Chapter 154: The First Move

Ouyang Lie hadn’t arrived yet; Cang Luo stood on the empty fighting platform, bored, but not without things to do.

He was observing. He was waiting.

Observing the odds fluctuations in the betting pools, waiting for the highest payout for “Cang Luo Wins.”

This duel had five factions capable of setting betting pools: Blood Knife Clan, Divine Martial Clan, Danyang Clan, Xiaoyao Clan, and Jinyuan Clan—all top-ten external sect factions.

There was no Lie Tian Clan, likely because Ouyang Lie was one of the combatants; they avoided even the appearance of bias.

Cang Luo was slightly disappointed—he had wanted to bet everything on Lie Tian Clan, not just defeat Ouyang Lie but also fleece Lie Tian Clan badly; now he could only give up on that.

Among them, Divine Martial Clan, Danyang Clan, Xiaoyao Clan, and Jinyuan Clan all set nearly identical odds, with fluctuations around ten percent.

But Blood Knife Clan was a bit flush with wealth, or perhaps desperate, and oddly eccentric.

The odds for “Defeat Cang Luo in One Strike,” “Defeat Cang Luo in Two Strikes,” and other Ouyang Lie victory options were double those of the other four clans!

Others offered five times, Blood Knife Clan offered ten times!

So ruthless!

Yet the odds for “Cang Luo Wins” were only half of theirs!

Other clans offered ten times; Blood Knife Clan offered only five!

What did this mean?

Did Blood Knife Clan believe Cang Luo might win?

Cang Luo looked toward Blood Knife Clan and saw their manager, Bei Gong Wang, head of the White Tiger Hall; he was looking back and smiling at Cang Luo.

Cang Luo gave Bei Gong Wang a slight nod, then turned to Wang Fuhai and smiled: “Wang Senior Brother, fetch two thousand lower-grade Qi Stones—bet five hundred each on Divine Martial Clan, Danyang Clan, Xiaoyao Clan, and Jinyuan Clan—for my victory!”

“Yes!”

Wang Fuhai, in charge of finances, perked up instantly, thrilled, and led two brothers off to place the bets.

Previously, Wolf War Clan had held just over two thousand lower-grade Qi Stones; yesterday Cang Luo won two thousand more, bringing it to four thousand, but last night they paid out over seventeen hundred in severance, leaving only about two thousand three hundred.

Cang Luo kept three hundred as petty cash and split the remaining two thousand evenly into four bets on the four clans.

He split them because he feared betting everything on one clan might make them refuse the bet—or even if they accepted, they might deny paying afterward, causing trouble.

Split into four, five hundred each, was no problem—even if Cang Luo pulled off an upset and beat Ouyang Lie, they’d only owe five thousand lower-grade Qi Stones total, which they could afford.

Not only could they afford it, they’d profit: far more people bet on “Defeat Cang Luo in One Strike” or “Two Strikes” than on “Cang Luo Wins”; they actually hoped Cang Luo would win.

They’d pay only Cang Luo and clean up on all the rest.

Two thousand lower-grade Qi Stones at ten times odds equals twenty thousand; subtract the principal, and if he won the duel, he’d net eighteen thousand lower-grade Qi Stones!

Eighteen thousand lower-grade Qi Stones!

He’d strike it rich!

Perfect to fund the expansion of Wolf War Clan and launch his commercial plans...

Cang Luo grew excited just thinking about it.

As Cang Luo pondered how to use the eighteen thousand lower-grade Qi Stones, the crowd watching from Xuantian Town suddenly parted left and right, clearing a narrow path.

Without needing satellite scans, Cang Luo saw it: Ouyang Lie had arrived, followed by over a hundred men, each carrying weapons.

“What a grand entrance!”

Cang Luo chuckled, spotting Dai Xue, whom he’d seen yesterday in the Technique Pavilion, walking beside Ouyang Lie like a couple.

Their appearance instantly drew the eyes of countless external sect disciples.

Envy, jealousy, admiration...

One was a top-ten external sect prodigy, at the peak of Warrior Rank Nine, immensely powerful, handsome, and just sixteen years old—with limitless potential.

