Chapter 16: Did Luo Yao Die?

Only when the dust cleared did Luo Yao's figure emerge; though she panted heavily, clearly having expended much, not a single wound marred her body, showing that the previous attack had not injured her.

"How is this possible?"

Zhao Lili cried out in shock, her face full of disbelief.

The sneak attack just now had left Luo Yao completely unharmed; this was simply impossible.

"You are surely forcing yourself to endure," Zhao Lili ground out through clenched teeth.

Luo Yao did not answer; her master had not been injured, but upon sensing a threat, she had cast a defensive spell, then summoned the One-time Defensive Magic Treasure obtained from the bandit, which was why she remained unharmed.

"Lili, how are you?"

Yet...

Everyone had expected Zhao Lili's defeat, so they were not surprised; what shocked them was that Zhao Yang had actually intervened in the match.

Luo Yao instantly felt as if she had sunk into a quagmire, unable to advance a single step further.

Zhao Yang could finally sit still no longer; he rushed up from beneath the arena, raised his hand, and struck out a talisman, shattering Luo Yao's Ice Blade.

Luo Yao's heart sank; she felt utterly disappointed in the so-called Xuanyuan Sect, while at the same time a longing for strength surged within her—if she possessed sufficient strength, why would she need to beg others for help?

By the way, if Luo Yao were dead, would their bets count as their win?

"Xiao Yao!"

Zhao Yang rushed onto the arena, scooping up Zhao Lili who lay in a pool of blood; her abdomen was covered in fresh blood, so Zhao Yang quickly stopped the bleeding and pulled a Healing Pill from his Storage Bag for her to take.

Luo Yao did not expect Zhao Yang to be so shameless, but fortunately she had anticipated this; thus, after casting the Ice Blade, she felt her body lurch forward, gripping her Long Sword as she thrust it toward Zhao Lili.

Therefore, he also hurriedly shouted, "Elder Sun, this time I, a junior, owe you a favor."

Thus, thinking that if he had reacted even a step slower just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Damn it!"

No wonder they had seen Luo Yao freeze in place; the reason lay in this very matter.

The referee was an Outer Sect Elder, also the referee responsible for managing the arena.

This was the gap in strength.

"Who was it who again and again pushed their luck? Who was it who proposed a Life and Death Duel?"

The Elder, who had already taken a step, instantly stopped, glanced at Zhao Yang, then stood back in place; after all, closing his eyes to rest seemed to truly indicate he had chosen not to intervene.

Zhao Yang sneered coldly, "If you must blame someone, blame yourself for offending someone you should not have."

Seeing Zhao Lili about to come to harm, Zhao Yang instantly flew into a rage; his aura of Qi Refining Tenth Layer burst forth and pressed down upon Luo Yao.

Luo Yao's repeated questions left Zhao Yang speechless and also made the onlookers suddenly realize the truth.

Luo Yao did not expect Zhao Yang to be so insane; not only did he break the rules, but he also intended to kill her in front of countless people.

Fang Qingyan was startled by this sudden turn of events; she cried out instantly and rushed toward the arena.

"Who was it just now who threatened me with my senior sister's life from outside the field, causing me to be sneak-attacked by Zhao Lili?"

"And who is it now who refuses to follow the rules, bullying the weak with strength..."

Pfft!

Just as the Long Sword pierced toward Zhao Lili, Luo Yao felt a terrifying energy surge toward her; she drew out a One-time Defensive Magic Treasure to shield herself, gritted her teeth, and continued thrusting at Zhao Lili.

Outside the arena, the crowd, witnessing this dramatic turn, stood dumbfounded.

Boom!

A deafening roar sounded; watching Luo Yao vanish beneath the Handprint, the crowd could only shake their heads in regret.

Boom!

The crowd looked up to see a massive Covering Sky Handprint appear above the arena, casting the entire fighting ground into shadow; everyone around felt a tremendous pressure and their faces instantly changed color.

She waved her hand, drew a stack of Talisman Paper from her Storage Bag, and hurled them at Zhao Yang as if they were worthless, hoping to weaken the power of his attack.

Strike while the iron is hot; strike while she is ill to take her life.

Zhao Yang snorted coldly, fully channeling the Spirit Power within his body; the massive Covering Sky Handprint instantly slammed down toward Luo Yao.

Therefore, she turned her head to look at the referee in the corner who had remained motionless.

Though she could not block it, Luo Yao would not simply sit and wait to be killed.

"Bitch, talking nonsense!"

"Who was it who, for three years, constantly interfered with my missions? Who was it who, for three years, constantly bullied me?"

