“I… I lost…” The words left Leonel’s lips with difficulty. He closed his eyes, waiting for death to come. But the strike expected never landed.
Melvin pulled back his hand and said calmly, “I won’t kill you. Go back and tell your people. Don’t overestimate yourselves.”
Leonel’s eyes flew open, staring at in disbelief. He never thought Melvin would spare him, and for a moment, just froze on the spot.
“Still not leaving?” Melvin’s voice carried a trace of impatience. That snapped Leonel out of it. He hurried to pick up the fallen Blaze Sword and stumbled back toward his cultivator ranks.
With his head down, did not dare meet anyone’s eyes. His face was full of shame.
Halfway up the mountain, the cultivators fell into silence. The cheers from moments ago had vanished, replaced by heavy fear.
Even Leonel, ranked third on the Martial Rankings, had been utterly defeated by a soul. It made everyone realize that the strength of a demonic soul was far beyond what they had imagined.
“How could this happen? Leonel actually lost…” someone muttered, their voice filled with despair.
“Melvin is too strong. Blades can’t even touch a soul. What are we supposed to do?”
“Do we really have to hand over the Ritual Manual and leave level six?” Aurelius’s face grew dark. He looked at Melvin standing calmly in the center of the battlefield, then at the silent crowd beside him, and a wave of helplessness rose In his chest.
He knew sending more people would be useless. Yet could not accept admitting defeat like this. The people of Celestia City were still waiting for to avenge them, and the lives of those on level six still needed his protection.
Melvin stood alone on the battlefield, his black robe swaying lightly in the mountain wind, soul mist curling around him. His cold gaze swept across the cultivators on the mountainside.
He said nothing, but his calm, unshaken posture was more humiliating than any mockery.
Waves of low laughter rose from the Demonic Cultivators.
The Soul Devourer lounged atop a massive lion, idly stroking its mane, hollow eye sockets glinting with mockery.
“Who else dares to step forward?” Melvin finally spoke, his voice cold yet carrying an undeniable authority. “If no one will fight, then hand over the Ritual Manual and get out of level six!”
Faces among the cultivators flushed red, then turned pale, but no one answered. Even Leonel, ranked third on the Martial Rankings, had been defeated.
Who else among the younger generation could possibly challenge Melvin?
Many could not help but think of the one who held first place, the Half-Beast King Imorn. But was elusive as ever, and at this moment, nowhere to be seen.
A wave of despair swept over the crowd, pressing down until even breathing felt heavy. Then, a clear and steady voice broke through the silence, “I will fight you!”
Everyone turned toward the sound. Yuliana stepped out from the ranks. Her face was still pale, but eyes blazed with defiance.
She had just taken a healing pill and recovered only a fraction of strength, but watching Melvin’s arrogance, could not bring herself to stay still.
“Yuliana, no!” Aurelius rushed to block way, his voice tight with urgency. “Your strength hasn’t recovered. You’re no match for Melvin!”
“He’s right, Lady Fiala,” Rylan added quickly. “You’ve already won once. There’s no need to take another risk.”
Leonel’s face burned with shame. “It’s my failure that forces you to fight again. Please, go back. I’ll find another way!”
But Yuliana shook head and slipped free of their grasp, striding step by step toward the battlefield.
“Thank you for your concern, but as a cultivator of Celestia, how could I just stand by while the Demonic Cultivators run rampant? Even if I fall here, I won’t let them look down on us.”
As spoke, a cyan longsword formed In hand. Her spiritual energy was weaker than before, but it carried a fierce resolve, one ready to face death without fear.
Melvin watched approach, impatience flashing in his eyes. “So you got lucky against Atorn, and now you think you’re unbeatable? I advise you to turn back before you end up with your soul scattered to nothing.”
