"I..."
Hu Liena panicked a little when she heard what he said.
Just as Chu Hao had said, she had thought about doing that.
But she had only wanted to tease this new little brother. She hadn't meant to make things get out of hand.
"What? Nothing to say?"
Seeing Hu Liena falter, Chu Hao let out a cold laugh.
With someone as competitive as Hu Liena, the best way was to strike at her head-on and make her understand just how insignificant she was.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Hu Liena bit her lip and, in front of everyone on the arena, bowed deeply to Chu Hao to apologize.
Yes, that was right!
With Hu Liena's personality, she would never have apologized.
But she had no choice.
She had no idea what this emotionless madman, Chu Hao, might do in a reckless fit.
What if he killed Xie Yue?
Then she would lose the person closest to her.
At the same time, she deliberately used her natural beauty and stunning figure to cast her charm, hoping to draw Chu Hao's attention and persuade him to spare Xie Yue.
"Heh. You know how to apologize now?"
"Too late!"
Chu Hao looked at Hu Liena, bent forward in a bow that displayed her astonishing assets, his eyes glinting with icy menace.
Hu Liena's charm really was alluring.
An ordinary man would surely have fallen for her beauty.
But she had picked the wrong person.
Such low-level charm was nothing but clouds in Chu Hao's eyes.
"Then what exactly do you want?!"
Seeing that Chu Hao was unmoved by her charm, Hu Liena felt a little dejected. She pursed her lips and asked, full of grievance.
Everyone present was already seething with hatred for Chu Hao at the sight of her aggrieved expression.
But intimidated by his strength, no one dared show it.
Otherwise, they would have rushed over and beaten him to a pulp.
"Submit! I want you to submit!" Chu Hao declared imperiously.
Hu Liena shuddered when she heard him.
The demand Chu Hao had made was the very outcome she least wanted.
She would rather die than submit.
"Liena, don't listen to him! I'm fine!"
Xie Yue panicked the moment he heard Chu Hao's demand.
For geniuses like them, submission was a humiliation—worse than death.
"Shut up!"
Chu Hao hated being interrupted while he was handling something. He let out a furious roar at Xie Yue.
To keep Xie Yue from breaking free and ensure he got what he wanted, Chu Hao poured all his Soul Power into unleashing even more killing intent, pushing the Ten Thousand Swords Art to its limit.
Countless sword auras surged into view, condensing into enormous, terrifyingly powerful swords that hovered around Xie Yue.
At a single thought from him, every sword would cut Xie Yue to pieces.
The killing intent bursting from Chu Hao pressed down on Xie Yue like a towering mountain.
At that moment, Xie Yue felt that his life no longer belonged to him. It was entirely in Chu Hao's hands.
"Stop! I'll submit!"
Seeing that Chu Hao was about to get serious, Hu Liena made the hardest decision of her life—and also the right one.
"Good. Excellent!"
"Before long, you'll be glad you made this choice."
After getting Hu Liena's answer, Chu Hao sent a thought, and the swords formed from sword auras turned into beams of light that sank into his body.
Everyone present was once again stunned by Chu Hao's methods.
Holy crap!
That was incredible!
He could even recall them?
How on earth did he do that?
Unbelievable!
"Come on. Get back to your duty and show me around Spirit Hall."
After recalling his killing sword energy, Chu Hao had recovered much of his Soul Power. Without even glancing at Xie Yue, he leaped off the arena and walked away.
The spectators saw Chu Hao step down and hurriedly cleared a path, their eyes full of awe.
No matter how much they hated what Chu Hao had done, they all acknowledged his strength.
That was how this world worked: the strong were revered.
"Liena, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I was useless, and I let you suffer."
After Chu Hao jumped off the arena, Xie Yue went to Hu Liena, his face full of pain and guilt.
If he hadn't been so conceited and insisted on challenging Chu Hao, things wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Brother, it's not your fault. I brought this on myself," Hu Liena said bitterly.
This time, she had truly picked up a rock and dropped it on her own foot.
"Liena, don't worry. I'll find a way to get justice for you."
Seeing the hurt in Hu Liena's expression, Xie Yue was heartbroken.
She was his only sister, and he could only watch helplessly as she was bullied.
He was utterly useless.
"Brother, don't. I'll find a way myself."
"Chu Hao's strength and talent are beyond our reach."
Hu Liena was touched by Xie Yue's determination.
But Chu Hao's strength and talent were simply terrifying. They weren't even in the same league.
And the most terrifying thing was that he was still young—he had plenty of time on his side.
They couldn't compete with that.
The gap between them would only grow wider with time.
As for getting their pride back, that was nothing but a pipe dream.
"I..."
How could Xie Yue not understand? But he truly didn't know how to comfort her.
"All right, brother. I have to go. I still haven't finished the task my teacher assigned me."
"Don't blame yourself. Maybe today's decision wasn't so bad after all."
Hu Liena knew Xie Yue was worried about her, but what was done was done. All she could do was accept it.
After comforting Xie Yue a little, she leaped off the arena and hurried after Chu Hao.
She couldn't keep the little tyrant waiting, or who knew what trouble he might cause next?
"Liena, don't worry. I'll work hard at my cultivation and defeat that brat one day."
Xie Yue watched Hu Liena leave, clenched his fists, and secretly swore an oath.
Even if his chances of fulfilling it were practically zero, he couldn't give up.
Giving up wasn't in his nature.
"Do you want to make that happen?"
Just as Xie Yue was about to step off the arena, a hoarse voice sounded in his mind.
"Who—who's talking to me?"
Xie Yue trembled at the hoarse voice and looked around, trying to find its source.
The people who hadn't left yet stared at Xie Yue's panicked expression, completely baffled. What was he doing?
"You don't need to look. I'm just outside the fighting arena."
Just as Xie Yue thought he was so nervous that he'd imagined the voice, it sounded in his mind again.
Xie Yue's hair stood on end. Both shocked and terrified, he made his way out of the fighting arena.
When he saw the man wrapped in a black robe, he froze on the spot. Then he quickly came to his senses, bowed, and saluted. "Greetings, Elder Ghost."
"Xie Yue, are you willing to become my disciple?" Gui Mei asked calmly.
Xie Yue was overjoyed. He immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly, calling out, "Disciple pays respect to Master!"
"Rise. Starting tomorrow, you'll study under me."
After receiving his answer, Gui Mei nodded and left without a sound.
He had taken Xie Yue as his disciple because he'd seen Yue Guan take on a student.
He might as well take on a disciple himself for a change.
Besides, Xie Yue's talent was among the best in Spirit Hall, and his temperament suited him. He was worth cultivating.
"Yes!"
Xie Yue answered respectfully and slowly rose, his eyes shining with excitement.
With Elder Ghost's guidance, he still had a chance to surpass Chu Hao.
Before you continue