Chapter 140: Life and Death Declaration!

Facing Song Changning's relentless pressure, Gu Zongyuan actually didn't take it to heart.

Although their cultivation levels were comparable and their spiritual root qualities identical, the uninformed masses of cultivators called them the geniuses most likely to achieve a Golden Core in Character: Liyang Zhenren City.

But in Gu Zongyuan's mind, he didn't regard Song Changning at all.

In his view, the two were on completely different levels.

A mere young master of the Song family cannot be compared with his Character: Liyang Guard Commander—just a bunch of ignorant nonsense!

But today Song Changning's move came without hesitation, knocking directly at his door, not at all convoluted, and indeed shattered the seemingly unsolvable scheme he had.

This made the previously eager him somewhat displeased.

"Brother Changning, how do you propose to investigate? Should I release my Soul Transformation for you to search my memories? Or should I grant permissions so the Character: Liyang Guard lets your Song family investigate at will?" Gu Zongyuan asked with a half‑smile.

His tone was calm, yet the subtext already let others feel his anger.

Song Changning seemed not to notice, and persisted, "Searching Brother Zongyuan's Soul Transformation, the Song family would never dare. Investigating the Character: Liyang Guard is utterly impossible. However…"

He shifted his tone, coldly eyeing Xiao Zhangqing, and said, "But regarding this Bai Wuji, our Song family still dares to investigate, to make him spill the truth and give an explanation!"

"Song Changning!" Gu Zongyuan, too lazy to continue the pretense, shouted harshly, "Am I really that easygoing, giving the Song family a face? Bai Wuji is the captain of my Character: Liyang Guard, and your Song family still dares to investigate?"

"We wouldn't dare," Song Changning clasped his hands, speaking with neither humility nor arrogance, "But Bai Wuji's identity is questionable, his origins unknown, yet he still provokes our Song family and Senior Xue Ya. I suspect he is secretly acting on someone's orders! He perhaps should not have become part of the Character: Liyang Guard."

Just as Song Changning was about to rebuke again,

Song Changning's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he threatened, "Even if this matter reaches the Character: Liyang Zhenren, our Song family is not afraid! If, as Brother Zongyuan says, Bai Wuji became the captain of the Character: Liyang Guard early on because He Yuan offended him, and the Character: Liyang Zhenren punishes our Song family, we would have no regrets!"

He was convinced in his heart that today's incident was Gu Zongyuan secretly scheming behind the scenes, that after the 'He Yuan affair' Bai Wuji was only then recruited into the Character: Liyang Guard.

There was never any such thing as pre‑recruitment!

Thus, if the matter escalated and even reached the Character: Liyang Zhenren, as one of the Character: Liyang Zhenren's most cherished disciples, Gu Zongyuan would likely face no serious consequences—perhaps a mild scolding—but the Song family could use it to restore its face!

Gu Zongyuan sneered, "Bring this before my master? The Song family aside, whether they have the nerve is another matter. Even if they have the nerve, do they have the face?"

The so‑called Ten Great Families might seem a formidable power to outsiders.

But in the Character: Liyang Zhenren's eyes, they amount to nothing!

With an imperfect metaphor, the Ten Great Families could be called the Character: Liyang Zhenren's 'house slaves'—or 'parasites'! Many know that the City Lord's Mansion outweighs the Ten Great Families, yet they don't realize that, taken together, the Ten Great Families are not even in the Character: Liyang Zhenren's sight and can be swapped at will.

In the hundred‑plus years since Character: Liyang Zhenren City was built, the Ten Great Families have come and gone, having no impact on the Character: Liyang Zhenren.

Even if all Ten Great Families were annihilated, the Character: Liyang Zhenren wouldn't be more upset.

Because the strongest behind the Ten Great Families are at most in the early Golden Core stage, the weaker ones only have a Fake Core True Person as backing.

The Character: Liyang Zhenren, however, is a late‑Golden Core cultivator, a legendary cultivator of the Da Yu Cultivation World with the potential to challenge a Nascent Soul True Lord! Thus, in his eyes, the Ten Great Families are no different from ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators—just slightly larger ants.

As long as they don't threaten the safety of Character: Liyang Zhenren City, it doesn't matter to him.

"The Song family certainly lacks the right to confront the Character: Liyang Zhenren. But what if Senior Xue Ya steps in?" Song Changning asked.

Gu Zongyuan heard this, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Xue Ya True Person indeed has the standing to meet his master.

Although Xue Ya True Person's current strength is still negligible compared to his master's.

But that is because his master is exceptionally talented.

Since forming the Golden Core, his cultivation has continued to improve over the past hundred years.

