Time flew by.
On the spectator stands, both sides were exceptionally tense. Although neither was fighting, all of their focus was fixed on the arena — the concentration required was no less than if they were battling themselves.
This was the final duel.
The outcome of this duel would determine the ultimate fate of both sides. The winner would become the commander of Snake of the Body, and their supporters would ride that success to become winners in life. The loser would leave the Divine Realm forever, and their side would reap no benefits either.
This was why the atmosphere in the spectator stands had grown so heavy. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, as though it could ignite at any moment.
Even the elders sitting nearby watching the match felt a weight pressing down on them, a suffocating sense of oppression.
Needless to say, it was even worse for Bai Qingxue and Cao Chenghua's factions.
"Ling She, come out and fight if you've got the guts! It's been over twenty minutes and you're still hiding like a coward! You have the Class advantage, yet you resort to such shameless tactics — don't you find it embarrassing?" Zhao Yueru glared at the arena, where Ling She still hadn't made a single move, her delicate brows tightly furrowed. She was practically ready to roll up her sleeves, rush down there, and fight alongside Ziyan Liuyun herself.
Ling She was far too cunning. He would stop at nothing to secure victory.
Ziyan Liuyun had to maintain extreme focus to stay vigilant against Ling She's movements, while Ling She didn't have to do the same.
An ordinary person's concentration could last roughly half an hour at most. Beyond that, not only would it drain tremendous mental energy, but the mind would also scatter, causing the person to unconsciously expose numerous openings.
This was the brain's self-protective mechanism — it couldn't be avoided.
And the duel had nearly reached the half-hour mark.
Even Zhao Yueru herself felt she was approaching her limit. If it dragged on much longer, concentration would inevitably waver.
In a battle between experts, the slightest lapse in focus could spell death…
"Ha ha ha! We didn't set a time limit on this duel beforehand. How the fighters choose to battle is their prerogative. If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for not raising that demand before the fight started. Regretting it now — don't you think it's a little late?" Hei Xinjian laughed smugly.
Zhao Yueru was rendered speechless.
But the other side wasn't wrong. No time limit had been stipulated for this match. Still, nobody had expected Ling She to be this shameless. She had thought she'd already seen the depths of his baseness — only to realize she'd still underestimated him. The man possessed none of the basic dignity an expert should have, and he was content to simply drag things out past the half-hour mark.
"My oversight. Facing an assassin, I forgot to set a time limit," Bai Qingxue said, looking toward Ziyan Liuyun inside the arena, who was already showing signs of mental fatigue from searching for Ling She. A heavy sense of self-blame filled her voice.
In such a critical duel, to have overlooked something like this…
It undoubtedly diminished Ziyan Liuyun's chances of winning.
"Let's not panic, everyone. We should just watch quietly. I think Ziyan knows what she's doing," Shi Feng said, gazing at Ziyan Liuyun in the arena, his tone reassuring.
"But…"
"Don't worry."
Shi Feng was perfectly relaxed, showing not the slightest hint of concern.
Ling She's little trick was admittedly clever, but if he thought that was enough to defeat Ziyan Liuyun, he was sorely mistaken.
Time finally passed the half-hour mark.
"It looks like this girl is about at her limit."
Ling She had been lurking in the distance the entire time, carefully observing Ziyan Liuyun. In truth, over the past half hour or so, he'd had several opportunities to strike. But he'd held back. To guarantee victory — to ensure a one hundred percent chance of finishing off Ziyan Liuyun — he had waited until now.
At this point, sweat had begun forming on Ziyan Liuyun's forehead. It was clear her concentration had reached its breaking point. Ling She even deliberately left a small opening, testing Ziyan Liuyun from about ten-odd yards away by making a faint sound. With an expert player's sharp senses, it should have been easily detectable. But Ziyan Liuyun showed no reaction whatsoever.
"As expected. The extreme concentration earlier has completely exhausted her."
Ling She was elated. He silently circled behind Ziyan Liuyun, creeping closer inch by inch without a sound.
Ten yards… five yards… three yards…
In moments, he had entered the absolute sensory range of an expert player. In one fluid motion, he drew his gleaming dagger, tracing a silver arc as it thrust straight toward the back of Ziyan Liuyun's skull.
Ambush!