Arriving at the martial arts arena in the backyard of the City Lord's mansion, the bluestone-paved ground gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the morning light.
The towering walls surrounding it cast long shadows, enveloping the entire arena in an atmosphere of grim solemnity.
Thunder Leopard and Wind Blows Snow stood opposite each other, ten zhang apart—a distance that, for a powerhouse at the Spirit Emperor level, could be crossed in an instant.
Thunder Leopard had his arms crossed, his bronze-colored muscles glistening with a metallic sheen under the sunlight, and his eyes burned with fierce Battle Intent.
Wind Blows Snow, on the other hand, wore a blue robe that fluttered gently in the breeze; he appeared calm and composed, but his slightly narrowed eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"City Lord Feng, it is not too late to concede now."
Thunder Leopard's voice was loud and powerful, carrying a hint of provocation, "Lest I lose control of my strength later and embarrass you in front of everyone."
"Heh."
Wind Blows Snow gave a contemptuous smile, his fingers curling slightly within his sleeves, "City Lord Lei, you are certainly confident. However, I am quite curious to know what kind of waves you can stir up within the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn. On the contrary, do not be the one who ends up unable to step down from this stage later."
Long Ziyun, who was watching from the sidelines, frowned slightly.
He knew Thunder Leopard too well; this man always planned before he acted. Since he dared to propose a time limit of one stick of incense today, he must have something to rely on.
It was just... defeating Wind Blows Snow, who excelled in control, within the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn was likely extremely difficult!
Even he himself would find it hard to achieve.
Unless it was that brute Yan Luo.
His Savage Ape Martial Soul was an absolute power-type and defense-type Martial Soul.
He had no technique; he simply smashed with his fists, focusing on breaking all laws with pure force.
Wind Blows Snow's control effects would struggle to have any impact on him.
But on second thought, Thunder Leopard did not seem like someone as hot-tempered and impulsive as Yan Luo.
He must have some method to defeat Wind Blows Snow... Had he already reached the Spirit Saint level?
Or did he obtain something from the Axis Cult...
Long Ziyun stopped his train of thought; he felt that possibility was very, very low.
As for Yan Luo, his thoughts were simple.
He just wanted to know what confidence Thunder Leopard had to defeat Wind Blows Snow, adopting an attitude of watching the show without fearing it would be too chaotic.
Because Yan Luo was considered an honest man among the City Lords and valued fairness, both Thunder Leopard and Wind Blows Snow chose him to be the referee.
"Are you two ready?"
Yan Luo's booming voice, like a beating drum, interrupted Long Ziyun's thoughts.
Thunder Leopard had lightning faintly flowing around him, and a scorched Aura began to permeate the air.
He laughed, "That goes without saying, but I wonder if City Lord Feng has prepared himself for failure?"
Wind Blows Snow ignored him completely, "Let us begin."
"Very well, then I declare this sparring session begun."
Before Yan Luo's voice had even faded, he had already retreated outside the arena like an arrow released from a bowstring.
At that very instant, two dazzling rays of light shot into the sky simultaneously.
Six spirit rings shone brilliantly beneath their feet—two yellow, two purple, two black; a standard Spirit Emperor configuration.
Surging Soul Power fluctuations spread outward from the two of them, whipping up dust from the ground.
A flash of disappointment crossed Long Ziyun's eyes; Thunder Leopard had indeed not yet achieved a Breakthrough to Spirit Saint.
But immediately, his curiosity grew even stronger: If that was the case, where did Thunder Leopard's confidence come from?