"If we're going to compete now, it's no longer about Sunset Valley versus the Three Star Pavilion — it's between you and me."
"So the stakes will need to change as well," Daoist Jinxing said.
"What kind of change? Speak." Chu Feng seemed to have anticipated that Daoist Jinxing would say something like this, so he remained composed.
"To challenge me in the art of spirit formations, you must wager your life. Unless one of them dies… the duel shall not end," Daoist Jinxing declared.
"Daoist Jinxing, you want to bet lives?!" The moment these words left his mouth, the Valley Master of Sunset Valley and everyone else present were visibly shaken.
"Fine. I accept." Yet, to everyone's surprise, Chu Feng once again agreed to Daoist Jinxing's outrageous demand with remarkable composure.
"Chu Feng!!!" Xu Yiyi cried out in alarm, then shook her head frantically at him.
Her meaning was crystal clear — she was urging him not to be reckless, not to joke with his own life on the spur of the moment.
At the same time, the Valley Master of Sunset Valley, Su Jingrui, and even the Three Star Pavilion's Master all sent voice transmissions into Chu Feng's ears.
And their messages all echoed essentially the same sentiment as Xu Yiyi's — they didn't want Chu Feng to stake his life on this bet.
Faced with everyone's pleas, Chu Feng originally intended to explain his thoughts to them privately.
But in the very moment he hesitated, the corner of Daoist Jinxing's mouth curved into a mocking arc, and he said: "What's the matter? Everyone's trying to talk you out of it, and you've lost your nerve again? As expected — still a coward."
It seemed Daoist Jinxing had also guessed that the Valley Master and the others were trying to dissuade Chu Feng, which was why he deliberately threw out such a provocation.
"Chu Feng, don't fall for his goading. This was supposed to be a simple exchange of skills, and he's escalated it to a death match. He's obviously bullying you," Xu Yiyi said.
"Bullying him? Little girl, you'd better get the situation straight. He's the one who insisted on sparring with me — I never forced him into anything," Daoist Jinxing countered.
At the same time, the Valley Master of Sunset Valley, Su Jingrui, and the others all opened their mouths simultaneously, wanting to speak up on Chu Feng's behalf.
"Seniors, please say no more." Yet before anyone could get a word out, Chu Feng suddenly raised his hand and spoke:
"I know what all of you are thinking, and I know exactly what Daoist Jinxing is thinking."
"In his eyes, I, Chu Feng, am nothing but a junior. Forget cultivation — even in the art of spirit formations, I'm not even worth comparing to him."
"If I fight him, I'll lose for certain. If I agree to his terms, I'd be walking straight to my own death."
At this point, Chu Feng cast his sharp gaze upon Daoist Jinxing and said:
"But a Buddha fights for a stick of incense, and a man fights for a single breath."
"I, Chu Feng, am a junior. My cultivation is inferior to yours. But I do not believe that I, the person Chu Feng, am inferior to you, Daoist Jinxing."
"Nor do I believe that my art of spirit formations is inferior to yours."
"I wanted to spar with you initially just to fight on behalf of Sunset Valley. But your constant humiliation, your endless belittling, your relentless provocation — I, Chu Feng, cannot stand it."
"Because I, Chu Feng, do not consider myself beneath you. On the contrary, I believe I surpass you — at the very least, I became an Immortal-cloaked Spirit World Master while still a junior. And what about you?"
"Tell me, Daoist Jinxing — how many years did you cultivate before you became an Immortal-cloaked Spirit World Master? How many years did you cultivate before you achieved your current level of power?"
"You!!!" Hearing Chu Feng's words, Daoist Jinxing's expression changed, because what Chu Feng said was not without merit. When Daoist Jinxing was Chu Feng's age, forget spirit formations — even his cultivation was far inferior to Chu Feng's.
In terms of present-day achievements, he was indeed above Chu Feng. But in terms of talent and potential, he fell far short.
"So I do not consider myself inferior to you. And I will not tolerate your repeated insults."
"What I, Chu Feng, have accomplished today, how much effort I have poured into it — only I truly know. That is not something you can deny."
"So now I fight for myself. Even if my life is the stake, I will fight," Chu Feng declared.
The moment these words left Chu Feng's mouth, many of those present felt their gazes shift as they looked at him, a new measure of respect rising in their hearts.
In this world of martial cultivation, the arrogant were as numerous as the grains of sand on a shore — but most of them were the sort who bullied the weak and feared the strong.