"Hahaha, how embarrassing," boisterous laughter boomed throughout the makeshift city as the spectators watched Asuros' humiliating victory.
Some had been disappointed at not seeing another heavenly battle between two peak geniuses, but most couldn't help but laugh at what had occurred.
Grumbles from bettors who had lost their bets on Lilian drifted out amidst the laughter, while more rushed towards the betting houses to make their bets.
The final battle was about to arrive, and it would no doubt be a spectacle they would never forget.
…
"All those resources you bestowed on your disciple, and this is all he's capable of? A complete waste of resources," the Astral Emperor said to the Asura next to him, his voice tinged with amusement.
He had felt frustrated when the Asura said those words about Zeras, and so saying it back was quite refreshing.
The Asuras gaze shifted to the Astral Emperor, piercing with sinister malevolence. The Astral Emperor felt a chill crawl up his spine, as if he had stared at death itself. The Asura shifted its gaze back to the spatial portal, as if replying to the Astral Emperor was not worth it.
The Astral Emperor shivered with relief. He had felt the Asuras power surging earlier, as if he had truly intended to kill the Astral Emperor. It was a stark reminder of their power balance.
"I may yet complete my plans without you," the Asura snarled. "You would be wise to remember your place."
The Astral Emperor gazed coldly into the spatial portal before him, and an almost imperceptible smirk appeared on his face for an instant before vanishing.
….
The other four geniuses watching couldn't help but snicker as well, amused by Asuros' humiliating victory. They might have all lost, but at least they had not been toyed with in such an embarrassing manner.
Asuros' face turned blood red with rage, his teeth bared in a snarl. He wanted nothing more than to tear Lilian apart at the moment, but knew he would not be allowed to do so.
"Enjoy this pathetic display of yours for now," he growled at her, "soon I'll be tearing apart your precious disciple limb by limb, while all you will be able to do is watch. Let's see how long that smugness lasts then."
Lilian raised an eyebrow, and then shrugged uncaringly.
"Good luck with that," she replied without a care, as if the threat meant nothing at all. Asuros glared at her, and then turned around and returned to his original seat opposite John and Lilian.
"That was better than anything I imagined would happen," John said, feeling refreshed by watching that sequence of events.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Lilian replied with a small smile. "How was my acting?"
"Quite convincing," John praised. "I'm sure you had everyone else fooled."
Lilian nodded with satisfaction as she sat down, followed by John.
"Thank you for leaving Asuros to me," John said thankfully. Lilian could have chosen to fight, but she had accepted defeat despite John knowing her personality despised giving up.
"There's no need to thank me," Lilian shook her head lightly. "I'm still quite injured from my battle with Zeras despite this formations healing. Fighting against Asuros in such a state would have been more trouble than it was worth."
"Regardless, thank you," John reiterated.
"You're welcome," Lilian smiled.
"Now all that's left is for you to show me a battle worthy of your arrogant confidence," she said.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find the battle more than entertaining," John replied, took out the Jade piece Lilian had given him, and started studying it once more. He wanted to absorb as much information from her spatial insights before they left the realm, at which point he would have to return it to her.
Lilian fell select, allowing John to focus on his comprehensions. Time quickly passed by, and John instinctively snapped out of his entranced studies. His expression hardened, and he put the jade piece away.
John stood up, and his power flared for a moment. His robe vanished, and was instantly replaced by his draconic battle armor. While it was quite eye-catching, it's quality was without question, and it would be very effective against an opponent like Asuros, which John was confident in beating, but would not look down upon.
Lilian raised an eyebrow as she inspected John's armor. The draconic shoulders and waist piece didn't cover much of his body, leaving his muscular arms and chest exposed. His handsome face only served to further enhance the fearsome and heroic look.
However, it was easy to tell that the armor provided a full body protection, like a formation barrier had formed around him, reinforcing even the exposed parts of his body.
"You look quite heroic. When did you get such a taste in good looking armor?" she said, her tone clearly one of approval.
"I would expect you to like it," John said, smiling at her. "You chose it for me, after all."
"I chose it for you?" Lilian repeated with confusion, and then realized what John meant. Laia had chosen it for him, and her and Laia were one in the same.
The artifact spirit golem appeared in the middle of the arena, prepared to announce the start of the final trial. It stopped as it noticed both John and Asuros standing on either side of it already.
They glared at each other with murderous expressions.
"I request a life and death battle," their voices sounded out in unison. The golem looked at both for a moment and then nodded its head.
"So be it. The final battle of the final trial shall be a battle to the death!"
Asuros smiled maliciously, eyeing John as like a beast about to devour its prey. John's gaze remained cold yet calm, his mental and physical state at its peak.
"I am going to enjoy breaking you slowly, painfully, brutally," Asuros said malevolently.
"You lost to me when your cultivation was higher than mine, and now they are the same. Your death today will allow my fallen clan and alliance members to finally rest in peace, and unlike last time, there will be no escape today," John replied firmly.
"Hahaha, I'm far from being the same person you previously fought. Today you will understand the difference between us," Asuros sneered.
John nodded in agreement.
"The difference between us will be clear for all to see today," he agreed.
"You may begin!" The artifact spirit instructed.
Boom!
Two apocalyptic auras surged out without hesitation, flooding the arena with sinister red and black Qi. The final battle had finally begun.
