Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Life-and-Death Duel

"Wait a moment?"

The elders’ gazes shifted. Their puzzled eyes suddenly fell on Ye Wushuang, and their expressions soured slightly. ’Don’t tell me this kid wants to make another demand?’ they thought.

"Ye Wushuang, what more do you want?"

Staring at Ye Wushuang, Chen Kun’s eyes were as cold as a blade. He wished he could execute him on the spot.

"Don’t be so tense!"

The corner of Ye Wushuang’s mouth curled up as he walked toward Chen Kun. "You’re dying to kill me, aren’t you? Today, since I’ve finally been exonerated, I’ve decided to grant you an opportunity... to kill me!"

’Grant you an opportunity to kill me?’

Hearing this, the crowd was instantly petrified, barely able to process what was said. They had originally thought Ye Wushuang, having been wronged, would demand some form of compensation. They never expected that, out of sheer joy, he would grant Chen Kun the chance to kill him.

What kind of game was this? Did Ye Wushuang have a death wish? A Body Tempering Realm disciple challenging Chen Kun, who was at the Qi Vortex Second Layer—wasn’t that just suicide?

"You... are courting death!" Chen Kun was stunned for a moment before his voice turned grim. He believed Ye Wushuang was deliberately mocking him.

"Enough nonsense. A life-and-death duel. Do you dare?" Ye Wushuang wiped his nose and retorted coolly, asking him a single question: did he dare to fight a duel to the death?

Everyone’s expression changed at his words. They stared in shock at the perfectly calm Ye Wushuang. A life-and-death duel! A battle where fate decides the outcome, one that only ends when one person is dead. For Ye Wushuang to issue such a challenge... he was insane!

To the side, Yangg Qing’er grew anxious. Chen Kun possessed the strength of the Qi Vortex Second Layer; there was absolutely no way Ye Wushuang could contend with him. A challenge like this would cost Ye Wushuang his life.

"Ye the Kid, are you crazy?!"

Elder Yunn also felt a surge of panic and shouted, deeply afraid that Ye Wushuang was acting foolishly and would lose his life. After all, Ye Wushuang had just escaped a deadly crisis.

"No madness, no survival!" Ye Wushuang said through gritted teeth, his voice firm and forceful. He understood Elder Yunn’s good intentions, but revenge couldn’t wait overnight. His killing intent was resolute. If he didn’t kill Chen Kun today, he would die!

"Since you’re courting death, I’ll grant your wish!" Seeing that Ye Wushuang wasn’t bluffing, a flash of delight appeared on Chen Kun’s grim face. He exchanged a glance with Anx Shijie, and both of them broke into cold smiles. They had thought they wouldn’t be able to kill Ye Wushuang, but he had unexpectedly served himself up on a platter. Now, no one could be blamed, and no one could stop it.

"Grant my wish?"

Ye Wushuang looked at Chen Kun and smiled, a brilliant smile.

...

As evening approached, the setting sun was like a blood-soaked disk in the sky, dyeing half the heavens red.

The cool night wind seemed to have forgotten the time, arriving early before the sky had fully darkened and bringing with it a biting chill.

「At the Martial Arts Stage outside the Law Enforcement Hall.」

By now, quite a few people had caught wind of the event and come over. Eager for a good show, they had gathered around the stage early.

On the nine-step platform of the grand square, Ye Wushuang and the Star Elder walked down toward the Martial Arts Stage together.

The Star Elder projected no aura at all, seeming like an ordinary old man. But Ye Wushuang knew this was the state of returning to true simplicity, which meant the man before him was truly terrifying. Though he didn’t know his identity, he was certain he was an unparalleled, world-shaking expert.

Ye Wushuang bowed and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Star Elder, for upholding justice for this humble one earlier!"

Hearing this, the Star Elder gestured for Ye Wushuang to dispense with the formalities, then smiled faintly. "You don’t need to thank me. So-called ’justice’ is just empty talk the strong use to restrain the weak. Only when you become strong, when you have sufficient power, will you *be* justice. Only then will you earn respect."

