The crowded square was permeated with an unprecedented silence. Everyone stared blankly at Qian Cheng, the old servant who used to have to bend over so that riders could step on his back before entering the Qian family residence, now exhibiting such astonishing spirit.

A faint trace of astonishment flickered through Qian Zhuanxuan’s eyes. This stable hand, whose name he couldn’t even recall until recently, actually possessed… actually possessed…

Pan Hongji’s pupils flickered repeatedly with admiration mixed with apology. His father’s greatness wasn’t defined by his personal strength, but by the strength of his heart! A heart capable of shaking the very stars! This heart might be buried by the hardships of life, but when it surfaces for the sake of his children, even the descent of an entire star could not obscure the shining brilliance of a father’s heart.

“Son, I can endure for the sake of living! For my sake, you can lose! But if you lose, will the Qian family treat me any better? Will the Qian family stop doing what they want to me? What’s the difference between losing and winning?” Qian Cheng stepped forward, his posture as unyielding and proud as a battle flag, letting out the first genuine roar he’d uttered in years: “Win once! Win just once for me! If you lose, you won’t even be able to take me away! How much longer do I have to live?”

Qian Jin’s body subtly trembled. As an alchemist, he was acutely aware of his father’s deteriorating health. How much longer did his father have left?

“Win once! Win just once for me!” Qian Cheng squeezed his eyes shut, his sallow face flushed crimson: “Win once! If you lose, perhaps I can live another day! But I might die without ever seeing you defeat the Qian family even once! Do you want me to die full of regret? Son, your glory is my glory!”

Qian Zhuanxuan’s pupils slowly constricted as he observed the spectators at the edge of the arena. These onlookers, who had initially sided with the Qian family, had, without realizing it, shifted their allegiance to Qian Cheng’s side.

“If you still acknowledge me as your father, Qian Cheng, then strike down this Qian Yuantian for me…”

Whoosh! Before Qian Cheng could finish his cry, a mouthful of blood suddenly sprayed into the sky, and his body swayed, falling backward. Lucifer Flowing Water caught Qian Cheng’s back with both hands, warily watching the sudden move from the high platform—Qian Zhuanxuan, striking out with a single finger across the void, intending to snatch Qian Cheng’s life.

Thwack! Fen Tu Kuangge, who had moved at incredible speed to shield Qian Cheng in that instant, his robust frame slightly faltered. He spat out a stream of blood even thicker than Qian Cheng’s.

Fen Tu Kuangge, hailing from the Fen Tu lineage, gave Qian Zhuanxuan a cold smile, his face as pale as gold leaf. The military families had thoroughly researched this Qian family head; he was the type who completely disregarded what others thought of him.

A powerhouse of this caliber needed no concern for public opinion! Killing a commoner was no different in his eyes than slaying a Demon Race member.

On the Human-Demon battlefield, no warrior would intentionally restrain their power to let a weaker opponent live, nor would they be delighted to meet a worthy foe only to let them leave and cultivate further for a later clash.

That would not only be irresponsible to oneself but also to one’s family, and further, to the nation!

Qian Zhuanxuan was long accustomed to the survival code of the Human-Demon battlefield; once he struck, only the enemy existed in his sight, and the thought of holding back never surfaced.

A sharp surge of Dou Qi—enough to have killed Qian Cheng dozens, perhaps hundreds of times!—struck. Qian Zhuanxuan looked in surprise at the spitting, bleeding Fen Tu Kuangge. This young man was far stronger than the last time they met—unexpectedly strong!

By calculation, even if this youth stepped forward, gathering all his Dou Qi against the attack, it should only cost him his own life. The Dou Qi should easily pierce his body and kill Qian Cheng.

But everything had gone awry! Qian Cheng did not die, and neither did this young man, Fen Tu Kuangge. The Dou Qi struck him as if hitting a warrior clad in soft iron armor first, then the flesh, before finally piercing through with significantly diminished force, failing even to kill Qian Cheng.

Qian Zhuanxuan suddenly found himself intensely disliking the young man listed in the records as Fen Tu Kuangge, especially that smile. Though severely injured, his face the color of pale gold, the cold sneer in his eyes was filled with endless disdain, scorn, and pride.

Was the Dou Qi of the Fen Tu family truly this formidable? Not only was its defensive capability excellent, but its offensive power felt like real steel and iron. This ability seemed to surpass the Dou Qi developed by the Fen Tu lineage over many years. Had they discovered a new form of Dou Qi?

Pan Hongji’s hands, without anyone noticing, were clenched into excited fists. Qian Jin’s current state owed a great deal to this Qian Cheng, who possessed no warrior prowess whatsoever! Without Qian Cheng, there would be no Qian Jin today!

Of course, Qian Zhuanxuan had further poured kerosene onto the already smoldering dry firewood that was Qian Jin!

Qian Jin’s slightly bowed back slowly straightened. His body gradually turned toward Qian Wutian. For his father, he could lose, and he could endure! But his father was right—even if he lost, would his father lead a better life?

No! This was the Qian family; he himself had come from the Qian family! No one understood the Qian family better than he did!

“Qian Family!”

Rage! Qian Jin rarely became enraged, but this time, true fury erupted.

