Chapter 144: Rule Change

Cui Jue forcibly invoked the Underworld forbidden technique “Nine Itachi Guanxu,” drawing upon the fundamental Death Dao to drag the White Tiger descendant Bai Sha—whose nature opposed his own—along with himself into eternal oblivion.

The arena was utterly silent.

Among the human ranks, no cheers rose—only boundless sorrow and solemnity. Another top prodigy had fallen on the Fallen God Platform, dying in the most glorious manner.

“The seventh match…” The Dao’s voice carried a faint, distant sigh, “both sides… perished. Draw.”

A draw!

But this draw came at the cost of the lives of two peak Wanghou-tier prodigies!

Jiang Xia slowly closed his eyes, flashes of Cui Jue’s pale, resolute face crossing his mind.

This heir of the Underworld, usually silent and unassuming, had shown such decisive resolve at the moment of his race’s survival.

Du Guoyun gripped his sword tighter, knuckles whitening. Qin Hao clenched his teeth so hard his body flickered with unstable lightning.

Ye Ting took a deep breath and exhaled two words: “Burial with honors.”

Lu Wujio’s lightning fell still; Ye Qing’s gaze was like ice frozen for ten thousand years.

Wang Teng sat in his wheelchair, staring at the empty arena, murmuring: “Another… gone…”

Among the beast clans, silence reigned equally. The death of the White Tiger descendant struck them with immense force; low, furious, and heartbroken roars from beast sages echoed through the suffocating air.

After seven matches, the human side held four wins, two losses, and one draw.

The record remained tightly contested, but the human side had already lost more than half its top combat power.

Akatsuki Jin was critically wounded; Li Jiuyuan, Qin Qianjue, and Cui Jue had died; Su Wan’s soul was severely damaged…

Who could now carry the remaining battles?

Though the record still appeared favorable, nearly half of humanity’s top prodigies had fallen—Akatsuki Jin, Li Jiuyuan, Qin Qianjue, and Cui Jue dead; Su Wan’s soul gravely wounded; remaining combat strength was stretched thin.

The beast clans, though they had lost Huo Dou, Zhu Yin, and Bai Sha, still held immeasurable depth—especially the never-deployed Fuyou , whose power was terrifying.

Amid the suffocating silence, the dragon’s cold voice echoed again above the beast clan’s ranks, piercing through both sides’ barriers with authority:

“Ye Ting, Lu Wujio, Ye Qing.”

The three human sages narrowed their eyes, gazing into the void.

“Fighting one match after another is too dull—and too… slow.”

The dragon’s voice reverberated across heaven and earth: “The calamity aura of this Fallen God Platform demands fiercer blood and higher-tier power to cleanse it. I propose: change the rules for the eighth match.”

“Change the rules?” Ye Ting replied grimly, eyes sharp.

“Correct,” said the dragon. “The eighth match becomes a two-on-two duel. The cultivation restriction… raised to the Sovereign Realm.”

“Sovereign Realm?!”

At these words, both races were stunned.

Sovereign Realm! Those who had begun to control the rules of a domain, capable of forming their own territories—beings second only to the Sage Realm!

Whether human or beast, Sovereign Realm cultivators were absolute pillars—far rarer than Wanghou-tier, each one vital.

Elevating the arena duel to the Sovereign Realm, and making it a two-on-two fight, meant the scale and brutality would instantly surge several levels.

The losing side would lose two Sovereigns—enough to shatter the foundation of a major faction.

“Itachi cunning dragon!” Lu Wujio’s lightning erupted violently as he roared, “A Sovereign duel—if we lose, the consequences are unthinkable! Are Itachi trying to cripple our top human combat power?!”

Ye Qing also spoke coldly: “Rules were already set. How dare Itachi change them arbitrarily?”

The dragon emitted a low, mocking dragon roar: “Rules? The strong make the rules! If your humans dare not accept, simply surrender this match—retreat your frontlines a thousand li.”

Or are Itachi so lacking in confidence in your own Sovereigns?”

This was blatant psychological warfare and provocation. Refuse, and morale collapses—effectively admitting your Sovereigns are inferior to theirs, inviting further exploitation.

Accept, and Itachi must send your most crucial Sovereigns into extreme risk.

Inside the human camp, heated debate erupted instantly.

“Don’t accept! It’s a trap! The beasts must have prepared a powerful Sovereign pair!”

“But if we refuse, morale will shatter—they’ll have grounds to press harder!”

“Sovereigns… we can’t afford to lose any!”

“But if we win this Sovereign duel, we can turn the tide and crush the beasts’ morale!”

Ye Ting, Lu Wujio, and Ye Qing exchanged rapid glances, their spiritual senses colliding countless times in an instant.

“Accept,” Ye Ting finally spoke, voice firm as iron, “our people fear no challenge. But the rules for the next match will be set by us.”

“Agree to him.” Ye Ting finally spoke slowly, his voice firm and decisive. “Our human race fears no challenge! But the rules for the next match will be set by us!”

The dragon’s voice replied.

Ye Ting’s gaze swept to the rear, where several figures stood with aura as deep and still as oceans—human Sovereigns who had come as the final reserve.

“But who to send?” Lu Wujio frowned. Every Sovereign was irreplaceable.

“The beasts will surely send an extremely formidable pair,” Ye Ting scanned the few Sovereigns present, their qi thick and profound. “This match cannot be lost.”

A gentle voice reached them through spiritual transmission: “This match, the Heaven’s Mechanism Pavilion will take. Ninth and Tenth Protectors, please go.”

As the words ended, two figures slowly stepped forward from the human ranks.

At that moment, a slightly hoarse voice spoke:

“The Grand Master has ordered: this match, my brother and I will take it.”

All turned to see two figures standing quietly in the corner of the tent—when had they arrived?

One wore a black robe, face cold and stern, eyes sharp as blades, radiating a blazing, yang energy like a blazing sun.

The other wore a moon-white gown, her beauty ethereal, her aura icy and gentle as the moon, like a celestial goddess descended from the Cold Palace.

They were the Ninth Protector, Yang Zun Lieyang, and the Tenth Protector, Yin Zun Xuan Yue—of the Heaven’s Mechanism Pavilion!

Both were peak Sovereign Realm cultivators, twin siblings, perfectly in sync, their combined technique—the Yin-Yang Reversal Scripture—unparalleled in power, capable of briefly holding their own against newly ascended Sages!

Together, they were among the most formidable Sovereign pairings in all of humanity!

“Brother Lieyang, Sister Xuan Yue!” Ye Ting’s eyes gleamed with relief, “With Itachi two, our chances have greatly increased!”

Lieyang gave a slight nod, voice resolute: “The beasts seek to crush our spirit with a Sovereign duel—my sibling and I will show them what true Yin-Yang harmony and Sovereign might truly mean!”

Xuan Yue’s icy gaze swept the tent, finally resting on Jiang Xia and the others, her voice soft: “The remaining Wanghou matches… are now yours.”

Jiang Xia, Du Guoyun, and the others solemnly nodded.

Jiang Xia, Du Gu Yun, and others nodded solemnly.