"No!!"
The Lich tried to soar into the sky, but to its horror, the blue flames rendered it unable to fly. Within the inferno, countless sparks erupted in violent explosions, waves of destruction surging forth like a tsunami. A chilling aura of death engulfed its entire body, constantly battering the Soulfire within. Terror overtook it.
The undead were not devoid of fear—it was simply an emotion most lesser undead had lost. But for powerful undead beings, emotions began to return. They could feel fear, dread.
For the undead, a second death meant true annihilation. There would be no resurrection—only oblivion. Even their True Spirit might be destroyed. The true spirit was the origin of life; while a soul could collapse, the true spirit could reincarnate. But if that too was shattered...
The frenzied flames engulfed the lich completely. Even with its strength, it would be reduced to ashes in an instant. The flames were simply too terrifying.
"I surrender!!"
The Lich cried out, making the most practical decision at the critical moment.
Whoosh!
The moment it shouted its surrender, an invisible force spread from the Dueling Platform, instantly dispersing the ocean of flames and extinguishing the fire on the lich's body. Even so, its form was already scorched black, its flesh torn apart.
Any longer, and it would have turned to ash on the spot.
"Good thing you surrendered quickly."
The Drunkard shook his head. He hadn't managed to burn the lich to death—pity. But those were the rules of the Dueling Platform. Once someone surrenders, the fight ends. It had saved the lich's life.
With that, the drunkard staggered back toward Yi Tianxing and the others.
"I'm never fighting that guy," Ghostblade muttered.
"Why?" asked Butcher, curiosity on his face.
"That guy spits. I don't want to get sprayed in the face," Ghostblade said with a grimace. "Even if it's alcohol, once it leaves the mouth, it's spit. Imagine someone spraying you in the face. That's disgusting."
Most people had experienced it during school—sitting in the front row, getting showered by a teacher's excited speech. A whole class with a wet face. Ghostblade despised it.
Thud!
The Drunkard stumbled and fell flat on his face. He sprang back up, shouting, "It's not spit! It's wine! I use wine to cast divine arts—it's far more powerful! That's 100% wine, not spit!"
He was clearly agitated, desperate to defend himself. He didn't want to be remembered as "the spit guy." That would be a disaster.
"But it comes out of your mouth," Ghostblade said stubbornly.
He had made up his mind to stay away. If he got sprayed, he might just kill the guy on the spot. No way was he tolerating another man's spit on his face.
"You...!"
The Drunkard's face turned black with fury. He pointed at Ghostblade, trembling all over. "Ghostblade! Don't think I don't know your game! You're trying to ruin me! I challenge you to a duel—fight to the death!"
His rage made him stomp and shout like a madman.
"Enough, Ghostblade. Say no more. Friend Drunkard, Ghostblade speaks bluntly. He means no harm. I apologize on his behalf," Yi Tianxing stepped forward calmly, placing himself between the two. "We're on the Dueling Platform, fighting for the survival of hundreds of thousands of our people. This isn't the time for infighting. Let's not make a joke of ourselves in front of the enemy."
Hearing this, the Drunkard frowned but said no more. He staggered back, hugging his gourd and closing his eyes, pretending to pass out.
The Dueling Platform had seen three bouts—two wins, one loss. With two rounds remaining, the humans needed only one more victory to win this round.
"I'll take the next match," said Yi Tianxing firmly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Across the field, the towering Skeleton General rode his mount confidently onto the platform. A banner bearing the word "Invincible" fluttered behind him.
Seeing the so-called Invincible General, Yi Tianxing stepped forward as well.
He had long wanted to test this arrogant figure who dared to flaunt the title of "Invincible."
The Skeleton General stared at Yi Tianxing, the flame in his eye sockets flickering. "We've met before," he said in surprise.
"Of course we have. Remember attacking a village called Xuanhuang?" Yi Tianxing said flatly.
"Xuanhuang Village? I remember now... it was you. So you've made it this far. You must've found a Domain Gate—but that's impossible. The Domain Gate's location is secret. How did you get here? The distance between our worlds is immense."
Recognition flashed in the general's flames. That attack on Xuanhuang Village had left a mark—his first failed siege.
Back then, he hadn't fought Yi Tianxing directly. The memory had faded until this moment jogged it back.
The sheer distance between realms was not something even cultivators could easily cross. Unless... you used a Domain Gate.
"I see... Domain Gate? Is that some kind of long-range teleportation?" Yi Tianxing asked quickly.
Even with a battle about to begin, he prioritized this information. His instincts told him it could affect the entire balance of power.
"You think I'll just tell you? You'll never find it. Without the Domain Gate, you'll never escape this desert," the Skeleton General said with a ghastly laugh.
So Domain Gates were real—ancient, hidden devices capable of cross-regional or inter-realm travel, more powerful than any known teleportation array.
"I may not know where it is," Yi Tianxing said, smiling faintly. "But you do. If I capture you, you'll have no choice but to tell me."
"This general... is invincible!"
The skeleton's banner unfurled as ethereal undead voices began to sing:
"Invincible is so lonely,Invincible is so empty..."
Their haunting chorus echoed across the platform.
Yi Tianxing twitched. He could practically see crows flying overhead. What a ridiculous skeleton...
"Hold on!!"
Just as the battle was about to begin, the Skeleton General raised a hand. "Everyone already knows how invincible I am. If I fight seriously, it'd be bullying—an unfair match. Let's settle this with a battle of wits. A civil duel, if you will."
He even had the audacity to act like he was doing Yi Tianxing a favor.
"You want to compete how?" Yi Tianxing frowned, curious.
"Fighting head-on, even if I win, people will say I bullied you. Let's do a civil match—we each pose a question or challenge. Whoever fails loses. Deal?"
Yi Tianxing raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You first."
"Alright. My question is: who has the least flesh and blood on their body wins."
The moment he said that, the entire oasis went silent. Countless humans and undead alike stared in stunned disbelief. The Soulfires of the undead even flickered in shock.
Everyone gazed at the Skeleton General like they had just witnessed a black hole swallow their worldview.