Pan Hongji sighed; Pan Mengshen had indeed made significant progress due to the Qian Jin, even starting to feel his blood boil. Perhaps these next few days would mark the true peak of his True Saint strength, but it was a pity he missed this fight.

Qian Jin shook off the pursuit of Pan Hongji and Li Ba, his feet moving him away at high speed without stopping.

This affair was a cooperation, but also a test. Qian Jin even suspected that these two great experts were merely the first layer of obstruction, that others would follow. If he had run any slower, he might truly have been intercepted. Moreover, the commotion caused by everyone attacking together within the heavily guarded Imperial City, while perhaps not enough to shake half of the Divine Capital, was certainly enough to alert the entire Imperial Palace. If Qian Xuanxuan and the others, who usually minded their own business, came out to join the fray, he would surely be detained.

Run, run, run!

The instant Qian Jin felt his companions break free, he abandoned all restraint, kicking off and fleeing at top speed. Ordinary people could not even perceive his high-speed movement.

Clearing the high wall, Qian Jin sprang up, supporting himself with one arm on the stone. He rapidly calculated the optimal escape route when a chilling sensation shot straight up his spine and impacted his brain.

Bad!

In that split second, Qian Jin felt an extreme danger, a threat no less severe than any life-and-death situation he had faced before. That quiescent, spectral aura suddenly erupted.

Qian Wuqing! Qian Jin saw the man who should have been slain by Li Ba, or perhaps by himself once he was free, actually appearing at this critical moment... in this narrow, dark alley!

Buzz!

The earth itself vibrated with a surge of magical elemental fluctuation—a wave unique to the undead, deep and cold, radiating a profound stillness.

The sound of the elemental vibration sent a tingling numbness across Qian Jin's scalp. It was a colossal magic array! Indeed! A massive formation spanning five hundred meters in diameter!

What a grand undertaking! Shock flooded Qian Jin’s mind instantly. This Qian Wuqing was truly willing to spend heavily. Such an array required at least two hundred high-grade magic beast cores, plus over a thousand Grade Ten Magic Crystals—the equivalent of all the crystals in a magic crystal mine, and a high-yield one at that!

Besides these, there were various precious metals, each piece valuable enough to make the leader of an entire city gasp.

How did he know I would pass through here? Qian Jin marveled internally. The detection methods of the undead were terrifying. I walked into this formation without noticing it, only sensing its existence when I reached the central eye, coupled with Qian Wuzhe's timely appearance.

"Qian Jin, you will stay here! Today... you will die by my hand, Qian Wuqing."

Qian Wuqing’s Elven King Bloodline Battle Soul was entirely grey. He gripped a dark-grey metallic staff, and under his command, immense magical energy was instantly unleashed, forming streams of magic, thick as arms, spiraling toward Qian Jin from all directions.

What is this? Qian Jin twisted his body mid-air. Even without his Myriad Shadow state, his speed was formidable; his whole person seemed utterly free, as if heaven and earth could not contain him.

"Freedom Combat Skill? Not enough!" Qian Wuqing spat the words, crushing the staff in his hand. A swift grey light, like a free swallow, coiled around Qian Jin.

Unlucky! Qian Jin sighed inwardly. If he had been at full strength, he would have discovered this ambush long ago. Having just expended so much power, yet having obtained what he desired, he had become momentarily excited and fallen right into this trap.

"Shatter the Freedom Battle Seal for me!" Qian Jin exploded his Combat Skill, instantly doubling his speed as he charged towards the edge of the array.

"Trying to leave?" Qian Wuqing sneered. "Do you truly think you can escape?"

Innumerable grey magical chains erupted from the edges of the formation, seemingly intent on locking down this small pocket of space entirely. Though Qian Jin was fast, he could not outpace the chains. The swiftest one immediately fastened around his ankle.

In the next moment, countless chains, like ravenous zombies feeding on flesh, directly enveloped Qian Jin.

In less than a second, Qian Jin was utterly bound by the countless grey magical restraints. From the outside, one could only see the chains, not Qian Jin’s actual body.

As soon as these chains bound him, they seemed to become sentient, rapidly congealing into five massive grey locks, which positioned themselves respectively on Qian Jin’s four limbs and his torso.

