Chapter 159: The Life-and-Death Duel Begins

Chapter 159: The Life-and-Death Duel Begins

Buzz.

Shen Mo was in the jujube tree courtyard, urging the White Flame of Creation while practicing the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.

Suddenly, the mother jade inside his storage ring began to vibrate.

Shen Mo's heart stirred, and he immediately took it out.

Injecting spiritual power into it, an unfamiliar voice emerged.

"Daoist Demon Armor, this is Zhang Mo, the Sect Master of Heavenly Water Sect."

Shen Mo chuckled.

You've finally lost your patience after waiting for so long?

"Sect Master Zhang, what can I do for you?" Shen Mo replied.

"My Heavenly Water Sect has a conflict with the Qingxuan Sect. You must have heard about it, right?"

"I have."

"Very well. There will be a life-and-death duel coming up, which will decide the victor between our sects. I hope you, Daoist Demon Armor, can participate in this duel," Zhang Mo continued.

"With your strength, no one in Qingxuan Sect should be your match, except maybe Murong Yue."

Shen Mo smiled, "A life-and-death duel? Sounds dangerous."

"Sect Master Zhang, I've never been one to do things where the risks outweigh the rewards."

Zhang Mo's voice came through, "What do you want?"

Shen Mo laughed, "I want a treasure that can nurture the Nascent Soul."

Zhang Mo fell silent.

After a long pause, he spoke, "There are many treasures that can nurture the Nascent Soul. Which one do you want?"

Shen Mo then selected a few from the treasures recorded in the "Infernal Extinction Manual" and reported them to Zhang Mo, "The Longevity Flower, the Fiery Cherry Lotus, the Dark Frost Chrysanthemum…"

"These treasures are extremely rare, even for my Heavenly Water Sect," Zhang Mo replied. "However, I do know the whereabouts of a Fiery Cherry Lotus."

"There is a small volcano within the Thunder Fire Sect's territory that contains the Fiery Cherry Lotus."

"I have a good relationship with the Sect Master of Thunder Fire Sect. They should have such a fire-attribute treasure."

"Very well. Show me the treasure, and I will participate in the duel," Shen Mo replied with a chuckle.

Zhang Mo frowned, "How can I be sure that you will join the duel and not just run off with the treasure?"

Shen Mo sneered, "Sect Master Zhang, the initiative is in my hands."

"Besides, you made a mistake earlier. No one in Qingxuan Sect, including Murong Yue, can match me."

"If you can't provide what I need, I could just go to Qingxuan Sect. I'm sure Murong Yue would love to see that."

Zhang Mo was silent again.

The sound of teeth grinding could faintly be heard.

After a long while, Zhang Mo spoke once more, "Fine. I agree. I will deliver the treasure to you within two days at most."

"Good. I look forward to your good news, Sect Master Zhang," Shen Mo laughed sinisterly.

After disconnecting from the transmission jade, Shen Mo smacked his lips.

Getting a treasure without lifting a finger felt almost too pleasant.

...

Two days later.

Shen Mo indeed received the treasure sent by the Heavenly Water Sect.

It was a Fiery Cherry Lotus.

A treasure that could only be born in the high-temperature, high-pressure depths of the earth.

The Thunder Fire Sect happened to control a small volcano, which allowed them to harvest the Fiery Cherry Lotus continuously.

However, as an Earth-grade treasure, the Fiery Cherry Lotus took a long time to mature. Typically, one would take a hundred years to be born and another hundred years to fully grow.

The Thunder Fire Sect usually wouldn't trade the Fiery Cherry Lotus easily.

For Zhang Mo to obtain this Fiery Cherry Lotus, he must have paid a heavy price, far beyond mere favors.

Of course, whatever the price, Shen Mo had no interest in knowing.

After all, it wasn't his price to pay—it was the Heavenly Water Sect's.

After acquiring the Fiery Cherry Lotus, Shen Mo quickly returned to the Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate and began refining it.

Three days passed in the process.

...

Thorny Forest, Tiger Head Mountain.

At this moment, the surroundings of the mountain were packed with people.

Some stood on tree branches, others at the mountain's peak, while some floated amidst the clouds.

