Open Challenge

Behind Blood Saber Peak, outside the forbidden grounds.

This place lay shrouded in blood-colored mist all year round. Ordinary disciples dared not even approach it; merely casting a distant glance at it was enough to unsettle their minds.

Xue Yugang, dressed in a purple robe, strode over with a gloomy expression. Seeing him, the two guards stationed at the entrance to the forbidden grounds immediately dropped to one knee.

"Young Master."

"I want to see Father." Xue Yugang's voice carried no emotion.

"The Ancestor has ordered that while he is in seclusion, no one—" Before the guard could finish.

"Get lost!" Xue Yugang kicked the guard in the chest. The man flew away like a kite with its string cut, slammed into the mountain wall, spat blood, and fainted on the spot.

The other guard trembled all over in terror and did not dare stop him again.

Just as Xue Yugang was about to step into the forbidden grounds, a figure emerged from the mist like a ghost, blocking his path.

A young man in fitted black clothes, even taller and straighter in build, slowly stepped out of the blood mist.

His features bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Xue Yugang's, yet his bearing was entirely different. His eyes were deep as an abyss, and he was like a peerless vicious blade sheathed in its scabbard—steady, yet all the more dangerous for it.

"Big Brother?"

At the sight of him, Xue Yugang froze for a moment before asking in confusion, "You... weren't cultivating in seclusion within the forbidden grounds? Why did you come out?"

The newcomer was Blood Saber Ancestor's eldest son—Xue Yutang, who had been in seclusion for nearly half a year!

Xue Yutang did not answer his question. He merely stated a fact calmly. "Father is in death seclusion, attempting to break through to a higher realm. No one may disturb him."

"Death seclusion?" Xue Yugang's heart jolted. This meant his father had placed himself in the most perilous circumstances. If he succeeded, the sea would be vast and the sky boundless; if he failed, he would be doomed beyond redemption. At such a time, there truly could not be the slightest outside interference.

He looked again at his elder brother and suddenly sensed something. Delight appeared on his face. "Your aura... Xiantian Mid-stage! Big Brother, you broke through?"

Xue Yutang's aura was restrained, but the occasional trace that leaked out was several times stronger than before! Even Xue Yugang, who was also at Xiantian Early-stage, felt a hint of pressure from it.

"Just luck." Xue Yutang's tone remained flat. "Speak. What happened? Unless the sky has fallen, you should know better than to come here casually."

The smile on Xue Yugang's face instantly vanished. He recounted, as quickly as possible, how Lu Shaoyou had killed Xiong Tai on Giant Whale Gang territory, and how he had uprooted both Black Tiger Hall and Thunderclap Hall.

After hearing it all, a trace of anger finally surfaced on Xue Yutang's formerly calm face.

"So because of one brat who just entered the martial world, my Blood Saber Sect lost two halls and several hundred elites? Are Xiong Tai and Lei Xiaotian pigs?"

Xue Yutang's voice abruptly turned cold, like icicles in the depths of winter. "And you! Before I entered seclusion, what did I tell you? Is this how you act as the one in charge?"

"Big Brother! That man is a Xiantian expert! His strength is formidable, and it wasn't convenient for me to leave..."

Xue Yugang felt deeply wronged!

"A Xiantian expert?"

Xue Yutang was slightly stunned. He said instinctively, "Since when did Azure Province gain another Xiantian expert?"

As he spoke, his expression changed. "Could he have been sent by the Imperial Court again? Have you investigated this clearly?"

Xue Yugang said, "Probably not. Over the years, we secretly slaughtered all the people the Imperial Court sent. They would not be so foolish as to keep sending people."

"According to our investigation, he came from Yun Yuan County in neighboring Yun Province. Apparently, he destroyed a nest of bandits there, and he came to Azure Province to seek revenge against Li Mo."

"A Xiantian expert seeking revenge against an acquired-realm martial artist?"

Xue Yutang found it absurd after hearing that.

Since when was a mere acquired-realm martial artist worthy of being the enemy of a Xiantian powerhouse?

"Big Brother, he should be a disciple of some great sect in Yun Province. I heard Black Wind Village wiped out an entire village, which brought down his vengeance upon them."

"A great sect?"

"Hmph. In Azure Province, my Blood Saber Sect is the sky. Let alone some mere sect—even if the Imperial Court came, it would be useless." Xue Yutang's face was filled with disdain.

"A mere Li Mo actually caused my Blood Saber Sect such grievous losses. This Seat would like to see what is so special about him." Xue Yutang sneered, cold killing intent radiating from his body.

Xue Yugang's expression shifted as he said quietly, "Big Brother, I have already ordered all the halls to contract their lines of defense. And... that Li Mo has already taken the Blood Fiend Pill and joined the Blood Shadow Guard."

At the words "Blood Shadow Guard," the fury in Xue Yutang's eyes subsided slightly.

He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Since he has joined the Blood Shadow Guard, his affairs are no longer for you or me to comment on. But for the sake of one such pawn, my Blood Saber Sect has become the laughingstock of all Azure Province. The price is too great."

Xue Yugang lowered his head, not daring to respond.

Xue Yutang paced two steps where he stood, a fierce glint flashing through his eyes.

"However..."

"Contract our defenses? Wait for him to slaughter his way to our doorstep, then shut the door and beat the dog?" He gave a cold laugh. "Does my Blood Saber Sect still care about its face?"

Xue Yugang said, "This..."

Xue Yutang said coldly, "Father is currently in death seclusion. Not the slightest mishap can be allowed. You should know that if the Divine Sect Plan is affected because of a Lu Shaoyou, then even ten thousand deaths would not absolve us of blame."

At the words "Divine Sect," Xue Yugang's body shuddered and his face changed drastically.

He suddenly realized that if Lu Shaoyou truly fought his way up Blood Saber Peak and ruined their plan of several decades, cold sweat would immediately break out across his forehead.

After a long while, Xue Yugang wiped away the sweat on his brow and asked, "Then what does Big Brother intend?"

"Doesn't he enjoy pulling out our halls one by one?" A cruel curve rose at the corner of Xue Yutang's lips. "Then we shall give him an opportunity."

He suddenly turned around and looked at Xue Yugang, terrifying brilliance bursting from his eyes.

"Pass down my order! In the name of Blood Saber Sect's eldest young master, Xue Yutang, set up an arena at Soul Severing Cliff outside Blazing Fire City and publicly challenge Lu Shaoyou!"

Xue Yugang's entire body shook. "A public challenge? Big Brother, this..."

This was equivalent to completely exposing Blood Saber Sect's predicament before the eyes of the world!

Xue Yutang seemed to see through his thoughts. His voice rose several degrees, carrying an unquestionable dominance.

"Not only that!"

"Send out hero invitations as well. Invite all martial world comrades of Azure Province to Blazing Fire City to watch the battle! Raise the reward to fifty thousand taels of silver! I want everyone to know that my Blood Saber Sect intends to kill someone!"

Xue Yugang was so shocked by his elder brother's mad plan that he could not speak.

"Big Brother, this..."

"It is decided." Xue Yutang's voice allowed no doubt.

"I want everyone to see what fate awaits those who become enemies of my Blood Saber Sect!"

"This is the way my Blood Saber Sect should conduct itself!"