The other was the third most beautiful woman in the external sect, at Warrior Rank One, under sixteen, with countless suitors.

These two were clearly made for each other; the crowd could only sigh in admiration.

But Ouyang Lie’s opponent, this Cang Luo, was twenty-two and only at Warrior Rank Four...

Compared like this... it was incomparable!

They weren’t even on the same level—how could you compare them?

Ouyang Lie walked forward, completely ignoring the envious and jealous stares, calm and composed, occasionally chatting with Dai Xue beside him, laughing and smiling.

As if he weren’t here for a life-or-death duel but for a casual stroll—he never once looked at his opponent, Cang Luo, completely ignoring his existence.

On the platform, the impatient Master Wang, seeing Ouyang Lie parade in with a beauty, grew even more annoyed and snapped: “Get on the platform—”

He glanced at the longsword on Ouyang Lie’s back and added: “No weapons allowed!”

Actually, the life-or-death arena imposed no restrictions on weapons; it was usually agreed upon by both sides—either both used them, or neither did.

Master Wang saw Cang Luo was unarmed and wanted him to win, so he decided for both: no weapons for either side.

Ouyang Lie didn’t care—he hadn’t planned to use a weapon anyway—and casually removed his sword, handing it to a junior behind him.

Then he softly told Dai Xue: “Xue’er, wait a moment. Let your brother first deal with this waste, then I’ll take you into the Beast Forest to capture a beast companion.”

He brought over a hundred men not just to show off his power, but mainly to help Dai Xue capture a beast companion.

He needed so many because Dai Xue wanted a mutated beast companion—but mutated beasts were exceedingly rare; you couldn’t just find them on demand.

So he mobilized Lie Tian Clan; more people meant a higher chance of finding one.

Dai Xue smiled and nodded at Ouyang Lie, then glanced at Cang Luo—and instantly remembered that strange mirror...

Was her portrait still inside that mirror?

What kind of treasure was it?

So miraculous!

Dai Xue was lost in thought about yesterday’s events, about Cang Luo’s phone, slightly distracted, unaware that Ouyang Lie beside her had grown displeased.

At this moment, Ouyang Lie recalled yesterday in the Technique Pavilion: Dai Xue being draped over by Cang Luo’s arm.

His woman, touched by another man’s arm...

Ouyang Lie exploded in rage, glaring at Cang Luo on the platform and snarling: “Today, I’ll flay your skin and pull your tendons—I’ll make you beg for death!”

With a roar, Ouyang Lie leapt onto the platform, then suddenly remembered something and turned back: “Bet five hundred lower-grade Qi Stones on me winning in one strike! Bet one thousand lower-grade Qi Stones on me winning in two strikes!”

“Yes!”

A man from Lie Tian Clan stepped forward and hurried off to place the bets.

The spectators froze for a moment, then instantly reacted, rushing to bet too—all betting “Defeat Cang Luo in Two Strikes,” betting everything they had.

Ouyang Senior Brother’s meaning was clear: one strike might not be certain, but two strikes was guaranteed.

Ouyang Senior Brother eats meat—we drink the broth!

Thus, Ouyang Lie wasted more time, and Master Wang had been enduring it, wishing he could fight Cang Luo’s duel himself and teach Ouyang Lie a lesson.

No more delays—Master Wang, as per custom, briefly stated the rules of this life-or-death duel, stepped between them, and said quickly: “This life-or-death duel prohibits weapons, treasures, and arrays—”

Before he finished, Cang Luo suddenly asked: “Are beast companions not considered external objects?”

Master Wang shook his head: “Beast companions are born from the master’s own flesh and blood—they’re not external objects.”

Cang Luo nodded. He’d known this already, but hearing the overseer confirm it eased his mind.

Summoning a beast companion was key to victory!

So, since beast companions were allowed, Cang Luo didn’t hesitate—he bent low and barked: “Spirit Link Technique!”

Seconds later, a silver-glowing summoning array appeared, clinging to the ground, slowly rotating.

