Volume 1, Chapter 24: This Is Simply an Insult to Me!

The commotion at the Divine Ability Hall was so significant that it drew the attention of everyone passing by. Unlike those who had caused trouble earlier, these onlookers were not affiliated with the Hongmeng faction; they were merely spectators, drawn by the spectacle.

"He Wendao, ranked eighth on the Inner Court's Mountain and River List, at the eighth level of the God-Transformation Realm."

He Wendao stared directly at Mu Yi, announcing his credentials. "I am challenging you to a duel on the Life-and-Death Arena. Do you dare to accept?"

"Mu Yi, didn't you brag earlier that you didn't even care about the two of us? Now that one of my underlings is challenging you, you wouldn't be too cowardly to accept, would you? Lost your nerve?" Nangong Ying laughed. "Of course, if you are so afraid of death that you dare not step onto the arena, there is an alternative. Just kneel and kowtow to me eight times, and I might spare you this once. How about that?"

"Hahaha! Compared to losing your life, eight kowtows are nothing. We believe this Mu Yi only has the option of kneeling."

The Hongmeng disciples present burst into laughter, heaping mockery upon Mu Yi.

"Why are there always such foolish people in this world?"

Though everyone around him was mocking him, Mu Yi himself felt no anger. He gazed up at the sky and gave a faint sigh, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

"He Wendao, is it? You want to challenge me?"

Mu Yi didn't even look at He Wendao as he turned around. "Then, let us head to the Life-and-Death Arena. If I cannot kill you in one strike, I will tear your head off and use it as a ball!"

Mu Yi was not a man who craved slaughter. However, in this world, one is often forced into situations against their will. He Wendao had no prior grievances with him, but since the man insisted on seeking his own death, Mu Yi could hardly be blamed.

"What? This Mu Yi actually dares to step onto the Life-and-Death Arena? Is he insane?"

"His opponent, He Wendao, is ranked eighth on the Inner Court's Mountain and River List and is at the eighth level of the God-Transformation Realm!"

"Mu Yi is only at the first level of the God-Transformation Realm, yet he claims he will kill He Wendao in one strike. He must be completely mad!"

Everyone had expected Mu Yi to kneel and kowtow, refusing the challenge. No one had anticipated that he would choose to step onto the Life-and-Death Arena. The arena was a place for the disciples of the Divine Concealment Academy to resolve their grudges; once both parties voluntarily stepped onto it, life and death were left to fate, and the academy would not intervene.

"Hahaha! Good! You are certainly arrogant enough! I like it!"

A sharp glint flashed in He Wendao's eyes, and he wore a cruel grin. Both he and Mu Yi walked toward the arena, with the crowd rushing after them. Mu Yi was merely a newcomer, while He Wendao was a seasoned powerhouse of the Inner Court. The news of their duel spread like a storm, and within moments, hundreds of people had gathered around the arena.

Mu Yi and He Wendao stood upon the platform.

"Now that so many are watching, I won't say I'm bullying you. I'll let you strike first three times," Mu Yi said, hands behind his back. He stood tall and straight, his robes fluttering in the wind, looking incredibly composed—as if the battle were already over before it had even begun.

"Hmph, you dare to be arrogant when death is at your doorstep? You'll let me have three strikes? No need! Because I only need one to kill you!"

He Wendao could no longer tolerate Mu Yi's arrogance. Suddenly, his long sword flew from its scabbard with a dragon-like roar, striking at Mu Yi like a bolt of lightning.

Mu Yi did not dodge. He had no need to.

*Clang!*

The sharp sword energy landed squarely on Mu Yi’s body, yet he did not retreat a single step. A sound like a tolling bronze bell emanated from within his torso.

"How is this possible..." He Wendao was stunned. His strike was no ordinary attack; it was the "Wandering Dragon Sword Technique," a high-grade Earth-tier martial skill of the Divine Concealment Academy. He never imagined it would have no effect on Mu Yi.

Even Nangong Ying and Gu Fan’s expressions changed drastically. They had clearly not expected Mu Yi to be so formidable.

"Such trashy swordplay—to think you would dare display it before me. It is an insult."

Mu Yi reached out with his hand, his fingers curling like a serpent. It looked slow, but it was lightning fast.

