131: Chapter 131: The battle is decided, life and death are decided!

"How is this possible?"

"Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao is just too strong, isn't he?"

“*Hiss!* How terrifying! He broke the Ten Beast Formation in a single move and even heavily wounded Yan Jue!”

The area outside the platform was dead silent at first, but then it exploded into a frenzy.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at the scene on the Dueling Platform in disbelief.

Yan Jue had lost!

And he had lost so thoroughly!

From the moment Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao used the Myriad Swords Return to One until Yan Jue fell to the ground heavily injured, no more than five breaths of time had passed!

Was this Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao's true strength?

Was this the terror of a Golden Core Perfection Sword Cultivator?

Chu Feng's pupils constricted slightly, his heart filled with shock.

He originally thought that even if Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao could win, it would require a hard-fought battle.

He hadn't expected the victory to be decided in a single move!

The power of that Myriad Swords Return to One had already faintly touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm!

"Ling Wuxiao... you..." Yan Jue struggled to lift his head, his eyes full of despair and resentment.

He knew he was powerless to turn the situation around; his life and death rested entirely on Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao's whim.

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao slowly landed, walked up to Yan Jue, and looked down at him from above.

The green longsword had already returned to his hand, its tip still dripping with blood—Yan Jue's blood.

"Yan Jue, do you have any last words?" Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao asked coldly.

"Ling Wuxiao... you... you cannot kill me..."

Yan Jue continued to speak, his voice raspy and weak. "If you kill me... Zhenbao Peak will not let you off... Senior Brother Wu Chen will not let you off..."

"Heh!"

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao looked down at him with disdain and let out a cold laugh. "I cannot kill you? On what grounds? Because you are Zhenbao Peak's number one Earth-Grade True Disciple? Or because you have Wu Chen backing you up?"

He paused, his tone becoming even more mocking: "You think Wu Chen can save you? Once I've dealt with you, he's next!"

"You..." Hearing this, Yan Jue's face turned even more deathly pale.

He knew that Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao didn't care about any of that at all.

This madman truly dared to kill him!

Outside the platform, Wu Chen was anxious and frantic at the sight.

Yan Jue was his right-hand man; if he died here, not only would Zhenbao Peak's strength be greatly diminished, but Wu Chen's own prestige would also take a serious hit!

He suddenly took a step forward and shouted at Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao: "Ling Wuxiao! Stop! If you dare kill Yan Jue, I, Wu Chen, will never rest until you are dead!"

His voice was like thunder, spreading throughout the entire field.

Everyone looked toward Wu Chen, seeing his face turned livid and his fists tightly clenched. His surrounding Qi fluctuations were violent; he was clearly enraged to the extreme.

"Wu Chen, who do you think you are?"

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao turned his head to look at Wu Chen, a flash of mockery in his eyes. "On what grounds do you threaten me? Just because you are a Heaven-Grade True Disciple of Zhenbao Peak?"

He sneered: "Forget the fact that you aren't the Peak Master of Zhenbao Peak yet; even if you were, if I, Ling Wuxiao, want to kill someone, you can't stop me!"

"You're looking for death!"

Wu Chen's face was ashen.

He wished he could immediately rush onto the stage and tear Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao into ten thousand pieces.

But he knew he couldn't. The rules of the Dueling Platform were the iron laws of the Sect. If he forcibly intervened, not only would he fail to save Yan Jue, but he himself would be severely punished.

Unfortunately, he was at his wit's end.

Just then, Chu Feng's voice rang out: "Wu Chen, I advise you to stay calm. If you interfere, your end probably won't be much better! The Law Enforcement Hall is watching!"

Chu Feng's voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly entered Wu Chen's ears.

He turned to look and saw Chu Feng with a faint smile, though his eyes were icy cold.

Beside Chu Feng, Deacon Tang Hao and over a dozen Law Enforcement Hall Disciples were already prepared. If Wu Chen dared to violate the rules, they would immediately act to stop him.

"Sigh..." Hearing this, the fury in Wu Chen's heart grew even stronger, but he knew Chu Feng was right.

He could only glare at Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao with gritted teeth.

This hatred was directed not only at Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao but also at Chu Feng.

If Chu Feng hadn't fanned the flames and spread rumors, how could things have reached this point?

"Tch..."

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao sneered and ignored Wu Chen, looking down at Yan Jue and saying coldly, "Yan Jue, don't blame me for being cold-hearted! When I, Ling Wuxiao, do things, I always pull up the weeds by the roots!!!"

He raised his longsword, the tip pointing at Yan Jue's throat: "In your next life, remember not to provoke someone you shouldn't."

"No... don't..." The last glimmer of light in Yan Jue's eyes extinguished as he fell into total despair.

*Puchi!!*

The sword fell, and Yan Jue's head was severed, rolling onto the Dueling Platform.

The head's eyes were wide open, filled with humiliation and resentment, as if questioning the heavens why they were so unfair.

Blood erupted from the severed neck, staining a large area of the ground red.

Yan Jue's body twitched a few times and then moved no more.

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao expressionlessly sheathed his sword, leaned over to take Yan Jue's Storage Ring, and picked up that Formation Flag.

This was Yan Jue's life-bound Formation Flag; although damaged, it was still a High Grade Treasure Artifact and worth a fortune.

Having done this, he let out a cold laugh and turned to walk off the Dueling Platform.

Everywhere he passed, the crowd automatically parted to make a path. Everyone looked at him with eyes full of awe, fear, and complex emotions.

On the massive Dueling Platform, only Yan Jue's headless corpse and that rolling head remained.

The sunlight hit the pool of blood, reflecting a piercing red light.

“*Whoosh!!!*”

The area outside the platform was in an uproar.