The next instant, all five great locks sank into Qian Jin’s body, leaving no outward sign of their presence. Qian Jin, suspended in the air, suddenly resembled a bird shot from the sky, plummeting directly downwards.

In that moment, Qian Jin felt his already constrained Battle Qi being locked even more securely by the appearance of these five great locks. Furthermore, these locks possessed another ability: Gravity! The weight of each lock was no less than thirty thousand jin; even slight movement became arduous.

"How is it, Qian Jin? What did you steal from the Imperial Palace?" Qian Wuqing rushed towards Qian Jin at high speed. "You don't need to tell me; I only need to kill you and devour you to find out! Don't worry about your Battle Realm either; once I eat you, your Battle Realm will merge with mine! Now, you are caught in my Lament of the Dead Lock. To execute a single use of your original Combat Skill will require more than ten times the usual difficulty, and each limb is burdened by the crushing weight of thirty thousand jin. It will be difficult even to move. Just surrender and let me kill you!"

Qian Wuqing moved with terrifying speed; his True Saint peak strength far surpassed that of Lei Long Li. His large hand clamped down directly toward Qian Jin’s throat.

"You want to kill me? With you?" Qian Jin laughed coldly, a thought sparking in his mind to undo his seal. If he broke even one layer of the seal, even if he couldn't nullify the Lament of the Dead Lock, he could unleash a sudden burst of power to severely wound this undead being.

"Want to strike my husband? Did you ask me?"

Gu Yue Jiaying’s Twin Moon Scimitars carved an arc like a full moon in the air, carrying a deadly, cold edge as she appeared behind Qian Jin.

Jiaying? Qian Jin was stunned; he never expected his woman to show up at this specific time and location.

Gu Yue Jiaying had waited anxiously at home. A woman's intuition led her out to search, and she happened upon the very moment Qian Jin was ambushed.

Qian Wuqing also hadn't anticipated Gu Yue Jiaying's sudden appearance. In haste, he raised a longsword in a reverse block. The instant their weapons clashed, Gu Yue Jiaying's body shuddered slightly, and she pulled Qian Jin backward while grasping him.

Both were True Saints, but Qian Wuqing's strength was far above that of an ordinary one. Had Gu Yue Jiaying not struck him by surprise, Qian Wuqing was confident he could have killed this woman with a single blow in a normal engagement.

"Just a few more breaths of air to survive," Qian Wuqing declared, thrusting his longsword outward again as a massive bolt of lightning roared down from the sky.

"Want to kill Qian Jin? Ask me, Lei Long Li!"

Fierce battle intent mixed with endless killing aura, Lei Long Li strode forward in the air, like a War God traversing heaven and earth, lunging straight at Qian Wuqing.

Both were True Saint peaks, so Lei Long Li certainly wouldn't pass up a chance to engage. As the lightning struck, a shell-like luminous barrier, the unique defensive magic of the undead, suddenly coated Qian Wuqing's body.

The lightning and the defensive magic collided and vanished simultaneously. Qian Wuqing's longsword was already nearing Qian Jin when a sudden alarm blared in his mind. He abruptly twisted his charging body in mid-air, retracting his sword, and simultaneously flicked it upward. The longsword rang with a metallic screech as it met an incoming projectile, instantly bending before snapping back to being perfectly straight.

A throwing knife! Qian Jin's ultimate life-saving technique!

Qian Jin had been waiting for Qian Wuqing. Since his strength wasn't at its peak, suppressing the urge to strike had become difficult; he needed the closest range to guarantee a single knife strike to finish his foe.

Qian Wuqing’s reaction was faster than Qian Jin had anticipated; he managed to dodge this knife attack!

Clang!

The throwing knife grazed Qian Wuqing's eye socket, instantly slicing through his somewhat abnormal grey skin, releasing a foul, bloody odor.

With that thrust, retraction, and dodge! Hatred and fear flashed in Qian Wuqing's eyes. While retreating, he abruptly wrenched his waist and fled at high speed in another direction.

No chance! Qian Wuqing knew the strength of the people surrounding Qian Jin. One-on-one, he was confident he could kill any of them apart from Qian Jin.

