Chapter 549: Second Defeat

The competition arena designated by the Little Demon Empress was precisely in the center of the Demon Emperor Hall. King Huai stepped forward, chuckling, "Please, you first."

The patriarchs and dukes from the west seating area had gathered around Yun Qinghong. The eleven selected participants stood behind them. As for the twelfth participant, who would naturally be from the Yun family, Yun Qinghong did not seem to have made a final decision yet on who would compete.

"Brother Yun, how we fight is up to you to decide," Su Xiangnan said. No one would object to Yun Qinghong leading.

Yun Qinghong mused for a moment, then said, "The rules of this competition are based on elimination, not the number of victories, so the order of appearance isn't crucial. Let the children volunteer to go first or later. However... knowing King Huai, he's ostentatious in his actions but extremely meticulous and cautious in his thinking. Even with absolute certainty, he won't hold back at all. Therefore, he will send all five of their 'Seven Phantom Demon Children'... including Hui Ran! You must be mentally prepared."

The patriarchs and kings nodded, their expressions growing heavier.

"While King Huai won't immediately send out his absolute strongest first-tier fighters, he certainly won't forget to give us a harsh opening," Yun Qinghong analyzed slowly, his brow furrowed. "So, even if their first combatant isn't the strongest, they absolutely won't be weak. Therefore, the first one to enter the arena must not hope for the weakest opponent, but instead be prepared to face a powerful adversary. My only advice is this: even if the opponent's strength is enough to completely overwhelm you, you must never give up easily! If you're destined to lose, winning the battle means maximizing their consumption, even causing injury. That's winning dignity and earning a greater opportunity for your teammates who follow!"

"Understood!" the eleven participants behind him responded in unison, their faces hardening with determination.

"Also, be very careful not to be knocked out of the arena. Losing that way means the opponent expends the least energy. Conversely, that is also the most advantageous way for you to defeat an opponent."

"Then I'll go first!" Mo Hengyi of the Mo family roared.

As his voice faded, he leaped into the air, landing in the arena. The moment his toes touched the ground, his profound ice energy instantly erupted, sending a blast of icy wind swirling around him. With a flick of his arm, a long ice crystal whip lashed into motion.

"Mo Hengyi of the Mo family."

Just five short words, yet they carried immense power.

"Oh, it's Young Master Hengyi, from the family of Mo Clan's Third Grand Elder," King Huai said, observing Mo Hengyi with an appreciative gaze for a moment before turning. "Who will face him?"

King Huai called out, but no one responded. The corner of his mouth curved slightly as he said, "Since no one wishes to volunteer, I shall make the choice. Zihuan, you shall face Young Master Hengyi of the Mo family."

The moment King Huai uttered "Zihuan," the expressions of everyone in the west seating area changed simultaneously.

Prince Zihuan, the young prince of King Zhao's manor, had an even more prominent identity: he was one of the "Seven Phantom Demon Children," renowned throughout the Phantom Demon Realm, and ranked fourth among them!

Yun Qinghong's guess was indeed correct. King Huai's first combatant was not from the absolute top tier, but certainly not weak. Even with ample psychological preparation, the kings and patriarchs from the west were still visibly nervous, especially over half of the Mo family members, who immediately rose to their feet.

This was because Mo Hengyi absolutely could not be a match for Prince Zihuan... absolutely not!

In terms of profound strength alone, Mo Hengyi was at Level Three of the Tyrant Profound Realm, while Prince Zihuan was at the peak of Level Five of the Tyrant Profound Realm! Among the eastern side's combatants, Prince Zihuan's strength was mid-tier, but among those on the western side, only Su Zhizhan surpassed him.

At lower profound energy levels, the gap of one minor realm might not be significant. However, in the Tyrant Profound Realm, a single minor realm represents a colossal difference in power. Even the Yun family's formidable profound aura could only allow them to challenge opponents one minor realm above. The two-minor-realm gap between Mo Hengyi and Prince Zihuan was fundamentally insurmountable, especially since Zihuan was not merely a regular Level Five Tyrant Profound practitioner, but at its peak.

Furthermore, Zihuan belonged to the Phantom Demon Royal Family. Although his Demon Emperor bloodline was thin, it was still the blood of a divine beast, giving him a physique far superior to ordinary humans and demons.

Therefore, Mo Hengyi was destined to lose this match!

Prince Zihuan, whose name had been called, paused for a moment before standing up. He glanced at Mo Hengyi and responded with a languid "Oh," clearly unwilling. He then leaped into the arena, crossed his arms over his chest, and squinted disdainfully at Mo Hengyi. The contempt in his eyes was obvious even to a fool. It was clear he didn't take his opponent seriously and was even displeased that King Huai had him fight such a weak adversary.

King Huai slowly said, "Zihuan, Hengyi is the direct grandson of the Mo family's Third Grand Elder and the foremost among the Mo family's younger generation. He is a formidable opponent; you must not take him lightly. You must give it your all."

"Oh, I see," Prince Zihuan replied languidly. Then, a profound array flashed in his hand, and a blood-red long saber appeared. Its tip pointed towards the ground, while his other hand was casually placed behind his back. He then crooked his mouth at Mo Hengyi and said, "What's your name again?... Hurry up and start, oh, you go first, just attack however you want."

Mo Hengyi's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes were practically spitting fire.

He knew his profound cultivation wasn't on par with Prince Zihuan, but he was still the foremost among the Mo family's young generation and the widely known Third Young Master of the Mo family in Demon Imperial City. When had he ever been subjected to such blatant contempt!

