Free Web NovelChapter 30: Chapter 29: You Are a Man
Two days later, Wen Qingye’s cultivation had completely stabilized at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Heaven. It would be impossible for him to break through again anytime soon.
So, Wen Qingye planned to venture into the areas surrounding Qig Mountain Academy to find some medicinal herbs for his next breakthrough. This would allow him to both test his cultivation and further solidify his current realm.
Wen Qingye arrived at the Alchemy Pavilion and walked inside. He wanted to let Xiaxia know that he might be away for a few days.
Faint, shuffling sounds seemed to echo from the long corridor, and Wen Qingye couldn’t help but frown.
Just then, a few familiar figures suddenly appeared up ahead, walking toward him. Wen Qingye saw that it was none other than Zhao Feng and his group. It seemed Zhao Feng had come looking for him specifically.
"Wen Qingye." Zhao Feng’s eyes turned blood-red the moment he saw him.
He had been defeated by Wen Qingye at the entrance of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion that day, and he’d felt dispirited ever since. He considered it the greatest humiliation of his life. How could he not be filled with hatred upon seeing Wen Qingye now?
"What do you want?" Wen Qingye asked, puzzled.
Zhao Feng gritted his teeth. "I want to duel you. A duel to the death!"
WHOOSH!
Hearing this, the surrounding crowd stared at Zhao Feng in shock, finding it hard to believe.
"Zhao Feng actually wants a duel to the death? But why?"
"I didn’t think they had that deep of a grudge, did they?" freēwēbnovel.com
"Look, the people from South Mountain don’t seem too friendly toward Wen Qingye. What’s going on?"
...
Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow and sneered, "A duel to the death with me? You’d better be sure about that."
Zhou Yang burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Wen Qingye, let me tell you, Brother Feng just broke through to the Refining Essence First Layer Heaven not long ago! Killing you now would be as easy as slicing a melon. If you don’t have the guts, that’s fine too. Just crawl between Brother Feng’s legs. How about it?"
"Yeah, or you could give Brother Feng three loud kowtows!"
"Hahaha, that’s right, kowtow!"
The crowd from South Mountain all jeered in agreement.
Zhao Feng raised his brows, looking smugly at Wen Qingye. "That day, I was careless and lost to you by half a move. Today, we’ll truly settle the score. Of course, if you don’t dare, that’s fine. Kneel and give me three loud kowtows, and from now on, steer clear of me whenever you see me. Do that, and I’ll let you off the hook today."
The crowd suddenly understood. So Zhao Feng had broken through! The gap between the Refining Essence Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm was enormous. As the South Mountain disciples cheered him on, the other onlookers couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for Wen Qingye.
A faint smile touched the corners of Wen Qingye’s lips. "A duel to the death? Fine by me."
Zhao Feng was taken aback, not expecting Wen Qingye to agree so readily. He snorted coldly. "Fine. Since you’re asking to die, Wen Qingye, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. I didn’t want to kill you, but you’re simply too arrogant."
"The gap between the Refining Essence Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm is huge, yet Wen Qingye actually agreed."
"This is a duel to the death! The loser dies."
"Yeah. Since Zhao Feng was the one to issue the challenge, I’d say Wen Qingye’s chances aren’t good." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Although most of the onlookers didn’t know the full story, they were more than happy to watch the spectacle.
Zhao Feng gestured with both hands, and the South Mountain disciples retreated slightly, clearing an open space for him and Wen Qingye.
"Everyone present is a witness! Today, Wen Qingye and I will fight a duel to the death, and it won’t end until one of us is dead. Whoever falls will have only their own inferior skills to blame," Zhao Feng announced loudly.
Zhao Feng’s eyes then turned to Wen Qingye. "If you die, Wen Qingye, don’t blame me in the Underworld. Blame yourself for offending someone you shouldn’t have: Sister Xiangyang."
"Yann Xiangyang?" Wen Qingye froze. ’That’s strange,’ he thought. ’When did I ever offend her?’
Zhao Feng’s expression was arrogant, as if victory was already in his grasp. He had already drawn his sword.
"Furious Wind Song!"
Zhao Feng held his sword horizontally, and a flash of cyan light glinted off it. He then raised his blade and began slashing violently. Streaks of cyan Sword Qi surged forth like a hurricane, emitting a strange, sorrowful sound.
"Snake Shadow Ten Thousand Gifts!"
With a flick of his sword, Wen Qingye instantly sent several streaks of Sword Qi flying out. They moved with the speed of lightning and an uncanny strangeness, like a thousand snakes striking at once.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Zhao Feng hadn’t expected Wen Qingye’s strength to have grown as well. His feet faltered for a moment, and he gripped his sword with both hands.
The two had traded one move, and their strength seemed roughly equal. It was an even match.
"Wind Rises and Clouds Surge!"
Zhao Feng was using the most powerful and difficult-to-cultivate move from the Fourth Grade Swordsmanship Martial Arts, the Great Wind Sword Technique.
