Don't Kill Me

"Don't kill me."

Ye Ditian's arms were a bloody mess, dangling at his sides as he knelt on the ground and shouted.

"If I were the one beaten to my knees and begging for mercy, would you spare me?" Zhang Yu snorted coldly.

Ye Ditian did not answer. Everyone knew the answer.

"No! I'll answer for you. Since that's the case, what the hell are you babbling for? Fuck!" Zhang Yu punched Ye Ditian in the head. Bang!

"Don't—if you dare kill me, the Ye Family won't let you off."

Ye Ditian's head exploded.

"Idiot, and you still dared threaten me." Zhang Yu flicked the brain matter from his hand.

Half an hour later, Zhang Yu helped Li Feifei back to Hidden Spirit Academy, handed her over to Su Wan's care, then returned to the inner court himself.

The next day, Zhang Yu came to his master Shi Cangyue's residence.

"Master!"

"Is there anything you don't understand about the second level of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art?" Shi Cangyue glanced at Zhang Yu and asked.

"No." Zhang Yu shook his head.

"Then what is it?"

"Master, last night, I killed Ye Ditian, the direct descendant of the Ye Family." Zhang Yu recounted what had happened the previous night.

The Ye Family patriarch was in the Qi-Nourishing Realm, and it was said that their Aura Force Realm ancestor might still be alive. Although last night's matter had been secretive, it was not without flaws.

Li Feifei and Su Wan were the biggest flaws. As long as the Ye Family investigated carefully, they would find the two of them sooner or later.

The middle three realms were the True Qi Realm, the Qi-Nourishing Realm, and the Aura Force Realm.

Zhang Yu felt that with his current strength, he could contend with True Qi Realm martial artists. As for Qi-Nourishing Realm and Aura Force Realm experts, dealing with him would be nothing short of slaughter.

He needed someone to serve as his backer and withstand the Ye Family's pressure.

Since he had taken Shi Cangyue as his master, he would be a fool not to use him.

After hearing Zhang Yu's account, Shi Cangyue's expression did not change much. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Master the second level of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art within three months, and I'll settle this matter for you."

"One month," Zhang Yu said. "Master, I'll train the second level to mastery within one month."

"Good. If you can reach mastery within one month, then forget killing Ye Ditian—even if you cause greater trouble, I'll bear it for you." Shi Cangyue made the promise grandly.

"Really?"

"Cough, cough! But you can't deliberately stir up trouble either. After all, there are always greater people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens. The Western Wilderness is still too small. Your sights cannot remain fixed only on the Western Wilderness. Forget it, there's no point telling you this now. Cultivate diligently." Shi Cangyue gazed toward Central Province for a while, a trace of loneliness on his face.

"Yes, Master!" With the matter resolved, Zhang Yu planned to return to his little courtyard and lie down.

Cultivate?

That was impossible.

When his disciples cultivated, he cultivated. His disciples would carry him to the skies.

He had six disciples like that.

"I heard you signed up for next month's Azure Eagle Tournament?" Shi Cangyue asked.

"Mm."

"Take first place. The rewards this time are quite generous," Shi Cangyue said.

"Master, I heard that first place used to be rewarded with pills and spirit crystals. What's changed this time?" Zhang Yu was very curious.

"Besides the usual rewards, first place can receive three drops of Marrow-Washing Fluid. It can cleanse the internal organs, nourish the marrow, and build a deeper foundation for the body. It is greatly beneficial for breaking through to the True Qi Realm," Shi Cangyue said.

"Rest assured, Master. This disciple has first place in the bag." Zhang Yu was brimming with confidence.

"Go, cultivate well!" Shi Cangyue nodded. "Oh, right. I've already suppressed your martial duel with Chen You."

"Eh?" Zhang Yu froze.

"Chen You has decent talent. The Azure Eagle Tournament is near, so leave the grudges between you two to be settled there," Shi Cangyue said, leaving no room for objection.

"Yes, Master!" Zhang Yu answered before leaving.