A hundred years ago, his master, the Character: Liyang Zhenren, was far from today's unrivaled strength and had not yet reached the point of disregarding the early Golden Core stage.

Xue Ya True Person has served under his master for nearly a hundred years; initially, he was barely a strong aide to his master.

Thus, there is a certain bond between them.

If Xue Ya True Person were incited by Song Changning and conceived this plan, openly confronting the issue could indeed reach his master.

"Brother Zongyuan, you probably don't want this matter to get too big either, right?" Song Changning said with a smiling grin.

Gu Zongyuan replied coldly, "What will you do? In any case, Bai Wuji has already joined the Character: Liyang Guard; if your Song family wants to move against the captain, that's opposing the Character: Liyang Guard! Even if Senior Xue Ya steps in and brings this before my master, I will maintain this stance!"

Although Gu Zongyuan truly did not want this trivial matter to reach his master and make his master think he was incompetent.

But he also cannot lose face over this! Since Bai Wuji was proactively recruited and the news has just been broadcast, the higher‑ups of Character: Liyang Zhenren City have likely already learned of it.

If he now pushes Bai Wuji out, what kind of person would Gu Zongyuan become? Where would his authority be?

A botched theft only harms the thief!

So regardless, Bai Wuji is secured!

Even if Xue Ya True Person intervenes, his stance remains the same! At this point, Song Changning is not surprised at all. In fact, he knows Gu Zongyuan better than Gu knows him! The two have been subtly competing, and he knows Gu Zongyuan thinks him unworthy and looks down on him, which only drives him to surpass Gu Zongyuan!

Thus, Gu Zongyuan's determination to protect Bai Wuji surprises him not at all; it was exactly what he expected.

"Since Brother Zongyuan is determined to protect Bai Wuji and also doesn't want this to blow up and reach the Character: Liyang Zhenren, then it can only end here between the two of us," Song Changning said.

Gu Zongyuan: "So you mean..."

Song Changning's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, revealing a warlike intent, and he said, "Brother Zongyuan and I are both regarded by the many cultivators of Character: Liyang Zhenren City as the two equally renowned Foundation Establishment cultivators, each hoping to eventually achieve the Golden Core. Yet regarding us, who is stronger, who has the edge, there has never been a definitive conclusion. So, today, using Bai Wuji as a pretext, the two of us will duel, letting everyone see who truly is the top Foundation Establishment cultivator of Character: Liyang Zhenren City. If I lose, then Brother Zongyuan wins, and the matter ends here. Neither the Song family nor Senior Xue Ya will trouble Bai Wuji again. If I happen to win, we will take Bai Wuji into our own hands—how does that sound?"

Gu Zongyuan paused briefly upon hearing this, then burst into hearty laughter, teasingly looking at him, "It seems Brother Changning has been scheming for a long time, eager to compare strengths with me, huh? As it happens, I've long had the same intention—to learn Brother Changning's high moves."

The request Song Changning put forward somewhat surprised Gu Zongyuan.

But he was not shocked; rather, he was pleased.

He internally despised Song Changning, so he certainly wasn't afraid of him! Since Song Changning voluntarily proposed a duel, he welcomed it.

It's also time to break the reputation of the 'Character: Liyang Foundation Establishment Twin Champions.'

He is the sole unparalleled existence!

In the future, he intends to follow his master's path, not only to successfully form the Golden Core but also to aim beyond the norm of most Golden Core cultivators, who are content with the early Golden Core stage and see little progress for centuries thereafter.

He wants to gradually cultivate into the late Golden Core stage, to glimpse the bearing of a Nascent Soul True Lord!

Song Changning, how could he be compared with him? Today, he will make the entire Character: Liyang Zhenren City—and even the whole Da Yu Cultivation World—aware of Gu Zongyuan's name! His talent and potential are not inferior to the heirs of the two major Nascent Soul sects, possessing Foundation Establishment strength that rivals Fake Core cultivators!

"Since that's the case, let's change location; this Drunken Immortal Tower isn't suitable for a duel," Song Changning said.

Gu Zongyuan nodded and was about to stand.

He already possesses strength that can match the Fake Core True Person, but Song Changning is, after all, a top Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, whose power is also not to be underestimated.

I could take him down, but it would require some effort, and I can't execute it within this Drunken Immortal Tower.

"How about going to my Character: Liyang Guard camp? That's the best place for us to duel. Of course, Brother Changning, if you think going to the Character: Liyang Guard would be unfair to you, we can choose another spot. Going outside the city is also fine," Gu Zongyuan said generously.

Song Changning replied, "No problem, let's go to the Character: Liyang Guard."

