained, "Teacher Liu was specifically invited by me to treat an illness. He doesn't recognize either of you, which is why he unintentionally offended you. Please forgive him!" After speaking, he quickly looked at Zhang Xuan. "Teacher Liu, these two are guests of the kingdom, not patients..."

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan nodded, glancing at Prince Fei Xuan, puzzled. *If he's not a patient, why is he speaking so incoherently? It seems this so-called Kunqian Kingdom isn't much to speak of, to actually let someone with a problematic mind become a prince...*

Seeing his gaze, Prince Fei Xuan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot. *What was that look supposed to mean? A look full of pity? I am a dignified prince, second only to one and above thousands, an idol worshipped by countless people. Do I need your pity?*

He was so angry he was about to explode. To one side, Princess Mo Yu's eyes widened, and she nearly burst out laughing. *No wonder this guy could make her so angry; his ability to provoke was simply too potent. Just two sentences had made the usually composed Prince Fei Xuan's eyes bloodshot with rage, wanting to kill—it was truly astonishing.* She had initially held some reservations about this fellow, but seeing how quickly he enraged Prince Fei Xuan, she nodded in satisfaction.

Suppressing his explosive anger, Prince Fei Xuan glared coldly. "If you're afraid to compete, just say so directly. Stop making excuses!" Having lost face in front of the princess and then being ridiculed by this guy, he was already seething with fury.

"Compete? Compete in what?" Zhang Xuan was somewhat frustrated, seeing this guy insisted on challenging him the moment he arrived. *I'm here to treat a patient, you're here to propose marriage. What does that have to do with me? Why do you insist on competing?*

"It's simple. Princess Mo Yu just said herself that for her to accept the proposal, one must first defeat her spirit beast. If you can defeat it, I'll admit defeat! Do you dare to compete?" Prince Fei Xuan gave a cold laugh and flicked his sleeve. He had just lost so much face in front of that Green Eagle Beast; now that this guy was walking into it, he certainly wouldn't let him off easy. *The rule was set by Princess Mo Yu anyway. If you can't pass it either, let's see how Mo Tianxue responds later.*

As for Zhang Xuan being able to pass, he hadn't even considered it. *He, a dignified Tongxuan realm pinnacle expert, had been defeated by this spirit beast in two moves. How could this guy, only at the early stage of Tongxuan realm, possibly withstand a Half-Zongshi level attack?*

"Defeat the spirit beast?" Zhang Xuan turned his head and looked. Only then did he notice Mo Yu's Green Eagle Beast. He had changed his appearance and aura, so even sensitive spirit beasts wouldn't recognize him.

"Indeed. If you don't dare, I advise you not to keep bothering Princess Mo Yu. She has no interest in cowards like you!" Prince Fei Xuan's lips curled into a smirk.

"Well..." He was about to ignore this self-important guy and leave after treating the patient. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and his eyes lit up. *He's a prince, isn't he? He should... also have spirit stones, right?* Thinking this, he no longer seemed so annoying; instead, he looked like a pile of treasure. "Defeating this spirit beast is nothing to me, but... since you want to compete, shouldn't there be a stake?"

"A stake?" Prince Fei Xuan was taken aback. *Wasn't the loser losing the right to pursue Princess Mo Yu already a stake?*

"How about this? For us cultivators, spirit stones are quite important. If I can defeat this spirit beast, you lose one spirit stone to me! If I fail, I'll lose one to you. Do you dare?" Zhang Xuan's lips curled into a smile as he looked over.

"A spirit stone?" Prince Fei Xuan's pupils contracted. This item was incredibly precious; even as a prince, he only possessed one, which his father had specially bestowed upon him to help him reach the Half-Zongshi realm. He hadn't dared to use it yet, as his cultivation wasn't sufficient. *Use that as a stake?*

"What, are you scared? If you are, never mind. I'm not really interested in dealing with some spirit beast anyway!" Zhang Xuan stretched, wearing an expression that practically invited a punch.

"You... What do I have to be afraid of!" Seeing his demeanor, Prince Fei Xuan could no longer hold back. He waved his hand, "A bet it is!"

"Your Highness..." Envoy Ran Mu couldn't help but try to dissuade him. Spirit stones were extremely rare, even for the royal family of the Kunqian Kingdom. As a prince, Fei Xuan was only eligible to be granted one, and using it as a stake was simply too much.

"Don't worry, he's just bluffing. I don't believe a mere early-stage Tongxuan realm cultivator can defeat a Half-Zongshi level spirit beast!" Prince Fei Xuan scoffed. The gap between cultivation levels was vast, especially for a Half-Zongshi, who had already grasped the "Zongshi" aura. Typically, four or five pinnacle Tongxuan realm experts couldn't defeat a single Half-Zongshi, let alone a mere early-stage cultivator. If they truly fought, he would undoubtedly be instantly killed. *This Teacher Liu deliberately made the bet simply to intimidate him.*

With a flick of his wrist, a jade box appeared. Upon opening it, a translucent stone lay inside, radiating rich spiritual energy. A spirit stone! "My spirit stone is here. May I ask where yours is?" Holding the spirit stone in his palm, Prince Fei Xuan looked at Zhang Xuan.

