Chapter 163: 162. The Challenge

162. Chapter 162: The Challenge

When Li Yi entered the mansion's main hall, Fan Zhizhou had already been seated and waiting for some time.

"Master Fan, my apologies—I was just engaged in martial cultivation and lost track of time. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Li Yi spoke politely; after all, he was the guest, and he couldn't appear dismissive—he still had to uphold proper decorum.

"Brother Li." Fan Zhizhou rose immediately and bowed with clasped hands.

"Please, Master Fan, sit."

Li Yi nodded slightly and said: "Master Fan, you've come here today for something important—let's skip the formalities. Just say it outright. I'm not from the Eight Provinces; I dislike such rituals."

"Straight to the point? Good. Then I'll speak plainly."

Fan Zhizhou smiled and said: "I came here for two reasons. First, the yin horses you asked me to find—I've gathered four. Since I was already traveling, I brought them along. Unfortunately, time was short, so I couldn't find more. But don't worry—I'll keep sending people to collect them. They're not precious items, just rare and hard to come by."

With that, he gestured, and a beautiful maid behind him stepped forward, placing a box on the side table.

Inside, four clay horses were neatly arranged.

Li Yi said: "Master Fan, your thoughtfulness is enough."

With these four plus the three he already held, he had more than enough for now—no need to rush for more.

"As for the second matter—it's about yesterday's Ghost God collecting lifespans." Fan Zhizhou sighed: "Last night, you rode through the night, slaying ghosts and seizing the Ghost God's yang lifespan. That drew attention. Today, the yin spirit of Meng Family in Qingzhou has noticed the anomaly in San Yang City. They've already dispatched one Gang cultivation expert and five Qiao experts to deal with you."

"My family's spies in Qingzhou just delivered this news this afternoon—that's why I came here at once to warn you."

Li Yi's eyes flickered: "Meng Family of Qingzhou? Isn't Xingzhou under your Fan family's control? Why involve another great clan?"

"You don't know this, Brother Li. The Ghost God collects lifespans across provinces. For example, Qingzhou's Meng Family takes lifespans from Xingzhou's people, while my Fan Family takes those from Yanzhou's. The great clans of the Eight Provinces never collect lifespans in their own lands. This was a rule set a thousand years ago—to incite infighting among the Eight Kings and prevent them from uniting. For a thousand years, the Eight Kings have been in constant conflict."

Fan Zhizhou sighed helplessly: "Everyone knows this scheme, but human greed is complex—who doesn't want more yang lifespan? But take too much, and the people of a province die early. Too many deaths, and reproduction can't keep up. If yang lifespan isn't reduced, more people die. Soon, the entire province becomes a wasteland. Enough of this—it's useless to dwell on it. Brother Li, focus on how to handle the Gang expert."

"I know your strength. Even all five Qiao experts together couldn't match you. The real threat is the Gang expert."

He looked at Li Yi, hoping to read his expression.

But Li Yi showed no alarm. His face was unnervingly calm—even a faint cold smile touched his lips: "A Gang expert? They've come to die. Killing him won't be hard."

"Brother Li, are you that confident?" Fan Zhizhou was stunned.

Did he not fear Gang experts at all?

Li Yi said: "Master Fan, I hate this cycle—kill the junior, and the senior comes. I want to know: if I kill this Gang expert, will a Shén expert come after me?"

"Impossible."

Fan Zhizhou replied at once: "The Meng Family of Qingzhou has no more than three Shén experts. Sending one Gang expert here is already a major show of force. If you kill him in San Yang City, the Meng Family will compromise—they'll even avoid collecting lifespans here in the future. One city for peace? That's a fair trade."

"The Meng Family is vast. They need top experts to guard many places. They won't risk their elite on a minor issue like this—if they lose, their family is finished."

As a scion of a great clan, no one understood clan logic better than Fan Zhizhou.

If Li Yi could kill a Gang expert, Fan Family would have to deploy a Shén expert—but such masters are the family's anchors, its pillars. They wouldn't move them for a single city. Even if all its yang lifespan went to Li Yi, it wouldn't matter.

But only if Li Yi could kill the Gang expert.

If he couldn't, all talk was empty. Only real power could force Qingzhou's Meng Family to compromise.

"If killing one won't bring another, then I'm relieved. Thank you, Master Fan, for warning me so urgently—I'm truly grateful." Li Yi spoke solemnly.

