It was Wang Wenze speaking. After noticing something was off with Pei Yan, he quietly asked Gu Shenghui what had happened. Upon learning the details, he remembered Pei Yan mentioning these people before. He looked at Pei Yan and said solemnly, "To outsiders, you seem cold and ruthless, but we all know that you're someone who values friendships deeply. This is both your strength and weakness. You always like to shoulder things yourself. We've discussed this many times; since we've stepped into this hall and chosen this profession, we've already prepared ourselves for death. It's the same for everyone, so there's no need for self-blame. If, and I say if, any of us meets misfortune one day."

Saying this, Wang Wenze patted Pei Yan on the shoulder and smiled, "Don't be sad, and don't blame yourself. Dry your tears and do as you always do, and do best: avenge us."

"Uh, I understand. I don't have the power to ensure good people receive good outcomes, so I can only take the path of making sure the wicked receive their due punishment," Pei Yan adjusted his emotions after listening to Wang Wenze, wiped his face, and sighed.

"Eat, let's keep watching the show. It's uncertain if this fool can even survive this match," Jiang Feiyang, standing behind, saw that Pei Yan had regained his composure and handed him a bag of beans, indicating the arena with a nod of his head.

Pei Yan took the snack and lifted his head, focusing his gaze back on the arena. During the time he was emotionally overwhelmed, the two fighters on stage had reached an intense phase. Despite several powerful explosive strikes, they did not pose much trouble for Ning Quanchen. Di Xin also seemed to realize this and resumed a more aggressive approach, engaging in close combat with Ning Quanchen.

As the two exchanged moves, Pei Yan could see that Di Xin was still using combat techniques from the foundational planes. However, with his overwhelming strength and speed, the destructive power took a qualitative leap. On the other side, Ning Quanchen was using techniques from the Daoist Plane. It was evident that, having sustained a martial-based civilization for thousands of years, each move was so skillful and pleasing to the eye, yet concealed continuous killing intent. A slight misstep could lead to being defensively beaten.

"In terms of moves, Blood Demon hasn't gained any advantage," Pei Yan crunched the beans in his mouth and sneered.

"That's true, but in this short time, he's already used four different abilities," Ye Ruozai, who had been watching the match, glanced at Pei Yan and reminded him, "And both sides are still in the probing stage!"

"What?" Pei Yan's mouth dropped slightly. Using four abilities in such a short time! Shocked, he immediately ordered Suzi to replay the previously recorded footage. As Ye Ruozai said, during the clashes, this guy named Di Xin had used Zhang Liren's firearm ability, Shen Bing's air control ability (different from Pei Yan's air ability), an unknown wind control ability, and is currently using a hero's ghostly ability to summon Wu Song.

"Wu Song? Isn't he a character from a novel? Can he also be used?" Pei Yan marveled, staring at the fierce punches of Human Emperor Xin on stage.

"Mei Simiao's Nezha and Shangxing's Sun Wukong can be used, so why not him? As long as the character has been deeply rooted in the minds of the people through ages, there's a possibility that the hero's ghostly ability can project them," Gu Shenghui explained Pei Yan's subconscious question as his mind momentarily faltered.

"Hero's ghostly powers, divine treasures of the land. He's already used two types of abilities. That wind control ability—who knows its source—is it more like yours? Were the other two abilities taken from people in our hall?" Pei Yan pondered the abilities used by Di Xin and asked.

Gu Shenghui thought back to the submitted files and finally shook his head, "The other two abilities don't match any of our missing personnel. Whether they were seized from another investigation hall or an undocumented ability user, we cannot be certain."

Hearing this, Pei Yan nodded and looked at the arena, marveling, "Blood Demon really is unscrupulous. Bloodlines, techniques, abilities—what can't they seize and use for themselves? Just imagining such an opponent is terrifying."

"That's why we need to learn from them, and you're their true nemesis and adversary."

Gu Shenghui's words gave Pei Yan pause. Realizing the implication, he understood that he too was collecting all he could—bloodlines, techniques, abilities—all for the sake of growing stronger. In retrospect, he found himself most resembling Blood Demon.

Boom! A huge explosion pulled Pei Yan's attention back to the arena. After a series of mutual attacks, the two had gained a rough understanding of each other, and the real battle was about to begin.

"There's no need to probe further. Show some true skills! Otherwise, you won't have the chance to make a move," Ning Quanchen challenged while leaping into the air, looking down at Di Xin standing beneath him.

"Heh heh heh, do all you people like to speak so arrogantly? Saying things like there will be no chance to make a move, yet those who say this often get defeated and end up losing," Di Xin spoke, not rising into the air, but taking out a wine jar from his storage ring. He took a sip, frowned at first, then exhaled the wine breath, his brows relaxing as he exclaimed, "Refreshing!"

After shouting this, he flicked his fingers, causing more than twenty large bowls to appear. He lifted the wine jar, pouring into each bowl. Given the jar's capacity, it should have been emptied after five at most, yet it seemed endless, filling all the bowls without showing signs of running out.

"Today I'll indulge in the elegance of our ancestors. Here, the Blood Demon will meet the world's heroes, though it's a pity the Magic Plane and Spirit Monster Plane's contenders aren't present. I wonder if any heroes from the other planes dare to drink this fine wine from my jar." As Di Xin finished, he waved his hand, sending a bowl of wine flying towards Ning Quanchen, while the remaining twenty or so hovered in front of the observation platforms of various planes.

While Ning Quanchen hesitated, staring at the sea-sized bowl in front of him, replies came from the Blood Demon's side. Nero and Ivan were the first to stand at the edge of the arena, tapping the arena's defensive array.

After a while, there seemed to be a consensus allowing this behavior, as the arena's array cracked open slightly. Two of the floating sea-sized bowls drifted out, and the two of them caught one each. Nero, holding his bowl, smiled, "I won't stand on ceremony drinking a friend's wine. I'll drink this first, as for the heroes he mentioned in this match?"

After speaking, he downed the wine in his bowl, showing the empty bowl to the whole crowd, and sneered, "Feel free, there's no need to force yourself! Hahaha."