The differences between Beasts and human become even more obvious as they raise their cultivation level. While human cultivators often end up learning various Martial Arts and techniques Mana Beasts simply rely upon their inborn abilities and powerful physical bodies. However, both Sage Beasts and Divine beasts are different. In fact, some of the most powerful Martial Arts originally created by Divine Beasts who have the abilities of both humans and beasts and later modified so that humans could use them. Interestingly enough, both Divine and Sage Beasts actually get along with humans quite well if given the chance. Even though Mana Beasts in the wild are almost always aggressive towards humans.

Excerpt from Telram’s notes on Divine Beasts.

By the time Telram woke up it was well and truly night-time. Gerry had been waiting patiently beside the hotel room bed where he had been sleeping since they had brought him there and immediately asked him how he felt.

“I feel good,” Telram said after running through a quick mental checklist and stretching slightly. “My Mana Core is literally overflowing though.”

“I’m not surprised,” Gerry nodded. “When you had your Martial Breakthrough a massive funnel of Mana appeared over your head and you absorbed it all.”

“Oh, that was a Martial Breakthrough then?” Telram asked. Gerry had mentioned Martial Breakthroughs in passing a couple of times but had never really gone into detail about them.

“That’s right,” Gerry nodded. “So, what was it like?”

“Honestly, it was weird,” Telram replied thoughtfully. “While I was in the trance, I knew what was happening in the real world but all I could see was the beach that I was sitting on.”

“A beach?” Gerry asked in confusion. While Gerry did know what a beach was, he had never seen one of himself because of the sheer size the continent that the Human Lands were on which was many times larger than any continent back on Earth had ever been. As such he was at somewhat of a loss as to why Telram was so certain that was what he had seen. In the end the old man just decided to chalk this up to Telram’s usual oddness and move onto the next question. “Alright, if you say so. Anything else that stuck out to you?”

“Not really,” Telram shrugged like they weren’t talking about him experiencing something which, to Gerry’s knowledge hadn’t even been so much as seen in over a century. “I have a perfect memory of how the fight went in spite of the fact that I wasn’t even in control of my body at the time but other than that it just felt like I was having a dream of sitting on the beach watching the waves come in.”

“Well it was definitely more impressive from where we were sitting then,” Gerry sighed. “That new martial art of yours seems to be quite powerful too.”

“I think I’m going to call it the Crashing Waves Fist,” Telram mused.

“Crashing Waves Fist huh?” Gerry chuckled. “I guess that I should ask how you even came up with the idea for that as well.”

“Yeah, it was pretty odd actually,” Telram snorted. “While I was fighting, I started thinking about how to improve my counters since that was the only way I could think of that would allow me to deal any real damage to Joavin without using my Mana Claws technique which would have run the risk of actually killing him. I tried a few different things but, in the end, the only thing that really seemed to be working was using his own strength to knock me back slightly and then sort of spring back up and hit him. Then I started to think about how these movements reminded me of waves and well you know what happened after that.”

“I see,” Gerry sighed. “For all that you explained it in such a simple way the results were quite impressive.”

“So, it would seem,” Telram shrugged. “Anyway, I should do something about this Mana before it starts to cause me problems.”

Gerry nodded at this. A normal cultivator wouldn’t have so much as been able to wait more than a few minutes before the Mana that was currently overflowing from Telram’s Core started wreaking havoc inside of their bodies but Telram was different. Not only was his soul energy strong enough that he could still contain the Mana his body could handle more Mana than a normal cultivator anyway but there was no point making him wait any longer.

“Alright I’ll go and let the others know that you’re awake,” Gerry said as he walked out the door.

Once Gerry was outside Telram sat down cross-legged in the middle of his room and sent his consciousness inwards.

“I still can’t believe that I’m doing this again already,” he grumbled as he prepared to form the 9th layer of his Mana Core.

