When top-tier experts faced off, many factors determined victory or defeat; it did not depend solely on personal strength.
Performance in the moment, whether their martial styles countered one another, whether the outside environment had any effect, even whether their mental states were full and focused during the duel—all of these could tip the scales of victory.
The man whose wrists still bore broken shackles, and Hegemon King Spear Ruan Xiong, could both be called top-tier experts. Their internal power and techniques had already reached the point of consummate mastery.
Under such circumstances, external factors could have an enormous impact.
For instance, when the two dueled, Ruan Xiong had the many Red Skull experts standing guard at his side. His spirit was full, inspiration surged like a tide, and he bore no burdens. Naturally, he could exert his full level of strength.
By contrast, the man had to deal with Ruan Xiong while also guarding against hidden arrows that could arrive at any moment. That was the invisible pressure imposed upon him by the environment.
The young Empty-Handed Trickster was so certain that this man was no match for Ruan Xiong not necessarily because he truly believed the man's martial arts were inferior.
It was more likely that the influence and bias brought by external factors were greater.
That said, Meng Zhao was likewise a top-tier expert, and his martial arts were even stronger than those two men locked in a needle-point-against-wheat-awl struggle.
As he watched from the side, it would be fine if he honestly did nothing. But if he also had an inclination, it would be enough to bring a world-upending change to the situation.
On the other side, the man as steady as Mount Tai now looked toward the Hegemon King Spear in Ruan Xiong's hand and