Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Learning that Lin Yun was alright, Ning Shuang felt relieved. As for whether the Taiqing Academy had truly been annihilated, she couldn’t care less.

"I’m telling you, your sources are terrible. News of the Taiqing Academy’s annihilation has spread throughout the entire Eastern Domain, and you’re only just hearing about it now?" Li Tian said to Ning Shuang with a wry smile.

Hearing this, Ning Shuang replied indifferently, "What’s that got to do with me?"

This woman was completely beyond him. Ning Shuang had always been cold, but after a few years in the Death Row Shelter, she had become even more frigid.

"Then what are you here for?" Ning Shuang asked after a pause, her tone still just as indifferent.

"Your young master says the Eastern Domain will soon descend into chaos. It’s time for you to return," Li Tian said irritably. ’Does this woman think of nothing but Lin Yun?’

"Really?" As expected, upon hearing that Lin Yun wanted her to return, a rare hint of anticipation appeared on Ning Shuang’s face. Her gaze on Li Tian finally showed a subtle shift in expression.

"You’re unbelievable. It’s true," Li Tian replied.

Hearing this, Ning Shuang was immediately ready to leave, but Li Tian stopped her. "Not so fast. We have to wait for someone."

"Brother Long?" Ning Shuang said upon hearing this.

He nodded. At this, Ning Shuang informed Li Tian that the very next match happened to be Brother Long’s. It was being called the fight of the century. Ever since He Shang disappeared, Imprisoned Dragon and Shadow had become the two strongest disciples in the Death Row Shelter.

Both had cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Primordial Ocean Realm. The upcoming fight between Imprisoned Dragon and Shadow was regarded by all as the Peak battle for the title of the Death Row Shelter’s top young assassin.

They didn’t have to wait long. Imprisoned Dragon and Shadow entered the Central Array from different directions. Upon entering, neither chose to conceal themselves immediately. Instead, they both walked to the center of the Array.

Standing opposite each other, both were clad in black, though Shadow’s face was also masked. From beneath the mask, Shadow’s voice was chilling as he said, "Imprisoned Dragon, I’ve been in the Death Row Shelter for nearly twenty years. With Brother He Shang gone, the position of first disciple should be mine by right."

Hearing this, Imprisoned Dragon replied coolly, "Be my guest. I have no interest in the position of first disciple. All I want is to defeat you—to kill you—and bring a perfect end to the humiliation I suffered all those years ago."

"You..." Shadow began coldly, but before he could say more, Imprisoned Dragon turned and walked away.

Soon, both their figures vanished from sight. Not even the spectators outside the Array knew where Imprisoned Dragon and Shadow were.

To be honest, a duel between assassins wasn’t much of a spectacle. The stronger the assassins, the more boring the fight, because no one could even tell where they were.

Watching assassins fight, to put it bluntly, meant enduring a long, tedious wait for that one split second of a killing blow.

A full fifteen minutes passed without the slightest stir in the Central Array. If the crowd hadn’t seen Imprisoned Dragon and Shadow enter with their own eyes, they would have assumed the Array was empty.

"Ugh... so boring..." Li Tian said with a yawn.

Fifteen minutes had gone by without a single sound. It was enough to make anyone drowsy.

Just then, there was finally some action in the Central Array. From a tree branch that had looked completely empty, Shadow suddenly lunged with a dagger. At the same time, Imprisoned Dragon’s figure bizarrely materialized before everyone’s eyes.

Their daggers clashed in mid-air, and just as quickly, they vanished from sight once more.

After that, a dangerous clash between the two could be seen every ten or so seconds. Each exchange was a single strike, but every strike was meant to kill.

Assassins live and die by the one-hit kill. If the first strike fails, the mission has likely failed. After all, no fool would give an assassin a second chance, and direct confrontation is usually an assassin’s greatest weakness.

"Finally, it’s getting good," Li Tian said with a smile. The duel grew more intense. While it wasn’t a battle of head-on clashes, every single move held the entire audience in suspense.

The frequency of their strikes increased, their speed accelerating with every exchange. Though they re-concealed themselves after every clash, their opponent would find them again in moments.

Hiding behind a large boulder, Imprisoned Dragon clutched an arm that had been gashed open, blood steadily flowing from the wound. Just then, Shadow’s cold laughter echoed from behind him.

"Junior Brother Imprisoned Dragon, you’re still too naive. Don’t you know blood has a scent?"

As he spoke, Shadow appeared behind Imprisoned Dragon, his dagger plunging toward the spot on his back that corresponded with his heart. A direct hit would mean certain death.

"Haha, Imprisoned Dragon, die!" Victory was within his grasp. At this range, Shadow knew it was impossible for Imprisoned Dragon to dodge his attack.

However, to the astonishment of Shadow and everyone watching, Imprisoned Dragon made no attempt to dodge the incoming dagger. He simply turned his body toward Shadow, and as he did, Shadow’s dagger sank squarely into his chest.

But Shadow’s dagger hadn’t pierced his heart. By turning, Imprisoned Dragon had shifted the point of impact, avoiding the fatal blow.

’Damn it...’ He knew instantly that he’d fallen for Imprisoned Dragon’s ploy. As Shadow tried to pull back, he suddenly felt a piercing pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a sharp dagger buried in his own heart.

"Didn’t you know you shouldn’t celebrate before your target is actually dead?" Imprisoned Dragon said coolly. With that, he yanked the dagger from Shadow’s heart in one clean motion.

With his heart pierced, Shadow was clearly beyond saving. He collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth, his eyes fixed on Imprisoned Dragon with a venomous glare.

Without giving Shadow a second glance, Imprisoned Dragon turned and left the Array.

The victor was decided. The crowd remained stunned for several seconds before erupting into a deafening roar of approval.

With the end of this battle, the Death Row Shelter had a new first disciple: Imprisoned Dragon. Shadow was now history. No one remembers the name of a dead man.

After the battle, Ning Shuang led Li Tian to Imprisoned Dragon’s rest area. Seeing him, Li Tian smiled and said, "Imprisoned Dragon, I’ve heard a great deal about you."

"Is Young Master Lin making his move?" Imprisoned Dragon looked at Li Tian, his voice just as cold. He wasted no words and cut straight to the point.

In response, Li Tian simply smiled and nodded.

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