Chapter 1572: A Pair Against Ten

An uproar instantly erupted across the Middle Ruin battlefield. Everyone had just heard the most inexplicable and unbelievable words in the history of the Middle Ruin War.

The last profound practitioner of Southern Phoenix would fight against *all* of Northern Cold, Eastern Ruin, and Western Ruin!?

Although Yun Che had stunned everyone, these three sects still had a full ten profound practitioners available to fight! Furthermore, every individual capable of entering the three sects' battle formation was a powerful peak Divine King!

Even if Yun Che had won his two previous matches overwhelmingly, and even if he still had considerable reserves of strength, one against ten... that was simply preposterous!

Either Nanhuang Chan'er had gone mad, or... it was merely a feint.

"Chan'er, what on earth are you messing around with today?!" Nanhuang Mofeng was practically fuming, no longer able to contain his anger.

"Mofeng," the Southern Phoenix Divine Monarch whispered, "Say no more, just observe."

Nanhuang Mofeng's gaze shifted wildly between the Southern Phoenix Divine Monarch and Nanhuang Chan'er. He remained silent but was utterly unable to calm down.

"Hahahaha," the Western Ruin Divine Monarch burst out laughing. "Southern Phoenix, is your daughter perhaps insane?"

These words were not purely sarcastic; all of Nanhuang Chan'er's actions today were extremely abnormal, completely different from what was rumored, and entirely inconsistent with her identity and position. Ever since she publicly rejected Beihan Chu, some had suspected she was truly insane.

"So, you're saying you don't dare?" Nanhuang Chan'er murmured.

"No, it's you, Southern Phoenix, who are unworthy," the Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch said in a deep voice. "Our three sects' profound practitioners are formidable beings. Forget ten, even if..."

"Ah!" The Northern Cold Divine Monarch suddenly raised his hand and spoke, interrupting the Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch. He slowly continued, "For our three sects to send ten profound practitioners to fight your single Southern Phoenix individual... it's quite something for you to even suggest such a ridiculous and laughable proposition. If I were to actually agree, regardless of the outcome, it would be a self-humiliation for our three sects' profound practitioners."

What the Northern Cold Divine Monarch said was correct. Three sects sending ten to fight one? What a demeaning proposition! Even if they agreed, the ten chosen Divine Kings would probably rather defy orders than accept.

"Southern Phoenix Crown Princess, you must think I would absolutely not agree," the Northern Cold Divine Monarch suddenly said with an exceptionally dangerous and sarcastic laugh. "No, no, no, I am very interested in this proposal! I must agree!"

The Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch and Western Ruin Divine Monarch simultaneously frowned deeply. They looked at the Northern Cold Divine Monarch but said nothing, knowing that he must have a purpose for acting this way.

Faced with the Northern Cold Divine Monarch's words, Nanhuang Chan'er suddenly fell silent, offering no response for a moment.

"However, since Southern Phoenix Crown Princess calls this a 'gamble,' there should be some stakes, right?" the Northern Cold Divine Monarch said with a smile.

The Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch and Western Ruin Divine Monarch's eyes suddenly lit up.

"...It seems the Northern Cold Realm King has already thought of the stakes. Why not tell us?" Nanhuang Chan'er said, her tone unchanged. Yet, everyone could vaguely sense that her words lacked some of their previous imposingness, and there was half a breath of hesitation when she spoke.

"It's very simple. If your Southern Phoenix can defeat our three sects' ten individuals with just one person..." The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's smile deepened. "Then, your Southern Phoenix would naturally be the first in this Middle Ruin War. In addition to the four parts of the Middle Ruin War that you deserve, my Northern Cold City is willing to immediately hand over our four parts... oh no, no, our three parts of the Middle Ruin Realm to your Southern Phoenix."

Pfft...

The Northern Cold Divine Monarch hadn't even finished speaking when an unknown number of people burst out laughing.

Even the Western Ruin Divine Monarch and the Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch, whose son had just been crippled, couldn't help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.

One against ten... and against ten peak Divine Kings at that! If victory were possible, they'd eat their hats!

"But if your Southern Phoenix loses," the Northern Cold Divine Monarch said, his eyes narrowed slightly and a smile that wasn't quite a smile on his face, "we won't force your Southern Phoenix to hand over your meager share of the Middle Ruin Realm. All we ask is that you... Southern Phoenix Crown Princess, return to the Nine Brightness Heavenly Palace with my son!"

"But not as wife or concubine; instead, you shall serve as a maid for a hundred years!"

An uproar—without a doubt, the cries burst forth once more.

