Chapter 75: The Wager

Xu Chen felt himself locked onto by an intense murderous intent, and in an instant, the flying sword was already before his eyes.

Unfortunately, ever since he had collected the Mysterious Water Nether Lotus, the treasure vase had shown no further movement, and he had recently failed to research any method to actively release its protection; at such a critical juncture, the treasure vase was of no use at all.

"Junior Brother, watch out!" Zhao Xuan had already realized something was wrong, her smiling face instantly freezing into terror.

My life is at an end!

Just as Xu Chen prepared to close his eyes and await his fate, the man in green raised his hand and grabbed, the flying sword suddenly hanging suspended in front of Xu Chen, less than two feet from his face.

Xu Chen tilted his head almost subconsciously.

A sharp sword Qi grazed his cheek, several strands of hair falling away before being shredded into dust.

Although the precious sword was suppressed, it was still trembling crazily; the woman in black had an icy expression and her hands were forming sword seals, seemingly unwilling to give up until she had run Xu Chen through.

"Junior Sister, we cannot act today!"

The man in green's voice rang out, though his gaze toward Xu Chen also revealed a hint of surprise.

"Seventh Senior Brother, he is the one who injured my Master and killed Senior Brother Liang Feng. Let me kill him, and I will plead guilty to the Elders when we return to the mountain."

The man in green shook his head slightly and said, "The several Elders gave strict instructions before we left this time: we must not act recklessly. If you do not listen, do not blame your Senior Brother for disregarding our fellowship and sealing your dantian first."

The woman was both angry and anxious, but in the end, she slowly dissipated her aura.

The man in green raised his hand to grab the flying sword back, tossed it to the woman, and then frowned, saying, "Junior Sister, you must not act on impulse. The matter of Uncle-Master Yulong has already been settled by the sect, and furthermore, after Senior Danchenzi's Spirit Transformation, he visited Yuqing Hall to explain the reasons to the three Supreme Elders. This concerns the peace between the two Immortal Sects. If you do not listen, then go back alone!"

The woman in black was furious and stomped her feet, saying, "Seventh Senior Brother, does that mean my Senior Brother died in vain!"

The man in green waved his hand and said, "I am not clear on this matter, and even if you want revenge, it is not for today!"

The woman in black was stunned and asked, "Then when?"

The corners of the man in green's mouth curled into a cold smile as he said, "Naturally, we must wait until Senior Danchenzi's Spirit Transformation Ceremony. At that time, you may challenge the peers of the Taiyuan Sect, and then you can kill him openly and honestly."

The woman in black turned her anger into joy and said, "Fine, then I will listen to Seventh Senior Brother; I will not kill him today!"

Xu Chen listened from the side, his face turning dark, while anger surged in his heart.

The two of them were discussing how to kill him right under everyone's noses.

And they even planned to openly slap the face of the Taiyuan Sect.

This kind of sparring between peers of Immortal Sects was a common way of interaction in the Immortal World, and even if Danchenzi were a Spirit Transformation True Monarch, he would have no reason to refuse.

This woman's cultivation should be at the True Essence Early Stage, much worse than the black-clad Daoist from the Ziyang Sect or Liang Feng, but the Taiyuan Sect was thinly populated; the only ones on the mountain who could likely defeat her were the Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Sister. If she could not kill him, she would likely target other Senior Brothers and Sisters with lethal intent.

In this way, he would implicate many Senior Brothers and Sisters, and even if they did not die, they might be severely injured or have their Dao foundations destroyed.

Thinking of this, Xu Chen's face slowly turned livid, and he stepped forward, looking at the woman in black: "Your Senior Brother's death has nothing to do with us. If you want to seek revenge at the Taiyuan Sect, you have found the wrong place."

The woman in black said angrily, "My Senior Brother died precisely because he went to chase you, yet you still quibble."

Xu Chen said, "I saw with my own eyes that he was killed by Guo Ming of Longmen Mountain—first his dantian was pierced, then he was cut in two. You do not go to Longmen Mountain for revenge, but come to our Taiyuan Sect to run wild; do you take our Taiyuan Sect for a soft persimmon?"

The woman in black was about to speak, but the man in green waved his hand, looking at Xu Chen with a hint of mockery: "I do not know if you truly have ability or are just putting on a show, but your courage is indeed not bad. However, the weak are the weak; do not think that because Senior Danchenzi has achieved Spirit Transformation, the Taiyuan Sect can cock its tail. In the eyes of our Yuqing Hall, your Taiyuan Sect is nothing. Regarding the death of Liang Feng, the three of you from the Taiyuan Sect are the only witnesses. Naturally, all explanations come from you. We only know that Junior Brother Liang died while chasing you, so it is not wrong to count this debt against you."

Zhao Xuan, standing beside him, could no longer hold back; she stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xu Chen, her face cold as she scolded, "How dare you say that! Liang Feng wanted to hunt us down—does that mean the people of our Taiyuan Sect should just stretch out our necks for him to kill? The injury on my body was a gift from Liang Feng. If you truly dare to come to the Taiyuan Sect to kill, my Master will certainly avenge us."

The man's eyes narrowed slightly: "You are a disciple of Danchenzi?"

Zhao Xuan nodded: "That is correct. I was injured by Liang Feng using the Yuqing Hall's Thunder Technique, and now my Dao foundation is damaged. This grudge will naturally not be settled easily!"

