"Chu Feng, are you willing?" Immortal Golden Crane asked once more.
"I am." Chu Feng did not hesitate. He answered without a moment's delay.
Chu Feng had to admit — that Master Li Ming was powerful. He could honestly say that, of all the juniors he had encountered so far, Li Ming was the strongest.
But when it came to facing him, Chu Feng did not feel outmatched.
It was true that Chu Feng had lost to Master Li Ming in their previous clash. But he believed it had been a loss born of carelessness.
If they fought again and Chu Feng went all out, he felt the outcome was far from decided.
Most importantly, Chu Feng had no choice. This seemed to be the only way to save Wang Qiang.
"Good. Courageous and decisive."
"Although Li Ming's strength exceeds yours, rest assured — I will provide the two of you with a fair stage for your duel," Immortal Golden Crane said.
"What does this old man mean? On what basis does he say that Li Ming is stronger than you?" The Queen's face soured immediately, feeling that Immortal Golden Crane was underestimating Chu Feng.
Hummm—
Right at that moment, a flash of light blazed beside Chu Feng. An instant later, a figure appeared at his side.
It was none other than Master Li Ming.
Li Ming noticed Chu Feng, but his expression barely changed — he regarded Chu Feng the way one might glance at a stranger, his eyes radiating that same aloof pride as always.
"Did you summon me for something?" Li Ming asked, looking toward the direction of Immortal Golden Crane.
Even when addressing Immortal Golden Crane, his tone held not a shred of respect.
"This kid's got some nerve. If I were Immortal Golden Crane, I absolutely wouldn't stand for it," the Queen muttered, pursing her lips.
Yet Immortal Golden Crane remained remarkably calm. He asked in an even tone, "Have you considered what I proposed to you before?"
"I shouted inside this Cloud Crane Mountain for three full days. Could you not hear me?" Li Ming said, clearly displeased. His tone made it plain that he did not regard Immortal Golden Crane with any deference whatsoever.
"Heh…" But even with Li Ming's blatant disrespect, Immortal Golden Crane did not anger. Instead, after a faint chuckle, he said:
"Oh, I heard you. But those three days have passed. How am I to know whether your decision today is the same as it was then?"
"So now you know the result. Can I go?" Li Ming asked.
"I'm afraid not — because now you have a competitor," Immortal Golden Crane said.
"You mean him?" Li Ming looked at Chu Feng. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly gave way to contempt. He turned back to Immortal Golden Crane and declared with lofty arrogance, "No wonder you ignored me before. You were waiting for him all along."
"Are you still willing to continue?" Immortal Golden Crane asked.
"How would you have us compete?" Li Ming asked.
"The two of you will duel. The victor earns the opportunity," Immortal Golden Crane said.
"There's no need for that. I already fought him once — he's no match for me whatsoever," Li Ming said.
"This kid is insufferably arrogant. Chu Feng, get him! You have to teach him a lesson!" the Queen said, bristling with indignation.
But Chu Feng remained perfectly calm, silent and smiling as he watched everything unfold before him.
"This duel will be conducted on my terms. Whether it ends in victory or defeat remains to be seen," Immortal Golden Crane said.
"Even if we compete in the art of barriers, he could hardly defeat me." As Li Ming finished speaking, a layer of barrier energy bloomed around his body.
It was not merely immortal-level barrier energy — serpentine patterns rippled through it.
"A Snake-patterned Immortal-Robed Spirit World Master?" Chu Feng was genuinely surprised. He had previously only known that Li Ming excelled in martial cultivation. He never imagined the young man possessed such extraordinary attainments in the art of barriers as well.
"I said — this duel will be conducted on my terms." The moment those words left Immortal Golden Crane's mouth, a sphere of light shot forth and rapidly expanded.
In the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a massive cage that resembled one carved from crystal, enclosing both Chu Feng and Li Ming within it.
"This feeling?" Chu Feng's heart clenched.
Once enveloped by the sphere of light, he discovered that every ounce of his power had been sealed.
A martial cultivator's cultivation. A Spirit World Master's abilities. All of it — bound.