Battle

"Junior sisters, no need to be nervous. This senior brother is merely here to uphold justice." The young man named Zhang Ting was clearly from the Inner Court.

"Uphold justice? Then why are you blocking our path?" Zhang Rumeng frowned, her eyes full of disgust.

"Junior Sister Rumeng, what expression is that? How could this senior brother harm you? Zhang Lin, make way for the two junior sisters." Zhang Ting narrowed his eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Brother..." Zhang Lin seemed reluctant at his words, but under Zhang Ting's gaze, he still stepped aside.

Chen Fan remained expressionless. From Zhang Ting's words, he could tell the other was only telling them to make way for Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng, not for himself.

Chen Jingjing and the other were no fools either; they naturally caught his meaning. For a moment, they made no move, simply staring coldly at Zhang Ting.

"Junior sisters, why aren't you leaving? Could it be you wish to discuss romance with this senior brother?" Zhang Ting smiled.

"This is Heavy Sword Peak," Chen Jingjing said coldly.

"You know this is Heavy Sword Peak? Then what about the injury on my clan brother's face? Chen Fan, do you plan to keep hiding behind your sister forever?" As Zhang Ting spoke, the smile vanished from his face, and he glared darkly at Chen Fan.

"Zhang Ting, you're already at Qi Refining Layer 6. Do you intend to attack us?" Zhang Rumeng asked with a frown.

"Junior Sister Rumeng, rest assured, how could I bear to harm you?" Zhang Ting clasped his hands behind his back and slowly walked toward Chen Fan.

"As for this Junior Brother Chen Fan, didn't he, at Qi Refining Layer 4, bully my clan brother at Qi Refining Layer 3? If I repay in kind, there should be no fault, right? Junior Brother Chen Fan." Zhang Ting drew close to Chen Fan's side, the last four words practically ground out through clenched teeth.

"You're not good enough," Chen Fan said, shaking his head slightly.

"What?" Zhang Ting was startled, not understanding Chen Fan's meaning.

"You are no match for me," Chen Fan said again, indifferent.

At these words, the crowd was stunned!

Nalan Yun and the others wore expressions of schadenfreude, while Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng were greatly alarmed—a stark contrast.

Zhang Ting's face darkened even further, a cruel smile curling on his lips: "Whether I'm a match isn't decided by words alone. Do you dare fight me in a life-and-death duel?"

"Zhang Ting, don't go too far," Chen Jingjing immediately rebuked.

"Junior Sister Jingjing, speaking to this senior brother like that is not proper." Zhang Ting finished speaking and turned to Chen Fan, his face full of mockery: "Do you dare?"

"Chen Fan, ignore him." Chen Jingjing feared Chen Fan would be too prideful and impulsively agree.

"Location," Chen Fan said calmly, spitting out two words that nearly made Chen Jingjing faint.

"Then tomorrow, see you at the Martial Arts Arena." A glint of triumph flashed in Zhang Ting's eyes as he smiled.

"Tomorrow won't work. If we're fighting, do it now. I don't have time to play games with you," Chen Fan shook his head.

"Fine! Wait here, I'll go find an Elder to get the Life and Death Order." Zhang Ting paused, then revealed a mocking grin, turning and walking away.

"No, Chen Fan, you can't fight," Chen Jingjing grabbed Chen Fan's sleeve, shaking her head.

"This man's strength is above yours. If I defeat him, it's as good as defeating you, and the second condition will be fulfilled," Chen Fan said.

"This... this is a life-and-death duel! Are you trying to die?" Chen Jingjing's face turned icy. "Remember, once you're on the stage, immediately surrender and admit defeat, do you hear me? Your bright future cannot be thrown away here."

"In my Sword Immortal Path, there is no surrender, no retreat," Chen Fan said gravely, the scene before his death in his past life flooding back to his mind.

"You..." Chen Jingjing was both angry and anxious.

Meanwhile, Nalan Yun and the others were filled with delight, and Zhang Lin wore a look of schadenfreude, as if he could already see Chen Fan being slaughtered by his clan brother Zhang Ting.

Although Heavy Sword Peak had rules against fighting and killing, in this world where the strong ruled, such rules could never be fully upheld. Thus, a new rule was later added: "Life and Death Duels."

As long as both parties signed the Life and Death Order, all life and death would be decided on the arena. However, there was also a principle: if one party signaled surrender on the stage, the other could not continue attacking, or else they would be killed by the witness.

"Chen Fan, I gave you a chance yesterday, but you didn't cherish it," Nalan Yun said, looking at Chen Fan with pity.

"Let's go, wait at the Martial Arts Arena. If you don't dare to show up, the outcome will be even worse," Zhang Lin also sneered at Chen Fan. With that, the three turned and walked toward the arena.

Chen Fan remained silent, ignoring them. After the three had gone far, he slowly began to walk forward.

As far as he knew, the Martial Arts Arena was located in the large square between the Inner Court and the Outer Court.

That meant that whenever there was a duel or similar event, nearly the entire sect would know about it and even come to watch.

This was what Chen Fan disliked most. He didn't like drawing attention, but there were always flies bothering him.

"Chen Fan, you must surrender. Have you forgotten Father's dying wish?" Chen Jingjing followed behind him, saying.

"Do you still recognize this talisman?" Chen Fan hesitated for a moment, then took five yellow talismans from his bundle.

"The Five Elements Strange Sword Talisman! How do you have such a precious talisman?" Chen Jingjing exclaimed.

Zhang Rumeng also stared at Chen Fan in shock. She knew that given the Chen Clan's current situation, they could hardly afford such a treasure.

"Watch carefully. I'll only demonstrate it once," Chen Fan said flatly, ignoring their astonishment.

