The duel began, and the atmosphere across the entire Epoch Battlefield changed in an instant.
The Netherworld King, the Ghost Princess, the Golden Dragon King, and the Twelve-Winged Seraph each retreated half a step almost simultaneously, putting distance between themselves.
Their gazes crossed, and none concealed their wariness.
They all knew they had joined forces in the previous round because Xiao Lingxi's and Xuan Qingyi's Emperor Arts were too terrifying. Without an alliance, they would have been picked off one by one.
But this round was different.
The hooded figure from the Immortal Realm and the young man from the Human Realm with a ruler over his shoulder had shown none of their true strength. Yet their composure, their utter lack of fear before four peerless monsters, was all the more unsettling.
Besides, the Netherworld King and the Ghost Princess had conceded decisively in the previous round, preserving their strength.
The Golden Dragon King and the Twelve-Winged Seraph had both suffered grievous losses, and neither was close to recovered.
With one side gaining while the other waned, the balance among the four peerless monsters had been shattered.
Xiao Yan tilted his head, the Dark Iron Heavy Ruler resting on his shoulder. The blade of grass in his mouth bobbed with the motion. He spat it out and grinned, showing a row of white teeth.
"I won't fight, but I'm taking one of the winning spots. What do you all think?"
Xiao Yan spoke first, with an almost devil-may-care ease. But his words carried enormous weight.
In two words: sheer arrogance!
Utter, boundless arrogance!
Every expert of the Six Realms froze.
"What did he say?!"
"He wants a spot without even fighting?!"
"That... that's too arrogant!"
"Who is he? What gives him the right..."
Xiao Yan ignored the uproar across the