C9 Life and Death Arena(part I)

With intent, command the sword; where the mind goes, the blade follows!

For a full hour, Ye Bufan remained with his long sword sheathed, once again standing before the waterfall, eyes tightly shut. Ye Jian, who had been waiting for the same duration, watched as Ye Bufan returned his pure Jun to its scabbard and was about to inquire further. But he noticed Ye Bufan had once again closed his eyes in deep meditation, presumably to grasp the state he had just experienced. Naturally, Ye Jian refrained from interrupting.

Such moments of sudden enlightenment are rare treasures that many warriors may never encounter in their lifetimes—a true favor from the God of Fortune!

Having experienced this in his past life, Ye Bufan was neither unfamiliar with the sensation nor overly thrilled. He simply settled into the profound state he had entered, his expression alternating between a furrowed brow and a faint smile...

Time seemed to stand still; the waterfall's roar muted. The world around him came to a halt as Ye Bufan delved into his inner universe.

Ye Jian remained steadfast, vigilantly surveying the surroundings. Any disturbance could pull Ye Bufan from this precious state, perhaps never to return to such an opportunity again.

Ye Jian had forgotten his original intent to question Ye Bufan about the origins of his swordsmanship. His sole focus now was to ensure his son remained undisturbed.

When Ye Bufan's eyes finally fluttered open, the sun that had been on the verge of setting was now rising in the east!

Had a day truly passed so swiftly? Ye Bufan shook his head, his gaze falling upon Ye Jian, who stood not far off. It seemed his father had kept watch over him throughout the night.

"Father, I am grateful," Ye Bufan expressed with deep respect. Since his rebirth, Ye Jian's actions for Ye Bufan might not have been monumental, but they were deserving of his son's reverence.

With a look of satisfaction, Ye Jian said, "You should rest now. I'll be there to witness your duel later." He had intended to ask about Ye Bufan's swordsmanship, but with the Life and Death Arena looming, he couldn't bring himself to divide his son's focus.

In Cloud Peak City, all the civilians dropped their tasks and converged at the Life and Death Arena early in the morning.

Today marked the much-anticipated duel between Ye Bufan of the Ye family and Lin Feiyang of the Lin family. The city, tranquil for so long, was now abuzz with excitement.

Betting parlors were even taking wagers on the outcome. The odds were 12 to 1 for a Lin Feiyang victory and 10 to 1 for Ye Bufan. Despite the stark difference, no one questioned it; the combatants' strengths were well-known throughout Cloud Peak City.

With a Sixth Rank of Power Stage facing off against an Eighth Rank, the odds of victory were slim, especially for a Sixth Rank known for indulgence in wine and women—practically nil.

Many commoners, hoping for a sure thing, placed their spare coins on Lin Feiyang. The odds were lower, but it seemed like a safe bet.

As the appointed time drew near, Yun Tianao, flanked by a contingent of city lord guards, made his appearance above the arena. The guards swiftly fanned out, encircling the platform.

No sooner had Yun Tianao taken his seat than the Lin family emerged from the throng. Lin Shanfeng, his two brothers, and Lin Feiyang led the way, with a retinue of family guards in tow. They approached Yun Tianao, exchanged a few cordial words, and then took their seats to the left. With a graceful leap, Lin Feiyang ascended to the Life and Death Arena.

His agile leap was met with cheers from the crowd, and infatuated young women couldn't help but scream. Lin Feiyang's good looks, dignified demeanor, prestigious background, and formidable strength had won him many admirers among the city's young women.

Indeed, many of these young women had come to the event just to catch a glimpse of Lin Feiyang's exceptional grace...

Basking in the adulation, Lin Feiyang's mind wandered to the impending moment when he would defeat Ye Bufan and bask in the crowd's acclaim. Although he hadn't given his opponent much thought, Lin Feiyang had still made it a point to keep abreast of Ye Bufan's recent activities. Learning of Ye Bufan's unorthodox training methods only served to put his mind at ease.

"Why hasn't the Ye family shown up yet? Could it be they're too scared to make an appearance?"