These talismans were naturally the fruits of his labor from last night. If not for considering Chen Jingjing, he would already be on his way to Demon King Valley.

As time ticked by, disciples of Heavy Sword Peak, as if hearing some rumor, poured out and rushed toward the Martial Arts Arena.

"Did you hear? That idiot Chen Fan is going to fight a life-and-death duel with Inner Court Senior Brother Zhang Ting," an Outer Court disciple said excitedly, discussing it with those nearby.

"Look, isn't that idiot Chen Fan? He's really at the arena," another disciple beside him spotted Chen Fan's figure in the distance and pointed at him in surprise.

The Inner Court disciples were even more in an uproar. They had heard of Zhang Ting's reputation—a womanizer who specialized in bullying the weak.

"Who the hell is Chen Fan? Picking a fight with Zhang Ting of all people." An Inner Court disciple shook his head.

"They say he's Chen Jingjing's older brother, still in the Outer Court."

"Someone just saw him—he's at Qi Refining Layer 4. Must be here to enter the Inner Court today. Didn't expect Zhang Ting to block him. What a shame. Once he steps onto that Life and Death duel, either he's quick enough to yell surrender, or he falls right here."

By the time Zhang Ting walked out of the Inner Court holding the Life and Death Order, accompanied by an Elder, the Martial Arts Arena was already crowded with disciples. Chen Fan and the others had been shoved right up to the edge of the platform.

"Chen Fan, what exactly are you trying to do?" Chen Jingjing's face was pale as she looked at him.

"Don't do anything rash. Surrender first. With your talent, you'll have a chance to wash away this humiliation someday." Zhang Rumeng also urged.

Chen Fan said nothing. Between two fingers, he held five yellow Talismans, calmly waiting for Zhang Ting to arrive.

Just then, a small head poked out from the crowd, squeezing toward Chen Fan.

"Brother Chen Fan, are you going to fight someone?" Little Medicine Boy Ye Xiaotian asked, his expression tense.

"Mm." Chen Fan gave a slight nod when he saw him.

The Little Medicine Boy mysteriously pressed close and slipped something into his hand, lowering his voice:

"Brother Chen Fan, I stole this from my master—a Virility Pill. They say it can multiply a man's power several times over."

Though his voice was low, some sharp-eared bystanders caught it. An Outer Court disciple nearly choked laughing.

"Little Medicine Boy, that... that pill boosts a man's power, but it only works if the opponent's a woman, haha!" That disciple rubbed the boy's head, torn between laughter and exasperation.

Chen Fan gave a faint smile and said, "I don't need any pill. Watch this fight closely—it might be useful to you someday."

"Oh, alright." The Little Medicine Boy nodded and tucked the pill away.

Zhang Rumeng and Chen Jingjing's faces were already flushed red. They'd heard of this kind of pill before—it had nothing to do with cultivation. They silently cursed the Little Medicine Boy's master as an old lecher, and shot a glare at that Outer Court disciple.

"Little Medicine Boy, throw that pill away when you get back." Zhang Rumeng said.

The moment she finished, a figure swept over the crowd and landed on the Martial Arts Arena.

"Chen Fan, get up here." Zhang Ting stood with his hands behind his back, imposing and proud.

Chen Fan's brow furrowed slightly. He stepped forward with a mysterious footwork and appeared on the platform in an instant, drawing a wave of gasps from the crowd below. Even the Elder who had come with Zhang Ting was taken aback.

"Jingjing, doesn't that movement look familiar?" Zhang Rumeng asked in surprise.

"Formless Step." Chen Jingjing murmured, her face full of disbelief.

Once both were on the stage, the Elder slowly walked up, had them sign the Life and Death Order, and restated the rules before stepping down. At his Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation, he was more than qualified to witness this duel.

"Begin." The Elder flicked his sleeve.

Chen Fan held five yellow Talismans between his fingers and was about to unleash them when Zhang Ting laughed calmly, "Five Elements Strange Sword Talisman? No wonder you dared to accept the challenge. Too bad you're showing off your axe skills in front of Lu Ban."

With that, Zhang Ting produced a Talisman of his own, looking at Chen Fan with a mocking grin.

"Soul Hooking Talisman." In the crowd below, Wang Yunlan spotted the Talisman in Zhang Ting's hand and frowned slightly.

"This Zhang Ting is too vicious. To use a soul-hooking move on someone at Qi Refining Layer 4... this disciple might not—" Wang Feng said in shock.

"The Five Elements Strange Sword Talisman can't compare to the Soul Hooking Talisman." Wang Yunlan recalled Chen Fan's remarks in the Heavenly Court that day and couldn't help shaking her head with a light laugh.

Afraid Chen Fan might yell surrender, Zhang Ting didn't give him the chance. The moment he took out the Talisman, he roared, and it ignited with a crackle before he hurled it out.

"Go!" At Zhang Ting's shout, the Talisman burst into a dense surge of spiritual power, forming a massive invisible vortex that spun slowly. A tremendous sucking force emanated from it.

A rustling sound filled the air as the nearby currents instantly turned chaotic. Chen Fan's robes flapped violently, his body swaying slightly under the terrifying pull.

Chen Fan wasted no time. He swept his hand forward, and the five yellow Talismans shot into the air, scattering into five streaks of light that struck the void.

"Throwing all five Talismans out at once?" Wang Feng exclaimed. This was completely different from how his sister Wang Yunlan used them.

"What nonsense about the Five Elements generating and overcoming each other. Throwing them all out like that is just wasting the Five Elements Strange Sword Talisman. It can't stand up to the Soul Hooking Talisman." Wang Yunlan said coldly.

But the next moment, they froze.