I will now translate and polish the provided Chinese text into natural, flowing, and idiomatic English fiction, strictly maintaining the original paragraph structure and line breaks.

A lavish lineup! The young warriors who reached the Sweet Sixteen of the Rookie King tournament were each the most outstanding young combatants of their time. Yet, besides this immediate group, no other Rookie King Sweet Sixteen in recent memory could muster such an overwhelmingly powerful gathering. One by one, bloodline warriors at the peak of the Half-Saint realm, each holding a Soul Weapon gifted by Qian Jin, stood ready to immediately ascend to Sainthood should battle erupt! “In the future, I will provide you with Saint Artifacts for your ascension. So, consider these Soul Weapons your temporary arms. Under no circumstances should you use them to force your way into Sainthood.” This was what Qian Jin had told them previously. Now, facing one of the most formidable families in existence, the peak Half-Saint bloodline warriors could afford to hesitate no longer; they were poised to activate their Soul Weapons and ascend immediately, determined to assist Qian Jin in any way possible. A cohort of Quasi-Saints—warriors one breath away from becoming Saints! Soul Weapons! No top-tier warrior was unfamiliar with the legendary, still-living Soul Weapons! When the young, peak Half-Saint bloodline warriors unsheathed those Soul Weapons, a sudden tremor wracked Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s heart. If all these individuals were to ascend to Sainthood simultaneously, they could stand against any one of the current three great bloodline families. “Qian Jin is an ally of my Pan Hongji. If you wish to fight, then fight!” Pan Hongji’s towering physique landed beside Qian Jin as he spoke with imposing pride. “This Serpent Emperor has never feared anyone! You want a brawl? Then bring it!” A power far beyond the younger generation surged abruptly from Pan Hongji. As a True Saint himself, Pan Hongji already possessed deep foundations; though his attempt to reach Ultimate Awakening the previous night had failed, his strength had still surged immensely, and now it radiated outward… The Serpent Emperor, usually known for his gentle smile, now reminded many veteran True Saints of the bloodthirsty Serpent Emperor from the Human-Demon Battlefield. “If you want to lay a hand on this old lady’s student, you’ll have to answer to this broadsword in my hand first!” Isabel descended stylishly next to Qian Jin, wielding an enormous broadsword. Her powerful queenly aura was something few could meet with their eyes. “My Conquest War Academy finally achieved a decent ranking this time. Whoever ruins my hard work… I’ll chop them!” “Zhenzong, I suggest you calm your anger,” Li Ba drifted down from the sky leisurely, positioning himself alongside Pan Hongji to shield Qian Jin. “Jiu Yang Fengcai’s talent is indeed remarkable; reaching True Saint at his age is rare. But this is the Rookie King competition, and death is a natural outcome of combat. As a warrior, you should have expected this possibility long ago, shouldn’t you? If Jiu Yang Fengcai had conceded and Bu’er chose not to kill him, then even if I hadn’t intervened, I would have stepped in! But…” Li Ba trailed off with a wry smile, saying no more, merely standing quietly beside Qian Jin—showing no inclination to step aside, nor voicing any intention to confront Jiu Yang Zhenzong. In the current Zhence Dynasty, Li Ba carried the most weight and held the highest prestige. In terms of military accomplishments or seniority, Li Ba far surpassed the other top bloodline warriors. Coupled with the power boost from his attempt at Ultimate Awakening last night, his authority to speak had grown immeasurably. Jiu Yang Zhenzong understood perfectly that Li Ba was currently the only person suitable to mediate and play the peacemaker. Moreover, Li Ba’s current stance was already showing him considerable respect. Qian Jin had benefited the Li family immensely; in the future, the Li family might very well emerge as the strongest among the three major bloodline families in terms of overall strength. This was because Li Dongfeng’s entire squad had received tremendous assistance from Qian Jin! The fact that Li Ba hadn't explicitly declared the Three-Headed Golden Dragon family’s support for Qian Jin was already a sign of great deference. But if he pressed the issue further… Li Ba’s ultimate action would undoubtedly side with Qian Jin; that was not something to even contemplate otherwise. Today, whether it was Li Dongfeng, Fen Tu Kuangge, or the two young True Saint powerhouses from the Pan family, their eye-catching performances, while certainly drawing attention, had more profoundly elevated Qian Jin’s standing in an invisible way. His value had been laid bare! The fact that other families hadn't seized this chance to publicly support Qian Jin already showed they greatly valued their honor and reputation. If not for the fear of being labeled as sycophants sucking up to Qian Jin, countless families would already be standing by his side. Jiu Yang Zhenzong felt a burning, inexpressible rage knotting in his chest. The one he just lost was one of the true mainstays of the future God of War Bloodline Family! A powerhouse capable of intimidating other factions! And now he was dead… He had clearly signaled his intention to concede through action, yet he still died! “How… how could he do that?” Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s chest heaved violently. If the conflict today had only involved those young people, the God of War Bloodline Clan would have fought them until every last member was spent! But with the Serpent Emperor and Li Ba added to the mix… How could they fight? Li Ba could only offer a wry smile in return. When Duanfeng Bu’er stepped onto the arena, it was clear he intended to kill; he had used poison to silence his opponent. This only proved Jiu Yang Fengcai was inadequately prepared—no one else was to blame. However, Duanfeng Bu’er’s method was indeed troublesome. Li Ba also understood that if Duanfeng Bu’er hadn't killed Jiu Yang Fengcai this way, the rage and hatred burning within him could not have been fully vented. “Even if I hadn’t poisoned him into silence, if I wanted to kill him…” Duanfeng Bu’er stared maliciously at Jiu Yang Zhenzong, “…would he have had the chance to announce his surrender?” Everyone present paused. Duanfeng Bu’er’s moves were indeed venomous, but if he hadn’t wanted to give Jiu Yang Fengcai any chance to resist, he could have simply exploded his head the instant he arrived. “I wanted to give him sufficient pressure so he would have the chance to awaken his bloodline power,” Duanfeng Bu’er stated coldly, fixing his gaze on Jiu Yang Zhenzong. “I wanted him to see hope, and then crush that flame of hope with my own hands! Qi Jiu Yang, even without the Jiu Yang family, can still live quite well. He believed you people; he returned to the God of War Bloodline Clan to fight for his family, and what did he gain? Conspiracy, slaughter, and death!” “You bloodline clans, sitting high upon your platforms, enjoying the resources provided by ordinary people! Open your eyes and look! Look at those who live miserable lives because their bloodline powers never awakened! In your eyes, they are nothing but failed waste, useless scum! But they are still human beings!” Duanfeng Bu’er roared heavenward, his emotions surging. “When one of them finally awakens their bloodline power, you flock around them, offering your so-called goodwill! You are not the masters of power! You spend your days obsessing over power, yet you are merely its slaves!” “Jiu Yang Fengcai is dead? Does that mean Qi Jiu Yang is not dead? Jiu Yang Fengcai shouldn't have died, so should my friend die? Yes! He deserved to die! He was foolish enough to believe your lies! He returned to the God of War Bloodline Clan to sell his life! He was monumentally stupid, stupid enough to deserve death! Absolutely correct! Jiu Yang Fengcai deserves to die too! If he intended harm, he should have been prepared to face the consequences of his actions—he needed to endure the resulting wrath!” Jiu Yang Zhenzong glared at Duanfeng Bu’er, his face grim. “I am already aware of the matter concerning Qi Jiu Yang. I am extremely angry about that incident, too. But Qi Jiu Yang is dead, and Jiu Yang Fengcai is still alive! For this, I have already reprimanded Fengcai and punished him by cutting off all his family allowance for one year!” “Qi Jiu Yang’s life is apparently only worth one year’s allowance for that fool Jiu Yang Fengcai! Hahahaha…” Duanfeng Bu’er laughed, his shoulders shaking wildly. “Lord Serpent Emperor, if I returned to the Pan family, and I killed Jiu Yang Fengcai, would you also punish me?” Pan Hongji’s eyes immediately lit up, a look of unparalleled clarity flashing in his pupils. He looked at Jiu Yang Zhenzong as if wishing he could embrace the head of the God of War Bloodline Clan and plant a grateful kiss upon him for providing such an answer. “As an apology to the Jiu Yang Clan, I believe this Serpent Emperor would fine you two years of family allowance,” Pan Hongji struggled to maintain a solemn expression. “Though Jiu Yang Fengcai is so old and only reached the True Saint level, while you are already a True Saint! His life shouldn’t be worth that much, but to express my regret to the Jiu Yang Clan, and to show my annoyance, I will deduct all your monthly stipend for two years.” Duanfeng Bu’er shrugged and looked back at Jiu Yang Zhenzong. “Are you satisfied with that answer? If you truly feel my killing Jiu Yang Fengcai was excessive, then I will return to the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Clan. A one-year deduction of my stipend? To offset the life of Qi Jiu Yang? How dare you suggest it!” Jiu Yang Zhenzong frowned deeply. “Fengcai and Qi Jiu Yang’s situation is an internal matter of my God of War Bloodline Family; it’s not for outsiders to meddle in…” “I don't care about Jiu Yang Fengcai; I only know my friend died because of Jiu Yang Fengcai,” Duanfeng Bu’er shot back without hesitation, glaring at Jiu Yang Zhenzong. “Since it was a conspiracy to murder, I must seek justice for him! Jiu Yang Zhenzong, you have stood on high platforms for too long; your eyes only see profit. You have no idea what true friendship is. Close your eyes and think: when death is imminent, who is the friend you can entrust your life to? Isn't that pathetic? Not even one trustworthy friend?” “Bloodline families have been passed down for countless years; they naturally have their own rules. What would you, a bloodline warrior cast out of the family, possibly understand?” Qian