Chapter 6932 Entrusting Life
“Strange...” Zi Nuo frowned.
Kui Yin was clearly preparing to go all-out, but he suddenly admitted defeat.
The only explanation was that someone made him give up at that crucial moment. With the martial stage sealed off, it could only have been Li Wujiu.
Kui Yin and Li Chenggang each returned to their own sides. When Li Chenggang came back, he whispered, “Brother Long, did you notice anything?”
“They’ve figured out your power. Any further fighting means nothing to them, so they admitted defeat,” said Long Chen.
“My power? Are you talking about my essence rune?” asked Li Chenggang in confusion.
His essence rune was hidden inside the bamboo slip, but he hadn’t truly used it. Others couldn’t possibly identify which rune was his essence rune among so many.
Although he had utmost confidence in Long Chen, he still found it hard to believe.
Just then, Li Wujiu declared, “We lost, but your Calligraphy Sect used external forces to win. We can’t accept that you’re actually stronger than us!”
Li Wujiu glanced their way, but his eyes were really on Long Chen.
Long Chen indifferently said, “Spit out what you want to say.”
Li Wujiu taunted, “Since you like to be so meddlesome, then come out and fight!”
As soon as Li Wujiu challenged Long Chen, the disciples outside started booing loudly.
They had previously agreed that he could only fight Long Chen if they won at least one of the three matches. Now that they had lost all three, they still challenged Long Chen. Was there truly such a shameless person in this world?
Although this was Long Chen’s agreement with Ling Yan, he had already stated it when he first entered the martial stage, and Li Wujiu had been informed. Yet, Li Wujiu still challenged Long Chen, which was beyond shameless.
“You aren’t qualified to challenge Dean Long Chen. If you want to fight, then I’ll accompany you!” responded Zi Nuo.
He could sense Li Wujiu's strength, which made him eager to challenge him.
After spending a few days with Long Chen, Zi Nuo realized that his combat experience was significantly inferior to Long Chen's. Their skills were in different dimensions, so he needed to quickly address this weakness.
The more formidable the opponent, the greater the benefit he would gain from the fight.
“Who do you think you are to fight me?” sneered Li Wujiu.
Hearing this, the Wine God Palace’s disciples got angry and grabbed their swords. As long as Zi Nuo gave the word, they would kill this idiot.
Zi Nuo was also angry, but Long Chen held him back.
Long Chen said, “He knows who you are. He’s just trying to provoke you, so I’ll fight to defend your dignity. If I don’t step in, he’ll just keep saying things to make us mad. Fine, I’ll put up with his shamelessness today.”
Long Chen looked at Li Wujiu, who kept trying to provoke him, and said, “According to the previous agreement, you had to win one of the last three matches to challenge me. But I’m in a good mood today. I agree to fight you, though I’m not good at exchanging pointers. If we fight, we will let the Yama Kings be the judge. They will decide who lives or dies. Do you agree?”
Everyone was shocked to hear that. Long Chen left himself no room to retreat.
Liuyun and the senior members of the Calligraphy Sect were all alarmed. Long Chen’s background was too strong. If something happened to him inside the Calligraphy Sect’s territory, the Calligraphy Sect would not be able to endure the consequences.
“Hahaha, then we’ll do as you say! Today, only one of us will walk away from the martial stage alive!” Li Wujiu looked up and laughed before stepping onto the stage.
The martial stage started to shake. The next moment, countless runes materialized, and a deadly aura intensified as the stage’s life-and-death mode activated.
At that moment, Li Chenggang and the others felt a strong force pushing them away.
Once the life-and-death stage was active, the world inside was sealed, and it would reopen only when one of the fighters perished.
If they could not determine a winner, the martial stage would remain locked down for eternity. Other people would need to break the martial stage’s laws to stop it. In that case, the martial stage would self-destruct and kill anyone inside.
As a result, this life-and-death stage should not be activated lightly. Every activation required the approval of the sect master. In other words, the sect master had given his consent regarding this battle.
Just as everyone was driven away, Li Chenggang flicked his finger, sending a drop of blood onto the martial stage.
“Chenggang!”
Liuyun and the others looked shocked. The disciples were confused, unsure what this meant.
“You have that much confidence in me?” Long Chen asked, smiling at Li Chenggang.
“Of course. I can’t miss such a fun battle!” Li Chenggang replied, returning his smile.
“Then I can’t miss it either!”
Zi Nuo also sent a drop of blood onto the stage.
Zi Nuo didn’t know the rules, but when Li Chenggang placed his drop of blood on the stage, the expulsion force disappeared. From it, Zi Nuo realized that Li Chenggang was betting his life on Long Chen, thereby earning the right to remain on the martial stage.
