As Yang Kai observed his opponent, the other man was sizing him up, his gaze shifting as he analyzed and appraised him.
Although he couldn't see the young man's face, he could sense an intense aura of killing intent emanating from Yang Kai. It was potent, unmistakable. And despite facing an opponent whose cultivation realm far surpassed his own, beneath that mask, the eyes burned with a fierce, eager battle spirit.
Not a weakling!
The man realized this instantly with just a moment of sensing, a flicker of caution crossing the depths of his eyes.
With such a vast disparity in realms, yet the other showed such eagerness? There were only two explanations: arrogance, or confidence!
Someone who could win over a dozen consecutive battles in the death arena couldn't possibly be the former. If he were, he'd be dead by now. Did this human brat truly believe his Body Tempering Stage Three cultivation could contend with him?
The man found it rather interesting.
In the spectator stands, as Yang Kai's opponent emerged, murmurs erupted from all sides. Many demonic race warriors pointed towards the newcomer, their expressions a mix of shock and excitement, as if they had already recognized him.
"Is that Di Xiao, from Lord Gou Qiong's retinue?"
"It is! I went to Azure Fang City once and saw him there. That's definitely Di Xiao!"
"Why is he in the death arena?"
"I heard he's considered the strongest below the Holy Spirit Realm among Lord Gou Qiong's forces. He's only a single step away from breaking through to the Holy Spirit Realm himself!"
"This human brat is facing Di Xiao? Things look grim for him. Di Xiao's methods aren't something an ordinary Transcendent Realm fighter can compare to. He's served Lord Gou Qiong for years, established brilliant military merit. Rumor has it he can even trade blows with a Holy Spirit Realm expert!"
"What a pity. After today, I'm afraid we won't see that masked kid's active figure in the death arena anymore."
"Just a human. So what if he dies? Let's just watch how Di Xiao takes him out. That kid's been arrogant long enough. Does he really think no one from our race is around?"
"Exactly, exactly. I did rather like him, but he is a human after all."
Whispers floated in from everywhere. Yang Kai raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly not expecting his opponent today to have some fame among the demons.
Gou Qiong sending him clearly showed how seriously they were taking this matter.
That Di Xiao suddenly grinned. "Friend, though we are of different races, I've heard you defeated over a dozen Transcendent Stage Two opponents, escaping death each time. I truly admire someone like you. If circumstances were different, I'd like to get to know you. However, I have Lord Gou Qiong's orders to take your life today. Don't blame me later."
Yang Kai's brow twitched slightly, remaining silent and indifferent.
"Then... let's begin!" Di Xiao cupped his fists lightly, and the moment the words left his mouth, his figure vanished like a ghost.
Yang Kai's expression changed instantly.
He retreated from his spot with explosive speed, covering dozens of meters in a flash. His fist clenched, True Yuan surged forth, and he hammered a brutal, devastating blow straight downwards, power capable of annihilating heaven and earth surging into the depths below.
BOOM...
The entire death arena shook violently. The shockwave from the impact spread towards the edges, where it was blocked by countless seals and barriers.
An enormous crater, over ten meters deep, appeared in an instant.
From within that crater, a sliver of cold light flickered, as if tearing through space and bridging the distance, arriving at Yang Kai's chest in the blink of an eye.
Pfft...
Blood sprayed. Yang Kai grunted, stumbling backward several steps, his expression grave as he stared ahead.
On his chest, a wound the size of a longan fruit had appeared. Fresh blood flowed freely, instantly staining his shirt red.
Gasps of shock rose from all around. Many people's eyes held a flash of horror, stunned by Di Xiao's formidable power.
Too fast! No one knew what kind of movement technique Di Xiao had used; he vanished from everyone's sight, burrowing into the earth. That leisurely-emerging strike had been lightning-fast and unstoppable. Yang Kai had been hit before he could even react.
Since appearing in the death arena, Yang Kai had fought over a dozen times. While each battle had been a narrow escape, leaving him in a wretched state, never had it been as perilous as today. Just a single move, and his opponent had wounded him.
Moreover, the injury seemed severe. His complexion shifted between green and white, and it took several deep breaths for him to gradually regain composure.
Di Xiao still stood not far away with a faint smile, watching Yang Kai, as if he hadn't moved at all. Yet a hint of dissatisfaction showed between his brows.
He had thought that even if his strike didn't kill Yang Kai, it would at least cripple his ability to fight. He hadn't expected the young man to endure it.
This kid... was a bit strange. His physical body seemed exceptionally tough, having neutralized the force of that attack in an invisible way.
"Impressive!" Di Xiao praised sincerely. "I didn't expect a human to possess someone like you!"
"You're not bad yourself!"
"Again!" Di Xiao shouted in a low voice, giving Yang Kai absolutely no time to catch his breath. Suddenly, several tornadoes imbued with destructive intent materialized around him. Each vortex was enormous, reaching straight into the sky, and the moment they appeared, they churned the death arena into a state of utter chaos.