Chapter Sixty-One: Yan’s Flame Spell

"I refuse!" At the sound of Scythe's words, White Shadow stepped forward, lowering his hands from behind his back, clearly fed up with Scythe's threats.

"W-what!? What did you just say..."

Watching the shocked Scythe, White Shadow brushed the dust off his clothes, unconcerned. "Go ahead. I've had enough!" It was as if he no longer cared about Scythe's threats.

"Hehehehehe, you hypocritical monster, you finally show your true colors," Scythe burst into laughter, seeing White Shadow's indifference. Everything he'd done just now was to test whether White Shadow had truly become like those sentimental humans after spending so much time among them. He hadn't expected White Shadow to reveal his nature so easily. "You're just like us, hahahaha!"

"Then press it!" White Shadow's voice was cold and emotionless as he looked at the somewhat crazed Scythe, sending a chill down one's spine. Was this the infamous, ruthless White Fox Rogue—White Shadow—of legend?

"Hahahahaha, fine, you said it yourself." Scythe raised the detonator in his hand, sneering. "I'll show you I mean it. I despise that arrogant attitude of yours, White Shadow. Stop showing off!" With those words, Scythe pressed his thumb down hard on the detonator. But just as he did, a jolt shot through him as if an electric current surged through his body. In an instant, the left side of his body went numb; he couldn't feel it at all, as if anesthetized. He couldn't control his left hand or sense the entire left side of his body. "W-what... my body...?"

"Can't move, can you?" White Shadow stepped up to Scythe, casually taking the detonator from his hand, tossing it lightly, and then crushing it with a squeeze. Dusting off his hands, he looked at the terrified Scythe and spoke: "Surprised your body suddenly can't move? Want to know why?" Seeing Scythe desperately nod, White Shadow smiled faintly. "Did you think I was throwing pebbles at you earlier? Those were Bloodsucking Grass seeds. Once they touch a living body, their roots burrow in and invade the nervous system. If I trigger them with my demonic energy, the vines burst out from the host, killing them instantly. You'd better start praying—you have five seconds left. Five... four..."

"Wait, wait... White Shadow, I was wrong!" As White Shadow began the countdown to his death, terror twisted Scythe's face. He'd never cared for others' lives, but now that his own was threatened, he'd do anything to survive. As he felt death looming ever closer, he screamed in panic, "Please forgive me! I really was wrong..."

"One!"

"Please, I—!"

As White Shadow finished the final count, countless slender tendrils of Bloodsucking Grass erupted from within Scythe, coiling around his collapsing body. As his form shriveled, a cluster of bright red flowers bloomed atop the grass—the final blossoming, fed by the host's life.

Seeing the flowers blooming from Scythe's corpse, White Shadow remarked coolly, "Who would have thought such a disgusting man could produce such beautiful flowers." With that, he headed down from the arena.

"What a comeback! The winner of this match is—White Shadow! What an exciting battle! The teams of Qin Xiaochuan and the Six Wanderers are now tied, one to one. Let's look forward to the next match!" Announcer Lingling walked to the center of the arena to announce the result, though moments earlier, she'd fled beneath the stage at the sudden explosion of vines from Scythe's body. Many announcers had died from stray attacks in these matches, so she jumped down at the first sign of danger. Now, she could only call on the staff to clear away Scythe's remains to avoid affecting the next round.

"Don't worry," Feiyan said comfortingly as White Shadow approached. "When you destroyed the detonator, the demonic beast lurking by your mother's side lost control and fled."

"Really? You saw it, Feiyan?" Relieved, White Shadow smiled gratefully at Feiyan. With his Evil Eye, Feiyan could see for thousands of miles—he must have witnessed what happened near White Shadow’s mother. White Shadow left the arena, a smile of gratitude on his face.

"That idiot on stage actually came up with such a despicable plan—it's as if he was begging you to kill him. What a fool!" Watching as Scythe's body was dragged away by the staff, Feiyan's face was full of disdain.

"Now, let's welcome the contestants for the third match!" At Lingling's call, Yan from the Six Wanderers strode onto the arena, apparently ready for the next fight. The crowd of monsters in the stands instantly erupted.

"It's Yan! Go, Yan!"

"Yan! Your fire arts are the strongest!"

"Kill them, Yan! I bet on you to win!"

"Burn them to a crisp, Yan!"

"Show no mercy, Yan! I'm rooting for you!"

"You must win, Yan! You're the strongest!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

As the crowd roared, Yan calmly surveyed the arena, his eyes glinting. With a brief exertion, his body erupted with searing demonic energy. The intense power ignited the surrounding air, radiating outward like the exhaust of a rocket at launch, pushing the air away in all directions.

"Ahhh!" Unable to withstand the searing heat, Miss Lingling quickly leapt to the edge of the arena and scrambled down, continuing her commentary from beneath. "This demonic aura is overwhelming! Standing next to Yan feels like standing beside a flamethrower. If this continues, I'll be roasted alive. So, has the Qin Xiaochuan team chosen their contestant? Please come up quickly! Heavens, it's so hot even down here—it's as if the place is being baked. Just how strong is Yan? The heat keeps rising—the air temperature is soaring!"

"Isn't that guy their primary fighter? Why is he coming out now?"

"Does that mean the two left are even stronger?"

Hearing Zhang Yang and White Shadow's remarks, Feiyan watched Yan on stage and sneered. "No... Yan really is their strongest. Their lineup is a mess—they even decide who goes next by playing rock-paper-scissors. In that case, I'll go up. Otherwise, after yesterday, these guys might really underestimate me."

With that, Feiyan shed his outer clothes, revealing his signature black qi suit, and leapt onto the arena. He left his sword and cloak behind, clearly intending to face Yan in a contest of fire arts. Seeing the excitement and cold resolve in Feiyan’s eyes, White Shadow smiled and shook his head; it had been a long time since he’d seen Feiyan so eager, as if a priceless treasure had appeared before him. Whenever Feiyan showed this mix of excitement and ruthlessness, he would always fight with extraordinary ferocity. It seemed a fierce battle was about to unfold.

Feiyan strode straight toward Yan. Despite the scorching waves of heat, his clothes didn’t flutter in the slightest; all the searing wind Yan generated bent around Feiyan as if an invisible force protected him. Clearly, Yan’s power posed no threat.

"Kill him, Yan! Feiyan is no match for you!"

"Burn Feiyan alive! You're the best, Yan!"

"How dare Feiyan show his face! Doesn’t he know Yan’s flames are the strongest?"

"Go, Yan! Reduce Feiyan to ashes!"

Ignoring the jeers and the oppressive heat, Feiyan approached Yan, giving a cold, mocking laugh. "Demonic aura of fire. So, you're the master of fire arts? I noticed the cup you split open yesterday—the edges were slightly melted. Your technique is rather crude, boy."

"So what?" Yan folded his arms, unconcerned that this little rat—this third-rate Evil Eye user—had noticed his handiwork. "I don’t recall inviting a two-bit pest to critique my skills. Watch as I burn you to ashes!" With a surge, even more intense fire burst from his body, his demonic energy seemingly limitless. The heat doubled. Yan looked at Feiyan smugly. "Well, little rat? This is only half my power. My fire arts are something a third-rate mouse like you could never master in your lifetime."

"You sure talk a lot," Feiyan retorted, his short tunic flapping in the fiery gale. Staring unflinchingly at the flame-wreathed Yan, a sneer appeared in his eyes. "Come at me with everything you've got."