Deciding Life and Death, Settling Karma

That evening, the same night he accepted the challenge, Fang Wang snuck into the Li Manor. Using the Breathless Natural Skill and Shadowless Steps, he moved like a phantom, searching for the green-robed girl.

It didn't take long for Fang Wang to find the house where the green-robed girl was staying. After receiving the challenge from White Clad Startling Swan, Li Honggang had withdrawn the guards from that house, and no one was even patrolling the Li Manor.

Fang Wang stood by the window, peering through a gap. The green-robed girl was meditating on the bed, and she didn't look like she had suffered.

Fang Wang immediately sent her a telepathic message: "Miss Qing, are you alright? Don't speak, just nod or shake your head."

Hearing this, the green-robed girl's body trembled. She nodded.

"Have you been poisoned?"

The green-robed girl shook her head.

Fang Wang scanned the room with his Spiritual Sense. After confirming there was no danger, he told the green-robed girl to follow him.

As soon as the green-robed girl stepped out of the room, he scooped her up and left quickly. Along the way, he relied on his movement techniques and was not discovered by anyone from the Li Manor. Li Honggang had already gone into seclusion and wasn't paying attention to the situation outside.

Under the cover of night, Fang Wang took the green-robed girl out of Haixia City. He escorted her for a hundred miles before stopping and saying, "You can go back by yourself from here."

The green-robed girl landed and asked in surprise, "Aren't you going back? Are you really going to fight?"

This afternoon, Li Honggang had found her and told her that White Clad Startling Swan had accepted the challenge. She had been worried all day. When Fang Wang found her, she thought they could escape directly, but she didn't expect Fang Wang to actually go back.

"Yes, after I save you, I can face Li Honggang without any pressure," Fang Wang replied.

The journey was smooth, with no pursuers from the Li Manor. This showed that Li Honggang was indeed honorable. Since that was the case, he would accept the challenge.

Perhaps, the fact that he could so easily rescue the green-robed girl was something Li Honggang had tacitly allowed.

"But... Li Honggang is a great cultivator in the Spirit Pill Realm. Why bother fighting him?" the green-robed girl urged. She had heard from Fang Hanyu that Fang Wang had joined the Taiyuan Sect at the same time as him.

Fang Wang chuckled, "Since I've accepted the challenge, how can I not fight? Everyone knows White Clad Startling Swan is a disciple of the Taiyuan Sect. I'm not just representing myself, but the Taiyuan Sect."

Since he was competing with Lu Yuanjun for the position of head disciple, Fang Wang needed to gain prestige. The simplest way to gain prestige was through a series of victories!

Others might not know who White Clad Startling Swan was, but Fang Wang believed Guang Qiuxian and Yang Yuanzi certainly would.

Moreover...

Fang Wang was very confident!

This was no longer a battle of hatred, but a contest of spirit and reputation!

One day, the name White Clad Startling Swan would be bound to Fang Wang. And before all that happened, he wanted the name White Clad Startling Swan to become a target of admiration for the disciples of the Taiyuan Sect.

Hearing this, the green-robed girl fell silent.

"Miss Qing, hurry back, so your clansmen don't worry," Fang Wang urged.

The green-robed girl stomped her foot and huffed, "What Miss Qing? I have a name. My name is Qing Wan'er. Call me Wan'er from now on!"

With that, she turned and darted into the forest, quickly disappearing into the night.

Fang Wang smiled, didn't think much of it, and turned back towards Haixia City.

Twenty days passed, not too long, not too short. Fang Wang was in seclusion at the Gu Family mansion, making it difficult for Gu Li to disturb him.

Gradually, more and more cultivators gathered in Haixia City, all having heard about the battle between White Clad Startling Swan and Li Honggang.

White Clad Startling Swan had killed Li Hongshuang, gaining widespread fame. As for Li Honggang, he was a cultivator in the Spirit Pill Realm, and to most low-level cultivators, he was a significant figure.

Duels at the Spirit Pill Realm level were rare, so how could rogue cultivators and the younger generation of aristocratic families not come to join the excitement?

The night before the decisive battle.

Fang Wang emerged from his room and found Gu Li. They sat opposite each other at a table.

"Miss Gu, after watching the battle tomorrow, you should return to the Taiyuan Sect. I have some matters to attend to and won't be back for a while," Fang Wang said.

He guessed that Gu Li had come for him. Even if it was wishful thinking, he felt it necessary to make things clear to avoid Gu Li waiting endlessly.

Gu Li frowned and asked, "Is it because of your clansman? Is he severely injured?"

"Yes, he needs several months to recover."

"Do you need my help?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Gu, but you don't need to worry about him. He is already recovering, but the place he is in cannot be revealed."

