Chapter 169

Silence!

Deathly silence!

The entire Yellow Mud Plaza was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even Qin Shuo felt his scalp tingle.

In these few days since arriving in Yunzhou City, he had heard countless rumors about his direct superior, but none compared to the shock he felt at this moment.

Just because of a few words of argument, he dared to challenge and kill the elder of the opposing sect in front of a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

Such dominance and tyranny truly moved people!

"This madwoman, isn't she afraid Nie Jinfeng will fly into a rage on the spot and fight her to the death?"

Baili Jingtao's eyelids twitched wildly; every time he saw this madwoman, he felt his heart being challenged.

"Nie Jinfeng dares not, and will not!"

Upon thinking of the madwoman's background, Lu Dingzhou shook his head with a firm tone.

The Hall Master and Vice Hall Master of Zhenwu Hall were like this, let alone other martial artists; at this moment, they all looked utterly subdued, exceptionally obedient.

Cry!

Accompanied by a piercing eagle cry.

Valley Master Nie Jinfeng of Wind Thunder Valley appeared above the Yellow Mud Plaza.

He stood with his hands behind his back on the eagle's back, facing off against Fu Lingyuan riding the azure bird.

"Division Master Fu struck too heavily!"

Nie Jinfeng's gaze fell upon the two Wind Thunder Valley elders lying like dead dogs in pools of blood, his eyes flashing like swords, immensely intimidating.

An invisible aura emanated from him, pressing down so that the grasses and trees on the plaza seemed to bend slightly.

Many people retreated in panic, shaken by the intense Grandmaster's will, their faces deathly pale, bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"Too heavy?"

In midair, the petite girl stepping on the azure bird shook her red robe and said coldly:

"According to the Great Li law, obstructing the Demon Suppression Division in carrying out duties shall be punished by death!"

"But now, they are still alive!"

"How then would Division Master Fu be willing to let them go?"

Nie Jinfeng's aura sank and condensed, like a great mountain pressing on everyone's hearts, making it hard for people to breathe.

"Simple!"

Fu Lingyuan looked toward the Demon Suppression Division captains on the plaza,

"Those disciples of Wind Thunder Valley who obstructed our Demon Suppression Division's duties shall all be thrown into prison for interrogation.

Furthermore, let those two old things each compensate our Demon Suppression Division with one Wind Thunder Great Pill, and I will spare their lives.

As for the one named Yue Shan,

this man is recklessly bold, daring to assault and kill our Demon Suppression Division captain—truly lawless.

Valley Master Nie, you call him out; I wish to exchange a few moves with him!"

Hearing this, Nie Jinfeng's face grew even uglier, but he still suppressed his inner anger and said coldly:

"Those three hundred mountain-guarding disciples were all severely wounded by Captain Qin's single blade, with over ten dying on the spot—they have already received due punishment.

As for the two elders, they were acting out of zeal to protect their sect; I, Nie, will compensate with the Wind Thunder Great Pill."

Saying this, Nie Jinfeng raised his hand and flung out a porcelain bottle, which Fu Lingyuan steadily caught.

Then he added: "As for Yue Shan's assault on Captain Qin, this is a personal grudge between the two, unrelated to my Wind Thunder Valley.

I have already agreed with Captain Qin that three months from now, they will settle their life-and-death duel on the Life and Death Arena."

"Life and Death Arena?"

Fu Lingyuan's gaze swept over Qin Shuo, "Have you accepted?"

Qin Shuo was about to speak when suddenly, Nie Jinfeng's low voice echoed in his mind, "If you want the World-Suppressing Divine Weapon, then accept!"

"Sound Transmission into the Secret?"

Qin Shuo, who had the words on his lips, raised his brow and immediately changed his words: "Reply to Division Master, my enemy is mine—I prefer to kill him myself!"

"Oh?"

Fu Lingyuan slightly raised her eyebrows, looking at Qin Shuo with some surprise, but her expression softened,

"Very well, if you lose on the Life and Death Arena, just admit defeat; I will personally run him through with a spear later if needed."

Upon hearing this, everyone stared at each other in disbelief, even Nie Jinfeng was so angry his facial muscles twitched violently, nearly unable to restrain himself from attacking.

Bullying too far!

What does bullying too far mean?

"Well, since the old scores are settled, Valley Master Nie, I now wish to thoroughly investigate Wind Thunder Valley—do you have any objections?"

Fu Lingyuan stood with one hand behind her back and the other holding the Phoenix Wing Gilded Halberd, her eyes blazing with fierce battle intent.

Clearly, this Division Master of the Demon Suppression Division was expecting a negative answer.

"Mad, this woman has gone completely mad! She actually dares to challenge Nie Jinfeng—how dare she?"

Looking at that undisguised soaring battle intent, Baili Jingtao only felt his head buzzing.

Sometimes he truly wanted to split open that madwoman's skull to see what was inside, for her to have such insane thoughts.

Refining Organs Perfection and Martial Arts Grandmaster seem only one step apart, but the gap between them is as vast as a heavenly chasm.

Does this madwoman think that possessing divine powers allows her to contend with a Martial Arts Grandmaster?

"Perhaps, she has already taken that step!"

Beside Baili Jingtao, Lu Dingzhou stared with deep eyes at the petite figure standing on the azure bird's back, his expression inscrutable.

According to what he knew, Fu Lingyuan had already achieved perfection in refining organs a year ago and comprehended the Heavenly Phoenix True Qi.

Now a year has passed; given her talent and insight, she might have already condensed the furnace, even ignited the furnace fire, awaiting only the smelting of the hundred meridians to ascend to Grandmaster.

Comprehending True Qi, condensing the furnace, igniting the furnace fire, and smelting the hundred meridians—these are the four essential steps to becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

The reason the Longxiang Monk could, at the half-step Grandmaster realm, defeat a foe comparable to a Martial Arts Grandmaster, the Xiaoyue Demon King,

aside from possessing the Longxiang Divine Ability, was mainly because he had already ignited the furnace fire and reached the brink of smelting the hundred meridians.

Furthermore, his cultivation of the Vajra Buddha Nature innately restrains the regenerative abilities of demons and monsters.

This is how he shattered the Xiaoyue Demon King's Inner Core, causing it to fall to the Condensing Truth Realm.

And now, if that madwoman had not already ignited the furnace fire, it would be utterly impossible for her to so provocatively challenge a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

But...

How old is she?

The Martial Path grows harder the further one goes.

I do not know how many people are trapped before the Grandmaster's gate, spending their entire lives unable to cross that threshold.

Yet now, this junior, not yet half my age, has already ignited the furnace fire before me—this truly inspires awe and sighs.

"Division Master, please do as you wish!"

Nie Jinfeng directly ignored Fu Lingyuan's undisguised challenge, summoned the Thunder Eagle to land, seized the two elders on the brink of death, and vanished above the Yellow Mud Plaza.

Until his figure completely disappeared into the horizon, Qin Shuo's ears finally heard that cold yet familiar voice:

"Come to Shenjian Peak!"