The guilt stemming from his own willful departure, mixed with the Qian family’s cold-blooded indifference, fueled this anger.

Dou Heart! Igniting every strand of Dou Qi within his one hundred and eight Dou Qiaos, a torrent of formidable Dou Qi surged through his body, pushing the Wind-Cloud Golden Body higher and higher—Stone Body, Iron Body, Steel Body!

Fight! Isn't Qian Zhuanxuan known as the invincible existence among the Qian family’s bloodline warriors? Doesn't Qian Zhuanxuan view ordinary warriors as nothing? Fight! Even if Qian Zhuanxuan kills me today, I will crush a chunk of those Qian family bloodline warriors!

You can kill me, but you cannot kill Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji! You can silence the Qian City bystanders from speaking what they saw, but you cannot silence the Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji’s voice!

You might not care what the world thinks of you! But the entire world will know: your Qian family bloodline warriors lost to an ordinary warrior! Can you still remain unconcerned?

Dou Heart! Dou Heart! Qian Chenyu’s eyes suddenly widened as he stared at Qian Jin. This warrior, who hadn't awakened the Elven King bloodline, had managed to condense a powerful Dou Heart in just two short months! How was this possible? How could this be possible! Only after a Level Three Awakening of the Azure Elven King bloodline, forged through life-and-death combat, did one possess a Dou Heart. How could he achieve it so easily?

Qian Zhuanxuan’s brow twitched sharply, a rare occurrence. His sharp, questioning gaze abruptly shifted to Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji on the sidelines.

Dou Heart! For an ordinary warrior to attain a Dou Heart was almost impossibly difficult.

Setting the Dou Heart aside, Qian Jin’s Dou Qi lock had clearly opened. How had this happened?

That one punch that imposed the Dou Qi lock, though he hadn't bothered using full strength, was not something just anyone could undo. Even a powerhouse possessing a Dou Heart could not break that lock.

Serpent Emperor! The one who could so easily undo that Dou Qi lock… Qian Zhuanxuan stared at Pan Hongji, who wore an expression of complete non-surprise, realizing only this Serpent Emperor could achieve it.

“Brother Zhuanxuan, you don’t need to look at me like that.” Pan Hongji smiled as he watched Qian Jin in the combat circle: “In our world of warriors, breaking another person’s Dou Qi lock signifies issuing a challenge. While I very much look forward to fighting you, that will be during the exhibition match after the Rookie King Tournament, where we can properly test each other’s measure. I would never undo your Dou Qi lock.”

Qian Zhuanxuan stared doubtfully at Pan Hongji’s smiling face. Even if it wasn't you, you should know what happened, shouldn't you? Otherwise, why would you show no surprise at Qian Jin’s performance?

“Brother Zhuanxuan, are you still suspecting me?” A hint of displeasure touched Pan Hongji’s smiling cheek, and his tone abruptly rose: “I, Pan Hongji, need to lie? Do I, Pan Hongji, fear you, Qian Zhuanxuan? Fearful enough to lie to cover up? Who do you think you are? The Great Devil King?”

Qian Zhuanxuan let out a heavy snort, knitting his brow as he turned his gaze back to the fight. Various questions churned in his mind. Why, in that fleeting moment, could he clearly sense the genuine fighting intent in Pan Hongji—the will to actually engage him?

The Celestial Awakening of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warrior was indeed astonishing, ranking among the very best of the Ten Great Bloodline Warriors. However, when fighting those with a lineage history of Ultimate Awakening, he wouldn't gain any advantage.

Why? Why was this happening? Qian Zhuanxuan’s brow furrowed more deeply. Why had Pan Hongji, after years of not truly fighting, suddenly taken an interest? Did he possess a hidden trump card? Celestial Awakening should be the limit for the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors. If he had truly broken through Celestial Awakening, he would have long appeared on the Human-Demon battlefield, leading the Pan family to its most glorious peak and sweeping away the Demon Race!

“Dou Heart?” Qian Wutian’s wolf-like eyes shone with the hunger of a starving wolf that had suddenly spotted a piece of fresh, tender meat: “Very good! Very good! I never expected you to possess a Dou Heart! This is excellent! I shall destroy your Dou Heart… Wait? Your strength… Eight Battles of Demon Subjugation?”

How is this possible?

Qian Chenfeng’s right eyebrow hooked sharply upward. How could the Eight Battles of Demon Subjugation possess a Dou Heart? Dou Heart could only manifest in a warrior of the Demon Slaying Battle level! What was going on?

Dou Heart! It instantly ignited within Qian Wutian, and the savage Dou Qi instantly thrust his strength to the Demon Slaying Battle level. Yet, the Dou Qi showed no sign of stopping, surging continuously—Demon Slaying Battle Two!

Qian Wutian, who had just defeated Qian Wuqing, hadn’t merely failed to unleash the full extent of his Dou-Demon Dual Cultivation battle power! In fact, his Dou Qi hadn't even fully erupted just now—this was his true strength!

Vast mental power also rapidly burst forth from Qian Wutian’s body at that moment!

The warriors who awakened the Elven King bloodline power in the Qian family had long ceased to be mere warriors in the conventional sense.

Every one of them was a special warrior practicing both Dou and Demon cultivation!