A couple of hours later Telram opened his eyes once more. Not only had he managed to create the 9th Layer of his Soul Core but even despite the fact that his Mana Core could now hold almost three times as much Mana as it could before he created the newest layer it was now almost a quarter full of Mana.

“Seriously though,” he sighed. “How much Mana did I absorb?”

If his calculations were anywhere near accurate then he had basically done the equivalent of cultivating non-stop for almost 2 months in only a few minutes which was completely ridiculous. Even just sitting on the floor he could feel that he was considerably stronger than he had been before he had condensed the 9th Layer of his Mana Core. In fact, he was pretty sure that he would be able to actually injure Joavin with his normal punches now. Well maybe not but he would have a much easier time if they fought again.

Telram could feel the differences in his movements as he rose to his feet and smiled happily. While he was certain that he wouldn’t be able to teach his new Martial Art to anyone else because it required a level of control over your body that was nigh impossible to obtain as well as the ability to ascertain your opponent’s next move and of course the not inconsiderable strength, flexibility and toughness.

His Crashing Waves Fist wouldn’t be suitable to use against every opponent that he fought but it was still a powerful Martial Art that considerably increased his combat potential against opponents that specialised in brute force. In reality he might have been able to defeat Joavin by using his Resonance Palm or his Mana Claws, but he had made a promise to himself to make it as far as possible without using that particular Martial Art and he was planning on not using his Mana Claws Martial Art during the tournament at all because of how easily he could actually badly injure or even kill someone.

Once he left the room, he was immediately swarmed by his students who were all worried about him after he had collapsed.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he chuckled once they had all expressed how worried they had been. “I was just a bit tired.”

“Are you better now?” Iris asked.

“Better than I was before the fight actually,” Telram replied with a shrug. “I’m a 9th Layer Core Formation cultivator now.”

“Well I’ve got to admit that I’m not surprised by that,” Fergus chuckled, and the others all nodded in agreement.

“So, can you teach us your new Martial Art?” Cameron asked excitedly. Normally seeing the young man acting like this would make Telram smile but he knew that he would have to disappoint him.

“Well, I don’t see why we couldn’t try but I doubt that we’ll be successful,” Telram sighed as he shook his head sadly. As he expected Cameron looked confused and disappointed at his reply so Telram explained why he didn’t think that it would be possible to teach his students his new Martial Art. The Crashing Waves Fist not only required the user to be able to predict what their opponent was going to do next but also required the they be incredibly tough and flexible so that they could properly absorb and redirect the kinetic energy of their opponent’s attacks.

“Well if that’s how it is then there’s no helping it, I’m afraid kids,” Diane sighed. It was clear that she had expected that Telram would respond this way which didn’t really surprise Telram since she was probably the most knowledgeable of all of them when it came to things like Martial Arts.

“Still that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to apply some of the techniques in my Crashing Waves Fist to the Martial Arts that you’re learning,” Telram revealed which put a small smile back on Cameron’s face. “But more importantly, what’s for dinner? I’m starving!”

Everyone laughed at Telram’s words before Fergus suggested that they head downstairs to the main area of the inn that they were staying at so that Telram could have something to eat. Everyone else had already eaten but they weren’t quite prepared to let Telram out of their sight just yet especially considering how many people had lost money because they had bet against him earlier.

While he ate Telram looked around the common room with a wary look on his face. It was pretty clear that there were some people present who were there to scout him out for one reason or another. He was actually quite thankful that the others had come with him because he wouldn’t be surprised if some of the seedier types present didn’t try to intimidate him into withdrawing from the tournament or worse.

While he ate Telram asked the others if they knew anything about the other remaining cultivators in the tournament.

“Well there is one participant who attracted even more attention than you did,’ Fergus mentioned.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, he’s a Divine Beast that has the appearance of a young man with long blue hair and a pair of small antlers,” Fergus told Telram catching his attention immediately.

“A Divine Beast?” Telram asked as he stared at Fergus who nodded slowly.

