Shu Yu moved like a phantom, her figure flickering in and out of shadows as her blade danced around Ao Liuzi. Each slash carried spiritual energy so sharp that the air hissed in protest. But Ao Liuzi stood calm, his long sleeves fluttering lazily as he deflected every strike with ease.
Clang! Clang!
The force of their clash sent residual energy tearing into the arena floor, shaking the protective barrier erected by Sen Zhuo and Tong Men. Yet Ao Liuzi's smug smile never wavered, a silent mockery that only stoked Shu Yu's fury further.
High above, Sen Zhuo narrowed his eyes as his divine sense brushed past the small creature perched earlier on Shu Yu's head—now charging ahead like a crimson streak.
That beast… Rank Three, mid-tier? Impossible. It didn't sence this aura before.
Sen Zhuo's voice slipped into Tong Men's mind like a whisper of steel.
Brother Tong, did you feel that thing's spiritual energy before?
Tong Men shook his head, his tone grave.
No. From the start of the competition, it was hiding everything. I underestimated it.
Back in the arena, Gao Tian's footsteps cracked the earth as he sprinted toward Ao Liuzi. His usually calm face was etched with rare seriousness.
This won't be easy. A direct fight with a Nascent Soul cultivator… one wrong step and I'm dead. But Shu Yu—she must not fall.
The Ruler Dog darted ahead of him, fur bristling like sharp blades. Its golden eyes burned with a primal resolve.
That bastard Gao Tian can die for all I care. But Shu Yu… she's mine to protect.
Almost simultaneously, Gao Tian's Dynamic Palm surged forward like a collapsing mountain, while the Ruler Dog's claws glimmered with lethal sharpness. From the opposite side, Shu Yu's sword cut through the air in a crescent arc of light, striking from Ao Liuzi's blind spot.
Three attacks—perfectly timed.
But Ao Liuzi only smiled. His figure blurred.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Shu Yu's blade cleaved empty ground. Gao Tian's palm shattered the stone floor, and the Ruler Dog's claws ripped into nothingness.
A chill pricked Gao Tian's spine.
Behind me!
He and the beast spun around—too late. Two blazing orbs of spiritual energy slammed into them with crushing force.
BOOM!
The shockwave hurled Gao Tian and the Ruler Dog across the arena. Dust swirled like a rising storm.
Ao Liuzi stood there, not a hair out of place, lips curved in disdain.
"Is that all? Three against one… what a disappointment."
Both Gao Tian and Ruler Dog slammed into the arena wall with a thunderous impact. Cracks spread across the stone as their bodies hit, and blood sprayed from their mouths.
They collapsed to the ground. Gao Tian's abdomen bore the mark of a vicious strike; his clothes were torn in a perfect circle, revealing the deep wound on his belly.
Shu Yu turned her head and froze. Her calm eyes flared with killing intent as they fell upon Ao Liuzi.
"You bastard…" Her voice was low and cold, dripping with rage. "I won't let you hurt my friends this time."
In an instant, her figure blurred. With Shadow Steps, she shot forward like a streak of darkness, her presence vanishing and reappearing in front of Ao Liuzi.
Ao Liuzi raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a mocking smile. "Oh? We'll see about that."
Shu Yu leapt high into the air, spiritual energy surging into her sword. With a roar that shook the arena, she brought the blade down in a furious arc, cleaving from sky to earth, aiming straight for Ao Liuzi's head.
The blade howled through the air—but just before it struck, two fingers rose to meet it. Clang! The sword froze, caught between Ao Liuzi's slender fingers.
A smug smile spread across his face. "Oh my… Your strength doesn't feel like a mere Body Tempering Sixth Layer cultivator."
At the edge of the cracked wall, Ruler Dog staggered to his feet. His massive body trembled as he assessed the situation.
That attack just now… deadly. I can muster six percent of my strength—enough to fight like a Rank Three mid-tier beast—but… His gaze shifted to Gao Tian, who lay on the ground, eyes open yet body limp, unable to move.
…He's only at Foundation Establishment. Will he survive this?
The beast let out a heavy sigh. Then, without hesitation, he rushed forward, determination blazing in his eyes. I can't help him… but I will save my master.
