Senpai, your opponent for this afternoon's City Duel Championship is confirmed. As expected, it's someone from the Zeng family — the Thunder Dragon archetype user.
Chang Xingge, who had been quietly checking his phone, handed it to You Ye.
"No problem. Just as expected."
You Ye glanced at the screen and handed it back.
Bai Yun'er had already told him about all the Top 4 opponents in advance, including the other semifinalists.
Among them, the Thunder Dragon user was someone the Zeng family had deliberately inserted into the Top 16 — their intentions couldn't be more obvious.
Seeing how calm he was, no one asked unnecessary questions or tried to give "advice."
They all knew: unless You Ye got an unplayable hand, victory was certain.
Of course, they were curious.
Thunder Dragons banish themselves to activate effects.
Runick banishes the opponent.
On paper, Runick looked countered, especially since Thunder Dragon players often carry Cosmic Cyclone — another anti-Runick tech.
How would You Ye handle this seemingly disadvantageous matchup?
This was something worth studying closely.
Hangcheng — The Zeng Family Clan Hall
Zeng Wang, Zeng Jie, and an elderly man were seated inside.
"Ancestor, the Cosmic Cyclone we prepared was still not enough to restrict You Ye."
Zeng Jie respectfully reported the result of You Ye's earlier duel.
"Hmm, as expected.
Zeng Jie, go arrange this.
Let Chen Honglei receive the Thunder Dragon archetype's sealed finisher terminal — by any means necessary.
Then give him the Dark Duel contract that the Dark Duelists gifted us.
Tell him to activate a Life-and-Death Duel at the start."
"A life for a life.
A Ground-Rank duelist plus two or three strong cards should be enough to leverage against a Yellow-Rank duelist."
"Finally, reply to the Dark Duelist organization — the Zeng family agrees to cooperate and allow their people to infiltrate the arena.
If Chen Honglei fails, then we let their Dark Duelist go inside."
"Ancestor, Chen Honglei is fine… but is it appropriate to involve Dark Duelists?
Their goal is to recruit You Ye.
If they win, couldn't they just take him—and then betray the Zeng family?"
Zeng Jie asked carefully.
"They'd have to survive long enough to betray us."
Zeng Xu's (曾旭) voice turned vicious.
"This time, I will personally lie in ambush nearby.
Once the Dark Duelists act, I will intercept them.
You will request that the Duel Association grant me temporary duel authority within Hangcheng."
"With the temperament of the Association and the Inspection Bureau—
If You Ye joins the Dark Duelists, they absolutely won't allow him to live.
He would be too dangerous to the public world."
Zeng Xu's expression was cold as ice.
"Brilliant! Ancestor truly predicts all outcomes!"
Zeng Jie was overjoyed.
Indeed — if You Ye became a Dark Duelist, both the Association and the Inspection Bureau would never allow such a talent to grow.
With their approval, mobilizing a Heavenly-Rank duelist in Hangcheng became acceptable.
As for the idea of a Heavenly-Rank elder bullying a junior?
Impossible.
When they designate someone as an enemy, they eliminate them directly — not politely send small fry to give experience.
"Ancestor… I have a question."
Zeng Wang suddenly spoke.
Both Zeng Jie and Zeng Xu turned to look at him.
Feeling their stares, he swallowed nervously.
After a long moment, seeing that neither elder spoke, and sensing irritation building, he finally forced out the question:
"I'm just saying—
What if… what if we lose…
And the Dark Duelists lose too?
What then?"
The hall fell silent.
Zeng Jie and Zeng Xu said nothing for a long time.
If even that fails…
Then what else can you do?
Pack up and wait for death.
Afternoon — Duel Arena
You Ye finally saw his opponent:
Chen Honglei, now promoted to Ground-Rank, the Thunder Dragon duelist.
They didn't exchange trash talk.
They simply waited for the duel to begin.
Once the attendants escorted them into the sealed duel chamber and the room locked down, Chen Honglei finally spoke:
"You Ye, although you're my enemy, I am honestly grateful to you.
Without you forcing this situation, I would never have reached Ground Rank in ten years, nor obtained this incredibly rare terminal card for my archetype."
"So the Zeng family really spent big these past few days to raise you against me."
You Ye laughed softly.
"Yes. The family sacrificed a lot for me.
Now it's my turn to repay them."
Chen Honglei did not deny it.
He took out a palm-sized black paper and tore it apart.
"For the family that raised me—
Since you're the one who pushed this fate forward—
I'll make sure you die quickly."
The moment he tore it, darkness engulfed the room.
You Ye blinked in mild surprise.
He expected the Zeng family to cause trouble…
But to summon an actual Dark Duel?
He couldn't help but think:
Good.
Increase the difficulty.
The more stakes, the better.
This Dark Duel's rules were simple:
The winner lives and takes everything from the loser.
The loser dies and falls into the Underworld.
And for You Ye specifically, there was a bonus:
The winner could choose three original cards from a card list provided by the Dark Duel rules, and the list included the Zeng family inventory.
This was the jackpot.
Originally, he hadn't gone to crush the Zeng family yet because they could avoid open duels.
Without being a Dark Duelist himself, he couldn't force official life-and-death duels.
And betting cards required mutual consent.
But now the Zeng family delivered a legal Dark Duel to his doorstep?
A perfect chance to shear their wool clean.
What You Ye didn't notice was the flicker of confusion in Chen Honglei's eyes.
Not about the card list — that was expected.
But the original contract didn't mention falling into the Underworld.
Death was simply death.
Still, he calmed down quickly.
Whether dying normally or falling into the Underworld, the outcome was the same.
"Come.
This duel will decide victory, defeat…
And life or death."
Chen Honglei said coldly.
"Alright."
You Ye nodded and initiated the duel.
In the Spectator Area
Wang Cheng and Luo Hao looked grim.
The Duel Association and Inspection Bureau had no Heavenly-Rank duelists stationed in Hangcheng, but—
It wasn't because they lacked them.
It was because they didn't need them.
Most clan forces in Hangcheng, and in many cities, had been repeatedly hammered by the Association and Bureau's Heavenly- and King-Rank powerhouses to keep them from going out of control.
That's why, over the last two days, even though the Zeng family was provoking You Ye within the rules, the two organizations didn't step in — it was internal clan nonsense within legal boundaries.
But bringing a Dark Duel into an officially sanctioned city tournament?
That was a massive violation.
Wang Cheng and Luo Hao exchanged a look.
They were going to contact their superiors —
and cleanse the Zeng family once and for all.
This was the perfect opportunity to knock these clans back into place and also cement their goodwill with You Ye.
As for the possibility of You Ye losing?
Given what they knew about him…
They simply didn't believe Chen Honglei — even with Thunder Dragons countering Runick — stood a chance.