Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen sighed. "Exactly. It wasn't easy to survive three deathmatches. Looks like my luck is on the decline again."

The Vajra Race divine ability expert smiled faintly, his eyes brimming with confidence. "Surviving three deathmatches isn't an easy feat. Now that you and I are trapped in this deathmatch zone, why don't we... see who is stronger?"

The foundation of the Vajra Race was inherently far superior to that of the human race. Since both of them were experts who had survived three deathmatches, he was confident that the opponent wouldn't even be able to break through his defenses.

"Are you certain?"

"Naturally."

***

At the center of the deathmatch zone, more than a dozen different camps had formed. Several of those groups consisted entirely of humans. Yet rather than joining forces, they were locked in a confrontation with one another.

"Jinyang Alliance, Luoxue Alliance, we are all fellow humans. Do you really insist on fighting us to the death during the Saint Tower Battle?" a tall woman demanded with a chilling expression.

"Fang Ximeng, have you not realized your situation already? What is the point of asking this? The Jinyang Alliance and Luoxue Alliance have long held a blood feud with the Fang Clan. Half Saint Jinwu and the Half Saint Zangxue's paths to Sainthood had been severed by your clan," a middle-aged man from the Jinyang Alliance camp said impassively.

"The rest of you are not divine ability experts of the Fang Clan, so there is no need to make enemies of us for their sake. Why not step aside? Once we have dealt with Fang Ximeng and her group, we can discuss our subsequent plans," a handsome youth from the Luoxue Alliance camp suggested with a smile, looking toward the several figures standing near Fang Ximeng.

A tall young man said calmly, "Our Wandao Alliance has always been allies with the Fang Clan, and we have absolutely no reason to abandon our allies during the Saint Tower Battle. Save your breath. If you want a fight, we will naturally oblige. But once the fight is over, you will only be cleaned up by the other foreign races. You will die just the same."

The handsome youth from the Luoxue Alliance shook his head slightly. "The Wandao Alliance's choice to ally with the Fang Clan is truly an unwise move."

Sweeping his gaze over the nearby foreign races, he suddenly laughed softly. "It is impossible for these foreign races to reap the benefits of our conflict. We are also allied with the Vajra Race. Yan Changkong of the Vajra Race has already emerged victorious in three deathmatches. With him stepping forward to stall for a few days, we will be able to surrender and leave this place. Therefore, we are destined to survive, but the same cannot be said for you."

Upon hearing that, the divine ability experts of the Fang Clan and the Wandao Alliance instinctively glanced toward a group of entities not far away who were radiating a silver-white glow.

This group of Vajra Race divine ability experts currently held a rather detached and superior position as their strength subtly eclipsed all the other camps. Not to mention the existence known as Yan Changkong. The three halos floating behind his back were a testament that could not be faked.

Fang Ximeng took out her identity token and glanced at it. A faint golden thread could be seen circulating around its edges. Once the head and tail of this thread connected, surrendering and leaving the Saint Tower full intact would become possible. Before then, however, no one could leave this place alive.

Fang Ximeng sighed. According to past experience, if one can hold out for another four or five years before leaving, there might be a chance to squeeze into the top one hundred thousand. But that is easier said than done. Is breaking into the top one hundred thousand truly this difficult for the human race...

Right at that moment, a figure suddenly tore through the air, flying straight toward their position.

The crowd's attention was piqued. After glancing at the newcomer and realizing that he was a human, they didn't pay him much attention.

They had thought it was Yan Changkong, the Vajra Race expert who had survived three deathmatches, returning.

"Ancestor Chen?"

Fang Ximeng was momentarily stunned upon seeing who had come, but she quickly cupped her hands in a hurried salute.

Since Fang Chen had spent so many years within Xie Zhi, she naturally recognized him. However, the two of them hadn't had much interaction before entering the Saint Tower Battle.

The other two sixth-transformation divine ability experts beside Fang Ximeng cupped their hands as well.

The several sixth-transformation experts from the Wandao Alliance relaxed slightly when they saw another person had joined their side. Every extra fighter counted. At the very least, they could hold out a bit longer in the impending clash against the Jinyang and Luoxue Alliances.

Fang Ximeng and the others suddenly blinked.

"Wait a minute..."

Noticing the three halos floating behind Fang Chen, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

They hadn't seen it clearly from a distance, but now that Fang Chen had approached, these three halos became very clear.

Three halos meant that Fang Chen had survived to the very end of three deathmatches. Such prowess was by no means ordinary. Although different deathmatches varied greatly in difficulty—making it impossible to accurately deduce absolute strength based solely on survival count—a divine ability user who survived three deathmatches was definitely far stronger than peers at the same rank.

Over on the side of the Jinyang and Luoxue Alliances, they also noticed the three halos behind Fang Chen after spotting him. Their expressions instantly turned wary, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion. The Vajra Race noticed this as well, and their originally indifferent countenances turned solemn.

Fang Chen smiled. "The Jinyang Alliance and Luoxue Alliance plan to target you in this death battle?"

Fang Ximeng nodded hastily. "Exactly. They intend to borrow the strength of the Vajra Race to slay us first, and then stall until the surrender time for the Saint Tower Battle opens so they can retreat unscathed."

With a thought, Fang Chen drew his own identity token and glanced at it. Sure enough, the golden thread was about to connect along the perimeter. According to this progress, they would be able to surrender in just a few more days.

At that moment, led by a young man, the Vajra Race stepped forward to the front of the Luoxue and Jinyang Alliances. The Vajra Race youth swept his gaze over the halos behind Fang Chen, a flicker of wariness flashing through his eyes before he spoke impassively, "For you to have survived three deathmatches, you have a few tricks up your sleeve. When my cousin returns, I'll have him test his skills against yours."

With the Vajra Race stepping up, the divine ability experts of the Jinyang and Luoxue Alliances felt a collective sigh of relief. Seeing the three halos behind that Fang Clan divine ability expert just now had honestly sent their hearts thumping in panic.

Reminded of Yan Changkong's presence, they relaxed once more.

Conversely, on Fang Ximeng's side, their expressions turned slightly grim after being reminded of Yan Changkong. Someone softly informed Fang Chen of Yan Changkong's methods.

Fang Chen nodded. "He survived three deathmatches as well, so his methods must be quite remarkable. Where is he now?"

The Vajra Race youth let out a faint laugh. "My cousin went to hunt down some blind fool who didn't know his place. He will be back shortly."

Upon hearing that, Fang Chen immediately fished out a head and tossed it right in front of the Vajra Race group. The bloody head was completely silver-white, its eyes wide open as if it had died with deep regrets.

Fang Chen asked, "It couldn't be him, right?"

The Vajra Race youth's face trembled. He took a few steps forward, scooped up the head to take a look, and instantly flew into a furious rage and roared, "Kill them all for me!"

Without another word, the group of Vajra Race divine ability experts charged toward Fang Chen and his companions alongside the youth. Fang Ximeng and the others hadn't expected a fight to break out so suddenly and scrambled to prepare their counter-responses.

The divine ability experts of the Jinyang Alliance and Luoxue Alliance exchanged glances. They quickly decided to side with the Vajra Race, charging forward to slaughter alongside them....