"Chu Feng, are you willing?" the Golden Crane True Immortal asked once more.
"I am willing." Chu Feng did not hesitate. He answered decisively.
Chu Feng had to admit — Young Master Liming was powerful. Without question, he was the strongest young opponent Chu Feng had ever faced.
But Chu Feng would not back down either.
True, he had lost to Young Master Liming earlier. But Chu Feng believed that loss was born of carelessness.
If they fought again and Chu Feng gave it his all, the outcome was far from certain.
Most importantly, Chu Feng had no choice. This seemed to be the only path to saving Wang Qiang.
"Good. Courageous and decisive," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"Liming's strength surpasses yours, but rest assured — I will provide you both with a fair stage for your duel."
"What does this old man mean? What right does he have to say that Liming's strength is greater than yours?" Her Majesty bristled, clearly displeased. She felt the Golden Crane True Immortal was looking down on Chu Feng.
Hummmm—
Just then, a flash of light erupted beside Chu Feng. An instant later, a figure appeared at his side.
It was none other than Young Master Liming.
Liming noticed Chu Feng, but his expression barely changed. He looked at him the way one might regard a stranger, his eyes carrying that same cold arrogance.
"You have business with me?" Young Master Liming turned toward the Golden Crane True Immortal's direction.
Even when addressing the Golden Crane True Immortal, there was not a shred of respect in his tone.
"This kid is really arrogant. If I were the Golden Crane True Immortal, there's no way I'd let that slide," Her Majesty muttered with a scowl.
But the Golden Crane True Immortal remained remarkably calm. He asked evenly, "Have you considered what I told you before?"
"I've been shouting inside this Cloud Crane Mountain for three full days. Could you not hear me?" Liming said, clearly displeased. His tone was utterly dismissive of the Golden Crane True Immortal.
"Heh…" Yet despite such blatant disrespect, the Golden Crane True Immortal did not grow angry. Instead, after a soft 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 my answer. Will you let me go?" Liming asked.
"I'm afraid not. Because now you have a competitor," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"You mean him?" Liming glanced at Chu Feng. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly dissolved into contempt. He turned back to the Golden Crane True Immortal and declared with arrogance, "So that's why you ignored me earlier. You were waiting for him."
"Are you still willing to continue?" the Golden Crane True Immortal asked.
"How do you propose we compete?" Liming asked.
"The two of you will fight a duel. The victor earns the opportunity," the Golden Crane True Immortal replied.
"If that's all, there's no need. I already fought him before — he's no match for me at all," Liming said.
"This kid is unbelievably arrogant. Chu Feng, beat him up! You have to teach him a lesson!" Her Majesty said, indignant.
But Chu Feng remained calm, silent, simply watching the scene unfold before him with a faint smile.
"This duel will be decided by my rules. Who wins and who loses — that remains to be seen," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"Even if it's a contest of barrier arts, he cannot defeat me," Liming declared. As he spoke, a layer of barrier energy coiled around his body.
It was not merely Immortal-level barrier energy — within it surged distinct Serpent Mark patterns.
"A Serpent Mark Immortal Robe Spirit World Master?" Chu Feng was genuinely surprised. He had known Young Master Liming was formidable in martial cultivation, but he never expected him to possess such extraordinary mastery of barrier arts as well.
"Like I said — this duel is decided by my rules," the Golden Crane True Immortal said. With that, a sphere of light shot outward and expanded at tremendous speed.
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a massive cage resembling one crafted entirely of crystal, enclosing—