Wuxingchen’s voice dripped with disdain. “Your perspective is too low, lacking sufficient altitude; you cannot grasp what is light and what is heavy!” “Who the hell do you think you are?” Duanfeng Bu’er snapped at Qian Wuxingchen. “Get lost! I don't have time for you!” Qian Wuxingchen was instantly silenced, his face flushing crimson as he glared at Duanfeng Bu’er. No one had ever dared speak to him like that—and Duanfeng Bu’er dared? He was courting death! Rage ignited the bloodline power within Qian Wuxingchen; it boiled like scalding water in his chest—a clear sign of his bloodline power activating. The anger on Qian Wuxingchen’s face transformed into a smile of satisfaction. He had been provoked by this commoner into activating his bloodline power once again! True Saint! Another person had awakened their bloodline power and broken through to the True Saint realm! The nerves of the two hundred thousand spectators had long since grown numb; they were only trying to process what kind of day this was, watching one person after another break through to the True Saint realm! The numb crowd simply stared blankly at the center of the arena, where the overwhelmingly lavish lineup stood. They offered no gasps of awe over Qian Wuxingchen’s breakthrough. Qian Wuxingchen looked up at the audience with a face full of fury. Every time someone reached the True Saint realm today, these people always made sounds of astonishment. Why was it that when it came to him, not a single gasp was uttered! Why? Why? Qian Wuxingchen’s rage escalated, and the activating bloodline power surged with it, instantly surpassing the initial breakthrough level of a True Saint. Qian Zhanxuan, whose face rarely betrayed emotion over millennia, finally allowed a faint smile to surface. This was the true most talented bloodline warrior of the Qian family, far superior to Qian Wushuang. He remembered how, at the age of six, before his bloodline power even awakened, he could tear apart tigers and leopards with his bare hands! Once his bloodline activated, his strength always left others of the same rank far behind. Qian Zhanxuan felt immense pride, his pupils filled with relief. Those who had never fought Qian Wuxingchen could never truly know how terrifyingly powerful this young bloodline warrior was. His existence seemed purpose-built for battle. Arrogant? Qian Zhanxuan smiled faintly. That was because Qian Wuxingchen had always possessed the strength to back up his arrogance! Wasn’t Qian Jin also arrogant? A common warrior tossing a throne onto the stage and uttering such audacious words—which bloodline warrior wouldn't find that intensely abrasive? Arrogance? As long as one has sufficient strength, what’s wrong with a little arrogance? Too much had happened in the arena today. Normally, one person achieving the True Saint realm would be enough for people to discuss for a long time. Today? Young powerhouses were achieving the True Saint realm in quick succession, making people feel almost desensitized. Even if they weren’t truly numb, they wouldn’t be overly captivated by a young man entering the True Saint realm. How could that compare to the high-stakes confrontation between the God of War Bloodline Clan and Qian Jin’s small faction? “In the presence of His Majesty the Emperor, do you people have no sense of deference as subjects!” Li Chengliang, a civil official, posed the question with the straightforward authority of a seasoned administrator. His voice echoed throughout the entire arena via magical transmission, reminding the warriors teetering on the brink of open conflict. Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s neck snapped toward Baolong Zhence on the high platform as if struck by steel cable. “Your Majesty, I see my own junior unjustly slain, resulting in the loss of a future powerful warrior for the Dynasty. I acted rashly in my anger. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice.” Open conflict? Jiu Yang Zhenzong realized this was now nearly impossible. Pan Hongji was clearly prepared to tear off the mask of diplomacy; if they fought, he wasn’t afraid. Furthermore, although Li Ba presented himself as a mediator, if a real fight broke out, he would certainly side with the aggressor. Baolong Zhence was greatly troubled. Unlike the Emperor Fulong Zhence, he lacked the powerful charisma necessary to compel the strongest figures of the three great bloodline families to obey his direct orders. Over countless years, in their wars against the Demon Race, the bloodline families had not weakened; instead, they had grown stronger and more imposing. At least when it came to dealing with imperial authority, they possessed significant autonomy. Ultimately, all the bloodline families remained loyal to the Zhence line for one reason: none of them wished to see another bloodline warrior become Emperor. Thus, it was better to have a commoner rule! If any bloodline family objected, the other bloodline families would have the pretext to eliminate that dissenting clan and divide their power base. This subtly strange equilibrium actually prevented the Zhence Dynasty from collapsing. As time passed, the populace had long accepted this arrangement, viewing it as the best possible system, where the Emperor held the ultimate, inviolable authority. Pan Hongji watched Jiu Yang Zhenzong with a cold sneer. He was, after all, the