But fighting a group... Qian Wuqing understood clearly that Duan Fengbu’er’s Instant Teleportation Soul Domain, combined with the others fighting together—all at True Saint peak—gave him less than a ten percent chance of victory.

What a waste! Qian Wuqing was filled with frustration. Qian Jin was not only powerful but also constantly vigilant of his surroundings; plotting against him was incredibly difficult! He had gone to great lengths last night to have someone sneak attack the treasure vault, precisely to pique Qian Jin's curiosity about its contents.

The Prize Vault—contestants weren't allowed in unless they infiltrated it!

Qian Wuqing had long calculated that Qian Jin would surely want to sneak in for a look. While he himself couldn't enter for now, Qian Jin, with his Master Forger skills, could certainly find the unique aspect of the Mourning Star Sword.

However, such an entry couldn't be entirely quiet. He assumed that even if there were people inside, some formalities would need to be observed. As long as Qian Jin stole it, he would likely be separated from his companions—the perfect opportunity to strike! He could not only kill Qian Jin and take the Mourning Star Sword he might have stolen but also devour a portion of Qian Jin's power, potentially achieving a breakthrough to the True Saint realm in one go.

For this plan, Qian Wuqing had invested heavily; this massive magic array was one of those investments. With his resources, he could only afford to do this once. He intended to trap Qian Jin with the array, then devour him, but he never expected...

"I only managed to trap Qian Jin, but failed to kill him..." Qian Wuqing was deeply vexed, yet he didn't pause, turning and fleeing rapidly. "I truly didn't expect that even sealed by the Lament of the Dead Lock, he could unleash such a ferocious strike that nearly killed me."

"Qian Wuqing? That brat has some nerve!" Duan Fengbu’er appeared beside Qian Jin, watching the retreating figure of Qian Wuqing without giving chase.

Those closest knew the score. Duan Fengbu’er and the others had engaged the two great experts, Pan Hongji, and their own bodies also contained seals, leading to staggering consumption. Even working together, their chances of defeating Qian Wuqing were less than thirty percent; their current advantage relied more on their previous momentum and displayed power to intimidate him.

If they had actually fought, Lei Long Li estimated that after a few bursts of power, he wouldn't look much better than Qian Jin sitting on the ground now.

After firing that throwing knife, Qian Jin’s physical stamina truly reached its limit. His Battle Qi was less than five percent of his usual amount; surviving without fainting was purely due to mental fortitude.

"Let's go back first... Damn it!" Duan Fengbu’er supported Qian Jin, then roared, "Why is he so heavy? I can't even lift him."

Qian Jin weakly raised his eyes toward Duan Fengbu’er. "I was hit by the Lament of the Dead Lock. Each lock weighs thirty thousand jin, and I took five hits."

Gu Yue Jiaying looked at Qian Jin curiously; he hadn't felt that heavy when she pulled him away just moments ago.

"At that time," Qian Jin muttered, "I still had some strength left to cooperate with you. Otherwise..."

Everyone inwardly breathed a sigh of relief again. If this curse hadn't hit Qian Jin, this monstrous man-shaped behemoth, but someone else, they would have been utterly crushed by the weight and likely suffocated to death on the spot.

"Let me rest for a while, then we'll move," Qian Jin said weakly to the others. "Battle Crystals, give me two."

"I have some here," Lei Long Li pulled out a massive Grade Ten Battle Crystal, the size of a millstone, from his Battle Realm. The sight drew admiration from everyone—truly worthy of someone from a major family; his Grade Ten crystal contained far more Battle Energy than one the size of a fist.

Qian Jin placed his palm on the millstone-sized crystal for several seconds. The brilliantly shining crystal instantly turned into useless stone.

A trace of color returned to Qian Jin's face. "I've recovered less than ten percent. A bit more, please."

This time, Lei Long Li and Mu Ne Zhence started pulling out Battle Crystals together. One was the heir of the Three Ultimate Bloodline Families, the other a royal prince of the Zhence Dynasty; their stock of crystals was significantly richer than others.

Isabelle also offered her crystals. Qian Jin simply hugged the crystals to his body, absorbing them rapidly and frantically. Large quantities of crystals began turning into inert stone.

After a full ten minutes, Qian Jin stood up and let out a satisfied burp. "My Battle Qi is back by thirty percent."

