Chapter 143 - A Duel Wagering Life and Death

The vast plaza before Splendorbloom Hall seemed like the top floor of the Deep Archive.

Every elder and the hundred or so core disciples of the Splendorbloom Sect had fallen into a deathly silence. Off to the side of the grounds, Bai Fan and the others looked on with eyes almost splitting from rage.

At the center of the grounds, the lazy-looking man in white robes stood beneath all those stares. He merely gave his long sword a casual flick, and the blood on the blade splattered across the ground.

Sword in hand, the man swept a careless glance toward the hundred or so core disciples standing at the side. His long, narrowed eyes looked as if they were smiling.

After leisurely looking around, he gave a fist-and-palm salute toward Senior Brother Li, whose head and body had already parted ways, and said with a soft laugh,

“Brother Li, thank you for letting me win.”

Such humiliation made every disciple present clench their fists tight, but the white-robed man paid them no mind at all. He simply turned and left.

He walked straight toward Xu Yuan and Tian Yan. No. More accurately, he was walking toward the main doors of Splendorbloom Hall.

The man’s footsteps were light, yet in the pin-drop silence before Splendorbloom Hall, each step seemed to land on everyone’s heart.

When he reached the gate in the palace wall of Splendorbloom Hall and was passing by Xu Yuan and Tian Yan, the loosely dressed, lazy man suddenly stopped.

The cold wind brushed softly over his robes. The air was silent.

Xu Yuan’s expression remained calm as he glanced sideways at him.

The lazy man’s smiling, slit-like eyes were also turned sideways, looking at him.

Their gazes met, both perfectly calm.

The man did not turn around. He simply raised his voice in that languid tone and said, “The thief who stole the sapling has already been cut down by me. I don’t know whether that fellow Tian Rui will strike to kill, but starting tomorrow, I’ll show some mercy. So don’t be too scared to step onto the stage. Everyone, see you tomorrow.”

With the aid of source qi, his voice spread clearly into the ears of every person present.

With that said, the man waved at the two inner sect disciples by the gate as if issuing an order, signaling for them to open the main gate in the palace wall.

The two inner sect disciples stationed there stared hard at the Grand Purity Dao Palace chief disciple standing before them, Shen Weixiu.

Their fists were clenched tight, anger spreading through their hearts. But when their eyes met his, they could not help but instinctively look away from those narrow eyes that seemed ready to smile at any moment.

Gritting their teeth, they silently opened the main gate for him.

Shen Weixiu chuckled softly. After casting another glance at Xu Yuan and Tian Yan standing by the side entrance, he strode straight out through the main gate. His figure vanished into the clouds and mist, leaving everyone in the great hall still trapped in dead silence.

And at that moment, the Saint of Heavenwatch Pavilion, the one named Tian Rui, also seemed ready to leave. He walked slowly down from the end of the steps and made his way at an unhurried pace toward the open main gate. As he approached Xu Yuan and Tian Yan, the youth slowed his steps slightly.

Xu Yuan thought the other party had noticed Tian Yan. But when he met those pale golden eyes, he realized Tian Rui had not noticed Tian Yan at all. He was looking at him.

As he calmly met the other party’s gaze again, Xu Yuan felt a sudden urge to curse someone’s mother. These two bastards. They weren’t planning to each challenge him to a life-and-death duel, were they?

After that brief exchange of looks, Tian Rui lightly shook his head, then turned and left without another word.

After the two of them departed, the front of the great hall remained silent for another dozen breaths. Only then did an elderly woman in brown palace robes slowly fly up and collect Senior Brother Li’s remains.

“Bastards!” A low curse rang out from among the core disciples. Only then did scattered angry shouts finally begin to stir through the great hall.

“Those damned animals! They’re only acting so arrogant because the Heavenwatch Pavilion and Grand Purity Dao Palace think they can trample over the Splendorbloom Sect!”

“Seven life-and-death wagers, and Shen Weixiu and Tian Rui actually dare to take us on two against seven?”

“If Senior Sister Saintess had not fallen, how could this duel have ever come to this?”

“Today’s duel caught us completely off guard. They came prepared while we didn’t. Senior Brother Li should never have let himself be provoked.”

