"Pfft..."

Shen Haoran finally coughed up a mouthful of blood, a bitter smile forming on his lips. ’The aftereffects of the Heaven-Dominating Tribulation are truly terrifying!’

Fighting through the excruciating pain wracking his body, Shen Haoran staggered to his feet. He stared warily at the human-shaped crater in the spectator stands.

’This victory feels a little too easy,’ Shen Haoran thought. ’Ouyang Chen never used that strange power of his.’

While Shen Haoran watched Ouyang Chen’s position with vigilance, the crowd was staring at *him* as if he were a monster. The crater in the stands was a jarring sight that sent a shock through them all.

’He won?’ The thought buzzed in everyone’s mind. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Shen Haoran had actually dethroned Ouyang Chen, the number one on the Dragon and Tiger List. And he was just a new disciple!

Looking at Shen Haoran’s weakened state, no one dared to underestimate him anymore. A wave of admiration washed over the crowd. The disciples who had initially bet against him felt their faces burn with shame. ’Is Shen Haoran even human?’ they grumbled inwardly. ’What a monster.’

The members of the Yao Sect erupted in cheers, but Shui Ruolan frowned. She watched Shen Haoran and said in a low voice, "Doesn’t something seem off about the Boss? He hasn’t relaxed at all. It looks like he’s on guard against something."

At her words, Zi Mo paused, then looked toward Shen Haoran. He saw that she was right; Haoran’s entire body was still tense, coiled like a spring, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

’Could it be...?’ Zi Mo murmured, his gaze shifting to the crater Ouyang Chen had been smashed into.

CRUMBLE... RATTLE...

Suddenly, the sound of shifting rubble echoed from the previously silent crater, drawing everyone’s attention.

SLAP!

Suddenly, a pair of blood-soaked hands shot out from the crater and gripped the fractured stone wall. Scarlet blood streamed down the surface, a shockingly stark sight.

"Ouyang Chen!"

The crowd cried out in alarm as a figure slowly emerged. Shen Haoran’s expression darkened, his brow furrowed as he fixed his gaze on Ouyang Chen, whose face was obscured.

Ouyang Chen’s head hung low. A massive wound on his chest gushed blood, staining his robes crimson. But he paid it no mind, muttering, "Impossible... How could I lose to you? I am number one on the Dragon and Tiger List! You are my prey!"

"ROAR!"

With a sudden roar, a sinister black mist erupted from Ouyang Chen’s body, instantly enveloping disciples dozens of meters away. In a flash, the faces of those shrouded in the mist contorted in horror. Their Spiritual Power began to drain away as if from an hourglass. Even their Essence Blood burst uncontrollably from their bodies, flowing in streams toward Ouyang Chen!

"AAAAHHH..."

Bloodcurdling screams echoed from within the black mist. The afflicted disciples’ pupils constricted and their eyes bulged in terror as they stared at Ouyang Chen. But no matter how they struggled, they could not break free from the mist’s control.

Fueled by the infusion of the disciples’ Spiritual Power and Essence Blood, the wound on Ouyang Chen’s chest healed at a rate visible to the naked eye. His originally fading aura skyrocketed, surging far beyond his previous peak!

Everyone was stunned by the gruesome scene. Shen Haoran was equally horrified. He hadn’t expected Ouyang Chen’s "strange power" to be so evil. And as he looked at the black mist shrouding Ouyang Chen, that familiar feeling washed over him once more.

’It’s them!’ The realization struck Shen Haoran like lightning. The group of black-robed figures who had attacked the Shen Family in Cyan Mountain City... Ouyang Chen’s aura was identical to theirs!

’Dammit, what the hell is going on? What is Ouyang Chen’s connection to those black-robed figures?’ Shen Haoran cursed inwardly, watching Ouyang Chen’s aura continue to swell.

In the stands, the black mist around Ouyang Chen continued to expand. Disciples scrambled for their lives, but any who were too slow to escape were instantly engulfed, their bodies devoured and reduced to withered husks. Fueled by this influx of Energy, Ouyang Chen’s power broke through to the Spirit Marquis Tier!

"Hehehe... Shen Haoran, I told you. You’re my prey, and you can’t escape. What can you possibly do now?" A cruel smile twisted Ouyang Chen’s blood-stained face. Framed by the swirling black mist, he looked like a Demon straight from Hell.

At his words, Shen Haoran took a deep, cold breath and looked at the demonic Ouyang Chen. ’The power of the Heaven-Dominating Tribulation has faded,’ he thought with a bitter, internal smile. ’And these terrifying aftereffects... I can’t muster a single shred of Spiritual Power. I’m completely helpless right now. Any ordinary Spiritualist could kill me, let alone an Ouyang Chen who’s dead set on it.’

But then, Shen Haoran’s gaze hardened. ’If he wants to kill me, he’s going to have to pay the price. I’ll be damned if I let him get away unscathed! I have to at least break a few of his teeth!’

With that thought, deep within his Dantian, a fist-sized Spirit Seed resting on his dim Spirit Crystal began to flash. A powerful ripple of energy surged forth once more. Shen Haoran was actually trying to unleash the second tribulation of the Heaven-Dominating Tribulation!

In his current condition, using the second tribulation was undoubtedly suicide. But Shen Haoran had no other choice. He had to defeat Ouyang Chen! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"You wretched beast, stop!"

Just as the two faced off, a furious roar echoed from the grandstands. It was Chen Yu, his face contorted with rage as he glared at Ouyang Chen.

Ouyang Chen’s actions had utterly shocked Chen Yu. In his mind, Ouyang Chen had always been arrogant and unruly, but he’d believed him to be a fundamentally righteous young man. He never imagined he would resort to such a vile method—absorbing the Essence Blood and Spiritual Power of others to increase his own strength. And his victims were his own fellow disciples!

Chen Yu’s gaze was filled with utter disappointment. Today, he had to apprehend Ouyang Chen and answer to the disciples of the Sect!

Seeing Chen Yu charging at him, Ouyang Chen’s resolve hardened. He transformed into a streak of black light and shot toward Shen Haoran. He had to kill Shen Haoran today. It was the mission given to him by that personage, and it would also remove this thorn from his side!

Pitch-black Energy coalesced in Ouyang Chen’s palm as he viciously struck out at Shen Haoran!

"You wretched beast! You dare!"

Seeing Ouyang Chen ignore him and press his attack on Shen Haoran, Chen Yu roared furiously. His figure flashed, and he appeared beside Ouyang Chen, striking out with a palm aimed at his chest.

THUD! THUD!

With two muffled thuds, Chen Yu’s palm struck Ouyang Chen at the same instant Ouyang Chen’s own attack landed on Shen Haoran. Two figures were sent flying, spraying scarlet blood across the ground.