Everyone stared at Qian Jin in astonishment. They knew his Battle Qi reserves were vaster than everyone else's, but they never imagined they were this enormous.

"The results of my training these past few days," Qian Jin scratched his head. "If it weren't for that seal, my Battle Qi should almost be full by now."

Lei Long Li pondered briefly and nodded repeatedly. By calculation, this seemed about right; he, too, had seen a significant boost due to his Battle Qi Lock.

"Then we should head back... and recover properly?" Duan Fengbu’er asked. "Then we come out and kill that Qian Wuqing overnight?"

"Agreed!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Qian Jin's eyes. This Qian Wuqing was more terrifying than he had imagined; his strength was shocking, but his performance today was even more alarming.

That bizarre Lament of the Dead Lock, and the precise, calculated setup.

"I suspect the theft from the Newcomer King Prize Vault last night was intentionally orchestrated by Qian Wuqing," Qian Jin brushed the dust off his backside. "He did that hoping I would become interested in the vault's prizes, maybe even recognize the Mourning Star Sword as a Saint Artifact. Perhaps he didn't know I knew the sword's origin, but he should have known I could identify it."

Fen Tu Kuangge nodded slightly. "In warfare, that’s a method of luring the enemy."

"He knew he couldn't steal it himself for now, so he wanted to use me to take it out," Qian Jin reasoned quickly. "That's why he intercepted and tried to devour me here."

Mu Ne Zhence nodded repeatedly. "If I were him, I would do the same. Devouring you might allow him to reach the True Saint realm, becoming the first powerhouse to do so in the Newcomer King Competition."

"He's just short of it," Qian Jin sighed. "He could step into the True Saint realm from the True Saint stage at any moment. If it were anyone else, I could wait and defeat them in the arena, but him..." "...I must find a way to ruthlessly kill him. Having such a treacherous fiend watching my back is too dangerous."

"Exactly!" Mu Ne Zhence emphasized. "He is a madman. If he knows he can't beat you, attacking your family and friends would cause trouble."

Boom!

A massive clash of Battle Qi erupted from the Warrior General Union, and the chilling undead power within caused everyone's expression to change simultaneously. Qian Wuqing!

Indeed! The Qian Wuqing who had just left was actually heading toward the Warrior General Union, just as Mu Ne Zhence had predicted.

"Good thing Qi Shuai is there!" Duan Fengbu’er muttered, activating his Instant Teleportation Soul Domain, pouring all his Battle Qi into its power. In a single flash, he shifted everyone a distance of two thousand meters, landing them directly at the entrance of the Union.

Crack! Duan Fengbu’er immediately slumped over, unconscious. If not for the seal, this movement wouldn't be much, but now, it was the absolute limit he could achieve after their intense battle.

Lei Long Li hoisted Duan Fengbu’er onto his shoulder and rushed into the Warrior General Union behind Qian Jin, who took the lead.

Qian Wuqing was gone!

The courtyard where the fierce battle occurred was now a ruin. Trees were completely snapped, walls had collapsed, and the grass looked as if it had been trampled by tens of thousands of rampaging wild bulls.

The two branch presidents of the Warrior Guild lay on the ground, their bones completely shattered, their skin pale like broken dolls. Chek, in his Fallen Angel Bloodline Battle Body, stood in the center of the arena, sword in hand, cautiously surveying his surroundings. True Saint peak!

There might be only one True Saint stronger than Qian Wuzhe in this world, yet he had just been in Qian Jin's courtyard.

"Luo Qingqing is fine," Chek said calmly to Qian Jin. "Luo Jin is also fine."

Qian Jin nodded, his tense heart easing slightly. He walked closer to the two dead presidents and bent down to examine them.

Skeletal structure pulverized, muscles completely flaccid. There were two holes in their throats—the key points where their power had been drained.

The two Warrior Guild presidents, who had already reached Sainthood, were killed by Qian Wuqing in an instant!

Frightening! Qian Jin's eyes twitched. Back then, the Qian family never imagined he would grow to this level, which had always been his source of pride. Yet, he hadn't realized that Qian Wuqing, whom he had casually defeated and trampled, had also grown powerful and reached such a degree of savagery.