Even standing far away, they could feel this terrifying aura; their hearts already held no confidence in facing this attack, let alone Luo Yao in the center.

Pfft!

The crowd saw Zhao Lili spew blood and fly backward.

Swish!

Luo Yao formed the spell seal; suddenly, Zhao Lili's feet began to freeze, rendering her unable to move; then Luo Yao drew out another stack of Talisman Paper and hurled them at Zhao Lili as if they were worthless.

"You dare!"

"I am vicious?" Luo Yao climbed up from the ground, clutching her heaving chest, glanced at the One-time Defensive Magic Treasure that had turned to ash, felt a pang of heartache, and upon hearing Zhao Yang's words, instantly roared in anger.

Unable to escape, she could only endure the blow head-on; but a full-power strike from Qi Refining Tenth Layer, even if two more of her were added, she could not block it.

Therefore, the danger must be crushed in its cradle.

Boom boom boom!

The Talisman Paper transformed into a sky full of Fireballs that exploded, instantly turning half the sky crimson, but they only delayed the Covering Sky Handprint for a few seconds.

However, due to Zhao Yang's strength, no one dared to step forward to support Luo Yao.

Thus, compared to a Qi Refining Fifth Layer disciple with poor talent, the Elder naturally chose Zhao Yang.

"Go!"

Zhao Lili tried to dodge, but the next second, her feet began to freeze, rendering her unable to move; she could only watch helplessly as the Long Sword thrust toward her.

Luo Yao finally unleashed the spell she had just learned; an Ice Blade materialized out of thin air and slashed toward Zhao Lili.

She had already witnessed the Zhao siblings'vileness; now was the time to settle the score.

Zhao Yang spouted a string of high-sounding words, then attacked Luo Yao. With a cultivation of Qi Refining Level Ten, nearly at the peak of Qi Refining and not far from the Foundation Establishment Stage, his full-out assault was something a cultivator like Luo Yao could not possibly resist.

For a moment, many gazes turned toward Zhao Yang and the others, filled with disgust and disdain.

After all, this stack of Talisman Paper was created by her Golden Finger, costing her nothing; once it ran out, she could simply use the Golden Finger to double it again.

"I see you have already fallen into demonic madness; not only do you speak nonsense, but you also harm your own sect brothers and sisters. You simply cannot be allowed to live."

"You seek death!"

"You bastard! I will avenge Xiao Yao!"

Why did that Elder agree with Zhao Yang? Was it not because Zhao Yang possessed great talent, having already reached Qi Refining Level Ten? As long as he did not meet an untimely end, he would eventually break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the favor of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator was incredibly precious.

"How cruel you are!"

Luo Yao felt death closing in; her face turned extremely grim. She wanted to flee, but Zhao Yang's Divine Sense locked onto her, making it impossible for her to evade his attack.

It must be known that Life and Death Duels forbid interference from outside personnel; violators would be punished, with severe consequences.

Her face turned extremely grim; she never expected that, under the circumstances of a Life and Death Duel, Zhao Yang would dare to violate the rules and interfere with his attack.

"Die!"

"This..."

If things continued like this, she would be unable to act against Zhao Lili; once Zhao Lili returned, she would surely retaliate against her and Fang Qingyan with madness.

She indeed could not block that attack, unless that one-time-use Dharma Treasure from before was still available, but it had already been consumed.

Luo Yao felt somewhat unwilling; she did not want to die. Her Golden Finger had only just arrived, and she had not yet properly enjoyed the good days ahead.

And when she stabbed at Zhao Lili, she was struck by a massive Fireball, sending her flying backward.

Boom, boom, boom!

Even with a Superior Mortal Artifact for defense, Zhao Lili still had no way to block it.

Luo Yao's shout made Zhao Yang's heart skip a beat; in his impulse, he even forgot the Elder was nearby.

Zhao Yang suddenly stood up, glaring at Luo Yao. "You actually destroyed Lili's dantian!"

Otherwise, with her completely unprepared, she would truly have died.

In the end, this was what saved Zhao Lili's life.

"Hmph, overestimating one's own strength!"

"Elder, this Zhao Yang has broken the rules and recklessly attacked a fellow disciple; please, Elder, uphold justice."

Luo Yao naturally would not miss such a good opportunity; gripping her Long Sword, she attacked Zhao Lili.

"Get lost!"

Pfft!

The gap in strength between Fang Qingyan and Zhao Yang was even greater; Zhao Yang raised his hand and struck Fang Qingyan, sending her spitting blood and flying backward.

(End of this chapter)