"Mine? Of course, I have one. If I lose, I'll definitely give it to you!" Zhang Xuan said, "If you don't believe me, you can ask His Majesty!" *His spirit stone had already been absorbed into powder, so he naturally couldn't produce it. However, if he said he didn't have one, the other party might get scared and back out of the bet.*

"Teacher Liu does indeed have one. It was a gift I presented yesterday!" Although he found it strange where Teacher Liu's confidence came from, Mo Tianxue hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Alright!" Prince Fei Xuan waved his hand, "Then please proceed! Princess Mo Yu, I hope you won't make your spirit beast go easy on him. Otherwise, don't blame me for not following the rules you previously set!" He deliberately challenged Zhang Xuan, first, to humiliate him, and second, to see Princess Mo Yu's reaction. *If he loses too, I'd like to see how you still arrange things internally, or how you still favor him...*

Princess Mo Yu's delicate brows furrowed, and she couldn't help but speak. "Teacher Liu, please think carefully. My Green Eagle Beast has reached the Half-Zongshi level!" If a Half-Zongshi level Green Eagle Beast truly attacked, he, with only early-stage Tongxuan realm cultivation, would definitely be unable to withstand it. *Her father intended for them to forge a good relationship, but if he got injured by her spirit beast before they could establish one, it would be difficult to improve their relationship later.*

She'd been better off not saying anything. The moment she spoke, Prince Fei Xuan on the side nearly exploded with rage. *When I was to compete with this guy, you readily agreed and were as excited as anything, but when it's him, you immediately hesitate? What does that mean?*

"I've already accepted the bet. Backing out now means I lose. Princess Mo Yu surely doesn't want Teacher Liu to be utterly defeated before the competition even begins, does she?" Prince Fei Xuan scoffed.

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess. Half-Zongshi is Half-Zongshi!" Zhang Xuan nodded to Mo Yu, then looked at Prince Fei Xuan. "I will fight this Green Eagle Beast, but I'd like to ask in advance, what constitutes a defeat?"

"Defeat means making the Green Eagle Beast unwilling to fight you..." Prince Fei Xuan clasped his hands behind his back.

"Then I understand!" Zhang Xuan nodded. He beckoned the Green Eagle Beast not far away with a finger. "You, come over here. Let me give you a beating until you don't dare to resist!"

"Cough, cough!" Upon hearing this, not only Princess Mo Yu, but even His Majesty Mo Tianxue on the throne swayed, nearly fainting. Spirit beasts were inherently violent, and nothing enraged them more than provocation. *You beckoned with your finger and spoke so arrogantly... Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by a single flap of its wing?*

"He's seeking death..." Prince Fei Xuan had initially worried that this guy might use some trickery, but hearing such provocative words, his eyes immediately lit up with excitement. *He himself, without even provoking it, had almost been beaten to death on the spot. What was this if not seeking death? It was foreseeable that the Green Eagle Beast would immediately go berserk and smash this guy's head to a pulp.*

"Chirp!" Sure enough, as soon as this thought ended, the Green Eagle Beast's eyes immediately turned red, and it let out a long cry that echoed through the heavens. Its massive wings flapped, and it immediately shot out from behind Mo Yu.

"Watch out..." Having been with this Green Eagle Beast for so long, this was only the second time she had seen it so enraged. The first time was in the Beast Hall, provoked by Master Zhang. *But Master Zhang possessed true strength. This guy, only at the early stage of Tongxuan realm, what was he trying to pull? If he were truly smacked to death by a single wing, wouldn't the Physician Guild cause a huge fuss?*

She was just wondering whether to scold the Green Eagle Beast and tell it to hold back its claws. Immediately, her eyes widened, her delicate body swayed, and she nearly fainted. Even Prince Fei Xuan, who was beaming with pride and certain that the guy in front of him would die, felt his vision go dark.

They watched as the furious Green Eagle Beast, with wings spread, flew to Teacher Liu. It used its beak to pull his fist, repeatedly guiding it towards its own body. *It looked like it was actively asking the young man to hit it... Weren't you just insulted by him, furiously wanting to kill him? Weren't you unwilling to let it go? What on earth is going on?*

What was even more baffling was that seeing the other party clench his fist, it immediately stopped moving, spread its wings, and stood perfectly still, neither resisting nor dodging. Instead, its eyes revealed an expectant, eager look. *Clearly, it was waiting to be beaten... It was insulted, yet it wasn't fighting back, but rather, it was expectant and eager...* Prince Fei Xuan felt a mouthful of fresh blood churning in his throat, ready to spurt out at any moment. "Can anyone tell me what just happened?"