These people had come not just from the southern part of Xuanjing Prefecture but also from the northern sects!

Among them were representatives from the Divine Sword Sect, the Shaoyang Sect, and the other five major sects of Xuanjing!

Geniuses such as Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Wan Renjie had all arrived one after another.

Today, we gather here to witness this once-in-a-century life-and-death duel between sects!

Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and Xiao Fan were also among the crowd.

Zhao Rou pointed in a certain direction, "Look over there. The cultivators in blue and red robes should be from the Thunder Fire Sect, right?"

"They really are from the Thunder Fire Sect," Zhao Ting nodded.

Luo Shengnan spoke up as well, "Look over there! People from the Rising Sun Sect and the Divine Sword Sect are here too. That man is Ouyang Cang, the Vice Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect. I can't believe he came in person!"

"All five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture are here," Zhao Ting sighed.

"Big Brother, does a life-and-death duel mean that one side must die for it to end? I'm worried..." Zhao Rou said, her concern evident.

Zhao Ting shook his head, "Not necessarily. One can admit defeat to end the duel, but to do so under the watchful eyes of so many... their mental state would be damaged. Even if they survive, their cultivation might never progress further."

Zhao Rou nodded, understanding now.

"Big Brother, do you know who will participate in the duel?" she asked again.

Zhao Ting seemed like he was about to say something but ended up shaking his head.

"There's no need to know the list. Just think a little, and you can guess," Xiao Fan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.

Luo Shengnan, Zhao Ting, and Zhao Rou all had a slight change in their expressions and cupped their hands towards him, "Elder Xiao."

Xiao Fan smiled faintly, "The three people our Qingxuan Sect will send to the duel are surely the strongest within the sect. So, it's easy to guess the lineup."

"The three are Sect Master Murong, Young Master Shen, and Elder Song Chaofeng."

Luo Shengnan and the others exchanged looks.

Murong Yue and Song Chaofeng were both known for their strength.

But Shen Mo... he was so young. Could he really handle it?

Xiao Fan continued, "As for the three participants from the Heavenly Water Sect, it is unclear for now. However, Sect Master Zhang Mo and Grand Elder Long Tao are surely two of them."

"The third person will likely be one of their second or third elders, as their strengths are similar."

Zhao Rou blinked, still worried, "I've heard that Demon Armor has become a guest elder of the Heavenly Water Sect. He is quite powerful. Wouldn't Zhang Mo invite him?"

Xiao Fan shook his head, "Demon Armor is a self-serving rogue cultivator. He would avoid getting involved in conflicts between the two major sects at all costs."

"Moreover, I doubt Zhang Mo could offer enough to persuade Demon Armor."

Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan both nodded.

Although they disliked Xiao Fan, his analysis was undeniably accurate.

Suddenly, Xiao Fan's eyes flashed as he looked toward the northern sky, "The people from Heavenly Water Sect have arrived."

In mid-air.

Zhang Mo descended like a streak of light, landing steadily at the peak of Tiger Head Mountain.

Standing before her was none other than Murong Yue.

"Sect Master Murong, long time no see. You've become even more beautiful," Zhang Mo said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Murong Yue glanced at her briefly, suddenly feeling a chill, "Sect Master Zhang, your strength has improved again."

Zhang Mo laughed heartily, "You have a good eye."

Murong Yue, unwilling to waste words on this, asked, "Sect Master Zhang, who are the participants from your Heavenly Water Sect?"

As soon as she spoke, everyone's eyes turned towards them.

Everyone was eager to know which three people the Heavenly Water Sect had chosen.

Zhang Mo smiled, "The participants are ready. You two, come on up!"

As soon as she finished speaking, two streaks of light quickly appeared beside Zhang Mo.

The one on the left was Long Tao, an inner elder of the Heavenly Water Sect and a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage.

The other wore a half-face mask with a flame pattern. It was none other than the renowned rogue cultivator of Xuanjing Prefecture—Demon Armor!

Zhang Mo smiled slightly, "The three participants from our Heavenly Water Sect are myself, Long Tao, and Demon Armor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in an uproar!

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