The two had already torn off their masks, so there was no need for politeness in their exchange.
What enraged Xiahou Zong most was Jiang Chen's contemptuous tone and dismissive manner. It had always been Xiahou Zong who looked down on others, who disdained everyone else.
Never had anyone dared to look down on him, Xiahou Zong, or openly dismiss his Divine Abilities and treasures!
Moreover, in Xiahou Zong's mind, this Hell Demon Sunflower was one of his trump cards. In battles against younger-generation geniuses, he normally didn't even need to deploy it.
This time, in order to suppress his opponent, he had summoned the Hell Demon Sunflower. He had originally intended to intimidate his adversary with its bloodthirsty aura—its overwhelming presence—to make the opponent tremble with fear.
Yet he never expected that the anticipated scenario hadn't occurred at all. Instead, he had been thoroughly looked down upon by his opponent. This left Xiahou Zong burning with humiliation and rage.
"Kid, you've truly perfected the art of running your mouth. But do you think that mere words can save you from the judgment of the Hell Demon Sunflower?"
Xiahou Zong's anger was becoming difficult to contain. Deep down, he was somewhat shocked. He hadn't identified the plant his opponent was controlling, yet his own plant had been instantly recognized and called out by the enemy.
This feeling was deeply unpleasant—it made Xiahou Zong feel as though he was at a subtle disadvantage.
But proud as Xiahou Zong was, he naturally refused to treat this as a real problem.
In that moment, Xiahou Zong let out a long howl, formed hand seals, and bellowed: "A summons from hell—all the lowly and base souls of this world shall be devoured! Go!"
The Hell Demon Sunflower surged into motion like an infernal soldier receiving the decree of the King of Hell. It writhed frantically, bursting forth like ravenous ghosts from the abyss, transforming into streaks of light that shot forward with vicious speed.
A strange smile appeared on Jiang Chen's face.
His figure flickered and vanished into the void. The countless Ice Fire Demon Lotuses around him swirled casually, suddenly generating dozens upon dozens of phantom copies of Jiang Chen.
Meanwhile, the other Ice Fire Demon Lotuses gathered together in tight formation.
Countless fire lotuses lined up in rows, unleashing roaring infernos that blasted furiously toward the enemy.
The ice lotuses formed concentric circles instead. Walls of azure blue ice materialized continuously in the void—extending, multiplying, spreading outward in endless succession.
This spectacular display, both offensive and defensive, was nearly flawless.
When Xiahou Zong saw the Ice Fire Demon Lotuses flicker and produce dozens upon dozens of duplicates of his opponent, he was faintly surprised.
But he quickly smiled with cold indifference. "Tricks and petty cleverness. Playing the smart one."
Xiahou Zong knew perfectly well that all these figures were fakes, conjured illusions—the real opponent was only one.
But the Hell Demon Sunflower's attack didn't care about real or fake. Its assault was pure consumption, pure annihilation, a purging of everything.
Illusions and reality made no difference to the Hell Demon Sunflower whatsoever.
In that instant, the scene on the arena was breathtakingly spectacular. Once the Hell Demon Sunflower went berserk, its bloodthirsty nature was fully revealed. Each tendril opened like a massive maw, devouring wildly in the void, pursuing, entangling, wrapping around…
The arena became a sea of intertwining crimson. Countless Hell Demon Sunflower tendrils lashed about like the chains of death wielded by the Black and White Impermanence, seemingly endless and infinite.
As if even fleeing to the ends of the earth would not save you—these tendrils would drag the opponent out no matter where they hid.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Xiahou Zong's expression shifted. He noticed that at some point during their extension, his Demon Sunflower tendrils had slowed, and in the next instant, ground to a complete halt.
Xiahou Zong swept his spiritual sense outward and was slightly alarmed.
The lotus-formed vines of his opponent also possessed an entangling function. One by one, they had bound the Hell Demon Sunflower's tendrils together with their own.
Those lotuses of ice and fire carried a sacred quality—the Hell Demon Sunflower's devouring power actually couldn't consume them.
Instead, the tendrils on both sides had become intertwined.
Xiahou Zong erupted with towering fury: "Kid, do you think you can survive the Hell Demon Sunflower's attack with these stubborn clinging tactics? You're far too naive!"
Xiahou Zong formed new hand seals, chanting rapidly: "Demon Sunflower petals—scatter!"
The petals of the Hell Demon Sunflower began drifting on the wind one by one. The eerie auras they trailed merged into a strange, hazy mist.
In the next moment, this fragrance from the Demon Sunflower shrouded the entire arena.
"Hiding and cowering won't help you now. This is a scent from the very depths of hell—savor your last moments in the mortal world. This fragrance will send you on your way!"
Xiahou Zong sneered cruelly: "I said it before—you're slightly stronger than other geniuses. But in front of me, Xiahou Zong, you're still just an ant. Even if you're a slightly larger ant than the rest, you're still nothing more than an ant."
Clearly, in Xiahou Zong's view, once the Hell Demon Sunflower's fragrance had spread, the battle was essentially over.
All that remained was to clean up the aftermath.
But Xiahou Zong's smug satisfaction hadn't even begun to fade when a cold, chilling voice suddenly echoed through the void.
"Xiahou Zong, you always talk big first and celebrate too early." The voice, naturally, was Jiang Chen's.
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Zong's heart trembled.