Just as Zi Nuo guessed, the expulsion force disappeared when his blood touched the martial stage. By placing a drop of blood, people could make an agreement with the stage.
Li Chenggang didn’t know Zi Nuo, but when Zi Nuo did this, they shared a smile. In that moment, they became comrades in life and death.
That feeling of complete trust was amazing. Zi Nuo had never felt it before.
The next moment, Chi Yutong, Xin Yu, Yan Li, and the Wine God Palace’s disciples also each placed a drop of blood on the ground.
After they had bound their lives to Long Chen’s, they didn’t seem the slightest bit nervous. Instead, they seemed proud and excited. With the agreement in place, they would not be expelled and could watch the battle directly.
The Calligraphy Sect’s disciples were a beat slower. Only after everyone had placed their blood on the stage did they realize what was going on.
Much to Long Chen’s surprise, these weaklings directly placed their drops of blood on the stage once they understood the situation. None of them retreated like cowards.
Zi Nuo and the others were shocked by that. The Calligraphy Sect’s disciples had just met Long Chen, yet they were willing to risk their lives for him.
Just then, Kui Yin sneered and placed his own blood onto the stage.
“Fools! If you want to die so badly, then the Painting Sect will accompany you!” Kui Yin shouted.
His action shook the rest of the Painting Sect’s disciples. One of them said, “We shouldn’t stay here. Senior Kui Yin, it’s not that we don’t trust Senior Wujiu, but he won’t be able to fight freely if we stay!”
The moment he said that, Kui Yin’s murderous gaze turned his way.
“I’m here too. Why wouldn’t he be able to fight freely? Don’t you trust me? You think I can’t protect you? If you’re afraid of dying, then scram, you embarrassment!”
No one on the other side backed down, so Kui Yin didn’t want to lose face or morale. Only he knew how terrifying Li Wujiu really was, and he trusted Li Wujiu completely.
The other disciples shook with fear. Kui Yin’s terrifying glare made it clear that anyone who ran would face a bad end when they got back to the Painting Sect.
Some disciples, with no other choice, put their blood on the stage. Only a few still held back.
Gritting their teeth, they forced out a drop of blood, showing they would stay. But suddenly, the expulsion force grabbed four of those disciples and sent them out.
“Damn, just you wait! When we get back, I’ll crush you!” Kui Yin roared at them furiously.
Four of their people had deserted them, showing they didn’t trust Li Wujiu. Now their morale looked even weaker.
The martial stage shook and suddenly grew larger. Divine light flashed across it, forming chains that locked the area down like a prison.
The deadly aura mixed with the feeling of death. It was terrifying.
“Long Chen, you can die soon!” Li Wujiu laughed sinisterly.
He walked toward the center of the martial stage. Each step covered a great distance, but because the stage had grown, he still looked to be moving slowly.
When Long Chen looked back at Li Chenggang, Zi Nuo, and the others, he grinned.
He said, “Don’t worry about me. Since you’ve tied your lives to mine, I won’t let you down. Brother Chenggang, you invited me to the Calligraphy Sect to discuss the Dao, but I’m not wise enough for that. You give me too much credit. I can’t even see my own path clearly. But since I’m here, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I’ll leave you with some of my experience.”
Long Chen waved his hand, sending out multicolored lights. They were leaves from the Colored Glass Tree.
The leaves, each about the size of a thumb, floated over to everyone.
Long Chen said, “Press the leaves to your foreheads, and you’ll be able to see this battle from my view, your own, and even from the perspective of the Heavenly Daos. With their help, you’ll definitely understand more.”
Zi Nuo and the others were amazed. Long Chen was sharing his combat experience with them—his vision, thoughts, and tactics would all be open to them.
Long Chen walked toward the center. With each step, violet light rose up, leaving glowing footprints behind him. Violet flames burned on each one.
“Violet blood power!” Long Chen shouted.
Countless spectators were stunned. Was this that legendary bloodline?
Long Chen’s aura grew stronger, and so did Li Wujiu’s. His eyes glowed—one black, one white. The space behind him twisted, mixing day and night, as terrifying energy spread out.
When they both reached the center, Li Wujiu sneered. “Long Chen, today—”
“An opening!” Long Chen interjected.
Like a bolt of violet lightning, he instantly appeared next to Li Wujiu and raised his hand.
Li Wujiu was about to say a few words, but Long Chen didn’t give him the chance. The attack came so fast that he couldn’t dodge.
Pow!
Long Chen’s palm solidly struck Li Wujiu’s face, sending him flying.