"My father died in humiliation because of you! I, Qian Wuqing, will take back everything you owe me from your body!" Qian Wuqing's killing-intent-laden voice drifted into the courtyard from various positions. "If it weren't for you, my father wouldn't have passed his Battle Heart to me! If it weren't for you, my father would still be alive! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be like this now—less than human, like a monster!"

"But it doesn't matter! For revenge, it's all worth it! I will surely kill you! And I will slaughter the entire Qian family! My father fought for the Qian family his entire life, only to become the lowest stratum because transferring his Battle Heart prevented his bloodline power from activating, leading to his death without care when he fell ill. The Qian family must pay for this blood debt! You wait, all of you! Hahahahaha..."

Under the night sky, Qian Wuqing’s insane, raging laughter was filled with boundless sorrow and madness.

The group stood in the courtyard, exchanging glances. None of them had expected that Qian Wuqing, whose bloodline aptitude was never considered exceptional, the warrior they all thought would never be a threat, had grown to such a terrifying level today.

"I'm no longer interested in the Newcomer King title!" Qian Jin's face showed a look of resolve. "Tomorrow, I will kill him in the Newcomer King Competition venue!"

Lei Long Li re-examined Qian Jin, beginning to understand why this young man could improve to such strength in such a short time. He possessed something he desperately wanted to protect; as long as this existed, he would continue to grow stronger—that was his motivation.

"No problem!" Duan Fengbu’er also smiled. "Next year I'll cooperate with you, and we'll kill him in one strike! You know that with that old dog Qian Xuanxuan around, if you are even slightly slow in attacking, that old dog might intervene."

Qian Jin considered it briefly and nodded slightly. Although Qian Wuqing had killed one of the Qian family's Bloodline Warriors, that fellow Qian Zhanxuan was incredibly stubborn. He would strictly adhere to and uphold the rules of the Novice King Tournament. Therefore, even if he knew Qian Wuqing had killed a Qian family member, and even if Qian Wuqing went on to kill more, Qian Zhanxuan would allow it, confident that Qian Wuqing would eventually be killed by the Qian family's own Bloodline Warriors.

The slow-witted Zhen Ce sighed. Qian Zhanxuan’s mind was truly indescribable. No one could correct his thinking; what he believed would never change. Zhen Ce wondered if it was arrogance or absolute self-assurance.

“I’ll make a move too!” Isayel announced eagerly, expressing his opinion.

“You? Go play somewhere else, little brat.” Duan Fengbuer gave Isayel a kick on the backside. “Neither Qian Jin nor I are aiming for the Novice King title. You need to work harder, kid, or what if your aunt comes looking for trouble with me? Kuangge, you keep quiet too! Your opponent tomorrow is the Blasting Bear Bloodline Warrior, Holgang. That’s the one who beat your brother using dirty tricks back then—I heard about that incident. He was arrogant enough to stomp on your brother’s head, saying ordinary warriors are always just stepping stones for Bloodline Warriors.”

Fen Tu Kuangge’s expression was dark and uncertain. Duan Fengbuer continued, “Killing Qian Wuqing is something Qian Jin and I will handle. You carry the honor of the Fen Tu Clan on your shoulders, and the honor of our Academy too. If nothing unexpected happens, Qian Jin and I will both be disqualified because of this. Then, only you and the Sleeping Lion King will have a real chance. If you drop out too…”

“Wait for me. After I kill Holgang, we’ll act together,” Fen Tu Kuangge slapped Qian Jin’s shoulder heavily. “We are friends, we are comrades! I can’t just stand by and watch you two do the killing!”

“Brother Qian Jin, ‘…”

“Brat, go cool off over there…” …Damn it! You dare to bite me…”

“I want to join in too! I’m part of this!”

“And me,” Thunder Dragon Li laughed. “We can determine the strongest among the three Ultimate Bloodline Warriors another day on the Human-Demon Battlefield. It doesn't have to be in the Novice King Tournament.”

“Precisely!” The slow-witted Zhen Ce fanned himself lightly. “The moment Qian Jin makes his move, Qian Zhanxuan or even other powerhouses might step in to stop him. At that point, Li Ba and the Serpent Emperor will also be inconveniently positioned to support you—after all, they are the upholders of the rules. Others can help block those organizers; you focus solely on killing.”