From beginning to end, Shi Cangyue never asked why Zhang Yu, only at the late Dark Force stage, had been able to kill Ye Ditian, who stood at the peak of Force Transformation.

Because once one cultivated the Iron Shirt to produce Martial Dao True Intent, killing someone in Force Transformation was not difficult at all.

Martial Dao True Intent had already touched upon a level of power involving will and soul. It was fundamentally not something martial artists of the lower three realms could resist.

Zhang Yu returned to his little courtyard with a hint of worry on his face. Through this incident, his bond with Shi Cangyue had deepened further, which was very unfavorable to his future plans of running away.

Three days later, Li Feifei could get out of bed and walk. She hurried to Zhang Yu's little courtyard.

She dropped to her knees before Zhang Yu. Thud! "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang, for saving my life. From now on, this life of mine belongs to you. If you tell me to go east, I'll go east; if you tell me to go west, I'll go west. I'll follow your lead in everything."

Zhang Yu blinked. He had not expected Li Feifei to say such things. "There's no need for this."

If not for the destiny trait of preserving the Gu Family estate upon her, Zhang Yu would not have paid Li Feifei any attention at all.

Come to think of it, he was a pragmatist too.

"A life-saving grace is greater than heaven. If Senior Brother agrees, I can serve by your side and ask only for the position of a concubine," Li Feifei continued.

"Stop right there. Put away those thoughts. I told you before, your destined marriage lies with someone else." Zhang Yu hurriedly extinguished Li Feifei's ideas.

He knew it. She was after this young master's body.

"Yes, I'll listen to all of Senior Brother's arrangements." Li Feifei put on an obedient expression.

Well, when she was sharp-tongued and mean, she could anger someone to death.

But when she wanted to please someone, she could give everything without counting the cost.

As long as someone like her followed the right person, she would surely soar into the sky in a single bound. After all, Li Feifei still possessed the destiny trait of preserving the Gu Family estate.

Zhang Yu tossed Li Feifei a top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill. "If you want to help me with matters, raise your cultivation to the peak of Dark Force as soon as possible, then become an inner court disciple."

Li Feifei caught the jade bottle. Seeing the top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill inside, she could not help crying out, "A top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill? Senior Brother, did you take the wrong one?"

"No. It's for you," Zhang Yu said.

Zhang Yu had heard every word Li Feifei said while facing death in Rat Alley. Those few words alone were worth this top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill.

Besides, he still wanted to marry Li Feifei to Niu Mancang.

In truth, Li Feifei's destiny trait was most suited to marrying Wen Hua. Wen Hua possessed a destiny trait of righteousness that reached the clouds, and he would surely become the leader of a faction in the future. Li Feifei's destiny trait of preserving the Gu Family estate was perfect for stabilizing the rear, leaving a man free of worries behind him.

But Wen Hua already had someone in his heart, and Zhang Yu could not break up a pair of lovebirds.

Xia Shuang and Wen Hua had grown up together as childhood sweethearts and had long pledged themselves to each other.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Li Feifei left happily.

When she returned to the outer court residence, she did not go back to her own room. Instead, she knocked directly on Su Wan's door. Knock, knock! Creak!

Seeing Li Feifei's beaming expression, Su Wan could not help frowning. "What is it?"

"Oh, Senior Brother Zhang Yu truly treats me well. He gave me a top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill just like that, and he even said I should cultivate to the peak of Dark Force as soon as possible. He'll make sure I become an inner court disciple." Li Feifei had come specifically to flaunt it before Su Wan.

Hearing that and seeing Li Feifei's expression, Su Wan was furious enough for her liver to ache.

Without saying a word, she slammed the door shut. Bang!

"A merchant's daughter really is petty." Li Feifei muttered, then turned and returned to her own room.

Su Wan sat on her bed, unable to calm down.

Top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pills simply could not be found on the market. Even money could not buy them. Zhang Yu had just given one away? And he had given it to Li Feifei?

