For a moment, the Twelve Ancestral Witches all gave Gu Changqing strange looks.
As the Ancestral Witch of Fire, Zhurong commanded the fire laws and was renowned above all for his combat prowess.
Even among the Twelve Ancestral Witches, his offensive power ranked among the very best.
Gu Changqing's unhesitating agreement truly caught everyone by surprise.
Even if he was the Twelfth-Grade Supreme Great Luo who had shaken the Primordial World, this was still far too impulsive, far too reckless.
"Well... haha, Fellow Daoist Changqing must be feeling the effects of the wine."
"You cannot take those words seriously."
"Indeed. Fellow Daoist Changqing is a junior, after all. Sparring with Brother Zhurong would hardly be appropriate."
They spoke with smiles, offering Gu Changqing a way to back down in hopes of preventing the two from fighting.
Zhurong, too, froze for a moment, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Yet Gu Changqing's swift, decisive acceptance stirred a measure of admiration in his heart.
This was how a cultivator ought to be.
Regardless of strength, even if one died in battle, one could not let an opponent frighten one out of striking.
Gu Changqing's free-spirited, unrestrained manner had already earned him some of Zhurong's goodwill.
After a moment's consideration, Zhurong spoke again.
"Since Fellow Daoist Changqing is so forthright and decisive, I will not bully a junior."
"How about this? I will make only one move, using seventy percent of my strength."
"If you can withstand it, Fellow Daoist Changqing, the victory is yours."
For the blunt, guileless Zhurong, this was already an expression of tremendous goodwill.
Gu Changqing, however, had drunk himself into a haze, his face flushed red.
At that moment, he seemed wholly unappreciative.
"Haha, no need!"
"Why should men like us fuss and dither?"
"If we are going to fight, we