"No-defense combat!"
"Both sides may use any means to attack their opponent."
"However, you may not defend yourselves in any way. Defensive treasures, defensive Dou Techniques, body-tempering secret arts-all are forbidden."
"The match will only be decided when one side falls and can no longer fight."
The Ghost-Faced Referee announced the rules, making Xiao Yan's brows furrow slightly.
"You didn't deliberately come up with this format to stop me from wearing the Gold Cloth, did you?"
Xiao Yan looked at the Ghost-Faced Referee and slowly voiced his question.
At that moment, he felt rather singled out.
Why did every match involving him have to become a fight to the death?
He had never seen such brutal rules when anyone else took the stage.
The earlier no-rules combat had been fairly normal, so he could let that slide.
But now it had become no-defense combat. Xiao Yan would never believe the referee wasn't targeting him.
"Please do not question the referee's impartiality."
"The match format is selected entirely at random. Even as the referee, I cannot manipulate it behind the scenes."
"Besides, the match has not officially begun. You may choose to forfeit."
The Ghost-Faced Referee spoke with righteous conviction.
Forfeit?
Xiao Yan certainly wasn't going to forfeit.
He had coveted the Inner Academy's fallen heart flame for a long time.
"Let's begin!"
Xiao Yan spoke calmly.
"Very well. Begin!"
After confirming that Xiao Yan would not forfeit, the Ghost-Faced Referee immediately started the match.
"Junior Xiao Yan, you should have forfeited."
"Without defending yourself, you can't possibly be my match."
Lu Mu looked at Xiao Yan, sounding somewhat regretful on his behalf.
"You seem very confident in yourself."
Xiao Yan had some impression of Lu Mu. He seemed to like Xiao Yu, and his fire control was pretty good.
"If