Above, Shu Yu gritted her teeth. Her sword remained trapped between Ao Liuzi's fingers, unmovable no matter how much force she exerted.
This is bad… He's holding my sword with just two fingers!
Ao Liuzi finally released her weapon. Shu Yu dropped toward the ground, but before her feet could touch the arena floor, a massive spiritual palm slammed into her abdomen.
Boom!
Agonizing pain tore through her body as she was flung backward several meters. She barely managed to stabilize midair and land without collapsing.
"Shu Yu!" Ruler Dog appeared at her side, standing like a towering guardian, fangs bared and eyes fierce.
She glanced at him, heart pounding. So my beast can truly fight… Gao Tian unsealed him. But just how strong is he now?
There was no time to think. Shu Yu tightened her grip on her sword, and together, woman and beast charged at Ao Liuzi.
The arena erupted with clangs and roars as the two launched a flurry of strikes. Ao Liuzi, however, merely laughed as he deflected every blow with effortless grace.
"Haha… You and your beast? This is amusing. Come—entertain me more!"
Behind them, Gao Tian sat with his eyes open, his breath ragged.
That attack was powerful… but I can't let them fight alone.
He tried to move his body, but even his fingers refused to respond.
No… why can't I even speak? That bastard hit me in the abdomen, so why does my whole body feel paralyzed? Did he use poison? But then why wasn't the Ruler Dog affected?
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
Hey… hand over your body to me. I can win this fight for you.
Gao Tian's eyes widened slightly, his thoughts chaotic.
What was that voice?
The voice spoke again, colder and more insistent.
You've forgotten me? I'm Huan Li—the true owner of this body.
In his blurred consciousness, Gao Tian's spiritual sea stirred violently. A majestic figure emerged—a towering emperor avatar radiating golden light.
"I am Huan Li, whose powers you've been using all this time," the figure declared.
Before him, Gao Tian's spiritual avatar floated in a dim glow, his expression darkening.
"What? Huan Li? Are you joking? I am Huan Li—the Immortal Emperor!" Gao Tian's voice boomed through the spiritual sea.
The emperor avatar laughed arrogantly. "Haha! Joking? No. I am the real Immortal Emperor Huan Li."
Gao Tian stared at his own hands in disbelief.
No… who could this be? I'm Huan Li… I remember everything…
The emperor avatar sneered again. "Yes. Hand over your body to me. Give it to me!"
At that moment, something inside Gao Tian snapped. His spiritual avatar's eyes turned from golden to a deep, sinister purple.
"Are you kidding me? You fucking soul remnant! Do you think I'm mad or something?"
With a roar, Gao Tian's spiritual avatar lunged forward, his hand wrapping around the emperor avatar's neck like an iron vice.
"I spent millions of years clawing my way to power in my past life—and you dare claim I'm not Huan Li? Hahaha! What a joke! You're nothing but a fragment from my emperor soul. Do you really think you can take control of my body?"
His grip tightened. Cracks spread across the emperor avatar's golden form as Gao Tian's voice thundered like a god of wrath.
He crushed the avatar into fragments, and it dissolved into nothingness within the spiritual sea.
"I… Huan Li… the First-Titled Immortal Emperor… have lived too peacefully in this life. Now…"
A wicked grin curved his lips as his purple eyes gleamed with madness.
"I'll show them my second title."
Laughter erupted in his spiritual sea—wild, unrestrained, dripping with dominance.
With that, Gao Tian emerged from his spiritual sea and slowly rose to his feet.
His gaze swept over Ruler Dog and Shu Yu—still locked in battle, their movements sluggish, bodies battered and bleeding. Exhaustion clung to them like chains, yet they refused to yield.
Golden light burned in Gao Tian's eyes, fierce and divine. He closed them for a heartbeat… then opened them with a sinister smile.
When his lids lifted, the gold was gone—replaced by a deep, malevolent purple that radiated pure dominance. A crushing aura erupted from him, shaking the ground and splitting the air with an invisible force.
"I… Huan Li… will show you what is—" his voice dripped with wicked intent,
"—the Demonic Emperor, Huan Li can do."