"Ye Bufan is nothing but a pampered fool. Showing up would be tantamount to suicide. I bet the Ye family will swap him out at the last minute!"

Amidst the growing speculation, the Ye family emerged from the crowd. Ye Jian, Ye Jin, Ye Kuang, Ye Bufan, Ye Tianzhan, along with a retinue of Ye family warriors.

"Apologies for the delay. I was at the gambling house placing a million gold coins on Ye Bufan's victory, which set me back a bit!" Ye Jian projected his voice with inner Qi so that every ear in the arena could hear him.

"The Ye father and son duo are truly outdoing each other in madness. Ye Bufan isn't afraid to die, and Ye Jian isn't afraid to lose!"

The crowd buzzed with renewed conversation. Yun Tianao and Lin Shanfeng, both extraordinary in their own right, exchanged glances, each recognizing the bewilderment in the other's eyes. Since Ye Jian had taken the reins of the Ye family, his leadership had been more about maintaining than achieving. Yet now, he had taken a gamble that left everyone stunned. Could it be that Ye Bufan possessed some secret weapon that assured his victory?

Upon hearing Ye Jian's declaration, Lin Feiyang's face on the Life and Death Arena betrayed a flicker of concern. For the Lin family, producing a million gold coins was no small feat. Ye Jian's bold wager implied confidence; Lin Feiyang couldn't help but doubt his own skepticism.

Lin Shanfeng, observing Lin Feiyang's reaction, transmitted his thoughts through condensed Qi, "Don't let Ye Jian's antics deceive you. He's just trying to unsettle you!"

Lin Feiyang considered this, realizing the truth in his father's words. Ye Bufan was no match for him. With his father's counsel echoing in his mind, Lin Feiyang's composure returned.

Led by Ye Jian, the Ye family exchanged pleasantries with Yun Tianao before taking their seats to the right of the arena.

With a light tap of his foot, Ye Bufan effortlessly ascended to the Life and Death Arena. The crowd jeered at his seemingly effortless rise, unable to appreciate that Ye Bufan's technique far surpassed Lin Feiyang's own entrance, in a world where the pursuit of raw power was everything.

Even Lin Feiyang couldn't help but sneer at Ye Bufan's dramatic entrance, eyeing him with a provocative glare.

Yet, among the crowd, there were those who recognized true skill. The elders of the Ye, Yun, and Lin families, who had reached the Qi Stage, could appreciate the finesse in Ye Bufan's movements. They recognized that he was already on the cusp of mastering the Power Stage.

Yun Tianao dismissed the doubts in his mind, stood up, and announced loudly, "In light of the previous conflict between Ye Bufan of the Ye family and Lin Feiyang of the Lin family, they have agreed to settle their differences in the Life and Death Arena today. While the arena is indifferent to the fate of its combatants, I urge both sides to exercise restraint!" Despite secretly wishing for a fatal outcome, Yun Tianao had to maintain decorum.

With a resounding "clang... clang..." the sword was drawn. Lin Feiyang's eyes betrayed his uncertainty—was that really a sword in Ye Bufan's hand?

Meeting Lin Feiyang's gaze, Ye Bufan positioned his long sword across his chest and declared, "This sword, 'Chun Jun,' is among the finest blades in existence. Crafted from superior steel, it can slice through hair with its three-foot-seven-inch blade and weighs precisely seven pounds and six taels."

"Do you think you can win with gimmicks?" Lin Feiyang taunted, already springing into action. Gripping his heavy sword with both hands, he lifted it high above his head and brought it down in a powerful chop towards Ye Bufan.

With a slight smirk, Ye Bufan stepped back just as Lin Feiyang's sword reached its full extension, where the force was weakest. Swinging Chun Jun, he struck at the most vulnerable point of Lin Feiyang's heavy sword. It appeared to be a single stroke, but in reality, Ye Bufan had unleashed five swift strikes in rapid succession, all targeting the same spot. To the onlooker, his speed made it seem like a singular, lightning-fast blow!

