Chapter 25: A Duel of Life and Death, Qin Xingchen vs. Luo Shan

A life-and-death duel!

Hearing this, Luo Shan froze for a moment. A life-and-death duel meant that fate would decide the outcome. It meant that once they stepped onto the platform, if he were to execute Qin Xingchen in front of everyone, no one would be able to hold him accountable.

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

He looked at Qin Xingchen and grinned, "Are you sure you want to engage in a life-and-death duel with me?"

Qin Xingchen snorted coldly, "What? Scared?"

"Scared? Hmph, would I be afraid of you?" Luo Shan found it laughable. "Don't think that just because you've recovered your cultivation, you have the right to challenge me! You—"

"Are we fighting or not? Why are you spouting such nonsense?" Qin Xingchen, having no patience for Luo Shan's taunts, urged him on.

Interrupted, Luo Shan’s face darkened, "Since you are so eager to seek death, then I shall grant your wish today!"

"Enough!" Yu Xiong barked, glaring at them both. "What deep-seated hatred could you two possibly have to force this to a life-and-death duel?"

Luo Shan replied, "This brat is too arrogant! He needs to be taught a lesson!"

Hearing this, Yu Xiong looked at Qin Xingchen, "And you?"

Qin Xingchen said, "I don't like the look of him, so I want to kill him."

Neither Qin Xingchen nor Luo Shan were telling the truth, for the truth could not be spoken.

"This is absolute nonsense!" Yu Xiong roared. "Today is our ancestor’s birthday. With so many people watching, you two want to engage in a life-and-death duel? Have you no shame?"

"Very well. Since they are so eager for a life-and-death duel, let them have it!" Yu Tianba suddenly spoke up. He glanced at Qin Xingchen and let out a cold snort, "I want to see who is so foolish as to throw their life away! Hmph!"

His intent was clear. Since Qin Xingchen had caused him to lose face in public and cost him a precious fifth-grade life-saving pill, he wanted Luo Shan to kill this reckless brat on the platform to satisfy his resentment.

At this, Luo Shan’s father, Luo Changgu, looked at Qin Xingchen before saying to his son, "Shan'er, since the ancestor has given his permission, you need not hold back. If someone is seeking death, grant it to them!"

Luo Shan sneered, "Yes, Father!" He looked at Qin Xingchen and said haughtily, "Do you dare to step out of the hall and onto the life-and-death platform?"

"No!" Yu Xiong looked at Qin Xingchen, "Xingchen, even if your cultivation has recovered, you cannot be a match for Luo Shan. If you are killed, I will have no way to explain it to your foster father upon his return. Let this end here!"

But Qin Xingchen said, "Sect Master, rest assured. The one who dies today will certainly not be me."

Yu Xiong continued, "Why are you so stubborn? Do you not know that last night, Luo Shan broke through to the sixth level of the Blood Condensation Realm and triggered a phenomenon in the heavens and earth?"

"Triggered a phenomenon?" Qin Xingchen looked puzzled, not understanding what Yu Xiong was talking about.

"Exactly," Yu Xiong said. "Last night, Luo Shan triggered a heavenly phenomenon that the entire sect witnessed. Anyone who can trigger such a phenomenon must be a peerless genius blessed by the heavens. Compared to a genius like him, you have no chance of winning, don't you see?"

Qin Xingchen was taken aback. A heavenly phenomenon occurred last night? How did he not know about this?

Wait. He realized it—last night, after Yu Yumeng awakened her Nine Nether Profound Cold Body, he had felt the entire world trembling from within his room. So, the phenomenon had been caused by Yu Yumeng, not Luo Shan.

It seemed everyone had misunderstood.

Qin Xingchen looked at Yu Xiong and grinned, "Sect Master, I still won't give up on this duel. After all... I enjoy slaying peerless geniuses like Luo Shan who trigger heavenly phenomena."

"You..." Yu Xiong looked helpless. At that moment, he felt Qin Xingchen was truly too arrogant.

"Xingchen..." Yu Yumeng walked over and took Qin Xingchen’s hand. He saw the concern in her eyes and said, "Don't worry. I never do things I'm not sure of. Trust me."