“That’s right,” the older man nodded. “Like most of the other contestants he’s already in the Ascendant Realm. I don’t know what Affinities he has though.”

“Why not?” Telram asked with a small frown on his face as he wondered why a Divine Beast might be taking part in this tournament.

“Because he was so much stronger than the cultivators that he’s fought so far that he hasn’t even had to use any Mana-based attacks yet,” Fergus replied solemnly. “He beat all of them with just his physical strength and speed.”

“Well shit,” Telram cursed. “Do we know when I’ll have to fight him?”

“Not your next fight but the one after,” Diane told Telram as she gave him a sharp look for cursing in front of the students.

“Well you might have to give up on the Pixie then I’m afraid Iris,” Telram sighed sadly. “Because if I struggled that much with Joavin then I doubt that I’ll be able to beat a Divine Beast that can defeat Ascendant Realm cultivators without so much as using a single drop of Mana.”

Iris nodded sadly in agreement. She knew that Telram was tough but even if he had increased his cultivation rank earlier there was still no way that he stood a chance against such a powerful opponent.

Telram did still have a couple of tricks up his sleeve, but even then, it would take a lot of luck to defeat an opponent like that. In fact, the only thing that he could think of that might let him win would be if he managed to use the rules of the tournament against his opponent.

Once Telram had finished eating they all went back upstairs and started cultivating in their rooms. After seeing the opponents that Telram had fought today they were all more determined than ever to raise their cultivation ranks. Telram himself spent most of his time checking his body for any damage that he had sustained during the fight and repairing what he could. As he had expected he had a couple of cracked ribs, as well as some serious bruising on his hands and forearms from how hard he had been hit and had hit back. Thankfully, his body strengthening technique increased the rate at which his body healed, and he could increase that even further by increasing the amount of Mana in the damaged areas.

Telram also didn’t need to sleep as much as normal people, which was thanks to his body strengthening technique as well. As soon as he was sure that his injuries would be mostly healed by the morning, he started to work through sorely needed improvements in his body strengthening technique. This mostly involved increasing the capacity of the miniature Mana Cores in his red blood cells so that they could each carry more Mana. He didn’t usually do this because his body strengthening technique would automatically increase the capacity of the Mana Cores in his red blood cells but that would take several days and Telram decided that he needed as many advantages as he could get.

The next morning when Telram exited his room and went downstairs for breakfast he garnered even more attention from the other patrons of the inn that they were staying at. This was only partly because rumours about him had increased since the previous day but also because some of those who had already seen him yesterday noticed that not only were his injuries completely healed, he was slightly taller and more muscular than yesterday as well. At first it was only the cultivators who noticed this, but they began to point it out to the normal people and soon everyone was looking for any other signs that Telram was growing stronger at an impossible rate.

This increase in size was of course due to both the increase in his cultivation rank yesterday as well as the improvements that he had made to his body strengthening technique but even so changes this noticeable were unusual even in Telram’s experience. Still he was quite happy with the results of the night’s work and decided to just ignore the gazes that he was attracting.

Once everyone was done eating, they made their way to the main arena which was almost twice the size as the one that Telram had fought in yesterday. Telram wouldn’t be taking part in the first fight or even the second but they had decided that it would be a good idea to go early and learn what they could about the cultivators that Telram would have to fight.

The fighter that they were most interested in was of course the Divine Beast who incidentally was taking part in the first fight this morning. They weren’t only interested in seeing him because Telram was going to have to fight him (and most likely lose) but because of how rare seeing a Divine Beast was. In fact, the only one among them who had ever seen a Divine Beast before was Gerry and that had been years ago when Gerry had been little more than a boy himself.

As they made their way towards the main gate where everyone else was lining up to enter a rather embarrassed guard came up to them.

“Excuse me sir, you and your friends don’t need to line up here,” he said awkwardly. “If you will just follow me, I’ll take you to the area that has been set aside for participants and their companions.”