Although they had guessed someone might die, seeing Yan Jue die so miserably with their own eyes still shook everyone to their core. It was hard to believe!

One must know that if an Earth-rank True Disciple of the Duobao Sect died in the outside world, it would cause a massive stir, and the Sect would send out experts to seek revenge.

But now, Yan Jue was dead!

He had been decapitated, dying a miserable death, yet he died in vain. Because he died on the Dueling Platform under the Sect's rules, there wasn't even a reason for revenge.

"Senior Brother Yan Jue... is really dead..." a Zhenbao Peak Disciple murmured to himself, his face pale.

"Ling Wuxiao... is too ruthless..." someone whispered.

"This is cultivation; the strong prey on the weak. Within the rules, one is responsible for their own life and death," an elderly Deacon sighed.

Wu Chen watched Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao's departing back, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

Chu Feng, Ling Wuxiao, just you wait!

I, Wu Chen, will surely avenge today's grudge! If I don't kill you both, I am not fit to be human!

But he knew now was not the time.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent in his heart, and turned to instruct the Zhenbao Peak Disciples behind him: "Go, collect Yan Jue's body."

"Yes..." Several Disciples walked onto the Dueling Platform trembling, carefully picking up Yan Jue's remains.

Their hands were shaking and their eyes were filled with fear—both fear of death and fear of Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao.

"Hehe..." Chu Feng stood to the side with a smile on his face.

Today's events...

...had already caused Wu Chen's prestige within the Sect to be greatly discounted.

Yan Jue's death not only weakened Zhenbao Peak's strength but also caused Wu Chen to lose an important assistant.

Meanwhile, Chu Feng had used this opportunity to eliminate an opponent and weaken Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao's strength.

Although Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao had won, he would now need to focus all his efforts on dealing with Zhenbao Peak's schemes and retaliation, leaving him no time for anything else.

More importantly, he had further consolidated his position within the Law Enforcement Hall and the Sect.

Three birds with one stone—perfect!

"Alright! Everyone disperse!" Deacon Tang Hao called out loudly.

With a dark expression, Wu Chen watched the Zhenbao Peak Disciples carry away Yan Jue's corpse and led hundreds of people back to their peak in dejection.

They had come with an aggressive Aura but left crestfallen, creating a sharp contrast.

Deacon Tang Hao walked to Chu Feng's side and said in a low voice, "Chu Feng, Wu Chen hates you to death now. After today, there is no more room for reconciliation between you two."

"It doesn't matter."

Chu Feng smiled slightly. "Since I intend to compete for the position of Saint, I will naturally offend people. I was mentally prepared long ago; Wu Chen is merely the first stumbling block on my path."

"Good, you have spirit."

Deacon Tang Hao nodded, his eyes full of admiration.

He thought for a moment and then reminded him: "However, you must still be careful. Wu Chen is narrow-minded and vindictive. Having suffered such a huge loss today, he will definitely not let it go. It's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

"I will be careful," Chu Feng nodded.

"Good! I'll be going first. This mess is such a headache; I still have to write a report for the higher-ups!" By the end, Deacon Tang Hao couldn't help but shake his head.

In all his years in the Sect, when had he ever seen a life-and-death battle between a Heaven-Grade True Disciple and an Earth-rank True Disciple?

And it happened right before everyone's eyes, with one person being decapitated!

This was practically the Sect's biggest joke!

He didn't even know how the subsequent troubles would be handled!

Zhenbao Peak certainly wouldn't let it go. Although they couldn't retaliate openly, there would definitely be no shortage of small actions in the shadows.

Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao wasn't an easy target either; behind him was also one of the seven main peaks, Jianbao Peak.

...

Duobao Peak.

The Fengyun Association's 'base,' the Fengyun Compound.

The Fengyun Compound was located halfway up Duobao Peak, covering an area of over a hundred acres.

The compound was protected by a Formation, and ordinary Disciples were not allowed to approach.

Inside, pavilions and towers were arranged neatly, spiritual springs gurgled, and rare flowers and exotic herbs were everywhere, making it look like a medium-sized Immortal Cave.

At this moment.

Over thirty people had already gathered in the main hall of the compound.

The lowest cultivation among these people was Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and there were eight Golden Core Cultivators.

They sat on both sides, talking in low voices, and the atmosphere was lively.

Chu Feng sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, a faint smile on his face.

Among these people, some had come from Duobao Peak to join him, such as Lin Bai, Wen Xi, and others.

They were originally Earth-rank True Disciples of Duobao Peak, and after Chu Feng became the First Deacon, they naturally came under his command.

There were also people from other main peaks, including Tang An and core members like Fang Li, who had broken through to the Golden Core stage.

The atmosphere inside the compound was enthusiastic.

In today's battle on the Dueling Platform, although it was Yan Jue who died, everyone knew that the real winner was Chu Feng.

A carefully planned 'killing with a borrowed knife' had not only weakened an opponent but also enhanced his own prestige. How could such methods not be admired?

"Everyone."

Chu Feng spoke slowly, "I have gathered you all today to discuss our next plan. The situation within the Sect is complex, and Wu Chen and the others are eyeing us covetously. We must prepare early."

"Brother Feng is right."

Tang An said in a heavy voice, "Today we have essentially had a falling out with them. The future struggles will likely be even more intense!"

"Wu Chen is a very small-minded person. Having suffered such a big loss today, he will definitely not let it go."

"Exactly!"

Fang Li also nodded in agreement. "Wu Chen is insidious and cunning; we must be on guard. Furthermore, Zhenbao Peak's influence is vast. Besides Wu Chen, there are thirteen Earth-Grade True Disciples and hundreds of Earth-rank True Disciples."

"More than eighty percent of these people support Wu Chen."