Ju Kaibei forcefully challenged Fang Yuan; the former was a veteran powerhouse with a fearsome reputation, holding up half the sky. The latter was a rising star that had emerged over the past two years, dazzling and brilliant, a young expert of the younger generation.
Besides the excitement of the battle itself, the earlier clash between Bai Ningbing and Yan Tu served as an excellent prelude.
After seven days of buildup, the impact spread throughout Shang Clan City.
As a result, today the martial arena was almost overflowing with spectators.
The arena management capitalized on the trend, turning the battle into a grand event. Shang Chiwen, who ran the arena, gained easy achievements and was in an especially good mood these days.
Before the fight even started, the people around were already buzzing with discussion.
"Is Ju Kaibei, who dominates half the arena, more seasoned, or can Fang Zheng defeat a stronger opponent?" Many were debating this question. The confrontation of old and new drew many people's curiosity.
"Both are strength path Gu Masters. This is a revival battle for strength path Gu Masters!" Many strength path Gu Masters felt immensely proud and eagerly anticipated it. In their eyes, this battle was highly significant.
"Regardless, Fang Zheng must fight with all his might. Otherwise, his All-Out Effort Gu might be taken away by Ju Kaibei."
"Fang Zheng is only at the middle stage of the third turn. Although his combat strength is formidable, his cultivation still falls short of Bai Ningbing's. Let alone Ju Kaibei." After dozens of fights, Fang Yuan's strength could not be hidden, but most people generally didn't favor him because of the huge gap in cultivation.
"Fang Zheng is here!" Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted.
Fang Yuan walked slowly, with a calm face, and arrived at the arena.
This was an extremely large martial arena with terrain of black stone forest.
Fang Yuan went to the center and stood still. He crossed his arms and swept his gaze around.
Black stone pillars, each thick and sturdy, stood all around, dotting the entire venue.
Outside, the crowd was packed, encircling the arena. This was the largest audience Fang Yuan had seen in two years.
Fang Yuan knew in his heart: Shang Xin Ci, Wei Yang, and even Bai Ningbing were certainly in the crowd, but all were disguised. He also heard from Shang Xin Ci that several of the Shang clan's young masters were present.
This made Fang Yuan involuntarily recall his first fight in the arena.
Back then, there was almost no one watching, and Fang Yuan was still an unknown nobody.
Now, he had already risen to fame, becoming a figure and attracting widespread attention.
"This is the last fight," Fang Yuan sighed inwardly.
The Three Kings Inheritance was imminent; considering travel time, there wasn't much time left.
After winning this battle, he still needed to fully assist Shang Xin Ci, pushing her to the position of young master, which would greatly help Fang Yuan's future plans.
When Shang Xin Ci became young master, that would be the day Fang Yuan left Shang Clan City.
Others weren't clear about Ju Kaibei and Yan Tu's identities, but how could Fang Yuan not see through them?
As long as one dominated the arena, they could become an external elder of the Shang clan. For Shang Yanfei to control this channel, arranging pawns like Yan Tu and Ju Kaibei was only normal.
Fang Yuan had never thought about ruling the arena. Becoming an external elder was the dream of many people.
Sparrows often nest under the eaves; only eagles build their nests on cliffs.
Not to mention an external elder of the Shang clan; even the position of clan leader of the Shang clan was beneath Fang Yuan's notice.
These positions, seemingly noble and shining, were in fact shackles of fame and wealth.
Alas.
In this rolling world of red dust, these shackles had locked down who knows how many people.
Ju Kaibei also came to the arena.
With a tower-like build and an iron-like expression, his joints were large and his muscles were piled up, giving an oppressive sense of strength and height.
In Fang Yuan's previous life memory, during the righteous-demonic war on Yi Tian Mountain, Ju Kaibei also performed well. He killed many famous demonic path Gu Masters and was one of Shang Yanfei's capable subordinates.
From him, the aura of the fourth turn fully leaked out. Even before the battle started, he exerted psychological pressure on Fang Yuan.
In terms of cultivation, Fang Yuan was indeed at a disadvantage. He was now at the peak of the third turn and used Concealment Gu, so he appeared to be at the middle stage of the third turn.
But even if his cultivation was weak, so what?
Heh heh heh.
Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes, a sharp light flashing within. A few days ago, he had refined that Gu, and his winning chances had soared to sixty percent. Although his opponent was strong, he knew that he would definitely win.
This was not arrogance, nor confidence, nor conceit, but a mentality.
Demonic Heart!
Cannot lose, cannot fall, must win, will definitely win!
Even if the winning chance was less than ten percent, or even if there was no chance at all, the mentality of having to win.
For a demonic path Gu Master, failure often meant eternal damnation. So they must succeed, win all the way. No "what ifs", no "ifs".
Five hundred years of previous life experience had forged this mentality in Fang Yuan.
The winner is king, the loser is a bandit—step on the bones of others to rise step by step, reaching the peak! Only I can let down the world; things like propriety, honor, profit, beauty, gratitude, and grudges cannot become obstacles; all can be used.
This was where Bai Ningbing fell short of Fang Yuan.
Bai Ningbing had a heart that sought victory; Fang Yuan had a heart that was certain of victory!
Nothing can stop me; even annihilation cannot bend my demonic heart.
Ju Kaibei walked up to Fang Yuan, stopped, and remained silent.
He was not a man of many words.
Likewise, Fang Yuan never liked idle chatter.
The two faced each other, letting the outside world be noisy; one had a gaze as firm as iron, the other's black eyes were deep and profound.