Down in the Arena.
Clap… Clap... Clap…
Clapping like the slow toll of a mockery-filled funeral bell made the chains rattle ominously...
The smiling Jin Tiemo's predatory gaze locked onto the only prey and drawled:
"As expected of the one they call the Spider Strategist. You, spider freak, really hid your cards deeply. If it weren't for their sacrifices, you would've given me a good surprise today. Such a pity, hm?"
Qian Fusha adjusted his condition and flatly fired back. "There's still more where that came from. I don't mind letting you have a taste."
At that, Jin Tiemo burst out into a cackle.
"Zehahaha! What a big tone for a bug at the end of your ropes! But very well…"
"Since you've gone through all this trouble to weave such a wonderful grave for yourself, how can I let all your efforts go to waste? I'll reluctantly cooperate with you for your last performance."
Qian Fusha narrowed his eyes. "Enough nonsense! Since you're here to fight, I don't mind accompanying you till the very end!"
"Well, well, so eager to go on the road?" Jin Tiemo snickered and yanked on his chain to reel his scythe back into his hand then gave it a loving spin.
"Very well. Then as an old friend, let me properly send you on your way!"
Oom! The airspace trembled as spiritual senses clashed over and over, waiting for that signal.
"Begin!"
A foot tapped the ground and the next instant, Jin Tiemo exploded forward!
Fwoosh! In mere heartbeats, half the field got crossed and the challenger came face-to-face against the web lair!
"Zehahaha! Your little fortress can stop others, but not me!"
Stomp! A boot slammed down and the scythe spun in its owner grip. "Take my move—!"
The scythe lashed forward! "Blood Weapon Arts: Third Stanza, Rend!"
Fwoom! The scythe split the air and a bloody-red energy arc slashed out towards the spider hiding deeper in the lair!
All the web in the slash's path got sliced through like butter and the killer arc reached its target in almost an instant!
Sensing the threat, Qian Fusha quickly darted to the side while the blood-red energy screamed past, dicing through everything in its path until it slammed into the arena walls!
Blood splattered on the wall, corroding a shallow yet long scar like the slashes made by a sword cultivator!
But Qian Fusha had no time to admire whatever art was left there because slash after slash came faster than the wind!
Qian Fusha weaved between the web pillars so fast that his silhouette was a blur, darting back and forth to evade the sharp cuts that colored the webs red!
Srkhh! Fwip! Wsssh!
Alas, it was like his every move still got predicted. Every follow-up slash aimed for whichever escape route he wanted to take, forcefully limiting his range of motion and boxing him in!
Then a critical slash fired over exactly when he got boxed in! No room for evasion!
Qian Fusha was forced to leap up and his body twisted barely enough evade by a hair's breath! But now… he was trapped airborne!
But this wasn't a big problem for old hands. Mid-leap, a web shot out and anchored to a pillar…
Just when Qian Fusha wanted to sling away, a spinning scythe diced through the lifeline then boomeranged towards his throat!
Manifest, Black Tortoise Spider Gu!
CLANG! Spider legs met scythe!
The instant metal kissed metal, the Qi flowing along the chain churned and a bloody energy wave exploded from the scythe! An almost point-blank attack!
But as if expecting this, the other spider legs already folded in to shield their owner!
Oom! Energy exploded from the legs and clashed with the bloody aura, blocking it in place!
But the force was so strong that Qian Fusha got shoved back!
After getting grounded, he skidded back all the way until his leg anchored to a pre-planted web. Then, his stance firmed and his spider legs deflected the seething blood energy to the heavens!
FWIIP! A section of the net above got torn apart and the energy smashed into the arena barrier, finally splattering and turning into nothing more than a bloody rain...
Qian Fusha skipped back a few more steps to avoid that rain and finally got a chance for a breather.
Alas, this breather wasn't a good thing because…
The blood pooling all over nearby was rioting and slithering back to its owner to get reabsorbed!
"Hah…" Leaking a satisfied sigh, Jin Tiemo savored the power replenished by his own blood and fixed his mocking gaze on his panting opponent.
"Zehahaha, what happened? You're quite slow today, spider freak! Tired so soon? But…" The scythe on the chain got dragged back into his hand. "I'm only just getting warmed up!"
Qian Fusha's heart sunk. As long-term enemies, he knew the other well and knew that wasn't a bluff nor nonsense to strike at his moral.
This bloody freak was indeed just getting started!
That blood weapon art costed blood dearly, but once this blood freak gets the chance to breathe, he can go around to reabsorb most of the expended refined blood!