*Crack.*

He gripped the blade of the sword and gave it a violent twist. He Wendao’s precious blade was twisted into a spiral before shattering into fragments with a loud *bang*.

"How can this be? That sword, the Azure Edge, is a low-grade Spirit Artifact!"

"Mu Yi actually twisted a low-grade Spirit Artifact apart with his bare hands?"

The crowd was dumbfounded. In the Great Qian Dynasty, artifacts were divided into Spirit, Treasure, and Dao tiers, each categorized into low, medium, and high grades. Dao-tier artifacts were legendary, rumored to be possessed only by the heads of the four major academies. Treasure-tier artifacts were held only by Holy Sons. Even low-grade Spirit Artifacts were rare, and most Inner Court disciples of the Divine Concealment Academy did not possess them.

To see Mu Yi destroy one with his bare hands made the crowd look at him as if he were a monster. What immense physical strength must he possess to accomplish such a feat?

"You... you destroyed my Azure Edge Sword..." He Wendao stepped back repeatedly, his eyes filled with boundless fear.

"You have two more chances to strike," Mu Yi said, hands back behind his back, his voice as cold as a winter wind, like the reaper calling for a soul.

"No! I won't fight anymore! I surrender!" He Wendao was terrified. His Azure Edge Sword combined with the Wandering Dragon Sword Technique had failed to wound Mu Yi at all. Most chilling of all was the display of raw power that had shattered his Spirit Artifact. No disciple in the history of the Divine Concealment Academy at the God-Transformation Realm had ever achieved such a feat. It was unheard of even in the entire Great Qian Dynasty. He finally realized what kind of monster he was facing.

"Senior Brother Nangong, help me!" The man who had been so arrogant only moments ago turned and tried to flee the arena.

"Only now do you realize your fear? It is too late. A coward like you is just a waste of food."

Mu Yi had no intention of letting He Wendao go. Since the man had challenged him to a duel to the death, only one of them could leave the arena alive.

Mu Yi threw a punch, swift as thunder and lightning—his signature technique, the "Hundred-Battle Dazzling Dragon Fist."

*Boom!*

The crowd watched as He Wendao, who had almost reached the edge of the arena, took the force of the blow square in the back. Mu Yi’s fist punched straight through him, emerging from his chest.

"If you want to be someone else’s pawn, you first need the strength to back it up. Unfortunately, you won't have the chance to learn that lesson now."

Mu Yi withdrew his fist, and He Wendao’s body collapsed completely. The fate of this eighth-ranked Inner Court prodigy had been sealed the moment he stepped onto the arena.

"He's dead? He Wendao was actually killed with a single punch?" Nangong Ying and Gu Fan were shocked. They had chosen He Wendao because of his eighth-level God-Transformation cultivation, never imagining he wouldn't be able to withstand a single move.

"Nangong Ying, Gu Fan, you two are supposedly among the thirty-two Holy Sons—how is your judgment so pathetic?" Mu Yi looked at them, full of provocation. "I really doubt if you two are qualified to be Holy Sons of our Divine Concealment Academy. Did you bribe your way in? Your reputations are entirely unearned!"

"Mu Yi! Do you really think we don't dare to kill you?" Nangong Ying and Gu Fan were utterly humiliated and grew enraged. The fact that Mu Yi still dared to mock them caused the surrounding crowd to back away, sensing the terrifying killing intent erupting from the two Holy Sons.

"Kill me?" Mu Yi laughed. "Nangong Ying, Gu Fan, today on this arena, it was your pawn, He Wendao, who died. But next time, it will be the two of you. Treasure the little time you have left."

Nangong Ying and Gu Fan were now on Mu Yi’s death list.

"No need to wait for the future. I'll finish you right now!"

Abandoning all restraint and driven by madness, Nangong Ying and Gu Fan ignored the eyes of the crowd and the rules of the academy, charging onto the Life-and-Death Arena to strike Mu Yi down.

"Presumptuous!"

Just then, a whirlwind swept across the stage like a storm.

"Ugh..."

Nangong Ying and Gu Fan were struck as if by lightning, forced back several meters and landing off the arena. Standing in front of Mu Yi was Xiao Ziyue.