Chapter 85

"The conditions are few, simple—only two." Wang Juechu said with a blank expression.

"First, your people must withdraw from our sect’s territory, and this withdrawal must be done in batches under the supervision of our disciples." His tone was harsh.

"Agreed. No problem." Jia Tianlong answered without hesitation.

Seeing the other side agree so readily, Wang Juechu sneered, then delivered the next condition that stunned Jia Tianlong.

"Second, both sides must engage in a death-oath blood duel here before you may leave."

"Death-oath duel!"

"Is this real?"

"Has he lost his mind!"

…

The moment Wang Juechu spoke, a storm of uproar erupted among the opposing crowd; everyone’s expressions varied wildly. Some turned pale as if confronted by a venomous scorpion, while others grew excited, visibly eager.

Jia Tianlong’s face changed at once, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Did I hear correctly? You mean both sides sign a death-oath, and only one side may leave the arena alive?" He chuckled lightly, as if asking casually.

"Precisely! This blood duel is mandatory to avenge the blood of Master Wu and the others—and both you and I must participate." Wang Juechu gripped his sword hilt, fixing Jia Tianlong with a chilling gaze.

Jia Tianlong chuckled, saying nothing immediately, his eyes flickering as he weighed his options. Clearly, he took the death-oath duel seriously and would not answer without careful thought.

Seeing the crowd around him buzzing with discussion, and unaware of what a death-oath duel was, Han Li could no longer hold back and asked Li Feiyu beside him.

"What’s a death-oath duel? Sounds like something huge!"

"No way! You don’t even know what a death-oath duel is? That’s unbelievable! This is the most infamous bloody method Jianghu people use to settle disputes!" Li Feiyu’s face turned as if he’d seen a ghost, utterly stunned.

"Enough! You know full well I know nothing about Jianghu affairs—what’s so surprising about not knowing this?" Han Li muttered irritably.

"Oh! Right, I almost forgot." Li Feiyu scratched his head sheepishly.

"A death-oath duel means two parties with deep grudges sign a life-or-death contract before combat, declaring that once they enter the arena, only one side may walk out alive. If anyone tries to flee during the duel, they not only lose all honor and are despised by all, but also face a nationwide manhunt and assassination—because every Jianghu person regards the death-oath duel as sacred. Anyone who desecrates it deserves death as a warning."

"Moreover, such duels are typically used in mass battles, making them especially bloody and cruel. In recent years, few have dared use this method."

Li Feiyu spoke slowly, explaining in great detail.

After hearing this, Han Li frowned. Understanding the nature of the death-oath duel, he found Wang’s sudden proposal pointless. In his view, this was clearly a mutually destructive outcome—why bother? It would be far better to let the enemy leave cleanly and avoid unnecessary complications.

"Fine, I accept. Let’s have the death-oath duel." After careful deliberation, Jia Tianlong glanced several times at Jin Guang, then made his decision.

He knew Wang Juechu wanted to kill him—but didn’t he himself want to use this chance to wipe out the last elite of the Seven Mysteries Sect?

Jia Tianlong understood Wang’s scheme perfectly: he was counting on his three secret uncles. But Jia had long learned the truth through his planted spies and had already prepared for it.

Now he had a cultivator skilled in flying swords as his trump card, and with the advantage of surprise, his chances of winning the death duel were over ninety percent.

If he could eliminate Wang Juechu and the remaining experts of the Seven Mysteries Sect in the duel, even if this plan failed, it wouldn’t matter—because next time they attacked, the enemy would have no strength left to resist. After all, cultivating experts doesn’t happen in half a year or a year.

Thus, Jia Tianlong, who always valued careful deliberation, willingly took this risk and agreed to sign the life-or-death contract.

"Master Wang! According to the rules of the death-oath duel, since you proposed the time and place, and I didn’t object, the number of combatants and the format should be decided by me, correct?" Jia Tianlong said with a cold, false smile.

"Hmph. Correct." Wang Juechu agreed reluctantly.

"Then I demand one hundred combatants—fifty from each side—in a free-for-all brawl." Jia Tianlong stated his demand without hesitation.

"Fifty? Free-for-all?" A flicker of surprise crossed Master Wang’s icy face.

Normally, in death duels, both sides avoided heavy losses by fielding only twenty or thirty fighters at most; free-for-all was rarely used—single combat was far more common.

But since he himself had proposed the duel, he couldn’t back out. And he had absolute faith in his three uncles—he was certain they would win even in a free-for-all.

Besides, if he could kill Jia Tianlong, no cost would be too great. With the cunning leader of the Wild Wolf Gang dead, his unruly subordinates would immediately fracture, fighting among themselves for the leadership, leaving the weakened Seven Mysteries Sect with breathing room.

Thinking this through, Master Wang nodded and accepted the demand.

"Someone! Mark out the death-duel arena! Prepare the life-or-death contract!" Wang Juechu barked behind him.

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