Chapter 222 - 218: Please Open the Life and Death Arena

In Chun Xiao Master’s residence.

The famously beautiful Chun Xiao Master had just awoken from a light nap. A contented smile graced her face, which was as fair as mutton fat jade and as rosy as a peach blossom’s heart. Her starry eyes were half-closed, and suggestive moans occasionally escaped her sandalwood lips.

She wore only a sheer gauze robe over her dudou, leaving large swathes of her snow-white skin exposed. Her private areas were barely concealed, the fabric doing little to hide her silhouette.

Of course, this was far from her most shocking or unconventional attire.

’A woman’s prime only lasts a few hundred years... How could she not cherish it?’

’Wear what you want. A woman dresses to please herself. Isn’t it wonderful?’

Her dear disciple was considerately massaging her shoulders.

’Heh, a Core Formation Master giving me a shoulder rub.’

’This is a luxury not even the Sect Leader or the Supreme Elder can enjoy.’

"My dear disciple, what’s with the sudden filial piety today?" Feng Xiaoyi asked lazily.

Du Youqian opened his mouth, then closed it and gave a helpless smile. "What do you mean, ’sudden’? This disciple has always been filial to his Master."

The corner of Feng Xiaoyi’s mouth twitched into a slightly mocking smile. "It seems becoming a Core Formation Master has thickened your skin as well."

Du Youqian said, "Every word is true. I am especially grateful that you protected Xiaogu."

"Oh, that," Feng Xiaoyi said, sounding somewhat nonchalant. "I just happened to be there. That little fellow is your subordinate and is completely loyal to you. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you suffer a loss, so of course I saved him."

Du Youqian’s hands never stopped, continuing their gentle but firm pressure. "Master, regarding what happened that day, I’ve heard reports from my subordinates, but they couldn’t explain the full story. According to Wandering Dragon’s side, Xiaogu was overcome with lust and barged into the temporary residence of Yin Ruozhen, a friend from the Taihe Sect. He was discovered with ill intentions, and Wandering Dragon, as Yin Ruozhen’s Dao Companion, wanted to kill Xiaogu on the spot. But you happened to pass by and saved him. Is that how it went?"

Feng Xiaoyi squinted, enjoying her disciple’s massage technique. "What do you think?"

Du Youqian smiled. "I was the one who sent my subordinate to gather information on Yin Ruozhen and Wandering Dragon."

Feng Xiaoyi turned her head and gave him a deep look. "No wonder he didn’t argue. My dear disciple, do you have any idea? Even if he had confessed to being overcome with lust, it would have been a minor offense. But if it were discovered that you, a Core Formation True Inheritor, had sent someone to spy on another Core Formation True Inheritor of the Sect, the matter would be far more serious."

"Master, I would never choose to sacrifice Xiaogu. I will not abandon anyone who follows me in such a manner." Du Youqian’s tone was forceful, but the movements of his hands remained unaffected, just as precise and gentle as before.

Every press of his fingers made Feng Xiaoyi feel as if she were melting under his touch.

But her mind remained perfectly clear.

She chided him, "Even if you are a True Inheritor and have already reached Core Formation, and your status in the Sect is now higher than your master’s, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Even Elder Shi has many matters beyond his control."

After a pause, she continued, "Although I managed to mediate, and Xiaogu wasn’t killed by Wandering Dragon or publicly tried, he was still exiled to garrison the Desolate Abyss for at least twenty or thirty years. But then again, his aptitude is quite ordinary; he never had any hope of reaching Core Formation anyway. Letting him lie low in the Desolate Abyss might actually be a good thing. It saves him from staying in the Sect and giving Wandering Dragon a chance to target him... Hiss... Mmm... Right there, a little harder!"

Du Youqian’s face showed no anger, only a calm smile. "This disciple understands."

Feng Xiaoyi couldn’t help but add a warning, "The moment you formed your core, you automatically became a Sect Elder. Don’t do anything stupid. You and Wandering Dragon are both the Sect’s True Inheritance Core Formation cultivators. A deathmatch between you is absolutely forbidden! In a few days, Elder Shi plans to hold an Elder Council meeting to welcome you and discuss your Core Formation Ceremony. Until the ceremony, you’d better hold back. Don’t be a fool!"

Du Youqian’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly, he sneered.

’Be a fool?’

’I’ve never considered myself a clever person.’

