103: Chapter 103 Seven Sixth-Order

Sikong Xuan's consciousness avatar floated above the Hou Tu Realm, looking down at the land that was as thick and heavy as an ocean.

"This battle..." His voice was as steady as a mountain. "Our opponent is a Yin Qi World. In terms of attributes, they don't counter us, but we don't counter them either. Therefore, this will be a contest of raw strength."

He paused for a moment.

"Mountain Lord, you will face the opponent's Ghost King head-on. Earth Mother, you are responsible for the defense and recovery of the entire army. Rock King, you block the opponent's main force. Pulse Master, you sense all of the opponent's movements. City God, you build fortresses for layered defense. Mineral God, you equip all Earth Spirits with the best weapons. Grain God, you ensure the entire army's supplies."

The seven Earth Deities bowed their heads simultaneously.

"Yes."

Sikong Xuan withdrew his gaze and looked toward that grayish-white light in the void opposite him.

"Come, Netherworld. Let me see if you can shake the earth."

Tianyuan Arena, Core Control Room.

Tian Heng stood before the eye of destiny, looking at the matchup information for Match 247.

"Earth Civilization versus Yin Qi World," he said softly. "An interesting duel."

"Analysis complete." The voice of the eye of destiny remained devoid of emotion. "Match 247 is one of the most watchable duels in the second round. The Red side, Su Bai, demonstrated extremely high tactical literacy and Hero Unit quality in the first round, but his opponent Shen Zhao's Incense Divine Kingdom was countered by Yin Qi in terms of attributes. The Blue side, Sikong Xuan's Hou Tu Realm, does not face attribute counter issues, and his number of Hero Units (seven Rank Sixes) far exceeds the Red side (one known peak Rank Six, four Rank Sixes). In terms of unit numbers, the Blue side's five million versus the Red side's five point seven million is basically equal. Comprehensive assessment: Blue side win rate 68%, Red side win rate 32%."

"Thirty-two?" Tian Heng raised an eyebrow. "Your evaluation of Su Bai is lower than in the first round?"

"It's not that the evaluation has decreased, but that the opponent's strength has increased," the eye of destiny said. "Sikong Xuan's Hou Tu Realm is a top-twenty world in the Tianying Star Sector, possessing a complete defensive system, a stable social structure, and powerful Hero Units. Although Su Bai's Netherworld performed stunningly in the first round, when facing a 'hard bone' like the Hou Tu Realm, the infiltration advantage of Yin Qi will be significantly weakened. Earth is the most stable element; Yin Qi is very difficult to penetrate."

Tian Heng did not speak.

He looked at that grayish-white name on the light screen, and the image of Su Bai not moving a single finger from start to finish in the first round surfaced in his mind.

"Then let's see," he said softly. "Let's see just how deep this Netherworld can dig."

...

Above the Tianyuan Arena, the voice of the eye of destiny echoed through sixty-seven star sectors.

[Match 247 is about to begin.]

[Red Side: Su Bai, Tianxuan Star Sector · Qinglin Province, Netherworld World.]

[Blue Side: Sikong Xuan, Tianying Star Sector · Cangwu Province, Hou Tu Realm.]

[Please prepare, both sides.]

[Countdown: Sixty seconds.]

On the light screens of sixty-seven star sectors, twelve thousand four hundred provinces, and thirty-two trillion viewers, the display simultaneously switched to the footage of Match 247.

The screen split.

On the left was Su Bai's world pod. The youth stood on a circular platform, his face as calm as water, grayish-white Yin Qi swirling around him like invisible snakes.

On the right was Sikong Xuan's world pod. The young man stood on a circular platform, his face as steady as a mountain, an earthy-yellow light spreading out from beneath his feet like the ley lines of the earth.

Two worlds, two colors.

Grayish-white and earthy-yellow.

Yin Qi and Earth.

Chu Family Main City, Qinglin Province.