head of a major bloodline clan; in such a short time, he had figured out how to leverage imperial power to pressure everyone else. Defying imperial authority was equivalent to opposing the entire class of bloodline warriors! No bloodline family would intentionally challenge the throne. Baolong Zhence looked upon the scene with immense difficulty. If he could, he would much rather be sleeping in the Imperial Palace than dealing with these disputes involving bloodline warriors whose personal combat strength, in certain respects, could surpass imperial authority. But an Emperor was still the Emperor; if the Emperor didn’t attend to the matter, the nation truly risked chaos. Baolong Zhence could only sigh in resignation, his eyes flashing with intelligence as he rapidly organized the situation, calculating the bottom line for everyone present—what each party could accept and what they desired—to find the most balanced pivot point. Besides governing the nation, the Emperor was frequently required to mediate the relationships between the various bloodline families; this was a task every Zhence Emperor had managed repeatedly. Baolong Zhence’s silence brought silence to everyone else; no one paid any further attention to Qian Wuxingchen’s True Saint status, which deeply dissatisfied him. Only by killing an opponent of equal True Saint standing could he restore the glory and prestige of his Elf King Bloodline Warrior lineage, Qian Wuxingchen thought resentfully. It was all that useless Qian Wushuang’s fault, being crippled by one blow from Qian Jin, causing the Elf King Bloodline Warriors to receive insufficient attention and notice in this Rookie King tournament. “The relationships here are complicated,” Baolong Zhence finally spoke after a long silence. “There is mutual enmity, but there are no signs of this conflict ending. Factional infighting can only bring disaster to the nation and delight the Demon Race. To terminate this endless cycle of hatred, we shall adopt the oldest, yet simplest method: a duel!” A duel! Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s eyes immediately softened, shining with boundless joy. His Majesty the Emperor had ultimately chosen an option that favored him! If a duel were to take place, he would naturally participate alone, making it impossible for Pan Hongji and Li Ba to intervene. “Your Majesty, how shall this duel be fought?” Pan Hongji asked Baolong Zhence with a smile. “Asking a current supreme veteran warrior to fight against a young True Saint who has just ascended to the peak echelon—isn’t that rather unfair?” “That of course…” Baolong Zhence sighed, shifting his gaze to Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s face. “Zhenzong, if you had to fight one against two, would that be unfair to you?” One against two? Jiu Yang Zhenzong laughed. Qian Jin had spat blood after taking one punch from him; could Duanfeng Bu’er really be much stronger than Qian Jin? Two punches would be enough to make both men spit blood all over! “Your Majesty, are you suggesting I duel Qian Jin and Duanfeng Bu’er simultaneously?” Jiu Yang Zhenzong announced loudly. “If so, in pursuit of revenge, I am willing to risk the attempt!” “Heh,” Pan Hongji scoffed coldly, crossing his arms. “What a great risk. A thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand times greater risk than fighting the Great Demon King Lucifer on the Human-Demon Battlefield.” Jiu Yang Zhenzong’s face showed no trace of embarrassment, completely unruffled. Baolong Zhence automatically ignored Pan Hongji’s comment. If he engaged with that statement, only the Stars knew what cutting remarks might leap from the Serpent Emperor’s mouth. If Jiu Yang Zhenzong couldn't maintain his composure, he might be provoked by the Serpent Emperor into an irrational act, giving Pan Hongji an opening; the Serpent Emperor was no philanthropist. “Qian Jin… Duanfeng Bu’er, what about you two?” Baolong Zhence looked at Qian Jin, though his eyes secretly darted toward the nearby, wooden-faced Zhence, seeking a definitive answer from his son. If his son didn’t favor this fight, believing it posed an irreparable loss to the nation, then he would devise another plan. The wooden Zhence smiled slightly and nodded. Qian Jin had two seals covering his body; if both were broken, the outcome against Jiu Yang Zhenzong would truly be hard to predict—perhaps Qian Jin would have a sixty percent chance of winning? Fifty, forty? But! If Duanfeng Bu’er were added! The wooden Zhence genuinely couldn't imagine any reason or possibility for these two combined forces to lose. Two True Saints possessing four Soul Domains, coordinating and unleashing power through mutual synergy, would absolutely generate more force than a simple addition of two individuals. Moreover, these two had fought side-by-side for so long, their life-and-death combat intuition had reached a level where a mere glance informed the other what to do next and how to coordinate. The Instant Teleportation Soul Domain would allow the pair to appear at any location freely. The Violence Soul Domain could rapidly boost their strength, unleashing astonishing destructive power. The Soul Domain akin to combustion could also enhance fighting prowess while simultaneously burning the surrounding air, causing opponents difficulty breathing and thus weakening their combat ability.