“I won’t say thank you, but I count on all of you to block the others for me then!”

The sun once again climbed above the horizon.

Explosive news had already spread throughout the entire Divine Capital City: the prize warehouse for the Novice King Tournament had been robbed the previous night!

Despite being guarded by two top-tier experts, the Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji and Li Ba, someone had managed to break in and steal a Soul Artifact Shield!

“A Soul Artifact Shield?” Qian Wuqing sat in a dim room, smashing the table beside him with a single punch. “Qian Jin is such an idiot; he still didn't recognize the Sword of the Dead Star! What a pity!”

“The Serpent Emperor’s treasury was robbed?”

“Are you kidding me? I heard Li Ba happened to be visiting, and the two of them together couldn't stop the robber?”

“Who could that be? Did the Great Demon King appear personally? Even then, they shouldn't have been unable to stop him?”

“Has the Serpent Emperor’s strength regressed?”

Rumors spread rapidly through Divine Capital City. Qian Zhanxuan coldly set down his breakfast. “Pan Hongji, Li Ba, you two are willing to do anything for Qian Jin, aren't you? Even sullying your own honor.”

“The Serpent Emperor truly is no ordinary person,” Jiuyang Fenghua’s bright lips curled into a slight expression of admiration. “To dare do something like this—truly, truly impressive!” Different factions reacted differently to the loss of one prize from the treasury. Some saw the essence of the matter immediately, while others were curious how someone like the Serpent Emperor could make such a low-level mistake.

As the news swept through Divine Capital City, the cruel battle curtain of the Novice King Tournament was once again drawn. Qian Jin’s opponent had forfeited again. However, today, he didn’t stay away from the arena just because his opponent hadn’t shown up.

Killing! Or perhaps, killing the Undead!

Qian Jin had spent the entire night thinking, and he was more determined than ever to eliminate that menace, Qian Wuqing, today. Leaving this blight around posed too great a threat. Now, with Cekefullitt holding the fort at home, even Qian Jin felt uneasy.

There were quite a few experts from the Warriors' General Guild who had reached Sainthood, but they were all Void Saint level experts. Elsewhere, this strength would be formidable enough—it could terrify the demon race on the Human-Demon Battlefield. But Qian Wuqing was a freak; his physique was special, immune to pain. Even if struck by a Void Saint expert, he wouldn't feel it, allowing him to fight through attrition until his opponent was dead.

“I inquired. Qian Wuqing is indeed scheduled to fight in this arena today,” Duan Fengbuer said, curiously surveying the surroundings. “Where is Qian Wuqing? Why don’t I see him? Could he not be coming?”

The slow-witted Zhen Ce smiled confidently. “As long as he wants to obtain that sword, he must come to continue fighting. He probably wouldn't expect us to dare kill him here, considering no one has ever broken the tournament rules.”

Thunder Dragon Li nodded lightly. If it weren't for Qian Jin’s boldness, and if he hadn't spent some time with Qian Jin, he wouldn't have believed Qian Jin actually dared to commit murder under these circumstances.

“He’ll probably appear shortly,” Fen Tu Kuangge said coldly, though his gaze never left the crowd of Blasting Bear Bloodline Warriors.

Holgang! That was Fen Tu Kuangge’s sole reason for entering the Novice King Tournament. Back when he was very young, he had watched that fellow Holgang stomp on his older brother’s head on the ground.

Holgang frowned slightly upon feeling Fen Tu Kuangge’s piercing stare. He found that gaze irritating. “Do I have a grudge against this kid? Why is he glaring at me like that?”

“Brother, that’s Fen Tu Kuangge,” Holgang Tie whispered to his side.

“I know he’s Fen Tu Kuangge,” Holgang patted his younger brother’s shoulder. “But do I have any enmity with him? He’s about ten years younger than me, of course.”

“His brother was Fen Tu Kuangxiao…”

“Fen Tu Kuangxiao?” Holgang frowned, thinking very hard for a long moment. “Who is Fen Tu Kuangxiao?”