Yu Yumeng nodded slightly, "Be careful."

Seeing that Yu Yumeng did not try to dissuade him, Yu Xiong remained helpless. However, since they both insisted, he could not stop them; it was their right.

Luo Shan sneered, "Qin Xingchen, if you're scared and want to back out, kneel and beg for mercy in front of everyone. I might just pretend I never heard your words earlier. How about that?"

Qin Xingchen retorted, "How about you kneel to me, and I'll pretend your words were just a fart. How about that?"

"You..." Luo Shan was furious. "Hmph, you will pay the price for your arrogance and ignorance. To the platform!"

The two walked out of the hall.

...

On the Wangyue Sect's martial arts field, there was a massive arena. Due to the duel, it had now become a life-and-death stage.

On the stage, Qin Xingchen and Luo Shan glared at each other, the tension reaching a breaking point. Outside the stage stood an endless crowd, including members of the Wangyue Sect and guests attending Yu Tianba's birthday.

"Is Qin Xingchen insane? Luo Shan is the top genius of the Wangyue Sect, a person favored by the heavens! Qin Xingchen is nothing but a waste; how dare he challenge Luo Shan?"

"Exactly. Even if his cultivation recovered, what of it? Before Luo Shan, who can trigger heavenly phenomena, he is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. He is truly courting death!"

The crowd scoffed at the lopsided duel, convinced that Qin Xingchen was doomed.

Below the stage, Yu Yumeng stared at Luo Shan, a coldness in her eyes she had never shown before, thinking to herself, "Luo Shan, if you dare to hurt Xingchen, I will make your life a living hell afterward!"

At that moment, a figure stepped onto the platform—the Great Elder of the Wangyue Sect, Shi Kun.

After looking at both of them, Shi Kun said, "Since you both insist on this duel, you must sign the life-and-death pact. Once signed, fate decides the outcome. The survivor is the victor, and the dead have no one to blame! Are you both certain?"

"Sign!" Qin Xingchen and Luo Shan said in unison.

"Good," Shi Kun nodded. "Then come and sign."

After they signed, Shi Kun announced, "The pact is signed. The life-and-death duel begins!"

As Shi Kun’s voice faded, Luo Shan looked at Qin Xingchen and sneered, "Qin Xingchen, this is the final moment of your life. Any last words? I can relay them to your foster father, Qin En. Hahaha..."

Qin Xingchen’s lips curled, "Save your last words for your own father; I don't need them."

"Arrogant!" Luo Shan’s expression turned sinister. "I have wanted to kill you for a long time. Die!"

He flexed his arms, and a surge of overwhelming spiritual energy erupted from his body. Sixth level of the Blood Condensation Realm!

"Luo Shan is worthy of being the top genius of the Wangyue Sect. At only twenty years old, he already possesses such power. If given enough time, his cultivation will surely rival the geniuses of the three great families!"

"Indeed. And he triggered a heavenly phenomenon last night! I don't understand why Qin Xingchen is throwing his life away in this hopeless situation."

The crowd cast looks of pity toward Qin Xingchen.

However, Luo Shan did not let the praise get to his head. He had sent Lu Wenfeng to hunt Qin Xingchen down. Qin Xingchen had returned, but Lu Wenfeng had not. This meant Qin Xingchen had likely killed him—and Lu Wenfeng was a fifth-level Blood Condensation expert. This meant Qin Xingchen was stronger than anticipated.

"Qin Xingchen, don't worry, I'll make your death quick!"

He stomped his foot, his figure blurred, and he lunged at Qin Xingchen with a heavy punch.

Just as the crowd braced to see Qin Xingchen get sent flying, the expected scene did not happen. Luo Shan’s punch hit empty air.

The person... was gone.

"An afterimage!" Luo Shan’s face changed drastically. A sense of dread washed over him.

"Where are you looking?" Qin Xingchen’s voice rang out from behind him.

As Luo Shan turned, Qin Xingchen landed a backhand slap directly across his right cheek.

*Smack!*

Luo Shan was sent spinning through the air like a top before crashing face-first into the ground, completely humiliated.

At that moment... the scene turned deathly silent.

The spectators were frozen in place, stunned into absolute silence.