The old man's contorted face flushed crimson with rage and grief, his long, snow-white beard and hair standing on end, stiff as steel needles. The great bow in his hand was violently smashed onto the ground, and as he drew his saber, an astonishing killing intent instantly enveloped the entire scene.

"Ah!"

Everyone’s expression shifted dramatically!

"Who among us doesn't remember the heroic figure that was Baihu Luoyan, who once dominated the world," Tong Lei roared as he sensed the situation souring. "Now, in his old age, he's become muddled; who here doesn't know the misdeeds of the White Tiger Alliance? Now that people are at the door demanding what is owed, you, Elder, not only refuse to judge fairly but actively cover up wrongdoing—it is truly chilling."

"A debt of blood must be repaid with blood; one must face the consequences of their actions," Lu Zhao said with sorrowful anger. "My Jiangmen Lu Clan held no grudge against your White Tiger Alliance, yet you captured our Sect Master first and then sought to exterminate every last one of my Jiangmen disciples. To think all two hundred of my Lu Clan disciples met their end at the hands of the White Tiger Alliance—where is justice?"

"Hahaha." Qinglong mocked him to the extreme. "Old Sect Master, the Luo family truly declines with each generation. If you remain so stubbornly obtuse, perhaps the elders of our Azure Dragon Gang will have to come and reason with you personally."

"And our Yun family," Tong Lei said solemnly. "We youngsters admit we are no match for you, Elder, so we must follow your lead: bring the young ones to tears to summon the old ones."

These words instantly drew scorn and ridicule from everyone present, and they all looked at the few old figures of the Luo family with unconcealed disdain and contempt.

"You!" Luo Yan was so furious he nearly spat blood; even through his confusion, he could see his side was clearly in the wrong. "Ahao, what exactly is going on here?"

"Grandfather, this..." Luo Hao’s face drained of color in fright, yet he could not utter a single word.

"Old Sect Master, your grandson certainly won't speak. Let me explain the matter to you," Tong Lei stepped in. "The Lu Clan of Jiangmen spent three generations exhausting themselves to destroy the Scarlet Blood Demonic Sword and traced it to the Demon Dragon Continent. Little did they know, the White Tiger Alliance sought to seize the Scarlet Blood Demonic Sword..."

In just a few sentences, the entire sequence of events was laid bare. As Luo Yan looked at Lu Tong, still being held and clearly disoriented, his expression became volatile. It was obvious his side had not a shred of justification. It was clear this old man must have been an extraordinary hero in his youth; such people value their reputation above all else, especially with so many heroes of the world gathered here. He couldn't afford to lose such face. Otherwise, mourning the loss of his grandson, he would have already rushed forward to fight me.

"..." Luo Yan was silent for a long time, unable to form a single word.

"We only hope, Senior, that you will deliver justice," Lu Zhao pleaded with grief. "Return our Sect Master to us."

"Ahao, is what they say true?" Luo Yan questioned Luo Hao with a grim gaze.

"Grandfather, they are going too far! They clearly have no regard for our White Tiger Alliance!" Luo Hao gave an answer that avoided the question, clearly intending to divert the pressure.

"..." The elders behind Luo Yan were utterly speechless; at this point, who was right and who was wrong was abundantly clear. After a long pause, Luo Yan finally sighed deeply. "You demand justice?" He then glanced at the two Golden Blade Guards holding Lu Tong. "Hand Lu Tong over to them."

"..." The two Golden Blade Guards flinched slightly, instinctively looking towards Luo Hao.

"Grandfather." Luo Hao was greatly agitated and tried to interject again, but faced with Luo Yan's almost murderous glare, he could only stand there stunned.

"What are you waiting for?" Luo Yan roared in anger.

"Yes." The two Golden Blade Guards' faces changed drastically, and they quickly delivered Lu Tong to Lu Zhao.

"Sect Master."

"Uncle."

Lu Zhao and I quickly supported Lu Tong. He still had a vacant stare, showing no sign of true life.

"Luo Hao, what exactly did you do to my Uncle?" My heart twisted in agony.

"..." Luo Hao said nothing but stared intently at me.

"What a despicable and vile tactic," Lu Zhao murmured. "They actually used the Spirit Awakening Pill on the Sect Master."

"Spirit Awakening Pill?" I was somewhat confused, but seeing Lu Tong’s state, like a walking corpse, I knew it was no good thing.

"The Spirit Awakening Pill is a psychotropic magical drug," Tong Lei explained. "It seems they couldn't force the whereabouts of the Scarlet Blood Demonic Sword out of Elder Lu through torture, so they resorted to this terrible mind-altering substance."

"Perhaps the Elder's will was too firm, and they failed, leading them to overuse the drug, causing Elder Lu's mental consciousness to collapse," Qinglong suggested. "Such methods are certainly worthy of the White Tiger Alliance."

"Ah!" For a moment, I felt like my chest was about to explode. "This is your justice?"

"............." The elders of the Luo family looked grim and could offer no rebuttal. Only Luo Yan looked somewhat helplessly from Luo Hao to me and Lu Zhao. "You want justice? I shall grant you justice." As he spoke, he suddenly brought his saber down in a fierce strike!

Slash! A flash of steel cut through the air, followed by a sharp cry, stunning everyone into silence.

"Grandfather." The one lying in a pool of blood was Luo Hao, a gaping wound sliced across his chest, blood erupting like a fountain.

"Grandfather, why—why?" Luo Hao asked hoarsely, desperately trying to cover the wound.

