Chapter 1359: Chapter 1359: The Time to Compete in Acting Skills Has Arrived

When Li Menglong first started talking to him, Lan Xuanyu already understood what this guy was thinking. He just hadn’t exposed it yet. Nor was it necessary—without Li Menglong, where else could he earn Sky Nourishment Crystal Stones?

And now, at this moment, his seemingly exhausted self finally drew out Li Menglong’s true intentions. Although Lan Xuanyu couldn’t figure out how he managed it, the ability to temporarily make the Eight-Armed Demon Clan hesitate was indeed a bit clever. Unfortunately, Lan Xuanyu sure wouldn’t agree to him! What duel for marriage? That was just a gimmick to rake in Sky Nourishment Crystal Stones.

Compare acting skills? When have we ever feared anyone in a battle of performances?

At this moment, in Li Menglong’s vision, he saw Lan’s expression change. “She” pressed her pale lips together, straightened her back, and an unyielding spirit seemed ready to burst forth. Her delicate face was filled with resolute determination.

Through his expressions and emotions, it seemed as if Lan was declaring to everyone: I, the Golden Dragon Princess, will never admit defeat or bow down!

This…

Li Menglong hesitated. He could clearly see that Lan’s current state was already quite poor. With his strength, he would likely have a chance to defeat her if he stepped onto the stage. But what if? Better safe than sorry! From all the previous battles, Lan’s ferocity was evident. What would he do if he ended up dying at her hands?

No, safety first. Caution above all. After all, Li Menglong chose to back down. Compared to marrying a good wife, his own little life was far more important.

Thinking this, Li Menglong’s expression gradually returned to normal. He sighed softly, his eyes filled with emotion and a touch of hesitation as he gazed at Lan Xuanyu on the stage. His face showed helplessness, alongside a trace of hope. Then, he clenched his fist and waved it toward Lan Xuanyu, as though cheering him on.

Bai Xiuxiu had been sitting beside Lan Xuanyu all along, coldly watching everything unfold. This… this acting—wow, it truly gave off a vibe of “who isn’t an actor these days?”

At that moment, a beam of light landed in the payment bucket. The ninth Eight-Armed Demon suddenly ascended the stage with a bold demeanor.

When this figure stepped onto the stage, Lan Xuanyu immediately sensed something unusual. This was…

The next moment, his face paled drastically. One hand instantly grabbed Bai Xiuxiu beside him and pulled her into his embrace.

Streaks of deep purple lightning bolts erupted almost instantly from the chest of the Eight-Armed Demon. The terrifying electric currents spread rapidly across his entire body. His colossal frame surged forward with unparalleled destructive intent, charging straight at Lan Xuanyu.

Lan Xuanyu, holding Bai Xiuxiu, soared into the air. In the next instant, he once again unleashed Martial Soul True Body, transforming into the Golden Dragon King. Simultaneously, his scales quickly switched colors, shifting to radiant seven-colored hues. His massive dragon tail swept out directly, aiming to strike the towering frame of the Eight-Armed Demon.

“Boom!!”

This time, neither Light and Dark Divine Thunder nor a fight was needed. The Eight-Armed Demon’s Divine Demon Core in his chest instantly detonated, launching a horrifying explosion like no other.

The entirety of the competition stage was engulfed in swathes of dark purple in an instant. The terrifying atmosphere spread rapidly, shaking even the protection cover violently under the impact.

The two Dragon Knights seated at the main viewing dais instantly lost their composure, their faces filled with alarm. The Eight-Armed Demon Clan—were they going insane?

Indeed, insane! The ninth Eight-Armed Demon ascending the stage chose to self-detonate without hesitation.

Abandoning combat entirely, he directly ignited his Divine Demon Core. What kind of brutal method was this!

In previous battles against other Eight-Armed Demons, Lan Xuanyu had faced scenarios where they fought until the end and attempted to self-detonate their Divine Demon Cores. Yet, Lan Xuanyu had skillfully prevented those attempts, finally crushing their skulls with explosions under Light and Dark Divine Thunder.

