Challenge Letter

Tong Yunfei's heart sank.

The Golden Battle Clan had collected numerous ancient texts. These texts included records of the Immortal Martial World before heaven and earth shattered, as well as accounts of the Star Realm after the Blood Emperor reassembled heaven and earth.

Tong Yunfei had loved reading these ancient texts since childhood. In his view, the more he read of the things and races that left him utterly bewildered, the farther his vision reached and the greater his ambition became.

Among the races recorded in those ancient texts was the Mad Bear Clan—and... an entire volume had been devoted to them.

He had heard Xiong Tatian's low growl clearly before. At the time, he had not thought in that direction, but now, upon seeing Xiong Tatian's thick, powerful arms, the connection suddenly struck him.

What he had never expected was that the one fighting him was actually a member of the Mad Bear Clan? That Mad Bear Clan famed as battle-crazed lunatics and born war gods?

Recalling Xiong Tatian's foolish appearance earlier, Tong Yunfei became even more certain. This was precisely a sign that his spiritual intelligence had yet to fully awaken.

At this thought, bitterness filled Tong Yunfei's heart. Even in his dreams, he had never imagined that a lowly person from this remote little city would know someone from the Mad Bear Clan—and... would even be the Mad Bear Clan member's big brother!

Though shocked and unable to believe it, Tong Yunfei felt no urge to retreat. Instead, his fighting spirit surged even more fiercely. Since he had encountered the Mad Bear Clan, he wanted to see just how powerful this clan, which had once been able to suppress the Golden Battle Clan, truly was.

The instant Xiong Tatian caught the golden greatsword between his arms, the golden mark on Tong Yunfei's brow abruptly burst with light. The curtain of light enveloping his body seemed to boil. He directly released the greatsword and threw a punch carrying the force of tearing through the air at Xiong Tatian's head.

But the enraged Xiong Tatian paid no heed to Tong Yunfei's attack. He gathered his strength and sat up, allowing Tong Yunfei's punch to smash into his head. His left hand clenched into a fist and blasted toward Tong Yunfei's head. Within the force of that punch, a bear paw actually emerged.

Bang

Bang!

Xiong Tatian toppled backward, while Tong Yunfei was sent flying backward by Xiong Tatian's punch.

But unlike Xiong Tatian, who had been injured, Tong Yunfei's strange golden curtain of light had actually neutralized Xiong Tatian's punch.

The instant Xiong Tatian fell back, his right hand fiercely struck the ground. Ignoring the bloody mess on his forehead, his left hand shot out like lightning and clamped around Tong Yunfei's neck.

Tong Yunfei was startled. He had not expected Xiong Tatian to be so reckless with his life. As Xiong Tatian seized his neck, golden light bloomed from both his hands, and he attacked from both sides, striking through the air toward Xiong Tatian's temples.

Standing atop the pavilion, Zi Xun'er watched the battle below with her beautiful eyes. Surprise and curiosity appeared on her exquisite face. After pondering briefly, she tilted her head slightly toward Qin Yu beside her and said in a sweet voice, "Xun'er is finding Fellow Daoist Chen more and more unfathomable. In just these past few months, you have somehow come to know such a powerful brother?"

Though Zi Xun'er spoke as lightly as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, stormy waves had already risen within her heart.

She knew Tong Yunfei's identity like the palm of her hand. He was also renowned throughout the eastern region of the Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain, and with his strength, he could rank among the eastern region's prodigies. Yet an uncouth young man at the mid-stage of qi force had actually forced him to use his bloodline power—and had still not fallen into a disadvantage?

Just what was the origin of this mid-stage qi force cultivator? How could he call Qin Yu brother?

This made Zi Xun'er especially curious. She could see that Xiong Tatian was no kind man. He was wild by nature and hot-tempered, yet such people were all the more proud and arrogant. How could he call a Martial Realm Sixth Level—no, a Ninth Level of the Martial Realm—Qin Yu his brother? And even call Qin Yu big brother?

Qin Yu did not answer. He stared gravely below. What left him helpless was that although Xiong Tatian appeared evenly matched with Tong Yunfei, he had already fallen into a disadvantage. Or rather, Tong Yunfei was not using his full strength at all. He was merely competing with Xiong Tatian in brute force.

Xiong Tatian's thinking was simple. Though his strength was extraordinary, Tong Yunfei suppressed him in every aspect, leaving him completely unable to use the battle techniques of the Mad Bear Clan. The longer this continued, the more unfavorable it became for Xiong Tatian.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Yu slightly turned his head toward Zi Xun'er and said, "Fellow Daoist Zi, can you make Tong Yunfei stop?"

Zi Xun'er glanced at Qin Yu and said in surprise, "That is simple, but can you make your friend stop?" Seeing that Qin Yu did not answer, Zi Xun'er took it as his acquiescence and immediately shouted, "Tong Yunfei, stop! So what if you win against someone at the mid-stage of qi force?"

