Ling Tian naturally refused to back down from the Po Family Brothers' provocation. After all, once he'd successfully angered them, challenging Po Tian next would seem all the more reasonable. He could also provoke Po Tian into flying into a rage and unleashing a powerful ultimate move, making Ling Tian's staged defeat seem even more convincing.
As for Gu Ao and the others, they would have been only too happy if the Po Family Brothers had lost their patience and attacked early. Then they could join forces to kill them, preventing them from obtaining the Enlightenment Sacred Tree while avoiding another fight against Ling Tian—and the reputational damage of losing.
Unfortunately, things didn't develop as Gu Ao and the others had hoped. Po Di stopped Ninth Brother of Po Family and Po Family's Tenth Brother. The other Po Family Brothers were seething with anger, but they showed no sign of attacking right away.
Young Master Joyful sighed inwardly and turned to Ling Tian, a faint smile on his face. "Fellow Daoist Ling Tian, the arena is ready. Would you like to rest for a while, or accept the challenge right away?"
As Young Master Joyful spoke, Ling Tian and the others were also sizing up the arena. It had been refined from unusual materials and reinforced with powerful formation runes. Several powerful Forbidden Artifacts had even been used in its construction. Even an ordinary mid- or late-stage Ancient God would probably be unable to damage it with a full-power strike.
"Let's start now," Ling Tian said evenly. Then he asked, "What are the rules, exactly?"
"Your opponent loses if they concede, are defeated, or leave the arena," Young Master Joyful explained. "Though weapons are merciless, and powerful secret arts are difficult to control, I still hope everyone can show restraint