Then, the Two-Headed Flame Devourer, Erha, obeyed his master’s call, leaping from the array and standing beside Cang Luo, glaring at Ouyang Lie with a low, rumbling growl.

“...”

Cang Luo’s sudden summoning stunned many; someone laughed and cursed: “Cheating bastard—he summoned the beast before the duel even started!”

“Haha, understand—he’s challenging a higher rank. His power is nothing compared to Ouyang Senior Brother. If he waited until the fight began to summon, he’d be dead before the beast even appeared!”

“True, but even so, he’s no match for Ouyang Senior Brother—he’ll just lose his beast too. But if the master dies, the beast dies anyway—no big loss.”

The crowd’s mockery made Wolf War Clan members feel embarrassed, but Cang Luo remained expressionless—they were right. He’d summoned early precisely because he feared he wouldn’t get the chance once the fight began.

So what if they mocked him? What mattered more: their words or his life?

“Silence!”

Master Wang snapped, added a few more words, and concluded: “We’re all sect brothers—don’t kill each other. At least... spare each other’s lives.”

He urged kindness, but was ignored: Cang Luo was whispering to his beast, apparently discussing tactics.

Ouyang Lie, meanwhile, stared at Cang Luo with revulsion—eager to exterminate him.

Even without Li Haoran’s order, he would kill Cang Luo.

Yesterday, this waste dared provoke him in front of Sister Dai, then touch her right before his eyes.

And before that, he killed Chen Yun—the deputy head of Lie Tian Clan!

Also, Chen Dalong, Zhang Zhen, and others in the clan were rumored to have been killed by this waste!

Deserving death!

He hadn’t even come for revenge, yet this waste kept killing Lie Tian Clan members!

Killing him outright would be too merciful!

He must be flayed, tendon-pulled, limb-by-limb—only then would his hatred be sated!

Neither combatant acknowledged the other—not even a polite bow.

But none was given!

It meant they were beyond words—this was life or death.

Master Wang saw this and said nothing more—he stepped aside, cleared space, paused, then shouted: “Duel... begin!”

The moment he spoke, before Ouyang Lie moved, Cang Luo—like a bird startled by a bowstring—leapt away, splitting with Erha, retreating to opposite edges of the platform.

Then Erha frantically spat white smoke, thickening into a dense fog...

At the same time, Cang Luo ignored the restriction that the Annihilation Body Art could only be maintained for five minutes, and immediately activated it, assuming a defensive stance.

At this moment, Cang Luo was no longer calm and composed as before; he was filled with vigilance, slightly tense, and even a touch of... madness!

His eyes were bloodshot, his skin faintly reddened, veins bulging, yang and wind elemental qi swirling around his arms, protecting his shoulders, heart, and head.

Only areas where meridians had been refined could condense elemental qi.

Cang Luo’s cultivation base was only Martial General Fourth Layer; he could refine only a limited number of meridians. Like most martial cultivators, he prioritized refining the meridians in his upper body.

Because eighty percent of the human body’s vital points lie in the upper body.

Cang Luo dared not slacken for a moment, firmly shielding his heart and head with elemental qi, terrified that Ouyang Lie would strike and kill him instantly.

Ouyang Lie had placed bets: five hundred low-grade yuan stones on defeating him in one strike, one thousand low-grade yuan stones on defeating him in two strikes.

This meant he would unleash his full strength, aiming to kill Cang Luo in one or two blows.

No matter what, he must survive the first two strikes. If he survived them, Ouyang Lie would lose fifteen hundred low-grade yuan stones.

These fifteen hundred low-grade yuan stones were certainly not Ouyang Lie’s personal wealth—they were assets of the Lietian Gang.

Losing so much yuan stone would surely cause internal dissent within the Lietian Gang. If their leader, Ouyang Lie, were killed, the gang might even dissolve on its own.

Moreover, one strike boosts morale, two strikes weaken it, three strikes exhaust it!

If Ouyang Lie failed to kill him in two strikes, his momentum would plummet, and he would be enraged by the loss of fifteen hundred low-grade yuan stones, losing his composure in battle—and then he might reveal an opening...

