Do you think I’m invincible, unshaken, and fearless? Well, you’re right—I am.

As soon as the white figure appeared in the crowd, a faint voice called out his name.

Long Ming, the top scorer of the second round, had been an enigma for the past several days. People kept digging into his background, but this mysterious figure, seemingly emerging from thin air, had caught the attention of various powers.

However, most of what they uncovered was superficial. It was as if some higher power had wiped away any trace of Long Ming’s past. This aura of mystery made people wary, and fewer dared to dig deeper, afraid of offending whoever might be behind him. For most, Long Ming’s sudden rise was something they’d rather observe from a distance.

Feng Yang Yan, of course, had also tried to gather information, but his efforts had been fruitless. The name “Long Ming” stirred unpleasant memories for him, reminding him of someone else with the same name. If he had the chance to face Long Ming in a match, he certainly wouldn’t hesitate to go all out.

Feng Yang Yan was no fool. He was quick to strike when encountering a stronger opponent and just as quick to flee. He had used all his trump cards to secure his spot in the top four, and he tolerated Lan’s cold indifference and Feng Shi’s disdain without complaint.

He might have seemed like a hot-headed, arrogant first-place contender, but that was just a facade.

At the very least, this guy knew how to endure!

You don’t get to be the top young master of a higher plane by being stupid.

Long Ming understood this well. Every step he took was like walking on thin ice.

But what broke Feng Yang Yan’s calm was Feng Shi’s strange behavior. Feng Shi was acting off, with a cruel yet stunning smile that only appeared when something truly piqued his interest.

“Yang Yan, I want you to do something for me during the match,” Feng Shi’s voice was soft, like a feather brushing the surface of the water, as if he had forgotten how he had just insulted him. His gaze was laced with temptation as he whispered near Feng Yang Yan’s ear, “Find a way… to sign a life-and-death contract with him.”

A life-and-death contract meant that in the match, there would be no winner or loser—only one left standing. If one of them died, no one would be held accountable, as long as both parties agreed and signed the contract. The terms would be enforced by Grimm’s laws.

Feng Yang Yan’s mask of composure finally cracked as he stared at Feng Shi in shock.

Did he not understand that if Feng Yang Yan lost, it would mean his death?

“What’s wrong? Are you too scared to do even this? Coward!” Feng Shi sneered when Feng Yang Yan didn’t immediately accept, mocking him with deep disdain.

It was a classic baiting tactic, especially coming from someone as dangerously beautiful as Feng Shi, who was a master at this game.

From Feng Shi’s perspective, there was no risk. With him around, Feng Yang Yan would be twice as strong, and no matter how powerful Long Ming was, he was still limited by his human age.

Feng Shi wanted to pull that seemingly untouchable man down from his pedestal. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to see how far he could fall?

Feng Shi was already savoring the thought, his muscles trembling faintly with excitement. What would that once-sacred figure look like, defeated and close to death? And when Feng Shi swooped in at the last moment to spare him—how satisfying would that be?

Feng Shi’s smile grew wider and more twisted.

Even if Feng Yang Yan lost, what did it matter? Feng Shi could always cultivate another.

Long Ming, however, hadn’t noticed Feng Shi’s gaze. He was too busy with the countless fiery stares already fixed on him. His mere presence had silenced the plaza momentarily, only for the murmur of voices to grow even louder afterward.

Some were sizing him up with intent, some were purely curious, and some were calculating, plotting in silence.

There were even those who gazed at him with such intensity that, from the corner of his eye, Long Ming saw a girl faint from excitement upon seeing him.

On the surface, Long Ming acted indifferent, his cold expression keeping anyone from daring to approach him.

Getting up early today to look my best was definitely the right choice!

He inwardly gave himself a thousand mental likes.

This was the essence of being a high mountain flower—a rare beauty that could only be admired from afar, never touched. He embodied the very definition of an untouchable deity, like a fleeting star on a cold winter’s night.

Someone like him wasn’t meant for the masses—he was to be gazed upon in awe, not surrounded by common folk!

Ah, mortals will never understand this level of charm. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

“Lu Da Da, wake up!” Passerby One shouted at Lu Da Da, who was slumped over, fast asleep.

“Leave me alone…” Lu Da Da mumbled groggily, batting away his friend’s hand. He had spent the entire previous night thinking about his own preferences, struggling to come to a conclusion. Yet the only thing that remained clear in his mind was that man’s cold, piercing gaze, which refused to fade away.

Smack!

A heavy slap landed on Lu Da Da’s chubby cheek, jolting him awake.

Startled, he blinked in confusion, “What’s… going on?”

“Long Ming is here!” Passerby One said with a hint of excitement. People like him were eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure.

“Long Ming?” It took Lu Da Da a moment to remember who Long Ming was. Oh right, he was the guy he’d been schooled about yesterday. “Where? Where?”

He was definitely curious about this famous figure!

Passerby One gestured toward the source of the commotion at the entrance.

Still groggy, Lu Da Da glanced over casually at first. But when his eyes landed on the cold, aloof man walking toward the resting area, he instantly woke up. It was… him. The man who had overheard their conversation!

“Wha—!” Lu Da Da nearly crushed Passerby One’s hand in his excitement.

“What’s wrong with you!?” his friend yelped, shaking off his grip.

Meanwhile, the plaza continued to buzz with whispers over Long Ming’s arrival, but soon, the commotion escalated into chaos as people erupted like a boiling pot.

Long Ming glanced back with eyes as cold as if they’d been steeped in ice water.

Someone had brought a group of corpses into the arena. The dead bodies were clearly lifeless, and from their clothing, Long Ming immediately recognized them—they were the Phoenix Clan members he had attacked the day before.

And now, they were being laid out right in front of him.

The people carrying the bodies were also from the Phoenix Clan. With their extensive spiritual reach, their voices boomed across the entire arena, ensuring that everyone could hear.

“Yesterday, this man here killed twelve of our Phoenix Clan members. We’ve brought their bodies to the arena today to demand justice from the Dimensional Prison!”

Their accusation was aimed squarely at one person—Long Ming.

The crowd exploded with shock.

Everyone knew about yesterday’s clash, which had delayed the tournament. It was common knowledge.

But no one had expected Phoenix City to pull such a stunt right before the match, openly challenging the Dimensional Prison. This was a blatant slap in the face! Sure enough, when people glanced at Sha Yu standing on the high platform, his already dark expression had become even more rigid.

Everyone knew it had been Divine Dragon Valley’s five Dragon Guards who had killed those Phoenix Clan members, not some random passerby. What did it have to do with Long Ming?

When everyone thought Phoenix City was going to let the matter drop and not escalate the conflict with Divine Dragon Valley, they pulled a complete reversal by blaming it all on Long Ming. This was completely unreasonable!

Just then, as if someone had read the crowd’s thoughts, a voice rang out.

“I have evidence!”