But before he could say anything further, Lin Xiao Tian ignored him completely, his gaze already lifted toward the figure seated above the arena as his thoughts settled into a single direction.

Yeah yeah... it will work, it has to work, no point hesitating now.

He straightened slightly and spoke out in a clear, almost casual tone that carried across the arena without restraint.

"Tian Mo Zhi Zhu... you really do enjoy your little plays, don’t you," he said, his voice light as if speaking to an old acquaintance rather than something that controlled the entire space.

The reaction was instant as a tremendous pressure erupted from above and slammed directly onto him, far denser than before as the surrounding space itself seemed to solidify.

The collapsing force that had been shrinking the arena halted mid-motion as everything focused entirely on Lin Xiao Tian.

His chair shattered into nothingness beneath him, erased completely as if it had never existed, yet he remained standing in the same place without moving.

The weight pressed down from all directions, distorting the air around him as cracks formed faintly beneath his feet.

The figure above changed completely as all traces of amusement vanished as its expression hardened, its presence turning sharp and suffocating as it stared directly at Lin Xiao Tian.

Its eyes carried clear shock beneath the rising killing intent, as if something impossible had just been revealed before it.

When it spoke again, its voice had dropped low, no longer playful but filled with a cold, restrained fury. "Who are you... human," it said slowly, each word pressing down heavier than the last.

Its gaze sharpened further as it leaned forward slightly, its killing intent locking onto him without restraint. "How do you know my name... you insect," it continued, the air trembling faintly under the weight of its voice. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"And you dare speak it aloud... do you even understand what that name represents," it finished, its tone carrying a warning that felt far more dangerous than the pressure itself.

As it spoke, it vanished and appeared directly before Lin Xiao Tian without any transition, its form condensing out of thin air as its presence pressed down at point-blank range.

The anger on its face was no longer hidden as it stared straight at him, killing intent rising without restraint. "You insect dare look at me with that smirk... who do you think you are," it said coldly, its voice low and dangerous.

"The last one who smiled at me like that is already waiting for death... and you still dare show that face again," it continued as its hand rose slowly, fingers curling as if ready to erase him completely.

At that exact moment, the chubby disciple suddenly threw every talisman in his hand forward without thinking, his entire body moving on instinct as fear pushed him to act.

The talismans ignited mid-air and struck the figure directly, a violent explosion erupting instantly as light and force swallowed the space between them.

Lin Xiao Tian stepped back without hesitation, his movements clean as the blast wave rolled past him, his gaze never leaving the center of the smoke.

For a brief moment, the figure was completely obscured, the air filled with burning fragments and shattered Qi.

Then the smoke slowly parted, the figure still stood there, completely unharmed, its form untouched as if the explosion had never existed at all, yet now an angry smirk had replaced its earlier expression.

It raised its hand again and reached toward Lin Xiao Tian’s face, its fingers extending slowly with clear intent.

Before it could reach him, Lin Xiao Tian moved. His hand opened and the small shriveled object dropped outward, yet the moment it was exposed, it changed completely.

A thin, almost invisible thread shot forward from it, moving with sudden life as if it had sensed prey.

In the next instant, it leapt straight toward the figure.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s lips curled slightly as he raised his hand and showed a middle finger without hesitation, his expression calm yet clearly mocking.

The contrast only deepened the moment that thin thread came into view and for the first time, the figure panicked.

"No... no... you cannot have this... this should not exist anymore," it said sharply, its composure breaking as it tried to retreat, its form flickering as it attempted to escape the incoming threat.

But it was too late as the thin thread struck directly, piercing into its form without resistance, and in the next instant its color began to fade as if something fundamental was being devoured.

A sharp, distorted scream tore out from it, echoing unnaturally across the space.

"Just wait... you wretch... this is not the end," it roared, its voice filled with fury as dark demonic energy surged violently around it, gathering rapidly as it tried to suppress what had entered its body.

Inside, the weakened gu resisted with everything it had, its presence clashing against the surging demonic force as both struggled for control.

Yet slowly, it began to lose ground, its movement being forced back as the energy closed in around it.

Then suddenly, the figure’s body expanded unnaturally as something burst outward from its mouth, a dark mass ejecting violently as its soul dimmed instantly, flickering as if it could disperse at any moment.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes sharpened as he sensed the opening, his body preparing to move without hesitation.

But in the very next instant, the figure flickered and vanished again and it reappeared directly above the arena and rushed downward without pause, its weakened form forcing itself forward as it entered Ji Wuchen’s body in a single motion.

The clash stopped immediately as ji Wuchen’s body trembled once before going completely still, his spear slipping from his grasp as he collapsed onto the ground without resistance.

Xiaoshan’s halberd swept forward a fraction too late, missing him by inches before crashing into the arena floor with a heavy impact.