Chapter Thirty-Eight: Arrogance (Third Update!)

“It’s not that we look down on Shrouded Heaven City, but along the way, among the younger generation of the Tianwu Empire, there truly isn’t a single figure worthy of our attention,” one of the group of young men with golden hair and blue eyes said coldly from below the stage.

“Hmph! The Tianwu Empire is teeming with heroes—how could you barbarians ever compare? Today’s humiliation, I will remember. If you manage to leave Shrouded Heaven City alive, then wait for the day I come to reclaim this blood debt!” The youth below, bloodshot eyes burning with indignation, gritted out his words through clenched teeth as he pointed at the youth on the arena, his injuries severe.

“Though I spared your life just now, your words have changed my mind. It’s not fear of your vengeance, merely that I tire of having to deal with you again in the future.” Upon the martial stage, the youth carried himself with arrogant nonchalance; upon hearing the words from below, he didn’t even turn around, simply flicked his finger, sending a streak of spiritual energy flying straight toward the wounded youth.

“Arrogant fool! Do you think the sons of Shrouded Heaven City are worthless?” As the blade’s aura swept forth, the streak of spiritual energy was instantly blocked. From the crowd, a young man in blue leapt swiftly onto the martial stage.

“Remember the name of the one who’ll cut you down—I am Duan Jian.” With his long blade held horizontally, Duan Jian summoned every ounce of spiritual power in his body, channeling it into the weapon.

Without waiting for the holy land youth to speak further, Duan Jian struck first, his blade sweeping out, a slash of energy slicing through the air toward his opponent.

“A mere grain of sand dares to shine?” the holy land youth remarked lightly, waving his hand. Instantly, a blossom of black fire ignited around his palm.

“Break!” At the very instant the blade’s light neared him, the youth spoke calmly, waving his hand as though brushing aside an annoying fly.

In that moment, a tiny wisp of black fire split from his hand, drifting weightlessly to meet the incoming blade energy…

A sharp pop, like a balloon bursting, sounded. At the instant the spiritual blade met the black flame, under the eyes of the crowd, it was rapidly consumed to nothing, unraveling into visible threads of energy that were absorbed by the flame. The black fire, after devouring the spiritual threads, flickered as if burning ever more vigorously.

“Go!” With another flick of the youth’s hand, the flame darted through the air with a life of its own, shooting toward the blade-wielding Duan Jian.

“Stay back!” After witnessing his spiritual power devoured by this strange flame, Duan Jian dared not meet it head-on again. As the fire closed in, he swung his blade with precision, cleaving directly into the black flame.

“Ah—what’s happening?” At first, the black fire vanished at the stroke of the blade. But in the next instant, Duan Jian was horrified to discover his blade inexplicably ablaze.

A hush fell over the crowd.

The blade burned rapidly, spiritual energy dissipating, and suddenly, with a whoosh, the black fire reappeared before all eyes.

To the black flame, Duan Jian’s spiritual power was like nourishment—every trace it absorbed caused it to swell. At last, nearly half a meter tall, the black fire followed the spiritual energy within the blade and, with a hiss, leaped onto Duan Jian himself.

Though seemingly slow, all of this happened in an instant. By the time Duan Jian realized what was happening, he was already engulfed in black fire.

Agonized screams echoed as the flames consumed him. Duan Jian ran madly about the arena, but within seconds, he collapsed with a thud, silent and still. Wisps of black smoke curled from his body…

Had anyone examined him closely, they would have found not a trace of spiritual power left within him—not even the refined energy woven into his bloodline; all had been drawn out and devoured by the black flame.

“Ah, well! This can’t be blamed on me—he struck first,” the holy land youth said calmly, retracting the black fire as he turned to those below the stage, smiling.

“After absorbing the spiritual power of so many, it seems your Netherflame has improved again. Musa must now be at the mid-innate level, yes? With such skill, it looks like we won’t get a chance to step in this round,” one of the golden-haired youths below remarked with bored regret, not deigning to spare a glance at the Shrouded Heaven City youths around him.

“Alas, these barbarians are like frogs at the bottom of a well—just because they’re famous in this little city, they think themselves invincible. Laughable, truly!” His words caused many in the Bright Moon Pavilion to blanch, including some of the capital’s elites.

“They’re too arrogant!” Even He Tao, pure-hearted and baby-faced, could no longer stomach it.

Meanwhile, in another pavilion, Sun Bo, ever proud, ground his teeth in anger. He strode to the window, his eyes flashing with cold, deadly light. “All they did was beat a country bumpkin! If anyone’s a frog in a well, it’s you lot—don’t think that ruling your own territory gives you license to run wild in our Tianwu Empire. It’s time to crush your pride and superiority, leave you with nothing!”

“From the imperial capital—Sun Bo. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

“Heh, it’s getting late. We’ll stay in Shrouded Heaven City a few days. Tomorrow, we’ll fight again. For now, let’s fill our bellies first,” another holy land youth said with a careless air, glancing up at Sun Bo in the pavilion, his words sharp as ever. “You alone aren’t enough. Better go find a few more talented geniuses to help you out!”

“You ask too much—does Tianwu Empire even have any experts? We haven’t seen a single one,” another youth added, casting a mocking glance at Sun Bo above and laughing brazenly.

With a bang, Sun Bo, seething with rage, kicked out the window of the pavilion and leaped out like a great roc.

“Well, at least this one has some backbone!” Musa, the first to move, sneered up at him.

With a roar, a cloud of dust rose as Sun Bo landed steadily at the edge of the arena. Striding forward, he declared, “Since you look down on Tianwu’s heroes, then let us fight!”

“Hmph! Netherflame—mere trickery! Disperse!” As he spoke, Sun Bo lifted his foot and stamped down hard.

A shockwave swept out, instantly cleansing the arena. The lingering traces of Netherflame vanished in a blink.

Musa, smiling faintly, leaped gracefully from the stage, shaking his head. “I told you, you’re not good enough. Even if you’re bent on dying, it’s only if I’m interested in killing you.”

“Hmph!” Sun Bo responded with a cold snort, his figure flickering like a phantom as he followed. “Here, what you say is meaningless. If I want a battle, you’ll fight—willing or not!”