C20 Life and Death Battle

Suddenly, a man descended from midair. He was tall and muscular, with a determined face and short hair. Approaching Lin Xi, he spoke in a hostile tone, "You're Ye Yuen's fiancé!"

Lin Xi fixed her gaze on the man before her. "Yes, that's me. And who might you be?"

"I'm Kuan Yuan," the man replied.

Lin Xi was taken aback. The newcomer was one of the top three talents at Celestial Azure Academy!

Intrigued by his direct approach, Lin Xi knew he had an agenda. "What do you want?"

Kuan Yuan chuckled, "To the Life Death Platform!"

Lin Xi realized she was facing yet another challenger.

With a calm demeanor, Lin Xi responded, "Let's go."

Kuan Yuan laughed heartily, "Alright, you've got courage!"

With that, Kuan Yuan turned and soared towards the heavens. Lin Xi lightly touched the ground with the tip of her toe and followed suit.

They quickly arrived at a high mountain plateau, where a massive green stone arena awaited, a thousand feet in length and width, flanked by abysses on either side and surrounded by towering stone pillars.

At Celestial Azure Academy, when student conflicts became irreconcilable, they settled them at the Life Death Platform, leaving the outcome to fate.

The news of Lin Xi and Kuan Yuan's upcoming duel spread like wildfire across the academy. By now, thousands had congregated near the Life Death Platform.

Sima Shangqing, having heard the news, had arrived early at the platform, watching the events unfold in silence.

If someone issued a challenge, they would be met with a resounding defeat!

Suddenly, Beize appeared beside Sima Shangqing and remarked, "There's someone stirring trouble from the shadows."

"I'm aware," Sima Shangqing replied calmly.

"The young should handle their own affairs."

Beize smiled and nodded in agreement. The Celestial Azure Academy was a battleground for cultivators, where strength ruled supreme.

Why practice cultivation if not to compete and strive? Only the strong would rise and achieve their aspirations!

At that moment, an elder broke through the sky – it was Kuan Yuan's mentor, Zhuh Maohe.

Zhuh Maohe cast a complex glance at Lin Xi.

Lin Xi and Kuan Yuan ascended the Life Death Platform. Kuan Yuan positioned himself and said with a smile, "Go ahead, make your move!"

At the sound of his voice, Lin Xi sprang into action with incredible speed, skimming the ground as if in flight, slicing through the air as she lunged at Kuan Yuan!

Kuan Yuan's Spiritual Force surged within him, his gaze resolute as he launched a punch enveloped in a fierce blaze!

Lin Xi faced the oncoming fiery punch without a hint of fear. Her left hand shaped like an eagle's claw, she didn't even attempt to block the fire punch that had reached her chest. Instead, her hand shot straight for Kuan Yuan's throat.

Bang!

A thunderous noise followed, and Lin Xi's chest clothing was scorched away by Kuan Yuan's flames, leaving three claw marks on Kuan Yuan's neck!

Such a desperate fighting tactic left the onlookers utterly astonished.

Beize turned to Sima Shangqing and asked, "Did you teach him this kind of life-threatening combat?"

Sima Shangqing shook her head, inwardly marvelling at the young man's ferocity.

After being blasted several meters back by Kuan Yuan's punch, Lin Xi didn't pause for a moment and dashed forward once more. Kuan Yuan, refusing to show weakness, continued to fight with fists ablaze.

In a flash, their fists met with a resounding crash.

Bang!

To Kuan Yuan's surprise, Lin Xi's strength was not only on par with his but even surpassed it.

As their fists collided, Kuan Yuan found himself at a disadvantage, his body forcefully retreating. Lin Xi capitalized on this moment, employing Ghost Shadow Perplexing to close in.

A sweeping leg kick brought Kuan Yuan to the ground, followed by Lin Xi's foot pressing down on his chest. Her hand, still in the form of an eagle claw, once again lunged for Kuan Yuan's throat.

Just then, "Lin Xi!"

Zhuh Maohe, standing not far from the Life Death Platform, called out urgently!

Lin Xi's hand paused at Kuan Yuan's neck, refraining from striking.

Sima Shangqing glanced at Zhuh Maohe, who had shouted, pondering the situation.

Zhuh Maohe stepped onto the platform and spoke softly, "Lin Xi, could you spare his life?"

Lin Xi fell silent, ceased his movements, and walked to the side.

The crowd was taken aback!

They hadn't anticipated Lin Xi would simply walk away.

Lin Xi then made his way to a platform adjacent to the Life Death Platform, stopping before a man.

With a slight upturn of his lips, Lin Xi said, "Su Ding, let's not make this difficult. Get up on the Life Death Platform!"

At his words, the crowd was once again taken by surprise!

Su Ding was inwardly shaken. He had only come to assess the situation and had not expected Lin Xi to handle Kuan Yuan so effortlessly, let alone directly challenge him.

Su Ding managed an awkward smile and began, "Mr. Lin, what do you mean by this? I was just..."

But Lin Xi had no intention of letting him argue, cutting him off, "Su Ding, if you're a man, come down here right now!"

Lin Xi's sudden outburst startled everyone there.

"Enough with the bullshit! I'm here to take you down today! Get down here now!"

At these words, Su Ding's face turned ghastly pale. Never before had someone dared to humiliate him in such a manner!

Lin Xi was clearly goading him, forcing him to accept the duel. It was evident that Kuan Yuan's actions today were instigated by Su Ding.

Zhuh Maohe, Kuan Yuan's master, also understood that without someone stirring the pot, his disciple wouldn't have acted so rashly. He cast a cold glance toward Su Ding.

Caught off guard by Lin Xi's confrontation, Su Ding knew he was under suspicion. With no evidence, Lin Xi was using provocation to throw him off balance.

Su Ding wasn't about to be outmaneuvered, maintaining an air of confusion as he replied, "Mr. Lin, perhaps there's been some misunderstanding between us..."

Lin Xi responded with a smirk, "Oh? Are you scared? Afraid you can't defeat me and that you'll meet your end today?"

At this, the surrounding students began to look at Su Ding with curious and judgmental eyes.

Su Ding's resentment toward Lin Xi intensified. If he backed down from the challenge, he would lose face at the Celestial Azure Academy forever. Yet, accepting the challenge would seem to admit his guilt.

But then Su Ding had a thought—if he could defeat Lin Xi, the tables could turn. Just as he was about to engage, an elderly figure suddenly materialized in the sky.

The individual who arrived was none other than Gu Dian, one of the three elite mentors and Su Ding's master.

Gu Dian turned to Lin Xi and said, "If you're set on a fight to the death, so be it. However, we won't exploit your current state. In one month, once you've healed, we'll have our battle."

With those words, Gu Dian vanished on the spot with Su Ding in tow.

Lin Xi's face betrayed his irritation. He had hoped to eliminate the trouble that was Su Ding today, but things hadn't gone his way.

After a brief pause, Lin Xi turned to leave but was stopped by Kuan Yuan's voice from behind, "Why didn't you kill me?"

Lin Xi gave Kuan Yuan a cool look and gestured towards the abyss, "If you're so ashamed of your defeat that you seek death, then jump."

Kuan Yuan looked at Lin Xi, taken aback by his words.

Lin Xi went on, "Rather than fear this defeat, consider why you failed and find a way to improve. That way, you can triumph in your next challenge. A true man can take a hit and come back stronger; don't let one setback halt your progress!"

As Lin Xi walked away, he added, "Remember, you owe me a favor. And one more thing—don't just focus on building your strength; sharpen your mind as well."

Kuan Yuan remained silent, now realizing he had been outsmarted.