Chapter 1002: The Darksky Rhino King

Tang San looked at her, then at the other elders who nodded in agreement, and smiled slightly. "Just wait and see. I'm not losing today."

With that, he walked out of the resting area.

"Seventeenth pair, enter the field."

The battle platform had just been repaired, barely returned to a level surface.

Because no one knew who their opponent would be before the draw, both contestants and spectators were left guessing until the players entered the field.

But when Tang San emerged from the waiting area, his distinctive features became visible to all, and a chorus of exclamations rang out.

"Ayoooo, stop right there! Who is the lucky bastard who drew the spoiled rich kid?!"

"Seriously! What incredible luck. Drawing the Blue Gold Tree is like drawing a free pass!"

"Haha, I'm going to collect my winnings later. I'm guessing the Blue Gold Tree clan's leader placed a bet on himself to keep the odds from being too ridiculous. I only bet 200 naturae coins. Payout is low, but hey, two coins in a day isn't bad. I'll bet on someone else next."

Yes, if Tang San lost in the first round, all the bets on him winning the championship would immediately be void. That was why so many people had still placed bets on him: Even though the odds were low, the payout would come fast. The Blue Gold Tree clan leader winning? What a joke.

Thankfully, there were no bets on single matches, only on making it into the top three or becoming champion. Otherwise, even more people would have bet on him.

Tang San floated into the air and gently descended onto the competition field.

As always, it truly felt different being in the arena. Being watched by tens of thousands made even his blood boil. These spectators were mostly demon and nymph nobility; nearly all of them were powerful. The sheer aura naturally produced by their bloodline power created a massive, oppressive presence, but this was exactly the kind of environment where Tang San thrived.

Tang San's opponent had also stepped forward—number thirty-four.

This contestant wore a satisfied grin and stepped onto the platform with a spring in his step, clearly elated.

The competitor exuded a dark, inky black aura. His entire presence was shadowy, making the air around him seem heavy and suppressive... though his cheerful smile somewhat ruined his grim aesthetic.

Tang San examined him closely before identifying what he was: a Darksky Rhino.

This was a rare and unique clan, comparable in scarcity to the Lion-Tiger clan—in other words, bordering on extinction. The reason for their near-extinction was entirely different, however. Namely, these rhino demons had a natural affinity for darkness, and their horns contained vast amounts of extremely pure and potent darkness energy, making them the finest materials for crafting darkness-attribute items. At the same time, their own combat prowess wasn't particularly great. Most of their power was used for defense rather than offense. They had never produced an Emperor, and so they had become targets for others coveting their horns. As a result, their population had dwindled to under five hundred.

The Ancestral Court had to step in directly to forbid attacking them, even going as far as to assign some of the Ancestral Court Guards to protect them. After all, their horns were too valuable, and if the clan went extinct, the resource would vanish forever. They naturally shed their horns from time to time and these horns were allowed to be traded. Of course, the Ancestral Court's protection came with the agreement that they would manage the distribution of these horns in exchange for supporting the clan and ensuring their survival.

According to the Grand Elder's ranking list, this contestant was roughly sixtieth among male participants, only slightly above the Golden Wolf and Golden Leopard Kings.

Defense and physical strength were a Darksky Rhino's greatest assets, and the darkness energy in their horns also had a corrosive quality to it. But even so, it was hard for them to cultivate to a high level. This one was the clan leader, and also the only Great Demon King of the clan.

The Darksky Rhino King clearly hadn't expected to get so lucky. To think he'd draw the Blue Gold Tree clan leader in the first round! He hadn't come expecting to win the throne; he was here just for some experience. Facing a Blue Gold Tree? Practically a free pass to round two.

Though Tang San had made a big splash in the auction, acquiring many rare items, the rhino demon saw little threat in that.

So what if you have a Substitute Lotus Seed? If you die and come back, I'll just beat you to death again. As for divine items... heh! Those are only useful if you're strong anyway!

The audience had little interest in this match. Many took the opportunity to leave for a bathroom break, saving their energy for the more exciting matches to come.

To them, this was a fight between weaklings, and the outcome was already clear.

The Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor was still officiating the match. As long as no contestant from his own clan entered, he could continue in that role.

Once both contestants took the field, the air on one side immediately darkened—the Darksky Rhino King was unleashing his darkness energy, snorting thunderously as he powered up.

He intended to crush Tang San, utterly dominating him to establish his strength. He was even imagining how good it would be if he got lucky in the next round too—drawing an opponent still injured from their previous match would be ideal.

Tang San had no idea what his opponent was thinking, and neither did he care. He did not produce any overwhelming aura, either. Instead, he waved to the audience, then flipped his hand and summoned an object.

As he looked at what was in his palm, Tang San felt a tinge of reluctance. But to maintain his Blue Gold Tree persona and stick to his plan, he had to grit his teeth and go through with it.

A rich life aura radiated from Tang San as brilliant blue-gold light burst forth. Behind him, the phantom of a giant tree slowly appeared. This blue-golden tree was over thirty meters tall; its thick trunk emitted golden light, and its golden branches with blue leaves unfurled majestically. A tremendously powerful aura of life instantly filled his side of the arena. Even the Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor, who was responsible for maintaining the barrier between the fighters, couldn't help but nod slightly. When it came to life force, none could rival the Blue Gold Tree clan.

The blue-gold light surrounding Tang San rose in waves. Compared to his opponent, his appearance was undoubtedly far more impressive and visually dazzling. The barrier didn't block life energy, it wasn't meant for that, so even the spectators could feel its freshness and warmth. An indescribable sense of comfort spread through their entire bodies.

Life energy from all around the Ancestral Court began converging toward Tang San. The mountains surrounding the court were covered in plant life, and now, the life force of those plants, along with the Ancestral Court's own massive vitality, surged toward Tang San like rivers returning to the sea. His aura grew stronger by the moment, and his appearance took on a holy quality.

"Are you ready?" the Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor asked, looking in Tang San's direction.

Tang San replied, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I'll be ready soon."

Wait a moment? What?

This was the first time since the tournament began that someone had asked to delay the start. Still, given the incredibly comforting life energy that Tang San radiated, the Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor let it slide. The spectators obviously had nothing against it either, and they didn't show any sign of impatience.