A wave of numbness spread through Lin Feiyang's arm as he staggered back, dissipating the force. He now regarded Ye Bufan with a newfound seriousness, the earlier disdain wiped from his face.

"Seventh Rank of the Power Stage?"

Ye Bufan's recent strike showcased the formidable power of the Seventh Rank in the Power Stage!

Not just Lin Feiyang, but also spectators like Yun Tianao, Lin Shanfeng, and Lin Jian—all of whom were beyond the Qi Stage—could tell that Ye Bufan had ascended to the Seventh Rank of the Power Stage. Ye Jian, aware of Ye Bufan's prior foray into the profound state of enlightenment, was somewhat braced for this revelation. The rest, however, struggled to come to terms with it.

The onlookers were all too familiar with Ye Bufan's unconventional training methods of late, but his rapid rise to the seventh rank was nothing short of astonishing.

As Lin Feiyang recoiled from the clash, Ye Bufan was hardly better off, his arm tingling numbly from the impact. The might of the Eighth Rank in the Power Stage was formidable indeed! It appeared he had previously underestimated the power levels of this world.

Lin Feiyang, though taken aback by Ye Bufan's advancement, was merely surprised. He possessed the Eighth Rank of the Power Stage, a level of strength that Ye Bufan's seventh rank simply couldn't match!

A flicker of scorn crossed Lin Feiyang's face. "You think you can best me with the mere strength of the Seventh Rank Power Stage? Today, I'll show you the true disparity between our powers!"

Lin Feiyang advanced towards Ye Bufan with deliberate steps, his heavy sword poised for action.

Intensity!

Ye Bufan sensed an overwhelming pressure emanating from Lin Feiyang's unyielding heavy sword, a palpable threat! No matter which direction he attacked from, Ye Bufan knew he'd be met with a crushing counter from Lin's flying sword, yet retreat was not an option.

To retreat would be to concede the advantage, leaving him vulnerable to Lin Feiyang's relentless onslaught. With a swift gesture, Ye Bufan's sword tip darted towards Lin Feiyang's eyes.

The stalemate had to be shattered!

Watching Ye Bufan react under his oppressive force, Lin Feiyang let out a cold, internal laugh. His heavy sword swung with the weight of a thousand jun—a force to be reckoned with! Should his strike connect, Ye Bufan would surely lose his grip on his sword, leaving him at Lin Feiyang's mercy!

During their last encounter, Ye Bufan had come to realize the gap in strength between himself and Lin Feiyang. Despite a month of relentless self-training, medicinal baths, and a sudden breakthrough to the seventh rank of the Power Stage the night before, he still fell short of Lin Feiyang's eighth-rank prowess.

With a flick of his wrist, Ye Bufan's sword, Chun Jun, danced out a bloom of steel, narrowly evading Lin Feiyang's weighty blade. Yet the tip of his sword remained unerringly aimed at Lin Feiyang's eyes. Outsmarting brute force! This was the strategy Ye Bufan had meticulously prepared for.

A flicker of panic crossed Lin Feiyang's eyes as he propelled himself backward with a forceful push of his legs, his previously gathered momentum scattering to the winds.

Ye Bufan's swordplay was bizarrely unorthodox, defying the bold, sweeping strokes typical of this world's swordsmanship.

As Lin Feiyang's aura deflated, Ye Bufan seized the moment. He sprung forward, his feet barely touching the ground, and launched an assault. His blade cast a flurry of shadows over Lin Feiyang, trapping him in a cage of gleaming light.

With each attack from Ye Bufan, a nameless rage boiled within Lin Feiyang. It wasn't just the deftness of Ye Bufan's sword that infuriated him, but the way it seemed to dance away each time Lin Feiyang's heavier sword sought to parry. Ye Bufan would then strike from a new angle, leaving Lin Feiyang with a maddening sense of wasted strength as he was driven back, step by step.

"Fierce Wind Covers the Sun!" Lin Feiyang bellowed in rage. A formidable energy surged from his heavy sword, creating a chaotic maelstrom around him. Ye Bufan instantly felt a powerful tremor through Chun Jun, the long sword nearly wrenched from his grasp.