"Because that is justice," Luo Yan stated with utter resolution. "One must face the consequences of their actions. Rest easy, my good grandson; I will avenge you."

"Grandfather! I!" Luo Hao swallowed his last breath with profound unwillingness.

"Ah!" No one had expected Luo Yan to cleave his own grandson with a single stroke. A collective sharp intake of breath followed. This old man was capable of such extremism. Yet, the elders behind him remained composed, as if they had anticipated this, but they all stared fixedly at me.

"I have delivered the justice you demanded," Luo Yan said gravely. "Now it is my turn to demand justice for the White Tiger Alliance."

"What do you want?" Gazing into Luo Yan's calm eyes, I felt as if I were being pinned by a primordial beast.

"No one can insult my White Tiger Alliance, for any reason," Luo Yan declared. "I will fight you in place of Ahao—a fight to the death."

"What?" I was profoundly shocked. So this was the old man’s true intention.

"Old Sect Master Luo," Qinglong interjected. "Considering you are a master of the older generation, on par with my grandfather, challenging a mere junior seems beneath your status."

"Silence!" Luo Yan snapped. "This brat has comprehended the Eye of Death Desire; in terms of strength, he is also a Grandmaster. What is wrong with me challenging him?" Luo Yan then looked back at me and said solemnly, "Do you lack the courage to accept the challenge?"

"Fine," I forced myself to remain calm, my mind racing rapidly. "But if I kill you, will the elders behind you also seek to challenge me?"

"Wouldn't that be the case? If it unfolds like that, it will never end," someone immediately chimed in agreement.

"Rest assured, if I die, no one will trouble you!" Luo Yan vowed. "Let the heroes of the world bear witness."

"I accept then." I knew Luo Yan was already set on killing me. Great noble clans have countless descendants; sacrificing one Luo Hao is a minor matter if it preserves his reputation. More importantly, it gives him a legitimate reason to challenge me. I had to admit, the Old Sect Master of the Luo family had devised quite a clever scheme. No matter what, I had to die. If I lived, the Luo family and the White Tiger Alliance would be eternally ridiculed by the world. Publicly executing a Luo family descendant and defeating the Alliance Master—such profound humiliation could only be erased by my death. The rift between me and the White Tiger Alliance was irreparable.

"........." The entire area fell silent once more. The battle flag in the arena still snapped loudly in the wind.

This sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded!

One was Baihu Luo Yan, renowned across the world sixty years ago.

The other was a young warrior of mysterious origin.

Both possessed the level of strength commensurate with a Grandmaster realm!

Forty years prior, Baihu Luo Hao had already traversed the Path to the Summit and entered the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall. Though his constitution prevented him from becoming a Heavenly Demon Warrior, the martial comprehension he gained on that path made him a preeminent master on the Demon Dragon Continent. He, along with Qinglong’s grandfather, the 32nd generation Qinglong Hongkun—who also failed to become a Heavenly Demon Warrior due to physical limitations—were known as the Twin Heroes of the Demon Dragon: one dragon, one tiger, reigning supreme over the world of wandering knights on the continent, none daring to oppose them.

Who would emerge victorious? No one dared to make a definitive judgment! However, most people leaned towards Luo Yan having a higher chance of winning. The gap in experience, fighting spirit, strength, and technique spanned over sixty years—a distance not easily bridged.

"Binghe." Tong Lei looked heavy-eyed, watching the stage.

"..." Qinglong’s expression was complex, his thoughts unreadable.

"Xingchen!" Lu Zhao murmured. "You must survive."

.............................................................

The people on the field remained two, but my opponent had changed to Luo Yan.

Only now did I have the opportunity to observe the Old Sect Master of the Luo family up close. His physique was imposing; even wrapped in thick armor, it couldn't conceal the slight bulge of muscle beneath, immediately suggesting power and explosive strength. His bright white hair appeared somewhat disheveled, cascading over his shoulders. He held his saber slightly lowered in his right hand. Even in this casual stance, he resembled an insurmountable mountain, evoking an irresistible sense of oppression and defeat.

Within his dark brown eyes, flickering sparks of light danced, forming a palpable energy. Wherever his gaze swept, one felt a chilling, needle-like prickle and tremor. Was this the might of a Grandmaster warrior?

Such powerful aura! It was equal to Master Jian Li’s! I forced myself to steady my mind and calm down, instinctively gripping my Dragon Shadow Sword tighter. Eye of Death Desire! Unleashed instantly! The mundane clamor and distraction of the surroundings vanished. A profound sense of stillness enveloped the deepest core of my mind. In this moment, I could hear my own heartbeat, and the flow of my blood—not just mine, but also Luo Yan’s, forty meters ahead of me.

I distinctly captured his heartbeat and pulse, alongside the faint, swirling white vital energy that flowed slowly around his body like slow-moving vortexes. Though their movement was sluggish, it resembled a massive deep-sea whirlpool. I could feel the terrifying energy contained within it. I had never felt this kind of energy, not even from Jiuyuan Zhutian.

Yes, this was a violent restlessness, deeply suppressed, waiting for the precise moment to erupt with its original power! I never imagined that someone could generate such an astonishing aura purely through killing intent. Those sharp, lightning-like eyes felt like twin swords, causing my heart to inexplicably begin to pound violently. Even though I tried desperately to calm myself, I couldn't manage it.

I couldn't wait any longer, or Luo Yan could crush me entirely with sheer presence alone!

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