Even if I can't defeat you... I will at least leave a bloodied gash on your neck!!

A volcano seemed to erupt within Mo Hengyi's heart. He let out a low roar, and his ice crystal whip suddenly lashed out, conjuring countless bone-chilling ice crystals that flew towards Prince Zihuan like a swarm of locusts. At the same time, a blue light flashed around him, instantly forming a layer of ice crystals on his body. With a flicker of his figure, he unleashed an icy storm, charging directly at Prince Zihuan, who hadn't even adopted a fighting stance.

"It seems Hengyi has been completely enraged; he's unleashed 'Frigid Crystal Annihilation' right from the start," a Mo family member remarked.

Yun Qinghong's brow twitched violently at that moment, then he let out a helpless sigh. "This is bad!"

Prince Zihuan, standing there with a lazy expression, suddenly flashed a fleeting cold smile. The hand behind his back lightning-fast gripped the hilt of his saber. His body, which had been devoid of any aura, abruptly erupted with an incredibly powerful profound energy field. The long saber in his hand gleamed with dazzling blood-red profound light.

His previous stillness was not due to underestimating his opponent or arrogance; it was clearly a silent accumulation of power! And then, in that very instant, it exploded!

The members of the Phantom Demon Royal Family possessed unparalleled talent in cultivating fire-attribute profound arts due to their Golden Crow bloodline. Consequently, while the kings of the Phantom Demon Royal Family were not qualified to practice the Demon Emperor's exclusive "Golden Crow Burning World Record," they all cultivated fire-attribute profound arts.

Prince Zihuan was no exception.

The saber in his hand was named "Crimson Blood," and the strike he unleashed was the "Bloodflame Blade," a technique that struck fear into the hearts of all powerful Phantom Demon practitioners!

Prince Zihuan, who had been like still water, suddenly transformed into an oncoming tsunami. Mo Hengyi, fueled by rage, attacked with full force, utterly unprepared for his seemingly contemptuous opponent to suddenly unleash his full power. He had no chance to evade and could only confront the Crimson Blood saber head-on with all his might.

A blood-red light streaked across the air. The icy cold air was twisted into a chaotic, raging storm, and the countless flying ice crystals were instantly pulverized into the finest dust.

Bang!!

Mo Hengyi's destructive Frigid Crystals were instantly torn apart. Following that, the layer of ice on his body was also sliced open. The red light continued forward, cutting through his protective profound energy, and a burst of red radiance mercilessly erupted at that exact moment. A cold smirk appeared on Prince Zihuan's face.

"Kid, we don't just want to win; we want you to lose as ugly as possible!!"

A deeply mocking whisper reached Mo Hengyi's ears. Covered in shattered ice crystals and a long bloody gash, he was sent flying out of the arena, crashing towards the Mo family's seating area.

"Hengyi!!"

The Mo family members cried out in alarm. Mo Yubai swiftly flew up, catching Mo Hengyi, who was bleeding and flying backward.

A deep wound, over a foot long, stretched from Mo Hengyi's waist to his chest, deep enough to reveal his internal organs.

"Hengyi!!"

"Hengyi, are you alright?"

"Quick! Get the medicine for injuries!"

The Mo family members quickly gathered around Mo Hengyi. Several elders simultaneously circulated their profound energy to staunch his wound. Mo Hengyi bit down hard on his teeth, not uttering a single cry of pain, but his face was as pale as paper. He gasped for air, looking at Mo Yubai and Mo Feiyan, and said in shame, "Patriarch... Hengyi was useless... losing... so badly... I've disgraced... the family..."

Everyone expected Mo Hengyi to lose, but no one anticipated he would be defeated so quickly.

An instant defeat... an utterly undeniable instant defeat!

Although the power gap between Mo Hengyi and Prince Zihuan was vast, had Mo Hengyi responded with full caution, he might not have lost so miserably. However, despite possessing an absolute advantage, his opponent resorted to a cunning trick, using contempt and mockery to enrage Mo Hengyi and make him lose his caution. Prince Zihuan presented an image of disdain for his opponent, but was secretly mobilizing his full power. In a head-on, full-strength clash, how could a Level Three Tyrant Profound practitioner possibly compete with a Prince of the Phantom Demon Royal Family at the peak of Level Five, who also held an absolute advantage in innate power?!

Mo Hengyi not only suffered an instant defeat but also failed to inflict the slightest injury on his opponent, and even the energy consumed by his opponent was minimal.

The "Number One Under Heaven" swiftly arrived before Mo Hengyi and channeled profound spirit energy into him. Soon, Mo Hengyi's wound stopped throbbing.

Mo Feiyan's chest rose and fell heavily. He did not blame Mo Hengyi but said with a solemn expression, "You certainly lost very badly, and your defeat offered no value to this competition... But for yourself, it was a very valuable loss! Because fortunately, this wasn't a fight to the death. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as just getting injured and losing poorly! Reflect deeply on why you lost so disgracefully. Once you understand, you will live longer in the future!"

"Yes..." Mo Hengyi closed his eyes and said in shame, "It was me... provoked by my opponent... completely losing my rational guard... I will remember this lesson for the rest of my life..."

"Alright, close your eyes and rest now. Whatever you want to say, say it after you've recovered," Mo Yubai said. He then turned around, his eyes coldly fixed on Prince Zihuan.

They all realized that King Huai's side not only intended to utterly defeat them but also wanted them to lose as miserably and as disgracefully as possible, trampling their dignity completely underfoot.

Consecutive sleepless nights... is there any hope left?