[Resentment and bitterness flashed through Gu Rui's eyes, only for him to bury them deep in his heart a moment later.]
[He had his own grievances. His imperial father's favoritism toward this youngest brother had truly gone too far.]
[Neither he nor his legitimate elder brother, Gu Feng, had ever been bestowed with Can Shui spiritual essence of such purity.]
[Had this opportunity fallen to him, his foundation and accumulated reserves would have carried him securely into the sixth tier, raising his cultivation to new heights.]
[Yet this spiritual essence, so rare in the world, had instead gone to his youngest brother, whose cultivation aptitude had been mediocre since childhood and whose progress had always been slow.]
[To Gu Rui, letting such spiritual essence fall into the hands of a mediocrity was nothing short of squandering heaven's treasures.]
[He was not coldhearted by nature. He, too, wanted to be a generous, gentle elder brother. Had his youngest brother not been the cherished son of that principal consort, enjoying every advantage of birth and affection, he might well have treated him sincerely, cared for him attentively, and been a good brother.]
[After a brief surge of emotions, Gu Rui put aside every distracting thought. A composed, gentle smile returned to his face. "Please continue placing your wagers, everyone. At today's Demon Fighting Arena, the winners take all!"]
["Anyone who correctly predicts the outcome will be a winner."]
[Jinhai asked, "What if two parties predict the outcome correctly? How will the prizes be divided?"]
[The merfolk princess Jiao Ling smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescents. "If two parties guess correctly, they split the prizes equally. If three guess correctly, they divide them three ways. The rules are fair, with no favoritism whatsoever."]
[The surrounding demons nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere