The Imperial Arena trembled beneath endless waves of noise.
The second phase had not yet officially begun—
and yet the atmosphere had already become heavier than war itself.
The sky above the arena was dim beneath drifting clouds, while countless banners of sects, clans, and empires fluttered violently in the wind. Tens of thousands of spectators filled every corner of the colossal structure, their voices merging into a storm of excitement, greed, tension, and bloodlust.
Because everyone understood one thing now—
the real battles were about to begin.
At the center of the arena stood twenty stone platforms arranged in a massive circular formation. Upon each platform rested glowing Spirit Herbs gathered from the restricted region.
Different herbs.
Different qualities.
Different values.
Some radiated blazing heat.
Some emitted icy mist.
Some pulsed with dense spiritual essence capable of advancing cultivation.
And every warrior standing there—
wanted them.
The rules were simple.
Brutal.
Absolute.
Challenge.
Fight.
Take.
The weak would lose everything.
The strong would claim more.
No protection.
No fairness.
Only strength.
The elderly announcer stepped forward once more, his long robes swaying beneath the cold wind.
"Those who possess Spirit Herbs…"
His voice echoed across the arena.
"…may defend them."
A pause.
"Those who desire them…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…may challenge."
The crowd exploded.
Roars shook the arena instantly.
Some spectators shouted names.
Some demanded blood.
Some watched silently, eyes cold with calculation.
And among them—
hidden figures sat quietly.
Watching.
Waiting.
Calculating.
Many were not ordinary spectators.
Hidden warriors from distant empires.
Secret envoys.
Assassins.
Observers from powerful clans.
Even the air itself felt dangerous.
Near the eastern viewing platform—
a young woman sat quietly beneath a white veil.
Zi Xianyi.
Her beautiful eyes remained fixed upon the arena below, calm yet sharp, observing every movement carefully.
Unlike the others around her, she wasn't interested in spectacle.
She was searching.
For someone.
Or perhaps—
for confirmation.
Beside her sat an old man dressed in plain white robes.
Simple.
Unremarkable.
Yet strangely—
no one near him spoke loudly.
Not because of visible power.
But because instinctively—
they avoided him.
His aged eyes remained half-closed, as though asleep.
Yet occasionally—
they opened.
And whenever they did—
his gaze always drifted toward one person.
Lin Shuan.
Interesting…
Very interesting…
Below—
the challenges had already begun.
BOOM!
A massive cultivator was sent crashing across the arena floor, blood spraying from his mouth before he rolled to a stop unconscious.
Cheers erupted instantly.
His opponent stepped forward arrogantly and seized the Spirit Herb from the stone platform behind him.
Another victory.
Another theft.
Elsewhere—
two swordsmen clashed so quickly that sparks continuously exploded across the battlefield. Their blades collided dozens of times within seconds before one finally screamed and lost an arm.
Blood stained the arena floor.
The crowd roared louder.
Madness spread rapidly.
This was no longer competition.
It was greed unleashed.
Then—
the atmosphere shifted.
Heavy.
Predatory.
The crowd near the western side began murmuring nervously.
A dark aura spread slowly through the arena like poisonous smoke.
Hei Luo stepped forward.
And instantly—
silence spread nearby.
His black robes fluttered beneath the wind while faint shadow-beast patterns crawled across the fabric like living creatures. His eyes swept across the arena lazily—
like a predator examining prey.
Eight-Star Energy Core.
The pressure alone made weaker cultivators pale.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"…pathetic."
BOOM.
Without warning—
he moved.
A warrior barely had time to react before Hei Luo's fist smashed into his chest.
CRACK.
Bones shattered instantly.
The man flew across the platform coughing blood before collapsing unconscious.
Hei Luo calmly picked up the Spirit Herb.
Then—
without stopping—
he walked toward another platform.
Another warrior froze.
"…w-wait—"
Too late.
Hei Luo disappeared.
BOOM!
The second platform exploded.
Screams echoed.
Another defeat.
Another herb stolen.
The crowd stared in shock.
"He's stealing everything…"
"He's not satisfied with one…"
"He wants them all!"
Fear spread rapidly among the remaining participants.
Because Hei Luo wasn't merely winning—
he was overwhelming.
Dominating.
Humiliating.
High above—
the crimson-robed Empire Protector watched silently.
But internally—
her expression had already darkened.
"…too aggressive."
Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Yue Sha Empire never moves without purpose."
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Hei Luo's actions weren't normal greed.
It was intentional.
Calculated.
As though he wanted to gather as many resources as possible—
before something bigger occurred.
Then—
her gaze shifted.
Toward two figures.
Mo Xiao Lan.
Yan Lie.
One stood cold and silent beneath drifting frost.
The other leaned casually against a pillar while black lightning flickered lazily around him.
The Empire Protector's eyes hardened slightly.
And then—
she transmitted her voice directly into their minds.
"Yue Sha Empire's warrior cannot be allowed to win."
Her mental voice carried authority.
Cold.
Sharp.
"There is something deeper behind this."
A pause.
"Stop him."
Mo Xiao Lan's eyes immediately sharpened.
His hand slowly clenched into a fist.
Cold mist spread faintly around him.
He had already disliked Hei Luo from the beginning.
