C5 The Fight Would Not End Until One of Them Died

"Yang Xiu, I challenge you to a duel to the death!"

Cui Lang bellowed, his eyes ablaze with fury.

He couldn't fathom, much less accept, that Yang Xiu had managed to complete a hellish beginner's mission for the Tang Family Castle.

Cui Lang had everything calculated.

If Yang Xiu failed the mission, he would mercilessly ridicule him and then banish him from the mountain.

But now,

Yang Xiu had succeeded, and even had the audacity to mock him in front of all the Deacons. To the proud Cui Lang, such an act was utterly unforgivable.

"Lang'er, don't act so rashly. There's no need for a fight to the death with a fellow disciple," Cui Yuanhai cautioned, though his inaction revealed his insincerity.

"Uncle, rest assured, I have everything under control," Cui Lang responded, turning to face Yang Xiu.

"Yang Xiu, if you dare to stand against me, Cui Lang, I'll ensure you live to regret it."

"I'm ready when you are!"

Yang Xiu gave them a piercing look, then turned and strode away with unwavering confidence.

At the martial arts field,

a crowd of official disciples quickly gathered to root for Cui Lang.

"What's happening here?"

someone inquired.

"It seems a Miscellaneous Affairs disciple has crossed Cui Lang, and now they're set for a duel to the death."

"Hiss!"

"Cui Lang, already a third-level Blood Refining Apprentice, challenging a Miscellaneous Affairs disciple? That's downright disgraceful."

Some onlookers were disgusted and prepared to intervene in the name of justice.

In this realm, the Blood Refining Apprentice had ten levels, with every third level marking a significant milestone. Cui Lang was on the cusp of the fourth level, making him a formidable opponent with few equals among the official disciples.

"It's not as straightforward as you think. The Miscellaneous Affairs disciple completed the Tang Family Castle mission; he might just turn defeat into victory."

"He managed to survive a mission that's synonymous with death? Is this newcomer really so formidable?"

The buzz of conversation continued, but Yang Xiu remained undisturbed, calmly channeling a strand of Star Power within himself.

The Essence Creek Stage is categorized into four distinct phases: the early stage, the middle stage, the late stage, and Great Perfection. To enter the Essence Creek Stage, one must condense a wisp of Star Power. Advancing to the early stage requires three thousand strands of Star Power, while the middle stage demands six thousand. The late stage calls for nine thousand strands. Achieving ten thousand strands signifies reaching Great Perfection, at which point one can strive to ascend to the next major realm.

With only a single strand of Star Power, Yang Xiu had just one opportunity to defeat Cui Lang—a chance he couldn't afford to miss.

"Yang Xiu, have you decided how you wish to die?" Cui Lang, basking in the attention of countless onlookers, felt euphoric. A faint red aura of blood swirled around him, lending him an imposing presence.

"The blood aura is emanating; it looks like Cui Lang is on the verge of a breakthrough," an observer shouted in amazement.

Releasing one's blood aura is the hallmark of reaching the fourth level of a Blood Refining Apprentice. Cui Lang's current state suggested he was on the cusp of this achievement.

"Do you realize that if it weren't for your interference, I would have already advanced?" Cui Lang was still fixated on the issue with the Blood Essence Pill.

"If I am outmatched, there's no point in idle talk," retorted Yang Xiu, a man of few words, known for his reticence.

"Very well, since you seek death, I shall oblige," Cui Lang declared. Drawing his sword, he lunged at Yang Xiu with serpentine agility, his movements eerily swift.

"It's the Spiritual Snake Step!" someone in the crowd identified the technique.

"This step technique is considered high-grade. Without Cui Yuanhai's influence, Cui Lang wouldn't have access to it," another person remarked enviously.

"This... To boast about such a subpar technique as high-grade martial arts?" Yang Xiu was taken aback upon hearing the crowd's comments. He could hardly believe the martial arts of this world were so primitive.

After all, in the Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm, a rudimentary technique like the Spiritual Snake Step was nothing more than commonplace.

Nobody would take it even if it was free!

"In this world, Bloodline Power has its merits, but martial techniques are a dime a dozen."

Yang Xiu mused to himself.

"To be so distracted in the heat of battle is to truly court death."

Cui Lang's face showed a flicker of contempt as he noticed Yang Xiu's dazed look. He vibrated his sword and swiftly kicked out at Yang Xiu.

His initial intent had been to end Yang Xiu with a single sword strike.

But then he thought better of it, feeling that would be letting Yang Xiu off too easily. He resolved to first humiliate Yang Xiu before finishing him off.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Yang Xiu snapped back to reality just as the gust of wind reached his face.

"If you're going to be this pathetic, don't blame me for being brutal."

With a sweep of his arm, Yang Xiu's mouth twisted into a vicious grin. Amid a myriad of spirit snake afterimages, he precisely caught Cui Lang's ankle.

"Die!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Yang Xiu slammed Cui Lang down to the ground with a top-down motion, like tossing a firecracker.

Puff!

Cui Lang spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes bulging out like those of a dead fish.

He couldn't accept this!

Nor could he comprehend how the tables had turned so swiftly, how he had been defeated so quickly.

"You vile creature, your strike was merciless. You truly deserve death!"

Cui Yuanhai bellowed as he appeared instantaneously in the martial arts arena. Without a glance, he launched a palm strike with the force of thunder, vowing to claim Yang Xiu's life in vengeance for Cui Lang.

"Great Prison Tablet Hand!"

In the dire moment between life and death, Yang Xiu channeled the Star Power within him and unleashed the Great Prison Tablet Hand technique he had mastered in his past life, clashing fiercely with Cui Yuanhai's attack.

Boom!

The collision set off a thunderous explosion, stunning all onlookers.

Yang Xiu was sent flying backward, coughing up blood, and landed at the edge of the arena. Cui Yuanhai's gaze was filled with shock and uncertainty, for he knew his own strength all too well.

That palm strike from before.

It should have been enough to end Yang Xiu's life, yet now he was merely wounded.

Something was amiss!

Definitely amiss!

Cui Yuanhai was poised to strike again, but paused when Yang Xiu wiped the blood from his mouth and declared confidently,

"If I survive today, I vow to behead you and your nephew in the days to come."

His voice echoed, leaving a haunting silence in its wake.

No one could have predicted Yang Xiu's boldness. In a world where might was the ultimate law, he had brazenly challenged a Blood Soldier Deacon.

His audacity knew no bounds!

"Very well," Cui Yuanhai said, his voice dripping with irony. "In all my half-year of cultivation, I've never encountered a disciple like you. Today, I will execute you and purge our ranks."

Cui Yuanhai's laughter was tinged with fury as he spoke forcefully. At the mere flicker of his intent, the blood energy around him roiled tumultuously, emanating from him with a presence far more formidable than Cui Lang's.

The prowess of a Blood Soldier Level cultivator was unmistakable.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiu was at his limit.

The last of his Star Power had been drained by Cui Yuanhai's palm strike.

His earlier outburst had been a spontaneous reaction to his intense emotions.

Now, facing Cui Yuanhai, he was utterly defenseless. With a swift step, Cui Yuanhai closed the distance, his hand reaching out like an eagle swooping down on its prey, intent on crushing Yang Xiu's skull.

But then, abruptly,

Cui Yuanhai, who had advanced with overwhelming force, retreated as swiftly as a startled rabbit, his expression dark with frustration and rage.