Meanwhile, in Sen City – City Lord Mansion – Arena
Through the rising dust, Ao Liuzi walked forward slowly and came to stand beside Tong Men, his expression calm as ever.
But the moment Shu Yu's gaze fell on Ao Liuzi, her eyes went blank, her face darkened, and a suffocating killing intent exploded from her body like a storm.
Sen Zhuo, Tong Men, Ao Liuzi, and even Gao Tian all turned toward her in shock.
Sen Zhuo frowned and said, "Hey girl… again you're releasing killing intent?"
Above Shu Yu's head, Ruler Dog trembled slightly. His sharp senses immediately understood why Shu Yu was that furious. Without hesitation, he leapt down from her head and landed on Gao Tian's shoulders.
At that exact moment, Shu Yu let out a furious roar and dashed forward like a silver lightning bolt. Her hand flickered, and a long silver sword appeared in her grip, gleaming with cold light.
Gao Tian's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't understand why Shu Yu was doing this, but her rage felt like it could burn the heavens.
Ruler Dog quickly spoke into Gao Tian's mind, his voice urgent and furious: You bastard! That person—he's from Master's past!
"What?!" Gao Tian's mind reeled as his pupils shrank. Really… this dangerous?
Before he could process it, Shu Yu swung her sword with terrifying force, infusing it with spiritual energy. Dozens of crescent-shaped slashes tore through the air, all heading straight for Ao Liuzi.
"Shu Yu, stop!" Gao Tian roared, but she didn't even flinch.
Ao Liuzi's eyes widened. "What the—?!" He hastily summoned his spiritual energy, forming a shimmering barrier around his body. The next instant, the storm of sword arcs slammed into the barrier, erupting in deafening booms. Shockwaves rolled through the arena, but the barrier didn't even crack.
Why is she attacking me?! Is she insane?! Ao Liuzi's thoughts were a whirl of disbelief.
Gao Tian's face darkened as he shouted toward Sen Zhuo and Tong Men, "Seniors! Create a spiritual barrier around us—don't let anyone see this!"
Sen Zhuo and Tong Men exchanged glances, their expressions grave. They both shot into the air, landing on opposite sides of the arena. Spiritual light flared as they started weaving a powerful formation, sealing off the entire place from prying eyes.
Meanwhile, the participants who had already won and were registering their names for the Pill Tower felt the ground tremble violently. Gasps spread among them as they turned toward the arena, confusion and fear in their eyes.
Before they could react further, a wave of spiritual energy erupted from Sen Zhuo, lifting them all into the air. They were forcibly ejected from the arena and landed outside in a daze.
"What's going on?!" someone shouted.
Tong Lin's calm voice came from above as he floated down. "Don't panic. We'll register your names outside. Just wait patiently."
Inside the sealed arena, a chilling voice roared.
"You fat bastard! I'll kill you here and now!" Shu Yu's fury was like a raging inferno, and her killing intent surged higher and higher.
Gao Tian cursed under his breath and rushed toward her, trying to stop her rampage. "Shu Yu, calm down!"
But while running, his voice sank into his mind as he spoke to Ruler Dog through their mental link: Hey, you damn dog… if I release your seal, can you handle a Nascent Soul cultivator?
Ruler Dog's reply came, low and grim: I don't know… I've been sealed in that ridge for one hundred thousand years by immortals themselves. My cultivation has dropped too much.
Gao Tian's jaw clenched. The situation was spiraling out of control.
Gao Tian moved with lightning speed, appearing beside Shu Yu in an instant. His voice was low but urgent.
"Shu Yu, this isn't the right time."
Ao Liuzi's small eyes narrowed as he studied her. A hint of familiarity flashed in them.
"I think I've seen you somewhere… but where?" he muttered, scratching his chin.
Shu Yu's expression turned cold. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her voice sharp as a blade.
"If you've forgotten, then allow me to remind you!"
Her figure blurred as she unleashed her movement technique—Shadow Steps—closing the distance between them in an instant.
Ao Liuzi remained still, his bulky frame towering like a mountain, his thoughts tangled.
Where have I seen her before…?
The moment Shu Yu reached striking range, her aura surged violently. She activated another technique—Above the Five Route.
Suddenly, her sword trembled in her grip. Streams of elemental energy burst forth—fire, water, wind, thunder, and earth—twisting together around the blade like raging dragons.
With a sharp cry, Shu Yu slashed. The strike roared forward like a tidal wave, crackling with multi-elemental power, tearing through the air toward Ao Liuzi.
Exhaustion hit her the moment the strike left her blade. She leapt back, landing beside Gao Tian, her breath uneven.
The slash continued its deadly path, cutting the space between them like a divine judgment.
Ao Liuzi, however, didn't even flinch. He was still lost in thought.
Where… have I seen that face?
The Five Route Attack roared forward like five raging divine beasts, their combined might shaking the heavens and earth. The air split apart, and the arena beneath trembled as the devastating force rushed toward Ao Liuzi.
Yet, Ao Liuzi didn't even flinch.
He simply raised his right hand. A dark, oppressive aura erupted from his body like an endless abyss swallowing the world.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The five attacks struck his palm and vanished like raindrops into the ocean. The sky that had been split apart a moment ago returned to silence.
Ao Liuzi looked at them with calm, mocking eyes.
"Is this all?" he said coldly, his voice carrying the weight of a mountain.
Gao Tian's pupils contracted as he witnessed the technique.
"That's… an Earth-Grade Technique," he murmured in disbelief.
His heart clenched. If I don't help her, that fat bastard will kill her.
High above, Tong Men shouted down, confusion etched across his face.
"Hey, kid! What the hell is going on? Why is she doing this?"
Gao Tian glanced up briefly and yelled back.
"This is her business—something important to her!"
Tong Men and Sen Zhuo exchanged bewildered looks, but they could sense the tension. Gao Tian and Shu Yu were standing on the edge of a blade.
Turning back, Gao Tian faced Shu Yu, his voice heavy.
"Do you really want to do this now?"
Her answer came with a glare full of stubborn fire.
"I want to! If you can help, then help. If not, don't interfere!"
Her words stung like a slap. Gao Tian exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. Then his gaze shifted to Ao Liuzi, and his expression hardened into steel.
"Ah… sorry, sir," he said coldly, "but I'll have to help her. And as for you, you bastard dog… I'm unsealing you."
Ao Liuzi's face twisted into a wicked grin.
"Well, I still don't remember her," he chuckled darkly, "but if you want to fight, then so be it. And after I'm done—" His tongue slid across his lips with a disgusting wet sound. "—I'll have my fun with that little girl."
Gao Tian's eyes burned with fury. He reached out and seized Ruler Dog from his right, dragging the beast forward with no hesitation.
"Shu Yu! Hold him off for a moment!"
Ruler Dog dangled in Gao Tian's grip, his eyes bulging in indignation.
That bastard! How dare he grab me like this!
Meanwhile, Shu Yu dashed forward again, sword flashing as she launched a flurry of strikes against Ao Liuzi. Sparks erupted as steel met flesh-like iron.
Behind her, Gao Tian pressed his hand against his own forehead. Spiritual light flared as he ripped away the restrictive seal on Ruler Dog.
The moment the seal broke, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy exploded outward, distorting the air around them.
Gao Tian's voice was grim as he stared into Ruler Dog's eyes.
"Tell me… can you defeat him?"
Ruler Dog met his gaze—and slowly shook his head.
The Ruler Dog's deep voice echoed directly in Gao Tian's mind, calm yet determined:
"I can't defeat him alone… but I can fight alongside you two and try to bring him down."
Gao Tian's lips curved into a fierce grin. Without hesitation, he gently tossed the ruler dog onto the ground, then cracking his knuckles as a terrifying aura surged from his body like an erupting volcano.
"Then…" Gao Tian's eyes gleamed with battle intent as he slowly stepped forward, each step making the ground tremble, "…let's do it."