Chapter 1020: Chapter 1020

Certainly, one could say that the White Tiger Demon Emperor had shown mercy due to not wanting to leave the tiger race without such a powerful figure. But even so, he was ranked fourth among the Demon Emperors, famous for his terrifying killing intent, and most certainly not known for going easy on those who had the gall to challenge his authority. That the Savage Tiger King still had all his limbs attached following that "spar" spoke volumes about his formidable strength.

In this Battle for the Throne, he was unsurprisingly one of the seeded contestants, and as the deputy city lord of White Tiger City, he rested in the city lord's VIP pavilion.

The White Tiger Demon Emperor was the Lord of White Tiger City. Because he had no legitimate heir to inherit his position, he had never given up the role. Meanwhile, the Savage Tiger King had never shown much respect for him. He had his own faction, mainly of the Golden Tiger lineage.

It could even be said that he eagerly awaited the day the White Tiger Demon Emperor would die so he could take his place.

The strength of this Savage Tiger King was indeed terrifying. It was he who had grievously wounded the previous Golden Lion King, leading to him dying and the God-Slaying Sword becoming masterless.

By inheriting the God-Slaying Sword, Big Cat had inherited that karmic bond. And this Battle for the Throne was the perfect opportunity to challenge this opponent.

"Contestants, prepare," the Sunborne Nymph Emperor said calmly.

The two equally burly figures, both radiating powerful killing intent, faced each other.

The Savage Tiger King had a rather odd name—Hong Hong. It was said that at birth, he was constantly groaning threateningly rather than crying, and thus was named after the sounds he was making. His bloodline had mutated significantly; though different from his brother's, it too was at the peak of the second tier, brushing the threshold of the first tier. If he became an Emperor, his bloodline would fully evolve, and his descendants would be even more powerful.

At the Sunborne Nymph Emperor's command, the barrier between the two sides disappeared, and he soared into the sky as well. The two massive forms charged at each other almost instantly.

Dark-golden light surged from the Savage Tiger King's body like a tide, an overwhelming energy wave filled with terrifying killing intent. As he rushed his opponent, dark-golden greatswords appeared in both hands.

Those two swords were a set of divine items called the Demon King Swords. Rather than divine, they were more like demonic weapons, and they required the blood of powerful beings to nourish them. If they were left thirsty for too long, they would turn on their master. Over the years, the Savage Tiger King had slain countless strong beings of other races. He had even dared to challenge rulers of other main cities, and he had defeated many strong foes. Those who fell under his swords almost never got up again. Thus was the name Savage Tiger King earned.

These Demon King Swords came with the Demon King Domain, which was capable of suppressing all bloodlines, even first-tier ones. The reason was that the terror caused by the domain was something that emanated not from the swords, but from the opponent's very soul. The Demon King Domain drew out all of an opponent's negative emotions, so those emotions suppressed their own bloodline power. Naturally, the more weakened the foe became, the greater the suppression. Worst of all, unless the Savage Tiger King was killed, the domain would not dissipate, regardless of his own state. The only disadvantage was that, in order to maintain it, he had to keep feeding the swords blood.

The late Golden Lion King had been stronger in cultivation, but not strong enough. He had been worn down by the domain's power, and his blood essence had been slowly devoured with every cut he took. When he returned to the lion race after the fight, he was already gaunt and soon passed after leaving his final words.

Now, that dark-golden domain was encroaching upon Big Cat.

The Savage Tiger King's voice was as cold as his blades. "The Golden Lion clan really knows how to choose. To think they'd pick a mongrel like you to inherit the God-Slaying Sword.... Looks like their extinction isn't far off. Today, I'll let them watch you die to my swords. But don't worry, my Demon King Swords wouldn't even deign to drink your mongrel blood."

Big Cat said nothing. His God-Killing Domain exploded as he charged, blood-colored coldness spreading around him and his pupils turning blood-red. The Demon King Domain's suppression came almost instantly, but his domain forced his killing intent to the extreme; no other emotions had room to blossom, so how could he feel suppressed? The God-Slaying Sword in his hand slashed toward the opponent with unmatched ferocity.

An ear-piercing roar rang out as their domains collided like tidal waves, dark-gold and blood-red surging wildly.

Almost instantly, Big Cat's domain was half-devoured by the Demon King Domain. The Savage Tiger King's right-hand sword blocked the God-Slaying Sword, the divine weapons clashing with intense resonance. At the same time, his other sword thrust at Big Cat's chest like a venomous strike.

If the Demon King Sword so much as grazed him, his blood essence would be sucked out at once. Even before it reached him, its devouring power was already drawing at his blood, and Big Cat felt it trying to tear free from his body.

A golden glow burst from the necklace around Big Cat's neck, blocking the Demon King Sword's intent. At the same time, the God-Slaying Sword in his hand shone with blinding brilliance.

The Demon King Swords' special attributes were devouring and suppression.

The God-Slaying Sword's special attribute was... slaughter. As it lit up, Big Cat's domain turned dark red and surged back as well, regaining the advantage in an instant.

With a horizontal sweep, the God-Slaying Sword's blade blocked the other Demon King Sword. Big Cat recoiled from the force.

The Savage Tiger King followed like a shadow, killing intent blazing in his eyes. His twin swords swung, one after the other, cutting toward Big Cat.

In cultivation and domain alike, he surpassed Big Cat. He had long stood at the peak of Great Demon Kings, and his Demon King Swords were each on par with the God-Slaying sword. Among seeded contestants, the only foe he had been rather wary of facing was Qiu Zixuan. His domain had no advantage over a foe who went all in on a single strike. But in a drawn-out fight, he feared no one.

He had long known Big Cat would enter the contest. He had watched the earlier matches, and though his words were disdainful, he couldn't help but acknowledge Big Cat. A first-tier bloodline, a true fusion of lion and tiger. This meant Big Cat had the strongest gifts of both races. If he had time to grow, the lion race might produce an Emperor at last.

And indeed, if the Golden Mammoth lineage could produce an Emperor, why couldn't the Golden Lion or Golden Tiger?

As Tiger King, he had to crush that possibility. If he couldn't be Emperor, neither could others. So he wanted to kill Big Cat as much as Big Cat wanted him dead; he fully intended to erase the threat forever.

But a dazzling platinum glow burst from Big Cat's body, dyeing the God-Slaying Sword platinum too. And what happened next shocked the Savage Tiger King.

Big Cat didn't defend. Facing the deadly twin Demon King Swords, he poured all his Lion-Tiger Golden Force into his blade. Not to block, but to strike at Hong Hong himself.

They had only exchanged probing blows, yet Big Cat had already chosen this path, without hesitation. His God-Slaying Sword blazed platinum, its blade spitting killing light as his domain soared to its peak.

That sword carried his resolve to kill—at any cost.