Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 514: Lian and Mei placing bets

Another wave of thorns erupted from the ground, faster and fiercer than before, but Xiang Yu faced them head-on. With a powerful leap, he twisted mid-air as the deadly projectiles grazed past him, narrowly missing their target.

He landed flawlessly, the crowd gasping in awe, even amidst their hatred for him. An electric tension rippled through the arena, and he exhaled sharply, feeling his blood boil with adrenaline. There was no holding back now.

The air around him shifted, growing heavier and darker. A crimson aura began to ripple from his core, faint at first, but unmistakable. Xiang Yu closed his eyes for just a moment, feeling the power surge within him; when his eyes opened again, they burned with an unholy fire. The demon core had awakened.

Across the arena, Lu Lu froze for half a heartbeat, instinctively recognizing the primal energy radiating from Xiang Yu. It was unlike anything he had faced before. His body tensed, yet his hatred propelled him forward. With a roar, a colossal arm made of twisted biomass emerged behind him, swinging like a hammer toward Xiang Yu. The sheer force of it was enough to splinter stone.

Xiang Yu met the attack head-on. He moved impossibly fast, his fists crashing into the massive arm of biomass with explosive energy. The impact resonated throughout the arena, shattering Lu Lu’s grotesque construct into countless pieces that scattered in all directions. But Xiang Yu did not stop. He lunged forward, a blur of motion, and his fist connected hard with Lu Lu’s chest.

The blow sent Lu Lu sprawling onto the arena floor, coughing violently. For a moment, the crowd was stunned into silence, their cheers replaced by disbelief. Blood dripped from Lu Lu’s lips as he struggled to rise, his hatred burning brighter even as his body betrayed him. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself back to his feet, refusing to yield.

Above him, Xiang Yu towered, an aura of swirling crimson tempest enveloping him. "Are you going to yield?" he asked, his voice low and formidable, cutting through the silence like a sharpened blade.

In that moment, the crowd saw Xiang Yu not as an ordinary man, but as something far beyond their understanding. A monster that had hidden his true self in the shadows. As they watched, questions flooded their minds.

Why hadn’t Xiang Yu used his awakened powers at the wedding ceremony? With this level of strength, he might have actually defeated Han Xin. Granted, Han Xin would have undoubtedly won, being Awakened himself, but with this newfound speed, Xiang Yu could have fled and escaped the chaos.

But there was no time for those questions now. Lu Lu steeled himself, determination mixed with desperation. He refused to tap out. With all his will, he got back to his feet, ready to fight.

***

A commanding voice shattered the tension. "It’s over!" Han Zhan yelled, stepping forward with authority.

The crowd, despite their dissatisfaction, silenced themselves. They knew the command was final. It might have come from Han Zhan but the order must have come directly from Han Xin.

Xiang Yu’s aura flickered, but he remained on edge, his energy still surging. Lu Lu, chest heaving, coughed vehemently but the fight within him still raged, a burning desire for vengeance that would not easily extinguish.

A twenty five minutes ago...

Han Xin drove back to the city, the weight of frustration heavy in the air. His convoy rolled through the rough terrain, tyres crunching over gravel and dirt. He felt as if they had wasted precious fuel and time on a wild goose chase.

They had scoured every possible location for the water source Xiang Yu had mentioned but found nothing. The further they drove, the more doubt twisted in his gut.

Each mile felt like a step deeper into a trap. Han Xin couldn’t shake the feeling that this was Xiang Yu’s plan all along. He meant to lure him out of the city while something outrageous unfolded back home. Something like an invasion.

Blinded by his emotions, he’d left the city vulnerable, trusting too easily. The thought of a snake slithering through their defences made him grit his teeth.

Arriving at the city gates, Han Xin prepared himself for the chaos he anticipated. But what met his eyes was startling. There was chaos, yes, but it was not the kind he expected. The arena was alive with shouts and roars, the crowd surged with excitement. His heart raced as he pushed through to the front, seeking answers.

"Su Jing!" he called out, spotting her amid the crowd, her eyes glued to the spectacle.

She turned her expression a mix of restrained joy and focus. "Xiang Yu and Lu Lu are fighting," she said, excitement barely contained in her tone.

"What happened?" Han Xin furrowed his brows, confusion washing over him. "Why are they fighting?"

"Lu Lu challenged him," Su Jing replied, her voice low as she watched the two combatants clash in the arena. Despite her words, Han Xin caught a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes as they followed the intense duel.

Han Xin understood Lu Lu’s motivation. It was his anger over his sister’s injuries. Yet, deep down, Han Xin knew the truth. Xiang Yu had nothing to do with what had happened to Lu Wan. The tension rolled through him as he attempted to piece together Lu Lu’s reasoning. If he knew the truth why would he challenge Xiang Yu when he always kept to himself?

He stood at the edge of the arena, his eyes locked onto the fierce battle unfolding before him. He watched as Xiang Yu dodged Lu Lu’s relentless attacks, his movements a blend of power and grace.

With every twist and turn, Xiang Yu appeared calm, as if this were nothing more than a sparring match imposed upon him. The look on his face betrayed no sign of fear. Instead, he seemed to revel in the challenge.

Scanning the crowd, Han Xin noticed the twins, Lian and Mei, enthusiastically betting with others. They were the only ones wagering against Lu Lu, their voices bright with excitement. The stakes were high. They were betting on food rations and water supplies. Han Zhan was about to stop them but Han Xin intervened.