This was the power of a blood arts foundation realm cultivator that's half a step away from the late-stage!
Though the reabsorption is not quite as powerful and comprehensive as a true late-stage's, it still minimized the blood expenditure.
So long as there's refined blood left, this bloody freak truly can do this all day and dragging the fight out will only make this stage his grave!
But as old nemesis, how could Qian Fusha not be prepared?
Now that he lured the other where he wanted him to be, the tricks he buried could be used!
Time to get serious!
Clap! Qian Fusha pulled away while his hands quickly flashed through a series of seals, eventually stopping on the universal control seal!
"Have a taste of this—Seven Dippers Explosive Array, Zha!"
Sensing the fiery glow flaring up inside all the nearby web pillars and even the webbed ground, Jin Tiemo's eyes constricted to pinprinks, but before he could react—
Boom! Boom! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A blood-red figure blasted out from the erupting inferno—only to be greeted by another explosion!
BOOM! BOOM!!
Blast after blast nonstop! It was like every possible escape route got pasted with explosive tags!
Even if Jin Tiemo wanted to stay in place, the explosive force still sent him flying out to the next destination!
This was the power of the Seven Dipper Array! An inescapable chain that will push those trapped inside towards the final destination!
Paired with explosive tags, it became a killer that ignited the entire web lair in flames!
When the flames of the seventh explosion died down somewhat, a chitin-black ball on the burning battlefield finally unwrapped itself.
Once the spider legs unfolded, they flickered like a bad holographic projection then winked out one by one.
After coughing up some smoke, Qian Fusha wiped the blood leaking from his lips and his weak spiritual sense vigilantly probed around the smoky field of blazing webs. "...Did I... get him?"
His words barely finished when the cold whisper of the grim reaper reached his ears. "You wish."
Every hair on Qian Fusha's neck stood on end. To the left?! No! The attack was coming from behind!
His instinct kicked in and he ducked forward—Shhhhk!
Qian Fusha tumbled forward and quickly recovered after a roll.
After he skipping back a few paces to open a gap, he finally winced due to the burning sting coming from the gash running across his spine!
That scythe failed to bisect him in two, but it still grazed his back!
This was… bad. Very bad. His blood might've been contaminated by blood poison!
And the fact that his nemesis didn't chase after the kill made his heart sink even more.
Qian Fusha solemnly glared at the half-charred grim reaper licking the fresh blood off his scythe. What is this bloody freak up to now?
Facing the serious look from his long-time nemesis, Jin Tiemo felt the burning pain all over but nothing could stop the evil grin that came from savoring the feeling of soon-to-be-triumph.
"Qian Fusha... ah, Qian Fusha. I really didn't think you'd prepare such a grand gift for me… made me waste so much of my heart blood to stay alive! Makes me so very... angry just thinking about it! But..."
The man flashed a bloody grin. "Such a pity. You didn't kill me. And now… you lost the chance to ever will!"
Right on cue, Jin Tiemo's foot finished drawing out a six-pointed star array circle using his blood and he cackled like a madman.
"Zehahaha! Spider freak, are you ready to get sacrificed to the Blood Sage?!"
Qian Fusha grit his teeth and his killing intent boiled. "Our only sacrifice here should be to the Sun and… you're coming with me!"
Snap! His fingers point forward like a gun! "You're finished!"
From four different directions, oddly-shaped web egg sacs that had specially hardened shells exploded and four spears of lightning converged towards Jin Tiemo in almost an instant!
The raging lightning was reflected in Jin Tiemo's bloodshot eyes, but instead of panicking, his evil grin grew even wider!
Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Heart, lungs, stomach! All got pierced!
Zzzzzzap! A storm of raw lightning blossomed from the spears, enough to cook even the toughest brute alive, let alone a mere blood enthusiast!
It seemed the outcome was set in stone!
But just when everybody thought Jin Tiemo's charred corpse will topple over in the next second…
With a face full of shock, Qian Fusha clutched his heart and hacked out mouthful after mouthful of blood!
The next heartbeat—thud. He weakly sagged to his knees and was surprisingly the first to say. "I... forfeit the torch."
The decisive forfeit came so suddenly and left many in shock! Bubai included!
Just as shocked was the shorty next to him! But Qian Bage quickly came back to his senses and shot to his feet.
"Not good, ou! Lao Er, he—Brother Bai, I'm gonna go reunite with Lao Er!"
"I'll go with you."
"Ou!"
Bubai got up and chased after the shorty who has lost his cool. Some anticipation grew in his heart.
Is it finally his time to shine?