Although the two have been openly and covertly contending, today they finally laid their conflict on the table.

Yet Song Changning also knows clearly that today their duel must be fair and square; even if they go to the Character: Liyang Guard, Gu Zongyuan would not dare to employ underhanded tricks.

If he did use them, even if Gu Zongyuan won, his reputation would be ruined.

Just as Gu Zongyuan was about to stand up.

Xiao Zhangqing, who had been quietly watching the two "big shots" discuss matters and clash in secret, acting as a transparent onlooker, suddenly stood up and said, "Commander Gu, since this incident originated because of me, the target that the Song family and the Blood Crow True Person are looking to trouble is also me. So why should you have to step in and act? Since Dao Companion Song wants to spar with someone, let me take it. I'll deal with Dao Companion Song."

Gu Zongyuan was momentarily stunned, not expecting Xiao Zhangqing to step forward now, and hurriedly said in a low voice, "Captain Bai, no need to overthink. Brother Changning only seems to be looking for trouble with you, but actually he has long wanted to test me. You need not intervene in this matter. Moreover, Brother Changning's strength truly is not to be underestimated; you are not his match."

In Gu Zongyuan's view, Xiao Zhangqing harbors a secret; he may be stronger than outsiders speculate, not only comparable to the late Foundation Establishment stage, but possibly also possessing Foundation Establishment Perfection strength! Yet even within Foundation Establishment Perfection there are differences! The magnitude of magical power, the cultivation of secret arts, the grade of Magic Treasures, and the quantity of Talisman Scripts and other treasures all greatly affect one's strength.

Therefore, some Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators can contend with the Fake Core True Person, while others would be instantly slain by him.

Gu Zongyuan looks down on Song Changning, yet still acknowledges Song Changning's strength, which is far beyond Xiao Zhangqing's.

Xiao Zhangqing seemed not to understand and continued, "It's fine. If I truly am not Dao Companion Song's opponent, then I will be defeated, and you, Commander Gu, can step in again."

Song Changning's eyes flashed with surprise at those words.

He thought to himself, this Bai Wuji truly is as arrogant as the investigation suggested, recklessly believing that Character: Liyang Zhenren City is just like the small town he once lived in, and that he can rule it as king.

He immediately seized the floor: "Brother Zongyuan, since this Bai Wuji is so confident and wants to spar with me, that's perfect; please don't interfere. Every captain before the Character: Liyang Guard has been a top‑tier Foundation Establishment cultivator, and I have no guarantee of victory. Since Brother Zongyuan has recruited Bai Wuji, he must possess some extraordinary qualities."

Xiao Zhangqing said with a smile, "I don't have much that is extraordinary; only my Soul Transformation attainment is fairly decent. Dao Companion Song should have investigated this and knows it clearly, right?"

Song Changning nodded and laughed, "Indeed. I've investigated and it's clear. My Soul Transformation attainment is average, so I might truly not be a match for this Bai Wuji! If that happens, I will have no face to spar with you, Brother Zongyuan, again. So please don't bring up things like the 'Character: Liyang Foundation Establishment Twin Champions'…"

Song Changning was very pleased, seeing that Xiao Zhangqing seemed to find him more agreeable and even addressed him as 'Dao Companion Bai'.

Gu Zongyuan's expression darkened, and he quietly sent a mental message to Xiao Zhangqing: "Captain Bai, you must back out quickly! Song Changning is far beyond what you can contend with! If you really engage, your life may not be spared! Do not believe that Song Changning's Soul Transformation is weak; he can cultivate to Foundation Establishment Perfection and even has the prospect of breaking into the Core Formation Realm, so his Soul Transformation cannot be weak."

Xiao Zhangqing replied, "Commander Gu, please trust me. I'm no reckless brute; the fact that I dared to step forward shows I have confidence. Would I willingly go to my death?"

At this moment, Song Changning spoke again with a hint of meaning, "However, a Soul Transformation clash is especially dangerous; it's hard to gauge the proper degree. If one carelessly strikes too hard and loses one's life…"

Xiao Zhangqing replied without hesitation, "If a life is lost, it's simply bad luck; neither side can cause trouble afterward."

"Good!" Song Changning shouted loudly, his eyes flashing with brilliance, "I was thinking the same!"

Without waiting for Gu Zongyuan to raise further objections, he immediately used his magical power to broadcast his voice so that every guest in the Drunken Immortal Tower heard, "Today I, Song Changning, will duel Bai Wuji, and we set a life‑or‑death decree! Whoever loses and unfortunately loses their life does so by their own fault, and no one else is to blame!"

(End of Chapter)