But this time, the opponent detonated his Divine Demon Core as soon as he appeared, leaving no chance for Lan Xuanyu or Bai Xiuxiu to intervene. The deliberate activation of the Divine Demon Core possessed a power that was undoubtedly on par with Lan Xuanyu’s Light and Dark Divine Thunder!

At this moment, the explosion unfolding before them seemed comparable only to the first Eight-Armed Demon whose Divine Demon Core had violently self-detonated during their encounter with Light and Dark Divine Thunder. The storm of destruction raged wildly across the number-one competition stage.

Li Menglong, off-stage, was equally stunned—had the Eight-Armed Demon Clan gone mad?

At that moment, seven or eight robust figures from the Eight-Armed Demon Clan arrived near him, shielding his view with their massive frames.

Li Menglong’s expression shifted. Though surrounded by several Sky Horse Clan members, he could clearly sense the abnormal aura emanating from these Eight-Armed Demons. Every one of their Divine Demon Cores pulsated uncontrollably in their chests, seemingly ready to explode at any moment.

If it were any other race, perhaps this would have been an act of intimidation. But the Eight-Armed Demon Clan were maniacs by nature—who could tell what crazed actions they might pull off?

Helplessly, Li Menglong had no choice but to step back along with his subordinates, creating some distance between himself and the Eight-Armed Demons.

The storm of destruction on the number-one stage raged for over ten seconds before gradually subsiding, revealing a colossal silhouette.

The enormous body of the Golden Dragon King had shrunk to only one-third of its previous peak size during its most powerful form. The surface of its scales, which resembled mirrors, was steadily dimming, and the seven-colored glow dulled visibly. Dozens of its scales were damaged, and blood streamed down the broken areas in abundance.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Heavy coughing echoed as its light faded. The Golden Dragon King’s form transformed back into human shape. However, Lan’s current state appeared even more battered. A streak of fresh blood trickled down from the corner of his lips.

Now “her” long dress, a pure white garment, was dyed red by the blood, making the contrast starkly obvious. With Bai Xiuxiu’s support, Lan barely managed to remain standing, yet her entire weight leaned heavily against Bai Xiuxiu.

Bai Xiuxiu held “her” tightly and lowered her head to gaze at Lan’s tightly shut eyes, her own eyes brimming with tears that spilled uncontrollably.

In the face of such a brutal explosion, Bai Xiuxiu remained completely unharmed because, during the detonation, Lan Xuanyu used his Golden Dragon King True Body to shield her entirely, later transforming into Dragon God True Body to block the storm of destruction completely. He bore every ounce of the attack solely on himself.

Bai Xiuxiu softly murmured, “Sister, sister, how are you? Are you okay?”

“Cough, cough!” Lan Xuanyu coughed out bits of blood and foam, barely opening his eyes and weakly saying, “I’m, I’m fine… I can still… cough, cough…”

Seeing his gaze, Bai Xiuxiu’s tense heart relaxed a little. Though his voice was feeble, a hint of reassuring emotion flickered in his eyes, and they remained clear and unclouded, absent the murkiness of severe trauma.

In this contest of acting, Li Menglong was thoroughly defeated. Bai Xiuxiu’s heart twinged painfully.

“Dong—” A crisp chime echoed from the main viewing dais, announcing, “Today’s Future Rising Stars Challenge—final match. Only the competition stage where the current match is taking place will host the last duel. Remaining stages can commence their final challenge.”

Finally, the last round was at hand.

However, upon hearing this announcement, the audience erupted in an uproar. If this had been declared one minute earlier, the Golden Dragon Princess wouldn’t have needed to fight another round, right? But now, she still has to face another battle! Could she endure it?

At this moment, Sky Horse Clan experts had entered the stage to repair the platform.

On the main viewing dais, the two Dragon Knights both wore stern expressions. Though neither spoke, their piercing gazes locked onto the distant Eight-Armed Demon Clan, their eyes filled with cold fury.

Entering the stage and self-detonating, using the explosive Divine Demon Core to severely injure Lan Xuanyu—this was no longer a mere challenge match. It had become a life-and-death confrontation. The Eight-Armed Demon Clan was provoking the Dragon Clan!