The grudges between the Sacred Sword Palace and the Danqian Palace had started all the way back at the alchemy competition at Illusory Wave Mountain, going on time and again. Jiang Chen was truly sick to the back teeth of Wang Han.
Now seeing the Sacred Sword Palace people jumping up and down, Jiang Chen stepped forward to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys—to eliminate Wang Han and thoroughly suppress the Sacred Sword Palace's hostile momentum once and for all, so they would stop their clamoring.
After entering the forbidden grounds of the ancient Danxiao Sect, Jiang Chen's understanding of the Divine Abyss Continent and his martial cultivation had both leapt beyond the framework of the Myriad Phenomena Region.
He had no great interest in the Myriad Phenomena Grand Ceremony itself. What intrigued him far more was the Myriad Phenomena Extreme Realm.
So, no matter who his opponent turned out to be, it was all the same to him.
Since that was the case, he might as well settle the score with the Sacred Sword Palace while he was at it, and crush their arrogant spirits for good.
This would also serve as repayment for Palace Master Dan Chi's appreciation and trust in him.
Sure enough, Jiang Chen's words caused Wang Han's face to change dramatically. He knew Jiang Chen had a sharp tongue, but he still couldn't help burning with rage.
"Kid, I, Wang, want to see what you're actually made of beyond that foul mouth of yours!"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly, his lips twitching slightly, but said nothing.
Wang Han was clearly genuinely furious. He roared: "Kid, in a ring duel, blades and swords have no eyes. Do you dare to sign a life-and-death pact?"
"Oh?" Jiang Chen's eyes flickered slightly. "How so?"
"In a ring duel, each party takes responsibility for their own life and death. Do you dare?" Wang Han employed a goading tactic.
Jiang Chen smiled leisurely: "Isn't that how it should be in the first place?"
"Hmph, I'm just afraid your Danqian Palace can't afford to lose, and will come pestering endlessly afterward." Seeing that the other seemed to be taking the bait, Wang Han was secretly delighted.
After being needled several times in succession, Wang Han's hatred for Mu Gaoqi had clearly grown to rival his old hatred for Jiang Chen.
And this ring was the best opportunity to eliminate his opponent and vent his frustration—Wang Han certainly wasn't going to miss it.
That was exactly why he had proposed a life-and-death pact—he clearly wanted to kill Mu Gaoqi legitimately, leaving the Danqian Palace unable to utter a single word of protest!
Jiang Chen, for his part, was perfectly at ease. He smiled: "Since you're so unafraid of death, rushing to hand over your life to me, what reason do I have to refuse?"
Watching Jiang Chen so composed, hearing such calm and measured words from him, anyone who didn't know better would have thought the kid had already broken through to the Earth Sacred Realm.
Below, the disciples from various sects were all whispering among themselves.
"What's going on with Mu Gaoqi? I've never heard before that his personality was this bold!"
"Exactly! I heard he used to be as timid as a mouse. Could it really be that the more skilled you are, the bolder you become?"
"The more skilled, the bolder? How high can his cultivation possibly be? You can tell just by looking—could he actually be higher than Wang Han's? In the entire Myriad Phenomena Region's younger generation, apart from Xiang Qin of the Great Sage Hall who can reliably suppress Wang Han, I don't think anyone else can match him."
"That's true. What kind of game is Mu Gaoqi playing? I can't figure it out at all. This is a bet with their lives—does he have nine lives like a cat?"
"Forget it, who knows? Let's just watch the show. The grudge between these two sects, I think it'll only end when one of them is wiped out."
The crowd below buzzed with discussion, while Wang Han on the ring looked toward the Danqian Palace side, his bearing imposing and imposing: "Palace Master Dan Chi, what does your Danqian Palace say?"
Dan Chi smiled faintly: "I'm just afraid your Sacred Sword Palace can't afford to lose."
What?
Afraid the Sacred Sword Palace couldn't afford to lose? Everyone couldn't help but click their tongues in astonishment. This Palace Master Dan Chi really did say shocking things. Did he truly believe that Mu Gaoqi could beat Wang Han?
The Sacred Sword Palace's sword dao inheritance—did they really think those people were pushovers?
Dan Chi paid no heed to the outside reactions, and simply looked at Wang Jianyu with a calm gaze: "Wang Jianyu, if you think you can bear this price, feel free."
This casually delivered remark, however, drew nothing but cold laughs from Wang Jianyu: "Dan Chi, do you really think these little psychological tricks of yours can fool me, Wang? A life-and-death bet it is—I just worry you're the one who can't afford it!"
Dan Chi replied flatly: "Then it's settled."
Seeing Dan Chi so composed, Wang Jianyu couldn't help but feel an inexplicable tremor of unease. Could it be that the Danqian Palace truly had everything under control?
Things were too strange, and Wang Jianyu couldn't help becoming suspicious.
However, since the harsh words had already been spoken, backing down now would be far more than mere cowardice—it would be utterly humiliating.
Moreover, he always felt that Wang Han had no reason to lose to Mu Gaoqi, a martial artist who was virtually unknown in the martial world.
The Innate Wood Spirit Body was indeed remarkable, but that was only an advantage in alchemy. In martial dao, without a unique wood-element martial inheritance, this kind of talent couldn't produce any special advantage.
"Palace Master, Junior Brother Mu he—" Shen Qinghong hesitated, wanting to say more.
Dan Chi smiled faintly: "It's fine. He knows what he's doing."
Elder Liancheng had been silent the whole time, but secretly sneered inwardly. Knows what he's doing? This Mu Gaoqi loved stealing the spotlight so much—if Wang Han killed him with a single sword strike, that would be quite the entertainment.
But such thoughts he could only keep to himself—naturally he couldn't show them.
Jun Mobai stared at the ring, observing Jiang Chen from afar, his eyes thoughtful.
Nie Chong, meanwhile, looked utterly baffled. He had no idea where Mu Gaoqi had gotten such tremendous courage—was this really any different from a moth flying into a flame?
No matter how much Nie Chong usually looked down on Mu Gaoqi, at this moment he couldn't help but feel a measure of admiration. For a brief time, an unusual emotion stirred in his heart, hoping that Mu Gaoqi could safely walk down from the ring.
Ling Bi'er also watched the ring with unwavering attention. However, she was the only person of their generation who knew the truth. Having learned of Jiang Chen's true strength, she naturally had nothing to worry about.
On the contrary, she was somewhat expectant—hoping Jiang Chen would make a spectacular debut at this Grand Ceremony's martial competition.
And Wang Han was undoubtedly the perfect stepping stone for that spectacular debut!
Since the masters of neither sect had any objections, the life-and-death wager was considered finalized.
"Brother Wang, go for it! I bet you'll finish this kid in three moves!"