Chapter 10: A Duel to the Death

“Hurry, keep up.” The Tiger King held the child in his arms, with Little Sister Dugu and the Wolf close behind, taking three steps in two as they rushed toward the arena.

Tiger King’s eyes were bloodshot, blazing with fury, as he raged inwardly. “You, Chief Steward, relying on the backing behind you, I let it go when you defied my authority. Even when you lured all the talent I discovered in the arena to other divisions, I said nothing. But now, I finally found a promising genius myself, and you send Beast and Green Serpent to snuff them out... Fine, very well, you’ve truly pushed me too far. You think I’m a sick cat just because Tiger Lord hasn’t bared his fangs?”

“We’re almost there. You two follow, I’ll go ahead and stop them.” In the distance, he could already see the steward fawning over the Chief, his sycophantic expression clear as day. With a roar, Tiger King charged into the arena.

But then—he froze, dumbstruck. Atop the round platform, a one-sided massacre was unfolding.

...

“My turn.” Dugu Bieli grinned, all the rage and suppressed fury since entering the arena now at its peak, erupting like volcanic magma.

In a flash, he darted forward, his outstretched hand descending like a heavenly net, sealing off every escape. A torrent of siphoning power swirled in his palm. Green Serpent trembled, trying to act, but felt every ounce of his strength and spirit being drained away. Even his vaunted poison lost its former might, obediently turning into pure energy and flowing into Dugu’s body. After the poison mist came ink-black blood, stripped from him and broken down into streams of energy.

An intangible shackle grew ever tighter as the energy continued pouring in. Dugu’s body emitted the grinding sound of stone as if he were turning to rock.

Green Serpent was withering, fading like a flower. The calamity of wind and frost had sapped every last spark of life from him. His already skeletal form grew even more emaciated.

Crack—crack—

The lifeless body, unable to withstand the crushing force, began to fracture, bones snapping, meridians severed throughout. Withered veins collapsed into chaos; limbs twisted and bent grotesquely.

Feet, legs, waist, chest, neck...

Green Serpent’s entire form crumbled like a statue of sand, returning to dust.

Dead—only a heap of blackish-gray dust remained.

And as this happened, Dugu Bieli’s vital energy surged wildly, wave after wave battering his body. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he consciously drew the four forces together, directing them toward his heart!

At the instant of Green Serpent’s death, Dugu’s body trembled. Deep within his heart, a tiny “point” was successfully opened—his fifth fountain of strength!

Even he hadn’t expected to ascend to the rank of Five-Fountain Warrior at this very moment.

“Well done!” Tiger King shouted in delight, clapping his hands, unconcerned about others’ opinions. “Dugu, you came to the division and didn’t visit me, and then got set up by vile scoundrels?”

“I was careless, underestimated human nature.” Seeing Tiger King arrive, Dugu relaxed, his spirit easing as he replied coolly, his gaze sweeping the crowd—everyone he looked at quickly averted their eyes. At last, his eyes settled on the Chief—behind whom the steward cowered in terror. “Next match. Hurry. I’m pressed for time.”

“Fourth match, Dugu Sheng.” The steward’s legs cramped, barely able to walk as he staggered out, forced by Tiger King’s glare to announce, “Fifth match, the challenger is…”

“Wait!” Tiger King waved his hand, bellowing, “I smell a rigged match! Are you up to something? Where’s the roster? Let me see it.”

“Uh…” The steward panicked. The roster for the ten consecutive matches was filled out by him—not randomly assigned. There were several names that shouldn’t be on it at all. If Tiger King saw it, he’d be doomed—if he survived at all. So he hesitated.

“Commander, your job is to supervise the Butterfly Division’s arenas—not meddle in their internal affairs, isn’t it?” The Chief, ashen-faced, stepped forward to block him. “This arena is under my management. Even Lord Hai emphasized this. I trust you remember?”

“Yes, my duty is to supervise the Butterfly Division’s arenas, not interfere in your domain. But don’t forget the meaning of ‘supervise.’ Supervision means oversight. If any arena breaks the rules set by the Combat Alliance, it’s my responsibility. I can handle it first, then report it. Am I wrong?” Tiger King’s usual boisterousness vanished, his voice cold. “Now, I suspect rule violations here are seriously damaging the Alliance’s reputation, causing an uprising of warriors in protest…”

“You… you slander…” The Chief’s face went green, dropping all pretenses of respect. One hand trembled as he pointed at Tiger King, the other clutching his chest, his expression aggrieved and full of righteous indignation, as if suffering grave injustice. “I… I’m reporting this to Lord Hai and demanding justice…”

“Damn it, don’t bring his name up to me. Even if he stood here, today wouldn’t end well.” Tiger King charged forward and slapped the Chief so hard he spun several times before stumbling off the platform. Tiger King advanced, kicked him up onto the stage, and shot a meaningful glance at Dugu Bieli before turning to bark at the steward, “I’m about to lose my temper—announce the next match and the challenger, now!”

The steward stared blankly at the Chief struggling to stand on the platform, then collapsed onto the ground, nearly fainting. Caught between battling titans, he dared offend neither side.

