The four Great Cosmos-level demons felt as if their chests had been violently stomped upon, their sternums seemingly on the verge of cracking.

It wasn't just them; even the man shrouded in the black robe, who had just blocked one of Ye Jingyu's strikes, felt a sudden constriction in his chest...

The Second Step! Bind!

The four great demons instantly felt their bodies utterly confined, unable to move even an inch; even boosting their power became a struggle.

As for the black-robed man, he had already rapidly retreated out of range of the Nibo Seven Steps the moment Ye Jingyu took the first step, gasping for air—the previous exchange had clearly taken a heavy toll.

The Third Step! Press!

Suddenly, they felt as if a colossal mountain had descended upon them, suffocating their chests, with the faint sensation that their flesh was being flattened and their bones ground to dust. They could only muster their innate strength to resist this pressure, utterly incapable of fully controlling their own movements.

The Fourth Step! Burst!

The blood of the four demons began to boil and swell, as if ready to rupture their very blood vessels. Furthermore, they felt every cell within their bodies on the verge of explosion. It was only thanks to their profound cultivation and formidable physical bodies that they hadn't detonated simply by the release of this fourth step.

The Fifth Step! Shatter!

At this moment, the golden light radiating from beneath Ye Jingyu’s feet became blindingly intense. The bodies of the four demons could no longer withstand such power; they began to fracture, and streaks of dark-golden blood seeped out from within them.

Sensing this terrifying force, the four demons had long abandoned any thought of continuing the fight. All their internal power was focused solely on resisting the oppressive might. Their bodies completely lost control and shot outwards, crashing heavily onto the arena floor below.

The crowd erupted in cheers once more. This was the powerhouse they longed to see; only such strength was worthy of commanding the Blood Demon Legion.

Shouts of "Jing!" echoed throughout the entire arena, yet Ye Jingyu remained standing quietly, his face devoid of much smile. Although his physical body was incredibly robust, he had sustained attacks from several peak Cosmos-level experts working in concert, and the subsequent Nibo Seven Steps had drained a significant portion of his energy. This was assuming he hadn't sought to kill them outright, merely stripping the four demons of control over their bodies for the time being.

Cosmos-level masters were certainly not famous without reason.

Of course, the most crucial factor was that the man chained in iron was slowly rising to his feet. For some inexplicable reason, as he stood, Ye Jingyu noticed the man was not particularly tall—even somewhat shorter than himself—yet he exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression.

It wasn't just Ye Jingyu; even the black-robed man felt this pressure, like a ferocious beast, imprisoned for tens of thousands of years, suddenly breaking free—violent, manic, crushing, like a volcano poised to erupt at any second.

Sensing this aura, Ye Jingyu’s brow furrowed tightly. He scrutinized the man closely and finally realized the chains weren't merely wrapped around him; they pierced through his body, emerging from his collarbones, as if the entire length of iron had grown directly out of him.

This iron was neither truly metal nor wood, its composition unknown, yet it was carved with numerous complex runes. The entire chain acted as a seal, locking away the man’s true power.

Who was he? How had he ended up this way, and who had imprisoned him so?

At this moment, it wasn't just Ye Jingyu and the black-robed man who were stunned; even the spectators in the stands held their breath, seemingly sensing the same oppressive atmosphere.

Setting aside the other City Lords, those governing the Martial Cities couldn't help but direct their gazes toward Yuan’s private box upon feeling the aura emanating from this man. Their minds drifted toward certain legendary figures—beings whispered about since the demons still dwelled in the Abyss thousands of years ago? The legend told of a demon with peerless talent, on the cusp of breaking through the Cosmos level to reach the Universe level, who refused the Demon Lord of Destruction’s commands, resulting in his imprisonment. This demon possessed immense power and exceptional potential to surpass the Cosmos rank.

Could it be him? Judging by the material of the chains and the strange runes, it could only be that individual. But why would Yuan release such a monster? Had he finally gained control over such a creature?

Subtly guessing the identity of the chained figure, the Martial City Lords understood that when Yuan proposed forming the Blood Demon Legion, he was prepared for this exact scenario: waiting for them to challenge him to a duel, only to deploy that man and legitimately claim a new army.

Such deep calculation, such brilliant plotting. Everyone realized that even without Ye Jingyu intervening, this duel had lost its meaning. If it were truly that legendary figure, then any champion they sent forth stood no chance. Even with the seal still active, his power was far beyond what an ordinary Cosmos-level master could withstand, especially considering the immense effort the powerful Demon Lord of Destruction had expended to defeat him back then.

The Lord of Dark City, Jian, even entertained the thought of sending his own retainer into the fray, reasoning that a duel against such a monster was purely courting death.

As for Ye Jingyu, Jian believed he was finished and wouldn't need to act further.

"Will you step down yourself, or shall I send you down?" At this juncture, the disheveled man suddenly spoke. Although his words were directed at Ye Jingyu, everyone understood he was addressing the man cloaked in black.

"In your esteemed view, do I lack even the qualification to spar with you?" Jian desperately hoped the black-robed figure would seize this moment to exit, but a low voice emerged from beneath the black hood.

"Hmph..." The disheveled man snorted coldly. The chains on his body snaked out like vipers, shooting instantly toward the black-robed man. Offering no chance to react, they plunged deep into the black robe...

Clang... A sharp sound rang out, immediately followed by the sight of the black-robed man soaring away as if he were a baseball struck by a bat.

Initially, the crowd expected him to be flung clean out of the arena, but to their surprise, he abruptly halted his momentum right at the very edge of the platform...