Countless Ziyang Palace disciples were taken aback.
Some newly joined disciples had never even heard the name of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
To them, perhaps the only ones worthy of their notice were the other five palaces of equal standing.
An unknown disciple from the Great Xia Sword Sect had actually dared to take the initiative and issue a challenge to the death to Pang Li?
After all, as an honorary disciple of a Qingxiao Palace elder, Pang Li had just broken through to Foundation Establishment the previous month.
Many disciples throughout the palace had heard of this. Furthermore, Pang Li possessed a fire-attribute heavenly spiritual root and cultivated the middle Profound-grade Raging Fire Sword Technique, which was exceptionally fierce.
For a time, countless disciples across Ziyang Palace flocked over upon hearing the news, all eager to witness this life-or-death arena duel.
When the time drew near, the group from the Great Xia Sword Sect flew in together upon their swords!
Clad in white robes, their expressions were resolute and calm.
They paid no heed whatsoever to the pointing and whispers of the Ziyang Palace disciples.
Tap, tap!
The group touched down. Li Guanqi looked at the arena platform spanning over fifty zhang and leapt lightly onto it.
Standing upon the stage, Li Guanqi naturally drew the gazes of countless surrounding Ziyang Palace disciples.
By now, the perimeter of the arena was packed tightly with Ziyang Palace disciples.
Even quite a few elders of the palace had arrived through the air, curious to see just what kind of disciple from the Great Xia Sword Sect had dared issue a challenge to the life-or-death arena.
A clamor of discussion gradually drifted into Li Guanqi's ears.
"Heh, who would've thought the one issuing the challenge is actually a blind man."
"What's wrong with being blind? Any stray dog or cat can cultivate the Dao these days, but at least the guy reached Foundation Establishment, didn't he?"
"If you ask me, in less than half an incense stick's time, Pang Li will have him on his knees begging for mercy."
"I wouldn't be so sure. To dare issue a challenge to the life-or-death arena, he must have some skill."
"Bets open, bets open! Anyone want in? Ten to one on Pang Li against this guy!"
One corpulent disciple was hawking loudly and energetically.
This sight naturally caught the eyes of the Great Xia Sword Sect disciples, stirring deep indignation in their hearts.
Right then, Li Guanqi opened his eyes and looked toward Ye Feng.
Ye Feng raised an eyebrow at Li Guanqi, sharp gleams of anticipation flashing in the eyes of both young men.
Li Guanqi sent a voice transmission: "How much savings do you have?"
Ye Feng gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice, "Three thousand low-grade spirit stones!"
Li Guanqi pondered for a moment, casually tossed a storage bag to Ye Feng, and transmitted, "Ask around first. Don't let him run off."
Ye Feng twitched his eyebrows back at him. "Don't you worry."
With an affected display of annoyance, Ye Feng pushed his way through the crowd, snapping angrily, "What's the meaning of this! Ten to one? You think that little of my Brother Li?"
The fat youth's face was fleshy, a cunning glint flashing across his narrow eyes.
He patted the storage bag he held and jeered, "What? Looking down on you—so what if I do?"
"If you've got what it takes, why don't you place a bet on your sect brother?"
"If you don't have the strength, quit blustering here! Go on, please, humiliate me thoroughly with your spirit stones!"
As he spoke, the fat youth slapped his own cheek, making his flab tremble.
Ye Feng's face flushed slightly red as though blood were rushing to his head—a reaction that spurred the surrounding Ziyang Palace disciples to laugh mockingly.
Thud!
Ye Feng pulled out two storage bags and slammed them onto the wooden board in front of the fat youth, landing squarely on the side of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
The fat youth glanced at the storage bags and chuckled, "Oho~ This brother really is lavish, bringing out two whole storage bags."
"Don't tell me that between the two of them, you barely scraped together a hundred spirit stones?"
To the fat youth, Ye Feng was clearly an impulsive hothead whose temper had flared out of control under his provocation.
Yet Ye Feng merely let out a cold laugh. "Don't wet yourself. Yours truly actually does have money."
"I'm just worried you won't be able to pay out when the time comes."
Those words immediately brought a roar of laughter from the Ziyang Palace disciples.
Someone could not resist chiming in, "Brother, you probably don't know who this fatty is, do you?"
"The largest Treasure Pavilion in the entire Northern Region is run by his family! Unable to pay out?"
The fat youth grinned. "Hear that? Fatso here is least lacking in coin! It's starting any second—are you placing the bet or not?"
Ye Feng gave a slight smile and lifted his hands.
He said softly, "A total of six thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones. I hope you can afford the payout!"
Hiss!!
"What?! Six thousand five hundred stones?! What's this guy's background?"
"Damn, he's looking to win big in one go!!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
The fat youth frowned slightly, his expression turning solemn and his eyes widening somewhat.
His gaze locked tightly onto Ye Feng's face. After a moment's hesitation, the fat youth set his hand upon the storage bags.
"I take the bet!"
With that, the fat youth produced a blank jade slip and accurately inscribed Ye Feng's name and the wagered amount into it.
Tossing it to Ye Feng, he said in a heavy voice, "When Fatso gambles, my word is my bond. If you win, bring this jade slip to find me."
"My name is Tang Ru!"
Whoosh!!
A streak of light shot in from the horizon, while another figure descended from the air onto the arena stage.
It was none other than Pang Li, whom Li Guanqi had kicked earlier.
And the streak of light in the sky was Pang Li's master, Zheng Hao!
A tremendous aura bore down with sweeping majesty toward Li Guanqi on the stage, causing the primal energy within Li Guanqi's body to instantly seize up.
Clang!
A ringing sword cry resounded, and an elderly figure instantly materialized before Li Guanqi.
Sword pointed at Zheng Hao, Li Nanting narrowed his eyes and said in a chilling voice, "A senior in the late Core Formation realm actually bears down with pressure on a Foundation Establishment junior?"
"Are all the elders of Ziyang Palace this shameless?"
At those words, quite a few elders floating in the air felt their faces grow hot with embarrassment.
Seeing some of them darken with anger and prepare to speak,
Li Nanting cut them off bluntly: "Oh? Was this old man mistaken?"
"If you want a fight, I'll take on three of you together!"
"The same life-or-death arena—if you dare take it, we can go right now."
"Let the juniors have their match, and this old man will play with you!"
At that, three great elders in the sky immediately chimed in: "Li Nanting, do not push your luck!"
"Hmph! Outrageous arrogance!"
The longsword in Li Nanting's hand instantly let out a soft cry as he pointed it straight at the elder who had just spoken.
"Arrogant or not, you can test it against me! Stop wagging your tongue at this old man."
"From head to toe, the only hard thing about you is your mouth."
Auras clashed in turbulent waves as both sides fell into a tense standoff.
Right at this moment, an elder in hemp robes with an immortal, transcendent demeanor stepped slowly out of the void.
His hair and beard were completely white, his long eyebrows drooping past his jaw.
He spoke mildly, "Nanting, why lower yourself to their level?"
Li Nanting turned toward the elder and said softly, "Old Man Miao."
The elder waved a hand and said quietly, "Since the challenge has been issued, let life and death be left to fate."
"After all, whoever one may be, one must take responsibility for one's actions."
"This old man shall preside over this duel. In a battle of life and death, there are no rules or restrictions. Begin."
Zheng Hao wanted to say something more, but a single glance from the elder forced the words right back down his throat.
Pang Li drew a sword that glowed crimson from hilt to tip, a savage expression contorting his face as he shouted, "Die, blind trash, prepare to die!!"
Chapter 68