Life-and-Death Duel

Life-and-Death Duel

Watching Iron Mountain's departing figure, Ye Yun's expression was somewhat strange.

A Body Tempering Realm opponent no longer poses much of a challenge. I wonder what this Qi Refining Realm opponent Iron Mountain has delivered right to my doorstep will be like. Ye Yun felt eager to give it a try.

During the half month since returning to the sect, Ye Yun had cultivated day and night without rest. With ample medicinal pills assisting him, he had already opened his one hundred and first acupoint. In terms of martial skills, his Layered Waves Fist had reached perfection. Though Treading Snow Without Trace and the Profound Yin Twelve Swords had not made any major breakthroughs, he had become far more proficient in them. The coordination and transitions between his several martial skills had also grown more natural.

With Ye Yun's current strength, few in the Body Tempering Realm could stand against him. Thus, now that Iron Mountain, a Qi Refining Realm martial artist, had come knocking, the fighting spirit in Ye Yun's heart had been stirred.

The Life-and-Death Platform, as its name implied, was a place to decide life and death.

Although Purple Extreme Sect forbade fellow disciples from killing one another, martial artists were bound to have clashes and frictions. If fellow disciples truly formed an irreconcilable feud and had to fight to the death, they could apply to the sect for a battle on the Life-and-Death Platform. However, if one party's cultivation exceeded the other's by an entire major realm, the weaker party could refuse.

That was where Iron Mountain's insidiousness lay. Before so many outer sect disciples, he had challenged Ye Yun, leaving Ye Yun caught between a rock and a hard place. In Iron Mountain's eyes, if Ye Yun accepted the challenge, he would undoubtedly die.

If Ye Yun refused the challenge, he would never again be able to hold his head high before his fellow disciples. Ye Yun himself would also be unable to get past this hurdle, leaving a shadow in his heart from then on.

But Iron Mountain had never imagined that, with Ye Yun's current strength, the two of them were at least evenly matched.

Ye Yun continued as usual—eating, sleeping, and cultivating as though nothing had happened. Many people secretly placed bets on whether Ye Yun would accept the challenge. Most, however, believed that he would not.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, a crowd of outer sect disciples had arrived early at the Life-and-Death Platform to watch the spectacle.

Some people had begun taking bets on how today's outcome would turn out. The current odds were:

Ye Yun would not accept the challenge, 1:1

Ye Yun would accept the challenge, 1:2

As for who would win or lose, nearly everyone believed Ye Yun was certain to die, so no one even opened bets on it. In their eyes, a Body Tempering Realm fighter facing a Qi Refining Realm fighter was simply courting death.

By midmorning, more and more people had gathered around the Life-and-Death Platform. Ye Yun appeared, a sword in hand, his face expressionless as he passed through the crowd and climbed the platform step by step.

Nearly half an hour after Ye Yun arrived, Iron Mountain finally came late with Ironwood. Iron Mountain leaped onto the Life-and-Death Platform and looked at Ye Yun. "Junior Brother Ye, you came quite early. Are you in such a hurry to reincarnate? If you are willing to do as I demanded that day, I can give you one more chance and spare your life. Ha, hahaha!"

As he spoke, Iron Mountain burst into laughter. Hearing his arrogant tone, Ye Yun's heart remained as calm as still water. Not the slightest anger rose within him, as though he were looking at a dead man.

"No more nonsense. Let's begin," Ye Yun said calmly, drawing his sword and pointing it at Iron Mountain.

"Fine. Since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish. I ask Seventh Elder to bear witness." Iron Mountain turned toward the old man in the pavilion ahead.

The old man was one of Purple Extreme Sect's nine great elders, the Seventh Elder responsible for outer sect affairs, a True Essence Realm expert.

The Seventh Elder looked at the two men on the Life-and-Death Platform. A moment later, he asked Ye Yun, "Outer sect disciple Ye Yun, do you accept this challenge?"

"This disciple accepts," Ye Yun replied indifferently.

