One could seal a person's vocal cords, rendering them utterly incapable of making a sound. This was a technique occasionally employed by Archmages during battle, sealing the target's cords to prevent them from chanting the syllables required for powerful magic or arranging magical elements.

However, Archmages usually possess inherent magical energy for protection. Breaking through that defense with a Sound Sealing Spell was practically impossible, making it a practically useless spell unless deployed as a surprise attack.

Greenpan possessed only mental energy, which was vastly inferior in quality to the formidable magical power wielded by Huang Quan. Against the vast ocean of her magical might, his spirit was as defenseless as an unclothed maiden facing a barbarian horde. For the Sound Sealing Spell to pierce his meager mental defenses and exert its full effect was trivially simple.

Greenpan repeatedly opened his mouth but could not utter a single sound. His arms flailed about frantically, his sallow skin flushed a deep red, and his eyes were filled with sheer terror—the uncontrollable dread that grips one facing death swept through his entire body. Somewhere beneath him, a foul, yellow fluid had stained his lower garments. Sabonis stared coldly at the unfolding scene, sighing inwardly—Greenpan... was finished!

"Biluo! You cannot kill him." Keller, still sitting on the ground, waved his hands and shouted, "He is a mage from the Everlasting Province's Mages Guild! His master is Dailkin, an Archmage in the Crystal Tower of the Everlasting Province! If you kill him, Luo will also invite immense trouble! Undo his voice immediately and give him a chance to surrender, or you will later..."

Qian Jin let out a mocking, cold laugh. Those who have never dealt with Huang Quan as a person can never truly grasp her nature. You think bringing up Greenpan's master will intimidate her? If Greenpan manages to survive this, I will sever my own head right now and kick it around like a ball for you.

Huang Quan kept her hand raised, not lowering it in the slightest. Her crimson lips parted again, releasing two crisp syllables: "Freeze." Crack-crack-crack-crack...

Moisture rapidly condensed into ice around Greenpan, trapping his frantic, flailing posture within a cage of transparent crystal.

Keller finally allowed himself a breath of relief. This Freezing Spell wouldn't necessarily kill Greenpan; perhaps this Biluo understood her limits after all... "Earth Spike."

Two simple, frigid words shattered Keller’s tentative assumption and stunned nearly every spectator present.

A column of rock, two meters high and composed entirely of packed earth, surged violently from the ground beneath Greenpan. It pierced the ice, impaled Greenpan's body, and continued upward, driving straight through his skull, resembling a hanged man suspended from a wooden beam.

The only difference was that Grant was suspended upside down with his feet tied, whereas Greenpan was skewered from below, making him appear as if he were hanging right-side up. Blood sputtered and churned from the punctured wound incessantly. The look in Greenpan’s eyes, wide open even in death, held disbelief—this woman dared to strike lethally even after learning his master was Dailkin, one of the Four Great Archmages of the Everlasting Province?

Everyone stared at Huang Quan in utter astonishment, momentarily paralyzed by the sheer ruthlessness of her combat style. Sabonis was so overwhelmed with shock that he forgot to announce the victor of the match.

Qian Jin shrugged, his expression confirming his prior expectations. Huang Quan possessed a personality fiercely devoted to her younger sister. If not for the special feathers providing protection, Biluo might have been beaten to death by Greenpan. Would the Archmage Huang Quan show mercy to Greenpan? Could the Mages Guild truly intimidate an Archmage with such a genius-level personality? Ridiculous! "City Lord," Huang Quan turned toward the main hall, "Please announce the winner."

"Oh." Sabonis quickly stood up and raised his arm, pointing at Huang Quan: "The winner of the magical duel is—Huang Quan!"

Keller turned to look at Misse, the other mage he had brought along. Today's contest was a three-part event: one magic duel, one warrior duel, and one partnership battle. Now that Greenpan was dead...

Misse, who had been watching with wide-open eyes, shook his head repeatedly, his expression resolute—even if someone took a knife to him right now, he absolutely would not step onto the field.

It was a joke! The mighty Greenpan was as fragile as an ant before the cold-blooded Biluo. Why would he participate in a partnership duel? That wasn't a duel; it was suicide! Misse had already decided that if Keller insisted on him fighting, he would immediately renounce the Keller family. At worst, his reputation would be ruined, but that was infinitely better than being impaled on an Earth Spike by that woman's spell.

Huang Quan walked quietly back to Qian Jin’s side. In a voice laced with an unusual tone, she whispered coldly, "Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Qian Jin clearly understood that this thank you was for allowing Biluo to fight to the end without interference, and also for providing the Blazing Bird Feather in the Sunset Mountains, which had saved her life during today's duel.

"Qingqing," Qian Jin said, supporting Biluo as she slumped, "Quickly fetch her some medicine for external wounds, and then make her some tea to restore her energy. I'll prescribe further treatment when I get back."