The combination of the Teleportation Soul Domain and the Lightning Soul Domain truly made it hard to find any other pairing that allowed a warrior to move with greater swiftness.

As for the established veterans? Top-tier? It seemed impossible to conceive of any scenario where the taciturn Mu Ne Zhen Ce, utilizing the synergy of Qian Jin and Duan Feng Bu Er against the Nine Yang True Sect, could possibly suffer defeat.

Bao Long Zhen Ce observed Mu Ne Zhen Ce's reaction with surprise. Such profound confidence? It appeared he was genuinely looking forward to witnessing the ensuing battle. Were these two young men truly that formidable? Could their combined strength truly overcome the Nine Yang True Sect?

"I do not agree."

"Nor do I!"

The words burst from Qian Jin and Duan Feng Bu Er almost simultaneously, causing the surrounding powerhouses to momentarily freeze. Many on their faces betrayed faint smiles; it seemed these youngsters finally understood the sheer difficulty of facing established, veteran powerhouses.

Qian Zhan Xuan frowned slightly, a hint of incomprehension crossing his features. When this Qian Jin was still a Demon Suppression Warrior, he dared to defy the Qian family. After becoming a full Demon Suppression Warrior, he directly challenged the Qian family. How could a person whose audacity spanned the capacity to envelop the very stars suddenly refuse such an opportunity?

Pan Hong Ji was equally taken aback. What were these two boys, Qian Jin and Duan Feng Bu Er, thinking? Their combined effort might actually be enough to topple the Nine Yang True Sect. His sarcastic remarks earlier were merely a prelude to accepting the challenge and boosting morale. Had they truly believed, upon hearing his words, that victory was impossible, thus leading to their refusal?

"What's the fun in a two-on-one fight?" Duan Feng Bu Er tilted his chin upward. "One-on-one! That is the proper way for a man to fight! One-on-one, true men, no explanation needed!"

The crowd stared in stunned silence at Duan Feng Bu Er's defiant outburst. This young powerhouse, having just ascended to the True Saint realm, immediately challenged one of the strongest True Saints to a one-on-one duel unto death.

One-on-one! This particular one-on-one duel was not like the one between Qian Jin and Qian Zhan Xuan, which carried a degree of performative elements.

Although Qian Jin had shown no hint of performance in that previous battle—fighting brilliantly and passionately—Qian Zhan Xuan had not risked his life to fight to the death, meaning the intensity could not compare to this upcoming clash. Even with the ferocity Qian Jin had displayed back then, he had ultimately failed to defeat Qian Zhan Xuan, resulting in nothing more than a supposed draw on the surface.

One-on-one? Duan Feng Bu Er? Wasn't he courting death! This exact thought surged through the minds of nearly every veteran powerhouse present.

