However, the Silver Edged Swords were not so lucky—the flames were devouring their clothes, quickly scorching their skin. Soon, the nauseating scent of charred flesh filled the arena.
While the masked mercenary group was extinguishing the random flames Yan Xiaobao had tossed at them, none of them turned toward him or his friends. They were entirely focused on another team, which made Yan Xiaobao feel that something was off.
Zhou Long had worked with this group before—was he the one who set up alliances in the previous match? But if that were the case, how could they turn on them ?
Perhaps Xu Biao had something to do with it? Yan Xiaobao quickly dismissed the thought, recalling how he had been told to prepare for people dying in the final fight.
Yan Xiaobao’s eyes flashed with a sharp determination. In any case, he hadn’t heard of any fixed results, nor did he want to see his friends killed.
"Sha Yun, make a massive barrier in front of us using the soil of the stage," Yan Xiaobao ordered, offering no further explanation.
Sha Yun obeyed without questioning. Bending down, she placed both hands on the ground and tapped into her earthly affinity, raising a tall wall that nearly encircled the entire group.
When the audience saw the wall rise, confusion spread across their faces. While it could protect Yan Xiaobao and his friends, it also made it impossible for them to attack others. In the long run, no one seemed to benefit from this barrier.
Completely ignoring the audience, Yan Xiaobao gestured to his friends to stay behind. With a single thought, a massive fireball soared into the sky, arcing over the barrier and heading straight toward the combatants. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Fifteen men were on the stage at the moment, and Yan Xiaobao had no hesitation targeting them, deciding their survival would depend on their individual skills.
As soon as the Flame Treasure Pearl struck the first man, a thunderous explosion roared, much like the one felt earlier. The flames erupted fiercely, only stopping just before they could reach the audience—thanks to Zhou Long’s intervention.
A golden glow appeared on Zhou Long’s hand. In less than a second, golden threads formed a net that contained the explosive force of the flames. The astonished expression on his face betrayed his surprise, mingled with a hint of approval.
Yan Xiaobao and his friends hid behind the earthy barrier, waiting until the heat subsided. Yan Xiaobao nodded to Sha Yun, signaling for the Snake Woman to return to the stage.
Looking at the stage, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but lift his head in amazement. Thirteen men still stood, seemingly unharmed, though seven were writhing on the ground, struggling to free themselves from the flames. Even the group members standing offstage seemed affected.
The entire masked team was still standing, though their clothing and masks had sustained significant damage. Their faces displayed shock, and under one of the damaged outfits, Yan Xiaobao spotted the insignia of the Dragon Army.
Three men from the Silver Edged Swords remained standing, and Hui Yue had to admit they were not to be underestimated.
Without missing a beat, Yan Xiaobao clapped his hands together, then knelt down. Summoning his earth flame from the sea of his spiritual energy, he caused a minor earthquake across the entire stage, trying to shake the men’s focus.
"Now it’s my turn!" Yan Xiaobao declared in a serious voice. Behind him, his friends each stepped forward, their bodies radiating light from the release of spiritual energy.
"Now it’s my turn!" Yan Xiaobao repeated as four figures behind him stepped forward. Wang Julong chanted a spell briefly, then crushed a seed in her hand, sending a cloud of dust surging toward the opposing men.
Seeing the dust rushing toward them, the masked team’s expressions became grave. Their leader grabbed two Silver Edged Swords members, wrapping an arm around their necks, and used them as shields to protect himself and the others from the approaching dust.
The two men absorbed the dust quickly. Afterward, the leader threw them off the stage, where their bodies convulsed and emitted bloodcurdling screams. A therapist skilled in Wood Element magic rushed to heal the now-disqualified men.
Having witnessed the danger of the dust, the opponents’ faces showed heightened vigilance as they drew their weapons. Although most masked men wielded broadswords, the leader held a sword in each hand. An ominous aura radiated from him—a pure, murderous intent that signaled his weapons had been bathed in blood.
Watching the opponents closely, Hui Yue’s brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t want to face these men directly, but fortunately, they were no longer as sturdy as before. Their clothes and masks had been scorched, and visible wounds marred their skin—not just superficial cuts but deep burns, even on those standing in the back row.
"Wu," Yan Xiaobao whispered, "Although I didn’t want us to use this, I don’t think we can hold back anymore." As he spoke, a joyful glint flickered in his dark eyes. Yan Xiaobao almost chuckled, watching Deng Wu’s eager expression as he prepared to showcase his skills.
With fluid movements, the four inscription patterns floating around Deng Wu dissolved simultaneously, only to be replaced by four completely different ones. These new inscriptions emanated an intimidating aura that was no less threatening than that of their adversaries.