After one breakthrough, Erha’s speed and density of white smoke exhalation had improved. In less than ten seconds, the smoke had formed a mist covering nearly a third of the arena.

Opposite him, Ouyang Lie had not expected Cang Luo to be so cautious, so cowardly—no sooner had Wang Zhishi announced the duel than Cang Luo had dashed to the arena’s edge and assumed a defensive stance.

If you’re so afraid of death, why provoke me?

Ouyang Lie sneered dismissively, not rushing to attack, but turning with mild interest toward the mutated Fire-Eating Wolf spewing white smoke furiously.

“So this is a mutated beast? Indeed far stronger than its kind—no wonder Xue’er wants so badly to capture a mutated beast as a beast companion...”

Ouyang Lie muttered, curious about the mutated Fire-Eating Wolf, and ignored the mist now enveloping him.

Such a petty trick as mist couldn’t possibly affect his combat...

But the next instant, Ouyang Lie suddenly sniffed, then burst into violent coughing.

This mist was unexpected—it actually choked him!

Ouyang Lie immediately channeled his qi to hold his breath, sneering: “Foolish fool, I was going to let you live a little longer—but now you’ve forced me to strike early...”

At one corner of the arena, the supervising Wang Zhishi was also caught off guard, swiftly engulfed by the white smoke.

He hadn’t anticipated the smoke would choke him either, coughed twice, then immediately leapt onto the nearby No. 6 arena.

Nearby, an inner sect disciple commented: “Though the Fire-Eating Wolf is a Tier One beast with a low growth ceiling, this one is mutated and can generate mist—still decent. Its combat power can support its master up to Martial Spirit cultivation.”

After that, it will fall behind its master’s progress, becoming a burden—eventually only fit to be a mount, offering no real combat assistance.”

“Hah, you overrate this beast!”

Someone else chimed in, laughing: “Mist like this might fool Martial Masters, but at Martial Spirit level, one’s yuan consciousness is refined—mist is nothing to them...”

Cang Luo heard their comments. They were true—but he didn’t care.

Was he limited to only one beast companion?

Ignoring their remarks, Cang Luo tensed his entire body, eyes bloodred, waiting for the mist to fully cover the arena.

Once the mist covered the entire arena, it became his battlefield.

Though he couldn’t see through the mist, he could share Erha’s sense of smell, using it to locate Ouyang Lie.

Erha’s sense of smell wouldn’t be hindered by his own smoke—so Ouyang Lie would be blind. How could he possibly lose?

Soon, the mist enveloped the entire arena, swallowing both Cang Luo and Erha.

Cang Luo immediately held his breath to avoid choking, then ordered Erha to search for Ouyang Lie...

Around the arena, many spectators coughed and cursed Cang Luo as a cheat.

“So that’s it... cough, cough—no wonder this guy dared challenge Brother Ouyang! His mutated Fire-Eating Wolf can spew mist to blind Brother Ouyang!”

“Damn it! Without vision, Brother Ouyang won’t be able to defeat him in one or two strikes...”

“Cough, cough... not only that—don’t you know Fire-Eating Wolves have incredibly sharp senses of smell? They can pinpoint Brother Ouyang’s position by scent and launch flame attacks...”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than several flashes of fire erupted from within the mist.

“Bad! The Fire-Eating Wolf is launching flames!”

“Brother Ouyang, dodge!”

“How can you dodge if you can’t see?”

At that moment, countless spectators held their breath, worried Ouyang Lie would be hit by the flames, terrified he’d lose the duel and cost them their bets.

No one had expected that what was supposed to be Ouyang Lie’s inevitable, crushing victory had turned into this.

Ouyang Lie couldn’t see his opponent, but his opponent could roughly track his position—and had ranged attacks...

Was Brother Ouyang going to lose?

Just as everyone thought Ouyang Lie would be struck by flames, the next instant, a roar of furious rage erupted from within the mist.

“Die!”

After the roar came a gale, seemingly blowing from nowhere.

Though not large, the gale was ferocious, instantly splitting the mist that had covered the entire arena into two halves, carving out a clear, one-zhang-wide path untouched by mist.

