Seeing Lin Xiao Tian still not making a choice, the man clicked his tongue softly, his expression turning faintly impatient as his gaze settled on him.

"Do not think you have a choice," he said lightly, and in the next instant a blue light descended and wrapped around Lin Xiao Tian’s body, locking his position without resistance.

Before he could react further, the selection shifted and he was placed directly on Xiaoshan’s side, as if the outcome had already been decided long before.

The demon chuckled at the sight, its tone carrying twisted amusement as it looked down at him.

"If you die, you die with your disciple... if you live, you become sustenance for him, so you should be grateful," it said, as if offering a reward.

Yan Feng and the others turned toward Lin Xiao Tian with confusion and tension rising instantly, while Tianhe’s aura began to shift as signs of transformation appeared.

Lin Xiao Tian raised his hand slightly and stopped them without turning back, his voice calm and steady despite the situation.

"Wait... we are inside his domain, every move we make now is meaningless until we understand the rules, for now stay still and trust Xiaoshan," he said.

As his words settled, his gaze lifted toward the demon, who now stood above the arena like a referee, its posture relaxed yet controlling everything beneath it.

It looked once toward Xiaoshan, then toward Ji Wuchen, before speaking clearly across the space. "Fight for my legacy... fight for me," it announced, its voice echoing without resistance.

Hearing this, Xiaoshan snorted and spat onto the ground, his eyes filled with open defiance as he looked up without fear.

"And what if I don’t," he said bluntly, his grip tightening slightly as his gaze shifted briefly toward Lin Xiao Tian with a hint of confusion.

The demon’s expression changed at once, the amusement fading into something colder as its eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you do not... they die," it said, and in the next instant the chair closest to Yan Feng collapsed into nothingness, crushed so completely that not even dust remained.

Seeing this, Xiaoshan’s face darkened immediately, the casual defiance replaced by a heavy silence as the meaning settled clearly.

Yet before anything else could happen, Ji Wuchen suddenly moved, his hand flicking forward as a talisman shot out and ignited instantly, striking the demon directly.

A tremendous explosion rang out as light and force erupted across the arena, debris scattering in every direction as the shockwave rolled outward violently.

For a brief moment, everything was covered in smoke and shattered fragments, blocking all sight.

Then as the dust cleared, silence followed.

The demon stood exactly where it had been, its body completely pristine as if nothing had touched it at all.

Beneath its feet, Ji Wuchen lay buried into the ground, his body pressed down harshly as blood flowed from his head and stained the stone beneath him.

The demon looked down at him and clicked its tongue softly, disappointment clear in its expression as it spoke without urgency. "Tch... tch... attacking like a rat... and you call yourself a righteous cultivator who walks the martial path," it said, its tone almost mocking.

It tilted its head slightly before continuing, a faint smile returning as its gaze shifted toward Xiaoshan’s missing arm. "Let me teach you how this should be done... after all, this match is far too unfair for my little toy," it added casually.

Seeing this, many thought it might restore Xiaoshan’s arm, as the demon stepped forward and reached out toward the bloody shoulder without hesitation.

But in the very next instant, a blade appeared beside Ji Wuchen’s arm, and before anyone could react, it fell cleanly.

An arm flew through the air as Ji Wuchen roared in pain, the sound echoing harshly across the arena while blood sprayed across the ground.

The demon watched calmly, its expression unchanged as if observing something trivial.

"See now it is fair... an arm for an arm," it said lightly, before suddenly laughing, the sound rising sharply as it lifted into the air above them once again.

"Fight... if you want your friends to live... fight for the legacy... fight for me," it roared, its voice carrying across the entire space with overwhelming force.

As its words settled, the arena was instantly sealed, a transparent void wall forming around the battlefield that distorted everything beyond it.

Yet the moment anything touched its edge, it was crushed completely, space itself collapsing as if rejecting all contact.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s expression darkened slightly, his gaze steady as his thoughts sharpened rapidly beneath the surface.

This... has gone far beyond expectations.

Seeing the arena begin to contract slowly from all sides, both of them hesitated for a brief moment, their instincts warning them that something was wrong beyond the visible pressure.

Yet before either could react further, a fine powder spread silently through the air, thin and almost invisible as it drifted across the battlefield.

The moment they inhaled it, their bodies stiffened slightly, their eyes turning red as something unnatural began to take hold within them.

Their breathing grew heavier, movements slowing yet tightening at the same time, as if their will was being pulled in a direction they could not resist.

Watching this, Lin Xiao Tian’s gaze sharpened instantly, his thoughts moving rapidly as he recalled the earlier dragon-related change without missing a beat.

A faint idea formed in his mind as he lowered his hand slightly and retrieved something from within his sleeve without drawing attention.

The object appeared small and shriveled, no longer carrying the overwhelming presence it once had, now reduced to something resembling a dried, lifeless core. The Soul Devouring Emperor... reduced to this state, yet still useful.

His eyes flickered once as he observed it briefly, his thoughts settling quickly into a clear direction without hesitation.

This is the best way to interfere with that thing’s soul... but I need a moment, just one opening where his control weakens.

At that exact moment, Xiaoshan and Ji Wuchen finally clashed, their movements colliding with force as the suppressed tension erupted into direct combat.

The impact rang out sharply, breaking the brief stillness as the fight began without restraint.

Seeing this, the demon laughed again, its voice carrying open amusement as it leaned slightly forward to watch. "Yes... this is how it should be... this is how we enjoy a show," it said, its tone filled with clear satisfaction as the battle unfolded.