"By all rights, my relationship with Zhang Yu should be better. After all, I never mocked him before. So why did things turn out this way?" Su Wan could not make sense of it no matter how hard she thought.

"Could it really be the nature of a merchant's daughter?" Su Wan truly began to question whether there was something wrong with her personality.

Five days later, Zhang Yu raised the first level of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art to perfection.

The strength of his flesh increased somewhat, but his defensive power increased greatly. His formerly rough bronze skin became extraordinarily smooth.

Bronze skin became jade skin.

Twenty days later, Zhang Yu raised the second level of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art to perfection.

His sinews and bones went numb, and a dark golden radiance shone from his body.

Iron bones became golden bones.

Zhang Yu glanced at the system panel.

[Jade Skin, Golden Bones]

His strength and defense both increased further.

Awesome!

He was overjoyed.

Because Niu Mancang had awakened the Feral Ox Physique, his bronze skin and iron bones had transformed into bronze skin and golden bones. Zhang Yu had always envied him, and several times he had nearly copied the other man's Feral Ox Physique.

Now that he had trained the first two levels of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art to perfection, his bronze skin and iron bones had transformed into jade skin and golden bones. He was even more formidable than Niu Mancang.

At the Azure Eagle Tournament three days from now, this young master could stand still and let them hit him, and they still would not be able to hurt him.

Zhang Yu secretly felt pleased with himself.

As the Azure Eagle Tournament drew near, word spread that the rewards for the top three this time included Marrow-Washing Fluid. The inner court disciples of Hidden Spirit Academy all erupted in excitement.

Cleansing the essence and marrow, washing the internal organs, increasing the chance of generating inner qi—who would not covet that?

Thus, many old disciples who had gone out to train or remained in seclusion year-round returned. This Azure Eagle Tournament became the subject of discussion throughout the academy.

Zhang Yu did not really care, because he had absolute confidence. But Li Feifei, that loudspeaker, came to his little courtyard every day to report information about the Azure Eagle Tournament and all manner of gossip from the academy.

"Senior Brother, Gu Zhibei, the genius disciple of the Sword-Grasping Institute, has returned from training. I heard his Star-Grasping Sword Art has reached a very deep level. They all say first place in this Azure Eagle Tournament is his for sure," Li Feifei said.

"And Jiang Canglan of the Heavy Astral Institute, first place in the previous Azure Eagle Tournament—rumor says his Heavy Astral Palm has already reached perfection. He is incredibly formidable and determined to take first place as well."

"There's also Pei Wang of the Origin Return Institute. His Returning Cloud Hand has reached the pinnacle of perfection..."

Through Li Feifei's unremitting efforts during this period, Zhang Yu had become thoroughly familiar with the several genius contenders for the championship at Hidden Spirit Academy.

Amid the fervent discussions of disciples throughout the academy, the Azure Eagle Tournament finally began.

Three arenas had been set up in the plaza, surrounded by crowds.

In previous Azure Eagle Tournaments, only fifty or sixty people signed up. This time, because the rewards had increased, the number of registrants suddenly exceeded one hundred, so three arenas were erected.

The plaza could not quite be called a sea of people, but it was not far from it. Disciples from both the inner and outer courts of Hidden Spirit Academy had come, along with quite a few stewards and elders.

Several elders from the branch institutes gathered together, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

"I hope some good seedlings emerge this time. Our Hidden Spirit Academy has ranked last in the Golden Mountain Tournament for ten years already."

The Golden Mountain Tournament was held once every three years. In the last three tournaments, Hidden Spirit Academy had come in last every time.

"Let's hope so."

"I heard the Golden Sword Sect has produced an unparalleled genius who cultivated one of their sect-defending sword arts beyond perfection."

"Luo Xiyao of the Azure Cloud Sect has cultivated to the ultimate boundary of Force Transformation. She cannot be underestimated either."

The more the elders from the five branch institutes talked, the less confidence they had. Their expressions grew increasingly grave.

