Tao Yaoyao and Jiao Long, upon seeing their surroundings, instinctively moved towards each other and quickly backed together, forming a united defensive posture.
They found themselves in a cage on a large platform, encircled by tiered seating filled to capacity with an audience of countless human and demon cultivators.
A host holding a megaphone stood at the front and announced, "Stop looking, the two of you, it's you! Welcome to Fire Spirit City's most thrilling Demon Fighting Arena. You two demons will fight it out. You can use magic or martial arts, no matter the method or the time. Only one will survive when the other dies!"
"Who are you? How dare you disregard our lives as demons so callously?" asked Tao Yaoyao, the white-lotus-like female protagonist, her voice filled with righteous indignation.
"Here, you have no demon rights. Once sold to our Demon Fighting Arena, your lives belong to us. As I said, only one of you can survive. Hurry up and prepare for battle!" The host then turned to the audience with a smile, "Esteemed spectators, you have one minute left to place your bets. Bets are closed!"
Naturally, Tao Yaoyao and Jiao Long would not turn on each other based on a few words. After exchanging glances, they simultaneously channeled their spiritual energy towards one side of the cage. Their dazzling martial arts techniques concluded, yet not a speck of dust was stirred from the cage's perimeter.
"Don't waste your spiritual energy, the two on stage. This is a specially designed cage. All your external attacks will be blocked. You have no other way out but to kill each other!" The host extinguished their last sliver of hope.
Tao Yaoyao's eyes welled up again, and she looked at Jiao Long, asking weakly, "Brother Jiao, what should we do now?"
Jiao Long attempted to attack the cage's locking mechanism a few more times, but it remained undamaged. His expression was grim. However, the thought of killing Tao Yaoyao was unbearable. He then spoke loudly to the host outside, "Are there any tag-team matches? If the two of us teamed up against another pair, it would surely be more exciting."
Tao Yaoyao's eyes brightened upon hearing this.
However, before their joy could last, the host shattered their hopes once more. "Don't think about such things. Once one of you leaves this cage alive, perhaps there will be other options. But for now, everyone has already placed their bets, so hurry up and begin!"
Suddenly, Jiao Long launched an attack towards Tao Yaoyao. As Tao Yaoyao prepared to defend, Jiao Long whispered as he approached, "Yaoyao, let's just fight casually for now. I'll pretend to be defeated by you later. When they open the cage to inspect, we'll attack and break out together!"
And so, the two demons began to fight, their demon energy scattering outwards, creating a visually intense spectacle of colorful energy. In reality, many of their moves narrowly missed, avoiding causing significant harm.
After exchanging over a hundred more blows, while both were in mid-air, Jiao Long suddenly met Tao Yaoyao's palm head-on. He then used that momentum to retreat rapidly, crashing against the cage wall while deliberately letting out a pained cry. Finally, he fell back to the ground, revealing his true form as a flood dragon, motionless.
Tao Yaoyao also landed gracefully and said to the host, "I've won. Open the door!"
To her surprise, the host replied, "Are you two treating us like fools? Life monitors have long been installed on stage. We know perfectly well if it's a real death. I advise you not to waste everyone's time. Fight to the death immediately!"
The audience in the stands erupted in curses.
"These two demons are fighting so fake!"
"Yeah, are they supposed to spit out gallons of blood for it to be believable?"
"I bet on this! Hurry up and fight, don't dawdle!"
"Exactly! Don't waste everyone's time!"
...
Seeing that this plan was not viable, Jiao Long transformed back into his human form and got up from the ground.
Tao Yaoyao quickly stepped forward to help him up, tears streaming down her face like pearls. "Brother Jiao, am I really going to die here today?"
"Yaoyao, don't be afraid. There will always be a way. Rest assured, even if I die myself, I won't harm you. Later, we..." Jiao Long's words were cut short by a searing pain. He slowly looked down at his abdomen, bewildered to find a large hole there.
It turned out that Tao Yaoyao, while Jiao Long was completely unsuspecting and she was helping him up, had suddenly launched a sneak attack and ripped out his inner core.
At this moment, Tao Yaoyao maintained her delicate, tearful appearance. "I'm sorry, Brother Jiao. I haven't met my benefactor, the Dapeng bird, nor have I reported the demon race's news to the immortal. I cannot die yet... Since you said earlier that you would rather die than harm me, then let me be the villain!"
As she finished speaking, Tao Yaoyao channeled her demon energy again and struck Jiao Long's crown with a palm.
In Jiao Long's final moments, he saw Tao Yaoyao with the same innocent look. He wondered why such a kind Yaoyao would do this to him. But Jiao Long would never have the chance to know the answer.
Discarding Jiao Long's body in her arms, and seeing him reveal his true form as a dead flood dragon on the stage, Tao Yaoyao trembled as she brought Jiao Long's inner core to her lips and swallowed it. She then looked at the host and said, "I've won. Now... can I be let out?"
The stands erupted in applause, cheers, and curses.
"Haha, an upset! I'm going to be rich this time!"
"I never expected this Peach Blossom Demon to be so ruthless. I misjudged her!"
"This flood dragon looked mighty, but he was so useless. A waste, costing me a lot of money!"
"The most venomous hearts are in women, the more beautiful a female demon, the more dangerous!"
...
The host was also delighted. Today's upset meant the underground demon fighting arena had made a considerable profit, and his commission would increase. With a beaming smile, he said, "You've won, congratulations, congratulations! Guards!"
A man soon appeared, the same one who had brought them over earlier. He flicked his hand, and a rope bound Tao Yaoyao once more.
"What is the meaning of this? Didn't you say the winner could leave? You broke your word!" Tao Yaoyao struggled, and it was, undoubtedly, the same rope that could bind demon power.
"No, no, no. We only said the other one could survive, we never said we'd grant you freedom!" The host wagged a single index finger. "Take her away! Update her information on the leaderboard and see if anyone bids. If not, her next duel will be arranged in a few days."
"You can't do this! You..." Tao Yaoyao was truly panicked now, but alas, there was no more adoring Jiao Long to pity her tears.
The darkness descended once more, and Tao Yaoyao was pushed out of the place, her fate unknown as she awaited what lay ahead...