Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Battle of Life and Death

”Idiot?”

”What did you call me?!”

Liu Wenqiang had never imagined that one day he would be publicly humiliated by a mere newly-initiated Outer Sect Disciple. His eyes immediately bulged, filled with rage. If it weren’t for the Sect’s strict prohibition against disciples killing each other, he would have definitely rushed forward and slaughtered Ye Qingchen on the spot!

Without turning his head, Ye Qingchen replied, ”I called you an idiot. What, do you like the title so much that you want me to emphasize it again?”

Toyed with by Ye Qingchen once again, Liu Wenqiang clenched his fists so hard they made cracking sounds, his heart burning with anger. ”You brat! If you dare to fight me on the Life-and-Death Stage and win, I’ll give you all of my Cultivation Resources!”

At these words, Ye Qingchen stopped in his tracks. He turned around, looking at Liu Wenqiang with pleasant surprise. ”Are you serious?”

Liu Wenqiang puffed out his chest. ”A gentleman’s word is his bond!”

Ye Qingchen laughed. ”Good! Seeing as you’re so sincere, I accept your challenge to the Life-and-Death Stage!”

Ye Qingchen naturally had no desire to get on the Life-and-Death Stage, but if it meant obtaining the Cultivation Resources of an Inner Sect Disciple—which were sure to be far greater than Liu Wenzhuang’s—he wasn’t about to pass up such an amazing opportunity.

”He accepted!”

Liu Wenqiang was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Then, his face broke into an expression of utter ecstasy. In his eyes, Ye Qingchen was already a dead man.

The crowd was stunned when they saw Ye Qingchen actually accept Liu Wenqiang’s life-and-death challenge.

”Ye Qingchen actually accepted a challenge from an Inner Sect Disciple!”

”But his opponent is a Ninth-Layer Martial Artist, and Ye Qingchen is only at the Seventh Layer! He’s certain to die if he gets on the Life-and-Death Stage!”

”Was Ye Qingchen kicked in the head by a donkey? Liu Wenqiang obviously wants to use this chance to kill him, and he just handed him a perfectly legitimate way to do it!”

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, the corner of Huang Xiaoshuai’s mouth twitched. Ye Qingchen might have been able to defeat him and Liu Wenzhuang, but Liu Wenqiang is far more formidable. What makes him so confident that he dares to accept a life-and-death challenge?

”Young Master!” Worry flashed in Xiao Xiao’s bright eyes as she looked at Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen smiled and patted Xiao Xiao’s head. ”Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I will definitely win this fight on the Life-and-Death Stage!”

”Okay! You can do it, Young Master!” Xiao Xiao raised a small fist, then turned to look at the ecstatic Liu Wenqiang. ”You may be a shameless Inner Sect Disciple for challenging my Young Master, who is an Outer Sect Disciple, but he isn’t afraid of you! You’re dead meat!”

Hearing this, Liu Wenqiang’s face darkened. Unwilling to waste his breath on Xiao Xiao, he turned and headed straight for the Sect’s Life-and-Death Stage.

Ye Qingchen followed closely behind him.

Soon, news that Inner Sect Disciple Liu Wenqiang had issued a life-and-death challenge to Outer Sect Disciple Ye Qingchen spread like wildfire. Hordes of Outer Sect Disciples rushed toward the Life-and-Death Stage. Even many Inner Sect Disciples hurried over after hearing the news. They were extremely curious—what kind of Outer Sect Disciple could provoke an Inner Sect Disciple into issuing such a challenge?

「Inside the Transfer Technique Hall」

The Venerable on the top floor was meditating when his ears twitched. Hearing the chatter from the disciples below, he snapped his eyes open. The next moment, his figure vanished from the Transfer Technique Hall.

「On the Life-and-Death Stage」

Ye Qingchen and Liu Wenqiang stood facing each other.