Now—
his killing intent deepened further.
But Yan Lie—
smiled internally.
Almost amused.
Because unlike Mo Xiao Lan—
he already knew.
After all—
he and Hei Luo had already spoken before.
Worked together.
At least partially.
Interesting…
Very interesting...
Then—
the Empire Protector's gaze moved again.
Toward another figure standing silently among the remaining warriors.
Lin Shuan.
Or rather—
"Shuan Hao."
Her eyes narrowed.
That strange hidden aura…
That frost…
That feeling…
It refused to leave her mind.
She hesitated only briefly.
Then—
her voice entered his mind as well.
"You."
Lin Shuan's eyes shifted slightly upward.
"You and I will settle our matters later."
Her tone remained cold.
"But if you truly possess hidden strength…"
A pause.
"Then reveal it."
"Do not allow Yue Sha Empire's warrior to win."
Lin Shuan remained silent externally.
But internally—
his thoughts shifted rapidly.
Why?
Why would the Empire Protector personally interfere?
What exactly was Hei Luo here for?
And more importantly—
why involve him?
Then—
he responded mentally.
Calm.
Cold.
"You think too highly of me."
A faint pause.
"Or perhaps…"
"…you think I'm stronger than I appear."
The Empire Protector's expression darkened slightly.
This boy…
Even now—
he refused to reveal anything.
Her gaze sharpened.
Then—
suddenly—
a forgotten memory surfaced faintly within her mind.
That frost.
That calmness.
That concealment.
And especially—
that feeling.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…you…"
Her voice entered his mind again.
This time—
heavier.
"Are you from the Lin Clan?"
Lin Shuan's pupils contracted slightly.
"If Yu Long Sect discovers your identity…"
"…will you survive?"
The words struck harder than expected.
For the first time—
a faint ripple appeared in Lin Shuan's calm expression.
Because the moment she mentioned Yu Long Sect—
his gaze instinctively shifted.
Toward Yan Lie.
Black lightning flickered around the young man while he watched the battles below with lazy amusement.
Yu Long Sect.
The name alone caused Lin Shuan's blood to boil.
Hatred.
Cold.
Buried deep.
His fingers tightened slightly.
The Frost Divine Heart pulsed once inside his chest.
Then—
he spoke mentally once more.
Cold.
Sharp.
"So…"
"…you're asking me to kill people."
The Empire Protector didn't deny it.
"If necessary."
Silence.
Lin Shuan's gaze remained fixed on Yan Lie for several moments.
Then—
another thought emerged.
Opportunity.
A dangerous one.
But real.
And so—
he asked.
"If I stop them…"
A pause.
"What do I gain?"
The Empire Protector looked at him carefully.
Then—
slowly—
she answered.
"If Yue Sha Empire fails because of you…"
"…I can grant you access."
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"To what?"
Her answer came calmly.
"The Imperial Treasury."
For the first time—
Lin Shuan's expression truly changed.
Shock flickered faintly within his eyes.
Because the Imperial Treasury…
was not an ordinary place.
It was one of the greatest hidden treasures of Da Cang Empire.
Even speaking casually about it was forbidden unless one possessed supreme authority.
Only the Emperor.
Or the royal bloodline.
Yet now—
the Empire Protector herself had offered it.
Which meant only one thing.
Whatever Yue Sha Empire wanted—
it terrified even her.
Interesting…
Very interesting…
Lin Shuan's gaze lowered slightly.
Internally—
his thoughts moved rapidly.
The Imperial Treasury contained ancient treasures.
Rare techniques.
Forgotten artifacts.
Possibly even clues connected to the Lin Clan's past.
This…
was not a small reward.
It was a gamble.
A dangerous gamble.
And he wanted it.
Very badly.
Below—
another scream echoed across the arena.
Hei Luo stood atop a shattered platform while another defeated cultivator collapsed beneath him.
He now possessed more Spirit Herbs than anyone else present.
And he wasn't stopping.
His eyes slowly scanned the remaining warriors.
Predatory.
Patient.
Confident.
Like a beast certain of victory.
Then—
his gaze paused briefly.
On Lin Shuan.
A faint smirk appeared.
As though sensing something.
As though recognizing another hidden predator within the arena.
The wind intensified.
The atmosphere tightened further.
The crowd could feel it now.
Something bigger was approaching.
Not merely battles.
Not merely competition.
But conspiracy.
Hidden motives.
Danger beneath the surface.
Above the arena—
Zi Xianyi watched quietly.
Her beautiful eyes moved between Hei Luo…
Yan Lie…
and Lin Shuan.
Then—
toward the white-robed old man beside her.
"…Senior."
Her voice was soft.
"…do you see it too?"
The old man smiled faintly.
Without answering directly.
"The storm has already begun."
His eyes rested upon Lin Shuan once more.
"And that boy…"
A faint pause.
"…stands at its center."
Below—
Lin Shuan slowly exhaled.
His calm gaze swept across the battlefield once more.
The arena.
The warriors.
The hidden enemies.
The alliances.
The greed.
The blood.
Then—
toward Hei Luo.
Coldness appeared faintly within his eyes.
The game—
had changed.
And now—
even he could no longer remain completely uninvolved.