Chapter 142: The Words of Master Jinghai

Gazing at Qin Xiaochuan, who was sinking into the cement, Sikong Lang’s expression turned grave as he said, “You don’t seriously think you’re immortal, do you?”

“Hmph! Looks like I’ve won again!” Mr. Yujing muttered, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it as he watched Sikong Lang’s movements. Though this outcome was expected, witnessing Sikong Lang’s true power brought him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. Once the demon world tunnel opened, countless powerful demons like Sikong Lang would flood into this world, and if that happened, destruction was inevitable. His years of yearning would be fulfilled. With that thought, Mr. Yujing took another satisfied drag from his cigarette and settled back into the plush sofa, eyes fixed on the ongoing battle.

“Ugh! Cough, cough—!”

“You’ve misunderstood the reason I transformed to 100%,” Sikong Lang said expressionlessly, watching Qin Xiaochuan cough up blood in the stands. “You’ve only just earned the right to fight the 100% version of me. Don’t forget, I could kill you with one hand, but that would defeat the purpose of transforming fully. Understand?” Pausing, Sikong Lang pointed at Qin Xiaochuan in the stands. “You have the obligation to fight me with all your strength. I’ve been pondering what would trigger you to unleash your full power against me—is it pain? Fear of death? Anger? If I can get you to fight with your utmost strength, I’d be more than happy to help you.”

“...”

“He’s lost it—he’s a madman! A man who lives only for battle!” Zhang Yang beside him was visibly shocked by Sikong Lang’s words. “Instinct! That man lives purely on battle instinct!”

“Instinct?” Sikong Lang turned to look at him. “You’re wrong. That’s pure willpower. Instinct is merely a means to survive, like this...” Saying so, the two tube-like protrusions on Sikong Lang’s shoulders began to absorb wandering souls drifting in the air. These were the souls of recently deceased demons, still lingering above. Sikong Lang sucked them in through the cylindrical protrusions on his shoulders. “I forgot to tell you,” he said, pointing at the still dazed Qin Xiaochuan, “transforming to 100% makes me extremely hungry. I start by feeding on the weak. If I finish off all the bait in this arena, it won’t take 20 minutes. Can you keep being so distracted? Your friends have come to cheer you on, haven’t they?”

“!?”

“Ugh! Ahh!” Some weak demons, not yet dead, were forced by Sikong Lang’s soul-devouring power to expel their souls, which drifted toward his shoulders and were swallowed whole.

“Lingju, pull yourself together!”

“Wuo, I feel so cold!”

“Defend your lower abdomen! I’m here to help!” Wuo pressed his right hand against Lingju’s lower abdomen, channeling his demonic energy. Lingju’s body had been pierced by Zhang Yang’s spirit sword during their earlier fight, so the wound hadn’t healed. Now, under Sikong Lang’s soul-devouring pressure, he felt miserable, but thanks to Wuo’s aid, the loss of his soul was temporarily halted.

“Bastard! This is despicable, how could he do such a thing?”

“Aunt Susu, don’t go out! It’s too dangerous! As a human, if you go out, you’ll be absorbed! Please stay calm!”

“Kui! What’s wrong?”

“Everyone, run! Sikong Lang has gone mad!”

“Stop joking! We can’t stay here!”

“Run! If we don’t escape now, we’re as good as dead!”

“Get out of here! Who wants to be your bait?”

“Run!”

...

Seeing Sikong Lang indiscriminately absorb the souls of the audience, all the demons rushed toward the arena’s exit. But before they could escape, a massive cement wall suddenly rose around the arena, sealing it completely. Watching the fleeing audience, Mr. Yujing remained calm, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. “Why run? Such an exciting match must be seen through to the end. You’re nothing but food for Sikong Lang. You should be prepared to be devoured!”

“Damn it! Rather than be eaten by Sikong Lang, let’s unite and kill him!”

“Yeah! We’re all doomed anyway. Killing him leaves a sliver of hope!”

“Right, let’s fight to the death!”

“To battle!”

...

Seeing escape was impossible, some desperate demons banded together and charged at Sikong Lang, hoping to take him down collectively. But before they got close, Sikong Lang shattered them into fragments with a snap of his finger. “Stay put, bait. This is a fight between Qin Xiaochuan and me. You all just watch.”

