Dark Chess Piece Falls, Black Sky Nears Its Collapse

The fiercest battle raged on the arena.

In the depths of the dark sky in the distance, three figures slowly emerged.

The man in the center had cascading silver hair, and his clear, silvery-white vertical pupils reflected the battle on the arena. His face was handsome yet cold.

His name was Xuanye, and he was clapping lightly at that moment, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Excellent, truly excellent."

"Chu Wujiu Yan Wujin," Xuanye's voice was clear, carrying a commentary tone, "One is decisive in killing, with a refined Dharma Manifestation form; the other has a violent temper, with pure fire intent... In this generation of the Three Thousand Provinces, a few decent figures have indeed emerged."

He paused, a hint of amusement flashing in his silver eyes:

"Unfortunately, the timing was wrong."

On the left, Chili stood with her arms crossed.

She wore a fitted purple robe, the hem embroidered with intricate flame patterns in dark gold thread, which made her bare shoulders, neck and arms appear even whiter and more radiant.

Most striking are the two long, dark jade-like horns that meander out from his hair, clearly indicating some kind of the Dragon Clan bloodline.

Upon hearing this, Chili lips curled into an undisguised contemptuous smile:

"Decent? Under this Eternal Gloom Sky Curtain, even the strongest are nothing more than fireflies struggling in vain."

Her voice carried a lazy mockery, "Do you really think you can act recklessly in my territory just because you have a lot of courage?"

The last person was named Yankui.

He had a square face and an exceptionally tall and robust physique, nearly ten feet tall.

His skin was a deep bluish-gray, his muscles were bulging, and his lines were as hard as if they had been carved from the hardest rock. Standing there, he resembled a mountain.

Yankui remained silent and did not respond.

These three are Descendants of the Foreign Realm King Sovereign.

The life-or-death arena before them was merely a scheme they had orchestrated—a grand, brutal spectacle designed to capture everyone's attention.

Only when the commotion here is loud enough and the bloodshed is plentiful enough.

Only the truly powerful figures behind them could silently infiltrate the depths of the Three Thousand Provinces to search for the High Antiquity "Blood Seed".

And... to receive that "Princess" who, by chance, infiltrated the other world but has been unable to escape due to certain unforeseen circumstances.

This is the true purpose of this event—a grand performance that uses the blood of the Prodigy as a catalyst to attract all eyes.

As for how to make this play "lively enough".

This was originally a difficult problem, but it became exceptionally simple because of the appearance of one person.

All we need to do is kill that traitor who colluded with Human Race, and then pretend it was done by Human Race —this way we can both remove a thorn in our side and enrage both sides at the same time.

Really.

Enraged, Chu Wujiu and his men initiated Life and Death Battle.

According to the Academy's ironclad rules, the challenged party has the right to choose the battlefield and establish [Death Match Rules].

The rules are simple: both sides can continuously send people onto the stage until one side has no one left to fight, or all of them are defeated and killed.

The winner can take the corpse.

The arena was set up beneath the Eternal Gloom Sky Curtain of the Outer Academy.

Home advantage, at this moment, becomes an insurmountable barrier.

No matter how strong the Prodigy of the Three Thousand Provinces are, they are still guests.

As a guest, one must accept the "displeasure" of this place.

We only need to send a few groups of people up... no, we don't need to send any at all.

The death of King Sovereign's descendant caused a stir among the Foreign Lands Prodigy, who rushed to take the stage.

Although they're all useless and can't be put to any use.

But it can still be done by prolonging the time and expending physical energy.

With each passing breath, the omnipresent and all-pervasive Foreign Lands Black Mist would seep deeper into their very bones, eroding everything, following the full force of their Dharma Manifestation forms and Spiritual Power.

As one diminishes, another grows.

Once they've been nearly corrupted by the Black Mist, slowed down, and their Dharma Manifestation have dimmed... then let the truly capable ones take action and reap the rewards.

Although it is said that they possess various heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can revive, killing a few on the spot and severely injuring a group would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the morale of the younger generation in the Three Thousand Provinces.

Meanwhile, the real "hidden hand" had already taken advantage of the deafening battle cries and towering blood to stealthily advance towards their target.

Killing two birds with one stone.

To exchange some pieces that could have been sacrificed for a complete strategic victory.

"Fight! Kill!"

"The more heroic the better."

