Archfiend

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the course of these three days, Yue Congrao personally looked after Xu Yangyi’s body and explained a few confusing points about cultivation. Upon cultivating to late Foundation Establishment, Xu Yangyi had also gained his own original viewpoint of his body. Under the dual verification of Yue Congrao’s great momentum and his own comprehension, he actually felt his newly advanced late Foundation Establishment cultivation become a little more stable.

Three days later, twelve o’clock. Xu Yangyi had already adjusted his mood to peak steadiness. There wasn’t a single qi obstruction in his entire body. Following the chime of the clock, an expanse of gentle golden holy light flashed underneath him. In the next moment, he vanished from the formation constructed under him.

The view in front of him slightly blurred. In the next second, a red-hot current assailed his skin, and deafening cheers sounded at his ears. Although the voices did their best to stay quiet, the sound of discussion was still a great clamor. It was like the air was going to combust.

He opened his eyes, and a massive ancient western arena greeted his eyes. It was no less the size of a soccer field, and there were fifteen levels of audience seats looping around in total.

There were delicately carved status that were a full twenty meters tall, a monotone order of armored knights. In their right hands they held torches, and in their left they held shields. The shields were engraved with an eagle circling a cross. Their torches burned with a great blaze no less than thirty to forty meters in size that illuminated the horizon, causing the stars to pale.

Red fire dragged out the mottled marks of time and shined on the 800-square-meter arena. The color of the floor flickering with spotted shadows wasn’t clearly visible, but one could see spider-web cracks and dark bloodstains. The fire shined on the dozens of surrounding giant torch-bearing statues, bringing out their divinity and solemness.

The place Xu Yangyi appeared was the House of Corvinus’s master terrace.

Swoosh… In the instant he was transported, the torch of the giant statue behind him exploded for a hundred meters! Countless indiscernible talismans floated up and down inside.

Crack crack. The giant masked statue unexpectedly raised its head. Followingly, a soft sound of falling sand and stones rang out. Two red beams fired out of the statue’s eyes and covered Xu Yangyi.

In the arena, the originally intense sound of discussion and the excited fervor instantly calmed. In the next second, though, a deafening clamor erupted!

“His Highness the Master Spirit-Technician!”

“The first match! His Highness the Master Spirit-Technician is here!”

“God… this is the first time I’ve seen a master spirit-technician!”

“His Highness ascended the stage himself! This has never happened in the past decades!”

At this moment, the cries of the Count-rank cultivators, whom their families brought to experience the world, were shouting about anyone who was participating in the Holy War. All of the contestants were apex powerhouses in the West. Perhaps they were weak during this Holy War, but not just any one could enter the Holy War. All the warriors were characters that would raise a brow in America’s cultivation world.

Even Master Spirit-Technician X, who had the lowest realm on the surface, was like this as well.

Not to speak of his mid Marquis attainment, Xu Yangyi’s master spirit-technician status and the Holy White Cross Association standing behind him was enough to make anyone feel deep veneration.

The excitement and exhilaration was comparable to Qi Condensation cultivators seeing high-level cultivators, but Marquises had to be a lot calmer. Numerous gazes lingered over the most recent master to shock America. Xu Yangyi smiled as he raised his head and looked around. Apart from the House of Dracul, almost everyone was smiling and nodding at him.

“That’s Mr. X.” In a group of dwarves, there was a dwarf with a headful of golden-ringed braids, a beard as tall as he was, and blond hair just like wheat. “Are our people in his group?”

“Hahaha, we really are in his group. But then so what?” A dwarf with two beard braids laughed heartily, “Even with the Greatbear’s son’s power, that elf might only move up and down by three places at twelfth place. Mr. X can’t possibly get to the next round, either. Look… he’s practically weaker than our smallest blacksmith. He’s not just weak, but easily broken. Just like air-dried corn… Mr. X will black right out when the power hits him. His strength comes from his clever mind and profound knowledge, not…”

He brushed Xu Yangyi with a disdainful eye. “His delicate body. And power that exists in fantasy.”

“His confidence is swelling; he doesn’t even know what he’s up against. In an hour, Althorne will surely win—of course, that’s considering the worry over the Holy White Cross Association’s prestige.” A dwarf with a big braid used his elbow to rib the other and winked. “Just because of the existence of master spirit-technicians and the Holy White Cross Association, Mr. X’s status is a big problem. Luckily, though, this problem isn’t ours. Did you see the look on those haughty elves’ faces? They look like they ate dogshit, hahahaha!”

But not only him, everyone was paying attention to the Elves’s action. After Xu Yangyi appeared, all the elves, and even their Grand Duke. who was as handsome as a sun god and sitting at the very front, couldn’t help but furrow their brows.

And behind him, almost all the elves were huddled together and quietly discussing something. The debate appeared to be quite intense.

“Althorne absolutely cannot lose. But at the same time, we absolutely cannot injure the master! The Holy White Cross Association will hold quite a grudge for that fellow,” a woman wearing an exceptionally crafted circlet on her head said lowly. She didn’t have pupils, but the whites of her eyes were faintly shining like two bright moons. “Don’t forget, Mr. X himself is a peak expert of herbology and pharmacology. I don’t think I need to say how much help a master spirit-technician who can stir a Holy Shadow can be to us elves, who are close to nature.”