“Brother, don’t you remember…” Holgang Tie sighed. “You’ve defeated too many people that you forgot about this one… He was an ordinary warrior from the Fen Tu Clan. He came to visit our house back then, and Brother knocked him down and stepped on his head…”

A flicker of realization crossed Holgang’s eyes. “That genius ordinary warrior! I understand now why he hates me so much. I had an injury back then, so I played a dirty trick to ensure both sides were injured for a fairer fight. Ordinary warriors are like that—so petty, not magnanimous enough. No wonder they never amount to much.”

Holgang Tie nodded repeatedly. “Brother, be careful. This guy is extremely petty. I once defeated and injured him at school. After he became stronger than me, he came back for revenge and injured me too. Even though he was already stronger than me, he still insisted on fighting me—he’s just that small-minded, not magnanimous at all. I heard he’s a True Saint with the Dual Saint Body…”

“So what? Ordinary warriors will always be ordinary warriors! How can one become a true powerhouse without a broad mind?” Holgang sneered disdainfully. “I’m ten years older than them. I’m in my early thirties now and already at the peak of True Saint strength—I’m a Bloodline Warrior! Should I be afraid of him?”

Holgang Tie nodded repeatedly. That was true! When a Bloodline Warrior and an ordinary warrior are at the same rank, the Bloodline Warrior is always stronger. Except for freaks like Qian Jin, Bloodline Warriors of the same rank are invincible.

On the spectator platform, a sudden commotion broke out.

Holgang Tie quickly turned back towards the disturbance, slightly stunned, and blurted out, “The Fen Tu Clan?”

Holgang looked back at the crowd in the stands without concern—indeed! It was the Fen Tu Clan! Many members of the Fen Tu Clan were present today, and they had even brought out their great banner!

The crowd in the stands buzzed incessantly. People willingly parted to create a path for the members of the Fen Tu Clan. No matter how swiftly Qian Jin moved, the Fen Tu Clan had represented ordinary people for too long; that mark was permanently etched in their hearts, and that respect would always exist.

People curiously watched the middle-aged man leading the Fen Tu Clan contingent. Every warrior of the Fen Tu Clan radiated a feeling of combat readiness. Only this man coughed every other step, his face pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. Though he clearly needed support, he refused everyone who offered, walking forward resolutely, step by arduous step.

Fen Tu Kuangxiao? Holgang frowned slightly, a memory crossing his mind of the young man he had defeated in the garden years ago. His leg bone had been broken, yet he refused any support, standing up through sheer grit and limping away, his eyes holding nothing but disdainful cold laughter.

Yes! It was that cold laugh! When Holgang felt Fen Tu Kuangxiao’s gaze, his pupils suddenly felt as if they were being pierced by steel needles, his pride slashed by a battle saber at that moment.

“Laugh? Keep laughing then!” Holgang coldly lifted his chin. “I broke one of your legs that day; today, in front of even more people, I’ll break both of your brother’s legs! Let all ordinary warriors know that Bloodline Warriors are not to be provoked!”

Fen Tu Kuangxiao watched Holgang’s incessantly moving mouth, a pitying smile on his face. He raised his right index finger and waved it gently left and right in front of him, murmuring softly, “You, no.”

“I am no good?” Holgang read the lip movement, abruptly raising his right hand and clenching his five fingers tightly. His arm, thick as a normal person’s calf, instantly swelled to the thickness of a normal thigh. “I will use this punch to cripple your brother.”

Fen Tu Kuangxiao slowly sat down, his gaze shifting away from Holgang. He began to look towards Fen Tu Kuangge in the resting area—the brother who carried his dreams, his life, and his honor.

Fen Tu Kuangge felt Fen Tu Kuangxiao’s gaze; his raised head showed eyes growing moist. “Brother… only…”

“Please welcome Fen Tu Kuangge of the Fen Tu Clan to the stage.”

“Please welcome Holgang of the Blasting Bear Bloodline Clan to the stage.”

Two crisp announcements immediately silenced the entire arena. Fen Tu Kuangge! The true pride of the Fen Tu Clan’s younger generation, the strongest surpassing all predecessors of the Fen Tu Clan, possessing the Dual Saint Body and formidable strength where all his Saints were True Saints! Every appearance by Fen Tu Kuangge was a battle guaranteed to attract everyone’s attention, let alone this time against Holgang of the Blasting Bear Bloodline Clan.