Chapter 1004: Big Cat Enters the Arena
The match Tang San was most concerned about was, without a doubt, Big Cat's. It was the only one that truly made him anxious. Big Cat had only recently advanced to the eleventh order, and much of his cultivation had been forcefully boosted using vast resources provided by the Golden Lion clan. Although Big Cat had an extremely rich battle experience, he was still a newly ascended Great Demon King. Meanwhile, nearly all contestants in this tournament were the cream of the crop among their own clans and they were at the peak of the eleventh order. Could he survive the eliminations?
Big Cat had clearly drawn a late match. The battles had gone on from morning until evening before the tournament finally neared its end, and it wasn't until the fortieth match that Tang San finally saw Big Cat step onto the stage.
Had he not been waiting for Big Cat, he would've already left after his own match. The next round required another drawing of lots anyway, so no one could predict their future opponent.
When Big Cat stepped onto the stage, he was clad in light golden armor. His powerful frame stood nearly three meters tall, and he had the God-Slaying Sword in hand. His entire being radiated explosive force. With each step, his aura shifted and grew, the killing intent around him so sharp it seemed to warp the very air.
Feeling Big Cat's presence, Tang San's gaze eased slightly.
He didn't know what Big Cat had gone through this past year, but compared to the Ancestral Court's Elite Competition one year prior, Big Cat had practically been reborn. In fact, his growth was nearly on par with Mei Gongzi's. The Golden Lion clan had obviously gone all-in, and this explosive growth was no doubt a result of funneling immense resources into him.
As kings of the prairie, the lion race always claimed to be among the strongest. But they had never produced an Emperor and had long been suppressed by the tiger race.
With Tang San's help, Big Cat's bloodline evolved into a first-tier one, giving the lion race hope. Before the tiger race could make a move to recruit him, they pounced on him, and they did so with full dedication. Over the following year, they poured everything into Big Cat; they even went as far as to merge the Lion-Tiger clan into the lion race and bestow upon them an exalted status.
Big Cat did not disappoint. With extraordinary talent and unshakeable willpower, he made even the Golden Lion King acknowledge him as an unprecedented asset for the entire race. For Big Cat, battle was as natural as breathing. His everyday life consisted of fighting, eating, sleeping, and then waking up to fight some more.
Golden Lion powerhouses took turns sparring with him. Even while he was still at the tenth order, he was already challenging eleventh-order opponents. His frenzied fighting style ignited a firestorm within the Golden Lion clan. Nearly every lion who sparred with him felt deeply inspired, and their own combat power and resolve grew exponentially. After a year, Big Cat had gained the informal title of "chief instructor" within the Golden Lion clan.