Previously, the Northern Cold Divine Monarch would not have uttered such words. However, Nanhuang Chan'er had deliberately chosen to forcefully break ties and courted death by actively offering such an opportunity, so how could he possibly remain "polite"?

Nanhuang Chan'er's public rejection of Beihan Chu had undoubtedly severely shamed him, leaving him looking very bad. Now, seizing the opportunity Nanhuang Chan'er had actively presented, he fiercely returned the insult with the phrase "serve as a maid."

He was also publicly informing Southern Phoenix, "You failed to appreciate your good fortune and lost your only chance, yet you dared to repeatedly offend! Now, you are only fit to be a maid!"

All eyes turned to Nanhuang Chan'er. What should have been an absolutely impossible proposition had been agreed to by the Northern Cold Divine Monarch in a single breath... and the accompanying stakes he presented could certainly be considered fitting!

All eyes once again fell on Nanhuang Chan'er. The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's move was quite malicious, putting Nanhuang Chan'er in a difficult position: to agree or not to agree. If she agreed, after defeat, she would become Beihan Chu's maid; if she didn't, that would undoubtedly be slapping her own face and bringing utter disgrace to the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom.

Nanhuang Chan'er spoke, "Northern Cold Realm King, don't you think your stakes are too ridiculous?!"

It was a response that came as no surprise. The Northern Cold Divine Monarch threw his head back and burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! What? Scared now? You yourself proposed this, and now you've lost your courage? Could this be the shame and dignity of your Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom?"

"Northern Cold Realm King, you seem to have misunderstood something," Nanhuang Chan'er said leisurely. "When did I ever say I didn't dare?"

"The stakes you want should be determined by you, but what right do you have to decide the stakes *I* want?"

"Oh?" The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's face was all smiles. "Well said. Then I would like to hear what value your hundred years, Southern Phoenix Chan'er, hold as stakes."

"Pledging your entire Northern Ruin Realm wouldn't be enough," Nanhuang Chan'er slowly said. "But since they are stakes, there must be a price, and it can only be a price you can afford. Since that's the case, I'll have to reluctantly..."

"If my Southern Phoenix wins! Not only Northern Cold City, but also the parts of the Middle Ruin Realm belonging to the Eastern Ruin Sect and Western Ruin Sect, shall all belong to my Southern Phoenix!"

"And the duration will not be fifty years, but five hundred years!"

The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's brow furrowed sharply, then immediately relaxed. Hearing the first half of Nanhuang Chan'er's words, he knew she was certainly preparing to propose an impossibly huge and unacceptable stake, hoping to intimidate him, perhaps something like "killing oneself on the spot" or "the Northern Cold Divine Monarch becoming a slave to Southern Phoenix."

The entire Middle Ruin Realm belonging to Southern Phoenix for five hundred years was indeed a huge stake; if based on true strength, it would allow Southern Phoenix to rise rapidly with abundant resources, while the other three realms would weaken due to the loss of the Middle Ruin Realm's resources.

However, such stakes were far from enough to scare him, let alone being "absolutely unacceptable."

After all, she was just an inexperienced junior princess whose mind was clearly not quite normal.

"Very good! Of course, no problem!" Before Nanhuang Chan'er's voice had completely faded, the Northern Cold Divine Monarch had already agreed in one breath, without even a hint of hesitation or doubt. He glanced left and right. "Brother Eastern Ruin, younger brother Western Ruin, do you have any objections?"

"Heh heh, since our three sects are all in, the stakes should naturally include us," the Western Ruin Divine Monarch said with a laugh.

"No objections!" The Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch was equally without hesitation.

Although they seemingly gained nothing from winning, they invisibly benefited Northern Cold City, and more importantly, granted Beihan Chu a huge favor! How could they possibly refuse?

"Good!" The Northern Cold Divine Monarch nodded. "So, does your Southern Phoenix have anything else to say?"

This was a classic case of being stuck on a tiger's back. Nanhuang Chan'er had actively proposed to fight one against ten and then actively proposed new stakes, all of which were immediately accepted by the Northern Cold Divine Monarch. Now, Nanhuang Chan'er had no way out... Seeing how the Northern Cold Divine Monarch, Eastern Ruin Divine Monarch, and Western Ruin Divine Monarch had suddenly become menacing, Southern Phoenix likely couldn't even abandon all dignity and force a retreat.

"Good!" Nanhuang Chan'er also nodded. "And to avoid wasting any more time in this Middle Ruin War, which has already become a joke. Three Realm Kings, now, you may choose your combatants."