"Every drop of your blood will become the best backdrop."

As Xuanye spoke, his silver eyes swept over Chu Wujiu and Yan Wujin, who were gradually struggling on the arena, and he said with disappointment, "But judging from this situation, it seems that we don't need to personally intervene."

"They... can't hold out much longer."

"Isn't there another guy named Qin Wangchuan?" Chili suddenly raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping towards the rear of the Human Race camp. "It's said that his talent is even more troublesome than all these people combined. Why hasn't he appeared?"

"He's in seclusion," Yankui's deep voice finally rang out, like the grinding of rocks. "However, whether he appears or not is no longer important."

"That's right." Xuanye nodded slightly.

"Once the fighting starts here, our objective... has already been achieved."

"Everything that followed was for amusement only."

"But there's one thing that does pique my curiosity."

His gaze pierced through the carnage before him, looking into the distance—to the edge of the arena, where a head, pierced by an ancient longsword, lay nailed to the ground.

The head was blurred, covered by Sword Qi and bloodstains, making its original appearance impossible to discern.

"Knowing full well that this journey would lead to certain death, they still plunged headlong into it."

"A worthless corpse... was it worth them revealing such a flaw?"

Chili scoffed, her tone full of disdain. "Who knows? He's just a traitor..."

"Watch your word choice."

Yankui suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep like muffled thunder.

He took a step forward, and his massive, mountain-like figure instantly appeared before Chili, casting a shadow that almost completely enveloped her.

"Well, he is, after all, a descendant of King Sovereign."

Chili took a step back without showing any weakness, raising her stunningly beautiful face almost touching Yankui's chest.

A defiant fire burned in his purple eyes:

"I already told you, so what?"

She held her head high, her voice sharp and piercing. "Giving up a high position to spend all day mingling with Human Race and doing stupid, pointless things, you deserve to die."

"I even think it's good that he died!"

Before he could finish speaking, Yankui made a sudden attack!

His massive, rock-carved hand, carrying an overwhelming pressure, went straight for Chili's slender neck—no fancy moves, just pure power.

Chili was prepared. She retreated like a ghost, and at the same time, her jade hand flipped, and several incomparably sharp dark red blades condensed at her fingertips, mercilessly slashing towards Yankui's wrist.

Both men were incredibly ruthless, and it looked like blood was about to be drawn.

A pair of hands casually slipped between the two.

Xuanye caught Yankui's giant hand with his left hand, and brushed past the blade of Chili with his right hand. The sharpness that was enough to tear through space turned into specks of light and dissipated in his palm.

"Alright."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unyielding tone.

Yankui slowly withdrew his hand and silently retreated.

Chili snorted coldly, dissipating the sharpness at her fingertips, but her eyes remained cold and fierce.

Xuanye first looked at Chili, his silver eyes devoid of emotion. "Even if his actions are outrageous, and even if he is inclined towards the Human Race —before being formally convicted, the nobility bestowed by blood is still of the same origin as yours and mine."

"The word 'traitor' should not be used to casually trample on people."

Chili pursed her lips but didn't refute it further.

Xuanye then turned to Yankui, his tone calm. "I know you had some connection with him."

"But that King Sovereign —his father—had already personally agreed to this plan. Now that he is dead, his corpse has been used as a pawn."

"Are you trying to question that That Lord's decision by acting like this?"

Yankui was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "... No."

"Very good."

Xuanye withdrew his gaze and looked back at the arena below.

The stench of blood was rising upwards along the Eternal Gloom Sky Curtain, and the radiance of Chu Wujiu and the others' Dharma Manifestation was already showing signs of fatigue under the erosion of the Black Mist.

"Yankui," Xuanye's voice rang out again, lower but clearer than before, "Over the years, I've heard all sorts of rumors."

He turned his head to the side, his silver eyes gleaming coldly in the darkness:

"You also harbor inappropriate thoughts about that foreign land."

Yankui's imposing figure remained motionless, but a subtle pause flickered in the depths of his calm eyes.

"If you don't want to end up being labeled a 'traitor' later on—"

Xuanye paused, as if waiting, or perhaps applying pressure:

"Right now, I can give you a chance to prove yourself."

Having said that, his slender fingers pointed towards the blood-soaked arena below:

"You will enter in person shortly."

"For this scene..."

"Draw the appropriate period."