Hearing the Peak head's words, Han Yu's thoughts aligned instantly.

"This fight," he said slowly, "will decide his fate."

The Peak Head nodded.

"If he defeats you, he lives."

"And if he does not?"

"He dies."

The words settled heavily in the air.

Han Yu stood still.

Processing.

This was not a duel.

Not in the traditional sense.

This was an execution.

Public.

Deliberate.

A message.

The sect was making an example of him.

Not just to punish Meng Ji.

But to warn everyone else.

This was the consequence of betrayal.

This was the cost of corruption.

Han Yu exhaled softly.

"I see."

The Peak Head observed him carefully.

"You will be the executioner," he said.

Han Yu nodded.

"There is no issue."

And there truly wasn't.

Han Yu felt no hesitation.

No conflict.

Meng Ji's fate had already been decided. The duel was merely the method through which it would be carried out.

The Peak Head studied him for a moment longer, then spoke again.

"Meng Ji's cultivation is at the Infant Soul Stage."

Han Yu acknowledged that.

The Infant Soul Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Not weak.

Not at all.

Before his fall, Meng Ji would have been considered a formidable opponent. Even now, despite his circumstances, he would not be someone to underestimate.

But Han Yu…

Was no longer the same.

His Qi cultivation had stabilized completely, nearing the threshold of a breakthrough. His mastery over the Freezing Abyss Glacial Art had reached a level where he could wield it freely, without restriction, even in combat against stronger opponents.

And beyond that…

There was his soul.

His Soul Cultivation had advanced significantly.

More than anyone could guess.

Han Yu knew the reason.

Everything that had happened within the sect over the past year…

The chaos.

The conflict.

The fear.

The anger.

The ambition.

All of it…

Had fed him.

The Eight Emotions energy flowed continuously, drawn from the countless interactions, conflicts, and upheavals that had rippled through the sect. It was not constant in intensity, but it never stopped.

A steady stream.

Endless.

Accumulating.

Refining.

Strengthening.

Han Yu could feel it clearly.

His soul was on the verge of another breakthrough.

But he had held it back.

Deliberately.

The last time it had happened, the impact had been noticeable.

This time…

He had a feeling it would be far greater.

Too noticeable.

Too revealing.

He needed the right moment.

The right setting.

And now…

That moment had arrived.

The duel.

A public stage.

A controlled environment.

A place where power was expected.

Where breakthroughs would not be questioned.

Han Yu's eyes sharpened slightly.

Not only would he break through in Soul Cultivation…

He would push his Qi cultivation as well.

Both.

At once.

A simultaneous advancement.

Dangerous.

But effective.

He did not voice any of this.

Instead, he looked at the Peak Head.

"I will proceed."

The Peak Head studied him, then allowed a faint smile to appear.

"I expected no less."

Han Yu inclined his head slightly.

"I will not disappoint."

The Peak Head's gaze deepened.

"I hope not," he said. "Because this will not just be your test."

He paused.

"It will be a declaration."

Han Yu understood.

The return of the Freezing Abyss Glacial Art.

The execution of a fallen Inner Court disciple.

The rise of Ju Fan.

All of it would converge in that single battle.

A statement to the sect.

And to anyone watching.

The Peak Head turned slightly, his voice calm but firm.

"Prepare yourself."

Han Yu nodded.

"I will."

As he left the hall, his thoughts settled into perfect clarity.

Everything had led to this.

The mine.

The escape.

The chaos.

The growth.

All of it.

Now it would be revealed.

And Han Yu was ready.

The day of the challenge arrived beneath a sky that seemed almost too calm for what was about to unfold.

For Han Yu, there was no anticipation left, no uncertainty lingering in his thoughts. He had prepared for this moment long before the announcement had even been made. The week of delay had not been for him, but for the sect.

They had turned the duel into a spectacle, a deliberate display meant to send a message far beyond the two individuals standing at its center.

The chosen location reflected that intent.

The grand fighting grounds near the Right Femur Peak stretched out like a massive stone basin, its surface carved and reinforced through generations of use. This was where tournaments were held, where rankings were contested, and where strength was proven before the eyes of the sect.

And today it was filled to the brim.

Hundreds of thousands of disciples had gathered, filling the stands and surrounding areas, their presence forming a sea of robes and shifting Qi.

The air was thick with expectation, excitement, and curiosity. Waves of Eight Emotions energy flowed constantly, pulsing through the environment as countless minds focused on a single point.

Han Yu walked in alongside the Peak Head.

He was among the last to arrive.

The moment his figure appeared, the murmurs intensified. Eyes turned. Attention sharpened.

He did not react.

His steps remained steady, his posture composed, his expression calm.

Then, his gaze shifted forward.

Meng Ji.

The man stood at the opposite end of the arena, already present, already waiting. His physique was robust, his body carrying the strength of someone who had endured intense cultivation. Blood-red tattoos wound along his neck and partially across his shoulders, faintly pulsing with a suppressed glow.

But beneath that exterior…

There was unease.

Han Yu could feel it clearly.

Sadness.

Anger.

Both directed toward him.

The moment Meng Ji saw him, the anger spiked.

Sharp.

Violent.

Han Yu absorbed it without reaction.

From the stands, anticipation surged. The audience leaned forward, their collective attention creating a steady stream of energy that fed into Han Yu's soul.

Above, the elders observed.

Some with interest.

Some with indifference.

Some with subtle curiosity.

The Peak Head's earlier words had reached them. They were expecting something. A surprise. A demonstration.