Some core disciples cursed in furious resentment. Others cursed while carefully watching the expressions of the sect elders. Xu Yuan stood quietly at the entrance, taking in everything before him.

The disciples’ furious shouts lasted for roughly a dozen breaths before the white-haired sect master suddenly let out a sigh. “Enough. True disciples stay. Everyone else, disperse.”

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and subconsciously glanced toward Bai Fan’s side.

He and Tian Yan were only core disciples. Bai Fan and the others were the true disciples.

As for why, it was because every true disciple slot represented a massive expenditure of resources. Most of those spots had been monopolized by the children of the Splendorbloom Sect’s upper ranks. For an orphan like Jing He, even getting a single slot was extremely difficult.

Of course, that did not mean these spoiled young masters and misses lacked strength.

Across the vast Splendorbloom Sect, there were only sixteen true disciples in total, and half of them were third rank experts under the age of thirty.

Jing He should have been able to advance to true disciple this year, but unfortunately, he had not yet done so.

Bai Fan seemed to notice Xu Yuan’s gaze. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He merely shook his head at Xu Yuan, then silently walked into Splendorbloom Hall.

Senior Brother Li’s tragic death had truly shaken them.

ᯓ➤

Back at the residence, sunlight spilled through the window lattice into the side room, mixing with a faint trace of sandalwood incense and giving the place a quiet, secluded air.

Xu Yuan lay flat on the soft bed with both hands pillowed behind his head. Staring up at the pure white bed canopy, he suddenly spoke.

“Was your Heavenwatch Pavilion always this grand back in the day? Heh. A third rank Saint gets to sit on equal footing with a Sage.”

Tian Yan sat quietly by the red sandalwood table, holding a porcelain cup in both little hands as she drank tea. Hearing this, she only replied softly, “The crown prince of the Great Flame Empire would receive the same treatment if he visited another sect.”

Xu Yuan grinned when he heard that. He flipped over and sat up on the bed, looked into Tian Yan’s golden eyes, and asked in a low voice, “Then why did the Heavenwatch Pavilion’s Saint have no reaction to you?”

The golden eyes that came from cultivating the Heaven Deriving Art were far too conspicuous. Even if Tian Rui could not sense Tian Yan’s Heaven Deriving Art, he should at least have taken a second look. Yet regarding Tian Yan’s golden pupils, the other party had not so much as glanced twice.

Tian Yan held her teacup and rolled her eyes at him. “How would I know? Most likely it has something to do with Wang Yuchu’s identity. I quietly circulated a Heaven mantra just now, and he still had no reaction.”

“Is that so? Then the Beguiling Divine Sakura’s tree spirit probably altered these people’s awareness. Anything related to your true self won’t draw their attention...” Xu Yuan analyzed in a low voice, but halfway through, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

“Wait. Why did you circulate the Heaven Deriving Art just now?”

Was she trying to recognize a long-lost relative or something?

Tian Yan answered very bluntly. “If this generation’s Heavenwatch Pavilion Saint could recognize my Heaven Deriving Art, then we could use the Heavenwatch Pavilion’s power to forcibly seize the Beguiling Divine Sakura sapling. If he could not, then I would be able to use the Heaven Deriving Art openly from now on.”

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “You’re that sure he would help you?”

Tian Yan shook her head. “I’m not sure. But it was worth trying. If Tian Rui was going to react, then it would be exposed sooner or later.”

Xu Yuan sighed. Bai Fan and the others had seen Tian Yan use the Heaven Deriving Art before. If Tian Rui made a move, there was no way they would fail to recognize it.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan grinned. “Are all the Saints and Saintesses of your Heavenwatch Pavilion surnamed Tian? This generation’s seems to be called Tian Rui. Is he related to you by blood?”

Tian Yan glanced sideways at him, her voice cool. “After everything that’s happened, you still have the mood to chat about this?”

“Life goes on. Mentality is important.” Xu Yuan shrugged indifferently. As he spoke, he lay back down on the bed, his voice full of helplessness. “Those two seem to have their eyes on me. Tch. Seriously, what’s wrong with them?”