An illusion of dark clouds seemed to gather in the sky as a violent wind whipped up. Primordial Qi surged along the Sword Body of Zhao Feng’s blade, radiating a tyrannical might.
A fifty-foot-long blade of Sword Qi shot straight toward him. The crowd began to back away, and some of the newer students with weaker cultivation felt their hearts tremble, their faces turning pale.
"Zhao Feng actually mastered Wind Rises and Clouds Surge? Is that for real?"
"I heard Sister Xiangyang has been personally instructing Zhao Feng recently. Looks like the rumors were true."
"Wen Qingye is screwed now. Wind Rises and Clouds Surge is the most powerful move in the Great Wind Sword Technique."
The crowd stared at Zhao Feng in awe; even the disciples from South Mountain were somewhat surprised.
Wen Qingye’s eyes were unblinking. The Great Wind Sword Technique was indeed impressive, but Zhao Feng’s execution had several flaws. Wen Qingye’s eyes remained fixed on the attack, searching for a fatal weakness.
Suddenly, Wen Qingye’s sword moved!
"Spiritual Snake Transforming Dragon!"
Wen Qingye thrust his sword forward. It shot out like a giant python, but as it flew, the Spiritual Snake seemed to undergo a metamorphosis, transforming into a ferocious, newly freed dragon that charged ahead.
The dragon unerringly struck the weakest point of the massive blade of Sword Qi.
"BOOM!"
The dragon shattered the immense Sword Qi and continued its charge, slamming directly into Zhao Feng’s body.
"RIIIP!"
The clothes on Zhao Feng’s upper body were torn to shreds, and a massive patch of blood bloomed. A wound so deep the bone was visible snaked across his chest for all to see.
Wen Qingye looked at Zhao Feng impassively. "Well? How do you want to die?"
Hearing this, Zhao Feng’s face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, his heart completely filled with terror.
The surrounding crowd was still reeling from the clash. No one had expected Wen Qingye to defeat Zhao Feng so quickly and with such ease.
"CLAP! CLAP! Excellent Swordsmanship. Truly excellent Swordsmanship!"
Wen Qingye frowned and looked toward the source of the voice.
A woman stood there, dressed in a purple silk gown. A smile played on her lips, but her beautiful eyes were filled with ice. Her stunning, delicate face was enough to take one’s breath away. Wen Qingye felt as if he had seen her somewhere before.
"Yann Xiangyang! It’s Yann Xiangyang from South Mountain!"
"A famous expert from the Outer Courtyard, and its number one beauty! What is she doing here at the Alchemy Pavilion?"
The woman’s appearance immediately caused a commotion in the crowd.
Wen Qingye then understood. So this was Yann Xiangyang. ’But I’ve never offended her,’ he thought. ’Why would she want Zhao Feng to kill me?’
"What, are you here to stop me?" Wen Qingye asked with a slight frown.
Yann Xiangyang replied with a smile, "Of course not. A duel to the death is a duel to the death. One person lives, one person dies. Isn’t that right?"
Wen Qingye could feel the iciness in her words. He gave a slight smile and looked at Yann Xiangyang. "Are you threatening me?"
"You could interpret it that way," Yann Xiangyang said faintly.
Yann Xiangyang’s tone was faint and gentle, yet it betrayed immense confidence. On the ground, a look of joy flickered across Zhao Feng’s face. With Yann Xiangyang’s protection, he was sure Wen Qingye wouldn’t dare harm him. At this thought, Zhao Feng couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
The onlookers sighed inwardly, assuming the duel to the death between Zhao Feng and Wen Qingye would end inconclusively. They didn’t believe Wen Qingye would dare to strike a killing blow against Zhao Feng in front of Yann Xiangyang.
Who was Yann Xiangyang? One of South Mountain’s most powerful senior students, with terrifyingly high strength. Never mind Wen Qingye; even other senior students had to curry favor with her. How could Wen Qingye possibly dare to offend her?
"Oh? Threatening me?" Wen Qingye sneered.
As soon as he spoke, his sword shot out, plunging into Zhao Feng’s left chest.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still.
Zhao Feng’s eyes widened in resentment and disbelief—Wen Qingye had actually dared to kill him. His body went rigid for a moment before collapsing limply to the ground.
Killing someone in a duel to the death was not something the Qig Mountain Academy would punish.
Everyone was stunned, staring at Wen Qingye with their jaws agape. No one had expected him to be so bold. Even with the South Mountain senior Yann Xiangyang present, he had still killed South Mountain’s Zhao Feng.
Yann Xiangyang’s face turned ashen, and her breathing grew erratic.
"Wen Qingye, you’ve got some nerve!" Yann Xiangyang said through gritted teeth. "You even dare to kill one of my South Mountain people. You’ve got guts!"
Wen Qingye replied faintly, "I don’t need you to tell me that."