Tong Yunfei, who was fiercely battling Xiong Tatian below, was not having an easy time either. Though Xiong Tatian was simple-minded, Tong Yunfei was confident he could evade two out of every ten of his attacks. Yet Xiong Tatian's life-risking attacks often came from unexpected angles. After taking several punches, Tong Yunfei could no longer endure it. If this continued, even if he won, he would not come away much better.

Zi Xun'er's words also gave Tong Yunfei a way out, so he simply broke free of Xiong Tatian and retreated.

At once, Tong Yunfei backed away and stopped attacking.

But Xiong Tatian had long since entered a berserk state. How could he possibly stop?

"Xiong Tatian, stop!" Qin Yu said in a low voice.

Xiong Tatian turned a deaf ear. Seeing this, Qin Yu directly leaped down and swiftly appeared before him. Looking at Xiong Tatian, whose entire body was covered in blood, Qin Yu felt miserable and called softly, "Xiong Tatian!"

The enraged Xiong Tatian looked at Qin Yu before him and violently shook his head, flinging away the blood at the corners of his eyes. Staring at Qin Yu with a savage expression and blood-red eyes, he roared hoarsely, "Big Brother, move aside! He dared insult you, so I'm going to kill him!"

Qin Yu's heart turned sour. Seeing Xiong Tatian like this made him feel terrible. He said quietly, "Now isn't the time. We'll talk about it later. Listen to Big Brother."

Xiong Tatian struggled for a long while, then glared fiercely at Tong Yunfei and said in a sinister voice, "One day, I'll twist your head off! I warn you all: whoever dares bully my big brother is an enemy of me, Xiong Tatian." As he spoke, Xiong Tatian wiped the blood from his face, stood beside Qin Yu, and glared furiously at Tong Yunfei.

Tong Yunfei stared at Xiong Tatian in shock. From what he knew of the Mad Bear Clan, an underage Mad Bear whose spiritual intelligence had not awakened could scarcely be stopped by anyone once enraged. Yet Qin Yu had actually managed to stop this berserk Mad Bear. Tong Yunfei's heart sank slightly. This grudge had already been forged. Qin Yu could not be allowed to live!

Qin Yu took out a medicinal pill and handed it to Xiong Tatian. "Come, follow me!" With that, Qin Yu turned and walked toward Qin Manor.

Countless people had already gathered around them, among whom were ordinary citizens and, even more so, cultivators. They had all witnessed this battle and were deeply shaken by Xiong Tatian's ferocity. The two differed by an entire major realm, yet Xiong Tatian had still managed to injure Tong Yunfei. Given time, once Xiong Tatian stepped into the Heavenly Tempering Realm, even Tong Yunfei would likely find it difficult to defeat him.

"Did I say you could leave?" Just as Qin Yu had taken only a few steps, Tong Yunfei suddenly spoke with a cold laugh. Though he was wary of Xiong Tatian, he did not fear Qin Yu.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tatian clenched both fists and sharply turned toward Tong Yunfei. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yu grabbed him. Qin Yu slowly turned to face Tong Yunfei, his gaze chilling, and suddenly said, "Your cultivation is higher than mine. Even if you win, it would still be a dishonorable victory."

Tong Yunfei's smile widened. This was exactly what he had been waiting for. He said, "Then I'll suppress my cultivation and fight you. You are at the Ninth Level of the Martial Realm, so I'll suppress mine to the Eighth Level of the Martial Realm and fight you. How about it?"

Tong Yunfei did not know that Qin Yu had also been waiting for him to say those words. Tong Yunfei was at the peak of the Heavenly Tempering Realm; no matter what, Qin Yu would find it difficult to defeat him. But if he suppressed his cultivation...

Qin Yu smiled calmly. "If you truly want to fight, then one month from now—half a month before the Heavenly Martial Grand Gathering—we'll meet in the arena. How about it?"

It was not that Qin Yu feared Tong Yunfei now. Rather, he worried that Tong Yunfei would fly into a rage out of humiliation and strike in secret after losing. But if he delayed it for a month, Qin Yu would have no such concerns. Not long after defeating Tong Yunfei, the grand gathering would begin. By then, Qin Xue and he would have entered the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect. Tong Yunfei would not dare do anything.

Seeing that Qin Yu actually dared to challenge him, Tong Yunfei sneered. "One month it is. The time and place."

"You'll know when the time comes." After saying this, Qin Yu pulled Xiong Tatian away and turned to leave.

Above them, Zi Xun'er watched Qin Yu, her gaze flickering. Half a month before the grand gathering? Could it be... Qin Yu intended to fight Tong Yunfei only after fighting Cui Shuo? Even if Tong Yunfei suppressed his cultivation, his strength was not to be underestimated. Was Qin Yu truly confident?

As she thought, a trace of a smile and anticipation involuntarily appeared at the corners of Zi Xun'er's lips.

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