As soon as Prince Yu opened his mouth, everyone instantly saw through his intentions. He clearly believed himself to be the strongest among those present and thus wanted to take the lead, using others as test subjects to clear the path for himself.
But just because Prince Yu believed he was the strongest, did that mean he truly was?
At least in the shadows, many didn't think so.
So when everyone accepted the decision to let the strongest lead the breakthrough, someone immediately stepped forward to challenge it.
He pointed directly at the Lord of Stone City and said coldly, "Come out and fight me to the death!"
His words were simple and direct, without any unnecessary fluff.
This man was a fiercely loyal subordinate of the Crown Prince, hailing from a royal background and at the pinnacle of elite cultivation. This time, in an effort to curry favor with Prince Yu, he had no problem turning on his peers.
This scene made the ragtag cultivators and old monsters around them stifle their laughter.
The Lord of Stone City sneered and stepped forward. Since the man dared to challenge him, how could he possibly back down?
Thus, the first duel began.
The challenger held a position in the Rakshasa Kingdom equivalent to the Commander of the Imperial Guard and had been at the pinnacle cultivation level for many years. As soon as he stepped forward, an overwhelming wave of chakra surged from his body.
Sand and stones danced in the air from his sheer power.
Many rogue cultivators turned pale, and even the leaders among them subconsciously stepped back. In that moment, everyone could clearly feel just how powerful the royal forces of the Rakshasa Kingdom truly were.
At the same time, the old demons were also contemplating retreat. This time, there were more than a dozen royal-class cultivators present. In terms of numbers, they were clearly outmatched.
The Imperial Guard Commander and the Lord of Stone City had never met in person, but they had clashed secretly before. That's why the commander had stepped forward without hesitation.
He launched his attack swiftly and suddenly, without any warning, and charged directly at his opponent. Under the boost of his chakra, he moved with astonishing speed, becoming a blur.
A flash of yellow light streaked across the sky. In the span of a single breath, the commander closed nearly a hundred meters and punched directly at the Lord of Stone City's face.
It was a heavy punch. Had it landed, the Lord of Stone City might have been knocked out instantly.
This was the true power of the elite tier. His speed far exceeded that of even high-tier warriors.
However, the Lord of Stone City reacted just in time. Though he had no time to dodge, he instantly gathered chakra into his palm and blasted it in all directions!
With a thunderous rumble, the mountain shook violently, and everyone watching felt the ground tremble beneath their feet, nearly losing their balance.
The collision forced the commander to retreat several steps before he could regain his footing. The Lord of Stone City, though unmoved, had his feet deeply embedded in the earth.
The commander sneered and stomped hard on the ground, accelerating again as he rushed forward.
The situation had already spiraled out of control.
Realizing the danger, the Lord of Stone City leapt into the air, launching into aerial combat with the commander.
They exchanged blows fiercely in midair, neither gaining the upper hand.
Down below, Prince Yu watched with disdain and mocked, "Just a city lord, and you think you're some kind of legend?"
He firmly believed the commander ranked among the top elite-tier cultivators, clearly superior to the Lord of Stone City. Judging by the current fight, it was only a matter of time before the city lord was defeated.
But would Prince Yu's prediction hold true?
The battle above exploded with intense force as both sides unleashed their signature techniques. Chakra surged wildly, wind howled, and faint thunder rumbled in the distance.
Suddenly, a figure staggered in the sky and fell to the ground. To everyone's shock, it wasn't the Lord of Stone City—it was the commander of the Imperial Guard!
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Even Prince Yu stared in disbelief. He had been sure the commander would win. How had things turned out like this?
Soon after, the Lord of Stone City also descended slowly, his robes tattered and his face pale and exhausted. It was clear that while he had won, he had used all his strength and sustained serious injuries.
The commander wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and growled, "I never imagined you'd improved so much. Given time, I swear I'll kill you myself!"
Though both men held official positions in the Rakshasa Kingdom, the commander didn't hesitate to threaten the city lord in public. His ruthlessness showed he would stop at nothing.
Of course, without Prince Yu backing him, the commander wouldn't dare act so arrogantly.
But the Lord of Stone City wasn't afraid. He sensed that Senju Yukika was standing right behind him.
With Senju Yukika's power, what was there to fear from a prince?
Prince Yu, furious and pale, was about to order another subordinate to challenge the Lord of Stone City.
But just then, an old monster stepped forward. He landed gently before the city lord, his presence ushered in by a rising swirl of black wind, like a withered leaf drifting from the sky.
"I am the Crimson Demon King. Lord of Stone City, how may I assist you?"
The Crimson Demon King was infamous for using unspeakable evil methods to turn a large city of tens of thousands into a living hell. His atrocities were so shocking that his name became feared across nearby kingdoms.
Several royal factions had once joined forces to hunt him down, but he had repeatedly escaped their grasp.
This demon had long since made a name for himself, his seniority even surpassing that of Elder Musu.
When he announced his name, many were momentarily stunned. But as they recalled it, their expressions changed drastically. That name evoked memories of endless seas of corpses and blood.
The Lord of Stone City grew more cautious, slowly circulating chakra in his body, trying to speed up his recovery.
Unbeknownst to him, Senju Yukika had already arrived.
And the moment Yukika heard that name, he immediately understood what kind of venomous old fiend he was dealing with.
A cold glint flashed in Senju Yukika's eyes.
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