Ji Xinghuo answered, "Star Fall Ability."
A chorus of shocked voices filled the private box.
Several Legends had given up hope. If it was a Transcendent Species, they still held a sliver of hope that there might be a chance to win, but with Star-falling Species, the possibility of success was virtually zero. It was a pipe dream.
Only Zhao Manying, who had known all along, showed no surprise.
Ji Xinghuo stood up. There were only a few seconds left on the big screen for the five-minute preparation time for the third game, and he flew out of the box into the soundproof booth.
However, Li Xuan did not come down on the other side.
In the live broadcast, Li Xuan’s face showed hesitation, as if he was pondering an important matter, struggling to make a decision.
Suddenly, everyone’s attention turned to him. The host and commentator exchanged glances but dared not speak out.
"Could Li Xuan be thinking of withdrawing from the match?"
"Maybe losing two rounds has shattered his confidence, and he no longer has the courage to face Ji Xinghuo?"
"If that’s true, he’ll disgrace the title of Heavenly King!"
The audience was abuzz with speculation.
The host finally said, "The pressure on Li Xuan is immense. This is not just a simple duel, but a wager with high stakes. Anyone in his position, facing the possibility of losing more than twenty billion, would be nervous."
At that moment, a commentator suddenly exclaimed, "Ji Xinghuo doesn’t have a weapon!"
The audience then noticed that Ji Xinghuo had entered the soundproof booth empty-handed, leaving behind the Electric Potential Battle Blade he used in the second round in the box.
A wave of astonishment spread through the venue.
"He’s really not taking Li Xuan seriously." Many people realized Ji Xinghuo’s intention; to win each of the three rounds in a different manner.
The first round, he killed with a bow and arrow.
The second round, he slaughtered with a War Blade.
Now, for the third round, Ji Xinghuo had chosen unarmed combat!
Ji Xinghuo intended to prove to the world, in an almost humiliating way, that he was far superior to Li Xuan and could easily handle a Heavenly King.
Li Xuan, still in the box, also understood and immediately clenched his fists, his face alternating between pale and flushed with anger, fixedly staring at Ji Xinghuo. He could no longer contain the rage within him, but the thought of the consequences of losing made him hesitate.
The audience at Tian Qin Stadium were shouting in protest; the time was up, why hadn’t the match started?
"Get on the stage now!"
"Li Xuan, what are you waiting for?"
"If you were so afraid of losing, you shouldn’t have challenged Ji Xinghuo, especially with such a huge bet."
"If you withdraw, you’ll be the disgrace of the Heavenly Kings!"
Each shout was a dagger to Li Xuan’s heart. His gaze swept around; everyone was waiting for him.
There was no turning back!
With a face like still water, Li Xuan transformed into a streak of sword light as he descended into the soundproof booth. Without uttering a single word, he went straight into the projection chamber, not even turning to glance at Ji Xinghuo opposite him, fearing he would lose the courage to fight.
Ji Xinghuo also entered the projection chamber, his eyes flashing with the countdown.
The third round began.
In the center of the Tian Qin Stadium, a three-dimensional image was projected, depicting a vast desert, spreading over 3,000 square kilometers, under the scorching sun of the day, with a small oasis at the heart of the parched desert.
Both the host and the audience recognized the map.
Beneath the expanse of the desert lay ancient ruins, resembling a colossal underground maze, filled with technology and traps, and with very complex terrain.
But this was no mere competition; it was a duel between two, where the ruins could be disregarded.
Ji Xinghuo’s feet hit the ground, leaving a large sand crater, as he shot skywards, flying at high speed towards the oasis at the center of the desert.
His Electromagnetic Induction spread out, searching for Li Xuan.
Upon ascending to Legendary status, both the Rotating Magnetic Field and the Electrostatic Field advanced, and though still at Fourth Level, the range of Electromagnetic Induction also grew slightly. Supported by substantial Star Power, the radius now exceeded six thousand kilometers.
Ji Xinghuo accelerated to Mach 3 speed, streaking through the sky like a thunderbolt, leaving behind a deafening boom of a Sound Explosion.
Suddenly, an invisible sword light appeared within the reach of the Electromagnetic Induction.
Ji Xinghuo instantly turned to Li Xuan’s location.
Li Xuan was also Flying with his sword, his invisible sword light having been unbeatable in previous battles, always taking advantage of speed and Invisibility to gain the upper hand.
But today, against Ji Xinghuo, the invisible Swordsman was utterly worthless.
Invisibility was ineffective.
His speed of Flying with the sword was far inferior to Ji Xinghuo’s too. Upon entering and finding that the map was the Desert Labyrinth, he had tried to dive underground, utilizing the ancient technology and mechanisms in the ruins to manipulate and ambush Ji Xinghuo.
However, he hadn’t flown far before Ji Xinghuo arrived.
Li Xuan suddenly reversed his invisible sword light, fleeing far away. This left countless spectators dumbfounded.
A Heavenly King, when facing a Legendary, chose to flee at the first opportunity.
A chorus of boos erupted from the audience.
"Li Xuan is tactically retreating," the host was still trying his best to save face for Li Xuan, "If direct combat is not favorable, maybe utilizing the underground ruins of the desert can increase Li Xuan’s chances of victory."
The commentators didn’t quite know how to continue from there.
In the footage, electric light sparked from Ji Xinghuo’s eyes, currents surged across his skin, and lightning crackled through the air around him.
He had activated Overload!
Amid the thundering roars, Ji Xinghuo’s speed soared even higher, reaching Mach 4 in a few seconds and rapidly closing in on Li Xuan up ahead.
The six thousand kilometers gap was halved in an instant.
Li Xuan looked back and saw Ji Xinghuo bearing down like a storm, knowing he couldn’t widen the gap and that he had to fight.