Wang Lie immediately lifted his head and swept his eyes across the West Zhou. The Spiritual Sense of a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator erupted without reservation.
He tried to find the "expert" who had struck from the shadows.
In his view, anyone capable of silently inflicting such a heavy blow on a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator's soul—
had to be at least a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, or perhaps even a Nascent Soul old monster!
The entire arena fell into dead silence as everyone looked around.
They were afraid the mysterious expert's next target would be them.
However, Wang Lie swept his Spiritual Sense around again and again. Aside from a crowd of Rogue Cultivators trembling with fear,
he couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary.
As for Zhang Chen?
In Wang Lie's perception, he was nothing but a rookie who had only barely managed to reach early Foundation Establishment.
His Spiritual Sense was pitifully weak, so Wang Lie dismissed him outright.
"Family Head Wang, what happened to your son?"
Zhang Chen walked forward two steps with an "astonished" look and asked with concern, "Could it be that he's done so many wicked things that Heaven has punished him? Or was the sea wind too fierce and blew his precious brains clean out?"
"You little wretch, you dare curse my son?!"
Though Wang Lie was still uncertain and suspicious, looking at Zhang Chen's gloating face,
he wished he could slap him to death.
"Whether I cursed him or not, you know that perfectly well."
Zhang Chen's smile vanished, and his gaze suddenly turned icy. "This is the Arena, not your Wang Family's backyard."
"If you want to fight, then fight. If you're afraid, kowtow and admit defeat now. Take your useless son and get out of here. You might still save your dog's life."
"Good! Very good!"
Wang Lie fed Wang Teng a Mind-Calming Pill. Seeing that his son had stopped screaming,
though his eyes were still somewhat vacant, he had people carry him away.
He slowly rose, his body brimming with killing intent. "Since the Zhang Family is in such a hurry to reincarnate, I'll grant your wish!"
He suddenly flicked his hand, and a storage ring flew toward the witness stand at the center of the Arena.
"Three million Spirit Stones, plus the deed to one of my Wang Family's mines—it's all in here!"
Zhang Yunshan didn't waste words either. He tossed out a storage ring of his own.
The two rings collided in midair above the witness stand.
A flash of light—and the restrictions opened.
Clatter—
Countless Spirit Stones poured out like a waterfall, their light refracting in the sun and dazzling everyone's eyes.
In an instant, they piled up on the witness stand into a small mountain.
The Spiritual Energy was so dense it seemed almost solid, making everyone present breathe more heavily.
How shocking!
This was a full six million Spirit Stones wagered on the match!
Enough to buy up the entire wealth of several small sects!
Atop the mountain of Spirit Stones, two ancient-looking parchment scrolls floated silently.
They were the foundation of the two families' standing in the East Mountain Islands—the Spiritual Vein contracts.
"The contract is sealed. Life and Death are at stake!"
The judge, a Golden Core steward from the Outer Sea Merchant Alliance, gave the two family heads a long look.
Then he struck the enormous bronze gong.
Bang—!
"First match. Who will take the field?"
Wang Lie's face darkened as he looked back at his side.
A burly man with a face full of flesh stepped out, carrying a Xuanhua Giant Axe as large as a door.
This man was named Li Mang, a Guest Official hired at great expense by the Wang Family. Born with tremendous strength, he was a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator.
His reputation for ruthlessness was notorious in the region. Who knew how many souls had perished beneath his axe?
"Family Head, rest assured. I'll be right back!"
Li Mang gave a savage grin, then pushed off with his feet and shot toward the Arena like a cannonball. He slammed onto the platform with a crash,
shaking the ground.
He planted his giant axe on the floor and pointed at the Zhang Family's people. "Who's coming to die?!"
On the Zhang Family's side,
Zhang Chen's gaze passed over the shouting Li Mang.
His Spiritual Sense swept over the nine people who remained.
When it reached the two black-robed figures standing in the shadows behind Wang Lie, his brows lifted slightly.
On the surface, the two seemed ordinary, their auras restrained.
But under the perception of his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment-level Spiritual Sense,
deep within both their bodies surged a nauseating black aura.
It wasn't Spiritual Power, but pure Demonic Sha Qi!
"Demon Cultivators?"
Zhang Chen sneered inwardly. "The Wang Family really is a cornered dog. They've even dared to bring these rats in off the street."
"Uncle Tieshan."
Zhang Chen didn't turn around. He called out calmly.
"Here!"
Zhang Tieshan, who had long been itching for battle, stepped forward. The purple armor on his body gleamed with a cold light.
"You must win this first bout. You must not lose."
Zhang Chen looked at him, his tone calm. "That big fool may be strong, but he's not very bright. Don't meet him head-on. Use the method I taught you and wear him down."
"Rest assured, Young Master. If I lose, you won't have to lift a finger. I'll twist my own head off and kick it around like a ball!"
Zhang Tieshan grinned, showing a row of white teeth.
Then he leaped up and landed steadily on the Arena.
Compared to Li Mang's thunderous landing, Zhang Tieshan's descent was light as a feather.
"Heh, another one coming to die."
Li Mang looked Zhang Tieshan up and down, his eyes full of disdain. "You're dressed like a proper man, but let's see if that turtle shell of yours can stop one of my axe swings!"
"Enough talk. If it can or can't, why don't you find out?"
Zhang Tieshan drew the Mother Child Chain Blades from his waist. The two curved blades, one long and one short, spun in his hands.
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