Thunderous cheering boomed through the massive city as everyone watched the battle between Zasgoth and Rahze take place. Many had originally been disappointed that the battle would be limited to the Heaven Tribulation realm, but quickly changed their minds as they watched the first battle unfold.
Even with restricted cultivations, the two geniuses displayed awe-inspiring might and overwhelming talent, making even those who stood in the World Expansion realm find the fight more than entertaining, and even enlightening.
Those in the Honorable Alliance cheered for the mutual destruction of the fighters, while the Forbidden Alliance and Monster race cheered for their own fighters. Despite having an alliance, the two powers were incredibly competitive, and neither wanted to see their own genius lose.
At the same time, bets flooded the betting markets, as tens of thousands bet on this fight, as well as the fights to come. A particular individual smiled as he placed his wager, putting an absolutely staggering amount on John to win the whole thing. While the bet was the most popular one, others still figured that the experience and comprehensions of cultivators like Zeras would be too much to overcome, and so the bets were relatively spread between John, Zeras, and Asuros.
After placing the bet, Caz's gaze shifted back to the stone stele.
"No matter where you are, you manage to make me a fortune. I look forward to your battle, where you will show the world your full might," Caz smirked and then blended into the crowd.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The battle between Zasgoth and Rahze intensified, with both cultivators showing why they were pinnacle geniuses. Even with their cultivations suppressed, their attacks were capable of making Dao Transformation cultivators shiver with fear as they watched the battle unfold.
Zasgoth sped around the arena like a blur, unleashing a devastating combination of physical attacks and battle arts. Meanwhile, Rahze slashed out with his sword with flawless precision, and unleashed an endless barrage of awe-inspiring battle arts.
Crimson sword images slashed out ceaselessly, each more powerful than the last, and each capable of obliterating mountains with ease. The arena trembled violently as the attacks blasted outwards, and the defensive formations surrounding the massive arena flared constantly, stopping the attacks from destroying everything.
As he watched the battle, John sighed with relief that the cultivations of this realm were normalized. This battle alone showed him that he was still far too weak to challenge the likes of Zasgoth, Rahze, and Zeras if they were at their full power. He was able to jump a full major realm, but jumping to the World Expansion Realm was still far off for him.
"Getting nervous?" Lilian asked with a smirk as she eyes John's serious expression.
John snapped out of his trance of watching the battles, and gave his master a side-eyed glance.
"No," he scoffed, "at least not for me," he added.
"You're nervous for me?" Lilian smiled mischievously. "Do you really think so little of me?"
"Normally I wouldn't be, but this is different," John frowned. "Zeras is no doubt the strongest one here when it comes to absolute power, and most likely comprehensions as well, and so…"
"You don't think I can beat him, even if our cultivations are the same?" Lilian asked.
"Are you fully confident in being able to beat him?" John asked, asking for her opinion instead.
Lilian fell silent, and then shook her head lightly.
"Not at all. In fact, I would give myself a fifty percent chance of victory at best," she said, her tone serious. "Zeras deserves his status as the foremost genius of the world. But there's nothing to be worried about when it comes to my safety. Instead, you should worry about yourself."
"Myself? Why would I need to worry about myself?" John asked skeptically.
"Because, Zeras wouldn't dare kill me, and instead wants to bring me back to the Astral Empire instead, and so Zeras will never agree to a battle to the death here," Lilian sighed with disappointment.
"But should I lose to him, he won't have the same reservations when it comes to you. Both him and my father will desire nothing more than to kill you."
"To reclaim Laia's soul-seed?" John asked, to which Lilian nodded.
"Zeras will challenge you to a battle to the death should he beat me, and so you must worry about yourself today, and not about me," Lilian said.
"Hah," John scoffed as if he had heard a joke, "you're right. I will have a battle to the death today," he agreed, and shifted his gaze in a certain direction, locking onto Asuros who was seated on the opposite side of the arena, "but it will not be against Zeras."
Lilian followed his gaze, and stared at Asuros for some time.
"You think Asuros is capable of defeating Zeras?" she asked curiously. She had heard of Asuros before, but this realm was the first time she had seen him. It was also the first time she had seen John display such an overwhelming murderous bloodlust towards someone, and was curious for the reason.
"The final battle of this trial will be between me and Asuros," John said, no doubt in his voice at all. His words indicated that even if Lilian managed to beat Zeras, he had no confidence in his master beating Asuros. Lilian frowned lightly, but did not voice her disagreement. She could tell John was serious.
"What is the history between you and Asuros?" Lilian eventually asked.
"Do you remember my clans' war? The war you helped end?" John asked, to which Lilian nodded. She had not expected the war to be brought up.
"Well, the one who instigated it all, the one who betrayed my clan, the one who caused countless deaths is sitting right there," John said as he stared at the distant Asuros.
Surprise and then realization appeared on Lilian's face.
"Asuros is Parker. So that's why the name on the ranking list felt so familiar," she said.
"Yes," John replied succinctly.
"How…how is that possible?" Lilian couldn't help but ask. Parker was just a boy from a backwater clan, while Asuros was a pinnacle genius on the same level as her and Zeras. In fact, he had managed to place second place in this realm, higher than both her and Zeras. She couldn't understand how someone like that could rise so fast.
"How did he get so strong?" she asked.
"Because…Asuros' master is none other than the Asura from your past."
