Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

The disciples of the Purple Sun Pavilion were stunned. Some of the newer recruits had never even heard of the Daxia Sword Sect. To them, only the five pavilions on the same level as their sect as their own were worthy of recognition.

And yet, a disciple from an unknown sect had challenged Pang Li to a death duel?

Pang Li wasn’t just any disciple—he was the personal student of an elder from the Azure Cloud Pavilion, and he had broken through to the Foundation Building Realm the previous month. Rumor had it he possessed a Fire Heavenly Spirit Root and cultivated the aggressive Middle Black-tier Blazing Fire Sword Technique.

Many disciples came to watch this death duel. When the time had come, everyone from the Daxia Sword Sect flew over together.

The Daxia Sword Sect disciples, clad in the sect’s white robes, looked calm and determined. Though the Purple Sun Pavillion disciples pointed and whispered among themselves, they paid them no mind.

Thud thud!

They landed on the ground, while Li Guanqi landed on the fifty-plus-zhang-wide stage, attracting their attention. There was already a dense crowd of Purple Sun Pavilion disciples around the stage.

Even many elders had come, curious to see this youth who had dared to challenge their disciple to a death duel.

Noisy speculations filled Li Guanqi’s ear.

“Heh. I can’t believe the person who challenged Pang Li is blind.”“So what if he’s blind? They let anyone cultivate these days. At least he made it to Foundation Building, right?”

“I give him half an hour before he’s on his knees, begging for mercy.”

“I don’t think so. If he dares challenge Pang Li, he must have some skill.”

“Anyone want to bet?” a chubby disciple shouted. “Pang Li versus that guy! I’ll pay ten times the amount if that guy wins!”

The Daxia Sword Sect disciples observed the crowd and exchanged glances, anger flickering in their eyes at the contemptuous remarks. Li Guanqi, however, simply opened his eyes and turned to Ye Feng.

Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. Their eyes gleamed with unspoken understanding.

“How much money do you have?” Li Guanqi asked via voice transmission.

Ye Feng replied, “About six thousand low-grade spirit stones!”

Li Guanqi pondered briefly before tossing him a storage pouch. “Go check that guy out. Don’t let him get away.”

Ye Feng wriggled his eyebrows. “Don’t worry, I’m on it.”

Then, Ye Feng pretended to be upset and squeezed through the crowd. “What do you mean by that?! You’ll pay ten times the amount? You really think so little of my Brother Li?”

The fat youth’s narrow eyes glinted coldly. He patted the pouch in his hand. “And? So what if I think you guys are weak? If you think he can win, why don’t you place a bet? If you’re all talk, don’t go barking at me. Use your spirit stones to humiliate me, please.”

As he spoke, he patted his own cheek, making his flesh jiggle.

Ye Feng’s face reddened and his qi surged. The Purple Sun Pavilion’s disciples could not help but mock him further.

Without another word, Ye Feng took out two storage pouches and slapped them onto the wooden board beside the fat youth, on the side supporting the Daxia Sword Sect.

The fat youth’s eyes darted at the pouches and laughed. “Oh? You’re generous, Brother! Two pouches? But do they even add up to a hundred spirit stones?”

He figured Ye Feng was acting impulsively in response to his taunts.

Ye Feng’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “I’m rich, so that’s not your concern. I’m just worried you won’t be able to pay me later. What’ll we do then?”

The disciples of the Purple Sun Pavilion laughed.

“Brother, you don’t know who he is, do you? His family runs the largest Treasure Pavilion in the entire Northern Territory. You think he can’t pay you?”

The fat youth smiled. “Did you hear them? I, Fatty, do not lack any money. They’re going to start soon. Are you placing your bets?”

Ye Feng smiled and let go of his hands from his pouches. “Six thousand and five hundred low-grade spirit stones! I hope you can afford my payment later!”

Tsk!

The crowd erupted.

“What? Six thousand five hundred? Where did this guy come from?”

“Wow! He’s trying to strike a fortune with just one bet!”

Fatty’s expression stiffened. His eyes darted to the pouches before narrowing at Ye Feng. After a brief hesitation, he placed a hand on them. “I accept.”

He pulled out a white jade slip, inscribed Ye Feng’s name and wager onto it, and tossed it over. “I always honor my bets. If you win, bring this to me. My name’s Tang Ru.”

Whoosh!

A ray of light flew from the horizon while another person landed on stage. It was Pang Li, the person Li Guanqi kicked in the stomach. The ray of light was his master, Zheng Hao!

Zheng Hao’s powerful aura pressed on Li Guanqi, who was standing onstage. He felt the vital force in his body freeze.

Clang! The sound of clashing swords rang out, and Li Nanting appeared before Li Guanqi.

Li Nanting pointed at Zheng Hao with his sword and narrowed his eyes. He asked coldly, “How could an elder at the Golden Core Realm pressure a Foundation Building cultivator? Are the elders of the Purple Sun Pavilion this shameless?”

Some elders flying in the sky were offended.

Li Nanting saw their darkened expressions and interjected before they could respond, “Oh? Did I say something wrong? If you’re so eager for a fight, why don’t we have one? Three of you against me.”

He continued, “It’ll also be a death duel. If you dare accept my challenge, we can fight now. Let the juniors fight their own battles. I’ll play with you all!”

The three highest-ranked elders in the sky frowned. “Li Nanting, do not overdo it! Hmmph! How dare you go around making such declarations!”

The sword in Li Nanting’s hand clanged softly. He pointed at the elder who’d spoken. “You can try me. Don’t just stand there and argue. All you ever do is talk.”

Everyone was exerting pressure in all directions with their auras, turning the situation into an intense standoff.

Suddenly, an ethereal-looking old man in hemp clothes walked out of thin air. His white hair and beard drifted in the breeze, and his eyebrows were so long they reached his jaw. “Nanting, why are you bickering with them?”

Li Nanting turned to look at the old man. “Old Miao.”

The old man waved a hand. “The young ones have already agreed on the challenge, so let the Heavens decide their fates. It doesn’t matter who you are—we all must take responsibility for our actions.

“I will oversee this battle. No rules, no restrictions. A death duel is just that—life or death.

“Let’s begin.”

Zheng Hao opened his mouth as if to protest, but the old man gave him a single glance, and he swallowed his words.

Pang Li drew a crimson sword, and his expression twisted in a vicious snarl. “Die, you blind bastard!”