“Then, Althorne will lose? Are you joking? What a terrible joke!” An Archdruid with leaves draped over his shoulders and the cowl of a wolf on his head knitted his brows together. “I believe this isn't a fair fight. It’s just like a bunny standing together with a big bad wolf. Even if the bunny bravely jumps, it’s not the wolf’s match. The difficulty is in Mr. X’s safety and how we win. This is a farce! An actual farce!”

“He’s only a bookworm master spirit-technician. Oh god, I can’t even dare to imagine if Althorne will rip that delicate body to shreds. They’re going to be the world’s most precious shreds!”

“Althorne and X are just like an adult and a child. Even if it’s play, a super strong adult will still hurt a weak infant! We can’t leave ill will with any master!”

Meanwhile with the House of Corvinus, a high Marquis that Xu Yangyi had never seen before smiled as he stuck out his hand. In a firm manner, the lycan gripped Xu Yangyi’s hand. “Mr. X, I’ll offer you congratulations for your victory in advance.”

“Mr. X. they don’t dare to hurt you. Please be at ease.”

“Oh, believe me, if he dares to hurt you then the House of Corvinus will make those ladyboys pay the corresponding price. Ah, no, ten times the price!”

“May the Moon God guide you to victory, sir! Please relax, in our investigations, Greatbear’s Son’s proper rank is eleventh place.”

Xu Yangyi wore a dull smile on his face and shook hands with each person.

While there was warmth in their handshakes, it was a pity that their smiles never reached the bottom of their hearts.

This was silent contempt.

But the Corvinus were not alone. Everyone present was like this as well.

No one had expectations of him.

They reason why they were being sincere was because a battle devoid of suspense had a foregone conclusion. Without conflict of interests, and if it weren’t for the respect of his status as a master spirit-technician, perhaps there wouldn’t even be this fake charity-like comfort.

Maybe… there would also be applause and encouragement after he lost? So he wouldn’t be in a completely awkward situation?

Wasn’t this considered the greatest mockery?

People… as expected had two faces. Even living creatures similar to humans were like this as well.

But at this time, an hourglass erupted with a white-gold brilliance. All the golden grains of sand inside flew out and instantly displayed a golden screen of light that spanned the entire arena.

All discussion and optimistic voices came to a dead-stop. It was replaced by a touch of caution brimming with killing intent.

“The fourth Holy War begins now,” an old voice rang out from the first row.

Among the five phantasms, not a single one of them wasn’t a Grand Duke.

The voice belonged to an old man whose face was covered in wrinkles. There were even age spots that dotted his visage. In spite of this, when he spoke the surroundings were so silent that a falling needle could be heard.

This was the deep respect for Core Formation.

He was the Holy Whip, Lawrence, the overseer who kept watch over New York and guarded the Holy Relic. His position was even higher than Paladin Jenny’s!

“I shall reaffirm once more. Once you enter the arena, life and death is your own responsibility.” He paused and slightly turned his body to face a direction. “Mr. X, are you sure?”

Everyone looked over. Xu Yangyi stood up and clasped his hands in a solemn manner. “I am.”

“Heh…” Among the Dragonmen, there was a young Marquis who couldn’t help but laugh. His voice was soft. No one paid attention.

Lawrence wordlessly brushed Xu Yangyi with an eye. Nodding, he sat down.

He didn’t question Althorne at all.

This fight in itself was overwhelmingly one-sided in his point of view, but he hoped that Xu Yangyi might’ve changed his unwise choice as the time approached.

In Lawrence’s impression, Xu Yangyi didn’t seem to be aware of the meaning of an Archdruid carrying the name of a Sacred Spirit in their surname. As long as the choice was changed now, Lawrence believed that not one person would oppose the withdrawal of a master spirit-technician under his supervision. Even if there had never been such a precedent.

After all, the name of master spirit-technician was enough to create said precedent.

“The Holy War’s rules is that there are no rules. Surrender or not, no one can interfere, unless the opponent nods. Otherwise, I won’t undo the seal. Any item belonging to a cultivator and magick treasures can be used. Now… may the two warriors enter the arena.”

Xu Yangyi flickered away, and his body appeared in the arena like smoke. Immediately, applause rang out from the audience. They all had a tacit mutual understanding.

“Mr. X deserves praise for his courage.”

“Your bravery makes me gasp in admiration, sir.”

“Brave Master Spirit-Technician X, I wish for your victory.”

Xu Yangyi turned a deaf ear, and a smile full of hidden meaning hung at the crook of his mouth.

Am I funny?

Wait, I’ll let all of you know who’s funny.

In this world, there was no reason. Only when one’s fist couldn’t serve as an equal match was there talk of reason.

Suddenly, at the other side of the arena, countless leaves swirled in the air, and a green spiritual energy circled about like a vortex. Another silhouette soon appeared.

It was a handsome man with a head of long white hair. He was almost two meters tall, and two long antlers grew out from his head. He didn’t wear a suit, but rather something weaved together from tree leaves and cloth. He was also looking at Xu Yangyi.

This time, there was no clapping. However, the silent respect was hotter than false applause.

In comparison, the laughter moments ago seemed to be for a clown.

“In that case, let the betting begin.”