A large crowd of Inner and Outer Sect Disciples had gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Xiao Xiao even spotted the black-robed, middle-aged man who often came to scrounge meals from her. The deeply reclusive Venerable rarely moved about within the Sect, so no one present recognized him.

”Da Hei, are you here to cheer for my Young Master, too? I see those chickens I gave you weren’t for nothing. You’re pretty loyal!” Xiao Xiao said with a laugh, boisterously patting the Venerable’s shoulder.

”Da Hei? Me?” The Venerable was taken aback for a moment before looking at Xiao Xiao with interest. ”Alright, I’m here to cheer for Ye Qingchen. Do you think he can win this life-and-death battle?”

”Of course! My Young Master will win for sure!” Xiao Xiao’s lovely eyes were full of confidence as she tilted her head up proudly.

”Then let’s wait and see,” the Venerable said with a smile.

While they spoke, the two combatants on the Life-and-Death Stage made their move!

Like a furious lion, Liu Wenqiang charged toward Ye Qingchen, throwing a vicious punch!

Yet Ye Qingchen showed no fear. Activating his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, he charged forward as well, aiming a punch at the weakest point of Liu Wenqiang’s attack!

BANG!

Their fists collided with immense force, and both were sent staggering back six or seven steps!

They were evenly matched!

Ye Qingchen’s punch is clearly less powerful than his opponent’s, yet he managed to fight him to a standstill in a direct clash. How interesting! Truly interesting! It was definitely worth coming today. The Venerable nodded slightly, a look of great interest in his eyes as he watched the two on the stage charge at each other again, their fists a blur.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Their punches flew like the wind. After exchanging more than a dozen blows, they still seemed evenly matched, with no clear victor!

Unable to secure a quick victory, Liu Wenqiang tried to disrupt Ye Qingchen’s concentration with words. ”Hmph! I’m a Ninth-Layer Martial Artist! My accumulated Spiritual Power is far greater than yours. If we keep this up, you’ll be the first to run out, and then you’ll die for sure!”

However, Ye Qingchen showed no sign of impatience at Liu Wenqiang’s words. He just sneered, ”I’m afraid you won’t last long enough for that to happen!”

”Bind!”

As Ye Qingchen’s voice fell, finger-thick willow branches shot up from the ground, coiling around Liu Wenqiang’s legs like small snakes and binding him in place.

”Brat, you’re using tricks!” Liu Wenqiang was shocked. He hadn’t noticed that Ye Qingchen had secretly laid a trap at his feet during their exchange.

”Using Martial Soul Force is a trick? What a joke.” Ye Qingchen chuckled as he shot forward, launching a fierce punch at Liu Wenqiang.

”Hmph! Fine! In that case, let me show you my Martial Soul! Soul Fire, come forth!” Liu Wenqiang snorted. With a single thought, flames erupted around his feet, instantly incinerating the willow branches into charcoal. The binding force vanished.

Freed from the binds, Liu Wenqiang had no time to counter Ye Qingchen’s attack. He staggered backward, trying to evade the brunt of the assault.

Yet, just as he steadied himself after retreating several steps, Ye Qingchen suddenly appeared at his side. His fist became a palm, slipping past Liu Wenqiang’s guard and striking him squarely on the chest.

CRACK!

His sternum shattered, the fragments piercing his heart. Liu Wenqiang’s eyes widened abruptly as he violently spat a mouthful of blood.

Only then did he realize it. The Soul Power attack with the willow branches had just been a feint. Ye Qingchen’s true killing blow was this strange Martial Technique!

”I can’t accept this... What... what Martial Technique is this...?”

”A high-grade Profound-rank Martial Technique, the Picking Leaf Hand,” Ye Qingchen stated calmly, his hands clasped behind his back.

THUD!

Liu Wenqiang crashed backward onto the stage, dead. His eyes remained wide open in disbelief.

When the fight on the Life-and-Death Stage concluded, the surrounding crowd exploded into an uproar.

A mighty Inner Sect Disciple had been killed by a brand-new Outer Sect Disciple