Pan Hong Ji and Li Ba exchanged a startled look. The sheer momentum of these young fighters, charging forward so bravely, was truly astonishing!

The audience of two hundred thousand erupted! The younger generation was finally making a genuine challenge against the established older guard!

The Nine Yang True Sect’s brows were deeply furrowed as he scrutinized Duan Feng Bu Er for a long moment, trying to discern what was going through this young man's mind to dare utter such words. A one-on-one battle? Did he truly believe that once they reached the True Saint realm, their strengths were perfectly equal?

"You are no match for the two of us," Qian Jin finally spoke, his voice ringing clear. "I also choose to fight you alone."

Alone again! The Nine Yang True Sect’s beard bristled with anger. One-on-one? Was this an insult to the Nine Yang lineage? Did today’s youth truly believe there was no gap in strength among True Saints? Even if they possessed trump cards, did the War God Bloodline Family lack them? Every major family that had been inherited for countless years possessed its own hidden aces. The War God Bloodline Family earned its title naturally because of its potent reserves.

"One-on-one? Very well!" The Nine Yang True Sect lifted his head high. "I have no objection! If you two wish to go back on your word, you are free to choose the two-on-one battle at any time."

"Since both sides agree," Bao Long Zhen Ce coughed lightly, "then this duel shall be set for one month from now!"

The Nine Yang True Sect gave a faint, chilling smile in his eyes. Even if His Majesty granted them an extra month, it would be meaningless. For those of the ultimate bloodline, a month could bring countless unforeseen changes, but for others… a month was simply too short, far too brief.

"I shall abide by His Majesty's arrangement," the Nine Yang True Sect bowed deeply to Bao Long Zhen Ce. His gaze sliced through the crowd shielding Qian Jin, finally landing on Qian Jin with a vicious glint: "Prepare your coffin!"

Duan Feng Bu Er replied languidly, "You should prepare your burial robes and write your last testament first."

The Nine Yang True Sect let out a cold laugh. "Many have said that to me. In the end, I was the one buying the burial robes and the coffins for them."

"That's excellent! You must be very familiar with the coffin shops. Perhaps this time, if you tell them it’s for yourself, they might even give you the robes for free and a discount on the coffin," Duan Feng Bu Er sneered. "It seems your past efforts were not in vain."

A hint of a smile touched Chek’s icy face. If it came to a fight, the Nine Yang True Sect might defeat Duan Feng Bu Er now, but when it came to verbal sparring? Two Nine Yang True Sects combined couldn't match one Duan Feng Bu Er.

"Arguing with me? Ha!" Duan Feng Bu Er raised his hand to cover the right half of his mouth, posturing aggressively. "Let me tell you! Even if I cover half my mouth while arguing with you, you’ll still be the one to lose!"

The two hundred thousand spectators were utterly baffled. What was this? The powerhouses were arguing so skillfully? Usually, powerful figures rarely engaged in arguments, preferring to draw weapons and fight immediately. This Duan Feng Bu Er was truly a bizarre warrior.

The Nine Yang True Sect snorted, ceasing his entanglement with Duan Feng Bu Er. After a few exchanges, he realized he was no match for the young man in a verbal spat. His lifelong habit had always been to skip words and resort to physical assault; this kind of back-and-forth was simply not suited for him.

The powerful figures from various regions returned to their designated spots as the Nine Yang True Sect departed, clearing the vast arena.

A duel involving established powerhouses, spurred by a match that looked like a slaughter, was something that had never occurred in the history of the Newcomer King Competition.

On the same day, a large contingent of True Saint powerhouses appeared!

A newcomer challenged an enraged veteran powerhouse to a death match—and survived!

A veteran powerhouse agreed to a life-or-death duel with a competitor from the Newcomer King Competition!

On this day when heavy rain descended, countless unprecedented events unfolded at the Newcomer King Competition.

"Qian Wu Qing versus Tie Ge Zhan Hun from the Titan Bloodline Clan!"

The crowd hastily composed themselves and refocused their attention on the arena, where the next round of combat was about to commence.

Qian Wu Qing! The warrior who defected mid-stream from the Elven King Bloodline Family; the young warrior rumored to have once attempted to assassinate the current Prince; the young warrior who previously displayed ruthlessly savage techniques in the arena—he was once again before their eyes.

Qian Wu Qing hovered quietly above the cratered arena. Without warriors who had attained sainthood, fighting was impossible now; the original stage was gone, and a replacement would not appear immediately. All combat would have to proceed in mid-air.