Fang Wang showed an apologetic expression. The Fang Manor had not yet reached its peak and had not yet grown. He truly dared not invite Gu Li into the Fang Manor.

Gu Li softly said, "Then you must win. I will be watching you."

Fang Wang smiled, "Of course. I have never lost before."

The candlelight flickered in the room, and the bright moon hung high outside the window. Gu Li looked at Fang Wang's smile, her eyes becoming hazy. For some reason, she found his smile incredibly beautiful.

Fang Wang was very curious about the Jihao Sect, so he asked Gu Li about its history. Gu Li did not hide anything and told him everything she knew.

That night, they chatted very happily. Gu Li felt that she had grown closer to him.

The moon set and the sun rose.

As the sun began to rise, its first light streaking across Haixia City, the city was already bustling.

Because today, White Clad Startling Swan would come to challenge Li Honggang!

More and more cultivators rushed to the South City Gate in advance, afraid of missing the show.

With less than half an hour left until noon, the area in front of the south city gate and along the city walls was packed with people. Gu Li had also arrived. She stood on the city wall, a light veil covering her face, her beautiful eyes fixed on a figure below.

Li Honggang!

This Spirit Pill Realm cultivator sat cross-legged on the hilt of his saber, with the blade planted in the ground. Though he remained still, a powerful aura was gathering, growing stronger by the moment.

"What terrifying saber intent!"

"Could that be the Scorching Sun Killing Blade, rumored to be from the Crimson Sun Sect?"

"To think that after leaving the Crimson Sun Sect so many years ago, Li Honggang's saber intent has grown to this extent."

"I wonder if White Clad Startling Swan will show up."

The cultivators murmured amongst themselves. Li Honggang's stance clearly indicated he was prepared for a fight to the death, making the spectators even more eager for the upcoming battle.

A commotion erupted behind Gu Li. She turned to see a burly old man, surrounded by a throng of cultivators, ascend the city wall. He wore a black robe, a purple crown, his left hand behind his back, while his right hand toyed with two iron balls, faint sparks of electricity flashing around them.

The City Lord of Haixia City, Tang Chengfeng!

Upon his appearance, many cultivators bowed respectfully, their faces filled with eagerness and flattery.

Gu Li quietly stepped aside, putting distance between herself and Tang Chengfeng.

Tang Chengfeng walked to the edge of the city wall and looked down at Li Honggang. He smiled and said, "It seems Li Honggang intends to fight to the death. I must say, I'm impressed. The Li Family truly lives up to their thousand-year reputation."

A woman in white beside him asked curiously, "Father, do you think he can win?"

"I wouldn't know. After all, I haven't seen White Clad Startling Swan yet."

Tang Chengfeng sighed. Like the cultivators around him, he was most curious about White Clad Startling Swan.

Thirty-two Startling Swan Swords…

First, the Taiyuan Sect produced Lu Yuanjun, and now a White Clad Startling Swan has emerged. Their momentum is unstoppable!

Tang Chengfeng believed the upcoming battle would be a turning point for the immortal cultivation world, which was why he had come to witness it personally.

Cultivators on the city wall and in front of the gate were all discussing White Clad Startling Swan, speculating about their identity. The name Lu Yuanjun was mentioned repeatedly.

Many believed White Clad Startling Swan was Lu Yuanjun!

Time ticked by.

Noon arrived swiftly!

Li Honggang, who had been sitting on his saber's hilt, suddenly opened his eyes. Tang Chengfeng on the city wall narrowed his eyes. Both looked towards the horizon simultaneously.

Whoosh—

A sound of air being torn apart swept through the area. The thousands of cultivators around the south city gate turned their heads. Some even took to the sky on their Flying Swords to get a better view.

A white rainbow streaked across the sky at incredible speed, quickly stopping about a hundred zhang away from the south city gate, suspended in mid-air. All eyes were fixed on the white rainbow.

As the white light dissipated, a figure in white, his robes fluttering, revealed himself in the sunlight. He stood tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his feet on a Flying Sword, a bamboo hat on his head, looking like an immortal banished from heaven.

"White Clad Startling Swan!"

Someone exclaimed. The vast majority of cultivators gazed at the white-robed figure with fervent eyes.

Under everyone's gaze, White Clad Startling Swan slowly raised his head. Beneath the bamboo hat, he wore a fox mask, adding to his mystique.

The arrival was none other than Fang Wang!

Fang Wang slowly drew the Qing Jun Sword with his right hand, standing proudly in mid-air, looking down at Li Honggang. He said, "A battle to settle our karma?"

Li Honggang slowly rose, standing on his saber's hilt. His robe billowed violently. He looked up at Fang Wang and said coldly, "To decide life and death, and settle our karma!"