C11 Life and Death Challenge

"Fine, if this piece of trash insists on courting death, he can't blame me for showing no mercy."

Lin Wu's eyes flickered with a hint of murderous intent as he inquired, "Where's that trash, Xiao Ling now?"

"At the martial arts arena," replied the youth.

"Lin Xuan, we're off."

With that, Lin Wu marched toward the martial arts stage with purposeful strides.

"Xiao Ling, your fate is sealed."

A gleeful smile spread across Lin Xuan's face as he eagerly followed in Lin Wu's wake.

The martial arts stage was abuzz with excitement and lively chatter.

"That loser Xiao Ling challenged Senior Brother Lin Wu to a life-and-death duel a month ago. Today's the day they settle it!"

"I can't believe that loser actually had the nerve to show up and face his doom!"

"It's typical for young blood to act rashly. Still, you have to admire Xiao Ling's bravery for honoring the challenge, even though it's a death sentence."

"Right? He finally managed to start cultivating. He could've just found a quiet spot to live out his days. Why come here and throw his life away? It's beyond me."

The Holy Martial Institute's disciples were all abuzz with their heated discussions. The outcome of the duel between Xiao Ling and Lin Wu seemed a foregone conclusion: Lin Wu would survive, Xiao Ling would perish.

"Here comes that loser!" shouted one of the youths.

At once, all eyes of the Holy Martial Institute's disciples turned to look.

They saw a lean young man in black, with a massive black sword strapped to his back, approaching with a look of steely resolve. By his side, a fairy-like girl in white cradled a golden tiger, her smile radiant as she walked.

"Goddess Yun Xi!"

The male disciples of the Holy Martial Institute were practically glowing with adoration, utterly spellbound.

To these young men, Yun Xi held an exalted place in their hearts, untouchable and revered like a snow lotus atop Tianshan Mountain, only to be admired from a distance.

"Can you believe that loser is actually walking alongside Goddess Yun Xi?"

Jealous murmurs filled the air as the male disciples glared at Xiao Ling with eyes that could kill.

If glares had the power to slay, Xiao Ling would have met his end over and over again.

"Girl, you're quite the sensation at the Holy Martial Institute, aren't you?"

Amidst the hostile stares, Xiao Ling touched his nose, a touch of resignation in his voice: "If we weren't at the academy, I'd probably be mobbed outside."

Puchi.

Yun Xi's smile was a gentle ripple, her beauty captivating, leaving countless male disciples of the Holy Martial Institute utterly smitten.

"Ling, you're not scared, are you?"

Yun Xi pouted, suggesting, "If it's really that bad, I just won't accompany you next time."

"That's not an option."

As many hearts shattered around them, Xiao Ling affectionately ruffled Yun Xi's hair and declared, "From now on, I won't back down. I'll rise to the challenge and become the strongest. Then, no one will dare to whisper about us."

"Mm..."

Yun Xi's cheeks flushed as she nodded softly.

"No! My heart is shattered!"

Numerous male disciples of the Holy Martial Institute clutched their chests, gasping for air, eyes reddened with envy, wishing they could tear Xiao Ling limb from limb.

"Xiao Ling, I'm relieved to see you're a man of your word."

Just then, a resonant voice cut through the air, and a figure in white leaped onto the dueling platform.

"Senior Brother Lin Wu!"

Admiration filled the eyes of the Holy Martial Institute's disciples. Lin Wu's prowess was legendary among them.

"Senior Brother Lin Wu, pulverize that trash Xiao Ling!"

The disciples roared, eager for Lin Wu to take down Xiao Ling so their goddess would no longer be by his side.

Upon hearing this, Lin Wu's expression turned stormy at the sight of Xiao Ling and Yun Xi together.

His vendetta against Xiao Ling was fueled not just by Xiao Ling's unique status but also by the deep connections Xiao Ling shared with Yun Xi.

As one of Yun Xi's suitors, it pained Lin Wu to see them together, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Xiao Ling deserved the worst of fates!

"Xiao Ling, come up here and meet your end!" Lin Wu called out, unable to contain himself.

"Let's see who meets their end," Xiao Ling retorted, his expression icy as he ascended the platform, his gaze sharp as a sword, fixed on Lin Wu.

Xiao Ling's piercing stare sent a mysterious chill down Lin Wu's spine, igniting a rage within him. He couldn't believe Xiao Ling's gaze had actually managed to unsettle him!

"Xiao Ling, I don't need a sword or my martial soul to kill you. It would be effortless!" Lin Wu declared, arms crossed and a sneer on his face. "Out of respect for our shared sect, I'll offer you a chance to live. Kneel and bow your head to me three times, then leave Yun Xi alone forever, and I'll let you live."

Unfazed by Lin Wu's taunts, Xiao Ling responded coolly, "You talk a big game. Aren't you worried the wind might snap your tongue off?"

"Your trashy promises don't mean a thing to me," Lin Wu retorted with scorn. "Had you not challenged me to this duel to the death, I wouldn't have bothered with someone like you."

Xiao Ling's gaze turned icy. "Lin Wu, you keep calling me trash, but what does that make you if I beat you?"