The man in green was silent for a moment before suddenly laughing loudly: "Very well. With your explanation, I am even more certain that Junior Brother Liang Feng indeed died at your hands. My Junior Sister and I did not come to seek revenge today, but to deliver a formal invitation on behalf of the sect's Elders. Since we have met the two of you in advance, there is no need to go up the mountain. Please accept this invitation!"

Watching the golden paper invitation the man in green tossed over, Xu Chen gripped it in his hand and said, "Back in Jingshi, we already experienced the unreasonable might of Yuqing Hall. Today, your actions make me even more certain that Yuqing Hall is truly a bunch of bullies who fear the strong and pick on the weak. For the sake of you coming to deliver this invitation, I will give you a chance for revenge in advance. If you win, you may cut off this head of mine; if you lose, you must admit the fact that Liang Feng was killed by Longmen Mountain, and never come to seek revenge again."

The man in green had already summoned his flying sword, but hearing this, he stopped, his face full of murderous intent: "What kind of place Yuqing Hall is is not for a piece of trash at the Kaiyuan Realm like you to judge. But are you serious?"

Xu Chen nodded: "Naturally serious. And this matter has benefits for you whether you win or lose—it may even save the life of Yulong Zhenren."

"You, is this true?" Before the man in green could speak, the woman in black exclaimed in shock.

Xu Chen said solemnly, "This concerns life and death, as well as the reputation of my Taiyuan Sect; how could I speak nonsense? A hundred miles from here, there is an Evil Land called Black Wind Ridge. In that mountain, there is a fissure that spews black wind all year round, and within that fissure, a strange beast called a Soul Beast appears. Inside the body of that Soul Beast is a Soul Bead containing powerful Soul Power, a rare treasure for repairing and nourishing the Soul. It is extremely rare in this world. Let us enter the fissure of Black Wind Ridge together, with a one-day limit. If you can kill me inside, then this grudge is settled, and you can also obtain the Soul Bead to go back and save Yulong Zhenren. If you cannot kill me, then you must admit defeat yourselves, and never come to Black Wind Ridge to obtain Soul Beads again. How is this challenge?"

The woman in black was about to agree, but the man in green raised his hand to stop her: "I have never heard of such things as Soul Beasts and Soul Beads in this world. Are you not harboring evil intentions, trying to trick us into the Evil Land to ambush us?"

Xu Chen laughed loudly: "You are both experts of the True Essence Realm, and I am but a mere middle-stage Kaiyuan Realm cultivator. Even in the Evil Land, how could I successfully ambush you? Your Yuqing Hall is truly a group of bullies who fear the strong and pick on the weak. Being so cowardly, are you not afraid of being laughed at by your peers in the Immortal World?"

"You..." The man in green was furious, but after a moment, he said, "If you can produce evidence, it would not matter if we accompanied you to play for a bit. But if you dare to deceive us, I will kill you today. Even if Danchenzi has achieved Spirit Transformation, what can he do to our Yuqing Hall?"

"The evidence you want is here." Xu Chen flicked his finger lightly, and a pitch-black Soul Bead flew before the man in green. The man in green's Divine Sense landed on it, and his face was instantly filled with astonishment.

The woman in black's Divine Sense also landed on the black bead, and her delicate body could not help but tremble slightly, her face full of surprise: "Senior Brother, it is true. This black bead really does contain Soul Power, and the aura is very thick; it should be effective."

The man in green hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the Soul Bead and said, "Since that is the case, we will take this bet with you. If you can escape for one day, in view of the fact that you provided such vital information, I can make the decision that the matter of Liang Feng's death will no longer be pursued by Yuqing Hall."

"Seventh Senior Brother..."

"Junior Sister, say no more. I will make the decision on this matter!" The man in green interrupted the woman in black.

Zhao Xuan also gently gripped Xu Chen's hand, her fingers cold and trembling slightly.

Xu Chen smiled and comforted her via Divine Sense Transmission: "Senior Sister, do not worry. This matter must be resolved before the Great Elder's Spirit Transformation Ceremony, otherwise, I fear there will be a bloodbath."

Zhao Xuan's face turned pale as she bit her lip, trembling: "I know, but Junior Brother, you are taking too much of a risk alone."

Xu Chen chuckled: "Even the Third Elder, at the True Essence Late Stage, could not stay inside for three hours. Their strength is still far inferior; if they can survive for a day, they will be lucky. Do not worry, I have a sense of proportion. At worst, we will die inside together. I am not good at fighting, but I can still manage a few tricks to scheme against people."

Zhao Xuan almost burst out laughing, holding back her tears as she nodded: "Then Junior Brother, be careful in everything. I will wait until you come out!"

Xu Chen took Xiaobai out from his robes and stuffed him into Zhao Xuan's arms: "Take care of Xiaobai for me, Senior Sister. After a while, leave Black Wind Ridge far behind and find a place to hide first, otherwise I will not be at ease."

Zhao Xuan's cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her head: "What do you have to be uneasy about? Senior Sister's cultivation is even higher than yours."

Xu Chen lowered his voice: "I am worried about that unlucky woman over there who carries a coffin everywhere she goes!"

"Who are you saying carries a coffin everywhere?"

The woman in black and the man in green stared at the two of them with eyes blazing with fire almost simultaneously.

Xu Chen was stunned and quickly laughed: "Sorry, a slip of the tongue. My Taiyuan Sect has always been upright and open; we are not used to sneaking around with Divine Sense Transmission."

(End of chapter)