’Since I’m not clever, isn’t it perfectly normal to do something foolish!’

~~~~~~~

Feng Xiaoyi never expected that after agreeing so readily, Du Youqian would turn around and immediately go looking for trouble with Wandering Dragon.

A few days later, at the Elder Council meeting, Du Youqian fired the first shot directly at Wandering Dragon. "Immortal Carefree, you seem to be quite skilled at bullying the weak. If you’re really looking for some Magical Combat, why not spar with me? Why bother picking on my subordinate?"

Immortal Carefree was Wandering Dragon’s title.

He was a young man of unremarkable appearance, with a large forehead and a pointed chin. His nose was reasonably straight, but unfortunately, his eyebrows were short and faint, and his eyes were rather long and narrow, giving his face an uncoordinated look.

"Junior Yu, True Inheritors are forbidden from fighting to the death. Surely you haven’t forgotten the Sect’s rules," Wandering Dragon said lightly.

Du Youqian had not yet chosen a Daoist title for himself, so for the time being, others did not address him by one.

Du Youqian let out a dry laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. "Don’t be alarmed, Immortal Carefree. It’s just a small matter. I’m not about to kill you. I just want to teach you a lesson, to let you know you shouldn’t have provoked me."

Wandering Dragon’s expression remained placid. "How strange. Junior Yu, it was clearly your subordinate who was spying on my Dao Companion with ill intentions. If anyone was provoked, it was me."

Du Youqian chuckled again. "A fair lady is a gentleman’s desire. At that time, Yin Ruozhen had not yet become your Dao Companion. It’s perfectly normal for me to admire her, wouldn’t you say? Besides, I saved her life. What’s so wrong with sending Xiaogu to ask about her feelings on my behalf? If you’re unhappy, Immortal Carefree, you’re welcome to come after me. Why trouble my young subordinate?"

Seeing the two of them at loggerheads, arguing incessantly, the dozen or so members of the Elder Council present all watched with great interest, enjoying the show.

Even Feng Xiaoyi watched on with keen interest. Not a single person stepped in to mediate.

Wandering Dragon said calmly, "Junior Yu, your words are sharp. I am no match for you in a verbal spar. But what exactly are you trying to achieve by saying all this? Surely you don’t expect a Master like myself to humbly apologize to your subordinate."

Du Youqian laughed heartily. "What am I trying to achieve? Didn’t I already say it? I want to teach you a lesson! Do you dare to accept my challenge?"

Before Wandering Dragon could even get angry, Master Taihe chimed in with a strange, passive-aggressive tone. "Junior... Yu. How long have you been at Core Formation? You already show no respect for your seniors. To speak so arrogantly in the Elder Council, do you have no regard for us? Fellow Core Formation Masters of the same sect are forbidden from fighting to the death. Don’t you even understand this rule?"

Du Youqian shot him a sidelong glance and nodded. "I was wondering who it was. So it’s Master Taihe. It seems the lesson I taught you last time wasn’t enough, since you still haven’t learned to fear me. How about we go have a match first?"

"Hmph."

A cold snort pierced Du Youqian’s eardrums.

The sound seemed to carry an attack of Divine Sense, causing a sharp pain in his mind.

Without looking, Du Youqian knew who had acted.

In the Holy Blood Sect, only one or two people were qualified to punish him during an Elder Council meeting.

"What guidance does Elder Shi have for me?"

Du Youqian’s attitude toward Shi Shentong was still quite respectful.

The Supreme Elder, Shi Shentong, who was clad in a hemp robe and had coarse, dark skin, held a steaming cup of Spirit Tea. He lowered his gaze, blew on the tea, and only after a long moment did he speak. "Yu Fei, Carefree, you are both pillars of the Sect. It would be a misfortune for the Sect if anything happened to either of you."

He tilted his head back, took a sip of tea, and continued, "Besides, if the squabbles between Elders become public, won’t it just make us a laughingstock for the younger generation?"

Du Youqian declared in a clear voice, "As long as my subordinate is allowed to return from the Desolate Abyss and Immortal Carefree guarantees he will not pursue the matter further, I can also be magnanimous and drop the issue."

Shi Shentong looked at Wandering Dragon. "What do you think?"

Wandering Dragon’s expression was calm. "That man spied on my Dao Companion and deserves to be punished. If he isn’t disciplined, will everyone be able to walk all over me in the future?"

Du Youqian laughed. "So we really do have to determine who is superior to resolve this. Elder Shi, please open the Life and Death Arena!"

Shi Shentong shook his head. "Two of the Sect’s True Inheritor Masters on the Life and Death Arena? Do you want the folks from the Taihe Sect to die laughing? Three moves. Right here. Settle your grudge within three moves."

"Three moves?" Du Youqian laughed in spite of himself. "That’s more than enough."

Wandering Dragon said emotionlessly, "This space is too small. I won’t be able to fight freely."

Shi Shentong looked at him with a smile. "Then you can just concede."

Wandering Dragon paused, then shook his head, then nodded. "Very well, I’ll exchange a few moves with Junior Yu."

Shi Shentong added, "Oh, and by the way, this conference room wasn’t easy to furnish. If anyone breaks any of the tables, chairs, decorations, or vases, they lose."

"I have no problem with that."

"I also have no pro—"

Before Du Youqian could finish speaking, Wandering Dragon’s Flying Sword shot toward him like a viper.