The torrential rain lashed against Qian Wu Qing’s body, severely obstructing everyone's line of sight, making it difficult to clearly discern the warrior who had betrayed the Elven King Bloodline Family.

Tie Ge Zhan Hun stepped across the raindrops, slowly approaching the sky above the arena. The Titan's battle soul loomed tall behind him. His body appeared to stand in the center of the Titan's outstretched palm, as if the Son of Titan, deflecting all the falling raindrops.

"Hee... Hee-hee-hee..." Qian Wu Qing's laughter was grating, sounding like the screech of glass being violently scraped against a blackboard. "The blood of the Titan, the power of the Titan! It will help me reach an even greater peak! Watch as I devour you all, one by one, and become the god standing atop the stars!"

"Tie Ge Zhan Hun, come down," Qian Jin couldn't help but interject. "You cannot defeat him. He is far more dangerous than you imagine."

Tie Ge Zhan Hun turned to look at Qian Jin. "I know what kind of monster he is. As the strongest warrior of the younger generation in the Titan Bloodline, I also possess significant knowledge. Retreating now is not in the nature of my Titan Clan..."

Qian Jin frowned, slowly rising while leaning on the throne. Though he disliked the arrogance of this young Titan Bloodline warrior, he disliked the unsettling, strange aura emanating from Qian Wu Qing even more. Furthermore, he clearly remembered the sneak attack from that day.

"Qian Jin," Duan Feng Bu Er placed a hand on Qian Jin's shoulder and glanced towards an entrance, where a warrior stood who appeared utterly ordinary.

Ordinary leather armor, an ordinary appearance, an ordinary battle blade, an ordinary physique—he blended seamlessly into the crowd. Yet, the fierce, bloody aura and wild essence flickering in his brow betrayed his lack of ordinariness.

A bandit! Qian Jin was far too familiar with that scent, having once been part of the bandit community himself. The Bandit King, Ba Huang Wu Sheng, had often stated that Qian Jin was destined to be the next Bandit King!

Bandits appearing here? This was strange! Qian Jin moved towards the bandit without hesitation. If a bandit showed up here, they were clearly looking for him. It certainly wasn't because the bandits were bored and decided to enter the capital city of the Zhen Ce Dynasty for a mass robbery. They wouldn't dare attempt such a thing unless Ba Huang Wu Sheng had truly gone insane.

Almost simultaneously, Mu Ne Zhen Ce spotted a warrior clad entirely in black armor, where every critical defensive point was engraved with the image of a black dragon, appearing beside Bao Long Zhen Ce.

The Black Dragon Guard! The Zhen Ce Dynasty’s terror organization, comparable to the Demon Race’s Dark Division! These members held immense authority; they could break into high officials' manors in the dead of night, kick down doors, and, without any imperial edict from His Majesty, could chain the necks of officials and family managers and drag them to prison. Anyone who dared resist the Black Dragon Guard was charged with treason! The leader of every generation of the Black Dragon Guard was always a top-tier powerhouse from one of the Three Great Bloodline Families.

Currently, the leader of the Black Dragon Guard was the head of the Three-Headed Golden Dragon family. Since Li Ba was still alive, the family head did not have an excessive amount of domestic matters, allowing him to take the position.

The sudden appearance of the Black Dragon Guard during the Newcomer King Competition caused the ** warriors and family heads to sense an immediate, tightening tension in the air. Had the Demon Race begun a full national mobilization, shifting all combat strength to the front lines? Other than such a major event, there was no other conceivable reason for the Black Dragon Guard to be present here!

Bao Long Zhen Ce listened to the low report from the Black Dragon Guard; his expression grew heavy. The furrow in his brow was a hundred times more intense than when facing the Nine Yang True Sect’s clamor. His weight-of-a-thousand-pounds gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on the back of Qian Jin, who was walking toward the exit.

In the sky, a massive bolt of lightning flashed, as if intent on truly tearing the stars apart, causing stellar fragments to tumble down toward the earth.

Amidst the clap of thunder, everyone sensed an ominous flavor, heavy with oppression.

Qian Jin listened to the words delivered by the bandit messenger, his face turning ashen. The reflection of the lightning illuminated his features, conveying an inexpressible sternness and rage.

At that moment, streak after streak of lightning cracked across the sky, continuously sounding deafening peals of thunder.