Gu Yuejiaying took the listless Biluo from Qian Jin's support, looking confusedly at the woman who had just been so overwhelmingly dominant only to become frail again in an instant. This woman was truly strange. "The next match, the warrior duelists, please take the stage."

Sabonis's words drifted across the courtyard. Keller looked worriedly at Keiji. Greenpan’s unexpected death today meant he would inevitably face punishment within the Keller family. If Keiji also suffered any mishap, Keller might truly have no option left but suicide...

"Do you have no faith in me?" Keiji stepped toward the dueling arena, carrying his three-inch, five-fen wide battle blade, his footwork steady. Only his defiant words echoed in Keller's ears: "I am Keiji, the awakened inheritor of the Thunder Leopard bloodline. In the future, I will become the strongest of all Thunder Leopard bloodline warriors, and I will challenge and defeat the Three Great Bloodline Warriors to forge a new history for them. Qian Jin, and that Archmage—they are merely stepping stones for my legend."

Keller’s dull eyes began to regain focus. Bloodline Warriors were always the strongest fighters! Had he allowed himself to doubt the Bloodline Warriors because of a failure like Greenpan? The true drivers of this era had always been the Bloodline Warriors!

Both warriors entered the dueling ring. Keiji glared coldly at Qian Jin: "Today, I will make you regret your disrespect toward me last time, and I will make you..." "Have we..." Qian Jin looked at Keiji, his mind full of question marks, "...met before?"

Keiji's haughty expression froze, replaced by a surge of anger. They had just met yesterday in Rodriguez's office, and now he was pretending not to know him? Did he think this pretense would cloud his judgment with rage? Ordinary Demon-Slaying Warriors were always like this—thinking they were clever, yet unaware that in the face of absolute strength, any petty trickery merely made them look like clowns.

Qian Jin observed Keiji’s rapidly escalating anger, as if they truly had met. He searched his memory painstakingly before sighing, "I've thought it over, and I genuinely don't recall meeting you. Perhaps you are mistaken?"

"Yesterday, in Master Rodriguez's room," Keiji sneered, watching Qian Jin as if he were a performing clown. He thought to himself: Let's see how long you can keep this act up.

"Yesterday? Master Rodriguez’s room..." Qian Jin's mouth fell slightly open, his eyebrows lifting gently. Suddenly, he remembered there was indeed another person in the room then; due to Roline, he hadn't paid any attention to them. "Oh, I remember now. So you were the other person in the room? I truly hadn't noticed."

The more earnest and candid Qian Jin appeared, the more Keiji's anger boiled over. If this were merely a tactic by his opponent, it would be one thing, but the expression held not a hint of falsehood—it was pure, naked disregard! For a Demon-Slaying Warrior to enter a room and ignore the other most powerful person present—this was tantamount to an insult.

"Very well. You will remember me for the rest of your life. No!" Keiji gently wagged his index finger. "You won't have the chance! It’s a pity; you could have died with honor on the human-demon battlefield of Warrior Glory, but today you will die in my hands without taking a shred of honor with you. But don't be sad, because your death will serve as the first stepping stone for me, the great Thunder Leopard Bloodline Warrior Keiji, in all future biographies."

Bloodline Warriors were inherently arrogant. Qian Jin simply smiled and shrugged. "Stepping stones sometimes easily become stumbling blocks. It’s better to look clearly before you step." Keiji intensely disliked Qian Jin’s casual demeanor every time he spoke—it was profoundly irritating. "What else does an ordinary Demon-Slaying Warrior have besides a sharp tongue?"

"What do you think?" The voice, containing a slight edge of suppressed anger, was not loud, yet to those listening, it sounded like rolling thunder, as if the heavens themselves were about to collapse.

Fabredith had spoken! Fabredith, the Guardian of Oakland, who was also not a Bloodline Warrior, displayed considerable anger. That last statement had clearly provoked this warrior who also lacked bloodline awakening power.

Keiji bowed slightly toward Fabredith, apologizing. He was not yet Fabredith's match today, and offending him rashly would cause serious complications. "I apologize for my previous words, esteemed Sir."

Fabredith closed his eyes, no longer looking at the unfolding contest. Sabonis solemnly announced, "The second duel of the day begins..."

The sound still echoed in the air. Keiji's body flickered slightly. Black leopard markings appeared on both cheeks, his pupils narrowed into vertical black slits, and two canine teeth extended noticeably downward. His body's musculature twisted rapidly like taut whips, and a wild aura erupted from him.

[Bloodline Battle Form]! Keiji showed no hesitation, instantly urging forth the Thunder Leopard power within his bloodline, awakening the preliminary stage of the Thunder Leopard Bloodline Battle Form. The aura of the Demon-Slaying Warrior instantly inflated to that of a Demon-Slaying Level Five Warrior!