"What? He's going to challenge
"To fight on the Grudge Life-and-Death Stage, you have to sign a Life-and-Death Pledge.
"Is this kid tired of living? Wu Jiu is the founder of the Sword Dao Alliance, the eldest young master of the Sword Dao family, ranked ninth on the Green Dragon Ranking, a cultivator at the Yuan Martial Fifth Level. And Chu Feng dares to challenge him?"
The moment Chu Feng spoke those words, it was like a bolt from the blue. Everyone was stunned, their jaws dropping to the floor. At first, some thought Chu Feng was joking, but after he shouted "Wu Jiu, come die!" several times in a row, people realized he was dead serious.
"Yuan Martial First Level—this kid has already stepped into Yuan Martial First Level?"
Finally, some experts present at the Yuan Martial Realm sensed Chu Feng's cultivation. Yuan Martial First Level wasn't considered particularly strong in the Core Area, but when it came to Chu Feng, it made people look at him in an entirely new light and reassess this young man.
Setting aside what it meant for someone Chu Feng's age to reach Yuan Martial First Level, the main thing was that when he had first entered the Core Area, he had clearly been only at Spirit Martial Seventh Level. In less than two months, he had jumped two full stages and crossed an entire major realm into Yuan Martial First Level. That rate of progress was simply monstrous.
"This Chu Feng is no ordinary person—he's a genius. If he keeps growing, he'll definitely become a major figure. What a pity he's too arrogant. He made a Life-and-Death Pact with
"Hmph, forget a year—this kid is done for today. Wu Jiu and Senior Brother Gong are on great terms, and he's already had it out for Chu Feng. Now that Chu Feng dares to climb onto the Life-and-Death Stage to challenge him, how could Wu Jiu possibly let him off?" Others believed that Chu Feng was doomed from this very day.
"Who dares challenge me?!" At that moment, another roar rang out, and a figure shot out from the crowd before landing squarely on the Combat Platform.
The man was scrawny, of average height, and looked absolutely wretched—hook nose, toad-like eyes, and when he opened his mouth, his discolored teeth showed. His breath could travel thirty meters, and if he so much as breathed on someone face-to-face, it would send them to their knees retching.
But despite his ugly appearance, he was extremely well-known in the Core Area. He was the founder of the Sword Dao Alliance, ranked ninth on the Green Dragon Ranking—none other than Wu Jiu himself.
"You're Wu Jiu?" Chu Feng's eyes lit up as he discovered for the first time that the world truly produced such bizarre-looking people.
Wu Jiu flared his nostrils, split his mouth into a wide grin, and patted his sunken belly as he declared smugly, "I'm Wu Jiu. You're challenging me?"
"Not just challenging you—I'm going to kill you," Chu Feng said coldly.
"Fine, I'll grant your wish. Elder, bring a Life-and-Death Pledge. I'm going to finish this kid off right here today." Wu Jiu bellowed down toward the crowd below.
If he spoke that way to an Inner Sect Elder, that would be one thing, but daring to address a Core Elder like that was truly bold. Even many Core Disciples drew sharp breaths, thinking that while Chu Feng was arrogant, Wu Jiu was even more so.
But what left everyone speechless was that shortly after Wu Jiu's words, a Core Elder actually stepped out from the crowd, walked slowly onto the Combat Platform with brush and ink in one hand and a Life-and-Death Pledge in the other, and came to stand before Wu Jiu.
"What the—what kind of status does this Wu Jiu have, to boss around a Core Elder like that?" People were astounded. That Elder's cultivation was no joke—at Yuan Martial Seventh Level, two full levels above Wu Jiu—yet he obeyed Wu Jiu just like that. It was truly shocking.
"You didn't know? A few days ago, Wu Jiu took Elder Zhongli as his master. He's already received Elder Zhongli's personal instruction," someone explained.
"Elder Zhongli? That eccentric Zhongli Yihu?"
"That's right, him."
"Heavens—Wu Jiu actually became his disciple?"
Everyone was stunned once more. Zhongli Yihu was incredibly famous in the Azure Dragon Sect. In terms of personal strength, he could easily rank in the top three within the entire sect. Even the Six Guardians of the Sect wouldn't stand a chance against him in a one-on-one fight.
The thing was, Zhongli Yihu, like Zhuge Qingyun, was a guest elder—he only held a title within the Azure Dragon Sect and didn't handle any affairs, let alone teach disciples. For Wu Jiu to have actually entered his apprenticeship was truly enviable.
"The Grudge Life-and-Death Stage does allow life-and-death combat, but there must be an existing grudge between the two parties. Do you two have one?" the Elder asked.
"He oppressed my family. Does that count as a grudge?" Chu Feng replied.
"This little brat crippled hundreds of my men—does that not count?" Wu Jiu snorted coldly.
"Sign. Press your blood seal," the Elder said.
Once everything was set, the Elder left the Combat Platform, and on that platform that seemed painted red, only Wu Jiu and Chu Feng remained.
"Kid, I've been wanting to kill you for a long time. I never thought you'd deliver yourself right to my doorstep, and have the audacity to challenge me openly. If I don't grant your death wish today, I really wouldn't be doing right by your dedication." Wu Jiu clenched one hand as Yuan Force surged, and an exquisite longsword materialized in his grip.
The sword was gorgeous—absolutely stunning—but it wasn't a physical blade. It was condensed from Yuan Force, a Fifth-rank Martial Art that rivaled the Hundred Transformations Bow.
"Then make your move. I'd love to see how you grant it," Chu Feng said with a look of utter nonchalance, not taking Wu Jiu the slightest bit seriously.
"Against trash like you, one sword is all I need." Wu Jiu's cold shout rang out as he swung the longsword in his hand and thrust it at Chu Feng from a distance.
BOOM!
The thrust sent shockwaves in every direction. A formidable, unmatched sword qi materialized in the air, carrying piercing whistling sounds as it hurtled toward Chu Feng.