In the center of that path stood Ouyang Lie, right fist raised proudly, its surface sheathed in a blazing crimson elemental qi that seemed to burn.

The spectators, seeing Ouyang Lie, instantly understood—and their worry turned to joy.

“That gale just now was Brother Ouyang’s fist wind!”

“So strong! No wonder he’s Brother Ouyang!”

“Now it’s settled—Cang Luo’s mist plan has failed. Brother Ouyang will win!”

“By the way, where’s Cang Luo? Where’s his mutated Fire-Eating Wolf?”

“Probably still hiding in the mist, too scared to show himself...”

At that moment, countless hearts finally relaxed—they no longer feared Ouyang Lie would lose, no longer feared losing their money.

On the arena, Ouyang Lie coldly retracted his right fist, then gazed at the lingering mist on either side, sneering: “Arrogant fool. A frog in a well!”

With that, he punched toward the denser mist on his left!

BOOM!

The fist wind was violent!

The mist on the left instantly scattered, revealing the hidden mutated Fire-Eating Wolf, Erha.

Exposed, Erha’s eyes flickered with fear—he knew he couldn’t match this human, would be killed. Both wolf heads frantically spewed flame and mist, then bolted away.

“Beast!”

Ouyang Lie snorted, easily dodging the flames, ignoring the wolf, and swiftly turned to punch the mist on his right.

Cang Luo wasn’t in the left mist—he must be in the right mist.

Indeed, as the fist wind passed, the mist dissolved, revealing Cang Luo’s figure.

Cang Luo was exposed—he froze in shock, without thinking, turned and fled toward Erha.

There, Erha had once again spewed mist, covering half the arena. Cang Luo wanted to hide in it again—he wasn’t ready to fight Ouyang Lie head-on yet; he’d focus on draining his opponent’s qi first.

Cang Luo moved fast—he was about to vanish into the mist.

But Ouyang Lie was faster—in an instant, he appeared before Cang Luo, blocking his path.

Seeing Ouyang Lie appear almost like teleportation before him, Cang Luo froze for a moment—had Ouyang Lie not even used his full strength yesterday?

After a half-second of shock, Cang Luo went on full alert, sweat pouring from his forehead.

This time, he couldn’t dodge—he couldn’t escape. His body couldn’t keep up with the feedback from his dynamic tracking. All he could do was cross his arms before his chest and unleash his elemental qi at full power to defend.

The next instant, Ouyang Lie, face cold with a sneer, struck straight at Cang Luo’s face.

This punch, like the three that had scattered the mist, was not a martial technique—it was merely the full, instantaneous release of accumulated Five Thunder Yang Heaven Qi.

This punch emphasized pure yang, direct and unyielding.

Though not a technique, its power rivaled a high-grade Xuan-level martial art—Ouyang Lie’s own half-formed creation, sufficient to shatter a common Tier Two beast.

Of course, the cost was immense.

THUD!

BOOM!

The crimson-glowing fist, wrapped in violent wind, slammed into Cang Luo’s crossed arms, hurling him backward, smashing him against the arena’s edge.

Thus ended Ouyang Lie’s first strike—he had only used one punch to send Cang Luo flying.

Though he hadn’t killed or defeated him, Cang Luo was severely injured.

Cang Luo’s left forearm, upon contact with Ouyang Lie’s fist, had shattered—shattered into fragments—and now he was in agony as he tried to heal.

Opposite him, Ouyang Lie frowned slightly. He was disappointed he hadn’t killed Cang Luo with one punch—but not surprised. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bet one thousand low-grade yuan stones on “two strikes to defeat Cang Luo.”

At this moment, the Fire-Eating Wolf, Erha, rushed to Cang Luo’s side and immediately spewed white mist, concealing him once more.

The mist spread rapidly, again covering the entire arena, engulfing Ouyang Lie.

Having unleashed four punches powerful enough to shatter Tier Two beasts, Ouyang Lie was drained—he didn’t rush to disperse the mist and pursue Cang Luo. Instead, he was now meditating, recovering his qi, preparing for his second strike.

The first strike was merely a probe. The second strike—he would shatter Cang Luo!