"From now on, we will be selecting opponents to challenge
Hearing Nanmen Tianhai's words, Nie Li furrowed his brow.
"There was never such a rule before!"
"Is someone targeting Nie Li specifically?" Gu Bei said warily.
Nie Li roughly understood what was going on. It was probably the work of Flameless Venerable. But right now, he couldn't back down. The moment he retreated, everyone would think he could only win by relying on treasures and had no real skill whatsoever.
Although the Eastern Courtyard's matches seemed inconsequential, many high-ranking members of the Feathered God Sect were surely paying attention. If these higher-ups formed a fixed impression of Nie Li now, it would definitely have a negative impact on his future bid for the position of Feathered God Sect Master.
If the opponents were chosen for him, then in the upcoming fights, Nie Li would have little say in the matter.
"I'd like to know how many opponents the two elders plan to send against me?" Nie Li asked, looking at
Nanmen Tianhai appeared to be waiting for a response from someone. After a moment, he looked at Nie Li and said, "Just two opponents."
"Understood." Nie Li nodded. Since they were only sending two people, they clearly had great confidence in those individuals' strength. But they would probably also underestimate his own strength to some degree.
The students of the Eastern Courtyard all focused their attention on Nie Li. What kind of person would Elder Nanmen Tianhai send to fight him? They couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation.
Without being able to use his treasures, Nie Li would surely be in for a brutal beating this time, wouldn't he?
Every new student who advanced from the Western Courtyard to the Eastern Courtyard had to be thoroughly taught a lesson—otherwise, they'd never learn any respect!
A robust young man, around twenty years of age, leapt onto the sparring platform.
"It's
"Even Murong Yu couldn't beat this guy. Of course the two elders wouldn't send anyone weak up there!" sneered another Eastern Courtyard student. "Trying to get by on treasures alone—there's a price for that!"
The Eastern Courtyard students naturally couldn't stand seeing their own people defeated by Western Courtyard geniuses who had just been promoted.
Well, there was no dodging this one!
Nie Li stowed his treasures, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and leapt onto the platform, facing Ye Chong from across the arena.
"Ye Chong, hold nothing back. Kill him—if there's any fallout, I'll take responsibility!" Flameless Venerable transmitted via voice to Ye Chong.
He didn't know whether Nie Li had stored his life soul in the
Hearing Flameless Venerable's words, Ye Chong felt a chill run through him. He hadn't expected Flameless Venerable to actually want Nie Li dead. Killing someone in the Heavenly Spirit Courtyard would bring down an extremely severe punishment—it could even mean being locked in the Ice Cellar. But he couldn't very well disobey Flameless Venerable's orders. He cupped his fists slightly toward Nie Li. "Forgive me!"
Boom! A wave of powerful aura exploded outward from Ye Chong's body. His presence surged wildly upward.
Nie Li felt a ripple of pressure and looked at Ye Chong. The killing intent in the other's eyes was unmistakable. His heart tightened with alarm, and he immediately understood—Ye Chong intended to kill him right here on the sparring platform! He had no grudge against Ye Chong, so why would the man want him dead?
Killing someone in the Heavenly Spirit Courtyard—even an accidental death during a sparring match—would result in the harshest of penalties. Yet Ye Chong had still decided to go through with it. It seemed Flameless Venerable had given Ye Chong a standing order to kill!