“Okay,” Telram nodded and under the curious and sometimes jealous gazes of the people lining up to enter the stadium. On the way there he noticed the young man guiding them would glance at him and then immediately look away like he wanted to ask Telram something.

“Is there something that you want to ask me?” Telram asked when this habit started to get irritating and the guard immediately flushed a bright crimson and began to stutter.

“I-I was just wondering how someone who still hadn’t entered the Ascendant Realm was able to make it this far in the tournament,” the guard said eventually. “From what I can tell you do have a body strengthening technique but that still shouldn’t be enough for you to defeat the opponents that you were up against yesterday.”

“Why don’t you use your spiritual sight and have a look at my Mana Core?” Telram suggested causing the young man to stare at him in surprise. Most people considered it quire a rude act to look at someone’s Mana Core without permission but Telram had suggested it to someone he had literally met a couple of minutes ago.

“Well if it’s alright with you then I guess that I’ll take you up on the offer,” the guard replied after looking at the rest of Telram’s companions and seeing that none of them looked surprised by this turn of events.

Immediately after he activated his spiritual vision the guard came to a halt and just stared at Telram’s Core with a dumbstruck look on his face.

“How- what the hell is this?” he gasped. “How is your Core able to hold that much Mana?”

“Because unlike most cultivators I took my time to make sure that I was ready to make the next layer instead of rushing ahead and ending up with a flawed Core,” Telram replied making the other young man frown. Like most people he had cultivated as quickly as possible because that was what he had been taught but Telram obviously thought differently and even though the guard wanted to disagree with what Telram had just said he seemed to be right. While the guard did still have more Mana than Telram it wasn’t by anywhere near the same amount that was normal for people who were in different cultivation realms. Looking around at the other people with Telram he could see that the younger members of the group had a lower cultivation rank than most people their age, but they still had more Mana than them due to their better formed Cores.

But the things that surprised him even more than that were that each and every one of them had the same light of Mana coming from their bodies that Telram did which told the guard that they all practiced the same body strengthening technique that he did. None of them had anywhere near the same amount of Mana flowing through their bodies as Telram though. Not even the adults but due to the rarity of those who practiced body strengthening techniques that didn’t matter very much. The other thing was the fact that their souls were also more powerful than average but none of them, not even those in the Ascendant Realm had a soul that was more powerful than Telram’s. In fact, now that he thought about it the guard realised that he had actually been able to feel the power of Telram’s soul in the air around him before even using his spiritual sight.

Once he had recovered from his shock the guard lead them the rest of the way to the entrance in nervous silence. Now that he knew more about Telram he knew that there was no way that he could defeat him, and he definitely no longer thought that the young man hadn’t earned his place in the tournament which he had suspected when he had first met him.

As soon as he had led them to their seats the guard quickly bowed before quickly making his way back outside.

“Are you sure it was a good idea to let him use his spiritual vision on you?” Gerry asked once the guard was out of earshot.

“I don’t think he’ll be telling anyone any time soon,” Telram chuckled. “But if he’d had the balls to just ask me then I probably wouldn’t have told him that he could use his spiritual vision on us.”

“So, you figured that he would be too afraid to tell anyone?” Diane asked in bewilderment. “That seems a little bit reckless.”

“Well let me put it this way,” Telram sighed. “Do you really think that people haven’t already used their spiritual vision on us?”

“Well no I suppose that would be foolish,” Diane admitted.

“Well then we didn’t really lose anything by showing him then now did we?’ Telram asked just as the crowd started roaring in excitement. “Oh, look the first fight is about to start.”

Diane rolled her eyes at Telram’s reasoning, but she too was currently more interested in the fight that they were about to see.

“I wonder how much we will get to see of the Divine Beast’s fighting style,” she muttered causing the others to nod in silent agreement as the two competitors walked out onto the arena.