Yet the disciples watching in the plaza were bursting with enthusiasm.

"Look, Senior Brother Pei Wang from the Cloud Return Institute! He's so handsome!"

"Nymphomaniac!"

"Senior Brother Jiang Canglan from the Heavy Astral Institute—wow, he's so strong!"

"Idiot!"

Every contestant ranked among the top ten in the Azure Eagle Tournament caused a round of commotion and shrieks upon appearing.

When Gu Zhibei of the Sword-Grasping Institute appeared, the scene fell silent for an instant, followed by a low buzzing of discussion.

"Senior Brother Gu Zhibei has such a powerful presence. The look in his eyes just now was terrifying."

"I heard Senior Brother Gu Zhibei trained in the Ten Thousand Mountains and has slain more than a dozen peak Force Transformation experts."

"I bet first place in this Azure Eagle Tournament will definitely be Senior Brother Gu Zhibei's."

"Senior Brother Gu Zhibei is so handsome! I like him so much."

"Didn't you like Senior Brother Pei Wang?"

"From now on, I like Senior Brother Gu Zhibei."

"Nymphomaniac and idiot!"

Amid everyone's discussion, a high-pitched shriek suddenly rang out. "Senior Brother Zhang Yu, go for it!"

"Senior Brother Zhang Yu is mighty!"

"Senior Brother Zhang Yu punches the Cloud Return Institute, kicks the Star Court, cleaves the Heavy Astral Institute with his blade, and challenges the Sword-Grasping Institute with his sword!"

"Senior Brother Zhang Yu is number one in the whole academy!"

Like a complete fool, Li Feifei began shouting all sorts of things the moment she saw Zhang Yu. Her voice was so loud that it nearly drowned out all discussion in the plaza.

Zhang Yu had wanted to keep a low profile and simply take first place after entering the competition. He never imagined that the instant he arrived at the plaza, Li Feifei's roar would turn him into the center of attention.

"Damn it, I gave that top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pill to the wrong person. I can't treat this fool too well." Zhang Yu slapped his forehead, feeling as though he had died socially.

"Who is Zhang Yu? Do you know him?"

"No. He looks like he's only at the early Force Transformation stage."

"I know him. During the last Dragon Gate Assessment, he killed a third-rank Earth Bear with two punches," said a disciple of the Bedrock Institute.

"A third-rank Earth Bear? Is that difficult? Does he think killing a third-rank Earth Bear with two punches makes him a genius?"

"He's finished. He offended everyone the moment he appeared. He'll definitely be targeted during the matches."

"Could that female disciple have a grudge against Zhang Yu?"

After freezing briefly, Zhang Yu ignored everyone's discussion and thought to himself, Since things have come to this, I'll crush everyone in my path and slap every last one of them across the face.

After receiving his number plate, the Azure Eagle Tournament began very quickly.

Zhang Yu looked at his number plate. Number 9—he was in the ninth match, which was early in the order, so he went straight to wait beside the arena.

None of the first few matches involved popular contenders. Zhang Yu watched for a bit, but the fights were ordinary and failed to stir even the slightest interest in him, so he closed his eyes to rest.

"Ninth match: Zhang Yu of the Bedrock Institute versus Ma Xuan of the Heavy Astral Institute."

Zhang Yu opened his eyes and stepped onto the arena.

Because of Li Feifei's shouting, when Zhang Yu walked onto Arena No. 3, a large crowd of disciples gathered around it. Arenas No. 1 and No. 2 instantly lost many spectators.

"Senior Brother Ma Xuan is at the peak of Force Transformation. His strength ranks in the top five of our Heavy Astral Institute. Zhang Yu is finished."

"A mere early-stage Force Transformation cultivator dares to enter the Azure Eagle Tournament? He's courting death."

"He said he was going to slash apart your Heavy Astral Institute with a blade."

"Bullshit. Just wait and see—Senior Brother Ma Xuan will definitely beat him half to death in a moment and teach him how to behave."