Thirty million people held their breath, staring at Su Bai's face on the light screen.

"The second round..." someone said softly. "The opponent is ranked eighteenth... eighteenth in the Tianying Star Sector..."

"Seven Rank Six Earth Deities, five million units..." another person swallowed hard. "How can he fight this?"

"Shut up!" the person next to him glared. "Watch the match!"

On the provincial viewing platform, Chu Zhentian's fingers began to tap lightly on the armrest again.

Chu Kuangren sat behind him, clutching his communication terminal. On the screen was the message he had just sent out:

[Brother, the opponent is the Hou Tu Realm, their defense is invincible. Be careful.]

The status was "Read."

There was no reply.

Chu Kuangren gave a bitter smile and put the terminal away.

"This madman probably didn't even bother to look at the opponent's data."

In a corner of the viewing platform, Lin Canglan still sat in the shadows.

Her fingers gripped her skirt, her nails almost piercing the fabric. On the light screen, Sikong Xuan's data was scrolling.

Seven Rank Six Earth Deities.

Five million Earth Spirits.

Twenty-two consecutive wins.

Ranked eighteenth in the Tianying Star Sector.

Her lips trembled slightly.

"Su Bai..." she said softly. "Can you win?"

On the other side of the viewing platform, the Old Principal opened his eyes.

He looked at Su Bai's face on the light screen, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"He's not nervous," he said softly. "This child is never nervous."

The countdown hit zero.

[Match 247, officially begins.]

The world bridge connection was completed.

Grayish-white Yin Qi and earthy-yellow light collided in the void, erupting in a deafening roar.

Su Bai stood in the center of the world pod, looking at the world opposite him.

The Hou Tu Realm.

It was a land as thick and heavy as an ocean.

The earth was earthy-yellow, like solidified magma. Mountain ranges towered into the clouds, peaks piercing the sky, their bodies covered in ancient patterns that exuded a heavy aura. The plains were vast and boundless, like the chest of the earth, rising and falling as if breathing.

Countless rocky islands floated in the sky, each one housing fortresses and watchtowers. Lava rivers flowed across the land, orange-red light winding through the earthy-yellow earth like the veins of the world.

Five million Earth Spirits stood on the land, arrayed in neat formations. Their bodies were like carved rock, their eyes clear as amber, and they held stone spears and shields that shimmered with a metallic luster in the sunlight.

And in the center of this land, seven giant figures stood towering.

Seven Earth Deities, seven Rank Six auras, like seven pillars supporting the heavens of the Hou Tu Realm.

Sikong Xuan's consciousness avatar floated above the Hou Tu Realm, his earthy-brown eyes calmly looking at the grayish-white world opposite him.

"Come, Netherworld."

He raised his hand.

The seven Earth Deities moved simultaneously.

In the Netherworld World, before the Ghost Gate Pass.

Su Bai looked at that thick, ocean-like land opposite him, his expression calm.

"Earth Civilization..." he said softly. "Seven Rank Six Earth Deities, five million units. Unrivaled defense, stable order."

He thought for a moment, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Perfect."

He raised his hand, his consciousness linking with all Hero Units.

"Rakshasa."

"Present!"

Zhao Tiezhu's voice was coarse as thunder, coming from the northernmost end of the New Era Ruins. He stood on the walls of Rakshasa City, his dark-gold vertical pupils staring at the earthy-yellow world opposite, fangs bared and claws shimmering with a cold light in the Yin Qi.

One million two hundred thousand Rakshasas stood behind him, with bluish-gray skin, dark-gold vertical pupils, and burly bodies like statues. They held no weapons in their hands because their bodies were their weapons. Claws, fangs, and keratinous scales—every inch of their flesh was born for battle.

"This is your first time participating in battle," Su Bai's voice was as calm as water. "Let me see the combat power of the Rakshasas."

Zhao Tiezhu grinned, a smile that was hideous and bloodthirsty.

"My Lord, just you watch."