“Playing dead? Even if you are, I’ll beat you awake!” Tiger King strode over, voice menacing, eyes like blades—his commanding presence crushing the steward’s nerves. Under that gaze, the steward felt icy cold, as if he were a naked infant being trampled by a raging tiger.

“Fifth… match, the challenger… General Wang Yue…” The steward stammered. Wang Yue was the Chief himself, a warrior of general rank.

“Haha…” Tiger King roared with laughter, rubbing his head impatiently. “Get started! Haven’t you ever done this before?”

“The duel… begins…” the steward sobbed.

On the stage, the Chief finally regained his senses, only to find himself surrounded by generals, all watching with strange expressions, as if witnessing a rare spectacle. He shivered, screeching, “What are you all doing? What are you doing? I’m the Chief! Why would I fight in the arena? I was forced! I refuse—”

Tiger King snatched the roster, scanning it and feeling a chill. Among the opponents were Beast and Green Serpent, and others even more formidable. In the last slot—“Divine Bow.”

“Bastard, you really want Dugu dead—at the general level, Divine Bow is invincible. Even I would have to use my full commander’s strength to barely suppress him, and would never give him a fair fight. Thankfully, I arrived in time…” Tiger King’s eyes darted cunningly—any trace of his usual bluntness gone. “I must stop this ten-match challenge. But how?”

“It’s started. Are you ready?” Dugu Bieli asked impassively. Catching Tiger King’s signal, he understood—he was to give Chief Wang Yue a thorough thrashing. Without bothering to ask who the challenger should be, he simply took charge.

“I’m the Chief—who are you to fight me?” the Chief shrieked, lips curling, his face aggrieved like a damsel beset by ruffians.

“Who am I?” Dugu Bieli sneered. “I’m the Deputy Commander of the Butterfly Division. Is my rank so much lower than yours? If I can fight, why can’t you? Or are you not a warrior? If that’s the case, you may leave and forget about a warrior’s dignity or honor…”

“You…” The Chief trembled, pointing a finger. “You really think you’re something? Deputy Commander? You’re just a trash warrior. Don’t think Tiger King’s patronage makes you a phoenix from a chicken…” His finger swept over the surrounding generals, sneering, “You’re no different from them—beggars, playthings kept by our Alliance…”

“What did you say, you bastard!”

“Say that again if you dare…”

The audience erupted. None had expected that, watching the drama unfold, they’d end up involved themselves. Insulted in their dignity, who could endure it? In this world, sometimes dignity was more precious than life.

“I want a life-or-death duel with you!” one warrior shouted, his face flushed with rage.

“Dugu, he’s insulted the honor and dignity of all warriors. What will you do?” Tiger King, turning over his options, seized upon the outcry and prompted Dugu.

“I challenge you to a life-or-death duel.” Dugu Bieli, understanding Tiger King’s intent, quickly agreed—it did him no harm.

The life-or-death duel was the Alliance’s means of resolving grudges and disputes. Once initiated, one must die and one must live—there could be no end otherwise.

It allowed vengeance, and offered Alliance rewards—naturally an attraction for many, boosting the arena’s popularity.

“Are you a warrior or not?”

“Accept, you coward!”

“…”

Wang Yue stood on the stage, surrounded and mocked by Dugu Bieli, feeling utterly alone and helpless.

“The duel’s been declared, Dugu—what are you waiting for?”

“Go, give us an outlet—kill him!”

“That’s too easy for him. Make him end up like Green Serpent, that’s justice.”

“Brother, you’re brilliant…”

“Yeah, you said it! That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“Really? Then we’re kindred spirits, brother…” The two, previously strangers, grew chummy, arms over each other’s shoulders.

“Everyone quiet, listen to me!” Tiger King leapt into the air, hovering above as he shouted, “Since it’s a life-or-death duel, the ten-match challenge is void. I’ll serve as judge today—place your bets! In my opinion, Dugu’s odds are very good…”

The crowd surged like a tidal wave toward the staff.

“I bet on Dugu—one premium space pouch!”

“I’m all in on Dugu—everything I have…”

“You’re bold, brother.” A warrior gave a thumbs-up, then shouted, “I bet on Dugu—three premium pouches and one advanced. Hell, my entire fortune’s on the line…”

…

It took half an hour for order to return as the crowd gathered back around the stage.

“Wait—wait for me!” someone shouted.

“I want in too—betting on Dugu!” Beast, having rested after his bout, rushed over with his possessions to wager. As he pressed into the crowd, the still-excited warriors didn’t notice until he swatted several aside. About to protest, they fell silent when they saw who it was. The others quickly stepped aside to let him through.

Who would dare provoke Beast?

“Go, Dugu!” Beast shouted. “Dugu is invincible!”

“Dugu invincible!”

“Dugu invincible…” More and more joined in, the chant swelling into a torrent that echoed above the arena. Even the ten suns in the sky seemed dimmed by their fervor.

“I’ll fight you to the death!” Chief Wang Yue, driven mad by torment, screamed as he charged at Dugu Bieli without rhyme or reason.

“Nether Soul Art!”

Dugu Bieli, with no mercy for this scoundrel, reached out and seized Wang Yue by the throat, lifting him up. Torrents of power surged forth, draining the very essence of life from his foe…

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