The Northern Cold Divine Monarch smiled faintly, turned his body, and his aura immediately fell upon five individuals. "You five, come and experience the might of this Southern Phoenix Divine King together."

"Yes!" The five peak Divine Kings responded simultaneously.

If it were purely a numerical advantage battle, they, upholding the dignity of peak Divine Kings, would absolutely find it difficult to accept. But now, it had been twisted into a joke by the Northern Cold Divine Monarch's few words. After crushing this Southern Phoenix profound practitioner, they could also force Nanhuang Chan'er to become Beihan Chu's maid for a hundred years. What psychological burden could they possibly still have?

Yet amidst all this, there was one person—a very central one—whose opinion no one had bothered to ask.

Yun Che slightly turned in the center of the battlefield, casting a sidelong glance as he transmitted his voice to Nanhuang Chan'er: "Using me as your tool!?"

His tone was stiff and cold, carrying a soul-piercing warning.

"This was my spontaneous decision, and not consulting you was indeed unfair to you. But... you specifically came to participate in the Middle Ruin War and chose me, so you naturally have something you seek! Since you have sufficient ability, why not incidentally gain more benefits?"

"I'm just afraid that when the time comes, you won't be able to pay!"

"I will definitely be able to pay!"

When Yun Che's gaze returned, ten powerful auras were already gathered before him.

Ten peak Divine Kings who had entered the Middle Ruin War formation! Five from the Northern Ruin Realm, three from the Western Ruin Realm, and two from the Eastern Ruin Realm.

These individuals were either core members of Realm King sects or absolute overlords of their respective regions. Each and every one of them held a formidable reputation across the Five Ghostly Ruins Realms.

The battles on the Middle Ruin War battlefield were all among peak Divine Kings, most of them fiercely spectacular. Setting aside the extremely rare Divine Monarchs, these were truly the peak battles of the Five Ghostly Ruins Realms.

And ten peak Divine Kings fighting simultaneously, against a single Divine King who was a Level Five Divine King—half a major realm weaker than any of them individually...

Such a scene, let alone in the Middle Ruin War, they had never witnessed in their entire lives.

The Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom was truly digging its own grave.

"Chan'er..." The Southern Phoenix Divine Monarch finally couldn't sit still. He stood up and walked to Nanhuang Chan'er's side, speaking in a low voice.

"Father, rest assured," Nanhuang Chan'er said in a voice only the Southern Phoenix Divine Monarch could hear. "Although it sounds incredibly absurd, in front of this person, these ten Divine Kings are nothing more than a bunch of stray dogs."

The Southern Phoenix Divine Monarch's eyebrows twitched violently, and his lips moved, but he didn't ask anything further.

The shocking and utterly comical scene of ten peak Divine Kings facing a single Level Five Divine King was momentarily frozen on the Middle Ruin battlefield. The Northern Cold Divine Monarch stepped forward a few paces and declared loudly, "Since Southern Phoenix dares to propose such a battle formation, they must be very confident. It seems the next battle will definitely be a spectacular and extremely tragic world-shaking war."

These mocking words caused an unknown number of people to burst out laughing.

"Furthermore, this is also a gamble. If our three sects are defeated, then for the next five hundred years, the entire Middle Ruin Realm shall belong to the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom, and our Northern Ruin, Eastern Ruin, and Western Ruin Realms shall not set foot within it."

"However, if our three sects are fortunate enough to win, then you, Southern Phoenix Crown Princess, shall serve as a maid for a hundred years beside Beihan Chu, the Young Palace Master of the Hidden Sword Palace in the Nine Brightness Heavenly Palace. You shall not leave within these hundred years. All present are witnesses to this gamble and this battle!"

He turned his body and bowed to the seats of honor where Beihan Chu and Senior Bubai were. "Young Palace Master, the stakes of this battle involve the Middle Ruin Realm, and thus also pertain to the Middle Ruin War. We trouble you, Young Palace Master, to also bear witness."

"Good," Beihan Chu lightly nodded. "The process and outcome of this battle will be witnessed by me, Beihan Chu, on behalf of the Nine Brightness Heavenly Palace! Should there be any violators or those who break the wager, the Nine Brightness Heavenly Palace will also enforce sanctions."

Beihan Chu rarely spoke and never offered any biased suggestions or opinions, always maintaining the stance of a pure witness.

His words, as testimony spoken from the standpoint of the Nine Brightness Heavenly Palace, firmly cemented this matter and sealed off the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom's last bit of retreat.

"We thank the Young Palace Master for your trouble," the Northern Cold Divine Monarch said with a smiling bow. As he turned, his expression became stern, and he waved his arm. "Begin!"