"Brother Li, you're too kind. My warning won't help much—they'll arrive in San Yang City tomorrow. In just one day, you can't accomplish much. Still, you could leave the Eight Provinces now, avoid their sharp edge, and return later when you're stronger."

This was Fan Zhizhou's original intent.

He didn't believe Li Yi could kill a Gang expert—he wanted Li Yi to flee the Eight Provinces now, and return stronger later.

After all, his own cross-province opportunity lay with Li Yi. Without him, Fan Zhizhou would be trapped here forever, never seeing the wider world.

"Knowing the enemy is coming lets me prepare—that's crucial. As for fleeing? No need. I have some confidence. But since you've given me such vital intelligence, why not do me one more favor? Act as intermediary. Contact the Gang expert. Deliver a message for me." Li Yi's eyes gleamed.

"Just one message? No problem. What do you want me to say?" Fan Zhizhou asked.

Li Yi said: "At noon tomorrow, outside San Yang City, beneath Great Green Mountain. I'll be there. I challenge that Gang expert—to settle superiority, and decide life or death."

"A challenge?" Fan Zhizhou froze. Then he asked: "Brother Li, are you truly confident you can defeat that Gang expert alone?"

Li Yi replied calmly: "Without confidence, why issue a challenge? And only killing him can end this. If I ran, the first to suffer would be my Master, my junior brothers and sisters. The monk may flee, but the temple remains. Better to fight."

"That makes sense. Still, I can protect Zhao Shiwu's martial hall—Xingzhou is under Fan control, and the Meng Family can't interfere in mortal affairs. But for Ghost God lifespan collection, even I can't stop it. If you don't resolve this, next month's first day, the yin spirit won't just take one month's lifespan—it'll take a year, ten years, even twenty."

Fan Zhizhou spoke, helpless.

"But if you drive off the Gang expert, and I mediate, perhaps San Yang City can avoid future lifespan collection."

"Good. That's enough." Li Yi said.

"Since it's settled, I'll send word of the challenge today." Fan Zhizhou asked again, seeking final confirmation.

Li Yi nodded: "At noon tomorrow, beneath Great Green Mountain. The challenge is set. No changes. After I kill that Gang expert, Master Fan, I owe you a favor. Your cross-province journey? No problem."

He returned the favor, offering another grand promise.

"Then I wish you victory tomorrow." Fan Zhizhou smiled, rose, and bowed again: "I'll act at once. But if anything goes wrong, I'll intervene to protect you."

"Don't worry. I won't lose." Li Yi smiled.

Seeing Li Yi's confidence, Fan Zhizhou felt reassured and took his leave.

Li Yi made no effort to stop him, watching him depart.

To be honest, he had no confidence defeating a Gang expert in direct combat—but he was a prisoner of Earth. He'd brought a sniper rifle to the Eight Provinces—a specialized model designed for supernatural beings, devastating in power.

Why use fists when you have a gun?

"Challenge yourself to a duel? That's suicide. Outside Great Green Mountain, open plains for kilometers—no cover. He comes, he's a walking target. Gang expert? More like a corpse waiting for a bullet." Li Yi thought silently.

Others fight with fists—he'd use a gun. Let the Eight Provinces see what a truly evil Earth Prisoner can do.

He didn't believe any Gang expert's defensive aura could stop a sniper round.

"Meng De, are you there? Your Master's here. I heard you're leaving soon—is that true?"

Suddenly—

As Li Yi pondered, Zhao Ge's booming voice rang out from the front courtyard—clearly, Zhao Ge had fully recovered, restored to peak condition.

Li Yi snapped back to attention and looked outside the main hall.

There stood his Master, Zhao Ge, accompanied by Zhao Qian, Rong Niang, and Thin Monkey.

Clearly, they'd heard he was leaving and came to see him.

"Master." Li Yi hurried forward and bowed.

Zhao Ge nodded: "Good. Your strength has improved—you're in Bone Refining now? Fast progress, but you still need refinement. Meng De, Rong Niang said you're leaving the Eight Provinces. Is that true? Your martial base is still shallow—only Bone Refining. You should stay in San Yang City longer, at least reach Blood Refining."

Li Yi replied: "I came here hastily to save you. Many household matters remain unresolved, so I need to return quickly. Once I settle them, I'll come back to San Yang City—I'm not leaving for good."

"I understand." Zhao Ge stroked his beard and smiled: "But if your home affairs are so burdensome, why not take Zhao Qian and Rong Niang with you? They can care for your household, saving you trouble."

At this, Zhao Qian and Rong Niang both blushed.