Chapter 9: Gathering for a Wager

The Life and Death Stage, as the name suggests, is a place for life-and-death battles.

In any sect, it is inevitable for disciples to have grievances. Instead of holding grudges, the Sword Sect established the Life and Death Stage to resolve conflicts among disciples. If there is an irreconcilable dispute between disciples, they can challenge each other. Of course, the challenger's cultivation level cannot exceed that of the challenged by more than two ranks.

Originally, Yang Ye didn't want to issue a challenge on the Life and Death Stage. But when he saw Duan Jun trying to kill him, he knew that the other party had no intention of letting him go. If Duan Jun attacked on the spot, regardless of the outcome, Yang Ye would suffer.

Losing was obvious, as Duan Jun could torture and kill him. Winning wouldn't bring him any benefits, and he couldn't even kill Duan Jun. Moreover, causing harm to Duan Jun would also bring trouble for Yang Ye, considering he was just a miscellaneous disciple. Only on the Life and Death Stage could he be on equal footing with Duan Jun, and only there could he kill him!

"Hahaha..." Duan Jun, after regaining his senses, burst into laughter. Pointing at Yang Ye, he couldn't conceal his disdain and said, "This is hilarious! The number one waste in history actually dares to challenge me on the Life and Death Stage? What makes you think you can? Just because you're the number one waste in history?"

Yang Ye paid no attention to Duan Jun's disdain and said, "According to the Sword Sect's rules, someone of lower cultivation can challenge someone of higher cultivation, and the person of higher cultivation cannot refuse. Of course, if you insist on refusing, that's also fine. But if you do, the Sword Sect might spread the news that Duan Jun is afraid to even accept a challenge from a miscellaneous disciple!"

"I know you're trying to provoke me!" Duan Jun sneered. "But I accept your challenge. Rest assured, I won't kill you. I will break your tendons and shatter your bones on the Life and Death Stage in front of everyone in the Sword Sect. I want everyone to know that a waste is still a waste, even if you become a Xuan Master!"

"Done talking? Let's meet on the Life and Death Stage then!" Yang Ye glanced at Duan Jun and calmly walked towards the Life and Death Stage.

Seeing Yang Ye's nonchalant appearance, Duan Jun's killing intent grew stronger. How dare this waste pretend to be superior? Not only did Yang Ye cut off his source of wealth, but now he also challenged him on the spot. A miscellaneous disciple challenging him was an insult. "I'll make sure you suffer!"

...

"Yang Ye challenged an Outer Sect disciple on the Life and Death Stage. Come, come, let's go and watch!"

"What? Are you serious? Yang Ye challenged an Outer Sect disciple? Are you out of your mind?"

"No, it's you who's out of your mind. Your whole family is out of their minds. Just a moment ago, Du Xiu's despicable cousin went to trouble Yang Ye, but who would have thought that Yang Ye has already become a Xuan Master? And he immediately challenged Du Xiu's cousin on the spot. Now they've gone to the Life and Death Stage. Hurry up and go!"

"Yang Ye is already a Xuan Master? Great! Let's go, let's go, let's cheer for Yang Ye..."

Outer Sect Disciples' Peak.

"What? A miscellaneous disciple is challenging us, the Outer Sect disciples? And it's that so-called number one waste? Are you kidding me? Wasn't he not even a Xuan Master?"

"I don't know, but they've already gone to the Life and Death Stage. Hurry up, if we're late, that miscellaneous disciple might end up dead. We won't be able to witness the spectacle. Let's go and inform the others."

"A miscellaneous disciple challenging us, the Outer Sect disciples? On the Life and Death Stage? It's truly overestimating their abilities. Let's go and see how we, the Outer Sect disciples, will teach them a lesson."

In no time, news of Yang Ye challenging the Outer Sect disciples spread like wildfire throughout the Miscellaneous Disciples' Peak and the Outer Sect Disciples' Peak. Thousands of miscellaneous disciples and hundreds of Outer Sect disciples hurriedly made their way to the Life and Death Stage.

...

On the Life and Death Stage, an elderly man dressed in a blue and white robe watched Yang Ye and the young man in the green garment. However, the elderly man's gaze was mostly focused on Yang Ye. His name was Cao Huo, an Outer Sect elder of the Sword Sect and the head of the Law Enforcement Team. Although he had witnessed many battles on the Life and Death Stage before, this was the first time he had seen a miscellaneous disciple challenging an Outer Sect disciple.

With a wave of his right hand, two sparkling energy stones floated towards Yang Ye and Duan Jun. Cao Huo said, "On the Life and Death Stage, there are no rules. You can use any means necessary. To ensure fairness, replenish your internal energy to full capacity now, and then you may begin." After speaking, the elderly man floated to the side.

"You're going to die!" Duan Jun stared at Yang Ye and said in a low voice.

Yang Ye didn't reply. Instead, he walked over to a weapon rack nearby and picked up a longsword. The sword was approximately one and a half meters long, two fingers wide, made of ordinary refined iron, and of low grade.

