C38 That Resplendent Sword Light

As soon as Wang Han's words were spoken, a wave of astonishment swept through the crowd!

The figure one hundred wasn't particularly large, but when it was followed by the word 'amethyst,' it set hearts racing and trembling with desire.

One hundred amethysts were equivalent to a million white crystals. In the confines of Night City, only a handful of families could muster such wealth. Having just lost fifty amethysts to the Ye Family, if the Wang Family lost again, it would be a crippling blow, even for them.

Wang Yihao stood agape, blindsided by Ye Xiao's countermove. Clenching his jaw, he declared, "Alright! The Wang Family accepts the challenge. Should Wang Jiang lose, not only will we erase the incident of him slaying our Royal Guard, but we will also produce one hundred amethysts!"

Reluctantly making this vow, Wang Yihao knew the stakes were high. With the eyes of the community upon them, the Wang Family couldn't afford to lose face, especially when he was confident of victory in a Master Level 3 challenge.

The crowd's reactions were mixed, and those who had been about to leave found themselves drawn back into their rooms, eager to witness the unfolding drama.

Wang Han, fraught with worry, returned to Ye Xiao's quarters. Furrowing his brow, he addressed Ye Xiao, "Ah, Lord Yama, why insist on accepting this challenge? Now that the Wang Family has agreed to stake a hundred amethysts, this..."

Ye Xiao offered a reassuring smile. "Thank you for your concern, Steward Wang. I still hold some confidence in facing Wang Jiang."

Feeling resigned, Wang Han replied, "Well, it's settled then. You have two hours to recuperate. I'll go make the necessary preparations." He then hurried out to report the situation to Xue Yaner and Elder Tong.

Ye Xiao's decision to take on the challenge was not a spur-of-the-moment act of folly but a carefully deliberated move.

The challenge was fraught with danger and pressure, but it was precisely the kind of pressure Ye Xiao needed at this juncture.

A victory would significantly diminish the Wang Family's power and could provide a glimmer of hope and a potential turning point for the beleaguered Ye Family. It would also afford him more time for personal growth.

In the modest expanse of Night City, Ye Xiao's very foundation was at stake. With the Wang Family looming threateningly, and his own strength not yet sufficient, Ye Xiao needed more time to build and strengthen his position.

Within the Ye Family household, both cultivation and daily life demanded financial resources. The sum of one hundred amethysts was, without a doubt, of great significance to the current state of the family.

At the pinnacle of the animal fighting ring, Xue Yaner, upon receiving news from Wang Han, unleashed a tirade against the Wang Family, leaving no room for retreat.

"Grandfather Tong!" Xue Yaner approached the elder, tugging at his arm with a coquettish call.

Old Man Tong offered a wry smile. "My dear, I'm at a loss myself!"

Yet, confronted with Xue Yaner's deliberately pitiful gaze, he sighed in resignation. "Fine, fine. Should the young man be in peril, I'll save his life."

With the elder's vow, Xue Yaner's face lit up with joy once more.

Old Man Tong regarded her with a teasing glint in his eye and chuckled, "Our esteemed Miss hasn't fallen for this young fellow, has she?"

Xue Yaner huffed and scampered away, ignoring the elder's jest.

The atmosphere in the animal fighting ring surged anew. Following the conclusion of Ye Xiao's duel with the Blademaster, startling news rippled through the crowd: Wang Jiang, a Master-level practitioner from the Wang Family, was poised to challenge Lord Yama!

The crowd buzzed with excitement. It seemed clear that Lord Yama had somehow crossed the Wang Family and, under their pressure, had accepted the challenge. While many sympathized with him, none spoke out against the perceived injustice.

Bets were placed, heavily favoring Wang Jiang's triumph. Despite Ye Xiao's formidable reputation, no one believed he could bridge the chasm between a Yuan Master and emerge victorious against Wang Jiang.

As two hours trickled by in anticipation, Wang Jiang emerged and ascended the Challenge Platform.