“Don’t lump me in with you!” Furious at Sikong Lang’s soul consumption of the audience, Qin Xiaochuan leapt from the stands and attacked. Sikong Lang didn’t dodge but met his punch with his forehead. After receiving the blow, Sikong Lang looked disappointed. “Anger again, like Jinghai was back then. It’s not enough, far from enough!”

“Damn it! Wahhh!”

After throwing countless punches, Qin Xiaochuan’s fist was caught by Sikong Lang. Then, Sikong Lang’s right fist struck Qin Xiaochuan’s belly, causing him to vomit blood once more.

“This can’t go on! It’s him or nothing!”

“Qin Xiaochuan, don’t lose! You have to defeat Sikong Lang!”

“Yeah! Keep it up! We’re behind you, Qin Xiaochuan!”

“Kill Sikong Lang!”

“Qin Xiaochuan, we support you!”

“Don’t lose! Qin Xiaochuan!”

“Come on, Qin Xiaochuan!”

“We’re with you!”

...

With nowhere left to retreat, the audience unanimously cheered for Qin Xiaochuan. Though they instinctively disliked him, when faced with life or death, survival became paramount. Only by defeating Sikong Lang could they avoid being absorbed. If Qin Xiaochuan lost, all demons present would be silenced forever. So, they shouted their support, hoping he could perform a miracle and defeat Sikong Lang.

“Fan Fan, snap out of it!” Xia Dan shook Fan Fan, who knelt on the ground. “Qin Xiaochuan will win. It’s okay. Wake up, Fan Fan!”

“Qin Xiaochuan, show me your courage!”

“Sigh!”

As Xia Dan desperately shook Fan Fan, a familiar voice whispered near her ear. “This can’t be...”

“Heh heh heh! Is that all you’ve got?” After throwing Qin Xiaochuan down, Sikong Lang stomped on him. “If you keep acting like this, everyone else will die too!”

“Wuu... Sorry, everyone. Looks like I can’t continue the commentary any longer!”

“Ahhh!”

“Help! I don’t want to die!”

“...”

...

“Ugh...” Sikong Lang said, “The 100% me is completely different from before. If it means drawing out your strength, I’ll do anything—like this!” Turning, he swung his arm toward the stands where Fan Fan and the others sat. Whether out of disdain or deliberate avoidance, the punch struck not them but a nearby spot on the cement wall, leaving a large crater.

“!!”

“Next time, you won’t miss.”

“You bastard—!!”

Seeing Fan Fan and the others in danger, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly found strength from somewhere. He sprang up from beneath Sikong Lang’s feet, pushed off, and charged forward, landing a fierce punch on Sikong Lang’s face that staggered him. Just as Qin Xiaochuan prepared to strike again, Sikong Lang waved his left hand, hurling Qin Xiaochuan into the stands, creating another crater. “Still not enough. Anger alone is far from enough.”

“Damn... Wuu...!”

“Why? Why does it have to come to this?!”

“Damn it! Let me go! I want to fight him!”

“Stop, Aunt Susu! If you go out, you’ll die!”

“Too sad... only lived eighteen years! I haven’t lived enough yet!”

“Sister Jingchu, come help me! Hold Aunt Susu back! I’m losing grip!”

“Xia Dan, Jing Chu! Can you form a five-person barrier?” Amid the chaos, Abuz suddenly heard Granny’s voice emerge from his mouth. Unknown when, Granny’s soul had possessed his body.

“Huh?”

“What’s this?”

“That voice...?”

“Master Jinghai!”

“That’s right!”

Glancing back at Xia Dan and Jing Chu, Abuz flew toward Sikong Lang and Qin Xiaochuan.

“Sorry to interrupt your fun!”

“Granny!?”

“Jinghai...”

Stopping before Sikong Lang and Qin Xiaochuan, Abuz spoke with Master Jinghai’s voice: “Sikong Lang, if you want to see Qin Xiaochuan’s true power, let me tell you this,” he said seriously, flapping his wings twice, “it’s to kill Qin Xiaochuan’s comrades.”