"Zhou Hong, I heard you've been waiting here since early morning. It seems you're eager to die," Zhang Wenbo said with a cold laugh as he landed on the life-and-death arena, standing tens of meters in front of Zhou Hong. He appeared very confident in himself.
"Zhang Wenbo, we'll see who dies."
"I really don't know where your confidence comes from." Zhang Wenbo grew increasingly suspicious. Zhou Hong waiting here so early was quite abnormal.
"Hmph, he must be trying to bluff and intimidate me with this tactic," Zhang Wenbo muttered inwardly.
"Alright, Zhang Wenbo, it's almost nine o'clock. Shall we begin?" Zhou Hong urged.
"Then I shall grant your wish. But before we start, don't blame me for not warning you. This is a life-and-death battle. After either party dies, their families shall not pursue any responsibility," Zhang Wenbo declared loudly, seemingly on purpose.
"Nonsense. If you die, don't let your family bother me."
"You?" Zhang Wenbo scoffed dismissively, as if mocking Zhou Hong's ridiculousness and questioning who he thought he was to want him dead.
"I'll count to three. We start immediately after, one, two, three."
As he counted to two, Zhou Hong instantly retreated, leaving the arena. Just then, Zhang Wenbo reached three.
"Detonate." Zhou Hong immediately activated the formation. Zhang Wenbo, seeing Zhou Hong leave the arena, assumed he was scared and trying to escape, and inwardly scoffed with disdain.
However, in the next second, a powerful sense of crisis struck him.
"Boom!" Before Zhang Wenbo could react, the entire arena exploded violently.
The spectators around the arena, though not directly affected, were blinded by the force of Zhou Hong's atomic bomb formation.
A few seconds later, as the explosion subsided, everyone looked to see the life-and-death arena completely reduced to ruins. In the middle of the rubble, a man stood, his entire body blackened. He was extremely disheveled, his skin completely scorched. If not for his eyes still moving, he would have been mistaken for a piece of charcoal.
This man was none other than Zhang Wenbo.
Zhou Hong was also shocked. He had originally thought Zhang Wenbo would be reduced to ashes by his atomic bomb formation. He never expected him to still be alive.
"How is this possible? My atomic bomb formation can even severely wound someone in the late stage of Nascent Soul! Zhang Wenbo is only in the mid-Golden Core stage, and he's still alive." Although Zhou Hong found it hard to accept, he had to admit that Zhang Wenbo's life-preserving magical artifacts were truly heaven-defying.
Zhou Hong immediately flew forward and stood before Zhang Wenbo.
Zhang Wenbo's body trembled precariously, as if he could barely stand. Undoubtedly, it was a miracle he was alive. He had no strength left. Furthermore, Zhang Wenbo's cultivation realm had plummeted.
Zhou Hong sensed Zhang Wenbo's cultivation realm and found it hard to believe. It seemed to have fallen to the Integration stage, equivalent to a freshman's level.
"Zhou Hong, what exactly did you use on me?" Zhang Wenbo gritted his teeth and asked.
"What business is it of yours? We are in a life-and-death battle. However, I didn't expect you to still be alive. It seems you indeed have an outrageous number of life-preserving magical artifacts."
"Zhou Hong, no wonder you dared to accept my challenge. You had such a powerful item. If my family hadn't equipped me to the teeth, I would have been shattered into pieces," Zhang Wenbo gritted his teeth, a wave of shock washing over him. Zhang Wenbo was confident he could survive a blow from a Nascent Soul stage expert, which showed how powerful his life-preserving artifacts were.
However, at this moment, though his life was spared, he was utterly defenseless. His cultivation realm had also regressed to the Integration stage due to using a blood escape. This life-and-death battle was a complete and utter defeat for him. Crucially, Zhou Hong was still unharmed and could crush him with a single finger.
"Alright, enough about the past. Let me send you on your way," Zhou Hong said with a cold smile.
"Zhou Hong, I advise you not to touch me, or my family will not let you go," Zhang Wenbo threatened Zhou Hong with palpable nervousness.
"Heh, we are in a life-and-death battle now, and you were the one who initiated it. Moreover, everyone here just heard you personally say that regardless of who dies, the other's family cannot pursue any responsibility. Don't believe me? Ask everyone here. Did they all hear it?"
Zhang Wenbo began to tremble. He had thought Zhou Hong was doomed, never imagining he would be the one to die.
"Zhou Hong, I declare the life-and-death battle canceled."
"Hahaha, so it's canceled? Do you think I, Zhou Hong, am so easily bullied?" Zhou Hong roared with laughter. If it were Zhou Hong who was about to be killed, and Zhang Wenbo had said it was canceled, would Zhang Wenbo have spared him?
"Zhou Hong, killing me is easy, but have you considered the consequences? My family won't care if it was a life-and-death battle. If I die, all your relatives will be buried with me. Is it worth it to sacrifice so many of your loved ones for my life?"
"Hmph, whether it's worth it or not is my concern."
After speaking, Zhou Hong prepared to strike and kill Zhang Wenbo.
However, at that moment, Zhou Hong suddenly found himself frozen in the air, unable to move.
"What's going on?" Zhou Hong was startled. Could Zhang Wenbo have some hidden move?
Cold sweat broke out on Zhou Hong's forehead. He felt as if he were stuck in the air. If Zhang Wenbo truly had another trick up his sleeve, he was finished. All his efforts would be in vain, and he would be the one to die in the end.
Just then, a voice echoed from the sky: "Stop."
Zhou Hong couldn't look up, but he recognized the voice as belonging to an old man.
Zhou Hong felt a slight sense of relief. As long as it wasn't some trick from Zhang Wenbo, it was fine.
The next second, an old man slowly descended.
"Protector Wanyan, save me quickly!" Zhang Wenbo cried out excitedly upon seeing the old man.
"Zhang Wenbo, rest assured, with me here, no one can kill you," the old man said calmly.
Zhou Hong's heart was filled with anger. He was still immobilized by the old man's power.
"Senior, who are you? Why are you helping Zhang Wenbo? He and I are in a life-and-death battle, and he was the one who initiated it. I have the right to kill him. No matter who you are, you have no right to interfere," Zhou Hong's voice was filled with annoyance. Being held captive in the air like this was simply too much. Soudan Novel Network
"Hmph, you are Zhou Hong, aren't you? I don't care if this is a life-and-death battle. As long as I am here, you will not kill Zhang Wenbo today."