Shortly thereafter, Ye Xiao entered the Challenge Ground.

Wang Jiang's gaze bore into Ye Xiao, brimming with animosity. This was the man who had slain his brother, cost him his captaincy, and cornered him into a must-win scenario.

Should he lose the wager of one hundred amethysts, his fate would be sealed. Even if he survived the Challenge Ground, the Wang Family would show him no mercy.

"Kid, today I'm going to make sure you die without a place to bury your bones!" Wang Jiang sneered as he hoisted his long knife.

A hush fell over the crowd, all eyes riveted on the two figures standing on the Challenge Platform.

Wang Jiang was the first to move, stomping his feet with a force that echoed through the silence. Last time, Ye Xiao had managed to escape with that odd broken sword, but this time, Wang Jiang was determined not to let him slip away. He was ready to wash away all the shame and humiliation in this single battle.

Despite the odds being stacked against him, Ye Xiao had garnered a large following after several days of back-to-back challenges. The crowd was eager to see just how long this miracle-worker could hold out.

With the entire arena watching, Ye Xiao remained composed as he stepped up to the edge of the Ring, facing Wang Jiang from afar. His Qianyuan Spell was channeled to its limit, his internal energy surging rapidly, causing his long sword to hum with power.

"Today, I'm going all in!" Ye Xiao inhaled deeply, psyching himself up silently.

"I hope you last a bit longer, or you'll disappoint me!" Wang Jiang growled menacingly.

Ye Xiao, unphased, gripped his long sword firmly and with a swift motion, the blade sliced through the air, its tip cutting a sharp sound from the atmosphere.

Wang Jiang's long knife came crashing down, unleashing an invisible burst of elemental energy as he roared, "Elemental Sky Origin Slash!"

A powerful aura erupted from the blade, signaling his most devastating attack. Clearly, Wang Jiang had no intention of giving Ye Xiao any chance for a comeback.

Ye Xiao's face tensed slightly, realizing the Qianyuan Spell's significant boost to his elemental energy. While his own energy quality might not be much less than Wang Jiang's, the Spell's amplification put him under immense pressure.

Not daring to hesitate, Ye Xiao swung his long sword to meet the attack head-on.

"Boom!" The sound of the colossal impact echoed as Ye Xiao staggered back several steps, while Wang Jiang was pushed back only a few.

Yet, this outcome sent shockwaves through the onlookers.

Everyone had expected Wang Jiang, with his Natal Technique, to secure victory in a single blow. However, despite being at a clear disadvantage, Ye Xiao had not sustained any fatal injuries.

Ye Xiao's gaze was icy, the disparity between them undeniably vast. He bit his lip, mulling over his strategy—perhaps his only chance was to wait for an opening and seize victory in a single decisive move.

Wang Jiang, though holding the upper hand, was far from satisfied with the situation. The duel continued for several exchanges, and despite Wang Jiang's apparent superiority, he couldn't deliver a fatal blow to Ye Xiao. The use of his Qianyuan Spell drained his Essence significantly. If he couldn't defeat Ye Xiao quickly, the battle was sure to reach a critical state.

In their next clash, Ye Xiao struggled to hold his ground against Wang Jiang's overpowering force and nearly toppled over.

Wang Jiang, seeing his opportunity, let out a boisterous laugh and advanced. He gazed down at Ye Xiao's teetering form, his blade poised to strike. This blow, if landed, would undoubtedly conclude the challenge.

But as Ye Xiao's face contorted in alarm, he caught sight of Wang Jiang's oncoming figure and felt a surge of relief. Wang Jiang, having overexerted himself in his aggressive assaults, now overly confident in his victory, had let his Origin Energy shield falter.

With a grit of his teeth, Ye Xiao resolved to go all in. He slammed his hand against the ground, pivoted to dodge the critical strike, and with a backward flick of his sword hand, unleashed a dazzling arc of light. The sword beam, catching Wang Jiang off guard, hurtled towards his throat.