"This is our secret." Hearing Gu Shenghui's question, Shitang Longsi looked at Pei Yan with provocative eyes and said proudly, "Want to know the answer? Fine, release our people."

Gu Shenghui didn't argue further, turned away, and as he passed by Pei Yan, whispered in his ear, "You handle the rest yourself."

"Oh, got it, leave none alive!" Pei Yan replied as he flicked the cigarette in his hand, raising his head and glancing sideways at Shitang Longsi's provocation.

"Uh—ah!" A miserable scream sounded from the arena. The first to suffer was the prisoner closest to Xia Yu. Upon receiving the order, her iron ball-controlled prisoners barely had time to scream before their bodies turned into sludge. Beside them, the Deputy Commander, splattered with blood and flesh, cursed in agony, "You broke your promise! You said surrendering wouldn't harm us!"

"Bring him up!" Pei Yan flicked his cigarette butt, letting it extinguish in the pool of blood on the floor. He gestured to the prisoner who had made the accusation, and Zheng Jia Ru stepped forward, grabbed the prisoner's arm, and dragged him over. Pei Yan seized his hair and lifted his head, forcing him to look in the direction his finger pointed.

"See? It's not us breaking the promise; it's your superior who doesn't care about your life!" Pei Yan said, pulling his head toward the light screen. It showed the Deputy Commander crying bitterly. Pinching his jaw, Pei Yan added, "I sensed the Demon Race's bloodline in you. You defected to them, right? Ah! Isn't that true? Now, this competition here can be seen by all cultivators across different realms. Look closely, this is the fate of serving Xue Sha: running to them like dogs, yet they don't even care about your life."

He pointed at Shitang Longsi sharply, "Exchanging these people for my companions is not giving Xue Sha face; it's for the sake of the event organizers and participants. We chose a way of exchange to solve problems, yet you knowingly provided false information after killing my companions! Do you think it's amusing to toy with our investigation bureau?"

Pei Yan then released the Deputy Commander's hand with a fearful, fierce expression, spitting out two words: "Kill him."

The pushed Deputy Commander, still wobbling, was seized from behind by Zheng Jia Ru, who twisted his head, cracking sounds of bone-breaking echoed! An eighth-level expert, with all abilities sealed, had his neck snapped like a chicken. Frothing blood poured from his throat as he fell with a thud.

The sound of his collapse signaled the doom for the remaining five. Under Ye Ruozai and Xia Yu's joint attack, they were bloodied in an instant. The white stone slabs of the arena were stained with blood, and blood scent filled the cylindrical building. Pei Yan didn't even glance at the corpses, glaring at the iron-faced Shitang Longsi, warning, "Hear me out!"

Then Pei Yan turned to the large screen and shouted, "Those who still want to flatter and sway between us, following whomever seems winning, those idiots who surrendered thinking they could run their course and still be valued for their ability—you see your fate. From now on, any Shen Yu member who doesn't surrender voluntarily will be caught and executed without trial; no exceptions! This isn't mere criminal ability; it's inter-plane warfare! This is your final warning, the battle hasn't begun, you still have a chance to surrender, and it's the last chance!"

"Well said!" Applause rang first from a room above, where the scholarly demon god had first endorsed the statement. Demon god leaders who arrived also applauded.

Sparse applause followed from an elegant pavilion in the building. Lin Daozi glanced in the pavilion's direction, knowing the broadcast had Lin Ruxue's teacher's approval; Pei Yan's speech subtly respected the allied planes. As the teacher showed support, Lin Daozi obediently followed, which led to Immortal Palace and Daoist Realm sects also clapping.

Subsequently, the Spirit Monster Plane, closely allied, also expressed support. Saraf didn't have major objections, though Pei Yan embarrassed him once, saving his life. Compared to resentment, Nero, sparing him once, remained his main enemy. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Meanwhile, Flamel's situation was quite awkward. To display unity, factions in the Magic Realm had only to approve Pei Yan's statements. Amid applause, Flamel glared at the focal Pei Yan, gritted his teeth, and withdrew into the team.

"Enough? Can we start the competition? Or is this turning into a crusade against my Xue Sha? Is this Immortal Palace's idea of fairness?" The Blood Sha's Three Tyrants leader, targeted, ignored the fury displayed, calmly looking at Pei Yan.

"Don't look at me, don't worry! I won't gang up on you, not here at least! We'll settle accounts later; today's events aren't over!" Pei Yan said, kicking aside Xue Sha's corpse, leaving blood footprints, walking away without a backward glance.

Thinking the chaos had ended, the Immortal Palace host prepared to clean up the bodies and start the official match, but a voice intruded on his hopeful thoughts.

"Pei Yan, I thought you were dead! Didn't expect you to hold on, still survive—are you failing inside? Is your soul really intact?"

Hearing this, Pei Yan's footsteps halted, turning around toward the voice. He didn't need to look, recognizing Shitang Longsi's voice, hearing subtle changes between them.

Facing Pei Yan's puzzled eyes, Shitang Longsi, under Nero's displeased gaze, smirked proudly, "Don't recognize who I am? No hiding, now." Shitang Longsi released the soul presence within, and boasted, "Now, do you recognize me?"

This aura emerged from the opponent, Pei Yan first stunned, then his frown relaxed, and he laughed heartily, "Thanatos? Hahaha!"

Seeing Pei Yan's initial surprise turn to uncontainable laughter, Thanatos in Shitang Longsi's body felt humiliated and angrily said, "Is this funny?"