"Me, defeated by you? That'd only happen if the sun rose from the west..." Lin Wu caught himself, realizing he'd just repeated his own earlier words, his complexion turning a steely shade of gray. "Enough, enough. I'm done wasting words on you. Do as I say, and your life will be spared."

"Oh, 'spare your life,' is it? I'm eager to see how you plan to do that," Xiao Ling chuckled, as a powerful aura exploded from within him, showcasing his unbridled Seven-star Peak strength.

"A Seven-star Peak cultivator!" the disciples of the Holy Martial Institute gasped in unison, their eyes bulging, mouths agape wide enough to swallow an egg.

In just one month, Xiao Ling had surged in power as if he'd been on some potent elixir, reaching the zenith of a Seven-star Martial Cultivator, leaving everyone utterly astonished.

As they gazed upon the slender silhouette on the dueling platform, the disciples reminisced about the times Xiao Ling had repeatedly failed to awaken his martial soul.

The boy faced failure after failure, yet he never lost heart, persistently honing his skills in solitude.

Witnessing his fall from a once unparalleled prodigy to utter worthlessness, they had seen it all.

The fickleness of human relationships had driven many away from Xiao Ling, leaving only a handful who remained steadfast by his side.

Now, in just one month, Xiao Ling had awakened his martial soul and ascended to the Seven-star Peak Martial Warrior, a feat so astounding it left the disciples of the Holy Martial Institute utterly speechless.

One thing was clear: the once dazzling youth had made his comeback!

"Seven-star Peak Martial Warrior..."

Lin Xuan's face contorted as he watched Xiao Ling. A month had gone by, and he was still stuck as a Three-star martial cultivator.

Reflecting on Xiao Ling's past words, if Xiao Ling was considered trash, what did that make him? Less than trash?

"The prodigious youth of the past has returned."

A disciple of the Holy Martial Institute murmured, awe shining in his eyes.

Everyone knew of Xiao Ling's years of silent suffering. After thirteen years, that radiant star was poised to rise once more!

"True fragrance emanates from the bitterness of cold," Yun Xi mused with a smile, watching the resolute young man on the martial arts platform.

She was confident that Xiao Ling would prove himself yet again, not as the scorned youth they labeled him, but as the peerless genius he truly was.

"Well done, Ling," Jiang Ya praised from a nearby pavilion, where he stood with several venerable elders, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene below.

Even the normally stoic Jiang Ya allowed a proud smile to break through as he witnessed Xiao Ling's prowess.

"This young man is no ordinary individual."

The other elders nodded in agreement, their respect for Xiao Ling growing. "Thirteen years of obscurity couldn't dampen his martial spirit. Should he continue to grow, he will undoubtedly elevate our Holy Martial Institute."

In a mere month, he had not only awakened his martial soul but had also surged to the pinnacle of a Seven-star Martial Warrior, a rate of advancement not even the Flame Yellow Empire could match.

One elder sighed with a mix of admiration and concern, "It's a shame, this match being a duel to the death. It's hard to say whether Lin Wu or Xiao Ling will emerge victorious."

Both were the institute's shining stars, and the loss of either would be a tremendous blow to the Holy Martial Institute.

The life-and-death duel agreed upon by the two was a grave matter on the Divine Martial Continent. They couldn't rest until a victor emerged from the battle.

"Xiao Ling's talent is unparalleled in my experience," an elder remarked. "Yet, to take on Lin Wu at the Seven-star Peak level, he still needs to ripen a bit."

A single-star difference might as well be a chasm too vast to cross. While some exceptional geniuses can fight above their level, Lin Wu is a prodigy with formidable strength of his own.

"I have faith in Ling," Jiang Ya declared with conviction. "You all know his tenacity. Once he's committed to something, he sees it through to the end."

"His willingness to engage in a duel to the death shows his confidence in overcoming Lin Wu."

A duel of life and death—it set everyone's hearts racing with its intensity.

Jiang Ya and the others naturally rallied behind Xiao Ling. To reach the Seven-star Peak in just one month—such talent had already eclipsed Lin Wu.

"Xiao Ling, you've kept your true strength well hidden."

Lin Wu's complexion turned a sickly pale as he said, "In just one month's time, you've ascended to the Seven-star Peak. Given a bit more time, surpassing me wouldn't be out of the question."

The memory of their confrontation in the Testing Hall lingered in his mind. The resolute young man who had challenged him to a duel to the death—it wasn't a reckless act, but one backed by immense confidence.

Reflecting on the youth's journey, surviving thirteen years before awakening his martial spirit and rapidly climbing to the Seven-star Peak, Lin Wu realized their cultivation levels were only steps apart.

Just a little more time, and Xiao Ling would undoubtedly reach heights that Lin Wu could only aspire to.

What did this signify?

It meant Xiao Ling had outstripped him by leagues, igniting a blaze of resentment in Lin Wu's heart.

What infuriated him even more was his own earlier words, calling Xiao Ling worthless. If Xiao Ling, who had broken through to the Seven-star Peak in a month, was considered worthless, then what did that make his own years-long struggle to reach the Nine-star Peak?

Is there anything lower than trash?

"Xiao Ling, even with your impressive talents, today you won't be able to dodge death," Lin Wu declared, the usual serenity on his face replaced by a savage snarl. "I'm quite curious to experience what it's like to snuff out a once-in-an-age prodigy."

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