Holding her teacup in both hands, Tian Yan suddenly let out a soft pfft of laughter. Then she said with a smiling face, “Well, who told you to inherit such a high cultivation base? In another year or two, you’ll probably be able to break through to second rank. Of course they’ll pay a little more attention to you.”

Xu Yuan grinned. “Still, I thought that old sect master was going to send me up as disposable blade-testing fodder. Turns out he only called in the true disciples. I suppose the old man still has some conscience.”

“Disposable blade-testing fodder?” Tian Yan looked puzzled.

“Two against seven. Well, now it’s two against six. If they want to win, then on average three people have to beat one of them. Whether it’s Shen Weixiu or Tian Rui, neither one is easy to deal with. The first people sent up are clearly there to probe their techniques.”

Tian Yan shook her head. “Boring.”

“A genius like you would obviously find it boring. After all, one person is enough for you.” Xu Yuan chuckled softly as he spoke. “Let’s head over early tomorrow. I have a feeling we’ll need to step in for this wagered duel.”

“We?” Tian Yan’s eyes curved with amusement.

“Ahem.” Xu Yuan coughed lightly, ignored her, and continued on his own. “Judging from what Shen Weixiu said earlier, that Beguiling Divine Sakura sapling seems to have been stolen by Senior Brother Li. Whether that’s true or not, he and Tian Rui probably came here for it. If those two take the sapling back to the Heavenwatch Pavilion or Grand Purity Dao Palace, then we really won’t be able to get anywhere near it.”

“If that's the case, we’ll have to give it our all in that duel,” Tian Yan replied casually.

Xu Yuan asked, “Are you confident you can beat this generation’s Saint?”

Tian Yan’s lovely eyes curved. She smiled brightly, her voice relaxed. “Easily.”

Xu Yuan was surprised. “Oh? That confident? He is still a Saint, you know.”

Tian Yan blinked her brilliant golden eyes and smiled. “Didn’t you notice? His Heavenly Eyes are very faint.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means his Heaven Deriving Art is still half-baked.” Tian Yan waved a small hand, then the corners of her lips lifted slightly. “There are nine Daos one can comprehend through the Heaven Deriving Art, divided into Heaven and Earth grade. That Tian Rui most likely comprehended one of the five Earth grade Daos.”

“Oh?” Interest appeared in Xu Yuan’s eyes. “Heaven and Earth grade?”

But Tian Yan stopped there. She merely stared at him with her smiling eyes.

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. “I think if you don’t plan on finishing your explanation, then next time you can simply not start.”

Tian Yan gave a soft little hum. “I like saying things halfway. What are you going to do about it?”

Xu Yuan sighed, then asked, “What about Shen Weixiu?”

Tian Yan’s tone was very relaxed. “I haven’t seen him go all out, but it shouldn't be difficult.”

“Can you take both of them one after another?” Xu Yuan asked.

This time, Tian Yan did not answer immediately. After pondering for a moment, she shook her head. “That would be somewhat difficult.”

Xu Yuan frowned. “You’re a mighty second rank Origin Awakener cultivator. You can’t handle two third ranks in a same-level gauntlet?”

Tian Yan slapped the teacup in her hands down onto the red sandalwood table and said in a clear voice, “Xu Changtian, I’m currently poisoned by the Beguiling Sakura Flower. I have to split my focus to suppress it. If I’m even slightly careless, it’ll cause a backlash.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Didn’t you say you’d step in too?”

“Heh heh.”

ᯓ➤

A day later.

In the afternoon, news came from Splendorbloom’s main peak. The Sect Master and the Grand Elder would be hosting a banquet that night in Essence Hall for the two honored guests, Tian Rui and Shen Weixiu.

As core disciples, Xu Yuan and Tian Yan went as well.

The banquet was grand. Dancers with long sleeves moved gracefully through the hall. Fine food and rich delicacies filled the tables. Cups clinked and toasts flowed without end. Amid all the drinking, Shen Weixiu, dressed in white robes, returned dead drunk.

ᯓ➤

The next morning.

At nine, the Splendorbloom bell rang three times as scheduled.

And then, Bai Fan died.