Upon hearing Ye Yun's answer, the Seventh Elder gave him a deep look. Then he spoke.

"Outer sect disciples Ye Yun and Iron Mountain have voluntarily initiated a life-and-death battle. Permission is granted. It now officially begins."

The instant his words fell, Iron Mountain shot toward Ye Yun like an arrow released from the bow, unable to wait any longer to attack.

Facing the incoming attack, Ye Yun drew his sword. The angle of his strike was inconceivably tricky, as elusive and cunning as an antelope hanging its horns.

Iron Mountain immediately changed the direction of his attack, smashing his fist toward Ye Yun's sword. When they collided, Ye Yun felt as though he had struck a steel plate. Then an enormous rebound force surged through the blade, knocking Ye Yun back several steps.

Is this the strength of the Qi Refining Realm? The fighting spirit in Ye Yun's heart was instantly ignited.

Turning defense into offense, his figure flashed as he swung his sword and charged at Iron Mountain.

Clang, clang clang!

Several consecutive sword strikes landed on Iron Mountain's body, yet Iron Mountain was completely unharmed.

"Hahaha, Junior Brother Ye, how does my Stonewall Art at the major completion stage feel?" Iron Mountain mocked Ye Yun.

Ye Yun had seen the Stonewall Art in the martial arts repository. It was a martial art specifically meant to strengthen one's defense. Once cultivated to the end, one's skin could become as hard as a massive boulder. Moreover, Iron Mountain was now driving it with true qi, increasing its power by at least another fold. That was why Ye Yun's sword strikes had not harmed him in the slightest.

After understanding the reason, Ye Yun did not waste words. He threw the Shadow Sword down from the Life-and-Death Platform to Wang Chen, who was watching below, and switched to fighting with his fists. Activating his movement technique, he charged at Iron Mountain once more, fists swinging.

Iron Mountain immediately sneered, "You could not break my defense even with a sword. Do you think you can do it with your hands?"

Just as Ye Yun's fist was about to strike Iron Mountain's chest, Iron Mountain made no move at all. Seeing this, Ye Yun's heart tightened. He instinctively felt that he had fallen into Iron Mountain's scheme, but the arrow was already on the string and had to be released. He could only grit his teeth, gather all his strength into his fist, and throw a punch that slammed into Iron Mountain's chest.

The moment his attack landed, Ye Yun did not have time to observe the result. He pushed Treading Snow Without Trace to its limit and retreated backward, remaining ready for Iron Mountain's attack at any moment.

As for Iron Mountain, he possessed absolute confidence in his defense. He smugly believed that even if he stood there and allowed Ye Yun to attack him, Ye Yun would never be able to hurt him.

Yet the instant Ye Yun's fist struck him, Iron Mountain's face changed drastically. He felt a vast force pierce through his defense and surge toward his heart. His heart instantly shattered into pieces. A warm rush surged up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body collapsed to the ground. His mouth moved as though he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He could only stare wide-eyed at Ye Yun, his gaze seeming to ask, What is going on?

On Ye Yun's side, the sight instantly left him dumbfounded. He had thought that he had fallen into Iron Mountain's trap. The moment his attack was complete, he had fled outside Iron Mountain's attack range.

Yet instead of the attack he had expected, he saw Iron Mountain collapse to the ground.

It was not only Ye Yun on the platform who was stunned. The spectators below and the Seventh Elder acting as judge were also dumbfounded.

In an instant, the area around the Life-and-Death Platform fell utterly silent, the stillness terrifying.

At that moment, Ironwood below the platform spoke.

"Brother, are you joking with everyone? Hurry up and end the battle. I have already prepared a table of wine and food to celebrate your victory," Ironwood said, still believing that Iron Mountain was merely joking with everyone.

Iron Mountain had still been clinging to his last breath. But upon hearing Ironwood's words, his pupils abruptly widened. Unable to catch his breath, he was angered to death.

It is not easy for a newcomer. Please save and recommend this story. Thank you, esteemed readers. I kneel in gratitude.

(End of chapter)