"Qingfeng Sword, yellow-grade lower-tier, capable of cutting iron like mud," Duan Jun remarked as a sword appeared in his hand. Looking at Yang Ye, he continued, "But don't worry, I won't kill you. I'll sever your tendons and shatter your bones on the Life and Death Stage. Then, I'll have someone send you back to your family, so they can share in your suffering! How's that? Isn't that merciful of me?"

With a casual sword flourish, Yang Ye calmly said, "Rest assured, I'll also show you mercy!" With that, Yang Ye sat down cross-legged and began absorbing the spiritual energy from the energy stones.

Duan Jun's eyes flashed with a chilling intent to kill. He also sat down and started absorbing the spiritual energy from the energy stones.

At that moment, somewhere beneath the Life and Death Stage, hundreds of Outer Sect disciples watched Yang Ye and the young man in green on the stage. One of them, a long-faced individual, turned to the disciple beside him and said, "Jiang Qiushui, Duan Jun is an eighth-rank Xuan Master. I don't know the cultivation level of that miscellaneous disciple, but I bet Duan Jun will claim his life within ten moves."

"I bet on five moves!" said a man named Jiang Qiushui, looking at the long-faced disciple. "Twenty energy stones. Are you up for the challenge?"

"You really think so little of that miscellaneous disciple?" the long-faced disciple chuckled.

"I've been in the sect for two years, and he onlybecame a Xuan Master just now. Can such a waste be worthy of my attention?" Jiang Qiushui sneered. "So, how about it? Twenty energy stones. I bet that Duan Jun will take his life within five moves. Are you up for it?"

"I dare!" The long-faced disciple laughed heartily. "Since that miscellaneous disciple dares to challenge Duan Jun, he must have some skills. I don't believe he won't last even ten moves. Anyone else willing to bet?"

"I bet on five moves!"

"I bet on ten moves..."

"I bet on the victory of that miscellaneous disciple, fifty energy stones!" At that moment, a clear but slightly immature voice rang out in the crowd.

The Outer Sect disciples were taken aback and turned their heads to see a smiling girl of around fourteen or fifteen years old. She wore a light yellow floral dress, which partially concealed her slender figure that was already taking shape. With willow-shaped eyebrows, a cherry-like mouth, and a pair of lively eyes that occasionally darted around, she exuded a mischievous aura.

The girl was none other than Bao'er from Fu Peak. She had come specifically to find Yang Ye today, but she hadn't expected him to be involved in a fight. Furthermore, she was surprised to see that everyone looked down on Yang Ye. She knew how formidable he was because he possessed the Five Elements Profound Qi.

As the Outer Sect disciples noticed the young girl, they were momentarily captivated. Although she was still young, they could imagine her future extraordinary charm. Some of them even revealed a hint of lewd desire in their eyes.

Annoyed by their unwelcome gazes, Bao'er snorted and took out a stack of talismans from her pocket. She walked up to Jiang Qiushui and the others, saying, "I want to bet with you! I bet on the victory of that little miscellaneous disciple."

Jiang Qiushui was taken aback, but when he saw the stack of talismans in Bao'er's hand, he was completely stunned. After a moment, he regained his composure. The arrogance in his expression was replaced by eagerness as he asked in a soft voice, "You, are you from Fu Peak?"

At that moment, the other Outer Sect disciples also noticed the stack of talismans in Bao'er's hand. They were talismans, and only the top ten ranked experts on the Outer Sect rankings were eligible to receive them! Their gazes became filled with undisguised greed.

Bao'er snorted and replied, "Yes, I bet on the victory of that miscellaneous disciple. Are you willing to bet?"

The Outer Sect disciples exchanged glances and then nodded in agreement. Rarely did they have such a sucker coming to be fleeced. If they didn't take advantage of this opportunity, they would be courting disaster!

"I bet fifty energy stones!" Jiang Qiushui suddenly spoke up. "We don't have that many energy stones with us, but you can keep track of it. If we lose, we'll definitely pay. We are all Outer Sect disciples, and we won't cheat you!"

Hearing Jiang Qiushui's words, the miscellaneous disciples were taken aback. Five hundred energy stones was not a small amount. They only received twenty energy stones per month, so did Jiang Qiushui have that many?

As the surrounding disciples speculated, Jiang Qiushui indeed didn't have five hundred energy stones, but he wasn't worried. After all, could that miscellaneous disciple win? The answer was an absolute no!

Bao'er pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, state your bets, and I'll keep track of them." She wasn't afraid of being cheated. No one in the Sword Sect dared to take advantage of her!

"I'll add two thousand energy stones!" Taking advantage of the opportunity to keep track of the bets, Jiang Qiushui immediately added five hundred energy stones. If he didn't take

advantage of this sucker, he wouldn't forgive himself.

Seeing Bao'er agree to keep track of the bets, the remaining disciples became restless and immediately raised their bids.

"I'll bet one thousand energy stones!"

"I bet eight hundred!"

"I wager two thousand..."

As the bids increased, Bao'er's eyes narrowed with a smile, and she quickly took notes of everyone's bets. For her, it would be best if Yang Ye won, but even if he lost, it didn't matter. After all, there were plenty of talismans at Fu Peak, and she could even make them herself.