Chapter 177: Show Up at the Door

Among the holy herbs Ye Liuyun collected, there were three that could raise his realm; he refined them into Crossing-Element Pills and kept them to eat slowly.

Two healing holy herbs were also refined by him into pills for backup.

There were also two pills that enhanced physical qualities; he tossed them straight into the bath to soak and absorb.

In short, he consumed all more‑than‑ten holy herbs, leaving none, using them all to strengthen his power.

After returning from Blood Thunder Peak, Ye Liuyun quietly cultivated for three days, and his strength increased dramatically.

Now even when he uses the third move of Bà Tiān Divine Fist, only sixty percent of his True Essence is expended, no longer emptying it with a single punch as before. With more True Essence, he can fight for longer.

During those three days, news of him spread like wildfire throughout the branch academy.

Three Holy Realm ferocious beasts, an eighth‑layer Sea Transformation pet beast that fought the Grand Elder, killing many disciples in the Secret Realm, and so on—various rumors, both true and false, were circulated to an astonishing degree.

The image of the white robes, black blade, and Golden Pupil was firmly etched in the academy disciples' minds; they all feared inadvertently provoking this killing star.

That day, an uninvited group arrived at the Sacred Martial Academy and blocked the main gate, injuring every passing disciple.

Their attire was all blood robes, clearly the garb of the Xuemo Sect. Leading them were two Saints, accompanied by twenty young disciples.

This made the branch academy feel as if facing a great enemy; the Dean and several Saint Elders went out personally to assess the situation.

"Qi Tian Helmsman?" the Dean exclaimed, startled upon seeing the newcomers.

"Shen Peng, our Qi Tian Dynasty branch has no ties with yours; may I ask what guidance the Helmsman Shen brings to our branch?" the Dean asked.

Shen Peng laughed heartily. "I dare not claim to teach, we are here to seek instruction. You have a disciple named Ye Liuyun who destroyed our Great Zhou Branch; I now lead twenty elite disciples from the Qi Tian and Barbarian Tribe branches to challenge him. Have Ye Liuyun come out to speak."

The Dean glanced at the twenty disciples behind him; their realms ranged from Second Sea Transformation to Sixth Sea Transformation. Moreover, the two Sixth Sea Transformation disciples exuded particularly profound aura, clearly not ordinary disciples.

Ye Liuyun's realm had only just reached Second Sea Transformation—could he defeat these people?

Although worried, he made no unilateral decision; instead, he truly let others call Ye Liuyun out and let him decide for himself.

After Ye Liuyun arrived and saw the Xuemo Sect disciples opposite, he was also startled. "The Xuemo Sect came knocking so quickly?"

The Xuemo Sect disciples opposite all turned to look at him, sizing each other up.

"You are Ye Liuyun?" Shen Peng also examined him repeatedly, yet found nothing particularly special.

"It's me!" Ye Liuyun replied calmly.

"I can't believe it—you alone destroyed the Great Zhou Branch?" Shen Peng asked curiously.

Ye Liuyun retorted, "Don't believe it, what are you here for?"

His words left the Qi Tian Helmsman speechless.

Then Shen Peng said, "The elite disciples from our Qi Tian and Barbarian Tribe branches wish to challenge you; do you dare to accept?"

Ye Liuyun glanced at the opposing disciples, thinking silently, "Since you came knocking, you won't be going back."

He asked calmly, "What are the terms?"

"What terms?" the Qi Tian Helmsman asked, bewildered.

Ye Liuyun wore a scornful expression. "No conditions? You expect me to accept your challenge? If you say fight, then fight."

"If you don't care about reputation, you may decline our challenge!" Shen Peng used provocation.

Ye Liuyun laughed, "Does the Xuemo Sect care about reputation? It's already infamous! Discussing reputation with you is meaningless. If you're truly poor and can't produce something that interests me, stop wasting everyone's time! Causing trouble at our academy's gate only provokes friction between the two great sects; we don't mind wiping you out outright!"

"You…" If not on Sacred Martial Academy grounds, the Qi Tian Helmsman would have slapped this sharp‑tongued youngster to death.

The Saint beside him said, "Since it's a challenge, a wager is fine. We'll put up ten million mid‑grade Crystal Stones, how about that?"

"Ha—" Ye Liuyun suddenly laughed. "Looks like you're truly poor! The Great Zhou Dynasty put a bounty on my head, offering thirty million mid‑grade Crystal Stones! Ten million is still less than the Crystal Stones I have plundered from the Great Zhou Branch! I'm not interested."

The Saint's face turned extremely sour. As a Saint, when had he ever been insulted so by a junior?

"Bastard! Then tell me, what do you want?" the Qi Tian Helmsman asked.

Ye Liuyun had been waiting for that question; he immediately replied, "Bring two False Holy Artifacts; the losers leave them, the winners take them. Moreover, every participant must sign a Life‑and‑Death contract and step onto the Life‑and‑Death Platform, never stopping until death. All belongings of the dead belong to the victor. Between the two bouts, give me sufficient time to recover my strength."

"Go back and consider; I give you three days. If you agree, bring the False Holy Artifacts. If you refuse, return to where you came from."

After speaking, Ye Liuyun bowed to the Dean and turned away, paying no heed to them.

Those of the Xuemo Sect were fuming, their seven orifices smoking. Especially the young disciples, whose eyes seemed ready to spew fire, eager to rush up and beat Ye Liuyun.

Seeing Ye Liuyun about to leave, Shen Peng could not be content to have wasted a trip only to retreat empty‑handed.

After returning, he would surely be mocked to death!

"Fine! I accept!" the Qi Tian Helmsman roared angrily.

Hearing this, Ye Liuyun also halted, a slight smile at his lips. "Bring out the False Holy Artifacts and verify their grade."

The Qi Tian Helmsman and the elder exchanged glances, each immediately producing a False Holy Artifact. They carried these divine weapons to ensure the safety of their elite disciples.

The Dean was also startled. "They actually carry False Holy Artifacts with them. Fortunately today isn't a life‑or‑death clash, otherwise we would have been at a disadvantage."

After receiving the Dean's confirmation, Ye Liuyun told them, "Hold on a moment; let those who will step onto the platform prepare. Those not stepping up should not enter the academy later. I'll go back to make preparations; the academy also needs to ready the Life‑and‑Death battle platform."

Having said that, Ye Liuyun returned to the academy together with the Dean and others.

After returning, Ye Liuyun summoned Qiong Qi, gave him orders; the Dean listened and almost laughed. Once Qiong Qi finished setting things up, the Dean also arranged his own side to sit properly.

Ye Liuyun entered his preparation area, having signed the Life‑and‑Death contract and waited.

At this moment, a Steward also ushered all the Xuemo Sect members inside.

The Steward politely invited the two Saint elders of the Xuemo Sect to seats; the Xuemo Sect disciples went downstairs to sign the Life‑and‑Death contracts, then entered the preparation area to wait.

The Stewards kindly reminded everyone that once the Life‑and‑Death contract is signed, they must step onto the platform; thus, after entering the preparation area, they cannot withdraw.

Each of them entered with great righteousness, paying no heed to the Stewards' reminder.

After they entered, the Steward immediately activated a Formation, seizing control of both sides' preparation areas.

The Xuemo Sect disciples and elders felt a bit uneasy, but seeing no further action, they temporarily relaxed.