The first battle had ended, but the air above Tian Fa did not grow lighter with its conclusion. The earth below was still soaked in blood, dark and sticky beneath trampling boots and clawed paws.
The metallic scent of death drifted lazily across the wind, refusing to disperse, as though even the sky wished to remember what had transpired.
The surviving soldiers were retreating in uneven clusters, some limping, some leaning on their swords for support. The Xuan Beasts, too, were reorganizing in disciplined ranks, their massive bodies rising and falling with heavy breaths.
The battlefield had grown quiet, yet it was not the quiet of peace. It was the silence of anticipation.
Everyone present understood that the second battle was imminent, yet before any of the senior experts could formally speak, a sharp tearing sound cut through the stillness.
It was the crisp rupture of air being split apart.
A ripple appeared above the hilltop, distorting the light itself. From that trembling fracture descended a figure wrapped entirely in a large black robe. The garment concealed every feature, every contour of the body, leaving even the figure's gender ambiguous. The robe flowed like liquid shadow, fluttering softly although no wind stirred the air. The descent was slow and controlled, like a feather drifting downward, but the pressure that accompanied it pressed upon the hearts of those present like an invisible mountain.
The figure landed without a sound, and every gaze turned toward the newcomer.
The Demon Lord tilted his head slightly and allowed a faint smile to curve beneath his concealment. His voice carried easily across the hilltop, casual yet unmistakably familiar.
"Xue, cough, cough… I mean, Little Mei, you're finally here…"
He had nearly spoken her name, but caught himself in time. The deliberate cough that followed only made the slip more obvious.
The black-robed figure slowly turned toward him. Though no face could be seen, the slight tilt of the head and the subtle shift of the robe conveyed a silent eye-roll.
Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng stepped forward at once. Their expressions hardened, and the ease from moments ago vanished.
"Venerable Mei," Bu Kuang Feng said, one hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, "you've finally decided to show yourself. Where have you been?"
A cold snort escaped from beneath the robe.
"So that arrogant empress has sent you two here…"
The words were spoken lightly, yet the disdain within them was unmistakable.
Lei Bao Yu's brows twitched, and Bu Kuang Feng's jaw tightened as if he wished to retort sharply, yet both restrained themselves. They did not draw their swords, though their fingers remained poised.
"The first battle has ended in victory for Tian Fa," Bu Kuang Feng said steadily. "Who will fight the second round from Venerable Mei's party?"
The black robe swayed as she shifted her weight.
"The second round will be fought by Snake King. You can send any individual to fight this one. Regardless of victory or defeat in this round, I will fight the third round against all the senior experts present. I'm confident I will beat everyone."
The declaration was neither loud nor theatrical. It was spoken with calm certainty, as though she were merely stating an obvious truth.
A faint murmur rippled through the hilltop.
To fight all the senior experts alone?
The arrogance bordered on absurdity.
Bu Kuang Feng let out a short, dry laugh. "Venerable Mei is indeed bold."
She did not reply. Instead, she lifted her head slightly and released a long, piercing screech that tore across the battlefield like a blade.
The sound was shrill yet commanding, and it reverberated through bone and marrow alike.
The Xuan Beasts responded instantly.
The Bear King rolled his massive shoulders and began to withdraw.
The Golden Tiger flicked its tail, glancing back once before retreating in measured steps.
Even the lower-ranked beasts, who moments ago had been baring their fangs and roaring ferociously, obeyed without hesitation. They moved in disciplined lines, their claws leaving deep impressions in the blood-soaked earth.
On the human side, an equally strange scene unfolded.
To the utter disbelief of those watching from the hilltop, several Xuan Beasts actually lifted their claws in response.
The Golden Tiger wagged its tail once, almost cheerfully, before turning away.
The beasts retreated, and the humans stepped back.
And for one surreal moment, the battlefield resembled the conclusion of a friendly exchange rather than a life-and-death struggle.
Those who had barely escaped the encirclement felt their knees weaken. Some blinked repeatedly, wondering whether exhaustion had driven them mad. Others trembled as they stared at the sight of claws waving in farewell.
It was absurd, outrageous, and deeply suspicious.
Xiao Han's face twisted violently. His lips trembled, and a faint trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He raised a shaking finger toward Jun Mo Xie, fury and humiliation burning in his eyes.
"As it turns out… as it turns out… you guys are in cahoots… this is despicable!"
Jun Mo Xie immediately stepped forward, his expression turning sharp.
"Your mother's fart! Who can be more despicable than you? Where did you see us collude? It's called 'manners'! Do you feel nothing after having fought someone for so long? What's wrong with waving someone goodbye before departure?"
Xiao Han's chest heaved violently. "What? How do you have the face to say that? Only a few of your men had died in battle. But you still hit out at people's emotions. Do you have no shame?"
"Nonsense! Only a few of us have died? We have lost around half or more of our strength! But you? You haven't lost a single man! And yet, you still have the guts to face me on this!"
Jun Mo Xie glared fiercely, his voice rising with indignant energy.
"And that's human life we're talking about! Human life is beyond value, don't you know? Do you know how much I will have to pay in funeral expenses? It will be an astronomical figure!"
Several elders nearly choked at that.
Astronomical figure? Funeral expenses? At a time like this?
"You… you… you…" Xiao Han's face darkened further. He stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence as anger overwhelmed him.
"You just know how to make bloody accusations!" Jun Mo Xie pressed on mercilessly. "First, you covet your life and escape to save it. Then, you accuse us of being in cahoots with the enemy! Have you ever seen a man and a tiger collaborate? Why don't you try to collude with them and show me?"
The words struck hard, and though no one voiced agreement, several elders coughed awkwardly.
"Most people don't like this sort of person," Jun Mo Xie continued, stamping his foot dramatically. "You don't have any achievements of your own, so you try to diminish others' achievements! Why can't you bear the truth? How can you be so shameless?"
Xiao Han let out a hoarse roar, his vision blurring. Then, before anyone could react, he collapsed flat onto his back.
He was knocked unconscious.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts.
They might not have seen the mechanics of any collusion, but no one present had ever witnessed humans and Level Nine Xuan Beasts fight for half a day and then part with friendly gestures.
The waving claws and wagging tails were not common occurrences on battlefields.
Even so, not a single person dared to voice that suspicion aloud.
Jun Mo Xie had just invited them to try colluding with themselves.
Collude with Level Nine Xuan Beasts?
That was not collusion.
That was walking voluntarily into a tiger's mouth.
Many of them had barely escaped being shredded moments ago. Their muscles still trembled at the memory of descending claws.
Attempting it again willingly would be madness.
The Demon Lord observed the scene with faint amusement flickering beneath his calm exterior.
Venerable Mei's concealed gaze lingered briefly on Jun Mo Xie before she turned toward the battlefield once more.
The first round had concluded decisively.
The second round loomed ahead.
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