The moment they collided, the arena rang with a sharp metallic crack as halberd and spear met head-on, the force of the impact sending a shock through the ground beneath their feet.

Xiaoshan did not step back, his grip tightening as he twisted the halberd downward and forced Ji Wuchen’s spear aside before driving forward with raw strength.

Ji Wuchen slid half a step to the side, his body turning with the motion as the spear snapped back into position and thrust toward Xiaoshan’s ribs without hesitation.

The tip tore through flesh, drawing a clean line of blood, yet Xiaoshan did not even slow, his expression hardening as if pain had only sharpened his focus.

His halberd came down in a brutal arc aimed straight for Ji Wuchen’s shoulder, forcing him to raise the shaft of his spear to block.

The impact landed heavily, bones trembling under the force as Ji Wuchen was driven backward across the arena, his feet carving lines into the ground.

Blood dripped steadily from Xiaoshan’s side, yet he advanced again without pause, each step heavy and deliberate as the halberd swept outward in a wide, crushing strike.

Ji Wuchen ducked low, the blade passing just above his head as he lunged forward and drove his spear toward Xiaoshan’s thigh.

The strike landed deep this time, piercing through muscle as blood burst outward, staining both of them instantly.

Xiaoshan’s body tensed for a fraction of a moment before his knee slammed forward, crashing into Ji Wuchen’s chest and forcing him back with a dull, heavy impact.

Ji Wuchen coughed as he slid backward, yet before he could regain distance, Xiaoshan had already closed in, the halberd thrusting forward like a spear itself.

The blade tore across Ji Wuchen’s side, ripping open flesh as his robe darkened instantly.

Ignoring the pain, Ji Wuchen twisted sharply and drove his spear upward, the tip grazing Xiaoshan’s neck and drawing blood that spilled down across his collar.

The distance between them vanished completely as both abandoned space, choosing instead to exchange strikes at close range.

The halberd shaft slammed against Ji Wuchen’s shoulder while the spear butt crashed into Xiaoshan’s jaw, both blows landing solidly as blood sprayed from their mouths.

Neither retreated, their movements growing heavier yet faster, as if the pain itself pushed them further.

Ji Wuchen spun the spear in a tight motion and thrust again, aiming straight for Xiaoshan’s heart, but Xiaoshan caught the shaft with one hand, stopping it mid-motion as his other hand drove the halberd upward.

The blade tore into Ji Wuchen’s abdomen, ripping through flesh as blood poured freely.

For a brief moment, both stood locked in place, weapons embedded in each other’s bodies, their breathing rough and uneven as blood soaked the ground beneath them.

Then almost at the same time, they moved again, tearing free and striking once more without hesitation.

Above them, the demon laughed loudly, the sound echoing as it watched the bloodshed with clear enjoyment, its gaze fixed on every movement without missing a single detail.

The demon watched their clash for a moment longer before letting out a low chuckle, its tone filled with clear mockery as it tilted its head slightly.

"Such brutes... did you already forget what you were just taught," it said lightly, as if reminding careless children rather than addressing two blood-soaked fighters.

The moment those words settled, both Xiaoshan and Ji Wuchen froze mid-motion, their bodies locking in place as red runes began surfacing across their skin.

The markings spread rapidly, crawling over flesh and merging together into complex symbols that pulsed with a violent rhythm.

On Xiaoshan’s back, a massive totem formed, its outline resembling a towering giant as faint patterns flickered with raw strength.

On Ji Wuchen’s back, a blood-red tiger took shape, its form sharp and fierce as its presence radiated killing intent.

As the totems stabilized, their wounds began healing at a visible pace, torn flesh closing and blood flow slowing within seconds, yet the change only made their auras more unstable.

Their eyes deepened in color, their breathing grew heavier, and the restraint in their movements vanished completely.

The next moment, both moved again.

This time there was no hesitation, no probing strikes, only direct and brutal force as halberd and spear collided once more with greater intensity

. Each clash carried more weight, each strike faster and heavier, as if they had abandoned all control in exchange for raw output.

Blood still flew with every exchange, yet neither slowed down, their bodies pushing beyond limits that should have already broken them.

The arena floor cracked beneath repeated impacts as their fight turned more savage with each passing breath.

Seeing this, several of the female disciples turned pale, some unable to hold back as they retched at the sight of flesh tearing and blood splattering without pause.

The sound mixed poorly with the ongoing clash, making the entire scene feel even more chaotic.

Lin Xiao Tian watched quietly and let out a faint sigh, his gaze steady despite the brutality unfolding before him.

"Still too weak... they cannot hold themselves even now," he said calmly, though his thoughts were already moving ahead.

Just then, his eyes shifted and landed on the fat disciple nearby, whose face had gone completely pale as his body trembled slightly.

Lin Xiao Tian stepped forward without hesitation and slapped him across the face, the sharp impact snapping him out of his frozen state.

Blood rushed back instantly as the man staggered and began retching violently, his body shaking as he struggled to regain himself.

Lin Xiao Tian withdrew his hand with visible disgust, his expression turning slightly strained at the sight.

The fat disciple looked up after a moment, wiping his mouth as he steadied his breath before forcing a grin. "don’t worry, Master, I just ate too much earlier," he said weakly, trying to recover his composure.

Lin Xiao Tian’s face twitched faintly at those words, yet he did not comment further, his attention already shifting back toward the arena and the demon above.

"Little boy... tell me, do you truly wish to become my disciple," he asked suddenly, his tone calm but direct.

Hearing this, the fat disciple’s eyes lit up slightly despite the situation, his answer coming without hesitation.

"Why not, Master... just give me some Grade Five pills and a few heavenly treasures," he said, his voice carrying a hint of expectation.

Without another word, Lin Xiao Tian pulled out several talismans and slapped them directly onto the man’s face, stopping any further nonsense before it could continue.

His gaze then lifted toward the demon, who remained seated above, completely absorbed in the fight as if nothing else existed.

To it, they were nothing more than insects, unworthy of even a glance unless they provided entertainment.

Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke again, his voice low but steady. "You have some courage... take these and throw them at that thing when I give the signal," he said, handing over the talismans without hesitation.

The fat disciple froze instantly, his face turning completely pale as his earlier confidence vanished without a trace.

"B-but Master... Master..." he stuttered, his voice trembling as he looked between the talismans and the demon above, clearly understanding what was being asked of him.