C33 Mad Then be Mad to the Extreme

"Stop!"

With a booming shout, a figure swiftly rushed onto the martial practicing platform.

"Clang..."

The Fengling Sword was deflected by the newcomer's long sword.

"Liu Tianli, are you trying to break the sect's rules?" Woo Zhengyang questioned coldly.

The newcomer was Liu Tianli, Liu Tiancheng's brother and the seventh-ranked outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect. Woo Zhengyang knew that interfering in a life-and-death duel on the platform was strictly forbidden, as it challenged the rules of the entire sect. He couldn't fathom where Liu Tianli found the courage to intervene.

"Sect rules? Maybe you're the one who doesn't understand them!"

Liu Tianli sneered at Woo Zhengyang and continued, "According to the Profound Heaven Sect's rules, a life-and-death duel on the platform requires supervision by a senior elder. So, your so-called duel is nothing but child's play."

After hearing Liu Tianli's words, Woo Zhengyang glanced at the crowd's reaction and realized Liu Tianli was right. Being new to the sect, Woo Zhengyang only had a rough idea of the rules, unlike the spectators who were well aware. Yet, none would risk offending Liu Tianli to warn him. Moreover, no one expected Yue Liqing to be defeated so thoroughly.

They never expected Liu Tianli to exploit Woo Zhengyang's unfamiliarity with the rules of a life-and-death duel to leave Yue Liqing a backup plan. While it might seem justifiable, once the details got out, both Liu Tianli and Yue Liqing would inevitably face disdain.

Liu Tianli knew that intervening would invite criticism, but he had no choice. If Yue Liqing had died, his family elders would surely blame him and his brother, Liu Tiancheng. The Yue family might also hold the Liu family accountable, and neither he nor his brother could withstand the wrath of an elder, let alone the entire Yue family.

So, even though Liu Tianli saved Yue Liqing, he felt a bit embarrassed as he pulled Yue Liqing away, intending to leave.

"Wait..."

Woo Zhengyang wasn't about to let them walk away so easily.

"What? Is there something else?" Liu Tianli turned to face Woo Zhengyang, taking a good look at him for the first time. At this moment, Woo Zhengyang commanded his full attention.

"For someone like me, the last-ranked disciple, you really went to a lot of trouble!" Woo Zhengyang remarked, finding the situation more amusing than infuriating despite being caught off guard.

"Hmph, you're the one who went to great lengths, hiding so well!" Yue Liqing snapped, his voice a mix of pain and anger.

"I've never deliberately hidden anything about my abilities. It's just your own assumptions. But you, knowing the rules of the life-and-death duel from the start, left a loophole because you weren't confident of winning. That's why you had this seventh-ranked disciple ready to step in and save your skin. So, clinging to life is your true martial spirit, huh?"

"You... ugh..."

Yue Liqing, mocked by Woo Zhengyang, was so enraged that he spat out blood and fainted.

"I must admit, I underestimated you before. But what I don't understand is, what exactly do you rely on to act so recklessly?" Liu Tianli said calmly as he supported Yue Liqing. His task of saving Yue was complete, and he wasn't worried about Woo Zhengyang since someone would surely intervene.

Woo Zhengyang chuckled, "You'll find out what I rely on soon enough. If I'm not mistaken, you left this escape route for him, didn't you?"

Although Yue Liqing had connections with the inner sect elders, he was still a new disciple and couldn't possibly know the ins and outs of the martial practicing platform. It was obvious who had paved the way for him.

"So what?" Liu Tianli admitted openly, knowing that denying it would only tarnish his reputation further.

"As a seventh-ranked disciple, you schemed against a newcomer like me. Your martial spirit isn't much to boast about either!"

"Don't try to provoke me with words. When you reach my level, then we can talk about the martial spirit. Of course, that's if you live that long..." Liu Tianli said, hoisting the unconscious Yue Liqing over his shoulder and jumping off the martial platform. He had no desire to stay there a moment longer.

"Three days from now, right here, I challenge Yue Liqing to a fight to the death!" Woo Zhengyang declared, casually playing with the Phoenix Feather Sword in his hand. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard him clearly, and many couldn't help but criticize him internally.

Given today's events, it was clear that Woo Zhengyang and Yue Liqing were locked in a life-and-death struggle. If Liu Tianli hadn't intervened, Yue Liqing would likely be dead by now. No one doubted this, as Woo Zhengyang's arrogance had left a deep impression on everyone. There seemed to be nothing he wouldn't do.

What puzzled the crowd was that, with Woo Zhengyang's arrogant nature, he shouldn't need to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state. Even if he wanted to eliminate Yue Liqing to prevent future trouble, he didn't have to make it so obvious, risking public backlash.

"Woo Zhengyang, Yue is already in this state, and you still have the nerve to challenge him?" Liu Tiancheng, standing in opposition to Woo Zhengyang, didn't hesitate to express his disdain.

"I believe with his skills, he should be able to recover from his injuries in three days, maybe even improve his abilities. Of course, whether he can recover or improve makes no difference to me. It just depends on whether he dares to face me."

Incredible!

The audacity is palpable!

Woo Zhengyang, usually so low-key, now exudes a confidence that sends shivers down everyone's spine. His message is clear: no matter what Yue Liqing does, there's only one path for him—defeat. Woo's only aim is to challenge, and he couldn't care less whether Yue accepts or not.

"Hmph..." Liu Tiancheng snorts, choosing not to say more. He can't decide for Yue Liqing.

But in the next moment, Liu Tiancheng's face turns ashen!

"Three days from now, right here, I, as the 9,999th disciple, challenge Liu Tiancheng to a duel to the death!"

This is the second challenge Woo Zhengyang has issued to Liu Tiancheng today. The first left Liu utterly humiliated, and this one promises to be no different.

Yue Liqing had prepared so many tricks, yet now they're all rendered useless. Even his prized Phoenix Feather Sword is in someone else's hands. Liu Tiancheng stands no chance against Woo Zhengyang.

It's an unfair fight, but Woo's challenge is entirely justified. He's the lowest-ranked in the outer circle, while Liu Tiancheng, though a newcomer, ranks much higher.

"You..." Liu Tiancheng's face flushes from blue to red, a mix of anger and shame.

He knows he can't accept Woo Zhengyang's challenge. Woo knows it, and so does everyone watching.

However, Woo Zhengyang still spoke up, making his intentions clear: he was going to deliver a harsh lesson, showing that in his presence, others had no right to speak.

"Leave some room for others; you never know when you'll meet again," Liu Tianli said, unable to stand by as his younger brother was bullied. As the elder brother, he felt compelled to intervene. Unfortunately, due to the rules, even as the seventh-ranked outer disciple, he couldn't challenge a new disciple without losing face.

"No need to worry about future encounters," Woo Zhengyang declared. "In three days, right here, I, as the 999th-ranked outer disciple, challenge Liu Tianli, the seventh-ranked disciple, to a life-and-death duel!"

With that, Woo Zhengyang leaped off the martial platform and left, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.

"Did I hear that right? Woo Zhengyang is challenging Liu Tianli in three days?"

"I thought I misheard too. Woo Zhengyang's arrogance is off the charts! If he were challenging the 100th or even the 50th-ranked outer disciple, I'd get it. But he's going after Liu Tianli, the seventh-ranked, an eight-star Martial Disciple... Am I crazy, or has the world gone mad?"