"This Disciple understands!" Ye Wushuang nodded. In the end, it all came down to strength. Only with great power could one gain dignity and respect, become the master of one’s own fate, and not be dominated by others.

"Mm," the Star Elder nodded, a kind smile on his face. "Also, there are some things that you can, when necessary, reveal. That is how you’ll have the capital to make the Sect see your potential and obtain better resources."

"Some things?"

Ye Wushuang frowned, mulling over the meaning of his words. A moment later, understanding flashed in his mind, and he suddenly grasped the Star Elder’s point. ’Doesn’t he just mean that if I want the Sect to invest in me, I have to display my own value and potential?’

’My own value, huh!’ The corners of Ye Wushuang’s lips curled up, and a sharp aura erupted from him. ’If they want to see value, then I’ll prove it. All it will take is this one battle today!’

The Star Elder smiled and asked, "So, you understand!"

"This Disciple understands. Thank you, Elder, for your guidance." Ye Wushuang bowed again, feeling immense respect for the old man.

"Alright, I’ll be going now. As for that life-and-death battle, since you dared to accept it, you must be confident." The Star Elder seemed to see through everything, giving Ye Wushuang a meaningful look. By the time he reached the grand square, he was gone.

"Brother Ye!"

As soon as the Star Elder left, Yangg Qing’er came running over. She radiated a youthful, lively energy that left even Ye Wushuang feeling a little stunned by her beauty.

Yangg Qing’er’s beauty was one of pure, adorable charm. Her skin was as fair as jade, and her hair was tied into a ponytail, adding a touch of playfulness. Although she was still a bit green, in another two years, she would undoubtedly be a peerless beauty.

Yangg Qing’er walked up to Ye Wushuang’s side, a worried look on her face. "Brother Ye, Chen Kun is a veteran of the Qi Vortex Realm. His strength is immense. Can you please not go up there?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine!" Ye Wushuang smiled, declining her plea and simply giving Yangg Qing’er a confident grin.

"But..."

"Don’t bother with him. If he’s courting death, he has no one to blame but himself!" Yangg Qing’er was about to say more but was cut off by Dii Qingxue’s cold voice.

At this, Ye Wushuang’s gaze shifted to Dii Qingxue. She stood with one hand behind her back, her expression indifferent, like an eternal, unmelting iceberg, exuding a frigid aura.

’This woman... she’s beautiful, alright, but a bit too cold!’

After a moment, Ye Wushuang sighed. Dii Qingxue’s beauty was such that it would be difficult to find another woman to rival her; she could make all the flowers dim and the very heavens and earth lose their color. But she was too cold—so cold that no one could get close. He really had no idea what kind of peerless Celestial Pride it would take to one day melt her heart and win her over.

"I’m heading over now!"

Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, Ye Wushuang said this to the two women and turned to walk toward the stage.

All around the stage, Elders and disciples had gathered, and more disciples were still rushing over.

"What’s going on? Elder Chen is already here. Why hasn’t Ye Wushuang shown up yet?"

"Yeah, wasn’t he the one who made that arrogant boast about challenging Chen Kun? Where is he?"

"Hahaha, that kid is just a Body Tempering Realm ant. Challenging a Qi Vortex Second-Layer Steward? He probably got scared and is hiding in his shell!"

Many of the Qi Vortex Realm disciples seemed to have found an amusing topic, and they began to joke and mock, causing many in the crowd to erupt in laughter.

"For Ye Wushuang to dare provoke Chen Kun, I really don’t know where he gets the nerve!" a young man in the crowd said disdainfully. This was none other than Yangg Hao, who had recently passed the assessment to enter the Inner Sect.

Duan Yu, who was beside him, also sneered. "Challenge a Steward? Anyone can make a boast like that. I bet that Ye Waste got so scared he’s already fled Cyan Profound Peak. And these people are still standing here waiting like a bunch of idiots."

"Aren’t you standing here too, idiot?"

The moment Duan Yu’s words fell, a cold voice suddenly sounded from behind him.